Columbus proclaims leave for all at Santo Domingo to sail to Castile

… because they were there by force, against their will, and no license was given them, lest the island be left alone and the Indians kill the few who would remain, if any wished to remain voluntarily with the Admiral; so that, to give gladness to all who were on it, and consequently to those risen with Francisco Roldan, the Admiral ordered it proclaimed on the 12th day of September, following the month of August in which he had arrived, that in the name of Their Highnesses he gave license to all who wished to go to Castile, and that he would give them the necessary provisions and ships in which to go. Great was the joy that all, small and great, received in this town, and throughout the island afterward when they learned of it, especially since there were in this port of Sancto Domingo eight or ten ships, the six that the Admiral had taken out with him from Sant Lúcar and the two caravels that he had sent first, and another or two others that the Adelantado had here; …