CHAPTER XLV
DON FERNANDO met me at the door. "He is wandering--he thinks he is inCordova with my mother." He came from that and said he would get up andgo to mass. Persuaded to lie quiet, he talked of his will, drawn beforehis third voyage, and said that he would have it read to him, and make acodicil.
This will. It ran at length through preamble and body.
"In the name of the most Holy Trinity who revealed it to me that I could sail westward across Ocean-Sea--
"As it pleased God, in the year one thousand, four hundred and ninety-two, I discovered the Continent of the Indies and many islands. I returned to Cadiz to their Majesties who allowed my going a second voyage, and in this God gave me victory over the island of Hispaniola, which covers six hundred leagues, and I conquered it and made it tributary; and I discovered many islands dwelled in by Caribals or eaters of men's flesh, and also Jamaica which I named Santiago, and three hundred and thirty leagues of Continent from south to west--"
He recited his rights, dignities, tithes, emoluments,--
"whereto I have the sacred word of the Sovereigns." Then came theheirship. All upon Don Diego and the heirs of his body, with lavishprovision for the younger son, "having great qualities and most dear tome," and for the brothers, but more especially the Adelantado. Followedgifts to friends and companions, and then far-flung benefactions.
Son and son's son must give, year following year, a tenth of revenuefrom the Indies to the help of needy men.
"In the city of Genoa in Italy is to be maintained a man and his wife ofthe line of our family of which he is to be the root in that city, fromwhence all good may derive unto her, for I was born there and came fromthence."
The taking of the Sepulchre. Into the Bank of Saint George in Genoa,"that noble and potent city" was to be put what moneys could be savedand collected for the purpose, "and one day God will bring the purposeabout."
His heirs must support the Crown of Spain, "seeing that theseSovereigns, next to God, are responsible for my achieving the property,though true it is that I came into this country to invite them to theenterprise, and that a long while passed before they allowed me toexecute it, but this should not surprise us as it was an undertaking ofwhich all the world was ignorant and no one had any faith in it." And ifschism arose in Christendom, his heirs must to their uttermost supportHis Holiness the Pope, and give all and die, if need be, defendingthe Church of God. And, where it was possible and not contrary to theservice and the claims of the Sovereigns of Spain, "let them give aidand service to that noble city of Genoa from which we all spring."
Such and such moneys, accruing, were to be applied to making fitmarriages for the daughters of the line.
And let Don Diego his son build in the island of Hispaniola a churchand call it Santa Maria de la Concepcion, a church and a hospital anda chapel where masses might be said for the good of the soul ofChristopherus Columbus. "Doubtless God will be pleased to give usrevenue enough for this and all purposes." And let them maintain in theisland of Hispaniola four good teachers of theology to convert to theOne Faith the inhabitants of the Indies, "to which end no expense shouldbe thought too considerable."
Many other things he provided for. He cared for that Dona Beatrix whohad given him Fernando. Where he had met kindness, there he gave as besthe might. Among other small bequests was a silver mark to a poor Jew whohad done him service, who lived at the gate of the Ghetto in Lisbon. Hegave to many, and closed his will and signed it with his signet lettersand below these, EL ALMIRANTE.
After this there came a second leap of the flame. Queen Juana was withher husband, King Phillip, in Laredo,--Queen of Castile as had been thegood Queen her mother. The Admiral, utterly revering the Queen who wasgone, wrote to the daughter Queen a stately letter of high comfort andoffer and promise of service. He would have the Adelantado, no less aman, bear this to Laredo. Don Bartholomew spoke aside to Juan Lepe. "IfI do as he wished, I do not know if I will see him again."
"I do not know," I answered. "But his heart is set on..."
"Then I will go," he said. "And many's the time I have thought, 'I shallnever see him again', and still we met."
For several days after this I thought that after all he might recover.Perhaps even sail again on earthly discoveries. Then, in a night, camethe unmistakable stroke upon the door.
He sank, and knew now that he was putting off the body. Fray Juan Perezstayed beside him. His sons and his brother Diego waited with reddenedeyes. It was full May, and the bland wind strayed in and out of windowand fluttered his many papers upon the great table. It was towardevening of Ascension Day. His son Fernando threw himself on the bed,weeping. The Admiral's great hand fell upon the youth's head. He lookedto the window and said clearly, "A light--yonder is a light!" and aftera moment, "_In manus tuas Domine coinmendo spiritum meum_."
The sea by Palos and June in Andalusia. Juan Lepe, staying at La Rabida,walked along the sands and saw Life like a mighty, breathing picture. Hestood by the sea and the ripples broke at his feet, and he felt and knewthe Master of Life, there where feeling and knowing pass into Being.
He walked a mile beside Ocean-Sea, then sat down beneath ridgedsand with the wind singing over. It sang, _Where now, Jayme deMarchena--where now--where now_?
I sat still. Spain rose behind me, Spain and Europe. Before me, out ofsea, lifted the New Lands. There fell a moment of great calm and quiet.Then, fleeting, like a spirit, passed before me the Indian Guarin whohad saved me after La Navidad. I saw his dark eyes, then he went. Stillspace without color or line or form, and outside, dreamily, dreamily,the ocean sounding below La Rabida. Then, in the clear field roseBartolome de Las Casas. A quiet, singing voice ran through Jayme deMarchena, and he knew that he would return to Hispaniola and link hislife with that younger life which apparently had work to do in theIndies.
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