Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/34

 picked up by an English vessel, and landed part in France, the rest in England.

Ribault found the fires of civil war burning throughout France, so that he could not obtain the needed supplies at once. A sort of peace having been patched up, in 1564 Coligny again renewed his efforts. Three ships were sent out, under command of Laudonnière, a companion of Ribault. They landed in June at the River of May, now the St. John's, and built a fort. Mutinies occurred, and some of the colonists set out on piratical expeditions, and took two Spanish vessels, thus becoming the first aggressors in the New World. In great distress for provisions, they were about to abandon the settlement when the notorious Sir John Hawkins, the slave-merchant, relieved them. Ribault arrived in August with an abundant supply of all kinds.

But the colony was by no means as yet in security. A fierce and unsparing soldier, Pedro Melendez, obtained permission from Philip II. of Spain, to conquer and occupy Florida, and also to drive out the French as both intruders and heretics. "Death to the Huguenots!" was the cry; and with some three hundred soldiers and over two thousand volunteers, the expedition left Spain in July; although weakened by the violence of a storm, Melendez did not delay in Porto Rico; but anxious to make quick work of his enemies, he sailed to the coast of Florida. Land was seen on St. Augustine's day, August 28th, and Melendez named the inlet and haven which he entered two days after, St. Augustine. The town here founded by this name still remains, and though not a place of much size, is by more than forty years the oldest town in the United States. Melendez was not long in finding the French colony. Ribault's vessels cut their cables and put to sea; a violent storm arose, and the French vessels which had set out to attack the Spaniards, were scattered and cast on shore Melendez marched overland from St. Augustine through the forests and swamps, surprised the French fort, and indiscriminately butchered men, women, and children. A few escaped to the woods, and having found two small vessels in the harbor, after severe suffering ultimately reached Bristol. But Ribault and his shipwrecked companions, half famished, reached the fort to find it in the hands of the Spaniards. Relying on the word of honor of the perfidious Melendez, they gave themselves up, and were massacred, near St. Augustine, with circumstances of most shocking barbarity. A number of the mangled limbs of the victims were then suspended to a tree, to which was attached the following inscription:—"Not because they are Frenchmen, but because they are heretics and enemies of God."

When intelligence of this horrible outrage reached France, it excited an almost universal feeling of grief and rage, and a strong desire for vengeance. Charles IX. was invoked in vain, by the prayers of the widows and orphans of the slain, to require of the Spanish monarch that justice should be awarded against his murderous subjects. An avenger, however, was speedily found. Dominic de Gourgues, a brave Gascon,