St. Augustine Report

On the 28th of September two Indians came to inform me that there were many Frenchmen about six leagues from here at the sea shore, who had lost their ships and had escaped by swimming.

I took 50 soldiers in a barge and we reached them the next day, and keeping my men concealed, I went with one companion down to the shore of a river where they were on the opposite bank and I spoke to them and told them I was a Spaniard and they answered me that they were Frenchmen.

Matanzas executions

They asked that I should swim across the stream where they were for it was narrow. I told them that we did not know how to swim, but that one of them should come over confidently.

They determined to do this and to send over a man of good understanding. He related to me that they sailed from the fort (Carloine) with four galleons and eight pinnaces each of 24 oars, with 400 picked soldiers and 200 seamen with Juan de Rivao (Ribault) with the intention of engaging me at sea.

But . . . a storm and hurricane had struck them so that about 20 or 25 leagues from here three of them had gone to the bottom which had on board upwards of 400 persons of whom only 140 had reached this place alive. . . . That Juan de Rivao with his flag ship was five leagues away from them, dismasted for he had cut away his masts, and that the ship had about 200 persons on board.

. . . The officers and soldiers who had been saved prayed me to allow them safe passage to their fort as they were not at war with the Spaniards. I replied that we held their fort, having taken and put to death those who were in it. . . . I should not give them passage but on the contrary should pursue them by sea and by land until I had their lives.

(Later) there came across to this side a gentleman and offered that they would lay down their arms and give themselves up if I would spare their lives.

I answered that they might give up their arms and place themselves at my mercy.

And so he departed with this reply and they came over and laid down their arms and I caused their hands to be tied behind them and put them to the knife. Only 16 were left of whom 12 were Breton seamen whom they had kidnapped, the other 4 being carpenters and caulkers of whom I had great need.

While writing this on the tenth of this month, news came to me that Juan Rivao with 200 soldiers was five or six leagues from here at the place where I had done justice to the Frenchmen out of the three ships under his charge.

I immediately went with 150 soldiers to seek him and the next day at dawn I came up to him, there being a river between us which he could not pass save by swimming. (With) our assurance of safety, he sent across his Sergeant major who delivered me a message that I should allow his whole force safe passage to their fort.

I answered as I had to the others (and) that they might surrender their flags and arms to me and place themselves at my mercy; that I might do with their persons as I should please and that they could not do or agree otherwise.

The same evening Juan Rivao came over to (ask) of some course more safe for him, but I was not willing to accede to it. . . . The next morning he returned with about 70 companions.

I wished to make sure whether there were any Catholic among them, but found none. I spared the lives of two young gentlemen and three others - drummer, fifer, and trumpeter, but Juan Rivao and all the others I caused to be put to the knife, understanding this to be necessary for the service of God Our Lord and of Your Majesty.

I hold it our chief good fortune that (Ribault) is dead, for with him the King of France could do more in one year than any other in ten, for he was the most skilful sailor and corsair that was known - very experienced in this navigation of the Indies and of the coast of Florida and so much a friend to England . . .