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APPENDIX.
island, which has ever presented a little epitome of human history ; its errors and crimes, and consequent disasters. In complying with the request of the queen, however, Ferdinand was favorable towards Ovando.
H e did not feel the same generous sympathies
with his late consort, and, however Ovando had sinned against humanity in his treatment of the Indians, he had been a vigilant officer, and his very oppressions had in general proved profitable to the crown.
Ferdinand
directed that the fleet which took out the new governor should return un足 der the command of Ovando, and that he should retain undisturbed enjoy足 ment of any property or Indian slaves that might be found in his posses足 sion.
Some have represented Ovando as a man far from mercenary ; that
the wealth wrung from the miseries of the natives was for his sovereign, not for himself; and it is intimated that one secret cause of his disgrace was his having made an enemy of
the all-powerful and unforgiving
Fonseca.* T h e 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 fortune, and who were sent out to find wealthy husbands in the N e w World.f 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 univer足 sally addressed by that of vice-queen. Don Diego commenced his rule with a degree of splendor hitherto unknown in the colony.
T h e 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.
T h e 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 viceroyalty, but the king soon took measures which showed that he admitted of no such pretension.
Without any reference to Don Diego, he divided
* Charlevoix, ut supra, v. i. p. 2 7 2 , id. 274. t Las Casas, lib. ii. cap. 49, M S .