Authentic Letters of Columbus. 127 



IV. 



Letter from Columbus to Nicolo Oderigo, Dated Seville, 

 March 2ist, 1502. Original in the Municipal Palace, Genoa. 



t 



Sir: 



The loneliness in which you have -left us cannot be described. I 

 gave Francisco de Ribarol the book containing my deeds and other 

 written documents in order that he may send it to you with another 

 copy of the letters. I ask you as a favor to inform Don Diego of your 

 action on this matter. A duplicate of everything will be made and 

 sent to you, in the same way and by the same Francisco. You will 

 see that in these papers there is a new deed. Their Highnesses have 

 promised me, as you will see, to give me all that belongs to me, and 

 to give possession of all to Don Diego. I have written to Juan Luis 

 and Sra. Madona Catalina. My letter to them goes together with the 

 present one. I am ready to sail, with the favor of the Holy Trinity, 

 as soon as the weather permits it. I am well provided of everything. 

 If Jeronimo Santiesteban is coming, he must wait for me, and not 

 embarrass himself with anything. Otherwise they will take from him 

 all that they can and leave him thereafter in the cold. Let him come 

 here, and the King and the Queen will receive him and attend to him 

 until I come. 



Our Lord may keep you in His holy guard. Dated this 21st 

 day of March, at Seville, 1502. 



Command me. 



S. 

 S. A. S. 

 X. M. Y. 

 Xpo Ferens, 



