charge but care must be had they arriue in the Spring or else that prouision be made for them against winter Of certaine red berries called Kermes which is worth ten shillings the pound but of these haue beene sold for thirty or forty shillings the pound may yeerely be gathered a good quantity Of the Muskrat may be well raised gaines worth their labour that will endeuour to make triall of their goodnesse Of Beuers Otters and Martins blacke Foxes and Furres of price may yeerely be had six or seuen thousand and if the trade of the French were preuented many more 25000. this yeere were brought from those northerne parts into France of which trade we may haue as good part as the French if we take good courses Of Mines of Gold and Siluer Copper and probabilities of Lead Crystall and Allum I could say much if relations were good assurances it is true indeed I made many trialls according to the instructions I had which doth perswade me I need not despaire but that there are metals in the Country but I am no Alcumist nor will promise more then I know which is who will vndertake the rectifying of an iron Forge if those that buy meat and drinke coles ore and all necessaries at a deare rate gaine where all these things are to be had for taking vp in my opinion cannot lose Of woods seeing there is such plenty of all sorts if those that build ships and boats buy wood at so great a price as it is in England Spaine France and Holland and all other prouisions for the nourishment of mans life liue well by their trade when labour is all required to take these necessaries without any other tax what hazard will be here but to doe much better and what commodity in Europe doth more decay then wood for the goodnesse of the ground let vs take it fertill or barren or as it is seeing it is certaine it beares fruits to nourish and feed man beast as well as England and the Sea those seuerall sorts of fishes I haue related thus seeing all good things for mans sustenance may with this facility be had by a little extraordinary labour till that transported be increased all necessaries for shipping onely for labour to which may added the assistance of the Saluages which may easily be had if they be discreetly handled in their kinds towards fishing planting and destroying woods what gaines might be raised if this were followed when there is but once men to fill your store houses dwelling there you may serue all Europe better and farre cheaper then can the Iland Fishers or the Hollanders Cape-blanke or Newfound land who must be at much more charge then you may easily be coniectured by this example Two thousand will fit out a ship of 200. tunnes one of 100. tuns if of the dry fish they both make fraught that of 200. and goe for Spaine sell it but at ten shillings a quintall but commonly it giues fifteene or twenty especially when it commeth first which amounts to 3. or 4000 pound but say but ten which is the lowest allowing the rest for waste it amounts at that rate to 2000. which is the whole charge of your two ships and the equipage then the returne of the mony and the fraught of the ship for the vintage or any other voyage is cleere gaine with your ship of one hundred tunnes of traine Oile and Cor-fish besides the Beuers and other commodities and that you may haue at home within six moneths if God please to send but an ordinary passage then sauing halfe this charge by the not staying of your ships your victuall ouerplus of men and wages with her fraught thither with necessaries for the Planters the Salt being there made as also may the nets and lines within a short time if nothing may be expected but this it might in time equalize your Hollanders gaines if not exceede them hauing their fraughts alwaies ready against the arriuall of the ships this would so increase our shipping and sailers and so incourage and imploy a great part of our Idlers and others that want imployment fitting their qualities at home where they shame to doe that they would doe abroad that could they but once taffe the sweet fruits of their owne labours doubtlesse many thousands would be aduised by good discipline to take more pleasure in honest industry then in their humors of dissolute idlenesse But to returne a little more to the particulars of this Countrey which I intermingle thus with my proiects and reasons not being so sufficiently yet acquainted in those parts to write fully the estate of the Sea the Aire the Land the Fruits their Rocks the People the Gouernment Religion Territories Limitations Friends and Foes But as I gathered from their niggardly relations in a broken language during the time I ranged those Countries c. the most Northerne part I was at was the Bay of Pennobscot which is East and West North and South more then ten leagues but such were my occasions I was constrained to be satisfied of them I found in the Bay that the Riuer ranne farre vp into the Land and was well inhabited with many people but they were from their habitations either fishing amongst the Iles or hunting the Lakes and Woods for Deere and Beuers the Bay is full of great Iles of one two six or eight miles in length which diuides it into many faire and excellent good Harbours On the East of it are the Tarrentines their mortall enemies where inhabit the French as they report that liue with those people as one Nation or Family And Northwest of Pennobscot is Mecaddacut at the foot of a high Mountaine a kinde of fortresse against the Tarrentines adioyning to the high Mountaines of Pennobscot against whose feet doth beat the Sea but ouer all the Land Iles or other impediments you may well see them foureteene or eighteene leagues from their situation Segocket is the next then Nuskoucus Pemmaquid and Sagadahock vp this Riuer where was the Westerne Plantation are Aumoughcawgen Kinnebeke and diuers others where are planted some Corne fields Along this Riuer thirtie or fortie miles I saw nothing but great high clifts of barren Rocks ouergrowne with Wood but where the Saluages dwell there the ground is excellent salt and fertill Westward of this Riuer is the Country of Aucocisco in the bottome of a large deepe Bay full of many great Iles which diuides it into many good Harbours Sawocotuck is the next in the edge of a large Sandy Bay which hath many Rockes and Iles but few good Harbours but for Barkes I yet know but all this Coast to Pennobscot and as farre as I could see Eastward of it is nothing but such high craggy clifty Rockes and stony Iles that I wonder such great Trees could grow vpon so hard foundations It is a Countrey rather to affright then delight one and how to describe a
lake or the river of Canada and from the French to haue their hatchets and Commodities by trade These know no more of the territories of Powhatan then his name and he as little of them but the Atquanachuks are on the Ocean Sea The highest mountaine we saw Northward wee called Perigrines mount and a rocky river where the Massawomeks went vp Willowbyes river in honor of the towne our Captaine was borne in and that honorable house the Lord Willowby his most honored good friend The Sasquesahanocks river we called Smiths falles the next poynt to Tockwhogh Pisings poynt the next it poynt Bourne Powells Isles and Smals poynt is by the river Bolus and the little Bay at the head Profits poole Watkins Reads and Momfords poynts are on each side Limbo Ward Cantrell and Sicklemore betwixt Patawomek and Pamavnkâ—e after the names of the discoverers In all those places and the furthest we came vp the rivers we cut in trees so many crosses as we would and in many places made holes in trees wherein we writ notes and in some places crosses of brasse to signifie to any Englishmen had beene there Thus having sought all the inlets and rivers worth noting we returned to discover the river of Pawtuxunt these people we found very tractable and more civill then any we promised them as also the Patawomeks to revenge them of the Massawomeks but our purposes were crossed In the discovery of this river some call Rapathanock we were kindly entertained by the people of Moraughtacund here we incountered our old friend Mosco a lusty Salvage of Wighcocomoco vpoÌ„ the river of Patawomek we supposed him some French mans sonne because he had a thicke blacke bush beard and the Salvages seldome haue any at all of which he was not a little proud to see so many of his Country-men Wood and water he would fetch vs guide vs any whether nay cause divers of his Countrymen helpe vs towe against winde or tyde from place to place till we came to Patawomek there he rested till we returned from the head of the river and occasioned our conduct to the mine we supposed Antimony And in the place he fayled not to doe vs all the good he could perswading vs in any case not to goe to the Rapahanocks for they would kill vs for being friends with the Moraughtacunds that but lately had stolne three of the Kings women This we did thinke was but that his friends might onely haue our trade so we crossed the river to the Rapahanocks There some 12 or 16 standing on the shore directed vs a little Creeke where was good landing and Commodities for vs in three or foure Canowes we saw lie there but according to our custome we demanded to exchange a man in signe of loue which after they had a little consulted foure or fiue came vp to the middles to fetch our man and leaue vs one of them shewing we need not feare them for they had neither clubs bowes nor arrowes Notwithstanding Anas Todkill being sent on shore to see if he could discover any Ambuscadoes or what they had desired to goe over the playne to fetch some wood but they were vnwilling except we would come into the Creeke where the boat might come close ashore Todkill by degrees having got some two stones throwes vp the playne perceived two or three hundred men as he thought behind the trees so that offering to returne to the Boat the Salvages assayed to carry him away perforce that he called to vs we were betrayed and by that he had spoke the word our hostage was over-boord but Watkins his keeper slew him in the water Immediatly we let fly amongst them so that they fled Todkill escaped yet they shot so fast that he fell flat on the ground ere he could recover the boat Here the Massawomek Targets stood vs in good stead for vpon Mosco's words we had set them about the forepart of our Boat like a forecastle from whence we securely beat the Salvages from off the plaine without any hurt yet they shot more then a thousand Arrowes and then fled into the woods Arming our selues with these light Targets which are made of little small sticks woven betwixt strings of their hempe and silke grasse as is our Cloth but so firmely that no arrow can possibly pierce them we rescued Todkill who was all bloudy by some of them who were shot by vs that held him but as God pleased he had no hurt and following them vp to the woods we found some slaine and in divers places much bloud It seems all their arrowes were spent for we heard no more of them Their Canows we tooke the arrowes we found we broke saue them we kept for Mosco to whom we gaue the Canowes for his kindnesse that entertained vs in the best trivmphing manner and warlike order in armes of conquest he could procure of the Moraughtacunds The rest of the day we spent in accomodating our Boat in stead of thoules wee made stickes like Bedstaues to which we fastened so many of our Massawomek Targets that invironed her as wast clothes The next morning we went vp the river and our friend Mosco followed vs along the shore and at last desired to goe with vs in our Boat But as we passed by Pisacack Matchopeak and Mecuppom three Townes situated vpon high white clay clifts the other side all a low playne marish and the river there but narrow Thirtie or fortie of the Rapahanocks had so accommodated themselues with branches as we tooke them for little bushes growing among the sedge still seeing their arrowes strike the Targets and dropped in the river where-at Mosco fell flat in the Boat on his face crying the Rapahanocks which presently we espied to be the bushes which at our first volley fell downe in the sedge when wee were neare halfe a myle from them they shewed themselues dauncing and singing very merrily The Kings of Pissassack Nandtaughtacund and Cuttatawomen vsed vs kindly and all their people neglected not any thing to Mosco to bring vs to them Betwixt Secobeck and Massawteck is a small Isle or two which causeth the river to be broader then ordinary there it pleased God to take one of our Company called Mr Fetherstone that all the time he had beene in this Country had behaved himselfe honestly valiantly and industriously where in a little Bay we called Fetherstones Bay wee buryed him with a volley of shot the rest notwithstanding their ill dyet and bad lodging crowded in so small a Barge in so many dangers never resting but alwayes tossed to and againe had all well recovered their healths The next day wee sayled so high as our Boat would float there setting vp crosses and graving our names in the trees Our Sentinell saw an arrow fall by him though we had ranged vp and downe more then an houre in digging in the earth looking of stones herbs and springs not seeing where a Salvage could
Onawmanient each of which twelue men would keepe as well as twelue thousand and spare all the rest to bee imploied as there should be occasion And all this with these numbers might easily haue beene done if not by courtesie yet by compulsion especially at that time of September when all their fruits were ripe their beasts fat and infinite numbers of wilde Fowle began to repaire to euery creeke that men if they would doe any thing could not want victuall This done there remained yet one hundred who should haue done the like at Ozinicke vpon the Riuer of Chickahamania not past six miles from the chiefe habitations of Opechankanough These small Forts had beene cause sufficient to cause all the Inhabitants of each of those Riuers to looke to themselues Then hauing so many Ships Barks and Boats in Virginia as there was at that present with what facility might you haue landed two hundred and twentie men if you had but onely fiue or six Boats in one night forty to range the branch of Mattapanyent fortie more that of Youghtanund and fortie more to keepe their randiuous at Pamavuke it selfe All which places lie so neere they might heare from eâ—ch other within foure or fiue houres and not any of those small parties if there were any valour discretion or industry in them but as sufficient as foure thousand to force them all to contribution or take or spoile all they had For hauing thus so many conuenient randeuous to beleeue each other though all the whole Countries had beene our enemies where could they rest but in the depth of Winter we might burne all the houses vpon all those Riuers in two or three daies Then without fires they could not liue which they could not so hide but wee should finde and quickly so tire them with watching and warding they would be so weary of their liues as either fly all their Countries or giue all they had to be released of such an hourely misery Now if but a small number of the Saluages would assist vs as there is no question but diuers of them would And so suppose they could not be drawne to such faction were to beleeue they are more vertuous then many Christians and the best gouerned people in the world All the Pamavukes might haue beene dispatched as well in a moneth as a yeare and then to haue dealt with any other enemies at our pleasure and yet made all this toile and danger but a recreation If you think this strange or impossible 12 men with my selfe I found sufficient to goe where I would adaies and surprise a house with the people if not a whole towne in a night or incounter all the power they could make as a whole Army as formerly at large hath beene related And it seemes by these small parties last amongst them by Captaine Crashow Hamar and Madyson they are not growne to that excellency in policy and courage but they might bee encountred and their wiues and children apprehended I know I shall bee taxed for writing so much of my selfe but I care not much because the iudiciall know there are few such Souldiers as are my examples haue writ their owne actions nor know I who will or can tell my intents better then my selfe Some againe finde as much fault with the Company for medling with so many Plantations together because they that haue many Irons in the fire some must burne but I thinke no if they haue men enow know how to worke them but howsoeuer it were better some burne then haue none at all The King of Spaine regards but how many powerfull Kingdomes he keepes vnder his obedience and for the Saluage Countries he hath subiected they are more then enow for a good Cosmographer to nominate and is three Mole-hills so much to vs and so many Empires so little for him For my owne part I cannot chuse but grieue that the actions of an Englishman should be inferior to any and that the command of England should not be as great as any Monarchy that euer was since the world began I meane not as a Tyrant to torment all Christendome but to suppresse her disturbers and conquer her enemies For the great Romans got into their hand The whole worlds compasse both by Sea and Land Or any seas or heauen or earth extended And yet that Nation could not be contented Much about this time arriued a small Barke of Barnestable which had beene at the Summer Iles and in her Captaine Nathaniel Butler who hauing beene Gouernor there three yeares and his Commission expired he tooke the opportunity of this ship to see Virginia at Iames Towne he was kindly entertained by Sir Francis Wyat the Gouernor After he had rested there foureteene daies he fell vp with his ship to the Riuer of Chickahamania where meeting Captaine William Powell ioyning together such forces as they had to the number of eighty they set vpon the Chickahamanians that fearefully fled suffering the English to spoile all they had not daring to resist them Thus he returned to Iames towne where hee staied a moneth at Kecoughtan as much more and so returned for England But riding at Kecoughtan M. Iohn Argent sonne to Doctor Argent a young Gentleman that went with Captaine Butler from England to this place Michael Fuller William Gany Cornelius May and one other going ashore with some goods late in a faire euening such a sudden gust did arise that driue them thwart the Riuer in that place at least three or foure miles in bredth where the sâ—ore was so shallow at a low water and the Boat beating vpon the Sands they left her wading neere halfe a mile and oft vp to the chin So well it hapned Master Argent had put his Bandileir of powder in his hat which next God was all their preseruations for it being February and the ground so cold their bodies became so benumbed they were not able to strike fire with a steele and a stone hee had in his pocket the stone they lost twice and thus those poore soules groping in the darke it was Master Argents chance to finde it and with a few withered leaues reeds and brush make a small fire being vpon the Chisapeaks shore their mortall enemies great was their feare to be discouered The ioyfull morning appearing they found their Boat and goods driue ashore not farie from them but so split shee was vnseruiceable but so much was the frost their clothes did freeze vpon their backs for they durst not make any great fire to dry them lest thereby the bloudy Saluages might discry them so that one of them died the next day and the next night digging a graue in the Sands with their hands buried him In this bodily feare they liued and fasted two daies and nights then two of them went into the Land to seeke fresh water the others to the Boat to get some meale and oyle Argent and his Comrado found a Canow in which they resolued
that they offered me that imploiment if I would accept it and I finde still my refusall incurred some of their displeasures whose loue and fauour I exceedingly desired and though they doe censure me opposite to their proceedings they shall yet still in all my words and deeds finde it is their error not my fault that occasions their dislike for hauing ingaged my selfe in this businesse to the West Countrey I had beene very dishonest to haue broke my promise nor will I spend more time in discouery or fishing till I may goe with a Company for a Plantation for I know my grounds yet euery one to whom I tell them or that reads this Booke cannot put it in practise though it may helpe any that hath seene or not seene to know much of those parts And though they endeuour to worke me out of my owne designes I will not much enuy their fortunes but I would be sorry their intruding ignorance should by their defailments bring those certainties to doubtfulnesse So that the businesse prosper I haue my desire be it by whomsoeuer that are true subiects to our King and Countrey the good of my Countrey is that I seeke and there is more then enough for all if they could be contented New England is that part of America in the Ocean Sea opposite to Noua Albion in the South Sea discouered by the most memorable Sir Francis Drake in his Voyage about the world in regard whereof this is stiled New England being in the same latitude New France of it is Northwards Southwards is Virginia and all the adioyning continent with new Granado new Spaine new Andolosia and the West-Indies Now because I haue beene so oft asked such strange questions of the goodnesse and greatnesse of those spatious Tracts of Land how they can be thus long vnknowne or not possessed by the Spaniards and many such like demands I intreat your pardons if I chance to be too plaine or tedious in relating my knowledge for plaine mens satisfaction Florida is the next adioyning to the Indies which vnprosperously was attempted to be planted by the French a Countrey farre bigger then England Scotland France and Ireland yet little knowne to any Christian but by the wonderfull endeuours of Ferdinando de Soto a valiant Spaniard whose writings in this age is the best guide knowne to search those parts Virginia is no Ile as many doe imagine but part of the Continent adioyning to Florida whose bounds may be stretched to the magnitude thereof without offence to any Christian Inhabitant for from the degrees of thirtie to forty eight his Maiesty hath now enlarged his Letters Patents The Coast extending Southwest and North-east about sixteene or seuenteene hundred miles but to follow it aboord the shore may well be three thousand miles at the least of which twentie miles is the most giues entrance into the Bay of Chisapeacke where is the London Plantation within which is a Countrey as you may perceiue by the Map of that little I discouered may well suffice three hundred thousand people to inhabit but of it and the discoueries of Sir Ralph Laine and Master Heriot Captaine Gosnold and Captaine Waymouth they haue writ so largely that posteritie may be bettered by the fruits of their labours But for diuers others that haue ranged those parts since especially this Countrey now called New England within a kenning sometimes of the shore some touching in one place some in another I must intreat them pardon me for omitting them or if I offend in saying that their true descriptions were concealed or neuer were well obserued or died with the Authors so that the Coast is yet still but euen as a Coast vnknowne and vndiscouered I haue had six or seuen seuerall plots of those Northerne parts so vnlike each to other or resemblance of the Country as they did me no more good then so much waste paper though they cost me more it may bee it was not my chance to see the best but lest others may be deceiued as I was or through dangerous ignorance hazard themselues as I did I haue drawne a Map from point to point I le to I le and Harbour to Harbour with the Soundings Sands Rocks and Land-markes as I passed close aboord the shore in a little Boat although there bee many things to bee obserued which the haste of other affaires did cause me to omit for being sent more to get present Commodities then knowledge of any discoueries for any future good I had not power to search as I would yet it will serue to direct any shall goe that waies to safe Harbours and the Saluages habitations what Merchandize and Commodities for their labours they may finde this following discourse shall plainly demonstrate Thus you may see of these three thousand miles more then halfe is yet vnknowne to any purpose no not so much as the borders of the Sea are yet certainly discouered as for the goodnesse and true substance of the Land we are for most part yet altogether ignorant of them vnlesse it be those parts about the Bay of Chisapeack and Sagadahock but onely here and there where we haue touched or seene a little the edges of those large Dominions which doe stretch themselues into the maine God doth know how many thousand miles whereof we can yet no more iudge then a stranger that saileth betwixt England and France can describe the harbours and dangers by landing here or there in some Riuer or Bay tell thereby the goodnesse and substance of Spaine Italy Germany Bohemia Hungaria and the rest nay there are many haue liued fortie yeeres in London and yet haue scarce beene ten miles out of the Citie so are there many haue beene in Virginia many yeeres and in New England many times that doe know little more then the place they doe inhabit or the Port where they fished and when they come home they will vndertake they know all Virginia and New England as if they were but two Parishes or little Ilands By this you may perceiue how much they erre that thinke euery one that hath beene in Virginia or New England vnderstandeth or knoweth what either of them are Or that the Spaniards know one halfe quarter of those large Territories they possesse no not so much as the true circumference of Terra incognita whose large Dominions may equalize the goodnesse and greatnesse of America for any thing yet knowne It is strange with what small power he doth range in the East-Indies and few will vnderstand the truth of his strength in America where hauing so much to keepe with such a pampered force they need not greatly feare his fury in Sommer Iles Virginia or New England beyond whose bounds America doth stretch many thousand miles Into the frozen parts whereof one Master Hutson an English Mariner did make the greatest discouerie of any Christian I know where hee vnfortunately was left by his cowardly Company for his exceeding deserts
