THE FRENCH IN FLORIDA.
(A.D. 1562‒1565.)
Illustration: INDIANS IN CANOE.
Ribaut’s personal narrative is here reprinted from Hakluyt’s
“Divers Voyages” (London, Hakluyt Society, 1850), pp. 91‒115.
These extracts from Laudonnière’s narrative are reprinted
from Hakluyt’s translation in his “Voyages” (edition of 1810),
vol. iii. pp. 371‒373, 378‒384, 386, 387, 423‒427.
Parkman tells the story of these adventures in the first half of
his “Pioneers of France in the New World.” There is a memoir of
Ribaut by Jared Sparks, in his “American Biography,” vol. xvii.
THE FRENCH IN FLORIDA.
I.――JEAN RIBAUT IN FLORIDA.
[“Dedicated to a great nobleman[148] of France, and translated
into English by one Thomas Hackit.”]
WHEREAS, in the year of our Lord God 1562, it pleased God to move
your Honor to choose and appoint us to discover and view a certain
long coast of the West India, from the head of the land called La
Florida, drawing toward the north part, unto the head of Britons,[149]
distant from the said head of La Florida nine hundred leagues, or
thereabout, to the end we might certify you, and make true report of
the temperature, fertility, ports, havens, rivers, and generally of all
the commodities that be seen and found in that land, and also to learn
what people were there dwelling....
Thursday, the last of April, at the break of the day, we discovered and
clearly perceived a fair coast, stretching of a great length, covered
with an infinite number of high and fair trees; we being not past seven
or eight leagues from the shore....
Where finding thirty-six fathom water [we] entered into a goodly and
great river,[150] which, as we went, found to increase still in depth
and largeness, boiling and roaring through the multitude of all kind of
fish. This being entered, we perceived a great number of the Indians,
inhabitants there, coming along the sands and sea-banks, coming near
unto us, without any taking of fear or doubt, showing unto us the
easiest landing-place, and thereupon, we, giving them also on our parts,
thanks of assurance and friendliness. Forthwith, one of appearance
out of the best among them,[151] brother unto one of their kings or
governors, commanded one of the Indians to enter into the water, and
to approach our boats, to show us the coast’s landing-place. We, seeing
this, without any more doubting or difficulty landed; and the messenger,
after we had rewarded him with some looking-glass and other pretty
things of small value, ran incontinently toward his lord, who forthwith
sent me his girdle in token of assurance and friendship, which girdle
was made of red leather, as well covered and colored as was possible.
And, as I began to go toward him, he set forth and came and received
me gently, and raised[152] after his manner, all his men following with
great silence and modesty; yea, more than our men did. And after we
had awhile with gentle usage congratulated with him, we fell to the
ground a little way from them, to call upon the name of God, and to
beseech him to continue still his goodness towards us, and bring to the
knowledge of our Saviour Christ this poor people. While we were thus
praying, they――sitting upon the ground, which was strewed and dressed
with bay-boughs――beheld and harkened unto us very attentively, without
either speaking or moving; and as I made a sign unto their king,
lifting up mine arm, and stretching forth one finger, only to make them
look up to heavenward, he likewise, lifting up his arm toward heaven,
put forth two fingers, whereby it seemed that he made us to understand
that they worshipped the sun and moon for gods; as afterwards we
understood it so. In the mean time their numbers increased; and thither
came the king’s brother that was first with us, their mother, wives,
sisters, and children; and, being thus assembled, they caused a great
number of bay-boughs to be cut, and therewith a place to be dressed
for us, distant from theirs two fathom. For it is their manner to talk
and bargain, sitting, and the chief of them to be apart from the meaner
sort, with a show of great obedience to their kings, superiors, and
elders. They be all naked, and of a goodly stature, mighty, and as
well shapen and proportioned of body, as any people in the world, very
gentle, courteous, and of a good nature....
