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Royal Decree from King Philip II in reference to further discovery and settlement of Florida--Officers and number of men appointed to go in the Armada--Reports from the Armada after leaving--Report from Pedro Menendez to his Majesty--The English and French have already settled here--Necessity of Spaniards taking entire control--Letter from the King to Pedro Menendez--Tells of English and French vessels reported to have sailed for these Provinces--King sends Fleet with sailors, soldiers and supplies that the person of Pedro Menendez may be guarded properly as Governor and Captain General of the Province of Florida.

Pedro Menendez gives an account to his Majesty of the Fort Matanzas Massacre--Menendez and army escape from being made prisoners by the French on account of a tornado--Because of the swollen river the Council agree to make a land attack--Spaniards surprise and take Fort Matanzas without loss of a single man--Killing over two hundred Frenchmen and capturing Laudonnier--Find Indians enchanted with the Lutherans--Shipwrecked Frenchmen found on coast--With hands tied behind them are stabbed in the back by Spaniards.

Report of Fernando Miranda, agent to the King, complains of Governor--Espionage over vessels--Gives account of work of negroes--Houses and churches built, land cleared--Soldiers assist in repairing Fort--Report of Bartolome De Arguellas--Capture of rebellious Indians--Sending some to Havana to be hanged, some to be imprisoned--Casiques render obedience to the Governor who assures them of his good intentions--Pedro Pertrene reports to the King of being newly appointed to be Captain of a Garrison in Florida--Insufficiency of salary to meet expenses--Because of long service to his Majesty implores aid and satisfaction--Dona Maria Menendez, Casique, writes the King asking aid in meeting the expenses of instructing the Indians in Christianity and good government.

Extract from official report made by Gonzales Menendez Canso, Governor and Captain-General--Six priests of the San Franciscan order murdered by Indians--Lieutenant Eciga sent to see if any of the priests are still living--Hears of one--Is refused permission to see him--After much persuasion and many threats Friar Fray Francisco is delivered--Manner of the death of the others is investigated--Fray Francisco makes a statement in regard to the death of the other priests, is forbidden by the Canons of the Church to reveal all--Notary Public Juan Ximenes swears to the investigation of several Indians through an interpreter--Execution of Indian Lucas as participating in the murder of Fray Blas.

Letter from one of eleven monks sent out by his Majesty to spread the gospel--Report eighty churches in different Missions--Indians lazy and improvident--Avarice of Governor causes dissatisfaction--People desire his immediate removal--Fray Lopez, a Missionary, has converted many Indians in twelve years of service, among them Don Juan, a Casique, who stands highly among his people--His influence quells many uprisings--Juan Nunez Rios complains of Governor in a letter to the King--Begs for an open Port that the people may go back and forth and trade--An officer asks to be allowed to serve his Majesty elsewhere--Fray Blas De Montes implores that he may be allowed to come to Spain for retirement--Gives account of a fire which burned the church among other houses--Slow progress among the Indians--Advices that a Bishop be sent--Report of Gonzales Menendez Canso to his Majesty--A shipmaster bearing dispatches shipwrecked in storm--Governor aids him from the Royal Treasury--Auditor from his Majesty arrives--Reports the Garrison abounding in fruits and grain--Grieves over the death of the Christian Indian Don Juan--Return of Fray Lopez from New Spain in good health--Reports the money brought to establish a hospital--More money needed for Garrison expenses--Francisco Redondo Villegas, Officer of Customs, is not treated with the respect due his Royal Office by the Governor--Reports affairs in a muddled condition--Soldiers well drilled--Much land under cultivation--Wages small--Rations insufficient.

Minutes of a Bull or Bill of Supplication to be presented to the Holy See asking for concession of graces and powers for Catholic residents in Florida--Minorcan families brought priest and monk with them--Wish new privileges and graces granted--In regard to a Cedula from his Majesty, which instructs as to duties on wine--Priests and Monks of Tasco use Municipal monies for their own interests--Advises a change in the office of Treasurer of the Royal Chest--Vessels carry important papers for his Majesty lost--Favors shown to Don Francisco gratifies the people--Letter from Pedro Ibarra to his Majesty says there is not sufficient support for the Garrison--Solicits aid for a poor widow--Soldiers find amber in a fish, for which Menendez exacts a duty--French and English pirates cause much anxiety--A few captured, some imprisoned and ten hanged--Visiting Indian chiefs so impressed with the religious services and processions that they ask for friars to instruct their people--Asks for assistance in building a fort at the mouth of Miguel Moro--Endeavors to find the source of river San Mateo and Lake Miami--A garrison of warlike people--Proposition to establish a Manager of the Inquisition to subjugate and control them--Does not wish to let certain priest and captain--Report of Juan Menendez Marquez--Deplores the decision to reduce the garrison--Advises a return to the policy of Pedro Menendez, his cousin--Desires permission to come to Spain to more fully lay the condition before his Majesty.

