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WHE

RELATING TO JAMAICA.

HEREAS, by the good providence of God, our fleet, in their late expedition into America, have poffeffed themselves of a certain inland called Jamaica, fpacious in its extent, commodious in its harbours and rivers within itself, healthful by its fituation, fertile in the nature of the foil, well ftored with horfes and other cattle, and generally fit and worthy to be planted and improved, to the advantage, honour, and intereft, of this nation.

And whereas divers perfons, merchants, and others, heretofore converfant in plantations, and the trade of the like nature, are defirous to undertake and proceed upon plantations and fettlements upon that ifland.

We, therefore, for the better encouragement of all fuch perfons, fo inclined, have, by the advice of our council, taken care, not only for the ftrengthening and fecuring of that ifland from all enemies, but for the conftituting and fettling of a civil government, by fuch good laws and customs as are and have been exercised in colonies and places of

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the like nature, have appointed furveyors and other public officers, foa the more equal diftribution of public right and justice in tlie faid illan 1.

And, for the further encouragement to the industry and good affertion of fuch perfons, we have provided and given orders to the commiffioners of our customs, that every planter or adventurer to that if und fhall be excmpt and free from paying any excife, or cuftom, for any manufactures, provisions, or any other goods or neceffaries, which he or they thall tranfport to the faid ifland of Jamaica, within the fpace of feven years to come from Michaelmas next.

And alfo that fufficient caution and fecurity be given by the faid commiffioners, that fuch goods fhall be delivered at Jamaica only. And we have alfo, out of our fpecial confideration of the welfare and profperity of that ifland, provided that no cuftons, or other tax, or impoft, be laid or charged upon any commodity, which fhall be the produce and native growth of that ifland, and fhall be imported into any of the dominions belonging to this commonwealth: which favour and exemption fhall continue for the space of ten years, to begin and be accounted from Michaelmas next. We have alfo given our special orders and directions, that no embargo or other hindrance, upon any pretence whatfoever, be laid upon any fhips, feamen, or other paffengers or adventurers, which fhall appear to be engaged and bound for the faid ifland.

And we do hereby further declare, for ourselves and fucceffors, that whatfoever other favour, or immunity, or protection, fhall or may conduce to the welfare, ftrength, and improvement, of the faid ifland, fhall from time to time be continued and applied thereunto. Given under our hand, &c.

A LETTER

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SIR,

DIEGO

IEGO MENDEZ, and the papers I fend by him, will fhew your highness what rich mines of gold I have difcovered at Veragua, and how I intended to have left my brother at River Belen, if the judgments of heaven and the greatest misfortunes in the world had not prevented it. However, it is fufficient your highnefs and fucceffors will have the glory. and advantage of all, and that the full difcovery and fettlement are referved for happier perfons than the unfortunate Columbus. If God be fo merciful to me as to conduct Mendez to Spain, I doubt not but he will make your highness and my great mittrefs underftand that this will not only: be a Caftile and Leon, but a difcovery of a world of fubjects, lands, and wealth, greater than man's unbounded fancy could ever comprehend, or avarice itself covet. But neither he, this paper, nor the tongue of mortal man, can exprefs the anguith and afflictions of my mind and body, nor the mifery of my fon, brother, and friends; for here already we have been above ten months lodged upon the open decks of our fhips, that are run afhore and lafhed together; thofe of my men that were well have mutinied under the Porras' of Sevilla; my friends that were faithful are moftly fick and dying; we have confumed the Indian's provifions, fo they do abandon us; all therefore are like to perifh by hunger, and these miferics are accompanied with fo many aggravating circumfiances that render me the moft wretched object of misfortune this world fhall ever fee, as if the difpleasure of heaven feconded the envy of Spain, and would punith as criminal thofe undertakings and difcoveries, that former ages would have acknowledged as great and meritorious. Good heaven! and you holy faints that dwell in it, let the king Don Fernando, and my illuftrious miftrefs Donna Ifabella, know that I am the moft miferable man living, and that ny zeal for their fervice and intercft hath brought me to

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it; for it is impoffible to live and have afflictions equal to mine. I fee, and with horror apprehend, (and for my fake,) thofe unfortunate and deferving people's deftruction. Alas! piety and juftice have retired to their habitations above, and it is a crime to have done or performed too much, as my mifery makes my life a burthen to myself, to I fear the empty titles of perpetual viceroy and admiral render me obnoxious to the Spanifh nation. It is vifible enough how all methods are made ufe of to cut the thread which is breaking, for I am in my old age, and loaded with unfupportable pains of the gout, and am now languishing and expiring with that and other infirmities among favages, where I have neither medicines nor provifions for the body, priest nor facraments for the foul. My men mutinying, my brother, my fon, and thofe that are faithful, fick, ftarving, and dying.. The Indians have abandoned us; and the governor of St. Domingo, Abando, has fent rather to fee if I am dead, than to fuccour us, or carry me alive hence, for his boat neither delivered a letter nor fpoke, or would receive any from us, fo I conclude your highnefs officers intend here my voyage and life thall end. O bleffed mother of God, that compaffionateth the miferable and oppreffed, why did not cruel Bonadilla kill me, when he robbed me and my brother of our dear purchased gold, and fent us for Spain in chains, without hearing, trial, crime, or fhadow of one! Thefe chains are all the treafures I have, and fhall be buried with me, if I chance to have a coffin or a grave; for I would have the remembrance of fo unjuft and tragic an act die with me, and, for thẹ glory of the Spanish name, be eternally forgot. forgot. Had it been so (O blessed virgin!) Obando had not then forced us to be dying ten or twelve months, and to perifh per malice as great as our misfortunes. O let it not bring a further infamy on the Caftilian name, nor let ages to come know, there were wretches fo vile in this, that thought to recommend themfelves to Don Fernando, by deftroying the unfortunate and miferable Chriftopher Columbus, not for his crimes, but for his fervices in discovering and giving Spain a new world. It was you, O heaven! that infpired and conducted me to it, do you therefore weep for me, and thew pity; let the earth, and every foul in it that loves juftice or mercy, weep for mie. And you, O glorified faints of God, that know my innocency and fee my fufferings, have mercy. If this prefent age is too envious or obdurate to weep for me, furely thofe that are to be born will do it, when they are told Chriftopher Columbus, with his own fortune, at the hazard of his own and brother's lives, with little or no expence to the crown of Spain, in twelve years, and four voyages, rendered greater fervices than ever mortal

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