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and Leon,’ he said, ‘but there appears to be some doubt throughout this land as to whether she has a right to them. There are many who would rejoice to see the Princess Joanna in her place.’
    There were murmurs of approval. None of these men had received great honours from Isabella and, if the young Princess Joanna were accepted as Queen of Castile, since she was only twelve years old, there would be a Regency and high places for many of them.
    Eyes glittered, and hands curled about sword hilts. A Regency would be a very desirable state of affairs.
    ‘I strongly suspect these efforts to declare the Princess Joanna illegitimate,’ stated the Archbishop; and nobody reminded him that not very long ago he was one of the most fiery advocates of Joanna’s illegitimacy and Isabella’s right to the throne.
    The circumstances had changed. Ferdinand had sought to curb his power; Isabella had transferred her interest to Cardinal Mendoza. Therefore the Archbishop had decided to change his mind.
    ‘My lord Archbishop,’ said Villena, ‘I pray you tell us what plans you have for dethroning Isabella and setting up Joanna in her place.’
    ‘There is only one way of bringing this about, my friend,’ replied the Archbishop, ‘and that is with the sword.’
    ‘It would be necessary to raise an army,’ suggested Arevalo. ‘Is that possible?’
    ‘It must be possible,’ said the Archbishop. ‘We cannot allow a usurper to retain the throne.’
    He smiled at the assembly. ‘I know what you are thinking, my friends. Isabella has won the allegiance of many. Ferdinand is related to many Castilian families. It might be difficult to raise an army, you are thinking. Yet we will do it. And I have other plans. They concern the Princess Joanna. Do not forget that young lady has her part to play in our schemes.’
    ‘I cannot see the young Princess riding into battle,’ said Villena.
    ‘You take me too literally, my dear Marquis,’ answered the Archbishop. ‘You cannot believe that I would have brought you here unless I had something to put before you. The Princess will be the bait we have to offer. Then I think we can draw powerful forces into the field. I propose to dispatch an embassy immediately. My friends, let us put our heads close together and lower our voices, for even here there may be spies. I will now acquaint you with my plans. They concern Portugal.’
    Many of those present began to smile. They could see whither the Archbishop’s plans were leading.
    They nodded.
    How fortunate, they were thinking, that the Archbishop was on their side. How careless of Isabella to have lost his friendship, when such a loss could lead to a much greater one: that of the throne of Castile.

     
    Alfonso V of Portugal had listened with great interest to the proposals which had been brought to him from the secret faction of Castile, headed by the Archbishop of Toledo.
    He discussed this matter with his son, Prince John.
    ‘Why, Father,’ said the Prince, ‘I can see that naught but good would come of this.’
    ‘It will mean taking war into Castile, my son. Have you considered that?’
    ‘You have been successful in your battles with the Barbary Moors. Why should you not be equally so in Castile?’
    ‘Have you considered the forces which could be put into the field against us?’
    ‘Yes, and I have thought of the prize.’
    Alfonso smiled at his son. John was ambitious and greedy for the good of Portugal. If they succeeded, Castile and Portugal would be as one. There might be a possibility of the Iberian Peninsula’s eventually coming under one ruler – and that ruler would be of the House of Portugal.
    It was a tempting offer.
    There was something else which made Alfonso smile.
    There had been a time when he had thought to marry Isabella. His sister, Joanna, had married Isabella’s half-brother, Henry IV of Castile. Joanna was flighty. He had often warned her about that. It was all very well for a queen, married to a husband