CANCER, Luis, missionary, born in Saragossa, Spain (or in Barbastro, Spain, according to other authorities); died in Florida in 1549. He entered the Dominican order in Spain, and went as a missionary to America. He was first stationed in Vera Paz, but afterward took up his residence in the City of Mexico. While there his thoughts were directed to the conversion of the natives of Florida, and he resolved to seek assistance in Spain for this object.

He sailed in 1547 with Las Casas, landed at Seville, and at once repaired to the court at Valladolid. The king ordered the board of trade of Seville to supply him with everything necessary for his mission, and he also obtained a royal decree commanding that all the natives of Florida taken by De Soto, and held as slaves in Chiapa and Guatemala, should be released. He was unable to enforce this decree, as some of the Florida Indians had become mixed with the Mexican tribes, and those he discovered were unwilling to return to Florida.

The vessel that was to take Father Cancer and his companions to Florida stopped at Havana, where he found an Indian Christian woman named Magdalena, who consented to accompany the expedition as interpreter. The ship reached the coast of Florida on Ascension Day, 1549, and a boat was sent out to reconnoitre. Father Cancer wished to land, but the captain would not permit him, as his destination was the bay of Espiritu Santo. After wasting several days in search of it, the Dominicans insisted on landing.

The sailors refused to accompany them unless they were allowed to take their arms with them; but, as this was contrary to the custom of the missionaries, Father Cancer debarked with two companions and Magdalena. He gained the good will of the Indians by presents, and explained his mission through the interpreter. The natives seemed so friendly that after a few days he embarked for another part of the coast, leaving his companions behind him.

On the return of the vessel to the same part of the coast, a canoe put out containing a single Spaniard, a survivor of De Soto's expedition, who assured Father Cancer that his companions had been put to death. The missionary refused to believe this, and, notwithstanding the entreaties of the sailors, got into a boat and rowed to the shore.

An Indian met him, kissing a cross that he handed to a woman whom the missionary discovered to be Magdalena. She informed him that the two Spaniards were safe in the tent of the cacique, and he followed her up a hill, when he was immediately surrounded by Indians, who fell on him and killed him. His scalp was hung up in the temple of the sun, and his body eaten by the natives.

Father Cancer was one of the most ardent advocates of freedom for the Indians at the special meeting of bishops and theologians held in Mexico in 1546. He wrote a work in the Zapotee language, entitled "Varias canciónes en verso zapoteco sobre los Misterios de la Religion para uso de los neofitos de la Vera Paz."

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 Virtualology^TM

CANCER, Luis, missionary, born in Saragossa, Spain (or in Barbastro, Spain, according to other authorities); died in Florida in 1549. He entered the Dominican order in Spain, and went as a missionary to America. He was first stationed in Vera Paz, but afterward took up his residence in the City of Mexico. While there his thoughts were directed to the conversion of the natives of Florida, and he resolved to seek assistance in Spain for this object. He sailed in 1547 with Las Casas, landed at Seville, and at once repaired to the court at Valladolid. The king ordered the board of trade of Seville to supply him with everything necessary for his mission, and he also obtained a royal decree commanding that all the natives of Florida taken by De Soto, and held as slaves in Chiapa and Guatemala, should be released. He was unable to enforce this decree, as some of the Florida Indians had become mixed with the Mexican tribes, and those he discovered were unwilling to return to Florida. The vessel that was to take Father Cancer and his companions to Florida stopped at Havana, where he found an Indian Christian woman named Magdalena, who consented to accompany the expedition as interpreter. The ship reached the coast of Florida on Ascension day, 1549, and a boat was sent out to reconnoitre. Father Cancer wished to land, but the captain would not permit him, as his destination was the bay of Espiritu Santo. After wasting several days in search of it, the Dominicans insisted on landing. The sailors refused to accompany them unless they were allowed to take their arms with them; but, as this was contrary to the custom of the missionaries, Father Cancer debarked with two companions and Magdalena. He gained the good will of the Indians by presents, and explained his mission through the interpreter. The natives seemed so friendly that after a few days he embarked for another part of the coast, leaving his companions behind him. On the return of the vessel to the same part of the coast, a canoe put out containing a single Spaniard, a survivor of De Soto's expedition, who assured Father Cancer that his companions had been put to death. The missionary refused to believe this, and, notwithstanding the entreaties of the sailors, got into a boat and rowed to the shore. An Indian met him, kissing a cross that he handed to a woman whom the missionary discovered to be Magdalena. She informed him that the two Spaniards were safe in the tent of the cacique, and he followed her up a hill, when he was immediately surrounded by Indians, who fell on him and killed him. His scalp was hung up in the temple of the sun, and his body eaten by the natives. Father Cancer was one of the most ardent advocates of freedom for the Indians at the special meeting of bishops and theologians held in Mexico in 1546. He wrote a work in the Zapotee language, entitled "Varias cancio-nes en verso zapoteco sobre los Misterios de la Religion para uso de los neSfitos de la Vera Paz."

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Samuel Huntington
First President of the United States of America
in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781

President Who? Forgotten Founders Part II

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