26 - Concerning the treaties which King Fernando made with the Emir of Granada with a view to their waging war against King Enrique

Summary

King Fernando was strong-willed and keen to have what all men by their very nature desire, namely the enhancement of their reputation and honourable estate. When he realized that, without even seeking it, the world was offering him a favourable route towards achieving so great an honour, he decided, without further regard to possible setbacks, that he would fully pursue and press ahead with this objective, as there was so much help at hand to enable him to fulfil it that it seemed to him a straightforward matter for Castile to become his at an early date.

Assured that the Emir of Granada had refused to make any treaties with King Enrique, owing to the death of King Pedro, who was a great friend for reasons which you have already heard about, he at once agreed a treaty with him, of which the terms were as follows: both would wage war against all those who declared for King Enrique and went to his aid; the war would take place both on land and by sea; the Emir of Granada would neither make peace with King Enrique nor enter into any truce with him, rather he would always aid King Fernando and proceed with the war against King Enrique; any townships which declared for King Fernando would be safe from the Emir of Granada, and likewise any which declared for the Emir of Granada would be safe from King Fernando; if the Moorish sovereign were to send for troops from Bellamarín or other places to help him against King Enrique, then he would be expected to pay their wages, without costing King Fernando anything; in the same way, if foreign soldiers came at the behest of King Fernando, the Emir of Granada would not be expected to pay any part of the wages due to them for coming; if any towns, large or small, which declared for the Emir of Granada after he had vanquished them or was on the way to do so, were commanded by him to be destroyed, the peace between them would not be sundered, because their only reason for that declaration was born of fear; in the same way, if King Fernando were to do likewise, when it suited him to do so, to those who [equally insincerely] declared for him, he too would not be breaking the agreement.