then the Captaine went forward to salute him and without any other mouing of himselfe he retayned so constant a kinde of grauitie that he made it seeme vnto vs that by good and lawfull right he bare the title of a king Our Captaine knowing not what to iudge of this mans behauiour thought he was ielous because we went first vnto the other king or els that he was not wel pleased w t the piller or colume which he had planted While thus he knew not what hereof to think our captaine shewed him by signes that hee was come from a far countrey of purpose to seeke him to let him vnderstand the amity which he was desirous to haue with him for the better confirmation whereof he drew out of a butchet certaine trifles as certaine braselets couered as it were with siluer and guilt which he presented him withall and gaue his sons certaine other trifles Wherevpon the king began very louingly to intreate both our Captaine and vs. And after these gentle intertainments we went our selues into the woods hoping there to discouer some singularities where were great store of mulbeary trees white and redde on the coppes whereof there was an infinite number of silke wormes Following our way we discouered a fayre and great medowe deuided notwithstanding with diuers marishes which constrained vs by reason of the water which enuironed it about to returne backe againe toward the riuers side Finding not the king there which by this time was gone home to his house we entred into our boates and sayled toward our shippes where after we arriued we called this Riuer the riuer of May because we discouered it the first daye of the saide moneth Soone after wee were returned to our shippes we weighed our ankers and hoysed our sayles to discouer the coste farther forward along the which we discouered another fayre Riuer which the Captaine himselfe was minded to search out and hauing searched it out with the king and inhabitants thereof he named it Seine because it is very like vnto the Riuer of Seine in Fraunce From this riuer we retired toward our ships where being arriued we trimmed our sailes to saile further toward the North and to descry the singularities of the coste But we had not sayled anye great way before wee discouered another very fayre Riuer which caused vs to cast anker ouer against it and to trimme out two Boates to goe to searche it out We found there an Ile and a king no lesse affable then the rest afterward wee named this Riuer Somme From thence wee sayled about sixe leagues after wee discouered another Riuer which after we had vewed was baptised by vs by y â— name of Loyre And consequently we there discouered fiue others whereof the first was named Cherente the second Garonne the third Gironde the fourth Belle the fifte Grande which being very well discouered with such things as were in them by this time in lesse then y â— space of threescoare leagues we had fouÌ„d out many singularites a longe nine riuers Neuerthelesse not fully satisfied we sailed yet farther toward the North following the course that might bring vs to the Riuer of Iordan one of the fayrest Riuers of the North and holding our wonted course great fogs and tempestes came vpon vs which constrayned vs to leaue the cost to beare toward the mayne Sea which was the cause that we lost the sight of our Pinisses a whole day and a night vntill the next day in the morning what tune the weather waxing fayre and the Sea calme wee discouered a Riuer which we called Belle a veoir After we had sayled three or foure leagues we began to espie our Pinisses which came straight towardes vs and at their ariuall they reported to the Captayne that while the foule weather and fogges endured they harbored themselues in a mightie Riuer which in bignesse and beautie exceeded the former wherewithall the Captayne was exceeding ioyfull for his chiefe desire was to finde out an Hauen to harboure his Shippes and there to refresh our selues for a while Thus making thitherwarde wee ariued a thwarte the said Riuer which because of the fayrenesse and largenes thereof we named Port Royal wee strooke out sayles 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 Fraunce yea the Arguesses of Venice may enter in there Hauing cast Anker the Captayne with his Souldiers went on shore and hee himselfe went first on land where we found the place as pleasant as was possible for it was all couered ouer with mightie high Okes and infinite store of Cedars and with Lentisques growing vnderneath them smelling so sweetly that the very fragrant odour only made the place to seeme exceeding pleasant As we passed throw these woods we saw nothing but Turkeycockes flying in the forrests Partridges gray and redde litle different from ours but chiefly in bignesse Wee heard also within the Woods the voyces of Stagges of Beares of Luserns of Leopards and of diuers other sorts of Beasts vnknown vnto vs. Being delighted with this place we set our selues to fishing with netâ—es and we caught such a number of fishe that it was wonderfull And amongst other we tooke a certayne kind of fish which we call Sallicoques which were no lesse then Creuises so that two draughts of the net were sufficient sometimes to feede all the company of our two Shippes for a whole day The Riuer at the mouth thereof from Cape to Cape is no lesse then three french leagues broad it is deuided into two great armes whereof the one runneth toward the West the other towards the North. And I beleeue in my iudgment that the arme which stretcheth toward the North runneth vp into the Countrey as farre as the riuer of Iordan the other arme runneth into the South Sea as it was knowen and vnderstood 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 Ilande there are infinite numbers of all sorts of strange beasts There are Simples growing there of so rare proprieties and in so great quantitie that it is an excellent thing to behold them On euery side there is nothing to be seene but Palmetrees and other sortes of trees bearing blossoms and frute of very rare shape and very good smel But seeing the euening approch and that the Captayne determined to returne vnto the shippes we prayed him to suffer vs to passe the night in this place In our absence the Pilots and chiefe mariners aduertised the Captayne that it was needfull to bring the Shippes farther vpwithin the Riuer to auoyde the daungers of the windes which might anoy vs by reason of our being so neere to the mouth of the
druÌ„mer of the Frenchbands which as it was told me was very cruelly handged by his owne Captaine and for a small fault which Captaine also vsing to threaten the rest of his souldiers which staied behind vnder his obedience and peraduenture as it is to be presumed were not so obedieÌ„t vnto him as they should haue bin was the cause that they fell into a mutiny because that many times hee put his threatnings in execution whervpon they so chased him that at the last they put him to death And the principall occasion that moued them therevnto was because hee degraded another souldier named La chere which he had banished and because he had not performed his promise for he had promised to send him victuals from eight dayes to eight daies which thing he did not but saide on the contrarie that he would be glad to heare of his death He said moreouer that hee woulde chastice others also and vsed so euill sounding speeches that honesty forbiddeth me to repeate them The souldiers seeing his madnes to increase from day to day and fearing to fall into the dangers of the other resolued to kil him Hauing executed their purpose they went to seeke the Souldier that was banished which was in a small Iland distant from Charlesfort about three leagues where they found him almost halfe dead for hunger When they were come home againe they assembled themselues together to choose one to be gouernour ouer them whose name was Nicolas Barré a man worthy of commendation and one which knew so well to quite himselfe of his charge that all rancour and dissention ceassed among them and they liued peaceably one with another During this time they beganne to builde a small Pinnesse with hope to returne into Fraunce if no succours came vnto them as they expected from day to day And though there were