CHAPTER XVI.

Of Americus Vespucius from 1505 to 1508; his appointment then as chief pilot of Spain; and the expeditions of Vicente Yañez Pinzon and Juan Diaz de Solis in 1506 and 1508.

On the 11th of April 1505, Ferdinand made Vespucius a grant of twelve thousand maravedis; and on the 24th of the same month, letters of naturalization were issued in his behalf, in consideration, as they recite, of his fidelity and many valuable services to the crown. Shortly afterwards, he and Vicente Yañez Pinzon were named captains of an armada then contemplated from Spain. For this voyage vessels were procured and fitted out, and other preparations made, but it was eventually abandoned. There are memoranda existing concerning it dated in 1505, 1507 and 1508, from which it appears that Vespucius remained at Seville attending to the fluctuating concerns of this squadron, until the change of its destination, the sale of the equipments, and settlement of the accounts. During this time he had a salary of thirty thousand maravedis. On the 22d of March 1508, he received the appointment of chief pilot, with a salary of seventy-five thousand maravedis. Seville was now the place of his residence. His chief duties were to prepare charts, examine pilots, superintend the fitting out of expeditions, and pre

scribe the route that vessels were to pursue in their voyages to the new world.*

Mr. Irving states that in 1506, Vicente Yañez Pinzon undertook an expedition in company with Juan Diaz de Solis, a native of Lebrija, the object of which was to find the strait or passage supposed by Columbus to lead from the Atlantic to a southern ocean; but that no such passage existing, this voyage was necessarily without success, as was also another made by them for the same purpose in 1508.† In the preface of the French editor to the History of the Province of Sancta Cruz, mentioned on page 108, after referring to the visits of the Portuguese navigators to this province, amongst others to one by Alfonso d'Albuquesque in 1503, and to another three years later, by Tustan d'Acunha, he says, "In 1508, the King of Spain, jealous of preserving the exclusive possession of America, dispatched to this country Vicente Yañez Pinzon and Juan Diaz de Solis." It may be that the object of the expedition of 1508 was two fold, to find a passage by a strait from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, and also to take possession of Brazil, as far as practicable, so as to check the Portuguese in their endeavours to enlarge their sessions in that country.

pos

* Irving's Columbus, vol. 2, p. 252. Appendix No. 10. Life of Vespucius, p. 256 to 264, also p. 395, 396.

† Voyages of Companions of Columbus, p. 40, 41.

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the subjugation of Hispaniola, and its government under Diego Columbus; also of the subjugation of Porto Rico in 1509, while Juan Ponce de Leon was commander in that island.

After four other Indian sovereignties of Hispaniola had been subjugated, the downfall of Higuey, the last of those independent districts, was accomplished under the administration of Ovando. Juan Ponce, a native of Leon, generally called Juan Ponce de Leon, was commander of part of the troops. He had served against the Moors of Granada, had accompanied Columbus in his second voyage in 1493, and had distinguished himself in various battles with the Indians. In the campaign against Higuey, he seconded his chief, Juan de Esquibel, so valiantly, that after the subjugation of the province, he was appointed to the command of it as lieutenant of the governor of Hispaniola.*

The province of Higuey lay at the eastern end of Hayti. The isle of Boriquen was directly opposite, and but twelve or fourteen leagues distant. The Indians of the two islands frequently visited each other; and in the transparent atmosphere of the tropics Juan Ponce could see Boriquen from his province. He obtained permission from governor Ovando to visit it,

* Voyages of Companions of Columbus, p. 292, 3.

and brought back such specimens of gold that the governor determined on the subjugation of the island: it was proposed to confide the enterprise to Juan Ponce. He made another, and as it were a preparatory visit, to make himself acquainted with the country, and with the nature and resources of the inhabitants. After remaining some time on the island, he returned to San Domingo, but found the whole face of affairs had changed in his absence. His patron, the governor Ovando, had been recalled to Spain.*

This was after the law suit of Diego Columbus, son of the renowned discoverer, was determined in his favour. According to the capitulations between the sovereign and his father, Diego was to be viceroy and governor of the new world. Ferdinand withheld the title of viceroy, but ceded to Diego the dignities and powers that had been enjoyed by Ovando. Even this cession was not made until the power of Diego was increased by his connexion in marriage. He married Donna Maria de Toledo, daughter of Fernando de Toledo, grand commander of Leon, and niece of the celebrated duke of Alva, chief favourite of the king.t

"The new admiral embarked at St. Lucar, June 9, 1509, with his wife, his brother Don Fernando, who was now grown to man's estate, and had been well educated, and his two uncles Don Bartholomew and Don Diego. They were accompanied by a numerous retinue of cavaliers, with their wives, and of young ladies of rank and family, more distinguished, it is hinted, for high blood than large for

* Voyages of Companions of Columbus, p. 296.

↑ Irving's Columbus, vol. 2, p. 213 to 218. Voyages of Companions of Columbus, p. 296.

tune, and who were sent out to find wealthy husbands in the new world.*

"Though the king had not granted Don Diego the dignity of viceroy, the title was generally given to him by courtesy, and his wife was universally addressed by that of vice-queen.

"Don Diego commenced his rule with a degree of splendour hitherto unknown in the colony. The vice-queen, who was a lady of great desert, surrounded by the noble cavaliers and the young ladies of family who had come in her retinue, established a sort of court, which threw a degree of lustre over the half savage island. The young ladies were soon married to the wealthiest colonists, and contributed greatly to soften those rude manners which had grown up in a state of society hitherto destitute of the salutary restraint and pleasing decorum produced by female influence.

"Don Diego had considered his appointment in the light of a vice-royalty, but the king soon took measures which showed that he admitted of no such pretension."t

A cavalier arrived from Spain, empowered by the king to form a settlement and build a fortress on the island of Porto Rico. His name was Christoval de Sotomayor; he was brother to the Count of Camina, and had been secretary to Philip the First, King of Castile, and father of Charles the Fifth. Diego Columbus considered this in disregard of his prerogative as viceroy, and refused to put Sotomayor in possession. He paid He paid as little respect to the claims of Juan Ponce. Choosing officers to suit himself, he appointed one Juan Ceron to the government of Porto Rico, and Miguel Diaz as his lieutenant. Juan

* Las Casas, L. 2, cap. 49, MS. Irving's Columbus, vol. 2, p. 216, Appendix No. 2.