meane which is Wood Flax Pitch Tarre Rozen Cordage and such like which they exchange againe to the French Spaniards Portugals and English c. for what they want are made so mighty strong and rich as no state but Venice of twice their magnitude is so well furnished with so many faire Cities goodly Townes strong Fortresses and that abundance of shipping and all sorts of Merchandize as well of Gold Siluer Pearles Diamonds precious Stones Silkes Veluets and Cloth of Gold as Fâ—sh Pitch Wood or such grosse Commodities What voiages and discoueries Eâ—st and West North and South yea about the world make they What an Army by Sea and Land haue they long maintained in despight of one of the greatest Princes of the world and neuer could the Spaniard with all his Mines of Gold and Siluer pay his debts his friends and Army halfe so truly as the Hollanders still haue done by this contemptible Trade of Fish Diuers I know may alleage many other assistances but this is the chiefest Mine and the Sea the source of those siluer streames of all their vertue which hath made them now the very miracle of industry the onely paterne of perfection for these affaires and the benefit of fishing is that Primum Mobile that turnes all their spheares to this height of plentie strength honor and exceeding great admiration Herring Cod and Ling is that triplicitie that makes their wealth and shippings multiplicitie such as it is and from which few would thinke it they should draw so many millions yeerely as they doe as more in particular in the trials of New England you may see and such an incredible number of ships that breeds them so many Sailers Mariners Souldiers and Merchants neuer to be wrought out of that Trade and fit for any other I will not deny but others may gaine as well as they that will vse it though not so certainly nor so much in quantitie for want of experience and this Herring they take vpon the Coast of England and Scotland their Cod and Ling vpon the Coast of Izeland and in the North seas if wee consider what gaines the Hamburgans the Biskinners and French make by fishing nay but how many thousands this fiftie or sixty yeeres haue beene maintained by New found land where they take nothing but small Cod whereof the greatest they make Cor-fish and the rest is hard dried which we call Poore-Iohn would amaze a man with wonder If then from all those parts such paines is taken for this poore gaines of Fish especially by the Hâ—â—landers that hath but little of their owne for building of ships and setting them to sea but at the second third fourth or fift hand drawne from so many pâ—râ—s of the world ere they come together to be vsed in those voiages If these I say can gaine why should we more doubt then they but doe much better that may haue most of all those things at our doores for taking and making and here are no hard Landlords to racke vs with high rents or extorting fines nor tedious pleas in Law to consume vs with their many yeeres disputation for Iustice no multitudes to occasion such impediments to good orders as in popular States so freely hath God and his Maiestie bestowed those blessings on them will attempt to obtaine them as here euery man may be master of his owne labour and land or the greatest part if his Maiesties royall meaning be not abused and if he haue nothing but his hands he may set-vp his Trade and by industry quickly grow rich spending but halfe that time well which in England we abuse in idlenesse worse or as ill Here is ground as good as any lieth in the height of forty one forty two forty three c. which is as temperate and as fruitfull as any other parallel in the world As for example on this side the line West of it in the South Sea is Nona Albion discouered as is said by Sir Francis Drake East from it is the most temperate part of Portugall the ancient Kingdomes of Galizia Bisky Nauarre Aragon Cattilonia Castillia the old and the most moderatest of Castillia the new Valentia which is the greatest part of Spaine which if the Histories be true in the Romans time abounded no lesse with gold siluer Mines then now the West-Indies the Romans then vsing the Spaniards to worke in those Mines as now the Spaniards doe the Indians In France the Prouinces of Gascony Langadooke Auignon Prouince Dolphine Pyamont and Turyne are in the same parallel which are the best and richest parts of France In Italy the Prouinces of Genua Lumbardy and Verona with a great part of the most famous state of Venice the Dukedomes of Bononia Mantua Ferrara Rauenna Bolognia Florence Pisa Sienna Vrbine Ancona and the ancient Citie and Countrey of Rome with a great part of the Kingdome of Naples In Slauonia Istria and Dalmatia with the Kingdomes of Albania In Grecia those famous Kingdomes of Macedonia Bullulgaria Thessalia Thracia or Romania where is seated the most pleasant and plentifull Citie in Europe Constantinople In Asia in the same latitude are the temperatest parts of Natolia Armenia Persia and China besides diuers other large Countries and Kingdomes in those most milde and temperate Regions of Asia Southward in the same height is the richest of Gold Mines Chily and Baldinia and the mouth of the great Riuer of Plate c. for all the rest of the world in that height is yet vnknowne Besides these reasons mine owne eies that haue seene a great part of those Cities and their Kingdomes as well as it can finde no aduantage they haue in Nature but this they are beautified by the long labour and diligence of industrious people and art This is onely as God made it when hee created the world Therefore I conclude if the heart and intrailes of those Regions were sought if their Land were cultured planted and manured by men of industry iudgement and experience what hope is there or what need they doubt hauing the aduantages of the Sea but it might equalize any of these famous Kingdomes in all commodities pleasures and conditions seeing euen the very hedges doe naturally affoord vs such plentie as no ship need returne away emptie and onely vse but the season of the Sea Fish will returne an honest gaine besides all other aduantages her treasures hauing yet neuer beene opened nor her originals wasted consumed nor abused And whereas it is said the Hollanders serue the Easterlings themselues and other parts that want with Herring Ling and wet Cod The Easterlings a great part of Europe with Sturgion and Cauiare as the Blacke Sea doth Grecia Podolia Sagouia Natolia and the Hellespont Cape Blanke Spaine Portugall and the Leuant with Mulit and Puttargo New foundland the most part of the chiefe Southerne Ports in Europe with a thin Poore-Iohn which hath beene so long so much ouer-laied
rich honours of our time From far fetcht Indies and Virginia's soyle Here Smith is come to shew his Art and skill He was the Smith that hammered famins foyle And on Powhatan's Emperour had his will Though first ColuÌ„bus Indies true Christofer Cabots braue Florida much admirer Meta Incognita rare Martin Frobisher Gilberts braue Humphery Neptunes deuourer Captaine Amadis Raleighs discouerer Sir Richard Grenvill Zealands braue coaster Drake doomes drowne death Spaines scorner Gosnolds Relates Pring prime observer Though these be gone and left behinde a name Yet Smith is here to Anvile out a peece To after Ages and eternall Fame That we may haue the golden Iasons fleece He Vulcan like diâ— forge a true Plantation And chain'd their Kings to his immortall glory Restoring peace and plentie to the Nation Regaining honour to this worthy Story By him the Infidels had due correction He blew the bellowes still of peace and plentie He made the Indians bow vnto subiection And Planters ne're return'd to Albion empty The Colonies pin'd staru'd staring bones so feeble By his braue proiects proued strong againe The Souldiers ' lowance he did seeke to treble And made the Salvage in vncouth place remaine He left the Countrey in prosperous happie state And plenty stood with peace at each mans doore Regarding not the Salvage loue nor hate TheÌ„selues grew well the IndiaÌ„s wondrous poore This there he did and now is home return'd To shew vs all that never thither goe That in his heart he deepely oft hath mourn'd Because the Action goeth on so slow Braue graue Wise Rich prize Benefactors Replant want continue still good Actors Be kinde and finde bring eyes to blind By Gods great might giue Indians light Spend money Bloud to doe that good That may giue Indians heav'nly food And God no lesse you still shall blesse Both you and yours the Lands possesse S. M. See here behold as in a Glasse All that is or is and was T. T. 1624. Samuel Purchas of his friend Captaine Iohn Smith and his Virginia LOe here SMITHS Forge where Forgery's Roâ—gue-branded True Pegasus is shoo'd fetters are forged For Silke-sotts Milk-sops base Sloth farre hence landed Soile-chang'd Soule-soil'd still Englands dregs discharged To plant supplant Virginia home-disgorged Where vertues praise frames good men Stories armour 'Gainst Time Achilles-like with best Arts charged Pallas all-arm'd all-learn'd can teach Sword-Grammer Can Pens of Pikes Armes t' Arts to Scholar Souldier hammer Can Pilgrim make a Maker all so-well Hath taught Smith scoure my rustie out-worne Muse And so coniur'd her in Virginian Cell That things vnlearned long by want of vse Shee fresh areeds me read without abuse By fabling Arthurs great Acts little made By greater lies she saith seales Faith excuse T' Island Groonland Estotiland to wade After lie-legends Malgo Brandon are Wares braide The Fryer of Linne frights her with his black Art Nor Brittish Bards can tell where Madoc planted Cabots Thorns Elyots truth haue wenne her heart Eldest diâ—cov'rers of New Worlds Cont'nent granted So had iust Fates Colon and Vespuce panted This got the name last least of Three the Other New Worlds Isles found first Cabot is most chanted In Three-Mens-song did more New World discover Then both then any an hundred degrees coasted over Haile S ir Sebastian Englands Northern Pole Virginia's finder Virgin Eliza nam'd it Gaâ—e't Raleigh Rut Prat Hore I not enrole Amadas rites to English right first fram'd it Lane planted return'd nor had English tam'd it Greenviles and Whites men all slaine New Plantation IAMES founds Sloth confounds feare pride faction sham'd it Smiths Forge mends all makes chaines for Savage Nation Frees feeds the rest the rest reade in his Bookes Relation Thomas Macarnesse to his worthy friend and Countryman Captaine Iohn Smith WHo loues to liue at home yet looke abroad And know both passen and vnpassen road The prime Plantation of an vnknowne shore The men the manners fruitfulnesse and store Read but this little Booke and then confesse The lesse thou lik'st and lou'st thou liu'st the lesse He writ it with great labour for thy good Twice over now in paper 'fore in blood It cost him deare both paines without an ayme Of private profit for thy publicke gaine That thou mightst read and know and safely see What he by practice thou by Theoree Commend him for his loyall loving heart Or else come mend him and take thou his part To his friend Captaine Iohn Smith and his Worke. I Know not how Desert more great can rise Then out of Danger t' ane for good mens Good Nor who doth better winne th' Olympian prize Than he whose Countryes Honor stirres his bloud Private respects haue private expectation Publicke designes should publish reputation This Gentleman whose Volumne heere is stoard With strange discoverie of GODS strangest Creatures Giues vs full view how he hath Sayl'd and Oar'd And Marcht full many myles whose rough defeatures Hath beene as bold as puissant vp to binde Their barbarous strength 's to follow him dog-linde But wit nor valour now adayes payes scores For estimation all goes now by wealth Or friends tush â— thrust the beggar out of dores That is not Purse-lyn'd those which liue by stealth Shall haue their haunts no matter what 's the guest In many places monies well come best But those who well discerne esteeme not so Nor I of thee braue Smith that hast beat out Thy Iron thus though I but little know To what t' hast seene yet I in this am stout My thoughts maps to my minde some accidents That makes mee see thy greater presidents Io Done To my worthy friend Captaine Iohn Smith How great a part of knowledge had wee lost Both of Virginia and the Summer Isles Had not thy carefull diligence and cost Inform'd vs thus with thy industrious stile Like Caesar now thou writ'st what thou hast done These acts this Booke will liue while ther 's a Sunne Edw Worseley To his much respected Friend Captaine Iohn Smith ENvie avant For Smith whose Anvill was Experience Could take his heat knew how and when to Strike Wrought well this Peece till After-negligence Mistaking temper Cold or Scorch'd or like Vnskilfull workmen that can never Fyle Nor Pollish it that takes in Forge such toyle Heere Noble Smith thou shewest the Temper true Which other Tampring Tempres never knew Ro Norton To his loving friend Captaine Iohn Smith WHere actions speake the praises of a man There Pennes that vse to flatter silent be Or if they speake it is to scorne or scanne For such with vertue seldome doe agree When I looke backe on all thy labours past Thy travels perils losses oft â—ustaind By Sea and Land and which is worst and last Neglect or small reward so dearely gaind I doe admire thy still vndanted spirit vnwearied yet to worke thy Countries good This be thy praise then due vnto thy merit For it th' hast venter'd life and lost thy blood 1.
of Ravens a new Supply with their Accidents and Moores returne pag. 177 180. The rent of the six governours a wonderfull accident of Hilliard not much lesse then a miracle pag. 181.182 The government of Ca. Tuckar Assises the strange adventure of 5 men in a boat plants from the West Indies the endevours of Cap. Powell Assises The Country neer devoured with ratts their strange confusion The divisions of the Isles into Tribes and Tribes into shares by Mr. Norwood the names of the adventurers and their shares p. 182 189. The first Magazin two exployts of desperate fugitiues The returne of Cap. Tuckar Cap Kendall left deputy-governor their Accidents pag. 189-191 The government of Cap. Butler A platforme burnt and much hurt by a Hericano The refortifying the Kings Castle The arrivall of two Dutch Frigots The rebuilding the Mount and a Tombe for Sir George Somers The reformation of their lawes and officers Their Assises A Parliament Their acts their opinion of the Magazin The building three Bridges The generall Assises A strange deliverance of a Spanish wracke A strange Sodomy many Ordnances got from wracks Their estates present p. 191-199 Master Barnard sent to be governour his arrivall death and funerall with the proceedings of Mr. Harrison his successor Cap. Woodhouse their governor pag. 200-201 Certaine Verses of Master Withers and other Gentlemen The sixt Booke A Mappe of New-England How this Country hath bin accounted but a miserable Desert Captain Smiths first voyage what peace and warres he had with the Salvages and within 6. moneths returned with 1500l. worths of commodities got Prince Charles to call it New-England A Table of the old names and the new pag. 203 205. Cap. Hobsons voyage to Capan the Londoners apprehend it The situation notes for ignorant vndertakers The description of the Country Staple Commodities present proofe of the healthfulnesse of the clime Observations of the Hollanders chiefe trade p. 209. Examples of the altitude comparatiuely the reasons why to plant it An example of the gaines every yeare a description of 15. severall Countries in particular Of their Kings rivers harbors Isles mountains landmarks fruits woods birds fishes beasts c. and how as well Gentlemen as mecanicks may be imployed get much wealth with the reasons and causes of the defaylements p. 206 221. Cap. Smiths second voyage his ship neere foundered in the Sea He reimbarketh himselfe incountreth the English Pyrats fought with the French Pyrates is betrayed by 4. French men of warre how he was released his men ran from him with ship and all how he lived with the French men what fights they had what prizes they tooke the French mens ingratitude 13 sayle cast away how he escaped proceeded in France returned for England and punished them ran from him pag. 222 227. The yearely trialls of New-England the benefit of fishing as Mr. Dee and divers report and approoved by the Hollanders Records how it becomes so well apprehended that more then 150. haue gone thither to fish with an estimate of their gaines with many observations and Accidents pag. 228-230 A Plantation in New-England their first landing divers iourneys accidents the description of the harbors bayes lakes and that place they inhabit called New-Plimouth conference with the Salvages and kinde vsage of the King of the Massasoyts a strange policie of Tusquantum pag. 230 234. The Salvages make warres for their friendships the English revenge their friends iniuries Notes and observations They lived two yeares without Supplyes the death of Tusquantum they contriue to murther the English how the English did cure a King sicke to death two most desperate Salvages the courage of Cap. Standish the Salvages sue for peace pag. 235 239. A most remarkable observation of Gods loue 40 sayle fished thâ—re this yeare the religion of the Salvages the government an answer to obiections considerations the charge the order of the Western men p. 140 142. The effects of shipping the Popes order for the East and West Indies How to build a little navy royall contention for New-EnglaÌ„d The necessitie of martiall power p. 243-244 The charge to set forth a ship of a 100. tuns both to make a fishing voyage increase the plantation The facilitie of the fishing lately observed Their present estate at New-Plimouth and order of government It s not his part that is the best Translator To render word for word to every Author HOW ANCIENT AVTHORS REPORT THE NEVV-VVORLD Now called America was discovered and part thereof first Planted by the ENGLISH called VIRGINIA with the Accidents and Proceedings of the same ⧠The first Booke FOR the Stories of Arthur Malgo and Brandon that say a thousand yeares agoe they were in the North of America or the Fryer of Linn that by his blacke Art went to the North pole in the yeare 1360. in that I know them not Let this suffice The Chronicles of Wales report that Madock sonne to Owen Quineth Prince of Wales seeing his two brethren at debate who should inherit prepared certaine Ships with men and munition and left his Country to seeke aduentures by Sea leauing Ireland North he sayled west till he came to a Land vnknowne Returning home and relating what pleasant and fruitfull Countries he had seene without Inhabitants and for what barren ground his brethren and kindred did murther one another he provided a number of Ships and got with him such men and women as were desirous to liue in quietnesse that arriued with him in this new Land in the yeare 1170 Left many of his people there and returned for more But where this place was no History can show The Spanyards say Hanno a Prince of Carthage was the first and the next Christopher Cullumbus a Genoesian whom they sent to discover those vnknowne parts 1492. But we finde by Records Cullumbus offered his seruice in the yeare 1488. to King Henry the seauenth and by accident vndertooke it for the Spanyards In the Interim King Henry gaue a Commission to Iohn Cabot and his three sonnes Sebastian Lewis and Sautius Iohn and Sebastian well provided setting sayle ranged a great part of this vnknowne world in the yeare 1497. For though Cullumbus had found certaine Iles it was 1498. ere he saw the Continent which was a yeare after Cabot Now Americus came a long time after though the whole Continent to this day is called America after his name yet Sebastian Cabot discovered much more then them all for he sayled to about forty degrees Southward of the lyne and to sixty-seauen towards the North for which King Henry the eight Knighted him and made him grand Pilate of England Being very aged King Edward the sixt gaue him a Pention of 166l. 13â— 4d. yearely By his directions Sir Hugh Willowby was sent to finde out the Country of Russia but the next yeare he was found frozen to death in his Ship and all his Company Mr Martin Frobisher was sent in the yeare 1576. by our most gracious Queene
