The Admiral crosses from the mainland to Hispaniola
THE Admiral sailed along the coast of Paria, gradually departing from it in a north-westerly direction, in which he was driven by the calm and the prevailing currents. Consequently at midday on Wednesday, 15 August, he left the Cabo de las Conchas and Margarita Island to the west. I do not know whether God inspired him to give the island this name on account of its nearness to that of Cubagua, from which a vast quantity of pearls (or margaritas) have since been brought. For, in a similar way, after he left Jamaica he named certain mountains on Hispaniola the Golden Range, and soon afterwards the greatest quantity of gold ever brought to Spain was discovered in them.
But, to return to his voyage, he sailed past six islands which he named Las Guardias and another three which lay further north which he named Los Testigos. And although he discovered much land to the west of the coast of Paria, the Admiral says that he could not give as detailed an account of them as he wished since his eyes had begun to bleed because of many sleepless nights, and he was therefore compelled to leave the greater part of these matters to be recorded by the pilots and sailors who accompanied him. He adds that on this same night of Thursday, 16 August, the compasses, which had so far not deviated to the north-west, suddenly did so by a point and a half, and some of them by a whole quarter, and that there could be no error about this, since they had all the time been most careful in noting their readings. Astonished by this and disappointed that it was impossible for him to follow the coast of the mainland any further, he sailed on an almost unvarying course to the north-west till, on Monday, 20 August, he anchored between La Beata and Hispaniola. From here he sent some Indians with letters to his brother, the adelantado,. announcing his arrival and the success of his voyage. He was surprised to find himself so far west, for although he knew that the currents had been strong he did not think they could have driven him so far from his course.* Therefore, in order that his provisions should not run out, he steered east on a course for Santo Domingo, whose river and harbour he entered on 30 August. For the adelantado had chosen the site for his city on the eastern bank of this river, where it now stands, and had called it Santo Domingo† in memory of their father, whose name was Domenico.
The rising and disturbances which the Admiral
finds in Hispaniola, instigated by the malice of
Roldan, whom he had left as alcalde mayor‡
HAVING entered the city of Santo Domingo almost blind, from continual watches, the Admiral hoped to rest after the hardships of his voyage and find great peace among his own people. But he found quite the opposite. For all the households on the island were in a state of great unrest and rebellion; a number of the settlers he had left were dead and more than a hundred and sixty were suffering from syphilis. In addition many others had revolted with Roldan, and he did not find the ships there which he had sent with supplies from the Canaries.
However, I must now describe events in their due sequence in order to resume and unravel the thread of this story, and I will begin from the day on which the Admiral departed for Castile. This, as we have said, was in March 1496, and thirty months before he returned. At the beginning of this time in expectation of his swift return with fresh supplies the settlers remained fairly peaceful. But at the end of the first year, when provisions from Castile were running short, and their sickness and hardships were increasing, they grew weary of their present state and could see no hope of any improvement in the future. The complaints of the many malcontents remained unvoiced until a ringleader appeared. For in such cases there is always someone at hand to foment the trouble and assume leadership. The leadership fell to Francisco Roldan, a native of Torre de Domjimeno, whose reputation and authority the Admiral had himself established among both Indians and Christians by making him alcalde mayor, to whom obedience was due as to the Admiral himself. As a result there was not the full agreement between Roldan and the adelantado who had been left as governor that was necessary for the public good, as the Admiral was to discover with time and experience. For when his absence became prolonged and no fresh supplies arrived, Roldan began to think of making himself master of the island and then killing the Admiral’s brothers, for they would provide the chief resistance. And he waited for an opportunity to put this plan into effect.
It happened that one of the Admiral’s brothers, the adelantado, had gone to a western province called Jaragua, eighty leagues from Isabela, while Roldan remained behind under the authority of the Admiral’s other brother, which so annoyed him that, although the adelantado had ordered that all the tribute that the Admiral had imposed on the natives of the island should be paid to the Catholic sovereigns, he, Roldan, began secretly to levy tribute on his own behalf.
But since revolt dare not raise its head all of a sudden and without pretext, Roldan found a convenient excuse for his rebellion. A caravel had been brought to land at Isabela and was being prepared to make the voyage to Castile, should necessity demand it. In fact, through lack of rigging and other tackle it could not put to sea, but Roldan suggested that there was another reason, and publicly proclaimed his suspicions, protesting at the same time that it would be for the general good if some men were to go in it to Castile with news of their difficulties.
Therefore, under the pretext of the public interest, Roldan pressed very hard for the ship to be launched, and when Don Diego demurred because of the lack of rigging, Roldan with increased boldness and effrontery began to plan with certain others that the ship should be launched in defiance of Don Diego. He said to those whom he thought to be in agreement with him that if the adelantado and Don Diego opposed the launching it was because they wanted to retain their command of the country and keep them in perpetual subjection without a ship that could carry news to the Catholic sovereigns of the brothers’ tyranny and disobedience. For, he continued, they were all well acquainted with the terrible cruelties of the adelantado and Don Diego, who compelled them to work on the land and build forts and led them a miserable life, and since they had no hope that the Admiral would return with supplies, they must now seize the caravel and win their liberty. They must no longer serve for pay that they never received, or obey a foreigner, when they might enjoy a comfortable life and all make a good profit. Everything that could be found or bartered in the island ought to be divided equally among them, and they should put all the Indians to service without interference from anyone. For at present they could not even take an Indian woman that pleased them. What was worse the adelantado made them observe the three Christian vows* and there was no lack of fasts and penances, penal punishments and imprisonment, imposed on them for the mildest faults. Roldan assured them that since he wielded the royal wand of justice no harm could come to them for anything that might happen and urged them to follow his counsel, since they could not be wrong in doing so.
Inspired by hatred of the adelantado and hopes of self-advantage, Roldan won so many adherents with such speeches that one day some of his faction decided to attack and stab the adelantado, who had by then returned to Isabela from Jaragua. They thought that the attack would be so easy that they brought ropes with them to hang him when he was dead. What particularly incited them to this crime was the imprisonment of Barahona, a friend of the conspirators, and if God had not inspired the adelantado to refrain from carrying out his sentence, they would undoubtedly have assassinated him at that time.
