were there taken to the vse of your Maiestie by vertue of a Commission vnder the Broad Seale of the Admiraltie directed to me RICHARD WHITBOVRNE IT is to be seene by the Cosmographers Maps and well approued that the New-found-land is an Iland bordering vpon the Continent of America from which it is diuided by the Sea so farre distant as England is from the neerest part of France lieth betweene 46 and 53 degrees North-latitude It is neere as spacious as Ireland and lyes neere the course that ships vsually hold in their returne from the West-Indies and neere halfe the way betweene Ireland and Virginea I shall not much neede to commend the wholesome temperature of that Countrey seeing the greatest part thereof lieth aboue 3 degrees neerer to the South then any part of England doth And it hath bin wel approued by some of our Nation who haue liued there these many yeeres that euen in the winter it is as pleasant and healthfull as England is And although the example of one Summer be no certaine rule for other yeeres yet thus much also can I truly affirme that in the yeere 1615 of the many thousands of English French Portugals and others that were then vpon that Coast amongst whom I sailed to and fro more then one hundred leagues I neither saw nor heard in all that trauell of any man or boy of either of these Nations that dyed there during the whole voyage neither was so much as any one of them sicke The naturall Inhabitants of the Countrey as they are but few in number so are they something rude and sauage people hauing neither knowledge of God nor liuing vnder any kinde of ciuill gouernment In their habits customes manners they resemble the Indians of the Continent from whence I suppose they come they liue altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey which is seldome frequented by the English But the French and Biscaines who resort thither yeerely for the Whale-fishing and also for the Cod-fish report them to be an ingenuous and tractable people being well vsed they are ready to assist them with great labour and patience in the killing cutting and boyling of Whales and making the Traine-oyle without expectation of other reward then a little bread or some such small hire All along the coast of this Countrey there are many spacious and excellent Bayes some of them stretching into the land one towards another more then twenty leagues On the East side of the land are the Bayes of Trinity and Conception which stretch themselues towards the South-west Tor Bay and Capelin Bay lying also on the East stretch toward the West The Bayes of Trepassey S. Mary Borrell and Plaisance on the South part of the land extend their armes toward the North The great Bay of S. Peters lying on the Southwest side of the land and East Southerly from the great Riuer of Canady being about twenty leagues distant the same stretcheth toward the East And here I pray you note y t the bottoms of these Bayes doe meete together within the compasse of a small circuit by meanes whereof our men passing ouer land from Bay to Bay may with much facilitie discouer the whole Countrey From the Bay of S. Peter round about the West-side of the land till you come to the grand Bay which lyeth on the North-side of the Countrey and so from thence till you come round backe to Trinity Bay are abundance of large and excellent Bayes which are the lesse knowne because not frequented by the English who seldome fish to the Northward of Trinity Bay And it is to be obserued that round about the Coast and in the Bayes there are many small Ilands none of them further off then a league from the land both faire and fruitfull neither doth any one part of the world affoord greater store of good Harbors more free from dangers or more commodious then are there built by the admirable workmanship of God I will only instance two or three of the chiefest for some speciall reasons Trinity Harbour lyes neere in 49 degrees North-latitude being very commodiously seated to receiue shipping in reasonable weather both to anchor in and from thence to saile towards either the East West or South It hath three Armes or Riuers long and large enough for many hundred saile of Ships to moare fast at Anchor neere a mile from the Harbours mouth close adioyning to the Riuers side and within the Harbour is much open land well stored with grasse sufficient Winter and Summer to maintaine great store of ordinary cattell besides Hogs and Goates if such beasts were carried thither and it standeth North most of any Harbor in the land where our Nation practiseth fishing It is neere vnto a great Bay lying on the North-side of it called the Bay of Flowers to which place no Shippes repaire to fish partly in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying euen with the water and full of danger but chiefly as I coniecture because the Sauage people of that Countrey