for a time onely angling their affections by this meanes to draw a supply from them for as soone as hee was setled in his gouernment that hee found himselfe strong enough by Catholikes and others of his friends that he had with him to doe as hee thought what he would straight remouing the maske that hypocrisie had put vpon him he discharged all exercise of the reformed religion which no man with more feruency had professed then himselfe commanding all to conforme themselues to the orders that he had set downe but in place of feare which he purposed to giue receiuing hut contempt this base kind of carriage did quite ouerthrow and they making a partie amongst themselues did remoue with their Minister Iohn de Lerie which diuision of their Colonie in two was the was cause that neither could subsist so that Villagagnon abandoning that Countrey all after many seuerall designes returned vnto France hauing found no impediment to so good a purpose but the peruersenesse of such mindes as they had earried with them Monsieur De Larauerdier a very worthie Gentleman did of late enterprise the like course in the same bounds and was crossed in the same manner by the difference of Religion disputations quickning them to contrauert who will not be conuerted that distracted his companie with seuerall opinions yet at this time a long continuance making that lesse strange amongst the French then it was wont to be the Gentleman did command with such judgement and discretion that what euer priuate dislike was it neuer bursted forth in any open insurrection And for the space of foure or fiue yeeres being befriended by the Natiues though continually opposed both by the Spaniards and by the Portugals yet he alwaies preuayled liuing as himselfe told me with more contentment then euer he had done in his time either before or since hee could neuer discerne any Winter there by the effects seeing no stormy weather at all and finding a continuall greennesse to beautifie the fields which did affoord such abundance and variety of all things necessary for the maintaynance that they were neuer in any danger of famine but in end finding no more people comming from France and fearing that time should weare away them that were with him then being flattered with the loue of his natiue soyle longing to see his friends and tempted by the hope of a present gaine which as he imagined might the better enable him for some such purpose in an other part he capitulated with the Spaniards to surrēder the place hauing assurāce giuen him for a great summe of money which should haue beene deliuered in Spaine but comming to receiue the same it being more easie to pay debt by reuenging a pretended injurie then with money which some would rather keepe then their Faith he was cast in prison where hee remayned long till at last he was deliuered by the mediation of our Kings Ambassadour and came here where I spake with him of purpose to giue his Majestie thankes I heare that for the present he is now at Rochell with a hope to repaire his error ready to embarque for some such like enterprise This is all that the Frenchmen haue done in the South parts of America and now I will make mention of their proceedings in these parts that are next vnto vs. Francis the first of France a braue Prince and naturally giuen to great things after the Voyage made by Iohn Verrizan Chabot hauing discouered the Continent for Henry the seuenth did send forth Iames Quartier one of Saint Malo who by two seuerall Voyages did discouer the Riuer of Cannada and by his relation doth commend it exceedingly as being fertile in variety of Fishes and bordered with many pleasant meadowes and stately woods hauing in sundry parts abundance of Vines growing wilde chiefly in one Ile which he hath called by the name of the I le of Orleans This man neuer made any Plantation at all but onely discouered and traffiqued with the Sauages neither was there any further done by Roberwall who did liue one Winter at Cape Breton The Marquesse De la Roche by a Commission from Henry the fourth intending a Voyage for Cannada happened by the way vpon the I le of Sablon which is now comprehended within the Patent of New Scotland and there trusting to the strength of the place where there are no Sauages at all landed some of his men till hee should haue found a conuenient place within the maine Land fit for habitation promising then to returne for them but it was his fortune by reason of contrary winds neuer to finde the maine Land being blowne backe to France without seeing of them where he was in the time of the ciuile warres such is the vncertainty of worldly things producing vnexpected effects taken prisoner by the Duke of Mercoeur and shortly after died so that his people whom hee had left at Sablon furnished but for a short time had quickly spent their prouisions and tooke for their maintaynance onely such things as the place it selfe did without labour freely affoord which hath a race of Kowes as is thought first transported thither by the Portugals that haue long continued there and sundry roots fit to be eaten with abundance of Fishes Fowle and Venison And hauing no meanes to liue but by sport as for their apparell they clothed themselues with the skinnes of such creatures as they could kill by Land or Sea so that liuing there for the space of twelue yeeres when they were presented to Henry the fourth who had hired a Fisherman to bring them home as I haue heard from