Christopher Columbus Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella Read

Columbus Letter of the alphabet to the King and Queen of Spain 1494

Introduction to Columbus' alphabetic character, 1694

Christopher Columbus' daring needs no introduction, but 1 is often pleasantly surprised at the fine quality of mind of this self-taught, red-haired, handsome, talented, and ambitious man. Inside two years alter the discovery of America, before he savage under the cloud of the king's disfavor, Columbus advocated the establishment of a Castilian colony in the New Earth, closely regulated and directed by the Crown. That he should sense the management of future events testifies to his perception. Spain acted upon Columbus' advice and speedily planted a colony in Hispaniola (Republic of haiti) that became the stepping stone for further Castilian incursions into the Americas. In a larger sense, the Spanish settlement at Hispaniola served as the fountainhead of a mainstream in the evolution of the New World, the European colonization of the Western Hemisphere.

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Near Loftier and Mighty Sovereigns,

In obedience to your Highnesses' commands, and with submission to superior judgment, I will say whatsoever 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 identify, as regards the Island of Espanola: Inasmuch as the number of colonists who desire to go thither amounts to two yard, owing to the land existence safer and better for farming and trading, and because it will serve equally a identify to which they can render and from which they tin can comport on trade with the neighboring islands:

1. That in the said island there shall exist 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.
2. That for the better and more than speedy colonization of the said isle, no one shall have freedom to collect gold in information technology except those who have taken out colonists' papers, and have built houses for their abode, in the boondocks in which they are, that they may live united and in greater safety.
3. That each boondocks shall take its alcalde [Mayor] ... and its notary public, as is the apply and custom in Castile.
4. That in that location shall exist a church, and parish priests or friars to administer the sacraments, to perform divine worship, and for the conversion of the Indians.
5. That none of the colonists shall become to seek golden without a license from the governor or alcalde of the boondocks where he lives; and that he must first have 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 in one case a week, as the fourth dimension may take been ready for him, to return account and show the quantity of said aureate; and that this shall be written down past the notary before the aIcalde, or, if it seems better, that a friar or priest, deputed for the purpose, shall be also present
6. That all the gold thus brought in shall exist 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 non pass through the hands of only one person, and there shall he no opportunity to muffle the truth.
7. That all gold that may be found without the mark of one of the said towns in the possession of any one who has one time registered in accord with the above order shall be taken as forfeited, and that the accuser shall accept one portion of it and your Highnesses the other.
8. That 1 per centum of all the golden that may be found shall be set aside for edifice churches and adorning the aforementioned, and for the support of the priests or friars belonging to them; and, if it should be idea proper to pay whatever affair 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 at that place past your Highnesses.
9. Equally 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 exist 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 ane yr, take one half, and the collector the other, and a better arrangement for the sectionalisation be made afterwards.
10. 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 non have alleged all the gold they have.
11. That in the said island there shall be a treasurer, with a clerk to aid him, who shall receive all the gold belonging to your Highnesses, and the alcaldes and notaries of the towns shall each keep a tape of what they evangelize to the said treasurer.
12. As, in the eagerness to become aureate, every ane will wish, naturally, to engage in its search in preference to whatsoever other employment, information technology seems to me that the privilege of going to look for gilded ought to be withheld during some portion of each year, that in that location may be opportunity to have the other business necessary for the island performed.
13. 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 affair of the 5th, making the taxation easier, in some off-white mode, in society that many may exist disposed to go on voyages.

I will now give my opinion nearly ships going to the said Island of Espanola, and the club that should be maintained; and that is, that the said ships should merely be allowed to discharge in 1 or two ports designated for the purpose, and should annals 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 aught may be curtained.

• 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 breast with two locks, with their keys, and that the master of the vessel go on one key and some person selected by the governor and treasurer the other; that there should come with the gold, for a testimony, a listing of all that has been put into the said chest, properly marked, so that each possessor may receive his own; and that, for the true-blue performance of this duty, if any gold whatsoever is institute outside of the said chest in whatever way, be it little or much, it shall exist forfeited to your Highnesses.
• That all the ships that come up from the said isle shall be obliged to brand their proper discharge in the port of Cadiz, and that no person shall disembark or other person be permitted to keep board until the ship has been visited by the person or persons deputed for that purpose, in the said urban center, 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 matter hidden and not known at the fourth dimension 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 commissioned for that purpose by your Highnesses, and his own belongings 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 increment of much greater States.

The columbus alphabetic character (Osher Map Library, Academy of Southern Maine)

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