A true and perfect description, of the last voyage or navigation, attempted by captain John Rybaut, deputy and general for the French men, into Terra Florida, this year past. 1565. truly set forth by those that returned from thence, wherein are contained things as lamentable to hear as they haue been cruelly executed.  
imprinted at London by Henry Denham, for Thomas Hacket, and are to be sold at his Shop in Lumbart street.   

The author to his friend.  
remembering the promise that I made unto you when we did embark or take shipping in this haven, for to accomplish the voyage of Florida, that, at my return, if that the Lord God did permit me to return, I would bring you news from thence. And although that since my return, I haue often times devised with you: yet notwithstanding, I thought good to do a thing more agreeable unto you, to set forth in writing so much as I could well remember, and that for two reasons. One is, for that I know that you love to hear published the great wonders of God, which hath been found great in this discourse, when that shall be sene, the great dangers that he hath delivered us out off, and hath of his mercy granted us to see our own native country. The other is, for that you shall gladly hear tried, the inconstancy and variable estate of humane kind, wherein his hye look being abated, he learneth to call to God, as it appertaineth to magnify his highnesse, to walk uprightly in his obedience and service. You shall understand( friend) to what end I speak this. The erperience sheweth, that it is a daungerous thing, when that not contented with our vocation, we are drawn back from our desires, we do that that God defendeth, yea, that which is nothing necessary. For what needeth the handy crafts man to leave his shop, the householder his dear wife, his sweet children, his country, his own & proper goods, for to go seek false & strange things, seeking to take shadows, being guided by blind guides. But every one will touch felicity, the which can not be without the means of extern goods, yea even so as is desputed in the school of that great Philosopher Aristotle. I confess it on condition, if you will grant that that is very little, wherewith nature is contented, and that reason demandeth, but the covetousness is great & gapeth continually. now we poor men at the least, ought to think on that which Homer saith.  
That not onely he that possesseth much is happy,  
But he that the gifts of God can use wisely,  
He whom poverty holdeth let him patiently bear,  
He that seareth death is never the near.  
He that is content & praiseth fortunes state,  
Let him not shrink at all, though she hir wings do beate  
He that seeketh not to climb up fortunes wheel,  
But is content with his estate, much good thereby shall feel.  
O how often is it come to my remembrance, during this perilious voyage, of that that I haue learned of Plinie, of one Gyges, that was the richest of his time, how that he, being before the Oracle of Apollo, for to inquire of the most happiest of men. The miserable proud man understood otherwise than the Oracle gave answer, that it was a poor old man name Aglaus, which remained in a corner of Arcadia, labouring and tilling a very little ground which he had, and notwithstanding, it rendered enough to sustain his life and his family, and being content with this kind of life, covetousness and desire of gain could not once move him to go out of his little Village: so that he having this benefit, was an occasion to avoyde many evils, and to receive the less sorrow and bitterness during his life, loving better his present estate, than to desire otherwise, and more esteeming his condition than the estate of kings. As for me I am now bent to this opinion, that you ought well to note, that the harm that may chance in a mans house during his absence, among his wife and family, doth surpass the pleasure of triumph, which victory doth promiss. For what profited it to the king of kings( for so Homer calleth him) to haue in ten yeares conquered & gotten the most richest Region of his time, when that at his return, he found his house changed and altered, the heart of his wife ravished by the conceptions of adoultery( behold the fruit of his voyage) he loseth his life, his son banished, and returning from his banishment, killeth his mother, and the wicked fornicator that kept hir, it had been better for him then, that went to vnpeople Troy, and to take by force Yllion, to haue tarried at home with his wife Clytemnestra, than to haue let a wicked man in his absence occupy his room, and entice his wife to evil. Likewise of Helena, which because of hir husbands absence, was ravished by the amorous Paris: of Penelope which was required of so hote burning louers, whilst that the prudent and wise warrior Vlysses, travaileth the seas to find out his country. It is therefore our partes, that haue bent our cares to Iesus Christ Lord of our souls, & who alone ought to reign in our consciences, to obey to his commandments, the which is, that a man should cleave to his wife, and be to hir as glue, for so haue I understood of our doctors, that the word doth sound Cula in the hebrew tongue. Morcouer, God commandeth that the husband should render to his wife unfeigned love & good will, but what is the remedy when that they are separated. I know that instlye, we haue felt the rygor of Gods judgements: yea for many causes, and principally, for leaving our families, the which we ought to care for most of all, next to God. Let them go to Florida who list, for my parte I would not wish, that that man, that is a householder, should so leave his occupation, for to seek his adventure in a strange country, & for a greater profit of gain: what faire promise so ever is made of his enterprise. Also, we haue born the wrath and anger of God, as ye may see in this discourse of Florida, which I do present unto you, desiring you to receive it as a token or pledge of my good will and love, the which this fifteen yeares hath held our heartes, straightly lyncked and joined together by Iesus Christ our lord, to whom alone appertaineth the rule, power & glory, for ever and ever. Amen.  
At deep the .xxij. day of May. 1566. Your loving brother and friend N. le Shalleux.   

¶ Of Terra Florida:  
or a memorial history of that which hath happened in the last voyage by captain John Rybaut, enterprised by the kings commandment, at an island of the Indies which commonly is called Florida.  

