a sermon preached in london before the right honorable the lord lavvarre, lord gouernour and captaine generall of virginea, and others of his maiesties counsell for that kingdome, and the rest of the aduenturers in that plantation at the said lord generall his leaue taking of england his natiue countrey, and departure for virginea, febr. . . by w. crashaw bachelar of diuinitie, and preacher at the temple. wherein both the lawfulnesse of that action is maintained, and the necessity thereof is also demonstrated, not so much out of the grounds of policie, as of humanity, equity, and christianity. taken from his mouth, and published by direction. crashaw, william, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a sermon preached in london before the right honorable the lord lavvarre, lord gouernour and captaine generall of virginea, and others of his maiesties counsell for that kingdome, and the rest of the aduenturers in that plantation at the said lord generall his leaue taking of england his natiue countrey, and departure for virginea, febr. . . by w. crashaw bachelar of diuinitie, and preacher at the temple. wherein both the lawfulnesse of that action is maintained, and the necessity thereof is also demonstrated, not so much out of the grounds of policie, as of humanity, equity, and christianity. taken from his mouth, and published by direction. crashaw, william, - . l. d., fl. . [ ] p. printed [by w. hall] for william welby, and are to be sold in pauls church-yard at the signe of the swan, london : . editor's note "to the printer" signed: l.d. printer's name from stc. signatures: pi⁴ a-l⁴ (-pi (?)). the last leaf is blank. running title reads: a new-yeeres gift to virginea. reproduction of the original in the new york public library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of 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any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sermons, english -- th century. virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . united states -- colonization -- sermons -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a sermon preached in london before the right honorable the lord lavvarre , lord gouernour and captaine generall of virginea , and others of his maiesties counsell for that kingdome , and the rest of the aduenturers in that plantation . at the said lord generall his leaue taking of england his natiue countrey , and departure for virginea , febr. . . by w. crashaw bachelar of diuinitie , and preacher at the temple . wherein both the lawfulnesse of that action is maintained , and the necessity thereof is also demonstrated , not so much out of the grounds of policie , as of humanity , equity , and christianity . taken from his mouth , and published by direction . daniel . . they that turne many to righteousnesse , shall shine as the starres for euer and euer . london , printed for william welby , and are to be sold in pauls church-yard at the signe of the swan . . to the thrice honorable , grave , religiovs , the lords , knights , bvrgesses , now happily assembled in parliament : l. d. hvmbly considering the vnion of their interest in all endeauours for the common good , together with the zealous , costly , care of many of them , to aduance the propagation of the gospell ; doth consecrate this sermon , spoken and published for incouragement of planters in virginea . to the printer . myearnest desire to further the plantation in virginea makes me perhaps too bolde with mr. crashaw , thus without his leave to publish his sermon : but the great good i assure my selfe it will doe , shall merit your paines and my pardon . you may giue it what title you will : only let this inclosed dedication to the parlament be fairely prefixed , and the booke for your credit truly printed : to the care whereof i leaue , you . your friend l. d. a page . line . for floud read flouds . c page . line . for was read were . c page . line . for the knowledge read that knowledge . e page . line . for istuc read istud . g page . line . and . for it bee certaine read if it bee certaine . h page . line . sor hold it read bold of it . h page . line . put out with . k line . for many in england read many thousands in england . a sermon preached in london before the right honourable the lord lawarre , lord gouernour and captaine generall of virginea , and others of his maiesties counsell for that kingdome , and the rest of the aduenturers in that plantation . lvk. . . but i haue praied for thee , that thy saith saile not : therefore when thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren . foure places of scripture are abused by the papists aboue the rest . first , those words of christ , vpon this rocke i will build my church : secondly , his words at his last supper , this is my bodie : thirdly , his speech to peter after his resurrection , feed my sheepe : lastly , these to peter afore his passion , i haue praied for thee , that thy faith faile not . these last bellarmine likes so well , that ten times he allegeth them in one of his tomes , and makes them serue , not for one , but many purposes . hence he can prooue , that the pope is the supreme and infallible iudge of all controuersies : why ? because christ saith to peter , i have praicd for thee , that thy faith faile not . hence he can prooue , that peter is the head and prince of his brethren : why ? because he is bid to strengthen his brethren . hence hee can prooue that the pope cannot erre in matter of faith , because christ praied that peters faith might not faile . hence he will proue that peter hath more and greater priuileges then the whole church : nay this serues his turne to prooue that councels cannot erre if they be confirmed by the pope . lastly , he can prooue from this , that it is probable , the pope , as he is a priuate person , cannot bee an heretike . such plentifull vse can bellarmine make of any peece of scripture , if he thinke it doe but sound for him . but i dare say the scripture that the diuell brought against christ was as fitly and properly alleged as some of these are by bellarmine , as may be euidently shewed in another place and time . but seeing the primitiue fathers haue made no such conclusions from this place , therefore out of their and the latter fathers exposition wee haue gathered another kinde of diuinity from these words . to which end i first lay down this general ground : christ is our true and spirituall physitian , from whom and the vertue of whose merits we must receiue all the spirituall physicke that can cure and saue our sinfull soules . particularly , as the body , so the soule stands in need of three sorts of physicke . first , it is necessarie that it be purged from the corruption of sinne , which else will kill the soule : then , being purged , it is to be restored to life and strength : lastly , being so restored , it is requisite that it bee preserued in that state vnto the end . answerable vnto these there is a threefold kinde of physicke wee receiue from christ : viz. purgatiue , restoratiue , and preseruatiue . first , purgatiue , to purge our soules from the corrupt humours and the infectious staine of sinne : and this powerfull potion is confected of the precious merits of the death and passion of our lord iesus christ , who died , that we might die to sinne , and our sinnes die in vs : and was crucified , that our sinnes might be nailed on his crosse : and buried , that our sinnes might so die , that they may neuer liue againe in vs. but when a sicke man is purged of all his euill humours , it helpeth not if he be not also restored to strength . therefore secondly , wee receiue also from christ restoratiue physicke , such as whereby we are restored to the life of grace , and fauour of god. and this comfortable restoratiue balme distils from the glorious merits of the resurrection of christ : who , as he died for our sinnes , so hee rose againe for our iustification : and who therefore rose from death to life , that he might merit grace for vs whereby wee may rise vp from the death of our sinnes to newnesse and holinesse of life . but because it is not sufficient to be restored , vnlesse a man be kept in health , for that a relapse is more dangerous then the former sicknesse ; therefore to keepe vs from deadly relapses ( into which without christ we were sure to fall ) we doe finally receiue from christ preseruatiue physicke , by the vertue whereof wee are preserued in the state of grace , and fauour of god ; and these blessed and soueraigne antidotes are confected of the glorious merits of christ his ascension and intercession , who therefore is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of god for us . now for the words in hand , they speake of the sweet and comfortable preseruatiues wee receiue from christ his powerfull intercession : as though christ had said , i confesse ( peter ) thou art a great professor and protester , but little knowest thou how mighty thy enemy is , and how weake thy selfe ; thou rellest me thou wilt die for me , but know that thy enemy satan will sift thee to the full , and not cease till he haue tried the vtmost of his power against thee : but i who redeemed thee will not leaue to loue thee ; i will therefore by the power of my intercession , purchase thee such grace , as shall vphold thee and raise thee vp againe , and will so make thee a comfortable example to all my elect : thou therefore in remembrance of what i haue done for thee , when thou feelest the sweetnesse of this my mercy to thy selfe , teach others by thy example , and endeuour seriously the conuersion and confirmation of thy brethren . all this the lord iesus piles vp in a few words : but i haue praied for thee that thy faith faile not , therefore when thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren . the parts are two : christs mercy , and peters dutie . first an euident declaration of christs loue to the soules of his seruants : i haue praied for thee , &c. secondly the duty of all men who tast of that loue ; when they are conuerted they must labour the conuersion of others : when thou art conuerted , &c. both are directed first and personally to peter , but from him deriued to all gods children in the world , for that which then was peters case , falles out to be the case of all men : so that the words are not spoken to peter as he was an apostle , but as he was an ordinary christian and a child of god. and as in the first part christ did no fauour to peter which he doth not to euery christian in like case ; namely to pray for them that their faith faile not : so the duty here laid vpon peter , in him is laid vpon all men , to labour to bring others to christ after they be brought themselues . the meaning being thus explaned , let vs open the points in order . but i haue praied for thee that thy faith faile not . this time and occasion will not giue leaue to vnfold the questions that might bee mooued touching christs praier and intercession for his church ; much lesse may wee spend any of the short time wee haue in discouering or disproouing the popish abuse of these words . i wish no congregation did need it more then this : for then the names of pope and poperie might be buried as they long agoe deserued . let vs therefore come to such necessarie instructions as arise directly out of that meaning which hath beene laid downe . and first of all , wee may heere see out of the dependance of these words with the former , the greatnesse of gods mercie and christs loue to a sinfull soule . satan ( faith christ ) hath desired to sift thee , but i haue praied for thee . see , satan cannot bee so ready to hurt as christ to helpe vs : satan not so malicious to conspire our fall , as christ is mercifull to sustaine and preserue vs : and if the diuell deuise any new way to hurt vs , christ is present with new meanes , and new supply of grace to releeue vs. a comfortable doctrine and hath comfortable vse to all that are any way distressed . for if it be satisfaction to a man in matters of this life where hee hath a potent enemy , that is able many waies , and much to hurt him , to be assured that he hath a friend that most deerly loues him , and is wiser , stronger , wealthier and euery way mightier then his aduersary : then doubtlesse it cannot but minister strong consolation to a distressed soule and terrified conscience to remember that they haue a sauior more mighty in his mercy , then the diuell can be in his malice , and more willing to saue then the diuell can be to destroy . and no lesse vnto the penitent sinner , who may hereupon be assured that though he haue to grapple with many and mighty corruptions , yet christ will be ready with continuall supply of grace , that so where sinne abounds grace may abound much more . the man also that is oppressed in this world with the might and multitude of his enemies may here receiue comfort to consider , that there are still more with him , then against him : and lastly , the poore man , whom the floud of outward misery doe beate vpon , may here see for his comfort that the loue and prouidence of his sauiour shall euer be as ready to releeue him , as the worlds occasions can fall out to pinch him . and to make application : it may yeeld vs much satisfaction who are ingaged in this present action , to consider that though satan seeke to make vs desist , and because he cannot , therefore will hurt vs , by all his power ; ( as who can maruel seeing we touch his freehold so neere ? ) yet we haue christ iesus on our side , whose kingdome we goe to inlarge : whose loue to his children is such , that euen then when satan sifts them most narrowly , he with his praiers is most neere them for their assistance : and therefore we doubt not , but that seeing satan is now so busie to sift vs by all discouragements , and by slanders , false reports , backwardness of some , basenesse of others , by raising obiections and deuising doubts , endeauours to dant vs , and so to betray the businesse that god himselfe hath put into our hands : the more i say are we assured that christ will the more mightily oppose this malice of the diuell , and by his glorious intercession , obtaine from his father so much the greater blessing both on vs and it . furthermore , in as much as christ himselfe praieth for his children , that their faith shall not saile , no not in the greatest temptations , and when satan sifts them most narrowly , wee learne , that therefore a christian truly conuerted and called to the state of grace , cannot fall away totally nor finally . the aduersaries of the grace of god the papists , hold he may fall both finally and totally : others much neerer vs then they , say totally , but not finally . both are confuted by these words of our sauiour ; for if a man should fall totally from faith and the fauour of god , though it were but for a day , and the next day should bee restored againe , yet for that time , be it more or lesse , his faith hath failed : but saith christ , i haue praied that it shall not . hereupon we argue ; that which christ praieth for god will grant : but christ praieth ( not that we may not be tempted or sifted , but ) that our faith faile not , and this not for peter alone , but as himselfe saith , i pray not for these alone , but for all that shall beleeue in me through their word : therefore no true christians faith shall or can faile either finally or totally . a doctrine of vnspeakable comfort to the christian soule , but not a fit doctrine ( say some ) to be diuulged to the people . and why ? because say they , if we be sure we cannot fall from gods fauour , then what needs a man care how he liues ? but i answer ; no man can iustly take occasion thus to abuse this doctrine ; for the vngodly and vnsanctified man was neuer yet in the state of grace , therefore to him this doctrine pertaines not : and for him that is sanctified and in gods fauour this resolution cannot befall him : which appeares most euident , both in reason and religion . in reason , we know a gracelesse child will neither be feared from euill by the anger , nor wonne to his duty by the loue of his father : but contrary is it with the good and gratious child ( i meane if he haue no more but the grace of a ciuill nature and good education : ) if his father so loue him that though he often offend him , yet he will not disinherit him , will he therefore be imboldned to offend him the more carelesly ? nay , he will say to himselfe , haue i so good a father as will not deale with me according to my deseruings , but so oft and so mercifully hath forgiuen my offences ? surely i will endeuour by all the meanes i can to please him and to bee worthy of such a father . much more is it true in religion , for when a man is conuerted , he is cast in a new mould , flesh and bloud no longer beare rule in him , and hee bids battell and stands in opposition and defiance with all such carnall resolutions as this is . i say not , but such thoughts may come into his mind , and hee may be tempted to such cogitations , but that hee should entertaine such resolutions it is impossible : beleeue not me herein ; but let god himselfe be iudge : to which end read and marke well a notable place : i. ioh. . . we shall be like vnto him , and shall see him euen as he is . and euery man that hath this hope in him , doth he therefore sinne the more , or take more scope to himselfe ? no , but contrariwise , purgeth himselfe euen as christ is pure . he therefore that sinneth the rather , it is certaine he hath not this hope in him ; and he that hath this hope in him is so far from that , that he endeuoreth and striueth euery day , how he may ouercome his sins and walke more worthy of so louing and mercifull a father . so then the true vse of this doctrine is , that it serues to bee an excellent incitement to stir vp and prouoke a man vnto holinesse , vnlesse he purpose to proclaime to the world that hee hath no hope in him , and that he is not in the state of grace . in the third place we may here learne , what is the true cause of a christian mans standing in the state of grace : namely , not the excellencie of our strength , nor the perfection of our faith , or of any thing in vs , but the true cause is out of vs , euen in god : it is the stablenes of his purpose , the immutability of his election , the truth of his couenant , the infallibility of his word , and the certainty of his loue wheresoeuer hee bestoweth it : and the excellency and all sufficiency of christs merits , in whom we are loued and elected : therefore saith the apostle , the gifts and callings of god are without repentance : and whom he loueth , he loueth vnto the end : and the prophet saith of god : i will put my feare into their hearts , and they shall not ( marke , he saith not , they cannot or will not , but they shall not ) depart from me : so here christ telles peter , sathan desires to sist thee as wheat ; and such a sister is hee as who can stand by his owne strength ? but i who so loued thee as i died to saue thee , haue also praied for thee that thy faith shall not saile . so then had it not beene for the intercession of christ , peter had faine and failde in that temptation . this truth may fitly be illustrated by this comparison . a strong man visits his sicke friend , and willes him to walke ; the sicke man would , but cannot ; the strong man lifts him vp , he walkes , in the hand of the strong man , ech hauing hold of other : by and by the sicke man faints and lets his hold goe , but the strong man holds fast , and keeps him from falling , and so he stands not by his owne , but the strong mans strength : so is it in this case , a christian conuerted hath hold of god by his faith and loue : god hath hold of him by his eternall election and couenant of grace and by the loue he beares him in christ : now we walke with god in the course of our obedience , but if temptation come , we shrinke and fall away , our faith and loue , like a sick mans strength are soone spent . but then , though we let goe the hold we haue of god , god will neuer let goe the hold he hath of vs ; but in that loue he beares vs , he still vpholds vs : and so we stand not by our own strength but by the grace and mercie of god , who like the stronger man holds vs so , as we shall not depart from him . then for the vse of this doctrine we may here learne : first that the romish synagogue in denying this , and affirming that a man may fall vtterly from the state of grace , doth no wrong at all to vs , but the wrong is to god himselfe , the certainty of whose couenant and truth of whose purpose is heereby called into question , as though god should chuse a man he will forsake , and loue him to day , whom he will hate the next : whereas contrariwise , as he loued vs when we loued not him , so hee will keepe fast hold on vs , when wee in our weaknesse would let goe the hold wee haue of him . and for our selues , let this teach vs to ascribe the cause where it is due , euen to the lords mercie and christs mediation . if wee slip or fall , we may thanke our selues : but if we stand and perseuere , we must thanke the lord : let vs therefore crie to god with the prophet : not vnto vs o lord , not vnto vs , but to thy name giue the praise . and why to him ? for thy louing mercics and for thy truths sake : for it is his mercie and truth that vpholds vs from falling and perishing eternally . lastly , in as much as christ saith he praied for him that his faith failed not , and so vpheld him by the vertue and merit of his holy praier ; we learne here the excellencie of praier , namely , that it is the best and pourfullest meanes , whereby wee may doe good one to another : when christ would doe the greatest fauour to peter next to dying for him , he praieth for him . praier and preaching are the two comforts of the church . if thou pray ( saith augustine ) thou speakest with god : if thou heare or-read , god speakes with thee . both are commended to vs by the continuall practise of christ , who spent much time in preaching , and much time in praier . let vs therefore religiously embrace both these sacred ordinances , as the speciall meanes of our spirituall comfort . and by this practise of our sauiour let vs all be stirred vp to this holy duty : shall christ pray , and not thou ? is he tied , and wilt thou be free ? bee ashamed of thy prophanenesse , thou that neuer praiest : and say not that thou goest to the church , and praiest with the congregation , for therin thou doest but that the law requires thee : the church is to be commended for that , and not thou . but remember that christ besides his daily presence in the temple , did goe aside to his priuate praiers . and let vs further heere learne one to pray for another . shall christ pray for vs , and not we for our selues ? he for vs all , and not we one for an other ? and the better to stirre vs vp to this dutie , let vs consider that praier hath three excellencies aboue other duties which wee performe to our brethren . first , it is the cheapest and easiest for the giuer ( i meane to a sanctified man ) for he who for want of abilitie cannot giue almes , nor lend to his poore brother ; nor for want of wisdome can giue counsell , nor instruction for want of knowledge , yet he hath a mouth , at least if his tongue were cut out , he hath a heart to pray for his brother ; and he that can doe nothing else can doe this : and this the poore may doe for the rich , as well as the rich for the poore . secondly , it is the most powerfull and profitable for the receiuer . an almes wee see how much it is : counsell we see how good it is ; and what good they will doe vs is easily perceiued : but what good a good mans praier doth for thee is past knowledge , and beyond all measure . giuing and lending may helpe thee before men : praier preuailes with god , and puls downe blessings of all sorts ; and those good things we often imagine to come other waies , are sent vs from god vpon the praiers of gods children . thirdly , it hath this peculiar honour more then any other duty , that it is profitable both to the giuer and receiuer . as it procures those good things vpon thy friend thou praiest for , so it returnes also into thine owne bosome , and brings downe the same or greater blessings vpon thy selfe . therefore ( for a conclusion of the first part ) let vs aboue all duties not forget to pray for our absent friends . when they are present wee doe such duties as may let them see wee loue them : and when they are absent , let vs pray for them ; that doth testifie to god that we loue them . and no better dutie can we performe to this noble voiage now in hand , then earnestly to commend it to the lord. men may furnish it , but god must blesse it , and praier must procure that blessing . money may winne , and profit may allure men to assist it : but praier alone can preuaile with god to blesse it . some ingage their persons , and more their purses ; but our petitions shall doe more good then our persons , and our praiers then our purses . thou therefore that canst doe nothing else , yet pray for vs : thou that canst doe more , yet pray besides : for though thou shouldest venture thy person , and ingage thy money , yet let vs haue thy praiers also : which ( if thou bee as thou oughtest ) will doe more good then all the rest . remember the end of this voiage is the destruction of the diuels kingdome , and propagation of the gospell . are not these ends worthy of thy praiers ? remember thy brethren who haue ingaged their persons , and aduentured their liues to lay the first foundation , and doe now liue in want of many comforts and pleasures , which thou at home enioiest . are not these mens soules worthy of thy praiers ? canst thou open thy mouth in publike or in priuate , and not remember them ? oh let their liues be precious , and their enterprise honourable in thine eies : and if thou canst doe nothing else , send vp thy praiers to heauen for them . and thus much for the first generall part , christs mercifull promise to his church . the second is the duty he inioines peter and all others that shall be partakers of this promise . therefore when thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren . as the promise , so also the comandement vpon the occasion then offred was personally directed to peter , but from him deriued to the whole church , and euery particular christian : so that this commandement is laid vpon him , not as an apostle , but as a christian man and a member of christs body : and as his case then may be the case of any man , so euery man is bound to this dutie : and as there is no christian but may challenge this interest in the intercession of christ , that by the vertue of it his faith shall not faile : so there is no man , but in his measure hee is tied to the performance of this dutie . for the sense of the words they are not difficult : satan hath taken vantage of thy infirmitie , and hopes to giue thee such a fall , as thou shalt neuer recouer : but i will beare thee vp with my owne strength : i will make thy faith to hold out , and ouercome him in the end . thou therefore when thou hast tasted of my mercie , and art raised vp againe from that fall , ( which was so dangerous and fearefull , that thy restoration is as it were another conuersion ) then bee mindfull of thy brethren , as i haue beene of thee , and by thy example and all other good meanes helpe forward the conuersion and confirmation of them that need . the meaning is plaine : let vs come to the doctrines . and first of all , whereas christ saith , when thou art conuerted , &c. wee learne , that a man is not borne in the state of grace , and fauour of god , but there is a certaine appointed time of euery mans conuersion : when thou art : therefore there is a time when a man is not . now the time of a mans conuersion is first especially in gods hand , but partly also in our owne . for the first , dauid saith , my times ( o lord ) are in thy hand . if all the times and changes of his life , then especially the time of his conuersion . now it is in gods hand , not only because he giues the grace , and opens , softens , and prepares the heart ; but further because hee giues the meanes of a mans conuersion . he sent out his word and healed them , saith the prophet . it is also in a mans hand when god vouchsafes to giue a man the meanes of vocation and conuersion ( as to vs at this day : ) this time is therefore called the acceptable time and day of saluation . now then it concernes euery one of vs to looke to our selues . art thou changed and renued since thou wast borne ? knowest thou the time and the meanes ? and doest thou discerne the fruits and effects of thy conuersion ? thou art a happy creature . if not , and thou die so , it had beene good for thee thou hadst neuer beene . and say not , thou wast conuerted , but thou hast forgotten it : for canst thou forget the time when thou wast maried ? when thy eldest sonne was borne ? when thy ships came home ? when a great and vnexpected inheritance fell vnto thee ? much lesse possible is it for the soule that is truly turned to god , to forget the time and circumstances of his conuersion . wee may bee sure peter neuer forgot all his life long how christ looked at him : for that was the blessed houre of his conuersion : so the houre and time of our conuersion is when christ will vouchsafe to looke vpon vs. now though his corporall presence be remooued , he is present in his spirit , in his power and his grace , and lookes mercifully vpon vs euery day in his holy word . oh then remember peter , who at the first looke of christ went out and wept for his sinne , and bee ashamed that thou hast had christ looke so many hundred times vpon thee , and all in vaine . in the next place , wheras christ bids peter when he is conuerted , strengthen his brethren , as though then a man was fitted to doe good to others , when he is himselfe conuerted , and not till then : wee may heere learne the true cause why men are so negligent in performance of duties to others , euen because themselues are vnsanctified men : for true loue begins at home : and how can hee loue another , that loues not himselfe ? or care for anothers good , that neglects his owne ? seest thou therefore a magistrate that gouernes not his people carefully , but le ts all runne as it will , and himselfe takes his ease , followes his pleasure , or fils his purse ? the cause is , he is a carnall man , and vnsanctified . seest thou a minister that receiues the fleece , but feeds not the flocke ? the cause is , he is an vnsanctified man. seest thou a merchant or tradesman that deceiues , a master , a father , a husband , a wife , childe , or seruant , that are negligent or vnfaithfull ? the cause is , they are vnsanctified : for if a man were conuerted himselfe , his next care will be to doe all good he can to others . more particularly , wee heere see the cause why no more come in to assist this present purpose of plantation in virginea , euen because the greater part of men are vnconuerted & vnsanctified men , and seeke meerely the world and themselues , and no further . they make many excuses , and deuise obiections ; but the fountaine of all is , because they may not haue present profit . if other voiages be set afoot , wherein is certaine and present profit , they run , and make meanes to get in : but this , which is of a more noble and excellent nature , and of higher and worthier ends , because it yeelds not present profit , it must seeke them , and with much difficultie are some brought in , and many will not at all . tell them of getting xx. in the c. oh how they bite at it , oh how it stirres them ! but tell them of planting a church , of conuerting . soules to god , they are senslesse as stones : they stirre no more then if men spoke of toies and trifles : nay they smile at the simplicities , and laugh in their sleeues at the sillinesse of such as ingage themselues in such matters . but these men proclaime to the world what they bee , euen sowes that still wallow in the mire of their profit and pleasure , and being themselues vnconuerted , haue therefore no care to conuert others . and in deed no maruell , if hauing cast all care of their owne saluation behinde their backes , they be insensible of others miseries . thirdly , inasmuch as heere christ commands him that is conuerted to strengthen another , it appeares ( by a necessary implication ) of what an excellent nature godlinesse and holinesse is ; namely , of a large , a liberall , a communicating and diffusiue nature , and such as will euen compell him that hath it to seeke to make others as good as himselfe . it is not so in wealth , honour , learning , wisdome , authoritie , estimation . you shall not heare a carnall man say , oh that euery one were as wealthy as i , as wise as i , as high as i , as learned as i , as highly in the kings fauour as i , as well esteemed , and as much followed as i : no , for these are of a base and retractiue nature , and doe imprison and close vp the heart of man : but grace is of a high and roiall nature , and inlargeth his heart that possesseth it : oh ( saith mises ) ●hat all gods people did prophecie as well as i. and paul he cricth , i wish that all beere present were as i am , except these bonds . we would rather haue said , i would you had my bonds : i wish you were in prison in my roome . but hee contrariwife wisheth not any man in his bonds ; but that they were as holy , and patient , and learned , and zealous , and as highly in gods fauour as himselfe . and so assuredly as many as are induced with true sauing and sanctifying grace , will say with their tongues , pray in their hearts , and endeuour with their best assistance , that the poore sauages in virginea were as good christians as we our selues . lastly , out of this commandement of christ we may further learne a doctrine specially pertinent to the present occasion , and the businesse now in hand : namely , that it is not voluntary or left indifferent to a mans choice , but ( plainly ) a necessarie dutie , for euery christian to labour the conuersion and confirmation of others that are not : and this necessity ariseth not only from the excellent nature of religion , which desireth euer to propagate and diffuse it selfe , as we heard before : but especially from the power of christs commandement , which being vnrestrained doth absolutely bind all christians to obedience : but here the commandement is generall and vnlimited to euery one that is conuerted to confirmt his brethren , therefore it lies vpon all men by an vnauoidable necessity to performe it : it being no way in the power of man to dispence with the generall commandement of christ. out of which ground appeareth euideutly , not only the lawfulnesse , but euen ; the excellencie and goodnesse , and indeed the plaine necessity ( as the case now stands ) of this present action : the principal ends thereof being the plantation of a church of english christians there , and consequently the conuersion of the heathen from the diuel to god : which ground being so laid , it then followeth that either we are not conuerted , or they are not our brethren , or els that we being conuerted must labour their conuersion : but we by the blessing of god are conuerted lately from popery , and formerly from paganisme : nor can it be denied that they ( in this case ) are our brethren : for the same god made them as well as vs , of as good matter as he made vs , gaue them as perfect and good soules and bodies as to vs , and the same messiah & sauiour is sent to them as to vs , for if a virginian hauing our language had learned our religion , professed our f●ith ; craued baptisme , and challenged saluation by christ : could either man deny him baptisme , or would god deny him saluation ? surely god would not the one , and man may not the other : so then they are our brethren , wanting not title to christ , but the knowledge of christ : oh thrice happy then are they that shall carry the knowledge to them : and we by the mercy of god are the men to whom god hath offered the meanes and opportunity to do it : first granting vs the meanes to discouer the land more fully then those that attempted it before vs : then , to find out a faire , easie , and short passage , as though hee had seated vs here and them there for such an entercourse : then , giuing vs fauour in the eies of the sauages , who rather inuite vs then resist vs : then , directing vs to a land where is want of inhabitants , and consequently roome both for them and vs ; and to a people inclinable ( as we see by some experience already ) first to ciuility , and so to religion : and to such a land and such a people as ( more then any other people or land we know of ) haue the commodities which we want , and want that which we haue for them . these meanes and opportunities , i say , being offered by gods prouidence vnto vs , it not only shewes vs the possibility , but laies vpon vs a necessity of seeking their conuersions , and consequentlie of setting forward this plantation , without which the former cannot be : and do not thinke that this dutie lieth more vpon him or him then vpon thee , for what euer thou art , if thou be conuerted , this duty belongs vnto thee to teach others : kings themselues are not priuiledged from the obedience of this duety , which dauia knowing full well , doth publikely acknowledge to god and to his church , saying : restore me to the ioy of thy saluation , and stablish mec with thy free spirit . then sha'l i teach thy way vnto the wicked , and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee : and in another place , come ( saith he ) ye children , hear ken to me , i will teach you the feare of the lord : as though he had said ( as in another place ) i will tell you what god hath done for my soule : thus kings are tied , and shall you be free ? and our most gratious and christian king hath shewed himselfe conscionablie obedient to this commandement , setting forward this blessed businesse by his princely priuiledges and gratious grants vnder his great seale to all the vndertakers : recording it also vnto all ensuing posterities , that he greatly affects the effectuall prosecution and happy successe of the said plantation , and commends the good desires of the vndertakers , and grants these priuiledges for their encouragement in accomplishing so excellent a worke that is so much pleasing to god and profitable to these kingdomes . and in a former grant , that his maiesty greatly commends and gratiously accepts the vndertakers desires for so noble a worke , which by gods blessing is like to tend to the great glory of his diuine maiesty , in propagating of christian religion to such people as yet liue in darknesse and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of god. if then his maiesty out of his duty to god , loue of his religion , and care of their soules haue thus put to his roiall hand for the furtherance of this blessed and worthy worke , who art thou that wilt be free from the bonds of this duty ? but besides this necessity of duty : another necessity in nature and reason lieth vpon vs : for the time was when wee were sauage and vnciuill , and worshipped the diuell , as now they do , then god sent some to make vs ciuill , others to make vs christians . if such had not been sent vs we had yet continued wild and vnciuill , and worshippers of the diuell : for our ciuilitie wee were beholden to the romanes , for our religion to the apostles and their disciples . did we receiue this blessing by others , and shall we not be sensible of those that are still as we were then ? in what a case had we beene if god had not sent some to ciuilize and conuert vs ! and shall not we now labour to procure the same good ro others ? otherwise surely we are most vnworthy of the fauours we haue receiued . nay that is not all , but it appeares that we are not truly and effectually conuerted : for if wee be , then assuredly as by vertue of gods commandement wee must , so out of our owne conscience and fellow-feeling of our brethrens miseries , we will be most willing and ioifull to procure them saluation , where of wee by gods mercie and the same meanes are alreadie partakers . out of these grounds i conclude , that for my part ( without preiudice to others opinions ) it is not only a lawfull , but a most excellent and holie action , and , as the case now stands , so necessarie , that i hold euery man bound to assist , either with his countenance , power , and authoritie ( as doe our gracious soueraigne and noble prince ) or with their persons , as some ; or with their purses , as others of the honorable and godly vndertakers : or with their prayers and best wishes , as al , i hope , doe , that loue the lord. but because the first part of this assistance belongs onely to our soueraigne , none can therefore , nay none neede take part in that : and as for the last , which is by prayer , seeing that the poore may do as well as the rich , i hope i may spare my labour to exhort to that , none being so prophane to neglect that dutie for vs , vnlesse they neglect it for themselues also . but for the middle , of purse and person ; as i will presse none to goe in person : so those whose consciences and resolutions doe presse themselues , i doubt not to affirme that they aduenture their liues in the most worthie action that was attempted in the christian world these many yeeres . but for assistance by the purse , i will here discharge my owne conscience ; which is , that vpon the premisses before proued , and grounds formerly laid downe , i hold euery one that knowes the true ends of this enterprise , and is able , is bound to assist it according to that abilitie of his . but lest any man mistaking or abusing my words , should here cauill and say ; belike then this man holds all damned that are not aduenturers to virginea , and it is a sure signe of a prophane man , if he be not an vndertaker in that action , or the like : take notice that my assertion is qualified with these two limitations : first , that a man must know the true state of this businesse , and true grounds and ends both of his maiesties gratious grants , and of the vndertakers aduenture : which as they be ignorantly mistaken by many , so most malignantly and malitiously misreported by papists , who mislike all things done by protestants , and others of base minde , couetous , or otherwaies maleuolent spirits , who cōdemne all things that serue not their profit or their pleasure . but it is most certaine that there be thousands in this citie and kingdome , who if they knew the truth , would be more willing to assist it , then hitherto they haue kept out : such therefore wee are farre from condemning , but leaue them till they be satisfied of the truth , and then if they change not their opinion , their owne consciences will condemne them , if none else would . secondly , though a man know it neuer so well , hee must bee of abilitie to contribute , or else this ties him not : for a man is bound first to maintaine himselfe and his family , and to beare his part of the needfull burthens of the church and state where he liues : then out of that which remaines , such actions as this doe challenge a part . now whether a man be able or no , hee must be left to his own conscience to giue iudgement . but herein let a man take heed hee flatter not himselfe : it is easie for men to decciue themselues , and the diuell delights to make men betray their owne soules : thou therefore that pleadest thou art not able , consider how much thou hast abroad at interest , how much thou hast in other aduentures , into which nothing but hope of present profit did allure thee : consider how much thou spendest in sports and other vanities , ( besides necessarie recreation ) how much in plaine superfluities of apparell , furniture , building or diet , all which it may be , or much of it , were better spared then spent : if thou and thy conscience doe but cast vp this account , thou wilt neuer say hereafter , thou art vnable , for thou knowest how smal a part of those vaine expences would haue sufficed this : and that that hath done thee hurt , being vainely spent , would haue done much good to this godly businesse : and take heed , thou that art of this minde , the time come not that thy soule wisheth a great part of that thou hast voluntarily and wilfully cast away otherwaies , were all bestowed in this or some such action . thus with these two cautions i make my conclusion , that the assistance of this businesse is a dutie that lies on all men : and that whosoeuer is of abilitie , and knowes the true grounds and ends of this voyage , if hee assist it not , discouers himselfe to be an vnsanctified , vnmortified , and vnconuerted man , negligent of his owne and other mens saluations : or else peter might haue replied on christ and said : nay sir , i may be conuerted , and yet be not bound to strengthen my brethren . and this may suffice for the true meaning and right vse of this text . but now ( right honorable and beloued ) seeing we are assembled peculiarly for this businesse , euen to consecrate this enterprise to the lord of heauen : and to send away our honorable gouernour and his associates and attendants in the name of the lord ; giue me leaue ( not as calling once into question the lawfulnesse of so noble an action , but ) for the further cleering of the truth to them that know it not , for the iustification of our course against the aduersaries of all excellent exploits , for the stopping of the mouthes of the malignant , and for the better satisfaction and encouragement of our selues , who either in purse or person , or both , are ingaged in the action , to descend a little more particularly into consideration of the true state hereof . all i haue to say i will reduce to two heads , namely , to lay downe truly the encouragements . the discouragements in this businesse . for in this or any other action to be vndertaken , if the encouragements to it , and discouragements from it , be both of them truly & iustly laid down , and then weighed in the balance of wisedome , it will easily appeare to men of vnderstanding , whether the businesse be fitter to be vndertaken , or relinquished : answerably let vs deale in the present action , and so proceed accordingly . and first let vs truly and impartially propound the discouragements that seeme to attend this present intendment of plantation of an english colonie in virginea . the first and fundamentall is the doubt of lawfulnes of the action , the question being moued by many , and some not out of curiositie , nor other sinister , but conscionable and christian respects : and this keepes many from assisting it ; for how may they put their helping hands to that which they are not resolued in conscience , to be lawfull and warrantable in it selfe ? for these mens sakes , and not for such as make it but a shelter of their couetous and carnal respects , we will giue passage to this obiection . and for answere hereunto ; first , we freely confesse an action cannot be good , excellent or honorable , and much lesse can it be necessarie , vnlesse it first of all appeare to be lawfull : secondly , for the present action , we also confesse and yeeld to this as to a principle of iustice. a christian may take nothing from a heathen against his will , but in faire and lawfull bargaine : abraham wanted a place to burie in , and liked a peece of land : and being a great man , and therefore feared , a iust and meeke man , and therefore loued of the heathen , they bad him chuse where hee would , and take it : no , saith abraham , but i will buie it , and so he paide the price of it : so must all the children of abraham doe . thirdly , it is most lawfull to exchange with other nations , for that which they may spare , and it is lawfull for a christian to haue commerce in ciuill things euen with the heathen : vnlesse they bee such of whom god hath giuen a plaine and personall charge to the contrarie , as he did to the israelites of the cursed canaanites , whom they were commaunded to kill , and haue nothing to doe withall : but we haue no such commaundement touching the virginians . vpon these grounds , which i hope are vndeniable , i answere more particularly to the present occasion : that first we will take nothing from the sauages by power nor pillage , by craft nor violence , neither goods , lands nor libertie , much lesse life ( as some of other christian nations haue done , to the dishonour of reiigion . ) we will offer them no wrong , but rather defend them from it : and this is not my bare speech , but order is so taken both in our pattents and instructions , and such is the resolution of our gouernours . secondly , we will exchange with them for that which they may spare , and we doe neede ; and they shall haue that which we may spare , and they doe much more need . but what may they spare ? first , land and roome for vs to plant in , their countrey being not replenished by many degrees : in so much as a great part of it lieth wild & inhabited of none but the beasts of the fielde , and the trees that haue growne there it may be . yeares ( whose antient possession to disturbe , we holde no great offence : ) and who knowes not , but as the present state of england stands , we want roome , and are likely enough to want more ? againe , they may spare vs timber , masts , crystall ( if not better stones ) wine , copper , iron , pitch , tar , sassasras , sopeashes , ( for all these and more , we are sure the countrey yeeldes in great abundance ) and who knowes not we want these , and are beholden to some for them , with whom it were better for vs if we had lesse to doe ? these things they haue , these they may spare , these we neede , these we will take of them . but what will we giue them ? first , we will giue them such things as they greatly desire , and doe holde a sufficient recompence for any of the foresaide commodities we take of them : but we holde it not so ; and therefore out of our humanitie and conscience , we will giue them more , namely such things as they want and neede , and are infinitely more excellent then all wee take from them : and that is . ciuilitie for their bodies , . christianitie for their soules : the first to make thē men : the second happy men ; the first to couer their bodies from the shame of the world : the second , to couer their soules from the wrath of god : the lesse of these two ( being that for the bodie ) will make them richer then we finde them . for he that hath . acres , and being a ciuill and sociable man knowes how to vse it , is richer then he that hath . and being a sauage , cannot plow , till , plant nor set , and so receiues no more profit then what the earth of it selfe will yeelde by nature : so that we are so farre from disinheriting them of their possessions , or taking any thing from them , that contrariwise we will make them much richer , euen for matter of this life , then now they are , as they themselues will hereafter confesse . whereby appeares the vanitie of this obiection , for when they are ciuilized , and see what they haue receiued from vs , i dare say they will neuer make this obiection against vs that these men now doe . and now if the smaller and baser part of our paiment be better worth then all wee take from them , then it seemes the second , which is the chiefe of all , namely , religion , they haue from vs for nothing : and surely so it is , they shall haue it freely for gods sake , and for their soules sake : and yet we know the holy ghost hath tolde vs , that if we communicate vnto them our spirituall things , it is but a a small thing if they impart vnto vs their temporall : then how much smaller is it if they impart vnto vs their temporall , when we communicate vnto them both spirituall and better temporall then we receiue from them . and this may suffice for the lawfulnesse of the action , especially seeing whosoeuer would be satisfied more particularly , may haue recourse to a lcarned and godly sermon , and to a short , but a iudicious and sincere declaration , well pend , both set out by authoritie for that end , and the truth whereof will be iustified both by the authors , and the whole bodie of the counsell for that kingdome . this discouragement troubled the conscience , the rest are rather grounded on politike and humane reasons , wherein therefore i will bee the shorter , and commit them to those whose element it is to consider and determine of such matters . the second discouragement , is the difficultie of plantation , for that the countrey is farre off , and the passage long and dangerous , the climate hot and disagrecing with the state and temper of our bodies . for answere , if these obiections proceede from malice , they are to be reiected , if from ignorance , as we rather suppose , let them then know for satisfaction , that first for the distance , it is nothing to speake of : a two moneths voyage , and wee hope wee shall shortly bee able to say a moneths : compare it with other voyages that are of name , and it is the neerest of all . secondly , for the passage , it is the easiest , fairest and safest that hath been discouered to any place : we come not neere the sunne , nor vnder the aequinoctiall line , to distemper our bodies : wee haue no straits to passe through , we come neere no enemies countrie ; no rocks , shelues , sands , nor vnknowne ilands lie in our way : we are not in danger of the turkes gallies , nor other enemies of christian religion ( who neuer yet did peepe out of the straits of gibraltar : ) we feare no congealed seas nor mountaines of ice , to immure vs : but after we are out of our owne dores ( the narrow seas ) wee keepe a faire course , betwixt the sunne in the south on the left hand , and the ice in the north on the right , vpon the maine ocean , where we haue sea roome enough : and it is hard to name any other great voiage from this land , but the passage is subiect either to the vntemperate heate of the sunne on the one side , or the danger of the ice on the other side ; witnesse the voyages to the east indies , and others into the south , and to moscouie , danske , and others into the north and east : onely this passage into virginea , being into the west south-west , or thereabouts , is in that true temper so faire , so safe , so secure , so easie , as though god himselfe had built a bridge for men to passe from england to virginea . and let no wise man obiect that our last fleete was dispersed and sore shaken by a storme ; for he cannot but know that such as saile by sea must as well expect tempests of winde , as trauellers on the land shewers of raine , and as he on the land is but a simple swaine , as the prouerbe is , that lets his businesse for a shewer of raine , no lesse is he that feares to saile on the sea for a tempest of winde : but our comfort is , that as the heauens cannot giue raine of themselues , but it is the lord : nor the windes can rise of themselues , but at gods word the stormie winde ariseth , and lifteth vp the waues of the ocean : so neither sea nor winde are in the hand or power of the diuell nor the pope , for if they were , we should neuer plant nor land at virginea . as to the third , which is the climate , let vs not abuse our selues by ignorance or vaine reports , but examine the trueth , looke into the mappes and cards , or , if thou hast not skill in them , looke into our patents , or if thou canst not reade , or hast them not , aske and inquire of trauellers by sea or land , if the land that lieth betweene the . and . degrees of northerly latitude from the aequinoctiall line , be not farre enough from the torrida zona , and from the distempering heate of the sunne : and though the middle of virginea seeme to be in the same position with the heart and middle of spaine , as toledo , or thereaboutes : yet it falles out ( for reasons not yet fully discerned ) it is not so hot as spaine , but rather of the same temper with the south of france , which is so temperate and indifferent , as if our owne were something neerer vnto it , we would be well content with it . and a further euidence that all this is true , we haue from the experience of a virginean , that was with vs here in england , whose skinne ( though hee had gone naked all his life , till our men persuaded him to bee clothed ) was so farre from a moores or east or west indians , that it was little more blacke or tawnie , then one of ours would be if he should goe naked in the south of england . and to that experience adde a better , namely of our brethren in virginea , who some of them haue been there many yeeres , and doe not complaine of any alteration , caused by distemper of the climate . the third discouragement is , that it hath so poore and small a beginning , and is thereupon subiect to the mockes and floutes of many , who say it is but the action of a few priuate persons , and they send but poore supplies , but handfuls of men at a time , and one good ship would beate them all . for answere , i say , many greater states ( then this is like to proue ) had as little or lesse beginnings then this hath : the israelites went downe into egypt , being but seuentie soules , and were there but about two hundred yeeres , or little more , and most of that time vnder miserable , bondage , yet did they grow to six hundred thousand men , beside children , and soone after to one of the greatest kingdomes of the earth : looke at the beginning of rome , how poore , how meane , how despised it was ; and yet on that base beginning grew to be the mistresse of the world . oh but those that go in person are rakte vp out of the refuse , and are a number of disordred men , vnfit to bring to passe any good action : so indeed say those that lie and slander . but i answere : for the generalitie of them that goe , they be such as offer themselues voluntarily , for none are pressed , none compelled : and they be like ( for ought that i see ) to those are left behind , euen of all sorts better and worse . but for many that goe in person , let these obiecters know , they be as good as themselues , and it may be , many degrees better . but as for mockers of this businesse , they are worthie no answere : yet i could tell them a sale , not vnfitting them , but i will spare this place and audience , not them . but i will repeate them a true storie , and leaue it to themselues to make application . when god had moued the heart of artaxerxes to send nehemiah , and a few with him , to restore ierusalem and build the walles , the text tels vs that as that poore people were at their worke , presently certain , who thought themselues no meane men , namely , sanballat the horonite , and tobiah an ammonite , were not a little stirred , and mocked the iewes , and spake in the hearing of their companions , vvhat doe these weake iewes ? will they fortifie ? will they sacrifice ? will they finish it in a day ? they build , saith another ; but if a fox goe vp he will breakdowne their stonie wall : and are not the like scornefull words muttered against vs and this present voyage ? but what were these mockers ? euen horonites and ammonites , and such as had no portion , nor right , nor memoriall in ierusalem : i wish better to our mockers , though they wish so euill to vs : but let them take heede , though they care not for hauing portions with vs in this aduenture , that yet they haue their right and portion and memoriall in ierusalem , or else they will proue mockers of vs in iest , and of themselues in earnest . but what saith nehemiah and the iewes that thus were flouted ? heare o our god , for wee are despised , and turne their shame vpon their owne head , giue them vnto a prey in the land of their captiuitie , couer not their iniquitie , nor let their sinne be put out in thy presence , for they haue prouoked vs before the builders . farre be it from me and vs all thus to say of ours : but contrariwise i pray god this curse be farre from our mockers , but i also pray they may be as farre from deseruing it . but if any with no mocking spirit nor ill mind , doe only for his owne satisfaction further obiect that we send men that cannot liue here , men that are in debt , men of base fashion : indeed thus said nabal the churle , of dauid and his companie reprochfully , terming them , a rout of vnruly seruants that runne away from their masters , and base fellowes of whom i know not whence they are , . sam. . , . but hoping that these doe obiect out of better mindes , i answere , first , this is true for some , not all , and so it is in euery towne in england . secondly , wee doe and must send such as we can , not such as we would . thirdly , if they were all , or the most , such as is obiected , it is no more then wee haue obserued to be the beginners of great and noble actions : remember who and what they were that came to romulus and remus , and were the founders of the romane citie & state , euen such as no man can without impudencie compare ours with them . if any man say , this is a prophane example , and a base president : let him looke into gods booke , and see who kept with dauid , and were the beginners of the kingdome of iudah : there gathered vnto dauid all men that were in trouble , and all that were in debt , and all that were vext in minde : and dauid was their prince , and they were about foure hundred men . see for their number but foure hundred : and for their qualitie , who were they ? three sorts : first , mé that had done some trespasses against the law , and therfore were in trouble : secondly , such as were in debt , and could not pay : thirdly , such as were malecontent at the proceedings of the state in the times of saul , and discontented at his gouernment : a strange kinde of people , and a poore number ( a man would thinke ) to be the founders and reformers of such a kingdome . but thus hath god vsed to set on foote , and lay the beginnings of greatest matters , that his power might be seene in weaknesse , and that it might appeare to be the work of god and not mens : & that therefore the glorie might be his . thus deales he in things naturall , humane , politike and spirituall . for the first , we see he made this goodly world out of a rude & confused chaos , and the beautifull sunne and starres out of a deformed heape . for the second , wee see the mightiest emperours of the earth that haue made the nations tremble , were at the first crying infants , kept and caried in the armes of sillie women . and thirdly , forthings spirituall , the glorious church of the new testament , which now hath kings to be her nursing fathers , and queenes her nursing mothers , and princes to licke the dust of her feete ; was it not begun by twelue poore men , not worthie to bee looktat , and taken most of them from base , and some from bad occupations : no maruell then though it be so also in the politike bodie . did not god found the first world on the only two sonnes of adam , and the second on the three sons of noah ; and were not one of adams two , and one of noahs three apparantly wicked ? were not heere two strange beginnings both for number and for condition ? but thus god can and will doe , that men may see it , and seeing may haue cause to say : a domino factum est istuc ; this is not mans power nor wit , but , this is the lords doing , and it is maruellous in our eyes . if any doe yet further replie and say : but it can neuer doe well to send such fellowes , such loose , leaud , licentious , riotous , and disordered men , they that cannot bee kept in compasse at home , how can they be ordered there ? i answere , this obiection is much in shew , but the least of all in substance : for to say nothing that there is not that meanes nor occasions , to offend in many kindes that be here in abundance , we are further to know that as long as we haue wise , couragious , and discreete gouernours , together with the preaching of gods word , we much care not what the generalitie is of them that goe in person ; considering we finde that the most disordered men that can bee raked vp out of the superfluitie , or if you will , the very excrements , of a full and swelling state , if they be remoued out of the fat and feeding ground of their natiue countrey , and from the licentiousnesse and too much libertie of the states where they haue liued , into a more bare and barren soile , as euery countrie is at the first , and to a harder course of life , wanting pleasures , and subiect to some pinching miseries , and to a strict forme of gouernement , and seuere discipline , doe often become new men , euen as it were cast in a new mould , and proue good and worthie instruments and members of a common-wealth : witnesse the companions of romulus and remus , that were the founders of the romane state. and if you will haue a more infallible testimonie , looke into the scriptures , call to minde the men that came to dauid , qualified as you heard before , men in danger of law , men in debt , and discontented persons . our base churles would roundly answer like nabal , are these dauids companions ? are these his partakers ? such fellowes as these , that bee the scumme and skouring of the streetes , and raked vp out of the kennels , are like to be the founders of a worthie state . but see the shallownes of these mens conceits : for when those men had liued a while in dauids fashion , and been trained vp vnder his discipline , they were so altered and refined , that many of them ( all being some foure hundred ( no more then a virginean fleete ) became worthie to bee of the honorable order of dauids worthies , or mightie men , and proued great statesinen in the common-wealth , and all of them did dauid hold so well to haue deserued , that when god gaue him peaceable possession of his owne , he brought vp all those men euery man with his household , and they dwelt in the cittes of hebron , where they proued good members , nay rather gouernours of the common-wealth , and raised their families to greater honour then euer they had before . now if those men so basely giuen , and ill qualified ( as we heard afore ) notwithstanding by sharpe and godly discipline proued so well ; how much rather may wee hope the same , of our brethren gone and going to virginea ? many of whom are of good descent , of noble and generous spirits , vertuous , and valorous , and fearing god , and many waies as worthie as many of their ranke that are left behinde them . and to conclude , it is well enough knowne to them that know any thing , that there are good reasons , whereupon it comes to passe that such as liue licentiously in a state of long continuance , which is ripe and rotten for want of reformation , will easily be brought into order in a new gouernment : and no lesse good reasons are there why there is and will be better gouernment , and better execution of lawes in a little territorie , then in a great and populous kingdome , and in a new begun rather then in an old and setled state : the truth whereof many of you ( right honorable and beloued ) doe better conceiue then i can expresse . as to the small number of our aduenturers , besides that which was said before , let vs further consider how dauids kingdom began with poore foure hundred men . but what saith the text ? his cause being good , and so knowne to be , there came more day by day to dauid to helpe him , vntill it was a great host like the host of god. euen so wee doubt not , but as god hath alreadie augmented our numbers farre aboue the expectation of many in the beginning : so he will also stirre vp the minds of worthie and generous men to assist this blessed businesse in purse and person , vntill it be growne as dauids foure hundred , to be as as an host of god : and i doubt not to see the day that men shall speake of this plantation as is spoken in another case ; though thy beginning be small , yet thy latter and shall greatly increase . the next discouragement is , that the countric is ill reported of by them that haue been there . i answere , it is not true , in all , nor in the greater or better part ; for many there be and men of worth who haue been there , and report so well of it , that they will not be kept from going thither againe , but hold it and call it , their home , and habitation , nor can all the pleasures , ease , delights and vanities of england allure them from it . but that some , and it may be many of the vulgar and viler sort , who went thither only for ease and idlenesse , for profit and pleasure , and some such carnall causes , and found contrariwise but cold entertainment , and that they must labour or else not eate , and be tied within the bounds of sharp laws , and seuere discipline ; if such base people as these , doe from thence write , and here report , all euill that can be of that countrie , we doe not maruell , for they do but like themselues , and we haue euer found that all noble exploites haue been so maligned and misreported by the greater part ( which generally is the worse part ) of men : let vs take but one testimonie , but that shall be beyond exception . god with his owne voice gaue the israelites the land of canaan , and in the word of his truth told them it was a good land , and they should ouercome the heathen , and enioy it . would a man thinke that after this any durst haue affirmed the plaine contrarie ? yet marke what followed . a little afore they came to take possession , god bad them send men to search it : and such were sent as were rulers and heads of the people , of each tribe one : a man would also haue thought that such men would haue spoke truth . but see the corruption of mans nature , how it is giuen to maligning and deprauing of gods blessings , especiallie if they be commended and aduanced by some whō they affect not : for of those twelue men so sent by gods commandement , tenne did directly deny what god had said . it is a good land , saith god : no , say they , it is a land not worth dwelling in , for it eates vp the inhabitants therof . you shall ouercome them , saith god : no , say these , wee are not able to goe vp against this people . thus you ( right honorable and worshipfull ) that speake well of virginea , and cannot be beleeued , be cōtent , god himselfe , you see , was thus vsed , and can you look for better ? but though these men ( like men , or more like monsters ) durst thus ( as the holy ghost saith ) bring vp an euill report of the land , which they had searched : yet two of the twelue stand vp for the truth , ( and therefore the diuell got not a verdict for him ) and spake boldly , the land which wee walked thorow is a very good land ; if the lord loue vs he will bring vs vnto it ; and feare not the people of the land , for the lord is with vs. and see the vile nature of the multitude , when they gaue place to their furious passions , they rather beleeued those ten that spoke euill , out of their owne base feare , then these two that spoke the truth , and no more then god had spoke before them ; nay they would not indure to heare it well spoken of , and therefore cut them off in the midst of their relation , and outragiously cried , stone them with stones ; dare they speake well of canaan ? stone them . but the god of heauen tooke the cause of his owne truth into his hands , and deliuering his seruants , pronounced iust sentence on all three parties : first , on the false reporters that had so slandered that good land ; those men shall die by the plague before the lord. secondly , on the base beleeuers of this false report ; you shall neuer see it , your carcases shall fall in the wildernesse : but your children , which you said should be a prey to the heathen , they shall go in and possesse the land which you haue refused . thirdly , on those two that spake for the truth , and stood to it with danger of their liues : ioshua and caleb shall liue , and i will bring them into the land , and their seede shall inherit it . this was the iust sentence of the righteous god , which accordingly was executed vpon them all . now how fitly this storie resembles the present businesse we haue in hand , i leaue it to others to make application of the particulars . i onely say thus much : the israelites had a commandement from god to dwell in canaan , we haue leaue to dwell in virginea : they were commanded to kill the heathen , we are forbidden to kill them , but are commanded to conuert them : they were mighty people , ours are ordinarie : they armed , ours naked : they had walled townes , ours haue scarce houels to couer them : that land flowed with milke and honie , our abounds with as good or better : they sent men to search that , so we to search this : they brought of the commodities , so haue we : many slandered that countrey , so they doe ours : more beleeued the slander then the trueth , and so they doe of ours : yet some stoode boldly for the trueth , and so there doe in ours , and better then those that doe depraue it . and as two of the twelue resisted the slaunder , whereby the diuell had not a full iurie : so though many slanderers open their mouthes against vs and our land , for how can they speake good things when themselues are euill ? yet i hope it is hard to finde that euer twelue good men and true ( as a iurie must be ) did agree together to speake euill of it , and so i doubt not , the diuell shall neuer get a verdict against vs. but god whose cause we vndertake , will euer and in all companies haue a caleb or iosua ready to speake the trueth , and put the slanderers to silence . there remaines the application of the iudgements and executions , but that belongs not to me ; it is the lords to inflict : the slanderers die a suddaine death , the beleeuers a lingering death ; far be both these curses from you all . but farre be you also from deseruing them . the next discouragement , is the hard and miserable conditions of them that goe and stay there , their fare , their diet , their drinke , their apparell , their houses , their bedding , their lodging , are all so poore so pitifull , that no english men are able to endure it . i answere , first , doe we purpose to attempt and atchieue , to begin and to perfect any noble exploite , in such fashion of life as wee liue in england ? let vs not deceiue our selues . stately houses , costly apparell , rich furniture , soft beds , daintie fare , dalliance and pleasures , huntings and horse-races , sports and pastimes , feasts and banquets are not the meanes whereby our forefathers conquered kingdomes , subdued their enemies , conuerted heathen , ciuilized the barbarians , and fetled their common-wealths : nay they exposed themselues to frost and colde , snow and heate , raine and tempests , hunger and thirst , and cared not what hardnesse , what extremitie , what pinching miseries they endured , so they might atchieue the ends they aimed at : and shall wee thinke to bring to passe a matter of this honour and excellencie , which the ages to come shall stand amazed to beholde , and not to endure much corporall hardnesse ? what was there euer excellent in the world that was not difficult ? nay euen therefore more excellent and more esteemed because difficult : they therefore were misaduised that went to virginea with purpose to liue for the present , as they liued in england , and vnworthie are they to be counted fathers and founders of a new church and common-wealth , that resolued not to vndergoe and endure all difficulties , miseries and hardnesse that flesh and blood is able to beare . secondly i answere , this obiection yeeldes no cause of mislike of this action more then others ( seeing there neuer was noble action that was not subiect to these miseries : ) but it discouers the pusillanimitie , the basenesse , the tendernesse and effeminatenesse of our english people : into which our nation is now degenerate , from a strong , valiant , hardie , patient and induring people , as our forefathers were : which comes to passe not by our peace & plentie ( as some causelesly cauill ) but by the abuse of thē , that is , by want of exercise of armes and actiuitie , want of trades and labour , by our idlenesse , lazinesse and lasciuiousnesse , wherein cities haue laboured to match the court , and the countrey enuies the cities , and so now at last all turne after state and pompe and pleasures : and if any occasion fall out that men should be put to any hardnes , in cold or heate , by land or sea , for diet or lodging , not one of . is found that can indure it : but when other people can indure winter and summer , winde and weather , sunne and showers , frost and snow , hunger and thirst , in campe or garrison , by land or sea , and march on foote through snowe or waters , then our men for the most part are consumed and dead , or else got home againe to the fire side in england . but it was another kinde of life that made our forefathers fearefull to other nations , and terrible to their enemies : had they been such mecocks and milksops , as we are now , they had neuer expulsed the danes , nor ouercome the french ; we had neuer quartered the armes of france , nor crowned our kings in paris : we had neuer taken so many forraine kings in the fielde , and sometimes on their owne ground : we had neuer made the mightiest emperours seeke alliance and marriages with vs , and some of them to come in person into our land , and fight vnder the banners and pay of our kings . thus they with labour wonne , what we with idlenes haue lost : for what is there that industrie , labour , paines and patience will not winne , and yet all those cannot winne so much , as idlenesse , dainties , and effeminatenesse will easilie lose : witnesse for proofe hereof , our selues and our neighbours of the lowe countries : who can but wonder that will obserue , what the hollanders were an hundred yeares agoe , how dull , how base , how poore and seruile ? but since they shaked oft that dull and lazie humour , put themselues to paines & labour , to indure all hardnesse , and vndergoe any extremities , are they not become for their valour , their gouernement , their wealth , their power and their policie , euen the wonder of nations ? let some ascribe this to a fortunate constellation , others to other causes , but all wise men may casily perceiue that this grew only from these two rootes , of industrie and vnitie : both of them being perfected with a valour and resolution of heart to endure any thing , so they might attaine the honorable ends they proposed to themselues : ( which whether they haue not now attained , and that in so braue a fashion as is to the worlds admiration , i can say but little , but let wise men iudge . ) the premisses considered , were it not good for vs if our people were inured to more hardnesse , and brought vp vnder obedience of sharper discipline , and accustomed to lesse daintinesse & tendernesse then heretofore ? and are not those to be commended , which shew by their resolute vndertaking of an action so honorable in the ends of it , and yet accompanied with so many difficulties , that the ancient valour of english blood is not yet extinguisht ? and canst not thou , who , like a churle or an epicure , sitst at home by the warme fire , and saiest , it is good sleeping in a whole skin ; and that drinkest thy wine in boles , and stretchest thy selfe vpon the bed of lazinesse , and followest nothing but pleasure after pleasure ; canst not thou , i say , be content to see others take in hand noble enterprises , but thou must depriue them of their due praises , and bring them vnder the compasse of thy base censure ? if the action be honorable and excellent , then either do thou attempt it , not withstanding the difficulties ; or if thou darest not , at least honor them that dare . this should be my answere if the voyage were attended with as many difficulties and miseries as these men doe , or any can imagine . but now i answer more particularly , that if our men there haue been at any exigents in this kind , it grew not from any necessitie that must needes accompanie that plantation , or that countrey : but proceeded plainly from the want of gouernement , and absence of our gouernours , which was caused by the hand of god , and force of tempest , which neither humane wit could foresee , nor strength withstand . or suppose something was miscarried by negligence , haste , or other humane infirmitie ; shall one staine blemish the beautie of so faire a businesse ? shall one particular miscariage , ouerturne the frame , or condemne the substance of the whole action ? surely wisedome and good reason will not admit it . and to conclude , seeing it is knowne to all , that know any thing in this matter , that the principal ( if not the only ) wound in this businesse hath been the want of gouernment , there is now care taken , that ( by the blessing of god ) there neuer shall bee want of that againe : which being once setled , we doe very well know that there will nothing else be wanting ( in a short time after ) needfull for the comfort of mans life : in the meane time wee care not ( i speake in their names who goe in person , of whom out of my owne heart i could wish to be one my selfe ) i say we care not what we indure , as long as we go forward in comming neerer to those high and excellent ends , which in the beginning wee proposed to our selues . the next discouragement is , the vncertaintie of profit , and the long time that it must be expected , it be certaine . but i will not wrong you nor my selfe , in seeking to say much to so base an obiection . if there be any that came in only or principally for profit , or any that would so come in , i wish the latter may neuer bee in , and the former out againe . if the planting of an english colonie , in a good and fruitfull soile , and of an english church in a heathen countrey ; if the conuersion of the heathen , if the propagating of the gospell , and inlarging of the kingdome of iesus christ , be not inducements strong enough to bring them into this businesse , it is pitie they be in at all . i will discharge my conscience in this matter : if any that are gone , or purpose to go in person , do it only that they might liue at ease and get wealth ; if others that aduenture their money haue respected the same ends , i wish for my part the one in england again , and the other had his money in his purse ; nay it were better that euery one gaue something to make vp his aduenture , then that such nabals should thrust in their foule feete , and trouble so worthie a businesse . and i could wish ( for my part ) that the proclamation which god inioyned to bee made before the israelites went to battell , were also made in this case : namely , that whosoeuer is fainthearted , let him returne home againe , lest his brethrens hart faint like his : for the coward not only betraieth himself , but daunts and discourageth others . priuate ends haue been the bane of many excellent exploits , and priuate plots for the gaine of a few , haue giuen hindrance to many good and great matters . let vs take heed of it in this present businesse , and all ioyntly with one heart aime at the generall and publike ends , lest we finde hereafter to our shame and griefe , that this one flye hath corrupted the whole box of oyntment , though neuer so precious . let vs therefore cast aside all cogitation of profit , let vs looke at better things : & then i dare say vnto you as christ hath taught me , that if in this action wee seeke first the kingdome of god , all other things shall be added vnto vs : that is ( applying it to the case in hand ) if wee first and principally seeke the propagation of the gospell and conuersion of soules , god wil vndoubtedly make the voiage very profitable to all the aduenturers and their posterities euen for matter of this life : for the soile is good , the commodities many , and necessarie for england , the distance not farre off , the passage faire and easie , so that there wants only gods blessing to make it gainfull : now the high way to obtaine that , is to forget our own affections , & to neglect our own priuate profit in respect of gods glorie ; and he that is zealous of gods glorie , god will be mindfull of his profit : and he that seekes only or principally spirituall things , god will reward him both with those spirituall and temporal things . and as , though we may not do wel to be wel spoken of , yet if we do wel , god will make vs wel thought of , and spoken of , of all good men : so though we do not intend our profit in this action , yet , if wee intend gods honor , and the conuersion of soules , god will assuredly send vs great profit , which we may take lawfully and thankfully as his blessing . but if it be vrged further : why is there not then present profit , at least after so many voyages and supplies sent ? i answere , that profit is not the principall end of this action ; if it were , what should so many of the nobilitie , of the gentry , and especially of the clergie , haue their hands in it ? it is not fit for them to be merchants : but the high and principall end being plantation , of an english church and common-wealth , and consequently the conuersion of heathen , hence it is therefore that profit cannot be presently expected , because we are still to send more supplies of men , munition , instruments and tooles for all trades : but when there be sent so many that they are able to defend themselues , when they haue emptied a sufficient quantity of the land from trees , & made it fit for corne , ( which is the onely want in that place ) and when they haue built their church and towne , and haue the gouernment setled , ( all which are at this day ( blessed be god ) in a comfortable forwardnesse ) then it is time to expect , and then we are sure to receiue such quantitie of gaine , as will giue full contentment to euery man for his moneyes aduentured : and then for a short time of disbursements , begins a long time of profit , euen so long , as ( for ought that man can foresee ) it will continue whilest there are men to goe betwixt the two kingdomes . the seuenth and last discouragement is , that we haue many enemies and mighty , and that therefore it cannot proceede to any perfection . i answer , if it had not many enemies it should not haue so many friends , and it is therefore better liked of some because it is misliked of others : for there neuer was noble action that had not many enemies . but what enemies haue we , or are like to haue ? they answer , first , the spaniard . i answere , deceiue not your selues , we haue him not our enemie : for first , he is in league with vs , and we doubt not but either he holds vs no heretikes ; or if he doe , yet he hates that peece of popish doctrine , that couenants with heretikes are not to be kept : we hope they bee too wise and worthie a nation to breake their league and falsifie the oath of god which they haue made : they know the story , that when the christians had taken truce with the turkes for a time , and within that time spying a vantage contrarie to their oath , fell vpon them ; god , whose name was dishonoured , so disposed the matter , that when in all humane reason the turkes would haue been slaine vp like sheepe , and not a man left : contrariwise they had such aduantage offered them , by gods owne prouidence , that they were the conquerours and gaue the christians one of the foulest ouerthrowes that was since the beginning of their empire , and that cardinall that was the author of this periurious breach of league , was miserably , but iustly massacred in a ditch , and that noble king of hungary being of incredible valour and vertue , who gaue way to this wicked counsell of the cardinall , died there on the fielde in his young and flourishing age . they write that amurathes the great turke being thus prouoked to battell , and seeing the picture of christ on the crosse in the christians banner , cast vp his eyes and hands to heauen , and cried out as loude as he could ; oh , thou that diedst on the crosse , if thou be a god , powre out thy wrath and shew thy iustice on this vile people that haue so horribly dishonoured thee , violating the oath they tooke in thy name , which i that sware by the name of mahomet dare not doe . if thus it fell out to them that brake oath with the turkes , we hope no christian prince will offer it to vs : if they should , we doubt not but god himselfe will be our shield and buckler , and make vs strong enough against such enemies . againe , the title that spaine may pretend , must either be possession or the popes gift : as for the pope , we know indeede that a spanish pope gaue america to a spanish king ; but the question is what right he had to giue it , for nemo dat quod non habet , and they who remember that long agoe he gaue away england also , cannot but know how vaine & idle his gifts be : and yet if we examine the very words of his gift , they run thus , that he giues him all america , which is not actually possessed before by any other christian prince : so that if the graunt were good , yet it seemes to follow , that whosoeuer is possessed afore him , hath right before him . but of this part called virginea , hee neuer was , and wee for many yeeres haue been possessed : and whereas his grant is conditionall , that he shall send preachers of the christian faith into those parts . if wee doe not so into ours , let all nations rise against vs , and giue it to them that better shall deserue it . the graunt of america by alexander the . vnto ferdinando , is restrained by cardinall bellarm. lib. . de roma . pont . cap. . in fine cap. and by the iesuite valent. tom . . disput . . . . punct . . where ( although he were a spaniard ) hee doubteth whether alexander the . erred in this particular fact . vpon these grounds , wee are perswaded that they will neuer offer vs that indignitie and iniustice : but if they should , wee hope then to giue another answere . what enemies then haue we ? the french ? nay they are rather inclined to follow our example , & to plant in another countrey not far frō ours : the same also might i speake of other christian nations . the sauages ? nay , they inuite vs , and vse vs well : & if they were , a small matter , as long as they are their owne enemies . but when they are conuerted and loue their owne soules , then they will loue vs also , and eternize their names who brought the gospell to them . thus no enemies are yet found . but i will saue their labour : we confesse this action hath three great enemies : but who be they ? euen the diuell , papists , and players . but first , let no man thinke much that i ioyne them together , for i would gladly separate them , but they will not : for who but the diuell , and papists , and players doe mocke at religion , and abuse the holie scriptures ? that the diuell doth , who doubts ? that the papists doe , their many bookes doe witnesse , especially their damnable and hellish prurit-anus : that players doe , too many eyes and eares can witnesse , some to their content , and many to their hearts griefe . seeing then they will not be separated , let them goe together : the rather seeing they bee all enemies to this noble action . the diuell : and who can blame him ? for we goe to disherit him of his ancient freehold , and to deliuer from out of his bondage the soules , which he hath kept so many yeeres in thraldome : wee therefore expect that hee will moue all the infernall powers against vs , and that we shall want no hurt nor hindrance that he is able to effect . but let him and all his partakers know , wee haue him on our side , who was promised in the beginning to be the breaker of his head , and who accordingly trampled him vnder his feete , triumphed ouer him on the crosse , and ouercame him in the graue ( his owne denne ) : we goe to preach the faith , against which all the gates of hell shall not preuaile . and for his pleading of possession , wee care not : the possession is his , but the right is christs , and we are for him , and therefore doubt not but to bring from heauen such an iniunction out of the highest court of equitie , as shall remoue him out of possession , maugre his malice . wee know his force , his furie , his malice , his wit and subtletie : and , as the apostle saith , we are not ignorant of his practises . but when wee remember that he cannot enter into a hogge , but by gods permission : when we remember that the windes and seas are not his , nor doe obey him , but him that we serue : when wee remember how the apostles ouerthrew him , euen by the preaching of the gospell , which wee carrie to virginea ; these and such like considerations make vs that wee feare not him , and all his angels so much , as hee feares the prayers of the poorest christian in the world . and yet we will not countermine against him by charmings and inchantments , we will not cast out diuels by the prince of diuels , but wee will onely assault him with the sword of the spirit , which is the word of god : for we know that when the apostles were to giue him the great ouerthrow , and his deadly wound , by recouering the whole world from heathenisme to christ , this was that onely weapon with which they ouercame him : and though wee be not so skilfull fencers , nor can handle this weapon so well as they , yet wee know it hath not lost his force , but is the sharpe two edged sword , in whose hand soeuer it is vsed . and as long as our end is to plant and preach the gospell , hee may for our sinnes , and sinfull cariage , hurt and hinder , but hee can neuer ouerthrow the worke , but contratiwise it shall be his ouerthrow , and the ruine of his kingdome in that countrey . for the papists , wee know they approue nothing that protestants vndertake ; but wee vndertook not this to be approued by thē : they would haue all the glorie to themselues of conuerting the heathen ; and if they did conuert them indeed , wee would commend and imitate them : but let them not enuie vs , for doing that which they extoll in themselues . if they seeke the popes and their owne glorie , why should not wee seeke gods ? if they seeke gods glorie , wee haue cause to seeke it more then they : in such workes as these wee will neuer breake from them , we will neuer forsake them : wee would ioyne with them to conuert the heathen , wee would ioyne with them to vanquish the turke . but their blinde guides the iesuites tell them that wee are cursed , and all that partake with vs , and that they had better suffer heathen and turkes then ioyne with vs. and hence is it that they maligne and depraue this voyage , and wee are well assured that they haue filled all corners of this kingdome , with all base reports and slanders of this action , that mans wit can deuise . but let them goe on , wee little regard it , the more they hate it , the more we loue it ; the more basely they speake of it , the more honourably doe wee hold it . oh but the pope will curse vs. let him doe so , when hee would haue god the more to blesse vs : for what protestant or any other did hee euer curse , but god blest them the more ? leo the . cursed luther , and all men expected when he should haue died some horrible death : but hee liued to die in his bed , and proued the confounder of the pope in his life and death . paul the . cursed henry the . but after that he rooted the pope out of england . impious pius the . cursed noble elizabeth of england , and all the poore papists of the world lookt when some terrible confusion should haue fallen on her and her kingdome : but she liued to see the death of that pope , and six or seuen more ; and more then thirtie yeeres after liued in that glorie , as neuer queene on the earth in more , so as all ages to come will speake of her and of her times , and of the blessings of this church and state receiued by her . sixtus the . cursed the french king that is : but his successor was faine to absolue him on his owne conditions . pope paul that now is , cursed the venetians : but was glad to receiue them againe , on such tearmes , as his best friends wish hee had neuer begun it , and confesse he hath lost more by it , then euer he can gaine . hee and his predecessors in that chaire of pestilence , haue cursed all makers and merchants of allom , that belong not to himselfe , and all others that shall any waies inuade any of his reuenues or patrimonie : but wee see they prosper better for it ; and all princes and states goe forward as they can , each one to plucke away their feathers from him , with which that proud peacock of rome did adorne himselfe : and so the time will come shortly that the holy ghost foretold , namely , that she shall be left desolate and naked . and thus as all her curses which shee hath cast out on them that shall impaire or inuade s. peters patrimonie , ( for so hee calles his owne reuenues ) haue not preuailed , but that her glorie and wealth is decaied by many degrees : so all his other causelesse curses doe now appeare ( euen to many of his owne ) to be but flashes , and to be such thunderclaps as terrifie , but strike not , and hurt no where , but where they are feared . let him then curse vs , when hee would doe vs good , for wee know his curse shall fall on his owne head , and when he hath cursed vs , the lord will blesse vs in more abundance . and to conclude , wee know well , that as soone as this intent and enterprize of our nation is knowne at rome , foorthwith there will bee a consistorie called , and consideration will be had ( with wit and policie enough ) what course may be taken to crosse vs and ouerturne the businesse . but we are prepared for it , and looke for no lesse then all they can doe : but if they haue neuer a gamaliel left to tell it them , let me tell them , that if this worke be onely of men , it will come to nought of it selfe without their helpe : but if it be of god , they cannot destroy it , but shall be found euen fighters against god. as for plaiers : ( pardon me right honourable and beloued , for wronging this place and your patience with so base a subiect , ) they play with princes and potentates , magistrates and ministers , nay with god and religion , and all holy things : nothing that is good , excellent or holy can escape them : how then can this action ? but this may suffice , that they are players : they abuse virginea , but they are but players : they disgrace it : true , but they are but players , and they haue played with better things , and such as for which , if they speedily repent not , i dare say , vengeance waites for them . but let them play on : they make men laugh on earth , but hee that sits in heauen laughes them to scorne ; because like the flie they so long play with the candle , till first it singe their wings , and at last burnes thē altogether . but why are the players enemies to this plantation and doe abuse it ? i will tell you the causes : first , for that they are so multiplied here , that one cannot liue by another , and they see that wee send of all trades to virginea , but will send no players , which if wee would doe , they that remaine would gaine the more at home . secondly , as the diuell hates vs , because wee purpose not to suffer heathens , and the pope because we haue vowed to tolerate no papists : so doe the players , because wee resolue to suffer no idle persons in virginea , which course if it were taken in england , they know they might turne to new occupations . thus the diuell , papists , and players , ( the enemies of this action ) single them asunder , or let them ioyne their forces , wee care not for their malice , wee seeke not their fauour : nay wee had rather haue them all three against vs then with vs : and against them all , and all other that shall maligne vs whosoeuer , we say no more but this : he hath set vs on worke that will maintaine vs : and for our selues no more but this ; if god be on our side , who can be against vs ? and thus with an indifferent vnpartiall eye we haue obserued , and laid downe all the discouragements that seeme to be incident to this businesse : and all , which i euer heard , either friend to feare , or enemy to obiect , and haue answered them all out of the grounds of truth . now let vs accordingly consider of the encouragements which god hath giuen vs , to proceede in the prosecution of this enterprise . the first encouragement is , the consideration of the excellencie of the action in it selfe : this excellencie consists of these three degrees : it is a most lawfull , an honorable , and a holy action . the lawfulnesse of this enterprize hath been , i hope , sufficientlie declared alreadie , and more may be said , if any thing be further obiected against it . secondly , the honour of this action is extraordinarie , . in regard of the ends , being of a more high & excellent nature then are in other voiages , which for the most part bee profit and pleasure . . it is more honourable in regard of the vndertakers . where was there euer voiage that had such a king and such a prince to bee the patrons and protectors of it ? the one to begin , the other to second it . what voiage euer was there which had so many honourable vndertakers , and of so many sorts and callings , both of the clergie and laitie , nobilitie , gentrie , and commonaltie , citie and countrie , merchants and tradesmen , priuate persons and corporations ? as though euery kinde and calling of men desired to haue their hands in so happie a worke . all which considered , giue me leaue to affirme ( with due respect to other , and without disparagement to any ) that of all voiages euer attempted in this nation , the virginean voiage is the most honour able . thirdly , this is also a holy action , in regard of the ends and purposes of it : for this action is not only lawfull , so that a man in doing it may be assured he sinnes not , but it is moreouer a holy action , euen such a one as in the performance whereof a man may bee assured that hee pleaseth god , and shall haue a bountifull reward from the mercie of god : and this is peculiar to this voiage aboue other . by others we may shew our selues good common-wealths-men : by this good christians . by others we may inrich our purses : but by this our consciences . others may helpe vs to liue the more wealthily , but onely this can helpe vs to die the more comfortably . other voiages may purchase vs some praise before men , but none like this can procure vs reward from god : for they that enter into voiages of certaine profit for profits sake , these haue their reward . but they that vndertake a voiage of vncertaine and future profit , and certaine and present difficulties , and not for profit , but for the gospels sake , let them know , that if hee that giues a cup of cold water in christs name , and hee that giues one peny to him whose body wants releefe , cannot want his reward : then how liberally and bountifully shall hee bee rewarded from the lord his god , who disburseth so great portions of his estate , for the releefe of distressed and miserable soules . and of all the voiages and actions that men meddle with in this world , none can yeeld this satisfaction and comfort to the conscience that this can : so that this is an enterprise of that worth & excellency , as no other , seeing it is not onely lawfull in it selfe , and therefore acceptable to god , but honourable before men , and comfortable to the conscience of the doer : and therefore euery wise and morall man may be allured , especially euery christian man may be encouraged to assist it . the second encouragement is , the consideration of the friends and assistants which this busines hath : which are such and so great , so many and so mightie , that whosoeuer compares them with the enemies before spoke of , will presently finde cause to say with the prophet , there are more with vs then against vs. our principall friend and defender is the lord our god , the god of heauen and earth , whose king dome wee goe to enlarge , and to accomplish the number of his elect : and christ iesus , whose banner we go to display , and to beare vp his standart , and erect his throne , euen there where sathans throne is : and the holy ghost for whom we go to erect temples , that is , to prepare the soules of men for him to dwell in , who hath told vs that his delight is with the sonnes of men : euen this god blessed for euer , whose cause it is we go to maintain : whom therfore we may hope to haue on our side : nay we know we haue him , and hee hath vouchsafed vs no small tokens and testimonies thereof . by inclining the hearts of our mighty king & noble prince , to make themselues fathers and founders of this plantation and protectors of this royall enterprize , thereby shewing themselues new constantines or charles the great : for by the attempting and atchieuing of this great worke of the heathens conuersion , let their highnesses bee assured , the ages to come will stile them by the glorious names of iames the great , and great henry : the one for setting on foote , the other for seconding , and both for protecting so great , so gracious , and so glorious a worke : this is doubtlesse in them , the blessed worke of that mighty god , in whose hand are the hearts of kings . inclining the hearts of so many persons of honour and high place ( who cannot go in person ) not onely to grace the action with their presence , countenance , and commendation , but to part with so faire a portion of their estates vnto it , without any assurance of present profit for the same . perswading so many of our nation ( and many of them of noble blood and honourable descent ) to ingage not onely a great part of their estates : but euen their very liues and persons , for the good of this businesse , though it be attended with neuer so many dangers & difficulties , & though in the vulgar conceit ( which cōmonly carrieth most men ) so many corporall miseries are threatned on them that be the first aduenturers in this plantation . and this i say was done by gods perswasion ; for what man can be perswaded by a man to vndertake a matter of such a nature as this is ? nay we dare say , that all who are go ne thither , vnlesse they were misled by some sinister perswasions of their owne apprehensions , haue gone onely vpon the powerfull perswasion of gods spirit to their consciences : for who should perswade hereunto , but either god or the diuell , or men , or a mans owne reason ? but the diuell we all know is against it , with might and maine he seekes to keepe men from it , by raising slanders and putting lies into the mouthes of men , to disgrace it : by these and such like meanes he will disswade all he can , but perswade none . againe , wee who are interessed in the action , haue perswaded none , haue allured none , much lesse compelled any ; but of all that haue voluntarily offred themselues , or been offered by their friends , haue made choice of the best ( to our best skils ) : it remains then , that either they perswaded themselues vpon some carnall hopes , ( which we in charitie will iudge of none ) or rather ( which wee know of some , and vvish in all ) that god who perswaded laphet to dwell in the tents of shem , hath perswaded the minds of many honorable and worthy gentlemen to venture their liues in the prosequution of this noble action . fourthly ; by inclining the hearts of the sauages , who liue in that country , louingly to call and inuite vs , and to vse our men well , ( when they themselues are well vsed ) : and by this meanes to make a way to their owne conuersions . fiftly , stirring vp the minds of so many hundreds of good protestants and professors of true religion , to assist it with large contributions ( it being a worke which cannot be effected without much mony , as al discreet men do see and acknowledge ) : insomuch as , when those worthy men and euer to be honored , that were the first vndertakers of it , did euen shrinke to consider , what masses of mony it needs must cost , and yet knew not how nor whence it would arise : the god of heauen bad them rest contented , goe on with what they had in hand , and leaue that care to him , who accordingly hath so wrought vpon the hearts of men , that hitherto it hath been both manned and monied without all rating , taxing , or compelling , but only and wholly by voluntary contributions and continuall supplies : and though the worke grow so great and glorious that it seems already too heauy for the shoulders of vs that hitherto haue borne it : yet it pleaseth god himselfe so to commend it to mens hearts that we see hope enough of sufficient supply from more persons of honour and other men of all sorts and degrees : and surely wee were vnworthy of such a blessing , if we did not willingly acknowledge it to be as it is , euen the lords doing and very maruellous in our eies . sixtly by exciting so many thousand soules , ( whose want of ability keepes them from assisting it with mony ) to wish well vnto this action , to commend it to god , and with their continuall and earnest praiers to giue it all the furtherance they can : and surely where i obserue how many millions of christian soules do powre out their earnest praiers to god daily for the conuersion of those poore virginians , it makes me say of them , as holy olde ambrose said of yong angustine , for whom ( whilst hee liued , in the errors and vanities of his youth ) his mother poured out continuall praiers and teares : sure ( saith he ) a soule that cost his mother so many praiers and so many teares cannot perish : so may we say populus tantarum precum perire non potest : a people that hath so many a good praier possibly cannot perish . and these sixe publicke euidences wee haue ( which all the vvorld may take notice of ) that god is on our side , and doth fauourably accept the enterprise of ours of carrying the gospell to this people : many more priuate fauours and encouragements doth this businesse and the vndertakers of it daily receiue from god , vvhich are all so many testimonies of his louing fauour , to vs and this action . and thus vve haue not only cause to hope , but do find and feele it in our experience that the god of heauen is a friend to this enterprize . our next friend and assistant is the glorious and innumerable multitude of the holy angels : for if the angels reioice when one soule is conuerted , ( vvhich because it might seeme strange , that so many great ones should ioy in the saluation of one poore creature , therfore christ hath affirmed it with his ovvne mouth ) then iudge vvhat ioy is amongst that blessed fellovvship , vvhen this newes comes to heauen that england hath enterprized the conuersion of virginia : whereby so many thousand soules shall be brought to heauen : oh happy man that shall helpe forward this worke , the very angels themselues will doe him honour and seruice : againe if they be sent out by god for the good of all the elect , and are commanded and are willing to pitch their tents about euery one that feares god , then how much more willing will they be to assist , defend , succour and protect vs in this voiage , who go about a worke which pleaseth and delights them aboue any one thing in the world : for it is not said of any thing that man can doe , that it makes the angels in heauen reioice , but this onely one the conuersion of soules . lastly if it be true that they haue charge ouer euery child of god to keepe him in all his waies ; then let vs be assured that this action being one of the worthiest waies that euer a christian nation walked in since the apostles times , vve shal therefore be sure of the presence and protection of gods holy angels , to bee with vs and all our partakers , and namely vvith you ( our right honorable generall ) and all your company , to preserue you by land and sea , at home and abroad , from the diuell and all other enemies : and though our sinnes or yours may procure the contrary from gods iustice , ( vvhich his mercy auert ) yet this i dare affirme , as an vndoubted truth , that it is the delight and ioy of those glorious creatures to doe you seruice for your seruice in this action . another and a comfortable friend vvhich vve haue , is , the praiers and hearty vvelvvishings of all gods children in the vvorld , vvhereof as many as knovv it doe particularly , and all doe in generall tearmes and inclusiuely commend vs and it to the lord : a mighty comfort is this to all you that goe in person , if euer you should be in vvant or misery , danger , or any distresse by sea or land , to remember that euery day in the vvorld there is a sacrifice offered to god , and a strong crie sent vp to heauen from millions of soules for you . it is very memorable hovv vvhen our noble henrie the fift vvas to giue the french battell at agincourt , vvhere vvere scarce . english men , vveake and sickly , against . french ( in vvhich army vvas the principall chiualrie of france ) that valorous king rising vp from his priuate praiers , and hauing purposely put off the battel till nine of the clocke , at that houre he vvent in person about all the host , and cheering vp his people with princely words , he bad them stand to him and fight valiantly , and feare not ( saith he ) but bee valiant and assured of the victory : for at this houre they are praying for vs at euery church in england . semblably may you ( right honourable and beloued brethren ) cheer vp your spirits against all doubts and dangers whatsoeuer , seeing you may assure your selues there is scarce an houre can passe , vvherein you haue not the praiers of many in england for you . thus you see our enemies , the diuell , papists and players : and you see our friends , god , good angels , and holy praiers : against the diuell vve haue god : against the vvicked papists holy angels : against plaiers , praiers . novv if the povver of the vvhole army of angels be vnto god , but as a drop of vvater to the sea : and the might of all men be inferior to the povver of one angell , and yet the praiers of one good man is able to shake hell , and make the diuell tremble ( which is the ringleader and chiefe of all our enemies ) then it is apparant enough that our enemies are lesse then nothing to the friends that this action hath . the third encouragement to this businesse , is the due consideration of the true ends of this action : for the end of any attempt , though it be the last in execution , yet is it the first in intention , and it is the end that crownes the worke , and if the end and finall purpose of any action be euil , that action cannot be good : and accordingly in all lawfull actions the more excellent the end , the more excellent is the worke : let vs therefore consider the true ends of this businesse , and herein i will deale truly and sincerely : we will not deny but as we are mē , we may be induced in the beginning with hope of great profit , of winning a goodly country for english men to liue in , which now by multitudes are thrust out at home , and of liuing a more free and pleasant and contented life : and some that go in person , as they are corrupt men may dreame of greater ease and licentiousnesse , and therefore put themselues into the businesse . but as we are christian men , as we are sanctified men the principall and predominant ends are of a far more high and excellent nature : and they be of two sorts . first , respecting the sauages of that countrie : that is , the conuersion of their soules ( after they first be made ciuill men ) a worke so excellent as he that doth it but to one soule , hath done that which shall yeeld him more comfort in this life , and gaine him more glory in heauen , then any one worke in the world besides : and more then that , the poore soules when they are made happy by their conuersions will sing for euer of them that did it : oh how beautifull are the feete of them that brought vs these glad tidings ! secondly , respecting our god , our selues , and our religion : in which respect our ends are in this businesse to appease and pacifie the wrath of our offended father , for sacrifices are offered to appease and propitiate . now of all the sacrifices of the new testament this is not the least , to offer vp a sacrifice of conuerted gentiles to the lord : to me ( saith paul ) is this grace giuen of god , that i should be the minister of iesus christ to the gentiles , that the offering vp of the gentiles might be acceptable , being sanctified by the holy ghost . now the sins of this our nation haue been horrible , our vnthankfulnesse for the blessings of this last age hath been intollerable : what can we offer to the lord better , though not for satisfaction , yet for gratification , then to offer vp a sacrifice of conuerted gentiles ? secondly , to honour the name of our god which by our sinnes hath been horribly prophaned , and to aduance his kingdome , which by vs and our sinnes hath been too much hindred . thirdly , to honor our religion , which by the politick papists hath been in this respect disgraced . for we must cōfesse that they in these last c. yeers , ( such is their gouernment , and such their obedience to their superiors : wherein we may worthily learne of them ) haue sent many men into the west and east indies to preach christ ; which if they had done without other abominable idolatry and superstition , their fact had been most honorable . but howsoeuer it is to be granted , that it is held of many no small staine to our religion that we haue sent none into heathen countries to conuert the sauages : which accusation how true and iust it is , as i vvill not now dispute , so this confidently i dare auow , that this enterprize taking effect vvill discharge vs and our religion for euer of that imputation : in which respect , if there vvere no other in the vvorld , it is vvorthy to haue the praiers and the purses , yea the persons and liues of the best of vs all . fourthly , to giue testimony to the vvorld that some sparkes of that spirit , vvhich vvas so plentifull in the apostles doe yet remaine in vs : vvhich as it made them most willing to conuert the heathen vvorld , though it cost them their liues : so the same spirit of god prouokes vs to helpe forward the conuersion of that remainder of the heathen , vvhich by them could not be finished . these be the high and soueraigne ends of this action : now these being first laid , there follovv others not to be neglected , nay the least vvhereof is vvorthy to make vs vvilling vndertakers of this businesse , for hereby vve shall honour our selues and strengthen our selues by propagating our owne religion : hereby we shall mightily aduance thehonorable name of the english nation , the honor vvhereof we ought euery one to seek : hereby vve shall mightily inrich our nation , strengthen our nauie , fortifie our kingdome , and be lesse beholding to other nations for their commodities : and to conclude , hereby vve shall rectifie and reforme many disorders vvhich in this mightie and populous state are scarce possibly to be reformed vvithout euacuation : and consequentlie vvhen vve haue atchieued all these ends , vve shall eternize our ovvne names to all ensuing posteritie , as beeing the first beginners of one of the brauest and most excellent exploits that vvas attempted since the primitiue times of the church . and to adde one vvord more , ( but it is of much moment , vve shall hereby vvipe off the staine that stickes vpon our nation since , ( either for idlenesse or some other base feares , or foolish conceits ) vve refused the offer of the west indies , made vnto vs by that famous christopher columbus , who vpon englands refusall , tendred it to the prince that now enioieth them . and thus i haue giuen you a tast of the roiall encouragements which naturally and infallibly doe attend this blessed businesse : you see the discouragements how base and idle and imaginary they bee ; contrariwise , the encouragements how reall , solide and substantiall : now therefore let vs all bee exhorted and encouraged to the effectuall prosecution of this enterprise vnto the end . and you first of all , right honourable and worshipfull of the counsell , and the rest of the vndertakers that liue here , by whose wisedome the action is to be directed , and by whose purses maintained , consider what you haue entred into , euen vpon an action of that nature and consequence , as not only all nations stand gazing at , but euen heauen and hell haue taken notice of it , the holy angels hoping , and the diuels fearing what will be the issue . therefore let all nations see , to their amazement , the diuels to their terror , the angels to their ioy , and especially our god to his glorie and the honor of his truth , that the english christians will not vndertake a publike action which they will not prosecute to perfection . let vs then beleeue no tales , regard no slanders ( raised or spred by papists or epicures ) feare no shadowes , care for no oppositions , respect no losses that may befall , nor bee daunted with any discouragements whatsoeuer ; but goe forward to assist this noble action with countenance and counsell , with men and money , and with continuall supplies , till wee haue made our plantation and colonie able to subsist of it selfe , and till there be a church of god established in virginea , euen there where satans throne is . thus shall we honour our god , our religion , our nation , and leaue that honour on our names , which shall make them flourish till the worlds end , and ( which is all in all . ) lay vp that comfort to our soules which shall stand by vs at our deaths , & speake for vs to the great iudge at the last and great day . and to you ( right honourable and beloued ) who ingage your liues , and therefore are deepliest interessed in this businesse , who make the greatest ventures , and beare the greatest burdens ; who leaue your ease and pleasures at home , and commit your selues to the seas and winds for the good of this enterprise ; you that desire to aduance the gospell of iesus christ , though it be with the hazzard of your liues , goe forward in the name of the god of heauen and earth , the god that keepeth cauenant and mercie for thousands ; goe on with the blessing of god , gods angels and gods church ; cast away feare , and let nothing daunt your spirits , remembring whom you goe vnto , euen to english men your brethren , who haue broke the ice before you , and suffered that which with gods blessing you neuer shall ; remembring what you goe to doe , euen to display the banner of christ iesus , to fight with the diuell and the old dragon , hauing michael and his angels on your side : to eternize your owne names both heere at home & amongst the virgineans ( whose apostles you are ) and to make your selues most happy men whether you liue or die : if you liue , by effecting so glorious a worke ; if you die , by dying as martyrs or confessors of gods religion : and remembring lastly whom you leaue behinde you , euen vs your brethren , of whom many would goe with you that yet may not , many will follow you in conuenient time , and who will now goe with you in our harts and praiers , and who will second you with new & fresh supplies , & who are resolued ( by the grace of that god in whose name they haue vndertaken it ) neuer to relinquish this action ; but though all the wealth already put in were lost , will againe & againe renue and continue their supplies , vntill the lord giue the hoped haruest of our endeuors . and thou most noble lord , whom god hath stirred vp to neglect the pleasures of england , and with abraham to goe from thy country , and for sake thy kindred and thy fathers house , to goe to a land which god will shew thee , giue me leaue to speak the truth : thy ancestor many hundred yeeres agoe gained great honour to thy house ; but by this action thou augmentst it . he tooke a king prisoner in the field in his owne land : but by the godly managing of this businesse , thou shalt take the diuell prisoner in open field , and in his owne kingdome : nay the gospell which thou carriest with thee shall binde him in chaines , and his angels in stronger fetters then iron , and execute vpon them the iudgement that is written : yea it shall lead captiuitie captiue , and redeeme the soules of men from bondage . and thus thy glory and honour of thy house is more at the last then at the first . goe on therefore , and prosper with this thy honor , which indeed is greater then cuery eie discernes , euen such as the present ages shortly will enioy , and the future admire : goe forward in the strength of the lord thy god , and make mention of his righteousnesse only . looke not at the gaine , the wealth , the honour , the aduancement of thy house that may follow and fall vpon thee : but looke at those high and better ends that concerne the kingdome of god. remember thou art a generall of english men , nay a generall of christian men : therefore principally looke to religion . you goe to commend it to the heathen ; then practise it your selues : make the name of christ honourable , not hatefull vnto them . suffer no papists ; let them not nestle there ; nay let the name of the pope for poperie be neuer heard of in virginea . take heed of atheists the diuels champions : and if thou discouer any , make them exemplarie . and ( if i may be so bold as to aduise ) make atheisme and other blasphemie capitall , and let that bee the first law made in virginea . suffer no brownists , nor factious separatists : let them keepe their conuenticles elsewhere : let them goe and conuert some other heathen , and let vs see if they can constitute such churches really , the idaeaes whereof they haue fancied in their braines : and when they haue giuen vs any such example , we may then haue some cause to follow them . till then we will take our paterne from their betters . especially suffer no sinfull , no leaud , no licentious men , none that liue not vnder the obedience of good lawes : and let your lawes be strict , especially against swearing and other prophanenesse . and though vaine swearing by gods name be the common and crying sinne of england , and no mortall , but a veniall sinne in popish doctrine , a yet know that it is a sinne vnder which the earth mournes : b and your land will flourish if this be repressed . let the sabbath be wholly and holily obserued , publike praiers daily frequented , idlenesse eschewed , and mutinies carefully preuented . be well aduised in making lawes ; but being made , let them bee obeied , and let none stand for scarre-crowes ; for that is the way to make all at last to be contemned . this course take , and you shall see those who were to blame at home , will prooue praise-worthy in virginea . and you will teach vs in england to know ( who almost haue forgot it ) what an excellent thing execution of lawes is in a common-wealth . but if you should aime at nothing but your priuate ends , and neglect religion and gods seruice , looke for no blessing , nay looke for a curse , though not on the whole action , yet on our attempt ; and neuer thinke that wee shall haue the honour to effect it . yet thinke not that our sinne shall hinder the purpose of god : for when this sinfull generation is consumed , god will stirre vp our children after vs , who will learne by our example to follow it in more holy manner , and so bring it to that perfection which we for our sinnes and prophanenesse could not doe . but you ( right honourable ) haue otherwise learned christ , and ( we hope ) will otherwise practise him , and will declare by your managing of this action the power of that true religion you haue learned in england . thus shall heauen and earth blesse you , and for this heroicall aduenture of thy person and state in such a godly cause , the god of heauen will make thy name to bee remembred thorowout all generations : and thousands of people shall honour thy memorie , and giue thankes to god for thee while the world endureth . and thou virginea , whom though mine eies see not , my heart shall loue ; how hath god honoured thee ! thou hast thy name from the worthiest queene that euer the world had : thou hast thy matter from the greatest king on earth : and thou shalt now haue thy forme from one of the most glorious nations vnder the sunne , and vnder the conduct of a generall of as great and ancient nobilitie as euer was ingaged in action of this nature . but this is but a little portion of thy honour : for thy god is comming towards thee , and in the meane time sends to thee , and salutes thee with the best blessing heauen hath , enen his blessed gospell . looke vp therefore , and lift vp thy head , for thy redemption draweth nie : and he that was the god of israel , and is still the god of england , will shortly i doubt not bring it to passe , that men shall say , blessed be the lord god of virginea ; and let all christian people say , amen . and this salutation doth my soule send thee , o virginea , euen this poore new-yeeres gift , who though i be not worthy to be thine apostle , yet doe vow and deuote my selfe to be in england thy faithfull factor and sollicitor , and most desirous to do thee any seruice in the lord iesus christ our sauiour and thine : whom wee beseech for his precious blood-shedding to aduance his standard amongst you , and that you may once crie for your selues as we do now for you , euen so come lord iesus . finis . god to evrope . the kingdome of god shall bee taken from you , * and giuen to a nation that shall bring foorth the fruits there of . god to england . but i haue praicd for thee that thy faith faile not : therefore when thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren . luk. . . england to god. lord heere i am : send me . esay . . god to virginea . he that walketh in darknesse , and hath no light , let him trust in the name of the lord , and stay vpon his god. esay . . virginea to god. god be mercifull to vs , and blesse vs , and cause the light of thy countenance shine vpon vs : let thy waies bee knowen vpon earth , and thy sauing health among all nations . psal. . . . england to virginea . behold , i bring you glad tidings : vnto you is borne a sauiour , euen christ the lord. luk. . virginea to england . how beautifull are the feet of them that bring glad tidings , and publish saluation ! es. . . england to virginea . come children , hearken vnto me : i will teach you the feare of the lord. psal. . . virginea to england . blessed bee hee that commeth to vs in the name of the lord. psal. . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e matth. . mat. . iohn . . bellar. tom . . lib. de verbo dei . cap. . pag. . idem de rom. pont. lib. . cap. . idem ibid. lib. . cap. . idem ibid. idem tom . . lib. de concil . . cap. . idem tom . de rom. pont. lib. cap. . matth. . vide ambros. in hoc capus , & alios . rom. . vlt. hcb. . . two parts of the text . first part , christs mercis . doct. . rom. . . doct. . ioh. . . doct. . rom. . . iohn . . ierem. . . psal. . . doct. . august . ser. de tempore . tom. cum oramus ipsi cum deo loquimur : cúm legimus scripturas ipsi cum deo loquimur . second part , peters duty . doct. . psal. . . psal. . . . cor. . . luk. . . luk. . . doct. . doct. . num. . . act. . . doct. . bonum est sui diffusiuum . the excellencie and necessity of this action for virginea . psal. . . psal. . . psal. . . the words of the second patent , dated . the words of the former patent of anno . another necessity , we must doe as wee haue been done vnto . assistance of this voyage cōsists in foure things : countenance , person , purse , prayer . a particular consideration of the true state of the virginean voyage , vpon occasion of this text . first , the discouragements in this action laid down , and remoued . the first discouragement : qu●stion of the lawfulnes . a christian may not doe wrong to a heathen . genes . . christians may trafficke with the heathen . we will take from them only that they may spare vs. first , their superfluous land . secondly , their superfluous commodities . the commodities certainly known to be in virginia , timber , crystall , masts , wine , copper , iron , pitch , tarre , sope-ashes , sassafras . we giue to them what they most neede , as . ciuilitie and skill in trades , and tooles for trades , and gouernement . . religion , and the knowledge of the true god. . cor. . . m. simonds his sermon . the second discouragement : difficulty of plantation . . by distance . how neere virginia is to england . . for hard passage . how faire , safe and easie , the passage to virginea is . ierem. . . psalm . . . . the climate . the climate in virginea temperate . the true position of virginea . their skins not blacke . our men there complainc not of the climate . the third discouragement : smalenes of our beginnings , and pouertie of our proceedings . many greater matters haue had smaller beginnings . cōpare deut. . . with exod. . . a storie for the mockers of this plantation to reade and obserue . nehem. . , . chap. . , . ibid vers . . chap. . . chap. . , . . sam. . . god brings to passe great matters on small beginnings . . in matters naturall . genes . . . in matters humane . . in matters spirituall . esay . . . in matters politike . psal. . obiect . we send base and disordered mé . the basest and worst men trained vp in seuere discipline , sharpe lawes , a hard life , and much labour , do proue good members of a common-wealth . . chron. . and chap. . . &c. . sam. . . better gouernment and discipline in small then in great states , and in those that are newly setled . i. sam. . . i. chron. . . the fourth discouragement : ill reports of the countrey , by them that come from thence . numb . . . numb . . . and . ibid. vers . . chap. . , , . chap. . . chap. . . ibid. . ibid. & . a comparison of searching of canaan and virginea , and of the report thereof made . matth. . . rom. . . the fifth discouragement : miseries of them that goe in person . answere . no great thing atchieued without induring miseries . difficilia qua pulchra . answere . this obiection riseth from balenesse and cowardize of spirit . the ancient valour and hardnesse of our people . how the low-countrie men are altered within these . yeares . a good thing in a state for people to be inured to hardnesse . answ. . the miseries and wāts that haue been sustained , came accidentally by the absence of our gouernours . the sixth discouragement : vncertaintie of profit , and the long stay for it . ans. . profit is the least & last end aimed at in this voyage . deut. . . prou. mat. . . ans. . the voiage wil be assuredly profitable in short time . the cause why the profit can not be presently expected , is , because that continuall supplies are still to be sent . the seuenth discouragement : multitude and might of our enemies . answ. . the spaniards are not our enemies , for he is in league with vs. uide annales silesy , per curaeū , pag. . & deinceps . clades varnensis . cardinali , iulianus . crucifixe crucifixe , si deus es , effunde iram tuam in populum tuum , qui iuramentum sub tuo nomine factum scelerate riolant . alexander the sixth to ferdinando king of castile , anno . this bull of pope alexander the sixth , is extant verbatim amongst the constitutions of the popes , let out by peter matthew at lions . and is to be found at page . this enterprize hath only . enemies . . the diuell . genes . . coloss . . matth. . . . cor. . . matth. . . . mark. . . matth. . . ephes. . . heb. . . . the papists . the euill and base reports that haue been seattered of this enterprize came originally from some papists . lutherus de seipso : pestis eram uiuens , moriens ero mors sua papa . popes haue euer lost by their curses and excommunications . apoc. . . the . enemie , the players . two causes why the players maligne this action . rom. . . . the encouragements in this businesse are three . . encouragement , the excellency of the designe , in it selfe , being . a lawfull action . . an honorable action , both in regard of the ends & vndertakers . . a holy action . math. . . . encouragement : the friends of this action . . kings . friend , god himself . prou. . testimonies that god is our friend . in our king and prince . in the vndertakers . . in them that goe in person . it is god that moues men to go thit her gene. . . fourthly in the sauages fiftly in the multitude of contributors . sixtly in mouing all good men to pray for it . filius tantaram precum & lachrimarum perire non potest august . confess . second friend gods angels . luk. . . heb. i. vlt. psal. . . psal. . . third friend the praiers of gods church . see the english chronicle in henrie the fift . a comparison of the friends and enemies of this enterprise . . incouragement , the ends of this action . . accidentall ends . . true ends principall , in regard of the sauages their conuersion . esay . . . in regard of god. . to appease him , because iustly offended . rom. . . . to honor him , being by vs dishonoured . . in regard of our religion . . in regard of our selues . ends subordinate . in the time of henry the seuenth . the conclusion . . to the honorabls counsell & vndertakers . . to them that goe in person . exod. . . particular to the honorable generall . genes . . . at the battle with the black prince psal. . . . admonititions and aduices to our generall and his company . a molanus comp . pract . theol . tract . . cap. . concl . . nic. a grana de poenit . & confess . quaest . . b icr. . . iac. de graff . decis . aur . to . . lib. . cap. . art . . and almost all their casuists doe teach this doctrine . a salutation of virginea . notes for div a -e * too true : for the greater part is ouer-runne either with turcisme or poperie . virginia, more especially the south part thereof, richly and truly valued viz. the fertile carolana, and no lesse excellent isle of roanoak, of latitude from to degr. relating the meanes of raysing infinite profits to the adventurers and planters. williams, edward, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virginia, more especially the south part thereof, richly and truly valued viz. the fertile carolana, and no lesse excellent isle of roanoak, of latitude from to degr. relating the meanes of raysing infinite profits to the adventurers and planters. williams, edward, fl. . ferrar, john, d. . goddard, john, fl. - . the second edition, [ ], , [ ], , [ ] p., [ ] folded leaf of plates : ill., map. printed by t.h. for john stephenson ..., london : . the first part of this "second edition" appeared in two previous editions: virgo triumphans; or, virginia richly and truly valued, and, virgo triumphans; or, virginia in generall but the south part thereof in particular. both had imprint: london : printed by t. harper for j. stephenson, , and both lacked the map by john ferrar. cf. nuc pre- imprints. the second part, or "addition," has special t.p.: virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes, with their benefit ... london : printed by t.h. for john stephenson ..., . a third edition appeared in , with title: virginia in america richly valued ... quartich (general catalogue, v. , p. - ) says that john farrer (or ferrar), who is referred to in the preface, supplied williams with the material for this work, and describes ferrar's own copy of the st edition, with his marginalia and a drawing of a map dated . quartich also says that no map was issued with the st and nd editions, but that ferrar's design was engraved in for the rd edition. however, this photographed copy of the nd edition does contain the map, which was engraved by john goddard. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into 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characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sericulture -- virginia. wine and wine making -- virginia. south carolina -- description and travel. north carolina -- description and travel. southern states -- description and travel. virginia -- description and travel. roanoke island (n.c.) - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virginia : more especially the south part thereof , richly and truly valued : viz. the fertile carolana , and no lesse excellent isle of roanoak , of latitude from . to . degr. relating the meanes of raysing infinite profits to the adventurers and planters . the second edition , with addition of the discovery of silkworms , with their benefit . and implanting of mulberry trees . also the dressing of vines , for the rich trade of making wines in virginia . together with the making of the saw-mill , very usefull in virginia , for cutting of timber and clapbord to build withall , and its conversion to many as profitable uses . by e. w. gent. london , printed by t. h. for iohn stephenson , at the signe of the sun below ludgate . . to the worthy gentlemen , adventurers and planters in virginia . my loving friends : i thought it convenient heere briefly to minde ●ou of those necessaries , that if wanted there , would greatly prove your prejudice , and render you obnoxiou● to many evils , which are these . necessaries for planters . for aparell : provide each man . m●nm●uth cap , . wa●●●oat , . suit of canvase , b●nds , shirts , shooes , stockings , c●nvase to make sheets , with bed and bolster to till in virginia , . rugge , and blankets . for armes : provide . suit of compleat light armour , and each man . sword , . mu●ket or fowling peece , with powder and shot convenient . for houshold stuffe : provide one gre●t iron pot , large and small kettles , skellets , frying pannes , gridiron , spit , platters , dishes , spo●ns , knives , sugar , spice , fruit , ●nd strong water at sea for sicke men . for tools : provide h●wes br●●d and n●rrow , axes broad and narrow , handsawes , two-hand-sawes , whipsaws , hammers , shovels , spades , augors , piercers , gimblets , hatchets , hand-bills , frowes to cleave pale , pickaxes , nayls of all sorts , . grindstone , nets , hooks , lines , plowes : all which accommodation wherewith each to be well furnished , together with hi● transportation , which is ordinarily l . a man , and l . a tun his goods , may amount unto l. a man , charges . nor needs the carefull adventurer much doubt what wares may prove his profit there . for any commodities of this country are good merchandize transported thither . viz. strong waters , haberdashers wares , ironmongers wares , drapers wares , stationers wares , and many other wares which those ste●ill witted americans doe easily admire . but your judgements are sufficient . and likewise i have further discovered them in the insuing treatise of the incomparable virginia . so wishing you all prosperous happinesse and happy prosperity heere , and i● the world to come eternall blisse , i rest your faithfull servant , e. w. to the supreme authority of ●his nation , the parliament of england . right honorable : this dedication in it selfe unworthy the honour of an addr●sse to your grand●urs , and of a fo●●e too d●ad in sh●ddow ●o approach neer● you● m●st vigo●ous luster , repos●s it selfe y●t upon a co●fidence that in imitation of that god of whom you are in power the proper representatives who vo●chsafed grac●ously to accept a poore paire of turtles from those whose abilities could not ascend to a more rich oblation , you will be pleased to cast a favourable aspect upon this humble offering , as proceeding from a gratefull cleere and sincere inten●ion● whose desire being strongly passionate to present your honours with s●mething more worthy the ●uspice of a beginning yeare , is circum●cribed by a narrownesse of abilities and fortunes . and indeed my lownesse had prompted me to have found out a more humble patron for this treatise ; but since the interest of that nation you have so happily restored to its just and native liberty is the principall ayme intended in it , since the publick acknowledgement of the world unites in this common testimony , that god hath subscribed to all your heroick and christian undertakings with his own broad se●l of victory● with his owne field word , go on and prosper : led you through the red sea of bloud into the land of canaan , into the harvest and vintage of israel , since pharoah and his mighty ones have been swallowed up in the rapid current in the hideous cataracts of their ambitious opposition● and have by loud and convincing testimonies ( t●stimonies attracting the admiration of your friends , and confounding the malice of your enemies ) made it a blessed object of your consideration , that the preservation and fix●re requires a bl●ssing no lesse sub●ime , and a vertue no lesse exalted , then the acquisition and tenure of conquests , made good in the eyes of christendome by vindicating the english honour upon the brittish ocean with a ●uiss●n● navy , a formid●ble subject of am●zment to the forraine enemies of your sion , by a strong winged prosecution of the irish assass●nates , a spacious lettred ex●mple to teach english mutineers what they may expect by the red sentence of justice upon irish rebells : all indeavours holding forth the way to improve the interest of this nation , are improperly addressed to any other then your selves , who as you have been the unexampled instruments of our unpini●nd liber●y , ought to be the sole iudges of whatsoever may relate to our future felicity . we should have suspected the sincerity of history in its delineation of the maj●sty which sat upon that august , and venerable roman senats , after having made the land tremble under the terrour of their armies , the sea to labour under the burthen of their numerous navies , after having delivered all power oppressing the universall liberty to the revenging beak of their victorious eagles and minted the governments of the world by the rom●n standard ; had not the concentricity of your undertakings had not th● homogeniousnesse of your actions and felicity , vindicated and asserted the honour of a●tiquity , and raysed your rep●tations upon so high a wing of glory , that posterity will be lost in the same mist of jealousie and incredulity of your owne augustnesse , yet for ever want the revivall of such examples the restauration of such presidents to confirme them . and to the end you may in all things either parallell or tr●nscend that romane greatnesse , of which you are the inimitable exemplary , who inriched the heart and strengthned the armes of their dominions by dispersing colonies in all angles of their empire , your pious care hath already layd a most signall foundation by inviting incouragements to undertakers of that nature : in the pursuit whereof le● me beg the liberty in this paper , under your honours patronage to publish the many pressing and convincing reasons which have and may induce you to prosecute a designe of such universall concernment . . it will disburthen this nation of many indigent persons , who having formerly perhaps enjoyed a fuln●sse of abused or forfeyted plenty , & at the present reduced to an in●quality of such subsistence , are commonly prompted to their own● and other me●s ruine by making the high wayes ( which should be as publike and inviolable a sanctuary as the most sacred places ) an ambuscado to innocent travellers , by which interruption of passages , there is commonly occasioned a decay and disincouragement of commerce , and dayly examples informe us , that prisons at present are almost as full of criminall as indebted persons . . it will take off all parish charges , in providing for destitute minors and orphans , whereof there are at present a burthensom● mul●itude , wherby the parishes so freed , may with greater alacrity and ability , part with contributory moneys to maintain● , recruite , and incourage your armies and navies . . those orphans so provided for may by gods blessings upon their labours become happy and wealthy instruments , advantagious to the place of their nativity in particular , and their whole nation in generall . whereas the condition of their birth and the usuall way of exposing them , makes them capable of no more gainfull calling then that of day-labourers , or which is more frequent hereditary beggers . . the republick in its present constitution abounding with so dangerous a number of male contents , who commonly like shrubs under high and spreading ●edars , imagine the spacious height of others to be the cause of their owne lownesse , may by this means be honourably secured , and such men removing their discontents with their persons , will have a brave and ample theater to make their merits and abilities emergent , and a large field to sow and reape the fruit of all their honest industrious and publick intentions . . it will to admiration increase the number of ships and seamen , ( the brazen wall of this nation ) all materialls to advance navigation , being abundantly to be furnished out of those countries , and the more ingenious passengers by conference and disputation with the knowing mariner , will take a great delight , satisfaction , and ambition , to attaine to the theory of that knowledge , while the lesse capable being accustomed and assigned to an usuall part in the toyle thereof , and instructed by the ordinary s●aman , will bee brought to a good readinesse therein and speedy perfection . . all materialls for shipping , as timber , cordage , sailes , iron , brasse , ordnance of both mettals , and what ever else we are necessitated ●o supply our wants with out of the e●sterne countries , who make it not unusuall to take advantages of their neighbours necessitie , and often times upon a pre●ence of differen●e or misintelligence betwixt us , embrace an occ●sion to over-rate or over-custome their commodities , or ( a reall quarrell widening ) sell it to other nations from whence we are forced to supply our selves at a second or third market . . it will give us the liberty of storing a grea● part of europe with a larger plenty of incomparably better fish , th●n the holander hath found meanes to furnish it withall , and will make us in no long tract of time , if industriously prosecu●ed , equall , if not transcend him in that his most benificiall staple . . it will be to this common wealth a standing and plentifull magazine of wheat , rice , coleseed , rapeseed , flax , cotton , salt , pot-ashes , sope-ashes , sugars , wines , silke , olives , and what ever single is the staple of other nations , shall be found in this joyntly collected . . it will furnish us with rich furrs , buffs , hides , tallow , biefe , po●k , &c. the growth and increase of cattell in this nation , receiving a grand interuption and stop , by killing commonly very hopefull yong breed to furnish our markets , or store our shipping , meerly occasioned by want of ground to feed them , whereas those provinces afford such a large proportion of rich ground , that neither the increase of this or the succeeding age can in any reasonable probability overfeed the mo●ety . . by it many of your honours reformadoes and disbanded souldiers being dismist with the payment of such part of their arrears as your owne judgement ( guided by the rule of your immense disbursements ) shall thinke a convenient recompence , by transporting themselves thither may change their desperate fortunes into a happy ●ertainty of condition , and a contented livelyhood , which will be a means not only to disburden this republick as before ) but to remove all those clamors usualy disturbing your publick consultations , and to win upon them by your bounty to invert all those fearfull imprecations , with which they would ( as much as in them lies ) unblesse your proceedings , into a joyfull and ferve●t concurrence of prayers to the almighty to shoure downe blessings upon your heads , who , next under him , are the glorious and visible instruments of their increasing happinesse . . it will be a generous and moving incouragement to all industrious and publick spirits , to imploy those parts with which god and nature hath blessed them in the discovery of such happy inventions as m●y drive on hopefull designs with a lesser number of hands then is usually assigned to them , which issues of the brain are legitimate and geniall to beginning plantations , where the greatest want is that of people : but for our own or other popular kingdoms where we are commonly overprest with a greater multitude of l●bourers then imploy●rs , by much l●sse acceptable , since our indigent people look upon such engins meerly as monoppolies to engrosse their livelihood . it will adde a very considerable increase to the revenue of your honours own customs , and i shal assume the liberty in all humility to offer up to your more advised deliberation by way of supplement to your incomes , whether such mal●factors a● the letter of the law dooms to death , yet leaves a latitude for extent of mercy in the bosome of the judges , whose release oftentimes proves not only ruinous to them so discharged , since not seldome they returne to their vomit , but pernicious to the common-wealth reinvaded by their insolencies and disorders , might not be made instrumentally serviceable to the state , if ( as it is frequent in other countreys , where they are condemned to the galli●s ) by way of reparation for their crime , they were sentenced to serve a quantity of years according to the nature of their offences , which expired , they should enjoy all immunities with others , and by this course be reduced and accustomed to a regular course of life . of these a thousand transported and employed by an understanding improver , would by their labour advance an income of forty thousand pounds sterling per annum , at the leaft , and so proportionably according to their number . that all these , and many inestim●ble benefits may have their rise , in●rease , and perfection from the south parts of virginia , a country unquestionably our own , devolved to us by a just title , and discovered by john cabot at the english exp●nces● who found out and tooke seisure , together with the voluntary submission of the natives to the english obedience of all that continent from cape florida northward , the excellen● temper of the aire , the large proportion of ground , the incredible richnesse of soile , the admirable abundance of mineraels , vegetables , medicinall drugs , timber , scituation , no lesse proper for all european commodities , then all those staples which entitle china , persia , and other the more op●le●t provinces of the east to their wealth , reputation , and greatnes ( besides the most christian of all improvements , the converting many thousands of the natives ) is agreed upon by all who have ever viewed the country : to which the judgement of the most incomparable ralegh may be a convincing assertion , whose preferring of that country before either the north of virginia or new-england , though it may sufficiently command my submission and acquiescence ; yet for more particular satisfaction be pleased to accept these reasons for such prae●ation . . the apparent danger all the colonies may be in if this be not possessed by the english , to prevent the spaniard , who already hath seated himself on the north of florida , and on the back of virginia in , where he is already possessed of rich silver mines , and will no doubt vomit his fury and malice upon the neighbour plantations , if a prehabitation anticipate not his intentions , which backt with your authority , he understands too much of your power , and is too sadly acquainted with your admirable successes and generous resolutions , not to sit downe by any affronts offered to those under the wings of your protection , to attempt any thing against such who are immediately your owne colony , lest thereby he administers matter of a fire , to which his own fortunes in the indies must be a fewel , and himselfe raked up in its ashes . . but the south of virginia having a contiguous ledge of at the least one hundred ilands , and in the middest of those the incomparable roanoak , the most of them at the same distance from the continent that the ●le of wight is from hamp●hire , all of hazardous acce●se to forrainers , and affording a secure convenience from surprizall by the natives , will if possessed and protected by your power , be as an inoffensive nursery to receive an infant colony , till by an occasion of strength and number , we may poure our selves from thence upon the mayneland , as our ancestors the saxons from the isle of tanet into brittaine . . it dispences a moderate equality of heat and cold between the two violent extreams thereof in barbad●●s and new england . it will admit of all things producible in any other part of the world , lying in the same parallel with china , persia , japan , cochinchina , candia , cyprus , sicily , the southern parts of greece , spain , italy , and the opposite regions of africa . . it hath besides all timber for shipping , the best and reddest cedars , and cypresse trees that may be found in any countrey . . and lastly , the planting of this collony will open a most compendious passage to the discovery of those more opulent kingdomes of china , cochinchina , cathaya , japan , the phillipines , summatra , and all those beauteous and opulent provinces of the east indies , which beyond dispute lye open to those seas which wash the south-west parts of virginia , through whose bosome all those most precious commodities which enable the chinesie , cathayan , persian , and indostant empires , may more conveniently , speedily , with more security and lesse expences be transported thence from spawhawn● or other remoter provinces to gombroon , by a long dangerous and expensive ●aravane , and from thence to su●at , where when arrived the doubling of the line , calentures , scurvies , with a long train of diseases and famine attend its transportation into our owne countrey . . whereas by expandeing our selves to both sides and seas of virginia , our commerce to those noble nations lies open in short and pleasant voyages to the encouragement , enriching and delight of the seamen , and personal adventurers , who will share in the delicacies and profits of those kingdoms , without participating in the miseries attending our present voyages thither . the cargason being easily conveyed , by much the greater part of the way , through navigable rivers , and from the eastern shore of virginia in a month , or at the largest six weekes time into england . and by this meanes the hollander , spanyard , and portugall , who ( by the supine negligence of this nation , and its merchant adventurers ) do with insufferable insolence lord over us in bo●h the indies , when they shall to the unknitting of their joints perceive by your nursing care over the infancy of your colonies , that they are arrived under your auspice , to cover both the seas with numerous navies , and your honours eye of indulgence and providence waking to their security , will be content laying aside all other passions to wave future affronts and injuries , or fall a deserved sacrifice to your offended justice . and that this addresse may appear the more seasonable , i have ( without any privity or relation to his person ) taken leave to intimate to your honours , that there is a gentleman whom the publick reputation and testimony of those who have the happines to know him render of excellent abilities , integrity , and a never shaken affection to your cause in all its crisis and dangers through which god with a clew of successe hath been your conduct ) who hath already undertaken for the transportation of some men thither , and only waits for your honours approbation and authority , the world taking notice , hopes and encouragement from thence , that as this colony is like to be the eldest of your legitimate daughters ●n that nature , so by your indulgence she shall have the happynesse not to be the yongest in your affection . may that god who hath begirt your house with a grove of lawrell , continue the advance of those victories till the whole nation be crowned with olives : may no sin , no ingratitude of ours divert his protecting hand from us , his ass●stant arme from you : may the generations to come in admiration of your vertue and gratitude for their by you● derived happines , make every heart your monument , wherein to embalme your memory whilst the histories of all nations and times enrich their ●nnals with your names as the most serious and triumphant part of all examples and transactions . and lastly may your owne thankfulnes to him from whom these dispensations of mercy have distilled like the dew of hermon upon your heads and borders , so continue in your bosoms , that when you shal be ripe for translation , he whose instruments you are , may welcom you with the approbation of , well done good and faithfull servant , which are the undisguised wishes of your honours most humble , obedient , and faithful servant . ed. williams . virginia in generall , but particularly carolana , which comprehends roanoak , and the southerne parts of virginia richly valued . the scituation and climate of virginia is the subject of every map , to which i shall refer the curiosity of those who desire more particular information . yet to shew that nature regards this ornament of the new world with a more indulgent eye then she hath cast upon many other countreys , whatever china , persia , iapan , cyprus , canay , sicily , greece , the south of italy , spaine , and the opposite parts of africa , to all which she is parallel , may boast of , will be produced in this happy countrey . the same bounty of summer , the same milde remission of winter , with a more virgin and unexhausted soyle being materiall arguments to shew that modesty and truth receive no diminution by the comparison . nor is the present wildnesse of it without a particular beauty , being all over a naturall grove of oakes● pines , cedars , cipresse , mulberry , chestnut , laurell , sassafras , cherry , plum-trees , and vines , all of so delectable an aspect , that the melanchollyest eye in the wo●ld cannot looke upon it without contentment , nor content himsefe without admiration . no shrubs or underwoods choake up your passage , and in its season your foot can hardly direct it selfe where it will not be died in the bloud of large and delicious strawberries : the rivers which every way glide in deepe and navigable channels , betwixt the brests of this uberous countrey , and contribute to its co●●eniency be●uty and fertility , labour with the multitude of their fishy inhabitants in greater variety of species , and of a more incomparable delicacy in tast and sweetnesse then whatever the european sea can boast of : sturgeon of ten feet , drummes of sixe in length , conger , eeles , trout , salmon , bret , mullet , cod , herings , perch , lampreyes , and what ever else can be desired to the satisfaction of the most voluptuous wishes . nor is the land any lesse provided of native flesh , elkes bigger then oxen , whose hide is admirable buffe , flesh excellent , and may be made , if kept domesticke , as usefull for draught and carriage , as oxen deere in a numerous abundance● and delicate venison , racoones● hares , conyes , bevers , squirrell , beares , all of a delightfull nourishment for food● and their furres rich , warme , and convenient for clothing and merchandise . that no part of this happy country may bee ungratefull to the industrious , the ayre it selfe is often clouded with flights of pigeons , partridges , blackbirds● thrushes , dottrels , cranes , hernes , swans , geese , brants , duckes , widgeons , oxeyes , infinites of wilde turkeyes , which have beene knowne to weigh fifty pound weight , ordinarily forty . and the native corne of the country maiz , is so gratefull to the planter , that it returneth him his entrusted seed with the increase of or hundred interest , so facilely planted , that one man in hours may prepare as much ground , and set such a quantity of corne , that he may be secure from want of bread all the yeere following , though he should have never so large an appetite to consume it , and have nothing else to live upon . nor is it above three , or at the most foure months intervall betwixt the time of planting and gathering : planted in march , april , or may , it is ready for the barne in june , july , and august ; and of this by a provident management , you may have yeerely three or foure harvests . the stalk bruised yields a juice as big as rice , pleasant as sugar , and the green ears boyled in such juice is comparable in agreeablenesse to the palats to what ever our pease , sparagus , or hartichoke , hath eyther for satisfaction or delicacy . nor is the corne difficult in preservation , for in six or seven yeares there is scarce any sensibility of its corruption . but lest our palats should have so much of curiosity as to dislike what ever is not native to our owne country , and wheat is justly esteemed more proper this happy soyle , though at the first too rich to receive it , after it hath contributed to your wealth by diminution of its owne richnesse , in three or foure crops of rice , flax , indian corne , coleseed , or rapeseed , will receive the english wheat with a gratefull retribution of thirty for one increase , every acre sowed with wheat will produce six , seven , or eight quarter of the graine intrusted . and though mr. bullocke be pleased to under-ra●e at it halfe the crowne the bushell , which in the canaries will yeeld ten and twelve shillings , and in spaine eight , yet even in that proportion you are recompenced with six , seven , or eight pound the acre , of which two men by a discreet division of their time , will plow , reape , and in at the least acres . which though it may appeare a matter of admiration , yet i shall easily make it apparant by the following narration , in which such is the exactnesse of the ayre in this country , that you may have five successive harvests of the same grain in different seasons . for though a man and a boy with much ease may plow an acre every day , the ground being pliable of a rich blacke and tender mold , and no frost● or snowes , no usuall droughts or raines to hinder the going of the plow , yet i shall allow a month for the plowing of twelve acres , and thus plowing in september , october , november , december● and january , you may have your severall harvests in june , july , august , and s●ptember , which may easily bee inned by the same hands the labour not falling in a glut upon them , but the corne ripening according to its severall seasons . and thus by two mens labours onely you have a gratefull returne of at the least three hundred and sixty quarters of wheat , which will at that under rate formerly mentioned , viz. s● d . yeeld so many pounds sterling : nor is there such difficulty in the threshing , as may be at first sigh●t suspected , since it may easily be tread out with oxen , as it is usuall in italy and other countries . the first wheat being reaped , if you desire a croppe of barley , the same l●nd plowed in iuly , will returne its ripe increase in september , so that from one and the same piece of ground you may have the benefit of two different harv●sts . but the rice ( for production of which this countrey is no lesse proper then those lands which have the greatest reputation of fertility ) sowed , yeelds a greater encrease with ●he same labour acres of this plowed if valued but at s . d . the bushell● will yeeld l . all done by two men and a teame of oxen , w●o may by other labou● in the intervall betwixt the committing the seed to ground , and its ripening , fall upon ●ole●seed or rape seed , infinitely rich commodities with the same facility . the objection , that the countrey is overgrowne with woods , and consequently not in many yeares to bee penetrable for the plough , carries a great feeblenesse with it . for there are an immense quantity of indian fields cleared already to our hand by the natives , which till wee grow over populous may every way be abundantly sufficient , but that the very clearing of ground carries an extraordinary benefit with it , i wil make apparent by these following reasons . . if wee consider the benefit of pot-ashes growne from ten to fifty pound the tunne , within these twenty yeares , and in all probability likely to encrease by reason of interdicting trade betwixt us and the muscovite , from whence we used to supply our selves ; we shall finde the employment of that very staple will raise a considerable summe of money , and no man so imployed can ( if industrious ) make his labour lesse then one hundred pound , per annum : for if wee consider that those who labour ●bout this in england give twelve pence the bushell for ashes , if wee consider to how many severall parts of the countrey they are compelled to send man and horse before they can procure any qu●ntity to fall to worke upon ; if wee consider some of the thriftiest , and wise , and understanding men , fell wood on purpose for this commodity , and yet notwithstanding this brigade of difficulties finde their adventures and labours answered with a large returne of profit , wee who have all these things , already at our owne doore without cost , may with a confidence grounded upon reason● expect an advantage much greater , and a clearer profit . nor can wee admit in discretion , that a large quantity of those ●hould not finde a speedy market , since ●he decay of tymber is a de●ect growne universall in europe , and the commodity such a necessary staple , that no civill nation can be conveniently without it . nor are pipe●taves and clapboard a despicable commodity , of which one man may with ease make fifteene thousand yearely , which in the countrey it selfe are sold for l . in the canaries for twenty pound the thousand , and by this meanes the labour of one man will yeeld him l . per annum , at the lowest market . if all this be not sufficient to remove the incumbrance of woods , the saw mill may be taken into consideration , which is in every respect highly beneficiall by this timber for building houses , and shipping may be more speedily prepared , and in greater quantity by the labour of two or three men , then by a hundred hands after the usuall manner of sawing . the plankes of walnut-trees for tables or cubbords , cedar and cypresse , for chests , cabinets , and the adorning magnificent buildings , thus prepared will be easily transported into england , and sold at a very considerable value . but that in which there will be an extraordinary use of our woods is the iron mills , which if once erected will be an undecaying staple , and of this forty servants will by their labour raise to the adventurer foure thousand pound yearely : which may easily be apprehended if wee consider the deerenesse of wood in england , where notwithstanding this great clog of difficulty , the master of the mill gaines so much yearely , that he cannot but reckon himselfe a provident saver . neither does virginia yeeld to any other province whatsoever in excellency and plenty of this oare : and i cannot promise to my selfe any other then extraordinary successe and gaine , if this noble and usefull staple be but vigourously followed . and indeed it had long ere this growne to a full perfection , if the treachery of the ●ndians had not crushed it in the beginning , and the backwardnesse of the virginia merchants to reerect i● , hindred that countrey from the benefit arising from that universall staple . but to shew something further , what use may be made of woods besides the forementioned wallnut oyle , at the least a fourth part of the trees in virginia being of that species , is an excellent staple , and very gainefull to t●e industrious labourer . nor is it a contemptible profit that may be made of woods , if by boaring holes in divers trees , of whose vertues wee are yet ignorant , and collecting the juce thereof , a scrutiny be made which are fit for medicinall liquor and balsomes ; which ●or gummes , perfumes , and dyes , and heere i may justly take occasion to complaine of our owne sloth and indulgence , if compared to the laborious spanyard , who by this very practice have found out many excellent druggs , paints , and colours , meerely by bruizing and grinding woods , probably convenient for such experiments : which if boyled , and a white peece of cloth steeped in the boyling liquor , will by its tincture discover what colour it is capable to give , and i● many should faile in the tryall , yet does it not fall under the probab●lity , but that divers noble an● usefull mysteries of nature may be discovered by some su●h perforations scrutinies . nor are the many berries commonly of an excellent collour and lustre unfit for such experiments ; since the labour is little or nothing , and the issue if succesfull of remarkable advantage . and this the spanyard hath experimented to the encrease of gaine and reputation ; and above this is so signally curious and industrious , that he hath discovered many rare and delightfull colours , not onely by the meanes before mentioned , but by bruizing and boyling divers fish-shells , the brightnesse and variety of colours giving him a just reason to pursue such curious examens . the french relations of their voyages to canada , tell us , that the indians and themselves falling into a contagious disease , of which phisitians could give no reason or remedy , they were all in a short space restored to their health meerely by drinking water , in which saxifrage was infused and boyld , which was then discovered to them by the natives , and wee justly entertaine beliefe that many excellent medicines either for conservation of nature in her vigour or restauration in her decadence may be communicated unto us , if projection of this stampe be so much incouraged by hopes of reward or honour , as to be put in practice . by this improvement of woods , the ground comming to bee cleared , wee have a soile fit to produce what ever is excellent in nature , the vine and olive which naturally simpathize together , will thrive beyond beliefe , nor need it be any interruption to tillage , since the vintage and harvest alwayes fall but in different reasons . that wild vines runne naturally over virginia , ocular experience d●clares who delighting in the neighbourhood of their beloloved mulberry-trees inseparable associates over all that countrey , and of which in this their wildnesse wines have beene made , of these wines if transplanted and cultivated , there can be made no doubt but a rich and generous wine would be prod●ced : but if wee set the greeke cyprian candian or calabrian grape , those countries lying parallell with this , there neede not be made the smallest question● but it would be a staple which would enrich this countrey to the envy of france and spaine , and furnish the northerne parts of europe , and china it selfe where they plant it not , ( of which more heereafter ) with the noblest wine in the world , and at no excessive prices . and from this staple 't is not unworthy of our most serious consideration , what an occasion of wealth would flow upon this nation : virginia when well peopled being able to match spaine in that his soveraigne revenue , and the state by addition to their customes for exportation thereof according to the mode of france and spaine , would in no short time be sensible of this most inestimable benefit : to which if wee joyne the profits of our olives , wee may ( gods favourable hand blessing our industry ) be the happiest nation in europe . nor need wee be at that charge for caske under which spaine labours , where ever wee cast our eyes upon this fortunate countrey wee may finde timber proper for it . for the advance of which noble staple , i should propose that the greeke , and other rich vines , being procured from the countries to which they are geniall , every planter in that countrey might be enjoyned to keepe a constant nursery , to the end when the ground is cleared , that they may be fit for removal , and the vineyard speedily planted . further that some greeke , and other vignerous might be hired out of those countries to instruct us in the labour , and lest their envy , pride , or jealousie of being layd aside when their mysterie is discovered , may make them too reserved in communicating their knowledge , they may be assured , besides the continuance of their pension of a share in the profits of every mans vintage , which will the more easily perswade them to be liberall and faithfull in their instructions , since the publick advance of this designe cannot miscarry without a sensible losse to their particular interest . that before their going over a generall consultation may be had whith them what ground is proper , what season fit , what prevention of casualties by bleeding or splitting , what way to preserve or restore wine when vesseld , which species of wine is fittest for transportation over , or retention in the countrey● which for duration , which for present spending : it being in experience manifest that some wines refine themselves by purge upon the sea , others by the same meanes suffer an evaporation of their spirits , joyne to this that some wines collect strength and richnesse , others contract feeblenesse and sowernesse by seniority . these consultations drawne to a head by some able person , and published to be sent over in severall copies to virginia , by the inspection of which people might arrive at such competent knowledge in the mystery , that the reservation or jealousies of those vignerons , could not but be presently perceived and prevented . but from hence no occasion should bee derived to breake or fall short of any contract made with those vignerons , who are to be exactly dealt with in performance of articles , every way made good unto them , with all just respects to win upon them , and the non-performance of this hath beene the originall cause why virginia at this day doeth not abound with that excellent commodity . those contracted with as hired servants for that imployment , by what miscariage i know not , having promise broken with them , and compelled to labour in the quality of slaves , could not but expresse their resentment of it , and had a good colour of justice to conceale their knowledge , in recompence of the hard measure offered them , which occasioned the laying aside of that noble staple , the diligent prosecution whereof , had by this time brought virginia to an absolute perfection in it , and to a great degree of happinesse and wealth which would attend it . and had this beene as happily followed as it was prudently intended● that excellent country had not hung downe its desolate head in so languishing a condition as the disrespect cast upon her , till of late yeares had reduced her to . nor had the poore planter ( who usually spends all the profits of his labour in forraigne wines ) been impoverished by the want of it : but with delight might have shaded himselfe under his vine , reaped the benefit of it in autumne , and buried all the memory and sense of his past labours in a cheerfull rejoycing by his owne harth with the issue of his owne vineyard . and from hence might barbadoes , st. christophers , and all our islands in the indies , have richer , better , and by much cheaper , wines transported to them from a place much neerer in distance then spain or the canaries ) and which doubles the benefit such intercourse together , would draw them to an association in power as well as communication of staples . were this brought to a just perfection no other nation could upon a quarell betwixt us , and spaine , and france , reape a benefit by selling us their wine at a third market . and what wee vend now for it ( that being made native to us ) might be returned in bullion , to the app●rent enriching of the common-wealth , and the impoverishing of our enemies , or at the least friends deservedly suspected . all authors of agriculture unanimously consent that neither arable pasture , meadow , or any other grounds are so benigne genuine , or proper for planting vines in , as those cleared lands are , wherein not shrubs , but tall trees were standing . and wee must want a parallell in any part of the world to compare with virginia for tall and goodly timber-trees cleared of all under woods , to which when cleared your vines may be removed ( the very removeall of them , as indeed of all other , giving an addition to their perfection ( the excellency of transplantation being more particularly insisted upon heereafter . ) but in the clearing of these woods it will be a saving of labour , and a delight to the vine , besides other profits following to leave the mulberry trees standing there , being such a happy correspondence together such a mutuall love ingra●ted in them by nature , that wee well may conclude with this axiome● that the same nature joynes all her excellencies together by an association of simpathies . nor does she wave that her happy order in incomparable virginia , where the soile and climate that fits the one , is equally amiable to the other , their loves and hates happily according , what the one shunnes , the other flies from , what the one affects , challenges the others embraces , and were not this soile and climate most geniall and proper nature her selfe ( whose productions are never uselesse ) would never have crowned the virgin brow of this unexampled countrey , with such a universall plenty of them , or with such a voluntary league have united them every where together . virginia compared to persia . but to illustrate this with another argument : let us compare this felicity-teeming virginia , as it is scituated from degrees of latitude to . with other countries , seated in the same degrees which opens us a method of observing what commodities natio●s so planted abound with , which found wee shall discover in this excellent virgin a disposition ingrafted by nature to be mother of all those excellencies , and to be equall ( if not superior ) as well in all their noble staples , as in nearenesse to their particular enricher the perpetually au●picious sunne . and this to whom virginia owes the publication and portract of her incomparable beauty ; mr. harriot the noble mathematician delivers us by a happy instance in finding out for her ● noble sister of the same latitude , the most glorious persia , innobled as much by this comparison as in her empire . and those who have travelled and viewed persia , unanimously relate wonders of her admirable fertility in all sorts of graine and fruits , with an unexpressible abundance of silke and wines : in which this her rich-bosomed sister claimes an equality in her plen●y of mulberries , silke , and gums , vines , maiz , rice , and all sorts of graine : onely as a fuller-dowryed sister she merits a priority in fertility , pleasure , health , and temperature , a virgin countrey , ●o preserved by nature out of a desire to show mankinde fallen into the old age of the creation , what a brow of fertility and beauty she was adorned with when the world was vigorous and youthfull , and she her selfe was unwounded with the plough-shares , and unweakened by her numerous future teemings . another eye-witnesse of this victorious empire , delivers to memory that covazan in a province of that countrey● is so incomparably fruitfull , that dearths are never knowne , nor famine ever suspected in it , that in one onely city called e●y , there is such an inestimable store of silke● that there might be bought in one day in that city as much silke as will lode three thousand camells . and he is little conversant with experience or history , who is ignorant that the abundance of silke native to that countrey and climate , is almost the sole staple of that mighty empire , by which never-to-be exhausted treasure of silkes the sinewes and vitalls of the persian empire , the sophy to the generall good of christendome , keepes both the hornes of the ottoman moone from compleating their ambitious circle . and if the english east india company of merchants were not wrong-byassed by the factions and sinister ambition of some men in authority amongst them , a great part of that wealthy staple might be transported into england , and by that meanes dispersed over all parts of europe to the enriching and honour of this nation . the digression upon this parallell hath diverted me from ampliation upon the publick benefit , which may devolve into this republick by the olive , which being genuine to the vine , will by a happy consent of nature indisputably flourish in a vast abundance , and by a transportation into the warmer regions , where the heate or scarcity of cattle causeth a like indigence of butter , will be a staple of inestimable value , and of no smaller conducement to our owne shipping , into those provinces neere the equinox , or in those voyages where the doubling of the line either putrifies , or makes it of a taste little pleasing or agreeable to the palate . virginia compared to china . but to leave persia and descend to a more wealthy and powerful parallell , the richest and mightiest empire in the world lies in the same latitude and climate with our fortunate virginia ; namely china , divided from it onely by the southsea , and ( which will bee a part of another discourse ) not of any long distance from it , agreeing with it in multitude of staples . china is stored with an infinite number of mulberry trees to feede silkewormes with , and vends silke in such a vast proportion , that in one onely city lempo , which some call liempo , the portugeses , have with no small admiration , observed that one hundred and sixty thousand pound weight of silk hath beene caried out in one shippe in the onely space of three moneths . into cambula the chiefe city of tartary ( as authors of great repute and credit , and one who was personally there , reports ) there comes ●very day from china , a thousand waggons laden with silke . nor is china lesse happy in its multitude of navigable rivers , in its wonderfull fertility of all sorts of graine , maiz , rice , &c. of which it receiveth every yeere three or foure most plentifull harvests . rivers stored with an incredible quantity of fish and fowle , enriched and ennobled with numerous mines of gold , silver , brasse , iron , and other mettalls , quicksilver , nitre , allum , pretious stones , pearles , muske , cotton , sugars , rubarb , china root , vast proportions of flax , furres extraordinary rich . to this happinesse of soile and situation , they associate an equall felicity of parts and industry , by which they pretermit not one span of ground which they assign not to particular and profitable uses , and by an ingenious division of the ground according to the quality of the soyle , designe the drier part for wheat and barly , that which is more visited with an improving moysture , to rice and sugar ; as●ents and mountaines to groves of p●nes and chestnuts , betweene which are planted maiz panicle , and all kinde of pulse . in other proper places are mulberry groves , gardens , orchards , flax , and in a word no spot of ground misimployed from its proper advantage . and that virginia is parallell in neerenesse of staples , as well as neighbourhood to the sunne , to that celebrated empire , what multitudes of fi●h to satisfie the most voluptuous of wishes , can china glory in which virginia may not in justice boast of ? what fowles can she make oftentation of , in which virginia can be esteemed inferiour ? can china , insolent with her prosperity , solely lay clay●e to a more singular honour for her affluence in maiz and other grain , for the maintenance and luxury of her plenty-wanton inhabitants , without an open injury to her equall , to her mayden sister , to our incomparable virginia ? are her mulberries springing from a voluntary bounty of nature lesse numerous or usefull then those to which china hath added all the assistance which could be expected from advantages of tra●splantation , or an industrious people ? if china will descend to particulars , to compare quantity and quality of fish and fowle , let her shew us turkies of pound weight , let her instance an example of one hundred and fifty fowle , to reward the labour of three charges of shot and powder , let he● publish a president so worthy of admiration ( and which will not admit beliefe in those bosomes where the eye cannot be witnesse of the action● of five thousand fish taken at one draught neere cape charls ● at the entry into chesapeak bay , and which swells the wonder greater , not one fish under the measure of two feet in length . what fleets come yeerely upon the coasts of new found land , and new england for fish , with an incredible re●●rne ? yet t is a most assured truth , that if they would make experiment upon the south of cape cod , and from thence to the coast of this happy countrey , they would find fish of a greater delicacy , and as full handed plenty , which though foraigners know not , yet if our owne planters would make use of it , would yield them a revenue which cannot admit of any diminution , whilest there are ebbes and flouds , rivers feed and receive the ocean , or nature fayles in ( the elementall originall of all things ) waters . there wants nothing but industrious spirits and incouragement , to make a rich staple of this commodity ; and would the virginians but make salt pits , in which they have a greater convenience of tides ( that part of the universe by reason of a full influence of the moone upon the almost limitlesse atlantick causing the most spacious fluxes and refluxes , that any shore of the other divisions in the world is sensible of ) to leave their pits full of salt-water , and more friendly and warme sunbeames to concoct it into salt , then rochel , or any parts of europe . yet notwithstanding these advantages which prefer virginia before rochel , the french king rayses a large proportion of his revenues out of that staple yearly , with which he supplyes a great part of christendome . and if from this staple the miserable french can procure a subsistence , some of them a comfortable livelyhood , notwithstanding all the private oppressions of their grinding landlords , the publick tallies , subsidies , aides , imposts , and other hard titles of a●thorized rapine . what shall wee imagine the freeborne english in a countrey where he owes no rent to any but to god and nature , where he has land to satisfie his desires in its extent , his wishes in its fertility , where free-quarter is a word onely un●erstood by report , may expect of profit and content both in this staple of salt , in that of wines made in those countries , where either the spanish insolence and exactions , the french extortions , or the turkish imperiall robberi●s , though in the highest degrees of exorbitance , are not of force so to disincourage the inhabitants from attendance upon the vineyard , which notwithstanding all those horse-leaches of imposition , returnes them such a profit a● make them keepe a middle path betweene the ascent of riches , and precipice of poverty . nor would it be such a long intervall ( salt being first made ) betwixt the undertaking of this fishing , and the bringing it to perfection ; for if every servant were enjoyned to practise rowing , to be taught to handle sailes , and trimme a vessell , a worke easily practised , and suddainely learned , the pleasantnesse of weather in fishing season , the delicacy of the fish , of which they usually feede themselves with the best , the encouragement of some share in the profit , and their understanding what their owne benefit may bee when their freedome gives them an equallity , will make them willing and able fisher-men and seamen . to adde further to this , if wee consider the abundance , largenesse , and peculiar excellency o● the s●urgeon in that countrey , it will not fall into the least of scruples , but that one species will bee of an invaluable profit to the buyer , or if wee repeate to our thoughts the singular plenty of herrings and mackarell , in goodnesse and greatnesse much exceeding what ever of that kinde these our seas produce , a very ordinary unders●anding may at the first inspection perceive that it will be no great difficulty to out-labour and out-vye the hollander in that his almost onely staple : which wee may also sell at a cheaper market then in common estimation● if wee revolve the salt to be our owne , which they buy from france , or fetch from the isle of may , and that the very fraight of passengers ( of which allured by this improvement , and the publick approbation , there will be constant multitudes ) in our owne sh●ppes will at the least defray ● fourths of the charges . i should not unwillingly heare ( though i dispaire ever to know it for a certainety ) that china did exceede us in fishing ; for were it granted , wee should not imagine those watry inhabitants so circumscribed and limited to one part of the ocean especially the same climate and latitude , inviting them as not to visit our opposite shore of southwest virginia in as great variety and plenty . and to the more curious and able persons i shall offer what singular object it were of variety and plenty , if they would take the advantage of some tides and seasons , when the resort of fish is greatest to stoppe the returne of them out of some creeke perpetually flowing with salt by sl●ces , or such other invention : heere would those great ones generate and produce till even they laboured with their owne multitude , if permitted to increase two or three yeares , who might with very small charge be maintained , and yearely render to the proprietar an ocean of fish in a narrow confine of water . nor were it unworthy the labour to make an experiment whether the s●urgion himselfe might not receive a kinde of domestication in that narrow circumscript on , especially if wee let it descend into our thoughts , that ( by small perforations in the sluces he perpetually admits a renovation and change of salt water ) he may receive the s●me benefit of liberty , namely variety of water , which he delights in when unconfined , and admitting the originall breeder not to thrive well by such imprisoning , yet customes ascending as high as nature in the breed , would make that familiar to them , which peradventure might have been offensive to the first spawner , and should they delight ( as in some seasons of the yeare fishes doe vary their resorts ) at any time in fresh water ; a large pond digged neare having either springs to feede it , or raines to fill it , might by communication of a sluce receive both them and salmon , when they seeke aft●r the freshes . and that fishes may be unwilded , and become domestick , history will sufficiently informe us , wherein are delivered reports of some who growne more particularly intelligent , were distingu●sht by names , a●d understood themselves so called : and martiall in one of his epigrams to caesar , ( i meane domi●ian ) tells the prince speaking of fishes so instructed , quid quod nomen habe●t & ad magistri nomen quisque sui venit cita●●s ? and further , ma●●mque lambit , a thing , which though a poet , and consequently bold , ev●n to untruths , yet he durst never have obtruded upon caesar , whom himselfe makes a party in the experiment . and to adde something to what hath formerly beene delivered of balsomes and colours , why from the livers and most unctuous parts of those more delicate fishes , may not curiosity finde a means to extract an oyle , which ( if it be not medicinall , though i am enclined by severall reasons to belie●e the affirmative ) may notwithstanding artificially distilled after its first extraction prove a delicacy for the tables of princes and great ones , especially for sauces , and other confections which luxury hath found out for the irritation of dull and retreating appetites . but i cannot believe it to be deprived of its particular virtue in physicall operations , and the industrious conclusions of our ancestors have by such probations discovered many rich mysteries of nature ; whilst wee either glutted with our owne plenty of receipts , or out of a too fond a reverence wee pay to antiquity acquiesc● in their prescriptions , as in the ne plus ultra , the hercules pillars of wisedome , beyond which there were no passage , or else feare every innovation brings inconveniences in his traine , which opinion if it had possessed those our ancestors , the world had continued in ignorance , and must for ever have layne sick of an incurable folly in the fooles hospitalls . for what concernes the flax of china , that wee may not lose the smallest circumstance of parallell with virginia , nature her selfe hath enriched this her bosome favourite with a voluntary plant● which by art , industry , and transplantation may be multiplyed and improved to a degree of as plentifull , but more excellent nature : which because of its accession to the quallity of silke , wee entitle silke grasse : of this queene eliz●beth had a substantiall and rich peece of grograine made and presented to her. of this mr. porey in his discovery of the great river chamonoak , to the south of iames river delivers a relation of infinite quantity , covering the surface of a vast forest of pine-trees , being . miles in length . it had beene wished that the injun●tion given to every planter to set so many thousand plants of this kinde had been effectually prosecuted : the intermission wher●of hath beene a prejudice not easily imaginable : nor is it yet too late to effect it , and in all probability by transplantation it may thrive beyond comparison larger , and the skinne of it growne more tender and delicate , may arrive to some equali●y with the labou● of the silke-worme , if it be managed by such rules of nature best sute with its production . for hempe there is a naturall kinde of hempe , a sp●cies of flagg in that countrey , from which being boyled you may strippe a long and fine skinne , not onely proper for cordage , but the finer sort singularly usefull for linnen ; of this two hundred weight hath beene sent into e●gland , of which hath beene made excellent cordage , and very good linnen . this , by observation of the soile it growes in , and transplanted into grounds of like , but richer property , would together with tht silke-grasse make a staple of admirable returne and profit ; provided every planter had an injunction for this , as well as the former to sow or set a convenient proportion , to which his owne profit ( quickned with the imposition of a mulct in case of neglect ) would easily invite him . and by this meanes would virginia not onely furnish her owne people , but supply other nations with stuffes and linnen . to the brasse of china , wee shall oppose the virginian copper ( or gold , for yet it is doubtfull ) for by a concurrent relation of all the indians , justified to severall english of quality , particularly to the earle of southampton ● in mr. poryes narrative● to sir william b●rkely , all seconding mr. heriots report , that within ten dayes west toward the setting of the sunne , the natives of that countrey gathered a kinde of a red sand falling with a streame issuing from a mountaine , which being washed in a sive , and set upon the fire speedily , melts and becomes some copper , which they shew us , but as they say much softer . we shall only suppose it to be copper , contrary to the opinion of divers knowing men , who apprehend it for a richer metall ; but melting with such ease two parts in five turning to a solid metall , the other three parts being peradventure not any thing of the oare , but onely such rubbidge , as joyned to the oare in rouling , and this falling meerely from the superficies of the mountaine , yet a rich copper ; what eye enlightned with the smallest beame of reason , will not conclude it for an extraordintry accession of wealth to this countrey ? and why may not the intralls of this minerall be gold , since the skinne and crust of it is copper ? nature her selfe oftentimes dealing after the mode of divers great men , delighting to lay an unregarded outside over her richest linings . to proceed in continuation of our comparison with china , if it abound more in visible silver ( of which with our abundance of staples may quickly put us into a ●ondition of entring into completion with ) yet cannot virginia in all probability be destitute of that metall : for besides divers conjectures grounded upon naturall cir●umstances : mr. gage in his relation of the indies , assures us that the spanyards have found out a rich silver mine on the back side of florida westward , in degrees of latitude , and the farther they extend their search northward , the more rich and pure the mines discovered improve themselves . nor shall wee plead inferiority in pearles with china or persia , since mr. heriot assure● us of a large quantity of pearles found amongst the natives , spoyled by their ignorance in boring of them , and defacing their orientall lustre , by exposing them to the fire . these were found amongst the indians at roanoak , and the relations of the natives on all hands unanimously concur that the south and west of this opulent countrey was stored with such abundance and variety , that the indians used to make and adorne babies with them : and one of the english had collected a bracelet of very orientall pearle , to the number of five thousand , which were all lost in the returne to england . if china suppose a merit of precedency in muske , virginia may justly oppose them with her mu●k rat , or muscassus , which in all probability cannot but be the same ; for it is a tradition received into the number of truhts , that the confection of their muske in that countrey is bruizing and burying a certaine creature to pu●refaction , of which this odour is effected , and it is very open to conjecture that this musk-r●t or musc●ssus , whose flesh and skinne are extraordin●ry redolent ●nd durant , and of which there is an infinite plenty , by such order may be brought to the same perfection . neither is it so improbable th●t this odour should proceed from putrefaction , which is naturally an abhorrence to the nosthrill : for if you apply too neare to the substance of the muske , there is an occult subolency of such a putrefactive originall . neither are all excretions of nature in themselves offensive to the sense of smelling , for the fluxe of the civet-cat is accounted am●ngst our most sov●raigne per●umes : and this exp●rimented will be a staple of noble use , and no lesse benefit . nor shall wee yeeld the laurell of preeminence in richnesse of furres to china , if the furres of beavers , otters , martines , and above all black foxes ( which are upon some part of this continent ) may pretend any title to richnesse : and yet have wee beene hitherto so supinely negligent to permit the dutch and the french to carry away most of this pretious commodity , to trade in our rivers , under-sell us , and which discovers either an ●mplacable malice or insatiable avarice , trade with those indians ( of whom wee have no reason to nourish any great confidence ) for muskets and powder . to conclude , what ever else china may presume to boast of : whether nitre , allum , quicksilver , rhubarb , and china root , of which some wee have already discovered : if wee consider the parallell in latitude , the equality of temperate climate , the parity in soile , and its fertility , the similitude in brave navigable rivers , the unanimous congruity and consent in divers knowne commodities , wee shall have an ample basis to ground conjectu●es upon , that what ever singularity of nature that nation may im●gine her selfe victorious over others● will be found equall in this garden of the world , this aemulous rivall of china , virginia : and the chineses may with as great justice deny the europ●ans the benefit of both eyes , as boast that they precede in any thing except antiquity of habitation and a long experienced industry , this great luminary of the new world virginia . what ever other commodities , the novelty of inhabiting this amorous virgin hath made it appeare defective in as sugar , ●ndigo , cotton , ginger , and other advantageous staples , wee shall appeale to all who have seene this unexampled countrey ; ( we meane roanoak , and the more southerne parts , and those cou●tries towards the fertile mangoack ) whether it be guilty of any contrariety , distemper , or extremity which might hinder their production . the sunne , which in other countre●s makes his visit in flames and droughts , heere casts his auspicious beames , and by an innocent and complementall warmth , courts the bosome of this his particular favo●rite , hastening and disposing its wombe for ripe productions , which salute him in an absolute perfection . winter snowes , frosts , and other excesses , are heere only remembred , never known . the purling springs and wanton rivers every where kissing the happy soyle into a perpetuall verdure , into an unwearied fertility : no obstructions in your expectations , attempt and hope them , prosecute and enjoy them . nor have we in design to lay any imputation upon the barbadoes , which already aboundeth to admiration , with the staples last mentioned , yet it will become our charity to wish the country as health●●ll , as it is fruitfull ; that it may answer the expectation and merit of its most industrious and publicke spirited planters , who have given a brave example to all , by the effects of their industry and unwearied constancy . from a thing almo●t lost to memory , ( at the least to reputation ) they have raysed the honour of that island , to be a subject of admiration for wealth and staple , and that so little a circumference of ground should be able to vent the value of two hundred and fifty thousand pound yeerely , as some merchants have maintayned , not only addes to the weight and measure of their just estimation , but increases the favourable wishes of all ●overs of industry , that they had a larger proportion of ground to improve upon . and if an invincible sloth doth not possesse us in virginia , ( wee meane the south ) why should not wee rayse an equall or greater profit upon as fertile and convenient a soile ? especially if we consider ●he populousnesse of the place , has so raysed the price of land there , which we have heere gratis , where number of inhabitants doe so little take from our abundance , that they adde to our wealth , security and plenty , and the sole meanes to increase and improve upon staples . we have made it apparant that what ever china hath of staple or delicacy , is produced or producible in this above-example virgin. but to shew that even china her selfe must in some thi●gs give place to this more happy mayden , t●rra sigillata , or lemnia , ( as peculiar an income to the grand signiors treasury , as that of salt is to the french kings ) and of which china can no way boast , is native to this countrey ; vines are eyther not naturall , neglected , or not understood by the chineses● but in this incomparable soyle the grape presents it selfe every where to your delighted prospect . and what ●hadow can there be of scruple that wines well cultivated , and issuing from a rich grape , will not be as commodious a staple to that voluptuous and gluttonous nation , who wanton away their wealth in banqnets , as the wines of france and spain are to the more northerne and lesse abstenious nations of europe ? there ●eeds no objection be made against this staple ; for the southwest part of virginia being once discovered , the sea laid open and that passage compleat in all its numbers● the pleasure of the commerce , the richnesse of returnes , and the extraordinary quickne● of the profit , will invite so many to come over and plant that commodious quarter of virginia , that as we shall never labour with too numerous a multitude of inhabitants , so we shall not have any great occasion to complaine of the paucity of planters . nor is tobacco in those indian seas ( especially cured as in virginia , and of that strength and excellency ) a commodity of inconsiderable commerce , particularly if wee call to minde what gayne there is by the exchange for indian commodities , so that any ordinary understanding may comprehend that although tobacco should yeeld but three pence the pound in india , yet by way of barter with those nations where the returne quadruples the value in england , the gaynes gotten by it might be very considerable . but if we may beleeve printed relations ( and the person delivering it so cleerely , is , in my opinion● worthy of all credit ) tobacco from surat to moco yeeld ten for one profit , returned in eastridge feathers to england , you have six to one profit ; but this is for those planters who are so infected with that disease of the countrey , that they cannot admit of any other staple , though more gainefull and lesse laborious . yet is not tobacco without its vertues : for the spaniard hath found out , besides the use of it in smoke , ( or the smoky use ) that the juice thereof ( when greene ) applyed to any wound cut , sore , and without a●y distinction , whether greene , festered , or cankered , will heale it speedily , and almost miraculously ; the leafe bruised or stamped , and applied to any bite or sting of a venemous quality , to any wound made by a poyso●ed arrow , the green leafe heated in hot ashes , and layd upon any part of the body afflicted with aches , will worke effects answerable to the most powerfull operations of nature . the benefi● and part of the silke-worme mystery treated of . but to show to the world that wee may equall the best of the westerne kingdomes in this noble mystery of nature the silke-worme : that france and italy are much below this mignon of glory and profit , the universally advantageous virginia , wee shall ●pon those in●allible demonstrations of nature , make evident , having the clew of truth , reason , and modesty to direct us . it will not be denied by any , whose forehead is not too brazen , that no countrey is so proper for adventitions as its owne native commodities , the seeds of things suffer a deterioration by changing the propriety of that soile which was geniall to them , and the exact order of nature suffers a diminution , if wee imagine any other climate or region more proper for the perfection of any thing , then where it is originally produced . tellier aff●rmes that this mystery of the silke-worme hath not been experimented in europe above a thousand yeares● being transmitted to our climate out of the asiatick world , in so much that italy hath not beene above yeares enriched with this industrious creature , france received it from italy , and it is observed , that the warmer the region , by so much larger and stronger encrease and texture receive they from the labour of this admirable and naturall weaver . france being of a colder temper then italy , their wo●mes are weaker , in the more northerne part of that kingdome from one ounce of seed they profit five or sixe pound of silke increase , worth at the least ●os . per pound , in languedock , and the warmer provinces the same quantity is increased to ● , or l . but in brescia , of calabria seede , they use usually to make eleaven or twelve pound of silke from the same originall proportion . the poore people in both those kingdomes buy their mulberry leaves to feede this profitable and ind●strious spinner , and the very charge of those leaves amounts to a full halfe of all other their expences . the nobility of italy and france ( the grand duke of tuscany himselfe , descending into a part of this profit ) make up a considerable part of their r●venue from their trees , the leav●s of every one being valu●d according to their goodnesse and quality , from five shillings to twenty and upwards , so that divers make an income of three , four , five , sometimes a thousand pound , from the sole profit of their mulberry trees . the grand duke from the sale of his , rayses an income ●●mm●xibus a●nis of sixty thousand ducats , yet divers gentlemen in italy make a larger increase of profit , by setting out their mulberry trees to necessito●s people , fo● hal●e the gaine arising from the worme so ●●d . those poo●e con●●ibute their seed , employ their labour , and are at all expences in bringing the silke to perfection ; yet notwithstanding when completed , the gentleman who sets out his trees , divides the moyety of the entire profit , for the hire of his leaves only , yet are these people , maugre this difficulty , comfortable gayners . and the same tellier is bold to affirme , that non obstante the disagreeablenesse of the country to that worme , in the kingdome of france from the sole revenue now of silke , arises a greater intrade then from their corne , oyle and woad put together , which grow in that kingdome in vast proportions . and another french author affirmeth , that the benefit of the silke worme , ( of which france hath had no triall till within these fifty yeeres ) ariseth to four millions per annum , sterling , and this he pretends to have all circumstances of truth and certainty , drawne from an exact computation to confirme it . if france ( an almost improper countrey for this improvement ) can rayse within the verge of fifty yeeres , so large and numerous a revenue , what shall we imagine italy ( a warmer region , and by much more convenient , although not altogether native , for this inriching creature ) may meerely upon this staple returne in their treasury , having besides the advantage of climate , a hundred and fifty yeeres precedency in the mystery , and their seed more strong , better fed , and lesse subject to diseases and casualties ? but virginia a countrey which nature hath no lesse particularly assigned for the production , food , and perfection of this creature then persia or china , stored naturally with infinites of mulberry-trees , some so large that the leaves thereof have by frenchmen beene esteemed worth l . in which the indigenall and naturall worme hath beene found as bigge as wallnuts ; and the using in the south thereof in admirable plenty and excellence ; if this mystery were but duly followed , and industriously promoved , might be a magazine for all the westerne world , and singly in her selfe outvy france , spaine , and italy , in all their advantages collected . heere the leaves are onely sold by nature , who requires no other satisfaction then industry to make use of her bounty . timber to erect their fabricks is provided , and costs no more then preparing a benevolent sunne , and a serene sky , contributing their indulgence to its perfection . no narrow assignation of ground ( richer then the most fertile france or italy can pretend to , or boast of ) to plant those trees on , if not neare enough to the setled plantations ; in briefe , all the conveniences imaginable to assist and advance this to the noblest commerce in the world , if neglect and sloth make us not ingratefull to our selves , and nature , by abusing our selves , by not using her bounty . to further this happy designe , let us descend into an unequall comparison : let us compare our most incomparable virginia , where the mulberry and the worme are aboriginall to italy , where they are onely adventitious : let us imagine our owne worme of that strength and greatnesse onely equall to those of brescia and italy , where the usuall ofcome from sixe ounces of seede is , ot at least pound weight of silke , and adhearing to this parallell ; let us see the apparency in the profit . a man and a boy , if their hands be not sleeping in their pockets , will feede as many wormes as come of sixe or eight ounces of seed till they be past their foure first sicknesses , and within some dayes of spinning : indeed the last dayes require a more extraordinary diligence and attendance , a more frequent and carefull feeding , because in that time they conceive , gather , and store up the disposing matter from whence the silke comes , which by an incomprehensible mystery of nature , they after as it were vomit out of their mouthes , and spinne out of their bowells . at this more particular season , there is a necessity of adding the labour of three or foure helpes more ( to which women or children are as proper as men ) which is an inconsiderable accession considering the gaine arising from it . that you may know the reason why women , children , lame and impotent persons are as fitting to attend the last fourteene dayes , as men , will appeare by their labour , which is nothing but to feede them within doores , cleanse , dry , and perfume their lodgings , with some strengthning but not overstrong odour . and as one skilfull in this noble mystery is sufficient for the employing , overseeing , and directing hundreds under him , so ( the skill being rather experimentally to be taught , then built upon long and ambiguous precepts ) he may bee able to perfect all those under him within the five or six weeekes time of their imployment in the full understanding the mystery . and the better to incourage both the teacher and learner of the mystery , the master should be invited by reward to be liberall in communicating his knowledge , and those under his instruction encouraged by arguments of honour and profit proposed to the best proficient , would disperse seeds of emulation and diligence , since every one would imploy himselfe seriously to engrosse and appropriate to himselfe the reputation and advantage in the victory . and in boyes and children , disputations frequently set on foot , with some slight distinction of merit , would make all that are ingeniously disposed , quicken their observation and diligence , to gaine the credit of prelation . though to take off all disincouragement or despayre , from those lesse apprehensive and docible , in this noble and gainefull trade of silke , there is no such absolute necessity layd upon them to be supersticiously and precisely curious in observing the booke rules , and written precepts , that upon the omission or unpunctuall observation of any of those precepts in hatching , lodging , feeding , and tending of the silke-wormes , wee should imagine such minute deviations might occasion an improsperity or generall failing : for wee will admit something may be wanting either in materialls , accommodation , or precisenesse of knowledge ; yet may the worke ( a higher and irresistible cause not interrupting it ) prosper and succeede , notwithstanding such defect , to the great contentment and gaine of them which keepe them . let us imagine it to be granted that the indigency of the person improving the incommodiousnesse of the place , or want of house-roome , which the bookes exactly tye us to , be in many things preterregular ( though such a supposition may fall upon any other part of the world more justly then virginia , where all materialls and convenien●y answer our exactest wishes ) yet will dayly examples confirme us , that in languedoc , provence , and other parts of france , and as many in spaine and italy , amongst the common sort of that exaction tyred people , that one poore low-rooft cottage , and one roome in it is all the house extent they have to take their sleepe in , dresse their miserable dyet , and serve themselves of for use and retirement ; yet does this industrious creature ( such are the blessings with which god rewards the sweat of industry ) thrive as happily ( and sometimes answer labour with a greater felicity ) as those which the curiosity of richer persons fit with all commodiousnesse of chamber feeding , and attending , which is a speaking encouragement that no man should despaire , but reposing a cheerefull confidence in the blessing of the almighty , with this r●solution , that what ever mean●s , what ever curiosity , art , or precept , may contribute towards the preparing and facilitation of a worke , yet the end , the event must depend on his eternall goodnesse to crowne it , and all our labours projected with never so great a talent of humane wisdome and experience , must conclude with this never failing truth : that except the lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it : except the lord keepe the city , the watchman watches but in vaine . wee must therefore lift up our hearts and eyes with thankefullnesse u●to the hills , unto the mountaine of israel , and rock of david , from whence those streames of blessings must acknowledge their sole , their originall fountaine , which may serve as an admonition , that neither the whole , nor any part of the work● should be begunne without applying our devotions to him : let it therefore be the morning omen to the worke , and the evening auspice , lord prosper the worke of our hands , prosper g●o● lord our handy workes . after the reposall of this confidence in god ; let him apply himselfe with his greatest industry and ability , with this comfort and assurance , that he cannot but make a considerable returne : though wee should be much injurious to art ( the noble right hand and midwife to nature ) if wee should deny a more promising probability of a riper and fuller gaine the more curious and observant he is in following all the approved experiments , rules , directions , and precepts thereunto belonging . but the chiefest aime and intention of those rules are to illustrate the perfection of this art , and to informe your knowledge , and better your future experience and preventionall care , if any misadventure arrive , or miscarriage in the silke●wormes , or if they prosper not equally this yeare with the last ; for by inspection upon them you may understand the cause and reason of such misadventure , and with it the remedy ; and this also takes away all dispaire or disincouragement for men , commonly men till they are convinced in the naturall ca●se of a disaster or failing attribute , all such mischances to nature , or else impu●e the non-thriving to their owne misfortune by a ridiculous opinion that they are not ordained to be fortunate in this or that mystery , so freequently does fortune incurre the blame of humane neglect or ignorance . besides wee are to imprint in our knowledge , that no rules can have so much of generality and exactnesse , which will not admit of deviations arising from some particular and variable circumstances . wee must not therefore conforme the nature of the c●imate to our rules , but our rules to it , in which wee must resume to your deliberation how , and in what one climate differs from another , how the constitution of this yeare varie● from the next , or the precedent , the immediocrities of heate , cold , drought , and moisture , serenity , or mists , &c. the manner of their lodgings , the quality of the winde to be admitted or excluded : to temper a season inclining to a preternaturall coolenesse with an artificiall heate , to refresh and infrigidate the aire in times of immoderate heate , by admitting the cooling aire and windes proceeding from a cooler q●arter , and this to be observed with a more particular care ; when they spinne their silke , that creature then being very obnoxious to be stifled with too much heat . there must be likewise a providentiall regard in a moist season , that the mulberry leaves be carefully dryed after their gathering , before they be administred for food to the silke-worme : but if the season pertake more of drought it will be wisedome to let the leaves lye and shade a little after their gathering , that they may have them coole and refreshing , and in seasons of temperature and continued droughts , it may be very requisite to water the roots of the mulberry-tree , which will be a refreshing to the leaves , and this is usually practised in spaine ; especially if the mulberry-tree be seated in a hot or dry ground , which otherwise must not be so prescribed without particular caution . nor is it below our consideration to weigh the condition of the place in which the mulberry is planted , if in a sower foule or wet soile to collect what inconvenience that food may bring unto your worme , and therefore if your necessity will admit it to avoyd such wholly , if not to use them with such qualifications as may make them least offensive . after having regard to the nature of the ground your tree receives its juce from , the quality of the season , in which you gather them ; it falls next to your consideration to compare the kinde and nature of the tree , together with the kinde and nature of their seed , worme , and silke , and directing your selfe by an exact observation of particular circumstances , so to make exceptions , and to order every thing with judgement and discretion thereafter , that your bookes and experience may by that meanes walke hand in hand together . but time and observations will affoord you many experiments , out of which perhaps some more rules of art may be framed , in divers particulars , more consenting to the country and climate of virginia . which finding , after good triall thereupon made , it will become the reputation of a good patriot in generall , and a good master of a family in particular , to digest them into such a regular order and method , that the publication thereof may be a common benefit to all , and a private memoriall to particulars . for since in persia and china it does not fall under likelihood , that they can oblige themselves to observe all particulars in its strictest limitation , where such an infinite quantity of silke passeth through the hands of the people , it is very agreeable to reason that in a climate of the same nature and parallell , namely virginia , there may be rules found out of far l●sse brevity , and more pertinency , then have yet been considered or published . and yet where all these rules are curiously observed , they make not onely in spaine and italy , but in the colder parts of france a far greater gaine ( the quantity of adventure and time considered ) by thus chargeably feeding of silk-wormes , then by any other commodity whatsoever . but to avoid that inconvenience of fetching leaves a far off , or attending the growth of your owne mulberries , or that necessity which makes the poorer sort of our owne miserable people to lodge them in that roome which is their kitchin , their chamber , th●ir all . with what ease and conveniency may there be a house set up in the middle of a grove of mulberries , naturally growing , where the silkewormes , in a dry cabinet of boords , after the maner of sicily , may be kept ( described more largely in the bookes which treat of this silkeworme , then can bee expected in this paper ) set up with stones in it , in case the countrey and season require it , eyther to correct the ill sents , or ( if so be they are seated in cold , moyst , or shady plac●s , of which your owne sense and experience will quickly acquaint yo● ) to give the ayre a temper and qualification , which if not prevented , may destroy your worke by killing the silkeworme . and this lodge built for them , the season of the yeere will invite your selfe and family ( i meane such part of your family as you assigne to this worke ) to lodge there also , the time being at the most but six weekes , and for the first moneth , one third of your family will be sufficient to feed them , but the last . dayes ; the other . thirds will be requisit that the wormes may bee more often and plentifully fed the well feeding at that time contributing much to their strength and perfection , and consequently to the improving your expected silke , both in quantity and quality . that all may be invited and courted to this undertaking , in this glorious countrey , n●ture hath left us destitute of no materialls . to erect these slight silken lodgings , will be no more expences , then your labour ; nor is that any greater , then to cut out some posts and studdes , fit them , and set them up , then to cleave and saw out small quarters , rafters , plankes , pales , and boards , to make and set up the sides of the house , in stead of more substantiall walls , and to cover the roofe in stead of tile . for the effecting of all which with the lesser trouble , that countrey affords abundance of woods , which will runne out , slit , and cleave into long lengths and br●adths , which by the directnesse of the ground will rive in a manner , as if they had beene sawen for the worke . all which must be so close layd , joyned , and nayled together , the one still lapt over the other , that no winde or raine may penetrate therein to offend that laborious creature , and this may easily be prevented , if such chinkes and open places as you shall discover bee stopped up with lome , clay , and lime , of which materialls in those countreyes you will finde no want . and to this purpose the indian mats , and the like things may be made good use of in this way , which will be sure to keepe out winde and perhaps raine : but to these things your owne inventions , pro re nata , will abundantly furnish you with matter of preventing casualties : nor will it bee unseasonable to repeat the extraordinary convenience of saw-mills , which in this case will be in a high degree serviceable to you , and of ●his the whole colony will be beneficially sensible in boards , plankes , housing , silk-worm-lodgings , timber , shipping , and all particular kinde of uses . and this once erected , with what speed may such a house be clapped up together , with a few nailes one lopping over another , either long like a bowling-alley , that the functions of the family may be distinct , and no offensive heat or sent disturbe the worme in his curious operations . or being in doubt of surprisall , some families going into the woods together may equally joyne together , and those woodden houses ( still observing that the roomes where the wormes are may be set end and end together , that so the kitchins and their lodgings may be still the two extreames ) may be cast into the forme of a fort which pall●sadoed , and your house sentinelled by halfe a dozen of good dogges , wil be a sufficient defence against all the natives of the countrey . and this may be in case they worke not in common , which if by compact they agree upon , the lodging for the wormes may be cast in the middle of such a circle , the timber houses round about shading them from over much heat , wind or moisture , and the necessary fires there made , will throughly cleere the ayre of all vapours and mists which may disorder this innocent spinner . the silke harvest ready , and the encrease brought to a just estimation : the cohabitors may according to the agreement made betwixt them , returne with their dividends , and this removall into the woods will have the same nature of content which the citizens take in a time of vacation and city wearinesse ( citizens being never so weary as when they have no worke ) to visit the delights of the countrey , though with different ends ; since these in their voyages of pleasure expend , the other both save and encrease their stock and treasure . these boards ( the worke ended ) being taken downe are serviceable for seaven yeares together , and easily erected or renewed . i am not altogether of advice , that the indians be hired to assist you in these remoter workes , as sensible how apt they and the divell t●eir tutor may be to embrace an occasion of being treacherous ; but if they could be brought to worke by parties ( well watched and spyes amongst themselves set over them ) in the middest of our most populous plantations , with their wives and children , who will easily runne through this curious , but not heavy labour , and may be sufficient pawnes for the indian fidelity , if cunningly divided , they would be very serviceable in this kinde for a small reward , and peradventure might be made great use of for this worke heereafter by undertaking it themselves , which may be manifested for these reasons . . first , the indian is naturally curious and very ingenious , which they shew in all their works and imitations : the only thing that frights them from bringing any work to perfection , is the labour attending it . . but to feed his curiosity , there is nothing in the world more p 〈…〉 then this cu●ious atome of nature the silkeworme : to see th●●●●taught artist spin out his transparent bowels , labour such a monument out of his owne intralls , as may be the shame , the blush of artists , such a robe that solomon in all his glory might con●esse the meannesse of his apparell , in relation to the workemen , cannot but bring them to admiration ; and that thos● spi●i●s whose t●oughts are of a higher wing then ordinary , may bee convinced of a divine power of the hand of god in the creation : which gaynd upon him , it will not be impossible to drive him to an acknowledgement of redemption , if private ends or any other respect then that to gods glory , possesse not those who should cover a multitude of sinnes , by winning a soule to his creator , and forcing him from the jawes of his destroyer . . in this curiosity there is little or no labour ( a thing which they abhorre ) their women and children will bee sufficient to goe through with it : and if they could but be brought to it , our trade with them f●r silke would be of greater consequence , then all their furs or other commodities put together . . by this meanes it were possible to fasten clo●●hs upon them , which if once it were effected , that which mr. bullocke excellent patly calls , the universall not of nature , ambition would cement them to a more orderly course of life , and one still striving to ou●vie the other in bravery of habits : there would be no labour under heaven like this , to reduce them to civility , the toyle thereof being inc●nsiderable , and the profit great to him in respect of his now trifling merchandise : and to us by trading with them , might bee returned for ● . the pound at the most in commodities . . by this means would he be brought to plant great quantities of mulberry trees round about his plantation , which according to his constant inconstancy , evermore shifting , would necessarily , our ●wne numbers increasing , fall into our hands and possession , or if he should against the tide of his nature abide by them , yet a very inconsiderable tri●le would buy the propriety from him . . the silkeworme harvest lighting at such a season of the year , wherein he by improvidence hath wasted all his bread-corne , at which time he usually retires into the woods to seeke a thinne s●bsistence , by the allurement of this great profit he would undo●btedly stay at his plantation , and allow us a share in his increase of silke , for such provision of maiz as would maintaine him , and ●his would be a large accession of profit to the english. . admitting virginia in its whole extent from cape henry southward ( as a worke so easily comp●ssed , and such profit ensuing thereupon , especially to the weroances or reguli● , who have many wives , slaves , and children , would hardly faile from being a universall labour ) to containe in all thirty thousand people , of which the ●ourth part or more men , if this staple be followed by them , and our vigilance preventing any traffick of other nations with them , it will yeeld the c●lony of course a trade with them worth cleare a hundred thousand pound per annum . neither doe i comprehend a sufficient reason why in so happy a climate as that of virginia ; there may not be a double silke harvest : this i am sure of , that there are s●cre●s in nature of retardation as well as acceleration of springs , and both being industriously brought to the experiment , the acceleration anteceeding the first spring , and the retardation postvening the latter by three weekes , ( which may easily be effected by election and distinction of ground to plant in ) and at the latter end of the harvest the seeds being disposed and ripened for production , will without doubt produce an effect answerable to the most inestimable profit intended by it . that the election of ground may doe this , wee may see by freequent examples betwixt things well cultivated , and that which is never transplanted from its first wildnesse , and there are many presidents round about us , where in one and the same towne , one and the same fruit have oftentimes three weekes distance of time betwixt their unequall maturity ; the naturall warmenesse or coldnes of the ground occasioning the advance or procrastination of fruits according to its severall disposition . nor can such a course be any interruption to harvest or vintage , both comming much after the season of the silke●worme , though i should ( in submission to better judgement ) conceive that with transplantation of trees ( such as they would have come later then ordinary , for that purpose being loosed from the ground neare upon the ascent of their sap would spring for that season accordi●g to ●heir expectation later then is usuall , and the next yeare its novelty of ground having made it wanton will come much earlier , and more improved then those whose fixure to the place of it● first pull●lation keepes it selfe to its former constancy , and by this meanes the later harvest would not be at the most three weekes time a●ter the ( usuall ) income of the first . and without doubt the chineses and persian could not vend such vast quantities of silke , with which they fa●shion so huge a part of the world with one single harvest , which though wee are at present ignorant of , yet what should discourage us from delivering such conjectures to a tryall , since the examen of it is not without probability , nor the discovery without an extraordinary certainety of profit ? those who will object that notwithstanding ● years practice i●aly hath not discovered this mystery , or if discovered , found it destitute of successe , may be pleased to receive this answer : that there is an immense disproportion betwixt the happyest region of italy , and the south of the excellent virginia . italy ( and that annually● is subject much to inclemency of winters , in respect of our more temperate maid●n , where snows and black swans are alike prodigies ; the cold th●re is rather like a phletomy to tame the plethorick abundance of springs , then dead it : nor are the srpings of italy so early as ours in that climate , and the mulberry shooting forth later then all other trees by much , may by this meanes of transplantation and heat of soile , be equall with the first , and by that early apparence give day-light to this and other more abstruse magnalia . i have insisted so much the longer upon this mystery of the silk-worme , because ( if it were handled by a better pen , judgement , and ability ) it is every way noble and sublime , so much worthy the knowledge , not onely for the benefit ( which is extraordinary rich how ever ) but for the admiration of nature , who hath ab●eviated all the volums of her other miracles into this her little , but exact epitome , like that artist who contracted the whole body of iliads and odysses into a nutshell . b●sides what wee have sayd of silke wee shall find the indian profitable to himselfe , and as in the staple of win●s , of which when he has r●c●ived ●he whole knowledge , wee cannot make the l●●st tittle of doubt , but he will with all eagernesse prosecute it : first , because it concernes his belly , to which no peop●e under h●av●● are more indulgent ; and secondly , his wife and children who plant his corne may take the charge of the vineyard with not much more lab●ur . but that which turnes to our advantage is , that the indian communicating the knowledge of the grape to his neighbours , and they transmitting it all along as far as new spain , will stir up the spanish jealousie to interdict all viti-culture amongst them , and as far as the extent of his power can fathome to prosecute severely all such natives as shall make it a subject of their indu●try to the prejudice of spaine . this must of necessity make strong combinations and leagues against the spanish tyranny , which though they are not of themselves able to shake off , yet will the spanyard feare to extend himselfe further ( except in such strength as at present his condition denies him ) knowing the indians untingu●shable thirst of revenge● and his laying hold of all opportunities to put it in execution , with all the powers of his understanding cruelty and malice . and thus shall the spanyard in case he attempts our supplantation be constantly discovered by the siding indian , and if there be a necessity to prevent his malice , by turning his designe upon his owne head , infinite occasion of intelligence may wee have from the enraged native , how to attaque him in his strongest security , where either the distance or impassability of the way will make him confident and carelesse . further use may be made of the native in fishing after pearle , to which if wee allure him by a constant trade with him for them , his owne profit will quickly enlighten his desire of more , and that desire quicken his industry . that virginia affordes multitude of pearles , mr. lane is sufficient to give publick information , where he tells us a relation delivered to him of a w●roance , who had so great quantity of pearle , and did so ordinarily take the same , as that not onely his owne skinnes that he weareth , and the better sort of his gentlemen and followers are set with the sayd pearle ; but also his beds and houses are garnished with them , and that he hat● such quantity of them that it is wonder to see : these are mr. lanes words exactly . nor is there any difficulty in the discovery of this , or ingrossing the trade ; especially since wee are the masters of the countrey , and if any other nation should attempt to partake in the benefit of our trade , the strength of virginia is at present such as may repell by violence , all forraigne incroachments upon their trade and livelyhood . the indians unanimously consent that twenty two mil●s beyond ●he falls , is a rocke of chrystall , and this they evidence by their a●rowes very many whereof are headed with it . and that dayes journey from thence , is a rock● or hill of silver oare . beyond which , over a ledge of hills , by a concurrent relation of all the indians , is the sea , which can be no other but that sea which washes the shore of china , &c. that this report of a great sea southwest , beyond the mountains , cannot have the least of fiction or confederacy , since all the indians from canada to florida , doe unjarringly agree in the rela●ion , is obvious to the meanest apprehension . the discovery whereof , if we fall upon it by degrees , will bee a worke of no long time or difficulty , but the unexpressible profit and glory of the action , will rayse the noble head of this above example countrey to such a high zenith of wealth , power , and lustre , that it will be reputed a very remarkable degree of felicity to any nation which shall reach to such a verticall point of glory , as to bee reputed but our second in these most noble considerations . by this meanes what wealth can there be in those richest provinces of the world , in those countries which nature created for her cabinets of excellency , which we shall not discover ? what discover without a power of appropriation ? what opulency does china teeme with which shall not be made our owne by the midwi●●y , by the juno lucina of this virtuall pass●ge ? this by a happy transmigration● by an innocent magick will convert that countrey , ( which by a swelling denomination , yet without no● some preten●e of reason its natives call by a title signifying all under he●ven ) into our maid of admiration and envy virginia . her silke-worm shall spinne for carolana , her cloth of gold be weaved for roanoak . the english name shall keepe company with the sunne , and those nations who owe him a particular adoration shall honour it as the next thing sacred . the easterne nations oppressed with the slavery of those illustrious horseleeches their princes , will come under our shadow , and by a thicke repayre to our most glorious and happy mayden , live with us in that liberty , which nature in their creation intended to the noblest of his creatures mankind . and by this recourse all those curiosities of art , in which those easterne nations transcend europe , will bee conveyed to us with their persons . cattell and horse in which they abound , will bee sold to us for nothing● for european trifles , whilest the more necessary staples of this ou● w●st●rne wor●d , will be sold at advantages not convenient to be mentioned . the voyage short , easie , rich , and pleasant . no doubling of the line , no calentures , scurvies● or other long-passage dis●ases , to affright or distast the laborious seaman : whereas now the enfe●bling and destroying of mariners is almost an unavoidable consequence of those long and dangerous , rather circumferences , then voyages . but lest we should sing a paean before a victory , it will not bee unworthy our labour to discourse what meanes m●y be used in this discovery . which if it should misse in its prosecution , ( for which fayling there is not the least shadow of probability ) yet might carry a vast profit to recompence all your paynes and expences . that it must not bee attempted at the first heat , but must have more recourses then one to the fire of a triall , will bee made apparent by these reasons . first , the inconveniency or non feysibility of carrying so much provision as will serve the discoverers , whose number , in my opinion , cannot bee lower then two hundred , if wee le● slide into our deliberation the many unknowne nations , through whose territories we are to make our passage , and which by common estimation , are much more numerous in the inland , then marine countreyes . next , admit wee undertake and compasse it with such a number , yet the discovery not being capable of secresie amongst such a multitude of unde●takers , the publick resentment of such a felicity approaching , not suff●ring people to be silent : wee should have this ar●ive to the spanyards knowledge , who will roule all stones under heaven to dispossesse or prepossesse , and indeed the danger his peru , chili and philippines , by s●ch seating , may lie obnoxious to , will adde spurres to his inclination to prevent us , which till wee bee in in a condition to resist , may be effected with our absolute ruine . the safest way therefore is , by degrees to steale upon the design , and take our way thither , by ceasing of places of advantage , very frequently found in that contry , which we may progressionaly fortifie at every twenty or five and twenty miles distance , and to these places we may constantly send supplies of victualls and ammunition , not only for the men there garrisond , but for our owne reception and maintenance in the discovery : and these men standing continu●lly upon their guard , may ( i meane those most remote ) by conference with the indians , discover with much ease , of what distance , what accesse , what harbours , what frequentation , and by what people the neighbour sea consists of ; to take with them ex●mplars of all mineralls , drugges , dies , colours , birds and beasts , drawne to the life in colours , which ( by an invitation of reward ) will be a surer meanes of discovery , ( if any such be ) then by multitudes of people , whose number commonly ( as in the ex●mple of fernando soto in florida ) hastens no other discovery , but that of unavoydable famine , and being usually , either through necessity , or a disordred maner of living irregular and ungoverned , fright the inhabitants from all commerce and conference or else make them join in a confederacy to abuse and remove them by t●lling their unwelcome company , golden lies , and miracles of countreys farther distant , where they are likely to find small satisfaction for their covetousnes or hunger . reason and experience will condemne us of folly , if wee shoul● refuse to profit by commendable examples , though proceeding from enemies or friends suspected : it will be therefore an incitement irreproveable to commend to our owne imitation the custome which the industrious spanyard practiseth in his designe of discoveries : every one of the associates carry a little horne about their necks in such journeys , by which mean●s if the errour of the night or thickenesse of the woods occasion any separation betw●xt them , or an ambuscado of enemies make the passage doubtfull , by winding of that horne , presently notice is given to the rest , who upon receiving the sound give the first winder notice of their residence , to which they may repaire , or testifie their apprehension and readinesse to prevent all hostile stratagems . the same indefatigable nation in their passage over rivers , presently make themselves light canoas after the indian mode , with which entring themselves and swimming their horses ( whose heads they keepe above water by a coller fastened to the boat ) they overcome difficulties of currents , which to any other but those seem● insuperable , and indeed their labour in this kinde show them of admirable resolution and constancy . though wee may entertaine grounds of hope and confidence , that this discovery of the south sea may be m●de without any tedious land-jou●ney , since it is certaine that from the great confluence of waters in the gulfe of s● . laurence , foure mighty rivers receive their sourse , the first whereof pouring it selfe north into canada , another running eastward into the sea called hunsons river , the third running w●stward into the maine are already discovered , but the fourth upon which wee have reason to fixe high expectation bending southward to florida , washes all the backside of virginia , and may in all probability discharge it selfe into the south ocean , which if it suit with our conjectures , virginia will have by that meanes a double accession of security and convenience . for our security it will be a naturall bar betwixt us and the jealous spanyard , who if he shou●d injustly continue the possession of ou● florida , which is indisputably english ; yet thus dividided from us by a vast r●ver full of islands , and places convenient to command the channell fortified and maintained by our nation , he is too full of providence and caution to attaque us , if once in so good a posture . for the conveniency which sufficiently speakes it selfe the ease of transportation by water , and all in our owne chanell , the saving of land charges , and probability of a more speedy passage , are prespicuous arguments to commend it . and to confirme the probabilities of this passage by the lake the more strongly , the indians of canada confessed to iames cartier that i● is but a moneths sayling , from thence to go to a land where cynanon and cloves are gathered● others told the same person , that from the place where they left their pinnace , there is a river which goeth south-west , from whence there is a w●ole moneths sayling to go to a certaine land , where there is neither ice nor snow seene , where the ●nhabitants doe continually war one against the other , where there is great store of orenges , almonds , nuts , and apples , with many other sorts of fruits . what ev●r beliefe other men bestow upon this relation , i know not ; but tru●ly in such a generall concordance of reports , whe●e there can be no roome left for confederacy or designe , to be perswaded of the t●uth therein , cannot have any vitious tincture of facility or cred●lity . but it is time to remit these high and noble atchievements to the prosecution of those who have more power and ability● who may give such ● discovery the honour of their names , and tr●nsfer a perpetuall illustrious memory to posterity , we shall onely suppose it fai●ible and hope the effects will answer such supposition . which if it should faile , why may not virginia in her future felicity of silke be a new china and persia to europe ? why may not all the spicery of the east flourish with an equall successe in this our most justly tempered climate ? already can virginia boast of cinamon , which if transplanted might not be inferiour unto any ? why may not the cloves perfume virginia with as aromatick redolency as the philipine gardens . our aire is more serene , better tempered then theirs , nor have we any more sense of winter to hinder the ascent of sap then the moluccians , if it be any thing more harsh in cold , yet is it but a check to a peradventure too forward spring . what multitude of flowers have our lat● gardens in england seen non native to this soyle or climate ? fruits thought solely proper to italy and spaine flourish here to the envy of those countties , who see often times the colonies in a happier degree of prosperity then the mother , for fruit and flowers . but these designements must be the daughters of time , curiosity and industry , to whom away may be made passabl● , and easie , by that uncabinetting and deciphring of nature , garden philosophy● what harsh disposition in the world will not be lenified and refined by these curious conclusions ? di●clesian could postpose the science of governing mankinde to the knowledge of managing his scions , to see those plants grow up , which his own laureld hand had set , watred and attended , and accordingly flourish , was in a manner the production of so many children , who in this have the advantage , that their florescence is not subject to selfe-deprivation , give them but an acceptable ground● a boun●eous aire , and an arriding sunne and ●hey answer the most exact d●sires of the setter or ingrafter ; but children , let them have all the auxiliares of a full fortune , warmth of education , and heat of encouragement , by some private disease of the genius , by some secret malignity in nature , or its right hand custome , seldome or neuer thrive according to the wishes of the parent , they are either too ranke with insolence , too much parched with rashnesse , or withered with infamy and luxury , that those which planted them instead of delight in that which they esteemed their masterpeece , have nothing but a spring of indignation , or an autumn of melancholly to answer their expectation , and are so far from contentment at their groweth that they would have reckoned it amongst the smiles of their fortunes , that no warmth of theirs had contributed to their production , no indulgence to their continuance and edu●ation . these allurements are for those whose delights onely are interested and denoted to this reti●ed activity ; but those who looke further will finde ( that which is rarely or never contingent to other contentments ) this pleasure to be attended with an inestimable p●ofit , and one of the most certaine returnes in nature : but this fertility-labouring countrey , especial●y in its southerne beauties , in its roanoak excellencies , like to a princesse , all compos'd of bounty , suffers no addresse to be made unsatisfied . gentle winters to court your seed , warme springs to marry them to perfect masculine ripenesse , nothing but ingratitude and indiligence to delay or divert its liberality , hitherto ( like those confined virgins in a barbarous se●aglio ) it hath suffered the imputation or injury of sterility by a non-complacency in i●s savage amourists , the abundance of perfection having put them into a satiety or incapacicy of enjoyment . the tru●h of this being abundantly manifest , an apparent profit and delight inviting the able and industrious ; necessity must be the next argument to those whose poverty can pleade no excuse for their indiligence ; yet this laborious necessity is not so ingra●efull as in england , and in other more thick-peopled countries , what ever you sweat for in this bounteous region , is crowned with a recompence amazing your expectation ; such things as make poverty and life wearisome , contempt of , or impossibility of any melioration to their condition are things heere never charged upon hone●t indigence , or denyed to a commendable industry , nor can they palliate their sleepe and sloth with a pretence of wanting materialls to worke upon , or plead that such things as should employ them must be first had out of england , since there is enough abundantly and naturally in that unpresidented countrey to employ their industry , to enrich their labour . though silke-grasse is unquestionably a staple which will bee neighbour to the profit of the silke-worme , though the naturall hempe-flagge may be a merchandize in time equal to english flax , though the sar●aparilla be an extraordinary vendible commodity , though pipestaves be so beneficiall , that with not many drops an extraordinary workeman may make his labour worth sixty pounds per annum . though he has fish there , and in such abundance that the attending diligently upon two seasons , onely returnes him a reward of one hundred pound sterling in sturgion , salmon , herings , mackrell : pot-ashes a rich and never decaying staple , &c. yet since against this an objection may be made what course they may take for their provisionall subsistence . those who apprehend such doubts will be pleased to receive this answer , in which if they are sensible of reason they cannot faile to receive satisfaction . there is no man will ever be denyed the loane of corne for his house-spending , and seed till the harvest ; if he be a single man he may prepare as much ground if cleared , and set as large quantitie of corne for his owne spending and repayment of what borrowed , in two dayes space as will abundantly suffice him twelve moneths . admit there be no cleared ground , yet if he but unbarke the trees one foot round after the indian mode to prevent the shade occasioned by the leaves , which such unbarking quite destroyes , the corne ( set betwix● those trees ) will thrive and prosper exceedingly , ●nd their ground thus prepared will last seaven or more yeares successively , and this worke cannot last him above five dayes at the longest . if he have a family , his wife and children will be able to beare part in that labour , and many others . for provision of flesh , if he can use his peece he may , even at his labour in the woods , have opportunity of killing venison , hares , wild-fo●le ( in their season innumerable ) and fish , of which the rivers are all times plentifully furnished , and of great delicacy ; if in all this abundance he is yet apprehensive of famine , wee shall refer him to the number of those who are afraid to be starved for meat in a cooks shop . besides what a small summe of money will buy your cattell , and swine in virginia ? whose feeding co●ts them nothing but thankes to god , who has spread that superfici●s of that noble countrey with perpetuall friut and verdure . poultry in infinite variety and plenty , the ●orbearance of whose encrease for a small terme of years will make them so numerous , that they may alwayes have a full table . the w●st indie potatoe ( by much more delicate and large then what wee have heere growing ) besides that it is a food excellently delicious and strongly nourishing , fixes himselfe wherever planted , with such an irradicable fertility● that being set it eternally grows : of this an extraordinary pleasing and strong drinke may bee composed . nor is the m●iz lesse commendable for bread then malting , of both which in its use it affordeth a peculiar goodnesse and convenience : and i am much to learne how a poore man can in justice complaine of want , when he is as it were besieged with such plenty : this for provision may abundantly satisfie , but if he can be content ●o forbeare debauches and profusenesse for t●e first three yeares he may by any of the meanes aforesaid arrive to such a condition of thriving , that he may allow himselfe a large latitud● of expences ( that first three yeares once expired ) without much empairing his fortunes . but since all men either by constitution of age , oppression of yeare● , or different education , are unable or improper for the fish-net or hatchet , i shall offer them a way which may be lesse laborious and peradventure more gainefull ; yet before i descend to this , i must take leave by digression to enlarge something which i have already hinted on , namely the benefit of transplantation . the removing and transposition of wild plants , doth with an experimented happinesse wonderfully mitigate and engentile their le●●e noble natu●e ; w●ethe● ( as an authour delivers it very elegantly ) it be b● reason that the nature of plants , as o● men , is desirous of novelty and peregrination , or because that at their parting from their former grounds they leave there that ranke wildnesse virule●cy and ill quality from the forest , where is first rooted the grate●ull novelty and allurement of a well cultivated s●yle makes it ●●ceive a new by exiling it from the old savagenesse and in●omestication of its first seat and nature . since then the r●moving of wild plants addes so much to their improvement and melioration confirmed by naturall reason and unerring experience : why may not the diligent labour by removeall and transposing this excellent staple of silke grasse , make it thrive equally in greatnesse and goodnesse , there needes no more art to be used then th●t of comparing the soile ( transplantations into worse grounds being naturally improsperous ) and though there appe●re now somewhat of trouble ( though nothing of lab●ur ) in peeling the silky skinne of , yet that it may be broken as flaxe or cleared by some instrument ( the commodity richly rewarding the nobility of any invention ) to this purpose ; time and further exp●rience will no doubt to the publick enric●ing of the colony and this nation make apparent . in this any one which is not sworne ● servant to ease and sloth , may with a small toile reape a considerable profit . next , what will not those vines produce if well husbanded after their transplantation , and in this most delightfull labour the gain is so appare●t that almost the blindest judgement may perceive it . orenges , lemons , pine-aples , plantanes , peaches , apricocks● peares , aples , in a word all sort of excellent fruits will grow there in full perfection ; you may sleepe whilst they are growing , after their setting or engrafting , there needes no more labour but your prayers , that they may prosper , and now and then an eye to prevent their casualties , wounds or diseases . sugars , indigos , cotton , and ginger , require a greater industry ; but if wee consider the difference betwixt the two climates of barbadoes and virginia , the immoderate heate of the first and the exact temper of the other , the labour though it may require as frequent handling , yet is by much lesse toylesome . in a word , if a man be yet timerous of a thriving condition in this countrey ; i shall with his pardon believe him , dis●rustfull of gods providence ; or if he be so vitiously disposed as to hope after a land where he may enjoy an undisturbed plenty without the sweat of his browes , the maps are so extreamely deficient in the description of such a countrey , that i must desire him to looke for a new world and kingdome , for such an easie accommodation . if any make an objection why this countrey stored with all these riches , furnished with all these staples , hath so long held downe her head in the lownesse of a desperate condition ? why being capable to crowne her browes with garlands of roses and plenty , she sate desolate amongst the w●llowes of neglect and poverty ? let them but recall their memory , how by the prevailency of gon●amore the co●poration was dissolved , their patent cancelled , to which if wee adde the cooperation of the indian treachery in their first massacre , they will cease their wonder at its languishing condition . and convert it to a full admiration , how that colony could ever raise her endangered head out of those gulfes of distraction , in which the gold of spaine , the dis●ncouragement of the court , the discontent of the better sort of planters , and the desperate negligence of the more inconsiderable had in humane opinion irrecoverably involved her . but the incomparable virgin hath rai●ed her dejected head , cleared her enclouded reputation , and now like the eldest daughter of nature expresseth a priority in her dowry ; her browes encircled with opulency to be believed by no other triall but that of expeperience her unwounded wombe full of all those treasuries which indeere provinces to respect of glory , and may with as great justice as any countrey the sunne honours with his eye-beames , entitle her selfe to an affinity with eden , to an absolute perfection above all but paradize . and this those gentlemen to whom she vouchsafes the honour of her embraces , when by the blessings of god upon their labours sated with the beauty of their cornefield , they shall retire into their groves checkered with vines , olives , mirtles , from thence dilate themselves into their walkes covered in a manner , paved with orenges and lemmons , whence surfeited with variety , they incline to repose in their gardens upon nothing lesse perfumed then rose● and gilly-flowers . when they shall see their numerous heards wanton with the luxury of their pasture , confesse a narrownesse in their b●rnes to receive their corne , in bosomes to expresse fully their thankefulnesse to the almighty authour of these blessings , will chearefully confesse : whilst the incomparable ro●noak like a queene of the ocean , encircled with an hundred attendant islands , and the most majestick carolana shall in such an ample and noble gratitude by her improvement repay her adventurers and creditors with an interest so far transcending the principall . a valuation of the commodities growing and ●o be ha● in virginia : valued in the year , . and since those times improved in all more or lesse , in some ⅓ , in others ½ , in many double , and in some treble . iron , ten pounds the tun. silke coddes , two shillings six pence the pound . raw silk , s . d . the pound , now at s . and . per pound . silke grasse to be used for cordage , d . the pound : but we hope it will serve for many better uses , and so yeeld a far greater rate , wherof there can never be too much planted . of this q. elizabeth had a silke gowne made . hemp , from s . to s . the hundred , flax , from s , to s . the hundred . cordage , from s . to s . the hundred . cotton wooll , d . the pound . hard pitch , s . the hundred . tarre , s . the hundred . turpentine , s . the hundred . rozen , s . the hundred . madde● crop , s . the hundred : course madder , s . the hundred . woad , from s . to the hundred . annice seeds , s . the hundred . powder sugar , panels , muscavadoes and whites , s . . and l . the hundred . sturgeon , and caveare , s it is in goodnesse . salt , s . the weight . mastick , s . the pound . salsa perilla wild , l. the hundred . salsa perilla domestick , l . the hundred . red earth allenagra , s . the hundred . red allum , called carthagena allum , s . the hundred . roach allum , called romish allum , s . the hundred . berry graine , s . d the pound : the powder of graine , s . the pound : it groweth on trees like holly berries . masts for shipping , from s . to l. a peece . pot-ashes , from s . the hundred , to . now . and s . the hundred . sope-ashes , from s . to s . the hundred . clapboord watered , s . the hundred . pipe staves , l . the thousand . rape-seed oyle , l . the tun , the cakes of it feed kine fat in the winter . oyle of walnuts , l. the tun . linseed oyle , l . the tun . saffron , s . the pound . honey , s . the gallon . waxe , l . the hundred . shomacke , s . the hundred , whereof great plenty in virginia , and good quantity will be vented in england . fustick yong , s . the hundred . fustick old , s . the hundred , according to the sample . sweet gums , roots , woods , berries for dies and drugs , send of all sorts as much as you can , every sort by it selfe , there being great quantities of those things in virginia , which after proof made , may be heere valued to their worth . and particularly , we have great hope of the pocoon root , that it will prove better then madder . sables , from s . the payre , to s . a payre . otter skins , from s . to s . a piece . luzernes , from s . to a piece . martins the best , s . a piece . wild cats , ● d . a piece . fox skins , d . a piece . muske rats skins , s . a dozen : the cods of them will serve for good perfumes . bever skins that are full growne , in season , are worth s . a piece . bever skins , not in season , to allow two skins for one , and of the lesser , three for one . old bever skins in mantles , gloves or cap● , the more worne , the better , so they be full of fur , the pound weight is s . the new bevers skins are not to bee bought by the pound , because they are thicke and heavy leather , and not so good for use as the old . pearles of all sorts that ye can find : ambergreece as much as you can get : cristall rocke : send as much as you can , and any sort of minerall stones , or earth that weighs very heavy . preserve the walnut trees to make oile of , & cut them not down : so also preserve your mulberry and chestnut trees very carefully . in the month of june , bore holes in divers sorts of trees , wherby you shall see what gums they yield , and let them bee well dried in the sun every day , and send them home in very dry caske . finis . the table . that virginia is parallell with china , and the happiest countries of the east and we●t●rne world in scituation , and if not superior , equall to the best in exactnesse of temperature . page . that it is stored with all sorts of timber for structure of houses , building of shipping , and all other uses● whether of necessi●y or ornament . ibid. that the native fruits of the country are various and delicate . ibid. that the virginia sea affords fishes for number and tast comparable to any other . p. . that the native beasts of the land are many , the flesh of most excellent , the hides of divers usefull , and the furres extraordinary rich . ibid. that divers harvests may be made of corne in one yeare , with the meanes , and the generall quality of the soyle . p. . that two mens labour in virginia may be worth l. per an . p. . . that rice will there flourish with extraordinary increase . ibid. that pot-ashes , pipe●taves , and clapboard may be made there in great abundance and equall profit . p. . . that the iron oare in virginia is equall to the best of any other nation , and that iron mils will be of great advantage & profit . p. . that divers rich dyes , colours , and drugs may be found out there , and the way which the spaniard useth for this discovery . p. . that vin●s grow naturally all over the countrey , which may make a rich wine . p. . that virginia will admit and improve the most generous grapes of any other countrey , whether greeke , italian , or spanish , with the means to undertake and advance this staple . p. . . . that virginia is comparable to persia. p. . that she is by nature made capable of all those excellencies of china , to which she is compared● from p. . to p. . that the art use , and excellency of the silk-worme is mor● convenient to be set on foot in virginia , then any country in europe . p. . that the silke-worme is as naturall to virginia , 〈◊〉 persia , or china . p. . that mulberry-trees proper for this mystery grow there by nature . p. . that it may with much facility be set on foot , and with great felicity brought to perfection . p. . that in this the indians may easily be brought to be coadjutors . p. . that virginia may admit of a double silk-harvest . p. . that the silk-grasse of virginia may prove a staple of incomparable richnesse . p. . that th●re is a naturall hempe in virginia excellent for cordage and linnen . p. . . that there is a rich copper ( with great probability of a golden ) min● in virginia . ibid. that there is great probability of rich silver mines . p. . that sugar , cotton , ginger , indigo , and pepper will grow in the south of virginia wit● equall fertility , and much more conveniency then in barbadoes . p. . that muske and civet may both be made in virginia . p. . that from the terra sigillata , equall in goodnesse to the best , will be yeelded an incredible revenue to the undertaker , and that it is there in vast abundance . p. . that there is no exact necessity to observe all the prescribed rules written by masters in the silk-worme mystery ; that example and observation will dimi●ish the number of these rules , and the conveni●ncy of virginia for that creature may much abreviate them . p. . . . that all the spiceryes of the philippines and other countries may grow in virginia in equall felicity , the place affording as happy , an aire , and a soile fitting in its variety for their general production . p. . that the excellencies of transplantation to meliorate what ever transplanted may be with lesse charges and greater probability of thriving in virginia , then else where made experiment of . p. . that ground may be prepared even in woody places for setting corne , vines , and potatoes , without any eradication , or felling of trees , with great speed and little labour . p. . that there is a rock of chrystall in virginia , already discovered , and the place where . p . that if the english wil but equall or imitate the industry of the spanyard , what ever ha● been discovered in new spaine , peru , and chili may be ( by meanes there set down ) laid open to such their attempts . that as the indian may be invited to practise the silk-worme mystery , so with 〈◊〉 probable hopes of successe he may be gained upon to plant the vine and olive . p. . that his planting the vine will cement him to the english to the disadvantage of the spaniard . ibid. that the south-west passage may easily be found out by a constant intelligence and information of the natives : from whence a trade and co●merce may be driven with china and cathaya . p. . that a fishing trade may be driven in virginia , which ●or excellency and plenty may be greater then that of holland , and in conclusion to make the staple of fish a rich , delightfull , and unlaborious knowledge . p. . . . that salt in virginia may be made in greater abundance and conveniency , then at rochel . p. . that so●e parts of virginia abound with pearle , and that the indian may be serviceable in fishing for them , himselfe allowed a small share in the profit arising from so rich a merchandise . that who ever can but satisfie for his owne transportation , neede not trouble himselfe for any stock to set up with , since so many severall wayes are proposed for his enriching and maintenance . lastly , it may evidently appeare through all the passages of the whole booke , that virginia duly considered for exactnesse of temperature , goodnesse of soyle , variety of staples , and capability of receiving what ever is produced in any other part of the world , gives the right hand of preheminence to no province under heaven . as a supplement to all which , since so many objections have beene , and are dayly made , lest a wilful silence might believe their scruples as authentick as reason it selfe ; such as have beene made to me have had this answer returned them , with which i desire to satisfie and communicate to all others who may have the same doubts . why rather doe wee apply our selves to the south of virginia , then the north ? why to a new where in probability all things may be wanting , rather then an old colony where already there is great abundance ? to this may be returned , that the south of virginia is more proper then the north , by reason of its fertility and aptnesse to produce all those staples o● sugar , cotton , ginger , which the colder aire in the north will not permit to flourish : that the south is more proper , may appeare by the large quantity of palmetoes which have been found there , who cannot flourish in any countrey in which there may be so much as an appearance of winter . neither need wee so much f●are a want or non-abundance in this new colony , our nearenesse to virginia and n●w england being able plentifully to furnish us with all sort of cattle at a cheaper ●ate then in england , and the very r●putation of this place once planted will quickly invite so many men as know by experience or information the excellence of the place , to remove what ever is theirs out of those more cold countries to joyne issue with us in the better sunbeam'd carolana . another objection is , what security wee may expect from the natives , who looke upon us as intruders upon the land of their nativity , and seeing the south of virginia in like manner to be possessed as the north , whether they will not in all probability attempt what ever rage , malice , and treachery can dictate to them to oppose the beginnings of such possession to our extirpation , to which they will be more enabled ( say they ) since wee are at the first seating not likely to be so numerous , or so well fortified to resist them , as in the north of virginia , where already they have committed two mass●cres notwithstanding the length of yeares to secure the implanters , and their large numbers . wee should attribute too much of the bug-beare to the indian armes , to believe that of our men well appointed are not able to give law to their aided with all the advantages of animosity and revenge , to which by nature i must confesse them prone , but their cowardise is so great , that they never act any thing but upon the scor● of anticipation or security ; a nights march and the dawne of the day are the onely opportunities which they take to revenge former hostilities upon their sleeping enemies : he which considers the desperate security the english then lived in , the fatall entercourse to the admission of them into their houses , into the heart of all their plantations without any jealousie ( i had almost said discretion ) will rather admire they were not totally massacred , then but in part attemp●ed ; and yet to sh●w the invincible basenesse and cowardise of those s●vages , then when in the heat of their revenge and height of bl●ud , fury , and success●●when all cowards but themselves are irr●sistably desp●rate and ●ushing on th●ir fortune ) one man that was mast●r but of a hart and pitch●forke , hath been known stave off and ●ffright ten of those as●assinates ; nor were any that had the gen●rosity to oppose , or the discretion to keepe good their houses mass●cred by them . the basenesse of these incomparable poltrons considered , what cause should there be to feare them ? yet to shew how those which through igno●ance or doubt of their attempts may be sufficiently secured , these remedies have been proposed and are resolved upon to r●move all futu●e attempts of tha● nature . our first seating will be upon as pleasant islands as eye may delight , into which all accesse must be by water . the indian ( first bought out of those seas , which a most inconsiderable trifle will pu●chase and prohibited fi●hing there , with a severe punishment to all those who shall against such prohibition appeare with their canoas upon the waters ) cannot assemble upon the main to our prejudice , or gather together their canoas without our notice ; besides a small thing will buy spyes amongst themselves to discover all such practises ; a knife or a hatch●t will make them betray their neighbours , or which is more , their kindred . when our numbers ( ●y the blessing of god ) shall enable us to grow upon the maine , the same price which bought them out of islands will purchase t●●m out of the continent ( i meane such a part of it as will sufficiently serve . inhabitants ) in the bounds whereof no indian shall appeare without an uncountrefaitable mark of permission , and spies used as before ; we may make use of their intelligence concealing the authors , which w●ll make those so discovered attribute to miracle what we receive by information● and peradventure enter into a superstitious beliefe of our praescience of their machinations● which will deter their attempting the like for the future . another objection which is usually made , whether this part of virginia may not be too hot as the north of that continent is too cold , considering the constitution of the english not proper to endure it , the extreams of either being alike distastfull . though it be certaine that all over those countries drawing near the center of the sun a constant brise arises and continues from . to . with a great mitigation during the violence and height of the sun , and that during those intervalls , servants are so indulged as not to labour without doors , yet it is certain that the violentest of heats in that southern is not hotter then some dayes which we feele in england . and though ancient philosophy may stumble at the doctrine ( able to make reason herselfe almost blear-eyed ) yet those no lesse signall experiencers of the modern will tell us , that the causes of moderation and habitability of those regions proceed from that which imposed upon our patriarchs of learning , who upon favourable conjecture that the ( supposed dangerous ) neighborhood of the sun , and the rapid transit of the cele●●iall bodies , with the perpendicularnesse of direct rayes could not but perpetually exile all cold and moisture as non-naturall and forreine to their immediat residence . neither had reason any allegations to the contrary , till experience opened its eye-lights by this demonstration , for moisture is never more violent in those ( which we call torrid ) regions then when the sun is in his nearest visits ; from hence arise winds and impetuous showers dayly , from hence the sun having ( in a degree of debauch ) caronsed too much in his spacious and sweaty journey , over the ocean does there discharge it ; whereas in his abscence he receives no more of those moist vapours then he can temperately and healthfully concoct . besides , these frequent showers do not only coole and refresh the otherwise parching earth , but adde as much to its fatnesse and improvement , ●s the innundations of nilus , niger , and zaire in africa , and makes the earth invulnerable against the sun's hostility & arrowy beams : and as in an alembick a fire of heat and violence enlargeth the quantity of vapours , which stifled as it were and issulesse are converted into waters , but the fire being but meanly eager , drinks up those vapours in their exhaustion ; so the sun ●n the greatnesse in the giantism of his strength , onely exhales ( not digests ) that quantity of vapours which he is inforced to disgorge in showers , which draughts of his are in his lesser heat in a more temperate quantity imbibed and concocted . nor deserves it a le●se part of consideration , that in that part of the world in which there are so many unbounded gulphs , such immense rivers and inlets , the vapours and exhalations cannot but adde coolnesse and moisture to the neighbouring elements of earth and aire : and which is an indisputable reason the almost equall length of dayes and nights dividing perpetually the time into equall portion● causeth a lesse heat then presented it selfe to the consideration-slumber of the ancients , which is confirmed by the philosophick poet in these verses . quodque die solis violento in canduit aest●● , humida nox reficit paribusque refrigerat horis . nights what e're dayes burn with o're heated powers , coole and refresh by their length-equal'd houres . joyne to this the plentifull discent of dewes greater th●n unexperienced imagination can comprehend them , and in dispensation of moisture equall to petty showers behealth the dayes with coolenesse and freshnesse , which added to the neighbourhood of such an unfathomed depth , such an unembraceable greatnesse with their spacious fluxes resolve the heated aire into a healthfull moisture : but nearer the poles the continuance of the sunne , the almost no nights , and long lived dayes make those parts more insufferably hot , then nearer an equall division of night and light , and this cause makes the summer hotter in russia then in england . i had not dwelt so long upon this discourse , but onely to show that if the centre and head-quarters of the sunne perpetually assigned betwixt the tropiques be capable of coolenesse and habitability : what shall virginia a region as fortunately and temperately seated as the noblest countries under heaven expect of moderate heates , and a by-these-infertiled surface ? to those other questions how people shall transport themselves if of fortunes ? how the lesse able be transported ? what conditions they are to expect ? i shall not doubt but publick bils will make manifest to them , and that speedily . for the other what meanes to live there ? what way of improvement upon meanes ? the book is referred unto for directions : but if that appeare unsatisfactory ( that and all things humane being subject to fa●lings ) i owe too much to my owne and that countrey , not to give them further satisfaction to the best of my knowledge : and if they please to collect the stationers name and residence from the frontispiece of the booke , i am confident he out of his humanity and good affection , will either signifie to them where i may prefer my addresses to their information , or where i shall be to attend them , and withall contribute my best knowledge in what may be usefull to them , or bring them to such of higher quality as may give them plenary satisfaction . it is my opinion ( but the more ripe judgement of others ) that this countrey well husbanded , and peopled , will in regard of its variety of staples , be such a constant entercourse of traffick to our merchant adven●u●ers , as to free them totally from all those dangers which they now groane under , either by open hostility of knowne , or under hand dealing of pr●v●te enemies● trade will be so secured among our selves of all those staples which france and spaine sell us with a hand full of exaction and causelesse expostulations , that no●hing but the casualties of the sea will contribute to c●st down countenances upon the exchange or making our merc●ants bankrupt . and that this may want no poore contribution of mine : the r●●d●● will be pleased to take notice that a booke fully discovering the whole mystery of the silke-worme , the whole art of the vine , and the conversion of the sawmill to infinite other as profitable us●s , will shortly be published , in whic● the authour as in this will reckon it amongst his happinesses , if he can at all be availeable to private instruction , or the publick benefit . finis . virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes , with their benefit . and the implanting of mulberry trees . also the dressing and keeping of vines , for the rich trade of making wines there . together with the making of the saw-mill , very usefull in virginia , for cutting of timber and clapbord , to build withall , and its conversion to other as profitable uses . london , printed by t. h. for iohn stephenson , at the signe of the sun , below ludgate . . to all the virginia merchants , adventurers , and planters . gentlemen : the unhappinesse to be amongst the lowest of men , for parts and ●ortune , cannot hinder mee from the sa●is●action which i receive in my selfe , that none is possessed with a more eager passion of contributing towards the advancing virginia to that degree of felicity which the bounty of nature , richnesse of soyle , and temperature of climate designed her to : and were my power but of as strong a wing as my inclinations and desires , that above-example countrey should be placed in such a zenith of stability , wealth , and glory , that it should behold all the other nationall happinesses o●●he world in a sphere benea●h her ; and her merchan●s adventurers and planters , like so many load-starres to conduct mankinde into an innocent ocean of un●athom'd wealth of unrocky prosperity . no countrey under the s●nne is lesse ingratefull then virginia , if she be but justly courted , but to complement a virgin for her affection by brea●hing smoake in her nostrils , to expresse our civilities by vapour ; and for all that vast dowry of spaciousnesse , wealth , bounty of aire , and plenty of provisions , to proffer her a joynture of tobacco , is a complement indistinguishable from incivill rudenesse . what riches may not the silke-worme , vine , olive , and almond afford us ? by these noble undertakings wee contract china two thousand leagues nearer to us , and are not troubled though spaine and italy were remooved five thousand more distant from us : and if wee could not satisfie the implacable curiosity of our senses without the easterne spices , it is without dispute , that what every orient hath of aromatick , would grow without any deterioration in this incomparable countrey . yet if , by some occult propriety of nature , these spices , and gummes should not prosper with that successe in the countrey to which they are onely adoptive , as where they are naturall : the south sea flowing upon the skirts of this gl●riously apparrelled virgin , would not onely furnish us , but ( through our meanes ) all the westerne world with whatever the philippines and china have in their brow , or bosome : which that it may be discovered , a publique incouragement from the merchants here , and the colony there , would awaken all spirits which have any scintillation of honour , or industry , to undertake the imployment , effect it undertaken , and by the effect raise an unperishable structure for their owne glory , perpetuated by the publique felicity . the greatest defect that colony can with consent complaine of , is their want of shipping , and the greatest with which others finde themselves perplexed , is the want of industry to build them . if virginia had not as stately timber as any other region whatsoever : if it had not a soyle naturally inviting them to improve her in iron for gunnes , anchors , and other conveniences ; in hempe for cordage , flax for canvase , and pine trees for mast : this defect might be allowed for reall : but where all these concenter , it is as unreasonable to complaine , as for a man seated at a table covered with excellent provision , to accuse his fortune for suffering him to perish with hunger , because his meat is not digested in his stomack , without putting his hands and teeth to labour . i could cordially wish that there were such quantity of cleared ground in virginia , that every one at his first arrivall might fix upon the plough , that the so much discoursed of staples of wheat and rye , might be brought to an absolute ripenesse of perfection : but to imagine so many millions of trees of a facile removall , or that old planters knowing the benefit thence arising , should part with them to others , and seeke new uncleared grounds for themselves , were meerely to dreame of impossibilities . but the vine , almond , and olive , may be set where the tree is onely barked about to hinder it from leaving ; besides if there were a necessity to have absolutely cleared grounds , ( which reason it selfe cannot imagine , ) yet foure acres of ground so cleared for the vine , will returne ( by much ) more profit , and lesse trouble , then twenty acres of wheat , at such rates as they are prized in the common estimation . but since this profit reverts to the purse without the toyle of eradicating trees , as great emolument , as if the ground were altogether treelesse , to what purpose should we court sweat and affliction ? or increase our miseries without any addition to our happinesse ? gentlemen , the happinesse of this nation depends upon your constancy and prosperity , if you seriously erect these staples , wee shall be free from the imperious usurpations of forraigne princes upon your estates , and shipping , from the rapine of pirates upon your lives or liberties . the decayed number of our shipping may be resupplyed by encouragement of carpenters of all nations , to make use of those materialls which the inimitable liberality of this countrey gratefully presents you with : all s●aples ( diffusively spread in o●her regions ) will meet here united , and we shall arrive to that degree of happinesse , to make our intrade by much exceed our exportations : for the compleating of which , if such an inconsiderable , and lost thing as my selfe , could be any way instrumentall , i should as cheerfully hazard my life in the employment , as i now subscribe my selfe , your ready , faithfull , and most humble servant , ed. williams . the discovery of silke-wormes ; with their benefit , and implanting of mulberry trees . the mulberry tree , yielding the sole food of this exellent worme , must first bee provided for , whereof there are myriads disperst in the wide continent of virginia , which may bee collected by transplanting , grafting , or nursering . for transplantation there are infinite advantages both of well-growne and springing mulberry trees , which may with much facility be removed , and with great felicity thrive upon such a removall , of which experience can afford frequent examples . the grafts must bee chosen from excellent good plants which expresse a large fertility , and bee something large of themselves , by which election there will bee a greater certainety of the goodnesse , and a more speedy expectation of growth in those grafts , which thrive better when grafted one upon another , then upon the chesnut , apple-tree , elme , white popler , or any other , which if they are not mortally opposite , are however praeternaturall to the silke-worme . the nurseries have so much of tediousnesse and difficulty , that i shall hardly advise to put it in practice ; yet to those who have a stronger credulity then my reason can perswade mee to , i shall offer the sole expedient of effecting it , if that may bee called aptly an expedient , which hath so little of expedition in it . let the person desirous to make a nursery , observe , and gather such quantity as will suit with his necessity , of the ripest fruit growing upon those trees which beare the fairest and roundest leaves : these thus gathered , you must wash in ●wo or three waters● pressing them with your hands , by which 〈◊〉 s you shall finde the expressed seede in the bottome of the wa●●● : ● acced● more to the sowing of the mulberries whole without such expression , how ever , either the mulberry entire , or the seede may bee sowed after the manner following● a bed of fat earth being digged , husbanded , and the mould br●ught into a small powder , must have strait rowes or lines in fu●rowes , all halfe a foot equally distant every furrow two inches deepe , and fou●e broad , this distance may bee something larger that an intervall may bee made to the weeder in the weeding of such things as may hinder the mulberries growth by participating in its aliment . a great care must bee had to water it often for the first yeare , if the weather be dry , the succeeding yeare you may pul up and transplant your mulberry trees into another ground more at large , viz. at two or three foot distance , which must bee not retransplanted till the growth arise to some six inches in the circumference , at which bignesse you may remove them to the ground designed for their constant fixation , leaving betwixt ●ach tree a distance of sixteene or twenty foot , that the too much vicinity may not make the extending branches mutually inconvenience either by exclusion of a full sunne , or wound themselves by intertangence of one another : in such warme countries as that of virginia , the root must bee preserved coole and moyst , by a deeper implantation then is usuall in colder regions . for the election of your plants or sciens you may take notice of two families , or races , of mulberry trees , the black , and the white , discordant in wood , leafe , and fruit ; onely having this in common to spring later then other trees , as never emitting their leaves till all apprehension of cold is vanished , the black mulberry is not subdivided into any other species having the wood solid and strong , the leafe large , and rude in the handling , the fruit black , great , and acceptable to the palate : but there are three apparently different species in the white , distinguished onely by the colour of the fruit , namely , white , black , and red : yet is this fruit by much le●se gratefull to the palate then that of the black mulberry . no other distinction besides , the colour of the fruit discernes them one from the other , the leaves of all three being of the same meane greatnesse of the same smooth feeling , the wood of the same internall yellownesse , almost as ●irme as that of the black mulberry . but the silke taking his quality from the leafe make us lay aside the black mulberry tree , since the bottomes from thence are too grosse and heavy , whereas the white mulberry makes silke fine and light , to temper which many feed the wormes with two sorts of meats by dictinction of times , viz. at the beginning with white leaves , that the silke may bee fine , in the closing , with black to fortifie it , and make it weigh : yet this though it have an appearance of reason at the first inspection , rarely answers the expectation , the very alteration of the meate as from that which is more delicate , to that which is more grosse , being disagreable to the nature of the worme , who must shew that diminution in the quality of his silkes which hee feeles in the impairing of his nutriment . others make a contrary application of leaves by a more ( imaginative solid foundation ) which is to begin their dieting with black , and conclu●e with white ; which cannot succeed better , for the black having disposed the matte● of the silke , the white leaves after administred have no power to alter that seminall disposition . wee shall therefore fixe upon it as a principle of nature , not to vary the nourishment of this industrious creature . if wee begin with the black mulberry , the continuance of it will bee necessary . if the ground you possesse bee already planted with black mulberries , it is so much losse of time and expences to replant white : but if wee are to commence a thing de novo , every mans reason leading him to chuse the most profitable , and common exp●rience telling us that the white antecede the black ones so incredibly in the poynt of matu●ation , that six years of growth advance not so much the latter as two the first ; it were an act declaring bethlem for dictator , not to prefer the most speedy and profitable before the tedious and improper commodity . besides which em●lument the branches which by that speedy shoot they bring forth will bee usefull for propagation of that tree to infinite numbers . there is yet experimentall election amongst the white mulberries . some affirming that the leaves of those trees which emit the white fruit are fittest to bee assigned for this nourishment , which they fortifie by this reason ; that pullen and swine doe most delight in the white , and never eate the red and black but by constraint● , a conjecture not altogether irrefragable ; for why may it not bee controverted that pullen and swine being a greedy generation , may rather ballance that which is most grosse and fulsome , as best adapted for their palate , then that which is nice , and subtle , and best according to the delicate tendernesse of this creature ? others who have their owne experience to fortifie their assertion , commend the white mulberry bearing the black fruit , the colour demonstrating a better concoction in the fruit , and consequently in the leafe then the others . but ( which wee must bee extreamely curious in ) wee must expell from our yard all muberry trees bea●ing leaves too much indented , which , besides that it is an apparent signe of small subsistence and uncompleated nature , is more defective in quantity and quality of nourishment , then that which is lesse interruptedly circular : yet this may easily bee remedied , if you inoc●late such trees in the bud● or es●ucheon , having neede of such freedome ; the profit thence arising being very considerable for this kinde of nourishment : for by this course that inconsiderable quantity of worthless and famelick leaves receives a happy melioration into an abundant plenty of substantiall and nutritive nature . nor is this transmutation improper , for any other orchard plants which will succeede to your most advantagious expectation , and all indomestick and wild trees may by this bee made capable of a most happy cultivation . this infranchizing may bee practised to the answer of your desires in mulberries of all ages : in the older , on th●ir new shoot● of the antecedent yeare then lopped ; in the yonger upon the smallest trees of the nursery . but to graft these trees in the first season , that their growth will permit it , is most opportune and profitable ; for by this meanes your groves of mulberry will bee intirely delivered from all apprehe●sion of jejune sterility , or insub●tantiall deficiency : nor can ever you feare a want of supply , if you constantly maintaine a nursery of such grafts , not from the seede , but from the shoots and branches of your best trees thus propagated to an unperishable infinity by couching them in the ground , and the trees encreasing by their reimplanting are constantly furnished with leaves of an excellent sweetnesse and greatnesse , exquisitely abundant in nourishment , and consequently exempt from all the inconveniencies which walke hand in hand with an ingratefull wildnesse . having described what trees , grafts , and nurseries are best conducent to our mystery ; let us next dilate of their most proper soyle , and best order in planting . t●e best soyle and order ●or planting the mulberry . for the soyle it must bee chosen in particular much like that of the vines , inclining rather to dry then moyst , light then heavy , sandy then clayie ; for those which opiniona●e themselves that a fat ground is inconvenient t● mulberries● as supplying leaves of too grosse and unsubtile aliment ; the objection is pritty , but under pardon scarcely solid , neither am i capable of any reason to the contrary , why a rich soyle should not emit the growing trees with a greater maturation and bignesse , then a leane plantation , where the tender plants are even starved with the sparenesse of distributive moysture and aliment : yet to prevent the too grosse substance of the leafe after the tree by the advantage of a rich nourishment , hath arrived to a competent greatnesse ; the order which wee shall prescribe in their planting will admit the plough amongst them , where cultivation will easily take off the soyle from all exuberancy of fullsome ranknesse . the soyle which is full of springs , lakes , rivers , or ( which i● worst of all ) marshes , is particularly to be avoyded . the manner of implanting them would require a distance of ●oure fathomes or more , which in virginia where wee labour not under a penury of ground , may bee something more spaciously enlarged ; the reasons why this extent of distance are : first , the intermixture of spreading branches , where by their contingency they violate and ●utually wound themselves will bee avoyded . next , the sunne hath a more unimpeached immi●●ion and distri●ution of his beames , with which this tree is most particularly delighted . lastly , this largenesse of intervalls permits a free passage for the plough● to take off all luxur●ancy of ranknesse , which too much inspissates the leafes , which must feede this admirable creature . but of such graines as may with lea●t impairement bee sowen under the mulberry trees , oats and pease are the most proper , which during the ●ollection of the leaves may with very small detriment bee tr●dden upon ( the season commonly falling in april and may , when their blades are backward ) nay the very compressure of the earth makes them afterwards arise more strongly . i approve much more of interplanting the vine ; but ( which i conceive the most convenient for virginia is ) the setting of the indian potato hath the most inestimable benefit ; the potato having such a happy multiplica●ion of and in it selfe , that whilst there is but a string of the root left behinde in the earth , the species will bee renewed . besides the excellency of the food , whether for man , or ( where such a vast abundance may soone introduce a satiety ) cattle will bring alone with it an inestimable advantage ; whereas corne may too strongly impoverish a ground , and th● vine it selfe when it comes to its ripest excellency , will want th● compleat comfort of the sunne beames to give fruit a well concocted maturity , the mulber●y like an ambitious grandee , engrossing all that favour to himselfe by his prevalency of height and greatnesse . nor should wee bee too curious to plant the trees one over against