Romance of American history : as illustrated in the early events connected with the French settlement at Fort Carolina; the Spanish colony at St. Augustine, and the English plantation at Jamestown

Front matter

^*^3

SIR WALTER RALEIGH BETS WITH THE QUEEN.

CHAMBER'S CYCLOPAEDIA OF ENGLISH LITERATURE j

Chapter I. Page

Admiral de Coligny. — His Expedition. — John Ribault. — Discovers the River May. — Reception by the Indians. — Devotional Services. — Exchange of Presents. — Donation of Fish. — Search for the Jordan. — Rivers with French Names. — Fort Carolina erected. — Ribault returns. — The Colonists discontented. — They form a Conspiracy. — They kill their Commandant. — They build a Vessel. — Set out to return. — Horrors of the Passage. — Picked up at Sea. — Coligny not disheartened. — Roman Catholics and the Huguenots. — Religious Persecutions 19

Chapter II

Opinions respecting Florida. — Departure of Laudonniere. — Conduct of the Indians. — Dissensions. — Piracy. — Fort Carolina. — Welcome Visitors. — Kindnessof Sir John Hawkins Spanish Claims. —

Huguenots. — Religious Antipathies. — The Pirate Melendez. — His Agreement with the King. — Sets out in Pursuit of the French. —

Storm at Sea. — Melendez separates from liis Company. — Discovers a safe Harbor. — Its Name, and the Reason of it. — Melendez finds the French Fleet. — His cruel Message. — The French flee. — Are pursued unsuccessfully. — The oldest Town in the United States. . . 29

Chapter III

Eibault returns. — Fears. — Divided Counsels. — A great Tempest. — Spaniards attack the French. — Scenes of Carnage. — Unnecessary Cruelty. — Religious Ceremonies. — Deceptive Offers. — Captives murdered. — The Catholics spared. — Insulting Sentence. — Justification. — Royal Indifference. — De Gfourgues seeks Revenge. — Attacks the Spaniards. — Is successful. — Retaliatory Sentence. — The French relinquish Florida

Chapter IV

Catholic Priests. — Augustin Ruyz. — New Mexico explored. — Sir Humphrey Gilbert, — Visits Newfoundland. — Supposed Discovery of Silver. — Secret mining Operations. — A Vessel lost. — Severe Weather. — Sir Humphrey lost in the Squirrel. — Sir Walter Raleigh. — His Perseverance. — Wococon. — Interviews with the Natives. — Granganimeo. — His Court Etiquette. — Visit of Ceremony. — His Wife. — Their Dresses. — The Chief's Monopoly 46

Chapter V

Indian Prudence. — Method of making Canoes. — Character of Granganimeo. — Visit to Roanoke. — Indian Hospitality. — Female Kindness. — Character and Habits of the Natives. — English Timidity. — Gratitude. — Shipwrecked white Men. — Their fatal Adventure. —

Wonder of the Natives. — Their Weapons and Modes of Warfare. — The Secotanites. ~ A great Feast. — A dreadful Slaughter. — The English Captains return Home. — They take with them two Indians 58

Chapter VI

Glowing Accounts of the new Countries. — Origin of the Name Virginia. — Sir Walter Raleigh's Privileges. — Greenville's Expedition. — Touch at Porto Rico. — False Promises. — Fiery Retaliation. — Banquets. — Bull Hunt. — Bargaining. — Dangerous Sport. — Fine Fishing. — A Message to Wingina. — Exploring Expedition. — The stolen Cup. — Severe Revenge. — Granganimeo's last Visit. — Greenville returns. — Comparative Dates 67

Chapter VII

Explorations. — Description of the Country. — An intelligent Captive. — Pearls. — Menatonon. — Two Companies. — Assignation. — A marvellous River. — Pemissapan's Treachery. — Concealment of the Indians. — Critical Situation. — The Governor's Policy. — Firmness of the Company. — Dog Porridge. — Rumors of Gold. — Mining Operations. — Perseverance of the Company. — Lane's interesting Account. — Attack by the Indians. — They retreat to the Woods. — The perilous Return 76

