Iohn White.

Roger Baily.

Ananias Dare.

Christopher Cooper.

Thomas Steuens.

Iohn Sampson.

Dyonis Haruie.

Roger Prat.

George How.

Simon Fernando.

Nicholas Iohnson.

Thomas Warner.

Anthony Cage.

Iohn Iones.

William Willes.

Iohn Brooke.

Cutbert White.

Iohn Bright.

Clement Tayler.

William Sole.

Iohn Cotsmur.

Humfrey Newton.

Thomas Colman.

Thomas Gramme.

Marke Bennet.

Iohn Gibbes.

Iohn Stilman.

Robert Wilkinson.

Iohn Tydway.

Ambrose Viccars.

Edmond English.

Thomas Topan.

Henry Berry.

Richard Berry.

Iohn Spendloue.

Iohn Hemmington.

Thomas Butler.

Edward Powell.

Iohn Burden.

Iames Hynde.

Thomas Ellis.

William Browne.

Michael Myllet.

Thomas Smith.

Richard Kemme.

Thomas Harris.

Richard Tauerner.

Iohn Earnest.

Henry Iohnson.

Iohn Starte.

Richard Darige.

William Lucas.

Arnold Archard.

Iohn Wright.

William Dutton.

Mauris Allen.

William Waters.

Richard Arthur.

Iohn Chapman.

William Clement.

Robert Little.

Hugh Tayler.

Richard Wildye.

Lewes Wotton.

Michael Bishop.

Henry Browne.

Henry Rufoote

Richard Tomkins.

Henry Dorrell.

Charles Florrie.

Henry Mylton.

Henry Paine.

Thomas Harris.

William Nichols.

Thomas Pheuens.

Iohn Borden.

Thomas Scot.

Peter Little.

Iohn Wyles.

Brian Wyles.

George Martyn.

Hugh Pattenson.

Martin Sutton.

Iohn Farre.

Iohn Bridger.

Griffen Iones.

Richard Shabedge.

Iames Lasie.

Iohn Cheuen.

Thomas Hewet.

William Berde.

Women.

Elyoner Dare.

Margery Haruie.

Agnes Wood.

Wenefrid Powell.

Ioyce Archard.

Iane Jones.

Elizabeth Glane.

Iane Pierce.

Audry Tappan.

Alis Chapman.

Emme Merrimoth.

Colman.

Margaret Lawrence.

Ioan Warren.

Iane Mannering.

Rose Payne.

Elizabeth Viccars.

Boyes and children.

Iohn Sampson.

Robert Ellis.

Ambrose Viccars.

Thomas Archard.

Thomas Humfrey.

Thomas Smart.

George How.

Iohn Prat.

William Wythers.

Children borne in Virginia.

Virginia Dare.

Haruie.

Sauages that were in England and returned home into Virginia with them.

Manteo.

Towaye.

XXXII. A letter from John White to M. Richard Hakluyt.

To the Worshipful and my very friend Master Richard Hakluyt, much

happinesse in the Lord.

Sir, as well for the satisfying of your earnest request, as the

performance of my promise made vnto you at my last being with you in

England, I haue sent you (although in a homely stile, especially for the

contestation of a delicate care) the true discourse of my last voyage into

the West Indies, and partes of America called Virginia, taken in hand

about the end of Februarie in the yeare of our redemption 1590. And what

euents happened vnto vs in this our iourney, you shall plainely perceiue

by the sequele of my discourse. There were at the time aforesaid three

ships absolutely determined to goe for the West Indies, at the speciall

charges of M. Iohn Wattes of London Marchant. But when they were fully

furnished, and in readinesse to make their departure, a generall stay was

commanded of all ships thorowout England. Which so soone as I heard, I

presently (as I thought it most requisite) acquainted Sir Walter Ralegh

therewith, desiring him that as I had sundry times afore bene chargeable

and troublesome vnto him, for the supplies and reliefes of the planters in

Virginia: so likewise, that by his endeuour it would please him at that

instant to procure license for those three ships to proceede on with their

determined voyage, that thereby the people in Virginia (if it were Gods

pleasure) might speedily be comforted and relieued without further charges

vnto him. Whereupon he by his good meanes obtained license of the Queenes

Maiestie, and order to be taken, that the owner of the 3 ships should be

bound vnto Sir Walter Ralegh or his assignes, in 3000 pounds, that those 3

ships in consideration of their releasement should take in, and transport

a conuenient number of passengers, with their furnitures and necessaries

to be landed in Virginia. Neuerthelesse that order was not obserued,

neither was the bond taken according to the intention aforesaid. But

rather in contempt of the aforesaid order, I was by the owner and

Commanders of the ships denied to haue any passengers, or any thing els

transported in any of the said ships, sauing only my selfe and my chest;

no not so much as a boy to attend vpon me, although I made great sute, and

earnest intreatie aswell to the chiefe Commanders, as to the owner of the

said ships. Which crosse and vnkind dealing, although it very much

discontented me, notwithstanding the scarcity of time was such, that I

could haue no opportunity to go vnto Sir Walter Ralegh with complaint: for

the ships being then all in readinesse to goe to the Sea, would haue bene

departed before I could haue made my returne. Thus both Gouernors,

Masters, and sailers, regarding very smally the good of their countreymen

in Virginia; determined nothing lesse then to touch at those places, but

wholly disposed themselues to seeke after purchase and spoiles, spending

so much time therein, that sommer was spent before we arriued at Virginia.

And when we were come thither, the season was so vnfit, and weather so

foule, that we were constrained of force to forsake that coast, hauing not

seene any of our planters, with losse of one of our ship-boates, and 7 of

our chiefest men: and also with losse of 3 of our ankers and cables, and

most of our caskes with fresh water left on shore, not possible to be had

aboard. Which euils and vnfortunate euents (as wel to their owne losse as

to the hinderance of the planters in Virginia) had not chanced, if the

order set downe by Sir Walter Ralegh had bene obserued, or if my dayly and

continuall petitions for the performance of the same might haue taken any

place. Thus may you plainely perceiue the successe of my fift and last

voiage to Virginia, which was no lesse vnfortunately ended then frowardly

begun, and as lucklesse to many, as sinister to my selfe. But I would to

God it had bene as prosperous to all, as noysome to the planters; and as

ioyfull to me, as discomfortable to them. Yet seeing it is not my first

crossed voyage, I remaine contented. And wanting my wishes, I leaue off

from prosecuting that whereunto I would to God my wealth were answerable

to my will. Thus committing the reliefe of my discomfortable company the

planters in Virginia, to the merciful help of the Almighty, whom I most

humbly beseech to helpe and comfort them, according to his most holy will

and their good desire, I take my leaue: from my house at Newtowne in

Kylmore the 4 of February, 1593.

Your most welwishing friend,

IOHN WHITE.

XXXIII. The fift voyage of M. Iohn White into the West Indies and parts of

America called Virginia, in the yeere 1590.

The 20 of March the three shippes the Hopewell, the Iohn Euangelist, and

the little Iohn, put to sea from Plymmouth with two small Shallops.

The 25 at midnight both our Shallops were sunke being towed at the ships

stearnes by the Boatswaines negligence.

On the 30 we saw a head vs that part of the coast of Barbary, lying East

of Cape Cantyn, and the Bay of Asaphi.

The next day we came to the Ile of Mogador, where rode, at our passing by,

a Pinnesse of London called the Mooneshine.

Aprill.

On the first of Aprill we ankored in Santa Cruz rode, where we found two

great shippes of London lading in Sugar, of whom we had 2 shipboats to

supply the losse of our Shalops.

On the 2 we set sayle from the rode of Santa Cruz for the Canaries.

On Saturday the 4 we saw Alegranza, the East Ile of the Canaries.

On Sunday the 5 of Aprill we gaue chase to a double flyboat, the which, we

also the same day fought with, and tooke her, with losse of three of their

men slaine, and one hurt.

On Munday the 6 we saw Grand Canarie, and the next day we landed and tooke

in fresh water on the Southside thereof.

On the 9. we departed from Grand Canary, and framed our course for

Dominica.

The last of Aprill we saw Dominica, and the same night we came to an anker

on the Southside thereof.

May.

The first of May in the morning many of the Saluages came aboord our ships

in their Canowes, and did traffique with vs; we also the same day landed

and entered their Towne from whence we returned the same day aboord

without any resistance of the Saluages; or any offence done to them.

The 2 of May our Admirall and our Pinnesse departed from Dominica leauing

the Iohn our Viceadmirall playing off and on about Dominica, hoping to

take some Spaniard outwardes bound to the Indies; the same night we had

sight of three small Ilands called Los Santos, leauing Guadeloupe and them

on our starboord.

The 3 we had sight of S. Christophers Iland, bearing Northeast and by East

off vs.

On the 4 we sayled by the Virgines, which are many broken Ilands, lying at

the East ende of S. Iohns Iland: and the same day towards euening we

landed vpon one of them called Blanca, where we killed an incredible

number of foules: here we stayed but three houres, and from thence stood

into the shore Northwest, and hauing brought this Iland Southeast off vs,

we put towards night thorow an opening or swatch, called The passage,

lying betweene the Virgines, and the East end of S. Iohn: here the

Pinnesse left vs, and sayled on the South side of S. Iohn.

The 5 and 6 the Admirall sayled along the North side of S. Iohn, so neere

the shore that the Spaniards discerned vs to be men of warre; and

therefore made fires along the coast as we sailed by, for so their custome

is, when they see any men of warre on their coasts.

The 7 we landed on the Northwest end of S. Iohn, where we watered in a

good riuer called Yaguana, and the same night following we tooke a Frigate

of tenne Tunne comming from Gwathanelo laden with hides and ginger. In

this place Pedro a Mollato, who knewe all our state ranne from vs to the

Spaniards.

On the 9 we departed from Yaguana.

The 13 we landed on an Iland called Mona; whereon were 10 or 12 houses

inhabited of the Spaniards; these we burned and tooke from them a

Pinnesse, which they had drawen a ground and sunke, and caried all her

sayles, mastes, and rudders into the woods, because we should not take him

away; we also chased the Spaniards ouer all the Iland; but they hid them

in caues, hollow rockes, and bushes, so that we could not find them.

On the 14 we departed from Mona, and the next day after wee came to an

Iland called Saona, about 5 leagues distant from Mona, lying on the

Southside of Hispaniola neere the East end: betweene these two Ilands we

lay off and on 4 or 5 dayes, hoping to take some of the Domingo fleete

doubling this Iland, as a neerer way to Spaine then by Cape Tyburon, or by

Cape S. Anthony.

On Thursday being the 19 our Viceadmirall, from whom we departed at

Dominica, came to vs at Saona, with whom we left a Spanish Frigate, and

appointed him to lie off and on other fiue daies betweene Saona and Mona

to the ende aforesaid; then we departed from them at Saona for Cape

Tyburon. Here I was enformed that our men of the Viceadmirall, at their

departure from Dominica brought away two young Saluages, which were the

chiefe Casiques sonnes of that Countrey and part of Dominica, but they

shortly after ran away from them at Santa Cruz Iland, where the

Viceadmirall landed to take in ballast.

On the 21 the Admirall came to the Cape Tyburon, where we found the Iohn

Euangelist our Pinnesse staying for vs: here we tooke in two Spaniards

almost starued on the shore, who made a fire to our ships as we passed by.

Those places for an 100 miles in length are nothing els but a desolate and

meere wildernesse, without any habitation of people, and full of wilde

Bulles and Bores, and great Serpents.

The 22 our Pinnesse came also to an anker in Aligato Bay at cape Tyburon.

Here we vnderstood of M. Lane, Captaine of the Pinnesse; how he was set

vpon with one of the kings Gallies belonging to Santo Domingo, which was

manned with 400 men, who after he had fought with him 3 or 4 houres, gaue

ouer the fight and forsooke him, without any great hurt done on eyther

part.

The 26 the Iohn our Vizeadmirall came to vs to cape Tyburon and the Frigat

which we left with him at Saona. This was the appointed place where we

should attend for the meeting with the Santo Domingo Fleete.

On Whitsunday Euen at Cape Tyburon one of our boyes ranne away from vs,

and at tenne dayes end returned to our ships almost starued for want of

food. In sundry places about this part of Cape Tyburon we found the bones

and carkases of diuers men, who had perished (as wee thought) by famine in

those woods, being either stragled from their company, or landed there by

some men of warre.

Iune.

On the 14 of Iune we tooke a smal Spanish frigat which fell amongst vs so

suddenly, as he doubled the point at the Bay of Cape Tyburon, where we

road, so that he could not escape vs. This frigat came from Santo Domingo,

and had but three men in her, the one was an expert Pilot, the other a

Mountainer, and the thirde a Vintener, who escaped all of prison at Santo

Domingo, purposing to fly to Yaguana which is a towne in the West parts of

Hispaniola where many fugitiue Spaniards are gathered together.

