number of ships The Riuer it selfe as it runneth vp into the main very nigh forty miles toward the great mountaines The breadth of the Riuer beareth in bredth a mile sometime thrée quarters and halfe a mile is the narrowest where you shall neuer haue vnder 4 and 5 fathoms water hard by the shore but 6 7 8 9 and 10 fathoms all along and on both sides euery halfe mile very gallant Coues some able to conteine almost a hundred sails The ground soft oaze and clay where the ground is excellent soft oaze with a tough clay vnder for anker hold and where ships may ly without either Cable or Anker only mored to the shore with a Hauser What flowe of water It floweth by their iudgement eightéen or twenty foot at high water Dockes to graue and carine ships Heere are made by nature most excellent places as Docks to graue or Carine ships of all burthens secured from all windes which is such a necessary incomparable benefit that in few places in England or in any parts of Christendome art with great charges can make the like The Land Besides the bordering land is a most rich neighbour trending all along on both sides in an equall plaine neither mountainous nor rocky but verged with a gréene bordure of grasse doth make tender vnto the beholder of hir pleasant fertility if by clensing away the woods she were conuerted into meddow The wood The wood she beareth is not shrubbish fit only for fewell but goodly tall Firre Spruce Birch Béech Oke which in many places is not so thicke but may with small labour be made féeding ground being plentifull like the outward Ilands with fresh water which streameth downe in many places As we passed with a gentle winde vp with our ship in this Riuer any man may conceiue with what admiration we all consented in ioy Many of our Company who had béene trauellers in sundry countries and in the most famous Riuers yet affirmed them not comparable to this they now beheld Some that were with Sir Walter Ralegh in his voyage to Guiana in the discouery of the Riuer Orenoque which echoed fame to the worlds eares This riuer preferred before Orenoque and why gaue reasons why it was not to be compared with this which wanteth the dangers of many Shoules and broken ground wherewith that was incombred Others before that notable Riuer in the West Indies called Rio Grande some before the Riuer of Loyer the Riuer Seine and of Burdeaux in France which although they be great and grodly Riuers yet it is no detraction from them to be accounted inferiour to this which not only yeeldeth all the foresaid pleasant profits but also appeared infallibly to vs free from all inconueniences I will not prefer it before our riuer of Thames because it is Englands richest treasure but we all did wish those excellent Harbours good déeps in a continuall conuenient breadth and small tide gates to be aswell therein for our countries good as we found thē here beyond our hopes in certaine for those to whom it shall please God to grant this land for habitation which if it had with the other inseparable adherent commodities here to be found then I would boldly affirme it to be the most rich beautifull large secure harbouring riuer that the world affoordeth Wednesday the twelfth of Iune our Captaine manned his light-horseman with 17 men and ranne vp from the ship riding in the riuer vp to the codd thereof where we landed leauing six to kéepe the light-horseman till our returne Ten of vs with our shot and some armed with a boy to carry powder and match marched vp into the countrey towards the mountaines which we descried at our first falling with the land Unto some of them the riuer brought vs so néere as we iudged our selues when we landed to haue beene within a league of them but we marched vp about foure miles in the maine We marched vp into y e land about 4 miles and passed ouer thrée hilles and because the weather was parching hot and our men in their armour not able to trauel farre and returne that night to our ship we resolued not to passe any further being all very weary of so tedious and laboursom a trauell Good pasture In this march we passed ouer very good ground pleasant and fertile fit for pasture for the space of some thrée miles hauing but little wood and that Oke like stands left in our pastures in England good and great fit timber for any vse Some small Birch Hazle and Brake which might in small time with few men be cleansed and made good arable land but as it now is will féed cattell of all kindes with fodder enough for Summer and Winter The soile is blacke bearing sundry hearbs grasse and strawberries bigger than ours in England In many places are lowe Thicks like our Copisses of small yoong wood And surely it did all resemble a stately Parke wherein appeare some old trées with high withered tops and other flourishing with liuing gréene boughs Upon the hilles grow notable high timber trées masts for ships of 400 tun and at the bottome of euery hill a little run of fresh water but the furthest and last we passed ranne with a great streame able to driue a mill Deere Hares Hogges We might sée in some places where fallow Déere and Hares had béene and by the rooting of ground we supposed wilde Hogs had ranged there but we could descrie no beast because our noise still chased them from vs. We were no sooner come aboord our light-horseman returning towards our ship but we espied a Canoa comming from the further part of the Cod of the riuer Eastward which hasted to vs wherin with two others was he who refused to stay for a pawne and his comming was very earnestly importing to haue one of our men to go lie on shore with their Bashabes who was there on shore as they signed and then the next morning he would come to our ship with many Furres and Tabacco This we perceiued to be only a méere deuice to get possession of any of our men to ransome all those which we had taken which their naturall policy could not so shadow but we did easily discouer and preuent These meanes were by this Saluage practised because we had one of his kinsemen prisoner as we iudged by his most kinde vsage of him being aboord vs together Thursday the 13 of Iune by two a clocke in the morning because our Captaine would take the helpe and aduantage of the tide in the light-horseman with our Company well prouided and furnished with armour and shot both to defend and offend we went from our ship vp to that part of the riuer which trended Westward into the maine to search that and we carried with vs a Crosse to erect at that point which because it was not daylight we left on the shore vntill our returne backe when
