272
LIFE
AND
VOYAGES
OF
[BOOK
XIV.
reigns should be known ;* and by another letter from Alonzo de Villejo, expressed in terms accordant with his humane and honor able conduct towards his illustrious prisoner. However Ferdinand might have secretly felt disposed against Columbus, the momentary tide of public feeling was not to be resisted. He joined with his generous queen in her reprobation of the treatment of the admiral, and both sovereigns hastened to give evidence to the world, that his imprisonment had been with out their authority, and contrary to their wishes. Without wait ing to receive any documents that might arrive from Bobadilla, they sent orders to Cadiz that the prisoners should be instantly set at liberty, and treated with all distinction. They wrote a letter to Columbus, couched in terms of gratitude and affection, expressing their grief at all that he had suffered, and inviting him to court. They ordered, at the same time, that two thousand ducats should be advanced to defray his expenses.† The loyal heart of Columbus was again cheered by this decla ration of his sovereigns. He felt conscious of his integrity, and anticipated an immediate restitution of all his rights and dignities He appeared at court in Granada on the 17th of December, not as a man ruined and disgraced, but richly dressed, and attended by an honorable retinue. He was received by the sovereigns with unqualified favor and distinction. When the queen beheld this venerable man approach, and thought on all he had deserved and all he had suffered, she was moved to tears. Columbus had * Oviedo, Cronica, lib. iii. cap. 6. †Las Casas, lib. i. cap. 182.
Two thousand ducats, or two thousand eight
hundred and forty-six dollars, equivalent to eight thousand five hundred and thirty-eight dollars of the present day.