The king would promise nothing, but seems to have attempted to make Columbus exchange the privileges which he enjoyed by the royal promise for a seignory in a little town in the kingdom of Leon, which is named not improperly "The Counts' Carrion." It is interesting to see that one of the persons whom he employed, in pressing his claim at the court and in the management of his affairs, was Vespucci, the Florentine merchant, who in early life had been known as Alberigo, but had now taken the name of Americo.
The king was still engaged in the affairs of the islands.

He appointed bishops to take charge of the churches in the colonies, but Columbus was not so much as consulted as to the persons who should be sent.

When Philip arrived from Flanders, with his wife Juana, who was the heir of Isabella's fortunes and crown, Columbus wished to pay his court to them, but was too weak to do so in person.
There is a manly letter, written with dignity and pathos, in which he presses his claims upon them.

He commissioned his brother, the Adelantado, to take this letter, and with it he went to wait upon the young couple.

They received him most cordially, and gave flattering hopes that they would attend favorably to the suit.