HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. n. 



tained the notice of history. Happy indeed it would 

 have been for their national character, if the records 

 of many of their more extensive enterprises, during 



my men that were in health have mutinied under the Porras's of Seville} 

 my friends that were faithful are mostly sick and dying, we have con- 

 sumed the Indians' provisions, so that they abandon us-, all therefore 

 are like to perish by hunger, and these miseries are accompanied by so 

 many aggravating circumstances, that render me the most wretched object 

 of misfortune, this world shall ever seej as if the displeasure of Heaven 

 seconded the envy of Spain, and would punish as criminal those under- 

 takings and discoveries which former ages would have acknowledged as 

 great and meritorious aftions ! Good Heaven, and you holy saints that 

 dwell in it, let the king Don Ferdinand and my illustrious mistress Don- 

 jia Isabella know, that my zeal for their service and interest hath brought 

 rne thus low j for it is impossible to live and have afflictions equal to 

 mine. I see, and with horror apprehend, my own, and for my sake, my 

 unfortunate and deserving peoples' destruction. Alas, piety and justice 

 have retired to their habitations above, and it is a crime to have underta- 

 ken and performed too much ! As my misery makes my life a burthen to 

 myself, so I fear the empty titles of vice-roy and admiral, render me ob- 

 noxious to the hatred of the Spanish nation. It is visible that all me- 

 thods are adopted to cut the thread that is breaking ; for I am, in my old 

 age, oppressed with insupportable pains of the gout, and am now lan- 

 guishing and expiring with that and other infirmities, among savages, 

 where I have neither medicines nor provisions for the body, priest nor sa- 

 crament for the soul. My men in a state of revolt j my brother, my son, 

 nnd those that are faithful, sick, starving and dying ; the Indians have 

 abandoned us, and the governor of St. Domingo, has sent rather to see 

 if I am dead, than to succour us, or carry me alive from hence j for his boat 

 neither neither delivered a letter, nor spoke with, nor would receive any let- 

 ter from us j so I conclude your highnesses officers intend that here my 

 voyages and life should terminate. O blessed mother of God, that com- 

 passionates the miserable and oppressed, why did not cruel Bovadilla kill 

 me when he robbed me and my brother of our dearly purchased gold, and 

 sent us to Spain in chains, without trial, crime, or shadow of misconduci. ? 

 These chains are all the treasures I have, and they shall be buried v/nh me, 



