The Arena Massacre of Trinidad Part 1.

Documents relating to the massacre of the

Governor, Don Jose de Leon y Echales,

other officials and missionaries at

San Francisco de la Arena, by

Indians, on 1st December, 1699.

Collected and translated by

Father P. J. Buissink, P.P.,

San Rafael, and

published by the

Historical

Society

of

Trinidad and

Tobago, 1938

FOREWORD.

The following documents relate to the judicial proceedings against

the Indians who murdered the Missionaries of San Francisco de la

Arena, the Governor and members of his party. The proceedings are

translated in extenso except where the legal formula and signatures

are repeated with the examination of each witness or prisoner, in

which instances the repetition is summarised and printed in italics.

The Society previously issued, as Publication No. 193, a report

of the massacre by Fr. Mateo de Anguiano, official historian of the

Capuchins, written in 1704.

Testimony in the criminal case which the

Alcaldes-Governors of the Island of Trinidad-

Don Diego de Alaje Tenreiro and Don Tomas

de Lezama made together against the Indians

of Arena, in the rear 1700, to be transmitted

to the King Our Lord.

General Archives of the Indies. Sevilla.

Audience of Sto. Domingo, Bundle 582.

LETTER OF THE FATHER PREFECT.

SENORES, ALCALDES, GOVERNORS, JESUS, MARIA.

         I give advice that yesterday, the first day of the New Year,

the General Don Antonio readied the mission of Savanna

Grande with all his men very tired and exhausted, through

lack of provisions. He brings with him twenty-seven prisoners,

men of twelve years and more; thirty-two adult women;

twenty-five little ones less than twelve years old, and states

that ten Indians with their wives went over to the Caribs of

the reefs, having with them ten women to give them to the

other Caribs in order to hide them or go elsewhere. I have

heard that General Don Antonio has ordered the Indians to

pursue those ten Indians with their wives and other single

women, and among them the old Chief and the Lieutenant

with all the members of his party who are on an Island in the

marsh. And the General Don Antonio would not go there for,

lack of provisions, and because he had with him many

prisoners, he has decided not to take these prisoners with him

to Savanna, until the return of those who have gone to seek

the Chief and his people. I have not approved of this decision

which he has taken with the Second-Lieutenant Diego, and

have insisted that they should bring the prisoners to our

Lordship, and after that should go in search of the others, and

they have answered that the prisoners were kept under good

watch, and that they wished to bring them all together.

That is all I have to tell your Lordship whom God guard

many years.

Naparima, the second of January, 1700.

Chaplain of your Lordship,

GABRIEL de BARCELONA.

ORDINANCE OF THE GENERAL MEETING.

         In the town of San Jose de Oruna, Island of Trinidad, on

the sixth day of the month of January, 1700, the Sergeant-

Major Don Diego de Alaje Tenreiro and the Second Lieutenant

Tomas de Lezama, alcaldes in ordinary, Governors because of

the death of the Camp-Master Don Jose de Leon, Governor

and Captain General of these provinces for His Majesty, for

the desired effect and decision of what must be done in relation

to a paper which they had received from the Reverend Father

Gabriel de Barcelona, Prefect of the missions of this province,

in which he advises them that General Antonio, who is at the

head of the missions of Naparima, and Second Lieutenant

Diego Martinez, Spaniard who assists the said Reverend

Father, after a march which they had made in pursuit of the

criminal Indians of the mission of Arena, had 82 prisoners

men, women and children, and that he expected a part of his

troops which he had sent to pursue some fugitive criminals.

They ordered him to put himself at the head of these

ordinances, and called a general meeting, in which were

present: -Alderman Captain Juan de Lezama, Martin

Alonso Guerrero, the Captain Don Francisco Coronado, and

the Captain Diego Perez de Leon, and the Camp-Master

Don Pedro Fernandez de la Vega, the Sergeant-Major Juan

Martinez de Vengoechea y Esponda, the Captain Diego

Onorato Orval, the Captain Don Vicente de Leon y Urriti,

the Captain Domingo Nieto de Sobrado, the Captain Don

Antonio de Bustamante, the Captain Juan Isidro de Mier,

the Captain Antonio de Robles, the Captain Don Francisco

de Zuniga, the Captain Gaspar Gutierrez de Sandoval. And

when they were assembled in the royal house of the Cabildo,

these men read the said paper, in order to propose what

ought to be done with the said Indians, because the punishment

was executed for the first whom they had taken in the two

marches which they had made And it seemed good to all

members of this meeting that the same judgment should be

pronounced against them which was executed against the

other criminals for all the men of fourteen years of age or

above, because it was evident that they had taken part in such

an atrocious crime and sacrilege, as they had committed, and

that the rest of the children and the women should be

distributed and put in the custody of some persons in this

town for their service, and these persons should take the

obligation to nourish them and to instruct thm in the teaching

of our Holy Catholic faith, until in the meantime they would

give an account of this resolution to his Highness the President

and the Judges of the Royal Audience and the Royal Chancery,

of Santa Fe in the new reign of Granada, so that in view of

this his Highness dispose what must be done with those

children and women. And when the said Alcaldes had heard

and understood this, they asked the Captain Don Antonio

de Bustamante, the general Protector of the Indians of this

province what he thought about this arrangement and

proposal. And he answered that everything was well arranged

and that he relied on his Highness who in view of all this

would order that which would be the most convenient to the

royal service, And the same alcaldes said that they approved

with all which was contained in the said meeting, and that

they would decree accordingly concerning the punishment

and its execution, and the sending of these ordinances to his

Highness, so that in view of them he determine what must

be executed in this matter. And in conformity with this all

those present signed it on the said day, month and year.

The signatures follow.

ORDINANCE.

         In the town of San Jose de Oruna, Island of Trinidad, on

the tenth of the month of January, 1700, we the Sergeant-

Major Diego de Alaje Tenreiro and the Second Lieutenant

Tomas de Lezama, alcaides in ordinary, Governors of this

Island, in the vacancy of a government for the King our Lord,

after the General Antonio had reached this town with the

Indian prisoners, indicated the general meeting which we

held on the sixth day of the present month, and which is

written at the head of these ordinances, for its fulfilment and

the execution of what is resolved there, stop to examine the

judgment which was given and pronounced by the Alcaldes-

Governors our predecessors against the two Indians if the

mission of Arena, concerning their rebellion. And after

having seen and examined those ordinances, for more justifica-

tion of the generality of the sedition, and to see, if all of that

mission were accomplices and co-operators in the said crime,

as one of the accomplices declared during the said judgment,

in the first declaration of those ordinances, and in other

declarations concerning this matter, besides that of the first

declaration, we order that the declarations and avowals be

taken from seven of the accomplices, who were brought here,

and that they be asked, if all the Indians of the said mission

with common accord disposed themselves and resolved to

commit the crime, indicated in those ordinances. And their

oaths and avowals shall be taken with the assistance of the

Captain Antonio de Bustamante who is the Protector of those

Indians, and when this is done, measures shall be taken,

according to what has been resolved in the said general

meeting, against those who shall be found to have co-operated

in this crime. So we dispose, order and sign with the witnesses

with whom we act in the absence of a Notary Public, who

were :- The Captain Lorenzo Mendez de Sotomayor and the

Second Lieutenant Antonio de Montenegro residents of this

town. Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Lorenzo

Mendez de Sotomayor, Lorenzo Antonio de Montenegro.

