RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1565. 

 was not sufficient to transport them, considering the 

 season of the yeere wherein wee were. The bruite and 

 mutiny increased more and more : for after that the 

 General! was returned to his ships, he told certaine 

 gentlemen and souldiers which went to see him, partly 

 to make good cheere with him, hee declared, I say unto 

 them, that he greatly doubted that hardly we should be 

 able to passe safely in those vessels which we had : and 

 that in case we should enterprise the same, we should 

 no doubt be in great jeopardy : notwithstanding, if I 

 were so contented, he would transport part of my men 

 in his ships, and that he would leave me a small ship 

 to transport the rest. The souldiers were no sooner 

 come home, but they signified the offer unto their 

 companions, which incontinently consented together that 

 in case I would not accept the same, they would embarke 

 themselves with him and forsake mee, so that he would 

 receive them according to his promise. They therefore 

 assembled themselves all together and came to seeke me 

 in my chamber, and signified unto me their intention, 

 wherunto I promised to answere within one houre after. 

 In which meane space I gathered together the principal! 

 members of my company, which after I had broken the 

 matter with them, answered me all with one voyce, that 

 I ought not to refuse this offer, nor contemne the 

 occasion which presented it selfe, and that they could 

 not thinke evill of it in France, if being forsaken, as 

 we were, we aided our selves with such means as God 

 had sent us. After sundry debatings of this matter, in 

 conclusion I gave mine advise, that wee ought to deliver 

 him the price of the ship which he was to leave us, 

 and that for my part I was content to give him the 

 best of my stuffe, and the silver which I had gathered ^il^er found 

 in the countrey. Wherupon notwithstanding it was '^ ^^'^^^d.a. 

 determined that I should keepe the silver, for feare lest 

 the Queene of England seeing the same, should the rather ^ote, 

 bee encouraged to set footing there, as before she had 

 desired : that it was far better to carie it into France 



79 



