Columbus, for whom rest and quiet were the first essentials, remained in
Seville from November 1504 to May 1505, when he joined the Court at Segovia and
afterwards at Salamanca and Valladolid, where he remained till his death in May
1506. During this last period, when all other activities were practically
impossible to him, he fell into a state of letter-writing—for the most part
long, wearisome complainings and explainings in which he poured out a copious
flood of tears and self-pity for the loss of his gold.
It has generally been claimed that Columbus was in bitter penury and want of
money, but a close examination of the letters and other documents relating to
this time show that in his last days he was not poor in any true sense of the
word. He was probably a hundred times richer than any of his ancestors had ever
been; he had, money to give and money to spend; the banks honoured his drafts;
his credit was apparently indisputable. But compared with the fabulous wealth to
which he would by this time have been entitled if his original agreement with
the Crown of Spain had been faithfully carried out he was no doubt poor. There
is no evidence that he lacked any comfort or alleviation that money could buy;
indeed he never had any great craving for the things that money can buy—only for
money itself. There must have been many rich people in Spain who would gladly
have entertained him in luxury and dignity; but he was not the kind of man to
set much store by such things except in so far as they were a decoration and
advertisement of his position as a great man. He had set himself to the single
task of securing what he called his rights; and in these days of sunset he seems
to have been illumined by some glimmer of the early glory of his first
inspiration. He wanted the payment of his dues now, not so much for his own
enrichment, but as a sign to the world that his great position as Admiral and
Viceroy was recognised, so that his dignities and estates might be established
and consolidated in a form which he would be able to transmit to his remote
posterity.
Since he wrote so copiously and so constantly in these last days, the best
picture of his mood and condition is afforded in his letters to his son Diego;
letters which, in spite of their infinitely wearisome recapitulation and
querulous complaint, should be carefully read by those who wish to keep in touch
with the Admiral to the end.
Letter written by CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS to DON DIEGO, his Son, November
21, 1504.
"VERY DEAR SON,—I received your letter by the courier. You did well in
remaining yonder to remedy our affairs somewhat and to employ yourself now
in our business. Ever since I came to Castile, the Lord Bishop of Palencia
has shown me favour and has desired that I should be honoured. Now he must
be entreated that it may please him to occupy himself in remedying my many
grievances and in ordering that the agreement and letters of concession
which their Highnesses gave me be fulfilled, and that I be indemnified for
so many damages. And he may be certain that if their Highnesses do this,
their estate and greatness will be multiplied to them in an incredible
degree. And it must not appear to him that forty thousand pesos in gold is
more than a representation of it; because they might have had a much greater
quantity if Satan had not hindered it by impeding my design; for, when I was
taken away from the Indies, I was prepared to give them a sum of gold
incomparable to forty thousand pesos. I make oath, and this may be for thee
alone, that the damage to me in the matter of the concessions their
Highnesses have made to me, amounts to ten millions each year, and never can
be made good. You see what will be, or is, the injury to their Highnesses in
what belongs to them, and they do not perceive it. I write at their disposal
and will strive to start yonder. My arrival and the rest is in the hands of
our Lord. His mercy is infinite. What is done and is to be done, St.
Augustine says is already done before the creation of the world. I write
also to these other Lords named in the letter of Diego Mendez. Commend me to
their mercy and tell them of my going as I have said above. For certainly I
feel great fear, as the cold is so inimical to this, my infirmity, that I
may have to remain on the road.
"I was very much pleased to hear the contents of your letter and what the
King our Lord said, for which you kissed his royal hands. It is certain that
I have served their Highnesses with as much diligence and love as though it
had been to gain Paradise, and more, and if I have been at fault in anything
it has been because it was impossible or because my knowledge and strength
were not sufficient. God, our Lord, in such a case, does not require more
from persons than the will.
"At the request of the Treasurer Morales, I left two brothers in the
Indies, who are called Porras. The one was captain and the other auditor.
Both were without capacity for these positions: and I was confident that
they could fill them, because of love for the person who sent them to me.
They both became more vain than they had been. I forgave them many
incivilities, more than I would do with a relation, and their offences were
such that they merited another punishment than a verbal reprimand. Finally
they reached such a point that even had I desired, I could not have avoided
doing what I did. The records of the case will prove whether I lie or not.
They rebelled on the island of Jamaica, at which I was as much astonished as
I would be if the sun's rays should cast darkness. I was at the point of
death, and they martyrised me with extreme cruelty during five months and
without cause. Finally I took them all prisoners, and immediately set them
free, except the captain, whom I was bringing as a prisoner to their
Highnesses. A petition which they made to me under oath, and which I send
you with this letter, will inform you at length in regard to this matter,
although the records of the case explain it fully. These records and the
Notary are coming on another vessel, which I am expecting from day to day.
The Governor in Santo Domingo took this prisoner.—His courtesy constrained
him to do this. I had a chapter in my instructions in which their Highnesses
ordered all to obey me, and that I should exercise civil and criminal
justice over all those who were with me: but this was of no avail with the
Governor, who said that it was not understood as applying in his territory.
He sent the prisoner to these Lords who have charge of the Indies without
inquiry or record or writing. They did not receive him, and both brothers go
free. It is not wonderful to me that our Lord punishes. They went there with
shameless faces. Such wickedness or such cruel treason were never heard of.
I wrote to their Highnesses about this matter in the other letter, and said
that it was not right for them to consent to this offence. I also wrote to
the Lord Treasurer that I begged him as a favour not to pass sentence on the
testimony given by these men until he heard me. Now it will be well for you
to remind him of it anew. I do, not know how they dare to go before him with
such an undertaking. I have written to him about it again and have sent him
the copy of the oath, the same as I send to you and likewise to Doctor
Angulo and the Licentiate Zapata. I commend myself to the mercy of all, with
the information that my departure yonder will take place in a short
time.
"I would be glad to receive a letter from their Highnesses and to know
what they order. You must procure such a letter if you see the means of so
doing. I also commend myself to the Lord Bishop and to Juan Lopez, with the
reminder of illness and of the reward for my services.
"You must read the letters which go with this one in order to act in
conformity with what they say. Acknowledge the receipt of his letter to
Diego Mendez. I do not write him as he will learn everything from you, and
also because my illness prevents it.
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