Purchas his pilgrimes. part 4 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

CHAP. V.

Notes of Voyages and Plantations of the French in the Northerne Ame∣rica: [ 20] both in Florida and Canada.

OF the French Plantation in that part of Brafill by Uillagaynon, which therefore Frier Thenet called France Antarctike, you haue seene alreadie in Lerius. Besides the French haue almost from the first beginnings of the Spanish Plantation, with men of warre haunted those Coasts, and taken many Spanish prises. The French * 1.1 haue also made other Discoueries, and setled some habitation for a time in the Northerne parts of the New World.

Iohn Uerrazano a Florentine was sent Anno 1524. by King Francis the first, and Madame Re∣gent [ 30] his Mother, who is said to haue discouered from the eight and twentieth to the fiftieth de∣gree; (all which and much more had long before beene discouerd by Sir Sebastian Cabot for the * 1.2 King of England, who was the first that set foote on the American Continent in behalfe of any Christian Prince Anno 1496. or as othe••rs 1497. and therefore the French reckoning falleth short, some of which Nation vpon Verazanos Discouery challenge I know not what right to all that Coast, and make their New France neere as great as all Europe. To leaue that, we are to do them Historicall right in relating their actions in those parts. The Rites and Customes of Florida are related at large by Ren•• Laudonniere, by Master Hakluyt translated, and in his Workes published. Laudonniere was sent by that famous Admirall Chastillon with Iohn Ribalt, Anno 1562. who ar∣riued * 1.3 at Cape François in Florida in thirtie degrees, and there erected a Pillar with the French [ 40] Armes. The Riuer they called the Riuer of May, hauing entred it on May day. In the Woods they found great store of red and white Mulberie Trees, and on their tops an infinite number of Silk-wormes. Eight other Riuers they discouered to which they gaue the names of Seine, Som∣me, * 1.4 Loyre, Cherente, Garonne, Gironde, Belle, Grande, and after that Belle a Voire, and Port Royal. In this last they anchored; the Riuer at the mouth is three French leagues broad: hee sayled vp many leagues, and erected another like Pillar of stone. Ribalt hauing built a Fort and furnished it with prouisions, called it Charles Fort, and left a Golonie there vnder Captaine Albert. These found great kindnesse with their Indian Neighbours, till dissention happened amongst them∣selues, the Captaine for a small fault hanging a Souldier and exercising seueritie ouer the rest, * 1.5 which thereupon in a mutinie slue him, and hauing chosen a new Captaine, they built a Pinnasse [ 50] and furnished it as well as they could to returne for France, but surprized in the way with calmes, and expence of their prouision, they first did eare their shooes and Buffe Ierkins, and yet conti∣nuing famished, they killed one of their fellowes called La Chere, and made cheere of him, and after met with an English Barke which releeued them, and setting some on Land, brought the rest to Queene Elizabeth.

The cause of their not releeuing according to promise was the Ciuill warres, which beeing compounded the Admirall procured the King to send three ships to Florida vnder the command of the Author Rene Landonniere, which see saile in Aprill 1564. He went on shoare at Dommica, in which Iland his men killed two Serpents nine foote long, and as bigge as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 legge. The * 1.6 two and twentieth of Iune, they landed in Florida ten leagues aboue Capo Francois, and after in [ 60] the Riuer of May, where the Indians very ioyfully welcommed them, and the stone Piller 〈…〉〈…〉∣rected * 1.7 by Ribalt was crowned with bayes and baskets of Mill or Moiz set at the foot, and they kissed the same with great reuerence. One of Par••coussy (or the King) his Sonnes presented 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Captain with a wedge of siluer. With another Parc••ussy they saw one old Father blind with age,

but liuing, and of his lomes sixe generations descended, all present, so that the Sonne of the el∣dest was supposed two hundred and fiftie yeeres old. They planted themselues on this Riuer of May, and there built a Fort which they called Carolina of their King Charles. Landonniere sent * 1.8 Outigni his Lieutenant to search out the people called Thimogoa, whence that siluer wedge had comne, and there heard of a great King Olata Ouae Utina, to whom fortie Kings were vassals. Sa∣turioua * 1.9 was said to haue thirtie, and to be enemie to Vtina.

A fearefull lightning happened which burned fiue hundred acres of ground, and all the fowles, after which followed such a heat, that as many fish were: dead therewith at the mouth of the Riuer, as would haue laden fiftie Carts, and of their putrifaction grieuous diseases. The Sauages had thought the French had done it with their Ordnance. He got some prisoners of Vtinas sub∣iects [ 10] which Saturioua had taken and sent them to him, some of his men assisting Vtina in his warres against Potanou one of his enemies, and returning with some quantitie of Siluer and Gold.

