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LIFE A N D V O Y A G E S OF
command.
[BOOK V .
In reply, the sovereigns ordered that he should be
allowed ten escuderos de a pie, or footmen, and twenty persons in other domestic capacities, and reminded Fonseca of their charge that, both in the nature and mode of his transactions with the admiral, he should study to give him content; observing that, as the whole armament was intrusted to his command, it was but reasonable that his wishes should be consulted, and no one embarrass him with punctilios and difficulties.* These trivial differences are worthy of particular notice, from the effect they appear to have had on the mind of Fonseca, for from them we must date the rise of that singular hostility which he ever afterwards manifested towards Columbus; which every year increased in rancor, and which he gratified in the most invidious manner, by secretly multiplying impediments and vexa tions in his path. While the expedition was yet lingering in port, intelligence was received that a Portuguese caravel had set sail from Madeira and steered for the west.
Suspicions were immediately awakened
that she was bound for the lately-discovered lands.
Columbus
wrote an account of it to the sovereigns, and proposed to dispatch a part of his fleet in pursuit of her. proved, but not carried into effect.
His proposition was ap
On remonstrances being made
to the court of Lisbon, King John declared that the vessel had sailed without his permission, and that he would send three cara vels to bring her back.
This only served to increase the jealousy
of the Spanish monarchs, who considered the whole a deep-laid stratagem, and that it was intended the vessels should join their forces, and pursue their course together to the New World. Co lumbus was urged, therefore, to depart without an hour's delay, * Navarrete, Colec, torn. ii.
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