But most of the men who met had formed their opinions on the subjects involved, and were too old to change them.

A part of them were priests of the church, in the habit of looking to sacred Scripture as their only authority, when the pope had given no instruction in detail.

Of these some took literally expressions in the Old Testament, which they supposed to be fatal to the plans of Columbus.
Such was the phrase in the 104th Psalm, that God stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

The expression in the book of Hebrews, that the heavens are extended as a tent, was also quoted, in the same view.
Quotations from the early Fathers of the church were more fatal to the new plan than those from the Scripture.
On the other hand there were men who cordially supported Columbus's wishes, and there were more when the congress parted than when it met.
Its sessions occupied a considerable part of the summer, but it was not for years that it rendered any decision.
The king, queen and court, meanwhile, were occupied in war with the Moors.

Columbus was once and again summoned to attend the court, and more than once money was advanced to him to enable him to do so.