THe king with many Princes and Lords of his counsel, before that the tumults and troubles of the civil war did rise in his realm, was minded to send a competent number of men, with many ships, into one of the Countreys of India, name Florida, newly discovered and known by the French men. Wherefore after that this civil tumult was appeased and published, by his majesties authority, the pretended purpose continued. And for the executing of this enterprise, John Ribaut a man of heart and of counsel, and well seen in navigation, was sense for to the Court, and there received the kings commission to appoint seven ships, that might carry thither, men, victuals, and munitions of war, honouring him with the title of Lieutenant, or general of all the men of war, the which he had commission and commandment to press and take up, expedient for such an enterprise. And to him it was expressiuely defended, to attempt to land in any other country or island there, specially in any that is under the dominion of the king of spain, but that in sailing the great ocean Sea, he should keep his full course to Florida. The news of this voyage was soddenly spread all abroad, and many were persuaded to submit themselves to the commandment of this captain, and under the kings authority, being lead with diuers affections: for some were pricked forward with an honest desire for to know and see the country, hoping that the said navigation would profit them afterward. Others being desirous both with heart and to mind, make war, came thither also, loving rather to abide the rage of the waters, than to remain in their wonted estate and condition, the which occasion might as well provoke one as another. The rumour that was spread here, was: Florida promised sufficiency and contentation, of al that man might desire in the world. For as much as that country received a singular favour from heaven, for that there is neither Frost nor Snow of the coldness of Septentrion, nor yet the burning heat of the South. The fields without labouring and tilling, bring forth enough, wherewith to sustain the life of men that dwell or shall dwell or inhabit there. It seemeth for to make a country the most fruitefullest, and richest that is in the compass of the world, if that there were men that would employ their industry or diligence, in trimming of the ground to mans use, the which extendeth from Aquilon to Septentrion, almost in the like longitude, as Europia, and his latitude is .xxiii. degrees. Sometimes when the the beams of the sun are spread from the highest degree, it receiveth great heat, the which notwithstanding, is tempered not onely with the freshness of the night, or with the dew that falleth from heaven, but also with most gracious rain falling aboundantlye, so that the ground is very fruitful, yea, in such sort, that the grass groweth of a wonderful highnesse. It is also rich of gold, and with all sorts of wild & tame beasts, which haue the fields fair and large. Notwithstanding also, the hills are of a reasonable highnesse, the floods and Riuers very pleasant, dyvers kind of trees rendering sweet smelling savour. All this being considered, it could no otherwise be, but that man there should haue great pleasure, and singular delectation. Many therfore being overcome with these faire promises, others with a covetous desire, thinking to be made rich by this voyage, because of the gold, came by heaps to this town, where the mnster should be, for to choose those, which at the iudgement of the kings Lieutenant, should seem most fit for the beforenamed enterprise: but it was not so soon put to effect as some did desire, & specially those that had received the souldiers into their inns and houses, for they were weary to haue men that made such cheer, without paying the shot, though that they promised them with assurance that shortly they should be contented and payed. And they were four Monthes and more in this town or ever they set forward. But in the end, they were bound by a certain oath, to behave themselves faithfully in the kings service, receiving wages for six Monthes, which at the last, was not to the Generals contentation. For about the month of May. 1565. that again the muster of men should be for to take shipping, some of them that had received wages, being troubled in conscience, of so long a voyage, being also amazed to behold the rage of the Sea, changed their purpose, and withdrew themselves secretly, without passing any further. now for to make short, and least they should daily diminish, they were again instantly called and, they were commanded that at that very hour, they should take shipping, which was the tenth day of May, & we remained in the road, till the .xxij. day of the before said month, tarrying for certain beasts and corn. The number of men for this voyage were three hundreth, besides handicrafts men & their families. And whilst that we stayed for the commandment and commodity of our Lieutenant, and having the wind favourable, the Tuesday being the .xxij. day of May, there did rise a great tempest, the winds blowing us from one parte to another, in such sort that the waves meeting, with such a violent force, gave such fear to our Mariners, that they could find no other proper remedy, but to cut the Cables, leave the anchors, and to give us over to the pleasure of the wind. The most violentest wind that was, was a Northerly wind, the which drove us so swiftly, that suddenly we were at New haven, and there we remained three dayes, looking for news from deep by a Bringandine, that we sent straightly thither, and then we prepared ourselves, to depart from this road, the .xxvj. of the beforesaide Month, & as we thought to keep our right course, incontinently a contrary wind took us, and caused us to retire to the Ile of Wiskam, one of the Countreys of England, where the English men were desirous to know of our enterprise, & after that they had knowledge therof: they offered to do us pleasure. The day that we arrived thither, was the .xxviij. of May, and there we did ride at an Ancker till the .xiiij. of june, on the which day, we had the wind at the north-east as faire as we did wish, so that we hoyssed up our sails, and sailed the right course to Florida, the which we did long to see, and we remained sailing the great ocean Sea, two whole Monthes, before that we could haue sight of Terra Florida, saving of an island, name by the peasants Vocaionques, some of our men would haue name this island Katherine by the name of the queen, mother to the King: & they said, that it is .xxvij. degrees, of