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106 THE HISTORT AND ANTIQUITIES

Augustine. In attempting this, most of his followers
fell into the hands of the Indians, and were slain upon
the spot ; the commandant with a few others alone



De Gourgues, now completely successful in making
retaliation for the fate of his countrymen on the same
spot where they had suffered, on the same tree which
had borne the bodies of the Huguenots caused his
prisoners to be suspended ; and as Menendez had on
the former occasion erected a tablet that they had
been punished "not as Frenchmen but as Luther-
ans,'' so De Gourgues in like manner erected an
inscription that he had done this to them " not as to
Spaniards^ nor ae to outcdste^ hut as to traitors^
thieves^ ami mv/rderersy *

After inducing the Indians to destroy the foi-ts,
and to raze them to the ground, he set sail for
France, arriving safely without further adventure.
His conduct was at the time disavowed and cen-
sured by the French court; and the Spanish ambas-
sador had the assurance, in the name of that master
who had publicly declared his approval of the con-
duct of Menendez, to demand the surrender of De
Gourgues to his vengeance. The brave captain,
however the crown might seem to disapprove, was

* Ternaux Compans, p. 357.
