The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-11

clared himself his PEDRO The CRUZ
own master. The lad was Pedro /,
king of the Spanish states of Castil,
and Leon. He is known to history al
Pedro the Cruel.'
Many acts that would nowadays he
regarded as barbarous cruelty were
then looked upon as mere deeds Of jus
lice and necessity. 1t was an unbe
uevably brutal and cruel age. For a
man in that century to win the title
OF THE Cruel" implied monstrous
| character.
Pedro. as mere boy. fell under the
influence OF one of the most beauti.
tul, clever and INSCRIPTIONS women
! OF all history. She was Maria de
| Padilla. 1t was she who prompted him
TO cast aside his councillors and to
declare himself king. Her next step
was to induce him to give her rela-
tives the highest court Offices. The
crafty old prime minister, Albu-
querque, had strengthened Maria's in
fuence over Pedro IN the hope of ad-
vancing his own interests. But Maria
made Pedro dismiss Albuquerque from
service. Courtiers who failed to pay
her all sorts of extravagant compll-
ments were put to death by the kings
orders. A money lender who refused
to advance money for her expendi.
lures Is said to have been boiled In
oil.
When Pedro was twenty 1t was ar.
ranged that he should marry a gentle
and lovely French princess, Blanche
OF Bourbon. Maria, fearing to lose
her own power over the young king.
hit on truly devilish trick for max.
ing MIN hate his sweet young wife.
blanche gave Pedro a splendid lew.
eied girdle as bridal gift. Maria.
by sleigbt-of-hand feat, stole the
girdle and put in its place poisonous
snake. She then worked on Pedro's
superstitions by telling him Blanche |
was sorceress, and had sought to |
Kill him BY means of the "bewitched'' |
girdle. In terror. Pedro sent his in.
nocent wife to prison. (They had
been married just three daysl
For this and for other acts OF cru.
city and misrule the people murmur-
ed. They took Blanche's part. So
did Pedro's half-brother, Don Fad.
rique. Pedro assured them that he
loved Blanche and would set her. free.
Instead, he put her to death. He In.
yited Fadrique to the palace and went
forth to greet him as the latter enter
ed the palace courtyard. Then, at
signal from Pedro, Fadrique was
stabbed to death by an assassin.
second half-brother was disposed
OF by Pedro In like manner. So were
many noblemen. At last, under a
third half-brother, Henry of Trasta.
mara. the mobiles rebelled against Pc
iro. The pope accommodated him
.or his series of black crimes. He
was driven out OF Spain by Henry and
'y the latter's allies, the white Com.
,anies' Soldiers of fortune). Taking
'efuge In France, Pedro fell In with
ne BLACK Prince" heir apparent of !
who was ravaging the French
ahds. BY making certain glittering
OF reward Pedro induced the
Slack Prince to help him regain his ,,
hrone. At the head of an English
'rmy they marched into Spain. There.
n the fierce battle (Navarete, 1857
hey beat Henry. Pedro was once more
ing.
lie failed to keep any OF the prom.
SEES he had made, and the BlackI
'Fihce left Spain In disgust As soon
$ the dreaded English troops were ,
one the war broke out anew. HenryI
aimed many victories. lie could not =
molly conquer the king. At last. in ;,
5os, ne induced Pedro to come to his :
mt for peace conference.
scarcely had the two half.brothers :
yet In the tent than they few at each :,
lhers threats like angry dogs. :
enry stabbed Pedro with dagger
IN the blade broke off against the
rat OF mail the king wore under his =
oak. Pedro then, by main force "
lught Henry In his arms and hurled =,
m to the ground. But one of Henry's =
flowers tripped Pedro and sent him a,
'rawling. Before the fallen king y
'uld scramble to his feet. Henry !,
owe sword through his throat =
Thus persisted Pedro the Cruel In :,
s thirty-sixth year. Henry seized r.
9 throne, put the slain monarch's ;.
% sons in cage and starved them ~
death. Scoundrel though Pedro was. =,
had been loved by the common PEG :,
g. Many OF them prospered under =,
3 reign, and whimsical sense OF II
rness on his part had led them to !,
,kname him Pedro the Just" =,