Roldan attempts to raise a rebellion at Concepción
and sacks Isabela
ON seeing that the adelantado’s death could not be contrived as he wished, and that his plot was now discovered, Roldan decided to take possession of the town and fort of Concepción, since he thought that from here he could easily conquer the whole island. The execution of this plan was facilitated by his nearness to the place, for during the adelantado’s absence Don Diego had sent him to this province with forty men to put down the Indians who had revolted also and were planning to seize the town and kill the Christians. So under the pretext that he had come to put down the rising and punish the Indians, Roldan assembled his people at the village of a certain cacique called Marque, with the intention of putting his plan into effect at the first favourable opportunity. But as the alcalde Balesta had some suspicion of his intentions he put a good guard on the fort and informed the adelantado of the danger in which he stood. Collecting such men as he could, the adelantado came immediately, and speedily established himself in the fort. Seeing that his plot was now discovered, Roldan went to Conception under a safe conduct, but rather to see what harm he could do to the adelantado than with the intention of coming to an agreement with him. With excessive boldness and effrontery, he demanded that the adelantado should either put the caravel to sea or give him permission to do so, for he and his friends would not find it difficult.
This proposal greatly annoyed the adelantado, who replied that neither Roldan nor his friends were sailors or knew the proper and necessary procedure for launching a ship, and that even if they could launch it they could not sail it owing to the shortage of rigging and other tackle. Any attempt to do so would endanger both the caravel and its crew. Because the adelantado was a seaman and understood these matters, and they, not being sailors, did not, an argument ensued, and after various differences had been expressed Roldan departed in a fury, refusing either to resign his wand of office or to obey the adelantado’s orders, saying that he would do both when the King, on whose behalf he was in the island, should command him, since he knew that he would never receive justice from the adelantado, who by hook or by crook would find an opportunity of killing him or doing him some injury. In the meantime, however, he agreed to do what was reasonable and take up his residence where the adelantado might choose. But when the adelantado directed him to the village of the cacique Don Diego, Roldan refused to go, saying that he would not have enough food there for his men and that he would look for a more suitable place.
Roldan then departed for Isabela, having collected sixty-five men and, seeing that he could not put the caravel to sea, opened the store-houses, he and his followers taking whatever arms, clothing or food they liked, and Don Diego Colon, who was in the town, could not prevent them. Indeed, if he and some of his servants had not taken refuge in the fort they would have been in some danger, notwithstanding the fact that, at the court inquiry that was instituted afterwards to look into this matter, some witnesses affirmed that Roldan had promised to obey Don Diego in return for Don Diego’s agreement publicly to take sides against his brother. But in fact Don Diego refused this offer and Roldan was powerless to do him any more harm. In fear of the reinforcements which the adelantado had sent and which were just arriving, Roldan left Isabela with all the mutineers, and fell on the flocks that were grazing in the vicinity, killing enough beasts for their food and taking many more as pack animals for their journey to the province of Jaragua which the adelantado had just left. Here they intended to stay, since it was the most pleasant and fertile part of the island, and had a more tractable and civilized population than other places, and more especially because its women were more beautiful and accommodating than those elsewhere - which was the chief attraction that drew them there.
But in order not to depart without trying his strength before the adelantado arrived with his reinforcements and dealt him due punishment, Roldan decided to march to Conception, take it by surprise and kill the adelantado, who was still there, and, if this plan failed, to besiege the town. Having received warning of this, the adelantado encouraged his men with a speech in which he offered them various favours and two slaves each for their private service. For he thought that most of the men with him were attracted by the life that Roldan offered to his men, since they listened to his emissaries. Indeed this had encouraged Roldan to hope that they would all very soon come over to his side, and this hope had emboldened him to undertake and pursue his enterprise. But things did not go as he wished. The adelantado had not only been warned, as we have said, but was a man of great courage, and his men remained loyal to him. He resolved therefore to achieve by arms what he had not been able to achieve by reason and good counsel. So having assembled his men, he left Conception to attack Roldan on the road.
Roldan stirs up the Indians against the adelantado
and departs for Jaragua
FINDING that he had been cheated in his hopes and that none of the adelantado’s men were going to join him, as he had expected, Roldan decided to make a timely departure and continue his original march to Jaragua. He had not the courage to wait for the adelantado, but did not lack a tongue to attack him with vituperations and to incite the Indians of the lands through which he passed to hatred of the adelantado and rebellion against him. He said that the reasons why he and his men had parted company with the adelantado had been Don Bartolomé’s violent nature and his vengefulness against Christians and Indians alike, and the unbearable greed which he displayed in piling burdens and tributes on them. If they were to pay them regularly each year, he would constantly increase them, though this was against the will of the Catholic sovereigns, who wanted nothing but obedience from their subjects and the maintenance of freedom, peace and justice among them. In case they were afraid to defend themselves, continued Roldan, he with his friends and followers would come to their aid, and he would declare himself their protector and defender. At the conclusion of this speech, an agreement was reached to withhold the payment of tribute and as a result nothing could be obtained from those who lived far from the place where the adelantado happened to be because of the great distances, nor from those who lived near by either, for fear of annoying them and causing them to take the rebels’ side.
But despite this considerate treatment of the Indians, when the adelantado left Concepció Guarionix, the chief cacique of the province, with Roldan’s help, boldly planned to besiege the town and fort and to kill the Christians who were guarding it. The better to achieve his purpose, he collected all the caciques, and came to an agreement with his allies that each one should kill the Christians in his province. For the lands of Hispaniola were not so big that any of them could support many men, and the Christians had been compelled to split up into bands or companies of eight or ten, one for each zone. This encouraged the Indians to think they had only to surprise each band separately and simultaneously, and not one of them would be left alive. But the Indians have no numbers by which to determine dates or anything else that requires calculation; they can only count on their fingers. So it was agreed that on the day of the next full moon each one of them would be ready to kill his Christians, and Guarionix had instructed his caciques to do so. But one of them, who was the most anxious to gain honour and considered the whole thing very easy, although he was not a good enough astronomer to be certain when the moon was full, attacked before the agreed day. The attack miscarried and he was forced to flee to Guarionix, from whom he expected help. But this was his undoing; he met with the punishment he deserved for betraying the plot by giving the Christians warning.
The rebels were greatly discomfited by this disaster. For, as we have said, the plot had been hatched with their help and connivance, and they had been waiting to see if Guarionix would bring it off, hoping with his support to overthrow the adelantado. But when they learnt that he had failed they did not think themselves safe in the province where they were, and left for Jaragua, still proclaiming that they were the protectors of the Indians, though in mind and deed they were more like thieves, since their greed knew no restraint of God or man. They had no master but their own ungovernable appetites, and each one stole as much as he wished, and their leader Roldan was the greatest thief of them all. Yet he still continued to persuade and command the principal Indians and all the caciques to give him everything he asked in return for his promise to defend them and their people from the adelantado’s demands for tribute. But in fact he took a great deal more from them than the adelantado asked as tribute. From one cacique alone, called Manicaotex, he exacted a gourd full of fine gold weighing three marks* every three months, and to make certain of his payment he kept a son and a nephew of this cacique with him, under guise of friendship. (And let no one be surprised that we measure marks of gold by the gourd! We merely wish to show that the Indians used this measure, having no knowledge of scales.)
Ships arrive from Castile with food
and reinforcements
THUS the Christians were divided, and the ships that were to bring food and reinforcements from Castile were delayed, and neither the adelantado nor Don Diego could pacify those who remained with them, most of whom were men of low character and were attracted by the better life and treatment that Roldan promised them. For fear of being entirely deserted, therefore, the brothers hesitated to punish the guilty. This made them so disobedient that it was almost impossible to find any way of keeping them quiet, and the brothers were compelled to put up with the insults of the rebels. But the Lord desired to give them some comfort, and the two ships arrived which we have already mentioned and which were dispatched a year after the Admiral sailed home from the Indies and had cost him great efforts and perseverance at court. When he considered the nature of the land and the character of the men he had left there, and the great danger that might be occasioned by his delay, he begged and obtained from the Catholic sovereigns the dispatch of two of the eighteen ships which they had ordered to be equipped for him, ahead of the rest.
Their arrival, the food and reinforcements that they carried, and the news that they brought of the Admiral’s safe return to Spain, gave fresh spirit to the adelantado’s men and encouraged them to serve him more loyally, and at the same time inspired Roldan’s men with fear of punishment. Wishing to learn some news and obtain some of the things they lacked, Roldan’s men went to Santo Domingo where the ships had arrived. And an additional reason for going there was the hope of gaining recruits for their party.
But as the adelantado had received warning of their coming and was nearer the port, he marched out to meet them and block their road. Having placed guards at certain passes on the way, he entered Santo Domingo to see the ships and impose order on the town. Anxious that the Admiral should find the island at peace and disturbances put down, he made a new proposal of peace to Roldan, who was with his followers six leagues away, and entrusted it to the captain who had come with the two ships, whose name was Pedro Fernandez Coronel. He chose him as an honest man of authority, but also in the hope that his words would be the more effective, since he could speak as a witness of the Admiral’s arrival in Spain, of his warm welcome there and of the great solicitude shown to him by the Catholic sovereigns, who loved him and valued him highly. But the chief rebels feared the impression that this emissary might make on the majority of their followers and refused to let him speak in public. They came out to meet him on the road, carrying crossbows and arrows, and he was only able to address a few words to those chosen to hear him. So he went back without achieving any agreement, and they returned to their quarters in Jaragua.
They were in some fear, however, that Roldan and some of his chief men might write to their friends among the adelantado’s followers, warmly entreating them to intercede with the Admiral on his arrival and urging that their just complaints were not against him but only against the adelantado and that they were anxious to resume their obedience and be restored to his favour.
The three ships sent by the Admiral from the Canaries put in at the scene of the rebellion
Now that we have described the arrival of the two ships which the Admiral sent to Hispaniola from Spain, we must speak of the three that separated from him at the Canaries to continue their voyage in good weather as far as the Carib islands, which are the first to be met by sailors on their way to the port of Santo Domingo. Since the pilots were not very familiar with the course through these islands that is generally followed today, they were unfortunately unable to find that port, and were dragged westwards by the currents to the province of Jaragua, where the rebels then were. As soon as they saw that the ships were off course and knew nothing of the rebellion, the rebels quietly went aboard, pretending that they were in these parts on the adelantado’s orders to ensure the provision of food and preserve peace and obedience there. But as it is easy to discover a secret known to many, before very long the most astute of the ship’s captains, Alonso Sanchez de Carvajal, suspected the discord and rebellion and began to discuss terms of peace with Roldan, believing that he could persuade him to obey the adelantado. But the friendship and familiarity which now obtained between all the rebels and those aboard the ships prevented Carvajal’s persuasion from having the desired effect.
Roldan had privately received promises from many of the new arrivals that they would join his company, and with this advantage he strengthened his position. When Carvajal saw that his negotiations would not quickly reach a successful conclusion, he decided, with the agreement of the other two captains, that it would be well if the many whom he had brought to work for wages in the mines and for other jobs and services were sent by land to Santo Domingo. For since the seas, winds and currents made the voyage there very difficult, it might possibly take as much as two or three months, and in this case not only would all the food be exhausted and the men fall sick but much time would be lost in which they should have been working at the tasks they had come to do.
When this resolution was taken Juan Antonio Colombo was put in trust of the workmen, of whom there were forty, to supervise their journey, Pedros de Arana was given the task of bringing back the ships, and Carvajal was to remain behind and see if there was any way of coming to an agreement with Roldan. While Juan Antonio was making preparations for his departure, on the second day after their landing, those workmen - they could be more properly described as idlers - who had been brought over to do the jobs we have specified went over to the rebels, leaving their captain with only six or seven men who remained loyal. In answer to this barefaced treachery the captain without the least fear of danger went to see Roldan and told him that since he claimed to esteem and serve their Catholic Majesties he should not allow these men, who had been brought to settle and cultivate the land and perform various tasks in return for the wages they had received, to remain there, wasting their time and doing none of the duties for which they had been brought. Should Roldan send them away, said the captain, he would show that his deeds were in accordance with his words, and that the reason for his presence in Jaragua was defiance and hatred of the adelantado rather than any wish to prejudice the public weal or the royal service. But recent events had greatly compromised Roldan and his followers, and they were determined to persist in their rebellion. Moreover, a crime shared by many is easier to disguise than that of one individual.
Roldan therefore refused this request, on the plea that he could not compel his followers, and that theirs was a free brotherhood of which no one could be denied membership. Seeing that it would be foolish to expose himself to further danger by insisting without hope of success on what he would never obtain, Juan Antonio decided to return to the ships with his few remaining followers. Thereupon, to prevent a similar defection among those who remained with them, the other two captains hastened to sail to Santo Domingo in weather as unfavourable as they had met with before. The voyage took them many days, they lost their provisions, and Carvajal’s ship was severely damaged. Running on some shoals, it lost its rudder and received a hole in the keel, through which so much water entered that it was all they could do to keep up with the rest.
