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A letter sent to Don Petro de Xibar one of his Maiesties priuie Counsel of the West Indies, from Don Diego Mendez de Valdes Gouernour of S. Iuan de Puerto Rico the 20 of Nouember 1590, touching the state of that Citie and Island.
I Recieued your honours letter the 20 of Februarie, whereby I receiued great content, to heare that your honour is in good health. As touching the impri∣sonment of our cousin Don Pedro de Valdes,* 1.1 it doeth grieue me to the ve∣ry soule. I beseech God to send him his libertie: and likewise the imprison∣ment of Diego Flores de Valdes grieueth me very much: I pray God to send good iustice. The M. of the fielde Iuan de Texela, and the M. workeman Iuan Baptista Antonio arriued here in safetie,* 1.2 and haue veiwed this Citie with all the circuite round about and the situation as I haue informed his maiestie thereof. They haue marked a place to build a strong Fort, whereat the countrey remaineth very well contente. And it standeth in a good situation, and in a conu••nient place on a high mount which doeth lye vpon the entering in of the Harbour, & so cutteth ouer to a point of land, leauing in the Fort as much space as wil containe 3000 persons, without ioyning thereunto any part of the coast. So the M. del campo hath named the fort Citadella.* 1.3 He left me great store of yron worke, tooles eight workemen, and 200 Negros, which are the kings. And the Island doth finde 400 pioners which are continually at worke. His maiestie hath sent me a warrant to spend the prouision of the Island, & to take those rents which his maiesty hath here, & to certifie his maiestie what there is wanting for the maintaining of the work∣men & that they may haue all things necessary. So I haue sent to Nueua Espanna for such things as are here wanting. I haue writtē to the M. of the field, which is gone to Hauana, informing him that it doeth greatly import that the worke with all expedition should go forward, seeing that it is begun for the defence of the Island. And we doe defend it as well as we can from the enemie, in re∣spect of the great danger which otherwise might happen, if the enemie should come and finde it be∣gun, and not ended. And likewise that his maiestie would send me that which I do request. And the most principal thing of al is, to send more Negros. And sending me all these things which be need∣ful, I trust in God I shal in short time build vp the fort,* 1.4 to defend vs from the enemie. The fort must be builded triangle wise: for it will reach into the bay: and we shal be able to plant in the same 40 pieces of good ordinance, Canon, Demi canon, and Coluerine. The M. of the field, hath promised to send me some from Hauana. For that he is determined to cast some th••re, by reason of the great store of copper, which now of late is found in Hauana:* 1.5 for here we haue as yet but small store of or∣dinance to defend vs. I looke for 5 Canons which his maiestie should send from Spaine, with shot and powder and al kinde of weapons, because that here is great want in the Island. His maiestie hath sent the whole number of 200 souldiers,* 1.6 and in the companie there came two capitaines. The corps de Guard is kept in the market place: and twise in a moneth I muster all the men in the I∣land, and finde very neere 1500 fighting men, and 80 horsemen.* 1.7 The forte when it is ended will be the strongest that his maiestie hath in all the Indies. And now the people of the countrey sleepe in security. For commonly before, the Englishmen would come and beard vs to the hauens mouth.* 1.8 God keep your honour, and send you long health.
From Puerto Rico the 20 of Nouember 1590.
The Gouernour DIEGO MENDEZ DE VALDES.