latitude. We saw also a ship two hundreth Leagues beyond, towards the Sea, but we came not nere it, by three or four Leagues. When that we were arrived into Terra Florida, we perceived the flers that the Indians made us, which was the .xiiij. day of August. We sent a Erigandine to discover a little river, and at the mouth of the river, there were certain wild men, which did truck silver for our merchandise that we had brought, and they said that they had that silver, of a ship that had been cast away, coming from entails. We found there a certain spaniard, escaped from a shipwreck twenty yeares ago, whom we took up into our Brigandine, and we did inquire of him, if he could tell any news of the french men, that kept a hold in that country: and he answered that he knew nothing, saving that he understood of those wild men, that they were encamped fifty Leagues more northward than where as they were arrived, so we set up sail and coasted al along the cost, which seemed to be the sandy land, planted with little trees all along, and the floods that come from the south-west are there very small, and in the mid way we discovered a river, that our men before time had name the river of May, whereas also the floods are not very great that come from the North north-east. And because of the shallowness of the waters, we might see the anchor holds that before had been there, and we found within three or four Leagues of land, six or seven fathom water, or there about. I remember also, that between the river of May & another name ay, we found another on the north side, about two Leagues distant from the river of May, and there we cast anchor being benighted, having cyght or nine fathom water, finding the bottom in some places sandy, sometimes gravely, & much Oxias. We sounded also the river of Dolphins, and there we found at the bar two fathom, but at a full Sea there is sound two fathom and three quarters. And after that we had long coasted the cost to find a landing place, the .xxvij. day of August, we cast our anchors in the road, of the river of May, at seven fathom water, being from the land about two Leagues. On Wednesday being the .xxix. of the said month, we entered into three Barges, & rowed up the said river, strait to the hold where our men kept, the which they before time had made, for their place of assurance and rest, a place very commodious, as well for the river that it hath on the one side, & a wood on other the side, which is distant not passing a quarter of a mile from the place, and a fair fields between the wood and the hold, and another side very pleasant covered with grass and herbs, very long, and of diuers kinds: and there is no way into the Wood, saving a little way made by our men, about a mans place, the which they had made in going to the fountain that was in the said wood. When that we were arrived nere to the said place, our Lieutenant caused the victuals to be discharged, & carried to the hold, with other munitions to recreate the place, and also commanded, that we handicrafts men with our wives and children, should go thither, and caused us to be condutted thither by a Gentleman of the house of Vlly, of Beauchaire, and others, to whom also he gave the charge of his most precious carriage. Those that tarried for us at the Fort, were greatly rejoiced at our coming, for they were perplexed and troubled to be so long time without hearing any news out of France, and that more augmented there dolour, they were without victuals, unless that they would accustom themselves to live according to the order of the country inhabitants, of whom also they could get nothing, but by violence and force, as we shall declare more plainly hereafter. now when that we were remaining there, I considered the form of the dwellers of the land, which seemed to me good and gentle, for the men are strait and well proportioned, somewhat of a ruddy colour. I understood that in every village they haue a king, and for their clothing they haue leather marked after a strange fashion, they haue no apparel neither men nor women, but the women are girded with a little valle or apron of the skin of some beast, for to cover the parte of nature that is most shamefast. they are neither flat nosed nor great lipped, but their face is round and full, their eyes clear and fearful, their hair is very long, and they truss it very properly round about their heads. And this trussing of their hair serveth them in stede of a quiver, to carry their arrows when they go to war: it is marvelous to see how sodenlye they haue them ready in their hands to shoot very far and as streight as is possible. As touching their manners, they are dissolute, they instruct not their children, neither yet correct them, they will take without conscience, and al that they can catch secretly, they count it their own. every one hath his own wife, and they keep marriage, yea, with all Rygor. They war against the countries adjacent, which are of diuers languages. Their weapons are bows and arrows. Their houses are round almost like a dove house, founded and established with great trees, covered over with leaves of a palm tree. They fear not the winds and tempests. They are often grieved with little flies, which in their language they call Maring●ns, and it behoveth them ordinarily to make fiers in their houses, specially under their beds, to be delivered of this vermin. They say that they sting cruelly, and that part that is touched with their stinging, looketh like the flesh of a lazar. They esteem nothing so rich and so faire as the feathers of Birds, being of dyvers colours. They esteem much little counters, that they make of the bones of certain fishes, & other green stones and red. Their food is roots, fruit, herbs, and fishes of diuers kinds, and their fish is very fatre that they hang to dry, the which they call in their language Boquarie, they take out the fat the which they use in steed of butter & saulse. They haue no corn, but they haue abundance of a certain seed which groweth the height of seven foot, his stalk is great like a Cane, and the grain great like a pease, the ear is a foot long, the colour is of the colour of wax unwrought: the mean to use it, is first to bruise it and stamp it to meal, then afterward they undo it by mingling and make therwith their Mygan, which is like to Rice that is kept in this country. It must be eaten as soon as it is made, because it will quickly change, for it is not to be kept. They haue many bastard Vynes growing about trees, as we see in some Countreys of this realm, but