The oldest document mentioning bomba that we know of is a letter written by the Puerto Rican privateer, Miguel Enríquez (born c.a. 1674, died 1743). A mulato man of humble origins from San Juan, Enríquez became one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures of his time. In the letter, which is addressed to his nephew, he recounts events that happened in his youth in San Juan (he was born in 1674). He tells how bishop of San Juan between 1684-1693, Juan Francisco de Padilla, banned a dance that a group of free mulatos would do in a church to “glorify the blessed sacrament.” The original text states that: