tion of attempting the recovery of the throne in the name of Constance. While preparations were being made, he was sent into Scotland by Richard to make a truce; and was absent from London when the Wat Tyler insurrection occurred. This gave opportunities to the enemies of the Duke to charge him with treachery, and to declare that he purposed seizing the Scotch crown. These reports were spread by the insurrectionists themselves, who further showed their enmity by demolishing his palace of Savoy, as a prelude to other deeds of violence. When the troubles were quieted, Richard sent for his uncle; and Lancas ter, returning through the cities of Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, everywhere received a welcome which exhibited the popular repudiation of the slanders against him. A quarrel with the Earl of Northumberland, who was sustained by the King, produced much ill-nature between the uncle and nephew for a while; indeed, after Richard grew to manhood, his relations with the royal princes were far from amicable.

Meanwhile the King of Portugal had thrown down the gauntlet to the King of Castile, in assertion of the right of the infanta Constance to the Castilian crown. There were other causes of dispute, but this was the main plea for war. Ambassadors had arrived from the court of Lisbon, appealing to Lancaster and York to hasten to defend the birthright of their consorts. The adventurous nature of Lancaster awoke to a summons which called him to a congenial project. A crown was the end, his favorite occupation the means of the proposed enterprise. The King, however, desirous to make use of his skill in diplomacy, had retained him in England to conduct negotiations

with the Scotch, and to arrange a marriage on his behalf with the daughter of the German Emperor. But the Duke of York had gone to Portugal with a considerable force, and attended by many valiant and experienced barons. The alliance with that kingdom had been strengthened by a marriage between the King's daughter and the Duke's son. The allied forces had made some successful incursions into Castile; French troops had come to the succor of Don John; the forces on both sides had been assembling for the great struggle; Lancaster himself had prepared an armament at Southampton when the King sent him into Scotland. As soon as the Duke had settled the difficulties in the north, and arranged the marriage of the King, he turned with alacrity to his favorite scheme of leading a large force to join his brother in Spain. The news of the various successes already gained stimulated his zeal, and hastened the preparations. Having designated his son, Henry Earl of Derby, his lieutenant in the kingdom, he embarked with his consort; attended by his son-in-law, Sir John Holland, as constable, Sir Thomas Moreaux as marshal, and Lord Percy as admiral of the fleet. Upward of two hundred sail accompanied him; and his force consisted of about four thousand men. Among the nobles who joined the enterprise were many of the most illustrious in England-Beaumonts, Talbots, Despensers, Willoughbys, Hastings, Calverleys, and Clintons. On his way

thither he met the French at Brest, and raised the blockade which they had imposed on English ports.

The army landed at Corunna, and after a brief delay marched on St. Jago. That place yielded without a struggle. So propitious an opening of the campaign was duly celebrated by feasting,

carousing, and good cheer, by imposing ceremonies in the cathedral, and sacred processions of thanksgiving. Meanwhile French succors were pouring in for Castile, and Portugal was hastening to support the English. Rouelles, in Galicia, was the next conquest; then Villeclope yielded by capitulation. Lancaster met King John of Portugal, and cemented their amity by marrying his daughter Isabella to that sovereign. An incident now occurred which interrupted for the time the immediate object of the expedition. Lancaster claimed a sum of money as due to him from John, the new King of Aragon, and he applied for it through the Archbishop of Bordeaux. The prelate was detained as a prisoner. Lancaster, quick to resent insult, and not overprudent, at once invaded Aragon, and seized the castle of Castelbon. The King of Aragon thought it best to yield, and the Archbishop was released. The war in Castile was again resumed, and the former success was repeated. The crown began to seem a reality; it appeared to be almost within reach. Ribadavia, Maures, Entença, all Galicia fell before the advancing legions. The forces of the Portuguese and English, hitherto operating separately, joined at Orense, and together crossed the Duero. But now, after a campaign which had been an almost constant succession of triumphs, and when success seemed certain, sickness broke out in the army, supplies became scarce, and disaffection and discord threatened the dispersion of the hitherto victorious alliance.

To add to their misfortunes, large reënforcements from France under the Duke of Bourbon were about to be added to the Castilian army. Lancaster's army, decimated by malaria, suffering for want of

provisions, weakened by the necessity of garrisons along the line of their communications, dispirited by the apathy of their allies, were discouraged by the prospect of a conflict with the fresh veterans of the combined armies of France and Castile. The Duke himself, broken down in health, and appalled by the accumulating difficulties that were thickening about him, was compelled to abandon all hope of success. The greatest of all his evils was the pestilence, which, in the hot season, raged remorselessly through his army, sparing none, prostrating alike the bravest leader and the humblest soldier. The Duke became dangerously ill; his army was disbanded, and made their way back as best they could. When Lancaster was sufficiently recovered, he departed to Bayonne. The King of Castile at once resumed possession of Galicia. Thus ended that famous enterprise to conquer a crown, which was worn by a king of the people's choice; Quixotic in its conception, but bold, chivalrous, and worthy of admiration, if only for the ability and energy with which, until disease demolished the fair prospect, the enterprise was conducted.

The King of Castile was a prudent man; he was not content with present security; he sought the permanent establishment of his crown. He considered the friendship of England necessary to this end. When, therefore, his late adversary, the Duke of Lancaster, returned home after the disastrous termination of his scheme of conquest, King John sent to him a proposal of marriage between his own son and heir and the eldest daughter of the Duke. A French prince of the blood, the Duke de Berri, had sought the hand of this princess, and the negotiation had nearly been successfully concluded, when this

new competitor appeared against him. Lancaster had no hesitation in deciding between the rival aspirants. He preferred to secure amicably to his descendants that inheritance which he had vainly sought to conquer. The Lady Catharine was betrothed to the heir of Castile, and the young bride was accompanied by her mother to her adopted land; the mother being the legitimate heiress to the throne which the daughter was now to share. This alliance having been happily accomplished, Lancaster, who had now passed the prime of life, applied himself to the more laudable, if less brilliant, achievements of reconciling the dif ferences at court, and concluding treaties of peace with foreign nations. Gloucester, during the absence of his elder brother on the Castilian expedition, had accomplished the usurpation of royal power, and had lost it again; the King had resumed his legitimate authority, and the domestic disturbances had apparently subsided. The return of Lancaster, and his declaration in favor of the King, settled the conflict, and secured to royalty its legitimate prerogatives.

In 1394 the Princess Constance died. Lancaster, who does not seem to have been inclined to domestic solitude, soon after espoused Catharine Swinford, of no high degree, who had formerly been a lady of Blanche's household. Gloucester and York, who acted together as the leaders of the opposition at court, protested against so degrading a connection; but the King, whom Lancaster had befriended against his brothers, confirmed the marriage, and created the eldest son who was born of it Earl of Somerset. Soon after, Richard made over the rich and prosperous province of Aquitaine to Lancaster and his heirs forever, reserv