Feb. 18. Sails from France. 1562. sent him over with a colony of Protestants to Flo rida. Ribault sailed from France in February, and the first land, that he discovered on the coast of Florida, was in the thirtieth degree north latitude, which he called Cape François. Coasting thence toward the north, he discovered" a very fair and great river," which he entered on the first of May, and Discovers from this circumstance called it the River of May.' and names Here he was welcomed by a great number of the natives, and erected a pillar of hard stone, on which he caused the arms of France to be engraved. Proceeding to the northward, he discovered nine other rivers, one of which, in the latitude of thirty two May 1. the river of May. 3 1 Denominated afterward by the Spaniards St. Matheo [Chalmers, i. 513]; but now called St. John's river. Some suppose this to have been what is now called St. Mary's river, which forms part of the southern boundary line of the United States; but from Laudonniere's account [Hakluyt, iii. 308, 309.] we should conclude, it was the St. John's. "Hee [Ribault] arrived in Florida, landing near a Cape or Promontorie, which "he called St. François in honour of our France. This Cape is distant "from the equator thirtie degrees. Coasting from this place towards the "North, he discovered a very faire and great river, which gave him oc"casion to cast anker, that he might search the same. The day following he caused a pillar of hard stone to be planted within the sayde river, and not færre from the mouth of the same upon a little sandie knappe, " in which pillar the Armes of France were carved and engraved. We "called this river The River of May, because we discovered it the first "day of the sayde month." In coasting northwardly from lat. 30, Ribault could hardly have passed by St. John's river, a broad navigable streani, without noticing it. Hawkins, who visited the French settlement on the river of May [See page 103, note 3.]. found it "standing in thirtie degrees and better" [Hakluyt, i. 539.], which latitude perfectly agrees with that of the mouth of the St. John's. I know that Charlevoix's map of French Florida puts the Alatamaha for the Seine; the Ogeechee for the Charente; and the Savannah for the Garonne. It may be correct; but a map, though it contain some rare and curious matter, and aid the solution of some historical problems, cannot claim entire confidence, while it presents us Powhatan or James River as in South Carolina, with James Town in Virginia on its banks, and Charles fort, degrees, "because of its largeness and excellent 1562. faireness," he called Port Royal. Sailing many Discovers leagues up this river, he erected on an island in the Port Royal, river a pillar of stone, similar to that previously erected on the river of May; built a fort, which where he he called Charles Fort; and here left a colony, pro- builds a mising to return, as soon as possible, with reinforcements and provisions. The settlers, whom and leaves he left behind, soon after mutinied, and killed Al- a colony, bert, their captain, for his severity. Reduced at length to insupportable extremity, they, by extra- which aordinary efforts, built and rigged out a vessel, and bandons "embarking their artillery, their forge, and other munitions of war, and as much mill, as they could gather," they put to sea. When they had been out several weeks, and spent all their provisions, they butchered one of their number, who consent. 3 town, the Carolinian capital, at its mouth. I pretend however to nothing more than conjecture, with regard to the several streams, corresponding to the French names. 1 Purchas, v. 1603. Hakluyt, iii. 304. "The haven is one of the fairest of the West Indies." Ibid. 324. "Wee stroke our sailes, and cast anker at ten fathom of water; for the depth is such namely when the sea beginneth to flowe, that the greatest shippes of France, yea, the Arguzes of Venice may enter there." Ibid. 309. Dr. Belknap erroneously supposed Port Royal river to be the same as the river of May: "Ribalt named the River May, and the entrance he called Port Royal." American Biography, i. 36. He accordingly fixed Ribault's colony and Fort Charles at the river of May. Ibid. But the accounts of this voyage of Ribault, and of the voyage of Laudonniere in 1564 [See note 3 in that year], prove, that they were two distinct rivers, and widely distant from each other. The French settlement on the river of May was in about 30 degrees north latitude [Hakluyt i. 539.]; but Fort Charles, built by Ribault on Port Royal river, was in lat. 32 degrees. Ibid. iii. 309. 2 See Note IV at the end of the volume. 