Divers voyages touching the discouerie of America/Chapter 8
¶ The true and last discouerie of Florida
made by Captaine Iohn Ribault in the yeere
1562. Dedicated to a great noble man of Fraunce,
and translated into Englishe by one
Thomas Hackit.
Here as in the yeere of our Lorde God 1562. it pleased God to moue your honour, to choose and appoint vs, to discouer and view a certaine long coast of the West India, from the head of the lande called Laflorida, drawing towarde the North part, vnto the head of Britons, distant from the saide head of Laflorida 900. leagues, or there about: to the ende wee might certifie you & make true report of the temperature, fertilitie, Portes, Hauens, Riuers, and generally of all the commodities that bee seene and found in that lande, and also to learne what people were there dwelling, which thing you haue long time agoe desired, beeing stirred therevnto by this zeale: That Fraunce might one day through newe discoueries haue knowledge of strange Countries, and also thereof to receiue (by meanes of continuall trafficke) riche and inestimable commodities, as other nations haue done by taking in hand such farre nauigations, both to the honor and prowes of their kings and princes, & also to the encrease of great profite and vse to their common wealthes, countries & dominions, which is most of all wͭout cõparisõ to be considered & esteemed. It seemeth well yͭ yee haue been stirred hereunto euen of God aboue, & led to it by the hope & desire you haue that a number of brutishe people and ignorant of Iesus Christe, may by his grace come to some knowledge of his holy Lawes and Ordinaunces. So therefore it seemeth that it hath pleased God by his godly prouidence to reserue the care which hee hath had of their saluation vntill this time, and will bring them to our faith, at the time by himselfe alone foreseene and ordeined. For if it were needfull to shewe howe many from time to time haue gone about to finde out this great lande, and to inhabite there: who neuerthelesse haue alwaies failed & beene put by from their intention and prupose: some by feare of shipwrackes, and some by great windes and tempestes that droue them backe to their merueilous griefe. Of the which there was one a very famous stranger named Sebastian GabotaSebastian Gabota. an excellent Pylot sent thither by king Henry, the yeere 1498. and many others, who neuer could attaine to any habitation nor take possession thereof one only foote of grounde, nor yet approche or enter into these parties and faire riuers into the which God hath brought vs. Wherefore (my Lorde) it may bee well saide that the liuing God hath reserued this great lande for your poore seruantes and subiectes, as well to the ende they might bee made great ouer this poore people, & rude nation: as also to approue the former affection which our kings haue had vnto this discouerie.
For y͏ͤ late king Frances the first (of happie memorie) a Prince endued with excellent vertues. The yeere 1524. sent a famous and notable man a Florentine, named Master Iohn Verarzan,Iohn Verarzã to search and discouer the West parts as farre as might be: Who departing from Deepe with two vessels little differing from the making and burden of these two Pinnaces of the kinges, which your honour hath ordeined for this present nauigation. In the which land they haue found the eleuation the Pole, an viii. degrees. The Countrie (as he writeth) goodly, fruitfull, and so good temperature, that it is not possible to haue a better: beeing then as yet of no mã seen, nor discerned. But they being not able to bring to passe at this first voyage that which he had intended, nor to arriue in any Port, by reason of sundrie incõueniences (which cõmõly happẽ) were cõstrained to return into Fraunce: where after his arriuall, he neuer ceassed to make suite vntill he was sent thither againe, where at last he died. The which occasion gaue small courage to sende thither agayne, and was the cause that this laudable enterprise was left of, vntill the yeere 1534. at which time his Maiestie, (desiring alwayes to enlarge his kingdome, countreys and dominions, and the aduauncing and ease of his subiectes) sent thither a Pilote of S. Mallowes, a briton, named Iames Cartier,Iames Cartier well seene in the art and knowledge of Nauigation, & especially of the North parts, commonly called the new land, led by some hope to find passage that waies to the south seas: Who being not able at his first going to bring any thing to passe, that he pretẽded to do: was sent thither againe the yeere following, and likewise Le sire Hemerall, and as it is well knowen they did inhabite and builde, and plant the kings armies in the North part a good way in the lande, as farre as Tauadu and Ochisaon. Wherefore (my Lord) trust iustly that a thing so commendable and worthie to bee with good courage attempted, that God woulde guid and keepe vs, desiring alwayes to fulfill your commaundement. When wee had done your businesse, and made our preparations the xviii. day of Februarie 1562 through the fauour of God wee departed with our two vessels out of the hauen of Claue de Grace into the road Caur; and the next day hoysted by saile (the winde being in y͏ͤ East) which lasted so fiue daies, that we coulde not arriue at the nauch that is from betweene the coast of Briton and Englande and the Iles of Surlinos and Wiskam: So that the Winde blowing with great fury and tempest out of the West, and West Southwest, altogether contrary to our way and course, and all that we could doe was to none effecte, besides the great daunger of breaking of our Mastes, as also to be hindered in our other labours. Wherefore as well to shonne many other inconueniences, which might follow to the preiudice and breach of our voyage, hauing regard also to the likely daunger of death, yͭ some of our gentlemen and souldiers being troubled with feuers and whot sicknesses, might haue fallen into: as also for other considerations, wee thought good to fall into the road of Brest in Britaine, to set there our sick folke on land, and suffer the tempest to passe. From whence (after wee had taried there two dayes) wee returned againe to Seawarde to followe our nauigation, so that (my Lorde) albeit the winde was for a long season very much against vs, and troublesome: yet at the ende (God giuing vs through his grace and accustomed goodnesse a meetely fauourable winde) I determined with all diligence to proue a newe course which hath not beene yet attempted: trauersing the Seas of Oction 1800. Leagues at the least, whiche in deed is the true and short course that hereafter must be kept, to the honour of our nation, reiecting the old conserued opion, which to long time hath beene holden as true.
