in the Royal favour; the Countess of Salisbury appeared at Court as the friend of Queen Philippa; and long continued the object of the respectful passion of the greatest Monarch who had ever filled the throne of England.

BLANCHE OF BOURBON.

A ROMANCE OF SPANISH HISTORY.

At his birth, be sure on't,

Some Devil thrust sweet Nature's hand aside,
Ere she had pour'd her balm into his breast,
To warm his gross and earthy clod with Pity.

COLMAN.

THE accession of Don Pedro to the throne of Castile, on the death of his Father Alphonso, was speedily followed by violent insurrectionary movements amongst all classes of the people. Although Pedro was the only legitimate offspring of his Father, the nation in general fondly wished that the sceptre might pass into the hands of Don Henry, Count of Trastamare, eldest son of the deceased King by his Concubine, the beautiful Leonora de Guzman. This Prince had already distinguished himself by his valour and wisdom;

his kind and condescending demeanour; and even by his attachment and fidelity to the new King; since he laboured with the utmost solicitude not only to confirm the allegiance of his own partizans to Pedro, but to discourage every attempt at disturbing the peace of the Monarchy. Pedro, however, who by his conduct during his Reign acquired the surname of "the Cruel," took the earliest opportunity of seizing the person of Don Henry's Mother, Leonora, whom he immediately committed to the custody of the Queen Dowager; who no sooner found her hated rival in her power, than she caused her to be put to a cruel and lingering death. All Castile was indignant at this atrocity; and Don Henry flew to arms. Don Frederick, Grand Master of St. James', Don Tello, Lord of Aguilar, and Don Ferdinand, Lord of Ledesne, his brothers, the other sons of the unfortunate Leonora, immediately joined him; and, having raised a considerable force, took possession of the town of Gijon, and bade defiance to the tyrant.

Intelligence of the revolt of the Princes was brought to Don Pedro as he was taking his evening promenade on the terrace of the royal gardens of Valladolid, accompanied by his Prime Minister, Don Alphonso d'Albuquerque. "Hearest thou

this, Alphonso?" said the King. "The Bastard Henry, and his Brothers, have garrisoned the Castle of Gijon, and troops, headed by the discontented nobles, are daily flocking to their assistance."

I hear it, Sire," said the Minister, "with sorrow and alarm.”

"And wherefore so, good Alphonso?" replied Don Pedro. "Let all the factions in Castile, and they are not a few, rally round the banner of the Bastards; let the puling Kings of Arragon and Navarre, who have already shewn that they bear me no good will, join in the traitorous league; aye, let even the powers of France, and the proud islanders of the West, for once agree for my destruction; yet I fear not. I have Allies, whose power and influence, not all of these together banded, could withstand."

"And who, Sire," enquired the Minister wonderingly; "who are the Allies who could possibly defend your Majesty against such a confederacy?" "The Stars! the Stars are with us, Albuquerque!" exclaimed the King. "Look yonder,"

he continued, pointing to the sky;

"and see how

even now, at the very instant that I receive this news, the Heavens are smiling on me."

Albuquerque looked towards the sky, and be

held indeed one of those evenings of surpassing beauty, which are seldom seen even beneath the glowing atmosphere of Spain. The Sun had set some time, but still the west retained a portion of his declining glory, which, with a varied line of deep red light, defined the summits of the distant hills. Above them spread the deep blue sky, bespangled with innumerable Stars, intensely bright; amongst which, the largest and most resplendent was the planet Jupiter, which shone over the Palace of Valladolid, and seemed to be shedding it's brightest beams upon the royal residence.

"That is my natal Star!" said the King; "that noble planet, or rather that other Sun, which seems to traverse the system in rivalship, and not in the train of the great source of light and heat. See, how all others shrink their beams before him. Even Mars, that lurid orb which now threatens me, quails before his superior brightness. The omens are most propitious!"

"Even so, Oh King!" said a sharp, shrill voice behind them; and, turning round, they perceived an aged man, of a noble and venerable countenance, with a long white beard, and black expressive eyes, which rivalled in brightness even the Stars on which they had been gazing. He wore a turban on his head, and was dressed after the Oriental fashion, in a white flowing robe. This