"I had to buy sailcloth." It was Pedro chiefly who talked.

"They were from the King and Queen, and the moral was that Palos must furnish Don Cristoval Colon, Admiral of the Ocean-Sea--and we thought that was a curious thing to be admiral of!--two ships and all seamen needed and all supplies.

A third ship could be enterprised, and any in and around Palos was to be encouraged to put in fortune and help.

Ships and those who went in them were to obey the said Don Cristoval Colon or Columbus as though he were the Queen and the King, the Bishop of Seville and the Marquis of Cadiz! It didn't say it just that way but that was what it meant.

We were to follow him and do as he told us, or it would be much the worse for us! We weren't to put in at St.George la Mina on the coast of Africa, nor touch at the King of Portugal's islands, and that was the whole of it!" "All seamen were to be given good pay," said Sancho.