not a man among them that had any skill notwithstanding necessitie which is the maistresse of all sciences taught them the wayes to builde it After that it was finished they thought of nothing else sauing how to furnish it with all thinges necessary to vndertake the voyage But they wanted those thinges that of all other were most needfull as cordage and sailes without which the enterprise could not come to effect Hauing no meanes to recouer these thinges they were in worse case then at the first and almost ready to fall into despayre But that good God which neuer forsaketh the afflicted did succour them in this necessity As they were in these perplerities king Audusta and Maccou came to them accompanied with two hundred Indians at the least whom our Frenchmen went foorth to meete withal and shewed the king in what neeede of cordage they stood who promised them to returne within two dayes and to bring so much as should suffice to furnish the Pinnesse with tackling Our men being pleased with these good newes and promises bestowed vpon them certaine cutting hookes and shirtes After their departure our men sought all meanes to recouer rosen in the woodes wherein they cut the Pine trees round about out of which they drew sufficirut reasonable quantitie to bray the vessel Also they gathered a kind of mosse which groweth on the trees of this countrey to serue to calke the same withall There now wanted nothing but sayles which they made of their owne shirtes and of their sheetes Within few dayes after the Indian kinges returned to Charles-fort with so good store of cordage that there was found sufficient for tackling of the small Pinnesse Our men as glad as might bee vsed great liberality towards them and at their leauing of the couÌ„trey left them all their marchandise that remayned leauing them thereby so fully satisfied that they departed from them with all the contentation of the world They went forward therefore to finishe the Brigandine and vsed so speedie diligence that within a shorte time afterwarde they made it readie furnished with all thinges In the meane season the winde came so fit for their purpose that it seemed to inuite them to put to ehe Sea which they did without delay after they had set all their thinges in order But before they departed they embarked their artillarie their forge and other munitions of warre which Captaine Ribault had left them and then as much mill as they coulde gather together But being drunken with the too excessiue ioy which they had conceiued for their returning into Fraunce or rather depriued of all foresight and consideration without regarding the inconstancie of the winds which change in a moment they put themselues to sea and with so slender victualles that the end of their enterprise became vnlucky and vnfortunate For after they had sayled the third parte of their way they were surprised with calmes which did so much hinder them that in three weeks they sayled not aboue fiue and twentie leagues During this time their victuals coÌ„sumed and became so short that euery man was constrained to eate not past twelue graines of mill by the day which may be in value as much as twelue peason Yea and this felicitie 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 ierkins which they did eate Touching their beuerage some of them dranke the Sea water others did drinke their owne vrine and they remayned in such desperate necessitie a very long space during the which parte of them died for hunger besides this extreeme famine which did so grieuously oppresse them they fell euery minute of an houre out of all hope euer to see Fraunce againe in so much that they were constrayned to cast the water continually out that on all sides entred into their Barke And euery day they fared worse and worse for after they had eaten vp their shoâ—es and their letherne Ierkins there arose so boysterous a winde and so contrary to their course that in the turning of a hande the waues filled their vessell halfe full of water and brused it vpon the one side Being nowe more out of hope then euer to escape out of so extreame perill they cared not for casting out of the water which nowe was almost readie to drowne them And as men resolued to die euery one fell downe backeward and gaue themselues ouer altogether vnto the will of the waues When as one of them a little hauing taken hart vnto him declared vnto them how little way they had to sayle assuring them that if the winde held they should see land within three dayes This man did so incourage them that after they had throwne the water out of the Pinnesse they remayned three dayes without eating or drinking except it were of the Sea water When the time of his promise was expired they were more troubled then they were before seeing they could not discry any lande Wherefore in this extreme despaire certayne among them made this
serue their turnes for sixe monethes and that very scarcely For during the Winter they retire themselues for three or foure monethes in the yeere into the woods where they make little cottages of palme boughes for their retraite and liue there of maste of fishe which they catch of Oisters of Stagges of Turkiecockes 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 y â— Crocodil in deed it is faire and white and were it not that it sauoureth too much like muske we would oftentimes haue eaten thereof They haue a custome among them that when they find themselues sicke where they feele the payne whereas we cause our selues to be let blood their Phisitions sucke them vntill they make the blood follow The women are of the like disposition great and of the same colour that the men be of painted as the men be Howbeit wheÌ„ they are borne they be not so much of an oliue colour and are farre whiter 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 because of the sun which shineth hotte vpon their bodies The agilitie of the women is so great that they can swinâ—ne ouer the greate riuers bearing their children vppon one of their armes They climbe vp also very nimbly vppon the highest trees in the Countrey Beholde in briefe the description of the Countrey with the nature and customes of the inhabitantes which I was verie willing to write before I entred anie further into the discourse of my historie to the end that the Readers might the better be prepared to vnderstand that which I meane hereafter to entreate of MY Lord Admiral of Chastillion a noble man more destrous of the publike than of his priuate benefite vnderstanding the pleasure of the king his prince which was to discouer new straÌ„ge countries caused vessels fitte for this purpose to bee made readie with all diligence and men to be leuied meet for such an enterprise Among whom he chose Captaine Iohn Ribault a man in truth expert in Sea causes which hauing receiued his charge set himself to Sea the yeere 1561. the eighteenth of Februarie accompanied onelie with two of the kinges shippes but so well furnished with Gentlemen of whose number I my selfe was one and with olde Souldiers that he had meanes to aâ—chieue some notable thing and worthy of eternall memorie Hauing therefore sayled two monethes neuer holding the vsuall course of the Spaniardes he arriued in Florida landing neere a Cape or Promontorie which is no high lande because the coste is all flatte but onelie rising by reason of the high woods which at his arriuall he called Cape François in honour of our Fraunce This Cape is distant from the equator about 30. degrees Coasting from this place towardes the North he discouered a very fayre and great riuer which gaue him occasion to cast anker that he 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 shore but straight he perceiued many Indians men and women which came of purpose to that place to receiue the Frenchmen with all gentleues amity as they wel declared by the Oration which their king made and the presents of Chamoys skins wherwith he honored our captaine which the day following caused a piller of hard stone to be planted within the saide riuer and not farre from the mouth of the same vppon a little sandie knappe in which Piller the armes of Fraunce were carued and engraued This being done he imbarked himself again to the end