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1549.

Chance having led some vessels to Borburata (now Porto Cavallo), the governor, Villegas, sent there, as a germ for the population of the city, twenty-four men, of whom four were nominated aldermen, and two magistrates, as the constituent parts of the common council: but it became a nest of smugglers; and three or four times successfully resisted, by force of arms, the efforts of the Spanish government to root them out. The Dutch frequented the port.

1551.

Orders were sent from Spain to the governor of Cuba, that from henceforward no debtor should be confined in prison, or deprived of his clothes, after he had sworn that he was poor, and had it not in his power to pay: neither should he be detained in prison for the costs, after he had paid the sum for which he was cast.

The King of Spain had ordered an university to be founded at San Domingo in Española, with a professor of scholastic theology, and one for the sacred writings.

1554.

An order was this year sent from Spain, directing, that upon the founding of any new town or colony, there should, in the first place, be marked out proper places for a council-house, chapter-house, custom-house and store-houses near the church and harbour; so that, in case of attack, they might mutually support each other: and also, that an hospital for the poor and sick, who had no contagious disorder, should be erected close to the church, as a cloister to it; but that it should be so placed, that the prevailing winds should not blow through it upon the town-and, if possible, upon an

eminence.

1560.

December 8th, 1560, the King of Spain granted permission to the inhabitants of Venezuela, at the solicitation of a provincial

named Sancho Brizeno, for the annual arrival at the port of Borburata, of a vessel from Spain, the cargo of which should pay only half of the enormous duties then imposed on the commerce with America. After the port of Borburata was abandoned, the vessel went to Guayra, "until an epoch which history has neglected to

record."

1563.

Sir John Hawkins having procured 300 Negroes upon the coast of Guinea," partly by the sworde, and partly by other meanes," carried them to Española, and sold them at the ports of Isabella, Puerta de la Plata, and Monte Christi; receiving in exchange for them hides, ginger, sugars, and pearls. This seems to have been the first attempt from England for any Negro trade. Captain Hawkins went himself in the Salomon of 120 tons, and had with him the Swallow of 100 tons, Captain Thomas Hampton, and the Jonas, a bark of forty tons; they sailed from England in October, 1562, and returned in September, 1563.

1564.

April the 22d, Captain Rene Laudonniere sailed from Newhaven, upon his second voyage to Florida, with three sail, the largest 120 tons burthen: they touched at Martinico and at Dominica. Two Indians came off in two canoes with ananas; but one of the Indians, when he got near the ships, pulled off again as hard as he could. They sent after him: he had been emasculated by the Spaniards, and was fearful of falling into their hands again. Laudonniere gave him a shirt and other things, and let him go.

While they were watering, the men killed a snake, nine feet long, and as large as a man's leg: and, contrary to the particular request of the Indians, went to their huts and gardens, and carried away the pine-apples. The Indians attacked them, and either killed or carried away as their prisoner Martine Chaueau, and drove the rest to their boats. Next morning M. Laudonniere left the island, and passing between Anguilla and Anegada, arrived on the coast of Florida on Thursday the 22d of June.

November the 13th, part of Laudonniere's men ran away with his two barks from the coast of Florida, and in them went pirating off the coast of Cuba. After seizing one vessel, out of which they took

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some gold and silver, they became so distressed for want of provisions, that they put into the Havannah.

After the loss of these vessels, Laudonniere began to build two other barks, of about thirty-five feet long: these were no sooner built than another mutiny broke out, the leaders of which were Fourneaux, La Croix, and Steven le Genevois: these persuaded sixty-three others to join them; and on the 8th of December they left Florida, having named Bertrand Conferrent to command in one vessel, and De Orange in another. The latter, off" Archaha," captured a brig laden with cassava, which proving a finer vessel than their own, they shifted into her: in taking her they lost two men, Stephen Gondeau and Grand Pre, who were taken prisoners by the inabitants of Archaha—and two others were killed. In this vessel they proceeded to Baracou, in Jamaica, where they captured a caraval of sixty tons, and shifting again into her, they left their old vessel, and went to cruize off Cape Tiburon: here, after a long engagement, they captured a "pitach," very richly laden, and having on board the governor of Jamaica. In this vessel they cruized off Jamaica, and suffered the governor to send two boys on shore to bring off provisions—instead of which, there came out at day-break two well-armed vessels of 100 tons burthen, and a "malgualire," or vessel that sailed "forward and backward.” The brigantine cut her cable and escaped, but the Spaniards retook their own vessel. Those who escaped went to the Bahama Channel, where Trenchant the pilot, and some others who had been taken away by force on this voyage, took an opportunity of a favourable breeze, while the principal mutineers were asleep, and ran across upon the coast of Florida, where they arrived on the 25th March, 1565, and delivered themselves up to M. Laudonniere, who executed four of the ringleaders.