The 17 being Wednesday Captaine Lane was sent to Yaguana with his Pinnesse

and a Frigat to take a shippe, which was there taking in fraight, as we

vnderstood by the old Pylot, whom we had taken three dayes before.

The 24 the Frigat returned from Captaine Lane at Yaguana, and brought vs

word to cape Tyburon, that Captaine Lane had taken the shippe, with many

passengers and Negroes in the same; which proued not so rich a prize as we

hoped for, for that a Frenchman of warre had taken and spoyled her before

we came. Neuerthelesse her loading was thought worth 1000 or 1300 pounds,

being hides, ginger, Cannafistula, Copper-pannes, and Casaui.

Iuly.

The second of Iuly Edward Spicer whom we left in England came to vs at

cape Tyburon, accompanied with a small Pinnesse, whereof one M. Harps was

Captaine. And the same day we had sight of a fleete of 14 saile all of

Santo Domingo, to whom we presently gaue chase, but they vpon the first

sight of vs fled, and separating themselues scattered here and there:

Wherefore we were forced to diuide our selues and so made after them

vntill 12 of the clocke at night. (M319) But then by reason of the

darkenesse we lost sight of ech other, yet in the end the Admirall and the

Moonelight happened to be together the same night at the fetching vp of

the Vizadmirall of the Spanish fleete, against whom the next morning we

fought and tooke him, with losse of one of our men and two hurt, and of

theirs 4 slaine and 6 hurt. But what was become of our Viceadmirall, our

Pinnesse, and Prize, and two Frigates, in all this time, we were ignorant.

The 3 of Iuly we spent about rifling, romaging, and fitting the Prize to

be sayled with vs.

The 6 of Iuly we saw Iamayca the which we left on our larboord, keeping

Cuba in sight on our starboord.

Vpon the 8 of Iuly we saw the Iland of Pinos, which lieth on the Southside

of Cuba nigh vnto the West end or Cape called Cape S. Anthony. And the

same day we gaue chase to a Frigat, but at night we lost sight of her,

partly by the slow sayling of our Admirall, and lacke of the Moonelight

our Pinnesse, whom Captaine Cooke had sent to the Cape the day before.

On the 11 we came to Cape S. Anthony, where we found our consort the

Moonelight and her Pinnesse abiding for our comming, of whom we vnderstood

that the day before there passed by them 22 saile, some of them of the

burden of 300 and some 400 tunnes loaden with the Kings treasure from the

maine, bound for Hauana: from this 11 of Iuly vntill 22 we were much

becalmed: and the winde being very scarse, and the weather exceeding hoat,

we were much pestered with the Spaniards we had taken: wherefore we were

driuen to land all the Spaniards sauing three, but the place where we

landed them was of their owne choise on the Southside of Cuba neere vnto

the Organes and Rio de Puercos.

The 23 we had sight of the Cape of Florida, and the broken Ilands thereof

called the Martires.(106)

The 25 being S. James day in the morning, we fell in with the Matanças, a

head-land 8 leagues towards the East of Hauana, where we purposed to take

fresh water in, and make our abode two or three dayes.

On Sunday the 26 of Iuly plying to and fro betweene the Matanças and

Hauana, we were espied of three small Pinasses of S. Iohn de Vilua bound

for Hauana exceedingly richly loaden. These 3 Pinasses came very boldly vp

vnto vs, and so continued vntill they came within musket shot of vs. And

we supposed them to be Captaine Harps Pinnesse, and two small Frigats

taken by Captaine Harpe: wherefore we shewed our flag. But they presently

vpon the sight of it turned about and made all the saile they could from

vs toward the shore, and kept themselues in so shallow water, that we were

not able to follow them, and therefore gaue them ouer with expence of shot

and pouder to no purpose. But if we had not so rashly set out our flagge,

we might haue taken them all three, for they would not haue knowen vs

before they had beene in our hands. This chase brought vs so far to

leeward as Hauana: wherfore not finding any of our consorts at the

Matanças, we put ouer againe to the cape of Florida, and from thence

thorow the chanel of Bahama.

On the 28 the Cape of Florida bare West of vs.

(M320) The 30 we lost sight of the coast of Florida, and stood to Sea for

to gaine the helpe of the current which runneth much swifter a farre off

then in sight of the coast.(107) For from the Cape to Virginia all along

the shore are none but eddie currents, setting to the South and Southwest.

The 31 our three ships were clearely disbocked, the great prize, the

Admirall, and the Mooneshine, but our prize being thus disbocked departed

from vs without taking leaue of our Admirall or consort, and sayled

directly for England.

August.

On the first of August the winde scanted, and from thence forward we had

very fowl weather with much raine, thundering, and great spouts, which

fell round about vs nigh vnto our ships.

The 3 we stoode againe in for the shore, and at midday we tooke the height

of the same. The height of that place we found to be 34 degrees of

latitude. Towards night we were within three leagues of the Low sandie

Ilands West of Wokokon. But the weather continued so exceeding foule, that

we could not come to an anker nye the coast: wherefore we stood off againe

to Sea vntill Monday the 9 of August.

On Munday the storme ceased, and we had very great likelihood of faire

weather: therefore we stood in againe for the shore: and came to an anker

at 11 fadome in 35 degrees of latitude, within a mile of the shore, where

we went on land on the narrow sandy Island, being one of the Ilandes, West

of Wokokon: in this Iland we tooke in some fresh water and caught great

store of fish in the shallow water. Betweene the maine (as we supposed)

and that Iland it was but a mile ouer and three or foure foote deepe in

most places.

On the 12 in the morning we departed from thence and toward night we came

to an anker at the Northeast end of the Iland of Croatoan, by reason of a

breach which we perceiued to lie out two or three leagues into the Sea:

here we road all that night.

(M321) The 13 in the morning before we wayed our ankers, our boates were

sent to sound ouer this breach: our ships riding on the side thereof at 5

fadome; and a ships length from vs we found but 4 and a quarter, and then

deeping and shallowing for the space of two miles, so that sometimes we

found 5 fadome, and by and by 7, and within two casts with the lead 9, and

then 8, next cast 5, and then 6, and then 4, and then 9 againe, and

deeper; but 3 fadome was the last, 2 leagues off from the shore. This

breach is in 35. degr. and a halfe, and lyeth at the very Northeast point

of Croatoan, whereas goeth a fret out of the maine Sea into the inner

waters, which part the Ilandes and the maine land.(108)

(M322) The 15 of August towards Euening we came to an anker at Hatorask,

in 36 degr. and one third, in fiue fadom water, three leagues from the

shore. At our first comming to anker on this shore we saw a great smoke

rise in the Ile Raonoak neere the place where I left our Colony in the

yeere 1587, which smoake put vs in good hope that some of the Colony were

there expecting my returne out of England.

The 16 and next morning our 2 boates went a shore, and Captaine Cooke, and

Cap. Spicer, and their company with me, with intent to passe to the place

at Raonoak where our countrymen were left. At our putting from the ship we

commanded our Master gunner to make readie 2 Minions and a Falkon well

loden, and to shoot them off with reasonable space betweene euery shot, to

the ende that their reportes might bee heard to the place where wee hoped

to finde some of our people. (M323) This was accordingly performed, and

twoe boats put off vnto the shore, in the Admirals boat, we sounded all

the way and found from our shippe vntill we came within a mile of the

shore nine, eight, and seuen fadome: but before we were halfe way betweene

our ships and the shore we saw another great smoke to the Southwest of

Kindrikers mountes: we therefore thought good to goe to that second smoke

first, but it was much further from the harbour where we landed, then we

supposed it to be, so that we were very sore tired before wee came to the

smoke. But that which grieued vs more was that when we came to the smoke,

we found no man nor signe that any had bene there lately, nor yet any

fresh water in all this waye to drinke. Being thus wearied with this

iourney we returned to the harbour where we left our boates, who in our

absence had brought their caske a shore for fresh water, so we deferred

our going to Roanoak vntill the next morning, and caused some of those

saylers to digge in those sandie hills for fresh water whereof we found

very sufficient. That night wee returned aboord with our boates and our

whole company in safety.

The next morning being the 17 of August, our boates and company were

prepared againe to goe vp to Roanoak, but Captaine Spicer had then sent

his boat ashore for fresh water, by meanes whereof it was ten of the

clocke afternoone before we put from our ships which were then come to an

anker within two miles of the shore. The Admirals boat was halfe way

toward the shore, when Captaine Spicer put off from his ship. The Admirals

boat first passed the breach, but not without some danger of sinking, for

we had a sea brake in our boat which filled vs halfe full of water, but by

the will of God and carefull styrage of Captaine Cooke we came safe

ashore, sauing onely that our furniture, victuals, match and powder were

much wet and spoyled. For at this time the winde blue at Northeast and

direct into the harbour so great a gale, that the Sea brake extremely on

the barre, and the tide went very forcibly at the entrance. (M324) By that

time our Admirals boat was halled ashore, and most of our things taken out

to dry, Captaine Spicer came to the entrance of the breach, with his mast

standing vp, and was halfe passed ouer, but by the rash and vndiscreet

styrage of Ralph Skinner his Masters mate, a very dangerous sea brake into

their boate and ouerset them quite, the men kept the boat some in it, and

some hanging on it, but the next sea set the boat on ground, where it beat

so, that some of them were forced to let goe their hold, hoping to wade

ashore: but the Sea still beat them downe, so that they could neither

stand nor swimme, and the boat twise or thrice was turned the keele

vpward, whereon Captaine Spicer and Skinner hung vntill they sunke, and

were seene no more. But foure that could swimme a little kept themselues

in deeper water and were saued by Captaine Cookes meanes, who so soone as

he saw their ouersetting, stripped himselfe, and four other that could

swimme very well, and with all haste possible rowed vnto them, and saued

foure. There were 11 in all and 7 of the chiefest were drowned, whose

names were Edward Spicer, Ralph Skinner, Edward Kelly, Thomas Beuis, Hance

the Surgion, Edward Kelborne, Robert Coleman. This mischance did so much

discomfort the saylers, that they were all of one mind not to goe any

further to seeke the planters. But in the end by the commandement and

perswasion of me and Captaine Cooke, they prepared the boates: and seeing

the Captaine and me so resolute, they seemed much more willing. Our boates

and all things fitted againe, we put off from Hatorask, being the number

of 19 persons in both boates: but before we could get to the place where

our planters were left, it was so exceeding darke, that we overshot the

place a quarter of a mile: there we espied towards the North ende of the

Island the light of a great fire thorow the woods, to which we presently

rowed: when wee came right ouer against it, we let fall our Grapnel neere

the shore and sounded with a trumpet a Call, and afterwardes many familiar

English tunes and Songs, and called to them friendly; but we had no

answere, we therefore landed at day-breake, and comming to the fire, we

found the grasse and sundry rotten trees burning about the place. From

hence we went thorow the woods to that part of the Island directly ouer

aguinst Dasamongwepeuk, and from thence we returned by the water side,

round about the North point of the Iland, vntill we came to the place,

where I left our Colony in the yeere 1586. In all this way we saw in the

sand the print of the Saluages feet of 2 or 3 sorts troaden the night, and

as we entered vp the sandy banke vpon a tree, in the very browe thereof

were curiously carued these faire Romane letters C R O: which letters

presently we knew to signifie the place, where I should find the planters

seated, according to a secret token agreed vpon betweene them and me at my

last departure from them, which was, that in any wayes they should not

faile to write or carue on the trees or posts of the dores the name of the

place where they should be seated; for at my comming alway they were

prepared to remoue from Roanoak 50 miles into the maine. Therefore at my

departure from them in An. 1587 I willed them, that if they should happen

to be distressed in any of those places, that then they should carue ouer

the letters or name, a Crosse + in this forme, but we found no such signe

of distresse. And hauing well considered of this, we passed toward the

place where they were left in sundry houses, but we found the houses taken

downe, and the place very strongly enclosed with a high palisado of great

trees, with cortynes and flankers very Fortlike, and one of the chiefe

trees or postes at the right side of the entrance had the barke taken off,

and 5 foote from the ground in fayre Capitall letters was grauen CROATOAN

without any crosse or signe of distresse; this done, we entered into the

palisado, where we found many barres of iron, two pigges of lead, foure

yron fowlers, Iron sacker-shotte, and such like heauie thinges, throwen

here and there, almost ouergrowen with grasse and weedes. From thence wee

went along by the water side, towards the poynt of the Creeke to see if we

could find any of their botes or Pinnesse, but we could perceiue no signe

of them, nor any of the last Falkons and small Ordinance which were left

with them, at my departure from them. At our returne from the Creeke, some

of our Saylers meeting vs, told vs that they had found where diuers chests

had bene hidden, and long sithence digged vp againe and broken vp, and

much of the goods in them spoyled and scattered about, but nothing left,

of such things as the Sauages knew any vse of, vndefaced. Presently

Captaine Cooke and I went to the place, which was in the ende of an olde

trench, made two yeeres past by Captaine Amadas: wheere wee found fiue

Chests, that had bene carefully hidden of the Planters, and of the same

chests three were my owne, and about the place many of my things spoyled

and broken, and my bookes torne from the couers, the frames of some of my

pictures and Mappes rotten and spoyled with rayne, and my armour almost

eaten through with rust; this could bee no other but the deede of the

Sauages our enemies at Dasamongwepeuk, who had watched the departure of

our men to Croatoan; and assoone as they were departed digged vp euery

place where they suspected any thing to be buried: but although it much

grieued me to see such spoyle of my goods, yet on the other side I greatly

ioyed that I had safely found a certaine token of their safe being at

Croatoan, which is the place where Manteo was borne, and the Sauages of

the Iland our friends.

