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
2. 3. 1. 2. 3. Truth travayle and Neglect pure painefull most vnkinde 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. Doth proue consume dismay the soule the corps the minde Edw Ingham To my deare friend by true Vertue ennobled Captaine Iohn Smith MOre then enough I cannot thee commend Whos 's both abilities and Loue doe tend So to advance the good of that Estate By English charge and Planters propagate Through heapes of painfull hazards in the first Of which that Colony thy Care hath nurst And often that effected but with ten That after thee and now three hundred men Haue faild in 'mong the Salvages who shake At bruit of Thee as Spaine at Name of Drake Which well appeares considering the while Thou governedst nor force of theirs ne guile Lessend a man of thine but since I rue In Brittish blood they deeply did imbrue Their Heathen hands And truth to say we see Our selues wee lost vntimely leaving Thee Nor yet perceiue I any got betweene Thee and thy merit which hath better beene In prayse or profit much if counted iust Free from the Weales abuse or wronged trust Some few particulars perhaps haue sped But wherein hath the publicke prospered Or is there more of those Vast Countries knowne Then by thy Labours and Relations showne First best And shall wee loue Thee now the lesse Farre be â—t fit condignely to expresse Thankes by new Charge or recompence by whom Such past good hath such future good may come David Wiffin Noble Captaine Smith my worthy Friend NOt like the Age wherein thou liu'st to lie Buried in basenesse sloth or Ribaldrie For most doe thus hast thou thy selfe applide But in faire Actions Merits height descride Which like foure Theaters to set thee forth The worlds foure Quarters testifie thy worth The last whereof America best showes Thy paines and prayse and what to thee shee owes Although thy Sommer shone on th' Elder Three In as great Deeds as great varietie For opening to Her Selfe Her Selfe in Two Of Her large Members Now Ours to our view Thereby endearing vs to thy desart That doubly dost them to our hands impart There by thy Worke Heere by thy Workes By each Maist thou Fames lasting Wreath for guerdon reach And so become in after Times t' ensue A President for others So to doe William Grent To his worthily affected Friend Captaine Iohn Smith AMongst so many that by learned skill Haue given iust prayse to thee and to thy Booke Deare friend receiue this pledge of my good will Whereon if thou with acceptation looke And thinke it worthie ranke amongst the rest Vse thy discretion I haue done my best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Contents of the generall History divided into six Books The first Booke THE first voyage to the new World by Madock Prince of Wales The next by Haâ—no Prince of Carthage and how it was offred K. Hen. 7. by Chr. Cullumbus that vndertooke it for the Spanyards 1492. How Iohn Cabot was imployed by King Hen. the 7. and found the Continent before Cullumbus Also Sir Martin Frobisher and Sir Humphrey Gilbert ranged towards the North. And how Captaine Amidas was sent to discover the coast of Florida by Sir Water Raleigh and his associates And the Country Wingandacoa was called Virginia by Qâ—cene Elizabeth Page 1 4. Sir Richard Greenvill sent thither with 108. he left for a plantation The discovery of the Rivers Chawonok and Moratoc The trechery of their King who with eight more were slaine and they all returned to England againe the same yeare with Sir Francis Drake pag. 5 9. The Observations of Master Heriot Of their commodities victuall fruâ—ts beasts fishes and foules Their Religion and beliefe of God of the Creation of the world and man the immortalitie of the soule the subtiltie of their Priests the peoples simplicitie and desire of salvation and other Accidents pag. 9 12. Sir Rich Greenvill sent to supply them Not finding them left fiftie Their successe page 13. Master White sent to relieue them found they were all slaine yet left 115. more and departed Returning the second time he could not heare of them his Observations and Accidents pag. 14 16. A discovery by Captaine Gosnoll of Elizabeths Isles his Observations Relations and returne pag. 17.18 The voyage of Captaine Pring to the same Coast. The discovery of Captaine Waymouth his Observations Relations and returne pag. 18 20. A Map of the old Virginia with the figures of the Salvages The second Booke Of Virginia now planted discovered by Captaine SMITH THe Latitude Temperature and Capes a description of Chisapeack Bay and sâ—aven navigable Rivers that fall into it with their severall Inhabitants and diversitie of Language pag. 21 25. Of things growing Naturally as woods fruits gummes berries herbs roots also of beasts birds and fishes how they divide the yeare prepare their ground plant their corne and vse it and other victuall page 25. 29. What commodities may be had by industry The description of the people their numbers constitutions dispositions attyre buildings lodgings and gardens their vsage of children striking of fire making their Bowes and Arrowes kniues swords targets and boats how they spinne make fish-hooks and ginnes and their order of hunting Consultations and order in Warres pag. 29 33. Their musicke entertainment trade Physicke Chirurgery and Charmes Their Religion God burials ordinary and extraordinary Temples Priests Ornaments solemnities Coniurations Altars sacrifices black boyes and resurrection pag. 34 36. The manner of their government their Emperor his attendants watch treasury wiues successors authority tenure of their lands and manner of punishment with some words of their Language Englished pag. 37 40. And a Mappe of the Countrey of Virginia now planted The third Booke Of the Accidents and Proceedings of the English THeir orders of government Accidents in going first landing and governement setled pag. 41.42 The Salvages assault the Fort the ships returne their names were left occasion of sicknes plenty vnexpected the building of Iames Towne the beginning of Trade two proiects to abandon the Country pag. 43 46. Their first attempts vpon the Salvages Captaine Smith taken prisoner their order of Triumph and how he should haue beene executed was preserved saved Iames towne from being surprised how they Contured him Powhataâ— entertained him would haue slaine him how Pocahontas his daughter saved him and sent him to Iames Towne The third plot to abandon the Countrey suppressed pag. 47 49. Their first Supply and Accidents The Salvages opinion of our God Captaine Smith revisits Powhatan Iames Towne burnt A coâ—ceited gold mine A needlesse charge Captaine Newports returne for England pag 50 53. Iames Towne rebuilt with a Church and Store-house The Salvages plot to murther all the English their insolencies suppressed Different opinions among the Councell p. 53. Their names landed in this Supply p. 54. The discovery of the Bay of Chriapeack Their fight and conference with the Kuskarawaoks Ambuscadoes prevented in the river Patawomek A mine like
euer he came he would signifie by so many fires he came with so many boats that we might know his strength Their Boats are but one great tree which is but burnt in the forme of a trough with gins and fire till it be as they would haue it For an armour he would haue ingaged vs a bagge of pearle but we refused as not regarding it that wee might the better learn where it grew He was very iust of his promise for oft we trusted him and he would come within his day to keepe his word He sent vs commonly euery day a brace of Bucks Conies Hares and fish sometimes Mellons Walnuts Cucumbers Pease and diuers rootes This Author sayth their corne groweth three times in fiue moneths in May they sow in Iuly reape in Iune they sow in August reape in Iuly sow in August reape We put some of our Pease in the ground which in ten dayes were 14. ynches high The soyle is most plentifull sweete wholesome and fruitfull of all oâ—her there are about 14. seuerall sorts of sweete smelling tymber trees the most parts of the vnderwood Bayes and such like such Okes as we but far greater and better After this acquaintance my selfe with seauen more went twenty myle into the Riuer Occam that runneth toward the Cittie Skicoack and the euening following we came to an I le called Roanoak from the harbour where we entred 7. leagues at the North end was 9. houses builded with Cedar fortified round with sharpe trees and the entrance like a Turnpik When we came towards it the wife of Granganameo came running out to meete vs her husband was absent commanding her people to draw our Boat ashore for beating on the billowes other she appoynted to carry vs on their backes a land others to bring our Ores into the house for stealing When we came into the other roome for there was fiue in the house she caused vs to sit downe by a great fire after tooke off our clothes and washed them of some our stockings and some our feete in warme water and she her selfe tooke much paines to see all things well ordered and to provide vs victuall After we had thus dryed our selues she brought vs into an Inner roome where she set on the bord standing a long the house somewhat like frumentie sodden venison and rosted fish in like manner mellons raw boyled rootes and fruites of diuers kindes There drinke is commonly water boyled with Ginger sometimes with Saxefras and wholsome herbes but whilest the Crape lasteth they drinke wine More loue she could not expresse to entertaine vs they care but onely to defend themselues from the short winter and feede on what they finde naturall in sommer In this feaâ—ting house was their Idoll of whom they â—ould vs vncredible things When we were at meate two or three of her men came amongst vs with their Bowes and Arrowes which caused vs to take our armes in hand She perceiuing our distrust caused their Bowes and Arrowes to be broken and they beâ—ten out of the gate but the euening approaching we returned to our boate where at she much grieuing brought our supper halfe boyled pots and all but when she saw vs but put our boat a little off from the shoar and lye at Anchor perceiuing our Ielousie she sent diuers men 30. women to sit al night on the shoare side against vs and sent vs fiue Mats to couer vs from the raine doing all she could to perswade vs to her house Though there was no cause of doubt we would not aduenture for on our safety depended the voyage but a more kinde louing people cannot be Beyond this I le is the maine land and the great riuer Occam on which standeth a Towne called Pomeiock and six dayes higher their City Skicoak those people neuer saw it but say there fathers affirme it to be aboue two houres iourney about Into this riuer falleth an other called Cipo where is found many Mustells wherein are Pearles likewise another Riuer called Nomapona on the one side whereof standeth a great towne called Chawanock the Lord of the Country is not subiect to Wingandacoa Beyond him an other king they cal Menatonon These 3. are in league each with other Towards the south 4. dayes iourney is Sequotan the southermost part of Wingandacoa Adioyning to Secotan beginneth the country Pomouik belonging to the King called Piamacum in the Country Nusiok vpon the great riuer Neus These haue mortall warres with Wingina King of Wingandacoa Betwixt Piemacum and the Lord of Secotan a peace was concluded notwithstanding there is a mortall malice in the Secotuns because this Piemacum invited diuers men and 30. women to a feast and when they were altogether merry before their Idoll which is but a meere illusion of the Deuill they sudainly slew all the men of Secotan and kept the women for their vse Beyond Roanoak are many Isles full of fruits and other Naturall increases with many Townes a long the side of the Continent Those Iles lye 200. myles in length and betweene them and the mayne a great long sea in some places 20. 