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LIFE A N D VOYAGES OF
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be proclaimed, that every thing charged against him and his party had been grounded upon false testimony, and the machinations of persons disaffected to the royal service. Fourthly, that he should be reinstated in his office of alcalde mayor, or chief judge.* These were hard and insolent conditions to commence with, but they were granted. Roldan then went on shore, and communicated them to his companions. At the end of two days the insur gents sent their capitulations, drawn up in form, and couched in arrogant language, including all the stipulations granted at Fort Conception, with those recently demanded by Roldan, and con cluding with one, more insolent than all the rest, namely, that if the admiral should fail in the fulfillment of any of these articles, they should have a right to assemble together, and compel his performance of them by force, or by any other means they might think proper. † The conspirators thus sought not merely excul pation of the past, but a pretext for future rebellion. The mind grows wearied and impatient with recording, and the heart of the generous reader must burn with indignation at perusing, this protracted and ineffectual struggle of a man of the exalted merits and matchless services of Columbus, in the toils of such miscreants. Surrounded by doubt and danger ; a for eigner among a jealous people ; an unpopular commander in a mutinous island ; distrusted and slighted by the government he was seeking to serve ; and creating suspicion by his very services ; he knew not where to look for faithful advice, efficient aid, or can did judgment. The very ground on which he stood seemed giv ing way under him, for he was told of seditious symptoms among his own people. Seeing the impunity with which the rebels * Herrera, decad. i. lib. iii. cap. 16. † Idem. Hist. del Almirante, cap. 38.