French Protestants in Florida.

Settlement of St. Augustine.

Under the auspices of France, a colony of Protestants had 1564 sought an asylum in the peninsula of Florida. It had been a cherished desire of Coligny, the leader of the Protestant party in France, to establish a refuge for the Huguenots, and a Protestant French empire in the new world. The first expedition failed. In 1564, he renewed his solicitations with Charles IX for the colonization of Florida. The king approbated the measure. Emigrants were quite ready, for "men still dreamed of rich mines of gold in the interior," and Laudonniere was appointed to conduct them. They established themselves on the banks of the river now called St. Johns. The French were hospitably welcomed by the natives, but soon lost their confidence by unjust dealings with them. In the spring, supplies of every kind were received, with fresh emigrants, and Calvinism appeared about to become established in the inviting regions of Florida. But Spain had no inclination to surrender to France what she considered a portion of her dominions; neither would Philip II, the Spanish king, willingly permit heretics to plant themselves in the neighborhood of his Catholic provinces. An expedition for their extermination was accordingly fitted out in 1565. It had been the intention of Melendez, the Spanish commander, to select a favorable site for a settlement, and when fortifications had been constructed, to attack the French. After sailing along the coast, they discovered a fine haven and beautiful river," to which they gave the name of St. Augustine. 1565 Having taken possession of the continent in the name of their king, they immediately commenced the foundation of the oldest town now existing in the United States, more than forty years before the first settlement in Virginia. The French colony was soon attacked, the Spaniards gained the ascen

66

Settlement of Port Royal.

dency, and a scene of carnage ensued in which nearly two hundred persons were killed. "A few Catholics were spared; some mechanics were reserved as slaves; the rest were massacred." Thus ended the Huguenot settlement, and France resigned all claims to Florida.

In 1540, the French had made an unsuccessful attempt to establish a colony in Canada. For many years afterwards, being involved in difficulties at home, no further discoveries were made by that government. Under the enlightened reign of Henry IV, the spirit of enterprise and the hope of founding colonies in America, revived. An expedition was prepared, and resulted in the establishment, in 1605, of a colony, which they named Port Royal, afterwards called Annapolis, on a harbor in the Bay of Fundy; difficult of access, but possessing some advantages. Thus was the first French settlement made on the American continent, three years before the founding of Quebec by the same nation, and two years before Jamestown was settled by the English.

In the establishment of all these colonies, the European monarchs seemed to forget that the natives of America had exclusive right to the soil, and appeared to think that they themselves could bestow the government on whomsoever they pleased; the only claim required being to obtain possession before any other European power.

CHAPTER II.

ATTEMPTS AT COLONIZATION.

Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

Walter Raleigh.

WHILE the fisheries of Newfoundland were frequently 1579 visited, and the minerals of Labrador sought as containing gold, the attention of Sir Humphrey Gilbert was directed towards plans of colonization. He succeeded in obtaining a charter from Queen Elizabeth, and in 1579, sailed from England with a small fleet. But the wreck of one of his vessels, and other difficulties, obliged him, for the time, to relinquish the undertaking.

In 1583, a second expedition was fitted out by Sir 1582 Humphrey Gilbert and his near relative, Walter Raleigh, attended with no other result, however, than the "empty ceremony" of taking possession of the Island of Newfoundland in the queen's name, and conveying home some earth which was supposed to contain silver. On their return, the vessel in which Gilbert sailed was lost at sea, and all on board perished.

He

This sad incident did not discourage Walter Raleigh. had taken part in the civil contests between the Huguenots and the Catholics in France, where he received information respecting Florida and the navigation to those regions, and resolved on the establishment of a settlement there, in order to secure to England those countries which had been represented as so delightful. He had no difficulty in obtaining from Elizabeth a patent as ample as that which had been

Amadas and Barlow in Virginia.

Colony of Roanoke.

1584

1585

conferred on Gilbert, and two vessels, well laden with men and provisions, and under the command of Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlow, were soon on their way to the Western World.

They took the usual route by the way of the Canary Islands and the West Indies, and after a short stay, arrived opposite the shores of Carolina in Seventh month, (July,) 1584, a little more than two months after leaving home. They sailed along the coast about one hundred miles in search of a convenient harbor, and landed on the Island of Wocoken, bordering Ocracock Inlet, taking possession in the usual manner, for the Queen of England. The English received a friendly welcome from the natives, whose timidity was overcome by the desire of trading. Having made but a short stay in America, and explored Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and Roanoke Island, they returned to England, taking with them two of the Indians, who had been induced to accompany them. On their arrival, they gave such glowing descriptions of the country, its beauty, fertility, mildness of climate and serenity of atmosphere, that Elizabeth, as a memorial that this happy discovery was made under a maiden queen, gave it the name of Virginia. Raleigh was knighted as the reward of his enterprise.

Encouraged by this pleasing report, the next year, 1585, Raleigh sent to the shores of Carolina, seven small vessels, with upwards of one hundred persons. Ralph Lane, a man of considerable distinction, was appointed governor of the colony, and Sir Richard Grenville, commander of the fleet. It sailed from Plymouth, accompanied by several men of eminence, among whom were Cavendish, who soon after circumnavigated the globe, and Hariot, a distinguished mathematician. Having arrived on the coast they were in much

Treatment of the natives.

Sketch of the Indians.

danger of being wrecked on the point of land, then first called 1585 Cape Fear, and passing through Ocracock Inlet, the fleet reached Roanoke.

Soon after landing, an excursion was made to examine the country. The party was "well entertained of the savages," but a trifling theft having occurred, Grenville ordered an Indian town to be burned, and the standing corn to be destroyed; an act not only wrong in itself, but very impolitic, when the adventurers might, in a great measure, soon be dependent upon the friendship of these sons of the forest. Soon after this, the colonists having landed, the fleet sailed for England; and on their return, took a Spanish prize. The dangers of a passage across the Atlantic at this time were great, as the vessels of Spain and of England felt mutually authorized to attack each other whenever they met.

Hariot, Cavendish and other scientific men who remained in the colony, gave considerable attention to the examination of the country, its soil and productions, with a view of obtain ing articles for commerce.

of

The Indians were divided into numerous small tribes, independent of one another, and are described as too feeble to inspire terror. They were clothed in mantles and aprons deer-skins. Their towns were small, the largest containing but thirty dwellings. The walls of the houses were made of bark, fastened to stakes.

They were not ignorant of religion, but had a confused belief in the existence of one Supreme Power, in continued existence after death, and in retributive justice in a future life.

The fire-arms of the English filled them with terror; and the Indians began to dread their power. Fearing there were more of these wonderful people coming to kill them and take