way me thinks this obiection comes in due time and doth wel admonish vs how to rectiffe our hearts and ground our meditations before we begin we doe generally applaud and highly commend the goodnes of the cause and that it is such a profitable plough as euery honest man ought to set his hand vnto both in respect of God and the publike good this is our generall voice and we say truth for so it is But wee must beware that vnder this pretence that bittet root of gréedy gaine be not so setled in our harts that béeing in a golden dreame if it fal not out presently to our expectation we flinke away with discontent and draw our purses from the charge If any shew this affection I would wish his basenes of minde to be noted What must be our direction then no more but this if thou dost once approue the worke lay thy hand to it chéerefully and withdraw it not till thy taske bee done at all assayes and new supplies of money be not lagge nor like a dull horse that 's alwaies in the lash for héere lies the poâ—son of all good attempts when as men without haling and pulling will not bee drawne to performance for by this others are discouraged the action lies vndone and the first expence is lost But are wee to looke for no gaine in the lewe of all aduentures yes vndoubtedly there is assured hope of gaine as I will shew anon in due place but look it be not chiefe in your thoughts God that hath said by Solomon Cast thy bread vpon the waters and after many daies thou shalt find it he will giue the blessing And as for supplanting the sauages we haue no such intent Our intrusion into their possessions shall tend to their great good and no way to their hurt vnlesse as vnbridled beastes they procure it to themselues Wee purpose to proclaime and make it knowne to them all by some publike interpretation that our comming thither is to plant our selues in their countrie yet not to supplant and roote them out but to bring them from their base condition to a farre better First in regard of God the Creator and of Iesus Christ their Redéemer if they will beléeue in him And secondly in respect of earthly blessings whereof they haue now no comfortable vse but in beastly brutish maner with promise to defend them against all publike and priuate enemies Wée can remember since Don Iohn Daquila with his forces inuading Ireland a noble ciuill kingdome where all except a few runagates were setled in the truth of Religion and liued by wholsome lawes vnder the milde gouernment of Christian Kings and Princes long before his grandsiers cradle yet hée thought it no robberie to proclaime and publish to the world that his comming thither was to none other end but to free the Nation from their bondage and tyrannous subiection and to bring the blind soules to Catholike Religion a plausible pretence the least end of his thought But if this were coyned in those dayes by the Minters themselues to passe for currant thorow the world howsoeuer base it was indéede wée hope they will be as fauourable to our case and giue as frée passage and allowance to our inuasion much more currant and so farre different as not to bring a people according to our prouerbe out of the frying panne into the fire but to make their condition truely more happy by a mutuall enterchange and commerce in this sort That as to our great expence and charge wée make aduentures to impart our diuine riches to their inestimable gaine and to couer their naked miserie with ciuill vse of foode and clothing and to traine them by gentle mesnes to those manuall artes and skill which they so much affect and doe admire to sée in vs so in lewe of this wée require nothing at their hands but a quiet residence to vs and ours that by our owne labour and toyle we may worke this good vnto them and recompence our owne aduentures costs and trauells in the ende wherein they shal be most friendly welcome to conioyne their labours with ours and shall enioy equall priuiledges with vs in whatsoeuer good successe time or meanes may bring to passe To which purpose wee may verily beleeue that God hath reserued in this last age of the world an infinite number of those lost and scattered sheepe to be won and recouered by our means of whom so many as obstinatly refuse to vnite themselues vnto vs or shall maligne or disturbe our plantation our chattel or whatsoeuer belonging to vs they shall be held and reputed recusant withstanding their owne good and shall bee dealt with as enemies of the Common-wealth of their countrie wherby how much good we shall performe to those that be good and how little iniury to any wil easily appeare by comparing our present happinesse with our former ancient miseries wherein wee had continued brutish poore and naked Britanes to this day if Iulius Caesar with his Romane Legions or some other had not laid the ground to make vs tame and ciuill But for my second point propounded the honour of our King by enlarging his Kingdomes to proue how this may tend to that no argument of mine can make it so manifest as the same is cleere in it selfe Diuine