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LIFE A N D V O Y A G E S
OF
[BOOK I I .
one thousand ducats in gold,* for the support of the monks who had charge of the sepulchre; and sent a veil, embroidered with her own hands, to be hung up at its shrine.† The representations of these friars of the sufferings and indig nities to which Christians were subjected in the Holy Land, toge ther with the arrogant threat of the Soldan, roused the pious indignation of the Spanish cavaliers, and many burned with ardent zeal once more to revive the contests of the faith on the sacred plains of Palestine.
It was probably from conversation
with these friars, and from the pious and chivalrous zeal thus awakened in the warrior throng around him, that Columbus first conceived an enthusiastic idea, or rather made a kind of mental vow, which remained more or less present to his mind until the very day of his death.
He determined that, should his projected
enterprise be successful, he would devote the profits arising from his anticipated discoveries, to a crusade for the rescue of the holy sepulchre from the power of the Infidels. If the bustle and turmoil of this campaign prevented the intended conference, the concerns of Columbus fared no better during the subsequent rejoicings.
Ferdinand and Isabella en
tered Seville in February, 1490, with great pomp and triumph. There were then preparations made for the marriage of their eldest daughter, the Princess Isabella, with the Prince Don Alonzo, heir apparent of Portugal.
The nuptials were cele
brated in the month of April, with extraordinary splendor. Throughout the whole winter and spring the court was in a continual tumult of parade and pleasure, and nothing was to be
* Or 1423 dollars, equivalent to 4269 dollars in our time. † Garabay, Compend. Hist. lib. xviii. cap. 36.