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
THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF Virginia New-England and the Summer Isles with the names of the Adventurers Planters and Governours from their first beginning An 1584. to this present 1624. WITH THE PROCEDINGS OF THOSE SEVERALL COLONIES and the Accidents that befell them in all their Journyes and Discoveries Also the Maps and Descriptions of all those Countryes their Commodities people Government Customes and Religion yet knowne DIVIDED INTO SIXE BOOKES By Captaine IOHN SMITH sometymes Governour in those Countryes Admirall of New England LONDON Printed by I.D. and I.H. for Michael Sparkes 1624. TO THE ILLVSTRIOVS AND MOST NOBLE PRINCESSE the Lady FRANCIS Duchesse of RICHMOND and LENOX MAy it please your Grace This History as for the raritie and varietie of the subiect so much more for the judicious Eyes it is like to vndergoe and most of all for that great Name whereof it dareth implore Protection might and ought to haue beene clad in better robes then my rude military hand can cut out in Paper Ornaments But because of the most things therein I am no Compiler by hear-say but haue beene a reall Actor I take my selfe to haue a propertie in them and therefore haue beene bold to challenge them to come vnder the reach of my owne rough Pen. That which hath beene indured and passed through with hardship and danger is thereby sweetned to the Actor when he becometh the Relator I haue deeply hazarded my selfe in doing and suffering and why should I sticke to hazard my reputation in Recording He that acteth two parts is the more borne withall if he come short or fayle in one of them Where shall we looke to finde a Iulius Caesar whose atchieuments shine as cleare in his owne Commentaries as they did in the field I confesse my hand though able to weild a weapon among the Barbarous yet well may tremble in handling a Pen among so many Indicious especially when I am so bold as to call so piercing and so glorious an Eye as your Grace to view these poore ragged lines Yet my comfort is that heretofore honorable and vertuous Ladies and comparable but amongst themselues haue offred me rescue and protection in my greatest dangers even in forraine parts I haue felt reliefe from that sex The beauteous Lady Tragabigzanda when I was a slaue to the Turkes did all she could to secure me When I overcame the Bashaw of Nalbrits in Tartaria the charitable Lady Callâ—mata supplyed my necessities In the vtmost of many extremities that blessed Pokahontas the great Kings daughter of Virginia oft saved my life When I escaped the crueltie of Pirats and most furious stormes a long time alone in a small Boat at Sea and driven ashore in France the good Lady Madam Chanoyes bountifully assisted me And so verily these my adventures haue tasted the same influence from your Gratious hand which hath given birth to the publication of this Narration If therefore your Grace shall daigne to cast your eye on this poore Booke view I pray you rather your owne Bountie without which it had dyed in the wombe then my imperfections which haue no helpe but the shrine of your glorious Name to be sheltered from censorious condemnation Vouchsafe some glimpse of your honorable aspect to accept these my labours to protect them vnder the shadow of your excellent Name which will inable them to be presented to the Kings royall Maiestie the most admired Prince Charles and the Queene of Bohemia your sweet Recommendations will make it the worthier of their good countenances And as all my endevours are their due tribute so this Page shall record to posteritie that my service shall be to pray to God that you may still continue the renowned of your sexe the most honored of men and the highly blessed of God Your Graces faithfull and devoted servant IOHN SMITH ¶ A Preface of foure Poynts THis plaine History humbly sheweth the truth that our most royall King Iames hath place and opportunitie to inlarge his ancient Dominions without wronging any which is a condition most agreeable to his most iust pious resolutions and the Prince his Highness may see where to plant new Colonies The gaining Prouinces addeth to the Kings Crown but the reducing Heathen people to ciuilitie and true Religion bringeth honour to the King of Heauen If his Princely wisedome and powerfull hand renowned through the world for admirable government please but to set these now Estates into order their composure will be singular the counsell of divers is confused the generall Stocke is consumed nothing but the touch of the Kings sacred hand can erect a Monarchy Most noble Lords and worthy Gentlemen it is your Honors that haue imployed great paines and large expence in laying the foundation of this State wherein much hath beene buried vnder ground yet some thing hath sprung vp and giuen you a taste of your adventures Let no difficulties alter your noble intentions The action is an honour to your Country and the issue may well reimburse you your summes expended Our practices haue hitherto beene but assayes and are still to be amended Let your bountie supply the necessities of weake beginnings and your excellent iudgements rectifie the proceedings the returne cannot choose in the end but bring you good Commodities and good contentments by your aduancing shipping and fishing so vsefull vnto our Nation Yee valiant and generous spirits personall possessors of these new-found Territories banish from among you Cowardise covetousnes iealousies and idlenes enemies to the raising your honours and fortunes vertue industry and amitie will make you good and great and your merits liue to ensuing Ages You that in contempt of necessities hazard your liues and estates imploying your studies labours in these faire endevours liue and prosper as I desire my soule should prosper For my selfe let emulation and enuie cease I ever intended my actions should be vpright now my care hath beene that my Relations should giue every man they concerne their due But had I not discovered and liued in the most of those parts I could not possibly haue collected the substantiall truth from such a number of variable Relations that would haue made a Volume at least of a thousand sheets Though the beginning may seeme harsh in regard of the Antiquities breuitie and names a pleasanter Discourse ensues The stile of a Souldier is not eloquent but honest and iustifiable so I desire all my friends and well-wishers to excuse and accept it and if any be so noble as to respect it he that brought New England to light though long since brought in obscuritie he is againe to be found a true servant to all good designes So I ever rest yours to command IOHN SMITH A Gentleman desirous to be vnknowne yet a great Benefactor to Virginia his loue to the Author the Company and History STay reade behold skill courage knowledge Arts Wonder of Nature Mirror of our Clime Mars Vulcan Neptune striue to haue their parts Rare Ornaments
no such matter and that he would lend me mâ—n to fish and hunt He sent me word he would come himselfe to Roanock but delaying time eight dayes that all his men were there to be assembled not liking so much company I resolued the next day to goe visit him but first to giue them in the I le a Canvisado and at an instant to seaze on all their Canows about the I le But the towne tooke the Alarum before I ment it For when I sent to take the Canows he met one going from the shore ouerthrew her and cut off two Salvages heads wherevpon the cry arose being by their spyes perceiued for they kept as good watch over vs as we of them Vpon this they to their Bowes and we to our Armes three or foure of them at the first were slaine the rest fled into the woods The next morning I went to Dassamonpeack and sent Pemissapan word I was going to Croatan and tooke him in my way to complaine Osocon would haue stole my prisoner Skico Herevpon he did abide my comming being among eight of the principall est I gaue the watchword to my men and immediately they had that they purposed for vs. Himselfe being shot through with a Pistoll fell downe as dead but presently start vp and ran away from them all till an Irish Boy shot him over the buttocks where they tooke him and cut off his head Seauen dayes after Captaine Stafforton sent to me he descryed twentie-three Sayle The next day came to me himselfe of whom I must say this from the first to the last he neither spared labour or perill by land or sea fayre weather or foule to performe any serious seruice committed to him He brought me a letter from Sir Francis Drake whose generous mind offered to supply all my defects of shipping boats munition victuall clothes and men to further this action and vpon good consultation and deliberation he appointed me a ship of 70. tuns with an hundred men and foure moneths victuals two Pinnaces foure small Boats with two sufficient Masters with sufficient Gangs All this being made ready for me suddenly arose such a storme for foure dayes that had like to haue driuen the whole Fleete on shore many of them were forced to the Sea whereof my ship so lately giuen me was one with all my prouision and Company appoynted Notwithstanding the storme ceasing the Generall appointed me a ship of 170. tuns with all prouisions as before to carry me into England the next August or when I had performed such Discoueries as I thought fit Yet they durst not vndertake to bring her into the harbour but she must ride in the road leauing the care of the rest to my selfe advising me to consider with my Company what was fittest and with my best speed returne him answer Herevpon calling my Company together who were all as priuy of the Generals offer as my selfe their whole request was in regard of all those former miseries and no hope of the returne of Sir Richard Grenvill and with a generall consent they desired me to vrge him we might all goe with him for England in his Fleete for whose reliefe in that storme he had sustained more perill of wrack then in all his honorable actions against his enemies So with prayses to God we set sayle in Iune 1586. and arriued in Portsmouth the 27. of Iuly the same yeare Leaving this remembrance to posteritie To reason lend me thine attentiue eares Exempt thy selfe from mind-distracting cares Least that's here thus proiected for thy good By thee reiected be ere vnderstood Written by Mr Ralph Layne Governour The Observations of Mr. Thomas Heriot in this Voyage For Marchandize and Victualls WHat before is writ is also confirmed by that learned Mathematician Mr Thomas Heriot with them in the Country whose particular Relation of all the Beasts Birds Fishes Foules Fruites and Rootes and how they may be vsefull because I haue writ it before for the most part in the Discourse of Captaine Amidas and Captaine Layne except Silk grasse Wormesilke Flax like Hempe Allum Wapeith or Terra sigillata Tar Rosen Turpentine Civet-cats Iron ore Copper that hold Silver Coprose and Pearle Let those briefes suffice because I would not trouble you with one thing twice Dyes For Dyes Showmack the herbe Wasebur little rootes called Chapacor and the barke of a tree called by the Inhabitants Tangomockonominge which are for divers sorts of Reds What more then is related is an herbe in Dutch called Melden described like an Orange growing foure foote high the seede will make good broth and the stalke burnt to ashes makes a kinde of Salt other Salt they know not and we vsed of it for Pot-herbs Of their Tobacco we found plenty which they esteeme their chiefe Physicke Ground nuts Tiswaw we call China roots they grow in clusters and bring forth a bryer stalke but the leafe is far vnlike which will climbe vp to the top of the highest tree the vse knowne is to cut it in small peeces then stampe straine it with water and boyled makes a gelly good to eate Cassavia growes in Marishes which the Indians oft vse for bread and broth Habascon is like a Parsnip naught of it selfe except compounded and their Leekes like those in England Sequenummener a kinde of Berry like Capers and three kinde of Berries like Acornes called Sagatamenor Osamenor and Pummuckoner Saquenuckot and Maquowoc two kinde of beasts greater then Conies and very good meate in some places such plenty of gray Conies like hayres that all the people make them mantels of their skins I haue the names of 28. severall sorts that are dispersed in the Country of which 12. kindes we haue discouered and good to eate but the Salvages sometimes kill a Lyon and eate him There is plentie of Sturgeon in February March Aprill and May all Herings in abundance some such as ours but the most part of 18.20 or 24. yncheâ— long and more Trouts Porpisses Rayes Mullers Old-wiues Plaâ—ce Tortoises both by Sea and Land Crabs Oysters Mussels Scalops Periwinckles Crevises Secanank we haue the Pictures of 12. sorts more but their names we know not Turkeys Stockdoues Partridges Cranes Hernes Swans Geese Parrots Faulcons Merlins I haue the names in their language of 86. severall sorts Their woods are such as ours in England for the most part except Rakeock a greaâ— sweet tree whereof they make their Canowes and Ascopo a kinde of tree like Lowrell and Saxefras Their Natures and Manners Their Clothing Townes Houses Warres Arts Tooles handy crafts and educations are much like them in that part of Virginia we now inhabite which at large you may reade in the Description thereof But the relation of their Religion is strange as this Author reporteth Some Religion they haue which although it be farre from the truth yet being as it is there is hope it may be the
all his Souldiers with a tripple power and twice tripple better meanes by what they haue done in his absence the world may see what they would haue done in his presence had he not prevented their indiscretions it doth iustly proue what cause he had to send them for England and that he was neither factious mutinous nor dishonest But they haue made it more plaine since his returne for England having his absolute authoritie freely in their power with all the advantages and opportunitie that his labours had effected As I am sorry their actions haue made it so manifest so I am vnwilling to say what reason doth compell me but onely to make apparant the truth least I should seeme partiall reasonlesse and malicious CHAPTER XII The Arrivall of the third Supply TO redresse those jarres and ill proceedings the Treasurer Councell and Company of Virginia not finding that returne and profit they expected and them ingaged there not having meanes to subsist of themselues made meanes to his Maiestie to call in their Commission and take a new in their owne names as in their owne publication 1610. you may â—eade at large Having thus annihilated the old by vertue of a Commission made to the right Honourable Sir Thomas West Lord de la Warre to be Generall of Virginia Sir Thomas Gates his Lieutenant Sir George Somers Admirall Sir Thomas Dale high Marshall Sir Fardinando Wainman Generall of the Horse and so all other offices to many other worthy Gentlemen for their liues though not any of them had ever beene in Virginia except Captaine Newport who was also by Patent made vice-Admirall those noble Gentlemen drew in such great summes of money that they sent Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Somers and Captaine Newport with nine shippes and fiue hundred people who had each of them a Commission who first arrived to call in the old without the knowledge or consent of them that had endured all those former dangers to beat the path not any regard had at all of them All things being ready because those three Captaines could not agree for place it was concluded they should goe all in one ship so all their three Commissions were in that Ship with them called the Sea-Venture They set sayle from England in May 1609. A small Catch perished at Sea in a Hericano the Admirall with an hundred and fiftie men with the two Knights and their new Commission their Bils of Loading with all manner of directions and the most part of their provision arrived not With the other seaven Ships as Captaines arrived Ratliffe whose right name as is sayd was Sicklemore Martin and Archer with Captaine Wood Captaine Webbe Captaine Moone Captaine King Captaine Davis and divers Gentlemen of good meanes and great parentage But the first as they had beene troublesome at Sea began againe to marre all ashore for though as is said they were formerly sent for England yet now returning againe graced by the titles of Captaines of the passengers seeing the Admirall wanting and great probabilitie of her losse strengthened themselues with those new companies so exclaiming against Captaine Smith that they mortally hated him ere ever they saw him Who vnderstanding by his Scouts the arrivall of such a Fleet little dreaming of any such supply supposed them Spanyards But he quickly so determined and ordered our affaires as we little feared their Arrivall nor the successe of our incounter nor were the Salvages any way negligent for the most part to ayd and assist vs with their best power Had it so beene we had beene happy for we would not haue trusted them but as our foes where receiuing them as our Countreymen and friends they did what they could to murther our President to surprise the Store the Fort and our Iudgings to vsurpe the government and make vs all their servants and slaues till they could consume vs and our remembrance and rather indeed to supplant vs then supply vs as master William Box an honest Gentleman in this voyage thus relateth In the tayle of a Hericano wee were separated from the Admirall which although it was but the remainder of that Storme there is seldome any such in England or those Northerne parts of Europe Some lost their Masts some their Sayles blowne from their Yards the Seas so over-raking our Ships much of our prouision was spoyled our Fleet separated and our men sicke and many dyed and in this miserable estate we arrived in Virginia But in this Storme When ratling Thunder ran along the Clouds Did not the Saylers poore and Masters proud A terror feele as strucke with feare of God Did not their trembling ioynts then dread his rod Least for foule deeds and black mouth'd blasphemies The rufull time be come that vengeance cryes To a thousand mischiefes those lewd Captaines led this lewd company wherein were many vnruly Gallants packed thither by their friends to escape ill destinies and those would dispose and determine of the government sometimes to one the next day to another to day the old Commission must rule to morrow the new the next day neither in fine they would rule all or ruine all yet in charitie we must endure them thus to destroy vs or by correcting their follies haue brought the worlds censure vpon vs to be guiltie of their blouds Happie had we beene had they never arrived and we for ever abandoned and as we were left to our fortunes for on earth for the number was never more confusion or misery then their factions occasioned The President seeing the desire those Braues had to rule seeing how his authoritie was so vnexpectedly changed would willingly haue left all and haue returned for England But seeing there was small hope this new Commission would arriue longer he would not suffer those factious spirits to proceede It would be too tedious too strange and almost incredible should I particularly relate the infinite dangers plots and practices he daily escaped amongst this factious crew the chiefe whereof he quickly layd by the heeles till his leasure better served to doe them iustice and to take away all occasions of further mischiefe Master Percie had his request granted to returne for England being very sicke and Mr West with an hundred and twentie of the best he could chuse he sent to the Fâ—lles Martin with neare as many to Nandsamund with their due proportions of all provisions according to thir numbers Now the Presidents yeare being neare expired he made Captaine Martin President to follow the order for the election of a President every yeare but he knowing his owne insufficiency and the companies vntowardnesse and little regard of him within three houres after resigned it againe to Captaine Smith and at Nandsamund thus proceeded the people being contributers vsed him kindly yet such was his iealous feare in the midst of their mirth he did surprise this poore naked King with his Monuments houses and the Isle he inhabited and there
did faile him that should haue giuen fire to that mercilesse Pistoll So not finding that course to be the best they ioyned together to vsurpe the government thereby to escape their punishment The President had notice of their proiects the which to withstand though his old souldiers importuned him but permit them to take their heads that would resist his command yet he would not suffer them but sent for the Masters of the ships and tooke order with them for his returne for England Seeing there was neither Chirurgian nor Chirurgery in the Fort to curâ— his hurt and the ships to depart the next day his Commission to be suppressed he knew not why himselfe and souldiers to be rewarded he knew not how and a new commission granted they knew not to whom the which disabled that authority he had as made them presume so oft to those mutinies as they did besides so grievous were his wounds and so cruell his torments few expecting he could liue nor was hee able to follow his busines to regaine what they had lost suppresse those factions and range the countries for provision as he intended and well he knew in those affaires his owne actions and presence was as requisit as his directions which now could not be he went presently abroad resoluing there to appoint them governours and to take order for the mutiners but he could finde none hee thought fit for it would accept it In the meane time seeing him gone they perswaded Master Percy to stay who was then to goe for England and be their President Within lesse then an houre was this mutation begun and concluded For when the Company vnderstood Smith would leaue them saw the rest in Armes called Presidents Councellors divers began to fawne on those new commanders that now bent all their wits to get him resigne them his Commission who after much adoe and many bitter repulses that their confusion which he â—ould them was at their elbowes should not be attributed to him for leauing the Colony without a Commission he was not vnwilling they should steale it but never would he giue it to such as they And thus Strange violent forces drew vs on vnwilling Reason perswading 'gainst our loues rebelling We saw and knew the better ah curse accurst That notwithstanding we imbrace the worst But had that vnhappie blast not hapned he would quickly haue qualified the heate of those humors and factions had the ships but once left them and vs to our fortunes and haue made that provision from among the Salvages as we neither feared Spanyard Salvage nor famine nor would haue left Virginia nor our lawfull authoritie but at as deare a price as we had bought it and payd for it What shall I say but thus we left him that in all his proceedings made Iustice his first guide and experience his second even hating basenesse sloath pride and indignitie more then any dangers that neuer allowed more for himselfe then his souldiers with him that vpon no danger would send them where he would not lead them himselfe that would never see vs want what he either had or could by any meanes get vs that would rather want then borrow or starue then not pay that loued action more then words and hated falshood and covetousnesse worse then death whose adventures were our liues and whose losse our deaths Leaving vs thus with three ships seaven boats commodities readie to trade the harvest newly gathered ten weeks provision in the store foure hundred nintie and od persons twentie-foure Peeces of Ordnance three hundred Muskets Snaphances and Firelockes Shot Powder and Match sufficient Curats Pikes Swords and Morrios more then men the Salvages their language and habitations well knowne to an hundred well trayned and expert Souldiers Nets for fishing Tooles of all sorts to worke apparell to supply our wants six Mares and a Horse fiue or sixe hundred Swine as many Hennes and Chickens some Goats some sheepe what was brought or bred there remained But they regarding nothing but from hand to mouth did consume that wee had tooke care for nothing but to perfect some colourable complaints against Captaine Smith For effecting whereof three weekes longer they stayed the Ships till they could produce them That time and charge might much better haue beene spent but it suted well with the rest of their discretions Besides Iames towne that was strongly Pallizadoed containing some fiftie or sixtie houses he left fiue or sixe other severall Forts and Plantations though they were not so sumptuous as our successors expected they were better then they provided any for vs. All this time we had but one Carpenter in the Countrey and three others that could doe little but desired to be learners two Blacksmiths two saylers those we write labourers were for most part footmen and such as they that were Adventurers brought to attend them or such as they could perswade to goe with them that neuer did know what a dayes worke was except the Dutch-men and Poles and some dozen other For all the rest were poore Gentlemen Tradsmen Serving-men libertines and such like ten times more fit to spoyle a Common-wealth then either begin one or but helpe to maintaine one For when neither the feare of God nor the law nor shame nor displeasure of their friends could rule them here there is small hope ever to bring one in twentie of them ever to be good there Notwithstanding I confesse divers amongst them had better mindes and grew much more industrious then was expected yet ten good workemen would haue done more substantiall worke in a day then ten of them in a weeke Therefore men may rather wonder how we could doe so much then vse vs so badly because we did no more but leaue those examples to make others beware and the fruits of all we know not for whom But to see the justice of God vpon these Dutch-men Valdo before spoke of made a shift to get for England where perswading the Merchants what rich Mines he had found and great service he would doe them was very well rewarded and returned with the Lord La Warre but being found a meere Impostor he dyed most miserably Adam and Francis his two consorts were fled againe to Powhatan to whom they promised at the arrivall of my Lord what wonders they would doe would he suffer them but to goe to him But the King seeing they would be gone replyed You that would haue betrayed Captaine Smith to mee will certainely betray me to this great Lord for your peace so caused his men to beat out their braines To conclude the greatest honour that ever belonged to the greatest Monarkes was the inlarging their Dominions and erecting Common-weales Yet howsoever any of them haue attributed to themselues the Conquerors of the world there is more of the world never heard of them then ever any of them all had in subiection for the Medes Persians and Assyrians never Conquered all Asia nor
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
fit for such a personage with so braue and great attendance for some small number of aduentrous Gentlemen to make discoueries and lie in Garrison ready vpon any occasion to keepe in feare the inconstant Saluages nothing were more requisite but to haue more to wait play than worke or more commanders and officers than industrious labourers was not so necessarie for in Virginia a plaine Souldier that can vse a Pick-axe and spade is better than fiue Knights although they were Knights that could breake a Lance for men of great place not inured to those incounters when they finde things not sutable grow many times so discontented they forget themselues oft become so carelesse that a discontented melancholy brings them to much sorrow and to others much miserie At last they stood in for the coast of New-England where they met a small Frenchman rich of Beuers and other Furres Though wee had here but small knowledge of the coast nor countrie new- yet they tooke such an abundance of Fish and Fowle and so well refreshed themselues there with wood and water as by the helpe of God thereby hauing beene at Sea sixteene weekes got to Virginia who without this reliefe had beene in great danger to perish The French-men made them such a feast with such an abundance of varietie of Fish Fowle and Fruits as they all admired and little expected that wild wildernesse could affoord such wonderfull abundance of plentie In this ship came about two hundred men but very little prouision and the ship called the Treasurer came in againe not long after with fortie passengers the Lord la Wares ship lying in Virginia three moneths wee victualled her with threescore bushels of Corne and eight Hogsheads of flesh besides other victuall she spent whilest they tarried there this ship brought vs aduice that great multitudes were a preparing in England to bee sent and relied much vpon that victuall they should finde here whereupon our Captaine called a Councell and writ to the Councell here in England the estate of the Colonie and what a great miserie would insue if they sent not prouision as well as people and what they did suffer for want of skilfull husbandmen and meanes to set their Ploughs on worke hauing as good ground as any man can desire and about fortie Bulls and Oxen but they wanted men to bring them to labour and Irons for the Ploughs and harnesse for the Cattell Some thirtie or fortie acres wee had sowne with one Plough but it stood so long on the ground before it was reaped it was most shaken and the rest spoiled with the Cattell and Rats in the Barne but no better Corne could bee for the quantitie Richard Killingbeck being with the Captaine at Kekoughtan desired leaue to returne to his wife at Charles hundred hee went to Iames towne by water there he got foure more to goe with him by land but it proued that he intended to goe trade with the Indies of Chickahamania where making shew of the great quantitie of trucke they had which the Saluages perceiuing partly for their trucke partly for reuenge of some friends they pretended should haue beene slaine by Captaine Yearley one of them with an English peece shot Killingbeck dead the other Saluages assaulted the rest and slew them stripped them and tooke what they had But fearing this murther would come to light and might cause them to suffer for it would now proceed to the perfection of villanie for presently they robbed their Machacomocko house of the towne stole all the Indian treasure thereout and fled into the woods as other Indians related On Sunday following one Farfax that dwelt a mile from the towne going to Church left his wife and three small children safe at home as he thought and a young youth she supposing praier to be done left the children and went to meet her husband presently after came three or foure of those fugitiue Saluages entred the house and slew a boy and three children and also another youth that stole out of the Church in praier time meeting them was likewise murdered Of this disaster the Captaine sent to Opechankanough for satisfaction but he excused the matter as altogether ignorant of it at the same time the Saluages that were robbed were complaining to Opechankanough and much feared the English would bee reuenged on them so that Opechankanough sent to Captaine Argall to assure him the peace should neuer be broken by him desiring that he would not reuenge the iniurie of those fugitiues vpon the innocent people of that towne which towne he should haue and sent him a basket of earth as possession giuen of it and promised so soone as possibly they could catch these robbers to send him their heads for satisfaction but he neuer performed it Samuel Argall Iohn Rolfe A relation from Master Iohn Rolfe Iune 15. 1618. COncerning the state of our new Common-wealth it is somewhat bettered for we haue sufficient to content our selues though not in such abundance as is vainly reported in England Powhatan died this last Aprill yet the Indians continue in peace Itopatin his second brother succeeds him and both hee and Opechankanough haue confirmed our former league On the eleuenth of May about ten of the clocke in the night happened a most fearefull tempest but it continued not past halfe an houre which powred downe hailestones eight or nine inches about that none durst goe out of their doores and though it tore the barke and leaues of the trees yet wee finde not they hurt either man or beast it fell onely about Iames towne for but a mile to the East and twentie to the West there was no haile at all Thus in peace euery man followed his building and planting without any accidents worthy of note Some priuate differences happened betwixt Captaine Bruster and Captaine Argall and Captaine Argall and the Companie here in England but of them I am not fully informed neither are they here for any vse and therefore vnfit to be remembred In December one Captaine Stallings an old planter in those parts being imployed by them of the West countrie for a fishing voyage in New-England fell foule of a Frenchman whom hee tooke leauing his owne ship to returne for England himselfe with a small companie remained in the French barke some small time after vpon the coast and thence returned to winter in Virginia The gouernment surrendred to Sir George Yearley FOr to begin with the yeere of our Lord 1619. there arriued a little Pinnace priuatly from England about Easter for Captaine Argall who taking order for his affaires within foure or fiue daies returned in her and left for his Deputy Captaine Nathaniel Powell On the eâ—ighteenth of Aprill which was but ten or twelue daies after arriued Sir George Yearley by whom we vnderstood Sir Edwin Sands was chosen Treasurer and Master Iohn Farrar his Deputy and what great supplies was a preparing to be sent vs
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
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
