by David B. Dodson
September 2022
Abstract
Among the ranks in an army, many crimes are to be expected as soldiers are but human. Certain indiscretions or crimes would afford different punishments; but the one crime—that of desertion—was considered one of the most heinous crimes a soldier could commit, especially on an important expedition for the Crown. The punishment for desertion was death and was generally carried out very quickly. It kept discipline within an army.
This is the story of two soldiers that commit desertion while on the Luna Expedition to la Florida in 1559. The incident is presented in a religious context as the daily lives of 16th century Spaniards were intertwined, if not inseparable, from Christianity and more specifically the tenants of the Catholic Faith. Every part of the day and evening had religious importance, and some days specified as “super religious” even dictated whether the Spaniards traveled, rested, what type of foods were allowable to eat, and when they were encouraged to fast. And just because the Spanish were in the hinterlands of la Florida, these beliefs and practices were still kept, and perhaps even with stricter adherence as to garner even better “favor” with God.
The story gives insight into the day-to-day happenings of the Spanish army while in la Florida, as well as to the judgment, fairness, and forgiveness of Governor and Captain-General Don Tristán de Luna. It is ultimately a human story of confronting the horrors found in the hinterlands of la Florida, and the repentant man is comforted by his faith in God when his world had totally collapsed upon himself and by his own hand.
Background
The story of desertion in la Florida is presented in Chapter LXXX of the narratives of Agustín Dávila Padilla’s Historia,[1] but not in the chapters specifically dedicated or related to the expedition. It is found in a chapter promoting Dominican Fray Domingo de la Anunciación for nomination for beatification by the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Anunciación was involved in some of the most notable reconnaissance on the expedition, and although he was not the lead fray, he held great sway with his opinions and bold actions. Many of the relevant chapters concerning the Luna Expedition relate of him performing “miracles” or acts that sometimes defied explanations. Such delineation of miracles was one of the important factors in one’s life—before or after death—that was a necessary requirement for sainthood.
Unlike some of the “fast tracking” of some of the modern saints today,[2] during the 16th century, the Catholic Church was stricter in whom was to be beatified or “officially declared a very holy person” in the eyes of the Catholic Church. It was a secretive, tedious, and lengthy investigation after one’s death in a procedure called the Processo. Sometimes it would take a century or more for sainthood to be finally recognized by the Catholic Church.
Indeed, the narratives found in Historia were not intended to be a written record full of names, dates, and events of the 16th century, but a compilation of the lives of the holiest men produced by the Dominican Order in the founding of their religious province of Santiago in New Spain. The proper and long title of Historia forthrightly relates what was to be found inside its covers: (As translated) History of the Foundation and Speech of the Province of Santiago de Mexico of the Order of Preachers from the Lives of its Distinguished Men and Notable Events in New Spain. Thus,
through these exemplary lives were the younger Dominican frays to learn and know the true sacrifices and devotion it takes to serve God with humility and selflessness in expanding and administering the Faith to His earthly children.
Thus, the story that I present and translate below was considered one of many miracles Dávila Padilla recognized that were associated with Fray Anunciación, and therefore part of his efforts to get him considered for some level of beatification. Dávila was very familiar with the Processo having offered his own account of a personal miracle he experienced in the effort to beatify Saint Beltram begun in 1583.[3] Even today, the Catholic Church in Florida has just concluded and submitted their Processo to Rome concerning the lives and actions of numerous religious during the 16th-18th centuries that met untimely deaths in their attempts to expand or affirm their Catholic Faith.[4]
(In the late 1990’s Northwest Florida historian and translator, R. Wayne Childers, first attempted to initiate the religious designation of “martyrdom” for a Spanish priest that was roasted alive on a spit by Creek Indians in Pensacola after being captured within site of the fortification of Santa Maria de Galve in 1712. Likewise, this author had the opportunity in 2016 to provide several period documents to the Catholic Church, which brought to light a previously overlooked priest that had been killed by the natives of la Florida. He was Dominican Brother Tomas Fuentes who was one of the three priests clubbed to death on the 1949 Luis Cancer missionary expedition.)