doe there inhabite many of them secretly euery yeere come into Trinity Bay and Harbour in the night time purposely to steale Sailes Lines Hatchets Hookes Kniues and such like And this Bay is not three English miles ouer land from Trinity Bay in many places which people if they might be reduced to the knowledge of the true Trinity indeed no doubt but it would be a most sweet and acceptable sacrifice to God an euerlasting honour to your Maiesty and the heauenliest blessing to those poore Creatures who are buried in their owne superstitious ignorance The taske thereof would proue easie if it were but well begun and constantly seconded by industrious spirits and no doubt but God himselfe would set his hand to reare vp and aduance so noble so pious and so Christian a building The bottome of the Bay of Trinity lyeth within foure leagues through the land Southwest Southerly from Trinity as by experience is found and it comes neere vnto the Bay of Trepassey and the bottome of some other Bayes as I haue already touched before And what commodities may thereby redound if some of your Maiesties Subiects were also once setled to plant neere vnto Trepassey being the South part of New-found-land where some ships vse yeerely to fish If therefore neere the Harbour of Trinity it were inhabited by some of your Maiesties Subiects I see no reason to the contrary but that a speedy and more certaine knowledge might be had of the Countrey by reason those sauage people are so neere who being politikely and gently handled much good might be wrought vpon them for I haue had apparant proofes of their ingenuous and subtile dispositions and that they are a people full of quicke and liuely apprehensions Trepassey in like manner is as commodious a Harbour lying in a more temperate climate almost in 46 degrees the like Latitude and is both faire and
by vertue of a graunt from the Patentees which people had remained there a whole yeere before I came neere or knew any of them and neuer applied themselues to any commendable thing no not so much as to make themselues an house to lodge in but lay in such cold and simple roomes all the winter as the Fishermen had formerly built there for their necessary occasions the yeere before those men arriued there Such persons are not fit to aduance your Maiesties intended worke but rather disgrace and hinder the same Therefore seeing those people that were so formerly sent to plant in the South part of the Countrey to bee so vnfit for that seruice as it is well knowne I grew out of heart to behold such abuse to be vsed by those that were so sent to plant Yet entring into consideration how iniurious I should be to God and as I did conceiue in my conscience trecherous to your Maiesty and my Countrey hauing once as it were laid hold on y e plough I should take it off and looke backe I did then incourage my retiring spirits notwithstanding all my former wrongs then sustained And although I found those people that were so formerly sent to plant so vnfit for that seruice I did not only consider of the fittest course whereby to aduance that work which was formerly so worthily intended but also truly and plainly to write this Discouery as now I haue how commodiously and beneficially it may be proceeded on and so shipped some of them to returne home againe and gaue others leaue to depart all excepting sixe only to whom I gaue directions for building an house and imploying themselues otherwise then formerly they had done vntill they heard from the Gentleman that sent them thither And so they liued there pleasantly all the next winter Now hauing laid open a commodious and beneficiall course how that Land may be peopled yet I suppose it may be questioned that if a fifth man of some ships or euery ship were so left in the Countrey that it will rather lessen the number of mariners that may be ready here at home to doe your Maiestie seruice then to increase them and so by misconceiuing therein your Maiesties intended Plantation may be hindred To which I answere that most ships which trade thither yeerely a fishing doe commonly carry in them euery fifth person that was neuer at Sea before or such as haue but little vnderstanding in their Compasse neither knowledge of Sea termes or what to doe in a ship and those men are yeerely hired by the Owners and Victuallers foorth of ships in those voyages and by the Master of the ship and the better sort of men for small wages who haue the benefit of their shares and those men doe serue euen so fitly for some purposes in those New-land voyages the first yeere as some of those men doe that haue bin there often So that by carrying thither yeerely euery fifth man such as were neuer there before there will be aboue 1000. Sea-men increased euery yeere by that trade and they being left there the winter will at times kill Deere and other beasts and also take