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
Fathers of their company with a new supply of all things necessarie to the Plantation at Port Royall but shortly after their arriuall their predominant disposition hardly yeelding to any Superiour specially if it be a Secular power they be-beganne to contradict Poutrincourt in the execution of these Decrees which had beene giuen forth by him as Ciuil Magistrate of that place Whereupon the Gentleman extreamely discontented and wearie of contesting with them hauing said that it was his part to rule them vpon earth and theirs onely to guide him the way to Heauen he returned backe to France leauing his Sonne Biencourt in his place who being a youth at that time of more courage then circumspectnesse disdayning to be controlled by them whom he had inuited thither and scorning their insupportable presumption and imperious kinde of carriage vsing Spirituall Armes for Temporall ends whose spleene had excommunicated and branded him with a Spirituall censure hee threatned them by his Temporall power with a more palpable panishment so that after much controuersie resoluing to separate themselues the two Iesuites taking a part of the company with them went from thence to a place in New England called by them Mount Desert ' where they seated themselues and hauing a supply from the Queene Mother did plant sundry fruit trees of the most delicate kinds in France such as Apricockes and Peaches neuer intending to remoue from thence At this time Sir Samuell Argall who hath beene Gouernour of Virginia coasting alongst New England to traffique discouer or to acquire things necessary for the Southerne Colonie in these parts where the Lands are reputed to be more fertile and the Seas more frequented did conceiue by a description made vnto him by the Sauages that there were some come from this part of the World to inhabit there and being iealous of any thing that might derogate from the honour or prooue preiudiciall to the benefit of his Nation whereof their interest in this was easie to be apprehended hee went whereas hee was informed that they were and his vnexpected arriuall as it would seeme not onely amazing the mindes of the French but likewise preuenting their preparation and resolution he approched so neere to a ship that lay before their Fore that hee beate them all that were within with Musket shot from making any vse of their Ordnance and killed one of the two Iesuites who was giuing fire to a Peece hauing taken the ship he landed and went before the Fort summoning them that were within to yeeld themselues who at the first made some difficultie asking a time to aduise but that being refused they priuately abandoned the Fort stealing out by some back way into the Woods where they stayed one night and the next day comming backe rendred themselues giuing vp the Patent they had from the French King to bee cancelled hee vsed them courteously as their owne Writers doe make mention suffering such as had a minde to goe for France to seeke out fishers ships wherein they might bee transported the rest that were willing to goe for Virginia went thither alongst with him no man hauing lost his life but onely that one Iesuite who was killed whilest they made resistance during the time of the conflict thereafter Father Biard the other of the Iesuites comming back from Virginia with Sir Samuell Argall out of the indigestable malice that he had conceiued against Biencourt did informe him where he had planted himselfe offering as hee did to conduct him thither As soone as they were entred within the Port neere the vppermost of the Ilands Sir Samuell directing the ship to ride at a reasonable distance to attend occasions before the Fort did land himselfe with fortie of the best of his men vpon a Medow where immediatly they heard a Peece of Ordnance from the Fort and he conceiuing since it was shot whilst it could do no harme that it was done either but to giue terrour to them or to warne some that might happen to bee abroad Did make the greater haste towardes the Fort where hee presently entred finding it abandoned without any men at all left for the defence thereof hee went vp the Riuer side fiue or sixe miles where hee saw their Barnes and the ground where a great quantitie of Wheate had growne which he carried with him to serue for Seed in Virginia he saw likewise their Corne Mill very conueniently placed which together with the Barnes hee left standing vntouched As for the Fort it selfe he destroyed it downe to the ground razing the French Armes and leauing no monument remayning that might witnesse their being there After this Biencourt who had beene some where abroad trauelling through the Countrey comming home desired to conferre with Sir Samuell Argall who did meete with him apart from the Company vpon a Medow and after they had expostulated a space for what had past controuerting concerning the French