THe king with manye Princes and Lords of his counsel , before that the tumults and troubles of the Ciuill warre did ryse in his Realme , was minded to sende a competent number of men , with many shyppes , into one of the Countreys of India , named Florida , newlye discouered and knowen by the French men . Wherefore after that this Cyuill tumult was appeased and published , by his Maiesties authoritie , the pretended purpose continued . And for the executing of this enterprise , Iohn Ribaut a man of heart and of counsell , and well séene in nauigation , was sence for to the Court , and there receiued the kings commission to appoint seuen shippes , that might carrye thyther , men , vittayles , and munitions of warre , honouring him with the tytle of Lieutenant , or generall of all the men of warre , the which he had commission and commaundement to presse and take vp , expedient for such an enterprise . And to him it was expressiuely defended , to attempt to lande in any other Countrey or Ilande there , specially in any that is vnder the dominion of the king of Spaine , but that in sayling the great Occean Sea , he should kéepe his full course to Florida . The newes of this voyage was soddenly spredde all abroade , and many were perswaded to submit them selues to the commaundement of this Capitaine , and vnder the kings auctoritie , being led with diuers affections : for some were pricked forward with an honest desire for to knowe and sée the Countrey , hoping that the sayd nauigation would profite them afterward . Others being desirous both with hearte and to minde , make warre , came thither also , louing rather to abide the rage of the waters , than to remaine in their wonted estate and condicion , the which occasion might aswell prouoke one as another . The rumor that was spredde here , was : Florida promised sufficiencie and contentation , of al that man might desire in the worlde . For as much as that countrey receyued a singuler fauour from Heauen , for that there is neither Frost nor Snow of the coldenesse of Septentrion , nor yet the burning heate of the South . The fieldes without labouring and tilling , bring forth inough , wherewith to sustaine the lyfe of men that dwell or shall dwel or inhabit there . It séemeth for to make a countrey the moste fruitefullest , and rychest that is in the compasse of the worlde , if that there were men that woulde employ their industrie or diligence , in trimming of the ground to mans vse , the which extendeth from Aquilon to Septentrion , almost in the like longitude , as Europia , and his latitude is .xxiii. degrées . Sometimes when the the beames of the sunne are spredde from the highest degrée , it receyueth great heate , the which notwithstanding , is tempered not onely with the freshnesse of the night , or with the Dewe that falleth from heauen , but also with moste gracious raine falling aboundantlye , so that the ground is very fruitefull , yea , in such sort , that the grasse groweth of a wonderfull highnesse . It is also rich of golde , and with all sorts of wylde & tame beasts , which haue the fieldes fayre and large . Notwithstanding also , the Hilles are of a reasonable highnesse , the Flouds and Riuers very pleasant , dyuers kinde of trées rendring swéete smelling sauour . All this being considered , it coulde no otherwise be , but that man there shoulde haue great pleasure , and singuler delectation . Many therfore being ouercome with these faire promises , others with a couetous desire , thinking to be made ryche by this voyage , bicause of the gold , came by heapes to this towne , where the mnster should be , for to choose those , which at the iudgement of the Kinges Lieutenant , shoulde séeme most fitte for the beforenamed enterprise : but it was not so soone put to effect as some did desire , & specially those that had receiued the souldiers into their Innes and houses , for they were wery to haue men that made suche chéere , wythout paying the shotte , though that they promised them with assurance that shortlye they shoulde be contented and payed . And they were foure Monthes and more in thys Towne or euer they set forward . But in the ende , they were bounde by a certain othe , to behaue them selues faithfully in the kings seruice , receyuing wages for six Monthes , which at the last , was not to the Generals contentation . For about the Moneth of May . 