The Smugglers' City
Department of History, University of Bristol


Updated:
03-Mar-2006

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Extracts from the Patent granted by the Spanish Sovereigns to Alonso de Ojeda, 8 June 1501

Source: J.A. Williamson, The Cabot Voyages and Bristol Discovery Under Henry VII (Hakluyt Society, Second Series, No. 120, CUP, 1962), 233-34.
Spanish Version printed: M. Fernández de Navarrete, Colección de los viages y descubrimientos, vol. III (Madrid, 1829), pp. 85-8
Manuscript:Archivo General de Simancas, Cédulas, no. 5.

p. 233

[Licence to Ojeda to pursue his discoveries on terms including
the following:]

Firstly, that you may not touch in the land of the pearl-
gathering, of that part of Paria from the coast of the Frailes and the
gulf this side of Margarita, and on the other side as far as Farallon,
and all that land which is called Citriana, in which you have no
right to touch.

Item: that you go and follow that coast which you have dis-
covered, which runs east and west, as it appears, because it goes
towards the region where it has been learned that the English were
making discoveries; and that you go setting up marks with the
arms of their Majesties, so with other signs that may be known,
such as shall seem good to you, in order that it may be known that you
have discovered that land, so that you may stop the exploration of
the English in that direction.

Item: that you the said Alonso de Hojeda, for the service of their
Majesties, enter that island and the others that are around it which
are called Quiquevacoa in the region of the main land, where the
green stones are, of which you have brought a sample, and that
you obtain as many as you can, and in like manner see to the other
things which you brought as specimens in that voyage.

Item: that you the said Alsonso de Hojeda take steps to find out
that which you have said you have learned of another gathering-

p. 234

place of pearls provided that it be not within the limits above
mentioned, and that in the same way you look for the gold-mines
of whose existence you say you have news.

........

And their Majesties, in consideration of what you have spent
and the service you have done, and are now bound to do, make
you the gift of the governorship of the island of Caquevacoa,
which you have discovered, during their pleasure.Likewise
their Majesties make you gift in the island of Espanola of six
leagues of land with its boundary, in the southern district which is
called Maquana, that you may cultivate it and improve it, for
what you shall discover on the coast of the main land for the
stopping of the English, and the said six leagues of land shall be
yours for ever.


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