40. or 50. myles broad in other more somewhere lesse And in this sea are 100. Iles of diuers bignesses but to get into it you haue but 3. passages and they very dangerous Though this you see for most part be but the relations of Saluages because it is the first I thought it not a misâ—e to remember them as they are written by them that returned ariued in England about the middest of September the same yeare This discouery was so welcome into England that it pleased her Mâ—iestie to call this Country of Wingandacoa Virginia by which name now you are to vnderstand how it was planted disolued reuned and enlarged The Performers of this voyage were these following Philip Amadas Captaine Arthur Barlow Captaine William Grenuill Iohn Wood. Iames Browewich Henry Greene. Beniamen Wood. Simon Ferdinando Of the Companie Nicholas Peryman Of the Companie Iohn Hewes Of the Companie Sir Richard Grenuills voyage to Virginia for Sir Walter Raleigh â—â—85 THe 9. of Aprill he departed from Plimouth with 7. sayle the chiefe men with him in command were Master Ralph Layne Master Thomas Candish Master Iohn Arundel Master Stukley Master Bremige Master Vincent Master Hâ—ryot and Master Iohn Clarke The 14. day we fell with the Canaries and the 7. of May with Dominico in the West Indies we landed at Portorico after with much a doe at Izabella on the north of Hispaniola passing by many Iles. Vpon the 20. we fell with the mayne of Florida and were put in great danger vpon Cape Fear The 26. we Anchored at Wocokon where the admiral had like to beene cast away presently we sent to Wingina to Roanoak and Master Arundell went to the mayne with Manteo a saluage and that day to Crooâ—on The 11. The Generall victualed for 8. dayes with a selected company went to the
to the neighbours yet seemed of an honest and simple disposition with much adoe restrained from adoring vs as Gods Those are the strangest people of all those Countries both in language attire for their language it may well beseeme their proportions sounding from them as a voyce in a vault Their attire is the skinnes of Beares and Woolues some haue Cassacks made of Beares heads skinnes that a mans head goes through the skinnes neck and the eares of the Beare fastned to his shoulders the nose and teeth hanging downe his breast another Beares face split behind him and at the end of the nose hung a Pawe the halfe sleeues comming to the elbowes were the neckes of Beares and the armes through the mouth with pawes hanging at their noses One had the head of a Woolfe hanging in a chaine for a Iewell his Tobacco pipe three quarters of a yard long prettily carued with a Bird a Deere or some such devise at the great end sufficient to beat out ones braines with Bowes Arrowes and clubs sutable to their greatnesse These are scarse knowne to Powhatan They can make neare 600 able men and are pallifadoed in their Townes to defend them from the Massawomekes their mortall enemies Fiue of their chiefe Werowances came aboord vs and crossed the Bay in their Barge The picture of the greatest of them is signified in the Mappe The calfe of whose leg was three quarters of a yard about and all the rest of his limbes so answerable to that proportion that he seemed the goodliest man we ever beheld His hayre the one side was long the other shore close with a ridge over his crowne like a cocks combe His arrowes were fiue quarters long headed with the splinters of a white christall-like stone in forme of a heart an inch broad and an inch and a halfe or more long These he wore in a Woolues skinne at his backe for his Quiver his bow in the one hand and his clubbe in the other as is described On the East side the Bay is the river Tockwhogh and vpon it a people that can make 100 men seated some seaven myles within the river where they haue a Fort very well pallisadoed and mantelled with barkes of trees Next them is Ozinies with sixty men More to the South of that East side of the Bay the river Rapahanock neere vnto which is the river Kuskarawaock Vpon which is seated a people with 200 men After that is the river Tants Wighcocomoco on it a people with 100 men The people of those rivers are of little stature of another language from the rest very rude But they on the river Acohanock with 40 men they of Accomack 80 men doth equalize any of the Territories of Powhatan and speake his language who over all those doth rule as King Southward we went to some parts of Chawonock and the Mangoags to search for them left by Mr White Amongst those people are thus many severall Nations of sundry Languages that environ Powhatans Territories The Chawonockes the Mangoags the Monacans the Mannahokes the Masawomekes the Powhatans the Sasquesahanocks the Atquanachukes the Tockwoghes and the Kuscarawaokes All those not any one vnderstandeth another but by Interpreters Their severall habitations are more plainly described by this annexed Mappe which will present to the eye the way of the mountaines and current of the rivers with their severall turnings bayes shoules Isles Inlets and creekes the breadth of the waters the distances of places and such like In which Mappe obserue this that as far as you see the little Crosses on rivers mountaines or other places haue beene discovered the rest was had by information of the Savages and are set downe according to their instructions Thus haue I walkt a wayless way with vncouth pace Which yet no Christian man did ever trace But yet I know this not affects the minde Which eares doth heare as that which eyes doe finde Of such things which are naturally in Virginia and how they vse them VIRGINIA doth afford many excellent vegetables and liuing Creatures yet grasse there is little or none but what groweth in low Marishes for all the Countrey is overgrowne with trees whose droppings continually turneth their grasse to weeds by reason of the rancknes of the ground which would soone be amended by good husbandry The wood that is most common is Oke and Walnut many of their Okes are so tall straight that they will beare two foote and a halfe square of good timber for 20 yards long Of this wood there is two or three severall kinds The Acornes of one kinde whose barke is more white then the other somewhat sweetish which being boyled at last affords a sweet oyle that they keepe in gourds to annoint their heads and ioynts The fruit they eate made in bread or otherwise There is also some Elme some blacke Walnut tree and some Ash of Ash and Elme they make sope Ashes If the trees be very great the Ashes will be good and melt to hard lumps but if they be small it will be but powder and not so good as the other Of walnuts there is 2 or 3 kindes there is a kinde of wood we called Cypres because both the wood the fruit and leafe did most resemble it and of those trees there are some neare three fadome about at the foot very straight and 50 60 or 80 foot without a branch By the dwelling of the Salvages are some great Mulbery trees and in some parts of the Countrey they are found growing naturally in prettie groues There was an assay made to make silke and surely the wormes prospered excellent well till the master workeman fell sicke During which time they were eaten with Rats In some parts were found some Chesnuts whose wild fruit equalize the best in France Spaine Germany or Italy Plums there are of three sorts The red and white are like our hedge plums but the other which they call Putchamins grow as high as a Palmeta the fruit is like a Medler it is first greene then yellow and red when it is ripe if it be not ripe it will draw a mans mouth awry with much torment but when it is ripe it is as delicious as an Apricot They haue Cherries and those are much like a Damson but for their tastes and colour we called them Cherries We saw some few Crabs but very small and bitter Of vines great abundance in many parts that climbe the toppes of the highest trees in some places but these beare but few grapes Except by the rivers savage habitations where they are not overshadowed from the sunne they are covered with fruit though never pruined nor manured Of those hedge grapes we made neere twentie gallons of wine which was like our French Brittish wine but certainely they would proue good were they well manured There is another sort of grape neere as great as a
