The life and voyages of Christopher Colombus. Volume 3, partie 2

Page 206

APPENDIX.

451

may inherit this estate, which consists, as aforesaid, of the tenth of what­ soever may be had or found in the Indies, and the eighth part of the lands and rents, all which, together with my rights and emoluments as ad­ miral, viceroy and governor, amount to more than twenty-five per cent. ; I say, that I require of him to employ all this revenue, as well as his person and all the means in his power, in well and faithfully serving and support­ ing their highnesses, or their successors, even to the loss of life and property ; since it was their highnesses, next to God, who first gave me the means of getting and achieving this property, although it is true, I came over to these realms to invite them to the enterprise, and that a long time elapsed before any provision was made for carrying it into execution ; which, however, is not surprising, as this was an undertaking of which all the world was ignorant, and no one had any faith in it ; wherefore I am by so much the more indebted to them, as well as because they have since also much favored and promoted me. Item : I also require of Diego, or whomsoever may be in possession of , the estate, that in the case of any schism taking place in the church of God, or that any person of whatever class or condition should attempt to despoil it of its property and honors, they hasten to offer at the feet of his holiness, that is, if they are not heretics (which God forbid !) their persons, power and wealth, for the purpose of suppressing such schism, and pre­ venting any spoliation of the honor and property of the church. Item : I command the said Diego, or whoever may possess the said estate, to labor and strive for the honor, welfare and aggrandizement of the city of Genoa, and to make use of all his power and means in defend­ ing and enhancing the good and credit of that republic, in all things not contrary to the service of the church of God, or the high dignity of our king and queen, our lords, and their successors. Item : The said Diego, or whoever may possess or succeed to the es­ tate, out of the fourth part of the whole revenue, from which, as aforesaid, is to be taken the tenth, when Don Bartholomew or his heirs shall have saved the two millions, or part of them, and when the time shall come of making a distribution among our relations, shall apply and invest the said tenth in providing marriages for such daughters of our lineage as may re­ quire it, and in doing all the good in their power. Item : When a suitable time shall arrive, he shall order a church to be built in the island of Hispaniola, and in the most convenient spot, to be called Santa Maria de la Concepcion ; to which is to be annexed an hos­ pital; upon the best possible plan, like those of Italy and Castile, and a

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