A. M. Brooks

A. D. 1689-1698.

Letter of the Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Quiroba y Losada, to his Majesty—Giving an account of a custom obtaining in the Garrison which he deems dangerous to its safety—That is, the ringing of the church bells at midnight, when the Host is taken out to administer communion to the dying until the same is returned, oftentimes lasting hours, which same drowns the fire of the sentinel across the river, who is to fire as many times as there are vessels sighted—This danger has been fully laid before the Priest, but to no purpose, notwithstanding the city has been in arms for some days awaiting the enemy—There is also testimony accompanying this letter of the same purport—His Majesty by a Cedule of July 18th, 1694, asks for a statement of the order pursued in the functions of the Edicts of Faith and Anathema and the places where they conduct the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition—These questions answered by Severino Mausaneda, March 17th, 1690—In 1691 Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Guiroga y Lorada, gives an account of a military review of St. Augustine—Of the great advantage and security to the city of building a sea wall extending from the Fort the entire length of the town, thus securing it against the sea which in storms comes up to the houses—The soldiers and citizens subscribe ten thousand dollars and his Highness is implored to designate a sum to help to build this wall that the people will be convinced of his Highness’ interest—The King, A. D. 1698, to the Governor and Captain-General, Don Diego Guiroga y Losada, of the City of St. Augustine, in which he rebukes the said Governor for unjustly taxing the Indians, whom he wishes civilized, and not treated alone as vassals, but as his children, attending to their comfort and want, and imposes a fine if the money sent to be spent for canvas and provisions be not paid to these Indians as per agreement—Extracts from the investigations of the Council, in regard to alleged excesses committed by the Governor of Florida, Don Francisco Moral Sanchez—Besides the scandalous reports certified to, is his ill treatment of a Captain of Grenadiers acting according to his own will instead of by military law—The Royal Officers protest—Certify to the truth of these investigations, and implore justice from the King—A report according to his Excellency’s desire concerning affairs under Governor Don Francisco Marales Sanchez—The 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.

A. D. 1689.

Sire:

Today I must give you an account of a custom I have found here, which might redound to the injury of this Garrison. It is that at any hour of the night when the Host is taken out to administer communion to the dying the church bells are rung and continue to ring until its return to the church, with the same solemnity as is done in the day time. Now, this might cause very serious results, as when we have the sentinel who is on duty across the river, to fire as many times as there are vessels in view, then the bells are rung and the people gather together. This makes us very attentive in listening for the firing and the noise of the bells at all hours prevents us from hearing and would give the enemy an opportunity of entering and capturing the Town. I always keep the Fort well guarded and am prepared, but as we know from so many occurrences in the Indias in the past few years, all the misfortunes of invasions have come from carelessness. I have solicited the Priest not to have this done and even refused to let him have the soldiers to follow in the procession, but he is very impertinent and says the church belongs to him and he shall do as it pleases him. Since the 28th of May we have been in arms awaiting the enemy, and I sent the Priest word not to ring by one of the soldiers, then by the Sergeant-Major—in spite of my message he rang the bells from half-past ten at night until half-past two o’clock. To avoid danger from this, I have given orders that none of the soldiers attend. If he desists from ringing I will allow him all the soldiers necessary. Things will work thus until your Majesty orders otherwise for the safety of this Garrison. God grant you long life.

Diego Quiroba.

St. Augustine, Fla., August 16th, 1689.

Testimony Which Accompanies This Letter.

In the City of St. Augustine, Fla., May 28th, 1689.

The Captain of Cuirassiers, Don Diego Quiroba y Losada, Governor and Captain-General of this city and Province, by order of your Majesty.