Which is, as it was thought a thing impossible to haue the winde at East, Northeast, and keepe the race and course wee enterprised, but that we shoulde be driuen towarde the region of Affrica, the Iles of Canaria, Madera, and other landes there aboutes. And the cause why we haue beene the more prouoked and assured to take this new race, hath bin because that it seemed to euery one, that we might not passe nor goe in this Nauigation without the sight and touching of the Antillies and Lucaries, and there soiourne and take fresh waters and other necessaries, as the Spaniards doe in their voyage to new spaine: wherof (thanked be God) we haue had no neede, nor entered the chanell of Roham: which hath bin thought impossible. Foreseeing also that it was not expedient for vs to passe through the Ilandes, as wel to shune many inconueniences that might happen in passing that way (wherof springeth nothing but innumerable quarrels, pleadings, cõfusions, and breach of al worthy enterprises, and goodly nauigations, whereof ensueth complaintes and odious questions betweene the subiectes of the king and his friends and alies) as also to the ende they might vnderstand, that in the time to come (God hauing shewed vs such graces, as these his wonderfull benefites firste shewed to the poore people of this so goodly newe framing people, of so gentle a nature, and a countrey so pleasant and fruitefull, lacking nothing at all that may seeme necessarie for mans food) we would not haue to doe with their Ilandes, and other landes: which (for that they first discouered them) they keepe with much ielousie: trusting that if God will suffer the king (through your persuasion) to cause some part of this incomparable countrey to be peopled and inhabited with such a number of his poore subiectes as you shall thinke good, there neuer happened in the memory of man so great and good commoditie to France as this, and (my Lorde) for many causes, whereof a man is neuer able to say or write to the ful, as vnder the assured hope that we haue alwayes had in executing vprightly that which I had receiued in charge of you, God woulde blesse our wayes and nauigations. After we had constantly and with diligence in time conuenient determined vpon the way, wee shoulde haue thought it noysome and tedious to all our companie, if it had before bin knowẽ vnto any without tourning or wauering to or fro from their first ententiõ. And notwithstanding that satan did often what he could to sowe many obstractes, troubles and lettes, according to his acustomed subtilties, so it is come to passe, that God by his onely goodnes hath giuen vs grace, to make the furthest arte and trauars of the seas, that euer was made in our memorie or knowledge, in longitude from the East to the West: and therefore was it commonly sayde both in Fraunce and Spaine, and also among vs, that it was impossible for vs safely to ariue thither, whither the Lord did conduct vs. At which perswaded but of ignoraunce and lacke of attempting which wee haue not bin afrayde to giue aduenture to prooue. Albeit that all Mariuers Cardes doe set the Coastes with shipwrackes without portes or Riuers: which wee haue found otherwise as it followeth.
Thursday the last of Aprill at the breake of the day, wee discouered and clearely perceyued a fayre Coast, stretchyng of a great length couered with an infinite number of high and fayre trees, wee being not past 7. or 8. leagues from the shore, the countrey seeming vnto vs plaine without anye shewe of hils, and approching neerer within foure or fiue leagues of the land, we cast an ancker at ten fadome water, the bottome of the Sea being plaine with muche Ocias and fast holde on the South side, as farre as a certaine point or Cape situate vnder that Latitude of nine and twentie degrees and a halfe, which we haue named Cape Francois.
