role-play #4 of 7: the life and times of christopher columbus · pdf filethe life and times of...

Role-Play #4 of 7:

The Life and Times of Christopher Columbus

© 1989, 2010, and 2014 re-told by Debbie Dunn

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Please note: Girls can play the parts of the male characters, if they desire.

Note: Photocopy 14 copies of the student role-play called “Role-Play #4 of 7: The Life and

Times of Christopher Columbus.” Choose fourteen volunteers to play the following parts. Those

students playing the following characters require the use of a script.

2 Narrators

Christopher Columbus: age 25 to 41

Grown-up Bartholomew

Dona Felipa – First Wife of C.C.

Mother of First Wife of C.C.

King John of Portugal

Captain of a Portuguese Ship

Monk

Father Perez

Beatrice – 2nd “love” of C.C.

King Ferdinand of Spain

Queen Isabella of Spain

6-year-old Diego

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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STORY GENIE: Today I'll need fourteen volunteers: two narrators, Christopher

Columbus, Bartholomew, First Wife, Mother of First Wife, King John of Portugal,

Captain of a Portuguese ship, Monk, Father Perez, King Ferdinand of Spain, Queen

Isabella of Spain, 6-year-old Diego, and Beatrice-Columbus's second love.

NNaarrrraattoorr : When Christopher was 28 years old, he met the woman he wanted to marry.

C.C.: Bart, it is time for me to have a wife. I am feeling lonely, in spite of your good

company.

BART: Chris, I was wondering what was wrong. I think I have the answer. In Lisbon, there

is a Boarding School for daughters of the Portuguese noblemen. I have heard of gentlemen

who have attended Mass at the Chapel connected with this school meeting these girls and

making a good match.

C.C.: That sounds like a great idea. Will you go to this chapel with me?

BART: Of course, I will.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher and Bartholomew went to Mass regularly at this Chapel. It was

called the Chapel of the Convento dos Santos. It was originally owned by the knights of

the military order of St. Iago. They would send their wives and children to stay there when

they had to be off fighting. Now the building was used as a fashionable boarding school.

C.C.: Bart, I see the most beautiful girl standing over there.

BART: She is indeed beautiful. So, how are you going to meet her?

C.C.: I'll think of a way.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher Columbus did think of a way. We can imagine what their first

meeting might have been like.

C.C.: Hello. My name is Christopher Columbus. Would you do me the honor of talking with

me for a time?

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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FIRST WIFE: Hello. Yes, I'll be happy to talk with you. My name is Dona Felipa

Perestrello e Moniz. My friends call me Dona Felipa.

C.C.: My friends call me Chris or Christopher.

FIRST WIFE: Where are you from, Chris?

C.C.: I am from Genoa, Italy. I lived there for 22 years with my family. Where are you

from, Dona Felipa?

FIRST WIFE: I was born here in Lisbon, Portugal. I either live here at the Boarding

School or with my mother in Lisbon. Her name is Dona Isabel Moniz. My father was D.

Bartholomew Perestrello. He died, may he rest in peace, in 1457. That was when I was but

three years old. I am 25 years old now.

C.C.: I'm 28 years old. What did your father do?

FIRST WIFE: He was the former governor and captain of the island called Porto Santo.

He was a great sailor and explorer. He went on many expeditions for the late Prince Henry

the Navigator.

C.C.: Wow! Your father sounds wonderful! I wish I could have known him.

FIRST WIFE: So do I. What do you do, Chris?

C.C.: I too am a sailor. I help my brother Bartholomew run a mapmaking shop here in

Lisbon. I plan to be a great explorer someday.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher and Dona Felipa talked on and on. They had many such meetings.

Then, one day . . .

C.C.: Dona Felipa, I have grown to love you very much. Would you do me the honor of

being my wife?

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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FIRST WIFE: I must first ask my mother. May I have some time before I give you my

answer? However, I will tell you that I love you too.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Dona Felipa did ask her mother. The mother was thrilled as Christopher acted

like a gentleman. Best of all, he demanded no dowry from the mother. Since her husband

was dead, she had very little money. The mother was also glad to see her oldest daughter

married as she would not have to pay the School Convent bills anymore.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher and Dona Felipa were married that year of 1479. Christopher was 28

and Dona Felipa was 25.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher and Dona Felipa stayed with her mother, Dona Isabel, for part of

their marriage.

