A. D. 1600.

Patron Letter From Fray Francisco Parga, of the San Franciscan Order, to the King.

Your Majesty:

This is a duplicate of a letter sent your Majesty by a vessel which left this port of St. Augustine in the month of February of this year via Havana. I wrote giving an account as I was one of the eleven monks sent by your Majesty to spread the Gospel and teach the natives of this country. When we arrived we were assigned to different places or posts, each one trying his utmost and best to do what he could for the redemption of these souls. It being such an arduous and difficult life, having to traverse on foot, bad roads, with little or nothing to eat at times, that little fruit has yet been yielded, although the harvest, which we hope eventually to reap for the Lord, is worth the trials and sacrifices made, as we know that He suffered death and passion to redeem the souls and rejoiceth over the salvation of one; how much more should we be willing to suffer for the conversion of so many souls as there are in this country and whom we hope to save with the help of God? And so I say that while your Majesty has control of these lands as the Religious have charge of this Garrison in time of need, and they also help to support the Church under their care and the ornaments and other things necessary for the worship of the Divine Lord, not having for this purpose any income from your Royal Finance. There are more than eighty churches which have been built in the different missions and others under construction. We are moved to do this to encourage the Indians who are incapable of good conceptions and obedience. They have always had their ministry so that they listen with little appreciation to what we preach and teach, in grave detriment to the poor newly converted Indians, notwithstanding that our teaching and converting accrues to their own good, as we aid and provide for them in their time of hunger, and when crops have failed. The Indians are so lazy and improvident that if we did not take care of the crops after planting they would have nothing. They do not even save the seed for another planting. Of the Governor I wish to say as little as possible, but the misery, impediment and calamities among Indians and Christians is due to his avarice, and if the poor Spaniards who are in the Garrison of St. Augustine had not the hope that your Majesty would be informed in some way and send them relief from the fearful calamity which this Garrison is suffering, the affliction among the married men as well as the single would become unendurable. They dare not, under any circumstances, send you information, as it would cost them their lives, and so they have prayed and implored me as Chaplain, who live from day to day upon the charity of your Royal Treasury, and have to render a strict account or others would slander us, and our account of the war and other matters must be true. The war with the Indians where many have been killed and many brought in as prisoners was uncalled for and the Indians at “Cabeza de Martyres” are much incensed. As it is a place where many vessels are wrecked, the Spaniards have taken whole crews and kept them until ransomed. We fear the Indians of that place will do much damage to vessels passing to and fro. We feel very sorry that the present Governor has shown so much anger and resentment towards the Indians and has sent your Majesty such meagre accounts of the true condition of this Garrison. It is swampy, little inhabited by Indians, and the roads difficult to traverse. The Bar is a rough one; there are said to be better ones on this coast towards the north. I have not seen them, but have heard through Fray Baltazar Lopez, Vicar of that Island, who has been there for twelve years working in the conversion of souls, with other Friars who came with him, and who have left for New Spain. He alone remains at his post, much encouraged, as he has mastered the Indian language; it is of great help to him in preaching. He has converted many who frequent the sacraments of confession and communion. Had it not been for him and through his persuasions, having converted and taught the Casique Don Juan, there would have been a terrible uprising among the Indians, and probably not a Spaniard left. Thus, by the industry and influence of Fray Baltazar over Don Juan, who is highly in favor of Christianity and all civilized ideas, this trouble was averted. Don Juan has sent relief to the people of this garrison in times of famine. I recognize in Fray Baltazar that spiritual zeal for the service of God and your Majesty that this land may be converted, increase in civilization and aggrandize your kingdom. As Fray Baltazar’s experience is of long standing, it has been decided that he write to your Majesty and give a full account of all the happenings. To this letter of his, which I shall remit to your Majesty, you can give full credit, as he speaks scientifically and from long experience.

Your Majesty:

As a final remedy and forced by necessity and worry which we poor citizens of this garrison suffer ever since the arrival of Gonzalo Menendez Canso, we come to implore you, as King and Christian, not to permit that your subjects and vassals be so ill treated and afflicted by those who govern here, since your Majesty in your Cedulas always orders the contrary. There being no corporation as in other cities of like size to whom we can appeal for protection, I take the liberty of writing this. We have not done so before, and gone on suffering all that is possible for us to suffer, because we understood you had been informed by other parties, and we hoped and waited daily to be delivered by your sending some one else who would proceed in a different manner, and thus we poor citizens would receive better treatment at his hands, and enable us to proceed in better condition to advance your interests which have been decreasing and losing ever since the said Governor came. Much of the land that was gained from the Indians, and who themselves had become quiet and peaceful, has been lost. I came to this country in the year 1568, twenty years ago, with others from your Kingdom, to aid and succor, as was commanded by your Majesty in transferring us to these Provinces, having assisted and served in them on all occasions which have presented themselves at Port Elena and St. Augustine. I married a daughter of one of the settlers who was here and had come enthused by the promises made by the previous Governors, but who spent his life eking out a meagre existence for his wife and children by taking advantage of the license which at that time was granted the citizens of going abroad to seek work which was so much needed. This Governor has withdrawn this license and forces us to remain in the town proper. The town is frequently left to the government of his cousin who calls himself Juan Garcia and whom he brought with him to this Province with a large stock of merchandise which he sells at exorbitant prices and he, the Governor, collects all payments. Before this Governor came we were paid off, but since his assumption of affairs he forces us to buy all we need of this cousin, and the Governor informs us that if we do not obey his order in this we must go without. On pay day he keeps all our pay saying we have already spent it. If one of the soldiers is sick requiring anything and sends to ask for money to get the needed medicine the Governor refuses to give it, forcing him to buy it of Juan Garcia. All law suits or troubles of any kind which arise are brought before the Governor by this same Juan Garcia, who seems to be supreme. It is understood that the vast estate is a joint one of Juan Garcia and Governor Menendez Canso. My house was burned, as can be testified by any of the inhabitants, fearing to notify Juan Garcia of the fact. I sent to him and asked him with all due respect to come, accompanied by the Mayor, who is the only representative of the law, and see the condition I was in. For this act he has levied upon me for fifty maravedies and six months’ imprisonment in the Fort. That I must appear before him, and he has worried me in many other ways. He has taken from us the only means of making a living for our wives and children and refuses to grant us any rights whatsoever, except those which in your Cedula are so plain he is obliged to grant them. And yet he grants all rights to Mexico. It is a great injustice not to allow us the same privileges. We trust that being so far from us and it takes so long to inform you, that you will have mercy upon us and immediately send some one to replace this Governor. One who will treat us with more kindness and justice. We implore you to grant the privileges of an open port, that we may be allowed to go back and forth and trade, so as to enable us to make a living. Others would write to you imploring the same grace, only all fear to do so, as we run great risk of having the Governor intercept our letters. I send this at the risk of my life. There are many more things upon which I could enlighten you, but fear prevents us from doing so, and we trust your Majesty will send us relief as speedily as possible.

God preserve the Royal Person of your Catholic Majesty for many years, as christianity has need of it.

Juan Nunez Rios.

St. Augustine, Fla., Feb. 19th, 1600.

Sire:

While serving your Majesty in this Garrison of St. Augustine, Florida, as Captain of one of the companies with the title given me by General Menendez Canso, it is the same position my father served previously for a year and a half before the work and place was turned over to me as your Majesty’s service required. Later Lieutenant Alvarez Hernando Metas having arrived with certain dispatches regarding my father, who had preceded me, the Governor, without giving any reason or consulting me in any way, has taken the company from me and given it to Lieutenant Metas, who is at present serving. The Governor has only said to me that he wished to employ me in other services of your Majesty for which reason I am detained in this Province on half pay. Although I have asked permission to serve on the Armada and assist in any way I am ordered, as is my duty, he will not allow me to do so, but detains me here. I implore you to send me orders if only to be in the infantry of this Garrison; anything until I am ordered elsewhere, to serve your Majesty. This is my profession and I have always followed it, and for which I shall always hope to receive special encomiums from your Majesty, whom I pray our Lord will bless and protect and preserve from all harm.

Antonio Menendez Canso.

St. Augustine, Fla., 26th ——, 1600.

Sire:

In other letters I have written to your Majesty I have given an account of the fire we had on the 14th of March of last year, 1599, in this city. Among other houses burned with the church was ours and we came to the hospital for shelter, where we still are, and I implore your Majesty to rebuild our house. The seven hundred ducats required to repair and cover the house which was burned, and which we hope you will send us, will be placed in deposit with the treasurer of this Province until a decision has been reached regarding this country. On account of its ruined and barren condition it is incapable of maintaining so many natives as there are, and as was demonstrated the other day, many seem to think they will order this Garrison removed to another part more advantageous. Should this be the case, your servants will advise you at once of all that occurs.