Chapter VIII

New Plots. — The Colony in great Jeopardy. — Indian Funeral Customs. — Murders projected. — The Plot revealed. — The Watchword. — Pemissapan slain. — The Colony saved. — A Fleet. — Painful Suspense. — Relief. — Sir Francis Drake. — His Kindness. — Great Storm. — Its Effects. — The Colonists disheartened. — Drake takes them on Board. — Character of Lane. — Arrival of Supplies, but no Colony. — Their Return. — Arrival of Sir Richard Greenville. — His Surprise. — His Return. — He leaves fifteen Men. — He destroys Spanish Towns 80

Chapter IX

Indian Clothing. — Their Weapons. — Their Houses. — Mode of Warfare. — Their religious Opinions. — Stories about Resurrection from the Dead. — Astonishment at certain English Articles. — Their Opinions of the English. — Their religious Instruction. — Their singular Treatment of the Bible. — Requests for Prayers. — Strange Sickness. — How it was accounted for. — English thought to be Gods. — Invisible Bullets — Indian Uses of Tobacco. — Snuff for Fish. — Raleigh's Wager with the dueen. — A Man on Fire. — Permanence of Indian Customs 98

Chapter X

A new Colony. — An Obstinate Pilot. — Search for the Fifteen. — Condition of Roanoke. — Affecting Scene. — Repairs begun. — The Pilot's Designs defeated. — Death of Mr. George Howe by the Indians. — A welcome Reception. — A Badge of Friendship desired. — A formal Conference. — Fate of the Fifteen. — Attack of the Indians. — The English defetited. — False Promises. — A Midnight Excursion. — Indians surprised. — A fatal Mistake. — How it occurred. — Manteo blames the Indians. — Manteo christened. — First English Child born. — Virginia Dare 110

Chapter XI

Spanish Armada. — All England aroused. — Noble Speech of the Q,ueen. — Splendid Sight. — English Stratagem. — Signal Defeat. — The Armada destroyed. — White's Perseverance. — Success. — Disappointment. — Great Smoke, but no People. — Fatal Accident. — A musical Call. — No Response. — Significant Letters, Croatan. — Goods dug up. — Water wanted. — Severe Weather. — Victuals scarce. — Strange Decision. — The Colonists abandoned to their Fate. — A subsequent Tradition concerning them. — Its Uncertainty. — Present State of Roanoke 121

Chapter XII

The two Companies. — The obnoxious Charter. — Divine Providence controlling Nations. — Rev. Mr. Hunt. — His Troubles and Perseverance. — The Missionary Spirit. — Hot Springs. — Numerous Birds. — Captain John Smith. — His Popularity. — His Imprisonment. — The two Capes. — The Landing. — Attack of the Savages. — Their Repulse. — Oysters. — Flowers. — Strawberries. — Point Comfort. — The Sealed Box. — Anxiety to open it. — Its Contents. — The Officers of the Colony. — Explanations. — A Place for a Settlement 142

Chapter XIII

Smith unjustly ejected from the Council. — Building of Jamestown. — Wingfield's Indiscretion. — Romantic Residence of the Indian King. — Powhatan's Conduct. — Attack on Jamestown. — Prowling Indians. — Ambuscades. — Severe Toil. — Attempt to send Smith Home. — Captain Smith's Trial. — His honorable Acquittal. — President Wingfield convicted and sentenced. — Smith's Disinterestedness. — Good Influence of Mr. Hunt. — Smith admitted to the Council Board. — Singular Fact. — Interesting Coincidence 152

Chapter XIV

Quaint Language. — The President's Selfishness. — Trials of the Planters. — Frequent Deaths. — The President's Imbecility. — Smith's Influence. — His Example of Industiy, — Dwellings provided — Provisions scarce. — Smith searches the Country for Food. — Insulting Offers of the Savages. — Smith's Treatment of them. — Terrific Attack. — Peace and Provisions secured. — Bartering. — Smith censured. — Exploring Excursion. — Wastefulness of the Planters. — Wingfield's Plot. — Its Detection and Prevention. — Abundance of Game. — Smith examines the Chickahominy River. — He leaves his Boat, and takes to a Canoe 159

