Mon humble supplication

Selon la vraie mercy tienne."

Thus, of the whole French colony, none was left but Landonniere, and those who escaped with him. He returned to France, bearing with him the news of the massacre. The accounts

published by himself and his companions spread rapidly throughout Europe. A memorial, relating the whole story, was presented to the king, under the touching title of "The Supplication of the widows and children of the men who were murdered in Florida."*

But although this was not less an outrage upon the laws of nations and the honour of France, than upon the rights of humanity, the hatred of the court for Coligni, and the secret connexion of the queen-mother and her party with Spain, prevented any official notice of the transaction. Landonniere himself was treated more like a felon escaped from merited punishment, than a faithful subject claiming justice and public vengeance.

Far different was the feeling which pervaded the French people. The high national spirit for

* Supplique des Veuves and des Enfans de ceux qui avoient eté massacrés à la Floride.

which France has ever been famous, was roused. All distinctions of sect and party were forgotten in the common emotions of pity and of resentment.

That justice and vengeance which the nation thus claimed, but claimed in vain, from its rulers, was reserved to be accomplished by the enterprise and chivalry of a private citizen.

DOMINIQUE DE GOURGUES was a gentleman of an ancient family in Gascony, long distinguished for its attachment to the Roman Catholic church, and he himself had inherited and retained the faith and the zeal of his fathers. France could not, at that period, boast of any officer more distinguished for personal courage, hardihood, and honour. But in a life of adventures and toil he had as yet gained nothing but experience and glory; his most brilliant exploits had always ended in personal misfortune. In an Italian campaign some years before, at the head of thirty men, he had sustained the attack of a large detachment of the Spanish army, until all his men were killed about him. He was taken prisoner, and such was the malignant resentment of the enemy, that in violation of the laws of war, and the usages of chivalry, De Gourgues was sent to the galleys, to row in chains among convicts. A new misfortune followed upon this.

The galley on board which he was, was taken in the Mediterranean by the Turks, and sent to Constantinople. After having been some time a prisoner there, he was again sent to sea as a galley-slave, when falling in with a Maltese squadron, he was liberated. He was now admitted into the order of Malta, but it does not appear that he remained in its service: the spirit of maritime adventure had taken possession of his breast, and he spent some years in voyages of discovery and distant navigation. The particulars of them have not been preserved, but he returned to France in 1565; having added to his former fame as a gentleman and a soldier, that of being one of the most daring and skilful navigators of that age.

On his arrival at Bourdeaux he first learnt the massacre of his countrymen, the general resentment of the people, and the chilling indifference of the court. This subject at once took possession of his whole soul; and, after brooding over it in secret for some days, he formed a deliberate resolution worthy of his romantic character. Catholic from his cradle, he could not enter into the feelings of sect or party, which doubtless enkindled the resentment of others. But the honour of the French name had received a stain -his countrymen had been cruelly and perfidi

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ously murdered-an atrocious crime had been committed in the name of his church-and, as a Frenchman, a Catholic, and a knight, he determined to consider himself henceforward as the self-appointed champion of French honour, and the avenger of innocent blood. To this sacred cause he. solemnly consecrated his fortune and his life.

The punishment of the destroyers of the French colony, would have seemed to be beyond the power of any unaided private man; but a soul like that of De Gourgues could not be impeded by ordinary obstacles. He sold his whole property and estate, obtained loans from his numerous friends, and with the proceeds of the whole, purchased and fitted out, without delay, three armed vessels. They were a sort of galleys, such as are still often used on the Mediterranean, which he selected because they could be easily rowed in a calm, and their small draught of water enabled them to enter, without difficulty, into the shallow harbours, rivers, inlets and lagoons of Florida.

Eighty picked seamen composed the whole of his crew; to these he added an hundred and fifty soldiers, a part of them hired or enlisted men; the rest were volunteers, many of them of good family or military distinction, either attracted by

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the reputation of De Gourgues, to follow him in any expedition he might undertake, or secretly informed of his plan, and sympathizing in his zeal.

With this armament he sailed from Bourdeaux in August, 1567. He had taken the precaution to procure (probably through Coligni's influence,) a general naval commission from the government; but he kept his destination a profound secret from all, except those volunteers upon whom he could fully rely. It was given out that he designed to make a voyage along the African coast; and the mouth of the Gold River was appointed as the place of rendezvous for his little squadron, in case of dispersion. From thence he turned his course towards America. A severe storm, in which one of his vessels suffered much, together with the want of provisions, obliged him to touch at Hispaniola. Thence he sailed to Cape Antonio, the western point of the island of Cuba. There, collecting his whole force, De Gourges addressed them in person. He described to them, in glowing language, the cruelties which the Spaniards had exercised on their country"Such, comrades," said he, "was the crime of our enemies; what will be ours if we neglect to punish them? It is for this that I have expended my own estate-for that have I drained

men.