Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/159

135 CHAPTER XVII. EXPULSION OF THE JEWS FROM SPAIN. 1492. Excitement against the Jews. — Edict of Expulsion. — Dreadful Suf- ferings of the Emigrants. — Whole number of Exiles. — Disastrous Results. — True Motives of the Edict. — Contemporary Judgments. While the Spanish sovereigns were detained chapter before Granada, they published their memorable and most disastrous edict against the Jews ; in- scribing it, as it were, with the same pen which drew up the glorious capitulation of Granada and the treaty with Columbus. The reader has been made acquainted in a preceding chapter with the prosperous condition of the Jews in the Peninsula, and the preeminent consideration, which they at- tained there beyond any other part of Christendom. The envy raised by their prosperity, combined with Excitement 1 1 • 1 T • • 1 • Jl 1. 1 1 against the the high religious excitement kindled m the long •f'^ws. war with the infidel, directed the terrible arm of the Inquisition, as has been already stated, against this unfortunate people ; but the result showed the failure of the experiment, since comparatively few conversions, and those frequently of a suspicious character, were effected, while the great mass still