testimonies shew that the honour of a King consisteth in the multitude of subiects and certainely the state of the Iewes was farre more glorious by the conquests of Dauid and vnder the ample raigne of Solomon then euer before or after The twelue Tribes were then all subiect the bordering Nations tributarie no doubt a happie subiection to many of them wherby they had the better meanes to beleeue and know God the Creator of heauen and earth Honourable I graunt is iust Conquest by sword and Hercules is fained to haue had all his felicity in subduing and rooting out the Tyrants of the world but vnfainedly it is most honorable indeede to subdue the tyranny of the roaring Lion that deuoures those poore soules in their ignorance and leads them to hel for want of light when our Dominions shall be enlarged and the subiects multiplied of a people so bought and ransomed not by stormes of raging cruelties as west India was conuerted with rapiers point and Musket shot murdering so many millions of naked Indians as their Stories doe relate but by faire and louing meanes suting to our English natures like that soft and gentle voice wherein the Lord appeared to Elias How honorable wil this be in the sight of men and of ages to come but much more glorious in the sight of God when our King shal come to make his triumph in heauen The prophet Daniel doth assure that for this conquest of turning manie vnto righteousnesse hee shall shine as the starres for euer and euer And yet this is not all that may be saide the auncient law the law of Moses settes it downe as a blessed thing when the Prince
and people of God shall bee able to lend to all and neede to borrow of none and it added very much to the fame and wisedome of King Solomon which the world came â—arre and neere to wonder at in that his Kingdomes were replenished with golde and siluer in aboundance and with riches brought in by shippes sent yearely forth in ample trade of Merchandize whereof wee reade not the like among all the Kings of Israel And vpon good warrant I speake it here in priuate what by these new discoueries into the Westerne partes and our hopefull setling in chiefest places of the East with our former knowne trades in other parts of the world I doe not doubt by the helpe of God but I may liue to see the dayes if Marchants haue their due encouragement that the wisedome Maiestie and Honour of our King shall be spread and enlarged to the ends of the world our Nauigations mightily encreased and his Maiesties customes more then trebled And as for the third part the releeuing our men already planted to preserue both them and our former aduentures I shall not neede to say much the necessitie is so apparent that I hope no Aduenturer will be wanting therein Our Sauiour Christ resembles them that giue ouer in their best duties to foolish builders that hauing laid the foundation doe grauell themselues in the midde way and so become ridiculous It had béene extreame madnes in the Iewes when hauing sent to spye the land that flowed with milke and honey and ten for two returned backe with tydings of impossibilitie to enter and preuaile if then they had retyred and lost the land of promise No doubt the Deuill that enuied then that enterprize of theirs doth now the like in ours and we must make accompt and look to bee encountred with many discoragements partly by our friends and neighbours such as we vse to say will neither goe to Church nor tarrie at home as also which is no new thing euen by such as haue béen sent to spy the land one while obiecting the charge will be great the businesse long and the gaines nothing and besides the Anakimes that dwell in the mountaines will come and pull vs out by the eares with such like fooleries I know not what But wee must bée prepared with Caleb and Iosua so highly commended to oppose an extraordinarie zeale against the detraâ—â—ings of such to rescue our enterprize from malicious ignorance and to still their murmurings with reproofe for though in ordinarie and common occasions it be our duetie to be caried with ordinarie patience méekenes and humilitie yet to shew an excellent spirit when the cause is worth it and in such a case as this requiring passing resolution It is but our weakenesse to stumble at strawes and a basenesse to gnaw vpon euery bone that is cast in our way which wée may obserue by those noble dogges of Albania presented to King Alexander whose natures contemned to encounter or prey vpon séely beasts of no valour but with an ouerflowing courage flying vpon the Lion and the Tyger did thâ—n declare their vertue And now it followes how it can be good for this Commonwealth which is likewise most apparant many waies First if we consider what strength of shipping may be raysed and maintained thence in furnishing our owne wants of sundrie kindes and the wants of other Nations too in such needfull things arising thence which can hardly now be obtained from any other part of the world as planck and tymber for shipping with Deale and Wainscot pipestaues and clabbord with