the West Indies but when they vnderstood vvhat they vvere much preparation they made to resist the new Gouernour Many great ostentations appeared on both sides but vvhen the quondam Gouernour did see his men for most part forsake him all was very well and quietly compounded and with much kindnesse receiued and welcomed a shore where his Commission was no sooner read then they accepted and acknowledged him for their Gouernour The Gouernment of Captaine Daniel Tuckar ABout the mistd of May arriued this Gouernor where finding the Inhabitants both abhorring all exacted labour as also in a manner disdaining and grudging much to be commanded by him it could not but passionate any man liuing But at last according to the Virginia order hee set euery one was with him at Saint Georges to his taske to cleere grounds fell trees set corne square timber plant vines and other fruits brought out of England These by their taske Masters by breake a day repaired to the wharfe from thence to be imployed to the place of their imployment till nine of the clocke and then in the after-noone from three till Sunne-set Beside meat drinke and cloaths they had for a time a certaine kinde of brasse money with a hogge on the one side in memory of the abundance of hogges was found at their first landing This course thus squared imitating diuers orders vsed in Virginia by Sir Tho. Dale he began by them to looke into his instructions giuen by the Company Whereupon by one Mr. Richard Norwood a Suruayor sent ouer for that purpose in the time of Master Moore hee began to lay out the eight tribes in the maine which were to consist of fifty shares to a tribe and twenty fiue acers to euery share He also began to plant some Colony men on some of the especiall shares He swore also certaine of the chiefe men of euery tribe to bee Bailiffes thereof and appointed as many men as hee was able for all supplied shares The goods landed in the store houses hee sent from thence and dispersed it to his workemen in generall some Boats also began to be builded but the pinace called the Thomas suspected might make an escape was laid vp in a docke were shee yet remaineth In the beginning of the second moneth of his gouernment he directed warrants to all the Bailiffes for the holding of a generall Assise at Saint Georges and appointed Master Stokes Lieutenant of the Kings Castle at the Gurnets head The Edwin came with him he sent to the West Indies by directions from England to trade with the natiues for cattell corne plants and other commodities A course of great importance which had it been pursued would certainly haue produced more hopefull effects for the good of the Colony then all the supplies and Magazines from England hath or will in a long time Presently after her departure began the Assises executed by his Deputy The chiefe matter handled was the hanging one Iohn Wood a French man for speaking many distastefull and mutinous speeches against the Gouernour to shew the rest by that example the power of his authority which after with his owne hands he so oft executed with a bastinado amongst the poorer sort many tearmed it a cruelty not much lesse then tyranny but the sequell is more then strange So it was that fiue of them seeing by no meanes they could get passage for England resolued to vndergoe all hazards but they would make an escape from such seruitude The chiefe mariner and plotter of this businesse was Richard Sanders and his confederates William Goodwin a ship Carpenter Thomas Harison a Ioyner Iames Barker a Gentleman and Henry Puet These repairing to the Gouernour and with pleasing insinuations told him if hee would allow them but things necessary they would build him a boat of two or three tunnes with a close decke should goe a fishing all weathers The Gouernour halfe proud that hee had brought his men to so good a passe as he conceiued to offer themselues to so necessary a worke instantly with all willingnesse furnished them with all things they could desire and many faire promises to incourage them to performe it with all expedition Hauing made choise of a place most fit from molestation they went forward with that expedition that in a short time shee was brought to perfection By this time the ship that brought the Gouernour being ready to depart hee sends a lusty gange to goe fetch his new boat to carry him aboard but arriuing at the place where she was built they could heare no more of her but she was gone the last euening to Sea to try how shee would saile Much search and dispute was where this boat should be but at last they found diuers letters in the cabbins to this effect directed to the Gouernour and other their friends that their hard and bad vsage was so intolerable and their hope so small euer againe to see their Countrey or be deliuered from such seruitude they did rather chuse to put themselues to that desperate hazard to goe for England in which if they miscaried as it was much to be mistrusted their liues and bloods should be required at their hands was the cause A compasse Diall Barker had borrowed of Master Hues to whom he writ that as hee had oft perswaded them to patience and that God would pay them though none did hee must now bee contented with the losse of his Diall with his owne doctrine Such leasure they found to bee merry when in the eye of reason they were marching into a most certaine ruine The Gouernour being thus satisfied of their escape extreamly threatned them no lesse then a hanging but the stormes of the Ocean they now more feared then him good prouision by bartering they had got from the ship where Goodwin in a brauado told the Mariners though he could not be permitted to goe with them yet peraduenture hee might be in England before them whereat the Master and his Mate laughed merrily But hauing beene now vnder saile three weekes the winds so fauoured them they felt nothing of what they had cause to feare then a blustering gale blowing in their teeth put them to much extremity for diuers dayes then becomming more gentle away they past prosperously some eight or ten dayes more till meeting a French Piccaroune of whom they desired succour hee like himselfe tooke from them what hee liked leauing them not so much as a crosse-staffe to obserue withall and so cast them off their course still they continued till their victuall began to fall to the lowest ebbe and the very knees of their small vessell were halfe hewed away for fire wood At last to their infinit ioy they arriued in Ireland where the Earle of Tomund honorably entertained them and caused the boat to be hung vp for a Monument and well she might for shee had sailed more then 3300. miles by a right line thorow the maine Sea without any
sight of land and I thinke since God made the world the like nauigation was neuer done nor heard of This fortunate Sanders going to the East Indies in the rifling some ships there tooke it was his chance to buy an old chest for three or foure shillings but because it wanted a key hee repented his bargaine and would gladly haue sold it againe for lesse A certaine time it lay tossed to and fro as a thing hee little regarded but at last hauing little to doe hee broke it open where he found a thousand pounds starling or so much gold as bought him in England a good estate which leauing with his wife he returned againe to the East Indies The George setting saile three dayes after this escape the Gouernour seazed and confiscated all that those fugitiues left behinde them Within a weeke after returned the Edwin from the West Indies furnished with figges pynes sugar-canes plantaines papanes and diuers other plants which were presently replanted and since increased into greater numbers also an Indian and a Negar and so much ligna vitae as defrayed all the charge The Gouernor thus busied amongst his plants making hedges of Figtrees and Pomgranets and seuerall diuisions by Palizadoes for the defence of their guarding and keeping their cattell for in such husbandry qualities he well deserued great commendations The Aduenturers to supply him sent with all speed they could the Hopewell a small Barke but an excellent sailer and in her one Captaine Powell an excellent Mariner and well acquainted in the Indies where he was to goe trade after he had landed his passengers in the Summer Iles but in his iourney at the Westerne Iles meeting a Brasile man hee liked the suger and passengers so well hee mand the Caruill with his owne men and continued his course but bethinking himself how this would be entertained at the Summer Iles hee found such doubts hee went directly for the West Indies to take time to resolue what to doe arriuing there hee met a French rouer one euery way as cunning as himselfe but much more trecherous A great league of kindnesse is soone made betweene them vpon confidence whereof Powell and some of the chiefe with him being inuited aboord him is easily entised and in the midst of their cups both hee and his company treacherously made prisoners and thus was forced to giue him their prise or hang at the yards arme with all his company Hauing set them a shore away goes the French man Powels ship being but hard by presently fetcht them all a boord but finding his victuall neere spent and no hope at all to recouer his prize set his Portugales on shore and set saile for the Summer Iles where safely arriuing hee declared the whole passage to the Gouernour lest some other in telling might make it worse of which the Gouernour seemed well enough to approue This Gouernour still spent his time in good husbandry although some of the snarling sort here in England whom nothing will please writ to him hee was fitter to be a Gardiner then a Gouernour some time he spent in digging of a great pond but that worke proued altogether vnprofitable about that time was held the second Assise The greatest matter passed was a Proclamatiō against the spoile of Cahowes but it came too late for they were most destroyed before a platforme hee caused to be erected by Pagits Fort where a good Fort were very necessary Captaine Powell not hauing performed his seruice in the West Indies he conditioned with the Company is sent thither againe by this Gouernour and thirteene or fourteene of his best men furnished with all things necessary In the meane time the Company vnderstanding that in Ianuary February and March there are many Whales for which fishing they sent the Neptune a tall ship well prouided with euery thing fitting for that purpose But before she arriued Captaine Tuckar who had brought also with him most prouisions for that imploiment sent three good Shalops to try what could be done but whether it was the swiftnes of the Whale in swimming or the condition of the place certaine it is for all their labour and hazard they could kill none though they strucke many To begin his second yeere he called the third Assise where diuers were punished as their faults deserued three were condemned to die two were repriued but the third was hanged the next day there was also a leuy for the repairing two Forts but that labour tooke not such effect as was intended for want of good directions But the great God of heauen being angry at somewhat happened in those proceedings caused such an increase of silly rats in the space of two yeeres so to abound before they regarded them that they filled not onely those places where they were first landed but swimming from place to place spread themselues into all parts of the Countrey insomuch that there was no Iland but it was pestered with them and some fishes haue beene taken with rats in their bellies which they caught in swimming from I le to I le their nests they had almost in euery tree and in most places their burrowes in the ground like conies they spared not the fruits of the plants or trees nor the very plants themselues but are them vp When they had set their corne the rats would come by troupes in the night and scratch it out of the ground If by diligent watch any escaped till it came to earing it should then very hardly escape them and they became noysome euen to the very persons of men They vsed all the diligence they could for the destroying of them nourishing cats both wilde and tame for that purpose they vsed rats-bane and many times set fire on the woods that oft ran halfe a mile before it was extinct euery man was enioyned to set twelue traps and some of their owne accord haue set neere an hundred which they euer visited twice or thrice in a night they also trained vp their dogges to hunt them wherein they became so expert that a good dog in two or three houres would kil forty or fity Many other deuices they vsed to destroy them but could not preuaile finding them still increasing against them nay they so deuoured the fruits of the earth that they were destitute of bread for a yeere or two so that when they had it afterwards they were so wained from it they easily neglected to eat it with their meat Besides they endeuoured so much for the planting Tobacco for present gaine that they neglected many things might more haue preuailed for their good which caused amongst them much weaknesse and mortality since the beginning of this vermine At last it pleased God but by what meanes it is not well knowne to take them away in so much that the wilde cats and many dogs which liued on them were famished and many of them leauing the woods came downe to their houses and to
his first peece of fortification vpon a Rocke which flankers the Kings Castle and finding the ship called the Treasurer starke rotten and vnseruiceable hee tooke nine peeces of Ordinance from her to serue other vses The Garland for want of meanes could not make her voiage to Virginia as she was appointed wherefore he entertained her to returne to England with all the Tabacco they had in the I le It was Ianuary before she departed in which time shee failed not much to haue beene twice cast away But those strange and vnauoidable mischances rather seemed to quicken the Gouernors industry then to dull it Hauing finished the Church begun by Captaine Kendall with an infinite toile and labour he got three peeces out of the wracke VVarwicke Hauing an excellent Dutch Carpinter he entertained of them that were cast away in the Dutch Frigot he imploied him in building of Boats whereof they were in exceeding great want In February they discouered a tall ship beating too and againe as it seemed by her working being ignorant of the Coast some thought her a Spaniard to view their Forts which stand most to that part she so neerely approached some English but the most some Dutch man of Warre The wind blew to high they durst not send out a Boat though they much doubted she would be foule of their Rocks but at last she bore vp rommy for the Sea and we heard of her no more That euening a lucky fellow it should seeme he was that found a peece of Amber-greece of eight ounces as he had twice before which bringing to the Gouernor he had ready money for the one halfe after three pound an ounce according to their order of Court to encourage others to looke out for more and preuent the mischiefe insueth by concealing of it Within a few daies after they descried two Frigots that came close to the shore and sent a Letter to the Gouernor writ in Italian that they were Hollanders had beene in the West-Indies and desired but to arriue refresh themselues with wood and water and so be gone The Gouernor forthwith sent them to vnderstand that being there vnder his Maiestie of England to command those Iles he was to carrie himselfe a friend to his friends and an enemy to his enemies if therefore he could shew a lawfull Commission for his being honestly and nobly emploied he and his should be kindly welcome otherwise they were to aduenture at their perills But his Commission was so good he staied there two moneths and was so well fitted with Oile Bacon they were all glad and happy of this Dutch Captaine Scoutans arriuall with many thanks to their old friend Captaine Powell that had conducted him thither the Colony being exceedingly in great want and distresse bought the most part of it at reasonable rates so Captaine Scoutan returned to the West-Indies and Captaine Powell for his part in the Low-Countries Whilest these things were in action the Aduenturers in \ England made many a long looke for their ships at last the Garland brought them all the newes but the Tobacco was so spoiled either in the leaking ship or the making vp it caused a great suspicion there could none was good come from those Iles where were they but perfit in the cure questionlesse it would be much better then a great quantitie of that they sell for Verinas and many a thousand of it in London hath beene bought and sold by that title The Gouernor being cleere of those distractions falls vpon the restoring of the burnt Redoubt where he cuts out a large new plat-forme and mounts seuen great peece of Ordnance vpon new cariages of Cedar Now amongst all those troubles it was not the least to bring the two Ministers to subscribe to the Booke of Common Praier which all the Bishops in England could not doe Finding it high time to attempt some conformitie bethought himselfe of the Liturgie of Garnsey and Iarse wherein all those particulars they so much stumbled at were omitted No sooner was this propounded but it was gladly imbraced by them both whereupon the Gouernor translated it verbatim out of French into English and caused the eldest Minister vpon Easter day to begin the vse thereof at S. Georges towne where himselfe most of the Councell Officers and Auditorie receiued the Sacrament the which forme they continued during the time of his gouernment Much about this time in such a faire morning that had inuited many Boats farre out to the Sea to fish did rise such a Hericano that much indangered them all so that one of them with two Boies were driuen to Sea and neuer more heard of The Ministers thus agreed a Proclamation was published for keeping of the Sabbath and all the defectiue cariages he endeuoured to haue renewed builded a small Boat of Cedar onely to goe with Ores to be ready vpon any occasion to discouer any shipping and tooke order euery Fort should haue the like Also caused numbers of Cedars to be brought from diuers places in flotes to rebuild the Mount which with an vnspeakable toile was raised seuen foot higher then before and a Falcon mounted at the foot to be alwaies discharged for a warning to all the Forts vpon the discouery of any shipping and this he called Rich Mount This exceeding toile and labour hauing no Cattle but onely mens strengths caused many petitions to the Gouernour that all those generall works might cease till they had reaped their haruests in that they were in great distresse for victuall which hee so well answered their owne shames did cause them desist from that importunity and voluntarily performe as much as hee required Finding accidentally a little crosse erected in a by place amongst a many of bushes vnderstanding there was buried the heart and intrailes of Sir George Summers hee resolued to haue a better memory for so worthy a Souldier then that So finding also a great Marble stone brought out of England hee caused it by Masons to bee wrought handsomely and laid ouer the place which hee inuironed with a square wall of hewen stone Tombe like wherein hee caused to bee grauen this Epitaph he had composed and fixed it vpon the Marble stone and thus it was In the yeere 1611 Noble Sir George Summers went hence to heauen Whos 's well tri'd worth that held him still imploid Gaue him the knowledge of the world so wide Hence 't was by heauens decree that to this place He brought new guests and name to mutuall grace At last his soule and body being to part He here bequeath'd his entrails and his heart Vpon the sixt of Iune began the second Assise that reduced them to the direct forme vsed in England For besides the Gouernour and Councell they haue the Bailiffes of the Tribes in nature of the Deputy Lieutenants of the shires in England for to them are all precepts and warrants directed and accordingly answered and respected they performe also the
