Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/203

59 MINORITY OF FERDINAND. 59 he might now almost be called, regamed his wonted chapter elasticity, and prepared to resume offensive opera- tions against the enemy with all his accustomed energy.^^ Heaven, too, as if taking compassion on his accumulated misfortunes, now removed the prin- cipal obstacle to his success by the death of the duke of Lorraine, who was summoned from the theatre of his short-lived triumphs on the 16th of December, 1469. The Barcelonians were thrown i469. into the greatest consternation by his death, im- puted, as usual, though without apparent foundation, to poison ; and their respect for his memory was attested by the honors no less than royal, which they paid to his remains. His body sumptuously attired, with his victorious sword by his side, was paraded in solemn procession through the illumin- ated streets of the city, and, after lying nine days in state, was deposited amid the lamentations of the people in the sepulchre of the sovereigns of Catalonia.^" As the father of the deceased prince was too old, and his children too young, to give effectual aid to ^ Mariana, Hist, de Espaiia, the duke of Lorraine, and the en- tom. ii. pp. 459, 460. — L. Mari- voy despatched to notify his ac- neo, Cosas Memorables, fol. 141. ceptance of it, on arriving at the — Alonso de Palencia, Coronica, court of Castile, received from the MS., cap. 88. lips of Henry IV. the first tidings 50 Villeneuve Bargeraont, Hist, of his master's death, (tom. ii. de Ren6, tom. ii. pp. 182, 333, p. 184.) He must have learned 334. — L. Marineo, Cosas Mem- too with no less surprise that Isa- orables, fol. 142. — Alonso de Pa- bella had already been married at lencia, Cor6nica, part. 2, cap. 39. that time more than a year! See — Zurita, Anales, tom. iv. fol. the date of the official marriage 178. — According to M. de Ville- recorded in Mem. de la Acad, de neuve Bargemont, the princess Hist., tom. vi. Apend. no. 4. Isabella's hand had been offered to