to prouide for themselues otherwhere such Houses as by Law ought to stand or else to depart the Land to some or other of the places to be inhabited assured there to be prouided for in a farre better sort 9. To these ought to bee added another sort no lesse combersome to the Land viz. Inmates I meane such as being in no possibilitie of the reuersion of the house wherein they dwell or of any other legall Tenement doe contrary to the Statute likewise thrust into houses with and vnder the right Tenants Of both which sorts together the Land doth so superabound that in many parishes I speake but what I know they are halfe or more then halfe so many as the right Tenants and legall Inhabitants are The riddance of them would be an inestimable clearing of the Country of many an vntoward generation and a notable disburdening of many a parish of intolerable and annuall expenses Resp. These aboue any other I could wish were rid out of the Countrie I and such other poory husbandmen doe liue much the worse for them And our Land I am perswaded can neuer thriue so long as these Drones doe 〈◊〉 it Enr. Indeed they are a superfluous Multitude and fittest of all other to be rid away as who not onely in regard of their personall estates haue for the most part little here to trust vnto but also are for their bodies and breeding best able a thing very necessary in these intendments to indure any hardnesse or labour by Sea or by Land within doores or without Whom therefore it were no reason either foolish pittie of the Gouernours on the one side or couetous fauour of greedie Landlords on the other side should any longer here retaine to their owne and the whole countries great hurt and incombrance The States of our Land in making of that Statute doe shew sufficiently that they both found then and foresaw that much hurt did and would accrew vnto this our Land by this superfluous crue who if they had as prudently taken order for their placing elsewhere from time to time as they grew vp as they did prouidently enact the not placing of them here long or this wee should haue had some or other New England filled with thousands of them made as rich and happy by transplantation as now they are poore and needie subiects to our King by their commoration and we should not as now wee are be pestred with their aboad among vs. To forbid them to build here and not to appoint them place to build and plant in elsewhere vnlesse they could haue forbidden them to bee bred and to breed and increase any where was to as little purpose as for a Phisicion to shew his patient the disease but to prescribe or giue him for his disease no remedie 10. If all these courses sufficed not and yet I am perswaded verily the former yeeld might quickly be of young and old an hundred thousand at the least I see not any sufficient let or iust cause why beyond all these both Souldierlike a good great presse might not be made of some thousands yeerely of persons fit to be remoued which being once transplanted thither as souldiers into Garrison might so be seuered as might seat them for habitation and set them being not loyterers and thriftlesse fellowes but men of imployment handicrafts labourers c. while warres let not to seruice and employment for the common and their owne priuate good and also Seruant like a good number of poore mens children both boyes and maids but maids especially of nine or ten yeeres old and vpward be taken vp which according to the Statute of 43. Eliz. 2. and 1. Iam. 25. might be placed as seruants or apprentices with such as goe ouer to inhabite there Resp. If there should bee so great a number and such kinde of persons as you intimate it cannot bee but that many idlers and vnprofitable persons will goe among them likewise which likely it is will doe more harme then good would you then haue no respect to be had to some rather then other to goe Enr. It is true that as it is here at home so it will be abroad In a multitude there will euer be some that are but vnprofitable yet would I haue none to be left out so as they be seruiceable and not maimed and vtterly vnable that can be had because there is some hope that Necessitie Occasion and Opportunity may make many of them to leaue loytering there that here happely haue nothing else to doe and for that their very presence and number cannot but be some comfort strength of the Plantation But withall and aboue all speciall regard ought to be had to draw thither as I haue before once or twice insinuated men of speciall and present employment that is men of such Trades Faculties Sciences Handicrafts Occupations and Employments as are most necessary for a present and vprising common wealth such as without whom there can be no commodious or good dwelling or liuing at all for men men of our breed manner of Liuing any where For mans life you know is such as cannot stand in any good sort without the helpe and supply of many very many other men besides himselfe Resp. What sort of persons are those whom you take to be so necessary that without them there can be no good Plantation or Cohabitation for men men of our breed any where Enr. They are these and the like Armorers Bakers Barbers Bookesellers Butchers Bowmakers Brewers Bricklaiers Carpenters Chandlers Clothiers Coopers Cutlers Diers Drapers Feltmakers Fishers Fletchers Fowlers Fullers Gardiners Glasmakers Glasiers Glouers Grocers Hatters Horners Husbandmen Inkeepers Ioyners Labourers Lymeburners Linnen-Weauers Masons Mariners Merchants Millers Mill-wrights Nailers Netmakers Parchment makers Pewterers Phisicians Potecaries Pointmakers Printers Ropers Sadlers Sailers Saltmakers Sawyers Siueyars Shearmen Shipwrights Shoomakers Smiths Soapemakers Souldiers Surgeons Tailors Tanners Thatchers Tilers Turners Vintners Vpholsters Wheele-wrights Wherrymen Wollen-Weauers c Of all these sorts of persons there must goe some Some of other sorts as in a common wealth furnished there are many may be expedient likewise but these are all so necessary that it is hard to say which of them all can be spared and need not presently to bee had Resp. But most of these sorts of people are so well set a worke here in England and so necessary for our commonwealth that few or none of them will be induced to goe hence and seeke their fortunes other where Enr. Nay rather they are so ill set a worke here that many of them haue as much need as any other to seeke worke employment and dwelling otherwhere For there bee so many of all Trades Sciences and Occupations that one cannot liue for another They that be workmen doe often loyter for lacke of worke many dayes weeks together and when they can haue worke are faine to doe it better cheape then they can afford and were
a superabundant heape of glory in heauen according to that which is written Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall shine as the firmament and they that turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer Resp. That these courses tend to the glory of God I plainly see and acknowledge But how may they be to the renowne and benefit of the Kings most excellent Maiestie Enr. These could not but much augment and increase the Maiestie and renowne of our dread Soueraigne if thereby his Dominion be extended as it were into another world into those remote parts of the earth and his kingdomes be increased into many moe in number by the Addition and Accesse of so many so spacious so goodly so rich and some so populous Countries and Prouinces as are by these Beginnings offered vnto his hands We see the Euidence and certaintie of this Assumption as cleare as the Sun-shine at high Noone in the person of the King of Spaine whose Predecessours and Progenitors accepting that which others did refuse and making better vse of such Opportunities then any else haue done he is thereby become Lord not onely of Territories almost innumerable but also of Treasures and riches in them inestimable Whose Right thereto and to the rest of that Continent be it what it may be cannot I suppose in any equitie or reason be any sufficient Barre to any Christian Prince why hee should not yet by any lawfull and good meanes seize into his hands and hold as in his owne right whatsoeuer Countries and Ilands are not before actually inhabited or possessed by him the Spaniard or some other Christian Prince or State Of which sort since yet there are many it were much to be wished That his Maiestie might in time while Opportunities serue take notice and Possession of some of them whereunto these courses of Plantation being rightly prosecuted are a singular if not the onely meanes Resp. All this is most apparant but may the like be said for your third point The good of this land likewise Enr. Yes verily Whosoeuer shall but lightly consider the estate thereof as now it stands shall plainly see and will be enforced to confesse That the prosecuting and that in an ample measure of those worthy Attempts is an enterprise for our Land and common good most expedient and necessarie For First of all whereas toward the Supportation of their Regall estate for many and vrgent Necessities the Kings of this Land are oft occasioned to demand and take of their Subiects great summes of money by Subsidies and other like wayes which to many of the Subiects specially the Clergie who for the