Charles II, Our Principal Casique, to the King.
God, who with His power has created us from nothing, it being His will—we live, although with work and misfortune, it matters not how, so we live, with our limited understanding, every day without ceasing as we are commanded by our Creator, since He so wishes it, we praise and reverence Him. Leaving this apart we also, the nobility and all in general, old men and old women, children, orphans and disabled, as many as are found in this territory called Habalache, every day we say it seems to us, we do not reverence, embrace and receive in our hearts our principal Casique and King and his noble words. Saying this among ourselves it seems to make us more humble and disposed to receive your words when it reaches our ears. As at present, we could long since have written you, for the obedience we show you, and not waited for your many noble works, and to make known to you of what we are here seeing and suffering, being not only ourselves, but all in this world, who were created from nothing by the will of God. Our priests whose duty it is to care for our souls, cleanse them and absolve them, teaches us good things, and takes away and quenches in us ugly and evil things helping us on to be good Christians, as it is for this you have shown us such great mercy, and so we recognize it, and are believing with one heart. Second: Although we are ignorant people, we think that our hearts and souls belong to our Creator—our bodies and their government, and to whom they belong to teach and punish is to our Head, whom thou art, and whom we recognize as our chief Casique and King, and as the grass grows and has roots, bathed by the dews of night, so we and all your miserable vassals are nourished by your noble words, and although bodily we do not see you with our eyes, we take it from the one who represents you as your Governor and Captain-General—and to him we look as to you and as your words coming from him who we see, hear and understand, and guard, believing and obeying him—
Sire:
From information that I was able to gather by means of gifts to the native Indians, I succeeded in finding out the designs of the settlers of St. George and of the new settlement in St. Elena, where this Garrison was first—distant from here some sixty leagues. About 50 Indians, with orders from the Governor of St. Elena, were to enter the Province of Tamaqua, do all the damage and hostilities they could, taking prisoners and killing the natives. I immediately sent a dispatch by carrier to the Lieutenant of that Province to be on guard and care for the towns. It seems that some six hours before he received my notice, they had entered and destroyed the town of Afinca, a place of about sixty natives. About fifty men entered with sixteen guns and the balance with bows and arrows and machetes, everything exactly as I had been informed. They belong to the Yamares nation who have retired from this dominion and gone over to the English. They killed and carried off the prisoners as certified by a letter from the Lieutenant. I have restored as far as possible the Garrison of Tamaqua for the peace of its natives. If I had had the force sufficient I would have sent the vessels that I have to the settlement of Santa Elena and done them some damage, but, as it is, I have not sufficient forces for anything. The two Captains experienced in that part of the country are old, one of 70 and the other 60 years old. I am sorry to say, the enemy are settling in the interior, where they find the lands so rich and productive of all kinds of fruit. Should they come here they could easily capture us for the lack of men—we need men—more troops. I am informed that forty days ago, eleven vessels with seven hundred men, had been sent out from England. I am awaiting them with fear, for lack of men and ammunition we have. I also distrust my sentinels. I hope you will immediately send me re-enforcements.
God preserve you, etc.
Juan Marquez Cabrera.
St. Augustine, April 15th, 1685.