purposed to goe on land where I suffered him to depart after I had giuen him a shirte and certain small trifles wherewith he departed very well content with vs. The place where we went on shore was hard by a very hie Rocke out of which there ran a litle riuer of sweet and excellent good water by which riuer we stayed certayne dayes to discouer the things which were worthy to bee seen traficked dayly with the Indians which aboue all thinges besought vs that none of our men should come neere their lodgings nor their Gardens otherwise that we should giue them great cause of ielosie and that in so doing wee should not want of their fruit which they call Ananas whereof they offered vs very liberally receiuing in recompence certaine things of small value This notwithstanding it hapned on a day that certaine of my men desirous to see some new things in these strange countries walked through the woods and following still the little riuers side they espied two Serpents of exceeding bignesse which went side by side ouerthwarte the way my soldiers went before them thinking to let them from going into the woods but the serpents nothing at all astonished with these gestures glaunced into the bushes with fearefull hissings for all which my men drewe their swordes and killed them and found them afterward nine great foote long and as bigge as a mans legge During this combate certaine others more vndiscreete went and gathered their Ananas in the Indians Gardens trampling through them without any discretion and nâ—t therewithall contented they went toward their dwellings whereat the Indians were so much offended that without regarding any thing they rushed vpon them and discharged their shot so that they hit one of my men named Martin Chaueau which remayned behinde Wee coulde not knowe whether hee were killed on the place or whether he were taken prisoner for those of his company had inough to doe to saue themselues without thinking of their companion Whereof Monsur de Ottigni my Lieuetenant being aduertised sent vnto me to know whether I thought good that he shuld lay an ambush for the Indians which had either taken or killed our man or whether hee should goe directly to their dwellinges to knowe the truth I sent vnto him after good delebration hereupon that hee should not attempt any thing and that for diuers occasions but contrariwise that he should embarke himself with all diligence and consequently all they that were on land which hee did with speede But as he sayled toward our shippes he perceiued a long the shore a great number of Indians which beganne to charge them with their Arrowes he for his part discharged store of shotte against them yet was not able to hurte them or by any meanes to surprise them for which cause he quite forsooke them came vnto our ship Where staying vntill the next day morning we sette sayle following our wonted course and keeping the same we discouered diuerse Iles conquered by the Spaniards as the Iles of S. Christopher of y e Saintes of Monserrada and la Rotonda Afterward we passed betweene Languilla aad la Negada sayling toward New Fraunce where we ariued fifteene dayes afterward to witte on a Thurseday the two and twenteth of Iune about three or foure of the clock in the morning and landed neere vnto a little Riuer which is thirtie degrees distant from the Equator and ten leagues aboue Cape François drawing toward the South and about thirtie leagues aboue the Riuer of May. After we had strooken sayle and cast Anker a thwart the Riuer I determined to goe on shore to discouer y â— same Therefore beiug accompanied with Monsur de Ottigny with Monsur de Arlac mine Ensigne a certaine number of Gentlemen and souldiers I embarked my selfe about three or foure of the clocke in the euening And being ariued at the mouth of the Riuer I caused the Chanell to be sounded which was found to be very shallow although that farther within the same y â— water was there found reasonable deepe which separateth it selfe into two great armes whereof one runneth toward the South and the other toward the North. Hauing thus searched the Riuer I went on lande to speake with the Indians which wayted for vs vpon the shore which at our comming on land came before vs crying with a loud voyce in their Indian language Antipola Bonassou which is as much to say as brother friend or some such like thing After they had made very much of vs they shewed vs their Paracoussy that is to say their king and gouernour to whom I presented certaine toyes wherewith he was wel pleased And for mine own part I praise God continually for the great loue which I haue found in these Sauages which were sory for nothing but that the night approched and made vs retire vnto our shippes For though they endeuoured by all meanes to make vs tarry with them and that they shewed by signes the desire they had to present vs with some rare things yet neuerthelesse for many iust and reasonable occasions I would not stay on shore all night but excusing my selfe for al their offers I embarked my selfe againe and returned toward my ships Howbeit before my departure I named this riuer the riuer of Dolphines because that at mine arriuall I sawe there a greate number of dolphines which were playing in the mouth thereof The next day the three and twentieth of this moneth because that toward the South I had not found any coÌ„modious place for vs to inhabite and to build a fort I gaue commaundement to weigh anker and to hoyse our sayles to sayle towarde the riuer of Maye where we arriued two dayes after and cast anker afterwarde going on land with some number of Gentlemen and Souldiers to knowe for a certaintie the singularities of this place wee espyed the Paracoussy of the countrey which came towards vs this was y â— very same y we saw in the voiage of Captaine Iohu Ribault which hauing espied vs cried very farre of Antipola Antipola and being so ioyful that he could not containe himselfe he came to meet vs accompanied then with two of his sonnes as faire mighty persons as might be found in all the world which had nothing in their mouthes but this word Amy Amy that is to say friend friend yea and knowing those which were there in the first voyage they went principally to them to vse this speech vnto them There was in their trayne a great number of men and women which still made very much of vs and by euident signes made vs to vnderstand how glad they were of our ariual This good entertainment past y e Paracoussy prayed me to go to see the piller which we had erected in the voyage of Iohn Ribault as we haue declared heretofore as a thing which they made great account of Hauing yeelded vnto him and being come to the place where it
