RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1565. 

 whereof they declared unto me, that they could not fully 

 and wholly performe their promise : and that the utter- 

 most that they could doe for the present, was to cause 

 ech subject to bring his burthen of mill. To conclude, 

 they were content to doe so on condition that I would 

 send them their two pledges within ten dayes. As my 

 Lieutenant was ready to depart, I warned him above all A necessark 

 things to take heede he fell not into the Indians hands : ^^^omtion. 

 because I knew them to be very subtill and craftie to 

 enterprize and execute any thing to our disadvantage. 

 He departed therefore with his troope, and came to the 

 small river whereinto we were accustomed to enter to 

 approch as neere as we could unto the village of Utina, 

 being sixe French leagues distant from thence. There he 

 went on shore, put his men in good array, and drew streight 

 towards the great house that was the kings, where the 

 chiefe men of the countrey were assembled, which 

 caused very great store of victuals to be brought now 

 one and then another, in doing whereof they spent not- 

 withstanding three or foure dayes : in which meane 

 while they gathered men together, to set upon us in 

 our retreit. They used therefore many meanes to holde The 

 us still in breath. For one while they demanded their F^oridians 

 pledges, another while (seeing my Lieutenant would not ^^ ^^ ^^^^' 

 yeeld to them, untill such time as they had brought 

 the victuals unto the boats ; according to the agreement 

 passed betwene us) they signified unto him that the 

 women and young children were affraide out of all 

 measure to see fire in their matches so neere their 

 harquebuses : and that therefore they most earnestly 

 besought them to put them out, that they might more 

 easily get people ynough to carry the victuals, and that 

 they for their partes would leave their bowes and 

 arrowes, and would be contented that their servants 

 should carrie them. This second request was as flatly 

 denied them as the former : For it was an easie matter 

 to smel out their intention. But while these things 

 were thus in handling, Utina by no meanes was to be [III. 346.] 



71 