the other exactly opposite ; but ● still observing for beauties ●ake to set them in a right line ) rather one against the intervall of the other , that so the sunne may have no interposition from any a●gle , to warme , comfort , and enrich this tree , which aides the production of so many incomprehensible miracles . the order for collection of the leaves . the order to bee observed for collecting the leaves should bee precisely insisted upon , that the trees may bee of longer and ●●ourishing duration , and the food of a more curious and unsoyled nourishment : it is a truth not to bee denyed , that the dis●eaving of trees is extreamely prejudiciall , and in some irrecoverably deadly ; the reason is their extraordinary scorching , by being left without any shade of protection : but the m●lberry being ( as it were ) destin●d to this worke which it naturally supporteth , more inprejudicially endures this ●emper of di●leaving then any other trees whatsoever . but for the obviation of this inconvenience , it will bee absolutely necessary for our master of the silkeworme● to have such a proportionable number of trees , that the halfe may alternately repose unpluckt every second yeare . this diligently put into practice will make your trees contin●e verdant and vigorous for many generations . to gath●r them with both hands leafe after leafe , i● confessedly the most proper , but yet withall the most expencefull ; for the multitude of hands which such a circumstantiall labour would exact . the other way of gathering them with stripping them from th● branches , is without doubt extreamely nocent to the tree , and worm : to the tree by unbarking , wounding and perishing its branches . nor is it lesse de●rimentall to the worme seeing this disorderly collection corrupts and sullies the leaves , which this delicate nice creature perceiving , either rejects them , or sickens upon their reception by bruising the leaves , and expressing that which is the life of i●s substance , the juice , and this commonly with unwasht hands , which leave the ill odour unremoveable upon them . the remov●ll of these inconveniences is easily effected by following the course they practice in some parts of spaine , which is by clipping the leaves from the branches with a sharpe in●trument , like a taylors sheares ; by this way you disleave many stalkes at once , which falling into a cleane sheete spread under that tree for the purpose , seperating afterwards the leaves also● such as are ●ound from unsound , such as peradventure have much of the stalke , from those which are nothing but leafe , ( the stalke being hurtfull to this tender creature ) and a●ministred to them the sunny side of the leafe upward is the most commendable practise of gathering and f●eding that hath hitherto been delivered . the leaves of the old mulberry are to bee much prefer'd before those which are not come to an absolute perfection ; the age of perfection in the mulberry , we reckon to be accomplished in seven or eight yeares , as to soundnesse of nourishment ; not that they grow not after , but by that time it is growne powerfull to concoct such succulency as might before over master it . the trees disleaved must by a diligent hand be pruned immediatly after the last collection ; what ever is broken , wounded , or made unprofitable must bee carefully cut off . the extreames of all the branches must be top'd a little with a sh●rpe pruning knife , which is an invitation to nature to send forth the next yeare more vigorously . but whether it be in gathering the leaves , or pruning the trees , it must bee our principall care that they be intirely beared , the omission of which , by not taking all the leaves off , turnes back the liberallity of the repeating spring . this observation hath been grounded upon practise , made so successefull by experience , that it hath been found , that trees after such culture and disleaving , have within a month attired themselves with such a n●w border of leaves , that the former imbalding them hath been imperceptible . which induces me to believe a former assertion , that it is possible to have a second silke harvest by this meanes , and why not equall with the first , i know not , since the seed is more youthfull and vigorous then that of the yeare preceding growne feeble by its continuance . the raines if they fall about the time this noble creature drawes unto her perfection and period , is by much more strangely prejudiciall , then when they are in the greatest of their feeding , the wet leaves occasioning them many desperate diseases : the usuall way of prevention is to have a provision of leaves before hand , when there is any jealousie of rainy weather ; but this provision must be laid in a cleane dry place which is fresh aired , and that we may remove all dangers of contracting too much heat , to be turned often , which course , although the raine should not oppresse us , yet is it of great conveniency , not so much out of apprehension to be necessitated as for the quality of the food , it being much better after fourteen or fifteen houres resting in a place cleane and drie , then when fresh from the tree . but if you are surprized by an unexpected season of wet , take those mulberries which you intend to lop the next yeare , ( and the mulberry would be lop'd every ten or twelve yeare , which revives and strengthens the tree with a new youth ) and cut their branches which hung up in a drie corner , either of your house or barne , or any other coverture in airy places , will soone have their leaves drie , better condition'd , a●d of more efficacy then any leaves set to a fire , which is too suddaine , or to winnowing by a winde artificiall and unnaturall . the mulberries chiefe profit consisting in the leafe , we must be carefull to lose nothing of this revenue ; which considered● wee should delay the disheading or lopping of them till the wormes have done feeding , which would be about the latter end of m●y , or the beginning of iune ● and although by the disbranching of them in such a season , we cannot expect such large returning shoots as those which were cut in february or march , the dist●nce of time being materiall in their growth , yet the profit of the leaves being double , very well answer such inequality . the mu●berry being of so franke and plyable a disposition , that notwithstanding its amputation in unseasonable moone and weather , no injuries shall ●inder him from regermination . yet are not these advantages ( no necessity obstructing them ) to be omitted by any which are not enemies to their owne profit . the mulberries in the increase of the moone● pouled , or lopt , bring forth their young shoo●s long without spreading branches ; in the wa●e short , with many little branches crossing the principall . to reconcile this ( the election of the time being in our power ) the mulberries seated in leane grounds , are most prop●rly disheaded in the new moone● those which are planted in rich ground , in the last qua●ter ; so will those in the leane soyle ●●it shoots as long as the ba●rennesse of the place will affo●d them : and those of the fatter , through the benefit of the● seat , conveniently regaine that which they would not easily have done , cut in the increase ; for those aspiring branches , were they not r●strained by the counte● shoots who participate with them in nou●ishment wou●d by reason of their unweldy length , be forced to bend downewa●ds to the deforming of the tree from the shape of a mulberry into that of a palme-tree , which is not to bee feared in the rest , by reason of the leanenesse of the ground , forbidding all abundance of shooting : wee have provided for the feeding of this little and great artificer , let us now expresse an equall care in his lodging . the lodging of the silke wormes . t is a vanity to expect emolument from this mysterious creature , if wee sort him not with a lodging proper and agreeable to his nature , who can with no lesse disprofit bee ill accommodated in his habitation , then in his nourishment ; who to show a particular affinity with the noblest of creatures , man , makes his affection of habitation equall to his . spaciousnesse , pleasure , healthfullnesse , distance from off●nsive vapours , damps and humidities , warmth in the extreames of colds , coolenesse in the extreames of warmth . wh●t ever wee naturally desire and abhorre , does this creature by the prosperity or infelicity of his labours show a most experimentall resentment of . his station therefore must bee in the meane twixt the top and bottome of a foundation , the first being too much obnoxious to heats or windes , the second to colds and damps . the platforme therefore of your building his station must be so contrived , as to have his basis three or foure foot above the g●ound , nor ascending within an equall distance of the tiles . a fab●ick ( saith d● serres ) of seven fathome in length , three in breadth , and two in height , will entertaine with ease the wormes enlivened from ten ounces of seed : this proportion may be raised according to your seed . in virginia these may be of very sudden erection ; nature hath furnished that excellent countrey with materials , to invite all who have the desire to attempt it . that the aire and winde ( if coole and dry ) may have free passage to r●fresh these laborious spinners , who near upon the perfection of their worke are upon the point of stifling● ( the season , and the abu●d●●ce of the silke wherewith th●y are filled , both cooperating thereunto ) w●e must h●ve window●s opening to all angles to receive u●susp●●ted inf●igidations in extreamities of heat , and warming ●ranspirations in immoderate colds ; yet with this proviso , that these windowes bee fit not onely to receive any favourable aire , but to expell all noxious vapours ; and because this creature loveth any thing that is white and luminous , it will sort excellently well with his disposition and safety , to parget or plaster the inside of the hous● very well and smooth , both to satisfie the eye and preserve him from the danger of rats , which cannot clime ●p such a wall , though a principall care ought to bee used that the severall stations on which they are lodged , bee remote from all fixures to walls , which might give rats and mice advantage . to build the scaffolds containing these wormes : many pillers of carpenters worke directly squared , shall bee perpendicularly erected , from the ground to the seeling , to support the tables which crossing the pillars upon little joynts sixteene inches distant one from the other ( except that from the g●ound which must bee inches . ) upon these tables doe wee lay our wormes , but their boards must not bee equall in breadth , every table as it exceeds in height , being to bee narrower then the next below by foure inches , and the highest approaching the seeling to bee narrowest of all . this pyramidicall forme is of most beauty and safety to the wormes ; when wandring upon the edges from one end of the scaffold to another , seeking a fit place to vomit their silke , they fall in such a precipice from the higher scaffold to the ground● that they break th●mselves in pieces : but by this means fal●ing but from one scaffold to another , the smallnesse of the distance contributes to their preservation . the breadth of the most lowest ●able shall bee limited even to this proportion , that easily of one side a ma● with his hand may reach the middle to attend the wormes ; as for the ascending scaffolds their continuall diminution makes the serving of them of greater easinesse . a roome of any capacity will admit severall of these scaffolds ( distinct from the wall for reason before recited of r●ts ) and also that the attender may come on either side of the scaffold , such space being alwayes to bee left betweene their po●ition● ●hese scaffolds must bee made of an unsuspect●d fi●menesse , to prev●nt the falling downe of any part of it , or the whole either by 〈◊〉 ladder which the keeper ascends , or the weight of the worms thems●lves , when once growne great and h●●vy . to s●●nd these se●ffolds some m●ke boa●ds ●bout them , ●s it were by ga●leries● othe●s have their getting up to them by little staires app●opriated to this ; others by formes● i approve of none more convenient then a light ladder which fi●●all , and poss●sses but one place . the timber fittest to employ in the tablure of this scaffolding is usually firre or such light wood : in virginia i apprehend none fitter then cedar or cypresse , because of their delicious odours . wee have already spoken of such meanes as may refr●sh the overheated worme ; rests now to del●ver an experiment to warme the aire , this crea●ure b●ing no l●●●e enemy to cold in the beginning of his apprentissage , then to heate when hee is ready to goe out ●f this world m●st●r workem●n . aft●r having built your house for worms ; let there be a hole pier●●d through your wall , where you must make an oven , the mouth whereof must be on the out side of the house : then before you make it off , take pots like flower pots , bu● such as will i●dure the fire , and lay them with the mouth side of these p●ts tending inwards towards the house , and the bottome within the oven , lay these t●us sidelong at an equall distance and worke up the oven with the pots incorporate thereunto● this done you may make a fire in the oven , which by the benefit of the p●ts conveyes a●l the heate to you without any inconveni●nce of smoake . to make this heate the more agreeable to the wo●m●s , and to keepe the house in a temperate and inoff●nsive warmth , you may put into these pot● branches of rosemary , time , ros●s , ●uniper , &c. this figure sheweth the order for ●●●king ●h● t●bl●●●n ●●e se●ffolds , to lay the leaves on , for feeding t●e wormes . this figure sheweth how ●o plac● the rods , betweene the table● , for the wormes to ●limbe up , and spin their silke . this figure representeth the engi●e , to wind off the silk from the cods , with furnaces and cawlderns necessary thereto . this figure pourtra●●● the cods , with the butter●lies come forth of them , to lay th●●● egges upon black serge , chamlet , tammy , or such like stuffe , as in this treatise is shewed . the elec●ion and use of the seed of the silke-worme . there is a great deale of reason , that we should be curio●s in the election of ou● seed ; and t is not more poetick then philosophick , that of horace : est in juv●n●i● est in equis patrum , virtui nec imb●llem feroces progenerant aquilam columbae . what can we expect of generosity in that which has a disposition to degenerate before produced : of all the seeds proper for the v●vifying this animall , there is none more excellent● as yet arrived to our knowledge , then that of spaine : this de ●erres ●ffirmeth , though he seeme to be in a kinde of haesitation , whether that of calabria march not in a higher degree of reputation , as yielding more abundance , and of equall hardnesse with the cod of spaine ; yet this is certaine in nature and reason , that seed transported into other colder regions , can no way lay claime to a parity of thriving with that continued in its owne climate ; and i doubt not but if the south of virginia , where the silke-worme is aboriginally native , were duely inquired after , the seed of that would hav● a particular excellency , to which all the europaean nations must give the glory , the right hand of preheminence . but leaving this to the scrutiny wh●ch shall be made by time , and experience , we must grant the prime opinion to the spanish , which however it thrive in france for foure yeares , yet afterwards it degenerates extreamely , so that it must ●very foure yeares be renew'd , for within that circle it s●●f●●s a manifest d●clension in goodnesse . comming from spaine it is of a dark taw●y colour , after ce●taine generations , gray . to prove whether the seed be dead or not , you must exp●●iment it upon your naile , that which br●aks in cracking , c●sting ●orth ●umor and moisture , you may assuredly esteem for good , the other is to be rejected . the smallnesse of the spanish se●d increases the number of wormes , for which it deserves a p●r●icular prae●●tion . no seed of above a yeare old is any further profitable , till you put them to hat●h , you may preserve them in boxes thrust amongst woollen clo●thes in a trunke or chest , and let the cha●ber where such trunkes or chests are , be now and then aired with a fire , to the intent they being rather warme then cold , may be praedisposed for a hasty production when the season of the yeare shall invite you to put it into practise . to imbibe or steep the seed of silke-wormes in the most generous wine you can procure , is an experiment that hath alwayes answered with a happy successe ; for this not onely discriminates betwixt the good and bad , ( the good alwaies subsiding , and the other floating ) but addes legitimation and strength to the approved ones , making them come forth free and fortified , and causeth them to hatch almost all at one time . after the good are taken out , they must be set to drie in the sunne , or before the fire , layd upon very clean paper , covered with white linnen , or smooth paper , lest the ●eat might bring it prejudice . the vivification of the seed . the spring being come , and the mulberries budding , it will be seasonable to put them to hatching , which ( all other wayes omitted , as the keeping them in a boxe , in ones pocket , between a womans breasts , &c. ) sorts best with reason and convenience , performed thus● viz. that the seed removed from its first vessell , shall be committed into a box lined with cotton , over which you must put a white paper , which must seperate the seed from the cotton , the● cover the seeds ( being not above halfe an inch thick ) with a little b●d of tow , over which tow you are to lay a paper pierced very thick with small holes , much about the bignesse of the tag of a point ; over this paper you shall lay some mulberry leaves . and this is the preparative to hatch them . to bring them forth , lay your boxe so prepared between two pillowes , which moderately warmed with a pa● every two houres● and after the first three and foure dayes visiting the box at every such warming , to the end to seperate such as you shall see hatched , who will not faile to creep through the tow , and pierced paper to the mulberry leaves , to which they will cleave : which to remove , you must draw them out of the boxe by taking hold of the mu●berry leave● with a needle , and removing them and the wormes adherent into a bigger boxe or sieve ; with paper at the bottomes , distinguish those of a hasty production from those of a more slow , that the worke may arise more equall . these thus brought forth must by gradations be accustomed to indure the coolenesse of the spring , diminishing dayly something from his accidentall warmnesse : the first foure daies let them in the sieve covered with cleane linnen continue upon the bed , the curtaines closely drawne , then removed into a warme chamber , close from all penetrations , layd upon ranks close together , that they may give and receive mutuall warmth , allowing them a larger proportion of roome , as they increase in body . but the most assured way to preserve the wormes untill their second change in warmth and security from vermine , dust , or other hostilities of nature , is by a great presse or cubbord made with many stages , parget●ed or pasted for the agreeablenesse of the odou● with oxe dung , made of firre , or mats , and to draw out at will seperately , equally distant foure inches , compassed round about with linnen tackt to the doores , with paper w●ndowes on the sides and formost doore , to admit or exclude aire after the exigency of the occasion ; and heere vacant places being left at first to enlarge them , as they increase in growth may they bee distinguished according to the dates of their first appearance upon the mulberry , rejecting all that seed , which is not enlivened before the fifth day , as unprofitable for working by confusion of times , and uselesse by their weaknesse . foure times doth this excellent artist change his skinne , which is the cause of his so many sicknesses . the first sicknesse arriving within ●ight dayes from the beginning of his life , is knowne by these symptomes ; the head growes bigge and white , and hee hides hims●lf● under the leaves : to administer any food were needless● ; but that they are not all sick at one instant , so that some must bee giv●n to nourish them which have not arrived to , or past over their sicknesse , which you shall know by their change of colour and creeping upon fresh leaves . the second sicknesse arising within eight dayes , or thereabouts , from thence is knowne by the sa●● accidentalls , and must have the same applications , onely now they would bee removed into new , cleane , and more spacious places : the third is in all like the two other , though something more dangerous ; heere you must carefully prevent the accession of all cold ayres whatsoever : it may happen that some of these wormes may grow yellow , which is almost incurable in themselves , and deadly contagious to all the rest ; these must bee carefully selected from the rest and ejected . remove , enlarge & cleanse as before . eight or ten dayes after appears the . change or sicknes , & now the recovered worms being increased to their full growth , must be removed , enlarged , & cleansed , as before . at appoynted houres morning and evening must this worme be● fed from their hatching to their fi●st change or sickness● ; from the second change to the third or fourth , they must bee fed three times the day at the least , taking this for an assured maxime , that after the recovery from their last siknesse , the very cloying of them with leaves● even to the satiety of their appetite , accelerates them to the perfection of their taske ; for these curious vessells will the sooner discharge themselves of their precious inclosed substance , by how much they are the sooner replenished . nor is there any prodigall improvidence in this ; for it hath beene observed that wormes have eaten neare as much in eight dayes when more sparingly distributed , as in foure when liberally handed to them ; so that by such wary dispensation they save no leaves , and lose foure dayes in point of time . but a particular eye of care must bee had to the quality of the leaves you feede with . no goodnesse of a selected tree being capable to secure it selfe against accidentall diseases arising from the unnaturallnesse of seasons , wherein by extreames of drought or moisture , mildewes , heat drops , and other distempers , all the leaves oftentimes becomming yellowish , spotted , or speckled , declare the nature of that food highly unwholesome and pernicious : such as grow out of the sunne in the interior umbragious parts of thick trees are almost as dangerous : no● are the leaves of the second spring which shoot afresh on trees already disleaved of lesse guilt , through the inequality of their ages● one banquet of those gives the last repast that your wormes shall have neede of , a fluxe thence arising killing them , and easing you of further trouble , if yo● account it so to be vigilant over your owne profit . the m●st agreeable to all wormes is to bee fed with leaves of their owne age , and by this the feeble creature shall meete with tender leaves , then growne strong with leaves , f●ll growne correspondent to both their complexions . the fault of the wet leaves may bee corrected by patience , attending the serener season ; but of dry leaves you ought at no time ( if you regard your owne profit with a sober providence ) to bee unprovided , and the way how to prepare hath beene already delivered in this treatise . th●se precious creatures exact no great expence or laborious care during the first three or foure weekes , b●ing satisfied with little , as most agreeeble to the tendernesse and smallnesse of bodies , and are very well entertained with the leaves of the succours or other branches , from whence for the profit of the tree on● should necessarily cut them . at the beginning we go to gather leaves with hankerchiefs , then with little baskets , lastly with sacks & maunds , as growing to a bignesse to re●uire it , and a perfection to discern it . that the gatherers of these leaves should handle them with pure and washt hands , wee have already decla●ed absolutely necessary : but the governour of these chast and magnific●nt creatures must bee master of an exact purity . the smell of tobacco is deadly to them : let his obs●rvance forbeare it : let him have a watchfull eye , that none of an offensive smell approach them ; all ill breathings upon them● whether contracted by fulsome foode or nature make this innocently noble creature express● her r●sentment by her owne death , or sicknesse . let him pu●ifie the rankn●sse of his owne breath ( when fasting ) with good wine ere he approach them● with the odour whereof the worme is highly ch●rished . let the lodging be swept every day , and preserved so by sprinkling the flou●e with vinegar , and afterwards strawing it wi●h lavender , sp●ke , rosemary , time , and such like of well comforting odours . to these we may sometim●s adde a p●rfume composed of frankincense , benio●n , storax , and o●her quickning aromaticks bu●ned in the lodging . let the tables be oft●n made cleane and shift●d , by often , i meane every ●●ird o● fou●th day a● the fur●hest , at which time the litter begins to bee offensive to this curious natured creature ; especially with the increase of the heate , let his diligence increase , that no uncleanesse ( at that time more then ordinary maligne ) cut him from the benefit of his labours . the litter must not bee taken away by degrees to the trouble of our curious creature , but all at once ; which may bee ●ffected , if you leave at the end of each scaffold an empty station to place the adjoyning wormes on , whose left station being made cleane is fitted for the next neighbourhood , and thus may all bee removed and shifted by degrees , and a vacan● table at the other end of the scaffold r●maines to begin againe ( as afore ) within two , three , or foure dayes at the longest . and thus without carrying far , the wormes shall bee removed with ease and security , not once laying the finger upon their tender bodies ; for giving them fresh leaves at the time of their replacing , the worme wil● fasten to the leafe , and the leafe may bee removed with his precious burthen , with no lesse safety then convenience . it will bee requisite to dispose the tables in such a fashion that they may bee seperately taken from the scaffold like tills out of drawers ; for this the easiest and lesse nocent way of cleansing , as preventing the falling of any stench upon the lower ●ables , and by which they are more suddenly discharged of their filth and ordure , meerely by striking them gently on the floore , which done , let them bee swept and brushed perfectly well ; let the tables on which you put your wormes after their first sicknesse bee sprinkled with vinegar or wine , then rubbed over with sweete hearbes to delight and encourage them to labour . some have made tryall● which hath succeeded happily of the smell of garlick and onions to refresh them ; i dare not absolutely assent to this experiment ; but it is cleare as su●●e-shine , that the worme not onely rejoyces in agreeable odours , but is succoured thereby in his greatest ●aladies : of which we now intend to discourse . the causes of extraordinary maladies in wormes , and their ●●re . the extreames of colds and heates , the too sparing , or too abundant administration of victualls in their severall ages , and a maligne disposition of the leaves are the principle causes of all extraordinary maladies which afflict this creature . if the in●lemency of cold hath benummed or diseased this innocent artist , the stove or oven formerly mentioned will recover it ( the stopping of all windowes , and other admissories of aire cooperating● ) to the greater complement of the c●re , let the lodging bee perfumed with redolent g●mmes , with wine , strong vinegar , or aqua vitae : if on the contrary , the torrid violence of heate have wasted the strength of this suddaine and excellent spinner : the fresh aire admitted at the doo●es and windowes some brave artificiall fannes or ventalls to raise this breath , if too little , or at the last the exposing them upon their tables out of their lodgings to enjoy an uncontrouled and liberall communion of the aire , some halfe an houre before sunne rising are the proper meanes of their recovery . those which by a wastfull liberality of their keeper in the t●ndernesse of their age have injured themselves with over fe●ding , must bee cured by a two dayes abstinence , and for some two succeeding dayes dieted with a moderation . those who famished by the negligenc● of their keeper are almost languishing to death , mus● bee restored by giving them meate in slender proportion , but frequently repeated , by such a dyet regaining their forfeited appetite . those which by having fed on yellow spotted , or too yong leaves have contracted a fl●xe , and from thence a jaundice and spotted colour , i● companied with black bruisings , must upon the first inspection bee immediately ●emoved into seperate chambers , that the change of ayre and dyet may labour for their almost desperate cure , and to prevent a contagion , which from thence would universally domineere . but such wormes which as an accession to this last disease you should behold bathed on the belly by a certain humour flowing in that part of their bodies , are as incurable , good for nothing but to repast your poultry . indeed excepting this last inexpugnable malady perfumes and change of chambers are generally conducing to overcome all diseases and to res●ore a new health and vigour . but this noble creature is by nature sufficiently priviledged from these diseases , if the unskilfullnesse or negligence of the keeper did not violate this priviledge , and by that violation increase his owne trouble . nor is this care of the keeper to bee onely limited to the day , the night too must require a part of his vigilance ; mice and rats then take advantage , and grieved that any creature should labour for man without their participation or obstruction devoure them by troopes , and the cat her selfe enters in●o a league with these her usuall prey● to prey upon these poore things , whose innocency and excellency makes them the more obnoxious to their cruell avarice . to remedy this , the house must not bee without continuall lampes , bells , and other vaine terrours to affright them : the keeper himselfe also , or his depu●y must fr●quently walke round about his little a●my . and left the oyle ( which occas●ons divers indispositions , if it fall but in a drop upon these nice a●●●sts ) might bee prejudiciall , the lamp●s should bee affixed on the wall , and the portable lights with which hee visits his curious charge of waxe , tallow , firre●tree , or any other of inn●xious , but illuminative substance . these things well observed , within seaven or eight da●es at the most , succeeding their fourth and l●st exuviall sickness● ; the w●rmes dispose themselves to pay the expence of their diet. to make preparation for them , there must bee accommodations of r●●● necessary for these wormes to 〈◊〉 up to vomit their silke , and fasten their webs by . to assemble these wormes ( the terme assigned to this worke ) the most proper matters are rosemary , cutting of vines ●●oots , of chestn●●s , okes , osiers , sallowes , elmes ashes , and in generall of all flexible shrubs , not having any disagreeing od●ur . the feet of these rods ●v●ned for the bet●●r fixure shall bee joyned at inches distant to the table below , ●nd th● t●p● of them arch●d together at that above● which epit●●●all a●phitheater is mast●r of as much beauty as those of the caesars in the greate●● volume of their lustre and magnifice●ce ; the upper part of the arch must bee plent●●ully interwoven with sprigs of lavender , spike , thyme , and shrubs delectable to the smell . by this intermixture the wormes shall have ample sat●sfaction to their restlesse curiosity , where firmly to fasten their rich matter , having an election of such delectation of perfumes , & variety of shoots : but these twigs must by no means be green , the moisture extreamly offending the cattell , and not suddenly withering , if the aire be moyst . the wormes being removed to these amphitheatrall trophies , you may easily discover their gratefull inclination to spinne , by their bignesse of body , brightnesse , and clearenesse of belly and neck , neglect of meat , and irregular wandring through the troope ; and a ●●ttle af●er to fulfill these promises they ascend their branches to vomit , or rather spinne out their silky substance . here you must diminish their ordinary , dayly , for they will in short time have united themselves to those shoots or twigs , quite forsaking the table . those wormes which clime not before the others union to the branches are of a latter hatching ; and to prevent all unseasonable intertextures in generall , to the retarding and perishing of the whole worke , must be assembled two other tables arched as these , that they may worke together at one time . the knowledge ( when these wormes have perfected their cod● or bottoms ) may be obtained by an eare that is but the leastwaies curious , these creatures making both a pleasant humming in feeding and continuing it in fashioning their bottoms , give that noise and their compleated worke over both together . that which falls next is the propagation of the seed to be preserved till the next harvest . the propagation of the silke worme seed . happy creature , which livest onely to doe mankinde service● and dyest when thou hast accomplished i● ! miracle of nature ! a worme shut up in his owne monument , breakes through his silky grave , transformed into a butterflye● employes ten dayes to erect himselfe a s●pulchre , and an equall proportion of time to leave it● disimpri●oning himselfe from his owne interment , by perforation of his bottome , he returnes to the view of mankinde in the figure of a butterflye , with wings , as if he had already try●●ph'd over his mortality ; which done , he and his co-triumphall females , coupling together perpetuate their species by dissolution of their bodies ; and that which compleats the miracle , may arise from the long abstinence of this living three and twenty dayes imprisoned without any sustenance or fruition of that which he takes a particular delight in , day light . removing your branches from the tables , and your silke-balls or bottomes from the branches dayes after the worke is perfected , the b●lls are then to be made election of , for such seed as you wil preserve for the year following . bonoeill , & de serres do both agree that there should be proportioned balls for one ounce of seed , the balls m●le and female ( the description of which hereafter . ) but whereas bonoeill is of opinion that a hundred double or trebble bottomes which two or three wormes have spunne and made up in common , will produce so many wormes as bottoms : i demand his pardon if i accede rather to the judgement of d● serres : for from every double or triple bottome there comes forth but one butterflye , though it hath more within : the reason is , it being not probable that they should be all ripe together , that which is most mature by perforation of the balls , ●xposes the other to the assault of the aire , which giving them cold , they dye imperfect . to distinguish the sexes . the male of the worme , when grown great , is knowne from the female , by a wrinkled head● and a great appea●ance of eyes ; the female hath the head round without any such appearance . in the bottomes o● balls the m●le is k●owne , as having work●d himselfe into a bottome , long slender , and by much sharper at one end then the other : the bottomes of the female are bigger , softer , ●ound at one end , halfe poynted at the other . the sex in those butterflyes is thus distinguished : the male is lesser of body then the fem●le , stirring the wings more often and more strongly . selecting then two hundred bottomes ( male & female included in the number ) you must passe a thread through the first and outward downe , called the sleave of the ball ( using a wary hand that you pierce not into the silke , lest the cold getting in you should quite abortive your wormes ) of which you must make severall connexions composed of an equall number of both sexes ; these ( to prevent rats and mice ) must be hang'd upon some hooke in a chamber of ●iddle temper , but something inclining to coolenesse , yet however not subject to moysture , that the butterflyes may come out with the more facility , having pierced through their confinement , though nature her selfe infu●es in them disposed applications to finde out their opposite sexes , it will be necessary to couple such as yet are disjoyned : all which , after you shall perceive them in conjuncture , must bee s●t either upon say , piropus , tammey , chamlet , the backside of old velvet , in generall vpon any stuffe which has no woolly downe , wherein the graine may be lost , or where it may get betweene the threads , as is linnen ) hang'd upon the wall close by their balls , or in defect of such stuffe , take walnut-tree leaves one handfull , or mo●e as you shall see occasion , tye them by dozens backsides together , ha●g them at severall nailes or pinnes , and set the coupled buterflies thereon . take the chamlet , or other stuffes , receiving the seed , and rub it gently between your hands , and the seed will come out with great facility . the principall time of the butterflyes issuing out from the cod , is in the morning about eight of the clock : the seed collected must be put into a boxe very cleane pasted with paper , to exclude all aire or dust , kept in a chest in a drye temperate place where it may be preserved till the spring following , avoyding to make any continuall fires in such chambe●s , lest the warmth untimely hatch the wormes , which being brought forth at such a season must perish for want of food . the spaniard takes commonly the double and triple balls for seed , not that he conceites every double ball should produce two butterflyes , or which is a conceit of more fondnesse , male and female : but because the multiplicity of creatures spinning their silk in common , make the worke so confused that they cannot well winde it off , which makes them be put in the ranke of the pierced ones for sleave● and i must ingeniously acknowledge my selfe to a●●ede to his opinion ; for these d●●●le and triple balls a●e not u●apt ●or this pu●pose since they com●on●y , as d● serres observes , come rather from a lustinesse and supplenesse of the worme● then any naturall debility : which su●e are so much fitter to bee culled out , that the best balls m●y bee made into silke , which will easily winde and the seede of these which is fully as proper for seed● but lesse apt for silke : neither doe i know why they should not bee preferred , since the spanish seed ●●oc●eding from these double and triple balls carries a particular ●●●●eminence above the rest● which if wee shall make ●se of , the us● is the same with others , except that they must bee clipped at the smaller end with the poynt of a p●ire of scissors , with ● regard that you cut not cleane through the bo●tome , which would by admission of wind destroy the worm , and this they doe that the butte●flies● if more then one , may finde an easie passage ; the best bottomes ( if you will preserve them ) for graine , are great , hard , weighty , and of carnation or flesh colour . the balls preserved for seed being made choice of , the next thing wee are to fall upon is , how to winde off the bottomes designed for silke : which would bee of much more advantage for pu●ity and plenty of silke , and facility of labour if they could immediately bee wound off . the silke so fresh●y taken unwinding without any losse or violence : but this delayed , the gumme , by which the worme fastens her threads becomming dry , doth so harden the bottome , that without difficulty and losse , the winding cannot bee ●ccomplished . this expeditious winding prevents the enclosed worme of her full metamorphose into a butterflye● and the bottome from perforation : but then where shall wee finde so many workemen if the designe were generall , as could in seven or eight dayes winde off so many millions of bottomes ? not excluding therefore such as can have that conveniency , the next best course to kill the butterflyes in those bottomes which wee cannot winde off , is by exposing and laying them in the sunne , the heate of which in its owne worke stifles this creature : but let this bee two or three daye● successively ( not all at one exposure , lest your silke be burned instead of stifling its spinner ) two houres before , and two houres afternoone each day respectively . let the bottomes , spread upon sheets be turned often , that the heate may destroy equally , no one excepted from this sharpe insolation ; but this must not bee done with a rude hand , which instead of turning them may bruise the worme , the slimy matter of whose body , being thus bruised , is very pr●judiciall both for staining the silke , and gluing it so together , that no artist can ever unwinde them . removing them therefore oftentimes during such sunning with a gentle hand , wrap them thus warmed in sheets , and let them lye in a fresh dry chamber . but if the sunne should faile , an oven of such moderate heate as is usuall after two houres drawing the bread , or heated to such a degree of warmth ( laying it over with boards , and the bottomes in sacks upon those boards , there remaining each time an houre and a halfe , repeating it till your experience by opening the most suspected bottome finde the inclosed worme consumed ) will bee of equall operation . but that which is the best and least practised course is this : take your bottomes , and fill such a furnace or copper as your brewers use , halfe full of water : within three fingers breadth of this boyling water , lay a lid or planke or board within the copper , bored through as thick with holes as a cullender , and so fit to the side of the furnace , that it by no meanes may sinke into the water : upon this cover lay a thin carpet of darnix , or the like , and upon the carpet the silke bottomes , which must bee often stirred , with care not to use too much violence . the mouth of the copper , except when you stir the bottomes , must bee constantly covered , that the h●are may smother the wormes : your wormes being dead , lay your bottomes in some roome , where there is aire to dry their moysture . this is an assured ( though not vulgar ) experiment , and by it your silke becomes as easie in the winding , and as pure in colour and substance , as if it had beene spunne the same moment the worme had given it perfection . to winde off the silke from the cod or bottome . the winding off the silke from the cod or bottome , is thus ●ffected : fill a caldron full of very faire water and set it upon a furnace , heate it to such a degree that 〈◊〉 water becomes bubbled , as though there were small pearles in the middle , being ready to seeth ; then cast in your cods or bottomes , still stirring them up and downe with broome or other small bushes , if you shall see that the heate is not capable to make your bottomes winde , augment your fire , otherwise abate it . the bottomes winding the threads will take hold of the broome or brushes ; draw those threads so affixed the length of halfe a yard and more out with your fingers , till all the grossenesse of the bottome b●e wound off , which cutting off and laying aside , take all the thr●ads of your bottomes united into one and according to the bignesse of thread you intend to make ( as whether sowing or stitching ) chose the number , not letting the other threads fall into the water againe , which must bee reserved to succeede ) which you must runne through an wyer ring , appoynted for to ranke the threads which ( as you may see in the draught or picture ) must be fastened upon the fore part of a piece of wood set directly upon a forme before the round or circle , which wee call a bobin , in the top of which piece in a little space that there is , are fastned two bobins , distant from one another two fingers ; from this wyer ring the thread must bee drawne and crossed upon the bobins , whose onely use there is to twist the silke through a ring which is fastned in the middest of a staffe ; above the bobins you must continue the draught of your thread ; this staffe which moves with the wheele is called a lincet set a crosse beneath the wheeles● from that ring you must fasten your thread upon the wheele it selfe , which must bee still turned till the skeyne of silke bee wound up , the representation see in the next figure . observe , when any thread discontinues , his bottome being wound off , to repaire your number from another bottome , this you shall perceive when your full number of bottomes stir not altogether . bee sure that you artificially cut the knots which will bee in your threads , that your silke may bee more pure and uniforme . those which cast gumme arabick in the water under pretence to make the silke winde more pure and glossey , are but impostours , it being a meere cheate to make the silke weigh the heavier . basins , or caldrons , wherein you put your bottoms to winde , if of lead re●●ore the silke more pure then those of copper , this mettall being subject to a rubiginous quality , from which lead is wholy exempt . let the wheeles be large for the better speeding of the worke that two skeines may be wound off together . that the fire of the furnace may be pure , and without smoake , let it be made of charcoale . the difficulty of their winding may be mollified by sope , put in the basin or caldron ; the old cods or bottoms hardened by time , will have the naturall gumme which glues their threads dissolved , and the silke come off much more easie . those bottomes of silke preserved for seed , and pierced by the butterflyes , may be made of good use , if washing them in water you throwe them into a caldron ready to boyle , with sope in it , which must be dissolved before the bottomes are cast in : thus let them boyle a quarter of an houre , or thereabouts , which done , take them out , wash them in cleane water and d●ye them ; being d●yed you must beat them with a round st●ffe of a good bignesse upon a stone or some block which is better , which will make them become white , and smooth as wooll . the way to spinne them after is this . they must with the fingers be pul'd one from one another , and opened as wooll uses to be in such preparations , let it then bee put on a distaffe and spunne as small as you can , or please . treatise of the vine . that the use of the vine is really intended by nature for virginia , those infinite store of ●rap●s which c●owne the forehead of that happy country are so m●ny sp●●king testimonies : but what fate hath hitheto diverted our english there inhabiting from the publick undertaking a commodity of so inestimable benefit , i doe not say for a publick staple ( though it would bee as rich as any other one species of traffick whatsoever ) but even from private vineyards , where they might sit under their owne vine , drinke of their owne grapes , satisfie even the most irregular de●ire of their voluptuous appetites , and all this de suo , without entring into the merchants bookes for wines , peradventure adulterate , without paying the sweat of their browes for the exudation of the grape . i dare not determinately judge , lest i might bee forced to ascribe it either to a strange nonchalency or sluggishnesse to their owne profit , or which is worse an inveterate contempt of all other wayes of improvement ( of what ever returne ) in comparison of fume of ●obacco● but that they may not bee ignorant of the profit of the vine , they will bee pleased to know that the vine requires ( once planted ) little more labour then the hoppe . to attend upon foure acrees of hops is the ordinary undertaking of one man in england , who besides this , neglects not many other labours . if one man in virginia bee not sufficient to doe as much as another in england , ● shall either imagine him to bee lame or idle ; nor let them object to me the heat of the countrey ; if the mid-dayes be hotter , the mornings are much colder , and the labourer in virginia hath this advantage of being full of bread to satiety , whereas oftentimes the hireling in england having a family to feed , and sometimes no imployment , comes to worke with a famish'd body● and courage , ●ives meerly de die in diem , with as little hopes of ever changing the copy of his fortune , as renewing the lease of his cottage with his landlord : those are but leane encouragements . in virginia the meanest servant ( if he have any spirit ) is still in expectation of improving his condition , and without any presumption may cherish his hopes , which promise him ( his time expired ) a present happinesse and future possibility of a fortune equall , if not outgoing his master , the encouragement being greater , the care lesse , and his provisionall subsistence by much better : why the laborer in virgini● should not be ( i do not say superiour ) but equall in strength of body and resolution of minde , to the miserable day-hireling in england , needs an oedipus to unriddle . by this i hope it granted , that the virginian may without any extraordinary efforts of sweat and spirit● , ●abour equally with those of england , and upon this accompt i shall assigne a vignard of four acres to his tillage , an easie taske ; let us compute the profit with the labour , and see what may be the proceed of this proportion well husbanded . that an acre of vines in virginia ( when once growne to perfection ) will yield an equall increase to a common acre of vines in france , there being as great a difference between the soyles as the acres , and much greater ) will i believe be denyed by none , who pretend to modes●y or reason : yet the acre of vines in france , one with another , very few excepted , will yield y●arely ten or twelve muyds of wine , a measure containing seventy two gallons ( a very famous frenchman liebault , is my author : ) what the common acre , or arpent , is in france , the same man informes us : an arpent ( the common arpent or acre of france ) is pole in the square , the pole being longer then ours by eighteen inches ; so that one french acre yields three tun of wine and upwards ; our acre being near upon pole more , we doubt not of profit equall . the excellent virginia will pardon me , if for dilucidation of an argument , i make her pure and unexhausted browes descend to weare a gyrlond of fertility equall to that laborious and over-teeming mother , the french kingdome , nay to her common vineyards : yet let us compute the profit arising from the foure acres , being but one mans labour , we shall finde the product even by that estimate , to be twelve tunne of wine , as the recompence of his particular toyle : let us imagine this but at ten pounds the tunne , and the profits of this single person amounts to pounds per annum . here they will object the dearenesse or difficulty of caske ; but this objection must be made by those who know not virginia , where there is such an excellent convenience , and abundance of peculiarly proper timber , that the winter will afford the other labourers together with our vigneron leasure , to cleave pipe-●taves sufficient for private use of caske , and to sell to the publique ; one man ( during that little season ) being easily able to make foure thousand . but our acre being a third part bigger , the soyle ½ better , why we may not promise to our selves this profit , is an incredulity in england , worth a brand of misunderstanding , in spaine would deserve the inquisition . what soyle is most proper for the vine . hee which will goe to plant the vine without the twinne consideration of the qualyty of the soyle , and the disposition of the aire , hath much affinity with him who goes to sea without lead or compa●se : the one seldome attaines his port , nor the other his harvest . the quality of the ground whereon the vine thrives best , is a fine small mould , of a subsistance rather inclining to a gentle lightnesse , then a churlish stubbornesse : they which would not have it to be very fat , are ignorant that while the vine is yong , the soyle wh●re you plant may be imployed to other tillage , and by such expence of its native richnesse , reduced to that which they commend so highly , mediocrity : but if the fatnesse of the ground transmit a rich and never-failing sap into the nascent vine● making it grow speedy and st●ongly , if the vine participate of this fatnesse , which it may be they call grossenesse , as desiring to have it more subtile , there is small question to be made , but that this wine so imbodied and fortified by nature , must have extraordinary spirits to preserve it , and that age will have refined all that grossenesse into more pure and noble spirits ; that if transported , the sea will contribute to its melioration : whereas this wine which they call subtile and delicate spirits , if either preserved long or transported far , will with so much applauded subtilty and delicacy lose all his spirits by age and evaporation . scruple therefore at the richnesse of your ground no more then at the ranknesse of your purse ; t is in your power to correct either , if there were necessity : let it have the qualities of gentle , easie , ●ine , and light , to be stirred , seated ( if possible ) on the decline of a hill , not neare to any marish ground , nor having any springs gliding through it ; these mari●h grounds you must avoyd as you would doe levell in a valley . and the reason is , that the vine growing in these parts has a crude and undige●ted bloud , quickly soures , and has neither strength to commend or preserve it , and the frosts in the winter time sinking to his roots , by the moyst passage of his scituation , kills it ; the grapes plumpe and breake , and when as an additionall judgement to your injudicious election , a rainy yeare comes to afflict , the kernells breake out , the true juice of the grape accompanying it , and though it fall out that the grape swell againe , yet let not your expectation swell upon it , for instead of good wine proceeding from thence , you will receive nothing but viny water . the gentle , easie , fine , and light ground being the best , does not so wholly arrogate all excellency , as to deny an accession , a neighbourhood of goodnes●e to other soyles . the gravelly ground yieldeth wine of a great delicacy , but a small quantity ; besides the infant plants are in danger of being wa●h'd away in any extraordinary surfeit of raines , such grounds being not able to give them a deep rooting . the like may be said of sandy ground which notwithstanding in some places especially where it is of a nitrous substance , will not yield the palme to any ground of whatever richnesse ; other grounds may have an enforced richnesse , but because usually all such enfatning compost consists of dung and urine , which spoyle the purity of the vine : if my advice were of any weight , they should never be used for vintage , till necessity commanded my obedience . for the disposition of th● aire , as particularly whether inclining to a meridian , or oblique to the south● south-east , or south-west ; if we contemplate the nature of the vine , th●t it by instinct , prefers places rather hot then cold , drye then moy●t ; that it hateth stormes and tempests , it affecteth a gentle breathing winde , or a serene calme ; we may presently collect that it is neither to be placed open to the north , north-east , nor ( in virginia especially ) to that nursery of storms , the north● w●st quarters , nor up●n the tops of hills , where it lyes equally assailable to all : the deare place then for the vines imbraces , is a descent , towards , not in ● valley ( except never subject to inundations ) that being sheltred f●om the more blustring domineerers in the aire● it lye open to th● south , south-west , south-east , or any part of the east and west , within the south quarter , for such a gratefull mansion , and acceptable soyle assigned him , doubt not , but he will returne you a rent which shall satisfie your most unbounded wishes . but le●t the eye in the option of your vineyard , may impose upon you , considering that every ground hath some arcane quality which the sight is not able to discover : to make a most certaine experiment , let me propose this way of examen . make a pit in the ground ( where your inten●ions are to plant ) two foot deep , take a clod of the earth so cast up● powder it , and infuse it in a glasse full of cleare raine-water , do your best to incorporate it with the water by frequent agitation and mixture : let it repose till the subsided earth have made his perfect residence and sett●ement in the bottome , and the water recovered her native clearenesse ; taste the water , and arrest your judgement upon this , that such a ●a●t as the water delivers to your pallate , will that earth transmit to your wine : if of an inoffensive or acceptable reli●h , you may confidently promise your selfe a wine pure , and consequently ( if the soyle be rich ) very noble , nor is a salt taste an ill argument : but if it be a bitter aluminous , or sulphury gust , this place is not fit for your planting , you lose your wine and your labour . but virginia has a more certaine assurance ; god and nature have pointed them a soyle out with their owne finger ; let them therefore fix their eyes upon those places where either the vine or mulberry grow conjoyn'd , or seperate , and let them assure themselves of the excellency of the soyle , a diffidence in this being an affront to nature : yet this caution is to be used that though valleyes are marshy places , may sometime have them by nature , yet their florescence would be much more excellent and healthfull if removed to such a ground as formerly we have made choise of . to make election of plants . curiosity about the choise of your vine plants will commend your husbandry ; let the vine therefore from whence you take your plant be of as little pith as may be , such unpithy vines being both fruitfull and fortified by nature , bearing a remarkable abundance of substantiall grapes , and strongly resists the violence of the weather , and of this fertility and firmenesse will your plant also participate . let not the vine you meane to plant from , be above the middle of his strength , or age , and observe about september those which are most laden with grapes , fullest of eyes in their branches , and have been least wounded by the unseasonablenesse of weather . take not a vine growing on a south side , to transplant him to a northerne : and set this downe for a principle in nature , that all plants removed to a better scituation and soyle , answer your largest hopes , by their fruitfulnesse : but transplanted to a worse , assure your se●fe that without an extraordinary cultivation , there cannot be the least probability of its thriving . let your plant ( if you may with conveniency ) immediatly be planted after its seperation from its originall ; for while it yet retaines any vitall vigour , it will the sooner apply it selfe to the desire of life and nourishment . if your necessity will not admit of this ●estination , wrap it tenderly in its owne earth ; and when your leisure will permit you to plant it , let it soake some foure or five dayes in water , and ( if possible ) running water : this immerging is a very strong preparative to its sudden taking root . if you apprehend a necessity of keeping him long or transporting him , ( imagine it the cyprian or calabrian grape thus to bee transportable into virginia , ) put him into a close barrell fil'd up with earth ; and that no aire may mortifie him , let both ends of the plant be put into onions or garlick , or ( which is better ) made up with wax , and now and then watred , but not more then to keep the earth from resolving into a dry dust ; for too much moysture might ( instead of preserving him ) make him fructifie , and your plant would become all root . wee have already spoken how we must chuse , but not what we must make choice of : let your plants therefore be of those which grow between the highest and lowest , ( the lowest having too much of earthy juice , and the highest too little ) let them bee round , smooth , and firme , having many eyes , and about one foot and a halfe of old wood cut off with the new . the manner , and way to plant vines . human curiosity plungeth us in so many unnecessary toils , that it would almost take a person off from necessary labour : look into columella , the countrey farme , the dutch husbandry and all those supe●cilious writers , and you shall see them stand upon such impertinent puntillos ; one while the dependance upon starres benights a man , another while the ground which should produce this or that , must be cast after this forme , or else it will be barren in spight of the bounty of the divine providence . not enumerating therefore all their wayes of planting , i dare lay my life that if the vine were but set on foot in virginia , the ground prepared for it as they doe their tobacco there , by a right line , holes made instead of their hillocks , but larger , deeper , and at greater distance , that there might something grow betwixt them which might be inoffensive to it by nature , and cleare it from being choak'd with weedes , or something drawing a contrary juice , ( peradventure onions and garlick ) or something requiring small nourishment , ( as lupins ) which turn'd into the earth againe ( distance of five foot being left for a plough , with caution not to come too neare the roots , which must be bared with a stowe , the plough running first the length , and then the traverse of those rowes , which therefore must bee lineally straight ) would both fatten the earth , and cultivate the vine all at one moment . yet submitting my selfe to judgements of greater experience then my modesty or na●u●e can ever hope for , i shall deliver the severall way of planting the vine , with as much brevity as the matter , and my first resolution rather to contract then inlarge , will permit mee . the first preparing of the earth to receive the vine must bee done in spring or summer , where the ground you digge or cast mu●t bee cleansed from all manner of superfluities whatsoever ; namely , roots , weedes , stones , &c. this digging must bee severall times repeated , that the earth by alternate changing its place of top and bottome may bee throughly tempred , the dry refreshed , and the moyst qualified : thus cleansed , cast it into many furrowes ( the sides whereof the french call chevaliers or guides , because it should guide you in the planting ) the depth of eighteene inches or more ; let the mo●ld cast up above , bee so disposed , that it may answer to the depth below . note that these furrowes in a sandy , flinty , or wet ground mu●t ●ot bee so hollow as in that which is rough and crabbed● in the bottome of the first you may put stones about the bignesse of an ordinary brick ( but round ) not bigger , which in the heate of summer refreshes , in violence of raine opens a passage to the water , that it dwell not at the root to rot it . the best season for planting of vines is in october , the moone increasing , the furrowes must bee made in august , that the exposed earth may have time of digestive preparation . if your plant have roots , you must when you plant it cut them off all , except it bee newly gathered , if it bee a slip or cut , which though it bee not so swift of growth the first yeare , yet is of much longer continuance , you must soake it in water , if it bee possible in running water five or six dayes . hee which plants the vine , the ground thus prepared , and haveing a line with him , that hee may observe a just evennesse and streightnesse , both in the row , and to the opposite plant , that so every foure may make a regular quadrangle , must bow his plant , the bigger end forward one foot into the earth of the ditch , letting first some of the mould from the ●ides fall into it ; let him tread upon the mould the better to fixe the plant , and with his hand ( the foot still pressing upon that part of the plant which is inearthed ) gently raise or bow the top of the plant that it may grow erect : this done , let him cast some more mould on it , to the thicknesse of six inches , and cut the top of the plant , so as not to leave above three knots or joynts above the earth : let him proceede in planting of the rest , observing the prescribed order : some set two plants together in this order , that if one should faile , the other might recompence the default . if you will have your vine to grow without stakes or props , cut it so , that you let it not increase above two or three joynts in the yeare , which will make it to stand firme against all stormes , if but naturally violent . it will bee extreame ill husbandry to plant vines of different kindes or qualities together , such diversity there is in their season of ripenesse ; some preventing your expectation by the suddainenesse of their maturity , others deceiving it by their late ripenesse . wee have spoken of the planting , let us now handle the culture and dresse of it , that his fertility may in some measure require the labour of his implanting . the manner of dressing the vine . mid may will bee a season which will best informe you , whether your plants have taken so good root , that it expresses a verdure and germination in his branches ; when therefore the shoot is able to indure dressing , let it bee cut within two or three knots of the old wood , and if any other slips spring from the root , cut them away ( with care however that it wound not the root , or the maine stock , which are wonderfully offended by the too neare approach of any toole that is edged ) that the whole st●ength of the vine may unite into one common stock or pillar , to support and convey the sap into the permitted branches , of which you may not let any flourish the first yeare of its growth . it is observed , that to cut the vine in the decrease of the moone , makes the fleshy part of the grape of a more substantiall grossen●sse and feeding , and is a peculiar remedy for those vines which are given to bee over-ranke with wood : let it bee the care of the v●gneron to remoove all obstructions of weed●s which uninvited participate of the vines nourishment : the surest way to kill which , is , to turne them in towards the earth , which is not onely a destruction to the thie●e of its moysture , but a restitution of the robbery ; for the weedes so inverted enrich the ground to the great encouragement of the vine , and the no lesse profit of the vine dressers . let your knife with which you cut your vine bee very sharpe , and let your vine bee cut sloping at one cut , if possible , and not far from the old wood , that the growth of the vine may the more speedily cover the wound . the vines must bee dressed or husbanded ●hree times the yeare , the first culture of it must bee in march , at which time you are to digge about the root three quarters of a foot deep , or thereabouts : the next season must be in april , wherein you must digge about the roote , within a third of the former depth , then you must also prune it by cutting all the branches , and leaving some three knobs or joynts of the new wood in your vine of the first yeares growth , and cutting off all dead or superfluous branch●s of the old , whose permitted branches must also bee pruned , lest they should spend that aliment decreed for the grape in elongation of the branches , all succors also must bee plucked away . ●n august the like course is to bee used in the wine of the precedent autumne leaving two or three joynts or knobs of new wood : againe the old ones may bee onely digged , if at that time , and at all other times you perceive any dead or wounded branches you must cut them off something further then the mortification or hurt extends ; and in all prunings let no vine bee cut in the knob or joynt , but in the space betwixt ; there following usually nothing but abso●ute and irremediable decaying , where th●y are cut in the articular knitting . if in apri●s dressing , the vine h●ve no branched but onely budded , which is most usuall ( but more ●specially in march ) you must nip the bud off with your fingers● to the end that the juice which would ascend to hasten the germi●ation , may bee stopped to strengthen and engross● the store . the third yeare the vine will b●a●e you ●rapes in these countries , but i am confident that in virg●nia it would beare at the s●cond ; and this my confidence is grounded upon the hasty perfection all things receive in virg●nia , by much preceding all our neighbour countries . the peachtree arrives not to that virility of growth in eight yeares , in these regions , which it obtaines at foure there . the like is verified in apples and cherries : and if it be questioned how such men which p●radventur● being in a necessity , are not able to attend two yeares for a ●●●urne , shall in the meane while subsist : it is easily answ●●ed● th●t the intervalls betwixt the dressings of the vines will ●ff●rd space enough for a reasonable crop of tobacco ; and there is much mo●e labour in looking to . plants of tobacco then the like number of vines , especially if the interspaces be plough●d , and sow●d with turnips or lupines , which both adde to the fatness● and unwilding of the ground , and choake up all weeds and gr●sse which might afflict it . co●trariwise , tobacco will admit nothing in the vacant sp●●●s , and must be perpetually weeded further , th●ugh oth●● vine-masters prescribe the digging about the roots o● their pla●t in august , which is the busie s●ason of inning the tobacco , yet i am driven by divers reasons to wish such c●●ture omitted at that time of the yeare , since it layes the root by so much the nearer to a violently torrid sun which is so far from cherishing of it , that it burnes it ; by whic● meanes his c●op of tob●cc● need not at all to be neglected : but these vines steale into such perfection by that tim● they are arrived at fou●e yeares g●owth● that twenty thousand plants of tobacco though s●ld at pence per pound , ( a great rate in virginia ) will not retur●e you a like p●ofit , which tho●ght it m●y be something sp●ringly believed , yet may be m●de apparent . for admitting ou● vines by that time of foot high , by their so often cutting of the shoo●s , nourished u●to a stock strong enough to support it self ; of b●anch●s , by the like tillage , equall in v●gour , yield but a gallon of wine per pi●ce , yet here is tun of wine yea●ely , for ● yeares tog●ther , ( so long will the vine thus husba●ded , l●st fruitfull , ●n● vigorous , if planted with the slip rather then the root ) without any interruption but that which sets bou●ds and limit to all things , the divine providence in his dispensation of seasons . of the diseases of vines , and their remedy . before we can justifie our expect●tions of a good h●rvest , we must providently foresee and prevent ( as much as in us lies ) such cas●alties as may m●ke our hope abortive ; let us therefore cast our eye upon such d●seases which m●y make the vine unfruitfull , or after the fruit produced , dest●oy its desired fertility . to prevent the frost from benumming , or absolutely destroying your vines , let there b● layd up in divers places heaps of drye du●g , with an i●termixture of chaffe and straw , and when you conjecture the approach of the fro●t , set this combustible stuffe on fire , and the smoake arising from thence will so temper and qualifie the aire that your vine for that season will be secured from d●m●●ge : yet if ( before you have applyed th●s preventive remedy ) the fruit of your vine be destroyed , cut it off very short , and the strength continuing in the remainder will so fortifie it , that the next yeare it will recompence you double in the qu●ntity of your fruit ; for what it hath been rob'd of by the present . to provide against the blasting of your vine : when you perceive it upon the point of budding , cut it as late as may be ; for this late cutting it will make your vine something later , and by consequence , blossome or flower at such time as the sunne is ascended to his greatest degree of heat and fervor . to breake off such mists and fogs as are already gathered in the aire , and give probable menaces to fall upon your vines , you must apply your selfe to this remedy● let a smoake round about your vineyard be made with go●ts du●g , kindled an● set on fire . such fogges as have outstripped your care and already fallen upon , and endammaged your vines , must have the malignity of their vapors taken off● or at least asswaged by i●rigation of vines , with the water in which the leaves or roots of wilde cucumbers , or coloquintida have been layd some time to infuse : this must be applied immediatly after the mists . some are of an opinion that bay-tre●s ( which by the way are dangerously sociable to the vine ) planted round but not too near the vineyard , wil priviledge the vine from this distaster , by attracting all the ill disposed mallice of those fogs unto it selfe . this till experimented will hardly be worthy beliefe . it is an opinion no way contradicted , that fertility is restored to a vine become barren , if humane urine kept a long while stale , to make it the more salt and ranke , be dropt by degrees upon the vine stock , which must immediately after be laid about with dung and earth mixt together : the season for the application of this cure mus● be in autumne . another way i should conceive to be altogether as eff●ctuall , namely , to leave it nothing but the stock , bare the roots , and lay there either acornes , chesnuts , or rotted straw ; and if the bign●sse of the root will permit it , to cleave it a little way , and to thrust into the fissure a piece of vine wood , cut small for the pu●pose ; it being certaine that trees themselves sometimes groane under the sicknesse of being hide-bound : vines are perceived to want moisture , when their leaves turne of a deep red colour : this disease is cured by watring them with sea-water , or stale urine . the bleeding of the vine . the vine sometimes is troubled with an extraordinary efflux , or emanation of its juice ; some call it the weeping , others the bleeding of the vine , and this disease is commonly so violent , that if not stopped it leaves the vine without blood and life . the remedy is to breake the barke of the vine upon the body thereof , and to anoynt the wound with oyle boyled to the half , or else with the lees of wine not salted ; this done , let it bee watered with vinegar , which by how much the stronger it may bee , is so much more effectuall . the scattering vine . the vine sometimes is oppressed with an unretentive scattering disease , as unable to maintaine the fruit shee hath produced , which sh●e therefore discharges , and le ts f●ll from her ; the symptomes by which you are to judge of this disease , are an unnaturall palenesse and drynesse of the leaves , the branch it selfe languid , broad , and of a more pithy softn●sse then usuall . the cure to this , is to rub ash●s beaten and mixed with strong vinegar about the foot of the vine , a●d to water all tha● is round about the stock : quaer● , whether ●is●u●es in the ●●●ke made with a sharpe knife some fixe inches long may not bee an additionall receit to the former prescription . the tree p●radven●u●e having contracted this malady by too close imprisonment in the barke , being in a manner hide bound ; how ever the foregoing m●dicine cannot in this case but sort to better eff●ct if the tree and barke joyntly be rubbed over then the barke one●y , unlesse this medicine could give a relaxation to the barke , which i have no faith in . the vine too full of branches , or luxuriant . the v●n● expending it selfe too wastfully in overmany branches , ●u●t bee 〈◊〉 v●●y short . if this overcome not that luxury , the usuall ●em●dy is , let it bee bared at the roots , and river gravell layd rou●d ●bout the stock , together with a few ashes or else som● stones . the reason i apprehend not , except it bee to check its f●●tility which i conceive may more prosperously bee effect●d , if on●ly the branches being cut , and the stock low , you suffer that exubrancy ●o waste it selfe in adding more corpulency to the stock , which will of it selfe bee a sufficient spender to restraine and confine the former liberality of juice . the withering vine . if the grapes languish and dry away as they hang upon the vine , before you apply a remedy you must cast away all that are already aff●cted with this contagion ; then water the rest with vinegar , in which ashes of vine bra●ches have beene infused . the most as●u●ed remedy is to water the root of the vine , from whence the dis●use cometh with the st●lest urine ; the former remedy being something irregular , as if it were easily feisible to remove a malady by application to the effects , without considering the efficient . the rotting of grapes upon the vine . there are of vines whose fruit pu●rifie upon the branches before they come to maturity : this disease is remedied by laying old ashes to their root , or g●avell , or b●rley meale mixed w●th the seed of purcellane about the body ; quaere , whether this disease p●oceed from a plethorick rankn●sse or em●ciate debility : if from rankenesse all application of ashes hurt it : the symp●omes of rankenesse are , when a tree lavishes his moysture into too many branc●es , which may make him neglect to feede the fruit , as unable to maintaine two spenders ; and i am confident the naturall remedy for this is to bare him ( as much as possible ) of wood , that it may divert the nourishment to the grape ; if from debility , which you shall perceive by a flaccid palenes in the leaves , the same remedy which wee prescribed to the withering vine , vi● . to water the root with urine of a long stalenesse , will bee the most proper . the biting of the cow or oxe . indeede the best way to prevent this disease , is to have your ground either well p●led or quicksetted , or both : but that the biting or breathing of kine may not endamage the vine ( which hardly recovers after such wound or infection ) water the foot stock of your vine with such water as the tanners have used in dressing and mollifying their raw hides , and you may prom●se your selfe to bee secured from them , they as mortally hating such sents , as the vine abhors their bite or breathing . against caterpillars . the opinion is , that caterpillars and other noysome , though little vermine , will not mol●st the bud or leafe of the vine , if the hooke or hedgebill wherewith you prune and cut off the superfluous branches of the vine be anoynted over with th● blood of a male goat , or the fat of an asse , or of a bea●e ; or with the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garl●ck have beene boyled , or if you anoynt and rub them with the purse or sheath of a badgers stones , after your hooke has beene ground : these are curious rather then apparently approved medicines , and for their reason i must demurre to give it , quaere , whether the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled well , rubbed about the ●tock of the t●ee , may not make those reptilia abhor the a●cending , or whether the juce of rew so applyed , have not the like vertue . the driving locusts from the vine is done by fumigation , as either fi●ing of old oxe dung , galbanum ● old shooe soles● harts-horne , womens haire ; but that which they propose las● , i conceive to bee the best , namely , to plant pionie neare them . to prevent pismires . pismires , who divers times fret in sunder the wood of the vine , even to the very marrow , will not at all approach it , if you anoynt and rub the stock with the dung of kine , or grease of asses . the bay-tree , hasell-tree , and coleworts beare a particular enmity to the vine , and expresse it by eff●cts when planted neare ; this i cannot believe to bee out of any magicall antipathy , but rather that these ( as the plum-tree ) are great and strong succors of juice , and happily drawing of the same , by which the vine is more particularly nourished , of which being cheated , it is no wonder if she expresse a decadency . the manner of the vintage . and now wee are come to that which is most acceptable to mankinde , the successefull fruit of his labours reaped in his vintage , which wee must not of a naturall g●eedinesse precipitate , till the g●apes bee of such a kindely ripenesse of age , that to let them continue on the vine longer were to lose them ; this ripenesse is visibly understood by a mutation in the branch and grape ; in the branch you shall perceive a manifest mutation by an incline to rednesse in the g●ape ; if it bee white it alters towards a yellow , if red towards a black colour ; nor are the taste and touch les●● discerners of such full m●turity ; for if they bee sweete in ta●te , and the liquor of a glutinous substance , cleaving to the finger ; wee may conclude that both they , and the time to gather them are of full ripenesse . there are also other signes , if the kernell expressed out of the grape betweene your fi●gers , come out cleane , an● altogether seperate from the flesh or pulpe of the vine , if after such expression ( gently performed ) the grape diminish nothing from his bignesse , &c. these all , or the most of them concurring , prepare for your harvest . yet in virginia , where the harvest is more abundant then the labourers , to prevent a glut of worke flowing upon few hands , and consequently not possible to bee throughly equ●lled : it will not bee amisse to use both anticipation by accelerating n●ture with artificiall meanes in some , and retardation by arresting the speede of growth in others , to accelerate ashes layd to the foot of vines , and those vines planted to something more advantage of an amorous sunne , will make them a●tecede the others , at the least by their advance of foureteene dayes ; the other in their naturall course following that sp●ce after , and the others more particularly retarded ( which may bee easily effected by the pruning of them later then the rest just upon their preparative to b●d ; which arresting the sap makes it afterwards ( though later ) returne with a greater abundance ) staying foureteene dayes later , there will bee compleately sixe weekes time for the gathering in of your vintage . and by this meanes you have your vineyard tilled or manured every third yea●e all over , which will bee no ingrat●full accession to its duration in fertility and strength : those of the most forward ripene●se this year , being retarded the next , and those of the naturall maturation husbanded in that manner , the next winter . the fittest season to gather them must bee in a serene unclouded sky ( the grapes having any raine or dew upon them when gathered , losing much of their perfect strength and goodnesse ; ) for the wine made of grapes throughly dryed in their collection , hath a greater priviledge of force and continuance : but before this collection bee attempted , all things fitting to receive y●ur vintage must bee prepared in cleanlinesse and order , viz. baskets , caske , and fat●s strongly hooped , tubs great and small , stands , presses , &c. and all scoured , washed , and furnished with their necessary instrum●nts and conveniencies . the grape gatherer must distinguish and seperate the leane , green , sower , withered , or rotten grapes , from those which are of absolute ripenesse and soundnesse . that the wine by such an uncomely confusion or mixture m●y not bee l●sse pure , sprightly , and healthfull , then it was intended by nature , such incon●iderate gatherers are sayd to bee of the divells sending , to spoyle gods provisions . nor should they confusedly mixe good with good , if of different quality , as to mingle that which is strong and ri●h , with which is small , but delicate . they prescribe that the grapes so gathered should bee left in the ground at least a day or two , and that uncovered , provided it raine not , by which meanes , say they , they will become much better , since the sunne dew , and earth , by this exposure taking from them what ever they have of bad unprofitable moysture , refine and purifie them● a cou●se as far as my span of reason can extend , so far from this promise of refining and purifying , that it absolutely tends to their corruption . have they wanted the sunne and dew when upon the stalk● ? could not the same sunne and dew which enripened them , refine and purifie them there ? as for the earths meliorating them , if melioration bee understood by putrifaction , 't is easily granted ; apples that lye on the ground are so meliorated , that is to say rotted , and shall the grape a more delicate and tender fruit avoyd it ? this is by way of digression , but it is necessary ; for without this caution a modest man which reades with an obedient judgement any bookes of these men , taking the authour for an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , subscribes to it , observes the prescription , and gaines a doctrine of future providence , by the losse of his present vintage . but after the grapes have remained a day or two in the house , it will bee time to put them into the fatt to bee trodden out equally . those which tread the grapes should before they go into the fatt have their feete and legges washed extreamely , and themselves covered with a shirt as well as drawers , that their sweat may not mixe with the wine , and that nothing in the act of eating fall from their mouths into it , they must bee punctuall in abstaining from eating of the grapes , while they are at this their labour . surely this way of treading the grape is derived from some abstenious man , who devised this stratagem under a pretence of expediting the worke ; but indeede to deter men from drinking that which is so uncomely prepared . i know they will alledge that by treading it flowes more naturally , and with all more pure forth , then that which is pressed ; but withall give mee leave , say that the very presse it selfe if it bee not too violently and greedily laboured , makes it glide forth altogether as naturally and purely , and which is more with greater equality ; for in the presse , all the grapes feele the impultion at once , and if the owner bee not too covetous to bring the drosse and gros●e parts of the grape to a second squeezing , and mixing with the first ; without dispute the wine so expressed is altogether as good and strong as that which is trodden , but i am certaine much more cleanly . the wine ( however ) being expressed must be poured , drosse , huskes , and all , into a fat to worke or boyle in , which it must doe for the space of foure and twenty houres at the least , if you will have it fine● delicate , and subtile ; but if you desire to have it strong and noble , let it worke in the fat foure or five day●s , with a covering over it , that so the vapour thereof may not exhale , or his force waste it selfe . the fat● or tub prepared , must have immediatly before his reception of the wine , a little bunch of vine branches laid before the tap-hole , which ( that it may not heave up with the wine ) must be kept downe with a cleane stone or brick , or which is better and lesse offensive , a ring of lead wound about it : this when you draw the wine will hinder the huskes or grapes from comming out with the liquor . your fat must not be full by halfe a foot or more , that the wine may have the more space to boyle or worke in . your wine invessel'd must not be filled up to the bung , nor the bung closed , that the wine may have the greater liberty of despumation , and rejecting whatever it findes reluctant to its owne nature . every day you must fill up what is expurged , and something more , till you finde the wine throughly appeased , and discharged of whatever might be obstructive to its generosity : nor must this caske be in the cellar , but either in the open aire , or in some barne where it has a liberall respiration ; besides the defects in caske cannot be so easily discovered when the wine is in the cellar , as in open places . when it is so throughly settled , that it hath given over all appetite or signe of boyling , you may have it committed to your cellar , which should stand upon the north here , ( in virginia upon the north-west as the coolest and driest angle ) paved with gravell or drye earth , which is lesse subject to moysture or exudations then brick , or especially stone , absolutely remote and unmolested by any ill odours of stables , sinkes , bathes , marshy places , &c. neither should it have any thing shut up or kept in it , which have any sent of acrimony or harshnesse , as cheese , garlick , onions , oyles , ( trane , neatsfoot , linseed , and others , not the salade-oyle ) it being observed , that nothing is more open or obnoxious to contagion then wine , especially when new . your vessells must be so rank'd in order that they touch not one another , by this meanes to leave a liberty of sight to foresee a misfortune , or prevent it when happened . they must be so close stopped in the bung with clay , that not the least irreption of aire may be capable to taint it , to which it is very subject . to cause new wine to bee quickly purged , put ( after this proportion in the re●● : ) to quarts of new wine , halfe a pint of strong vinegar , and within the space of three dayes it will bee fined . to preserve mustor new wine all the yeare , take that vine which voluntary di●tilleth from the grape , before it suffer the presse , and put it into a vessell pitch'd within and without the same day : let the vessell b● halfe full , and very well stop'd with plaster above ; and thus the new wine will continue a long while in his swe●tnesse . but to adde to this experiment and the continuance of the wine , you must hinder it from working , which you may well doe , if you put the vessell into some well or river , there to remaine thirty dayes ; for not having boyled it will continue alwayes sweet , and is preserved by the heat of the pitch . others prefer the burying of this vessell in moist gravell : and ( which in my opinion is the best ) others cover the vessell first with the dros●e of the wine presse , then heap upon it moyst gravell ; by which meanes● something interposing betwixt the extraordinary moysture and cold of the gravell , which might have some influxe upon the wine , your must preserved in an excellent meane of temper . to know if there be any water in the wine . the malice of servants sometimes swallowing downe their masters wine , and fearing to be discovered if the quantity be diminished , or the basenesse of the dealer to impose upon the merchant , makes both of them adulterate it with water , which not being discernable to the eye , may be made familiar to your knowledge by this experiment : take a withered rush , immerge it in the wine , after a small space draw it out againe : if the wine have been thus bastarded , you shall perceive the water cleaving to it . othe●wise , take raw and wilde peares● cutting , and cleansing them in the mi●st , or in ●ieu of them , mulberries , cast th●m into the wine● if they float●●he wine is neat and cleare from such sophistication ; if they subside there is water in it . some do● anoint a reed a pi●c● of wood , or paper , hay , or some other little bundle of herbs , or strawes with oyle , which if they drye , put into the wine , and after draw them out , if the wine have been embased with water , drop● thereof will gather unto the oyl● . another sure tryall is to cast uns●aked lime into the wine ; if there be any adulteration , the lime dissolves , if the wine be undevirginated , the lime collects thereby a harder cementation . others take of the wine , and inject it into a frying-pan wherein there is boyling oyle , and the wine ( if depured ) declares it with a loud noise , a●d frequent bubbles . to make another tryall , lay an egge into the wine , the egge descending , manifests the abuse , not descending , the wine is as the grape bled it . to seperate wine from water . but as the miserable man in the pit de●ired his friend not to question how he fell in , but to advise how he should get out : we will not be satisfied that there is water in the wine , but how it may be seperated from it ; which if we may believe the deliverers of it , who have published it to the world in their names , you must put into the vessell of wine melted allum , then stop the mo●th of the vessell with a spunge drenched in oyle , which done , turne the mouth of the vessell so stopped , downewards , and the water onely will come forth , leaving the wine pure : the reason of this i cannot give , and have onely read ( not seen ) the expeririment . the way to correct over much wa●erishnesse in wine . if glut● of raine have made the yeare so unseasonable , that the grape hath contracted a watry quality to the diminution of his winy goodnesse : or if it fall ou● that after the time of gathering them , there fall such store of raine , that the grapes instead of dewes are too much wetted , ( such is the profit of exposing the gathered clusters into the open aire for houres ) the remedy is to tread them quickly , and finding the wine weake , by tasting it after it hath been put into the vessell , and begun to boyle ther● , it must presently be changed , and drawne out into another vessell , for so the watr● part● that are in it will stay behinde in the bottome , yet the wine standing still charged , will be totally corrected , if you p●t to every fifteen quart● of wine , a pint and a halfe of salt. to make wine of an acceptable odour . if you will perfume your wine with a gratefull odour , by which the braine may be strengthened , as well as the heart exalted : take a few myrtle-ber●ies dry , bray them , and put them into ● little b●rrell of wine ; let it so rest , close stopped , ten dayes afterwards use it at pleasure . the like effect will follow , if you take the blossoms of the grapes ( those especially which growe upon the shrubby v●nes ) when the vine is in flower , and cast them into the wine , the brimmes of the wine-vessell being rub'd over w●th the leaves of the pine and cypresse tree , and this will give it a fragrancy delightfully odorate : or which is of equall facility , you may hang an orenge , or pomecitron , ( being of a convenient greatne●●e ) and prick it full of cloaves , and that in such sort as it may not touch the wine , shut up in all these applications , the vessell very close . if this like you not , take the simples of such mat●er as you would have your wine to smell of , infuse them in aqua vitae , the infusion may be repeated by percolation of the old herbs , and addition of new , till it have gotten a full and absolute perfection of those odours you desire , then poure the aqua vitae ( the herbs strained from it ) into the vessell of wine . to make cute . you may make the boyled wine called cute , if you boyle new wine that is good , lovely , and very sw●et unti●l the third part thereof bee consumed ; when it is growne cold put it into a vessell and use it . but to make this cute , that it may continue all the yeare , gather your grapes whole , and let them lye spread three dayes in the sunne , on the fourth about noone tread them . the liquour or sweet wine which shal runne out into the fatt before the dross●y substance come under the presse , must bee boyled one third as before ; then to every nineteene quarts of wine adde an ounce of ●rees or corne flag well brayed , straine this wine without the lees , which being done , it will continue sweet , firme , and wholesome . to cause troubled wines to settle . to cause troubled wines , and such as are full of lees to settle , poure into thirty quarts of wine , halfe a pint of the lees of oyle boyled , till the third part bee wasted , and the wines will immediately returne to their former settlement . otherwise , which is better and more easie , cast into the wine-vessell the whites of six or seven egges , and stirre them together very well with a stick . to know whether the wine will keepe long . the knowledge whether the wine will continue long or not in a good condition● is thus made apparent : when your wine is tunned up , you must within some time after change it into another vessell , leaving the lees behinde in the first ; which you must diligently stop from taking any vent whatsoever ; after some time you may looke into the lees with carefull animad version , whether they change or contract any ill sent or not , or whether they bre●d any gnats , or other such creatures ; if you espye none of these mutations or corrupt generation , repose your selfe with all confidence that your wine will continue pure to the lo●gest : but th●se symptomes discovered , will bee so many admonitions to dispose of that wine with the soonest , which is already by nature inclined to turne bad and corrupt ; others take a pipe of elder , or such other wood as may bee hollowed through , with which they receive the sent of the lees , and by them informe themselves how the wine is conditioned . a good pallate will divine of wines by the taste , namely th●● if the new wine bee sharpe and quick , they repose confidence in its goodnesse and continuance ; but if flat and heavy , then they expect nothing but the contrary to good qualities : againe , if the new wine ( when put into the vessells ) be fat and glewy , the sign is prosperous ; but if contrariwise , it be thinne and weake , it is an ●rgument that it will easily be turned , to keepe wine at all times . to effect this , you may cast roch-allum ( very finely powdred ) into the● vessell which you meane to put your new wine in , or bay salt very finely powdred : or pibble stones , and little flints taken out of some brooke , or which will retaine the spirits of the wine from evaporating ; more certainly salade oyle , so much as will cover the superficies of the wine . to make that wine sh●l not flowre . vvine will have no flower , if you put into it the flowers of the vine , gathered , and dryed , or the meale of fetches , cha●ging the wine into another vess●ll , when the meale or flowers are settled downe to the bottome . to prepare physicall wines . neither is this digression impertinent ; physitians are not so frequent in virginia , as in padua , or london , and were there more , yet t●e vast space of ground , those people take up in their scattred dwellings , makes the addresses to them very difficult : that therefore they may ( in absence of the physitian ) have some common remedies for common diseases ; i have thought fit to give them this accompt of medicinall wines out of lie●ault , all of them of excellent virtues , and easie preparations● the first shall be to make wines of wormewood . to which effect , take of sea-wormewood , or in default of that , common wormewood , especially that which hath the small stalke , and short leaves , eight drammes● stamp them● and binde them in a cloath which is not woven too thick , cast it into the vessell , pouring new wine upon it , making this accompt , that to every three pints of wine there must bee eight drams of wormewood ; continue this proportion in the filling of your vessell , which you must leave with the vent open , that the wine fall not a new to boyling . the use of this wine is good for the paine of the stomack and liver , and to kill wormes . to make wine of horehound . this wine being very soveraigne for the cough , must bee made in the time of vintage , to which purpose you must gather of the crops and tender stalkes of horehound , of that especially which growes in leane untilled places ; afterwards ca●se them to bee dryed in the sunne , make them up into bundles , tying them with a rush , sinke them in the vessell to quarts of new wine ; you must put eight pound of horehound to boyle therewith , after the wine is settled the horehound must bee taken out , and the wine stopt very diligently . the wine of anise and dill very good against the difficulty of the urine : the wine of peares against the flux of the b●lly ; the wine of bayes against the ach and wringings of the belly ; the wine of asarum bacchar against the jaundise , dropsies , and tertian agues ; the wine of sage against paines and weakenesse of the sinewes , are all made as the wine of wormewood . to make wine of betony . take betony● the leaves and seedes about one pound , put it into twenty quarts of wine , and at the expiration of the seven moneth , change the wine into new vessells . this most excellent wine aswageth the paine of the reines , breaketh the stone , and healeth the jaundise . to make the wine of hysop . take the leaves of hysop well stamped , tye them fast in a very fi●e cloth , and cast about one pound of them into twenty quarts of new wine ; this wine is peculiarly excellent against the diseases of the lungs , an old cough , and shortnesse of breath . wine of pomgranates , made of pomgranates that are scarce ripe , being throughly bruized , and put into a vessell of thick red wine , serveth of singular use against the fluxe of the belly : to which end also serve the wines made of services , mulberries , and quinces . the ancients had a very high opinion of treacle wine , from consideration of its extraordinary vertue in asswaging and healing the bitings of serpents , and other venemous beasts . nor had the vine solely this virtue in its grape , but in the leaves also stamped and applyed unto the grieved part . this vine is thus prepared : cleave three or foure fingers breadth of the plant you intend to set , take out the pith , and replenish the vacant part with treacle , afterwards set the cloven part covered and wrapt in paper . thus vines may bee made soporiferous , if you prepare them in the same manner with opium , as before with treacle , laxative by preparing it with some soluble purge . by this meanes you may have wine to taste like the greeke calabrian frontig●ac , or any other noble for its excellency ; if the lees purified and preserved bee inserted into the pith of the branch , aromatick , if to these le●s you adde compounds of cynamon● cas●ia , cloves , or what ever shall bee most agreeable to the nostrill and pallate . to remedy wines inclining to corrupt ; and first of wine beginning ●o soure . if you perceive wine beginning to waxe soure , put into the bottome of your ve●sell a pot of water well stopt , close the vessell , yet so as at a vent hole to receive and transmit a little aire : the third day draw out the pot , and you shall see a noble experiment of attraction , for the water will be stinking and the wine sound & neat . at what time , and by what accidents wine is most apt ●o corrupt , with its remedy . the season when wines are subject to turne or bee troubled , i● about the summer solstice , viz. the . of june , at the same time that the vine emits her blossome ; nor then alone , but sometimes about the dog-dayes● by reason of the variety of heates : generally the wine is in some sort of commotion , when a constant south winde disturbes the aire , whether it bee in winter or summer , in great and continued raines also , and windes in earthquake● or mighty thunder● . to keepe them f●om turning is by the injection of pan salt , when they boyle or worke , or else of the seed of smallage , barley-bran , the leaves of bay-trees , or of fennell seed brayed with the ashes of the vine brayed . the like effect have almonds cast into the wine , or the a●hes of the oake ; the meale of the white fetch both defends the wine from turning , and keepeth it in his soundnesse . allum broken in pieces the same , the worst application is of brimstone , lime , plaister , &c. to recover the wine when ●urned , must bee e●fe●ted either by changing the vessell , by beaten pepper ; or take whites of egges , beate them very well , and take the froth from thence arising of them , poure them into the ves●ell , which you must immediately roule after its infusion : or else take twelve kernells of old walnuts ( the virginian walnut i conceive exceeding proper ) rost them under the ashes , and while they are yet hot , draw a thread through them , hang them in the wine , where they must bee till the wine ( which will not fail ) recover its former colou● . if the wine become troubled , either the kernels of pine apples , or peaches , or the whites of egges , and a little salt will not faile to cleare and refine it : others take halfe a pound of allum , as much sugar , make a very small powder thereof , and cast it into the ●e●sell . to helpe wine that beginnes to wast and die . if you by manifest symptomes apprehend your wine suddenly inclining to degen●rate and corrupt , this course is prescribed : if it bee clarret , take the yelke of an egge , if white , the white ; adde to it three ounces of cleare bright stones taken out of ● running river , make them into a small powder , together with two ounces of salt , mingle all together , and ( the wine ●hifted into another vessell neat and cleane , not tainted with any smell beforehand ) cast in this compound ; mingle it with the wine five or sixe times the day , untill three or foure dayes bee past . this remedy is not prescribed when wine is absolutely spoyled , for then it would bee applyed to no purpose ; but that the carefull master should by his observation of it to such a disposition , prevent it by this experiment . to restore wine growne musty , unto his former purity . cast into the vessell cowes milke salted : some ( but to the infinite unhealthfullnesse of him that drinkes it ) attempt this restauration with allum , lime , and brimstone , a more undangero●s way is to infuse in it juniper-berries , and irees roots : yet if the wine should continue this ill senting quality , by having taken winde : let it bee rouled too and againe to awaken the spirits thereof , that they may the better disperse the strength of its infu●ion : afterwards set it againe upon his cantling , replenish the vessel and shut it close to prevent winde for the future . to preserve w●nes from sowring , may bee performed by your disposing of you● vessell in a place that is very coole and dry ( the v●ssels being very well filled and well stopped ) to prevent as well the emission of the spirits , by which the wine continues vigorous , as the admission of aire . but in regard all men are not the masters of such opportune conveniencies , being forced sometimes to make uses of places obnoxious to heate , and drawing one vessell a long time , cannot hinder the secret invasions of aire ; y●t if you perceive in time that your vine begines to harbour an acid or soure quality , you shall preserve it from falling into a full degree of sourene●se ; if you take a good piece of lard , wrap it well in a linnen cloath , tye it to a small cord● and let it downe by the bunghole into the middle of the wine , still letting it lower as the wine decreaseth . some advise● and not without a great apparence of reason , to put into the vessell , oyle olive , or salade , in such quantity , that it may onely cover the superficies of the wine : which oyle when the wine is drawne off from the lee● , may bee seperated from them , and preserved . to take ●way the waterishne●se and crude moisture of the wine , put into the vessell the leaves of the pomgranate-tree , though in my opinion such wine being easily knowne in the ●att , when first trodden , should be corrected by boyling , as afore . the remedy against venemous beasts falling into the wine , as adders rats , &c. is , so soone as the dead body is found , to burne it and cast the ashes into the same vessell , s●irring it about with a wooden stick : others give advice to put ●ot bread into the vessel which will attract all the venemous qualities to it selfe , and cleare the wine . of the olive . the vine and olive being such delightfull associates as to expresse a mutuall emulation for the glory of fertility when planted together . this treatise shall not divide them , they are both exhilaratives , the vine rejoyces the heart , the olive glads the countenance ; and that virginia may expresse the delight she affords to mankinde by being reinforced with this second sister of laughter , the olive ; this discourse particularly designed to her improvement , showes its planting and culture when planted . the olive tree , though it delight in a rich fat ground ; yet if he have a warme aire , and a south , or south-east wind to refresh him , will in all places testifie a bounteous gratitude for its scituation in an almost unlaboured for fertility : yet to prepare a place for this rich plant to prosper on , his prosperity being no small part of your owne , you must digge the pits where you intend to plant them , a yeare before such implanting ; in this pit burne some straw , or which is better castings of vine or brambles ( but no part of oake , there being such a particular enmity betwixt this tree , and the oake , that the olive not onely refuses its neighbourhood , but dies if planted in the place where the oake has beene rooted up ) or you may leave it to the sunne and raine , which will without such adustion exhale and purifie all infectious vapours : the place being provided to plant upon , we must next select our plant. select your plants from the shoots or branches of those olive trees which are yong , faire , and fertile : let them bee in thickne●se the circumference of an ordinary wrist , in length eighteene inches ; plant it the bigger end downewards into the earth , prepared as before , and ramme the mould , mingled with dung and ashes close about it : let it be digged every yeare in autumne . the time to plant it is in april or may , it must not be transplanted for the first five yeares , nor the bough● cut or pruned till it have attained eight . graft it not but upon it selfe , so will it beare fruit better in the species and number ; in its transplantation you must take up as much of the soyle with its roots , as you can possible , and when you reset it , give it the like scitu●tion for coast and quarter that it had before . olives are intended for two uses when gathered ; either to bee served up at the table in collation , or to make oyle of the largest sort of olive , is most proper for the table , the lesser more particularly convenient for oyle : they must bee gathered with the least offence to the tree that may bee , the bruising of the branches with poles as some use it in striking downe the fruit , makes the tree barren : the best way therefore is to ascend the tree by a ladder , in faire weather ( not so much for conveniency of the gatherer ; as for the profit comming from the olive , which is not to bee taken from the tree , but when it is exceeding dry ) and pulling them with your hand put them into a wicker basket , which you ●hall have carryed up with you to that purpose . those olives you intend to preserve or pickle , must not have that full ripenesse which is requisite for those you purpose to make oyle of . the olives which you keepe for banquets must be full of flesh , firme , fast , large , and ovall ; if you will pickle them , put them into an earthen pot , and cover them with salt brine or verjuice , or else with honey , vinegar , oyle and salt smally beaten . if you intend to keepe them long , by changing your salt brine constantly every two or three moneths , you may effect it . for the olives whereof you are to expresse your oyle , you must gather no more at one time then what may be made into oyle that day , and the day following : before you bring them to the presse let them be spred upon hurdles , well pick'd , and cul'd ; let the hurdles not be too thick set with twigs , that the lees and watry humor of the olive ( which if expressed with oyle would make it extreame full of faeculency , and corrupts it both in the nostr●ll and palate ) may expend , wa●te it selfe , and drop through ; some therefore that this malignant humor may have a full def●uxion before they bring the fruit to the presse , make a high and well-raised floore , with provision of partitions to keep every dayes gathering seperate ; ( which is , if your abundance be such that your presse is not able to discharge you of them dayly ) the bottome of these partitions m●st be paved with a declin● descent , that the moistnesse of the olives may flow away , and be received into gutters or little channels there provided for their transfluxe . the olives being thus prepared for the presse , and the presse readily provided of all things necessary , viz. of fat 's , vessels to receive your severall oyles , scoopes to draw , and empty out the oyle , covers great and small , spunges , pots to carry out the oyle , tyed about by bands or cords of hemp , or broome-barke ; the mill-stones , oyle-mills , pressers , and all other instruments serving thereunto being very well cleansed , and the aire having been before as well heated by a plentifull fire ; ( if it be not warme enough by its naturall scituation ) for the assistance of heat makes all oyly liquors resolve and runne more gently and freely , whereas cold astringes , and detaines it . this presse-house therefore ●hould be so seated , that it may enjoy a full admission and benefit of the south sunne , that we may stand in need of very little fire , if any at all , such heat being no more assistant to the expression , then ac●essary to the corruption of the oyle . carry your olives thus cleansed to the presse , under which put thē whole in new willow baskets ( the willow adding a beauteou● and innocent color to the oyl ; ) the willow also something staving off the rude strokes of the presse , that the olives may be bruised with as little violence , and as much leisure as possible : nor would it be inconvenient if their skin and fle●h were a little broken at the fir●t with a milstone , so set , that it should not breake the kernels , which would utterly spoyle the olive , taking them from the mill thus prepar'd : let them be stronglier bruised in the presse , and put foure pound of salt to every bushell of olives . the oyle which comes first is by much the best , and the●efore called virgin oyle : the second which comes with more violent expression is fitter for liniments then the table : but the last , which is extorted from the drosse , and stones , is of no use but for lampes ; or such sordid employment . the tuns and vessels wherein the oyle is to be put , must be well dress●d with pitch and gumme , made very clean with warme lees , and carefully dryed with a spunge , into which you may powre your oyle within thirty dayes after the expression of it , so much time being necessarily allowed for the settling the lees , which by that will have grounded upon the bottome . the cellars where the vess●ls of oyle are to be conserved , must be in a place of constant drynesse and coldnesse , heat and moysture being corrupters of the oyle ; provide therefore a cellar on the north coast of your house : and fo● the better and more neat preservation of your liquor , poure it rather into glasse vessels or ●arthen pots , which ( if they be made capacious ) are far more convenient then the pitcht retainers we forme●ly spoke of . accidents befalling oyle● with their remedies : and first to recover frozen oyle . if ( in the time of winter ) oyle doth freeze together with his lees , you must put into it twice boyled salt● which dissolves and clears your oyle from all further apprehension of danger ; nor need you entertaine a jealousie that it will be salt , since unctuous matters ( and especially oyle ) have seldome any relish of it . to keepe oyle from becomming ranke . vvhen the oyle begins to change from his first purity of taste to a disposed rankenesse ; the remedy is to melt an equall proportion of wax and oyle together , to which you are to mingle salt fried in oyle before ; this you must poure into the vessel , which composition above the prevention of it , when beginning to grow ranke , effects an entire restitution to its simple purenesse , when already affected . anniseeds cast into the vessell by a particular attraction performe the same operation . to purifie troubled oyle . some are of advice , that the applying it to the fire or sun recleares it . others , if the vessell be strong , cast into it boyling water : how these remedies agree with their former assertions , ( wherein they declare heat so unnaturall to oyle ) is beyond my reconciling : i for my part , should rather make an experiment of vineger , which being cast into the oyle by degrees , hath such a penetrating and inquirent faculty over all the parts , that it would without doubt recompose it . to recover oyle corrupted in the sent. to performe this , take green olives , pound them , free them from their stones , and cast them into the oyle : or else cast the crums of barley bread mixed with corne salt : otherwise , infuse in your oyle the flowers of melilot : or else hang in the vessell a handfull of the herb coriander , and if you finde the putrifying quality yet unexpelled , cast in divers times of the same herbe , and which is better , change his vessell ; this ill odour others drive away thus : they take grapes , pick out their kernells , stampe them , and with salt make them into a lumpe or lumpes , which you must cast into the vessell , and after ten dayes faile not to change it : which must necessarily be done after the application of any remedy to oyle growne ranke and putrified , the vessell still impairing what the remedy recovers . wee have done with the oyle olive , after the manner of whose expression may bee extorted any unctuous matter of fruits , plants , or seeds namely , walnuts , filberds , almonds ( both sweete and bitter ) nutmegs , the kernells of peaches , pine-apples , abricots , cherries , plums , pistaches , the seede of line , rape , cole , mustard , hempe , poppy , henbane , the seeds or pipins of apples , pears , cucumbers , gourds , melons , and other such like : but that wee may give the reader a more cleare dilucidation of the manner of preparation , wee shall briefely discover the method used in the expression of oyle from almond and nutmegs , which will easily make him apprehend all the rest● the particular reason which perswades mee to introduce the example of almonds , is becaus● i have purposed before i finish this concluding treatise , to discourse particularly o● the planting the almond . whose oyle if to bee taken inwards , is to bee thus expressed . pill the almonds after they have steeped some time in warme water , pound them in a mortar of stone or marble with a wooden pestle , make them up in little lumpes or loaves , which you may knead with you● hands against the vapour of warme water , or put them in a glasse vessell of a large content , for some foure or five houres : ( let the seate and glasse bee so contrived , that it may rather bee above the water to receive the vapour on its sides and bottome , then in it ) the almond being thus mollified by the disposition of the moisture , m●st bee put into a haire cloth or hempen bag , and laid in a presse , whose bottome must be wel heated , hollow , and bending downewards to give the better delabency for the oyl● thus expressed , you may bake the drossy part of the almonds under the ashes , wh●ch in time of necessity will serve for bread , of plenty for a dainty and fatning food to your poultry . this oyle is of soveraigne excellency to mitigate and remove the throwes and gripes of women newly delivered , and to aswage the paines of the collick or reines , taking it in two ounces of white wine , or one of aqua vita ; the line , cole , rape● wallnut , and other need not these curious preparations , and their cakes are of unm●tchable nourishment to fatten kine and other cattle . oyle of nutmegs . oyle of nutmeg ( which in the south part of virginia not subject to any inconveniences of cold would undoubtedly flourish ) is thus made : bray them with a wooden stamper , afterwards presse them out , the plankes being very well heated ; to extract it more rich , divide them into little heapes , and steep● them three dayes in very good wine , after dry them in the shaddow of the sunne two whole dayes , then heate them reasonably in a frying pan upon the fire , sprinkling them with rose water , and presently presse them . this i judge conveniently sufficient for oyles● let us descend to the planting of the almond-tree , which as it hath a peculiar excellency , so without dispute returnes a● ample profit . of the almond tree . though the almond tree delight particularly in gravelly places , of which virginia is too rich to afford a conveniency ; yet there is no dispute , but if the mould wherein you plant them bee mingled with oyster-shels , or such like , of which there is to bee found inexhaustible quantities , they will have a greater virtue then gravell to the quickning and ingerminating of this ●ree ; having the perplexed hardnesse of gravell and unctuousnesse of marle united . the soyle thus prescribed ; let the seat of your almond be in a hot place fully exposed to the south or south-west , and it will not onely flourish to your expectation , but its fruit will bee excellently qualified , and in vast abundance : it groweth very well of the stone , which because it cannot bee procured new should be kept close in a vessell of earth ; to be transported , set it as you would your peach ; it thrives very well too of the branch or scien , which must bee cut from the top of the tree , and planted as the olive , the earth rammed very hard about it , and prepared as before , both the stone and the scien should bee steeped for the space of twelve or foure and twenty houres in homed water ; the best season to set or plant it in virginia , is in october and november . this tree will bee of admirable use there , in regard that both that and the olive will hinder no undergrowing corne ; let neither this tree nor your olive grow above ten foot in the stock , and in this as in olives , if you see any branch aspiring higher then his neighbours , represse such ambition by cutting him o●f , otherwise hee will divert all the sap of the tree into his owne body , and leave his fellowes in a starving and perishing condition ; amongst which if you maintaine equality , they will altogether consent in gratitude to returne you a plentifull harvest . t●e barren almond tree will become fruitfull if you lay open his roots in winter , or else if you pierce some part of the stock close to the earth , and put through the hole a wedge of oake , watering it about with stale urine . the bitter almond will bee capable of bulcoration , if you lay round about his bared root swines dung tempered with urine , casting afterwards much mould upon it , this must bee practised yearly , till hee bee perfectly reclaimed , you will finde the same effect if you bore a hole in the stock of the tree , and put therein a wedge wrapped about with cloth dipped in hony. beasts by brousing and cropping of rhe first and tender branches , change the nature of sweet almonds into bitter almonds , are gathered when their huskes through the heate of the sunne begin to divide ; ( i should therefore advise that those made choice of to set , may bee taken before such exact ripenesse , that the heate of the sunne may not exhale their generating vigour ) if when you have beaten them downe you shell them altogether , and wash them in brine , they will become white , and bee preserved a long time ; cautionarily that you dry them in the sunne ; their repository or granaries must have good open admissories for an unmoist aire , and lye upon that coast that is most open to the north-west , being the driest winde in that country . the medicinall excellency of almonds , is , that they are good for those which are troubled with a clammy fleame in their throat , with w●ake lungs , and such as are subject to the gravell in the reines or difficulty of urine , they are great restorers to nature , and fortifie the parts tending to generation ; nor is it onely beneficiall in its fruit , for the gumme also of the almond tree arrests the spitting of blood . of the fig tree . the fig tree groweth with an unusuall celerity , as beginning to beare the second yeare from his planting , and is of that nature , that during a moneth or five weekes when grapes are ripe and good to eate , the figge also is at that season dayly mature , and fit for the pallate , it may bee planted as the vine , and affects the same soile ; such as have roots grow sooner , but without doubt the branches continue longer ; the order you observe in planting the vine adheare too in this , and it will p●osper . the fittest season to plant it is in october , and the succeeding moneth to the . or twentieth : you shall cause them in planting the be●ter to t●ke root , if you loosen the barque , or which is better bruise it gently at the nether end of the stemme about halfe a foot . to cause them to bee fertile , and bring forth fruits remarkable for fullnesse and verdure , put to his root rich mould beaten and tempered with the setlings of oyle olive , and mans dung , or which i like better then this stercoration if it have already a benine soyle , crop the tops and ends of the branches when they first spring . to reclaime a wild fig-tree , water him at the roots with win● and oyle mixed together . if you make á composition of an equall quantity of salt brine and water be●tow this irrigation in a small trench round about the body of the tree , your figges are prevented from unripe fallings . to have ea●ly figs , water the tree with oyle and pigions-dung , if your ambition be not only to have the earliest , but the latest , take away the fi●st buds , when they are about the bignesse of a beane . to keepe or preserve them , lay them in a pot of honey full and well stopped , but so that they neither touch the sides of the pot , nor one another . or take an earthen pot ( the figs being put in ) stop it close , and immerge this vessell to another f●ll of wine , no ●aint or corruption will possesse your figges so inclosed , while the wine retains his goodn●sse . the plant steeped in brine , or the end thrust into a sea onion , becomes much more fruitfull when planted . this fruit is of great vertue in making the belly soluble in abundance of nourishment and provocation of sweat , dryed and mingled with the flower of linseed or fenugreeke , it resolveth and killeth all impos●umes , and hard tumours , in decoctions it assists much in driving away of the cough , and difficulty of breath , which last vertue the fruit also expresseth very happily , if ste●ped in aqua vitae , the night precedent , and taken every morning during the dominion of this disea●e after you , the milke of the fig-tree dropt into the eare killeth the wormes in it , the leaves of the fig-tree rubbed doe provoke the hemorrhoides ; the juice of figs is of equall felicity in opening them , which to increase his excellency amends all roughnesse , ill conditioned scabs● small pocks , purpl●s , freckles , ringwormes , and other eye-sad blemishes of the face or body therewith anointed , being first tempered with the flower of parched barley , a little cotten wool dipped in this juice , and layd upon the aking tooth a●●wageth the paine . of the pomeganate tree . the pomegranate tree , which may be planted either from the branch or succour , is one of the most absolute encouragers of an idle person in the world ; provided , it be exempt from the intemperate operation of the cold , neither the torrid heat of the sun , nor the barrennesse of the soyle , shal make him forgoe his glorious rubies ; no culture or dressing is required by it : yet if it be set in a rich soyle , it will be sure to make an advantage of it to his owne flourishing , and your profit : the wine thereof ( for it affordeth wine as wel as excellency of fruit ) may be made after this manner . take the ripe kernels , freed and cleansed from their skins , put them into the presse , and exact the wine , keep it in vessels till it is fully fined from all working , which finished , distribute such a quantity if oyle as may float over all the top of the vessel , and this preserves it from sowring or corruption . the pomegranate apple put in a pot of new earth , well covered , and luted with clay , and set into an oven so long , till the fruit may be resolved into powder , is of very princely vertue ; for ( taking the weight of half a crown thereof in red wine ) it miraculously stops the bloudy flux . it is also good in divers diseases of women , which ( because they are more arcanely peculiar to that sex ) i shal forbear to speak of . of the quince tree . the quince tree groweth much sooner from the root then branches : it delighteth in a soyle of a moyst and cold nature , and would therefore be planted towards the more umbragious and coole corners of your garden . the garden , or reclaimed quince , beareth two sorts of fruits , to which curiosity hath assigned sexes , and they are called the quince and quincesse ; the male , which is the quince , is of a more wrinkled , drye , redolent fruit , and golden colour then the quincesse . if you graft the male upon the fe●ale , or ●convers● , the quinces thence proceeding will be tender , and may be eaten raw , which without such ●n hermaphroditisme must of necessity have beene prepared , to which nature , rather then to eate it crude hath de●igned it . the use of marmalade , and its preparation is so publickly known , that it is unnecessary to repeate it . it is not enough to enjoy the delight of these fruits for the summer onely : the winter too in reason should claime a part of our summer contentments , which cannot bee better expedited then by drying such fruits as are capable of are faction , and agreeable when dryed , the principall whereof are the vine or g●ape , the fig , the peach , and abricot . how to dry grapes , that they may bee kept . your grapes being at their just ripenesse , select the faire●t out of you● vineyard , for such quantity as you shall use , let them lye thin spread while you prepare a lye for them , made of faire water and ashes , proceeding onely from the cuttings of the vine without any other mixture of wood whatsoever : seeth this lye till you have made a strong and cleare liquor , then taking or straining away the ashes , put the liquor into a cleane caldron , set it againe over the fire till it bee ready to seeth ; then tying the stalkes of your grapes with thread , and fastening the thread to such sticks and in such order bunch by bunch , as chandlers use to dip their candles , which dip them into this lye foure or five severall times : which done , let them dry in the sunne● either so hanging on their sticks , of which is better upon lattices or hurdles of rods , or the like , untill they bee conveniently dry ; then barrell them , pressing them very hard and flat in the vessell , others dry them upon such lattices or hurdles without steeping them even as they c●me from the vine , and peradventure more successefully . how to drie figges . let them ( as the grape ) bee gathered very ripe ; then lay and spread them upon hurdles or lattices of reeds or osier joyned together● with rifts or vacancies betwixt the covering of those osiers , that the aire transpiring through those voyd spaces may assist the sunne in the drying them ; but you must bee cautious that during their exposure to the open aire no raine or dew incommodate them : when they are dry ba●rell with the same poise of pressure used to the grapes . others take a bigge reed or cane of two or three foot in length , boring little holes all the length of it , through which they put little sticks of two foot extent , being the small and sharpe upon which they thread the figs , till they are very full of them , and so hang the cane in the sunne , which dryed they barrell up using the same course as before . how to dry peaches and abricots of all sorts . when they are very ripe , pare off the upper skin , cleav● them into foure quarters , dry them as you did your fig●● barrell them and keepe them for the winter . the manner how you shall prepare them to eate is this ; pr●vide an earthen pot , and after you have washe● your peaches in faire water , put them into the pot with as much wine as will cover the peaches , then seeth them halfe a quarter of an houre . they may bee made ready without boyling thus ; let them inf●se three or foure dayes in wine , ( which way they are much better ) put to them beaten cynamon , and thus they will last a moneth in the wine , eaten every morning they are very wholesome , and provoke a good appetite . the fittest seasons for sowing of seeds . to prescribe rules according to our climate , to tha● of virginia , may have much of affection , but without all peradventures , little of wisdome . wee must therefore seeke for a nearer correspondence in parallells . having therefore seene some letters of an ancient date written by frenchmen , then employed in virginia , to their intrusters , wherein they confesse that of all the provinces of france : none came so neare to that noble countrey , as languedock and provence , two of the eyes of that kingdome , abounding withall the delights and delicacy that italy can pretend to , or spain● boast of ; i could not but apprehend that their times of sation and insition , of planting and replanting , might in some measure correspond with that place where the english are now s●ated , and having seene a regular distribution of the moneths and seasons in the yeare for sowing , grafting● and other offices belonging to the industrious lovers of agriculture ; i should both unsatisfie my owne conscience , and disoblige that countrey , and its christian inhabitants , if i did not publish it with the same resentment of affection i received it ; not that any should bee so pinioned to these precepts , that neither weather , inconveniency , or want of opportunity should make him recede from the punctuall observation of them : but i speake it out of a very strong confidence that the observations of the seasons according to these prescriptions will sort well with v●rginia in generall , and the planters in particular , to whom it is intended , and indeed it is as exact ● directory as any yet published . i am not ignorant that criticks will laugh at this ; much good doe it them● and why so many moneths for the same seed ? w●y so many repetitions ? my exceptionist forgets that wee not onely covet to have things early , but their continuance : will it offend him that wee have ar●ichokes in may ? and july both ? because wee may have cabbage , lettuse in april , shall wee bee forbidden to have any in may : the principall scope of this directer was to show how long such and such seedes might bee continued to bee sowen , and in what moneth and moone , if hee apprehend it not ; i can send him to no moneth , but that of june , nor moone , but that of midsommer . he that will sow seed , must know that , som● may 〈◊〉 ●owen at a●● times of the moneth and moone , as , asparagus , colewort of all sorts , spinage , lettuse , pa●s●ips , reddish . others would be sowed in a certaine moneth and moone● as there must bee sowen in february , the moone being — new full spike ga●like b●●age bug●●sse ch●●use cori●nder g●urds w●ter ●●esses m●●●●●ne pa●ma christi flower gen●le w●ite poppy pu●s●ane radish r●●ket rosemary sorrell double marigold thyme . anise viole●● b●ites ski●worts wh●te succory f●n● 〈◊〉 p●●●l●y . h●●y ●histle cole cabbage white cole green cole cucumbe●● h●rts-horn● samp●●● d●●rs graine spinage cabbage-lettuce m●l●●● onions la●ke●-he●le burnet leekes . old sow in march the moone being , new full garlick borage cher●ile cori●nder gourds m●joran● white poppy pu●s●in● radish sorr●ll double marigold thyme violets . anise blee●s skirwor●s succory ●en●●ll apples of love marvellous apples . artichoke● basil thi●●le● blessed thi●●le col● cabbage white cole greene cole citron● cucumbers harts-horne sampire di●rs grain● spinage g●lly● flowers hyf●op cabbage lettuse melons onyons flower gentle burnet leeke● sav●●y . old sow in april the moon being new majorane flower gentle thyme violet●● full apples of love marvellous apples . old artichokes cabbage cole citrons harts-horne sampire gilly flower● . in may in the old of the moon blessed thi●le . in june th● moone new go●rds radishes . old melo●s cucumbers . in jul● the moone full white succory cabbage lettu●e . old white succory cabbage lettu●e . in august the moone being full white succory . herbes growing of seedes that are sowne may bee transplanted at all times , except chervils , arrage , spinage , and persely , which are nothing worth when they are transplanted ; ever observed that such transplantation bee in a moist , rainy weather , otherwise they must bee very diligently watered . you may take notice that the choise and age of seedes is d●uble , in chusing them you are to regard that they bee ripe , full , heavy , firme , grosse , and of a good colour , not falling to powder through rottennesse or bruises . some grow bettter of new seedes , as leeks , cucumbers . others grow better of old seeds , as coriander , persley , savory , beets , origanum , cresses , spinage , poppey . further observe , that you must preserve from cold , lettuses , artichokes , basill , cabbage cole , diers graine , melons , fifteene dayes after they put forth from the earth . make ●ccount that seedes thrive and prosper much better , when they are sowen upon such dayes as are betweene the extreames of cold and heate , then in hot , cold or dry dayes . bee pleased to remember , that seedes must bee gathered in faire weather , in the wane of the moone . they must be kept some in boxes of wood , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . bagges of leather , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . vessels of earth , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . others , as onions , in their huske . chibols , in their huske . leeks , in their huske . ●o do regularly , we sho●ld plant in the la●● of the moone . gather grafts in the la●t but one of the moone . graft two dayes after the change of the moone . an explication of the saw-mill , an engine , wherewith by force of a wheele in the water , to cut timber with great speed . this engine is very common in norway and mountaines of sweden , wherewith they cut gr●at quantity of deal-bords ; which engine is very necessary to be in a great towne or forrest , to cut timber , whether into planks or otherwise . this heer is not altogether like those of norway : for they make the piece of timber approch the sawes on certaine wheels with teeth ; but because of reparations which those toothd wheeles are often subject unto , i will omit that use : and in stead thereof , put two weights , about . or . pound weight a piece , whereof one is marked a. the other b. the cords wherewith the sayd weights doe hang , to be fastned at the end of the . peeces of moving wood , which slide on two other peeces of fixed wood , by the meanes of certaine small pulleys , which should be within the house , and so the sayd weights should alwayes draw the sayd peeces of moving wood , which advancing alway towards the sawes rising and falling , shall quickly be cut into . . or . peeces , as you shall please to put on saws , and placed at what distance you will have for the thicknesse of the planks or bords ye will cut : and when a peece is cut , then let one with a lever turne a rowler , wherto shall be fastned a strong cord which shall bring backe the sayd peece of wood , an● lift again the weights : and after put aside the peece already cut , to take againe the sawes against another peece of wood . which once done , the ingenious artist may easily convert the same to an instrument of threshing wheat , breaking of hempe or flax , and other as profitable uses . finis . a declaration of the state of the colony and affaires in virginia with a relation of the barbarous massacre in the time of peace and league, treacherously executed by the natiue infidels vpon the english, the of march last. together with the names of those that were then massacred; that their lawfull heyres, by this notice giuen, may take order for the inheriting of their lands and estates in virginia. and a treatise annexed, written by that learned mathematician mr. henry briggs, of the northwest passage to the south sea through the continent of virginia, and by fretum hudson. also a commemoration of such worthy benefactors as haue contributed their christian charitie towards the aduancement of the colony. and a note of the charges of necessary prouisions fit for euery man that intends to goe to virginia. published by authoritie. waterhouse, edward, colonist. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a declaration of the state of the colony and affaires in virginia with a relation of the barbarous massacre in the time of peace and league, treacherously executed by the natiue infidels vpon the english, the of march last. together with the names of those that were then massacred; that their lawfull heyres, by this notice giuen, may take order for the inheriting of their lands and estates in virginia. and a treatise annexed, written by that learned mathematician mr. henry briggs, of the northwest passage to the south sea through the continent of virginia, and by fretum hudson. also a commemoration of such worthy benefactors as haue contributed their christian charitie towards the aduancement of the colony. and a note of the charges of necessary prouisions fit for euery man that intends to goe to virginia. published by authoritie. waterhouse, edward, colonist. briggs, henry, - . virginia company of london. inconveniencies that have happened to some persons which have transported themselves from england to virginia, without provisions necessary to sustaine themselves, hath greatly hindred the progresse of that noble plantation. [ ], , [ ], folded leaf by g. eld, for robert mylbourne, and are to be sold at his shop, at the great south doore of pauls, imprinted at london : . dedication signed: edvvard waterhouse. the first leaf contains two woodcut seals; the last leaf is blank. the folded leaf is "the inconveniencies that have happened to some persons which have transported themselves from england to virginia ..", probably issued by the virginia company of london, also separately issued as stc . reproduction of a photostat of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the 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and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . virginia -- description and travel -- early works to . northwest passage -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion sigilvm regis magnae britaniae franciae et hiberniae pro consilio svo virginiae royal seal a declaration of the state of the colony and affaires in virginia . with a relation of the barbarous massacre in the time of peace and league , treacherously executed by the natiue infidels vpon the english , the of march last . together with the names of those that were then massacred ; that their lawfull heyres , by this notice giuen , may take order for the inheriting of their lands and estates in virginia . and a treatise annexed , written by that learned mathematician mr. henry briggs , of the northwest passage to the south sea through the continent of virginia , and by fretum hudson . also a commemoration of such worthy benefactors as haue contributed their christian charitie towards the aduancement of the colony . and a note of the charges of necessary prouisions fit for euery man that intends to goe to virginia . published by authoritie . imprinted at london by ,for robert mylbourne , and are to be sold at his shop , at the great south doore of pauls . . to the honble companie of virginia . right honorable and worthy : the fame of our late vnhappy accident in virginia , hath spread it selfe , i doubt not , into all parts abroad , and as it is talked of of all men , so no question of many , and of most , it cannot but be misreported , some carryed away with ouer-weak lightnesse to beleeue all they heare , how vntrue soeuer ; others out of their disaffection possibly to the plantation , are desirous to make that , which is ill , worse ; and so the truth of the action , which is only one , is varied and misreported . i haue thought it therefore a part of some acceptable seruice in me towards you , whose fauors haue preferred me to be a member of your company , to present you with these my poore labours , the collection of the truth hereof , drawne from the relation of some of those that were beholders of that tragedie , and who hardly escaped from tasting of the same cup , as also from the letters sent you by the gouernour and other gentlemen of quality , and of the councell in that colonie , read openly here in your courts : that so the world may see that it was not the strength of a professed enemy that brought this slaughter on them , but contriued by the perfidious treachery of a false-hearted people , that know not god nor faith . no generous spirit will forbeare to goe on for this accident that hath hapned to the plantation , but proceed rather chearfully in this honorable enterprize , since the discouery of their bruitish falshood will proue ( as shall appeare by this treatise following ) many waies aduantageable to vs , and make this forewarning a forearming for euer to preuent a greater mischiefe . accept it from me , i most humbly beseech you , as the first fruits of my poore seruice . time may happily make me able to yeeld you some other worke whose subiect may bee ioy , as this is a theame of sadnesse : meane time , i commit you and the noble colony to gods good blessing , as he that shall alwaies be a true votarie for your happinesse , and seruant to your commands , edvvard waterhovse . faults in printing are thus to be amended . page . lane. faults . amend . . french vignerous french vignerous . . mastiues to teare them mastiues to seaze them . ibid. ibid. which take this naked which take these naked . non s'inga muu non s'inganna . . with his brothers with his brother . ibid. . ambitious quarrels ambitious quarrels . . shinhow swinhow . ibid. . weynoack . weyanock . . by fretum hudson . and by fretum hudson . the inconveniencies that have happened to some persons which have transported themselves from england to virginia ; vvithout prouisions necessary to sustaine themselues , hath greatly hindred the progresse of that noble plantation : for preuention of the like disorders heereafter , that no man suffer , either through ignorance or misinformation ; it is thought requisite to publish this short declaration : wherein is contained a particular of such necessaries , as either priuate families or single persons shall haue cause to furnish themselues with , for their better support at their first landing in virginia ; whereby also greater numbers may receiue in part , directions how to prouide themselues . apparrell for one man , and so after the rate for more . apparrell .   li. s. d. one monmouth cap three falling bands   three shirts   one waste-coate   one suite of canuase   one suite of frize   one suite of cloth   three paire of irish stockins     foure paire of shooes   one paire of garters   one doozen of points   one paire of canuase sheets .   seuen ells of canuase , to make a bed and boulster , to be filled in virginia . s.   one rug for a bed . s. which with the bed seruing for two men , halfe is fiue ells coorse canuase , to make a bed at sea for two men , to be filled with straw , iiij . s.   one coorse rug at sea for two men , will cost vj. s. is for one   for a whole yeere for one man , and so for more after the rate . victuall . eight bushels of meale two bushels of pease at . s.   two bushels of oatemeale . s. . d.   one gallon of aquauitae   one gallon of oyle   two gallons of vineger . s.     for one man , but if halfe of your men haue armour it is sufficient so that all haue peeces and swords . armes . one armour compleat , light   one long peece , fiue foot or fiue and a halfe , neere musket bore   one sword     one belt     one bandaleere   twenty pound of powder   sixty pound of shot or lead , pistoll and goose shot     for a family of . persons and so after the rate for more . tooles .   