"It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculi…"

"The people here are very timid, and are all naked, men and women, as their mothers bore them; and they have no weapons, nor know them, for I showed them swords, and they took them by the edge and cut …"

"I have no doubt that I should be able to bring all the people of this island, and all the other islands, to the knowledge of God, and to the service of Your Highnesses."

"They are very simple, and honest, and exceedingly liberal with all they have; they give it with such a good will, that one would believe that they are giving their hearts. And they are all of good sta…"

"The sea will grant each man new hope, and sleep will bring dreams of home."