most part to such payments as things now stand pay eight or ten times as much proportionably as other Subiects doe is somewhat hard and heauy to endure This Burthen would be more easily borne and could not but become much the lighter if by the accession of more kingdoms to their crowne store of treasures being brought into their Coffers the same were borne by diuers other lands and Subiects as well as of this and the rest yet vnder their subiection Secondly Whereas our Land at this present by meanes of our long continued both Peace and Health freed from any notable either warre or Pestilence the two great deuourers of mankinde to both which in former Ages it was much subiect euen swarmeth with multitude and plentie of people it is time and high time That like Stalls that are ouerfull of Bees or Orchyards ouergrowne with young Sets no small number of them should be transplanted into some other soile and remoued hence into new Hiues and Homes Truly it is a thing almost incredible to relate and intolerable to behold what a number in euery towne and citie yea in euery parish and village doe abound which for want of commodious and ordinary places to dwell in doe build vp Cotages by the high way side and thrust their heads into euery corner to the grieuous ouercharging of the places of their abode for the present and to the very ruine of the whole Land within a while if it be not looke vnto which if they were transported into other regions might both richly increase their owne estates and notably ease and disburden ours Resp. These be motiues of some weight and likelihood but let me heare more to these if you haue them Enr. Next Thirdly Whereas at this present the prices of all things are growne to such an vnreasonable height that the Common that is the meaner sort of people are euen vndone and doe liue in respect of that they did for thirtie or fortie yeeres past in great needinesse and extremitie that there is neither hope nor possibilitie of amending this euill but in the diminution of the number of people in the land Which if men will not by departing hence elsewhere effect we must expect that God they hauing first eaten out one another by warre or pestilence doe it for them I know that much helpe in this case might be had if our Magistrates and great ones did take some good course cum effectu for the encrease of Tillage But neither thereof is there any great hope nor therein a sufficient helpe since it is out of all doubt that vnlesse it be in an extraordinary fruitfull yeere and of them now a dayes God for our sinnes sends but a few our land is not able to yeeld corne and other fruit enough for the feeding of so many as now doe lie and liue vpon it And when it which was wont to helpe feed other countries must as of late we haue to our cost both seene and felt bee faine to haue helpe and food from others how can our state bee for the commons but wofull and ill Likewise if some good course might bee taken for restraint of excessiue Fines and Rents whereby Landlords now a daies grinde the faces of the poore and draw into their own hands all the sweet and â—…at of the land so that their poore Tenants are able neither to keepe house and maintaine themselues nor as anciently such houses did to relieue others then could not the prices of all things but much abate and come downe Yet this were but an imperfect Cure The true and sure remedie is The diminution of the people which reduced to such a competent number as the land it selfe can well maintaine would easily cause not onely the excessiue height of Fines and Rents but also the prices of all things else to fall of themselues and stay at so reasonable a Rate that one might which now they cannot liue by another in very good sort 4. Consider also the great riches wealth and good estate which such who here liue and cannot but liue parcè duriter poore and hardly might by Transplantation within a while rise vnto while as they may haue otherwhere for their bad cottages good houses for their little gardens great grounds and for their
great cause why men attaine to riches there more slowly then they might and should if they were otherwise managed As First If the Plantation begin with a small number farre too little for such a businesse For then neither can they bee able to extend themselues farre into the Countries in a long time and so not to finde out the goodnes sweetnesse and benefit thereof nor to set vp all kinde of necessary trades and faculties among themselues whereby they may bee able to assist and set one another a worke 2. If they that remoue hence goe sparely and ill prouided of cattell corne and other necessaries for Plantation and Habitation which those countries afford not impossible it is for them to make that profit and get that increase by their Lands and Liuings there which they might if they were well and throughly prouided of such things at the first 7. This is the onely way which men in ancient time did finde out and obserue to get riches and wealth withall to increase and amend their estate by when as by multitudes of people their country was as ours now is so ouerlaid that they could not thriue and prosper therein Neither were they euer lightly deceiued but the euent and computation did answer their intent and expectation And no doubt if the like courses bee now attempted they may and will if they be well carried produce the like or rather better and speedier effects to vs then to them For we haue many helps for peace and warre for shipping and nauigation for defence and fortification for traffique and negotiation for building and habitation for religious and ciuill conuersation for skill in many needfull arts and occupations which they had not to further vs withall 8. Of all other meanes to get wealth and riches by Husbandry which of all courses of life is that which in those places must chiefly and most of all be followed and employed hath anciently and worthily euer beene accounted the chiefest best and surest Wherein though it be somewhat more chargeable combersome and for a time vncomfortable to enter into a void and desolate country ouergrowne with woods thickets and other like yet who knowes not what great oddes and aduantage to the getting of riches and wealth there is first betweene the breaking vp of such grounds as were neuer yet employed but hauing lien waste vntoucht and vntilled from the beginning haue all their sweetnesse and fatnesse in them and the tillage and vsage of poore and hungry soiles that from time to time haue beene turned vp and worne out to the vttermost and then betwixt the hauing of great and goodly Lands for there one man may easily haue as much as ten or twentie haue here and of small and simple Tenements 9. When Brutus came first into this Land who would haue imagined it would haue proued so goodly so plentifull so fruitfull so rich so excellent and happy a Land as we God be praised for it doe finde and all the world about vs doth know it is And who but sailing along the Coasts of any of those new Countries or but going ashore here and there not aboue a mile or two happely within the Land can imagine or conceiue much lesse know and vnderstand what wealth and riches what goodly fields and pastures hills and valleys mines and metals woods and waters what hidden treasures and sundry commodities are to be found and had therein 10. The name of a Kingdome is verie great and what should not or heretofore what would not men doe to gaine a Kingdome By these meanes opportunitie is offered vnto our Land to our English Nation to gâ—…t and gaine to possesse and take to haue and enioy together with Plantation and Habitation for thousands and hundred thousands thereof more then one or two Kingdomes great and goodly Prouinces that by Gods blessing and prouidence towards vs may in time bee vnited to the Crowne the Imperiall Crowne of this Land Which by consequence for what infinite store of riches and wealth how many places of peferment and honour for hundreds and thousands of particular and inferiour persons is there contained and comprehended within a Kingdome must needs bring with euery of them seuerally riches and wealth of great and in manner infinite valew and estimation The English lost in France in the time of Henrie the sixth two seuerall parts of that spacious Countrie that had beene English neere about three hundred yeeres before that is Normandie and Aquitaine in the former whereof saith an English Historie as minding to expresse the greatnesse of the losse by the particulars there were then an hundred strong townes and fortresses one Archbishoppricke and sixe Bishopprickes besides some other townes destroyed in the warres and in the latter foure Archbishopprickes fifteene Earledomes two hundred sixtie and two Baronies and aboue a thousand Captainships and Bailiwicks Suppose we now the same had fallen out in our times and I hope I may without offence make vse of former and forraine things would we not or should we not thinke you account it an inesâ—…imable losse and damage to the Crowne and Countrey of England worthy to be redeemed with hundred thousands of our mony and goods and to be recouered if it were possible with thousands of the liues of our men and no small effusion of Christian bloud If now contrariwise we may in our dayes