For San Luis survived because of the events at Ayubale in January, 1704. Ayubale was a Franciscan mission village and stockade eight leagues northeast of Fort San Luis served by the Franciscan friar, Angel de Miranda. Unlike many of his brethren who left for Saint Augustine when war broke out, Miranda had remained with the Indians. Even in the face of the English-Indian attack, he refused to leave the village, which he effectively organized to meet the invaders. When the Yamasees first assaulted the wooden stockade at Ayubale, they were greeted by a surprising volley of arrows and musket fire that drove them into headlong retreat. Recouping, the Yamasees counterattacked at the mission church. Here they hoped to use their axes to batter down the door, which would give them access to the stockade. But again they were driven back by the friar’s Indians, who inflicted heavy losses. [Note 18: king to gov 8/22/1704] This unexpectedly fierce opposition forced Moore and his Carolinians to work out a new plan of attack. Twice repulsed, they had incurred heavy losses and could ill afford to lose more. It was decided, therefore, to use flaming arrows to set fire to the stockade. In this way they could force the Ayubales into the open, where the Yamasees could overwhelm them. But before the English had an opportunity to carry out this scheme, Miranda emerged from the village carrying a flag of truce. He told Moore that his Indians had no more arrows or powder and were completely spent from continual fighting. Their only alternative, he stated, was to throw themselves on the mercy of their antagonists. The friar and his Indians received no mercy. The Yamasees murdered Miranda on the spot, burned Ayubale, and tortured or killed the Indians who were not able to escape. [Note 19: gov to king 3/30/1704] (Tepaske GSF)