HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 391 



yet he should be left to the poor amity of Arragon. 

 And whereas he had been heretofore a kind of 

 arbiter of Europe, he should now go less, and be 

 over-topped by so great a conjunction. He had 

 also, as it seems, an inclination to marry, and be 

 thought himself of some fit conditions abroad ; and 

 amongst others he had heard of the beauty and vir 

 tuous behaviour of the young Queen of Naples, the 

 widow of Ferdinando the younger, being then of 

 matronal years of seven and twenty : by whose 

 marriage he thought that the kingdom of Naples, 

 having been a gaol for a time between the King 

 of Arragon and the French king, and being but 

 newly settled, might in some part be deposited in 

 his hands, who was so able to keep the stakes. 

 Therefore he sent in embassage or message three 

 confident persons, Francis Marsin, James Bray- 

 brooke, and John Stile, upon two several inquisitions 

 rather than negociations. The one touching the 

 person and condition of the young Queen of Naples ; 

 the other touching all particulars of estate, that 

 concerned the fortunes and intentions of Ferdinando. 

 And because they may observe best, who themselves 

 are observed least, he sent them under colourable 

 pretexts : giving them letters of kindness and com 

 pliment from Catharine the princess, to her aunt and 

 niece, the old and young Queen of Naples, and de 

 livering to them also a book of new articles of peace : 

 which notwithstanding it had been delivered unto 

 Doctor de Puebla, the lieger ambassador of Spain 

 here in England, to be sent ; yet for that the king 



