Columbus’ Scheme Rejected in Lisbon—He Goes to Madrid and Has an
Interview with Ferdinand and Isabella, after which he Endures Bitter
Disappointments
During the short voyages which Columbus made from the Canary Islands he
was still busy with the great scheme upon which he was engaged in
Lisbon. He often said to himself: “There must be a nearer route by sea
to the Indies than that attempted by the Portuguese. If one sails from
here across the ocean in a westerly direction he must at last reach a
country which is either India or some region adjacent to it. Is not the
earth round? And if round, must not God have created countries upon the
other side of it, upon which men and other creatures live? Is it at all
likely that the whole hemisphere is covered by the ocean? No! No! India
certainly is a vaster region than people believe. It must stretch far
from the east toward Europe. Then if one sails straight to the west he
must eventually reach it.” This was not his only reasoning. Several
other considerations strengthened his belief and this one among them: A
Portuguese navigator once, sailing far to the west, found curiously
wrought sticks floating in the sea, which came from the westward. This
fact convinced him there must be an inhabited country in that direction.
Columbus’ father-in-law, on one of his voyages, found similar sticks
which had been driven by the west winds. Felled trees of a kind unknown
there had been found on the west shores of the Azores, evidently blown
there by west winds. The bodies of two men had been washed ashore on
these same coasts, with strange, broad faces, evidently not Europeans,
and unlike the people of Asia and Africa.
Columbus carefully gathered all these facts, pondered over them day and
night, and, after comparing with them such information as he found in
old as well as contemporary authors, became thoroughly convinced that
his theories were correct. He remembered, however, that “to err is
human” and that four eyes are better than two. Thinking it unwise to
rely upon his own opinions alone, he consulted a man whose learning and
wisdom made his advice of the highest value. This was Toscanelli, a
Florentine physician, born in 1397. He was very old at this time, but he
had already declared his belief to Alfonso the Fifth that a voyage
across the Atlantic Ocean to the East Indies was perfectly practical,
and had sent a chart to Lisbon upon which the distance and choice of
routes was traced. Toscanelli approved the scheme of Columbus and not
only gave him much valuable advice but urged him to put his plans in
operation as soon as possible.
Columbus was now fully determined to set about his work but he needed
assistance in his preparations. Some government must help him and to
which one should he give the preference? He promptly decided that his
own dear fatherland should participate in the honor of his discoveries.
He submitted his scheme to the Genoese Council and asked for the
necessary assistance. The Council, however, attached no importance to
it, regarded him as an inexperienced man, and rejected his proposals. He
was discouraged by its decision but, feeling that he had at least
performed his duty to his fatherland, he went to Lisbon to submit his
plans to the Court, which at this time was more friendly to expeditions
than any other. He waited upon King John the Second and asked permission
of him and his Council to carry out the scheme upon which he had been
engaged so many years. His proposition was favorably considered but
subsequently his plan was stolen little by little and he found himself
the victim of most despicable treachery. The Portuguese hastily fitted
up a vessel and placed it in command of another leader, who sailed away
on Columbus’ course; but he had neither the latter’s skill nor courage
and, after a short western voyage, abandoned the undertaking as hopeless
and returned to Lisbon. Indignant at such treachery, Columbus forsook a
Court which had treated him so meanly and went with his son, Diego, to
Madrid. As his wife had died some time before this he never returned to
Lisbon. Fearing possibly that his scheme might not be accepted at the
Spanish Court, he sent his brother Bartolomeo, who was familiar with all
the details of his plan, to England, to ascertain whether he could
expect help in that quarter.
Ferdinand of Arragon was the ruler of Spain at this time (1484). His
cautious and suspicious nature led him to regard with disfavor any
scheme which was in the least doubtful. His consort, Isabella of
Castile, was much bolder, but she depended entirely upon her husband and
would not engage in anything that met with his disapproval.
