Christopher Columbus (0)

Christopher Columbus, Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella Regarding the Fourth Voyage (1503)
[Jamaica, July 7, 1503]
Of Española, Paria, and the other lands, I never think without weeping. I believed that their example would have been to the profit of others ; on the contrary, they are in an exhausted state; although they are not dead, the infirmity is incurable or very extensive; let him who brought them to this state come now with the remedy if he can or if he knows it; in destruction, everyone is an adept. It was always the custom to give thanks and promotion to him who imperiled his person . It is not just that he who has been so hostile to this undertaking should enjoy its fruits or that his children should. Those who left the Indies, flying from toils and speaking evil of the matter and of me, have returned with official employment . So it has now been ordained in the case of Veragua. It is an ill example and without profit for the business and for justice in the world.
The fear of this, with other sufficient reasons, which I saw clearly , led me to pray your highnesses before I went to discover these islands and Terra Firma, that you would leave them to me to govern in your royal name. It pleased you; it was a privilege and agreement, and under seal and oath, and you granted me the title of viceroy and admiral and governor general of all. And you fixed the boundary . a hundred leagues beyond the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands, by a line passing from pole to pole, and you gave me wide power over this and over all that I might further discover. The document states this very fully.
The other most important matter, which calls aloud for redress. remains inexplicable to this moment. Seven years I was at your royal court , where all to whom this undertaking was mentioned, unanimously declared it to be a delusion. Now all, down to the very tailors, seek permission to make discoveries. It can be believed that they go forth to plunder, and it is granted to them to do so, so that they greatly prejudice my honor and do very great damage to the enterprise. It is well to give to God that which is His due and to Caesar that which belongs to him. This is a just sentiment and based on justice.
The lands which here obey Your Highnesses are more extensive and richer than all other Christian lands. After I, by the divine will, had placed them under your royal and exalted lordship, and was on the point of securing a very great revenue , suddenly, while l was waiting for ships to come to your high presence with victory and with great news of gold, being very secure and joyful, I was made a prisoner and with my two brothers was thrown into a ship , laden with fetters, stripped to the skin , very ill-treated, and without being tried or condemned. Who will believe that a poor foreigner could in such a place rise against Your Highnesses, without cause , and without the support of some other prince, and being alone among your vassals and natural subjects, and having all my children at your royal court?
I came to serve at the age of twenty -eight years, and now I have not a hair on my body that is not gray and my body is infirm, and whatever remained to me from those years of service has been spent and taken away from me and sold , and from my brothers, down to my very coat , without my being heard or seen , to my great dishonor. It must be believed that this was not done by your royal command. The restitution of my honor, the reparation of my losses, and the punishment of him who did this, will spread abroad the fame of your royal nobility. The same punishment is due to him who robbed me of the pearls, and to him who infringed my rights as admiral. Very great will be your merit , fame without parallel will be yours , if you do this, and there will remain in Spain a glorious memory of Your Highnesses, as grateful and just princes.
The pure devotion which I have ever borne to the service of Your Highnesses, and the unmerited wrong that I have suffered, will not permit me to remain silent , although I would fain do so; I pray Your highnesses to pardon me. I am so ruined as I have said; hitherto I have wept for others; now, Heaven have mercy upon me, and may the earth weep for me. Of worldly goods, I have not even a blanca for an offering in spiritual things. Here in the Indies I have become careless of the prescribed forms of religion . Alone in my trouble, sick. in daily expectation of death . and encompassed about by a million savages, full of cruelty and our foes, and so separated from the holy Sacraments of Holy Church, my soul will be forgotten if it here leaves my body. Weep for me, whoever has charity , truth, and justice.
I did not sail upon this voyage to gain honor or wealth ; this is certain, for already all hope of that was dead. I came to Your Highnesses with true devotion and with ready zeal, and I do not lie. I humbly pray Your Highnesses that if it please God to bring me forth this place, that you will be pleased to permit me to go to Rome and to other places of pilgrimage. May the Holy Trinity preserve your life and high estate, and grant you increase of prosperity.
Done in the Indies in the island of Jamaica, on the seventh of July, in the year one thousand five hundred and three.
 
Tasks

In how far does Columbus' description of  Española differ from the impressions made during his first voyage?

How would the expression "Paradise Lost " fit into his statements?