we set it vp in maner as the former We set vp another crosse For this by the way we diligently obserued that in no place either about the Ilands or vp in the maine or alongst the riuer we could discerne any token or signe that euer any Christian had béene before of which either by cutting wood digging for water or setting vp Crosses a thing neuer omitted by any Christian trauellers we should haue perceiued some mention left But to returne to our riuer further vp into which we then rowed by estimation twenty miles the beauty and goodnesse wherof I can not by relation sufficiently demonstrate That which I can say in generall is this What profit or pleasure soeuer is described and truly verified in the former part of the riuer Conueniency of transportation is wholly doubled in this for the bredth and depth is such that any ship drawing 17 or 18 foot water might haue passed as farre as we went with our light-horsman and by all our mens iudgement much further because we left it in so good depth and bredth which is so much the more to be estéemed of greater woorth by how much it trendeth further vp into the maine for from the place of our ships riding in the Harbour at the entrance into the Sound to the furthest part we were in this riuer by our estimation was not much lesse than threescore miles From ech banke of this riuer are diuers branching streames into the maine wherby is affoorded an vnspeakable profit by the conueniency of transportation from place to place which in some countries is both chargeable and not so fit by cariages on waine or horsebacke Héere we saw great store of fish some great leaping aboue water which we iudged to be Salmons All along is an excellent mould of ground The wood in most places especially on the East side very thinne chiefly oke and some small yoong birch bordering low vpon the riuer all fit for medow and pasture ground and in that space we went we had on both sides the riuer many plaine plots of medow some of thrée or foure acres some of eight or nine Meddow and Grasse so as we iudged in the whole to be betweene thirty and forty acres of good grasse and where the armes run out into the Maine there likewise went a space on both sides of cléere grasse how far we know not in many places we might see paths made to come downe to the watering The excellencie of this part of the Riuer for his good breadth depth and fertile bordering ground did so rauish vs all with variety of pleasantnesse as we could not tell what to commend but only admired some compared it to the Riuer Seuerne but in a higher degrée and we all concluded as I verily thinke we might rightly that we should neuer see the like Riuer in euery degrée equall vntill it pleased God we beheld the same againe For the farther we went the more pleasing it was to euery man alluring vs still with expectation of better so as our men although they had with great labour rowed long and eat nothing for we carried with vs no victuall but a little chéese and bread yet they were so refreshed with the pleasant beholding thereof We were loath to leaue this Riuer and so loath to forsake it as some of them affirmed they would haue continued willingly with that onely fare and labour 2 daies but the tide not suffering vs to make any longer stay because we were to come backe with the tide and our Captaine better knowing what was fit then we and better what they in labour were able to endure being verie loath to make any desperate hazard where so little necessitie required thought it best to make returne because whither we had discouered was sufficient to conceiue that the Riuer ran very far into the land For we passed six or seuen miles altogether fresh water whereof we all dranke forced vp by the flowing of the Salt which after a great while eb where we left it by breadth of channell and depth of water was likely to run by estimation of our whole company an vnknowen way farther the search whereof our Captaine hath left till his returne if it shall so please God to dispose of him and vs. For we hauing now by the direction of the omnipotent disposer of all good intents far beyond the period of our hopes fallen with so bold a coast found so excellent and secure harbour for as many ships as any nation professing Christ is able to set forth to Sea discouered a Riuer which the All-creating God with his most liberall hand hath made aboue report notable with his foresaid blessings bordered with a land whose pleasant fertility bewraieth it selfe to be the garden of nature wherin she only intended to delight hir selfe hauing hitherto obscured it to any except to a purblind generation whose vnderstanding it hath pleased God so to darken as they can neither discerne vse or rightly estéeme the vnualuable riches in middest whereof they liue sensually content with the barke and outward rinde as neither knowing the swéetnes of the inward marrow nor acknowledging the Deity of the Almighty giuer hauing I say thus far proceeded and hauing some of the inhabitant nation of best vnderstanding we saw among them who learning our language may be able to giue vs further instruction concerning all the premised particulars as also of their gouernours and gouernment situation of townes and what else shall be conuenient which by no meanes otherwise we could by any obseruation of our selues learne in a long time our Captaine now wholy intended his prouision for spéedy