Captain René de Laundonnière arrived in New France on June 22, 1564, with three ships and some 200 French Protestant noblemen, soldiers, and artisans, landing along the River of May, the St. Johns River. The colonists brought fears, hopes, and dreams as they wondered whether they would survive in this strange land and discover the riches they imagined, yet they remained hopeful. On June 30 they found a settlement site protected by a bluff overlooking the river, with fertile land, potable water, woodland fruits and building materials, and an abundance of fish. French soldiers considered the ground defensible, and its nearness to the sea gave ships access. The Timucuan natives also seemed friendly and willing to help them in their new world.