After we had tarried in this north side of the river the most part of
the day,――which river we have called May, for that we discovered the
same the first day of the month,――we congratulated, made alliance, and
entered into amity with them, and presented the king and his brethren
with gowns of blue cloth garnished with yellow fleur-de-luces. And it
seemed that they were sorry for our departure; so that the most part of
them entered into the water up to the neck, to set our boats afloat....
Soon after this came thither the king with his brethren, and others
with bows and arrows in their hands, using therewithal a goodly and
a grave fashion, with their behavior right soldierlike, and [of] as
warlike boldness as may be. They were naked and painted, as the other,
their hair likewise long, and trussed up――with a lace made of herbs――to
the top of their heads; but they had neither their wives nor children
in their company. After we had a good while lovingly entertained and
presented them with like gifts of habersher[153] wares, cutting-hooks,
and hatchets, and clothed the king and his brethren with like robes
as we had given to them on the other side, we entered and viewed
the country thereabouts, which is the fairest, fruit-fullest, and
pleasantest of all the world, abounding in honey, venison, wild fowl,
forests, woods of all sorts, palm-trees, cypress, and cedars, bays the
highest and greatest, with also the fairest vines in all the world,
with grapes according, which without natural art, and without man’s
help or trimming, will grow to tops of oaks and other trees that be
of a wonderful greatness and height. And the sight of the fair meadows
is a pleasure not able to be expressed with tongue; full of herns,
curlews, bitterns, mallards, egrets, woodcocks, and all other kind of
small birds, with harts, hinds, bucks, wild swine, and all other kinds
of wild beasts, as we perceived well, both by their footing there,
and also afterwards, in other places, by their cry and roaring in the
night....
The next day, in the morning, we returned to land again, accompanied
with the captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, and others of our small
troop, carrying with us a pillar or column of hard stone, our king’s
arms granted therein, to plant and set the same in the entrance of
the port in some high place, where it might be easily seen. And, being
come thither before the Indians were assembled, we espied, on the
south side of the river, a place very fit for that purpose upon a
little hill, compassed with cypress, bays, palms, and other trees, with
sweet-smelling and pleasant shrubs, in the middle whereof we planted
the first bound[154] or limit of his Majesty....
The 20th of May, we planted another column or pillar, graven with the
king’s arms, on the south side, in a high place at the entrance of a
great river, which we called Libourne,[155] where there is a lake of
fresh water very good.... There we saw the fairest and the greatest
vines with grapes according, and young trees and small woods, very
well smelling, that ever were seen; whereby it appeareth to be the
pleasantest and most commodious dwelling of all the world. Wherefore,
my lord, trusting you will not think it amiss, considering the
commodities that may be brought thence, if we leave a number of men
there, which may fortify and provide themselves of things necessary;
for, in all new discoveries, it is the chiefest thing that may be
done, at the beginning to fortify and people the country. I had not so
soon[156] set this forth to our company, but many of them offered to
tarry there, yet with such a good-will and jolly courage, that such a
number did thus offer themselves, that we had much ado to stay their
importunity. And namely of our shipmates and principal pilots, and
such as we could not spare. Howbeit, we left there but to the number
of thirty in all, gentlemen, soldiers, and mariners, and that at their
own suit and prayer, and of their own free wills, and by the advice
and deliberation of the gentlemen sent on the behalf of the prince and
yours.
And have left unto the fore-head[157] and rulers, following therein
your good-will, Capt. Albert de la Pierria, a soldier of long
experience, and the first that from the beginning did offer to tarry.
And further, by their advice, choice, and will, installed them in
an island[158] on the north side, a place of strong situation and
commodious, upon a river which we named Chenonceau, and the habitation
and fortress Charlesfort. The next day we determined to depart from
this place, being as well contented as was possible that we had so
happily ended our business, with good hope, if occasion would permit,
to discover perfectly the River of Jordan. For this cause, we hoisted
our sails about ten of the clock in the morning. After we were ready
to depart, Capt. Ribaut commanded to shoot off our ordnance to give
a farewell to our Frenchmen, which failed not to do the like on their
part. This being done, we sailed toward the north; and then we named
this river Port Royal because of the largeness and excellent fairness
of the same.
