Voyage of Ribald and Laudoniere.
At last the French following the foot-steps of the Spaniards, John Ribald and Rene Laudoniere having Sail’d several times to Florida, discover’d several Coasts; but their Men were often set upon by the Spaniards, and cut off.
The Expedition of Dominicus Gurgius.
Valiant Exploit of Gurgius.
Anno 1567. Dominicus Gurgius set Sail thither with three Ships, which carried two hundred Soldiers and eighty Sea-men; with which entring the River Tacatucouru he Landed, and found a Youth call’d Peter du Bre, who escap’d when the Spaniards cruelly massacred the French in the Garrison Carolina; after which du Bre ranging up and down, at last serv’d Saturiona, Governor of Florida; whom deserting, and now meeting with the French his Countrey-men, he brought several Casiques to joyn with them against the Spaniards, whom they drove out of three Forts, which were all by the Command of Gurgius dismanteled.
City Augustine.
Florida is call’d by the Natives, Irquasa. The Spaniards have built two Forts on the same, the one erected on the Promontory Helena, is Consecrated to the Apostle Matthew. The City and the Fort Augustine lies near the River May. Both City and Fort stand on a Hill, which is pleasant and well set with Trees. Between the Foreland is a deep and wide Channel, which washes the City and Fort; it is eight-square, at each corner there stands a round Tower, in which the Soldiers keep Guard; the Countrey is water’d by two Rivers, which gliding between the Main and the Foreland, are great Safeguards to the Fort. The City is almost square, onely against the Fort it is much closer built than in any other place, and divided into four Streets. The Church stands without of the City, and before it the Augustine Cloyster.
Constitution of the Floridans.