1565. that againe the muster of men shoulde be for to take shipping , some of them that had receyued wages , being troubled in conscience , of so long a voyage , being also amazed to beholde the rage of the Sea , chaunged their purpose , and withdrewe themselues secretly , without passing any further . Nowe for to make shorte , and least they should dayly diminish , they were againe instantly called and , they were commaunded that at that verye houre , they shoulde take shipping , which was the tenth day of May , & we remayned in the Rode , till the .xxij. day of the before sayde Moneth , tarying for certaine beastes and corne . The number of men for this voyage were thrée hundreth , besides handycraftes men & their families . And whylest that we stayed for the commaundement and commoditie of our Lieutenant , and hauing the wind fauourable , the Tuesday being the .xxij. day of May , there did ryse a great tempest , the windes blowing vs from one parte to another , in suche sorte that the waues meting , with such a vyolent force , gaue such feare to our Mariners , that they could find no other proper remedy , but to cut the Cables , leaue the Ankers , and to giue vs ouer to the pleasure of the winde . The moste violentest winde that was , was a Northerly winde , the which draue vs so swiftly , that sodenly we were at New Hauen , and there we remayned thrée dayes , loking for newes from Déepe by a Bringandine , that we sent straightly thither , and then we prepared oure selues , to departe from this Rode , the .xxvj. of the beforesaide Month , & as we thought to kepe our right course , incontinently a contrary winde tooke vs , and caused vs to retire to the I le 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 offred to doe vs pleasure . The daye that we arriued thither , was the .xxviij. of May , and there we did ride at an Ancker till the .xiiij. of Iune , on the which day , we had the winde at the Northeast as faire as we did wish , so that we hoyssed vp our sayles , and sayled the right course to Florida , the which we did long to sée , and we remayned sayling the greate Occean Sea , two whole Monthes , before that we could haue sight of Terra Florida , sauing of an Iland , named by the Pesants Vocaionques , some of our men would haue named this Iland Katherine by the name of the Quene , mother to the King : & they sayd , that it is .xxvij. degrées , of latitude . We sawe also a shippe two hundreth Leagues beyond , towards the Sea , but we came not nere it , by thre or foure Leagues . When that we were aryued into Terra Florida , we perceyued the flers that the Indians made vs , which was the .xiiij. day of August . We sente a Erigandine to discouer a little Ryuer , and at the mouth of the Riuer , there were certain wilde men , which did trucke siluer for our marchandise that we had brought , and they saide that they had that siluer , of a shippe that had bene cast away , comming from Entailes . We found there a certain Spaniarde , escaped from a shipwracke twentie yeares agoe , whome we tooke vp into our Brigandine , and we did inquire of him , if he coulde tell any newes of the Frenche men , that kepte a holde in that Countrey : and he answered that he knew nothing , sauing that he vnderstoode of those wilde men , that they were encamped fifty Leagues more Northwarde than where as they were aryued , so we set vp sayle and coasted al along the coast , which semed to be the sandy lande , planted with little trées all along , and the floudes that come from the Southwest are there very smal , and in the mid way we discouered a Ryuer , that our men before tyme had named the Ryuer of May , whereas also the floudes are not very greate that come from the North northeast . And bycause of the shallownesse of the waters , we might sée the Anker holds that before had bene there , and we founde within thrée or foure Leagues of lande , six or seuen fadome water , or there about . I remember also , that betwene the Ryuer of May & another named Aye , we founde another on the Northe syde , about two Leagues distant from the Ryuer of May , and there we cast Anker being benighted , hauing cyght or nine fadome water , finding the bottom in some places sandy , somtymes grauely , & much Oxias . We sounded also the Ryuer of Dolphins , and there we found at the bar two fadome , but at a full Sea there is sound two fadome and thrée quarters . And after that we had long coasted the coast to find a landing place , the .xxvij. day of August , we cast oure Ankers in the Rode , of the Ryuer of May , at seauen fadome water , being from the lande about two Leagues . On Wednesday being the .xxix. of the sayde Moneth , we entered into thrée Barges , & rowed vp the sayde Ryuer , straight to the holde where oure men kepte , the whiche they before time had made , for their place of assurance and rest , a place very commodious , as well for the Ryuer that it hath on the one side , & a wood on other the side , which is distant not passing a quarter of a myle from the place , and a fayre fields betwene the wood and the Holde , and another side verye pleasaunt couered with grasse and hearbes , very long , and of diuers kinds : and there is no way into the Wood , sauing a little way made by oure men , about a mans pace , the which they had made in going to the fountaine that was in the sayde wood . When that we were aryued nere to the sayde place , our Lieutenant caused the vittayles to be discharged , & carryed to the Holde , with other munitions to recreate the place , and also commaunded , that we handycraftes men with our wiues and children , should go thither , and caused vs to be condutted thyther by a Gentleman of the house of Vlly , of Beauchaire , and