Wee coulde espie neither Riuer nor Bay, wherefore wee sent our Boates furnished with men of experience, to sounde and knowe the coast neere the shore: who returning to vs about one of the clock at after noone, declared that they had founde among other thinges viii. fadome of water at the harde bancke of the sea. Wherevpon hauing diligently wayed vp our Anckers, and hoysted vp our sayles with wind at will, we sayled and vewed the coast all along with vnspeable pleasure, of the odorous smell and beawtie of the same. And because there appeared vnto vs no signe of any Porte, about the setting of the sunne we cast ancker againe: which done, we did behold to and fro the goodly order of the woods wherewith God hath decked euery way the sayd land. Then perceiuing towarde the North a leaping and a breaking of the water, as a streame falling out of the lande into the Sea. For the whiche wee set vp sayles againe to double the same while it was yet day. And as wee had so done, and passed beyond it: there appeared vnto vs a fayre entrie of a faire riuer which caused vs to cast Ancker agayne there nerer the land: to the end the next day we might see what it was, and though that the winde blew for a time vehemently to the shoreward: yet the hold and Anckerage was so good, that one cable and one Ancker helde vs fast, with out danger or sliding.
The next day in the morning, being the first of May, wee assayed to enter this Porte, with two newe barges and a boate well trimmed, finding little water barges whiche might haue astonied and caused vs to returne backe to shipborde, if God had not speedily brought vs in. Where finding 36. fadome water, entred into a goodly and great riuer, which as we went founde to encrease still in depth & largenesse, boyling and roaring through the multitude of all kind of fish. This being entred wee perceiued a great number of y͏ͤ Indians inhabitants there, comming along the sandes & Sea bankes, comming neare vnto vs, without any taking of feare or doubt, shewing vnto vs the easiest landing place: & thereupon we giuing them also on our parts thanks of assurance and friendlinesse. Forthwith one of appearance, out of the best among them, brother vnto one of their kinges, of gouernours, commaunded one of the Indians to enter into the water: and to approch our boates to shew vs the coastes landing place. We seeing this (without any more doubting or difficultie) landed, and the messenger (after we had rewarded him with some looking glasse, and other pretie things of small value) ran incontinently toward his Lord: Who forth with sent mee his girdle, in token of assuraunce and friendship, which girdle was made of red leather, as well couered and coloured as was possible: and as I began to go towards him, hee set forth and came and receiued me gently, and reised after his maner all his men, following with great silence and modestie: yea more then our men did. And after we had a while with gentle vsage congratulated with him: we fell to the grounde a litle way from them, to call vpon the name of God, and to beseech him to cõtinue still his goodnesse towards vs, and bring to the knowledge of our sauiour Christ this poore people. While wee were thus praying (they sitting vpon the grounde, which was strawed and dressed with Bay bowes) behelde and hearkened vnto vs, very attentiuely without either speking or mouing: and as I made a signe vnto their king, lifting vp mine arme, and stretching foorth one finger, only to make them looke vp to heauen ward: He likewise lifting vp his arme towards heauen put foorth two fingers: whereby it seemed that he made vs to vnderstande, that they worshipped the Sunne and y͏ͤ moone for Gods: as afterwardes wee vnderstoode it so. In the meane time their numbers increased, & thither came the kings brother, that was first with vs, their mother, wiues, sisters and children, and being thus assembled, they caused a great number of Bay boughes to bee cut, and therewith a place to be dressed for vs, distant from theirs two fadom. For it is their maner to talke and bargaine sitting: and the chiefe of them to bee apart, from the meaner sort, with a shewe of great obedience to their kinges, superiours, and elders. They bee all naked, and of a goodly stature, mightie, & as well shapen & proportioned of body, as any people in y͏ͤ world: very gentle, curteous, and of a good nature.
The most part of them couer their raines and priuities with faire Harts skinnes, painted most commonly with sundrie colours: and the fore part of their body and armes, bee painted with pretie deuised workes, of Azure, red, and blacke, so well and so properly as the best Painter of Europe coulde not amende it. The women haue their bodies painted with a certaine Herbe like vnto Mosse, whereof the Cedar trees, and all other trees be alwayes couered. The men for pleasure doe alwayes trimme them selues therwith, after sundrie fashions: They bee of tauny colour, hauke nosed, and of a pleasant countenance. The women be well fauoured, and will not suffer one dishonestly to approch too neare them. But wee were not in their houses for we sawe none at that time.
