The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 19, July 1915 - April, 1916 Page: 343
452 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Spanish Search for La Salle's Colony, 1685-1689
letter of the Conde de la Monclova to the king, written on Decem-
ber 30, 1686, in which the viceroy rays: "The Marqu6s de San
Miguel de Aguayo, Governor of the Kingdom of Nuevo Leon,
has written concerning an entrada which he sent out by land with
sixty [sic] men to discover the Bay of Espiritu Santo, reporting,
in substance, that it was unsuccessful."48 The second expedition,
which was not made until April of the following year, met with
no better success.44
Thus the second plan of the Paredes government to discover the
French settlement also resulted in failure. But at the same time
that the search from Nuevo Leon was in progress, efforts were
being made to find the French by way of the province of Florida.
The Search from Florida
Before specific orders were given by the viceroy for a land ex-
pedition from Florida, the governor of that province, Juan Mar-
ques Cabrera, resolved to undertake one upon his own responsi-
bility. The immediate incentive for his action came as a result
of fresh confirmation of the reports concerning the existence of
the French settlement. In May, 1686, a force of French pirates
attempted to capture the presidio of San Augustine. They were
defeated by the Spaniards, and forty-five of their number were
summarily executed, among them their captain, Nicolas Brigaut.
Before being put to death, Brigaut made a confession, in which
he declared, among other things, that the French had really estab-
lished a fortified settlement on the Mississippi River, near the
Bay of Espiritu Santo. The town, he said, was situated about
forty leagues above the mouth of the river; it had a garrison of
three hundred soldiers, and was protected by twelve cannon and
a coasting vessel of eight guns. Brigaut's statement seemed to
corroborate quite conclusively the declarations of the pirates in
authority for the first expedition from Nuevo Leon in search of the
French. According to this account, the route followed by the first ex-
pedition was due east to the Gulf, and thence along the coast, across the
Rio Grande, and to the Rio Solo, where they were forced to turn back.
"The viceroy to the king, December 30, 1686.
"Carta de Manzanet, p. 254; the Bishop of Guadalajara to the viceroy,
May 20, 1687, in Autos, Diligencias y Prouidencias Dadas sobre la Pro-
uincia de Coaguila, folio 12, Audiencia de Guadalajara, estante 67, caj6n
4, legajo 13.343
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 19, July 1915 - April, 1916, periodical, 1916; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101067/m1/370/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.