to keep you advised of all that may happen, may God protect your Majesty, increasing your royal Catholic personage with greater kingdoms and possessions as Christianity has need of and your servants desire it should be. From these Provinces of Florida from the banks of San Pelayo and Fort of St. Augustine, October 15th, 1565. PEDRO MENENDEZ DE AVILES. 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.