Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/297

153 V. WAR OF THE SUCCESSION. 153 his officers, and bore him off in their arms from chapter the midst of them to his own tent, notwithstanding his reiterated explanations and remonstrances. The ensuing retreat was conducted in so disorderly a manner by the mutinous soldiery, that Alfonso, says a contemporary, had he but sallied with two thousand horse, might have routed and perhaps annihilated the whole army. Some of the troops were detach- ed to reinforce the garrisons of the loyal cities, but most of them dispersed again among their native mountains. The citadel of Toro soon afterwards capitulated. The archbishop of Toledo, consider- ing these events as decisive of the fortunes of the war, now openly joined the king of Portugal at the head of five hundred lances, boasting at the same time, that " he had raised Isabella from the distaff, and would soon send her back to it again." ^^ So disastrous an introduction to the campaign might indeed well fill Isabella's bosom with anx- iety. The revolutionary movements, which had so long agitated Castile, had so far unsettled every man's political principles, and the allegiance of even the most loyal hung so loosely about them, that it was difficult to estimate how far it might be shaken by such a blow occurring at this crisis.^^ Fortunately, Alfonso was in no condition to profit 17 Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, 18 " Pues no os maravilleis de MS., cap. 18. — Faria y Sousa, eso," says Oviedo, in relation to Europa Portugnesa, torn. ii. pp. these troubles, " que no solo entre 398-400. — Pulgar, Cronica, pp. hermanos suele haber esas dife- 55-60. — Ruy de Pina, Chron. d' rencias, mas entre padre e hijo lo el Rey Alfonso v., cap. 179. — La vimos ayer, como suelen decir." Cl^de, Hist, de Portugal, torn. iii. Quincuagenas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. p. 366. — Zurita, Anales, torn. iv. 2, dial. 3. fol. 240-243. VOL. I. 20