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Christopher Columbus
Letter
NOTE: Christopher
Columbus explored the New World from 1492 to 1503. What follows is the text
of one of his correspondences to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.
(Glossary: alcalde = mayor.)
Most
High and Mighty Sovereigns,
In obedience to your Highnesses' commands, and with submission to superior judgment,
I will say whatever occurs to me in reference to the colonization and commerce of
the Island of Espanola, and of the other islands, both those already discovered
and those that may be discovered hereafter.
In the first place, as regards the Island of Espanola: Inasmuch as the number of
colonists who desire to go thither amounts to two thousand, owing to the land being
safer and better for farming and trading, and because it will serve as a place to
which they can return and from which they can carry on trade with the neighboring
islands:
-
That in the said island there
shall be founded three or four towns, situated in the most convenient places,
and that the settlers who are there be assigned to the aforesaid places and towns.
-
That for the better and more
speedy colonization of the said island, no one shall have liberty to collect gold
in it except those who have taken out colonists' papers, and have built houses
for their abode, in the town in which they are, that they may live united and
in greater safety.
-
That each town shall have
its alcalde and its notary public, as is the use and custom in Castile.
-
That there shall he a church,
and parish priests or friars to administer the sacraments, to perform divine worship,
and for the conversion of the Indians.
-
That none of the colonists
shall go to seek gold without a license from the governor or alcalde of the town
where he lives; and that he must first take oath to return to the place whence
he sets out, for the purpose of registering faithfully all the gold he may have
found, and to return once a month, or once a week, as the time may have been set
for him, to render account and show the quantity of said gold; and that this shall
be written down by the notary before the aIcalde, or, if it seems better, that
a friar or priest, deputed for the purpose, shall be also present
-
That all the gold thus brought
in shall be smelted immediately, and stamped with some mark that shall distinguish
each town; and that the portion which belongs to your Highnesses shall be weighed,
and given and consigned to each alcalde in his own town, and registered by the
above-mentioned priest or friar, so that it shall not pass through the hands of
only one person, and there shall he no opportunity to conceal the truth.
-
That all gold that may be
found without the mark of one of the said towns in the possession of any one who
has once registered in accordance with the above order shall be taken as forfeited,
and that the accuser shall have one portion of it and your Highnesses the other.
-
That one per centum of all
the gold that may be found shall be set aside for building churches and adorning
the same, and for the support of the priests or friars belonging to them; and,
if it should be thought proper to pay any thing to the alcaldes or notaries for
their services, or for ensuring the faithful perforce of their duties, that this
amount shall be sent to the governor or treasurer who may be appointed there by
your Highnesses.
-
As regards the division of
the gold, and the share that ought to be reserved for your Highnesses, this, in
my opinion, must be left to the aforesaid governor and treasurer, because it will
have to be greater or less according to the quantity of gold that may be found.
Or, should it seem preferable, your Highnesses might, for the space of one year,
take one half, and the collector the other, and a better arrangement for the division
be made afterward.
-
That if the said alcaldes
or notaries shall commit or be privy to any fraud, punishment shall be provided,
and the same for the colonists who shall not have declared all the gold they have.
-
That in the said island there
shall be a treasurer, with a clerk to assist him, who shall receive all the gold
belonging to your Highnesses, and the alcaldes and notaries of the towns shall
each keep a record of what they deliver to the said treasurer.
-
As, in the eagerness to get
gold, every one will wish, naturally, to engage in its search in preference to
any other employment, it seems to me that the privilege of going to look for gold
ought to be withheld during some portion of each year, that there may be opportunity
to have the other business necessary for the island performed.
-
In regard to the discovery
of new countries, I think permission should be granted to all that wish to go,
and more liberality used in the matter of the fifth, making the tax easier, in
some fair way, in order that many may be disposed to go on voyages.
I will now give my opinion about ships going to the said Island of Espanola, and
the order that should be maintained; and that is, that the said ships should only
be allowed to discharge in one or two ports designated for the purpose, and should
register there whatever cargo they bring or unload; and when the time for their
departure comes, that they should sail from these same ports, and register all the
cargo they take in, that nothing may be concealed.
-
In reference to the transportation
of gold from the island to Castile, that all of it should be taken on board the
ship, both that belonging to your Highnesses and the property of every one else;
that it should all be placed in one chest with two locks, with their keys, and
that the master of the vessel keep one key and some person selected by the governor
and treasurer the other; that there should come with the gold, for a testimony,
a list of all that has been put into the said chest, properly marked, so that
each owner may receive his own; and that, for the faithful performance of this
duty, if any gold whatsoever is found outside of the said chest in any way, be
it little or much, it shall be forfeited to your Highnesses.
-
That all the ships that come
from the said island shall be obliged to make their proper discharge in the port
of Cadiz, and that no person shall disembark or other person be permitted to go
on board until the ship has been visited by the person or persons deputed for
that purpose, in the said city, by your Highnesses, to whom the master shall show
all that he carries, and exhibit the manifest of all the cargo, it may be seen
and examined if the said ship brings any thing hidden and not known at the time
of lading.
-
That the chest in which the
said gold has been carried shall be opened in the presence of the magistrates
of the said city of Cadiz, and of the person deputed for that purpose by your
Highnesses, and his own property be given to each owner. -
I beg your Highnesses to hold me in your protection; and I remain, praying our Lord
God for your Highnesses' lives and the increase of much greater States.
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