Canaries due west; all lands and seas north of it to appertain to the Castilian court; all south to the Crown of Portugal, excepting any islands already in possession of either power.*

Ferdinand had now the vantage-ground; his object was to gain time for the preparation and departure of Columbus, by entangling King John in long diplomatic negotiations.† In reply to his proposals he despatched Don Pedro de Ayala and Don Garcia Lopez de Caravajal on a solemn embassy to Portugal, in which there was great outward pomp and parade and many professions of amity, but the whole purport of which was to propose to submit the territorial questions which had risen between them to arbitration, or to the court of Rome. This stately embassy moved with becoming slowness, but a special envoy was sent in advance to apprise the King of Portugal of its approach, in order to keep him waiting for its communications.

King John understood the whole nature and object of the embassy, and felt that Ferdinand was foiling him. The ambassadors at length arrived and delivered their credentials with great form and ceremony. As they retired

* Zurita, lib. i., cap. 25. Herrera, decad. i., lib. ii., cap. 5.

† Vasconcellos, Don Juan II., lib. vi.

from his presence he looked after them contemptuously. "This embassy from our cousin," said he, wants both head and feet." He alluded to the character both of the mission and the envoys. Don Garcia de Caravajal was vain and frivolous, and Don Pedro de Ayala was lame of one leg.*

In the height of his vexation King John is even said to have held out some vague show of hostile intentions, taking occasion to let the ambassadors discover him reviewing his cavalry and dropping ambiguous words in their hearing which might be construed into something of menacing import.† The embassy returned to Castile, leaving him in a state of perplexity and irritation; but whatever might be his chagrin, his discretion prevented him from coming to an open rupture. He had some hopes of interference on the part of the Pope, to whom he had sent an embassy complaining of the pretended discoveries of the Spaniards as infringing the territories granted to Portugal by papal bull, and earnestly imploring redress. Here, as has been shown, his wary antagonist had been beforehand with him and he was doomed again to

* Vasconcellos, lib. vi. Barros, Asia, decad i., lib. iii., cap. 2.

† Vasconcellos, lib. vi.

be foiled. The only reply his ambassador received was a reference to the line of partition from pole to pole, so sagely devised by his holiness. Such was this royal game of diplomacy, where the parties were playing for a newly discovered world. John II. was able and intelligent, and crafty councillors to advise him in all his moves; but whenever deep and subtle policy was required Ferdinand was master of the game.

* Herrera, decad. i., lib. ii., cap. 5.

Chapter X.

FURTHER PREPARATIONS FOR THE SECOND VOYAGE -CHARACTER OF ALONSO DE OJEDA—DIFFERENCE OF COLUMBUS WITH SORIA AND FONSECA.

D

[1493.]

ISTRUSTFUL of some attempt on the part of Portugal to interfere with their discoveries, the Spanish sovereigns in the course of their negotiations wrote repeatedly to Columbus urging him to hasten his departure. His zeal, however, needed no incitement; immediately on arriving at Seville, in the beginning of June, he proceeded with all diligence to fit out the armament, making use of the powers given him to put in requisition the ships and crews which were in the harbors of Andalusia. He was joined soon after by Fonseca and Soria, who had remained for a time at Barcelona ; and with their united exertions a fleet of seventeen vessels, large and small, was soon

in a state of preparation. The best pilots were chosen for the service, and the crews were mustered in presence of Soria, the Comptroller. A number of skilful husbandmen, miners, carpenters, and other mechanics, were engaged for the projected colony. Horses, both for military purposes and for stocking the country, cattle and domestic animals of all kinds were likewise provided. Grain, seeds of various plants, vines, sugar-canes, grafts, and saplings, were embarked, together with a great quantity of merchandise, consisting of trinkets, beads, hawks'-bells, looking-glasses, and other showy trifles, calculated for trafficking with the natives. Nor was there wanting an abundant supply of provisions of all sorts, munitions of war, and medicines and refreshments for the sick.

An extraordinary degree of excitement prevailed respecting this expedition. The most extravagant fancies were entertained with respect to the New World. The accounts given by the voyagers who had visited it were full of exaggeration; for in fact they had nothing but vague and confused notions concerning it, like the recollection of a dream, and it has been shown that Columbus himself had beheld everything through the most de