Says: That this Garrison being in arms and awaiting signals since Sunday, the 22nd. The church has on several occasions rung the bells after midnight in taking out the Holy Sacrament, continuing the ringing for two hours or more, without ceasing. This is contrary to all customs in Spain and the Indias, where the sacrament is not carried in pomp after night, but only by the Priest, the sacristan and two other persons who carry the lights. In a close Garrison it is more strictly observed, and for that reason should be more strictly enforced in this Garrison, as such things are risky, especially as we are under arms, and injury might result, as it would give the enemy time and opportunity to accomplish their intentions. We are trying to stand on the defensive and it might injure this very church itself. For this reason I sent word to the Priest, Don Alonzo de Legurion, Parish Priest and Vicar of this city, in all due form by St. Sebastian Lopez begging him to cease the ringing and setting forth the danger which could result. That he should not go out in pomp, but ask for all the soldiers he wanted and they would be sent. He would not listen, and threatened the Lieutenant with excommunication should he return. Another message I sent by the Sergeant-Major, Pedro Arauda y Avellanedas, to whom he made the same reply, stating that the Church was his and he would ring when he pleased—it had been given him by the Pontificate, and the Governor had nothing to do with it, and must not meddle. Such language and conduct disturbs the public peace. That all this may be certified to I have ordered testimony taken of the case and had the Sergeant-Major and Adjutant Sebastian Lopez examined, and so I sent it and sign

Diego Quiroba y Losada.

Appeared before me, Alonzo Solano, Notary Public of the government, in the City of St. Augustine, Fla., as witness.

Sebastian Lopez.

May 22nd, 1689.

Captain Diego Quiroba y Losada, Governor and Captain-General of said city, ordered to appear before me, the Adjutant, Sebastian Lopez, who is the actual Sergeant-Major in the Garrison, who was in my presence received and sworn in by the Notary Public, in the name of God and the Holy Cross, and having promised to tell nothing but the truth. Asked for the tenor of the Auto at the head of this Document, he said: That at about half-past two o’clock the bells of the church of this City were ringing. Having started out, his Lordship, the Governor, called him and ordered him to take a message to the Priest, telling him that he knew well that the City was in arms, the enemy being on this coast, and they had received signals that the vessels were in sight of the City, and to cease ringing the bells as the noise would prevent them from hearing the signal “to arms.” That coming to the church he told the Priest to stop ringing, that it made too much noise. The Priest’s reply was to order him to leave the church under pain of excommunication, the witness returned three times with the Governor’s Message, but no attention was paid to his Lordship’s Message, and the bells continued to ring. That this is the truth, under sworn oath he states and affirms and that he is twenty-two years old and he signs it.

Sebastian Lopez Toledo.

Before me, Alonzo Solano, Notary Public and of the Government. It agrees with the original of which mention has been made and which I send. Executed in St. Augustine, Fla., on July 15th, 1689.

Alonzo Solano,
Notary Public and of the Government.

By Cedule of your Majesty dated in Madrid, July 18th, 1674, you ask for a statement of the order pursued in the functions of the Edicts of Faith and Anathena and the places where they conduct the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition. And also the cause of the controversies offered by the city whenever they are performed and what has been done this year. The city to avoid all scandal resolved to allow the Commissioner of the Inquisition to conduct things his own way—taking testimony of all the proceedings to report to your Majesty. These acts have no fixed time, but left to the arbitration of the Commissioner who has them when he pleases, every two, three, and even six years. After discussion it was decided not to have them executed this year, as it is not a regular custom, and we wished to report before giving more examples of dissensions. For twenty years the City has allowed itself to be fined for neglect of duty in assisting at the performances. As there is no Tribunal of Inquisition here the Commissioner succeeded in getting the City to go to his house for him, and he, precedes the City. In church, his place to be on the Gospel side, with the humility recognized in such places. The decision of this controversy seems to depend on Law 20, Chapter 26, of the ninth recompilation of the Indias. This last, the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition pretends is only understood by your Majesty, the Viceroys and Captain-Generals in whom are found a living representation. So that to represent the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition the power is solely invested in your Commissioner—from this comes the act of tramping under foot your Government, whom the Commissioner tries to subdue in all, to his will, as well as the Notary Public and Ministers. That a stop may be put to his audaciousness it has seemed wise and prudent to make a report with testimonies attached to your Majesty, that you may act as you deem proper in the case.

