Spanish Florida.
Numerous mission bases and military fortresses were scattered along the coast, with hundreds of Spanish settlements and their allied tribes dotted around.
"...How can this be allowed? Let's plow it all up."
"What do you mean by 'plow it up'?"
"Florida is the gateway from the so-called 'Virginia' above to the Caribbean Sea. If we strengthen its defenses and station a fleet there, it would be much better for guarding against enemies."
But that alone was insufficient.
If they hastily withdrew from Florida out of fear of English attacks as before, it would more likely increase the tyranny of the English pirates centered around Virginia.
Rather, they needed to broadly strengthen the defenses of the Florida colony to monitor the southward movement of English pirates and, furthermore, to prevent the growth of Virginia.
Above all...
"Does this 'native Emperor' really exist?"