duties of Iustices of Peace within their limits The subordinate Officers to these in euery tribe are the Constables Head-borowes and Church-wardens these are the triers of the Tobacco which if they allow not to be marchantable is burnt and these are the executioners of their ciuill and politicke causes For points of warre and martiall affaires they haue the Gouernour for Lieutenant generall the Sergeant maior Master of Ordinance Captaines of Companies Captaines of Forts with their seuerall officers to traine and exercise those numbers vnder their charge in martiall discipline Concerning their Courts for decision of right and iustice the first though last in constitution is their generall assembly allowed by the state in England in the nature of a Parliament consisting of about forty persons viz. the Gouernour the Counsell the Bailiffes of the tribes and two Burgesses of each tribe chosen by voyces in the tribe besides such of the Clergie as the Gouernour thinkes most fit to be held once a yeere as you shall heare more thereof hereafter The next Court is the Assise or Iayles of deliuerie held twice euery yeere in Christmas and Whitson weeke for all criminall offenders and ciuill causes betwixt party and party as actions of debt trespasse battery slander and the like and these are determined by a Iury of twelue men and aboue them is also a grand Iury to examine matters of greater consequence The last day of the Assise might also well be held a Court for hearing the trangressions in matters of contempt mis-behauiour towards any Magistrate riots seditious speakers contemners of warrants and such like there are also as occasion shall require many matters heard by the Gouernor or his Officers and oft iustice done in seuerall places but those are but as daies of hearing and as preparatiues against their Courts c. At this last Assize eighteene were arrained for criminall causes a number very extraordinary considering the place but now occasioned by reason of the hard yeere and the store of ill chosen new commers of these some were censured to the whipping post some burned in the hand but two were condemned to die yet the one was reprieued the other hanged this done euery man returned to his home many trials they made againe about the Warwicke but to small purpose her Ordnance being lashed so fast they could not be vnloosed till the ropes and decks were rotten yet some few buttes of beare being storie they got which though it had lien six moneths vnder water was very good notwithstanding the next yeere they recouered fiue peeces of Ordnance Vpon the first of August according to the Companies instructions from England began the generall assembly at the towne of Saint George which was the first these Iles euer had consisting as is said of the Gouernour Councell Bailiffes and Burgesses and a Secretarie to whom all bils were presented and by him openly read in the house also a Clerke to record the Acts being thirty two in all fifteene of which being sent into England were by a generall consent receiued and enacted the titles whereof are these following as for all the reasons for them they would be too tedious to recite The first was against the vniust sale and letting of apprentises and other seruants and this was especially for the righting the vndertakers in England The second concerning the disposing of aged diseased and impotent persons for it being considered how carelesse many are in preferring their friends or sending sometimes any they can procure to goe such vnseruiceable people should be returned back at their charge that sent them rather then be burdensome to the poore Inhabitants in the Iles. The third the necessary manning the Kings Castle being the key of the I le that a garison of twelue able men should bee there alwaies resident and 3000. eares of corne and 1000. pounds of Tobacco payed them by the generality yeerely as a pension The fourth against the making vnmarchantable Tobacco and Officers sworne to make true trials burne that was naught The fist inioyned the erection of certaine publike bridges and the maintenance of them The sixt for a continuall supply of victuall for all the Forts to bee preserued till some great occasion to vse it The seuenth was for two fixed dayes euery yeere for the Assises The eight commands the making of high-waies and prohibiting the passage ouer mens grounds and planted fields as well to preuent the spoyling of gardens as conueniencie to answer any alarum The ninth for the preseruing young tortoises and birds that were carelesly destroyed The tenth prouided against vagabonds prohibited the entertainement of other mens seruants The eleuenth compelled the setting of a due quantity of corne for euery family The twelfth the care corne being set enioyned the keeping vp of their poultry till it was past their reaches The thirteenth for the preseruation of sufficient fences against the selling of marked trees appointed for bounds The fourteenth granted to a leuy for a thousand pound weight of Tobacco towards the payment of publike workes as the bridges and the mount The fifteenth for the enioyning an acknowledgement and acception of all resident Gouernours and the warranting him to continue though his time be expired till the arriuall of a legitimate successor from England to preuent all vomeet and presumptuous elections besides it was desired by petition in England the new Gouernous should liue two months as a priuate man after his arriuall if his predecessor did stay so long the better to learne and obserue his course And these are the contents of those fifteene Acts applied as you may perceiue which the lawes of England could not take notice of because euery climate hath somewhat to it selfe in that kinde in particular for otherwise as it is conceiued it had beene a high impudency and presumption to haue medled with them or indeed with any such as these lawes that had with such great iudgement and iustice alwaies prouided for No sooner was this businesse ouer but the Magazin ship is discouered and that night came into the Harbour but in a very weake and sickly case hauing cast ouer board twenty or thirty of her people and so violent was the infection that the most part of the failers as well as passengers were so sicke or dismaid or both that the Master confessed had they stayed at the Sea but a weeke longer they had all perished There arriued with this ship diuers Gentlemen of good fashion with their wiues and families but many of them crasie by the tediousnesse of the voyage howsoeuer most of them by the excellent salubrity of the aire then which the world hath not a better soone after recouered yet some there were that died presently after they got ashore it being certainly the quality of the place either to kill or cure quickly as the bodies are more or lesse corrupted By this ship the Company sent a supply of ten persons for the
generality but of such bad condition that it seemed they had picked the Males out of Newgate the Females from Bridewell As the Gouernour found it his best course to grant out the women to such as were so greedy of wiues and would needs haue them for better for worse and the men hee placed in the Kings Castle for souldiers But this bad weake sickly supply being dispersed for their best reliefe by the much imployment of his boats in remoouing them many of his owne men became infected so that for some weekes they were not able to doe him any seruice at all Strict instructions also they brought for the planting of Sugar caneâ— for which the Iland being rockie and dry is so vnproper that few as yet haue beene seene to prosper yet there are others hold the contrary opinion that there is raine so ordinarily the Iles are so moist as produceth all their plants in such infinit abundance there is no great reason to suspect this were it rightly vsed more then the râ—st Seuenty thousand weight of Tobacco being prepared towards her fraught she returned for England No sooner was shee gone then came in another sent by the Company and generalty well conditioned but shee failed not much to haue beene cast away amongst those dangerous terrible rocks by her came also expresse command they should entertaine no other ships then were directly sent from the Company this caused much grudging and indeed a generall distraction and exclamation among the Inhabitants to be thus constrained to buy what they wanted and sell what they had at what price the Magazin pleased and to debarre true men from comming to them for trade or reliefe that were daily receiued in all the harbours in England So long this ship stayed going for fraught and wages the Master not caring how long he lay at that rate in a good harbour the Gouernour was ready to send her away by Proclamation Thus ended the first yeere of the gouernment of C. Butler With the first of the second yeere were held the Assises where all the Bailiffes were fined for not giuing a beginning to the building of the bridges there was also an order to restraine the excessiue wages all handicrafts men would haue and that the Church-wardens should meet twice a yeere to haue all their presentments made perfect against the Assises The Assises done all the ablest men were trained in their armes and then departed to their owne homes The towne thus cleered he made certaine new carriages for some demy Culuerings and a large new store-house of Cedar for the yeerely Magazines goods finished Warwicks Fort begun by Master More and made a new platforme at Pagits Fort also a faire house of lime and stone for the Townes-house The three bridges appointed by the generall assembly was followed with such diligence though they were more then an hundred or an hundred and twenty foot in length hauing the foundation and arches in the Sea were raised and accomplished so that man or beast with facility might passe them At Whitsonday was held the fourth generall Assise at Saint Georges where were tryed twenty seuerall causes foure or fiue were whipped or burnt in the hand for breaking of houses also an order was made that the party cast in the triall of any cause should pay to euery of the Iurours foure pence moreouer that not past ten leaues at the most should grow vpon a plant of Tobacco and that also in the making it vp a distinction should diligently be obserued of two kinds a better and a worse then they built a strong stone house for the Captaine of the Kings Castle and corps du guard and repaired what defects they could finde in the platformes and carriages Captaine Powell so oft mentioned hauing beene in the West-Indies for the States of Holland came to an anchor within shot of their Ordnance desiring admittance for wood and water of which hee had great need but the Gouernor would not permit him so he weighed and departed whereat the company were so madded it was not possible to constraine them to cease their exclaimations against the Companies inhihition till they were weary with exclaming But still for their better defence not thinking themselues sufficiently secure hauing finished two new plat-formes more arriued the Magazin ship but her Master was dead and many of the Passengers the rest for most part very sicke and withall a strange and wonderfull report of much complaint made against the Gouernor to the Company in England by some of them returned in the last yeeres shipping but it was eight daies before she could get in by reason of ill weather being forced againe to Sea so that time they kept euery night continually great fires she might see the Ile as well by night as day but at last she arriued and he plainly vnderstood he had more cause a great deale to looke for misconstruction of all his seruice then an acknowledgment much lesse a recompence any better then his predecessors but it is no new thing to require the best desert with the most vildest of ingratitude The very next daies night after the arriuall of the Magazins ship newes was brought the Gouernor by a dismaied Messenger from Sands his Tribe that one hundred Spaniards were landed in that part and diuers ships discouered at Sea whereupon he presently manned the Forts and instantly made thitherward in person with twentie men determining as he found cause to draw together more strength by the way Being got thither by the breake of the next day in stead of an enemy which he expected he met onely with a company of poore distressed Portugals and Spaniards who in their passage from Carthagena in the West-Indies in consort with the Spanish fleet of Plait by the same storme that had indangered the Magazin ship lost theirs vpon those terrible Rocks being to the number of seuenty persons were strangely preserued and the manner was thus About Sunne-set their ship beating amongst the Rocks some twenty of the Sailers got into the Boat with what treasure they could leauing the Captaine the Master and all the rest to the mercy of the Sea But a Boy not past foureteene yeares of age that leaped after to haue got into the Boat missing that hope it pleased God he got vpon a Chest a drift by him whereon they report he continued two daies and was driuen neere to the cleane contrary part of the I le where he was taken vp neere dead yet well recouered All this night the ship sticking fast the poore distressed in her the next day spying land made a raft and were those gaue the alarum first a shore about three of the clocke in the after noone The morning after about seuen of the clocke came in the Boat to a place called Mangroue Bay and the same day their Carpenter was driuen a shore vpon a Planke neere Hog-Bay There was a Gentlewoman that had stood wet vp to the
middle vpon the raft from the ship to the shore being big with childe and although this was vpon the thirteenth of September she tooke no hurt and was safely deliuered of a Boy within three daies after The best comfort could be giuen them in those extremities they had although some of the baser sort had beene rifling some of them before the Gouernors arriuall Also the Spanish Captaine and the chiefe with him much complained of the treachery of his men to leaue him in that manner yet had conueyed with them the most of the money they could come by which he easily missed whereupon hee suddenly caused all them he accused to be searched and recouered to the value of one hundred and fortie pounds starling which he deliuered into the Captaines hands to be imploied in a generall purse towards their generall charge during their stay in the Iles some of the better sort nine or ten weeks dieted at his owne table the rest were billited amongst the Inhabitants at foure shillings the weeke till they found shipping for their passage for which they paied no more then the English paied themselues and for the passage of diuers of them the Gouernor was glad to stand bound to the Master some others that were not able to procure such friendship were so constrained to stay in the Iles till by their labours they had got so much as would transport them and thus they were preserued releeued and deliuered In the moneth insuing arriued the second ship and she also had lost her Master and diuers of her Passengers in her came two Virginian Women to be married to some would haue them that after they were conuerted and had children they might be sent to their Countrey and kindred to ciuilize them Towards the end of this moneth came in the third ship with a small Magazin hauing sold what she could caried the rest to Virginia and neuer did any of those Passengers complaine either of their good diet or too good vsage at sea but the cleane contrary still occasioned many of those extremities The fift of Nouember the damnable plot of the powder treason was solemnized with Praiers Sermons and a great Feast whereto the Gouernor inuited the chiefe of the Spaniards where drinking the Kings health it was honored with a quicke volly of small shot which was answered from the Forts with the great Ordnance and then againe concluded with a second volley of small shot neither was the afternoone without musicke and dancing and at night many huge bone-fires of sweet wood The Spaniards to expresse their thankfulnesse at their departure made a deed of gift to the Gouernor of whatsoeuer he could recouer of the wracked ship but the ships as they went out came so dangerously vpon a Rock that the poore Spaniards were so dismaied swearing this place was ominous vnto them especially the women that desired rather to goe a shore and die howsoeuer than aduenture any further in such a labyrinth of dangers but at last she got cleere without danger and well to England the other went to Virginia wherein the Gouernor sent two great Chests filled with all such kinds and sorts of Fruits and Plants as their Ilands had as Figs Pomgranats Oranges Lemons Sugar-canes Plantanes Potatoes Papawes Cassado roots red Pepper the Prickell Peare and the like The ships thus dispatched hee goeth into the maine and so out to sea to the Spanish wracke He had beene there before presently after her ruine for neuer had ship a more sudden death being now split in peeces all vnder water He found small hope to recouer any thing saue a Cable and an Anchor and two good Sacars but the wind was so high hee was forced to returne being ten miles from the shore onely with three Murderers which were knowne to be the same Captaine Kendall had sold to Captaine Kerby whose ship was taken by two men of warre of Carthagena the most of his men slaine or hanged and he being wounded died in the woods Now their Pilot being at this seruice got thus those three Murderers to their ship and their ship thus to the Bermudas as the Spaniards remaining related to the Gouernor and others Hauing raised three small Bulwarkes at Southamptons Fort with two Curtaines and two Rauilings which indeed is onely the true absolute peece of fortification in the Iles Christmas being come and the prefixed day of the Assise diuers were whipped and burnt in the hand onely three young boyes for stealing were condemned and at the very point of hanging repriued The Gouernour then sent his Lieutenant all ouer the maine to distribute Armes to those were found most fit to vse them to giue order for their randezuous which were hanged vp in the Church About this time it chanced a pretty secret to be discouered to preserue their corne from the fly or weauell which did in a manner as much hurt as the rats For the yeere before hauing made a Proclamation that all Corne should be gathered by a certaine day because many lazy persons ranne so after the ships to get Beere and Aquavitae for which they will giue any thing they haue much had beene lost for want of gathering This yeare hauing a very faire crop some of the Inhabitants none of the best husbands hastily gathered it for feare of the penaltie threw it in great heaps into their houses vnhusked and so let it lie foure or fiue moneths which was thought would haue spoiled it where the good husbands husked it and with much labour hung it vp where the Flies did so blow on it they increased to so many Weauels they generally complained of great losse but those good fellowes that neuer cared but from hand to mouth made their boasts that not a graine of theirs had beene touched nor hurt there being no better way to preserue it then by letting it lie in its huske and spare an infinite labour formerly had beene vsed There were also very luckily about this time found out diuers places of fresh water of which many of the Forts were very destitute and the Church-wardens and Side-men were very busie in correcting the prophaners of the Sabbath Drunkards Gamesters and such like There came also from Virginia a small Barke with many thanks for the presents sent them much Aquauitae Oile Sacke and Bricks they brought in exchange of more Fruits and Plants Ducks Turkies and Limestone of which she had plenty and so returned During the aboad of the stay of this ship the mariage of one of the Virginia maides was consummated with a husband fit for her attended with more then one hundred guests and all the dainties for their dinner could be prouided they made also another triall to fish for Whales but it tooke no more effect then the former this was done by the Master of the Virginia ship that professed much skill that way but hauing fraughted his ship with Lime-stone with 20000. weight of Potatoes and such things as