Cherry this they call Messamins they be satte and the iuyce thicke Neither doth the taste so well please when they are made in wine They haue a small fruit growing on little trees husked like a Chesnut but the fruit most like a very small Acorne This they call Chechinquamins which they esteeme a great daintie They haue a berry much like our Gooseberry in greatnesse colour and tast those they call Rawcomens and doe eat them raw or boyled Of these naturall fruits they liue a great part of the yeare which they vse in this manner The Walnuts Chesnuts Acornes and Chechinquamins are dryed to keepe When they need walnuts they breake them betweene two stones yet some part of the shels will cleaue to the fruit Then doe they dry them againe vpon a Mat over a hurdle After they put it into a morter of wood and beat it very small that done they mix it with water that the shels may sinke to the bottome This water will be coloured as milke which they call Pawcohiccora and keepe it for their vse The fruit like Medlers they call Putchamins they cast vpon hurdles on a Mat and preserue them as Pruines Of their Chesnuts and Chechinquamins boyled they make both broath and bread for their chiefe men or at their greatest feasts Besides those fruit trees there is a white Popular and another tree like vnto it that yeeldeth a very cleare and an odoriferous Gumme like Turpentine which some called Balsom There are also Cedars and Saxafras trees They also yeeld gummes in a small proportion of themselues Wee tryed conclusions to extract it out of the wood but nature afforded more then our arts In the watry valleyes groweth a Berry which they call Ocoughtanamnis very much like vnto Capers These they dry in sommer When they eat them they boile them neare halfe a day for otherwise they differ not much from poyson Mattoum groweth as our Bents The feed is not much vnlike to Rie though much smaller This they vse for a daintie bread buttered with deare suet During Sommer there are either Strawberries which ripen in Aprill or Mulberries which ripen in May and Iune Raspises hurts or a fruit that the inhabitants call Maracocks which is a pleasant wholsome fruit much like a Lemond Many herbes in the spring are cōmonly dispersed throughout the woods good for brothes and sallets as Violets Purslain Sorrell c. Besides many we vsed whose names we know not The chiefe root they haue for food is called Tockawhoughe It groweth like a flagge in Marishes In one day a Salvage will gather sufficient for a weeke These roots are much of the greatnesse and taste of Potatoes They vse to cover a great many of them with Oke leaues and Ferne and then cover all with earth in the manner of a Cole-pit over it on each side they continue a great fire 24 houres before they dare eat it Raw it is no better then poyson and being rosted except it be tender and the heat abated or sliced and dryed in the Sunne mixed with sorrell and meale or such like it will prickle and torment the throat extreamely and yet in sommer they vse this ordinarily for bread They haue another roote which they call Wighsacan as th' other feedeth the body so this cureth their hurts and diseases It is a small root which they bruise and apply to the wound Pocones is a small root that groweth in the mountaines which being dryed and beate in powder turneth red And this they vse for swellings aches annointing their ioynts painting their heads and garments They account it very precious and of much worth Musquaspen is a roote of the bignesse of a finger and as red as bloud In drying it will wither almost to nothing This they vse to paint their Mattes Targets and such like There is also Pellitory of Spaine Sasafrage and divers other simples which the Apothecaries gathered and commended to be good and medicinable In the low Marishes grow plots of Onyons containing an Acre of ground or more in many places but they are small not past the bignesse of the toppe of ones Thumbe Of beasts the chiefe are Deere nothing differing from ours In the deserts towards the heads of the rivers there are many but amongst the rivers few There is a beast they call Aroughcun much like a badger but vseth to liue on trees as Squirrels doe Their Squirrels some are neare as great as our smallest sort of wilde Rabbets some blackish or blacke and white but the most are gray A small beast they haue they call Assapanick but we call them flying Squirrels because spreading their legs and so stretching the largenesse of their skins that they haue beene seene to fly 30 or 40 yards An Opassom hath a head like a Swine and a taile like a Rat and is of the bignesse of a Cat. Vnder her belly shee hath a bagge wherein she lodgeth carrieth and suckleth her young A Mussascus is a beast of the forme and nature of our water Rats but many of them smell exceeding strongly of Muske Their Hares no bigger then our Conies and few of them to be found Their Beares are very little in comparison of those of Muscovia and Tartaria The Beaver is as big as an ordinary water dog but his legs exceeding short His forefeete like a dogs his hinder feet like a Swans His taile somewhat like the forme of a Racket bare without haire which to eat the Salvages esteeme a great delicate They haue many Otters which as the Beaver's they take with snares and esteeme the skins great ornaments and of all those beasts they vse to feed when they catch them An Vtchunquoyes is like a wilde Cat. Their Foxes are like our silver haired Conies of a small proportion and not smelling like those in England Their Dogges of that Country are like their Woolues and cannot barke but howle and the Woolues not much bigger then our English Foxes Martins Powlecats Weesels and Minkes we know they haue because we haue seene many of their skinnes though very seldome any of them aliue But one thing is strange that we could never perceiue their Vermine destroy our Hennes Egges nor Chickens nor doe any hurt nor their flyes nor serpents any way pernicious where in the South parts of America they are alwayes dangerous and often deadly Of Birds the Eagle is the greatest devourer Hawkes there be of divers sorts as our Falconers called them Sparrow-hawkes Lanarets Goshawkes Falcons and Osperayes but they all prey most vpon fish Their Partridges are little bigger then our Quailes Wilde Turkies are as bigge as our tame There are Woosels or Blackbirds with red shoulders Thrushes and divers sorts of small Birds some red some blew scarce so bigge as a Wrenne but few in Sommer In Winter there are great plentie of Swans Cranes gray and white with
feare being gone and our men recovered we were all content to take some paines to know the name of that seuen mile broad riuer for thirtie myles sayle we could see no inhabitants then we were conducted by two Savages vp a little bayed creeke towards Onawmanient where all the woods were layd with ambuscado's to the number of three or foure thousand Salvages so strangely paynted grimed and disguised shouting yelling and crying as so many spirits from hell could not haue shewed more terrible Many brauado's they made but to appeale their fury our Captaine prepared with as seeming a willingnesse as they to incounter them But the grazing of our bullets vpon the water many being shot on purpose they might see them with the Ecco of the of the woods so amazed them as downe went their bowes and arrowes and exchanging hostage Iames Watkins was sent six myles vp the woods to their Kings habitation We were kindly vsed of those Salvages of whom we vnderstood they were commanded to betray vs by the direction of Powhatan and he so directed from the discontents at Iames towne because our Captaine did cause them stay in their country against their wâ—lls The like incounters we found at Patowomek Cecocawonee and diuers other places but at Moyaones Nacotchtant and Toegs the people did their best to content vs. Hauing gone so high as we could with the bote we met diuers Saluages in Canowes well loaden with the flesh of Beares â—eere and other beasts whereof we had part here we found mighty Rocks growing in some places aboue the grownd as high as the shrubby trees and diuers other solid quarries of diuers tinctures and diuers places where the waters had falne from the high mountaines they had left a tinctured spaÌ„gled skurfe that made many bare places seeme as guilded Digging the growne aboue in the highest clifts of rocks we saw it was a claie sand so mingled with yeallow spangles as if it had beene halfe pin-dust In our returne inquiring still for this Matchqueon the king of Patawomeke gaue vs guides to conduct vs vp a little riuer called Quiyough vp which we rowed so high as we could Leauing the bote with six shot and diuers Salvages he marched seuen or eight myle before they came to the mine leading his hostages in a small chaine they were to haue for their paines being proud so richly to be adorned The mine is a great Rocky mountaine like Antimony wherein they digged a great hole with shells hatchets and hard by it runneth a fayre brooke of Christal-like water where they wash a way the drosse and keepe the remainder which they put in little baggs and sell it all ouer the country to paint there bodyes faces or Idols which makes them looke like Blackmores dusted over with siluer With so much as we could carry we returned to our bote kindly requiting this kinde king and all his kinde people The cause of this discovery was to search this mine of which Newport did assure vs that those small baggs we had giuen him in England he had tryed to hold halfe siluer but all we got proued of no value also to search what furrs the best whereof is at Cuscarawaoke where is made so much Rawranoke or white beads that occasion as much dissention among the the Salvages as gold and siluer amongst Christians and what other mineralls riuers rocks nations woods fishings fruites victuall and what other commodities the land afforded and whether the bay were endlesâ—e or how farre it extended of mines we were all ignorant but a few Beuers Otters Beares Martins and minkes we found and in diuers places that aboundance of fish lying so thicke with their heads aboue the water as for want of nets our barge driuing amongst them we attempted to catch them with a frying pan but we found it a bad instrument to catch fish with neither better fish more plâ—nty nor more variety for smal fish had any of vs euer seene in any place so swimming in the water but they are not to be caught with frying pans some small codd also we did see swim close by the shore by Smiths Iles and some as high as Riccards Clifts And some we haue found dead vpon the shore To exprest all our quarrels trecheries and incounters amongst those Salvages I should be too tedious but in breefe at all times we so incountred them and curbed their insolencies that they concluded with presents to purchase peace yet we lost not a man at our first meeting out Captaine euer obserued this order to demand their bowes and arrowes swordes mantells and furrs with some childe or two for hostage whereby we could quickly perceiue when they intended any villany Hauing finished this discouery though our victuall was neere spent he intended to see his imprisonment-acquaintances vpon the riuer of Rapahanock by many called Toppahanock but our bote by reason of the ebbe chansing to grownd vpon a many shoules lying in the entrances we spyed many fishes lurking in the reedes our Captaine spotting himselfe by nayling them to the grownd with his sword set vs all a fishing in that manner thus we tooke more in owne houre then we could eate in a day But it chansed our Captaine taking a fish from his sword not knowing her condition being much of the fashion of a Thornback but a long tayle like a ryding rodde whereon the middest is a most poysoned sting of two or three inches long bearded like a saw on each side which she strucke into the wrest of his arme neere an inch and a halfe no bloud nor wound was seene but a little blew spot but the torment was instantly so extreame that in foure houres had so swolen his hand arme and shoulder we all with much sorrow concluded his funerall and prepared his graue in an Island by as himselfe directed yet it pleased God by a precious oyle Docter Russell at the first applyed to it when he sounded it with proâ—e ere night his tormenting paine was so well asswaged that he eate of the fish to his supper which gaue no lesse ioy and content to vs then ease to himselfe for which we called the Island Stingray Isle after the name of the fish Hauing neither Chirurgian nor Chirurgery but that preseruatiue oyle we preseÌ„tly set sayles for Iames towne passing the mouthes of the riuers of Payankatank Pamavnkee the next day we safely arriued at Kecougtan The simple Salvages seeing our Captaine hurt and an other bloudy by breaking his shinne our numbers of bowes arrowes swords mantles and furrs would needes imagine we had beene at warres the truth of these accidents would not satisfie them but impatiently importuned vs to know with whom Finding their aptnesse to beleeue we fayled not as a great secret to tell them any thing that might affright them what spoyle we had got and made of the Massawomeks This rumor went faster vp the river then our Barge that arrived at