store of Sope ashes whereof there grow the best woods to make them in great aboundance al which we may there haue the wood for the cutting and the Ashes for the burning which though they bee grosse commodities yet no Marchandize is better requested nor will sooner yeelde golde or siluer in any our bordering Nations England and Holland alone spend in these about three hundreth thousand poundes sterling euery yeare we may transport hether or vnto Hamborough Holland or other places fiftie per centum better cheape then from Prusia or Polonia from whence they are onely now to be had where also the woods are so spent and wasted that from the place where the wood is cut and the ashes burnt they are brought by land at least two hundred miles to ship And from thence we may haue Iron and Copper also in great quantitie about which the expence and waste of woode as also for building of Shippes will be no hurt but great seruice to that countrey the great superfluity whereof the continuall cutting downe in manie hundred yeares will not be able to ouercome whereby will likewise grow a greater benefite to this land in preseruing our woodes and tymber at home so infinitely and without measure vpon these occasions cutte downe and falne to such a sickenesse and wasting consumption as all the physick in England cannot cure Wee doubt not but to make there in few yeares store of good wines as any from the Canaries by replanting and making tame the Uines that naturally grow there in great abundance onely send men of skill to doe it and Coopers to make caske and hoopes for that and all other vses for which there is wood enough at hand There are Silke-wormes and plenty of Mulberie-trees whereby Ladies Gentlewomen and litle children beeing set in the way to doe it may bee all imploied with pleasure in making Silke comparable to that of Persia Turkey or any other We may bring from thence Sturgion Cauiare and new land-fish of the best There grows hempe for Cordage an excellent commoditie and flaxe for linnen cloth which beeing sowen and well manured in such a clymate and fertile soyle will make great benefite and will put downe that of other countries And for the making of Pitch Tarre Turpentine Sope-ashes Deale Wainscott and such like wee haue alreadie prouided and sent thither skillfull workemen from Forraine parts which may teach and set ours in the way whereby we may set many thousands a worke in these and such like seruices For as I tolde you before there must be Art and industry with other helps and meanes extended with a little pacience to bring these things to passe wee must not looke to reape with ioy except we sow in teares The aboundance of King Salomons golde and siluer did not raine from heauen vpon the heads of his subiects but heauenly prouidence blessed his Nauigations and publike affayres the chiefe meanes of their wealth Experience hath lately taught vs by some of our neighbour Prouinces how excéedingly it mounts the State of a common-wealth to put forth Nauigation if it were possible into all parts and corners of the world to furnish our owne wants and also to supply from one Kingdome to another such seuerall néedefull things as for want of shipping and other meanes they cannot furnish of themselues for this will raise experience and men of skill as also strength at Sea and
encreased their subiects enriched and their superfluitie of coyne ouer-spreading al parts of the world procures their Crowne to flourish and highly commendeth the wisedome of Spaine whose quicke apprehension and spéedy addresse preuented all other Princes albeit as you know their greatnes of minde arising together with their money and meanes hath 〈◊〉 all Christendome these fourtie yeares and more And this I but mention to note the blind diffidence of our English natures which laugh to scorne the name of Virginia and all other new proiects bee they neuer so probable and will not beleeue till wee sée the effects as also to shew how capable men ought to bee in things of great importance aduisedly to take the first occasions We reade of Haniball when chasing home the Romanes to the gates of Rome and neglecting then to scale the walles could neuer after with all his strength and policies come neere the like aduantage yet I must briefely tell you now what I conceiue with ioy that howsoeuer the businesse of this plantation hath beene formerly miscaried yet it is now going on in better way not enterprised by one or two priuate subiects who in their greatnesse of minde sought to compasse that which rather beseemed a mighty Prince such as ours or the whole State to take in hand for it is not vnknowen to you all how many Noble men of Honourable mindes how many worthy Knights Merchants and others of the best disposition are now ioyned together in one Charter to receiue equall priuiledges according to their seuerall aduentures euery man engaging his purse and some Noble-men Knights and Gentlemen intending to goe in their owne persons which I did hears to protest and vow against anie people whomsoeuer shall