li. s. d. fiue broad howe 's at . s. a piece     fiue narrow howe 's at . d. a piece   two broad axes at . s. . d. a piece   fiue felling axes at . d. a piece   two steele hand sawes at . d. a piece   two two-hand-sawes at . s. a piece     one whip-saw , set and filed with box , file , and wrest     two hammers . d. a piece   three shouels . d. a piece   two spades at . d. a piece     two augers . d. a piece   sixe chissels . d. a piece   two percers stocked . d. a piece   three gimlets . d. a piece   two hatchets . d a piece   two froues to cleaue pale . d.   two hand-bills . a piece   one grindlestone . s.   nailes of all sorts to the value of   two pickaxes                       for a family of . persons , and so for more or lesse after the rate . houshold implements . one iron pot   one kettle     one large frying-pan   one gridiron   two skillets     one spit     platters , dishes , spoones of wood       for suger , spice , and fruit , and at sea for . men . so the full charge of apparrell , victuall , armes , tooles , and houshold stuffe , and after this rate for each person , will amount vnto about the summe of   the passage of each man is   the fraight of these prouisions for a man , will bee about halfe a tun , which is   so the whole charge will amount to about nets , bookes , lines , and a tent must be added , if the number of people be greater , as also some kine . and this is the vsuall proportion that the virginia company doe bestow vpon their tenants which they send . whosoeuer transports himselfe or any other at his owne charge vnto virginia , shall for each person so transported before midsummer . haue to him and his heires for euer fifty acres of land vpon a first , and fifty acres vpon a second diuision . imprinted at london by felix kyngston . . a declaration of the state of the colonie and affaires in virginia . with a relation of the barbarous massacre in the time of peace and league , treacherously executed vpon the english by the natiue infidels , march last . although there haue been many and sundry treatises writ of virginia , and the commodities thereof ; whereat malitious men may take occasion to cauill , but godly men will finde good cause to praise the almighty , whose wonders are seene in the deepe , through the which we haue sailed to the discouery of this good land : yet i haue not thought it amisse ( since i am to expresse some late accidents ) before-hand to summe vp the benefits of that countrey ; partly because they daily encrease by new discoueries made , to the glory of our most gratious king , and euer renowned to all posteritie , for the founding and supporting of this most royall and blessed work of plantation , to the great honor , wealth and happinesse of his most famous kingdomes ; and partly , because such is the customary daintinesse of readers , that they seldome take the paines to gather together all that hath beene written of any subiect , that so they might take the whole businesse into their consideration , ( which is the onely way to make a true iudgement , ) but vsually content themselues with one or two bookes set out occasionally , and with reference to some former treatises , whereby they gaine but a lame and parcell-knowledge , and so oftentimes both preiudice themselues and the truth . the countrey called virginia ( so named by the late virgin-queene elizabeth of blessed memory ) being the rightfull inheritance of his maiesty , as being first discouered at the costs and charges of that most prudent prince of famous memory , king henry the seauenth , his maiesties great grand-father ; the patent whereof still extant to be seene , was granted to iohn cabot and diuers other of his subiects , who went thither with sixe saile of ships , and discouered as farre as from cape florida to new-found-land , all along the coast , and tooke possession thereof to the kings vse , about that time when ferdinando and isabella discouered the westerne indies : ( by which title of first discouery the king of portugal and spaine hold and enioy their ample and rich kingdomes in their indies east & west : ) a coast where king edward the sixt after planted his fishing to the new-found-land by publike act in parliament , and of which philip amadas and arthur barlow tooke againe possession to the vse of the late qu●ene elizabeth : and after them , sir richard greenfield , sir ralph lane , and sir walter rawleigh ; at what time seuerall colonies were there placed . and since his maiesties most happy comming to the crowne , being an absolute king of three of the most populous kingdomes ( which charles the fift was wont to tearme officina gentium , the shop or forge of men , ) finding his subiects to multiply by the blessed peace they enioy vnder his happy gouernment , did out of his high wisedome and princely care of the good of his subiects , grant a most gratious patent to diuers honourable persons , and others of his louing subiects , authorizing them thereby to goe on in the plantation of this his lawfull and rightfull kingdome of virginia , which by the blessing of almighty god is growne to good perfection . this spatious and fruitful country of virginia , is ( as is generally knowne to all ) naturally rich , and exceedingly well watered , very temperate , and healthfull to the inhabitants , abounding with as many naturall blessings , and replenished with as goodly woods , and those full of deere and sundry other beasts for mans sustenance ; and the seas and riuers thereof ( many therein being exceeding fayre and nauigable ) as full of excellent fish of diuers sorts , and both water & land yeelding as great variety of fowle , as any country in the world is knowne to afford . the situation whereof being neere the middest of the world , betweene the extremities of heate and colde , seemes to partake of the benefits of both , and therby becometh capable of the richest commodities of most parts of the earth . from whence ariseth an assurance that ( by the assistance and skill of industry ) those rich furres , cordage , and other commodities , which with difficulty and danger are now drawn from russia , will be had in virginia and the parts adioyning , with ease and safety . and the masts , plancks , and boards , the pitch and tarre , the pot-ashes and sope-ashes , the hempe and flaxe , which now are fetched from norway , denmarke , poland , and germany , will there be had in abundance . the iron , which hath so wasted our english woods , ( that it selfe in short time must decay together with them ) is to be had in virginia ( where wasting of woods is an ease and benefit to the planter ) for all good conditions answerable to the best iron of the world , whereof proofe hath beene made . the wines , fruits , and salt of france and spaine : the silkes of persia and italy , will be had also in virginia , in no kinde of worth inferiour , where are whole woods of many miles together of mulberry trees of the best kindes , the proper food of the silke-worme , and a multitude of other naturall commodities . of woods , roots and berries , for excellent dyes ; of plants and other drugs for physicall seruice ; of sweet woods , oyles and gummes , for pleasure and other vse ; of cotton-wooll , silke-grasse and sugar canes , will there be had in abundance , with many other kindes . and for corne , cattell , and fish , ( which are the substance of the food of man ) in no place better : the graine also of our owne country prospering there very well ; but their maize ( being the naturall graine of virginia ) doth farre exceed in pleasantnesse , strength , fertilitie , and generalitie of vse , the wheat of england . the cattell which were transported thither ( being now growne neere to fifteene hundred ) doe become much bigger of body then the breed from whence they came . the horses also ( through the benefit of the climate , and nature of their feeding ) more beautifull and fuller of courage . and such is the extraordinary fertilitie of that soyle , that the does of their deere ( a kinde differing from ours in england , yet no way inferiour ) yeeld two fawnes at a fall or birth , and sometimes three . and the fishings along our coasts are in plenty of fish equall to those of new-found-land , and in greatnesse and goodnesse much superiour , and twice in the yeare to be taken , in their going and returne , which is not else-where found in such plenty and varietie ; so as there went this yeare from diuers parts of this kingdome , neere thirty saile thither , who are well returned and richly fished . to conclude ( but out of certaine aduertisements so often reiterated from thence , as well as by the constant relations of many hundreds now yearely comming & going ) they auow , that it is a country which nothing but ignorance can thinke ill of , and which no man but of a corrupt minde & ill purpose can defame , which as it paralelleth the most opulent and rich kingdomes of the world , by lying in the same latitude with them , so doth it promise richer mynes of the best and most desired mettals with them , when the colonie shall be of sufficient strength to open and defend them . and for the passage thither , and trade there , it is free from all restraint by forren princes , whereunto most of our other accustomed trades are subiect : there is neyther danger in the way , through the encountring of the enemy or pyrate , nor meeting with rockes or sholes ( by reason of the fayre and safe passage thorow the maine ocean ) nor tediousnes of iourney , which by reason of better knowledge then in former yeares ( the fruit of time and obseruation ) is oftner made and in fewer weekes , then formerly it was wont to be in moneths ; which ( with the blessing of god ) produced in the last summer this effect , that in the fleet of nine saile of ships , transporting aboue seauen hundred passengers out of england and ireland , for the plantation , but one person ( in whose roome another at sea was borne ) miscarryed by the way . and for them after ariuall , there are conuenient lodgings now in building , and carefull attendance in guests-houses prouiding , till those that ariue can prouide for themselues . in the three last yeares of . . and . there hath beene prouided and sent for virginia forty two saile of ships , three thousand fiue hundred and seauenty men and women for plantation , with requisite prouisions , besides store of cattell , and in those ships haue beene aboue twelue hundred mariners imployed : there hath also beene sent in those yeares nine ships to the sommer ilands with about nine hundred people to inhabite there , in which ships two hundred and forty mariners were imployed . in which space haue beene granted fifty patents to particular persons , for plantation in virginia , who with their associates haue vndertaken therein to transport great multitudes of people and cattell thither , which for the most part is since performed , and the residue now in preparing , as by the seuerall declarations of each yeare in their particulars , ( manifested and approued in our generall and publike quarter-courts ) and for the fuller satisfaction of all desirous to vnderstand the particularities of such proceedings , hath beene by printing commended to the vnderstanding of all . the letters written from the gouernor and treasurer in virginia in the beginning of march last , ( which came hither in april , ) gaue assurance of ouercomming and bringing to perfection in this yeare , the iron-works , glasse-works , salt-works , the plentifull sowing of all sorts of english graine with the plough , hauing now cleared good quantitie of ground ; setting of store of indian corne or maize , sufficient for our selues , and for trucke with the natiues ; restraint of the quantity of tobacco , and amendment of it in the quality , learned by time and experience ; the planting of vines and mulberry-trees neere to their houses , figg-trees , pomgranats , potatoes , and cotton-wooll seedes , pocoon , indico , sugar-canes , madder , woade , hempe , flaxe , and silke-grasse ; and for the erecting of a fayre inne in iames-citie for the better entertainment of new commers , whereto and to other publike workes , euery old planter there offered freely and liberally to contribute . i write the words of their letters . and how in a late discouery made , a few moneths before by some of them to the southward , they had past thorow great forrests of pines , fifteene or sixteene miles broad , and aboue threescore miles long , very fit for mastes for shipping , and for pitch and tarre , and of other sorts of woods fit for pot-ashes and sope-ashes , and came vnto a most fruitfull country , blessed with abundance of corne , reaped twice a yere ( within the limits of virginia ) where also they vnderstand of a copper-myne , an essay whereof was sent , and vpon tryall here found to be very rich ; and met with a great deale of silk-grasse there growing , which monethly may be cut , of which kindes , and cotton-wooll , all the cambaya and bengala stuffes are made in the east-indies : and of which kindes of silke-grasse was heretofore made a peece of grogeram giuen to queene elizabeth . and how that in december last they had planted and cultiuated in virginia vines of all sorts , ( as well those naturally growing , as those other plants sent them from these parts of europe ) orenge and lemon-trees , figge-trees , sugar-canes , cotton-wooll , cassaui rootes , ( that make very good bread ) plantanes , potatoes , and sundry other indian fruits and plants not formerly seene in virginia , which at the time of their said letters beganne to prosper very well : as also their indico-seedes , for the true cure whereof there is lately caused a treatise to be written . furthermore , they write that in a voyage made by lieutenant marmaduke parkinson , and other english gentlemen , vp the riuer of patomack they saw a china boxe at one of the kings houses where they were : being demanded where he had it , made answer , that it was sent him from a king that dwelt in the west , ouer the great hils , some tenne dayes iourney , whose countrey is neare a great sea , hee hauing that boxe , from a people as he said , that came thither in ships , that weare cloaths , crooked swords , & somwhat like our men , dwelt in houses , and were called acanack-china : and he offered our people , that he would send his brother along with them to that king , which offer the gouernor purposed not to refuse ; and the rather , by reason of the continual constant relations of all those sauages in virginia , of a sea , and the way to it west , they affirming that the heads of all those seauen goodly riuers , ( the least wherof is greater then the riuer of thames , and nauigable aboue an hundred and fifty miles , and not aboue sixe or eight miles one from another ) which fall all into one great bay , haue their rising out of a ridge of hils , that runnes all along south and north : whereby they doubt not but to finde a safe , easie , and good passage to the south sea , part by water , and part by land , esteeming it not aboue an hundred and fifty miles from the head of the falls , where wee are now planted ; the discouery whereof will bring forth a most rich trade to cathay , china , iapan , and those other of the east indies , to the inestimable benefit of this kingdome . but for the further proofe hereof , and of the north-west passage thither by sea , i referre the reader to the treatie annexed at the end of this booke , written by that learned and famous mathematician , mr. henry briggs , which i hauing happily attained vnto , haue published for the common good . moreouer , the letters of mr. iohn berkley , sometimes of beuerstone castle in the county of glocester , ( a gentleman of an honorable familie ) likewise certifie , that a more fit place for iron-workes ( whereof he was made master & ouer-seer ) then in virginia , both for wood , water , mynes , and stone , was not to be found : and that by whitsontide then next ( now past ) the company might relye vpon good quantities of iron made by him : which also by letters from mr. george sandis the third of march last , was confirmed , with this farther description of the place ( called the falling creeke ) to be so fitting for that purpose , as if nature had applyed her selfe to the wish and direction of the workeman ; where also were great stones hardly seene else-where in virginia , lying on the place , as though they had beene brought thither to aduance the erection of those workes . the letters of the french vignerous or vine-men , procured out of france & sent ouer into virginia , did likewise assertaine , that no countrey in the world was more proper for vines , silke , rice , oliues , and other fruits , then virginia is : and that it farre excelled their owne countrey of languedocke ; the vines of diuers sorts being in abundance naturally ouer all the countrey : and they hauing planted some cuttings of vines at michaelmas last , in their letters affirme that these bare grapes already this spring , to their great wonder , as being a thing they suppose not heard of in any other countrey . a taste of wine made of the wilde grape , they last yeare sent , with hope to send a good quantitie this next vintage ; and that the mulberry-trees where they abode were in wonderfull abundance , and much excelling both in goodnesse and greatnesse those of their owne country of languedocke : and that those silke-wormes they haue , prosper exceeding well , and some silke they hope to send this yeare , there wanting nothing to set vp that rich commodity but store of hands wherewith england doth abound . of the fruit of which mulberry-trees ( as of a plum there plentifully growing ) they would make wholsome drinkes for the colony and people there . the letters of mr. porey ( verified also from the gouernor and councell ) aduertised of a late discouery by him and others made into the great bay northward , ( reseruing the sounding of the bottome thereof for a second voyage , ) where hee left setled very happily neare an hundred english , with hope of a good trade for furres there to be had . from thence was brought by lieutenant perkinson , in his voyage , some of that kind of earth which is called terra lemnia ( there to be had in great abundance ) as good as that of turkey . by this ( though it be but in part ) the reader may vnderstand the great riches and blessings of this excellent countrey , which euen ordinary diligence and care must needes strangely improue . but that all men may see the vnpartiall ingenuity of this discourse , we freely confesse , that the countrey is not so good , as the natiues are bad , whose barbarous sauagenesse needs more cultiuation then the ground it selfe , being more ouerspread with inciuilitie and treachery , then that with bryers . for the land being tilled and vsed well by vs , deceiued not our expectation , but rather exceeded it farre , being so thankfull as to returne an hundred for one . but the sauages though neuer nation vsed so kindly vpon so small desert , haue in stead of that haruest which our paines merited , returned nothing but bryers and thornes , pricking euen to death many of their benefactors : yet doubt wee not , but that as all wickednes is crafty to vndoe it self , so these also , thorow our sides , haue more wounded themselues then vs , god almighty making way for seueritie there , where a fayre gentlenesse would not take place . the occasion whereof thus i relate from thence . the last may there came letters from sir francis wiat gouernor in virginia , which did aduertise that when in nouember last he ariued in virginia , and entred vpon his gouernment , he found the country setled in a peace ( as all men there thought ) sure and vnuiolable , not onely because it was solemnly ratified and sworne , and at the request of the natiue king stamped in brasse , and fixed to one of his oakes of note , but as being aduantagious to both parts ; to the sauages as the weaker , vnder which they were safely sheltred and defended ; to vs , as being the easiest way then thought to pursue and aduance our proiects of buildings , plantings , and effecting their conuersion by peaceable and fayre meanes . and such was the conceit of firme peace and amitie , as that there was seldome or neuer a sword worne , and a peece seldomer , except for a deere or fowle . by which assurance of securitie , the plantations of particular aduenturers and planters were placed scatteringly and straglingly as a choyce veyne of rich ground inuited them , and the further from neighbors held the better . the houses generally set open to the sauages , who were alwaies friendly entertained at the tables of the english , and commonly lodged in their bed-chambers . the old planters ( as they thought now come to reape the benefit of their long trauels ) placed with wonderfull content vpon their priuate diuidents , and the planting of particular hundreds and colonies pursued with an hopefull alacrity , all our proiects ( saith he ) in a faire way , and their familarity with the natiues , seeming to open a faire gate for their conuersion to christianitie . the country being in this estate , an occasion was ministred of sending to opachankano the king of these sauages , about the middle of march last , what time the messenger returned backe with these words from him , that he held the peace concluded so firme , as the skie should sooner fall then it dissolue : yea , such was the treacherous dissimulation of that people who then had contriued our destruction , that euen two dayes before the massacre , some of our men were guided thorow the woods by them in safety : and one browne , who then to learne the language liued among the warrascoyacks ( a prouince of that king ) was in friendly manner sent backe by them to captaine hamor his master , and many the like passages , rather increasing our former confidence , then any wise in the world ministring the least suspition of the breach of the peace , or of what instantly ensued ; yea , they borrowed our owne boates to conuey themselues crosse the riuer ( on the bankes of both sides whereof all our plantations were ) to consult of the diuellish murder that ensued , and of our vtter extirpation , which god of his mercy ( by the meanes of some of themselues conuerted to christianitie ) preuented : and as well on the friday morning ( the fatal day ) the of march , as also in the euening , as in other dayes before , they came vnarmed into our houses , without bowes or arrowes , or other weapons , with deere , turkies , fish , furres , and other prouisions , to sell , and trucke with vs , for glasse , beades , and other trifles : yea in some places , sate downe at breakfast with our people at their tables , whom immediately with their owne tooles and weapons , eyther laid downe , or standing in their houses , they basely and barbarously murthered , not sparing eyther age or sexe , man , woman or childe ; so sodaine in their cruell execution , that few or none discerned the weapon or blow that brought them to destruction . in which manner they also slew many of our people then at their seuerall workes and husbandries in the fields , and without their houses , some in planting corne and tobacco , some in gardening , some in making bricke , building , sawing , and other kindes of husbandry , they well knowing in what places and quarters each of our men were , in regard of their daily familiarity , and resort to vs for trading and other negotiations , which the more willingly was by vs continued and cherished for the desire we had of effecting that great master-peece of workes , their conuersion . and by this meanes that fatall friday morning , there fell vnder the bloudy and barbarous hands of that perfidious and inhumane people , contrary to all lawes of god and men , of nature & nations , three hundred forty seuen men , women , and children , most by their owne weapons ; and not being content with taking away life alone , they fell after againe vpon the dead , making as well as they could , a fresh murder , defacing , dragging , and mangling the dead carkasses into many pieces , and carrying some parts away in derision , with base and bruitish triumph . neither yet did these beasts spare those amongst the rest well knowne vnto them , from whom they had daily receiued many benefits and fauours , but spitefully also massacred them , without remorse or pitty , being in this more fell then lyons and dragons , which ( as histories record ) haue beene so farre from hurting , as they haue both acknowledged , and gratefully requited their benefactors ; such is the force of good deeds , though done to cruell beasts , as to make them put off the very nature of beasts , and to put on humanity vpon them . but these miscreants , contrariwise in this kinde , put not off onely all humanity , but put on a worse and more then vnnaturall bruitishnesse . one instance of it , amongst too many , shall serue for all . that worthy religious gentleman , master george thorpe esquire , deputie of the colledge lands , sometimes one of his maiesties pentioners , and in one of the principall places of command in virginia , did so truly and earnestly affect their conuersion , and was so tender ouer them , that whosoeuer vnder his authority had giuen them but the least displeasure or discontent , he punished them seuerely . he thought nothing too deare for them , and as being desirous to binde them vnto him by his many courtesies , hee neuer denyed them any thing that they asked him , insomuch that when these sauages complained vnto him of the fiercenesse of our mastiues , most implacable and terrible vnto them , ( knowing them by instinct it seemes , to be but treacherous and false-hearted friends to vs , better then our selues ) he to gratifie them in all things , for the winning of them by degrees , caused some of them to be killed in their presence , to the great displeasure of the owners , and would haue had all the rest guelt ( had he not beene hindered ) to make them the gentler and the milder to them . hee was not onely too kinde and beneficiall to the common sort , but also to their king , to whom hee oft resorted , and gaue many presents which hee knew to be highly pleasing to him . and whereas this king before dwelt onely in a cottage , or rather a denne or hog-stye , made with a few poles and stickes , and couered with mats after their wyld manner , to ciuilize him , he first , built him a fayre house according to the english fashion , in which hee tooke such ioy , especially in his locke and key , which hee so admired , as locking and vnlocking his doore an hundred times aday , hee thought no deuice in all the world was comparable to it . thus insinuating himselfe to this king for his religious purposes , he conferred after with him oft , and intimated to him matters of our religion ; and thus far the pagan confessed , moued by naturall principles , that our god was a good god , and better much then theirs , in that he had with so many good things aboue them endowed vs. hee told him , if hee would serue our god , hee should bee partaker of all those good things wee had , and of farre greater then sense or reason euer could imagine . hee wonne vpon him , as hee thought in many things , so as hee gaue him fayre hearing and good answer , and seemed to be much pleased with his discourse and in his company . and both hee and his people for the daily courtesies this good gentleman did to one or other of them , did professe such outward loue and respect vnto him , as nothing could seeme more : but all was little regarded after by this viperous brood , as the sequell shewed : for they not only wilfully murdered him , but cruelly and felly , out of deuillish malice , did so many barbarous despights and foule scornes after to his dead corpes , as are vnbefitting to be heard by any ciuill eare . one thing i cannot omit , that when this good gentleman vpon his fatall hower , was warned by his man ( who perceiued some treachery intended to them by these hell-hounds ) to looke to himselfe , and withall ranne away for feare of the mischiefe he strongly apprehended , and so saued his owne life ; yet his master , out of the conscience of his owne good meaning , and faire deserts euer towards them , was so void of all suspition , and so full of confidence , that they had sooner killed him , then hee could or would beleeue they meant any ill against him . thus the sinnes of these wicked infidels , haue made them vnworthy of enioying him , and the eternall good that he most zealously alwayes intended to them . and thus these miserable wretches , not hee , hath lost by it , who to the comfort of vs all , hath gayned a crowne of endlesse blisse , and is assuredly become a glorious martyr , in which thrice-happy and blessed state we leaue him . but these miscreants , who haue thus despised gods great mercies so freely offered to them , must needs in time therefore be corrected by his iustice : so as those who by the way of mercies would not be drawne vnto him , shall some of them at length ( no doubt ) be brought vnto him by his way of iudgements : to which leauing them , i will knit againe together now the thred of my discourse , and proceed to tell you , that at the time of this massacre there were three or foure of our ships in iames-riuer , and one in the next riuer , and daily more to come in , as three did within fourteene dayes after ; one of which they endeuored to haue surprised , but in vaine , as had also beene their whole attempt , had any the least fore-knowledge beene in those places where the massacre was committed : yet were the hearts of the english euer stupid , and auerted from beleeuing any thing that might weaken their hopes of speedy winning the sauages to ciuilitie and religion , by kinde vsage and fayre conuersing amongst them . hee , and the whole councell write further , that almighty god ( they doubt not ) hath his great worke to doe in this tragedy , and will thereout draw honor and glory to his great name ; safety , and a more flourishing estate to themselues , and the whole plantation there ; and the more speedy conuersion of the children of those sauages to himselfe , since hee so miraculously preserued so many of the english ( there being , god be praysed , about eleuen parts of twelue still remayning ) whose desire to draw those people to religion by the carelesse neglect of their owne safeties , seemes to haue beene the greatest cause of their own ensuing destruction . yet it pleased god to vse some of them as instruments to saue many of their liues , whose soules they had formerly saued , as at iames-citie , and other places , and the pinnace trading in pamounkey riuer , all whose liues were saued by a conuerted indian , disclosing the plot in the instant ( wherof though our sinnes ( say they ) made vs vnworthy to be instruments of so glorious a conuersion in generall , yet his infinite wisedome can neuerthelesse bring it to passe with some more of them , and with other prouinces there in his good time , and by such meanes as wee thinke most vnlikely . for euen in the deliuery of vs that now suruiue , no mans particular carefulnesse saued any one person , but the meere goodnesse of himselfe , freely and miraculously preserued whom it pleased him . the letters of mr. george sandis a worthy gentleman and treasurer there , likewise haue aduertised ( as many others from many particular persons of note and worth ) besides the relations of many returned in the sea-flower ( the ship that brought vs this vnwelcome newes ) haue beene heard at large in the publike courts , that whilst all their affayres were full of successe , and such intercourse of familiaritie , as if the indians and themselues had beene of one nation , those treacherous natiues , after fiue yeares peace , by a generall combination in one day plotted to subuert their whole colony , and at one instant of time , though our seuerall plantations were an hundred and forty miles vp one riuer on both sides . but before i goe any further , for the better vnderstanding of all things , you shall know that these wyld naked natiues liue not in great numbers together , but dispersed , and in small companies ; and where most together , not aboue two hundred , and that very rare , in other places fifty or forty , or thereabouts , and many miles distant from one another , in such places among the woods where they either found , or might easiliest make some cleared plots of ground , which they imploy wholly in setting of corne , whereby to sustaine their liues . these small and scattered companies ( as i haue said ) had warning giuen from one another in all their habitations to meete at the day and houre appointed for our destruction , at all our seuerall townes and places seated vpon the riuer ; some were directed to goe to one place , some to another , all to be done at the same day and time , which they did accordingly : some entring their houses vnder colour of trucking , and so taking aduantage , others drawing our men abroad vpon faire pretences , and the rest suddenly falling vpon those that were at their labours . they certifie further , that besides master george thorpe , before mentioned , master iohn berkeley , captaine nathanael powel , and his wife , ( daughter of master william tracy , and great with childe ) and captaine maycock , all gentlemen of birth , vertue , and industry , and of the councell there , suffered vnder this their cruelty and treason . that the slaughter had beene vniuersall , if god had not put it into the heart of an indian belonging to one perry , to disclose it , who liuing in the house of one pace , was vrged by another indian his brother ( who came the night before and lay with him ) to kill pace , ( so commanded by their king as he declared ) as hee would kill perry : telling further that by such an houre in the morning a number would come from diuers places to finish the execution , who failed not at the time : perries indian rose out of his bed and reueales it to pace , that vsed him as a sonne : and thus the rest of the colony that had warning giuen them , by this meanes was saued . such was ( god bee thanked for it ) the good fruit of an infidell conuerted to christianity ; for though three hundred and more of ours died by many of these pagan infidels , yet thousands of ours were saued by the means of one of them alone which was made a christian ; blessed be god for euer , whose mercy endureth for euer ; blessed bee god whose mercy is aboue his iustice , and farre aboue all his workes : who wrought this deliuerance whereby their soules escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the fowler . pace vpon this discouery , securing his house , before day rowed ouer the riuer to iames-city ( in that place neere three miles in bredth ) and gaue notice thereof to the gouernor , by which meanes they were preuented there , and at such other plantations as was possible for a timely intelligence to be giuen ; for where they saw vs standing vpon our guard , at the sight of a peece they all ranne away . in other places that could haue no notice , some peeces with munition ( the vse whereof they know not ) were there carried away , and some few cartell also were destroyed by them . and as fame diuulgeth ( not without probable grounds ) their king hath since caused the most part of the gunpowder by him surprized , to bee sowne , to draw therefrom the like increase , as of his maize or corne , in haruest next . and that it is since discouered , that the last summer opachankano practised with a king of the eastern shore ( no well-willer of his ) to furnish him with store of poison ( naturally growing in his country ) for our destruction , which he absolutely refused , though he sent him great store of beades , and other presents to winne him thereunto : which he , with fiue or sixe of his great men , offered to be ready to 〈◊〉 against him . that the true cause of this surprize was most by the instigation of the deuill , ( enemy to their saluation ) and the dayly feare that possest them , that in time we by our growing continually vpon them , would dispossesse them of this country , as they had beene formerly of the west indies by the spaniard ; produced this bloody act . that neuer griefe and shame possessed any people more then themselues , to be thus butchered by so naked and cowardly a people , who dare not stand the presentment of a staffe in manner of a peece , nor an vncharged peece in the hands of a woman , from which they flye as so many hares ; much faster then from their tormenting deuill , whom they worship for feare , though they acknowledge they loue him not . thus haue you seene the particulars of this massacre , out of letters from thence written , wherein treachery and cruelty haue done their worst to vs , or rather to themselues ; for whose vnderstanding is so shallow , as not to perceiue that this must needs bee for the good of the plantation after , and the losse of this blood to make the body more healthfull , as by these reasons may be manifest . first , because betraying of innocency neuer rests vnpunished : and therefore agesilaus , when his enemies ( vpon whose oath of being faithfull hee rested ) had deceiued him , he sent them thankes , for that by their periury , they had made god his friend , and their enemy . secondly , because our hands which before were tied with gentlenesse and faire vsage , are now set at liberty by the treacherous violence of the sauages , not vntying the knot , but cutting it : so that we , who hitherto haue had possession of no more ground then their waste , and our purchase at a valuable consideration to their owne contentment , gained ; may now by right of warre , and law of nations , inuade the country , and destroy them who sought to destroy vs : whereby wee shall enioy their cultiuated places , turning the laborious mattocke into the victorious sword ( wherein there is more both ease , benefit , and glory ) and possessing the fruits of others labours . now their cleared grounds in all their villages ( which are situate in the fruitfullest places of the land ) shall be inhabited by vs , whereas heretofore the grubbing of woods was the greatest labour . thirdly , because those commodities which the indians enioyed as much or rather more then we , shall now also be entirely possessed by vs. the deere and other beasts will be in safety , and infinitly increase , which heretofore not onely in the generall huntings of the king ( whereat foure or fiue hundred deere were vsually slaine ) but by each particular indian were destroied at all times of the yeare , without any difference of male , damme , or young. the like may be said of our owne swine and goats , whereof they haue vsed to kill eight in tenne more then the english haue done . there will be also a great increase of wild turkies , and other waighty fowle , for the indians neuer put difference of destroying the hen , but kill them whether in season or not , whether in breeding time , or sitting on their egges , or hauing new hatched , it is all one to them : whereby , as also by the orderly vsing of their fishing weares , no knowne country in the world will so plentifully abound in victuall . fourthly , because the way of conquering them is much more easie then of ciuilizing them by faire meanes , for they are a rude , barbarous , and naked people , scattered in small companies , which are helps to victorie , but hinderances to ciuilitie : besides that , a conquest may be of many , and at once ; but ciuility is in particular , and slow , the effect of long time , and great industry . moreouer , victorie of them may bee gained many waies ; by force , by surprize , by famine in burning their corne , by destroying and burning their boats , canoes , and houses , by breaking their fishing weares , by assailing them in their huntings , whereby they get the greatest part of their sustenance in winter , by pursuing and chasing them with our horses , and blood-hounds to draw after them , and mastiues to teare them , which take this naked , tanned , deformed sauages , for no other then wild beasts , and are so fierce and fell vpon them , that they feare them worse then their old deuill which they worship , supposing them to be a new and worse kinde of deuils then their owne . by these and sundry other wayes , as by driuing them ( when they flye ) vpon their enemies , who are round about them , and by animating and abetting their enemies against them , may their ruine or subiection be soone effected . so the spaniard made great vse for his owne turne of the quarrels and enmities that were amongst the indians , as throughly vnderstanding and following that maxime of the politician , diuide & impera , make diuisions and take kingdomes : for thus he got two of the greatest kingdomes of the west indies , peru and mexico , by the princes diuisions , and the peoples differences . after the death of guainacapa king of peru , his sonnes attabalippa and gascar falling to war about the kingdom , & each of thē striuing to make the spaniard to his friend , francis pizzarro managing those their diuisions onely to his owne ends , easily stripped them both of that rich kingdome , and became master of peru. and so likwise ferdinando cortez vanquished king motezuma , and gained the kingdome of mexico from him by the aid and furtherance of the neighboring people of the prouince of tascala , being deadly enemies to the mexicans ; for which seruice they of tascala are freed by the spaniards from all tributes to this time . in virginia the many diuers princes and people there are at this day opposite in infinite factions one vnto another , and many of them beare a mortall hatred to these our barbarous sauages , that haue beene likely as false and perfidious heretofore to them , as vnto vs of late . so as the quarrels , and the causes of them , and the different humours of these people being well vnderstood , it will be an easie matter to ouerthrow those that now are , or may bee our enemies hereafter , by ayding and setting on their enemies against them . and by these factions and differences of petty princes , the romans tooke their greatest aduantage to ouercome this iland of great britayne , of which tacitus fayes , ita dum singuli pugnant vniuersi vincuntur . and iustin hath the like saying of the cause of vanquishing the grecian cities . fiftly , because the indians , who before were vsed as friends , may now most iustly be compelled to seruitude and drudgery , and supply the roome of men that labour , whereby euen the meanest of the plantation may imploy themselues more entirely in their arts and occupations , which are more generous , whilest sauages performe their inferiour workes of digging in mynes , and the like , of whom also some may be sent for the seruice of the sommer ilands . sixtly , this will for euer hereafter make vs more cautelous and circumspect , as neuer to bee deceiued more by any other treacheries , but will serue for a great instruction to all posteritie there , to teach them that trust is the mother of deceipt , and to learne them that of the italian , chi non fida , non s'inga muu , hee that trusts not is not deceiued : and make them know that kindnesses are misspent vpon rude natures , so long as they continue rude ; as also , that sauages and pagans are aboue all other for matter of iustice euer to be suspected . thus vpon this anvile shall wee now beate out to our selues an armour of proofe , which shall for euer after defend vs from barbarous incursions , and from greater dangers that otherwise might happen . and so we may truly say according to the french prouerb , aquelque chose malheur est bon , ill lucke is good for something . lastly , we haue this benefit more to our comfort , because all good men doe now take much more care of vs then before , since the fault is on their sides , not on ours , who haue vsed so fayre a cariage , euen to our owne destruction . especially his maiesties most gratious , tender and paternall care is manifest herein , who by his royall bounty and goodnesse , hath continued his many fauors vnto vs , with a new , large , & princely supply of munition and armes , out of his maiesties owne store in the tower , being gratiously bestowed for the safety and aduancement of the plantation . as also his royall fauor is amply extended in a large supply of men and other necessaries throughout the whole kingdome , which are very shortly to bee sent to virginia . neyther must wee omit the honourable city of london , who to shew their zeale at this time ( as they haue alwayes done vpon all honourable occasions to their endlesse praise ) are now setting forth one hundred persons , at their owne charges , for the aduancement of the plantations . in the furtherance of which action , as the whole graue senate of aldermen haue shewed much piety and wisedome , so in particular , the right honourable sir edward barkham knight , the now lord mayor , hath demonstrated a most worthy mind . besides many worthy persons of birth and quality , and diuers others at their owne costs are now preparing for virginia . neyther is any man to be deiected because of some such disasters as these that may seeme to thwart the businesse . what growing state was there euer in the world which had not the like ? rome grew by opposition , and rose vpon the backe of her enemies . marke but the spaniard who is in the same continent with virginia , and hath now perfected his worke ; marke and tell mee , if hee hath not had more counterbuffes farre then wee , as out of their owne histories at large may be proued . columbus vpon his returne from the west indies into spaine , hauing left his people with the indian in peace , and promise of fayre vsage towards them , yet at his comming backe againe , hee found no one man aliue of them , but all by the natiues treacherously slaine . after this againe , when the spanish colony was increased in great numbers , the indians ( from whom the spaniards for trucking stuffe vsed to haue all their corn ) generally conspired together to plant no corne at all , intending therby to farnish them , themselues liuing in the meane time vpon cassaui ( a root to make bread ) onely then knowne to themselues : this plot of theirs by the spaniards ouer-sight ( that foolishly depended vpon strangers for their bread ) tooke such effect , and brought them to such misery by the rage of famine , that they spared no vncleane , no loathsome beast , no not the poysonous and hideous serpents , but eate them vp also , deuouring one death to saue them from another : and by this meanes the whole colony well-neare surfetted , sickned , and dyed miserably . after againe , vpon fresh and great supplyes new made , an infinite company of them by their incontinency dyed of the indian disease , that hath now got a french name , which at first ( as being a strange and vnknowne malady ) was deadly vpon whomsoeuer it lighted . besides ( before they knew the cause and remedy ) very many lost diuers parts of their body , feet and hands principally , by a little vermine lesse then a flea , and skipping like it , called nigua , which got between the skinne and the flesh before they were aware , and there bred and multiplyed , making swellings and putrefactions , to the decay and losse of their bodily members . what should i tell you that the plantations diuers times were neare vndone , by the 〈◊〉 , factions , and malice of the commanders one vnto another , columbus , to whom they were beholding for all , with his brothers , were sent home from the west indies into spaine bound with chaines : and some other great commanders killed and murthered one another . pizzarro was killed by almagros sonne , and him vasco beheaded , which vasco was taken by blasco , and this blasco was likewise taken by pizzarroes brother . thus by their owne spightfull and auaritious quarrels did they well-neare shake the mayne pillars of that plantation . these and many other calamities and mischiefes , too long to relate now , hapned vnto them more then euer did to vs. and at one time their plantation was euen at the last gaspe , all their colony being resolued desperately to leaue it , had not two ships vnexpected come in with new supplyes : yet wee see for all these miseries , that they haue attained to their ends at last , honor , power , and wealth ; in so much as that countrey , which ( when they were dishartned with disasters ) they beganne to be so weary of , that they were about to forsake it all , in short time after ( seeing all stormes blowne ouer , and fayre weather shining vpon them ) they were so in loue with their great fortunes , that they grew so iealous of them , as made them shut them vp from the sight of any but themselues . and then they petitioned their king , by an inuiolable decree to annexe and vnite the west indies inseparably for euer to the crowne of spaine ; which ( for their better securitie and satisfaction ) was accordingly performed and ratified , as it is to be seene in h●●●●●● history of the west indies . and whereas before , few could be hired to go to inhabite there , now with great suite they must obtaine it . thus haue they in time by industry , patience , and constancy effected this great worke of theirs , notwithstanding to encrease their difficulties also , they were to deale with a most populous & numerous nation , which they ouercame at last : so as ouiedo in his third booke of the first part of his west indie history saith , that of a million of indians at least , that were in hispaniola , there were not ( in little more then forty yeares space after the first beginning of the plantation ) fiue hundred of thē & all their children liuing : for the indians that liued there , after were brought out of the continent into that iland , or out of one iland to be planted in another . on the other side , the natiues in virginia are nothing populous , but thin and scattered nations , as is knowne to all . here by the way to make a little digression , since i haue mentioned ouiedo who liued aboue twenty two yeares in the west indies , i will acquaint you with his obseruation and iudgement of the nature and disposition of the indians there , that you may compare and see in what , and how farre , it agrees with that of the natiues of virginia . they are ( saith hee ) by nature sloathfull and idle , vitious , melancholy , slouenly , of bad conditions , lyers , of small memory , of no constancy or trust . in another place he saith , the indian is by nature of all people the most lying and most inconstant in the world , sottish and sodaine : neuer looking what dangers may happen afterwards , lesse capable then children of sixe or seauen yeares old , and lesse apt and ingenious . this is the generall disposition of most of them , though there be some ( sayes he ) that be wise and subtill . and indeede it should seeme so , when they could ouer-reach and goe beyond the spaniard so much , to put that tricke of staruing them ( as aforesaid ) vpon them , to their so great and almost totall destruction . but to come againe to that which i first intended : since the spaniard ( as we see ) in his plantations hath gone thorow farre more hazards , and greater difficulties then euer wee haue had , we therefore in looking to what is past , vpon great reason ought likewise not to be deterred , but so much the rather inuited to proceede with constancy and courage . and if besides wee looke ( as most men doe ) after the riches of a countrey to inuite vs on , aske those that haue beene there , and haue trauelled farre and neare , and they will tell you , that no countrey in the world doth naturally abound with more commodities then virginia doth . the clymate is knowne to be more temperate , and the soyle more rich then that of the west indies is : neyther doth it want mynes of all sorts , no not of the richest , as is knowne to some now liuing , and shall be manifested when fit time shall serue . and yet to thinke that gold and siluer mynes are in a countrey ( otherwise most rich and fruitfull ) the greatest wealth of a plantation , is but a popular error , as is that opinion likewise , that the gold and siluer is the greatest wealth of the west indies now at this present time . true it is indeed , that in the first conquest the spaniards got great and mighty treasure from the indians , which they in long space had heaped vp together , and in those times the indians shewed them entyre and plentifull rich mynes , which by length of time ( as is well known and published to the world by those that haue beene there ) are wasted and exhausted since , so as now the charge of getting those mettals is growne most excessiue , besides the consuming and spoyling many men of their liues , which are depriued of them by the vapors that come out of the gold and siluer mynes , which are most pestilent and deadly , as diuers authors auerre . amongst others , a late geographer speaking of the west indies , and of those mynes there , saith , odor ex auri & argenti fodinis noxius admodum ; neque tamen prohibuit aëris corruptissimi violentia hispanos , ne in alio orbe nouum moriendi locum quaererent . so as all things considered by these mynes , what by the liues of many men lost in them , and what with the great charge otherwise in getting them , the cleare gaine to the aduenturers from these mettals ( the kings part defrayed ) is but small to them , nothing neere so much i am sure , as is imagined . and were it not for other rich commodities there that enable and enrich the aduenturers , those of the contractation house were neuer able to subsist by this . for the greatest part of their gaine and profit i say consists not in these mynes , but in their other commodities , partly natiue , and partly translated from other parts of the world , and planted in the west indies : as in their mighty wealth of sugars ( the sugar canes being transported first from the canaries , ) and in ginger , and some other commodities deriued from the east indies thither : in their cochanile , their indico , their cotton , their infinite store of hydes and skins , their quick-siluer , and allom , wood , and brasill-wood , &c. and their many other dyes , paints , petararana , tobacco , gummes , balmes , oyles medecinall , and perfumes , their sarsaparillia , and many other physicall drugs , ( for which , learned physitians and skilfull simplers were sent to take a suruey , and make an exquisite draught of all the plants in colours . ) these i say and other the like commodities are the west indies indeed vnto the aduenturers , by which they are inabled to inrich themselues , and to sustaine the mighty charge of drawing out the gold and siluer ▪ to the great and cleare reuenew of their king. i had many things of importance to say more , but i will detain the reader no longer now . to conclude then , seeing that virginia is most abundantly fruitfull , and that this massacre must rather be beneficiall to the plantation then impaire it , let all men take courage , and put to their helping hands , since now the time is most seasonable and aduantagious for the reaping of those benefits which the plantation hath long promised : and for their owne good let them doe it speedily , that so by taking the prioritie of time , they may haue also the prioritie of place , in choosing the best seats of the country , which now by vanquishing of the indians , is like to offer a more ample and faire choice of fruitfull habitations , then hitherto our gentlenesse and faire comportment to the sauages could attaine vnto . wherein no doubt but all the fauour that may be , shall be shewed to aduenturers and planters . and for old aduenturers , there is due vnto them and their heyres ( according to the orders of the company ) for each twelue pounds ten shillings formerly paid into the treasury , one hundred acres of land , vpon a first diuision , and as much vpon a second , the first being planted . and whosoeuer transports himselfe or any other , at his charge into virginia , shall for himselfe and each person so transported , before midsummer , . haue to him and his heyres for euer , fifty acres of land vpon a first diuision , and as much more vpon a second : the first fifty being cultiuated or manured , if such person continue there three yeares , eyther at once or seuerall times , or dye after hee bee shipped for that voyage . lastly , it is to be wished , that euery good patriot will take these things seriously into his thoughts , and consider how deeply the prosecution of this noble enterprise concerneth the honor of his maiestie and the whole nation , the propagation of christian religion , the enlargement , strength , and safety of his maiesties dominions , the rich augmenting of his reuennues , the imploiment of his subiects idle at home , the increase of men , mariners and shipping , and the raising of such necessary commoditie , for the importation of which from forren countries fo great and incredible summes are continually issued and expended . some may helpe with their purses , some with their persons , some with their fauour , some with their counsell : especially amongst others , let ministers in their publike and priuate prayers commend these plantations to the blessing of almighty god : to whom be all honor and glory , for euer and euer , amen . here following is set downe a true list of the names of all those that were massacred by the treachery of the sauages in virginia , the march last . to the end that their lawfull heyres may take speedy order for the inheriting of their lands and estates there : for which the honourable company of virginia are ready to doe them all right and fauour . at captaine berckleys plantation seated at the falling creeke , some . miles from iames-citie in virginia . iohn berkley esquire . thomas brasington . iohn sawyer . roger dauid . francis gowsh . bartholmew peram . giles peram . iohn dowler . laurence dowler . lewis williams . richard boscough . thomas holland . iohn hunt. robert horner mason . philip barnes . william swandal . robert williams , his wife , and childe . giles bradshawe , his wife , and childe . iohn howlet , and his sonne . thomas wood , and collins his man. ioseph fitch apothecary to doctor pots . at master thomas sheffeilds plantation , some three miles from the falling creeke . master th : sheffeild , and rachel his wife . iohn reeue . william tyler a boy . samuel reeue . iohn ellen. robert tyler a boy . mathew — iudeth howard . thomas poole methusalem — thomas taylor . william tyler . at henrico iland about two miles from sheffeilds plantation . — atkins . — weston . philip shatford . william perigo . owen iones , one of capt. berkleys people . slaine of the colledge people , about two miles from henrico-citie . samuel stringer . george soldan . william basset . iohn perry . edward ember . iarrat moore . thomas xerles . thomas freeman . iohn allen. thomas cooke . iohn clements . iames faulkoner . christopher henley . william iordan . robert dauis . thomas hobson . william baily . at apo-mattucke riuer at master abraham pierce his plantation some fiue miles off the colledge people . william charte . io : waterhowse . iohn barker a boy . robert yeoman . at charles-citie and about the precincts . of capt. smiths company . roger royal. thomas iones . robert maruel . edward heydon . henry bushel . at other plantations next adioyning . richard prat , and his brother . henry milward , his wife , his childe , and his sister . richard a boy . goodwife redhead . at mr. william farrars house . master iohn england and his man. iohn bel. henricke peterson , and alice his wife , and william her sonne . thomas his man. iames woodshaw . maidseruāts mary , and elizabeth at berkley-hundred some fiue miles from charles-citie . capt. george thorpe esq. one of his maiesties pentioners . iohn rowles . richard rowles , his wife , and childe . giles wilkins . giles bradway . richard fereby . thomas thorpe . robert iordan . edward painter . at westouer , about a mile from berkley-hundred : and first , at cap. fr : wests plantation . iames english. richard dash. at master iohn wests plantation . christopher turner . dauid owen . at capt. nathanael wests . michael aleworth . iohn wright . an lieutenant gibs his diuidend . iohn paly . thomas ratcliffe . michael booker . iohn higglet . nathanael earle . iohn gibbes . william parker . richard wainham . benomy reyman . thomas gay . iames vpfall . daniel — mr. dombelowes man. at mr. richard owens house . richard owen . stephen dubo . francis , an irishman . thomas paine . one old maid called blinde margaret . william reeue . at master owen macars house . owen macar . garret farrel . richard yeaw . one boy . at master macocks diuidend . capt. samuel macock esquire . edward lister . thomas browne . iohn downes . at flowerdieu - hundred sir george yeardleys plantation . iohn philips . thomas nuson . iohn braford . robert taylor . samuel iarret . elizabeth bennet . at the other side of the riuer opposite to flowerdieu-hundred . master hobson , and his wife . richard storks . iohn slaughter . thomas philips . richard campion . anne greene. at mr. swinhowe his house . mistris swinhow , & thomas and george shinhow her sonnes . richard mosse . iohn larkin . william blyth . thomas grindal . at mr. william bikars house . william bykar . math : hawthorn and his wife . edward peirce . nicholas howsdon . at weynoack of sir george yeardley his people . nathanael elie. iohn flores . henry gape . — buckingham . william pusset . william walker . iohn gray . iames boate. iohn suersby . thomas euans . thomas ap-richard . henry haynes . iohn blewet . henry rice . — hurt . ionas alport . thomas stephens . samuel goodwine . iohn snow , and his boy . margery blewet . at powle-brooke . capt. nath ▪ powle , esq. and his wife , daughter to mr. tracy . mistris bray adam rayners wife . b●●bara burges . william head. thomas woolcher . william meakins . robert — peter iordan . nathanael leydon . peter goodale . at southampton-hundred . robert goffe , and his wife , william larkum . iohn dauies . william mountfort . at martin brandons . lieutenant sanders . ensigne sherley . iohn taylor , and his wife . boyes . mathew a polander . at captaine spilmans house . iohn basingthwayte . walter shawe . at ensigne spence his house . william richmond iohn fowler . alexander bale . william fierfax . the tinker . persons slaine at martins-hundred some seauen miles from iames-citie . lieutenant rich : kean . master tho : boise , & mistris boise his wife , & a sucking childe . of his men . a maide . children . nathanael iefferies wife . margaret dauies . richard staples , his wife , and childe . maides . men and boyes . walter dauies , & his brother . christopher guillam . thomas combar . . seruants . master iohn boise his wife . a maide . men-seruants . laurence wats , his wife . men-seruants . timothy moise , his man ▪ henry bromage , his wife , his daughter , his man. edward how , his wife , his childe . a child of iohn iacksons . men-seruants . iosua dary , his wife , a man. ralphe digginson , his wife . richard cholfer . george iones . cisly cooke , his wife . dauid bons , iohn bennet . iohn mason . william pawmet . thomas bats . peter lighborrow . iames thorley . robert walden . thomas tolling . iohn butler . edward rogers . maximilian russel . henry a welchman . at mr. thomas peirce his house ouer against mulberry iland . master tho : peirce , his wife , and childe . iohn hopkins . iohn samon . a french boy . at mr. edward bennets plantation . master th : brewood his wife , his childe , seruants . thomas ferris . george cole . robert gray . iohn griffin . ensigne harrison . iohn costard . dauid barry . thomas sheppard . henry price . robert — edward iolly . richard — alice iones . thomas cooke . philip worth. mathew a maid . francis winder . thomas couly . richard woodward . humfrey cropen . thomas bacon . euan watkins . richard lewis . edward towse . remember michel . — bullocke . richard chandler . henry moore . nicholas hunt. iohn corderoy . richard cockwell . iohn howard . mistris harrison . mary dawks anne english. rebecca — master prowse . hugh — iohn — edward — mistris chamberlen . parnel a maid . humfrey sherbrooke . iohn wilkins . iohn burton . mr. iohn pountis his men . iohn scotchmore edward turner . edward brewster , lieutenant peirce his man. thomas holland , capt. whittakers man. at master walters his house . master edw : walters his wife , a childe , a maid . a boy . the whole number is . a treatise of the northwest passage to the south sea , through the continent of virginia and by fretum hudson . the noble plantation of virginia hath some very excellent prerogatiues aboue many other famous kingdomes , namely , the temperature of the ayre , the fruitfulnesse of the soile , and the commodiousnesse of situation . the ayre is healthfull and free both from immoderate heate , and from extreame cold ; so that both the inhabitants and their cattell doe prosper exceedingly in stature and strength , and all plants brought from any other remote climate , doe there grow and fructifie in as good or better manner , then in the soyle from whence they came . which though it doe manifestly proue the fruitfulnesse of the soile , yeelding all kinds of graine or plants committed vnto it , wi●h a rich and plentifull encrease , yet cannot the fatnesse of the earth alone produce such excellent effects , vnlesse the temperature of the ayre bee likewise so fauourable , that those tender sprouts which the earth doth abundantly bring forth , may bee cherished with moderate heate and seasonable moisture , and freed both from scorching drought , and nipping frost . these blessings are so much the more to bee esteemed , because they are bestowed vpon a place situated so conueniently , and at so good a distance both from europe , and the west indies , that for the mutuall commerce betwixt these great and most rich parts of the habitable world , there cannot bee deuised any place more conuenient for the succour and refreshing of those that trade from hence thither : whether they be of our owne nation , or of our neighbours and friends ; the multitude of great and nauigable riuers , and of safe and spacious harbours , as it were inuiting all nations to entertaine mutuall friendship , and to participate of those blessings which god out of the abundance of his rich treasures , hath so gratiously bestowed some vpon these parts of europe , and others no lesse desired vpon those poore people : which might still haue remained in their old barbarous ignorance , without knowledge of their owne misery , or of gods infinite goodnesse and mercy ; if it had not pleased god thus gratiously both to draw vs thither with desire of such wealth as those fruitfull countries afford , and also to grant vs so easie , certaine , and safe a meanes to goe vnto them : which passage is in mine opinion made much more secure and easie by the commodious harbours and refreshing which virginia doth reach out vnto vs. the coasts of florida to the west , being not so harborous ; and of new england to the east , somewhat more out of the way , amongst so many flats and small ilands not so safe . neither is the commodiousnesse of virginias situation onely in respect of this west atlanticke ocean , but also in respect of the indian ocean , which wee commonly call the south sea , which lyeth on the west and north west side of virginia , on the other side of the mountains beyond our fals , and openeth a free and faire passage , not onely to china , iapan , and the moluccaes ; but also to new spaine , peru , chila , and those rich countries of terra australis , not as yet fully discouered . for the sea wherein master hudson did winter , which was first discouered by him , and is therefore now called fretum hudson , doth stretch so farre towards the west , that it lieth as farre westward as the cape of florida : so that from the fals aboue henrico city , if we shape our iourney towards the northwest following the riuers towards the head , we shall vndoubtedly come to the mountaines , which as they send diuers great riuers southward into our bay of chesepiock , so likewise doe they send others from their further side northwestward into that bay where hudson did winter . for so wee see in our owne country , from the ridge of mountaines continued from derbishire into scotland , doe issue many great riuers on both sides into the east germane ocean , and into the westerne irish seas : in like sort from the alpes of switzerland and the grizons , do runne the danubie eastward into pontus euxinus , the rhene into the north germane ocean , the rhosne west into the mediterrane sea , and the po south into the adriatike sea. this bay where hudson did winter , strecheth it selfe southward into . degrees , and cannot be in probability so farre distant from the fals as . leagues ; part of the way lying by the riuers side towards the mountaines from whence it springeth : and the other part on the other side cannot want riuers likewise , which will conduct vs all the way , and i hope carry vs and our prouisions a good part of it . besides that bay , it is not vnlikely that the westerne sea in some other creeke or riuer commeth much neerer then that place : for the place where sir thomas button did winter , lying more westerly then master hudsons bay by . leagues in the same sea , doth extend it selfe very neere as farre towards the west as the cape of california , which is now found to be an iland stretching it selfe from . degrees to . and lying almost directly north & south ; as may appeare in a map of that iland which i haue seene here in london , brought out of holland ; where the sea vpon the northwest part may very probably come much nearer then some do imagine : who giuing too much credit to our vsuall globes and maps , doe dreame of a large continent extending it selfe farre westward to the imagined straight of anian , where are seated ( as they fable ) the large kingdomes of cebola and quiuira , hauing great and populous cities of ciuill people ; whose houses are said to bee fiue stories high , and to haue some pillars of turguesses . which relations are cunningly set downe by some vpon set purpose to put vs out of the right way , and to discourage such as otherwise might bee desirous to search a passage by the way aforesaid into those seas . gerardus mercator , a very industrious and excellent geographer , was abused by a map sent vnto him , of foure euripi meeting about the north pole ; which now are found to be all turned into a maine icie sea. one demonstration of the crafty falshood of these vsuall maps is this , that cape mendocino is set in them west northwest , distant from the south cape of california , about seuenteene hundred leagues , whereas francis gaule that was imployed in those discoueries by the viseroy of new spaine ; doth in hugo linscotten his booke set downe their distance to bee onely fiue hundred leagues . besides this , in the place where sir thomas button did winter in . degrees of latitude , the constant great tides euery twelue houres , and the increase of those tides whensoeuer any strong westerne wind did blow , doe strongly perswade vs that the maine westerne ocean is not farre from thence ; which was much confirmed vnto them the summer following ; when sayling directly north from that place where they wintered , about the latitude of . degrees , they were crossed by a strong currant running sometimes eastward , sometimes westward : so that if wee finde either hudsons bay , or any sea more neere vnto the west , wee may assure our selues that from thence wee may with great ease passe to any part of the east indies : and that as the world is very much beholding to that famous columbus for that hee first discouered vnto vs the west indies ; and to the portingall for the finding out the ordinary and as yet the best way that is knowne to the east indies , by cape bona-speranza . so may they and all the world be in this beholding to vs in opening a new and large passage , both much nearer , safer , and farre more wholesome and temperate through the continent of virginia , and by fretum hudson , to all those rich countries bordering vpon the south sea , in the east and west indies . and this hope that the south sea may easily from virginia be discouered ouer land , is much confirmed by the constant report of the sauages , not onely of virginia , but also of florida and canada ; which dwelling so remote one from another , and all agreeing in the report of a large sea to the westwards , where they describe great ships not vnlike to ours , with other circumstances , doe giue vs very great probability ( if not full assurance ) that our endeuours this way shall by gods blessing haue a prosperous and happy successe , to the encrease of his kingdome and glory amongst these poore ignorant heathen people , the publique good of all the christian world , the neuer-dying honour of our most gracious soueraigne , the inestimable benefit of our nation , and the admirable and speedy increase and aduancement of that most noble and hopefull plantation of virginia ; for the good successe whereof all good men with me , i doubt not , will poure out their prayers to almighty god. h. b. a memoriall of religious charitie exercised on virginia to the glory of god and good example of men , these three last yeares , . . .   r. s̄ . d. mistris mary robinson by her will gaue towards the building of a church in virginia , . . . a person vnknowne gaue for that church a communion-cup with a couer , and a plate for the bread of siluer guilt : a silke damaske carpet , a linnen damaske table-cloth , and other ornaments , all valued at . . . a person vnknowne gaue for the vse of the colledge , a communion-cup with a couer , and a plate for the bread , of siluer guilt : a crimson veluet carpet with gold lace and fringe , and a linnen damaske table-cloath : all valued at — . . . a person vnknowne sent a letter , the copy whereof is registred ; directed thus , to sir edwin sandys , the faithfull treasurer of virginia : and subscribed , dust and ashes : and afterwards by an vnknowne person sent a box to the house of sir edwin sandys with the same direction : which being opened in court , therein was found in gold . pounds , to be disposed of for the education of children of the infidels , in christian religion and ciuility . . . . master nicholas farrar of london , deceased , hath by his will giuen li. to the colledge in virginia , to bee paid when there shall be ten of the infidels children placed in it : and in the meane time . pounds by the yeare to bee disbursed vnto three discreete and godly men in the colonie , which shall honestly bring three of the infidels children in christian religion , and some good course to liue by . . . . a person refusing to be named , hath giuen to the benefit of the plantation . . . the gentlemen and mariners that came in the royall-iames from the east indies , beeing at cape bona-speranza , homeward bound , gaue towards the building of a free schoole in virginia , to be called the east indie schoole , . ● . . towards the furtherance of the east indie schoole , an vnknowne person hath added the summe of . . . a person refusing to be named , hath giuen the summe of . shillings per annum for euer , for a sermon , to be preached before the virginia company . s. per an . at the quarter court held the . of ianuary . by a person not willing as yet to be knowne , was sent in gold li. to helpe forward the east indie schoole ▪ . . . at the same quarter court a small bible with a couer richly wrought , a great church-bible , the booke of common prayer , and other bookes were presented to be sent to virginia , in the name of a person who had the yeare before sent for the vse of the colledge at henrico ; s. augustine de ciuitate dei , master perkins his workes , and an exact map of america : the giuer is not known , but the books are valued at . . . giuen by master thomas bargraue , a minister in virginia deceased , for the vse of the colledge , a library valued at . marks there is a contribution made by the inhabitants in virginia for the building of a house of entertainment for new commers , at iames-citie : amounting to the value of . . . the gentlemen and mariners that came lately home from the east indies , in the two ships called the hart and roe-bucke , being at the cape of bona speranza , homeward bound , gaue towards the building of the aforesaid free-schoole in virginia the summe of . . . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e people sent to virginia in the three last yeares . saile of ships , mariners imployed . to the sommer ilands . ships , and mariners imployed . mr. hariot in his booke of virginia , . notes for div a -e anno anno anno a discourse and view of virginia berkeley, william, sir, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a discourse and view of virginia berkeley, william, sir, - . p. s.n., [s.l. : ?] caption title. attributed to berkeley by wing. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . great britain -- colonies -- america. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discourse and view of virginia . before i enter into the consideration of the advantages this kingdom of england has by the plantation in virginia , i think it necessary to make a short description of the scituation of it , as to the climate ; and then tell what natural helps it has to make it a glorious and flourishing country : and when this discourse shall produce a concession of the natural advantages it has above all other his majesties plantations , i shall lay down the causes , both intrinsick and accidental , why it has not in all this supposed long tract of time produced those rich and staple commodities , which i shall in this discourse affirm it is capable of . and , first , for the climate . it lyeth within the degrees of . and . ( mariland included ) which by all is confess'd to be a scituation capable of the diversities of all northern and southern commodities , some drugs and spices excepted , which florida , on whose borders we are newly seated , may also probably produce . into the bay of virginia , formerly called chesapeack bay , runs six eminent rivers , none twenty miles distant from another ; three of which exceed the thames , both in extent and progression of the tides ; these cause and continue the admir'd fertility of the countrey , and by their greatness and contiguity temper those heats , which the dryer places of africa are subject to , in the same degrees of latitude . up these rivers ships of three hundred tuns fail near two hundred miles , and anchor in the fresh waters ; and by this means are not troubled with those worms which endamage ships , both in the western islands of america , and in the mediterraneansea . and to avoid a larger discourse of it , i will here note it , that our ships once past the lands end , are in no danger of pirats , rocks or lee-shores , till they come to their port , and fewer ships miscarry going to virginia , then to any port at that distance in the world . now for those things which are naturally in it , they are these , iron , lead , pitch , tar , masts , timber for ships of the greatest magnitude , and wood for pot-ashes . those other commodities , which are produced by industry , are flax , hemp , silk , wheat , barley , oats , rice , cotton , all sorts of pulse and fruits , the last of which in that perfection , that if the taste were the onely judge , we would not think they were of the same species with those from which they are derived to us from england . the vicious ruinous plant of tobacco i would not name , but that it brings more money to the crown , then all the islands in america besides . now this is ascertained and confessed , that such staple commodities , as iron , silk , flax , hemp , and pot-ashes , may be easily raised in virginia , an high imputation will lye upon us , why we have not all this time endeavoured to evidence the truth and certainty of it , to our own and the publick advantage . to this i will answer , that the long time of seating of virginia is a general and popular error : for though the first ships arrived in virginia in . yet by reason of many almost insuparable difficulties , the increase of the number of planters was hardly perceptible : for , first , that , as all unclear'd plantations , was unwholsom ; then all they eat came from england , and provided for those they never saw nor cared for , was not likely to be very good . then the indians quickly grew jealous of them , and forced them to fight for every foot of ground they held , and in the year . in one night murdered all but four or five hundred . so that from that time we must begin the account of the plantation : nor is this all , for many years after this , the danger and scarcity of the inhabitants was so famed thorough england , that none but such as were forced could be induced to plant or defend the place ; and of those that came , there was not one woman to thirty men , and populus virorum is of no long duration any where . but since the year . the place began to be of more plenty and security , for the indians , though not subdued , were terrified to a suspension of arms , the planters then first began to fence their grounds and plant corn ; the few cattel they had , increased to such numbers , that thay were able to help their neighbour plantations . and now i believe , that there is no plantation of the english would more abound in cattel , hogs , and all sorts of fruit , than virginia , if they had but a mean price to quicken their industry , and make their providence vigilant . an other great imputation lyes on the countrey , that none but those of the meanest quality and corruptest lives go thither . this to our maligners we would easily grant , if they would consent to the omen of it ; for was not rome thus begun and composed ? and the greatest honour that was given to romulus and his city was this , that his severity and discipline in his time , made them formidable to their neighbours , and his posterity masters of the world . but this is not all truth , for men of as good families as any subjects in england have resided there , as the percys , the barkleys , the wests , the gages , the throgmortons , wyats , degges , chickeleys , moldsworths , morrisons , kemps , and hundred others , which i forhear to name , lest i should misherald them in the catalogue . but grant it were thus , is this any imputation to the place , that those that come from hence with those ungoverned manners and affections , change them there for sober and thrifty passions and desires , which is evident in most that are there ; and those that will either experimentally or morally weigh the nature and conditions of men , shall find , that naturally this change will follow the alteration of our conditions : for who experimentally in england are more prodigal and riotous then the younger brothers of it , who have least fond to maintain and continue either of them ? who lesse careful of their estates then those , whose early negligence hath engaged them to the usurer ? and the natural reason is evident , for it is hope and a proposed end that quickens our industry , and bridles our intemperance ; but when cui bono shall be objected , wretchlesnesse and a desire of present pleasures will invade us : but this is not so in our plantations ; for we find there that if we will be provident and industrious for a year or two , we may provide for our posterity for many ages ; the manifest knowledge of this makes men industrious and vigilant with us , who here having no vineyards to dresse , stood idle in the market-place till the eleventh hour . but we will confesse , that there is with us a great scarcity of good men ; that is , of able workmen , at whose doors ought this defect to lie ? not at ours , who would procure them could they be perswaded at high prices ; but indeed our liberty to do good onely to our selves , is the main obstacle of our progress to staple commodities in our plantations , for onely such servants as have been brought up to no art or trade , hunger and fear of prisons bring to us , which we must entertain or have none : and i think th●t lawyer had reason , who being chid by the judge for often bringing scandalous causes before him ; told him , they were the best he could get to be brought to him . had the dutch virginia , they would make it the fortresse , mart and magazin of all the west indies , for ( as i at first intimated ) the rivers will securely harbour twenty thousand ships at once ; the country produceth all things necessary for those ships and the men that sayle in them , nothing wanting for the supplies of war or peace , but it was ever our misery not to take our aims the distance of an age. but half that time to the making us , and enriching this kingdom by our labours , will not be required ; for i can with assurance affirme , that if we have from hence resolute instructions and indulgent encouragements , within seven years we shall not need the northerne nor southerne east countries , to supply us with silk , flax , hemp , pitch , tar , iron , masts , timber , and pot-ashes ; for all of these , but iron , we want only skilful men to teach us to produce them the cheapest and readiest way ; but the making of iron will require abler purses then we are yet masters of . yet in another paragraph i shall propose that , which if granted to us , will enable us of our selves to accomplish this and other great concernments . it must be confessed , that barbadoes sends a better commodity into england , then virginia yet does ; but withall it must be acknowledged , that one ship from virginia brings more money to the crown , then five ships of the same burthen do from the barbadoes . but had we ability or skill to set forward those staple commodities i mentioned , of silk , flax , hemp , pitch , pot-ashes , and iron , a few yeares would make us able to send more ships laden with these , then now the barbadoes do with sugar . amongst many other weighty reasons , why virginia has not all this while made any progression into staple commodities , this is the chief . that our governours by reason of the corruption of those times they lived in , laid the foundation of our wealth and industry on the vices of men ; for about the time of our first seating of the country , did this vicious habit of taking tobacco possesse the english nation , and from them has diffused it self into most parts of the world ; this i say being brought to us from spain at great prices , made our governour suppose great wealth might be raised to particulars by this universal vice , and indeed for many yeares they were not deceived , till that increasing in numbers , and many other plantations following the same design , at last brought it as now it is to that lownesse of price , that the customes doubles the first purchase ; that is , the merchant buyes it for one penny the pound , and we pay two pence for the custom of that which they are not pleased to take from us . this was the first and fundamental hinderance that made the planters neglect all other accessions to wealth and happiness , and fix their hopes only on this vicious weed of tobacco , which at length has brought them to that extremity , that they can neither handsomely subsist with it , nor without it . another hinderance has been , that there was never yet any publick incouragement to assist the planters in those more chargeable undertakings , as iron-mines and shipping . another impediment , and an important one too has been the dis-membring of the colonie , by giving away and erecting divers principalities out of it , as maryland to my lord arundell , and part of florida to my lord of arundell , these grants will in the next age be found more disadvantagious to the crown then is perceptible in this ; and therefore i shall not touch it ( uncommanded ) as to the politick part of it , but as to the oeconomick . i shall affirme that we can never make any lawes for the erecting staple commodities , and setting a stop to our unlimitted planting of tobacco , whilst these governments are distinct and independent , for on ftequent tryals when we begin to make provisions for these , our people fly to maryland , and by this means heighten our publick charges , and weaken our defences against our perpetual enemies the indians . nor is this all , forby reason of these interposing grants , we have suffered the dutch to enrich themselves on our discoveries , who have in our precincts setled a trade of beaver with the indians , amounting to two hundred thousand skins a year , and supply our enemies with ammunition and guns in greater proportion then we have them our selves , but god be thanked as yet , they , their towns and trade are in the kings power , when ever he shall command them either to quit their usurpations , or to acknowledge their subjection to him in those parts . another great impediment has been , the confining the planters to trade only with the english , this no good subject or englishman will oppose , if it be found either beneficial to the crown or our mother-nation ; but if it shall appear that neither of these are advantaged by it , then we cannot but resent , that forty thousand people should be impoverish'd to enrich little more then forty merchants , who being the only buyers of our tobacco , give us what they please for it , and after it is here , sell it how they please ; and indeed have forty thousand servants in us at cheaper rates , then any other men have slaves , for they find them meat , drink and clothes , we furnish our selves and their sea-men with meat and drink , and all our sweat and labour , as they order us , will hardly procure us course clothes to keep us from the extremities of heat and cold : yet if these pressures of us did advance the customs , or benefit the nation , we should not repine ; but that it does the contrary to both , i shall easily evidence when commanded . another hinderance has been , the want of a publick stock to enable us to procure able men for the finding all sorts of mines , making iron of those mines that are found , ship-carpenters , men skilful in hemp , flax and silk , for the last of which no country in the world is more naturally provided then virginia is ; and as by the feet we guesse at the proportions of men , so we can experimentally say , that within seaven years , if we are assisted and commanded , we shall bring in yearly as much silk into england , as now costs the nation two hundred thousand pounds sterling at least . flax , hemp and pitch would alwayes be according to the numbers and possibility of the labours of the planters . on the whole matter , let it be considered , whether or no the english plantations are not proportioned in a short time to supply us withall those commodities , which now we have at great charge and hazard from turky , persia , germany , poland , and russia : the wines , oyles , and fruites of france and spain , our distance will ever hinder us from introducing at the same rates we have it now from them . it has , as i intimated , been highly imputed to us by divers wise men , who onely contemplate the natural richnesse of our soyle , and by that weigh and measure our faults and neglects , that we have not imployed our cares and industry , in producing more staple commodities then hitherto we have attempted . this none can more severely resent then the poor planter himself in frequent consultations has done , who by many tryals have found their case to be like those architects , who can design excellent buildings , but have not skill to square their timber , or lay their bricks , and for want of money to procure men for these labours , their models remaine onely in their imaginations or papers : this is our case , who without a publick assistance can neither survive our poverty , nor the remedys of it , without an universal present pressure , as to the inhabitants of the colony ; for men of manufacture will not be procured , but on great wages , to leave their countrey , and hazard ( as they style it ) their lives : this the poor planter cannot do , whose sweat and labours amount to no more , then to clothe and provide for the ordinary necessities of his indigent family . to remedy this , and to procuré us able men to set us in a way of staple commodities , at my departure from virginia i was desired by the assembly to make this proposal to his sacred majesty and his council , to adde one penny more to the customs of our tobacco , and give it to the countrey ; which , if granted , will pay all the publick charges of the countrey , furnish us with magazines to resist the indians , build mills for iron and planks , procure us on good salaries able men for silk , cordage , mines and flax ; and all this will be done at the expence onely of an indulgent grant : for who payes this but the poor planter , whose tobacco must sell for lesse , the more is imposed on it ? but a nearer way to a publick unquarrelled contribution they cannot find , having this axiom firmly fixt in them , that never any community of people had good done to them , but against their wills . in order to this we shall here declare what we have been necessitated to do these last two years , when war and other emergencies had involved the plantation into debts inextricable in an ordinary leavy ; which was to lay a tax of two shillings the hogshead on every one exported . this though the merchant made us pay , yet we found it an easier and readier way to defray the publick charges : this ( if the propositions of the customs be not granted ) we desire his majesties council will advance to three or four shillings the hogshead , which will pay all publick officers , and enable us to begin the making iron , and other necessary works , for the enriching our native kingdom and our selves . and another proposal they desired me to make , which is this , that such ships as were built in the countrey , might carry their goods to what port they pleased . this they hoped would be easily granted , because by this means the excellency of their timber and masts ( of both which there is now a visible scarcity in england ) would be known , and when known the timber of england might be spared for many years , and ships of the greatest magnitude built there cheaper then possibly they can be in england ; but if the first be granted , we shall leave this to the wisdom , exigence and care of those his majesty imployes in those affairs . to conclude and animate the care , providence and indulgence the nation ought to have of forreign plantations , let these few considerations be duly poised . first , it is not yet forty years when there was not one englishman in any plantation of america , save onely four or five hundred left in . after the massacre in virginia ; and now there is in the west indies at least three hundred thousand english , and of english extraction . secondly , if we examine the customs , we shall find the fourth part of them arise from the plantations in america . this is a wealth our fathers never knew , and in humane probability will increase on us every year . thirdly , those commodities we were wont to purchase at great rates and hazards , we now purchase at half the usual prices . nor is this all , but we buy them with our own manufactures , which here at home imploy thousands of poor people . fourthly , when in the past ages to disburden the kingdom of indigent younger brothers , whom the peculiar policy of this nation condemned to poverty or war , we were forced to undertake the assistance of rebels , which god of late has revenged on our own bowels ; now there can be no necessity of that sin or misery , for a small summe of money will enable a younger brother to erect a flourishing family in a new world ; and adde more strength , wealth , and honour , to his native country , then thousands did before , that dyed forgotten and unrewarded in an unjust war. i should now have ended , but that i think it is expected from me , who have lived twenty years in america , that i should declare the power , interest , and wealth we have by our plantations in the west indies . to do this , i shall first propose to the consideration of the reader , the few yeares we have had any footing in america , the eldest plantation , virginia excepted , not exceeding forty years , and yet so many difficulties happily overcome . our numbers there are now at least two hundred thousand english , and if ( as in humane probability they will ) our numbers double but every twenty yeares , in one age more how great will our power , strength , and reputation be in this new western world ? secondly , let it be considered what summes of money was in the last age exhausted from us for sugar , cotten , drugges , dyings , and tobacco , and how easily now we supply our selves with these , and also bring home enough to ballance many other forraign necessities . thirdly , let us contemplate the respect we have from most of the princes and states of europe , by our power and strength in america ; the dutch i know would not willingly quit their interest in the indies for ten millions of money ; yet all they have there is in the kings power , when any just occasion shall provoke his displeasure . the french , it is true , have not many considerable places there : but yet the indies , as they term it , are of so friand agust , that they would not willingly quit their holds in it , nor their pretentions to it . but the spaniards , whose interest is greatest , is most jealous of our power there , and we most formidable to him by it . i will not presume to counsel , but to give a memorial i will ; that if now we vigorously and prudently manage our late acquired possessions in the heart and navel of his dominions , he will with great caution and respect exasperate our king and nation : and when our power is increased and setled , then evidently to one of these two conditions we shall bring him ; either to admit of a trade with us , or have his bullion come home in our ships which of these will be most advantagious i cannot readily tell ; but both , or either will be of high concernment to his majesty and people . to do this with most ease and lesse charge , i think the best expedient is to encourage and admonish the lesser islands ( all but the barbadoes ) to remove thither , as they are , they are neither of any mutual strength to themselves , nor contribute any honour or emolument to the nation , but when once they are incorporated into one body , how secure will they be amongst themselves , how terrible to their opposers ? and in case a good temprement does produce a peace , how little will the charge be of assuring it to be lasting ; for the more men , the lesse need of souldiers , and by consequence the diffus'd charge of keeping them lesse burthensome then when it is devolved on a few persons . to conclude , the king of spains wealth is greater in the indies , then the king of england ; but our kings subjects swords are more sharper then the spaniards , which we had lately evidenced , but that god would not suffer the worst of men , cromwell , to glory in the bravest of atchivements . to make a parallel betwixt virginia and our other island plantations in america , we will take the mistresse of them all , barbadoes , for the other islands , if now they were to be seated , would not be suffered uselesly to exhaust so many men out of our nation as now they do ; who being thinly planted and defencelesse , are exposed not only to the designs , but as i may truly speak it to the divertisement of their enemies , who only passing by have taken the best of them without losing two dayes of their intended voyage ; this saint christophers and the tartugos have experimented , and their weak resistance have made the spaniard have false apprehensions of our courages and conduct : these then i will not particularly mention , but the paragon shall be betwixt virginia and the barbadoes , which does produce all those commodities in perfection , which the other islands do but attempt to do this , i will impartially mention their industrious vertues and our negligent defects ; and first , i will say that the bringing of sugar and cotton to be a commodity of english growth , was a work worthy of a publick mark of honour and reward ; for by it the nation saves yearly a million of pounds sterling . cottens , indicos , and ginger were likewise noble undertakings ; and to admiration perfected , and god forbid , that emulation should make us forbear to speak or lessen the designs and industry of the first promoters of these noble commodities . but we shall say , that it is pity those men had not a larger field to exercise their vertues in , for like flowers they were quickly at their full growth and perfection , and a nil ultra is fixt on them . but that our desires to honour them may not tacitly fix an accusation on us , i must here say , they had the happinesse to have no enemy to encounter , whose swords were continually in our bowels or apprehensions ; that they lay more in the way of merchants and men of war , by whom they got persons skilled in the engines that made sugar ; that their security from enemies made merchants , and other rich men , willingly venture their estates thither , and therefore the comparison being as i suppose to be made between the places , and not the happy conjuncture of the men that possesse them , i shall boldly and truly affirm , that there can be no comparison between the places relative to the future advantage of our nation : for though virginia yet only produceth tobacco , as to the main of her traffick , yet it has produced silk , flax , hemp , iron , rice , pitch , tar , which are commodities more lasting and necessary then sugar or indico can be : and as our numbers increase , so will our wealth , when our industry and assistance shall equal theirs , which is clean contrary with them , who are already forced to expend one fifth part of their merchandise to provide victuals for themselves and servants . but the best resolution of this , will be , that being both of one nation , we blesse god that has made us so instrumental to the wealth and glory of it . finis . nova britannia offering most excellent fruites by planting in virginia : exciting all such as be well affected to further the same. johnson, robert, fl. - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) nova britannia offering most excellent fruites by planting in virginia : exciting all such as be well affected to further the same. johnson, robert, fl. - . [ ] p. printed for samuel macham, and are to be sold at his shop in pauls church-yard, at the signe of the bul-head, london : . epistle signed: r.i. attributed to robert johnson by stc ( nd ed.). signatures: a⁴(-a ) b-d⁴ e³. t.p. contains woodcut illustration. reproduction of original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode 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illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- description and travel. virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion nova britannia : offering most excellent fruites by planting in virginia . exciting all such as be well affected to further the same . london printed for samvel macham , and are to be sold at his shop in pauls church-yard , at the signe of the bul-head . . to the right worshipfull , sir thomas smith , of london knight , one of his maiesties councell for virginia , and treasurer for the colonie , and gouernour of the companies of the moscovia and east india merchants peace , health and happinesse in christ . right worshipfull sir , forasmuch as i haue alwayes obserued your honest zeale to god , accompanied with so excellent carriage and resolution , in actions of best consequence , i cannot but discouer vnto you for your further encouragement , the summe of a priuate speech or discourse , touching our plantation in virginia , vttered not long since in london , where some few aduenturers ( well affecting the enterprise ) being met together touching their intended proiect , one among the rest stood vp and began to relate ( in effect ) as followeth . r. i. nova britannia . offering most excellent fruites by planting in virginia . whereas in our last méeting and conference the other day , obseruing your sufficient reasons answering all obiections , and your cōstant resolution to go on in our plantation , they gaue me so good content and satisfaction , that i am driuen against my selfe , to confesse mine own error in standing out so long , whereby many of you ( my frends ) were engaged in the businesse before mée , at whose often instigations i was but little moued , and lightly estéemed of it till being in place , where obseruing the wise and prudent spéech , of a worthy gentleman , ( well knowne to you all ) a most painful mannager of such publike affayres within this cittie , which moued so effectually , touching the publike vtilitie of this noble enterprize , that withholding no longer , i yéelded my money aad endeuours as others did to aduance the same , and now vpon more aduised consideration , i must néedes say i neuer accompted my poore meanes employed to better purpose , then ( by gods helpe ) the successe of this may bee , and therefore i cannot but deliuer ( if you please to heare ) what i rudely conceiue of a suddaine . there are diuers monuments already publisht in print to the world ▪ manifesting and shewing , that the coasts and parts of virginia haue beene long since discouered , peopled and possessed by many english , both men , women , and children , the naturall subiects of our late queene elizabeth , of famous memorie , conducted and left there at sundrie times , and that the same footing and possession is there kept and possessed by the same english ▪ or by their seede and of-spring , without any interruption or inuasion , either of the sauages ( the natiues of the countrie ) or of any other prince or people ( for ought wee ●eare or know ) to this day , which argueth sufficiently to vs ( and it is true ) that ouer those english and indian people , no christian king or prince ( other then iames our soueraigne lord and king ) ought to haue rule or dominion , or can by possession , conquest , or inheritance , truely claime or make iust title to those territories , or to any part thereof , except it bee ( as wee heare of late ) that a challenge is laid to all , by vertue of a donation from alexander the sixt , pope of rome , wherein ( they say ) is giuen all the west indies , including florida and virginia , with all america , and whatsoeuer ilands adiacent . but what is this to vs ? they are blind indeede that stumble here , it is much like that great donation of constantine whereby the pope himselfe doeth hold and claime the citie of rome , and all the westerne empire , a thing that so crosseth all histories of truth , and sound antiquitie , that by the apt resemblance of those two donations , the whole west empire , from a temporall prince to the pope , and the whole west indies , from the pope to a temporall prince ▪ i doe verily gesse they be neere of kinne , they are so like each other , the one an olde tale vaine and fabulous , the other a new toy most idle and ridiculous . when the flatterers of cambises king of persia , could find no law to warrant his immoderate lust and incestuous mariage with his owne daughter , yet they told him of another law which they had found , wherby the kings of persia might doe what they listed : if in these cases likewise there bee a law that the pope may doe what he list , let them that list obey him , for we beleeue not in him . letting goe ( therefore ) these legendarie fables , which howsoeuer some men holde authenticke as their creede , yet are they in the iudgement of wise men , things of no value , nor doe import to vs , any cause of doubt or feare , but that wee goe on in our honest enterprise , and lawfull purpose now in hand , that ( as wee hope ) his maiestie mindeth not the reliquishing his estate and enterest , deriued to him by right of succession , from his immediate predecessor , but for the further planting and succouring our old colony , hath giuen vs leaue to make new supplies , which wee lately sent thither vnder the conduct of christopher newport captaine : and hath granted many gratious priuiledges , vnder the great seale , to vs and to our heirs for euer , that will aduenture or plant in the said plantation : so i wish and intreat all well affected subiects , some in their persons , others in their purses , cheerefully to aduenture , and ioyntly take in hand this high and acceptable worke , tending to aduance and spread the kingdome of god , and the knowledge of the truth , among so many millions of men and women , sauage and blind , that neuer yet saw the true light shine before their eyes , to enlighten their minds and comfort their soules , as also for the honour of our king , and enlarging of his kingdome , and for preseruation and defence of that small number our friends and countrimen already planted , least for want of more supplies we become a scorne to the world ▪ subiecting our former aduentures to apparant spoile and hazard , and our people ( as a prey ) to be sackt and puld out of possession , as were the french out of noua francia , not many yers ago ▪ and which is the lest and last respect ▪ ( yet vsuallie preferred ) for the singular good and benefite that wil vndoubtedly arise to this whole nation , and to euerie one of vs in particular , that will aduenture therein , as by true relation ( god willing ) i shal make it manifestly appeare to all . it is knowne to the world , and cannot bee forgotten , that the dayes and raigne of queene elizabeth , brought forth the highest degree of wealth , happinesse , and honour , that euer england had before her time , whereof to let passe the particular praises , as impertinent to my purpose , i doe onely call to minde our royall fleetes and marchants shippes , ( the iewels of our land ) our excellent nauigators , and admirable voyages , as into all parts and round about the globe with good successe , to the high fame and glorie of our nation , so especially their aime and course was most directed to the new found world , to the maine land and infinite ilands of the west indies , intending to discouer with what conuenience to plant and settle english colonies , in places not already possessed and inhabited by subiects of other christian princes , wherein after many tedious and perilous aduentures , howsoeuer strange seas and miserable famine , had deuoured and distressed shipps and men of inestimable value , yet were not the remnant escaping , swallowed vp of despaire , nor their hart and spirits daunted with feare , but daily armed afresh with inuincible courage , and greater resolution ( scorning to sit downe by their losses ) made newe attempts , not induring to looke on whilst so huge and spacious countries ( the fourth part of the world ) and the greatest and wealthiest part of all the rest , should remaine a wildernes , subiect ( for the most part ) but to wilde beasts and fowles of the ayre , and to sauage people , which haue no christian , nor ciuill vse of any thing , and that the subiects onely of one prince christian , which but within the memorie of man began first to creepe vpon the face of those territories , & now by meanes of their remnants settled here & there , do therfore imagine the world to be theirs , shouldring out al other nations , accounting themselues kings and commanders , not onely in townes and places where they haue planted , but ouer all other partes of america , which containe sundrie vast and barbarous regions , many of which ( to this day ) they neuer knew , nor did euer setle soote therein : which notwithstanding , if it were yeelded them as due , yet their strength and meanes farre inferiour to their aspires , will neuer stretch to compasse or replenish the hundreth part thereof : and this we proued true not many yeares agoe , our prince and theirs being then at open hostilitie , their best and chiefest residences were scattered with so poore and slender troups , that with handfuls of men ( at sundry times ) we ran thorow all , surprizing and sacking their strongest forts and townes in those parts , and might long since with ease , following and seconding our forces , haue set them to their stint . but seeing we so passed by their dwellings , that in seatinḡ our selues , wee sought not to vnsetle them , but by gods mercy , after many stormes ▪ were brought to the coast of another countrie , farre distant and remote from their habitations : why should any frowne or enuie at it , or if they doe , why should wee ( neglecting so faire an opportunitie ) faint or feare to enlarge our selues , where is our force and auncient vigour ? doth our late reputation sleepe in the dust ? no , no , let not the world deceiue it selfe , we still remaine the same , and vpon iust occasion giuen , we shall quickly shew it too : hauing now by gods blessing , more meanes then euer heeretofore , beeing strongly senced where wee wonted to lie open : our plant , we trust , is firmely root●d , our armes and limmes are strong , our branches faire , and much desire to spread themselues abroad . but before i come to discribe this earthly paradice , or to proue the points of my proposition mentioned before , you shall knowe , that the first discouery and actuall possession taken thereof , was in the raigne , and by the subiects of henry the seuenth of england , at which time did spaine also discouer , and by that right of discouery , doeth retaine and holde their noua hispania , and all other their limmits vpon that coast : but that we now intend to ground vpon is a more late discouerie and actuall possession , taken in the name and right of queene elizabeth , in anno . the ▪ of iuly , as it is truely set downe in the booke of english uoyages , by sundry english captaines and gentlemen in that uoyage , whose names are recorded in that discourse ( and many of which are yet liuing ) whereof when her maiestie had true information , shée named the countrey virginia , and did assigne to walter raleigh ( then a gentleman of worth ) power and authoritie to plant forces and colonies there , at his pleasure , who transported thither in anno . by the conduct of iohn white chiefe leader , aboue an hundred men , women , and children at one time , and left them there to inhabite to this day : notwithstanding , it is true indéede ( as some may obiect . ) it is now aboue twentie yéeres agoe since these things were done , and yet euer since in al this time , we neuer sawe or heard of any good that hath come from thence , nor of any hope , that might encourage vs anew to engage our selues therein . but let vs rightly weigh the reasons of it , and then iudge : those hundred and vpwards , conducted thither by iohn white , and whose particular names you may sée recorded in the same booke of uoyages , were left there , with intent and promise , to be supplied from england , with more companies and all necessaries , the next yéere following : in the meane time , they were to plant and fortifie themselues in be●t maner they could , and to make a discouerie of such minerals , and other merchandize , as the countrey should yéeld by nature . but as all good actions haue their crosses and their bane attending on them , so had this : for that those which had the managing of a new supply , being the next yéere sufficiently furnished to sea for that ende , yet most vnnaturally , being tainted with that common corruption of time , turned their head another way , and with greedie minds , betooke themselues wholly to hunt after pillage vpon the spanish coast , where spending their men , their time , and prouisions , they were not able ( béeing come and ariued at the port ) to make vp into the land to visit and relieue their friends , but were forced to retire for england againe , whereby the edge of those aduenturers that set them foorth was so abated , that this most honourable enterprise so happily begunne , was by this occasion most vnhappily ended , neither had our poore countri-men left there , any meanes from thence to visite vs , nor in all this time to giue vs any light of their owne estate : whereas then , if those beginnings had béene followed as they ought , and as by gods helpe wée now entend , that country had long since become a most royall addition to the crowne of england , and a very nursery and fountaine of much wealth and strength to this kingdome . when christopher columbus ( the first bewrayer of this new world ) was to make his proffer where he liked best , hee chose henry the seuenth of england , as in those dayes the most worthy , and best furnished for nauigations , of all the kings in christendome : offering to inuest his maiestie with the most pretious and richest ●aines of the whole earth , neuer knowne before , as he did also the like to the kings of portugale and spaine , who ( as the story saith ) for his poore apparell and simple lookes , and for the noueltie of his proposition , was of most men accounted a vaine foole , and vtterly reiected : saue that the spanish better conceiuing then some others , beganne to entertaine and make vse of his skill , which within these hundred yeares , hath brought foorth those apparant fruits to the world as cannot be hidde . their territories enlarged , their nauigations encreased , their subiects enriched , and their superfluitie of coyne ouer-spreading al parts of the world , procures their crowne to flourish , and highly commendeth the wisedome of spaine : whose quicke apprehension and spéedy addresse , preuented all other princes : albeit ( as you know ) their greatnes of minde arising together with their money and meanes , hath 〈◊〉 all christendome these fourtie yeares and more . and this i but mention , to note the blind diffidence of our english natures , which laugh to scorne the name of virginia , and all other new proiects , bee they neuer so probable , and will not beleeue till wee sée the effects : as also to shew how capable men ought to bee , in things of great importance , aduisedly to take the first occasions . we reade of haniball , when chasing home the romanes to the gates of rome , and neglecting then to scale the walles , could neuer after with all his strength and policies come neere the like aduantage : yet i must briefely tell you now , what i conceiue with ioy , that howsoeuer the businesse of this plantation hath beene formerly miscaried , yet it is now going on in better way , not enterprised by one or two priuate subiects , who in their greatnesse of minde , sought to compasse that , which rather beseemed a mighty prince , ( such as ours ) or the whole state to take in hand : for it is not vnknowen to you all , how many noble men of honourable mindes , how many worthy knights , merchants , and others of the best disposition , are now ioyned together in one charter , to receiue equall priuiledges , according to their seuerall aduentures : euery man engaging his purse , and some noble-men , knights and gentlemen , intending to goe in their owne persons , which i did hears to protest and vow , against anie people , whomsoeuer shall any way seeke to entrappe or impeach our proceedings , an vtter reuenge vpon their bodies or goods , if they be to bee found vpon sea or land : whereby we haue assured hope ( god assisting vs ) to be effectually able to make good against all , and in short time to bring to a most happy euent the thing we take in hand . and now in discribing the naturall seate and disposition of the countrie it selfe : if i should say no more but with caleb and ioshua , the land which we haue searched out is a very good land , if the lord loue vs , he will bring our people to it , and will giue it vs for a possession . this were enough to you that are willing , but yet a little more in particular obserued , by the best mappes and printed discourses , and by conference of such as haue béene lately there and séene it , i thinke good to deliuer to satisfie others : first the uoyage is not long nor tedious , sixe wéekes at ease will send vs thither , whereas sixe moneths suffice not to some other places , where wee trade : our course and passage is thorow the great ocean , where is no feare of rockes or flattes , nor subiect to the streighte and restraint of forraine princes , most winds that blow , are apt and fit for vs , and none can hinder vs : when wee come to the coast , there is continuall depth enough , with good bottome for anchor hold , and the land is faire to fall with all , full of excellent good harbours : the world affoords no better for ships of all burdens , many pleasant ilands great and small affronting the coast : two goodly riuers are discouered winding farre into the maine , the one in the north part of the land by our westerne colonie , knights and gentlemen of excester , plymouth and others : the other in the south part thereof by our colonie of london : upon which riuer , being both broad , déepe and pleasant , abounding with store of fish , our colony haue begun to fortifie themselues , and haue built a towne , and named it ( in honour of our king ) iames towne fourescore miles within land , vpon the north side of the riuer ( as is london vpon the riuer of thames ) from whence wee haue discouered the same riuer , one hundred myles further into the mayne land , in the searching whereof , they were so rauisht with the admirable sweetnesse of the streame , and with the pleasant land trending along on either side , that their ioy excéeded and with great admiration they praised god. the country it selfe is large and great assuredly , though as yet , no exact discouerie can bee made of all , it is also commendable , and hopefull euerie way , the ayre and clymate most swéete and wholsome , much warmer then england , and very agréeable to our natures : it is inhabited with wild and sauage people , that liue and lie vp and downe in troupes , like heards of deare in a forrest : they haue no law but nature , their apparell skinnes of beasts , but most goe naked : the better sort haue houses , but poore ones , they haue no arte nor science , yet they liue vnder superior commaund , such as it is , they are generally very louing and gentle , and doe entertaine and relieue our people with great kindnesse : they are easie to be brought to good , and would fayne embrace a better condition : the land yeeldeth naturallie for the sustentation of man , aboundance of fish , both scale and shell : of land and water fowles , infinite store : of deere , rain● and fallow , stags , coneys , and hares , with many fruits and rootes good for meate . there are valleyes and plaines streaming with sweets springs , like veynes in a naturall bodie : there are hills and mountaines making a sensible proffer of hidden treasure , neuer yet searched : the land is full of mineralles , plentie of woods ( the wants of england ) there are growing goodly okes and elmes , ●eech and birch , spruce , walnut , cedar and firre trees , in great aboundance , the soile is strong and lustie of it owne nature , and sendeth out naturally fruitfull uines running vpon trees , and shrubbes : it yeeldeth also ro●●n , turpentine , pitch and tarre , sassafras , mulbery-trees and silke-wormes , many skinnes and rich furres , many sweete woodes , and dyers woodes , and other costly dyes : plenty of sturgion , timber for shipping ▪ mast , plancke and deale , sope ashes , cauiare , and what else we know not yet , because our daies are yong . but of this that i haue said , if bare nature be so amiable in it naked kind , what may we hope , when arte and nature both shall ioyne , and striue together , to giue best content to man and beast ? as now in handling the seuerall parts propounded , i shall shew in order as they lie . for the first ( if i forget not my selfe ) how it may tend to aduance the kingdome of god , by reducing sauage people from their blind superstition to the light of religion , when some obiect , wee seeke nothing lesse then the cause of god , being led on by our owne priuate ends , and secondly how we can warrant a supplantation of those indians , or an inuasion into their right and possessions . to the first we say , as many actions both good in themselues , and in their successe , haue béene performed with badde intents : so in this case , howsoeuer our naughtines of minde may sway very much , yet god may haue the honor , and his kingdome aduanced in the action done : but yet by the way , me thinks this obiection comes in due time , and doth wel admonish vs , how to rectiffe our hearts and ground our meditations before we begin : we doe generally applaud , and highly commend the goodnes of the cause , and that it is such a profitable plough , as euery honest man ought to set his hand vnto , both in respect of god and the publike good this , is our generall voice , and we say truth , for so it is . but wee must beware that vnder this pretence that bittet root of gréedy gaine be not so setled in our harts , that béeing in a golden dreame , if it fal not out presently to our expectation , we flinke away with discontent , and draw our purses from the charge . if any shew this affection , i would wish his basenes of minde to be noted . what must be our direction then , no more but this : if thou dost once approue the worke , lay thy hand to it chéerefully , and withdraw it not till thy taske bee done , at all assayes and new supplies of money be not lagge , nor like a dull horse that 's alwaies in the lash , for héere lies the po●son of all good attempts , when as men without haling and pulling , will not bee drawne to performance , for by this , others are discouraged , the action lies vndone , and the first expence is lost : but are wee to looke for no gaine in the lewe of all aduentures ? yes vndoubtedly , there is assured hope of gaine , as i will shew anon in due place , but look it be not chiefe in your thoughts , god that hath said by solomon : cast thy bread vpon the waters , and after many daies thou shalt find it : he will giue the blessing : and as for supplanting the sauages , we haue no such intent : our intrusion into their possessions shall tend to their great good , and no way to their hurt , vnlesse as vnbridled beastes , they procure it to themselues : wee purpose to proclaime and make it knowne to them all , by some publike interpretation that our comming thither is to plant our selues in their countrie : yet not to supplant and roote them out , but to bring them from their base condition to a farre better : first , in regard of god the creator , and of iesus christ their redéemer , if they will beléeue in him . and secondly , in respect of earthly blessings , whereof they haue now no comfortable vse , but in beastly brutish maner , with promise to defend them against all publike and priuate enemies . wée can remember since don iohn daquila with his forces inuading ireland , a noble ciuill kingdome , where all ( except a few runagates ) were setled in the truth of religion , and liued by wholsome lawes , vnder the milde gouernment of christian kings and princes , long before his grandsiers cradle : yet hée thought it no robberie to proclaime and publish to the world , that his comming thither , was to none other end , but to free the nation from their bondage , and tyrannous subiection , and to bring the blind soules to catholike religion : a plausible pretence , the least end of his thought . but if this were coyned in those dayes by the minters themselues , to passe for currant thorow the world , howsoeuer base it was indéede , wée hope they will be as fauourable to our case , and giue as frée passage and allowance to our inuasion , much more currant , and so farre different , as not to bring a people ( according to our prouerbe ) out of the frying panne into the fire , but to make their condition truely more happy , by a mutuall enterchange and commerce in this sort : that as to our great expence and charge , wée make aduentures , to impart our diuine riches , to their inestimable gaine , and to couer their naked miserie with ciuill vse of foode , and clothing , and to traine them by gentle mesnes to those manuall artes and skill , which they so much affect , and doe admire to sée in vs : so in lewe of this , wée require nothing at their hands , but a quiet residence to vs and ours , that by our owne labour and toyle , we may worke this good vnto them and recompence our owne aduentures , costs and trauells in the ende : wherein , they shal be most friendly welcome to conioyne their labours with ours , and shall enioy equall priuiledges with vs , in whatsoeuer good successe , time or meanes may bring to passe . to which purpose , wee may verily beleeue , that god hath reserued in this last age of the world , an infinite number of those lost and scattered sheepe , to be won and recouered by our means , of whom so many as obstinatly refuse to vnite themselues vnto vs , or shall maligne or disturbe our plantation , our chattel , or whatsoeuer belonging to vs : they shall be held and reputed recusant , withstanding their owne good : and shall bee dealt with as enemies of the common-wealth of their countrie : wherby how much good we shall performe to those that be good , and how little iniury to any , wil easily appeare , by comparing our present happinesse with our former ancient miseries , wherein wee had continued brutish , poore and naked britanes to this day , if iulius caesar with his romane legions ( or some other ) had not laid the ground to make vs tame and ciuill . but for my second point propounded , the honour of our king , by enlarging his kingdomes to proue how this may tend to that : no argument of mine can make it so manifest , as the same is cleere in it selfe : diuine testimonies shew , that the honour of a king consisteth in the multitude of subiects , and certainely the state of the iewes was farre more glorious , by the conquests of dauid , and vnder the ample raigne of solomon , then euer before or after : the twelue tribes were then all subiect : the bordering nations tributarie ▪ no doubt a happie subiection to many of them : wherby they had the better meanes to beleeue and know god the creator of heauen and earth : honourable i graunt is iust conquest by sword , and hercules is fained to haue had all his felicity , in subduing and rooting out the tyrants of the world , but vnfainedly it is most honorable indeede , to subdue the tyranny of the roaring lion , that deuoures those poore soules in their ignorance , and leads them to hel for want of light , when our dominions shall be enlarged , and the subiects multiplied of a people so bought and ransomed ▪ not by stormes of raging cruelties ( as west india was conuerted ) with rapiers point and musket shot , murdering so many millions of naked indians , as their stories doe relate , but by faire and louing meanes , suting to our english natures , like that soft and gentle voice , wherein the lord appeared to elias : how honorable wil this be , in the sight of men and of ages to come ? but much more glorious in the sight of god , when our king shal come to make his triumph in heauen . the prophet daniel doth assure , that for this conquest of turning manie vnto righteousnesse , hee shall shine as the starres for euer and euer . and yet this is not all that may be saide , the auncient law , the law of moses settes it downe , as a blessed thing , when the prince and people of god , shall bee able to lend to all , and neede to borrow of none , and it added very much to the fame and wisedome of king solomon , which the world came ●arre and neere to wonder at , in that his kingdomes were replenished with golde and siluer in aboundance , and with riches brought in by shippes , sent yearely forth in ample trade of merchandize , whereof wee reade not the like among all the kings of israel . and vpon good warrant i speake it here in priuate , what by these new discoueries into the westerne partes , and our hopefull setling in chiefest places of the east , with our former knowne trades in other parts of the world , i doe not doubt ( by the helpe of god ) but i may liue to see the dayes ( if marchants haue their due encouragement ) that the wisedome , maiestie , and honour of our king , shall be spread and enlarged to the ends of the world , our nauigations mightily encreased , and his maiesties customes more then trebled . and as for the third part , the releeuing our men already planted , to preserue both them and our former aduentures , i shall not neede to say much , the necessitie is so apparent , that i hope no aduenturer will be wanting therein . our sauiour christ resembles them that giue ouer in their best duties , to foolish builders , that hauing laid the foundation , doe grauell themselues in the midde way and so become ridiculous : it had béene extreame madnes in the iewes ( when hauing sent to spye the land that flowed with milke and honey , and ten for two returned backe with tydings of impossibilitie to enter and preuaile , ) if then they had retyred and lost the land of promise : no doubt , the deuill that enuied then that enterprize of theirs ▪ doth now the like in ours , and we must make accompt , and look to bee encountred with many discoragements , partly by our friends and neighbours , ( such as we vse to say ) will neither goe to church nor tarrie at home , as also ( which is no new thing ) euen by such as haue béen sent to spy the land , one while obiecting the charge will be great , the businesse long , and the gaines nothing , and besides ▪ the anakimes that dwell in the mountaines , will come and pull vs out by the eares , with such like fooleries i know not what . but wee must bée prepared with caleb and iosua ( so highly commended ) to oppose an extraordinarie zeale against the detra●●ings of such , to rescue our enterprize from malicious ignorance , and to still their murmurings with reproofe , for though in ordinarie and common occasions , it be our duetie to be caried with ordinarie patience , méekenes and humilitie , yet to shew an excellent spirit , when the cause is worth it , and in such a case as this , requiring passing resolution ; it is but our weakenesse to stumble at strawes , and a basenesse to gnaw vpon euery bone that is cast in our way , which wée may obserue by those noble dogges of albania presented to king alexander , whose natures contemned to encounter or prey vpon séely beasts of no valour , but with an ouerflowing courage flying vpon the lion and the tyger , did th●n declare their vertue . and now it followes , how it can be good for this commonwealth : which is likewise most apparant many waies . first , if we consider what strength of shipping may be raysed and maintained thence , in furnishing our owne wants of sundrie kindes , and the wants of other nations too , in such needfull things arising thence , which can hardly now be obtained from any other part of the world , as planck and tymber for shipping , with deale and wainscot , pipestaues and clabbord , with store of sope ashes , whereof there grow the best woods to make them in great aboundance , al which we may there haue , the wood for the cutting , and the ashes for the burning , which though they bee grosse commodities , yet no marchandize is better requested , nor will sooner yeelde golde or siluer in any our bordering nations . england and holland alone , spend in these about three hundreth thousand poundes sterling euery yeare : we may transport hether or vnto hamborough , holland , or other places , fiftie per centum better cheape , then from prusia or polonia , from whence they are onely now to be had , where also the woods are so spent and wasted , that from the place where the wood is cut and the ashes burnt , they are brought by land at least two hundred miles to ship . and from thence we may haue iron and copper also in great quantitie , about which the expence and waste of woode , as also for building of shippes , will be no hurt , but great seruice to that countrey : the great superfluity whereof , the continuall cutting downe , in manie hundred yeares , will not be able to ouercome , whereby will likewise grow a greater benefite to this land , in preseruing our woodes and tymber at home , so infinitely and without measure , vpon these occasions cutte downe , and falne to such a sickenesse and wasting consumption , as all the physick in england cannot cure . wee doubt not but to make there in few yeares store of good wines , as any from the canaries , by replanting and making tame the uines that naturally grow there in great abundance , onely send men of skill to doe it , and coopers to make caske , and hoopes for that and all other vses , for which there is wood enough at hand . there are silke-wormes , and plenty of mulberie-trees , whereby ladies , gentlewomen and litle children , ( beeing set in the way to doe it ) may bee all imploied with pleasure , in making silke , comparable to that of persia , turkey , or any other . we may bring from thence sturgion , cauiare , and new land-fish of the best . there grows hempe for cordage , an excellent commoditie , and flaxe for linnen cloth ; which beeing sowen and well manured , in such a clymate and fertile soyle , will make great benefite , and will put downe that of other countries . and for the making of pitch , tarre , turpentine , sope-ashes , deale , wainscott , and such like , wee haue alreadie prouided and sent thither skillfull workemen from forraine parts , which may teach and set ours in the way , whereby we may set many thousands a worke , in these and such like seruices . for as i tolde you before , there must be art and industry with other helps and meanes extended , with a little pacience to bring these things to passe , wee must not looke to reape with ioy , except we sow in teares : the aboundance of king salomons golde and siluer , did not raine from heauen vpon the heads of his subiects : but heauenly prouidence blessed his nauigations and publike affayres , the chiefe meanes of their wealth . experience hath lately taught vs by some of our neighbour prouinces , how excéedingly it mounts the state of a common-wealth , to put forth nauigation ( if it were possible ) into all parts and corners of the world , to furnish our owne wants , and also to supply from one kingdome to another , such seuerall néedefull things , as for want of shipping and other meanes they cannot furnish of themselues , for this will raise experience , and men of skill , as also strength at sea and land , with honour , wealth , and riches , returning still to the heads and fountaines , from whence their first occasions grew . wee may but looke a little backe , and wee shall see what a nouice our nation was within these sixscore yeeres , in case of forraine trade , not knowing whence to fetch , nor which way to transport , but onely to some marte or staple towne , within two daies sailing ▪ and that was counted so great a matter then , that therefore they were called marchant aduenturers , and the great hulkes of italy , which in those daies brought spices corants and such like , and landes at southampton , ( the storehouse then for marchandize ) are chronicled for wonders in our english stories , for indeede we knew no better then , but were content ( as babes ) with easterlings on the one hand & lumbards on the other , which were continuall liegers in london , and fed vs as they listed . and take this euer as a rule , that domesticke marchandizing brings forth but poore effects in a commonwealth , whereof i needed not haue shewed example further then our owne doores . what was the case of england before the golden daies of quéene elizabeth at whose comming to the crowne , the state of marchants was so poore and meane , that renting out her customes in wardes , but at a very lowe rate , yet it brought the farmer vpon his knées . a man that markes the difference , and shall compare those times and these together , shall thinke it were impossible , ( vnlesse his knowledge taught him otherwise ) that the dayes and raigne of one elizabeth , whose hand was euer lending , to distressed neighbour princes , and her sword vnsheathed continually , repulsing forraine enemies , should yet releeue and raise the state of her customes , the strength of her nauie ▪ and the condition of her people , euery way seuen fold to that they were before , onely by encouraging the royall trade of marchandize , as wee see it this day apparant : let god haue the honour , and blessed be her memory , and the memoriall of those managers of state in her daies , for their worthy counsells , many of which though they now sléepe , and rest with their soueraigne in peace , yet some doe still remaine , and do succeede in place , where long may they stand and their séede after them , like the pillars and worthies of king dauid , to shielde the head and honour of our solomon , and still to vphold and enlarge our happinesse for euer : and this i am driuen to speake and mention by the way , where i meant it not , in regard of some which vpon a disaster beginne to ware weary of all , discouraging themselues and others , from this and all other forreine aduentures : to let them know , that each thing hath encrease , from whence it had beginning : and to put our selues in mind , that wee faile not in furthering those causes that bring forth such effects . another instance might be shewed in one particular , which taxeth very much our english nation , and all the subiects of our soueraigne king , that enioying such plentie of wood-lands , and fruitfull soiles , within england , scotland , ireland and wales : yet our want of industry to bee such , that netherlanders which haue not a stick of wood growing nor any land for sowing , should surpasse and goe beyond vs in continuall plenty of corne and shipping , me thinks the reformation hereof should find more fauour at our hands , that in such points of ciuil pollicie , no people of lesser meanes should cast vs so behinde , and each well minded man should lend his helpe to heale and cure such staines and scarres in the face of our state , as being viewed and wayed well , may very well make vs blush . and now to our present businesse in hand , which so many stumble at , in regard of the continuall charge , i would haue them know , that it cannot be great nor long , as the businesse may be handled . two things are especially required herein , people to make the plantation , and money to furnish our present prouisions , and shippings now in hand : for the first we neede not doubt , our land abounding with swarmes of idle persons , which hauing no meanes of labour to reléeue their misery , doe likewise swarme in lewd and naughtie practises , so that if we seeke not some waies for their forreine employment , wee must prouide shortly more prisons and corrections for their bad conditions , for it fares with populous common weales , as with plants and trees that bee too frolicke , which not able to sustaine and feede their multitude of branches , do admit an engrafting of their buds and siences into some other soile , acounting it a benefite for preseruation of their kind , and a disburdening their stocke of those superfluous twigs that sucke away their nourishment . and we shal find that hence it was , the gothes and uandalles with other barbarous nations , séeing an ouerflowing of their multitudes at home , did therefore send their armies out as raging floods at sundrie times , to couer the faces of spain , italy and other prouinces , to f●ée their owne from pestering : so that you see it no new thing , but most profitable for our state , to rid our multitudes of such as lie at home , pestering the land with pestilence and penury , and infecting one another with vice and villanie , worse then the plague it selfe : whose very miseries driues many of them , by meanes to be cutte off , as bad and wicked members , or else both them and theirs to be reléeued , at the common charge of others . yet i doe not meane , that none but such vnsound members , and such poore as want their bread , are fittest for this imployment : for wee intend to haue of euery trade and profession , both honest , wise and painefull men , whereof our land and citie is able to spare , and furnish many ( as we had experience in our last sending thither ) which will be glad to goe , and plant themselues so happily , and their children after them , to holde and keepe conformitie , with the lawes , language and religion of england for euer , touching which , i doe earnestly admonish you to beware and shunne three kindes of people : the first , a most vile minded sort , and for the most part badde members of this citie , by some meanes shaken out of their honest courses , and now shifting by their wittes , will bee alwaies deuising some vnhappines to wrong the plantation : such as daily beate their braines , and séeke by lying suggestions ; vnder colour of good pretence to the common-wealth to infringe our auncient liberties , and would ( if they were not mette withall and curbed by authoritie ) make a monopoly to themselues , of each thing after other , belonging to the freedome of euery mans profession , the very wrack of merchandizing . the second sort are papists , professed or recusant of which i would not one , seasoned with the least taint of that leauen , to be setled in our plantation , nor in any part of that country , but if once perceiued , such a one , wéede him out , and ship him home for england , for they will euer bee plotting and conspiring , to root you out if they can , howsoeuer they sweare , flatter , and equiuocate , beleeue them not : keepe onely these two examples in minde . watson the seminarie priest in his printed quodlibets : he , of all other men protesteth the greatest truth and fidelity to his prince and countrey ; obiecting all the bloudy plottes and treasons , to haue come from the combination of iesuits , and from parsons that arch-atheist in chiefe , but as for himselfe , hee wished no longer to liue and breath , then the thoughts of his hart should be true and vpright to his prince and countrey : notwithstanding , this watson was the very first wretch of all other , that had his hand in treason against our king , and reapt his reward according to his wish . the other example is a popish pamphlet , called the lay catholikes petition , offered to his maiestie for tolleration of popery , protesting likewise their fidelitie and vnfained loue to his maiestie , offering to be bound life for life with good suerties for their loyall behauiour : happy ▪ men had we béene to haue taken their bonds , ( no doubt ) for euen at that instant , when this petition was exhibiting , the chiefe heads of those lay catholikes , were then labouring with all their might , to vndermine the parliament house , to shake the pillers , and the whole frame of the kingdome to shiuers· and which is more , there is newly dispersed an idle discourse against an honorable personage of this land , by a papist , that termes himselfe a catholike diuine , defending garnet the popish priest ; saying , there was nothing against him at his arraignement , but onely his acquaintance with the powder-plotte : which ( saith hee ) beeing reuealed vnto him in auricular confession , hee might not therefore by the lawe and right of catholike religion , disclose nor make it knowne . how like you these catholikes and this diuinitie ? if they grow so bold and desperate in a mighty setled state , howe much more dangerous in the birth and infancie of yours ? therefore if you will liue and prosper , harbor not this viperous broode in your bosome , which will eat out and consume the wombe of their mother . the third sort to auoide , are euill affected magistrates , a plague that god himselfe complaines of by the prophet isaiah : o my people , they that leade thee , cause thee to erre . touching which , i am no way able to speake enough , for herein lies the very life of all : let no partialitie preferre them , vnlesse they be worthy men ; if they be papists or popishly minded ; if prophane atheists , contemning god and his word , turning religion to policy , vnchaste , idle , ambitious , proud and tyrannous , forgetting their allegiance to their king , and duety to their country , neglecting their commission of imployment , aduancing vil●e and vitious persons like themselues , and basely vsing those that bee vertuous , godly , and well affected : then looke for no blessing nor assistance of god , but misery , crosses , and confusions in all wée take in hand : but in men of knowledge , and religious education , there is euer found true humilitie , temperance and iustice , ioyned with confidence , valour and noble courage , such as was in moses the man of god , whose iustice excéeded , and courage was incomparable , and yet the méekest man that went vpon the earth : tenne of such will chase an hundred : no aduersitie can make them despayre , their prouident care wil euer be to repulse iniuries , and represse the insolent , to encourage the paineful and best minded , to employ the idle to some honest labours , and to releeue with mercy and commiseration , the most feeble , weakest and meanest member . and as for the generall sort that shall goe to bee planters , bee they neuer so poore , so they bée honest , and painefull , the place will make them rich : all kinde of artificers wee must-first imploy , are carpenters , ship-wrights , masons , sawyers , brickemakers , bricklayers , plowmen , sowers , planters fishermen , coopers , smiths , mettel-men taylers , turners , and such like , to make and fitte all necessaries , for comfort and vse of the colony , and for such as are of no trades ( if they bee industrious ) they shall haue there imployment enough , for there is a world of means to set many thousands a work● , partly in such things as i mentioned before , and many other profitable workes , for no man must liue idle there . and by this imploiment , we may happily stop the course of those irregular youths of no religion , that daily run from vs to rome and rhemes for exhibition , which after a little hammering and trayning there by parsons and his impes , they become pliable for the impression of any villany whatsoeuer , as appeares by their positions and practises at home and abroad . and hereby our marriners shall not lie idle , nor our owners sell their ships for want of freight : you know how many good ships are daily solde , and made away to forreine nations : how many men for want of imploiment ▪ betake themselues to tunis , spaine and florence , and to serue in courses not warrantable , which would better beseeme , our owne walles and borders to bee spread with such branches , that their natiue countrey , and not forreine princes , might reape their fruit , as beeing both exquisite nauigators , and resolute men for seruice , as any the world affoords . wee intend to plant there ( god willing ) great plentie of sugar canes , for which the soyle and clymate is very apt and fit ; also linseed , and rapeséeds to make oiles , which because the soyle●s strong & cheape , may there be sowed and the oyle made to great benefite : wee must plant also orenges , limons , almonds , anniséeds , rice , cummin , cotten wool , carowey séeds , ginger , madder , oliues , oris , sumacke and many such like , which i cannot now name , al very good marchandize , and will there grow and increase , as well as in italy or any other part of the streights , whence wee fetch them now . and in searching the land , there is vndoubted hope of finding cochinell , the plant of rich indico , graineberries , beauer hydes , pearles , rich treasure , and the south sea , leading to china , with many other benefites which our day-light will discouer . but of all other things , that god hath denied that countrie , there is want of sheepe to make woollen cloth , and this want of cloth , must alwaies bee supplied from england , whereby when the colony is thorowly increased , and the indians brought to our ciuilitie , ( as they wil in short time ) it will cause a mighty vent of english clothes , a great benefit to our nation , and raising againe of that auncient trade of clothing , so much decayed in england : whose lifting vp againe ( me thinkes i see apparantly approching , by the good dispositions of our best sort of citizens , who willingly engage themselues to vndertake all new discoueries , as into this of the west , and by the north west to finde out china . and vnto the east beyond the cape , into the red sea , the gulfe of persia , the streights of sunda , and among al the kings of india , for the good and honour of our nation : which calles to minde , a blinde prophesie in one of the sibells , that before the ende of the world there shall be a discouerie of all nations : which shall come to bee knowne and acquainted together , as one neighbour with another , which since the confusion of tongues haue lyeu obscure and hid . but howeuer that bee , yet these good mindes and resolutions , doe serue for imitation to others , and do deserue assuredly the best encouragement , whereby wee shall not still betake our selues to small and little shipping ( as wee dayly doe beginne ) but shall reare againe such marchants shippes both tall and stout , as no forreine sayle that swimmes shall make them vaile or stoope : wherby to make this little northerne corner of the world , to be in short time the richest store-house and staple for marchandize in all europe . the second thing to make this plantation is money , to be raised among the aduenturers ▪ wherein the sooner and more déeply men engage themselues , their charge wil be the shorter , & their gaine the greater , as in this last point which i haue to speake for the good of each particular aduenturer , i will make it plaine . first you shall vnderstand , that his maiestie hath graunted vs an enlargement of our charter , with many ample priuiledges , wherein we haue knights and gentlemen of good place : named for the kings counsell of virginia to gouerne vs : as also euery planter and aduenturer shall bee inserted in the patent by name : this ground being laide , wee purpose presently to make supply of men women and children ( so many as we can ) to make the plantation . wee call those planters that goe in their persons to dwell there : and those aduenturers that aduenture their money and go not in person , and both do make the members of one colonie . we do account twelue pound ten shillings to be a single share aduentured . euery ordinary man or woman , if they will goe and dwell there , and euery childe aboue tenne yeares , that shall be caried thither to remaine , shal be alowed for each of their persons a single share , as if they had aduentured twelue pound ten shillings in money . euery extraordinarie man , as diuines , gouernors , ministers of state and iustice , knights , gentlemen , physitions , and such as be men of worth for speciall seruices , are all to goe as planters , and to execute their seueral functions in the colonie , and are to be maintained at the common charge , and are to receiue their diuident ( as others doe ) at seuen yeares end , and they are to be agréed with all before they goe , and to be rated by the councell , according to the value of their persons : which shal be set downe and registred in a booke , that it may alwaies appeare what people haue gone to the plantation , at what time they went , and how their persons were valued : and likewise , if any that goe to bee planters will lay downe money to the treasurer , it shall bee also registred and their shares inlarged accordingly ▪ be it for more or less . al charges of setling and maintaining the plantation , and of making supplies ▪ shall be borne in a ioint stock of the aduenturers for seuen yeares after the date of our new enlargement : during which time there shal be no aduenture , nor goods returned in priuate from thence , neytheir by master , marriner , planter nor passenger , they shal be restrained by bond and search , that as we supplie from hence to the planters at our owne charge all necessaries for food and apparel , for fortifying and building of houses in a ioynt stock , so they are also to returne from thence the encrease and fruits of their labours , for the vse and aduancement of the same ioynt stocke , till the end of seuen yeares : at which time wee purpose ( god willing ) to make a diuision by commissioners appointed , of al the lands graunted vnto vs by his maiestie , to euery of the colonie , according to each mans seuerall aduenture , agréeing with our register booke , which wee doubt not will bee for euery share of twelue pound tenne shillings , fiue hundred acres at least . now if any thinke that we shal be tyed to a continual charge , of making new supplies for seuen yeares , let them conceiue thus much , that if wee doe it thorowly at the first , by engaging our selues at once , in furnishing many men and other meanes : assuredly after the second yeare , the returnes from thence wil be able with an ouer-plus , to make supplies at large , so that our purses shal be freed , and the ouer-plus of stock will also grow to greatnes , which stock is also ( as the land ) to be diuided equally at seuen yeares end or sooner , or so often as the company shall thinke fit for the greatnes of it , to make a diuident . and as by this wée shall be soone freed from charge and expence , so there grows a greater benefit to the planters ( by bestowing their labours chéerefully ) to make returne of stocke , for hereby the sooner they f●eeing vs from disbursments , the more our shares and portions will be lessened in the diuident of stocke and land at seuen yéeres end ▪ whereby the lesse comming to vs , the more will be to them , so that héere is no discouragement any way , if men will be capable to doe themselues good . but if wee will be so wise to linger , and lie in the winde , to heare what newes , to bring in our stocke next yeare , and when we are behinde for foure or fiue aduentures , we come dropping in with one or two and still runne in arrerages for twice so much : ( for i know many that would bring in stocke amongst vs , but they lie out to sée what successe first : and vpon such like termes . ) is this gentleman-like or marchant-like , in truth it is paultry , and such as would bring all to naught , if we should bee so minded too , and i tell you true , our single shares wil make but a hungry plantation , if we doe not at the least double them now : and therefore i vrge it the more , for that the very life of all is now in the beginning by making our supplies thoroughly , and thence will our gaines arise both sooner and certaine . yet i graunt that others may come in hereafter at any time , eyther to aduenture h●s person or money , or both , but if there be spent one yeere of the seuen before he comes in , or hée that comes in with the first shall notwithstanding bée a yeare behinde in supplies , they shall be both alike shortened in a seuenth part of the diuident both of stocke and lands , and if two yeeres behinde , then shortned two seuenths , and if but sixe moneths , yet a fourtéenth part , for euery man is registered according to the time , his money or person beganne to aduenture , or made supply , so that they which come late ▪ get not the 〈◊〉 of those that bore the first brunt of the busines , and this will neither aduantage him that withholds nor hinder ●im that is forward ▪ for whatsoeuer falles from him that is slack , will be found of him that supplies in due time . but euery man that comes in now in the first of these seuen yéers and shal afterwards vpon al occasions perform i● due time , euery twelue pound ten shillings so brought in shall bee accounted an entice single share , and shall receiue accordingly without abridgement , as it had béene brought in , when the enterprize first began , and not otherwise . and as for the diuisions of landes at seuen yeeres ende which ( some may obiect ) will be little worth ▪ and vnequally d●uided : let them vnderstand , that no man shall haue his lot entirely in one place , to be al of the best , or al of the worst , but each man shall haue proportionably to his aduentures , in thrée or foure distinct differences , that may bee made in the goodnes or badnes of the groundes by commissioners equally chosen by the aduenturers héere , and the planters there ; and as for the value and little worth now , of those grounds in virginia , we know that in england within these thirty or fortie yeeres , the yéerely rent of those grounds ( in many places ) were not worth fiue shillings , that now do goe for fourtie and more . and howsoeuer those grounds in virginia are now but little worth indéede , yet time and meanes will make them better , considering how they passe our grounds in england , both in regard of the soile and clymate , fitte for many precious vses : and also in how many seuerall places we purpose to plant our colony , and not to bestow our costs vppon iames-towne onely , and vpon the grounds lying thereabout , and to let al ▪ the rest lie barren : for seeing his maiestie hath graunted to our colony as much circuite of ground as all england almost we purpose ( god willing ) if wee may be supplied with sufficient meanes ) to settle out of hand , sixe or seuen plantations more , al vpon , or neare our main-riuer , as capitall townes , twenty miles each from other , and euery plantation shall manure and husband the lands and grounds lying néere vnto it , and alotted for the circuite thereof , and shall all endeuour for a ioynt stocke , and shall be still supplied from hence with more money and prouisions , and against any publike iniury shall be ready to vnite , and ioyne themselues together . and by this mea●es wee shall come to haue our diuident in landes of worth and well manured , which will be eyther bought or rented of vs at a good value by the planters , or by such as intend hereafter to inhabite there , as also by these seueral plantations ( which happly one place better fitting then another ) wee shall bring forth more seuerall sorts of marchandize , and be also better fortified : and besides the planters will be in such hope to haue their owne shares and habitations in those lands , which they haue so husbanded , that it will cause contending and emulation among them , which shall bring foorth the most profitable and beneficiall fruits for the ioynt stocke . whereby vndoubtedly , we shall be soone fréed from further expence , our gaines will grow ▪ and our stocke encrease , we shall fell our tymber , saw our planck , and quickly make good shipping there , and shall returne from thence with good imployment , an hundred saile of good shippes yearely , all which good and much more , wee shall withstand and bring our selues into a laborinth , if wee pinch and spare our purses now : therefore not to holde you longer with many wordes , ( being neere exchange time as i take it ) remember what i haue said in prouing my proposition , and take my conclusion in a word or two . séeing our prouocations are so many , our cause and title good , auaunt all idle oracles that seeke to bar vs : the wisedome of the wisest saith in these cases , vvhatsoeuer thy hand shall find to doe , do it with all thy might . our forefathers not looking out in time , lost the prime and fairest proffer of the greatest wealth in the world , and we taxe their omission for it , yet now it falles out , that wee their children are tryed in the like , there being yet an excellent portion left , and by diuine prouidence offered to our choice , which ( seeing we haue armes to embrace , ) let it not be accounted hereafter , as a prize in the hands of fooles , that had no hearts to vse it . the honour of our nation is now very great by his maiesties meanes and wee his subiects cannot enlarge and vphold it by gazing o● , and talking what hath béene done , but by doing that good , which may bee commended hereafter , if we sitte still and let slip occasions , we shall gather rust , and doe vnfeather our owne wings , committing the folly of the wise romanes heerein , that in time of their glory , flowing with the conquestes and spoiles of the world , and hauing gotten the goddesse victoria to rome , they clipt her wings ▪ and set her vp among their gods , that shée might take her flight no more , as shee had formerly done from the gretians and others , and so effeminating their valour with idlenesse and security , it brought confusion and ruine to their state . let not such a prize of hopefull euents , so lately purchased by the hazard of our valiant men ▪ in the déepe seas of forreine dangers , now perish in the hauen by our neglect , the liues of our friends already planted , and of those noble knights and gentlemen that entend to goe shortly , must lie at our mercy to be reléeued and supplied by vs , or to be made a prey vnto others ( though wee feare not the subiects of any prince in amity , that they will offer wrong vnto vs : ) and howsoeuer we heare tales and rumours of this and that , yet be not dismaid , for i tell you , if we find that any miscreants haue wronged , or goe about to hurt our few hundreds there , we shall be ready to right it againe with many thousands , like the giant anteus , whose often foiles renued his strength the more . and consider well that great worke of fréeing the poore indians from the deuourer , a compassion that euery good man ( but passing by ) would shew vnto a beast : their children when they come to be saued , will blesse the day when first their fathers saw your faces . if those vndaunted english and scottish captaines ▪ that so often ventured their liues , and spilt their blood , to reconquer palestina from the turks and sarazens , had séen the gappe so open in their daies , and the way leading to so many goodly purchases , certainely it had not now béene left for vs to doe . how strange a thing is this that al the states of europe haue béene a sleepe so long ? that for an hundred yeres and more , the wealth and riches of the east and west should runne no other current but into one coffer , so long til the running ouer , spread it selfe abundantly among a factious crew of new created friers , and that to no more speciall end , then with instigating bloody plots to pierce the heart of a christian state and true religion . it is long since i read in a little treatise , made by frith an english martyre , an excellent foretelling touching the happinesse of these northerne ilands , and of great wonders that should bee wrought by scots and english , before the comming of christ , but i haue almost forgotten , and cannot readily call it to mind as i would , and therefore i omitte it now , protesting vnto you , it would bee my griefe and sorrow , to bee exempted from the company of so many honorable minded men , and from this enterprise , tending to so many good ends , and then which , i truely thinke this day , there is not a worke of more excellent hope vnder the sun , and farre excelling ( all circumstances wayed ) those noble deeds of alexander , hercules and those heathen monarks , for which they were deemed gods among their posterity . and so i leaue it to your consideration , with a memorable note of thomas lord howard earle of surry , when k. henry the eight , with his nobles at douer tooke shipping for turwin & turney , and bidding the said earle farewel , whom he made gouernour in his absence , the story sayth the nobleman wept , and tooke his leaue with teares , an admirable good nature in a valiant minde , greeuing to be left behinde his prince and peeres in such an honourable seruice . finis . by his maiesties counseil for virginia. a briefe declaration of the present state of things in virginia and of a diuision to be now made, of some part of those lands in our actuall possession, as well to all such as haue aduentured their monyes, as also to those that are planters there. counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by his maiesties counseil for virginia. a briefe declaration of the present state of things in virginia and of a diuision to be now made, of some part of those lands in our actuall possession, as well to all such as haue aduentured their monyes, as also to those that are planters there. counseil for virginia (england and wales) p. printed by thomas snodham, [london : ] caption title. imprint from stc. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- sources. -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion by his maiesties counseil for virginia . a briefe declaration of the present state of things in virginia , and of a diuision to be now made , of some part of those lands in our actuall possession , as well to all such as haue aduentured their monyes , as also to those that are planters there . when first it pleased god to moue his maiesties minde , at the humble suit of sundry his louing subiects , to yeeld vnto them his gracious priuiledge for the virginia plantation , it was a thing seeming strange and doubtfull in the eye of the world , that such and so few vnder-takers should enterprise a charge of that waight , as rather beseemed a whole state and common-wealth to take in hand . but such was the successe of their sundry attempts , in the happy discouery of so goodly a land , the description of which , for the excellencie of the climate and fertilitie thereof , had soone obtayned to lay such an assured ground of future hope , in the sence and vnderstanding of all men rightly weighing it , that not long after , the●r new letters patents , with more ample priuiledges granted by his maiestie , were almost filled with many hundred names , both honourable , and others of all sorts , that gaue their hands and consent to further and vphold that honourable action . vpon which encouragement of so many worthy patrons , the companie very deepely engaged themselues , in sending men and ships , cattle , and all kinde of prouisions , with gouernours and captaines for peace and war , insomuch as no earthly meanes seemed then wanting for the speedy reducing of that barbarous nation , and sauage people , to a quiet christian common-wealth . but such was the will of almighty god , as the world well knoweth , that this great hope and preparation , by many disasters on sea and land , too long to be here recited , was in a manner cleane defeated , and there onely remained a poore remnant of those men and women , cattle and prouisions , that escaped the danger and which are now remayning there to rayse and build vp that intended colonie . which when those gentlemen th'aduenturers here saw , and that the expectance of so great a preparation brought nothing home but aduerse successe and bad reports , they for the most part withdrew themselues , in despaire of the enterprize , and so gaue it ouer , not enduring to repayre the ruines , nor to supply what themselues had vnderwritten , to discharge the deepe engagement , whereinto the company was drawne by their encouragement . by whose vnconstancie and irresolution , the hope of that plantation , together with the liues of our people there , had then vtterly perished , had not gods secret purpose beene more strongly fixed to vphold the same , by stirring vp the mindes and vndaunted spirits of a very small remnant of constant aduenturers , that with sir thomas smith ( their treasurer and gouernour from the beginning ) in all that time of three yeares disaster , were neuer discouraged , nor withdrew themselues from weekely courts and meetings , yeelding their purses , credit and counseil , from time to time , to make new supplies , euen beyond their proportion , to vphold the plantation . insomuch as by the fauourable assistance of god , who in his owne wisdome doth oftentimes effect the greatest ends by weakest meanes , it is now come to passe , that our english colonie there , subsisteth in a very good and prosperous condition : they sow and reape their corne in sufficient proportion , without want or impeachment ; their kine multiply already to some hundreds , their swine to many thousands , their goates and poultry in great numbers , euery man hath house and ground to his owne vse , and now being able to maintaine themselues with food , they are also prepared and ready , once hauing the meanes , to set vpon the minerals , whereof there are many sorts ; as also to plant and sow such seuerall kindes of seeds and fruits , as may best befit the soyle and climate , to make the land profitable to themselues and th'aduenturers . this being a true relation of the present state and hope of things in virginia , wee thought good in this short manner to mention it by the way , as well to giue those worthy gouernours in virginia their deserued praise , for the vnspeakable paines and hazzard which they haue endured there , in framing the people and plantation to so happy a forme , as also to withdraw the despayring thoughts of such old retyred aduenturers , that make no other reckoning , but whatsoeuer hath beene spent vpon the name of virginia to be lost and cast away ; the speciall purpose of this our publication , being to another end , which for the further satisfying of all reasonable minded , wee will now in few words deliuer . it was published to the world , about seauen yeares since , and the time is now expired , wherein wee promised to cause a diuident to be made of the lands in virginia , as well to euery mans person that went himselfe to the plantation , as to euery particular man that had aduentured his money . and in as much as we are now by the natiues liking and consent , in actuall possession of a great part of the country , the other part not as yet freed from encomber of woods and trees , nor throughly suruayed , whereby to make a diuident of the whole : yet of that part which is now fit for plantation , we intend god willing to beginne a present diuision by lot to euery man that hath already aduentured his mony or person , for euery single share of twelue pound tenne shillings , fifty acres of land , till further opportunitie will afford to diuide the rest , which we doubt not will bring at least two hundred acres to euery single share . this diuision is intended to be done by a new gouernour with commissioners and surveyers to be sent from hence to ioyne with others that are there already , to giue euery man his lot in due proportion , according to such indifferent directions as shall be giuen them in charge . and forasmuch as this course of sending a gouernor with commissioners and a suruayor , with men , ships , and sundry prouisions , for fortifications and other occasions , as all men may conceiue , cannot bee effected without great charge and expence to the company ; it is therefore thought requisite , and determined , that so many aduenturers as will partake of this first diuident , shall present their names , with their number of shares , into a booke remayning at sir thomas smiths for that purpose , before the . of iune next . and they shall also promise vnder their hands , to contribute to the said charge , the summe of twelue pound ten shillings , to be paid within one moneth after subscription , whether his shares be more or lesse , except any man shall be pleased to aduenture more , and for which twelue pound ten shillings ( or more if hee will ) he shall also haue a further diuident of land in proportion , as for all other his monies formerly aduentured . but for such as are not able to lay downe present monie , if they shall desire fauour , it is agreed for them , that the treasurer may receiue the one halfe of their said aduenture in present money , after their vnderwriting , to furnish out the ships , and the other halfe at sixe moneths after that . and that no man may hereafter excuse himselfe by ignorance , nor taxe the company for concealing their purpose , we declare to all men , that this present diuision is to be onely in the lands lying along the kings riuer on both sides , and all about the new townes erected ; in which so many as shall giue in their names as aforesaid , may haue their parts , and those that will not , may at their pleasure forbeare till hereafter , to take their lot vpon the same tearmes in places more remote . the names of all such as will partake of this diuident , shall be giuen in writing to the commissioners before they goe hence , at whose returne they shall bring with them a perfect map and description of the said lands and ground diuided , that euery man may see and know in what condition and where his land lyeth , that accordingly he may dispose thereof at his pleasure , eyther by going himselfe in person to possesse it , or by sending families to manure it for yearely rent , or for halfe the cleare profits as many others doe . and furthermore , euery mans portion allotted to him , shall be confirmed as state of inheritance to him and his heyres for euer , with bounds and limits vnder the companies seale , to be holden of his maiestie , as of his manour of east greenwich , in socage tenure , and not in capite , according to his maiesties gracious letters patents already granted to the virginia company in that behalfe . and notwithstanding , as we hope , the chiefe brunt and doubt of that plantation is now ouerpast , whereof to their great charge and hazzard the old aduenturers haue endured the most difficult part , and might therefore iustly appropriate this present diuident to themselues , yet at the motion and desire of many gentlemen and others , intending to be new aduenturers , it is resolued and granted by the company , that all new aduenturers , subscribing and performing the conditions before mentioned , for twelue pound tenne shillings , or more , shall partake in proportion as freely in this present diuident , and in any other priuiledge and freedome in virginia , as if with the old aduenturers they had been partakers from the beginning . ( * ⁎ * ) finis . the discovery of nevv brittaine began august , anno dom. / by edward bland, merchant, abraham woode, captaine, sackford brewster, elias pennant, gentlemen from fort henry, at the head of appamattuck river in virginia, to the fals of blandina, first river in new brittaine, which runneth west, being . mile south-west, between . & . degrees (a pleasant country) of temperate ayre and fertile soyle. bland, edward, d. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing b ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the discovery of nevv brittaine began august , anno dom. / by edward bland, merchant, abraham woode, captaine, sackford brewster, elias pennant, gentlemen from fort henry, at the head of appamattuck river in virginia, to the fals of blandina, first river in new brittaine, which runneth west, being . mile south-west, between . & . degrees (a pleasant country) of temperate ayre and fertile soyle. bland, edward, d. . woode, abraham. brewster, sackford. pennant, elias. [ ], p. : ill. printed by thomas harper for john stephenson ..., london : . reproduction of original in library of congress. eng virginia -- description and travel. a r (wing b ). civilwar no the discovery of nevv brittaine. began august . anno dom. . by edward bland, merchant. abraham woode, captaine. sackford brewster, eli bland, edward b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion indian wheat indian iar the discovery of nevv brittaine . began august . anno dom. . by edward bland , merchant . abraham woode , captaine . sackford brewster , elias pennant , gentlemen . from fort henry , at the head of appamattuck river in virginia , to the fals of blandina , first river in new brittaine , which runneth west , being . mile south-west , between . & . degrees , ( a pleasant country , ) of temperate ayre , and fertile soyle . london , printed by thomas harper for john stephenson , at the sun below ludgate . m.dc.li . to the honorable , sir john danvers , knight : great favourer of the westerne plantations , and a member of the parliament of england . noble sir : the great incouragement that i have found from your worthy selfe to propogate the publique affaires , as well forraigne as domestique , hath imbolned mee to presume humbly to present this small piece of the discovery of the westerne part of virginia , wherein you shall finde by the industry of the surveyors of that part , the great benefit that may accrew to the english plantation ; in regard of the many and severall commodities that may thence arise , by reason of the fertility of the soyle , nature having provided so plentifully for all things , that with no extraordinary great charge it may be effected , to the great profit , and more glory of this english nation : and whereas your selfe hath beene , and still are a chiefe agent in that , and other plantations , so ( under god ) you may be a meanes for converting divers of those poor indians to the christian faith . for the world doth take notice you observe the orators saying ; that you were not borne for your selfe , but for your country : which that you may ever doe , shall be the prayer , sir , of your most humble servant , j. s. to the reader . who ever thou art that desirest the advancement of gods glory by conversion of the indians , the augmentation of the english common-wealth , in extending its liberties ; i would advise thee to consider the present benefit and future profits that will arise in the wel setling virginia's confines , especially that happy country of new brittaine , in the latitude of . and . degrees , of more temperate clymate then that the english now inhabite , abounding with great rivers of long extent , and encompassing a great part , or most of virginia's continent ; a place so easie to be settled in , in regard that horse and cattle in foure or five dayes may be conveyed for the benefit of vndertakers , and all inconveniencies avoyded which commonly commonly attend new plantations , being supplied with necessaries from the neighbourhood of virginia . that the assembly of virginia ( as may be seene by their order since my returne heereto procured ) have conceived a hundred to be a sufficient force and competence for the establishment of that country in which tobacco will grow larger and more in quantity . sugar canes are supposed naturally to be there , or at least if implanted will undoubtedly flourish : for we brought with us thence extraordinary canes of twenty five foot long and six inches round ; there is also great store of fish , and the inhabitants relate that there is plenty of salt made to the sunne without art ; tobacco pipes have beene seene among these indians tipt with silver , and they weare copper plates about their necks : they have two crops of indian corne yearely , whereas virginia hath but one . what i write , is what i have proved ; i cordially wish some more then private spirits would take it into their consideration , so may it prove most advantagious to particular and publick ends ; for which so prayeth , your faithfull servant , edward bland . october . . by the assembly . it is ordered by the grand assembly , that according to the petition of mr. edward bland , merchant , that he the sayd bland , or any other be permitted to discover and seate to the southward in any convenient place where they discover ; and that according to his petition for furthering his designes hee bee permitted to have correspondence with the indians , and also receive the benevolence of the well-affected , and use all lawfull meanes for effecting thereof , provided that they secure themselves in effecting the sayd designe with a hundred able men sufficiently furnished with armes and munition . john corkes , cler. dom. com. sir walter rawleighs observation on . degrees latitude . paradise was created a part of this earth , and seated in the lower part of eden or mesopotamia , containing also a part of shinar and armenia ; it stands degrees from the equinoctiall , and from the north-pole , in a temperate climate , full of excellent fruits , chiefely of palme-trees without labour ; for wherein soever the earth , nature , and the sun can most vaunt that they have excelled , yet shall the palme-tree be the greatest wonder of all their workes : this tree alone giveth unto man whatsoever his life beggeth at natures hand . the like are also found both in the east and west-indies as well as in paradise , which countries are also blessed with a perpetuall spring and summer , &c. rawleighs marrow of history , page . by how much adam exceeded all living men in perfection , by being the immediate workmanship of god , by so much did that chosen , and particular garden exceed all the parts of the vniversall world in which god had planted the trees of life , and knowledge , plants onely proper , and belonging to the paradise , and garden , of so great a lord . ibid. p. . the discovery of new britaine . august . . the right honorable sir w. berkly , kt. being governour and captaine generall of virginia , edw. bland merch . abraham wood capt. elias ponnant and sackford brewster gent. foure men , and one indian named pyancha , an appamattuck for our guide , with two servants , foure horses and provision , advanced from fort henry , lying on appamattuck river at the fals , being a branch of james river , intending a south westerne discovery . this day wee passed over a branch belonging to blackwater lake , running south east into chawan river ; at that place wee were forced to unlade our carriages by reason of the great raines lately fallen , which otherwise is very passable for foot , being firm gravelly ground in the bottome , and lieth from fort henry . miles , and some . miles from this place we travelled unto a deepe river called the nottaway creeke some . paces over sandy bottomes ( & with a little labour may be made passeable ) unto a nottaway town liyng some two miles from the river . hither we came within night , and by reason of our suddaine approach and hallowing of robert farmer servant to mr. bland , the inhabitants ran all away into the woods , with their women and children ; therefore by us it was named farmers chase . after our arrivall there within a small space of time one indian man appeared , and finding of us peaceable , and the white flag bore before us by our guide whom they knew , he made a hallow and the rest came in from their sculking holes like so many timerous hares , and shewed us what curtesie they could . about two houres after came to us oyeocker elder brother to chounterounte one of the nottaway kings , who told us that his brother chounterounte , and other of the nottaway kings would come to us next day by noone , and that the day before chounterounte and all his men had been a hunting , and it hapned that chounterounte had shot one of his brothers in the leg , and that thereupon he was gone downewards . we stayed untill next day at noone but he came not , and then we journyed unto the towne belonging unto oyeocker , who kindly invited us thither , and told us he thought that chounterounte would meet us there , and also of his owne accord proffered us to be our guide whithersoever we went . the land generally to this towne is champion , very rich , and the towne scituate in a rich levell , well timbered , watered , and very convenient for hogs and cattle . august . we journied with our new entertained guide oyeocker , lying betweene south , and south and by west , from the first towne upon a very rich levell of land : sixteen miles from this place we came unto the river penna mount , being another branch of chawan river , eight miles on the south side it hath very rich land and corn-fields on both sides the river , and is about some . paces wide , and runs out with elbowes : at the place of our passage over this river to this second towne is shallow upon a sandy point , and with a very little labour may be made passeable both for foot and horse , or any carriage by land , or pentater with small boats , and some two miles higher there is a sound passage no deeper then a mans anckle : within night came chounterounte unto our quarters frowning , and with a countenance noting much discontent , downe he sets , and lookes about him , salutes the english with a scornefull posture , and then our appamattack guide , and tels him , i am sorry for thee friend , thou wilt be knockt on the head ; after this some pause was made before any discourse , expecting the english would begin , but finding us slow , he thus spake : there was a wainoake indian told him that there was an englishman a cockarous hard by captaine floods , gave this indian bells , and other petty truck to lay downe to the tuskarood king , and would have hired him to have gone with him , but the wainoakes being doubtfull what to doe , went to captaine flood for advice , who advised them not to go , for that the governour would give no licence to go thither ; heereupon chounterounte was by us questioned , when and who it was that had told him so , & if he did know that wainoake indian , to which he answered doubtfully , and demanded of us whither we did intend to go ; we told him the tuskarood king had envited us to trade , and our governour had ordered us to go , and speake with an englishman amongst them , and to enquire for an english woman cast away long since , and was amongst those nations . chounterounte perswaded us to go no further , alleadging there was no english there , that the way was long , for passage very bad by reason of much raine that had lately fallen , and many rotten marrishes and swampps there was to passe over , in fine we found him , and all his men very unwilling we should go any further ; but we told them , that let the waies and passages be never so bad , we were resolved to go through , and that we were not afraid of him nor his nation , nor any other , for we intended no injury , and that we must go , for we were commanded by our king ; these words caused chounterounte to assimulate a feare in his countenance , and after delivery of himselfe , at our going away next day , when we had mounted our horses , chounterounte came privately unto us , and in a most serious manner intimating unto us , that he loved us , and our nation , and that he lively apprehended our danger , and that our safety concerned him , for if any accident hapned otherwise then good to us , he should be suspected to have a hand in it , and withall wished us to go no further , for that he certainly knew that the nations we were to go through would make us away by treachery ; we answered him , that we were not afraid to be killed , for that any one of us were able to deale with forty through the protection of our great god , for we were commanded by our king . august . we travelled from this second town to maharineck , eight miles upon barren champion lands , and six miles further is a branch that runnes south west , with rich lands upon it ; and from thence some sixe miles further , is a brooke some hundred paces over , and runnes south and a little to the west , on both sides of the creek : for fowre miles or thereabouts , is very rich lands , well timbered and watered , and large dry meadowes , south and by west : from this creeke is another , some eight miles off , that opens it selfe into divers small guts , made by the inundation of freshes of waters ; and the passage lies some two hundred paces from the path , and this creek is some ten miles from maharinecke towne , and was by us named newcombs forrest . it was night when we entred into maharineck , where we found a house ready made for us of matts ; and corne stalkes layd in severall places for our horses , the inhabitants standing , according to their custome , to greet us : and after some discourse with their werrowance , a youth , to whom wee presented severall gifts , we certified them the cause of our comming was to trade in way of friendship , and desired the great men that what wares or skins the town did afford , might be brought to our quarters next morning ; and also a measure for roanoak , which they promised should be done , and so left us to our selves a while , untill wee had refreshed our selves with such provisions as they had set before us , in most plentifull maner ; and afterwards the great men and inhabitants came , and performed divers ceremonies , and dancings before us , as they use to doe to their grea● emperour apachancano , when they entertain him in most solemne maner and friendship . august . being wearied with our last dayes travell , we continued at maharineck , and this day spake with a tuskarood indian , who told us that the englishman was a great way off at the further tuskarood towne , and wee hired this turkarood indian to run before , and tell his werrowance wee intended to lay him downe a present at hocomowananck , and desired to have him meete us there , and also wrote to that effect to the englishman in english , latine , spanish , french and dutch , the tuskarood promised in three dayes to meete us at hocomawananck . in the afternoone came two indians to our quarters , one of whom the maharinecks told us was the werrowance of hocomawananck river , seemed very joyfull that wee could goe thither , and told us the tuskarood would have come to us to trade , but that the wainoakes had spoken much to dishearten them from having any trade with the english , and that they intended divers times to have come in , but were afraid , for the wainoakes had told them that the english would kill them , or detaine them , and would not let them goe without a great heape of roanoake middle high , to which we answered that the wainoakes durst nor affirme any such thing to our faces , and that they had likewise spoken much against the tuskarood to the english , it being a common thing amongst them to villefie one another , and tell nothing but lies to the english . this day in the morning the maharineck great men spake to heare some of our guns go off : whereupon we shot two guns at a small marke , both hitting it , and at so great a distance of a hundred paces , or more , that the indians admired at it : and a little before night the old king of maharineck came to us , and told us , that the people in the towne were afraid when the guns went off , and ran all away into the woods . this night also we had much dancing . august . wee went away from maharineck south east two miles to goe over maharineck river , which hath a bottome betweene two high land sides through which you must passe to get over , which river is about two hundred paces broad , and hath a high water marke after a fresh of at least twenty foot perpendicular by the trees in the breaches betweene the river , and the high land of the old fields . this river is the southerly last and maine branch of chawan river , and was by us named woodford river , and runs to the eastward of the south . on both sides of woodford river is very much exceeding rich land , but especially on the further side towards hocomawananck . imediately after the passage over this river , are old indian fields of exceeding rich land , that beare two crops of indian corne a yeare , and hath timber trees above five foot over , whose truncks are a hundred foot in cleare timber , which will make twenty cuts of board timber a piece , and of these there is abundance . as also exceeding rich land , full of great reeds thrice as big as the largest arrow reeds we have about our plantations ; this good land continues for some six miles together unto a great swampp , and then begins a pyny barren champion land with divers branches and pecosans , yet very passeable , running south and by west , unto a deepe river some a hundred paces over , running south , and a little to the east , which river incloses a small island which wee named brewsters island , some eighteene miles from woodford river due south , and by west , with very exceeding rich land on both sides of it for some sixe miles together , and this river we also named brewsters river , it being the first branch of hocomawananck river : and a little lower downe as the river runs , is such another river as chickahamine river ( which is a mile broad . ) after we had passed over this river we travelled some twenty miles further upon a pyny barren champion land to hocomawananck river , south , and by west : some twelve miles from brewsters river we came unto a path running crosse some twenty yards on each side unto two remarkeable trees ; at this path our appamattuck guide made a stop , and cleared the westerly end of the path with his foote , being demanded the meaning of it , he shewed an unwillingnesse to relate it , sighing very much : whereupon we made a stop untill oyeocker our other guide came up , and then our appamattuck guide journied on ; but oyeocker at his comming up cleared the other end of the path , and prepared himselfe in a most serious manner to require our attentions , and told us that many yeares since their late great emperour appachancano came thither to make a war upon the tuskarood , in revenge of three of his men killed , and one wounded , who escaped , and brought him word of the other three murthered by the hocomawananck indians for lucre of the roanoake they brought with them to trade for otter skins . there accompanyed appachancano severall petty kings that were under him , amongst which there was one king of a towne called pawhatan , which had long time harboured a grudge against the king of chawan , about a yong woman that the king of chawan had detayned of the king of pawhatan : now it hapned that the king of chawan was invited by the king of pawhatan to this place under pretence to present him with a guift of some great vallew , and there they met accordingly , and the king of pawhatan went to salute and embrace the king of chawan , and stroaking of him after their usuall manner , he whipt a bow string about the king of chawans neck , and strangled him ; and how that in memoriall of this , the path is continued unto this day , and the friends of the pawhatans when they passe that way , cleanse the westerly end of the path , and the friends of the chawans the other . and some two miles from this path we came unto an indian grave upon the east side of the path : upon which grave there lay a great heape of sticks covered with greene boughs , we demanded the reason of it , oyeocker told us , that there lay a great man of the chawans that dyed in the same quarrell , and in honour of his maemory they continue greene boughs over his grave to this day , and ever when they goe forth to warre they relate his , and others valorous , loyall acts , to their yong men , to annimate them to doe the like when occasion requires . some foure miles from hocomawananck is very rich champian land : it was night when we came to hocomawananck river , and the indian that came with us from woodford river , and belonged to hocomawananck , would have had us quartered upon the side of a great swampp that had the advantage of severall bottomes of the swampp on both sides of us , but we removed to take our advantage for safety , and retreate , in case any accident should happen , which at that time promised nothing but danger , for our guides began to be doubtfull , and told us , that the hocomawananck indians were very treacherous , and that they did not like their countenances , and shape well ; this place we named pyanchas parke : about three houres after we had taken up our quarters , some of the inhabitants came , and brought us roasting cares , and sturgeon , and the hocomawananck indian that came with us from woodford river , came not unto us untill next day , but his warrowance told us before wee came from woodford , hee could not come untill that day at night . the next day morning after our comming to hocomawananck the inhabitants seemed to prepare us a house : but we about eight of the clock set forward to goe view the place where they killed sturgeon , which was some six miles from the place where we quartered by pyanchas parke , where there is a river running very deep south , exceeding deepe , and foure hundred paces broad . the high water marke of this river between both sides of the river perpendicular , from the top of the banck to the river , is forty five foot upon a fresh ; this river was by us named blandina river : from pyanchas parke to the place where they kill sturgeon is six miles up the river running northerly , and all exceeding rich land : both upwards and downewards upon the river , at this place where they kill sturgeon also are the falls , and at the foot of these falls also lies two islands in a great bay , the uppermost whereof mr. blande named charles island , and the lowermost captaine wood named berkeley island : on the further side of these islands the bay runs navigable by the two islands sides : charles island is three miles broad , and foure miles long , and berkeley island almost as big , both in a manner impregnable , by nature being fortified with high clefts of rocky stone , and hardly passeable , without a way cut through them , and consists all of exceeding rich land , and cleare fields , wherein growes canes of a foot about , and of one yeares growth canes that a reasonable hand can hardly span ; and the indians told us they were very sweet , and that at some time of the yeare they did suck them , and eate them , and of those we brought some away with us . the land over against charles island we named blands discovery , and the land over against berkeley island we named woods journy , and at the lower end of charles island lies a bay due south from the said island , so spatious that we could not see the other side of it : this bay we nameed pennants bay , and in the river between charles island , and the maine land lies a rocky point in the river , which point comes out of charles island , and runs into the middle of the river : this point we nameed brewsters point , and at this point only , and no other is there any place passeable into charles island , and this brewsters point runs not quite from charles island to the maine land , but when you come off the maine land to the rivers side , you must wade about fifty paces to come upon the point , and if you misse the point on either side , up or downe the river , you must swim , and the river runs very swift . some three miles from the river side over against charles island is a place of severall great heapes of bones , and heere the indian belonging to blandina river that went along with us to the fals , sat downe , and seemed to be much discontented , insomuch that he shed teares ; we demanded why those bones were piled up so curiously ? oyeocker told us , that at this place appachancano one morning with . men treacherously slew . of the blandina river indians in revenge of three great men slaine by them , and the place we named golgotha ; as we were going to blandina river we spake to oyeocker our guide to lead us the way , and he would not ; but asked our appamattuck guide why we did not get us gone , for the inhabitants were jealous of us , and angry with us , and that the runner we sent to the tuskarood would not come at the day appointed , nor his king , but ran another way , and told the indians that we came to out them off ; whereupon our appamattuck guide stepped forth , and frowning said , come along , we will go see the falls , and so led the way , and also told us that the woodford indians lied , and that indian that came to us , which the woodford indian said was the king of blandina river , was not the werrowance of blandina river ; whereupon we resolved to return ( having named the whole continent new brittaine ) another way into our old path that led to brewsters river , and shot off no guns because of making a commotion , and adding to the natives feares . at blandina river we had some discourse with our appamattuck guide concerning that river , who told us that that branch of blandina river ran a great way up into the country ; and that about three dayes journy further to the south-west , there was a far greater branch so broad that a man could hardly see over it , and bended it selfe to the northward above the head of james river , unto the foot of the great mountaines , on which river there lived many people upwards , being the occonacheans and the nessoneicks , and that where some of the occonacheans lived , there is an island within the river three dayes journy about , which is of a very rich and fertile soile , and that the upper end of the island is fordable , not above knee deepe , of a stony bottome , running very swift , and the other side very deepe and navigable : also we found many of the people of blandina river to have beards , and both there , and at woodford river we saw many very old men , and that the climate according to our opinions was far more temperate then ours of virginia , and the inhabitants full of children ; they also told us that at the bottome of the river was great heapes of salt ; and we saw among them copper , and were informed that they tip their pipes with silver , of which some have been brought into this country , and 't is very probable that there may be gold , and other mettals amongst the hils . september . about noone from woods journey wee travelled some sixe miles north east , unto the old path that leads to brewsters river : within night we quartered on the other side of it , and kept good watch : this path runnes from woods journey north and by east , and due north . september . in the morning about eight of the clocke , as every one was mounted , came to our quarters occonnosquay , sonne to the tuskarood king , and another indian whom he told was a werrowance , and his kinseman , with the runner which wee had sent to the tuskarood king , who was to meet us at blandina river that night ; the kings sonne told us that the english man would be at his house that night , a great way off ; and would have had us gone backe with him , but we would not , and appointed him to meete us at woodford river where hee came not , wee having some suspition that hee came from woodford river that night , and that our runner had not beene where we had sent him , through some information of our nottaway guide , which afterwards proved true , by the relation of the werrowance of blandina river , whom about fowre howres after wee had parted with the kings son , wee met on the way comming from woodford river with a company of men , thinking he should have found us at blandina river that night , according to his order and promise ; with whom falling into discourse , he told us that the king of the tuskaroods son , and our runner were the night before at woodford river ; but the kings son told us he came from blandina river , and beyond , and hearing we were gone before he came , he had travelled all night from blandina river to overtake us . this day about noone we came to woodford river towne , and tarried there that night , we found the old werrowance , and all his great men gone , yet had courteous quarter ; but not without great grounds of suspition , and signes that they were angry at us : at our coming back to woodford river we had information that some spies of wainoake had been there a little before we came , and that the king of wainoake and chounterounte had sent runners to all the nations thereabouts , informing them that the english were come to cut them off , which we supposed to be some greater polititians then indian consultations , who had some private ends to themselves , and minded nothing lesse then a publick good ; for we found that the runner whom we imployed to carry our message to the tuskarood king , ran to the waynoakes , and he whom the woodford indians told us was the werrowance of blandina river , was a woodford indian , and no werrowance , but done of purpose to get something out of us , and we had information that at that time there were other english amongst the indians . september . by breake of day we journied from woodford river to a path some eight miles above pennants mount running north , and by east and north , north , east , which was done by the advice of our appamattuck guide , who told us that he was informed that some plots might be acted against us , if we returned the way that we came , for we told chounterounte we would returne the same way againe : and this information our guide told us he had from a woman that was his sweet-heart belonging to woodford river . this day we passed over very much rich , red , fat , marle land , betweene woodford river towne , and the head of pennants mount , with divers indian fields ; the head of which river abounds much with great rocks of stone , and is two hundred paces over , and hath a small island in it named sackfords island . betweene pennants mount river head , and the head of farmers chase river is very much exceeding rich , red , fat , marle land , and nottaway and schockoores old fields , for a matter of sixe miles together all the trees are blowne up or dead : heere it began to raine , and some six miles further we tooke up our quarters , and it proved a very wet night . at the first other nottaway old fields , we found the inhabitants much perplexed about a gun that went off to the westward of them , the night before wee came thither , which our appamattuck guide conceived were the wainoake spies , set out there to prevent our journyings , and we found severall agers about the place where the indians told us the gun went off . septemb. . about of the clock we travelled north , north-east some six miles , unto the head of farmers chase river , where we were forced to swimm our horses over , by reason of the great rain that fell that night , which otherwise with a little labour may be made very passable . at this place is very great rocky stones , fit to make mill-stones with very rich tracks of land , and in some places between the head of farmers chase river and black water lake , is ground that gives very probable proofe of an iron , or some other rich mi●e . some sixteen miles from farmers chase , north , and by east , and north , north-east , lies black water lake , which hath very much rich land about it , and with little labour will be made very passable . from black water lake we did travell to the old fields of manks nessoneicks , and from thence some miles n. n east we came unto fort henry about the close of the evening , all well and in good health , notwithstanding from the time we had spoken with chounterounte at pennants mount , we every night kept a strickt watch , having out swords girt , and our guns and pistols by us , for the indians every night where we lay , kept a strict guard upon us . the discoverers , viz. mr. edward blande , merchant . abraham wood , captaine . mr. elias pennant . mr. sackford brewster . robert farmer , servant to mr. blande . henry newcombe , servant to captaine wood . guides . oyeocker , a nottaway werrowance . pyancha , an appamattuck war captaine . finis . a true and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the english in america to wit, of virginia, new-england, bermudus, barbados : with the temperature of the air, the nature of the soil, the rivers, mountains, beasts, fowls, birds, fishes, trees, plants, fruits, &c. : as also, of the natives of virginia, and new-england, their religion, customs, fishing, hunting, &c. / collected by samuel clarke ... clarke, samuel, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing c estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the english in america to wit, of virginia, new-england, bermudus, barbados : with the temperature of the air, the nature of the soil, the rivers, mountains, beasts, fowls, birds, fishes, trees, plants, fruits, &c. : as also, of the natives of virginia, and new-england, their religion, customs, fishing, hunting, &c. / collected by samuel clarke ... clarke, samuel, - . [i.e. ], [ ], p. printed for robert clavel, thomas passenger, william cadman, william whitwood, thomas sawbridge, and william birch, london : . reproduction of original in william l. clements library. "examples of the wonderful works of god in the creatures": p. at end. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng america -- description and travel. virginia -- description and travel. bermuda islands -- description and travel. new england -- description and travel. barbados -- description and travel. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a true , and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the english in america . to wit , of virginia . new-england . bermvdvs . barbados . with the temperature of the air : the nature of the soil : the rivers , mountains , beasts , fowls , birds , fishes , trees , plants , fruits , &c. as also , of the natives of virginia , and new-england , their religion , customs , fishing , huntings , &c. collected by samuel clarke , sometimes pastor in saint bennet-fink , london . london , printed for robert clavel , thomas passenger , william cadman , william whitwood , thomas sawbridge , and william birch . . the description of virginia , and the plantation of the english . the temperature of the air ; the nature of the soile , the rivers , mountains , beasts , fowls , birds , fishes , trees , plants , fruits , &c. as also of the natives , their religion , customs , fishings , huntings , treachery , &c. anno christi , . sr. walter rawleigh obtained of queen elizabeth of glorious memory , a patent for discovering , and peopling of unknown countries , not actually possessed by any christian prince , dated march . and in the th . year of her reign : in prosecution whereof april th . he set forth two barks under the command of mr. philip amadas , and mr. arther barlow , which arrived on that part of america , which that virgin queen named virginia : and thereof in her majesties name there took possession july . and having taken a view of , and liking the country ; and having had conference , and some trading with the savages , observing about fourteen sorts of sweet smelling timber trees , and many other commodities ; bringing with them two of the savages , they returned home in september following . anno christi , . sr. richard greenvile was sent by sr. walter rawleigh with a fleet of seven sail , which landed in the isle of st. john de porto rico. may . and there fortified themselves , and built a pinace . the spaniards promised to furnish them with victuals , but did not : whereupon , they took two spanish frigots . in hispaniola they had friendly greetings , and some trade with the spaniards ; from whence they came to an anchor at wokocon , whereby the unskilfullness of the master , their admiral strook on ground and sunk : july . they returned for england , and by the way they took a spanish ship of three hundred tun , richly laden . in virginia they left a colony under the goverment of mr. ralph lane and others , besides an hundred men . the governour wrote from his new fort in virginia , that if they had kine , and horses in a reasonable proportion , no country in christendom was to be compared to it . they discovered from roanoack to the chesipians above one hundred and thirty miles , and to chawanock north-west , as far . in the beginning of june . the natives conspired against the english , for which , the chiefest of them lost his head : and sr. francis drake coming thither after he had sacked diverse of the spanish towns , took the colony with 〈◊〉 his victorious fleet , and brought them into england . the same year sr. walter rawleigh 〈◊〉 sent a ship of an hundred tun with provisions for the colony , which arrived at hatorask presently after they were come away wherefore having sought them in vain , she returned with her provisions 〈◊〉 england : about a fortnight after her departure , sr. kichard greenvile , general of virginia , with three ships arrived there , and neither hearing of the ship , nor the colony which he had left there the year before ; after long search in vain , he left fifteen men to keep possession of the country in the isle of roanoack , furnished for two years , and so returned , by the way spoiling some towns of the azores , and taking diverse spaniards . anno christi , . sr. walter rawleigh ( notwithstanding former discouragements ) sent another colony of one hundred and fifty persons under the government of mr. john white , with twelve assistants , to which he gave a charter , and incorporated them by the name of governors and assistance of the city of rawleigh in virginia . these arrived july . at hatorask , where they went ashore to seek the fifteen men left there the year before , intending to plant at chesopiok : but they were informed by a native called manteo , that the savages had secretly slain some of them , and the other were fled they knew not whither . this manteo was afterwards baptized , and by sr. walter rawleigh was made lieutenant of roanock . here also mrs. dare the governours daughter was delivered of a daughter , that was baptized by the name of virginia . aug. the . they departed and returned into england . the commodities that are in virginia . oak of an excellent grain ; straight , tall , and long , elme , beech , birch , very tall and great , of whose bark the natives make their canows ; nut-hasil , hasil , alder , cherry-tree , maple , eive , spruce , aspe , fir in great abundance and many other fruits , trees which the english knew not . from the firrs issues much turpentine , and tar , and pitch . eagles , hearn , shaws , cranes , large ducks and mallard , geese , swans , wigeon , sharks , crows , ravens , kites , sea-mews , pidgeons , turtle-doves , turkies , and many other fowles and birds unknown ; hawks of diverse kinds . deer red and follow , bears , wolves , beavers , otters , hares , conies , martens , sables , hogs , porcupins , polecats , cats wild and great , dogs , whereof some like foxes , elks , and some lyons , squirrils of three sorts , some flying squirils , hares , &c. whales , porpoises , seales , cod very large , haddocks , herring , plaise , thornback , rack-fish , lobsters , crabs , mussels , wilks , cony-fish , lump-fish , whitings , salmonds in great plenty . tobacco , vines , strawberries , rasberries , goosberries , hartleberries , corants , roses , pease , angellica , ground-nuts . the wood that is most common is oak , and walnut , many of their oak are so tall and strait , that they will bear thirty inches square of good timber for twenty yards long : there are two or three several kinds of them : there are , also two or three kinds of walnuts , there are cyprus trees , some of which are neer three fathom about the root , very strait and fifty , sixty , yea eighty foot without a branch . there are also some mulberry trees , and chesnut trees , whose fruit equalizeth the best in france , or italy ; they have plums of three sorts , cherries , vines , gassafras trees . virginia lies in the latitude of . degrees and . minutes , north. anno christ , . king james ( of happy memory ) granted a pattent to sundry persons to plant along the coast of virginia , where they pleased between . degrees and . of northerly latitude , in the main land , and the islands thereunto adjoyning within a hundred miles of the coast thereof . in pursuance whereof , there were some ships sent the same year to begin a plantation in the more southerly part of virginia . virginia is a country in america that lies between the degrees of . and . of north latitude . on the east it s bounded with the grear ocean . on the south with florida . on the north with nova francia . but for the west the limits are unknown . the plantation which was begun in the year . was under the degree of . . and . where the tempreture of the air , after they were well seasoned , agreed well with the constitutions of the english. they sound the summer as hot as in spain : the winter as cold as in france or england : the heat of summer is in june , july , and august , but commonly a cool briefs asswages the vehemency of the heat : the chiefest winter is in half - december , january , february , and half march. the winds are variable , which yet purifie the air , as doth the thunder and lightning , which sometimes is very terrible . sometimes there are great droughts , and othersometimes great raines , yet the european fruits planted there prospered well . there is but one entrance by sea into the country , and that is at the mouth of a very goodly bay , which is about eighteen or twenty miles wide . the cape of the south side is called cape henry : the land there is white sand , and along the shore are great plenty of pines , and firrs the north cape is called cape-charles : the isles before it are called smiths isles . the country is full of large and pleasant navigable rivers . in it are mountains , hills , plains , valleys , rivers , and brooks ; this bay lieth north and south , in which the water flowes near two hundred miles , and hath a channel for one hundred and forty miles , of depth between seven and fifteen fathom : the breadth makes ten or fourteen miles . northward from the bay the land is mountanous , from which fall some brooks , which after make five navigable rivers : the entrance of these rivers into the bay being within twenty or fifteen miles one of another . the mountains are of divers natures , some of stone for millstones , some of marble , &c. and many pieces of chrystal are brought down from them by the raines . the soil generally is lusty and rich , being generally of a black sandy mould : in some places a fat slimy clay : in other places gravel . the countrey generally hath such pleasant plain hills , and fertile valleys , one prettily crossing another , and watered so conveniently with sweet brooks , and chrystal streams as if artists had devised them . by the rivers are many marshes , some of , , . yea acres , some more , some less . on the west side of the bay , and neerest to its mouth , is the river called powhatan , according to the name of a principal countrey that lies upon it : the mouth of it is near three miles in breadth : it s navigable one hundred and fifty miles as the channel goes : in the farthest place which the english discovered , are falls , rocks , and shoales which hinder any farther navigation . in a peninsula on the north side of this river , the english first planted , in a place which they called james town . as our men passed up one of their rivers , there came to them some called sasquesahanocks with skins , bows , arrows , targets , beads , swords , and tobacco-pipes for presents . they were great and well proportioned men , so to the english they seemed like giants ; with much ado they were restrained from adoring their discoverers . their language well seeming their proportion , sounding from them as it were a great voice in a vault : their attire was the skins of bears , and wolves . one had a wolves-head hanging in a chain for a jewel : his tobacco-pipe was three quarters of a yard long , prettily carved with a bird , a bear , a dear , being at the great end sufficient to beat out a mans brains : their bows , arrows , and clubs are suitable to their proportions . one of the biggest of them had the calf of his legg measured , which was three quarters of a yard about , and all the rest of his limbs answerable thereto . his arrows were five quarters long , headed with flints , formed like a heart , an inch broad , and an inch and an half long , which he wore in a wolves skin at his back : in one hand a bow , and in the other a club. the natives of virgina have generally black hair , but few of them have beards . the men have half their heads shaven , the hair of the other half long : the women are their barbers , who with two shells grate away the hair of what fashion they please . the womens hair is cut in many fashions according to their eyes , but ever some part of it is long . they are very strong , of able bodies and nimble : they can lie in the woods under a tree by the fire in the coldest weather , and amongst the grass and weeds in summer : they are inconstant , crafty , timerous , quick of apprehension , and very ingenious . they are very covetous of copper , beads , and such trash . they are soon angry , and so malicious , that they seldom forget an injury . they seldom steal one from another , lest their connivers should reveal it . their women are careful to avoid suspition of dishonesty without the leave of their husbands . each house-keeper knows his own lands , and gardens , and most live of their own labour . they are sometimes covered with the skins of wild beasts , which in winter are dressed with the hair inward , but in summer without . the better sort use large mantles of dear-skins , some embroidered with white beads , some with copper , and others are painted . but the common sort have scarce wherewith to cover their nakedness , but with grass or leaves . some have mantles made of turkey feathers , so handsomly wrought , and woven with thred , that nothing could be discerned but feathers . these were exceeding neat and warm . the women are covered about their middles with a skin , and much ashamed to be seen bare . they adorn themselves with copper and painting ; they have , their leggs , hands , breasts , and faces cunningly wrought with divers works , as beasts , serpents , &c. artificially wrought in their flesh with spots . in each ear commonly they have three holes , whereat they hang chains , bracelets , or copper . some of their men wear in those holes a small green , and yellow coloured snake , near half a yard long , which crawling and wrapping her self about his neck , oftentimes familiarly kisses his lips : others wear a dead rat tied by the tail . some on their heads wear the wing of a bird , or some large feathers with the tail of a rattle-snake . many have the skin of a hawk , or some strange fowl , stuffed with the wings stretched abroad . others a piece of copper ; and some the hand of an enemy dried . their heads and shoulders are painted red , with a certain powder mixed with oyl , which they hold in summer to preserve them from heat , and in winter from cold . he is most gallant that is most monstrous to behold . their habitations are mostly by the rivers , or not far from some fresh spring . their houses are built like our arbours , of small sprigs bowed and tied together , and so close covered with mats , or the bark of trees , that notwithstanding wind , rain , or weather , they are as warm as stoves , but smoky , though they leave a hole on the top right over the fire . their lodging is by the fire side on little hurdles made of reeds , and covered with a mat. on these round about the house they lie , heads and points , one by another , covered with mats or skins , and some stark naked : of these they are from six to twenty in an house . their houses are in the mid'd of their fields or gardens , which are plots of ground : from twenty to one hundred , or two hundred of these houses stand something near together . men , women , and children have their several names according to the phansie of their parents . their women are easily delivered of child , yet they love their children very dearly ; and to make them hardy , in the coldest mornings they wash them in the rivers , and by painting and ointments they so tan their skins , that after a year or two no weather will hurt them . the men spend their time in fishing , hunting , wars , and such manly exercises , scorning to be seen about any womanly exercise , which makes the women very painful , and the men oft very idle ; the women and children do all the work ; they make mats , baskets , pots , morters ; they pound their corn , make their bread , prepare their victuals , plant and gather their corn , bear all kinds of burdens , &c. their fire they kindle by chafing a dry pointed stick in a hole of little square piece of wood , which taking fire , will kindle moss , leaves , and such dry things . in march and april is their fishing time , wherein they live on fish , turkies , and squerrils . in may and june they plant their fields , and then they live most upon acrons , walnuts and fish : some upon crabs , oisters , land tortoises , strawberries , mulberries , &c. in june , july , and august , they feed upon the roots of tocknough , berries , fish , and green wheat ; and their bodies alter with their diet , as those of deer , and wild beasts do : and accordingly they are fat or lean , strong or weak . they use much their bows and arrows in fishing , hunting , and the wars . they bring their bows to the form of ours , by scraping them with a shell : their arrows are made of strait young sprigs , which they head with bone , two or three inches long : with these they shoot at squirils . other arrows they have made of reeds , pieced with wood , and headed with christals or flint , &c. for knives they have the splinters of a reed , wherewith they cut the feathers of their arrows into form : with these knives they will joynt a deer , or any other beast , shape their shooes , buskings , mantles , &c. to make the notch of their arrows , they have the tooth of a bever set in a stick , with which they grate it by degrees . their arrow heads they quickly make with a little bone , which they ever wear at their bracer , of a splint of stone or glass , in form of a heart which they glew to their arrows ; their glew they make of the sinews of deer , and the tops of deer horns which will not dissolve in cold water . in their wars they use round targets made of the bark of trees , and swords of wood , or the horn of a deer put through a piece of wood , in the form of a pickax . their fishing is much in boats , which they make of one tree , by burning , and scraping with stones and shels till they have made it in the form of a trough . some of them are a ell deep , and fourty and fifty foot long , and will bear from ten to fourty men , according to their bigness : for oars they use paddles and sticks , with which they will row faster than our barges . the women use to spin the bark of trees , deer sinews , or a kind of grass called pemmenaud , of which they make a very good thred , which serves for many uses about their houses , apparel , fishing-nets , lines for angles : their hooks are either a bone grated in the form of a hooked pin , or of the splinter of a bone tied to the cleft of a little stick , and with the end of the line they tie on the bait . they also use long arrows tied to a line , with which they shoot at fishes in the river , or darts which they throw at them . they take extream pains in their huntings and fishings , whereunto they are enured from their child-hood : and by their continual rangings about , they know all the places and advantages most frequented with deer , beasts , fishes , fowls , rooks , bemes . at their huntings they leave their habitations , and in several companies go to the most desert places with their families towards the mountains , or heads of rivers where there is plenty of game . it 's a marvel how they can pass these deserts of three or four dayes journey over , without missing their way . the women bear their hunting houses after them with corn , acrons , mortars , and bagg and baggage which they use . when they come to the place of exercise , every man endeavours to shew his best dexterity ; for hereby they get their wives . they will shoot level about fourty yards , near the mark , and one hundred and twenty is their best at random . when they have found the deer , they environ them with fires , and betwixt the fires they place themselves ; and some take their stand in the mid'st . the deer being frighted with the fires , and their voices they chase them so long within that circle , that oftimes they kill six , eight , ten , or fifteen at a hunting . sometimes also when they find them in a point of land , they force them into a river , where with their boats they kill them . when they have shot a dear by land , they follow him like blood-hounds , by the blood and stain , and oftimes so take him . hares , partridges , turkies , or eggs , fat or lean , young or old , they devour all they can come by . when they intend wars , the werowances corks , consult with their priests and connivers , and ancient alleys , and friend : they have captains over every nation , which are lusty young men . they rarely make wars for lands or goods , but for women and children , before the battel they paint and disguise themselves in the fiercest manner they can devise : either army hath his general , they take their stands a musquet shot one from another : rank themselves fifteen a breast , and so place themselves , that the rear can shoot as well as the front. then from either part a messenger is sent with these conditions , that whosoever is vanquished , upon their submission within two dayes after , shall live ; but their wives and children shall be prize for the conquerors ; upon the return of the messengers , they approach in their order . on each flank is a serjeant , and in the reer a lieutenant , all duly keeping their places ; yet leaping and singing as they go . upon the first flight of their arrows they give an horrible shout ; and when their arrows are spent , they joyn together , charging and retiring , each rank seconding the former : as they get advantage , they catch their enemy by the hair of his head , and then down he goes , and with his wooden sword he beats out his brains , &c. their musick is a thick cane on which they pipe as on a recorder . for their wars they have a great deep platter of wood , which they cover with a skin , upon which they beat as upon a drum ; of these they have base , tenor , countertenor , mean , and trebble . if any great person come to the habitation of a werowanee , they spread a mat for him to sit upon , setting themselves just opposite to him ; then all the company with a tunable voice of shouting , bid him welcome . then some of the chiefest make an oration to him , which they do with such vehemency that they sweat till they drop again . such victuals as they have they spend freely upon him ; and where his lodging is prepared , they set a woman finely painted with red to be his bedfellow . their trading with the english is for copper , beads , &c. for which they give skins , fowl , fish , flesh , mais , &c. they have a religion amongst them : all things that were able to hurt them beyond their prevention , they adore with divine worship : as fire , water , thunder , lightning ; the great guns of the english , muskets , horses , &c. but their chief god is the devil whom they call oke , and serve him more for fear than love . in their temples they have his image in an ilfavoured shape , and adorned with chains , copper , and beads , and covered with a skin . by him is commonly the sepulchres of their kings : their bodies are first bowelled , then dried upon hurdles ; about their neck , and most of their joynts they hang bracelets , chains of copper , pearl , and then they wrap them up in white skins , and roule them in mats for their winding-sheets , laying them orderly in their tombs , which are arches made of mats : the rest of their wealth they set at their feet in baskets . for their ordinary burials they dig a deep hole in the earth , and the corps being wrapped in skins , and mats , with their jewels , they lay them upon sticks in the ground ; and then covet them with earth . the burial being ended , the women having their faces painted with black , sit twenty four hours in their houses mourning and lamenting by turns , with such yellings and howlings as may express their great sorrow . in the woods they have some great houses filled with the images of their kings and devils , and tombs of their predecessors , which they count so holy , that none but their priests , and kings dare come into them . they have a chief priest , differenced from the inferiour by the ornaments of his head , which are twelve , sixteen , or more snake-skins stuffed with moss , the skins of weesels and other vermin ; all which they tye by the tails , so as the tails meet on the top of their head like a tassel , about which a crown of feathers ; the skins hang down about him , and almost cover his face . the priests faces are painted as ugly as they can devise , and they carry rattles in their hands . their devotion is most in songs , which the chief priests begins , and the rest follow . their solemn meetings are upon great distress of want , fear of enemies , times of triumph , and of gathering their fruits ; at which time all both men , women and children meet together . the people are very barbarous , yet have they government amongst them , and their governours are well obeyed by their subjects . the form of their government is monarchical . one of their chief rulers is called powhatan from the place of his habitation : some part of the countrey came to him by inheritance , the rest by conquest . in several parts of his dominion he hath houses built like arbors , some thirty or fourty yards long ; and in each house provision for his entertainment according to the times . about the kings person is ordinarily attending a guard of fourty or fifty of his tallest men : every night upon the four quarters of his house stand four sentinels , and every half hour , one from the corps dugard doth hollow , unto which each of the sentinels doth answer ; if any fail , he is extreamly beaten . one house he hath wherein he keepeth his treasure of skins , copper , pearl , and beads , which he stores up against his burial ; none comes to this house but the priest. at the four corners stand as sentinels four images of a dragon , a bear , a leopard , and giant-like man , all ilfavouredly made according to their best workmanship . their king hath as many women as he will , whereof , when he lies on his bed , one sitteth at his head , and another at his feet : but when he sits , one sits on his right hand , another on his left. when he is weary of any of them he bestows them upon those that deserves best at his hands . when he dines or sups , one of his women , before and after meat , brings him water in a wooden platter to wash his hands . another waits with a bunch of feathers to wipe upon instead of a towel , and the feathers were dried again . his kingdom descends not to his sons , but first to his brethren , and after their decease to his sisters , and to the heirs of his eldest sister . they have no letters whereby to write or read ; the only law whereby he rules is custome ; or else his will is his law which must be obeyed . his inferiour kings whom they call werowances , are tied to rule by customes , yet have they power of life and death : they all know their several lands , and habitations , and limit , to fish , fowl , and hunt in : but they hold all of their great king , to whom they pay tribute of skins , beads , copper , pearl , deer , turkies , wild beasts , and corn ; with great fear and adoration they all obey him . at his feet they present whatsoever he commands ; at his frown their greatest spirit will tremble : offenders he causeth to be broyled to death ; or their brains to be beaten out ; their ordinary correction is to beat them with cudgels , for which yet they will never cry nor complain . anno christi . the l. de la ware upon his return from virginia , gave this account of it . that the number of men which he left there was above two hundred , the most in health , and provided of ten moneths victuals in the store house , besides other quantities of corn , and shew much friendship . for the securing of the colony he built three fronts : two of them being seated near point comfort , had adjoyning to them a large circuit of ground , open , and fit for corn. the third fort was at the falls , upon an island environed with corn ground . the country is wonderful fertile and rich : the english cattel were much encreased , and did thrive excellent well . the kine in a hard winter when the ground was covered with snow , lived ( with one anothers help ) upon the grass which they found , and prospered well ; the swine encreased much . that year captain argoll went with his ship up pembroke river , where he met with the king of pastancy , and procured of him and his subjects eleven hundred bushes of corn , besides three hundred for his own company , with which he returned to james's town , and delivered it into the store . then did he return and discover pembroke river to the head of it , which was about sixty five leagues within land , and navigable for any ship : then marching into the country , he found great store of beasts as big as kine , of which , they killed two , and found them to be good and wholesom meat , and yet easie to be killed being but heavy , and slow creatures . he found also a mine and a strange kind of earth , which the indian used for physick , and it cures the pain of the belly : he found also a water issuing out of the earth which tasted like allom water ; it was good and wholsom : he found an earth like a gum , white and clear ; and another red , like terra sigillata : an other white , and so light , that being cast into water , it swims . their dear have usually three or four fawns at a time , none under two : and our english goates in virginia oft times bring forth three ; and mostly two young ones , so fruitful is the country : they have beavers , otters , foxes , racoons , ( as good meat as a lamb ) hares , wild catts with rich furrs ; musk-rats , &c. wild pidgeons in winter numberless , the flocks of them will be three or four hours together flying over , so thick that they obscure the very light ; turkies far bigger than ours that will run as fast as a gray-hound , buzzards , snites , partridges , owles , swans , geese , brants , droeis , shell-drakes , teal , widgeon , curlews , puits , black-birds , hedg-sparrows , oxeies , wood-peckers , and in winter flocks of parakitoes . their rivers are plentifully stored with fish : as sturgeon , porpass , base , carp , shad , herring , eele , cat-fish , pearch , trout , flat-fish , sheeps-head , drummers , jarsishes , craifishes , crabs , oisters , &c. at one hale they have caught as much sturgeon , base , and other great fish as hath loaded a frigot . they have without art , grapes , mulberries , maricocks like a lemmon , whose blossome may admit comparison with our most pleasant and beautiful flowers , and the fruit is exceeding delightful to the tast . many goodly groves of chincomen-trees , that have husks like a chesnut , and are good meat either raw or boiled . chesnuts great store , and walnuts plenty of three sorts ; filberts , crabs smaller but sowrer than ours . anno christi , . mr. alex. whitaker , who was minister to the colony , writing to a friend in london , gives this account of the natives . they acknowledg ( saith he ) that there is a great good god , but know him not , having the eyes of their understandings yet blinded ; wherefore they serve the devil for fear , after a most base manner , sacrificing somtime their own children to him : his image they paint upon one side of a toad-stool , much like to a deformed monster : their priests are no other , but such as our english witches are . they live naked in body , as if the shame of their sin deserved no covering : they esteem it a virtue to lie , deceive , and steal , as their master the devil teacheth them . the natives are not so simple as some have conceited : for they are of body strong , lusty , and very nimble ; they are a very understanding generation , quick of apprehension , sudden in their dispatches , subtile in their dealings , exquisite in their inventions , and industrious in their labour . the world hath no better marks-men with their bows , and arrows than they be : they will kill birds flying , fishes swimming , and beasts running : they shoot with marvellous strength , for they shot one of our english , being unarmed , quite through the body , and nailed both his armes to his body with one arrow . their service to their god is answerable to their lives , being performed with great fear and attention , and many strange dumb shews are used in it , stretching forth their limbs , and straining their bodies exceedingly . they stand in great awe of their priests which are a generation of vipers , even of satans own brood . the manner of their life is much like that of the popish hermites : for they live alone in the woods , in houses sequestred from the common course of men ; neither is any man suffered to come into their house for to speak with them but when the priest calls them . he takes no care for his victuals , for all necessaries of bread , water , &c. are brought to a place near to his house , and are there left which he fetches at his pleasure . if they would have rain , or have lost any thing , they have recourse to him , who conjures for them , and many times he prevaileth . if they be sick , he is their physitian : if they be wounded , he sucks them . at his command they make war and peace neither do they any thing of moment without him . they have an evil government amongst them , a rude kind of common-wealth , and rough government , wherein they both honour , and obey their kings , parents , and governours : they observe the limits of their own possessions . murther is rarely heard off : adultery , and other gross offences are severely punished . the whole continent of virginia situated within the degrees of . and . is a place beautified by god with all the ornaments of nature , and enriched with his earthly treasures . that part of it which the english chiefly possess , begins at the bay of chesapheac , and stretching it self in northerly latitude to the degrees of . . and is interlined with seven most goodly rivers , the least wherof is equal to our thames : and all these rivers are so nearly joyned , as that there is not very much distance of ground between either of them , and those several pieces of land betwixt them are every where watered with many veins , and creeks , which sundry wayes do cross the land , and make it almost navigable from one river to another , the commodity whereof is very great to the planters , in respect of the speedy and easie transportation of goods from one river to another . the river powhatan ebbs and flowes one hundred and forty miles into the main ; at the mouth whereof are the two forts of henry and charles . forty two miles upward is the first and mother town of the english seated , called james town : and seventy miles beyond that upward , is the town of henerico built . ten mile beyond this is a place called the falls , because the river hath there a great descent , falling down between many mineral rocks which be there . twelve miles beyond these falls is a chrystal rock with which the indians use to head most of their arrows . the higher ground in virginia is much like to the mould of france , being clay and sand mixed together at the top , but digging any depth , its red clay full of glistering spangles . as for iron , steel , antimony , and terra sigillata , they are very frequent . the air of the country , especially about henerico , and upwards , is very temperate , and agrees well with our english bodies . the extremity of summer is not hot as in spain , nor the cold in winter so sharp as ours in england . the spring and harvest are the two longest seasons , and very pleasant . the summer and winter are both but short . the winter for the most part is dry and fair ; but the summer ofttimes watered with great and sudden showers of rain , whereby the cold of winter is warmed , and the heat of summer is cooled . amongst the beasts in virginia , there are two kinds most strange . one of them is the female possowne , which hath a bag under her belly , out of which she will let forth her young ones , and take them in again at her pleasure . the other is the flying squerril , which , by the help of certain broad flaps of skin , growing on each side of her fore-legs , will fly from one tree to another at twenty or thirty paces distance , and more if she have the benefit of a little puff of wind. the english kine , goats , hoggs , &c. prosper very well . they have hawkes of several sorts , and amongst them auspreis , fishing hawkes , and cormorants . in the winter they have great store of cranes , herons , pidgeons , patridges , and black-birds . the rivers and creeks are over-spread with swans , geese , brants , divers , and those other named before . the woods have many kinds of rare and delightful birds . the rivers abound with fish , both small and great , as pike , carp , eele , perches of six several sorts , &c. the sea-fish come into their rivers in march , and continue till the end of september . frst come in great skuls of herrings : then big shads , and rock-fish follow them . then trouts , base , flounders , and other dainty fishes come in before the other be gone . then come in multitudes of great sturgeons , and divers others . some five miles about henerico by land , but by water fourteen miles . sr. tho. dale , anno christi . began to build a city , called the new bermoodas , situated very commodiously , whereunto he laid out , and annexed to be belonging to that corporation for ever : many miles of wood-lands , and champion , which he divided into several hundreds . as the upper and the nether hundreds roch-dale hundreds , wests-sherley hundred , and diggs his hundred . anno christi . pacahuntas , the beloved daughter of the great king powhatan , having been carefully instructed in the christian religion , by the care of sr. tho. dale , and having made some good progress therein , renounced publickly her countrey idolatry , and openly confessed her christian faith , and desiring it , was baptized by the name of rebecca , and was afterwards married to one mr. rolph an english gentleman of good repute , her father and friends giving their approbation to it , and her vncle gave her to him in the church . anno christi . sr. tho. dale returning into england , there came over with him mr. rolfe , with rebecca , his convert and consort , and tomocomo , one of powhatans counsellors ; mr. rolfs wife rebecca , though she carried her self very civilly and lovingly to her husband , yet did she behave her self as the daughter of a king , and was accordingly respected by divers persons of honour here in england , in their hopeful zeal by her means to advance christianity in these countries . as she was with her husband returning into virginia , at gravesend she fell sick , and came to her end and grave , having given great demonstration of her christian faith and hope . the english in virginia anno christi . were divided into several burroughs , each man having his share of land duly set out for him , to hold and enjoy to him and his heirs for ever . the publick lands also for the company were set out by themselves ; the governours share by it self ; the colledges by it self , and for each particular burrough ; the ministers gleab also was set out and bounded , their being . l. per annum allowed to each minister for each town . they are all governed according to the laudable form of justice used in england . the governour is so restrained by a counsel joyned with him , that he cannot wrong any man , who may not have any speedy remedy . in the years . and . there were . or ten ships sent to virginia , wherein were . persons ; most of them being for publick uses , as to plant the governours land , . persons ; tenants for the companies land . tenants for the colledge land , . tenants for the ministers gleab-lands . young maids to make wives for so many of the planters . boyes for apprentices . servants for the publick , . some were imployed to bring up thirty of the infidels children in true religion and civility . the commodities which the planters were directed to apply themselves to , were iron ; for the making whereof , men were sent over to set up iron work ; proof having been made of the excellency of that iron . cordage : for which ( beside hemp ) order was given for the planting of silk-grass ( naturally growing in those parts ) in great abundance , which makes the best cordage , and linnen in the world. of this every housholder was bound to set . plants ; and the governour himself set five thousand . pot-ashes , and soap-ashes ; pitch and tar. for the making whereof , divers polanders were sent over . timber of all sorts , with masts , planks , and boords for provision of shipping , &c. there being not so good timber for all uses in any countrey whatsoever ; and for the help in these works , provision was sent of men and materials for the setting up of sundry saw-mills . silk : for which the countrey is exceeding proper , having an innumerable of the best mulberry-trees , and some silk-worms naturally found upon them , producing excellent silk , and to further this work , many seeds of the best silk-worms were sent over . vines ; whereof the countrey naturally yields great store , and of sundry sorts ▪ which by good culture might be brought to excellent perfection : for effecting whereof divers skilful vegneroons were sent , with store also from hence of vine plants of the best sort . salt : which work were ordered to be set up in great plenty , not only to serve the colony , but to promote the great fishings upon those coasts . divers persons of publick spirits gave much to the furtherance of this plantation . two unknown persons gave plate and other necessaries for the furnishing of two communion tables . mis. mary robinson gave . l. towards the building of a church in virginia . an unknown person sent the treasurer . l. in gold for the bringing up of some of the infidels children in the knowledge of god , and true religion , and in fit trades whereby they might live honestly in the world. mr. nicholas ferrar by will gave . l. to the colledge in virginia , to be paid when there should be ten of the infidels children placed in it . and in the mean time . l. per annum to be distributed unto three discreet and godly men in the colony , which should bring up three of the infidels children in the christian religion , and in some good course to live by . an other unknown person gave . l. to advance the plantation . anno christi . the right honourable henry e. of southampton was made treasurer ; from which time to the year . there were . ships sent to virginia : and there were divers persons set for the making of beads , wherewith to trade with the natives , and for making of glass of all sorts : and . young maids were sent to make wives for the planters . also a magazine of all necessaries was sent for the colony , to the value of . l. besides goods , sent by private persons great store . twenty five persons were sent to build boats , pinnaces , and ships for the use of the colony in the fishing trade , and for further discovery . the plants of cotten wool trees prosper well , and so did indigo seeds , oranges , lemons , sugar canes , cassary , pines , plantanes , potatoes , and sundry other indian fruits . some of the english east-india company gave seventy pound , eight shillings sixpence , towards the building of a free schoole in virginia , to be called the east-india school . another unknown person added to it the sum of thirty pound . and another sent in gold twenty five pound . another unknown person gave thirty pound ; for which there was to be allowed fourty shillings a year for ever , for a sermon preached before the virginia company . another gave a rich bible , and a great church bible , and other books to be sent to virginia , and an exact map of america . the books were valued at ten pound . mr. tho. bargrave , a minister in virginia , when he died , left for the use of the colledge his library worth one hundred marks . 〈◊〉 anno christi . the treacherous natives , notwithstanding all the courtesies and kind usage by the english to them , most perfidiously , and treacherously murthered above three hundred of them , and would have done the like to all the rest , but that god ( through his infinite goodness and mercy ) moved the heart of one of them , who was converted to christianity , to discover the same a few hours before it was put in execution , the like massacres have been since . a description of the bermudas , or sommers islands : the first discovery , and plantation of it by the english . the temperature of the aier ; the nature of the soil , trees , plants , fruits , hearbs , fishes , fowls , and other commodities thereof . these islands were first discovered by one bermudas , from whence they received that name ; and afterwards from sr. george sommers an english-man , they were called sommers islands . they lie in the western ocean , and in that part of the world commonly called america , and vulgarly the west-indies . their latitude , or elevation is . degrees , . minutes , which is almost the same with the madaeraes . they are environed round about with rocks , which north-ward , and westward , and southward extend far , by reason whereof they are very strong , there being only three places whereby ships can come into them , which places also are well fortified . but within there is room to entertain a great fleet : in most places the rocks appear at a low water , and are not much covered at an high water , for it ebbs and flows there not above five foot. the shoar for the most part is a rock , so hardned by the sun , wind , and sea , that it s not apt to be worn by the waves , whose violence also is broken by the rocks before they come at the shoar . the mould is of diverse colours , neither clay nor sand but betwixt both : the red which resembleth clay is worst : the white resembing sand , and blackish is good : the brown betwixt them both is best . under the mould two or three foot deep , is a kind of white substance which they call rock : the trees usually fasten their roots in it , and draw their nourishment from it ; neither indeed is it rock or stone , nor so hard , though for the most part harder than chalk ; not so white , but like a pumice , and spongy , easily receiving and retaining much water ; and in some places clay is found under it : the hardest kind of it ( which is commonly under the red ground ) is not so spongy , nor retains much water , but lies in the ground like quarries , as it were thick slates , one upon another . most of their fresh water ( whereof they have good store ) comes out of the sea , drayning through the sand , or thorow the aforesaid substance which they call the rock , and leaving its saltness behind it , in the passage becometh fresh . somtimes they dig wells of fresh water within four or five paces of the sea-side : and usually they ebb and flow as the sea doth . the air is most commonly clear , very temperate , moist , with a moderate heat , very healthful , and apt for the generation , and nourishing of all things : so that there is scarce any thing that is transported from england thither , but it yields a far greater encrease : and if it be any living thing , it becomes fatter and better liking then in england : by which means the countrey was so replenished with hens and turkeys , within the space of three or four years not being looked after , many of them forsook the houses , and became wild and so encreased abundantly . the like encrease there was of hogs and other cattle according to their kinds . there seems to be a continual spring , which is the cause that some few things come not to that maturity and perfection as were requisite . and though the trees do shed their leaves , yet are they always full of green . their corn is the same which is used in most parts of the west-indies : to wit , maiz which , to such as are used to it , is more hearty and nourishing than our english wheat , and yields a far greater encrease , as sometimes a pound of one or two graines : of this corn , and divers other things without either plowing or diging the ground , they have two harvests every year : for they set about march which they gather in july : and again in august which is ripe in december . and little slips of fig-trees , and vines do usually bear fruit within a year after they are planted , sometimes in half a year : the like fertility they have in other things . there is scarce at any time to be perceived either frost or snow , nor any extream heat , for there is alwayes some wind stirring which clears and cools the air : their summers and winters observe the same times with ours , but their longest dayes and nights are shorter than ours in england by almost two hours and an half : as also their shortest dayes and nights are as much longer then ours : for their longest dayes are about fourteen hours , and their shortest ten . when its noon with us , its morning with them , and when it s about five a clock in the evening with us , its noon with them ; so that while the sun declines with us it rises with them , as also it doth in virginia , its apt to thunder and lighten all the year long , and oft times more terrible than in england , yet never any are hurt by it . there is no venemous creature in this country : the yellow spider which is there making her webb as it were of silk , and bringing forth her young of eggs , like little drops of quick-silver , neither is it perceived to be venemous , yet there is a plant that climbs trees like our ivy , the leafe like that of a vine , that is somewhat venomous , but of no great force . there is great store and variety of fish , and so good as these parts of the world afford not the like , which being mostly unknown to the english , they gave them such names as best liked them : as rock-fish , groops , porgie-fish , hog-fish , angle-fish , cavallies , yellow-tailes , spanish-makerels , mullets , bream , cony-fish , morrayes , sting-rays , flying-fish , &c. the like they did by the fowl , as cohoos , sandbirds , hearns , duck , teal , pemblicoes , castle-boobies , hawks , &c. at the first plantation of this country by the english it was all over grown with woods , and plants of several kinds ; and to such as were unknown to them they gave such names as best pleased themselves : such as were known retained their old names ; as cedars , palmitoes , black-wood , white-wood , yellow-wood , mulberry-trees , stopper , trees , lawrel , olive-trees , mangrowes , pepper-trees , yellow-berry-weed , red-weed , &c. these and many others they found of natures planting : but since they have inhabited it , there have been brought , as well from the indies as from other parts of the world , sundry other plants , as vines of several kinds , sugar-canes , fig-trees , apple-trees , oranges , lemons , pomgranates , plantanes , pines , parsnips , raddishes , artichocks , pottatoes , cassavie , indico , &c. in so much that it s now become like a spacious garden , or orchyard of many pleasant , and profitable things . there are many tortoises , which they call turtles : they are in the shape of their bodies like crab-fishes , and have four fins , they are as big as three or four men can carry , the upper part of them in covered with a great shell , weighing about half a hundred weight , the flesh that cleaves to the inside of it being roasted against the fire , is almost like the marrow of beef , excellent good ; but the shell of it self harder than horn : she hath also a shell on her belly , but not so hard as the other , for when it s boiled it becomes soft like the gristles of beef , and is good meat : these live in the sea , spending the spring , and summer time about these islands , but where they spend the rest of the year is not known ; they are like to fowl in respect of the smallness and shape of their heads , and necks , which are wrinkled like a turkey , but white , and not so sharp bil'd ; they breed their young of eggs which they lay , in their flesh they resemble beasts , for it eats like veal , but more hard and sollid : they alwayes feed upon grass growing at the bottom of the water , neither can they abide any longer under the water then they hold their breath , which the old ones will do long , but the young ones being chased to and fro cannot continue two minutes without coming up to breath . shortly after their coming to those islands the male and female couple , which they call cooting , this they continue about three dayes together , during which time they will scarce separate though a boat come to them , nor hardly when , they are smitten . not long after , the she turtle comes up by night upon some sandy bay , and further up than the water uses to flow , where she digs a hole with her fin upon the sand about two foot deep , and coming up several nights there layes her eggs , about half a bushel ( which are about the bigness of a hens egge , but as round as a ball ) and each time covers them with sand very curiously , so that a man can hardly find the place : these eggs in time are hatched by the heat of the sun , and so creep out of the earth , the dam coming no more at them . they are no bigger than a mans hand at first , which some fish will devour : they grow slowly and seem to live long ; they will sleep on the top of the water , and used to sleep on the land till the countrey was inhabited . they will live also out of the water about three weeks , and that without meat , but then they mourn , and pine away . being turned upon their backs when they are on the land , they cannot without help , or some disadvantage recover themselves ; by which means , when they come a shore to lay their eggs , they are easily taken ; as also they are when they are cooting . otherwise they are taken mostly by night , by making a great light in a boat to which they will resort , so that a man standing ready , with a staff in his hand wherein is a sharp iron , four square with a line fastned to it , this iron he strikes into the upper shell of the turtle where it sticks fast , and after she hath tired her self a while with swimming about , she is easily taken : the head being cut off they will live twenty four hours , so that if you cut the flesh with a knife , or touch it , it will tremble , and shrink away ; there is no meat that will keep longer , either fresh or salt . there is a fruit called a prickled pear , growing in such places as are scarce fit for any thing else , namely , upon rocks and cliffs , and commonly by the sea-side , as if the salt water did something help to the generating and nourishing of them : the tree grows certain years before it bears fruit , and then it continues bearing very many years , having almost all the year long fruit upon it . though it be called a tree it hath scarce any body or branches , but consisteth in a manner wholly of leaves and fruit soft and brittle ; many of these pears grow upon and about a leaf without any stalk at all , and having some prickles about the top ; being opened the juyce is of a crimson colour , and they are full of seeds within . there are gray and white hearns , gray and green plovers , wild ducks and mallards , coots , redshanks , sea-widgeons , gray-bitterns , cormorants ; many smal birds like sparrows and robbins , wood-peckers , crows , falcons , jerfalcons , hobbies , &c. the cohow , is so called from his voice , a night bird , being all day hid in the rocks . the egge-bird which comes constantly in the beginning of may , when they begin to lay eggs almost as big as hens , and continue laying till midsummer , and are very tame , their young are excellent meat , their eggs are white , and the cohows , speckled like a turkeys egg , as big as hens . the tropick bird hath his name from the place where he is most seen . the pemblico is seldom seen by day , and by her crying foretells tempests . for plants . the poison weed , in shape like our ivy , with the touch of it causeth redness , and itching , but after a while pass away of themselves , without farther hurt . the red weed is a tall plant , whose stalk is covered with red rind . the root steeped , or a little of the juice drank alone , is a strong vomit , and effectual against distempers of the stomach . there is a kind of woodbind near the sea , that runs up about trees likk a vine : the fruit is somewhat like a bean , but flatter , which eaten , purges strongly , yet without harm : there is another small tree that causeth costiveness . there is also a plant like a bramble , that bears a long yellow fruit with a hard snell , and within is a hard berry which purges gently . red pepper is a fruit like our barberries , which bruised with the teeth sets all the mouth on a heat , for the time violent , but swallowed whole have the same operation with pepper . the sea-feather is a plant growing on the rock in the bottom of the sea , in form of a vine-leaf , but far larger , with veines of a palish red , interlaced , and weaved each into the other . there are also store of indian pompeons , the water melon , and the musk-mellon , the most delicate pineapple , papawes , &c. ambergriece is many times found upon the shoar . the most troublesome things in these islands are the winds , especially in the spring and autumn . the hurricanes have sometimes done much hurt : muskito's are very troublesome : there is a certain bugg which creeping into chests , by their illsented dung defile all , besides their eating . there are pismires or ants in the summer times so troublesome that they are forced to dry their figgs upon high frames , anointing their feet with tar which stops their passage . worms in the earth are destructive to their corn , and tobacco , causing them much labour every morning to destroy them , which else would derstoy all . there have bee● large lizards which are now destroyed by cats . spiders are large by of beautiful colours , as if adorned with silver , gold , and pearl . their webs in summer woven from tree to tree are perfect raw silk , both in substance and colour , and so strong , that birds bigger than blackbirds are snared in their nets . of these bermudus islands there are many , some say five hundred , if we call all them islands that lye by themselves compassed with the sea , of which some are larger and others less , they lye all in the figure of a crescent , within the circuit of six or seven leagues at most ; the greatest of them is about sixteen miles in length from the east north-east , to the west south-west , standing in thirty two degrees and twenty minutes . about these islands are seen many whales , attended with the sword-fish and the thresher . the sword-fish with his sharp and needle-like fin pricking him into the belly when he would dive and sink into the sea , and when he starts up from his wounds , the thresher with his club fins beats him down again . here is also a kind of web-footed fowl , of the bigness of our green plovers , which all summer are not seen , but in the darkest nights of november and december ( for in the night only they feed ) would come abroad , making a strange hollow and harsh howling ; their colour is inclining to russet , with white bellies , and the long feathers of their wings are russet and white , they breed in those of the islands that are farthest in the sea , and there in the ground they have their burrows , like conies . of these , the english at their first coming , with a lighted bough have taken three hundred in an hour . afterwards they found out this devise to take them , by standing on the rocks or sand by the sea-side , they would hollow , laugh , and make the strangest noise that possibly they could , with which noise these birds would come flocking to the place , and settle upon the very armes and head of him that so cryed , still creeping nearer and answering that noise themselves , by which means our men would weigh them in their hands , and those that weighed heaviest and were best they took , the other they let go , and thus they have taken twenty dozen of the best of them in two hours space ; they are fat and plump like a partridge , and very well relished . in january they gat great store of their eggs which are as big and as well relished as our hen eggs ; these they call sea-owles , because of their hooting , they have crooked bills and will bite shrewdly . not long after the english had planted in this island , which was about the year . it pleased god to send a great plague upon them by reason of a few rats that came in a meal ship , which though at first few in number , yet within the space of two years they multiplyed so exceedingly , that they did not only fill those places where they first landed , but swimming from place to place they spread themselves all over the country , insomuch , as there was no island though severed by the sea from all others , and many miles distant from the place where they first began , but was pestred with them ; they had their nests almost in every tree , and in all places had their burrows in the ground , like conies to harbour in : they spared not the fruits of either plants or trees , nay , nor the plants themselves , but eat all up . when the planters had set their corn , they would come by troops the night following , or as soon as it spict , dig it up again and eat it . if by diligent watching any of it escaped till it came to easing , it would very hardly scape them : yea , it was a difficult matter when they had it in their houses to save it from them , for they became noysom even to the persons of men. they used all diligence for the destroying of them , nourishing many catts , wild and tame ; they used ratsbane , and many set the woods on fire , so that the fire ran half a mile or more before it was extinguished . every man in the country was enjoyned to set twelve traps , and some voluntarily set neer an hundred , which they visited twice or thrice in a night . yea , they trained up their dogs to hunt them , wherein they grew so expert , that a good dog in two or three hours space would kill ●●rty or fifty rats . other means they also used , yet nothing would prevail , finding them still to encrease upon them . this was a cause of great distress to the planters ; for by this means they were kept destitute of bread for a year or two , so as when they had it afterwards again , they were so weaned from it , that they would easily forget or neglect to eat it with their meat . by this means they were so destitute of food that many died , and the rest became very feeble and weak , whereof some being so , would not , and others could not stir abroad to seek relief , but dyed in their houses . and such as did go abroad were subject through weakness to be suddenly surprized with a disease called the feages , wherein they had neither pain , nor sensible sickness , but as it were the highest degree of weakness , depriving them of power and ability to execute any bodily exercise , as working , walking , &c. being thus taken , if any body was present that could minister to them any relief , they would strait wayes recover , otherwise they died there . about this time there came to these islands a company of ravens which continued with them all the time of this mortality and then departed from them . never any being seen there before or since : but it pleased god at length , that the extremity of their distress began to abate , partly by supplies sent them out of england , and partly by some rest and ease that they got thereby . yet the rats continued for some time after , notwithstanding all the devises and industry that they used to destroy them . but suddenly it pleased god , ( by what means was not known ) so to take them away , that the wild catts and dogs that lived upon them were famished , and many of them leaving the woods came down to the houses , and to such places where they used to garbish their fish , and so became tame . here are many wild palm-trees growing , in fashion , leaves and branches resembling the true palme : the tree is high and strait , sappy , and spungious , having no branches but in the uppermost part of it , and in the top grow leaves about the head of it : ( the most inmost part whereof they call the palmeto , and it is the heart and pith of the tree , so white and thin as that it will pill off pleats , as smooth and delicate as white sattin , into twenty folds in which a man may write , as in paper ) where they spread and fall downwards about the tree like an over-blown rose : the leaves are as broad as an italian vmbrello , under one of which a man may well shelter his whole body from rain , for being stiff and smooth , the rain easily slides off . the palmito , or soft top roasted , tastes like a fried melon , and being sod , it eates like a cabbage , but is far less offensive to the stomach . from under the broken rocks they take forth cray-fishes oft times greater than any of our english lobsters . they have also aboundance of crabs , oisters , and wilks ; at one draught they have taken small and great about a thousand fishes , as pilchards , breams , mullets , rock-fish , &c. every cave and creek being furnished with aboundance of them , which lie there sucking in the water which falls from the high hills mingled with the juyce of the palms and cedars , and such other sweet woods , whereby they become both fat and wholsome . there are sparrows fat and plenty ; robbins of diverse colours green and yellow , &c. many of the turtles before mentioned , be of a mighty bigness , insomuch as one of them will suffice seventy , or eighty men at a meal , especially , if she be a she turtle , which will have five hundred eggs in her , being as many as fifty or sixty men can eat at a meal , they are very good and wholesome meat . there are mulberry trees , olive trees , cedars of colour red , and very sweet , which bear a kind of berry that is very pleasant to eat . the top of the palmito tree is in season , and good all the year , if you take but an hatchet and cut it , or an augur and bore it , it yields a very pleasant liquor , much like to our sweet wines : it bears likewise a berry in the bigness of a prune , and in taste much like it . anno christi . sr. thomas gates , and sr. george sommers , as they were going to virginia suffered shipwrack at these islands , where they continued till may , . in which time they built there a ship and a pinace of cedar , in which they departed to virginia , leaving only two men behind them : and shortly after some of them came back to the sommer islands , where sr. george sommers dying , his men ( contrary to his last charge given unto them ) went for england , leaving behind them three men who stayed voluntarily , who shortly after found in sommerset island a very great treasure of ambergreece valued at nine or ten thousand pounds sterling . the discovery of these islands being made known in england to the virginia company by these men that returned , they sold it to one hundred and twenty persons of the same company , who obtained a charter from his majesty : and in april . sent thither a ship called the plough , with about eighty men and women in it , who arrived there in safety in july , where they found the three men that had voluntarily stayed there before as you heard . these men had planted corn , great store of wheat , beans , tobacco , and melons , with many other good things for the use of man : besides they had wrought upon timber , in squaring and sawing cedar trees &c. they were no sooner come within a league of the land but a company of fish met them , and never left them till they came to an anchor within the haven , of which with hooks and lines they took more than their whole company was able to eat . two dayes after they went out with their net and boat , and if they would have loaded two boates they might have done it , which also they might have daily , there was such plenty of them . the day after they went to the bird islands , where with their hands they took up as many birds as they pleased , they were so tame . they took up three for every boy and girl , and four for every man. then sent they out some for wild hogs , who brought home some , that did eat as well as our english mutton . anno christi , . mr. r. moor was sent over thither governour for three years , who spent the greatest part of his time in fortifying the country , and training the people to martial exercises . he built nine or ten forts , and planted ordnances upon them . to him succeeded captain tucker , anno christi . who spent his three years in husbanding the country , planting , and nourishing all such things as were fit either for trade , or for the sustentation , and use of the inhabitants . he also added to the fortifications , and made some inclosures . the the country also was then divided , wherein every adventurer had his share allotted to him , whereupon the planters built them substantial houses , cleared their ground , and planted all things necessary , so that in a short time the country began to approach near unto that happiness wherein it now floweth . nevv-england described , and the plantation thereof by the english of the beasts , fowles , birds , fishes , trees , plants , fruits , &c. of the natives , of their religion , customs , fishings , huntings , &c. the place whereon the english have setled their colonies is judged either to be an island surrounded on the north with the great river canada , and on the south with hudsons river , or a peninsula , these two rivers over lapping one another , having their rise from two great lakes which are not far distant each from other . massechusets bay lyeth under the degree of . and . bearing south-west from the lands-end of old england ; at the bottom of which bay are scituated most of the english plantations . the bay is both safe , spacious , and deep ; free from such cockling seas as run upon the coasts of ireland , and in the channels of england : without stiff running currents , rocks , shelves , bars , or quicksands . when you have sailed two or three leagues towards the bottom , you may see the two capes bidding you welcome . these capes thrust themselves out into the sea in form of a crescent , or half moon , the surrounding shoar being high , and shewing many white cliffs , with diverse intermixtures of low-sand , out of which , diverse rivers empty themselves into the sea , with many openings , wherein is good harbouring for ships of any burthen : the harbours are new-plimouth , cape anu , salem , and marvil-head , all which afford good ground for anchorage , being land-lockt from wind , and seas . the chief and usual harbour is the still bay of massechusets , which is also aboard the plantations : it s a safe and pleasant harbour within , having but one secure entrance , and that no broader than for three ships to enter abreast , but within there is anchorage for five hundred ships . this harbour is made by many islands , whose high clifts shoulder out the boisterous seas , yet may easily deceive the unskilful pilot , presenting many fair openings , and broad sownds , whose waters are too shallow for ships , though navigable for boats , and small pinnases . the entrance into the great haven is called nant●scot , which is two leagues from boston . from hence they may sail to the river of wessaguscus , naponset , charles river , and mistick river , on all which are seated many towns . here also they may have fresh supplies of wood and water from the adjacent islands , with good timber to repair their weather-beaten ships : as also masts , or yards , there being store of such trees as are useful for the purpose . the places which are inhabited by the english , are the best ground , and sweetest climate in all those parts , bearing the name of new england , the air agreeing well with our english bodies , being high land and a sharp air , and though they border upon the sea-coast , yet are they seldom obscured with mists , or unwholesome foggs , or cold weather from the sea , which lies east , and south from the land. and in the extremity of winter , the north-east , and south-winds comming from the sea , produce warm weather , and bringing in the seas , loosen the frozen bayes , carrying away the ice with their tides : melting the snow , and thawing the ground : only the north-west winds coming over the land , cause extream cold weather , accompanied with deep snows , and bitter frosts , so that in two or three dayes the rivers will bear man or horse . but these winds seldom blow above three dayes together , after which the weather is more tollerable . and though the cold be sometimes great , yet is there good store of wood for housing and fires , which makes the winter less tedious : and this very cold weather lasts but eight or ten weeks , beginning with december , and ending about the tenth of february . neither doth the piercing colds of winter produce so many ill effects , as the raw winters here with us in england . but these hard winters are commonly the forerunners of a pleasant spring , and fertile summer , being judged also to make much for the health of our english bodies . the summers are hotter than here with us , because of their more southerly latitude , yet are they tollerable , being oft cooled with fresh winds . the summers are commonly hot and dry , there being seldom any rain , yet are the harvests good , the indian corn requiring more heat than wet to ripen it : and for the english corn , the nightly dews refresh it , till it grows up to shade its roots with its own substance from the parching sun. the times of most rain are in april , and about michaelmas . the early spring and long summers make the autumns and winters to be but short . in the springs when the grass begins to put forth , it grows apace , so that , whereas it was black by reason of winters blasts , in a fortnights space there will be grass a foot high . new england being nearer the aequinoctial than old england ; the days and nights be more equally divided . in summer the dayes be two hours shorter , and in winter two hours longer than with us . virginia having no winter to speak of , but extream hot summers , hath dried up much english blood ; and by the pestiferous diseases , hath swept away many lusty persons , changing their complexions , not into swarthiness , but into paleness ; which comes not from any want of food , the soil being fertile , and pleasant , and they having plenty of corn , and cattel , but rather from the climate , which indeed is found to be too hot for our english constitutions , which new england is not . in new england men and women keep their natural complexions , in so much as seamen wonder when they arive in those parts , to see their countrey men look so fresh and ruddy ; neither are they much troubled with inflammations , or such diseases as are increased by too much heat . the two chief messengers of death , are feavours , and callentures ; but they are easily cured if taken in time , and as easily prevented , if men take care of their bodies . as for our common diseases they be strangers in new england . few ever have the small pox , measels , green-sickness , headach , stone , consumption , &c. yea many that have carried coughs and consumptions thither , have been perfectly cured of them . there are as sweet , lusty children born there , as in any other nation , and more double births than with us here : the women likewise recover more speedily , and gather strength after child-birth sooner than in old england . the soil for the general is a warm kind of earth , there being little cold spewing land , no moorish fens , nor quagmires : the lowest grounds be the marshes , which are ovrflown by the spring-tides : they are rich ground , and yield plenty of hay , which feeds their cattel as well as the best upland hay with us : and yet they have plenty of upland hay also , which grows commonly between the marshes and the woods : and in many places where the trees grow thin , they get good hay also . and near the plantations there are many meddows never overflowed , and free from all wood , where they have as much grass as can be turned over with a sithe , and as high as a mans middle , and some higher , so that a good workman will mow three loads in a day . indeed this grass is courser than with us , yet is it not sower , but the cattel eat , and thrive very well with it : and are generally larger , and give more milk than with us , and bring forth young as well , and are freer from diseases than the cattel here . there is so much hay ground in the country , that none need fear want , though their cattel should encrease to thousands , there being some thousands of acres that were yet never medled with ; and the more their grass is mowed , the thicker it grows ; and where cattel use to graze , in the woods , the ground is much improved , growing more grassy , and less full of weeds ; and there is such plenty of grass in the woods , that the beasts need not fodder till december ; at which time men begin to house their milch beasts and calves . in the upland grounds the soil varies , in some places clay , in others gravel , and some are of a red sand , all which are covered with a black mould , usually a foot or little less deep . the english manure their ground with fish , whereof they have such plenty , that they know not how otherwise to dispose of them , yet the indians being too lazy to catch fish , plant corn eight or ten years in one place , without any such help , where they have yet a good crop. such is the rankness of the ground , that it must be planted the first year with indian corn , before it will be fit for english seed . the ground in some places is of a soft mould , in others so tough and hard , that five yoke of oxen can scarce plow it , but after the first breaking up , it is so easie , that one yoak of oxen and an horse may plow it . our english corn prospers well , especially rye , oats , and barly . the ground affords very good kitchin gardens , for turnips , parsnips , carrots , radishes , pumpions , muskmellons , squashes , cucumbers , onions , and all other english roots and hearbs prospers as well there as with us , and usually are larger and fairer . there are store of herbs both for meat and medicine , not only in gardens , but in woods , as sweet marjoram , purslane , sorrel , penniroyal , saxifrage , bayes , &c. also strawberries in abundance , very large , some being two inches about . there be also goosberries , bilberries , rasberries , treackleberries , hurtleberries , currants , which being dried in the sun , are not much inferiour to those we have from zant. there is also hemp and flax , some that grows naturally , and some that is planted by the english , and rape-seed . there is iron , stone , and plenty of other stones both rough and smooth , plenty of slate to cover houses , and clay whereof they make tiles and bricks , and probably other minerals . the country is excellently watered , and there are store of springs which yield sweet water that is fatter than ours , and of a more jetty colour and they that drink it , are as healthy , and lusty as those that drink beer . none hitherto have been constrained to digg deep for this water , or to fetch it far , or to fetch it from several places ; the same water serving for washing , brewing , and all other uses . there be also several spacious ponds in many places , out of which run many pleasant and sweet streams both winter and summer , at which the cattel quench their thirst , and upon which may be built water-mills for necessary uses . there is also great store of wood , not only for fewel , but for the building of ships , houses , and mills . the timber grows strait and tall , some trees being twenty , and others thirty foot high before they spread forth their branches . they are not very thick , yet many of them are are sufficient to make mill-posts ; some being three foot and a half in the diameter . neither do they grow so close , but that in many places a man man may ride a hunting amongst them . there is no underwood but in swamps , and wet low grounds , in which are osiers , hazels , and such like . of these swamps , some are ten , some twenty , some thirty miles . for the indians use to burn the under-wood in other places in november , when the grass and leaves are withered and dry , which otherwise would marr their beloved sport of hunting : but where the indians died of the plague , not many years ago , there is much underwood between wessaguscus , and plimouth , because it hath not thus been burned . the several sorts of timber are thus expressed . trees both on hills and plains in plenty be , the long-liv ' oake , and mournful cypress tree , sky-towring pines , and chesnuts coated rough , the lasting cedar , with the walnut tough ; the rosin-dropping fir for masts in use , the boatmen seek for oars , light , neat grown spruse ; the brittle ash , the ever trembling aspes , the broad spread elme , whose concave harbours wasps ; the watry spungy alder good for nought , small elder by th' indian fletchers sought , the knotty maple , pallid birch , haw thorns , the horn-bound tree that to be cloven scorns ; which from the tender vine oft takes his spouse , who twines imbracing arms abut his boughs ; within this indian orchard fruitr be some , the ruddy cherry and the jetty plumb , snake murthering hasel with sweet saxafrage , whose spouts in beer allayes hot feavers rage , the diars shumack , with more trees there be , that are both good for use , and and rare to see . the chief and common timber for ordinary use is oake , and walnut . of oakes there be three kinds , red , white , and black , whereof one kind is fittest for clap-board , others for sawn-board , others for shipping , and others for houses . they yield also much mast for hoggs , especially every third year , the acron being bigger than our english : the walnut-trees are tougher than ours , and last time out of mind : the hut is smaller than ours , but not inferiour in sweetness and goodness , having no bitter pill . in some places there is a tree that bears a nut as bigg as a small pear . the cedars are not very big , not being above eighteen inches in diameter , neither is it very high , and its fitter for ornament than substance , being of colour white and red like yew , & smells like juniper , they use it commonly for sieling of houses , for making of chests , boxes , and staves . the fir , and pine-trees grow in many places , shooting up exceeding high , especially the pine : they afford good masts , boards , rozin , and turpentine , they grow in some places for ten miles together , close by the rivers sides , where by ships they may easily be transported to any desired ports . their ash is blittle , and therefore good for little , so that the walnut is used for it . the horn-bound tree is exceeding tough , which makes it very difficult to be cleft , yet it s very good for bowls and dishes , not being subject to crack : it grows with broad-spread arms , the vines winding their curling branches about them , which afford great store of grapes , very bigg , both grapes and clusters , sweet and good . they are of two sorts , red and white : there is also a smaller grape growing in the islands , which is sooner ripe , and more delicious ; doubtless as good wine might be made of them as at burdeaux in france , it lying under the same degree : the cherry trees yield great store of cherries , which grow on clusters like grapes ; they are smaller than ours and not so good , if not very ripe : the plumbs are somewhat better , being black and yellow , as big as damasens , and indifferently well tasted . the white thorn yields hawes as big as our cherries , which are pleasant to the tast , better than their cherries . the beasts be as followeth . the kingly lion , and the strong-arm'd bear , the large-limb'd moosis , with the tripping ●ear ; quil-darting porcupines , and rackcames be , castled in the hollow of an aged tree : the skipping squirrel , cony , purblind hare , immured in the self same castle are , lest red-eyed ferrets , wildly foxes should them undermine , if rampir'd but with mould , the grim-fac't ounce , and ravenous howling woolf , whose meager pauch , sucks like a swallowing gulph , black-grittering otters , and rich coated bever , the civet-sented muscat smelling ever . lions there be some , but seen very rarely . bears are common , which be most fierce in strawberry time , when they have young ones ; they will go upright iike a man , climb trees , and swim to the islands : at which time if an indian see him , he will swim after him , and overtaking him , they go to water-cuffs for bloody noses , and scratched sides ; at last the man prevails , gets on his back , and so rides him on those watry plains , till the bear can bear him no longer . in the winter they retire to cliffs of rocks , and thick swamps to shelter them from the cold , where they live by sleeping and sucking their paws , and with that will be as fat as they are in sommer : yet the woolves will devour them : a kennel of them setting upon a single bear , will tear him in pieces . they are good meat , and seldom prey upon the english cattel , or offer to assault any man , except they be vexed with a shot . the moose is somewhat like our red deer as big as an ox , slow of foot , headed like a buck , some being two yards wide in the head ; his flesh is as good as beef , his hide is good for clothing ; they bring forth three young ones at a time ; fourty miles to the north-east of massechusets bay , there be great store of them ; they are oft devoured by the woolves . the fallow dear are much bigger than ours , of a brighter colour , more inclining to red , with spotted bellies ; they keep near to the sea , that that they may swim to the islands when they are chased by the woolves they have commonly three young ones at a time , which they hide a mile from each other , giving them suck by turns , and this they do , that if the woolf should find one , they may save the other ; their horns grow strait , over-hanging their heads , so that they cannot feed on things that grow low , till they have mused their heads . the porcupine is small , not much unlike to an hedghog , only somewhat bigger : he stands upon his guard against man or beast , darting his quills into their leggs or hides , if they approach too near him . the rackoon is a deep furred beast , not much unlike a badger , having a tail like a fox , and is as good meat as a lamb. in the day time they sleep in hollow trees , in the light nights they feed on clams by the sea side , where they are taken with doggs . the squirrels be of three sorts , the great gray squirrel , almost as big as our conies . another almost like our english squirrels ; the third is a flying squirrel , which is not very big , with a great deal of loose skin , which she spreads square when she flies , which with the help of the wind , wafts her batlike body from place to place . the conies are much like ours in england . the hares are some of them white , and a yard long ; both these creatures harbour themselves from the foxes in hollow trees , having a hole at the entrance no bigger than they can creep into . the hurtful creatures are squncks , ferrets , foxes , whereof some be black , and their furrs of great esteem . the ounce , or wild cat is as big as a mungrel . it s by nature fierce and dangerous , fearing neither dogg nor man : he kills deer , which he effects thus : knowing the deers tracts , he lies lurking in long weeds , and the deer passing by , he suddenly leaps upon his back , from thence he gets to his neck , and scratches out his throat . he kills geese also ; for being much of the same colour , he places himself close by the water , holding up his bob tail , which is like a gooses neck , which the geese approaching nigh to visit , with a sudden jerk he apprehends his desired prey . the english kill many of them , and account them good meat . their skins have a deep fur , spotted white and black on the belly . the woolves differ something from those in other countries ; they never yet set upon any man or woman , neither do they hurt horses or cows ; but swine , goats , and red calves ( which they take for deer ) are oft killed by them . in autumn and the spring they most frequent our english plantations , following the deer which at those times come down to those parts : they are made like a mongrel , big-boned , thin paunched , deep breasted , having a thick neck and head , prick ears , and a long snout , with dangerous teeth , long stairing hair , and a great bush tail . many good mastiffs have been spoiled by them . once a fair grayhound , ran at them , and was torn in pieces before he could be rescued ; they have no joynts from the head to the tail. some of them are black , and one of their skins is worth five or six pound . of beasts living in the water . their otters are most of them black , and their skins are almost as good as bevers ; their oyl is of rare use for many things . martins also have a good fur for their bigness . musquashes are almost like beavers , but not so big , the males stones smells as sweet as musk , and being killed in winter or the spring they never loose their sweetness : they are no bigger than cony-skins , and yet are sold for five shillings a piece . one good skin will perfume a whole house full of clothes . the bevers wisdom and understanding makes him come nigh to a reasonable creature . his body is thick and short , with short leggs , feet like a mole before , and behind like a goose , a broad tail like a shoo-sole , very tough and strong : his head is something like an otters , saving that his fore-teeth be like conies , two above and two beneath , sharp and broad , with which he cuts down trees as big as a mans thigh , or bigger , which afterwards he divides into lengths according to the uses they are appointed for . if one beaver be too weak to carry the log , than another helps him : if two be too weak , three or four will assist , being placed three to three , which set their teeth in one anothers tough tails , and laying the load on the hindermost , they draw the logg to the desired place , they tow it in the water , the youngest getting under it , bearing it up that it may swim the lighter . they build their houses of wood and clay , close by a ponds side , and knowing their seasons , they build their houses answerably , three stories high , that when the land floods come they may shift higher , and when the waters fall , they remove lower . these houses are so strong that no creature , save an industrious man with his penetrating tools can pierce them , their ingress and egress being under water . they make very good ponds ; for knowing where a stream runs from between two rising hills , they will pitch down piles of wood placing smaller rubbish before it , with clay and sods , not leaving till by their art and industry they have made a firm and curious dam-head , which may cause admiration in wise men . they keep themselves to their own families , never parting so long as they are able to keep house together . their wisdom secures them from the english , who seldom kill any of them , wanting time and patience to lay a long siege , or to be often deceived by their cunning evasions . so that all our beavers come from the indians , whose time and experience fits them for that imployment . of the birds , and fowls both of land and water . they are expressed in these verses . the princely eagle , and the soaring hawks , within their unknown wayes ther 's none can chawk : the hum-bird for some queens rich cage more fit than in the vacant wilderness to sit . the swift-wing'd swallow sweeping to and fro , as swift as arrow from tartarian bow . when as aurora's infant day new springs , there th' morning mounting lark her sweet layes sings . the harmonious thrush , swift pigeon , turtle dove who to her mate doth ever constant prove . the turkey , pheasant , heathcock , partridge rare , the carrion-tearing crow , and hurtful stare ; the long-liv'd raven , th' ominous screach-owl , who tell ( as old wives say ) disasters foul . the drowsie madge that leaves her day-lov'd nest to fly abroad when day-birds are at rest : the eele murthering hern , and greedy cormorant , that neer the creeks in moorish marshes haunt . the bellowing bittern , with the long legg'd crane . presaging winters hard , and dearth of graine . the silver-swan that tunes her mournful breath to sing the dirg of her approaching death : the tatling oldwives , and the cackling geese , the fearful gull that shuns the murdering piece : the strong wing'd mallard , with the nimble teal , and ill-shap't loon , who his harsh notes doth sweal ; there widgins , shildrakes , and humilitee , snites , dropps , sea-larks in whole millions flee . the eagles be of two sorts , one like ours in england , the other somewhat bigger , with a great white head , and white tail , commonly called gripes , they prey upon ducks , and geese , and such fish as are cast upon the sea-shore ; yet is there a certain black hawk that will beat this eagle , so that he is constrained to soar so high , that his enemy cannot reach him : the hawk is much prized by the indians , who account him a sagamores ransom . there are diverse kinds of hens , partridges , heathcocks , and ducks . the hum-bird is no bigger than an hornet , having spider-like legs , small claws , a very small bill ; in colour she represents the glorious rainbow : as she flies she makes a noise like a humble-bee . the pidgeons are more like turtles than ours , and of the same colour , and have long tailes like a mag pie , their feathers are fewer , but their bodies as big as our house-doves , they come into the country to go home-ward in the beginning of their spring : at which time ( saith my author ) i have seen innumerable ; so that i could neither discern beginning nor ending , the length nor breadth of these millions of millions : neither could the shouting of people , the report of guns , nor the pelting of hail-shot turn them out of their course , but thus they have continued for four or five hours together : and at michaelmas they return southward : yet some there are all the year long , which are often killed . they build some thirty miles northward ; from the english plantation in pine-trees , joyning nest to nest , and tree to tree by their nests , so that the sun never sees the ground in that place , from whence the indians fetch whole loads of them . the turkey is a long fowl , of a black colour , yet is his flesh white , he is much bigger than our english turkey ; he hath long leggs wherewith he can run as fast as a dog , and can fly as fast as a goose : of these are forty , fifty , sixty , and sometimes an hundred in a flock : they feed on acorns , haws , and berries , and some will frequent the english corn. when the ground is covered with snow , they go to the sea-side and feed on shrimps , and fishes : if you watch them where they pearch at night , about ten or eleven a clock at night you may shoot as oft as you will , for they stir not except they be wounded : they continue all the year long , and weigh forty pounds and more apeice . pheasants are rare ; but heath-cocks , and partridges are common , whereof our english kill many . ravens and crows , are much like those in other countries . there are no magpies , jayes , cockcooes , jackdaws , sparrows , &c. the stares are bigger than ours , and are as black as crows , which do much hurt among the young corn , and they are so bold that they fear not guns . owles are of two sorts , the one is small speckled like a partridg with eares : the other is almost as big as an eagle and is very good meat . cormorants are as common as other fowles , they devour much fish. a tame cormorant , and two or three good dogs in the water make excellent sport : cranes are as tall as a man , their bodies not much unlike the turkies , they are rarely fat . also many swans frequent the rivers and ponds , which are very good meat . there be three sorts of geese ; the brant goose like one of our wild geese . a white goose about the bigness of ours : of these there will be sometimes two or three thousand in a flock . the third is a grey goose with a