VOYAGES
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D I S C O V E R I E S OF
who had been instrumental in persuading her royal mistress to patronize Columbus.* erous nature.
Her niece partook of her high and gen
She refused to remain behind in selfish security,
but declared that she would accompany her husband in every peril, whether by sea or land.
This self-devotion is the more
remarkable when it is considered that she was past the romantic period of youth ; and that she left behind her in Spain, a family of four sons and four daughters. Don Pedrarias was instructed to use great indulgence towards the people of Darien, who had been the followers of Nicuesa, and to remit the royal tithe of all the gold they might have collected previous to his arrival.
Towards Vasco Nunez de Bal
boa alone the royal countenance was stern and severe.
Pedrarias
was to depose him from his assumed authority, and to call him to strict account before the alcalde mayor, Gaspar de Espinosa, for his treatment of the Bachelor Enciso. The splendid fleet, consisting of fifteen sail, weighed anchor at St. Lucar on the 12th of April, 1514, and swept proudly out of the Guadalquiver, thronged with the chivalrous adventurers for Golden Castile.
But a short time had elapsed after its depar
ture, when Pedro Arbolancho arrived with the tardy missions of Vasco Nunez.
Had he arrived a few days sooner how different
might have been the fortune of his friend ! He was immediately admitted to the royal presence, where he announced the adventurous and successful expedition of Vasco Nuiiez, and laid before the king the pearls and golden ornaments * This was the same Marchioness de Moya, who during the war of Gran ada, while the court and royal army were encamped before Malaga, was mis taken for the queen by a Moorish fanatic, and had nearly fallen beneath his dagger.