FLORIDA.


from their fixed determination to return to France ; but on
the very day fixed for their departure (August 28, 1565) an
expedition that had been sent out under Ribault for their


relief arrived in
besides some fami
 In the mean
they regarded as
had determined t<


the St. John's with five hundred men,
ilies of artisans.
time, stirred to fresh endeavor by what


the intrusion of the Fren
o make one more effort t


sessions that had already cost them s
expedition under the command of Men
of considerable distinction, set sail fr
of July, 1565. This expedition cor
twenty-six hundred persons, and at
them reached the coast of Florida, a li
gustine, on the 28th of August, the sat
fleet came to anchor off the mouth
Learning from the Indians of the press


o d
end
om
pris
bout
ttle
ne d


ch, the Spaniards
o secure the pos-
?ar; and a great
ez, a naval officer
Cadiz on the 1st
ed in all about
 two thirds of
 south of St. Au-
ay that Ribault's
the St. John's.


;ence of the French,


Menendez
came in si
to sea and
of the flyi
(which he
the coast),


coasted northward, and


ght of Ribault's vessels,
escaped their assailants.
ng enemy, Menendez re
named in honor of the
disembarked his forces,


ing. These proceedings being
ter gathered all his available
garrison of Fort Caroline, and


on the 4th of September
which immediately put
 After a fruitless chase
turned to St. Augustine
day of his arrival upon
and commenced fortify-
irted to Ribault, the lat-
e, including most of the
sail on September 10th


with the idea of'attacking Menendez before he could com-
plete his defenses; but a terrible tempest overtook him,
drove his vessels far down the coast, and wrecked them
between Mantanzas and Mosquito Inlet.
 Suspecting that the French fleet had put to sea, and
that even if it had escaped shipwreck several days must
elapse before it could make harbor again, Menendez deter-
mined to attack Fort Caroline, and on September 17th set
out overland at the head of five hundred men. His success


!