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Isabella made him answer that she would not stay only two years for him but all those of his life, till that she were truly certified that he had left this life, and that in that instant that this should come to her knowledge the same likewise would be her death.

With these kind words fresh tears fell from them all. And Ricaredo went and told his parents that he would by no means be married, nor give his hand to the Scottish damsel to be his spouse, till he had quieted his mind by a year’s travel. He knew well how to express himself, and gave them such good reasons for it, as likewise to the parents that came with Clisterna (for that was the damsel’s name), that being, as they were, all Catholics, they did easily give credit unto them; and Clisterna was contented to remain in her father-in-law’s house till Ricaredo should return, who craved a year’s time.

This being thus concluded and agreed upon, Clotaldo told Ricaredo how that he was resolved to send Isabella and her parents to Spain, if the Queen would give him leave so to do.”For,” said he, “peradventure the air of her own country will hasten and facilitate her health,” which she now began to recover.

Ricaredo, that he might not give any the least inkling of his designs, answered (though but coldly) his father, that he should do that which seemed best in his own eyes; only he besought him that he would not take aught of those riches from Isabella which the Queen had bestowed on her. Clotaldo promised he would not; and that very day he went to crave license of the Queen, as well for the marrying of his son to Clisterna as for the sending of Isabella with her father and mother into Spain.

The Queen was well contented with both his requests, and approved Clotaldo’s determination. And that very day, without calling her bedchamber woman in question, she dismissed her of her service, and condemned her (besides the loss of her place) in ten thousand crowns to Isabella. And the Earl Arnesto, for his challenging of Ricaredo, she banished him for six years. Four days were scarce spent and gone but that Arnesto was upon the point to go to comply with his banishment, and the money had been paid.

The Queen commanded a rich merchant to come unto her that dwelt in London, and was a Frenchman who had very good correspondence in France, Italy, and Spain; to whom she delivered ten thousand crowns, and required of him bills of exchange for the returning of them to Isabella’s father in Seville or in any other part of Spain. The merchant discounting his interest and profit, told the Queen that he would make certain and sure payment of them in Seville, by bills of exchange upon another French merchant, his correspondent, in this manner and form, viz. , that he would write to Paris, to the end that the bills might be made there by another correspondent of his, because they would accept and allow of those that came from France, but not from England, by reason of the prohibition of commerce betwixt those two kingdoms, and that a letter of advice from him should serve the turn, by a privy mark that passed between them two; and that without any more ado the merchant of Seville should give him the moneys, who should be advised thereof from Paris.

In fine, the Queen took such good security of the merchant that she made no doubt of the true payment of it. And not contenting herself with this, she sent for the master of a Flemish ship that lay in the river, and was to put forth the day following for France, to take a certificate thereof in some port, that he might be the better able to pass into Spain under the title of coming from France, and not from England; whom she earnestly entreated to carry with him in his ship Isabella and her parents, and that he should use them well and kindly, and land them in Spain at the very first place he should come at on that coast.