not lose but get not hazard but assuredly haue and gaine and that sine sanguine sudore euen without bloud or blowes and without any waste or spoyle of our treasurâ—… and state I will not say the same that we had lost but in stead 〈◊〉 some other Regions and Countries Territories and 〈◊〉 for Habitation as great and likely in time to proue as gâ—… 〈◊〉 might not this bee iustly accounted a gaine and good 〈◊〉 â—…sargement and increase to our Nation and Kingdome inestiâ—…le and exceeding great If the name of a Kingdome shall beâ—… thought too high and excellent too great and glorious for Couâ—…s so vaste and wast so remote and obscure as those of our Plantations yet are let them bee vouchsafed the name but of Dukedomes as those I last mentioned or Lordships as Ireland for a long time was or by whatsoeuer other titles parts or members of a kingdome hee shall be pleased to stile and nominate them Quem â—…enes arbitrium est ius normâ—… loquendi as one saith for so we haue the thing it is no great matter for the name yet if there may be had as the probabilities possibilities and opportunities already had and made vs doe plainly declare there may in one place a Countrey as great at the least as that of Normandie in another place as that of Aquitaine in a third twise as much as they both that is such a one wherein there may be in time erected constituted and made speaking somewhat thought not altogether according to the former proportions fortie Earledomes or Counties foure Archbishopprickes
distresse which if you neglect to take and refuse as hitherto you doe to make vse of and embrace will neuer happely can neuer be had againe Beleeue not the idle tales and vaine speeches of such as knowing not and caring not to doe either themselues or other good perswade and tempt you to abide at home that is to dwell as many of you doe in famine and penurie and to die in need and miserie Harken vnto me read heare and consider what I say for your better information and to stirre vp and animate you to accept your good while you may and to stablish your Happinesse while Opportunitie serueth Neuer can or shall you doe it with lesse labour and trauaile with lesse charge and expence with lesse perill and hurt with lesse trouble and incombrance then now you may My words and speeches are plaine and familiar my reasons and arguments are strong and euident and my answers to the vaine Obiections of the contrary minded are sound solid Let truth take place within you let reason moue and let euidence of the cause sway and settle you Bee not too much in loue with that countrie wherein you were borne that countrie which bearing you yet cannot breed you but seemeth and is indeed weary of you Shee accounts you a burthen to her and encombrance of her You keepe her downe you hurt her and make her poore bare and together with your owne you worke and cause by tarrying within her her misery and decay her ruine and vndoing Take and reckon that for your Country where you may best liue and thriue Straine not no more to leaue that Country wherein you cannot proue and prosper then you doe to leaue your fathers houses and the parish wherein you were borne and bred vp for fitter places and habitations And if you will needs liue in England imagine all that to bee England where English men where English people you with them and they with you doe dwell And it be the people that makes the Land English not the Land the people So you may finde England and an happy England too where now is as I may say no Land and the bounds of this Land of England by remouing of your selues and others the people of this Land to bee speedily and wonderfully remoued enlarged and extended into those parts of the world where once the Name of England was not heard of and whereon the foot of an English man till of late had not troden Be not so vaine-minded or weake-hearted as to thinke or beleeue that you shall doe better in this England with little or nothing then in any other with something here with an house and a backeside then otherwhere with fortie or threescore with one or two hundred acres of ground It is the meanes and not the place that keepes and maintaines men well or ill And Englishmen aboue many others are worst able to liue with a little Know and consider that as it is the same Sunne that shineth there as well as here so it is the same God that God in whose name you are baptized in whose Church you haue and doe and shall liue whose seruants you that remoue are shall and may be as well as they that remoue not that God I say that ruleth and guideth all things there as well as here And doubt ye not but that if you feare and serue him there if there you keepe his commandements and walke in his wayes as here you haue beene and there you shall stil be taught and directed For the Arke of God and the sonnes of Aaron and seed of Leui must and will goe ouer with you The hand of his all-guiding Prouidence will be stretched out vnto you and the eye of his all-sauing mercie no lâ—…sse there then here will looke vpon you For God is nigh vnto all those that call vpon him yea all those that call vpon him faithfully Psalm 145. 38. wheresoeuer it be Reade ouer and peruse often good Brethren the 107. Psalm and the 139. They will teach you most plainly plentifully and comfortably that by Sea and Land far off and neere in one part of the world as well as in another the Lord is at hand for he is Lord of all he seeth and beholdeth all the sonnes of men anâ—… defendeth and prouideth for all that be his To whose fatherly tuition and mercifull protection betaking and commending your selues feare not to follow him whither soeuer he calleth and deferre not to accept his bountifull riches and goodly gifts wheresoeuer hee presenteth and offereth them vnto you no more then did Abraham and Sara Isaac and Rebecca Iacob and many other famous godly and holy Patriarkes and persons when God commanded them to forsake their kindred and their fathers house and to goe into that land which he should shew them whose sonnes and daughters you shall be made if you also walke in their steps doing well and not being dismaid with any feare But of these things I haue spoken more at large in my Booke to the reading whereof I will now remit and leaue you Your Companion in one or other Plantation if the Lord will RICHARD EBVRNE The Summe or principall Contents of the whole Booke The first Part. WHere in is declared 1. What profit may come by reading such Bookes as concerne Plantations page 2. See also part 3 page 90. 2 That Plantations are Actions very commendable and necessary p. 3 3 That by them the Church of Christ may notably be enlarged partly by the Addition of other Countries to Christendome p. 4 And partly by the Conuersion of infinite heathens to the Christian faith Ibidem To whom the Gospell must be preached before the end can be p. 7 The Papists haue endeuoured much this way p. 4 4 That by Plantations the Dominions and Maiestie of the Kings of England may much be augmented p. 8 5 That the good of this I and may notably be thereby procured p 9. viz. In the 1 Easier supportation of the regall estate ibid. 2 Ridding out of the Land the ouer great and superfluous multitude thereof ibid. 3 Abating the excessiue high prices of all things to liue by p. ibid 4 Enriching the poorer sort hence remoued p. 10 5 Amending the Trade and Traffique of Merchants p. 11 6 Rooting out Idlenesse out of this Land p. ibid The fruits of Idlenesse p. 16 An Obiection answered of Idlers p. ibid Another of Idlers remoued hence p. 14 6 That the practice of making Plantations is a thing very lawfull p. 1. And very vsuall and ancient p. 176 7 Certaine Obiections commonly made against Plantations are answered as 1 Of the distance of the place p. 18 2 The wildnesse and desolatenesse of the Countries p. 19 There that Tents may serue for housing for a time p. 20 3 The badnesse and barrenesse of the soiles p. 21 There against the spoile of woods in those Coutnries 〈◊〉 4 The countries are full of wild Beasts p. 24 There what meanes
