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Having ended the reading of her letter without shedding a tear and without showing any signs of sorrow, with a composed countenance and with to appearance a quieted and contented mind, she arose from the parlour where she sat, and kneeling down devoutly, she made a solemn vow to be a nun, since that she might lawfully do it being now a widow.

Her parents dissembled their grief and covered that sorrow with the cloak of discretion which this sad news had caused in them, that they might be the better able to comfort Isabella in this bitterness of her soul; who being now as it were fully satisfied of her sorrow, moderating it with the resolution which she had put on, she fell to comforting of her parents, to whom she discovered her intent. But they did advise her that she should not put it in execution until that those two years were overpast which Ricaredo had set down for the term of his coming; for thereupon much depended the confirming of the truth of Ricaredo’s death, and she might then with the more safety and security change this her estate.

Isabella followed their counsel, and the six months and a half which remained for the accomplishing of the two years she spent them in the exercises of a religious damsel, and for the better preparing and fitting of herself for her entering into the nunnery, having made choice of that of Santa Paula, where her cousin was.

The term of the two years was expired, and the day was come wherein she was to take upon her the habit; the news whereof was spread throughout the whole city amongst those who knew her by sight and by those that knew her only by report. Now the convent stood not far off from Isabella’s house, and her father inviting his friends, and they others, Isabella had one of the noblest and most honourable trains to accompany her thither as in the like occasions was never seen in Seville.

There accompanied her the Asistente, the Dean of the Church, and the Vicar-General of the Archbishop, and all the ladies and gentlemen of title and quality that were in the city, so great was the desire that all of them had to see that sun of Isabella’s beauty which had so many months been eclipsed. And because it is the custom and fashion of those damsels which go to take the habit to be as gallant and as bravely adorned as possibly they can devise, who as one that ever after from that instant takes her leave and farewell of all bravery and wholly discards it, Isabella was willing, that she might not break so ancient a custom, to trick and set forth herself in the best and most curious manner that possibly she could invent. And therefore she did put on that gown and kirtle and those rich dressings which she had on when she went to see the Queen of England, and we have heretofore told you how rich, how sightly, and how magnificent it was. There came forth to public view those orient pearls and that glittering diamond, with the carcanet, chain, and girdle, which likewise were of great value.

With this adornment and her own good looks, that gave occasion to all to praise God in her, Isabella went out of her house on foot, for her being so near unto the convent excused coaches and caroches. The concourse of the people was so great that it repented them that they had not taken coach, for they would not give them way to get to the nunnery. Some blessed her parents, others Heaven that had enriched her with so much beauty; some did stand on tiptoe for to see her, others having seen her once, ran to get afore that they might see her again.