store of fish and fowle for their prouision and it will harden them well to the Sea and at other times they may imploy themselues beneficially in Husbandry vpon the land as seruants ought to do So that whereas there goes now yeerely as the trade is aboue two hundred and fifty Saile of your Maiesties subiects ships with aboue fiue thousand men in them and being yeerely carried thither the fifth person that was neuer at Sea before there will be by that course increased aboue fiue thousand Sea-men in euery fiue yeeres and whereas now there is yeerely trading thither aboue two hundred and fifty Saile of ships there will be then in little time God blessing that trade aboue foure hundred Saile of your Maiesties subiects ships there imployed which may be a greater increase of wealth strength and power to your Maiestie and Kingdomes than now it is And although it be well knowne that the New-found-land yeeldeth yeerly such great blessings from God to maintain Christians yet many of our English Nation who in great fulnesse taste them doe there as it were tread them vnder their feete as may partly appeare by the following discourse For our Nation vpon their arriuall yeerly to that Countrey doe cut downe many of the best trees they can finde to build their stages and roomes withall for their necessary occasions hewing rinding and destroying many others that grow within a mile of the Sea where they vse to fish The rindes of these trees serue to couer their Stages and necessary roomes vvith turfes on them so that in fevv yeeres I feare that most of the good timber trees neere the Sea-side vvhere men vse to fish vvill be either felled spoyled or burned yet at our peoples departure from such roomes stages they vvill suffer but little thereof to stand vvhereby to doe any man seruice the yeere ensuing These are things lamentable to be suffered and great pitty that it is not redressed for no Nation else doth the like neither doe the Sauage people after such time as our Country-men come from thence either hurt or burne any thing of theirs thatz they leaue behinde them so that those trees and that timber might be conuerted to many seruiceable vses for the good of your Maiestie and your subiects Now I thinke good to make knowne partly what abuses be also offered to the Harbours and Rodes in New-found-land that are so beautifull and excellent ordained by God for ships to ride safe in at anchor as there are not better in any part of the world yet for all this beauty of theirs and the commodity that wee receiue by them these disorders diuers men doe there commit viz. All ships for euery voyage they make there take in many exceeding great stones therewith to presse their drie fish in their ships which worke being done they cast many of these stones into y e Harbors where they ride at Anchor which are to be seene lying in great heaps in some places within three fadome of water to the great indangering of ships and cables to the perill also both of mens liues and their goods and likely in time to choake vp or spoyle many excellent Harbours in that Countrey if prouision be not by your Maiesties high authoritie made to the contrary All these abuses are confessed in the briefe of the presentments that follow in the latter part of this booke the which being made knowne to the subiects that aduenture thither I am confident in my opinion that they should all desire your Maiestie that there may be some better gouernment established there than now it is and that such which plant there may not abuse or hinder any such which yeerely come thither a fishing whereby they should haue any iust cause to complaine the one against the other as now they doe
the whole voyage which will be abundantly recompenced vnto them in regard that they may then fish continually and securely many a daies fishing the more in euery voyage which now oftentimes they dare not doe And then these two Ships of warre and two Pinnaces so to be maintained by such a small contribution to be paid for their seruice at New-found-land in dry fish they will so scoure the Seas euery yeere going forth thitherward bound and likewise in their returne that no Pirate of any Nation durst come neere the Southerne parts of your Maiesties Kingdomes neither to lie in waite in the course sayling to and from the New-found-land for those that trade thither as yeerely heretofore they haue done and ouerthrowne many a mans voyage For which course wee haue the example of our neighbours the Hollanders who generally in all their trades but most specially in their fishing vpon your Maiesties Sea-coasts are attended with men of warre which are defrayed by a certaine contribution from those men in whose defence they are imployed And by this meanes the Marchants and Traders of Holland receiue farre greater assurance and benefit then if euery Marchants shippe should set themselues