There are three miracles concerning Fray Domingo de la Anunciación mentioned in Chapter LXXX, but I only present the first miracle because it is the only one related to actions that occurred on the expedition to la Florida. And while the story is wrapped in religious overtones, the story must also be considered a truthful occurrence on the expedition inasmuch as Dávila Padilla was a very honest, forthright, and holy man in his own right and would not have compromised his own integrity.[5] Therefore, even with the religious overtones, we still can gain insight into the 1559 Luna Expedition to la Florida.
The Deserters
In The Luna Papers, it is testified by Alonso Fajardo—a private individual on the expedition–that the maestre de campo and head judge Jorge Cerón was notorious for imposing extreme sentences for most offenses committed on the expedition that probably should have received more general punishments. Indeed, Fajardo notes that although Cerón had hanged two soldiers,[6] threatened others with death, and punished many others, he still could not instill discipline amongst the ranks. However, he also recognized that it was perhaps only the presence of Luna that many of the incidents might not occur, and therefore the governor’s absence traveling a road to the chiefdom of Coosa would only “hinder good government.”[7]
This observation perhaps helps explain another incident that occurred; when? We are not sure, but it appears to have happened after the punishments meted out by Cerón as mentioned by Fajardo.
The incident at hand concerned two Spanish soldiers that desert, are captured, whipped, and condemned to death. One is obstinate and angry to Governor Luna, the other—with the help of Fray Domingo de la Annunciation–becomes contrite and prays for forgiveness via the Holy Rosary. The night before their deaths was long, and Governor Luna awoke the next morning intent on handing out justice; and so, he did. This is what happened as presented by Dávila Padilla:
Chapter LXXX. Concerning three miracles that
God worked by the Holy Rosary, to change
the mind of a judge, of the lightning bolt,
and of the proper death.[8]
When the Father Fray Domingo de la Anunciación[9] was in Florida,
among the many marvelous things that God worked, showing the holiness of his servant, was a miraculous change of heart of a judge, working of the virtue of the Holy Rosary. As that life there was so difficult, the poor soldiers sought some sort of justification[10] [for their actions], and it was agreed that the two of them were absent against the orders and proclamations of the General [Don Tristán de Luna]; they received the whipping by the hand, and were condemned to death. The frays[11] interceded, [asking] that the General pardon them; and with no reward but greater indignation from the judge. He ordered confessions be made in the afternoon, and [the deserters] prepared that night for to see one another with God the following day. The frays[12] came in their official capacity, counseling to those sentenced that they seek a good death, since
they could not now repair their lives. One of them was very indignant with the General, seeming to him that since a companion had done similar deeds, they ought to give out a similar sentence. From here the demon took over the reason for to fire up the anger, and he had no caring of the death that he very soon expected. The other listened attentively to good father Fray Domingo de la Annunciation, who persuaded him to offer his life to God, humbly beseeching an accounting of his death in satisfaction of his sins. Counseling, they asked favor to the Kingdom of the Angels, praying the Rosary, whose wonders fill up the world. Working the love of the life in this man, and he said, “Good father have you no remedy lest I die?” The servant of God responded, “My brother, God is powerful, and many value the intercession of his very holy Mother. Not having but them to ask with which to serve God better. Your life is not yet pretended to already been given up by the Governor, entrusting in the Kingdom of the Angels, and praying this night to the Rosary, that I also will pray for you, and doing the will of God in everything.” He remained a man very comforted, and commenced to pray the Rosary, with the feeling that one can presume would have on that occasion. The good fray[13] also prayed for him, uplifted by those divine mysteries, which he had good expertise, and extolled with the fire from love from the next [bead] for whom he prayed. The Kingdom of the Angels was not deaf to the prayers of the Holy Rosary, before he was asking to his precious Son, as to the king of Kings, in whose hand are the hearts of princes and judges; that changing of that judge in favor of the afflicted, that was invoking the Holy Rosary. As it does not take long for the Virgin to hear her children, neither her holiest Son in hearing his Virgin Mother. It was a marvelous thing, that before the break of dawn, the Governor rose with great care, ordering that they not execute that man, because he wanted to have the grace of life; and that death be given only to the one that has shown to be rebellious and aggrieved: and thus, it was done. When the good father saw his godson, he said to him. Truly, brother, that it is a good thing the man entrusted to the Queen of the Angels. All our lives are obligated to serve somehow to the Señora, since by her, God changed the heart of the judge, for that is forgiveness. The same man was a herald of the miracle, and the devotion grew of the Holy Rosary among all those people.[14]
Conclusion
Life of a Spanish soldier on the Luna Expedition was difficult as
Dávila Padilla related. The climate was either too hot or too cold, but at least a soldier was afforded a ration, albeit very meager at times. But even then, one can reach a breaking point, whereby a soldier violates his oath and honor and becomes selfish, only thinking about himself. Yes, other soldiers had also felt the same and wanted forgiveness for the two deserters, but Governor Luna had to be strong, show leadership, and demand the utmost discipline from his army; for an army without discipline can quickly turn into a rebellious mob.
