Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/268

124 TROUBLES IN CASTILE AND ARAGON. FART Catalan subjects; and that, in case of failure, the L provinces of Roussillon and Cerdagne should be permanently ceded to the French crown. The commanders of the fortified places in the contested territory, selected by one monarch from the nomina- tions of the other, were excused during the interim from obedience to the mandates of either ; at least so far as they might contravene their reciprocal engagements. ^^ There is little reason to believe that this singu- lar compact was subscribed in good faith by either party. John, notwithstanding the temporary suc- cour which he had received from Louis at the com- mencement of his difficulties with the Catalans, might justly complain of the infraction of his engage- ments, at a subsequent period of the war ; when he not only withheld the stipulated aid, but indirect- ly gave every facility in his power to the invasion of the duke of Lorraine. Neither was the king of Aragon in a situation, had he been disposed, to make the requisite disbursements. Louis, on the other hand, as the event soon proved, had no other object in view but to gain time to reorganize his army, and to lull his adversary into security, while he took effectual measures for recovering the prize which had so unexpectedly eluded him. During these occurrences Isabella's prospects sfrengih""' weic dally brightening in Castile. The duke of 16 Zurita, Anales, torn. iv. fol. Louis XI., torn. ii. pp. 99, 101.— 200. — Gaillard, Rivalit^, torn. iii. Alonso de Palencia, Coronica. p. 266. — See the articles of the MS., cap. 73. treaty cited by Duclos, Hist, de Isabella'!