[The remains of this fortress of Charlesfort are undoubtedly
those still to be seen on “Old Fort Plantation,” near Beaufort,
S.C., at the junction of Beaufort River with Battery Creek.
The compiler of this book was encamped on this plantation
for several months during the civil war, and visited the
fortifications very frequently. They are built of a kind of
concrete made with oyster-shells, and called _coquina_, this
being the material also employed in Spanish buildings of
the same period at St. Augustine. There is another similar
fortification a little farther up Beaufort River.]
II.――ALONE IN THE NEW WORLD.
[The thirty Frenchmen left behind at Port Royal by Ribaut
were probably the first Europeans who deliberately undertook to
remain without ships upon the Atlantic shore of North America.
Parkman says of them, “Albert and his companions might watch
the receding ships.... They were alone in those fearful solitudes.
From the north pole to Mexico there was no Christian denizen but
they.”――PIONEERS OF FRANCE, p. 35.
The following is from the narrative of their adventures written
by Laudonnière, who afterwards came to search for them, but did
not arrive till they had gone.]
OUR men, after our departure, never rested, but night and day did
fortify themselves, being in good hope, that, after their fort was
finished, they would begin to discover farther up within the river. It
happened one day, as certain of them were in cutting of roots in the
groves, that they espied, on the sudden, an Indian that hunted the deer,
which, finding himself so near upon them, was much dismayed; but our
men began to draw near unto him, and to use him so courteously, that
he became assured, and followed them to Charlesfort, where every man
sought to do him pleasure. Capt. Albert was very joyful of his coming,
which after he had given him a shirt, and some other trifles, he asked
him of his dwelling. The Indian answered him, that it was farther
up within the river, and that he was vassal of King Audusta: he also
showed him with his hand the limits of his habitation. After much other
talk, the Indian desired leave to depart, because it drew toward night,
which Capt. Albert granted him very willingly....
[They afterward went to a feast among these Indians.]
When the feast, therefore, was finished, our men returned unto
Charlesfort, where having remained but a while, their victuals began to
wax short, which forced them to have recourse unto their neighbors, and
to pray them to succor them in their necessity, which gave them part of
all the victuals which they had, and kept no more unto themselves than
would serve to sow their fields. They told them further, that, for this
cause, it was needful for them to retire themselves into the woods, to
live of mast[159] and roots until the time of harvest, being as sorry
as might be that they were not able further to aid them. They gave
them, also, counsel to go towards the country of King Couexis, a man
of might and renown in this province, which maketh his abode toward
the South, abounding at all seasons, and replenished with such quantity
of mill,[160] corn, and beans, that by his only succor they might be
able to live a very long time. But, before they should come into his
territories, they were able to repair unto a king, called Ouade, the
brother of Couexis, which in mill, beans, and corn, was no less wealthy,
and withal very liberal, and would be very joyful if he might but once
see them. Our men, perceiving the good relation which the Indians made
them of those two kings, resolved to go thither; for they felt already
the necessity which oppressed them. Therefore they made request unto
King Maccou, that it would please him to give them one of his subjects
to guide them the right way thither: whereupon he condescended very
willingly, knowing, that, without his favor, they should have much ado
to bring their enterprise to pass....
Behold, therefore, how our men behaved themselves very well
hitherto, although they had endured many great mishaps. But misfortune,
or, rather, the just judgment of God, would have it, that those which
could not be overcome by fire nor water should be undone by their own
selves....
