Don Rodrigo Sanchez de Arevalo, bishop of Valencia (in his Historia Hispana, lib. iv. cap. 5.), was the first to publish the apparition, but with many varying circumstances.  He says that the angel appeared in a dream to one Pedro Martinez of Pampliega, of the household of the infante don Manuel; and that, by order of the celestial messenger, Pedro waited on the king at Burgos, who ridiculed the whole matter.  Some days having passed, Alfonso went to Segovia, where he was troubled by another visit from a holy hermit, who exhorted him to repentance.  The king having caused the messenger to be kicked out of the palace, there arose a furious storm, attended with thunder and lightning, which the night season rendered still more awful; the liquid element fell into the royal apartment, and consumed the queen’s wardrobe.  The terrified king immediately sent in search of the hermit, begged pardon of God, and confessed his impiety.

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CHARACTER OF ISABEL OF SPAIN.

If we except our Elizabeth, and Catherine of Russia, no princess of modern times can equal Isabel in ability, or in the success of her administration:  and, in the qualities of her heart, in Christian fervour, and an unspotted life, how far does she not exceed either!  Prudent in the formation, yet prompt in the execution, of her plans; severe towards guilt, yet merciful towards misfortune; unbending in her purposes, yet submissive to her husband; of rigid virtue, yet indulgent to minor frailties; devout without ostentation, and proud without haughtiness; feeling towards the pains of others, yet exhibiting no sentiment of her own, she might well command the respect, no less than the affection, of her people.  Of her humble piety an anecdote is related, with great applause, by catholic writers.  When the sovereigns of Castile were at confession, it was usual for the priest to kneel at the same time with themselves.  The first time she attended this duty, after her elevation to the throne, she knelt; but the priest, Fernando de Talavera, quietly seated himself beside her.  On her expressing some surprise that he also did not kneel, the friar replied, “This, senora, is the tribunal of God, whom I here represent, and I shall therefore remain seated; your highness will continue to kneel!” After her devotions were concluded, instead of expressing any resentment, she observed to an attendant, “This is just the director I have long sought!” The friar became archbishop of Granada.  Her only defect—­yet it is surely great enough—­is her approval of the infernal tribunal which consigned to torture, imprisonment, or death, so many thousands of her subjects.  Strange that this very lady, whom sufferings so exquisite could not move, should have been the constant and successful advocate of the Moors, whenever any town or fortress was taken by storm.

To Isabel must be ascribed the glory of the enterprise of Columbus in his discovery of America.  At first she received with natural coldness the proposals of this wonderful man; but overcome at length by the representation of a monk, the friend of Columbus, and still more by the resistless reasoning of the navigator himself, whom she admitted to her presence, she borrowed the sum of money necessary for the armament, and bade him depart.