forth in warlike manner in their owne defence For besides the security they haue and sauing the charge which such prouisions would require they haue much the more roome in their Marchants ships for their Commodities And these ships thus sent to guard their Fleets which are called Wafters doe continually breede many seruiceable Sea-men not only Mariners but also good souldiers and fit Commanders that are well experienced how to command in Ships vpon all occasions for without such fit Commanders in good Ships there is but small hope of good seruice to be performed by them and if the New-found-land men may be thus guarded with two such Ships and two Pinnaces it would not only in little time breed many a Gentleman and others in them to be experienced how to command in ships vpon any occasion of seruice but also it will make your Maiesties subiects Ships that trade thither so strong that they neede not feare the greatest force that any Prince should at any time send thither to disturbe or hinder them neither in returning from thence vpon any occasion to doe your Maiestie seruice If after all this I should be demanded by those which know not the Countrey what other places in the Land are also fit to be peopled at first so well as the Harbors of Trepassey Trinity of which I haue already spoken wherby those which will aduenture thither may not be doubtfull to plant in other Habors although I haue first expressed thē for some speciall reasons as it may be well vnderstood the one of them lying North-most where our Nation vseth to fish neere the Sauages and the other lying on the South-most part of the Land and neere vnto the passages of diuers ships that saile yeerly to and from other places of the world as is already plainely shewed yet there are many other excellent good Harbors where our nation vseth to fish lying betweene them both which are very good for ships to moore fast at anchor and easily to be defended from enemies that shall at any time attempt to molest such as shall plant in them and better for fishing then either of the foresaid two Harbors are of which I will particularly expresse some of their names First the Harbor of Sant Iohns Foriland Formosa Agafort Harbor de Grace Renouze and diuers other good Harbors Bayes and Roades where there is good fishing and are fit places for ships to ride in the Summer time as it is already shewed that the bottomes of diuers Bayes that are expressed to be in this South part of the Land doe euen meete together within the compasse of a small circuit neere vnto the Bay of Trepassey So likewise not far from Trepassey which lyeth six leagues to the West from the South cape of the Land which is called Cape Derasse and sixe leagues to the North-ward of the said Cape lyeth the Harbor of Renouze which is a place easily to be defended there being at a low ebbe not 18. foot water fine sand yet in danger to be spoiled by the stones and ballast that are throwne into the same which are to be seene in great heapes when the water is cleare as commonly it is in a faire Sun-shining day These stones and ballast so throwne into the Harbors by Christians if there be not some better course taken therein it is to be sorrowed that the offenders are not seuerely punished Close adioyning to the Harbour of Renouze are aboue 200. Acres of good land that is cleere without Woods or Rocks and lieth commodiously to be ouerflowne with fresh Riuers in the Summer time with very little labour as I haue well obserued and within a mile further off from the said Harbours lye many hundred acres more of very good open land that are able to receiue and relieue many hundreds of Cattell and fit with little labour to be manured for Tillage There are yeerely neere vnto the said Harbour of Renouze great store of Deere seene and sometimes diuers of them haue been taken There is a man yet liuing that was once at New-found-land in a ship with me and he in one voyage did there neere vnto the Harbour of Renouze kill 18. very large and fat Deere as it is well knowne yet he went with his Peece but seldome for that purpose and would then haue killed many more if he might haue been spared from other labour to attend thereon whereby it may be well vnderstood that there is great store of Deeres flesh in that Countrey and no want of good fish good fowle good fresh water and store of wood c. From the said Harbour of Renouze it is not aboue ten miles ouer land to the Harbour of Trepassey and not farre from thence to the bottome of Trinity Bay and within three leagues vnto the Harbour of Renouze are three very good Harbours where our Nation vseth to fish which lie to the Northward of it Now whereas there haue been reports made of great cold in that Countrey by people that haue traded thither who I suppose neuer saw any other Countrey but onely that and their owne natiue soyle and such when they haue returned from thence one voyage though they neuer vnderstood or felt the nature and temperature of other Clymates neither consider the goodnesse of New-found-land as it is now partly made knowne haue giuen a great deale worse report of that Countrey then in reason they should and if such were but a little acquainted or would vnderstand of the great colde that is at times in Muscouia Sweidon Norway Spruceland Poland Denmarke and other Easterne and Northerne parts of the world where the people liue well and grow rich such ill reporters of New-found-land would alter their opinions And although the Ice is so great