others , to whome also he gaue the charge of his most precious cariage . Those that taryed for vs at the Fort , were greatly reioysed at our comming , for they were perplexed and troubled to be so long tyme without hearing any newes out of France , and that more augmented there dolour , they were without vittayles , vnlesse that they would accustome them selues to liue according to the order of the Countrey Inhabitantes , of whom also they could get nothing , but by violence and force , as we shall declare more plainelye hereafter . Nowe when that we were remayning there , I considered the forme of the dwellers of the lande , which séemed to me good and gentle , for the men are straight and well proporcioned , somewhat of a ruddy colour . I vnderstoode that in euery village they haue a king , and for their clothing they haue Lether marked after a strange fashion , they haue no apparell neyther men nor women , but the women are girded with a little valle or apron of the skin of some beast , for to couer the parte of nature that is most shamefast . Thei are neither flat nosed nor great lipped , but their face is rounde and full , their eyes cleare and feareful , their haire is very long , and they trusse it very properly round aboute their heades . And this trussing of their haire serueth them in stede of a Quiuer , to carry their arrowes when they goe to warre : it is maruellous to sée how sodenlye they haue them ready in their handes to shoote very farre and as streight as is possible . As touching their maners , they are dissolute , they instructe not their children , neyther yet correcte them , they wyll take without conscience , and al that they can catche secretlye , they counte it their owne . Euery one hath his owne wyfe , and they kepe maryage , yea , with all Rygor . They warre against the Countryes adiacent , which are of diuers languages . Their weapons are bowes and arrowes . Their houses are rounde almoste like a Doue house , founded and established with great trées , couered ouer with leaues of a Palme trée . They feare not the windes and tempestes . They are often grieued with little flyes , which in their language they cal Maring●ns , and it behoueth them ordinarily to make fiers in their houses , specially vnder their beddes , to be delyuered of this vermine . They say that they sting cruelly , and that part that is touched with their stinging , looketh lyke the fleshe of a lazar . They estéeme nothing so rich and so faire as the feathers of Birds , being of dyuers colours . They estéeme muche little counters , that they make of the bones of certain fishes , & other grene stones and redde . Their foode is rootes , fruite , herbes , and fishes of diuers kinds , and their fish is very fatre that they hang to drye , the which they call in their language Boquarie , they take out the fat the which they vse in stéede of butter & saulse . They haue no corne , but they haue aboundance of a certaine séede which groweth the heigth of seuen foote , his stalke is great like a Cane , and the graine great like a pease , the eare is a foote long , the colour is of the colour of wax vnwrought : the meane to vse it , is firste to bruse it and stampe it to meale , then afterwarde they vndoe it by mingling and make therwith their Mygan , which is like to Rice that is kept in this countrey . It must be eaten assone as it is made , bycause it will quicklye chaunge , for it is not to be kepte . They haue many bastarde Vynes growing about trées , as we sée in some Countreys of this Realme , but they haue not the vse to presse out the Wine . Their drinke they call Cassinet , is made with hearbes mingled together , and séemeth of the colour of Ale of our countrey , I haue tafted thereof , and it hath not bene straunge to me . As touching the countrey it , séemeth to me hilly . There are many Forrestes which maye be the occasion of so manye wilde beastes , the which they say will hurt those that take not good heede . I wil leaue to speake many things of wilde beastes , the which only I haue heard speake of , but it is inough for me to wryte that which I haue séene , and that séemeth to me worthy of memorie for the posteritie . And singulerly of Cocodrils , the which often tymes are séene come forth of the sande to go séeke their pray , we haue sene many , specially one deade , and we haue eaten thereof , the which eateth tender , & white as veale , and almost of the same taste . He was killed with the shotte of a Gunne , stroken betwéene two skales , otherwyse they are strong inoughe for any strokes : his mouth very great , & his téeth straight like the téeth of a combe , his body was .xij. or .xiij. foote long , the legges very short to the proportion of the bodye , his nayles straunge and cruell , his tayle strong and long , wherin consisteth his life and principall defence . Also in the mouth I find no apperance of tongue , for he had the vpper parte vnder , a thing monsterous , whiche in beholding thereof is inoughe to giue feare to men . Also I did sée a serpent dead by the wood