What a discouraging state of affairs to greet the returning "Governor-
General and Viceroy of all the Lands Discovered in the Western Seas!"
What comfort were all these titles that Columbus stood out for so
obstinately, when half his colonists had joined a rebel leader and the
other half were sick and hungry!
By this time Roldan's army was so large that Christopher and his brother
had to admit to each other that there was no chance of subduing the
insurrection by force. In truth, there was no "force"; for those who
were not ill, even the newcomers, were all grumbling against the
government. So there was nothing to do but make a treaty with the rebel
leader, as if he had been the lawful ruler of a state; and in this
treaty he had everything his own way. Columbus had humbly to agree to
give two vessels to carry the discontented ones back to Spain; to fill
these vessels with ample provisions, and to agree to write a letter to
the monarchs stating that Roldan and his men were in no way to blame for
the trouble. Here was humiliation indeed! Fancy a high official of the
Crown being forced to such an undignified treaty with one who had
rebelled against his authority!
But even this did not end the trouble. Columbus could not get the
vessels ready in time, and so the malefactors became more vexatious than
ever. Later another treaty was made, still more humiliating to the
Admiral, for he had to promise, first, that those of Roldan's men who
were most anxious to return should be sent to Spain immediately; second,
that those who chose to remain should receive gifts of land and houses;
third, that he, Columbus, would issue a public proclamation stating that
all that had happened had been caused by the false reports of bad men;
and fourth, that Roldan the leader should remain chief-justice for the
rest of his life! Roldan now condescended to return to San Domingo and
sit in the judge's seat.
No sooner was this turbulent leader appeased than another rebel arose.
This time, sad to say, it was the brave Alonzo de Ojeda. Because he had
succeeded in taking the chief Caonabo prisoner, Columbus had rewarded
and honored him by making him captain of a voyage of discovery among the
islands. All this time, no doubt, Ojeda was loyal to his Admiral; but he
had recently made a trip home to Spain, where, from his friend Bishop
Fonseca, he had learned many things, false as well as true, that
poisoned his mind against his great leader. So he in turn gathered the
discontented into a threatening band.
"I have word from Spain," he told them, "that our good queen lies dying.
She is the only friend Cristobal Colon has; and you may be sure that the
minute she is dead I can easily arrange to have her favorite removed if
you will all rally around me." Many, of course, lent ear to his
treacherous talk, and these had many a skirmish with the few who were
faithful to Columbus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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