3 They procured turpentine from the pine trees; and “gathered a kind of mosse, which groweth on the trees of this country," to calk their vessel; and made sails of their own shirts and sheets. The moss, mentioned by Laudonniere grows several feet in length on the trees along the Southern sea coast; and is a great curiosity to a person born in New England. I never saw so perfect natural arbours, as those on the islands of St. Helena and Port Royal, formed by trees of the forest, covered with this species of moss. The trees appear exceedingly venerable; and, impervious to the rays of the sun, form a most grateful shade in that burne ing climate. the place. First slave trade of the English. ed to be made a victim, to save his comrades. Soon after they were taken up by an English ship, and carried into England." 1563. The first slave trade of the English was opened on the coast of Guinca. John Hawkins, in the prospect of great gain, resolved to make trial of this nefarious and inhuman traffic, 3 Several gentlemen in London, to whom he communicated the de sign, became liberal contributors and adventurers for its execution. Three good ships were immediately provided, and with these and one hun, 1 After sailing a third part of the voyage, they were so becalmed, that in three weeks they sailed not above 25 leagues. During this time their provisions were so far spent, that every man was constrained tó eate not past twelve graines of mill by the day, which may be in value as much as twelve peason" (pease). When the mill was spent, they ate their shoes and leather jerkins. "Touching their beverage," says Laudonniere, "some of them drank the sea water, others did drink their own urine." This extreme famine continued so long, that several of them died with hunger. A boisterous head wind now springing up, and their vessel becoming suddenly half filled with water; "as raen resolved to die, every one fell downe backwarde, and gave themselves over altogether unto the will of the waves." One of their number, at this juncture, encouraging them with the hope of seeing land in three days, they threw the water out of the pinnace, and remained three days without eating or drinking, excepting the sea water. No land appearing at the end of the three days, they became absolutely desperate. In this extreme despair, it was suggest-, ed, that it were better that one man should die, than that so many men should perish. The direful expedient was adopted; and executed on Le Chere (or Lachau)," whose flesh was divided equally among his fellowes; a thing so pitiful to recite," says Laudonniere, "that my pen is loth to write it." Hakluyt, iii. 318. Charlevoix [Nouv. France, i. 35.] says, that Lachau voluntarily proposed to become a victim, and adds: "Il fut pris au mot, et on l'égorgea sur le champ, san qu'il fit la moindre résistance. II ne fut pas perdu une goute de son sang, tous en burent avec avidité, le corps fut mis en piéces, et chacun en eut sa part." 2 Hakluyt, iii. 303-319. Purchas, i. 769, 770; v. 1603. Charlevoix Nouv. France, i. 24—35. Fastes Chron. [ibid.] p. 24. Mezeray Hist. France, 700. Univ. Hist. xl. 393-395. Hewet S. Carolina and Georgia, i. 18. Prince Chron. Introd. 99. Harris Voy. i. 810. Anderson, Hist. Com. ii. 117, 3 He had made several voyages to the Canary Islands, " and there by his good and upright dealing being growen in love and favour with the people, informed himselfe amongst them by diligent inquisition of the state of the West India, whereof he had received some knowledge by the instructions of his father, but increased the same by the advertisements and reports of that people. And being amongst other particulars assured that NEGROES were very good merchandise in Hispaniola, and that store of negroes might easily be had upon the coast of Guinea, resolved with himself to make trial thereof." Hakluyt, iii. 500. dred men Hawkin's sailed to the coast of Guinea,' where, by money, treachery and force, he procured at least three hundred negroes, and sold them at Hispaniola. 1564. Laudor The civil wars in France, among other causes, Vorage of had prevented the conveyance of the promised suc- niere to cour to the French colony at Port Royal. Peace Florida, being now concluded, and admiral Coligny inforining the king, that he had received no intelligence of the men, whom Ribault had left in Florida, expressing concern at the same time, that they should be left there to perish; the king consented, that he should cause three ships to be furnished and sent out to their relief. M. Rene Laudonniere, appointed by the king, on the recommendation of the ad- April 22, miral, to the command of the ships, sailed in April Sails for Florida, and arrived on the twenty fifth of June at the river of May. After sailing northward about ten leagues and holding intercourse with the natives, stopping short of Port Royal, where Ri 3 I He sailed from England in October 1562; touched at Teneriffe, and proceeded to Sierra Leona. 