Chapter XV

Disobeying Orders. — Its painful Consequence. — Fate of two Canoe Men. — Indian Skill in Trailing. — A live Shield. — An Accident. — Smith captured. — His Policy. — Exhibits a Pocket Compass, — Gives a Lecture. — Great Astonishment. — Smith sentenced to die. — His Reprieve. — Triumphal Procession. — How Smith is fed. — He suffers from Cold. — Gratitude in an Indian. — Revenge. — Reward offered for Treason. — Mysterious Note. — Indians visit Jamestown. — Their Reception. — Effect of the Note. — Finding of Toys. — Smith publicly exhibited 169

Chapter XVI

Singular Costume. — Mysterious Ceremony. — Its Explanation. — Smith favored. — Visits Opitchapam. — Indian Beggars. — Apprehensions of Danger. — Powder planted. — Emperor Powhatan. — Indian Splendor. — Guards. — Their severe Discipline. — Subordinate Kings. — Indian Toilet. — The Emperor's Court. — The Consultation. — Smith's Sentence. — Wonderful Deliverance. — Pocahontas. — Executioners disappointed. — Smith a Toy Maker. — " The Chieftain's Daughter." — Female Kindness. — A sympathizing Brother 183

CHAPTER XVII. Smith released. — His Suspicions. — The Cannon and the Grindstone

Powder frightens. — Plot arrested The President imprisoned. —

Pocahontas again. — Her timely Supplies. — Smith regarded with Reverence. — His Prediction fulfilled. — Ceremonial Visit. — Newport frightened. — Powhatan's State. — Smith visits him fearlessly. — His Reception. — Newport gathers Courage. — Royal Shrewdness. — Newport cheated. — Smith's Indignation. — His successful Cunning. — The Biter bitten 195

Chapter XVIII

Value of blue Beads. — A Conflagration. — Mr. Hunt's Trials and Patience. — Gold Fever. — The Phoenix. — Turkeys and Swords. — Weapons stolen. — Smith's Decision. — Powhatan negotiates through Pocahontas. — She is successful. — Unreasonable Complaints. — Cedar against Gold. — Chesapeake Bay explored. — A noble Chief. —

Places named. — Sufler for Water — A Storm. — Limbo Shirt

Sails. — Wild Men. — Stratagem defeated. — Effects of Kindness. — Indian Merchants. — The Party discouraged. — Smith's Perseverance. — Treachery discovered. — Timely Supplies 206

Chapter XIX

Another Mineral Fever. — Frying Pan and Fishes. — Accident. — Stingray. — Smith's Grave dug, but not used. — A disguised Boat. — Smith elected Tresident. — Another Expedition. — A successful Artifice. — The Tockwoghs. — The acceptable Falsehood. — Great Joy. — A Visit from the Sasquesahanocks. — They worship Smith, and ofier him a Chieftaincy. — Treachery of the Rappahanocks. — Todkill's narrow Escape. — A novel Expedient. — More Deception. — Indians whipped into Peace. — A Cluster of Evils 221

Chapter XX

Smith installed Governor. — Newport returns. — Smith outvoted. — - Pocahontas. — Her Amusements for Smith. — Powhatan's Haughtiness. — Inappropriate Presents. — A Coronation not understood.— Stingy Reciprocity. — The Manakins found. — Their Exclusiveness. — Seeking Merchandise. — Novel Employment. — A queer Cure for Profanity. — Selfishness fatal to the general Good. — Newport dissatisfied. — Is glad to return to England. — Probably misrepresents the Colony 232

Chapter XXI

Trials. — Powhatan's Invitation. — Smith visits him. — Keeps Christmas. — Powhatan's Deception. — A villanous Plot. — Pocahontas defeats it. — She declines Rewards. — Distressing Calamity. — A Messenger to Smith. — His Life sought. — Pocahontas conceals and saves him. — A supposed Miracle. — Mysterious Explosion. — Ratcliffe and others slain. — Pocahontas saves a Boy. — Unparalleled Sufierings. — Large Numbers die. — The Town abandoned. — Lord Delaware arrives. — The Settlers return. — A Sermon. — Lord Delaware's Promptness and Energy. — The Colony revived 244