The captains find the Admiral at Santo Domingo
ON returning to Santo Domingo with their ships the captains found that the Admiral had arrived there from the mainland, and had full information about the rebels and the prosecution which the adelantado had launched against them. Although he recognized their crime and that they deserved punishment, he thought it advisable to make another inquiry and set up a fresh prosecution, in order to inform the Catholic sovereigns about the course of events. He was resolved to use all possible moderation in this and by skill to bring the rebels to obedience. For this reason, and in order that neither party should have any complaints against him, or say that he kept them there by force, on 22 September he gave orders for them to be called together in the name of the Catholic sovereigns, and promised them food and a passage home. Also, having been informed that Roldan was marching on Santo Domingo with part of his company, he ordered Miguel Ballester, commander of Concepción, to guard the district and its fort carefully, and, should Roldan pass that way, to tell him in the Admiral’s name that he greatly regretted the hardships Roldan had undergone and various recent events, to which he would make no further reference. The Admiral offered a general pardon and at the same time invited Roldan to come and visit him without fear, since he wished to consult him about matters concerning the service of their Catholic sovereigns. If Roldan should think that a safe conduct was necessary, he had only to ask and the Admiral would send him one.
Ballester answered this message on 24 September, saying that he had reliable information that Riquelme had arrived on the previous day at the town of Bonao, and that Adrian de Mujica and Roldan, the leaders of the faction, were to join one another six or eight days later, at a time and place which would enable him to take them prisoner. For he had talked with them according to the Admiral’s instructions, and found them unabashed and stubborn. Roldan had said that they had not come to make an agreement, and that they neither wanted nor required peace, since he had the Admiral and his authority in his grasp, and could support or destroy it, as he wished. Roldan added that they should not speak of pacts or agreements until they had sent back all the Indians captured at the siege of Concepción, since they had gathered only in the King’s interest and to do him service, and had all trusted in the adelantado’s word. Roldan had said more to the effect that he wanted no agreement except on terms greatly to his advantage. To negotiate such a pact or agreement, he asked the Admiral to send Carvajal, who was the only man with whom he would care to talk, since he had shown himself to be both reasonable and prudent at the time when the three ships arrived at Jaragua.
This answer made the Admiral suspicious of Carvajal, and not without serious cause. Firstly because before Carvajal came to Jaragua, where the rebels then were, they had often written and sent messengers to his friends who were with the adelantado, saying that when the Admiral came they would put themselves at his disposal, and begging these friends of Carvajal graciously to act as mediators and placate him.
Secondly, if they had done this on the arrival of the two ships, bringing aid from the Admiral, they would have had greater reason to do so on learning that the Admiral had himself come, if they had not been dissuaded by the long discussion that Carvajal had held with them.
Thirdly, if Carvajal had done his duty he could have detained Roldan and the chiefs of his band as prisoners in his caravel, since they had spent two days with him under no safe conduct.
Fourthly, that knowing as he did that they were in revolt he should not have let them buy from the ships the fifty-four swords and forty crossbows they had acquired.
Fifthly, because having already seen signs that the men who had disembarked with Juan Antonio to go to Santo Domingo intended to join the rebels he should never have let them go ashore; or when they had joined the rebels he should have made greater efforts to secure their recapture.
Sixthly, because Carvajal was spreading it abroad that he had accompanied the Admiral to the Indies in order that the Admiral should do nothing without him, since they were afraid in Castile that he might commit some error.
Seventhly, because Roldan had sent a letter to the Admiral by Carvajal to the effect that he had come to Santo Domingo on Carvajal’s advice in order to be at hand and ready to negotiate an agreement with the Admiral on his arrival in Hispaniola; and that when the Admiral arrived and the facts were seen not to conform with this letter, it seemed more probable that Carvajal had brought Roldan to Santo Domingo so that in the event of the Admiral’s delay or non-arrival, he, Carvajal, as the Admiral’s companion, and Roldan, as alcalde, could have governed the island in despite of the adelantado.
Eighthly, because when the other two captains came by sea with the three caravels and he came to Santo Domingo by land the mutineers left one of their chiefs, Gomez by name, under his protection, and this man had spent two days and nights with him in his ship and accompanied him to within six leagues of Santo Domingo.
Ninthly, because he had not only written to the rebels when they were at Bonao but sent them presents and provisions.
Tenthly and lastly, because the rebels would not treat with anyone but him, but all said unanimously that in case of necessity they would have chosen him as their captain.
On the other hand, the Admiral considered that Carvajal was a prudent and wise gentleman, and that each of the suspicions set out might have a legitimate explanation or what he had been told might be untrue, for he thought of Carvajal as a man who would do no wrong. Being anxious to quench the flames, the Admiral decided to consult all the principal men around him concerning the best way of replying to Roldan and what should now be done in this matter. All were in agreement, and he ordered Carvajal together with the alcalde Ballester to negotiate terms.
The only reply that they could get from Roldan, however, was that since they had not brought the Indians he had asked for there could be no talk of any kind about an agreement. Carvajal met this refusal with his characteristic tact and argued so well and reasonably with them all that Roldan and three or four of his chiefs were moved to visit the Admiral in order to reach an agreement with him. This so displeased the rest of the rebels that, as Roldan and the others were mounting their horses to go with Carvajal to see the Admiral, the rest objected, saying that on no account must they go, and that if any agreement were made it must be by exchange of letters so that everyone could approve its terms. Consequently some days later, on 15 October, Roldan wrote a letter to the Admiral with the general consent, in which he laid the whole blame for his disaffection on the adelantado, who had caused the trouble. He told the Admiral also that since he had sent them no written safe conduct enabling them to come and give him an account of what had happened they had decided to set out in writing the objects and terms they demanded. These included payment for the works they had carried out so far, of which more later.
Though their demands were exorbitant and quite shameless, Ballester wrote next day to the Admiral, highly praising the reasonableness of Carvajal’s earlier speech, and saying that, since it had been powerless to dissuade the rebels from their evil purposes, there was no other course but to grant them their demands. For he had found their spirit so high that the majority of those at present with his Illustrious Lordship would go over to them. The Admiral might rely on his servants and the men of rank who were with him, continued Ballester, but they could not be enough to oppose all the many who were daily going over to the rebels.
The Admiral already observed these defections. For since Roldan was close to Santo Domingo, he had held a muster of those who would have to go out and fight, if necessary, and had noted that some pretended to be lame and others sick, and that less than seventy men had turned out, of whom not forty were reliable. Under these circumstances, on the following day, which was 17 October 1498, Roldan and the other chiefs who had been willing to accompany him on his visit to the Admiral sent him a letter signed by them all, saying that they had left the adelantado to save their lives, since he had been seeking a means of killing them. As servants of his most Illustrious Lordship, they had awaited his coming in the expectation that he would accept what they had done as in his interest, and had prevented their followers from in any way harming or prejudicing his office, as they could easily have done. But since his arrival the Admiral had not only shown them no gratitude, but had endeavoured to hurt and take vengeance on them. Therefore, in order honourably to carry out their resolutions and preserve their liberty to do so, they were removing themselves from his authority and service.
