Florida unhappily discover’d.
Florida being upon the Continent of America, and so call’d by John Pontæus, Ribald’s Voyage. who landed there upon Palm-Sunday, though Sebastian Gaboto a Venetian, imploy’d The Garrison in Florida in great want. by Henry the Seventh King of England, landed there before, may well be Unheard-of Hunger. term’d the Europeans Bloody Stage, Pontæus being slain here: But Ferdinand Sotto exercis’d against the Inhabitants inhumane Cruelty five years together; yet at last died of a deep discontent, because he could not reach his Aims, having condemn’d so many Floridans fruitlesly to dig for Gold in the Mines. However, since that, Julian Sumanus and Peter Ahumada undertook the Work anew, but with the like bad Success. Anno 1545. one Lodowick Cancello, a Dominican, thought to effect great things with four of his Associates; but landing on Florida, was destroy’d by the Natives. But Gasper Coligni the Marshal, neither discourag’d by these miserable Proceedings, nor the former Treachery of Durande, prepar’d for a new Expedition thither; and accordingly John Ribald was fitted with two Ships from Diep, at the Charge of Charles the Ninth King of France, wherewith having sail’d thirty Degrees Northern Latitude, he came before the Promontory of Francisco, where he ran up into the Mouth of a wide River, to which he gave the denomination of Dolphin, upon whose Banks were whole Mulberry-Woods, which nourish’d Silk-Worms in strange abundance. From hence he sail’d by the Wolves Head (a Point so call’d, because great numbers of Wolves breed there) and leaving the Cedar-Island, landed on Florida, where he built a Triangular Fort, and having furnish’d it with Men, Guns, and Provisions, sail’d back for more Supplies to France; but coming thither, found all things in disorder, occasion’d by a War amongst themselves; so that the French which guarded and dwelt in the Fort, waited in vain for Relief, and their Provisions growing scant, thought it fittest and their best way to build a Vessel, and sail from thence; which having effected, and being gone about the third part of their Voyage there hapned such a Calm for twenty Days, that they made not the least way, which drove them to so great extremity, their Provisions being spent, that they drank their own Urine, and fed upon their old Shoes, which also in a short time failing, they agreed amongst themselves to kill and eat one of their Sea-men, call’d Henry Lacher, on whose Flesh they liv’d some days; but being again driven to the greatest want imaginable, in this extremity of Desparation, their Condition being altogether hopeless, an English Frigat discovering them, and observing by their manner of Sailing that they were in some great want, drawing near, sent their Long-boat aboard, and found them so weak, that they were not able to handle their Tack; whereupon generously taking pity of them, they reliev’d them, and conducted them to the Coast of England, and then brought them to Queen Elizabeth, who had formerly design’d to rig a Fleet for Florida.
Laudonier’s Voyage.
Remarkable difference in the French Fleet.
Mean while, no News having been heard of the foremention’d French Plantation in Brasile, and Coligni’s Difference with the King being decided, he prevail’d so much, that Renatus Laudonier should with three Ships sail to relieve the Garrison in the late deserted Fort. Laudonier landing in Nova Francia, found a Stone with a French Inscription, plac’d on the Shore by Ribald, and hung full of Laurel Garlands: Then he visited the King Saturiona, whose Son Atorcus had several Children by his own Mother, according to a Salvage Custom observ’d in that Countrey. Whilst they stay’d here, a Fiery Meteor appear’d in the Sky, with such fervor, that some Rivers boyl’d with the heat of it, and the Fish parboyl’d, died; nay more, it scorch’d all the Plants far and near: The Natives ascrib’d this Plague to the French Cannons, by which means they stood in great fear of the French, who might have done great things had not they differ’d amongst themselves; For a Sea-man nam’d Rubel Patracon, pretending to have skill in Necromancy, would undertake to shew the Places where the Gold and Silver Mines were, which the rest of the Sea-men believing, rebell’d against Laudonier, and though sick, imprison’d him, forcing him to sign a Writing to this effect, That the two Ships, of which the Rebels made Vassar and Trincant Commanders, should with his leave and permittance sail to New Spain for Provisions. Whilst they were preparing for their Voyage, Rupiferrir having been sent to the King Utina, came back with many rich Presents, and withal brought Information of the Gold and Silver Mynes Apalatica; but Vassar and Trincant taking no notice thereof, set forth, and took a Spanish Carvel, richly laden before Havana, whose Commander they agreed to release on the payment of a great Ransom; but the Masters Son being sent ashore to fetch the Money which they had agreed for, in stead thereof, made his Fathers Mischance known; whereupon two great Frigats and a Galley were the next Morning very early sent to attaque the French, between whom was a sharp Encounter; but in a short time the two Pyrats were sunk, and the Prisoners sold for Slaves, excepting a few that escap’d in their Long-boat.
Great cruelty of the Spaniards against the French.
Gurgie’s valiant Exploits against the Spaniards.