returne For although the time of yeere and our victuall were not so spent but we could haue made a longer voyage in searching further and trading for very good commodities yet as they might haue béene much profitable The cause of our speedy returne so our company being small much more preiudiciall to the whole state of our voya 〈…〉 which we were most regardfull now not to hazard For we supposing not a little present priuate profit but a publique good and true zeale of promulgating Gods holy Church by planting Christianity to be the sole intent of the Honourable ◠〈…〉 rth of this discouery thought it generally most expedient by our speedy returne to giue the longer space of time to make prouision for so weighty an enterprise Friday the 14 day of Iune early by foure a clocke in the morning with the tide your two boats 〈…〉 anâ— a little helpe of the winde We ankâ—rd at the mouth of the Riuer we rowed downe to the riuers mouth and there came to an anker about eleuen a clocke Afterward our Captaine in the light horseman searched the sounding all about the mouth and comming to the Riuer for his certaine instruction of a perfect description The next day being Saturday we wayed anker and with a briese from the land we sailed
sounded in 100 fathoms and by eight a clock hauing not made aboue fiue or six leagues our Captaine vpon a sudden change of water supposing verily he saw the sand presently sounded and had but fiue fathoms Much maruelling because we saw no land he sent one to the top who thence descried a whitish sandy cliffe which bare West-North-West about six leagues off from vs but comming néerer within thrée or fowre leagues we saw many breaches still néerer the land at last we espied a great breach a head vs al along the shore into which before we should enter our Captaine thought best to hoise out his ship boate and sound it Which if he had not done we had béene in great danger for he bare vp the ship as néere as he durst after the boate vntill Thomas Cam his mate being in the boat called to him to tacke about stand off for in this breach he had very showld water two fathoms and lesse vpon rockes and sometime they supposed they saw the rocke within thrée or fowre foote whereon the sea made a very strong breach which we might discerne from the top to run along as we sailed by it 6 or 7 leagues to the Southward This was in the latitude of 41 degrées 20 minuts wherefore we were constrained to put backe againe from the land and sounding the weather being very faire and a small winde we found our selues embaied with continuall showldes and rockes in a most vncertaine ground from fiue or sixe fathoms at the next cast of the lead we should haue 15 18 fathoms Ouer many which we passed and God so blessed vs that we had wind and weather as faire as poore men in this distresse could wish whereby we both perfectly discerned euery breach and with the winde were able to turne where we saw most hope of safest passage Thus we parted from the land which we had not so much before desired and at the first sight reioiced as now we all ioifully praised God that it had pleased him to deliuer vs from so imminent danger Héere we found great store of excellent Cod fish and saw many Whales as we had done two or three daies before We stood off all that night and the next day being Wednesday but the wind still continuing betwéen the points of South South-West and West-South-West so as we could not make any way to the Southward in regard of our great want of water and wood which was now spent we much desired land and therefore sought for it where the wind would best suffer vs to refresh our selues Thursday the 16 of May we stood in directly with the land and much maruelled we descried it not wherein we found our sea charts very false putting land where none is Friday the 17 of May about sixe a clocke at night we descried the land which bare from vs North-North-East but because it blew a great gale of winde the sea very high and néere night not fit to come vpon an vnknowen coast we stood off till two a clocke in the morning being Saturday then standing in with it againe we descried it by eight a clocke in the morning bearing North-East from vs. The description of the Iland It appeared a meane high land as we after found it being but an Iland of some six miles in compasse but I hope the most fortunate euer yet discouered About twelue a clocke that day we came to an anker on the North side of this Iland about a league from the shore About two a clocke our Captaine with twelue men rowed in his ship-boat to the shore where we made no long stay but laded our boat with dry wood of olde trées vpon the shore side and returned to our ship where we rode that night This Iland is woody growen with Firre Birch Oke and Béech as farre as we saw along the shore and so likely to be within On the verge grow Gooseberries Strawberries Wild pease and Wild-rose bushes The water issued foorth downe the Rocky cliffes in many places and much fowle of diuers kinds bréed vpon the shore and rocks While we were at shore our men aboord with a few hooks got aboue thirty great Cods and Hadocks which gaue vs a taste of the great plenty of fish which we found afterward wheresoeuer we went vpon the coast From hence we might discerne the maine land from the West-South-West to the East-North-East and a great way as it then séemed and as we after found it vp into the maine we might discerne very high mountaines though the maine séemed but low land which gaue vs a hope it would please God to direct vs to the discouerie of some good although wée were driuen by winds farre from that place whither both by our direction and desire we euer intended to shape the course of our voyage The next day being Whit-Sunday because we rode too much open to the sea and windes we weyed anker about twelue a clocke and came along to the other Ilands more adioyning to the maine and in the rode directly with the mountaines about thrée leagues from the first Iland where