Before this letter was handed to the Admiral, he had already sent Roldan an answer by Carvajal in which he expressed the confidence that he had always had in him and the good account of him that he had given to the Catholic sovereigns, and added that he had not put this account in writing since he was afraid that it might cause Roldan some difficulties with the common people who, if they had seen it, might have done him some injury. Instead of a signed letter, he went on, he had sent them the alcalde Ballester, a person whom he knew to be much trusted by them - and whom he could consider as reliable as the Admiral’s own seal; and he would be right to do so since he would find him in every way well disposed.
Then on 18 October the Admiral commanded that five ships should sail for Castile, by which he sent the Catholic sovereigns very detailed information about all that was going on. He said that he had detained these five ships for so many days after his arrival, since he believed that Roldan and his followers wished to return on them, as they proclaimed. As for the other three ships that he had with him, these needed refitting, so that the adelantado could sail in them to continue the exploration of the mainland of Paria and supervise the fishing and purchase of pearls, a sample of which he sent them.
Roldan goes to see the Admiral, but reaches no
agreement with him
ON the third day after receiving the Admiral’s letter Roldan replied, showing every sign that he was willing to do as he was asked. But since his men would not allow him to visit the Admiral without a safe conduct, he begged that one should be sent him, as had been requested in the document which he had sent to the Admiral, signed by himself and ratified by his chief lieutenants. The Admiral sent him the safe conduct immediately, on 26 October. As soon as he received it Roldan set out, though rather with the intention of attracting people to his cause than of reaching a settlement, as was evident from the shameless nature of his demands. He returned therefore without coming to any agreement and saying that he would give an account of things to his men and that he would write to the Admiral to tell him what they had decided; and in order that someone should be there on the Admiral’s behalf to negotiate and conclude any agreement that might be reached a steward of the Admiral’s, Diego de Salamanca by name, accompanied Roldan back to his men.
After much argument Roldan sent a deed of agreement for the Admiral to sign, and wrote to him on 6 November that this was all he had been able to obtain from his people, and that if his Illustrious Lordship approved it, he should send his acceptance to Concepci6n, since they had now run out of food at Bonao, and that they would wait for his reply until the following Monday.
When he saw the terms of their reply, the Admiral considered their demands to be shameless and refused on any account to agree for fear of prejudicing justice or staining the honour of himself and his brothers. But in order that they should have no cause for fresh complaint or say that he was acting with severity in this matter, on 11 November he ordered a proclamation of safe conduct to be published and displayed for thirty days - which it was - on the doors of the fort. In it he stated that during his absence in Castile, although some differences had arisen between the adelantado and the alcalde mayor Roldan and other persons who had joined him, all in general and each man separately could come in complete safety to serve the Catholic sovereigns as if nothing had happened, and that if anyone wished to depart for Castile he would receive his passage and an order for the payment of his salary, as had been the usual practice in all other cases; and that this promise would be put into effect if they would appear before the Admiral within thirty days to take advantage of this safe conduct. But should they not appear within that time, proclaimed the Admiral, he would take judicial action against them. He then sent Roldan this safe conduct, duly signed, and carried by Carvajal, giving him in writing the reasons why he neither would nor should accept the terms sent to him and reminding Roldan of what he and his followers should rightly do if they wished to fulfil their duties to the Catholic sovereigns.
Carvajal took these documents to Concepción and saw the rebels, whom he found very bold and arrogant. They laughed at the Admiral’s safe conduct, saying that very soon he would be asking for one from them. This business lasted three weeks, during which time, under the pretext that they wanted to arrest a man whom Roldan wished to execute, they kept the alcalde Ballester besieged in the fort, cutting off the water in the hope that thirst would compel him to surrender. But on Carvajal’s arrival they raised the siege, and after a great deal of argument the two parties reached the following agreement.
[The terms of the agreement set out in the next chapter (81) guarantee the return of Roldan and his followers to Castile in two ships to be provided by the Admiral. Their seaworthiness would be approved by competent sailors, and they were to depart from the port of Jaragua suitably stocked with provisions. The exact amounts of bread and flour were specified. The returning settlers were to be confirmed in all their possessions, including the slaves that had been granted them, and were to take back all women pregnant by them and all their children. The Admiral was to give them a letter addressed to the Catholic sovereigns, which would speak well of them and entitle them to payment for all their services up to the date of their departure; Roldan, in particular, who seems to have been the richest, was guaranteed the fair price ruling in the island for his large herd of pigs, also the right to sell the rest of his estates, as he should think fit. Various other grievances, mainly concerning slaves and possessions, were settled in favour of Roldan’s party, and the Admiral gained very little beyond the concession that Roldan would recruit no more of those still loyal during the ten days between the handing over of the terms and their signature by the Admiral, and that his officials who came to see the ships off at Jaragua would be respected as servants of the Catholic sovereigns.
The document was agreed on 16 November 1498 at Concepción ]
After the agreement is concluded the rebels go to
Jaragua, saying that they are going to embark on
the two ships that the Admiral is sending them
ON the conclusion of the agreement described, Carvajal and Salamanca returned to Santo Domingo and at their instance the Admiral signed the terms they brought him. He issued a fresh safe conduct and licence for all those who did not wish to go to Castile with Roldan, promising them wages or settler’s rights in the island - whichever they preferred - and that the rest could come and negotiate their affairs as they wished, and in complete liberty. This document was handed to Roldan and his followers by Ballester, and they then set out on their journey to Jaragua to pursue the policy of their faction in a way that was not known till later.
The Admiral was to some extent aware of their wickedness and was much grieved when he saw that the adelantado’s mission, which was to continue the exploration of the mainland of Paria and organize the fishing and barter of pearls, would be greatly hindered if these ships were given them. Nevertheless he did not wish to give the rebels cause to reproach him for refusing to provide the promised passage. He therefore began to prepare the ships in the manner agreed, but their departure was somewhat delayed by shortage of necessary materials. In order to collect these materials and cut short the delay he ordered Caravajal to go to Jaragua by land so that, while the ships were on the way, the final preparation could be made for the equipment and departure of Roldan’s people in conformity with the detailed conditions that had been agreed. The Admiral decided that he would himself go to Isabela without delay to inspect the country and make it safe, leaving Don Diego at Santo Domingo to gather all necessary supplies.
