he had realised that his subjection to this cruel and quite unnecessary indignity would be one of the strongest things in his favour when he got to Spain, and he decided to suffer as much of it as he could.  “My Sovereigns commanded me to submit to what Bobadilla should order.  By his authority I wear these chains, and I shall continue to wear them until they are removed by order of the Sovereigns; and I will keep them afterwards as reminders of the reward I have received for my services.”  Thus the Admiral, beginning to pick up his spirits again, and to feel the better for the sea air.

The voyage home was a favourable one and in the course of it Columbus wrote the following letter to a friend of his at Court, Dona Juana de la Torre, who had been nurse to Prince Juan and was known by him to be a favourite of the Queen: 

“Most virtuous lady,—­Though my complaint of the world is new, its habit of ill-using is very ancient.  I have had a thousand struggles with it, and have thus far withstood them all, but now neither arms nor counsels avail me, and it cruelly keeps me under water.  Hope in the Creator of all men sustains me:  His help was always very ready; on another occasion, and not long ago, when I was still more overwhelmed, He raised me with His right arm, saying, ’O man of little faith, arise:  it is I; be not afraid.’

     “I came with so much cordial affection to serve these Princes, and
     have served them with such service, as has never been heard of or
     seen.

“Of the new heaven and earth which our Lord made, when Saint John was writing the Apocalypse, after what was spoken by the mouth of Isaiah, He made me the messenger, and showed me where it lay.  In all men there was disbelief, but to the Queen, my Lady, He gave the spirit of understanding, and great courage, and made her heiress of all, as a dear and much loved daughter.  I went to take possession of all this in her royal name.  They sought to make amends to her for the ignorance they had all shown by passing over their little knowledge and talking of obstacles and expenses.  Her Highness, on the other hand, approved of it, and supported it as far as she was able.

“Seven years passed in discussion and nine in execution.  During this time very remarkable and noteworthy things occurred whereof no idea at all had been formed.  I have arrived at, and am in, such a condition that there is no person so vile but thinks he may insult me:  he shall be reckoned in the world as valour itself who is courageous enough not to consent to it.

“If I were to steal the Indies or the land which lies towards them, of which I am now speaking, from the altar of Saint Peter, and give them to the Moors, they could not show greater enmity towards me in Spain.  Who would believe such a thing where there was always so much magnanimity?