May God grant you long life.

Severino Mausaneda.

Havana, March 17th, 1690.

A. D. 1691.

Your Highness:

Don Diego Quiroga y Lorada, Governor and Captain-General of the Province of Florida, in a letter dated January 8th, 1690, gives you an account of the general review which he passed on the soldiers of infantry and militia of that Garrison. He proposed the advantages and security occurring to the City by building a wall from the Fort, the whole length of the City along the sea, seeing the danger in which it now is of being ruined by floods from the sea (which already comes up to the houses) when we have the slightest storm. The soldiers seeing the necessity of it, immediately offered what they could, the citizens of the Province doing likewise, that the work might advance. I send a certificate showing that the amount of the offering they have made is ten thousand dollars, and that they will use every effort to build the wall, and they have commenced to get out the stone and other necessary things. I implore your Highness to designate a sum to help build this wall, which is so important and that these poor soldiers and citizens may feel encouraged to give more, seeing that your Majesty helps them in such needed work, since nothing less depends upon this wall than the preventing a flood of the place and separating the Castle, losing all that has been spent in the building of it. The Board is obliged to represent you. What the voluntary contributions of the soldiers and citizens of the Province is for the building of this wall, estimate the cost of it, and how much will be needed to continue the work, and with this and what you order, the Count of Galva, Viceroy of the New Spain, must send to Florida the sum of two thousand dollars, that the Governor may apply it to this work, and that he inform the Board of the size, latitude and thickness, the design of it, that they may better understand it. And that the Royal Officers certify that said portion of the two thousand dollars was spent on this work, sending an exact account and cause. Then, the soldiers and citizens of Florida seeing that your Majesty takes an interest in them and helps them, will feel encouraged to continue subscribing. You will decide as most convenient.

Madrid, August 11th, 1691.

The King.

In a letter of June the 8th, 1640, it refers, among other things, that you have sought the means of spending the money assigned for the purchasing of canvas and provisions for the Indians of the Pass of the River Salamototo, as was evident by the certificate and agreement that together with the Royal Officers of that city you made. Seeing all in my Council of War of the Indians—how special attention was called to the new tax imposed for the canoes that serve as transports at the referred river, I have resolved to order and command you (as I do) that the moment you receive this order, that you revoke the one by which you have distinguished yourself together with the Royal Officers, as the agreement of the 1st of February, of 1698, being worthy of reproof, the one that you and they are working in this matter, without any orders whatsoever from me—as should always be the case in questions of this nature especially when my royal soul is so moved towards the Indians, my desire so great, that they should be civilized and treated not alone as my vassals, but as my own children subjugating them and attending to their wants and comfort. Thus you will proceed to revoke what you have done. Advise my Royal Officers by dispatch of the date that they take note of this resolution in the books under their charge—so that at all times it shall be evident. And I also command that you immediately have published and posted proclamations to this effect in all public places in the city and Province inserting to the letter in the proclamation the contents of this dispatch, and sending to the board by the first opportunity presenting itself, testimony of having executed this procedure. A fine of a thousand reals imposed upon you, to be remitted if you do not execute this order immediately in the form that I have imposed and commanded. And that the canoes remain and be paid as they have been up to the present, and as they were up to the date when you imposed the above expressed tax. And you shall advise me clearly and plainly what has been the amount of these taxes up to the date of receipt of this dispatch, and if there be any portion of it, you have it placed at once in my Royal Chest in that city, to remain there until receiving my further orders. So does it suit me and my Royal service.

The Council.

Continuing the account of investigations which have been obtained and were promised in a letter of October 22nd to ascertain with certainty of the excesses committed by the Governor of Florida, Don Francisco Moral Sanchez.

