Columbus Again Calumniated at the Spanish Court—Bobadilla is Ordered to
San Domingo on a Tour of Investigation—He Sends Columbus Back to Spain
in Fetters—Columbus Vindicated by his Sovereigns—Ovando Sails to the New
Countries with a Fleet of Thirty-two Vessels
Roldan and his followers did everything in their power to escape
responsibility for the disorder which had occurred and fasten the blame
upon Columbus. At the same time many malcontents returned to Spain angry
because, in place of the riches they had expected, they had encountered
only hardships and poverty. All of these people regarded Columbus as the
sole cause of their blasted hopes, and accusations and curses were
heaped upon him all over Spain. Encouraged by his powerful enemies, they
overwhelmed the King and Queen with petitions for compensation for their
losses and with complaints of the injustice and oppression they alleged
they had suffered from him. Their ragged attire and pale, famished
appearance aroused sympathy for them and lent their statements the
appearance of truth. Whenever the King and Queen appeared in public a
swarm of these unfortunates, instigated by the Admiral’s enemies,
surrounded them, implored the royal mercy, and inveighed against
Columbus. Is it surprising that a naturally credulous and suspicious
King at last believed their accusations? Is it surprising also that the
Queen herself, who had hitherto been Columbus’ steadfast patron, at last
took sides against him?
Owing to the pressure brought upon them, Ferdinand and Isabella decided
to send a commissioner to the West Indies with authority to investigate
the Admiral’s administration. Francisco de Bobadilla was the man
proposed by the enemies of Columbus, and he obtained the important
position. He had full authority to remove Columbus and in his heart was
determined to do so. He also received permission, as soon as he was
convinced the charges were true, not only to remove him but to undertake
the government of the island himself. He further was conceded authority
to take possession of all the defences, vessels, storehouses, and
property of every kind, to fill all positions, and to send back to
Spain, for appearance before their sovereign, all persons, without
regard to rank, whose dismissal would in his opinion help to restore
order in the island. Unfortunately Bobadilla was a man completely
unfitted for such a task. He seems to have been a weak, presumptuous
person, puffed up with insolence by the brief authority which had been
so undeservedly conferred upon him. He regarded Columbus from that time
forward as a convicted malefactor. At the time this direful messenger
was selected Columbus had succeeded in his efforts to restore peace and
order in all the island districts. The discontented were satisfied, all
Spaniards and natives had obediently submitted to the laws, the rich
mines were opened, and the development of the country had begun
auspiciously.
When Bobadilla arrived at San Domingo, Columbus was still absent in a
distant part of the island, seeing that some of his instructions were
carried out. A sense of justice should have led his judge to await his
return before taking action against him. But what did such a man as
Bobadilla care about justice? He had not come to hear Columbus’
explanations but to condemn him and usurp his place. As soon as he
landed he went directly to the house of the Admiral and announced that
it was his own from that time forward. Then he took possession of all
his belongings. After doing this he publicly announced that the King had
sent him to depose the governor, and to settle all grievances which any
person had against him. Not satisfied with this, he at once released all
whom Columbus had arrested and invited them to make complaints of the
injustice they had suffered.
Having done this, the infamous Bobadilla sent a messenger to Columbus
with the order to appear immediately before his tribunal and give an
account of his conduct. At the same time he sent him a royal document
showing that he had full authority for his order. A bolt out of the
clear sky could not have astonished Columbus more than this unexpected
news. He could not trust his own eyes but read the document over and
over again—a document black with infamy—but he could not make it other
than it was. He, the acknowledged discoverer of the New World, guilty of
no offence, was ordered to appear before the tribunal by a worthless man
not fit to lick the dust from his feet! Columbus was crushed down under
the weight of this outrage. But he did not hesitate an instant as to his
duty. He had soldiers and his brother Bartolomeo with him and it would
have been easy to answer this unjust judge, sword in hand. But his noble
spirit despised any method of protecting himself which was not
consistent with the obedience which he considered due to his superiors,
though they were guilty of an atrocious act of injustice. He hesitated
not an instant but went to San Domingo without a murmur, honorably to
accept the penalty. Having arrived, he waited upon Bobadilla. “Place him
in chains,” said the tyrant, without assigning any reason, “and take him
away.” The inhuman order was executed. Columbus was fettered and taken
to a vessel in haste. Thus was a man rewarded, for whom, if he had lived
in the days of the old Greeks and Romans, statues would have been
erected, divine honors awarded, and temples built.