NOTIFICATION.

         In this said town, on the twelfth day of the month of

January of this year 1700, we the said alcaldes-Governors

made known the ordinance written above to the Captain

Don Antonio de Bustamante, Protector of the Indians, and

he said that he had heard it and signed it. Diego de Alaje,

Tomas de Lezama, Antonio de Bustamante.

AVOWAL OF GREGORIO.

         And immediately after we the said alcaldes, in order to

fulfil the ordinance given above, received the declaration of

Gregorio, one of the principal Indians among the aggressors,

mentioned in the said ordinance, through the Captain Martin

de Mendoza, principal Indian of the settlement of the valley

of San Agustin de Arauca, who fulfilled the office of interpreter,

because the said Gregorio did not know the Spanish language,

and to that effect the oath was taken of the said interpreter.

And because he was ladino and knew the value of an oath,

he made it to God our Lord and with a sign of the cross in

due legal form, under the burden of which he promised to

speak the truth and with all faithfulness concerning that

which the said Gregorio would answer to that which would

be asked him. And he was asked, if he was with the others,

when they killed the Reverend Missionary Fathers who were

in the mission of Arena, he said, that he was not, that

Father Estevan had sent him to the ford of the river Aripo,

to bring over the Governor who would come to visit the said

mission. Asked, if he knew that they were resolved to kill

the said Fathers, he said that he knew it. Asked, if he was

present, when they killed the said Governor, he said that

he was present, and that it was he who finished off the

Governor, and helped the others to kill his companions.

Asked, if of the others caught by General Antonio, and

brought to this town, there is one who is not an accomplice,

or who did not have part in these murders, he said that all

were there and took part in these murders, except Ignacio

who was absent from this mission and knew nothing, until he

came back and everything was finished. And the said

interpreter added that all this is the truth, which the said

Gregorio had answered to all what was asked him, under the

weight of the oath which he had made, and which he maintains

and ratifies as a Christian. And he says that he has the age

of a little more or less than seventy years. And the said

Gregorio did not know his age; he seems to be a little more

or less than thirty years. And the said interpreter added that

he had well and faithfully fulfilled his office, under the burden

of his oath. And when this declaration was read to the said

Gregorio and was explained by the said interpreter, he

answered that it was the same which he had made, and

maintains and ratifies it. And the said interpreter did not

sign, because he did not know. We the said Alcaldes sign

with the Protector and the witnesses who were :- Captain

Diego de Torres and Ignacio Pimiento and the Second

Lieutenant Lorenzo Antonio de Montenegro, residents of this

town, Diego do Alaje, Tomas de Lezama, Antonio do

Bustamante, Diego de Torres Vadillo, Lorenzo Antonio

de Montenegro, Juan lgnacio Pimiento.

AVOWAL OF AGUSTIN.

         Agustin, an Indian, then gave the following evidence through the

interpreter : Asked if he took part with the others who killed

the said Reverend Fathers Missionaries, he said that he was

present, but that he did not help in the killing. Asked if he

was present with the others, when they killed the Governor

and his companions at the Aripo river, he said that he was

present, but that likewise he killed no one, and wounded only

one horse. Asked, if any one of those who were made prisoner

with him and caught by General Antonio, was not an

accomplice, or was not present at the related crime, he said

that all took part its these murders, except lgnacio who was

absent from the mission, and knew nothing, and when he

came back, everything was finished. Asked, what cause or

motive they had to commit such a crime, he said that, because

the Father had reprimanded them, because they would not

work in the construction of a Church in the said mission, and

that he threatened them with said Governor.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes and Protector in the presence of

witnesses.

AVOWAL OF JOSE (Age 20).

         Jose, Christian Indian of the said mission who helped the said Fathers

in his office of Sacristan, and is one of the caught criminals took the

oath: And asked if he was with the others in the murders of the

Reverend Fathers Missionaries, he said that he was with them,

and that the night before they had had a meeting to decide these

murders, and that they had invited him to it, but that he

killed no one. Asked, if he was present at the murder of the

Governor and of those who accompanied him, he said that

he was not present, that he had remained in the mission, and

that he had put a surplice to help to drag out the Fathers.

Asked if any of those caught by General Antonio was or was

not guilty of these murders, lie said that all were present and

helped in these murders, and that those who descended to

the river Aripo to kill the Governor and his companions came

back to this mission, glorifying themselves, because of the

murders which they had committed, and that he heard that

Augustin who made his declaration in these ordinances said

that he alone had killed Father Juan Antonio Mazien, Priest

of the Order of Preachers, who was in the company of the

said Governor. Asked if the Indian Ignacio was present

whom the others declared absent, he said that he was not

there, that he knew nothing, because he was not in the said

mission. Asked if an Indian, called Evaristo, and another,

Juan Santos who are prisoners caught by the Spaniards, took

part in the murders, he answered that they took part in them

and that Evaristo descended to the river and glorified himself

as having killed one, and that Juan Santos remained in the

mission. Asked, what cause or motive they had to commit

such an atrocious crime, he said that because they did not

assist at the obligatory devotions, and did not attend the

instruction of our Holy Catholic faith, the Father reprimanded

them, and because they would not work in the construction

of the Church, he threatened them that the Governor would

be obliged to punish them. . . Jose then swore to the truth of

the above statement which was signed by the Alcaldes, Prolector

and witnesses.

AVOWAL OF MATHEO.

         Matheo, an Indian about 40 years old, then gave the following

evidence through the interpreter: Asked if he took part with the

others in the murders of the Reverend Fathers Missionaries,

he answered that he did not, because he had gone to the

river to wait for the Governor, and that he knew that they

had had a meeting to commit those murders the night before.

Asked if he took part with the others in the murder of the

Governor, he said that he did, and for more information he

added that he killed the Notary Public Mateo de Oso with

an arrow of agave and covered him with some leaves. Asked

if those who are prisoners with him, and were caught by

General Antonio, had not taken part in these murders, and

were not in the said mission, he answered that all took part

in them, except Ignacio who was absent and knew nothing,

and when he returned to the said mission, everything was

finished. Asked, if Juan Santos and Evaristo, Indians of the

said mission who are prisoners caught by the Spaniards, took

part in the said murders, he answered that they did, and that

Juan Santos remained at the mission to help to drag the

Fathers out, and that Evaristo went to the river, and knows

who killed Pedro Pacheco, one of those who accompanied

the Governor. Asked what cause or motive they had to

commit such a crime, he said that the Fathers reprimanded

them and warned them, because they did not help in the

construction of the church that they were building, and

threatened them with the Governor, and they decided to

forestall everything.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes, Protector and witnesses.

AVOWAL OF PABLO.

         Pablo, an Indian about 40 years old, then gave the following

evidence through the interpreter : Asked if he took part in the

murders of the Reverend Fathers Missionaries, he said that

he did, and that he alone killed Father Raimundo de Figuerola,

whom Juan Santos had locked up in a little room, and he

broke the door with an axe to commit the said murder,

which he did with a wooden tool, when he found the said

Father with a Holy Christ in the hand, and that he did not

go to the river and take part in the murder of the Governor,

because he remained in the mission with the others. who

dragged the said Fathers out. Asked, if his fellow prisoners

took part in the said murders, he answered that all took part

in them, except Ignacio who was absent, and when he

returned to the mission, everything was finished. Asked if

the prisoners Evaristo and Juan Santos took part with the

others in these murders, he said that they did and that

Juan Santos remained in the mission with the others to drag

along the Fathers, and that Evaristo went in ambush to kill

the Govenor and his companions. Asked what cause or

motive they had to commit such a foul crime, he said that it

was out of fear that the Governor would punish them.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes, Protector and witnesses.