black neck , and a black and white head much bigger than our english : they are killed both flying and sitting . the ducks are very large , and in great abundance ; and so is their teale . their old-wives never leave tatling day nor night , they are somewhat bigger than a duck. the loon is ill-shaped like a cormorant , but he can neither go nor fly ; he makes a noise somestime like a sowgelders horn. the humilites , or simplicites rather , be of two sorts ; the one as big as green plover , the other is less ; they are so simple that one may drive them on heaps , and then shoot at them , and the living will settle themselves on the same place again where the dead are , while you shoot again , so that sometimes above twelve score have been killed at two shoots . of fish . there are great store , and much variety of fishes thus enumerated . the king of the waters , the sea-shouldering whale ; the snuffing grampus , with the oylie seal , the storm-presaging porpus , herring-hogg , line-shearing shark , the cat-fish and the sea-dogg ; the scale-fenc'd sturgeon , wry-mouth'd hollibut ; the flouncing salmon , codfish , greedigut ; cole , haddock , haike , the thornback and scate , whose slimy outside makes him seld in date ; the stately bass , old neptunes fleeting post , that tides it out and in from sea to coast ; consorting herrings , and the bony shad. big-bellied alewives , macrils richly clad with rain-bow colours , the frost-fish and the smelt , as good as ever lady gustus felt . the spotted lamprons , eeles , the lamperies , that seek fresh water-brooks with argu's-eyes . these watry villages , with thousands more do pass and repass neer the verdant shore . shell-fish of all sorts . the luscious lobster with the crabfish raw , the brittish oyster , muscle , periwig and the tortoise sought by the indian squaw ; which to the flats dance many a winters jigg : to dive for cockles , and to dig for clams , whereby her lazy husbands guts she crams . the seal , called also the sea-calf , whose skin is good for divers uses , and his body between fish and flesh , neither delectable to the pallat , nor well agreeing with the stomack . his oyl is used in lamps . the shark is as big as a man , some as big as a horse , with three rows of teeth in his mouth , with which he snaps in two the fishers lines ; he will bite off a mans armor legg at a bit , they are oft taken , and serve for nothing but to manure the ground . there are many sturgious , but the most are caught at cape cod , and in the river of meramack , whence they are brought to england , they are twelve , fourteen , and some eighteen foot long . the salmon is as good as ours , and in great plenty in some places : the hollibut is like our plaice or turbut , some being two yards long , and one broad , and a food thick . thornback and scate is given to the doggs , being so common in many places . the bass is one of the best fishes , being a delicate and fat fish : he hath a bone in his head that contain a saucerful of marrow sweet and good , pleasant and wholesome ; they are three or four foot long , they take them with a hook and line , and in three hours a man may catch a dozen or twenty of them . the herrings are much like ours . alewives are much like herrings , which in the end of april come into the fresh rivers to spawn , in such multitudes as is incredible , pressing up in such shallow waters where they can scarce swim , and they are so eager , that no beating with poles can keep them back till they have spawned . their shads are far bigger than ours : the makarels be of two sorts ; in the beginning of the year the great ones are upon the coast , some . inches long : in sommer come the smaller kind , they are taken with hooks and lines baited with a piece of red cloth. there be many eels in the salt water , especially where grass grows , they are caught in weels baited with pieces of lobsters : sometimes a man thus takes a busnel in a night , they are wholesome and pleasant meat . lamprons and lampries are little esteemed . lobsters are in plenty in most places , very large , and some being twenty pound weight , they are taken at low water amongst the rocks ; the smaller are the better ; but because of their plenty they are little esteemed . the oysters be great , in form of a shoo-horn , some of a foot long , they breed in certain banks , which are bare after every spring-tide ; each makes two good mouthfuls . the periwig lies in the oase like a head of hair , which being touched , draws back it self leaving nothing to be seen but a small round hole , muscles are in such plenty that they give them their hoggs . clams are not much unlike to cockles , lying under the sand , every six or seven of them having a round hole at which they take in air and water , they are in great plenty , and help much to feed their swine both winter and sommer ; for the swine being used to them , will constantly repair every ebb to the places , where they root them up and eat them . some are as big as a penny loaf , which the indians count great dainties . a description of the plantations in new-england as they were anno christi , . the outmost plantation to the southward , which by the indians is called wichaguscusset , is but a small village , yet pleasant and healthful , having good ground , store of good timber , and of meddow ground ; there is a spacious harbor for shipping before the town ; they have store of fish of all sorts , and of swine , which they feed with acrons and clams , and an alewife river . three miles to the north is mount wolleston , a fertile soil , very convenient for farmers houses , there being great store of plain ground without trees . near this place are maschusets fields , where the greatest sagamore in the country lived before the plague cleared all : their greatest inconvenience is that there are not so many springs as in other places ; nor can boats come in at low water , nor ships ride near the shore . six miles further to the north lieth dorchester , the greatest town in new-england , well wooded and watered with good arrable and hay ground , fair comfortable fields and pleasant gardens : here are many cattel , as kine , goats , and swine . it hath a good harbor for ships ; there is begun the fishing in the bay , which proved so profitable , that many since have followed them there . a mile from thence lies roxberry , a fair and handsome country town ; the inhabitants are rich : it lies in the mains , and yet is well wooded and watered , having a clear brook running through the town , where are great store of smelts , whence it s called smelt-river . a quarter of a mile on the north of it is another river , called stony river , upon which is built a water mill. here is good store of corn and meddow ground . westward from the town it s somewhat rocky , whence it s called roxberry ; the inhabitants have fair houses , , store of cattel , come-fields paled in , and fruitful gardens . their goods are brought in boats from boston , which is the nearest harbor . boston is two miles north-east from roxberry . it s situation is very pleasant , being a peninsula hemmed on the south with the bay of roxberry . on the north with charles river , the marshes on the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over , so that a little fencing secures their cattel from the wolves . their greatest want is of wood and meddow ground , which they supply from the adjacent islands , both for timber , fire-wood , and hay ; they are not troubled with wolves , rattlesnakes nor musketoes , being bare of wood to shelter them . it s the chief place for shipping and merchandize . this neck of land is about four miles in compass , almost square : having on the south at one corner a great broad hill , whereon is built a fort , which commands all ships in any harbour in the hill bay. on the north side is another hill of the same bigness , whereon stands a windmil . to the north-west is an high mountain , with three little hills on the top , whence it is called tremount . from hence you may see all the islands that lie before the bay , and such ships as are upon the sea coast. here are rich corn fields , and fruitful gardens : the inhabitants grow rich ; they have sweet and pleasant springs ; and for their enlargement , they have taken to themselves farm-houses in a place called muddy river , two miles off , where is good timber , ground , marsh-land , and meddows , and there they keep their swine or other cattel in the summer , and bring them to boston in the winter . on the north side of charles river is charles town , which is another neck of land , on whose northern side runs mistick river . this town may well be paralled with boston , being upon a bare neck , and therefore forced to borrow conveniencies from the main , and to get farmes in the country . here is a ferry-boat to carry passengers over charles river , which is a deep channel , and a quarter of a mile over . here may ride fourty ships at a time . up higher is a broad bay that is two miles over , into which run stony river , and muddy river . in the middle of this bay is an oyster bank . medfod village is scituated towards the north-west of this bay , in a creek : a very fertile and pleasant place : it s a mile and a half from charles town . at the bottom of this bay the river is very narrow . by the side of this river stands new-town , three miles from charles town . it s a neat and well compacted town , having many fair buildings , and at first was intended for a city ; the inhabitants are mostly rich , and have many cattel of all sorts , and many hundred acres of ground paled in . on the other side of the river lies their meddow and marsh ground for hay half a mile thence is water town , nothing inferiour for land , wood , meddows and water : within half a mile of it is a great pond , which is divided between those two towns ; and a mile and a half from this town is a fall of fresh waters , which through charles river fall into the ocean : a little below this fall they have made weires , where they catch great store of shads , and alewives , an hundred thousand of them in two tides . mastick is three miles from charles town ; seated pleasantly by the waters side . at the head of this river are very spacious ponds to which the alewives press to cast their spawn , where multitudes are taken . on the west side of this river the governour hath a farm where he keeps most of his cattel . on the east side is mr. craddocks plantation , who impailed in a park for deer , and some ships have been built there . winnisimet is a very pleasant place for situation , and stands commodiously . it s but a mile from charles town , the river only parting them . it s the lasts town in the bay. the chief islands that secure the harbor from winds and waves , are first deere island , within a flight shot from bullin point . it s so called , because the deer often swim thither to escape the woolves , where sixteen of them have been killed in a day . the next is long island , so called from its length . other islands are nodless isle , round isle ; the governours garden , having in it an orchard , garden , and other conveniencies : also slate island , glass island , bird island , &c. they all abound with wood , water , and meddows : in these they put their cattel for safety , whil'st their corn is on the ground . the towns without the bay are nearer the main , and reap a greater benefit from the sea , in regard of the plenty of fish and fowl , and so live more plentifully than those that are more remoat from the sea in the island plantations . six miles north-east from winnisimet is sagus , is pleasant for situation , seated at the bottom of a bay , which is made on the one side with a surrounding shore , and on the other side with a long sandy beach : it s in the circumference six miles , well woodded with oakes , pines , and cedars ; it s also well watered with fresh springs , and a great pond in the middle , before which is a spacious marsh. one black william an indian duke , out of his generosity , gave this place to the plantation of sagus , so that none else can claim it ; when a storm hath been , or is like to be , there will be a roaring like thunder which may be heard six miles off . on the north side of this bay are two great marshes , divided by a pleasant river that runs between them . the marsh is crossed with divers creeks where are store of geese and ducks , and convenient ponds wherein to make decoys . there are also fruitful meddows , and four great ponds like little lakes wherein is store of fresh fish ; out of which , within a mile of the town runs a curious fresh brook which is rarely frozen by reason of its warmness : and upon it is built a water mill. for wood there is store , as oake , walnut , cedar , elme , and aspe : here was sown much english corn. here the bass continues from the midst of april till michaelmas , and not above half that time in the bay. there is also much rock-cod , and macharil , so that shoals of bass have driven shoals of macharil to the end of the sandy bank , which the inhabitants have gathered up in wheel barrows . here are many muscle banks , and clam-banks , and lobsters amongst the rocks , and grassy holes . four miles from saugus stands salem , on the middle of a neck of land very pleasantly , between two rivers on the north and south . the place is but barren sandy land , yet for seven years together it brought forth excellent corn , being manured with fish every third year : yet there is good ground , and good timber by the sea side , and divers fresh springs . beyond the river is a very good soil , where they have farms . here also they have store of fish , as basses , eels , lobsters , clams , &c. they cross the river in canows made of whole pine trees , two foot and an half wide , and twenty foot long , in which also they go a fowling , sometimes two leagues into the sea. it hath two good harbours , which lie within derbins fort. marvil head lies four miles south from salem , a very good place for a plantation , especially for such as will set up a trade of fishing : there are good harbours for boats , and good riding for ships . agowomen is nine miles to the north from salem near the sea , and another good place for a plantation . it abounds with fish and flesh , of fowls , and beasts , hath great meddows and marshes , and arable grounds , many good rivers and harbours , and no rattle snakes . merrimack lies eight miles beyond that , where is a river navigable for twenty miles , and all along the side of it fresh marshes , in some places three miles broad . in the river is sturgion , salmon , bass , and divers other kinds of fish. three miles beyond this river is the out side of massecusets patent ; wherein these are the towns that were begun in the year , . of the evils , and hurtful things in the plantation . those that bring the greatest prejudice to the planters , are the ravenous woolves , which destroy the weaker cattel , of which we heard before . then the rattle snake which is usually a yard and a half long , as thick in the middle as the small of a mans legg , with a yellow belly : her back is spotted with black , russet , and green , placed like scales . at her taile is a rattle with which she makes a noise when she is molested , or when any come near to her : her neck seems no bigger than a mans thumb , yet can she swallow a squirrel , having a wide mouth with teeth as sharp as needles , wherein her poyson lies , for she hath no sting : when a man is bitten by her , the poyson spreads so suddenly through the veins to the heart that in an hour it causes death , unless he hath the antidote to expel the poyson , which is a root called snake-weed , which must be champed , the spittle swallowed , and the root applyed to the sore ; this is a certain cure . this weed is rank poyson if it be taken by any man that is not bitten , unless it be phisically compounded with other things . he that is bitten by these snakes , his fresh becomes as spotted as a lepers , till he be perfectly cured . she is naturally the most sleepy and unnimble creature that is , never offering to leap at , or bite any man , if he tread not upon her : in hot weather they desire to lie in paths in the sun , where they sleep soundly ; a small switch will easily kill them . if a beast be bitten , they cut his flesh in divers places , and thrust in this weed , which is a sure cure. in many places of the country there be none of them ; as at plimouth , new-town , &c. in some places they live on one side the river , and if they swim over , as soon as they come into the woods , they turn up their yellow bellies and die . other snakes there be , which yet never hurt eitheir man or beast . there be also store of froggs , which in the spring time chirp , and whistle like birds , and in the end of sommer croake like other frogs . there are also toads that will creep to the top of trees , and sit croaking there to the wonderment of strangers . there be also pismires , and spiders , but neither fleshworms , nor moles . there be wild bees or wasps that guard the grapes , making her cobweb nest amongst the leaves : also a great fly , like to our horse flies , which bite and fetch blood from man or beast , and are most troublesome where most cattel be . there is also a gurnipper , which is a fly as small as a flea , and where it bites it causes much itching , and scratching . also the muskito like to our gnats : such as are bitten by them fall a scratching , which makes their hands and faces swell ; but this is only the first year , for they never swell the second year . here also are flies called cantharides , so much used by chirurgions ; and divers sorts of butterflies . of the natives inhabiting those parts of new-england . the country is divided ( as it were ) into shires , every several shire under a several king. on the east , and north-east are the churchers , and tarenteens . in the southern parts are the pequants , and naragansets . on the west are the connectacuts , and mowhacks . those on the north of them are called aberginians , who before the sweeping plague scorned the confrontments of such as now count themselves but the scum of the country , and that would soon root them out , were it not for the english. the churchers are a cruel bloody people , which were wont to come down upon their poor neighbours , bruitishly spoyling their corn , burning their houses , slaying their men , ravishing the women , yea sometimes eating a man , one part after another before his face whil'st he was alive : but they say , they dare not meddle with a white faced man , accompanied with his hotmouthed weapon . they are tall of stature , have long grim visages , slender wasted , and exceeding great arms and thighs , wherein their strength lies ; with a fillip of their finger they will kill a dogg : they live upon fruits , herbs , and roots , but that which they most desire is mans flesh . if they catch a stranger they keep him in as good plight as they can , giving him their best fare , and daily pipe to him , paint him , and dance about him , till at last they begin to eat him piece-meal : they are desperate in wars , securing their bodies with sea-horse skins , and barks of trees made impenitrable , wearing head-pieces of the same : their weapons are tamahauks , which are staves of two foot and a half long , and a knob at the end as big as a foot-ball ; these they carry in their right hand , and in their left a javelin , or short spear headed with a sharp sea-horse tooth ; they are both deadly weapons . the tarenteens are little less savage , only they eat not mans flesh : they are enemies to the indians amongst the english , and kill as many of them as they can meet with . they are the more insolent because they have guns , which they trade for with the french , who will sell his eyes , they say , for beaver . so soon as a boat comes to an anchor , they enquire for sack and strong liquors , which they much affect ever since the english traded it with them , so that they will scarce exchange their beaver for any thing else . these are wise , high spirited , constant in friendship one to another , true in their promises , and more industrious than most others . the pequants are a stately warlike people , just in their dealings ; requiters of courtesies , and affable to the english. the narragansetz are the most numerous people in those parts , the richest and most industrious : they are also the most curious minters of their wampamprag and mowhacks , which they make of the most inmost wreaths of perriwinckles shells ; the northern , eastern , and western indies fetch all their coin from them : as also they make curious pendants and blacelets , and stone pipes which hold a quarter of an ounce of tobacco ; these they make with steel drills , and other instruments , and so ingenuous they are , that they will imitate the english mold so exactly that were it not for matter and colour you , could not distinguish them ; they make these pipes of green or black stone ; they made also pots , wherein they dressed their victuals before they knew the use of our brass : they seek rather to grow rich by industry , than famous by deeds of chivalry . the aberginians are mostly between five and six foot high , straight bodied , strong lim'd , smooth skin'd , merry countenanced , of complexion something more swarthy than a spaniard ; black haired , high foreheaded , black eyed , out-nosed , having broad shoulders , brawny arms , long and slender hands , out-breasts , small wasts , lank bellies , handsome legs , thighs , flat knees , and small feet . it s beyond belief to conceive how such lusty bodies should be supported by such slender foot : their houses are mean , their lodging as homely , their commons scant , their drink water , and nature their best cloathing : you shall never see any monstrous person amongst them , or one whom sickness hath deformed , or casualty made decrepit ; most are fifty years old before a wrinkled brow , or gray hairs bewrayes their age : their smooth skins proceeds from the oft anointing their bodies with oyl of fishes , and fat of eagles , and rackoones , which secures them also against muskitoes : their black hair is natural , but made more jetty by oyling , dying , and daily dressing : sometimes they wear long hair like women , sometimes they tie it up short like a horse tail : their boyes must not wear their hair long , till they be sixteen year old , and then also but by degrees , some leave a foretop , others a long lock on the crown , or one on each side the head , as best pleases their fancy : they will not endure any hair on their chins , but scrub it up by the roots : and if they see one with the appearance of a beard , they say he is an english mans bastard . their cloathing is a piece of cloth of a yard and a half long put between their groyns tied with snake-skins about their middle , with a flap before , and hanging like a tail behind . the more aged in the winter wear leather drawers like irish trowzes ; their shooes are of their own making , cut out of a mooses hide ; have and some skins which they cast about them like irish mantles , being either bear , mooses , or beaver-skins sewed together , &c. and in the winter deep fur'd catskins , which they wear upon that arm that is most exposed to the weather . when they are disposed to trade , they choose a good course blanket , or piece of broad cloth , which they make a coat of by day , and a covering by night : they love not to be imprisoned in cloaths after our mode . though they be poor , yet are they proud , which discovers it self by their affecting ornaments , as pendants in their ears , forms of birds , beasts , and fishes carved out of bones , shels , and stones , with long bracelets of their curiously wrought wampompeag , and mowhacks , which they wear about their loins . many of their better sort bear upon their cheeks the pourtaictures of beasts , and fowls , which they make by rasing of their skin with a small sharp instrument , under which they convey a kind of black unchageable ink which makes them apparent and permanent : others have impressions down the out side of their arms and breasts like stars , which they imprint by searing irons . a sagamore with a hum-bird in his ear for a pendant , a black hawke on his head for a plume , mawhack instead of a gold chain , store of wampompeag about his loins , his bow in his hand , his quiver at his back , and six naked indians for his guard , thinks himself nothing inferiour to the great cham , and will say that he is all one with king charles . of their diet , cookery , meal-times and hospitality . in the winter time they have all sorts of fowls , beasts , and pond-fish , with some roots , indian beans , and clams . in the sommer they have all manner of sea fish , with all sorts of berries . these they roast or boil in great kettles , which they gat by trading with the french , and now of the english : before , they had good earthen pots of their own making ; their spits are cloven sticks sharpned at one end and thrust into the ground , a dozen of them with flesh and fish about a fire , turning them as they see occasion . this they present to their guests , dishing it in a rude manner , and set on the ground , without linnen , trenchers , or knives ; to this they presently fall aboard without bread , salt , or beer , lolling after the turkish fashion , not ceasing till their full bellies leave empty platters . their indian corn they seeth whole , like beans , eating three or four corns with a mouthful of fish or flesh , filling up thinks with their broth. in sommer when their corn is spent isquoterquashes is their best bread , like our young pumpions . when our english invite them to meat , they eat very moderately , though at home without measure . they all meet friends at a kettle , save their wives , who attend at their backs for their bony fragments . they keep no set meals , but when their store is spent , they bite on the bit , till they meet with fresh supplies , their wives trudging to the clam-banks when other provision fails . it s the greatest discourtesie you can shew them , not to eat of their delicates , of which they are as free as emperors , and not to sup of their broth made thick with fish , fowl and beasts , all boiled together . of their dispositions , good qualities , as friendship , constancy , truth , and affability . these indians are of an affable , courteous , and well-disposed nature , ready to communicate the best of their wealth to the mutual good one of another , and the less abundance they have , the more conspicuous is their love , in that they are as willing to part with their mite in poverty , as their treasure in plenty . he that kills a deer sends for his friends and eats it merrily . he that receives but a piece of bread from an english hand , gives part of it to his comrades , and they eat it together lovingly . yea , a friend can command a friends house , and whatsoever is his ( saving his wife ) and have it freely : and nothing sooner disjoyns them than ingratitude , accounting an ungrateful person , a double robber , not only of a mans curtesie , but of his thanks , which he might have from another for the same profered and received kindness . they so love each other , that they cannot endure to see one of their countrymen wronged , but will defend them stiffly , plead for them strongly , and justifie their integrity in any warrantableaction . they are true , and faithful to the english , and have been the disclosers of all such treacheries as have been designed by other indians against them . if any roaving ship be upon the coast , and chance to harbour in any unusual port , they will give the english notice of it , which hath been no small advantage . when the english have travelled far into the couutry , they readily entertain them into their houses , quarter them in their rooms , and provide for them the best victuals they can , and give them kind entertainment , if it be for two or three weeks together . they are also ready to guide them through the unbeaten wildernesses , and if any loose their way , they will not leave them till they have brought them to their desired place . they are very careful to keep good correspondence with our english magistrates , being ready to execute any service which they require of them . if any malefactor withdraw himself from condigne punishment , they will hunt him out , and not rest till they have delivered him up to justice . they are kind and affable , very wary with whom they enter into friendship ; nothing is more hateful to them than a churlish disposition , or dissimulation : they speak seldom , and then utter not many words , and those they do , they deliver very gravely . they never fall out amongst themselves , nor abuse each other in language . yea , though in gaming they lose all their little all , yet is the loser as merry as the winner , and they part good friends . of their hardness . their hardness is to be admired , no ordinary pains causing them so much to alter their countenance : beat them , whip them , pinch them , punch them , if they resolve otherwise , they will not winch for it : and though naturally they fear death , yet the unexpected approach of a mortal wound by sword , bullet , &c. strike no more terrour , causes no more exclamation , no more complaint , than if it were a shot into the trunk of a tree . some have been shot in at the mouth , and out under the ear , others into the breast ; others run through the flanks with darts , others received desperate wounds , and yet , either by their rare skill in simples , or by charms have been cured in a short time . in the night they dare not stir out of their houses , for fear of their abamaco [ the devil ] they will rather lie by an english fire all night , than go a quarter of mile in the dark to their own houses . of their wondering at their first sight of any new invention . they being strangers to arts , are ravished at the first view of any new invention : they took the first ship they saw for a mourning island , the masts to be trees , the sails , white clouds , and the discharging of great guns , to be thunder and lightning : but this moving island being stopped by its anchor , they manned out their canows to go and pick strabones in it ; but by the way , being saluted with a broad side , they cryed out , with much hoggery , so big walk , and so big speak , and by and by kill ; this made them to turn back , and approach no more till they were sent for . they wondred much at the first wind mill which the english erected , for its strange whirking motion , and the sharp teeth , biting the corn so small , and its long arms , neither durst they stay in so tottering a tabernacle . the first plowman they saw was accounted a jugler , the plow tearing up more ground in a day , then their clamshels could scrape up in a moneth . yet are they so ingenious , and dexterous in using the ax or hatchet , that probably they would soon learn any trade , were they not so much wedded to idleness ; so that they had rather starve than work . in brief , they be wise in their carriage , subtile in their trading , true in their promise , just in paying their debts : though their poverty may make them slow , yet are they sure : some having died in the english debt , have by will left beaver for their satisfaction : they be constant in friendship , merrily conceited in discourse , not luxurious , in youth , nor froward in old age. of their kings government , and subjects obedience . their kings inherit , the son alwayes succeeding his father . if there be no son , the queen rules , if no queen , the next of the blood royal ; if any other intrude , he is counted a usurper ; and if his fair carriage win not their love , they will soon unking him . the kings have not many laws to rule by , nor have they any yearly revenews , yet are they so feared , or beloved , that half their subjects estates are at their service , and their persons at his command . though he hath no kingly rules to make him glorious , no guard to secure him , no courtlike attendance , nor sumptuous pallaces , yet they account him their soveraign , and yield chearful subjection to him , going and coming at his beck without questioning a reason , though the matter thwart their wills . such as commit treason , or lay violent hands on their lawful soveraign , die without mercy . once a year he takes his progress , attended with a dozen of his best subjects , to view his countrey , to recreate himself , and to establish good order . when he comes into any house , without any other complements , they desire him to sit down on the ground ( having neither stools nor cushions ) and after a while all that are present sit down by him , one of his seniors making an oration gratulatory to his majesty for his love , and the many good things they enjoy under his government . a king of large dominions hath his vice-royes under him to mannage his state affairs , and to keep his subjects in good decorum . for their laws , as their evil manners come short of other nations , so they need not so many laws , yet some they have , which they inflict upon notorious malefactors , as traytors , murtherers , &c. he that deserves death , being apprehended , is brought before the king ; and some of his wisest men , and if upon trial he be found guilty , the executioner comes in , blindfolds him , and sets him in the publick , and brains him with a club ; they have no other punishment save admonitions , or reproofs for smaller offences . of their marriages . the kings and great pawwoos , or connirers may have two or three wives , yet seldom use it ; others have but one . when a man desires to marry , he first gets the good will of the maid or widdow , then the consent of her friends , then , if the king like , the match is made , her dowry of wamponpeag paid , and so the king joyns their hands never to part till death , unless she prove a whore , for which they may put them away . of their worship , invocations , and conjurations . as its natural to all mortals to worship something , so do these . they acknowledge specially two , ketar , who is their god , to whom they sacrifice when they have a good crop. him they invocate for fair weather , for rain , for recovery of their sick , &c. but if they prevail not , their powwows betake themselves to their conjurations , and charmes , by which they effect very strange things , and many times work great cures . but since the english came amongst them , they are much reformed , and most of them have left these diabolical practices . of their wars . for places of retreat in times of danger they make forts of fourty or fifty foot square , of young timber trees ten or twelve foot high rammed into the ground , the earth being cast up within for their shelter , and with loop holes through which they shoot their arrows . in war their only weapons are bows and arrows , only their captains have long spears , on which , if they return conquerors , they carry the chiefest of their enemies heads ; for they use to cut off their heads , hands , and feet to carry home to their wives and children as trophies of their renowned victories : they also at such times paint their faces with diversities of colours to make them the more terrible to their foes ; they put on also their rich jewels , pendants , wampompeag , &c. to mind them that they fight , not only for their lives , wives and children , but for their goods , lands , and liberties ; they fight without all order , and when they have spent their arrows , they run away . they are trained up to their bows from their childhood , and are excellent marks-men : they run swiftly , and swim almost naturally . of their huntings . they have neither beagles , hounds , nor grayhounds , but supply all themselves : in the season of the year they have hunting houses in the places to which the deer resort , in which they keep their rendesvouze , with their snares , and all the accoutrements for that imployment . when they see a deer moose , or bear , they labour to get the wind of him , and coming neer they shoot him quite through , if the bones hinder not . they hunt also wolves , wild cats , rackoones , otters , beavers , and musquashes , trading both their skins and flesh to the english : they have also other devises wherewith to kill their game . of their fishings . they are very expert in fishing , knowing all kinds of baits fit for each several sorts of fish , and for all seasons of the year . they know also when to fish in the rivers , when at the rocks , when in the bayes , and when at the seas : before the english furnished them with hooks and lines , they made lines of their own hemp , curiously wrought , stronger than ours , and used bone-hooks ; they make also strong nets , wherewith they , catch sturgion ; and in the night they go forth in their canooes with a blazing torch , which they wave up and down , with which the sturgion being delighted , playes about it , turning up her white belly , into which they thrust a bearded dart , her back being impenetrable , and so hale her to the shoar . they look out also for sleeping seals , whose oyl they much esteem , using it for divers things . of their arts and manufactures . they dress all manner of skins , by scraping and rubbing , and curiously paint them with unchangable colours , and sometimes take off the hair , especially if they be not in season . they make handsome bows , which they string with mooses sinews : their arrows they make of young eldern , which they feather with eagles feathers , and head them with brass in shape of a triangle . their cordage is so even , smooth , and soft , that its liker silk than hemp. their canows are either made of pine-trees , which , before they had english tools , they burned hollow scraping them smooth with the shels of clams , and oysters , cutting their out-sides with hatchets of stone : others they make of birch rinds , which are so light that a man may carry one of them on his back . in these tottering boats they will go to sea , scudding over the waves , rowing with a paddle : if a wave turn her over , by swimming they turn her up , and get into her again . of their death , burials , and mournings . though these indians have lusty and healthful bodies , not knowing many diseases incident to others countries , as feavers , plurisies , callentures , agues , obstructions , consumptions , convulsions , apoplexies , dropsies , gout , stone , toothach , pox , meazles , &c. so that some of them live to sixty , seventy , eighty , yea , one hundred years before death summons them hence ; yet when death approaches , and all hope of recovery is past , then to see and hear their heavy sobbs , and deep fetched sighs , their grieved hearts , and brinish tears , and doleful cryes , would fetch tears from an heart of stone . their grief being asswaged , they commit the bodies of their friends to the earth , over whose grave for a long time they weep , groan , and howl , continuing annual mournings , with a stiff black paint on their faces : they mourn without hope , and yet hold the immortality of the soul , that it shall pass to the south-west elysium , a kind of paradise , wherein they shall for ever abide , solacing themselves in odoriferous gardens , fruitful corn-fields , green meddows , bathing in cool streams of pleasant rivers , and shelter themselves from heat and cold in state-pallaces framed by dame nature ; at the portal of this elisium they say there lies a great dogg , whose currish snarlings excludes unworthy intruders : wherefore they bury them with bows and arrows , and store of wampompeag , and mouhak● , either to affright the affronting cerberus , or to purchase greater prerogatives in that in paradise . but evil livers they go to the infernal dwellings of abamacho , there to be tormented . of their women , their dispositions , imployments , vsage by their husbands , their apparel , and modesty . these indians scorn the tutorings of their wives , or to admit them as their equals , though their qualities , and industry may justly claim the preheminence , and command better usage , and more conjugal esteem , their persons and features being every way correspondent , their qualifications more excellent , being more loving , pitiful , and modest , mild , provident , and laborious than their lazy husbands . their imployments are many , for they build their houses in fashion like our garden arbors , but rounder , very strong and handsome , covered with close wrought mats of their own weaving , which deny entrance to a drop of rain , though it be fierce and long , neither can the north winds find a crany whereat to enter ; they be warmer then ours : at the top is a square hole for the smoake to pass out , which is close covered in rainy weather : yet when they have a good fire , they are so smoky , that they are fain to lie down under the smoake . their sommer houses when families are dispersed upon divers occasions , are less : their winter houses are fifty or sixty foot long ; fourty or fifty men lodging in one of them ; and when their husbands require it , the wives are fain to carry their houses on their backs to fishing and hunting places ; or to a planting place , where it abides the longest . the wives also plant their corn , which they keep so clear from weeds , with their clam-shell hooes , as if it were a garden rather than a corn-field ; neither suffering weeds nor worms to hurt it . their corn being ripe , they dry it in the sun , and convey it into their barns , which be great holes digged in the ground like brass pots , lining them with rinds of trees , into which they put their corn , covering it from their gurmundizing husbands , who else would eat up all their allowed portion , and reserved seed if they knew where to find it . but our english hoggs having found a way to open their barn-doors , and to rob their garners ; they are fain to make use of their husbands help to rowl the bodies of trees over them , to secure them against these swine , whose thievery they hate as much as they do to eat their flesh . another of their imployments is , in their sommer processions to get lobsters for their husbands , wherewith they bait their hooks when they go a fishing for bass & codfish . this is their every days walk be the weather cold or hot , the waters rough or calm , they must dive sometimes over head and ears for a lobster , which often shakes them by the hands , with a churlish nip , and so bids them adieu . the tide being spent they trudg home two or three miles with an hundred weight of lobsters on their backs , but if they meet with none , they have a hundred scouls from their churlish hsbands , and an hungry belly for two dayes after . when their husbands have caught any fish they bring it in their canows as far as they can by water , and there they leave it , sending their wives to fetch it home , or they must fast , which done , they must dress it , cook it , dish it , and present it , and see it eaten before their faces , and their loggerships having filled their paunches , their poor wives must scramble for their scraps . in the sommer when lobsters be in their plenty and prime , these indian women dry them to keep for winter , erecting scaffolds in the hot sun , and making fires underneath them , by the smoake whereof the flies are driven away , till the fish remain hard & dry : thus also they dry bass , and other fishes without salt , cutting them very thin that they may dry the sooner before the flies spoil them , or the rain wet them , having a great care to hang them in their smoaky houses in the night , and dankish weather . in sommer also they gather flags , of which they make mats for houses ; also hemp and rushes with dying stuff , of which they make curious baskets with intermingled colours , and pourtraictures of antique imagery . these baskets are of all sizes , from a quart to a quarter , in which they carry their luggage . in winter they are their husbands caterers , trugging to the clam-banks for their belly-timber : they are also their porters to lug home their venison , which their laziness exposeth to the wolves , till their wives impose it upon their shoulders . they also sew thir husbands shooes , and weave turkey feathers for them , besides all their housholds drudgery which daily goes through their hands , and a big belly hinders no business , nor doth their childbirth hinder much time , but the young child being greased and sooted , wrapped up in a beavers skin , bound to his good behaviour , with his feet up to his bum , upon a board two foot long , and one foot broad , his face being exposed to the most nipping weather , this little pappouse travels about with his barefooted mother , to paddle in the icy clamb-banks , being not above three or four dayes old . the womens carriage is very civil , smiles being the greatest grace of their mirth . their musick is lullabies to quiet their children , who yet are generally as quiet as if they had neither spleen nor lungs . to hear one of these indian women unseen , a good ear might easily mistake their untaught voice for the warbling of a well tuned instrument . their modesty suggest them to wear more cloathes than their husbands , having alwayes a short coat of cloth , or skin wrapped like a blanket about their loins reaching to their hams , which they never put off in company . if a husband sels his wives beaver petticote , as sometimes he doth , she will not put it off , till she hath another to put on . their mild carriage and obedience to their husbands is very commendable ; notwithstanding all their churlishness , and salvage inhumanity towards them , yet will they not frown , nor offer to word it with their lords , nor presume to proclaim their superiority to the usurping of the least tittle of their husbands charter , but are contentedly quiet with their helpless condition , esteeming it to be the womans portion . since the arrival of the english comparison hath made their yoake more miserable : for seeing the kind usage of the english men towards their wives , they cannot but as much condemn their own husbands unkindness , as they commend the english mens love . but in the mean time , their husbands commend themselves for their wit in keeping their wives in subjection , and to labour as much as they condemn the english husbands for their indulgence and folly in spoiling such good working creatures . these indian women do oft resort to the houses of the english wherewith those of their own sex , they do somewhat ease their misery by complaining of their thraldom , and seldom part without some relief ; and if their husbands come to seek for their spaws ( for so they call all women ) and do begin to bluster for their idleness , the english woman betakes her to her arms , which are the warlike ladle , and the scalding liquor , threatning blistering to the naked runaway , who is soon driven back by such hot comminations . in a word , the love of these women to the english , deserves no small esteem , whom they are ever presenting with something that is rare or desired , as strawberries , hurtleberries , rasberries , gooseberries , cherries , plums , fish , and such other gifts as their poor treasury affords . new englands prospect . of their religion . the natives of new-england conceive of many divine powers : but one whom they call keihtan ( they say ) is the principal , and maker of all the rest , and himself is made by none . he created the heavens , earth , sea , and all creatures contained therein . he also made one man and one woman , of whom oll mankind came . but how they came to be so far dispersed , they know not . at first ( they say ) there was no sachem or king , but keihtan , who dwells above the heavens , whither all good men go when they die to see their friends , and have their fill of all thins . thither bad men go also , and knock at his door , but he bids them walk abroad , for there is no piace for such , so that they wander in restless want , and penury . never man saw this kiehtan ; only old men tell them of him , and bid them tell their children ; yea , to charge them to tell it to their posterities , and to lay the like charge upon them . this power they acknowledge to be good ; and when they would obtain any great matter , they meet together , and cry unto him ; and when they have plenty and victory , &c. they sing , dance , give thanks , and hang up garlands in memory thereof . another power they worship called hobbamock , which is the devil ; him they call upon to cure their wounds , and diseases . and when they are curable , he perswades them that he sends the same for some conceived anger against them ; but upon their calling upon him , he can , and doth help them . but when they are mortal and incurable , he tells them that kiehtan is angry , and sends them , whom none can cure , which makes them doubt whether he be simply good , and therefore in sickness they never call upon him . this hobbamock appears in sundry forms unto them ; as in the shape of a man , a deer , a fawn , an eagle , &c. but most ordinarily like a snake . he appears not to all , but to the chiefest , and most judicious amongst them , though all of them strive to attain that hellish honor . he chiefly appears to three sorts of persons : of the first rank they are few , and they are highly esteemed of , and they think that no weapon can kill them : the second sort are called powahs : and the third priests . the powahs chief office is to call upon the devil , and to cure the sick and wounded . the common people joyn with him in his invocations , by saying amen to what he saith . the powah is eager and free in speech , fierce in countenance , and joyneth many antick and laborious gestures with the same over the party diseased . if the party be wounded , they suck his wounds ; but if they be curable , the snake or eagle sits on his shoulders and licks the same . him none sees but the powah . if the party be otherwise diseased , its sufficient if in any shape he but comes into the house , and it is an undoubted sign of recovery . the powahs in their speech promise to sacrifice many skins of beasts , kettles , hatchets , beads , knives , and the best things they have to the fiend , if he help the diseased party . when women are in desperate and extraordinary hard travel in in child-birth , they send for the powahs to help them . many sacrifices they use , and sometimes kill their children . the nanohiggansets exceed in their blind devotion , and have great spacious houses , into which their priests only come . thither at certain times most of the people resort and sacrifice almost all their riches to their gods , as kettles , skins , hatchets , beads , knives , &c. all which the priest casts into a great fire made in the midst of that house , where they are consumed . to this offering every man brings freely , and he that brings most , is best esteemed . the priests are men of great courage and wisdom , and to these the devil also appears more familiarly than to others , and covenants with them to preserve them from death by wounds of arrows , knives , hatchets , &c. one of these will chase almost an hundred of their enemies : they are highly esteemed of all , and are of the sachems councel , without whom he will neither make war , nor undertake any great matter . in war the sachems for their more safety , go in the midst of them . they are usually men of the greatest stature and strength , and such as will endure most hardness , and yet are discreet , and courteous in their carriages , scorning theft , lying , and base dealing , and stand as much upon their reputation as any men . and to encrease the number of these , they train up the likeliest boyes from their childhood unto great hardness , and cause them to abstain from dainty meat , and to observe divers other rules , to the end that the devil may appear to them when they are of age . they also cause them to drink the juice of centuary , and other bitter herbs , till they vomit it into a platter , which they must drink again , till at length , through extraordinary pressing of nature , it looke like blood : and this the boyes will do at first eagerly , and so continue , till by reason of faintness they can scarce stand on their leggs , and then they must go forth into the cold . also they beat their shins with sticks , and cause them to run through bushes , stumps , and brambles to make them hardy and acceptable to the devil , that so in time he may appear unto them . their sachems are not all kings , but only some few of them , to whom the rest resort for protection , and pay them homage : neither may they make war without their knowledge and approbation . every sachim takes care for the widdows , fatherless , aged , or maimed , if their friends be dead , or not able to provide for them . a sachim will not marry any but such as are equal in birth to him , lest his seed prove ignoble ; and though they have many other wives , yet are they but concubines , or servants , and yield obedience to the queen , who orders the family , and them in it . the other subjects do the same , and will adhere to the first during their lives , but put away the other at their pleasure . their government is successive , not elective . if the sachims child be young when his father dies , he is committed to the protection , and tuition of some one amongst them , who rules for him till he be of age . every sachem knows the bounds and limits of his kingdom , out of which , if any of his men desire land wherein to set their corn , he gives them as much as they can use . in these limits , he that hunts and kills any venison , gives the sachim his fee ; if it be killed on the land , he hath part of the flesh ; if in the water , then the skin only : the great sachems or kings know not their bounds so well . all travellers or strangers usually lie at the sachims house , and when they come , they tell them how long they will stay , and whither they are going ; during which time they are entertained according to their quality . once a year the priests provoke the people to bestow much corn on the sachim , and accordingly at a certain time and place , the people bring many baskets of corn , and make a great stack thereof near to the sachems house . there the priests stands ready to return them thanks in the name of the sachim , who fetches the same , and is no less thankful , bestowing many gifts upon them . when any are visited with sickness , their friends resort to them to comfort them , and oft continue with them till death or recovery ; if they dye they stay to mourn for them , which they perform night and morning for many dayes after their burial : but if they recover , because their sickness was chargeable , they send them corn and other gifts , whereupon they feast , and dance . when they bury their dead , they sew the corps up in a mat , and so bury it . if a sachim dyes , they cover him with many curious mats , and bury all his riches with him , and inclose the grave with a pale . if it be a child , the father will put all his own special jewels , and ornaments into the grave with it : yea , he will cut his hair , and disfigure himself , in token of his great sorrow . if it be the master or dame of the family , they will pull down the mats , and leave the frame of the house standing , and bury them in , or near the same , and either remove their dwelling , or give over house-keeping . the younger sort reverence the elder , and do all mean offices for them when they are together , though they be strangers . boyes and girls may not wear their hair like men and women , but are distinguished thereby . one is not accounted a man , till he doth some notable act , and shews his courage and resolution answerable to his place : the men take much tobacco , but it s counted very odious in a boy so to do . all their names are significant and variable . for when they come to be men and women , they alter them according to their deeds , or dispositions . when a maid is given in marriage , she first cuts her hair , and then wears a covering on her head till her hair is grown again . of their women some are so modest , that they will scarce talk together whilst men are by , and are very chast : others are light , lascivious , and wanton . if a woman hath a bad husband , or affect him not ; if there be war between that and any other people , she will run away from him to the contrary party , where she never wants welcome ; for where there be most women , there is most plenty . when a woman hath her courses , she retires her self from all other company , and lives in a house apart ; after which she washes her self , and all that she hath touched or used , after which she is received into her husbands bed or family . the husband will beat his wife , or put her away for adultery . yet some common strumpets there are , but they are such as either were never married , or are widdows , or that have been put away for adultery : for no man will take such an one to wife . in matters of injustice or dishonest dealing , the sachim examines and punisheth the same . in cases of theft ; for the first offence he is disgracefully rebuked : for the second , he is beaten by the sachim with a cudgle on the naked back : for the third , he is beaten with many stripes , and hath his nose slit , that all men may both know and shun him . if one kill another , he certainly dies for it . the sachim not only sentenceth the malefactor , but executeth the same with his own hands , if the party be present , otherwise he sends his own knife , if he be sentenced to dye by the hands of another that executes the same . but if the offender be to receive any other punishment , he will not receive it but from the sachim himself , before whom being naked , he kneels , and will not offer to run away , though he beat him never so much , it being a greater disparagement for a man to cry when he is corrected , than was his offence and punishment . they are a very witty and ingenious people : they keep account of the time by the moon , or by sommers or winters ; they know divers of the stars by name : they have also many names for the winds : they will guess shrewdly at the wind and weather before hand , by observations in the heavens . their language is very copious and large , and hard to be learned ; and though in an hundred miles distance their languages differ , yet not so much , but they can understand each other . instead of records and chonicles , where any remarkable act is done , in memory of it , either in the very place , or by some path neer adjoyning , they make a round hole in the ground a foot deep , and as much over , which , when others passing by , behold , they enquire the cause and occasion of it , which being once known , they carefully acquaint others with it . and lest such holes should be filled , as men pass by , they will oft renew them . so that if a man travels , and can understand his guide , his journey will be less tedious , by the many historical discourses that will be related to him . you have heard before of the state of new-england in the year . when she was but in her childhood , but being now grown up to more maturity ; take this account of it , which was written by a reverend minister , in january / , who had lived there . years , and therefore hath great reason , and good opportunities to be acquainted with the condition of it . when we came first to new-england in the year . there was then but one town in the country , viz. that of new-plimmouth , which had stood alone for nine years . from that time to this year now beginning . is just fourty years ; in which time there has been an increase of fourty churches in this colony ( but many more in the rest . ) and towns in all new-england , . which for the most part lie along the sea coast for somewhat more than two hundred miles ; only upon connecticut river , there are thirteen towns lying neer together ; and about the massacusets bay , here are above thirty towns within two , three , four , or five miles asunder . and from the sea , which hath rendred boston a very considerable place , and the metropolis of new-england , all the other towns on the sea coast , and those in the country depending upon it . i have lately heard some merchants that knew old boston , say that this is far bigger , and hath ten times more trade than that , having many ships and catches , and they say no less than an hundred catches went from the country this winter to trade in virginia ; besides many others to the west indies , and to several parts of europe . it was doubted for some years , whether there would be a staple commodity in new-england ; but god and time have shewed many , as furs , fish , masts , pipestaves , and deal-board , and such plenty of corn and cattel , that abundance of provision has been yearly transported for the supply of english plantations , the west-indies , and other parts ; in so much as though many gentlemen of great estates in the first year spent their estates , and some of them that were very brave men of publick spirits , were brought very low , both they and theirs : yet in the latter years , many that have risen out of the dust , by a way of trading and merchandising , have grown unto great estates ; some to ten , others to twenty , yea thirty or fourty thousand pound estate . in the year . began the combination of the united colonies of new-england , which have much encrersed since then ; every one of them having their distinct pattents , except new-haven , which for want of a pattent , was since the coming in of our king , taken into the colony of connecticut ; and though very many of the first commers are now dead and gone , yet there is grown up such a numerous posterity here , that it 's thought there are twenty times more english people now in the country , then ever came into it . and it 's believed by many observing men , that there are many above ten hundred thousand souls . most of the first magistrates are dead , and not above two left in the massacusets ; but one in plymouth , one at connecticut , and not one at new-haven . there came over from england at several times , chiefly before the year . ninety fore ministers , of which twenty seven returned to england again , and there are now dead in the country thirty six ; and as yet living in the country thirty one . the ministers bred up in new-england , are one hundred thirty two , of which two are dead in the country , fourty one have removed to england , most of them from our colledges , besides other schollars that have in england turned to other professions , and eighty one that are now living in the country , employed in the ministery in several places . there have been several synods in new-england ; the first at cambridge , in the year . wherein the antinomian ▪ and familistical errors were confuted and condemned by the word of god. the second at cambridge in the year . wherein the magistrates power and duty in matters of religion , and the nature and power of synods was cleared . the third , in the year . where it was declared , that in point of doctrine , these churches consented to the confession of faith , put forth by the assembly at westminster ; and in point of discipline , the platform of the discipline of these churches , was then published . the fourth was at boston in the year . concerning the subject of baptism , and consociation of churches . it hath pleased the lord to give such a blessing to the gospel among the indians , that in divers places there are not only many civilized , but divers that are truly godly , and shame the english , and are much hated by others of their own country men , though that work has met with many obstructions and remoraes ; chiefly by the death of some of the choicest instruments , and many of the best of the indians ; yet it may be well believed , that there is such a seed of the gospel scattered among them , which will grow unto a further harvest in god's time . the description of the island of barbados : with an account of the trees , plants , herbs , roots , fowls , birds , beasts , fishes , insects , &c. as also of their sugar-canes , ingenio's and manner of making their sugars . the first discovery made of this island was by a ship of sir william curte'us , which returning from pernambock in brasile , being driven by foul weather upon this coast , chanced to fall upon this island , which is not far out of the way , being one of the most windwardly islands of all the carribies ; and anchoring before it , they stayed some time to inform themselves of the nature of of the place , which by tryals in several places , they found to be so over grown with wood , as that there could be no champion ground discovered wheron to plant ; nor found they any beasts , or cattel there , save hoggs , whereof there were abundance . the portugals having long before put some on shore for breed , in case they should at any time by foul weather be driven to , or cast upon on this island , that so they might there find fresh meat to serve them upon such an exigence . and the fruits and roots that grew there , afforeded them so great plenty of food , that now they were multiplied abundantly . in so much as the indians of the leeward islands that were within sight , coming thither in their canoos , and finding such game to hunt as these hoggs were , whose flesh was so sweet , and excellent in tast , they came often thither a hunting , staying sometimes a moneth together before they returned home , leaving behind them certain tokens of their being there , which were pots of several sizes made of clay , so finely tempered , and turned with such art , as the like to them for fineness of mettle , and curiosity of turning , are not made in england , in which they boiled their meat . this discovery being made , and advice thereof sent to their friends in england ; other ships were sent with men , provisions , and working tools , to cut down the woods , and clear the ground wherein to plant provisions for their sustentation , till then , finding food but straglingly in the woods . but when they had cleared some quantity of land , they planted potato's , plantines , and maies , or indian wheat , with some other fruits , which together with the hoggs , which they found there , served only to keep life and soul together . and their supplies from england coming so slow , and so uncertainly , they were oft driven to great extremities : and the tobacco that grew there , was so earthy and worthless , as that it gave them little or no return from england , or other places ; so that for a while they lingered in a doubtful condition . for the woods were so thick , and most of the trees so large and massy , as that they were not to be faln by so few hands : and when they were laid along , the boughs were so thick and and unweldy , as required more help of strong and active men to lop , and remove them off the ground ; which continued so for many years , in somuch as they planted potato's , maies , and bonavists between the boughs as the trees lay on the ground . yet not long after they planted indigo , and ordered it so well , as that it sold in london at very good rates : and their cotten woll , and fustick wood , proved very good and staple commodities : so that having these four sorts of commodities , to traffique with all ; some ships were invited in hope of gain by that trade , to come and visit them , bringing for exchange , such commodities as they wanted , to wit , working-tools , iron , steel , clothes , shirts , drawers , hose and shooes , hats , and more hands . so that beginning to find good by this trade , they set themselves hard to work , and lived in much better condition . but when their sugar-canes had been planted three or four years , they found that to be the principal plant whereby to raise the value of the whole island ; and therefore bent all their endeavours to improve their knowledge and skill in planting them , and making sugar . which knowledg , though they studied hard , was long in learning . this island which we call barbado's lies in thirteen degrees and about thirty minutes of northern latitude : the usual bay into which ships put , is carlile bay , which without exception is the best in the island , and is somewhat more than a league over , and from the points of the land to the bottom of the bay , is twice as much . upon the innermost part of this bay stands a town called the bridge ; for that a long bridge was at first made over a little nook of the sea , which yet indeed is rather a bogg than a sea. this town is ill scituated ; the planters looking more after conveniencie than health . but one house being erected , another was set up by it for neighbourhood , and than a third , and a fourth , till at last it became a town : divers storehouses were also built there wherein , to stow their goods , being so neer and convenient for the harbour . but their great oversight was to build a town in so unhealthfull a place . for the ground being somewhat lower within the land than the sea banks are , the spring-tides flow over , and so remain there , making much of that flat a kind of bog , or marish , which sends out so loathsome a savour , as cannot but breed ill blood , and probably is the occasion of much sickness to those that live there . the ground on either side this bay ( but chiefly that to the eastward ) is much firmer , and lies higher , and therefore with some charge , may be made as convenient as the bridge , and much more healthfnl . three more bayes there be of note in this island . one to the eastward of this , which they call austins bay : the other are to the west of carlile-bay . the first whereof is called mackfields bay ; the other spikes bay ; but neither of these three are environed with land , as carlile bay is ; but being to the leeward of the island , and of good anchorage , they seldome are in danger , unless in the time of the turnado , when the winds turn about to the south ; and then if they be not well moved , the ships are subject to fall foul one upon another , and sometimes are driven a ground . for the leeward part of the island , being rather shelvy than rocky , they are seldom or never cast away . the leng the hot island is twenty eight miles , and the breadth in some places seventeen miles , in others twelve ; so that they make about three hundred nitety two square miles in the whole island . it rises highest in the middle , so that when you come within sight of this happy island , the nearer you come , the more beautiful it appears to the eye . for being in it self exceeding beautiful , it 's best discerned , and best judged of when your eyes become full mistris of the object . there you may see the high , large , and lofty trees with their spreading branches , and flourishing tops , which seem to be beholding to the earth and roots that gave them such plenty of sap for their nourishment , which makes them grow to that perfection of beauty and largeness : whil'st they by way of gratitude return their cool shade to secure and shelter the earth from the suns heat , which otherwise would scorch and dry it up . so that bounty and goodness in the one , and gratefulness in the other , serve to make up this beauty , which alwayes would lie empty and waste . by the commodity of the scituation of this island , which is highest in the midst , the inhabitants within have these advantages . first , a free prospect into the sea ; then a reception of a opure and refreshing air , and breezes that come from thence : the plantations overlooking one another , so as the more in most parts are not debarred , nor restrained of their liberties of the view to the sea by those that dwell between them and it . whil'st the sun is in the aequinoctial , or within ten degrees of either side , there is little change in the length of the dayes , for at six and six the sun rises and sets : but when it s nearer the tropick of capricorn , and in thirty seven degrees from them , then the dayes are something shorter , and this shortning begins about the end of october . eight moneths in the year the weather is very hot , yet not scalding , but that servants , both christians and slaves labour and travel ten hours in a day . for as the sun rises , there rises with it a cool brees of wind ; and the higher , and hotter the sun rises , the stronger and cooler the breeses are , and blow alwaeis from the north-east and by east , except in the time of the turnado : for then it sometimes chops about into the south for an hour or two , and so returns about again to the point where it was . the other four moneths it is not so hot , but is near the temper of the air in england in the midst of may. and though in the hot season the planters sweat much , yet do they not find that faintness which we find in england in the end of july , or in the beginning of august . but with this heat , there is such a moisture as must of necessity cause the air to be unwholsome . the planters there are s●eldom thirsty , unless they over heat their bodies with extraordinary labour , or with drinking strong drink , as our english spririts , or french brandy , or the drink of the island , which is made of the scummings of the coppers that boil the sugar , which they call kill-devil . for though some of these be needful in such hot countries when they are used temperately , yet the immoderate use of them over-heats the bodie , which causeth costiveness , and gripings in the bowels ; which is a disease that is very frequent there , and hardly cured , and of which many die . their blood also is thinner and paler than ours in england : nor is their meat so well relished as it is with us , but flat and insipid ; the hogs-flesh only excepted , which is as good as any in the world. their horses and cattel seldom drink , and when they do , it s but in a little quantity , except they be over heated with working . the moisture of the air causes all their knives , tweeses , keys , needles , swords , &c. to rust , and that in an instant . for if you grind your rusty knife upon a grind-stone , wipe it dry , and put it into your sheath , and pocket , in a little time after draw it again , and you shall find it beginning to rust all over ; which in longer time will eat into the steel and spoil the blade . locks also which are not often used , will rust in the wards and become useless . and clocks and watches will seldom or never go true , and all this is occasioned by the moistness of the air. this great heat and moisture together is certainly the cause that trees and plants , grow to such a vast height , and largeness as they do there . there is nothing so much wanting in this island as springs and rivers of waters ; there being but very few , and those small and inconsiderable . there is but one river , which may yet be termed rather a lake than a river . the springs that run into it are never able to fill it : and out-let to the sea it hath none ; but at spring-tides the sea comes in and fills it , and at neep-tide it cannot run out again , the sea-banks being higher than it . yet some of it issues out through the sand , and leaves a mixture of fresh and salt water behind it . sometimes these spring-tides bring some fishes into it , which will remain there , being more willing to live in this mixt water , then in the salt . sometimes there have been taken in it fishes as big as salmons , which have been over-grown with fat and very sweet and firm . but fish is not often taken in this place , by reason that the whole lake is filled with trees and roots , so that no net can be drawn , nor hook laid , without danger of breaking and losing . the river or lake reaches not within land above twelve score yards , and there is no part of it so broad , but that you may cast a coit over it . the spring-tides about this island seldom rise above four or five foot upright . into these rivolets there come from the sea little lobsters , but wanting the great claws before , they are the sweetest , and fullest of fish that can be eaten . but the water which the people in this island most relie upon , is rain-water , which they keep in ponds , and have descents to them , so that what falls upon other grounds about , may run into them ; the bottom of these ponds are clay . for if the water find any leak to the rocky part , it gets into the clifts and sinks in an instant . about the end of december these ponds are filled , and with the help they have by weekly showers , they mostly continue so , yet sometimes they find a want . this water they use upon all occasions , and to all purposes , as to boil their meat , to make their drink , to wash their linnen , &c. in these ponds are neither fish nor fry , nor any living or moving things , except some flies that fall into them ; but the water is clear and well tasted ; here their cattel drink also . they also save rain water from the houses , by gutters at the eves which carries it down into cisterns . if any tumult or disturbance be in the island , the next neighbour to it discharges a musquet , which gives an allarum to the whole island . for upon the report of that , the next shoots , and so the next , and the next , ill it go through all , and upon hearing of this all make ready . of their bread. bread which is the staff and stay of mans life , is not so good here as in england ; yet do they account it both nourishing and strengthening . it 's made of the root of a small tree or shrub , which is called cussary . this root is large and round , like the body of a small still , and as they gather it , they cut sticks or blanches that grow neerest to it of the same tree , which they put into the ground , and they grow : so that as they gather one , they plant another . this root when its first gathered is an absolute poison , and yet by good ordering it becomes wholesome and nourishing . first , they wash it clean , and lean it against a wheel , whose sole is about a foot broad , covered with latine made rough like a greater . this wheel is turned about with the foot , as cutlers use to turn theirs , and as it grates the root , it falls down into a large trough which is appointed to receive it . this they put into a strong piece of double canvas , or sack-cloth , and press it so hard , that all the juice is squeezed out , and then drying it in the sun , its fit to make bread , which they do after this manner . they have a plate of iron round , about twenty inches in the diameter , a little hollowed in the mid'st , with three feet like a pot , above six inches high , that they may keep fire under . they heat this pone ( as they call it ) so hot as that it may bake but not burn . then the indians ( who are best acquainted with the making of it ) cast the meal upon the pone the whole breadth of it , and put it down with their hands , and it will presently stick together , and when they think that that side is enough , they turn it with a thing like a battle-dore ; and so turn and re-turn it till it be enough , which is presently done . then laying it upon a flat boord , they make others , till they have made enough for the whole family . they make it as thin as a wafer , and yet purely white and crisp . salt they never use in it , though probably it would give it a better relish . they can hardly make py-crust of it ; for as they knead , or roul it , it will crack or chop , so that it will not hold any liquor , neither with , nor without butter or eggs. there is another sort of bread which is mixed , being made of the flower of maise , and cussary : for the maise of its self will make no bread , it is so extream heavy : but these two being mixed , they make it into large cakes two inches thick , which tastes most like to our english bread. yet the negroes use the maise another way . for they tost the ears of it at the fire , and so eat it warm off the fire . the christian servants are fed with this maise , who pound it in a large morter , and boil it in water to the thickness of frumentry , and then put it into a tray and so eat it ; they give it them cold , and scarce afford them salt to it ; this they call lob-lolly . the third sort of bread which they use , is only potatoes , which are the dryest , and largest which they can choose , and this is the most common sort of bread used at the planters tables . of their drink . their drink is of sundry sorts . the first , and that which is most used in the island is mobby ; a drink made of potatoes ; thus , they put the potatoes into a tub of water , and with a broom wash them clean ; then taking them out , they put them into a large brass or iron pot , and put to them so much water as will only cover a third part of them , then covering the pot close with a thick double cloth , that no steam can get out , they stew them over a gentle fire , and when they are enough , take them out , and with their hands squeeze and break them very small in fair water , letting them stand till the water hath drawn all the spirits out of the roots , which will be done in an hour or two . then they put the liquor and roots into a large linnen bag , and let it run through that into a jar , and within two hours it will begin to work : and the next day it's fit to be drunk ; and as they will have it stronger or weaker , they put in a greater or a less quantity of roots . this drink being temperately made , doth not at all fly up into the head , but is sprightly , thirst-cooling drink . if it be put up into runlets , it will last four or five dayes , and drink the quicker . it is much like renish wine on the must. there are two several layers wherein these roots grow ; the one makes the skins of the potatoes white , the other red , and the red roots make the drink red like claret wine , the other white . this is the most general drink used in the island , but it breeds hydropick humours . another drink they have which is much wholsomer , though not altogether so pleasant , which they call perino , much used by the indians , which is made of the cussavy root . this they cause their old toothless women to chaw in their mouthes , and so spit into water , which in three or four hours will work and purge it self of the poisonous quality . this drink will keep a moneth or two , and drink somewhat like our english beer . grippo is a third sort of drink , but few make it well , and it 's rarely used . punch is a fourth sort , which is made of water and sugar mixt together , which in ten dayes standing will be very strong , and fit for labourers . a fifth is made of wild plumbs which they have in great abundance upon very large trees . these they press and strain , and they have a very sharp and fine flavour : but this being troublesome in making is seldom used . but the drink made of the plantane is far beyond all these . these they gather when they are full ripe , and in the heighth of their sweetness , and peeling off the skin , they wash them in water well boiled ; and after they have stood a night , they strain it , and bottle it up , and at a weeks end drink it . it s a very strong and pleasant drink , as strong as sack , and will fly up into the head , and therefore must be used moderately . the seventh sort of drink they make of the skimmings of their sugar , which is exceeding strong , but not very pleasant : this is commonly , and indeed too much used , many being made drunk by it . this they call kill-devil . the eighth sort of drink they call beveridge , made of spring-water , white-sugar , and juice of oringes . and this is not only pleasant , but wholesome . the last and best sort of drink which the world affords , is the incomparable wine of pines . and this is made of the pure juice of the fruit it self without mixture of water , or any thing else , having in it self a natural compound of all the most excellent tasts that the world can yield . i'ts too pure to keep long . it will be fine within three or four dayes . they make it by pressing the fruit , and straining the liquor , and keep it in bottles . three sorts of meat . they have several sorts of meat there , whereof the hoggs-flesh is the most general , and indeed the best which the island affords . for the swine feeding daily upon fruit , the nuts of locust , pompianes , the bodies of the plantanes , bonanas , sugar-canes , and maise , make their flesh to be exceeding sweet . at the first coming of the english thither , they found hoggs of four hundred pound weight , the intrals taken out , and their heads cut off . beef they seldome have any that feeds upon that island , except it die of it self : only such a planter as was sir james drax ( who lived there like a prince ) may now and then kill one . turkies they have large , fat and full of gravy . also our english pullen , and muscovy ducks , which being larded with the fat of their pork , and seasoned with pepper and salt , is an excellent bak'd meat . turtle doves they have of two sorts , and very good meat . there are also pidgeons which come from the lee-ward islands in september , and stay till christmas to feed upon fruits . many of these they kill upon the trees , and they are exceeding fat , and tast excellently . tame rabbets they have , but they tast faintly , more like chickens then rabbets . they have also divers sorts of birds , but none that they use for food . of their fish. now for fish , the island want not plenty about it , yet the planters look so much after their profit on the land , that they will not spare time to catch it , nor to send to the bridge to buy that which is caught to their hands . but when any have a mind to feast themselves with fish , they go to the taverns at the bridge where they have plenty , and well drest . butter they seldom have that will beat thick ; but instead thereof they use vineger , spice , and fry much of their fish in oyl , and eat it hot ; yet some they pickle , and eat it cold . yet collonel humphrey walrond having his plantation near the sea , hath a saine to catch fish withall , which his own servants and slaves put to sea twice or thrice a week , and bring home store of small and great fishes , as snappers red and gray , cavallos , macarel , mullets , cony-fish , and divers other sorts of firm and sweet fish ; and some bigger then salmons , of the rarest colours that can be imagined , being from the back fin which is the middle of the fish , to the end of the tail , of a most pure grass green , as shining as satin : the fins and tail dappled with a most rare hair-colour ; and from the back fin to the head , a pure hair-colour dappled with green . the scales as big as an half crown piece . it is an exccent sweet fish ; only there is one kind of fish here wanting , which are very rife in the adjacent islands , which is the green turtle , which the best meat that the sea affords . in other places they take an infinite number of them by turning them upon their backs with staves , where they lie till they are fetcht away . a large turtle will have in her body half a bushel of eggs. when they are to kill one of them , they lay it on his back upon a table , and when he sees them come with a knife to kill him , he vapours out the most grievous sighs that ever you heard creature make , and sheds as large tears as a stag. he hath a joynt or crevis about an inch within the utmost edge of his shell , into which they put the knife and rip up his belly , which they call his calipee , and take out his bowels , and heart , which had three distinct points , and this being laid in a dish will stir and pant ten hours after the fish is dead : it 's of a delicate taste and very nourishing . of the quelquechoses . the quelquechoses with which they furnish out their tables at a feast are , eggs potcht , and laid upon sippets soaked in butter , and juice of limes and sugar , with plumpt currans strewed upon them , and cloves , mace , cinamon strewed upon that , with a little salt. eggs boiled , rosted , and fried with collops . buttered eggs , and amulet of eggs , with the juice of limes and sugar , a fraize , and a tansie , custards and cheese cakes , puffs , cream boiled to a heighth with yolks of eggs , and seasoned with sugar and spice , jelly which they make of a young pig , caves-feet , and a cock ; cream alone , and some several wayes with the help of limes , lemmons , and oranges ; and into some they put plantanes , gnavers , and bonanoes stew'd , or preserved with sugar , and the same fruit also preserved without cream , and to draw down a cup of wine , they have dried neats tongues , westfalia-bacon , caviare , pickled-herring , botargo , all which are brought to them . from old and new england , virginia , and holland they have beef , and pork ; as al ling , haberdine , cod , poor - john , makarels , and herrings pickled , and sturgeon . pickled turtles they have from the lee-ward islands . of these things they have had in these latter years such store , that the negroes are allowed for each man two makarels a week , and every woman one , which are given them saturday-nights , after which they have their allowance of plantanes , which is every one a large bunch or two two little ones to serve them for a weeks provision . and if any cattel die by chance , or by any disease , the christian servants eat the bodies , and the negroes the skins , head , and intrals , which is divided to them by the overseers . if a horse dies , the negroes have the whole bodies , and this they think a high feast , with which poor souls were never better contented : and the drink which the servants have to this diet , is nothing but mobby , and sometimes a little beveridge ; but the negroes have nothing but water . when the chief planters make a feast for their friends , it s either made by such as live within land , or neer the sea side . for this inland plantation , my author instanceth in sir james draxe , at whose table he hath seen these several sorts of meat well dressed : and this feast was alwayes made when he killed a beef , which he fed very fat , by allowing it a dozen acres of bonavist to feed in . first , he mentions beef as the greatest rarity in that island of which he had these dishes ; a rump boiled , a chine rosted , a large piece of the breast rosted , a cheek baked , the tongue and part of the tripes in minced-pies , feasoned with sweet herbs finely minced , suet , spice and corrans . the leggs , pallats , and other ingredients for an oleo podigro , and maribones . the guests having eaten well hereof , the dishes were taken away , and then came in a potato-pudding , a dish of scotch collips , of a legg of pork , fricacy of the same , a dish of boiled chickens , a shoulder of a young goat ; a kid with a pudding in his belly , a young pigg exceeding fat and sweet ; a shoulder of mutton which is there a rare dish : a pastry made of the side of a young goat , and a side of a young porket upon it , well seasoned with pepper , salt , and some nutmegs : a loin of veal , to which they have plenty of oringes , lemons , and limes ; three young turkies in a dish , two capons very large and fat , two hens with eggs in a dish ; four ducklings , eight turtle doves , and three rabbets ; and for cold baked meats , two muscovy ducks larded and seasoned with pepper and salt : and when these are taken from the table , another course is set on , of westphalia bacon , dried neats tongues , botargo , pickled oysters , caviare , anchoves , olives , and mixt amongst these , custards , cream , some alone , some with preserved plantanes , bonanoes , gnavers , and these fruits preserved by themselves ; cheesecakes , puffs , sometimes tansies , fraises , or amulets : and for raw fruit , plantaxes , bonanoes . gnavers , milions , prickled pears , anchove pears , prickled apples , custard apples , water milions , and pines , better then all the rest . and to this they had for drink , mobby , beveridge , brandy , kill-devil , drink of the plantanes , claret , white , and rhenish wine , sherry , canary , red sack , wine of fiall , besides several sorts of spirits that come from england . now for a plantation neer the sea , he instances in collonel walronds , who though he wants sheep , goats , and beef , yet he makes a plentiful supply in sundry sorts of fish , which the other wants . for all other sorts of meat which were at sir james draxe his table , he found at collonel walronds , as also mullets , maquerels , parrat-fish , snappers , red and grey , carallos , terbums , crabs , lobsters , long fish , with divers others for which they have no names . besides he dwelling so neer the haven , hath of all the rarities that are brought into the island from other parts ; as wine of all kinds , oyl , olives , capers , sturgeon , neats-tongues , anchoves , caviare , botago , with all sorts of salt meats , both flesh and fish ; as beef , pork , pease , ling , habberdine , cod , poor - john , &c. above one hundred sail of ships come yearly to this island that bring servants and slaves , men and women , horses , beasts , asinegoes , and cammels ; utensils for boiling of sugar ; and all manner of tools for tradesmen , iron , steel , lead , brass , pewter : cloth of all sorts both linen and woollen , stuffs , hats , stockings , shooes , gloves , swords , knives , locks , &c. and many other things . and they carry back indigo , cotten-wool , tobacco , sugar , ginger , and fustick wood . of their several sorts of timber . timber for building they have great choice and plenty : as the locust trees which are so long and big as may serve for beams in a very large room , their bodies are strait , above fifty foot long , the diameter of the body about three foot and a half : the timber hereof is hard , heavy , and firm , not apt to bend , and lasting . the mastick trees not altogether so large as the former , but tougher . the bully tree is somewhat less , but in other qualities goes beyond the former . it 's strong , lasting , yet not heavy , nor so hard for the tools to work upon . the red wood , and yellow prickled wood are good timber , and higher then the locusts . the cedar is the best of all , it works smooth , and looks beautifully ; of it they make wainscot , tables , and stools . they have iron wood , and another sort that will endure wet and dry : of these they make shingles , wherewith they cover their houses , because it will neither warp nor crack . of their stone . they have two sorts of stone for building : the one lies in quarries ; but these are small rough , and somewhat porous : being burnt they make excellent lime , white , and firm , by the help whereof they bind their stones and make them to endure the weather . the other sort of stone they find in rocks , and massy pieces in the ground which are soft , and therefore they saw them to what dimensions they please , and the longer it lies above ground the harder it grows . hangings they use not in their houses , because they would be spoiled by the ants , eaten by the cockroaches , and rats . of their servants and slaves . in the island are three sorts of men , master , servants , and slaves . the slaves and their posterity being subject to their masters for ever , they take more care of them then of their servants , which are theirs but for five years by the law of the island . so that for the time the servants have the worser lives : for they are put to hard labour , ill lodging , and slighted diet . formerly the servants had no bone-meat at all , except a beast died , and then they were feasted as long as that lasted . till they had planted good store of plantans the negroes were fed with bonavisto , and lob-lolly , and some ears of maise tosted ; but now they are well pleased with their plantans , wherein they much delight , and thus they dress it . it 's gathered for them before it's full ripe , by the keeper off the plantan groves , who is an able negro , and laid upon heaps till they fetch them away , which they do every saturday night about five a clock ; for then they give over work sooner then ordinary , partly for this work , and partly because the fire in the furnace is to be put out , and the ingenio to be made clear ; besides they are to wash , shave , and trim themselves against the sabbath . it is a fine sight to see an hundred of these negroes , men and women , every one with a grass-green bunch of plantans on their heads , every bunch twice so big as their heads , all marchin gone after another . having brought it home , they pill off the skin of so much as they will use , and boil it , making it into balls , and so eat it . one bunch a week is a negroes allowance , which they have no bread , nor drink but water , their lodging at night is a boord , with nothing under , nor any thing above upon them . the usage of the christian servants is much as the master is , whether merciful , or cruel . such as are merciful , use their servants well , both in meat , drink , and lodging . but the lives of such servants as have cruel masters , is most miserable . when any ships bring servants thither , the planters buy such of them as they like , and with a guide send them to their plantations , where they must presently build them a cabin , or else lie upon the ground . these cabins are made with sticks , wit hs , and plantane leaves , under some little shade that may keep off the rain . the food is a few potatoes for meat , and water or mobby for drink . at six of the clock in the morning they are rung out to work with a bell , with a rigid overseer to command them , till the bell ring again at eleven of the clock , and then they go to dinner , either with a mess of lob-lolly bonavist , or potatoes . at one of the clock they are rung out again , where they work till six , and then home to a supper of the same . but now their lives are much better ; for most servants lie in hamocks , in warm rooms , and when they come home wet from work , they have shifts of shirts and drawers , which is all the clothes they wear , and are fed with bone-meat twice or thrice in a week . of their great fires . sometimes through carelesness of servants , whole fields of sugar canes , and houses have been burnt down : for if the canes take fire , there is no quenching of them , they burn so furiously , and make a terrible noise ; for each knot of every cane , gives as great a report as a pistol . there is no way to stop it but by cutting down , and removing all the canes before it for the breadth of twenty or thirty foot down the wind ; and there the negroes stand and beat it out as it creeps along ; and some of them are so earnest to stop it , as with their naked feet to tread , and to roll their naked bodies upon it , so little do they regard their own smart in regard of their masters benefit . when negroes are brought to be sold , the planters go to the ship to buy them , where they find them stark naked , and therefore cannot be deceived in any outward infirmity . the strongest , youngest , and most beautiful yield the best prizes ; thirty pound is the price for the best , and about twenty five pound for a woman negro ; children are much cheaper . they are very chast people . for when at sometimes they are altogether naked , they will not so much as cast their eyes upon those parts which ought to be covered . jealous they are of their wives , and , and take it hainously if any make the least courtship to them . and if any woman hath two children at a birth , her husband provides a cord to hang her , concluding that she hath been false to his bed : and if by the authority of his master , he be overawed , yet he never loves her after . the planters allow some of them two or three wives , but no women above one husband . when a wife is brought to bed , the husband removes into another room , leaving his wife upon a boord on which she lies , and calls a neighbour to her , who makes her a little fire near her feet , and that serves for possets , broths , and candles . in a fortnight she is at her work again with her pickaninny ( so they call their children ) at her back , as merry as any other . they have times of suckling their children , and refreshing themselves in the fields ; and good reason , for they carry a burden on their backs , and work too . some of them when their children are three years old , as they stoop in their weeding-work , will set their pickaninnies a stride on their backs , where he will spur his mother with his heels , and crow on her back , clapping his hands as if he meant to fly , which the mother is so well pleased with , that she will continue her painful stooping work longer then she would do , rather then discompose her jovial pickaninny , so glad she is to see him merry . the sabbath dayes they have wholly to their pleasures : in the afternoons they have kettle-drums to make them musick , and they all go to dancing , the men by themselves , and the women by themselves , and sometimes the men wrestle amongst themselves . when any of them die , they make a grave , and bury him in the evening , clapping their hands , and making a doleful sound with their voices . they are cowardly , and therefore bloody , when they have advantages . if you threaten before you punish them , they will hang themselves to avoid the punishment . if they have bruises or strains , they anoint themselves with a kind of oyl that comes out of barbary that cures them . when they are sick , or inwardly distempered , a little kill-devil revives , and comforts them . the young maids have usually large breasts that stand strutting out , hard and firm , but when they are old , and have had children , their breasts hang down below their navels . they are excellent swimmers and divers , both men and women . some indians they have from the neighbouring islands , or from the continent , whose women are better versed in ordering the cussavy , and making bread then the negroes ; as also for making mobby . the men they use for foot-men , and killing of fish. one of them will go out with his bows and arrows , and in a dayes time will kill more fish then will serve a family of a dozen persons whil'st it is good . they are very active and learn any thing sooner then the negroes : their women have small breasts , long black hair : clothes they scorn to wear , especially if they be well shaped , only they wear something before their privities . one of these women being got with child by a christian servant , when the time of her travel came , being loth to be delivered amongst the men , went alone to a wood , where was a pond of water , by which she was delivered , and washing her child in the water , within three hours came home again with her child in her arms , which was a lusty boy . some of the planters feed daily two hundred mouthes , and keep them in such good order , as there is no mutinies amongst them , though they be of several nations . their first work is weeding , which if it be neglected but a little time , all is in danger of being spoiled . after weeding comes planting , especially in may , and november : but canes may be planted at all times , that so one field may be ready after another . commonly one field contains about twelve acres . of their beasts and cattel . some camels they have which are brought to them , and they are very useful for carrying down sugar to the bridge , or bringing from thence hogsheads of wine , beer , or vineger , which horses cannot do , neither can carts pass , the wayes are so rocky and uneven . one of these will carry one thousand six hundred pound weight , and therefore the surest of any beast . some horses they have which are brought from several countries , and they use them either for the ingenio , or for the saddle . some bulls and cows they have from the isle of may , and bonavista . the bulls and oxen they use for labour in the ingenio's , and the cows for the pail . a calf here will bring a calf in fourteen moneths . asinegoes they have which are of excellent use for carrying sugar to the bridge : for they will go where horses cannot , by reason of the gullies , and deep wayes : one of them will carry one hundred and fifty pound weight , and some two hundred . hogs they have in abundance which they keep ininclosures ; and they use to sell them alive for d. a pound , and sometime for d. if they be dear . sheep they have but few , neither do they thrive in that pasture . yet the ews have constantly two lambs , but their flesh doth not eat well . some sheep they have from guinny , and binny , that have hair instead of wooll , and their flesh is more like to mutton then the other . goats they have in great plenty , and they prosper well , and tast like our goats : they live in the woods , and are always inclosed . of their birds and fowls . birds they have , but two sorts worth the mentioning . the biggest is a buzzard , somewhat less then ours , and swifter of wing ; the only good they do , is , that they sometimes kill rats . the other is the larger turtle dove , of which there is great store . it 's handsomer both in shape and colour then ours in england , and is very good meat . there is also a lesser turtle , a far finer bird then she . it 's of the shape of a partridge , her colour grey , and a red brown under the wings . there is also a bird like a thrush , of a melancholly look , and her feathers stand alwayes ruffling ; she hath loud and very sweet notes . another there is much like a ren , but as big as a trush , she alwayes looks very merry and jolly . there are great flocks of blackbirds with white eyes , they have a harsh note like our jayes in england : they are great devourers of corn , and blossoms of trees . they have a kind of stares which walk , but hop not as other birds do . they have other like feldefares with big heads , and therefore they call them councellers , they have a strange tune , consisting of quarter notes , composed of five tones , and every one a quarter note higher then the other . they have sparrows , haysocks , finches , yellow-hammers , titoies , and divers others , for which they have no names : and the humming bird , not much bigger then a humble bee , wheerof i have one . sometimes teals come to their ponds , which they kill with their guns . the like they do with fowls called oxen and kine . there is another that they call a man of war , much bigger then a heron , and flies out to sea to see what ships are coming , and when he returns , they know that ships are neer . there are bats that come abroad in the evening and feed on flies . of snakes and insects . there are some snakes of a yard long ; the harm they do is in dove-houses , into which if they can get , they devour the young ones ; and they will skim the milk-pans when they can get to them . there is no venomous beast in the island . there are scorpions some as big as rats , smooth , and coloured like a snake , their bellies inclining to yellow , very nimble and quick , they hurt none ; the snakes and they will fight long , and in the end the snake prevails , and devours the other . frogs and toads they have none . there would be lizzards but that the cats kill them ; they love much to be where men are , and will gaze in their faces , and hearken to their discourse ; their bodies are about four inches long , and their tails neer as much , headed like a snake in their colour , when they please , a pure grass-green on the back , blewish towards the sides , and yellowish towards the belly , and four nimble legs , and as cold as froggs . they have cock-roaches of the bigness and shape of a beetle , of a pure hair-colour ; they appear in the evening , and they will fly to your bed , and if you be sleeping , he will bite till he fetches blood , and presently begon , that you seldom find them . the muskitoes bites and string worse then gnats . next to these are merriwings , and of so evial a substance , that you can hardly discern them but by the noise of their wings ; when they sting , there arises a little knob which will continue so a whole day . caterpillers sometimes they have in great abundance , which do much harm , devouring the potato-plants to the very roots . flies they have of so many kinds , from two inches long with great horns to the least atome , so that it 's too tedious to speak of them all . they have ants and pismires of a small size , but of a great industry ; they are every where , in hollow ground amongst the root of trees , upon the bodie , branches , leaves , and fruit of all trees ; without houses , within their houses , upon their sides , walls , windows , roofs , tables , cupboords , stools , beds , floors , all within and without are covered with them . when they find a dead cockroch , though he be bigger then a hundred of them , yet they will take hold of him and lift him up , and away they carry him , some going by to assist those that are weary ; some ( like officers ) lead the way to shew the hole into which he must pass , and if his body do lie a cross that it cannot go into the hole , they give notice to the carriers , that presently turn his body endwise before it come to the hole , and that without any stop , and they never pull contrary wayes . the planters which are so curious to prevent their coming upon their tables , cupboards , and beds , have little troughs filled with water for the feet of these to stand in ; yet all will not prevail , for they will get in the scieling , and so fall down upon them . to keep them from the shelves on which their meat stands , they are forced to hang them to the roof with ropes , and to tar those ropes and the roofs over them . when a carpet upon a table is covered over with them , if you kill many , and let them alone but a while , they will carry away all the dead ones . if you set sugar upon a table which you have first freed from them , some in the room will presently smell it , and make towards it as fast as they can , and having found it , return again without medling with it , and gives notice of this booty , and then they come in thousands and ten thousands , and in an instant fetch it all away ; so that there is no place safe from these over-busie creatures . another sort of ants there are far larger , that make their nests as big as bee-hives , of clay against a wall or tree , and sometimes within houses , they make them of several little cels . these the cockrocha , and lizards make their prey upon ; wherefore for their own security , they make several galleries , some of five or six yards long of clay also , through which they pass undiscovered : their avenues go out amongst laaves or moss , that they may not be perceived : by often breaking down their nests , they are now most of them driven into the woods . spiders they have , most beautiful and large , and very curious in their webs , and not venomous . another harmful creature they call chegoes , in shape not much unlike a lowse , no bigger then a mite that breeds in cheese , their colour is blewish ; they get through your stockings into a place of you skin , most commonly under the nailes of your toes , and they lay their off-spring as big as a small tare , which will make you go very lamely , and put you to much smarting pain . the indian women will put in a small needle at the hole , and winding the point about the bag , loosen him from the flesh , and so take him out , but the place will fester and rankle a fortnight after they are gone . some little animals there are in the woods no bigger then crickets , that lie all day in holes , but after sun setting they begin their tunes , having exceeding shrill voices like a pack of small beagles . this musick hath no intermission till morning , and then all is hush't . there are many small crabs that live upon the land , of a reddish colour , they are coming from the sea all the year long ( excepting march ) and hide themselves in holes , and hollow trees , and come into their houses and gardens , where they eat herbs . the negroes will eat them , and count them good meat . in march they come all out of their holes and march to the sea in such multitudes as that they cover the earth : no hedge , wall , or house can stop them , but they will over all . now for trees . amongst the trees , there is none of more use then the physick nut , and yet hath it poison secretly lodged in it , but that poison makes good physick : this tree grows to be eighteen foot high ; there are none like it for beauty , and use in the island . it hath many sprigs upon it of four , five , and six foot long , which they lop off one after another , and of them make stakes of above four long , and stick them in the ground an inch deep , close to one another , and keep them even with a rail on either side , and in a moneths space they will take root , and send forth leaves ; and in another moneth will be rooted so fast , that they take away the the railes . these leaves are large , smooth , and beautifully shaped , of a full green , looking like green sattin hang'd on a line , so even they hang naturally . their stems grow apace , rather in bigness then in heighth , and within a while imbody themselves one into another , and then they become a very strong fence , and so close that a rat cannot pass through them , neither will cattel or vermin willingly come near them . and as it 's a beautiful and useful fence for gardens and orchards , and to keep in conies , turkies , muscovy-ducks , so it excellently fences in their pastures which they would inclose . their fruit also is phisical : five of its kernels eaten in a morning fasting , causes both vomits and stools . this nut is like to a white pear-plumb , and of a yellowish colour , and of yellowish colour , having on it as great a peelp as a plumb , which being taken off , you come to the stone of a blackish colour , and within that is a kernel that will part in the middle , where you shall find a thin film of a faint carnetion colour . take off that film , and you may eat the kernel safely without any operation at all , and it 's as sweet as a jordans almond . the leaves are sharp some like a vine leaf , but thrice as big , and much thicker . the poison tree is very beautiful , almost as large as the locust : her leaves as large and beautiful as the lawrel leaves , and very like them . as they cut down these trees they have cipers over their faces : for if any of their sap flies into their eyes , it makes them blind for a moneth after . of this timber they make most of the vessels wherein they cure their sugar . there is a mantionel tree whose fruit is poison . the fruit is like an apple john , and ( they say ) that the indians invenom their arrows with it . the cussavy is rather a shrub then a tree , the sprigs as big as a broom-staff , crooked and ill shaped ; the leaves grow so thick as to cover them , and they grow in bunches , each of them an inch broad , and six or seven inches long , of a dark green. the growth of the roots , and the use of them is set down before . coloquintida is a very beautiful fruit , as big as an ostrages egg , of an ill taste , the rind smooth , with various greens interlaced with murries , yellows , and faint carnations . cassia fistula is a tree which grows exceeding fast . a seed of it being set will in one year grow to be eight foot high , and as thick as a walking staff . the leaf is like that of an ash , but much longer , and of a darker colour . the fruit when it 's ripe is of shape like a black puddling , sometimes sixteen inches long , the pulp of it is progatine , and a great cooler of the reins . there is a plant very like a sugar cane : if it be chewed in the mouth , it causes the tongue and throat so to swell , that the party cannot speak for two dayes . there are tammerine trees , and palm trees planted which were brought from the east-india . the palm yields excellent wine , which is thus gathered : they cut off the bark in such a part of the tree , where a bottle may be fitly placed , and the liquor that runs into it , is excellent good for a day , and no longer . it 's a very delicious liquor . the fig-trees are very large , but bear a small and contemptible fruit , neither are the leaves like ours , nor so long by a fifth part . the bodies of the trees are as long as our elms. the cherry tree is not altogether so large , the fruit is useless and insiped ; the colour some resembling our cherries , and the shape not unlike . the citron is a small tree , though she bears a great fruit , which weighs it down to the ground , the stalk of a dark colour , the leaf shaped like that of limon , but of a dark green . the orange trees do not prosper so well , neither is their fruit so kindly as those of bermudas : large they are , and full of juice , but not delicious ; besides ther full of seeds , and their rinds thin and pale . these trees do not last in their prime above seven years . the limon tree is much handsomer and larger ; their fruits is large and full of juice , and of a fragrant smell . the lime tree is like a thick holly-bush in england , and as full of prickles . when they make a hedge of them about their houses , it 's an excellent fence both against the negroes , and cattel . it 's commonly of seven or eight foot high , extreamly thick of leaves , and fruit , and prickles . the leaves and fruit like those of the limon-tree , yet in the tast of rind , and juice it differs exceedingly . it 's very fit for sauce , but eats not well alone . the prickled apple-tree grows on a tree with very thick leaves , large and of a deep green , shaped like our walnut leaves . the fruit is in fashion in heart of an oke , and of that bigness ; green on the outside with many prickles on it . the tast is very like that of a musty limon . the pilchard pear is much purer in tast , and better of shape , not much unlike a greenfield pear , of a faint green , inter mixed with some yellow near the stalk : the body of a mixt red , partly crimson , partly stammel , with prickles of yellow near the top , the end being larger then the middle . the pomgranate is a beautiful tree , the leaves small and green , mixed with an olive colour ; the blossoms large , well shaped , and of a pure scarlet colour . the young trees being set in rows , and kept in with cutting , make a very fine hedge . the fruit is well known amongst us . the papa is but a small tree ; the bark of a faint willow colour , the leaves large , and of colour like the bark ; the branches grow out four , or five of one heighth , and spread almost level from the place where they sprang out ; about two foot higher are such other branches spreading in the same manner . the top is handsomly formed , the fruit as big turnips , growing close to the body of the tree where the branches grow , and of somewhat a fainter willow colour . the tree is soft , with a knife a man may cut down one that is as thick as a mans legg . they boil the the fruit , and eat it for sauce with pork like turnips . the gnaver-tree is bodied and shaped like a cherry-tree , the leaves somewhat larger and stiffer ; the fruit of the bigness of a small limon , and near of the colour , only the upper end is somewhat blunter : it 's soft and of a delicate tast , within is a pulpy substance full of small seeds , like a figg , some are white , and some of a stammel colour . these when they have passed through the body of man or beast , wheresover they are emptied , they grow , and do much hurt in the pastures where cattel go that eat of them : for they over run all , and are hardly rooted out . the fruit differs in tast , some rank , some sweet . the rind preserved is delicate meat . some cocos there are , they are seldom above eighty or ninety foot high . their branches come out in several parts of the trees , leaving spaces between the several heights : the nuts grow where the lower bows break out : the nuts are of several sizes , mostly as big as a foot-ball , having a green skin without ▪ and between that and the shell a pulpy substance , of which when it 's dry they make ropes , being like hemp hurds . the shell is full of a clear and well-tasted liquor , very delicious ; it 's lined within with a substance as thick as itself , of a white colour that tasts better then a walnut : the leaves of this tree in colour are like the olive leaves . the custard apple grows on a tree full of branches , and large leaves : the fruit when ripe , is as big as the largest pomwater , and of the colour of a warden ; they cut a hole in the lesser end , and so eat out the meat with a spoon : it tasts exceeding like to a custard . it hath many smooth seeds in it . the macow-tree is one of the strangest trees in the island , the body and branches being stuck all over with prickles , as black as jet , from one to seven inches long , sharp at point , and taperwise all the way , and waved as some swords are ; they are hard and excellent for tooth-pikes . the tree is of the size of a willow-tree , the leaves of that colour and shape , but very stiff and hard . at the top is a large tuft of fruit , but not to be eaten , being for shape like that which the ciprus-tree bears : the body is straight , the branches comely , and the top round . date-trees are in colour like these , but the leaves longer . the mangrave , though she be not tall , yet is she of large extent . for there drops from her limbs a kind of gum which hangs together till it touch the ground , and then it takes root : so that this tree so multiplies , that a troop of horse may well hide themselves in it . of the bark they make very strong ropes : and the indians spin it into a fine thred as flax make . of it they make hamocks , and divers things which they wear . the calibash-tree bears leaves , of a full and rich green , and in great plenty ; her fruit is as big as that of a coco , but not to be eaten : round as a ball , and green , smooth , and shining : they grow close to the body of the tree , or boughs , without stalks . of this round fruit they make dishes , bowls , and cups , and other utensils . they look very beautiful on the tree . there are bay-trees whose leaves are so aromatick , as three or four of them will amply supply the place of cloves , mace , and cinamon in dressing any dish of meat . it 's in shape and colour like ours in england . the cedar is the most useful timber in the island . it 's strong , lasting , and not very heavy , and therefore good for building . it works smoothly , and hath a fair grain , and therefore is much used for wainscot , chairs , stools , and other utensils ; the leaves are like those of the ash-trees in england , but somewhat bigger . the mastick-tree is very tall , but the body is slender , and therefore to support her , she hath spurs above seven foot from the ground , fixt into the body , and reach from the tree to the roots : so broad that they make round tables of them , above three foot and an half in the diameter . this tree hath commonly a double top , one side being somewhat higher then the other . the fruit is of a stammel colour , and hath neither skin nor stone , and is unwholsome . the leaves of it grow of such an heighth , that the form cannot be discerned till they fall down . some of these trees are about sixty foot high . the bully-tree is somewhat less , but excellent wood to work on : it bears a fruit like our bullies . her body is strait , and well shap't , her branches proportionable ; the timber very lasting . red-wood is an handsome tree of a midling size , the body about two foot and and an half in the diameter : the timber works so well that workmen commend it above all other . prickled yellow wood is as good as the red-wood , strong and lasting : good for building , and all work without doors . iron-wood is so extream hard , that it breaks the axes that fall it . it is so heavy that it is seldom used in buildings . it is good for any use without doors . for neither sun nor rain can soften it . it 's much used for coggs to the rollers . signum vitae , they use for the same purpose . they send much of it to england : where it 's used for bowls , cabinets , drinking cups , &c. the loust-tree is like a tuscane pillar , plain and massie : for the burden it bears being great and ponderous , ought to have a body proportionable thereunto . some of them are four foot in the diameter near the root , and . foot high growing taper-wise . the head is neither too heavy , nor too light , the branches large ; the springs , leaves , and nuts so thick , that one may lie upon them . the nuts are . inches and a half long , and two inches broad , and an inch thick : the shell somewhat thick , of an hair colour : the leaves bigger then those of our ashes . in every nut are three or four kernels . in times of famine poor people eat them for their sustenance . there is also a bastard locust-tree that looks fair , but will not last . the palmeto hath a body of fourty five or fifty foot high , the diameter , seldom above sixteen inches : the rind , of a poor ash color full of wrinkles ; the leaves about two foot and a half long , in bunches as if twenty long flag-leaves were tied together by the broad ends : with bundles of these they thatch houses very neatly , which is dry , warm , and lasting . the palmeto royal is the stateliest tree that grows on earth , for beauty and largeness not to be parallel'd . when she is about ten or twelve years old , she is about seventeen foot high ; that part which touches the ground is round like 〈◊〉 inkhorn , above which the body of the tree is less , like that part which holds the pen. the body is tawny , and purple , with rings of white and green mixed , that go round about , and stand at six inches distance . about six foot and an half high , grow the bottom of the stalks , thin as parchment , enwrapping one another so close , as to make a continued stem of the same bigness for two foot and an half above the others , every one of those skins bearing a stalk which lessens insensibly from the skin to the point . these branches are of several lengths , the most inward are the highest ; and each stalk is adorned with leaves , and each of these leaves sharp at either end ; the stem is of a pure grass green shining like velom , and all the branches with the leaves of a full grass green , and speading every way , and the highest of them eight foot above the stem . the branches sprout from the middle of tree , one at once , and as it opens it spreads the leaves abroad , at which time the eldest branch withers , and hangs down till the wind blows it off . then comes forth another , and another , and still there is a pike , and a dead leaf , a pike and a dead leaf as the tree growes higher and higher , which is till she be one hundred years old . about thirty or fourty yeas old she begins to bear her fruit , which is of the bigness of large grapes , some green , some yellow , some purple , and then they are ripe when they come to be purple , and fall down ; and then the green turns yellow , and the yellow purple , and so take their turns till the tree gives over bearing . these trees grow till some of them be two hundred , yea three hundred foot high . the top of this tree is of a vast extent , for from the point of the branches on the one side , to the point of the stalk on the other side is seventy eight foot , yet are none of the roots of this tree bigger then a swans quil ; but there are many of them , and they fasten themselves in the rock which makes the tree , though so high , and big , able to stand against all wind and weather . the wood of this tree is so hard and tough , that it breakes the axes of those those that fell it . there are many other sorts of trees , some exceeding large aud beautiful , for which they have no names . of plants . the ginger is a root that brings forth blades like the blades of wheat , but broader , and thicker : they are of a popinary colour , and the blossome of a pure scarlet . when the ginger is ripe , they dig it up , being the root , and scrape off the outward skin to kill the spirits of it , for else it would grow perpetually . others scald it to kill the spirits , and that will be black and hard as wood , whereas the scraped ginger is white , and soft , and hath a cleaner , and quicker tast . red pepper . there are two sorts of red pepper ; the one like coral , of a crimson and scarlet colour mixt : the fruit about three inches long , and shines more then the best polished coral . the other is of the same colour , and glisters as much , but is shaped like a large button of a cloake ; they have both the same quality ; so violently strong , that when they break but the skin , it causes them to cough for a quarter of an hour after the fruit is removed ; but whil'st they are grabling of it , they never give over . it grows on a little shrub no bigger then a goosbberry-bush . they have excellent good cucumbers from the beginning of november , to the end of february , they eat them cold with oyle , vineger , and pepper . but boiled or fried they use them for sauce with mutton , pork , turkies , and muscovy ducks . millions they have likewise for those four moneths : for the most part larger then ours in england , and eat moister . some of them are sixteen inches long . the water million is one of the goodliest fruits that grows : some as big as cloak-bags ; purely green , engravened with straw-colour . no inch of the rind is alike , and they are as smooth as polished glass ; within , they are like an apple for colour , but in tast waterish and wallowish . it 's rarely cooling and excellent against the stone . the seeds are of a pure purple ; they are full of these seeds . grapes they have which are indifferently well tasted , but they are never ripe together : there are alwayes some green , some ripe , and some rotten grapes in a bunch , and therefore they cannot make wine of them . the fruit of the plantane is of great use , and beauty too . in planting them they put a root into the ground six inches deep , and in a very short time there will come out three or four sprouts , whereof one hath the precedence . as this sprout grows , it springs from the intrinsick part of the stem , and the out leaves hang down and rot ; but still new ones come within , and rise up as the palmeto does , like a pike which opens with the sun , and becomes a leaf , and when it 's eight or ten foot high , the pikes and leaves will be of their full bigness , and so continue till the last sprout comes forth , which is the soul of the plant , and will never be a leaf : but is the stem upon which the fruit must grow . when the leaves come to their full bigness , they rot no more , but continue in their first beauty , a rich green with stripes of yellow . these leaves are most of them above six foot long , and two foot broad ; smooth , shining , and stiff as a lawrel leaf , falling from the middle to the end like a feather : and when it comes to the full heighth , the leaves will be fifteen or sixteen foot high , the stem upon which the fruit grows being a foot higher , with a green branch on the top , which branch is very heavy , and then the leaves open and shew the blossome , which is of a pure purple , and like a heart with the point downwards , being of a pound weight ; when this is fallen , the fruit grows . in six moneths space this plant will be grown , and the fruit ripe , which is pleasant , wholesome , and nourishing , yellow when it 's ripe : but the negroes desire it green , for they eat it boiled , and it 's the only food they live upon . when it 's gathered they cut down the plant , and give it to the hoggs , for it will grow no more . in three moneths another sprout will come to bear , and so another , and another for ever . groves they make of these plants of twenty acres of ground so planting them in every room that they can walk dry under the leaves , and be shaded from the sun. the wild plantane grows much as the other doth , but the leaves not so broad , and more upright : the fruit of a scarlet colour , and almost three square , but good for nothing . the bonano differs nothing from the plantane in the body and leaves , but only that the leaves are somewhat less , and the body hath here and there some blackish spots , the blossome no bigger then a large rose bud , of a faint purple and ash colour mixt , the stalk that bears it , is adorned with small blossomes , of several colours : the fruit stands upright like a bunch of puddings , each of them between four and five inches long . the fruit is sweeter then that of the plantane , and therefore the negroes will not meddle with it . it 's near as beautiful a trees as the ●antane . the pine is excellent in the superlative degree , both for beauty and tast . it s a full year before it bring forth ripe fruit , but when it comes to be eaten , nothing of rare tast that can be thought on that is not there . a slip taken from the body of this plant , and set in the ground , will not presently take root , but the crown that grows upon the fruit itself will sooner come to perfection . in a quarter of a year it will be a foot high , and the leaves about seven or eight inches long , appearing like a semicircle : the colour mostly frost upon green , intermixt with cornation , and the edges of the leaves have teeth like sawes . the leaves fall one over another , the points of the lowest touching the ground . in a quarter of a year more , the blossome appears on the top of the stem , as large as a great cornation , the colours , cornation , crimson , and scarlet , in streaks intermixt with yellow , blew , and peach colour-leaves , intermixed again with purple , sky-colour , orange-tauny , gridaline , and gingeline , white , and philamot : so that the flower represents the variety to the sight , which the fruit doth to the tast . when the flowers are fallen , there appears a little bunch of the bigness of a walnut , which hath in it all these colours mixt , which were disper'st in the leaves , and so it grows bigger for two moneths more ; when it 's perfect , it is of an oval form , and at the upper end grows out a crown of leaves much like the former in colour , but more beautiful . some of them six inches long ; the out leaves shorter by degrees . this fruit is inclosed with a rind , which begins with a skrew at the stalk , and so goes round to the top , or crown , gently rising , which screw is about a quarter of an inch broad , and the figures that are imbroidered upon it , near of the like dimension , and divisions between ; which divisions are never one over another in the screw , but are always under the middle of the figures above , which so vary in their colours , as that if you see one hundred pines , they are not like one another ; and every of those figures hath a little tuft , some green , some yellow , some ash-colour , and some carnation . there are two sorts of pines , the king and the queen-pine . the queen is far more delicate , and hath her colours of all greens , which shadows intermixt with faint cornations , but most of all , frost upon green , and sea-greens . the king-pine hath mostly all sorts of yellows shadowed with grass-greens . some of them are fourteen inches long , and six in the diameter : most of them having heavy bodies , and slender stalks , bowed down till they are on the ground . some of them have a dozen little ones round about the prime fruit , which are ripe by turns , and all very good . when it 's ripe it hath an admirable smell , when they come to eat them , they first cut off the crown , and send that to be planted : then they pare off the most beautiful rind , and cut the fruit into slices in a dish , and there issues out a liquor as clear as spring-water about six spoonful , which in tast is in a high degree delicious , and in eating the fruit , the delicate variety of tasts will change and flow so fast upon your pallat , as your fancy can hardly keep way with them , to distinguish the one from other . how they plant their sugar-canes . they dig a small trench of six inches broad , and as deep , in a straight line , the whole length of the ground where they plant them , then they lay two canes one by another along the bottom of the trench , and so continue them the whole lengh of the trenches , then they cover them with earth ; and at two foot distance they do the like , till they have planted all the field . but they plant not too much together , but so that it may ripen successively , that their work may come in in order , that they be not idle : for if they be not cut and used when they are ripe , they will rot . from these canes thus buried , comes forth a sprout at every knot . they begin to appear a moneth after their setting , and in a moneth more they are two foot high at the least , and in the mean time they weed them , and supply where there are any defects . these canes with their tops are about eight foot high , the bodies about an inch in the diameter ; the knots five or six inches distant one from the another . when they are ripe they cut them with little hand bills , six inches above the ground , and divide the tops from the canes ; and then holding the cane by the upper end , they strip off all the blades , which with the tops they give to their horses ; the canes they bind in faggots , and send them home upon asinegoes , each of them carrying three faggots ; two upon crooked sticks on the sides , and one in the middle . and these creatures being used to it , will of themselves go and come without a guide . the place where they unload them , is a little plat of ground near to the mill-house which they call a barbica . being laid in the barbica , they w●●k them out clean , not suffering them to grow stale ; for in two dayes the juice will turn sower , and spoil all ; and in the next place , they grind them with horses under three rollers , whose centers being of brass , steel , turn very easily : but when the canes are between the rollers , it 's a good draught for five oxen or two horses . in a little time then all the juice is pressed out , and then two negro girls take out the canes , and corry them away , laying them on a heap at a distance . under the rollers there is a reciever into which the liquor falls , and from thence by a pipe of lead , is carried into a cistern , which is near the stairs that goes down from the mill to the boyling-house . from thence it passes through a gutter to the clarifying copper : and as it clarifies in the first copper , and the scum rises , it 's conveyed to a second copper , where it 's again scummed , both which scums being very drossy , are thrown away ; but the skimming of the other three coppers are conveyed to the stilling-house , where it stands in cisterns till it be a little sowre . thus the liquor is refined from one copper to another , and the more coppers it passes through , the finer and purer it is . when it comes to the tach it must have much keeling and stirring , and as it boiles , they throw into the four last coppers a liquor made of water and wit hs , which they call temp , without which the sugar would be clammy and never kern . when it 's boiled enough , they poure two spoonfulls of sallet-oyl into the tach , and then it gives over to bubble , then after much keeling they take it out of the tach with ladles , and remove it into the cooling cistern . this work continues from monday morning till saturday night , without any intermission , day and night , with fresh supplies of men , horses , and cattel . the liquor being so cool as that it 's fit to put into pots ; first stopping the sharp end of the pots with plantane leaves , they fill them , and let it stand till it be cold , which will be in two dayes and two nights ; then they remove them into the trying-house , and pulling out the stopples ; the molosses runs out into a gutter that carries it into cisterns again , and that they call peneles , which is a sugar somewhat inferiour to muscovados , which will sweeten pretty well , and is of a reasonable good colour . when it 's well cured , they remove the pots from the curing room into the knocking room , and turning them upside down , they knock them till the sugar falls out , in which there are three sorts . the first is brown , frothy , and light ; the bottom is of a darker colour , gross and heavy , and full of molosses , both which they cut away and boil them again with molosses for peneles . the midle , which is more then two thirds of the whole , is a white colour , dry , and sweet , which they send to their storehouses at the bridge , there to be put in casks and chests to be shipt away . though the muscovado sugars require but a moneths time in making , after it is boiled , yet white sugar requires four moneths , and it s made thus . they take clay and temper it with water to the thickness of frumentry , and pour it on the top of the muscovado-sugar as it stands in the potts , and there let it remain four moneths , and when it comes to be knock't out of the pots , the top and bottom will be like muscovadoes , but the middle perfect white , and excellent lump sugar . the skimmings before spoken of , when they have stood till they are a little soure , they still it ; and the first spirit that comes , is a small liquor , which they call low-wines , which they still over again , and then comes off a very strong spirit , which is very soveraign when they are ill with colds , which the negroes are oft subject to , having nothing to lye upon but aboard , and nothing to cover them . and though the dayes be hot , the nights be cold , and they coming hot , and sweating from their dayes labour , are subject to catch cold ; and when they feel themselves amiss , one dram of these spirits cures them . and the christian servants , when their spirits are exhausted by their hard labour and sweating in the sun ten hours every day , and their stomacks weakened , a dram or two of these spirits is a great comfort and refreshing to them . they make much money also of them by selling them at the bridge , so that they make weekly so long as they work , . l. sterling , besides what is drunk by their servants and slaves . wit hs . there is another plant which they call a with , which is exceeding harmful ; for it pulls down all it can reach to , canes and all other plants . if it comes into a garden , it will wind about all hearbs , and plants that have stalks , and pull them down and destroy them . if into an orchard , it will climb up by the bodies of the trees into the branches , and draws them as it were into a purse ( for out of the main stock hundred of sprigs will grow ) and if any other tree be near it will find the way to it , and pull the tops of them together , and hinder the growth of the fruit ; and cut the main stock at bottom in hope to kill it ; the moisture in the branches above will cast down a new root into the ground ; yea , it will reach the highest timber , and so enwrap their branches as to hinder their growth ; and oftentimes it fastens one tree to another , so that one shall hinder the growth of another . if you clear a passage of ten foot broad between a wood where it grows , and your canes over night , and come the next morning , and you shall find the way crossed all over with wit hs , and got near to the canes , and if they once get amongst them , you cannot destroy the one without the other ; for wheresoever they touch ground , they get new roots , and so creep into every place , and as they go pull all down . yet have they some good virtues ; for they serve for all uses where ropes or cords are required ; as for binding their wood and canes into faggots , &c. and without them they were in an ill condition , having no other wood fit for hoops for their hogsheads , barrels , and tubs ; and they can have them of what length and bigness they please ; and for such uses they are very good . there are several kinds of these wit hs , some that bear fruit somewhat bigger then the cod of a bean , which being divided long-wise with a knife you shall perceive the most various and beatiful colours that can be , and so well matched , as to make up a very great beauty . many canes there be in the island , some large enough to hide five hundred men ; the runaway negroes oft shelter themselves in for a long time , and in the nights range abroad , and steal pigs , plantanes , potatoes , and pullen , and feast all day upon what they stole in the night : and the nights being dark , and their bodies black , escape undiscovered . another sort of wit hs they have that are made of the gum of trees , which falls from the boughs drop after drop , one hanging by another till they touch the ground , from whence they receive nourishment and grow larger : and if three or four of them come down so near as to touch one another , and the wind twists them together , they appear like ropes . aloes they have growing there very good , and its a beautiful plant , and the leaves four inches broad , and three quarters of an inch thick , and a foot and half long , with prickles on each side , and the last sprout which rises in the middle , bears yellow flowers , one above another , which are two foot higher then the leaves . these thick leaves they take and cut them through , and out of them issues the aloes , which they set in the sun that rarifies it , and makes it fit to keep : they save the first running , for if it run too long it will be much worse . this plant in england we call semper vivens . of this is there to be be made an admirable medicine for a burn or scald . an ointment foor a burn or scald , thus , take semper vivens , plantane leaves , and the green rind of elder , of each a like quantity , and boil them in sallet oyl , till all the tincture be drawn in boyling . then strain out the oyl well , and put it on the fire again , and put to it a small quantity of the spirits of wine , and so much yellow wax as will bring it to the consistence of a linement to keep it for use . there also the sensible plant , which closes the leaves upon any touch with your hand , or that end of the staff by which you hold , and in a little time will open again . there are few flowers in the island , and none of them sweet . the white lilly , and red lilly are much fairer then ours , and very beautiful , but neither of them sweet . the saint jago flower is very beautiful , but of an unpleasing smell . another flower they have that opens not till sun setting , and is closed all day , and therefore they call it the flower of the moon . it grows in great tufts , the leaves like a heart , the point turning back : the flower is of a most pure purple . after the flower appears the seed , black with an eye of purple , of the shape of a small button , so finely wrought , and tough with all , as it may well trim a suit of apparel . there is purceane so plentifully every where , as makes it disesteemed . herbs , and roots . there are brought from england , rosemary , time , winter-savory , sweet-marjerom , pot-marjerom , parsly , penny-royal , camomil , sage , tansie , lavender , cotton , garlick , onions , coleworts , cabbage , turnips , redishes , marigold , lettice , taragon , southern-wood , &c. all which prosper well . there is a root which was brought thither by the negroes , large , dry and well tasted . it 's good boyled to eat with pork , mixt with butter , vineger , and pepper ; it 's as big as three of our largest turnips . the strength of the island . this island is strong by scituation ; for there cannot be any safe landing , but where the harbours , and bayes are , which lie to the south-west , and those places are so defencible by nature , as with small cost they are strongly fortified . in the year one thousand six hundred and fifty they were able to muster ten thousand foot , as good , and resolute men as any in the world , and a thousand good horse , and since then , they are much increased . their laws and government . their laws are like ours in england , and they are governed by a governour , and ten of his council ; four courts of justice in civil laws which divide the countrey into four circuits . justices of peace , constables , churchwardens , and tithingmen . five sessions in a year were held for trial of criminal causes , and appeals from inferiour courts . when the governour pleases to call an assembly for the last appeals , and making new laws , or abolishing the old ; it consists of the governour , his councel , and two burgesses chosen by every parish . there are in the island eleven parishes : no tithe paid to the minister , but a yearly allowance of a pound of tobacco upon an acre of every mans land , besides church-duties for marriages , baptizings , and burials . their weather . four moneths in the year the weather is colder then in the other eight , and those are november , december , january , and february ; yet are they hotter then with us in may. there is no general fall of the leaf , every tree having a particular time for it self , as if two locust-trees stand but at a stones cast distance , one lets fall her leaves in january , another in march , another in july , another in september . the leaves when fallen under the tree , being most of them large and stiff , when they were growing , and full of veins from the middle stalk to the upper end , when the thin part of the leaf is consumed , those veins appear like skelletons , with the strangest works and beautifullest forms that can be imagined . negroes heads . they also find in the sands things that they call negroes-heads , about two inches long , with a forehead , eyes , nose , mouth , chin , and part of the neck : they are alwayes found loose in the sands , without any root . it is black as jet , but whence it comes they know not . tar . they have no mines , not so much as of coles in the islands . there flows out of the rock an unctious substance , somewhat like tar : it is excellent good to stop a flux being drunk : and for all aches , and bruises , being anointed with it . it is so subtile that being put into the hand and rubbed there , it works through the back of it . pitch , and movntiack . there is another gumming substance that is black and hard as pitch , and is used as pitch ; they call call it mountiack . an excellent remedy against the stone . my author relates this story concerning himself , that during his abode in the barbadoes , he was taken with such a fit of the stone , that for fourteen dayes together he made not one drop of water ; but when he despaired of life ; god sent him such a remedy as the world cannot afford a better . for within ten hours after this taking of it , he found himself not only eased , but cured : it brought away all the stones and gravel that stopped the passage , and his water came as freely from him as ever before , and caried before it such quantities of broken stones , and gravel that the like hath hardly been seen . and afterwards being in the like torment , he used the same remedy , and found the same ease . the medicine was this , take the pizle of a green turtle that lives in the sea , dry it with a moderate heat , pound it in a morter , and take as much of this powder as will lie upon a shilling , in beer , ale , or whitewine , and in a short time it will work the cure . these turtles are frequent in the chariby , and lucayick islands near to the barbadoes , to which many of them are brought . three sorts of turtles . there are . sorts of turtles : the loggerhead-turtle , the hawks-bill-turtle , and the green turtle , which is of a less magnitude , but far excelling the other two in wholesomness , and rareness of tast . that part of the island which is the most remote from the bridge , ( the onely place of trading ) by reason of deep and steep gullies interposing the passage , is almost stopt . besides , the land there is not so rich and fit to bear canes as the other : yet it 's very useful for planting , provisions of corn , bonavist , cassavy , potatoes , &c. as also of fruit , as oranges , limons , lymes , plantanes , bonanoes : likewise for breeding of hoggs , sheep , goats , cattel , and poultry to furnish either parts of the island which wants those commodities . the sugar canes are fifteen moneths from the time of their planting , before they come to be fully ripe . from the island of bonavista they have horses brought to them , whose hooves are so hard and tough , that they ride them at the barbadoes down sharp and steep rocks , without shooes : and no goat goes surer on