COLUMBUS 127 extended to the ends of the earth, and came to regard himself as the destined instrument of Heaven for that end. While in this frame, and assisting at the siege of Baza, in December, 1489, two pilgrims having brought to the camp the threat of the sultan of Egypt to raze the tomb of Christ, Columbus registered a vow to devote the proceeds of his discoveries to rescue the holy sepulchre. In 1488 he received a letter from John II. of Portugal, inviting him to return. Henry VII. of England also invited him by letter to that country, and held out promises of encouragement. In 1491 he set out to lay his project before Charles VIII. of France, who had also written to him. On his way he stopped at the gate of the Fran- ciscan monastery of La Eabida, near the sea- port of Palos de Moguer in Andalusia, and asked for some bread and water for his boy. The prior of the convent, Juan Perez de Mar- chena, became greatly interested by the con- versation of Columbus, and detained him as his guest. The mariners of Patos were then the most enterprising of Spain, and Juan Perez, himself a learned man, took much interest in their adventures. Dazzled by the stupendous projects described to him, but distrusting his own judgment, the worthy prior consulted with his friend Garcia Fernandez, physician of the village, and also with Alonso Pinzon, an ex- perienced navigator of Palos. Pinzon was en- thusiastic, and- offered not only to advance money, but to command a ship. Perez had been the queen's confessor, and presuming on this sacred relation, he wrote a letter to Isa- bella, which he sent by the hands of Sebastian Rodriguez, an influential navigator of Palos, beseeching her to grant him an interview. Receiving a favorable reply, the prior mounted his mule at midnight, and rode to the camp at Santa Fe, where the king and queen were, and procured for Columbus an opportunity to ex- plain his views personally. Isabella, on ap- pointing an interview, considerately sent Co- lumbus 20,000 maravedis (about $216), to put himself in condition to appear at court. Co-- lumbus related his story before the king and queen ; but the terms upon which he insisted were characterized as exorbitant and ridiculous by the queen's confessor, Fernando de Talavera, archbishop of Granada, who had been appoint- ed one of the negotiators ; they were accord- ingly rejected. Columbus had left the royal presence, and was already two leagues from Granada on his way to Cordova, whence he intended to depart for France, when a messen- ger from the queen summoned him to return to Santa Fe. The brief space of time that had intervened gave to Spain the empire of the new world. When Columbus left the queen's pres- ence, Juan Perez, Alonso de Quintanilla, Luis de San Angel, receiver of ecclesiastical revenues of Aragon, and the lady Beatriz, marchioness of Moya, remonstrated. Ferdinand coldly sig- nified that the exchequer was empty. Isabella exclaimed, " I undertake the enterprise for my 214 VOL. v. 9 own crown of Castile, and will pledge my jewels to raise the necessary funds." The necessity of raising money by this means was obviated by San Angel offering to advance the funds on behalf of the crown of Castile, and 17,000 florins were advanced out of the treas- ury of Ferdinand. Accordingly, Columbus on his return had but to join their majesties in signing the agreement, on his own terms, as drawn up by Juan de Colonna, the royal secre- tary. This document, signed at Santa Fe, April 17, 1492, contained five articles: 1, that Columbus and his heirs male for ever should have the office of admiral over all lands he might discover, with honors equal to those of the grand admiral of Castile in his jurisdiction ; 2, that he should be viceroy and governor general, with right to name governors for the sovereigns' approval ; 3, that he should receive one tenth of the net value of all pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and merchandise obtained within his jurisdiction ; 4, that he and his lieutenants should be the sole judges in all disputes that might arise between his jurisdic- tion and Spain; and 5, that he might at any time advance one eighth in any venture, and receive a corresponding share of the profits. A letter of privilege also permitted Columbus to take the title of don. The royal documents were signed both by Ferdinand and Isabella, but her separate crown of Castile defrayed all the expense ; and during her life few persons except Castilians were permitted to establish themselves in the new territories. On May 8 young Diego was appointed page to Prince John, the heir apparent, and on May 12 Co- lumbus took leave of the king and queen to superintend the fitting out of the expedition at Palos. He, with the aid of Perez and the brothers Pinzon, contributed an eighth of the expense. Trouble was found in procuring crews. Some were induced to join by four months' pay in advance, and by a decree that volunteers should be free from arrest for two months after their return. The complement was made up by impressment. Three ships, the Santa Maria, a decked vessel, and two caravels, or undecked boats, the Pinta and Nina, were fitted out. The Santa Maria was of 90 ft. keel and had four masts, of which two were square-rigged, and two fitted with lateen sails. It was decked from stem to stern, having besides a poop 26 ft. in length, beneath which was the armament of heavy guns, with small pieces forward, for throwing stones and grape. It was provided with eight anchors and carried 66 seamen. The other two vessels were of small size, which was considered an advantage for exploring rivers and coasts. Columbus commanded the Santa Maria ; Martin Alonso Pinzon, having his second brother, Francisco Martin, for pilot, the Pinta; and the third brother, Vicente Yanez Pinzon, the Nina. Three other pilots were attached to the ex- pedition, namely : Sancho Ruiz, Pedro Alonso Nino, and Bartolom6 Roldan. Rodriguez San-