AVOWAL OF VENTURA.

         Ventura, a Christian Indian of the mission of Arena, aged about

20 years, took the oath, and gave the following evidence through the

interpreter : Asked if he was present at the murders of the

Reverend Fathers Missionaries, he said that he was present,

and that he was in the kitchen and saw the Fathers killed.

Asked if he went to the ford to wait for the Governor and his

companions, he said that he went and that he took part with

the others in this second crime. Asked, if the other prisoners,

and all the others of the said mission who are fugitives, took

part in these murders and in the other crimes which they

committed, he said that all took part, except Ignacio who was

absent, and when he returned to the mission, they had already

committed the crime. Asked, for what cause or motive they

killed the Fathers, the Governor and the others, he answered

that it was out of fear that with the coming of the Governor

they would be punished for their sorceries and their infrequent

attendance at religious instruction.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes, Protector and witnesses.

AVOWAL OF EVARISTO.

         Evaristo, Indian of the mission of Arena, gave the following

evidence through the interpreter : Asked if he was present at the

murders of the Reverend Fathers Missionaries, he answered

that he was present in the said mission at a meeting which

took place the night before to kill the Fathers and the Governor,

and he saw them kill the Fathers, but he killed no one.

Asked, if he went to the river Aripo with the others to wait

for the Governor, he said that he did and that he finished off

Pedro Pacheco, a soldier accompanying the said Governor.

Asked if all the Indians of the named mission were accomplices

and took part in the related crime, he answered that all took

part in it, except Ignacio who was absent and knew nothing

of what had happened, until everything was finished. Asked,

what cause or motive they had to commit such atrocities, he

said that they feared that the Governor would punish them

for their transgressions and their neglect to attend religious

instruction.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes, Protector and witnesses.

AVOWAL OF CALIXTO.

         Calixto, an Indian, gave the following evidence through his

interpreter : Asked if he took part in the murders of the

Reverend Fathers Missionaries, he said that at that time he

was sick and could not walk, and therefore he was not present

at the murders of the Fathers and of the Governor and his

companions. He said that he knew that they had had a

meeting for this purpose. Asked, whether he knew if all the

Indians of the said mission, as well as the prisoners and those

still fugitives, were present to commit such an atrocious crime,

he answer that all were present, except Ignacio who was

absent from the mission. Asked from whom and how he

knows that all the said Indians were present, he answered

that he had seen them from his house, Asked, if he knows for

what cause or motive they committed such an atrocious crime,

he said that they feared that the Governor would punish

them for their abuses and superstitions.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes, Protector and witnesses.

AVOWAL OF IGNACIO.

         Ignacio, an Indian, gave the following evidence through the

interpreter : Asked, if he was present in the mission of Arena

at the time that they murdered the Fathers Missionaries,

he answered that he was not present. Asked, if he was

present at the ford of the river Aripo, when they killed the

Governor and his companions, he said that he was not present.

Asked, where he was, he answered that with the permission of

the Fathers he had contracted work in the Estates of the

Captain Juan de Lezama in the valley of Cumucarapo, and

that after having fulfilled the time of the contract, he went

back so the said mission the same day that the other Indians

had committed the crime concerning which he was questioned,

and that in ignorance of what had happened and knowing

nothing, he had met the Sergeant-Major Don-Manuel Firmin

who went back to this town wounded, and immediately after

he met three Indians who followed him to finish him off, and

who were recognized by him, and were called Bernardo,

Barnabe and Hilario, who despairing to reach the said

Sergeant-Major, took him to the said mission where they

returned, and that he saw along the road the dead bodies,

and in the said mission he found that they had already buried

the Fathers and committed other sacrileges. Asked, if he

knows whether all the Indians of the said mission took part

in this crime, he answered that he knows that all took part

in it, and that no one failed, because so he heard it said by all,

and he heard it said by the aggressors at the time he was in

their company. Asked if he knows for what reason they

committed such an atrocious crime, he said that he did

not know.

         The above statement was sworn by the interpreter as being correct

and was signed by the Alcaldes, Protector and witnesses.

ORDINANCE.

In the named town, on the thirteenth day of the month of

January of the year indicated, we the said Alcaldes-Governors,

in the absence of a Governor, for the justification of the

innocence of the, said Indian Ignacio, indicated in these

ordinances, order that a declaration be taken of the Captain

Juan de Lezama, and that the declaration of the said Indian

Ignacio be put under his eyes for his contestation. So we

dispose, order and sign, with the witnesses who were:-

The Captain Lorenzo Mendez and the Second Lieutenant

Lorenzo Antonio de Montenegro with whom we act in the

absence of a Notary Public. Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas

de Lezama, Lorenzo Mendez, Lorenzo Antonio de Montenegro.

AVOWAL OF THE CAPTAIN JUAN DE LEZAMA.

         And immediately after, for the conclusion of this case and

the justification of the declaration made by the Indian Ignacio,

contained in these ordinances, we the said Alcaldes-Governors

with the assistance of the Protector and the witnesses, ordered

to appear before us the Captain Juan de Lezama, resident of

this town, to the effect that he swear and declare concerning

the contents of the declaration which Ignacio made. And his

oath was received in due legal form, and when he had made

it well and completely, under the charge of which he offered

to speak the truth of what he knew and would be asked, and

when the declaration made by the said Ignacio was read to

him, and when he was asked on what day and at what hour the

said Ignacio left his house to return to the said mission, and

how long he worked in his estate, he answered that on Tuesday

the first day of December which was the same day that the

said tragedy happened, the said Ignacio left the valley of

Cumucarapo and reached this town at twelve o'clock, from

where he followed the road to the settlement of Arauca,

where he possessed another estate, and was and spoke with

the family of his house, and when he left the said valley of

Arauca in order to go to the said mission, it was more than

three hours after the Governor and his companions had left

the said valley to go to that mission, and such is in accord

with his words ; and that he worked in his indicated estate

twenty days more or less.

         Captain Juan de Lezama signed this statement with the Alcaldes,

Protector and witnesses.

NOTIFICATION AND ORDINANCE.

         And immediately after, we the said Alcaldes-Governors,

after having seen the declaration made by the Captain Juan

de Lezama which accords with the avowal of the said lgnacio,

and that the other criminals have admitted their crime, we

order, for further proof and to fix without delay that their

avowals made with the assistance of the Protector be ratified.

So we arrange, order and sign, being witnesses the Second

Lieutenant Juan Garcia de Miranda and Lorenzo Marcano,

residents of this town, Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas

de Lezama, Antonio de Bustamante, Juan Garcia de Miranda,

Lorenzo Marcano. And immediately after we the said

Alcaldes and Governors made known the above written

ordinance to the Captain Don Antonio de Bustamante, general

Protector of the Indians of this Island, and he said that he

had heard it and signed with us :- Diego de Alaje Tenreiro,

Tomas de Lezama, Antonio de Bustamante.

RATIFICATION OF GREGORIO.

