The unwritten history of old St. Augustine — John Shaqi
The unwritten history of old St. Augustine
History
The unwritten history of old St. Augustine
Florida -- History -- Spanish colony, 1565-1763 -- Sources; Saint Augustine (Fla.) -- History
for this, from New Spain, with the news of all that had happened so far.
He entered the Port of San Juan de Ulloa on the 9th of September. He
will supply himself quickly with provisions, which at present we have
sent to ask for, and we expect the boats to return soon. They will again
go to this New Spain, and wait there to see the lay of the land, and
where we are to found this town, and understand all the particulars and
qualities to inform you.
When the boats return I will give the details to your Majesty in the
order that the Governor, Friars and other Officers write me, and I shall
be careful to aid them in the name of your Majesty with everything that
they need, so they may not vex the natives, but give themselves up to
friendly intercourse with them, until the time for planting grain. In
future it will not be so expensive, the ground being so fertile we can
gather large harvests, thus serving and exalting your Majesty and the
Catholic faith of Our Lord.
* * * * *
To His Catholic Royal Majesty Pedro Menendez says:
That what he sends your Majesty is what he declares to know of the coast
and lands of Florida, and of the corsairs whom it is said have gone to
populate it and seize the vessels coming from the Indias--and the damage
they may do, and the remedy to be used in cases where they should have
settled. Give them no quarter, and appropriate the coast and lands so
that they can be the more easily turned out--that your Majesty can send
to spread the Gospel, prevent the damages that can be done the vessels
coming from the Indias is as follows: That while in Sevilla last May, he
knew and understood positively from persons coming from the Canary
Islands that they had been on the Island of Teneriffe and Port Garachico
with a Portuguese named Mimoso, who is a pilot on the run of the Indias,
and has a wife and home in France, that he has become a pirate, seizing
the vessels of your Majesty. He carried four men of war, and it was said
he was going to settle the coast of Florida; that two other large
vessels were awaiting him, as soon as he took on water and provisions in
that port, and he saw them there in a small vessel without disembarking
for five or six hours, where some of the people who wish to be under
them came to speak to them. He then returned to his vessel and set sail
to return to the Indias. Also, that he heard in Sevilla and in this
court of your Majesty that the English had gone out with a fleet to the
coast of Florida to settle and to await the vessels from the Indias--and
about a month ago he learned that five large English galleons with heavy
artillery had passed about the end of December along the coast of Gaul
and the tempest had driven them into the harbor of Ferrol, where they
were anchored for a day and a half without landing, but the fishermen
had gone on board to speak to them, and he says: If the above be true,
and the English, French or any other nation should feel disposed to go
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