A. D. 1662-1670.

To His Catholic Royal Majesty:

Having presented before the tribunal on behalf of the Royal officers of Guadalapara the sworn bills, and others not sworn to, by which were adjusted and proven the accounts of your administration which had been running from the 7th of March, 1663, up to August 15th of the same year, it was found to result in a liquidated balance in favor of your Royal Treasury. Information of which was immediately sent to Don Geronimo de la Luna, judge for your Majesty, that he should have it delivered to the Treasury. He provided an Auto ordering Don Diego Salazar, Treasurer, to place it in the Treasury. This person replied to him stating that he had no money whatsoever from Jacon or Virginia. The infantry I sent out to investigate tell me that in the Province of Apalache there is a very large hill, which, in their opinion, is a silver mine, from the specimens found in the ground and from pieces they picked up on the hill and brought as samples. Persons who are versed in such matters say that from their accounts they must be mines.

As these matters do not admit of delay, and much care and caution is required, I am myself going to investigate the matter thoroughly, and give you a long and detailed account, being absolutely necessary for the tranquility of this Province. May God preserve your Majesty for many years.

Alonzo Aranqui y Cortez.

St. Augustine, Fla., September 8th, 1662.

A. D. 1666.

To His Catholic Royal Majesty:

On the 27th of November of this year we received a document from Your Royal Highness with six orders containing the form and manner in which the Royal Treasury must be conducted in its administration and other things which were herein referred to, and what has passed in the accomplishment of them. The order in which your Majesty states that the Governor is not to keep the keys to the Royal Chest, but that your officer alone must keep them, and that an account must be kept and sent to this Treasury each year. We notified him and he obeyed, but as to its accomplishment he desired us to say nothing to him about it, as things were different here from other places—because all allowances and pay are collected by his order, and thus he wishes the keys to the chest where the money is kept. As to the accounts, he will provide them as should be just, which is the same answer he gave before as shown in the accompanying letter. The order for the administration that must be adopted with the negroes was obeyed by the Governor, and all are placed in compliance with it. We also notified him of the order your Majesty sent, reproving him for speaking so harshly to your Majesty’s Royal Employees.

As the order sent by your Majesty regarding the labor of the estates, all necessary steps have been taken. The one received stating that hereafter one of your employees should be present at the paying of the workmen, and the providing of supplies and ammunition for these forts, was obeyed, and although the Governor also obeyed in the fulfilment of it, he did not do so to the letter and there has been trouble between us ever since.

Juan Cebadilla.

Your Highness:

Don Francisco Larra whom your Majesty has had the mercy to send as Captain of a Company of soldiers to this Garrison of St. Augustine, Fla., is a person of such daring, restless and bold and has a mind—who is led astray by the impulses of his will—that with his manner of acting and talking he has given offense to the better and greater part of the people of this Garrison, not excepting the Ecclesiastics whom he offends and speaks in such abusive and indecent a manner of their character. And so on this account as well as the little respect with which he treats me, not paying the slightest attention to my office extrajudicially. I have admonished him in the kindest terms to correct his ways and fulfill his duties as Captain of the Infantry—not alone was this effort a vain one, but he took a bold and daring step with me, in the presence of the Ministers and principal people of the Garrison—for this incivility and profanation I had him imprisoned in the Fort, expressing to him my wrath and indignation, a copy of which I send you. With this as a warning, I then had him set at liberty. I beg your Highness that seeing this, you will proceed as you think best for the peace of this Garrison. May God give you the prosperity of a Christian.

Francisco Guerra y Vega.

St. Augustine, Fla., September 2d, 1666.

The King.

To My Captain-General of the Provinces of Florida:

The principal people of the town of Santiago de Tolomato have written me a letter on the 21st of March, 1658, that Don Luis Reyes y Borhas, being Governor of those Provinces, laid the foundation of the town of Santiago, which is three leagues distant from the Garrison of St. Augustine with the intention of continuing a passage to Morcana Guale and surrounding Provinces and although at the founding there were many, only about thirty remained including Casiques and persons of standing, to continue the work. They beg that you will send more people, since they are quick and disposed to work, so that they may complete the passage as far as San Juan, a distance of twelve leagues, as much for the relief of the soldiers as other things that may occur. That they should not be called upon to perform other duties, as they have been by the Governors who has not recompensed them for their services. Calling upon them to unload vessels arriving at the Garrison, cut timber from the forests and other services not in their line of duty, taking them from their labor when planting corn, which is the principal sustenance for themselves and families, causing them to lose their crops and suffer hunger. Having seen in my Council of the Indias what I said to my Judge, it has seemed right that I should order and command you, as I have done, that hereafter you do not employ the people of said town in your own personal work and that you proceed to preserve them and relieve their wants by every possible means in your power and you will serve me best.

I The King.

Madrid, February 26th, 1670.
By order of the King our Lord.

Juan Tubiza,
Chairman of the Council.