which had bene killed by one of our men , of which the wilde men cut of the heade , and did carry it away with greate care and diligence : I coulde not know the reason wherfore they did so . He had wings by the whiche he might sometymes flye vp from the ground . Some of our men thought that the wilde men did it for some superstition , and as farre as I could sée , they are not without some opinion of diuinitie , like as I do coniecture by certaine circumstances , that easelye they might be brought to good ciuilitye and honestie , and also to holinesse & sound Religion , if that God of his mercy would vouchsafe it : for so soone as the Bell had rong for to goe to prayers of our Holde , they would be there , and stretch vp their handes to heauen as we did , yea , with reuerence and attentiue eare . In the meane time , our gouernor was by for to acquite faithfullye his charge , and gaue order that the holde might be so ramperde and furnished , that it might serue for a defence , least by aduenture the barbarous men might sodenly make an insurrection , & ouerrunne vs. Monday the third day of September , did ariue nere to our shippes fiue sayle of Spanishe ships , the Admiral being of the burthen of .iiij. hundreth Tunnes , the Barke a hundreth & fiftie Tunnes , being followed with thrée patences , the which came & cast Anker hard by our shippes about nine of of the clocke towarde night , in the night they and our shippes spake together , and when that our men had asked them why they came to séeke them , they aunswered that they were enimies , and that the war was sufficiently declared , so then our men beholding the strength of the Spaniards to their enuy and naughtye will , wayed their Ankers , and set vppe sayle , and the Spaniardes chased after them , but they coulde not get them by sayling , & therefore they retired into the Ryuer of Dolphins , and there they were minded to descende . And after that they had conspired our ruine with the wilde men , as the issue of their enterprise in the ende sheweth , from this Ryuer they sente of their men by companies as many as they thought néedefull for to execute their enterprise . And since we vnderstoode of the wylde men , that they were in armour sixe hundréth men . Not long after , thrée of oure shippes being come againe to the Rode , ( for the Trinitie our Admiral was borne downe the Riuer hauing no Anker holde ) the Capitaine Iohn Rybaut was mynded with these thrée shippes to pursue the Spaniards : and after that he had counsailed with his men vpon this enterprise , shewing vnto them that it was necessary to shewe their force vpon the water , vnlesse they would incurre the losse of their shippes , for our men being on lande could not let them to effray those that were left in the shippes , being but a small number in comparison to the enimies , the which seemed vnto vs an intollerable losse , specially that we coulde sende no commoditie into France for to let the kings Maiestie vnderstande the estate of our enterprise . Therefore vpon Monday the tenth day of September , thrée houres before noone , the Capitaine and kings Lieutenant would sée all his men , and after that he had exhorted them to do well in the Kings seruice , toke 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 chiefe standard of Capitain Lauduniere . This Capitaine being weryed without hearing newes out of Frauce , and displeased for that he was depriued of foode , a little before the we aryued thither , thought to returne againe into France , and in the meane time did not care much if his company did that to the Countrey Inhabitants , wherby their good affection might be turned from the Frenche men , but he suffered them to force them and bring them prisoners to their Holde , to take by force their Mill , and other things that necessitie , whiche can bée vnder no law , did constraine them . And for so much as desire of vengeance is naturally planted in mannes heart , also that the common appetite of all beastes is to defende their bodyes and lyues , and to auoyde those thinges that shall séeme hurtefull , it is not therefore to be doubted , but that these wilde men did confederate with the Spaniards , how they might be deliuered of vs French men , with whom they were both in body and goodes trauayled & payned . The Tuesday being the .xj. of September , aboute eight of the clocke in the morning or there about , when that oure Capitaine was very nere to the Spaniards there did rise a great wind which continued a long tyme , with great showers of raine , thunders & lightnings , in such sorte that the ayre was some tymes like fyre , so that both partes being afrayed of the rage of the weather , seperated our thrée shippes , being faine to abide the weather , and the Spanish shippes made the winde good : and the rage of the weather dured till the .xxiij. day of September . Now the Spaniards being descended on land , had leysure enough to espie & séeke out a way vnto the Holde , and to inuent the meanes howe to entrappe vs , knowing that our General was at