and Poultry as is formerly related yet for so departing and other occasions much difference hath beene betwixt him and some of the Company as any of his Predecessors which I rather wish were reconciled then to be a reporter of such vnprofitable dissentions For Till trechery and faction and auarice be gone Till enuy and ambition and backbiting be none Till periury and idlenesse and iniury be out And truly till that villany the worst of all that rout Vnlesse those vises banisht be what euer Forts you haue A hundred walls together put will not haue power to saue Master Iohn Barnard sent to be Gouernour TO supply this place was sent by the noble aduenturers Iohn Bernard a Gentleman both of good meanes and quality who arriued within eight daies after Butlers departure with two ships and about one hundred and forty passengers with armes and all sorts of munition and other prouisions sufficient During the time of his life which was but six weekes in reforming all things he found defectiue he shewed himselfe so iudiciall and industrious as gaue gâ—eat satisfaction and did generally promise vice was in great danger to be suppressed and vertue and the Plantation much aduanced but so it hapned that both he and his wife died in such short time they were both buried in one day and one graue and Master Iohn Harrison chosen Gouernour till further order came from England What hapned in the gouernment of Master Iohn Harrison THey are still much troubled with a great short worme that deuours their Plants in the night but all the day they lie hid in the ground and though early in the morning they kill so many they would thinke there were no more yet the next morning you shall finde as many The Caterpillers to their fruits are also as pernicious and the land Crabs in some places are as thicke in their Borowes as Conies in a Warren and doe much hurt besides all this there hapned this yeere a very heauy disaster for a ship wherein there had beene much swearing and blaspheming vsed all the voyage and landed what she had to leaue in those Iles iouâ—ally froliking in their Cups and Tobacco by accident fired the Powder that at the very instant blew vp the great Cabin and some one way and some another it is a wonder to thinke how they could bee so blowne out of the gun-roome into the Sea where some were taken vp liuing so pitifully burned their liues were worse then so many deaths some died some liued but eighteene were lost at this fatall blast the ship also immediatly sunke with threescore barrels of meale sent for Virginia and all the other prouision in her was thus lost Now to consider how the Spaniards French and Dutch haue beene lost and preserued in those inuincible Iles yet neuer regarded them but as monuments of miseries though at this present they all desire them How Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Summers being ready to sinke in the sea were saued what an incredible abundance of victuall they found how it was first planted by the English the strange increase of Rats and their sudden departure the fiue men came from England in a boat the escape of Hilliard and the rest of those accidents there hapned a man would thinke it a tabernacle of miracles and the worlds wonder that from such a Paradise of admiration who would thinke should spring such wonders of afflictions as are onely fit to be sacrificed vpon the highest altars of sorrow thus to be set vpon the highest Pinacles of content and presently throwne downe to the lowest degree of extremity as you see haue beene the yeerely succeedings of those Plantations the which to ouercome as it is an incomparable honour so it can be no dishonour if a man doe miscarry by vnfortunate accidents in such honourable actions the which renowne and vertue to attaine hath caused so many attempts by diuers Nations besides ours euen to passe through the very amazement of aduentures Vpon the relation of this newes the Company hath sent one Captaine Woodhouse a Gentleman of good repute and great experience in the warres and no lesse prouident then industrious and valiant then returned report all goeth well there It is too true in the absence of the noble Treasurer Sir Edward Sackvill now Earle of Dorset there haue beene such complaints betwixt the Planters and the Company that by command the Lords appointed Sir Thomas Smith againe Treasurer that since then according to their order of Court he is also elected where now we must leaue them all to their good fortune and successe till we heare further of their fortunate proceedings FINIS To his friend Captaine Smith vpon his description of New-England SIr your Relations I haue read which shew Ther 's reason I should honour them and you And if their meaning I haue vnderstood I dare to censure thus Your Proiect 's good And may if follow'd doubtlesse quit the paine With honour pleasure and a trebble gaine Beside the benefit that shall arise To make more happy our Posterities For would we daigne to spare though 't were no more Then what ore-fils and surfets vs in store To order Nature's fruitfulnesse a while In that rude Garden you New-England stile With present good ther 's hope in after-daies Thence to repaire what Time and Pride decaies In this rich Kingdome And the spacious West Being still more with English bloud possest The proud Iberians shall not rule those Seas To checke our ships from sailing where they please Nor future times make any forraine power Become so great to force a bound to Our Much good my minde foretels would follow hence With little labour and with lesse expence Thriue therefore thy Designe who ere enuy England may ioy in England's Colony Virginia seeke her Virgin sisters good Be blessed in such happy neighbourhood Or whatsoere Fate pleaseth to permit Be thou still honour'd for first mouing it George Wither è societate Lincol. To that worthy and generous Gentleman my very good friend Captaine Smith MAy Fate thy Proiect prosper that thy name May be eternized with liuing fame Though foule Detraction Honour would peruert And Enuie euer waits vpon desert In spight of Pelias when his hate lies cold Returne as Iason with a fleece of gold Then after-ages shall record thy praise That a New-England to this I le didst raise And when thou di'st as all that liue must die Thy fame liue here thou with Eternity R. Gunnell To his worthy Captaine the Author OFt thou hast led when I brought vp the Rere In bloudy wars where thousands haue beene slaine Then giue me leaue in this some part to beare And as thy seruant here to reade my name T is true long time thou hast my Captaine beene In the fierce warres of Transiluania Long ere that thou America hadst seene Or led wast captiu'd in Virginia Thou that to passe the worlds foure parts dost deeme No more then
t' were to goe to bed or drinke And all thou yet hast done thou dost esteeme As nothing This doth cause me thinke That thou I 'aue seene so oft approu'd in dangers And thrice captiu'd thy valour still hath freed Art yet preserued to conuert those strangers By God thy guide I trust it is decreed For me I not commend but much admire Thy England yet vnknowne to passers by-her For it will praise it selfe in spight of me Thou it it thou to all posterity Your true friend and souldier Ed. Robinson To my honest Captaine the Author MAlignant Times What can be said or done But shall be censur'd and traduc't by some This worthy Worke which thou hast bought so deare Ne thou nor it Detractors need to feare Thy words by deeds so long thou hast approu'd Of thousands know thee not thou art belou'd And this great Plot will make thee ten times more Knowne and belou'd than ere thou wert before I neuer knew a Warrier yet but thee From wine Tobacco debts dice oaths so free I call thee Warrier and I make the bolder For many a Captaine now was neuer Souldier Some such may swell at this but to their praise When they haue done like thee my Muse shall raise Their due deserts to Worthies yet to come To liue like thine admir'd till day of Doome Your true friend sometimes your souldier Tho. Carlton NEW ENGLAND The most remarqueable parts thus named by the high and mighty Prince CHARLES Prince of great Britaine THE PORTRAICTUER OF CAPTAYNE IOHN SMITH ADMIRALL OF NEW ENGLAND These are the Lines that shew thy Face but those That shew thy Grace and Glory brighter bee Thy Faire-Discoueries and Fowle-Overthrowes Of Salvages much Civilliz'd by thee Best shew thy Spirit and to it Glory Wyn So thou art Brasse without but Golde within If so in Brasse too soft Smiths Acts to beare I fix thy Fame to make Brasse steele out weare Thine as thou art Virtues Goâ—â—â— Dauies Heref HONY S OIT QVI MAL Y PENSE A Scale of Leagues Observed and described by Captayn John Smith 1614 London Printed by Geor Low THE SIXTH BOOKE THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF NEW-ENGLAND COncerning this History you are to vnderstand the Letters-Patents granted by his Maiesty in 1606. for the limitation of Virginia did extend from 34. to 44. which was diuided in two parts namely the first Colony and the second the first was to the honourable City of London and such as would aduenture with them to discouer and take their choice where they would betwixt the degrees of 34. and 41. The second was appropriated to the Cities of Bristol Exeter and Plimoth c. and the West parts of England and all those that would aduenture and ioine with them and they might make their choise any where betwixt the degrees of 38. and 44. prouided there should bee at least 100. miles distance betwixt these 2. Colonies each of which had lawes priuileges and authoritie for the gouernment and aduancing their seuerall Plantations alike Now this part of America hath formerly beene called Norumbega Virginia Nuskoncus Penaquida Cannada and such other names as those that ranged the Coast pleased But because it was so mountainous rocky and full of Iles few haue aduentured much to trouble it but as is formerly related notwithstanding that honourable Patron of vertue Sir Iohn Popham Lord chiefe Iustice of England in the yeere 1606. procured meanes and men to possesse it and sent Captaine George Popham for President Captaine Rawley Gilbert for Admirall Captaine Edward Harlow master of the Ordnance Captaine Robert Dauis Sargeant-Maior Captaine Elis Best Marshall Master Seaman Secretary Captaine Iames Dauis to be Captaine of the Fort Master Gome Carew chiefe Searcher all those were of the Councell who with some hundred more were to stay in the Country they set saile from Plimoth the last of May and fell with Monahigan the eleuenth of August At Sagadahock 9. or 10. leagues southward they planted themselues at the mouth of a faire nauigable Riuer but the coast all thereabouts most extreme stony and rocky that extreme frozen Winter was so cold they could not range nor search the Country and their prouision so small they were glad to send all but 45. of their company backe againe their noble President Captaine Popham died and not long after arriued two ships well prouided of all necessaries to supply them and some small time after another by whom vnderstanding of the death of the Lord chiefe Iustice and also of Sir Iohn Gilbert whose lands there the President Rawley Gilbert was to possesse according to the aduenturers directions finding nothing but extreme extremities they all returned for England in the yeere 1608. and thus this Plantation was begunne and ended in one yeere and the Country esteemed as a cold barren mountainous rocky Desart Notwithstanding the right Honourable Henry Earle of South-hampton and those of the I le of Wight imploied Captaine Edward Harlow to discouer an I le supposed about Cape Cod but they found their plots had much abused them for falling with Monahigan they found onely Cape Cod no I le but the maine there they detained three Saluages aboord them called Pechmo Monopet and Pekenimne but Pechmo leapt ouer board and got away and not long after with his consorts cut their Boat from their sterne got her on shore and so filled her with sand and guarded her with Bowes and Arrowes the English lost her not farre from thence they had three men sorely wounded with Arrowes Anchoring at the I le of Nohone the Saluages in their Canowes assaulted the Ship till the English Guns made them retire yet here they tooke Sakaweston that after he had liued many yeeres in England went a Souldier to the warres of Bohemia At Capawo they tooke Coneconam and Epenow but the people at Agawom vsed them kindly so with fiue Saluages they returned for England yet Sir Francis Popham sent diuers times one Captaine Williams to Monahigan onely to trade and make core fish but for any Plantations there was no more speeches For all this as I liked Virginia well though not their proceedings so I desired also to see this country and spend some time in trying what I could finde for all those ill rumors and disasters From the relations of Captaine Edward Harlow and diuers others In the month of Aprill 1614. at the charge of Capt. Marmaduke Roydon Capt. George Langam Mr. Iohn Buley and Mr. William Skelton with two ships from London I chanced to arriue at Monahigan an I le of America in 434. of Northerly latitude out plot was there to take Whales for which we had one Samuel Cramton and diuers others expert in that faculty also to make trialls of a Mine of gold copper if those failed Fish and Furs were then our refuge to make our selues sauers howsoeuer we found this Whale-fishing a costly conclusion we saw many and spent much time in chasing them but could not