When we had seene in this place so much as we could, we returned to our

Boates, and departed from the shoare towards our shippes, with as much

speede as we could: For the weather beganne to ouercast, and very likely

that a foule and stormie night would ensue. Therefore the same Euening

with much danger and labour, we got our selues aboard, by which time the

winde and seas were so greatly risen, that wee doubted our Cables and

Anchors would scarcely holde vntill Morning: wherefore the Captaine caused

the Boate to be manned by fiue lusty men, who could swimme all well, and

sent them to the little Iland on the right hand of the Harbour, to bring

aboard sixe of our men, who had filled our caske with fresh water: the

Boate the same night returned aboard with our men, but all our Caske ready

filled they left behinde, impossible to bee had aboard without danger of

casting away both men and Boates: for this night prooued very stormie and

foule.

The next Morning it was agreed by the Captaine and my selfe, with the

Master and others, to way anchor, and goe for the place at Croatoan, where

our planters were: for that then the winde was good for that place, and

also to leaue that Caske with fresh water on shoare in the Iland vntill

our returne. So then they brought the cable to the Capston, but when the

anchor was almost apecke, the Cable broke, by meanes whereof we lost

another Anchor, wherewith we droue so fast into the shoare, that wee were

forced to let fall a third Anchor: which came so fast home that the Shippe

was almost aground by Kenricks mounts: so that we were forced to let

slippe the Cable ende for ende. And if it had not chanced that wee had

fallen into a chanell of deeper water, closer by the shoare then wee

accompted of, wee could neuer haue gone cleare of the poynt that lyeth to

the Southwardes of Kenricks mount. Being thus cleare of some dangers, and

gotten into deeper waters, but not without some losse: for wee had but one

Cable and Anchor left vs of foure, and the weather grew to be fouler and

fouler; our victuals scarse, and our caske and fresh water lost: it was

therefore determined that we should goe for Saint Iohn or some other Iland

to the Southward for fresh water. And it was further purposed, that if wee

could any wayes supply our wants of victuals and other necessaries, either

at Hispaniola, Sant Iohn, or Trynidad, that then we should continue in the

Indies all the Winter following, with hope to make 2. rich voyages of one,

and at our returne to visit our countreymen at Virginia. The captaine and

the whole company in the Admirall (with my earnest petitions) thereunto

agreed, so that it rested onely to knowe what the Master of the

Moone-light our consort would doe herein. (M325) But when we demanded them

if they would accompany vs in that new determination, they alleaged that

their weake and leake Shippe was not able to continue it; wherefore the

same night we parted, leauing the Moone-light to goe directly for England,

and the Admirall set his course for Trynidad, which course we kept two

dayes.

On the 28. the winde changed, and it was sette on foule weather euery way:

but this storme brought the winde West and Northwest, and blewe so

forcibly, that wee were able to beare no sayle, but our fore-course halfe

mast high, wherewith wee ranne vpon the winde perforce, the due course for

England, for that wee were driuen to change our first determination for

Trynidad, and stoode for the Ilands of Açores, where wee purposed to take

in fresh water, and also there hoped to meete with some English men of

warre about those Ilands, at whose hands wee might obtaine some supply of

our wants. And thus continuing our course for the Açores, sometimes with

calmes, and sometimes with very scarce windes, on the fifteenth of

September the winde came South Southeast, and blew so exceedingly, that

wee were forced to lye atry(109) all that day. At this time by account we

iudged our selues to be about twentie leagues to the West of Cueruo and

Flores, but about night, the storme ceased, and fayre weather ensued.

On Thursday the seuenteenth wee saw Cueruo and Flores, but we could not

come to anker that night, by reason the winde shifted. The next Morning

being the eighteenth, standing in againe with Cueruo, we escryed a sayle a

head vs, to whom we gaue chase: but when wee came neere him, wee knew him

to be a Spanyard, and hoped to make sure purchase of him: but we

vnderstood at our speaking with him, that he was a prize, and of the

Domingo fleete already taken by the Iohn our consort, in the Indies. We

learned also of this prize, that our Viceadmirall and Pinnesse had fought

with the rest of the Domingo fleete, and had forced them with their

Admirall to flee vnto Iamaica vnder the Fort for succour, and some of them

ran themselues aground, whereof one of them they brought away, and tooke

out of some others so much as the time would permit. And further wee

vnderstood of them, that in their returne from Iamaica about the Organes

neere Cape Saint Anthony, our Viceadmirall mette with two Shippes of the

mayne land, come from Mexico, bound for Hauana, with whom he fought: in

which fight our Viceadmirals Lieutenant was slaine, and the Captaines

right arme strooken off, with foure other of his men slaine, and sixteene

hurt. (M326) But in the ende he entred, and tooke one of the Spanish

shippes, which was so sore shot by vs vnder water, that before they could

take out her treasure she sunke; so that we lost thirteene Pipes of siluer

which sunke with her, besides much other rich marchandize. And in the

meane time the other Spanish shippe being pearced with nine shotte vnder

water, got away; whom our Viceadmirall intended to pursue: but some of

their men in the toppe made certaine rockes, which they saw aboue water

neere the shoare, to be Gallies of Hauana and Cartagena, comming from

Hauana to rescue the two Ships; Wherefore they gaue ouer the chase, and

went for England. After this intelligence was giuen vs by this our prize,

he departed from vs, and went for England.

On Saturday the 19. of September we came to an Ancre neere a small village

on the North side of Flores, where we found ryding 5. English men of

warre, of whom we vnderstood that our Viceadmirall and Prize were gone

thence for England. One of these fiue was the Moonelight our consort, who

vpon the first sight of our comming into Flores, set sayle and went for

England, not taking any leaue of vs.

On Sunday the 20 the Mary Rose, Admirall of the Queenes fleete, wherein

was Generall Sir Iohn Hawkins, stood in with Flores, and diuers other of

the Queenes ships, namely the Hope, the Nonpareilia, the Rainebow, the

Swift-sure, the Foresight, with many other good merchants ships of warre,

as the Edward Bonauenture, the Marchant Royal, the Amitie, the Eagle, the

Dainty of sir Iohn Hawkins, and many other good ships and pinnesses, all

attending to meete with the king of Spaines fleete, comming from Terra

firma of the West Indies.

The 22. of September we went aboard the Raynebow, and towards night we

spake with the Swift-sure, and gaue him 3. pieces. The captaines desired

our company; wherefore we willingly attended on them: who at this time

with 10. other ships stood for Faial. But the Generall with the rest of

the Fleete were separated from vs, making two fleetes, for the surer

meeting with the Spanish fleete.

On Wednesday the 23. we saw Gratiosa, where the Admiral and the rest of

the Queenes fleete were come together. The Admirall put forth a flag of

counsel, in which was determined that the whole fleete should go for the

mayne, and spred themselues on the coasts of Spaine and Portugal, so farre

as conueniently they might, for the surer meeting of the Spanish fleete in

those parts.

The 20. we came to Faial, where the Admiral with some other of the fleete

ankered, other some plyed vp and downe betweene that and the Pico vntill

midnight, at which time the Anthony shot off a piece and weyed, shewing

his light: after whom the whole fleete stood to the East, the winde at

Northeast by East.

On Sunday the 27. towards Euening wee tooke our leaue of the Admirall and

the whole fleete, who stood to the East. But our shippe accompanied with a

Flyboat stoode in again with S. George, where we purposed to take in more

fresh water, and some other fresh victuals.

On Wednesday the 30. of September, seeing the winde hang so Northerly,

that wee could not atteine the Iland of S. George, we gaue ouer our

purpose to water there, and the next day framed our due course for

England.

October.

The 2. of October in the Morning we saw S. Michaels Iland on our Starre

board quarter.

The 23. at 10. of the clocke afore noone, we saw Vshant in Britaigne.

On Saturday the 24. we came in safetie, God be thanked, to an anker at

Plymmouth.(110)

XXXIV. The relation of John de Verrazano of the land by him discovered.

To the most Christian King of France, Francis the first.

The relation of Iohn de Verrazzano a Florentine, of the land by him

discouered in the name of his Maiestie. Written at Diepe the eight of

Iuly, 1524.

I wrote not to your Maiesty, most Christian king, since the time we

suffered the tempest in the north partes, of the successe of the foure

Shippes, which your Maiestie sent forth to discouer new lands by the

Ocean, thinking your Maiestie had bene already duely enformed thereof. Now

by these presents I will giue your Maiestie to vnderstand, how by the

violence of the windes we were forced with two ships, the Norman and the

Dolphin (in such euill case as they were) to land in Britaine. Where after

wee had repayred them in all poynts as was needefull, and armed them very

well, we tooke our course along by the coast of Spaine, which your

Maiestie shall vnderstand by the profite that we receiued thereby.

Afterwards with the Dolphin alone we determined to make discouerie of new

Countries, to prosecute the nauigation we had already begun, which I

purpose at this present to recount vnto your Maiestie to make manifest the

whole proceeding of the matter.

(M327) The 17 of Ianuary the yeere 1524. by the grace of God we departed

from the dishabited rocke by the isle of Madêra, apperteining to the king

of Portugal, with 50. men, with victuals, weapons, and other ship-munition

very well prouided and furnished for 8 moneths: And sayling Westwards with

a faire Easterly winde, in 25. dayes we ran 500. leagues, and the 20. of

Februarie we were ouertaken with as sharpe and terrible a tempest as euer

any saylers suffered: whereof with the diuine helpe and mercifull

assistance of Almighty God, and the goodnesse of our shippe, accompanied

with the good happe of her fortunate name, we were deliuered, and with a

prosperous winde followed our course West and by North. (M328) And in

other 25. dayes we made aboue 400. leagues more, where we discouered a new

land, neuer before seene of any man either ancient or moderne, and at

first sight it seemed somewhat low, but being within a quarter of a league

of it, we perceiued by the great fires that we saw by the Sea coast, that

it was inhabited: and saw that the land stretched to the Southwards. In

seeking some conuenient Harborough wherein to anchor and to haue knowledge

of the place, we sayled fiftie leagues in vaine, and seeing the land to

runne still to the Southwards, we resolued to return back againe towards

the North where wee found ourselues troubled with the like difficulty. At

length being in despaire to finde any Port, wee cast anchor vpon the

coast, and sent our Boate to shore, where we saw great store of people

which came to the sea side: and seeing vs approch, they fled away, and

sometime would stand still and looke backe, beholding vs with great

admiration: but afterwards being animated and assured with signes that we

made them, some of them came hard to the Sea side, seeming to reioyce very

much at the sight of vs, and marueiling greatly at our apparel, shape and

whitenesse, shewing vs by sundry signes where we might most commodiously

come aland with our Boat, offering vs also of their victuals to eat. Now I

wil briefly declare to your Maiestie their life and maners, as farre as we

could haue notice thereof: These people goe altogether naked, except only

that they couer their priuie parts with certaine skins of beastes like

vnto Martens, which they fasten vnto a narrow girdle made of grasse very

artificially wrought, hanged about with tayle of diuers other beastes,

which round about their bodies hang dangling downe to their knees. Some of

them weare garlands of byrdes feathers. The people are of colour russet,

and not much unlike the Saracens: their hayre blacke, thicke and not very

long, which they tye together in a knot behind and weare it like a litle

taile. They are well featured in their limbes, of meane stature, and

commonly somewhat bigger then we: broad breasted, strong armed, their legs

and other parts of their bodies well fashioned, and they are disfigured in

nothing, saving, that they have somewhat broade visages, and yet not all

of them: for we saw many of them wel favoured, having blacke and greate

eyes, with a cheerefull and steady looke, not strong of body, yet sharpe

witted, nymble and exceeding great runners, as farre as we could learne by

experience, and in those two last qualities they are like to the people of

the East partes of the world, and especially to them of the uttermost

parts of China. We could not learne of this people their maner of living,

nor their particular customs, by reason of the short abode we made on the

shore, our company being but small, and our ship ryding farre off in the

Sea. And not farre from these we found another people, whose living wee

thinke to be like unto theirs; (as hereafter I wil declare unto your

Majestie) shewing at this present the situation and nature of the foresayd

land. The shore is all covered with small sand, and so ascendeth upwards

for the space of 15 foote, rising in forme of litle hils about 50 paces

broad. And sayling forwards, we found certaine small Rivers and armes of

the Sea, that fall downe by certaine creekes, washing the shoare on both

sides as the coast lyeth. And beyond this we saw the open Countrey rising

in height above the sandy shoare with many faire fields and plaines, full

of mighty great woods, some very thicke, and some thinne, replenished with

divers sorts of trees, as pleasant and delectable to behold, as is

possible to imagine. And your Majesty may not thinke that these are like

the woods of Hercynia or the wilde deserts of Tartary, and the Northerne

coasts full of fruitlesse trees: But they are full of Palme trees, Bay

trees, and high Cypresse trees, and many other sorts of trees unknowen in

Europe, which yeeld most sweet savours farre from the shoare, the

propertie whereof we could not learne for the cause aforesayd, and not for

any difficulty to passe through the woods, seeing they are not so thicke

but that a man may passe through them. Neither doe we thinke that they

partaking of the East world round about them, are altogether voyd of drugs

and spicery, and other riches of golde, seeing the colour of the land doth

so much argue it. And the land is full of many beastes, as Stags, Deere

and Hares, and likewise of Lakes and Pooles of fresh water, with great

plentie of Fowles, conuenient for all kinde of pleasant game. This land is

in latitude 34. degrees, with good and wholesome ayre, temperature,

betweene hot and colde, no vehement windes doe blowe in those Regions, and

those that doe commonly reigne in those coasts, are the Northwest and West

windes in the summer season, (in the beginning whereof we were there) the

skie cleere and faire with very little raine: and if at any time the ayre

be cloudie and mistie with the Southerne winde, immediatly it is dissolued

and waxeth cleere and fayre againe. The Sea is calme, not boysterous, the

waues gentle: and although all the shore be somewhat sholde and without

harborough, yet it is not dangerous to the saylers, being free from rocks

and deepe, so that within 4. or 5. foote of the shore, there is 20. foote

deepe of water without ebbe or flood, the depth still increasing in such

vniforme proportion. There is very good ryding at Sea: for any ship being

shaken in a tempest, can neuer perish there by breaking of her cables,

which we haue prooued by experience. For in the beginning of March (as it

is vsuall in all regions) being in the Sea oppressed with Northerne

windes, and ryding there, wee found our anchor broken before the earth

fayled or mooued at all. (M329) We departed from this place, stil running

along the coast, which we found to trend toward the East,(111) and we saw

euery where very great fires, by reason of the multitude of the

inhabitants. While we rode on that coast, partly because it had no

harborough, and for that we wanted water, we sent our boate ashoare with

25. men: where by reason of great and continuall waues that beat against

the shoare, being an open Coast, without succour, none of our men could

possibly goe ashoare without loosing our boate. (M330) Wee saw there many

people which came vnto the shoare, making diuers signes of friendship, and

shewing that they were content we should come aland, and by trial we found

them to be very courteous and gentle, as your Maiestie shal vnderstand by

the successe. To the intent we might send them of our things, which the

Indians commonly desire and esteeme, as sheetes of paper, glasses, bels,

and such like trifles; we sent a young man one of our Mariners ashoare,

who swimming towards them, and being within 3. or 4. yards of the shore,

not trusting them, cast the things vpon the shoare: but seeking afterwards

to returne, he was with such violence of the waues beaten vpon the shore,

that he was so bruised that he lay there almost dead: which the Indians

perceiuing, ranne to catch him, and drawing him out, they caried him a

litle way off from the sea. The yong man perceiuing they caried him, being

at the first dismaied, began then greatly to feare, and cried out

piteously: likewise did the Indians which did accompany him, going about

to cheere him and to giue him courage, and then setting him on the ground

at the foote of a litle hil against the sunne, they began to behold him

with great admiration, marueiling at the whitenesse of his flesh: And

putting off his clothes, they made him warme at a great fire, not without

our great feare which remayned in the boate, that they would haue rosted

him at that fire, and haue eaten him. The young man hauing recouered his

strength, and hauing stayed a while with them, shewed them by signes that

he was desirous to returne to the ship: and they with great loue clapping

him fast about with many imbracings, accompanying him vnto the sea, and to

put him in more assurance, leauing him alone, went vnto a high ground and

stood there, beholding him vntill he was entred into the boate. This yong

man obserued, as we did also, that these are of colour inclining to Blacke

as the other were, with their flesh very shining, of meane stature,

handsome visage, and delicate limmes, and of very litle strength, but of

prompt wit: farther we obserued not.

(M331) Departing from hence, following the shore which trended somewhat

toward the North, in 50. leagues space we came to another land which

shewed much more faire and ful of woods, being very great, where we rode

at anker: and that we might haue some knowledge thereof, wee sent 20. men

aland, which entred into the countrey about 2 leagues, and they found that

the people were fled to the woods for feare. They saw onely one olde woman

with a young maide of 18. or 20. yeeres old, which seeing our company, hid

themselues in the grasse for feare: the olde woman caried two Infants on

her shoulders, and behind her necke a child of 8. yeeres old. The young

woman was laden likewise with as many: but when our men came vnto them,

the women cried out: the olde woman made signes that the men were fledde

vnto the woods. Assoone as they saw vs to quiet them and to winne their

fauour, our men gave them such victuals as they had with them, to eate,

which the old woman receiued thankfully: but the yong woman disdained them

all, and threw them disdainfully on the ground. They tooke a child from

the olde woman to bring into France, and going about to take the yong

woman which was very beautiful and of tall stature, they could not

possibly, for the great outcries that she made, bring her to the sea: and

especially hauing great woods to passe thorow, and being farre from the

ship, we purposed to leaue her behind, bearing away the child onely. We

found those folkes to be more white then those that we found before, being

clad with certaine leaues that hang on boughs of trees, which they sewe

together with threds of wilde hempe: their heads were trussed vp after the

same maner as the former were: their ordinary food is of pulse, whereof

they haue great store, differing in colour and taste from ours; of good

and pleasant taste. Moreouer they liue by fishing and fowling, which they

take with ginnes, and bowes made of hard wood, the arrowes of Canes, being

headed with the bones of fish, and other beasts. The beasts in these parts

are much wilder then in our Europe, by reason they are continually chased

and hunted. (M332) We saw many of their boats made of one tree 20 foote

long, and 4 foote broad, which are not made with yron or any other kind of

metall (because that in all this countrey for the space of leagues which

we ranne, we neuer saw one stone of any sort:) they helpe themselues with

fire, burning so much of the tree as is sufficient for the hollowness of

the boat; the like they doe in making the sterne and the forepart, vntil

it be fit to saile vpon the sea. The land is in situation goodnes and

fairenesse like the other: it hath woods like the other, thinne and full

of diuers sorts of trees: but not sweete, because the countrey is more

Northerly and colde.

(M333) We saw in this Countrey many Vines growing naturally, which growing

vp, tooke holde of the trees as they doe in Lombardie, which if by

husbandmen they were dressed in good order, without all doubt they would

yeeld excellent wines: for hauing oftentimes seene the fruit thereof

dryed, which was sweete and pleasant, and not differing from ours, wee

thinke that they doe esteeme the same, because that in euery place where

they growe, they take away the vnder branches growing round about, that

the fruit thereof may ripen the better.

We found also roses, violets, lilies, and many sorts of herbes, and sweete

and odoriferous flowers different from ours. We knewe not their dwellings,

because they were farre vp in the land, and we iudge by many signes that

we saw, that they are of wood and of trees framed together.

We doe beleeue also by many coniectures and signes, that many of them

sleeping in the fields, haue no other couert then the open sky. Further

knowledge haue we not of them: we thinke that all the rest whose countreys

we passed, liue all after one maner. Hauing made our aboade three dayes in

this countrey, and ryding on the coast for want of harboroughs, we

concluded to depart from thence, trending along the shore betweene the

North and the East, sayling onely in the daytime, and riding at anker by

night. In the space of 100. leagues sayling we found a very pleasant place

situated amongst certaine litle hils: (M334) from amidst the which hils

there ran downe into the sea an exceeding great streme of water, which

within the mouth was very deepe, and from the sea to the mouth of the same

with the tide which we found to rise 8. foote, any great ship laden may

passe vp.

But because we rode at rode at anker, in a place well fenced from the

wind, we would not venture ourselues without knowledge of the place: and

we passed vp with our boat onely into the sayd Riuer, and saw the countrey

very well peopled. (M335) The people are almost like vnto the others, and

are clad with the feathers of fowles of diuers colours: they came towards

vs very cheerefully, making great showts of admiration; shewing vs where

we might come to land most safely with our boat. We entered vp the sayd

river into the land about halfe a league where it made a most pleasant

lake about 3 leagues in compasse: on the which they rowed from the one

side to the other to the number of 30. of their small boates, wherein were

many people which passed from one shore to the other to come and see vs.

(M336) And behold vpon the sudden (as is woont to fall out in sayling) a

contrary flaw of wind comming from the sea, we were inforced to returne to

our ship, leauing this lande to our great discontentment, for the great

commodity and pleasantnesse thereof, which we suppose is not without some

riches, all the hils shewing minerall waters in them. (M337) We weyed

anker, and sayled toward the East, for so the coast trended, and so

alwayes for 50. leagues being in the sight thereof, we discouered an Iland

in forme of a triangle, distant from the maine land 10. leagues, about the

bignesse of the Iland of the Rhodes: it was ful of hils couered with

trees, well peopled, for we saw fires all along the coast: wee gaue it the

name of your Maiesties mother, not staying there by reason of the weather

being contrary.

And we came to another land being 15. leagues from the Iland, where we

found a passing good hauen, wherein being entred, we found about 20. small

boats of the people, which with diuers cries and wondrings came about our

ship, comming no neerer then 50. paces towards vs: they stayed and beheld

the artificialnesse of our ship, our shape and apparel: then they all made

a loud showt together, declaring that they reioyced. When we had something

animated them, vsing their gestures, they came so neere vs, that we cast

them certaine bels and glasses, and many toyes, which when they had

receiued, they looked on them with laughing, and came without feare aboard

our ship. There were amongst these people 2. kings of so goodly stature

and shape as is possible to declare: the eldest was about 40. yeeres of

age, the second was a young man of 20. yeeres olde. Their apparell was on

this maner: the elder had vpon his naked body a Harts skin wrought

artificially with diuers branches like damaske: his head was bare with the

hayre tyed vp behind with diuers knot: about his necke he had a large

chaine, garnished with diuers stones of sundry colours: the yong man was

almost apparelled after the same maner. This is the goodliest people, and

of the fairest conditions that we haue found in this our voyage. They

exceed vs in bignes: they are of the colour of brasse, some of them

incline more to whitenesse: others are of yellow colour, of comely visage,

with long and blacke haire, which they are very careful to trim and decke

vp: they are blacke and quicke eyed, and of sweete and pleasant

countenance, imitating much the old fashion. I write not to your Maiestie

of the other parts of their body, hauing al such proportion as

apperteineth to any handsome man. The women are of the like conformitie

and beautie: very handsome and well fauoured, of pleasaunt countenance,

and comely to behold: they are as wel manered and continent as any women,

and of good education: they are all naked saue their priuy partes, which

they couer with a Deeres skin branched or embrodered as the men vse: there

are also of them which weare on their armes very rich skinnes of Luzernes:

they adorne their heads with diuers ornaments made of their owne haire,

which hang downe before on both sides their brestes: others vse other

kinde of dressing themselues like vnto the women of Egypt and Syria, these

are of the elder sort: and when they are maried, they weare diuers toyes,

according to the vsage of the people of the East, as well men as women.

Among whom we saw many plates of wrought copper, which they esteeme more

then golde, which for the colour they make no account of Azure and Red.

