A.D. 

 1565. 



Laudonnieres 

 orct'ion to his 

 mutinous soul- 

 diers. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



againe within the fort, I was well pleased they should 

 keepe their oth. For this purpose I waited for them at 

 the rivers mouth, where I made my barks to be built, and 

 commanded my Sergeant to bring the foure chiefe 

 authours of the mutiny on shore ; whom I caused im- 

 mediatly to be put in fetters : for my meaning was not to 

 punish the rest, considering that they were suborned, and 

 because my councell expresly assembled for this purpose 

 had concluded that these foure only should die, to serve 

 for an example to the rest. In the same place I made an 

 Oration unto them in this maner. 



MY friends, you know the cause why our king sent 

 us unto this countrey ; you know that he is our 

 naturall Prince, whom we are bound to obey according to 

 the commandement of God, in such sort, that we ought 

 neither to spare our goods nor lives to do those things 

 that concerne his service : ye know, or at least you cannot 

 be ignorant, that besides this general and naturall obliga- 

 tion, you have this also joyned thereunto, that in receiving 

 of him reasonable pay and wages, you are bound to follow 

 those whom he hath established over you to be your 

 governours, and to command you in his name, having 

 for this purpose given him an oth of fidelitie, which you 

 cannot by any meanes revoke for any faire apparance 

 which you have to doe the contrary : for this is reason, 

 that seeing you live upon his charges on this condition, 

 (this is reason I say) that you should be faithfull unto 

 him. Notwithstanding you have had more regard unto 

 your unbridled affections then unto vertue, which invited 

 you to the observance of your oth, in such sort that being 

 become contemners of all honesty, you have passed your 

 bonds, and thought that all things were lawfull for you. 

 Whereupon it is fallen out, that while you thought to 

 escape the justice of men, you could not avoid the 

 judgement of God, which as a thing by no meanes to 

 be avoided hath led you, and in spight of you hath 

 made you to arrive in this place, to make you confesse 



46 



