Florida -- History -- Spanish colony, 1565-1763 -- Sources; Saint Augustine (Fla.) -- History
This expedient being ready for the Councils, two letters have been
received, one from the proclaimed Bishop of Minorca and the other from
the Commandant of that Island, Marques de Alos, both dated April 22nd of
the present year. The first states that in consequence of what he spoke
of in his preceding letter of February 5th, that an account of the
troubles on the Island of Minorca in trying to open war with this Court,
His Vicar-General who resides there did not dare to answer His letter of
December 14th past, regarding the various families who had passed into
Florida. That only by a note, without his signature, did he intimate
that this Priest had the title of Prelate and the power to confess and
preach. That he was a person of merit, capacity and virtue. That the
Monk who accompanied him had the license and power to preach and hear
confessions; that immediately after the publication of peace he heard
from the same Vicar, who after writing of several affairs corresponding
to his ministerial duties, He states that from his Parish alone on
account of the great suffering from failures of crops, there had gone to
Florida with others from that Island and Spain, more than three hundred
families. They were urged by insinuations from the Government who
offered them homes, with land to cultivate and hold and the free use of
their Catholic religion, adding these remarks regarding the proclaimed
Priests: Dr. Campos, who had served as Vicar and Parish Priest in the
Parish of Mercadal, had asked him for letters and testimonials to pass
over to Florida, which he granted and in them stated the good character
He bore and exemplary life He had led and good work he had done for the
Church, having served many years as Vicar and being well versed in
literature. The St. Augustine Monk who accompanied Him was Padre
Bartolome Casanovas; he found nothing wrong in His conduct; He had
preached in the Parish of Alazor and was consequently the Confessor of
men; he did not remember more. He concludes his letter stating that this
is about all He can say on the subject. The Commandant, Marques de Alos,
in His letter stated that He had not been able sooner to make the
necessary inquiries and comply with the order on account of the
differences between this Court and that of London, but that things
having quieted he has been able to ascertain that the transmigration of
these families was made by the offer of lands to cultivate and retain
with the free use of their Catholic Religion as practised by the
Minorcans of that Island, according to the treaty between both Courts.
That Dr. Campos was assistant Parish Priest of Mercadal--a Priest of
exemplary life and habits, taking with Him his credentials from the
Vicar of the Diocese in Mahon. It was supposed that the Augustine Monk
went also with permission of his Superior, but of that nothing certain
was obtained, as that portion of the Island of Minorca was under the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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