They entered, therefore, into partialities and dissensions, which
began about a soldier named Guernache, which was a drummer of the
French bands, which, as it was told me, was very cruelly hanged by
his own captain,[161] and for a small fault; which captain also using
to threaten the rest of his soldiers which staid behind under his
obedience, and peradventure, as it is to be presumed, were not so
obedient to him as they should have been, was the cause that they
fell into a mutiny, because that many times he put his threatenings
in execution, whereupon they so chased him, that at the last they put
him to death. And the principal occasion that moved them thereunto
was because he degraded another soldier named La Chère, which he had
banished, and because he had not performed his promise; for he had
promised to send him victuals from eight days to eight days,[162] which
thing he did not, but said, on the contrary, that he would be glad to
hear of his death. He said, moreover, that he would chastise others
also, and used so evil sounding speeches, that honesty[163] forbiddeth
me to repeat them.
The soldiers, seeing his madness to increase from day to day, and
fearing to fall into the dangers of the other, resolved to kill him.
Having executed their purpose, they went to seek the soldier that was
banished, which was in a small island distant from Charlesfort about
three leagues, where they found him almost half dead for hunger. When
they were come home again, they assembled themselves together to choose
one to be governor over them, whose name was Nicolas Barré, a man
worthy of commendation, and one which knew so well to quit himself of
his charge, that all rancor and dissension ceased among them, and they
lived peaceably one with another.
During this time they began to build a small pinnace, with hope to
return into France, if no succor came unto them, as they expected
from day to day. And though there were no man among them that had
any skill, notwithstanding, necessity, which is the mistress of all
sciences, taught them the way to build it. After that it was finished,
they thought of nothing else, save how to furnish it with all things
necessary to undertake the voyage. But they wanted those things that
of all other were most needful, as cordage and sails, without which the
enterprise could not come to effect. Having no means to recover these
things, they were in worse case than at the first, and almost ready
to fall into despair; but that good God, which never forsaketh the
afflicted, did succor them in their necessity.
As they were in these perplexities, King Audusta and Maccou came to
them, accompanied with two hundred Indians, at the least, whom our
Frenchmen went forth to meet withal, and showed the king in what need
of cordage they stood; who promised them to return within two days, and
to bring so much as should suffice to furnish the pinnace with tackling.
Our men, being pleased with these good news and promises, bestowed upon
them certain cutting-hooks and shirts. After their departure, our men
sought all means to recover resin in the woods, wherein they cut the
pine-trees round about, out of which they drew sufficient reasonable
quantity to bray[164] the vessel. Also they gathered a kind of moss
which groweth on the trees of this country, to serve to calk the same
withal.
There now wanted nothing but sails, which they made of their own shirts
and of their sheets. Within few days after, the Indian kings returned
to Charlesfort with so good store of cordage, that there was found
sufficient for tackling of the small pinnace. Our men, as glad as might
be, used great liberality towards them, and, at their leaving of the
country, left them all the merchandise that remained, leaving them
thereby so fully satisfied, that they departed from them with all the
contentation[165] of the world. They went forward, therefore, to finish
the brigantine, and used so speedy diligence, that, within a short time
afterward, they made it ready furnished with all things. In the mean
season the wind came so fit for their purpose, that it seemed to invite
them to put to the sea; which they did without delay, after they had
set all their things in order.
But, before they departed, they embarked their artillery, their forge,
and other munitions of war which Capt. Ribaut had left them, and then
as much mill as they could gather together. But being drunken with
the too excessive joy which they had conceived for their returning
into France, or, rather, deprived of all foresight and consideration,
without regarding the inconstancy of the winds, which change in a
moment, they put themselves to sea, and with so slender victuals, that
the end of their enterprise became unlucky and unfortunate.
For, after they had sailed the third part of their way, they were
surprised with calms, which did so much hinder them, that in three
weeks they sailed not above five and twenty leagues. During this
time, their victuals consumed, and became so short, that every man was
constrained to eat not past twelve grains of mill by the day, which may
be in value as much as twelve peas. Yea, and this felicity lasted not
long; for their victuals failed them altogether at once, and they had
nothing for their more assured refuge, but their shoes and leather
jerkins, which they did eat....
