1565. strongly garrisoned them with Spanish soldiers.1 One of these forts, well known by the name of the "Castle of St. Augustine," Augustine. has ever since been celebrated as an impregnable fortress. It is memorable in American history, from the earliest settlement of Georgia to the late cession of Florida to the United States. 1566. St. Jago. Death of SAINT JAGO de Leon de Caracas, a capital city of the province of Venezuela, was founded by Diego Losada.2 Bartholomew de las Casas, a prelate eminently distinguished Las Casas. by his indefatigable labours in behalf of the natives in the Spanish settlements in America, died at the age of 92 years.3 1567. Solomon Islands discovered. Sir J. Haw kins. 1568. SOLOMON ISLANDS were discovered by Alvaro de Mendāna. The viceroy of Peru sent out a fleet for the discovery of islands in the South Sea on the Peruvian coast. Mendāna, who was chief in the expedition, sailed from Lima 800 leagues westward of the coast, and found a cluster of islands, to which the viceroy gave the name of Solomon Islands. This appears to be the first voyage, expressly on discovery, to the westward of Peru.4 Sir John Hawkins, having procured negroes in Guinea, and sold them in the Spanish West Indies, put in with his fleet at St. John de Ulloa. While there, he was attacked by the viceroy, who arrived at that time with a Spanish fleet; and of six vessels, composing the English fleet, two only escaped.5 THE chevalier Dominique de Gourges, a soldier of fortune, of a good family in Gascony, hearing of the massacre of his coun 1 Encyclopedie Methodique [Geog. Art. FLORIDE] says, Melendes now made settlements (forma des établissemens) at St. Augustine and Pensacola. Henry Hawks, in his Relation of Nova Hispania in 1572, says, "The Spaniards have two forts there [Florida], chiefly to keepe out the Frenchmen from planting there." Hakluyt, iii. 469. See Alcedo, Art. AGUSTIN. 2 Alcedo, Art. CARACAS. 3 Encycloped. Methodique, Art. CASAS. Rees, Cyclopædia. See A. D. 1516, and 1551. He first came to America in 1493, accompanying his father, with Columbus. 4 Alcedo, Art. SALOMON. Dalrymple's Voyages, i. 43, 51, 96. Herrera, Descripcion de las Ind. Occident. c. 28. Hakluyt, iii. 467. Purchas, v. 1447. This name was given, that the Spaniards, supposing them to be those islands from which Solomon fetched gold to adorn the temple at Jerusalem, might be the more desirous to go and and inhabit them. The Spanish authorities place this discovery in 1567. The voyage appears to have been begun, at least, that year. Lopez Vaz says, "They were discovering these islands about fourteen monthes."In 1595, Alvaro de Mendana de Neyra, a Spanish governor in South America, sailed from Callao with 4 ships and 400 persons with the design of making a settlement in Solomon Islands. In this enterprise he discovered four islands in the South Pacific ocean, which, in honour of the marquis of Cannete, viceroy of Peru, were called Las Marquesas de Mendoça, and were taken possession of in the name of the king of Spain. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. iv. 238. In Dalrymple (Voy. i.), the number of persons that went with Mendana is stated to be 368, "the greater part married; 208 were able to bear arms." 5 Purchas, b. 9. c. 20. to Florida. Assails the Spanish forts at the river of trymen in Florida, determined to revenge their death, and repair 1568. the honour of his nation, by driving their murderers out of that country. On this vindictive enterprise he sailed from France, Expedition of Gourgues at his own expense, and without orders, with 3 frigates and 150 soldiers and volunteers, and 80 chosen mariners, to Florida.1 The Spaniards, to the number of 400, were well fortified on the river of May, principally at the great fort, begun by the French, and afterward repaired by themselves. Two leagues lower toward the river's mouth, they had made two smaller forts, which were defended by 120 soldiers, well supplied with artillery and ammunition. Gourgues, though informed of their strength, proceeded resolutely forward, and with the assistance of the April. natives, made a vigorous and desperate assault. Of 60 Spaniards in the first fort, there escaped but 15; and all in the second fort were slain. After 60 Spaniards, sallying out from the third fort, had been intercepted, and killed on the spot, this last fortress was easily taken. All the surviving Spaniards were led away prisoners, with the 15 who escaped the massacre at the first fort; and, after having been shown the injury that they had done to the French nation, were hung on the boughs of the same