In this interim Laudonier receiving no Supply from France, was brought to great extremity; for the Rebels had carried great part of his Store with them. In these straights he was forc’d by those that staid with him, contrary to the Articles of Peace lately made with King Utina, to take him Prisoner, in hopes that for his Liberty he would procure them some Provisions; but the Inhabitants incens’d at the baseness of so unexpected an Action, could not be wrought upon by any means to give them Relief; but grown more perverse than before, appointed a general Meeting to elect another King; so that out of all hopes, they utterly gave themselves over for lost. In this desperate condition, John Haukins, a great Sea-Captain, came thither with four English Ships, who pitying their misery, furnish’d them with Necessaries, and having onely four Vessels, lent them one, because Laudonier was at that time too weak to endure the Sea; but not long after recovering strength, and all things ready to set Sail, Ribald came to an Anchor before Charles-Fort, with seven Ships from Diep: Within few days after, the Spanish Admiral Peter Melandez arriv’d with eight Frigats, whereof the French having Intelligence, cut their Cables, and stood out to Sea, whom the Spaniards chac’d, but could not reach; whereupon leaving them, they landed in the Mouth of the River Dolphin, where by help of the Moorish Slaves they began to intrench themselves; of which Ribald having notice, immediately sail’d thither, at least to disturb, if not absolutely drive them from their Work; but surpriz’d in the way by a great Storm, lost most of his Fleet, ingag’d among the Rocks; yet the Men were most of them sav’d. In this Storm the Spaniards also suffer’d great damage, yet made an Advantage of the Frenchmens Misfortune, marching with all speed to Charles-Fort, in which were onely two hundred weak Men, Ribald having taken the primest Soldiers along with him. In the Morning before Sun-rise the Spaniards made a fierce Assault, and in a short time became Masters of the Place, which Laudonier seeing, fled in a Boat; others leaping from the Walls into the Moat, sav’d themselves by swimming: Whoever fell into the Victors Hands, was without mercy slain; nay, such was the Spaniards inveterate malice to the French, that wanting living Bodies, they exercis’d their Cruelty upon the dead, pulling out their Eyes, and cutting off their Members, carrying them in Triumph on the Points of their Swords. In the interim, the Storm ceasing, Ribald approach’d Charles-Fort, with his shatter’d Fleet, but was so amaz’d when he saw the Spanish Flag set upon the Walls, and Vallemond marching towards him with a Squadron of Spaniards, that although a River lay between them, yet he presently came to a Treaty, and deliver’d up all his Men, being above four hundred, upon promise of good Quarter; but the Spaniards in stead of keeping their Agreement, bound them, leading them all to the Castle, where, both against their Articles, and the Law of Arms, they massacred them, and burnt their Bodies; but Ribald being quarter’d, they fix’d his Limbs upon Poles about the Walls, sending his Head to Sevil. When Charles the Ninth, King of France, receiv’d notice hereof, he was not in the least concern’d at the Spanish Cruelty us’d to his Subjects, out of a particular hatred to Coligni, the first Promoter of the Voyage. But though the French Crown so little regarded the inhumane Usage committed by the Spaniards in Charles-Fort, yet Dominicus Gurgie shew’d himself so highly concern’d thereat, that turning all his Goods into Money, he levied two hundred Soldiers, and fourscore Sea-men, which he put aboard three small Ships, pretending that he would onely touch at Brasile; but sailing beyond Cuba, he stood directly for Florida, where after his Landing he was kindly receiv’d by Saturiona the King, who complaining much against the Spaniards Oppressions, sent to joyn with him his Kinsman Olotocara, having the Command of a great Army.
Is ungratefully rewarded.
The Spaniards by this time had not onely strengthned Charles-Fort, but also rais’d two others on each side of the River Mayo, in which three Holds lay Garrison’d above four hundred choice Soldiers. Those in the new Forts made little resistance; but quitting the same, and flying into a neighboring Wood, fell into an Ambuscade of Indians, who slew thirty of them, and preserv’d ninety for a Publick Execution. Thus they march’d on victoriously to Charles-Fort, where by the way sixty Spaniards sallying out, were every one cut off, which much facilitated the Frenchmens Work. The Governor Melandez, seeing a certain ruine attend him, fled into the Woods; but met there by the Floridans, return’d to the French, of whom he begg’d Life for himself, and some of his People: Yet Gurgie deaf to all intreaties, would hear nothing, but pressing on, took them all Prisoners, and as a just Reward of their Cruelty to his Countrey-men, hang’d them on the next Trees: After which Execution, it can scarce be express’d how kindly the Natives entertain’d the French, because they had freed the Countrey from the Spanish Oppressions. Thus having accomplish’d his Design, and returning home, he was nobly receiv’d at Rochel, but had not the least Countenance for all his trouble from the King; the Cardinal of Lorein telling him, That for his good Service he ought to suffer death, because he had fitted out three Ships upon his own Account, without Authority.