Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-29


the two nations by his pretended discov-
cries. 1t was suggested that his assassi-
nation might easily be accomplished
without mourning any odium, advantage
might be taken Of his lofty department
to pique his pride, provoke him into an
alteration, and then dispatch him as il
in casual and honorable encounter.
1t is difficult to believe that such
wicked and dastardly counsel could have
been proposed to monarch 80 upright
as John II, but the fact Is asserted by
various historians, Portuguese rs well as
Spanish, and it accords with the perfdi-
Gus advice formerly given to the mon
arch in respect to Columbus. There is a
spurious loyalty about courts, which is
often prone to prove it's zeal by its base
ness, and it is the weakness Of kings to
tolerate the grossest faults when they APP
pear to rise from personal devotion.
Happily the king had too much mag
nanimity to adopt the iniquitous meas
ure proposed. He did justice to the great
merit of Columbus, and honored him as
u distinguished benefactor Of mankind,
and he felt it his duty as generous
prince to protect all strangers driven by
adverse fortune to his ports. Others of
his council suggested more bold and
martial line Of policy. They advised
that Columbus should be permitted to
return to Spain, but that before he could
fit out a second expedition q powerful
armament should be dispatched, under
the guidance Of two Portuguese mari
ners who had sailed with the admiral,
to take possession Of the newly discov-
cred country, possession being after all
the best title and an appeal TO arms the
clearest mode of settling so doubtful q
question.
This counsel, in which there was a
mixture Of courage and craft, was more
relshed by the king, and he resolved
privately, but promptly, to put it in ex-
ecution, fixing upon Don Francisco dc
Almeida, one Of the most distinguished
captains Of the age, to command the ex.
petition.
In the meantime Columbus, after being
treated with distinguished attention,
was escorted back to his ship by Don
Martin de Norona and numerous train
Of cavaliers Of the court, mule being
provided for himself and another for his
pilot, to whom the king made present
of twenty espadinas or ducats, Of gold
On his way Columbus stopped at the
monastery of San Antonio, at Villa
Franco, to visit the queen, who had ex
pressed an earnest wish to see this ex-
traordinary and enterprising man, whose
achievement was the theme Of every
tongue. He foNnd her attended by few
of her favorite ladies, and experienced
the most flattering reception. Her maj
esty made him relate the principal events
of his voyage and describe the countrie:
he had found, and she and her ladie:
hung with eager curiosity upon his mar
ration.
That night he slept at Llandra, ant
being on the point of departing in the
morning, a servant of the king arrived
to attend him to the frontier, if he pre-
ferred to return to Spain by land, and tC
provide horses, lodgings and everything
he might stand in need of at the roya
expense. The weather, however, having
moderated, he preferred returning in hi!
caravel. Putting to sea, therefore, or
the 18th of March, he arrived safely a.
the bar of Saltes at sunrise of the 18th
and at midday entered the harbor o.
Palos, whence he had sailed on the Sc
of August in the preceding year, having
taken not quite seven months and a hal
to accomplish this most momentous o.
all maritime enterprises.