kill any They being a kinde of Iubartes and not the Whale that yeelds Fins and Oile as we expected for our gold it was rather the Masters deuice to get a voyage that proiected it then any knowledge he had at all of any such matter Fish and Furs were now our guard by our late arriuall and long lingring about the Whale the prime of both those seasons were past ere wee perceiued it wee thinking that their seasons serued at all times but we found it otherwise for by the middest of Iune the fishing failed yet in Iuly and August some were taken but not sufficient to defray so great a charge as our stay required of dry fish we made about forty thousand of Cor-fish about seuen thousand Whilest the Sailers fished my selfe with eight others of them might best bee spared ranging the Coast in a small Boat we got for trifles neere eleuen thousand Beuer skinnes one hundred Martins as many Otters and the most of them within the distance of twenty leagues we ranged the Coast both East and West much further but Eastward our commodities were not esteemed they were so neere the French who afforded them better with whom the Saluages had such commerce that only by trade they made exceeding great voyages though they were without the limits of our precincts during the time we tried those conclusions not knowing the coast nor Saluages habitations with these Furres the traine Oile and Cor-fish I returned for England in the Barke where within six moneths after our departure from the Downes wee safely arriued backe the best of this fish was sold for 5. li. the hundred the rest by ill vsage betwixt three pounds and 50. shillings The other ship stayed to fit her selfe for Spaine with the dry fish which was sold at Maligo at forty Rialls the Quintall each hundred weighing two quintals and a halfe But one Thomas Hunt the Master of this ship when I was gone thinking to preuent that intent I had to make there a Plantation thereby to keepe this abounding Countrey still in obscuritie that onely he and some few Merchants more might enioy wholly the benefit of the Trade and profit of this Countrey betraied foure and twenty of those poore Saluages aboord his ship and most dishonestly and inhumanely for their kinde vsage of me and all our men caried them with him to Maligo and there for a little priuate gaine sold those silly Saluages for Rials of eight but this vilde act kept him euer after from any more imploiment to those parts Now because at this time I had taken a draught of the Coast and called it New England yet so long he and his Consorts drowned that name with the Eccho of Cannaday and some other ships from other parts also that vpon this good returne the next yeere went thither that at last I presented this Discourse with the Map to our most gracious Prince Charles humbly intreating his Highnesse hee would please to change their baâ—barous names for such English as posteritie might say Prince Charles was their God-father which for your better vnderstanding both of this Discourse and the Mâ—p peruse this Schedule which will plainly shew you the correspondency of the old names to the new as his Highnesse named them The old names The new names Cape Cod. Cape Iames. The Harbor at Cape Cod. Milforth hauen Chawum Barwick Accomack Plimoth Sagoquas Oxford Massachusets Mount Cheuit hills Massachusits Riuer Charles Riuer Totan Famouth A great Bay by Cape Anne Bristow Cape Tragubigsanda Cape Anne Naembeck Bastable Aggawom Southampton Smiths Iles. Smiths Iles. Passataquack Hull Accominticus Boston Sassanows Mount Snowdon hill Sowocatuck Ipswich Bahanna Dartmouth A good Harbor within that Bay Sandwich Ancociscos Mount Shuters hill Ancocisco The Base Anmonghcawgen Cambridge Kenebecka Edenborow Sagadabock Leth. Pemmayquid S. Iohns towne Segocket Norwich Mecadacut Dunbarton Pennobscot Aberden Nusket Low mounds Those being omitted I named my selfe Monahigan Barties Iles. Matinack Willowbies Iles. Metinacus Haughtons Iles. The rest of the names in the Map are places that had no names we did know But to continue the History succeedingly as neere with the day and yeere as may bee Returning in the Barke as is said it was my ill chance to put in at Plimoth where imparting those my purposes to diuers I thought my friends whom as I supposed were interested in the dead Patent of this vnregarded Countrey I was so encouraged and assured to haue the managing their authoritie in those parts during my life and such large promises that I ingaged my selfe to vndertake it for them Arriuing at London though some malicious persons suggested there was no such matter to be had in that so bad abandoned Countrey for if there had other could haue found it so well as I therefore it was to be suspected I had robbed the French men in New France or Cannada and the Merchants see me forth seemed not to regard it yet I found so many promised me such assistance that I entertained Michael Cooper the Master of the Barke that returned with me and others of the Company how he dealt with others or others with him I know not but my publike proceeding gaue such encouragement that it became so well apprehended by some few of the Virginia Company as those proiects for fishing onely was so well liked they furnished Couper with foure good ships to Sea before they at Plimoth had made any prouision at all for me but onely a small Barke set out by them of the I le of Wight Some of Plimoth and diuers Gentlemen of the West Countrey a little before I returned from New England in search for a Mine of Gold about an I le called Capawuck South-wards from the Shoules of Cape Iames as they were informed by a Saluage called Epenew that hauing deluded theÌ„ as it seems thus to get home seeing they kept him as a prisoner in his owne Countrey and before his friends being a man of so great a stature he was shewed vp and downe London for money as a wonder and it seemes of no lesse courage and authoritie then of wit strength and proportion for so well he had contriued his businesse as many reported he intended to haue surprised the ship but seeing it could not be effected to his liking before them all he leaped ouer-boord Many shot they made at him thinking they had slaine him but so resolute they were to recouer his body the master of the ship was wounded and many of his company And thus they lost him not knowing more what to do returned againe to England with nothing which so had discouraged all your West Countrey men they neither regarded much their promises and as little either me or the Countrey till they saw the London ships gone and me in Plimoth according to my promise as hereafter shall be related I must confesse I was beholden to the setters forth of the foure ships that went with Couper in
more plaine spectacle of desolation or more barren I know not yet are those rocky Iles so furnished with good Woods Springs Fruits Fish and Fowle and the Sea the strangest Fish-pond I euer saw that it makes me thinke though the coast be rocky and thus affrightable the Vallies and Plaines and interior parts may well notwithstanding be very fertill But there is no Country so fertill hath not some part barren and new-New-England is great enough to make many Kingdomes and Countries were it all inhabited As you passe the coast still westward Accominticus and Passataquack are two conuenient Harbours for small Barkes and a good Country within their craggy clifts Augoan is the next this place might content a right curious iudgement but there are many sands at the entrance of the Harbour and the worst is it is imbayed too farre from the deepe Sea here are many rising hils and on their tops and descents are many corne fields and delightfull groues On the East is an I le of two or three leagues in length the one halfe plaine marish ground fit for pasture or salt Ponds with many faire high groues of Mulbery trees and Gardens there is also Okes Pines Walnuts and other wood to make this place an excellent habitation being a good and safe Harbour Naiâ—mkeck though it be more rocky ground for Augoan is sandy not much inferiour neither for the harbour nor any thing I could perceiue but the multitude of people from hence doth stretch into the Sea the faire headland Tragabigzanda now called Cape An fronted with the three Iles wee called the three Turkes heads to the north of this doth enter a great Bay where we found some habitations and Corne fields they report a faire Riuer and at least 30. habitations doth possesse this Country But because the French had got their trade I had no leisure to discouer it the Iles of Mattahunts are on the west side of this Bay where are many Iles and some Rocks that appeare a great height aboue the water like the Pyramides in Aegypt and amongst them many good Harbours and then the country of the Massachusits which is the Paradice of all those parts for here are many Iles planted with Corne Groues Mulberies saluage Gardens and good Harbours the Coast is for the most part high clayie sandy clifts the sea Coast as you passe shewes you all along large Corne fields and great troupes of well proportioned people but the French hauing remained here neere six weekes left nothing for vs to take occasion to examine the Inhabitants relations viz. if there be three thousand people vpon those Iles and that the Riuer doth pierce many daies iourney the entrailes of that Country we found the people in those parts very kinde but in their fâ—ry no lesse valiant for vpon a quarrell we fought with forty or fifty of them till they had spent all their Arrowes and then we tooke six or seuen of their Canowes which towards the euening they ransomed for Beuer skinnes and at Quonahasit falling out there but with one of them he with three others crossed the Harbour in a Canow to certaine rockes whereby wee must passe and there let flie their Arrowes for our shot till we were out of danger yet one of them was slaine and another shot through his thigh Then come you to Accomacke an excellent good Harbour good land and no want of any thing but industrious people after much kindnesse wee fought also with them though some were hurt some slaine yet within an houre after they became friends Cape Cod is the next presents it selfe which is onely a headland of high hils ouer-growne with shrubby Pines hurts and such trash but an excellent harbour for all weathers This Cape is made by the maine Sea on the one side and a great Bay on the other in forme of a Sickell on it doth inhabit the people of Pawmet and in the bottome of the Bay them of Chawum towards the South and South-west of this Cape is found a long and dangerous shoule of rocks and sand but so farre as I incercled it I found thirty fathome water and a strong currant which makes mee thinke there is a chanell about this Shoule where is the best and greatest fish to be had winter and summer in all the Country but the Saluages say there is no Chanell but that the Shoales beginne from the maine at Pawmâ—t to the I le of Nawset and so extends beyond their knowledge into the Sea The next to this is Capawucke and those abounding Countries of Copper Corne People and Mineralls which I went to discouer this last yeeâ—e but because I miscarried by the way I will leaue them till God please I haue better acquaintance with them The Massachusets they report sometimes haue warres with the Bashabes of Pennobscot are not alwaies friends with them of Chawum and their alliance but now they are all friends and haue each trade with other so farre as they haue society on each others frontiers for they make no such voyages as from Pennobscot to Cape Cod seldome to Massachset In the North as I haue said they haue begun to plant Corne whereof the south part hath such plenty as they haue what they will from them of the North and in the Winter much more plenty of fish and fowle but both Winter Summer hath it in one part or other all the yeere being the meane and most indifferent temper betwixt heat and cold of all the Regions betwixt the Line and the Pole but the Furs Northward are much better and in much more plenty then Southward The remarkablest Iles and Mountaines for land Markes are these the highest Ile is Sorico in the Bay of Pennobscot but the three Iles and the Iles of Matinack are much further in the Sea Merynacus is also three plaine Iles but many great Rocks Monahigan is a round high I le and close by it Monanis betwixt which is a small Harbour where we rid in Damerils Iles is such another Sagadahocke is knowne by Satquin and foure or fiue Iles in their mouth Smiths Iles are a heape together none neere them against Accomintycus the three Turkes heads are three Iles seene farre to Sea-ward in regard of the Head-land The chiefe Head-lands are onely Cape Tragabigzanda and Cape Cod now called Cape Iames and Cape Aâ—ne The chiefe Mountaines them of Pennobscot the twinkling Mountaine of Acocisco the great Mountaine of Sassanow and the high Mountaine of Mâ—ssâ—câ—uset Each of which you shall finde in the Map their places forme and alâ—â—â—des The waters are most pure proceeding from the intrailes of rocky Mountaâ—â—es the Herbs and Fruits are of many sorts and kinds as Alkermes Currans Muâ—beries Vines Respises Gooseberies Plums Wall-nuts Chesse-nuts Small 〈◊〉 Pumpions Gourds Strawberies Beanes Pease and Maize a kinde or two of Flax wherewith they make Nets Lines and Ropes both small and great very strong for their quantities Oake is the
would long ere this haue troubled their neighbours or haue eaten the pride of Spaine it selfe Now hee knowes little that knowes not England may well spare many more people then Spaine and is as well able to furnish them with all manner of necessaries and seeing for all they haue they cease not still to search for that they haue not and know not it is strange we should be so dull as not maintaine that which we haue and pursue that we know Surely I am sure many would take it ill to be abridged of the titles and honors of their predecessorâ— when if but truly they would iudge themselues looke how inferior they are to their Noble Vertues so much they are vnworthy of their honors and liuings which neuer were ordained for shewes and shadowes to maintaine idlenesse and vice but to make them more able to abound in honor by Heroicall deeds of action iudgement pietie and vertue What was it both in their purse and person they would not doe for the good of their Common-wealth which might moue them presently to set out their spare children in these generous designes Religion aboue all things should moue vs especially the Clergie if we are religious to shew our faith by our works in conuerting those poore Saluages to the knowledge of God seeing what paines the Spaniards takes to bring them to their adultered faith Honor might moue the Gentry the valiant and industrious and the hope and assurance of wealth all if we were that we would seeme and be accounted or be we so farre inferior to other Nations or our spirits so farre deiected from our ancient predecessors or our mindes so vpon spoile piracy and such villany as to serue the Portugall Spaniard Dutch French or Turke as to the cost of Europe too many doe rather then our God our King our Country and our selues excusing our idlenesse and our base complaints by want of imploiment when here is such choice of all sorts and for all degrees in the planting and discouering these North parts of America My second voyage to New England IN the yeere of our Lord 1615. I was imploied by many my friends of London and Sir Ferdinando Gorges a noble Knight and a great fauourer of those actions who perswaded the reuerend Deane of Exeter Doctor Sutliffe and diuers Merchants of the West to entertaine this Plantation Much labour I had taken to bring the Londoners and them to ioyne together because the Londoners haue most Money and the Westerne men are most proper for fishing and it is neere as much trouble but much more danger to faile from London to Plimoth then from Plimoth to New England so that halfe the voiage would thus be saued yet by no meanes I could preuaile so desirous they were both to be Lords of this fishing Now to make my words more apparant by my deeds to begin a Plantation for a more ample triall of those conclusions I was to haue staied there but with sixteene men whose names were Tho. Dirmer Gent. Iohn Gosling Sould. Thomas Digby Walter Chisell were to learne to be Sailers Edw. Stallings William Ingram Daniel Baker Robert Miller Daniel Cage Dauid Cooper Adam Smith And two Boyes Francis Abbot Iohn Partridge Tho. Watson I confesse I could haue wished them as many thousands had all other prouisions beene in like proportion nor would I haue had so few could I haue had means for more yet would God haue pleased we had safely arriued I doubted not but to haue performed more then I promised and that many thousands ere this would haue bin there ere now The maine assistance next God I had to this small number was my acquaintance amongst the Saluages especially with Dohoday one of their greatest Lords who had liued long in England and another called Tantum I caried with mee from England and set on shore at Cape Cod by the meanes of this proud Saluage I did not doubt but quickly to haue got that credit amongst the rest of the Saluages and their alliance to haue had as many of them as I desired in any designe I intended and that trade also they had by such a kinde of exchange of their Countrey Commodities which both with ease and securitie might then haue beene vsed with him and diuers others I had concluded to inhabit and defend them against the Tarentines with a better power then the French did them whose tyrannie did inforce them to embrace my offer with no small deuotion and though many may think me more bold then wise in regard of their power dexteritie treachery and inconstancy hauing so desperately assaulted and betraied many others I say but this because with so many I haue many times done much more in Virginia then I intended here when I wanted that experience Virginia taught mee that to me it seemes no more danger then ordinary and though I know my selfe the meanest of many thousands whose apprehensiue inspection can pierce beyond the bounds of my abilities into the hidden things of Nature Art and Reason yet I intreat such giue mee leaue to excuse my selfe of so much imbecillitie as to say that in these eighteene yeeres which I haue beene conuersant with these affaires I haue not learned there is a great difference betwixt the directions and iudgement of experimentall knowledge and the superficiall coniecture of variable relation wherein rumour humour or misprision haue such power that oft times one is enough to beguile twentie but twentie not sufficient to keepe one from being deceiued Therefore I know no reason but to beleeue my owne eies before any mans imagination that is but wrested from the conceits of my owne proiects and endeuours but I honor with all affection the counsell and instructions of iudiciall directions or any other honest aduertisement so farre to obserue as they tie me not to the crueltie of vnknowne euents These are the inducements that thus drew me to me to neglect all other imploiments and spend my time and best abilities in these aduentures wherein though I haue had many discouragements by the ingratitude of some the malicious slanders of others the falsenesse of friends the treachery of cowards and slownesse of Aduenturers Now you are to remember as I returned first from New England at Plimoth I was promised foure good ships ready prepared to my hand the next Christmas and what conditions and content I would desire to put this businesse in practise and arriuing at London foure more were offered me with the like courtesie But to ioyne the Londoners them in one was most impossible so that Ianuary with two hundred pound in Chash for aduenture and six Gentlemen well furnished I went from London to the foure ships were promised me at Plimoth but I found no such matter and the most of those that had made such great promises by the bad returne of the ship went for Gold and their priuate emulations were extinct and qualified Notwithstanding at last with
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-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-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