         And immediately after we the said Alcaldes-Governors,

with the assistance of the said Protector and the witnesses,

with whom we act in the absence of a Notary Public, ordered

to bring in our presence the Indian Gregorio, one of the

aggressors who gave his declaration in these ordinances, to

the effect that he ratify his declaration. And therefore we

ordered to call the Captain Martin de Mendoza, interpreter

named in these ordinances, so that by his office may be made

understood by the said criminal that which he has declared.

And therefore he made an oath in due legal form, because he

was a Christian and understood its value. After having made

it well and completely,  he offered under the weight of it to

ask and to answer, as he would be ordered and the said

criminal would answer. And in conformity to this, the

declaration of the said criminal was read to the said interpreter,

and he was ordered to declare it, and the said criminal

answered that it was the same which he had made, and he

maintains and ratifies it, and he adds that an Indian of those

who where with him, called Calixto, at the time when they

committed the avowed crime, was sick and it was impossible

for him to go out, and therefore he was not present at any of

the crimes with the others ; that he knew however what they

had resolved in the meeting, and that at the time, that all the

Indians escaped from the said mission, the wife of the said

Catixto, carried him away, because he could not walk, and

that he recalls nothing else other than what he has answered.

Asked it the other Indians of the said mission who are fugitives

took part in the said crimes, he said that all took part in them,

and that is according to the declaration. And the said

interpreter added that he had well and faithfully fulfilled his

office, according to his faithful knowledge and understanding.

And he says that he is of the age indicated, and he does not

sign, because he cannot. We sign with the named Protector

and the witnesses who were:- the Second Lieutenant Juan

Garcia de Miranda and Lorenzo Marcano, residents of this

town. Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Antonio

de Bustamante, Juan Garcia de Miranda, Lorenzo Marcano.

RATIFICATION OF AGUSTIN.

  The Indian Agustin similarly ratified his statement, adding :

That he remembers that an Indian among the prisoners with

him, called Calixto, at the time when they committed the

Crimes mentioned in these ordinances was sick and was not

with them, and when they escaped from the said mission

his wife carried him away. Asked if the other Indians who

are fugitives took part in these crimes, he answered that all

were accomplices.

RATIFICATION OF JOSE.

  The Christian Indian, Jose, then ratified his statement on oath,

adding : That he remembered that Calixto, an Indian, and

prisoner in his company, was not present at any of the murders,

and when they took to flight from the said mission, his wife

carried him away, and he knows nothing else. Asked, if the

Indians who escaped took part in the committed crimes, he

said that they did, that all were present.

RATIFICATION OF PABLO.

  The Indian Pablo then ratified his statement through an

interpreter, adding : That he remembered that Calixto, Indian,

prisoner with him, was sick at the time that they committed

the indicated crimes, and was not present at them. Asked, if

the other Indians who are fugitives took part in these crimes,

he answered that all took part in them.

RATIFICATION OF VENTURA.

  The Indian Ventura then ratified his statement through the

interpreter, adding: That Calixto, an Indian made prisoner

with him, was sick at the time they committed the crimes,

and was not present. Asked if the other Indians who are

fugitives took part in those crimes, he answered that all took

part in them.

RATIFICATION OF EVARISTO, CALIXTO, AND lGNACIO.

  The Indians Evaristo, Calixto and Ignacio then ratified their

statements through the interpreter.

EXAMINATION OF THE ORDINANCES BY THE PROTECTOR.

  In this same town, on the day indicated, month and year,

we the said Alcaldes-Governors, having seen in these

ordinances a criminal case against the Indians of the mission

of Arena, order to give them over to the Captain Don Antonio

de Bustamante, Protector, in order that he quote what he

finds in justice, with the provision that he answer within

three hours, because what must be determined, in justice must

be executed urgently, and for this effect those ordinances

must be handed over to the said Protector. So we dispose,

order and sign with the witnesses present with whom we act

in the absence of a Notary Public and who were :- The

Second Lieutenant Juan Garcia de Miranda and Silvestre

Ernandez, residents of this town, Diego de Alaje Tenreiro,

Tomas de Lezama, Juan Garcia de Miranda, Silvestre

Ernandez.

NOTIFICATION.

  And immediately after we the said Alcaldes-Governors

made known the ordinance contained in the preceding sheet

to the Captain Antonio de Bustamante, general Protector of

the Indians of this Island who said that he had heard and

understood it, and that he would answer within the limit of

time given him, and therefore he received the said ordinances

and signed with us :- Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas

de Lezama, Antonio de Bustamante.

PETITION.

  I, the Captain Antonio de Bustamante, general Protector

of the Indians of this province, after having taken all the

necessary care, appear before your Honour in the criminal

case that by the office of the royal justice has been instituted

against the Indians of the mission of San Francisco de la Arena,

caught and made prisoners by the Second Lieutenant Diego

Martinez de Arrieta, Spaniard, and the General Don Antonio

de la Cruz, Indian of the Naparima tribe, and say that I have

examined the said ordinances and criminal case, and l find

that your Honour in justice must declare free lgnacio and

Calixto, Indians named in these ordinances who gave their

declaration in this case, because no guilt can be found in

these ordinances against them among the guilty charged in

them, because their declarations set them free, and show that

they have not co-operated in the crimes. And for all the

others involved in the said case I entreat your Honours that

their chastisement be exercised with the greatest mercy that

can be found in justice, paying attention to their incapacity

and ignorance, and above all to the royal laws which are in

their favour as such. I ask and entreat your Honours to act

as I have asked and to pronounce the judgment. And in the

necessary case I renounce to whatsoever proof which might

be allowed me, because I find none to the contrary to what

I find in justice. I ask justice. Antonio de Bustamante.

         

DECREE.

         The petition was added to the ordinances, and that they

be presented to us in order to minister justice. So it was

arranged by us the Alcaldes-Governors and the witnesses

present with whom we act in the absence of a Notary Public.

And the witnesses were :- The Captain Juan de Lezama and

the Second Lieutenant Juan Garcia de Miranda, residents of

this town, who signed with us in this town of San Jose de Oruna

on the thirteenth of the month of January of the year 1700.

Diego de Alaje, Tomas de Lezama, Juan Garcia de Miranda

and Juan de Lezama.

ORDINANCE.

         On the day indicated, month and year, we the said

Alcaldes-Governors, having seen these ordinances, order that

the said Protector be cited to-morrow at eight o'clock to hear

the sentence concerning those Indians. So we dispose, order

and sign with the witnesses present who were :- The Second

Lieutenant Juan Garcia de Miranda and Silvestre Ernandez,

residents of this town, Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas

de Lezama, Juan Garcia de Miranda, Silvestre Ernandez.

NOTIFICATION.

         And immediately after we the said Alcaldes-Governors

made known the ordinance above to the Captain Don Antonio

de Bustamante, Protector of the Indians who said that he had

heard and understood it, and signed with us :- Diego de Alaje

Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Antonio de Bustamante.

SENTENCE.

         In the criminal case that by the office of the royal justice

has been proclaimed against the Naparima Indians of the

mission of San Francisco de la Arena, because they have

committed the crime of lesse-Majesty and sacrilege, for having

rebelled and killed the Religious Apostolic Missionaries and

the Father Instructor and the Governor and Captain General

of these Provinces, in the name of the King our Lord, and

other persons, as it is shown in the first ordinances, and

outrage of the holy and consecrated things and images,

which crime all the Indians of the said mission in common

have committed (except the Indians Ignacio and Calixto), as

appears its these ordinances, notorious crime and which as

such must be chastised summarily according to the rules of

the royal justice, after having seen these first ordinances, these

of the general meeting which are at the head of the others,

and the importance of this case.

