In the midst of these festivities Isabella, whose maternal heart had recently been engrossed by the marriages of her children, now that she was relieved from these concerns of a tender and domestic nature, entered into the affairs of the New World with a spirit that showed she was determined to place them upon a substantial foundation, as well as clearly to define the powers and reward the services of Columbus. To her protecting zeal all the provisions in favor of Columbus must be attributed; for the King began to look coldly on him, and the royal counsellors, who had most influence in the affairs of the Indies, were his enemies.

Various royal ordinances dated about this time manifest the generous and considerate disposition of the Queen. The rights, privileges, and dignities granted to Columbus at Santa Fé was again confirmed; a tract of land at Hispaniola, fifty leagues in length and twenty-five in breadth, was offered to him with the title of duke or marquess. This however Columbus had the forbearance to decline; he observed that it would only increase the envy which was already so virulent against him, and would cause new misrepresentations, as he should be accused of paying more attention to the settlement and improvement of his own

possessions than of any other part of the island.*

As the expenses of the expeditions had hitherto far exceeded the returns, Columbus had incurred debt rather than reaped profit from the share he had been permitted to take in them; he was relieved therefore from his obligation to bear an eighth part of the cost of the past enterprises, excepting the sum which he had advanced towards the first voyage; at the same time however he was not to claim any share of what had hitherto been brought from the island. For three ensuing years he was to be allowed an eighth of the gross proceeds of every voyage and an additional tenth after the costs had been deducted. After the expiration of the three years the original terms of agreement were to be resumed.

To gratify his honorable ambition also and to perpetuate in his family the distinction gained by his illustrious deeds, he was allowed the right of establishing a mayorazgo, or perpetual entail of his estates, so that they might always descend with his titles of nobility. This he shortly after exercised in a solemn testament executed at Seville in the early part of 1498, by which he devised his estates to his *Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i., cap. 123.

own male descendants, and on their failure to the male descendants of his brothers, and in default of male heirs to the females of his lineage.

The heir was always to bear the arms of the Admiral, to seal with them, to sign with his signature, and in signing never to use any other title than simply "The Admiral," whatever other titles might be given him by the King, and used by him on other occasions. Such was the noble pride with which he valued this title of his real greatness.

In this testament he made ample provision for his brother the Adelantado, his son Fernando, and his brother Don Diego, the last of whom, he intimates, had a desire to enter into. ecclesiastical life. He ordered that a tenth part of the revenues arising from the mayorazgo should be devoted to pious and charitable purposes, and in relieving all poor persons of his lineage. He made provisions for the giving of marriage portions to the poor females of his family. He ordered that a married person of his kindred who had been born in his native city of Genoa should be maintained there in competence and respectability, by way of keeping a domicil for the family there; and he commanded whoever should inherit the mayorazgo always to do everything in his power

for the honor, prosperity, and increase of the city of Genoa, provided it should not be contrary to the service of the Church and the interests of the Spanish Crown. Among various other provisions in his will he solemnly provides for his favorite scheme, the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre. He orders his son Diego, or whoever else may inherit his estate, to invest from time to time as much money as he can spare, in stock in the bank of St. George at Genoa, to form a permanent fund with which he is to stand ready at any time to follow and serve the King in the conquest of Jerusalem. Or should the King not undertake such an enterprise, then when the funds have accumulated to sufficient amount, to set on foot a crusade at his own charge and risk, in hopes that, seeing his determination, the sovereigns may be induced either to adopt the undertaking, or to authorize him to pursue it in their name.

Beside this special undertaking for the Catholic Faith he charges his heir in case there should arise any schism in the Church, or any violence menacing its prosperity, to throw himself at the feet of the Pope, and devote his person and property to defend the Church from all insult and spoliation. Next to the service of God he enjoins loyalty to the throne; commanding him at all times to serve the

sovereigns and their heirs faithfully and zealously, even to the loss of life and estate. Το insure the constant remembrance of this testament he orders his heir that, before he confesses, he shall give it to his father confessor to read, who is to examine him upon his faithful fulfilment of its conditions.*

As Columbus had felt aggrieved by the general license granted in April, 1495, to make discoveries in the New World, considering it as interfering with his prerogatives, a royal edict was issued on the 2d of June, 1497, retracting whatever might be prejudicial to his interests, or to the previous grants made him by the Crown. "It was never our intention," said the sovereigns in their edict, "in any way to affect the rights of the said Don Christopher Columbus, nor to allow the conventions, privileges, and favors which we have granted him. to be encroached upon or violated; but, on the contrary, in consequence of the services which he has rendered us, we intend to confer still further favors on him." Such, there is every reason to believe, was the sincere intention of the magnanimous Isabella; but the stream of her royal bounty was poisoned or diverted by the base channels through which it flowed.

The favor shown to Columbus was extended * This testament is inserted at large in the Appendix.

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