The town of Concepcion de la Vega was almost destroyed by an earthquake.

1565.

March the 9th, Captain John Hawkins, with the Jesus, a ship of Lubeck, of 700 tons; the Salomon, of 140; the Tiger, a bark of fifty, and the Swallow, of thirty, arrived at Dominica: they left Plymouth the 18th of October, 1564-touched at Ferrol and Madeira, Teneriffe, Cape de Verdes, and Africa, where they seized some Negroes, and in the attempt lost Captain Field of the Salomon, and several men. After watering at Dominica, they went to Margarita, where the governor sent them some provisions, but would not allow them to traffic. At Santo Domingo they met

with the same difficulties, and proceeded to Cumana, and from thence to Santa Fé, where they got water and refreshments, and then went to Burboroata, where they disposed of part of their Negroes. Here they were joined by a French ship, called the Green Dragon, of Newhaven, Captain Bon Temps; this ship they left at Burboroata, and went to Curaçoa, where they found abundance of cattle, as they supposed more than 100,000 head, all of whom had been bred in the island in twenty-five years, from a dozen of each sort: here they disposed of more of their Negroes, and proceeded to Rio de la Hacha, where he landed 100 men in armour. After dispersing the troops brought down to oppose them, with a discharge of small ordnance from the boats', a parley ensued, and Captain Hawkins got permission to trade. From hence, on the 31st of May, they made Jamaica, instead of Española, as they expected and intended- and rounding the west end of the island, after an ineffectual attempt to get to the Havannah, they stood over to the coast of Florida.

Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 510.

1 Holinshed's Description of England, vol. i. p. 334.

The names of our greatest ordnance are commonly these: --

Robinet, whose weight is 200lbs., and it hath 14 inch within the mouth.
Falconet, weigheth 500lbs., and his wideness is 2 inches within the mouth.
Falcon hath 800lbs., and 24 inches within the mouth.

Minion poiseth 1100lbs., and hath 34 inches within the mouth.

Sacre hath 1500lbs., and is 3 inches wide in the mouth.

Demie Culuerin weigheth 3000lbs., and hath 44 inches within the mouth.
Culuerijn hath 4000lbs., and 5 inches within the mouth.

Demie Canon, 6000lbs., and 6 inches within the mouth.

Canon, 7000lbs., and 8 inches within the mouth.

E. Canon, 8000lbs., and seauen inches within the mouth.
Basiliske, 9000lbs., 83 inches within the mouth.

By which proportions, also, it is easie to come by the weight of euerie shot, how many scores it doth flee at point blanke, how much pouder is to be had to the same, and finallie, how many inches in height gach bullet ought to carrie.

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1567.

The Spaniards, following the information they had received from those of Laudonniere's crew, who were driven into the Havannah, had sent an expedition to Florida, and either drove away or massacred all the French. To revenge this act, Captain Gourgues, with three sail, 150 soldiers, and eighty sailors, under Captain Cazenoue, sailed from Bourdeaux the 22d of August, and after landing for a short time on the island of Cuba, they proceeded to Florida, and succeeded in destroying all the Spaniards there.

Lescarbot believes that these piratical attempts of Laudonniere's men occasioned the ruin of the French in Florida, by provoking the Spaniards to search them out and destroy them.

1568.

March the 27th, M. John Hawkins, in the Jesus, in company with the Mynion, Captain John Hampton, the William and John, Captain Thomas Bolton, the Judith, Captain Francis Drake, and the Angel, arrived at Dominica: they left Plymouth on the 2d of October, 1567-touched at Gomera and the Cape de Verde, and proceeded to the coast of Africa, where, by trading and force, he procured 500 Negroes; but the William and John parted company in a heavy gale of wind, and never joined them afterwards. At Dominica, Margarita, and Coraçao, they trafficked with the inhabitants; but at Rio de Hacha they were obliged to land 200 men, and obtain water, &c. by force. After they gained possession of the town, the Spaniards came by night, and bought 200 of the Negroes. When the trade was over, Hawkins stood for the coast of Florida; but, on the 12th of August, a violent tempest rose, in consequence of which they put into Vera Cruz, where they arrived the 16th of September, and were mistaken by the Spaniards for their own fleet. Several of the principal persons going on board, Captain Hawkins courteously received them, and only detained two as hostages, while he sent to the viceroy at Mexico for permission to victual and refit his ships.

The next day, the Spanish fleet of thirteen sail of large ships arrived off the harbour: in this fleet was Don Martin de Henriques, the new viceroy, and with him Captain Hawkins settled, That the English might buy provisions, and sell as much wares as would pay for them; that they might peaceably repair their ships; and, for the better safety of his men, that Captain Hawkins might keep the

Hakluyt, vol. iii. pp. 356. 469, 470, 471, 472. Miles Philip's Voyage, Lescarbot, p. 86.

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