euer he came he would signifie by so many fires he came with so many boats that we might know his strength Their Boats are but one great tree which is but burnt in the forme of a trough with gins and fire till it be as they would haue it For an armour he would haue ingaged vs a bagge of pearle but we refused as not regarding it that wee might the better learn where it grew He was very iust of his promise for oft we trusted him and he would come within his day to keepe his word He sent vs commonly euery day a brace of Bucks Conies Hares and fish sometimes Mellons Walnuts Cucumbers Pease and diuers rootes This Author sayth their corne groweth three times in fiue moneths in May they sow in Iuly reape in Iune they sow in August reape in Iuly sow in August reape We put some of our Pease in the ground which in ten dayes were 14. ynches high The soyle is most plentifull sweete wholesome and fruitfull of all oâ—her there are about 14. seuerall sorts of sweete smelling tymber trees the most parts of the vnderwood Bayes and such like such Okes as we but far greater and better After this acquaintance my selfe with seauen more went twenty myle into the Riuer Occam that runneth toward the Cittie Skicoack and the euening following we came to an I le called Roanoak from the harbour where we entred 7. leagues at the North end was 9. houses builded with Cedar fortified round with sharpe trees and the entrance like a Turnpik When we came towards it the wife of Granganameo came running out to meete vs her husband was absent commanding her people to draw our Boat ashore for beating on the billowes other she appoynted to carry vs on their backes a land others to bring our Ores into the house for stealing When we came into the other roome for there was fiue in the house she caused vs to sit downe by a great fire after tooke off our clothes and washed them of some our stockings and some our feete in warme water and she her selfe tooke much paines to see all things well ordered and to provide vs victuall After we had thus dryed our selues she brought vs into an Inner roome where she set on the bord standing a long the house somewhat like frumentie sodden venison and rosted fish in like manner mellons raw boyled rootes and fruites of diuers kindes There drinke is commonly water boyled with Ginger sometimes with Saxefras and wholsome herbes but whilest the Crape lasteth they drinke wine More loue she could not expresse to entertaine vs they care but onely to defend themselues from the short winter and feede on what they finde naturall in sommer In this feaâ—ting house was their Idoll of whom they â—ould vs vncredible things When we were at meate two or three of her men came amongst vs with their Bowes and Arrowes which caused vs to take our armes in hand She perceiuing our distrust caused their Bowes and Arrowes to be broken and they beâ—ten out of the gate but the euening approaching we returned to our boate where at she much grieuing brought our supper halfe boyled pots and all but when she saw vs but put our boat a little off from the shoar and lye at Anchor perceiuing our Ielousie she sent diuers men 30. women to sit al night on the shoare side against vs and sent vs fiue Mats to couer vs from the raine doing all she could to perswade vs to her house Though there was no cause of doubt we would not aduenture for on our safety depended the voyage but a more kinde louing people cannot be Beyond this I le is the maine land and the great riuer Occam on which standeth a Towne called Pomeiock and six dayes higher their City Skicoak those people neuer saw it but say there fathers affirme it to be aboue two houres iourney about Into this riuer falleth an other called Cipo where is found many Mustells wherein are Pearles likewise another Riuer called Nomapona on the one side whereof standeth a great towne called Chawanock the Lord of the Country is not subiect to Wingandacoa Beyond him an other king they cal Menatonon These 3. are in league each with other Towards the south 4. dayes iourney is Sequotan the southermost part of Wingandacoa Adioyning to Secotan beginneth the country Pomouik belonging to the King called Piamacum in the Country Nusiok vpon the great riuer Neus These haue mortall warres with Wingina King of Wingandacoa Betwixt Piemacum and the Lord of Secotan a peace was concluded notwithstanding there is a mortall malice in the Secotuns because this Piemacum invited diuers men and 30. women to a feast and when they were altogether merry before their Idoll which is but a meere illusion of the Deuill they sudainly slew all the men of Secotan and kept the women for their vse Beyond Roanoak are many Isles full of fruits and other Naturall increases with many Townes a long the side of the Continent Those Iles lye 200. myles in length and betweene them and the mayne a great long sea in some places 20. 40. or 50. myles broad in other more somewhere lesse And in this sea are 100. Iles of diuers bignesses but to get into it you haue but 3. passages and they very dangerous Though this you see for most part be but the relations of Saluages because it is the first I thought it not a misâ—e to remember them as they are written by them that returned ariued in England about the middest of September the same yeare This discouery was so welcome into England that it pleased her Mâ—iestie to call this Country of Wingandacoa Virginia by which name now you are to vnderstand how it was planted disolued reuned and enlarged The Performers of this voyage were these following Philip Amadas Captaine Arthur Barlow Captaine William Grenuill Iohn Wood. Iames Browewich Henry Greene. Beniamen Wood. Simon Ferdinando Of the Companie Nicholas Peryman Of the Companie Iohn Hewes Of the Companie Sir Richard Grenuills voyage to Virginia for Sir Walter Raleigh â—â—85 THe 9. of Aprill he departed from Plimouth with 7. sayle the chiefe men with him in command were Master Ralph Layne Master Thomas Candish Master Iohn Arundel Master Stukley Master Bremige Master Vincent Master Hâ—ryot and Master Iohn Clarke The 14. day we fell with the Canaries and the 7. of May with Dominico in the West Indies we landed at Portorico after with much a doe at Izabella on the north of Hispaniola passing by many Iles. Vpon the 20. we fell with the mayne of Florida and were put in great danger vpon Cape Fear The 26. we Anchored at Wocokon where the admiral had like to beene cast away presently we sent to Wingina to Roanoak and Master Arundell went to the mayne with Manteo a saluage and that day to Crooâ—on The 11. The Generall victualed for 8. dayes with a selected company went to the
or foes Though I did forsee the danger and misery yet the desire I had to see the Mangoaks was for that there is a prouince called Chaunis Temoatan frequented by them and well knowne to all those Countries where is a mine of Copper they call Wassador they say they take it out of a riuer that falleth swiftly from high rocks in shallow water in great Bowles couered with leather leauing a part open to receiue the mettall which by the change of the colour of the water where the spout falleth they suddainly chop downe and haue the Bowlefull which they cast into the fire it presently melteth and doth yeeld in fiue parts at the first melting two parts mettall for three of Ore The Mangoaks haue such plenty of it they beautifie their houses with great plates thereof this the Salvages report and young Skiko the King of Chawonocks sonne my prisoner that had beene prisoner among the Mangoakâ— but neuer at Chaunis Temoatan for he sayd that was twentie dayes iourney oveâ— and â—rom the Mangoaks Menatonon also confirmed all this and promised me guids to this mettall Country by Land to the Mangoaks is but one dayes iourney but seauen by water which made me so willing to haue met them for some assay of this mettall but when we came there we found no creature onely we might see where had beene their fires After our two dayes iourney and our victuals spent in the euening we heard some call as we thought Manteo who was with me in the boat this made vs glad he made them a friendly answer which they answered with a song we thought for welcome but he told vs they came to fight Presently they did let flie their Arrowes about the boat but did no hurt the other boat scouring the shore we landed but they all were fled and how to finde them wee knew not So the next morning we returned to the mouth of the riuer that cost vs foure dayes rowing vp and here our dogs pottage stood vs in good stead for we had nothing els the next day we fasted being windbound and could not passe the sound but the day following we came to Chippanum where the people were fled but their wires afforded vs fish thus being neare spent the next day God brought vs to Roanocke I conclude a good Mine or the South sea will make this Country quickly inhabited and so for pleasure and profit comparable with any in the world otherwise there will be nothing worth the fetching Provided there be found a better harbour then yet there is which must be Northward if there be any Master Vaughan no lesse hoped of the goodnesse of the Mine then Master Heriot that the riuer Moratocks head either riseth by the Bay of Mexico or very neare the South Sea or some part that openeth neare the same which cannot with that facilitie be done as from the Bay of Pearles by insconsing foure dayes iourney to the Chawonoks Mangoaks and Moratocks c. The conspiracy of Pemissapan the Discouery of it and our returne for England with Sir Francis Drake ENsenore a Saluage father to Pemissapan the best friend we had after the death of Granganimeo when I was in those Discoueries could not prevaile any thing with the King from destroying vs that all this time God had preserued by his good counsell to the King to be friendly vnto vs. Pemissapan thinking as the brute was in this last iourney we were slaine and starued began to blaspheme our God that would suffer it and not defend vs so that old Ensenore had no more credit for vs for he began by all the deuises he could to inuade vs. But in the beginning of this brute when they saw vs all returne the report false and had Manteo and three Saluages more with vs how little we esteemed all the people we met and feared neither hunger killing or any thing and had brought their greatest Kings sonne prisoner with vs to Roanock it a little asswaged all his deuises and brought Ensenore in respect againe that our God was good and wee their friends and our foes should perish for we could doâ— them more hurt being dead then liuing and that being an hundred myles from them shot and strucke them sicke to death and that when we die it is but for a time then we returne againe But that which wrought the most feare among them was the handy-worke of Almightie God For certaine dayes after my returne Menatonon sent messengers to me with Pearle and Okisco King of Weopomcoke to yeeld himselfe seruant to the Queene of England Okisco with twenty-foure of his principall men came to Pemissapan to acknowledge this dutie and subiection and would performe it All which so changed the heart of Pemissapan that vpon the aduise of Ensenore when we were ready to famish they came and made vs wires and planted their fields they intended to abandon we not hauing one corne till the next haruest to sustaine vs This being done our old friend Ensenore dyed the twenty of Aprill then all our enemies wrought with Pemissapan to put in practise his deuises which he easily imbraced though they had planted corne by vs and at Dasamonpeack two leagues from vs. Yet they got Okisco our tributary to get seuen or eight hundred and the Mandoages with the Chisapeans should doe the like to meete as their custome is to solemnize the Funerall of Ensenore Halfe of whom should lye hid to cut off the straglers seeking crabs and prouision the rest come out of the mayne vpon the Signall by fire Twenty of the principall of Pemissapans men had charge in the night to beset my house put fire in the Reeds that couered it which might cause me run out so naked and amazed they might without danger knocke out my braines The same order for Mr Heriots and the rest for all should haue beene fired at an instant In the meane time they should sell vs nothing and in the night spoyle our wires to make nenessitie disperse vs. For if we were but ten together a hundred of them would not meddle with vs. So our famine increased I was forced to send Captaine Stafford to Croatan with twentie to feed himselfe and see if he could espie any sayle passe the coast Mr Predeox with ten to Hatarask vpon the same occasion and other small parties to the Mayne to liue vpon rootes and Oysters Pemissapan sequestring himselfe I should not importune him for victuall and to draw his troupes found not the Chawonests so forward as he expected being a people more faithfull and powerfull and desired our friendships and was offended with him for raising such tales and all his proiects were revealed to me by Skico my prisoner who finding himselfe as well vsed by me as Pemissapan tould me all These troubles caused me send to Pemissapan to put suspition in his head I was to goe presently to Croatan to meete a Fleete came to me though I knew
againe and much of the goods spoyled and scattered vp and downe which when I saw I knew three of them to be my owne but bookes pictures and all things els were spoyled Though it much grieued me yet it did much comfort me that I did know they were at Croatan so we returned to our Ships but had like to haue bin cast away by a great storme that continued all that night The next morning we weighed Anchor for Croatan having the Anchor a-pike the Cable broke by the meanes whereof we lost another letting fall the third the ship yet went so fast a drift we fayled not much there to haue split But God bringing vs into deeper water considering we had but one Anchor and our provision neare spent we resolued to goe forthwith to S. Iohns Ile Hispaniola or Trinidado to refresh our selues and seeke for purchase that Winter and the next Spring come againe to seeke our Country-men But our Vice Admirall would not but went directly for England and we our course for Trinidado But within two dayes after the wind changing we were constrained for the Westerne Iles to refresh our selues where we met with many of the Queenes ships our owne consort and divers others the 23. of Seeptember 1590. And thus we left seeking our Colony that was neuer any of them found nor seene to this day 1622. And this was the conclusion of this Plantation after so much time labour and charge consumed Whereby we see Not all at once nor all alike nor ever hath it beene That God doth offer and confer his blessings vpon men Written by Master Iohn White A briefe Relation of the Description of Elizabeths Ile and some others towards the North part of Virginia and what els they discovered in the yeare 1602. by Captaine Bartholomew Gosnoll and Captaine Bartholomew Gilbert and divers other Gentlemen their Associates ALL hopes of Virginia thus abandoned it lay dead and obscured from 1590. till this yeare 1602. that Captaine Gosnoll with 32. and himselfe in a small Barke set sayle from Dartmouth vpon the 26. of March Though the wind favoured vs not at the first but forced vs as far Southward as the Asores which was not much out of our way we ran directly west from thence whereby we made our iourney shorter then heretofore by 500. leagues the weaknesse of our ship the badnes of our saylers and our ignorance of the coast caused vs carry but a low sayle that made our passage longer then we expected On fryday the 11. of May we made land it was somewhat low where appeared certaine hummocks or hills in it the shore white sand but very rockie yet overgrowne with fayre trees Comming to an Anchor 8 Indians in a Baske shallop with mast and sayle came boldly aboord vs. It seemed by their signes such things as they had some Biskiners had fished there being about the latitude of 43. But the harbour being naught doubting the weather we went not ashore but waighed and stood to the Southward into the Sea The next morning we found our selues imbayed with a mightie headland within a league of the shore we anchored and Captaine Gosnoll my selfe three others went to it in our boat being a white sand a bold coast Though the weather was hot we marched to the highest hils we could see where we perceiued this headland part of the mayn neare invironed with Ilands As we were returning to our ship a good proper lusty young man came to vs with whom we had but small conference and so we left him Herein 5. or 6. houres we tooke more Cod then we knew what to doe with which made vs perswade our selues there might be found a good fishing in March Aprill and May. At length we came among these fayre Iles some a league 2.3.5 or 6. from the Mayne by one of them we anchored We found it foure myles in compasse without house or inhabitant In it is a lake neare a myle in circuit the rest overgrowne with trees which so well as the bushes were so overgrowne with Vines we could scarce passe them And by the blossomes we might perceiue there would be plenty of Strawberries Respises Gousberries and divers other fruits besides Deere and other Beasts we saw and Cranes Hernes with divers other sorts of fowle which made vs call it Martha's Vineyard The rest of the Isles are replenished with such like very rocky and much tinctured stone like Minerall Though we met many Indians yet we could not see their habitations they gaue vs fish Tobacco and such things as they had But the next Isle we arrived at was but two leagues from the Maine 16. myle about invironed so with creekes and coves it seemed like many Isles linked together by small passages like bridges In it is many places of plaine grasse and such other fruits and berries as before were mentioned In mid-May we did sow Wheat Barley Oates Pease which in 14. dayes sprung vp 9. inches The soyle is fat and lusty the crust therof gray a foot or lesse in depth It is full of high timbred Okes their leaues thrise so broad as ours Cedar straight and tall Beech Holly Walnut Hazell Cherry trees like ours but the stalke beareth the blossom or fruit thereof like a cluster of Grapes forty or fiftie in a bunch There is a tree of Orange colour whose barke in the filing is as smooth as Velvet There is a lake of fresh water three myles in compasse in the midst an Isle containing an acre or thereabout overgrowne with wood here are many Tortoises and abundance of all sorts of foules whose young ones we tooke and cate at our pleasure Grounds nuts as big as egges as good as Potatoes and 40. on a string not two ynches vnder ground All sorts of shell fish as Schalops Mussels Cockles Crabs Lobsters Welks Oysters exceeding good and very great but not to cloy you with particulars what God and nature hath bestowed on those places I refer you to the Authors owne writing at large We called this Isle Elizabeths Isle from whence we went right over to the mayne where we stood a while as ravished at the beautie and dilicacy of the sweetnesse besides divers cleare lakes whereof we saw no end meadows very large and full of greene grasse c. Here we espyed 7. Salvages at first they expressed some feare but by our courteous vsage of them they followed vs to the necke of Land which we thought had beene severed from the Mayne but we found it otherwise Here we imagined was a river but because the day was farre spent we left to discover it till better leasure But of good Harbours there is no doubt considering the Land is all rocky and broken lands The next day we determined to fortifie our selues in the Isle in the lake Three weekes we spent in building vs there a house But the second day after our comming from the Mayne 11. Canows
with neare 50. Salvagâ—s came towards vs. Being vnwilling they should see our building we went to exchanged with them Kniues Hatchets Beades Bels and such trifles for some Bevers Lyzards Martins Foxes wilde Catte skinnes and such like We saw them haue much red Copper whereof they make chaines collars and drinking cups which they so little esteemed they would giue vs for small toyes signified vnto vs they had it out of the earth in the Mayne three dayes they stayed with vs but every night retyred two or three myle from vs after with many signes of loue and friendship they departed seaven of them staying behind that did helpe vs to dig and carry Saxafras and doe any thing they could being of a comely proportion and the best condition of any Salvages we had yet incountred They haue no Beards but counterfeits as they did thinke ours also was for which they would haue changed with some of our men that had great beards Some of the baser sort would steale but the better sort we found very civill and iust We saw but three of their women and they were but of meane stature attyred in skins like the men but fat and well favoured The wholesomenesse and temperature of this climate doth not onely argue the people to be answerable to this Description but also of a perfect constitution of body actiue strong healthfull and very witty as the sundry toyes by them so cunningly wrought may well testifie For our selues we found our selues rather increase in health and strength then otherwise for all our toyle bad dyet and lodging yet not one of vs was touched with any sicknesse Twelue intended here a while to haue stayed but vpon better consideration how meanely we were provided we left this Island with as many true sorrowfull eyes as were before desirous to see it the 18. of Iune and arrived at Eâ—mouth the 23 of Iuly But yet mans minde doth such it selfe explay As Gods great Will doth frame it every way And Such thoughts men haue on earth that doe but liue As men may craue but God doth onely giue Written by Iohn Brierton one of the Voyage A Voyage of Captaine Martin Pring with two Barks from Bristow for the North part of Virginia 1603. BY the inducements and perswasions of Mr Richard Hackluite Mr Iohn Whitson being Maior with his brethren the Aldermen most of the Merchants of the Citie of Bristow raised a stocke of 1000l. to furnish out two Barkes the one of 50. tuns with 30. men and boyes the other 26. tuns with 13. men and boyes having Martin Pring an vnderstanding Gentleman and a sufficient Mariner for Captaine and Robert Salterne his Assistant who had bin with Captaine Gosnoll there the yeare before for Pilot. Though they were much crossed by contrary windes vpon the coast of England and the death of that ever most memorable miracle of the world our most deare soveraigne Lady and Queene Elizabeth yet at last they passed by the westerne Isles and about the 7. of Iune fell vpon the north part of Virginia about the degrees of fortie three Where they found plentie of most sorts of fish and saw a high country full of great woods of sundry sorts As they ranged the coast at a place they named Whitson Bay they were kindly vsed by the Natiues that came to them in troupes of tens twenties thirties and sometimes more But because in this Voyage for most part they followed the course of Captaine Gosnoll and haue made no relation but to the same effect he writ before we will thus conclude Lay hands vnto this worke with all thy wit But pray that God would speed and perfit it Robert Salterne A relation of a Discovery towards the Northward of Virginia by Captaine George Waymouth 1605. imployed thether by the right Honorable Thomas Arundell Baron of Warder in the Raigne of our most royall King IAMES VPon tuesday the fift of March we set sayle from Ratcliffe but by contrary winds we were forced into Dartmouth till the last of this moneth then with 29. as good sea men all necessary provisioÌ„s as could possibly be gotten we put to sea and the 24 of Aprill fell with Flowres and Coruos We intended as we were directed towards the Southward of 39. But the winds so crossed vs wee fell more Northwards about 41. and 20. minuits we sounded at 100. fathom by that we had run 6 leagues we had but 5. yet saw no land from the mayne top we descryed a whitish sandy clift West North-west some 6. leagues from vs but ere we had run two leagues further we found many shoules and breaches sometimes in 4. fadom and the next throw 15. or 18. Being thus imbayed among those shoules we were constrained to put back againe which we did with no small danger though both the winde and weather were as fayre as we could desire Thus we parted from the Land which we had not before so much desired and at the first sight reioyced as now we all ioyfully praysed God that he had delivered vs from so eminent danger Here we found excellent Cod and saw many Whales as we had done 2. or 3. daies before Being thus constrained to put to sea the want of wood water caused vs take the best advantage of the winde to fall with the shore wheresoever but we found our Sea cards most directly false The 17. of May we made the Land againe but it blew so hard we durst not approach it The next day it appeared to vs a mayne high land but we found it an Island of 6. myles in compasse within a league of it we came to an anchor and went on shore for wood water of which we found sufficient The water gushing forth downe the rocky clifts in many places which are all overgrown with Firre Birch Beech Oke as the Verge is with Gousberries Strawberries wild Pease and Rose bushes and much foule of divers sorts that breed among the rockes here as in all places els where we came we found Cod enough From hence we might discerne the mayne land and very high mountaines the next day because we rode too open to the Sea we waighed and came to the Isles adioyning to the mayn among which we found an excellent rode defended from all windes for ships of any burthen in 6.7.8.9 or 10. fadom vpon a clay oze This was vpon a Whitsonday wherefore we called it Pentecost Harbour Here I cannot omit for foolish feare of imputation of flattery the painfull industry of our Captaine who as at Sea he was alwayes most carefull vigilant so at land he refused no paines but his labour was ever as much or rather more then any mans which not onely incouraged others with better content but also effected much with great expedition We digged a Garden the 22. of May where among our garden-seeds we sowed Pease and Barley which in 16. dayes grew
