"Columbus and his Brother are arrested" - De Bry - 1594 - Hispaniola

Benzoni, an Italian, acted as a mediator between different nations. The work describes life of the first nations of Central America. Benzoni wrote at a time when the Spanish treatment of the Indians was a concern, and described the cruelty of the Spanish towards the Indians and African slaves - the famous "Black legend". The work is beautifully illustrated with engravings of the Native Americans and Spanish conquistadors. It including images of Nicaraguans dancing, how they held their markets, and made war, and of slaves being harshly treated.

The text to this plate reads:

"When Bodadilla, the newly appointed governor of Hispaniola arrived on 23rd August 1500, he found that Columbus was away in Vega Real at the time and his brother, Bartholomew, was in Xaragua. In his absence, Columbus had put his youngest brother, Diego, in command, so Bodadilla immediately had him arrested and put in leg-irons. Later when Columbus and his older brother, Bartholomew, turned up they were also put in chains and eventually sent back to Spain. On their arrival, Columbus disembarked still in chains, refusing to be released. This caused Ferdinand and Isabella such embarrassment that they were only able to correct the misunderstanding by subsequently bestowing honors upon him".