trees, on which the Frenchmen had been previously hung. Over those devoted Frenchmen, Melendez had suspended a Spanish label, signifying, "I do not this as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans." Gourgues, in retaliation, caused to be imprinted with a searing iron in a tablet of fir wood, "I do not this as to Spaniards, nor as to Mariners, but as to Traitors, Robbers, and Murderers." Having razed the three forts, he hastened his preparation to return; and on the 3d of May embarked for French France. His sovereign not avowing the enterprise, his country- abandon men now bade Florida a final adieu.3 If the settlement of Ribault 1 Mezeray says, that he had 200 soldiers and 100 seamen; and that his equipment was made with part of his own estate, which he sold, and with what his brother, President of the Generality of Guyenne, lent him. Gourgues had recently returned from Africa. Losing no time, he sailed from France in August, 1567, to the West Indies, whence, after delays by storms, he proceeded to Florida in the spring of 1568. 2 One of these lower forts must have been on one side of the river, and the other on the other side; for "the river passed between them." 3 Hakluyt, iii. 356–360; and Charlevoix, Nouv. France, i. 95-106; where there are entire accounts of this voyage. Mezeray, Hist. France, 701. Chalmers, i. 513. Purchas, v. 1604, 1605. Univ. Hist. xl. 413-417. Anderson, ii. 127. Gourgues arrived at Rochelle 6 June, with the loss but of a small pinnace and 8 men in it, with a few gentlemen and others, who were slain in assaulting the forts. When he went to Paris to present himself to the king, to inform him of the success of his voyage, and to offer him "his life and all his goods" towards subduing this whole country to his obedience, he met with an ill reception, and was constrained to hide himself a long time in the court of Roan, "about the year 1570." He died in 1582, "to the great grief of such as knew "him." May. Florida. 1568. 1569. Printing license. at Port Royal, or that of Laudonniere at the river of May, had been supported by the parent State; long possession might have furnished a stronger claim to the country, than prior discovery, and France might have had an empire in America, before Britain had sent a single colony into this New World. A LICENSE was given for printing at Mexico a dictionary in the Castalian and Mexican languages.1 1570. SEBASTIAN, king of Portugal, prohibited any Brazilian king Portuguese from being subjected to slavery, excepting those who were taken regulation. in a just war. This wise and just regulation was long evaded by the Portuguese; and, in some of the poorer districts, that remnant of barbarism continued to prevail for nearly two centuries.2 Inquisition. Philip II, king of Spain, established the Inquisition in America; but the Indians were exempted from the jurisdiction of this tribunal.3 1572. Drake's English attempt at Brazil. FRANCIS DRAKE, the celebrated English navigator, made his first voyage to South America. Entering the port of Nombre de Dios with 4 pinnaces, he landed about 150 men, 70 of whom he left in a fort that was there, and with the remaining 80 surprised the town, but was soon repelled by the Spaniards. He next sailed into Darien harbour, where he landed, and intercepted two companies of mules, laden with gold and silver, on the way from Panama to Nombre de Dios; took off the gold; and soon after re-embarked.4 The English attempted to establish themselves in Brazil. Choosing a better position than the French had chosen, though not with more success, they fixed themselves in considerable numbers at Paraiba do Sul, where they connected themselves with the native women; but the governor of St. Sebastian's, in the 5th year of their abode, attacked and exterminated them.5 1 Thomas, Hist. Printing, ii. 510; "an indubitable evidence, that a press was then operant in Mexico." The Dictionary was printed, in folio, in 1571. 2 Alcedo, Tr. Art. BRAZIL. In 1755, the Indians without exception were declared citizens. 3 Adams, View of Religions. Art. PERU. The Indians still continue under the inspection of their diocesans. 4 Hakluyt, iii. 525, 526, 778, 779. He took away the gold only, "for they were not able to carrie the silver through the mountaines." Two days after this spoliation, he came to the house of Crosses, and burnt above 200,000 ducats in merchandize. Purchas, v. 1180. 