to bring vp their children themselues are wont to contribute to their honest education the rather if they finde any towardlines or reasonable hope of goodnes in them And if Elizabeth Queene of Castile and Arragon after her husband Ferdinando shee had emptied their cofers and exhausted their treasures in subdueing the kingdome of Granada rooting the Mores a wicked weed out of Spayne was neuerthelesse so zealous of Gods honour that as Fernandus Columbus the Sonne of Christopher Columbus recordeth in the historie of the deeds of his Father she layde part of her owne Iewels which she had in great accompt to gage to furnish his Father foorth vpon his first voyage before any foot of land of al the West Indies was discouered what may we expect of our most magnificent gratious prince ELIZABETH of Englande into whose lappe the Lord hath most plentifully throwne his treasuries what may we I say hope of her forwardnes bountie in aduancing of this your most honourable enterprise being farre more certaine then that of Columbus at that time especially and tending no lesse to the glorie of God then that action of the Spaniards For as you may read in the verie last wordes of the relation of Newe Mexico extant now in english the maine lande where your last colonie meane to seate themselues is replenished with many thousands of Indians Which are of better wittes then those of Mexico and Peru as hath beene found by those that haue had some triall of them whereby it may be gathered that they will easilie embrace the Gospell forsaking their idolatrie wherein at this present for the most part they are wrapped intangled A wise Philosopher noting the sundry desires of diuers men writeth that if an oxe be put into a medow he will seeke to fill his bellie with grasse if a storke be cast in she will seeke for snakes if yee turne in a hound he will seeke to start an hare So sondrie men entring into these discoueries propose vnto themselues seuerall ends Some seeke authoritie and places of commandement others experience by seeing of the worlde the most part worldly and transitorie gaine that often times by dishonest and vnlawfull meanes the fewest number the glorie of God and the sauing of the soules of the poore blinded infidels Yet because diuers honest and well disposed persons are entred already into this your busines and that I knowe you meane hereafter to sende some such good Churchmen thither as may truely saie with the Apostle to the Sauages We seeke not yours but you I conceaue great comfort of the successe of this your action hoping that the Lord whose power is wont to be perfected in weakenes will blesse the feeble foundations of your building Onely bee you of a valiant courage and faint not as the Lorde saide vnto Iosue exhorting him to proceede on forwarde in the conquest of the lande of promise and remember that priuate men haue happily wilded and waded through as great enterprises as this with lesser meanes then those which God in his mercie hath bountifully bestowed vpon you to the singuler good as I assure my selfe of this our common wealth wherein you liue Hereof we haue examples domesticall and forreine Remember I pray you what you finde in the beginning of the Chronicle of the conquest of Irâ—â—â—de newlie dedicated vnto yourselfe Read you not that Richard Strangbowe the decayed earle of Chepstowe in Monmuthshire being in no great fauour of his Soueraigne passed ouer into that Iland in the yeere 1171. and accoÌ„panied only with certaine of his priuate friends had in short space such prosperous successe that hee opened the way for king Henrie the second to the speedie subiection of all that warlike nation to this crowne of Englande which so continueth to this present day The like conqueste of Brasilia and annexing the same to the kingdome of Portugal was first begunne by meane and priuate men as Don Antonio de Castillio Ambassadour here for that realme by his office keeper of all the records and monuments of their discoueries assured me in this citie within these sixe yeeres Now if the greatnes of the maine of Virginea and the large extension thereof especially to the West should make you thinke that the subduing of it were a matter of more difficultie then the conquest of Irelande first I answere that as the fresh experience of that happie and singuler skilfull pilâ—tte and Captaine M. Iohn Dauis to the northwest towarde which his discouerie your selfe haue thrise contributed with the forwardest hath shewed a great part to bee maine Sea where before was thought to bee mayne lande so for my part I am fully perswaded by Orâ—elius late reformation of Culuacan and the gulfe of California that the land on the backe part of Virginea extendeth nothing so farre westward as is put downe in the mappes of those partes and that before two yeeres come to an ende God blessing the foresaide Captaine Dauis endeuours he will put vs out of that doubt and manie others Moreouer it is not to bee denied but that one hundred men will doe more nowe among the naked and vnarmed people in Virginea then one thousande were able then to doe in Irelande against that armed and warrelike nation in those daies I say further that these two yeares last experience hath plainely shewed that wee may spare tenne thousand able men without any misse And these are as manie as the kingdome of Portugal had euer in all their garrisons of the Assores Madera Cape verde Guinea Brasill Mozambique Melinde Zocotora Ormus Diu Goa Mallacca the Moluccoes Amacan and Macao vpon the cost of China Yea this I say by the confession of singuler expert men of their owne natioÌ„ whose names I suppresse for certaine causes which haue beene personally in the East Indies and haue assured mee that their kings had neuer aboue ten thousand natural borne Portugals their slaues excepted out of their kingdome remaining in all the aforesaid territories Which also this present yeere I sawe confirmed in a secrete extract of the particuler estate of that kingdome and of euerie gouernment and office subiect to the same with the seuerall pensions thereunto belonging Seeing therefore we are so farre from want ef people that retyring dayly home out of the Lowe Countries they go idle vp downein swarmes for lacke of honest intertainmeÌ„t I see no fitter place to employ some part of the better sort of them trayned vp thus long iu seruice theÌ„ in the inward parts of the firme of Virginea against such stubborne Sauages as shall refuse obedience to her Maiestie And doubtlesse many of our men will be glade faine to accept this condition when as by the reading of this present treatie they shall vnderstand the fertilitie and riches of the regions confining so neere vppon yours the great commodities and goodnesse whereof I trust you will suffer to come shortly
to light In the meane season I humbly commende my selfe and this my translation vnto you and your selfe and all those which vnder you haue taken this enterprise in hand to the grace good blessing of the Almightie which is able to build further and to finish the good worke which in these our dayes he hath begunne by your most Christian and charitable endeuour Your L. humble at commandement R. H. The preface THere are two thinges which according to mine opinioâ—â— haue been the principall causes in consideration whereof aswell they of auncient times as those of our age haue been enduced to trauell into farre and remote regions The first hath beene the naturall desire which we haue to serch out the commodities to liue happely plentifully and at ease be it whether one abandon his naturall cuntrie altogether to dwell in a better or bee it that men make voiages thither there to serch out and bring from thence such thinges as are there to bee found and are in greatest estimation and in most request in our cuntries The second cause hath beene the multitude of people too frutefull in generation which being no longer able to dwell in their natiue soyles haue entred vppon their neighbours limites and oftentimes passing further haue pearced euen vnto the vttermost regions After this sorte the north climate a frutefull father of so many nations hath oftentimes sent foorth this way and that way his valiant people and by this meane hath peopled infinite countries so that most of the nations of Europe drawe their original from these partes Contrariwise