will neuer say well Many idle wretches when they come into such places because they cannot haue the plenty without paines not finde those golden mountaines they dreamed of at home though many things bee notable and very good yet will cauill at and blame euery thing Suppose it be somewhat as they say that is The ground not so fruitfull as some places here in England yet doth it follow therefore it is not worth the hauing If I be not deceiued There bee few Countries in Europe that can compare with England for richnesse of the Soile and fatnesse of the earth yet we all know they are not therefore forsaken Againe in England it selfe all places are not alike good As there be some of excellent mold so there be barren heath and hungry Soiles a great many yet we see people are glad to inhabit them Be it then that some of those parts be no better then our worser grounds our heaths Mendip hills Wiltshire downes Salisbury plaines and other like yet I hopâ—… they are better then none A great deale of such ground together I thinke may be as good as a little good ground If any man will thus consider of such complaints and murmurs he shall see no great cause to regard them These therefore thus satisfied if you haue any thing else to say say on Resp. Some say also That those Countries are so ouer growne with wood trees bushes and such like that there is no roome for building no ground for pasture and tillage or at least not without excessiue labour and charge or intolerable and pitâ—…ifull spoile of the woods and timbor to no vse Enr. It cannot be but that those countries hauing either not at all or but little as yet beene inhabited must needs be much ouergrowne with woods and no small part thereof to be a very Forrest and Wildernesse yet certaine it is that there are a thing very admirable and almost beyond expectation there are I say in them to be found many goodly parts of those Countries that are very cleare of woods faire and goodly open champion ground large Meadowes and Pastures many hundred sometimes thousands of Acres together So that besides the wood-wood-lands there is abundantly roome and ground enough to build and inhabit vpon for more people I beleeue then will hastily be gotten ouer to dwell there and more ground open and cleare already rid for pasture and tillage then yet there will be people and cattle enough had thither to such vses the same to conuert and employ And therefore there needs not either that Complaint which they make of the excessiue store and encomberment of woods nor which is worse of that present and hastie spoile and burning vp of woods on the sudden for making of roome that some doe talke of and would haue to be made and as it is reported haue already made by burning vp thousands of Acres together This truly in my opinion is a thing very wicked and such as cannot but be displeasing to Almightie God who abhorreth all wilfull waste and spoile of his good creatures Gather vp that which is left saith our Sauiour Ioh. 6. 12. that nothing be lost and a thing that in common ciuilitie and humane policie should not be suffered to be done or being done not passe vnpunished Wee may know by our owne present want of wood here in England what a pretious commoditie wood is and be warned by our owne harmes to make much of it if we haue plenty thereof and no further nor faster to cut it downe then present vse and good occasions from time to time shall require We should not be so blinde as not to foresee that if the countries come once to be inhabited there will be so many and so great occasions of cutting downe wood and timber trees as will quickly cause infinite store thereof necessarily to be imployed and so the grounds from time to time speedily enough to be made cleare and ridde for other vses For first the very building of Houses to which adde the necessary making of fences about houses and grounds will vse an infinit deale of Wood and Timber Secondly The store that will daily and yeerely be spent in necessary vses for fire which at the first specially till houses bee warme and drie and the ayre corrected will and must be more than ordinarie cannot but if once any number of Inhabitants goe ouer be exceeding great Thirdly The building and making of Ships and shipping will require and consume very much there And such order may bee taken that by the woods there great spare a thing very needfull may be made in England of our Woods here for that vse Fourthly To these places may be transplanted the making of Glasse and Iron as well for England as for the same Countries two things that as it is well knowne doe deuoure yet vpon necessary vses wonderfull store of Wood continually Fiftly The Trades of Potters for earthen vessels and of Coupers for treen Vessels both very necessary specially at the first will and must still from time to time spend vp much Wood and Timber Sixtly And little behinde them in expence of Wood will be that very necessary Trade of making of Salt considering how great vse there is and will be thereof there for the fishing voyages besides all other vses thereof both there and else-where Seuenthly No small quantity thereof likewise may be cut vp and transported into England for our Buildings for Coupers Ioyners and Trunk-makers trades heere which now at a daerer hand wee buy and fetch out of other Countries Eighthly Besides the Woods standing are of themselues and by industry more may be made a great fortification for the Inhabitants against man and Beast till the Countries be and can be better employed and fortified These and other like necessary and great vses of wood considered which either must or may be made thereof little reason or cause is there why as if it could like the waters in the riuers neuer be spent while the world stands there should any sudden and needlesse spoile by fire or any other wastfull hauocke be made thereof and seuerely deserue they to be punished that shall make it and sharply the rest to be restrained that none like hereafter be made Resp. These Countries are full of wilde Beasts Beares c. Enr. 1. Some of them as the Summer Ilands haue no such at all No harmfull thing in them 2. None of them especially Newfound Land as farre as I heare haue any or at least any store of noysome creatures as of Serpents Crocodiles c. as haue many parts of this Continent which yet long hath beene and still be inhabited 3. It is well there are some beasts there wilde at least if not tame That is an argument vndeniable that tame beasts may there be bred and liue 4. Better wilde then none at all For of some of them some good vse may be made for the present viz. for labour for
food and for apparell till better prouision can be made To which purpose such infinite store and varietie of beasts birds fishes fruits and other like commodities as in them all are already found and doe abound ought rather to prouoke people to goe thither assured they cannot if they will be anything industrious want necessaries ad victum ami◅tum for backe and belly where such plentie is and to praise God that hath as for Adam in Paradise before he placed him there Gen. 1. so for them before he bring them thither prouided so well rather then the want of some better or other should moue them like the Israelites against God Exod. 16. to murmur and repine or which is worse wholy to refuse and forgoe the places 5. Haue not other Countries thinke you or at least haue had the like Is England is Ireland is France altogether free was Canaan euen that blessed land without thē yea good store of them I take itno and that not at the first only as one may gather Deut. 7. 22. but also many ages after there were Lions Iudg. 14. 5. and 1. King 13. 24. Beares 2. King 2. 24. Foxes Iudg. 15. 4. Hornets Deut. 7. 20. Serpents Esay 30. 6. c. Resp. Among other meanes in these Plantations requisit the hauing thither of tame cattell as horses kine and sheepe seemeth hard to bee compassed and yet most needfull and that with the very first to be prouided considering those Countries howsoeuer they abound in other are altogether destitute and vnprouided of these And it will be obiected That besides the difficultie of Transportation our Country is not able of them to make any spare Enr. But if I bee not deceiued It were easie to take such a course as might at will furnish that want and yet leaue vs farre better stored then now we are and that is 1. For horses if all Transportation of them into France and other vicine parts beyond Sea were restrained that so all such as were wont to passe out of the Land that way might now goe this 2. For Kine and Sheepe our Land is well stored of them or rather pestered with them that if of the one sort some hundreds and of the other some thousands yeerely were thither sent our Land should haue thereby no losse nor lacke since it is a rule infallible in husbandrie howsoeuer it seeme to some a Paradox in sense The more Kine the dearer White The more Sheepe the dearer Cloth And therefore we must neuer looke to haue those two Commodities White and Cloth at any reasonable hand till the Number of those two kinde of Cattell be and that in a good measure too diminished in our Land It is also a Maxime vndeniable The more Cowes the fewer Ploughes and The more Milkings the fewer Weanlings And therefore till those cattell Kine be diminished and that in a good Number wee must not looke to haue Corne and Flesh plentie Bread and Biefe cheape in England againe But alas Narratur fabula Surdo For whose hands bee deeper in this sinne then theirs that should redresse it 3. If a strict course might bee taken and for a publike good why should not our wanton appetites be a little di◅ted that in England from the third of February till the first of May or happely but from Septuage◅ima Sunday till the first Sunday after Easter the chiefe time for breed no Calues whatsoeuer should be killed but all to bee weaned and kept for store within a yeere or two without all doubt we should haue Biefe better cheape in our market a great deale then now it is or for many yeeres past it hath beene and yet many hundreds haply thousands of faire yeerelings to bee had for those our new Countries which now haue none Where if any good course be taken and well obserued for preseruation of euery kinde I doubt not but they would faster there increase and fill the Countries then the inhabitants should be able to make roome for them by destroying and killing vp those wilde and vntamed beasts which now doe so there abound 4. It were good too our Fish dayes all the yeere long were better kept For it is certaine The more fish is spent the more flesh is spared and as both flesh and fish will be thereby the better cheape so Beeues young Bullocks will be the more saued for the helpe and vse of those which to store their Plantations shall want them 5. Besides Wales and here of late God be thanked Ireland seeme by the great droues which yeerely they send ouer so well stored that thence alone though England helped not Prouision enough might be had for more kine and young cattell of that sort then easily there can be Transportation had for 6. Lastly As they that write of these Discoueries doe relate There be also some countries neerer to some of our Plantations then either England or Ireland from which if men will seeke for them all sorts of tame and profitable cattell that we can or doe want may at a very reasonable hand be had If it seeme hard and strange to any to make Transportation of ◅attell and that in the Countries themselues are none naturally to be had Let them be pleased to vnderstand that to be no new thing and that where now they are most plentifull time hath beene None not one was to be found but that such cattell as wel as men for all came out of Noahs Arke Gen. 8. 