Nor is it to his discredit that he was willing to risk
his life on a dying sailor's wild, improbable tale, rather than on an
astronomer's carefully worked out theory. Whether our navigator had
theories or not is of little consequence compared to the fact that he
had boldness, tenacity, and the spirit of adventure.
"The King of Portugal refused with blindness to second me in my projects
of maritime discovery."
So Christopher declares in his Journal; but in spite of his way of
putting it, King John did not blindly refuse to listen to him. Let us
see what, according to two Portuguese historians, really happened when,
on his return from Madeira about 1483, he solicited aid.
Columbus told the monarch, who himself knew a great deal about
navigation, but who was not nearly as intelligent as his uncle, Prince
Henry, how the persistent rumors he had heard at Madeira concerning land
in the west made him eager to undertake a western voyage of discovery;
and how, if only the king would give him a fleet and some sailors, he
would lead them out until they found "lands." The king, who was really
not so blind as Columbus thought, did not refuse, but said he must first
submit the idea to his Council for Geographical Affairs. This Council
consisted of two Jewish doctors and a bishop.
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