146 PiKi.i) Columbian Muskum. 



mands in my favor, and that I am living on the money that I can 

 borrow. The money which I got there was spent in bringing back to 

 their homes the people who had gone with me, for it would have been 

 a grave sin for me to leave them there im protected. Information of 

 this step must be given to the Bishop of Palencia, in whom I trust so 

 much, and also to his chamberlain. I had thought that Carbajal and 

 Jerome were still at your place. But our Lord is there and He will 

 fix evervthing as He knows to be the best for us. 



Carbajal reached here yesterday. I wanted to send him back at 

 once with this very instruction; but he asked to be excused, on the 

 ground that his wife is at the point of death. I shall see that he goes as 

 soon as possible, because he knows much about this business. I shall 

 endeavor, also, to send your b:\)thcr and yotir imcle to kiss the hands 

 of Their Highnesses, and make a report of the voyage, if the one 

 made in my letters is not sufificient. Take good care of your brother. 

 He has a very good disposition, and is no longer a boy. If 3'ou had 

 ten brothers their number would not be too large. I never found 

 better friends, imder all circumstances, than my brothers. 



We have to work first in fixing such matters as are relating to 

 the government of the Indies, and subsequently in the straightening 

 out the business of our revenue. I gave you a memorandum in 

 which I stated all that belongs to me. What they awarded Carbajal 

 is nothing and has returned into nothingness. Whoever wishes to 

 take there any merchandise can take it, and therefore the eighth 

 becomes nothing. I might send there any kind of merchandise and 

 sell it without entering into accounts of association with any one, and 

 not contributing the eighth. I clearly stated, from the beginning, 

 that this grant of an eighth would end in nothing. It, however, 

 belongs to me, the same as the third and the tenth, by virtue of the 

 concession which Their Highnesses made in my favor. Out of the 

 tenth I have got nothing, unless it is the tenth of what Their High- 

 nesses themselves received. It must be, however, the tenth of all the 

 gold and of everything found and obtained within the limits of my 

 jurisdiction as Admiral, and of all the merchandise imported and 

 exported into and from the said territory, after deducting the ex- 

 penses. I have already explained that the reason of all this is set 

 forth with clearness in the book of my privileges. 



An effort must be made to obtain from Their Highnesses an an- 

 swer to my letter and an order directing the people to be paid. I 

 wrote on this subject four days ago, and sent the letter by Martin de 

 Gamboa. You must have seen the letter which I sent to Juan Lopez 

 at the same time as yours. 



It is rumored here that the idea is entertained to create three or 

 four bishoprics in the Indies, and the matter has been referred 

 for study to the Bishop of Palencia. After presenting my compli- 

 ments to that Bishop tell him that the service of Their Highnesses 

 will be promoted if he wishes to confer with me on this subject be- 

 fore taking final action. Give my regards to Diego Mendez, and 

 show him this letter. My illness prevents me from writing except 

 at night. In the daytime my hands have no strength. 