alwaies to discouer the cost toward the North which was his chief desire After he had sayled a certain time he crossed ouer to the other side of the riuer and then in the presence of certaine Indians which of purpose did attende him hee commaunded his men to make their praiers to giue thankes to GOD for that of his grace he had conducted the French nation into these straunge places without anye perill or daunger at all The prayers being ended the Indians which were very attentiue to harken vnto them thinking in my iudgement that we worshipped the sunne because wee alwayes had our eyes lifted vp towarde heauen rose all vp and came to salute the Captaine Iohn Ribault promising to shewe him their king which rose not vp as they did but remayned still sitting vppon 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 he coulde not vnderstand his language and much lesse his meaning The king gaue our Captain at his departure a plume or fan of Egrepthes feathers died in red and a basket made of palm boughes after the Indian fashion and wrote verye artificially with a great skinne paynted and drawne throughout with the Pictures of diuers wilde beastes so liuely drawen and portraide that nothing lacked but life The Captain to shew himself not vnthankful gaue him pretie tinne braselets a cutting hook a looking glasse certaine kniues wherevpoÌ„ the king shewed himselfe to bee 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 he commaunded that with all diligence they should take fishe for vs which they did with all speede For being entred into their parkes or inclosures made of reedes and framed in the fashion of a labyrinth or maise they loaded vs with troutes greate mullets plaise turbuts and marueilous store of other sortes of fishes altogether different from ours This done wee entered into our Barkes and went towarde the other shore But before we came to the shore wee were saluted with a number of other Indians which entring into the water to their armepittes brought vs manie little baskets full of maise and goodlie Mulberies both redde and white Others offered them selues to beare vs on shore where being landed we perceiued their king sitting vpon a place dressed with boughes and vnder a litle arbour of Cedars Bay trees somwhat distant from the waters side He was accompanied with two of his sonnes which were eâ—ceeding faire and strong with a troupe of Indians who had all their bowes quiuers ful of arrowes in marueilous good order His 2. sonnes receiued our Captaine very graciously but the king their father representing I wâ—tte not what kind of grauitie did nothing but shake his head a little
calling the Forte by the name of Charles Forte and the Riuer by the name of Chenonceau The next day wee determined to depart from this place being as well contented as was possible that wee had so happily ended our businesse with good hope if occasion would permitte to discouer perfectely the Riuer of Iordan For this cause we hoysed our sayles about ten of the clocke in the morning after wee were ready to depart Captaine Ribault commaunded to shoote of our Ordinance to giue a farewell vnto our Frenchmen which fayled not to doe the like on their parte This being done wee sayled towarde the North and then wee named this Riuer Porte Royall because of the largenesse excellent fayrenesse of the same After that wee had sayled about fifteene leagues from thence wee espied a Riuer wherevppon we sent our Piunesse thether to discouer it At their returne they brought vs word that they found not past halfe a fathome water in the mouth thereof Which when wee vnderstood without dooing any thinge else wee continued our way and called it the Base or Shallowe Riuer As wee still went on sounding we founde not past fiue or sixe fathome water although wee were sixe good leagues from the Shore at length wee found not past three fathoms which gaue vs occasion greatly to muse And without making any farther way we stroke our sayles partely because wee wanted water and partly because the night approched during which time Captayne Iohn Ribault bethought with himselfe whether it were best for him to passe any farther because of the eminent daungers which euery houre wee sawe before our eyes or whether hee should content himselfe with that which hee had certaynely discouered and also left men to inhabite the Countrey Being not able for that time to resolue with himselfe he referred it ouer vntill the next day The morning being come he proposed to all the company what was best to bee done to the end that with good aduisement euery man might deliuer his opinion Some made aunsweare that according to their iudgement hee had occasion fully to content himselfe considering that hee cold doe no more laying before his eyes that he had discouered more in sixe weekes then the Spaniardes had done in two yeeres in the conquestes of their new Spaine and that he should doe the king very great seruice if he did bring him newes in so short a time of his happie discouerie Other shewed vnto him the losse spoyle of his victualles and on the other side the inconuenience that might happen by the shallow water that they found continually along the cost which things being well and at large debated we resolued to leaue the cost forsaking the North to take our way toward the Easte which is the right way and course for our Fraunce where we happily arived the twenteth day of Iuly the yeere a thousand fiue hundred sixtie and one The state and condition of those which were left behinde in Charles Forte OUr men after our departure neuer rested but night and day did fortifie themselues being in good hope that after their fort was finished they would beginne to discouer farther vp within the Riuer It happened one day as certayne of them were in cutting of rootes in the Coppises that they espyed on the sodayne an Indian that huâ—ted the Deere which finding himselfe so neere vpon them was much dismayed but our men began to draw neere vnto him and to vse him so courteously that he became assured and followed them to Charles Fort where euery man sought to do him pleasure Captayne Albert was very ioyfull of his comming which after he had giuen him a shert and some other trifles hee asked him of his dwelliug the Indian answered him that it was farther vp within the Riuer and that he was vassel of king Audusta he also shewed him with his hand the limites of his habitation After much other talke the Indian desired leaue to departe because it drewe toward night which Captayne Albert graunted him very willingly Certayne dayes after the Captayne determined to sayle toward Audusta where being ariued by reason of the honest intertaynment which he had giuen to the Indian he was so courteously receiued that the king talked with him of nothing else but of the desire which he had to become his friend giuing him besides to vnderstand that he being his friend and allie he should haue the amitie of foure other kings which in might and authoritie were able to doe much for his sake Besides all this in his necessitie they might be able to succour him with victualles One of these kings was called Mayon another Hoya the third Touppa and the fourth Stalame He tolde him moreouer that they woulde bee very glad when they shoulde vnderstand the newes of his comming and therefore he prayed him to vouchsafe to visit them The Captayne willingly consented vnto him for the desire that he had to purchase friendes in that place Therefore they departed the next day very early in the morning and first ariued at the house of king Touppa and afterward went vnto the other kings houses except the house of king Stalame He receiued of eche of them all the amiable curtesies that might be they shewed themselues to be as affectioned friendes vnto him as was possible and offered vnto him a thousand small presents After that he had remained by the space of certayne dayes with these strange kinges he determined to take his leaue and being come back to the house of Audusta he coÌ„maunded al his men to goe abord of their Pinnesse for he was minded to goe toward the countries of king Stalame which dwelt towarde the North the distance of fifteene great leagues from Charles Fort. Therefore as they sayled vp the riuer they entred into a great Courrant which they followed so far till they came at the last to the house of Stalame which brought him into his lodging where he sought to make them the best cheere he colde deuise He presented immediately vnto Captayne Albert his bow arrowes which is a signe and confirmation of aliance betweene them He presented him also with Chamoys skins The Captaine seing the best parte of the day was nowe past tooke his leaue of king Stalame to returne to Charles Fort where hee ariued the day following By this time the friendship was growne so great between our men king Audusta that in a maner all things were commen betweene him them in such sorte that this good Indian king did nothing of importance but he called our men thereunto For when the time drew neere of the celebrating their feastes of Toya which are ceremonies most strange to recite hee sent Ambassadours vnto our menne to request them on his behalfe to be there present Whereunto they agreed most willingly for the desire that they had to vnderstand what this might be They embarked themselues therefore and sayled
