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01'r Cat/10/ic H eritag$ in Texas
Although Franquis received the order, he denied it publicly, and refused to restore the guards. But that the order reached him, there is no doubt, for he admits it in a long letter to the viceroy written on April 1, 1737, in which he attempts to explain the reasons for his failure to carry it out. He again repeated that the two additional guards were not needed to protect the missions or aid the missionaries; that the Padres wanted these soldiers to be stationed in the Indian pueblos to act as overseers and business managers; that such employment was below the dignity of the military; that the soldiers were needed in the presidios more than in the missions; and that the assignment to mission duty of the number of men requested would require the increase of the garrisons of the presidios in order that they might be able to withstand the more frequent attacks of the hostile Indians. 41 Realizing that the m1ss10naries had succeeded in eluding his strict vigilance and that they had presented part of their grievances to the viceroy, the governor had become more impertinent in his dealings with the Padres. In vain had the missionaries suffered the insults and abuses of the governor with true Christian humility in the hope of obtaining peace. Driven to desperation by the continuous persecution of Franquis, they had complained to Father Sevillano, who, notwithstanding his more than sufficient reasons for feeling unkind towards the governor, had advised them, nevertheless, to bear their sufferings with patience and try to reestablish peace and concord. But when the governor's attitude seemed to threaten the entire group of missions on the San Antonio River with inevitable ruin, Father Sevillano finally decided to make a formal appeal to the viceroy. In his much too long Consulta Apologetica, dated February 15, 1737, he reviewed in detail all the insults and abuses suffered by himself and his fellow workers in the missions of Texas from the time of the arrival of the new governor and asked for relief. Referring to his former altercation with Franquis, he said "I did not reply to the governor [his former letter of November 30]," for it was my purpose to bear [the affront] with patience. Reprimand of the governor. en la Provincla de Texas en Virttud de Supor Despacho del Excmo. Sor Virrey de este Rno. A. G. I., Auduncla de Guadalajara, 67-2-27 (University of Texas Tran• scripts, pp. I 68•170) , 41Govemor Franquls to the Viceroy, April 1, 1737, A.G. M., Hirtoria, vol. 524, pt. 3, pp. 853-861. ·"Thia was the letter in which Franquls emphatically told Father Sevillano to mind his own business and not to meddle in the affairs of the governor. See page 53.
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