Salt Spaine asmuch for Iron Steele Figges Reasons and Sackes Italy with Silkes and Velvets consumes our chiefe Commodities Holland maintaines it selfe by fishing and trading at our owne doores All these temporize with other for necessities but all as vncertaine as peace or warres Besides the charge travell and danger in transporting them by seas lands stormes and Pyrats Then how much hath Virginia the prerogatiue of all those flourishing Kingdomes for the benefit of our Land when as within one hundred myles all those are to be had either ready provided by nature or else to be prepared were there but industrious men to labour Onely of Copper we may doubt is wanting but there is good probabilitie that both Copper and better Minerals are there to be had for their labour Other Countries haue it So then here is a place a nurse for souldiers a practise for mariners a trade for marchants a reward for the good and that which is most of all a businesse most acceptable to God to bring such poore Infidels to the knowledge of God and his holy Gospell Of the naturall Inhabitants of VIRGINIA THe land is not populous for the men be few their far greater number is of women and children Within 60 myles of Iames Towne there are about some 5000 people but of able men fit for their warres scarce 1500. To nourish so many together they haue yet no meanes because they make so small a benefit of their land be it never so fertile Six or seauen hundred haue beene the most hath beene seene together when they gathered themselues to haue surprised mee at Pamavnkee having but fifteene to withstand the worst of their fury As small as the proportion of ground that hath yet beene discovered is in comparison of that yet vnknowne the people differ very much in stature especially in language as before is expressed Some being very great as the Sasquesahanecks others very little as the Wighcocomocoes but generally tall and straight of a comely proportion and of a colour browne when they are of any age but they are borne white Their hayre is generally blacke but few haue any beards The men weare halfe their beards shaven the other halfe long for Barbers they vse their women who with two shels will grate away the hayre of any fashion they please The women are cut in many fashions agreeable to their yeares but ever some part remaineth long They are very strong of an able body and full of agilitie able to endure to lie in the woods vnder a tree by the fire in the worst of winter or in the weedes and grasse in Ambuscado in the Sommer They are inconstant in every thing but what feare constraineth them to keepe Craftie timerous quicke of apprehension and very ingenuous Some are of disposition fearefull some bold most cautelous all Savage Generally covetous of Copper Beads and such like trash They are soone moued to anger and so malicious that they seldome forget an iniury they seldome steale one from another least their coniurers should reveale it and so they be pursued and punished That they are thus feared is certaine but that any can reueale their offences by coniuration I am doubtfull Their women are carefull not to be suspected of dishonestie without the leaue of their husbands Each houshold knoweth their owne lands and gardens and most liue of their owne labours For their apparell they are sometime covered with the skinnes of wilde beasts which in Winter are dressed with the hayre but in Sommer without The better sort vse large mantels of Deare skins not much differing in fashion from the Irish mantels Some imbrodered with white beads some with Copper other painted after their manner But the common sort haue scarce to cover their nakednesse but with grasse the leaues of trees or such like We haue seene some vse mantels made of Turky feathers so prettily wrought woven with threads that nothing could be discerned but the feathers That was exceeding warme and very handsome But the women are alwayes covered about their middles with a skin and very shamefast to be seene bare They adorne themselues most with copper beads and paintings Their women some haue their legs hands breasts and face cunningly imbrodered with divers workes as beasts serpents artificially wrought into their flesh with blacke spots In each eare commonly they haue 3 great holes whereat they hang chaines bracelets or copper Some of their men weare in those holes a small greene and yellow coloured snake neare halfe a yard in length which crawling and lapping her selfe about his necke oftentimes familiarly would kisse his lips Others weare a dead Rat tyed by the taile Some on their heads weare the wing of a bird or some large feather with a Rattell Those Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier but lesse which they take from the taile of a snake Many haue the whole skinne of a Hawke or some strange foule stuffed with the wings abroad Others a broad peece of Copper and some the hand of their enemy dryed Their heads and shoulders are painted red with the roote Pocone brayed to powder mixed with oyle this they hold in sommer to preserue them from the heate and in winter from the cold Many other formes of paintings they vse but he is the most gallant that is the most monstrous to behold Their buildings and habitations are for the most part by the rivers or not farre distant from some fresh spring Their houses are built like our Arbors of small young springs bowed and tyed and so close covered with Mats or the barkes of trees very handsomely that notwithstanding either winde raine or weather they are as warme as stooues but very smoaky yet at the toppe of the house there is a hole made for the smoake to goe into right over the fire Against the fire they lie on little hurdles of Reeds covered with a Mat borne from the ground a foote and more by a hurdle of wood On these round about the house they lie heads and points one by th' other against the fire some covered with Mats some with skins and some starke naked lie on the ground from 6 to 20 in a house Their houses are in the midst of their fields or gardens which are small plots of ground Some 20 acres some 40. some 100. some 200. some more some lesse In some places from 2 to 50 of those houses together or but a little separated by groues of trees Neare their habitations is little small wood or old trees on the ground by reason of their burning of them for fire So that a man may gallop a horse amongst these woods any way but where the creekes or Rivers shall hinder Men women and children haue their severall names according to the severall humor of their Parents Their women they say are easily delivered of childe yet doe they loue children very dearely To make them
hardie in the coldest mornings they them wash in the rivers and by painting and oyntments so tanne their skinnes that after a yeare or two no weather will hurt them The men bestow their times in fishing hunting warres and such man-like exercises scorning to be seene in any woman-like exercise which is the cause that the women be very painefull and the men often idle The women and children doe the rest of the worke They make mats baskets pots morters pound their corne make their bread prepare their victuals plant their corne gather their corne beare all kind of burdens and such like Their fire they kindle presently by chafing a dry pointed sticke in a hole of a little square peece of wood that firing it selfe will so fire mosse leaues or any such like dry thing that will quickly burne In March and Aprill they liue much vpon their fishing wires and feed on fish Turkies and Squirrels In May and Iune they plant their fields and liue most of Acornes Walnuts and fish But to amend their dyet some disperse themselues in small companies and liue vpon fish beasts crabs oysters land Tortoises strawberries mulberries and such like In Iune Iuly and August they feed vpon the rootes of Tocknough berries fish and greene wheat It is strange to see how their bodies alter with their dyet even as the deere wilde beasts they seeme fat and leane strong and weake Powhatan their great King and some others that are provident rost their fish and flesh vpon hurdles as before is expressed and keepe it till scarce times For fishing hunting and warres they vse much their bow and arrowes They bring their bowes to the forme of ours by the scraping of a shell Their arrowes are made some of straight young sprigs which they head with bone some 2 or 3 ynches long These they vse to shoot at Squirrels on trees Another sort of arrowes they vse made of Reeds These are peeced with wood headed with splinters of christall or some sharpe stone the spurres of a Turkey or the bill of some bird For his knife he hath the splinter of a Reed to cut his feathers in forme With this knife also he will ioynt a Deere or any beast shape his shooes buskins mantels c. To make the noch of his arrow he hath the tooth of a Beaver set in a sticke wherewith he grateth it by degrees His arrow head he quickly maketh with a little bone which he ever weareth at his bracert of any splint of a stone or glasse in the forme of a heart and these they glew to the end of their arrowes With the sinewes of Deere and the tops of Deeres hornes boyled to a ielly they make a glew that will not dissolue in cold water For their warres also they vse Targets that are round and made of the barkes of trees and a sword of wood at their backes but oftentimes they vse for swords the horne of a Deere put through a peece of wood in forme of a Pickaxe Some a long stone sharpned at both ends vsed in the same manner This they were wont to vse also for hatchets but now by trucking they haue plentie of the same forme of yron And those are their chiefe instruments and armes Their fishing is much in Boats These they make of one tree by burning and scratching away the coales with stones and shels till they haue made it in forme of a Trough Some of them are an elne deepe and fortie or fiftie foote in length and some will beare 40 men but the most ordinary are smaller and will beare 10 20 or 30. according to their bignesse In stead of Oares they vse Paddles and stickes with which they will row faster then our Barges Betwixt their hands and thighes their women vse to spin the barkes of trees Deere sinewes or a kind of grasse they call Pemmenaw of these they make a thread very even and readily This thread serveth for many vses As about their housing apparell as also they make nets for fishing for the quantitie as formally braded as ours They make also with it lines for angles Their hookes are either a bone grated as they noch their arrowes in the forme of a crooked pinne or fish-hooke or of the splinter of a bone tyed to the clift of a little sticke and with the end of the line they tie on the bait They vse also long arrowes tyed in a line wherewith they shoote at fish in the rivers But they of Accawmack vse staues like vnto Iauelins headed with bone With these they dart fish swimming in the water They haue also many artificiall wires in which they get abundance of fish In their hunting and fishing they take extreame paines yet it being their ordinary exercise from their infancy they esteeme it a pleasure and are very proud to be expert therein And by their continuall ranging and travell they know all the advantages and places most frequented with Deere Beasts Fish Foule Roots and Berries At their huntings they leaue their habitations and reduce themselues into companies as the Tartars doe and goe to the most desert places with their families where they spend their time in hunting and fowling vp towards the mountaines by the heads of their rivers where there is plentie of game For betwixt the rivers the grounds are so narrowe that little commeth here which they devoure not It is a marvell they can so directly passe these deserts some 3 or 4 dayes iourney without habitation Their hunting houses are like vnto Arbours covered with Mats These their women beare after them with Corne Acornes Morters and all bag and baggage they vse When they come to the place of exercise every man doth his best to shew his dexteritie for by their excelling in those qualities they get their wiues Fortie yards will they shoot levell or very neare the marke and 120 is their best at Random At their huntings in the deserts they are commonly two or three hundred together Having found the Deere they environ them with many fires betwixt the fires they place themselues And some take their stands in the midsts The Deere being thus feared by the fires and their voyces they chase them so long within that circle that many times they kill 6 8 10 or 15 at a hunting They vse also to driue them into some narrow poynt of land when they find that advantage and so force them into the river where with their boats they haue Ambuscadoes to kill them When they haue shot a Deere by land they follow him like bloud-hounds by the bloud and straine and oftentimes so take them Hares Partridges Turkies or Egges fat or leane young or old they devoure all they can catch in their power In one of these huntings they found me in the discovery of the head of the river of Chickahamania where they slew my men and tooke me prisoner in a Bogmire where I saw those exercises
many women as he will whereof when he lieth on his bed one sitteth at his head and another at his feet but when he sitteth one sitteth on his right hand and another on his left As he is weary of his women he bestoweth them on those that best deserue them at his hands When he dineth or suppeth one of his women before and after meat bringeth him water in a wooden platter to wash his hands Another waiteth with a bunch of feathers to wipe them in stead of a Towell and the feathers when he hath wiped are dryed againe His kingdomes descend not to his sonnes nor children but first to his brethren whereof he hath 3. namely Opitchapan Opechancanough and Catataugh and after their decease to his sisters First to the eldest sister then to the rest and after them to the heires male or female of the eldest sister but never to the heires of the males He nor any of his people vnderstand any letters whereby to write or reade onely the lawes whereby he ruleth is custome Yet when he listeth his will is a law and must be obeyed not onely as a King but as halfe a God they esteeme him His inferiour Kings whom they call Werowances are tyed to rule by customes and haue power of life and death at their command in tâ—at nature But this word Werowance which we call and construe for a King is a common word whereby they call all commanders for they haue but few words in their language and but few occasions to vse any officers more then one commander which commonly they call Werowance or Caucorouse which is Captaine They all know their severall lands and habitations and limits to fish soule or hunt in but they hold all of their great Werowance Powhatan vnto whom they pay tribute of skinnes beads copper pearle deere turkies wild beasts and corne What he commandeth they dare not disobey in the least thing It is strange to see with what great feare and adoration all these people doe obey this Powhatan For at his feet they present whatsoever he commandeth and at the least frowne of his brow their greatest spirits will tremble with feare and no marvell for he is very terrible tyrannous in punishing such as offend him For example he caused certaine malefactors to be bound hand and foot then having of many fires gathered great store of burning coales they rake these coales round in the forme of a cockpit and in the midst they cast the offenders to broyle to death Sometimes he causeth the heads of them that offend him to be laid vpon the altar or sacrificing stone and one with clubbes beats out their braines When he would punish any notorious enemy or malefactor he causeth him to be tyed to a tree and with Mussell shels or reeds the executioner cutteth off his ioynts one after another ever casting what they cut of into the fire then doth he proceed with shels and reeds to case the skinne from his head and face then doe they rip his belly and so burne him with the tree and all Thus themselues reported they executed George Cassen Their ordinary correction is to beate them with cudgels We haue seene a man kneeling on his knees and at Powhatans command two men haue beate him on the bare skin till he hath fallen senselesse in a sound and yet never cry nor complained And he made a woman for playing the whore sit vpon a great stone on her bare breech twenty-foure houres onely with corne and water every three dayes till nine dayes were past yet he loued her exceedingly notwithstanding there are common whores by profession In the yeare 1608 he surprised the people of Payankatank his neare neighbours and subiects The occasion was to vs vnknowne but the manner was thus First he sent divers of his men as to lodge amongst them that night then the Ambuscadoes environed all their houses and at the houre appointed they all fell to the spoyle twenty-foure men they slew the long haire of the one side of their heads with the skinne cased off with shels or reeds they brought away They surprised also the women and the children and the Werowance All these they presented to Powhatan The Werowance women and children became his prisoners and doe him service The lockes of haire with their skinnes he hanged on a line betwixt two trees And thus he made ostentation of his triumph at Werowocomoco where he intended to haue done as much to mee and my company And this is as much as my memory can call to minde worthy of note which I haue purposely collected to satisfie my friends of the true worth and qualitie of Virginia Yet some bad natures will not sticke to slander the Countrey that will slovenly spit at all things especially in company where they can finde none to contradict them Who though they were scarce enâ—r ten myles from Iames Towne or at the most but at the falles yet holding it a great disgrace that amongst so much action their actions were nothing exclaime of all things though they never adventured to know any thing nor euer did any thing but devoure the fruits of other mens labours Being for most part of such tender educations and small experience in Martiall accidents because they found not English Cities nor such faire houses nor at their owne wishes any of their accustomed dainties with feather beds and downe pillowes Tavernes and Alehouses in every breathing place neither such plentie of gold and silver and dissolute libertie as they expected had little or no care or any thing but to pamper their bellies to fly away with our Pinnaces or procure their meanes to returne for England For the Country was to them a misery a ruine a death a hell and their reports here and their actions there according Some other there were that had yearely stipends to passe to and againe for transportation who to keepe the mysterie of the businesse in themselues though they had neither time nor meanes to know much of themselues yet all mens actions or relations they so formally tuned to the temporizing times simplicitie as they could make their ignorances seeme much more then all the true actors could by their experience And those with their great words deluded the world with such strange promises as abused the businesse much worse then the rest For the businesse being builded vpon the foundation of their fained experience the planters the money and meanes haue still miscarried yet they ever returning and the planters so farre absent who could contradict their excuses which still to maintaine their vaine glory and estimation from time to time haue vsed such diligence as made them passe for truths though nothing more false And that the adventurers might be thus abused let no man wonder for the wisest liuing is soonest abused by him that hath a faire tongue and a dissembling heart There were many in Virginia meerely proiecting verball and idle
nor the scandalous imputations of some few little better then Atheists of the greatest ranke amongst vs suggested against him all this could never force from him so much as a seeming desire to leaue the busines but preferred the service of God in so good a voyage before any affection to contest with his godlesse foes whose disasterous designes could they haue prevailed had even then overthrowne the businesse so many discontents did then arise had he not with the water of patience and his godly exhortations but chiefly by his true devoted examples quenched those flames of envie and dissention We watered at the Canaries we traded with the Salvages at Dominica three weekes we spent in refreshing our selues amongst these west-India Isles in Gwardalupa we found a bath so hot as in it we boyled Porck as well as over the fire And at a little Isle called Monica we tooke from the bushes with our hands neare two hogsh-heads full of Birds in three or foure houres In Mevis Mona and the Virgin Isles we spent some time where with a lothsome beast like a Crocodil called a Gwayn Tortoises Pellicans Parrots and fishes we daily feasted Gone from thence in search of Virginia the company was not a little discomforted seeing the Marriners had 3 dayes passed their reckoning and found no land so that Captaine Ratliffe Captaine of the Pinnace rather desired to beare vp the helme to returne for England then make further search But God the guider of all good actions forcing them by an extreame storme to hull all night did driue them by his providence to their desired Port beyond all their expectations for never any of them had seene that coast The first land they made they called Cape Henry where thirtie of them recreating themselues on shore were assaulted by fiue Salvages who hurt two of the English very dangerously That night was the box opened and the orders read in which Bartholomew Gosnoll Iohn Smith Edward Wingfield Christopher Newport Iohn Ratliffe Iohn Martin and George Kendall were named to be the Councell and to choose a President amongst them for a yeare who with the Councell should governe Matters of moment were to be examined by a Iury but determined by the maior part of the Councell in which the President had two voyces Vntill the 13 of May they sought a place to plant in then the Councell was sworne Mr Wingfield was chosen President and an Oration made why Captaine Smith was not admitted of the Councell as the rest Now falleth every man to worke the Councell contriue the Fort the rest cut downe trees to make place to pitch their Tents some provide clapbord to relade the ships some make gardens some nets c. The Salvages often visited vs kindly The Presidents overweening iealousie would admit no exercise at armes or fortification but the boughs of trees cast together in the forme of a halfe moone by the extraordinary paines and diligence of Captaine Kendall Newport Smith and twentie others were sent to discover the head of the river by divers small habitations they passed in six dayes they arrived at a Towne called Powhatan consisting of some twelue houses pleasantly seated on a hill before it three fertile Isles about it many of their cornefields the place is very pleasant and strong by nature of this place the Prince is called Powhatan and his people Powhatans to this place the river is navigable but higher within a myle by reason of the Rockes and Isles there is not passage for a small Boat this they call the Falles the people in all parts kindly intreated them till being returned within twentie myles of Iames towne they gaue iust cause of iealousie but had God not blessed the discoverers otherwise then those at the Fort there had then beene an end of that plantation for at the Fort where they arrived the next day they found 17 men hurt and a boy slaine by the Salvages and had it not chanced a crosse barre shot from the Ships strooke downe a bough from a tree amongst them that caused them to retire our men had all beene slaine being securely all at worke and their armes in dry fats Herevpon the President was contented the Fort should be pallisadoed the Ordnance mounted his men armed and exercised for many were the assaults and ambuscadoes of the Salvages our men by their disorderly stragling were often hurt when the Salvages by the nimblenesse of their heeles well escaped What toyle we had with so small a power to guard our workemen adayes watch all night resist our enemies and effect our businesse to relade the ships cut downe trees and prepare the ground to plant our Corne c I referre to the Readers consideration Six weekes being spent in this manner Captaine Newport who was hired onely for our transportation was to returne with the ships Now Captaine Smith who all this time from their departure from the Canaries was restrained as a prisoner vpon the scandalous suggestions of some of the chiefe envying his repute who fained he intended to vsurpe the government murther the Councell and make himselfe King that his confederats were dispersed in all the three ships and that divers of his confederats that revealed it would affirme it for this he was committed as a prisoner thirteene weekes he remained thus suspected and by that time the ships should returne they pretended out of their commisserations to referre him to the Councell in England to receiue a check rather then by particulating his designes make him so odious to the world as to touch his life or vtterly overthrow his reputation But he so much scorned their charitie and publikely defied the vttermost of their crueltie he wisely prevented their policies though he could not suppresse their envies yet so well he demeaned himselfe in this businesse as all the company did see his innocency and his adversaries malice and those suborned to accuse him accused his accusers of subornation many vntruthes were alledged against him but being so apparently disproved begat a generall hatred in the hearts of the company against such vniust Commanders that the President was adiudged to giue him 200l. so that all he had was seized vpon in part of satisfaction which Smith presently returned to the Store for the generall vse of the Colony Many were the mischiefes that daily sprung from their ignorant yet ambitious spirits but the good Doctrine and exhortation of our Preacher Mr Hunt reconciled them and caused Captaine Smith to be admitted of the Councell the next day all receiued the Communion the day following the Salvages voluntarily desired peace and Captaine Newport returned for England with newes leaving in Virginia 100. the 15 of Iune 1607. By this obserue Good men did ne'r their Countries ruine bring But when evill men shall iniuries beginne Not caring to corrupt and violate The iudgements-seats for their owne Lucr's sake Then looke that Country cannot long haue peace Though for the present