we had ankered When we came néere vnto them sounding all along in a good depth our Captaine manned his ship-boat and sent her before with Thomas Cam one of his Mates whom he knew to be of good experience to sound search betweene the Ilands for a place safe for our shippe to ride in in the meane while we kept aloofe at sea hauing giuen them in the boat a token to weffe in the ship if he found a conuenient Harbour which it pleased God to send vs farre beyond our expectation in a most safe birth defended from all windes in an excellent depth of water for ships of any burthen in six seuen eight nine and ten fathoms vpon a clay oaze very tough We all with great ioy praised God for his vnspeakable goodnesse who had from so apparent danger deliuered vs directed vs vpon this day into so secure an Harbour in remembrance wherof we named it Pentecost-harbor Whitsundâ—y we arriuing there that day out of our last Harbor in England from whence we set saile vpon Easterday About foure a clocke after we were ankered and well mored our Captaine with halfe a dozen of our Company went on shore to séeke fresh watering and a conuenient place to set together a pinnesse which we brought in pieces out of England both which we found very fitting Upon this Iland as also vpon the former we found at our first comming to shore where fire had béene made and about the place were very great egge shelles bigger than goose egges fish bones and as we iudged the bones of some beast Héere we espied Cranes stalking on the shore of a little Iland adioyning Cranes where we after saw they vsed to bréed Whitsun-munday the 20 day of May very early in the morning our Captaine caused the pieces of the pinnesse to be carried a shore where while
suddenly laid hands vpon them And it was as much as fiue or sixe of vs could doe to get them into the light horseman For they were strong and so naked as our best hold was by their long haire on their heads and we would haue béene very loath to haue done them any hurt which of necessity we had béene constrained to haue done if we had attempted them in a multitude which we must and would We caught fiue Saluages two Canoas and their bowes and arrowes rather than haue wanted them being a matter of great importance for the full accomplement of our voyage Thus we shipped fiue Saluages two Canoas with all their bowes and arrowes The next day we made an end of getting our wood aboord and filled our empty caske with water Thursday the 6 of Iune we spent in bestowing the Canoas vpon the orlop safe from hurt because they were subiect to breaking which our Captaine was carefull to preuent Saturday the eight of Iune our Captaine being desirous to finish all businesse about this harbour very early in the morning with the light horseman coasted fiue or sixe leagues about the Ilands adioining and sounded all along wheresoeuer we went He likewise diligently searched the mouth of the Harbour and about the rocks which shew themselues at all times and are an excellent breach of the water Sounded about the rocks and mouth of the Harbour so as no Sea can come in to offend the Harbour This he did to instruct himselfe and thereby able to direct others that shall happen to come to this place For euery where both néere the rocks in all soundings about the Ilands we neuer found lesse water than foure and fiue fathoms which was seldome but seuen eight nine and ten fathoms is the continuall sounding by the shore In some places much déeper vpon clay oaze or soft sand so that if any bound for this place should be either driuen or scanted with winds he shall be able with his directions to recouer safely his harbour most securely in water enough by foure seuerall passages more their which I thinke no man of iudgement will desire as necessarie Upon one of the Ilands because it had a pleasant sandy Coue for small barks to ride in we landed and found hard by the shore a pond of fresh water A Ponde of fresh Water which flowed ouer the banks somewhat ouergrowen with little shrub trées and searching vp in the Iland we saw it fed with a strong run which with small labour and little time might be made to driue a mill In this Iland as in the other were spruce trees of excellent timber and height able to mast ships of great burthen While we thus sounded from one place to another in so good déepes our Captaine to make some triall of the fishing himselfe caused a hooke or two to be cast out at the mouth of the harbour Great plenty of Cod fish not aboue halfe a league from our ship where in small time only with the baits which they cut from the fish and thrée hooks we got fish enough for our whole Company though now augmented for three daies Which I omit not to report because it sheweth how great a profit the fishing would be they being so plentifull so great and so good with such conuenient drying as can be wished néere at hand vpon the Rocks This day about one a clocke after noone came from the Eastward two Canoas abord vs wherein was he that refused to stay with vs for a pawne and with him six other Saluages which we had not séene before who had beautified themselues after their manner very gallantly though their clothing was not differing from the former yet they had newly painted their faces very déep some all blacke some red with stripes of excellent blew ouer their vpper lips Their ornaments of gallantnesse nose and chin One of them ware a kinde of Coronet about his head made very cunningly of a substance like stiffe haire coloured red broad and more then a handfull in depth which we imagined to be some ensigne of his superioritie for he so much estéemed it as he would not for any thing exchange the same Other ware the white feathered skins of some fowle round about their head iewels in their eares and bracelets of little white round bone fastned together vpon a leather string These made not any shew that they had notice of the other before taken but we vnderstood them by their spéech and signes that they came sent from the