Beside this extreme famine, which did so grievously oppress them, they
fell every minute of an hour out of all hope ever to see France again,
insomuch that they were constrained to cast the water continually out,
that on all sides entered into their bark. And every day they fared
worse and worse; for, after they had eaten up their shoes and leather
jerkins, there arose so boisterous a wind, and so contrary to their
course, that, in the turning of a hand, the waves filled their vessel
half full of water, and bruised it upon the one side. Being now more
out of hope than ever to escape out of this extreme peril, they cared
not for casting out of the water, which now was almost ready to drown
them. And, as men resolved to die, every one fell down backward, and
gave themselves over altogether unto the will of the waves. When as one
of them, a little having taken heart unto him, declared unto them how
little way they had to sail, assuring them, that, if the wind held,
they should see land within three days, this man did so encourage them,
that, after they had thrown the water out of the pinnace, they remained
three days without eating or drinking, except it were of the seawater.
When the time of his promise was expired, they were more troubled than
they were before, seeing they could not descry any land....
After so long and tedious travels, God, of his goodness, using
his accustomed favor, changed their sorrow into joy, and showed unto
them the sight of land. Whereof they were so exceeding glad, that
the pleasure caused them to remain a long time as men without sense;
whereby they let the pinnace float this and that way, without holding
any right way or course. But a small English bark boarded the vessel,
in the which there was a Frenchman which had been in the first voyage
into Florida, who easily knew them, and spake unto them, and afterward
gave them meat and drink. Incontinently they recovered their natural
courages, and declared unto him at large all their navigation. The
Englishmen consulted a long time what were best to be done; and in fine
they resolved to put on land those that were most feeble, and to carry
the rest unto the Queen of England, which purposed at that time to send
into Florida.
[They finally reached England, having doubtless made the
first voyage across the Atlantic ever accomplished in an
American-built vessel.]
III.――LAUDONNIÈRE’S SEARCH FOR THE COLONISTS.
[Laudonnière sailed with three ships, April 22, 1564, on an
expedition in search of the men whom Ribaut had left at Port
Royal nearly two years before. He reached the St. John’s River
a little more than two months later.]
The second voyage into Florida, made and written by Capt. Laudonnière,
which fortified and inhabited there two summers and one whole winter....
THE next day, the 23d of this month,[166]――because that toward the
south I had not found any commodious place for us to inhabit, and to
build a fort,――I gave commandment to weigh anchor, and to hoist our
sails to sail toward the River of May,[167] where we arrived two days
after, and cast anchor. Afterward going on land with some number of
gentlemen and soldiers, to know for a certainty the singularities of
this place, we espied the _paracoussey_[168] of the country, which came
towards us,――this was the very same that we saw in the voyage of Capt.
John Ribaut. Which, having espied us, cried very far off, “_Antipola,
antipola!_” And, being so joyful that he could not contain himself, he
came to meet us, accompanied with two of his sons, as fair and mighty
persons as might be found in all the world, which had nothing in their
mouths but this word, “_Ami, ami;_” that is to say, “Friend, friend!”
Yea; and, knowing those which were there in the first voyage, they went
principally to them to use this speech unto them. There was in their
train a great number of men and women, which still made very much of
us, and by evident signs made us understand how glad they were of our
arrival. This good entertainment passed, the _paracoussey_ prayed me to
go see the pillar which we had erected in the voyage of John Ribaut――as
we have declared heretofore――as a thing which they made great account
of.
Illustration: RIBAUT’S PILLAR DECORATED BY INDIANS.
(From a design by Lemoyne, one of Laudonnière’s
companions.)