Chapter XXII

Pocahontas concealed. — Treacherous Japazaws. — His cunning Plot. — Pocahontas betrayed. — She becomes captive to Argall. — Copper

Kettle. — Powhatan's Policy. — A Truce Pocahontas and her

Brothers. — Messengers to Powhatan. — Are unsuccessful. — Pocahontas in Love. — She marries an Englishman. — Effects of her Marriage. — She is instructed in Religion. — Is converted. — Her different Names. — Stith's Testimony of her 263

Chapter XXIII

Pocahontas visits England. — Smith's Letter to the Queen.— He meets Pocahontas. — Her Coolness and Rebukes. — Smith's Apology. — Reply of Pocahontas. — Smith introduces her to the Nobility. — Pocahontas visits the King and dueen. — Her graceful Deportment. — She goes to various Places of Amusement. — Her Husband appointed Secretary. — Pocahontas dies. — Sorrow and Joy. — She leaves one Child. — Steukley's Treachery. — Her Child taken to his Uncle's. — The Descendants of Pocahontas. — John Randolph. — Story of Tomocomo 273

Chapter XXIV

Young Ladies imported. — Interesting Scene. — Long Courtships prevented. — Buying Wives. — Their Value in Tobacco. — Wise Arrangement. — Its desirable Effects. — Slaves introduced. — Increase of Plantations. — Deceptive Peace. — A dark Plot forming. — An

2* extensive Conspiracy. — A dreadful Massacre. — Barbarous Mutilations. —Jamestown saved. — Chance's Bisclosure. — Results of the Conspiracy 282

Chapter XXV

Effects of the Massacre. — A difficult Question. — Smith's Proposal. — Indian War. — Stringent Treatment. — A second Massacre. — Opechancanough a Prisoner. — He is murdered. — Border War. — The Indians conquered. — Dissolution of the London Company. — Baptism enjoined by LavA'. — Union of Church and State. — Quakers condemned. — How to judge the early Settlers. — Church-Wardens. — Laws concerning Marriage. — Concerning Shipmasters. — Whipping Posts and Ducking Stools. — The Sabbath. — Fast.— The two Colonies. — Closing Remark 294

Chapter I

Admiral de Colig'ny. — His Expedition. — John Ribault. — Discovers the River May. — Reception by the Indians. — Devotional Services. — Exchange of Presents. — Donation of Fish. — Search for the Jordan. — Rivers with French Names. — Fort Carolina erected. — Ribault returns. — The Colonists discontented. — The}' form a Conspiracy. — They kill their Commandant. — They build a Vessel. — Set out to return. — Horrors of the Passage. — Picked up at Sea. — Coligny not disheartened. — Roman Catholics and the Huguenots. — Religious Persecutions.

A NAME which occupies a conspicuous place in the history of the early settlements of North America is that of Admiral de Coligny, a distinguished French Protestant, with whom it had long been a favorite object to establish a colony in America, as a place of safe retreat for the Huguenots, as the French Protestants were then called, where they would be secure from the persecuting edicts of a fanatical government, and of a powerful ecclesiastical hierarchy. For the accomplishment of this desired object, an expedition was finally planned, the execution of which was committed to a courageous and experienced officer of Dieppe, whose name was John Ribault. Instead of the profligate inmates of prisons, with whom some previous attempts at forming settlements in North America had

20 CAPTAIN RIBAULT's VOYAGE.

been unsuccessfully made, he was accompanied hy some of the flower of the French nobility, and by soldiers of tried courage and good discipline.

Furnished with two ships, he safely crossed what was then the comparatively unknown Atlantic, and arrived upon the coast of America, near the thirtieth degree of north latitude. Whilst sailing along near the land, carefully observing the inequalities of the shore, he discovered in the month of May, 1562, the mouth of a river, which he called River of May — a name, however, which was not destined to be permanent, as it was afterwards supplanted by the " St. John's," which it still retains.

