Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/225

81 MARRIAGE OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. 81 a counterpoise to that of the confederates, and chapter thus, while he made his own services the more '■ — necessary to the latter, to provide a safe retreat for himself, in case of the shipwreck of their fortunes. ^° In conformity with this dubious policy, he had, soon after the occurrence at Avila, opened a secret correspondence with his former master, and sug- gested to him the idea of terminating their differ- ences by somn amicable adjustment. In conse- quence of these intimations, Henry consented to enter into a negotiation with the confederates ; and it was agreed, that the forces on both sides should be disbanded, and that a suspension of hos- tilities for six months should take place, during which some definitive and permanent scheme of reconciliation might be devised. Henry, in com- ncnrydis- ... . bajida his pliance with this arrangement, instantly disbanded *^°'"'=^^- his levies ; they retired overwhelmed with indig- nation at the conduct of their sovereign, who so readily relinquished the only means of redress that he possessed, and whom they now saw it would be unavailing to assist, since he was so ready to desert himself. *^ It would be an unprofitable task to attempt to unravel all the fine-spun intrigues, by which the marquis of Villena contrived to defeat every attempt at an ultimate accommodation between the parties, 20 Alonso dePalencia, Cor6nica, 21 Castillo, Cr6nica, cap. 80, 82. MS., part. 1, cap. 64. — Castillo, Cr6nica, cap. 78. VOL. I. 11