the sides of rocks , or hills then they . finis . ( here place the examples of minerals and stones . ) examples of the wonderful works of god in the creatures . chap. i. of strange stones , earth , and minerals . . in cornwal , near unto a place called pensans , is that famous stone called main-amber : which is a great rock advanced upon some other of meaner size , with so equal a counterpoize , that a man may stir it with the push of his finger , but to remove it quite out of his place , a great number of men are not able . camb. brit. p. . the like is in the country of stratherne in scotland . . in summerset-shire , near unto cainsham are found in stone-quarries , stones resembling serpents , winding round in manner of a wreath , the head bearing up in the circumference , and the end of the tail , taking up the centre within : but most of them are headless . camb. brit. p. . . in gloucestershire upon the hills near alderly are found certain stones , resembling cockles , periwinckles , and oisters , which seem to be the gaimsome works of nature , or such shells turned into stone . camb. brit. p. . . in yorkshire , about whitby are found certain stones fashioned like serpents , foulded and wraped round , as in a wreath , so that a man would verily think that they had been somtimes serpents turned into stone . camb. brit. p. . . also in the same country at huntly nabb , there lye scattering here and there amongst the rocks , stones of divers bigness , so artificially by nature shaped round in manner of a globe , that one would take them to be big bullets made by the turners hand , for shot to be discharged out of great ordnance ; in which , if you break them , are found stony serpents , enwrapped round like a wreath : but most of them are headlesse . camb. brit. p. . . in the county of cornwal near unto st. neots , there are a number of good great rocks heaped up together , and under them one stone of lesser size , fashioned naturally in the form of a cheese lying in presse , whereupon it s named wring-cheese . camb. brit. p. . . in richmondshire amongst the ragged rocks , are found stones like unto periwinckles , cockles , and other shell fish . camb. brit. p. . . in the county of hereford , a hill which they call marcley-hill , in the year . ( as though it had wakened on a sudden out of a deep sleep ) roused it self up , and for the space of three dayes together moving and shewing it self ( as mighty , and huge an heape as it was ) with roaring noise in a fearful sort , and overturning all things that stood in the way , advanced it self forward , to the wondrous astonishment of the beholders . camb. brit. p. . . in glamorganshire in a rock or cliffe , by the sea side , there appeareth a very little chink , unto which , if you lay your ear , you shall hear a noise as if it were of smiths at work , one while the blowing of the bellows , another while the striking of the sledge , and hammer ; sometimes the sound of the grindstone , and iron tools rubbing against it , the hissing sparks also of steel-gads within holes as they are beaten , and the puffing noise of the fire burning in the furnace . camb. brit. page . this is called merlins cave . . at aspley gowick in bedfordshire , near unto woburn , there is a kind of earth that turns wood into stone : for proof whereof there was a wooden ladder in the monastry of woburn , that having lien a good while covered in that earth , was digged forth again all stone . camb. brit. p. . i have a peece of wood turned into stone by that earth . . in kile in scotland , there is a rock about twelve foot high , and as much in breadth , called the deaf-craig : for though a man call never so loud , or shoot off a gun on the one side , yet his fellow on the other side cannot hear the noise . description of scotland . . in argile there is a stone found in diverse places , which being laid under straw , or stubble , doth set it on fire , by reason of the great heat that it gathereth there . idem . . it is most strange , yet true , that the armes of the duke of rohan in france , which are fusils , or lozenges , are to be seen in the wood , and stones , through all his country : so that if you break a stone in the middest , or lopp a bough of a tree , you shall behold the the grain thereof ( by some secret cause in nature ) diamonded , or streaked in the fashion of a lozeng . camb. brit. . in warwick-shire , the armes of the shugburies , which are starres , are found in the stones in their own manner of shugbury ; so that break the stone where you will , and there is the exact fashion of a star in the end of it . idem , i have some of these stones . . in the kingdom of fesse in affrica there is a mountain called beniguazeval , in the top whereof there is a cave that casteth out fire perpetually . pur. pil. v. . p. . . in prussia there is great store of amber , which groweth like coral in a mountain of the north-sea , which is clean covered with water : by the violence of the waves beating against this rock , the amber is oft broken off , and cast up by the sea into their havens . . about bever castle in lincoln-shire , are found the stones called astroites , which resemble little stars joyned one with another , wherein are to be seen at every corner , five beams , or rayes , & in the middest of every ray is to be seen a small hollownesse . camb. brit. . we have corral , amber , emralds , calcedony , pearl , onix , sardonix , sardis , bezar , hemathist , and the turquoise from arabia , indostan , and persia. pearls , berils , saphires , and adamants , from zeilan . jasper , cornelion , agate , heliotrope , jacinth , and chrysolite , from malabar , narsinga , and cochin-china . diamonds from borneo , and gulkunda . gold , silver , rubies , saphires , granats , topaz , emeralds , smaradg , espinels , cats-eyes , and porcellane , from pegu , siam , bengala , sumatra , japan , and china . chap. ii. examples of the rare works of god in the creatures . of trees , hearbs , plants , and gums . . of date-trees some are males , and other females : the male brings forth flowers onely ; the female fruit , but the flowers of the female will not open unlesse the boughs , and flowers of the male be joyned unto them : and if they be not thus coupled , the dates will prove stark naught , and have great stones in them , pur. pil. v. . p. . . neer unto the grand-cairo in egypt , is a garden environed with a strong wall ; in the garden is a large fountain , and in the middest of it groweth the only balm-tree bearing true balm , that is in the world : it hath a short stock or body , and beareth leaves like unto vine-leaves , but not altogether so long . pur. pil. v. . p. . . in the country of indostan they have a pleasant clear liquor which they call taddy , issuing from a spongy tree that grows straight , and tall , without boughs to the top , and there spreads out into branches , somwhat like to an english colewort , where they make incisions , under which they hang earthen pots to preserve the influence : that which distils forth in the night , is as pleasing to the taste , as any white wine , if drunk betimes in the morning ; and of a peircing , and medicinable quallity , excellent against the stone . but in the heat of the day the sun alters it , so that it becomes heady , ill-relished , and unwholesome . p. pil. v. . p. . . for cotton wooll , they plant seeds , which grow up into shrubs like unto our rose-bushes : it blows first into a yellow blossome , which falling off , there remains a cod about the bignesse of a mans thumb , in which the substance is moist , and yellow , but as it ripens , it swells bigger , till it break the cod , and in short time becomes as white as snow , and then they gather it . p. pil. v. . p. . . the cynamon tree is a small tree , and low , having leaves like to our bay-tree : in the month of march , or april , when the sap goeth up to the top of the tree , they cut the bark off the tree round about in length ; from knot to knot , or from joynt to joynt , above , and below , and then easily with their hands they take it away , laying it in the sun to dry , and yet for all this the tree dyes not , but against the next year it will have a new bark , and that which is gathered every year is the best cynamon : that which grows longer is great , and not so good . p. pil. v. . p. . . in india is a tree called arbore de ray's or the tree of roots , it groweth first up like other trees , and spreadeth the branches , out of which there come strings , which seem a far off to be cords of hemp , which growing longer till they reach the ground , there take root again : so that in the end one tree will cover a great peece of ground , one root crossing within another like a maze , each of these young trees will in time grow so big , that it cannot be discerned which is the principal trunk , or body of the tree . . there is also a tree called arbore-triste , or the sorrowful-tree , so called , because it never beareth blossoms but in the night-time , and so it doth , and continueth all the year long : so soon as the sun sets , there is not one blossom seen upon the tree , but presently within half an hour after , there are as many blossoms as the tree can bear , pleasant to behold , and smelling very sweet ; and as soon as the day comes , and the sun is rising , they all presently fall off , and not one is to be seen on the tree , which seems as though it were dead , till evening comes again , and then it begins to blossom as it did before : it s as big as a plumb-tree : it groweth up quickly , and if you break but a branch of the tree , and set it into the earth , it presently takes root , and grows , and within a few days after it beareth blossoms , which are like orange-tree-blossoms , the flower white , and in the bottom somewhat yellow , and redish . p. pil. v. . p. . . there is also an herb in india , called by the portugals , herba sentida , or feeling herb , which if a man touch , or throw sand , or any other thing upon it , presently it becomes as though it were withered , closing the leaves together , and it comes not to it self a gain , as long as the man standeth by it , but presently after he is gone , it openeth the leaves again , which become stiffe , and fair , as though they were newly grown : and touching it again , it shuts , and becomes withered as before , so that its a pleasure to behold the strange nature of it p. pil. v. . p. . . pepper is planted at the root of some other tree , and runs up it like ivie : the leaves are like the orange-leaves , but somewhat smaller , green , and sharpe at ends : the pepper groweth in bunches like grapes , but lesse , and thinner ; they are always green till they begin to drye , and ripen , which is in december , and january , at which time it turns black , and is gathered . pur. pil. v. . p. . . the best ginger grows in malabar ; it groweth like thin , and young netherland reeds , two or three spans high , the root whereof is the ginger , which is gathered in december , and january . p. pil. v. . p. . . the clove-trees are like bay-trees , the blossoms at the first white , then green , and at last red , and hard , which are the cloves ; these cloves grow very thick together , and in great numbers : in the place where these trees grow , there is neither grass , nor green herbs , but is wholly drye , for that those trees draw all the moisture unto them . p. pil. v. . p. . . the nutmeg-tree is like a pear-tree , but that its lesse , and with round leaves , the fruit is like great round peaches , the inward part whereof is the nutmeg ; this hath about it an hard shell like wood , and the shell is covered over with nutmeg-flowers , which is the mace , and over it is the fruit , which without , is like the fruit of a peach . p. pil. v. . p. . . gumme-lac comes most from pegu : where are certain very great pismires with wings , which fly up the trees like plumb-trees , out of which trees comes a certain gumme which the pismires suck up , and then they make the lac round about the branches of the trees , as bees make wax ; and when it is full , the owners come , and breaking off the branches , lay them to dry ; and being dry , the branches shrink out , and the lac remains . p. pil. v. . p. . . amber-greese , is usually cast upon the sea-shore , which as some suppose , is the dung of the whale ; or as others , the sperme , or seed of the whale consolidated by lying in the sea. p. pil. v. . p. . the herb addad is bitter , and the root of it so venemous , that one drop of the juice will kill a man within the space of one hour . p. pil. v. . p. . of palm-trees , which they keep with watering , and cutting every year , they make velvets , satins , taffaties , damasks , sarcenets , and such like , all which are spun out of the leaves cleansed , and drawn into long threads . p. pil. v. . p. . . frankincense grows in arabia , and is the gumme that issueth out of trees . idem . p. . . in mozambique , manna is procreated of the dew of heaven , falling on a certain tree , on which it hardens like sugar , sticking to the wood like rozen , whence it s gathered , and put into jars , and is used much for purging in india . idem . p. . . mastick-trees grow only in the island of sio : the trees are low shrubs , with little crooked boughs , and leaves : in the end of august they begin their mastick-harvest , men cutting the bark of the tree with iron instruments ; out of which the gum distills uncessantly for almost three months together . idem . p. . . spunges are gathered from the sides of rocks , fifteen fathom under water , about the bottom of the streights of gibralter , the people that get them , being trained up in diving from their child-hood , so that they can indure to stay very long under water , as if it were their habitable element . . in manica , is a tree called the resurrection-tree , which for the greatest part of the year is without leaf , or greenness : but if one cut off a bough , and put it into the water , in the space of ten houres , it springs , and flourisheth with green leaves ; but draw it out of the water , as soon as it is dry , it remaineth as it was before . pur. pil. v. . p. . . there is in the island of teneriff ( which is one of the canaries ) a tree as big as an oke of a middle size , the bark white like hornbeam , six , or seven yards high , with ragged boughs , the leaf like the bay-leaf . it beareth neither fruit , nor flower ; it stands on the side of an hill , in the day its withered , and drops all night ( a cloud hanging thereon ) so that it yeelds water sufficient for the whole island , wherein are eight thousand souls , and about an hundred thousand cammels , mules , goats , &c. the water falls from it into a pond made of brick , paved with stone ; from whence it s conveyed into several ponds , thorough the whole island . they also water therewith their corn-ground , for they have no other water in the island , except rain-water . the pond holds twenty thousand tun of water , and is filled in one night . many of our english that have been there have attested the truth hereof . idem . p. . concerning which tree , sylvester the poet made these verses : in th' i le of iron ( one of those same seven whereto our elders happy name have given ) the savage people never drink the streams of wells , and rivers , as in other realms . their drink is in the air ! their gushing spring , a weeping tree out of it self doth wring . a tree , whose tender-bearded-root being spread in dryest sand , his sweating-leaf doth shed a most sweet liquor ; and ( like as the vine untimely cut , weeps ( at her wound ) the wine in pearled tears ) incessantly distils a royal stream , which all their cisterns fills throughout the island : for all hither hie , and all their vessels cannot draw it drye ! . aloes growes in the island of socotera , which is nothing but semper vivum , it is so full of a rosin-like juice , that the leaves are ready to break with it : which leaves they cut in small peeces , and cast them into a clean pit made in the ground , and paved : there it lies to ferment in the heat of the sun , whereby the juice floweth forth , which they put in skins , and hang them up in the wind to drye , whereby it hardens . p. pil. v. . p. . . indico groweth in the moguls country , having a small leaf like that of sena : the branches are of a wooddy substance like broom : it grows not above a yard high , the stalk about the bignesse of a mans thumb : the seed is included in a small round cod of an inch long . this once sowed lasteth three years : that of the first year makes a weighty reddish indico , that sinks in water , being not yet come to its perfection : that of the second year is rich , very light , and of a perfect violet-colour , swiming on the water : that of the third year is weighty , blackish , and the worst of the three . this herb , when it s cut , is put into a cistern , and pressed down with stones , then covered over with water , where it remains till the substance of the herb is gone into the water : then it s drawn forth into another cistern , and laboured with staves till it be like batter , then they let it seeth , and so scum off the water two or three times , till nothing but a thick substance remains , which taking forth , they spread on a cloath , dry it in the sun , then make it into balls , dry it on the sand , which causes the sandy foot : that is best , which is of a pure grain ; violet-colour , is glossie , dry , and light . idem . p. . . sir james lancaster in his east-indy voyage , in the isle of sombrero found on the sea-sands , a young twig growing up to a tree , and offering to pluck up the same , it shrank down into the ground , and when it was by strength pulled up , a great worm was the root of it , and as the tree groweth in greatnesse , the worm diminisheth : this tree plucked up , the leaves and pill stripped off , by that time its dryed , is turned into a hard stone ; so that this worm was twice transformed into different natures , after a wondrous manner : of these he brought home many . p. pil. v. . p. . . about saffron walden in essex , there grows great store of saffron , which was first brought into england , in the reign of king edward the third . this in the month of july every third year , being plucked up , and after twenty dayes , having the root split , and set again in the earth , about the end of september it putteth forth a whitish-blew flower ; out of the midst where of there come three chives , which are gathered in the morning before sun-rising , and being plucked out of the flower , are dried by a soft fire ; and so great is the increase that commeth thereof , that out of every acre of ground , there are made fourscore , or an hundred pound weight of saffron , whilst it is moist , which being dryed , yeeld some twenty pound weight . and the ground which three years together hath brought saffron , is so enriched thereby , that it will bear very good barley , many yeares together without dung , or manuring . camb. brit. p. . . all along the shores of the red-sea are abundance of palm-trees of a very strange nature : they grow in couples , male and female : both thrust forth cods full of seed : but the female is only fruitful , and that not except growing by the male , and having her seed mixed with his . the pith of these trees is an excellent sallet , better than an artechoke : of the branches are made bedsteads , lattices , &c. of the leaves , baskets , mats , fans , &c. of the outward husk of the cod , cordage ; of the inward , brushes . the fruit it beareth is like a fig , and finally it is said to yeild whatsoever is necessary for the life of man. it is the nature of this tree , that if never so great a weight be laid upon it , it will lift & raise up it self the more ; for which it was given to conquerors in token of victory . herb. trav. . in italy there grows an herb called balilisco , which hath this innate property ; that if it be laid under a stone in some moist place , in two days space it produceth a scorpion : raimunds mercu. ital. . the assa-faetida tree is like our bryer in height , the leaves resemble fig-leaves , the root is like our radish : though the smell be so bace , yet the taste is so pleasing , that no meat , no sauce , on vessel is pleasing to the gusarat● pallats where it grows , except it rellish of it . herb. trav. benjamin is either pure , cleer , and white , or yellow , and streaked : this gum issues from an high tree , small , and furnished with fruitlesse branches ; the leaves are not unlike to those of the olive : pegu and siam yeild the best . . the coco tree is very rife in the east-indies . in the whole world there is not a tree more profitable than this is , neither do men reap more benefit of any other tree than of this . the heart of the tree makes good timber , planks , and masts for ships : with the leaves thereof they make sails , with the rind of it they make cordage : a gum that grows out of it caulks the ship : the fruit of it is a kind of nut , which being full of kernel , and a sweet liquor , serves for meat and drink : much wine also it yeilds , & of the wine they make sugar , and placetto . the wine they gather in the spring of the year out of the middle of the tree , from whence there runs continually a white thin liquor , at which time they put a vessel under it , and take it away full every morning , and evening , and then distilling it , they make a very strong liquor of it . of the nuts also they make great store of oil : out of the tree they make bows , bedsteads : of the leaves also they make very fine mats , which whilest green , are full of an excellent sweet liquor , with which if a man be thirsty , he may satisfie himself : with the bark they make spoons , dishes , and platters for meat . the first rind of the nut they stamp , and make thereof perfect ockam : and the store of these nuts serve for merchandise . so that out of this one tree , they build and rig ships , furnish them with meat , drink , utensils , and merchandise , without the least help of any other whatsoever . pur. pil. v. . p. . and . . mr. herbert in his travels thus describes it . the tree that bears the coco , is strait , & lofty , without any branches , save at the very top , where it spreads its beautiful plumes , and nuts like pearles , or pendants adorning them . it is good timber for canoes , masts , anchors : the leaves for tents or thatching : the rind for sailes , matteresses , cables , and linnen : the shels for furniture : the meat for victualling . the nut is covered with a thick rind equal in bignesse to a cabbage . the shell is like the skull of a man , or rather a deaths-head , the eyes , nose , and mouth , being easily discerned : within it is contained a quart of sweet and excellent liquor , like new white-wine , but far more aromatick tasted : the meat or kernel , is better relished than our phelberds , and is enough to satisfy the appetite of two reasonable men . — the indian nut alone is cloathing , meat , and trencher , drink , and can. boat , cable , sail , mast , needle , all in one . herb. and sylvester hath set them forth to the life in these verses . the indian isles most admirable be , in those rare fruits call'd coquos commonly ; the which alone far richer wonder yeilds , then all our groves , meads , gardens , orchards , fields . what wouldst thou drink ? the wounded leaves drop wine . lackst thou fine linnen ? dresse the tender rine . dresse it like flax , spin it , then weave it well , it shall thy camrick , and thy lawn excell . longst thou for butter , bite the poulpous part , for never better came to any mart . do'st need good oyle ? then boult it to , and fro , and passing oyl it soon becometh so . or vinegar ? to whet thine appetite ; why , sun it well ; and it will sharply bite . or want's thou sugar ? steep the same a stownd , and sweeter sugar is not to be found . 't is what you will ; or will be what you would : should midas touch it , sure it would be gold . and god , all-good , to crown our life with bayes , the earth with plenty , and his name with praise , had done enough , if he had made no more but this one plant , so full of choicest store ; save that the world ( where , one thing breeds satiety ) could not be fair , without so great variety . . the plantan tree is of a reasonable height ; the body about the bigness of a mans thigh , compacted of many leaves , wrapped one upon another , adorned with leaves in stead of boughs from the very ground , which are for the most part about two ells long , and an ell broad , having a large rib in the middle thereof . the fruit is a bunch of ten , or twelve plantans , each a span long , and as big almost as a mans wrist ; the rind being stripped off , the fruit is yellowish , and of a pleasant taste . pur. pil. p. . . the cedars of mount libanus grow higher than pines , and so big , that four or five men with their armes can but fathom them ; the boughs rise not upward , but stretch out a cross , largely spread , and thickly enfolded one in another , as if done by art , so that men may sit , and lie along upon the boughs : the leaves are thick , narrow , hard , prickly , and alwayes green ; the wood is hard , incorruptible , and sweet smelling ; the fruit like the cones of cypress , gummy , and marvellous fragrant . pur. pil. v. . p. . . in africa are many palmeta trees , whence they draw a sweet , and wholsome wine , by cutting , or boring holes into the body of the tree , into which a cane is put that receives the sap , and conveys it into gourds : it tastes like white wine , but it will not last above four and twenty hours . idem . . in new-spain there are many trees which they call manguey : it hath great , and large leaves , at the end whereof is a strong , and sharp point , which they use for pins , and needles , and out of the leaf they draw a kind of thred which they use much to few with . the body of the tree is big , which when it is tender , they cut , and out of the hole proceeds a liquor which they drink like water , being fresh , and sweet . this liquor being sodden , becomes wine , which being kept till it be sower , makes good vinegar : boil it it a litle more than for wine , and it makes a fine syrup ; and boil it till it be thick , and it makes hony. idem . v. . p. . . there is a certain tree in new-spain called tunalls , in whose leaves breed certain small worms , which are covered with a fine web , compassing them in daintily . this in the season they gather , and let it drye , and this is that cochenille , so famous , and dear , wherewith they dye in grain . idem . . the jack , or giack is an high tree , and uneasy to be ascended ; the jack for shew and bigness resembles a pumpeon : without , it is of a gold yellow , mixt with veins ; within , its soft , and tender , full of golden coloured cloves , each full of kernels , not unlike a great french bean , but more round , each of them hath an hard stone within it , the fruit is somewhat unpleasant at the first taste ; t is glutinous , and clammy in the mouth , but very restorative , and good for the back . . the ananas is not inferiour to the jack in bulk , and roundnesse : it ariseth from no seed , or sowing , but from a root like an artichok : when they are ripe they shew themselves , and are not above two foot high : without , it is covered with a drie rind , hard , and skaley ; within , its wholesome and pleasant , and though a little of it seems to satiate the appetite , yet the stomach likes it well , and its easie of digestion . . the duroyen is somewhat like the jack , in shape round , the inward vertue , is far greater than the outward beauty : at first opening it hath an unpleasant smell : the meat is whitish , and divided into a dozen cells , or partitions , filled with stones as big as chesnuts , white and cordial . it s a fruit nutritive , and dainty , and may well be called an epitome of all the best , and rarest fruits in the the orient . . the arec-tree is almost as high as a cedar , but more like the palmeto : i'ts of a fuzzie , hollow substance , adorned at every top with plumes , wherein the fruit hangs in clusters ; it s in shape and bigness like a wallnut ; white and hard within ; hath neither taste , nor smell : they never eat it alone , but wrap it in a leaf of bettle , and are frequently chawing of it : some adde to it a kinde of lime made of oister-shels , it cures the chollick , removes melancholly , kills worms , provokes lust , purges the maw , and prevents hunger . it s much used in the east-indies . . the palmeto-tree is long , strait , round , and soft , without leaf , bough , or branch , save at the top , and those are few , green , and sedgie : under which branches there appear certain codded seeds : both the male , and female bear blossoms , but the female only beares fruit , and yet not that , unlesse a flowring branch of the male tree be yearly inoculated : the leaves serve for many uses . at the top of this tree there is a soft pith , in which consists the life of it : for that being cut out , the tree dyes . this pith is in bignesse like small cabbage , in taste like a nut kernel , and being boiled it eats like a colly-flower . but of more value is the palmeta wine , which is sweet , pleasant , and nourishing in colour , and taste not unlike muskadine : it purges , cures obstructions , and kills the worms . if it stand two dayes in the sun it makes good vinegar . the wine is thus gotten . they cut a small hole in two or three trees that grow together , which in a short time are filled with the sap that issues in them , which with a cane , or quill , they draw forth . pur. pil. . in summersetshire , near unto glastenbury , in wiral park was that famous hawthorn tree , which used upon christmas day to sprout forth as fresh as in may ; but now it s cut down . camb. brit. p. . . in the marishes of egypt grow those sedgie reeds , called papyri , whereof formerly they made paper , and from whence ours that is made of rags assumed that name . they divide it into thin flakes , whereinto it naturally parteth : then laying them on a table , and moistening them with the glutinous water of nilus , they press them together , dry them in the sun , and then they are fitted for use . pur. pil. v. p. . chap. iii. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange fountains , rivers , and waters . . in the bishoprick of durham in derlington field , there are pits of a wonderful depth , called by the vulgar hell-kettles , in which the water by an antiperistasis , or reverberation of the cold air , striking thereupon , waxeth hot ; which pits have passage under ground , into the river teese , as archbishop guthbert tonstal observed , by finding that goose in the river which he had marked , and let down into these pits . camb. brit. p. . . in yorkshire , neer unto knasburow castle is a well , in which the waters spring not up out of the veins of the earth , but distil , and trickle down , dropping from the rocks hanging over it , whence it s called dropping-well : into which , what wood soever is put , it will in a short space be turned into stone . camb. brit. p. . . in caermardenshire , neer unto careg castle , there is a fountain that twice in four and twenty hours ebbeth , and twice floweth , resembling the unstable motions of the main sea. camb. brit. p. . . in westmerland , hard by shape , there is a well , or fountain , which after the manner of euripus ebbeth , and floweth many times in a day . camb. brit. p. . . in ireland is a fountain , whose water killeth all those beasts that drink thereof , but hurteth not the people , though they usually drink of it . ortelius . . near unto lutterworth in leicester-shire , there is a spring of water so cold , that in a short time it turneth straws , and sticks , into stone . camb. brit. p. . . in derbyshire in the peak-forrest not far from buxtone , is a well which in a wonderful manner doth ordinarily ebb , and flow , four times in the space of one hour , or thereabouts , keeping his just tides . camb. brit. p. . . also in the same country at the spring head of wie there rise , and walm up , nine fountains of hot waters , commonly called buxton wells , very sovereign for the stomach , sinews , and whole body . camb. brit. p. . . in scotland on the bank of ratra neer unto stang's castle , there is a cave , wherein the water distilling naturally by drops from the head of the vault , is presently turned into pyramidal stones ; and were not the said hole or cave , otherwiles rid , and cleansed , the whole space as far as up to the vault , would in a short time be filled therewith . camb. brit. scotl. p. . in scotland in the countrey of murray , there is a river called naes , the water whereof is almost always warm , and at no time so cold that it freezeth , yea , in the most cold time of winter , broken ice falling into it , is dissolved with the heat thereof . defcrip . of scotl. . also in galloway , the loch called loch-merton , is of such a strang nature , that the one half of it doth never freeze in the coldest winter . descrip. of scotl. . in lenox is a great loch or meer , called loch-lowmond , in length twenty four miles , and eight in breadth , wherein are three strang things : first , excellent good fish without any sins : secondly , a floating island whereon many kine feed : and thirdly , tempestuous waves rageing without winds , yea , in the greatest calms . desc. of scotl. . there is a certain island called lounda in the kingdom of congo , wherein is no fresh water ( being a very sandy ground ) but if you dig but the depth of two or three hand breadths , you shall find sweet water , the best in all those countryes : and ( which is most strang ) when the ocean ebbeth , this water grows brackish , but when it flows to the top , it is most sweet . p. pil. v. . p. . . not far from casbine , the regal city in persia is a fountain of a strang , and wonderful nature , out of which there continually springeth , and issueth a marvellous quantity of black oil , which serveth in all parts of persia to burn in their houses , and is usually carried all over the countrey upon kine , and asses , whereof you may often meet three or four hundred in company . p. pil. v. . p. . . about three days journey from old balylon , is a town called ait , and neer unto that is a valley of pitch very marvellous to behold , wherein are many springs , throwing out abundantly a kind of black substance , like unto tar , and pitch , which serveth all the country thereabout to staunch their barques and boats with : every one of which springs makes a noise like to a smith's forge in puffing and blowing out the matter , which never ceaseth day nor night , and the noise is hard a mile off : the moors call it hell-mouth . p. pil. v. p. . . clitumnus is a river in italy , which makes all the oxen that drink of it , white . fulk . meteor . lib. . . the river melas in boeotia makes all the sheep that drink of it , black . plin. . the fountain of jupiter hammon , is cold in the day time , and hot at midnight . . the fountain of the sun hath its water extream cold , and sweet at noon ; and boiling hot , and bitter at midnight . plin. lib. . c. . augustine . . there is a river in palestine called the sabbatical river , which runs with a violent and swift stream all the week ; but every sabbath it remains dry , joseph . de bel. jud. l. . c. . some question the truth of this . . in idumae● is a fountain called the fountain of job , which for one quarter of the year is troubled and muddy ; the next quarter bloody , the third green , and the fourth clear . isiod . . the river astaces in the isle of pontus uses sometimes to overflow the fields , after which whatsoever sheep , or milch-cattle feed thereon give black milk . plin. l. . c. . . furius camillus being censor in rome , the lake albanus being environed with mountains on every side , in the time of autumn when other lakes and rivers were almost dry , the waters of this lake after a wondrous manner began to swell , and rise upwards , till at last they were equall with the tops of the mountains , and after a while they brake thorow one of those mountains , overflowing and bearing all down before them till they emptied themselves into the sea. plut. . the river d ee in merionneth-shire in wales , though it run through pimble-meer , yet it remaineth intire , and mingles not its streams with the waters of the lake . cam. brit. . ana a river in spain , burieth it self in the earth , and runneth under ground fifteen miles together , whereupon the spaniards brag that they have a bridg whereon ten thousand catle feed dayly . . pliny tells us of a fountain called dodon , which always decreaseth from midnight till noon , and encreaseth from noon till midnight . . he also tells us of certain fountains in an island neer italy , which always increase and decrease according to the ebbing , and flowing of the sea. . aristotle writeth of a well in sicilie , whose water is so sharp , that the inhabitants use it instead of vinegar . . in bohemia neer to the city of bilen is a well of such excellent water , that the inhabitants use to drink of it in a morning instead of burnt wine . dr. fulk . . in paphlagonia is a well , which hath the taste of wine , and it makes men drunk which drink of it ; whence du-bartas , salonian fountain , and thou andrian spring , out of what cellars do you daily bring the oyl , and wine that you abound with so ? o earth , do these within thine entrals grow ? &c. . aelian mentioneth a fountain in boeotia neer to thebes , which makes horses run mad if they drink of it . . pliny mentioneth a water in sclavonia which is extream cold , and yet if a man throw his cloath cloak upon it , it is presently set on fire . . other waters there are which discolour the fleeces of the sheep which drink of them : whence du-bartas , cerona , xanth , and cephisus do make , the thirsty flocks that of their waters take , black , red , and white : and neer the crimson deep , th' arabian fountain maketh crimson sheep . . and again . what should i of th' illyrian fountain tell ? what shall i say of the dodonean well ? whereof the first sets any cloathes on fire ; th' other doth quench ( who but will this admire ) a burning torch : and when the same is quenched , lights it again , if it again be drenched . . in the province of dara in lybia , there is a certain river , which sometimes so overfloweth the banks that it is like a sea , yet in the summer it is so shallow , that any one may passe over it on foot . if it overflow about the beginning of aprill , it brings great plenty to the whole region ; if not , there follows great scarcity of corn. pur. pil. v. . p. . . in the kingdom of tunis neer unto the city el-hamma , is a hot river , which by diverse channels is carried through the city , the water of it being so hot that few can endure to go into it , yet having set it to cool a whole day , the people drink of it . idem . p. . . in africa , there is a river called margania , and by it a salt spring which turns all the wood is thrown into it , into hard stone . idem . p. . . the river meander is famous for its six hundred windings , and turnings , in and out : whence that of the poet , quique recurvatis ludit maeander in undis . maeander plays his watry pranks , within his crooked winding banks . . groenland in the hyperborean sea , was discovered anno christi . it hath in it the monastery of st. thomas situate in the north-east part thereof at the foot of a mountain , where there is a river so hot , that they use to boil their meat in it , and it serves for other such purposes as fire doth with us , isac . chron. p , . the river hypanis in scythia every day brings forth little bladders , out of which come certain flies which are thus , bred in the morning , are fledge at noon , and dye at night . fit emblems of the vain , and short life of man. the famous river of nilus in egypt useth once in the year to overflow her banks , whereby the whole country is watered . it usually beginneth to overflow upon the seventeenth of june , and increaseth daily , sometimes two , sometimes three fingers , and sometimes half a cubit high on a day . the increase of it is known by a pillar erected in a cistern , whereinto the water is conveyed by a sluce ; which pillar is divided into eighteen parts , each a cubit higher than the other . if the water reach no higher than to the fifteenth cubit , they expect a fruitful year : if it stay between the twelfth , and fifteenth cubit , the increase of that year will be but mean. if it reach not to the twelfth , it s a sign of scarcity . if it rise to the eighteenth , the scarcity will be greater , in regard of too much moisture . this river continueth forty dayes increasing , and forty dayes decreasing . pur. pil. v. . p. . . another thing is wonderful , which is this : in the grand cairo ( which is the metropolis of egypt ) the plague useth many times to be very violent , till the river begins to overflow its banks , at which time it doth instantly cease . so that whereas five hundred a day dyed the day before , not one doth die the day following . idem . p. . . in the county of devon , not far from the town of lidford , at a bridg , the river lid is gathered into a strait , and pent in between rocks , whereon it runneth down a main , and the ground daily waxing deeper , and deeper under it , his water is not seen , only a roaring noise is heard , to the great wonder of those that pass by . camb. brit. p. . . in warwickshire , at nevenham regis , three fountains arise out of the ground , strained through an allom mine : the water whereof carrieth the colour , and tast of milk , which cureth ulcers in the bladder , or kidneys caused by the stone , and provoketh urine abundantly ; green wounds it cleanseth , closeth up , and quickly healeth ; being drunk with salt it looseth , and with sugar it bindeth the belly . about fifty years ago these wells were famous , and in great request , many resorting to them , and the water by others was sent for far and near . idem . p. . . in herefordshire , a little beneath richards castle , nature , who never disports her self more in shewing wonders , than in waters , hath brought forth a pretty well , which is alwayes full of little fish bones , although they be drawn out from time , to time , whence it s commonly called bone-well . idem . p. . . in yorkshire , upon the sea-shore by sken-grave , when the winds are laid , and the weather is most calm upon the sea : the water lying level and plain without any noise : there is heard here many times on a sudden , a great way off , as it were , an horrible , and fearful groaning , which affrights the fishermen at those times , so that they dare not launce forth into the sea. idem . p. . . pliny tells us of the fountain chymaera , that is set on fire with water , and put out with earth , or hey . plin. nat . hist. lib. . c. , . . the same author also tells us , that in the hot deserts of india grows a certain kind of flax that lives in the fire , and consumes not : we have seen ( saith he ) table-cloathes made of it , burning in fires at feasts , by which they have been cleansed from their stains , and spots , and made whiter by the fire than they could be by water . . at belgrad in hungary , where danubius , and sava ( two great rivers ) meet , their waters mingle no more than water and oil : not that either flote above other , but joyn unmixed ; so that near the middle of the river i have gone in a boat ( saith sir henry blunt in his voyage into the levant ) and tasted of the danow , as clear , and pure as a well ; then putting mine hand an inch further , i have taken of the sava , as troubled as a street-channel , tasting the gravel in my teeth . thus they ran sixty miles together , and for a dayes journey i have been an eye-witness of it . chap. iv. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange fishes . anno christi . at oreford in suffolk , a fish was taken by the fishermen at sea , in shape resembling a wild man , and by them was presented to sir bartholomew de glanvil , keeper of oreford castle . in all his limbs and members he resembled a man , had hair in all the usual parts of his body , only his head was bald . the knight caused meat to be set before him , which he greedily devoured , and did eat fish raw , or sod : that which was raw he pressed with his hand , till he had squeezed out all the moisture : he uttered not any speech , though to try him , they hung him up by the heels , and grievously tormented him . he would get him to his couch at the setting of the sun , and rise again at the sun-rising . one day they brought him to the haven , and let him go into the sea , but to prevent his escape , they set three rows of very strong nets before him to catch him again at their pleasure : but he , straitwayes diving to the bottom , crept under all their nets , and shewed himself again to them , and so often diving , he still came up , and looked upon them that stood on the shore , as it were mocking of them . at length after he had sported himself a great while in the water , and there was no hope of his return , he came back to them of his own accord , and remained with them two months after . but finally , when he was negligently looked to , he went to the sea , and was never after seen , or heard of . fabians chron. . anno christi . some women of edam in the low-countries , as they were going in their barks to their cattel in purmer-meer , they often saw at the ebbing of the water , a sea-women playing up and down , whereat at the first they were afraid , but after a while , incouraging one another , they made with their boats towards her , and the water by this time being not deep enough for her to dive in , they took her by force , and drew her into the boat , and so carried her to edam , where in time she grew familiar , and fed of ordinary meats : and being sent from thence to herlem , she lived about fifteen years , but never spake , seeking often to get away into the water . belg. common-wealth . p. . . in the seas , near unto sofala are many women-fishes ; which from the belly to the neck are very like a woman ▪ the females have breasts like womens , with which also they nourish their young . from the belly downward they have thick , and long tails , with fins like a dolphin : the skin on the belly is white ; on the back rougher , than a dolphins . they have arms , which from the elbows end in fins , and so have no hands : the face is plain , round , and bigger than a mans , deformed , and without humane semblance : they have wide mouths , thick hanging lips like a hound ; four teeth hanging out almost a span long like the tusk of a boar : and their nostrils are like a calves . pur. pil. v. . p. . . upon the coasts of brasile are often found meer-men , which are like unto men of a good stature , but that their eyes are very hollow . . captain richard whitburn in his description of newfound-land , writes that anno christi . early in a morning as he was standing by the water side , in the harbour of st johns , he espied a strong creature swimming very swiftly towards him like a women , looking chearfully upon him : her face , eyes , nose , mouth , chin , ears , neck , and forehead were like a womans . it was very beautiful , and in those parts well proportioned , having hair hanging down round about the head : he seeing it come within a pikes length of him , stepped back , whereupon it dived under water , swimming to another place , whereby he beheld the shoulders , and back down to the middle , which was as square , white , and smooth as the back of a man ; from the middle to the hinder part it pointed in proportion like a broad-hooked arrow : afterwards it came to a boat wherein some of his men were , attempting to come in to them , till one of them struck it a full blow upon the head : others of them saw it afterwards also . . about brasile are many meer-men , and meer-women , that have long hair , and are very beautiful . they often catch the indians as they are swimming , imbracing them , and kissing them ; and clasp them so hard , that they crush them to death , and when they perceive that they are dead , they give some sighs , as if they were sorry pur. pil. v. . p. . . there are also another sort of them , that resemble children , and are no bigger , that are no ways hurtful . idem . . the torpedo is a strange kind of fish , which a man holding in his hand , if it stir not , it produceth no effect ; but if it move it self never so little , it so torments the body of him that holds it , that his arteries , joints , sinews , & all his members feel exceeding great pain , with a certain numness , and as soon as he layeth it out of his hand , all that pain , and numness , is gone also . p. pil. v. . p. . see more of it afterwards . . in sofala are many river-horses , as big as two of our horses , with thick , and short hinder legs , having five clawes on each fore-foot , and four on the hinder ; the mouth is wide , and full of teeth , four of which are above two spans long a peece ; the two lower stand upright ; the two upper are turned like a boars tush ; they live in the water , but feed on the land upon grass : they have teats wherewith they nourish their young ones : their hides are thicker than an oxes ; they are all of an ash-colour gray , with white strakes on their faces , or white stars in their foreheads . idem . p. . . in the mouth of the river of goa , there was taken a fish of the bigness of a cur-dog , with a snout like an hog , small eyes , no ears , but two holes in-stead thereof : it had four feet like an elephant : the tail was flat , but at the end round , and somewhat sharp : it snorted like a hog ; the body , head , tail , and legs , were covered with broad scals as hard as iron , so that no weapon could peirce them : when he was beaten , he would rowle himself round like an urchin , and could by no strength be opened , till he opened of his own accord . idem . p. . . there are also toad-fishes of about a span long , painted , having fair eyes : when they are taken out of the water , they snort , and swell much : their poison lies only in the skin , and that being flaid off , the indians eat them . idem . p. . . the cuttle-fish hath a hood alwayes full of black water , like ink , which when she is pursued by other fishes that would devour her , she casts it forth , which so darkens and foileth the water , that she thereby escapeth . idem . . there are a sort of fishes , whose wonderful making magnifieth their creator , who for their safety hath given them fins , which serve in-stead of wings : they are of such a delicate skin interlaced with fine bones as may cause admiration in the beholder : these fishes are like to pilcherds , only a little rounder , and bigger : they flye best with a side wind , but longer than their wings are wet , they cannot flye ; so that their longest flight is about a quarter of a mile . the dolphins , and bonitos do continually hunt after them , to prey upon them : whereupon for safety they take the air : but then there is a fowle called an alcatrace , much like a hern , which hovers in the air to seize upon them . incidit in scyllam qui vult vitare caribdim . out of the frying pan into the fire , as our proverb hath it . . there is often a strang fight in the sea between the whale and his enemies , viz. the swordfish , and the thresher . the swordfish is not great , but strongly made , and between his neck and shoulders he hath a bone like a sword , of about five inches broad , and above three foot long , full of prickles on either side . the thresher is a bigger fish , whose tail is broad , and thick , and very weighty . the fight is in this manner ; the swordfish placeth himself under the belly of the whale , and the thresher above with his tail thresheth upon the head of the whale , till he forceth him to give way , which the swordfish perceiving , wounds him in the belly with the sword , and so forceth him to rise up again . in this manner they torment him , that the fight is sometimes heard above three leagues off , the whales roaring being heard much further , his onely remedy in this case is to get to the shore , which he laboureth to do as soon as he sees his enemies : for then there can fight but one with him , and for either of them hand to hand he is too good . pur. pil. v. . p. . . mr. herbert in his east-indy voyage , relates of a shark taken by one of their men , that was nine foot and an half in length , and they found in her paunch fifty and five young ones , each of them a foot in length , all which go out and in at their pleasures : she is armed with a double row of venemous teeth : and is guided to her prey by a little musculus , or pilot-fish that scuds to and fro to bring intelligence , the shark for his kindnesse suffering it to suck when it pleaseth . . the sea tortoise is not much differing from those at land , only her shell is flatter : by overturning them they are easily taken , being hereby dis-enabled either to sink , or help themselves : they taste waterish , and cause fluxes : they superabound in eggs , one of them having in her neer two thousand , which eggs are pale , and round , and will never be made hard with boiling . herberts travels . p. . . in the indian sea is an eagle-fish , whose eyes are five quarters asunder , from the end of one fin to the end of the other are above four yards : its mouth and teeth resemble a portcullis : it hath a long small tail , and it is rather to be wondered at then to be eaten . . in le-maires voyage about the world , a certain fish , or sea monster , with an horn , struck against the ship with such violence , that shook it , whereupon the master looking overboard , saw the sea all bloody , but knew not what should be the cause , till coming into port-desire , where they cleansed and trimmed their ship , they found seven foot under water , a horn sticking in the ship , for bignesse , and fashion like an elephants tooth : yet not hollow , but all solid of hard bone , which had pierced through three double planks , and was entred into a rib of the ship , it stuck about half a foot deep in the ship , and by great force was broken off , which caused that great monster to bleed so much as discoloured the water . pur. pil. v. . p. . . the mannaty is a strange fish resembling a cow : her face is like a buffalo's , her eyes small and round , having hard gums instead of teeth : they feed much on the shore , which makes them taste like flesh of veal : their intrails differ little from a cows : their bodies are commonly three yards long , and one broad , they swim slowly wanting fins , in the place whereof they have two things like paps , which are their stilts when they creep on the shore to graze , where they sleep long , sucking in the cool aire : they cannot keep under water above half an hour . the stone generated in their head is most esteemed , being soveraign against choller adust , the stone collick ; and dissenteryes , if beaten small infused in wine , and drunk fasting . herb. trav. p. . see more afterwards . . the carvel comes of the foam of the sea , every where floating upon the surface of the ocean , of a round form , throwing abroad her strings like so many lines , which she can spread at pleasure , therewith angling for small fishes , which she catches at leasure : you may call her a sea-spider : for when she sees her web too weak , she can blow an infectious breath foaming death , or such a sting as if she had borrowed it from a scorpion . idem . . in the east-indies is a trade wind , which they call a briese , or monson , which blows west all april , may , june , july , august , and part of september , and east the rest of the year : only on the east of sumatra , it blows five months east , and five months west , and the other two variable . this is well known to our east-indy merchants . . the torpedo is a fish like a bream , but somwhat thicker : some marriners having one of them in a net , went to take it forth , but one of them presently cryed out that he had lost the use of his hands , and armes : another that was bare-legged putting his foot to it , lost the sence of his leg : but after a while their feeling returned again : whereupon calling their cook , they bade him to take and dresse it , who laying both his hands thereon , made grievous moan that he felt not his hands : but when its dead it produceth no such effect , but is good meat . pur. pil. p. . . about jamica in the west-indies , is a fish called a manati which is of a strange shape , and nature : it brings forth her young ones alive , and nourisheth them with milk from her teats , feeding upon grass in the fields , but lives for the most part in the water : the hinder-parts of it are like unto a cow , and it eats like veal . idem . v. . p. . . in brasile are oxe-fishes , which are very good meat : for head , hair , skin , cheeks , and tongue , they are like oxen : their eyes small with lids to open and shut ; which no other fish hath : it breatheth , and therefore cannot be long under water : instead of fore-feet , it hath two arms of a cubit long , with two round hands , and on them five fingers close together , with nails like a mans ; under these arms the female hath paps wherewith she nourisheth her young , she brings forth but one at once . it hath no fins but the tail , which is also round and close : their bones are all maffie , and white like ivory : of this fish they make great store of sweet oil : they feed most upon the land . idem . v. . p. . . in sir fran. drakes voyage about the world , when they came to the island of celebes , which is wholly overgrown with wood : amongst the trees night by night , they saw infinite swarms of fiery worms flying in the air , their bodies no bigger than of our english flyes , which made such a shew , and gave such a light , as if every twig or tree had been a burning candle . in which place also were great store of bats , as big as large hens . pur. pil. v. . p. . . in captain saris his voyage to bantam , about mid-night , they fell into the strangest , and fearfullest water that ever any of them had seen , the water giving such a glaring light about the ship , that they they could discern letters in a book thereby , whereas a little before it was so dark , that they could discern nothing . this made them fear that it had been the breach of sunken ground : but finding that they had failed half an hour in it , and saw no alteration , they perceived at length , that it was a multitude of cuttle-fish that made this fearful shew . pur. pil. p. . chap. v. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange fowls , and birds . . in one of the scottish islands there is a rare kind of fowl unknown to other countrys , called colca , little lesse than a goose : they come thither every year in the spring , hatch , and nourish their young ones : about which time they cast all their feathers , and become stark naked all their bodies over , and then they get themselves to the sea , and are no more seen till the next spring : their feathers have no quill , as other feathers have , but are all like unto down , wherein is no hardnesse . descr. of scot. . in the north seas of scotland are great loggs of timber found , in which are ingendred after a marvellous manner , a sort of geese , called claik-geese : and they do hang by the beak till they are grown to perfection , and then they receive life and fall off : they are many times found , & kept in admiration for their rare manner of generation : they are very fat , and delicious to be eaten . idem . some question the truth hereof . . storks are so careful of their parents ? that when they grow old , and so are unable to help themselves , the young ones feed them : and when in passing the sea their wings fail them , the young ones will take them on their backs , and carry them over . and this is remarkable about them . . the town of delph in the low-countries is so seated for the breeding , and feeding of those birds , that it is hard to see an house wherein they do not build . in this town upon the third of may , anno christi . a great fire happened when the young storks were grown pretty big : the old ones perceiving the fire to approach to their nests , attempted to carry away their young ones , but could not , they were so weighty , which they perceiving , never ceased with their spread wings to cover them , till they all perished in the flames together . belg. common wealth . p. . . in america there are certain small birds called viemalim , with small and long bills , that live upon the dew , and of the juice of flowers , and roses , like bees : their feathers are of very curious colours : they dye , or sleep every year in october , sitting upon the bough of a tree in a warm place , and in aprill following , when the flowers are sprung , they awake again . i have one of them . . in the arabian deserts there are great store of ostriches , that go in flocks , and often affright passengers that are strangers , with their fearful schr●eches , appearing a farr off like a troop of horsmen . their bodies are too heavy to be born up by their wings , which , though uselesse for flight , yet serve them to run with greater speed , so that a swift horse can scarce overtake them : whatsoever they finde , be it stones or iron , they greedily swallow it down , and concoct it : when they have laid their eggs , ( which are as big as a culverin bullet ) they forget where they left them , and so return no more to them : but they are hatched by the heat of the sun in the warm sands : hence those expressions , lam. . . the daughter of my people is become cruel , like the ostriches in the wildernesse : whereupon she is made the embleme of folly , job . . &c. she leaveth her eggs in the earth , and warmeth them in the dust , and forgets that the foot may crush them , &c. . in brasile there is a little bird , which they call the risen , or awaken bird , because it sleeps six months , and awakes the other six . it hath a cap on its head of no one colour , but on what side soever you look , it sheweth red , green , black , and other colours , all very fine , and shining : the breast also shews great variety of colours , especially yellow , more fine then gold ; the body is grey , and it hath a very long small bill , and yet the tongue is twice as long as the bill : it flyes very swiftly , and makes a humming like a bee. it always feeds flying . pur. pil. . in socotera there are bats , whose bodies are almost as big as a conies , their heads are like foxes with an hairy furr upon them : in other things they are like our bats . one of them being killed by some english , his wings when they were extended , were an ell in length . their cry is shril and loud . idem . . in italy are the flies cantharides , which by day are of a green shining colour , but in the night they shine in the air , like flying glow-worms , with fire in their tailes . raimunds mercu. ital. . in china there is a fowl of a prodigious shape , and bignesse : it is three foot high : the body being exceeding great , more than a man can fathom : their feathers are all white like a swans , their feet broad like fowls that swim : their neck half a fathom long , and their beak half an ell , the upper part of it being crooked . from the nether part of the beak there hangs a very great and capable bag of a yellow golden colour , resembling parchment . with these fowls the natives use to fish , as we do in england with cormorants . they will catch fish with great dexterity , and when they have filled their great bag , which will hold divers fishes of two foot long a peece , they will bring them to their masters . pur. pil. v. . . . in the african desarts is a certain fowle called a nesir , some call it a vultur . it s bigger than a crane . in flying it mounts very high , yet at the sight of a dead carkass , it descends immediatly . she lives long , and in extream old age looseth her feathers , and then returning to her nest , is there fed by the young ones of the same kind . idem . . near unto the streights of magellane , there is an island called penguin island , wherein are abundance of fowls called penguins that go upright , their wings , in stead of feathers , are only covered with down , which hang down like sleeves faced with white . they flye not , but walk in paths of their own making , and keep their divisions and quarters orderly . they are a strange fowle , or rather , a miscellaneous creature , of beast , bird , and fish : but most of bird. pur. pil. v. . p. . . in the isle of man , there is a sort of sea-fowles called puffins , they are of a very unctious constitution , and breed in cony-holes ( the conies leaving their burrows for that time ) they are never seen with their young , but very early in the morning , and late in the evening : they nourish their young ( as it is conceived ) with oil drawn from their own bodyes , and dropped into their mouths ; for that being opened , there is found in their crops no other sustenance , save a single sorrel-leaf , which the old give their young ( as is conjectured ) for digestions-sake ; the flesh of them , whilst raw , not savoury , but powdered , it may be ranked with anchoves , and caviare ; profitable they are in their feathers , and oil , which they use much about their wooll . . the isle of mauritius is a fowle called a dodo ; her body is round , and extream fat , which makes her pace slow : few of them weigh less than fifty pound : her wings are so small , that they cannot lift her above the ground : her head is variously dressed , the one half-hooded with downy black feathers ; the other wholly naked , of a whitish colour , as if a transparent lawn had covered it : her bill is very hooked , bending downwards , the breathing place being in the midst of it , from which part to the end , the colour is light green , mixt with a pale yellow : her eyes are round , and small , and bright as diamonds : her cloathing is of the finest down ; her train is of three or four short-feathers , her legs thick , and black ; her tallons sharp ; her stomach so hot , that she digests stones , or iron , as doth the ostrich . . in lincolnshire there is a bird called a dotterel , so named of his doltish foolishness : it s a bird of an apish kinde , ready to imitate what it sees done : they are caught by candle-light by the fowlers gestures ; for if he put forth and arm , they stretch forth a wing : if he sets forward a leg , or hold up his head , they likewise do the same : in brief , whatsoever the fowler doth , the same also doth this foolish bird , until it be caught within the net . camb. brit. p. . . there is an island called bas , bordering upon lathaien in scotland , unto which there resort a multitude of sea fowls , especially of soland geese , which bring with them such abundance of fish , that , as it is reported , an hundred souldiers that lay there in garrison for defence of the place , fed upon no other meat , but the fish that was thus brought to them : and the said fowls also bring such a number of sticks , and twigs , wherewith to build their nests , that thereby the inhabitants are also abundantly provided of fewel for the fire : and such a mighty gain is made of their feathers , and oil , that no man would scarcely beleeve it , but he that hath seen it . camb. brit. of scotland . p. , . . in magallanes voyage about the world , the king of the island of bacchian sent the king of spain two dead birds of a strange shape : they were as big as turtle-doves , with little heads , and long bills , long small legs , and no wings , but in-stead thereof certain long feathers of divers colours , and tails like turtle-doves : all their other feathers were of a tawny colour ; they flye not , but when the wind blows ; and they call them birds of god. pur. pil v. . p. . . in sofala in the east-indies is a kinde of bird called minga , green , and yellow , very fair , about the bigness of a pigeon , which never treads on the ground , their feet being so short , that they can scarce be discerned : they settle on trees , of the fruit whereof they live : when they drink , they flye on the tops of the water ; and if they fall on the ground , they cannot rise again ; their flesh is fat and savoury . idem . p. . chap. vi. the wonderful works of god in the creatures . of strange beasts , and serpents . . whilst sir thomas row , our english ambassador , was at the great moguls court , he saw many stately elephants brought before the emperour : some of which being lord-elephants ( as they called them ) had their chain bells , and furniture of gold , and silver , each of them having eight , or ten other elephants waiting on him : they were some twelve companies in all , and as they passed by , they all bowed down before the king very handsomely . pur. pil. v. . p. . . though these elephants be the largest of all beasts , yet are they very tractable , unless at such times when they are mad through lust : some of them are thirteen , and some fifteen foot high ; their colour is usually black , their skins thick , and smooth without hair ; they delight much to bathe themselves in water , and are excellent swimmers , their pace is about three miles an hour ; of all beasts they are most sure of foot , so that they never stumble , or fall to indanger their rider : they lye down , and rise again at pleasure , as other beasts do ; they are most docible creatures , doing almost whatsoever their keeper commands them . if he bid one of them affright a man , he will make towards him , as he would tread him in pieces ; and yet when he comes at him , do him no hurt : if he bid him abuse , or disgrace a man , he will take dirt , or kennel-water in his trunk , and dash it in his face , &c. their trunks are long , grissely snouts hanging down betwixt their teeth , which ( as a hand ) they make use of upon all occasions . some elephants the great mogul keeps for execution of malefactors ; who being brought to suffer death by that mighty beast , if the keeper bid him dispatch the offender presently , he will immediately with his foot pash him in peeces : if he bid him torture him slowly , he will break his joynts by degrees one after another , as men are broken upon the wheel . . an english merchant of good credit being at adsmeer ( a city where the great mogul then was ) saw a great elephant daily brought through the market-place , where an hearb-woman used to give him an handful of hearbs as he passed by . this elephant afterwards being mad ; brake his chains , and took his way through the market-place ; the people being affrighted , hasted to secure themselves , amongst whom was this hearb-woman , who through fear , and haste , forgat her little childe . the elephant comming to the place where she usually sate , stopt , and seeing a child lye about her hearbs , took it up gently with his trunk , and without harm , laid it upon a stall hard by , and then proceeded in his furious course . idem . p. . the males testicles lie about his forehead : the females teates are betwixt her fore-legs ; they carry their young two years in their wombs : conceive but once in seven years : they are thirty years before they come to their full growth , and fulfil the accustomed age of a man before they die . . as pyrrus king of epyrus was assaulting the city of argos , one of his elephants called nicon . i. e. conquering , being entred the city , perceiving that his governour was stricken down to the ground from his back with terrible blows ; ran upon them that came back upon him , overthrowing friends , and foes , one in anothers neck , till at length , having found the body of his slain master , he lift him up from the ground with his trunk , and carrying him upon his two tushes ; returned back with great fury , treading all under feet whom he found in his way . plut. in vita pyrri . . the lion hath the jackall for his usher , which is a litle black , shag-haired beast , of the bigness of a spaniel , which when the evening comes , hunts for his prey , and comming on the foot , follows the scent with open crye : to which the lion as chief hunt gives diligent ear , following for his advantage : if the jackall set up his chase before the lion comes in , he howles out mainly , and then the lion seizeth on it , making a grumbling noise , whilst his servant stands by barking , and when the lyon hath done , the jackal feeds on the relicks idem . p. . see more afterwards , example seventeen . . the panther hath a very sweet smell , so that other beasts are much taken therewith , but they are terrified with the ugly deformity of his face ; and therefore as he goes he hides that part between his legs , and will not look towards them till he hath gotten them within his compasse , which when he hath done , he devours them without mercy : so deals the devil with wicked men , strewing their way to hell with variety of worldly delights , and profits ( the thorns of affliction must not touch their flesh , nor hells terrors come within their thoughts ) till he hath made them past feeling , then he devours them . plin. nat . hist. l. c. . . the rhynoceros is so called because of the horn in his nose : he is a large beast , as big as our fairest oxe in england : his skin lyeth plated , and as it were in wrinkles upon his back : their horn , teeth , claws , yea flesh , and blood , are good against poyson , which , as is conceived , proceeds from the herbs which they feed on in bengala , where are most store of them . . the camelopardalus is the highest of beasts , so that a man on horseback may ride upright under his belly , his neck is long , so that he usually feedeth upon the leaves of trees : his colour is white and speckled , his hinder legs are shorter than his former , so that he cannot graze but with difficulty . p. pil. p. . he is also called a jaraff . . in india is a certain beast called a buffelo , which is very large , hath a thick and smooth skin , but without hair : she gives good milk , and her flesh is like beefe . idem . p. . . in the same country also are certain wild goats , whose horns are good against poison , pur. pil. p. . . in the country of indostan in the east-indies , are large white apes , as big as our grey-hounds , which will eat young birds , whereupon nature hath taught their dams this subtilty : they build their nests on the utmost bowes at the end of slender twigs : where they hang them like purse-nets to which the apes cannot possibly come : yet many times with their hands they will shake those boughs till the nests break , and fall down , and then they will devour them . pur. pilgrimage p. . . the camelion is of the shape , and bigness of a lizzard , it is a deformed lean , and crooked creature , having a long and slender tail , like a mouse , and is of a slow pace . it lives only upon flys . it changeth colours according to the variety of places where it comes . it is a great enemy to venemous serpents ; for when it sees any lie sleeping under a tree , it gets upon a bough just over the serpents head , & voideth out of its mouth , as it were a long thred of spittle , with around drop hanging at the end , which falling on the serpents head , immediately kills him p. pil. p. . . there was lately found in catalunia , in the mountains of cerdania , a certain monster , that had humane shape as far as the waste , and downwards it was like a satyre : he had many heads , arms , & eyes , and a mouth of extraordinary bigness , wherewith he made a noise like a bull : his picture was sent by don john of austria ( now governour of the low countrys ) to the king of spain , and afterwards many coppies thereof were drawn , and sent abroad by ambassadors , and other persons to several princes , and states in europe . hist. of this iron age . . in brasile is a certain beast called a tamandua or ant-bear of the bignesse of a great dog , more round than long , and the tail above twice so long as the body , and so full of hair that under it he shelters himself from rain , heat , cold , and wind . his head is small ; and hath a thin snout : his mouth round , with a tongue three quarters of a yard long : he is diligent in seeking ant-hills , which he teareth with his claws , and then thrusts in his long tongue , upon which the ants run , and when it is full , he licks them in ; and this is all his food . pur. pil. v. . p. . . the armadillo is of the bignesse of a pig , and of a white colour : it hath a long snout , and the body is covered with shels like plates , wherewith they are armed : for they are so hard that no arrow will pierce them except in the flanks , where they are softer : their flesh is good to eat , they dig holes in the ground with their snouts , in which they lye . idem . . the porcupine hath bristles , or quils , white and black , of a span and an half long , which they can cast : and they have this quality , that where one of these bristles enters into the flesh , if it be not pulled out presently , it will work it selfe quite through ; they are of a good flesh , and taste . . the civet-cat exceeds the castor for bignesse , her head is little , her eyes clear ; hath a long muzzle ; sharp , and offensive teeth . her hair is parti-coloured , harsh , and bristley , yellow above , and whiter downwards ; the pocket wherein the civet is bred is neer the genitory , which is taken forth with a spoon or stick ; but when she is wild , she casts it forth of her own accord , and by the scent it is found by the passengers . . the lyons in affrick , are more fierce than in colder countryes ; here was one of their skins brought into england , which from the snout to the top of the tail , contained one and twenty foot in length . they engender backwards as do camels , elephants , rhinoceroses , ounces , and tygers . they spare such men as prostrate themselves to them , and prey rather upon men than women , and not at all on infants , except compelled by hunger . his tail is his scepter , by which he expresses his passion . he shrinks not at danger , except some covert of woods hides him from witnesses , and then he will take the benefit of flight , which otherwise he seems to disdain . . the hyaena hath no joints in her neck , and therefore stirs not her neck , but with the bending of her whole body . she hath one continued tooth through her whole mouth . . in africk are many wild asses , whereof one male hath many females , and he is so jealous , that he bites off the stones of the young males , if the suspicious female prevent him not by bringing forth in a close place . . the dabuh is a simple creature , like to a wolf , but that his legs and feet are like to a mans , they which know his haunt , with a taber , & singing , will bring him out of his den , and captivate his ears with their musick , whilst another captivateth his legs with a rope . . the zebra is a very beautiful creature , resembling a curiously shaped horse , but not all out so swift , all over-laid with party coloured laces , and guards , from head to tail . . in sofala there is a certain creature called inhazaras as big as a hog , & somewhat like , with thin black hair , having on his hinder feet five fingers like unto a mans , and four on his forefeet ; they live meerly upon ants , by thursting their tongues which are two spans and an half long into an ant-hil , whereon the ants running , they pull them into their mouths , and so eat them : some call them ant-bears . pur. pil. . there is in affrica a certain monster called pongo , in the whole proportion like unto a man , but that it is bigger . it hath a mans face , hollow eyes , long hair upon the brows , his face and ears being without hair : but his body is all hairy of a dunish colour , &c. he differs from a man only in his legs , which have no calves : he goes alwayes upright upon his legs , and he carries his hands clasped in the nape of his neck , when he walkes upon the ground : they use to sleep in trees , and live upon fruits and nuts . idem . v. . p. . . in congo there is a strange creature as big as a ram , that hath wings like a dragon , a long tail , and great chaps , with diverse rows of teeth : they feed upon raw flesh . idem . p. . . in affrica there is a beast called a dabuk , in bignesse and shape , resembling a wolf , saving that his legs & feet are like a mans . he useth to take dead men out of their graves , and eat them . idem . p. . . in the kingom of mexico there are kine , with bunches on their backs , about the bigness of our bulls , having little horns , and more hair on their foreparts than behind , which is like wooll : on the back-bone they have maines like horses , and long hair from their knees downward , with much long hair on their throats : they are meat , drink , shooes , houses , fire , vessels , and their masters whole substance . . other creatures there are as big as horses , which the spaniards for their fine wooll call sheep : one of their horns usually weigheth fifty pounds . p. pil. v. . p. . . in virginia is a beast called a possown , the female whereof hath a bag under her belly , from whence she letteth forth her young ones , and taketh them in again at her pleasure . idem . p. . . in socotera are sheep , whose tails weigh twenty eight pounds a peece , which therefore are usually cut off from the ewes , least they should hinder their breeding . . in the great mogols countrey there are asses with horns , whereof they make diverse sorts of drinking cups , of excellent vertue . some judging them to be the right unicorns horn . idem . p. . . most certain it is , that the irish cows will not give down their milk , unless their own calves be set by their sides , either alive , or else the skin of the dead calf must be stuffed with straw , and set by them . camb. brit. of ireland . p. . . in the island of orknay the ewes are of such fecundity , that they bring forth constantly two , and many times three lambs a peece ; there be neither ravenous nor venemous creatures there ; nor if transported thither , will they live in that island . description of scotl. . there are three sorts of camels : the first sort are gross , and tall of stature : these will usually carry one thousand pound weight a peece ; when they are to be loaden , being beaten on the knees , and neck with a cudgel , they will kneel down ; and when they feel their load sufficient , they will rise up again of themselves . the second sort of them have two bunches on their backs , and are fit either for burthen , or to ride on . the third sort are of a slender , and low stature , called dromedaries , unfit for burthens , but they excel in swiftness , so that in the space of one day they will travel one hundred miles , and will so continue for eight , or ten dayes together , with very little provender ; and they will abstain from drink , eight , ten , and sometimes fifteen dayes together , without any inconvenience , as they travel through the deserts . . musk is taken from a little reddish beast , that they beat with many blows in one place , that so the blood may gather into it : and when the skin is by this means swoln , and full of blood , they bind it strait , that the blood may not issue forth , and being put into one , or more bladders , its dryed on the beasts back , till the bladder fall off of it self ; and so that blood after a month becomes excellent musk . pur. pil. v. . p. . . amongst the blackmoors , there is a strange beast called a carbuncle , which is seen only by night , having a stone in his forehead that shineth incredibly , and giving him light whereby to feed : but when he hears the lest noise , he presently lets fall over it a skin , which he hath as a natural covering , least his splendor should betray him . pur. pil. v. . p. . . in abassia are kine with horns like unto harts-horns : others there be that have but one horn in the midst of their foreheads of about a span and an half long , turning upward . pur. pil. v. . p. . . there is in the country of mexico a kinde of sheep , which all things considered , is a beast of the greatest profit , and least charge that is : for from them they draw meat and cloathing : they use them also to carry all their burthens , having need neither of shooes nor saddles , nor yet of oats , so that they serve their masters for nought , feeding only on grass which they find in the fields : there are two kinds of these creatures , the one bearing wooll , the other are bare , which are the better for burthen ; they are bigger than great sheep , and less than calves ; they have long necks like a cammel . they are of divers colours , some white , some black , and others grey , or spotted ; their flesh is good meat , but that of their lambs is best : of their wooll the indians make cloath some courser , other finer like half-silk ; they also make carpets , and coverings , and other exquisite works of it , which last long , and have a very good gloss ; they die it into sundry colours : upon these the spaniards carry their bars of silver ; one of these sheep carrying about an hundred and fifty pound weight . . in the stomach , or belly of this beast , is found the bezar's stone ; sometimes one alone , sometimes two , three , or foure : they are different in form , greatness , and colour ; some like filbeards , others like walnuts : some as big as pigeons eggs , some as big as hens eggs : in form some are round , some oval , and of other formes . for their colour , some are black , some white , some grey , dark green , and some as if they had been gilded : they are all made of divers filmes , and skins one upon another . p. pil. v. . p. . . there is in italy the tarantula ( a kind of serpent ) the venome whereof hath such an operation , that whosoever is stung with it , falleth a dancing , and capering , and nothing can allay it but musick . raimunds mercu. ital. examples of dogs love to their masters . . when the athenians quit their city , and betook themselves to sea , upon xerxes his invasion of greece , xantippus the father of pericles had a dog , which for sorrow that his master had left him behind him , cast himself after him into the sea , swimming still by the gallies side wherein his master was , till he came to the isle of salamina , where so soon as the poor cur landed , his breath failed him , and he dyed presently . plut in vita themist . chap. vii . admirable works done by the art of man. . protogenes the rhodian , an exquisite painter , bestowed seven years in drawing a most curious picture , which when apelles beheld , he stood amazed at the excellency of the workmanship , so that for a while he could not speak , but afterwards he said , this is an admirable work , and of huge labour , yet he wants an orator to extol his workmanship to the skies . when king demetrius besiedged the city of rhodes , he took the suburbs , and in them this picture , whereupon the citizens sent to him , requesting him not to deface it ; to whom he answered , that he would sooner burn the picture of his father , than hurt a peece of such admirable workmanship . diod. sic. plut. glasses malleable . . anno christi . amongst other rare presents sent from the sophy of persia , to the king of spain , were six drinking glasses so exquisitely tempered , that they could not be broken . turk . hist. p. . stone-henge described . . about six miles from salisbury , upon the plains , is to be seen a huge , and monstrous peece of work , such as cicero calleth insanam substructionem . for within the circuit of a ditch , there are erected in the manner of a crown , in three ranks , or courses , one whithin another , certain mighty , and unwrought stones , whereof some are twenty eight foot high , and seven broad ; upon the heads of which , others like overtwhart peeces do bear , and rest cross-wise with tenents , and mortesses , so as the whole frame seemeth to hang , whereof it s commonly called stone-henge . camb. brit. . in westmerland hard by shape , there be hung stones in form of pyramids , some of them nine foot high , and fourteen foot thick , ranged directly as it were in a row for a mile in length , with equal distance almost between them . camb. brit. p. . mausolus his tombe described . . artimesia queen of halicarnassus , when her husband mausolus dyed , built him a stately tomb , accounted for the rare workmanship , and costly magnificence one of the worlds wonders . it was five and twenty cubits high , and supported with six and thirty curious pillars , of which martial thus writeth : are nam vacuo pendentia mausolaea , laudibus immodicis cares ad astra ferunt . the mausolaea hanging in the skie , the men of caria's praises deifie . . when sir thomas row was ambassador there , the great mogul built a stately monument for his father : it was about twenty years in building , and three thousand men working daily at it : it was built square , three quarters of a mile in compass : it was made with seven heights one above another , and each narrower than other , till you come to the top where the herse is : at the outward gate is a most stately palace , and gardens walled about , at least three miles in compass ; all built at a vast charge . pur. pil. p. . . mr. herbert , who saw it afterwards , thus describes it . it consists ( saith he ) of four large squares , each about three hundred paces long , the matter is freestone polished , having at each angle , a small tower of party coloured marble . ten foot higher is another tarras , on each side beautified with three such towers . the third gallery hath two towers , on each side . the fourth , one . the fifth , half , and a small square gallery mounting to a royal pyree , within which is the mummy of ecbar ; bedded in a coffin of pure gold. the whole structure is built in the midst of a spacious and curious garden , surrounded with a wall of red stone , and planted with beautiful and odoriferous flowers . porsennah's tomb described . porsenna king of hetruria● , not far from the city of clusium , built for himself a monument of square stone , each side of it was three hundred foot broad , and fifty foot high ; within which square basis , there was an inextricable labyrinth , into which whosoever adventured without a clue , could find no passage out . upon this square he erected five pyramids , four in the corners , and one in the midst ; in the bottom they were seventy five foot broad , and each of them one hundred and fifty foot high , on the top was one brass circle , and covering for them all , from which there hung bells fastened with chains , which being moved with the winde , gave a sound a far off : upon this brazen circle stood other four pyramids , each of them one hundred foot high ; and upon them ( being covered with another plain ) were again erected five other pyramids , the height whereof my author was ashamed to name : so foolishly did he waste the wealth of his kingdom , that in the end the commendation of the artificer should be the greatest . pliny out of varro ; and greaves out of him . . in the great moguls country , from agra to lahar ( which are the two chief cities in this empire ) is about four hundred english miles : the country in all that distant , being even without mountains or hills : and the high-way betwixt them , is planted on both sides with trees , like unto a delicate walk . p. pil. v. . p. . the trees are mulberry-trees . and in all this way , ever and anon , are inns built by several kings , and great men , for the entertainment of strangers : in which you may have a chamber for your self , room for your hourse , and horse-meat , but little for your servant : when a man hath taken up his lodging , no other may dispossess him . in the morning about break a day , all make ready to depart , at which time the gates are opened , and none suffered to depart sooner for fear of theeves . p. . the first invention of printing . . laurence jans , a rich citizen of harlem in the low-countries , walking forth one day into the neighbouring woods for recreation , began to cut in pieces of wood the letters of his name , printing them on the back of his hand ; which pleasing him well , he cut three or four lines which he beat with ink , and printed them upon paper , wherewith he much joyed , and determined to find out another kind of ink more fastening , and holding , and so with his kinsman thomas peterse , found out another way to print whole sheets , but of one side only , which are yet to be seen in the said town : afterwards he changed his letters of wood into lead , and after that into tin , and so by degrees this famous art of printing grew to perfection . belg. common-wealth . p. . . some say that john guttenburg of strasburg , was the first inventer of it , anno christi . in which city he first practised it , and removing from thence to mentz , there perfected it . they say that tullies offices was the first book that ever was printed . p. ramus schol. math. l. . . it doth with wonderful celerity convey learning from one country , and age , to another . imprimit ille die , quantum vix scribitur anno . the most famous printers were . . aldus manutius , and after him paulus his son in venice . in france , crispinus , henry stevens , father to charles ; and charles to robert ; robert to henry , and henry to paul , all printers . . christopher plantine of antwerp , was a most famous and learned printer . . frobenius , that was erasmus his faithful printer . . daniel bombergus , an excellent printer of the hebrew bible , and many other hebrew books , &c. the first invention of guns . . a german fryer of the order of st. francis , called bertholdus swart , being very studious of chymistry , as he was one evening ( for the finding out of some experiment ) very busie in tempering brimstone , sulphureous powder of dryed earth , and certain other ingredients in a morter , which he covered with a stone : when it grew dark , he took his tinder-box to light him a candle , a sparke whereof by chance flying into the mortar , caught hold of the brimstone , and salt-peter , and firing , with a sudden flash blew up the stone . the cunning chymist gues●ng what it was which wrought this effect , never left till he found out the certainty , and then taking an iron pipe , he crammed it full of the same ingredient , together with some stones , and so putting fire to it , he saw that with great fury , and noise it discharged it self : soon after which , he communicated this his invention to the venetians , who , having been often vanquished by the genowayes , did by the help of these bombards , or guns , give them a notable discomfiture . anno christi . bucholtz . . at middleburg in zealand , in the steeple of the abby-church , there is a bell of eighteen thousand weight to strike the hours on , and twenty four small ones which serve for the chymes . belg. common-wealth . p. . a description of the situation of utrecht in the low-countries . utrecht in the low-countries , is so situated , that one may go to what town he please of fifty , that lye round about it in one day . and in a summers day , if one go early from utrecht , he may dine at any one of twenty six towns , where he pleaseth , and return to his own house to supper . idem . p. . trajan built a bridge over the river ister , or danow , containing twenty arches , each arch being one hundred and fifty foot high , sixty thick , and one hundred and seventy foot distant one from another : so that the whole length of it was four thousand seven hundred and seventy foot , which was almost a mile long . the river was very deep , and swift , and the bottom not firm ground , neither could the stream be diverted any other way ; all which made the work far more difficult , and admirable . ancus martius , the fourth king of rome , built a wooden bridge over the river tybur , yet without nails , or pins , so that in times of war it might be taken down : afterwards aemilius the consul built it of stone : and lastly antoninus pius the emperour built it of marble . finis . soli deo gloria . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e trees , fowles beasts fishes plants , fruits , and herbs , virginia's situation . their summers and winters . the natives described . their apparel . habitations and houses . their lodging and beds . their child-birth and children . women laborious and men idle . their several diets . their bows and arrows . their weapons in war. the fishing boats , and furniture . their huntings . their wars . their musick . their trading . their religion . their sepulchers , and burials . their mournings : the priests attire . their civil government . the kings women and attendants . their goverment by customs . of the plantation of the english. elks fruitfulness of the deer . their beasts and fowles ▪ their fish. their fruits . the qualities of the natives . their priests . their government . the countrey described . strange beasts . their hawks and other fowl. birds and fish. bermudas city . powhatans daughter converted baptized and married . she comes into england . her death . vrginia divided . how governed : persons sent over . commodities , their iron , pot , and sope ashes pitch and tar. timber . silk . vines . salt. gifts to the plantation . persons sent over . gifts to promote the plantation . notes for div a -e the nature of its soil . the temperature of the air . it s fertility . their summers , and winters . no venomous creature there . fish fowl trees and plants . tortoises or turtles described . the prickl pear . fowls and birds . plants . things offensive . their number & bigness . whale-fight . strange birds . rat-plague palm trees . shel-fish . other fish birds . more planters sent over . of governours . notes for div a -e the good god , how they increase the priests . their government . they maintain their kings . their charity . their burials , and mournings their behaviour . their names of their marriages , their women . their modesty . their justice punishments . their integrity . their language . their chonicles . notes for div a -e barbadoes first discovered . hoggs found there . hunted by the indians . fine pots . the first painters . indico planted . cotton , and fustick . sugar canes planted . the scituation of the island . the chief towns unhealthful . the baies . the bigness of the island . ils beauty the length of the days the temperature . diseases , the moistness of the air . a want of water . the only river or lake . excellent lobsters . their ponds . speedy warning of dangers bread of c●ssury . how it s made . bread of maise , and cussary together . lob-lolly potatoes used for bread. their drink mobby , how made . perino how made . grippo . punch . plantane drink . kill-devil . beveridge pine-drink the best of all . hogs flesh . beef . turkies . pullin , and muscovy ducks . turtle doves . pidgeons . rabbets . several sorts of fish . the green turtle . quasquechoses . flesh and fish. the negroes alowance . an inland feast . a feast near the sea. merchandize imported and exported . timber trees . locusts . mastick trees . bully trees . red wood yellow wood . cedars iron-wood . stone for buildings . of their servants and slaves . how their servants are used . dreadful fire . how quenched . of the negroes . their chastiy . their jealousie . of their easie travel dancing . the funerals , and physick . negro . maids and wives . indians . camels . horses . bulls and cows . asinegoes . hoggs . sheep . goats . birds and fowls . buzzards . turtle doves . thrush . blackbirds stares . counsellers . the humming bird. teals , oxen , kine : a man of wyr . snakes . scorpious lizzards . cochoaches . the muskitoes . merriwings . caterpillars . other flies . ants and pismires . ants. spiders . negroes . crickets . crabs . the physick nut. the poison tree . a mantionel tree . cussavy . coloquintida . cassia fistula . a strange tamarine trees . palm-trees figg trees . cherry-trees . citron trees . orange trees . limon trees . lime-trees prickled apple trees . prickled pear-trees . pomgranate trees papa-trees gnaver trees . coco-trees custard-apple trees mucow trees . date trees , mungrave trees . calibash trees . bay-trees . cedar mastick trees . bully trees , red-wood trees . prickled yellow wood . iron wood. lignum vitae . locust trees , bastard locust trees . palmeto trees . palms to royal trees . plantanes . wild plantanes . tanes . bonanoes . sugar . canes . old wit hs . aloes . by the counsell of virginea seeing it hath pleased god ... that now by the wisdome and industry of the lord governour settled in virginea, the state and business of the english plantation there succeedeth with hope of a most prosperous event ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by the counsell of virginea seeing it hath pleased god ... that now by the wisdome and industry of the lord governour settled in virginea, the state and business of the english plantation there succeedeth with hope of a most prosperous event ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) virginia company of london. sheet ([ ] p.). jmprinted at london for william welby, [london] : . advertisement for artisans of all sorts to join the colony. reproduction of original in the society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . great britain -- history -- james i, - . broadsides -- london (england) -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion by the counsell of virginea . seeing it hath pleased god , after such hard successe , and the manifold impediments knowne to the world , that now by the wisdome and industry of the lord gouernour settled in virginea , the state and businesse of the english plantation there succeedeth with hope of a most prosperous euent , and that therefore it is resolued and almost in a readinesse , for the further benefit and better setling of the said plantation , to make a new supply of men , and all necessarie prouisions , in a fleet of good ships , vnder the conduct of sir thomas gates and sir thomas dale knights , and for that it is not intended any more to burden the action with vagrant and vnnecessarie persons : this is to giue notice to so many honest and industrious men , as carpenters , smiths , coopers , fishermen , tanners , shoomakers , shipwrights , brickmen , gardeners , husbandmen , and labouring men of all sorts , that if they repaire to the house of sir thomas smith in philpotlane in london , before the end of this present moneth of ianuarie , the number not full , they shall be entertained for the voyage , vpon such termes as their qualitie and fitnesse shall deserue . jmprinted at london for william welby , . a declaration of the state of the colonie and affaires in virginia with the names of the aduenturors, and summes aduentured in that action. by his maiesties counseil for virginia. iunij. . counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) a declaration of the state of the colonie and affaires in virginia with the names of the aduenturors, and summes aduentured in that action. by his maiesties counseil for virginia. iunij. . counseil for virginia (england and wales) virginia company of london. [ ], , [ ], , , [ ]; ; , [ ] p. printed by t[homas] s[nodham and felix kingston], london : . the first leaf is blank except for signature-mark "a". a reissue of stc . with added ¹c⁴ ("a declaration of the supplies") and ³a-e⁴ ("orders and constitutions"), both printed by snodham. kingston printed quires ² c-² a (stc). identified as stc on umi microfilm reel ; "orders and constitutions" identified as stc on . reproductions of the originals in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. appears at reel (the henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy ) and at reel (the henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy ). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia company of london -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a declaration of the state of the colonie and affaires in virginia : with the names of the aduenturors , and summes aduentured in that action . by his maiesties counseil for virginia . . iunij . . sigilvm regis magnae britaniae franciae et hiberniae london : printed by t. s. . by his maiesties counseil for virginia . after the many disasters , wherewith it pleased almighty god to suffer the great enemy of all good actions and his instruments , to encounter and interrupt , to oppresse and keepe weake , this noble action for the planting of virginia , with christian religion , and english people : it hauing pleased him now contrarily of his especiall great grace , so to blesse and prosper our late carefull endeauours , as well for the repairing of all former breaches , as for supplying of the present defects , wherewith the colony was kept downe , that it hath as it were on a sodaine growne to double that height , strength , plenty , and prosperity , which it had in former times attained . we haue thought it now the peculiar duety of our place , accordingly as it hath beene also ordered by a generall court , to summon as it were by a kinde of louing invitement , the whole body of the noble and other worthy aduenturors , as well to the conseruing and perfecting of this happy worke , as to the reaping of the fruit of their great expenses and trauailes . and first to remoue that vnworthy aspersion , wherewith ill disposed mindes , guiding their actions by corrupt ends , haue both by letters from thence , and by rumours here at home , sought vniustly to staine and blemish that countrey , as being barren and vnprofitable ; wee haue thought it necessary for the full satisfaction of all , to make it publikely knowne , that by diligent examination wee haue assuredly found , those letters and rumours to haue beene false and malicious ; procured by practise , and suborned to euill purposes : and contrarily disaduowed by the testimony vpon oath of the chiefe inhabitants of all the colony ; by whom we are ascertained , that the countrey is rich , spacious , and well watered ; temperate as for the climate ; very healthfull after men are a little accustomed to it ; abounding with all gods naturall blessings : the land replenished with the goodliest woods in the world , and those full of deere , and other beasts for sustenance : the seas and riuers ( whereof many are exceeding faire and nauigable , ) full of excellent fish , and of all sorts desireable ; both water and land yeelding fowle in very great store and variety : in summe , a countrey , too good for ill people ; and wee hope reserued by the prouidence of god , for such as shall apply themselues faithfully to his seruice , and be a strength and honour to our king and nation . but touching those commodities for which that countrey is proper , and which haue beene lately set vp for the aduenturors benefit : we referre you to a true note of them , lately deliuered in a great and generall court , and hereunto annexed for your better information . by which and other approued informations brought vnto vs , wee rest in great assurance , that this countrey , as it is seated neere the midst of the world , betweene the extreamities of heate and cold ; so it also participateth of the benefits of bothe , and is capable ( being assisted with skill and industry ) of the richest commodities of most parts of the earth . the rich furres , cauiary , and cordage , which we draw from russia with so great difficulty , are to be had in virginia , and the parts adioyning , with ease and plenty . the masts , planckes , and boords , the pitch and tarre , the pot-ashes and sope-ashes , the hempe and flax , ( being the materials of linnen , ) which now we fetch from norway , denmarke , poland , and germany , are there to be had in abundance and great perfection . the iron , which hath so wasted our english woods , that it selfe in short time must decay together with them , is to be had in virginia ( where wasting of woods is a benefit ) for all good conditions answerable to the best in the world . the wines , fruite , and salt of france ▪ and spaine ; the silkes of persia and italie , will be found also in virginia , and in no kinde of worth inferior . wee omit here a multitude of other naturall commodities , dispeirsed vp and downe the diuers parts of the world : of woods , rootes , and berries , for excellent dyes : of plants and other drugges , for physicall seruice : of sweet woods , oyles , and gummes , for pleasure and other vse : of cotten-wooll , and sugar-canes , all which may there also be had in abundance , with an infinity of other more : and will conclude with these three , corne , cattle , and fish , which are the substance of the foode of man. the graines of our countrey doe prosper there very well : of wheate they haue great plenty : but their maze , being the naturall graine of that countrey , doth farre exceede in pleasantnesse , strength and fertility . the cattle which we haue transported thither , ( being now growne neere to fiue hundred , ) become much bigger of body , then the breed from which they came : the horses also more beautifull , and fuller of courage . and such is the extraordinary fertility of that soyle , that the does of their deere yeelde two fawnes at a birth , and sometimes three . the fishings at cape codd , being within those limits , will in plenty of fish be equall to those of newfound land , and in goodnesse and greatnesse much superiour . to conclude , it is a countrey , which nothing but ignorance can thinke ill of , and which no man but of a corrupt minde and ill purpose can defame . now touching the present estate of our colony in that country , wee haue thought it not vnfit thus much briefly to declare . there haue beene sent thither this last yeare , and are now presently in going , twelue hundred persons and vpward , as particularly appeareth in the note aboue specified : and there are neere one thousand more remaining of those that were gone before . the men lately sent , haue beene most of them choise men , borne and bred vp to labour and industry . out of deuonshire , about an hundred men , brought vp to husbandry . out of warwickshire and staffordshire , aboue one hundred and ten ; and out of sussex about forty ; all framed to iron-workes : the rest dispersedly out of diuers shires of the realme . there haue beene also sundry persons of good quality , much commended for sufficiency , industry and honesty , prouided and sent to take charge and gouernment of those people . the care likewise that hath beene taken by directions , instructions , charters , and commissions to reduce the people and affaires in virginia into a regular course , hath beene such and so great , that the colony beginneth now to haue the face and fashion of an orderly state , and such as is likely to grow and prosper . the people are all diuided into seuerall burroughs ; each man hauing the shares of land due to him set out , to hold and enioy to him and his heires . the publique lands for the company here , for the gouernor there , for the college , and for each particular burrough , for the ministers also , and for diuers other necessary officers , are likewise laid out by order , and bounded . the particular plantations for diuers priuate societies , are setled in their seates , being alotted to their content , and each in conuenient distance . the rigour of martiall law , wherewith before they were gouerned , is reduced within the limits prescribed by his maiesty : and the laudable forme of iustice and gouernment vsed in this realme , established , and followed as neere as may be . the gouernour is so restrained to a counseil ioyned with him , that hee can doe wrong to no man , who may not haue speedy remedy . each burrough , and each particular plantation , partly hath , partly is bound to haue in short time , a sufficient minister : for whom maintenance is ordained , to each of two hundred pounds a yeere value . which orderly proceeding there , by direction from hence , hath caused the colony now at length to settle themselues in a firme resolution to perpetuate the plantation . they fall to building of houses , each for his owne priuate ; and the generalitie to the rearing of publique guest houses , for intertaining of new men vpon their first arriuall . they fall to set vp their ploughes ; to the planting of vineyards ; to the pursuing of the staple commodities furnished and commended from hence . in summe they are now so full of alacritie and cheerefulnesse , that in a late generall assembly , they haue in the name of the colony presented their greatest possible thankes to the company , for the care that hath beene taken for the setling of the plantation . neither is it to be omitted , the care which hath beene had here lately at home , for the reducing of all the proceedings and affaires of the company , to an orderly course of good gouernment and iustice . wherein to begin with the fountaine thereof , his maiesties authority and pleasure , there hath beene a collection made of all the branches of the same , dispersed in his letters patents , now three times renewed : as also out of other instructions proceeding from his maiestie . out of bothe which , together with such other orders as ( authorised by his maiestie ) the company themselues haue thought necessary to make , hath beene compiled a booke of standing orders and constitutions , approued by the generall consent of all the company : whereby both the company here , and the colony in virginia , haue their businesse carried regularly , industriously , and iustly , euery man knowing both his right and duety , to their generall great content , and the great aduancement of the action . and whereas the colony likewise haue beene often sutors in effect , to reduce into a compendious and orderly forme in writing , the lawes of england proper for the vse of that plantation , with addition of such other , as the nature of the place , the nouitie of the colony , and other important circumstances should necessarily require : a course is likewise taken for the effecting of this worke ; yet so as to submit it first to his maiesties view and approbation ; it being not fit that his maiesties subiects should be gouerned by any other lawes , then such as receiue the influence of their life from him . and now to come to that which concerneth the aduenturors in particular , by whose charges , care , and labour ( next vnto his maiesties especiall grace , ) this famous plantation hath not onely beene vndertaken , but through so many difficulties vpheld and continued : wee should be very greatly iniurious to them , if we should not acquaint them with this seasonable time , for the reaping of that benefit and reward which is due vnto them . wee therefore let them knowe , that in this last yeare now ended , there haue beene granted by the company vnder their legall seale , eleuen seuerall patents for particular plantations ; and more are in hand to be passed this next quarter-court . it is not vnprobable , that vpon each of these patents , diuers hundreds of persons will soone plant in virginia : there hauing beene already transported vpon the first , aboue three hundred men . these and other like planters , hauing priority of time , will haue priority also in choise of the seat of their plantations . seeing therefore the onely matter of retribution to the aduenturors , is by a faire proportion of land to them & their heires ; namely of one hundred acres for euery share of twelue pounds and ten shillings , vpon a first diuision ; and as much more vpon a second , the first being peopled ; with fiftie acres for euery person , ( to be doubled in like manner ) which at their owne charges they shall transport to inhabit in virginia before the . day of iune . if hee continue there three yeares , either at one or seuerall times , or dye after he is shipped for that voyage : it standeth them vpon , who are not willing to be the last in the benefit to be partaked , not to be the least in setting forth to the choise and peopling of their land. wherein what fauour or assistance may by vs be giuen them , they shall be well assured of it , in equall proportion with our selues , as their charges and long expectance haue well deserued . and to the end that not onely the aduenturors now liuing , but the heires also of the deceased , may take certaine notice of the seuerall proportions of land , which ratably to their aduentures in mony are due and belonging to them : and likewise that posteritie may truely know , by whose charges this plantation ( next vnder his maiestie ) hath beene happily founded , maintained , and continued : wee haue here , according to an order of court , set downe in an alphabeticall table the names of all the aduenturors , with all their seuerall sums aduentured . wherein if by error , or other mis-accident , there haue wrong beene done to any man ; if within one twelue moneth after the date hereof , he giue notice and make proofe thereof to the companies auditors ; hee shall be set right , and the table reformed : there being not any thing more deere vnto vs , then to doe right vnto them with all iustifiable ▪ curtesie , who haue beene beginners and continuers of this glorious worke , tending so much to the propagating of the true seruice of almighty god , to the adding of greatnesse and honour to our king , and to the benefit of our whole nation in disburdening their multitude . . iunij . . * pro * consilio * svo * virginiae * a note of the shipping , men , and prouisions sent to virginia , by the treasvrer and company in the yeere , . ships . the bona noua of . tun sent in august . with persons . the duty , of . tunne , sent in ianuary . with — . persons . the ionathan , of . tun , sent in february , . with . persons . the triall , of . tun , sent in february , . with — . persons , & . kine . the faulcon , of . tun , sent in february , . with — . persons , and . kine , and . mares . the london merchant , of . . persons . tun , sent in march , . with the swan of barnstable , of . tun , in march , . with . persons . the bonau●nture , of tun , sent in aprill , . with . persons . besides these , set out by the treasurer and company , there haue been set out by particular aduenturers for priuate plantations . the garland , of . tunne , sent in iune , . for mr. iohn ferrars plantation , with — . persons . who are yet detained in the summer ilands . a ship of bristoll , of . tunne , sent in septemb. . for mr ▪ barkleys plantation , with . persons there are also two ships in prouiding to be shortly gone , for about . persons more , to be sent by priuate aduenturers to virginia . . persons . summe of the persons . — . whereof in the eight ships set out by the treasurer and company — . . people . of these persons there are sent for publicke and other pious vses , these ensuing : tenants for the gouernours land , ( besides fiftie sent the former spring . ) . tenants for the companies land. . tenants for the colleges land. . tenants for the ministers glebe ▪ lands . . young maids to make wiues for so many of the former tenants . . boyes to make apprentices for those tenants . . seruants for the publicke . . men sent , by their labours to beare vp the charge of bringing vp thirty of the insidels children in true religion and ciuility . . summe of persons for publicke vse , &c. . the . remaining , are sent for priuate plantations . commodities . the commodities which these people are directed principally to apply , ( next to their owne necessary maintenance ) are these ensuing : iron : for which are sent . persons , to set vp three iron workes ; proofe hauing beene made of the extraordinary goodnesse of that iron . cordage : for which ( besides hempe ) direction is giuen for the planting of silke-grasse , ( naturally growing in those parts ) in great abundance : which is approued to make the best cordage and linnen in the world . of this , euery house-holder is bound to set plants : and the gouernour himselfe hath set fiue thousand . pot-ashes and sope-ashes , pitch and tarre : for the making whereof the polackers are returned to their workes . timber of all sorts , with masts , planks and boords for prouision of shipping , &c , there being not so good timber for all vses in any one knowne countrey whatsoeuer . and for the ease and encrease of diuers of these workes , prouision is sent of men and materials , for the setting vp of sundry sawing milles. silke : for which that countrey is exceeding proper , hauing innumerable store of mu bery trees of the best , and some silke-wormes naturally found vpon them , producing excellent silke : some whereof is to be seene . for the setting vp of which commoditie , his maiesty hath beene graciously pleased now the second time ( the former hauing miscarried ) to bestow vpon the company plenty of silke-wormes seed of his owne store , being the best . vines : whereof the countrey yeeldeth naturally great store , and of sundry sorts : which by culture will be brought to excellent perfection . for the effecting whereof , diuers skilfull vignerons are sent , with store also from hence of vine plants of the best sort . salt : which workes hauing been lately suffered to decay , are now ordered to be set vp in so great plenty , as not onely to serue the colony for the present ; but as is hoped in short time also the great fishings on those coast . for the following , working , and perfecting of these commodities , all prouisions necessary for the present are sent in good abundance . as likewise the people that goe , are plentifully furnished with apparell , bedding , victuall for sixe moneths : implements both for house and ●abour , armour , weapons , tooles , and sundry other necessaries . and a supply of armour , powder , and many necessary prouisions is made for those of the colonie which were there before ; yet without any preiudice to the former magazin . gifts . there haue beene giuen to the colonie this yeere by deuout persons , these gifts ensuing . two persons vnknowne , haue giuen faire plate , and other rich ornaments for two communion tables ; whereof one for the college , and the other for the church of mistrisse mary robinsons founding : who in the former yeere by her will , gaue . pounds towards the founding of a church in virginia . another vnknowne person , ( together with a godly letter ) hath lately sent to the treasurer . pounds in gold , for the bringing vp of children of the infidels : first in the knowledge of god and true religion ; and next , in fit trades whereby honestly to liue . master nicolas ferrar deceased , hath by his will giuen . pounds to the college in virginia , to be paid , when there shall be ten of the infidels children placed in it . and in the meane time foure and twenty pounds by yeere , to be distributed vnto three discreet and godly men in the colony , which shall honestly bring vp three of the infidels children in christian religion , and some good course to liue by . an vnnamed person sent to the treasurer the summe of ten pounds , for aduancing of the plantation . patents . there haue beene patents granted this yeere for particular plantations , as here ensueth : to the society of southampton hundred . to master heath , recorder of london . to master wincopp . to master tracie . to doctor bohun . to master pierce . to master delbridge . to master pointz . to master barkley . to captaine bargraue . to captaine ward . who haue vndertaken to transport to virginia great multitudes of people , with store of cattell . it is to be knowne , that touching the college for the infidels children , it hath beene thought more expedient to beginne first with the planting and peopling of the lands : ( which hath beene done this yeere : ) and afterwards to proceede to the erecting of the fabricke , which is to be performed out of the reuenues of the lands . finis . a declaration of the supplies intended to be sent to virginia , in this yeare . by his maiesties counseil for virginia . . iulij . whereas the right honourable , henry earle of southampton , with the aduise and consent of the counseil and company for virginia , hath resolued and concluded to imploy all good meanes in this present yeare , . not onely for the aduancing of the plantation in strength and multitude of good people , but also for the enriching thereof with store of cattell of diuers sorts , and by setting vp or encreasing such staple commodities , as being proper for that countrey , may be also of most necessary vse for this realme , and redound in fine to the greatest benefit of both aduenturors and planters , and lastly for the establishing there of such good gouernment ( originally deriued from the kings most excellent maiestie , the first and chiefe founder of this glorious worke ) as whereby the people there , diuided in soyle onely , but still participating in the religious and happy gouernment of this their natiue countrey , may continue alwayes as one and the same people with vs , according to the most princely direction of his maiestie : we haue thought it very necessarie for the seconding and forwarding of those so noble designes , not onely to publish them to the aduenturors in generall , thereby to inuite them to concurre with vs in the same , but also to set downe such particularities requisite , as whereby the preparations of all sorts needfull , may vpon this timely warning , both better and more seasonably be made and compassed . first therefore we haue thought fit , to make it publikely knowne , that besides the great store of particular plantations now in prouiding , and like very shortly in large proportion to augment , the company haue resolued in a late generall court , by the blessing of god , to set out this yeere at the publike charge , and to send to virginia , eight hundred choice persons , of the qualities ensuing : first , foure hundred , to be tenants of the general land of the company , to make vp the number of those tenants ful . wherof . to be placed at elizabeth citie , with the companies deputie : . at henrico , . at charles citie : and at iames citie there are a hundred and more already . secondly , one hundred , to be tenants to such officers , &c. as the court already hath , or shall shortly appoint : viz. . for the deputy of the colledge , . for the companies deputy , . for the secretary . more ( besides . already sent ) for the ministers : and . for the phisitian : their care for the ease and prosperity of the colonie , being such and so great , as to cause them to endowe those offices and places , ( as they haue formerly done others , ) with faire possessions , furnished with tenants and other fit prouisions : that the people may haue the benefit by them , and yet be freed from the burden . thirdly one hundred yong maides to make wiues for these tenants as the former . . which haue been lately sent . fourthly , one hundred boyes , to be apprentizes likewise to the publike tenants . fiftly , one hundred seruants to be disposed amongst the old planters , which they greatly desire , and haue offered to defray their charges with very great thankes . and although by reason of the preparations already made , the difficulty may be well conceiued to be in great part ouercome , and the profit much more neere , and more easie to come by ; yet the companie wholly affecting the peoples prosperity , haue determined to deale both as fauourably in the contracts , and as bountifully in all sorts of furniture and prouisions with the tenants which shal now goe , as they haue done with those , which haue beene formerly sent . which conditions it hath beene thought fit here to reinsert and publish . every man transported into virginia , with intent there to inhabit , as tenants to the common land of the company , or to the publike land , shall be freely landed there at the charge of the company : and shal be furnished with prouisions of victuall for one whole yeare next after his arriuall , as also of cattle : and with apparell , weapons , tooles and implements , both of house and labour , for his necessary vse . he shall enioy the ratable moytie of all the profits that shall be raised of the land on which he shall be planted , as well corne and cattle , as other commodities whatsoeuer : the other halfe being due to the owners of the land. he shall be tyed by couenant , to continue vpon that land for the terme of seauen yeares : which being expired , it shal be in his choyse , whither to continue there ▪ or to remoue to any other place , at his owne will and pleasure . of these persons , one hundred and twenty ( such as are to be tenants ) are to be shipped here for virginia , by the midst of august now at hand : and the rest in ianuary and february ensuing . the next preparations are of cattle of diuers sorts : whereof there are intended in the next spring to be sent these ensuing . one hundred kine , for this addition of . tenants . one hundred kine more , to remaine in a perpetuall stock vpon the companies land , to be sent to new planters , as hath bin formerly ordered . foure hundred goats , twenty mares , fourescore asses to be procured from france : the care of prouiding which , is commended to diuers select persons by parts , and the whole to the ouersight of the generall committies . the ●ast prouisions appointed to be made , are for the setting vp , or increasing of diuers principal● commodities . for silke , there is prouision to be made , of great store of silke-worme-seede about michaelmas next : as also of men skilfull in the ordering as well of the wormes , as of their silke , which are to be sent away in a pinnace , in october betimes . for hempe and flaxe , pot-ashes and sope-ashes , pitch and tarre , there is a treaty already on foote , for procuring of men skilfull in those trades from the easterne parts : besides the polakers yet remaining in virginia . for wines , it is also ordered , that men skilfull be procured in the planting and dressing of vines , out of france and from the rhene : and from thence also and other parts to procure plants of the best kindes . for oyle , besides great quantitie to be made out of the walnuts , growing naturally in virginia in great abundance , oliue-plants are to be prouided from marseilles and ligorno . for fish , which on those coasts are taken in great plenty , and in worth much better then in new-found-land , there is care and a course taken , to preserue the companies liberties , and to set vp the fishings in better sort then heretofore . for salt , order is giuen for the making of it in abundance , and after the manner of those hotter climates , which may prooue a great helpe to increase the plantation . for iron , there is sufficient done alreadie . and for sawing-milles , besides those already gone this spring , there are lately come from hamborough , diuers workemen very skilfull , to be sent in the next ship . and that nothing may be wanting for the companies tenants , there is a pinnace already , and other boates shall be prouided , to remaine there at the deputies commaund , to traffique and trade for the company and their tenants vnder his charge . these large supplies of men , cattel , and commodities , as they tend to the accomplishing of this great worke of the plantation : so can they not be themselues effected , without large prouision of money , being the sinewes and mouing instruments in these great actions . to which end wee desire the noble and worthy aduenturors , to be assisting to vs , by such meanes as they shall please : especially that the remaine of all promised aduentures , may in michaelmas terme next be paid in without faile , which we trust will now be done cheerefully on all parts , the inuitements of this yeere being well ▪ considered : that as the presenting of their first payments , hath been the beginning , so the performance of the later , may be the perfecting and finishing of this worke , so glorious before god and man. and here by the way , for the clearing of some scruples and errors through mistaking of our writings lately published , we are to aduertise , that the alphabet of aduenturers and summes aduentured , neither then conueniently could , nor was intended to extend any further , then to such summes as haue been paid in to the treasurors of the company , and to sir baptist hicks , by speciall order of court. and whereas diuers other bils of aduenture , haue bin heretofore deliuered , partly vpon personall aduenture , and no money paid in , partly vpon gift from the company , in regard of deserts , partly for summes paid to other men , whose accounts hang yet vncleared ( and not to the treasurors ) and partly for goods which neuer came within the treasurors accounts , but of other inferiour officers , into whose hands they were deliuered ( for which notwithstanding bils of aduenture haue been deliuered , mentioning as if it were money paid to the treasuror : if the aduenturors shall be pleased within the time prefixed , to put in their iust claimes , by these or any other wayes whatsoeuer , there shall be right done to them , and a new alphabeticall booke shall be published , embracing exactly all kinde of aduenturors , with their seueral summes either really aduentured , or otherwise accepted , allowed or bestowed be it vpon what cause , or in what kinde soeuer . now if the auenturors be thus requested with much greater reason are all accountants to the company to be prayed and required , to prepare and make perfect their seuerall accounts , and to pay in those monyes , which shall remaine due to the company : that so all parts concurring with their duties and endeuours , the worke may proceede with generall ioy . lastly , as heretofore , so we now also declare , that the persons to be admitted to goe , as the companies ▪ tenants , and with the foresaid conditions , shall be no other then good men , that is to say of good trades , of skill in husbandry , or industrious labourers ; and such of those as shall be commended for their honest conuersation : which persons repairing to the citie of london in the beginning of august , and in the middle of ianuary , next , according to the seuerall numbers at those times to be sent , shall from thence-forward be entertained , at the companies charges , till such time as they be shipped for virginia : there being especiall care likewise taken , for the prouiding of good commanders and directors of their workes . giuen in a generall court held for virginia the eighteenth of iuly , . the seuerall trades-men to be entertained . husbandmen . gardners . brewers ▪ bakers . sawyers . carpenters . ioyners . ship-wrights . boat-wrights . plough-wrights . mil-wrights . masons . turners . smiths of all sorts . coopers of all sorts . weauers . tanners . potters . fowlers . fishermen . fish-hookemakers . net-makers . shooe ▪ makers . rope makers . tile-makers . edgetoole-makers . bricke-makers . bricke-layers . dressers of hempe and flaxe . lime-burners . lether-dressers . men skilfull in vines . men for iron-workes . men skilfull in mines . the names of the aduenturers , with their seuerall sums aduentured , paid to sir thomas smith , knight , late treasurer of the company for virginia . a   li. s. sir william aliffe .   sir roger aston .   sir anthony ashley . sir iohn akland . sir anthony aucher . sir robert askwith . doctor francis anthony .   charles anthony . edward allen .   edmund allen esquire .   iohn allen . thomas allen . william atkinson , esquire . richard ashcroft .   nicholas andrews . iohn andrews the elder .   iohn andrews the younger .   iames ascough . giles allington .   morris abbott .   ambrose asten . iames askew .   anthony abdey . iohn arundell , esquire .   b edward , earle of bedford .   iames , lord bishop of bathe & wells .   sir francis barrington . sir morice barkley .   sir iohn benet .   sir thomas beamont .   sir amias bamfield . sir iohn bourcher . sir edmund bowyer . sir thomas bludder .   sir george bolles . sir iohn bingley .   sir thomas button .   company of barber-surgeons .   company of bakers .   richard banister .   iohn bancks . miles bancks .   thomas barber . william bonham .   iames bryerley . william barners . anthony barners , esquire .   william brewster .   richard brooke .   hugh brooker , esquire .   ambrose brewsey . iohn brooke . matthew bromridge .   christofer brooke , esquire .   martin bond . gabriel beadle . iohn beadle . dauid borne .   edward barnes .   iohn badger . edmund branduell .   robert bowyer , esquire .   robert bateman .   thomas britton .   nicholas benson .   edward bishop .   peter burgoney .   thomas burgoney . robert burgoney . christofer baron . peter benson .   iohn baker .   iohn bustoridge .   francis burley .   william browne . robert barker .   samuel burnham . edward barkley . william bennet .   captaine edward brewster .   thomas brocket .   iohn bullock .   george bache . thomas bayly . william barkley . george butler .   timothy bathurst .   george burton . thomas brett .   captaine iohn brough .   thomas baker .   iohn blunt . thomas bayly .   richard and edward blunt . mineon burrell . richard blackmore .   william beck .   beniamin brand . iohn busbridge . william burrell . william barret .   francis baldwin . edward barber . humfrey basse .   robert bell . matthew bromrick .   iohn beaumont . george barkeley . peter bartle . thomas bretton . iohn blount .   arthur bromfeld esquire .   william berbloke . charles beck .   c george , lord archbishop of canterbury .   william lord cranborne , now earle of salisbury .   william , lord compton , now earle of north-hampton .   william , lord cauendish , now earle of deuonshire . richard , earle of clanricard .   sir william cauendish , now lord cauendish .   gray , lord chandos .   sir henry cary .   sir george caluert .   sir lionell cranfield . sir edward cecill .   sir robert cotten .   sir oliuer cromwell .   sir anthony cope .   sir walter cope .   sir edward carr . sir thomas conisbie .   sir george cary .   sir edward conwey .   sir walter chute .   sir edward culpeper . sir henry cary , captaine .   sir walter couert . sir william crauen .   sir george coppin .   sir george chute . sir thomas couentry . lady cary . company of clothworkers .   city of chichester .   robert chamberlaine .   richard chamberlaine .   francis couill . william coyse , esquire .   abraham chamberlaine . thomas carpenter . anthony crew .   richard cox .   william crosley .   iames chatfield . kichard caswell .   iohn cornelis . randall carter .   executors of randall carter .   richard champion . rawley crashaw .   henry collins . henry cromwell .   iohn cooper .   richard cooper .   thomas colthurst .   iohn casson .   allen cotten . edward cage . abraham carthwright .   robert coppin . thomas conock .   iohn clapham .   thomas church . william carpenter . laurence campe .   iames cambell .   christofer cletheroe .   matthew cooper .   george chamber . captaine iohn cooke .   captaine thomas conwey , esquire . edward culpeper , esquire .   master william crashaw . abraham colmer . iohn culpeper . edmund colbey . richard cooper . robert creswell . william crowe . abraham carpenter . iohn crowe . thomas cordel .   richard cohnock , esquire . .   william compton .   william chester . thomas couel .   richard carmarden , esquire . .   william and paul canning . henry cromwell , esquire . simon codrington . clement chichley .   iames cullemore .   william cantrel . d richard earle of dorset .   edward lord denny . . sir iohn digbie , now lord digbie .   sir iohn doderidge .   sir drew drewry the elder .   sir thomas dennis .   sir robert drewry .   sir iohn dauers .   sir dudley diggs . sir marmaduke dorrel .   sir thomas dale .   company of drapers .   company of dyers .   towne of douer .   master richard deane , alderman . henry dawkes .   edward dichfeild . william dunne .   iohn dauis .   matthew dequester . philip durdent .   abraham dawes . iohn dyke .   thomas draper . lancelot dauis .   rowley dawsey .   william dobson esquire . anthony dyot esquire .   auery dranfield .   roger dye . iohn downes . iohn drake . iohn delbridge . beniamin decroe . thomas dyke .   ieffery duppa .   daniel darnelly .   sara draper . clement and henry dawkney .   e   li. s. thomas , earle of exeter .   sir thomas euerfield . sir francis egiock . iohn eldred , esquire . william euans . richard euans .   hugh euans .   raph ewens , esquire . iohn elkin .   iohn elkin .   robert euelin .   nicholas exton . iohn exton . george etheridge . f sir moyle finch .   sir henry fanshaw .   sir thomas freake .   sir peter fretchuile . sir william fleetwood . sir henry fane . company of fishmongers .   iohn fletcher . iohn farmer .   martin freeman , esquire .   raph freeman . william , and raph freeman .   michael fetiplace . william fetiplace .   thomas forrest .   edward fleetwood , esquire . william felgate . william field .   nicholas ferrar .   giles francis .   edward fawcet .   richard farrington .   iohn francklin .   richard frith .   iohn ferne .   george farmer .   thomas francis . iohn fenner .   nicholas fuller , esquire .   thomas foxall . william fleet . peter franck , esquire . richard fishborne .   william faldoe . iohn fletcher , and company .   william ferrers . g lady elizabeth gray .   sir iohn gray . sir william godolfine . sir thomas gates .   sir william gee .   sir richard grobham .   sir william garaway . . sir francis goodwin . sir george goring .   company of grocers . company of goldsmithes .   company of girdlers .   iohn ge●ringe . iohn gardiner .   richard gardiner . iohn gilbert . thomas graue .   iohn gray .   nicholas greice .   richard goddard .   thomas gipps . peter gates . thomas gibbs esquire . laurence grene . william greenwell .   robert garset . robert gore . thomas gouge . francis glanuile esquire . h   li. s. henrie , earle of huntingdon .   lord theophilus haward , l. walden . sir iohn harington , l. harington . sir iohn hollis , now lord hautein .   sir thomas holecroft .   sir william harris .   sir thomas harefleet . sir george haiward . sir warwick heale . sir baptist hicks .   sir iohn hanham . sir thomas horwell . sir thomas hewit .   sir william herrick .   sir eustace hart .   sir arthur harris . sir edward heron .   sir ferdinando heiborne . sir laurence hide . master hugh hame●sley , alderman .   master richard herone , alderman . richard humble esquire .   master richard hackleuit .   edward harrison . george holeman .   robert hill . griffin hinton . iohn hawkins .   william hancock . iohn harper . george hawger .   iohn holt . iohn huntley .   ieremy heidon .   raph hamor . . raph hamor , iunior .   iohn hodgeson .   iohn hanford . thomas harris .   richard howell . thomas henshaw .   leonard harwood . tristram hill .   francis haselridge . tobias hinson .   peter heightley .   george hawkenson . thomas hackshaw . charles hawkens . iohn hodgis .   william holland . robert hartley . gregory herst . thomas hodgis . william hodgis .   roger harris . iohn harris . m. iohn haiward .   iames haiward . nicholas hide , esquire . iohn hare , esquire . william hackwell , esquire . gressam hoogan . humfrey hanford .   william haselden . nicholas hooker .   doctor anthony hunton .   iohn hodsale . george hooker .   anthony hinton . iohn hogsell .   thomas hampton .   william hicks .   vvilliam holiland . ralph harison .   harman harison .   i sir thomas iermyn . sir robert iohnson .   sir arthur ingram .   sir francis iones . company of ironmongers . . company of inholders .   company of imbroyderers .   bailiffes of ipswich .   henry iackson .   richard ironside .   master robert iohnson , alderman .   thomas iones . william iobson .   thomas iohnson . thomas iadwine .   iohn iosua . george isam . philip iacobson . peter iacobson .   thomas iuxson senior .   iames iewell .   gabriel iaques .   walter iobson .   edward iames . zachary iones esquire .   anthony irbye esquire . william i-anson . humfrey iobson . k sir valentine knightley . sir robert killegrew .   sir charles kelke .   sir iohn kaile .   richard kirrill . iohn kirrill .   raph king . henry kent .   towne of kingslynne .   iohn kettleby , esquire .   walter kirkham , esquire .   l henry , earle of lincolne .   robert , l. lisle , now earle of leicester .   thomas , lord laware .   sir francis leigh . . sir iohn lewson . sir william lower . sir samuel leonard . sir samson leonard . company of lethersellers .   thomas laughton . william lewson . peter latham . peter van lore . henry leigh . thomas leuer . christofer landman .   morris lewellin . edward lewis . edward lewkin . peter lodge . thomas layer . thomas lawson . francis lodge .   iohn langley .   dauid loide . iohn leuitt .   thomas fox and luke lodge .   captaine richard linley .   arnold lulls .   william laurence . iohn landman .   nicholas lichfield . nicholas leate .   gedeon de laune . m philip earle of montgomerie .   doctor george mountain , now lord bishop of lincolne . william lord mounteagle now lord morley .   sir thomas mansell .   sir thomas mildmay . sir william maynard . sir humfrey may . sir peter manhood .   sir iohn merrick .   sir george more .   sir robert mansell . sir arthur mannering .   sir dauid murrey . sir edward michelborn . sir thomas middleton . sir robert miller . sir caualiero maicott .   doctor iames meddus .   richard martin , esquire .   company of mercers .   company of merchant taylors .   otho mawdite . captaine iohn martin .   arthur mouse . adrian more .   thomas mountford .   thomas morris . ralph moorton .   francis mapes . richard maplesden .   iames monger .   peter monsell .   robert middleton . thomas maile .   iohn martin .   iosias maude . richard morton . george mason . thomas maddock .   richard moore .   nicholas moone . alfonsus van medkerk .   captaine henry meoles . .   philip mutes . thomas mayall . humfrey marret . iaruis mundz . robert mildmay . william millet . richard morer .   iohn miller . thomas martin . iohn middleton . francis middleton . n dudlie , lord north . . francis , lord norris .   sir henry neuill , of barkshire . thomas nicols . christopher nicols . william nicols .   george newce . ioseph newberow .   christopher newgate .   thomas norincott . ionathan nuttall . thomas norton . . o william oxenbridge , esquire . robert offley . francis oliuer . p   li. s. vvilliam , earle of pembroke .   vvilliam , lord paget .   iohn , lord petre .   george percy , esquire .   sir christofer parkins .   sir amias preston .   sir nicolas parker . sir vvilliam poole . sir steuen powell .   sir henry peyton .   sir iames perrot . sir iohn pettus .   sir robert payne .   vvilliam payne .   iohn payne . edward parkins . edward parkins widow . aden perkins .   thomas perkin . richard partridge .   vvilliam palmer . miles palmer . robert parkhurst .   richard perciuall , esquire . richard poyntell . george pretty . george pit . allen percy . abraham peirce . edmund peirce .   phenice pet . thomas philips . henry philpot .   master george procter .   robert penington .   peter peate . iohn prat . william powell .   edmund peashall .   captaine william proude .   henry price . nicholas pewriffe . thomas pelham . richard piggot .   iohn pawlet , esquire . robert pory .   richard paulson . q william quick . r sir robert rich , now earle of warwick .   sir thomas rowe .   sir henry rainsford . sir william romney .   sir iohn ratcliffe .   sir steuen ridlesdon .   sir william russell .   master edward rotheram , alderman .   robert rich . tedder roberts . henry robinson . iohn russell . richard rogers .   arthur robinson .   robert robinson .   millicent ramsden . iohn robinson .   george robins . nicholas rainton .   henry rolffe . iohn reignolds . elias roberts .   henry reignolds , esquire . william roscarrock , esquire . humfrey raymell . richard robins . s henry , earle of southampton .   thomas , earle of suffolke .   robert , earle of salisbury . . mary , countesse of shrewsburie .   edmund , lord sheffeld .   robert , lord spencer . . iohn , lord stanhope .   sir iohn saint-iohn . sir thomas smith .   sir iohn samms .   sir iohn smith . . sir edwin sandys . sir samuel sandys . sir steuen some .   sir raph shelton . sir thomas stewkley . sir vvilliam saint-iohn .   sir vvilliam smith .   sir richard smith . sir martin stuteuill . sir nicolas salter .   doctor matthew sutcliffe , deane of exeter .   thomas sandys , esquire .   henry sandys , esquire .   george sandys , esquire . gompany of skinners .   company of salters .   company of stationers .   iohn stokley .   captaine iohn smith .   richard staper .   robert shingleton .   thomas shipton .   cleophas smith . richard strongtharm .   hildebrand spruson . . matthew scriuener .   othowell smith . . george scot .   hewet stapers .   iames swift .   richard stratford .   edmund smith . robert smith . matthias springham .   richard smith .   edward smith . ionathan smith . humfrey smith . iohn smith . george swinhow . ioseph some .   william sheckley .   iohn southick . henry shelley .   walter shelley . richard snatsborow . george stone . hugh shepley . william strachey .   vrion spencer . iohn scarpe . thomas scott .   vvilliam sharpe .   steuen sparrow .   thomas stokes . richard shepard .   henry spranger . vvilliam stonnard .   steuen sad . iohn stockley .   thomas steuens . matthew shepard .   thomas sherwell . vvilliam seabright , esquire . nicholas sherwell . augustine steward . thomas stile . abraham speckhard . edmund scott .   francis smalman . gregory sprint , esquire . thomas stacey .   vvilliam sandbatch .   t sir vvilliam twisden . sir vvilliam throckmorton .   sir nicholas tufton .   sir iohn treuer .   sir thomas traey . george thorpe , esquire .   doctor william turner . the trinity house .   richard turner . iohn tauerner . daniel tucker . charles towler . william tayler . leonard townson .   richard tomlins .   francis tate , esquire .   andrew troughton .   george tucker . henry timberlake . william tucker .   lewis tite .   robert thornton .   v sir horatio vere .   henry vincent . richard venne . christopher vertue . iohn vassell .   arthur venne . w henry bishop of worcester . . francis west , esquire .   sir raph winwood .   sir iohn wentworth . sir william waad . sir robert wroth .   sir perciuall willoby .   sir charles wilmott . sir iohn watts . sir hugh worrell .   sir edward waterhouse .   sir thomas wilsford .   sir richard williamson .   sir iohn wolstenholm . sir thomas watson . sir thomas wilson . sir iohn weld . mistris kath. west , now lady conway .   iohn wroth , esquire . captaine maria winckfield , esquire .   thomas webb . rice webb . edward webb .   sands webb . felix wilson .   thomas white . richard wiffen . william williamson .   humfrey westwood . hugh willeston . thomas wheatley . william wattey .   william webster . iames white .   edmund winne . iohn west .   iohn wright .   edward wooller .   iohn wooller .   thomas walker .   iohn westrow . edward welch .   nathaniel waad .   richard wydowes .   dauid waterhouse , esquire . captaine owen winne .   randall wetwood .   george wilmer , esquire .   edward wilkes .   leonard white .   andrew willmer .   clement willmer .   george walker .   william welby . francis whistler .   thomas welles .   captaine thomas winne .   iohn whittingham . thomas wheeler . william willet . deuereux woogam .   iohn walker . thomas wood .   iohn vvillet . nicholas wheeler . thomas wale .   william wilston . iohn waller .   vvilliam vvard . vvilliam vvilleston .   iohn vvater . thomas warr , esquire .   dauid vviffen . garret vveston . y sir george yeardley , now gouernour of virginia .   vvilliam yong . simon yeomons . z edward , lord zouch . names of the aduenturers , with the sums paid by order to sir baptist hicks , knight . a   li. s. sir anthony ashley .   b sir iohn benet . sir edmund bowyer .   sir henry beddingfield . edward barnes . humfrey basse . c sir henry cary .   sir lyonell cranfield .   sir walter cope .   sir edward carr .   sir george coppin .   sir iohn cuts .   edward carn , esquire . thomas cannon , esquire . d   li. s. sir thomas dennis .   sir thomas denton . e sir robert edolph . f richard fishborne . g sir thomas grantham . sir william garaway . . thomas gouge .   h sir iohn hollis , now l. houghton .   sir perciuall hart . sir warwick heale .   sir baptist hicks .   sir iohn hanham .   sir william herick . sir george huntley .   