amongst vs not fearing any thing and kindly bad vs welcome in English he was a Sagamo towards the North where the ships vse to fish and did know the names of most of the Masters that vsed thither such victuall as we had we gaue him being the first Saluage we yet could speake with he told vs this place where we were was called Patuxet and that all the people three or foure yeeres agoe there died on the plague in a day or two we could not be rid of him then he returned to the Massasoyts from whence he came where is some sixty people but the Nawsits are 100. strong which were they encountred our people at the first Two daies after this Samoset for so was his name came againe and brought fiue or six of the Massasoyts with him with certaine skinnes and certaine tooles they had got that we had left in the woods at their alarums much frieâ—-dship they promised and so departed but Samoset would not leaue vs but fained himselfe sicke yet at last he went to entreat the Saluages come againe to confirme a peace now the third time as we were consulting of our Marshall orders two Saluages aâ—peared but when we went to them they vanished not long after came Samoâ—et Squanto a natiue of Patuxet where we dwell and one of them carried into Spaine by Hunt thence brought into England where a good time he liued and now here signified vnto vs their great Sachem of Massasoyt with Quadaquina his brother and all their men was there by to see vs not willing to send our Gouernour we sent Edward Wollisto with presents to them both to know their minds making him to vnderstand by his Interpreters how King Iames did salute him and was his friend after a little conference with twenty of his men he came ouer the brooke to our Plantation where we set him vpon a rug and then brought our Gouernour to him with Drums and Trumpets where after some circumstances for they vse few complements we treated of peace with them to this effect That neither he nor any of his should iniury or doe hurt to any of vs if they did he should send vs the offender that we might punish him and wee would doe the like to him if any did vniustly warre against him we would aid him as he should vs against our enemies and to send to his neighbour confederats to certifie them of this that they might likewise be comprised in these conditions that when any of them came to vs they should leaue their Bow and Arrowes behinde them as we would our peeces when we came to them all which the King seemed to like well of and was applauded of his followers in his person hee is a very lusty man in his best yeeres an able body graue of countenance and spare of speech in his attire little differing from the rest after all was done the Gouernour conducted him to the brooke but kept our hostage till our messengers returned in like manner we vsed Quaddaquina so all departed good friends Two of his people would haue staied with vs but wee would not permit them onely Samâ—set and Squanto wee entertained kindly as yet wee haue found they intend to keepe promise for they haue not hurt our men they haue found stragling in the Woods and are afraid of their powerfull Aduersaries the Narrobiggansets against whom hee hopes to make vse of our helpe The next day Squanto went a fishing for Eeles and in an houre he did tread as many out of the Ose with his feet as he could lift with his hand not hauing any other instrument But that we might know their habitations so well as they ours Stephen Hopkins and Edward Winslo had Squaâ—tum for their guide and Interpreter to Packanoki the habitation of the King of Massasoyt with a red horsemans coat for a present to entreat him by reason we had not victuall to entertaine them as we would he would defend his people so much from visiting vs and if hee did send he should alwaies send with the Messenger a copper Chaine they gaue him that they might know he came from him and also giue them some of his Corne for seede that night they lodged at Namasoet some fifteene miles off by the way we found ten or twelue women and children that still would pester vs till we were weary of them perceiuing it is the manner of them where victuall is to bee gotten with most ease there they will liue but on that Riuer of Namaschâ—t haue beene many habitations of the Saluages that are dead and the land lies waste and the Riuer abounding with great plenty of fish and hath beene much frequented by the French The next day trauelling with six or seuen Indians where we were to wade ouer the Riuer did dwell onely two old men of that Nation then liuing that thinking vs enemies sought the best aduantage they could to fight with vs with a wonderfull shew of courage but when they knew vs their friends they kindly welcommed vs after we came to a towne of the Massasoits but at Pakanoki the King was not towards night he arriued and was very proud both of our message and presents making a great oration to all his people Was not he Massasint Commander of the country about him was not such a towne his and the people of it and 20. townes more he named was his and should they not bring their skins to vs to which they answered they were his and they would victual they had none nor any lodging but a poore planke or two a foot high from the ground wheron his wife and he lay at the one end we at the other but a thin Mat vpon them two more of his chiefe men pressed by and vpon vs so that we were worse weary of our lodging then of our iourney Although there is such plenty of fish and fowle and wild beasts yet are they so lasie they will not take paines to catch it till meere hunger constraine them for in two or three daies we had scarce a meales meat whereby we were so faint we were glad to be at home besides what for the fleas and their howling and singing in the night in their houses and the Musketas without doores our heads were as light for want of sleepe as our bellies empty for want of meat The next voiage we made was in a Shallop with ten men to Nawsit sixteene miles from vs to fetch a Boy was lost in the Woods we heard was there whom Aspinet their King had bedecked like a saluage but very kindly he brought him to vs and so returned well to Patuyet Immediatly after the arriuall of the last ship they sent another of fiue and fifty tuns to supply them with seuen and thirty persons they set saile in the beginning of Iuly but being crossed by westernly winds it was the end of August ere they could passe Plimoth and arriued in
weeke said It was but three daies since Sunday and desired to know the reason which when hee vndâ—rstood he and all of them admired the goodnesse of God towards vs shewing the difference betwixt their coniurations and our praiers and what stormes and dangers they oft receiue thereby To expresse our thankfulnesse wee assembled together another day as before and either the next morning or not long after came in two ships to supply vs and all their Passengers well except one and he presently recouered For vs notwithstanding all these wants there was not a sicke person amongst vs. The greater ship we returned fraught the other wee sent to the Southward to trade vnder the command of Captaine Altom So that God be thanked we desire nothing but what we will returne Commodities to the value Thus all men finde our great God he That neuer wanted nature To teach his truth that onely he Of euery thing is Author For this yeere from England is gone about fortie saile of ships only to fish and as I am informed haue made a farre better voyage then euer Now some new great obseruers will haue this an Iland because I haue writ it is the Continent others report that the people are so bruit they haue no religion wherein surely they are deceiued for my part I neuer heard of any Nation in the world which had not a Religion deare bowes and arrowes They beleeue as doe the Virginians of many diuine powers yet of one aboue all the rest as the Southerne Virginians call their chiefe God Kewassa and that wee now inhabit Oke but both their Kings Werowance The Masachusets call their great God Kiehtan and their Kings there abou ts Sachems The Penobscotes their greatest power Tantum and their Kings Sagomes Those where is this Plantation say Kiâ—htan made all the other Gods also one man and one woman and of them all mankinde but how they became so dispersed they know not They say at first there was no King but Kiehtan that dwelleth farre westerly aboue the heauens whither all good men goe when they die and haue plentie of all things The bad men goe thither also and knocke at the doore but he bids them goe wander in endlesse want and miserie for they shall not stay there They neuer saw Kiehtan but they hold it a great charge and dutie that one age teach another and to him they make feasts and cry and sing for plentie and victorie or any thing is good They haue another Power they call Hobamâ—ck which wee conceiue the Deuill and vpon him they call to cure their wounds and diseases when they are curable he perswades them he sent them because they haue displeased him but if they be mortall then he saith Kiehtan sent them which makes them neuer call on him in their sicknesse They say this Hobamock appeares to them somtimes like a Man a Deere or an Eagle but most commonly like a Snake not to all but only to their Powahs to cure diseases and Vâ—deses which is one of the chiefe next the King and so bold in the warres that they thinke no weapon can kill them and those are such as coniure in Virginia and cause the people to doe what they list For their Gouernment euery Sachem is not a King but their great Sachems haue diuers Sachems vnder their protection paying them tribute and dare make no warres without his knowledge but euery Sachem taketh care for the Widowes Orphans the aged and maimed nor will they take any to first wife but them in birth equall to themselues although they haue many inferior Wiues and Concubins that attend on the principall from whom he neuer parteth but any of the rest when they list they inherit by succession and euery one knowes their owne bounds To his men hee giueth them land also bounded and what Deere they kill in that circuit he hath the sore-part but it in the water onely the skin But they account none a man till hee hath done some notable exploit the men are most imploied in hunting the women in slauery the younger obey the elders their names are variable they haue harlots and honest women the harlots neuer marrie or else are widowes They vse diuorcement and the King commonly punisheth all offenders himselfe when a maid is maried she cutteth her haire and keepes her head couered till it be growne againe Their arts games musicke attire burials and such like differ very little from the Virginians onely for their Chronicles they make holes in the ground as the others set vp great stones Out of the Relations of Master Edward Winslow Now I know the common question is For all those miseries where is the wealth they haue got or the Gold or Siluer Mines To such greedy vnworthy minds I say once againe The Sea is better then the richest Mine knowne and of all the fishing ships that went well prouided there is no complaint of losse nor misery but rather an admiration of wealth profit and health As for the land were it neuer so good in two yeeres so few of such small experience liuing without supplies so well and in health it was an extraordinary blessing from God But that with such small meanes they should subsist and doe so much to any vnderstanding judgement is a wonder Notwithstanding the vaine expectation of present gaine in some ambition in others that to be great would haue all else slaues and the carelesnesse in prouiding supplies hath caused those defailements in all those Plantations and how euer some bad conditions will extoll the actions of any Nation but their owne yet if we may giue credit to the Spaniards Portugals and French writings they indured as many miseries and yet not in twenty yeeres effected so much nay scarce in fortie Thus you may see plainly the yeerely successe from New England by Virginia which hath beene so costly to this Kingdome and so deare to me which either to see perish or but bleed Pardon me though it passionate me beyond the bounds of modesty to haue beene sufficiently able to fore-see their miseries and had neither power nor meanes to preuent it By that acquaintance I haue with them I call them my children for they haue beene my Wife my Hawks Hounds my Cards my Dice and in totall my best content as indifferent to my heart as my left hand to my right And notwithstanding all those miracles of disasters haue crossed both them and me yet were there not an Englishman remaining as God be thanked notwithstanding the massacre there are some thousands I would yet begin againe with as small meanes as I did at first not that I haue any secret encouragement I protest more then lamentable experience for all their discoueries I haue yet heard of are but Pigs of my owne Sow nor more strange to me then to heare one tell me hee hath gone from Billingsgate and discouered Grauesend Tilbury Quinborow Lee and Margit which to
those did neuer heare of them though they dwell in England might bee made some rare secrets and great Countries vnknowne except some few Relations of Master Dirmer In England some are held great trauellers that haue seene Venice and Rome Madrill Toledo Siuill Algere Prague or Ragonsa Constantinople or Ierusalem and the Piramides of Egypt that thinke it nothing to goe to Summer Iles or Virginia which is as far as any of them and I hope in time will proue a more profitable and more laudable iourney as for the danger you see our Ladies and Gentlewomen account it nothing now to goe thither and therefore I hope all good men will better apprehend it and not suffer them to languish in despaire whom God so wonderfully and oft hath preserued What here I haue writ by Relation if it be not right I humbly intreat your pardons but I haue not spared any diligence to learne the truth of them that haue beene actors or sharers in those voyages In some particulars they might deceiue mee but in the substance they could not for few could tell me any thing except where they fished But seeing all those haue liued there doe confirme more then I haue writ I doubt not but all those testimonies with these new begun examples of Plantation will moue both Citie and Country freely to aduenture with me more then promises But because some Fortune-tellers say I am vnfortunate had they spent their time as I haue done they would rather beleeue in God then their calculations and peraduenture haue giuen as bad an account of their actions and therefore I intreat leaue to answer those obiecters that thinke it strange if this be true I haue made no more vse of it rest so long without imploiment nor haue no more reward nor preferment To which I say I thinke it more strange they should tax me before they haue tried as much as I haue both by land and sea as well in Asia and Affrica as Europe and America where my Commanders were actors or spectators they alwaies so freely rewarded me I neuer needed bee importunate or could I euer learne to beg What there I got I haue spent yet in Virginia I staied till I left fiue hundred behinde me better prouided then euer I was from which blessed Virgin ere I returned sprung the fortunate habitation of Summer Iles. This Virgins Sister now called New England at my humble sute by our most gracious Prince Charles hath beene neere as chargeable to me and my friends for all which although I neuer got shilling but it cost mee a pound yet I would thinke my selfe happy could I see their prosperities But if it yet trouble a multitude to proceed vpon these certainties what thinke you I vndertooke when nothing was knowne but that there was a vast land I neuer had power and meanes to doe any thing though more hath beene spent in formall delaies then would haue done the businesse but in such a penurious and miserable manner as if I had gone a begging to build an Vniuersitie where had men beene as forward to aduenture their purses and performe the conditions they promised mee as to crop the fruits of my labours thousands ere this had beene bettered by these designes Thus betwixt the spur of desire and the bridle of reason I am neere ridden to death in a ring of despaire the reines are in your hands therefore I intreat you ease me and those that thinke I am either idle or vnfortunate may see the cause and know vnlesse I did see better dealing I haue had warning enough not to be so forward againe at euery motion vpon their promises vnlesse I intended nothing but to carie newes for now they dare aduenture a ship that when I went first would not aduenture a groat so they may be at home againe by Michaelmas which makes me remember and say with Master Hackluit Oh incredulitie the wit of fooles that slouingly doe spit at all things faire a sluggards Cradle a Cowards Castle how easie it is to be an Infidell But to the matter By this all men may perceiue the ordinary performance of this voyage in fiue or six moneths the plentie of fish is most certainly approued and it is certaine from Cannada and New England within these six yeeres hath come neere twenty thousand Beuer skinnes Now had each of these ships transported but some small quantitie of the most increasing Beasts Fowles Fruits Plants and Seeds as I proiected by this time their increase might haue beene sufficient for more then one thousand men But the desire of present gaine in many is so violent and the endeuours of many vndertakers so negligent euery one so regarding their priuate gaine that it is hard to effect any publike good and impossible to bring them into a body rule or order vnlesse both honesty as well as authoritie and money assist experience But your home-bred ingrossing Proiecters will at last finde there is a great difference betwixt saying and doing or those that thinks their directions can be as soone and easily performed as they can conceit them or that their conceits are the fittest things to bee put in practise or their countenances maintaine Plantations But to conclude the fishing will goe forward wâ—ether you plant it or no whereby a Colony may be then transported with no great charge that in short time might prouide such fraughts to buy on vs there dwelling as I would hope no ship should goe or come emptie from New England The charge of this is onely Salt Nets Hookes Lines Kniues Irish-rugges course cloth Beads Glasse and such trash onely for fishing and trade with the Saluages besides our owne necessarie prouisions whole endeuours would quickly defray all this charge and the Saluages did intreat me to inhabit where I would Now all those ships till these last two yeeres haue beene fishing within a square of two or three leagues and scarce any one yet will goe any further in the Port they fish in where questionlesse fiue hundred may haue their fraught as well as elsewhere and be in the market ere others can haue the fish in their ships because New Englands fishing begins in February in Newfoundland not till the midst of May the progression hereof tends much to the aduancement of Virginia and Summer Iles whose empty ships may take in their fraughts there and would be also in time of need a good friend to the Inhabitants of Newfoundland The returnes made by the Westerne men are commonly diuided in three parts one for the owner of the ship another for the Master and his Company the third for the victualers which course being still permitted will be no hinderance to the Plantation as yet goe there neuer so many but a meanes of transporting that yeerely for little or nothing which otherwise wil cost many hundreds of pounds If a ship can gaine twenty thirty fifty in the hundred nay three hundred for one
