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BARTOLOME DE ARGUELLAS.

St. Augustine, Florida, July 6th, 1596.

A. D. 1598.

I do not wish to make a long report in this letter, as I understand a detailed account of all that occurs in these provinces will be made by your Majesty's Governor, Gonzalo Menendez Canso, who in every thing appertaining to your Majesty's service and welfare is proceeding with caution--reforming, arranging everything in the most approved manner, discovering as he goes, all the secrets of the service, and governing himself in accordance. He has strong and brave resolutions, as I know, having communicated them to me, and given me an account of his good intentions.

Having served your Royal Highness for twenty-six years in this part of your Royal Fleet, in charge of your Captains-General the Adelantado Pedro Menendez Aviles, Diego Flores Valdez, Cristobal Eraso, and Alvarez Flores de Quinones, as Officer in the companies in which I served as Lieutenant of the Governor of the Castle, under Diego Fernandez de Quinones, in Havana. Being in that City, retired in my home, I was called by the above mentioned Governor to give and honor me with one of your Majesty's companies of infantry who served in this Garrison of Florida. In his absence to Guale to the chastising of the Indians, who so horribly killed six priests of the San Franciscan Order, he left me in his place. Of the spoils which are usually divided, he has shared with me moderately, but even with these, and the two hundred ducats I have as salary, and the advantages given me, I cannot sustain myself, nor assist at the obligations of such Captains, on account of every thing in the land being so dear--provisions are the same--and the servant we had, was taken from us by your Governor. I implore your Majesty to attend to the above mentioned facts, and as my desire is to end my life in your Royal Service--and that I may live and keep up my obligations I may be given some help toward my expenses, and that I may be allowed a servant, as is customary with all Captains serving in this Garrison, and trusting that your Majesty will grant me these things as are granted to all who serve you with good will. God preserve your Royal Person as I desire and Christianity needs you.

PEDRO PERTRENE.

St. Augustine, Florida, February 20th, 1598.

My poverty and the frequency with which the Indians, both Christians and infidels, gather at my home to be instructed in matters concerning their conversion, and other important things concerning the good Government need with the Governor of these Provinces, places me under the necessity of asking your Majesty to assist me in the expenses I am obliged to incur with the Indians, as is certified to by the report accompanying this letter which implores your Majesty to assist and see to this need, since from it will result the coming of the Indians with more heartiness to become Christians and in this way guard the faith. Your Royal Highness being merciful. That I may do in all the above mentioned what is just and right, I also implore your Majesty to send me a letter of friendship that the Indians may see the good feeling which exists between your Majesty and ourselves. God grant you may have all graces.

Florida, February 20th, 1598.

A. D. 1598.

DONA MARIA MENENDEZ--CASIQUE.

This is a good and faithful copy taken from one of the official reports made by Gonzalo Menendez Canes, Governor and Captain-General of these Provinces of Florida to His Majesty, concerning the death of the Religious of the Order of San Francisco, who perished at the hands of the Indians who revolted. Its tenor is:

