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A12467
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Nevv Englands trials Declaring the successe of 26. ships employed thither within these sixe yeares: with the benefit of that countrey by sea and land: and how to build threescore sayle of good ships, to make a little navie royall. Written by Captaine Iohn Smith.
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Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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1620
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STC 22792; ESTC S111021
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8,403
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26
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of present gaine in many is so violent and the indeuours of many vndertakers so negligent euery one so regarding his priuate that it is hard to effect any publique good and impossible to bring them into a body rule or order vnlesse both Authoritie and Mony assist experiences it is not a worke for euery one to plant a Colonie but when a house is built it is no hard matter to dwell in it This requireth all the best pars of art iudgement courage honestie constancy diligence and experience to doe but neare well and there is a great difference betwixt Saying and Doing But to conclude the fishing will go forward if you plant it or no whereby you may transport a colony for no great charge that in a short time might prouide such fraughts to buy of vs their dwelling as I would hope no ship could goe or come emptie from New England The charge of this is onely salt nettes hookes lines kniues Irish rugges course cloth beads hatchets glasse and such trash onely for fishing and trade with the Saluages besides our owne necessarie prouisions whose indeuours will quickely desray all this charge and the Saluages haue intreated me to inhabit where I will Now all those ships haue bin fished within a square of two leagues not one ship of all these would yet aduenture further where questionlesse 500. saile may haue their fraught better then in Island Newfoundland or elsewhere and be in their markets before the other can haue their fish in their ships Because New Englands fishing beginneth in mid-February the other not till mid-Maie the progression heereof tends much to the aduancement of Virginia and the Burmudas and will be a good friend in time of need to the Inhabitants in New-found-land The returnes made by the Westerne shippes are commonly divided into 3. parts one for the owners of the shippe another for the maister and his company the third for the victulers which course being still permitted will be no hinderance to the plantation goe there neuer so many but a meanes of transporting that yearely for little or nothing which otherwise will cost many a hundred of pounds If a Ship can gaine twenty thirty fifty in the hundred nay neare three hundred for 100. in seuen moneths as you see they haue doone spending twice so much time in going and coming as in staying there were I there planted seeing the varietie of the fishings in their seasons serueth the most part of the yeare and with a little labour we might make all the salt we neede vse I can conceiue no reason to distrust but the doubling and trebling their gaines that are at all the former charge and can fish but two months in a yeare and if those do giue twenty thirty or forty shillings for an acre of land or ship Carpenters Forgers of yron c. that buy all things at a deare rate grow rich when they may haue as good of all needfull necessaries for taking in my opinion should not grow poore and no commoditie in Europe doth more decay then wood Maister Dee recordeth in his Brittish Monarchie that King Edgar had a nauie of foure thousand saile with which he yearely made his progresse about this famous Monarchy of Great Brittany largely declaring the benefit thereof whereupon it seems he protected to our most memorable Queene Elizabeth the erecting of a Fleete of three score saile he called a little Nauy Royall immitating the admired Pericles prince of Athens that could neuer secure that tormented estate vntill he was Lord and Captaine of the Sea At this none neede wonder for who knowes not her Royall Maiestie during her life by the incredible aduentures of her Royall Nauy and valiant Souldiers aud Sea-men notwithstanding all treacheries at home the protecting and defending France and Holland and re-conquering Ireland yet all the world by Sea or Land both feared loued and admired good Queene Elizabeth Both to maintaine and increase that incomparable honour God be thanked to her incomparable Successour our most Royall Lord and Soueraigne King Iames c. this great Philosopher hath left this to his Maiesty and his kingdomes considerations That if the Tenths of the Earth be proper to God it is also due by Sea the Kings highwayes are common to passe but not to digge for mines or anie thing so Englands coasts are free to passe but not to fish but by his Maiesties prerogatiue His Maiestie of Spaine permits none to passe the Popes order for the East and West Indies but by his permission or at their perills If all that world be so iustly theirs it is no iniustice for England to make as much vse of her owne as strangers doe that pay to their owne Lords the tenth and not to the owners of those Liberties any thing whose subiects may neither take nor sell any in their territories which small tribute would maintaine his little Nauy Royall and not cost his Maiesty a penny and yet maintaine peace with all forrainers and allow them more curtesie then any Nation in the world affords to England It were a shame to alledge that Holland is more worthy to enioy our fishings as Lords thereof because they haue more skill to handle it then we as they can our wooll and vndressed cloth notwithstanding all their