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Show 322 nmong his countrymen for his deeds of heroism in the New 'Yorld. llc !Jimsclf, bore a cousidcr:thic portion of the expense of the en· tcrprisc, and this was a consideration sufficiently imposing in tho eyes of his sovereign, to secure for l1im the dignity of n. Spanish Adcluntado, with the hereditary govcrumcnt. of nll the FloriJas. It wa.s while engaged in t!Jc preparations for this expedition that tidings were received by the Sp:wiards of t!Jc scUlcmcnts which had been begun by the ]fugucnots. The enterprise of Don Pedro de l\lclcndcz now assumed an aspect of more dignity. It became a crusade, and the eager impulse of ambition was stimulated by all the usual arguments in fa\·or of a holy war. To extirpate IJcrcsy was an object equally grateful to both the legitimates of France: and Spaiu ; and the heartless monarch of J..~rnncc, Clmri<'s t11c Ninth, in the spiri~ which subsequently gave birth to the horrible massacre of S~ Bartholomew, i~ is reported-though the act may have been thnt of the Queen Motbcr-chccrfully yielded up lii!i Protcstaut subjects in ].'Jorida, to the tender mercies ot the Spanish propagandist. There is little doubt that the French monarch had signified to his Spnnihh brotiJCr1 that he should resent none of tlJC wrongs done to the colonies of Coligny; he himself being, at this very time, busied in the labor which was preparing for the destruction of their patron and brethren at home. Coligny well knew how little was the real sympntl1y entertained by the monarch for this class of his subjects, and he felt that there were sufilcicnt rensons to fear, and to be watcl1ful of, the Spaniards. IIo had some better authority than mere suspicion for l1is fear. Just as llibault was about to take his departure from France, the Lord Admiral wrote him ns follows, in n hasty postscript:---" As I was closing this letter, I rccch•ed certain ad vices tlmt Don Pedro Melendez dcpa.rtcth from Spain to go to the coast TIIF. FATE 01-' I,.\ CAROLnn:. 323 of N cw Frnnce, (Florida,) sec ti1nt you suffer him not to encroach upon you, no more than you will suffer yourself to encroach on him!' The prepar2-tions of i\l clendcjl began to assume an aspect of great and imposing magnificence. Clergy and laity crowded to his service. Noarly twenty yessels, some of very considerable force, were provided; and three thousand ad\·cnturers assembled under his command. llut llcrwcn did not seem at first to smile upon the enterprise. His fleet was encountered by tempests as had been the "Grand Armada," and the nwuber of his vessels before he reached Porto Rico had been reduced nearly two thirds. Some doubt no\v arose in the minds of the Spanish captains, whether they were in 11uffieicnt force to encounter Ribault. The bi· gotry and enthusiasm of i\lclcndcz rejected tho doubt with indjgnation. !lis fanaticism furnished an argument in behalf of his policy, imposing enough to the Rupcr.\!titious mind, and which his followers were sufficiently willing to accept. " Tbo Almighty," said tho Adelantado, " h~ reduced our armament, only that his own arm might achieve the holy work." The warning of danger contained in the letter of the Lord Admirnl to Ribault did not fall upon unheeding senses. Still, the French captain was quito unprepared for the rapidity of the progress made by the Spaniards. When, with six large vessels, they suddenly appeared in the roadstead of i\fny llivcr, ltibuult wns at J,a Caroline. ] lis officers l1ad been apprised of the J>roprict.y of distrusting their neighbors, :md accordingly showed themselves suspicious as they drew nigh. It was welt they did so. In the absence of H.ibo.ult, with three of the ships at I~a. Caroline, they were inferior in force to the a.rrua.mcntof Melendez, nnd were thus doubly required to oppose vigilnncc to fraud and force. :Fortunately, the Spaniards qid not rca.ch the road till ncar cveni.J:Ig, when they had |