Ribault anchored at the mouth of this river for the purpose of making an examination of it. Early the next morning, a boat, well filled with men, left the ship for that purpose. As it approached the land, the men on board discovered large numbers of Indians of both sexes on the shore, who had come down to give these pale-faced strangers, who had visited them in their floating houses, a friendly reception. When they arrived within hearing, the chief of this people delivered a peaceful oration, and then made presents of chamois skins to the French captain.

On the following day. Captain Ribault planted a pillar of hard stone on a little swell of land near the mouth of the river ; and on this pillar he en-

A WELCOME RECEPTION. 21

graved the arms of France, as evidence that the French had taken possession of this country.

After saihng some distance farther up, he landed again, and in the presence of the natives, he caused his men to offer prayers and thanksgiving to Almighty God for his great kindness in conducting them to this new world without the occurrence of any injury.

After these devotional services, the Indians, who had been very attentive observers, rose up, and advanced with their friendly salutations towards Ribault, and offered to introduce him to their chief, who had not arisen with the rest, but remained still sitting upon a seat covered with the leaves of the bay and palm trees. Ribault accepted of their offer, approached the chief, took a seat by his side, and listened impatiently to a long address, not one word of which could he understand. At the close of this incomprehensible speech, the chief presented the French officer with a beautiful fan of heron's feathers, dyed red, a basket ingeniously made of the branches of the palm tree, and a large skin robe elegantly embroidered with the pictures of various kinds of wild beasts, and very likely of those which he had slain in the chase. Ribault, to show that he fully appreciated these acts of courtesy, gave him in return some tin bracelets, a looking glass, a cutting hook, and several knives.

22 DISCOVERY OF PORT ROYAL.

When the captain signified his intention to leave, the friendly chief professed much sorrow, and commanded his men to furnish the strangers with some fish. They immediately entered into their wears, which were enclosures made of reeds, for the taking of fish, and soon loaded the French with trouts, mullets, plaice, turbots, and various other unknown kinds.

After leaving these friendly natives, and passing farther along the coast, several other rivers were discovered, each of which received a French appellation, and generally after some river in France, as the Seine, the Loire, the Garonne, &-c. These names, like the May, were transient.

Whilst examining the coast in order to find the Combahee River, which was then called the Jordan, Ribault discovered a noble inlet, which he designated Port Royal — a name which it has never lost. Passing within this inlet, he landed on an island, where, by the formal erection of a monumental stone, on which was sculptured the French coat of arms, and with other appropriate ceremonies, he again took possession of the country in the name of the French king. On this island Ribault set his men to work, who, in the process of time, erected a fort, to which he gave the name of Fort Carolina, in honor of Charles IX. of France, Carolus being the Latin for Charles. This name was afterwards

FORT CAROLINA. 23

extended to the adjacent country, and is still retained by two of the states of the American Union. It is a circumstance worthy of special note, that the French succeeded in impressing a permanent name upon this portion of the continent a century prior to its occupation by the English.

After the erection of Fort Carolina, it became necessary for Ribault to return to France ; but being desirous to retain possession of the place until his return, he left a colony of twenty-six men for that purpose. Although these colonists were surrounded with groves of venerable trees, intermingled with the delicate drapery of the vine, and ornamented with a profusion of variegated flowers ; though Nature presented herself before them arrayed in her most attractive garb, filling the groves with the wild melody of unknown birds, and loading the air with spicy fragrance; and though the untutored savages — the native lords of the soil — were of a friendly disposition, yet they soon became discontented. After the departure of the vessels, and these twenty-six adventurers were left the sole civilized occupants of a vast continent, instead of adopting the policy which their lonely situation required, and merging all minor differences into a union for the general good, they allowed dissensions to creep in amongst them. A spirit of insubordination was manifested among the

24 CONSPIRACY AND MURDER.

soldiers, which the commandant endeavored to suppress by severe measures. The soldiers were indignant, and determined to be revenged. They formed a conspiracy, and took the commandant's life. Thus rebellion and murder were prominent characteristics in this early attempt to form a colony upon the shores of North America.