17. were brought and conueyed from place to place And if they will but a little enquire of elder men times they may learn It is but as it were the other day since some countries neere vnto vs had no sheepe other no kine other few horses that at this very instant France is willing to haue frō vs our horses we frō Wales their Burs frō Ireland their Cowes All which doe passe from one countrey to another by Transportation And therefore men must be contented as themselues to dwell where before they haue not done so to get thither cattell profitable cattell where before they haue not beene Resp. The people of those Countries are rude and barbarous Enr. They that like to dwell alone may There are countries found and more to bee found I doubt not not yet inhabited and actually possessed by any people nation or state whatsoeuer 2. They with whom wee haue to doe are not so rude as some imagine I beleeue Most if not all of them specially they of Guiana doe shew themselues their breeding considered exceeding tractable very louing and kinde to our Nation aboue any other industrious and ingenious to learne of vs and practise with vs most Arts and Sciences and which is most to be admired and cherished very ready to leaue their old and blinde Idolatries and to learne of vs the right seruice and worship of the true God And what more can bee expected from them in so small time and meanes or what
surer probabilitie or hope would we haue that we shall or may easily and within short time win them to our owne will and frame them as we list Verily I suppose if all things be considered well and rightly compared we haue neerer home worse neighbours a great deale 3. The Spaniard hath reasonably ciuilized and better might if he had not so much tyrannized people farre more sauage and beastiall then any of these 4. We ought to consider that time was the old Brittons the ancient Inhabitants of this Land were as rude and barbarous as some of these of forraigne parts with whom wee haue to doe And therefore considering Quâ sumus Origine nati for wee are also their Off-spring wee ought not to despise euen such poore and barbarous people but pitty them and hope that as wee are become now by Gods vnspeakeable mercy to vs-ward to a farre better condition so in time may they Resp. The Aduentures are very dangerous and lyable to losses of life and goods to troubles manifold so that they may well bee called Aduenturers that will hazard themselues in them Enr. Good words I pray you 1. Many fore-cast perils where they need not and so many times are more afraid than hurt As Salomon obserued long agoe Prou. 22. 13. The slothfull saith A Lyon is without I shall be slaine in the streetes 2. Our life and state is not without perils at home and I tell you if these Aduentures as you call them be not better followed than yet they are they will and cannot but more and more increase 3. No Action of such a weight and worth as these are can bee without some perils hurts and losses which yet must be aduentured and indured in hope of a greater good and ampler recompence another way 4. Hee is not worthy to receiue such benefits as these Aduentures may yeeld him that for feare of euery inconuenience and danger is ready to fall off and disclayme them Neque mel neque apes saith the olde Prouerbe No Bees for feare of stinging no Honie 5. Of perils and misaduentures some are meerely Casuall and not to bee auoyded some are altogether needlesse and might haue beene preuented The former of these must be borne with as a part of that common calamity whereunto the life of man is subiect and of those crosses and afflictions wherewith God doth either try his Children as Gold in the fire or afflict and punish them and others For these no man ought to bee troubled and dismayed in these courses more than for the like in any other nor dislike them one iot the worse Wee finde when God would bring his owne people the children of Israel into that good Land the Land of Canaan which so oft so solemnely he had promised to them and to their Fathers he did it not without letting them passe and feele some perils by the way as the stopping at the red Sea the pursuite of Pharaoh one while the want of flesh another while of water in the Wildernesse the terrour of fiery Serpents and the assault of many and mighty enemies with other like Wee finde also that he was much displeased with and sharpely sometimes did punish those of them that murmured because of those things and would haue returned backe into Egypt regarding not to proceed and accept that Land that good Land which the Lord their God had giuen to them and their seed And may not this teach vs That we must not looke to haue the hand of Gods prouidence extended vnto vs without some dangers and incumbrances And that the Lord is not pleased with those that for feare of euery mis-hap and trouble will bee discouraged themselues or will dis-hearten and discourage others from such Attempts Christ likewise the Sonne of God sending abroad his Apostles to preach the Gospell is so farre from securing them of all troubles and dangers in their indeuours thereabout that hee fore-tells them He doth send them forth as Lambes among wolues That they should be hated persecuted and put to death for his sake c. But were the Apostles by this dismayed Did they therefore refuse to vndertake their charge and proceed in the worke of the Lord Wee know the contrary Notable to this purpose is the protestation of the Apostle Saint Paul 2. Cor. 6. 4. and 11. 23. Resp. I pray you recite the very words for I desire to heare what so great an Apostle hath said to such a purpose Enr. With a good will Speaking there both of himselfe and the rest of his fellow Apostles and Labourers in the Gospell thus he saith In all things we approue our selues as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes in prisons in tumults in labours By watchings by fastings by pâ—…ritie by knowledge by long suffering and a little after By honour and dishonour by euill report and good report as deceiuers and yet true as vnknowne and yet knowne as chastened and yet not killed as sorrowing and yet alway reioycing as poore and yet making many rich as hauing nothing and yet possessing all things And in the same Epistle Chap. 11. 23. opposing and contesting against false apostles of those times that sought to debase and disgrace him thus he writeth of his owne particulars In labours more abundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more plenteously in Death oft Of the Iewes fiue times receiued I forty stripes saue one I was thrice beaten with roddes I was once stoned I suffered thrice Ship-wracke Night and day haue I beene in the deepe Sea In iourneying I was often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils of mine owne Nation in perils among the Gentiles in perils in the Citie in perils in the Wildernesse in perils in the Sea in perils among false Brethren In wearinesse and painfulnesse in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in cold and nakednesse Beside the things which are outward I am combred daily and haue the care of all the Churches Who is weake and I am not weake who is offended and I burne not You haue heard abundantly of the sufferings heare also the inuincible constancy and magnanimity of this admirable Champion of the Lord expressed with his owne mouth Act. 20. 22. And now behold â—… goe bound in the Spirit vnto Ierusalem and know not what things shall come vnto mee there saue that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in euery City saying that Bands and afflictions abide mee But I passe not for it at all neither is my life deare vnto mee so that I may fulfill my course with ioy and the Ministration which I haue receiued of the Lord Iesus viz. to testifie the Gospell of the grace of God And Chap. 21. 13. I am ready not to be bound onely but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Hauing such Lights and Leaders for our example shall we grudge and vtterly refuse to suffer any