Having yielded unto him, and being come to the place where it was
set up, we found the same crowned with crowns of bay, and at the foot
thereof many little baskets full of mill,[169] which they call in their
language _tapaga tapola_. Then, when they came thither, they kissed
the same with great reverence, and besought us to do the like, which
we would not deny them, to the end we might draw them to be more in
friendship with us. This done, the _paracoussey_ took me by the hand,
as if he had desire to make me understand some great secret, and
by signs showed me very well up within the river the limits of his
dominion, and said that he was called _Paracoussey_ Satouriona, which
is as much as King Satouriona. His children have the selfsame title of
_paracoussey_. The eldest is named Athore,――a man, I dare say, perfect
in wisdom, beauty, and honest sobriety; showing by his modest gravity
that he deserveth the name which he beareth, besides that he is gentle
and tractable. After we had sojourned a certain space with them, the
_paracoussey_ prayed one of his sons to present unto me a wedge of
silver, which he did, and that with a good will; in recompense whereof
I gave him a cutting-hook and some other better present, wherewith he
seemed to be very well pleased. Afterward we took our leave of them,
because the night approached, and then returned to lodge in our ships.
Being allured with this good entertainment, I failed not the next
day to embark myself again with my lieutenant, Ottigny, and a number
of soldiers, to return toward the _paracoussey_ of the River of May,
which of purpose waited for us in the same place where, the day before,
we conferred with him. We found him under the shadow of an arbor,
accompanied with fourscore Indians at the least, and apparelled at that
time after the Indian fashion; to wit, with a great hart’s skin dressed
like chamois, and painted with devices of strange and divers colors,
but of so lively a portraiture, and representing antiquity with rules
so justly compassed, that there is no painter so exquisite that could
find fault therewith. The natural disposition of this strange people
is so perfect and well guided, that, without any aid and favor of arts,
they are able, by the help of Nature only, to content the artisans,[170]
yea, even of those which by their industry are able to aspire unto
things most absolute.
Then I advertised _Paracoussey_ Satouriona that my desire was to
discover farther up into the river, but that it should be with such
diligence that I would come again unto him very speedily; wherewith he
was content, promising to stay for me in the place where he was; and,
for an earnest of his promise, he offered me his goodly skin, which I
refused then, and promised to receive it of him at my return. For my
part, I gave him certain small trifles, to the intent to retain him in
our friendship.
IV.――THE CAPTURE OF FORT CAROLINE BY THE SPANIARDS.
[Laudonnière built a fort on the St. John’s River, just
above St. John’s Bluff, and named it Fort Caroline, but partly
destroyed it, meaning to build vessels with the materials.
Don Pedro Menendez came to the Florida coast with a Spanish
fleet, and founded the town of St. Augustine. Ribaut took most
of Laudonnière’s soldiers, with his ships, and went to attack the
ships of Menendez. Meanwhile the Spaniards marched by land, five
hundred in number, through swamps and across streams, guided
by a French deserter, to attack the fort. Laudonnière thus
describes what took place after Ribaut’s departure.]
THE very day that he departed, which was the 10th of September,[171]
there rose so great a tempest, accompanied with such storms, that the
Indians themselves assured me that it was the worst weather that ever
was seen on the coast. Whereupon, two or three days after, fearing lest
our ships might be in some distress, I sent for Monsieur Du Lys unto
me, to take order to assemble the rest of our people to declare unto
them what need we had to fortify ourselves; which was done accordingly.
And then I gave them to understand the necessity and inconvenience
whereinto we were like to fall, as well by the absence of our ships, as
by the nearness of the Spaniards, at whose hands we could look for no
less than an open and sufficient proclaimed war, seeing they had taken
land, and fortified themselves so near unto us. And, if any misfortune
were fallen unto our men which were at sea, we ought to make full
account with ourselves that we were to endure many great miseries,
being in so small number, and so many ways afflicted as we were.
Illustration: FORT CAROLINE.
