irginia, and had no western
limit. He was to build a fort and found a city; but first of all he
was to discover and destroy the colony of heretics who were reported to
have established themselves within this territory.

Soon after Ribault's coming the Spanish fleet arrived on the coast, and
sailing northward they discovered the French ships, late one afternoon,
lying at anchor off the mouth of the River of May. At midnight they
too came to anchor within hailing distance of the French fleet, and a
trumpet was sounded from the deck of the _San Palayo_, the Spanish
flag-ship. It was immediately answered from the _Trinity_, and from
the deck of his own ship Menendez inquired, with great courtesy,

"Gentlemen, whence comes this fleet?"

"From France," was the reply.

"What is its object here?"

"To bring men and supplies to a fort that the King of France has caused
to be built in this country, and to establish many more in his name."

"Be ye Catholics or heretics?"

"We be Huguenots, and who be ye who askest these many questions?"

Then came the bitter answer, "I am Don Pedro Menendez, admiral of this
fleet. It belongs to the King of Spain, his Majesty Don Philip II, and
I am come to this country to destroy all heretics found within its
limits, whether upon sea or land. I may not spare one alive, and at
break of day it is my purpose to capture your ships and kill all
heretics they may contain."

Upon this Ribault and his men interrupted the proud Spaniard with
taunts and jeers, begging him not to wait until morning before putting
his threat into execution, but to come at once and kill them.

So greatly did this provoke the Spanish admiral that he ordered his
captains to cut the cables of their ships, and make an instant attack
upon the French fleet, though the night was intensely dark. He was so
enraged that he rushed about the deck of his own ship like a madman,
and assisted with his own hands in forwarding the preparations for
battle. In a few minutes the entire Spanish fleet bore down upon the
six French ships; but the crews of these had not been idle, and before
their enemies could reach them they too had cut their cables, hoisted
sail, and stood out to sea. For the rest of the night the Spaniards
chased them, but Ribault's superior seamanship soon placed him at a
safe distance from the pursuers, who at daylight gave over the chase
and turned back towards the River of May, intending to make an attack