well hide himselfe Vpon the alarum by that we had recovered our armes there was about an hundred nimble Indians skipping from tree to tree letting fly their arrows so fast as they could the trees here served vs for Baricadoes as well as they But Mosco did vs more service then we expected for having shot away his quiver of Arrowes he ran to the Boat for more The Arrowes of Mosco at the first made them pause vpon the matter thinking by his bruit and skipping there were many Salvages About halfe an houre this continued then they all vanished as suddainly as they approached Mosco followed them so farre as he could see vs till they were out of sight As we returned there lay a Salvage as dead shot in the knee but taking him vp we found he had life which Mosco seeing never was Dog more furious against a Beare then Mosco was to haue beat out his braines so we had him to our Boat where our Chirurgian who went with vs to cure our Captaines hurt of the Stingray so dressed this Salvage that within an houre after he looked somewhat chearefully and did eate and speake In the meane time we contented Mosco in helping him to gather vp their arrowes which were an armefull whereof he gloried not a little Then we desired Mosco to know what he was and what Countries were beyond the mountaines the poore Salvage mildly answered he and all with him were of Hasinninga where there are three Kings more like vnto them namely the King of Stegora the King of Tauxuntania and the King of Shakahonea that were come to Mohaâ—kahod which is onely a hunting Towne and the bounds betwixt the Kingdome of the Mannahocks and the Nandtaughtacunds but hard by where we were We demanded why they came in that manner to betray vs that came to them in peace and to seeke their loues he answered they heard we were a people come from vnder the world to take their world from them We asked him how many worlds he did know he replyed he knew no more but that which was vnder the skie that covered him which were the Powhatans with the Monacans and the Massawomeks that were higher vp in the mountaines Then we asked him what was beyond the mountaines he answered the Sunne but of any thing els he knew nothing because the woods were not burnt These and many such questions wee demanded concerning the Massawomeks the Monacans their owne Country and where were the Kings of Stegora Tauxsintania and the rest The Monacans he sayd were their neighbours and friends and did dwell as they in the hilly Countries by small rivers liuing vpon rootes and fruits but chiefly by hunting The Massawomeks did dwell vpon a great water and had many boats so many men that they made warre with all the world For their Kings they were gone every one a severall way with their men on hunting But those with him came thither a fishing till they saw vs notwithstanding they would be altogether at night at Mahaskahod For his relation we gaue him many toyes with perswasions to goe with vs and he as earnestly desired vs to stay the comming of those Kings that for his good vsage should be friends with vs for he was brother to Hasinninga But Mosco advised vs presently to be gone for they were all naught yet we told him we would not till it was night All things we made ready to entertain what came Mosco was as diligent in trimming his arrowes The night being come we all imbarked for the riuer was so narrow had it beene light the land on the one side was so high they might haue done vs exceeding much mischiefe All this while the K. of Hasinninga was seeking the rest and had consultation a good time what to doe But by their espiâ—s seeing we were gone it was not long before we heard their arrowes dropping on every side the Boat we causeâ— our Salvages to call vnto them but such a yelling hallowing they made that they heard nothing but now and then a peece ayming so neare as we could where we heard the most voyces More then 12 myles they followed vs in this manner then the day appearing we found our selues in a broad Bay out of danger of their shot where wee came to an anchor and fell to breakfast Not so much as speaking to them till the Sunne was risen being well refreshed we vntyed our Targets that couered vs as a Deck and all shewed our selues with those shields on our armes and swords in our hands and also our prisoner Amoroleck a long discourse there was betwixt his Countrimen and him how good wee were how well wee vsed him how wee had a Patawomek with vs loued vs as his life that would haue slaine him had we not preserued him and that he should haue his libertie would they be but friends and to doe vs any hurt it was impossible Vpon this they all hung their Bowes and Quivers vpon the trees and one came swimming aboord vs with a Bow tyed on his head and another with a Quiver of Arrowes which they deliuered our Captaine as a present the Captaine hauing vsed them so kindly as he could told them the other three Kings should doe the like and then the great King of our world should be their friend whose men we were It was no sooner demanded but performed so vpon a low Moorish poynt of Land we went to the shore where those foure Kings came and receiued Amoroleck nothing they had but Bowes Arrowes Tobacco-bags and Pipes what we desired none refused to giue vs wondering at every thing we had and heard we had done our Pistols they tooke for pipes which they much desired but we did content them with other Commodities and so we left foure or fiue hundred of our merry Mannahocks singing dauncing and making merry and set sayle for Moraughtacund In our returnes we visited all our friends that reioyced much at our Victory against the Mannahocks who many times had Warres also with them but now they were friends and desired we would be friends with the Rapahanocks as we were with the Mannahocks Our Captaine told them they had twise assaulted him that came onely in loue to doe them good and therefore he would now burne all their houses destroy their corne and for euer hold them his enemies till they made him satisfaction they desired to know what that should be he told them they should present him the Kings Bow and Arrowes and not offer to come armed where he was that they should be friends with the Moraughtacunds his friends and giue him their Kings sonne in pledge to performe it and then all King Iames his men should be their friends Vpon this they presently sent to the Rapahanocks to meete him at the place where they first fought where would be the Kings of Nantautacund and Pissassac which according to their promise were there so soone as we where
Poles with some others to the number of seaventie persons c. These poore conclusions so affrighted vs all with famine that the President provided for Nâ—ndsamund and tooke with him Captaine Winne and Mr Scrivener then returning from Captaine Newport These people also long denied him not onely the 400 Baskets of Corne thâ—y promised but any trade at all excusing themselues they had â—pent most they had and were commanded by Powhatan to keepe that they had and not to let vs come into their river till we were constrained to begin with them perforce Vpon the discharging of our Muskets they all fled and shot not an Arrow the first house we came to we set on fire which when they perceiued they desired we would make no more spoyle and they would giue vs halfe they had how they collected it I know not but before night they loaded our three Boats and so we returned to our quarter some foure myles downe the River which was onely the open woods vnder the lay of a hill where all the ground was covered with snow and hard frozen the snow we digged away and made a great fire in the place when the ground was well dryed we turned away the fire and covering the place with a mat there we lay very warme To keepe vs from the winde we made a shade of another Mat as the winde turned we turned our shade and when the ground grew cold we remoued the fire And thus many a cold winter night haue wee laine in this miserable manner yet those that most commonly went vpon all those occasions were alwayes in health lusty and sat For sparing them this yeare the nâ—xt yeare they promised to plant purposely for vs and so we returned to Iames towne About this time there was a marriage betwixt Iohn Laydon and Anne Burras which was the first marriage we had in Virginia Long he stayed not but fitting himselfe and Captaine Waldo with two Barges From Chawopoweanock and all parts thereabouts all the people were fled as being iealous of our intents till we discovered the rivâ—r and people of Apamatuck where we found not much that they had we equally divided but gaue them copper and such things as contented them in consideration Master Scrivener and Lieutenant Percie went also abroad but could find nothing The President seeing the procrastinating of time was no course to liue resolved with Captaine Waldo whom he knew to be sure in time of need to surprise Powhatan and all his provision but the vnwillingnesse of Captaine Winne and Master Scrivener for some private respect plotted in England to ruine Captaine Smith did their best to hinder their proiect but the President whom no perswasions could perswade to starue being invited by Powhatan to come vnto him and if he would send him but men to build him a house giue him a gryndstone fiftie swords some peeces a cock and a hen with much copper and beads he would loâ—d his Ship with Corne. The President not ignorant of his devises and subtiltie yet vnwilling to neglect any opportunitie presently sent three Dutch-men and two English having so small allowance few were able to doe any thing to purpose knowing there needed no better a Castle to effect this proiect tooke order with Captaine Waldo to second him if need required Scrivener he left his substitute and set forth with thâ— Pinnace two Barges and fortie-six men which onely were such as voluntarily offered themselues for his Iourney the which by reason of Mr Scriveners ill successe was censured very desperate they all knowing Smith would not returne emptie if it were to be had howsoever it caused many of those that he had appointed to find excuses to stay behinde CHAP. VIII Captaine Smiths Iourney to Pamavnkee THe twentie-nine of December he set forward for Werowocomoco his Company were these In the Discovery Barge himselfe Gent. Robert Behethland Nathanael Graues Iohn Russell Raleigh Chrashow Michael Sicklemore Richard Worley Souldiers Anas Todkill William Loue. William Bentley Ieffrey Shortridge Edward Pising William Ward In the Pinnace Lieutenant Percie brother to the Earle of Northumberland Master Francis West brother to the Lord La Warre William Phittiplace Captaine of the Pinnace Gent. Michael Phittiplace Ieffrey Abbot Serieant William Tankard George Yarington Iames Browne Edward Brinton George Burton Thomas Coe Ionas Profit Master Robert Ford Clarke of the Councell Iohn Dods Souldier Henry Powell Souldier Thomas Gipson David Ellis Nathanael Peacock Saylers Iohn Prat George Acrig Iames Read Nicholas Hancock Iames Watkins Thomas Lambert foure Dutch-men and Richard Salvage were sent by land before to build the house for Powhatan against our Arrivall This company being victualled but for three or foure dayes lodged the first night at Warraskoyack where the President tooke sufficient provision This kind King did his best to divert him from seeing Powhatan but perceiuing he could not prevaile he advised in this manner Captaine Smith you shall find Powhatan to vse you kindly but trust him not and be sure he haue no oportunitie to seize on your Armes for he hath sent for you onely to cut your throats The Captaine thanking him for his good counsell yet the better to try his loue desired guides to Chawwonock for he would send a present to that King to bind him his friend To performe this iourney was sent Mr Sicklemore a very valiant honest and a painefull Souldier with him two guides and directions how to seeke for the lost company of Sir Walter Raleighs and silke Grasse Then we departed thence the President assuring the King perpetuall loue and left with him Samuâ—l Collier his Page to learne the Language So this Kings deeds by sacred Oath adiur'd More wary proues and circumspect by ods Fearing at least his double forfeiture To offend his friends and sin against his Gods The next night being lodged at Kecoughtan six or seaven dayes the extreame winde rayne frost and snow caused vs to keepe Christmas among the Salvages where we were never more merry nor fed on more plentie of good Oysters Fish Flesh Wild-soule and good bread nor never had better fires in England then in the dry smoaky houses of Kecoughtan but departing thence when we found no houses we were not curious in any weather to lye three or foure nights together vnder the trees by a fire as formerly is sayd An hundred fortie eight foules the President Anthony Bagnall and Serieant Pising did kill at three shoots At Kiskiack the frost contrary winds forced vs three or foure dayes also to suppresse the insolency of those proud Salvages to quarter in their houses yet guard our Barge and cause them giue vs what we wanted though we were but twelue and himselfe yet we never wanted shelter where we found any houses The 12 of Ianuary we arrived at Werowocomoco where the river was frozen neare halfe a myle from the shore but to neglect no time the President with his Barge so
fortified himselfe but so apparantly distracted with feare as imboldened the Salvages to assault him kill his men release their King gather and carry away a thousand bushels of Corne he not once offering to intercept them but sent to the President then at the Falles for thirtie good shot which from Iames Towne immediately was sent him But he so well imployed them they did iust nothing but returned complaining of his tendernesse yet he came away with them to Iames Towne leauing his company to their fortunes Here I cannot omit the courage of George Forrest that had seauenteene Arrowes sticking in him and one shot through him yet liued sixe or seauen dayes as if he had small hurt then for want of Chirurgery dyed Master West having seated his men by the Falles presently returned to reuisit Iames Towne the President followed him to see that company seated met him by the way wondering at his so quicke returne and found his company planted so inconsiderately in a place not onely subiect to the rivers invndation but round invironed with many intollerable inconueniences For remedie whereof he presently sent to Powhatan to sell him the place called Powhatan promising to defend him against the Monacans And these should be his Conditions with his people to resigne him the Fort and houses and all that Countrey for a proportion of Copper that all stealing offenders should be sent him thereto receiue their punishment that every house as a Custome should pay him a Bushell of Corne for an inch square of Copper and a proportion of Pocones as a yearely tribute to King Iames for their protection as a dutie what else they could spare to barter at their best discretions But both this excellent place and those good Conditions did those furies refuse contemning both him his kinde care and authoritie So much they depended on the Lord Generals new Commission as they regarded none the worst they could doe to shew their spights they did supposing all the Monacans Country gold and none should come there but whom they pleased I doe more then wonder to thinke how onely with fiue men he either durst or would adventure as he did knowing how greedie they were of his bloud to land amongst them and commit to imprisonment all the Chiâ—ftaines of those mutinies till by their multitudes being an hundred and twentie they forced him to retyre yet in that interim he surprised one of their Boates wherewith he returned to their ship where in deed was their prouision which also he tooke and well it chanced he found the Marriners so tractable and constant or there had beene small possibilitie he had ever escaped There were divers other of better reason and experience that from their first landing hearing the generall good report of his old Souldiers and seeing with their eyes his actions so well mannaged with discretion as Captaine Wood Captaine Webbe Cap. Moone Captaine Fitz Iames Master William Powell Master Partridge Master White and divers others when they perceiued the malice of Ratliffe and Archer and their faction left their companies and ever rested his faithfull friends But the worst was that the poore Salvages that daily brought in their contribution to the President that disorderly company so tormented those poore soules by stealing their corne robbing their gardens beating them breaking their houses and keeping some prisoners that they daily complained to Captaine Smith he had brought them for Protectors worse enemies then the Monacans themselues which though till then for his loue they had endured they desired pardon if hereafter they defended themselues since he would not correct them as they had long expected he would So much they importuned him to punish their misdemeanors as they offered if he would leade them to fight for him against them But having spent nine dayes in seeking to reclaime them shewing them how much they did abuse themselues with these great guilded hopes of the South Sea Mines commodities or victories they so madly conceived then seeing nothing would prevaile he set sayle for Iames Towne Thus oft we see from small greene wounds and from a little griefe A greater sore and sicknesse growes then will admit reliefe For thus themselues they did be guile and with the rest play'd theefe Now no sooner was the Ship vnder sayle but the Salvages assaulted those hundred and twentie in their Fort finding some stragling abroad in the woods they slew many and so affrighted the rest as their prisoners escaped and they safely retyred with the swords and cloakes of those they had slaine But ere wee had sayled halfe a league our ship grounding gaue vs once more libertie to summon them to a parley where we found them all so strangely amazed with this poore silly assault of twelue Saluages that they submitted themselues vpon any tearmes to the Presidents mercy who presently put by the heeles sixe or seauen of the chiefe offenders the rest he seated gallantly at Powhatan in that Salvage Fort readie built and prettily fortified with poles and barkes of trees sufficient to haue defended them from all the Salvages in Virginia dry houses for lodgings and neere two hundred accres of ground ready to be planted and no place we knew so strong so pleasant and delightfull in Virginia for which we called it Non-such The Salvages also hee presently appeased redeliuering to either party their former losses Thus all were friends New officers appointed to command and the President againe ready to depart at that instant arriued Captaine West whose gentle nature by the perswasions and compassion of those mutinous prisoners alledging they had onely done this for his honor was so much abused that to regaine their old hopes new turboyles did arise For they a-shore being possessed of all there victuall munition and euery thing grew to that height in their former factions as the President left them to their fortunes they returned againe to the open ayre at Wests Fort abandoning Non such and he to Iames towne with his best expedition but this hapned him in that Iourney Sleeping in his Boate for the ship was returned two daies before accidentallie one fired his powder-bag which tore the flesh from his body and thighes nine or ten inches square in a most pittifull manner but to quench the tormenting fire frying him in his cloaths he leaped over-boord into the deepe river where ere they could recouer him he was neere drowned In this estate without either Chirurgian or Chirurgery he was to goe neere an hundred myles Arriving at Iames towne causing all things to be prepared for peace or warres to obtaine provision whilest those things were providing Ratliffe Archer the rest of their Confederates being to come to their trials their guiltie consciences fearing a iust reward for their deserts seeing the President vnable to stand and neere berest of his senses by reason of his torment they had plotted to haue murdered him in his bed But his heart
