some very
significant clues, and the elaborate researches of M. Harrisse
have furnished others. (See Las Casas, lib. i. cap. xxix.,
xxxi.; Harrisse, tom. i. pp. 341-372; tom. ii. pp. 237-231; cf.
Peragallo, _L' autenticita_, etc., pp. 117-134.)--It now seems
clear that Marchena, whom Columbus knew from his first arrival
in Spain, was not associated with La Rabida. At that time
Columbus left Diego, a mere infant, with his wife's sister at
Huelva. Seven years later, intending to leave Spain forever, he
went to Huelva and took Diego, then a small boy. On his way
from Huelva to the Seville road, and thence to Cordova (where
he would have been joined by Beatriz and Ferdinand), he
happened to pass by La Rabida, where up to that time he was
evidently unknown, and to attract the attention of the prior
Juan Perez, and the wheel of fortune suddenly and unexpectedly
turned. As Columbus's next start was not for France, but for
Granada, his boy was left in charge of two trustworthy persons.
On May 8, 1492, the little Diego was appointed page to Don
John, heir-apparent to the thrones of Castile and Aragon, with
a stipend of 9,400 maravedis. On February 19, 1498, after the
death of that young prince, Diego became page to Queen
Isabella.]

[Sidenote: The junto before Granada, Dec, 1491.]

At once upon the arrival of Columbus in the camp before Granada, his
case was argued then and there before an assembly of learned men and
was received more hospitably than formerly, at Salamanca. Several
eminent prelates had come to think favourably of his project or to deem
it at least worth a trial. Among these were the royal confessors, Deza
and Talavera, the latter having changed his mind, and especially
Mendoza, archbishop of Toledo, who now threw his vast influence
decisively in favour of Columbus.[504] The treasurers of the two
kingdoms, moreover, Quintanilla for Castile and Luis de Santangel for
Aragon, were among his most enthusiastic supporters; and the result of
the conference was the queen's promise to take up the matter in earnest
as soon as the Moor should have surrendered Granada.

[Footnote 504: In popular allusions to Columbus it is quite
common to assume or imply that he encountered nothing but
opposition from the cler