Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/500

Jan. 30. 354 WAR OF GRANADA. PART them from disturbing him in the possession of Rous- '- sillon. However this may be, his intrigues with Portugal were disclosed to Ferdinand by certain nobles of that court, with whom he was in secret correspondence. The Spanish sovereigns, in order to counteract this scheme, offered the hand of their own daughter Joanna, afterwards mother of Charles 148 3. the Fifth, to the king of Navarre. But all nego- tiations relative to this matter were eventually de- feated by the sudden death of this young prince, not without strong suspicions of poison. He was succeeded on the throne by his sister Catharine. Propositions were then made by Ferdinand and Isabella, for the marriage of this princess, then thirteen years of age, with their infant son John, heir apparent of their united monarchies. ^^ Such an alliance, which would bring under one govern- ment nations corresponding in origin, language, general habits, and local interests, presented great and obvious advantages. It was however evaded by the queen dowager, who still acted as regent, on the pretext of disparity of age in the parties. Information being soon after received that Louis the Eleventh was taking measures to make him- self master of the strong places in Navarre, Isabel- la transferred her residence to the frontier town of Logrono, prepared to resist by arms, if necessary, the occupation of that country by her insidious and 13 Ferdinand and Isabella had at to the succession, and the infantas this time four children; the infant Isabella, Joanna, and Maria; the Don John, four years and a half last, born at Cordova during the old, but who did not live to come summer of 1482.