the money, until their Highnesses give us law and justice.  I also told you that I had spent 1200 castellanos in bringing these people to Castile, of which his Highness owes me the greater part, and I wrote him in regard to it asking him to order the account settled.

“If possible I should like to receive letters here each day.  I complain of Diego Mendez and of Jeronimo, as they do not write me:  and then of the others who do not write when they arrive there.  We must strive to learn whether the Queen, whom God has in His keeping, said anything about me in her will, and we must hurry the Lord Bishop of Palencia, who caused the possession of the Indies by their Highnesses and my remaining in Castile, for I was already on my way to leave it.  And the Lord Chamberlain of his Highness must also be hurried.  If by chance the affair comes to discussion, you must strive to have them see the writing which is in the Book of Privileges, which shows the reason why the third, eighth, and tenth are owing me, as I told you in another letter.

“I have written to the Holy Father in regard to my voyage, as he complained of me because I did not write him.  I send you a copy of the letter.  I would like to have the King, our Lord, or the Lord Bishop of Palencia see it before I send the letter, in order to avoid false representations.

“Camacho has told a thousand falsehoods about me.  To my regret I ordered him arrested.  He is in the church.  He says that after the Holidays are past, he will go there if he is able.  If I owe him, he must show by what reason; for I make oath that I do not know it, nor is it true.

“If without importunity a licence can be procured for me to go on mule-back, I will try to leave for the Court after January, and I will even go without this licence.  But haste must be made that the loss of the Indies, which is now imminent, may not take place.  May our Lord have you in His keeping.

“Done to-day, December 21.

“Your father who loves you more than himself.

.S.
.S.A.S. 
XMY
Xpo FERENS.”

“This tenth which they give me is not the tenth which was promised me.  The Privileges tell what it is, and there is also due me the tenth of the profit derived from merchandise and from all other things, of which I have received nothing.  Carbajal understands me well.  Also remind Carbajal to obtain a letter from his Highness for the Governor, directing him to send his accounts and the money I have there, at once.  And it would be well that a Repostero of his Highness should go there to receive this money, as there must be a large amount due me.  I will strive to have these gentlemen of the Board of Trade send also to say to the Governor that he must send my share together with the gold belonging to their Highnesses.  But the remedy for the other matter must not be neglected there on this account.  I say that 7000 or 8000 pesos must have passed to my credit there, which sum has been received since I left, besides the other money which was not given to me.

     “To my very dear son Don Diego at the Court.”