The things that they esteeme most of all those which we gaue them, were

bels, christall of Azure colour, and other toyes to hang at their eares or

about their necke. They did not desire cloth of silke or of golde, much

lesse of any other sort, neither cared they for things made of steele and

yron, which wee often shewed them in our armour which they made no wonder

at, and in beholding them they onely asked the arte of making them: the

like they did at our glasses, which when they beheld, they suddenly laught

and gaue them vs againe. They are very liberall, for they giue that which

they haue: wee became great friends with these, and one day we entred into

the Hauen with our ship, whereas before we rode a league off at Sea by

reason of the contrary weather. They came in great companies of their

small boats vnto the ship with their faces all bepainted with diuers

colours, shewing vs that it was a signe of ioy, bringing vs of their

victuals, they made signes vnto vs where we might safest ride in the Hauen

for the safegard of our ship keeping still our company: and after we were

come to an anker, wee bestowed 15 dayes in prouiding our selues many

necessary things, whither euery day the people repaired to see our ship

bringing their wiues with them, whereof they were very ielous: and they

themselues entring abord the ship and staying there a good space, caused

their wiues to stay in their boats, and for all the entreatie we could

make, offring to giue them diuers things, we could neuer obtaine that they

would suffer them to come abord our ship. And oftentimes one of the two

kings comming with his queene, and many gentlemen for their pleasure to

see vs, they all stayed on shore 200. paces from vs, sending a small boat

to giue vs intelligence of their comming, saying they would come to see

our ship: this they did in token of safety, and assone as they had answere

from vs, they came immediatly, and hauing staied awhile to behold it, they

wondered at hearing the cries and noyses of the mariners. The queene and

her maids stayed in a very light boat, at an Iland a quarter of a league

off, while the king abode a long space in our ship vttering diuers

conceits with gestures, viewing with great admiration all the furniture of

the ship, demanding the property of euery thing particularly. He tooke

likewise great pleasure in beholding our apparell, and in tasting our

meats, and so courteously taking his leaue departed. And sometimes our men

staying 2 or 3 daies on a litle Iland neere the ship for diuers

necessaries (as it is the vse of seamen) he returned with 7 or 8 of his

gentlemen to see what we did, and asked vs oftentimes if we meant to make

any long abode there, offring vs of their prouision: then the king drawing

his bow and running vp and down with his gentlemen, made much sport to

gratifie our men: (M338) we were oftentimes within the land 5 or 6

leagues, which we found as pleasant as is possible to declare, very apt

for any kind of husbandry of corne, wine and oyle: for that there are

plaines 25 or 30 leagues broad, open and without any impediment, of trees

of such fruitfullnesse, that any seed being sowed therein, wil bring forth

most excellent fruit. We entred afterwards into the woods, which we found

so great and thicke, that any army were it neuer so great might haue hid

it selfe therein, the trees whereof are okes, cipresse trees, and other

sortes vnknowen in Europe. We found Pomi appii, damson trees, and nut

trees, and many other sort of fruit differing from ours: there are beasts

in great abundance, as harts, deere, luzerns, and other kinds which they

take with their nets and bowes which are their chiefe weapons: the arrowes

which they vse are made with great cunning, and in stead of yron, they

head them with flint, with iasper stone and hard marble and other sharp

stones which they vse in stead of yron to cut trees, and to make their

boates of one whole piece of wood, making it hollow with great and

wonderful art, wherein 10 or 12 men may sit commodiously: their oares are

short and broad at the end, and they vse them in the sea without any

danger, and by maine force of armes, with as great speedines as they list

themselues. (M339) We saw their houses made in circular or round forme, 10

or. 12 paces in compasse, made with halfe circles of timber separate one

from another without any order of building, couered with mattes of straw

wrought cunningly together, which saue them from wind and raine; and if

they had the order of building and perfect skil of workmanship as we haue

there were no doubt but that they would also make eftsoones great and

stately buildings. (M340) For all the sea coasts are ful of cleare and

glistering stones, and alablaster, and therefore it is full of good hauens

and harboroughs for ships. They mooue the foresaid houses from one place

to another according to the commodity of the place and season wherin they

wil make their abode, and only taking of the mattes, they haue other

houses builded incontinent. The father and the whole family dwell together

in one house in great number: in some of them we saw 25 or 30 persons.

They feed as the other doe aforesaid of pulse which grow in that Countrey

with better order of husbandry then in the others. They obserue in their

sowing the course of the Moone and the rising of certaine starres, and

diuers other customes spoken of by antiquity. Moreouer they liue by

hunting and fishing. (M341) They liue long, and are seldome sicke, and if

they chance to fall sicke at any time, they heale themselues with fire

without any phisitian, and they say that they die for very age. They are

very pitifull and charitable towards their neighbours, they make great

lamentations in their aduersity: and in their miserie, the kinred reckon

vp all their felicitie. At their departure out of life, they vse mourning

mixt with singing, which continueth for a long space. This is as much as

we could learne of them. (M342) This land is situated in the Paralele of

Rome, in 41. degrees and 2. terces: but somewhat more cold by accidentall

causes and not of nature, (as I wil declare vnto to your highnesse

elsewhere) describing at this present the situation of the foresaid

Countrey, which lieth East and West, I say that the mouth of the Hauen

lieth open to the South halfe a league broad, and being entred within it

betweene the East and the North, it stretcheth twelue leagues: where it

waxeth broader and broader, and maketh a gulfe about 20. leagues in

compasse, wherein are fiue small Islands very fruitfull and pleasant, full

of hie and broade trees, among the which Islandes any great Nauie may ride

safe without any feare of tempest or other danger. Afterwards turning

towardes the South in the entring into the Hauen on both sides there are

most pleasant hils, with many riuers of most cleare water falling into the

Sea.

In the middest of this entrance there is a rocke of free stone growing by

nature apt to build any Castle or Fortresse there, for the keeping of the

hauen. The fift of May being furnished with all things necessarie, we

departed from the said coast keeping along in the sight thereof, and wee

sailed 150. leagues finding it alwayes after one maner; but the land

somewhat higher with certaine mountaines, all which beare a shew of

minerall matter, wee sought not to land there in any place, because the

weather serued our turne for sailing: but wee suppose that it was like the

former, the coast ranne Eastward for the space of fiftie leagues. And

trending afterwards to the North, we found another land high full of

thicke woods, the trees whereof were firres, cipresses and such like as

are wont to grow in cold Countreys. (M343) The people differ much from the

other, and looke how much the former seemed to be courteous and gentle: so

much were these full of rudenesse and ill maners, and so barbarous that by

no signes that euer we could make, we could haue any kind of traffike with

them. They cloth themselues with Beares skinnes and Luzernes and Seales

and other beasts skinnes. Their food, as farre as we coulde perceiue,

repairing often vnto their dwellings, we suppose to be by hunting and

fishing, and of certaine fruits, which are a kind of roots which the earth

yeeldeth of her own accord. They haue no graine, neither saw we any kind

or signe of tillage, neither is the land, for the barennesse thereof, apt

to beare fruit or seed. If at any time we desired by exchange to haue any

of their commodities, they vsed to come to the sea shore vpon certaine

craggy rocks and we standing in our boats, they let downe with a rope what

it pleased them to giue vs, crying continually that we should not approch

to the land, demanding immediatly the exchange, taking nothing but kniues,

fishookes, and tooles to cut withall, neyther did they make any account of

our courtesie. And when we had nothing left to exchange with them, when we

departed from them, the people shewed all signes of discourtesie and

disdaine, as were possible for any creature to inuent. We were in despight

of them 2 or 3 leagues within the land, being in number 25 armed men of

vs: And when we went on shore they shot at vs with their bowes making

great outcries, and afterwards fled into the woods. We found not in this

land (M344) any thing notable, or of importance, sauing very great woods

and certaine hilles, they may haue some minerall matter in them, because

wee saw many of them haue beadstones of Copper hanging at their eares.

(M345) We departed from thence keeping our course Northeast along the

coast, which we found more pleasant champion and without woods, with high

mountaines within the land continuing directly along the coast for the

space of fiftie leagues, we discouered 32 Islands lying al neere the land,

being small and pleasant to the view, high and hauing many turnings and

windings betweene them, making many faire harborougbs and chanels as they

doe in the gulfe of Venice in Sclauonia, and Dalmatia, we had no knowledge

or acquaintance with the people: we suppose they are of the same maners

and nature as the others are. (M346) Sayling Northeast for the space of

150. leagues we approched to the land that in times past was discouered by

the Britons, which is in fiftie degrees. Hauing now spent all our

prouision and victuals, and hauing discouered about 700 leagues and more

of new Countreys, and being furnished with water and wood, we concluded to

returne into France.

Touching the religion of this people, which wee haue found, for want of

their language wee could not vnderstand neither by signes nor gesture that

they had any religion or lawe at all, or that they did acknowledge any

first cause or moouer, neither that they worship the heauen or stars the

Sunne or Moone or other planets, and much lesse whither they be idolaters,

neither could wee learne whither that they vsed any kind of sacrifices or

other adorations, neither in their villages haue they any Temples or

houses of prayer. We suppose that they haue no religion at all, and that

they liue at their owne libertie. And that all this proceedeth of

ignorance, for that they are very easie to be perswaded: and all that they

see vs Christians doe in our diuine seruice, they did the same with the

like imitation as they saw vs to doe it.

XXXV. A notable historie containing foure voyages made by certaine French

Captaines into Florida: Wherein the great riches and fruitefulnesse of the

Countrey with the maners of the people hitherto concealed are brought to

light, written all, sauing the last, by Monsieur Laudonniere, who remained

there himselfe as the French Kings Lieutenant a yeere and a quarter.

Translated out of French into English by M. Richard Haklvyt.

To the right honourable Sir Walter Ralegh Knight, Captaine of her

Maiesties Gard, Lord Warden of the Stanneries, and her Highnesse

Lieutentant generall of the County of Cornewall, R.H. wisheth true

felicitie.

Sir, after that this historie, which had bene concealed many yeeres, was

lately committed to print and published in France vnder your Name by my

learned friend M. Marline Basanier of Paris, I was easily enduced to turne

it into English, vnderstanding that the same was no lesse gratefull to you

here, then I know it to be acceptable to many great and worthie persons

there. And no maruaile though it were very welcome vnto you, and that you

liked of the translation thereof, since no history hitherto set forth hath

more affinitie, resemblance or conformitie with yours of Virginia, then

this of Florida. (M347) But calling to minde that you had spent more

yeeres in France then I, and vnderstand the French better then my selfe, I

forthwith perceiued that you approoued mine endeuour, not for any priuate

ease or commoditie that thereby might redound vnto you, but that it argued

a singular and especiall care you had of those which are to be employed in

your owne like enterprise, whom, by the reading of this my translation,

you would haue forewarned and admonished aswell to beware of the grosse

negligence in prouiding of sufficiency of victuals, the securitie,

disorders, and mutinies that fell out among the French, with the great

inconueniencies that thereupon ensued, that by others mishaps they might

learne to preuent and auoyde the like, as also might be put in minde, by

the reading of the manifolde commodities and great fertilitie of the

places herein at large described and so neere neighbours vnto our

Colonies, that they might generally bee awaked and stirred vp vnto the

diligent obseruation of euery thing that might turne to the aduancement of

the action, wherinto they are so cheerefully entred. Many speciall poynts

concerning the commodities of these partes, the accidents of the French

mens gouernment therein, the causes of their good or bad successe, with

the occasions of the abandoning one of their forts, and the surprise of

the other by the enemie are herein truely and faithfully recorded: Which

because they be quoted by me in the margents, and reduced into a large

alphabeticall table, which I haue annexed to the ende of the worke, it

shall be needlesse to recken vp againe. And that the rather, because the

same with diuers other things of chiefest importance are liuely drawne in

colours at your no smal charges by the skillfull painter Iames

Morgues,(112) sometime liuing in the Black-fryers in London (whom Monsieur

Chastillion then Admirall of France sent thither with Laudonniere for that

purpose) which was an eye-witnesse of the goodnesse and fertility of those

regions, and hath put downe in writing many singularities which are not

mentioned in this treatise: which since he hath published together with

the purtratures. These foure voyages I knew not to whom I might better

offer then to your selfe, and that for diuers iust considerations. First,

for that as I haue sayd before, they were dedicated vnto you in French;

secondly because now foure times also you haue attempted the like vpon the

selfe same coast neere adioyning: thirdly in that you haue persed(113) as

farre vp into the maine and discouered no lesse secrets in the partes of

your aboad, then the French did in the places of their inhabiting: lastly

considering you are now also ready (vpon the late returne of Captaine

Stafford and good newes which he brought you of the safe arriual of your

last Colony in their wished hauen) to prosecute this action more throughly

then euer. And heare to speake somewhat of this your enterprise, I

affirme, that if the same may speedily and effectually be pursued, it will

prooue farre more beneficiall in diuers respects vnto this our realme,

then the world, yea many of the wiser sort, haue hitherto imagined. (M348)

The particular commodities whereof are wel knowen vnto your selfe and some

few others, and are faithfully and with great iudgement committed to

writing, as you are not ignorant, by one of your followers, which remained

there about a tweluemonth with your worshipful Lieutenant M. Ralph Lane,

in the diligent search of the secrets of those Countreys. Touching the

speedy and effectual pursuing of your action, though I wrote well it would

demaund a princes purse to haue it throughly followed without lingering,

yet am I of opinion, that you shall drawe the same before it be long to be

profitable and gainful aswel to those of our nation there remaining, as to

the merchants of England that shall trade hereafter thither, partly by

certaine secret commodities already discouered by your seruants, and

partly by breeding of diuers sorts of beasts in those large and ample

regions, and planting of such things in that warme climat as wil best

prosper there, and our realme standeth most in need of. (M349) And this I

find to haue bin the course that both the Spaniards and Portugals tooke in

the beginnings of their discoueries and conquests. (M350) For the

Spaniards at their first entrance into Hispaniola found neither sugercanes

nor ginger, growing there, nor any kind of our cattell: But finding the

place fit for pasture they sent kine and buls and sundry sorts of other

profitable beastes thither, and transported the plants of suger canes, and

set the rootes of ginger: the hides of which oxen, with suger and ginger,

are now the chiefe merchandise of that Island. The Portugals also at their

first footing in Madera, as Iohn Barros writes in his first Decade, found

nothing there but mighty woods for timber, whereupon they called the

Island by that name. Howbeit the climate being fauourable, they inriched

it by their own industry with the best wines and sugers in the world.