JUDGMENT.

         We judge that we must condemn and we condemn the

twenty-two Indians whom the General Antonio de la Cruz

and the Second Lieutenant Diego Martinez de Arrieta have

caught arid brought to this town, with all the other Indians

of the said mission of Arena, accomplices and co-operators in

the said crimes, to death, with the exception of the two Indians

Ignacio who knew nothing of the tragedy and was not present

in the said mission when it happened, and the Indian Calixto,

who was sick and thereby prevented from taking part in them.

And that these twenty-two above indicated criminals and all

the others of the said mission who might be caught be dragged

along the public streets of this town, with a crier before them,

publishing their crimes, and after that be hung, until they

necessarily die, and after their death their hands and heads

shall be cut off and exposed and nailed in the places where

they committed and executed their crime, and their bodies

shall be cut in pieces and put along the roads for their

punishment, and good example for the public vengeance,

because so orders the King our Lord by his royal laws. And

for the other children and women who are caught or may be

caught of the said mission must be executed what has been

convened and resolved by the said general meeting which can

be found at the head of these ordinances. And the Indian

Ignacio, because he did not come back and give information

and followed and accompanied the said criminals, we condemn

to two years of personal service in the convent of our Serafic

Father San Francisco in this town, and we order that he shall

be set free and given over, after this judgment shall have been

executed, to the Reverend Preacher Fray Francisco de Riveros,

Guardian of the said convent, and we charge his conscience to

teach and instruct him during these two years in the things

of our Holy Catholic faith and the Christian religion. And

the Indian Calixto we condemn to four years of exile in the

royal fortress of Araia to work out his rehabilitation and all

that may be convenient to the royal service of His Majesty,

and he shall be sent to hand him over to the master of the

fortress at the first occasion that presents itself, and in the

meantime he shall be prisoner in the public jail of this town.

And to the said General Don Antonio de Ia Cruz who is the

General of all the Naparima Indians of this Island and its

missions, as a good minister and a faithful vassal of the King

our Lord whom God may guard, and in his royal name, we

give thanks, because he has well and courageously worked in

the case and in the pursuits he has made, and we confirm,

approve and revalidate for him in the said royal name the

title and honour of General of the whole Naparima-tribe of

this Island and its missions, and we recommend him to continue

in the future his good and faithful work in the said missions,

promising him that by all this his Majesty will be well served,

and will remember him for all that. And all the others who in

his company have worked and worked well shall be rewarded

in the fulfilment of the royal laws of his Majesty. And to

the said Lieutenant Don Diego Martinez de Arrieta

thanks are also given, because he has been the principal agent

of that which the said General has done in his company, and

the reward is given to him that is due to such good deeds,

so that be continue them in the future and an authorized

testimony of this our opinion will be given to the said General.

And it is recommended to him not to fail in the continuation

of the marches and trips and that he bring to this town those

of said criminals whom he will catch during these marches, in

order that the punishment contained in this our sentence may

he meted out to them. And judging so, we pronounce,

declare, order and sign this judgment definitely. Diego

de Alaje Tenreiro. Tomas de Lezania.

PUBLICATION.

         The judgment contained in this and the anterior sheet

was given and pronounced by us, the Sergeant-Major Diego

de Alaje Tenreiro and the Second Lieutenant Tomas

de Lezama, Alcaldes--Governors of this Island, in the vacancy

of a government through the death of the Camp-Master

Don Jose de Leon y Echales, Governor and Captain General

of these provinces for the King our Lord, being witnesses the

Captain Juan de Lezama and the Second Lieutenant Juan

Garcia de Miranda and Silvestre Ernandez, residents of this

town with whom we act in the absence of a Notary Public.

And this judgment is given in this town of San Jose de Oruna,

Isle of Trinidad, on the fourteenth day of the month of

January of 1700, for which we testify. Diego de Alaje

Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Juan de Lezama, Juan Garcia

de Miranda, Silvestre Ernandez.

                                   

NOTIFICATION.

         On the said day, before us the said Alcaldes-Governors,

was read in the public jail of this town, in the presence of all

the criminals named in our judgment, and of the Captain

Don Antonio the Bustamante as their Protector, this our

sentence, and when they had heard it and when it was

translated by the Captain Martin de Mendoza, interpreter

who knew their dialect, they said that they had heard it, and

the said Protector answered the same for them. And he was

cited and advised that a term of twelve hours was given to

them, for the case that they would entreat or appeal, with the

understanding that after this time they would proceed to the

confirmation and execution of it, because it was very convenient

that the execution be short. Were witnesses :- The Captain

Juan de Lezama and the Second Lieutenant Juan Gaicia

de Miranda and Silvestre Ernandez who with us and with

the said Protector sign, and this we testify. Diego de Alaje

Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Juan de Lezama, Antonio

de Bustamante, Juan Garcia de Miranda, Silvestre Ernandez

ORDINANCE.

         In the town of San Jose de Oruna, Island of Trinidad, on

the fifteenth day of the month of January, 1700, we the said

Sergeant-Major Don Diego de Alaje Tenreiro and the Second

Lieutenant Tomas de Lezania, Alcaldes-Governors, during

the vacancy of the Government, and the witnesses with whom

we act at the death of the Notary Public, because the term of

twelve hours which we gave yesterday for the appeal against

the judgment contained in these ordinances has passed, and

nothing has been brought in against it, we confirm and

approve it and order that it shall be executed to-day at

eleven o'clock according to its wording and form, and we give

convenient orders for its execution. And of those ordinances

two authorized copies shall be taken, one to be sent to the

King our Lord in his royal and supreme council of these

Indies, and the other to be sent to the Royal Audience, and

Chancery of Santa Fe in the new Kingdom of Granada, so

that with the document before them they may dispose of

what is most convenient for the royal service. So we dispose,

order and sign with the said witnesses (and that this be made

known to the said Protector) who were :- The Sergeant-

Major Don Cristobal de la Riva and the Captains Juan

de Lezama and Lorenzo Mendez de Sototmayer, residents of

and present in this said town. Diego de Alaje Tenreiro,

Tomas de Lezama, Lorenzo Mendez de Sotomaver, Juan

de Lezama, Don Cristobal de la Riva.

NOTIFICATION.

         And immediately after we the said Alcaldes-Governors

made known this ordinance to the Captain Don Antonio

de Bustamante, Protector of the said Indians, who answered

that he heard and understood it, and signed it with us,

Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Antonio

de Bustamante.

DISTRIBUTION.