Bashabes and that his desire was that we would bring vp our ship which they call as their owne boats a Quiden to his house being as they pointed vpon the main towards the East from whence they came and that he would exchange with vs for Furres and Tabacco But because our Company was but small and now our desire was with spéed to discouer vp the riuer we let them vnderstand that if their Bashabes would come to vs he should be welcome but we would not remoue to him Which when they vnderstood receiuing of vs bread and fish and euery of them a knife they departed for we had then no will to stay them long abord least they should discouer the other Saluages which we had stowed below Tuesday the 11 of Iune We went vp with our ship into the Riuer we passed vp into the riuer with our ship about six and twenty miles Of which I had rather not write then by my relation to detract from the worthinesse thereof For the Riuer besides that it is subiect by shipping to bring in all traffiques of Marchandise a benefit alwaies accounted the richest treasury to any land for which cause our Thames hath that due denomination and France by her nauigable Riuers receiueth hir greatest wealth yet this place of it selfe from God and nature affoordeth as much diuersitie of good commodities as any reasonable man can wish for present habitation and planting The first and chiefest thing required is a bold coast and faire land to fall with the next a safe harbour for ships to ride in The first is a speciall attribute to this shore being most frée from sands or dangerous rocks in a continuall good depth with a most excellent land-fall which is the first Iland we fell with named by vs Saint Georges Iland For the second by iudgement of our Captaine who knoweth most of the coast of England and most of other Countries The profits of the Riuer hauing béene experienced by imployments in discoueries and trauels from his childhood and by opinion of others of good iudgement in our shippe héere are more good harbours for ships of all burthens than England can affoord and far more secure from all winds and weathers than any in England Scotland France or Spaine For besides without the Riuer in the channell and sounds about the ilands adioining to the mouth therof no better riding can be desired for an infinite
some were busied about her others digged welles to receiue the fresh water which we found issuing downe out of the land in many places Héere I can not omit for foolish feare of imputation of flattery the painfull industry of our Captaine who as at sea he is alwayes most carefull and vigilant so at land he refuseth no paines but his labour was euer as much or rather more than any mans which not only encourageth others with better content but also effecteth much with great expedition In digging we found excellent clay for bricke or tile The next day we finished a well of good and holesome cléere water in a great empty caske which we left there We cut yards waste trées and many necessaries for our ship while our Carpenter and Cooper laboured to fit and furnish forth the shallop This day our boat went out about a mile from our ship We fished and in small time with two or thrée hooks was fished sufficiently for our whole Company thrée dayes with great Cod Haddocke and Thornebacke And towards night we drew with a small net of twenty fathoms very nigh the shore Abundance of many good fishes we got about thirty very good and great Lobsters many Rockfish some Plaise and other small fishes and fishes called Lumpes verie pleasant to the taste and we generally obserued that all the fish of what kinde soeuer we tooke were well fed fat and swéet in taste Wednesday the 22 of May we felled and cut wood for our ships vse cleansed and scoured our wels and digged a plot of ground wherein amongst some garden séeds we sowed peaze and barley Corne sowed which in sixtéen dayes grew eight inches aboue ground and so continued growing euery day halfe an inch although this was but the crust of the ground and much inferior to the mould we after found in the maine Friday the 24 of May after we had made an end of cutting wood and carying water aboord our shippe with fouretéene Shot and Pikes we marched about and thorow part of two of the Ilands the bigger of which we iudged to be foure or fiue miles in compasse and a mile broad The profits and fruits which are naturally on these Ilands are these The fruits of the Ilands All along the shore and some space within where the wood hindereth not grow plentifully Rasberries Gooseberries Strawberries Roses Currants Wild vines Angelica Within the Ilands growe wood of sundry sorts some very great and all tall Birch Béech Ash. Maple Spruce Cherry-trée Yew Oke very great and good Firre-trée out of which issueth Turpentine in so maruellous plenty and so sweet as our Chirurgeon and others affirmed they neuer saw so good in England We pulled off much Gumme congealed on the outside of the barke which smelled like Frankincense This would be a great benefit for making Tarre and Pitch We stayed the longer in this place not only because of our good Harbour which is an excellent comfort but because euery day we did more and more discouer the pleasant fruitfulnesse insomuch as many of our Companie wished themselues setled héere not expecting any further hopes or better discouery to be made Héere our men found abundance of great muscels among the rocks and in some of them many small Pearls and in one muscell which we drew vp in our net was found fouretéene Pearles Pearle whereof one of prety bignesse and orient in another aboue fiftie small Pearles and if we had had a Drag no doubt we had found some of great valew séeing these did certainly shew that héere they were bred the shels all glistering with mother of Pearle Wednesday the 29 day our shallop being now finished and our Captaine and men furnished to depart with hir from the ship A Crosse erected we set vp a crosse on the shore side vpon the rockes Thursday the 30 