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Isabella’s parents had hired a very fair house, right over against Santa Paula, by reason that there was a nun in that nunnery a near kinswoman of theirs, who had the rarest and sweetest voice in all Spain, as well that they might be near unto her as also for that Isabella had told Ricaredo that if he should come to seek her he should find her in Seville, and that her cousin the nun of Santa Paula would direct him to her house, and that for to know where to find her he needed not to give himself any further trouble than to inquire after that nun which had the best voice in the nunnery, because this token could not easily be forgotten.

It was forty days before letters of advice came from Paris, and within two days after they were come the French merchant delivered the ten thousand crowns to Isabella, and she them to her parents; and with them and some other which they had got together by selling some of those many of Isabella’s jewels, her father began again to follow his trade of merchandise, not without the admiration of those who knew his great losses.

In conclusion, within a few months he went repaying his lost credit, and Isabella’s beauty returned to its former perfection; insomuch that when any speech was had of fair women all of them gave the laurel to the English Spaniard, who was as well known by this name as she was for her beauty throughout the whole city.

By means of the French merchant of Seville Isabella and her parents writ letters to the Queen of England of their safe arrival in Spain, with such acknowledgements and submissions at her Majesty’s feet as the many favours from her received did require. They likewise writ to Clotaldo and to his lady Catalina—Isabella styling them her father and mother and her father and mother them their lords. From the Queen they received no answer, but from Clotaldo and his wife they did; whom in their letters gave them the felicitation of their safe arrival, certifying them besides how that their son Ricaredo the next day after that they had hoisted sail was gone for France, and from thence to pass to some other parts of Christendom, whither it was fitting for him to go for the settling and securing of his conscience. Adding to these other discourses and compliments of much love and affection, besides many other fair and friendly offers. To which letters of theirs they made answer with another, no less courteous and loving than thankful.

Isabella presently imagined that Ricaredo’s leaving his country was to come to seek her out in Spain, and feeding herself with this hope she began to lead the most contented life in the world, and studied to live in such sort that when Ricaredo should come to Seville he might sooner hear the good report that went of her virtues than come to the knowledge of her house. Seldom or never did she go out of doors unless it were to the nunnery; she reaped no benefit by any other jubilees save those which she gained by the convent. From her house and from her oratory she visited in her meditations on the Fridays in Lent, and on the seven days of Whitsun week, the most holy stations of the Cross. She never visited the river, nor walked to the Triana; she never went to see the common pastimes in the Field of Tablada, nor to see the Gate of Xeres, nor to go, if it were a fair day, to the feast of Saint Sebastian, celebrated by so many people as can hardly be reduced to any number. In short, she did not witness any public rejoicing or other festival in Seville: but spent all her whole time in retirement, in prayers, and good desires, still looking for the coming of her Ricaredo.