Unfortunately also at this time the King was at war with the Moors, who
were in power at Grenada. Under such circumstances what could Columbus
expect from the King? Eventually he was hospitably received by Ferdinand
and Isabella and was listened to attentively. Before making a decision
one way or the other, however, the King decided to submit the scheme to
other advisers who unfortunately had not sufficient knowledge to examine
it intelligently. They interposed silly objections. One maintained that
the ocean between Europe and the Indies was so immeasurably vast that
even the most favorable voyage from Europe to the nearest land would
take at least three years. Another, in view of the roundness of the
earth, insisted that one sailing west would be going down hill and that
when he wished to return he would have to come up hill, which would be
impossible, however propitious the wind might be. Others were insolent
enough to ask him whether he imagined he was the only wise man among the
millions of the world, and, if there really was land on the other side,
how it happened that it had remained unknown for centuries.
Columbus needed all his resolution and patience to endure the ignorance
and insolence of his critics, but he retained his composure and answered
each foolish objection seriously. But of what avail was it? After
striving in vain for five years to convince these and other ignoramuses
that his scheme was feasible, he had the added mortification of learning
that the King sided with them. He received from the Court the
unfavorable reply that so long as the war with the Moors continued the
King could not consider any other undertaking. Columbus, of course, was
disappointed and had lost much valuable time, but he steadfastly adhered
to his purpose. Far from abandoning it, he applied to two Spanish
dukes[9] who were wealthy enough to fit up a small exploring squadron.
They were lacking, however, in faith and courage and did not care to
engage in a scheme which was too expensive for the King. Columbus was
again disappointed but concealed his vexation and, without wasting any
more time on useless applications, made preparations to bid farewell to
Spain (1491) and go to the King of France from whom he had received an
encouraging letter while at the Spanish Court. He started for that
country with his son Diego. Arrived at the flourishing seaport of
Palos[10] he knocked at the door of a Franciscan monastery[11] and asked
the doorkeeper for bread and water for his exhausted son. The learned
Brother, Juan Perez de Marchena, guardian of the monastery, who was
father confessor to the Queen, observed the wanderers. He entered into
conversation with Columbus, who acquainted him in a most interesting
manner with his plans and his misfortunes. The Brother listened to his
statements with eager attention, believed his scheme reasonable, and
urged him to remain until he could write to the Queen and receive her
reply.
Columbus assented. The Brother wrote the letter and made such a
convincing statement as to the feasibility of the scheme that Isabella
suddenly changed her mind and wrote a reply, urging Columbus to return
to the Court. The sorely tried and much disappointed man took heart
again and obeyed the Queen’s summons. Isabella received him graciously
and expressed the hope that his scheme would prove successful; but,
alas, the timid, wavering King marred all. He called the same
ignoramuses in council again and, as they made the same report, he would
hear nothing of western voyages and notified Isabella to break off the
intercourse with Columbus.
Columbus’ spirit, however, was stronger than that of his enemies. He
roused himself anew and was making preparations to go to England and
offer her King the great reward which three governments had
contemptuously refused, when the news came that the Moors had been
vanquished and their power in Spain ended. Ferdinand and Isabella were
delighted with the outcome of the struggle which made them rulers of all
Spain. Two friends of Columbus took advantage of the situation to urge
his scheme upon the Queen’s consideration and convince her that the
royal authority would be greatly extended by it. Owing to the zeal and
enthusiasm with which they espoused his cause, the King and Queen at
last decided to make no further opposition. A messenger was despatched
to Columbus and he was brought back in triumph to the Court, where the
Queen impatiently awaited him. Forgetting all his sickening
disappointments and blighted hopes, Columbus submitted his terms and
when they were finally accepted he felt that at last his dearest wishes
were realized. He asked for himself and his heirs elevation to the
nobility, the rank of admiral, the authority of vice-royalty over all he
should discover, and a tenth of all gains by conquest in trade.
[Illustration: _COLUMBUS PLANNING THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA_]
It is not strange the King was reluctant to give up any part of such
valuable revenues and to concede such important privileges, especially
as the new country might be larger than the mother country, and the
representative of the King more powerful than the King himself—but
Isabella was fully determined to recognize Columbus’ undertaking and
would not listen to any objections. She said: “I will pledge my crown of
Castile for the success of this scheme and my jewels also if sufficient
money is not raised to carry it out.”