there villanies would hire vs we should not tell it to their kings or countrymen who would also repunish them and yet returne them to Iames towne to content the President for a testimony of their loues Master Sicklemore well returned from Chawwonoke but found little hope and lesse certaintie of them were left by Sir Walter Raleigh The riuer he saw was not great the people few the countrey most over growne with pynes where there did grow here and there straglingly Pemminaw we call silke grasse But by the riuer the ground was good and exceeding furtill Master Nathanael powell and Anas Todkill were also by the Quiyoughquohanocks conducted to the Mangoags to search them there but nothing could they learne but they were all dead This honest proper good promise keeping king of all the rest did euer best affect vs and though to his false Gods he was very zealous yet he would confesse our God as much exceeded his as our Gunns did his Bow and Arrowes often sending our President may presents to pray to his God for raine or his corne would perish for his Gods were angry Three dayes iorney they conducted them through the woodâ— into a high country towards the Sâ—â—thwest â—here they saw here and there a little câ—rne fiâ—â—d by some little spring or smal brooke but no riuer they could see the peâ—â—le in all reâ—pects like the rest except there language they liue most vpon rootes fruites and wilde beastâ— and trade with them towards the sea and the fatter countryes for dryed fish and corne for skâ—ns All this time to recouer the Dutch-men and one Bentley another fugitiue we imployed one Williâ—m Volday a Zwitzar by birth with Pardons promises to regaine them Little we then suspected this double villaine of any villany who plainly taught vs in the most trust was the greatest treason for this wicked hypocrite by the seeming hate he bore to the lewd conditions of his cursed country men hauing this oportunity by his imployment to regaine them conuayed them euery thing they desired to eâ—fect their proiects to distroy the Colony With much deuotion they expected the Spaniard to whom they intended good seruice or any other that would but carry them from vs. But to begin with the â—â—rst oportunity thâ—â— seâ—ing necessitie thus inforced vs to disperse our selues importuned Powhatan to lend them but his forces and they would not onely distroy our Hoggs fire our towne and betray our Pinnace but bring to his seruice and subiection the most of our company With this plot they had acquainted many Discontents and many were agreed to their Deuilish practise But one Thomas Douse and Thomas Mallard whose christian hearts relented at such an vnchristian act voluntarily reuealed it to Captaine Smith who caused them to conceale it perswading â—ouse and Mallard to proceed in their confedracie onely to bring the irreclamable Dutch men and the inconstant Salvages in such a maner amongst such Ambuscado's as he had prepared that not many of theÌ„ should returne from our Peninsula But this brute coÌ„ming to the â—ares of the impatieÌ„t multitude they so importuned the President to cut off those Dutch men as amongst many that offred to cut their throats befâ—re the face of PowhataÌ„ the first was LieutenaÌ„t Percy and Mr. Iohn Cuderington two Gentlemen of as bold resolute spirits as could possibly be fouÌ„d But the PresideÌ„t had occasioÌ„ of other imploiment for them gaue gaue way to Master Wyffin and Sarieant Ieffrey Abbot to goe and stab them or shoot them But the Dutch men made such excuses accusing Velday whom they supposed had reuealed their proiect as Abbot would not yet Wyffing would perceiuing it but deceit The King vnderstanding of this their imployment sent presently his messengers to Captaine Smith to signifie it was not his fault to detaine them nor hinder his men from executing his command nor did he nor would he mantaine them or any to occasion his displeâ—sure But whilst this businesse was in hand Arriued one Captaine Argall and Master Thomas Sedan sent by Master Cornelius to truck with the Colony and fish for Sturgeon with a ship well furnished with wine and much other good provision Though it was not sent vs our necessities was such as inforced vs to take it He brought vs newes of a great supply and preparation for the Lord La Woore with letters that much taxed our President for his heard dealing with the Salvages and not returning the shippes fraughted Notwithstanding we kept this ship tell the fleere arriued True it is Argall lost his voyage but we renictualled him and sent him for England with a true relation of the causes of our defailments and how imposible it was to returne that wealth they expected or obserue there instructions to indure the Salvages insolencies or doe any thing to any purpose except they would send vs men and meanes that could produce that they so much desired otherwises all they did was lost and could not but come to confusion The villany of Volday we still dissembled Adam vpon his pardon came home but Samuell still stayed with Powhahan to heare further of their estates by this supply Now all their plots Simth so well vnderstood they were his best advantages to secure vs from any trechery could be done by them or the Salvages which with facility he could revenge when he would because all those countryes more feared him then Powhatan and hee had such parties with all his bordering neighbours and many of the rest for loue or feare would haue done any thing he would haue them vpon any commotion though these fugitiues had done all they could to perswade Powhatan King Iames would kill Smith for vsing him and his people so vnkindly By this you may see for all those crosses trecheries and dissentions how hee wrestled and overcame without bloudshed all that happened also what good was done how few dyed what food the Countrey naturally affoordeth what small cause there is men should starue or be murthered by the Salvages that haue discretion to mannage them with courage and industrie The two first yeares though by his adventures he had oft brought the Salvages to a tractable trade yet you see how the envious authoritie ever crossed him and frustrated his best endevours But it wrought in him that experience and estimation amongst the Salvages as otherwise it had bin impossible he had ever effected that he did Notwithstanding the many miserable yet generous and worthy adventures he had oft and long endured in the wide world yet in this case he was againe to learne his Lecture by experience Which with thus much adoe having obtained it was his ill chance to end when he had but onely learned how to begin And though he left those vnknowne difficulties made easie and familiar to his vnlawfull successors who onely by liuing in Iames Towne presumed to know more then all the world could direct them Now though they had
possibilitie But his Lordship being at the fales the Saluages assaulted his troopes and slew three or foure of his men Not long after his Honour growing very sicke he returned for England the 28. of March in the ship were about fiue and fiftie men but ere we arriued at Fyall fortie of vs were neare sicke to death of the Scuruie Callenture and other diseases the Gouernour being an English-man kindly vsed vs but small reliefe we could get but Oranges of which we had plenty whereby within eight daies wee recouered and all were well and strong by that they came into England Written by William Box. The Counsell of Virginia finding the smalnesse of that returne which they hoped should haue defrayed the charge of a new supply entred into a deep consultation whether it were fit to enter into a new Contribution or in time to send for them home and giue ouer the action and therefore they adiured Sir Thomas Gates to deale plainly with them who with a solemne and a sacred oath replyed That all things before reported were true and that all men know that wee stand at the deuotion of politicke Princes and States who for their proper vtilitie deuise all courses to grind our Merchants and by all pretences to confiscate their goods and to draw from vs all manner of gaine by their inquisitiue inuentions when in Virginia a few yeeres labour by planting and husbandry will furnish all our deâ—â—cts with honour and securitie Out of a Declaration published by the Counsell 1610. The gouernment left againe to Captaine George Piercie and the returne of the Lord la Ware with his Relation to the Councell MY Lords now by accident returned from my charge at Virginia contrary either to my owne desire or other mens expectations who spare not to censure me in point of dutie and to discourse and question the reason though they apprehend not the true cause of my returne I am forced out of a willingnesse to satisfie euery man to deliuer vnto your Lordships and the rest of this assemblie in what state I haue liued euer since my arriuall to the Colonie what hath beene the iust cause of my sudden departure and on what tearmes I haue left the same the rather because I perceiue that since my comming into England such a coldnesse and irresolution is bred in many of the Aduenturers that some of them seeke to withdraw their payments by which the action must be supported making this my returne colour of their needlesse backwardnesse and vniust protraction which that you may the better vnderstand I was welcomed to Iames towne by a violent ague being cured of it within threâ— weekes after I began to be distempered with other grieuous sicknesses which successiuely and seuerally assailed me for besides a relapse into the former disease which with much more violence held me more than a moneth and brought me to greater weaknesse the flux surprised mee and kept me many daies then the crampe assaulted my weake body with strong paines and after the gout all those drew me to that weaknesse being vnable to stirre brought vpon me the scuruie which though in others it be a sicknesse of slothfulnesse yet was it in mean effect of weaknesse which neuer left me till