THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



in promulgating His sacred name and our holy faith 

 among so many nations ; — an enterprise so exalted in 

 itself, and so calculated to enhance the glory and 

 immortalize the renown of the greatest sovereigns. It 

 was also requisite to refer to the temporal prosperity, 

 which was foretold in the writings of so many trustworthy 

 and wise historians, who related that great riches were 

 to be found in those parts. And at the same time I 

 thought it desirable to bring to bear upon the subject, 

 the sayings and opinions of those who have written 

 upon the geography of the world. And finally, your 

 Highnesses came to the determination that the under- 

 The spread of taking should be entered upon.' To add a whole realm 

 nsttantty. ^^ Christendom was in the opinion of Columbus a 

 sufficient object and reward. The people of the West 

 Indian islands, he says, ' all clearly understand each 

 other's speech, a circumstance very propitious for the 

 realization of what I conceive to be the principal wish 

 of our most serene King, namely, the conversion of 

 these people to the holy faith of Christ.' And again, — 

 ' Let the King and Queen, our Princes and their most 

 happy Kingdoms, and all the other provinces of Christen- 

 dom, render thanks to our Lord and Saviour Jesus 

 Christ, who has granted us so great a victory and such 

 prosperity. Let processions be made, and sacred feasts 

 be held, and the temples be adorned with festive boughs. 

 Let Christ rejoice on earth, as he rejoices in heaven in 

 the prospect of the salvation of the souls of so many 

 nations hitherto lost. Let us also rejoice, as well on 

 account of the exaltation of our faith, as on account of 

 the increase of our temporal prosperity, of which not 

 only Spain, but all Christendom wiU be partakers.' 



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