Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/293

WAR OF THE SUCCESSION. 149 would eagerly flock to its banners, on its advance chapter across the borders. At the same time negotiations L_. were entered into with the king of France, who was invited to make a descent upon Biscay, by a promise, somewhat premature, of a cession of the conquered territory. Early in May, the king of Portugal put his army y^fJ^P""^""^ in motion, and, entering Castile by the way of Es- 14 7 5. tremadura, held a northerly course towards Placen- cia, where he was met by the duke of Arevalo and the marquis of Villena, and by the latter nobleman presented to the princess Joanna, his destined bride. On the 12th of the month he was affianced with all becoming pomp to this lady, then scarcely thirteen years of age ; and a messenger was de- spatched to the court of Rome, to solicit a dispen- sation for their marriage, rendered necessary by the consanguinity of the parties. The royal pair were then proclaimed, with the usual solemnities, sovereigns of Castile ; and circulars were transmit- ted to the different cities, setting forth Joanna's title and requiring their allegiance. " After some days given to festivity, the army resumed its march, still in a northerly direction, 14 Ruy de Pina, Chronica d'el ceived his presents and used them Rey Alfonso V., cap. 174-178. in the cause of Isabella. — Faria — Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, y Sousa, Europa Portuguesa, torn. MS., cap. 16, 17, 18. — Bernaldez ii. pp. 396-398. —Zurita, Ana- states, that Alfonso, previously to les, torn. iv. fol. 230 - 240. — his invasion, caused largesses of La Clede, Hist, de Portugal, torn, plate and money to be distributed iii. pp. 360-362. — Pulgar, Cro- among the Castilian nobles, whom nica, p. 51. — L. Marineo, Cosas he imagined to be well affected Memorables, fol. 156. — Oviedo, towards him. Some of them, the Quincuagenas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. duke of Alva in particular, re- 2, dial. 3.