thofe provinces of Spain from which it had been long banifhed, to difcover a new world, to which fhe might communicate the light and bleflings of divine truth; that if now fhe did not decide inftantly, the opportunity would be irretrievably loft; that Columbus was on his way to foreign countries, where fome prince, more fortunate or adventurous, would close with his propofals, and Spain would for ever bewail the fatal timidity which had excluded her from the glory and advantages that she had once in her power to have enjoyed.

Thefe forcible arguments, urged by perfons of fuch authority, and at a juncture fo well chofen, produced the defired effect. They difpelled all Ifabella's doubts and fears; fhe ordered Columbus to be instantly recalled, declared her refolution of employing him on his own terms, and regretting the low ftate of her finances, generoufly offered to pledge her own jewels, in order to raise as much money as might be needed in making preparations for the voyage. (1492) Santangel, in a tranfport of gratitude, kiffed the queen's hand, and in order to fave her from having recourfe to fuch a mortifying expedient for procuring money, engaged to advance immediately the fum that was requifite o).

) Herrera, des. 1. lib. 1. e. 3.

The conditions of his agreement with Spain.

Columbus had proceeded fome leagues on his journey, when the meffenger from Ifabella overtook him. Upon receiving an account of the unexpected revolution in his favour, he returned directly to Santa Fé, though fome remainder of diffidence ftill mingled itself with his joy. But the cordial reception which he met with from Ifabella, together with the near profpect of fetting out upon that voyage which had fo long been the object of his thoughts and wifhes, foon effaced the remembrance of all that he had fuffered in Spain, during eight tedious years of folicitation and fufpence. The negociation now went forward with facility and difpatch, and a treaty or capitulation with Columbus was figned on the feventeenth of April, one thousand four hundred and ninety-two. The chief articles of it were, 1. Ferdinand and Ifabella, as fovereigns of the ocean, conftituted Columbus their high admiral in all the feas, iflands and continents, which fhould be difcovered by his induftry; and ftipulated, that he and his heirs for ever fhould enjoy this office, with the fame powers and prerogatives which belonged to the high admiral of Caftile, within the limits of his jurifdiction. 2. They appointed Columbus their viceroy in all the islands and continents which he fhould difcover; but if, for the better adminiftration of affairs, it fhould hereafter be neceffary to establish a fe

parate governor in any of thofe countries, they authorised Columbus to name three perfons, of whom they would chufe one for that 'office; and the dignity of viceroy, with all its immunities, was likewife to be hereditary in the family of Columbus. 3. They granted to Columbus and his heirs for ever the tenth of the free profits accruing from the productions and commerce of the countries which he fhould difcover. 4. They declared, that if any controverfy or law-fuit fhall arife with respect to any mercantile tranfaction in the countries which fhould be difcovered, it fhould be determined by the fole authority of Columbus, or of judges to be appointed by him. 5. They permitted Columbus to advance one eighth part of what fhould be expended in preparing for the expedition, and in carrying on commerce with the countries which he fhould difcover, and intitled him, in return to an eighth part of the profit p).

(1492). Though the name of Ferdinand appears conjoined with that of Ifabella in this tranfaction, his diftruft of Columbus was ftill fo violent. that he refufed to take any part in the enterprife, as king of Aragon. As the whole expence of the expedition was to be defrayed by the crown of Castile, Ifabella referved for her fubjects of that kingdom an exclufive right

p) Life of Columbus, c. 15, Herrera, dec. 1. lib, 1, c. 9.

to all the benefits which might redound from its fuccefs.

The preparations for his voyage.

As foon as the treaty was figned, Ifabella, by her attention and activity in forwarding the preparations for the voyage, endeavoured to make fome reparation to Columbus for the time which he had loft in fruitlefs folicitation. By the twelfth of May, all that depended upon her was adjusted, and Columbus waited on the king and queen, in order to receive their final inftructions. Every thing respecting the deftination and conduct of the voyage, they committed implicitly to the difpofal of his prudence. But, that they might avoid giving any just caufe of offence to the king of Portugal, they strictly enjoined him not to approach near to the Portuguese fettlements on the coaft of Guinea, nor in any of the other countries to which the Portuguese claimed right as difcoverers. Ifabella had ordered the fhips, of which Columbus was to take the command, to be fitted out in the port of Palos, a small maritime town in the province of Andalufia. As the guardian Juan Perez, to whom Columbus had already been fo much indebted, refided in the neighbourhood of this place, he, by the influence of that good ecclefiaftic, as well as by his own connection with the inhabitants, not only raised among them what he wanted of the fum that

he was bound by treaty to advance, but engaged several of them to accompany him in the The chief of these affociates were voyage. three brothers of the name of Pinzon, of confiderable wealth, and of great experience in naval affairs, who were willing to hazard their lives and fortunes in the expedition.

But, after all the efforts of Isabella and Columbus, the armament was not fuitable either to the dignity of the nation by which it was equipped, or to the importance of the fervice for which it was deftined. It confifted of three veffels. The largest, a fhip of no confiderable burden, was commanded by Columbus, as admiral, who gave it the name of Santa Maria, out of refpect for the Bleffed Virgin, whom he honoured with fingular devotion. Of the fecond, called the Pinta, Martin Pinzon was captain, and his brother Francis pilot. (1492) The third, named the Nigna, was under the command of Vincent Yanez Pinzon. These two were light veffels, hardly fuperior in burden or force to large boats. This fquadron, if it merits that name, was victualed for twelve months, and had on board ninety men, moftly failors, together with a few adventurers who followed the fortune of Columbus, and fome gentlemen of Ifabella's court, whom fhe appointed to accompany him. Though the expence of the undertaking was one of the circumstances which chiefly alarmed the court of Spain,