In the city of St. Augustine, Province of Florida, July 1st, 1598, Gonzalo Menendez Canes, Governor and Captain-General for the King our Lord, says: That in the month of October past of 1597, he was notified of an uprising of the Indians of the Peninsula of Guale. They had refused to obey your Majesty, and killed the Religious of the Order of San Francisco sent out to convert and teach them, and that he had made every and the greatest efforts, having gone in person with a number of infantry, ammunition and water craft to said peninsula, to investigate and punish the cases, and ascertain the cause the Indians had for committing such an atrocious crime. Although he made all the ravages he could, acting upon advices received, he could not punish them more for the time being, nor could he capture a live Indian, except one, an interpreter, from whom they could get no information further than that the Religious had been killed, as will be seen by his declaration. Seeing the importance of ascertaining the root and cause of the killing of these Religious, and if any were still living--and why they had lost obedience to your Majesty, he has made the boldest efforts possible, going by way of the Luna. Finding the Casiques in conference, we agreed to send them presents and keepsakes, to induce them to let us know and understand if any of the Religious or Friars were still living that we might ransom them, sending to offer them even interest for them, and also sending a launch with some of the infantry to the Fort Santa Elena, distant fifty leagues from this Garrison, to enlist the Casique of that country, on account of the friendship he has shown the Spaniards, and because he has Indian warriors, and being so near he could do much damage to the Peninsula of Guale. Lieutenant Exiga, who went in the launch, found him and treated with him to make war and do all the damage possible to said peninsula and ascertain if any of them were living--bestowing upon him many gifts from your Majesty's treasury that he might go. It was agreed that Lieutenant Exiga should return to the Casique in sixty days, and ascertain what military exploits he had had, and what success. Being a matter of so much importance to your Majesty, Lieutenant Exiga left this port on the 23rd of May, with two launches, with infantry and ammunition to accomplish the agreement made with the Casique. On the 24th, one day after leaving this fort, having gone as far as the Bar of Asae, twenty leagues from here, he was caught in a storm and hurricane, forcing him to put into harbor in distress. The storm did so much damage to the food and ammunition they carried, that he was obliged to strike with the launch for the shore of San Mateo. Notwithstanding all the above mentioned, he continued his voyage to the port Santa Elena, there taking another launch in better condition for making the journey, leaving his in bad condition grounded on the beach. Having arrived at Santa Elena and seen and spoken to the Casique who delivered to him four gentlemen, he said he had taken from four Indians of the Peninsula of Gaule where he went to make war. That three other Indians had captured the Casique of Carague, who had accompanied him, with the intent of making war. In the same way he certifies that they had alive in the Peninsula of Gaule, near Solofina, one of the six friars, named Toray Francisco de Avila. Having learned this he came coasting along the shore and ports of Guale, to see if any Indians should come out to speak to them. None appeared, until he came to Tolomato where he saw one, who by much coaxing and presenting of gifts and reasoning, succeeded in getting him to tell what he knew. Finally they learned from him that the said Friar was still living. They paid the Indian to take a letter to him, and they would await the reply--he did so, and in the meantime they amused themselves coasting along the shores of Tolomato, until the Indian returned with some of the Casiques, whom they begged would show them the Friar, that they might certify to his being alive, and treat with them for his ransom. At first, although they had heaped the Indians with gifts, they would neither accept of the gifts nor promise to deliver the Friar, unless in return for certain boys, sons of some of the Casiques, who had been brought to Governor Domingo Martinez Avendano, as hostages. As better security Lieutenant Exiga promised to bring their boys within thirty days as ransom for the Friar, also a quantity of hatchets and spades they asked for. Lieutenant Exiga returned to Port Tolomato in fifteen days, and began treaty with Casiques for the ransom of the Friar, and although he heaped gifts upon them with a free hand, it made no impression. They are such liars and traitors, and all their treaties are founded on treachery and cunning. Seeing that they did not intend to keep their word and deliver the priest, he found it necessary to change his tactics and show anger, swearing that unless they did deliver the prisoner they would send for three hundred soldiers and would run them through with the sword, cut down all their crops and follow them to Tama. After these threats they promised to deliver the Priest at once, which they did. After receiving him, and having him in their power, Lieutenant Exiga made reprisal of the hostages he carried, and of seven other Indians he had detained on the launch until he saw what success he was going to have. Four of these Indians are sons and brothers of Casiques. The Governor holds them and has brought them to this city where they are at present, and where he protests he will investigate and take their declarations as to the manner of death the other friars suffered--where, in what form, and for what cause? Finding any of them to have taken part in this crime, to punish them and do justice to the service of your Majesty, and that this punishment may serve as an example to them, as they have at other times committed these treacheries, killing captains and officers and other persons. This I provide and sign from his hand, Gonzalo Menendez Vanso, by order of His Lordship the Governor and Captain-General.

Later the said Governor and Captain-General ordered me, the secretary, that I should go to the Monastery of San Francisco, of this city, and in his name ask the custodian priest of said house, Fray Francisco Marron, to give permission to Fray Francisco de Avila, who had been sent to teach and convert the Indians, that under the oath which is administered to the Religious of his Order, he declared how his companions were killed, what he has seen and heard, and the causes that have moved them to commit such a crime as the killing of the priests. To deny obedience, and tell only what he knows and understands of the matter. They continued the examination, so that all the above may be certified as the truth. This I provide and sign in his name--and from the declaration of the father custodian might result many worthy considerations in questioning the Indians.

GONZALO MENENDEZ CANSO.

Later--The present notary public went to the Monastery of San Francisco, of this city, read and showed the decree above disposed of by his Lordship the Governor and Captain-General Gonzalo Menendez Canso, to Fray Francisco Marron, custodian of the provinces, who said: that mindful that Fray Francisco de Avila was one of the friars sent out to teach and convert in the Peninsula of Guale, and as the Lord, Our God, had seen proper to deliver him from being killed by the Indians, as his companions had been, and as a person who knew the habits and manners of the Indians, and knew their language, he deemed it wise to give him freedom to say and declare all he considered would be to the service of God of the killing of his companions--except in cases and things criminal where his rights of priesthood prohibited, such as death by the cutting of members--and this I say and sign in his name--Fray Francisco Marron--in my presence.

St. Augustine, Fla., July 20th, 1598.