Land the former Inhabitants were suffered to remaine among them till themselues were more increased then may not so small a number as we commonly send into our Plantations suffice thereto and that some greater number then any yet I haue intimated rather then a lesse all things considered were rather more requisite and necessarie Resp. This the remouing of so great a number will be a great weakning and impouerishing to our Land Enr. No none at all For first The strength of a I and consisteth not so much in the number of people as in the aptnesse and ablenesse of them vnto seruice Now whoso will not be blind cannot but see that this multitude whose remouall should chiefly be intended is neither apt for want of education being of the ruder sort nor able for want of meanes being for the most part of the poorer sort to strengthen vs. There may be more doubt of them rather lest in time of Peace they raise tumults and fall to vproares for their bellies sake and in time of Warre lest they ioyne with the Enemie and take parts against vs for our pillage and liuings sake then hope that in Peace they will inrich and benefit or in trouble assist and strengthen our Common-wealth and Countrey 2. If Number onely bee respected it will no whit be empaired but rather bettered not diminished but augmented in that so great a Multitude of vs being planted otherwhere shall become as it were mother England ready and able vpon all occasions to ioyne with this Indeed if such a number and multitude as is needfull to be remoued should either die in our Land or be translated out of our Land into some other Princes dominion the want of them might happely be some losse and lacke vnto our Land yet when for forty or fifty yeeres agoe it was not so ouercloied and pestered with multitude as now it is it was not found God be thanked to want strength but abiding still subiects to the same king and members of the same dominion being made by the benefit of Plantation more auaileable to the one and seruiceable to the other then before so farre is it off that the absence and want of them shall weaken that out of all doubt it shal notably strengthen our Land 3. As for the impouerishing of the Land this way there is thereof nor probabilitie nor possibilitie seeing the greatest number of them whose Transplantation is most necessary are they that aboue all other doe for the present by their abiding here impouerish and begger it For on them is bestowed yeerely the greatest part of all that money the summe where of is almost inestimable which is by Ouerseers and Churchwardens in euery seuerall parish of the Land collected and distributed And whereas of this sort of people this superfuous number there are increased among vs out of all doubt here in England alone within these fiftie yeeres not so few as an hundred thousand I say not persons but families I presume if view thereof were made it would appeare that among them all there would hardly be found one thousand of subsidie men as you may perceiue by the state of our owne parish and others neere-adioyning wherein if there bee now any more subsidie men then were in the Queenes time they are such onely as are of the ancient inhabitants and tenants and not one or scarce one of the late and new increase 4. If there doe remoue hence any of the better and richer sort that shall and may carry some store of wealth with them as there must if euer there be any good Plantation indeed any where yet the number of them both will and need be but few in respect of the rest and whatsoeuer the Land is damnified by that they carry with them it will soone be recompensed partly by their absence partly in the estates of those which shall be by hauing their liuings and some other of their meanes inriched bettered by their remouall and lastly by the commodities and benefits which from and by such cannot to this Land but redound againe out of the Plantations Resp. But the reuenues of the Crowne must needs be by this meanes extremely spent and diminished Enr. That the reuenues of the Crowne of England should thereby be exhausted or empaired seemeth in mine eye so improbable that altogether contrariwise it seemeth and must needs be the readiest way and surest course that can be exceedingly to augment the same both at home and abroad At home in that they which remaine behind shall the Land being thus disburdened and cleared the better reape to themselues the benefit of the Land and so grow and increase in wealth that they may be inabled to pay to his Maiestie with the more â—…ase and alacritie in more quantities his dues and impositions whereas now what by the great charge they be at for releeuing many of these that now encomber their parish on the one side a charge not so small in many parishes yeerely as their part of one whole Subsidie to the king and what by the extreme fines and rents whereto their liuings and the high prices whereto all things to liue by through the excessiue multitude of people in our land are rackt and raised on the other side euen they that haue reasonable good liuings and meanes are so kept downe and as it were eaten out from time to time that they are worse able now then either they or their predecessors for thirtie or fortie yeeres past either to keepe house or pay impositions and dueties required Abroad while as probable it is that by the good of Plantation they which goe away from hence very poore may within a little while become very rich they that here were but needy of meane estate may there arise to be as we terme men of substance and good abilitie Subsidie men themselues and so yeeld profit and pay to the Kings Coffers in such store and plentie that by Gods blessing attending on mens indeuours the income thereto from such onely that I speake nothing now of what may in great probabilitie arise by those great hopes of pearle metall-mines c. may within a little time equall if not surmount the present reuenues which now all England yeeld whereby by the helpe of God for of the euent if the fault be not in our selues there is no doubt his Maiestie shall haue lesse cause then hitherto to be either chargeable or beholding to his subiects at home and yet be as rich in treasure and as well stored in money and meanes for wealth as any Monarch in Christendome Resp. I haue heard some men better learned then my selfe say That the truth is neuer better cleared and manifested then when by aduersaries of the truth seeking to darken it it is oppugned contradicted which I see verified in our Conference For the longer wee talke the more I finde mine errour and ignorance and the more I obiect against you the better appeares
A little mony will doe it I doe not thinke but that you spend more a great deale in any one yeere in idle and vnnecessary expences which you may spare to lay out on these good vses The Bookes are delightfull of themselues as all historicall treatises commonly arâ—… and so will be a good recreation when you haue beene wearied other waies Also they will often put you in minde of these things whereas my relation will be but once and when you haue read them ouer and ouer they will serue for your children and others to exercise them to the reading of English as well as any other bookes the sacred Histories and bookes diuine that season the soule as well as the vnderstanding with piety and godlinesse alwaies and only excepted Resp. The Countries being so many is it intended that there shall be Plantations in them all by the English Enr. What is intended I cannot tell But this I can tell somewhat to that purpose is or hath beene attempted in them all Resp. But it is not possible they should all be finished is it Enr. Whether it be possible God knowes but surely in mine opinion it is somewhat vnlikely It is not good to haue many works great workes in hand aâ—… once It were better haply that some of them were quite giuen ouer or at least deserred till some were either finished or brought to some perfection Vis vnita the old saying is fortior Forces vnited must needs bee the stronger and dispersed the weaker A time may come for the filling vp and full storing of them all For if God vouchsafe to continue our health and peace in this land as now of long time he hath done there is no question to be made of it but that were all presently remoued that our Land is able to spare which doubtlesse are many score thousands yet within few yeeres it will looke againe for a new remouing place for those which out of its yeerely increase will be sprunâ—… vp And therefore it were not amisse but a thing to be wished and endeuoured that though the full finishing of some one or two Plantations be chiefly for the present followed and intended yet vpon a prouident or if I may so speake a preuident consideration of our occasions and wants for time to come some both Possession and Plantation might be continued in all those Countries which by Gods speciall fauour to vs ward doe at this present rest and remaine as it were offered to and into our hands Resp. And which of all these seemeth to be most likely to be the best to be set forward before the rest Enr. Diuers men no doubt will thinke diuersly as either their affection carries or their reason perswades them Disliking therefore of and detracting from no mans but leauing euery man to his owne as I desire they will me to mine this is mine opinion that if the Plantation proceed by hundreds