Genoa and at Pavia where I went to school, and all my
years of hope in Christ's Kingdom, and in the uplands of
great doers-and your Highness says to me for a slighting
word, `Italian!' I was born in Italy, but to-day, for this
turn, King Ferdinand, you should call me `Spaniard'! As,
if King John sends me forth be will call me Portuguese!
Or King Henry will say, `Christopher the Englishman'
or King Charles, to whom verily I see that I may go, shall
say, `Frenchman, to whom all owe the marriage of East and
West, but France owes Empire!"'

The King said, "It may be so, or it may not be so,
Master Christopherus.--Read!"

The secretary read: The Genoese, Cristoforo Colombo,
called in Spain Cristobal Colon, and in the Latin Christopherus
Columbus, states and demands in substance as follows:
Sailing westward he will discover for the King and
Queen of the Spains the Indies and Cathay and Cipango,
to the great glory and enrichment of these Sovereigns and
the passing thereby of Spain ahead of Portugal, and likewise
and above all to the great glory of Christ and of Holy
Church. He will do this, having seen it clear for many
years that it is to be done, and he the instrument. And for
the finding by going westward of the said India and all
the gain of the world and the Kingdom of God and of our
Sovereigns the King Don Ferdinand and the Queen Dona
Isabella, he bargaineth thus:

"He shall be named Admiral of the Ocean-Sea, whereby