         In the town of San Jose de Oruna, isle of Trinidad, on the

sixteenth day of the month of January of 1700, the Alcaldes-

Governors Don Diego de Alaje Tenreiro and the Second

Lieutenant Don Tomas de Lezama and witnesses with whom

we act in the absence of a Notary Public, in order to fulfil the

sentence pronounced by us, which is contained in these

ordinances and already executed, and that which has been

resolved in the general meeting which is put at the head of

these ordinances, in order to make the distribution of the

women and children, as it is ordered, we made it in the

following form and manner :- Be delivered to the Captain

Jose Fernandez Palomeque, one ; another, to Pedro Angulo ;

another, to Maria Gertrudes ; another, to Juan Felipe

Fernandez another, to Dona Maria de Mendoza ; another,

to the Second Lieutenant Juan de Canas ; another, to Tomas

Randon ; another, to Dona Lucia Guerrero ; another, to

Dona Catalina Guerrero ; another, to Dona Maria de la Riva ;

another, to Dona Manuela de Leon ; another, to Diego Perez

de Leon ; another, to Juan Estanislao ; another, to Francisco

Ravelo ; another, to Felice de Lezama ; another, to the

Captain Antonio de Bustamante; another, to the Captain

Antonio de Robles ; another, to the Second Lieutenant

Jose Gonzales ; another, to Dona Sabina de Gongora ;

another, to Geronimo de Leon ; another, to Juan Antonio

Jaimes ; another, to Manuel Calderon ; another, to Don Juan

Emerio ; another, to the Captain Diego Oval ; another, to

Carlos Vocon ; another, to Andres de Arevelo ; another, to

Bartolome Sanchez ; another, to Juan Caraballo ; another,

to Michael Antunez ; another, to Manuel de Canas ;

another, to Simon de Lezama ; another, to the Comisario of

the Holy Office Don Alonso de Lerna ; another, to the

Licenciado Don Francisco Candido ; another, to Dona

Catalina de Orval ;         another, to Dona Isabela Quen ;

another, to Dona Maria de Orval ; another, to the Captain

Don Francisco Coronado ; another, to Manuel Perez ;

another, to the Captain Juan de Lezama ; another, to

Dona Catalina Quen ; another, to Ignacio Pimiento ;

another, to Don Andres Garcia ; two, to the Second Lieutenant

Martinez de Arrieta ; four, to the General Don Antonio

de la Cruz.

         And to all those it was recommended and ordered to feed

them and instruct them in our Holy Catholic faith and

Christian religion, in the meantime that the President and

the Judges of the Royal Audience and Chancery of the new

Kingdom of Granada dispose and order otherwise ; and we

order that a testimony be made of the criminal case which

the AIcaldes-Governors our predecessors instituted against

site two Indians whom they executed, and be added to these

ordinances, and the original be returned, and two copies be        

made of all those, as is ordered by our judgment, to transmit

them as and how it is ordered in our judgment. So we

dispose, order and sign with the said witnesses who were-

The Captain Don Vicente de Leon, Don Lorenzo Mendez,

and Don Juan Eusebio, residents of and present in this town,

Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, Tomas de Lezama, Vincente de

Leon y Urreti, Lorenzo Mendez de Sotomayor, Don Juan

Eusebio Pacheco.

FOOTNOTE OF THIS TESTIMONY.

         This copy agrees with the two originals from which I have

copied them and I have given one copy to the Captain

Don Antonio Robles and the other to the Sergeant-Major

Don Diego de Alaje Tenreiro, because they were judges in

this cause, and by verbal order of the said Sergeant-Major,

AIcalde-Governor in the absence of a government, for the

King our Lord, I the Captain Don Juan Eusebio Pacheco,

resident of this town appointed Notary Public, ordered to

extract and extracted the contents in fifty-eight sheets of

ordinary paper, because this Government has no sealed paper,

and in testimony of this I subscribe and sign, as it is customary,

in this town of San Jose de Oruna, Island of Trinidad, the

twentieth of April of this year 1700. Accustomed fees.

In testimony of the truth.

JUAN EUSEBIO PACHECO,

Votary Public.

Letter of the Alcaldes-Governers of the

Island of Trinidad to His Majesty, giving an

account of the sedition of the Indians of the

Naparima nation of the mission of San

Francisco de la Arena, and of their murder

of the Governor of that Island, the Camp-

Master Don Jose de Leon and his companions,

to which they add the testimony of the ordinances

which contain all that has been done for the

chastisement of the rebellious.

Source : General Archives of the Indies,

Sevilla, 1700. Audience of Santa Domingo,

Sec. 5, Bundle 582.

SIR,

         Because we the Sergeant-Major Diego de Alaje Tenreiro

and the Second Lieutenant Tomas de Lezama, Alcaldes in

ordinary of this present year, are governing this Island,

because there is no Lieutenant appointed by the Governor,

give an account to your Royal Majesty, how on the first day

of December of last year '99 the Governor arid Captain

General of these Provinces Don Jose de Leon went to visit the

mission of San Francisco de la Arena of the Indians of the

Naparima nation, situated at the East of this town, at the

distance of a half-days march, having with him a Father of

the Order of Preachers who was a religious instructor for

the two settlements of this Island : the Sergeant-Major

Don Manuel Fermin de Urresti ; the Treasurer of the Royal

Treasury of this Island Don NicoIas de Salas ; the Notary

Public Mateo de Oso y Aponte ; the Captain Don Francisco

de Mier ; Jose Morales ; Pedro Pacheco and two negro-slaves

of the said persons. And the Indians of the said mission knew

this, and the same morning they rebelled and killed these

Reverend Capuchin Fathers who at that moment were there

and the Second Lieutenant Tomas de Luna, resident of this

town who had gone there to help in the construction of a

Church which they were building in that mission. And after

having executed their crime, and destroyed the ornaments,

chalices, altars and images and all that the said Fathers

possessed in the Church and in the houses, they all came with

their weapons to wait for the said Governor half a mile from

the mission. And after they had crossed the river in a canoe,

and had brought them over, immediately they reached the

place where they were hiding for them in ambush, they sent

them such a charge of arrows and so suddenly, that without

being able to offer the least resistance, they fell dead from

their horses, and so they killed them all, except the said

Sergeant-Major who was the last and had a good horse and

escaped with seven wounds of arrows, and the same night he

gave an advice and died three days after. The day after

messengers were sent to verify the event and to bring over

the body of the Governor which was not found, because they

had dragged it to the river, and thrown it in. Measures were

immediately taken to inflict chastisement, and to this effect

seven searching marches have been made, during which by

the power of the weapons many criminals have been caught,

and the greatest part of them died, because of the resistance

which they so barbarously offered. And for those who were

taken prisoner the sentence (which with the justification of

their cause was given to them) was executed for all the men,

and concerning the punishment of the women and of the boys

under the age of fourteen years, we held a general meeting and

there it was resolved that their fate would be decided by the

Royal Justice of Santa Fe in the new Kingdom, and that in

the meantime that His Highness would give his decision, they

would be distributed among the residents of this town, and

all this is more evident by the testimony of the ordinances

which are sent with this Ietter, so that after having seen them

Your Majesty may dispose of what is most convenient for

his royal service.

         God our Lord guard your catholic and royal Person the

many years that we his humble vassals desire and Christianity

needs.

Trinidad de Barlovento,

May 16 of 1700.

DIEGO DE ALAJE TENREIRO,

TOMAS DE LEZAMA,

         1700. Letter of the Alcaldes-Governors

of the Island of Trinidad, having relation to the

sedition of the Indians which took the lives of

the Capuchin Fathers and that of the Governor

Leon y Eschales.

