[52]. The sequence of the movements of Columbus, and several facts and dates here given, vary from the current accounts. The narrative here set forth has been carefully compiled from the result of much recent Spanish research, besides the well-known texts of Navarrete and the superb anthology of contemporary information reproduced by Mr. Thatcher in his exhaustive three volumes lately published. I have also depended much upon Rodriguez Pinilla’s ‘Colon en España,’ Cappa’s ‘Colon y los Españoles,’ and Ibarra y Rodriguez’s ‘Fernando el Catolico y el Descubrimiento de America,’ etc. etc.
[53]. See Columbus’s own letter to the nurse of Prince Juan, reproduced by Mr. Thatcher.
[54]. As Medina Celi was with Ferdinand during all the campaign of 1485, it is possible that he may have mentioned it to the King then, and have been told that when there was time the sovereigns themselves would examine into the matter.
[55]. Las Casas and F. Colon.
[56]. Fernando Colon.
[57]. Las Casas.
[58]. Fernando Colon.
[59]. The speech, which is probably apocryphal, is given at length by Las Casas.
[60]. The legend of Queen Isabel and her jewels has been now completely disproved by my friend, Don Cesareo Fernandez Duro, in his article ‘Las Joyas de la Reina Isabel’ in the ‘Revista Contemporanea,’ vol. xxxviii.
[61]. Professor Ibarra y Rodriguez’s interesting study ‘Fernando el Catolico y el Descubrimiento’ (Madrid, 1892) makes this matter clear for the first time. The treasury of Castile was empty, but Ferdinand had plenty of money in Aragon. He was careful, however, not to allow the Castilians to know this, or they would have clamoured for some of it for their war against Granada, whilst he was hoarding it for his war against France. He therefore went through the comedy of causing Sant’angel to lend the million maravedis, apparently out of his own pocket, but the money was secretly advanced for the purpose to Sant’angel from the King’s Aragonese treasury, to which it was subsequently repaid through Sant’angel.