Our Cat/1olic Heritage in Texas
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Luque, Gabriel Costales, Joseph de Arroyo, Pedro Oribe, and Juan Cantu captains of the eight companies. Three standards were blessed with great ceremony, one consisting of the picture of Our Lady of Pilar, San Miguel, and San Rafael, bearing the motto Pugnate pro Fide et Rege; the second having a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Miguel, and San Francisco Xavier; and the third was the image of the patron saint of Spain, Saint James. Equivocal policy of Spain towards the Frenc/1. Just as Aguayo was about to depart, he received a communication from the viceroy on October S, 1720, giving him detailed instructions for the expedition and the general policy he was to observe towards the French. He was to proceed to the reoccupation of the Province of Texas and New Philippines without delay; to restore the religious to their missions; to occupy the Bay of Espiritu Santo and to erect a fortification there; and to establish a post, if possible, in the country of the Cadodachos. In carrying out these instructions he was not to use force of arms unless he found the country occupied by the enemy and resistance was offered, as news had just been received in Mexico that a truce was being negotiated between the two crowns. Agreeable to the wishes of the king, Aguayo was further instructed to welcome all those who wished to enter the service of Spain or to establish themselves in the Spanish settlements in Texas. 42 The Marquis was frankly disappointed with the idea of waging only a defensive campaign, for he had hoped to drive the French not only out of Texas but out of Louisiana as well. He was thoroughly disgusted with the order to receive French deserters in the Spanish service and to allow French settlers to establish themselves in Texas. Neverthless, with a gesture of supreme resignation, he declared to the viceroy that he was willing to make this "sacrifice as evidence of my blind obedience" to the orders of His Majesty. 0 Council of the Indies first to recom·mend civil settlement. The king seemed to be undecided for some time as to the policy toward the French in Louisiana, hence the contradictory character of the orders received by the viceroy. Soon after the outbreak of hos.tilities the king issued a cediela on April 22, 1719, which was immediately sent to New Spain. This was 42Ca!'.taiieda. Alorft's History of Texas, I 67 3-1779; Pena, Derrotero, San Fra11cisco el Grande Arc/rive, 217. 43Peiia, op cit.: Autos fechos en La Bahia de el Espiritu Santo sobre dos muertes. . . . Provi11cias /11ter11as, Vol. 181.
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