The Third Voyage - 5

The Third Voyage - 5

Here was a bolus for Christopher to swallow; a bolus compounded of his own words, his

own acts, his hope, dignity, supremacy. In dismal humiliation he accepted the terms, with

the addition of a clause more scandalous still—to the effect that the mutineers reserved

the right, in case the Admiral should fail in the exact performance of any of his promises,

to enforce them by compulsion of arms or any other method they might think fit. This

precious document was signed on September 28, 1499 just twelve months after the

agreement which it was intended to replace; and the Admiral, sailing dismally back to

San Domingo, ruefully pondered on the fruits of a year's delay. Even then he was trying

to make excuses for himself, such as he made afterwards to the Sovereigns when he tried

to explain that this shameful capitulation was invalid. That he signed under compulsion;

that he was on board a ship, and so was not on his viceregal territory; that the rebels had

already been tried, and that he had not the power to revoke a sentence which bore the

authority of the Crown; that he had not the power to dispose of the Crown property—

desperate, agonised shuffling of pride and self-esteem in the coils of trial and difficulty.

Enough of it.