Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/291

WAR OF THE SUCCESSION. 147 self the same rich inheritance. An exaggerated chapter estimate was, at the same time, exhibited of the re- '- — sources of the confederates, which, when combined with those of Portugal, would readily enable them to crush the usurpers, unsupported, as the latter must be, by the cooperation of Aragon, whose arms already found sufficient occupation with the French. Alfonso, whose victories over the Barbary Moors had given him the cognomen of " the African," was precisely of a character to be dazzled by the nature of this enterprise. The protection of an injured princess, his near relative, was congenial with the spirit of chivalry ; while the conquest of an opulent territory, adjacent to his own, would not only satisfy his dreams of glory, but the more solid cravings of avarice. In this disposition he was confirmed by his son. Prince John, whose hot and enterprising temper found a nobler scope for ambi- tion in such a war, than in the conquest of a horde of African savages. ^^ Still there were a few among Alfonso's counsel- lors, possessed of sufficient coolness to discern the difficulties of the undertaking. They reminded him, that the Castilian nobles, on whom he princi- pally relied, were the very persons who had former- ly been most instrumental in defeating the claims of Joanna, and securing the succession to her rival ; that Ferdinand was connected by blood with the most powerful families of Castile ; that the great 12 Ruy de Pina, Chr6nica d'el Historia Portua-ueza, (Lisboa, Rey Alfonso V., cap. 173, apud 1790-93,) torn. i. Collec^ao de Livros In^ditos de