and English Title to these bounds at last Biencourt offered If hee might haue a protection to depend vpon our King and to draw the whole Furres of that Countrey to one Port where he would diuide them with him As likewise he would shew him good Metalls whereof hee gaue him pieces but the other refused to ioyne in any societie with him protesting that his Commission was onely to displant him and that if hee found him there after that time hee would vse him as an enemy Biencourt labouring earnestly to haue had the Iesuit as he confessed with a purpose to hang him Whilst they were discoursing together one of the Sauages came suddenly forth from the Woods and licentiated to come neere did after his manner earnestly mediate a peace wondring why they that seemed to bee of one Countrey should vse others with such hostilitie and that with such a forme of habit and gesture as made them both to laugh After this Biencourt remoouing from thence to some other part Monsieur Champlein who had liued long here did carrie a company with him from France of some fortie persons or thereabouts vp the Riuer of Canada whom hee planted on the North side thereof with a purpose to serue for a Factorie drawing all the Trade of that farre running Riuer which a Plantation would haue dispersed in many parts within the hands of a few whom he doth command otherwise if his desires had beene bended that way hee might haue planted many people there ere now the place is called Kebeck where the French doe prosper well hauing Corne by their owne labour which may furnish themselues for food and likewise for a stocke to trassique with the Sauages with sundry Fruits Roots Vine Grapes and Turkie Wheate Champlein hath discouered the Riuer of Canada from the Gulfe vpwards aboue twelue hundred miles finding in it sometimes such falles as to scape the same he must carrie his Boate a little way by Land and then hee did many times come to great Lakes at the end whereof hee did alwayes find a Riuer againe and the
they had retired to New-found-land foreseeing that what they had with them might be wasted and that it would bee as chargeable and difficult to furnish them forth from thence as if they were to goe of new from Scotland yet rather then they should bee in danger for want of prouision making me any way guiltie of their losse that had aduentured their liues trusting to my care I fraughted a shippe of purpose furnished with such things as were required in a Note which they sent home with their Messenger This shippe was dispatched by mee from London in the end of March 1623. but shee happened to stay so long at Plimmouth first vpon some necessary occasions and last by contrary winds it being the eight and twentieth of April before shee parted from thence hauing no good windes at all that they arriued not at Saint Iohns Harbour till the fift of Iune At their comming they found the company not fit for a Plantion which had first by an vnexpected cause been deuided in two during the Winter and in May some doubting of a supply had engaged themselues to serue Fishermen by which meanes they gained their maintenance and some meanes beside so that they could hardly be gathered together againe and their Minister and Smith both for Spirituall and Temporall respects the two most necessary members were both dead so that seeing no hope to plant themselues in any good fashion that yeere ten of the principall persons concluded to go alongst with the ship to New Scotland to discouer the Countrey and to make choice of a fit place for a Habitation against the next yeere considering very well that they could not doe so much good by staying there with so few a number as they might doe at their returne by reporting the truth to their friends of that which they had seene whereby a new Colonie might be encouraged to set forth well furnished and instructed according to that which might bee learned by their experience The three and twentieth of Iune they loosed from Saint Iohns Harbour and sayled towards New Scotland where for the space of fourteene dayes they were by fogges and contrary winds kept backe from spying Land till the eight of Iuly that they saw the West part of Cape Bretton and till the thirteenth day they sayled alongst the Coast till they ranne the length of Port de Mutton where they discouered three very pleasant Harbours and went ashore in one of them which after the shippes name they called Lukes Bay where they found a great way vp a very pleasant Riuer being three fathom deep at a low water at the entry thereof on euery side of the same they did see very delicate Medowes hauing Roses white and red growing thereon wtih a kind of wilde Lilly which had a daintie smel the next day they resolued coasting alongst the land to discouer the next Harbour which was but two leagues distant from the other where they found a more pleasant Riuer then the first being foure fathome deepe at a low