wars and trouble some disorders To get mony to build this Nauy he saith Who would not spare the hundred penny of his Rents and the 500. penny of his goods each seruant that taketh 33. s. 4. d. wages 4. pence and euery forrainer seuen yeares of age 4. pence yearely for 7. yeares 3 not any of these but yearely they will spend 3. times so much in pride wantonnesse or some superfluity And doe any men loue the security of their estates that are true subiects would not of themselues be humble suters to his Maiestie to do this of free will as a voluntary beneuolence so it may be as honestly and truly imployed as it is proiected the poorest mechanicke in this kingdome will gaine by it If this be too much would the honorable Aduenturers be pleased to moue his Maiestie that but the 200. penny of Rents and the thousandth peny of Goodes might bee thus collected to plant New England and but the tenth fish there taken leauing strangers as they are You might build ships of any burden and numbers you please fiue times cheaper then you can doe heere and haue good marchandize for their fraught in this vnknowne Land to the aduauncement of Gods glorie his Church and Gospel and the strengthening and reliefe of a great part of Christendome without hurt to any â—o the terror of Pirates the amazement of enemies the assistance of friends the securing merchants and so much increase of Nauigation to make Englands Trade and Shipping as much as any Nation in the world besides a hundred other benefits to the generall good of all true subiects and would cause thousands yet snborne blesse the time and all them that first put it in practise Now lest it should be obscured as it hath bene to private ends or so weakely vndertaken by our ouer-weening incredulitie that strangers may possesse it whilst we contend for New Englands goods but not Englands good I present this vnto your Lordship and to all the Lords in England hoping by your honorable good liking and approbation to moue all the worthy Companies of this noble City and all the cities and Countries in the whole Land to consider of it since I can find them wood and halfe victuall with the aforesaide aduantages with what facility they may build and maintaine this little Nauy Royall both with honour profite and content and inhabit as good a countrey as any in the world within that parallell which with my life and what I haue I will indeuour to effect if God please and you permit As for them whom pride or couetousnes lulleth asleepe in a Cradle of slouthfull carelesnesse would they but consider how all the great Monarchies of the Earth haue bene brought to confusion or but remember the late lamentable experience of Constantinople and how many Cities Townes and Provinces in the faire rich kingdomes of Hungaria Transilvania and Wallachi and how many thousands of Princes Earles Barons Knights and Merchants haue in one day lost goods liues and honours or solde for slaues like beasts in a market place their wiues children seruants slain or wandering they knew not whither dying or liuing in all extreamities of extreame miseries and calamities Surely they would not onely doe this but giue all they haue to enioy peace and libertie at home or but adventure their persons abroade to prevent the conclusions of a conquering foe who commonly assaulteth and best prevaileth where he findeth wealth and plenty most armed with ignorance and securitie Much more I could say but lest I should be too tedious to your more serious affaires I humbly craue your honorable and favorable constructions and pardons if any thing be amisse If any desire to bee further satisfied they may reade my Description of Virginia and New England and peruse them with their seuerall Mappes what defect you finde in them they shall finde supplied in mee or in my Authors that thus freely haue throwne my selfe with my Mite into the Treasury of my Countries good not doubting but God will shirre vp some noble spirits to consider and examine it worthy Collumbus could giue the Spaniards any such certainties for his dessigne when Queene Isabell of Spayne set him forth with fifteene saile And though I can promise no mines of golde yet the warrelike Hollanders let vs immitate but not hate whose wealth and strength are good testimonies of their treasure gotten by fishing Therefore honourable and worthy Countrymen let not the meannesse of the word Fish distaste you for it will afford as good golde as the mines of Guiana or Tubatu with lesse hazard and charge and more certaintie and facilitie and so I humbly rest FINIS S. Proofe 1. 1614. Proofe 2. 1615. Proofe 3. 1615. Proofe 4. 1616. Proofe 5. 1616. Proofe 6. 1616. Proofe 7. 1617 Proofe 8. 1618. Proofe 9. 1619. Proofe 10. 1620. For this next yeare 1621. it is reported 12. or 20. saile is a preparing Burmudos
NEW ENGLANDS TRIALS Declaring the successe of 26. Ships employed thither within these sixe yeares with the benefit of that Countrey by sea and land and how to build threescore sayle of good Ships to make a little Navie Royall Written by Captaine Iohn Smith LONDON Printed by VVilliam Iones 1620. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL THE Maister the Wardens and the Companie of the Fish-mongers TO the consideration of your fauourable constructions I present these sixe yeares continued trials from New England if you please to peruse them and make vse of them I am richly rewarded The subiect deserueth a farre better habit but it is as good as the father can giue it Let not therefore a souldiers plainnesse cause you refuse to accept it how euer you please to dispose of him that humbly sacreth himselfe and best abilities to his Countries good and the exquisite iudgement of your renowned perfections Yours to command Iohn Smith NEVV ENGLANDS Trials NEw England is a part of America betwixt the degrees of 41. and 45. the very meane betwixt the North Pole and the Line From 43. to 45. the coast is mountainous rockie barren and broken Iles that make many good harbours The water is deepe close to the shoare there are many riuers and fresh springs few Saluages but an incredible aboundanâ—e of fish fowle wilde fruites and good timber From 43. to 41. and halfe an excellent mixed coast of stone sand and clay much corne many people some Iles many good harbours a temperate ayre and therein all things necessarie for the building ships of any proportion and good merchandize for their fraughts within a square of twelue leagues 25. harbours I sounded thirtie seuerall Lordships I sawe and so neare as I could imagine three thousand men I was vp one riuer fortie miles crossed the mouths of many whose heads are reported to be great Lakes where they kill their Beuers inhabited with many people who trade with those of New England and them of Cannada The benefite of Fishing as that famous Philosopher Master Dee reporteth in his Brittish Monarchie He saith that more then forty foure yeares agoe the Herring Busses out of the Low-countries vnder the King of Spaine were fiue hundred besides one hundred Frenchmen and three or foure hundred saile of Flemings The coasts of Wales and Lankashire was vsed by three hundred sayle of strangers Ireland at Baltemore fraughted yerely three hundred sayle of Spaniards where King Edward the sixt intended to haue made a strong Castell because of the straite to haue tribute for fishing Blacke Rocke was yearely fished by three or foure hundred sayle of Spaniards Portugalls and Biskiners Mr. Gentleman and many Fisher-men and Fishmongers with whom I haue conferred report The Hollanders raise yearely by Herrings Cod and Ling 3000000. pounds English and French by Salt-fish poore Iohn Salmons and Pilchards 300000. pounds Hambrough and the Sound for Sturgion Lobsters and Eeles 100000. pounds Cape Blanke Tunny and Mullit by the Biskinners and Spaniards 30000. pounds But diuers other learned experienced Obseruers say though it may seeme incredible That the Duke of Medina receiueth yearely tribute of the Fishers of Tunny Mullit and Purgos more then 10000. pounds Lubeck hath seuen hundred shippes Hambrough sixe hundred Embden lately a fisher towne 1400 whose customes by the profit of fishing hath made them so powerfull as they be Holland and Zeland not much greater then Yorkeshire hath thirty walled townes 400. villages and 20000. sayle of ships and hoyes 3600. are fishermen whereof 100. are Dogers 700. Pinckes and Welbotes 700. frand botes 400. Enaces 400. galbotes Britters and Todebotes with 1300. Busses besides three hundred that yearely fish about Yarmouth where they sell their fish for gold and 15. yeares agoe they had more then 116000. Sea-faring men These fishing ships do take yearely 200000. Last of fish 12. barrells to a Last which amounteth to 3000000. pounds by the Fishermens price that 14. yeres agoe did pay for their tenths 300000. pound which venting in Pomerland Sprusland Denmarke Lesland Russia Suethland Germany Netherlands England or eâ—sewhere c. make their returnes in a yeare about 7000000. pounds and yet in Holland they haue neither matter to build shippes nor merchandize to set them foorth yet they asmuch encrease as other Nations decay But leauing thâ—se vncertainties as they are of this I am certaine That the coast of England Scotland and Ireland the north Sea with Island and the Sound New-foundland and Cape Blancke doe serue all Europe as well the land Townes as Portes and all the Christian shipping with these sorts of Staple fish which is transported from whence it is taken many a thousand mile viz. Herring Salt-fish poore Iohn Sturgion Mullit Tunny Porgos Caviare Buttargo Now seeing all these sorts of fish or the most part of them may be had in a land more fertile temperate and plentifull of all necessaries for the building of ships boates and houses and the nourishment of man the seasons are so proper and the fishings so neare the habitations wee may there make that New England hath much aduantage of the most of those parts to serue all Europe farre cheaper then they can who at home haue neither wood salt nor food but at great rates at Sea nothing but what they carry in their shippes an hundred or two hundred leagues from their habitation But New Englands fishings neare land where is helpe of wood water fruites fowles corne or other refreshings needefull and the Terceras Mederas Canaries Spaine Portugall Prouance Sauoy Sicilia and ali Italy as conuensent markets for our dry Fish greene Fish Sturgion Mullit Caviare and Buttargo as Norway Swethland Littuania or Germany for their Herring which is here also in aboundance for taking They returning but wood pitch tarre soape-ashes cordage flaxe waxe and such like commodities We wines oyles sugars silkes and such merchandizes as the Straites affoord whereby our profites may equalize theirs besides the increase of Shipping and Mariners And for proofe hereof With two shippes I went from the Downes the third of March and arriued in New England the last of Aprill I had but fortie fiue men and boyes we built seuen boates 37. did fish my selfe with eight Bthers ranging the coast I tooke a plot of what I could see got acquaintance of the inhabitants eleuen hundred beuer skinnes one hundred Martins and as many Otters fortie thousand of dry fish we sent for Spaine with the salt-fish treine oyle and furres I returned for England the 18. of Iuly and arriued safe with my company the latter end of August Thus in sixe moneths I made my voyage out and home and by the labour of 45. got neare the valew of fifteene hundred pounds in those grosse commodities This yeare also one went from Plimmouth spent his victuall and returned with nothing The Londoners vpon this sent foure good shippes and because I would not vndertake it for them hauing ingaged my selfe to them of the West the Lâ—ndoners