I was ready to leaue the world In these extremities I resolued to consult with my friends who finding nature spent in me and my body almost consumed my paines likewise daily increasing gaue me aduice to preferre a hopefull recouerie before an assured ruine which must necessarily haue ensued had I liued but twentie daies longer in Virginia wanting at that instant both food and Physicke fit to remedie such extraordinary diseases wherefore I shipped my selfe with Doctor Bohun and Captaine Argall for Meuis in the West Indies but being crossed with Southerly winds I was forced to shape my course for the Westerne Iles where I found helpe for my health and my sicknesse asswaged by the meanes of fresh dyet especially Oranges and Limons and vndoubted remedie for that disease then I intended to haue returned backe againe to Virginia but I was aduised not to hazard my selfe before I had perfectly recouered my strength so I came for England in which accident I doubt not but men of iudgement will imagine there would more preiudice haue happened by my death there than I hope can doe by my returne For the Colony I left it to the charge of Captaine George Piercie a Gentleman of honour and resolution vntill the comming of Sir Thomas Dale whose Commission was likewise to bee determined vpon the arriuall of Sir Thomas Gates according to the order your Lordships appointed the number I left were about two hundred the most in health and prouided of at least ten moneths victuall and the Countrie people tractable and friendly What other defects they had I found by Sir Thomas Gates at the Cowes his Fleet was sufficiently furnished with supplies but when it shall please God that Sir Thomas Dale and Sir Thomas Gates shall arriue in Virginia with the extraordinarie supply of 100. Kine and 200. Swine besides store of other prouision for the maintenance of the Colonie there will appeare that successe in the action as shall giue no man cause of distrust that hath already aduentured but incourage euery good minde to further so good a worke as will redound both to the glory of God to the credit of our nation and the comfort of all those that haue beene instruments in the furthering of it Out of the Lord la Wares discourse published by Authoritie 1611. The gouernment surrendred to Sir Thomas Dale who arriued in Virginia the tenth of May 1611. out of Master Hamors Booke BEfore the Lord la Ware arriued in England the Councell and Companie had dispatched away Sir Thomas Dale with three ships men and cattell and all other prouisions necessarie for a yeere all which arriued well the tenth of May 1611. where he found them growing againe to their former estate of penurie being so improuident as not to put Corne in the ground for their bread but trusted to the store then furnished but with three moneths prouision his first care therefore was to imploy all hands about setting of Corne at the two Forts at Kecoughtan Henry and Charles whereby the season then not fully past though about the end of May wee had an indifferent crop of good Corne. This businesse taken order for and the care and trust of it committed to his vnder-Officers to Iames towne he hastened where most of the companie were â—t their daily and vsuall works bowling in the streets these hee imployed about necessarie workes as felling of Timber repayring their houses ready to fall on their heads and prouiding pales posts and railes to impale his purposed new towne which by reason of his ignorance being but newly arriued hee had not resolued where to seat therefore to better his knowledge with one hundred men he spent some time in viewing the
vneuen distributed into hills and dales the mold is of diuers colours neither clay nor sand but a meane betweene the red which resembleth clay is the worst the whitest resembling sand and the blackest is good but the browne betwixt them both which they call white because there is mingled with it a white meale is the best vnder the mould two or three foot deep and sometimes lesse is a kinde of white hard substance which they call the Rocke the trees vsually fasten their roots in it neither is it indeed rocke or stone or so hard though for most part more harder then Chalke nor so white but pumish-like and spungy easily receiuing and containing much water In some places Clay is found vnder it it seemes to be ingendred with raine water draining through the earth and drawing with it of his substance vnto a certaine depth where it congeales the hardest kinde of it lies vnder the red ground like quarries as it were thicke slates one vpon another through which the water hath his passage so that in such places there is scarce found any fresh water for all or the most part of the fresh water commeth out of the Sea draining through the sand or that substance called the Rocke leauing the salt behinde it becomes fresh sometimes we digged wells of fresh water which we finde in most places and but three or foure paces from the Sea side some further the most part of them would ebbe and flow as the Sea did and be leuell or little higher then the superficies of the sea and in some places very strange darke and cumbersome Caues The aire is most commonly cleere very temperate moist with a moderate heat very healthfull and apt for the generation and nourishing of all things so as many things transported from hence yeeld a farre greater increase and if it be any liuing thing it becomes fatter and better by this meanes the country is so replenished with Hens and Turkies within the space of three or foure yeeres that many of them being neglected forsake the houses and become wilde and so liue in great abundance the like increase there is in Hogs tame Conies and other Cattle according to their kindes There seemes to be a continuall Spring which is the cause some things come not to that maturity and perfection as were requisite and though the trees shed their leaues yet they are alwaies full of greene the Corne is the same they haue in Virginia and the West-Indies of this and many other things without plowing or much labour they haue two Haruests euery yeere for they set about March which they gather in Iuly and againe in August which they reape in December and little slips of Fig-trees and Vines doe vsually beare fruit within the yeere and sometimes in lesse but we finde not the Grapes as yet come to any perfection the like fertility it hath in Oranges and Limons Pomgranates and other things Concerning the serenity and beauty of the skie it may as truly be said of those Ilands as euer it was said of the Rhodes that there is no one day throughout the 12. moneths but that in some houre thereof the sun lookes singularly cleere vpon them for the temperature it is beyond all others most admirable no cold there is beyond an English Aprill nor heat much greater then an ordinary Iuly in France so that frost and snow is neuer seene here nor stinking and infectious mists very seldome by reason of the maine Ocean there is some wind stirring that cooles the aire the winter they haue obserues the time with ours but the longest daies and nights are shorter then ours almost by two houres We found it at first all ouergrowne with weeds and plants of seuerall kinds as many tall and goodly Cedars infinite store of Palmetoes numbers of Mulberies wild Oliue-trees store with diuers others vnknowne both by name and nature so that as yet they become lost to many vsefull imployments which time and industry no doubt will one day discouer and euen already certaine of the most notorious of them haue gotten them appellations from their apparent effects as the Prickell-peare which growes like a shrub by the ground with broad thick leaues all ouer-armed with long and sharpe dangerous thornes the fruit being in forme not much vnlike a small greene Peare and on the outside of the same colour but within bloud red and exceeding full of iuice with graines not much vnlike the Pomgranat and colouring after its nature The poysoned weed is much in shape like our English Iuy but being but touched causeth rednesse itching and lastly blisters the which howsoeuer after a while passe away of themselues without further harme yet because for the time they are somewhat painfull it hath got it selfe an ill name although questionlesse of no ill nature Here is also frequently growing a certaine tall Plant whose stalke being all ouer couered with a red rinde is thereupon termed the red weed the root whereof being soked in any liquor or but a small quantity of the Iuice drunke alone procures a very forcible vomit and yet is generally vsed by the people and found very effectuall against the paines and distempers of the stomacke A kinde of Wood-bind there is likewise by the Sea very commonly to bee found which runnes vpon trees twining it selfe like a Vine the fruit somewhat resembles a Beane but somewhat flatter the which any way eaten worketh excellently in the nature of a purge and though very vehemently yet without all perill Contrary to this another small tree there is which causeth costiuenesse there is also a certaine Plant like a bramble bush which beares a long yellow fruit hauing the shell very hard and within it a hard berry that beaten and taken inwardly purgeth gently There is another fruit much like our Barberies which being beaten or brused betweene the teeth sets all the mouth on an extreme heat very terrible for the time to auoid which they are swallowed downe whole and found of the same or better operation then the red Pepper and thence borroweth the name In the bottome of the Sea there is growing vpon the Rocks a large kinde of Plant in the forme of a Vine leafe but far more spread with veines in colour of a pale red very strangely interlaced wouen one into another which we call the Feather but the vertue thereof is altogether vnknowne but only regarded for the rarity Now besides these naturall productions prouidences paines since the Plantation haue offered diuers other feeds plants which the soile hath greedlily imbraced cherished so that at this present 1623. there are great abundance of white red and yellow coloured Potatoes Tobacco Sugarcanes Indicos Parsnips exceeding large Râ—dishes the American bread the Cassado root the Indian Pumpian the Water-millon Musk-millon the most delicate Pine-apples Plantans and Papawes also the English Artichoke Pease c. briefly