water with Medowes on both sides thereof hauing Roses and Lillies growing thereon as the other had they found within this Riuer a very fit place for a Plantation both in regard that it was naturally apt to be fortified and that all the ground betweene the two Riuers was without wood and very good fat Earth hauing seuerall sorts of beries growing thereon as Goose-beries Straw-beries Hind-beries Rasberies and a kind of red Wine berie as also some sorts of graine as Pease some Eares of Wheate Barly and Rie growing there wilde the Pease grow in abundance alongst the Coast very bigge and good to eate but did taste of the fitch this Riuer is called Port Iolly from whence they coasted alongst to Port Negro beeing twelue leagues distant where all the way as they sayled alongst they spied a very pleasant Countrey hauing growing euery where such things as were obserued in the two Harbours where they had beene before They found likewise in euery Riuer abundance of Lobsters Cockles and other shel-fishes and also not onely in the Riuers but all the Coast alongst numbers of seuerall sorts of Wild-foule as Wild-goose blacke Ducke Woodcocke Crane Heron Pidgeon and many other sorts of Fowle which they knew not They did kill as they sayled alongst the Coast great store of Cod with seuerall other sorts of great fishes The Countrie is full of Woods not very thicke and the most part Oake the rest are Firre Spruce Birch with some Sicamores and Ashes and many other sorts of Wood which they had not seene before Hauing disconered this part of the Countrie in regard of the Voyage their ship was to make to the Straits with fishes they resolued to coast alongst from Lukes Bay to Port de Mutton beeing foure leagues to the East thereof where they encountred with a Frenchman that in a very short time had made a great Voyage for though he had furnished one ship away with a great number of fishes there were neere so many readie as to load himselfe others After they had taken a view of this Port which to their iudgement they found no waies inferiour to the rest they had seene before they resolued to retire backe to New-found-land where their ship was to receiue her loading of fishes The 20. of Iuly they loosed from thence and the seuen and twentieth thereof they arriued at Saint Iohns Harbour and from thence sailed alongst to the Bay of Conception where they left the ship and dispatched themselues home in seuerall ships that belonged to the West part of England This is no wonder that the French beeing so slieghtly planted did take no deeper roote in America for they as onely desirous to know the nature and qualitie of the soile and of things that were likely to grow there did neuer seeke to haue them in such quantitie as was requisite for their maintenance affecting more by making a needlesse ostentation that the World should know they had beene there then that they did continue still to inhabit there like them that were more in loue with glorie then with vertue then being alwaies subiect to diuisions amongst themselues it was impossible that they could subsist which proceeded sometime from emulation or enuie and at other times from the lazinesse of the disposition of some who lothing labor could bee commanded by none who would impose more vpon them then was agreeable with the indifferencie of their affections and superficiall endeuours The English were free from these mutinies and wanted not industry enough but their out of a custome they haue to trauell more for the benefit that doth flow from grasse then by manuring of the ground for Corne or otherwise if they were forced so to doe by their Owners at London who enforcing a speedie returne by their labour would needs be trusted with furnishing of them victuals they applying themselues to Tobacco and such things as might import a present commoditie neglecting the time that
the protecting of whose liberties was the first cause of warre between them and the Persian Monarchs then besides all the adjacent Iles they planted Siracusa in Sicile most part of Italie which made it to bee called Graecia maior and Marseills in France O what a strange alteration that this part which did flourish thus whilest it was possessed by vigorous spirits who were capable of great enterprises did so many braue things should now the seate of base seruile people become the most abject and contemptible part of all the Territories belonging to the barbarous Ottomans whose insolent Ianissaries as the Pretorian Guards did with their Emperours and Mamalukes of Egypt with their Soldans presume at this time to dispose of the Regall power vpbrayding the miserable follie of Christians who dangerously embarqued in intestine warres though inuited by an encountring occasion neglect so great so glorious and so easie a conquest The Romanes comming to command a well peopled World had no vse of Colonies but onely thereby to reward such old deseruing Souldiers