• The duke of Lancafter was a widower.fince the • death" of .the lady Blanche, duchefs of Lancafter and Derby : upon which the barons of Gafeony, in concert with fir Guifcard d'Angle, confidered that don Pedro, king of Spain, had left two .daughters, by his marriage with the fitter of the king of Portugal, who were then in the city of Bayorine, whither they had been conduced,, under the fafeguard of fome knights, by fea from the neighbourhood of Seville, for fear of king Henry. As foon as they were informed of the death of don Pedro, thefe ladies were almoft diftra&ed with grief. Every one compaflionatcd them, for they were the true heirefles of Caftille, which was their juft right, by fucceflion to their father. This matter was thus opened to the duke: cMy lord, it is time you fhould think of re-marrying ; we know of a very noble match for yoy, one from which you or your heirs will be kirigs of Caftille. It will be a charitable deed to comfort and advife damfels who are daughters of a king, efpecially when in fuch a pitiable ftate as thofe ladies are. ' Take, therefore, the eldeft for your bride. We advife you to do fo j for at this mo-ment we know not where you can more nobly ally yourfelf, nor from whence greater profit can accrue to you.* Thefe and fuch like words made an impreflion on the duke, and were fo agreeable to him that he confented to what they had propofed with much, good will. He immediately ordered four knights to feek thefe ladies without delay, whofe names were. -146