After we had taried in this North side of the riuer the most part of the day (which riuer wee haue called May,Why the riuer of May was so called. for that wee discouered the same the firste day of the Moneth) wee congratulated, made aliaunce, and entred into amitie with them, and presented the king and his brethren with Gownes of blewe cloth garnished with yellowe Flouredeluces. And it seemed that they were sory for our departure: so that the most part of them entred into the water vp to the necke, to set our boates a flote.
Putting into vs sundry kinde of fishes, which with merueilous speede they ranne to take in their packs made in the water with great Reedes, so well and cunningly set togeather, after the fashion of a Laberinth, or Maze, with so many turnes and crookes, as it is impossible to do it without much cunning and industrie.
But desiring to imploy the rest of the day on the other side of this riuer, to viewe and know those Indians that wee sawe there. We trauersed thither, and without any difficultie landed amongest them, who receiued vs very gently and with great humanitie: putting vs of their fruites, euen into our boates, Mulberies, Raspis, and such other fruites as they founde ready by the way.
Soone after this came thither the king with his brethren, and others with bowes and arrowes in their handes, vsing therewithall a goodly and a graue fashion, with their behauiour right souldierlike, and as warlike boldnes as may be. They were naked and painted as the other, their haire likewise long, and trussed vp (with a lace made of herbes) to the top of their heads: but they had neither their wiues nor children in their companie. After we had a good while louingly enterteined and presented them with like gifts of habersher wares, cutting hookes and hatches, and clothed the king & his brethren with like robes, as we had giuen to them on the other side: we entred and viewed the countrie thereaboutes, which is the fairest, fruitfullest, & pleasantest of al the world, abounding in hony, venison, wilde foule, forests, woods of all sortes, Palme trees, Cypresse and Cedars, Bayes y͏ͤ highest and greatest, with also the fayrest vines in all the world, with grapes according, which without natural art and without mans helpe or trimming will grow to toppes of Okes, and other trees that be of a wonderfull greatnesse & height. And the sight of the faire medowes is a pleasure not able to be expressed with tongue: full of Hernes, Curlues, Bitters, Mallards, Egrepths, woodcocks, & all other kinde of small birds: with Harts, Hindes, Buckes, wilde Swine, and all other kindes of wilde beastes, as we perceiued well both by their footing there, and also afterwardes in other places, by their crie and roaring in the night.
Also there be Conies & Hares: Silke wormes in merueilous number, a great deale fairer and better, then be our silk wormes. To bee short, it is a thing vnspeakeable to consider the thinges that bee seene there, and shalbe founde more and more, in this incomperable lande, which neuer yet broken with plough yrons, bringeth forth al things according to his first nature, wherewith the eternall God indued it. About their houses they labour and till the grounde, sowing their fieldes with a graine called Mahis, whereof they make their meale: and in their Gardens they plant beanes, gourdes, cucumbers, Citrons, peason, and many other fruits and rootes vnknowen vnto vs. Their spades and mattocks be made of Wood, so well and fitly as is possible: which they make with certaine stones, oyster shelles & muscles, wherewith also they make their bowes and smal launces: and cut & polish all sortes of wood, that they imploye about their buildings, and necessarie vse: There groweth also many Walnut trees, Hasell trees, Cheritrees, very faire and great.
And generally wee haue seene, thereof the same simples and herbes that wee haue in Fraunce, and of the like goodnesse, sauour and taste. The people be very good archers, and of great strength: Their bowe stringes are made of Leather, and their arrowes of Reedes which they doe head with the teeth of fishes. As we now demaunded of them concerning y͏ͤ land called Seuola, whereof some haue written not to bee farre from thence, and to bee situate within the lande, and toward the Sea called the South Sea. They shewed vs by signes that which we vnderstood well enough, that they might goe thither with their Boates (by riuers) in twentie dayes.Seuola within xx daies trauailing by boate of the riuer of May. They that haue written of this kingdome and towne of Seuola, and other townes and kingdomes thereaboutes, say, that there is great abundance of golde and siluer, precious stones, and other great riches: and that the people had their arrowes headed (in steede of yron) with sharpe pointed Turquesses. Thus the night approching, it was conuenient for vs to returne by day ashipboorde. Wee tooke leaue of them muche to their griefe, but more to ours without comparison, for that wee had no meane to enter the riuers with our shippe. And albeit, it was not their custome eyther to eate or drinke from the Sunne rising till his going downe: yet the king openly woulde needes drinke with vs, praying vs verie gently to giue him the cuppe whereout we had drunke: and so making him to vnderstande that wee woulde see him againe the next day, we retired to our shippes, which lay aboue sixe leagues from the hauen to the sea.