as age and merit pleading an immunitie from any further constrained trauell had brauely exceeded the ordinary course of time appointed for military seruice which custome was vsed in Germanie France Spaine and Brittaine and likewise that the Townes erected in this sort might serue for Citadels imposed vpon euery conquered Prouince whereof some doe flourish at this day and of others nothing doth remaine but the very name onely their ruines being so ruined that wee can hardly condiscend vpon what solitary part to bestowe the fame of their former being I am loth by disputable opinions to dig vp the Tombes of them that more extenuated then the dust are buried in obliuion will leaue these disregarded relicts of greatnesse to continue as they are the scorne of pride witnessing the power of time Neither will I after the common custome of the world ouerualuing things past disualue the present but considering seriously of that which is lately done in Ireland doe finde a Plantation there inferiour to none that hath beene heretofore The Babylonians hauing conquered the Israelites did transplant them as exposed to ruine in a remote Countrey sending others of their owne Nation that they might be vtterly extirpated to inhabite Samaria in their places And our King hath only diuided the most seditious families of the Irish by dispersing them in sundry parts within the Countrey not to extinguish but to dissipate their power who now neither haue nor giue cause of feare The Romanes did build some Townes which they did plant with their owne people by all rigour to curbe the Natiues next adjacent thereunto And our King hath incorporated some of his best Brittaines with the Irish planted in sundry places without power to oppresse but onely to ciuilize them by their example Thus Ireland which heretofore was scarcely discouered and only irritated by others prouing to the English as the Lowe-Countries did to Spaine a meanes whereby to waste their men and their money is now really conquered becomming a strength to the State and a glorie to his Majesties gouernment who hath in the setling thereof excelled all that was commended in any ancient Colonie As all first were encouraged to Plantations by the largenesse of the conquests that were proposed vnto them fearing onely want of people and not of land so in after ages when all knowne parts became peopled they were quickly entangled with the other extremitie grudging to be bounded within their prospect and jarring with their neighbours for small parcels of ground a strife for limits limiting the liues of many who entring first in controuersie vpon a point of profit though with the losse of ten times more valuing their honour by the opinion of others behooued to proceed as engaged for the safety of their reputation Then richesse being acquired by industrie and glorie by employments these two did beget auarice and ambition which lodging in some subtile heads vpon a politike consideration to vnite intestine diuisions did transferre their splene to forraine parts not seeking to rectifie the affections but to busie them abroad where least harme was feared and most benefit expected so that where they had first in a peaceable sort sought for Lands onely wherewith to furnish their necessity which conueniency or sufficiency did easily accommodate now ayming at greatnesse the desires of men growne infinite made them strangers to contentment and enemies to rest Some Nations seeking to exchange for better seates others to command their neighbours there was for many ages no speach but of wrongs and reuenges conquests and reuolts razings and ruining of States a continuall reuolution determining the periods of Time by the miseries of mankind and in regard of the populousnesse of these ages during the Monarchies of the Assirians Persians Graecians and Romanes the world could not haue subsisted if it had not beene purged of turbulent humours by letting out the bloud of many thousands so that warre was the vniuersall Chirurgeon of these distempered times And thereafter O what monstrous multitudes of people were slaine by huge deluges of barbarous armies that ouerflowed Italie France and Spaine and the Christians haue long beene subject to the like calamities wanting a commoditie how they might not wronging others in a Christian manner employ the people that were more chargeable then necessary at home which was the cause of much mischiefe among themselues till at that time when Spaine was striuing with France how to part Italie as Italie had formerly done with Carthage how to part Spaine Then it pleased God hauing pitie of the Christians who for purposes of small importance did prodigally prostitute the liues of them whom hee had purchased with so pretious a ransome as it were for diuerting that violent kind of vanitie to discouer a new world which it would seeme in all reason should haue transported them with designes of