sea with the chiefe strength , looking for fayre weather , and that those that remayned in oure Holde were the most part sicke , being altered by the smel of the Sea , part handycraftes men with women and children , being in all to the number of two hundreth & forty soules , vnder the garde and diligenee of Capitaine Lauduniere , which misdoubted nothing lesse , than that a companie might come by lande to entrappe them . Wherefore our Capitaine did rise earely in the morning for to refreshe him , bycause of the foule weather that had bene the nighte before , opening the wicket an houre before the Sunne rysing , the most parte of vs in the Holde being fast a sléepe and in our beddes . The Spaniardes hauing trauersed Woods , Dytches and Ryuers , being conducted by the wylde and barbarous men , aryued the Monday being the xx . day of September , in the morning earely to our Holde , the morning being very cloudy and rayny , and entered therin without any resistance , whereas they made a most horrible and dolefull slaughter of our men , such a rage and crueltie they had conceyued against our Nation . They sought then who could best cut the throtes of men , hole & sicke , women & litle children , a pitisull sight and lamentable . Some of our men , the most nimblest , stepping out of their beddes , got away and saned them selues in the shippes that were in the ryuer , being left there by our Generall , vnder the keping of Iames Ribaut Capitaine of a shippe named the Pearle , and vnder Luis Ballard his Lieutenant : the others being almost intrapped , leaped ouer the fence or wall of our Holde , the Capitaine Lauduniere saued him selfe by that meanes , with hir that serued him in his Chamber . I was almost taken sodenlye going to my worke , my toole in my hande , for comming out of my Cabane , I met the enimies , so that I knewe no other meanes to escape , but to turne my backe and hye me as fast as was possible to leape ouer the fence or wall , for I was coursed with a Pike man , and I knowe not how otherwise but only by the grace of God , my strength doubled poore olde man that I am & gray headed , notwythstanding I leaped ouer the Ramper , which in taking aduisement I coulde not haue done , for it was eight or nine foote highe , so that when I was ouer , I hasted to saue me in the Woods , and about the distance of a bowe shoote , when that I was néere to the Wood , I turned my face towarde the Holde & stayed a little , and that more holder for that no man followed me . And as from the place where I stode , I might easely sée the Holde , so did I heare an horrible cry of the slaughter that was made af our men , and thrée auncients of oure aduersaries planted vpon the Rampers . Hauing now lost all hope to sée our men together , I put my selfe into the mercye of God , and launched into the thickest of the wood , for this I thought , that I should not finde more greater crueltie among the wylde beastes , than the crueltie that the enimies extended vpon our men . The miserie and trouble wherewith I felt my self wrapped , seing in earth no more hope but that the lord God of his speciall grace aboue mannes hope might deliuer me , it made me therfore cast sighes and teares , and with a voyce full of sorrow I began to cal vnto God after this fore , saying : O God of our fathers and Lorde of all consolation , which hath commaunded vs to call vpon thée euen from the laake of Hell and panges of death , promising thy sodaine ayde and helpe , shewe vnto me , for the hope that I haue in thée , what way I might take for to come to the ende of this miserable age , plonged in the gulfe of sorrow and bitternesse , at the least cause me that féeling the effect of thy mercy , the assurance that I haue conceyued in my heart of thy promises , be not taken away by the cruelty & furious rage of the wilde beasts on the one side , and of thy enimies and ours on the other side , the which séeke our death more for that thy holy name is called vpon amongst vs , than for any other thing . Helpe me O god , assist me , for I am so aflicted that I can call no more .

And in the meane time whilest I made this discourse , trauesing the Wood very thicke of Brears and Thornes , vnder the hyghe trées where as there was neyther pathe nor way , wherein I had bene not aboue the space of halfe an houre , but that I hearde a noyse , as though it were the wepings and complaintes of men that were aboute me : notwithstanding , I going forwarde in the name of God , hauing confidence in his helpe , I discouered one of oure companie named Lasieur of Blonderie , and another behinde him , named mayster Robert , being well knowen of vs all , for that he had the charge to say seruice in oure Holde , shortely after came to vs the Lackeys of Le Sieur de Vlly , the Nephewe of Mounseur Beau , Master Iames Teuse , and many others . So being gathered together , we did consult of our miseries , deliberating of that which we had to do for the sauing of our liues . And amongst vs one being somwhat séene in the Scriptures , began after this