RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1565. 



by experience as by reading of the histories of late yeres. 

 Our two barks were not so soone finished, but I sent 

 Captaine Vasseur to discover along the coast lying toward 

 the North, and commanded him to saile unto a river, 

 the king whereof was called Audusta, which was lord 

 of that place, where those of the yere 1562 inhabited. 

 I sent him two sutes of apparell, with certaine hatchets, 

 knives, and other small trifles, the better to insinuate my [III. 339.] 

 selfe into his friendship. And the better to win him, 

 I sent in the barke with captaine Vasseur a souldier 

 called Aimon, which was one of them which returned 

 home in the first voyage, hoping that king Audusta 

 might remember him. But before they were imbarked 

 I commanded them to make inquiry what was become 

 of another called RoufB, which remained alone in those 

 parts when Nicolas Masson and those of the first voyage Nicolas Mas- 

 imbarked themselves to returne into France. They ^^« otherwise 

 understood at their arrivall there, that a barke passing 'fjf^^J^^'^^'"' 

 that way had caried away the same souldier : and after- 

 ward I knew for a certainty that they were Spaniards 

 which had caried him to Havana. The king Audusta King Audm- 

 sent me backe my barke full of mill, with a certaine tas great 

 quantity of beanes, two stags, some skinnes painted after himamty. 

 their maner, and certaine pearles of small value, because Pearks 

 they were burnt : and sent me word that if I would dwel burned, 

 in his quarters, he would give me a great countrey : and 

 that after he had gathered his mill, he would spare me 

 as much as I would have. In the meane while there came Peter Martyr 

 unto our fort a flocke of stocke-doves in so great number, '^ntethcap.i. 

 and that for the space of seven weeks together, that every tyiijp^^l 

 day wee killed with harquebush shot two hundred in of pigeons are 

 the woods about our fort. After that Captaine Vasseur in the Isles of 

 was returned, I caused the two barks to be furnished ^^^ Lucayos. 

 againe with souldiers & mariners, and sent them to 

 cary a present from me unto the widow of king Hiocaia, The widow of 

 whose dwelling was distant from our fort about twelve KtngHtoa- 

 legues Northward. She courteously received our men, '^^^^^.^ 

 sent me backe my barks full of mill and acornes with 



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