pleasant and a wholesome Coast free from Rockes and Shelues so that of all other Harbours it lies the South-most of any Harbour in the land and most conueniently to receiue our shipping passing to and from Virginea and the Bermuda Ilands and also any other shipping that shall passe to and from the Riuer of Canady and the coast thereof because they vsually passe and so returne in the sight of the land of Trepassey and also for some other purposes as shall be partly declared in the following discourse But I will not insist vpon further particulars of Harbours in this place seeing our men that yeerely trade to that Coast know them to be as good and commodious Harbours as any other whatsoeuer The soyle of this Countrey in the valleys and sides of the mountaines is so fruitfull as that in diuers places there the Summer naturally produceth out of the fruitfull wombe of the earth without the labour of mans hand great plenty of greene Pease and Fitches faire round full and wholesome as our Fitches are in England of which I haue there fed on many times the hawmes of them are good fodder for cattel and other beasts in the winter with the helpe of Hay of which there may be made great store with little labour in diuers places of the Countrey Then haue you there faire Strawberries red and white and as faire Raspasse berries and Goose berries as there be in England as also multitudes of Bilberries which are called by some Whortes and many other delicate Berries which I cannot name in great abundance There are also many other fruits as small Peares sowre Cherries Filberds c. And of these Berries and fruits the store is there so great that the mariners of my Ship and Barkes company haue often gathered at once more then halfe an hogshead would hold of which diuers times eating their fill I neuer heard of any man whose health was thereby any way impaired There are also herbes for Sallets and Broth as Parsley Alexander Sorrell c. And also flowers as the red and white Damaske Rose with other kinds which are most beautifull and delightfull both to the sight and smell And questionles the Countrey is stored with many Physicall herbs and roots albeit their vertues are not knowne because not sought after yet within these few yeeres many of our Nation finding themselues ill haue brused some of the herbes and strained the iuyce into Beere Wine or Aqua-vitae and so by Gods assistance after a few drinkings it hath restored them to their former health The like vertue it hath to cure a wound or any swelling either by washing the grieued places with some of the herbes boyled or by applying them so thereunto plaister-wise which I haue seene by often experience This being the naturall fruitfulnes of the earth producing such varietie of things fit for food without the labour of man I might in reason hence inferre that if the same were manured and husbanded in some places as our grounds are it would be apt to beare Corne and no lesse fertill then the English soyle But I need not confine my selfe to probabilities seeing our men that haue wintred there diuers yeeres did for a triall and experiment thereof sowe some small quantitie of Corne which I saw growing very faire and they found the increase to be great and the graine very good and it is well knowne to me and diuers that trade there yeerely how that Cabbage Carrets Turneps Lettice and such like proue well there In diuers parts of the Countrey there is great store of Deere and some Hares many Foxes Squirrels Beuers Wolues and Beares with other sorts of beasts seruing as well for necessitie as for profit and delight Neither let me seeme ridiculous to annex a matter of nouelty rather then waight to this discourse In the yeere 1615. it was well knowne to 48 persons of my company and diuers other men that three seuerall times the Wolues and beasts of the Countrey came downe neere them to the Sea-side where they were labouring about their Fish howling and making a noise so that at each time my Mastiffe-dogge went vnto them as the like in that Countrey hath not been seene the one began to fawne and play with the other and so went together into the Woods and continued with them euery of these times nine or ten dayes and did returne vnto vs without any hurt