they haue not the use to press out the Wine. Their drink they call Cassinet, is made with herbs mingled together, and seemeth of the colour of Ale of our country, I haue tafted thereof, and it hath not been strange to me. As touching the country it, seemeth to me hilly. There are many Forrestes which may be the occasion of so many wild beasts, the which they say will hurt those that take not good heed. I will leave to speak many things of wild beasts, the which only I haue heard speak of, but it is enough for me to write that which I haue seen, and that seemeth to me worthy of memory for the posterity. And singularly of Cocodrils, the which often times are seen come forth of the sand to go seek their pray, we haue sene many, specially one deade, and we haue eaten thereof, the which eateth tender, & white as veal, and almost of the same taste. He was killed with the shot of a gun, strooken between two meddles, otherwise they are strong enough for any stroke: his mouth very great, & his teeth strait like the teeth of a comb, his body was .xij. or .xiij. foot long, the legs very short to the proportion of the body, his nails strange and cruel, his tail strong and long, wherein consisteth his life and principal defence. Also in the mouth I find no appearance of tongue, for he had the vpper parte under, a thing disingenuity, which in beholding thereof is enough to give fear to men. Also I did see a serpent dead by the wood which had been killed by one of our men, of which the wild men cut of the head, and did carry it away with great care and diligence: I could not know the reason wherefore they did so. He had wings by the which he might sometimes fly up from the ground. Some of our men thought that the wild men did it for some superstition, and as far as I could see, they are not without some opinion of divinity, like as I do conjecture by certain circumstances, that easily they might be brought to good ciuilitye and honesty, and also to holinesse & sound Religion, if that God of his mercy would vouchsafe it: for so soon as the Bell had rung for to go to prayers of our hold, they would be there, and stretch up their hands to heaven as we did, yea, with reverence and attentive ear. In the mean time, our governor was by for to acquit faithfullye his charge, and gave order that the hold might be so ramperde and furnished, that it might serve for a defence, least by adventure the barbarous men might suddenly make an insurrection, & overrun vs. Monday the third day of September, did arrive nere to our ships five sail of spanish ships, the Admiral being of the burden of .iiij. hundreth tons, the bark a hundreth & fifty tons, being followed with three patences, the which came & cast anchor hard by our ships about nine of of the clock toward night, in the night they and our ships spake together, and when that our men had asked them why they came to seek them, they answered that they were enemies, and that the war was sufficiently declared, so then our men beholding the strength of the Spaniards to their envy and naughty will, weighed their anchors, and set up sail, and the spaniards chased after them, but they could not get them by sailing, & therefore they retired into the river of Dolphins, and there they were minded to descend. And after that they had conspired our ruin with the wild men, as the issue of their enterprise in the end sheweth, from this river they sent of their men by companies as many as they thought needful for to execute their enterprise. And since we understood of the wild men, that they were in armor six hundréth men. Not long after, three of our ships being come again to the road,( for the trinity our Admiral was born down the river having no anchor hold) the captain John Rybaut was minded with these three ships to pursue the Spaniards: and after that he had counseled with his men vpon this enterprise, showing unto them that it was necessary to show their force vpon the water, unless they would incur the loss of their ships, for our men being on land could not let them to effray those that were left in the ships, being but a small number in comparison to the enemies, the which seemed unto us an intolerable loss, specially that we could send no commodity into France for to let the kings majesty understand the estate of our enterprise. Therefore vpon Monday the tenth day of September, three houres before noon, the captain and kings Lieutenant would see all his men, and after that he had exhorted them to do well in the Kings service, took shipping with them, taking for his defence not onely the Souldiers that he had newelye brought thither, but also the best of them that kept the place before, also the chief standard of captain Lauduniere. This captain being weryed without hearing news out of Frauce, and displeased for that he was deprived of food, a little before the we arrived thither, thought to return again into France, and in the mean time did not care much if his company did that to the country Inhabitants, whereby their good affection might be turned from the french men, but he suffered them to force them and bring them prisoners to their hold, to take by force their Mill, and other things that necessity, which can be under no law, did constrain them. And for so much as desire of vengeance is naturally planted in mannes heart, also that the common appetite of all beasts is to defend their bodies and lives, and to avoyde those things that shall seem hurtful, it is not therefore to be doubted, but that these wild men did confederate with the Spaniards, how they might be delivered of us French men, with whom they were both in body and goods travailed & pained. The Tuesday being the .xj. of September, about eight of the clock in the morning or there about, when that our captain was very nere to the Spaniards there did rise a great wind which continued a long time, with great showers of rain, thunders & lightnings, in such sort that the air was some times like fire, so that both partes being afraid of the rage of the weather, separated our three ships, being fain to abide the weather, and the Spanish ships made the wind good: and the rage of the weather dured till the .xxiij. day of September. Now the Spaniards being descended on land, had leisure enough to espy & seek out a way unto the hold, and to invent the means howe to entrap us, knowing that our General was at sea with the chief strength, looking for fair weather, and that those that remained in our hold were the most part sick, being altered by the smell of the Sea, part handicrafts men with