of May about ten a clock afore noon our Captaine with 13 men more in the name of God and with all our praiers for their prosperous discouerie and safe returne departed in the shallop leauing the ship in a good harbour which before I mentioned well mored and manned with 14 men This day about fiue a clocke in the afternoone The Saluages came first to vs. we in the shippe espied thrée Canoas comming towards vs which went to the iland adioining where they went a shore and very quickly had made a fire about which they stood beholding our ship to whom we made signes with our hands and hats weffing vnto them to come vnto vs because we had not séene any of the people yet They sent one Canoa with thrée men one of which when they came néere vnto vs spake in his language very lowd and very boldly séeming as though he would know why we were there and by pointing with his oare towards the sea we coniectured he ment we should be gone But when we shewed them kniues and their vse by cutting of stickes and other trifles as combs and glasses they came close aboard our ship as desirous to entertaine our friendship To these we gaue such things as we perceiued they liked when wée shewed them the vse bracelets rings peacocke feathers which they stucke in their haire and Tabacco pipes After their departure to their company on the shore presently came foure other in another Canoa to whom we gaue as to the former vsing them with as much kindnes as we could The shape of their body is very proportionable they are wel countenanced not very tal nor big but in stature like to vs Three sorts of colours of painting they paint their bodies with blacke their faces some with red some with blacke and some with blew Their clothing is Beauers skins or Deares skins cast ouer them like a mantle and hanging downe to their knées made fast together vpon the shoulder with leather some of them had sleeues Their clothing and buskins most had none some had buskins of such leather tewed they haue besides a péece of Beauers skin betwéene their legs made fast about their waste to couer their priuities They suffer no haire to grow on their faces but on their head very long and very blacke which those that haue wiues binde vp behinde with a leather string in a long round knot They seemed all very ciuill and merrie shewing tokens of much thankefulnesse for those things we gaue them We found them then as after a people of excéeding good inuention quicke vnderstanding and readie capacitie Their boats Their Canoas are made without any iron of the bark of a birch trée strengthened within with ribs and hoops of wood in so good fashion with such excellent ingenious art as they are able to beare seuen or eight persons far excéeding any in the Indies One of their Canoas came not to vs wherein we imagined their women were of whom they are as all Saluages very iealous When I signed vnto them they should goe sléepe because it was night they
but we saw not any great quantity to trucke for and it séemed they had not much left of old for they spend a great quantity yéerely by their continuall drinking and they would signe vnto vs that it was growen yet but a foot aboue ground and would be aboue a yard high with a leafe as broad as both their hands They often would by pointing to one part of the maine Eastward signe vnto vs that their Bashabes that is their King had great plenty of Furres and much Tabacco The dwelling of Bashabes is Eastward froÌ„ y e great Riuer When we had sufficiently taken Tabacco with them I shewed some of our trifles for trade but they made signe that they had there nothing to exchange for as I after conceiued they had béene fishing and fowling and so came thither to lodge that night by vs for when we were ready to come away they shewed vs great cups made very wittily of barke in forme almost square full of a red berry about the bignesse of a bullis A red berrie which they feede on which they did eat and gaue vs by handfuls of which though I liked not the taste yet I kept some because I would by no meanes but accept their kindnesse They shewed me likewise a great piece of fish whereof I tasted and it was fat like Porpoise and another kinde of great scaly fish broiled on the coales much like white Salmon which the Frenchmen call Aloza for these they would haue had bread which I refused because in maner of exchange I would alwayes make the greatest estéeme I could of our commodities whatsoeuer although they saw aboord our Captaine was liberall to giue them to the end we might allure them still to frequent vs. Then they shewed me foure yoong Goslings We had yong Goslings of the Saluages for which they required foure biskets but I offered them two which they tooke and were well content At our departure they made signe that if any of vs would stay there on shore some of them would go lie aboord vs at which motion two of our Company stayed with them and thrée of the Saluages lodged with vs in maner as the night before Iune 3. Early the next morning being Munday the third of Iune when they had brought our men aboord they came about our ship earnestly by signes desiring that we would go with them along to the maine for that there they had Furres and Tabacco to traffique with vs. Wherefore our Captaine manned the light-horseman with as many men as he could well which were about fiftéene with rowers and all and we went along with them Two of their Canoas they sent away before and they which lay aboord vs all night kept company with vs to direct vs. This we noted as we went along they in their Canoa with thrée oares Their Canoa outrowed vs. would at their will go ahead of vs and about vs when we rowed with eight oares strong such was their swiftnesse by reason of the lightnesse and artificiall composition of their Canoa and oares When we came néere the point where we saw their fires where they intended to land and where they imagined some few of vs would come on shore with our merchandize as we had accustomed before when they had often