them that did see them at first before the King they were in very good health and looked as well as if they had liued all that time in France But hauing beene abused by the Fisherman who cunningly concealing that he had beene directed by the King did bargaine with them to haue all their skinnes for transporting them home which were of great value some of them being of blacke Foxes which were sold at fiftie pounds sterling a piece and aboue for the recouerie thereof they intended a processe against him before the Court of Parliament at Paris wherein by the equitie of their cause or by the compassion of the Iudges they preuayled gayning by that meanes a stocke wherewith to traffique in these parts againe Monsieur De Montes procuring a Patent from Henry the fourth of Cannada from the 40. degree Eastward comprehending all the bounds that is now both within New England and New Scotland after that Queene Elizabeth had formerly giuen one thereof as belonging to this Crowne by Chabots Discouerie did set forth with a hundred persons fitted for a Plantation carried in two ships of small burthen which parting from France on seuerall dayes did appoint their meeting at the Port of Campseau but the ship wherein Monsieur De Montes had placed himselfe going first and fearing the huge Mountaines of Ice that dissoluing from the farre Northerne
infortunatly fallen out farre otherwise that the treasures that are drawne from thence mynes to blowe vp mindes and rockes to ruine faith doe proue the seed of dissention the sinewes of the warre and nurcerie of all the troubles amongst Christians The Spaniards that were so happie as to chance first vpon this new World were of all others hauing but a vast mountainous Countrey in regard of their scarcity of people most vnfit for planting thereof and could not but soone haue abandoned the same if they had not so quickly encountred with the rich Mynes of Mexico New Spaine and Peru which were once likely to haue beene lost for lacke of wood till the way was inuented of refining Siluer by quicksiluer which may bee easily done out of any oare that is free from Lead and all the Spaniards disdayning worke as a seruile thing belowe their abilities their greatest trouble is the want of workmen for the Natiues that are extant suruiuing many vexations if they become ciuile out of an indulgency to libertie and ease whereunto all the Americans liking better of a penurious life thus then to haue plenty with taking paines are naturally enclined that they may haue a secure ease warranted by an order doe betake themselues to Cloisters so that they haue no meanes to prosecute these workes but by drawing yeerly a great number of Negroes from Angola and other parts which being but an vnnaturall merchandise are bought at a deare rate and maintayned with danger for they once of late as I haue heard from one that was there at that time designed to murther their Masters by a plot which should haue beene put in execution vpon a Good-friday when all being exercised at their deuotion were least apt to apprehend such a wicked course and it is alwaies feared that to reuenge what of necessitie they must suffer and to procure their libertie hating most what they feele for the present and hoping for better by a change they will joyne with any strong enemy that landing there dare attempt the conquest of that Countrey I will not here insist in setting downe the manner how the Spaniards made themselues Masters of so many rich and pleasant Countries but doe leaue that to their owne Histories though I confesse like wisemen they are very sparing to report the estate of these parts and doe barre all strangers from hauing accesse thereunto wishing to enjoy that which they loue in priuate and not inconsiderately vanting by the vanitie of praises to procure vnto themselues the vexation that they might suffer by the earnest pursuit of emulating riuals but as they did brauely begin and resolutely prosecute their Discoueries in America so hath it justly recompenced their courage prouing the ground of all that greatnesse which at this time not without cause doth make them as able or willing to conquer others if not both so much suspected by euery jealous State And Henry the Seuenth the Salomon of England had his judgement onely condemned for neglecting that good occasion which was first offered vnto him by Columbus yet did he presently seeke to repaire his errour by sending forth Sebastian Chabot a Venetian who did discouer the I le of Newfound-land and this part of the Continent of America now intended to bee planted by his Majesties Subjects vnder the name of New England and New Scotland so that the fruits of his happie raigne still growing to a greater perfection and now ripe to bee gathered by this age as he made way by the marriage of his eldest daughter for vniting these two Nations at home so did hee the same likewise by this discouerie abroad but the accomplishment of both was reserued for his Majestie now raigning and no Prince in the world may more easily effectuate such a purpose since his Dominions affoord abundance of braue men singularly valued for able bodies and actiue spirits whereof the English haue already giuen good proofe of their sufficiency in forraine Plantations but before I proceed further in that which doth concerne them I must obserue what the French haue done in this kind All such aduentrous designes out of ignorance or enuie either contemned or doubtfully