A.D. 

 1565. 



Alcibiades 

 banished by 

 backbiters. 



Laudonnieres 

 receiving of 

 Captaine 

 RibaulL 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



for a small occasion grounded upon a light pretext to 

 sound into the eares of great Lords that which mischiev- 

 ously they have contrived against those, whose execution 

 of justice is odious unto them. And albeit I will not 

 place my selfe in the ranke of great and renowmed 

 Captaines, such as lived in times passed, yet we may 

 judge by their examples, how hurtfull backbiters have 

 beene unto commonwealths. I will onely take Alcibiades 

 for witnesse in the commonwealth of the Athenians, 

 which by this meane was cast into banishment, where- 

 upon his citizens felt the smart of an infinite number of 

 mischiefes : insomuch as in the end they were constrained 

 to call him home againe, and acknowledge at length the 

 fault they had committed in forgetting his good services, 

 and rather beleeving a false report, then having had 

 regard unto so many notable exploits which in former 

 time hee had atchieved. But that I loose not my selfe 

 in digressing so farre in this my justification, I will 

 returne againe to my first course. Being therfore adver- 

 tised that it was Captaine Ribault, I went foorth of the 

 Fort to goe to meete him, and to do him all the honour 

 I could by any meanes, I caused him to be welcommed 

 with the artillery, and a gentle volley of my shot, where- 

 unto he answered with his. Afterward being come on 

 shore and received honourably with joy, I brought him 

 to my lodging, rejoycing not a little because that in this 

 company I knew a good number of my friends, which I 

 intreated in the best sorte that I was able, with such 

 victuals as I could get in the countrey, and that small 

 store which I had left me, with that which I had of the 

 English General. Howbeit I marveiled not a little when 

 as all of them with one voice began to utter unto me 

 these or the like speeches. My Captaine, we praise God 

 that we have found you alive, and chiefly because we 

 know, that the reports which have bene made of you, 

 are false. These speeches mooved me in such sort, that 

 I would needes out of hand know more, mistrusting 

 some evill. Wherefore having accosted Captaine John 



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