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Show 368 THE LILY AND THE TOTEM. ing numbers. But six men were suffered to accompany the Spanish commander. These, well armed, were fJUitc equal to the four to whom he Mcordcd the interview. These soon made their appearance. Their lender told the story of their melancholy shipwreck, the privations they had borne, the wants under which they suffered, and implored l1is assistance to regain a fortress called La Caroline, which the king, Lis master, held at, a distance of some twenty leagues. 1\Iclcndcz replied- " Scfl.or, I have made myself the master of your fort. I have laid strong hands upon the garrison. I Lave slain them all, sparing none but the women, and such children as were under fifteen years." The Frenchmen looked incredulous. 11 If you doubt,'' he continued, 'c I can soon convince you. I have brought hither with me the only two soldiers whom I have admitted to mercy. I spared them, becnusc they claimed to bo of the Catholic faith. You shall sec them, and hear tho truth from their own lips. In nil probability you know them, and will recognise their persons. Rest you here, while I send you something to cat. You shall sec your compatriots, with some of tho spoils taken at La Caroline. These shall prove to you the truth of what I say." With these words he disappeared. Soon after, refreshments were brought to our Frenchmen, and when they had eaten, the two captives at La Caroline, who had been spared on account of their faith, were allowed to commune with them, and to repeat all the facts in the cruel history of La Caroline. Nothing of that terrible tragedy was concealed. .1\felcndcz had a policy too refined for concealment, when the revelation of his atrocities was to be the means for their renewal To strike the bea.rta of the TilE FORTU:-:I:S OF RlJIAULT. 369 Frenchmen with such terror1 as to htwe them at his mercy, was a profound secret of success in dealing with the wretched, suffering, and alrcn.dy dellpouding outcasts in his presence. A ftcr an hour's absence he returned. 11 Arc you satisfied," he nsked? 1' of the truth of the things which I hnvc told you." " W c can doubt no longer;" wM the reply; 11 but this docs not le~sen our cbim upon your huuHtnity as men, and your considern.tion ns Frenchmen. Our people arc at peace, there is amity and nllin.ncc between our sovereigns. You cannot deny us assistance, and the vessels necessary for our return to France." a Surely not, if you nrc Catholics, and if I had the men.ns of helping you to ships. But you are not Catholics. The alliance between our kings is an alliance of members of the true Church, both sworn against heretics.'' 11 'V c nrc members of the R eformed Church," was the reply of' the officers ; 11 but we arc men; humnn; mndc equally in the image of the Deity, and scn•c the sn.mc God, if not at the same altars. S uff~r us, at least, to remain with you for a season, till ,ve can find the means for returning to our own country." cc Sei'l.or, it cannot be. As for sheltering heretics, that is impossible. I hn.ve sworn on the holy sacrament, to root out and to extirpate heresy, wherc\•cr I encounter it.-by sea or land-to wage against the damnable heresy which you profess a. war to the utterance, as YindicliYe as possible, to the dcn.th and to the torture; and in this resolution I conceive myself to be scnoing equally the king of France n.s the king, my 80\'ereign. I am here in Florida. for tho express purpose of establishing the IIoly Roman Catholic Faith! I will assist no heretic to remain in the country." |
