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Updated: May 20, 2025
It was not unnatural that the king and queen, willing to throw off the disgrace which they had incurred from Bobadilla's cruelty, should not only send Ovando to replace him, but should, though in an humble fashion, give to Columbus an opportunity to show that his plans were not chimerical.
There remained Bartholomew to be dealt with, and he, being at large and in command of the army, might not have proved such an easy conquest, but that Christopher, at Bobadilla's request, wrote and advised him to submit to arrest without any resistance.
The next act of Bobadilla's is not quite so easy to understand.
Hardly had the queen heard this letter when there came a report from Villejo containing the same story of Bobadilla's brutal haste in dealing with the Admiral. Isabella saw it was all too true; Bobadilla had gone to the uttermost limit of authority without even waiting to try less offensive measures.
Columbus sails from Cadiz the 9th of May, 1502, in command of four caravels Reaches Martinico, and steers for San Domingo to change one of his vessels finds Bobadilla about to sail Refused admission to the port Warns the Governor of an impending hurricane Keeps close in with the land Escapes Bobadilla's ship founders Only one with the treasure of Columbus reaches Spain Touching at Jamaica, stands across to Bonacca off the coast of Honduras Visited by a cacique in a large canoe laden with numerous articles Search for the supposed strait Goes on shore on the mainland The natives bring presents Sails along the coast Stormy weather continues Columbus suffers from illness Fine weather Off the Mosquito shore Natives offended at their presents not being accepted Hostages brought Frightened at seeing the notary write Natives carried off as guides Ships anchor in the Bay of Caribaro Large quantities of gold seen among the natives Reaches the coast of Veragua Hostility of natives Frightened into friendship Much gold obtained Columbus quits the gold region in search of the straits Hears of the gold region of Ciguere Anchors in Puerto Bello Passes Nombre de Dios Anchors in Cabinet Harbour The seamen insult the natives, who attack the ships Put to flight by the guns Columbus sails in search of the gold-mines of Veragua.
I make it that here across Ocean-Sea, far, far from Spain, he chose not to wait. He clucked to him all the disaffected and flew with a strong beak at the eyes of my friends." He moved his arms and his chains clanked. "I make it that this severity is Don Francisco de Bobadilla's, not King Ferdinand's, not oh, more than not the good Queen's!"
Some estimate of the amount of pressure employed may be formed from the fact that, although Bobadilla had reduced the royalty payable to the Sovereigns from one-third to one-eleventh of the gold found, this smaller proportion produced a larger revenue. In other words, about four times as much gold was discovered under Bobadilla's system as under that of Columbus.
Bobadilla had expected resistance, but the Admiral, whatever his faults, knew how to behave with, dignity in a humiliating position; and he came into the city unattended on August 23, 1500. On the outskirts of the town he was met by Bobadilla's guards, arrested, put in chains, and lodged in the fortress, the tower of which exists to this day.
It was on August 23, 1499, that Bobadilla's ship entered the mouth of the little river on which San Domingo was situated; and on seeing on either side of the settlement a gallows, and on either gallows the body of a high-born Spaniard lately executed for rebellion, the sight did not incline him to feel kindly toward the low-born governor who had executed them.
The stupidity of his enemies, had injured their cause more than any carelessness of Columbus could have done. The sovereigns expressed their indignation at Bobadilla's proceedings, and, indeed, declared at once that he should be dismissed from command.
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