RENE LAUDONNIERE a.d. 



1565. 



having meanes to doe so, that the Captaine himselfe 

 tooke two of my boates, wherein the rest of the meale 

 was, which was left me of the biscuits which I caused to 

 bee made to returne into France : so that if I shoulde 

 say that I received more favour at the handes of the 

 Englishmen beeing Strangers unto mee, I shoulde say 

 but a trueth. Wee beganne therefore to fortiiie our Laudonniere 

 selves and to repaire that which was broken downe, ^^^" 



principally toward the water side, where I caused three- foj-lifi^ them- 

 score foote of trees to be planted, to repaire the Palissado selves. 

 with the plankes which I caused to bee taken of the 

 Shippe which I had builded. Neverthelesse notwith- 

 standing all our diligence and travaile, wee were never 

 able fully to repaire it by reason of the stormes, which 

 commonly did us so great annoy, that wee could not 

 finish our inclosure. Perceiving my selfe in such [HI. 354.] 

 extremitie I tooke a muster of the men, which captaine ^ muster of 

 Ribault had left me, to see if there were any that i^ tJ^Tfori b-^ 

 wanted weapon : I found nine or ten of them whereof Ribault, 

 not past two or three had ever drawen sword out of a 

 scabbard, as I thinke. Let them which have bene bold 

 to say, that I had men ynough left me, so that I had 

 meanes to defend my selfe, give earc a little now unto 

 mee, and if they have eyes in their heads, let them see 

 what men I had. Of the nine there were foure but yong 

 striplings, which served Captaine Ribault and kept his 

 dogs, the fift was a cooke : among those that were without 

 the fort, and which were of the foresaid company of 

 Captaine Ribault, there was a Carpenter of threescore 

 yeeres olde, one a Beere-brewer, one olde Crosse-bow 

 maker, two Shoomakers, and foure or five men that had 

 their wives, a player on the Virginals, two servants 

 of Monsieur du Luys, one of Monsieur de Beauhaire, 

 one of Monsieur de la Grange, and about fourescore and Fourescore 

 five or sixe in all, counting aswel Lackeys as women ^nd five left in 

 and children. Behold the goodly troupe so sufficient ^^Pj^^^[ 

 to defend themselves, and so couragious as they have 

 esteemed them to be : and for my part I leave it to 



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