Padget 5. Pembrok 6. Cauendish 7. Smith 8. Hambleton St Catherins forte F Pembroks forte K Kings Castell M Southampton forte L Devonshire Redute O A Scale of 8 Miles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 St George Towne D Warwicks forte E The 3 Bridges A.B.C. P Riches Mount State house The Letters A.B.C. shew the sittuation of the 3 bridges P the Mount D.E.F.G.H.I.K.L.M.N.O. the forts how and by whom they wer made the history will shew you The discription of the land by Mr Norwood All contracted into this order by Captaine Iohn Smith Smiths forte I Pagets forte H Penistons Redoute G Charles forte N Printed by Iames Reeve THE FOVRTH BOOKE TO MAKE PLAINE THE TRVE PROCEEdings of the Historie for 1609. we must follow the examinations of Doctor Simons and two learned Orations published by the Companie with the relation of the Right Honourable the Lord De la Ware What happened in the first gouernment after the alteration in the time of Captaine George Piercie their Gouernour THE day before Captaine Smith returned for England with the ships Captaine Dauis arriued in a small Pinace with some sixteene proper men more To these were added a company from Iames towne vnder the command of Captaine Iohn Sickelmore alias Ratliffe to inhabit Point Comfort Captaine Martin and Captaine West hauing lost their boats and neere halfe their men among the Saluages were returned to Iames towne for the Saluages no sooner vnderstood Smith was gone but they all reuolted and did spoile and murther all they incountered Now wee were all constrained to liue onely on that Smith had onely for his owne Companie for the rest had consumed their proportions and now they had twentie Presidents with all their appurtenances Master Piercie our new President was so sicke hee could neither goe nor stand But ere all was consumed Captaine West and Captaine Sickelmore each with a small ship and thirtie or fortie men well appointed sought abroad to trade Sickelmore vpon the confidence of Powhatan with about thirtie others as carelesse as himselfe were all slaine onely Ieffrey Shortridge escaped and Pokahontas the Kings daughter saued a boy called Henry Spilman that liued many yeeres after by her meanes amongst the Patawomekes Powhatan still as he found meanes cut off their Boats denied them trade so that Captaine West set saile for England Now we all found the losse of Captaine Smith yea his greatest maligners could now curse his losse as for corne prouision and contribution from the Saluages we had nothing but mortall wounds with clubs and arrowes as for our Hogs Hens Goats Sheepe Horse or what liued our commanders officers Saluages daily consumed them some small proportions sometimes we tasted till all was deuoured then swords armes pieces or any thing wee traded with the Saluages whose cruell fingers were so oft imbrewed in our blouds that what by their crueltie our Gouernours indiscretion and the losse of our ships of fiue hundred within six moneths after Captaine Smiths departure there remained not past sixtie men women and children most miserable and poore creatures and those were preserued for the most part by roots herbes acornes walnuts berries now and then a little fish they that had startch in these extremities made no small vse of it yea euen the very skinnes of our horses Nay so great was our famine that a Saluage we slew and buried the poorer sort tooke him vp againe and eat him and so did diuers one another boyled and stewed with roots and herbs And one amongst the rest did kill his wife powdered her and had eaten part of her before it was knowne for which hee was executed as hee well deserued now whether shee was better roasted boyled or carbonado'd I know not but of such a dish as powdered wise I neuer heard of This was that time which still to this day we called the staruing time it were too vile to say and scarce to be beleeued what we endured but the occasion was our owne for want of prouidence industrie and gouernment and not the barrennesse and defect of the Countrie as is generally supposed for till then in three yeeres for the numbers were landed vs we had neuer from England prouision sufficient for six moneths though it seemed by the bils of loading sufficient was sent vs such a glutton is the Sea and such good fellowes the Mariners we as little tasted of the great proportion sent vs as they of our want and miseries yet notwithstanding they euer ouer-swayed and ruled the businesse though we endured all that is said and chiefly liued on what this good Countrie naturally afforded yet had wee beene euen in Paradice it selfe with these Gouernours it would not haue beene much better with vs yet there was amongst vs who had they had the gouernment as Captaine Smith appointed but that they could not maintaine it would surely haue kept vs from those extremities of miseries This in ten daies more would haue supplanted vs all with death But God that would not this Countrie should be vnplanted sent Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Sommers with one hundred and fiftie people most happily preserued by the Bermudas to preserue vs strange it is to say how miraculously they were preserued in a leaking ship as at large you may reade in the insuing Historie of those Ilands The gouernment resigned to Sir Thomas Gates 1610. WHen these two Noble Knights did see our miseries being but strangers in that Countrie and could vnderstand no more of the cause but by coniecture of our clamours and complaints of accusing and excusing one another They embarked vs with themselues with the best meanes they could and abandoning Iames towne set saile for England whereby you may see the euent of the gouernment of the former Commanders left to themselues although they had liued there many yeeres as formerly hath beene spoken who hindred now their proceedings Captaine Smith being gone At noone they fell to the I le of Hogs and the next morning to Mulbery point at what time they descried the Long-boat of the Lord la Ware for God would not haue it so abandoned For this honourable Lord then Gouernour of the Countrie met them with three ships exceedingly well furnished with all necessaries fitting who againe returned them to the abandoned Iames towne Out of the obseruations of William Simmons Doctor of Diuinitie The gouernment deuolued to the Lord la Ware HIs Lordship arriued the ninth of Iune 1610. accompanied with Sir Ferdinando Warnman Captaine Houlâ—roft Captaine Lawson and diuers other Gentlemen of sort the tenth he came vp with his fleet went on shore heard a Sermon read his Commission and entred into consultation for the good of the Colonie in which secret counsell we will a little leaue them that we may duly obserue the reuealed counsell of God Hee that shall but turne vp his eie and behold the spangled canopie of heauen or shall but cast downe his eie and consider the embroydered
that he could not so that he sent me with Estinien Mâ—ll a French-man to findâ— a conuenient place to make salt in Not long after Namenacus the King of Pawtuxunt came to vs to seeke for Thomas Saluage our Interpreter Thus insinuating himselfe he led vs into a thicket where all sitting downe he shewâ—d vs his nâ—ked brest asking if we saw any deformitie vpon it we told him No No more said hee is the inside but as sincere and pure therefore come freely to my Countrie and welcome which wee promised wee would within six weekes after Hauing taken a muster of the companies tenants I went to Smiths Iles where was our Salt hoâ—se not farre off wee found a more conuenient placâ— and â—o retuâ—ned to Iames towne Being furnished tâ—e second â—ime wee arriued at Aquo hanock and conferred with Kiptopeke theiâ— King Pâ—ssing Russels Ile and Onaucoke we arriued at Pawtuxunt the discription of those places you may reade in Captaine Smiths discoueâ—ies therefore needlesse to bee writ againe But here arriuing at Aâ—toughcomoco the habiâ—ation of Namenacuâ— and Wâ—manato his brother long wee staied not ere they came aboord vs with a brasse Kettle as bright without as within ful of boyled Oâ—sters Strict order was giuen none should offend vs so that the next day I went with the â—wo Kings a hunting to discouer what I could in their confines Wamâ—nato brought mee first to his house where hee shewed once his wife and children and maâ— Corne-fields and being two miles within the woods a hunting as the younger conducted me forth so the elder brought me home and vsed me as kindly as he could after their manner The next day he presented me twelue Beuer skinnes and a Canow which I requited with such things to his content that he promised to keept them whilst hee liued and burie them with him being dead Hee much wondered at our Bible but much more to heare it was the Law of our God and the first Chapter of Genesis expounded of Adam and Eue and simple mariage to which he replyed hee was like Adam in one thing for he neuer had but one wife at once but he as all the rest seemed more willing of other discourses they better vnderstood The next day the two Kings with their people came aboord vs but brought nothing according to promise so that Ensigne Saluage challenged Namenacus the breach of three promises viz. not in giuing him a Boy not Corne though they had plentie nor Moutapass a fugitiue called Robert Marcum that had liued 5 yeeres amongst those northerly nations which hee cunningly answered by excuses Womanato it seemes was guiltlesse of this falshood because hee staied alone when the rest were gone I asked him if he desired to bee great and rich he answered They were things all men aspired vnto which I told him he should be if he would follow my counsell so he gaue me two tokens which being returned by a messenger should suffice to make him confident the messenger could not abuse vs. Some things being stolne from vs he tooke such order that they were presently restored then we interchanged presents in all things hee much admired out discretions and gaue vs a guide that hee called brother to conduct vs vp the Riuer by the way we met with diuers that stil tould vs of Marcum and though it was in October we found the Countrie very hot and their Corne gathered before ours at Iames towne The next day we went to Paccamaganant and they directed vs to Assacomoco where their King Cassatowap had an old quarrell with Ensigne Saluage but now seeming reconciled went with vs with another Werowance towards Mattapanient where they perswaded vs ashore vpon the point of a thicket but supposing it some trecherie we returned to our boat farre we had not gone from the shore but a multitude of Saluages fallied out of the wood with all the ill words and signes of hostilitie they could When wee saw plainly their bad intent wee set the two Werowances at libertie that all this while had line in the Cabbin as not taking any notice of their villanie because we would conuert them by courtesie Leauing them as we found them very ciuill and subtill wee returned the same way wee came to the laughing Kings on the Easterne shore who told vs plainly Namanicus would also haue allured him into his Countrie vnder colour of trade to cut his throat Hee told vs also Opechancanough had imployed Onianimo to kill Saluage because he brought the trade from him to the Easterne shore and some disgrace hee had done his sonne and some thirteene of his people before one hundred of those Easterlings in reseuing Thomas Graues whom they would haue slaine where hee and three more did challenge the thirteeene Pamavukes to fight but they durst not so that all those Easterlings so derided them that they came there no more This Thomas Saluage it is sixteene yeeres since he went to Virginia being a boy hee was left with Powhatan for Namontacke to learne the language and as this Author affirmeth with much honestie and good successe hath serued the publike without any publike recompence yet had an arrow shot through his body in their seruice This laughing King at Accomack tels vs the land is not two daies iourny ouer in the broadest place but in some places a man may goe in halfe a day betwixt the Bay and the maine Ocean where inhabit many people so that by the narrownesse of the Land there is not many Decre but most abundance of Fish and Fowle Kiptope his brother rules â— his Lieutenant who seeing his younger brother more affected by the people than himselfe freely resigned him the moitie of his Countrie applying himselfe onely to husbandry and hunting yet nothing neglected in his degree nor is hee carelesse of any thing concernes the state but as a vigilant and faithfull Counceller as hee is an affectionated Brother bearing the greater burden in gouernment though the lesser honour where cleane contrary they on the Westerne shore the younger beares the charge and the elder the dignitie Those are the best husbands of any Saluages we know for they prouide Corne to serue them all the yeare yet spare and the other not for halfe the yeare yet want They are the most ciuill and tractable people we haue met with and by little sticks will keepe as iust an account of their promises as by a tally In their mariages they obserue a large distance as well in affinitie as consanguinitie nor doe they vse that deuillish custome in making black Boyes There may be on this shore about two thousand people they on the West would inuade them but that they want Boats to crosse the Bay and so would diuers other Nations were they not protected by vs. A few of the Westerly Runnagados had conspired against the laughing King but fearing their treason was discouered fled to Smiths Iles where they made a massacre of
10 s. 1 whipsaw set and filed with box file and wrest 10 s. 2 hammers 12 d. a peece 2 s. 3 shouels 18 d. a peece 4 s. 6 d. 2 spades at 18 d. a peece 3 s. 2 Augers at 6 d. peece 1 s. 6 Chissels at 6 d. a peece 3 s. 2 Percers stocked 4 d. a peece 8 d. 3 Gimblets at 2 d. a peece 6 d. 2 Hatchets at 21 d. a peece 3 s. 6 d. 2 frowes to cleaue pale 18 d. each 3 s. 2 hand Bills 20 d. a peece 3 s. 4 d. 1 Grindstone 4 s. Nailes of all sorts to the value of 2 l. 2 Pickaxes 3 s. Â 6 l. 2 s. 8 d. Houshold implements for a family and six persons and so for more or lesse after the rate 1 Iron pot 7 s. 1 Kettell 6 s. 1 large Frying-pan 2 s. 6 d. 1 Gridiron 1 s. 6 d. 2 Skellots 5 s. 1 Spit 2 s. Platters dishes spoones of wood 4 s. Â 1 l. 8 s. For Sugar Spice and Fruit and at Sea for six men 12 s. 6 d. So the full charge after this rate for each person will amount about the summe of 12 l. 10 s. 10 d. The passage of each man is 6 l. The fraught of these prouisions for a man will be about halfe a tun which is 1 l. 10 s. So the whole charge will amount to about 20 l. Now if the number be great Nets Hooks and Lines but Cheese Bacon Kine and Goats must be added And this is the vsuall proportion the Virginia Company doe bestow vpon their Tenents they send A briefe relation written by Captaine Smith to his Maiesties Commissioners for the reformation of Virginia concerning some aspersions against it HOnourable Gentlemen for so many faire and Nauigable Riuers so neere adioyning and piercing thorow so faire a naturall Land free from any inundations or large Fenny vnwholsome Marshes I haue not seene read nor heard of And for the building of Cities Townes and Wharfage if they will vse the meanes where there is no more ebbe nor floud Nature in few places affoords any so conuenient for salt Marshes or Quagmires In this tract of Iames Towne Riuer I know very few some small Marshes and Swamps there are but more profitable then hurtfull and I thinke there is more low Marsh ground betwixt Eriffe and Chelsey then Kecoughton and the Falls which is about one hundred and eighty miles by the course of the Riuer Being enioyned by our Commission not to vnplant nor wrong the Saluages because the channell was so neere the shore where now is Iames Towne then a thicke groue of trees wee cut them downe where the Saluages pretending as much kindnesse as could bee they hurt and slew one and twenty of vs in two houres At this time our diet was for most part water and bran and three ounces of little better stuffe in bread for fiue men a meale and thus we liued neere three moneths our lodgings vnder boughes of trees the Saluages being our enemies whom we neither knew nor vnderstood occasions I thinke sufficient to make men sicke and die Necessity thus did inforce me with eight or nine to try conclusions amongst the Saluages that we got prouision which recouered the rest being most sicke Six weeks I was led captiue by those Barbarians though some of my men were slaine and the rest fled yet it pleased God to make their great Kings daughter the means to returne me safe to Iames towne and releeue our wants and then our Common-wealth was in all eight and thirty the remainder of one hundred and fiue Being supplied with one hundred and twenty with twelue men in a boat of three tuns I spent foureteene weeks in those large waters the contents of the way of my boat protracted by the skale of proportion was about three thousand miles besides the Riuer we dwell vpon where no Christian knowne euer was and our diet for the most part what we could finde yet but one died The Saluages being acquainted that by command from England we durst not hurt them were much imboldned that famine and their insolencies did force me to breake our Commission and instructions cause Powhatan fly his Countrey and take the King of Pamavuke Prisoner and also to keepe the King of Paspahegh in shackels and put his men to doubletaskes in chaines till nine and thirty of their Kings paied vs contribution and the offending Saluages sent to Iames towne to punish at our owne discretions in the two last yeares I staied there I had not a man slaine All those conclusions being not able to preuent the bad euents of pride and idlenesse hauing receiued another supply of seuentie we were about two hundred in all but not twentie work-men In following the strict directions from England to doe that was impossible at that time So it hapned that neither wee nor they had any thing to eat but what the Countrey afforded naturally yet of eightie who liued vpon Oysters in Iune and Iuly with a pint of corne a week for a man lying vnder trees and 120 for the most part liuing vpon Sturgion which was dried til we pounded it to powder for meale yet in ten weeks but seuen died It is true we had of Tooles Armes Munition sufficient some Aquavitae Vineger Meale Pease and Otemeale but in two yeares and a halfe not sufficient for six moneths though by the bils of loading the proportions sent vs would well haue contented vs notwithstanding we sent home ample proofes of Pitch Tar Sope Ashes Wainskot Clapboord Silke grasse Iron Ore some Sturgion and Glasse Saxefras Cedar Cypris and blacke Walnut crowned Powhaton sought the Monacans Countrey according to the instructions sent vs but they caused vs neglect more necessary workes they had better haue giuen for Pitch and Sope ashes one hundred pound a tun in Denmarke Wee also maintained fiue or six seuerall Plantations Iames towne being burnt wee rebuilt it and three Forts more besides the Church and Store-house we had about fortie or fiftie seuerall houses to keepe vs warme and dry inuironed with a palizado of foureteene or fifteene foot and each as much as three or foure men could carrie We digged a faire Well of fresh water in the Fort where wee had three Bulwarks foure and twentie peece of Ordnance of Culuering Demiculuering Sacar and Falcon and most well mounted vpon conuenient plat-formes planted one hundred acres of Corne. We had but six ships to transport and supply vs and but two hundred seuenty seuen men boies and women by whose labours Virginia being brought to this kinde of perfection the most difficulties past and the foundation thus laid by this small meanes yet because we had done no more they called in our Commission tooke a new in their owne names and appointed vs neere as many offices and Officers as I had Souldiers that neither knew vs nor wee them without our consents or knowledge since there haue gone more
then one hundred ships of other proportions and eight or ten thousand people Now if you please to compare what hath beene spent sent discouered and done this fifteene yeares by that we did in the three first yeares and euery Gouernor that hath beene there since giue you but such an account as this you may easily finde what hath beene the cause of those disasters in Virginia Then came in Captaine Argall and Master Sedan in a ship of Master Cornelius to fish for Sturgion who had such good prouision we contracted with them for it whereby we were better furnished then euer Not long after came in seuen ships with about three hundred people but rather to supplant vs then supply vs their Admirall with their authoritie being cast away in the Bermudas very angry they were we had made no better prouision for them Seuen or eight weekes we withstood the invndations of these disorderly humors till I was neere blowne to death with Gun-powder which occasioned me to returne for England In the yeare 1609 about Michaelmas I left the Countrey as is formerly related with three ships seuen Boats Commodities to trade haruest newly gathered eight weeks prouision of Corne and Meale about fiue hundred persons three hundred Muskets shot powder and match with armes for more men then we had The Saluages their language and habitation well knowne to two hundred expert Souldiers Nets for fishing tooles of all sorts apparell to supply their wants six Mares and a Horse fiue or six hundred Swine many more Powltry what was brought or bred but victuall there remained Hauing spent some fiue yeares and more then fiue hundred pounds in procuring the Letters Patents and setting forward and neere as much more about New England c. Thus these nineteene yeares I haue here and there not spared any thing according to my abilitie nor the best aduice I could to perswade how those strange miracles of misery might haue beene preuented which lamentable experience plainly taught me of necessity must insue but few would beleeue me till now too deerely they haue paid for it Wherefore hitherto I haue rather left all then vndertake impossibilities or any more such costly taskes at such chargeable rates for in neither of those two Countries haue I one foot of Land nor the very house I builded nor the ground I digged with my owne hands nor euer any content or satisfaction at all and though I see ordinarily those two Countries shared before me by them that neither haue them nor knowes them but by my descriptions Yet that doth not so much trouble me as to heare and see those contentions and diuisions which will hazard if not ruine the prosperitie of Virginia if present remedy bee not found as they haue hindred many hundreds who would haue beene there ere now and makes them yet that are willing to stand in a demurre For the Books and Maps I haue made I will thanke him that will shew me so much for so little recompence and beare with their errors till I haue done better For the materials in them I cannot deny but am ready to affirme them both there and here vpon such grounds as I haue propounded which is to haue but fifteene hundred men to subdue againe the Saluages fortifie the Countrey discouer that yet vnknowne and both defend feed their Colony which I most humbly refer to his Maiesties most iudiciall iudgement and the most honourable Lords of his Priuy Councell you his trusty and well-beloued Commissioners and the Honourable company of Planters and well-willers to Virginia New-England and Sommer-Ilands Out of these Obseruations it pleased his Maiesties Commissioners for the reformation of Virginia to desire my answer to these seuen Questions Quest. 1. WHat conceiue you is the cause the Plantation hath prospered no better since you left it in so good a forwardnesse Answ. Idlenesse and carelesnesse brought all I did in three yeeres in six moneths to nothing and of fiue hundred I left scarce threescore remained and had Sir Thomas Gates not got from the Bermudas I thinke they had beene all dead before they could be supplied Quest. 2. What conceiue you should be the cause though the Country be good there comes nothing but Tobacco Answ. The oft altering of Gouernours it seemes causes euery man make vse of his time and because Corne was stinted at two shillings six pence the bushell and Tobacco at three shillings the pound and they value a mans labour a yeere worth fifty or threescore pound but in Corne not worth ten pound presuming Tobacco will furnish them with all things now make a mans labour in Corne worth threescore pound and in Tobacco but ten pound a man then shall they haue Corne sufficient to entertaine all commers and keepe their people in health to doe any thing but till then there will be little or nothing to any purpose Quest. 3. What conceiue you to haue beene the cause of the Massacre and had the Saluages had the vse of any peeces in your time or when or by whom they were taught Answ. The cause of the Massacre was the want of marshall discipline and because they would haue all the English had by destroying those they found so carelesly secure that they were not prouided to defend themselues against any enemy being so dispersed as they were In my time though Captaine Nuport furnished them with swords by truck and many fugitiues did the like and some Peeces they got accidentally yet I got the most of them againe and it was death to him that should shew a Saluage the vse of a Peece Since I vnderstand they became so good shot they were imployed for Fowlers and Huntsmen by the English Quest. 4. What charge thinke you would haue setled the gouernment both for defence and planting when you left it Answ. Twenty thousand pound would haue hyred good labourers and mechanicall men and haue furnished them with cattle and all necessaries and 100. of them would haue done more then a thousand of those that went though the Lord Laware Sir Ferdinando Waynman Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dale were perswaded to the contrary but when they had tried they confessed their error Quest. 5. What conceiue you would be the remedy and the charge Answ. The remedy is to send Souldiers and all sorts of labourers and necessaries for them that they may be there by next Michaelmas the which to doe well will stand you in fiue thousand pound but if his Maiesty would please to lend two of his Ships to transport them lesse would serue besides the benefit of his grace to the action would encourage all men Quest. 6. What thinke you are the defects of the gouernment both here and there Answ. The multiplicity of opinions here and Officers there makes such delaies by questions and formalitie that as much time is spent in complement as in action besides some are so desirous to imploy their ships hauing six pounds for euery
