The English asserted that through the Cabots they had a right to the greater
part of North America, and a grant to the Lords Proprietors of Carolina,
in 1663, named the 31 degree of latitude as the southern boundary.
Another patent two years later set the line at the 29 degree,
but that availed nothing as it included the northern part of Florida,
where the Spanish were already settled in considerable numbers.
No other nation questioned the English claim to the sea-board
as far as the 31 degree, which was well south of the Altamaha,
but the Spanish greatly resented the settlements in Carolina,
as encroaching on their territory, though successive treaties
between the two Governments had virtually acknowledged the English rights.
With the two nations nominally at peace, the Spanish incited the Indians
to deeds of violence, encouraged insurrection among the negro slaves,
welcomed those who ran away, and enlisted them in their army.
Now and then the Governor of Carolina would send a force,
which would subdue them for a time, but the constant uncertainty
made Carolina welcome the Georgia colony as a protection to her borders.
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