The Council makes known that the events are so strange and extraordinary, which by divers means have been understood to have taken place in that Garrison and its administration, that the very excess itself stuns one with astonishment and paralyzes the credulity of our mind—but, having complied with his duty as commanded, he explains: That he is quite assured of the truth of the report of the Engineer Don Antonio Arredondo, who was an eye-witness and had no reason whatever to judge him otherwise than impartially, being in no conceivable manner dependent. That his report agrees in every particular with the other letters written of the excesses of the above mentioned Governor as will be recognized by the document which accompanies this and is certified to by the Engineer Arredondo at the continuation of them in a private declaration made by the decree expedited for this purpose.

That the few Indians of our faith represent and express their true sentiments, as indicated by a document I remit to this Council, through the Rev. Bishop of Micale, which they obliged SeÑor Arredondo to receive and remit to your Majesty. That other certificates of military and private individuals of that Garrison, with other documents which accompany this, and not only confirm, but add such scandalous excesses of the private life of that Governor, that it is impossible to find decent and decorous words with which to express them. And some of these words are from the mouth of religious Monks and Priests who affirm all these letters as well as the one written by Don Antonio Benavides—there are also later letters giving accounts of the same proceedings.

Besides the scandalous reports being certified to by all, in about the same manner, they accuse the Governor of his treatment of the Captain of Grenadiers Don Felipe de Iturrieta, commandant of the detached troops, forgetting his personal merits, and official position, and his being a person of implicit integrity. He had him thrust into prison in a most shameful and scandalous manner—even depriving him of the resources of writing—and after trampling him in every way he incriminates him for disobedience in the performance of his duties—a mere pretense, for it was that this Officer refused to neglect his duty or allow his men to do so, by being off guard at the Barracks, where it is imperative, according to all military laws that guards should be at their post. The Governor wishing the men for his private purposes ignored or formed false conception of military duties and suspended and imprisoned the Captain. Of the same nature is the charge made against him of violating the Royal ordinance and defying it—when he replied to the Governor in words which would rather indicate respect. It is a shameful act to treat an Officer of honor of his well known character, who has the heavy responsibilities which are recognized as belonging to said Captain, and are certified to in the statements of the circumstances, as also a petition in which is set forth all that has occurred, and imploring that justice be shown Captain Iturrieta that he may not be stigmatized. While all written in these reports and certificates are true, I did not depose him immediately from office until I received the report asked of the Bishop of Micale, knowing his prudence and virtue and that his word would be more approved than all else in the case. In the meantime while awaiting his report I am taking every step to conquer the difficulties which may arise to name a subject who can act in the interim, because it seems the need is so great that it is impossible to form any resolution whatever in the case pending in that Province, and this consideration has suspended all movement of removing him until the order comes for doing so. This in our judgment being more prudent, as the referred to Governor is so engrossed in his private affairs as certified to in the papers of Don A. Arredondo, in which he speaks of the Barracks for lodging the soldiers, and the looking into this matter belongs to the Viceroy of New Spain—that in proper time he take the precautions which he deems most essential.

Concluding with the disposal of the reports, and taking the less scandalous means to depose the Governor of Florida, Don Francisco Moral Sanchez, as he has not been forewarned of what is to happen, it seems doubtful which is the best means to adopt, we will therefore consider the matter with more deliberation proceeding in the safest and most certain way and rendering a personal account as quickly as possible thereafter.

The Council.