women and children, being in all to the number of two hundreth & forty souls, under the guard and diligenee of captain Lauduniere, which misdoubted nothing less, than that a company might come by land to entrap them. Wherefore our captain did rise early in the morning for to refresh him, because of the foul weather that had been the night before, opening the wicket an hour before the sun rising, the most parte of us in the hold being fast a sleep and in our beds. The spaniards having traversed Woods, ditches and rivers, being conducted by the wild and barbarous men, arrived the Monday being the xx. day of September, in the morning early to our hold, the morning being very cloudy and rayny, and entered therein without any resistance, whereas they made a most horrible and doleful slaughter of our men, such a rage and cruelty they had conceived against our Nation. They sought then who could best cut the throats of men, hole & sick, women & little children, a pitisull sight and lamentable. Some of our men, the most nimblest, stepping out of their beds, got away and saned themselves in the ships that were in the river, being left there by our general, under the keeping of james Ribaut captain of a ship name the pearl, and under lues Ballard his Lieutenant: the others being almost entrapped, leaped over the fence or wall of our hold, the captain Lauduniere saved himself by that means, with hir that served him in his Chamber. I was almost taken suddenly going to my work, my tool in my hand, for coming out of my Cabane, I met the enemies, so that I knew no other means to escape, but to turn my back and hye me as fast as was possible to leap over the fence or wall, for I was coursed with a Pike man, and I know not how otherwise but only by the grace of God, my strength doubled poor old man that I am & gray headed, notwithstanding I leaped over the Ramper, which in taking advisement I could not haue done, for it was eight or nine foot high, so that when I was over, I hasted to save me in the Woods, and about the distance of a bow shoot, when that I was near to the Wood, I turned my face toward the hold & stayed a little, and that more holder for that no man followed me. And as from the place where I stood, I might easily see the hold, so did I hear an horrible cry of the slaughter that was made of our men, and three ancients of our aduersaries planted vpon the Rampers. having now lost all hope to see our men together, I put myself into the mercy of God, and launched into the thickest of the wood, for this I thought, that I should not find more greater cruelty among the wild beasts, than the cruelty that the enemies extended vpon our men. The misery and trouble wherewith I felt myself wrapped, seing in earth no more hope but that the lord God of his special grace above mannes hope might deliver me, it made me therfore cast sighs and tears, and with a voice full of sorrow I began to call unto God after this fore, saying: O God of our fathers and lord of all consolation, which hath commanded us to call vpon thee even from the laake of Hell and pangs of death, promising thy sudden aid and help, show unto me, for the hope that I haue in thee, what way I might take for to come to the end of this miserable age, plunged in the gulf of sorrow and bitterness, at the least cause me that feeling the effect of thy mercy, the assurance that I haue conceived in my heart of thy promises, be not taken away by the cruelty & furious rage of the wild beasts on the one side, and of thy enemies and ours on the other side, the which seek our death more for that thy holy name is called vpon amongst us, than for any other thing. help me O god, assist me, for I am so afflicted that I can call no more.  
And in the mean time whilst I made this discourse, trauesing the Wood very thick of Brears and thorns, under the high trees where as there was neither path nor way, wherein I had been not above the space of half an hour, but that I heard a noise, as though it were the wepings and complaints of men that were about me: notwithstanding, I going forward in the name of God, having confidence in his help, I discovered one of our company name Lasieur of Blonderie, and another behind him, name master Robert, being well known of us all, for that he had the charge to say service in our hold, shortly after came to us the Lackeys of Le Sieur de Vlly, the nephew of Mounseur Beau, Master james Teuse, and many others. So being gathered together, we did consult of our miseries, deliberating of that which we had to do for the saving of our lives. And amongst us one being somewhat seen in the Scriptures, began after this maner, saying: Brethren, ye see in what extremity we are, what parte soever we turn our eyes, we se nothing but barbarousness, the heaven, the earth, the sea, the woods, the men, & to be short, nothing favoureth vs. What know we if that in yielding us to the favor of the Spaniards, they will show favour. well, yet although they kill us, it shall be suffered but for a time, they are men, and it may be that their fury being appeased, they will receive us on composition, otherwise what should we do, is it not better for us to fall into the hands of man, than into the mouths of wild beasts, or rather to die for hunger in a strange land. After that he had said these words, the most parte of our company was of his aduise, and praised his counsel. Notwithstanding that I shewed them the cruelty, yet all bloody, of our aduersaries, and that it was not only for one cause and humane debate that they had executed with such a fury their enterprise, but principally for the knowledge that hath been given them, that we are of those that are returned to the preaching of the gospel: let us not the refore be so wilful as to trust in man more than in God, which maketh those that are his to live, yea, even in the midst of the dead, and giveth always his help when that the hope of man faileth. Also I did allege certain examples out of the holy Scripture for the purpose, of joseph, Daniel, Elias, and other Prophets. Also of the Apostles, as of S. Peter, and of S. paul, the which all, being brought out of affliction, yea, by extraordinary means, and strange to the sense and reason of man, his arm I say is not at al weakened, his hand is always one. Remember ye not( said I) howthe children of Israell fled from pharaoh, what hope had this people to escape the hands of Tyrant mighty and cruel, he followed them even hard at their heels, before them they had the read sea, on both sides mighty hye hills, what then, he that opened the