After the death of their officer, as supplies and reenforcements did not reach them, and their condition was daily becoming worse, they concluded to return home. To effect this earnestly-desired object was no easy task. Separated from their country by a wide waste of waters of three thousand miles in extent, destitute of vessels and of suitable materials for the construction of one adequate to their purpose, — to return must have seemed almost hopeless. But men on the borders of despair can accomplish wonders. Gathering together the best materials they could find, they constructed a rude brigantine, rigged it as well as they were able, put in a few stores, and embarked upon their perilous voyage. In a few hours, they were far out upon the unexplored deep. The land of their unhappy adventures gradually sunk as they receded from it, until it appeared like a long, low, black cloud resting upon the water of the distant horizon. Presently it disappeared entirely. Day after day they slowly ploughed their way across the

RETURN OF THE COLONISTS. 25

heaving billows, without apparently making any progress ; for they had no landmarks by which to be made sensible of advance. The same monotonous scene was around them at night on which they opened their eyes in the morning, whilst in the morning they seemed to be in the same spot where they were when the last rays of the setting sun bade them farewell ; as if they had anchored over night to guard against danger in the dark. They seemed to be in the centre of an immense dome, without the possibility of making any approach towards the circumference. Day after day, and week after week, their eyes were greeted in every direction by the same meeting of sky and water, and at the same distance from them. All tliis, however, was only in appearance. They were in reality making progress, though not very rapidly. A new calamity presented itself. Either from wrong calculations respecting the length of the voyage, or the amount of food the company would consume per day, or else from necessity, they did not put on board sufficient stores to last them during the voyage. They were obliged to be put upon short allowance, and even then were doomed to see their provisions grow smaller and smaller, until the last portion was consumed. Famine, with its attendant horrors, stared them in the face. In order to continue their existence, they were 3

26 PICKED UP AT SEA.

reduced to the terrific necessity of eating the flesh of one of the company ! It was a fearful expedient ; but men reduced to their extremity will resort to any measures to preserve existence.

Life is made up of contrasts. Light follows darkness, and smiles banish tears. One day, whilst they were musing upon the perils of their condition, and balancing the probabilities, favorable and unfavorable of their final deliverance, they saw indications of land. At the same time, a small white speck presented itself upon the distant horizon. It gradually increased, until they were satisfied that it was a vessel. It was a welcome sight, as it furnished them food for hope. All eyes were strained to watch its course. They steered their own vessel in the proper direction to meet it. For a time they were in suspense whether they were observed by the stranger, or whether he would pass on and leave them. Their feehngs were intense. To their great joy, they succeeded in arresting his attention, speaking with him, and relating their distress. They were at once taken on board and provided for, and thus, through the intervention of a kind Providence, they were saved from starvation ^nd from a watery grave. This vessel proved to be an English bark. Some of the men who were picked up were taken to England, and otliers ianded in France. Thus terminated the first at-

ROMANISTS AND HUGUENOTS. 27

tempt of the French to estabhsh a colony in what was then called Florida, near the south-eastern corner of the present South Carolina.

The Admiral de Coligny, notwithstanding the disastrous close of this attempt, was not disheartened. He projected another settlement, which, however, was doomed to experience a dreadful overthrow.

Before narrating the particulars of one of the most humiliating and tragic events which occurred in the early history of this country, it is necessary to state that a civil war, with all its attendant barbarities, had been prevailing in France between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. In 1563, it was determined by the French government to dismiss all magistrates from office who were tainted with the heretical opinions of the Huguenots, as the French Protestants were called, and to tolerate no religion but the Catholic. This was a resolution which, as the Huguenots were numerous and powerful, could not be executed without an appeal to the sword. Accordingly, both parties immediately betook themselves to arms. Pope Pius V., the head of the Roman Catholic church, interested himself in the war, and even sent an army from Italy in aid of the French Catholics, to whom he gave the cruel order, as they left him, to slay every Huguenot they should take, and give no quarter.

