Quotes from Laurence Bergreen

Cartagena was to have the final say over all commercial aspects of the expedition;

Asia, but the weather frustrated his efforts at reconnaissance.

where they cooperated in the enterprise of exploring the world, under Henry's direction.

The fleet would be called the Armada de Molucca, after the Indonesian name for the Spice Islands. The ships were mostly black—pitch black. They derived their blackness, and their ominous aura, from the tar covering the hull

he was the chief accountant and representative of the king's treasury.

They designed a new type of ship, the small, maneuverable caravel

The ships were mostly black—pitch black. They derived their blackness, and their ominous aura, from the tar covering the hull

and it was probably a robust sudestada that caused Magellan to turn back and seek shelter.

distinguished by her triangular lateen sail (the name lateen came from the word "Latin"), borrowed from Arab vessels.

This provision made Magellan responsible to Cartagena for all commercial decisions.

dinner, the band of would-be mutineers drank a great deal and decided that they had nothing to fear from the Captain General

masts, and rigging, practically every exposed surface of the ship except for the sails.

The wording ("to the greatest possible advantage to our estates")

When they turned over the sand clocks, they recited psalms or prayers invoking divine guidance for a safe voyage.

He chose to proceed north with extreme caution; he made sure to sound the waters

They even revealed the existence of the plot to Magellan; they confided that if the plot succeded

With their shallow draught and movable sails, Henry's caravels could set a course close to the wind

Their sterns rose high out of the water, towering as much as thirty feet over the waves

learned to his relief that they were deep enough for his ships to pass unharmed.

and they could tack, that is, shift their course to take advantage of the wind

Their height exaggerated movement; even in relatively calm water, they tossed the men about like toy figures.

enabled Cartagena to step in at any moment and prevent Magellan from enriching himself

The privileged pages maintained the sixteen Venetian sand clocks—or ampolletas—carried by Magellan's ships.

would be "captured and killed" that very night.