In the report I give you of the Indians I must say, my Lord, that we make little progress and are but poorly esteemed by them. The fault must lie in us, as there will no doubt be those who will so report it to your Majesty. The good esteem which I am ordered to have for the Governor I shall comply with in every respect except that I shall not lose my rights; sending out the Friars to convert and teach the doctrine, I have always observed the order given by your Majesty with the title of Royal Patron. Since it is a truth perfectly well known that no Friar has been sent by me or my predecessors to convert and teach without the permission and sanction of the Governor, and should it become necessary I will so make him confess this truth, which he well knows, as there are so few of us he cannot ignore it, as we eat from his hands at all times. If this country is to be increased and civilized it would be well to send a Bishop here, as it is quite necessary to administer the sacrament of confirmation; therefore, for the peace of those who live here, it would be well for your Majesty to consider and provide as you see fit and God would wish. There is nothing a man can desire more than the salvation of his soul, for this it seems to me urgent that I should retire from this work and take shelter where I can obtain this end, serving in quietude your Majesty. For this I beg and humbly implore your Majesty to send me a permit to go to Spain, as I feel assured of the little success I can obtain by remaining in this country. May our blessed Lord preserve your Majesty in peace and love, Yours,

Fray Blas de Montes.
St. Augustine, Fla., Feb. 25th, 1600.

Your Lordship:

On the 13th there arrived in this city Diego Ramirez, a citizen of Triana of Sevilla, a second class shipmaster from New Spain, sent by your Viceroy and Royal Officers from San Juan de Ullva. On entering the Bahama channel he was overtaken by a dreadful storm, his vessel sprung a leak and took in so much water they were forced to make for the nearest land which was on the coast of this Province about one hundred and eighty leagues from this city to the north, about thirty-four degrees, more or less, where, on entering a port, the vessel was completely wrecked and the Master made his escape in one of the boats with the papers and dispatches for your Majesty and also some private letters. Coming along the coast, landing at night until he reached the Province of Guale, where last year the Indians had killed two Friars. There he found two vessels in the service of this Garrison which had been sent to carry three or four Casiques, two of them men of great influence in their tribes, who had come to implore mercy for themselves and others for the terrible crime they had committed. I now have them quiet and pacified. These natives carried the master to the ships of this Garrison where he and his men were given shelter and brought to this City.

The natives also gave them what relief they could. On the arrival here of the Master he told me of the dispatches he brought for your Majesty and which he understood were of much importance as they had learned in New Spain that Chinese, English and Flemish were settling there. He asked me for passage for himself and men, for any dispatches I might have for your Majesty and any private mail. He also asked for the means of sustenance from your Royal Treasury, for himself and men, as they had lost all. Considering the importance of the dispatches and papers, and that you might receive them with the utmost speed, I granted their request and also gave them a change of clothes. He did not wish to go to Havana on account of the variable winds and so, as I had a frigate in Port just suitable for the purpose, I fitted it out against the wishes of its owners, to whom I paid the cost of the trip which three pilots assured me would amount to one thousand ducats, not counting the maintenance of the Master and his men. I felt it my duty to aid them from your Royal Treasury, as they were shipwrecked and there was no one in this country who could raise a subscription to supply their wants, all being soldiers or men who have no employment. An account of this may be kept by the judges and officers in Sevilla against this Province. Pedro Redondo Villegas, Auditor of the Artillery of Havana, whom your Majesty nominated to come here to straighten the accounts of this Province, arrived and has commenced his work. He tells me that he is notifying your Majesty of all and calling your attention to some. He says that having notified me of the Royal balance made to Juan Sebadilla, deceased, being as it is, a large sum, it will be well that you send a bill, stating what must be done about its collection. Captain Alonzo de las Alas has not yet satisfied his balance because while investigating his accounts in virtue of the royal decree of appointments and of which he was in charge, was suspended for four years. In accounts taken of different royal officers, they have paid up many losses against your royal estate. I had noticed this and when the accountant Pedro Redondo arrived I suspended these payments until he could look into them and I shall point out to him the result of what I found in them.

On the eighth of February of this year I rendered your Majesty an account of how I sent the collections to your Treasurer, Juan Menendez Marquez. This time the causes made known in the letter which arrived at this Port on the 21st of this month with four vessels and their cargo of provisions, ammunition and money collected from the allowance was too late, so that hereafter your Royal order set forth in Cedule will be obeyed.

This Garrison and territory is at present abounding in the fruits of the earth—corn and other vegetables. Having encouraged and aided in cultivating the land our Lord has seen proper to give us the most fertile year ever known in these Provinces. On the 16th of this month Don Juan, Casique of the Province of San Pedro, died—the one your Majesty was so kind to in sending him two hundred ducats which were given him. I feel his death very much as he was one of the most faithful and influential in this Territory; he was sagacious and practical, having faith, and agreed in all that you ordered. He died as a good Christian, receiving the sacraments and giving a good example at the hour of his death to all the Indians and natives. His niece becomes his heir; according to their custom the nieces and nephews become the heirs and not the children.