Thus every one promised me to take pains; and therefore, considering
that their proportion of victuals was small, and that, so continuing,
they would not be able to do any great work, I augmented their
allowance; although that after the arrival of Captain Ribaut my portion
of victuals was allotted unto me as unto a common soldier, neither was
I able to give so much as a part of a bottle of wine to any man which
deserved it. For I was so far from having means to do so, that the
captain himself took two of my boats wherein the rest of the meal was,
which was left me of the biscuits which I caused to be made to return
into France. So that, if I should say that I received more favor at the
hands of the Englishmen[172] being strangers unto me, I should say but
a truth. We began, therefore, to fortify ourselves, and to repair that
which was broken down, principally toward the waterside, where I caused
threescore foot of trees to be planted, to repair the palisade with
the planks which I caused to be taken of the ship which I had builded.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding all our diligence and travail, we were
never able fully to repair it, by reason of the storms, which commonly
did us so great annoy, that we could not finish our enclosure.
Perceiving myself in such extremity, I took a muster of the men which
Captain Ribaut had left me, to see if there were any that wanted weapon.
I found nine or ten of them, whereof not past two or three had ever
drawn sword out of a scabbard, as I think. Let them which have been
bold to say that I had men enough left me, so that I had means to
defend myself, give ear a little now unto me, and, if they have eyes in
their heads, let them see what men I had. Of the nine, there were four
but young striplings, which served Captain Ribaut, and kept his dogs:
the fifth was a cook. Among those that were without the fort, and which
were of the foresaid company of Captain Ribaut, there was a carpenter
of threescore years old, one a beer-brewer, one old crossbow-maker,
two shoe-makers, and four or five men that had their wives, a player
on the virginals,[173] two servants of Monsieur Du Lys, one of Monsieur
De Beauhaire, one of Monsieur De la Grange; and about fourscore and
five or six in all, counting as well lackeys as women and children.
Behold the goodly troop so sufficient to defend themselves, and so
courageous as they have esteemed them to be! And, for my part, I leave
it to others’ consideration to imagine whether Captain Ribaut would
have left them with me to have borrowed my men, if they had been such.
Those that were left me of mine own company were about sixteen or
seventeen that could bear arms, and all of them poor and lean: the rest
were sick and maimed in the conflict which my lieutenant had against
Utina.
This view being thus taken, we set our watches, whereof we made
two sentinels, that the soldiers might have one night free. Then we
bethought ourselves of those which might be most sufficient, among whom
we chose two, one of whom was named Monsieur Saint Cler, and the other
Monsieur De la Vigne, to whom we delivered candles and lanterns to go
round about the fort to view the watch, because of the foul and foggy
weather. I delivered them also a sand-glass or clock,[174] that the
sentinels might not be troubled more one than another. In the mean
while, I ceased not, for all the foul weather, nor my sickness which
I had, to oversee the _corps de garde_.[175]
The night between the 19th and 20th of September, La Vigne kept watch
with his company, wherein he used all endeavor, although it rained
without ceasing. When the day was therefore come, and that he saw that
it rained still worse than it did before, he pitied the sentinels, so
too [much] moyled[176] and wet. And, thinking the Spaniards would not
have come in such a strange time, he let them depart, and, to say the
truth, he himself went unto his lodging.
In the mean while, one which had something to do without the fort,
and my trumpet,[177] which went up unto the rampart, perceived a
troop of Spaniards which came down from a little knappe,[178] where
incontinently they began to cry alarm, and the trumpeter also; which as
soon as ever I understood, forthwith I issued out, with my target and
sword in my hand, and gat me in the midst of the court, where I began
to cry upon my soldiers.
Some of them, which were of the forward sort, went toward the breach,
which was on the south side, and where the munitions of the artillery
lay, where they were repulsed and slain. By the selfsame place two
ensigns[179] entered, which immediately were planted on the walls. Two
other ensigns also entered on the other side toward the west, where
there was another breach; and those which were lodged in this quarter,
and which showed themselves, were likewise defeated. As I went to
succor them which were defending the breach on the south-west side, I
encountered, by chance, a great company of Spaniards, which had already
repulsed our men, and were now entered, which drove me back unto the
court of the fort. Being there, I espied with them one called Francis
Jean, which was one of the mariners which stole away my barks, and had
guided and conducted the Spaniards thither. As soon as he saw me, he
began to say, “This is the captain.”
