Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/285

WAR OF THE SUCCESSION. 141 continued so resolute, that, notwithstanding Henry chapter twice convoked the states for the express purpose ■ '— ■ of renewing their allegiance to Joanna, they refused to comply with the summons ; ^ and thus Isabella, at the time of her brother's death, possessed a title to the crown unimpaired, and derived from the sole authority which could give it a constitutional valid- ity. It may be added that the princess was so well aware of the real basis of her pretensions, that in her several manifestoes, although she adverts to the popular notion of her rival's illegitimacy, she rests the strength of her cause on the sanction of the cortes. On learning Henry's death, Isabella signified to she is pro _ _ claimed the inhabitants of Segovia, where she then resided, i"^*'" her desire of being proclaimed queen in that city, with the solemnities usual on such occasions. ^ Ac- cordingly, on the following morning, being the 13th of December, 1474, a numerous assembly, consist- ing of the nobles, clergy, and public magistrates in their robes of office, waited on her at the alcazar or castle, and, receiving her under a canopy of rich brocade, escorted her in solemn procession to the principal square of the city, where a broad platform or scaffold had been erected for the performance of the ceremony. Isabella, royally attired, rode on a ■* See Part I. Chap. 4, Note 2. juncture was so important, that 5 Fortunately, this strong place, Oviedo does not hesitate to declare, in which the royal treasure was " It lay with him to make Isabella deposited, was in the keeping- of or her rival queen, as he listed." Andres de Cabrera, the husband Quincuagenas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. of Isabella's friend, Beatrix de 1, dial. 23. Bobadilla. His cooperation a.t this