kinsfolk, the Queen's majordomo sent for his brother, there being at
that time a truce between the two kings. (7)

Meanwhile, the King of Spain withdrew to Madrid to avoid the bad air
which prevailed in divers places, and, by the advice of his Council, as
well as at the request of the Countess of Aranda, he consented to the
marriage of the young Count with the heiress Duchess of Medina Celi.
(8) He did this no less for their contentment and the union of the two
houses than for the affection he bore the Countess of Aranda; and he
caused the marriage to be celebrated at the castle of Madrid. (9)

7 There had been a truce in 1497, but Queen Margaret
probably alludes to that of four months' duration towards
the close of 1503.--B.J.

8 Felix-Maria, widow of the Duke of Feria, and elder sister
of Luis Francisco de la Cerda, ninth of the name. She became
heiress to the titles and estates of the house of Medina-
Celi upon her brother's death. If, however, Queen Margaret
is really describing some incident in her own life, she must
refer to Louis XII.'s daughter, Claude, married in 1514 to
Francis I.--D.

9 The castle here referred to was the Moorish Alcazar,
destroyed by fire in 1734. The previous statement that King
Ferdinand withdrew to Madrid on account of the bad air
prevailing in other places is borne out by the fact that the
town enjoyed a most delightful climate prior to the
destruction of the forests which surrounded it.--Ed.