The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-11-22
The Marriage of Isabella.
BY JOHN 5. C. ABBOTT.

+ 49,, W. JnlNer, INC Si22 r& GNyy1A.
died when she was an infant. Her moth.
er still lived to be her friend and counsel
lor. Her only brother, Henry, a weak.
minded man, entirely devoted to his own
selfish and sinful qualifications, occupied
the throne of CASTLE. The wife of Henry
was sister to the King of Portugal She
was a very beautiful woman, but, like her
husband, entirely devoid of principle and
devoted to pleasure. They had but one
child, daughter, Joanna The king and
queen were so unpopular that powerful
party arose in the kingdom in favor of
repuGranng OUannu, and placing Isabella
upon the throne.
The momrr-US Asa>,v,vS, & -. - (
have been very judiciouS and sincerely
piOuS woman, had educated her daughter
jn the secluded rural town of Aravela, far
removed from the corruptions Of the court.
At this time there was probably not
more unhappy person in all Spain than
the Princess Isabella She had sagacity
enough to perceive that her person was
to be sacrificed to any matrimonial al
lance which would promote the ambition
of the mobiles. As it was sopr0bablc that
she would succeed to the throne, there
were suitors for her hand from nearly cv-
cry court in Europe. She was first prom
iScd to Carlos, heir to the throne of Ara.
g0n, he was fifty years Of age, bloated,
and 'prcmaturcly infirm from a life of
pronigacy. Isabella, when she first saw
him, was so shocked at the thought Of
marriage with such wretch, that she de-
clarcd that she would die before she would
consent 10 the union. Fortunately Carlos,
J., by sudden sickness, sank into the grave,
and thus Isabella escaped that woe
The mobiles then pledged her to the
Grand Master Of Calatrava, Spanish no
ble Of great wealth and power, but who
was advanced in years. revolving in per-
son, and Infamous in character. The an
Suish of Isabella was renewed, and it
became so intense that she shut herselfnp
in her apartment, and wcpt almost inceS-
sahlly day and night. Her prayers that
God would come to her relief and save
her from the dishonor of such a marriage,
: by either taking away her life or that of
the dvtcStcd man to whose arms she was
doomed, were so pitcous, that one of her
attcnGant ladies, Beatrice of Boabdiiia n
Li,,h.snirited wom,n ,rovidrd herself
,,i+i, G,ccor AMI vn,vn1 hrC,rc God
iAat if. the Grand Master Of Calatrava
shon'd dare TO appear and claim Isabella
as his bride. she would plunge that deg
Th. ,.,onI N,.fcr u,lo r,o mast
sn,nntucns nrcr,rotionc fnr his wndlinr
, ord wi,H n rlr,, ro,coons r.t;nno or va..
.ols onJ rr;o,,,f. sot n,t C,on, HI. r.loco
ot Al,norrn Cnr Madrid IN rrcriyr Ills
hr;ln A. the cln.n of th,. Grst d,v's
;.,nrno,. ho ,,.,,.b,1 ,l,o l;,,i., v;Ioco of ii.
j IorL,;n ,,,hor. Ia nos.nJ tLn ni,Lt
q Unr, b., v.o., ,nd I..,I,. ,,I vi,,n,tlv s.;z.d
i viii IN ot,,r, Of nnir.v viii il after \
/ .;ckocss Of C,nr Gavs Terminated his
iif4. II !, not to H.. sunnosrd that a.
! L.,;o .,od nay tn,,s ovcr lis .,.,ve and
stii not tLn ,';.,.tr>t s,s, ;rion rc,,s cron
hry - Lnvi,,~ hrrr in ,ny wav .cc,Is,.
~ to III. d,oth .obl,t nov withdrew.
. to convent at Ayi,a, where She pcrtina.
ciou>,v refused the ,nt,cat;cs If many Of
tl4 f5!,,r, ia .|,.w lo~,.il 70 l,,rror,.;;Y.
n.,noo of C.>.;,.. IN o,...o>;;ion 70 her
l,,c,..or II.,.v - ir~.-t|, RI. ro},,,s
wbn hod L4cn vo.;nr wor ocoinst thc
li,, r.,oo IN a., co.,snro,ni.o win him in
wLirh II was orr.cA tI,ot I.ol,.Ilo sho,Ih
Il, r.cn.,ni1.l n. hair +, -thn c,ovn oG
] Castle and shouid he crowded with n
s,iitnblp rcvenne to maintain the dionity
Of her rank. II WAS Also agreed that she
should no; bp forced into any uuptial al
( lance. an,; urithcr should she marry any
on. w;tLont b.r Lrotr..'s conspnt
The hand Of Isabella w., now in crcat
or i, mond than ever before. and her med.
est court was crowded with suitors.-
/ Richard. Duke of Gloucester renowned
/ in tho ,n,,.,, or cr;,,o Lro,hnr &C IJa,,,,
IL Of Enm,and snnght thr amb;'ious ii.
lionce bnt CortnnafcIv in vain
The Duke Of Guirunr ajsc hro,ber Of
Louis XI Of France. and heir prcsumo;.
tive to the French monarchy wos rorrr
hv MARRIAGE with I.ahnlIo to unitp the
crown Of Cas,iie with that of France
But this alliance, from political con<ile-
rations, was rejected.
Isabella, Notwithstanding all these li-
plomatic schemes, was quite disposed to
consult her own inclinationSin the choice
of husband. Still, she was exceedingly
ambitions, and was as drsirous as any of
her mobiles of advancing her interest by
the alliance she should form. The King
Of Aragon, Contiguous realm, had son,
ferdinand, eighteen years of age, Isabella
being now nineteen. The youthful heir
to the throne Of Aragon was very splcn-
did young man, tall, handsome, of noble
bearing, aud celebrated tor the ch'valrous
courage he bad displayed IN many bat
tie. By marrying Ferdinand, these TWO
realms would be united III truly mag
nlhccnt Kingdom, homogeneous IN Ian
( s1'zF'; ''''4 '''; 80"
Isabella Is described as a beautiful
o'c"Gr;' Gi qntenly figure, ,e%NulSitsiy
chisel'ed features, and with mild, blue
eye, She was says contemporary,
the hahdsomest lady ever oeheid, ana
the most gracious IN her manners she
was highly educated for that day, speak