This ship, under the command of Captain Barreto,
had reached New Holland, where the present settlement had been formed,
and the town built. There were turbulent elements, however, among the
crew, who had been allowed a license at the islands which their captain
was not disposed to continue. He ordered the execution of some, before
the rest were brought to submission. But there was sullen discontent
remaining. To make matters worse, sickness broke out. It carried off a
large number of the Spaniards, and Barreto himself died, as did his
first officer. The pilot then claimed to take command, but to this
Donna Isabel objected. As the captain's wife, she declared it to be her
right to rule the settlement, and, marrying a young Spanish officer,
Fernando de Castro, she assumed the title of queen, with Fernando as
prince consort. To complicate matters still further, the pilot and
those who were attached to him sailed away in the "Concordia", taking
the infant son of Fernando and Isabel with them, and leaving the
adherents of the queen marooned in this pleasant and fertile valley.
Fernando, soon after the sailing of the "Concordia", died, since when
Donna Isabel, who had resumed the name of Barreto, had reigned alone.
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