This opinion of her being a baftard was the more extraordinary, as don Ferdinand confidered her as legitimate, having received difpenfations from pope Urban VI. to that purpofe. When peace was concluded between the kings of Caf-tiile and Portugal, don John Ferdinand Audere, who ruled the Portuguefe council, propofed a marriage between the daughter of his king, and don John, king of Caftiile, who was at that time a widower. The council of Caftiile, when this union was propofed, had mentioned their doubts of the legitimacy of the lady's birth ; and, to fatisfy the king of Caftiile, don Ferdi-nand had made his principal barons and nobles of Portugal fwear, that after his de-ceafe, they would confider her as their queen, and would unite their kingdom to Caftiile. He had alfo forced the principal towns to promife the fame, and to acknowledge the king of Caftiile as their king, under a penalty of two hundred thoufand francs. The Lifboners, having put to death don Fer-dinand Audere, becaufe he had interfered in this bufinefs, and exerted himfelf, at the king of Portugal's death, to have it confirmed, elected the matter of Avis, and would have no other king. They laid, that were Portugal to be turned topfy-turvy, they would never fubmit to Caftiile, nor to the Caftillians, fo greatly did they hate each other. The.Lifbonersr were the great inftigators of this difpute : they faid that the lady Beatrice could not be their queen* for fhe was a baftard, a thorough baftard ; and, during the life-time of don 358