Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/157

133 HIS APPLICATION AT THE COURT. 133 appropriated to the equipment of two several fleets chapter in the course of the late war for a foreign expedi- ' tion, as well as to that, with which in the ensuing jear she followed up Columbus's discoveries. But while, on a review of the circumstances, we Acknowi eiigmenls are led more and more to admire the constancy beMa.°'^"' and unconquerable spirit, which carried Columbus victorious through all the difficulties of his under- taking, we must remember, in justice to Isabella, that, although tardily, she did in fact furnish the resources essential to its execution ; that she under- took the enterprise when it had been explicitly de- clined by other powers, and when probably none other of that age would have been found to coun- tenance it ; and that, after once plighting her faith to Columbus, she became his steady friend, shield- ing him against the calumnies of his enemies, re- posing in him the most generous confidence, and serving him in the most acceptable manner, by supplying ample resources for the prosecution of his glorious discoveries.^'' 27 Columbus, in a letter written else, in his ignorance, was expa- on his third voyage, pays an honest, tiating only on the inconvenience heartfelt tribute to the effectual pat- and cost, her Highness approved it, ronage which he experienced from on the contrary, and gave it all the the queen. " In the midst of the support in her power." See Carta general incredulity," says he, " the al Ama del Principe D. Juan, apud Almighty infused into the queen, Navarrete, Coleccion de Viages, my lady, the spirit of intelligence tom. i. p. 266. and energy ; and, whilst every one It is now more than thirty years scholars of the country, with the Navarrete. since the Spanish government in- care of exploring the public ar- trusted Don Martin Fernandez de chives, for the purpose of collecting Navarrete, one of the most eminent information relative to the voyages