the more southern regions because they be too barraine by reason of their insupportable heate which raigneth in them neede not any such sending foorth of their in habitances and haue beene oftentimes constrained to receaue other people more often by force ofarmes then willingly All Africke Spaine and Italie can also testifie the same which neuer so abounded with people that they had neede to send them abroode to inhabite else where as on the contrary Scythia Norway Gotland and France haue done The posterite of which nations remaineth yet not only in Italie Spaine and Affricke but also in frutefull and faire Asia Neuerthelesse I find that the Romains proceding farther or rather adding vnto these two chiefe causes aforesayd as being most curious to plant not only their ensignes and victories but also their lawes customes and religion in those provinces which they had conquered by force ofarmes haue oftentimes by the decree of their soueraine Senate sent forth inhabitantes which they called colonies thinking by this way to make their name immotall euen to the vnfurnishing of their owne countrye of the forces which should haue perserued the same in her perfection a thing which hindred them much more then advanced them to the possession of the vniversall monarchie where vnto their intention did aspyre For it came to passe that their colonies here and there being miserably sacked by strang people did vtterly ruine and ouerthrowe their empire The brinkes of the riuer of Rine are yet red those of Danubius are noe lesse bloodie and our France be came fatte with their blood which they lost These are the effectes and rewardes of al such as being pricked forward with this Romaine and tirannicall ambition will goe aboute thus to subdue strange people effectes I say contrarie to the profitte which those shall receaue which only are affectioned to the common benefitte that is to say to the generall pollicie of all men and endeuour to vnite them one with another as well by trasicke and forraine conuersations as also by militarie vertues and force of armes whenas the sauages wil not yeeld vnto their endeuours so much tending vnto their profite For this cause princes haue sent foorth out of their dominions certaine men of good actiuitie to plante themselues in strang countries there to make their profite to bring the countrie to ciuilitie and if it might be to reduce the inhabitantes to the true knowledg of our God an end so much more commédable as it is farre from all tiranicall and cruell gouernement and so they haue alwayes thriued in their enterprises and by lyttle and little gained the hartes of them which they haue conquered or wonne vnto them by any meanes Here of we may gather that sometimes it is good yea very expedient to send foorth men to discouer the pleasure and commoditie of strang countries But so that the country out of which these companies are to passe remayne not weakned nor depriued of her forces And againe in such sorte that the companie sent forth be of so iuste and sufficient number that it may not bee defeited by strangers which euery foote endeuour nothing else but to surprise the same vpon the suddaine As within these fewe dayes past the french haue proued to my great greife being able by no meanes possible to withstand the same considering that the elementes men and al the fauours which might be hoped for of a faithful and Christian alliance fought against vs which thing I purpose to discouer in this preseÌ„t historie with so euident truth that the kings maiestie my souerainge prince shall in parte be satisfied of the diligence which I haue vsed in his seruice and myne aduersaries shall find themselues so discouered in their false reportes that they shall haue no place of refuge But before I beginne I wil brefely set downe the situation and description of the land where vnto we haue failed and where we haue inhabited from the yeare 1561 vnto sixtie fiue to the ende that those thinges may the more easily be borne a way which I meane to describe in this discourse ¶ The description of the West Indies in generall but chiefly and particularly of Florida THat part of the earth which at this day wee call the fourth part of the world or America or the West India was unknowen vnto our auncestors by reason of the great distance thereof In like manner all the Westerne Ilandes and fortunate Isles were not discouered but by those of our age Howbeit there haue beene some which haue said that they were discouered in the time of Augustus Caesar and that Virgil hath made mention thereof in the sixt booke of his Aeneidos when he saith That there is a lande beyond the starres and the course of the yeere and of the sunne where Atlas the Porter of heauen sustaineth the pole vpon his shoulders neuerthelesse it is easie to iudge that he meaneth not to speake of this land whereof no man is founde to haue written before his time neither yet aboue a thousand yeeres after Christopher Colon did first light vpon this lande in the yeere 1492. And fiue yeeres after Americus went thither by the commaundement of the king of Castile and gaue vnto it his owne name wherevpon afterward it was called America This man was very well seene in the Arte of Nauigation and in Astronomie whereby be discouered
calling the Forte by the name of Charles Forte and the Riuer by the name of Chenonceau The next day wee determined to depart from this place being as well contented as was possible that wee had so happily ended our businesse with good hope if occasion would permitte to discouer perfectely the Riuer of Iordan For this cause we hoysed our sayles about ten of the clocke in the morning after wee were ready to depart Captaine Ribault commaunded to shoote of our Ordinance to giue a farewell vnto our Frenchmen which fayled not to doe the like on their parte This being done wee sayled towarde the North and then wee named this Riuer Porte Royall because of the largenesse excellent fayrenesse of the same After that wee had sayled about fifteene leagues from thence wee espied a Riuer wherevppon we sent our Piunesse thether to discouer it At their returne they brought vs word that they found not past halfe a fathome water in the mouth thereof Which when wee vnderstood without dooing any thinge else wee continued our way and called it the Base or Shallowe Riuer As wee still went on sounding we founde not past fiue or sixe fathome water although wee were sixe good leagues from the Shore at length wee found not past three fathoms which gaue vs occasion greatly to muse And without making any farther way we stroke our sayles partely because wee wanted water and partly because the night approched during which time Captayne Iohn Ribault bethought with himselfe whether it were best for him to passe any farther because of the eminent daungers which euery houre wee sawe before our eyes or whether hee should content himselfe with that which hee had certaynely discouered and also left men to inhabite the Countrey Being not able for that time to resolue with himselfe he referred it ouer vntill the next day The morning being come he proposed to all the company what was best to bee done to the end that with good aduisement euery man might deliuer his opinion Some made aunsweare that according to their iudgement hee had occasion fully to content himselfe considering that hee cold doe no more laying before his eyes that he had discouered more in sixe weekes then the Spaniardes had done in two yeeres in the conquestes of their new Spaine