numbred our men very diligently they scoured away to their Campany not doubting we would haue followed them But when we perceiued this and knew not either their intents or number of Saluages on the shore our Captaine after consultation stood off and wefâ—ed them to vs determining that I should go on shore first to take a view of them and what they had to traffique if he whom at our first sight of them séemed to be of most respect among them and being then in the Canoa would stay as a pawne for me When they came to vs notwithstanding all our former courtesies he vtterly refused but would leaue a yoong Saluage and for him our Captaine sent Griffin in their Canoa while we lay hulling a little off Griffin at his returne reported they had there assembled together as he numbred them 283 Saluages two hundred eighty thrée Saluages euery one his bowe and arrowes with their dogges and wolues which they kéepe tame at command and not any thing to exchange at all but would haue drawen vs further vp into a little narrow nooke of a riuer for their Furres as they pretended These things considered we began to ioyne them in the ranke of other Saluages who haue béene by trauellers in most discoueries found very trecherous neuer attempting mischiefe vntill by some remisnesse fit opportunity affoordeth them certaine ability to execute the same Wherefore after good aduice taken we determined so soone as we could to take some of them least being suspitious we had discouered their plots they should absent themselues from vs. Tuesday the fourth of Iune Fish in the Harbour our men tooke Cod and Hadocke with hooks by our ship side and Lobsters very great which before we had not tried About eight a clocke this day we went on shore with our boats to fetch aboord water and wood our Captaine leauing word with the Gunner in the shippe by discharging a musket to giue notice if they espied any Canoa comming which they did about ten a clocke He therefore being carefull they should be kindly entreated requested me to go aboord intending with dispatch to make what haste after he possibly could When I came to the ship there were two Canoas and in either of them thrée Saluages of whom two were below at the fire the other staied in their Canoas about the ship and because we could not entice them abord we gaue them a Canne of pease and bread which they carried to the shore to eat But one of them brought backe our Canne presently and staid abord with the other two for he being yoong of a ready capacity and one we most desired to bring with vs into England had receiued excéeding kinde vsage at our hands and was therefore much delighted in our company When our Captaine was come we consulted how to catch the other thrée at shore which we performed thus Our manner of taking the Saluages We manned the light horseman with 7 or 8 men one standing before carried our box of Marchandise as we were woont when I went to traffique with them and a platter of pease which meat they loued but before we were landed one of them being too suspitiously fearefull of his owne good withdrew himselfe into the wood The other two met vs on the shore side to receiue the pease with whom we went vp the Cliffe to their fire and sate downe with them and whiles we were discussing how to catch the third man who was gone I opened the box and shewed them trifles to exchange thinking thereby to haue banisht feare from the other and drawen him to returne but when we could not we vsed little delay but
vp to our watering place and there stopped went on shore and filled all our empty caske with fresh water Our Captain made his certaine obseruation Our Captaine vpon the Rocke in the middest of the harbour obserued the height latitude and variation exactly vpon his instruments 1 Astrolabe 2 Semisphere 3 Ringe instrument 4 Crosse staffe 5 And an excellent compasse made for the variation The certainty whereof together with the particularities of euery depth and sounding aswell at our falling with the land as in the discouery and at our departure from the coast I refer to his owne relation in the Map of his Geographicall description which for the benefit of others he intendeth most exactly to publish The temperature of the Climate albeit a very important matter The temperature of the Climate had almost passed without mentioning because it affoorded to vs no great alteration from our disposition in England somwhat hotter vp into the Maine because it lieth open to the South the aire so wholesome as I suppose not any of vs found our selues at any time more healthfull more able to labour nor with better stomacks to such good fare as we partly br 〈…〉 ught and partly found Sunday the 16 of Iune the winde being faire and because we had set out of England vpon a Sunday made the ilands vpon a Sunday and as we doubt not by Gods appointment happily fell into our harbour vpon a Sunday so now beséeching him still with like prosperity to blesse our returne into England our country and from thence with his good will and pleasure to hasten our next arriuall there we waied Anker and quit the Land vpon a Sunday Tuesday the 18 day being not run aboue 30 leagues from land and our Captaine for his certaine knowledge how to fall with the coast hauing sounded euery watch and from 40 fathoms had come into good déeping to 70 and so to an hundred this day the weather being faire after the foure a clocke watch when we supposed not to haue found ground so farre from land and before sounded in aboue 100 fathoms we had ground in 24 fathomes Wherefore our sailes being downe Thomas King boatswaine presently cast out a hooke and before he iudged it at ground was fished and haled vp an excéeding great and well fed Cod then there were cast out 3 or 4 more and the fish was so plentifull and so great as when our Captaine would haue set saile we all desired him to suffer them to take fish a while because we were so delighted to sée them catch so great fish so fast as the hooke came downe some with