was couered with white Couerlettes embroydered with deuises of verye wittie and fine workemanshippe and fringed round about with a Fringe dyed in the coulour of Skarlate They aduertised the kinge by one of the guides which they brought with them howe that hauing heard of his greate liberalitie they had put to the Sea to come to beseech him to succour them with victuals in their great want and necessitie and that in so doing he should binde them all hereafter to remaine his faithfull friendes and loyall defenders against all his enemies This good Indian assoone readye to doe them pleasure as they were to demaund it commaunded his subiectes that they should fill our Pinnesse with mil and beanes Afterward he caused them to bring him sixe pieces of his tapistry made like little couerlets and gaue them to our men with so liberall a minde as they easily perceyued the desire which he had to become their friend In recompence of all these giftes our men gaue him two cutting hookes and certaine other trisses wherewith he helde himself greatly satisfied This being done our men took their leaue of the king which for their farewell sayd nothing else but that they should returne if they wanted victuals and that they might assure themselues of him that they should neuer want any thing that was in his power Wherefore they embarked themselues and sailed towards Charlesfort which from this place might be some fiue and twenty leagues distant But as our men thought theÌ„selues at their ease and free from the dangers whereinto they had exposed themselues night and day in gathering together of victuals here there Loe euen as they were asleepe the fire caught in their lodgings with such furie being increased by the wind that the great roome that was built for them before our mens departure was consumed in an instant without being able to saue any thing sauing a very little of their munition Whervpon our men being farre from all succours found themselues in such extremitie that without the ayde of almighty God the onely searcher of the heartes and thoughtes of men which neuer forsaketh those that seeke him in their afflictions they had byn quite and clean out of all hope For the next day betimes in the morning the king Audusta and king Maccou came thither accoÌ„panied w t a very good coÌ„panie of Indians which knowing the misfortune were very sory for it And then they vttered vnto their subiects the speedy diligence which they were to vse in building another house shewing vnto them that the Frenchmen were their louing friendes and that they had made it euident vnto them by the giftes and presents which they had receiued protesting that whosoeuer put not his helping hâ—d vnto the work withal his might shoulde bee esteemed as vnprofitable and as one that had no good part in him which the Sauages feare aboue all thinges This was the occasion that euerie man beganne to endeuour himselfe in such sorte that in lesse than twelue houres they had begun and finished a house which was very neere as great as the former Which being ended they returned home fully contented with a fewe cutting hookes and hatcâ—ets which they receiued of our men Within a small while after this mischance their victuals began to waxe short and after our men had taken good deliberation thought and bethought them selues againe they founde that there was no better way for them then to returne agayne vnto King Ouadé and Couexis his brother Wherefore they resolued to send thither some of their companie the next day following which with an Indian Canoa sayled vp into the countrey about tenne leagues afterwarde they founde a very fayre and great riuer of fresh water which they fayled not to search out they found therin a great number of Crocodils which in greatnesse passe those of the riuer Nilus moreouer all along the bankes thereof there growe mighty high Cypresses After they had stayed a small while in this place they purposed to followe their iourney helping themselues so well with the tides that without putting themselues in danger of the continuall perill of the Sea they came into the Countrey of Ouadé of whom they were most curteously receyued They aduertised him of the occasion wherefore they came againe to visite him and tolde him of the mischance which happened vnto them since their last voyage howe they had not onelie lost their housholde stuffe by casualtie of fire but also their victuals which hee had giuen them so bountifully that for this cause they were so bolde as to come once againe vnto him to beseech him to vouchsafe to succour them in such neede and necessitie After that the king had vnderstood their case he sent messengers vnto his brother Couexis to request him vppon his behalfe to sende him some of his mill and beanes which thing he did and the next day early in the morning they were come againe with victualles which the king caused to be borne into their Canoa Our men would haue taken their leaue of him finding themselues more than satisfied with this liberalitie But for that day he woulde not suffer them but retayned them and sought to make them the best cheere he coulde deuise The next day very early in the morning hee tooke them with him to shewe them the place where his corne grewe and saide vnto them that they shoulde not want as long as all that mill did last Afterwarde he gaue them a certaine number of exceeding faire pearles and two stones of fine Christall and certayne siluer oare Our men forgot not to giue him certaine trifles in recompence of these presents and inquired of him the place whence the siluer â—are and the christall came Hee made them aunsweare that it came tenne great dayes iourney from his habitation vp within the countrey and that the Inhabitauntes of the Countrey did digge the same at the foote of certaine high mountaines where they founde of it in very good quantitie Being ioyfull to vnderstande so good newes and to haue come to the knowledge of that which they most desired they tooke their leaue of the king and returned by the same way by which they came Beholde therefore howe our men behaued themselues very well hitherto although they had endured many great mishaps But misfortune or rather the iust iudgement of God would haue it that those which coulde not be ouercome by fire nor water shoulde be vndone by their owne selues This is the common fashion of meÌ„ which cannot continue in one estate and had rather to ouerthrowe themselues than not to attempt some new thing daily We haue infinite examples in the auncient histories especially of the Romanes vnto which number this litle handful of men being far from their countrey and absent froÌ„ their countriemen haue also added this present example They entred therfore into partialities and dissentions which began about a souldier named Guernache which was a
