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the Bifhop of Burgos, and the court of royal audience in St. Domingo, 

 but the reverend fathers fent him back an anfwer highly favorable to 

 us, whofe fervices they were by this time made acquainted with. This 

 anfwer, which was brought by a licentiate named Zuazo, or arrived about 

 the fame time with him, vexed the governor fo much, that from being 

 very fat, he grew quite lean. He now made the utmoft exertions to 

 colled: a powerful armament in order to overwhelm us, on which bufi- 

 nefs he went in perfon, and by the fury and determination he exhibited, 

 he induced moil of the fettlers of Cuba to take part in the expedition, and 

 prepared a fleet of eighteen fail great and fmall, under the command of 

 Pamphilo de Narvaez. 



Our agents paffing the canal of Bahama, under the guidance of 

 Alaminos, the firft pilot who ever navigated through it, proceeded to 

 the Iflands of Terceras, and from thence to Seville; and in a few days ar- 

 rived at the court, which was then at Valladolid ; the Bifhop of Burgos 

 being prefident of the royal council of the Indies. Our agents went to 

 wait on him in great fpirits, expedling a gracious reception, but having 

 prefented their letters and requefted a fpeedy tranfmiffion of them and 

 their prefent, to his Majefty, who was then in Flanders, the bifliop 

 returned a very repulfive and haughty anfwer, faying, that he would 

 make his own reprefentations of our condudl, in having thrown off our 

 obedience to the governor of Cuba. The arrival of Benito Martinez 

 the chaplain of Velafquez at this time, contributed much to fet our 

 affairs in an unfavorable lltuation, and the bi(hop in confequence of a 

 remonftrance which was made to him by A. H. Puertocarrero, one of 

 thofe employed by us, and a cavalier of rank, caufed him to be thrown 

 into prifon, on a pretended mifdemeanor, in carrying away with him 

 to the Indies a woman of Medellin, named Maria Rodriquez. AH 

 this it was neceflary, according to the di<5tates of prudence, to keep, 

 filence upon, until the proper time and place. 



The bifliop now wrote to his Majefly, reprefenting the tranfac- 

 tions in the mofl: favorable light for Velafquez, and the mofl: oppofitc 



M 2 one 