Thus was Columbus degraded, and in this shameful manner he was removed
from a country which he had secured for his King at the cost of a
thousand hardships and at great personal danger. He received this last
hard blow of adverse fate with quiet dignity and with a calmness which
declared his innocence and greatness of spirit more eloquently than any
apology he could have uttered. He was hurried away; but the cup of his
sorrows was not yet emptied. His patience was to be put to a still
severer test, for Bobadilla had not yet exhausted the full measure of
his cruelty. He realized that his noble prisoner would only half suffer
so long as he knew that he was the only victim and that his brothers
were still free. He placed them also in chains and specially ordered
that they should have no communication with each other. Then he went
through the pretence of a trial and sentenced them to death, but he had
not the courage to carry out his murderous purpose, for he feared he
might not be able to justify himself. He hoped that his powerful friend,
the Bishop of Badajos, Columbus’ deadly enemy, would see that the death
sentence was executed. To this end he sent a report of the proceedings
to Spain with the prisoners.
Hardly was the vessel under way which was taking Columbus to Spain when
the captain, who still retained his respect for him, approached him to
remove the fetters, but Columbus refused to have them taken off. “Let
them remain,” he said, “I am wearing these fetters by the orders of my
superiors; I will continue to wear them until they remove them; they
will find me obedient now as I always have been.” So the fetters
remained until he reached Spain. Bobadilla had ordered that the
prisoners upon arrival should be delivered to the Bishop of Badajos, so
that they should have no opportunity to secure the sympathy of their
patron, Queen Isabella. But an honorable man, named Martin, secretly
left the vessel and carried a letter from Columbus to the Queen
informing her of what had happened. The Court was astounded at the news,
for it had never expected that Bobadilla would so far exceed the
authority vested in him. They recognized the indignity of this treatment
and foresaw that it would shock all Europe. A messenger was sent at once
with the command that Columbus and his brothers should be released. At
the same time he was requested to appear at Court and money was sent him
so that he might be suitably clothed and present himself in a manner
befitting his rank. Columbus acceded to the request of the royal pair
and waited upon them. Entering the apartment in which they were awaiting
him, he prostrated himself before them. He was so overcome with the
monstrous injustice he had suffered that it was a long time before he
could speak. At last he recovered himself, strengthened by his
consciousness of innocence, and protested against the slanders of his
malicious enemies. He made a long explanation in which he so completely
established his innocence that Ferdinand and Isabella were entirely
convinced by it. They expressed their regret for what had occurred and
assured him that it had been done without their knowledge. To confirm
this assurance, they removed Bobadilla from his position and made
reparation to Columbus by marks of affection and promises of future
protection. When a little later it became necessary to choose a
successor to Bobadilla, it was unmistakably apparent that the prejudice
of the King and Queen against Columbus was not entirely eradicated, for
Nicholas de Ovando was chosen. He was given a fleet of thirty-two
vessels, a company of two thousand five hundred persons—many of them
from distinguished families—and, besides this, everything that was
necessary for the maintenance and prosperity of the colony. It was in
vain that Columbus appealed for the rights which had been granted to him
at the beginning of his great undertaking. It was in vain that he
protested against this fresh injustice of removing him from his position
after he had been pronounced innocent, as if he were a convicted
criminal. His protests met with evasive replies, or remained unnoticed.
He felt the deepest indignation and could not conceal it. Wherever he
went he took his fetters as an evidence of the black ingratitude with
which his services had been requited. He kept them hanging in his rooms
and ordered that they should be buried in the grave with him.