him, and got him into the midst of them, saying, ‘Pay! pay!’ and if by chance I and my brother, who were pages to the most serene Queen, happened to pass where they were, they shouted to the very heavens saying, ’Look at the sons of the admiral of Mosquitoland, of that man who has discovered the lands of deceit and disappointment, a place of sepulchre and wretchedness to Spanish hidalgoes:’  adding many other insulting expressions, on which account we excused ourselves from passing by them.”

  Serious dissatisfaction.

Unjust clamour, like the above, would not alone have turned the hearts of the Catholic sovereigns against Columbus; but this clamour was supported by serious grounds for dissatisfaction in the state and prospects of the colony:  and when there is a constant stream of enmity and prejudice against a man, his conduct or his fortune will, some day or other, offer an opportunity for it to rush in upon him.

  Columbus superseded.

However this may be, soon after the return of the five vessels from St. Domingo, mentioned above, which first told the news of the revolt of Roldan, Ferdinand and Isabella appear to have taken into serious consideration the question of suspending Columbus.  He had, himself, in the letters transmitted by these ships, requested that some one might be sent to conduct the affairs of justice in the colony; but if Ferdinand and Isabella began by merely looking out for such an officer, they ended in resolving to send one who should take the civil as well as judicial authority into his own hands.  This determination was not, however, acted upon hastily.  On the 21st of March, 1499, they authorized Francis de Bobadilla “to ascertain what persons have raised themselves against justice in the island of Hispaniola, and to proceed against them according to law.”  On the 21st of May, 1499, they conferred upon this officer the government, and signed an order that all arms and fortresses in the Indies should be given up to him.  On the 26th of the same month, they gave him the following remarkable letter to Columbus:-

  “Don Christopher Columbus, our Admiral of the Ocean:  We have commanded
  the Comendador Francis de Bobadilla, the bearer of this that he speak to
  you on our part some things which he will tell you:  we pray you give him
  faith and credence, and act accordingly. 
      “I the King, I the Queen,
    “By their command,
    “Miguel Perez de Almazan,”

  Harsh treatment of Columbus and his brothers