(M351) The like maner of proceeding they vsed in the Isles of Açores by

sowing therin great quantity of Woad. So dealt they in S. Thomas vnder the

Equinoctial, and in Brasil and sundry other places. And if our men will

follow their steps, by your wise direction I doubt not but that in due

time they shall reape no lesse commodity and benefite. Moreouer there is

none other likelihood but that her Maiesty, which hath Christned, and

giuen the name to your Virginia if need require, will deale after the

maner of honourable godmothers, which, seeing their gossips not fully able

to bring vp their children themselues, are wont to contribute to their

honest education, the rather if they find any towardlines or reasonable

hope of goodnesse in them. And if Elizabeth Queene of Castile and

Aragon,(114) after her husband Ferdinando and she had emptied their cofers

and exhausted their treasures in subduing the kingdome of Granada and

rooting the Mores, a wicked weed, out of Spaine, was neuerthelesse so

zealous of Gods honour, that (as Fernandus Columbus the son of Christopher

Columbus recordeth in the history of the deedes of his father) she layd

part of her owne iewels, which she had in great account, to gage, to

furnish his father foorth vpon his first voyage, before any foot of land

of all the West Indies was discouered; what may we expect of our most,

magnificent and gracious prince ELIZABETH of England, into whose lappe the

Lord hath most plentifully throwne his treasures, what may wee, I say,

hope of her forwardnesse and bounty 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 Spanyardes? (M352) For as you may read in the very last

wordes of the relation of Newe Mexico extant nowe in English, the maine

land, 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 bene found by those that haue had some triall of

them: whereby it may bee gathered that they will easily embrace the

Gospell, forsaking their idolatrie, wherein at this present for the most

part they are wrapped and intangled. A wise Philosopher noting the sundry

desires of diuers men, writeth, that if an oxe bee put into a medowe hee

will seeke to fill his bellie with grasse, if a Storke bee cast in shee

will seeke for Snakes, if you turne in a Hound he will seeke to start a

Hare: So sundry men entering into these discoueries propose vnto

themselues seuerall endes. Some seeke authoritie and places of

commandement, others experience by seeing of the worlde, the most part

wordly and transitorie gaine, and that often times by dishonest and

vnlawfull meanes, the fewest number the glorie of God and, the sauing of

the soules of the poore and blinded infidels. (M353) Yet because diuers

honest and well disposed persons were entred already into this your

businesse, and that I know you meane hereafter to send some such good

Churchmen thither, as may truely say with the Apostle to the Sauages, wee

seeke not yours but you: I conceiue (M354) great comfort of the successe

of this your action, hoping that the Lorde, whose power is wont to bee

perfected in weaknesse, will bless the feeble foundations of your

building. Only bee you of a valiant courage and faint not, as the Lord

sayd vnto Iosue, exhorting him to proceede on forward in the conquest of

the land of promise, and remember that priuate men haue happily wielded

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 both domesticall and forreigne. (M355)

Remember I pray you, what you find in the beginning of the Chronicle of

the conquest of Ireland newly dedicated vnto your selfe. Read you not that

Richard Stranbow the decayed earle of Chepstow in Monmuthshire, being in

no great fauour of his soueraigne, passed ouer into that Island in the

yere 1171. and accompanied onely with certaine of his priuate friends had

in short space such prosperous successe, that he opened the way for king

Henry the second to the speedy subjection of all that warlike nation to

this crowne of England? The like conquest of Brasilia, and annexing the

same to the kingdome of Portugall was first begun by mean and priuate men,

as Don Antonio de Castillio, Ambassadour here for that realme and by

office keeper of all the records and monuments of their discoueries,

assured me in this citie in the yere 1581. (M356) Now if the greatnes of

the maine of Virginia, and the large extension thereof, especially to the

West, should make you thinke that the subduing of it were a matter of more

difficulty then the conquest of Ireland, first I answere, that as the late

experience of that skilfull pilote and Captaine M. Iohn Dauis to the

Northwest (toward which his discovery your selfe haue thrise contributed,

with the forwardest) hath shewed a great part to be maine sea, where

before was thought to be maine land, so for my part I am fully perswaded

by Ortelius late reformation of Culuacan and the gulfe of California, that

the land on the backe part of Virginia extendeth nothing so far westward

as is put downe in the maps of those parts. Moreouer it is not to be

denied, but that one hundred men will do more now among the naked and

vnarmed people in Virginia, then one thousand were able then to do in

Ireland against that armed and warlike nation in those daies. I say

further, that these two yeeres last experience hath plainly shewed, that

we may spare 10000. able men without any misse. And these are as many as

the kingdome of Portugal had euer in all their garrisons of the Açores,

Madera, Arguin, Cape verde, Guinea, Brasill, Mozambique, Melinde,

Zocotora, Ormus, Diu, Goa, Malaca, the Molucos, and Macao vpon the coast

of China. Yea this I say by the confession of singuler expert men of their

own nation (whose names I suppresse for certain causes) which haue bene

personally in the East Indies, and haue assured me that their kings had

neuer aboue ten thousand natural borne Portugals(115) (their slaues

excepted) out of their kingdome remaining in all the aforesaid

territories. Which also this present yeere I saw confirmed in a secrete

extract of the particular estate of that kingdome and of euery gouernement

and office subiect to the same with the seueral pensions thereunto

belonging. Seeing therefore we are so farre from want of people, that

retyring daily home out of the Lowe Countreyes they go idle vp and downe

in swarms for lack of honest intertainment, I see no fitter place to

employ some part of the better sort of them trained vp thus long in

seruice, then in the inward partes of the firme of Virginia against such

stubborne Sauages as shal refuse obedience to her Maiestie. And doubtlesse

many of our men will bee glad and 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 vpon yours, the

great commodities and goodnesse whereof you haue bin contented to suffer

to come to light. In the meane season I humbly commend 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 and good blessing of the

Almighty, which is able to build farther, and to finish the good worke

which in these our dayes he hath begun by your most Christian and

charitable endeuour. From London the 1 of May 1587.

Your L. humble at commandement R. Hakluyt.

The Preface of M. Rene Laudonniere.

There are two things, which according to mine opinion haue bene the

principall causes, in consideration whereof aswell they of ancient times,

as those of our age haue bene induced to trauell into farre and remote

regions. The first hath beene the naturall desire which wee haue to search

out the commodities to liue happily, plentifully, and at ease: be it

whither one abandon his naturall Countrey altogether to dwell in a better,

or bee it that men make voyages thither, there to search out and bring

from thence such things as are there to be found, and are in greatest

estimation and in most request in our Countreys. The second cause hath

bene the multitude of people too fruitefull in generation, which being no

longer able to dwell in their natiue soyles, haue entred vpon their

neighbours limites, and oftentimes passing further haue pearced euen vnto

the vttermost regions. After this sort the North climate, a fruitfull

father of so many nations hath oftentimes sent foorth this way and that

way his valiant people, and by this meane hath peopled infinite Countreys:

so that most of the nations of Europe drawe their originall from these

parts. Contrariwise the more Southerne regions, because they bee too

barren by reason of their insupportable heate which raineth in them, neede

not any such sending forth of their inhabitants, and haue bene oftentimes

constrained to receiue other people more often by force of armes then

willingly. All Afrike, Spaine, and Italie can also testifie the same,

which neuer so abounded with people that they had neede to send them

abroad to inhabite elsewhere: as on the contrary Scythia, Norway, Gotland

and France haue done. The posterity of which nations remaineth yet not

only in Italy, Spaine and Afrike but also in fruitful and faire Asia.

(M357) Neuerthelesse I find that the Romans proceeding further, or rather

adding vnto these two chiefe causes aforesaid, (as being most curious to

plant not onely their ensignes and victories, but also their lawes,

customes, and religion in those prouinces which they had conquered by

force of armes) haue oftentimes by the decree of their soueraigne Senate

sent forth inhabitants, which they called Colonies (thinking by this way

to make their name immortall) euen to the vnfurnishing of their own

Countrey of the forces which should haue preserued the same in her

perfection: a thing which hindred them much more, then aduanced them to

the possession of the vniuersal monarchy, whereunto their intention did

aspire. For it came to passe that their Colonies here and there being

miserably sacked by strange people did vtterly ruin and ouerthrow their

Empire. The brinks of the riuer of Rene are yet red, those of Danubius are

no lesse bloody, and our France became fat with their blood which they

lost. (M358) These are the effects and rewards of al such as being pricked

forward with this Romane and tyrannical ambition will goe about thus to

subdue strange people: effects, I say, contrary to the profit which those

shall receiue, which onely are affectioned to the common benefite, that is

to say, to the generall policie of all men, and endeuour to vnite them one

with another as well by trafficke and ciuill conuersations, as by military

vertues, and force of armes, when as the Sauages will not yeeld vnto their

enduours so much tending vnto their profit.

For this cause princes haue sent forth out of their Dominions certaine men

of good actiuity to plant themselues in strange Countreys, there to make

their profite to bring the Countrey to ciuilitie, and if it might be, to

reduce the inhabitants to the true knowledge of our God: an end so much

more commendable, as it is farre from all tyrannical and cruel

gouernement: and so they haue alwayes thriued in their enterprises, and by

little and little gained the heartes of them which they haue conquered or

wonne vnto them by any meanes. Hereof we may gather that sometimes it is

good, yea, very expedient to send forth men to discouer the pleasure and

commoditie of strange Countreys: But so, that the Countrey out of which

these companies are to passe remaine not weakned, nor depriued of her

forces: And againe in such sort that the company sent forth be of so iust

and sufficient number, that it may not be defeited by strangers, which

euery foote endeuour nothing else but to surprise the same vpon the

sudden. (M359) As within these few daies past the French haue proued to my

great griefe, being able by no means possible to withstand the same,

considering that the elements, men, and all the fauours which might be

hoped for of a faithfull and Christian alliance fought against vs: which

thing I purpose to discouer in this present historie with so euident

trueth, that the Kings Maiesty my soueraigne prince shall in part be

satisfied of the diligence which I haue vsed in his seruice, and mine

aduersaries shall find themselues so discouered in their false reports,

that they shall haue no place of refuge. But before I begin, I will

briefly set downe the situation and description of the land whereunto we

haue sailed and where we haue inhabited from the yeere 1561. vnto sixty

fiue, to the ende that those things may the more easily be borne away,

which I meane to describe in this discourse.

The description of the West Indies in generall, but chiefly and

particularly of Florida,

(M360) That part of the earth which at this day we call the fourth part of

the world, or America, or rather the West India, was vnknowen vnto our

ancestours by reason of the great distance thereof. In like maner all the

Westerne Islands and fortunate Isles were not discouered but by those of

our age. Howbeit there haue bin some which haue said that they were

discouered in the time of Augustus Cæsar, and that Virgil hath, made

mention thereof in the sixt booke of his Æneidos, when he saith, There is

a land beyond the starres, and the coarse 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 hee meaneth not to speake of this

land, whereof no man is found to haue written before his time, neither yet

aboue a thousand yeeres after. (M361) Christopher Colon did first light

vpon land in the yeere 1592. And fiue yeeres after Americus went thither

by the commandement of the king of Castile, and gaue vnto it his owne

name, whereupon afterward it was called America. This man was very well

seene in the Arte of Nauigation and in Astronomie: whereby hee discouered

in his time many lands vnknowen vnto the ancient Geographers. This

countrey is named by some, the land of Brasil, and the lande of Parots. It

stretcheth it selfe, according vnto Postell, from the one Pole to the

other, sauing at the streight of Magellan, whereunto it reacheth 53.

degrees beyond the Equator. I will diuide it for the better vnderstanding

into three principall parts. That which is toward the Pole Articke on the

North is called new France, because that in the yeere 1514. Iohn

Verrazzanno a Florentine was sent by King Francis the first and by Madam

the Regent his mother vnto these newe Regions, where he went on land, and

discouered all the coast which is from the Tropicke of Cancer, to wit,

from the eight add twentieth vnto the fiftieth degree, and farther vnto

the North. He planted in this Countrey the Ensignes and Armes of the king

of France: so that the Spaniardes themselues which were there afterwarde,

haue named this countrey Terra Francesca. The same then extendeth it selfe

in Latitude from the 25. degree vnto the 54. toward the North: and in

Longitude from 210. vnto 330. The Easterne part thereof is called by the

late writers The land of Norumbega, which beginneth at the bay of Gama,

which separateth it from the Isle of Canada whither Iaques Carthiers

sayled the yeere 1535. About the which there are many Ilands, among which

is that which is named Terra de Labrador stretching towarde Groenland. In

the Westerne part there are many knowen countreys, as the Regions of

Quiuira, Ciuola, Astatlan, and Terlichichimici. The Southerne part is

called Florida, because it was discouered on Palme-sunday, which the

Spaniardes call Pascha Florida. The Northerne part is altogether vnknowen.