Report of Antonio Benavides to his Majesty--The Spanish King instructs the establishment of friendly relations with the English of the Carolinas--Don Francisco Menendez with other officers sent out--Mission fails owing to the English not having yet received instructions from London--Requested the removal of an English fort built on Spanish territory--Refusal--The matter fully laid before his Majesty--Report of Luis De Rojas--A Frigate sent out to assist a fleet in bringing supplies, run down by an enemy, boat stripped and burned, soldiers and crew escape to shore and finally reach the garrison--They collect Indians and soldiers and return--The enemy take to their launches and escape--Forty-seven persons only saved from a Spanish Fleet which had been captured by a Dutch Fleet--Recommends that his Majesty build a fort at the bar of the place called Jega--Report of Luis Ussitinez to his Majesty--The Mandate of the King carried out for prayer to Almighty God for the success of the King's arms taken up against France--At a meeting of the Board of the City Council of Havana appears a clergyman of the Holy Office of the Inquisition with an Auto from the Se?or Comissionado, Don Francisco de las Casas, containing instructions as to certain ceremonies in connection with the Inquisition.

Pedro Menendez received the title of Governor by right of conquest, and Captain-General and Commander of the Fleet by conference of his Majesty for faithful, valorous service--Don Martin Menendez receives the title of perpetual Governor by right of inheritance--Important papers burned at Simancas--Manuel De Mendoza reports to his Majesty as to the designs of the English enemy--Discovery of the South Sea--Condition of this Garrison and other Provinces--Implores aid in completing fortifications--Report to his Majesty by Francisco De La Guerra y Vega concerning an Englishman taken prisoner in the Province of Guale--One of a crew sent out from a settlement of English at St. Elena--This man who was second in authority was confined in prison on soldiers' rations--An effort made to break up the English settlement, which was unsuccessful.

Letters to the King from the Governor Pablo Ita Salazer--Oath of office administered in the tower of the old Fort which is rapidly going into ruins--The Garrison needing supplies and ammunition--No warehouses, and owing to the distance and frequency of storms delaying supplies, the people are forced to hunt in the woods for roots to appease their hunger--The Fort in danger from pirates--Ammunition and guards exposed to the fatalities of the weather--Pleads for more money to complete the Castle--Its great importance--A pentagonal shape recommended--The Viceroy of Spain fails to send the ten thousand dollars--One hundred men needed to guard the Castle--Great danger from pirates--Two hundred leagues from Havana and five hundred from New Spain.

An effort made to dislodge the English from Santa Elena--Governor ordered to complete the Castle and defense of the Garrison--Yucatan families--Master weavers asked for to settle in Florida--Appalache considered the best Province for settlement--Supplies sent from New Spain--Barracks to be made in the Fort for the soldiers--Money sent to finish the new Castle, also supplies for the soldiers--The neighbors to assist in building the new Castle--Repairs on the bulwarks of Guale--Increase of troops for St. Augustine--A fortress ordered built at Appalache.

Letter from Pablo Ita Salazer to his Majesty--Indians of the Province of Guale declare themselves friendly to the English, and make war upon the Spaniards of the Island of St. Catherine--They surprise the six sentinels, killing all but one who escaped and gave warning--The people gather in the convent of a Friar and defend themselves from day light until four o'clock, when aid reaches them from the Garrison of St. Augustine, whereupon the enemy retires--The natives of the Island greatly alarmed--Disquieting news of the intentions of the enemy upon this Garrison--Implores aid from the King quickly, that the English may be ejected from the land--Don Juan Marquez Cabrera, Governor and Captain-General of Florida--Gives account to his Majesty of hostilities in the Provinces--Two Fleets, French and English, going and coming from Havana--Seize Fort Matanzas and, after plundering, burn it to the ground--Is now being rebuilt--Great depredations committed up and down the coast by the enemy--Pushing the work on the Castle--Grieved over its slow progress, owing to lack of workmen--Begs to be allowed to retire because of age and long service--To Charles II, our principal Casique, the King--From the people of the territory of Habalache--The King to the Governor and Captain-General of Florida--Concerning ten negroes from St. George, who asked for the water of baptism--A Sergeant-Major from St. George comes to claim them--Because they have become Christians the Spanish King decides to buy them--After receiving a receipt they are to be set at liberty, each one given a document to that effect--The King reprimands Don Diego Quiroga for not attending to these matters--Orders a full account to be sent as soon as it is accomplished.