Hereof I am no way superstitious yet it is something strange to me that the wilde beasts being followed by a sterne Mastiffe-dogge should grow to a familiaritie with him seeing their natures are repugnant surely much rather the people by our discreet and gentle vsage may be brought to societie being already naturally inclined thereunto But to returne to our purpose and to speake something of the great plenty of Fowle in that Countrey as well Land-fowle as Water-fowle the variety of both kinds is infinite The Land-fowle besides great number of small birds flying vp and downe some without name that liue by scraping their food from the earth in the hardest winter that is there are also Hawkes great and small Partridges Thrush and Thrussels abundance very fat As also Filladies Nightingales and such like that sing most pleasantly There are also birds that liue by prey as Rauens Gripes Crowes c. For Water-fowle there is certainly so good and as much varietie as in any part of the world as Geese Ducks Pigeons Gulls Penguins and many other sorts These Penguins are as bigge as Geese and flye not for they haue but a little short wing and they multiply so infinitly vpon a certaine flat Iland that men driue them from thence vpon a boord into their boates by hundreds at a time as if God had made the innocency of so poore a creature to become such an admirable instrument for the sustentation of man There are also Godwits Curlewes and a certaine kinde of fowle that are called Oxen and Kine with such like which fowle doe not only steed those that trade thither greatly for foode but also they are a great furthering to diuers Ships voyages because the abundance of them is such that the Fishermen doe bait their hookes with the quarters of Sea-fowle on them and therewith some ships do yeerely take a great part of their fishing voyages with such bait before they can get others The fresh waters and Springs of that Countrey are many in number and withall very pleasant delightfull and wholesome that no Countrey in the world hath better And Fewell for fire is so plentifull that there is neuer like to be want of that commoditie In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be imployed in other seruiceable vses There are Firre and Spruce trees sound good and fit to mast Ships withall and as commodious for boords and buildings as the Spruce and Firre trees of Norway and out of these came abundance of
And because my desire is that not onely Merchants or such as liue neere the Sea-side but also all others that shal giue their furtherance to this Plantation either by aduenturing their moneyes or sending men thither because it is to be vndertaken by men of good ability and in such manner as the wealthy men doe in other Countries ioyning their purses to further any such good worke I thinke it fit to shew how such persons may aduenture to that Countrey though they dwell farre from the Sea-coast and others likewise that dwell neere may do it with little trouble but only by a trusty seruant to giue account yeerely of his disbursings and likewise of his receits which I trust will be very beneficiall to all such as will aduenture therein Some who dwell farre from the Sea-coast may say they are so farre off that they should be but little the better for a Plantation to be made in New-found-land and so may hold it a needlesse thing for them to know how beneficiall that Countrey hath long time bin to these your Maiesties Kingdomes and how it may in little time be worth double to your Maiesties subiects in respect of what now it is euen in the only trade of fishing besides the good that may come by other commodities To such therefore that should here obiect that those that liue farre from the Sea whether Gentlemen or others and are not experienced in affaires of this nature cannot so conueniently aduenture thither I answere that none of your Maiesties Subiects dwell further then 100. miles from the Sea-side which is no great iourney By the same reason that Commodities brought from Forraine parts and landed on our coasts and Hauen townes dispersed thorow all places of your Maiesties Kingdomes and so vented our men liuing thus in any of these places may with as little difficulty aduenture into other Countries For as wee haue the example of diuers both Gentlemen and others of Italy Spaine Germany Sauoy the Low Countries and other places that come yeerely more then 200. miles to the City of Siuill purposely to saile to the West Indies and doe returne rich So it may be also well vnderstood by the following discourse how commodiously there may bee sent many people from any part of your Maiesties Kingdomes to bee there imployed that haue but small meanes to liue and be very beneficiall to themselues will imploy thē there The first thing therefore that I will aduise any subiect that is but little acquainted with Sea-affaires