English history is rather barren of information as to what was done under these patents. Mr. Hume, in the 26th chapter of his History of England, after mentioning the discovery by Cabot in 1498, says, "Elliott and others made a like attempt in 1502," and cites Rymer, vol. xiii. p. 37. Discoveries in which Hugh Eliot was instrumental, are also alluded to by Robert Thorne, in a letter written by him whilst at Seville in 1527, to Dr. Lee, the ambassador from England to Spain.*

In this letter Thorne says:

"If I had the faculty to my will, it should be the first thing that I would understand, even to attempt, if our seas northward be navigable to the pole or no. I reason that as some sicknesses are hereditarious, and come from the father to the son, so this inclination or desire of this discovery, I inherited of my father which with another merchant of Bristol named Hugh Eliot were the discoverers of the New found-lands of the which, there is no doubt (as now plainly appeareth) if the mariners would then have been ruled and followed their pilot's mind, the lands of the West Indias (from whence all the gold cometh) had been ours. For all is one coast."

This letter of Robert Thorne, it is to be observed, was written after the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards.

From the following entries in the account of the privy purse expenses of Henry the Seventh,† it appears there was for a while some intercourse with the newly discovered region:

* In Hakluyt's Collection, vol. 1, p. 219.

In Biddle's Memoir of Cabot, p. 230, 31.

"17 November 1503. To one that brought hawks from the New founded island £1.

"8 April 1504. To a preste* that goeth to the new island £2.

"25 August 1505. To Clay's going to Richmond with wild cats and popinjays of the New found island for his costs 13s. 4d.

"To Portuguese that brought popinjays and cats of the mountain with other stuff to the king's grace £ 5."

*Mr. Biddle supposes this to mean priest.

CHAPTER XII.

Of the fleet and orders sent out with Ovando to Hispaniola in 1502; the voyage made the same year to the northern coast of South America by Alonzo de Ojeda; the last voyage of Columbus; and his wearisome detention at Jamaica.

Isabella urged the speedy departure of Ovando, to put a stop to the abuses of Bobadilla's government. She was particularly careful in providing for the kind treatment of the Indians. Ovando was ordered to assemble the caciques, and declare to them that the sovereigns took them and their people under their especial protection. They were merely to pay tribute like other subjects of the crown, and it was to be collected with mildness. Yet for the royal service, they might be compelled to work in the mines and in other employments. This (though they were to be paid as hired labourers,) led to great abuses and oppressions, and was ultimately as fatal to the natives as would have been the most absolute slavery. Another decree was made, which it may be proper to notice in this connection. It was permitted to carry to the colonies negro slaves born in Spain, the descendants of natives of Africa, with which a traffic of the kind had for some time been carried on by the Spaniards and Portuguese. This is the first trace of negro slavery in the new world.*

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 2, p. 69 to 71.

Ovando's fleet was the largest that had yet sailed to the new world. It consisted of thirty sail, five of them from ninety to one hundred and fifty tons burthen, twenty-four caravels of from thirty to ninety, and one bark of twenty-five tons. The number of souls that embarked was about two thousand five hundred. The fleet put to sea on the 13th of February 1502. In the early part of the voyage it encountered a terrible storm: one of the ships foundered with one hundred and twenty passengers; the others were obliged to throw overboard every thing that was on deck, and were completely scattered. Yet only one ship was lost. The others arrived at San Domingo on the 15th of April.*

Ojeda had reported that in his voyage in 1499 he met with English adventurers in the neighbourhood of Venezuela. The Spanish sovereigns were anxious to establish a resolute and fighting commander like Ojeda upon this outpost. And he found it easy to obtain authority to prosecute at his own expense the discovery of the coast of Terra Firma. He was instructed to set up the arms of Castile and Leon in every place he visited, as a signal of discovery and possession, and to put a stop to the intrusions of the English. Ojeda and his associates fitted out four ships, and sailed in 1502. Arriving at the port destined for his seat of government, Ojeda found the country so poor and sterile that he proceeded along the coast to a bay which he named Santa Cruz, but which is supposed to be the same at present called Bahia Honda, where he found a Spaniard who had

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 2, p. 71, 2.

been left in Citarma by Bastides about thirteen months before. At this place Ojeda erected a fortress, which contained the magazine of provisions and a strong box in which was deposited the treasure amassed in the expedition. Vergara and Ocampo, two of Ojeda's partners, becoming dissatisfied with him, informed him of their intention to convey him a prisoner to Hispaniola, to answer for offences which they alleged against him. He attempted to escape,

irons and conveyed on

but was seized, thrown in board of Vergara's caravel. The two partners then set sail, bearing off the whole community, its captive governor, and the strong box which was at the bottom of all these feuds. They arrived at the western part of the island of Hispaniola. While at anchor within a stone's throw of the land, Ojeda, confident in his strength and skill as a swimmer, let himself down the side of the ship in the night, and his arms being free, attempted to swim to the shore. But his feet were shackled, and the weight of his irons threatened to sink him. He was obliged to shout for help. A boat was sent from the vessel to his relief, and the unfortunate governor was brought back half drowned. He was delivered to the commander of the place, while Vergara and Ocampo (as he said) were taking from the strong box whatever they thought proper. All parties were in Saint Domingo about the end of September 1502, when the chief judge of the island gave a decision against Ojeda. He appealed to the sovereign, and after some time was honourably acquitted by the royal council; his property was ordered to be restored; and he ordered