maner , saying : Brethren , ye sée in what extremitie we are , what parte soeuer we turne our eyes , we se nothing but barbarousnesse , the heauen , the earth , the sea , the woods , the men , & to be short , nothing fauoureth vs. What knowe we if that in yelding vs to the fauor of the Spaniards , they wil shew fauour . Wel , yet although they kill vs , it shall be suffered but for a time , they are men , and it may be that their fury being appeased , they will receyue vs on composition , otherwise what should we do , is it not better for vs to fall into the handes of man , than into the mouthes of wilde beastes , or rather to die for hunger in a straunge lande . After that he had sayde these wordes , the most parte of oure companye was of his aduise , and praysed his counsell . Notwithstanding that I shewed them the crueltye , yet all bloudy , of oure aduersaries , and that it was not only for one cause and humaine debate that they had executed with such a fury their enterprise , but principally for the knowledge that hath bene giuen them , that we are of those that are returned to the preaching of the Gospell : let vs not the refore be so wilfull as to trust in man more than in God , which maketh those that are his to liue , yea , euen in the midst of the dead , and giueth alwayes his helpe when that the hope of man fayleth . Also I did alleage certaine examples oute of the holy Scripture for the purpose , of Ioseph , Daniel , Elias , and other Prophets . Also of the Apostles , as of S. Peter , and of S. Paule , the which all , being brought out of affliction , yea , by extraordinarye meanes , and straunge to the sense and reason of man , his arme I say is not at al weakened , his hande is alwayes one . Remember ye not ( saide I ) howthe children of Israell fledde from Pharao , what hope had this people to escape the handes of Tyrant mighty and cruell , he followed them euen hard at their héeles , before them they had the red sea , on both sides mighty hye hilles , what then , he that opened the sea for to make a way for his people , and afterwarde swallowed vppe the enimies therin , might not he in like maner guide vs through the woods and fieldes of this straunge Countrey . For all that I could say , sixe of the company followed the first preposition , and left vs , taking their way to their enimies , hoping to finde fauour 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 , beholde they were taken by a company of Spaniards , and intreated like vnto the others , they were killed , & then drawen to the Ryuer side , whereas the others being slain in the Holde lay on heapes . And I will tell an example of extreme cruelty . Iames Rybaut capitaine of the Pearle , rid with his shippe at an Anker about a hundreth paces from the Holde , and receyued many of those that escaped this slaughter . The Spaniards hauing their hearts great , bicause of their victory , were bent to dispatch the rest of the French men , made ready the ordinance against the shippes and boates , but bicause of the raynie weather , and for that the Gunnes were oute of order , they did no harme to our men , but they sent a Trumpet vnto them to summō them to yelde , but when they sawe that this feared them nothing , they sente one of their men euen vnto the Shippes , shewing the authoritie of Dom Pedre Maluendo , generall of their company , for to compound with our men on this condition , that they shoulde leaue the shippes and goe their wayes in their Boates with their baggage to the other shippes that were more lower at the mouth of the Ryuer , distant from the Holde about two Leagues , to the which our men aunswered , that there was no warre betwene them , when that aboute sixe Monthes passed , they had receyued commaundement 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 Maiestie , & also of his Admyral , that we should make no discent in any part of Spaine , nor yet to come neare , for feare of offending them . We haue kepte and obserued the kinges commaundement inuiolately , so that you can not saye against vs , that we are the cause of this slaughter that you haue made of our men , against all vsage of warre , the whiche maketh our hearts to bléede , for the which dede you may hereafter being in tyme and place , féele . And as touching the shippe that you demaunde , you shall sooner haue our lyues , and whereas you thinke to constraine vs , we will employ the meane that God & nature hath giuen vs to defende vs. The Spaniarde being returned backe , did report that our men feared them nothing , but that they were minded to stande to defence . Then this furious company cast the coller and bloudy dispight vpon the deade bodyes , and shewed them to the French men that rested vpon the water , so that they sought to hurt the soules of them of whome they woulde if that they coulde dismember the body , for pulling out the dead mens eies , they did sticke them on their Dagger poyntes , and then with exclamations , cauntes , and mockings , threwe them towarde the Frenche men that were vpon the water . As