C.C.: Mother Isabel, please tell me more stories of your husband.

MOTHER ISABEL: Well, as you know, my dear departed husband, may he rest in peace,

was the captain and governor of Porto Santo. What you don't know is there was a time that

everyone had to leave the island and go live on the island of Madeira. My husband also

helped to discover this island.

C.C.: What happened?

FIRST WIFE: Yes, tell him, Mother. I love this story!

MOTHER ISABEL: My husband brought a pregnant rabbit with him to the island of

Porto Santo. He thought that this way, there would always be rabbit pie to eat. What he

didn't count on was that the babies of that mother rabbit grew, then those she-rabbits had

babies, and those babies grew and had babies, and before one year had passed, there were

rabbits everywhere you looked. These rabbits ate up every green plant on the island.

Naturally, when all the green plants were gone, the rabbits and other animals began to die

too. Everyone had to pack up and leave Porto Santo for a few years until green plants had

a chance to grow again.

C.C.: (Laugh) What an amazing story! I will certainly never bring a pregnant rabbit with

me if I plan to go discover an island. I love to hear your stories, Mother Isabel.

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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MOTHER ISABEL: : I like you, Christopher. Since you are so interested in the Sea, I will

give you all the journals and maps of my dear departed husband, may he rest in peace.

C.C.: Oh, thank you! I will treasure them always!

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher learned much about Portuguese discoveries and explorations by

reading these maps, charts, and journals of his wife's father.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher also kept on with his education. He read many books. His favorite

book was written by Marco Polo who had travelled to China, Japan, and India 200 years

before. Marco Polo wrote of places where the streets were paved with gold.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Many people thought that Marco Polo made up much of what he wrote. Not

Christopher. He believed every word. He was determined that he would sail to these

countries and get part of this treasure for his very own.

NNaarrrraattoorr : In 1480, Christopher and Dona Felipa had a baby boy. They named him Diego

after Christopher's youngest brother.

NNaarrrraattoorr : There was no other information about Dona Felipa other than that she was

buried in the church of the Carmo sometime between 1480 and 1485. There was an

Earthquake in that area that destroyed many church records. It is believed that Dona

Felipa might have died in childbirth or when Diego was very young.

NNaarrrraattoorr : When Christopher was 33 years old, he felt ready to approach King John 11 (the

second) of Portugal. We can imagine that the conversation went something like this.

C.C.: Greetings, your Majesty.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Who are you and what do you want?

C.C.: I am Christopher Columbus. I hail from Genoa, Italy but am now a citizen of

Portugal due to my marriage. In fact, I married the daughter of the former Captain and

Governor or the island of Porto Santo.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Get on with it!

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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C.C.: I am a great sailor and explorer. I know of a shortcut to reach India, Japan, and

China. I want you to provide me with ships, sailors, and money. I will sail to these

countries. I will bring you back much gold, jewels, silks, and spices.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: What shortcut is this?

C.C.: I know you have been trying to reach India by sailing around Africa. I have maps

made up to show a much simpler and quicker way to reach India.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Go on.

C.C.: These maps will show that if I sail west across the Atlantic Ocean, I will reach India.

I know I can do this for you.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Hmmmmmmmm! Very interesting! I will need a few

months to consider your proposal. Leave your maps with me so that I can see for myself

what you ask. I will contact you when I have made my decision.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher did not like the idea of leaving his precious maps with King John,

but he felt that he had no choice.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Unknown to Christopher, King John played a trick on him. Listen to the king

talking to the captain of one of his Portuguese ships.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Captain, I wish to talk with you in secret.

CAPTAIN OF A PORGUGUESE SHIP: Yes, your Majesty?

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: An Italian man by the name of Christopher Columbus

came in to see me. He had a very interesting idea; however, I don't like the man. He

bragged a lot and was entirely too sure of himself. I felt his self-assured attitude to be

almost insulting.

CAPTAIN OF A PORGUGUESE SHIP: Your Majesty, I am at your service. How

can I serve you?

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Study these maps of his. I want you to secretly try out

Columbus' ideas. I will give you ships, sailors, and money. Columbus may be a

Portuguese citizen by marriage, but he is not a real Portuguese. Only my own countrymen

should get the honor, should his idea be any good.

CAPTAIN OF A PORGUGUESE SHIP: Yes, your Majesty. I will leave as soon as

possible.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: See that Christopher Columbus does not hear of our

plan.