whatsoeuer else may be expected for the satisfaction either of curiosity necessity or delight Neither hath the aire for her part been wanting with due supplies of many sorts of Fowles as the gray and white Hearne the gray and greene Plouer some wilde Ducks and Malards Coots and Red-shankes Sea-wigions Gray-bitterns Cormorants numbers of small Birds like Sparrowes and Robins which haue lately beene destroyed by the wilde Cats Wood-pickars very many Crowes which since this Plantation are kild the rest fled or seldome seene except in the most vninhabited places from whence they are obserued to take their flight about sun set directing their course towards the North-west which makes many coniecture there are some more Ilands not far off that way Sometimes are also seene Falcons Iar-falcons Ospraies a Bird like a Hobby but because they come seldome they are held but as passengers but aboue all these most deseruing obseruation and respect are those two sorts of Birds the one for the tune of his voice the other for the effect called the Cahow and Egge bird which on the first of May a day constantly obserued fall a laying infinite store of Eggs neere as big as Hens vpon certaine small sandie baies especially in Coupers I le and although men sit downe amongst them when hundreds haue bin gathered in a morning yet there is hath stayed amongst them till they haue gathered as many more they continue this course till Midsummer and so tame feareles you must thrust them off from their Eggs with your hand then they grow so faint with laying they suffer them to breed take infinite numbers of their yong to eat which are very excellent meat The Cahow is a Bird of the night for all the day she lies hid in holes in the Rocks where they and their young are also taken with as much ease as may be but in the night if you but whoop and hollow they will light vpon you that with your hands you may chuse the fat and leaue the leane those they haue only in winter their Eggs are as big as hens but they are speckled the other white Mr. Norwood hath taken twenty dozen of them in three or foure houres and since there hath beene such hauocke made of them they were neere all destroyed till there was a strict inhibition for their preseruation The Tropicke bird is white as large as a Pullet with one onely long Feather in her taile and is seldome seene far distant from other of the Tropicks another small Bird there is because she cries Pemblyco they call her so she is seldome seene in the day but when she sings as too oft she doth very clamorously too true a Prophet she proues of huge winds and boysterous weather there were a kinde of small Owles in great abundance but they are now all slaine or fled some tame Ducks Geese and Pigeons there are but the two latter prosper not Concerning vermine and noisome creatures there are not many but onely Rats and Cats there increased since the Plantation but how they agree together you shall heare hereafter The Musketas and Flies are also too busie with a certaine India Bug called by the Spaniards a Cacarootch the which creeping into Chests they eat and defile with their ill-sented dung also the little Ants in summer time are so troublesome they are forced to dry their figs vpon high frames and anoint their feet with tar wherein they sticke else they would spoile them all ere they could be dryed Wormes in the earth also there are but too many so that to keepe them from destroying their Corne and Tobacco they are forced to worme them euery morning which is a great labour else all would be destroyed Lizards there were many and very large but now none and it is laid they were destroyed by the Cat. Certaine Spiders also of very large size are found hanging vpon trees but instead of being any way dangerous as in other places they are here of a most pleasing aspect all ouer drest as it were with Siluer Gold and Pearle and their Webs in the Summer wouen from tree to tree are generally a perfect raw silke and that as well in regard of substance as colour and so strong withall that diuers Birds bigger than Black-birds being like Snipes are often taken and snared in them as a Net then what would the Silke-worme doe were sheâ— there to feede vpon the continuall greene Mulbery But aboue all the rest of the Elements the Sea is found most abundantly liberall hence haue they as much excellent Fish and as much variety as need be desired The most of which being vnknowne to our Northerne parts got there new names either for their shapes or conditions as the large Rocke-fish from his like hew and haunting amongst the Rocks the fat Hog-fish from his swine-like shape and shout for this is not the old knowne Hog-fish with brussels on his backe the delicate Amber-fish from his taste and smell Angell-fish Cony-fish the small yellow taile from that naturall painting the great Growper from his odde and strange grunting some of them yet knowne to the Americans as the Purgoose the Cauallo the Gar-fish Flying-fish and Morerayes the rest are common to other Continents as the Whale in great numbers the Sharke the Pilot-fish the Sea-Breame the Oyster and Lobster with diuers others twenty Tortoises haue beene taken in a day and some of them will affoord halfe a bushell of Egges and suffice to feed forty men at a meale And thus haue you briefely epitomized Mother Natures benefits to this little yet dainty spot of earth neither were it ingenuity to conceale wherein shee inclineth to the Stepdame especially since the particulars are so few as rather requisite Antidotes against idlenesse to rouse vp industry then any great cause of much distaste much lesse despaire and of those to speake troth there are onely two viz. the Winds and the Wormes especially in the Spring and Autumne and thus conditioned as yet we will let rest these small Ilands in the midst of this mightie and maine Ocean so inuironed on euery side by infinite numbers of vncertaine scattered Rocks lying shallowly hid vnder the surface of the water a league two three foure or fiue to Sea to the which aduantagers added by art as hereafter you shall heare at large and finde described in the Map It may well be concluded to be the most impregnable place in the world and although the Amber Greece Pearles nor Tobacco are of that quantity and certainty to be relied vpon to gaine wealth yet by practise and experience they finde by Silke Saffron Indico Madar Sugar-canes Wine Oile and such like great profit may be expected yet were those hopelesse in regard of their conueniency to nourish and maintaine themselues and releeue them shall visit them with wood water and other necessaries besides what an eye-sore they are already becommed to them that haue them not and how
deare and pretious to them that haue them I thinke none will deny but they are well worth the keeping and so we will proceed to the accidents that befell the first finders also the proceedings of the first Planters and their successors Master Norrod Thomas Sparkes and diuers others A briefe relation of the shipwracke of Henry May. HOw these Iles came by the name of Bermudas or the infinite number of blacke Hogs or so fearefull to the world that many called them the I le of Deuils that all men did shun as Hell and perdition I will not expostulate nor trouble your patiences with those vncertaine antiquities further then thus our men found diuers crosses peeces of Spanish monies here and there Two or three wracks also they found by certaine inscriptions to bee some Spanish some Dutch some French but the greatest rumour is that a Spanish ship called Bermudas was there cast away carrying Hogges to the West-Indies that swam a shore and there increased how the Spaniards escaped is vncertaine but they say from that ship those Iles were first called Bermudas which tilt then for six thousand yeares had beene namelesse But the first English-man that was euer in them was one Henry May a worthy Mariner that went with Captaine Lancaster to the East-Indies 1591. and in their returne by the West-Indies being in some distresse sent this Henry May for England by one Mounsier de la Barbotier to acquaint the Merchants with their estate The last of Nouember saith May we departed from Laguna in Hispaniola and the seuenteenth of December following we were cast away vpon the North-west of the Bermudas the Pilots about noone made themselues Southwards of the Iles twelue leagues and demanded of the Captaine their Wine of hight as out of all danger which they had but it seeme they were either drunke or carelesse of their charge for through their negligences a number of good men were cast away I being but a stranger amongst fiftie and odde French-men it pleased God to appoint me to be one of them should be saued In this extremity we made a raft which we towed with our Boat there were but six and twentie of vs saued and I seeing scarce roome for the one halfe durst not passe in amongst them till the Captaine called me along with him leauing the better halfe to the seas mercy that day we rowed till within two houres of night ere we could land being neere dead with thirst euery man tooke his way to seeke fresh water at length by searching amongst many weeds we found some raine water but in the maine are many faire Baies where we had enough for digging Now it pleased God before our ship split we saued our Carpenters tooles some Nailes Sailes and Tacklings wherewith we went roundly to worke and built a Barke of eighty tunues In stead of Pitch we made Lime mixed with Tortoise oyle and as the Carpenters calked her I and another paied the seames with this plaster which being in Aprill became quickly dry and as hard as a stone In Aprill it was so hot we feared our water would faile two great Chests wee made which we calked as our ship those we stowed on each side our maine Mast filled them with water and thirtie liue Tortoises wee found many Hogges but so leane wee could not eat them the tops of the Palmetaberries was our bread and the iuyce we got out of the trees we cut downe our drinke and of the leaues which are more then an Ell long we couered our Cabens made our beds and found many of those prouisions as is related but little foule weather The eleuenth of May it pleased God to set vs cleere of the I le after wee had liued there fiue moneths and the twentieth wee fell with Cape Britton neere New found Land where refreshing our selues with wood and water and such things as we could get of the Saluages it seemed a good Countrey but we staied not past foure houres before we set saile for the banke of New found land where wee met many ships but not any would take in a man of vs vntill it pleased God we met a Barke of Fawmothe which receiued vs for a little time and with her we tooke a French ship wherein I left Captaine de la Barbotier my deare friend and all his Company and in August arriued at Falmouth in this honest English Barke 1594. Written by me Henry May. The first English ship knowne to haue beene cast away vpon the Bermudas 1609. From the relation of Mr. Iordan Master Iohn Euens Master Henry Shelly and diuers others YOu haue heard that when Captaine Smith was Gouernor of Virginia there were nine ships sent with Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers and Captaine Nuport with fiue hundred people to take in the old Commission and rectifie a new gouernment they set saile in May and in the height of thirty degrees of Northerly latitude they were taken with an extreme storme or rather a part of Hericano vpon the fiue and twentieth of Iuly which as they write did not onely separate them from the Fleet but with the violent working of the Seas their ship became so shaken torne and leake she receiued so much water as couered two tire of Hogsheads aboue the ballace that they stood vp to the middles with Buckets Baricos and Kettles to baile out the water Thus bailing and pumping three daies and three nights without intermission and yet the water seemed rather to increase then diminish in so much that being all vtterly spent with labour were euen resolued without any hope to shut vp the hatches and commit themselues to the mercy of the Sea which is said to be mercilesse or rather to the mercy of Almighty God whose mercy farre exceeds all his workes seeing no sense or hope in mans apprehension but presently to sinke some hauing some good and comfortable waters fetched them and dranke one to another as taking their last leaues vntill a more happy and a more ioyfull meeting in a more blessed world when it pleased God out of his most gracious and mercifull prouidence so to direct and guide their ship for her most aduantage That Sir George Somers all this time sitting vpon the poupe scarce taking leisure to eat nor sleepe couing the ship to keepe her as vpright as he could otherwaies she must long ere that needs haue foundered most wishedly and happily descried land whereupon he most comfortably incouraged them to follow their worke many of them being fast asleepe this vnlooked for welcome newes as if it had bin a voice from heauen hurrieth them all aboue hatches to looke for that they durst scarce beleeue so that improuidently forsaking that taske which imported no lesse then their liues they gaue so dangerous aduantage to their greedy enemy the salt water which still entred at the large breaches of their poore wooden castle as that in gaping after life they had well-nigh
not onely to bee assaulted but betrayed and murthered in our owne security ere wee will perceiue it May not the miserable ruine of Constantinople their impregnable walls riches and pleasures last taken by the Turke which were then but a bit in comparison of their mightinesse now remember vs of the effects of priuate couetousnesse at which time the good Emperour held himselfe rich enough to haue such rich subiects so formall in all excesse of vanity all kinde of delicacy and prodigality his pouerty when the Turke besieged the Citizens whose merchandizing thoughts were onely to get wealth little conceiuing the desperat resolution of a valiant expert enemy left the Emperour so long to his conclusions hauing spent all he had to pay his young raw discontented Souldiers that suddenly he they and their City were all a prey to the deuouring Turke and what they would not spare for the maintenance of them who aduentured their liues to defend them did serue onely their enemies to torment them their friends and Country and all Christendome to this present day Let this lamentable example remember you that are rich seeing there are such great theeues in the world to rob you not grudge to lend some proportion to breed them that haue little yet willing to learne how to defend you for it is too late when the deed is doing The Romans estate hath beene worse then this for the meere couetousnesse and extortion of a few of them so moued the rest that not hauing any imploiment but contemplation their great iudgements grew to so great malice as themselues were sufficient to destroy themselues by faction let this moue you to imbrace imployment for those whose educations spirits and iudgements want but your purses not only to preuent such accustomed dangers but also to gaine more thereby then you haue and you fathers that are either so foolishly fond or so miserably couetous or so wilfully ignorant or so negligently carelesse as that you will rather maintaine your children in idle wantonnesse till they grow your masters or become so basely vnkinde that they wish nothing but your deaths so that both sorts grow dissolute and although you would wish them any where to escape the Gallowes and ease your cares though they spend you fiere one two or three hundred pound a yeere you would grudge to giue halfe so much in aduenture with them to obtaine an estate which in a small time but with a little assistance of your prouidence might bee better then your owne but if an Angell should tell you any place yet vnknowne can affoord such fortunes you would not beleeue it no more then Columbus was beleeued there was any such land as is now the well knowne abounding America much lesse such large Regions are yet vnknowne as well in America as in Africa and Asia and Terra iâ—cognita I haue not beene so ill bred but I haue tasted of plenty and pleasure as well as want and misery nor doth necessity yet or occasion of discontent force me to these endeuours nor am I ignorant what small thankes I shall haue for my paines or that many would haue the world imagine them to bee of great iudgement that can but blemish these my designes by their witty obiections and detractions yet I hope my reasons with my deeds will so preuaile with some that I shall not want imploiment in these affaires to make the most blinde see his owne senselesnesse and incredulity hoping that gaine will make them affect that which Religion Charity and the common good cannot It were but a poore deuice in mee to deceiue my selfe much more the King and State my Friends and Country with these inducements which seeing his Maiesty hath giuen permission I wish all sorts of worthy honest industrious spirits would vnderstand and if they desire any further satisfaction I will doe my best to giue it not to perswade them to goe onely but goe with them not leaue them there but liue with them there I will not say but by ill prouiding and vndue managing such courses may bee taken may make vs miserable enough but if I may haue the execution of what I haue proiected if they want to eat let them eat or neuer disgest mee If I performe what I say I desire but that reward out of the gaines may sute my paines quality and condition and if I abuse you with my tongue take my head for satisfaction If any dislike at the yeeres end defraying their charge by my consent they should freely returne I feare not want of company sufficient were it but knowne what I know of these Countries and by the proofe of that wealth I hope yeerely to returne if God please to blesse me from such accidents as are beyond my power in reason to preuent for I am not so simple to thinke that euer any other motiue then wealth will euer erect there a common wealth or draw company from their ease and humors at home to stay in New-England to effect my purposes And lest any should thinke the toile might be insupportable though these things may bee had by labour and diligence I assure my selfe there are who delight extremely in vaine pleasure that take much more paines in England to enioy it then I should doe here to gaine wealth sufficient and yet I thinke they should not haue halfe such sweet content for our pleasure here is still gaines in England charges and losse here nature and liberty affoords vs that freely which in England we want or it costeth vs deerely What pleasure can bee more then being tired with any occasion a shore in planting Vines Fruits or Herbes in contriuing their owne grounds to the pleasure of their owne minds their Fields Gardens Orchards Buildings Ships and other workes c. to recreate themselues before their owne doores in their owne Boats vpon the Sea where man woman and childe with a small hooke and line by angling may take diuers sorts of excellent Fish at their pleasures and is it not pretty sport to pull vp two pence six pence and twelue pence as fast as you can hale and vere a line hee is a very bad Fisher cannot kill in one day with his hooke and line one two or three hundred Cods which dressed and dryed if they bee sold there for ten shillings a hundred though in England they will giue more then twenty may not both seruant master and Merchant be well content with this gaine if a man worke but three daies in seuen hee may get more then hee can spend vnlesse hee will bee exceedingly excessiue Now that Carpenter Mason Gardiner Tailer Smith Sailer Forger or what other may they not make this a pretty recreation though they fish but an houre in a day to take more then they can eat in a weeke or if they will not eat it because there is so much better choise yet sell it or change it with the Fisher-men or Merchants for any thing you