more moment whereby glory and profit with a guiltlesse labour was to bee attayned with lesse danger whereunto they are as it were inuited and prouoked with so many eminent aduantages palpably exposed to any cleare judgement that I thinke this obuious facilitie vilifying that which a further difficulty might the more endeare the easinesse of the prey hath blunted the appetite When Christopher Columbus had in vaine propounded this enterprise to diuers Christian Princes Isabella of Castile against the opinion of her husband though so much renowned for wit yet not reaching this mysterie did first furnish him for a Voyage as if it were fatall that that Nation should owe the greatest part of their greatnesse to the female Sexe And if the Spaniards would sincerely and gratefully haue bestowed the benefits whereby God did allure them to possesse this Land for the planting of it with Christians enclined to ciuilitie and religion it had at this day considering the excellency of the soyle for all the perfections that nature could affoord beene the most singularly accomplished place of the world but it hath
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
last Lake where hee came was a very huge one iudged to bee three hundred miles in length by the report of some Sauages who did affirme vnto him that at the further end thereof they did find Salt-water and that they had seene great Vessels which made Champlein beleeue that a passage might be there to the Bay of California or to some part of the South Sea which would prooue an inestimable benefit for the Inhabitants of those parts opening a neere way to China which hath beene so many sundry wayes with so great charges so long sought for howsoeuer in regard of the season and for want of necessary prouisions Champlein did returne backe at that time with a purpose to goe againe another yeere which if he hath done is not yet knowne but this is most certaine that the Riuer of Canada hath a long course and through many goodly Countreyes some of these great Lakes by sending forth or by receiuing great Riuers do affoord meanes of commerce as farre as to some parts of Terra Florida as may bee gathered by Champleins Discouerie And now hauing giuen a breuiarie of all that is done by the French in America will next report of that which hath beene done by some others I will not here make mention of the many and braue Voyages that at the Sea haue happily beene performed by the English which same by eternall records hath recommended to be applauded by the best judgements of euery age but I will only shortly touch that which they haue attempted by way of Plantation beginning with the New-found Land which was first discouered and doth lie neerest to this Countrey Sir Humfrey Gilbert hauing a Commission from Queene Elizabeth did take possession of it in her name at Saint Iohns Harbour and thereafter purposed to haue seene Canada but encountring with some vnexpected crosses as hee was returning from thence seeking to condemne an opinion malice or enuie ordinarily taxing all aspiring spirits whose vertue by way of reflection doth vpbraide the basenesse of others that had beene conceiued of him as wanting courage he precipitated himselfe vpon an other extremitie not to seeme fearefull prouing desperate for in the time of a storme out of a needlesse brauerie to shew a contempt of danger being in a little small Pinnace and refusing to come to his best Shippe that was of a large burden hee was suddenly swallowed vp by the waues neere to the I le of Sablon and his death did ouerthrowe great hopes of a Plantation that by the generousnesse of his minde might justly haue beene expected from him but long before his time and euer since the English had vsed to fish vpon the Banke and within the Bayes of Newfound Land and the sweetnesse of the benefit arrising from thence did perswade a companie composed of Londoners and West-country men to joyne together for sending some to inhabite there where before howsoeuer the Summer was large as hote as here the Winter was thought vnsufferable The first houses for a habitation were built in Cupids Coue within the Bay of Conception where people did dwell for sundry yeeres together and some well satisfied both for pleasure and profit are dwelling there still finding small difference betweene the seasons of the yeere in that Climate and here There is another Plantation begunne at Harbour à Grace within the same Bay by the Citie of Bristoll called Bristols Hope whereas by the sowing and reaping of some Cornes of sundry sorts doth appeare what further may possibly be expected And within these three yeeres Master Secretary Caluert hath planted a companie at Ferriland who both for building and making triall of the ground haue done more then euer was performed before by any in so short a time hauing already there a brood of Horses Kowes and other beastial and by the industry of his people