The Description of Florida.

FLorida, a pleasant and spacious Countrey, was so called by the Spaniards, whereas the ancient name was Irquassa, because to Iuan Ponce de Leon, the first of that Nation that steered his course toward this Coast, it gave landing in 1512 on Palm-Sunday, which they call Pascha de Flores, or Florida Pascha: though it had been formerly discovered, viz. Ann. 1497. by S•bastion Cabot, by the encouragement of K. Henry the 7th. of Eng∣land. Ponce, by reason of the resistance of the Natives, being soon forc'd to quit the place; and dying not long after of a wound he received in one of his encounters, not many years after Lucas Vasques de Aylon arriving with two Ships, was courteously entertained by a King of the Countrey, and well he requited him; for at his departure he treacherously hoisted Sail with divers of the Indians, whom he carried with him captives, to work in the Mines at Hispaniola, but it thrived with him accordingly, when having obtained the Government of Florida, he was beaten out with the loss of one Ship, and about 200 of his men; this notwithstanding discouraged not Pamphi∣lus Nervaes from making another attempt, who after many strange adventures, losses and ha∣zards, at length lost himself, it being never known what became of him; and of 80 that accom∣panied him, but 4 escap'd to return home alive. Much more remarkable and puissant, and more destructive to the poor Indians, of whom many thousands were slaughtered, was the expedition of Ferdinando Soto, Ann. 1534. who nevertheless, after many losses, died therein, and his successor Ludovico de Alvarado was forc'd to an hasty retreat, in which he lost half his Army; upon Page  246 hopes therefore of better success, in the two following expeditions of the Spaniards, Religion was thought fit to be joyned with political interest, and first with Pietro Albumada were sent five Dominicans, who from the jealous Indians, not understanding they were design'd Converts to the Christian Faith, meeting only with such usage as made them pass for Mar•yrs; three Iesuits next, Petrus Martinius, Ioannes Rogerus, and Franciscus Villaregius went with Pietro Menendez, whom such a storm encountred in the very landing, that the Ship being driven to Cuba, those that were left on Shore perish'd with hunger. However, of so many landings as had at several times been made by the Spaniards, some footing, notwithstanding all misfortunes, could not but be made in the place. Enough it seems to disturb the following approaches of the French, of whom Iean Ri∣•ald, and Rene Laudoniere being the first that discovered those Coasts, had at several efforts their men totally cut off by the Spaniards, yet at last they were met with by Dominic de Gourgues a Gascoigner, who in the year 1567, in revenge of his Countrey-men, of whom divers were hang'd, and especially of the death of Ribaut, who is said to have been flead alive, ventur'd of his own accord to make thither with three Ships well mann'd with Souldiers and Sea-men, and with the help of divers Casicks of the Countrey ingaged to his Party by Pierre du Bre, the only French-man that escaping the Massacre of the Spaniards in Laudonieres attempt, was left alive in the place, took from them Fort Carolina, and two other Forts, hanged divers Spaniards on the same trees whereon they had hung the French, and return'd with honour, though not without suffi∣cient trouble to clear himself of the boldness of such an uncommissioned exploit. After this, we hear not of any other adventures of the French in this part of America: however there fell not long after a terrible storm upon the Spaniards here from the English, under Captain Drake, who An. 1585. returning from the sacking of Domingo and Carthagena, and as he sail'd along that Coast, having intelligence of the state of the Spaniards, and firing his great Guns against the Fort Page  247 St. Iohn, forc'd them to quit both that and the City St. Augustine, which finding totally deserted, he entred, and seizing on a Chest of 2000 l. and 14 Brass-Guns, he return'd to his Ships, and contented with his prize, hoisted Sail. Since which they have met with little or no disturbance, but remained quiet in those Colonies they possess: besides which, there hath been found space enough of the Countrey for the parcelling out into a peculiar Province, which hath been done of late years by his present Majesty, and granted by Patent to several Noble and Honourable persons of his Subjects, by the name of Carolina, as is mentioned more at large in the peculiar description thereof.

This Countrey of Florida lying South-west of of Virginia, extends from the 30 (some say the 25) to the 50 degree of Northern Latitude, if we consider the extent, as it was before 〈◊〉 was taken out of it) and is bounded South and South-west with the Gulph of M•xico, and M•• Virginium, full West with part of New Gallicia, and other Countreys not yet thoroughly disco∣vered, North-East with Virginia, or rather with Carolina, which being now separated 〈◊〉 a Pro∣vince by it self, lies between Florida and Virginia.

The temperature of the Air of this Countrey is such, that Carolina, which having been ac∣counted a part of it, cannot be thought to differ much in constitution of Climate, is generally reputed not only one of the best Colonies the English possess, but for health, pleasure and pro∣fit, comparable to (if not transcending) any part of America beside. The richness of the 〈◊〉 meeting with such a temperature of Air, as hath been observ'd, must needs produce very deli∣cious fruits, as well of those kinds that are frequent with us, as Apples, Pears Plums, Cherri•s, Apricocks, Peaches, Grapes, &c. as those peculiar to the Countrey; of which, I find the 〈◊〉 most especially taken notice of.

