2. LETTER OF THE JUDGE OF CADIZ IN ANSWER TO A ROYAL MISSIVE,
STATING BY WHOM JUAN FLORIN WAS CAPTURED, AND HIS EXECUTION.
Translated from the original in the Archivo general in Sijoncas
Astado: Legajo 18, fol. 845.
Sacred Caesarean Catholic Majesty:
The Licentiate Giles, Resident Judge in the City of Cadiz, in
compliance with what your Majesty required by your cedula that it
should be stated who captured Juan Florin and his accomplices,
answers that Martin Yricar, Antonio de Cumaya, Juan Martinez de
Aricabalo, Martin Perez de Leabnr, Saba de Ysasa, Juan de Galarza,
Captains of their galleons and ships, with their people, were those
who captured Juan Florin in the manner that they will relate, and
brought him to the Bay of Cadiz. I went directly to their galleons,
and to my requirement they answered that they would keep him in
safety, that they desired all for your service; and this
notwithstanding that the said Juan Florin promised them thirty
thousand ducats to be released. The captains of the fleet of
Portugal who were cruising at sea in quest of him at the same place
in which he was taken also offered ten thousand ducats for him that
they might take him to their king, and other offers were made, none
of which they would accept, but, unitedly, with the sheriff of that
city, took him to Your Majesty, like good and loyal servants. And
when they arrived at Puerto del Pico, finding Your Majesty had
commanded that he and his said accomplices should be given up to me
at once, they delivered and I executed the law upon them.
Those captains have sustained much injury and have been at much
cost, as I am witness. They arrived with their ships broken, the
sails rent, the castles carried away. They had spent much in
munition and powder, and for the sustenance of those French before
they delivered them to me. When they arrived in the bay they were
greatly reduced and hungered, having exhausted their stores by
giving to the French. Much would it be for the service of Your
Majesty that those Captains should be satisfied for their losses and
rewarded which I have promised them, as Your Highness desired by
your cedula, that others seeing how they are honored may be
encouraged in the royal service. Thus much I entreat that Your
Majesty will order done for the loyalty I know those captains tear
to your service, and because they are persons by whom you may he
much served.
S. C. C. M. I kiss the sacred feet of your Highness. LICENCLADO
GILES.