a labyrinth of trouble though the greatest of the burden lay-on me and a few of my particular friends I was furnished with a ship of two hundred tunnes and another of fiftie But ere I had sailed one hundred and twentie leagues she brake all her Masts pumping each watch fiue or six thousand strokes onely her spret-saile remained to spoone before the winde till we had re-accommodated a Iury-mast to returne for Plimoth or founder in the Seas My Vice-Admirall being lost not knowing of this proceeded her voyage now with the remainder of those prouisions I got out againe in a small Barke of sixtie tuns with thirty men for this of two hundred and prouision for seuentie which were the sixteene before named and foureteene other Sailers for the ship with those I set saile againe the foure and twentieth of Iune where what befell me because my actions and writings are so publike to the world enuy still seeking to scandalize my endeuours and seeing no power but death can stop the chat of ill tongues nor imagination of mens minds lest my owne relations of those hard euents might by some constructors bee made doubtfull I haue thought it best to insert the examinations of those proceedings taken by Sir Lewis Stukeley a worthy Knight and Vice-Admirall of Deuonshire which was as followeth The Examination of Daniel Baker late Steward to Captaine Iohn Smith in the returne of Plimoth taken before Sir Lewis Stukeley Knight the eighth of December 1615. THE effect in briefe was this being chased by one Fry an English Pirat Edward Chambers the Master Iohn Miller his Mate Thomas Digby the Pylot and diuers others importuned him to yeeld much swaggering wee had with them more then the Pirats who agreed vpon such faire conditions as we desired which if they broke he vowed to sinke rather then be abused Strange they thought it that a Barke of threescore tuns with foure guns should stand vpon such termes they being eightie expert Sea-men in an excellent ship of one hundred and fortie tuns and thirty six cast Peeces and Murderers But when they knew our Captaine so many of them had beene his Souldiers and they but lately runne from Tunis where they had stolne this ship wanted victuall and in combustion amongst themselues would haue yeelded all to his protection or wafted vs any whither but those mutinies occasioned vs to reiect their offer which afterward we all repented For at Fiall we met two French Pirats the one of two hundred tuns the other thirty no disgrace would cause our mutiners fight till the Captaine offered to blow vp the ship rather then yeeld till hee had spent all his powder so that together by the eares we went and at last got cleere of them for all their shot At Flowers we were againe chased with foure French men of warre the Admirall one hundred and fortie tuns and ninety men well armed the rest good ships and as well prouided much parly we had but vowing they were Rochilers and had a Commission from the King onely to secure true men and take Portugals Spaniards and Pirats and as they requested our Captaine went to shew his Commission which was vnder the broad Seale but neither it nor their vowes they so much respected but they kept him rifled our ship manned her with French men and dispersed vs amongst their Fleet within fiue or six daies they were increased to eight or nine saile At last they surrendred vs our ship and most of our prouisions the defects they promised the next day to supply and did Notwithstanding there was no way but our mutiners would for England though we were as neere New England till the major part resolued with our Captaine to proceed But the Admirall sending his Boat for our Captaine they espying a Saile presently gaue chase whereby our mutiners finding an opportunitie in the night ran away and thus left our Captaine in his Cap Bretches and Wast-coat alone among the French men his clothes armes and what he had our mutiners shared among them and with a false excuse faining for feare lest he should turne man of warre they returned for Plimoth fifteene of vs being Land-men not knowing what they did Daniel Cage Edward Stalings Walter Chisell Dauid Cooper Robert Miller and Iohn Partridge vpon oath affirmes this for truth before the Vice-Admirall Now the cause why the French detained mee againe was the suspition this Chambers and Minter gaue them that I would reuenge my selfe vpon the Banke or in New found land of all the French I could there encounter and how I would haue fired the ship had they not ouer-perswaded me and that if I had but againe my Armes I would rather sinke by them then they should haue from me but the value of a Bisket and many other such like tales to catch but opportunitie in this manner to leaue me and thus they returned to Plimoth and perforce with the French men I thus proceeded Being a fleet of eight or nine saile we watched for the West-Indies fleet till ill weather separated vs from the other eight still wee spent our time about the Iles of the Assores where to keepe my perplexed thoughts from too much meditation of my miserable estate I writ this Discourse thinking to haue sent it to you of his Maiesties Councell by some ship or other for I saw their purpose was to take all they could At last we were chased by one Captaine Barra an English Pirat in a small ship with some twelue Peece of Ordnance about thirty men and neere all starued They fought by courtesie releefe of vs who gaue them such faire promises as at last they betraied Captaine Wollistone his Lieutenant and foure or fiue of his men aboord vs and then prouided to take the rest perforce Now my part was to be prisoner in the Gun-roome and not to speake to any of them vpon my life yet had Barra knowledge what I was Then Barra perceiuing well those French intents made ready to fight and Wollistone as resolutely regarded not their threats which caused vs demurre vpon the matter longer some sixteene houres and then returned them againe Captaine Wollistone and all their Prisoners and some victuall also vpon a small composition But whilest we were bartering thus with them a Caruill before our faces got vnder the Castle of Gratiosa from whence they beat vs with their Ordnance The next wee tooke was a small English man of Poole from New found land the great Cabben at this present was my prison from whence I could see them pillage these poore men of all that they had and halfe their fish when hee was gone they sold his poore clothes at the maine Mast by an out-cry which scarce gaue each man seuen pence a peece Not long after we tooke a Scot fraught from Saint Michaels to Bristow he had better fortune then the other for hauing but taken a Boats loading of Sugar Marmelade Suckets and such
Yarmouth where they sell their fish for Gold and fifteene yeeres agoe they had more then an hundred and sixteene thousand Sea-faring-men These fishing ships doe take yeerely two hundred thousand last of fish twelue barrels to a last which amounts to 300000. pounds by the fisher mens price that 14. yeeres agoe did pay for their tenths three hundred thousand pound which venting in Pumerland Sprustia Denmarke Lefeland Russia Swethland Germany Netherlands England or else where c. makes their returnes in a yeere about threescore and ten hundred thousand pounds which is seuen millions and yet in Holland there is neither matter to build ships nor merchandize to set them forth yet by their industry they as much increase as other nations decay but leauing these vncertainties as they are of this I am certaine That the coast of England Scotland and Ireland the North Sea with Island and the Sound Newfound-land and Cape Blanke doe serue all Europe as well the land townes as ports and all the Christian shipping with these sorts of staple fish which is transported from whence it is taken many a thousand mile viz. Herring salt Fish Poore-Iohn Sturgion Mullit Tunny Porgos Cauiare Buttargo Now seeing all these sorts of fish or the most part of them may be had in a land more fertill temperate and plentifull of all necessaries for the building of ships boats and houses and the nourishment of man the seasons are so proper and the fishings so neere the habitations we may there make that New-England hath much aduantage of the most of those parts to serue all Europe farre cheaper then they can who at home haue neither wood salt nor food but at great rates at Sea nothing but what they carry in their ships an hundred or two hundred leagues from the habitation But New-Englands fishings is neere land where is helpe of Wood Water Fruits Fowles Corne or other refreshings needfull and the Terceras Mederas Canaries Spaine Portugall Prouaues Sauoy Sicillia and all Italy as conuenient markets for our dry fish greene fish Sturgion Mullit Cauiare and Buttargo as Norway Swethland Lâ—â—tuania or Germany for their Herring which is heare also in abundance for taking they returning but Wood Pitch Tar Sope-ashes Cordage Flax Wax and such like commodities wee Wines Oiles Sugars Silkes and such merchandize as the Straits offoord whereby our profit may equalize theirs besides the increase of shipping and Marriners and for proofe hereof In the yeere of our Lord 1614. you haue read how I went from London also the next yeere 1615. how foure good ships went from London and I with two more from Plimoth with all our accidents successes and returnes in the yeere 1616. ere I returned from France the Londoners for all their losse by the Turkes sent foure ships more foure more also went from Plimoth after I returned from France I was perswaded againe to goe to Plimoth with diuers of my friends with one hundred pound for our aduentures besides our charges but wee found all things as vntoward as before and all their great promises nothing but aire yet to prepare the voyage against the next yeere hauing acquainted a great part of the Nobility with it and ashamed to see the Prince his Highnesse till I had done some what worthy his Princely view I spent that Summer in visiting the Cities and Townes of Bristoll Exeter Bastable Bodnam Perin Foy Milborow Saltash Dartmouth Absom Tattnesse and the most of the Gentry in Cornewall and Deuonshire giuing them Bookes and Maps shewing how in six moneths the most of those ships had made their voyages and some in lesse and with what good successe by which incitation they seemed so well contented as they promised twenty saile of ships should goe with mee next yeere and in regard of my paines charge and former losses the westerne Commissioners in behalfe of themselues and the rest of the Company and them hereafter that should be ioyned to them contracted with me by articles indented vnder our hands to be Admirall of that Country during my life and in the renewing of their Letters-Patents so to be nominated Halfe the fruits of our endeuours to be theirs the rest our owne being thus ingaged now the businesse is made plaine and likely to prosper some of them would not onely forget me and their promises but also obscure me as if I had neuer beene acquainted in the businesse but I am not the first they haue deceiued There was foure good ships prepared at Plimoth but by reason of their disagreement the season so wasted as onely two went forward the one being of two hundred tunnes returned well fraught to Plimoth and her men in health within fiue moneths the other of fourescore tunnes went for bilbow with drie fish and made a good returne In this voyage Edward Rowcroft alias Stallings a valiant Souldier that had beene with me in Virginia and was with me also when I was betrayed by the French was sent againe in those ships and hauing some wrong offered him there by a French man he tooke him and as he writ to me went with him to Virginia with fish to trade with them for such commodities as they might spare he had not past ten or twelue men and knew both those countries well yet he promised me the next spring to meet me in New-England but the ship and he both perished in Virginia This yeere againe diuers ships intending to goe from Plimoth so disagreed there went but one of two hundred tunnes who stayed in the Country about six weeks which with eight and thirty men and boies had her fraught which she sold at the first penny for 2100. besides the Furres so that euery poore Sailer that had but a single share had his charges and sixteene pound ten shillings for his seuen moneths worke Master Thomas Diâ—m-ire an vnderstanding and industrious Gentleman that was also with mâ— amongst the French men hauing liued about a yeere in Newfoundland returning to Plimoth went for New-England in this ship so much approued of this Country that he staied there with fiue or six men in a little Boat finding two or three French men amongst the Saluages who had lost their ship augmented his company with whom he ranged the Coast to Virginia where he was kindly welcommed and well refreshed thence returned to New-England againe where hauing beene a yeere in his backe returne to Virginia he was so wounded by the Saluages he died vpon it let not men attribute these their great aduentures and vntimely deaths to vnfortunatenesse but rather wonder how God did so long preserue them with so small meanes to doe so much leauing the fruits of their labours to be an incouragement to those our poore vndertakings and as warnings for vs not to vndertake such great workes with such small meanes and this for aduantage as they writ vnto me that God had laid this Country open for vs and slaine the most part of the inhabitants by ciuill warres and a
mortall disease for where I had seene one hundred or two hundred Saluages there is scarce ten to be found and yet not any one of them touched with any sicknesse but one poore French man that died They say this plague vpon them thus sore fell It was because they pleas'd not Tantum well From the West Country to make triall this yeere onely to fish is gone six or seuen saile three of which I am certainly informed made so good a voyage that euery Sailer that had a single share had twenty pound for his seuen moneths work which is more then in twenty moneths he should haue gotten had he gone for wages any where Now although these former ships haue not made such good voiages as they expected by sending opinionated vnskilfull men that had not experienced diligence to saue that they tooke nor take that there was which now patience and practice hath brought to a reasonable kinde of perfection in despight of all detractors and calumniations the Country yet hath satisfied all the defect hath beene in their vsing or abusing it not in it selfe nor me But Adue desert for fortune makes prouision For Knaues and Fooles and men of base condition Now all these proofes and this relation I now called New-Englands triall I caused two or three thousand of them to be printed one thousand with a great many Maps both of Virginia and New-England I presented to thirty of the chiefe Companies in London at their Halls desiring either generally or particularly them that would to imbrace it and by the vse of a stocke of fiue thousand pound to ease them of the superfluity of the most of their companies that had but strength and health to labour neere a yeere I spent to vnderstand their resolutions which was to me a greater toile and torment then to haue beene in New-England about my businesse but with bread and water and what I could get there by my labour but inconclusion seeing nothing would be effected I was contented as well with this losse of time and charge as all the rest A Plantation in New-England VPon these inducements some few well disposed Gentlemen and Merchants of London and other places prouided two ships the one or a hundred and threescore tunnes the other of threescore and ten they left the Coast of England the two and thirtieth of August with about a hunred and twenty persons but the next day the lesser ship sprung a leake that forced their returne to Plimoth where discharging her and twenty passengers with the greater ship and one hundred passengers besides Sailers they set saile againe the sixt of September and the ninth of Nouember fell with Cape Iames but being pestred nine weekes in this leaking vnwholsome ship lying wet in their Cabins most of them grew very weake and weary of the Sea then for want of experience ranging two and againe six weekes before they found a place they liked to dwell on forced to lie on the bare ground without couerture forty of them died and threescore were left in very weake estate at the ships comming away about the fifth of Aprill following and arriued in England the sixth of May. Though the Harbour be good the shore is so shallow they were forced to wade a great way vp to the knees in water vsed that that did them much hurt little fish they found but Whailes and a great kinde of Muftell so fat that few did eat of them that were not sicke these miseries occasioned some discord and gaue some appearance of faction but all was so reconciled that they vnited themselues by common consent vnder their hands to a kinde of combination of a body politike by vertue whereof to inact and constitute lawes and ordinances and Officers from time to time as should bee thought most conuenient for their generall good Sixteene or seuenteene daies they could doe little for want of their Shallop which was amending yet Captaine Miles Standish vnto whom was ioyned in Councell William Bradfor Stephen Hopkins and Edward Tilly went well armed a shore and by that time they had gone a mile met fiue or six Indians that fled into the Woods we traced them by the footing eight or ten miles then the night approaching we made a fire by which we lay that night and the next morning followed the Saluages by their tract thinking to finde their habitations but by the way we found a Deere amongst many faire springs of water where we refreshed our selues then we went a shore and made a fire that they at the ship might perceiue where we were and so marched to a place where we supposed was a Riuer by the way we saw many Vines Saxefras haunts of Deere Fowle and some fiâ—ty Acres of plaine ground had beene planted by the Indians where were some of their graues from thence we followed a path that brought vs through three or foure fields had beene planted that yeere in one graue we digged wee found a basket or two of Indian Corne so much as we could carry we tooke with vs the rest we buried as we found it and so proceeded to the place we intended but we found it not such a Harbour as we expected and so we returned till the night caused vs take vp our lodging vnder a tree where it rained six or seuen houres the next morning as we wandred we passed by a tree where a young sprig was bowed downe ouer a bough and some Acornes strewed vnder it which was one of their Gins to a catch a Deere and as we were looking at it Bradford was suddenly caught by the leg in a noosed Rope made as artificially as ours as we passed we see a lease of Bucks sprung some Partriges and great flocks of wilde Geese and Ducks and so we returned well wearied to our ship Master Iones our Master with foure and thirty men also went vp and downe in the frost and snow two or three daies in the extremity of the cold but could finde no harbour only among the old graues we got some ten bushels of Corne some Beanes and a bottle of Oile and had we not thus haply found it we had had no Corne for seede so that place we euer called Corne-hill the next day Master Iones with the Corne and our weakest men returned to the Ship but eighteene of vs quartered there that night and in the morning following the paths wee found in the Snow in a field a greater hill or graue then the rest diging it wee found first a Mat vnder that a boord three quarters long painted and carued with three Tyns at the top like a Croner betweene the Mats also were Bowles Traies and Dishes and such trash at length we found a faire new Mat and vnder that two bundles the one biggar the other lesse in the greater wee found a great quantity of fine red powder like a kinde of imbalmement and yeelded a strong but no offensiue smell with the bones and
small diuisions will effect little but such miserable conclusions as both the French and we too long haue tried to our costs Now commonly 200000. fish will load a ship of 100. tunnes in New-found land but halfe so many will neere doe it in New-England which carried to Toloune or Merselus â—here the custome is small and the Kintall lesse then 90. English pounds weight and the prise when least 12. shillings the Kintall which at that rate amounts to 1320. l. starling and the ship may either there be discharged or imployed as hath beene said to refraught for England so that the next yeere she may be ready to goe her fishing voyage againe at a farre cheaper rate then before To this adde but 12. tuns of traine oile which deliuered in New found land is 10. l. the tun makes 120. l. then it is hard if there be not 10000. of Coâ—â—fish which also sold there at 5. l. the 1000. makes 50. l. which brought to England in somes places yeelds neere halfe so much more but â—f at Mersâ—lus it be sold for 16. d. the Kentall as commonly it is and much dearer it amounts to 1760. l. and if the Boats follow the fishing â—ll the 15. of October they may take 80000. more which with their traine in Nâ—w-found land at 4. l. the 1000. will amount to 320. l. which added to 1320. l. with 120. l. for Oile and 10000. of Cor-fish 50. l. and the ouerplus at Merselus which will be 440. l. make the totall 2250. l. which diuided in three parts according to their custome the Victualer hath for the former particulars amounting to 420. l. 751. l. so all the charge defraied hee gaines 331. l. 11. s. then for the fraught of the ship there is 751. l. and so much for the Master and his company which comparing with the voiages hath beene made to New-England you may easily finde which is the better though both bee good But now experience hath taught them at New-Plimoth that in Aprill there is a fish much like a Herring that comes vp into the small Brookes to spawne and where the water is not knee deepe they will presse vp through your hands yea though you beat at them with Cudgels and in such abundance as is incredible which they take with that facility they manure their land with them when they haue occasion after those the Cod also presseth in such plenty euen into the very Harbours they haue caught some in their armes and hooke them so fast three men oft loadeth a Boat of two tuns in two houres where before they vsed most to fish in deepe water The present estate of New-Plimoth AT New-Plimoth there is about 180 persons some cattell and goats but many swine and poultry 32 dwelling houses whereof 7 were burnt the last winter and the value of fiue hundred pounds in other goods the Towne is impailed about halfe a mile compasse In the towne vpon a high Mount they haue a Fort well built with wood lome and stone where is planted their Ordnance Also a faire Watch-tower partly framed for the Sentinell the place it seemes is healthfull for in these last three yeeres notwithstanding their great want of most necessaries there hath not one died of the first planters they haue made a salt worke and with that salt preserue the fish they take and this yeare hath fraughted a ship of 180. tunnes The Gouernour is one Mr. William Bradford their Captaine Miles Standish a bred Souldier in Holland the chiefe men for their assistance is Master Isaak Alderton and diuers others as occasion serueth their Preachers are Master William Bruster and Master Iohn Layford The most of them liue together as one family or houshold yet euery man followeth his trade and profession both by sea and land and all for a generall stocke out of which they haue all their maintenance vntill there be a diuident betwixt the Planters and the Aduenturers Those Planters are not seruants to the Aduenturers here but haue onely councells of directions from them but no iniunctions or command and all the masters of families are partners in land or whatsoeuer setting their labours against the stocke till certaine yeeres be expired for the diuision they haue young men and boies for their Apprentises and seruants and some of them speciall families as Ship-carpenters Salt-makers Fish-masters yet as seruants vpon great wages The Aduenturers which raised the stocke to begin and supply this Plantation were about 70. some Gentlemen some Merchants some handy-crafts men some aduenturing great summes some small as their estates and affection serued The generall stocke already imploied is about 7000. l. by reason of which charge and many crosses many of them would aduenture no more but others that knowes so great a designe cannot bee effected without both charge losse and crosses are resolued to goe forward with it to their powers which deserue no small commendations and encouragement These dwell most about London they are not a corporation but knit together by a voluntary combination in a society without constraint or penalty aiming to doe good to plant Religion they haue a President Treasurer euery yeere newly chosen by the most voices who ordereth the affaires of their Courts and meetings and with the assent of the most of them vndertaketh all ordinary businesses but in more weighty affaires the assent of the whole Company is required There hath beene a fishing this yeere vpon the Coast about 50. English ships and by Cape Anne there is a Plantation a beginning by the Dorchester men which they hold of those of New-Plimoth who also by them haue set vp a fishing worke some talke there is some other pretended Plantations all whose good proceedings the eternal God protect and preserue And these haue beene the true proceedings and accidents in thosâ— Plantations Now to make a particular relation of all the acts and orders in the Courts belonging vnto them of the anihilating old Patents and procuring new with the charge paines and arguments the reasons of such changes all the treaties consultations orations and dissentions about the sharing and diuiding those large territories confirming of Counsailers electing all sorts of Officers directions Letters of aduice and their answers disputations about the Magazines and Impositions suâ—ers for Patents positions for Freedomes and confirmations with complaints of iniuries here and also the mutinies examinations arraignements executions and the cause of the so oft reuolt of the Saluages at large as many would haue had and it may be some doe expect it would make more quarrels then any of them would willingly answer such a volume as would tire any wise man but to read the contents for my owne part I rather feare the vnpartiall Reader wil thinke this rather more tedious then necessary but he that would be a practitioner in those affaires I hope will allow them not only needfull but expedient but how euer if you please to beare with