按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
king； if indeed they ever met his eye。
In despair of obtaining justice for himself； Columbus asked that his son Diego might be sent to Hispaniola in his place。 The king would promise nothing； but seems to have attempted to make Columbus exchange the privileges which he enjoyed by the royal promise for a seignory in a little town in the kingdom of Leon； which is named not improperly 〃The Counts' Carrion。〃
It is interesting to see that one of the persons whom he employed； in pressing his claim at the court and in the management of his affairs； was Vespucci； the Florentine merchant； who in early life had been known as Alberigo； but had now taken the name of Americo。
The king was still engaged in the affairs of the islands。 He appointed bishops to take charge of the churches in the colonies； but Columbus was not so much as consulted as to the persons who should be sent。 When Philip arrived from Flanders； with his wife Juana； who was the heir of Isabella's fortunes and crown； Columbus wished to pay his court to them； but was too weak to do so in person。
There is a manly letter； written with dignity and pathos； in which he presses his claims upon them。 He commissioned his brother； the Adelantado； to take this letter； and with it he went to wait upon the young couple。 They received him most cordially； and gave flattering hopes that they would attend favorably to the suit。 But this was too late for Columbus himself。 Immediately after he had sent his brother away； his illness increased in violence。
The time for petitions and for answers to petitions had come to an end。 His health failed steadily； and in the month of May he knew that he was approaching his death。 The king and the court had gone to Villafranca de Valcacar。
On the nineteenth of May Columbus executed his will； which had been prepared at Segovia a year before。 In this will he directs his son and his successors； acting as administrators； always to maintain 〃in the city of Genoa； some person of our line； who shall have a house and a wife in that place； who shall receive a sufficient income to live honorably； as being one of our relatives； having foot and root in the said city； as a native； since he will be able to receive from this city aid in favor of the things of his service； because from that city I came forth and in that city I was born。〃 This clause became the subject of much litigation as the century went on。
Another clause which was much contested was his direction to his son Diego to take care of Beatriz Enriquez； the mother of Fernando。 Diego is instructed to provide for her an honorable subsistence 〃as being a person to whom I have great obligation。 What I do in this matter is to relieve my conscience； for this weighs much upon my mind。 The reason of this cannot be written here。〃
The history of the litigation which followed upon this will and upon other documents which bear upon the fortunes of Columbus is curious； but scarcely interesting。 The present representative of Columbus is Don Cristobal Colon de la Cerda； Duke of Veragua and of La Vega； a grandee of Spain of the first class； Marquis of Jamaica； Admiral and Seneschal Major of the Indies； who lives at Madrid。
Two days after the authentication of the will he died； on the twenty first of May； 1506； which was the day of Ascension。 His last words were those of his Saviour； expressed in the language of the Latin Testament； 〃In manus tuas； Pater； commendo spiritum meum；〃〃Father； into thy hands I commend my spirit。〃 The absence of the court from Valladolid took with it； perhaps； the historians and annalists。 For this or for some other reason； there is no mention whatever of Columbus's funeral in any of the documents of the time。
The body was laid in the convent of San Francisco at Valladolid。 Such at least is the supposition of Navarrete； who has collected the original documents relating to Columbus。 He supposes that the funeral services were conducted in the church of the parish of Santa Maria de la Antigua。 From the church of Saint Francis； not many months after； the body was removed to Seville。 A new chapel had lately been built there； called Santa Maria de las Cuevas。 In this chapel was the body of Columbus entombed。 In a curious discussion of the subject； which has occupied much more space than it is worth； it is supposed that this was in the year 1513； but Mr。 Harrisse has proved that this date is not accurate。
For at least twenty…eight years； the body was permitted to remain under the vaults of this chapel。 Then a petition was sent to Charles V； for leave to carry the coffin and the body to San Domingo； that it might be buried in the larger chapel of the cathedral of that city。 To this the emperor consented； in a decree signed June 2； 1537。 It is not known how soon the removal to San Domingo was really made； but it took place before many years。
Mr。 Harrisse quotes from a manuscript authority to show； that when William Penn besieged the city of San Domingo in 1655； all the bodies buried under the cathedral were withdrawn from view； lest the heretics should profane them； and that 〃the old Admiral's〃 body was treated like the rest。
Mr。 Harrisse calls to mind the fact that the earthquake of the nineteenth of May； 1673； demolished the cathedral in part； and the tombs which it contained。 He says； 〃the ruin of the colony； the climate； weather； and carelessness all contributed to the loss from sight and the forgetfulness of the bones of Columbus； mingled with the dust of his descendants〃； and Mr。 Harrisse does not believe that any vestige of them was ever found afterwards； in San Domingo or anywhere else。 This remark； from the person who has given such large attention to the subject； is interesting。 For it is generally stated and believed that the bones were afterwards removed to Havana in the island of Cuba。 The opinion of Mr。 Harrisse； as it has been quoted； is entitled to very great respect and authority。
A very curious question has arisen in later times as to the actual place where the remains now are。 On this question there is great discussion among historians； and many reports； official and unofficial； have been published with regard to it。
In the year 1867； the proposal was made to the Holy Father at Rome； that Columbus should receive the honors known in the Roman Catholic Church as the honors of beatification。 In 1877； De Lorgues； the enthusiastic biographer of Columbus； represents that the inquiry had gone so far that these honors had been determined on。 One who reads his book would be led to suppose that Columbus had already been recognized as on the way to be made a saint of the Church。 But； in truth； though some such inquiry was set on foot； he never received the formal honors of beatification。
We have one account by a contemporary of the appearance of Columbus。＇*＇ We are told that he was a robust man； quite tall； of florid complexion； with a long face。〃
＇*＇ In the first Decade of Peter Martyr。
In the next generation； Oviedo says Columbus was 〃of good aspect； and above the middle stature。 His limbs were strong； his eyes quick； and all the parts of his body well proportioned。 His hair was decidedly reddish； and the complexion of his face quite florid a