Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/154

130 I. 130 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. PART With their assistance, Columbus was enabled to surmount the disinclination, and indeed open oppo- sition, manifested by the Andalusian mariners to his perilous voyage ; so that in less than three mouths his little squadron was equipped for sea. A suffi- cient evidence of the extreme unpopularity of the expedition is afforded by a royal ordinance of the 30th of April, promising protection to all persons, who should embark in it, from criminal prosecution of whatever kind, until two months after their return. The armament consisted of two caravels, or light vessels without decks, and a third of larger burden. The total number of persons who em- barked amounted to one hundred and twenty ; and the whole charges of the crown for the expedition did not exceed seventeen thousand florins. The fleet was instructed to keep clear of the African coast, and other maritime possessions of Portugal. At length, all things being in readiness, Columbus and his whole crew partook of the sacrament, and confessed themselves, after the devout manner of the ancient Spanish voyagers, when engaged in any important enterprise ; and on the morning of the 3d of August, 1492, the intrepid navigator, bidding adieu to the old world, launched forth on that un- fathomed waste of waters where no sail had been ever spread before.' 25 25 Peter Martyr, De Rebus Oce- Hist, del Almirante, cap. 14. — anicis et Novo Orbe, (Colonise, Min'oz, Hist, del Nuevo-Mundo, 1574,) dec. 1, lib. 1. — Navarrete, lib. 2, sec. 33. — Benzoni, Novi Colcccion de Viapes, torn, ii., Col. Orbis Hist., lib. 1, cap. 6. — Go- Diplomat., nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 12. — mara. Hist, de las Indias, cap. 15. Herrera, Indias Occiclentales, dec. The expression in the text will l,lib. l,cap. 9. — Fernando Colon, not seem too strong, even admitting