for vs that remained in the woods , we continued trauesing , keping to out iudgement the right course to the Sea . And as it pleased God to direct our steppes and adresse our wayes , by and by we came to the croupe of a hill , and from thence we perceyued the Sea , but for all that there was great distance , and that worsse was , the way that we had to take séemed maruellous straunge and harde . Firste the Mountayne whiche it behoued vs to discende downe , was of such a heygth and so slope , that it was not possible for any man keping him on his legges to descend , so that none of vs durst descende but for the hope that we had of certaine shrubbes and Brears that grew on this hilles side , by the helpe of which we gat downe , not without great paine , in scratching and renting our hands and our legges , yea our bodyes also being all bloudy . Being descended from the hil , we lost sight of the Sea by reason of a little wood that was planted before vs , and for to goe to the wood , it behoued vs to trauesse a great field being marish ground , wherin did grow many wilde Roses and other straunge hearbes , of which the stalkes being harde as wood , and the leaues , cutte our féete and our legges euen to the bloude , being alwayes in water vp to the knées , and that that doubled our miserie and calamitie , was , that the raine did fall from heauen in such sort , that we were as betwene two waters , and the farther we went , the deper we found the water . Then thinking that we were come to the laste end of our life , we embraced one another , and with a common affection we began to sighe and crye vnto the Lorde God , accusing our sinnes , and knowing vpon vs the rygor of his iudgements . Alas O lord God ( sayde we ) what are we any other than pore wormes of the earth , our soules being altered and chaunged with sorrow and griefe , doth yelde them into thy handes O Father full of mercy , and God of Charitie , deliuer vs out of this place of death , or if thou wilte that in this deserte we make an ende of our liues , assist vs O Lorde , that death which of all things is most terriblest , when he commeth to take holde of vs , that he feare vs not , but that we may remayne firine & stable in minde of thy fauour and good will that we haue so many tymes tasted on and approued in thy Sonne Iesus Christ , for to giue place to the spirite of Sathan , the spirite of dispaire and defiaunce . For be it that we dye , we protest nowe before thy Malestie , that we wil die to thée , be it that we liue , it shall be to tell of thy maruellous workes , in the middest of the congregation of thy Saintes . Our prayers ended , we went forwarde with great payne to the wood , in so much that we arriued nere to a great Ryuer that ranne throughe the midst of this fielde , the breadth was not very great , but very depe , and the water ranne with great swiftnesse , for so much as this fielde was not farre from the sea . This Ryner was an other increasing of our sorowes , for there was not one of our men that durst swim ouer the Riuer . Being in this confusion of thoughts how to passe ouer , Iremembred the wood that we left behinde 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 ende of a Bill that was left in my hande at the houre that the Holde was taken , I came againe to the others that taryed me in great perplexitie . Now brethren , sayde I , let vs see if that God by this staffe will shewe vs fauour to bring our iourney to an ende , so we layde the staffe or forke vpon the water , one of our men , and also euery one following his turne , holding it by the end , and entring into the water caried the forke 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 wheras we toke lande , with the helpe of the Réedes and other hearbes that grew on the brinke , and so we passed all one after another , but it was not without great daunger , & drinking much salte water , yea , such a quan titie , that comming to the other side , oure heartes fayled vs , & we were as one that is halfe drowned . After that we were come to our sclues , & had taken courage , tending alwayes to the wood , the which we had marked to be nere to the Sea , the forke also was necessary to passe an other arme of water , whiche gaue vs no lesse paine to passe than the first , but thankes be to God we passed it , and towarde the night , we entered into the Wood , where we remayned all the night in great sorrowe and feare , standing vpright oure backes to the trées , and for all our greate trauayle & iourneys , yet we had no mind to sléepe , for what rest could the spirites haue being in such fears ? Also we saw about the poynt of day a beast , greate , lyke vnto a stagge , within fiftye pases of vs , whose heade was very bigge , the eies flaming , the eares hanging , hauing the hinder partes indifferent . She séemed vnto vs verye monstrous bycause of hir eyes , whiche séemed as thoughe they were flaming , being very great , the which came not neare vs , for to doe vs anye harme . The day being come , we came out of the woode and then we