He said that Ovando had been careless as to the king's service, and he was not unwilling to let it be understood that his own administration had been based on a more intelligent policy than that of either of the men who followed him.
But he was now an old man.

He was unable to go to court in person.

He had not succeeded in that which he had sailed for--a strait opening to the Southern Sea.

He had discovered new gold mines on the continent, but he had brought home but little treasure.

His answers from the court seemed to him formal and unsatisfactory.