104 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMEEICA 



whereunto, and doing service unto our Prince, we left 

 our own country, wives, children, parents, and friends, 

 and passed the perils of the sea, and were therein arrived, 

 as in a plentiful treasure of all our hearts' desire. As 

 each of us were much tormented in mind with these, or 

 such like cogitations, the 3d of August, I descried four 

 sails in the sea as I walked upon a little hill, whereof I 

 was exceeding well repaid. I sent, immediately, one of 

 them which were with us, to advertise those of the fort, 

 thereof, which were so glad of these news, that one would 

 have thought them to be out of their wits, to see them 

 laugh and leap for joy. 



. . . Captain Vasseur and my lieutenant, which 

 were gone to meet them, which brought me word that 

 they were Englishmen. . . . The general (Sir Francis 

 DraSe) immediately understood the desire and urgent 

 occasion which I had to return into France, whereupon 

 he offered to transport me and all my company home ; 

 whereunto, notwithstanding, I would not agree, being in 

 doubt on what occasion he made so large an offer ; for I 

 knew not how the case stood between the French and the 

 English ; and, although he promised me, on his faith to 

 put me on land in France, before he would touch in 

 England, yet I stood in doubt, lest he would attempt 

 somewhat in Florida in the name of his mistress ; where- 

 fore I flatly refused his offer. . . . 



As I was thus occupied in these conferences, the wind 

 and the tide served well to set sail — which was the eighth 

 and twentieth of August ; at which instant. Captain 

 Vasseur, which commanded in one of my vessels, and 

 Captain Verdier, which was chief in the other — now ready 

 to go forth, began to descry certain sails at sea, whereof 

 they advertised me with diligence. . . . 



Being, therefore, advertised that it was Captain 

 Ribault, I went forth of the fort to meet him ; and, to do 

 him all the honour I could by any means, I caused him 

 to be welcomed by the artillery, and a gentle volley of 