playing with the hooke they tooke by the backe and one of the Mates with two hookes at a lead at fiue draughts together haled vp tenne fishes all were generally very great some they measured to be fiue foot long and thrée foot about This caused our Captaine not to maruell at the shoulding A fishing banke for he perceiued it was a fish banke which for our farewell from the land it pleased God in continuance of his blessings to giue vs knowledge of the abundant profit whereof should be alone sufficient cause to draw men againe if there were no other good both in present certaine and in hope probable to be discouered To amplifie this with words were to adde light to the Sunne for euery one in the shippe could easily account this present commodity much more those of iudgement which knew what belonged to fishing would warrant by the helpe of God in a short voyage with few good fishers to make a more profitable returne from hence than from New-found-land the fish being so much greater better fed and abundant with traine of which some they desired and did bring into England to bestow among their friends and to testifie the true report After we kept our course directly for England with ordinary winds and sometime calmes vpon Sunday the 14 of Iuly about six a clocke at night we were come into sounding in our channell We came into sounding but with darke weather and contrary winds we were constrained to beat vp and downe till Tuesday the 16 of Iuly when by fiue a clocke in the morning we made Sylly from whence hindered with calmes and small winds vpon Thursday the 18 of Iuly about foure a clocke after noone we came into Dartmouth which Hauen happily with Gods gracious assistance we made our last and first Harbour in England Further I haue thought fit here to adde some things worthy to be regarded which we haue obserued from the Saluages since we tooke them First although at the time when we surprised them they made their best resistance not knowing our purpose nor what we were nor how we meant to vse them yet after perceiuing by their kinde vsage we intended them no harme they haue neuer since séemed discontented with vs but very tractable louing willing by their best meanes to satisfie vs in any thing we demand of them by words or signes for their vnderstanding neither haue they at any time béene at the least discord among themselues insomuch as we haue not séene them angry but merry and so kinde as if you giue any thing to one of them he will distribute part to euery one of the rest We haue brought them to vnderstand some English and we vnderstand much of their language so as we are able to aske them many things And this we haue obserued that if we shew them any thing and aske them if they haue it in their countrey they will tell you if they haue it and the vse of it the difference from ours in bignesse colour or forme but if they haue it not be it a thing neuer so precious they wil denie the knowledge of it They haue names for many starres which they will shew in the firmament They shew great reuerence to their King and are in great subiection to their Gouernours and they will shew a great respect to any we tell them are our Commanders They shew the maner how they make bread of their Indian wheat and how they make butter and chéese of the milke they haue of the Rain-Déere and Fallo-Déere which they haue tame as we haue Cowes They haue excellent colours Indico and other excellent colours in the countrey And hauing séene our Indico they make shew of it or of some other like thing which maketh as good a blew One especiall thing is their maner of killing the Whale which they call Powdawe and will describe his forme how he bloweth vp the water and that he is 12 fathoms long and that they go in company of their King with a multitude of their boats Their killing of the whale and strike him with a bone made in fashion of a harping iron fastened to a rope which they make great and strong of the barke of trees which they veare out after him then all their boats come about him and as he riseth aboue water with their arrowes they shoot him to death when they haue killed him dragged him to shore they call all their chiefe lords together sing a song of ioy and those chiefe lords whom they call Sagamos diuide the spoile and giue to euery man a share which pieces so distributed they hang vp about their houses for prouision and when they boile them they blow off the fat and put to their peaze maiz and other pulse which they eat A briefe Note of what profits we saw the Countrey yeeld in the small time of our stay there TREES Oke of an excellent graine strait and great timber Elme Beech. Birch very tall great of whose barke they make their Canoas Wich-Hazell Hazell Alder. Cherry-tree Ash. Maple Yew Spruce Aspe Firre Many fruit trees which we knew not FOWLES Eagles Hernshawes Cranes Ducks great Geese Swannes Penguins Crowes Sharks Rauens Mewes Turtle-doues Many birds of sundrie colours Many other fowls in flocks vnknowen BEASTS Raine-Deere Stagges Fallow-Deere Beares Wolues Beauer Otter Hare Cony Hedge-Hoggs Polcats Wilde great Cats Dogges some like Wolues some like Spaniels FISHES Whales Seales Cod very great Haddocke great Herring great Plaise Thornebacke Rockefish Lobstar great Crabs Muscels great with pearles in them Cockles Wilks Cunner fish Lumps Whiting Soales Tortoises Oisters FRVITS PLANTS and HERBS Tabacco excellent sweet and strong Wild-Vines Strawberries abundance Raspberries abundance Gooseberries abundance Hurtleberries abundance Currant trees abundance Rose-bushes Peaze Ground-nuts Angelica a most soueraigne herbe An hearbe that spreadeth the ground smelleth like Sweet Marioram great plenty Very good Dies which appeare by their painting which they carrie with them in bladders The names of the fiue Saluages which we brought home into England which are all yet aliue are these 1. Tahánedo a Sagamo or Commander 2. Amóret Gentleman 3. Skicowáros Gentleman 4. Maneddo Gentleman 5. Sassacomoit a seruant