meane which is Wood Flax Pitch Tarre Rozen Cordage and such like which they exchange againe to the French Spaniards Portugals and English c. for what they want are made so mighty strong and rich as no state but Venice of twice their magnitude is so well furnished with so many faire Cities goodly Townes strong Fortresses and that abundance of shipping and all sorts of Merchandize as well of Gold Siluer Pearles Diamonds precious Stones Silkes Veluets and Cloth of Gold as Fâ—sh Pitch Wood or such grosse Commodities What voiages and discoueries Eâ—st and West North and South yea about the world make they What an Army by Sea and Land haue they long maintained in despight of one of the greatest Princes of the world and neuer could the Spaniard with all his Mines of Gold and Siluer pay his debts his friends and Army halfe so truly as the Hollanders still haue done by this contemptible Trade of Fish Diuers I know may alleage many other assistances but this is the chiefest Mine and the Sea the source of those siluer streames of all their vertue which hath made them now the very miracle of industry the onely paterne of perfection for these affaires and the benefit of fishing is that Primum Mobile that turnes all their spheares to this height of plentie strength honor and exceeding great admiration Herring Cod and Ling is that triplicitie that makes their wealth and shippings multiplicitie such as it is and from which few would thinke it they should draw so many millions yeerely as they doe as more in particular in the trials of New England you may see and such an incredible number of ships that breeds them so many Sailers Mariners Souldiers and Merchants neuer to be wrought out of that Trade and fit for any other I will not deny but others may gaine as well as they that will vse it though not so certainly nor so much in quantitie for want of experience and this Herring they take vpon the Coast of England and Scotland their Cod and Ling vpon the Coast of Izeland and in the North seas if wee consider what gaines the Hamburgans the Biskinners and French make by fishing nay but how many thousands this fiftie or sixty yeeres haue beene maintained by New found land where they take nothing but small Cod whereof the greatest they make Cor-fish and the rest is hard dried which we call Poore-Iohn would amaze a man with wonder If then from all those parts such paines is taken for this poore gaines of Fish especially by the Hâ—â—landers that hath but little of their owne for building of ships and setting them to sea but at the second third fourth or fift hand drawne from so many pâ—râ—s of the world ere they come together to be vsed in those voiages If these I say can gaine why should we more doubt then they but doe much better that may haue most of all those things at our doores for taking and making and here are no hard Landlords to racke vs with high rents or extorting fines nor tedious pleas in Law to consume vs with their many yeeres disputation for Iustice no multitudes to occasion such impediments to good orders as in popular States so freely hath God and his Maiestie bestowed those blessings on them will attempt to obtaine them as here euery man may be master of his owne labour and land or the greatest part if his Maiesties royall meaning be not abused and if he haue nothing but his hands he may set-vp his Trade and by industry quickly grow rich spending but halfe that time well which in England we abuse in idlenesse worse or as ill Here is ground as good as any lieth in the height of forty one forty two forty three c. which is as temperate and as fruitfull as any other parallel in the world As for example on this side the line West of it in the South Sea is Nona Albion discouered as is said by Sir Francis Drake East from it is the most temperate part of Portugall the ancient Kingdomes of Galizia Bisky Nauarre Aragon Cattilonia Castillia the old and the most moderatest of Castillia the new Valentia which is the greatest part of Spaine which if the Histories be true in the Romans time abounded no lesse with gold siluer Mines then now the West-Indies the Romans then vsing the Spaniards to worke in those Mines as now the Spaniards doe the Indians In France the Prouinces of Gascony Langadooke Auignon Prouince Dolphine Pyamont and Turyne are in the same parallel which are the best and richest parts of France In Italy the Prouinces of Genua Lumbardy and Verona with a great part of the most famous state of Venice the Dukedomes of Bononia Mantua Ferrara Rauenna Bolognia Florence Pisa Sienna Vrbine Ancona and the ancient Citie and Countrey of Rome with a great part of the Kingdome of Naples In Slauonia Istria and Dalmatia with the Kingdomes of Albania In Grecia those famous Kingdomes of Macedonia Bullulgaria Thessalia Thracia or Romania where is seated the most pleasant and plentifull Citie in Europe Constantinople In Asia in the same latitude are the temperatest parts of Natolia Armenia Persia and China besides diuers other large Countries and Kingdomes in those most milde and temperate Regions of Asia Southward in the same height is the richest of Gold Mines Chily and Baldinia and the mouth of the great Riuer of Plate c. for all the rest of the world in that height is yet vnknowne Besides these reasons mine owne eies that haue seene a great part of those Cities and their Kingdomes as well as it can finde no aduantage they haue in Nature but this they are beautified by the long labour and diligence of industrious people and art This is onely as God made it when hee created the world Therefore I conclude if the heart and intrailes of those Regions were sought if their Land were cultured planted and manured by men of industry iudgement and experience what hope is there or what need they doubt hauing the aduantages of the Sea but it might equalize any of these famous Kingdomes in all commodities pleasures and conditions seeing euen the very hedges doe naturally affoord vs such plentie as no ship need returne away emptie and onely vse but the season of the Sea Fish will returne an honest gaine besides all other aduantages her treasures hauing yet neuer beene opened nor her originals wasted consumed nor abused And whereas it is said the Hollanders serue the Easterlings themselues and other parts that want with Herring Ling and wet Cod The Easterlings a great part of Europe with Sturgion and Cauiare as the Blacke Sea doth Grecia Podolia Sagouia Natolia and the Hellespont Cape Blanke Spaine Portugall and the Leuant with Mulit and Puttargo New foundland the most part of the chiefe Southerne Ports in Europe with a thin Poore-Iohn which hath beene so long so much ouer-laied
want and what sport doth yeeld a more pleasing content and lesse hurt and charge then angling with a hooke and crossing the sweet aire from I le to I le ouer the silent streames of a calme Sea wherein the most curious may finde profit pleasure and content Thus though all men be not fishers yet all men whatsoeuer may in other matters doe as well for necessity doth in these cases so rule a common wealth and each in their seuerall functions as their labours in their qualities may be as profitable because there is a necessary mutuall vse of all For Gentlemen what exercise should more delight them then ranging daily these vnknowne parts vsing fowling and fishing for hunting and hawking and yet you shall see the wilde Hawkes giue you some pleasure in seeing them stoupe six or seuen times after one another an houre or two together at the skults of Fish in the faire Harbours as those a shore at a fowle and neuer trouble nor torment your selues with watching mewing feeding and attending them nor kill horse and man with running and crying See you not a Hawke for hunting also the Woods Lakes and Riuers affoord not onely chase sufficient for any that delights in that kinde of toile or pleasure but such beasts to hunt that besides the delicacie of their bodies for food their skinnes are so rich as they will recompeuce thy daily labour with a Captaines pay For Labourers if those that sow Hempe Rape Turnups Parsnips Carrats Cabidge and such like giue twentie thirtie fortie fiftie shillings yeerely for an Acre of Land and meat drinke and wages to vse it and yet grow rich when better or at least as good ground may bee had and cost nothing but labour it seemes strange to me any such should grow poore My purpose is not to perswade children from their parents men from their wiues nor seruants from their masters onely such as with free consent may bee spared but that each Parish or Village in Citie or Countrey that will but apparell their fatherlesse children of thirteene or foureteene yeeres of age or young maried people that haue small wealth to liue on here by their labour may liue exceeding well Prouided alwaies that first there be a sufficient power to command them houses to receiue them meanes to defend them and meet prouisions for thē for any place may be ouer-laine and it is most necessary to haue a fortresse ere this grow to practise and sufficient masters of all necessarie mecanicall qualities to take ten or twelue of them for Apprentises the Master by this may quickly grow rich these may learne their trades themselues to doe the like to a generall and an incredible benefit for King and Countrey Master and Seruant It would be a History of a large volume to recite the aduentures of the Spaniards and Portugals their affronts and defeats their dangers and miseries which with such incomparable honor and constant resolution so farre beyond beleefe they haue attempted and indured in their discoueries and plantations as may well condemne vs of too much imbecillitie sloth and negligence yet the Authors of these new inuentions were held as ridiculous for a long time as now are others that doe but seeke to imitate their vnparalleld vertues and though we see daily their mountaines of wealth sprung from the Plants of their generous indeuours yet is our sensualitie and vntowardnesse such so great that we either ignorantly beleeue nothing or so curiously contest to preuent we know not what future euents that we either so neglect or oppresse and discourage the present as wee spoile all in the making crop all in the blooming and building vpon faire Sand rather then vpon rough Rocks iudge that we know not gouerne that wee haue not feare that which is not and for feare some should doe too well force such against their wils to be idle or as ill And who is hee hath iudgement courage and any industry or quality with vnderstanding will leaue his Country his hopes at home his certaine estate his friends pleasures libertie and the preferment sweet England doth affoord to all degrees were it not to aduance his fortunes by enioying his deserts whose prosperitie once appearing will encourage others but it must be cherished as a childe till it be able to goe and vnderstand it selfe and not corrected nor oppressed aboue it strength ere it know wherefore A childe can neither performe the office nor deeds of a man of strength nor endure that affliction he is able nor can an Apprentise at the first performe the part of a Master and if twentie yeeres be required to make a childe a man seuen yeeres limited an Apprentise for his trade if scarce an age be sufficient to make a wise man a States-man and commonly a man dies ere he hath learned to be discreet if perfection