426 ST. JANE sacred war. The king told his daughter all his plans, consulted her on religious and other snhjects, and appointed her regent, with her tutor Didacius Suarius of Albergaria to assist and adyise her. Juana left off her gay clothing and wore black : she busied herself in look- ing after the many matrons and maids of her household. She arranged advan- tageous marriages for some, in many cases providing dowries. She divided all her valuable clothes and jewellery, giving liberally to priests and the cause of reUgion. She prayed for the success of her father's army. Consequently he soon took two towns, Tangiers and Algiers. When the joyfol tidings came that the king was returning victorious, Juana determined to take advantage of the hour of triumph to obtain his sanction to her retirement from the world. She had some difi&culty in pro- curing garments suitable for a festal occasion, especially as all the merchant ships were being used in the war. At last her messengers succeeded in getting her a green silk, the colour expressive of her faith and hope. She adorned her head and neck with jewels, but under all this gay apparel she wore a hair shirt and the coarsest woollen clothing. Thus attired, she went forth to meet her father, accompanied by her mother's sister Filippa and all the principal ladies and gentlemen of the court. When she had saluted the king and his nobles, she astonished them all by saying — " Your Majesty knows that it was the custom of the kings and emperors of the ancient world, that when they had ob- tained a great victory they returned thanks and offered the most precious gifts to their gods. Some of them even offered their daughters to serve in the temples. How much more should a victorious Christian king make such an offering to the true and merciful God, who has enabled him to conquer an innumerable host of barbarians in so short a time, and with so little trouble and danger to himself and his people." She added that he had not far to look for a sacrifice, as his daughter stood there, not only willing but desiring to be consecrated to God. Therefore she asked that no project of marriage should ever be mentioned to her again, and that she should be allowed to retire to some convent, there to offer herself a living sacrifice to Christ The king, being t fervent Catholic, could not refuse, hov- ever unwilling to part with his daughter. His consent was reoeived with murmnn from the crowd, who protested against the loss of the princess as heir to the throne. Juana remained s^yeral months in the palace, taking her place in the world bo cheerfally and graciously that the people began to hope she had forgotten h^ wish to take the veil. In March, 1472, a celestial sign appeared over the con- vent of Aveiro. Every night from sunset until dawn an enormous comet was seen, even if the sky was so cloudy that no other star was visible ; it stood exactly over tho place where the Infanta afterwards erected the new buildings. Juana obtained her father's consent to enter for a time the Convent of Odiyellas, of tho rule of St. Bernard. She had to go by night lest the people should interfere to prevent her leaving the palace. She took none of her maids with her, except two old and faithful servants. Great grief and lamentation prevailed when it was found that she had really gono. Her aunt Filippa visited her at the convent, and her father and brother did all they could to turn her from her purpose. Seeing at last that nothing would shake her determination, the king consented to her entering a convent, but stipulated that it should be one where she would be treated with the deference due to her station, and where there were ladies of high rank. He chose the Con- vent of St. Clara at Coimbra, and set oft thither with Juana, from Lisbon, in June, 1472. When they had nearly reached Coimbra, Juana renewed her entreaties to the king, to be allowed to go to the poor Dominican convent at Aveiro in- stead ; and at last, his many objections being overcome, the party proceeded there. On Aug. 4, St. Dominic's Day, Juana entered tho Convent of Jesus, and was joyously received by the Prioress Beatrice de Leitona and some of the elder nuns. That night the comet did not appear ; nor was it ever seen again.