Whiles things continued in good termes with the Sauages Mutinies and Conspiracies fell out amongst the French, some conspiring to kill the Captaine, others running away with the Barks, one of which robbed by Sea, and after was driuen by famine to seeke to the Spaniards at Hauana: * 1.10 and when two other Barkes were a building, a third Conspiracie seized on the Captaine, detai∣ned him Prisoner, and forced him to subscribe their passe with these two Barkes. Away they went and the next diuision was amongst themselues, one Barke departing from the others. One of them after diuers Piracies came backe, and the chiefe mutinies were executed, Francis Iean [ 20] one of the other Barke was he which after brought the Spaniards thither to destroy them. The Indians vse to keepe in the Woods Ianuarie, Februarie, and March, and liue on what they take in hunting; so that the French neither receiuing their expected reliefe from France, nor from the * 1.11 Sauages which had no Corne, hauing before sold them what they had, suffered grieuous famine; they resolued to build a vessell able to carrie them into France, the Sauages making aduantages of their necessities (according to the wonted perfidiousnesse of those wilde people) whereupon they tooke King Vtina Prisoner with his Sonne to get food for his ransome. The famine was so sharpe that it made the bones to grow thorow the skinne, and when the Maiz by the end of May * 1.12 came to some ripenesse, food it selfe ouercame their weake stomacks. Some reliefe they had by Sir Iohn Hawkins who came thither with foure ships, guided by a man of Deepe which had been [ 30] there in Ribalts Voyage, who also offered to transport him, and set them all on land in France. This he refused, but made good aduantage hereof with the Sauages, telling them that this was his brother which brought him great reliefe and plentie, whereupon all sought his friendship. His men at last generally fearing to continue in that misery, wanting both apparell and victuall, and meanes to returne, so wrought with him, that not daring to giue the Siluer, and such things as he had gotten in the Countrie (which might bring an English Plantation into those parts) he bought a ship of Sir Iohn Hawkins, who partly sold and partly gaue them prouisions also of apparell and * 1.13 victuall for their returne; and as Laudonniere acknowledgeth like a charitable man, saued their liues.

Whiles thus they were preparing to set saile, Captaine Ribalt came into the Riuer with seuen * 1.14 [ 40] saile foure greater and three lesse (whom the Admirall had sent, hearing that Laudonniere lorded and domineered in tyrannicall and insolent manner) and was solemnely welcommed in the end of August 1565. A while after, when as the Indians had filled Captaine Ribalt with golden hopes of the Mynes at Apalatci, some proofes whereof were found to be perfect gold, sixe great ships * 1.15 of Spaniards came into the Riuer on the fourth of September, and made faire shew to the French, which trusted them neuer the more, but let slip their Anchors and fled, being no way matchable but in swiftnesse of saile, whereby they escaped the pursuite of the Spaniards, and obserued their course sending word thereof to Captaine Ribalt. The High Admirall Chastillon also had in his last Letters written to Ribalt, that he had intelligence out of Spaine, of Don Pedro Melendes * 1.16 his Expedition to Florida, iust before his comming from France, Captaine Ribalt embarkes him∣selfe [ 50] the eight of September, pretending to goe seeke the Spaniards, which soone after came to seeke the French at their Fort, guided by Francis Iean, before a Mutiner, now also a Traytour, who shewed the Captaine to the Spaniards. Notwithstanding their assault, Laudonniere made an escape with some others ouer the Marishes into the ships, and so returned first into England, and after into France. Captaine Ribalt was surprized with a Tempest which wracked him vpon the Coast, and all his ships were castaway, himselfe hardly escaping drowning, but not escaping the more then Rockie Spaniards which massacred him and all his companie. * 1.17

This butcherie was reuenged in a fourth Floridan Voyage made from France, by Captaine Gaurgues, Anna 1567. who borrowed and sold to set forth three ships, and entring the Riuer Ta∣ca••acourn (which the French called Seine) he made league with eight Sauage Kings, which had [ 60] beene much dispighted by the Spaniards, and were growne as dispightfull to them. The Spaniards were accounted foure hundred strong, and had diuided themselues into three Forts vpon the Ri∣uer of May, the greatest begun by the French; two smaller neerer the Riuers mouth to fortifie each thereof with twelue hundred Souldiers in them well prouided for Munition. * 1.18

In Aprill 1568. he tooke these two Forts and slue all the Spaniards, the vindicatiue Sauages giuing him vehement and eager assistance, especially Olotocara, Nephew to Saturioua. As they went to the Fort, he said, that he should die there, and therefore desired Gourgues to giue that to his wife which he would haue giuen himselfe, that it might bee buried with him for his better * 1.19 welcome to the Village of the Soules departed. This Fort was taken, the Spaniards some slaine, others taken, and hanged on the same trees on which the French hung; fiue of which on of these Spaniards confessed he had hanged, and now acknowledged the Diuine Iustice. In steed of the Writings which Melendes had hanged ouer them, I doe not this as to Frenchmen but as to Luthe∣rans; Gourgues set vp another, I doe not this as to Spaniards or Mariners, but as to Traitors, Robbers * 1.20 and Murtherers. The Forts he razed, not hauing men to keepe them, and in Iune following arriued in Rochel. Comming to the King with expectation of reward, the Spanish King had so [ 10] possessed him, that he was faine to hide himselfe. This Dominicke de Gourgues had beene an old Souldier, once imprisoned, and of a Captaine made a Gally-slaue by the Spaniards, and grew for his seruice in reputation with the Queene of England: he died Anno 1582. And thus much of the French Voyages in Florida, for Virginias sake worthy to be knowne of the English. Now for their more Northerne Voyages and Plantations.