Gonzalo Menendez Canso, Governor and Captain-General for his Majesty in these Provinces, ordered to be called Fray Francisco de Avila that in virtue of the permission granted him by the Custodian Fray Francisco Marron, to say and declare all he knows concerning the killing of his companions by the Indians, and of his imprisonment and captivity--whether his person was badly treated, and all that had occurred worthy of relating--so as to punish such crime as it deserves to be.

Fray Francisco de Avila said: Although it was true Fray Marron had granted him permission to speak, he could not make use of it, in cases so grave and criminal as the present--it was prohibited him by the sacred canons of priesthood, to attest in such crimes, because it would force him to say that which might condemn some, and so, he did not wish to speak or declare in this case, not to fall into any error. Besides being mindful that the Governor had brought seven Indians from the peninsula at the time of his ransom, to this city, he could know and understand from them all that they might claim. This he said, and I sign it in his name.

FRAY FRANCISCO DE AVILA.

In my presence--

Notary Public.

Later--The Governor and Captain-General Gonzalo Menendez Canso, in order to investigate, had appeared before him Gaspar de Salas, an interpreter of the Indians of Guale who, having been sworn in the proper form, gave promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth--and that he would declare all that he was ordered to say to the Indians who claim to give information; that he will say and declare all that said Indians say in reply, under the oath that he has taken.

Later the Governor ordered to appear before him one of the seven Indians who were brought from the peninsula, to whom the following questions were put: From where do you come and what is your name? He came from Tupique and that his name was Lucas. Are you a Christian? Yes. The name of your parents, are they, or have they been Casiques? His father's name was Felipe, and he was Casique of Tupique. Where was he from? He was a native of the town of Tupique. Had there been any priest there? There had been one named Fray Blas Rodriguez. Tell and declare what had become of Fray Bias? That about ten or eleven moons past, eight Casiques held a conference, they were Asao, Tolafo, Atmehe, Fulo, Tupique and Alnate. When night came they killed the Priest. A helping hand was given them by a chief called Pisiache, that he might kill him with a hatchet, with which he gave him a blow on the head, from which wound he died almost immediately. Afterward they buried him in the church. Say and declare what cause they had for killing this priest? That Micas and Casiques said they killed him because he was artful and took away their enchantment or witchcraft, and would not allow them to have more than one wife.

Did you hear them say anything else? No. Did he know Fray Miguel de Annon, and Fray Antonio Lego, among the teachers of Guale, and Fray Pedro de Corpa, among the teachers of Tolomato, and Fray Francisco de Avila, among the teachers of Ospo?

I have known them all, and they have been killed. Fray Miguel had his hands tied behind him, but he did not know if they had killed him--Fray Antonio was tied, but he does not know how he was killed--he had heard it said that they killed him with wooden weapons, and that Fray Pedro Corpa two Casiques had killed in the night while sleeping; that Fray Francisco de Avila they had not killed, but had him captive near Tolofino until he should be ransomed by the Governor.

Was Fray Francisco well or ill-treated in the prison?

Sometimes they beat him with sticks and abused him. They sometimes fed him, but not always, and when they did it was on the leaves and tendrils of vines.

Had he seen or heard it said why they killed these Priests and ill-treated Fray Francisco de Avila?

He knew no more than what he had already stated, that the Micos and Casiques said they were artful and did not wish them to have more than one wife, and that they reproved them.

Do you know where the ornaments belonging to the Church are, such as the chalices and other things used by the priests?

They were all divided up in such a way, that nothing is left of them.

Was he present at the death of Fray Blas and the other priests when they were killed?

He arrived in time to see Fray Blas die--the others he had not seen, but had heard it said that they had been killed as he stated above.

Had he seen or heard any of his companions who were brought with him, say they were present at the killing of the priests?

One from Tolomato, named Francisco, he heard him say he had seen Fray Pedro Corpa after he was killed--the rest he does not know.

All this the said Gaspar Salas said and declared as interpreted under the oath which he has taken. He does not sign because he does not know how to write.

GONZALO MENENDEZ CANSO.

In the presence of

Notary Public.

For further investigation of the above, the Governor and Captain-General had appeared before him the other Indian, said to be named Francisco and native of Tolomato, and by the said interpreter under oath had him declare the following:

Are you a Christian, and who are your parents?

I am a Christian, my name is Francisco, my mother is nearly related to the Casique and my father is dead.

What priest was teacher at Tolomato?

Fray Pedro Corpa, and I knew him there for some time.

What became of Fray Pedro Corpa?

He was killed while sleeping, with wooden weapons, and he was killed by one of the chief Casiques of the Salcachecos.

Did you see him killed, or were you present at his death?

I was far away, but I heard it said that this Micos of Tolomato and Don Juan, his heir, had sent to have him killed. I went there, but he was already dead.

Did the little dress which you wear belong to some religious of that peninsula?

Yes, but I do not know to which one, I ransomed it from one of the Casiques.

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