Christopher Columbus | Page 2

if only they had helped him! What
was the Christianizing of the few Moors who remained in Spain
compared with the Christianizing of all the undiscovered heathen
across the Atlantic!
And so on that eventful January 2, 1492, when a whole city was
delirious with joy,
"There was crying in Granada when the sun was going down, Some
calling on the Trinity-- some calling on Mahoun. Here passed away the
Koran--there in the Cross was borne-- And here was heard the Christian
bell-- and there the Moorish horn."
On that great day of jubilee one man, a stranger, but as devout a
Christian as any of the conquerors, stood apart downcast, melancholy,
saddened by years of fruitless waiting for a few ships. That man was
Christopher Columbus.
When you know that Columbus was present by special invitation, that a
friend of the queen's had secured him the promise of an interview with
full consideration of his plans just as soon as the city surrendered, you
may think he should have looked happy and hopeful with the rest; but
the fact was, that for nearly seven years the monarchs had been holding
out promises, only to put him off, until his faith in princes had

dwindled to almost nothing.
But, as it happened, they really meant it this time. Moreover, it is only
fair to Ferdinand and Isabella to believe that they had always meant it,
but they had been so preoccupied with the enormous task of welding
poor Spain, long harassed by misrule and war, into a prosperous nation,
that they had neither time nor money for outside ventures. Certain it is
that when Granada was really conquered and they had their first respite
from worry, the man who was known at court as the "mad Genoese"
was summoned to expound his plan of sailing far out into the west
where he was certain of finding new lands.
Where this meeting took place is not known positively, but probably it
was in the palace called the Alhambra, a marvelous monument of
Arabian art which may be visited to-day. Columbus stood long in the
exquisite audience chamber, pleading and arguing fervently; then he
came out dejected, mounted his mule, and rode wearily away from
Spain's new city; for Spain, after listening attentively to his proposals,
had most emphatically refused to aid him. It was surely a sorry reward,
you will say, for his six years' waiting. And yet the man's courage was
not crushed; he started off for France, to try his luck with the French
king.
This is what had happened at the Spanish court. The great navigator
talked clearly and convincingly about the earth being round instead of
flat as most people still supposed; and how, since Europe, Asia, and
Africa covered about six sevenths of the globe's surface, and the
Atlantic Ocean the remaining seventh (here he quoted the prophet
Esdras), [Footnote: "Upon the third day thou didst command that the
waters should be gathered in the seventh part of the earth. Six parts hast
thou dried up and kept them to the intent that of these some being
planted of God and tilled might serve thee.... Upon the fifth day thou
saidst unto the seventh part where the waters were gathered that it
should bring forth living creatures, fowls and fishes, and so it came to
pass." Apocrypha, 2 Esdras vi. 42, 47.] any one by sailing due west
must surely come to land. So clear was his own vision of this land that
he almost saw it as he spoke; and his eloquence made his hearers

almost see it too. One after another they nodded their approval, and
approval had never before been won when he addressed a Spanish
audience. But when Archbishop Talavera, who was spokesman for
King Ferdinand, asked the would-be discoverer what reward he
expected in case his voyage was successful, the answer was so
unexpected that nearly every man in the room was indignant.
This answer is worth looking into carefully if one is to understand why
the Spanish nobility thought that Columbus drove a hard bargain. He
demanded of their Highnesses,
First: That he should be made Admiral over all seas and territories he
might discover, the office to continue for life and to descend to his
heirs forever, with all its dignities and salaries.
Second: That he should be made Viceroy and Governor-General of all
new territories, and should name the officers under him.
Third: That he should have one tenth part of all merchandise, pearls,
precious stones, gold, silver, or spices acquired by trade, discovery, or
any other method.
Fourth: That if any controversy or lawsuit should arise over such goods,
he or his officer should be the only judge in the matter.
Fifth: That in fitting out all expeditions for