Meanes to reape a sufficient profit in Florida and Virginia.
Here I haue declared the estate of Florida, and the commodities
therein to this day knowen, which although it may seeme
vnto some, by the meanes that the plenty of golde and siluer, is
not so abundant as in other places, that the coast bestowed vpon
the same will not be able to quit the charges: yet am
I of the opinion, that by that which I haue seene in
other Islands of the Indians, where such increase of
cattell hath bene, that of twelue head of beasts in
fiue and twenty yeeres, did in the hides of them raise
a thousand pound profit yerely, that the increase of cattel only
would raise profit sufficient for the same: for wee may consider,
if so small a portion did raise so much gaines in such short time,
what would a greater do in many yeres? and surely I may this
affirme, that the ground of the Indians for the breed of cattell, is
not in any point to be compared to this of Florida, which all the
yeere long is so greene, as any time in the Summer with vs:
which surely is not to be maruelled at, seeing the countrey
standeth in so watery a climate: for once a day without faile they
haue a shower of raine; which by meanes of the countrey it selfe,
which is drie, and more feruent hot then ours, doeth make all
things to flourish therein. And because there is not the thing
we all seeke for, being rather desirous of present gaines, I doe
therefore affirme the attempt thereof to be more requisit for a
prince, who is of power able to go thorow with the same, rather
then for any subiect.
From thence wee departed the 28 of Iuly, vpon our voyage homewards, hauing there all things as might be most conuenient for our purpose: and tooke leaue of the Frenchmen that there still remained, who with diligence determined to make as great speede after,[1] as they could. Thus by meanes of contrary windes oftentimes, wee prolonged our voyage in such manner that victuals scanted with vs, so that we were diuers times (or rather the most part) in despaire of euer comming home, had not God in his goodnesse better prouided for vs, then our deseruing. In which state of great miserie, wee were prouoked to call vpon him by feruent prayer, which mooued him to heare vs, so that we had a prosperous winde, which did set vs so farre shot, as to be vpon the banke of Newfound land, on Saint Bartholomews eue, and we sounded thereupon, finding ground at an hundred and thirty
- ↑ For Laudonnière's own account of Florida, see Vol. XIII., p. 402 of this Edition.