The second part of all America is called newe Spaine. It extendeth from

the Tropicke of Cancer in twentie three degrees and a halfe, vnto the

ninth degree. In the same is situated the Citie of Themistitan, and it

hath many Regions, and many Ilandes adioyning vnto it, which are called

the Antilles, whereof the most famous and renoumed are Hispaniola and

Isabella, with an infinite number of others. All this land, together with

the Bay of Mexico, and all the Ilands aforesayd, haue not in Longitude

past seuentie degrees, to wit, from the two hundreth and fortie, vnto

three hundreth and ten: it is also long and narrowe as Italie. The third

part of America is called Peru, it is very great, and extendeth it selfe

in Latitude from the tenth degree vnto the three and fiftieth beyond the

Equator, to wit, as I haue sayde before, vnto the streight of Magelan. It

is made in fashion like to an egge, and is very well knowen vpon all

sides. The part where it is largest hath threescore degrees, and from

thence it waxeth narrower and narrower toward both the endes. In one part

of this lande Villegagnon planted right vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne,

and he called it France Antarctick, because it draweth toward the pole

Antarctick, as our France doeth toward the Arctick.

New France is almost as great as all our Europe. Howbeit the most knowen

and inhabited part thereof is Florida, whither many Frenchmen haue made

diuers voyages at sundry times, insomuch that now it is the best knowen

Countrey which is in all this part of new France. The Cape thereof is as

it were a long head of land stretching out into the Sea an hundred

leagues, and runneth directly towarde the South: it hath right ouer

against it fiue and twentie leagues distant the Isle of Cuba otherwise

called Isabella toward the East the Isles of Bahama and Lucaya, and toward

the West the Bay of Mexico. The Countrey is flat, and diuided with diuers

riuers, and therefore moyst, and is sandie towards the Sea shore. (M362)

There groweth in those partes great quantitie of Pinetrees, which haue no

kernels in the aples which they beare. Their woods are full of Oakes,

Walnuttrees, blacke Cherrietrees, Mulberry trees, Lentiskes, and Chestnut

trees, which are more wild then those in France. There is great store of

Cedars, Cypresses, Bayes, Palme trees, Hollies, and wilde Vines, which

climbe vp along the trees and beare good Grapes. (M363) There is there a

kinde of Medlers, the fruit whereof is better then that of France, and

bigger. There are also Plum-trees, which beare very faire fruite, but such

as is not very good. There are Raspasses, and a little berrie which we

call among vs Blues, which are very good to eate. There growe in that

Countrey a kinde of Rootes which they call in their language Hasez,

whereof in necessitie they make bread. There is also there the tree called

Esquine, which is very good against the Pockes and other contagious

diseases. (M364) The beastes best knowen in this Countrey are Stagges,

Hindes, Goates, Deere, Leopards, Ounces, Luserns, diuers sortes of wolues,

wilde Dogs, Hares, Cunnies, and a certaine kinde of beast that differeth

little from the Lyon of Africa. (M365) The foules are Turkeycocks,

Partridges, Parrots, Pigions, Ringdoues, Turtles, Blackbirdes, Crowes,

Tarcels, Faulcons, Laynerds, Herons, Cranes, Storkes, wilde Geese,

Malards, Cormorants, Hernshawes, white, red, blacke, and gray, and an

infinite sort of all wilde foule. There is such abundance of Crocodiles,

that ofentimes in swimming men are assayled by them: of Serpents there are

many sorts. There is found amongst the Sauages good quantitie of Gold and

Siluer, which is gotten out of the shippes that are lost vpon the coast,

as I haue vnderstood by the Sauages themselues. They vse traffique thereof

one with another. And that which maketh me the rather beleeue it, is, that

on the coast towarde the Cape, where commonly the shippes are cast away,

there is more store of Siluer then towards the North, neuerthelesse they

say, that in the Mountaines of Appalatcy there are Mines of Copper, which

I thinke to be Golde. There is also in this Countrey great store of

graynes and herbes, whereof might be made excellent good dyes and

paintings of all kindes of colours. And in trueth the Indians which take

pleasure in painting of their skins, know very well how to vse the same.

(M366) The men are of an Oliue colour, of great stature, faire, without

any deformitie, and well proportioned. They couer their priuies with the

skinne of a Stagge well dressed. The most part of them haue their bodies

armes, and thighes painted with faire deuises: the painting whereof can

neuer be taken away, because the same is pricked into their flesh. (M367)

Their haire is very blacke and reacheth euen downe to their hips, howbeit

they trusse it vp after a fashion that becommeth them very well. They are

great dissemblers and traitours, valiant of their persons and fight very

well. They haue none other weapons but their bowes and arrowes. They make

the string of their bow of a gut of a Stag, or of a Stagges skin, which

they know how to dresse as well as any man in France, and with as

different sorts of colours. They head their arrowes with the teeth of

fishes and stone, which they work very finely and handsomly. They exercise

their yong men to runne well, and they make a game among themselues which

he winneth that has the longest breath. They also exercise themselues much

in shooting. They play at ball in this maner: they set vp a tree in the

middest of a place which is eight or nine fathome high, in the top whereof

there is set a square mat made of reedes or Bulrushes, which whosoeuer

hitteth in playing therat, winneth the game. They take great pleasure in

hunting and fishing. The kings of the Countrey make great warre one

against the other, which is not executed but by surprise, and they kill

all the men they can take: afterward they cut off their heads to haue

their haire, which returning home they carry away to make thereof their

triumph when they come to their houses. They saue the women and children

and nourish them and keepe them alwayes with them. Being returned home

from the warre, they assemble all their subiects, and for ioy three dayes

and three nights they make good cheare, they dance and sing, likewise they

make the most ancient women of the Countrey to dance, holding the haires

of their enemies in their hands: and in dancing they sing praises to the

Sunne, ascribing vnto him the honour of the victory. They haue no

knowledge of God, nor of any religion, sauing of that which they see, as

the Sunne and the Moone. They haue their priests to whom they giue great

credit, because they are great magicians, great sooth-sayers, and callers

vpon diuels. These Priests serue them in stead of Physitions and

Chirurgions. They cary alwayes about them a bag full of herbes and drugs

to cure the sicke diseased which for the most part are sick of the pocks,

for they loue women and maidens exceedingly, which they call the daughters

of the Sunne: and some of them are Sodomites. They marry, and euery one

hath his wife, and it is lawfull for the King to haue two or three: yet

none but the first is honoured and acknowledged for Queene: and none but

the children of the first wife inherite the goods and aucthoritie of the

father. The women doe all the businesse at home. They keepe not house with

them after they know they be with child. And they eate not of that which

they touch as long as they haue their flowers. (M368) There are in all

this Countrey many Hermaphrodites, whice take all the greatest paine, and

beare the victuals when they goe to warre. They paint their faces much,

and sticke their haire full of feathers or downe, that they may seeme more

terrible. The victuals which they carry with them, are of bread, of hony,

and of meale made of Maiz parched in the fire, which they keepe without

being marred a long while. They carry also sometimes fish, which they

cause to be dressed in the smoke. In necessitie they eat a thousand

rifraffes, euen to the swallowing downe of coales, and putting sand into

the pottage that they make with this meale. (M369) When they goe to warre,

their King marcheth first, with a clubbe in the one hand, and his bowe in

the other, with his quiuer full of arrowes. All his men follow him, which

haue likewise their bowes and arrowes. While they fight, they make great

cries and exclamations. They take no enterprize in hand, but first they

assemble oftentimes their Councell together, and they take very good

aduisement before they growe to a resolution. They meete together euery

morning in a great common house, whither their King repaireth, and setteth

him downe vpon a seate which is higher then the seates of the other: where

all of them one after another come and salute him: and the most ancient

begin their salutations, lifting vp both their handes twise as high as

their face, saying, ha, he, ya, and the rest answer ha, ha. Assoone as

they haue done their salutation, euery man sitteth him downe vpon the

seates which are round about in the house. If there be any thing to

intreate of, the King calleth the Iawas, that is to say their Priestes,

and the most ancient men, and asketh them their aduise. (M370) Afterward

he commaundeth Cassine to be brewed, which is a drinke made of the leaues

of a certaine tree: They drinke this Cassine very hotte: he drinketh

first, then he causeth to be giuen thereof to all of them one after

another in the same boule, which holdeth well a quart measure of Paris.

They make so great account of this drinke, that no man may taste thereof

in this assembly, vnlesse hee hath made proof of his valure in the warre.

Moreouer this drinke hath such a vertue, that assoone as they haue drunke

it, they become all in a sweate, which sweate, being past, it taketh away

hunger and thirst for foure and twenty houres after. (M371) When a King

dyeth, they burie him very solemnly, and vpon his graue they set the cuppe

wherein he was woont to drinke: and round about the sayde graue they

sticke many arrowes, and weepe and fast three dayes together without

ceasing. All the kings which were his friends make the like mourning: and

in token of the loue which they bare him, they cut of more then the one

halfe of their haire, as well men as women. During the space of sixe

Moones (so they reckon their moneths) there are certaine women appoynted

which bewaile the death of this King, crying with a loude voyce thrise a

day, to wit, in the Morning, at Noone, and at Euening. All the goods of

this King are put into his house, and afterward they set it on fire, so

that nothing is euer more after to be seene. (M372) The like is done with

the goods of the Priestes, and besides they burie the bodies of the

Priests in their houses, and then they set them on fire. They sowe their

Maiz twise a yere, to wit, in March and in Iune, and all in one and the

same soyle. The sayd Maiz from the time that it is sowed vntill the time

that it be ready to be gathered, is but three moneths on the ground. The

other 6. moneths they let the earth rest. They haue also faire Pumpions,

and very good Beanes. They neuer dung their land, onely when they would

sowe, they set the weedes on fire, which grewe vp the 6. moneths, and

burne them all. They dig their ground with an instrument of wood which is

fashioned like a broad mattocke, wherewith they digge their Vines in

France, they put two graines of Maiz together. When the land is to be

sowed, the King commaundeth one of his men to assemble his subiects euery

day to labour, during which labour the King causeth store of that drinke

to be made for them, whereof we haue spoken. At the time when the Maiz is

gathered, it is all carried into a common house, where it is distributed

to euery man according to his qualitie. They sowe no more but that which

they thinke will serue their turnes for sixe moneths, and that very

scarcely. (M373) For during the Winter they retire themselues for three or

foure moneths in the yeere into the woods, where they make little cotages

of Palme boughes for their retraite, and liue there of Maste, of fish

which they take, of Oisters, of Stagges, of Turkeycockes, and other

beastes which they take. They eate all their meate broyled on the coales,

and dressed in the smoake, which in their language they call Boucaned.

They eate willingly the flesh of the Crocodile: and in deede it is faire

and white: and where it not that it sauoureth too much like Muske we would

oftentimes haue eaten thereof. They haue a custome among them, that when

they finde themselues sicke, where they feele the paine, whereas we cause

our selues to be let blood, their Physitions sucke them vntill they make

the blood follow.

The women are likewise of good proportion and tall, and of the same colour

that the men be of, painted as the men be: Howbeit when they are borne,

they be not so much of an Oliue colour, and are farre whiter. (M374) For

the chiefe cause that maketh them to be of this colour proceedes of

annointings of oyle which they vse among them: and they doe it for a

certaine ceremonie which I could not learne, and because of the Sunne

which shineth hote vpon their bodies. The agilitie of the women is so

great, that they can swimme ouer the great Riuers bearing their children

vpon one of their armes. They climbe vp also very nimbly vpon the highest

trees in the Countrey.

Beholde in briefe the description of the Countrey, with the nature and

customes of the Inhabitants: which I was very willing to write, before I

entred any further into the discourse of my historie, to the end that the

Readers might be the better prepared to vnderstand that, which I meane

hereafter to entreate of.