Excellent Lord:

In conformity with what your Excellency desires, and satisfying the private order sent me, asking a report and true statement of affairs under the Governor Don Francisco Morales Sanchez. To assure myself from a responsibility devoid of all partiality, and to the truth of the excesses perpetrated by this Governor and a few other private individuals and priests, of which that Garrison wrote you a complaint, asking that you immediatly depose the Governor and name some one in his place, pro tem., so that your Majesty being informed, may place some one who looks more to your interests. For this purpose you sent me a blank dispatch, that in time, I might fill out with the names of the subject elected and the investigation I had made in this affair. I must say, that they are so strange and extraordinary, and such divers means used in their performance—that the accounts I hear in this garrison chill the soul and congeal the blood in one’s veins. There is no way of hiding the misery and misfortune to which this Garrison is exposed. With the same truthfulness I must expose the fact, that I am positively certain from the reports of the Engineer Don Antonio Arredondo, as an eye-witness, that all the excesses committed by this Governor are strictly true as written you and certified to in a report from this Garrison.

The few Indians of our faith represent and express their lamentable sentiments on a paper written you, and sent through the Rev. Bishop of Micale. Other certificates of priests, military men, and private individuals of that Garrison, which I enclose add such scandalous excesses in the manner of living of that Governor that I cannot find decent words in which to express it. Some of these are signed by the same priests who wrote to Don Antonio Benavides, and there are others, citing what the Governor has perpetrated on the Captain of Grenadiers, Don Felipe Iturricta, whom I sent there. Forgetting his merits and that he was a person of implicit confidence, whom I trusted for his unimpeachable conduct, they have placed him in prison under scandalous circumstances, intending to take from him the management of the troops over whom I placed him. He has been under the most rigorous guard, searching even his food, depriving him of the privilege of writing to ask for a hearing, accusing him of crimes and lack of obedience. They have no other course, in my opinion, than a pretext, as this Officer has fulfilled his duty with promptness and rectitude, showing only the ordinary precautions observed in the regiments for infinite reasons. The guards cannot be excused from the Barracks where the troop is stationed—which is one of the principal rudiments of military tactics—as well for safety as anything which might occur. The Captain insisted on maintaining these principles from which has arisen this trouble, and the assigning of the wrong conception of duty and want of obedience preferred against him. Of the same nature is the other charge: that he had defied the Governor. To this Captain Iturricta replied: if you were not the Governor you could not use such language to me—showing that he respected the office of Governor. The Governor does not seem to recognize the respect due to a man and Officer of standing and distinguished character, and let me add incidentally, placed here by me, as commandante of a detached body, to encourage and hold this fagged out Garrison. They should consider it an honor, for so distinguished a personage to accept this place, and so honorably discharge his duty. Your Majesty will understand all from the report of said Captain and the testimonials stating the circumstances. I also enclose a petition from the Captain in which he implores you to do him justice, a virtue so in keeping with your Royal heart, and not allow an officer of his standing to remain in disgrace. I can positively assure you, that had not the Captain and other Officers been true and faithful to their duty, they could have caused much trouble among the inhabitants of this Garrison, from this unjust act. Although I have reported all the abuses said to have been committed by the present Governor of Florida, and you should place some one of experience and good conduct in his place. I hope that your Majesty with your great experience, will pardon me for troubling you on the present occasion, and look unprejudiced into this affair. All that has been said of the matter, and all that I have been commanded in so important a trust—I am trying to investigate to the very root. Going cautiously, feeling my way, trying to right troubles without any scandal, so that I may send you the name of some worthy subject who can act pro tem. in that capacity—as, from all the information I have expounded it seems urgent you should remove this man, so as to restore the confidence your vassals have in your Majesty, and the responsibility I represent. The engineer, Don Antonio Arredondo, assures me no other expedient can be taken, while the present Governor is so engrossed in his own private interests, as you may infer from the last chapter.

Regarding the Barracks for lodging the hundred men, it is an evident fact, that but for the persistent effort of the Engineer Arredondo, they would have been returned to that Kingdom. All of which he reported to the Viceroy of Mexico that he might take the necessary precautions. Having disposed of the duty of having the Governor removed, I am doubtful of what will be best to do next toward your Majesty’s interests, but I shall act as in my judgment seems best and as circumstances present themselves.

May God preserve you.

Juan Francisco Horcasitas.