ABSTRACT
… Moreover, most dear king and most beloved nephew, brother and friend, we inform you that certain caravels with certain of our subjects and naturals, inhabitants of our cities of Sevilla and Caliz [Cadiz], were coming with their merchandise from the land which is called Guinea, which is of our conquest; and, when they arrived approximately within one league of our city of Caliz, being within our lordship and jurisdiction, there came against them Palencio, your captain, with a balinger of a fleet 2 , and by force of arms he seized one of the said caravels, with our vassals, subjects and naturals, who were coming in it, together with the merchandise and the goods, which they were bringing in it; and he conveyed all to your kingdoms. Likewise, you commanded our said vassals, subjects and naturals to be taken and held prisoner, and the said caravel was confiscated from them, and all which they were bringing in it; and, likewise by your command, a Genoves [Genoese] merchant, being a resident in the said city of Sevilla, who was coming in the said caravel in company with our said vassals, subjects and naturals, had his hands cut off. And moreover, in the year last past, 1453, Palencio and Martim Correa, and others of your vassals, subjects and naturals, went to our said Isias de Canaria, and, carrying arms, made war upon them…. For which reason, we ask 201and require you to provide compensation, and to cause to be restored to our said subjects and naturals our said caravel together with all which was thus taken and stolen from them.