Fray Baltazar Lopez, of the Franciscan order, has arrived from New Spain. He was crippled and sick, so I gave him permission to go to New Spain where he was cured and has regained his health which has been a great happiness for me as he is greatly needed in the conversion. He has brought many to a realization of the truth of Christianity, and I trust in God he

may keep well and continue his good work. In this I try to aid him as much as possible and with some of the officers and soldiers go to visit the Indians from time to time to assure them of our good will and to trade with them. They have just brought from New Spain the five hundred ducats your Majesty gave in charity to the hospital of this City, established for the benefit of the poor soldiers of this Garrison. They also brought five hundred more from Mexico for the Franciscan Convent, and we have also given to said Convent two thousand eight hundred and forty-two reals which were in this Treasury and which were found on the beach of San Mateo from some of the vessels wrecked on that shore, and although your Royal Cedula said it should be three thousand and forty-two reals and a half, the Royal Officers have not been able to find that much on your books, only the amount stated above which was delivered to them for the repairs of the convent. If your Majesty wishes to obtain information regarding Jacon from England you must ask for it by the name of Virginia which is the name given it by the English; if you inquire for Jacon you will get no satisfaction. I send with this a duplicate of the letter written you on February 28th by Pedro Alvarez Castillon via Havana, on the fleet in command of General Sancho Pardo, and as the sea is an uncertain thing I send a duplicate. The frigate which carries this paper and those of the Auditor, Pedro Redondo, belongs to Pedro Gonzales, of Havana, who also goes on her. Should you wish to send dispatches for this Province, Havana or New Spain, this vessel is very appropriate; it is good, small, and sails fast, being of only fifteen tons, and Pedro Gonzales is perfectly familiar with all this coast and is a practical and experienced sailor and can be trusted with anything you wish to send by him. I cannot fail to remind you to grant me a reasonable sum for expenditures of this Garrison, as the expenses are so heavy I am obliged to implore this grace of your Majesty.

May God preserve you in health for the good of Christianity.

Gonzalo Menendez Canso.

St. Augustine, Fla., June 28th, 1600.

I wrote your Majesty by General Sancho Pardo, giving full and detailed account of how I had arranged matters and placed in office as Auditor of the Custom House, of this City, Pedro Redondo, my son, a person perfectly trustworthy, competent and reliable. I have done everything according to your Majesty’s orders. I came to the Province of Florida on the fleet, as you graciously ordered me to investigate the accounts of your Royal Officers and other employees. I arrived in Florida on the 29th of March, presented my commissions, which were accepted by the Governor, Gonzalo Menendez. On the 14th of April, after making all inquiries necessary regarding the accounts, I commenced to investigate, not meeting from the Officers that respect which is shown by the army and navy to your Royal employees. Their books being in such a disordered condition, it will take more time than I calculated to finish these investigations, but I will accomplish them with all possible speed. As I have informed your Majesty through others who the persons are, having to give account and the many and arduous difficulties encountered, there being among auditors, agents and shipmasters, about twenty persons—it will take a longer time to accomplish, although I came quite encouraged and desirous of finishing speedily so as to return to Havana to attend the grand artillery review and take my command. I left town for the term of one year, but find I shall be unable to complete these investigations in that time, as it is impossible to leave them in the muddled condition they are at present. Doctor Juan Gonzales, of the Royal Court of the Indias, has told me he could obtain with the consent of the Governor, a prerogative. I implore your Majesty will send this prerogative and see and notify me as to what I am to do. As I have been here so short a time I cannot inform you of all that you ordered me to investigate. All I can say at present is that there are about two hundred and fifty soldiers in this Garrison; they are good and well drilled and disciplined; that the Governor has planted and under cultivation many acres of land, which will be a great help in the sustenance of these people, who are mostly married, and whose small wages and rations given them does not suffice for their support. They certainly need this grain. Besides others, seeing the good results and what good land it is, are following the example and are clearing and planting fields. With the cutting down of the timber it has done away with the vast quantities of mosquitoes and has helped to improve the City, as one sees on all sides houses in course of construction. The greatest difficulty I find is the difference existing between the Officers of the Royal command and the people. As you have ordered that all should obey them, they are overbearing, as occurs in many other places. If you could devise some remedy for this, all would go well. I shall continue to keep you advised of all that occurs, especially on the matter of investigations and as to who the guilty parties may be. May God grant you a long life of prosperity.

Francisco Redondo Villegas.

St. Augustine, Florida, April 18th, 1600.