DISASTROUS ATTEMPTS IN FLORIDA 109 



and Portuguese, Meneudez attacked the body of less than 

 half his numbers and little prepared to resist. Lau- 

 donniere's plan was to strengthen the fort, secure the 

 help of the friendly Indians, and harass the Spanish, who 

 had landed thirty miles south on the coast. Ribault alone 

 insisted upon a naval engagement, and as he was in com- 

 mand, his will was law. Ruin resulted. A storm wrecked 

 Ribault' s ships, and left Meneudez free for his work of 

 butchery. He surprised Fort Caroline, put all to the 

 sword save the women and children, and returned to his 

 landing-place. Laudonniere, the minister Robert, and a 

 few others fled, reached the coast and one of the smaller 

 ships which Ribault had left in the river, and finally 

 reached France. Ribault, meanwhile, with his ship- 

 wrecked followers, made their way to La Caroline only 

 to find the Spanish there ; and a little later Ribault at- 

 tempted to treat with Menendez, who would give no 

 assurance beyond saying: "Yield yourselves to my 

 mercy, give up your arms and your colours, and I will 

 do as God may prompt me." Two hundred of Ribault' s 

 men refused to accept these terms and fled into the wil- 

 derness. The others, one hundred and fifty in number, Horrible 



' Massacre 



threw themselves upon the compassion of a man who 

 knew none for Protestants. Though Spain was at peace 

 with France, as Ribault reminded Menendez, the answer 

 was, "Not so in the case of heretics." Thus did this 

 inhuman monster, sacrilegiously using the name of God, 

 announce his action to his government. "I had their 

 hands tied behind their backs, and themselves put to the 

 sword. It appeared to me that by thus chastising them, 

 God our Lord and your Majesty were served. Whereby 

 this evil sect will in future leave us more free to plant the 

 gospel in these parts." 



Those who refused to surrender were pursued by 

 Menendez, bgt after strong resistance were promised 

 treatment as prisoners of war, and were finally sent to 

 the galleys by the Spanish king. Thus came to its 