SIR,

         In the first letter of this day we have given an account to

your Royal Majesty of the unfortunate incident of the death

of the Governor, the Captain General of this Province and the

chastisement that was executed by seven searching marches

which were made. And in this letter we give an account of

how these marches were made by the residents of this Island

helped by the Indians of the two settlements of this town, and

one the General Don Antonio de a Cruz made who is the

General of the Indians of the Naparima nation, helped and

accompanied by the Captain Diego Martin de Arrieta, a man

who helps the Fathers in the said mission, and the Naparima

Indians of the three missions who have shown themselves your

faithful vassals, as Your Majesty will recognize by the

ordinances mentioned in the first letter and for these reasons

in the royal name of Your Majesty (whom God may guard),

we have given them thanks for the good and faithful service,

and we hope that they will act in the future in the same

manner on such occasions as may present themselves. And

this has been the greatest motive of such a success, because

we found ourselves with so little protection to be able to

dominate and submit them to our will, because we are so few

residents in this Island who help in all the necessary expenses

for its defence. And although your Royal Majesty has

ordered his royal decree to the Governor and to the Captain

General of this Province to bring from the garrison of Guiana

twenty-five soldiers for the punishment and the help which

the Missionary Fathers needed and asked, they have not

brought them and cannot bring them, because only a few

days previously a hundred youths had been sent from your

castle to that fortress to receive military training. And

therefore they have come to take some residents of this Island

to serve as sentries in the said castle which is a great damage

and prejudice of this Island, because the greatest number of

those who go never come back to their town. And this has

reached such an extreme that to go to the help of the said

fortress the Captain Juan de Aguilar resident of Guaiana had

gone to Santa Fe this last year of ninety-nine, was given for

his guard and escort residents of this Island although against

his will, because those who go to that fortress, when they come

back (who can do that, because most of them die) have lost

their poor earnings, and are not able to sustain themselves.

And all this we have represented and made known to the

Royal Audience of Santa Fe in a letter which we have sent

by the Governors of the coast of Cumana and Caracas the

twenty-fourth of last January to whom we gave an account of

all that happened, and we sent them at the same time the

ordinances, asking that his Highness would provide the

remedy for such necessities. And therefore we have not

asked this until now of your Majesty from lack of sailings and

now we do it, asking very humbly that your Royal Majesty

may consider this matter with the accustomed charity and to

provide what is most convenient for his royal service.

         God our Lord guard the catholic and royal Person of

your Majesty the many years that we his humble vassals

desire and that Christianity needs.

Trinidad, the 16th May, 1700.

DIEGO DE ALAJE TENREIRO.

TOMAS DE LEZAMA.

1700. Letter of the Alcaldes-Governors

of Trinidad, to His Majesty, exposing the great

need of weapons and ammunition of which it

suffers, for the defence of this Island, for the

reasons which it gives. Trinidad, 16th May,

1700.

SIR,

         After having given an account to your Royal Majesty in

the two preceding letters of this day of all that happened

concerning the death of the Captain General of these

Provinces, we pass now to bring to the knowledge of your

sovereign Majesty the need which we have in this Island for

weapons and ammunition for its defence, because the few

which we had have been worn out in the marches which have

been made and during which many of the weapons of the

residents were also worn out. And we have had none of your

Majesty, and the Governor who died left none neither,

because those which your Majesty ordered to send to this

Island, and which reached the Governors Don Sebastian

de Roteta and Don Francisco de Meneses who were those who

received them ordered the Treasurer of the Royal Treasury

to sell them among the residents, as he did, without leaving

some in stock for those who, when the occasion presents

itself are without weapons, or are broken on some occasions,

as it happened, when the enemy entered this Island last year

of 90. And to the best residents who were fighting to defend

the entrance the weapons failed, and many burst, and for

lack of good weapons they had to abandon the fight and

retire in the mountains, and this was, Sir, the greatest cause

that they did not resist the entrance of the enemy in the town.

And therefore we entreat very humbly your Majesty to order

to provide this Island with a hundred fire-arms which will

go off with a spark, because the others cannot be handled in

this Island, because of the thick forests and the great water,

and the matches become wet and cannot be kept burning for

the occasion. And that they be sent, Sir, with the order that

they must not be sold, but that they are reserved for the above

mentioned occasions, for besides what has happened, it

happens that on the occasion of the marches and disputes

which are frequent enough. in this Island, that many residents

have bad weapons from lack of one who can repair them,

and many strangers have not, and if there were in stock, this

Island could be defended with the glory of our triumph which

we must obtain by the royal arms of your Majesty. And we

entreat your Majesty to order to provide powder and bullets

for the said guns, and that they be sent by the first occasion

for this Island, because of that which has been exposed, and

because it finds itself exposed to the fatalities of rebellions of

Indians as well as to the attacks of the enemies of the Royal

Crown. And all that we put before the Sovereign for the

consideration of your Royal Majesty, in order that in view

of that your Royal Majesty may protide that which is most

convenient for his royal service. And God our Lord guard

.your catholic royal Person the many years that we his humble

vassals desire, and his Monarchy needs.

Trinidad de Barlovento, May 16, 1700.

DIEGO DE ALAJE TENREIRO

TOMAS DE LEZAMA.

         Judicial proceedings in the Island of Trini-

dad against the Indians of the Mission of San

Francisco de la Arena containing the judgement

given against some of the guilty of the murder

of the Missionary Fathers and of the Governor

of the Island.

         1699. General Archives of the Indies,

Seville, Audience of Sto. Domingo. Sect. 6

Bundle 582.

DECREE AND ORDER TO CAPTURE THE INDIANS GUILTY OF THE

HERE INDICATED CRIME.

         In the town of San Jose de Oruna, Isle of Trinidad, orb

the first day of the month of December, 1699, the alcaldes in

ordinary state, as it seems the best to the right and the laws of

his Majesty, that the Governor and Captain General Don Jose

de Leon y Echales left this town yesterday, the last day of

November of this year, accompanied by the Sergeant-Major,

Don Manuel Fermin, and other inhabitants, in order to visit

two settlements of Indians that exist in this island, and after

having visited that of Dona Geronima de Urrestiqui, they

went to that of the Captain Fabian de Mier, where they

resolved to visit the holy mission of San Francisco de la Arena.

In carrying out this plan, close to that mission, and at the

passage of the river Aripo, some Indians killed the said

Governor and companions. The Sergeant-Major was badly

wounded by several arrows, and brought to this town where

he received the last sacraments, and public rumour says that

all the others were killed. The Governor did not return,

and in order to know whether he is alive or dead, we order the

Camp-Master, Don Pedro Fernandez de la Vega, inhabitant

of this town, as first chief, and file Captain Juan de Lezama,

as second, to leave this town without delay, with a guard of

thirty armed men to seek for the Governor and his

companions, and bring them to this town dead or alive.

And to fulfil this order that he take with him some Indians,

as he sees fit, and search the country as far as the mission,

and cheek the rumour of the Indians concerning the

happenings, and order what is good for the general welfare

of this country, and the safety of its inhabitants, and bring us

the necessary information. This was fixed on the said day,

at three o'clock in the morning of the said month and year,

with the following witnesses, in the absence of the notary

Public Matheo de Oso y Aponte who was in the company of

the said Governor-Juan Martinez de Vengoechea y Esponda,

Antonio de Robles, Antonio de Bustamante, Juan de Mendoza,

Martin Alonso Guerrero.

NOTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE.