was set vp we found the same crowned with crownes of Bay at the foote therof many litle baskets ful of Myl which they call in their language Tapaga Tapola Then when they came thither they kissed the same w t great reuerēce besought vs to do the like which we would not deny thē to y e end we might draw them to be more in frendship with vs. This done y e Paracoussy tooke me by the hand as if he had desire to make me vnderstand some great secrete and by signes shewed me very well vp within the riuer the limits of his dominion said that he was called Paracussy Satorioua which is as much as king Satourioua His children haue the selfe same title of Paracoussy The eldest is named Athore a man I dare say perfect in beautie wisdom and honest sobrietie shewing by his modest grauitie that he deserueth the name which he beareth besides that he is gentle and tractable After we we had soiourned a certayne space with them the Paracoussy prayed one of his sonnes to present vnto me a wedge of siluer which hee did and that with a good will in recompence whereof I gaue him a cutting hooke some other better present wherewith he seemed to be very well pleased Afterward we tooke our leaue of them because the night approached and then returned to lodge in our ships Being allured with this good entertainment I fayled not the next day to embarke my selfe agayne with my Lieuetenaunt Ottigni and a number of souldiers to returne toward the Paracoussy of the Riuer of May which of purpose wayted for vs in the same place where the day before we conferred with him We found him vnder the shadow of an Arbour accompanied with fourescore Indians at the least and apparelled at that time after the Indian fashion to witte with a great Hartes skin dressed like Chamoys and painted with deuises of strang and diuers colours but of so liuely a portrature and representing antiquitie with rules so iustly compassed that there is no painter so exquisite that could finde fault therewith the naturall disposition of this straunge people is so perfect and well guided that without any ayde and fauour of artes they are able by the helpe of nature onelie to content the eye of artizans yea euen of those which by their industrie are able to aspire vnto thinges most absolute Then I aduertised Paracoussy Satourioua that my desire was to discouer farther vp into the riuer but that this shoulde bee with such diligence that I would come againe vnto him very speedily wherwith he was content promising to stay for me in the place where hee was and for an earnest of his promise he offered me his goodly skinne which I refused then and promised to receiue it of him at my returne For my part I gaue him certaine small trifles to the intent to retayne him in our frendship Departing from thence I had not sayled three leagues vp the riuer stil being followed by y e Indians which costed me along the riuer crying still Amy Amy that is to say friend friend but I discouered an hill of meane height neere which I went on land hard by the fields that were sowed with mil at one corner whereof there was an house builte for their lodging which keepe and garde the mill for there are such numbers of Cornishe thoughts in this countrey which continually deuour and spoile the mill that the Indians are constrained to keep watch it otherwise they should be deceaued of their haruest I rested my selfe in this place for certayne howers commanded Monsur De Otignie and my sergeant to enter into the woods to search out the dwellings of the Indians where after they had gone a whyle they came vnto a Marish of Reeds where finding their way to be stopped they rested vnder the shadow of a migtie Bay tree to refresh themselues a litle and to resolue which way to take Then they discouered as it were on the sodaine fiue Indians halfe hidden in the woods which seemed somewhat to distrust our men vntill they said vnto them in y ◠Indian language Antipola Bonassou to the end that vnderstanding their speech they might come vnto vs more boldly which they did incontinently But because they sawe that the foure that went last bare vp the traine of the skin wherewith hee that went foremost was apparelled our men imagined that the foremost must needs be some man of greater qualitie then the rest seeing that withall they called him Paracoussy Paracoussy wherefore some of our companie went towardes him and vsing him courteouslie shewed him Monsur De Ottigny their lieuetenāt for whom they had made an arbour with Bay and Palme boughes after y ◠Indiā fashiō to y e end y ◠by such signes y ◠sauages might think y t the Frēchmen had cōpanied w t such as they at other times The Indiā Paracoussy drew neer to y ◠Frēch begā to make him a long oratiō which tended to no other end but y ◠he besought y ◠Frēchmen very earnestly to come see his dwelling his parents which they graunted him straight for pledge of better amity hee gaue vnto lieuetenant Ottigni the very skinne that he was clad withall Then he tooke him by the hande leading him right toward the marishes ouer which the Paracoussy Monsieur Ottigni and certaine other of our men were borne vpon the Indians shoulders and the rest which could not passe because of the mire and reedes went through the woods and followed stil a narrow path which led them forth vntil they came vnto the Paracoussyes dwelling out of which there came about fiftie Indians to receiue our men gallantly and to feast them after their manner After which they brought at their entraunce a great vessell of earth made after a strange fashion full of fountaine water cleere and very excellent This vessel was borne by an Indian and there was another younger which bare of this water in another little vessell of wood and presented thereof to euery one to drinke obseruing in doing the same a certaine order and reuerence which hee made to each of them to whom he gaue drinke Our thirst well quenched by this meane and our men being sufficiently refreshed the Paracoussy brought them to his fathers lodging one of the oldest men that liued on the earth Our men regarding his age began to make much of him vsing this speech Amy Amy that is to say friend friende whereat y ◠old fier shewed himselfe very glad Afterwarde they questioned with him concerning the course of his age whervnto he made answeare shewing y ◠he was the first liuing originall frō whence 5. generations were descēded as he shewed vnto thē by another old mā that sate directly ouer against him which far exceeded him in age And this man was his father which seemed to be rather a dead carcasse then a liuing body For he
to stay with him that night in his house or lodging affirming that no greater happinesse could come vnto him then our long aboad which he desired to recompence with a thousand presents Neuerthelesse we cold not graunt him this poynt but tooke our leaue of him to returne to our ships Where soone after I caused al my company to be assembled with the maisters and Pilots of my shippes to consult together of the place whereof we should make choyse to plant our habitation First I let them vnderstand how none of them were ignorant that the parte which was towarde the Cape of Florida was altogether a marish Countrey and therefore vnprofitable for our inhabitation A thing which cold yeeld neither profit to the king nor any contentment or pleasure to vs if peraduenture we would inhabite there On the other side if we passed farther towarde the North to seeke out Port Royall it would bee neither verye profitable nor conuenient at the least if wee would giue credit to the reporte of them which remayned there a long time although the Hauen were one of the fayrest of the West Indies but that in this case the question was not so much of the beautie of the place as of thinges necessary to sustayne life And that at our first inhabiting it was muche more needefull for vs to plant in places plentifull of victualle then in goodly Hauens fayre deepe and pleasant to the vewe In consideration whereof that I was of opinion if it seemed good vnto them to seate our selues about the riuer of May seing also that in our first voyage we found the same onely among all the rest to abound in Maiz and corne besides the gold and siluer that was found there a thing that put me in hope of some happie discouery in time to come After that I had proposed these things euery one gaue his opinion thereof and in fiue all resolued namely those which had beene with me in the first voyage that it was expedient to seate themselues rather on the riuer of May then on any other vntill they