LIFE OF COLON, BY HIS SON.

25

snuch to the glory of God and propagation of the faith, not without great benefitand honour to her kingdoms and dominions ; and fuch in fhort, that if any otherPrince {hould undertake it, as the admiral offered, the damage that would accrue toher crown was very vifible, and that then file would with juft caufe be much blamedby her friends and fervants, and reproached by her enemies, and all people wouldfay, (he had well deferved that misfortune ; and though fhe herfelf {hould never havecaufe to repent it, yet her fucceffors would certainly feel the fmart of it. Therefore,fince the matter feemed to be grounded upon reafon, and the admiral who propofed itwas a man of fenfe and wifdom, and demanded no other reward but what he {houldfind, being willing to bear part of the charge, befides venturing his own perfon;her highnefs ought not to look upon it as fuch an impoffibility as thofe fcholars madeit, and that what they faid that it would be a reflection on her if the enterprife didqot fucceed, as the admiral propofed, was a folly, and he was of a quite contraryopinion, rather believing they would be looked upon as generous and magnanimousPrinces, for attempting to difcover the fecrets and wonders of the world, as othermonarchs had done, and it had redounded to their honour. But though the eventwere never fo uncertain, yet a confiderable fum of money would be well employed inclearing fuch a doubt. Befides that, the admiral only demanded two thoufand fivehundred crowns to fit the fleet, and therefore {he ought not to defpife that under-taking, that it might not be faid it was the fear of fpending fo fmall a fum that kepther back. The Queen knowing the fincerity of Santangel’s words, anfwered, thank-ing him for his good advice, and faying, {he was willing to admit of the propofals,upon condition the execution were refpited, till fhe had a little breathing after the war.And yet if he were of another opinion, Ihe was content that as much money as wasrequifite for fitting out the fleet, {hould be borrowed upon her jewels. But Santangelfeeing the Queen had upon his advice condefcended to what {he had refufed to all otherperfons, replied, there was no need of pawning her jewels, for he would do herhighnefs that fmall fervice as to lend his money. Upon this refolution the Queenimmediately fent an officer poll, to bring the admiral back, who found him upon thebridge of Pinos, two leagues from Granada ; and though the admiral was much con-cerned at the difficulties and delays he had met within his enterprife, yet underftandingthe Queen’s will and refolution, he returned to the camp of St. Faith, where he wasw r ell entertained by Their Catholic Majefties, and his difpatch and articles committedto the fecretary John Coloma, who by their highneffes’ command and under their handand feal, granted him all the articles and claufes we faid above he had demanded,without altering or diminilhing any thing in them.

CHAP. XVI. — How the Admiral fitted out three Caravals to go upon his Difcovery.

THE aforefaid articles being granted by Their Catholic Majefties, he fet out fromGranada on the twelfth of May this year 1492, for Palos, the port where he was tofit out his Ihips, that town being obliged to ferve their highneffes three months withtwo caravals, which they ordered {hould be given to the admiral. Thefe and another{hip he fitted out with all care and diligence. The {hip he went in was called the St.Mary, another was La Pinta, whereof Martin Alonzo Pinzon was captain , andVincent Yanez Pinzon, brother to Alonzo , both of the town of Palos, of the thirdwhich was called La Nina, and had fquare fails. They being furniftied with allneceffaries, and ninety men, fet fail directly towards the Canaries on the third ofAuguft, and from that time forwards, the admiral was very careful to keep an exa£tvol. xii. e journal