WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES— VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 45 



not a King's ship, and was under no obligation to fight. So they left 

 the flagship surrounded by foes ; her men defended themselves with 

 great courage against the enemy until a ball killed Captain Paternina, 

 Master of the vessel. 



112. Thereupon Capt. Juan Vazquez went about stimulating the 

 men who were left and doing great damage to the enemy, though 

 receiving more at their hands, for they had her surrounded on every 

 side ; but they sent one enemy ship to the bottom and put a cannon 

 shot into another at the water line, so that she had to drop out and go 

 to pumping. At this point Capt. Juan Vazquez received a musket 

 shot in the kidneys ; although the wound was mortal, he tied it up 

 with a towel and kept on fighting and spurring on the few who 

 remained, until at midnight he died without witnessing defeat, hav- 

 ing had the ship run up on some rocks so that the enemy should get 

 no benefit from her or her cargo. As for his brother who was fight- 

 ing in emulation with him, a ball took off his arm, and another lost 

 both legs, both dying in the way just described, as well as many 

 others whom I forbear mentioning lest I stir up grief, nor do I speak 

 of the wounded ; all this was due to the flight of the flagship, and 

 heed should be given, in the designation of men to posts at sea, to 

 the question whether they are worthy of them, since the enemy ad- 

 mitted that if the Capitana had made up to them together with the 

 flagship, they would not have dared to fight, since the flagship, a 

 smaller vessel, had done them so much damage and killed many of 

 their men. 



113. The lack of a naval force for this island cost these poor 

 fellows their lives and their property ; every day the ships leaving 

 there run the risk of being boldly plundered and scuttled like the 

 Candclaria. This would be obviated by the authorization of the naval 

 force which Don Luis Garabito de Aguilar, resident of Santo 

 Domingo, proposes to raise with the funds he offers ; not merely 

 would this put an end to the losses, but the enemy freebooters would 

 flee and stop their piracy. 



Chapter V (!) 



Of the Island of Puerto Rico, and the City Established There, 

 Capital of That Diocese. 



114. The first country in the Indies settled by Spaniards, which 

 lies nearest Spain, and the Guadelupe Islands, is the island of San 

 Juan de Puerto Rico, which the Indians call Boriquen. It lies NW. 

 of the islands mentioned, at i8° N. ; it is about 50 leagues long and 