might heare newes out of Fraunce This point thus being agreed vpon wee sayled toward the riuer and vsed such diligence that with the fauour of the windes we arriued there the morrow after about the breake of day which was on a Thurseday the 29. of the moneth of Iune Hauing cast Anker I embarked al my stuffe and the soldiers of my company to sayle right toward the opening of the riuer wherein we entred a good way vp and found a creake of a resonable vignesse which inuited vs to refresh our selues a little while we reposed our selues there Afterward we went on shore to seeke out a place plaine without trees which wee perceiued from the creeke But because we found it not very commodious for vs to inhabite there we determined to returne vnto the place which we had discouered before when we had sayled vp the Riuer This place is ioyning to a mountayne and it seemed vnto vs more fit and commodious to builde a fortresse then that where we were last Therefore we tooke our way towards the forests being guided therein by the young Paracoussy which had led vs before vnto his fathers lodging Afterward we found a large plaine couered with high pinetrees distant a little one from y e other vnder which we perceiued an infinite number of Stagges which braied amidst the plaine a thwarte the which we passed then we discouered a little hil adioyning vnto a great vale very greene and in forme flat wherein were the fayrest medowes of the world and grasse to feed cattell Moreouer it is inuironed with an infinite number of brooks of fresh water and high woods which make the vale more delectable to the eye After I had taken the vewe thereof at mine ease I named it at the request of our souldiers the valâ—â—of Laudonniere Thus we went forwarde Anon hauing gon a little forward wee met an Indian woman of tall stature which also was an Hermophrodite who came before vs with a great vessel full of cleere fountaine water wherwith she greatly refreshed vs. For we were exceeding fainte by reason of the ardent heate which molested vs as we passed through those high woods And I beleeue that without the succour of that Indian Hermaphrodite or rather if it had not been for the great desire which we had to make vs resolute of our selues we had taken vp our lodging all night in y e wood Being therfore refreshed by this meane we gathered our sprites together marching with a cheerefull courage we came to the place which wee had chosen to make our habitation in whereon at that instant neere the Riuers brinke we strowed a number of boughes leaues to take our rest on them the night following which we found exceeding sweete because of the payne which the day before we had taken in our trauell On the morrow about the breake of day I commaunded a trumpet to be sounded that being assembled we might giue God thankes for our fauorable and happie arriuall There we sange a Psalme of thanksgiuing vnto God beseeching him that it would please him of his grace to continue his accustomed goodnesse toward vs his poore seruants and ayde vs in al our enterprises that all might turne to his glorie the aduauncement of our king The prayers ended euery man began to take courage Afterward hauing measured out a piece of ground in forme of a triangle wee endeuored our selues of all sides some to bring earth some to cut Fagots and others to rayse and make the rampyre for there was not a man that had not either a shouel or cutting hook or hatchet aswel to make the ground plaine by cutting down the trees as for the building of the Fort which we did hasten with such cheerefulnesse that within few dayes the effect of our diligence was apparant In which meane space the Paracoussy Satourioua our neerest neighbour and on whose ground we built our fort came vsually accompanied with his two sonnes and a great number of Indians to offer to do vs al curtesie And I likewise for my part bestowed diuers of our trifles fraÌ„kly on him to thend he might know y e goodwil which we bare him therby make him more desirous of our frieÌ„dship in such sort y â— as y e dayes increased so our amity frieÌ„dship increased also After y t our fort was brought into forme I begaÌ„ to build a grange to retire my munition things necessary for y â— de fence of y â— fort praying y â— Paracoussy y t it would please him to commannd his subiects to make vs a couering of palme leaues this to thend y â— when that was done I might vnfreight my ships put vnder couerture those thinges that were in them Sodainely the Parracoussy commaunded in my presence all the Indians of his coÌ„pany to dresse the next day morning so
deseruing to be esteémed asmuch of vs all as if hee had saued all our liues Incontinent after his departure I spared no payne to hasten my men to make biscuits of the meale which hée had left mée and to hoope my Caske to take in water néedefull for the voyage A man may well thinke what diligence wée vsed in respect of the great desire wée had to depart wherein mée continued so well that the fiiftéenth day of August the biscuit the greatest part of our water and all the Souldyers stuffe was brought aborde so that from that daye forwarde wée dyd nothing but stay for good windes to driue vs into France which had fréed vs from an infinite number of mischiefes which afterwarde wée suffered if they had come as wée desired but it was not Gods good pleasure as shall appeare hereafter Being thus in a readynes to sette Sayle wée bethought our selues that it woulde doe well to bringe certayne men and women of the countrye into France to the ende that if thys voyage shoulde bee taken in hande agayne they might declare vnto their Kynges the greatnesse of our Kyng the excellencye of our Princes the goodnesse of our Countrye and the manner of liuyng of the Frenchmen and that they might also learne our language to serue our turnes thereby in tyme to come Wherein I tooke so good order that I had found meanes to bring away with me the goodlyest persons of all the Countrye if our intentions had succéeded ad I hoped they woulde haue done In the meane season the Kynges my neighbours came often to sée and visite mée which after that they vnderstoode that I woulde returne into France demaunded of mée whether I meant to returne agayne or no and whether it shoulde bée in short tyme. I signyfied vnto them that within tenne Moones so they call their Moneths I woulde visite them agayne with such force that I woulde bée able to make them Conquerours ouer all their enimies They prayed mée that I woulde leaue them my house that I woulde forbidde my Souldyers to beate downe the fort and their lodginges and that I woulde leaue them a boate to ayde them withall in their warre against their enemies Which I made as though I would graunt vnto them to the end I might alwaies remaine their friend vntil my last departure The end of the second voyage THE THIRD VOYAGE of the French men made by Captayne IOHN RIBAVLT vnto FLORIDA AS I was thus occupied in these conferences the winde and the tyde serued well to set soyle which was the eight and twentieth of August at which instant Captaine Vasseur which commaunded in one of my shippes and Captaine Verdier which was chiefe in the other now readye to goe foorth began to discrye certayne sayles at sea whereof they aduertised me with diligence whereupon I appointed to arme foorth a beat in good order to goe to descrye and know what they were I sent also to the centinels which I caused to be kept on a little knappe to cause certayne men to clymbe vp to the top of the highest trées the better to discouer them They discryed the great beate of the shippes which as yet they could not perfectly discerne which as farre as they could iudge seemed to chase my boat which by this tyme was passed the barre of the Ryuer so that wee coulde not possiblye iudge whether they were enemies which woulde haue carryed her away with them for it was to great a ken to iudge the truth therof UpoÌ„ this doubt I put my men in order in such aray as though they had béen enemies in déed I had great occasion to mistrust the same for my boat came vnto their shippe about two of the clocke in the afternoone and sent me no newes all that day long to put me out of doubt who they shoulde bee The next day in the