He was pleased by the modesty and dignity with which he brought forward his proposals.
Columbus spoke, as he tells us, as one specially appointed by God Himself to carry out this discovery.

The king did not, however, at once adopt the scheme, but gave out that a council of men of learning should be called together to consider it.
Columbus himself says that he entered the service of the sovereigns January 26, 1486.

The council to which he was referred was held in the university city of Salamanca, in that year.

It gave to him a full opportunity to explain his theory.

It consisted of a fair representation of the learning of the time.