PREFACE. "One single matter of fact, faithfully and honestly delivered, is worth a thousand comments and flourishes." THIS work is a register of events relating to the West Indies, arranged in the only manner suited to the subject, for the plan comprehends the whole of the Columbian islands, and as they belong to different European powers, and some even of those which are subject to the same crown, have little or no connexion with each other, there is no other natural or convenient order wherein their history can be composed, than that which a chronological series offers. The materials are presented in an unpretending form, but it is hoped and believed that the work contains more Much confusion has arisen from the same name being given to different islands in the West Indies, and from the same island having different names. There is Barbadoes, Barbudo, and the Saints were at one time called Barbata. Columbus named Isla Larga St. Fernandina, which name was afterwards given to Cuba, although Columbus had named that island Juana. Juan. Its proximity to St. John's increases the confusion. There is Cariacou, one of the Grenadines, and Curaçoa. The Bahamas were the Lucayos. Espaniola, St. Domingo, and Hayti, are all names for one island; and St. Domingo is the name of the principal city in the Spanish part of the same island. There are two islands called Anguila, one to windward of St. Martin's, the St. Christopher's is familiarly called other among the Bahamas in the Canal St. Kitt's. St. Salvador's is also called Cat Island. Puerto Rico was often called San de Santaren. Old Providence was called St. Catharines; and there is New Providence. There is the island of Samana to the information than can be found in any other, concerning that part of the world. "If in some places I be found to set down whole passages as they are already set down by others, and may seem rather to transcribe than to write, yet this, I suppose, may be excused, as being all of one common stock, and no matter from whence the water comes, so it comes clear to the reader's use. Lastly, for the work itself, I dare be bold to say, that it hath been collected out of authors both ancient and modern, with great care and diligence." "If the reader will inform me of any mistake, I will thankfully mend it, and add what I have unwarily omitted; what I have been too dark in explaining, I will explain better, when I have a clearer light to guide me.” "Thus hoping the courteous and discreet will mildly excuse, if not approve what I have rudely done, I submit myself to every humour, and expect differing censures answerable to the dissonant inclinations of every reader." Epistle to the Reader, Baker's Chronicle. north of Crooked Island, and the penin- rita; and the Tortugas, about 100 miles sula of Samana in Espaniola. Two islands are called Santa Cruz, one near the Virgin Islands, the other near Yucatan; exclusive of Cozumel, which was also called Santa Cruz. There is the island of Tortuga, the first grand rendezvous of the pirates off Espaniola; Las Tortugas, near Marga to the northward of the Havana, which Peter Heylyn, in his Cosmographie, thus quaintly describes, "well known among the sailors, because much avoided, or rather avoided because known; the danger of their company making their further acquaintance shunned." A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE WEST INDIES. THAT the new world would soon have been discovered by other navigators is no diminution of Columbus's fame. He alone sailed with the intention of crossing that ocean whose limits it was supposed impious to attempt to pass, because they were the boundaries of the habitable world. Other illustrious men have suffered equal physical hardships, shewn equal skill, and possessed equal science; but none had ever this awful feeling to contend with. In addition to the reasons which Columbus, as a cosmographer, had for supposing that he should find land by steering to the westward, he had the following testimonies to strengthen them : Four hundred and fifty leagues to the westward of Cape St. Vincent, after a long continuance of westerly winds, Martin Vicente found a piece of wood curiously wrought. Pedro Correa, the husband of the sister of Columbus's wife, had found a similar piece off Puerto Santo, and some large canes, each joint of which would hold a gallon and a half, similar to those which Ptolemy describes as growing in India. At the Azores the west winds had driven trees on shore, unlike any which grow in Europe. And at Flores the sea had thrown up the bodies of two men whose features and complexion were neither those of Europeans, Moors or Negroes; and two canoes had been found there. Antonio Leme also thought that he had seen three islands when he was driven far to the westward; others had thought the same; and Jasper and Miguel de Corte Real, the sons of the discoverer of Tercera, had perished in seeking them. Columbus's first proposals were to the Genoese government, his second to the King, D. Joam the Second, of Portugal, who referred him to D. Diego Ortiz, Bishop of Ceuta, and the Jewish doctors Herrera, D. 1. L. 1. C. 2. Rodrigo and Joseph; they pretending to treat his plans as visionary, advised that a vessel should be sent secretly to anticipate his discoveries. The dishonourable attempt was made, and failed. Disgusted with this duplicity, and having lost his wife, Columbus secretly embarked for Spain, and at the same time sent his brother Bartholomew to England. Columbus landed at Palos, and leaving his son in the monastery of Rabida, under the care of Juan Perez de Marchena, proceeded to the court at Cordova. Alonzo de