CAPTAIN OF A PORGUGUESE SHIP: Yes, your Majesty. Mum's the word!

NNaarrrraattoorr : The Captain of the Portuguese vessel did try. Luckily for Christopher Columbus,

there were great storms and other problems. The Captain and his sailors failed in their

attempt.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Several months later, King John of Portugal had Columbus brought before him.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher's heart must have been beating wildly. He had such great hopes that

the King of Portugal would like his ideas. Imagine how Christopher must have felt when

he heard what King John had to say.

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Hello, Christopher.

C.C.: Your Majesty. Did you get a chance to study my maps?

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: Yes, I have. I'm sorry, but I feel your idea is

impossible. We are not interested.

C.C.: But, your Majesty . . .

KING JOHN OF PORTUGAL: I'm sorry. Now, take your maps and go.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Bartholomew tried to comfort Christopher.

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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C.C.: Bart, I'm so upset. First, he kept my maps for several months. I felt sure he must have

liked my idea to have kept them for so long. Then he just hands them back and says good-

bye.

BART: Chris, I'm as upset as you are. What will you do now?

C.C.: As soon as I can, I will take my son Diego and I will try the king and queen of Spain.

BART: Tell you what, when I get together a little money, I will leave Lisbon and go try the

King of England for you. If he's not interested, then I could try the King of France. Let me

know how things go in Spain. If it seems that they are not going to cooperate, then I will

go.

C.C.: Bart, how can I ever thank you?

BART: What are brothers for!

NNaarrrraattoorr : It was not known when Christopher found out about the trick that was played on

him by King John. Nevertheless, Christopher and his son Diego left Portugal in 1485.

Christopher would have been 34 years old, and Diego would have been age five.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher and Diego travelled to Spain. One evening, they stopped at the

monastery called La Rabida. This monastery was located on the outskirts of a town called

Palos.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher and Diego talked with one of the monks.

C.C.: My son and I have travelled far. Could we have some food and drink and a place to

sleep tonight?

MONK: But of course. Come right in.

C.C.: Thank you!

DIEGO: Yes, thank you!

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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NNaarrrraattoorr : After Diego had been fed and put to bed, the monk talked with Christopher.

Christopher told his story to the monk. The monk seemed quite excited.

MONK: Oh, we have quite an interest in astronomy, geography, and maps ourselves. Come,

talk with Father Perez.

NNaarrrraattoorr : The kindly monk took Christopher in to talk with Father Perez. They talked far

into the night.

FATHER PEREZ: I am very interested in all your ideas. I know Queen Isabella of

Spain. Allow me to write to her. Perhaps she will grant you an audience on my behalf.

C.C.: Oh, thank you. I would greatly appreciate that.

FATHER PEREZ: Feel free to stay with us as long as you like. You and your son are

most welcome.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Father Perez wrote the Queen and requested that she talk with Christopher. She

was very interested in listening to Christopher talk about his ideas in person. So she sent

for Columbus to come to Cordova.

QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN: Tell us, Christopher, about your plan.

C.C.: Your Majesty, I know that I can find the shortcut to India. I can and will do this for

Spain. I can bring Spain great riches. Best of all, with your help, we can spread

Christianity in those heathen countries.

KING FERDINAND OF SPAIN: What shortcut is this?

C.C.: By sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, we can reach India. It is only 3000 miles

across.

KING FERDINAND OF SPAIN: How do you know such facts? Our learned men of

the Court tells me that it is 10,000 miles across and would take three years to cross the

Ocean Sea.

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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C.C.: With all due respect, your Majesty, your wise counselors are not sailors. They do not

know the Sea as I do. I believe it can be done. I strongly feel that it is my God-given

destiny to find the shortcut to India. I'd like to do this for Spain.

QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN: What you say interests me greatly. We would like to

help you. However, all of our royal treasury is being used in the war to fight the Moors. If

you will wait until we win the war, then we will do what we can for you.

C.C.: Thank you, your Majesties! I will wait until the war is ended.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher had no idea that he would have to wait six long years. He had to stay

in Cordova or go to where the king and queen of Spain were fighting their war.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Before Christopher went to Cordova, he had to take leave of six-year-old Diego.

DIEGO: But Father, why can't I go with you?