5 Southey, Brazil, i. c. 9. "They who escaped, fled into the interior, and either they were eaten by the savages, as was believed, or lived and died among them, becoming savages themselves." The king of Spain gave the islands of Bermudas to one of his 1572. subjects; but the Spaniards never took possession of them.1 Juan Fernandez discovered the islands which bear his name.2 Fernandez. THE Portuguese early acquired Oriental customs. Ginger 1573. had been brought from their island of St. Thomas to Brazil; Ginger. and it throve so well, that 4000 arrobas were cured, this year.3 man, to S. JOHN OXENHAM, an Englishman, hearing what spoil captain 1575. Drake had brought from South America, made a voyage, ac- Voyage of companied by 70 persons, in a ship of 120 tons. Landing his Oxenham, an Englishmen at Darien, where he hauled his ship to the shore, and covered it with boughs of trees, he travelled 12 leagues into the America. main land, and built a pinnace on a river, by which he passed into the South Sea. After taking some Spanish prizes, he and his company were made prisoners by the Spaniards, and executed.4 ALL attempts to find a North East passage to India having 1576. been unsuccessful, queen Elizabeth sent out Martin Frobisher First voy with three small ships, for the discovery of a North West pas- Frobisher. age of M. sage. Arriving at the northerly coast of America, he discovered a cape, which he called Elizabeth's Foreland; and the Strait, Discovers which still bears his name. This strait being impassable, on Foreland, account of fixed ice, he entered a bay in north latitude 63°; and Frosailed 60 leagues; landed, and took one of the natives; but bisher's the ice obliged him to relinquish his enterprise, and return to England.5 1 Univ. Hist. xli. 339. 2 Dalrymple's Voyages, i. 53. Others say, some years before. These islands are in the Pacific ocean, 110 leagues west of Chili. 3 Southey, Brazil, i. c. 10. 4 Hakluyt, iii. 526-528; 779-781. Purchas, v. 1180, 1446. The Justice asked the English captain, Whether he had the Queen's license, or the license of any Prince or Lord. He answered, That he had none, but that he came of his own proper motion. On this acknowledgment, the captain and his company were condemned, and were all put to death at Panama, excepting the Captain, the Master, and the Pilot, and five boys, who were carried to Lima, and there the three men were executed, but the boys were spared. 5 Hakluyt, iii. 29–32, 57–60. Purchas, i. 739. Prince, Introd. 1576. Smith, Gen. Hist. of Virginia, 1. Stow, Chron. 680. Belknap, Biog. i. 37. Europ. Settlements in America, ii. 286. Univ. Hist. xli. 100. Harris' Voy. i. 575. Foster, Voy. 274. Naval Hist. of G. Britain, i. c. 2. Anderson, ii. 126, 127, 143. Frobisher, having made presents to the inhabitants (supposed northward of Labrador), they came on board his ship. Five sailors, sent to take ashore one of these visitants, went, contrary to orders, to the natives, and neither they nor the boat were ever seen afterward. This was therefore called, The five men's Sound. The English, upon this, enticed one of the natives to the ship's side, with a bell, and in giving it to him, took him and his boat. Finding himself now in captivity, "for very choler and disdaine he bit his tongue in twaine within his mouth." He died soon after his arrival in England. Anderson places this voyage in 1567; but the accounts in Hakluyt prove it to have been made Elizabeth's Strait. 1576. The discussion of the subject, at this time, may have had an influence favourable to the enterprise of Frobisher. Sir HumPublication phrey Gilbert, solicitous for the advancement of maritime dis of Sir H. Gilbert. 1577. Second covery, and the improvement and extension of trade and commerce, published "A Discourse, to prove a passage by the Northwest to Cathaia and the East Indies."1 THE discovery of supposed gold ore by Frobisher in his voyage the last year, encouraged the Society of adventurers to voyage of send him out with three other ships, to explore farther the coast of Labrador and Greenland, with an ultimate view to the discovery of a passage to India; but he again returned without success.2 Frobisher. State of land fish ery. On the Newfoundland fishery there were, this year, 100 ships New found from Spain, 50 from Portugal, 150 from France, and 50 from England. The English had the best ships, and therefore gave law to the rest, being in the bays the protectors of others. The fishery of the English at Iceland is assigned as the reason, why they had not a greater number of ships at Newfoundland. There were now at that island 20 or 30 ships from Biscay, to kill whales for train oil.3 in 1576. After several attempts to land with the boat, which were baffled by 2 Hakluyt, iii. 32-39; 60-73. Harris' Voy. i. 575-577. Forster, Voy. |