and such as is willing to aduenture in the desired Plantation is to acquaint himselfe with an approued vnderstanding man in Sea-affaires and also with a second and then with both their opinions and his owne iudgement he may set forward therein with great hope of the better successe for to my knowledge diuers worthy gentlemen that haue aduentured to the Seas partly through their owne conceit seeming to know that which they did not haue also oftentimes been animated on by some turbulent spirits that haue outrun themselues and so brought men in such mindes that on the coast of Guinnie there they might gather vp gold along the Sea-shore washed vp with the Sea in great abundance and likewise if they would aduenture to the West Indies there they should load their ships with gold-oare and drawe it aboord their ships with Wheele-barrowes and then share it by the pound and such like proiects Thus by such meanes diuers men haue runne so farre at Sea in some such vnfit voyages that they haue brought land to water and knew not how to shape a course to recouer vnto land againe God send all those that will henceforth aduenture to the Seas in any Plantation good Pilots and it will be the greater hope of good successe Now for those that will put their hands to the furthering of a Plantation in New-found-land my opinion is they are best either to buy a Ship of 100. Tun and a Pinnace of 40. Tun or neere such burthens or else to hire the like Ship to serue for the passing of people victuals and prouisions in the Spring of the yeere fit for such a purpose and for the returning of such fish and other commodities from thence as those men so sent and imployed may procure with their labours and those Ships and men so sent may be so fitted and prouided with Salt Nets Hooks Lines and such like prouisions as those Ships and men are which yeerely faile thither a fishing The best course of the two as I conceiue is for any such to buy a Ship and a Pinnace to serue for that purpose and then the Pinnace may be sent thither before the bigger Ship whereby to settle and begin to such a conuenient place for habitation as God shall direct them whither the greater ship may repaire and they may imploy themselues all the time that there is good to be done in fishing in that trade onely and betweene the faile of the Shoales of fish they may build houses and other necessarie things in perfect readinesse to be transported into Spaine Portugall and other places beyond the Seas much cheaper then the Hollanders doe seeing it is to bee had there easily with mans labour onely And therefore more commodiously from thence for vs from those parts then the Hollanders are able to serue them as now they doe who buy such commodities with their money in Spruce-land Norway and other places and yet thereby gaine much and increase a number of Shipping and Mariners and set them a worke continually Now hauing shewed how men may vndertake to further this Plantation by prouiding ships for the fishing trade as is formerly expressed I suppose that some worthy men that may be zealous and willing to further so pious honourable and beneficiall a worke may be vnwilling to trouble themselues with the fishing trade and yet very willing to further the said Plantation after some other manner that may be lesse troublesome to them which they may well performe in this manner They may hire a ship with men and victualled to saile from any part of your Maiesties Kingdomes to the New-found-land to carrie people victuals beasts and other prouisions in such competent number as may be fit to passe in such a shippe as any one shall so hire and hauing landed such people and prouisions there to plant the said shippe may there loade fish from the fishermen and if any will plant in that manner they are to bargaine for their fish here in England with such as do set forth ships in the fishing trade which fish may be bought before hand of them to be deliuered there at eyght shillings the hundred waight or neere that price and to pay for the same within fortie daies more or lesse after such times here in England that there comes from thence the sight of any Bills of Exchange from those that receiue the fish there in that manner and the shippe so hired being there loaden may sayle