The next day in the morning we returned to land againe, accompanied with the Captaines, Gentlemen, and Souldiers, and other of our small trope: cariyng with vs a Pillour or columne of harde stone, our kings armes graued therein, to plant and to set the same in the enterie of the Porte in some high place, where it might bee easely seene, and being come thither before the Indians were assembled, we espied on the south syde of the Riuer a place very fitte for that purpose, vpon a litle hill, compassed with Cypres, Bayes, Paulmes and other trees, with sweete smelling and pleasant shrubbes. In the middle whereof we planted the first bound or limit of his Maiestie. This done perceiuing our first Indians assembled, not without some misliking of those on the South parte, where we had set the limitte, who taried for vs in the same place where they met with vs the day before, seeming vnto vs that there is some enimitie betweene them and the others. But when they perceyued our long tarying on this side, they ran to see what we had done in that place where we landed first, and had set our limitte: which they vewed a great while without touching it any way, or abassing, or euer speaking to vs therof at any time after. Howebeit we could skãt depart but as it were wͭ griefe of minde frõ this our first alliance, they rowing vnto vs all along the riuer from all parts and presenting vs with some of their harts skins, painted and vnpainted, meale, litle cakes, freshe water, rootes like vnto Rinbabe which they haue in great estimation, and make therof a potion of medicine: also they brought litle bagges of redde colours and some small spices like vnto Vire, perceyuing among them selues fayre thinges painted as it had bin with graine of scarlet, showing vnto vs by signes that they had in the lande golde and siluer and copper: whereof wee haue brought some.Gold, siluer, and copper in Florida. Also lead like vnto ours which we shewed. Also turquesses and great aboundance of pearlesTurquesses and aboundance of pearles. whiche as they declared vnto vs they tooke out of oysters, whereof there is taken euer along the riuer side, & among the reedes, and in the marshes:Marshes. and so merueylous aboundance as is skant credible: and we haue perceiued that there be as many and as faire pearles found there as in any countrey of the worlde. For wee sawe a man of theirs as we entered into our boates, that had a pearle hanging at a coller of golde and siluer about his necke, as great as an Acorne at y͏ͤ least.Pearles as big as acornes. This man as he had taken fishe in one of their fishing packs thereby brought that same to our boates, and our men perceiuing the greatnesse therof, one of them putting his finger toward it, the man drewe backe, and woulde no more come neare the boate: not for any feare that he had that they woulde haue taken his Coller & Pearle from him for he would haue giuen it them, for a looking glasse or a knife:
But that hee doubted lest they woulde haue pulled him into the boate, & so by force haue caried him away. He was one of the goodliest men of all the company. But for that we had no leasure to tary any longer with them, the day being well passed, whiche greeued vs, for the commoditie and great riches, whiche as wee vnderstoode and sawe might bee gotten there, desiring also to employ the rest of the day with our seconde aliance the Indians on the southside, as we perceiued them the day before, which still taried looking for vs: Wee passed the riuer to their shore, where as wee founde them tariyng for vs, quietly and in good order, with newe paintings vpon their face, and feathers vpon their heads: the King with his Bowe and Arrowes lying by him, sate on the grounde strawed with boughes betweene his two brethren, whiche were goodly men and well shapen and of a wonderfull show of actiuities, hauing vpon their heades, one haire trussed vpright of heyght, of some kinde of wild beast gathered and wrought together with great cunning, wrethed and fasted after the forme of a Diademe. One of them had hanging about his necke a rounde plate of redde copper well polished, with one other lesser of Siluer in the middest of it, & at his eare a litle plate of Copper wherewith they vse to stripe the sweat from their bodies. They shewed vs that there was great store of this mettell within the countrey, about fiue or sixe daies iourney from thence, both in the southside & northside of the same riuers, and that they went thither in their Boates. Which Boates they make but of one piece of a tree, woorking it whole so cunningly and featly, that they put in one of these boates fifteene or twentie persons, and go their wayes very safely. They that rowe stande vpright hauing their ores short after the fashion of a Peele. Thus being among them they presented vs with meale dressed & baked, very good & wel tasted, and of good nourishmẽt, also beanes, and fish, as crabbes, lobstars, creuises, and many other kinde of good fishes, shewing vs by signes yͭ their dwellings were farre off, and if their prouision had been neere hande, they woulde haue presented vs with manye other refreshinges.
