CHAPTER III.
A. D. 1583-1596-1598.
Report of Fernando Miranda, agent to the King—Complains of Governor—Espionage over vessels—Gives account of the work of the negroes—Haste makes it necessary to employ soldiers in repairing the Fort for which they were paid—Partial failure of crops increases the cost of living—Report of Bartolome De Arguellas giving account of rebellious Indians—Some of those captured were sent to Havana to be executed, others to be imprisoned—Casiques render obedience to the Governor who assures them of his good intentions—Report of Pedro Pertrene to the King—Is newly called to take charge of a company of Infantry in the Garrison of Florida—Salary not sufficient to meet expenses of living, recalls his long service to the King, and asks for increase of pay—Letter from Dona Maria Menendez, Casique, to the King—Asks for assistance in meeting the necessary expenses for instruction of the Indians in Christianity and good government.
A. D. 1583.
Fernando Miranda and Rodrego Junco, assistant Agent, who was of these Kingdoms, to His Majesty:
After the Governor had given a decree of the same suspension, we asked him that until your Majesty should otherwise provide, we be allowed to continue in office and watch over your Majesty’s interest. Another thing which occurs to us to inform your Majesty: Yesterday there sailed from this Port for Havana a vessel belonging to some one in Havana, and the Governor made every effort to see if we had sent any papers by her—he searched the vessel and not wishing to give testimony, we understood he did not wish any letters sent, and so we dared not write more. We felt that this would be sufficient for your Majesty to place the remedy and investigate the cause, and punish the culprit.
In the two years that your Majesty’s negroes have been here, they have made a platform for the artillery of this Fort of an indestructible wood—as the one they had previous to this rotted away in two years. They have made a blacksmith shop, and whatever repairs were needed on the Fort. Ten of the best of them were sent to Santa Elena to saw boards to cover that Fort which needed it. On beginning the work it was found that the whole Fort was in such a damaged condition it was necessary to tear it all down and rebuild as quickly as possible. On account of the haste required the soldiers were obliged to help for which work they were paid. It was completed in four months, during which time the negroes had to be fed on bread, meat and wine. Besides they have helped to build a church here, sawed lumber for the building of many dwellings, and have cleared the woods to some extent for planting. The first crop not being good, caused extra expense of food and ammunition which was given them—but for the past six months they have been fed on the harvest made, with no other expense but the oil and salt. They have corn enough to last until the next harvest, and all the expense incurred to the end of June of the present year is six thousand five hundred reals, from the Treasury of your Majesty—because, although there have been some other expenses, we have availed ourselves of advantages we had after having had recourse to what has been offered to your Majesty’s service. About six months ago eleven of these negroes were hired to soldiers of this Fort, without the knowledge of the Treasurer, rendering an account of this to the Governor. It is about a year and a half since we notified the Governor that he should not keep these accounts, but as provided by your Majesty they should be sent to this Court. He has never sent them. Your Majesty will act as best suits him in this affair of our suspension; we again implore your Majesty to give us a hearing, and some satisfaction, since we are left in this sterile country without the means of sustenance. May God preserve your Majesty for many years with great aggrandizement.
Fernando Miranda.
St. Augustine, August 20th. 1583.