2 Hakluyt, i. 521, 522, where there is an entire account of this voyage. Hawkins sold his negroes at three places in Hispaniola; the port of Isabella; port de Plata; and Monte Christi; and received in exchange," such quantity of merchandise, that he did not only lade his owne 3 shippes with hides,ginger, sugers, and some quantity of pearles, but he fraighted also 2 other hulkes with hides, and other like commodities, which he sent into Spain." Ibid. Auderson [Hist. Com. ii. 117.] says, "this seems to have been the very first attempt from England for any negra trade." [See p. 37, 45, of these Annals.] Purchas, v. 1179. Biog. Britann. Art. HAWKINS, Joselyn Voy. 233. Keith Hist. Virginia, 31. Stow [Chron. 807.] informs us, that Hawkins in his youth had studied the mathematics; and that "he went to Guinea and Hispaniola, which then was most strange and wonderfull, by reason he was the first Englishman that discovered and taught the way into those parts." 3 Much error and confusion had been avoided by historians, had they but carefully observed the traverse sailing of Laudonniere. "Wee sayled [from the river of May] toward the river of Seine, distant from the river of May about foure leagues: and there continuing our course towarde the North, wee arrived at the mouth of Somme, which is not past size leagues distant from the river of Seine, where wee cast anker, and went on shoare." Here the company consulted together respecting the place, which they should choose for "planting their habitation;" whether toward the Cape bault's company had been left, he sailed back to Builds Fort the river of May, where he built a fort, which, in Caroline at honour of Charles, the French king, he called Ca roline. His ships returned in July to France.* the river of May. Aug. 29. Ribault ar rives at Florida from France. 1565. Ribault, who had been appointed governor to supersede Laudonniere, arriving at Florida with seven sail of vessels, took all the best of the men at Fort Caroline for an expedition against a Spanish fleet, and left Laudonniere with the charge of the Fort, without the means of defence.3 At this juncture Pedro Melendez was on his way to Florida, in execution of an enterprise in the service of Philip II of Spain, who had given him command of a fleet and army, with full power to drive the Huguenots out of Florida, and settle it with good Ca of Florida,or at Port Royal. "If wee passed farther toward the North to seeke out Port Royall, it would be neither very profitable nor convenient; although the haven were one of the fairest of the West Indies: but that in this case the question was not so much of the beautie of the place, as of things necessary to sustaine life. And that for our inhabiting it was more needefull for us to plant in places plentifull of victuall, than in goodly Havens, faire, deepe, and pleasant to the view." The conclusion was, "That it was expedient to seate themselves rather on the River of May than on any other, untill they might hear newes out of France." Hakluyt, iii. 323, 324. I It stood not above two leagues distance from the mouth of the ri ver. Hakluyt, iii. 336. 2 Hakluyt, iii. 319, 325, 329. Purchas, i. 770; v. 1603, 1604. Charlevoix Nouv. France, i. 35-40. Univ. Hist. xl. 395, 396. Europ. Settlements, ii. 235. The English writers in general mistake in supposing Fort Caroline to have been built in the English Carolina. It was built in the French and Spanish Florida. [Univ. Hist. xl. 419.] It has been confounded probably with Fort Charles. See A. D. 1562. Du Pratz egregiously errs, when he affirms, that the ruins of Fort Caroline are visible near Pensacola. Hist. Louisiane, i. 3. See next page, note 4. 3 Hakluyt, iii. 354. On mustering his men, this is the account he gives of them: "I found nine or ten of them whereof not past two or three had ever drawen sword out of a scabbard, as I thinke. Of the nine there were foure but young striplings, which served captaine Ribault and kept his dogs. The fifte was a cooke. Among those that were without the fort, and which were of the foresaid company of captaine Ribault there was a Carpenter of three score yeeres olde, one a Beere-brewer, one olde Crosse-bowe maker, two Shoomakers, and four or five men that had their wives, a player on the Virginals, two servants of Monsieur du Lys, one of Monsieur de Beauhaire, one of Monsieur de la Grange, and about foure score and five or sixe in all, counting as wel |