C.C.: My son, it would be much too dangerous. There is a war going on. Besides, you have

much to learn. You like Father Perez and the other monks, don't you?

DIEGO: Yes, Father. But I will miss you!

C.C.: I will miss you too! You learn as much as you can at the school in the Monastery. I

will come to see you as often as I can.

DIEGO: I love you, Father.

C.C.: I love you too, Son.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher did not manage to get to see Diego very often in the next six years.

You can imagine what it must have felt like for six-year-old Diego. His mother was dead

and his father was far away.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher was very lonely in Cordova. He met and fell in love with a peasant

girl named Beatrice Enriquez de Harana. Although, they never married, they had a son in

1488. They named him Ferdinand, after King Ferdinand of Spain.

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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NNaarrrraattoorr : They never married as a peasant girl would not fit in at the Court of the King and

Queen of Spain. It was believed that if he married her, it might have hurt his chances at

Court.

BEATRICE: I love you, Christopher and I love our son, Ferdinand.

C.C.: Do you understand why I can't marry you just yet?

BEATRICE: I do understand. Christopher, I assure you that I am very happy. In my heart,

you are my husband.

C.C.: In my heart, you are my wife. I want to be with you always.

BEATRICE: I want to be with you too. But you mustn't let anything stop you from

fulfilling your great destiny. You will be a very great and famous man. You must be

patient.

NNaarrrraattoorr : The same year that Christopher's second son was born, 1488, the Portuguese

sailor Bartholomeu Diaz reached the tip of Africa and called it the Cape of Good Hope. It

was to be ten years later in 1498 that a man named Vasco Da Gama sailed all the way

around Africa, through the Indian Ocean, and all the way to India. But that happened six

years after Columbus's first voyage to America.

NNaarrrraattoorr : After six years of waiting, Columbus decided to give up on Spain. He went to the

monastery to see Diego and to tell them all he was going to try the King of France.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher's brother Bartholomew had already gone to England, but had had no

luck with that king.

NNaarrrraattoorr : The monks at La Rabida told Christopher to wait and try the Queen of Spain one

last time. The war was almost over. Christopher was quite discouraged. He was 40 years

old. People had mocked him and made fun of him saying, "There goes the crazy man!"

NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher agreed to give Spain one more chance. The war ended in January of

1492. Spain had won. They had driven the Moors out of Spain at long last.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Father Perez wrote to the Queen asking her to talk to Christopher again. She

agreed. Queen Isabella even sent money so Christopher could buy clothes and a mule to

ride. He was to go to Sante Fe where they were camped.

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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NNaarrrraattoorr : After seven years of waiting, the big day had arrived. 41-year-old Christopher

was again meeting with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

KING FERDINAND OF SPAIN: We have decided to help you.

QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN: How many ships will you need?

C.C.: Three ships.

KING FERDINAND OF SPAIN: The city of Palos owes us the use of two of their

ships. I suppose we could finance a third ship.

C.C.: Thank you, your Majesty.

QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN: What reward do you require?

C.C.: I want to be called Admiral of the Ocean Sea. I want to be in charge of any lands I

discover and be called Governor-General of those lands. I want my sons and I to be

called Don. I want ten percent of all gold, silver, pearls, gems, spices, and riches that I

bring back.

KING FERDINAND OF SPAIN: Surely you cannot expect to get all that.

QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN: These are just requests, right?

C.C.: No, they are demands. I can bring back great riches and power to Spain. I feel I

deserve nothing less. I have waited six years and had to endure much mockery. Yes, these

are my demands.

KING FERDINAND OF SPAIN: Well, you can forget it! Good-bye!

C.C.: Your Majesties, good day!

Role-Play #4 of 7:



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NNaarrrraattoorr : Christopher was very unhappy. He felt that it was only right that he get all that

he asked. He made ready to go off to talk to the King of France.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Some Columbus supporters told the King and Queen of Spain that they were

making a big mistake. They realized that they would not like it if France got all the glory.

NNaarrrraattoorr : They sent a messenger to chase after Christopher.

NNaarrrraattoorr : Tell Christopher Columbus that we grant him all that he asks. Hurry, don't let

him get away.

QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN: Tell Christopher Columbus that we grant him all

that he asks. Hurry, don't let him get away.

STORY GENIE: Boys and girls, that's all for today. Next time I come, you will find out

all about the exciting adventures of Columbus's first voyage. Good bye!

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