was a native of Catalonia,
and his name was Bernardo Boyle, which strongly suggests an Irish
origin. Alexander VI. appointed him his apostolic vicar for the
Indies,[552] and he seems to have been the first clergyman to perform
mass on the western shores of the Atlantic. To assist the vicar, the six
Indians brought over by Columbus were baptized at Barcelona, with the
king and queen for their godfather and godmother. It was hoped that they
would prove useful as missionaries, and when one of them presently died
he was said to be the first Indian ever admitted to heaven.[553]

[Footnote 551: Irving calls him a Benedictine, but he is
addressed as "fratri ordinis Minorum" in the bull clothing him
with apostolic authority in the Indies, June 25, 1493. See
Raynaldus, _Annales ecclesiastici_, tom. xi. p. 216. I cannot
imagine what M. Harrisse means by calling him "religieux de
Saint-Vincent de Paule" (_Christophe Colomb_, tom. ii. p. 55).
Vincent de Paul was not born till 1576.]

[Footnote 552: Not for "the New World," as Irving carelessly
has it in his _Columbus_, vol. i. p. 346. No such phrase had
been thought of in 1493, or until long afterward.]

[Footnote 553: Herrera, _Hist. de las Indias_, decad. i. lib.
ii. cap. 5.]

The three summer months were occupied in fitting out the little fleet.
There were fourteen caravels, and three larger store-ships known as
carracks. Horses, mules, and other cattle were put on board,[554] as
well as vines and sugar-canes, and the seeds of several European
cereals, for it was intended to establish a permanent colony upon
Hispaniola. In the course of this work some slight matters of
disagreement came up between Columbus and Fonseca, and the question
having been referred to the sovereigns, Fonseca was mildly snubbed and
told that he must in all respects be guided by the Admiral's wishes.
From that time forth this ungodly prelate nourished a deadly hatred
toward Columbus, and never lost an opportunity for whispering evil
things about him. The worst of the grievous afflictions that afterward
beset the great discoverer must be ascribed to the secret machinations
of this wretch.

[Footnote 554: _Vita dell' Ammiraglio_, cap. xliv.]

[Sidenote: Notable persons who embarked on the second voyage.]

At last the armament was ready. People were so eager to embark that it
was felt n