morning about eight or nyne of the clocke I sawe seuen boates among which mine owne was one full of souldiers enter into the Ryuer hauyng euery man his harquebuse and moryon on hys head which marched all in battayle along the cliffes where my centinels were to whom they would make no kynd of aunswere notwithstanding all the demaundes that were made vnto them in so much as one of my soldyers was constrayned to bestowe a shotte at them without doing hurt neuerthelesse to any of them by reason of the distance betwéene hym and the boates The report hereof being made vnto me I placed ech of my men in his quarter with full deliberation to defend our selues if they had béene enemies as in truth wee thought them to haue béene lykewise I caused the two small field pieces which I had left mee to be trimmed in such sort as if in approching to the fort they had not cryed y â— it was Captayne Ribault I had not fayled to haue discharged the same vpon them Afterward I vnderstood that the cause why they entered in this manner procéeded of the false reportes which had béene made vnto my Lorde Admirall by those which were returned into France in the first ships For they had put in hys head that I playde the Lord and the Kyng and that I would hardly suffer that any other saue my selfe shoulde enter in thither to gouerne there Thus we sée how the good name of the most honest is oftentimes assayled by such as hauing no meanes to wyn themselues credyt by vertuous and laudable endeuours thinke by debasâ—ng of other mens vertues to augment the féeble force of their faint courage which neuerthelesse is one of the most notable daungers which may happen in a common-wealth and chieflye among men of warre which are placed in gouernement For it is very hard yea vtterly vnpossible that in gouerning of a company of men gathered out of diuers places and sundry Nations and namely such as we know them to bee in our warres it is I say vnpossible but there will be alwaies some of euill conditions harde to be ruled which easily conceaue an hatred against hym which by admonitions and light corrections endeuoureth to reduce them to the discypline of warre For they séeke nothing else but for a small occasion founded vpon a light pretext to found into the eares of great Lordes that which mischieuously they haue contriued against those whose execution of iustice is odious vnto them And albeit I will not place my selfe in the ranke of great and renowmed Captaines such as liued in times passed yet wee may iudge by their examples howe hurtfull backebyters haue béene vnto common-wealths I will onely take Alcibiades for witnes in the common-wealth of the Athenians which by this meane was cast into banishment whereupon his Citizens felt the smart of an infinite number of mischiefes insomuch as in the end they were constrained to call him home againe and acknowledge at length the fault they had committed in forgetting his good seruices rather beleeuing a false
necessarie hauing in them an hundred and fiftye Souldiers and fourescore chosen Mariners vnder Captaine Cazenoue his Lieutenant Francis Bourdelois Master ouer the Mariners He set foorth the two and twentieth of August 1567. And hauing endured contrary windes and stormes for a season at length hee arriued and went on shoare in the Isle of Cuba From thence he passed to the Cape of Saint Antony at the ende of the Isle of Cuba about two hundred leagues distant from Florida where the Captaine disclosed vnto them his intention which hitherto hee had concealed from them praying and exhorting them not to leaue him being so neére the enemie so well furnished in such a cause which they all sware vnto him and that with such courage that they would not stay the full Moone to passe the chanell of Bahama but speédily discouered Florida where the Spaniards saluted them with two Canons shotte from their fort supposing that they had beéne of their Nation and Gourgues saluted them againe to entertaine them in this errour that he might surprise them at more aduantage yet sailing by them and making as though he went to some other place vntill hee had sailed out of sight of the place so that about euening he landed fifteén leagues from the fort at the mouth of the Ryuer Tacata courou which the Frenchmen called Seine because they thought it to bee like Seine in France Afterward perceiuing the shoare to bee couered with Sauages with their bowes and arrowes besides the signe of peace and amitie which he made them from his ships he sent his Trumpettour to assure them that they were come thither for none other end but to renue the amitie and auncient league of the French with them The Trompettour did his message so well by reason he had beéne there before vnder Laudonniere that he brought backe from king Satourioua the greatest of al the other kings a kidde and other meat to refresh vs besides the offer of his friendship and amitie Afterward they retired daunsing in signe of ioy to aduertise all the kings Satouriouaes kinsmen to repair thither the next daye to make a league of amitye with the French men Whereupon in the meane space our generall went about to sound the chanel of the Riuer to bring in his shippes and the better to trafficke and deale with the sauages of whom the chiefe the next day in the morning presented themselues namely the great king Satourioua Tacatacourou Halmacanir Athore Haâ—paha Helmacapé Helicopilé Molloua others his kinsmeÌ„ allies with their accustomed weapons Then sent they to intreate the French Generall to come on shoare which hee caused his men to doe with their swords harquebusies which he made them leaue behind them in token of mutuall assuraunce leauing his men but their swordes onely after that the sauages complaining thereof had left and likewise sent away their weapons at the request of Gourgues This done Satourioua going to meéte him caused him to sitte on his right hand in a seate of woode of lentisque couered with mosse made of purpose like vnto his owne Then two of the eldest of the companye pulled vp the brambles and other weédes which were before them and after they had made the place very cleane they all sate round about them on the ground Afterwarde Gourgues beeing about to speake Satourioua preuented him declaring at large vnto him the incredible wronges and continuall outrages that all the sauages their wiues and children had receaued of the Spaniards since their comming into the country and massacring of the Frenchmen with their continuall desire if we would assist them throughly to reuenge so shamefull a treason aswell as their owne particular griefes for the firme good will they alwaies had borne vnto the Frenchmen Whereuppon Gourgues giuing them his faith and making a league betweéne them and him with an oath gaue them certaine presentes of daggers knyues looking glasses hatchets ringes belles and such other thinges trifles vnto vs but precious vnto these kinges which moreouer seéing his great liberalitie demaunded each one a shirt of him to weare onely on their festiuall daies and to bee buried in at their death Which things after that they had receaued and Satourioua had giuen in recompense to Captaine Gourgues two chaines of siluer graines which hung about his necke and each of the kinges certaine Deares skinnes dressed after their manner they retired themselues daunsing and very iocond with promise to keépe all thinges secrete and to bringe vnto the same place good companies of their subiects all well armed to be auenged throughly on the Spaniards In the meane space Gourgues hauing narrowly examined Peter de Bré borne in Newhauen which being but a young stripling escaped out of the fort into the woods while the Spaniards murdered the rest of the French and was afterward brought vp with Satourioua which at that time bestowed him on our Generall whose aduise stoode him in great steéde Whereupon he sent to discouer the fort and the estate of the eminies by certaine of his men being guided by Olotacara Satouriouaes Nephew which he had giuen him for this purpose and for assurance of Estamâ—es a gentleman of Cominges and others which he sent to discry the state of the enemies Moreouer he gaue him a sonne of his starke naked as all of them are his wife