Page  248The ancient Inhabitants of Florida are of an Olive colour, of a full stature, and well propor∣tioned, with long black hair reaching down below their wasts, which are tied about with the skins of hunted Beasts, adorn'd with divers coloured feathers hanging down to their knees, else naked, only having their bare arms, back, brest and legs exquisitely painted: their women most especially are esteemed very handsome, and of an excellent shape, which by their going so naked, appears to the greater advantage. They are crafty, ingen•ous, exquisite dissemblers, re∣vengeful, and frequent in warlike consultations held in the Kings Palace, where he himself sits Arbiter and directer: Their warlike Arms are chiefly Bow and Arrows, which pointed with fish∣bones, they carry in quivers by their side. They have a gross belief of the souls immortality, but the Ceremonies of their Religion are bruitishly barbarous and bloody; their victories, hor∣rid cruelty to prisoners, and burial of their dead, attended with many strange and extravagant fancies and conceits.

There are by some named several Provinces, into which this Countrey hath been formerly di∣vided, viz. Panuca, bordering upon New Spain, Aranaris, Albardaosia, whose Natives are peculi∣arly noted for their sub•ilty, Irquasia, inhabited by a people exceeding all others in swiftness of foot, and Alpachia, Authia, and Someria▪ remarkable for expert swimmers, even to the very wo∣men, who make nothing to cross over wide Rivers with children in their arms: it is said to abound also with Hermophradites, who are made use of as drudges to follow the Camp, and carry the luggage of the Army. Colas, bordering upon Cape Florida: Tegista, or Florida, pro∣perly so called, which stretcheth our North and South 100 leagues in length, into a long Peninsula toward the Isle Cuba, by the Cape Los Martyres, Acuera, Vitacu••us, &c. But the more common division of the Floridans is into their several Tribes, as the Quitones, the Susolas, the Maticones, the Avavares, the Camoni, the Canagadi, the Marianes, and the Quevenes, of each of which the supreme Head or Prince is called the Paraousti.

Page  249This Countrey of Florida is well watered with many large and convenient Rivers; of which the only mentioned in any noted Writer of these parts, are these, 1, Rio Grande. 2, Rio Secco. 3, Rio de Nieves. 4, Rio de Spiritu Santo. 5, Serravahi. 6, Garuna. 7, Ligeri•. 8, Sequana. 9, Axona. 10, Charente, all which fall into the great Lake of Mexico. 11, Maio, so called by Ribault, from the Month in which he discovered it, if it be not one of those already mentioned under another name.

The principal Towns of Florida, whereof some built by the Spaniards (and one by the French) others by the ancient Inhabitants, are, 1, St. Helens, situate on or near a Promontory or point so called, on the utmost Frontier of the Country toward Virginia. 2, Arx Carolina, or Fort Charles, built by Laudonier on the banks of the River Majo, and by him so called, in honour of King Charles the 9th. of France, in whose time the Conquest of Florida was undertaken by the French: but this place was not long after taken from them by the Spaniard, and very much ruinated. 3, Port Royal, a place inhabited for the sake of the Haven only, which for the commodiousness of it, is very much frequented. 4, St. Matthews, one of the principal sortifications of the Spa∣niards, lying on the Eastern Coast of Tergesta of Florida, properly so called. 5, St. Augustines, another of their ancient sortified places on the same Shore, only somewhat more Southernly: This Town, as above mentioned, was in the year 1585 taken and sack'd by Sir Francis Drake. 6, Vitacuche, once the chief Seat of the Province or petty Kingdom of Vitacuche; though n• better indeed than an indifferent Village, consisting but of 200 houses, or rather cottages, how∣ever thought worthy to be taken by the Natives from the Spaniards: As also; 7, Ocalis, the Me∣tropolitan Village of Acuera, of so much the more note, by how much the larger than the other. 8, Osachite, another Provincial Town of the Floridans. 9, Apatache, an ancient Native-built Town, probably once of some note and resort, at least taken by the Spaniards for such, which Page  250 made them the more eager to take it under the conduct of Pamphilus Narvaes, in hopes of finding there great riches. Doubtless it was then a place much larger, and more considerable, than to consist but of 40 or 50 houses or cottages, (as hath been by some delivered) since it was capable of making so smart a resistance as it did when it was attack'd, and of repelling them after the departure of Nervaes. 10, Ante, another ancient Town or Village of the Floridans, chief∣ly remarkable for a sharp Ingagement between them and the Spaniards, whom at this place, though said to be nine days march from Apatache, they overtook, and forc'd to retreat, not without the loss of very many of their men, some of note. 11, St. Philip. 12, St▪ Iago, both heretofore for∣tified by the Spaniards, if not still possessed by them.