These Spaniards nevertheless preferred to return to a life of hardship.  Provisions were brought from the village of Careca to the people left behind at Darien, for the first consideration was to stave off the famine that was imminent.  Whether before or afterwards I am not certain, but in any event it was shortly after the expulsion of Nicuesa that quarrels broke out between the judge, Enciso, and Vasco Nunez, each being supported by his own partisans.  Enciso was seized, thrown into prison, and all his goods sold at auction.  It was alleged that he had usurped judicial functions never granted him by the King but merely by Hojeda, who was supposed to be dead, and Vasco Nunez declared that he would not obey a man on whom the King had not conferred authority by a royal patent.  He allowed himself, however, to be influenced by the entreaties of the better colonists and modified his severity, even releasing Enciso from his chains and permitting him to go on board a ship which would carry him to Hispaniola.  Before the vessel sailed, some of the better people of the colony sought out Enciso and implored him to come on shore again, promising to effect a reconciliation with Vasco Nunez and to reinstate him in his position of judge.  Enciso refused and left; nor are there wanting people who whispered that God and His Saints had themselves shaped events to punish Enciso for Nicuesa’s expulsion, which he had counselled.

Be that as it may, these discoverers of new countries ruined and exhausted themselves by their own folly and civil strife, failing absolutely to rise to the greatness expected of men who accomplish such wonderful things.  Meanwhile it was decided by common agreement among the colonists to send their representatives to the young Admiral,[3] son and heir of Columbus, the first discoverer, who was viceroy of Hispaniola, and to the other government officials of the island.  These envoys were to solicit reinforcements and a code of laws for the new colonies.  They were to explain the true situation, the actual poverty of the colonists, the discoveries already made, and all that might still be hoped for, if the officials would only send them supplies.  Vasco Nunez chose for this office one of his adherents, Valdivia, the same who had prosecuted the suit against Enciso.  Associated with him was a Catalonian, called Zamudio.  It was agreed that Valdivia should return with provisions from Hispaniola, when his mission was accomplished, and that Zamudio should proceed to Spain and see the King.  Both left the same time as Enciso, but it was the latter’s intention to present a memorial to the King contradicting the representations of Valdivia and Zamudio.  Both these men came to see me at Court, and I will elsewhere recount what they told me.

[Note 3:  Diego, son of Christopher Columbus and his wife, Dona Moniz de Perestrello.  He was married to Dona Maria de Toledo.]