which he loued best of all the rest of eighteéne yeares olde apparelled with the mosse of treés which for threé daies space were in the ships vntill our men returned from discrying the state of the enemie and the kings had furnished their preparation at the rende-vous Their marching being concluded and the sauages rende-vous beeing appointed them beyonde the riuer Salinacani of our men called Somme they all dranke with great solemnity their drinke called Cassine made of the iuice of certaine hearbes as they are wont to doe when they goe to any place of daunger which hath such force that it taketh from them hunger thirst for foure twenty houres Gourgues was fain to make as though he dranke therof for company Afterwarde they lift vp their handes sware all that they would neuer forsake him Olotocara followed him with pike in hand Being all mette at the riuer of Sarauahi not without great trouble by reason of the raine and places full of water which they must neédes passe which hindered their passage they were distressed with famine finding nothing by the waye to eate their Barke of prouision beeing not arriued which was to come vnto him from the shippes the ouersight and charge whereof hee had left vnto Burdelois with the rest of the Mariners Now hee had learned that the Spaniards were foure hundred strong deuided into thrée forts builded and flanked and well fortified vpon the ryuer of May the great fort especially begun by the French and afterward repaired by them vppon the most dangerous and
principall landing place whereof two leagues lower and neérer towarde the Ryuers mouth they had made two smaller Fortes which were defended the Ryuer passing betweéne them with sixe score souldiers good store of artillerie and other munition which they had in the same From Saracary vnto these small forts was two leagues space which hee found very painefull because of the had waies and continuall raynes Afterward hee departed from the ryuer Cata couru with tenne shotte to viewe the first fort and to assault it the next daye in the morninge by the breake of daye which he coulde not doe because of the fowle weather and darknes of the nighte Kinge Helicopile seinge him oute of quiet in that he had failed of his purpose there assured him to guide him a more easie waye though it were farther aboute In somuche as leading him through the woods he brought him within sighte of the fort where hee discerned one quarter which was but begun to bee entrenched Thus after hee had sounded the small riuer that falleth downe thereby he stayed vntill tenne of the clocke in the morninge for an ebbe water that his men might passe â—uer there vnto a place where hee had seene a little groue betwene the riuer and the fort that he might not be seene to passe and set his souldiers in array causing them to fasteÌ„ their flasks to their Morions and to hold vp their swords and kaliuers in their hands for feare least y â— water which reached vp to their girdles should not wette them where they found such aboundance of great oysters shels which were so sharpe that many had their legs cut with them and many others lost their shoes Notwithstanding assoone as they were passed ouer with a French courage they prepared themselues to the assault on the sonday eue next after Easter day in April 1568. In so much that Gourgues to employ the ardent heat of this good affection gaue twenty shotte to his Lieutenant Cazenoue and tenne Mariners laden with pots and balles of wild fier to burne the gate and then hee assaulted the Fort on an other side after hee had made a short spéech vnto his men of the straunge treasons which the Spaniardes had plaide their companions But beeing discried as they came holding downe their heades within two hundred pases from the fort the Gunner being vpon the terrace of the fort after he had cryed Arme Arme these bee French men discharged twise vppon them a coluerine whereon the Armes of France were grauen which had béene taken from Laudonniere But as hee went about to charge it the third time Olotocara which had not learned to kéepe his ranke or rather mooued with rage lept on the platte forme and thrust him through the bodie with his pike and slewe him Whereupon Gourgues aduanced forward and after he had heard Cazenoue cry that the Spaniards which issued out armed at the crâ— of the alarme were fled hee drewe to that part and so hemmed them in betwéene him and his Lieutenant that of threéscore there escaped not a man sauing only fifteén reserued vnto the same death which they had put the French vnto The Spaniards of the other Fort in the meane while ceased not to play with their ordinance which much annoyed the assailants although to answere them they had by this placed and oftentimes pointed the foure pieces founde in the first fort Whereupon Gourgues beeing accompanied with fourescore shotte went abourd the barke which mette him there to good purpose to passe into the wood neér vnto the fort out of which he supposed the Spaniards woulde issue to saue themselues thorough the benefite of the woodes in the great fort which was not past one league distant from the same Afterwarde the Sauages not staying for the returne of the barke lept al into the water holding vp their bowes and arrowes in one hande and swymming with the other so that the Spaniards seéing both the shoars couered with so great a number of men thought to fleé towards the woods but being charged by the French and afterward repulsed by the sauages toward whom they would haue retired they were sooner then they would bereft of their liues To conclude they all there ended their daies sauing fifteéne of those which were reserued to be executed for example of others Whereupon Captaine Courgues hauing caused al that he found in the second fort to be transported vnto the first where he meant to strengthen himselfe to take resolution against the great fort the state whereof he did not vnderstande in fine a Sergeaunt of a band one of the prisoners assured him that they might bee there very neére threé hundred well furnished vnder a braue Gouernour which had fortified there attending farther succours Thus hauing obtained of him the platforme the height the fortifications and passages vnto it and hauing prepared eight good lathers and raised all the country against the Spaniarde that hee neither might haue newes nor succours nor retraicte on any side he determined to march forward In the meane while the Gouernour sent a Spaniard disguised like a Sauage to spie out the state of the French And though he were discouered by Olotocara yet he vsed all the cunning he coulde possibly to perswade them y â— he was one of the second fort out of which hauing escaped seéing none but sauages on euery side he hoped more as he said in the Frenchmens then in their mercy vnto whom he came to yeéld himselfe disguised like a sauage for feare least if he should haue béen knowen he shoulde haue beéne massacred by those Barbarians But the spie beeing brought face to face with the Sergeaunt of the band and conuicted to be one of the great fort was reserued vntill an other time after that he had assured Gourgues that the bruit was that he had two thousand Frenchmen with him for feare of whom the two hundred and threéscore Spaniardes which remained in the great fort were greatly astonied Whereupon Gourgues being resolued to set vpon them while they were thus amazed and leauing his standerd-bearer and a Captaine with fifteéne shotte to keépe the fort and the entrye of the riuer he caused the sauages to depart by night to lye in ambush within the woodes on both sides of the riuer then he departed in the morning leading the Sergeaunt and the spie fast bound along with him to shewe him that in deéde which they had onely made him vnderstand before in paynting As they marched Olotocara a resolute sauage which neuer left the Captaine saide vnto him that hee had serued him faithfully and done whatsoeuer he had commaunded him that he was assured to die in the conflict at the great fort wherein neuerthelesse hee woulde not faile though it were to saue his life but hee prayed him to giue that vnto his wife if he escaped not which he had meant to bestowe on him that sheé might bury the same with him