He was still a great man to the multitude.
So when on a certain October day, in the year 1500, it was spread abroad that a ship had just come into the harbor of Cadiz, bringing home the great Admiral, Christopher Columbus, a prisoner and in chains, folks began to talk at once.

Why, who has done this?
they cried.

Is this the way to treat the man who found Cathay for Spain, the man whom the king and the queen delighted to honor, the man who made a procession for us with all sorts of birds and animals and pagan Indians?
It cannot be.
Why, we all remember how he sailed into Palos Harbor eight years ago and was received like a prince with banners and proclamations and salutes.
And now to bring him home in chains! It is a shame; it is cruel; it is wicked.

And when people began to talk in this way, the very ones who had said the worst things against him began to change their tone.
As soon as the ship got into Cadiz, Columbus sent off a letter to a friend of his at the court in the beautiful city of Granada.

This letter was, of course, shown to the queen.