The Life of Columbus / From His Own Letters and Journals and Other Documents of His Time

POPE AND WITH THE KING OF PORTUGAL-SECOND EXPED

first of Spain and then of the world. This letter found in the earlier editions is now one of the most choice curio

tern coast of Spain, so that the journey required to fulfill their wishes carried him quite across the kingdom. It was a journey of trium

he Ocean Sea, Viceroy and Governor of the islands discovered in the Indies." So far was he now raised above the rank of a po

of the Admiral. Six Indians of the islands who had survived the voyage, led the way. They were painted according to their custom in various co

n the voyage and he had left three sick at Palos. Those whom he br

rare plants, so different from those of Spain. Ornaments of gold were displayed, which would give the people some idea of the wealth of the islands. Last of all came Columbus, elegantly mounted and surro

acion" which the kings of Aragon made their residence when they were in Barcelona. A body of the most distinguished lords and ladies of Spain were in attendance. As Colu

rtainty of the discoveries which had been made, as only precursors of those yet to come. When his short narrative was ended, all the company knelt and united in chanti

y, could hardly do better than to produce on the twenty-fourth of April, 1893, a reproduction of the solemn

f that large class of people who stay at home when great deeds are done, and afterwards depreciate the doers of them-had the impertinence to ask Columbus, if the adventure so much praised was not, after all, a very simple matter. He probably said "a short voyage of four or five weeks; was it anything more?" Columbus repl

was, at the time, welcomed with the enthusiasm which he deserved. From the very grains of gold brought home in

tations of King David, King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and other royal personages. This book she gave afterwards t

leaves the first fruits of America, is now

scoveries in the same direction. There was at least one precedent for such action. A former pope had granted to Portugal all the lands it might discover in Africa, south of Cape Bojador, and the Spanish crown had assented by treaty to this arrangement. Ferdinand and Isabella could now refer to this precedent, in asking for a grant to them of their discoveries on the western side of the Atlantic. The pope now reigning was Alexander II. He had not long filled the papal chair. He was an ambitious and prudent sovereign-

long to Portugal. No reference was made to other maritime powers, and it does not seem to have been supposed that other states had any rights in such matters. The line thus arranged for the two nations was

eld those islands, under this line of division, ever since their discovery by Magellan. She considered herself entitled to all the islands and lands

e centuries and more, Brazil, which projects so far east

arrangements for a second expedition. It was to be on a large and generous scale and to take out a thousand men. For this was the first plan, though the number afterwards was increased to fifte

ealed to the sovereigns to set aside a decision of Fonseca's, and succeeded. For all the period while he managed the Indian affairs of Spain, Fonseca kept his own interests i

r real purposes, in the worst style of the diplomacy of that time, they attempted treaties for the adjustment between themselves of the right to lands not yet discovered by either. Of these negotiations, the important result was that which has been named,-the change of the meri

west. Everything was pressed with alacrity at Cadiz. The expedition was to be under Columbus's absolute command. Seamen of reputation were engaged to serve under him. Seventeen vessels were to take out a colony. Horses as wel

rly pressed, from all quarters, for permission to go. Young men of high family were eager to try the great adventure. It was necessary to enlarge the number from that at first proposed. The increase of expense, ordered as the plans enlarged, did

tle more than a year from the sailing of the first expediti