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Fmsr MrssroNARrEs IN THE NEW WORLD. 31:
It is also certain that after this letter of Queen Isabella no
further record on this point of the great Genoese is to be
found. It is to be deplored that the account of his second
Voyage, written by Columbus himself, was lost. In this, no
doubt there was frequent mention of his cherished friend,
companion and protectord‘ Here we find the cause of the
great diversity of opinion, which exists on this subject. The
obscurity which veils this second voyage, on account of the
total want of historical records, forms sutlicient explanation.
Count Roselly very naturally adduces strong reasons why
Father Perez would not, indeed could not refuse the royal
Commission conferred by the good queen, to whose interests
he was so devoted.
An array of historians, whose names are far too numerous to
admit mention in the limited space allotted our narrative,
Prove beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt, that Father
Juan Perez was the first priest, who oifered up in the virgin
forests of this new and glorious world the holy Sacrifice of
the Mass, who called the wondering children of the forests
together to witness the imposing liturgy of divine service
according to the Roman Catholic rite. The author of the
Franciscan Annals states expressly, that Father Perez, who
had been instrumental in securing for Columbus the royal
favor, with other members of his order, accompanied him on
his voyages. Wadding’s words are : “ Socium habuit itineris
fegii favoris autorem Perezium, additis aliis ej usdem instituti
Sociis.”1' Father Roman of the Order of St. Jerome, who in
his great humility was wont to call himself the “ poor hermit ”,
compiled by the request of Columbus an oliicial description
of the New World, in which he expressly states that Father
Juan Perez, and other members of the Franciscan Order,
accompanied Columbus on his voyages of discovery..’[
Then, Father Melendez, a member of the Order of
St. Dominic, makes express mention, in his work Cromzca
" 1611!.
fwadding, Am:al., tom. xv., ad ann. I492, 11. ii.
IE:crz'Iura dc Fray Roman del Order: de San Geronimo, dz order: dz! ilustre V irrey
" Gmltrnadar de la: isle: y Tierra Firma.