and that he should doe the king very great seruice if he did bring him newes in so short a time of his happie discouerie Other shewed vnto him the losse spoyle of his victualles and on the other side the inconuenience that might happen by the shallow water that they found continually along the cost which things being well and at large debated we resolued to leaue the cost forsaking the North to take our way toward the Easte which is the right way and course for our Fraunce where we happily arived the twenteth day of Iuly the yeere a thousand fiue hundred sixtie and one The state and condition of those which were left behinde in Charles Forte OUr men after our departure neuer rested but night and day did fortifie themselues being in good hope that after their fort was finished they would beginne to discouer farther vp within the Riuer It happened one day as certayne of them were in cutting of rootes in the Coppises that they espyed on the sodayne an Indian that huâ—ted the Deere which finding himselfe so neere vpon them was much dismayed but our men began to draw neere vnto him and to vse him so courteously that he became assured and followed them to Charles Fort where euery man sought to do him pleasure Captayne Albert was very ioyfull of his comming which after he had giuen him a shert and some other trifles hee asked him of his dwelliug the Indian answered him that it was farther vp within the Riuer and that he was vassel of king Audusta he also shewed him with his hand the limites of his habitation After much other talke the Indian desired leaue to departe because it drewe toward night which Captayne Albert graunted him very willingly Certayne dayes after the Captayne determined to sayle toward Audusta where being ariued by reason of the honest intertaynment which he had giuen to the Indian he was so courteously receiued that the king talked with him of nothing else but of the desire which he had to become his friend giuing him besides to vnderstand that he being his friend and allie he should haue the amitie of foure other kings which in might and authoritie were able to doe much for his sake Besides all this in his necessitie they might be able to succour him with victualles One of these kings was called Mayon another Hoya the third Touppa and the fourth Stalame He tolde him moreouer that they woulde bee very glad when they shoulde vnderstand the newes of his comming and therefore he prayed him to vouchsafe to visit them The Captayne willingly consented vnto him for the desire that he had to purchase friendes in that place Therefore they departed the next day very early in the morning and first ariued at the house of king Touppa and afterward went vnto the other kings houses except the house of king Stalame He receiued of eche of them all the amiable curtesies that might be they shewed themselues to be as affectioned friendes vnto him as was possible and offered vnto him a thousand small presents After that he had remained by the space of certayne dayes with these strange kinges he determined to take his leaue and being come back to the house of Audusta he coÌ„maunded al his men to goe abord of their Pinnesse for he was minded to goe toward the countries of king Stalame which dwelt towarde the North the distance of fifteene great leagues from Charles Fort. Therefore as they sayled vp the riuer they entred into a great Courrant which they followed so far till they came at the last to the house of Stalame which brought him into his lodging where he sought to make them the best cheere he colde deuise He presented immediately vnto Captayne Albert his bow arrowes which is a signe and confirmation of aliance betweene them He presented him also with Chamoys skins The Captaine seing the best parte of the day was nowe past tooke his leaue of king Stalame to returne to Charles Fort where hee ariued the day following By this time the friendship was growne so great between our men king Audusta that in a maner all things were commen betweene him them in such sorte that this good Indian king did nothing of importance but he called our men thereunto For when the time drew neere of the celebrating their feastes of Toya which are ceremonies most strange to recite hee sent Ambassadours vnto our menne to request them on his behalfe to be there present Whereunto they agreed most willingly for the desire that they had to vnderstand what this might be They embarked themselues therefore and sayled
desiring my friendshippe sent me a quiuer made of a Luserns skinne full of arrowes a couple of bowes foure or fiue skinnes paynted after their manner and a cheyne of siluer weying about a pounde weight In recompence of which presentes I sent him two whole sutes of apparell with certayne cutting hookes or hatchettes After these things therefore in this sorte passed about the tenth of this moneth captaine Bourdet determined to leaue me to returne into Fraunce Then I requested him yea rather was exceéding importunate with him to carrie home with him some sixe or seauen souldiers whome I coulde not trust by any meanes which he did for my sake and would not charge him selfe with Gieure which offered him a great summe of money if it woulde please him to carrie him into France he transported him onely to the other side of the riuer Threé dayes after his departure thirteene mariners which I had brought out of France suborned by certayne other mariners which captaine Bourdet had left me stole away my barkes in manner following These mariners of captayne Bourdet put mine in the heade that if they had suche barkes as mine were they might gaine verie muche in the Isles of the Antilles and make an exceéding profitable voyage Herevppon they beganne to deuise howe they might steale away my barkes and consulted that when I shoulde commande them to goe vnto the village of Sarauahi distant aboue a league and an halfe from our sort and scituated vppon an arme of the riuer whither according to my manner I sent them dayly to seéke clay to make bricke and morter for our houses they would returne no more but would furnish themselues with victuals as well as they might possiblie and then would embarke themselues all in one vessell and woulde goe their way as in déede they did And that which was woorse two Flemmishe carpenters whiche the sayde Bourdet had left me stole away the other barke and before their departure cut the cables of the barke and of the shippe Boate that it might goe away with the tyde that I might not pursue them so that I remayned without either barke or boate which fell out as vnluckily for me as was possible For I was readye to imbarke my selfe with all speéde to discouer as farre vp our riuer as I might by any meanes Nowe my mariners as I vnderstoode afterwardes tooke a barke that was a passenger of the Spaniardes neére the Isle of Cuba wherein they founde a certayne quantitie of golde and siluer which they seased vppon And hauing this bootie they lay a while at sea vntill their victuals beganne to sayle them whiche was the cause that oppressed with famine they came vnto Hauana the principall towne of the isle of Cuba whereupon proceéded that mischiefe which hereafter I will declare more at large When I sawe my Barkes returned not at their wonted howre and suspecting that which fell out in deéde I commaunded my Carpenters with all diligence to make a little boate with a flat bottome to serch those riuers for some newes of these Marriners The boate dispatched within a day and a night by reason that my