CHAPTER XIV.

A. D. 1689-1698.

_Letter of the Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Quiroba y Losada, to his Majesty--Giving an account of a custom obtaining in the Garrison which he deems dangerous to its safety--That is, the ringing of the church bells at midnight, when the Host is taken out to administer communion to the dying until the same is returned, oftentimes lasting hours, which same drowns the fire of the sentinel across the river, who is to fire as many times as there are vessels sighted--This danger has been fully laid before the Priest, but to no purpose, notwithstanding the city has been in arms for some days awaiting the enemy--There is also testimony accompanying this letter of the same purport--His Majesty by a Cedule of July 18th, 1694, asks for a statement of the order pursued in the functions of the Edicts of Faith and Anathema and the places where they conduct the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition--These questions answered by Severino Mausaneda, March 17th, 1690--In 1691 Governor and Captain-General of Florida, Don Diego Guiroga y Lorada, gives an account of a military review of St. Augustine--Of the great advantage and security to the city of building a sea wall extending from the Fort the entire length of the town, thus securing it against the sea which in storms comes up to the houses--The soldiers and citizens subscribe ten thousand dollars and his Highness is implored to designate a sum to help to build this wall that the people will be convinced of his Highness’ interest--The King, A. D. 1698, to the Governor and Captain-General, Don Diego Guiroga y Losada, of the City of St. Augustine, in which he rebukes the said Governor for unjustly taxing the Indians, whom he wishes civilized, and not treated alone as vassals, but as his children, attending to their comfort and want, and imposes a fine if the money sent to be spent for canvas and provisions be not paid to these Indians as per agreement--Extracts from the investigations of the Council, in regard to alleged excesses committed by the Governor of Florida, Don Francisco Moral Sanchez--Besides the scandalous reports certified to, is his ill treatment of a Captain of Grenadiers acting according to his own will instead of by military law--The Royal Officers protest--Certify to the truth of these investigations, and implore justice from the King--A report according to his Excellency’s desire concerning affairs under Governor Don Francisco Marales Sanchez--The 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._

A. D. 1689.

_Sire_:

Today I must give you an account of a custom I have found here, which might redound to the injury of this Garrison. It is that at any hour of the night when the Host is taken out to administer communion to the dying the church bells are rung and continue to ring until its return to the church, with the same solemnity as is done in the day time. Now, this might cause very serious results, as when we have the sentinel who is on duty across the river, to fire as many times as there are vessels in view, then the bells are rung and the people gather together. This makes us very attentive in listening for the firing and the noise of the bells at all hours prevents us from hearing and would give the enemy an opportunity of entering and capturing the Town. I always keep the Fort well guarded and am prepared, but as we know from so many occurrences in the Indias in the past few years, all the misfortunes of invasions have come from carelessness. I have solicited the Priest not to have this done and even refused to let him have the soldiers to follow in the procession, but he is very impertinent and says the church belongs to him and he shall do as it pleases him. Since the 28th of May we have been in arms awaiting the enemy, and I sent the Priest word not to ring by one of the soldiers, then by the Sergeant-Major--in spite of my message he rang the bells from half-past ten at night until half-past two o’clock. To avoid danger from this, I have given orders that none of the soldiers attend. If he desists from ringing I will allow him all the soldiers necessary. Things will work thus until your Majesty orders otherwise for the safety of this Garrison. God grant you long life.

DIEGO QUIROBA.

St. Augustine, Fla., August 16th, 1689.

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TESTIMONY WHICH ACCOMPANIES THIS LETTER.

In the City of St. Augustine, Fla., May 28th, 1689.

The Captain of Cuirassiers, Don Diego Quiroba y Losada, Governor and Captain-General of this city and Province, by order of your Majesty.

Says: That this Garrison being in arms and awaiting signals since Sunday, the 22nd. The church has on several occasions rung the bells after midnight in taking out the Holy Sacrament, continuing the ringing for two hours or more, without ceasing. This is contrary to all customs in Spain and the Indias, where the sacrament is not carried in pomp after night, but only by the Priest, the sacristan and two other persons who carry the lights. In a close Garrison it is more strictly observed, and for that reason should be more strictly enforced in this Garrison, as such things are risky, especially as we are under arms, and injury might result, as it would give the enemy time and opportunity to accomplish their intentions. We are trying to stand on the defensive and it might injure this very church itself. For this reason I sent word to the Priest, Don Alonzo de Legurion, Parish Priest and Vicar of this city, in all due form by St. Sebastian Lopez begging him to cease the ringing and setting forth the danger which could result. That he should not go out in pomp, but ask for all the soldiers he wanted and they would be sent. He would not listen, and threatened the Lieutenant with excommunication should he return. Another message I sent by the Sergeant-Major, Pedro Arauda y Avellanedas, to whom he made the same reply, stating that the Church was his and he would ring when he pleased--it had been given him by the Pontificate, and the Governor had nothing to do with it, and must not meddle. Such language and conduct disturbs the public peace. That all this may be certified to I have ordered testimony taken of the case and had the Sergeant-Major and Adjutant Sebastian Lopez examined, and so I sent it and sign

DIEGO QUIROBA Y LOSADA.

Appeared before me, Alonzo Solano, Notary Public of the government, in the City of St. Augustine, Fla., as witness.

SEBASTIAN LOPEZ.

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May 22nd, 1689.

Captain Diego Quiroba y Losada, Governor and Captain-General of said city, ordered to appear before me, the Adjutant, Sebastian Lopez, who is the actual Sergeant-Major in the Garrison, who was in my presence received and sworn in by the Notary Public, in the name of God and the Holy Cross, and having promised to tell nothing but the truth. Asked for the tenor of the Auto at the head of this Document, he said: That at about half-past two o’clock the bells of the church of this City were ringing. Having started out, his Lordship, the Governor, called him and ordered him to take a message to the Priest, telling him that he knew well that the City was in arms, the enemy being on this coast, and they had received signals that the vessels were in sight of the City, and to cease ringing the bells as the noise would prevent them from hearing the signal “to arms.” That coming to the church he told the Priest to stop ringing, that it made too much noise. The Priest’s reply was to order him to leave the church under pain of excommunication, the witness returned three times with the Governor’s Message, but no attention was paid to his Lordship’s Message, and the bells continued to ring. That this is the truth, under sworn oath he states and affirms and that he is twenty-two years old and he signs it.

SEBASTIAN LOPEZ TOLEDO.

Before me, Alonzo Solano, Notary Public and of the Government. It agrees with the original of which mention has been made and which I send. Executed in St. Augustine, Fla., on July 15th, 1689.

ALONZO SOLANO, Notary Public and of the Government.

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By Cedule of your Majesty dated in Madrid, July 18th, 1674, you ask for a statement of the order pursued in the functions of the Edicts of Faith and Anathena and the places where they conduct the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition. And also the cause of the controversies offered by the city whenever they are performed and what has been done this year. The city to avoid all scandal resolved to allow the Commissioner of the Inquisition to conduct things his own way--taking testimony of all the proceedings to report to your Majesty. These acts have no fixed time, but left to the arbitration of the Commissioner who has them when he pleases, every two, three, and even six years. After discussion it was decided not to have them executed this year, as it is not a regular custom, and we wished to report before giving more examples of dissensions. For twenty years the City has allowed itself to be fined for neglect of duty in assisting at the performances. As there is no Tribunal of Inquisition here the Commissioner succeeded in getting the City to go to his house for him, and he, precedes the City. In church, his place to be on the Gospel side, with the humility recognized in such places. The decision of this controversy seems to depend on Law 20,