be so hard to be obtained as of necessitie there must be Practice as well as Theoricke Let no man then condemne this paradox opinion to say that halfe seuen yeres is scarce sufficient for a good capacitie to learne in these affaires how to carrie himselfe And who euer shall try in these remote places the erecting of a Colony shall finde at the end of seuen yeeres occasion enough to vse all his discretion and in the Interim all the content rewards gaines and hopes will be necessarily required to be giuen to the beginning till it be able to creepe to stand and goe and to encourage desert by all possible meanes yet time enough to keepe it from running for there is no fear◠it will grow too fast or euer to any thing except libertie profit honor and prosperitie there found more binde the Planters of those affaires in deuotion to effect it then bondage violence tyrannie ingratitude and such double dealing as bindes free men to become slaues and honest men turne knaues which hath euer beene the ruine of the most popular Common-weales and is very vnlikely euer well to begin anew Who seeth not what is the greatest good of the Spaniard but these new conclusions in searching those vnknowne parts of this vnknowne world by which meanes he diues euen into the very secrets of all his neighbours and the most part of the world and when the Portugals and Spaniards had found the East and West-Indies how many did condemne themselues that did not accept of that honest offer of Noble Columbus who vpon our neglect brought them to it perswading our selues the world had no such places as they had found and yet euer since we finde they still from time to time haue found new Lands new Nations and Trades and still daily doe finde both in Asia Affrica Terra incognita and America so that there is neither Souldier nor Mechanicke from the Lord to the Begger but those parts affoords them all imploiment discharges their natiue soile of so many thousands of all sorts that else by their sloth pride and imperfections
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
well much more him that was sicke women rubbing him to keepe heat in him but their charmes ended vnderstanding of vs though he had lost his sight his vnderstanding failed not but taking Winslow by the hand said Art thou Winslow Oh Winslow I shall neuer see thee againe Hobamock telling him what restauratiues they had brought he desired to taste them with much adoe they got a little Confexion of many comfortable Conserues into his mouth as it desolued he swallowed it then desoluing more of it in water they scraped his tongue which was al furred swolne and washed his mouth and then gaue him more of it to eat and in his drinke that wrought such an alteration in him in two or three houres his eies opened to our great contents with this and such brothes as they there prouided for him it pleased God he recouered and thus the manner of his sicknesse and cure caused no small admiration amongst them During the time of their stay to see his recouery they had sent to New Plimoth for diuers good things for him which he tooke so kindly that he fully reuealed all the former conspiracies against vs to which he had oft beene moued and how that all the people of Powmet Nawset Succonet Mattachist Manamet Augawam and Capawac were ioyned to murder vs therefore as we respected our liues kill them of Massachuset that were the authors for take away the principals and the plot wil cease thus taking our leaues arriuing at our fort we found our braue liberall friend of Pamet drawing Standish to their Ambuscados which being thus discouered we sent him away as though he knew not suspected any thing Them at the Massachusets some were so vilde they serued the Saluages for victuall the rest sent vs word the Saluages were so insolent they would assault them though against their Commission so fearefull they were to breake their Commission so much time was spent in consultations they all were famished till Wassapinewat againe came and told them the day of their execution was at hand Then they appointed Standish with eight chosen men vnder colour of Trade to catch them in their owne trap at Massachuset acquaint it with the English in the Towne where arriuing he found none in the Barke and most of the rest without Armes or scarce clothes wandering abroad all so sencelesly secure he more then wondered they were not all slaine with much adoe he got the most of them to their Towne The Saluages suspecting their plots discouered Pecksnot a great man and of as great a spirit came to Habamak who was then amongst them saying Tell Standish we know he is come to kill vs but let him begin when he dare Not long after many would come to the Fort and whet their Kniues before him with many brauing speeches One amongst the rest was by Wittawamat bragging he had a Knife that on the handle had the picture of a womans face but at home I haue one hath killed both French English and that hath a mans face on it and by and by these two must marrie but this here by and by shall see and by and by eat but not speake Also Pecksnot being of a greater stature then the Captaine told him though he were a great Captaine he was but a little man and I though no Sachem yet I am of great strength and courage These things Standish bare patiently for the present but the next day seeing he could not get many of them together but these two Roarers and two more being in a conuenient roome and his company about him Standish feased on Pecksnots Knife then hanging about his necke wherewith he slew him and the rest slew Wittuwamat and the other Saluage but the youth they tooke who being Brother to Wittuwamat and as villanous as himselfe was hanged It is incredible how many wounds they indured catching at their weapons without any feare or bruit till the last gasp Habamack stood by all this time very silent but all ended he said Yesterday Pecksnot bragged of his strength and stature but I see you are big enough to lay him on the ground The Towne he left to the guard of Westons people three Saluages more were slaine vpon which rumour they all fled from their houses The next day they met with a file of Saluages that let fly their Arrowes shot for shot till Hobamack shewed himselfe and then they fled For all this a Saluage Boy to shew his innocency came boldly vnto vs and told vs Had the English Fugitiues but finished the three Canowes they were a making to haue taken the ship they would haue done as much to all the English which was onely the cause they had forborne so long But now consulting and considering their estates those that went in the Pinnace to Barty Iles to get passage for England the rest to New Plimoth where they were kindly entertained The Sachem Obtakâ—est Powas and diuers other were guilty the three fugitiues in their fury there slew but not long after so distracted were those poore scattered people they left their habitations liuing in swamps where wiâ—h cold and infinite diseases they endured much mortalitie suing for peace and crying the God of England is angry with them Thus you see where God pleases as some flourish others perish Now on all hands they prepare their ground and about the middest of Aprill in a faire season they begin to plant till the latter end of May but to God pleased that in six weekes after the latter setting there scarce fell any raine so that the stalke was first set began to care ere it came to halfe growth and the last not like to yeeld any thing at all Our Beanes also seemed so withered we iudged all vtterly dead that now all our hopes were ouerthrowne and our ioy turned into mourning And more to our sorrow we heard of the twice returne of the Paragon that now the third time was sent vs three moneths agoe but no newes of her onely the signes of a wracke we saw on the Coast which wee iudged her This caused not euery of vs to enter into a priuate consideration betwixt God and our consciences but most solemnly to humble our selues before the Lord by fasting and praying to releeue our deiected spirits by the comforts of his mercy In the morning when wee assembled all together the skies were as cleere and the drought as like to continue as euer yet our exercise continued eight or nine houres Before our departure the skies were all ouer-cast and on the next morning distilled such soft sweet moderate showers continuing foureteene daies mixed with such seasonable weather as it was hard to say whether our withered Corne or drooping affections were most quickned and reuiued such was the bounty and mercy of God Of this the Indians by the meanes of Hobamock tooke notice who seeing vs vse this exercise in the midst of the
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
with neare 50. Salvagâ—s came towards vs. Being vnwilling they should see our building we went to exchanged with them Kniues Hatchets Beades Bels and such trifles for some Bevers Lyzards Martins Foxes wilde Catte skinnes and such like We saw them haue much red Copper whereof they make chaines collars and drinking cups which they so little esteemed they would giue vs for small toyes signified vnto vs they had it out of the earth in the Mayne three dayes they stayed with vs but every night retyred two or three myle from vs after with many signes of loue and friendship they departed seaven of them staying behind that did helpe vs to dig and carry Saxafras and doe any thing they could being of a comely proportion and the best condition of any Salvages we had yet incountred They haue no Beards but counterfeits as they did thinke ours also was for which they would haue changed with some of our men that had great beards Some of the baser sort would steale but the better sort we found very civill and iust We saw but three of their women and they were but of meane stature attyred in skins like the men but fat and well favoured The wholesomenesse and temperature of this climate doth not onely argue the people to be answerable to this Description but also of a perfect constitution of body actiue strong healthfull and very witty as the sundry toyes by them so cunningly wrought may well testifie For our selues we found our selues rather increase in health and strength then otherwise for all our toyle bad dyet and lodging yet not one of vs was touched with any sicknesse Twelue intended here a while to haue stayed but vpon better consideration how meanely we were provided we left this Island with as many true sorrowfull eyes as were before desirous to see it the 18. of Iune and arrived at Eâ—mouth the 23 of Iuly But yet mans minde doth such it selfe explay As Gods great Will doth frame it every way And Such thoughts men haue on earth that doe but liue As men may craue but God doth onely giue Written by Iohn Brierton one of the Voyage A Voyage of Captaine Martin Pring with two Barks from Bristow for the North part of Virginia 