m • We will now return to the duke of Lancafter, and fpeak of his negotiations with the king of Caftille and duke of Berry refpecting the marriage of his daughter. The king of Caftille was defirons of having her for his fon, as the means of peace with England, The duke of Berry wiftied her for himfelf, being very impa-tient to marry her. The duke of Lancafter was wife and prudent : be iaw that the moft advantageous alliance for himfelf and for his country was Caftille, in pre-ference to the duke of Berry ; for by it he fhould recover the inheritance of Caftille for his daugh-ter, in times to come. If he gave her to the duke of Berry, and he fhould die before her, fhe would be poor in comparison with other ladies ; for the duke had children by his firft marriage, who would be entitled to all his landed property. The duchefs of Lancafter was iikewife more in-clined to the connection with Caftille, fo that when fir Helion de Lignac had left the duke, on his return to the duke of Berry in Germany, the commiffioners from the king of Caftille came forward, and pufhed the matter fo warmly, that the marriage was agreed and fworn to, between the lady Catherine and the fon of the king of Caftille. Proper contracts were drawn up and fealed, with covenants to prevent any dan-ger of breaking off the match; and the duchefs çonfented, when the whole fhould be .concluded, to conduct her daughter into Caftille* • CHAP-