Carpenters found planks and timber readie sawed to their handes as commonly I caused my Sawyers to prouide it I sent men to seéke some newes of my thieues but all was in vaine Therefore I determined to cause two great Barkes to be built each of which might bee thirtie fiue or thirtie sixe foote long in the keele And nowe the worke was verie well forward which I set my workemen about when ambition auarice the mother of all mischiefe tooke roote in the heartes of foure or fiue soldiers which could not away with the worke and paines taking and which from hence forward namely one Foueneaux and one La Croix and another called Steuen le Geneuois the threé principall authors of the sedition beganne to practise with the best of my troupe shewing them that it was a vile thing for men of honest parentage as they were to moyle them selues thus wich abiect and base worke seeing they had the best occasion of the worlde offered them to make themselues all rich which was to arme the two Barkes which were in building and to furnish them with good men and then to saile vnto Peru and the other Isles of the Antilles where euerie soldier might easily enrich himselfe with ten thousand crownes And if their enterprise shoulde bee misliked with all in France they shoulde bee alwayes able by reason of the great wealth that they should gaine to returne themselues into Italie vntill the heate were ouer passed and that in the meane season some warre would fall out which would cause all this to bee quite forgotten This worde of riches sounded so well in the eares of my soldiers that in fine after they had oftentimes consulted of their affaires they grew to the number of threé score and fixe which to colour their great desire which they had to goe on stealing they caused a request to be presented vnto mee by Francis la Caille sergeant of my companie containing in summe a declaration of the smale store of victuals that was left to mayntayne vs vntill the time that shippes might returne from France for remedie whereof they thought it necessarie to sende to Newe Spaigne to Peru and all the Iles adioyning which they besought meé to bee content to grant But I made them answere that when the barkes were finished I woulde take such good order in generall that by meanes of the kinges Marchandise without sparing myne owne apparell weé woulde get victuals of the inhabitantes of the countrey seéing also that wee had ynough to serue vs for foure monethes to come For I feared greatly that vnder pretence of serching victuals they woulde enterprise somewhat against the kings of Spaynes subiectes which in time to come might iustly be layde to my charge considering that at our departure out of France the Queéne had charged me very expresly to do no kinde of wrong to the king of Spaines subiects nor any thing whereof he might conteyne any ielosie They made as though they were content with this answere But eight daies after as I continued in working vpon our fort on my barkes I fell sicke Then my seditious companions forgetting all honour and duetie supposing that they had found good occasion to execute their rebellious enterprise began to practise afresh their former designes handling their busines so well during my sicknes that they openly vowed that they woulde sease of the corps de gard and of the â—ort yea and to force me also if I would not consent vnto their wicked desire My lieuetenant being hereof aduertised came and tolde me that he suspected some euill practise and the next day in the morninge I was saluted at my gate with men in complet harnes what time my soldiers were about to plaie me a shrewde tricke then I sent to seeke
lake of freshwater named Sarrope about fiue leagues in bignesse abounding with many sortes of fruites specially in Dates which growe on the palme trées whereof they make a wonderfull traficke yet not so great as a kinde of roote whereof they make a kinde of meale so good to make bread of that it is vnpossible to eate better and that for fifteene leagues about all the countrie is fed therewith Which is the cause that the inhabitantes of the Isle gaine of their neighbours great wealth and profite for they will not depart with this roote without they he well payed for it besides that they are taken for the most warrelike men of all that countrie as they made good proofe when the king of Calos hauing made alliance with Oathcaqua was depriued of Oathcaquaes daughter which hee had promised to him in marriage Hee tolde mee the whole matter in this sorte As Oathcaqua well accompanied with his people carried one of his daughters excéeding beawtifull according to the coulour of the countrey vnto king Calos to giue her vnto him for his wife the inhabitantes of his Isle aduertised of the matter layde an ambush for him in a place where hee should passe and so behaued themselues that Oathcaqua was discomfited the betrothed young spouse taken and all the Damoselles that accompanied her which they carried vnto their Isle which thing in all the Indians countrey they esteeme to be the greatest victorie for afterwarde they marrie these virgins and loue them aboue all measure The Spaniarde that made this relation tolde me that after this defeite he went to dwell with Oathcaqua and had béene with him full eight yeares euen vntil the time that hee was sent vnto mee The place of Calos is situate vppon a riuer which is beyond the Cape of Florida fortie or fiftie leagues towardes the Southwest and the dwelling of Oathcaqua is on this side the Cape towarde the North in a place which we call in the Carte Caignaueral which is in eight and twentie degrées About the fiue and twenteth of Ianuarie Paracoussy Satourioüa my neighbour sent me certayne presentes by two of his subiectes to perswade me to ioyne with him and to make warre vppon Ouae Vtina which was my friende and farther besought mee to retyre certayne of my men which were with Vtina for whome if it had not béene hee had oftentimes set vppon him and defeited him he besought me herein by diuers other kinges his allies which for thrée weekes or a monethes space sent messengers vnto mee to this ende and purpose But I woulde not graunt vnto them that they should make warre vppon him yea rather contrariwise I endeuoured to make them friendes wherein they condiscended vnto mee so farre foorth that they were content to allowe of any thing that I would set downe whereupon the two Spaniardes which of long time knew well the nature of the Indians warned me that in any case I should not trust vnto them because that when they shewed good countenance and the best chéere vnto men then was the time that they woulde surprise and betraye them and that of their nature they were the greatest traitours and most deepe dissemblers of the worlde Besides I neuer trusted them but vpon good ground as one that had discouered a thousand of their craftes and subtilties aswel by experience as by reading of the histories of late yeares Our two barkes were not so soone finished but I sent Captayne Vasseur to disconer a long the coste lying towarde the Northe and commaunded him to saile vnto a riuer the king wherof was called Audusta which was lord of that place where those of the yeare 1562. inhabites I sent him twoe sutes of apparel with certaine hachats kniues and other smale trifles the better to insinuate my selfe into his friendshippe And the better to win him I sent in the barke with captaine Vasseur a soldier called Aimon which was one of them which returned home in the firste voyage hoping that