CHAP.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
III.]
Columbus returned to his anchorage at St. Mary's.
249
Shortly
after his arrival, a boat came off, bringing two priests and a notary.
After a cautious parley and an assurance of safety, they
came on board, and requested a sight of the papers of Columbus, on the part of Castañeda, assuring him that it was the disposition of the governor to render him every service in his power, provided he really sailed in service of the Spanish sovereigns.
Co-
lumbus supposed it a manoeuvre of Castañeda to cover a retreat from the hostile position he had assumed; restraining his indignation, however, and expressing his thanks for the friendly disposition of the governor, he showed his letters of commission, which satisfied the priests and the notary.
On the following morning,
the boat and mariners were liberated.
The latter, during their
detention, had collected information from the inhabitants which elucidated the conduct of Castañeda. The king of Portugal, jealous lest the expedition of Columbus might interfere with his own discoveries, had sent orders to his commanders of islands and distant ports to seize and detain him wherever he should be met with.*
In compliance with these
orders, Castañeda had, in the first instance, hoped to surprise Columbus in the chapel, and, failing in that attempt, had intended to get him in his power by stratagem, but was deterred by finding him on his guard.
Such was the first reception of the admiral
on his return to the old world, an earnest of the crosses and troubles with which he was to be requited throughout life, for one of the greatest benefits that ever man conferred upon his fellow-beings. * Hist. del Almirante. cap. 39.
Las Casas, Hist. Ind., lib. i. cap. 72.