ey instantly sent orders to Cadiz that Columbus should be received
with all honor. So soon as he arrived he had been able to send, to Dona
Juana de la Torre, a lady high in favor at court, a private letter,
in which he made a proud defense of himself. This letter is still
preserved, and it is of the first interest, as showing his own
character, and as showing what were the real hardships which he had
undergone.

The Lady Juana read this letter to Isabella. Her own indignation, which
probably had been kindled by the general news that Columbus had been
chained, rose to the highest. She received him, therefore, when he
arrived at court, with all the more cordiality. Ferdinand was either
obliged to pretend to join with her in her indignation, or he had really
felt distressed by the behavior of his subordinate.

They did not wait for any documents from Bobadilla. As has been said,
they wrote cordially to Columbus; they also ordered that two thousand
ducats should be paid him for his expenses, and they bade him appear at
Grenada at court. He did appear there on the seventeenth of December,
attended by an honorable retinue, and in the proper costume of a
gentleman in favor with the king and queen.

When the queen met him she was moved to tears, and Columbus, finding
himself so kindly received, threw himself upon his knees. For some time
he could not express himself except by tears and sobs. His sovereigns
raised him from the ground and encouraged him by gracious words.

So soon as he recovered his self-possession he made such an address
as he had occasion to make more than once in his life, and showed the
eloquence which is possible to a man of affairs. He could well boast of
his loyalty to the Spanish crown; and he might well say that, whether
he were or were not experienced in government, he had been surrounded by
such difficulties in administration as hardly any other man had had to
go through. But really, it was hardly necessary that he should vindicate
himself.

The stupidity of his enemies, had injured their cause more than any
carelessness of Columbus could have done. The sovereigns expressed their
indignation at Bobadilla's proceedings, and, indeed, declared at once
that he should be dismissed from command. They never took any public
notice of the charges which he had sent home; on the other hand, they
received Columbus with dignity and favor, and assured him that he should
be reinstated in all his privileges.