28 PERMANENT ANTIPATHY.

The Huguenots evinced a similar spirit, and also gave no quarter. It was a war in which not only were the natural malevolent passions called into violent exercise, but sectarian bigotry and religious frenzy added fuel to the flames. Each party regarded themselves as fighting against the enemies of true religion, and as rendering good service to the church in putting them to death.

Although in the course of the next year hostilities ceased, and peace was professedly established, yet the belligerent parties cherished a burning hatred towards each other. This mutual antipathy was not confined to the French. It was difiused wherever these parties existed. Huguenots and Catholics were every where the opponents of each other, whether they belonged to the same or to different nations. Tliis antipathy, as we shall presently see, crossed the Atlantic, and brought forth its dreadful fruits of blood and death upon the shores of the new world.

Chapter II

Opinions respecting' Florida. — Departure of Laudonniere. — Conduet of the Indians. — Dissensions. — Piracy. — Fort Carolina. — Welcome Visitors. — Kindness of Sir John Hawkins. — Spanish Claims. — Huguenots. — Religious Antipathies. — The Pirate Melendez. — His Agreement with the King. — Sets out in Pursuit of the French. — Storm at Sea. — Melendez separates from his Company. — Discovers a safe Harbor. — Its Name, and the Reason of it. — Melendez finds the French Fleet. — His cruel Message. — The French flee. — Are pursued unsuccessfully. — The oldest Town in the United States.

The civil war in France being arrested, the Admiral de Colignj resumed his efforts to establish a colony in some part of Florida. In addition to granting his royal permission, the French king furnished Coligny three vessels for his service, which were placed under the command of Laudonniere, a man of intelligence and force of character, and who had accompanied Ribault in his previous voyage.* As exaggerated statements had been made respecting the salubrious character of the climate of Florida, as it was known to abound luxuriantly in various kinds of vegetable productions, and as it was believed to be rich in the precious ores, it was no wise difficult to obtain emigrants in abundance. Men

* Bancroft. •

30 laudonniere's expedition.

panting for adventures, or thirsting for gold, or desiring a place of retreat from the liability of religious persecution, cheerfully presented themselves as ready to engage in the promising enterprise. As Coligny desired to obtain accurate information respecting the various objects which might be discovered in the far-off land, he engaged James Le Moyne, a skilful artist, to execute colored pictures of those which might be most deserving of attention.

The trio of ships containing the adventurers, with their stores, left France April 22, 1564, and on the 22d of June they arrived on the coast of Florida, having been sixty days upon the voyage. The commodious harbor of Port Royal being surrounded with too many painful associations to be attractive, Laudonniere passed by it in search of a more pleasing location for a settlement. After selectino^ the banks of the River of May, he landed, and, in company with his Huguenot brethren, commenced, with devotional services, the founding of a new colony. The Indians, instead of opposing their landing, received them with the cordiality of friends, and extended to them their unrefined but genuine hospitality. Notwithstanding the propitious circumstances under which the colony was commenced, it was not long before a dark cloud overshadowed its prospects. Although amongst the emigrants were men of good principles, yet there' were others entirely destitute

PIRATICAL EXPEDITION. 31

of integrity, who were anxious only for the rapid increase of wealth, irrespective of the means by which it might be obtained. A mutinous disposition was manifested, which the commandant found it difficult to quell. Great wastefulness was practised in the use of food, by which their stores were soon exhausted, and want began to stare them in the face. A party among them, composed of the most insubordinate and reckless class, took advantage of this circumstance to oblige Laudonniere to give them a written permit to embark for New Spain ; and then, seizing two vessels, they set sail upon a piratical expedition against the commerce of the Spaniards. Out upon the wide ocean they fell in with two or three vessels. So soon as they discerned their flag, and discovered that they were Spanish, they bore down upon them like an eagle darting upon its prey, and succeeded in making them prizes. They were not permitted, however, to rejoice in their success any great length of time. It was their experience, as it has been that of many others, that the triumphing of the wicked is short. They were themselves captured, when some of them were held as prisoners, others reduced to slavery, and a few, who made a successful attempt to escape, and returned to the colony, were there seized by Laudonniere, and sentenced to be executed.