So after the Admiral’s departure, the two caravels sailed at the end of January 1499, with all that was necessary for the voyage to pick up the rebels. But owing to a storm which overtook them on the way they were compelled to put into another port and stay there till the end of March. Since one of the caravels, the Niña, was in a bad condition and required considerable repairs, the Admiral ordered Pedro de Arana and Francisco de Garay to go to Jaragua in the other and less damaged ship, the Santa Cruz, and Carvajal followed afterwards in the Nina, thus breaking off his journey by land. The voyage took him eleven days and on reaching Jaragua he found the Santa Cruz already there.
The rebels change their minds about going to
Castile and make a new treaty with the Admiral
SINCE the caravels were delayed and most of Roldan’s men had no wish to sail, they used this as an excuse for remaining where they were and blamed the Admiral for not having sent them off with the greatest possible dispatch. On hearing of this, the Admiral wrote to Roldan and Adrian de Mujica, with fair arguments exhorting them to carry out the agreement and not break their promises. In addition Carvajal, who was with them at Jaragua, protested to the rebels on 20 April before the notary Francisco de Garay (afterwards governor of Panuco and Jamaica) to the effect that since the Admiral was sending the two caravels duly equipped they should accept them and fulfil their side of the bargain. But as the rebels refused to comply, on 26 April Carvajal ordered the ships back to Santo Domingo, because they were being destroyed by shipworm and the crews were suffering from a severe shortage of provisions.
The rebels were not much concerned by Carvajal’s action. On the contrary they were delighted and proud that he should treat them so seriously. They did not acknowledge the Admiral’s courtesy but blamed him in writing for their continued stay at Jaragua, saying that in his desire to take revenge on them he had delayed the caravels and then sent them in such a bad state that no one sailing in them could possibly hope to reach Castile safely. But even if they had been in good condition, the rebels had, so they said, exhausted all their provisions while waiting, and it would be some time before they could collect more. Under these circumstances, therefore, they had decided to wait there for redress from the Catholic sovereigns.
Carvajal returned to Santo Domingo by land, carrying this reply, and at the time of his departure Roldan told him that if the Admiral would send him another safe conduct he would be glad to visit him and see if they could come to new terms agreeable to both. Carvajal sent this information to the Admiral in a letter dispatched from Santo Domingo on 15 May. The Admiral replied on the 21st, thanking Carvajal for his great efforts in this matter, and enclosing a letter for Roldan, brief in words but weighty and forceful in content, exhorting him to keep the peace and remain the obedient servant of their Catholic Majesties. On the messenger’s return to Santo Domingo the Admiral wrote at greater length on 24 June.
On 3 August six or seven of the Admiral’s chief lieutenants sent Roldan another safe conduct enabling him to come and treat with his Lordship. But as the distance was great and it suited the Admiral to make a journey into the country, he agreed to come to the port of Asua in the same island of Hispaniola and to the west of Santo Domingo, with two caravels, in order to be nearer to the province where the rebels were. A good number of them came to this port and, on arriving with his ships almost at the end of August, the Admiral began to enter into negotiations with the chief of them. Exhorting them to abandon their evil purposes, he promised them liberal grants and favours, and the rebels offered to do as he wished if he would concede them four points: first, to send fifteen of their number to Castile in the first ships that should arrive; secondly, that those who remained on the island should be given land and a living in lieu of the wages due to them; thirdly, that an edict should be published to the effect that all the recent happenings were due to false witness and some mischievous persons; and fourthly, that Roldan should immediately be appointed alcalde mayor in perpetuity.
When these terms were agreed between them, Roldan went ashore from the Admiral’s caravel and sent his men the articles, but so maliciously perverted the meaning of the clauses to his own advantage as to state in conclusion that, should the Admiral default in any way, they would be entitled to obtain his compliance by force or as they thought fit. But the Admiral was anxious to see the end of all these difficulties. When he considered that his enemies had been growing continuously stronger for the last two years and remained defiant, and that many of those still with him were gathering into factions intending to march to other places in the island, as Roldan had done, he decided to sign whatever he was asked. He published two edicts, one appointing Roldan alcalde mayor in perpetuity and the other agreeing to the four demands already specified. He also confirmed the other orders that he had given, in writing, a copy of which I have given above.
Afterwards, on Tuesday, 5 November, Roldan began to exercise his office and, in virtue of the authority permitted to him alone, appointed Pedro de Riquelme judge at Bonao with the right of trying all malefactors, except those liable to the death penalty, who were to be sent to the fort at Concepción to be judged by him. And since the pupil had as malignant intentions as the master, Riquelme immediately began to plan the budding of a fort at Bonao, and would have built it if he had not been prevented by Pedro de Arana, who clearly recognized that Riquelme was acting against his duties to the Admiral.
On returning from his voyage of exploration Ojeda
raises fresh disturbances in Hispaniola
‘ON the day after Christmas 1499,’ writes the Admiral, ‘when everyone had left me, I was attacked by Indians and evil Christians and reduced to such straits that to avoid death I had to abandon everything and put to sea in one small caravel. Then the Lord rescued me, saying: “O man of little faith, be not afraid. I am here.” And so He scattered my enemies, and showed me how to fulfil my obligations, unhappy sinner that I am, who depended utterly on the hopes of this world.’
On 3 February 1500 the Admiral intended to go to Santo Domingo in order to make preparations for his return to Castile and give an account of everything to the Catholic sovereigns.
To continue the thread of our story, let me say that, having settled the affair of Roldan, the Admiral appointed a captain and some men to patrol the island in order to pacify it and exact tribute from the Indians. Their further duty was to give early warning of any incipient unrest or disturbance among the Christians or any Indian rebellion, so that it might be suppressed and things be put right immediately. He took this measure because he intended to leave for Castile, taking the adelantado with him, since they would find it difficult to forget recent events if he were to remain governor.
As he was preparing for his departure, Alonso de Ojeda† arrived in the island, having made a voyage of exploration with four ships. And since such men sail with no fixed purpose, on 5 September 1499 he had entered a harbour which Christians call the port of Brasil* (the Indians call it Yaquimo), with the intention of getting whatever he could from the natives and taking a cargo of slaves and brasil-wood. While this was going on he devoted himself wholeheartedly to doing mischief. To prove himself a loyal henchman of Bishop Fonseca, already mentioned, he set about stirring up fresh trouble by proclaiming as a fact that Queen Isabela was at the point of death and that once she was dead there would be no one left who favoured the Admiral, and that he as a true and trustworthy servant of the bishop could do anything he liked to the Admiral’s prejudice on account of the enmity between the two men. He then began to write to some not very reliable men who had been involved in the late disturbances, exciting them with these tales, and entering into negotiations with them.
On learning of Ojeda’s actions and proposals, Roldan went against him with twenty-six men, on the Admiral’s orders, to prevent him from doing the mischief he was plotting. On 29 September, being within a league and a half of Ojeda, Roldan learnt that he, with fifteen men, was at the village of a cacique called Haniguayaba, baking bread and biscuit. So Roldan went that night to catch him by surprise. Knowing that Roldan was pursuing him, however, Ojeda made a virtue of necessity. Not having the strength to resist Roldan, he went out to meet him and told him that he had come there to get provisions, of which he was very short, and that he was on his sovereigns’ land and had no harmful intentions. He gave Roldan an account of his voyage, saying that he had sailed along the coast of Paria westwards for 600 leagues, and had met a people who had fought against the Christians on equal terms, wounding twenty of them, but he had not been able to take advantage of the wealth of the country, in which he said he had found deer, rabbits, the skins and paws of tigers, and base gold. These he showed Roldan in the caravels, telling him that he wished to go quickly to Santo Domingo in order to give an account of all this to the Admiral.
The Admiral was at that time gready troubled by a letter he had received from Pedro de Arana, telling him that Riquelme, whom Roldan had nominated alcalde of Bonao, had on the excuse of wishing to build a cattle shed chosen a commanding hill from which with a few men he could do all the harm he chose. Arana said that he had prevented this. But Riquelme had drawn up a protest with witnesses against the violence done him by Arana and sent it to the Admiral, begging for redress, in default of which some disorder might break out between them. As for Ojeda, the Admiral was well aware that he had some ulterior design. But he decided to put aside his suspicions, while remaining on his guard, thinking that it might be enough to correct Ojeda’s obvious mistake without inflaming a situation which could be met by pretending to ignore it.
Ojeda, however, persisted in his evil purposes. In February 1500, having taken leave of Roldan, he went with his ships to Jaragua, where many of the former rebels were living. Since greed and profit are the best means of fomenting evil, Ojeda began to proclaim among these people that the Catholic sovereigns had appointed him counsellor to the Admiral, jointly with Carvajal, to prevent him from doing anything that they considered against their Majesties’ interest, and that he first of many things that they had been ordered to do was to pay immediately, in cash, the wages of everyone in the island who was engaged in the royal service. But since the Admiral did not seem disposed to make these payments, he offered to go with them himself to Santo Domingo and compel the Admiral to pay promptly. After that, if they agreed, he could be thrown out of the island alive or dead. For they must not rely on the agreement the Admiral had made with them nor on his promise to them, for he was not a man who kept his word except under compulsion.
Tempted by this offer, many decided to follow him, and with their support he fell one night on the group that opposed him. There were dead and wounded on both sides. Since they thought it certain, as it indeed was, that Roldan had returned to the Admiral’s service, and would not join the new conspiracy, these followers of Ojeda decided to attack him by surprise and take him prisoner. But Roldan received warning of this plan and marched against Ojeda with enough men to remedy the trouble or punish him, as he thought fit. Ojeda then retired in fear to his ships, and from the sea negotiated with Roldan, who remained on land, concerning a suitable place for an interview, for each of them was afraid of putting himself in the power of the other.
When Roldan saw that Ojeda would not trust himself ashore, he offered to go and talk with him aboard ship, and for that purpose sent to ask him for a ship’s boat. Ojeda sent it with a strong guard and when Roldan with six or seven of his lieutenants were in the boat and Ojeda’s guard felt completely secure Roldan’s party attacked them with naked swords, killing some and wounding others and seizing the boat which they brought to land. Ojeda was now left with only one boat to serve all his ships, and in this he calmly went to his interview with Roldan. There, excusing himself for his violence, Ojeda freed some prisoners he had captured, asking in exchange for the boat and its crew that had been taken by Roldan, saying that if it was not restored he and his ship would be wrecked, for they had no other boat to serve them. Roldan restored it gladly in order that Ojeda should have no cause for complaint, and not be able to say that because of Roldan he was going to his doom. But before this he exacted a binding promise from Ojeda that he and his men would leave Hispaniola within a certain time, and Ojeda was compelled to put to sea because Roldan placed a strong guard on the shore.
But as it is difficult to destroy weeds so thoroughly that none spring up again, so a disorderly people cannot fail to return to their old errors, as some of the rebels did a few days after Ojeda’s departure. A certain Don Hernando de Guevara, a malcontent who was in disgrace with the Admiral, had joined Ojeda out of hatred for Roldan for which he was himself to blame. Roldan had refused to let him marry a daughter of Anacaona, the principal queen of Jaragua, and Guevara then began to gather many of the old conspirators with the intention of capturing Roldan and taking over the work of destruction. He incited Adrian de Mujica in particular, one of the principal malcontents, who, with two other criminals, in the middle of june 1500, had planned the capture or murder of Roldan.
But Roldan was very much on his guard, since he knew what they were discussing, and arrested Guevara, Mujica and the rest of the band. He then informed the Admiral of the course of events and asked his opinion as to what he should do. The Admiral replied that, since they had wantonly attempted to raise the country, total destruction would ensue if they were not punished. He must therefore do justice on them according to their crimes and the provisions of the law. The alcalde immediately carried out this advice. He tried the rebels and condemned Adrian de Mujica to be hanged as the author and leader of the conspiracy. He sentenced others to various terms of exile according to their guilt and held Guevara in prison until 13 June, when he handed him and other prisoners over to Gonzalo Blanco, to be taken by him to the Admiral.
These sentences quietened the country, the Indians returned to their obedience and again served the Christians, and goldfields were discovered in such plenty that everyone resigned the royal service and set up on his own account, industriously extracting gold, a third part of which was given to the Crown. This work went on so successfully that one man extracted, in a single day, five marks of fair-sized gold grains, and among them was one worth more than 196 ducats. The Indians were very docile and much afraid of the Admiral. So anxious were they to please him that, to oblige him, they voluntarily became Christians, and if an Indian chief had to appear before him he endeavoured to come clothed.
Owing to false information and lying stories and
the complaints of certain persons the Catholic
sovereigns send a judge to the Indies to discover
what is going on
DURING the course of the disturbances many of the rebels sent false information in letters from Hispaniola, and others who had returned to Castile also gave lying reports against the Admiral and his brothers to the sovereigns and their Council, alleging that they were not only very cruel but incompetent to govern. For not only were they foreigners from another country, but they had never before been in a position of authority, and had no experience of controlling people of quality. These people affirmed that unless their royal Highnesses were to intervene the Indies would come to total ruin, and if they were not destroyed by his perverse administration, the Admiral would himself rebel and make a pact with some foreign prince who would support him on the assumption that all these lands were his, since he had discovered them by his own skill and labour. They said that, in furtherance of this project, the Admiral was concealing the riches of the land and preventing the Indians from working for the Christians and becoming converted to our faith. For he hoped by flattering them to win them to his side and to make them do everything possible to their Highnesses’ disservice.
