[156] By the Portuguese historians, the death of Leonora is suspected to have been violent, and the guilt is thrown on the constable of Castile, the famous Alvaro de Luna. But what interest could he have in her destruction? And when did he commit a useless crime?
[157] The address of this count to the king and council, as it appears in Ruy de Pina,[i] is a noble instance of magnanimity and courage. He appealed to his services—and they had been splendid—as a Portuguese noble; to his honour as a knight of England’s proud order—then at least a proud one—the Garter; to his unimpeachable integrity; and to his intimacy with Dom Pedro—that he knew and spoke the truth. Neither his zeal nor the challenge with which he concluded affected Alfonso.
[158] [João II said with justice that his father had left him “only the royal high roads of Portugal.”—Stephens.[l]]
[159] [It is curious that Alexander the Great almost never rewarded those who did not ask, but took joy in granting requests.]
[160] That of Christopher Columbus, whose proposals he himself was ready enough to receive, but was overruled by his council.
[161] [The Rum was a term applied by the Arabs to all subjects of the Roman Empire and continued to be the designation of the inhabitants of western Christendom after they had ceased to yield obedience to the “king of Rum,” the Byzantine emperor.]
[162] [The Portuguese have a saying: “De Castella nem bom vento nem bom casamento” (From Castile neither good wind nor good wedding).]
[163] [A Spaniard by birth, who entered the Portuguese service. His original name was Juan de Nova.]
