midnight
He was ordered to take and hold possession of all the country then known as Florida , which extended as far north as the English settlement in Virginia , 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 ? ''