sea for to make a way for his people, and afterward swallowed up the enemies therein, might not he in like maner guide us through the woods and fields of this strange country. For all that I could say, six of the company followed the first preposition, and left us, taking their way to their enemies, hoping to find favour and grace before them, but they knew incontinently and by experience, what folly it is to trust more in men than to the promises of our god. For being once come forth of the wood, as they thought to haue gone to the Fort, behold they were taken by a company of Spaniards, and entreated like unto the others, they were killed, & then drawn to the river side, whereas the others being slain in the hold lay on heaps. And I will tell an example of extreme cruelty. james Rybaut captain of the pearl, rid with his ship at an anchor about a hundreth paces from the hold, and received many of those that escaped this slaughter. The Spaniards having their hearts great, because of their victory, were bent to dispatch the rest of the French men, made ready the ordinance against the ships and boats, but because of the rainy weather, and for that the guns were out of order, they did no harm to our men, but they sent a Trumpet unto them to summō them to yield, but when they saw that this feared them nothing, they sent one of their men even unto the ships, showing the authority of Dom Pedre Maluendo, general of their company, for to compound with our men on this condition, that they should leave the ships and go their ways in their boats with their baggage to the other ships that were more lower at the mouth of the river, distant from the hold about two Leagues, to the which our men answered, that there was no war between them, when that about six Monthes passed, they had received commandment of the King to make this voyage, so that we haue not enterprised to do any wrong or exaction to any man, for it was expressiuely defended by his majesty, & also of his Admyral, that we should make no discent in any part of spain, nor yet to come near, for fear of offending them. We haue kept and observed the kings commandment inuiolately, so that you can not say against us, that we are the cause of this slaughter that you haue made of our men, against all usage of war, the which maketh our hearts to bleed, for the which dede you may hereafter being in time and place, feel. And as touching the ship that you demand, you shall sooner haue our lives, and whereas you think to constrain us, we will employ the mean that God & nature hath given us to defend vs. The spaniard being returned back, did report that our men feared them nothing, but that they were minded to stand to defence. Then this furious company cast the coller and bloody despite vpon the deade bodies, and shewed them to the French men that restend vpon the water, so that they sought to hurt the souls of them of whom they would if that they could dismember the body, for pulling out the dead mens eyes, they did stick them on their Dagger poyntes, and then with exclamations, cauntes, and mockings, threw them toward the french men that were vpon the water. As for us that remained in the woods, we continued trauesing, keeping to out iudgement the right course to the Sea. And as it pleased God to direct our steps and address our ways, by and by we came to the croupe of a hill, and from thence we perceived the Sea, but for all that there was great distance, and that worse was, the way that we had to take seemed marvelous strange and hard. first the mountain which it behoved us to descend down, was of such a heygth and so slope, that it was not possible for any man keeping him on his legs to descend, so that none of us durst descend but for the hope that we had of certain shrubs and Brears that grew on this hills side, by the help of which we got down, not without great pain, in scratching and renting our hands and our legs, yea our bodies also being all bloody. Being descended from the hil, we lost sight of the Sea by reason of a little wood that was planted before us, and for to go to the wood, it behoved us to trauesse a great field being marish ground, wherein did grow many wild Roses and other strange herbs, of which the stalks being hard as wood, and the leaves, cut our feet and our legs even to the blood, being always in water up to the knees, and that that doubled our misery and calamity, was, that the rain did fall from heaven in such sort, that we were as between two waters, and the farther we went, the deeper we found the water. Then thinking that we were come to the last end of our life, we embraced one another, and with a common affection we began to sigh and cry unto the lord God, accusing our sins, and knowing vpon us the rygor of his judgements. Alas O lord God( said we) what are we any other than poor worms of the earth, our souls being altered and changed with sorrow and grief, doth yield them into thy hands O Father full of mercy, and God of charity, deliver us out of this place of death, or if thou wilt that in this desert we make an end of our lives, assist us O lord, that death which of all things is most terriblest, when he cometh to take hold of us, that he fear us not, but that we may remain firine & stable in mind of thy favour and good will that we haue so many times tasted on and approved in thy son Iesus Christ, for to give place to the spirit of satan, the spirit of despair and defiance. For be it that we die, we protest now before thy Malestie, that we will die to thee, be it that we live, it shall be to tell of thy marvelous works, in the midst of the congregation of thy saints. Our prayers ended, we went forward with great pain to the wood, in so much that we arrived nere to a great river that ran through the midst of this field, the breadth was not very great, but very deep, and the water ran with great swiftness, for so much as this field was not far from the sea. This Ryner was an other increasing of our sorrows, for there was not one of our men that durst swim over the river. Being in this confusion of thoughts how to pass over, Iremembred the wood that we left behind vs. After that I had erhorted my brethren to patience, & to continue in good hope of Gods mercy, I returned to the wood and cut a long piece of wood with an end of a Bill that was left in my hand at the hour that the hold was taken, I came again to the others that tarried me in great perplexity. Now brethren, said I, let us see if that God by this staff will show us favour to bring our journey to an end, so we laid the staff or fork