Authentic Letters of Columbus. 159 



has made thousands of false statements against me. I would, much 

 to my regret, arrest him. He is in the church, and says that when 

 the holidays are over he will go there, if he can. He must prove 

 what I owe him. I state upon my oatli that I do not think I owe 

 him anything, and that what he says is not true. 



If without being importunate a permit can be obtained to ride on 

 mule-back, I would try to go there after the month of January. 

 But then I will start anyhow, in some other way, if the permit is not 

 obtained. But let them make haste in providing the necessary for 

 the preservation of the Indies and preventing their loss from being 

 consummated. 



May Our Lord keep you in His holy guard. 



Dated December 21st. 



Your father who loves you more than himself. 



Postscript to letter XVIII, Dated December 2ist, 1504. 



This tenth which they give me is not the tenth promised. The 

 letters of privilege explain it well. The tenth of the profit made out 

 of all the merchandise brought here, and of all other things, is due 

 to me — and nothing in this respect is given to me. Carbajal under- 

 stands well what I mean. Carbajal must not forget to secure a 

 letter from His Highness to the Governor directing him to send his 

 accounts, at once, and without delay, and also all the moneys which 

 I have there. And it would be better for us, as the said sum must 

 be a laro-e one, that His Highness should send one of his servants 

 to receive it. 



I will endeavor here to obtain from these Lords of the Board of 

 Trade (contratacion) an order instructing the said Governor to send 

 my money together with the gold belonging to Their Highnesses. 

 But one thing must not interfere with the other. I think that the 

 money belonging to me, accumulated there after my departure, 

 amounts to seven or eight thousand dollars. Besides this, there is 

 the money which they had retained before I left. 

 To my very dear son 

 Don Diego, at the 

 Court. 



