A history of the United States of America; its people and its institutions . s in the street mocked him asa lunatic. At length he was permittedto lay his plans before a committee of CHRIiSTOPHER COLXJMBUS . learned men, but only to have them ridi-culed, the council dismissing him as a foolish enthusiast.^ The Portuguese king was intelligent, and at length listened favor-ably to the statements of Columbus, though his geographers told himthat the scheme was visionary. King John, who still thought it worthtrying, but did not wish to give Columbus the high reward he de-manded in case of success, p
A history of the United States of America; its people and its institutions . s in the street mocked him asa lunatic. At length he was permittedto lay his plans before a committee of CHRIiSTOPHER COLXJMBUS . learned men, but only to have them ridi-culed, the council dismissing him as a foolish enthusiast.^ The Portuguese king was intelligent, and at length listened favor-ably to the statements of Columbus, though his geographers told himthat the scheme was visionary. King John, who still thought it worthtrying, but did not wish to give Columbus the high reward he de-manded in case of success, played the traitor to him, and secretly sentout a vessel to try the westward route, giving the captain the charts ofColumbus as guides. The captain sailed for a few days westward intothe unknown ocean, and then, frightened by stormy weather and whatseemed an endless waste of waters, returned and laughed to scorn thescheme of the adventurer. ^ They could not be made to believe that the earth was round. Doyou mean to tell us, they asked, that on the other side the rain falls. THE ERA OF DISCOVERY. 19 Other Appeals for Aid.—Columbus before this had senthis brother Bartholomew to England to seek for aid. Henow himself set out for France, but stopped at the conventof La Rabida, near the little town of Palos, where he wasforced to beg bread for himself and his little son, who ac-companied him. Here he found a friend in the prior, whohad influence with Queen Isabella, and wrote to was called back to the court, but again met withdisappointment, and once more set out for France. Hehad not gone far when a messenger recalled him. Someof his friends had pleaded his cause with the queen, andshe became so earnest in his behalf that it is said she offeredto pledge her jewels to raise the money. The Vessels Supplied.—The queen did not need topledge her jewels. There was money enough in the treas-ury, despite the cost of the war. The part of the moneywhich Columbus was to supply
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