innocent as did that most generous Prince Sigismundus Prince of those Countries against them whom vnder the colour of iustice and piety to maintaine their superfluity of ambitious pride thought all the world too little to maintaine their vice and vndoe them or keepe them from ability to doe any thing that would not admire and adore their honours fortunes couetousnesse falshood bribery cruelty extortion and ingratitude which is worse then cowardize or ignorance and all manner of vildnesse cleane contrary to all honour vertue and noblenesse Iohn Smith writ this with his owne hand Here follow certaine notes and obseruations of Captaine Charles Whitbourne concerning New-found land which although euery master trained vp in fishing can make their proportions of necessaries according to their custome yet it is not much amisse here to insert them that euery one which desires the good of those actions know them also Besides in his Booke intituled A discouery of New-found land and the commodities thereof you shall finde many excellent good aduertisements for a Plantation and how that most yeeres this Coast hath beene frequented with 250. saile of his Maiesties subiects which supposing but 60. tunnes a peece one with another they amount to 15000. tunnes and allowing 25 men and boies to euery Barke they will make 5000. persons whose labours returne yeerely to about 135000. pound sterling besides the great numbers of Brewers Bakers Coupers Ship-Carpenters Net-makers Rope-makers Hooke-makers and the most of all other mecanicall trades in England The charge of letting forth a ship of 100. tuns with 40. persons both to make a fishing voyage and increase the Plantation  l. s. d. INprimis 10000. weight of Bisket at 15. s. a 100. weight 82. 10.  26 Tun of Beere and Sider at 53. s. 4. d. a Tun. 69. 7.  2 Hogsheads of English Beefe 10.   2 Hogsheads of Irish Beefe 5.   10 Fat Hogs salted with Salt and Caske 10. 10.  30 Bushels of Pease 6   2 Ferkins of Butter 3.   200 Waight of Cheese 2. 10.  1 Bushell of Mustard-seed  6.  1 Hogshead of Vinegar 1. 5.  Wood to dresse meat withall 1.   1 Great Copper Kettle 2.   2 Small Kettles 2.   2 Frying-Pans  3. 4. Platters Ladles and Cans 1.   a paire of Bellowes for the Cooke  2. 6. Taps Boriers and Funnels 2.   Lâ—cks for the Bread roomes  2. 6. 100 weight of Candles 2. 10.  1 0 quarters of Salt at 2. s. the Rushell 10. 4.  Mats dinnage to lie vnder it 2. 10.  Salt Shouels  10  Particulars for the 40. persons to keepe 8. fishing boats at Sea with 3. men in euery boat imploies 24. and 500. foot of Elme boords of an inch thicke 8. s. each one 2.   2000 Nailes for the 8. Boats at 13. s. 4. d. a 1000. 1. 6 8. 4000 Nailes at 6. s 8. d. 1000. 1. 6 8. 2000 Nailes at 5. d. 100.  8.  500 weight of pitch at 8. s. 100. 2.   2000 of good orlop nailes 2. 5.  More for other small necessaries 3.   A barrell of Tar.  10.  200 weight of black Ocome 1.   Thrums for pitch Maps  1. 6. Bolls Buckets and Pumps 1.   2 brazen Crocks 2.   Canuas to make Boat sailes small ropes at 25. s. for each saile 12. 10.  10 rode Ropes which containe 600. weight at 30 s the 100. 10.   12 dozen of fishing lines 6.   24 dâ—zâ—n of fishing hookes 2.   for Squid line  3.  For Pots and liuer maunds  18.  Iron works for the boats ruthers 2.   10 Kipnet Irons  10.  Twine to make kipnets and gagging hooks  6.  10 good Nets at 26. s. a net 13.   2 Saynes a great and a lesse 12.   200 weight of Sow-lead 1.   2 couple of ropes for the Saynes 1.   Dry-fats to keepe them in  6.  Tâ—ine for store  5.  Flaskets and bread Baskets  15.  For haire cloth 10.   3. Tuns of vinegar caske for water 1. 6. 8. 1 doâ—zen of Deale Bourds  10.  2 Barrels of Oatmeale 1. 6.  100 weight of Spikes 2. 5.  2 good Axes 4. hand Hatchets 4. Drawers 2. drawing Irons  16.  3 yards of wollencloth for cuffs  10.  8 yards of good Cannasse  10.  A Grand-stone or two  6.  1000 of poore Iohn to spend in going 6. 10.  1 Hogshead of Aquauitae 4.   4 arme Sawes 4. Handsawes 4. thwart Sawes 3. Augers 2. Crowes of Iron 3. Sledges 4. shod Shouels 2. Picaxes 4. Matocks and 4. Hammers 5.   The totall summe is 410. 11. 0. All these prouisions the Master of Purser is to be accountable what is spent and what is left with those which shall continue there to plant and of the 40. thus prouided for the voyage ten may well be spared to leaue behind them with 500. weight of Bisket 5. hogsheads of Sider or beere halfe a hogshead of Beefe 4 sides of dry Bakon 4. bushell of Pease halfe a ferkin of Butter halfe 100. weight of Cheese a pecke of Mustard-seed a barrell of Vinegar 12. pound of Candles 2. pecks of Oaâ—meale halfe a hogshead of Aquauitae 2. copper Kettles 1. brasse Crock 1. Frying-pan a Grindstone and all the Hatchets Woodhooks Sawes Augers c. and all other iron tooles with the 8. Boats and their implements and spare salt and what else they vse not in a readinesse from yeere to yeere and in the meane time serued them to helpe to build their houses cleanse land and further their fishing whilst the ships are wanting By his estimation and calculation these 8. Boats with 22. men in a Summer doe vsually kill 25000. fish for euery Boat which may amount to 200000. allowing 120. fishes to the 100. sometimes they haue taken aboue 35000. for a Boat so that they load not onely their owne ship but prouide great quantities for sacks or other spare ships which come thither onely to buy the ouerplus if such ships come not they giue ouer taking any more when sometimes there hath beene great abundance because there is no fit houses to lay them in till another yeere now most of those sacks goeth empty thither which might as well transport mens prouision and cattle at an easie rate as nothing either to new-New-England or New-found land but either to transport them for nothing or pay any great matter for their liberty to fish will hardly effect so much as freedome as yet nor can this be put in practice as before I said till there be a power there well planted and setled to entertaine and defend them assist and releeue them as occasion shall require otherwaies those
those errors I haue committed if God please I liue my care and paines shall endeuour to be thankfull if I die accept my good will If any desire to be further satisfied what defect is found in this they shall finde supplied in me that thus freely haue throwne my selfe with my mite into the Treasury of my Countries good not doubting but God will stirre vp some noble spirits to consider and examine if worthy Columbus could giue the Spaniards any such certainties for his designe when Queene Isabel of Spaine set him forth with 15. saile and though I promise no Mines of gold yet the warlike Hollanders let vs imitate but not hate whose wealth and strength are good testimonies of their treasury gotten by fishing and New-England hath yeelded already by generall computation one hundred thousand pounds at the least Therefore honourable and worthy Country men let not the meannesse of the word fish distaste you for it will afford as good gold as the Mines of Guiana or Potâ—ssie with lesse hazard and charge and more certainty and facility I. S. I. S. FINIS Errata PAg. 1. line 7. for Quineth reade Guineth pag. 153. li. 5. reade from the company and li. 20. for 25000. pounds reade 2500. pounds pag. 164. li. 53. for 1500. men reade 150. men pag. 168. li. 11. for Goston reade Gofton and Coranto Quowarranto and li. 13 reade before the Iudges in Westminster hall for the Lords of his Maiesties Priuy Counsell There are many other errors which being but small I intreat the courteous reader to correct as he findeth them * Coelum non attimum mutant a These are said a thousaÌ„d yeares agoe to haue beene in the North parts of America b He is said to discover the Pole 1360. c Madoc ap Owâ—n Planted some remote Western parts 1170. d America named of Americus Vesputius which discovered les then Colon or S ir Sâ—bastian Cabot and the Continent later ColoÌ„ first found the Isles 1492. the Continenâ— 1498. Aboue a yeare after Cabot had don it He was set forth by Henry 7 and after by Hen. 8. Kniâ—hted and made grand Pilot of EnglaÌ„d by Ed. 6 Vnder whoÌ„ he procured the sending of S ir Hugh Willoughby discovery of Greenland and Russia having by himself discovered on America froÌ„ 67 North lat to neere â—o South * Virginia now inhabited and new-New-England Their arrivall â—â—pundance â—f Gâ—apes The I le of Wâ—kokon In Lybanus are not many Conference with a Salvage The Arriuall of the Kings brother Trade with the Salvages Note The Ile Roanoak The great courtesie of a Woman A banquet Skicoac a great towne Pomovik How the Country was called Virginia Sir Richard Grenvils voyage 1585. Their first Plantation Chawonock Chawonock 700. men Menatonon his Relations of the I le of Pearle and a rich Mine the Sea by it Pemissapan his trechery The discouery of the riuer Moratâ—c A noble resolution The strange Mine of Chaunis Temoatan The great currant of the river Moratâ—â— The Conspiracy of Pemissapan The death of a most rare Salvage A slaughter of two Salvages Pemissapan slaine and â— others A most generous courtesie of Sir Francis Drake Virginia abandoned CoÌ„modities Dyes A strange Salt Rootes Fruits that 's strange Beasts extraordinary Fish Foules Their Religion How the world was made How man was made How they vse their gods Whether they goe after death Two men risen from death The subtiltie of their Priests Their simplicitie Their desire of salvation A wonderfull Accident Their strange opinions Calling Sir Richard Grenvill left fiftie â—en Master White his Voyages 1687. One of the Councell slaine How the fiftie men were slainâ— An ill misprision A child borne in Virginia A controversie who to send for Factor to England Master White his returne to Virginia Captaine Spicer and seauen others drowned They finde where they had buryed their provisions The end of this Plantation 12. yeares it lay dead Their first landing Martha's Vineyard Elizabeths Island A ' Copper Mine Their return Dangerous shoules Cod and Whales Their first landing Pentecost harbour The Captains diligence Trade with the Salvages Their trechery Fiue Salvages surprised A description of the river The latitude The temperature The windes The entrances Cape Henry Cape Charles The Country The mountaines The soyle The valleyes Plaines The river Powhatan The branches Iames Towne The severall Inhabitants R. Pamavnkee The inhabitants Payankatank R. Toppahanock R. The inhabitants Patawomek R. The inhabitants Pawtuxunt R. Bolus R. The head of the Bay Sasquesahanock The description of a Sasquesahanough Tockwhogh R. Rapahanock R. Kuskarawaock R. Wighcocomoco R. Accomack R. Chawonock The severall languages Why there is little grasse Woods with their fruits Elme Walnuts Supposed Cypres Mulberries Chesnuts Cherries Vines Chechinquamins Rawcomens How they vse their fruits Walnut mille Gummes Cedats Saxafiastrees Berries Matoum Strawberries Hearbes Rootes Wigâ—sacan a roote Pocones a small roote Musquaspen a roote Pellitory Sasafrage Onyons Their chiefe beasts are Deere Aroughcun Squirrels Assapanick a Squirrel flying Opassom Mussascus Beares The Beaver Otters VtchuÌ„quoyes Foxes-Dogges Martins Polcats Weesels and Minkes Birds Fish The rockes How they divide the yeare How they prepare the ground How they plant How they vse their Corne. How they vse their fish and flesh Planted fruits A proofe cattell will liue well The Commodities The numbeâ—â— Seaven hundred men were the most were seene together when they thought to haue surprised Captaine Smith A description of the people The Barbers The constitution The disposition The possessions Their attire Their ornaments Their buildings Their lodgings Their gardens How they vse their children The industrie of their women How they strike fire The order of dyet How they make their bowâ—s and arrowes Their kniues Their Targets and Swords Their Boats How they spin Their fish-hookes How they hunt One Salvage hunting alone Their Consultations Their enemies Massawomekes Their offer of subiection Their manner of Battell Their Musicke Their entertainement Their trade Their Phisicke Their Chirurgery Their charms to cure Their God How they bury their Kings Their ordinary burials Their Temples Their ornaments for their Priests The times of solemnitieâ— Their coniurations Their Altars Sacrifices to the water Their solemn Sacrifices of children which they call Black-boyes Those Black-boyes are made so mad with a kind of drinke that they will doâ— any mischiefe at the command of their Keepers Their resurrection A description of Powhatan His attendaÌ„ce and watch His treasury His wiues His successors Their authoritie The tenor of their lands His manner of punishments â— 46. S ir Thomas Smith Treasurer The first mover of the action Orders for government Monica an vnfrequented Isle full of Birds Their first landing Matters of government The discovery of the Falles Powhatan The Fort assaulted by the Salvages Captain Newports returne for England S ir Thomas Smith Treasurer The occasion of sicknesse The Sailers abuses A bad President Plentie vnexpected The building of Iames Towne The beginning of Trade
called the most remarkable places in New England Aspersions against New England Captaine Hobson his voiage to Capawuk The Londoners send foure good ships to New England The situation of New England Notes of Florida Notes of Virginia Obseruations soâ— presumptuous ignorant directors The principall Countries or gouernments A proofe of an excellent clime Staple Commodities present Obseruations of the Hollanders Note Note Examples of the Altitude comparatiuely In Spaine In France In Greece In Asia Beyond the line The particular staple commodities that may be had by industry The nature of the ground approued The seasons for fishing approued Imploiment for poore people and fatherlesse children The facilitie of the Plantation Present Commodities Kermes Musquasseâ— Beuers Mines Woods An example of the gâ—â—â—s vpon euery yeere or six moneths returne A description of the Countrey in particular and their situations An Indian slaine another shot The land Markes Herbs and Fruits Woods Birds Fishes Beasts A note for men that haue great spirits and small meanes An example of secure couetousnesse The Authors conditions The Planters pleasures and profit Imploiments for Gentlemen Imploiments for Labourers Examples of the Spaniards The causes of our defailments The blisse of Spaine My second Voiage to New England The ground and plot for our plantation The meanes vsed to preuent it and nâ—c How I set saile and returned My reimbarkement encounter with Pirats and imprisonment by the French A double treachery A fleet of nine French men of war and fights with the Spaniard A prise of Fish A Scotch prise A prise worth 36000 crownes A prise worth 300000 crownes My escape from the French men What law I had My returne for England The successe of my Vice-Admirall M. Dâ—e his report The benefit of fishing as Mr Gentleman and others report The Records of Holland and other learned obseruers My sute to the Country My sute to the Citie Their first iourny by land Their first iourny by Shallop Accidents Their second iourney by water to finde a place to plant in Their first fight with the Saluages The description of their place to plant in Another Boy borne in new-New-England Their first Plantation Two faire Lakes Two men lost themselues in the woods Their first conference with a Saluage The second conference Their conditions of peace A iourney to Pakanoki A great courage of two old Saluages How the King vsed them A voyage to Nawsit They surprise the Saluages Notes and obseruations They liued two yeeres without supply Westons Plantation The death of Tusquantum Tusquantum at his death desired the English to pray he might go dwell with the English mens God for theirs was a good God They contriue to murder all the English The sicknesse of King Massasowat His cure by the English The Kings thankfulnesse A bad example Captaine Standish sent to suppresse the Saluages Two desperate Saluages slaine The Saluages ouer coâ—â—med An extreme drought A wonderfull blessing signe of Gods loue Forty saile sent to fish Their Religion Their Gouernment An answer to Obiections The ordinary voyage to goe to Virginia or New-England The obiections against me My answer Considerations The charge The order of the westerne men The gaines The effects of shipping The Popes order for the East and West Indies How to get money to build this little Nauy Contention for New-Englands goods not her good The necessity of martiall power The facility of the fishing lately obserued The present estate of the plantation at New-Plimoth 1624. Their order of gouernment