just next to it, and the new one is not yet closed in, so that we fear the enemy who with a much larger force could easily capture us. They are only distant fifty leagues, two days’ sailing, and once that they were owners of this Port, they would be of the entire Province destroying all the conversions of the Indians who to the service of God are supported and protected by the King and a great trouble to your vassals who sail back and forth in the commerce with this America. Being owners, they would have all the ports, and with their pirates stationed everywhere that vessels should pass. I feel the Port a little more secure than when I came, for one of the bastions is about completed, and by closing the other side looking landward with a palisade of Spanish daggers and tuna, I can retire if it should become necessary. In the meantime your Majesty will kindly apply the means sufficient to finish the work as speedily as possible, as the petition states the danger and risk this Garrison is in. May God spare you many years of the work of Christianity. PABLO ITA Y SALAZAR. St. Augustine, Fla., June 15th, 1675. CHAPTER XII. A. D. 1675. _An effort to be made to dislodge the English from Santa Elena--Orders to complete the Castle--Appalache considered the best Province for settlement--Families from Yucatan for settlers, also the Carrabies--Supplies sent from New Spain--Barracks to be made in the Fort for the soldiers--Money sent to finish the new Castle, also supplies for the soldiers--The neighbors to assist in building the new Castle--Repairs on the bulwarks at Guale--Increase of troops ordered for St. Augustine--A Fortress ordered built at Appalache for the defense of that Province._ By dispatch of the same month and year notice was given Governor Pablo Ita Salazar of the commands issued to his predecessor and to the Viceroy of New Spain regarding the dislodging of the English from the Port of St. Elena, of which they had taken possession with the intention of settling near the mouth, which in effect they did, occupying a passage called St. George. For this reason notice was sent the Sergeant-Major Nicolas Ponce de Leon to proceed to dislodge the English from this settlement, gathering all the forces of that Province and asking aid of the Viceroy of New Spain who was ordered to reinforce him with what he needed. He did not think there would be any considerable difficulty in accomplishing this, as from four English fugitives he had learned all they had done.