CHAPTER XIV--A. D. 1689-1698 147

Letter of the Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Quiroga y Losada, to his Majesty--Giving an account of a custom obtaining in the Garrison which endangers the safety of the people--When the Host is taken out in the night to administer communion to the dying the bells are rung until its return which is often hours, thus preventing the hearing the firing of the sentries across the river who are instructed to fire as often as there are numbers of vessels sighted--This danger fully laid before the Priest, who refused to discontinue the ringing of the bells, notwithstanding the city has been in arms awaiting the enemy for some days--In a Cedula by his Majesty of July 18th, 1674, he asks for a statement concerning the order and place of the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition--These questions answered by Severino Mausaneda March 17th, 1690--An account of a military review in St. Augustine by Governor Don Diego Quiroga y Losada--Also recounts the great advantage to the City by building a sea wall to extend from the Fort the entire length of the City thus securing it against the sea which at present comes up to the houses during a storm--The soldiers and citizens subscribe ten thousand dollars, and the King is petitioned for aid that the citizens seeing his Majesty’s interest will be encouraged to proceed--The King rebukes Governor Don Diego Quiroga y Losada of the city of St. Augustine for unjustly taxing the Indians--Misappropriating funds sent by agreement for canvas and provisions for them--Not attending to their wants and comfort and treating them alone as vassals--Extracts from the investigations of the Council as to alleged excesses committed by the Governor Don Francisco Moral Sanchez--His ill treatment of a Captain of Grenadiers--Acting according to his own will and not to military law--The Governor’s removal desired--A report according to the King’s command concerning affairs under Governor Don Francisco Morales Sanchez--Investigation shows that the facts set forth in the different papers and petitions sent to his Majesty to have been only too true--Impossible to put upon paper the strange, divers and extraordinary excesses committed by this Governor--The abuses sufficient to chill the soul and congeal the blood.