king Audusta might remember him But before they were embarked I commanded them to make inquirie what was become of another called Rouffi which remained alone in those parts when Nicolas Masson and those of the firste voyage embarked themselues to returne into France They vnderstood at their arriual there that a barke passing that waye had caried awaye the same soldier And afterward I knew for a certaintie that they were Spaniardes which had carried him to Hauana The kinge Audusta sent mee backe my barke ful of mill with a certaine quantitie of beanes twoe stages some skins painted after theire maner and certaine pearles of small value because they were burnt and sent me worde that if I woulde dwel in his quarters he woulde geue me a greate countrye and that after hee had gathered his mil he would spare me as much as I would haue In the meane while there came vnto our forte a flocke of stocke voues in so greate nomber and that for the space of seuen weekes together that euery daye wee killed with hargubuse shot twoe hundred in the woods aboute our forte After that captaine Vasseur was returned I caused the two barkes to be furnished againe with soldiers and mariners and sent them to carrie a present from mee vnto the widow of king Hioacaia whose dwelling was distante from our forte about twelue leages northward Shee curteously receaued our men sent me backe my barks full of mil and acorns with certaine baskets full of the leaues of Cassine where with they make their drinke And the place where this widowe dwelleth is the most plentiful of mil that is in all the coaste and the moste pleasant It is thought that the queene is the most beautiful of al the Indians and of whome they make most accompt yea and her subiects honour her so much that almost continualy they beare her on their shoulders and wil not suffer her to go on foote With in a few daies after the return of my barks she sent to visit me by her Hiatiqui which is as much to saye as her interpreter Nowe while I thought I was furnished with victuals vntill the time that our shippes might come out of France for feare of keeping my people idle I sent my two barkes to discouer along the riuer and vp toward the head thereof which went so farre vp that they were thirtie leagues good beyonde a place named Mathiaqua and there they discouered the entrance of a lake vpō the oneside whereof no land can bee seene according to the reporte of the Indians which had oftentimes climed on the hiest trees in the country to see land and notwithstanding could not discerne any which was the cause that my men went no further but returned backe and in comminge home went to see the Ilande of Edelano situated in the midst of the riuer as faire a place as any that may be seene through the world For in the
our selues of those which might bee most sufficient among whome wee chose two one of whom was named Monsieur Saint Cler and the other Monsieur De la Vigne to whom we deliuered candles and Lanterns to go round about the fort to viewe the watch because of the foule and foggie weather I deliuered them also a sandglasse or clocke that the centinels might not be troubled more one then the other In the meane while I ceased not for all the fowle weather nor my sickenesse which I had to ouerseé the corps de garde The night betweene the ninetenth and twentieth of September La Vigne kept watch with his companie wherein hee vsed all endeuour although it rayned without ceasing When the day was therefore come and that hee sawe that it rayned still worse then it did before hee pitied the centinelles so too moyled and wette and thinking the Spaniardes woulde not haue come in such a strange time hee let them depart and to say the trueth hee went himselfe vnto his lodging In the meane while one which had something to doe without the fort and my trompet which went vp vnto the rampart perceaued a troupe of Spaniards which came downe from a little knappe Where incontinently they beganne to cry alarme and the trompetter also Which assoone as euer I vnderstoode foorthwith I issued out with my Target and sworde in my hande and gatte mee into the middest of the Courte where I beganne to cry vppon my soldiers Some of them which weee of the forwarde sort went towarde the breach which was on the south-side and where the munitions of the artillerie lay where they were repulsed and slaine By the selfesame place two ensignes entred which immediatly were planted on the walles Two other ensignes also entred on the other side toward the West where there was another brech and those which were loged in this quarter and which shewed themselues were likewise defeated As I went to succour them which were defending the breach on the southwest side I incountred by chaunce a great companie of Spaniardes which had alreadie repulsed our men and were nowe entred which draue mee backe vnto the court of the fort being there I espied with them one called Francis Iean which was one of the marriners which stoale away my barkes had guided conducted y ◠Spaniards thither Assoone as he saw me he began to say This is y ◠Captaine This troupe was led by a captaine whose name as I thinke was Don Pedro Melendes these made certaine pushes at me w t their pikes which lighted on my target But perceauing y ◠I was not able to withstād so great a companie that the court was already wonne their ensignes planted on the ramparts and that I had neuer a man about me sauing one onely whose name was Bartholomew I entred into the yard of my lodging into which they followed me and had it not beéne for a tent that was set vp I had beéne taken but the Spaniards which followed me were occupied in cutting of the Cordes of the tent and in the meane while I saued my selfe by the breach which was on the west side neére vnto my Lieutenantes lodging and gate away into the woods where I founde certaine of my men which were escaped of which number there were threé or foure which were sore hurte Then spake I thus vnto them Sirs since it hath pleased GOD that this mischaunce is happened vnto vs wee must neédes take the paynes to gette ouer the Marshes vnto the shippes which are at the mouth of the Riuer Some woulde neédes goe to a little village which was in the woods the rest folowed mee thorough the reédes in the water where being able to goe no farther by reason of my sickenes which I had I sent two of my men which were with mee which coulde swim well vnto the ships to aduertise them of that which had happened and to send them worde to come and helpe me They were not able that day to get vnto the ships to certifie them thereof so I was constrained to stand in the water vp to the shoulders all that night long with one of my men which woulde neuer forsake me The next day morning beeing scarcely able to drawe my breath any more I betooke mee to my praiers with the souldier which was with me whose name was Iohn du Chemin for I felt my selfe so feéble that I was afraid I should dye sodenly and in truth if he had not embraced me in both his armes and so held me vp it had not beéne possible to saue mee After wee had made an ende of our praiers I heard a voice which in my iudgemēt was one of theirs which I had sent which were ouer against the ships and called for the ship boate which was so in deéde and because those of the ships had vnderstanding of the taking of the fort by one called Iohn de Hais master Carpenter which fled vnto them in a shallop they had set sayle to runne along the coast to sée if they might saue any wherein doubtlesse they