By repeating these and similar calumnies, they greatly disturbed the Catholic sovereigns, libelling the Admiral, and complaining that the Spaniards had not been paid their wages for many years, and this aroused much talk and scandal among those then at court. In fact, when I was in Granada, at the time of His Most Serene Highness Don Miguel’s death,* fifty or more shameless fellows around the court bought large quantities of grapes and sat down in the great court of the Alhambra, crying that their Majesties and the Admiral had reduced them to this sort of diet by low wages. They said much else that was offensive, and were so brazen that if his Catholic Majesty came out they would surround him and bar his way, shouting: ‘Pay! Give us our pay!’ And if my brother and I, who were pages to the Queen, happened to pass, they would shout to heaven and pursue us crying: ‘There go the sons of the Lord Admiral of the Flies, the men who discovered lands of vanity and deceit for Spanish gentlemen to starve and die in!’ And they uttered many more obscenities, so that we tried to avoid any place which they frequented.
As a result of their complaints and their importunate approaches to the King’s favourites, his Majesty decided to send a judge to Hispaniola to inquire into all these complaints, and ordered him, should he find the Admiral guilty of the matters complained of, to send him back to Castile and himself remain as governor. This examining judge sent by their Catholic Majesties was Francisco de Bobadilla, a poor knight of the order of Calatrava. He was appointed in Madrid on 21 May 1499, with plenary powers and blank patents bearing the royal seal and signatures, which were to be presented to anyone he thought fit in Hispaniola and which commanded them to give him all help and service.
Bobadilla arrived at Santo Domingo with these documents at the end of August 1500,* while the Admiral was away at Concepción setting to rights the affairs of that province, where the adelantado had been attacked by the rebels, and where there were a greater number of Indians than in the rest of the island, who were also of better quality and intelligence than those of other regions. So, when Bobadilla arrived, he was met by no one who commanded his respect. The first thing he did, therefore, was to lodge himself in the Admiral’s palace, taking possession and making use of everything there, as if it were his by lawful right of succession. He favoured and encouraged all the former rebels whom he met, and many others who hated the Admiral and his brothers, and proclaimed himself governor. And, in order to gain the goodwill of the people, he issued an edict exempting them from the payment of tribute for twenty years. He then summoned the Admiral to come to him without delay, saying that this was his duty as a servant of the Catholic sovereigns. To confirm this order he sent him by Brother Juan de Trasiera, on 7 September, a royal patent to the following effect:
‘To Don Cristobal de Colon, our Admiral of the Ocean Sea. We have sent the comendador Francisco de Bobadilla, the bearer of this patent, to speak with you on our behalf about certain matters of which he will tell you. We ask you to give him faith and credence. From Madrid, 26 May 1499. I the King, I the Queen. Written at their command by Miguel de Almazan.’
The Admiral is arrested and sent to Castile in
chains, together with his brothers
IMMEDIATELY he saw this letter from the Catholic sovereigns the Admiral hastened to Santo Domingo, where the judge was, and Bobadilla, in his anxiety to maintain himself as governor, with no further delay or inquiry, at the beginning of October arrested the Admiral and his brother Don Diego, sending them aboard ship where he put them in chains and under a strong guard, ordering that no one, under the severest penalties, should even speak of them. Afterwards, with the proverbial justice of King Crane, he began to draw up a case against them, citing as witnesses the Admiral’s enemies who had rebelled against him, publicly favouring and encouraging anyone who came forward to abuse the prisoners. These witnesses were so malevolent and abusive in their declarations that a man would have had to be more than blind not to recognize that what they said was prompted by passion, not by truth. For this reason the Catholic sovereigns afterwards refused to accept these charges and absolved the Admiral, repenting of having sent this man with such powers. And they had good cause to be sorry, for Bobadilla destroyed the island and dissipated the royal rents and tributes in order to win support for himself. To this end he proclaimed that the Catholic kings wanted nothing more than the titular sovereignty, and that the profit from it was for their subjects.
But however wrong, Bobadilla did not fail to raise adherents. On the contrary, allying himself with the richest and most powerful, he gave them Indians to work for them on the understanding that they would divide with him all the profit that they made by the labour of these Indians; and he sold by public auction all the possessions and lands that the Admiral had won for the Catholic sovereigns, saying that the sovereigns were neither farmers nor merchants, and did not need these lands for their profit but for the aid and comfort of their good subjects. On this pretext he sold them everything, taking care, on the other hand, that some of his companions should buy what he offered at a third of its proper price. In addition to this, he perverted the course of justice to the same end, and had no other aim but to enrich himself and gain the affection of the people. For he was still in some fear that the adelantado, who had not yet come back from Jaragua, might obstruct him and attempt to free the Admiral by armed force.
But in fact Don Bartolomé exercised great restraint in this matter, having received a message from the Admiral requesting him, in the royal interests and in order not to disturb the country, to come peacefully, since on reaching Castile they would find it easier to secure the punishment of a certain person and remedy for the injuries they were suffering.
Nevertheless Bobadilla imprisoned Don Bartolomé with his brothers and allowed the ill-disposed mob to speak all kinds of libels against them in public places, blowing horns on the landing-stage as they were taken aboard, and posting abusive notices at the street corners. What is more, on hearing that Diego Ortiz, governor of the hospital, had read out a libellous statement in the main square, Bobadilla not only failed to punish him but showed great delight at the reading. Consequently each man did his utmost to rival his neighbour in such displays of effrontery.
At the time of the Admiral’s departure, fearing that he might swim ashore, Bobadilla took care to order the ship’s captain, whose name was Andres Martin, to hand him over still in chains to the bishop Don Juan de Fonseca, on whose favour and counsel he unwaveringly relied in doing what he did. Afterwards, however, when they were at sea, recognizing Bobadilla’s malice, the captain wished to release the Admiral from his chains. But the Admiral would not consent. Since the Catholic sovereigns, he said, had commanded him in their letter to do whatever Bobadilla might order to be carried out in their name, and the chains had been put on him by their commission and authority, he was unwilling for anyone else but their Highnesses to exercise judgement in this matter. In fact he was determined to keep these chains as relics to remind him of the way in which his many services had been rewarded; which is more or less what he did. For he kept them always in his room and wished them to be buried with his bones.