Guiana is the best if by thousands New foundland is best Resp. I conceiue not the reason of this difference which yet I perswade my selfe you doe make vpon good reason Enr. Any that vnderstands either the state of those Countries or the true nature of a Plantation would easily vnderstand me Resp. Helpe me to vnderstand it also Enr. It is this If we seeke for riches for good Merchandizes and goodly Commodities to be brought hither the richest Counâ—…ry and the wealthiest for â—…he present that also whence with â—…ewest handâ—… it may be returned is the best Such is Guianâ—… If we seeke for roome for our ouer swarming multitudes of people of many sorts to be placed in the most desolate and emptiest Country voidest of inhabitants and neerest and easiest for transportation is the best Such is New-found land And againe if we plant by Composition Guiana is fittest if by Preoccupation for a fitter English word on the sudden I finde not New-found land is best Resp. I pray you explaine your selfe againe a little better for what you meane by planting by Composition and Preoccupation I vnderstand not Enr. Then are you little acquainted with these courses The meaning is this We plant by Composition when seeking to gaine a Country already somewhat peopled and reasonably inhabited as is Guiana we doe vpon faire conditions as by profering them defence against their enemies supply of their wants namely Apparell Armour Edge-tooles and the like allure and winne them to enter league with vs to agree that we shall dwell among them and haue Lands and other Commodities of them to our content We plant by Preoccupation when finding a Country quite void of people as no doubt in America yet there are many as was the Barmudas now called Summer Ilands for few yeeres past and as is at this present for the most part New-found land we seize vpon it take it possesse it and as by the Lawes of God and Nations lawfully we may hold it as our owne and so fill and replenish it with our people In the first manner a few people may suffice but to the latter many very many are necessary Resp. This is very plaine But why speake you nothing of planting by Inuasion which some men thinke to be as it hath proued to them that haue vsed it the richest the readiest and the speediest course of the three Enr. First because wee need it not There are Countries cnow besides and such are all those now in hand in which we may safely plant either by our selues or with others without any Inuasion or warre at all Secondly if we needed it or any would goe that way to worke yet our people generally will not endure it Wee see they can hardly nay they cannot be gotten to goe and plant themselues where they may doe it with all ease and freedome that can be and therefore there is no probability they will once moue a foot to goe and seeke out a Country by the sword We reade Ex. 13. 17. that God when he brought the children of Israel out of Aegypt would not carry them into the land of Canaan by the way of the Philistines Countries though it were the neerer way a great deale lest the people should repent them when they see warre and turne backe into Aegypt but God made the people to goe about by the way of the Wildernesse of the red Sea Teaching vs therein how fearefull people naturally are of warre as willing rather to forgoe euen an exceeding good Land as Canaan was rather then to goe into it by the sword and that God himselfe dislikes not such a feare Thirdly that were a double charge For so our people must goe first they that are men onely as an Army of Souldiers to subdue the Inhabitants and take the Country and then after to goe men women and children to inhabit and keepe it if they can For many times in such cases the euent of warre proues vncertaine whereas going where needs no Inuasion they may make theirfull remoue
warfare but a robbery and Plantation not a lawfull Possession but a cruell Oppression and without the latter whereof neither can an Army be leuied for Inuasion nor will a multitude of people be gotten to set forth for a Plantation But I passe by these both because of the one I spake but little before vpon another occasion and of the other needs no question seeing it is out of question that all the places and Countries intended for Plantations by vs are such as in all equity we may by the Law of God and Nations enter vpon Resp. Your speech hath satisfied me very well but if you would be pleased for your later point of Policie to adde some particulars how it might well be practised you should giue me much more content For it is a thing that I desire much to heare Enr. That would I doe also were it not that I doubt lest howsoeuer you may accept it yet some other hearing hereof would say vnto me as Apelles to the Shoomaker Ne Sutor vltra Crepidam No man should intermeddle but with that which belongs to his owne profession or which is worse That I haue cut large thongs out of other folkes leather Wherefore for that point let me desire you rather to hearken as I doe to heare the words or voice of him or them that shall say Thus and thus it shall be This and that they shall haue that will aduenture and hauing said it haue power what they haue spoken in words to performe and make good in deeds then to presse me to say what may or might be done that am not able to say or assure any man that euer any such thing shall be done Farther this would require a more large Discourse by farre then the breuity which I promised and intended will admit Resp. Let that matter goe then and now tell me I pray you whether it were better that a Plantation be made in an Iland or in a Country at large that is no Iland Enr. That I cannot certainly tell you For in seuerall respects either of them may be better one then the other As in respect of certainty celerity facility and security it is better to plant in an Iland so it be somewhat large then in a large Continent But in other respects as for Opportunity to enlarge the bounds of the Plantation for variety of Commodities which a large Continent may rather yeeld then a lesser Iland for vicinity vnto other Countries and for league and amity with neighbour Nations and other like it may be better Cateris paribus other things being sutable to plant in a spacious Continent then in an Iland Resp. You said but now of such Countries as are deuoid of Inhabitants you thought New found land the best for a present ' Plantation what moues you to be of that minde for I heare that some doe dislike it very much Enr. I can giue you no reason for it out of my own experience for as you know I was neuer there For that point therefore I had rather referre you to Captaine Ric. Whitbourne I meane to hiâ—… booke of the Discouery of that Country which he hath lately set forth whereby you may for that matter be satisfied at large Resp. But in the meane time till I can gâ—…t that Booke and be at leisure to 〈◊〉 it you shall doe me a pleasure if you will in briefe relate vnto me what you haue obserued out of it to that purpose Enr. That I will doe willingly The summe is this First it is the neerest place that now is to be planted not aboue 14. or 15. daies saile with a good wind whereas Virginia and some of the rest are twise as far at the least and more dangerous for passage Secondly it is the safest place for Plantation as which is out of the Road as I may say both of the Spaniard to his Countries and Plantations and also of Pirats at Sea who are most for the Straights And if need should be whither soonest viz. within a few daies warning they there may haue succour from England and England againe from it Thirdly It is the cheapest and readiest for passage and transportation both of men and meanes of all sorts to plant with both because our ships doe yeerely and vsually two or three hundred saile of them goe thither on fishing voyages and that most of them but halfe loaden and some with no lading at all and by Plantation no doubt more may and will Fourthly it may soonest be finished and so we freed againe for some other Plantation because it is but an Iland of no great content not so big as England but neere about the greatnesse of Ireland Fifthly the Country it selfe is healthy and temperate very agreeable to the Constitution of our English bodies as which is very neere in the same temperature for heat and cold that England is rather warmer then colder as which lieth aboue foure degrees neerer the South then England and is incumbred with no noisome beasts or vermine whatsoeuer Sixthly the soile of the Country is very fat rich and good fit for pasture and tillage equall to most of our grounds in England Seuenthly the whole Country is rich viz. the Sea coast with fish beyond measure as where our Nation and some others haue fished these fourescore yeeres and where there is neuer like to be an end or want of that Commodity The Land stored with beasts birds of the field fish of the riuers water-fowle wood grasse and fruits of the earth c. Eighthly the Country for the most part is vtterly void of all Inhabitants Saluages or other so that there is no feare of Enemies in it nor of Corruption of Language or Bloud from it Little Armour will suffice there for offence or defence Ninthly It lieth very neere vnto some parts of America as neere as doth England to France and therefore may be a good meanes for our possessing of some other and neerer parts thereof then any we doe yet and for conuersion of the people thereof to the Christian faith hereafter and for our present and continuall hauing of such Commodities as those parts may and doe afford Tenthly it is not farre also viz. not a daies saile from an Iland called the Banke an excellent place for fishing all the yeere and not aboue foure or fiue daies saile from the Ilands of Flowers and Azores which are very rich and well stored with Wheat Beeues Sheepe Goats Hogs Hens and many other good commodities for a Plantation which from those parts may be had easier sooner and cheaper then from England 11. It is a Country very strong by Nature as which is stored with many goodly Harbours so well made and fenced by Gods handy-worke with Rocks and Cliffes that a little Fortification will make the whole being but an Iland and that not great inuinâ—…ible by Sea 12. It may be a meanes to increase the shipping of our Land which is as it were the wall
