Columbus writes that only God and the Sovereigns favored him in Castile

… The Admiral says further that the caravels were taking in much water at the keel, and he complains greatly of the caulkers who caulked them very badly in Palos, and that when they saw that the Admiral had understood the defect of their work, and wished to compel them to mend it, they fled. But notwithstanding the much water the caravels were taking in, he trusts in our Lord, who brought him, that He will take him back by His pity and mercy, for His High Majesty well knew how much controversy he had at first, before he could get away from Castile, that no one else was in his favor except Him, because He knew his heart, and after God, Their Highnesses, and all the rest had been against him without any reason. And he says further, thus: “and they have been the cause that the Royal Crown of Your Highnesses does not have 100 cuentos of revenue more than it has, since I came to serve you, which is seven years now on the 20th day of January, this very month, and more besides, what would have been added from here on. But that mighty God will remedy all.” These are his words.