sawe the Sea for the whiche we had wished so much , nexte to god , as an only meane to saue our liues : but we were againe troubled , for we saw it all a marish ground full of water and couered with briars & wilde Roses like to the which we trauessed the day before . We went forward trauessing these marishes , and neare vnto the place where as wée were mynded for to goe , we perceyued amongst the wylde Rosiers a companie of men , which at the first sighte we thought had béene our enimies which were come thither to curte our waye , but when that we had behelde more neare , 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 captaine Lauduniere , his chamber mayd , Iames Morgens of Déepe , and Fraunces Duuall of Roane , with many others to the number of .xxvi. persons , vpon the deliberation of that which we hadde to doe . One of oure men clymed vpon one of the highest trées , where hée discouered one of oure little shippes whiche was vnder the charge of captaine Mailarde , to whome they gaue a signe , by the which they vnderstoode our néede : so he caused his little barke to come neare , but to approch the sea banke it behoued vs to passe through these wilde roses , and two little ryuers like vnto those that we had passed the daye before , to the which was very necessarie our pearch or Forke that I had cut the day before , and other two that Captaine Lauduniere had made prouision of , so that we came nere ynough to the Bark , but our hearts sayled vs , what for hunger and trauaile . So that we had remayned there , had not the Mariners holpen vs , which shewed them selues verye succourable : and they bare vs one after another into their Barke , and so caryed vs to their shippe , whereas we were well and chéerefullye receyued . They gaue vs breade and water , and after that we had eaten , we began by little and little to receyue strength , which was a most sure token of Gods mercy , who had saued vs , againste the hope of infinite daungers of death , with the whiche we were compassed on all sides , for to render vnto him meste heartie thankes and prayse for euer . So we passed the nighte talking of the miraculous workes of god , and comforting one another in remembrance of our deliuerie . The day being come , Iames Rybaut Capitaine of the Pearle , bourded vs , for to conferre with vs what were best to be done , for to saue the rest of our men and shippes , and then it was shewed the scarcitie of vittayles that we had , our strengthes broken , oure munitions of warre in our enimies handes , the vncertain estate of our gouernor , not knowing whither the rage of the tempest had driuen them . We concluded therfore that we coulde doe no better than to assay to returne into France , and the chiefest of our company were of this aduise , to seperate in two partes those that were escaped from the Holde , and that some of them should be in the Pearle , and the rest vnder the charge of Capitaine Mailarde . So on Thursday being the .xxv. of September , we parted from the coast , by the fauour of a Northerly winde , minding to sayle into Fraunce . And since the first day oure shippes were so parted , that we met no more vpon the seas together . We sayled .v. hundreth Leagues happely , but in a morning before the Sunne rising , we were assayled of a Spanishe shippe whom we susteyned to our powers , & we so beate him with Gunne shotce , that we made him yelde to our willes , & we beate him in such sort , that the bloud ranne out at the skupper holes , so that no man was sene aboue hatches : but we could not bord them bycause of the weather , for feare of brousing our ship . They also being content , let vs goe , & so we left them , thanks be to God , and ioyfull of that which had happened , and for that none of vs was hurte nor killed in this fight , sauing oure Cooke . The rest of our nauigation hath bene without meting of our enimies , but we haue bene sore weather beaten , and almost driuen on the Spanish coast , which had bene an increasing of our sorrows , & the thing that we did most abhorre . We haue also endured on the Seas many other things , as colde , and hunger . For you shall vnderstande , that we that were escaped from Terra Florida , had no other apparell left , neyther for the nighte , nor yet for the day , but one poore shirt , and another little thin thing vpon it , which was very little to defende vs from the iniurie of the weather , and that worsse was , the breade that we did cate , was fenoed and naught . Also the fresh water that we had , did stinke , of the which we had all the day long , but one taster or smal cup ful . 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 dye a great many of our company . And at the end of this perillous and lamentable nauigation , we were dryuen on the coast of Rochell , whereas we haue bene gently intreated of the inhabitants of the Countrey , and of those of the towne , giuing vs of their goods so much as necessitie required , being assisted of their good willes , we had sufficient for euery one to returne into his Countrey .