INTRODUCTION. 



at his arrival, he found affairs in the utmofl confufion, caufed by 

 the ill behaviour of the Spaniards he had left behind him, towardi 

 the natives of the country. Columbus being a man of ilri^l difci- 

 pline and feverity of manners, his proceeding hereupon fo much 

 difgufted the licentious crew he had to deal with, as to inflame 

 matters to fuch a height, that appeals were fent from both parties 

 into Spain. A perfon was deputed to enquire concerning thefe 

 grievances, who carried it with that partiality againft Cohunbus^ 

 as to fend him, at the inftigation of the oppofite party, into 

 Spain load.n with chains. He was, however, at his arrival, fet 

 at liberty, and had the fatisfa6lion of feeing King Ferdinand 

 and Queen Ifabella, who was truly his friend, much concerned 

 at his misfortunes, but it was with difficulty, neverthelefs, that 

 he could procure a nev/ Governor to be fent to Hifpaniola. This 

 great man made four voyages to the Weft-Indies ; and at the end 

 of the jaft, feeing many diforders and difputes arifmg among the 

 new fettlers, he determined to return to Spain, to give their 

 Majefties the bed account he could of thofe parts; where, at 

 his firfl landing, he^ was fhocked with the news of Queen Ifa~ 

 .bellds death, which, together with the ill ufage he thenceforward 

 met with from the Spanijh courtiers, and the cold behaviour of 

 the King, broke his heart after a few months illnefs, in the year 

 1506. The chief difcoveries of Columbus were the Lucaios 

 iflands, Hifpajiicla, Defeada^ Puerto Rico^ and the SpaniJJj Main, 

 north of the river of the Amazons ; it is true he faw the ifthmus of 



a 2 Panama^ 



