into the somewhat self-seeking fifteenth.  The negotiation, however, failed a second time, and Columbus resolved again to go to France, when Alonzo de Quintanilla and Juan Perez contrived to obtain a hearing for the great adventurer from Cardinal Mendoza, who was pleased with him.  Columbus then offered, in order to meet the objections of his opponents, to pay an eighth part of the expense of the expedition.  Still nothing was done.

  SANTANGLE’S address.

And now, finally, Columbus determined to go to France, and indeed had actually set off one day in January of the year 1492, when Luis de Santangel, receiver of the ecclesiastical revenues of the crown of Aragon, a person much devoted to the plans of Columbus, addressed the queen with all the energy that a man throws into his words when he is aware that it is his last time for speaking in favour of a thing which he has much at heart.  He told her that he wondered that, as she always had a lofty mind for great things, it should be wanting to her on this occasion.  He endeavoured to pique her jealousy as a monarch, by suggesting that the enterprise might fall into the hands of other princes.  Then he said something in behalf of Columbus himself, and the queen was not unlikely to know well the bearing of a great man.  He intimated to her highness that what was an impossibility to the cosmographers, might not be so in nature.  Nor, continued he, should any endeavour in so great a matter be attributed to lightness, even though the endeavour should fail; for it is the part of great and generous princes to ascertain the secrets of the world.  Other princes (he did not mention those of neighbouring Portugal) had gained eternal fame this way.  He concluded by saying that all the aid Columbus wanted to set the expedition afloat, was but a million of maravedis (equivalent to about 308 Pounds, English money of the period); and that so great an enterprise ought not to be abandoned for the sake of such a trifling sum.

  Success of the address.

These well addressed arguments, falling in, as they did, with those of Quintanilla, the treasurer, who had great influence with the queen, prevailed.  She thanked these lords for their counsel, and said she would adopt it, but they must wait until the finances had recovered a little from the drain upon them occasioned by the conquest of Granada, or if they thought that the plan must be forthwith carried out, she would pledge her jewels to raise the necessary funds.  Santangel and Quintanilla kissed her hands, highly delighted at succeeding; and Santangel offered to advance the money required.  Upon this the queen sent an alguazil to overtake Columbus and bring him back to the court.  He was overtaken at the bridge of Pinos, two leagues from Granada; returned to Santa Fe, where the sovereigns were encamped before Granada; was well received by Isabella; and finally the agreement between him and their catholic highnesses was settled with the secretary, Colama.