The night nowe approching, we were faine to returne to our Shippe, very much to our griefe: for that wee durste not hazarde to enter with our Shippe, by reason of a barre of sande, that was at the enterie of the Porte, howe be it, at a full Sea there is two fadome and a halfe of water at the least, and it is but a leape ouer a surge to passe this Barre, not passing the length of two cables, and then forthwith euery where within sixe or seuen fadome water. So that it maketh a very fayre hauen, and Shippes of a meane burden from four score to a hundred tunnes may enter therein at all floodes, yea of a farre greater burthen, if there were French men dwelling there that might skoure the enterye as they doe in Fraunce: for there is nothing lacking for the lyfe of man. The situation is vnder the eleuation of xxx. degrees, a good climate healthfull, and of a good temperature, merueilous pleasãt, y͏ͤ people good, & of a good and amiable nature, which willingly will obay: yea be content to serue those that shall with gentlenesGentlenes must be vsed towards them. and humanitie goe about to allure them, as it is needful for those that be sent thither hereafter so to doe, and as I haue charged those that be left there to do, to the ende they may aske and learne of thẽ where they take their gold, copper, and turquesses, and other thinges yet vnknowen vnto vs: by reason of the time we soiourned there. For if any rude or rigorous meanes should be vsed towards this people, they woulde flie hither and thither through the Woods and Forests, and abandon their habitations and countreys.
The next day being the thirde day of May, desiring alwaies to finde out harbours to rest in, we set vp saile againe: And after we had raunged the coast as neere the shore as we could, there appeared vnto vs about seuen leagues of on this side of y͏ͤ riuer of May a great opening or Bay of some riuer, whither with one of our boates we rowed, & there found one entrie almost like yͭ of the riuer of May, and within the same as great a depth, and as large a diuiding it selfe into many great streames, great and broade stretchinges towardes the high lande, with many other lesse, that diuide the countrey into faire and great landes and great number of small and fayre Medowes. Being entred into them about three leagues, wee found in a place very commodious, strong, and pleasant of situation, certayne Indians, who receiued vs very gently: Howe be it, we being somewhat neare their houses, it seemed it was somewhat against their good willes that we went thither, for at their cries and noyses they made their wiues and children and hoshoulde stuffe to be caried into the Woods: Howe be it they sufferd vs to goe into their houses, but they themselues woulde not accompany vs thither. Their houses bee made of Wood fitly and close, set vpright and couered with Reedes: the most part of them after the fashion of a pauilion. But there was one house amongest the rest verie long and broade, with settles rounde about made of Reedes trimly couched together, which serue them both for beddes and seates, they be of height two foote from the grounde, set vpon great rounde pillers painted with red, yelowe, and blewe, well and trimlie polished: some sorte of this people perceiuing that we had in no maner wise hurted their dwellings nor gardens whiche they dressed very diligently, they returned all vnto vs before our imbarking, seeming very well contented by their giuing vnto vs water, fruites, and Hartskinnes. It is a place wonderfull fertill,Great fertilitie. and of strong situatiõ, the ground fat, so that it is likely that it would bring forth Wheate and all other corne twise a yeere, and the commodities for liuelihood, and the hope of more riches, bee like vnto those we found and considered vpon the riuer of May, without comming into the sea: this arme doth diuide, and maketh many other Iles of May, as also many other great Ilandes: by the which wee trauell from one Ilande to another, betweene lande and land. And it seemeth that men may sayle without danger through al the countrey,Note. and neuer enter into the great sea, which were a wonderfull aduantage.
This is the lande of Checere whereof some haue written, & which many haue gone about to find out, for y͏ͤ great riches they perceiued by some Indians to be founde there. It is set vnder so good a climate, that none of our men (though wee were there in the hotest time of the yeere, the sunne entring into Cancer), were troubled with any sicknesses. The people there liue long and in great health and strength, so that the aged men goe without staues, and are able to goe and runne like the youngest of them, who onely are knowen to be olde by the wrinckles in their face, and decay of sight. Wee departed from them verie friendly, & with their contentation. But the night ouertaking vs, we were constrayned to lye in our ships all that night, till it was day, floting vpon this riuer which we haue called Sene,The riuer of Sene. because that the entery of it is as broade as from hauer degrace vnto Honesleue. At the breake of the day wee espied out of the South syde one of the fayrest, pleasauntest, and greatest medowe grounde that might be seene, into the which wee went, finding at the very entrie a long, faire, and great Lake, and an innumerable number of footesteps of great Hartes and Hindes of a wonderfull greatnesse,Heardes of tame Hartes. the steppes beeing all fresh and new, and it seemeth that the people doe nourishe them like tame Cattell in great heards: for we saw the steppes of an Indian that folowed them.