Illustration: MENENDEZ.
This troop was led by a captain, whose name, as I think, was Don
Pedro Menendez. These made certain pushes at me with their pikes,
which lighted on my target. But perceiving that I was not able to
withstand so great a company, and that the court was already won, and
their ensigns planted on the ramparts, and that I had never a man about
me, saving one only, whose name was Bartholomew, I entered into the
yard of my lodging, into which they followed me; and, had it not been
for a tent that was set up, I had been taken. But the Spaniards which
followed me were occupied in cutting off the cords of the tent; and, in
the mean while, I saved myself by the breach which was on the west side,
near unto my lieutenant’s lodging, and got away into the woods, where
I found certain of my men which had escaped, of which number there were
three or four which were sore hurt.
Then spake I thus unto them, “Sirs, since it hath pleased God that this
mischance is happened unto us, we must needs take the pains to get over
the marshes unto the ships, which are at the mouth of the river.” Some
would needs go to a little village which was in the woods: the rest
followed me through the reeds in the water; where, being able to go
no farther, by reason of my sickness which I had, I sent two of my men
which were with me, which could swim well, unto the ships, to advertise
them of that which had happened, and to send them word to come and help
me. They were not able that day to get unto the ships to certify them
thereof: so I was constrained to stand in the water up to my shoulders
all that night long, with one of my men which would never forsake me.
The next day morning, being scarcely able to draw my breath any more,
I betook me to my prayers, with the soldier which was with me, whose
name was John du Chemin; for I felt myself so feeble, that I was afraid
I should die suddenly. And in truth, if he had not embraced me in
both his arms, and so held me up, it had not been possible to save me.
After we had made an end of our prayers, I heard a voice, which, in my
judgment, was one of theirs which I had sent, which were over against
the ships, and called for the ship-boat; which was so indeed. And
because those of the ships had understanding of the taking of the fort
by one called John de Hais, master carpenter, which fled unto them in a
shallop, they had set sail to run along the coast, to see if they might
save any: wherein, doubtless, they did very well their endeavor. They
went straight to the place where the two men were which I had sent, and
which called them.
As soon as they had received them in, and understood where I was, they
came and found me in a pitiful case. Five or six of them took me, and
carried me into the shallop; for I was not able by any means to go on
foot. After I was brought into the shallop, some of the mariners took
their clothes from their backs to lend them me, and would have carried
me presently to their ships to give me a little _aqua vitae_.[180]
Howbeit I would not go thither until I had first gone with the boat
along the reeds to seek out the poor souls which were scattered abroad,
where we gathered up eighteen or twenty of them. The last that I took
in was the nephew of the treasurer, Le Beau. After we were all come to
the ships, I comforted them as well as I could, and sent back the boat
again with speed, to see if they could find yet any more.
For mine own part, I will not accuse nor excuse any: it sufficeth me
to have followed the truth of the history, whereof many are able to
bear witness which were there present. I will plainly say one thing,
that the long delay that Captain John Ribaut used in his embarking,
and the fifteen days that he spent in roving along the coast of Florida
before he came to our Fort Caroline, were the cause of the loss that we
sustained. For he discerned the coast the 15th of August, and spent the
time in going from river to river, which had been sufficient for him to
have discharged his ships in, and for me to have embarked myself, to
return into France....
He was no sooner departed from us than a tempest took him, which, in
fine, wrecked him upon the coast, where all his ships were cast away,
and he with much ado escaped drowning, to fall into their hands, which
cruelly massacred him and all his company.
[The fate of Ribaut at the hands of Menendez, and the terrible
vengeance taken on the Spaniards by another Frenchman, Dominic
de Gourgues, may be found described in Parkman’s interesting
book, “Pioneers of France in the New World.”]