ceÌ„sured are neuer approued nor imitated til they be justified by the successe then many who had first been too distrustfull falling in the other extremitie of an implicite confidence to redeeme their former neglects doe precipitate themselues in needlesse dangers After that the Spaniards were knowne to prosper and that it was conceiued by the Voyage of Chabot what a large vastnesse this new Continent was likely to proue Francis the first did furnish forth â—ohn Verrizzon a Florentine who did discouer that part of America which was first and most justly called New France and now Terra Florida And vpon his returne he affirming it to be as it is indeed for all the excellencies of nature one of the most pleasant parts of the world This was the cause that after a long delay during the space of two Princes whole raignes some new Discoueries reuiuing the memory of this in the yeere of God 1562. Charles the ninth hauing a haughty mind and being so rauished with a desire of glorie that he was sometimes tempted by sinistrous suggestions in seeking after it to goe vpon wrong grounds was quickly enamoured with the eminency of such a singular designe wherein hee did employ Iohn Ribaut who comming to Florida was kindly receiued by the Natiues there and hauing made choice of a place where to build a Fort after hee had stayed a time giuing direction for such things as were necessarie to be done he left forty men therein when hee came away with one Captaine Albert to command them who after that hee had with difficulty beene freed from the danger of famine and of fire vnseasonably affecting the disused austeritie of the Ancients did for a small offence hang one of his companie with his owne hands so losing both the dignitie of his place and the hearts of his people at one time which hee should haue beene extremely studious to preserue esteeming them as fellowes of his sufferings and coheires of his hopes at least the qualitie of the offence and necessitie of his death should haue beene made so cleare that as importing a common good all if not vrging it should at least haue condiscended thereunto but this errour of his was acquited in as rude a manner for his companie putting him to death did make choice of another Captaine and despairing of a new supplie though wanting skilfull workmen for such a purpose necessitie sharpning their wits they builded a little Barque which they calfatted and made fit for the Seas with the Gummes of trees which they found there in stead of Pitch and in place of Sayles they furnished her with such linnens as they had vpon their beds and being thus set forth couragiously ouercomming a number of admirable difficulties did returne to France after a desperate manner The dangerlesse returne and plausible
parts come alongst the coast of Newfound-land during the Spring time did take her course more to the South and arriued at Port De Muton a Bay now in the fore-land of New Scotland from whence one of the Natiues of the Countrey either out of courtesie or to gayne a reward leauing his Wife and Children as a pledge or else to bee nourished with them went to Campseau and within a weeke brought them newes from their other Ship that had arriued there which comming to them and Monsieur Champlein who had gone in a shallop to discouer the coast being returned they sayled together Westwards to Cape Sable and from thence Northwards to Bay Saint Maries where towards the South side thereof they found good meadowes and arable ground fit to be planted vpon and towards the North a mountainous and minerall bounds hauing discouered one veine of metall that did hold Siluer and two of Iron stone After this hauing seene Port Royall they went to the Riuer called by them Sante Croix but more fit now to bee called Tweed because it doth diuide New England and New Scotland bounding the one of them vpon the East and the other vpon the West side thereof here they made choice of an I le that is within the middle of the same where to winter building houses sufficient to lodge their number There besides other sorts of wood they had store of Cedar trees and found the ground very fertile as it did proue afterwards bringing forth that which they did sow with an extraordinary encrease yet during the Winter time when they could not conueniently goe to the maine Land they found it a very incommodious dwelling specially for want of fresh Springs And the soyle being of it selfe humid and obnoxious to waters they had not beene so industrious as to cast a ditch wherewith to drie the ground whereupon their houses stood and in end finding that a little Ile was but a kind of large prison they resolued to returne vnto Port Royall whereof I will giue a particular Description because it was the place of their residence as I intend it to be for the chiefe Colonie of the Scottish Nation grounding that which I am to deliuer vpon such Discourses as the Frenchmen haue written and vpon that which I haue heard reported by sundry others who haue seene the same The entry in Port Royall is from the South side of a great Bay which doth make the South part of New Scotland almost an I le and hath the passage at first so narrow with a current so violent that Ships can hardly enter if they take not the Tide right and may easily be commanded by any Ordnance that is planted on either side where there are parts fit for that purpose As soone as they are within the Bay it doth enlarge it selfe to the bredth of seuen or