The Chanell and depth of this riuer of Seyne, is one y͏ͤ side of the medowe that is in the Ile of May. Being returned to our ships, we sayled to knowe more and more of this coast, goying as neere the shore as we coulde. And as wee had sayled about sixe or seuen leagues, there appeared vnto us another Bay, where we cast anker, and tarrying so all the night, in the morning wee went thither, and finding (by our sounding) at the entrie many bankes and beatings, we durst not enter there with our great ship, hauing named the riuer Somme, which is 8. 9. 10. 11. fadome depth, diuiding it selfe into many great Ilands, and small goodly medow grounds and pastures, and euery where such abundance of fish as is incredible, and on the Weast Northwest side, there is a great riuer that commeth frõ the countrie of a great length ouer: and another on the Northeast side, which returne into the Sea. So that (my Lord) it is a countrie full of hauens, riuers,Good hauens and riuers. and Ilands, of such fruitfulnes as cannot with tongue be expressed: and where in short time great and precious cõmodities might bee found. And besides this wee discouered and found also vii. riuers more, as great and as good,7. Great & good riuers. cutting and diuiding the land into faire and great Ilands. The Indians inhabitants there be like in manners, & the countrie in fertillitie apt and commodious throughout to beare & bring foorth plentifully all that men would plant or sowe vpon it. There bee euery where the highest and greatest Firtrees yͭ can be seene, very well smelling, and where out might bee gathered (with cutting the only bark) as much Rosen, Turpentine, & Frãkẽsence, as men would desire. And to be short there lacketh nothing. Wherefore being not able to enter & lie with our great vessels there, we could make no long abiding, nor enter so farre into the riuers and countries as wee would faine haue done: for it is well knowne how many inconueniences haue happened vnto men, not only in attempting of newe discoueries, but also in all places by leauing their great vessels in the Sea, farre from the land, vnfurnished of the heads and best men. As for y͏ͤ other riuers we haue giuen them names as followeth: and vnto the Ilandes ioyning vnto them, the same name that the next riuer vnto it hath, as you shall see by the portratures or Cardes yͭ I haue made therof.Maps and Sea Cardes. As to the fourth name of Loire, to y͏ͤ fift Charnet, to y͏ͤ sixt Carõ to the 7. riuer Belle, to y͏ͤ 8. riuer Grafide, to the 9. port Royall, and to the tenth Belle Virrir.
Vpon Whitsunday the xxvii. day of May, after wee had perceiued and considered that there was no remedie, but to assay to find the meanes to harber our ships, as wel to amend and trimme them, as to get vs fresh water, wood, and other necessaries, whereof wee hauing opinion that there was no fayrer or fitter place for the purpose, then port Royall. And when wee had sounded the entrie and the ChanellPort royalls most excellent hauen. (thanked be God) wee entered safely therein with our shippes, against the opinion of many, finding the same one of the fayrest and greatest Hauens of the worlde.
Howe be it, it must be remembredNote. least men approching neare it within seuen leagues of the lande, bee abashed and afraide on the Eastside, drawing towarde the Southeast, the grounde to be flatte, for neuerthelesse at a full sea, there is euery where foure fadome water, keeping the right Chanel.
In this part there are many riuers of meane bignesse and large, where without daunger the greatest shippes of the worlde might bee harboured, which wee founde, no Indian inhabiting there aboutes. The Porte and Riuers side is neerer then tenne or twelue leages vpwardes into the countreys, although it bee one of the goodliest, best, and fruitefullest countreys that euer was seene, and where nothing lacketh, and also where as good and likely commodities bee founde as in other places thereby.
For wee founde there a great number of Pepertrees,Pepper (illegible text) the Pepper yet greene, and not ready to bee gathered: Also the best water of the world, and so many sortes of fishes that yee may take them without net or angle so many as ye will. Also an innumerable sort of wilde foule of all sortes, and in little Ilandes at the entrie of this hauen, on the East Northeast side, there is so great number of Egrepes that the busshes bee all white and couered with them, so that one may take of the young ones with his hande as many as hee will carry away. There bee also a number of other foules, as Hernes, Bitters, Curlues. And to bee short, there is so many small byrdes that it is a strange thing to bee seene. Wee founde the Indians there more doubtfull and fearefull then the others before: Yet after we had been in their houses, and congregated with them, and shewed curtesie to those that we founde to haue abandoned there through boats meale, victuall, and small housholde stuffe, and both in not taking awaye or touching any part thereof, and in leauing in that place where they dressed their meate, Kniues, Looking glasses, little Beades of glasse,A speciall note. which they loue and esteeme aboue golde and pearles, for to hang them at their eares and neck, and to giue them to their wiues and children: they were somewhat emboldened.