Letter of the Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Quiroga y Losada, to his Majesty--Giving an account of a custom obtaining in the Garrison which endangers the safety of the people--When the Host is taken out in the night to administer communion to the dying the bells are rung until its return which is often hours, thus preventing the hearing the firing of the sentries across the river who are instructed to fire as often as there are numbers of vessels sighted--This danger fully laid before the Priest, who refused to discontinue the ringing of the bells, notwithstanding the city has been in arms awaiting the enemy for some days--In a Cedula by his Majesty of July 18th, 1674, he asks for a statement concerning the order and place of the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition--These questions answered by Severino Mausaneda March 17th, 1690--An account of a military review in St. Augustine by Governor Don Diego Quiroga y Losada--Also recounts the great advantage to the City by building a sea wall to extend from the Fort the entire length of the City thus securing it against the sea which at present comes up to the houses during a storm--The soldiers and citizens subscribe ten thousand dollars, and the King is petitioned for aid that the citizens seeing his Majesty's interest will be encouraged to proceed--The King rebukes Governor Don Diego Quiroga y Losada of the city of St. Augustine for unjustly taxing the Indians--Misappropriating funds sent by agreement for canvas and provisions for them--Not attending to their wants and comfort and treating them alone as vassals--Extracts from the investigations of the Council as to alleged excesses committed by the Governor Don Francisco Moral Sanchez--His ill treatment of a Captain of Grenadiers--Acting according to his own will and not to military law--The Governor's removal desired--A report according to the King's command concerning affairs under Governor Don Francisco Morales Sanchez--Investigation shows that the facts set forth in the different papers and petitions sent to his Majesty to have been only too true--Impossible to put upon paper the strange, divers and extraordinary excesses committed by this Governor--The abuses sufficient to chill the soul and congeal the blood.

A letter from the Governor Francisco C?rcoles y Martinez--Conduct of the Christians worse than the Heathen--Soldiers guarded while cutting timber to repair the Fort--The Castle in a tumble-down condition--The Garrison to be maintained for the propagation of the Holy Gospel and to shelter the workers of the Apostolic faith--A paper of representation to his Majesty concerning certain properties willed to the Royal Treasury by Don Francisco Menendez, and designated by the King for use as hospitals--The Royal Officers of the Province think these properties should be sold at auction, and the proceeds applied to the back pay of soldiers who are suffering and in need.

A letter of resolution to his Majesty concerning a letter of appeal made to the Governor and Bishop of Havana asking for patent and Holy oil to administer baptism and extreme unction to the Catholic families taken from the Island of Minorca by the English--These families bringing with them Don Pedro Campos, Doctor of Sacred Theology, as a Parish Priest, and Don Bartolome Casanovas of the St. Augustine order as Vicar--These same claiming to have received their appointment from the Supreme Pontificate, not knowing to which Bishop the jurisdiction of Florida belonged--In order that a thorough investigation may be made the whole matter was referred to his Majesty--Letter of the Archbishop of Valencia concerning this matter--Letter of the Bishop of Cuba to his Majesty, expressing gratification over the zeal of his Majesty in this matter--Advices that the privileges be conferred--Letter of the Bishop of Minorca giving information concerning same.

The opinion of the Judge--Having examined the different letters from the Bishop and made a thorough investigation into the matter concerning the granting of certain privileges to these Priests of the Minorcan families of the English colony of Florida, decides that these privileges should be granted as per reasons set forth in his written opinion, Madrid, 1771--Bishop of Cuba for the Council to Dr. Don Pedro Campos and the Rev. Father Bartolome Casanovas, extending to these same Priests the title of Parish Priest and Vicar--Also sending a box containing three flasks of sacred oil--Hopes soon to be able to send a more extended prorogation of other powers--King solicited these powers from the Court of Rome--Asks for a detailed report of the number of families and condition of the congregation.

Proceedings of the Council at the Court of Rome concerning the appeal made by the Parish Priest and Vicar of the Catholic families established in the English colony of Florida--The different Bishops' letters--Also those of the Priest and Vicar asking for patent and further privileges and containing a report of the condition of the said Minorcan families who are dissatisfied with the lack of spiritual comforts--A brick church, and are very devout--Of their desire to throw off the yoke of Great Britain and their love for Spain--Reply of the Judge--Testimony sent by the Bishop of Cuba.

Letter from the King to the Bishop of Cuba concerning the petition soliciting an extension of time and of the privileges for the Priest and Vicar of the Minorcan families in Florida, and enclosing an open mandate of His Holiness, enlarging and extending the time for twenty years--A copy of a letter and statement sent in by Lieutenant Don Nicolas Grenier in regard to the importance of the Provinces of the St. Marys and St. Johns rivers--The need of vessels to impress and control the inhabitants--Provinces rich in timber, turpentine, tar and pitch--Considers it detrimental to Spanish interests for Americans to introduce any commerce in the Provinces--Letter from the same Don Nicolas Grenier to the Governor urging the necessity of further protecting Spanish interests along the St. Marys and St. Johns rivers--Tranquility of the country jeopardized by outlaws--Some have been arrested and paid the penalty with their lives--Matter referred to the Governor--1774.

The Unwritten History

A. D. 1565.

ROYAL DECREE.

THE KING.