any way seeke to entrappe or impeach our proceedings an vtter reuenge vpon their bodies or goods if they be to bee found vpon Sea or land whereby we haue assured hope God assisting vs to be effectually able to make good against all and in short time to bring to a most happy euent the thing we take in hand And now in discribing the naturall seate and disposition of the countrie it selfe if I should say no more but with Caleb and Ioshua The land which we haue searched out is a very good land if the Lord loue vs he will bring our people to it and will giue it vs for a possession This were enough to you that are willing but yet a little more in particular obserued by the best Mappes and Printed discourses and by conference of such as haue béene lately there and séene it I thinke good to deliuer to satisfie others First the Uoyage is not long nor tedious sixe Wéekes at ease will send vs thither whereas sixe Moneths suffice not to some other places where wee Trade our course and passage is thorow the great Ocean where is no feare of Rockes or Flattes nor subiect to the streighte and restraint of forraine Princes most Winds that blow are apt and fit for vs and none can hinder vs when wee come to the Coast there is continuall depth enough with good Bottome for Anchor hold and the Land is faire to fall with all full of excellent good Harbours the world affoords no better for Ships of all burdens many pleasant Ilands great and small affronting the Coast Two goodly Riuers are discouered winding farre into the Maine the one in the North part of the Land by our Westerne Colonie Knights and Gentlemen of Excester Plymouth and others The other in the South part thereof by our Colonie of London Upon which Riuer being both broad déepe and pleasant abounding with store of fish our Colony haue begun to fortifie themselues and haue built a towne and named it in honour of our King Iames towne fourescore miles within land vpon the North side of the Riuer as is London vpon the Riuer of Thames from whence wee haue discouered the same Riuer one hundred myles further into the mayne Land in the searching whereof they were so rauisht with the admirable sweetnesse of the streame and with the pleasant land trending along on either side that their ioy excéeded and with great admiration they praised God The country it selfe is large and great assuredly though as yet no exact discouerie can bee made of all It is also commendable and hopefull euerie way the ayre and clymate most swéete and wholsome much warmer then England and very agréeable to our Natures It is inhabited with wild and sauage people that liue and lie vp and downe in troupes like heards of Deare in a Forrest they haue no law but nature their apparell skinnes of beasts but most goe naked the better sort haue houses but poore ones they haue no Arte nor Science yet they liue vnder superior commaund such as it is they are generally very louing and gentle and doe entertaine and relieue our people with great kindnesse they are easie to be brought to good and would fayne embrace a better condition the land yeeldeth naturallie for the sustentation of man aboundance of fish both scale and shell of land and water fowles infinite store of Deere Rainâ— and fallow Stags Coneys and Hares with many fruits and rootes good for meate There are valleyes and plaines streaming with sweets Springs like veynes in a naturall bodie there are hills and mountaines making a sensible proffer of hidden treasure neuer yet searched the land is full of mineralles plentie of woods the wants of England there are growing goodly Okes and Elmes â—eech and Birch Spruce Walnut Cedar and Firre trees in great aboundance the soile is strong and lustie of it owne nature and sendeth out naturally fruitfull Uines running vpon trees and shrubbes it yeeldeth also Roâ—â—n Turpentine Pitch and Tarre Sassafras Mulbery-trees and Silke-wormes many Skinnes and rich Furres many sweete woodes and Dyers woodes and other costly dyes plenty of Sturgion Timber for Shipping Mast Plancke and Deale Sope ashes Cauiare and what else we know not yet because our daies are yong But of this that I haue said if bare nature be so amiable in it naked kind what may we hope when Arte and Nature both shall ioyne and striue together to giue best content to man and beast as now in handling the seuerall parts propounded I shall shew in order as they lie For the first if I forget not my selfe how it may tend to aduance the Kingdome of God by reducing sauage people from their blind superstition to the light of Religion when some obiect wee seeke nothing lesse then the cause of God being led on by our owne priuate ends and secondly how we can warrant a supplantation of those Indians or an inuasion into their right and possessions To the first we say as many actions both good in themselues and in their successe haue béene performed with badde intents so in this case howsoeuer our naughtines of minde may sway very much yet God may haue the honor and his Kingdome aduanced in the action done but yet by the