Great Epochs in American History, Vol. II | Page 9

many other things of little value. But the greatest
advantage of this victory is certainly the triumph which our Lord has
granted us, and which will be the means of the holy Gospel being
introduced into this country, a thing necessary to prevent the loss of
many souls....
When we had reached the sea, we went about three leagues along the
coast in search of our comrades. It was about ten o'clock at night when
we met them, and there was a mutual rejoicing at having found each
other. Not far off we saw the camp fires of our enemies, and our
general ordered two of our soldiers to go and reconnoiter them,
concealing themselves in the bushes, and to observe well the ground
where they were encamped, so as to know what could be done. About
two o'clock the men returned, saying that the enemy was on the other
side of the river, and that we could not get at them. Immediately the
general ordered two soldiers and four sailors to return to where we bad
left the boats, and bring them down the river, so that we might pass
over to where the enemy was. Then he marched his troops forward to
the river, and we arrived before daylight. We concealed ourselves in a
hollow between the sandhills, with the Indians who were with us; and,
when it became light, we saw a great many of the enemy go down to
the river to get shell-fish for food. Soon after we saw a flag hoisted, as
a war-signal.
Our general, who was observing all that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit,
said to us, "I intend to change these clothes for those of a sailor, and
take a Frenchman with me (one of those whom we had brought with us
from Spain), and we will go and talk with these Frenchmen. Perhaps
they are without supplies, and would be glad to surrender without
fighting." He had scarcely finished speaking before he put his plan into
execution. As soon as he had called to them, one of them swam toward
and spoke to him; told him of their having been shipwrecked, and the
distress they were in; that they had not eaten bread for eight or ten days;
and, what is more, stated that all, or at least the greater part of them,
were Lutherans. Immediately the general sent him back to his
countrymen, to say they must surrender, and give up their arms, or he

would put them all to death. A French gentleman, who was a sergeant,
brought back the reply that they would surrender on condition their
lives should be spared. After having parleyed a long time, our brave
captain-general answered "that he would make no promises, that they
must surrender unconditionally, and lay down their arms, because, if he
spared their lives, he wanted them to be grateful for it, and, if they were
put to death, that there should be no cause for complaint." Seeing that
there was nothing else left for them to do, the sergeant returned to the
camp; and soon after he brought all their arms and flags, and gave them
up to the general, and surrendered unconditionally. Finding they were
all Lutherans, the captain-general ordered them all to be put to death;
but, as I was a priest, and had bowels of mercy, I begged him to grant
me the favor of sparing those whom we might find to be Christians. He
granted it; and I made investigations, and found ten or twelve of the
men Roman Catholics, whom we brought back. All the others were
executed, because they were Lutherans and enemies of our Holy
Catholic faith. All this took place on Saturday (St. Michael's Day),
September 29, 1565.[3]
[1] Francisco Lopez de Mendoza was the chaplain of the expedition.
His account is printed in "Old South Leaflets."
[2] These ships, commanded by Ribault,--seven in number, with 500
men besides families of artizans on board,--had arrived at the mouth of
the St. John's River on August 29, 1565. The four left outside, as seen
by Menendez, were at the time disembarking their passengers.
[3] When the French Government learned of this massacre, the event
did not arouse any particular interest. Indeed, the colony seems not to
have had any special protection from the home authorities. Had the
contrary been the case, it would have been easily possible for the
French to have built up a flourishing colony in America nearly half a
century before the English were ever established in the new world.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH'S VIRGINIA COLONIES
(1584-1587)
I
THE ACCOUNT BY JOHN A. DOYLE[1]
The task in which Gilbert[2] had failed was to be undertaken by one
better qualified to carry it out. If any Englishman in that