A. D. 1607.
Sire:
In a letter of the 22nd of January of the present year, which was sent from Havana with a notice of the death of Governor Don Pedro Acuna I have forwarded you, I have also notified you of what I thought of doing with the French and English pirates I held as prisoners. One day after the departure of the boat I sent to have them hanged, using with them such religious treatment as is customary. Ten of them were baptized, the others stated they had already been baptized. It seems that all died as Christians, so that this whole City with their fraternities turned out to lay them out and bury them. I only wish that with these pirates we might put an end to them all on these coasts. There are so many they keep me in great anxiety and I implore you to send me people to destroy them. I have every one on this coast enlisted to aid in their destruction. But my experience is that many have not only sheltered them, saved their lives and estates, but continue to serve them and allow them to come and go at will. They come from a distance of a hundred leagues with all confidence and safety. This week, which is Holy week, I have had here several Casiques and Chiefs who are the lords of the mouth of Miguel Mora, where, I have before told you, we should erect a fort and from there capture the fleet of Charles. I shall tell you the names of these Casiques that you may know who they are and the great achievement I have made in gaining their services. They have returned to their country dressed and very happy and edified with the religious services and processions they have witnessed during this Holy season. They ask for Friars to instruct them. I told them I would come there to visit them. I notify you that this is the time that with more security and less cost a fort could be built there; they themselves would act as peons, and if possible to do so I would myself ask that from Havana they would send me an engineer and eighty men with two launches. Look into this, as I am quite sure they would all lend themselves to serve in the building, as they would feel safe all along that coast from the invasions of the enemy. The other Provinces are very peaceful. With the warriors, silver miners and woodmen I have so long asked your Majesty to send me. I trust in God that we can touch with our hands the great wealth we surely have in the interior of this land. All this I ask of you I am moved to do by the zeal to serve you and enlarge your estate and not for rest or gain. From all these parts I have had here this week over five hundred Indians, and, God knows, to make them understand it, will require more men than I have in our Order to guide them.
In a letter of September 23rd your Majesty commands me to make every possible inquiry to know the origin and source of the River San Mateo and Lake Miami. As I have always tried to make inquiries, about six months ago I discovered on the southern coast a river which I have had examined by three different pilots, and find that it has nine fathoms of water at the entrance of a much wider river. I notified your Majesty of this new river. This garrison is composed of a warlike people and the Friars of San Francisco are thinking of establishing a Manager of the Inquisition to subject them and control their passions. When I came here these warriors were in great want and I have come to an agreement together with the Royal Officers, that we should have Juan Nunez go to Castilla and try to make terms with some merchant to remedy these occurrences. To Fray Pedro Ruiz they have brought an Order from your Majesty in which you command me to let him go to Castilla on account of his age and failing health; that he is of no further use. It seems to me this Friar has not been here so many years and he is perfectly sound and fresh and robust, never having had so much as a headache.
Captain Alonzo de las Alas has presented me a Cedula from your Majesty which gives him permission to go to Castilla for a term of two years and that during that time he is to receive no salary. He claims that it is an oversight in not appointing some one in his place and allowing him to draw his salary as heretofore and which is just, because whoever takes his place is entitled to half of his pay, and for this it will be necessary that your Majesty order Bartolome Arruchas to return to his Post as the permit granted him by your Majesty has expired.
God protect your Majesty.
Pedro Ibarra.
May 16th, 1607, St. Augustine, Fla.
A. D. 1608.