eight miles and doth continue so as if it were square for the like bounds in length There are within the same two Iles euery one of them extending it selfe about three miles in circuit and both are well garnished with trees and grasse Diuers Riuers and Brookes doe fall within this large bosome on euery side of which the chiefe is one that doth come from the South being discouered to be aboue fortie miles portatiue and it hath all alongst on euery side for the bounds of a mile or halfe a mile at least very faire meadowes which are subject to bee ouerflowed at high tides and there is Land fit to be laboured lying betweene them and the woods which doe compasse all about with very faire trees of sundry sorts as Oakes Ash Playnes Maple Beech Birch Cypresse Pine and Firre The great Riuer doth abound exceedingly in Salmon and Smelts during their season and euery little Brooke in Trouts One Lake within this Bay hath yeerely a great quantitie of Herrings which by reason of a strict way which they passe are easie to be taken and all the yeere ouer they neuer want shell-fish such as Lobsters Crabs Cockles and Mussels The chiefe beasts that inhabite the Woods there are Ellans Hart Hind and fallow Deere with store of other wilde beasts such as Wolues Beares Foxes and Otters but the most vsefull of all is the Beauer both for his flesh that is esteemed to be very delicate for eating and for the skinne that is of good value as for wild foule there is great varietie and store of Partridges Plouers Woodcockes Larkes Wild Geese Wild Duckes Heron and Crane with many other forts peculiar to that part of the World and not knowne here Vpon the East side of this Port the French did entrench themselues building such houses as might serue to accommodate their number and a little from thence Monsieur Champlein did cut a walke through the Woods where they delighted to repaire in Summer to shroud themselues from the heate and the rather that they had a sweet Melodie which was made by the varietie of voyces of singing Birds which without any affectation did affoord them naturall Musicke Some sixe miles further vp that side of the Riuer they built a Barne and laboured ground for Wheat ouer against which they made-a Water-mill vpon a Riuer that doth fall in on the West side the Damme of it beeing there where the Herrings haunt most and they did likewise try some ground neere by for Wheate whereas their owne Writers make mention they reaped aboue fortie for one but what they did was rather trying the nature of the soile to satisfie their curiositie then to haue a quantitie fit for their maintenance which they trusted to bee sent vnto them by two Merchants from the Rochell and were that way well furnished so long as they keeped their skinnes to giue them in exchange but the Merchants either by some priuate conueyances or by the comming in of some Flemmings to traffique being disappointed by the Planters as soone as they missed their present Commoditie did likewise frustrate them of the prouisions that they expected Whereupon Monsieur de Montes betaking himselfe to trade for Furres Monsieur Poutrincourt resolued to prosecute the Plantation at that place and lent for his Soâ— Biencourt to France to bargaine with some that would send them a supply such as was requisite for establishing of that Colony The first that embraced his Propositions were the Iesuites who as they haue ordinarly good wits which made them the rather capable of so aduantagious a proiect so they were the more animated thereunto by vpbrayding the lazinesse of our Clergie to shew with what feruencie they trauell to propagate the Gospell in doing whereof whither it be ambition or deuotion that prouokes them sparing no paines they haue trauelled both to the East and West Indies and to that admired Kingdome of China their Societie in France preuayling with all that had any inclination either to religion or to vertue did easily gather a voluntary contribution for the furthering of so commendable a purpose thereafter they sent away two
their owne necessities no enforced thing prouing pleasant discontented persons suffering while as they act can seldome haue good successe and neuer satisfaction they after a Winter stay dreaming to themselues of new hopes at home returned backe with the first occasion and to iustifie the suddennesse of their returne they did coyne many excuses burdening the bounds where they had beene with all the aspersions that possibly they could deuise seeking by that meanes to discourage all others whose prouident forwardnes importuning a good successe might make their base sluggishnesse for abandoning the beginning of a good worke to be the more condemned About a foure yeeres since a shippe going for Virginia comming by chance to harbour in the South-west part of New England neere Cape Cod the company whom shee carried for Plantation being weary of the Sea and enamored with the beautie of the bounds that first offered it selfe vnto them gorgeously garnished with all wherewith pregnant nature rauishing the sight with variety can grace a fertile field did resolue to stay and seated themselues in that place which is now called New Plimmouth where they haue builded good houses and by their owne industry haue prouided themselues in such sort as they are likely to subsist keeping a good correspondencie with the Captaines of the Sauages who haue done nothing hitherto that might offend them and after this though they would