he is beginning to draw back yeerly some benefit from thence already which course howsoeuer at first it proue good or bad for his particular is by example beneficiall for the publike Last I heare that my Lord Vicount Falkland now Lord Deputie of Ireland hath this last yeere sent a companie to inhabite at Renouze a place lying South-west from Ferriland where the soyle is esteemed to be the best whereupon any hath setled there as yet and hee hath the shortest way and best opportunitie of any within his Majesties Dominions for transporting of people and cattell to that part from Ireland which if his course bee rightly directed as all haue reason to wish may promise him a good successe The first Patentees for Newfound-land haue giuen mee a grant of that part thereof which doth lie North-west from the Bay of Placentia to the great Gulfe of Canada ouer-against New Scotland where I had made a Plantation ere now if I had not beene diuerted by my designes for New Scotland but I purpose to doe it as soone as conueniently I may The most part of the bounds whereupon any hath planted as yet in Newfound Land is found to be rockie and not fit to be manured it may be these that made choice thereof neglecting the Land had onely a regard to dwell commodiously for making vse of the Sea the present profits whereof doth recompence the losse of that which might be expected by the other but there can be no hope of any constant dwelling where the people that inhabite doe not take a course to maintaine themselues by their owne Cornes and pasture as all there might doe if they would respect their posteritie more then the present time Before I come to the Continent I must remember the Iles of the Bermudas whose Discouerie and Plantation was procured by so strange a meanes for a Ship happening to perish vpon their Coast her passingers seeking the next Land for a refuge they were compelled to doe that out of necessitie whereunto in good reason both for honour and profit they might more warrantably haue beene inuited Thus doth benefit flowe from losse safety from ruine and the Plantation of a Land from the desolation of a Shippe they found at the first store of Hogs which in all appearance had their beginning from some such an accident as theirs was and the Fowles were there in abundance so easie to be taken that they could scarcely be frighted away these first people by repairing of their Ship which was cast away vpon the Land or by building some other Vessell out of her mines comming backe to England and reporting what was past some joyned together in a companie after they had taken a Patent thereof from the King and did send people of purpose to inhabite there who trusting too much to the goodnesse of the soyle and neglecting their owne industrie or not gouerning that well which was carried with them were reduced to a great distresse for want of victuals so that if they had not beene confined within an Iland more sensible of a present suffering then capable of future hopes they would willingly haue
reason how these parts of the World came first to be peopled We must grant according to the grounds of Diuinitie their people to be descended from Noah and it is not long since that the Loadstone being found out the best Saylers scorning as in former times to be only coasters haue brought the Art of Nauigation to that perfection that they durst resolutely aduenture to search the most remote parts in the Ocean and if any had gone thither of purpose to inhabite they would haue carried with them the most vse full kindes of tame Cattle such as Horses Cowes and Sheepe whereof neuer any was found in these parts till they were transported thither of late yeeres but onely such wild beasts as of themselues might haue wandred any where through vast Forrests and Deserts so that I doe thinke there must bee some narrow passage vpon the East towards Terra Australis Incognita not yet discouered from whence people by time might haue come crossing the Straits of Magelane to inhabite Brasile Chile and Peru or rather I should thinke that there were some Continent or Narrow Sea towardes the North about the Straits of Anien from whence the first Inhabitants in America might haue come because the wild beasts that are there are creatures most peculiar to the North such as Elkes Beares and Beauers which are knowne to bee ordinary with the Russians and Tartarians and I am the more confirmed in this opinion when I remember of the Mountains of Ice that come floting euery Spring alongst the Coast of New-found-Land which as it is likely may dissolue from some Sea that hath beene frozen during the Winter time ouer which people and wild beasts might haue commoditie to passe but this is a matter that can hardly bee determined by demonstration or reason therefore all men forming that which they know not according to the square of their owne conceits Wee must leaue this to the vnlimited libertie