1603. BY the inducements and perswasions of Mr Richard Hackluite Mr Iohn Whitson being Maior with his brethren the Aldermen most of the Merchants of the Citie of Bristow raised a stocke of 1000l. to furnish out two Barkes the one of 50. tuns with 30. men and boyes the other 26. tuns with 13. men and boyes having Martin Pring an vnderstanding Gentleman and a sufficient Mariner for Captaine and Robert Salterne his Assistant who had bin with Captaine Gosnoll there the yeare before for Pilot. Though they were much crossed by contrary windes vpon the coast of England and the death of that ever most memorable miracle of the world our most deare soveraigne Lady and Queene Elizabeth yet at last they passed by the westerne Isles and about the 7. of Iune fell vpon the north part of Virginia about the degrees of fortie three Where they found plentie of most sorts of fish and saw a high country full of great woods of sundry sorts As they ranged the coast at a place they named Whitson Bay they were kindly vsed by the Natiues that came to them in troupes of tens twenties thirties and sometimes more But because in this Voyage for most part they followed the course of Captaine Gosnoll and haue made no relation but to the same effect he writ before we will thus conclude Lay hands vnto this worke with all thy wit But pray that God would speed and perfit it Robert Salterne A relation of a Discovery towards the Northward of Virginia by Captaine George Waymouth 1605. imployed thether by the right Honorable Thomas Arundell Baron of Warder in the Raigne of our most royall King IAMES VPon tuesday the fift of March we set sayle from Ratcliffe but by contrary winds we were forced into Dartmouth till the last of this moneth then with 29. as good sea men all necessary provisioÌ„s as could possibly be gotten we put to sea and the 24 of Aprill fell with Flowres and Coruos We intended as we were directed towards the Southward of 39. But the winds so crossed vs wee fell more Northwards about 41. and 20. minuits we sounded at 100. fathom by that we had run 6 leagues we had but 5. yet saw no land from the mayne top we descryed a whitish sandy clift West North-west some 6. leagues from vs but ere we had run two leagues further we found many shoules and breaches sometimes in 4. fadom and the next throw 15. or 18. Being thus imbayed among those shoules we were constrained to put back againe which we did with no small danger though both the winde and weather were as fayre as we could desire Thus we parted from the Land which we had not before so much desired and at the first sight reioyced as now we all ioyfully praysed God that he had delivered vs from so eminent danger Here we found excellent Cod and saw many Whales as we had done 2. or 3. daies before Being thus constrained to put to sea the want of wood water caused vs take the best advantage of the winde to fall with the shore wheresoever but we found our Sea cards most directly false The 17. of May we made the Land againe but it blew so hard we durst not approach it The next day it appeared to vs a mayne high land but we found it an Island of 6. myles in compasse within a league of it we came to an anchor and went on shore for wood water of which we found sufficient The water gushing forth downe the rocky clifts in many places which are all overgrown with Firre Birch Beech Oke as the Verge is with Gousberries Strawberries wild Pease and Rose bushes and much foule of divers sorts that breed among the rockes here as in all places els where we came we found Cod enough From hence we might discerne the mayne land and very high mountaines the next day because we rode too open to the Sea we waighed and came to the Isles adioyning to the mayn among which we found an excellent rode defended from all windes for ships of any burthen in 6.7.8.9 or 10. fadom vpon a clay oze This was vpon a Whitsonday wherefore we called it Pentecost Harbour Here I cannot omit for foolish feare of imputation of flattery the painfull industry of our Captaine who as at Sea he was alwayes most carefull vigilant so at land he refused no paines but his labour was ever as much or rather more then any mans which not onely incouraged others with better content but also effected much with great expedition We digged a Garden the 22. of May where among our garden-seeds we sowed Pease and Barley which in 16. dayes grew
vp 8. ynches although this was but the crust of the ground and much inferiour to the mould we after found in the mayne After we had taken order for all our necessary businesses we marched through two of these Isles The biggest was 4. or 5. myles in compasse we found here all sorts of ordinary trees besides Vines Currants Spruce Yew Angelica and divers gummes in so much many of our company wished themselues setled here Vpon the 30. our Captaine with 13. went to discover the mayne we in the ship espyed 3. Canowes that came towards the ship Which after they had well viewed one of them came aboord with 3. men and by our good vsage of them not long after the rest two dayes we had their companies in all respects they are but like them at Elizabeths Isles therefore this may suffice for their description In this time our Captain had discovered a fayre river trending into the mayne 40 myles and returned backe to bring in the ship The Salvages also kept their words and brought vs 40. Bever Oter and sable skins for the value of 5. shillings in kniues glasses combes and such toyes and thus we vsed them so kindly as we could because we intended to inhabit in their Country they lying aboord with vs and we ashore with them but it was but as changing man for man as hostages and in this manner many times we had their companies At last they desired our Captaine to goe with them to the mayne to trade with their Bashabes which is their chiefe Lord which we did our boat well manned with 14. yet would they row faster with 3. Ores in their Canowes then we with 8. but when we saw our old acquaintance would not stay aboord vs as before for hostage but did what they could to draw vs into a narrow câ—ke we exchanged one Owen Griffin with them for a yong fellow of theirs that he might see if he could discover any trechery as he did for he found there assembled 283. Salvages with bowes arrows but not any thing at all to trade as they pretended These things considered we conceited them to be but as all Salvages ever had beene kinde till they found opportunitie to do mischiefe Wherefoer we determined to take some of them before they should suspect we had discovered their plot lest they should absent themselues from vs so the first that ever after came into the ship were three which we kept and two we tooke on shore with much adoe with two Canowes their bowes and arrowes Some time we spent in sounding all the Isles channels and inlets thereabouts and we found 4. severall waies a ship might be brought into this Bay In the interim there came 2. Canowes more boldly aboord vs signifying we should bring our ship to the place where he dwelt to trade We excused our selues why we could not but vsed them kindly yet got them away with all the speed we could that they should not be perceiued by them in the houle then we went vp the river 26. myles of which I had rather not write then by my relation detract from it it is in breadth a myle neare 40. myles and a channell of 6.7.8.9 or 10. fadom on both sides every halfe myle gallant Coues to containe in many of them 100 sayle where they may lye on Oze without Cable or Anchor onely mored with a Hanser and it floweth 18. foot that you may make docke or carine ships with much facilitie besides the land is most rich trending all along on both sides in an equall plaine neither rocky nor mountainous but verged with a greene border of grasse doth make tender to the beholder her pleasant fertilitie if by cleansing away the woods she were converted into meadow The woods are great and tall such as are spoken of in the Islelands and well watered with many fresh springs Our men that had seene Oranoque so famous in the worlds eares Reogrande Loyer Slion report though they be great goodly rivers yet are not comparable to it Leaving our ship we went higher till we were 7. myles higher then the salt water flowed we marched towards the mountains we had seene but the weather was so hot our labour so great as our Captaine was contented to returne after we had erected a crosse we left this faire land and river in which the higher we went the better we liked it and returned to our ship By the way we met a Canow that much desired one of our men to go vp to their Basshabes but we knew their intents and so turned them off and though we had both time and provision to haue discovered much more and might haue found peradventure good trade yet because our company was but small we would not hazzard so hopefull a businesse as this was either for our private or particular ends being more regardfull of a publicke good and promulgating Gods holy Church by planting Christianity which was the intent of our adventurers so well as ours returning by the Isles in the entry of the Sound we called them St Georges Isles because on sunday we set out of England on sunday also the 16. of Iune we departed hence When we had run 30. leagues we had 40. fadom â—hen 70. then 100. After 2. or 3. watches more we were in 24. fadoms where we tooke so much Cod as we did know what to doe with and the 18. of Iuly came to Dartmouth and all our men as well God be thanked as when they went forth Thus may you see God hath not all his gifts bestowed on all or any one Words sweetest and wits sharpest courage strength of bone All rarities of minde and parts doe all concurre in none Written by Iames Rosier one of the Voyage VIRGINIA ⧠The second Booke THE SIXT VOYAGE 1606. To another part of Virginia where now are Planted our English Colonies Whom God increase and preserue Discovered and Described by Captaine IOHN SMITH sometimes Governour of the Countrey BY these former relations you may see what incoÌ„veniences still crossed those good intents and how great a mattter it was all this time to finde but a Harbour although there be so many But this Virginia is a Country in America betweene the degrees of 34. and 45. of the North latitude The bounds thereof on the East side are the great Ocean on the South lyeth Florida on the North nova Francia as for the West thereof the limits are vnknowne Of all this Country we purpose nor to speake but onely of that part which was planted by the English men in the yeare of our Lord 1606. And this is vnder the degrees 37.38 and 39. The temperature of this Country doth agree well with English constitutions being once seasoned to the Country Which appeared by this that though by many occasions our people fell sicke yet did they recover by very small meanes and continued in health though there were