However, Luna was a different type of Spanish leader, and his mission to la Florida was ordered by the king to be implemented with care and consideration for the wellness of the Native populations; then why not the same for his own Spanish peoples? Luna’s final decisions were not a sign of weakness but truly of strength; to do what was in the best interests and moral of the expedition, and without regard to personal satisfaction. One should admire the decision of Luna, for Hernán de Soto and Francisco de Coronado would never have even allowed the deserting soldiers another night in this world–even for prayer—to prepare for their deaths.
[1] Agustín Dávila Padilla, Historia de la Fundación y Discurso de la Provincia de Santiago de México de la Orden de Predicadores por las vidas de sus varones insignes y casos notables de Nueva España, Madrid 1596, Brussels, 1620. One can see and read both editions on-line at Bliblioteca Nacional., Madrid, buscar (search) http://www.bne.es/es/Catalogos/
[2] Due to many recent scandals in the Catholic Church—Vatican Bank, claims of pedophilia by priests, sexual abuses, stance on abortion and contraceptives, misappropriation of diocese funds, questionable Papal decisions during WWII—the Church initiated a program to beatify some of its most popular and modern religious figures throughout the world to show the Faithful that the Church was still relevant in their lives. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India (2016), and Pope John Paul II, Poland, (2014) are just two of the many figures that were afforded sainthood within a short time after their deaths. Tens of thousands of pages of investigations were recorded to substantiate their elevation to sainthood.
[3] See Verdadera Relación de la Vida y Muerte del Luis Bertrán, Copilada por el Maestro Fr. Vicente Iustiniano Antist, Librería de José Martí Casanova, Valencia, 1884, Reprint from 1583 and 1593, Adiciones del P.M. F. Vincente Iustiniano Antist, 86-87.
[4] For an update and list, See https://martyrsoflafloridamissions.org/martyrs
[5] I spent over five years exploring and putting together a 250-page biography of Dávila.[5] He lived a very holy life worth emulating. Hopefully, the insightful biography will be available in 2023.
[6] In Footnote 118 of the Historical Introduction, Priestley, I, lv, The Luna Papers, it is erroneously noted that in Historia, Dávila Padilla “omits all mention of the lawsuits, mutinies, and hangings of soldiers.” This paper, of course, refutes that claim, as does the mention of a Spaniard being found hung from a tree “whose crime had merited that death.” See Chapter LXVIII, page 220, 1625 edition; or page 267 of the 1596 edition.
[7] Priestley, I, 169, Another Opinion By A Private Person, Nanipacana, June 19, 1560.
[8] Agustín Dávila Padilla, Historia, 1596 ed. 763-764.
[9] P. F. Domingo de la Anunciación…. Padre Fray Domingo…or fully translated as Father Fray Domingo de la Anunciación.
[10] excusarla…excuses, justification.
[11] religiosos…. I use fray(s) for clarification purposes.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Translation by David B. Dodson.