Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/447

421 PERSECUTIONS IN GRANADA. 421 to his moralizing biographer, for the remainder of chapter VI, his life. ^^ He hastened to repair his fault by pro- '- — - ceeding to Seville in person, and presenting himself before the sovereigns. He detailed to them the history of all the past transactions; recapitulated his manifold services, the arguments and exhortations he had used, the large sums he had expended, and his various expedients, in short, for effecting con- version, before resorting to severity. He boldly assumed the responsibility of the whole proceeding, acknowledging that he had purposely avoided com- municating his plans to the sovereigns for fear of opposition. If he had erred, he said, it could be imputed to no other motive, at worst, than too great zeal for the interests of religion ; but he concluded with assuring them, that the present position of affairs was the best possible for their purposes, since the late conduct of the Moors involved them in the guilt, and consequently all the penalties of treason, and that it would be an act of clemency to offer pardon on the alternatives of conversion or exile ! ^^ The archbishop's discourse, if we are to credit conversion ^ of Granada. his enthusiastic biographer, not only dispelled the clouds of royal indignation, but drew forth the most emphatic expressions of approbation. '^ How far Ferdinand and Isabella were moved to this by his final recommendation, or what, in clerical language, may be called the " improvement of his discourse," 36 Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 38 Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 32. — Robles, Vida de Ximenez, 33. — Suma de la Vida de Cisne- cap. 14. ros, MS. 37 Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, ubi supra.