Bethencourt after leaving Rome went to Florence and to Paris, and then to his own chateau, where a great number of people came to pay their respects to the king of the Canary Islands, and if on his return the first time he was much thought of, his reception this second time far exceeded it. Bethencourt established himself at Grainville; although he was an old man, his wife was still young. He had frequent accounts from Maciot of his beloved islands, and he hoped one day to return to his kingdom, but God willed otherwise. One day in the year 1425 he was seized with what proved to be fatal illness; he was aware that the end was near; and after making his will and receiving the last sacraments of the church he passed away. "May God keep him and pardon his sins," says the narrative of his life; "he is buried in the church of Grainville la Teinturiere, in front of the high altar." [Illustration: Jean de Bethencourt makes his will.] CHAPTER VII. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, 1436-1506. I. Discovery of Madeira, Cape de Verd Islands, the Azores, Congo, and Guinea--Bartholomew Diaz--Cabot and Labrador--The geographical and commercial tendencies of the middle ages--The erroneous idea of the distance between Europe and Asia--Birth of Christopher Columbus--His first voyages--His plans rejected--His sojourn at the Franciscan convent--His reception by Ferdinand and Isabella--Treaty of the 17th of April, 1492--The brothers Pinzon--Three armed caravels at the port of Palos--Departure on the 3rd of August, 1492. The year 1492 is an era in geographical annals. It is the date of the discovery of America. The genius of one man was fated to complete the terrestrial globe, and to show the truth of Gagliuffi's saying,-- Unus erat mundus; duo sint, ait iste; fuere. The old world was to be entrusted with the moral and political education of the new. Was it equal to the task, with its ideas still limited, its tendencies still semi-barbarous, and its bitter religious animosities? We must leave the answer to these questions to the facts that follow.