did very well their endeuour They went straight to the place where the two men were which I had sent and which called them Assoone as they had receiued them in and vnderstood where I was they came and found me in a pitifull case Fiue or sixe of them tooke me and carried me into the shallop for I was not able by any meanes to goe one foote After I was brought into the shalloppe some of the Marriners tooke their clothes from their backs to lend them me and woulde haue carried me presently to their ships to giue me a little Aqua vitae Howbeit I woulde not goe thither vntill I had first gone with y ◠boat along the reéds to seéke out the poore soules which were scattered abroad where we gathered vp eighteene or twentye of them The last that I tooke in was y ◠Nephewe of the Treasurer le Beau. After we were all come to the ships I comforted them aswell as I coulde and sent backe the boate againe with speéde to seé if they coulde finde yet any more Vpon her returne the Mariners told me how that Captaine Iames Ribault which was in his shippe about two muskets shotte distant from the fort had parled with the Spaniardes and that Francis Iean came vnto his shippe where he staied a long space whereat they greatly maruailed considering that hee was the cause of this enterprise how he would let him escape After I was come into the ship called the Greyhounde Captain Iames Ribault Captain Valuot came to see me and there wee concluded to returne into France Nowe forasmuch as I founde the shippe vnfurnished of Captaine Pilot Master and Masters-mate I gaue aduise to choose out one of the most able men among all the Mariners and that by their owne voices I tooke also sixe men out of another small shippe
which wee had sunke because it wanted ballast and coulde not be saued Thus I encreased the furniture of the ship wherein I was my selfe embarked and made one which had beéne Masters-mate in the foresaid small shippe Master of mine And because I lacked a Pilot I praied Iames Ribault that heé would graunt me one of the foure men that he had in his shippe which I should name vnto him to serue me for a Pilot he promised to giue me them which neuerthelesse he did not at the instant when we were readie to depart notwithstanding all the speéch I vsed to him in declaring that it was for the Kinges seruice I was constrained to leaue the ship behinde me which I had bought of the English Captaine because I wanted men to bring her away For Captain Iames Ribault had taken away her furniture I tooke away her ordinance onely which was all dismounted whereof I gaue nine pieces to Iames Ribault to carrye into France the other fiue I put into my shippe The fiue and twentieth of September wee sette sayles to returne into France and Captaine Iohn Ribault and I kept companye all that daye and the next vntill threé or foure a clocke in the after noone but because his shippe was better at bowling then ours he kept him to the wind and left vs the same day Thus we continued our voyage wherein we had maruelous flawes of winde And about the eight and twentieth of October in the morning at the breake of daye wee discried the Isle of Flores one of the Assores where immediatly vpon our approching to the lande we had a mighty gust of winde which came from the Northeast which caused vs to beare against it foure daies afterwarde the winde came South Southeast was alwaies variable In all the time of our passage wee had none other foode sauing Biscuit and water About the tenth or eleuenth of Nouember after wee had sailed a longe time and supposing wee were not farre from lande I caused my men to sound where they found threéscore fifteéne fathoms water whereat we all reioysed praised God because we had sailed so prosperously Immediately after I caused them to set sayle againe so we continued our way but for asmuch as we had borne to much toward the Northeast we entered into Saint Georges chanel a place much feared of all Sailers and where as many ships are cast away But it was a faire gift of God that we entred into it when the weather was cleare We sailed al the night supposing we had beéne shot into the narrow Sea betweene England and France by the next day to reach Diepe but wee were deceaued of our longing for about two or three of the clocke after midnight as I walked vpon the hatches I discried land rounde about me whereat we were astonied Immediatly I caused them to strike saile and sound we found we had not vnder vs past eight fathoms of water whereupon I commaunded them to staye till breake of day which being come and seéing my Mariners tolde me that they knew not this land I commanded them to approch vnto it Being neére thereunto I made them cast anker and sent the boat on shoare to vnderstand in what country we were Word was brought me that we were in Wales a prouince of England I went incontinently on land where after I had taken the ayre a sickenesse tooke mee whereof I thought I shoulde haue dyed In the meane while I caused the shippe to bee brought into the bay of a small towne called Swansey where I found Marchants of saint Malo which lent me money wherewith I made certaine apparell for my selfe and part of my company that was with me and because there were no victuals in the shippe I bought two Oxen and salted them and a tonne of Beere which I deliuered into his handes which had charge of the shippe praying him to carrie it into France which he promised me to doe for mine own part I purposed with my men to passe by land after I had taken leaue of my Mariners I departed from Swansey and came that night with my company to a place called Morgan where the Lord of the place vnderstanding what I was stayd me with him for the space of sixe or seuen daies and at my departure mooued with pittie to see me goe on foote especially being so weake as I was gaue me a little Hackenye Thus I passed on my iourney first to Bristo then to London where I went to do my duety to Monsieur de Foix which for the present was the kings Ambassadour holpe me w t money in my necessitie From thence I passed to Calis afterward to Paris where I was infourmed that y e king was gone to Moulins to sotourne there incontinently with all the hast I could possibly make I gate me thither with part of my company Thus briefly you see the discourse of all that happened in new France since the time it pleased y ◠kings Maiestie to send his subiects thither to discouer those parts The indifferent vnpassionate readers may easily weigh the truth of my doings be vpright iudges of y ◠endeuour which I there vsed For mine owne part I will not accuse nor excuse any it sufficeth me to haue folowed the truth of the history whereof many are able to beare witnes which were there present I will plainly say one thing That the long delay that Captaine Iohn Ribault vsed in his embarking the fifteen daies that he spēt in rouing along the coast of Florida before he came to our fort Caroline were the cause of the losse that we sustained For he discouered the coast the fourteénth of August spent the time in going from riuer to riuer which had beén sufficiēt for him to haue discharged his ships in for me to haue embarked my selfe to returne into France I wote well that all that hee did was vpon a good intent yet in mine opinion he should haue had more regard vnto his charge then to the deuises of his owne braine which sometimes he printed in his head so deépely that it was very hard to put them out which also turned to his vtter vndoing for hee was no sooner departed from vs but a tempest tooke him which in fine wrackt him vppon the coast where all his ships were cast away he with much adooe escaped drowning to fall into their hands which cruelly massacred him and all his company The end of the historie written by Laudonniere THE FOVRTH VOYAGE of the French men into Florida vnder the conduct of Captaine GOVRGVES in the yeare 1567. CAptaine Gourgues a Gentleman borne in the country neére vnto Bordeaux incited with a desire of reuenge to repaire the honour of his nation borrowed of his friendes and soulde part of his owne goods to set foorth furnish three ships of indifferent burthen with all things