My Lord Admirall of Chastillon, a noble man more desirous of the publique

then of his priuate benefite, vnderstanding the pleasure of the King his

prince, which was to discouer new and strange Countreys, caused vessels

fit for this purpose to be made ready with all diligence, and men to bee

leuied meete for such an enterprise: (M375) Among whom hee chose Captaine

Iohn Ribault, a man in trueth expert in sea causes: which hauing receiued

his charge, set himselfe to Sea the yeere 1562. the eighteenth of

Februarie, accompanied onely with two of the kings shippes, but so well

furnished with Gentlemen, (of whose number I myselfe was one) and with

olde Souldiers, that he had meanes to atchieue some notable thing and

worthy of eternall memorie. (M376) Hauing therefore sayled two moneths,

neuer holding the usuall course of the Spaniards, hee arriued in Florida,

landing neere a Cape or Promontorie, which is no high lande, because the

coast is all flatte, but onely rising by reason of the high woods, which

at his arriuall he called Cape Francois in honour of our France. (M377)

This Cape is distant from the Equator about thirtie degrees. (M378)

Coasting from this place towards the North, he discouered a very faire and

great Riuer, which gaue him occasion to cast anker that hee might search

the same the next day very early in the morning: which being done by the

breake of day, accompanied with Captaine Fiquinuille and diuers other

souldiers of his shippe, he was no sooner arriued on the brinke of the

shoare, but straight hee perceiued many Indians men and women, which came

of purpose to that place to receiue the Frenchmen with all gentlenesse and

amitie, as they well declared by the Oration which their king made, and

the presents of Chamois skinnes wherewith he honoured our Captaine, which

the day following caused a pillar of hard stone to be planted within the

sayde Riuer, and not farre from the mouth of the same vpon a little sandie

knappe, in which pillar the Armes of France were carued and engraued. This

being done hee embarked himselfe againe, to the ende alwayes to discouer

the coast toward the North which was his chiefe desire. After he had

sayled a certaine time he crossed ouer to the other side of the riuer, and

then in the presence of certaine Indians, which of purpose did attend

(M379) him, hee commaunded his men to make their prayers, to giue thankes

to GOD, for that of his grace hee had conducted the French nation vnto

these strange places without any danger at all. The prayers being ended,

the Indians which were very attentiue to hearken vnto them, thinking in my

iudgment, that wee worshipped the Sunne, because wee alwayes had our eyes

lifted vp toward heauen, rose all vp and came to salute the Captaine Iohn

Ribault, promising to shew him their King, which rose not vp as they did,

but remained still sitting vpon greene leaues of Bayes and Palmetrees:

toward whom the Captaine went and sate downe by him, and heard him make a

long discourse, but with no great pleasure, because hee could not

vnderstand his language, and much lesse his meaning. (M380) The King gaue

our Captaine at his departure a plume or fanne of Hernshawes feathers died

in red, and a basket made of Palme-boughes after the Indian fashion, and

wrought very artificially, and a great skinne painted and drawen

throughout with the pictures of diuers wilde beasts so liuely drawen and

pourtrayed, that nothing lacked but life. The Captaine to shew himselfe

not vnthankfull, gaue him pretie tinne bracelets, a cutting hooke, a

looking glasse, and certaine kniues: whereupon the King shewed himselfe to

be very glad and fully contented. Hauing spent the most part of the day

with these Indians, the Captaine imbarked himselfe to passe ouer to the

other side of the Riuer, whereat the king seemed to be very sorie.

Neuerthelesse being not able to stay vs, hee commaunded that with all

diligence they should take fish for vs: which they did with all speede.

(M381) For being entred into their Weares or inclosures made of reedes and

framed in the fashion of a Labirynth or Mase, they loaded vs with Troutes,

great Mullets, Plaise, Turbuts, and marueilous store of other sortes of

fishes altogether different from ours.

(M382) This done, we entred into our Boates and went toward the other

shore. But before we came to the shore, we were saluted with a number of

other Indians, which entring into the water to their armepits, brought vs

many litle baskets full of Maiz, and goodly Mulberries both red and white:

Others offered thamselues to beare vs on shoare, where being landed we

perceiued their King sitting vpon a place dressed with boughes, and vnder

a little Arbour of Cedars and Bay trees somewhat distant from the waters

side. He was accompanied with two of his sonnes which were exceeding faire

and strong, and with a troope of Indians who had all their bowes and

arrowes in marueilous good order. His two sonnes receiued our Captaine

very graciously: but the king their father, representing I wot not what

kinde of grauitie, did nothing but shake his head a little: then the

Captaine went forward to salute him, and without any other mouing of

himselfe he reteined so constant a kind of grauitie, that hee made it

seeme vnto vs that by good and lawfull right hee bare the title of a King.

Our Captaine knowing not what to iudge of this mans behauiour, thought he

was ielous because wee went first vnto the other king, or else that he was

not well pleased with the Pillar or Columne which he had planted. While

thus he knew not what hereof to thinke, our Captaine shewed him by signes,

that he was come from a farre Countrey to seeke him, to let him to

vnderstand the amitie which he was desirous to haue with him: for the

better confirmation whereof, hee drewe out of a budget certaine trifles,

as certaine bracelets couered as it were with siluer and guilt, which he

presented him withall, and gave his sonnes certaine other trifles.

Whereupon the King beganne very louingly to entreate both our Captaine and

vs. And after these gentle intertainments we went ourselues into the

woods, hoping there to discouer some singularities; where were great store

of Mulberrie trees white and red, on the toppes whereof there was an

infinite number of silkewormes. Following our way wee discouered a faire

and great medowe, diuided notwithstanding with diuers Marishes which

constrained vs by reason of the water which enuironed it about, to returne

backe againe towarde the Riuers side. Finding not the King there, which by

this time was gone home to his house, wee entred into our boates and

sayled toward our shippes: where after we arriued, we called this Riuer

the Riuer of May, because wee discouered it the first day of the sayde

moneth.

Soone after we returned to our shippes, wee weighed our ankers and hoysed

our sailes to discouer the coast farther forward, along the which wee

discouered another faire Riuer, which the Captaine himselfe was minded to

search out, and hauing searched it out with the king and inhabitants

thereof, hee named it Seine, because it is very like vnto the Riuer of

Seine in France. From this Riuer wee retired toward our shippes, where

being arriued, we trimmed our sailes to saile further toward the North,

and to descry the singularities of the coast. But wee had not sayled any

great way before wee discovered another very faire Riuer, which caused vs

to cast anker ouer against it, and to trimme out two Boates to goe to

search it out. Wee found there an Ile and a king no lesse affable then the

rest, afterwarde we named this Riuer Somme. From thence wee sayled about

sixe leagues, after wee discouered another Riuer, which after wee had

viewed was named by vs by the name of Loyre. And consequently we there

discouered fiue others: whereof the first was named Charente, the second

Garonne, the third Gironde, the fourth Belle, the fift Grande: which being

very well discouered with such things as were in them, by this time in

lesse then the space of three score leagues we had found out many

singularities along nine Riuers. Neuerthelesse not fully satisfied we

sayled yet further toward the North, following the course that might bring

vs to the Riuer of Iordan one of the fairest Riuers of the North, and

holding our wonted course, great fogges and tempests came vpon vs, which

constrained vs to leaue the coast to beare toward the maine Sea, which was

the cause we lost the sight of our Pinnesses a whole day and a night

vntill the next day in the morning, what time the weather waxing faire and

the Sea calme wee discouered a Riuer which we called Belle a veoir.(116)

After wee had sayled three or four leagues, wee began to espie our

Pinnesses which came straight toward vs, and at their arriuall they

reported to the Captaine, that while the fogges and wild weather endured

they harboured themselues in a mightie Riuer which in bignesse and beautie

exceeded the former: wherewithall the Captaine was exceeding ioyfull, for

his chiefe desire was to finde out an Hauen to harbour his shippes, and

there to refresh our selues for a while. (M383) Thus making thitherward

wee arriued athwart the sayde Riuer, (which because of the fairenesse and

largenesse thereof wee named Port Royall) wee strooke our sailes and cast

anker at ten fathom of water: for the depth is such, namely when the Sea

beginneth to flowe, that the greatest shippes of France, yea, the Arguzes

of Venice may enter in there. Hauing cast anker, the Captaine with his

Souldiers went on shoare, and hee himself went first on land: where we

found the place as pleasaunt as was possible, for it was all couered ouer

with mightie high Oakes and infinite store of Cedars, and with Lentiskes

growing vnderneath them, smelling so sweetly, that the very fragrant odor

only made the place to seeme exceeding pleasant. As we passed thorow these

woods we saw nothing but Turkeycocks flying in the Forrests, Partridges

gray and red, little different from ours, but chiefly in bignesse. Wee

heard also within the woods the voyces of Stagges, of Beares, of Lusernes,

of Leopards, and diuers other sortes of Beastes vnknowen vnto vs. Being

delighted with this place, we set ourselues to fishing with nets, and we

caught such a number of fish, that it was wonderfull. And amongst other

wee tooke a certaine kind of fish which we call Salicoques, which were no

lesse then Creuises, so that two draughts of the net were sufficient to

feede all the companie of our two ships for a whole day. (M384) The Riuer

at the mouth thereof from Cape to Cape is no lesse then 3 French leagues

broad; it is diuided into two great armes whereof the one runneth toward

the West, the other towards the North: And I beleeue in my iudgement that

the arme which stretcheth towarde the North runneth vp into the Countrey

as farre as the Riuer Iordan, the other arme runneth into the Sea, as it

was knowen and vnderstoode by those of our company, which were left behind

to dwell in this place. These two armes are two great leagues broad: and

in the middest of them there is an Ile, which is poynted towardes the

opening of the great Riuer, in which Iland there are infinite numbers of

all sortes of strange beasts. There are Simples growing there of so rare

properties, and in so great quantitie, that is an excellent thing to

behold them. On euery side there is nothing to be seene but Palmetrees,

and other sorts of trees bearing blossoms and fruite of very rare shape

and very good smell. But seeing the euening approch, and that the Captaine

determined to returne vnto the shippes, wee prayed him to suffer vs to

passe the night in this place. In our absence the Pilots and chiefe

Mariners aduertised the Captaine that it was needefull to bring the

shippes further vp within the Riuer, to auoyde the dangers of the windes

which might annoy vs, by reason of our being so neere to the mouth of the

Riuer: and for this cause the Captaine sent for vs. Being come to our

shippes, wee sayled three leagues vp within the Riuer, and there we cast

anker. A little while after, Iohn Ribault accompanied with a good number

of souldiers imbarked himselfe, desirous to sayle further vp into the arme

that runneth toward the West, and to search the commodities of the place.

(M385) Hauing sayled twelue leagues at the least, we perceiued a troope of

Indians which assoone as they espied the Pinnesses, they were so afrayd

that they fled into the woods leauing behind them a young Lucerne which

they were a turning vpon a spit: for which the place was called Cape

Lucerne: proceeding foorth on our way, we found another arme of the Riuer,

which ranne toward the East, vp which the Captaine determined to sayle and

to leaue the great current. A little while after they began to espie

diuers other Indians both men and women halfe hidden within the woods: who

knowing not that we were such as desired their friendship, were dismayed

at the first, but soone after were emboldened, for the Captaine caused

store of merchandise to be shewed them openly whereby they knew that we

meant nothing but well vnto them; and then they made a signe that he

should come on lande, which we would not refuse. At our comming on shoare

diuers of them came to salute our Generall according to their barbarous

fashion. Some of them gaue him skinnes of Chamois, others little baskets

made of Palme leaues, some presented him with Pearles, but no great

number. Afterwards they went about to make an arbour to defend us in that

place from the parching heate of the Sunne. But wee would not stay as

then. Wherefore the Captaine thanked them much for their good will, and

gaue presents to each of them: wherewith he pleased them so well before he

went thence, that his suddaine departure was nothing pleasant vnto them.

For knowing him to bee so liberall, they would haue wished him to haue

stayed a little longer, seeking by all meanes to giue him occasion to

stay, shewing him by signes that he should stay but that day onely, and

that they desired to aduertise a great Indian Lorde which had Pearles in

great abundance, and Silver also, all which things should bee giuen vnto

him at the Kings arriuall: saying further that in the meane time while

that this great Lord came thither, they would lead him to their houses,

and shewe him there a thousand pleasures in shooting, and seeing the

Stagge killed therefore they prayed him not to denie them their request.

Notwithstanding wee returned to our shippes, where after wee had bene but

one night, the Captaine in the morning commanded to put into the Pinnesse

a pillar of hard stone fashioned like a columne, wherein the armes of the

king of France were grauen, to plant the same in the fairest place that he

could finde. (M386) This done, wee imbarked ourselues, and sayled three

leagues towards the West: where wee discouered a little riuer vp which we

sayled so long, that in the ende we found it returned into the great

current, and in his returne to make a litle Iland separated from the firme

land where wee went on shore: and by commandement of the Captaine, because

it was exceeding faire and pleasant, there wee planted the Pillar vpon a

hillock open round about to the view, and inuironed with a lake halfe a

fathom deepe of very good and sweete water. In which Iland wee sawe two

Stagges of exceeding bignesse, in respect of those which we had seene

before, which we might easily haue killed with our harguebuzes, if the

Captaine had not forbidden vs, mooued with the singular fairenesse and

bignesse of them. But before our departure we named the little riuer which

enuironed this Ile The Riuer of Liborne. Afterward we imbarked our selues

to search another Ile not farre distant from the former: wherein after wee

had gone a land, wee found nothing but tall Cedars, the fairest that were

seene in this Countrey. For this cause wee called it The Ile of Cedars: so

wee returned into our Pinnesse to go towards our shippes.