Quintanilla (Contador Mayor), in whose house he was entertained, procured attention to his offers. The Queen's confessor, Hernando de Talavera, was desired to form a junta of cosmographers, to confer about it; but there were not many of that profession in Spain, nor were they the best in the world, neither would Columbus open out his plans so fully as he had done, lest the same thing which had happened in Portugal might occur here. One said so many years had passed since the creation of the world, and there had been so many wise men, conversant in maritime affairs, who had taken no notice of those lands which Columbus thought he could find, that it was not to be supposed he was wiser than all who had lived before him. Others said, the world was so large that three years sailing would not be sufficient to reach the end of the east in the way Columbus intended to steer; in confirmation of which they quoted Seneca, who said that many learned men disagreed in their opinions whether the sea was infinite or not, and doubted if it could be navigated, and if it could, whether they would find an inhabited country, or whether they could get to it. They also said that no part of the sphere was inhabited below the land and the water; but that our hemisphere was a small crown or girdle upon the water, and all the rest sea. Nevertheless, they conceded that it was possible to get to the end of the east, and also from Spain to the extremity of the west. Others said, that if Columbus steered directly to the west he would never be able to return, because of the roundness of the sphere. Whosoever should quit this hemisphere known by Ptolemy, would get so much lower that it would be impossible to return, it would be like getting up a steep mountain. Columbus's answers to these objections were not satisfactory, because they were not understood. The junta declared the enterprise to be vain and impossible, and that it was inconsistent with the dignity of such great princes to determine upon such loose information. After a long delay their majesties ordered Columbus to be told that they were engaged in so many wars, and particularly in the conquest of Granada, that they could not enter into new expences at that time, but when these wars were finished they would order his pretensions to be better examined; and so they dismissed him. Columbus was at Seville when he received this answer; it was a melancholy reward for five years attendance upon the court. He now proposed his plans to the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, and Medina Celi: these also declined the enterprise; and Columbus then wrote to the King of France for permission to pass to England in search of his brother. With this intention he went to the monastery of Rabida for his son D. Diego, to place him at Cordova, and told Juan Perez de Marchena what he was about to do. Upon his advice Columbus consented to defer his departure. Juan called in Garci Hernandez to confer about his plans. Garci Hernandez, as a philosopher, was quite satisfied with them; and as Juan was known to the Queen, having been her confessor, he wrote to her, and received orders to repair to the court at Santa Fé. He left Columbus at Palos, and having seen the Queen, sent him 20,000 maravedis, to pay his expences to court; and upon his arrival the negotiations recommenced. The Prior de Prado and others were against the enterprise: the titles of admiral and viceroy, which Columbus asked, were too much, they said, if he succeeded; and if not, it was foolish to grant them. The conference was broken off, and he determined to go to Cordova, and from thence to France. Alonzo de Quintanilla, and Luys de Santangel," escrivano de raciones" to the crown of Arragon, were grieved at the failure of the undertaking. At the request of Juan and Quintanilla, the Cardinal D. Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza heard Columbus, and thought favourably of him; and as Columbus's enemies said that he offered nothing on his part for the discovery, but to go as captain-general of a squadron belonging to their majesties, to satisfy them, Columbus offered to bear one-eighth part of the expense; notwithstanding this, nothing was done. While the Spanish court were celebrating festivals for the conquest of Granada, Columbus, oppressed with the thoughts of having lost seven years in applications, determined to quit Spain, and in January 1492 set out for Cordova; he had scarce departed, when Luis de Santangel, receiver of the ecclesiastical rents in Arragon, energetically represented to the Queen the loss it would be if any other power should gain this prize; that 2500 piastres, the whole amount of what Columbus wanted, was a paltry sum; that the honours and rewards demanded by him were not unreasonable, as he took upon himself a share in the expense, and risked his honour and his life. Quintillana, minister of finance, who had entered during this address, seconded and confirmed Santangel's opinions; the Queen thanked them for their advice, and promised to undertake the whole affair herself for the crown of Castile; she added, that it would be necessary to delay the expedition till she had recovered somewhat from the war; but if this delay should not fall in with their wishes, she was ready to mortgage her jewels for the sum. Santangel offered to advance the money, and begged the royal commands might be immediately given to fit out the fleet without delay. A messenger was dispatched in pursuit of Columbus: he was overtaken on the bridge of Pinas, two miles from Granada; and on his return to Santa Fé received with such kindness, that he Munoz, B. 2. sect. 30. |