I have named the captains, as you will see, from the description shown by General Eraso, that they may enlist the 1400 men who are to go to Florida in the Armada which we have ordered equipped, instructing them immediately upon their arrival what they are to do, and notify me of their safe arrival. You must be immediately notified when the men are gathered together, and as it is expedient with each captain, you are to send a responsible person that he may pay each man one month's salary in advance from the treasury on the day he enlists. It will cost, we suppose, upwards of 11,000 ducats, that they may go provided according to instructions received. You are to give each captain a copy of the order sent, that he may be sure of his men--who, receiving this aid, neither he nor they be deceived. I also command that according to these orders you instruct the paymasters so that they may well understand that each soldier is to have the money in his own hands so that there be a good understanding between us. This is paid to them as it will be a long and arduous campaign, and so that they may work with more zest and the town be established quickly. See that the captains go at this work with diligence and haste, and you must immediately see and attend to where you are to lodge these people and from there embark them. Send with them a person of trust to guide and lodge them and to see that they are well provided with food and all necessaries for their money. Keep them well together without disorder or vexation to the people of the land. Inform me of how you have provided for them and you will have served me. From

BOSQUE DE SEGOVIA.

August 15th, 1565.

REPORT OF DON TRISTAN DE LUNA Y AVELLANO, CONCERNING AFFAIRS IN FLORIDA.

The Armada which went to found the town in Florida at the place called Santa Elena in the port of Juan Ponce on the eleventh of June, and sailed with good and mild wind. On the seventh day out we were on the river Espiritu Santo, twenty leagues south of said river, in 27th degree, from there we sailed six days to the southeast and south until we found ourselves in the chain. South from there we sailed north in search of the coast of Florida, and at the end of the eighth day, which was the eve of the visitation of Saint Elizabeth, we discovered the coast of Florida eight leagues to the west where the Armada cast anchor and took on water and wood. Now we began to have rough weather. From there the fleet sailed on the eighth of July in search of the Port Achusa, sending ahead along the coast a frigate, the pilot not knowing exactly where Port Achusa was. The Armada passed ahead and anchored in the Bay of Phillipina, which was discovered by Julio de Labazares, from whence the Governor sent to seek Port Achusa, having heard that it was the best and safest port on all that coast. Navigating along the same coast where the Armada had come, they found Port Achusa which is twenty leagues from Bay Phillipina and thirty, more or less, from the Bay of Miruelo, so that it is between two bays--latitude 30 1-3 degrees. On the return of the frigate with the news, we immediately determined to set sail with the Armada. It seemed best to have the horses go by land, so we put them off in said Bay of Phillipina, thus some of our captains made the trip overland with one hundred and forty horses, out of the two hundred and forty we started with, the others having died at sea. On the bar of Phillipina we had some trouble with the Armada in crossing, on account of its shallowness for the larger vessels, also the strong and swift current--besides the weather had changed, and it was rougher. The Armada left Bay Phillipina for Achusa on the 10th of August, the day of St. Lawrence, and it entered Port Achusa on the day of Our Lady of August, for which reason we gave it the name of St. Mary of Phillipina. It is the best port discovered in the Indias. The shallowest part at the entrance is eleven cubits, and after you enter there are seven or eight fathoms. It is spacious, having a front of three leagues, the Spaniards are already there. The entrance of the bar is half a league in width, on the eastern coast is a cliff at the mouth of the bay, and large vessels can anchor in four or five fathoms within a stone's throw from land. It is so safe that the winds and storms cannot hurt one. We found a few Indian ranches, they seemed to be fishermen. Judging from appearances it seems to be a fertile and good soil. There are many walnuts and many fruit trees--good hunting and fishing and good in many ways. We also found some plantings of corn. On the 25th of said month of August, the Governor sent Don Tristan de Avellano in a galleon, of those we brought, for this, from New Spain, with the news of all that had happened so far. He entered the Port of San Juan de Ulloa on the 9th of September. He will supply himself quickly with provisions, which at present we have sent to ask for, and we expect the boats to return soon. They will again go to this New Spain, and wait there to see the lay of the land, and where we are to found this town, and understand all the particulars and qualities to inform you.

When the boats return I will give the details to your Majesty in the order that the Governor, Friars and other Officers write me, and I shall be careful to aid them in the name of your Majesty with everything that they need, so they may not vex the natives, but give themselves up to friendly intercourse with them, until the time for planting grain. In future it will not be so expensive, the ground being so fertile we can gather large harvests, thus serving and exalting your Majesty and the Catholic faith of Our Lord.