himselfe that perswadeth or moueth others thereunto For Plantation is no matter of our Faith and Saluation There may be as great reasons and iust occasions why he should not goe as why they others whom hee perswadeth should goe yet because no man shall take any exception at all against mâ—… or my perswasions that way I say I doe purpose God willing to goe And I shall thinke my selfe happy if I may bee one of those that may lay the first stones of such a building and spend and end my daies in being onâ—… Instrument among the many thousands of our English Natition that shall betake and bestow themselues in such a manner to the enlargement of Gods Church of the Kings dominions and of our owne English habitations But I say withall Secondly I cannot goe as yet because I haue not my meanes and estate so setled and prouided as it is fit for one that will goe well Thirdly if I goe it shall bee partly in hope by Gods mercifull prouidence toward me and mine to better mine estate and to doe good as to others so specially to those that are mine owne or doe otherwise depend vpon me And therefore I haue no reason to goe till I see some good likelihood of probability and assurance that it may and will be done Fourthly I will not goe by my goodwill till I finde some good course taken for a good Plantation in that place or Country wheremy desire and purpose is aboue any I heare of yet to plant my selfe When some such course shall be taken and followed effectually I will not God willing be one of the last that shall make vse of it Fifthly I suppose I ought not either to tempt God by going without good and necessary meanes nor seeke my owne destruction by running before I am sent in good order And therefore expecting a conuenient and appointed time it is enough that I doe for the present prepare my selfe to be ready prepared against that time and hauing my minde and affection setled that way doe hearken as the good Souldier for the sound of the trumpet to the battell for the publishing of that decree that may rouse vp all England to such an attempt and expedition Resp. I like your answer so well that besides other good vses which I shall make of it the while by Gods helpe whensoeuer you shall goe for I see you will not goe but vpon good ground You shall haue me ready on reasonable warning to beare you company And I doe not thinke but that you shall haue many more of our Neighbours and Acquaintance that will doe the like Enr. The more the merrier by the grace of God And I pray God of his loue and goodnesse to our Nation and for the furtherance and increase of his Gospell to vouchsafe to these actions and to all that shall goe in them a happy and speedy proceeding â—…fid to vs in particular iâ—… it be his will that wee shall be partakers in the same a ioyfull and good successe therein Respire AMEN The end of the third and last part Anâ—…o Domini 1624. The summe of he whole Treatise What profit may come by reading such books as concerne Plantations Plantations themselues are Actions very commendable necessarie c. 1. By them the Church of Christ may notably bee enlarged By the Addition of other Countries to Christendome And by the Conuersion of infinite heathens to Christianitie The Papists haue much endeuoured this way It is Gods will to call them to the knowledge of his truth And their conuersion must be before the end of the world can be D. Keckar Dantiscan 2. By them the Maiestie and renowne of the Kings of England may be much augmented 3. By them the good of this Land may notably be procured 1. In the easier supportation of the Regall state 2. In ridding out of the land the great and superfluous multitude thereof 3. In abating the excessiue high prices of all things to liue by 4. In enriching the poorer sort hence remoued 5. In amending the Trade and Traffique of Merchants 6. In rooting out Idlenesse out of this Land The fruits of Idlenesse Ale houses Tobacco-shops Idle Trades Prisons Violent deaths Plantations be lawfull Plantations no new nor strange course but both vsuall and ancient Tully Gen. 10. 5. Gen. 9. 1. Certaine Obiections answered 1. Obiection Answere â—…id 2. Obiect Answ. Tents may serue for a time 3. Obiection Answer The spoyle of woods in those countries not sufferable 4. Obiection Answere What meanes for profitable cattell to be had and transported 5. Obiect Answ. 6. Obiect Answer â—… Obiect Answer Normandie and Aquitaine in France lost and when Note this 8. Obiect Answer The Summe of this first part The best course to be taken for Plantations is by Act of Parliament What inferior courses might be taken to further thesâ—… attemptâ—… Money to be had First By Voluntaries Secondly By personall Aduenturers Thirdly By generall Collections Fourthly By Hospitall Money Fifthly By Moneys giuen to the vse of the Poore Ambros. de Offic. lib. 2. cap. â—…7 Sixthly By Moneys giuen to the vse of the Church Seuenthly By the Lotterie 8. By some ratable imposition 9. By base monies for those purposes and places to be stamped The vse and 〈◊〉 of such money Tenthly By Gold and Siluer Coynes An obiection of the fall of base monie answered 11. By frugall expenses in Diet c. An extrauagant 12. By the godly parsimonie of the richer sort at home Lacedemonians To procure people to goe what meanes might be vsed 1. By Proclamation a a There is a president of this forme set forth by Robert Harecourt Esquire in the end of his Deseription of his voyage to Guâ—…ana b b This I see is now reasonably well performed by Captaine R. 〈◊〉 who hath obtained his Bookes to be dispersed into all parishes sauing that his project is for one onely plantation viz. Nâ—…wfound Land but that I intend shuld be for all or one after another successiuely as they go on and with more Authoritie Fourthly By prouision supplyed 5. By Vagarant Persons 6. Prisoners Seuenthly Maimed Souldiers Eighthly Cottagers Ninthly Inmates 10. Souldiers in garrisons And seruants Diuers sorts of mâ—…necessaryn for a Plantation 11. Ministers of the word How they may be prouided for 12. Other schollers for teaching of youth Meanes that may be vsed for procuring such men to goe Ruffin hist. Eccles lib. 1. cap. 9. Socrat. hist. Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 15. 13. Men of name and note to be Gouernours c. 14. And that in the Ecclesiasticall estate as well as in the temporall The fifteenth and chiefest of all is That his Maiesty would entitle himselfe King of that Countrey in which the present Plantation shall be Certaine obiections answered 1 Obiect Answ. 2 Obiect Answ. 3 Obiect Answ. How great a number in England may be spared for Plantations 4 Obiect Answ. The summe of the second part Causes why our Plantations proceed no better First want of a generall resolution Secondly The want of some good course for it 3. Want of â—…dustry in 〈◊〉 people 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 4. The immodeiate loue of their owne Countâ—…y How many Plantations now in hand Which of them seemetâ—… best to be seâ—… forwardâ—… How many waies there be to make Plantations Plantation by Inuasion disliked 〈◊〉 13. 17 Psal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherein Inuasion and Plantation are somewhat like 1. Discouery 2. Number of people What number of people may suffice to begin a Plantation withall Romane Colonies â—… Prouision 4 Celeritie What celerity needfull in a Plantation 5. Policie Whether is better to plant in an Iland or in a Continent Moâ—…ues for a present Plantation in New found land The name of such as already haue begun a Plantation in New-found Land Excuses and delaies for not going inâ—…o a Plantation answered 1. Agedness 2. Not vsuall for old men Butler in his feminine Monar cap. 5. Num. 3. Gen. 1â—… 4. Exod. 7. 7. 3. Young men and single not so fit as elder and married men 4. tâ—…uell by Sea 1. Of them that haue liuings here â—… Cor. 12. 14. â—… Tim. 5. 8. 6. It is not vsuall for men that haue liuings here to goe The manner in ancient times how to raise people for a Plantation 7. Women are vnwilâ—…ing to goe Examples of Women Sara Rebecca Rachel 〈◊〉 Queene Eâ—…anor Plutâ—…rc iâ—… 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 7. 6. The Author â—…mselfe doth purpose God willing to goe into one or other Plantaâ—…ion And many will accompany him