Master Hakluyt hath published the Voyages of Iaques Cartier, who in Aprill 1534. departed from Saint Malo with two ships, and in May arriued at Newfoundland. On the one and twen∣tieth * 1.21 of May they came to the Iland of Birds a league about, so full of Birds as if they were sowed there, and a hundred times as many houering about it, some as bigge as Iayes, blacke and white with beakes like Crowes, lying alway on the Sea; their wings not bigger then halfe ones hand, [ 20] which makes that they cannot flie high. In lesse then halfe an houre they filled two Boat, with them. These they named Aporatz; another lesse Port, which put themselues vnder the wings of others greater, they called Godetz, a third, bigger and white, byting like Dogges they called Margaulx. Though the Iland be fourteene leagues from the Continent, Beares come thither to * 1.22 feed on those Birds. One white one as bigge as a Kow they killed in her swimming, and found her good meate. Three such Bird Ilands they also discouered the fiue and twentieth of Iune, which they called the Ilands of Margaulx. There also they found Morses, Beares and Wolues. But these Northerne Coasts are better knowne to our Countrymen: then that I should mention his French names, which from Cabots time almost forty yeeres before had beene knowne to the English. [ 30]

The next yeere Cartier set forth with three ships to Saint Lawrence his Bay, and so to the Ri∣uer of Hochelaga. They went to Canada, and to the Towne of Hochelaga. They saw the great and swift fall of the Riuer, and were told of three more therein. The Scorbute that Winter kil∣led fiue and twentie of their men in their Fort: the rest recouered by the vse the sap and leaues of a tree called Hameda, which was thought to be Sassafras. These reports of Canada, Saguenay, and Hochelaga, caused King Francis to send him againe, Anno 1540. purposing also to send Iohn Francis de la Roche, Lord of Robewall to be his Lieutenant in the Countries of Canada, Saguenay, * 1.23 and Hochelaga. Hee went Anno 1542. his chiefe Pilot was Iohn Alphouso of Xantoigne, whose Notes, as also the Relation of that Voyage with three shippes, and two hundred persons, men, women and children, Master Hakluyt hath recorded. He built a Fort and wintered there: and [ 40] then returned.

These were the French beginnings, who haue continued their Trading in those parts by yeer∣ly Voyages to that Coast to these times, for fishing, and sometimes for Beauers skinnes and o∣ther Commodities. One Saualet is said to haue made two and forty Voyages to those parts. * 1.24 Marke Lescarbot hath published a large Booke called Noua Francia, and additions thereto, part of which we haue here for better intelligence of those parts, added with Champleins Discoueries.

Notes

• * 1.1

  As out of Oui∣edo, Benzo, &c. is before ob∣serued.
• * 1.2

  Sir Seb Cabot:
• * 1.3

  Cap. Ribalt.
• * 1.4

  Silke-wormes store in Florida Port Royall in 32. degrees.
• * 1.5

  Mutinie Cap. Albert slaine.
• * 1.6

  The second Golonie.
• * 1.7

  Stone Pillar worshipped.
• * 1.8

  Men nigh 300. yeeres old.
• * 1.9

  The Vassals are petty We∣r••••nces, or Lords of Vil∣lages.
• * 1.10

  Mutinies.
• * 1.11

  The Virginians a〈…〉〈…〉 such a custome.
• * 1.12

  Cruell famine.
• * 1.13

  Sir Iohn Haw∣k••ns his great kindnesse.
• * 1.14

  Th••rd Floridan Voyage by C. Ribalt.
• * 1.15

  Gold Mynes of Apalatci.
• * 1.16

  Spaniards kill the French and plant in Flori∣da.
• * 1.17

  Massacre. Reuenge by Cap. Dom〈…〉〈…〉 Gaurgues.
• * 1.18

  Three Forts Spanish.
• * 1.19

  Why the Saua∣ges haue their goods interred with them.
• * 1.20

  Iust requit all.
• * 1.21

  Iaques Cartier his three Voy∣ages, Iland of Birds in 49. deg〈…〉〈…〉s 40. minutes.
• * 1.22

  Margaulx seeme to be Pengwins.
• * 1.23

  L. of Robewall.
• * 1.24

  Saualets 42. Voyages to Newfoundland.