To His Catholic Royal Majesty Pedro Menendez says:

That what he sends your Majesty is what he declares to know of the coast and lands of Florida, and of the corsairs whom it is said have gone to populate it and seize the vessels coming from the Indias--and the damage they may do, and the remedy to be used in cases where they should have settled. Give them no quarter, and appropriate the coast and lands so that they can be the more easily turned out--that your Majesty can send to spread the Gospel, prevent the damages that can be done the vessels coming from the Indias is as follows: That while in Sevilla last May, he knew and understood positively from persons coming from the Canary Islands that they had been on the Island of Teneriffe and Port Garachico with a Portuguese named Mimoso, who is a pilot on the run of the Indias, and has a wife and home in France, that he has become a pirate, seizing the vessels of your Majesty. He carried four men of war, and it was said he was going to settle the coast of Florida; that two other large vessels were awaiting him, as soon as he took on water and provisions in that port, and he saw them there in a small vessel without disembarking for five or six hours, where some of the people who wish to be under them came to speak to them. He then returned to his vessel and set sail to return to the Indias. Also, that he heard in Sevilla and in this court of your Majesty that the English had gone out with a fleet to the coast of Florida to settle and to await the vessels from the Indias--and about a month ago he learned that five large English galleons with heavy artillery had passed about the end of December along the coast of Gaul and the tempest had driven them into the harbor of Ferrol, where they were anchored for a day and a half without landing, but the fishermen had gone on board to speak to them, and he says: If the above be true, and the English, French or any other nation should feel disposed to go and settle any part of Florida, it would be very damaging to these kingdoms, because on said coast of Florida and in said strait of the Bahamas, they could settle and fortify themselves in such a way, that they could have galleons and vessels of war to capture the fleets and other private vessels that came from the Indias, and pass through there, as they would run great risk of being captured.

Also, that if last summer the French and English went to Florida as we are certain they did, and should have settled and built a fort in any port, and summered there, giving notice to their home government as to how they are situated, and should they be supplied this summer before we can raid upon them, and turn them out, it would be very difficult to do so on account of the friendship formed by them with the natives who would help them in such a way as to cause serious difficulty, and even should we finally succeed the natives would remain our enemies, and this would be extremely disadvantageous. Should they be supplied this summer the merchantmen which we expect from the Indias would also run great risk of being captured. Also, that it would be very annoying to have the above mentioned or others settle in Florida. Considering the proximity of the Islands of Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico and Cuba, where there are such vast numbers of negroes and mulattoes of bad disposition, there being in each of these islands more than thirty negroes to each Christian. And it is a land in which this generation multiplies with great rapidity. In the power of the French and English, all these slaves would be freed, and to enjoy their freedom would help them even against their own masters and lords and there would be an uprising in the land, and with the help of the negroes it would be easy to capture us. As an example of this, take Jacques de Soria, France, which in the year fifty-three, with one boat of a hundred tons and eighty men, by simply freeing the negroes, took and plundered the Islands of Margarite and Saint Martha, and burned Carthagena, plundered Santiago de Cuba and Havana, although at the time there were two hundred Spaniards there. They took the Fort with all it contained, and twelve pieces of bronze artillery and carried them all off. I consider these negroes a great obstacle to having the French or English settle in Florida or to have them so near, even though they should not be in favor with these two nations, there is danger of an uprising as there are so many cunning and sagacious ones who desire this liberty that I feel sure the design of those who should settle in Florida is to domineer over those islands, and stop the navigation with the Indias, which they can easily do by settling in said Florida. Also he says: That on account of these dangers and many others, it seems to him it would be to the service of God Our Lord, and your Majesty for the general good of your Kingdoms the Indies it would be well for your Majesty to try and domineer over these lands and coasts, which on account of their position, if other nations should go on settling and making friends with the Indians, it would be difficult to conquer them, especially if settled by French and English Lutherans, as they and the Indians having about the same laws, they would be friendly, and being near could rule and each year send out a thousand vessels to easily treat and contract with these lands which are said to be fertile and prolific for sugar plantations, which they so much need and are supplied from these Kingdoms. There might also be many cattle good for their tallow and wool and other necessities. What seems to him that your Majesty should do in the service of God and your Majesty's and for the salvation of so many souls, and the aggrandizement of your kingdoms and your royal estates, is as follows:

As there are neither French nor English nor any other nation to disturb them, that your Majesty should send five hundred persons, sailors, laborers, etc., and that among them should be one hundred master carpenters, blacksmiths, plasterers and builders of mud walls, all with their implements and appurtenances for every thing, with their arms of defense, such as arquebuses, cross-bows, etc. That among this number of five hundred people should be four Friars, four teachers and twelve Christian children, so that the principal Indians would send their children to school to learn to read and learn the doctrine of Christianity. There should be three surgeons who would go about in small boats, canoes or row boats with supplies for one year--go straight to Santa Elena and from there find all the paths, rivers and ports most suited and best, by land and water. See the condition of the land for planting and settle two or three towns in the best vicinity, build their fort, to be able to defend themselves against the Indians, that each of these forts should have artillery and ammunition. All this supply with the cost of the voyage will amount to eighty thousand ducats or more. There will be left vessels enough to carry a number of cattle. These must be sent from Spain, because in the Indias we could not find suitable vessels nor head workmen of the necessary qualifications and it could not give the desired results, besides the delay would cause much damage. It would be difficult to find the proper kind of people, and even if found the cost would be very much greater, as head workmen gain very large wages in those parts, as do also laborers and sailors. From Havana it would be still more impossible to bring them, as there are none to be obtained, and if they have to settle they must go a long way 'round, as they cannot enter the mouth of the Bahama Channel, it being as easy and quick to come from Spain as from Havana. It would be more important that your Majesty do this at your own cost and as briefly and with as secret a diligence as possible, and if your Majesty is not well served in this, find some one in whom your Majesty can place more confidence, confer with them and let them take charge of affairs--although it would be far better for your Majesty to do this at your own cost, and with all brevity and secrecy which is the most important thing. Also, he says: That should there be French in this land or on the sea awaiting the merchant vessels from the Indias, it would be necessary to increase this squadron to four more galleons and one thousand men, principally marines--the cost of which for six months would be five hundred thousand ducats more or less.