mulberies white and redde Great store of silkewormes The riuer of May. The riuer of Seine The Riuer of Somme The Riuer of Loyre The Riuers of Cherente Garonne Gironde Belle Grande The riuer Belle a veoir The Riuer of Port Royall in 32 degrees of latitude Turkey cockes Partridges gray redde Fish in abundance The Riuer 3. leagues at the mouth A passage by a riuer into the South Sea Store of rare simples Ribault sayleth 12. leagues vp the riuer Lucerne cape Chamoyes Perles Store of perles and siluer A Pillour of free stone wherein the armes of FrauÌ„ce were grauen set vp in an Iland in the riuer of Port Royal. The Riuer of Liborne The Ile of Ceders Two Indians taken away The dolefull songs of the Indians The Indians eat not before the sun be set Laudonniers putting downe in writing the wordes and phrases of the IndiaÌ„s speech The feast of Toya Chiquola or Chiquora a king of greate stature The first proof that Chiquola should be a very faire citie Gold siluer pearles in aboundance The rich citie of king Chiquola is toward the North of â—ort royall This history is recorded in the second third chapters of the seuenth Decade of Petâ—r Martyr The second proofe The third proofe The 2. Indians escape away The benefit of planting The oration of Ioh. Ribault to his companie Aelius Pertinax descending from base pareÌ„tage became Emperor of Rome Agathocles a potters sonne became king of Sicilie Rusten Bassha of an heardmans sonne through his valure became the great Turkes sonne in lawe The â—â—â—â—diers auâ—â—â—â—re to Ribaâ—ts Orations The length bredth of the Forte taken by Laudonnier Captayne Salles A Fort builte in port Roy all by Ribault Rabaults speech to Captayne Albert. His speeche to the souldiers The foresaid Fort was called Charles Fort. Port Royal. The Riuer Base 15. legueâ— Northward of Port Royal Their ariual in Fraunce 1561. the 20. of Iuly King Audusta Note Mayon Hoya Touppa Stalame The Countrey of king Stalame 15. leagues Northward of Charles Fort. Chamoys skins The feast of Toya largely described The Indians trimming of themselues with rich fethers Iawas are their Priests Maigicians Phisitions Inuocations of the Iawas or Pristes vnto Toya Their victuals fayle them The Indians maner of liuing in the Winter time of Mast and rootes King Couexis mightie and reuowmed King Ouade King Maccou Ouades countrey in the riuer Belle. Tapistrie of feathers White couerlets edged with red fringe The liberalitie of king Ouade Ouades countrie 25. leagues Southward froÌ„ Charlesfort The fort set on fire by casualtie The fort reedified by the Sauages in the space of 12 houres Crocodiles Cypresses Their second iourney to the countrey of Ouadé Exceeding faire pearles fine Christall siluer oare The place where christal groweth in very good quantity ten dayes iourney from the riuer Belle. Note Mutinye against the captaine and the causes therof Captaine Albert slaine by his owne souldiers Nicolas Barré chosen Captaine A new BrigaÌ„tine built in Florida Rosen to bray ships Mosse to calke ships Cordage for tackle They put to the sea without sufficient victuals Their victuals vtterly consumed They drinke their vrine for want of fresh water Extreeme famine The French succoured by an English Barke It seemeth he meaneth the â— voyage intended by Stukley The ciuil wars the cause why the FrenchmeÌ„ were not supplied which were left behinde in their first voyage Laudonniers second voyage to Florida with 3. ships the 22. of April 1564. The Ile of Teneriffe or the Pike The Isle of Martinica Dominica an Iland Ananas a fruite of great excellencie His ariuall in Florida the 22 of Iune 1564. Cape François being betweene the riuer of Dolphins and the riuer of May maketh the distance thirty leagues about which is but ten leagues ouer land The great loue curtesie of the Floridians The riuer of Dolphins called Seloy by the Sauages Iune 23. Their arriuall at the riuer of May the 22 of Iune The piller set vp before by Ribault crowned with garlands of Laurell and inuironed with small paniers full of corne worshiped by the sauages Paracoussy Satourioua A Wedge of siluer Grosleâ— Monsur de Ottigni The curtesie of the Floridians to the French Sauages in Florida of 250. yeeres old Eagles in Florida Ceders Palmes bayes exceeding sweete Esquine drugge excellent against the pocket Syluer certayn dayes iournie vp within the riuer of May. Thimogoua mortal enimies to Satourioua The riuer of Seine The riuer of Some The curtesie of the Paracoussi of the riuer of Some Bullets of siluer Laudonieres consultation with his company where it might be best for them to plant Gold and siluer found at the riuer of May. Iune the 29. The vale of Laudonniere An Hermophrodite They began their planting with prayer to God In Florida they couer their house with palme leaues The forme of the Fort Caroline The West side The South side High building is not good for this countrey Nota. Caroline The first voyage twentie leagues Ten leagues farther Mayrra a king rich in gold siluer The second voyage King molloua Olata Ouae Vtina a great king Fiue or sixe pound weight of siluer Fortie kinges vassals to Vtina King Potanou An exceeding rich place Large plats of golde and filuer Some paint their faces with blacke some withâ—ed King Molona King Malica Tapistry made of small reeds They lappe mosse about their woundes and vse it insteed of napkins A ceremonie to cal to mind the death of their ancesters slaine by their enimies The returne of their ships toward France the 28. of Iuly The ceremonie which they vse before they goe to warre Satourioua followed with fiue huÌ„dred Indians Consultation before they assault their enemies How they vse their enimies which they take in warre King Omoloa The maner of triumphe Athore Excellent Pompions A wonderfull lightning the 29. of August King Sarranay King Allimacany The sauages thinke the lightning to be discharging of the Christians ordinance Laudonnlere vsed the present occasion to his profite A wonderfull heate Fiftie cart lode of fish dead in the riuer with this heat The third viage the tenth of September Mayarqua a place eightie leages vp the riuer of May. King Patanou The Indians maner of war Two hundred Indians A village enclosed with trees Vtina getteth the victorie of Potanou by the helpe of the french Siluer gold and paynted skins La Roquettes conspiracie Mounsur de Geure Gieures message to Laudoniere in the soldiers name His answere A dangerous practise against the captaine and his liuetenant Laudounieres sickenes Laudonniers Apothecarie The master of the fire workes Captaine Bourdet arriued in Florida the fourth of September The fourth voiage the seuenth of Nouember Hostaqua a village A chaine of syluer One of his Barkes stolne away by his mariners The village of Sarrauahi Another of his barkes stolne away by two carpenters One of these mariners named Francis Iean betrayed his ovvne couÌ„trie men to the