For some of them came to our boates, of the which wee carried two goodly and strong aboorde our shippes, clothing and vsing them as gently as it was possible. But they ceased not day nor nyght to lament, and at length they escaped away. Wherefore albeit, I was willing (according to your commaundementA commandement. and memoriall) to bring away some of them with vs, on the Princes behalfe and yours, I forbare to doe so for many considerations and reasons that they told mee, and for that we were in doubt that (leauing some of our men there to inhabite) all the Countrie, men, women, and children, woulde not haue ceased to pursue them for to haue theirs againe: seeing they bee not able to consider and way to what extent wee shoulde haue carried them away: & this may bee better doone to their contentation, when they haue better acquaintance of vs, and know that there is no suche crueltie in vs, as in other people and nations, of whom they haue beene beguiled vnder colour of good faith: whiche doing in the ende turned to the doers no good. This is the riuer of JordainThe riuer of Jordan. in mine opinion, whereof so much hath beene spokẽ, which is very faire & the coũtrie good, both for y͏ͤ easie habitation, and also for many other things, which should bee long to write.
The twentie of May wee planted another columne or pillor grauen with the kinges armes on the South side, in a high place, of the entrie of a great riuer, which wee called Libourne: where there is a lake of fresh water very good, and on the same side a little lower towards the entrie of the Hauen is one of the fayrest fountaines that a man may drink of, which falleth by violence down to the riuer from an high place out of a red and sandy ground, and yet for all that fruitefull and of good ayre, where it shoulde seeme that the Indians haue had some faire habitation.
There we sawe the fayrest & the greatest vines with grapes according,Exceeding faire and great vines. and young trees, and smal woods, very wel smelling, that euer were seen: wherby it appeareth to be the pleasantest & most commodious dwelling of al y͏ͤ world. Wherefore (my Lorde) trusting you will not thinke it amisse (considering the commodities that may be brought thence) of we leaue a number of men there, which may fortifie and prouide them selues of things necessary: for in all new discoueries it is the chiefest thing that may be done, at the beginning to fortifieFortification most necessarie in all newe discoueries. and people the countrey. I had not so soone set forth this to our companie, but many of them affraid to tary there, yet with such a good will and ioly corage, that such a number did thus offer themselues, as we had much to do to stay their importunitie.
And namely of our shipmaisters and principall pilotes, and such as we could not spare. How bee it, wee lefte there but to the number of thirtie in all, Gentlemen, souldiers, and marriners, and that at their own suit30. lefte behind at their owne suite and prayer, and of their owne free willes, and by the aduice and deliberation of the Gentlemen sent on the behalfe of the Prince and yours.
And haue left vnto the forehead and rulers (following therein your good will) Captaine Albert de la Pierria, a souldier of long experience, and the first that from the beginning did offer to tarry. And further by theyr aduice, choyse and will, inskaled and fortified them in an IlandThey fortified in an Iland. on the north side, a place of strong situation and commomodious, vpon a riuer which wee named Chenonceau, and the habitation and Fortresse Charlefote.
After we had instructed and duly admonished them of that they shoulde doe (as well for their maner of proceeding, as for the good and louing behauiour of them) the xi. day of the moneth of Iune last past, we departed from port Royal: minding yet to range and view the coast vntill the xl. degrees of the eleuation:Fortie degrees of eleuation. But for as much as there came vpon vs troublesome and cloudie weather, very incommodious for our purpose, and considering also amongst many other thinges, that we had spent our cables and furniture thereof, which is the most principall thing that longeth to them that go to discouer countreys, where continually both night and day they must lie at ancker: also our victualls beeing perished and spilte, our lacke of Boateswaines to set forth our rowe barges, and leaue our vessels furnished. The declaration made vnto vs of our Pilots and some others that had before been at some of those places, where we purposed to sayle, and haue been already found by some of the kings subiects, the daunger also and inconueniences that might thereof happen vnto vs: & by reason of the great mystes and fogges wherof the seasõ was already come,Mistes & fogs when they come. we perceiued very well wheras we were, yͭ we could do no good, & that it was to late, & y͏ͤ good & fit season for to vndertake this thing already past. Al these thinges thus well considered and wayed, and also for that we thought it meet and necessarie that your honour should with diligence be aduertised (through the help of God) to returne homewards to make relatiõ vnto you of the effect of our nauigation. Praying God that it may please him to keepe you in long health, and prosperitie.
FINIS.