PEDRO MENENDEZ.

THE KING.

Know--Having understood that from the Kingdoms of France and England many war vessels have been sent out with a great number of sailors and soldiers, with intent of going to that Province, and that now again they are arming and equipping vessels for the same purpose at Havre de Grace and other Ports of said Kingdoms of France and England. And that you may do everything to defend yourselves and capture the Forts they have built and thrust them from the land, that you may hold it in peace. You might overlook the damage they have done to navigation. We have arranged for and ordered 1,500 infantrymen to join you and those you have with you and we send them with the fleet and also all the necessaries--and we have provided as Captain-General of the fleet Captain Sancho de Archimiaga, an expert and experienced man of the sea, ordering him to go to said Province, and in joining you, it gives you protection by sea as well as by land. Your flag alone must float, as our Captain-General, and all undertakings must be done under your flag. And for all enterprises to be undertaken by land we have appointed a Field Marshal and five Captains to be under him, and that both they and the infantry are to be directly under you as our Captain-General and Governor, because this is our will, and we have expressly ordered it. That your person must be carefully guarded. With your experience both by land and sea we are perfectly satisfied, still, that you may the better succeed, and that there may be conformity and good will, as it is important, affairs that between you and said Captain Archimiaga and Field Marshal and the other Captains accompanying him as they are men of much experience in war. It is our will, and so we order you, that in all things occurring on sea as well as on land concerning the war, you will call these Captains and consult with them, more especially Captain Archimiaga and the Field Marshal--that in this way alone must you decide upon questions of war--because thus it suits us and our service. That I trust in them to look into matters and provide all that is deemed advisable in such undertakings--and they will follow and obey you as our Captain-General. Let it be in such a way that there be good will and intelligence between you--no dissensions or quarrels, which would be a great drawback, but that you will proceed with mildness and consideration, as I feel assured you will, proceeding to free those lands, and give no quarters to the enemy to take root in them--and if it were possible, and there should be no notable inconvenience, you divide the fleet. Captain Juan Zurita and his company of Artillery go with the Infantry, as you will see. Of their success you will see to it, and give an account.

Madrid, September 8th, 1565.

A. D. 1565.

FORT MATANZAS MASSACRE, 1565.

I wrote to your Majesty from aboard the galleon San Salvador on September 11th, this being the day she left Port. The duplicate of the letter goes in this, and later on will send the other. While I was on the Bar in a sloop with two small boats with artillery and ammunition there came upon us four French galleons which had run us down with two or three small vessels to prevent us from landing here. Taking the artillery and provisions, although the weather was not propitious for crossing the Bar, I preferred to take the chances rather than surrender myself and one hundred and fifty persons, who were with me, into their power. Our Lord miraculously saved us. The tide was low, there being only one and a half scant fathoms of water on the bar, and their vessel required one and a half long fathoms. They saw we had escaped them, as they spoke asking me to surrender, to have no fear. They then turned to search for the galleon, thinking we could not escape them. Two days out a heavy storm and tornado overtook them. It seemed to me they could not return to their Fort, running too great a risk of being lost, and to return to capture us they would have to bring a larger force and of the best they had. Thinking that their Fort would remain weak and it was the right time to capture it I called a council of the captains, who agreed with me, and decided to attack the fort by land. I therefore took five hundred men, the three hundred arquebusiers, the rest pikemen, and with these few, taking our knapsacks and putting in each six pounds of biscuit and a measure of one and a half gallons of wine, with our arms and ammunition; each Captain and soldier--I was among the first setting the example, carrying this food and arms on my back. Not knowing the way, we hoped to get there in two days, it being distant about eight leagues or so, as we were told by two Indians who went with us as guides. Leaving this Fort of St. Augustine in the order above described and with determination on the eighteenth of September, we found the rivers so swollen from the copious rains that it was impossible to ford them and we were obliged to take a circuitous route which had never been used before through swamp and unknown roads to avoid the rivers.

After walking until nine or ten o'clock at night, on the morning of the twentieth, which is the feast of San Mateo, we arrived in sight of the Fort. Having offered prayers to the Blessed Lord and His Holy Mother, supplicating them to give us victory over these Lutherans, it was agreed that with twenty ladders, which we carried, to assail the Fort. His Divine Majesty had mercy upon us and guided us in such a way that without losing one man and with only one injured , we took the Fort with all it contained, killing about two hundred and thirty men, the other ten we took as prisoners to the forest. Among them were many noblemen, one who was Governor and Judge, called Monsieur Laudonnier, a relative of the French Admiral, and who had been his steward. This Laudonnier escaped to the woods and was pursued by one of the soldiers who wounded him, and we know not what has become of him, as he and the others escaped by swimming out to two small boats of the three vessels that were opposite the Fort, with about fifty or sixty persons. I sent them a cannonade and call of the trumpet to surrender themselves, vessels and arms. They refused, so with the artillery found in the Fort we sunk one vessel, the others taking up the men went down the river where they had two other vessels anchored laden with provisions, being of the seven sent from France, and which had not yet been unloaded. It did not seem to me right to leave the Fort and pursue them until I had repaired three boats we found in the Fort. The Indians notified them of our actions. As they were so few they took the two best and strongest vessels and sank the other. In three days they had fled. Being informed of this by the Indians, I did not pursue them. Later from the Fort they wrote me that about twenty Frenchmen had appeared in the forest with no clothing but a shirt, and many of them were wounded. It was believed that Monsieur Laudonnier was among them. I have sent word that they make every effort to capture them and bring them to justice. In the Fort were found, among women, creatures and children under fifteen years of age, about fifty persons. It causes me deep sorrow to see them among my people on account of their horrid religious sect, and I fear our Lord would punish me should I use cruelty with them. Eight or ten of the boys were born here.

These French have many friends among the Indians, who show much feeling at their loss, especially for two or three teachers of their hateful doctrine which they taught to the Indian chiefs, who followed them as the Apostles did our Lord. It is a thing of admiration to see how these Lutherans enchanted the poor savage people. I shall use every means to gain the good will of these Indians who were such friends to the French, and there is no reason why I should break with them, and if I can live with them at peace it will be well; they are such traitors, thieves and drunkards, that it is almost impossible to do so. These chiefs and the Indians, their enemies, all show friendship towards me, which I return and shall continue, unless their depredations increase that I may have to do otherwise.

On the 28th of September the Indians notified me that many Frenchmen were about six leagues from here on the coast, that they had lost their vessels and escaped by swimming and in boats. Taking fifty soldiers I was with them next morning at daylight, and, leaving my men in ambush, I took one with me to the banks of the river, because they were on one side and I on the other bank. I spoke to them, told them I was Spanish; they said they were French. They asked me to come over to them either alone or with my partner, the river being narrow. I replied that we did not know how to swim, but that they could safely come to us. They agreed to do so, and sent a man of some intellect, master of a boat, who carefully related to me how they had left their Fort with four galleons and eight small vessels, that each carried twenty-four oars with four hundred picked soldiers and two hundred marines and John Ribaut as General and Monsieur LeGrange, who was General of the Infantry, and other good captains, soldiers and gentlemen, with the intention of finding me on the sea, and if I attempted to land, to land their people on the small boats and capture me. That if they had wanted to land they could easily have done so, but they had not dared and wanted to return to their Fort. That they were overtaken by a hurricane and tempest and were wrecked about twenty or twenty-five leagues from here. That of the four hundred only forty had survived; that the others had perished or were killed by the Indians. That fifty were carried prisoners by the Indians; that John Ribaut with his captain were anchored five leagues from there in the swamp without trees, and he had in the vessel with him two hundred persons, more or less, and they believed them to have perished with all the artillery and ammunition, which was a great deal and good. Part of it was with John Ribaut and what they had, was certainly lost. They were saved, and he asked for himself and companions safe passage to their Fort, since they were not at war with the Spaniards. I then told him how we had taken their Fort and hung all those we found in it, because they had built it without your Majesty's permission and because they were scattering the odious Lutheran doctrine in these Provinces, and that I had war to fire and blood, as Governor and Captain-General of these Provinces, against all those who came to sow this hateful doctrine; representing to him that I came by order of your Majesty to place the Gospel in these parts and to enlighten the natives in all that the Holy Church of Rome says and does so as to save their souls. That I would not give them passage; rather would I follow them by sea and land until I had taken their lives. He begged to be allowed to go with this embassy and that he would return at night swimming, if I would grant him his life. I did so to show him that I was in earnest and because he could enlighten me on many subjects. Immediately after his return to his companions there came a gentleman, a lieutenant of Monsieur Laudonnier, a man well versed and cunning to tempt me. After much talk he offered to give up their arms if I would grant their lives. I told him he could surrender the arms and give themselves up to my mercy, that I might do with them that which our Lord ordered. More than this he could not get from me, and that God did not expect more of me. Thus he returned and they came to deliver up their arms. I had their hands tied behind them and had them stabbed to death, leaving only sixteen, twelve being great big men, mariners whom they had stolen, the other four master carpenters and caulkers--people for whom we have much need, and it seemed to me to punish them in this manner would be serving God, our Lord, and your Majesty. Hereafter they will leave us free to plant the Gospel, enlighten the natives, and bring them to obedience and submission of your Majesty. The lands being extensive it will be well to make them work fifty years--besides, a good beginning makes a good end, so I have hopes in our Lord that in all He will grant me prosperity and success, so that I and my descendants may give to your Majesty those Kingdoms full and return the people Christians. My particular interest as I have written your Majesty is this: We are gaining great favor with the Indians and will be feared by them, although we make them many gifts.

