en confessor to the queen, and knew that she was
always accessible to persons of his sacred calling. He therefore wrote a
letter to her, and at the same time entreated Columbus to remain at
the convent until an answer could be received. The latter was easily
persuaded, for he felt as if on leaving Spain he was again abandoning
his home.

The little council at La Rabida now cast round their eyes for an
ambassador to send on this momentous mission. They chose one Sebastian
Rodriguez, a pilot of Lepe, one of the most shrewd and important
personages in this maritime neighborhood. He so faithfully and
successfully conducted his embassy that he returned shortly with an
answer.

Isabella had always been favorably disposed to the proposition of
Columbus. She thanked Juan Perez for his timely services and requested
him to repair immediately to the court, leaving Columbus in confident
hope until he should hear further from her. This royal letter, brought
back by the pilot at the end of fourteen days, spread great joy in the
little junto at the convent.

No sooner did the warm-hearted friar receive it than he saddled
his mule, and departed, privately, before midnight to the court. He
journeyed through the countries of the Moors, and rode into the new city
of Santa Fe where Ferdinand and Isabella were engaged in besieging the
capital of Granada.

The sacred office of Juan Perez gained him a ready admission into the
presence of the queen. He pleaded the cause of Columbus with enthusiasm.
He told of his honorable motives, of his knowledge and experience, and
his perfect capacity to fulfill the undertaking. He showed the solid
principles upon which the enterprise was founded, and the advantage that
must attend its success, and the glory it must shed upon the Spanish
Crown.

Isabella, being warm and generous of nature and sanguine of disposition,
was moved by the representations of Juan Perez, and requested that
Columbus might be again sent to her. Bethinking herself of his poverty
and his humble plight, she ordered that money should be forwarded to
him, sufficient to bear his traveling expenses, and to furnish him with
decent raiment.

The worthy friar lost no time in communicating the result of his
mission. He transmitted the money, and a letter, by the hand of an
inhabitant of Palos, to the physician, Garcia Fernandez, who delivered
them to Columbus The latter immediately changed his threadbare garb for
one more suited to t