         And immediately after we the said alcaldes made this

order known to the said Camp-Master Don Pedro Fernandez

de la Vega for its execution, he said that he had understood

and was ready to execute the order, as it was given, and

signed. Accordingly thirty soldiers were put at his disposal.

And we order that in the meantime the doors be closed, and

guards be put in the royal houses where the Governor lived,

in addition to those already there, because it is desirable to

protect his possessions, until his death is certain, and take in

due time further convenient steps-Juan Martinez

de Vengoechea y Esponda, Antonio de Robles, Pedro

Fernandez de Ia Vega.

EXECUTION OF THE ORDER AND DECLARATION OF WHAT

WAS EXECUTED.

         Signed statement given on oath by the Camp-Master Don Pedro

Fernandez de la Vega at St. Joseph de Oruna, 3rd December, 1699 :

He reported that he left this town on the indicated day, about

four o'clock in the morning, with thirty soldiers, armed with

fire-weapons, and that he reached the river called Aripo,

which is about four or five hours from this town, and about

half an hour from the mission of Arena, where he stopped

with the said soldiers, because he found dead bodies on the

bank of a bend in the river. These bodies were identified by

the Camp-Master and the Infantry, one being that of the

Purser of the royal estate, Don Nicholas de Salas, and another

that of the Notary Public, Matheo de Ozo y Aponte, killed

apparently by arrows.

         And when they crossed the river near the mission in a

boat, because the river was much swollen, and could not be

passed in any other way, they found dead there the Rev.

Father Juan Mazien de Sotomayer of the Order of Preachers,

and Parish-Priest of the settlement of San Agustin de Arouca

and of that of San Pablo de Carigua ; Joseph de Morales,

surgeon of this town, and a negro-slave of the Governor,

called José, and another of Captain Francisco de Mier, agent-

of the settlement of San Agustin de Arouca, called Pedro, and

another body in the river which was thought to be that of the

Governor. And we could not find the body of Don Francisco

de Mier, nor that of Pedro Pacheco, nor that of another negro

of the Sergeant-Major Don Manuel Fermin de Urresti,

because the river was much swollen by the continuous rains.

And because it was about six o'clock in the evening, and we

could not reach the mission of Arena during the day, and we

had no shelter for the infantry during the night, we went

back to the valley of San Agustin de Arouca, from where a

message was sent to this town, giving a special account of the

above, which can he supplemented by the declaration which

the other soldiers may make, as being the truth, given under

oath in due form, which he maintains and ratifies. And he

said that he had a little more or less than fifty years, and

signs with the witnesses present Captain Juan de Lezama,

Captain Domingo Nieto de Soberado, and Captain Don

Antonio de Bustamante, inhabitants of this town-Juan

Martinez de Vengoechea y Esponda-Antonio de Robles,

Juan de Lezama, Pedro Fernandez de Ia Vega, Antonio

de Bustamante, Domingo Nieto de Soberado.

DECLARATIONS OF (i) DON FRANCISO CORONADO (AGED 30),

         (ii) JUAN DE MIER (AGED 32), AND (iii) CIPRIAN DE MIER

         (AGED 24).

         The above witnesses, on oath, substantiated the statement of the

Camp-Master, Don Pedro Fernandez, and supplemented his evidence

with the following information :-

         (i) Captain Don Francisco Coronado : that they found

               close to the river, where the treacherous attack

               was made, numerous arrows which were believed

               to have been directed at the Sergeant-Major of

               this island, Don Manuel Fermin, whom they

               brought to this town, where he received the last

               Sacraments, and died of wounds, caused by

               five arrows.           

         (ii) Captain Juan de Mier : he had found in the road

               some arrows, and that these were supposed to have

               been directed at Don-Manuel Fermin, Sergeant-

               Major of this island, who received the last

               Sacraments in this town, being badly wounded

               by five arrows, from which he died;

        (iii) Ciprian de Mier : if the march had been continued

               to the mission of Arena after crossing the river,

               they would have put themselves in evident danger

               of life, because of the great number of Indians, and

               the bad roads, and the rainy weather, with the

               suspicion of ambushes, and that in this other part

               of the road they found some arrows, and that they

               said that those were shot at the Sergeant-Major of

               this island Don Manuel Fermin, when they retired.

               He died in this town of five wounds from arrows.

These witnesses signed their statements in the presence of :-

Alfarez Juan Garcia de Miranda, Alfarez Silvestre Ernandez

and Lorenzo Marcano, inhabitants of this town, Antonio

de Robles, Juan Martinez de Vengoechea y Esponda.

ORDINANCE TO MAKE THE INVENTORY.

         In this said town, on the fourth day of the said month of

December, 1699, we the said Sergeant-Major Juan Martinez

de Vengoechea y Esponda and Antonio Robles, alcaldes in

ordinary of this town, in the name of the King for whom we

govern, because of the death of the Camp-Master Don José

de Leon y Echales, Governor and Captain General of this

said town, and because two Indians were brought to this

town prisoners, as guilty of these murders the one called

Pedro who says that he is a Christian, and the other called

Luis, who says that he is not baptized, we gave order to

Captain Calixto of the mission of Savaneta, and also to the

said Captain Don Vicente de Urrestigui and Don Juan

Pacheco, and infantry, to seek, make prisoner and bring to

town the other Indians guilty of said crime, and we order

that in         the meantime the two said Indians be put in jail

under the watch of the Guard which is placed in the royal

houses of this town, and that the inventory be made of the

goods of the said Governor which are there, and that the

Trustees of his residence, the Camp-Master Don Pedro

Fernandez de la Vega and others be notified, as is written in

the town-book, to be present at this inventory and to take

further all the other convenient steps. So we arrange, order

and sign in the presence of witnesses.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE CAMP-MASTER.

         And immediately after we the said alcaldes notify and

make known this ordinance to the Camp-Master Pedro

Fernandez, as Trustee of the Governor Don José de Leon to

be present at the inventory of his goods, as he had been ordered,

and he says that he had heard and understood, and that he is

present for himself and for Don Vicente de Leon y Urrestigui

who is also Trustee, and whom he legally represents at said

inventory, because he is absent from the town to execute the

order which was given to him to go with, infantry to the

mission of Arena, and for the third Trustee of said Governor

Sergeant-Major Don Manuel de Urrestigui, deceased.

         Signed by Pedro Fernandez in the presence of witnesses.

INVENTORY.

         Captain Don Antonio de Robles in the absence of the other alcalde,

Sergeant-Major Don Juan Martin de Vengoecher y Esponda, who was

sick in bed, and with the assistance of the Camp-Master Don Pedro

Fernandez de la Vega, Trustee of the murdered Governor, thereupon

made an inventory of the Governor's possessions. The list of vestments,

furniture and papers occupy 11 1/2 pages of the typewritten copy of the

original documents. Mention is made in the inventory of two horses

which were found on 5th December in the mission of Arena where

they had strayed without saddles. The papers record that the negro,

Jose Gabriel, died by the side of the Governor. The inventory was

begun on 4th December and completed on the 5th, while the list of

papers was compiled between the 6th and 13th December.

CUSTODY OF THE INVENTORIED GOODS.

         The Alcalde, Don Antonio de Robles duly transmitted all the

goods and papers mentioned in the inventory to the custody of the

Camp-Master Pedro Fernandez de la Vega and Captain Vicente de Leon

in due and legal form on the 14th December, 1699, in the town of

St. Joseph.

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