From these Provinces of Florida from the banks of San Pelayo and Fort of St. Augustine, October 15th, 1565.

PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILES.

A. D. 1583-1596-1598.

A. D. 1583.

After the Governor had given a decree of the same suspension, we asked him that until your Majesty should otherwise provide, we be allowed to continue in office and watch over your Majesty's interest. Another thing which occurs to us to inform your Majesty: Yesterday there sailed from this Port for Havana a vessel belonging to some one in Havana, and the Governor made every effort to see if we had sent any papers by her--he searched the vessel and not wishing to give testimony, we understood he did not wish any letters sent, and so we dared not write more. We felt that this would be sufficient for your Majesty to place the remedy and investigate the cause, and punish the culprit.

In the two years that your Majesty's negroes have been here, they have made a platform for the artillery of this Fort of an indestructible wood--as the one they had previous to this rotted away in two years. They have made a blacksmith shop, and whatever repairs were needed on the Fort. Ten of the best of them were sent to Santa Elena to saw boards to cover that Fort which needed it. On beginning the work it was found that the whole Fort was in such a damaged condition it was necessary to tear it all down and rebuild as quickly as possible. On account of the haste required the soldiers were obliged to help for which work they were paid. It was completed in four months, during which time the negroes had to be fed on bread, meat and wine. Besides they have helped to build a church here, sawed lumber for the building of many dwellings, and have cleared the woods to some extent for planting. The first crop not being good, caused extra expense of food and ammunition which was given them--but for the past six months they have been fed on the harvest made, with no other expense but the oil and salt. They have corn enough to last until the next harvest, and all the expense incurred to the end of June of the present year is six thousand five hundred reals, from the Treasury of your Majesty--because, although there have been some other expenses, we have availed ourselves of advantages we had after having had recourse to what has been offered to your Majesty's service. About six months ago eleven of these negroes were hired to soldiers of this Fort, without the knowledge of the Treasurer, rendering an account of this to the Governor. It is about a year and a half since we notified the Governor that he should not keep these accounts, but as provided by your Majesty they should be sent to this Court. He has never sent them. Your Majesty will act as best suits him in this affair of our suspension; we again implore your Majesty to give us a hearing, and some satisfaction, since we are left in this sterile country without the means of sustenance. May God preserve your Majesty for many years with great aggrandizement.

FERNANDO MIRANDA.

St. Augustine, August 20th. 1583.

As the Governor, Don Domingo Martinez Avendano, has been sending your Majesty an account of the proceedings of our journey, I have not done so until now, that we have landed in these Provinces of Florida, and seen the condition of things, the people of the Garrison and the natives. It was a blessing of God that it was all quiet and peaceful, and the Governor with much gentleness and discretion entered, and proceeded well, to support the service of your Majesty. It was a very fortunate thing, as many of the culprits had made threats, which if carried into effect, would have resulted disastrously--but they had not the heart to carry them out, although a number of the worst criminals were out of the country. Of those who remained, ten were captured, and with their accusations were sent by Captain Francisco Salazar to Havana, in the custody of a trusted lieutenant and twelve soldiers, as guards, so that they may be executed there and accomplish your Majesty's will. With this imprisonment and a public reprimand made by the Governor to the other Indians, all of which remain quiet. Being overcome with fear, I understand they will return promptly to their employment, and your Majesty will be well served. The Casiques of this country came to render obedience to the Governor, who caressed them and instructed them of the manner and order in which they were to attend to your Majesty's work--he told them he wished to visit them in their homes, and the good intentions and desires he brings of attending to your service and the proofs he has already given of them. We entertain great hopes that all will soon be settled. From Havana they dispatched to the Treasurer Juan Menendez Marquez to be present at the paying off of the employees of this Garrison. While the Governor intended to have me assume control of this collection, he seemed to change his mind, and I came here with him, where I remain attending to the duties under my charge until he thinks that I may go out and make use of the license your Majesty granted me if nothing more occurs. May Our Lord guard the person of your Royal Catholic Majesty, as we have need of you.

BARTOLOME DE ARGUELLAS.

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