For the next fifty years nothing was done by France, which was absorbed by her own internal conflicts—feudalism against monarchical power, Calvinism against Catholicism. In the meantime, however, the value and importance of the northern fisheries increased, and in 1578 no less than one hundred and fifty French ships were employed in the Newfoundland trade. While the French were thus vainly endeavouring to colonise the regions of Acadia and Canada lying around the bay and along the river of St. Lawrence, the Spaniards were occupied in the south. The brilliant discoveries of Spain had kindled the most extraordinary enthusiasm throughout the nation for adventure beyond the seas. Nothing was too extravagant for their imaginations to conceive of the new world, where it was believed “that the natives ignorantly wore the most precious ornaments, and the sands of every river sparkled with gold.” Spaniards, high and low, young and old, rich and poor, were all ready to rush to the conquest and the spoil. Among others, Juan Ponce de Leon, an aged veteran in the wars of Granada, a companion of Columbus in his second voyage, and some time governor of Porto Rico, fitted out three ships at his own expense, and resolved to go forth to seek his fortune, and more especially to seek for that which he had been told existed in those paradisiacal regions of the sun and the palm—a fountain whose waters possessed the extraordinary virtues of restoring or perpetuating youth. In search of this poetical fountain, Ponce de Leon set sail with his three ships, in March 1512. On Easter Sunday, which the Spaniards call _Pascua Florida_, the aged adventurer discovered a glorious land, covered with woods, which were brilliant with flowers. Spite of the marvellous beauty of the country, to which he gave the name of Florida, it was some time before he was able to land, in consequence of stormy weather. At length a landing was effected, and formal possession taken of the country; but though he remained exploring the coast for several weeks, the fountain of youth was nowhere to be found, the natives were hostile, and Ponce de Leon returned to Porto Rico still an old man. A new and splendid region had, however, been discovered, and thither Ponce de Leon returned a few years afterwards, intending to select a site for a colony, but in a contest with the natives was mortally wounded. Ponce de Leon’s discovery had opened a new path for Spanish commerce through the Gulf of Florida, and in 1516 Diego Miruelo, a bold sea captain, trafficking with the natives, brought away gold which he had obtained in exchange for toys, and thus gave a yet more brilliant colouring to the reports current regarding the wealth of this new region.