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The caravel set sail in October, bearing off Columbus shackled like the vilest criminal. The worthy Villejo, as well as Andries Martin, the master of the caravel, would have taken off his irons, but to this he would not consent.
The charge of conducting the prisoners to Spain was committed to Alonzo Villejo, a man of honourable conduct and generous feelings. When Villejo entered with the guard to conduct him on board the caravel, Columbus thought it was to conduct him to the scaffold. "Villejo" said he, "whither are you taking me?" "To the ship, your excellency, to embark," replied the other.
Bovadilla found the moment propitious for harsh measures. Don Diego was already imprisoned, and the governor soon ordered Don Bartolomeo and Christopher Columbus himself to be put in fetters. The admiral, accused of high treason, was placed with his two brothers on board a vessel bound for Spain, under the command of Alphonso de Villejo.
When Villejo, with some soldiers, entered the cell in order to remove the prisoners to the ship, Columbus thought he was to be escorted to the scaffold. "I see I am to die," he said calmly. Villejo, who seems to have been the only man in San Domingo with an ounce of humanity in him, answered kindly, "I am to escort you to a ship, Your Excellency, and then home to Spain."
"That is enough for me," answered the Adelantado. "I do not go down to-night a freed body while he goes down a chained. Farewell, senor! I think I hear your sailors calling." Villejo hesitated. "Let them have their will, senor," said Juan Lepe. "Their will is as good as ours." Don Bartholomew turned to me. "How fares my brother, Doctor? Is he ill?" "He is better.
"If the ship goes down every man must save himself. He must be free. I have sent for the smith. Come you with me!" We went to that dusky cabin in the ship where he was prisoned. "It is a great storm, and we are in danger, senor!" said Villejo. "I will take away these irons so that if " The Admiral's silver hair gleamed in the dusk. He moved and his gyves struck together.
This circumstance gave weight with many to a report that Bobadilla was secretly instigated and encouraged in his violent measures by Fonseca, and was promised his protection and influence at court, in case of any complaints of his conduct. Villejo undertook the office assigned him, but he discharged it in a more generous manner than was intended.
His silence spoke in his favor; for they did not learn what had happened till a lady-in-waiting at court, a friend of Columbus and of the queen, received a letter which Columbus had written during the voyage, and which the good Villejo sent off by a trusty messenger the minute the ship reached Spain.
"This Alonzo de Villejo," says the worthy Las Casas, "was a hidalgo of honorable character, and my particular friend." He certainly showed himself superior to the low malignity of his patrons. When he arrived with a guard to conduct the admiral from the prison to the ship, he found him in chains in a state of silent despondency.
"To the ship, your Excellency, to embark," replied the other. "To embark!" repeated the admiral, earnestly; "Villejo! do you speak the truth?" "By the life of your Excellency," replied the honest officer, "it is true!" With these words the admiral was comforted, and felt as one restored from death to life.
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