vpon the water, one of our men, and also every one following his turn, holding it by the end, and entering into the water carried the fork with him, and in the midst of the water, as we lost the sight of it, we pushed it with force and strength to the other side whereas we took land, with the help of the reeds and other herbs that grew on the brink, and so we passed all one after another, but it was not without great danger, & drinking much salt water, yea, such a quan titie, that coming to the other side, our heartes failed us, & we were as one that is half drowned. After that we were come to our sclues, & had taken courage, tending always to the wood, the which we had marked to be nere to the Sea, the fork also was necessary to pass an other arm of water, which gave us no less pain to pass than the first, but thankes be to God we passed it, and toward the night, we entered into the Wood, where we remained all the night in great sorrow and fear, standing upright our backs to the trees, and for all our great travail & journeys, yet we had no mind to sleep, for what rest could the spirites haue being in such fears? Also we saw about the point of day a beast, great, like unto a stag, within fiftye paces of us, whose head was very big, the eyes flaming, the ears hanging, having the hinder partes indifferent. She seemed unto us very monstrous because of hir eyes, which seemed as though they were flaming, being very great, the which came not near us, for to do us any harm. The day being come, we came out of the wood and then we saw the Sea for the which we had wished so much, next to god, as an only mean to save our lives: but we were again troubled, for we saw it all a marish ground full of water and covered with briars & wild Roses like to the which we trauessed the day before. We went forward trauessing these marshes, and near unto the place where as we were minded for to go, we perceived amongst the wild Rosiers a company of men, which at the first sight we thought had been our enemies which were come thither to curte our way, but when that we had beheld more near, we saw that they were desolate & naked as we were, by the which we knew that they were of our men, for there was the captain Lauduniere, his chamber maid, james Morgens of deep, and Fraunces Duuall of Roane, with many others to the number of .xxvi. persons, vpon the deliberation of that which we had to do. One of our men climbed vpon one of the highest trees, where he discovered one of our little ships which was under the charge of captain Mailarde, to whom they gave a sign, by the which they understood our need: so he caused his little bark to come near, but to approach the sea bank it behoved us to pass through these wild roses, and two little rivers like unto those that we had passed the day before, to the which was very necessary our perch or fork that I had cut the day before, and other two that captain Lauduniere had made provision of, so that we came nere enough to the Bark, but our hearts sailed us, what for hunger and travail. So that we had remained there, had not the Mariners holpen us, which shewed themselves very succourable: and they bare us one after another into their bark, and so carried us to their ship, whereas we were well and chéerefullye received. They gave us bread and water, and after that we had eaten, we began by little and little to receive strength, which was a most sure token of Gods mercy, who had saved us, against the hope of infinite dangers of death, with the which we were compassed on all sides, for to render unto him meste hearty thankes and praise for ever. So we passed the night talking of the miraculous works of god, and comforting one another in remembrance of our delivery. The day being come, james Rybaut captain of the pearl, bourded us, for to confer with us what were best to be done, for to save the rest of our men and ships, and then it was shewed the scarcity of victuals that we had, our strengths broken, our munitions of war in our enemies hands, the uncertain estate of our governor, not knowing whither the rage of the tempest had driven them. We concluded therfore that we could do no better than to assay to return into France, and the chiefest of our company were of this aduise, to separate in two partes those that were escaped from the hold, and that some of them should be in the pearl, and the rest under the charge of captain Mailarde. So on Thursday being the .xxv. of September, we partend from the cost, by the favour of a Northerly wind, minding to sail into france. And since the first day our ships were so partend, that we met no more vpon the seas together. We sailed .v. hundreth Leagues happily, but in a morning before the sun rising, we were assailed of a spanish ship whom we sustained to our powers, & we so beate him with gun shotce, that we made him yield to our wills, & we beate him in such sort, that the blood ran out at the skupper holes, so that no man was sene above hatches: but we could not board them because of the weather, for fear of brousing our ship. They also being content, let us go, & so we left them, thanks be to God, and joyful of that which had happened, and for that none of us was hurt nor killed in this fight, saving our cook. The rest of our navigation hath been without meeting of our enemies, but we haue been sore weather beaten, and almost driven on the Spanish cost, which had been an increasing of our sorrows, & the thing that we did most abhor. We haue also endured on the Seas many other things, as cold, and hunger. For you shall understand, that we that were escaped from Terra Florida, had no other apparel left, neither for the night, nor yet for the day, but one poor shirt, and another little thin thing vpon it, which was very little to defend us from the injury of the weather, and that worse was, the bread that we did cate, was fenoed and nought. Also the fresh water that we had, did stink, of the which we had all the day long, but one taster or small cup full. This naughty and corrupt nourishment is the cause, that we being descended a shore, are fallen into so many kinds of diseases and sicknesses, the which hath caused to die a great many of our company. And at the end of this perilous and lamentable navigation, we were driven on the cost of Rochell, whereas we haue been gently entreated of the inhabitants of the country, and of those of the town, giuing us of their goods so much as necessity required, being assisted of their good wills, we had sufficient for every one to return into his country.   

The second book.  
