these words in Spanish, 'I do not this as unto Frenchmen, but as unto Lutherans,' Gourgue caused to be imprinted with a searing iron, in a table of firwood, 'I do not this as unto Spaniards, nor as unto mariners, but as unto traitors, robbers and murderers.' Afterwards considering he had not men enough to keep his forts which he had won, much less to store them, fearing also lest the Spaniard, which hath dominions near adjoining, should renew his forces, or the savages should prevail against the Frenchmen, unless his majesty would send thither, he resolved to raze them. And indeed after he had assembled, and in the end persuaded all the savage kings so to do, they caused their subjects to run thither with such affection that they overthrew all the three forts flat, even with the ground, in one day. This done by Gourgue, that he might return to his ships, which were left in the river of Seine, called Tacatacouro, fifteen leagues distant from thence he sent Cazenove and the artillery by water: afterwards with fourscore arquebussiers, armed with corslets and matches light, followed with forty mariners bearing pikes, by reason of the small confidence he was to have in so many savages, he marched by land always in battle array, finding the ways. covered with savages, which came to honour him with presents and praises, as the deliverer of all the countries round about adjoining. An old woman among the rest, said unto him, that now she cared not any more to die, since she had seen the Frenchmen once again in Florida and the Spaniards chased out. Briefly being arrived, and finding his ships set in order, and every thing ready to set sail, he counselled the kings to continue in the amity and ancient league which they had made with the king of France. which would defend them against all nations: which they all promised, shedding tears because of his departure, Olocatara especially: for appeasing of whom, he promised them to return within twelve moons, (so they count the

years,) and that his king would send them an army, and store of knives for presents, and all other things necessary. So that after he had taken his leave of them, and assembled his men, he thanked God of all his success since his setting forth, and prayed to him for an happy return. The third day of May 1568, all things were made ready, the rendezvous appointed, and the anchors weighed to set sail so prosperously, that in seventeen days they ran eleven hundred leagues: continuing which course, they arrived at Rochelle the sixth of June, the four and thirtieth day after their departure from the river of May, having lost but a small pinnace and eight men in it, with a few gentlemen and others which were slain in the assaulting of the forts. After the cheer and good entertainment which he received of those of Rochelle, he sailed to Bordeaux to inform Monsieur Monluc of the things above mentioned, albeit he was advertised of eighteen pinnaces and a great ship of two hundred tons, full of Spaniards, which being assured of the defeat in Florida, and that he was at Rochelle, came as far as Che-de Bois, the same day that he departed thence and followed him as far as Blay, (but he was gotten already to Bordeaux,) to make him yield another account of his voyage than that where with he made many Frenchmen right glad. The Catholic being afterwards informed that Gourgue could not easily be taken, offered a great sum of money to him that could bring him his head, praying moreover King Charles to do justice on him as of the author of so bloody an act contrary to their alliance and good league of friendship. Insomuch as coming to Paris to present himself unto the king to signify unto him the success of his voyage, and the means which he had to subdue this whole country unto his obedience, (wherein he offered to employ his life and all his goods,) he found his entertainment and answer so contrary to his expectation, that in fine he was constrained to hide himself a long space in the court of

Roan, about the year 1570. And without the assistance of president Marigny, in whose house he remained certain days, and of the receiver of Vacquiéux, which always was his faithful friend, he had been in great danger. Which grieved not a little Dominique de Gourgue, considering the services which he had done as well unto him as to his predecessors, kings of France."*

The preceding extract is from Hakluyt, who concludes his account by saying that Gourgue "died in the year 1582, to the great grief of such as knew him." Champlain seems also to have been a great admirer of his conduct. The account given of the expedition, in Champlain's Voyages, closes in these

terms:

"Thus did this brave knight repair the honour of the French nation, insulted by the Spaniards; which otherwise had been an everlasting subject of regret to France, if he had not avenged the affront received from the Spanish people. A generous enterprise, undertaken by a gentleman, and executed at his own cost, for honour's sake alone, without any other expectation; and one which resulted in obtaining for him a glory far more valuable than all the treasures of the world."t

* Vol. 3 of Hakluyt, p. 358. † Hawkins's Quebec, p. 85.

CHAPTER XXII.

Communication from Robert Greenhow, Esq., stating that the Spaniards in 1566, had knowledge of, and in 1573 visited a bay called Santa Maria, in the latitude of thirty-seven degrees; and suggesting that this bay must have been the Chesapeake.

The following communication to the Historical Society of Virginia, from one of its corresponding members, imparts matter of much interest, and new, it is believed, to most Virginians:

"WASHINGTON CITY, May 1848.

"I have the honour to address. to the Virginia Historical Society, the accompanying 'Memoir on the first Discovery of Chesapeake Bay,' embracing some information on that subject, obtained in the course of researches among the old Spanish Chroniclers of the New World, for my 'History of Florida, Louisiana and Texas,' now in the press. Those works have been most lamentably neglected by our historians; few of whom have, indeed, possessed a knowledge of the language in which they are written, sufficient for such investigations; and innumerable are the facts relating to the countries now included, as well as to those about to be included, within the limits of our republic, which still remain unnoticed, though recorded in full in those venerable volumes. Some of these works have, it is true, been long since translated into English, and abstracts of others have been made; but all so imperfectly, that it would be difficult to suppose from them, that the

pages of Cortes, Bernal Dias and Herrera, were not less interesting than those of Froissart, Joinville and Comines.

"The facts stated in the accompanying memoir, may serve to exemplify this assertion; and I may add, that proofs, undeniable, exist of the discovery of the Mississippi by the Spaniards, many years before the expedition of Hernando de Soto in 1541; notwithstanding which, a picture is now in progress, by order of our government, in commemoration of the discovery of the great river by that renowned captain, destined to adorn the rotunda of the capitol.

"I will take the liberty, in conclusion, to recommend to the Society, in the publication of the Annals of Virginia, which is soon to be commenced, while preserving the exact words of the old historians, in quotations or extracts, to give them in the modern orthography; as I know, from observation, that the ancient orthography will repel a large proportion of the ordinary readers, to whom such extracts would present all the difficulties of a new language, unless this rule should be observed.

"With the hope that the Society may succeed in the objects for which it has been instituted, in rescuing from destruction the historical monuments and records of our Ancient Dominion, and in bringing to light those which lie hidden in obscurity,

"I remain, with great respect,

"Its unworthy corresponding member,

ROBERT GREENHOW.

"To the VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

Richmond, Virginia."