dare attempt nothing to their preiudice who are now aboue two hundred persons and doe increase their number yeerely They find both the Land and the Seas there abounding in all things needfull for the vse of man and doe gouerne themselues after a very ciuill and prouident manner Sir Ferdinando Gorge hath beene a chiefe man for the furtherance of all things that might tend to the aduancement of New England hauing beene at great charges these many yeeres past for the Discouerie thereof in doing which a good intention bent for other ends casually bringing forth this effect the fishing there not sought for was found which doth prooue now so profitable as fortie or fiftie Sayle are imployed there from England yeerely and all that haue gone thither haue made aduantagious Voyages This last yeere hee sent his Sonne Captaine Robert Gorge with a Colonie to be planted in Messasuats bonds and as I heare out of a generous desire by his example to encourage others for the aduancement of so braue an Enterprize he is resolued shortly to goe him selfe in person and to carrie with him a great number well fitted for such a purpose and many Noblemen in England whose names and proportions as they were marshalled by lot may appeare vpon the Map hauing interressed themselues in that bounds are to send sâ—uerall Colonies who may quickly make this to exceed all the other Plantations Hauing sundry times exactly weighed that which I haue alreadie deliuered and beeing so exceedingly enflamed to doe some good in that kinde that I would rather bewray the weaknesse of my power then conceale the greatnesse of my desire being much encouraged hereunto by Sir Ferdinando Gorge and some others of the vndertakers for New England I shew them that my Countrimen would neuer aduenture in such an Enterprize vnlesse it were as there was a New France a New Spaine and a New England that they might likewise haue a New Scotland and that for that effect they might haue bounds with a correspondencie in proportion as others had with the Countrey whereof it should beare the name which they might hold of their owne Crowne and where they might bee gouerned by their owne Lawes they wisely considering that either Virginia or New England hath more bounds then all his Maiesties subiects are able to plant and that this purpose of mine by breeding a vertuous emulation amongst vs would tend much to the aduancement of so braue a worke did yeeld to my desire designing the bounds for mee in that part which had beene questioned by the French and leauing the limits thereof to bee appointed by his Maiesties pleasure which are expressed in the PateÌ„t granted vnto me vnder his great Seale of his Kingdom of Scotland marching vpon the West towardes the Riuer of Saint Croix now Tweed where the Frenchmen did designe their first Habitation with New England and on all other parts it is compassed by the great Ocean and the great Riuer of Canada so that though sundry other preceding Patentes are imaginarily limited by the degrees of the Heauen I thinke that mine be the first National Patent that euer was cleerly bounded within America by particular limits vpon the Earth As soone as my Patent was passed resoluing to take possession of the Lands that were granted vnto me I prouided my selfe of a ship at London in the moneth of March in Anno 1622. but that the businesse might beginne from that Kingdome which it doth concerne whereby some of my Countrimen might be perswaded to goe and others by conceiuing a good opinion thereof to depend by expectation vpon the reports of such of their acquaintance as were to aduenture in that Voyage I directed her to go about by S. Georges Channell to Kirkcubright where she arriued in the end of May Some Gentlemen of that country vpon whose friendship I reposed most happening at that time to bee out of the Kingdome I encountred with sundry vnexpected difficulties the prizes of victuals beeing within the space of three monethes since I had parted before from Scotland suddenly tripled and yet so scarce as I could hardly in haste bee well furnished yet since I was so far aduanced lest I should loose that which was done if I did not the rest I vsed the best diligence I could to prouide the shippe with all things necessary Then the very people specially Artizens of whom I stood in need were at first loth to imbarke for so remote a part as they imagined this to bee some scarce beleeuing that there could bee any such bounds at all and no wonder since neuer any in that part had euer trauelled thither and all nouelties beeing distrusted or disualued few of good sort would goe and ordinarie persons were not capeable of such a purpose At last in the end of Iune they parted from thence to the I le of Man and after some stay there in the beginning of August leauing the sight of his Maiesties Dominions did betake themselues to the Sea Though by reason so the latenesse of their setting forth they had the windes very contrary about the middest of September they discouered Saint Peters Ilands and were neere to Cape Bretton but yet were beaten backe againe by a great storme to New-found-land And as they passed by the Bay of Placentia neglecting the occasion to place themselues in some part of my bounds there as they might haue done they went into Saint Iohns Harbour where they concluded to stay that Winter and sent the ship home for a new supply of such things as were needfull Though it might haue discouraged mee much that