YE haue heard howe captain John Rybaut took shipping with the souldiers for to find out the Spaniards, and so having sought them the space of five dayes, and not finding them, he met the admiral of his fleet, name the trinity, and being minded to keep the cost against the spaniards, not knowing of that which had happened at the hold, entered therein, according to the ordinary custom. The weather was troublesone, for that the wind blewe so extremely, and it rained continually. The fift day the tempest increased after such sort, that they were not able to resist it, but of force were driven to the shore above the river of May about fifty Leagues, and there the ships were broken, and their munitions lost, notwithstanding the men came on land, saving the captain Grange, which cast himself vpon a mast and was drowned, a man among the others much to be lamented, as well for the good counsel that he always gave, as also for the fruits of his amiable acquaintance. Our men being then saved on shore from the rage of the waves, found themselves wrapped in another trouble, for to the hunger that held them, there was no remedy, unless they would eat such things as the earth brought forth, that is to wit, herbs, roots, and such like, with the which they thought to satisfy their craving stomach. There was not neither to satisfy their thirst, but old cisterns wherein the water was much troubled, for the skum that it did cast, to look to was enough to make a whole body sick, notwithstanding, the rage of their extreme hunger and thirst caused them to digest these unwholesome meats and drinks, which seemed to them very strange, and they were in this perplexity the term of eight dayes. The ninth day by fortune they found a little bark, for the which they were somewhat comforted, hoping by that means to let them of the hold understand of their shipwreck. Now between them and the hold it was .xij. Leagues by land, and fifty by water, and between them and the fort was the river of Dolphins, which is very deep, and of the breadth of one quarter of a Mile, wherefore without some vessel, it was unpossible for them to pass over. When then they had received this bark, they did caulke it with their shirts in stede of Okum. Then the captain John Ribaut of his grace and accustomend modesty, called many to his counsel and said unto them after this fort: Companions and friends, it is not for us to continue our lives in such misery and calamity, it were better for us to wish for death, than to live being charged with such afflictions, unless that God of his grace hath given us faith of his providence for to look for succour, such as it shall please him to send us, and in the mean time, let us employ our minds to seek out the issue of these troubles. I am of this mind, that there be some amongst us, the which shall go to the Fort in this little bark, for to let our men understand our extreme need, to the end that they give us succour, and being on the shore casting out many tears, they began to call vpon the name of God kneeling on their knees. When their prayers were finished, they began to look, which of them were most aptest to send: and they name Thomas Le Vasseur of deep, to whom captain John Ribaut gave the charge, that as soon as he could, he should let them of the fort understand their distress, and with him there went Vyncent simon, Michell Gouer, and others to the number of sixteen. Our men, as I said before, were on the contrary side of the hold, for the river of Dolphins was between thē and the hold, so that going forward on land toward the Fort, they saw the very same day, on the other side of the river, a company of men of arms with their standards spread, & after that they had known by conjectures that they were Spanyards, our Frenchmen were perplexed in their heartes, knowing not what to do, but for their best remedy, they sent some of their company swimming over the river for to make offer to yield, their lives saved. The swimmers were received at the first very curtcously, the captain of this Spanish company was name Vallemande, who swore by the faith of a gentleman & christian knight, to use his good will toward the Frenchmen, also that it was the order always practised in war, that the Spaniard being victorious, should be content, specially with Frenchmen, without attempting further, and he shewed us also by signs, to the end that we might be persuaded of this fair promiss, that herein we should find no fault, that the nations hereafter should not speak thereof. And incontinently he caused a Barge to be made ready, into the which he commanded five spaniards to enter to pass over our men, the which they did. Now this Barge being come to the other side, and that the spaniards had made a narration in the name of Vallemande, the captain John Ribaut entered first into the Barge, and others to the number of thirty, and he was gently received of Vallemande, but the others that were of his company were carried further off & all bound, their hands behind there backs, two and two together, so the rest of our men passed over by thirty at a time, whilst that Vallemande entertained our good captain John Ribaut with fair flattering words, the which trusted to the faithful promiss of the said Vallemande, to whom he had yielded. Now our men as they came over, were bound two to two, and being altogether Frenchmen and spaniards, they went toward the Fort, the captain John Ribaut and others, specially the Sieur of Ottigny when they saw our men coupled together, began to change countenance, and again desired the said Vallemandes favour, who assured them, saying that those bands were only to bring them to the hold in safety, and that there he would keep that which he had promised. And when they were near to the hold, he inquired of them which were Mariners, Carpenters of ships, goonners and others which were necessary to the offices of the Sea, the which being chosen out, were thirty men. And shortly after, behold a company came from the hold to our men, who were made to come behind the Sieur of Vallamande & his company, like a company of beasts that are driven to the slaughter. Then with the noise of Drums, Flutes and Trumpets, the courage of these furious spaniards was extended vpon the poor Frenchmen which were bound. There was assay who could best strike with the Pike, Haulberd and sword, in such sort, that within half an hour they won the field and name of this glorious victory, killing those there, most cruelly, which were yielded, and whom they had received on their faith and allegiance. During this cruelty the captain John Rybaut made certain exhortations to Vallamande to save his life. Also the Sieur of Ottigny kneeling on his knees, remembering Vallamande of his faithful promiss, but all was to no effect, for he turning his back, went a little from them, & then one of his murtherers stroke the Capitane John Rybaut behind with a Dagger, that he made him fall down, and then doubled his stroke, till that he had taken his life from him. After such sort were our men handled, that before under the shadow of assurance made by the Spaniards, had yielded. And for to show the more cruelty, they rent the Kings Lieutenants beard in despite, and for a show of there expedition, the which shortly after they sent to Syuell, as certain of our Mariners, reserved for this voyage, haue few dayes passed faithfully shewed us, specially one Chrystopher le briton of New haven, the which secretly departed from Syuell to the town of Burdeux, and from thence by ship came to deep, and for a memorial of their victory, they quartered the body of this faithful seruant of the King, John Rybaut, and of his head made four quarters, the which they did stick at the four ends of the Fort.  
Here hast thou( gentle Reader) seen the discourse of two sorts of people, wherein thou mayest judge with indifferency, and see what covetousness causeth, being both desirous of gain, and in specially the monstrous cruelty of the one part. But the history sufficeth of itself, God is a righteous judge which seeth the acts of all humane kind, and shall reward every one according to their deserts. God keep us from murder and bloudshedde, and give us grace to fear him, and honour his holy name aright. Amen.   
FINIS.