of flesh dryed and by shooting off a Musket towards them they all ranne away naked without any apparell but only their hats on their heads which were made of Seales skinnes in fashion like our hats sowed handsomely with narrow bands about them set round with fine white shels such as are carried from Portugall to Braseile where they passe to the Indians as ready money All their three Cannowes their Flesh Skinnes Yolks of Egges Targets Bowes and Arrowes and much fine Okar and diuers other things they tooke and brought away and shared it amongst those three that tooke it and brought to me the best Cannowe Bowes and Arrowes and diuers of their Skinnes and many other things worth the noting which may seeme to inuite vs to finde out some other trades vvith them Now also I will not omit to relate some thing of a strange Creature that I first saw there in the yeere 1610. in a morning early as I was standing by the water side in the Harbour of Saint Iohns which I espyed very swiftly to come swimming towards me looking cheerefully as it had been a woman by the Face Eyes Nose Mouth Chin Eares Necke and Forehead It seemed to be so beautifull and in those parts so well proportioned hauing round about vpon the head all blew strakes resembling hayre dovvne to the Necke but certainly it vvas no haire for I beheld it long and another of my Company also yet liuing that vvas not then farre from me and seeing the same comming so svviftly tovvards me I stepped backe for it vvas come vvithin the length of a long Pike Which vvhen this strange Creature savv that I vvent from it it presently thereupon diued a little vnder vvater and did swim tovvards the place where before I landed whereby I beheld the shoulders and backe dovvne to the middle to be as square vvhite and smooth as the backe of a man and from the middle to the hinder part poynting in proportion like a broad hooked Arrow how it was proportioned in the forepart from the necke and shoulders I know not but the same came shortly after vnto a Boate wherein one William Hawkridge then my seruant was that hath bin since a Captaine in a ship to the East Indies and is lately there imployed againe by Sir Thomas Smith in the like Voyage and the same Creature did put both his hands vpon the side of the Boate and did striue to come in to him and others then in the said Boate whereat they were afraide and one of them strooke it a full blow on the Head whereby it fell off from them and afterwards it came to two other Boats in the said Harbour the men in them for feare fled to land This I suppose was a Maremaide Now because diuers haue written much of Maremaids I haue presumed to relate what is most certaine of such a strange Creature that was seene at New-found-land whether it were a Maremaid or no I know not I leaue it for others to iudge c. R. W. The description of new-found land and the commodities thereof The situation of the Countrey The temperature of the ayre The Inhabitants with their nature and customes The conueniencie of the Bayes in that Countrey Commodious Ilands and worthy Harbours Trinity Harbour affoording diuers good commodities Sauages liuing neere to Trinitie Harbour The bottoms of diâ—â—â—â— bayes meeting neere together The Harbour of Trepassey lying commodiously The fertilitie of the soyle Seuerall sorts of fruites there growing Herbes and flowers both pleasant and medicinable Corne growing there yeelding good increase Store of Deere and other beasts A rare example of the gentle nature of the beasts of that Countrey Plenty of Land-fowle Great store of Land-fowle Water-fowle Fresh water and Springs Many sorts of Timber there growing Good hope of Mines and making of Iron and Pitch Fish in great abundance Cod-fishing a great hope of benefit there from The benefit arising to France Spaine and Italy from fishing vpon those coasts 250. Saile of ships lying vpon that Coast Anno 1615. What the valew of the fish contained in most ships did amount vnto The reliefe that the trading there will affoord to seuerall sorts of people Reasons inducing for a Plantation there First reason hope of conuerting the Inhabitants to Christianitie Second reason the temporall benefits that may iustly and easily arise from hence Sir Hum. Gilbert long since tooke possession thereof to the vse of this Crowne Hope of ioyning America or some parts therof to New-found-land Marriners to be increased No Nation to be forbidden Fishing â—urres of diuers sorts Shipping maintayned Artificers set on worke Wealth brought in none carryed away Fishing on the coast of New-found-land great security to great Brittaine â—ransporting of â—en victuals â—nd other necesâ—aries from â—ence at an easy â—ate Ilands abounding with great store of Beasts for prouision of victuals Imployment for all in the absence of our men The quicke returne of our people a comfort to their Countrey men No Sauages in that part where our Nation trades Security from â—yrates â—nd the Sauages An easie contribution for maintenance of their security from Pyrates Hollanders attended with men of warre Many seruiceable men and Mariners bred thâ—â— Good Harbors Bayes and Rodes for Ships and Fishing Stones and Ballast throwne in the said Rodes dangerous for Ships Good land for Tillage Great store of Deere Store of Fish and Fowle fresh water wood Jlands of Ice there speedily melt The cause of the Fogges How to abate the Fogs and to make the Countrey hotter Rocks and Mountaines good for Seeds Roots and Vines