Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/295

WAR OF THE SUCCESSION. 151 scension, returned for answer, that, " if the queen chapter entered bj one door, he would go out at the other," '- — she did not choose to compromise her dignity by any further advances. By Isabella's extraordinary exertions, as well as casiiuan J ' army. those of her husband, the latter found himself, in the beginning of July, at the head of a force amounting in all to four thousand men-at-arms, eight thousand light horse, and thirty thousand foot, an ill-disci- plined militia, chiefly drawn from the mountainous districts of the north, which manifested peculiar devotion to his cause ; his partisans in the south being preoccupied with suppressing domestic revolt, and with incursions on the frontiers of Portugal. ^^ Meanwhile Alfonso, after an unprofitable deten- tion of nearly two months at Arevalo, marched on Toro, which, by a preconcerted agreement, was delivered into his hands by the governor of the city, although the fortress, under the conduct of a woman, continued to maintain a gallant defence. While occupied with its reduction, Alfonso was invited to receive the submission of the adjacent city and castle of Zamora. The defection of these places, two of the most considerable in the prov- ince of Leon, and peculiarly important to the king of Portugal from their vicinity to his dominions, was severely felt by Ferdinand, who determined to advance at once against his rival, and bring their quarrel to the issue of a battle ; in this, acting in 16 Carbajal, Anales, MS., ano d'Espagne, torn. vii. p. 411. — 75. — Pulgar, Reyes Catolicos, Bernaldez, Reyes Cat61icos, MS., pp. 45 - 55. — Ferreras, Hist. cap. 23. marches against Al- fonso.