of the imagination of man But the thing most wonderfull of all is this though now it bee cleerely discouered that so few are willing to make vse therof This doth chiefly proceed from want of knowledge few being willing to aduenture vpon that wherewith they are not acquainted by their owne experience and yet those who haue not made triall themselues if they will trust others may bee abundantly satisfied by the reports of a number who to Plant and Traffique doe yeerely haunt these parts If the true estate of that which might bee done at this time by the ioyning of some reasonable company together were rightly vnderstood then so many would not liue at home as they do losing their time where they can make no benefit and burdenable to them to whom they are not vsefull rather admitted then welcommed the one thinking that their seruice should deserue a reward and the other that their maintenance is an vnnecessary charge neither gaining and both discontented then would not so many aduenture their liues for the defence of strangers whereby they scarce can acquire that which doth defray their owne charges and howsoeuer the hope of Honour may flatter a generous spirit there is no great appearance by this meanes to prouide for a Family or for a Posteritie And if we rightly consider the benefit that may arise by this enterprise abroad it is not onely able to afford a sufficient meanes for their maintenance who cannot conueniently liue at home by disburdening the Countrey of them but it is able to enable them to deserue of their Countrey by bringing vnto it both Honour and Profit Where was euer Ambition baited with greater hopes then here or where euer had Vertue so large a field to reape the fruites of Glory since any man who doth goe thither of good qualitie able at first to transport a hundred persons with him furnished with things necessary shall haue as much Bounds as may serue for a great Man wherevpon hee may build a Towne of his owne giuing it what forme or name hee will and being the first Founder of a new estate which a pleasing industry may quickly bring â—o a perfection may leaue a faire inheritance to his posteritie who shall claime vnto him as the Author of their Nobilitie there rather then to any of his Ancestours that had preceded him though neuer so nobly borne elswhere and if the vastenesse of their hopes cannot bee bounded within their first limits as soone as they haue strengthned themselues for such a designe either by Sea or by Land in regard of the large Countries next adiacent hereunto there doth alwaies rest a faire possibilitie of a further encrease either for them or for their successours and so euery one of inferiour sort may expect proportionably according to his aduenture The Merchans that are giuen to trade where can they haue a fairer ground for gaine then here and that besides that which may bee expected from so fertile a Land by industry or husbandry hereafter in present commodities such as Cod fishes and Herring in the Seas Salmonds in the Riuers Furres Pype-staues Pot-ashes and all that may arise from the plentie of good Wood Mineralls and other things though not knowne to strangers that onely coast alongst the Lands that may bee discouered hereafter by them that are to inhabite the Bounds Here those that are so disposed without making a Monasticall retreate free from a multitude of troubles may inioy the pleasures of contemplation being solitary when they will and yet accompanied when they please and that not with such company as pressed by importunitie they must discontentedly admit but onely by them of whom they haue made choice and whom they haue carried with them with whom as partners of their trauells by mutuall discourses they may remember their former dangers and communicate their present ioyes heere are all sorts of obiects to satisfie the varietie of desires I might speake of the sport that may bee had by Hunting Hâ—wking Fishing and Fowling where all these creatures haue had so long a time for increase without being destroyed or frighted as likewise of the great contentment that must come by daily discoueries of new Fieldes and Riuers with the diuersitie of things not seene before that may happen to bee found in them but I would rather haue all at first to thinke of the paines they must indure in bringing of so notable a Worke to perfection since no good thing can be had with ease and all the sonnes of men are borne to labour But leauing these worldly respects the greatest incouragement of all for any true Christian is this that heere is a large way for aduancing the Gospel of Iesus Christ to whom Churches may bee builded in places where his Name was neuer knowne and if the Saints of Heauen reioyce at the conuersion of a Sinner what exceeding ioy would it bee to them to see many thousands of Sauage people who doe now liue like brute beasts conueâ—ted vnto God and I wish leauing these dreames of