nicholas hooker . i sir arthur ingram . l sir iohn lewson .   sir richard louelace .   sir samuel leonard .   sir william litton . m philip , earle of mountgomery . sir william maynard . sir george more . sir caueliero maycott . p robert parkhurst . s sir iohn stradling . sir william smith , of hill hall .   sir william smith , of london .   sir nicholas salter . augustine steward , esquire . abraham speckard . t sir william throkmorton .   richard tomlins . v sir walter vaughan . w sir thomas walsingham . sir charles wilmot .   sir thomas watson .   the names of the aduenturers , with the sums paid to sir edwin sandys , knight , treasurer of the company for virginia , from the . of aprill , . to the . of iune , .   li. s. william , lord cauendish .   iohn zouch , esquire .   thomas bond , esquire . dauid benet , esquire . iohn cage , esquire . elias roberts . matthew cauell . orders and constitvtions , partly collected out of his maiesties letters patents , and partly ordained vpon mature deliberation , by the treasvror , covnseil and companie of virginia , for the better gouerning of the actions and affaires of the said companie here in england residing . anno . and . courts . i. there are foure great generall courts , commonly called quarter courts , appointed to be held by the treasuror , counseil and companie of virginia , vpon the foure last wednesdayes saue one of euery tearme : which onely haue and shall haue power to choose counseilours and officers , as well for the companie here , as also for the colonie and planters in virginia : to make lawes and ordinances : to distribute and dispose of the lands in virginia : and to settle matter of trade for the behoofe of the companie and colonie . ii. every munday before a quarter-court , shall be held a court to prepare all kinde of businesse reserued to the power of the quarter court to determine . iii. every wednesday fortnight , reckoning from the great courts , shall also be held an ordinary court for this company , for dispatch of ordinary and extraordinary businesse . and it is not to be counted a perfect court , vnlesse there be fiue of the counseil there ( the treasuror or deputie being one ) and fifteene of the generality . iv. it shall be in the power of the treasuror , or the deputie in his absence , vpon extraordinary cause to call an extraordinary court. v. it shall not be in the power of any other then a quarter court , to make any contract whereby to binde the company for any continuance of yeares . in which case it shall be proposed also in the preparatiue court next preceding . vi. pvblique businesse shall haue the precedence in the courts before priuate , vnlesse there be extraordinary important cause to the contrary . vii . if any thing ordered in an ordinary or lesser court , be afterward reuersed in one of the great and generall courts : it shall be from thence forward as though it had neuer beene so ordered . viii . all courts shall begin at two of the clocke in the afternoone , and dissolue at the rising of the treasuror , or of the deputie in his absence . ix . nothing shall be put to the question after sixe of the clocke in the after-noone . x. in regard of the great businesse for virginia yearely encreasing , it shall be in the power of the treasuror , ( if hee see it so necessary ) to assemble the quarter courts both in the fore-noones and after-noones of the dayes appointed for them . xi . the companie shall be summoned to the quarter courts , and courts extraordinary , by the officer : but of the ordinary courts themselues shall take notice . and the secretary shall keepe a booke of the proceedings of the courts : who with the booke-keeper , husband , and bedle , shall at all courts giue diligent attendance . xii . it shall be lawfull at a generall court , and with consent thereof , to dispence with all meetings in long vacations , or in such part of them as may be spared ; vnlesse some extraordinary matter befall , in which case may be called extraordinary courts . xiii . the treasuror and company , being a body and commonaltie perpetuall , shall haue one faire and common seale , to be kept by the treasuror ; and not to be affixed to any grants or instruments whatsoeuer , otherwhere then in publique courts , or by warrant from thence . xiv . the treasuror and the counseil or the court , haue power to admit any into this society . elections . xv. at the great and generall court , commonly called the quarter court , in easter terme , all offices of this company ( excepting the counseil ) shall be voide : and the court shall proceede to an election of new officers , in manner following . xvi . the treasuror in the beginning of the court , at the giuing vp of his office , shall declare by word or writing the present estate of the colonie and planters in virginia . and deliuer into the court a booke of his accounts for the yeere past , examined and approued vnder the auditors hands : declaring withall the present estate of the cash . xvii . after the choise of a treasuror , a deputie shall be chosen ; then the auditors , and comitties ; and lastly the secretarie , booke-keeper , husband , and bedle. xviii . at the choise of each officer , the persons nominated for the election , shall withdraw themselues till the party chosen be publiquely so pronounced . and generally no man shall be present in the court , whilst himselfe or his matter passeth the iudgement of the court. xix . in regard of the weighty and manifold businesse of this companie , which is also like daily to encrease : no man shall be chosen treasuror of the company of virginia , who at the time of his election is gouernor of any other company ; but vpon condition that before the next quarter court hee effectually resigne that other gouernement : except it seeme good for the behalfe of both companies , that the same man be also gouernour of the somer ilands company . xx. it is for weighty reasons thought very expedient , that no man continue in the place of treasuror or deputie , aboue three yeares at once . xxi . for the auoiding of diuers inconueniences , it is thought fit , that all elections of principall officers in or for virginia , as also of the treasuror and deputie here , be performed by a ballating box , as in some other companies . xxii . every officer as he is chosen , shall openly in court take his oath : or if he be absent , at the next court he commeth to . xxiii . the treasuror , deputie , auditors , and comitties , hauing no certaine allowance for their cares and labours : the reward of these former officers according to their deserts , is referred to the pleasure of the court wherein new officers are chosen . treasuror . xxiv . the treasurors duetie is to keepe the ordinary courts of virginia : and vpon cause extraordinary , to call courts extraordinarily . and in all courts , and other meetings , hee is to haue a casting voyce . xxv . he is to moderate the courts in qualitie of a president : and to cause grauity , decency , and good order to be obserued : and for breach thereof , after a graue admonition , first giuen , and not preuailing ; to proceede to reformation by the iudgement of the court. xxvi . he is to propound and put all things to the question which the court requires , vnder paine of being immediately put from his office , if he refuse . in which case the deputie shall doe it , vnder the like paine . and if he refuse , then any of the counseil there present . xxvii . whereas the treasuror is to put to the question all things which the court requires : it is explaned to be intended of such things as are not contrary to his maiesties letters patents or instructions , not to the standing lawes and orders of the companie . xxviii . he is to haue care that the extraordinary comitties appointed by the courts to seuerall businesse , doe prosecute the same ; and giue seasonable account of their doings to the court. xxix . he is also to haue an especiall care , that no grant or patent doe passe from the companie , but vpon examination thereof by a select comittie , who are exactly to obserue the orders made concerning them . and to this end , with diuers others , he is to haue a vigilant eye on the companies and counseils sea●es , that they be not wronged by abusing of them . xxx . the treasuror , vpon receipt of publique letters from or concerning virginia , shall assemble at least foure of the counseil to impart them to them ; and by their assents shall cause them to be read in court , vnlesse there be some cause of secresie : in which case he shall communicate them with the counseil onely . in like sort the publique letters and instructions to be sent to the gouernour , counseil , or people in virginia , or otherwise concerning them , hee shall cause to be publiquely read and approued by the court , or counseil , as the case shall require . and neither he , nor any other , shall of his owne head or authoritie , write or send any directions , swaruing from such as the court or counseil shall giue , vpon paine to be dis-franchized . xxxi . the treasuror shall assemble the counseil vpon all weightie occasions requiring serious deliberation : and shall haue care with them , that the lords of his maiesties priuie counseil be acquainted with all matters of extraordinary and greatest importance concerning the state. xxxii . he is to doe his best that fit counsailors be chosen : and being chosen , is to haue care that they take their oathes . xxxiii . the treasuror is to haue care also , that the generall comitties keepe their courts with the deputie , vpon all occasions of businesse . xxxiv . he is to doe his best that fit men be chosen also to that place : and that they which are chosen , be sworne . xxxv . the treasuror at his pleasure shall sit in any assembly of comitties , ordinary , or extraordinary ; vnlesse it concerne himselfe . xxxvi . the treasuror shall stand charged with the publique treasure of the company . and is to haue care th●t it be duely got in : and not issued out , but by lawfull warrant , and to the companies vse . xxxvii . a lawfull warrant for charges of the present yeare , is that which is signed by the deputie and foure of the comitties : and for former charges or debts ; that which is signed by three of the auditors , whereof one to be of the quorum . and vnderneth , or vpon the backes of euery warrant , an acquittance shall be taken for the receipt vnder the parties hand . xxxviii . the treasuror is also to yeelde vp a true and perfect account of the generall cash at the end of his yeare : and to bring it in a fortnight before to the auditors , to be examined . and at all times , being requested by the auditors , to shew in what case the cash doth stand . xxxix . if any complaint or suspition growe concerning the account , there shall be a reuiew made by twelue chosen by the court. and the account being accepted and approued by the court ; the treasuror shall haue his quietus est vnder the companies seale , at the quarter court in trinuie term then next ensuing . xl. the standing wages of the cashier shall be suspended : and his reward such as that quarter court in easter term shall appoint . deputie . xli . for matter of the courts , in the treasurors absence , the deputie shall performe his office : and in his presence , be assisting to him . xlii . hee shall ouersee the secretary for entring the orders of courts . and shall giue instructions for the writing of letters , as he shall be directed : and haue care that accordingly they be written . xliii . the deputie shall also keepe the courts of comitties , vpon all occasions requisite . and in them shall haue a casting voyce . xliv . he shall suffer no warrants to be made and signed for issuing out of money , but in the open court of comitties , after due examination of the cause : vnto all which warrants his owne hand shall be first set ; and after it , other foure hands or more of the comitties . and the deputie and comitties shall not intermedle with disbursments for any other charges , then such as arise within the compasse of their owne yeare . xlv . vvhere a warrant is directed to the treasuror , to pay any grosse summe to the deputie ; to be issued out by him and the committies for the vse of the companie : in that case it shall not be requisite that the deputies hand be to the warrant , so it be to the receipt . xlvi . generally he shall ouersee all inferiour officers , that they performe their dueties . counseil . xlvii . the names of his maiesties counseil for virginia , shall be publiquely read in euery quarter-court in michelmas term : they requested by the treasuror to attend the seruice , and warned to take their oathes . xlviii . if there be defect in the number , or attendance of the counseil ; then addition shall be made : and that but onely of men of especiall worth and qualitie , and such as are likely to giue attendance to that seruice . they are to continue counseilors during life : vnlesse they be displaced by a great and generall court. xlix . in regard of the present great number of the counseil , and to preserue vnto them that reputation which is fit for their place and employment : none hereafter vnder the degree of a lord or principall magistrate , shall be chosen to be of his maiesties counseil for virginia ; but such as by diligent attendance at the courts and seruice of virginia for one yeare at least before , haue approued their sufficiency and worth to the companie . l. seuen of the counseil , being assembled by order , without practize or purpose to exclude the rest , shall be counted the counseil . li. the counseil are to assemble vpon all important occasions , being requested by the treasuror , or the deputie in his absence ; and in defect of bothe , being desired by the court : and without fauour or displeasure , priuate or sinister respect , to giue their faithfull aduise in all matters tending to the aduancement or benefit of the plantation : and especially touching the making of lawes and constitutions , for the better gouerning as well of the companie here , as also of the colonie planted in virginia . wherein the policie and forme of england is to be followed as neere as may be . lii . the counseil shall haue an especiall regard , by pious constitutions , and by other good politique lawes and orders , to hold the people there , in the true religion and seruice of god : and in assured allegeance to his maiestie and the crowne of england : in due respect also to his maiesties counseil here , and to this company of virginia : and in iustice , peace , vniformitie , and amitie amongst themselues . liii . they shall also according to the first institution and profession of this companie , aduise and deuise to the vtmost of their powers , the best meanes for the reclaiming of the barbarous natiues ; and bringing them to the true worship of god , ciuilitie of life , and vertue . liv. all instructions to the gouernour and counseil , and all other principall officers in virginia , shall proceede from the counseil , and vnder their hands and seale : which seale shall be in the custodie of the treasuror . lv. if any principall officer of the companie here ; or magistrate , great officer , or counseilor in virginia ; shall by the fame of his misdeserts , or particular accusation , merit to be called in question of being remoued from his place , or otherwise reformed or censured : he shall be first conuented and examined by the counseil , before his cause be produced in publique court. and in case of his absence , the like course shall be held for his businesse . auditors . lvi . the auditors shall be seauen : whereof two at the least of the counseil , and three of them of the quorum . lvii . the auditors shall haue care of the generall accounts : to examine the receipts and disbursments according to the orders of the companie : and in all cases of difficultie , or of breach of those orders , they shall acquaint the treasuror and the generall court therewith : and from thence receiue resolution and direction . lviii . they shall also cause to be reduced into a seuerall booke , the whole receipts and disbursements of that yeare : and the same vnder foure of their hands at the least ( whereof two to be of the quorum ) shall be presented by the treasuror at the quarter court in easter term , at the giuing vp of his and their office. lix . they shall signe no warrants for the issuing of money , but onely for olde charges or debts ; that is to say , due before that yeare of their office : and that not otherwise , then after due examination of the matter had in their appointed meetings : vnto which warrant shall be first set the hand of one at the least of the quorum , and then two other or more of the rest of the auditors . lx. the auditors shall also employ their best industry and care , for the recouery of the olde debts due to the company : and their receipts shall transmit to the generall cash . lxi . and touching the olde accounts now depending in audite , that is to say from the beginning of the plantation till the . day of nouember , . the auditors shall proceede in the examining and reducing them to order , and to the finall auditing of them , with what expedition they well can . and shall from time to time acquaint the treasuror and court , with such impediments and difficulties as shall be incident . lxii in digesting of the olde accounts , the auditors shall take especiall care , to cause the secretary or booke-keeper , in a seuerall booke , to set downe particularly and exactly the names of all the aduenturors , with their seuerall sums aduentured : as also what is paid , or yet remaining vnpaid : as well that right may be done to the aduenturors , as also the debts preserued which are due to the company . and this booke of the aduenturors , shall be extended till the quarter court in easter term , . lxiii . the auditors shall keepe their meetings , once at the least euery weeke in the term time ; or oftner , if need require : and once euery moneth at least in the vacation times : to ouersee the accounts , and dispatch such other businesse as shall be committed to them . lxiv . they shall also haue the authoritie of the court , to call before them such persons , as are indebted or accomptable to the company . lxv . in regard of the greatnesse of the businesse for the present : the auditors are allowed an officer to attend vpon them : who shall be salariated at the pleasure of the court. comitties . lxvi . the comitties being to be sixteene ; and to be yearely chosen ; there shall be a yearelie alteration made of one fourth part at the least , to the end many be trained vp in the businesse . lxvii . the comitties office is , together with the deputie , to perform the orders of courts , for setting out ships , and buying prouisions for virginia . wherein especiall care is to be had , that neither the husband , nor any one man alone , be entrusted with the making of those prouisions ; but two at the least , to be appointed thereunto by the deputie and comitties in their court : who shall also bring in their bils and accounts , to be examined and approued by the comitties . the like care shall they haue at the returne of ships from virginia , for the goods belonging to the companie , to be safely kept , and sould to the best aduantage , either in court , or otherwise by the courts direction . the accounts of all which , shall be transmitted to the auditors : and the money remaining , returned to the cash . the deputie and comitties shall also haue care of the inuoices to be made for the prouisions sent to virginia : and of the certificats of the receipt to be thence returned : as likewise of the inuoices of the goods sent from virginia . all which shall be registred fairely in a booke . lxviii . the comitties shall diligently keepe their courts , whensoeuer occasion of businesse shall require . they shall be summoned by order from the treasuror ▪ or deputie . and it shall not be counted a court of comitties , vnlesse the treasuror or deputie with sixe comitties be present . the secretary of the company shall keepe a booke also of their proceedings . secretary . lxix . the secretary shall attend the treasuror , and deputie , in such seruice of the companie as wherein they shall haue cause to vse him . and besides the generall courts , he shall of duety attend the courts of comitties ; and keepe seuerall bookes of their proceedings . the counseil , auditors , and comitties extraordinary , he shall then also attend , when and so often as he shall be thereunto required . lxx . he shall be bound by oath to keepe secret all matters of secrecy : and not to discouer the proceedings of the counseil , and comitties extraordinary , till such time as themselues shall publish the same . lxxi . the secretary , vpon reference of any businesse from the court to a select comittie ; shall giue a note to the messenger , containing the businesse , time , & place . lxxii . his office is also to be a remembrancer to the generall courts , and to the courts of comitties ; for the prosequuting and performing of matters formerly ordered : as also touching motions formerly made , and referred to speciall comitties , or other farther consideration . lxxiii . if at any time a generall court shall order any money to be issued out of the cash ; the secretarie vnder his hand shall deliuer a copie thereof to the auditors , if it be of old debts ; and if otherwise , then to the deputie and comitties : who respectiuely shall vnder that order make their warrant for the payment of that money : vnlesse they finde the court , by wrong information , to haue beene abused and deceiued in that order ; whereof at the next court they shall giue aduertisement . lxxiv . the secretaries office is to keepe the bookes of the companie , and fairely and orderly to enter in them the particulars here-vnder expressed ; and in such manner as he shall be directed by the treasuror , deputie , or auditors . first , a booke containing the copies of the kings letters patents to the companie : also of all letters , orders , directions , and other writings , from his maiestie , the lords of the counseil , and other great officers , concerning the companie , or the affaires of virginia ; together with the answeres made vnto them . lxxv . a second booke shall be kept of all the lawes and standing orders established hence-forward in the quarter courts , and beginning with this day ; as well such as concerne the gouernement of the companie and businesse here ; as also the gouernment of the colonie and affaires in virginia . lxxvi . in a third booke shall be registred all the patents , charters , and indentures of validitie , heretofore granted , or that hereafter shal be granted , by the treasuror and companie : all instructions from the counseil : all publique letters written to virginia , or from thence receiued . lxxvii . a fourth booke shall be of the acts of the generall courts ; beginning with a new booke at the last quarter-court . lxxviii . a fift booke shall be of the acts of the comitties , beginning from the same court. in which booke shall be registred all inuoyces of the prouisions sent to virginia from the companie ; and the certificats of the receipts to be thence returned : as likewise the inuoyces of the goods sent from virginia ; with the husbands certificat of the receipt or defect . lxxix . in a sixt booke , at the one end , shall be registred the names of all the aduenturors here by money ; or otherwise by seruice , for which shares of land in virginia haue beene giuen by the companie in their quarter-courts ; together with the number of shares to each person belonging . where shall also be entred in a place by it selfe , the lawfull transports of shares from one to another . here shall also be entred , the names of his maiesties counseil for virginia . at the other end of the same booke , shall be registred the names of all the planters in virginia , as well for the publique , as vpon priuate plantations : which is to be done distinctly for each plantation by it selfe . and this is to be done vpon the certificates hereafter returned from the gouernour and counseil in virginia : and from the heads and bodies of particular plantations , according to the tenor and effect of the grants made vnto them , and other lawes and orders made by the companie . all which shall be first published and allowed in a generall court : and not registred in this booke , but by direction from thence . lxxx . the secretarie shall also keepe safe in the companies chest of euidences , the originals of all the letters patents , and other writings afore mentioned : all the bookes also aforesaid : all the treasurors bookes of their yearely accounts : the husbands bookes of accounts of euery voyage to virginia : and all other accounts perfected and approued by the auditors . in the same chest shall be kept all charter parties , as well cancelled as vncancelled : all bonds made to the companie , or for their vse : and all bonds of the companies discharged and cancelled : and all other writings and muniments whatsoeuer belonging to the companie . and the secretarie shall deliuer out none of the companies writings , but by direction from the treasuror , counseil , or court : taking a note of the parties hand for the true restoring of them . and in conuenient time he shall make calenders of all the foresaid writings . lxxxi . the secretaries salarie shall be twenty pounds per annum : and of his paines extraordinary , the court shall take consideration . booke keeper . lxxxii . the booke keeper , so long as he shall seeme necessarie , shall be wholy directed and ordered by the treasuror , and auditors : and shall receiue his salarie from the quarter courts , as the auditors shall report of his paines and deserts . lxxxiii . the booke keeper , vpon conference with the secretarie and the husband , and they two in his defect , shall in euery quarter court present openly to the treasuror , a true note of the debts , both owing by the companie , and ought vnto them : together with the ground from whence they haue risen : that the court may take order for discharge of the one , and recouery of the other . husband . lxxxiv . the husband is to be ordered by the treasuror , deputie , and comitties ; and to keepe his accounts in exact and iustifiable manner : and to bring them from time to time to the deputie and comitties , to be first examined there , and approued vnder their hands ; and then to be presented to the auditors . lxxxv . he shall at the end of euery voyage set out by the companie , make a seuerall booke of the charges of that voyage ; to be presented by him to the auditors ; and by them to the court. lxxxvi . the husband shall also ( being required by the court ) be assisting to other aauenturors vpon particular plantations , in making their prouisions , and setting out their ships . his wages shall be fortie pounds per annum . bedel . lxxxvii . the bedel or messenger is to be at command of the treasuror , deputie , and courts . he is to warne all quarter-courts , and courts extraordinary : all meetings of the counsail , generall comities , and select comitties . his wages , forty pound per annum . generalitie . lxxxviii . the particular members of the companie , shall be subiect to the generall courts , in matters concerning the companie or plantation . if any man finde himselfe agrieued by a lesser or ordinary court , he may appeale to a great and quarter-court , where the matter shall be heard and finally ordered . if any man refuse to obay both the one court and other , he shall be disfranchized . lxxxix . every man speaking in court , shall addresse his speech to the treasuror , or deputie in his absence , as representing the court : and all priuate speeches , or directed to particular persons , shall be forborne . xc . no man in one court shall speake aboue thrise to one matter : saue the treasuror and the deputie , being to moderate the businesse . xci . no man with his speech shall interrupt the speech of another , before he haue finished : except the treasuror , or in his absence the deputie , ( with approbation of the court ) see cause to put any to silence , for impertinency , or other vnseemely speaking . xcii . if any man be found by sinister course , to practise his owne aduantage , to the damnifying of the publique , or be found with the companies mony or goods in his hands , and refuse to deliuer the same being lawfully thereunto required : if being summoned to the court , he refuse to appeare , or appearing , performe not the order of the court ; he shall be both disfranchized , and farther proceeded against , as an vnworthy member , and wrong-doer to the companie . xciii . if any man out of euill minde , practize to raise faction or dissention in the companie ; he shall for the first time , be admonished by the court or counseil , and at the second , disfranchized . xciv . vvhosoeuer shall attempt by priuate solicitation to packe the court to any vniust or vnlawfull end ; shall vpon complaint , be conuented before the counseil , and being conuicted , shall be disfranchized . xcv . if any man be found , through corrupt reward , to make a motion in the court , tending to the publique hurt , or to the priuate wrong of another ; he shall be forthwith disfranchized . xcvi . no man shall presume to intercept letters , written by , or to , the counseil , or companie ; or to spread false rumors , vpon sinister intent , to the wrong of the counseil , companie , or colonie : the offender shall be disfranchized . xcvii . no man shall traduce any member of this companie in any other court , for any thing done or spoken in this court. the offender for the first time , shall be admonished ; for the second , suspended from the court for one yeere ; and the third time , disfranchized . xcviii . to auoyd the drawing of the companie into debt henceforward : it is ordered , that no particular man make or propound any new proiect of charge to the companie , but he withall offer good meanes how to defray that charge , and to vphold his proiect , in such sort as the companie neuer be drawne againe into any farther debt . and the breakers of this order , shall be excluded from the generall courts , and from hauing voyce , or bearing office , for one yeare after . xcix . if any man moue for any charge to the companie , by way of gift in what sort soeuer : it shall be first referred to a select comittie : and if the charge fall out to be vnder thirtie pound , it may be ordered by the next court , if aboue , it shall be reserued till the quarter court ensuing . c. it shall not be lawfull for any aduenturor , to sell or transport his shares to another , otherwise then in open court : and not before it doe appeare vnder three of the auditors hands , that the partie transporting his shares stand cleere , and is not indebted to the companie ; or the partie to whom they are passed , doe pay the said debt . officers in virginia . ci. all principall officers in virginia , namely the gouernour , lieutenant gouernour , admirall , marshal , chiefe iustice , and treasuror , shall be chosen here by ballating in a quarter-court . cii . the counseil established in virginia , and all other officers there reserued to the choise of the companie here , shall be chosen in a quarter-court by onely erection of hands ; vnlesse the court desire to haue it passe by ballating . ciii . the commissions to all officers there , shall be onely for three yeares in certaine , and afterwards during the companies pleasure . onely the gouernour shall vpon no occasion hold that place aboue sixe yeares . civ . the companie here shall not be charged with the maintenance of the officers there : but they shall be maintained there , out of the publique lands . lawes . cv . no lawes or standing orders shall be made by the companie , but in this manner . first , after the proposing of them in court , they shall be referred to the examination of a select comittie . the comitties shall present their labours to the view of the counseil . the counseil approuing them , they shall be brought to the court of preparation on the munday before the quarter-court , and there openly read . and lastly they shall passe the iudgement of the quarter-court . cvi. the lawes and orders thus made , shall be fairely registred by the secretary in a parchment booke : which he shall bring in euery court , and lay on the table , that all men may peruse them that are so disposed . cvii . in the quarter-court in hillarie term , all lawes and standing orders concerning the companie here , shall be publiquely read in the beginning of the court. cviii . the abrogating of a law or order , shall proceede by the same degrees , by which the making . cix . all orders heretofore made , repugnant or swaruing from these , shall be henceforth voyd . grants of land. cx . all grants of lands and liberties in virginia , shall be passed by indenture : the counterpane wherof shall be sealed by the grantees , and kept in the companies chest of euidences . and the secretary shall haue the engrossing of all such indentures . cxi . no patents or indentures of grants of lands in virginia , shall be sealed , but being read and approoued in a quarter-court : the same hauing been also first examined and allowed vnder the hands of a select comittie for that purpose . cxii . no libertie shall be granted , tending to the exempting of any man from the authoritie of the gouernor of virginia , or of the supreame counseils or courts there established ; in any case of treason , rebellion , or sedition : or vpon any dutie to be performed for the necessary defence of the countrey ; or the preseruation of the publique peace , and suppressing tumults within the land ; or for trials in matters of iustice by way of appeale , or otherwise by lawfull orders to be from hence deliuered : or in cases consented vnto , as well by a generall assembly of the colonie there , as by the companie here in a quarter-court . and all grants , former or future , swaruing from this order , shall be so farre forth deemed vnlawfull and surreptitious : as being repugnant to the limitations in his maiesties letters patents . cxiii . in all grants of lands , a fift of the roiall mines of gould and siluer shall be reserued to the companie : as an other fift is alreadie reserued to the crowne . cxiv . in all patents or indentures of grants of lands , the grantees shall couenant to employ their people in great part in staple commodities , as corne , wine , silke , silke grasse , hempe , flax , pitch and tar , pot-ashes and sope-ashes , iron , clap-boord , and other materialls : and not wholly or chiefly about tobacco , and sassaphras . cxv . all grants of land in virginia to the old aduenturors their heires and assignes , that is , to such as haue heretofore brought in their money to the treasurie for their seuerall shares , ( being of twelue pound ten shillings the share ) shall be of one hundred acres the share vpon the first diuision ; and of as many more vpon a second diuision , when the land of their first diuision shall be sufficiently peopled . and for euery person which they shall transport thither before midsomer day one thousand sixe hundred twentie fiue , if he continue there three yeares , or dye in the meane time after he is shipped , it shall be to the transporters , of fiftie acres the person vpon the first diuision , and fiftie more vpon a second diuision in like manner , without paying any rent to the companie for the one or the other . and in all such grants , the names of the aduenturors , and the seuerall number of each of their shares , shall be expressed . prouided alwayes , that if the said aduenturors or any of them , doe not truely and effectually within one yeare next after the sealing of the said grant , pay and discharge all such summes of money , wherein by subscription ( or otherwise vpon notice thereof giuen from the auditors , ) they stand indebted to the companie : or if the said aduenturors , or any of them , hauing not lawfull right , either by purchase from the companie , or by assignement from some other former aduenturor , within one yeare after the said grant ; or by speciall gift of the companie ( vpon merit preceding ) in a full quarter court ; to so many shares as he or they pretend ; doe not within one yeare after the said grant , satisfie and pay to the said treasuror and companie for euery share so wanting , after the rate of twelue pounds ten shillings the share : that then the said grant , for so much as concerneth the whole part , and all the shares of the said person so behinde , and not satisfying as aforesaid , shall be vtterly voide . cxvi . all grants of land in virginia to new aduenturors , that is to say , to such as hereafter shall be free of the companie , paying the companie for their shares before midsomer , . shall for their owne persons and shares be of like condition with the former to all intents and purposes . but for such other as shall at their charges be transported into virginia , before the said midsomer , . in manner afore said ; shall be reserued a yearely rent of twelue pence for euery fiftie acres acrewing to them by vertue of such transportation ; to be answered to the said treasuror and companie , and their successors for euer , after the first seuen yeares of euery such grant. cxvii . all grants to all other persons not comprised in the two orders last before set downe , that is to say , to such planters as before midsomer day , . shall goe into virginia with intent there to inhabit : if they continue there three yeares , or dye after they are shipped , there shall be grant made of fiftie acres for euery person vpon a first diuision , and as many more vpon a second diuision ( the first being peopled ) which grant shall be made respectiuely to such persons and their heires , at whose charges the said persons going to inhabit in virginia shall be transported ; with reseruation of twelue pence yearely rent , as aforesaid . cxviii . in all the foresaid grants , shall be inserted a condition or prouiso , that the grantees shall from time to time , make a true certificat to the said treasuror ▪ counseil , and companie , from the chiefe officer or officers of the places respectiuely , of the number , names , ages , sex , trades , and conditions of euery such person so transported , or shipped , before the said midsomer day , ▪ to be entred by the secretarie into a register booke for that purpose to be made . cxix . for the preuenting of fraud , and dammage to the companie in their rents ; by drawing new aduenturors or planters , vpon purchase of a few old aduentures , into th'immunitie of the old aduenturors of not paying any rent for the shares of fiftie acres the person transported by them before the foresaid day : it is ordered , that in all indentures of grant of lands to old aduenturors , being for fewer then fiftie shares of the old aduenture , the immunitie of not paying rent for the shares obtained by transporting of persons as aforesaid , shall not be generall ; but restrained to the proportion of foure persons to euery share of the old aduenture , transported before midsomer day , . cxx . all grants of land shall be made with equall fauours , and grants of like liberties and immunities as neere as may be , ( except the differences of rent aboue set downe : ) to the end that all complaint of partialitie or vnindifferency may be preuented . trade . cxxi . it shall be free for all his maiesties subiects , after the determination of the present ioynt stocke for the magazine , to trade into virginia with the colonie ; paying the duties set down in his maiesties letters patents . cxxii . if any ioynt stocke for a magazine , being requested by the court , refuse or forbeare to send corne , cattle , or munition , for the necessary reliefe and supply of the colonie in virginia : it shall be lawfull from that day forward for any person freely to trade to and with the colonie in virginia , carrying thither onely cattle , corne , and munition , without paying any duties to the companie for seuen yeares next coming ; any former restraint to the contrarie notwithstanding . cxxiii . if either in the present ioynt stocke for the magazine , or any other hereafter to be erected , the generall companie out of their common cash beare part as an aduenturor : they shall ratably partake like profit , and vndergoe like losse , with other aduenturors . and any order made to the contrary shall be voide . cxxiv . dvring the time that the common cash beareth part as an aduenturor in any ioynt stocke for the magazine ; the meetings of the aduenturors shall be in the same place , and on the same dayes , that the generall courts are kept : and either before the beginning , or after the ending of the court : vnlesse the court vpon extraordinary cause appoint some other time . college . cxxv . the quarter court in euery trinitie term , shall appoint a choise comittie of fiue or seuen , to continue for that yeare , to take into their care and charge the matter of the college to be erected in virginia for the conuersion of infidels : which comittie shall take a course for the recouering of the mony that hath beene collected for that worke . and shall likewise consult how the same may be best imployed , for the beginning , pursuing , and perfecting of the same worke . and shall from time to time acquaint the generall courts with their doings , from thence to receiue approbation and direction . cxxvi . the treasuror shall keepe a seuerall cash and account of this money , to be presented to the auditors , and from them to the court. and he shall not issue any money out of this cash , otherwise then by warrant vnder the greater part of these comitties hands . cxxvii . the auditors shall forthwith pervse the account of this cash ; and if any money haue beene issued out thereof by order of court , otherwise then for the proper end to which it was intended ; it shall be restord out of the common cash of the companie . accounts . cxxviii . no auditors extraordinary shall presume to intermedle with the auditing of any account , wherein the body of the companie is interressed , but being appointed in the face , and with the approbation of the court. cxxix . all accountants whatsoeuer , and auditors extraordinary , if the court so require , shall haue an oath ministred vnto them in the face of the court ; the one for true accounting , the other for true auditing . cxxx . no account shall be held cleered , nor accountants discharged , till the account , being approued vnder the auditors hands , be presented to the court : and there lye openly in court , two court dayes , to be viewed by any that are so disposed . cxxxi . if exception be taken to any account whatsoeuer , the court shall proceede to a review , as in like case of the treasuror . if no exception be taken in the two court dayes ; or vpon the reuiew returned , and the account approued : the treasuror then , or deputie in his absence shall signe the account in open court : wherby the accountants shall be clearely discharged . cxxxii . if any officer , or other accountants , be slowe in bringing in their accounts to the auditors , ordinary , or extraordinary ; or within one moneth after their account is perfected , doe not pay to the cash the due summe remaining , vnlesse the court see cause to giue longer time ▪ the auditors or treasuror shall impart the same to the court , that order be thence giuen for redresse thereof . these orders hauing beene first framed and digested by a select comittie ; and then presented to the counseil , and by them approued ; were afterwards publiqu●●y read in the preparatory court , held on munday the . of iune , . and lastly were againe read distinctly and deliberately in a great and generall quarter court held on wednesday , the . of iune , . where with a full & general consent , by erection of hands , they were ratified and ordained to be the perpetuall standing orders of the companie of virginia . some few additions , and small alterations , haue since beene made , in the quarter courts in easter term and trinitie term , . finis . a short collection of the most remarkable passages from the originall to the dissolution of the virgina company woodnoth, arthur, ?- ? this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing w ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a short collection of the most remarkable passages from the originall to the dissolution of the virgina company woodnoth, arthur, ?- ? [ ], p. prin[t]ed by richard cotes for edward husband ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. attributed to arthur woodnoth. cf. nuc pre- . eng virginia company of london. a r (wing w ). civilwar no a short collection of the most remarkable passages from the originall to the dissolution of the virgina company. woodnoth, arthur f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a short collection of the most remarkable passages from the originall to the dissolution of the virginia company . london , prined by richard cotes for edward husband , at the golden dragon in fleetstreet , . to the honorable company of the adventurers for the sommer ( alias bermudas ) islands . my lords and gentlemen , having received this following collection some yeares since , by the appointment of mr. w. woodnoth deceased , without further directions then what might be gathered from the postscript and purpose of the whole relation ; i remember the authour mr. arthur woodnoth to have been a worthy m●mber , and sometimes deputy of this company , and an ancient adventurer and diligent prosecutor of the best ends for the advancement of the virginia plantation . i conceive his purpose might be to take a fitting time for reviving the originall rights of this plantation , and thereby to encourage this company in their best endeavours , by setting forth the honour and constant goodnesse of sir iohn danvers likely to give the greatest assistance therein and considering the respect and gratefulnesse of most of the members and best interessed persons of this company , in choosing that worthy person sir iohn danvers your governour , and finding his constant endeavours to answer the greatest of your expectations , in preserving your just rights and priviledges ; i judge it now a ●it time to publish the same ; and shall forbear to say more of his worth , so fully charactered throughout this discourse . a. p. an account and observation taken by a. w. a true friend and servant to sir iohn danvers , and the parliament-int●rest . containing a great part of his more publick transactions , concerning the plantation of virginia , &c. af●er some years spent at severall times in travell beyo●d the se●s , he was shor●ly after his return into england , swo●ne servant to p. henry , of his priv●-ch●●ber in ordinary , ●emaining und●r the countenance of his favour till h●e di●d . but the light of the court se●ming to him much obscured after the setting of that bright star , and some relish taken of the uncertainty of court-favour towards any that should sh●w themselves cordiall for publick good ( which was alw●i●● his aim ) in parliam●nt , or other-where ; hee was unwilling to fixe himself in any particular dep●nd●nce upon the court : all that he sought was some just r●commendation from this king , who upon that occasion told him , that hee would value him with the best of his servants of his condition , for the love he knew his brother bore to him ; whereunto sir i. danvers answered , it was so great a favour , as that he would ask no better then to be continued in his esteem , which he would value as much as if hee had preferred him to some great office or place in his service . and further considering the proceedings of k. and court , where the ordinary transactions by men of all conditions were mostly directed towards the advancement of absolute power and tyranny , he was lesse frequent in court , and renewed his former care and diligence , spending much time in advancing the honorable design● for the plantation of virginia . the continent of virginia discovered in the time of q elizabeth ( who gave it that name ) was in the beginning of k. iames his reign much advanced in reputation , and the advantages promised thereby seemed then worthy the best consideration how to make it a plantation for the english : whereupon many wor●hy patriots , lords , knights , gentlemen , merchant● , and others held consultation , which produced a large subscription of adventurers of all qualitie● in severall proportions , to the value of . l. or thereabouts . by which time a patent was procured with great priviledges and immunities for the adventurers , as establishing and impowering a coun●ell of state , as well as a generall company , whereby the whole affairs of that plantation s●ould in perpetuity bee governed ; when a great and forward con●idence was cast upon sir thomas smith , governour of the east-india , and divers other companies in london ; who because he was imprisoned in the tower , after the earl of essex h●d rested at his h●use ( being sheriffe at that time his lordship w●nt to appeal to the citizens of london , the day of his last restraint ) wa● though● a better patriot then afterwards approved . but he so far preva●l●d , or some others in his behalfe , that he was constituted the ●irst governour of th●t company , but under the title of treasurer , whereby hee had the chief power and purse o● the company . and about thi● time one sir thomas ga●●s , reputed a worthy , dis●r●●t , and experienc●d soldier , wa● sent a● go●ernour into v●rgin●a , which drew on a great increase of people voyaging 〈◊〉 , and planting there , wh● were to have ●h●pping and provisions sent them by the said treasurer and company ; which accordingly was ordered , and in some reasonable manner in appearance performed for the space of three years , or thereabouts , the time limited for the government of the said sir thomas gates . but in short time the reputation of this undertaking grew so high , and the government of virginia was thought so considerable , as it must bee confirmed upon some peere of the realm , and the l. de la warr was nominated thereunto , and went governour by patent from the company for three years . but through the failing of industry upon the place , and of supplies of sweet victualls , and other accommodations by shipping from england , and the sicklinesse the lord governour had contracted there , hee came home before his time was expired . when sir thomas smith used means by his courtship rather to blame the unhealthfulnesse of that countrey , then to have any fault imposed upon the undertakers , for want of sending supplies in due time to virginia . neverthelesse , henry earl of southampton , whose goodnesse equalled his honour , having long understood as well by the generall notions hee had of the place , as by persons partitularly imployed in such discovery , that it was no lesse healthfull then fruitfull , if rightly ordered by some industrious person , his lordship procured sir thomas dale a worthy and experienced souldier in the low-countreys to be sent thither as governour , by whose judicious observation and industry they might be assured of the whole state and condition of the countrey and people on that plantation . and hee by the ability of his body as well as mind , through much indurance , by want in the miscarriage of supplies , brought home , as a great instance of his labours and value of the countrey , at least sixteen severall sorts of staple commodities , to be raised and propagated in this plantation . and now the best affected of this nation having found the pulse of the court beating wholly in observance of the spanish counsells and ends , by interrupting at home , and bar●ing our trade to the w. indies , laid hold on this expectation of virginia , as a providence cast before them of double advantage , by means whereof those also that would avoid court dependence , might most honourably imploy themselves in attending the meetings of that company and co●ncell ; whilst in short time some other new discoveries were made by the adventures and charge of the s●●d company , as that of the bermudas , which by reason of its naturall strength , and convenient scitu●●ion gave additionall encouragement , and seemed to promise security for warlike shipping and navigation t●roughout the english plantations . frequent consultations were now had of these affairs in the a●●emblies of that councell and company , and otherwise amongst those who were most distasted with the proceedings of the court , and stood best affected to religion and liberty ; which occasioned that passionate speech of k. iames , swearing , the virginia c●mpany was a seminary for a seditious parliament , which caused a more close and considerate proceeding in those affairs . but the meetings authorized by several parents granted under the great seal did exclude or divert the prerogative-destructive intrusion ; whilst a number of great lords and some others remained sedulous and united towards the right end● declared . and by this time it appeared palpably that encouragements were giv●n on all hands to disturb and interrupt the regular and forward proceedings of the company , and the care and circumspection of the councell in like manner made burdensome and prejudiciall to many worthy persons in pa●●icular . when also in a first place the plantation of new england , though at first under the patent and limitation of virginia ; was aft●r much dispute and prosecution by sir fard●nand ●●rges then governour of plimmouth , and of the court . party , by a new patent under the specious title of the weste●n plantation divided from the first undertaking and had gr●ate● complyance with the king and court-interest , the more to divide the strength , and weaken the power of the councell and company of virginia , residing in and about london . which neverthelesse the wisdome of god hath made in these dayes to appear a ble●sing upon that undertaking . other interruptions were from turbulent persons , whose weakest pretentions against the company or eminent persons therein concerned , were winged with powerfull recommendation from court , but not so considerable yet , as to hinder the sedulity of those worthy persons and parriots , who still consulting the wayes and means for the wished ends , and finding sir thomas smith involved with the court and spanish party , it was as soon suspected that by his super-intendence as president and governour , he had willingly omitted the care and vigilance which should have forwarded and secured the supplies ; the want whereof had distressed and discouraged the chief undertaking . nor was there any such account appea●ing , but that much money received was unaccounted for ; but managed in such an intricate or delusive way as could not well bee charged on the treasurer , nor directly on any other responsable person . at private meetings of the e. of southampton , sir edwin sandys , sir iohn danvers , &c. severall observations and proposalls occasioned this result , that nothing would serve to redeem the honour and reputation of the design for virginia , and re-advance the prosperity thereof , so much as an entire and reall account published , the better to discover former negligences or corruptions , and to beget a better care for the future . and hereupon at a great and generall quarter-court , sir edwin sandys , sir iohn danvers , mr. i. wroth , mr. abbots , afterwards sir maurice abbots , and mr. abdey afterwards alderman , were five auditors authorized to draw on all manner of accounts , for satisfaction of the world as wel as the company . against any good effect by such audit much endeavour and backwardnesse appeared in all kind of accountants , but most in sir thomas smith's creatures or dependents ; whereby great difficulty , or at least dilatorinesse was found , which sir m. abbots , and alderman abdey took for occasion to tell the rest , that they being merchants , their necessary businesse would not afford them time for a work of such unhopefull an issue , by reason of the various intricacies of accounts , and of such uncertain voyages as those for plantations . they desiring and forcing to be excused , left the whole care and pains to sir e. sandys , sir iohn danvers , and mr. wroth , who finding a multiplication of difficulties and interruptions from day to day , were forced after two or three moneths time ; first , to suppositate a new and direct method for accounting for the future , which in a book of account exposed weekly at every court on the table , might the better satisfie ; whilst a larger time was taken to rake up the more ancient obstruction or concealment . in which pursuit sir e. sandys , sir i. danvers , and most times mr. i. wroth were together five dayes of the week , from between nine and ten of the clock in the morning , till five or six in the evening , for the space of nine moneths ; not without retryving and possibility of gaining in a very considerable sum , to be charged on sir th. smith , as was generally beleeved . mean while much industry was used by bed-chamber-men , and other super-intendent great persons to beget a disrelish in k. iames against the proceedings of the virginia company , upon the score that he was to uphold sir thomas smith's honour and reputation , so prevalent in companies , and amongst the most wealthy citizens , to procure him loans for supplying his most necessary ' occasions : which by meanes of sir iohn danvers familiar correspondence with some of the bed-chamber , that did serve p. henry , was prevented , by inculcating the consideration of palpable injustice , in obstructing the power granted to the company : as others in like manner were carefull , whereby the businesse of virginia forced ( as it were ) a passage through opposition , both forain and domestick ; for the spanish ambassador ( whose power was great in the court counsells ) was very sedulous , and spared no money to hinder the same . the good hope of this plantation bringing on the ancient adventurers , and their moneys , encouraged also the prosecution and attaining the grant of a lottery over all england , which seconded with respective private letters to the generous and well affected persons in every county , caused great sums of money to be brought in , and imployed for the plantation , which brought on the casting out sir tho. smith , and establishing sir ed. sandys treasurer and governour of the company , by whose great care and abilities virginia's increase and plenty seemed a very hopeful addition to the dominion of england . mean-whiles the care and circumspection of the now governour drew all sorts of experienced persons of other nations as minerall men from germany , vignerons from france , &c. to present themselves , who were in numbers entertained to assist the industry of the planters , which with many other concurrent circumstances of encouragement appeared in one years time advantagious to the design beyond expectatiod , as by sir e. sandys account of his transactions was made manifest unto hundreds of lords and gentlemen assembled at their quarter court in easter term , the time for the new election of the treasurer or governour . at which time when the court prepared to make a new election , most intending to choose sir edwin sandys for another year , mr. robert kirkham one of the clerks of the signet , with mr. alderman hammersley , presented themselves as messengers from k. iames , congratulating the hopefull progresse of the virginia plantation , but withall professing his majesties great care , where so many of his subjects were concerned . and therefore the countrey being so remote , and wherein the greatest merchants might be most knowing through their experience and interest , his majesty recommended six persons , whereof he expected one should be that day chosen their governour ; which struck a silence into the whole court for a time , but in conclusion declared ( as beleeved ) by will . e. of pembrooke , henry e. of southampton , and others , to bee against the companies just freedome of election granted by letters patents , and caused by some mis-information given the king , whereof they would speak with him . in the mean time an order was entred for continuance of that quarter court on a day the week after . the same court again assembled , and those lords desired a preparatve meeting of the councell for virginia , where it was freely recounted , how k. iames remained obstinately excepting against the person of sir edwin sandys , declaring him his greatest enemy , and that hee could hardly think well of whomsoever was his friend , and all this in a furious passion returning no other answer , but choose the devill , if you will , but ●●t sir edwin sandys . hereupon the generality of the company being in the height of discontent , and the lords and others of the more timorous nature in trouble how to proceed in the presence of a very considerable assembly in a cause so lately rais●d to such expectation , which now they could not but account lost by this discouragement , sir iohn danvers entreated some private conference with the e. of southampton , a most cordiall stickler for this plantation , and asked , whether his lordship would be pleased to own the place , if the company chose him treasurer , whilst they should not fail by all means to f●ce him from the pains and trouble by nominating such a deputy as would please his lordship and the whole company , in prosecuting still those wayes which might give satisfaction and encouragement to the undertakers . that most noble lords answer was , i know the king will be angry at it , but so the expectation of this pious and glorious work may be encouraged , let them doe with me what they please . and accordingly the councel & company in a fair way chose the earle treasurer , and sir e. sandys deputy , which such other co-incident officers for ●ropagating the work intended , as was generally acceptable and applauded by all good men . the publick asserting of those rights and immunities granted under the great seal of england , much raised the spirits , and increased the number● of those that made preparation for this plantation ; for wi●hin the following yeer there we●e above fifty patents granted under the seal of the c●mpany to severall person● , who were to have land set out and alotted unto them , propo●tionable t● the numbe●s of people they engaged to transplant from england : the least number so c●ntracted fo● in any one patent wa● a hu●d●ed some hundred● some a thousand● and divers in greater proportions , and thes● pat●ntees were not the meanest in honor , vertue and godlines● . and now was likewise so great a complyance in this pio●● work , an● moneys came in so plentifully from the lottery , ●●d by payment of arrears upon fo●mer subsc●iption● , as seemed almost to promise as well as to invite a great part of the nation to withdraw themselves from an oppressing unto a more free government establishing in virginia , whither great store of shipping was engaged and even in readinesse ; when in the conclusion of a broken parliament by k. iames , both the e. of southampton and sir edwin sandys were committed close prisoners , upon private assumed suggestions , which struck some terrour into most undertakers for virginia . nor did the shipping and passengers know which way to derive those orders , warrants , and allowances which were many ways necessary and pertinent for setting forward of their voyages . the complaints and apprehensions thereupon coming to the place where the courts and registries were kept ( the house of mr. farrars merchant in st. syths-lane● london . ) much bewailing and consultation was there had . where after consideration of the power granted to the company ; the two farrars brothers by their discretion and affection assisting much herein ) it was resolved , that the company might and should proc●ed , as if their governour and deputy were hindred by sicknesse , or other diver●ion , and finding the whole proceeding like to be more advantaged if sir iohn danvers would shew himselfe to keep and governe the courts , a number w●nt with mr. nicholas farrar home to his house , imploring his assistance , which ( though knowing , as my lord of southampton said , the king would not be pleased therewith ) he readily undertook , to the great satisfaction of many the adventurers and planters . in which time of his transaction , which was about a moneth or three weeks , there were fraighted and went out from london sail of considerable shipping and numbers of passengers for virginia , besides others about the same time from the western ports . the e. of southampton , and sir ed. sandys were by this time released , and nothing appearing against them , rejoiced the more , to ●ind the dispatch of the shipping , &c. so well over . and though by a contrived sudden complaint in parliament , against the lotteries for virginia , as pernicious to the countries where they were introduced , with seconding informations suggested ; the lotteries were voted down , and the great●st stream for supplies of money now stopt , yet consultation and endeavours gave new hope of benefit other ways , which more then probably might still advance the plantation , wherein many parties had their aims and expectation . whilst th●se forementioned passages were in hand , the court and spanish faction failed not to give assist●nce and ●ncouragem●nt to all those ( and they were very many ) that strained by any way or means to divert or interrupt the affaires under the care of this councell and company . which drew on their considera●ion for the displacing of sir thomas smi●● , and constituting of sir edwin sandys governour of the bermudas or summer-ilands company , and plantation , whi●h was an appendan● o●virginia , the labour and safety of both being the same , and by the members thought fit to be trusted in one way , and in hands and counsells best approved . sir ed. sandys setling in that government , was incountred with much information of neglect or infidelity committed therein , by sir thomas smith , the i●land wholly wanting ammunition to maintain it against an enemy : which the place b●ing of that importance , seemed much to startle the undertakers , the most whereof were the principall earls , lords , and gentlem●n of best thought● and affection in the virginia company , who as they were par●icularly in●eressed by purchase , so had they a speciall care of the castles , fortresses and harbour there , capable to preserve and maintain a fleet of ships , fit to succour and protect virginia , and other american plantations in expectation to be added ther●unto● from the ampli●ude of a l●●e● pat●n● f●r compr●hending a ●umb●r of oth●r islands as well as the bermudas , within the limitation of the virginia plantation . and now it was advertised from the e. of somerset , the then favourite and favour●r of the engl●sh r●ghts , that he understood by confident intelligence , that the spaniards h●d a design about a certain time of tha● yeer to att●mpt the seizing of that ●●land , because it was wholly unprovid●d of powder and ammunition , & appr●hended as at this time wi●hout vi●ible possibility of present supplies● but it pl●as●d god through the ne●lective way of sir tho. smith the gove●nm●nt of the island was disposed into the hands of one m●re , who upon sight of two spanish vessells of good burden approaching towa●ds the chi●f castle at the entrance of the port , got powder and shot for the charging only of two peeces of artillery , which levelled and discharged neer at once upon those ships . the commander thinking himself betray●d , because he was assured hee should find no manner of ammunition , weighs anchor , and se●s sail away from thence● as the first return of shipping ●rom the ●●rmudas made cl●er unto the company , &c. this happy escape aggravating the omission or corruption of sir tho. smith , seemed to revive and give a new vigour ●o the partners in this plantation , and there being nothing of more spe●dy advantage on the place for return to the owners and adventurers then the planting and transporting of tobacco ( whilst it might be imported , as from virginia for percent● for their custome ) great store thereof was made and preparing , when upon some tender of a large r●nt for the sole sale of tobacco , an order of the councell bord did impose paym●nt of the highest custome , as to thirty or forty in the hundred upon the bermudas tobacco , proportionably with all other , notwithstanding the ●●emption within their pa●●nt : which , with other things , much intr●nching upon the ●ight● and priviledges of the adventurers , gave occasion of a through consultation of the earls , lords , gentl●men and ●●r●hant● concerned , and in conclusion caused an addresse of thems●lve● personally , desiring audience of k. iames , which being attained , and prosecut●d by the society o● the earl●s of pembrooke , southampt●n , and oth●rs , the lord cavendish being appointed to expresse the nature of complaint and appeale to the king , his lordship had no sooner e●●red into the matter , but that his maj●sty began to shew much discontent , and with much adoe was drawn to any patience , which gave much dis●ouragem●nt in the case , and prevented the declaring of the most just cause of importunity appointed to my lord cavendish ; when sir iohn dan●ers fell on his knee , and besought the king to hear him , as the first time hee ever had the honour to speak unto his majesty in a serious businesse : and having leave , he stoutly inculcated that point of justice , which could not be denyed , at which the king flang away in greater passion ; insomuch that the prince who is now king , drew sir i. danvers aside , as in favor to him , desiring he would urge the king no fur●her , and undert●ok to speak with sir i. danvers , and accordingly to move the king at some other time , which was unperformed , though more then once desired by sir i. danvers . according to which course or vogue of state , some lords and others , though members of the same company , t●ok up speciou●ly the corrupt interest of those that had been formerly ●onstituted and imployed in places & a●fairs o● trust belonging to these planta●ions , as some of the former governours sent in time of sir thomas smiths government , either to virginia or the bermudas , &c. who b●ing concurrently obnoxious in point of account , were as firmly supported by him and his friends , with the spanniolized ●action of the councell bord , and the king● bed-chamber . which proceedings excited the better and more cons●ant faithfull party to the more carefull and laborious pe●severance , when the prospering of the undertaking towards so great an addition of dominion , was from time to tim● interrupted , as about this time by quaeres to the number o● two or three and thirty from the councell bord , by the kings speciall appointment● pretending great care that such numbers o● his subject● gone to the plantations , might bee circumstantially provid●d ●or in their laws , freedomes , &c. these quaeres sent on the sa●u●day were to bee satis●ied the tuesday following● at sitting of the councell in the afternoon . the lo●d ca●e●d●sh● sir ●dwin sandys● sir i●hn danvers and mr. ni●h●la● farrar mee●ing by appointment of the company , with power to c●n●ider and present what they should ●ind pertinent therein , ●ound a hard ●a●ke to answer so many particulars in so s●●●t time . yet ●inding that the truths c●uch●d or exem●li●●ed in the ●eiger-books of the company would s●ti●●●e the q●aeres and obj●cti●ns thereupon , mr. farrar desired the bu●ine●●●●nd s●●rch might be divided into parts● wherein hee would take that of greatest labour : which wa● concluded b● the other thr●e , and accordingly brought toge●her the tue●d●y morning● and presented to the coun●●ll bord in the ●fternoon , and gave the lord● a most unexpected satisfaction , as was confessed . when by way of congratulation it was proposed , that now there was so great numbers and trade like to follow in that plantation , some care might be taken for their safety by special fortifications , & an account thereof made to the king . whereupon it was ordered at the bord , that william earl of pembrooke , southampton and other lords of the councell and company for virginia , should make enquiry and acquaint his majesty of what was , and would be done in that point , for preservation of the lives of his subjects against enemies , either natives of virginia , or others , since hee had vowed , that if he had not satisfaction therein , he would think himself bound to take the whole government and the appointing of governours into his own hands . which occasioned the calling together of a councell for virginia of all that were neer , who as they cleerly saw the desperate malignity of the secret-court-spanish party , so often appearing in persecution of this plantation ; so had they a great apprehension the king could not be easily satisfied , since the companies treasure was exhausted , and there was little hopes of more contribution or adventurers , whilst they lay under such discouragement . sir iohn danvers remembring some notion of hope , and looking over the books of letters from virginia , hee observed that throughout the year past there was never lesse then saile of shipping in iames river , the heart of the plantation , inferring , that if the kings fairer complyance should keep the company in the same encouragement , the strength of so many floting forts in that flat scituation , would be equivalent to , if not exceeding any possible speedy fortification ; which the e. of pembrooke , &c. conceived fully sufficient to satisfie the king , if he had not an inveterate disaffection to the work : and this proved an answer appearingly well received by the king . now had the company a little leasure from the stormes or inquisition of the councell bord , whilst neverthelesse particular persons of all ranks , and divers under the countenance of those disaffected lords & others , were faln from the true sense and justice of the work chiefly intended . but it was not long before sir lionel cranfield , presently after e. of middlesex , about the time of his approaching to be l. treasurer , seemed seriously to renue his former professed contemplation of , & affection to the work of this plantation , with many reasons and instances of his well-wishing , and ●t last made this specious overture . it is a misfo●tune ( saies he ) not to be avoided , that whilst the plantations in their present infancy have their whole subsistence by the trade of tobacco , the kings necessities casting him upon all , and any ways for advancement of his revenue , a tender is made of more then . l. per annum , for the whole importing and sale thereof , and when the virginia or summer-islands company offer to plead their freedom in the case , the lawyers say , it is a poisonous drug which the king might justifie to banish or burn , and not to be accounted as a staple or nationall commodity , in which case it was in the kings power to doe his pleasure in any sort concerning the same ; but to comply for the advantage of the plantation , the company might , and should if they pleased , have the sole importation to them and in their mannaging , for . l. per ann. and to make his zeale and care appeare for the prosperity of this great and pious work , he would put the company into a way , whereby . l. more should bee gained over and above the rent , to recompense their want of supplies by the lottery , or by the freedome of their owne tobacco from the necessitated height of custome . and further declares , that their providing for the kings interest in so fixed a rent , would make him every way capable and assistant to all their future endeavours● which by some collaterall means bending a great part of the most diligent adventurers of the company to comply with this proposition ( some conceiving they should find a better glyde in the businesse , others to have some advantagious imployment in the m●naging of the tobacco farme● and these considerations by way of result promoted by severall stirring spirit● on middlesex his grounds ) the contract seemed concluded , and the managing pa●ts designed to special persons . when assoon almost it was app●rent that nothing of good was intended towards the company , for now many base & false suggestions were raised against the e. of southampt . sir e. sandys , and others , not a little aggravating in the minds of many ingenuous persons , who had no beleef in such loosening of legal interest by patent , the just ground of the whole undertaking , which with many lurking and distributed inventions diverted and broke the contract , whilst the subtilty of cranfield advanced the same f●rm with avowed neglect of the company and persons adhering ther●unto . and when the greatest disturbance on this and other occasions had wrought the members of this company into eminent distraction , a commi●●ion and instructions by way of inquisition were issued with power ●o judg i●nes , sir henry spiller , &c. to examine the proceedings of the vi●ginia and sommer-i●lands company , as especially of the e. of southampton , and sir e. sandys , which howsoever strictly and strangely carried [ as when a noble person asked the judge , how he that was sworn to the laws , durst own proceedings in that nature , his answer was openly , there was one law of the land , but another law of the kings commissions ] yet many days and weeks of the inqui●●tion or persecution discovered no unworthinesse against them , or any other of their consorts . after this the councell , company , adventurers and planters for virginia , conceiving their estate and condition grown more hopefull , having p●st through the fire of such severall rigorous inquisitions , and the undertak●r● having farre engaged therein , a great rise of confid●nce and assurance appeared generally , as a renewing incouragement . but their sedulity and fervency was suddenly quas●t by a quo w●rranto brought in the kings bench against their p●tent . and notwithstanding it was more then presumed by some , that the most rightfull contest or waging in a legal way would be fruitlesse , yet the company by vote and order thereupon entertained counsell of the best lawyers they could get , and resolved to spend the remaining part of their stock and cash to plead their cause to a due issue ; when also some good number of unknown persons sent in mony , plate , and jewels , to animate and assist so just a defence as this companies right and interest , whilst many could not but conceive and fear the example might be most pernicious in other c●●es . yet nevertheless before the end of the same term a judgment was declared by the lord chief justice ley against the company and their charter , only upon a failer , or mistake in pleading . which destroyed the hopes of all that lookt in a just & righteous way towards that pious and publick work of plantations . what was after prosecuted by force of the kings commissions may appear by others , who have thought fit to embrace hope under such constitutions . through the calamity of the forementioned sentence , very many honest and worthy persons declining to act under the kings ●ommiss●ō-laws , su●●cased from their exemplary indust●y towards plantations ; only the company of bermudas dependent and derived by particular purchase , and for valuable consideration from the virginia company , with con●irmation by speciall charter under the great seal , persisted in greater hope and confidence by reason their chief undertakers were e●rls , lords , and others of quali●y , but most of them failing in short time , either by complyance or neglect , the care of this plantation fell into the hands of some members of the company , lesse considerable , as to court-interest and qualification , no● without discouragement in the generall ; which was the more dispersed by divers suggestions , as that those islands had been declined or forsaken by the spaniards , because they had found the place to bee only a ●hell or shoale of ●ocks , that had contracted a small thicknesse of earth by the falling of leav●● from the trees , and hearbs growing up between the rocks , which a short time would wear out● and quickly discover the folly of those that pretended to plant upon that soil ; and that if any further thought should be to fortifie thereon , or have shipping there , in probability to offend or interrupt the spa●iards interest or trading in those parts , their power in the w●st-indies , would be sure to ruin all that the english had effected b● whatsoever charge of any particular company , unless the king would undertake to back them with his power , whereunto hee seemed utterly averse . neverthelesse , by the incessant good indeavours of some few worthy patriots , seasonably assisted by sir i●h● dan●ers , and others , upholding and encouraging them from time to time , a competent number of the owners of severall shar●s of land , still remained well affected to maintain the companies and every m●ns just interest . who by choosing persons of eminency to bear the name of governour● of their company , that were willing to appear ●●r their support , and by driving an annuall small trade of tobacco , &c. held on the regular government of the company here , and at the island● , through various interruption● in hope of such fairer times a● might afford opportunity for highest thoughts of advantage to the undertakers● in which ●as● though almost l●ngui●hing they may not despair of some good issue of their bes● desire● . it may not be unfit in this place to call to mind some speciall acts of sir iohn danvers , wherein he took opportunity faithfully and kindly to serve his worthy friends . one whereof was this , that shortly after the judgment against the virginia company , one mr. collingwood came unto him , recounting his acknowledgement of great obligations for recommending him to the place of secretary to the virginia company , which was growing every day more valuable , in case it had been happily continued : and at the same time acquainted him , that three merchant men , one after another had been with him at his house , commending his parts and abilities for imployment , and much pittying his case to be now destitute of means for the maintenance of him and his family , but concluding in a subtil & soothing way , that as he might perceive the kings displeasure against the e. of southampton , and sir e. sandys , so would he gain imployment and great benefit to himself for all the days of his life , by saying or discovering ought of their transactions , or otherwise , that should bring any ill reflection upon their persons . when his answer was , that he knew nothing but honor and justice in their ways , nor upon any terms would bee drawn to such unthankfulnesse , as to offer the least matter against them . it is true ( said he ) they mentioned nothing relating to your self ( which he thought was forborn in regard of the particular relation and obligation he had to him . ) nor ●ould mr. collingwood think it possible openly to detect and convince those merchants of this wickedness , because they came singly unto him , and by the same knavery would deny their attempts , but that this only was to be taken as a caution against such kind of base insinuation . sir iohn danvers asking further , where there was any of relation to those affairs that might be te●pted to such villany : he answered , there was an indigent person , whom he had made use of to write and make entries for his assistance , whose hand-writing and intelligent apprehension had caused him to be sent for divers times to southampton house , and imployed in dictates by that earl and sir ed. sandys , and he being of unsetled or loose life , might possibly be drawn to serve the turns of malevolents , &c. sir i. danvers took speedy course to ingage him for a long time , most whiles lockt up in a chamber , til he had fairly copyed the i●eiger court books of all the main transactions of the company for virginia , accordingly at tested for true copies , and th●n encouraging him into the countrey to see his friends , giving him a part of reward for his pains , & obliging him to come to him again for the remainder , by which means he kept him wholly out of the way , and from temptation . and assoon after as he could speak with my lord of southampton , carryed him the said authenticall copies , declaring the information of collingwood , and that having sometimes heard of a great governing court lady , who was desirous to dispossess a femal heir that had married a young gentleman , as to make her rather a wi●e to a creature or attendant of her owne , and after working somewhat in diverting their affections each from other , a legall prosecution was had to disprove the marriage , which notwithstanding was affirmed by all sorts of circumstance & witnesses , yet by corrupting a register , who in his entries put a negative for an affirmative , he that was judge of the cause secundum allegata & probata expressed on the registry , declared a nullity of the former marriage , whereby the heir was remarried to a second person . this said sir iohn danvers gave him to consider , how the malice against the earl , &c. failing in all other inventions , might possibly in like manner corrupt the records of the virginia company , getting them , as they did not long after into their custody and power . wherefore he presented his lordship with those true copies to be alwaies ready for iustification . the earl was so affected therewith that he took sir i. danvers into his arms with very great thankfulnesse , saying , who could have thought of such a friendship but charles danvers his brother , who was the truest friend that ever man had ? and thereupon calling his kinsman mr. wriothsley chiefly ●ntrusted by him , declared the whole discourse , and in conclusion said , let those books bee carryed , and safely kept at my house at tichfield , they are the evidence of my honour , and i value them more then the evidence of my lands . sir i. danvers stil applying his greatest care and interest for the advantage of his friends ; finding mr. will. carr in some degree of honour with the king , after his kinsman the e. of somerset was set aside , and falling into discourse with him concerning the great worth and parts of sir edwin sandys , whose kinswoman hee had married , and therefore might be presumed the more read● to serve him● sir i. danvers put him in mind of the kings great d●s●leasure against that noble knight , and desired him at some seasonable time to enquire of the king , what might bee the ground of his distast and hatred against him : to whom the king gave this answer , that he knew sir ed. sandys to be a man of exorbitant ambition , upon the esteem he had of his own abilities , and that because by his incessant importunity he could not prevail to be made secretary of state he had used his utmost endeavour to cross the kings best intentions both ge●erall and particular ; and this considered , the king said , he could not think well of any that would hold friendship with him . mr. carr communicating this to sir i. danvers , he told him , there was but one tryall more to be made , that since possibly , according to the usuall stratagems practised in court , some might have unseasonably importuned the king in his behalf , and under the pre●ence of friendship done him some great prejudice in incensing the kings hatred against him , he would be pleased to venture so far , as to presse the king to know who they were that sollicited his majesty for him , without his concurrence in a businesse that had brought so much of his displeasure upon him . which mr. carr as nobly undertook , when the king was fain to take on him the whole matter and circumstance , saying , sandys was too crafty to put his own ambitious design into any other hand , or move it otherwise then by his own mouth , from whom he had received such encroaching importunities as had utterly destroyed any interest hee might ever expect in his good opinion : and so the king fell off in so great a fury , and with such imprecations from mr. carr , that hee meeting with sir i. danvers bewailed the case with a very great doubtfulnesse what to think , moving questions about the integrity of sir edw. sandys , which had been so much declared and beleeved . and so sir i. danvers and mr. carr parted , much wondring at this . not long after the court being removed to greenwich , sir edw. sandys having some businesse with my lord privy-s●ale , repaired thither , and being espyed by sir i. danvers neer to the privy-chamber , who went to salute him , he demanded what room that was so full of company , and sir i. danvers telling him it was the kings privy-chamber , where many staid to see the king at dinner , he said he would f●●n see the king too , so as the king might not see him , because ( as he said ) he had understood by his best friends , the kings impatience would wrong him should hee come neer him . whereupon sir iohn danvers told him he would warrant to stand so before him in the throng that he might have full view of the king without being discovered by him ; which was accordingly performed for about a quarter of an hour , and so both retired out of that room . and afterwards sir edwin sandys wondring that the king was so much altered in body and countenance since he had seen him last , which was when he came first out of scotland , where he was with him . is it possible , said sir iohn danvers , ( thinking of the passage mr. carr had told him ) that you having been so much in parliament , and about london , should never have seen the king in so long a time ? it seems almost past beleef . sir edwin assuredly affirmed it , adding that from some apprehension given the king from his being in scotland , when he had discourse with him , but of nothing that might give any offence , he had been warned by entire friends , and had observed by many passages in his owne particular , that it would neither be ●it nor safe for him to come in his sight . the same day towards evening sir iohn danvers meeting with mr. carr , told him of this encounter in matter and circumstance , who lifting up his hands and eyes , said , now god blesse all good men , for my master is a very — ● all which endeavour with mr. carr's leave was made known to sir edwin , who d●ubtlesse made a right use of thi● discovery . these instances , with others of like nature , too large to be remembred here , confirm the observation of those two worthy gen. mr. i●hn and nich●l●s farrars , the one a merchant of known hone●●y , and the other eminent in all kind of learning , and true piety , ( who with their most vertuous mother deserve an honorable memory for their deserts , by laying out a good part of their plentifull fortune in piously advancing the undertaking for the virginia and bermud●s plantation ) . that the earl of southampton was a noble person , of true honour and impartiall justice . sir edwin sandys , a man of great worth , learn●ng , and knowledg , but sir iohn dan●ers of a single entire heart , and firm in friendship . postscript . i des●re my cousen will . woodnoth to offer this seasonably according to the communica●ion had thereof between us ; and if in the me●n time he can get to view the co●●● h●●●●s of the virginia company , and the orders of the councel bord , he sh●l doe we●l to add the yeer of our lord in the ma●gent a● eve●y main transaction a. w. finis . a publication by the counsell of virginea, touching the plantation there counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a publication by the counsell of virginea, touching the plantation there counseil for virginia (england and wales) virginia company of london. sheet ([ ] p.). by thomas haueland for william welby, and are to be sold at his shop in pauls church-yard at the signe of the swanne, jmprinted at london : . reproduction of original in the society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, 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web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . great britain -- history -- james i, - . broadsides -- london (england) -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - pip willcox sampled and proofread - pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ❧ a publication by the counsell of virginea , touching the plantation there . howsoeuer it came to passe by gods appointment , that gouernes all things , that the fleete of shippes , lately sent to virginea , by meanes the admirall , wherein were shipped the chiefe gouernours , sir thomas gates , s. george sommers , and captaine newport , by tempestuous windes and forcible current , were driuen so farre to the west ward , that they could not in so conuenient time recouer cape henrie , and the port in virginea , as by the return of the same fleete , to answer the expectation of the aduenturers in some measure : by occasion whereof , some few of those vnruly youths sent thither , ( beeing of most leaud and bad condition , ) and such as no ground can hold , for want of good directions there , were suffered by stealth to get abord the ships returning thence , and are come for england againe , giuing out in all places where they come , ( to colour their owne misbehauiour , and the cause of their returne with some pretence ) most vile and scandalous reports , both of the country it selfe , and of the cariage of the businesse there . which hath also giuen occasion , that sundry false rumours and despightfull speeches haue beene deuised and giuen out by men that seeme of better sort , being such as lie at home , and doe gladly take all occasions to cheere themselues with the preuention of happy successe in any action of publike good , disgracing both the actions and actors of such honourable enterprises , as whereof they neither know nor vnderstand the true intents and honest ends . which howsoeuer ( for a time ) it may deterre and keepe backe the hands and helpe of many well disposed men , yet men of wisdome and better resolution doe well conceiue and know , that these deuices infused into the tongues and heades of such deuisors ( by the father of vntruths ) doe serue for nothing else , but as a cloke to couer the wretched and leaud prancks of the one sort , and the stupidity and backwardnesse of the other , to aduance any commendable action that taxeth their purse , and tendeth not wholly to their owne aduantage . and therfore those of his maiesties counsel in this honourable plantation , the lords , knights , gentlemen , and merchants interessed therein ( rightly considering that as in all other good seruices , ( so in this ) much losse and detriment may many waies arise and grow to the due meanes and manner of proceeding , which yet no way toucheth nor empeacheth the action it selfe , nor the ends of it , which do still remaine entire and safe vpon the same grounds of those manifold christian duties whereon it was first resolued , ) are so farre from yeelding or giuing way to any hindrance or impeachment of their cheerefull going on , that many of them both honourable and worshipfull haue giuen their hands and subscribed to contribute againe and againe to new supplies if need require . and further , they doe instantly prepare and make ready a certaine number of good shippes , with all necessaries , for the right honourable lord de la ware , who intendeth god assisting , to be ready with all expedition to second the foresaid generals , which we doubt not are long since safely ariued at their wished port in virginea . and for that former experience hath too dearely taught , how much and manie waies it hurteth to suffer parents to disburden themselues of lasciuious sonnes , masters of bad seruants , and wiues of ill husbands , and so to clogge the businesse with such an idle crue , as did thrust themselues in the last voiage , that will rather starue for hunger , then lay their hands to labour : it is therefore resolued , that no such vnnecessary person shall now be accepted , but onely such sufficient , honest and good artificers , as smiths , shipwrights , sturgeon dressers , ioyners , carpenters , gardeners , turners , coopers , salt-makers , iron men for furnasse & hammer , brickmakers , bricklayers , minerall men , bakers , gun-founders , fishermen , plough-wrights , brewers , sawyers , fowlers , vine-dressers , surgeons , and physitions for the body , and learned diuines to instruct the colonie , and to teach the infidels to worship the true god. of which so many as will repaire to the house of sir thomas smith treasurer of the company to proffer their seruice in this action before the number be full , and will put in good sureties to be readie to attend the said honourable lord in the voyage , shall be entertained with those reasonable and good conditions , as shall answere and be agreeable to ech mans sufficiency in his seuerall profession . ¶ jmprinted at london by thomas haueland for william welby , and are to be sold at his shop in pauls church-yard at the signe of the swanne , . the relation of the right honourable the lord de-la-warre, lord gouernour and captaine generall of the colonie, planted in virginea de la warr, thomas west, baron, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the relation of the right honourable the lord de-la-warre, lord gouernour and captaine generall of the colonie, planted in virginea de la warr, thomas west, baron, - . counseil for virginia (england and wales) [ ] p. printed by vvilliam hall, for william welbie, dwelling in pauls church-yeard at the signe of the swan, london : . signatures: [a]⁴ b⁴ c² . the first leaf is blank. running title reads: a relation to the councill of virginea by the lord de la vvarre. reproduction of the original in the new york public library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the relation of the right honourable the lord de-la-warre , lord gouernour and captaine generall of the colonie , planted in virginea . london ¶ printed by william hall , for william welbie , dwelling in pauls church-yeard at the signe of the swan . . a short relation made by the lord de-la-warre , to the lords and others of the counsell of virginea , touching his vnexpected returne home , and afterwards deliuered to the generall assembly of the said company , at a court holden the twenty fiue of iune , . published by authority of the said counsell . my lords , &c. being now by accident returned from my charge at virginea , contrary either to my owne desire , or other mens expectations , who spare not to censure me , in point of duty , and to discourse and question the reason , though they apprehend not the true cause of my returne , i am forced , ( out of willingnesse to satisfie euery man ) to deliuer vnto your lordships , and the rest of this assembly , briefely , ( but truely ) in what state i haue liued , euer since my arriuall to the colonie ; what hath beene the iust occasion of my sudden departure thence ; and in what termes 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 those paimēts , which they haue subscribed towards the charge of the plantation , and by which that action must bee supported and maintained ; making this my returne , the colour of their needlesse backwardnes and vniust protraction . which , that you may the better vnderstand , i must informe your lordships , that presently after my arriual in iames towne , i was welcommed by a hote and violent ague , which held mee a time , till by the aduice of my physition , doctor laurence bohun , ( by blood letting ) i was recouered , as in my first letters by sir thomas gates i haue informed you . that disease had not long left me , til ( within three weekes after i had gotten a little strength ) i began to be distempered with other greeuous sicknesses , which successiuely & seuerally assailed me : for besides a relapse into the former disease , which with much more violence held me more then a moneth , and brought me to great weakenesse , the flux surprised me , and kept me many daies ; then the crampe assaulted my weak body , with strong paines ; & afterwards the gout ( with which i had heeretofore beene sometime troubled ) afflicted mee in such sort , that making my body through weakenesse vnable to stirre , or to vse any maner of exercise , drew vpon me the disease called the scuruy ; which though in others it be a sicknesse of slothfulnesse , yet was in me an effect of weaknesse , which neuer left me , till i was vpon the point to leaue the world . these seuerall maladies and calamities , i am the more desirous to particularise vnto your lordships ( although they were too notorious to the whole colonie ) lest any man should misdeeme that vnder the general name and cōmon excuse of sicknes , i went about to cloke either sloth , or feare , or anie other base apprehension , vnworthy the high and honourable charge , which you had entrusted to my fidelitie . in these extremities i resolued to consult my friends , vvho ( finding nature spent in mee , and my body almost consumed , my paines likewise daily encreasing ) gaue me aduise to preferre a hopefull recouery , before an assured ruine , which must necessarily haue ensued , had i liued , but twenty dayes longer , in virginia : wanting at that instant , both food and physicke , fit to remedy such extraordinary diseases , and restore that strength so desperately decayed . vvhereupon , after a long consultation held , i resolued by generall consent and perswasion , to shippe my selfe for meuis , an island in the vvest indies , famous for vvholesome bathes , there to try what help the heauenly prouidence would afford mee , by the benefit of the hot bath : but god , who guideth all things , according to his good will and pleasure , so prouided , that after wee had sailed an hundred leagues , wee met with southerly windes which forced mee to change my purpose , ( my body being altogether vnable to endure the tediousnesse of a long voyage ) and so sterne my course for the vvestern islands , which i no sooner recouered , then i found help for my health , and my sickenesse asswaged , by meanes of fresh diet , and especially of orenges and lemonds , an vndoubted remedy and medicine for that disease , which lastly , and so long , had afflicted mee : which ease as soone as i found , i resolued ( although my body remained still feeble and weake , to returne backe to my charge in virginia againe , but i was aduised not to hazard my selfe before i had perfectly recouered my strength , which by counsell i was perswaded to seeke in the naturall ayre of my countrey , and so i came for england . in which accident , i doubt not but men of reason , and of iudgement will imagine , there would more danger and preiudice haue hapned by my death there , then i hope can doe by my returne in the next place , i am to giue accompt in what estate i left the collony for gouernment in my absence . it may please your lordships therefore to vnderstand , that vpon my departure thence , i made choise of captaine george pearcie , ( a gentleman of honour and resolution , and of no small experience in that place , to remaine deputie gouernour , vntill the comming of the marshall sir thomas dale , whose commission was likewise to be determined , vpon the arriuall of sir thomas gates , according to the intent and order of your lordships , and the councill here . the number of men i left there , were vpward of two hundred , the most in health , and prouided of at least tenne moneths victuals , in their store-house , ( which is daily issued vnto them ) besides other helps in the countrey , lately found out by captaine argoll by trading vvith pettie kings in those parts , who for a small returne of a piece of iron , copper , &c. haue consented to trucke great quantities of corne , and willingly imbrace the intercourse of traffique , shewing vnto our people certaine signes of amitie and affection . and for the better strengthening and securing of the collony , in the time of my weaknesse there , i tooke order for the building of three seuerall forts , two of which are seated neere poynt comfort , to which adioyneth a large circuit of ground , open , and fit for corne : the third fort is at the falles , vpon an iland inuironed also with corne ground . these are not all manned , for i wanted the commoditie of boates , hauing but two , and one bardge , in all the countrey , which hath beene cause that our fishing hath beene ( in some sort ) hindered , for want of those prouisions , which easily will be remedied when vvee can gaine sufficient men to be imployed about those businesses , which in virginia i found not : but since meeting with sir thomas gates at the cowes neere portsmouth ( to whom i gaue a perticular accompt of all my proceedings , and of the present estate of the collony as i left it ) i vnderstood those wants are supplyed in his fleete . the countrey is wonderfull fertile and very rich , and makes good whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene reported of it , the cattell already there , are much encreased , and thriue exceedingly with the pasture of that countrey : the kine all this last vvinter , though the ground was couered most vvith snow , and the season sharpe , liued without other feeding then the grasse they found , vvith which they prospered well , and many of them readie to fall with calue : milke being a great nourishment and refreshing to our people , seruing also ( in occasion ) as well for physicke as for food , so that it is no way to be doubted , but when it shall please god that sir thomas dale , and sir thomas gates , shall arriue in virginia with their extraordinary supply of one hundred kine , and two hundred swine , besides store of all manner of other prouisions for the sustenance and maintenance of the collony , there vvill appeare that successe in the action as shall giue no man cause of distrust that hath already aduentured , but encourage euery good minde to further so worthy a worke , as will redound both to the glory of god , to the credit of our nation , and to the comfort of all those that haue beene instruments in the furthering of it . the last discouery , during my continuall sicknesse , was by captaine argoll , who hath found a trade with patamack ( a king as great as powhatan , vvho still remaines our enemie , though not able to doe vs hurt . ) this is in a goodly riuer called patomack , vpon the borders whereof there are growne the goodliest trees for masts , that may be found elsewhere in the vvorld : hempe better then english , growing wilde in aboundance : mines of antimonie and leade , there is also found without our bay to the northward an excellent fishing bancke for codde , and ling , as good as can be eaten , and of a kinde that will keepe a whole yeare , in shippes hould , with little care ; a tryall whereof i now haue brought ouer vvith mee . other islands there are vpon our coasts , that doe promise rich merchandise , and vvill further exceedingly the establishing of the plantation , by supply of many helpes , and vvill speedily afford a returne of many vvorthie commodities . i haue left much ground in part manured to receiue corne , hauing caused it the last vvinter to be sowed for rootes , vvith vvhich our people vvere greatly releeued . there are many vines planted in diuers places , and doe prosper vvell , there is no vvant of any thing , if the action can be vpheld with constancy and resolution . lastly , concerning my selfe , and my course , though the vvorld may imagine that this countrey and climate , will ( by that vvhich i haue suffered beyond any other of that plantation ) ill agree , vvith the state of my body , yet i am so farre from shrinking or giuing ouer this honourable enterprise , as that i am vvilling and ready to lay all i am worth vpon the aduenture of the action , rather then so honourable a worke should faile , and to returne vvith all the conuenient expedition i may , beseeching your lordships , and the rest , not onely to excuse my former wants , happened by the almighty hand : but to second my resolutions vvith your friendly indeauours : that both the state may receiue honour , your selues profit , and i future comfort , by being imployed ( though but as a weake instrument ) in so great an action . and thus hauing plainely , truely , and briefely , deliuered the cause of my returne , vvith the state of our affayres , as wee now stand , i hope euery vvorthy and indifferent hearer , will by comparing my present resolution of returne , with the necessitie of my comming home , rest satisfied with this true and short declaration . finis . by his maiesties councell for virginia. whereas vpon the returne of sir thomas dale knight, (marshall of virginia) the treasurer, councell, and company of the same, haue beene throughly informed and assured of the good estate of that colony ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by his maiesties councell for virginia. whereas vpon the returne of sir thomas dale knight, (marshall of virginia) the treasurer, councell, and company of the same, haue beene throughly informed and assured of the good estate of that colony ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) virginia company of london. sheet ([ ] p.) printed by thomas snodham, [london : ?] imprint from stc. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion by his maiesties councell for virginia . whereas vpon the returne of sir thomas dale knight , ( marshall of virginia ) the treasurer , councell , and company of the same , haue beene throughly informed and assured of the good estate of that colony , and how by the blessing of god and good gouernment , there is great plentie and increase of corne , cattell , goates , swine , and such other prouisions , necessary for the life and sustenance of man ; and that there wants nothing for the setling of that christian plantation , but more hands to gather and returne those commodities which may bring profit to the aduenturers , and encouragement to others : and whereas therevpon the company hath giuen a commission to captaine samuel argol to be the present gouernour of that colonie , who hath vndertaken to transport and carry thither a certaine number of men , vpon his owne charge , and the charge of other his friends that ioyne with him in that voyage ; in which , diuers men of good qualitie haue resolued to aduenture , and to goe thither themselues in person , and to carry with them their wiues , their children and their families , whereby in short time ( by the fauour and assistance of almighty god ) that good worke may be brought to good perfection , by the diuision and setting out of lands to euery particular person , the setling of trade , and returne of commodities to the contentment and satisfaction of all well affected subiects , which eyther loue the aduancement of religion , or the honour and welfare of this kingdome : wee his maiesties treasurer , councell , and company for the same plantation , haue thought good to declare and make knowne to all men by these presents , that wee haue resolued to giue free leaue and license to any who are now remaining in virginia , at his will and pleasure to returne home into england , which liberty wee doe likewise grant and confirme vnto all those which hereafter from time to time shall goe thither in person , without any other restraint , then to aske leaue of the gouernour ( for the time being ) to depart . and therefore if any man be disposed to send any supply to his friends there , or to send for any of his friends from thence , he may hereby take notice , that he hath full power and meanes to doe eyther of them at his good descretion . god saue the king. leah and rachel, or, the two fruitfull sisters virginia and mary-land: their present condition, impartially stated and related. vvith a removall of such imputations as are scandalously cast on those countries, whereby many deceived souls, chose rather to beg, steal, rot in prison, and come to shamefull deaths, then to better their being by going thither, wherein is plenty of all things necessary for humane subsistance. / by john hammond. hammond, john, d. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (thomason e _ ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing h thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) leah and rachel, or, the two fruitfull sisters virginia and mary-land: their present condition, impartially stated and related. vvith a removall of such imputations as are scandalously cast on those countries, whereby many deceived souls, chose rather to beg, steal, rot in prison, and come to shamefull deaths, then to better their being by going thither, wherein is plenty of all things necessary for humane subsistance. / by john hammond. hammond, john, d. . [ ], p. printed by t. mabb, and are to be sold by nich. bourn, neer the royal exchange, london, : . annotation on thomason copy: "jan: "; also the last number of the imprint date has been marked through and replaced with a ' '. reproduction of the original in the british library. eng maryland -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . a r (thomason e _ ). civilwar no leah and rachel, or, the two fruitfull sisters virginia and mary-land: their present condition, impartially stated and related.: vvith a re hammond, john b the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - taryn hakala sampled and proofread - taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion leah and rachel , or , the two fruitfull sisters virginia , and mary-land : their present condition , impartially stated and related . vvith a removall of such imputations as are scandalously cast on those countries , whereby many deceived souls , chose rather to beg , steal , rot in prison , and come to shamefull deaths , then to better their being by going thither , wherein is plenty of all things necessary for humane subsistance . by john hammond . eccles. . v. . if children live honestly and have wherewith , they shall put away the shame of their parents . london , printed by t. mabb , and are to be sold by nich. bourn , neer the royall exchange , . to his honoured and worthy friends the worshipfull william stone esquire , governour ; and leivt. general of the province of mary-land . and mr. james williamson of rapahanock in virginia gentleman . gentlemen , as yee both are eminent in your places , and are as well beloved where ye live ; and that your loves to each other are such , as i wish the vnion between virginia and mary-land to be , my subject being concerning both places : i know none more fit then your selves to dedicate it to , ( not so much for your kindnesses , which i have often tasted of ( as that the truth hereof under your patronage may obtain belief and credit : i crave your pardons , for intruding this unknown to you , and using your names to so mean a piece ; i have certified you wherefore i did it ; to which i add , that i am desirous the whole country may note your affections to each other ; and that i dare in england own and entitle him my governour ; that in mary-land i fled for submitting to . i shall no further enlarg here more , then to let you know , that i am to those countries and your selves , an humble servant , and well-wisher whilest i am jo. hammond . to those two worthy commanders and marriners , capt. iohn whittie , commander of the good ship , the freeman , now bound for virginia ; and capt. sam. tilghman , commander of the golden fortune , now bound for the province of mary-land . sirs , as i have made choice of two honourable gentlemen , the one belonging to virginia , the other to mary-land ; so i thought it not impertinent equally with them to dedicate this to you two living in england , and vsing the trade of virginia and mary-land , that your selves may judge and testifie , who well know the country , that that i have not added to their worths , but rather been sparing of what is justly their dues : for it is a received errour amongst the many slanders cast on these places , that we are sworn neither to speak nor write but glossingly of them ; if we are so sworn , they cannot believe yee are ; and therefore will credite your affirmations , both places speak worthily of you , both for affable usage of your passengers , and noble deportments towards the inhabitants in those countries ; and so are yee both noted , that i wish yee were as well known to all strangers desirous to ship themselves thither , as to us that have lived there : they then would as much covet to be your passengers , as we that by experience have felt and known your goodnesse ; many other gentlemen of good repute uses the trade : but this i dare affirm , that though they may be had in equall esteem , yet men more generally beloved and applauded i have not known , using that course than your selves : you know i flatter not ; therefore i crave no excuse , unlesse for my presumption in this attempt ; but seeing unknown to your selves , i have published your names here in print , pray call me not to account for it : this book i confesse is not worthy of it , nor i of your angers ; but how ever ye see it is past , & litera scripta manet , yee must either buy up and burn all , or ye will be found here , and i hope not blemisht in it , nor in owning the truth of , your reall servant , john hammond . leah and rachell , or the two fruitfull sisters of virginia and mary-land ; their present condition impartially stated and related . it is the glory of every nation to enlarge themselves , to encourage their own forraign attempts , and to be able to have of their own , within their own territories , as many several commodities as they can attain to , that so others may rather be beholding to them , then they to others ; and to this purpose have encouragements , priviledges and emunities been given to any discoveries or adventurers into remote colonies , by all politique common wealths in the world . but alas , we englishmen ( in all things else famous , and to other countries terrible ) do not onely faile in this , but vilifie , scandalize and cry down such parts of the unknown world , as have been found out , setled and made flourishing , by the charge , hazzard and diligence of their own brethren , as if because removed from us , we either account them people of another world or enemies . this is too truly made good in the odiums and cruell slanders cast on those two famous countries of virginia and mary-land , whereby those countries , not onely are many times at a stand , but are in danger to moulder away , and come in time to nothing ; nor is there any thing but the fertility and natural gratefulnesse of them , left a remedy to prevent it . to let our own nation ( whose common good i covet , and whose common wealths servant i am , as born to no other use ) be made sensible of these injuries : i have undertaken in this book to give the true state of those places , according to the condition they are now in ; and to declare either to distressed or discontented , that they need not doubt because of any rumour detracting from their goodnesses , to remove and cast themselves and fortunes upon those countries , in which if i should deviate from the truth ; i have at this present carping enemies in london enough , to contradict and cry down me and this , for impostours . it is not long since i came from thence ( god knows sore against my will ) having lived there upward of one and twenty years ; nor do i intend ( by gods assistance ) to be long out of it again : and therefore can by experience , not hear-say ( as bullock and other lying writters have done , who at randome or for their own private lucre have rendred their books rediculous and themselves infamous lyars , nor will i like them , over extoll the places , as if they were rather paradices than earthly habitations ; but truly let ye know , what they are , and how the people there live . ) which when impartially viewed , will undoubtedly clear up those foggy mists , that hath to their own ruine blinded and kept off many from going thither , whose miseries and misfortunes by staying in england are much to be lamented , and much to be pittied . in respect these two sister countries ( though distinct governments ) are much of one nature , both for produce and manner of living ; i shall only at present , treat of the elder sister virginia , and in speaking of that include both : and ere i leave off , shall in particular rehearse the unnaturall usuage mary-land the younger sister , hath had , not by virginia ; but by those vipers she hath received and harboured with much kindnesse and hospitalitie . the country is reported to be an unhealthy place , a nest of rogues , whores , desolute and rooking persons ; a place of intolerable labour , bad usage and hard diet , &c. to answer these several calumnies , i shall first shew what it was ? next , what it is ? at the first settling and many years after , it deserved most of those aspersions ( nor were they then aspersions but truths ) it was not settled at the publique charge ; but when found out , challenged , and maintained by adventurers , whose avarice and inhumanity , brought in these inconveniences , which to this day brands virginia . then were jayls emptied , youth seduced , infamous women drilled in , the provisions all brought out of england , and that embezzelled by the trustees ( for they durst neither hunt fowl , nor fish , for fear of the indian , which they stood in aw of , their labour was almost perpetuall , their allowance of victual small , few or no cattle , no use of horses nor oxen to draw or carry , ( which labours men supplyed themselves ) all which caused a mortality ; no civil courts of justice but under a marshall law , no redresse of grievances , complaints were repaied with stripes , moneys with scoffes , tortures made delights , and in a word all and the worst that tyrany could inflict or act , which when complained of in england : ( but so were they kept under that it was long ere they would suffer complaints to come home ) the bondage was taken of , the people set free , and had lands a signed to each of them to live of themselves , and enjoy the benefit of their own industry ; men then began to call what they laboured for their own , they fell to making themselves convenient housing to dwell in , to plant corne for their food , to range the wood for flesh , the rivers for fowle and fish , to finde out somwhat staple for supplie of cloathing , to continue a commerce , to purchase and breed cattle , &c. but the bud of this growing happinesse was again nipt by a cruell massacre committed by the natives , which again pull'd them back and kept them under , enforcing them to get into forts ( such as the infancy of those times afforded : they were taken off from planting ; their provisions destroyed , their cattle , hogs , horses , &c. kill'd up , and brought to such want and penury , that diseases grew rife , mortality exceeded ; but receiving a supply of men , amunition and victuals out of england , they again gathered heart , pursued their enemies , and so often worsted them , that the indians were glad to sue for peace , and they desirous of a cessation ) consented to it . they again began to bud forth , to spread further , to gather wealth , which they rather profusely spent ( as gotten with ease then providently husbanded , or aimed at any publique good ; or to make a country for posterity ; but from hand to mouth , and for a present being ; neglecting discoveries , planting of orchards , providing for the winter preservation of their stocks , or thinking of any thing staple or firm ; and whilest tobacco , the onely commodity they had to subsist on bore a price , they wholy and eagerly followed that , neglecting their very planting of corn , and much relyed on england for the chiefest part of their provisions ; so that being not alwayes amply supplied , they were often in such want , that their case and condition being related in england , it hindred and kept off many from going thither , who rather cast their eyes on the barren and freezing soyle of new-england , than to joyn with such an idigent and sottish people , ) is were reported to be in virginia . yet was not virginia all this while without divers honest and vertuous inhabitants , who observing the general neglect and licensiousnesses there , caused assemblies to be call'd and laws to be made tending to the glory of god , the severe suppression of vices , and the compelling them not to neglect ( upon strickt punishments ) planting and tending such quantities of corn , as would not onely serve themselves , their cattel and hogs plentifully , but to be enabled to supply new england ( then in want ) with such proportions , as were extream reliefs , to them in their necessities . from this industry of theirs and great plenty of corn , ( the main staffe of life ) proceeded that great plenty of cattel and hogs , ( now innumerable ) and out of which not only new england hath been stocked and relieved , but all other parts of the indies inhabited by englishmen . the inhabitants now finding the benefit of their industries , began to look with delight on their increasing stocks : ( as nothing more pleasurable then profit ) to take pride in their plentifully furnished tables , to grow not onely civil , but great observers of the sabbath , to stand upon their reputations , and to be ashamed of that notorious manner of life they had formerly lived and wallowed in . they then began to provide and send home for gospel ministers , and largely contributed for their maintenance ; but virginia savouring not handsomely in england , very few of good conversation would adventure thither , ( as thinking it a place wherein surely the fear of god was not ) yet many came , such as wore black coats , and could babble in a pulpet , roare in a tavern , exact from their parishoners , and rather by their dissolutenesse destroy than feed their flocks . loath was the country to be wholy without teachers , and therefore rather retain these then to be destitute ; yet still endeavours for better in their places , which were obtained , and these wolves in sheeps cloathing , by their assemblies questioned , silenced , and some forced to depart the country . then began the gospel to flourish , civil , honourable , and men of great ●states flocked in : famous buildings went forward , orchards innumerable were planted and preserved ; tradesmen set on work and encouraged , staple commodities , as silk , flax , pot-ashes , &c. of which i shall speak further hereafter , attempted on , and with good successe brought to perfection ; so that this country which had a mean beginning , many back friends , two ruinous and bloody massacres , hath by gods grace out-grown all , and is become a place of pleasure and plenty . and having briefly laid down the former state of virginia , in its infancy , and filth , and the occasion of its scandalous aspersions : i come to my main subject , its present condition and hapinesse ( if any thing can be justly called happy in this transatory life ( otherwise then as blessings which in the well using whereof , a future happinesse may be expected . ) i affi●me the country to be wholesome , healthy and fruitfull ; and a modell on which industry may as much improve it self in , as in any habitable part of the world ; yet not such a lubberland as the fiction of the land of ease , is reported to be , nor such a vtopian as st. thomas moore hath related to be found out . in the countries minority , and before they had well cleared the ground to let in ayre ( which now is otherwise ) many imputed the stifling of the wood to be the cause of such sicknesse ; but i rather think the contrary ; for divers new rivers lately settled , were at their first comming upon them as woody as james rivers , the first place they setled in , and yet those rivers are as healthy as any former setled place in virginia or england it self : i believe ( and that not without reason ) it was only want of such diet as best agreed with our english natures , good drinks and wholesome lodgings were the cause of so much sicknesses , as were formerly frequent , which we have now amended ; and therefore enjoy better healths ; to which i add , and that by experience since my comming into england , and many ( if not all virginians can do the like , ) that change of ayre does much alter the state of our bodies : by which many travellers thither may expect some sickness , yet little danger of mortality . a geographicall description of the country i shall not attempt ( as having littles kill in the mathematicks ) enough of that hath been formerly written ; nor is it a place now to learn to discover . i shall abhor to spirit over any ; but go along with such as are voluntarily desirous to go thither , and lead them with my blunt relation ( for truth knows little of eloquence ) aboard the ships thither bound , and carrying you into the country , shew you the courtesie of the place , the , disposition of the inhabitants , the commodities , and give all sorts of people advice how and where to set down for their present benefit and future accommodation . if any are minded to repair thither , if they are not in a capacity to defray their own charges ( if they are i wish they might and so be at their own disposing ) let them not be seduced by those mercinary spirits that know little of the place , nor aime at any good of theirs , but onely by foysting and flattering them to gain a reward of those they procure them for ; beware them , for it is not only hab nab nab whether ye go to a good service or a bad , but scandalous to your selves to be so seduced , and it were good and very just that such vagabond people were severely punished , as great betrayers of their own nation , for ye cannot imagine but there are as well bad services as good ; but i shall shew ye if any happen into the hands of such crooked dispositions , how to order them and ease your selves , when i come to treat of the justice of the country , which many being ignorant of suffer inconveniences , which by this they may prevent . let such as are so minded not rashly throw themselves upon the voyage , but observe the nature , and enquire the qualities of the persons with whom they ingage to transport themselves , or if ( as not acquainted with such as inhabit there , but go with merchants and mariners , who transport them to others , ) let their covenant be such , that after their arrival they have a fortnights time assigned them to enquire of their master , and make choyce of such as they intend to expire their time with , nor let that brand of selling of servants , be any discouragement to deter any from going , for if a time must be served , it is all one with whom it be served , provided they be people of honest repute , with which the country is well replenished . and be sure to have your contract in writing and under hand and seal , for if ye go over upon promise made to do this or that , or to be free or your own men , it signifies nothing , for by a law of the country ( waving all promises ) any one coming in , and not paying their own passages , must serve if men or women four years , if younger according to their years , but where an inden●ure is , that is binding and observing . the usuall allowance for servants is ( besides their charge of passage defrayed ) at their expiration , a years provision of corne , dubble apparrell , tooles necessary , and land according to the custome of the country , which is an old delusion , for there is no land accustomary due to the servant , but to the master , and therefore that servant is unwise that will not dash out that custom in his covenant , and make that due of land absolutely his own , which although at the present , not of so great consequence ; yet in few years will be of much worth , as i shall hereafter make manifest . when ye go aboard , expect the ship somewhat troubled and in a hurliburly , untill ye cleer the lands end ; and that the ship is rummaged , and things put to rights , which many times discourages the passengers , and makes them wish the voyage unattempted : but this is but for a short season , and washes off when at sea , where the time is pleasantly passed away , though not with such choise plenty as the shore affords . but when ye arrive and are settled , ye will find a strange alteration , an abused country giving the lye in your own approbations to those that have calumniated ir , and these infalable arguments may convince all incredible and obstinate opinions , concerning the goodnesse and delightfulnesse of the country , that never any servants of late times have gone thither ; but in their letters to their friends commend and approve of the place , and rather invite than disswade their acquaintance from comming thither . an other is this , that seldom ( if ever ) any that hath continued in virginia any time , will or do desire to live in england , but post back with what expedition they can ; although many are landed men in england , and have good estates here , and divers wayes of preferments propounded to them , to entice and perswade their continuance . the country is as i said of a temperate nature , the dayes , in summer not so long as in england , in winter longer ; it is somewhat hotter in june , july and august then here , but that heat sweetly allayed by a continual breaze of winde , which never failes to cool and refresh the labourer and traveller ; the cold seldom approaches sencibly untill about christmas , ( although the last winter was hard and the worst i or any living there ever knew ) and when winter comes , ( which is such and no worse then is in england , ) it continues two monthes seldom longer , often not so long and in that time although here seldom hard-weather keep men from labour , yet there no work is done all winter except dressing their own victuals and making of fires . the labour servants are put to , is not so hard nor of such continuance as husbandmen , nor handecraftmen are kept at in england , as i said litle or nothing is done in winter time , none ever work before sun rising nor after sun set , in the summer they rest , sleep or exercise themselves five houres in the heat of the day , saturdays afternoon is alwayes their own , the old holidayes are observed and the sabboath spent in good exercises . the women are not ( as is reported ) put into the ground to worke , but occupie such domestique imployments and houswifery as in england , that is dressing victuals , righting up the house , milking , imployed about dayries , washing , sowing , &c. and both men and women have times of recreations , as much or more than in any part of the world besides , yet som wenches that are nasty , beastly and not fit to be so imployed are put into the ground , for reason tells us , they must not at charge be transported and then mantained for nothing , but those that prove so aukward are rather burthensom then servants desirable or usefull . the country is fruitfull , apt for all and more then england can or does produce , the usuall diet is such as in england , for the rivers afford innumerable sortes of choyce fish , ( if they will take the paines to make wyers or hier the natives , who for a small matter will undertake it , ) winter and summer , and that in many places sufficient to serve the use of man , and to fatten hoggs , water-fowle of all sortes are ( with admiration to be spoken of ) plentifull , and easte to be killed , yet by many degrees more plentifull in some places then in othersome , deare all over the country , and in many places so many , that venison is accounted a tiresom meat , wilde turkeys are frequent , and so large that i have seen some weigh neer threescore pounds ; other beasts there are whose flesh is wholsom and savourie , such are unknowne to us ; and therefore i will not stuffe my book with superfluous , relation of their names ; huge oysters and store in all parts where the salt-water comes . the country is exceedingly replenished with neat cattle , hoggs , goats and tame-fowle , but not many sheep ; so that mutton is somwhat scarce but that defect is supplied with store of venison ; other flesh and fowle , the country is full of gallant orchards , and the fruit generally more luscious and delightfull then here , witnesse the peach and quince , the latter may be eaten raw savourily , the former differs and as much exceeds ours as the best relished apple we have doth the crabb , and of both most excellent and comfortable drinks are made , grapes in infinite manners grow wilde , so do walnuts , smalnuts , chesnuts and abundance of excellent fruits , plums and berries , not growing or known in england ; graine we have , both english and indian for bread and bear , and pease besides english of ten several sorts , all exceeding ours in england , the gallant root of potatoes are common , and so are all sorts of rootes , herbes and garden stuffe . it must needs follow then that diet cannot be scarce , since both rivers and woods affords it , and that such plenty of cattle and hoggs are every where , which yeeld beefe , milk , butter , cheese and other made dishes , porke , bacon , and pigs , and that as sweet and savoury meat as the world affords , these with the help of orchards and gardens , oysters , fish , fowle and venison , certainly cannot but be sufficient for a good deit and wholsom accommodation , considering how plentifully they are , and how easie with industry to be had . beare is indeed in some place constantly drunken , in other some , nothing but water or milk , and water or beverige ; and that is where the goodwives , if i may so call them , are negligent and idle ; for it is not for want of corn to make malt with ( for the country affords enough ) but because they are sloathfull and carelesse : but i hope this item will shame them out of those humours , that they will be adjudged by their drink , what kinde of housewives they are . those servants that will be industrious may in their time of service gain a competent estate before their freedomes , which is usually done by many , and they gaine esteem and assistance that appear so industrious : there is no master almost but will allow his servant a parcell of clear ground to plant some tobacco in for himself , which he may husband at those many idle times he hath allowed him and not prejudice , but rejoyce his master to see it , which in time of shipping he may lay out for commodities , and in summer sell them again with advantage , and get a sow-pig or two , which any body almost will give him , and his master suffer him to keep them with his own , which will be no charge to his master , and with one years increase of them may purchase a cow calf or two , and by that time he is for himself ; he may have cattel , hogs and tobacco of his own , and come to live gallantly ; but this must be gained ( as i said ) by industry and affability , not by sloath nor churlish behaviour . and whereas it is rumoured that servants have no lodging other then on boards , or by the fire side , it is contrary to reason to believe it ; first , as we are christians ; next as people living under a law , which compels as well the master as the servant to perform his duty ; nor can true labour be either expected or exacted without sufficient cloathing , diet , and lodging ; all which both their indentures ( which must inviolably be observed ) and the justice of the country requires . but if any go thither , not in a condition of a servant , but pay his or her passage , which is some six pounds : let them not doubt but it is money well layd out ( yet however let them not fall ( although they carry little else to take a bed along with them , and then few houses but will give them entertainment , either out of curtesie , or on reasonable tearms ; and i think it better for any that goes over free , and but in a mean condition , to hire himself for reasonable wages of tobacco and provision , the first year , provided he happen in an honest house , and where the mistresse is noted for a good housewife , of which there are very many ( notwithstanding the cry to the contrary ) for by that means he will live free of disbursment , have something to help him the next year , and be carefully looked to in his sicknesse ( if he chance to fall sick ) and let him so covenant that exceptions may be made , that he work not much in the hot weather , a course we alwayes take with our new hands ( as they call them ) the first year they come in . if they are women that go after this manner , that is paying their own passage ; i advise them to sojourn in a house of honest repute , for by their good carriage , they may advance themselves in marriage , by their ill , overthow their fortunes ; and although loose persons seldome live long unmarried if free ; yet they match with as desolute as themselves , and never live handsomly or are ever respected . for any that come over free , and are minded to dyet and quarter in another mans house , it matters not whether they know on what term or conditions they are there ; for by an excellent decree , made by sir william berkly , when governour ; ( as indeed he was the author of many good laws : ) it was ordered , that if any inhabitant received any stranger merchant , or border into their houses , and did not condition in writing with him or them so entertained on what tearms he received them , it should be supposed an invitation , an no satisfaction should be allowed or recovered in any court of justice ; thereby giving notice that no stranger coming into the country should be drilled in , or made a purchase of under colour of friendship : but that the inhabitants at first coming shall let them know how they mean to deal with them , that if they like not the terms they may remove themselves at pleasure ; a law so good and commendable , that it is never like to be revoked or altered . now for those that carry over families and estates with a determination to inhabit , my advice is that they neither sojourn for that will be chargeable ; nor on the sudden purchase , for that may prove unfortunate ; but that they for the first year hire a house ( for seats are alwayes to be hired ) and by that means , they will not onely finde content and live at a cheap rate , but be acquainted in the country and learn the worth and goodnesse of the plantation they mean to purchase ; and so not rashly intangle themselves in an ill bargain , or finde where a convenient parcell of land is for their turns to be taken up . yet are the inhabitants generally affable , courteous and very assistant to strangers ( for what but plenty makes hospitality and good neighbour hood ) and no sooner are they settled , but they will be visiting , presenting and advicing the stranger how to improve what they have , how to better their way of livelihood . justice is there duly and daily administred ; hardly can any travaile two miles together , but they will finde a justice , which hath power of himself to hear and determine mean differences , to secure and binde over notorious offenders , of which very few are in the country . in every county are courts kept , every two moneths , and oftener if occasion require , in which courts all things are determined without exceptions ; and if any dislike the proceedings of those courts , they have liberty to appeal to the quarter court , which is four times a year ; and from thence to the assembly , which is once or oftner every year : so that i am confident , more speedy justice and with smaller charge is not in any place to be found . thest is seldome punished ( as being seldome or never committed ; for as the proverb is , where there are no receivers , there are no thieves ; and although doores are nightly left open ( esp●ci●lly in the summer time ) hedges hanging full of cloathes ; plate frequently us ; ed amongst all comers and goers ( and there is good store of plate in many houses ) yet i never heard of any losse ever received either in plate , linnen , or any thing else out of their houses all the time i inhabited there . indeed i have known some suffer for stealing of hogs , ( but not since they have been plentifull ) and whereas hogstealing was once punished with death , it is now made penal , and restitution given very amply to the owner thereof . cases of murther are punished as in england , and juries allowed , as well in criminal causes , as in all other differences between party and party , if they desire it . servants complaints are freely harkened to , and ( if not causlesly made ) their masters are compelled either speedily to amend , or they are removed upon second complaint to another service ; and often times not onely set free , if the abuse merit it , but ordered to give reparation and damage to their servant . the country is very full of sober , modest persons , both men and women , and many that truly fear god and follow that perfect rule of our blessed saviour , to do as they would be done by ; and of such a happy inclination is the country , that many who in england have been lewd and idle , there in emulation or imitation ( for example moves more then precept ) of the industry of those they finde there , not onely grow ashamed of their former courses , but abhor to hear of them , and in small time wipe off those stains they have formerly been tainted with ; yet i cannot but confesse , there are people wicked enough ( as what country is free ) for we know some natures will never be reformed , but these must follow the fryers rule , si non caste , tamen cante ; for if any be known , either to prophane the lords day or his name , be found drunk , commit whoredome , scandalize or disturb his neighbour , or give offence to the world by living suspiciously in any bad courses ; there are for each of these , severe and wholsome laws and remedies made , provided and duly put in execution : i can confidently affirm , that since my being in england , which is not yet four moneths , i have been an eye and ear witnesse of more deceits and villanies ( and such as modesty forbids me to utter ) then i either ever saw or heard mention made of in virginia , in my one and twenty years aboad in those parts . and therefore those that shall blemish virginia any more , do but like the dog bark against the moon , untill they be blind and weary ; and virginia is now in that secure growing condition , that like the moon so barked at , she will passe on her course , maugre all detractors , and a few years will bring it to that glorious happinesse , that many of her calumniators , will intercede to procure admittance thither , when it will be hard to be attained to ; for in smal time , little land will be to be taken up ; and after a while none at all ; and as the mulberry trees grows up , which are by every one planted , tobacco will be laid by , and we shall wholy fall to making of silk ( a sample of l. hath already been sent for england , and approved of ) which will require little labour ; and therefore shall have little use of servants ; besides , children increase and thrive so well there , that they themselves will sufficiently supply the defect of servants : and in small time become a nation of themselves sufficient to people the country : and this good policy is there used ; as the children there born grow to maturity , and capable ( as they are generally very capable and apt ) they are still preferred and put into authority , and carry themselves therein civilly and discretly ; and few there are but are able to give some portions with their daughters , more or lesse , according to their abilities ; so that many comming out of england have raised themselves good fortunes there meerly by matching with maidens born in the country . and therefore i cannot but admire , and indeed much pitty the dull stupidity of people necessitated in england , who rather then they will remove themselves , live here a base , slavish , penurious life ; as if there were a necessity to live and to live so , choosing rather then they will forsake england to stuff new-gate , bridewell , and other , jayles with their carkessies , nay cleave to tyburne it selfe ; and so bring confusion to their souls horror and infamine to their kindred or posteritie , others itch out their wearisom lives in reliance of other mens charities , an uncertaine and unmanly expectation ; some more abhorring such courses betake themselves to almost perpetuall and restlesse toyle and druggeries out of which ( whilst their strength lasteth ) they ( observing hard diets , earlie and late houres ) make hard shif● to subsist from hand to mouth , untill age or sicknesse takes them off from labour and directs them the way to beggerie , and such indeed are to be pittied , relieved and provided for . i have seriously considered when i have ( passing the streets ) heard the several cryes , and noting the commmodities , and the worth of them they have carried and cryed up and down ; how possibly a livelihood could be exacted out of them , as to cry matches , smal-coal , blacking , pen and ink , thred-laces , and a hundred more such kinde of trifling merchandizes ; then looking on the nastinesse of their linnen habits and bodies : i conclude it gain sufficient could be raised out of them for subsistance ; yet their manner of living was degenerate and base ; and their condition to be far below the meanest servant in virginia ▪ the other day , i saw a man heavily loaden with a burden of faggots on his back , crying , dry faggots , dry faggots ; he travailed much ground , bawled frequently , and sweat with his burthen : but i saw none buy any , neer three houres i followed him , in which time he rested , i entered into discourse with him , offered him drink , which he thankfully accepted of ( as desirous to learn the mistery of his trade ) i enquired what he got by each burden when sold ? he answered me three pence : i further asked him what he usually got a day ? he replyed , some dayes nothing some dayes six pence ; some time more , but seldome ; me thought it was a pittifull life , and i admired how he could live on it ; and yet it were dangerous to advise these wretches to better their conditions by travaile , for fear of the cry of , a spirit , a spirit . the country is not only plentifull but pleasant and profitable , pleasant in regard of the brightnesse of the weather , the many delightfull rivers , on which the inhabitants are settled ( every man almost living in sight of a lovely river ) the abundance of game , the extraordinary good neighbour-hood and loving conversation they have one with the other . pleasant in their building , which although for most part they are but one story besides the loft , and built of wood , yet contrived so delightfull , that your ordinary houses in england are not so handsome , for usually the rooms are large , daubed and whitelimed , glazed & flowered , and if not gl●zed windows , shutters which are made very pritty and convenient . pleasant in observing their stocks and flockes of cattle , hoggs , and poultry , grazing , whisking and skipping in their sights , pleasant in having all things of their own , growing or breeding without drawing the peny to send for this and that , without which , in england they cannot be supplyed . the manner of living and trading there is thus , each man almost lives a free-holder , nothing but the value of . d. a year to be paid as rent , for every . acrees of land ; firing cost nothing every man plants his own corne and neede take no care for bread : if any thing be bought , it is for comodity , exchanged presently , or for a day , payment is usuall made but once a year , and for that bill taken ( for accounts are not pleadable . ) in summer when fresh meat will not keep ( seeing every man kils of his own , and quantities are inconvenient , they lend from one to another , such portions of flesh as they can spare , which is repaied again when the borrowers kils his . if any fall sick , and cannot compasse to follow his crope which if not followed , will soon be lost , the adjoyning neighbour , will either voluntarily or upon a request joyn together , and work in it by spels , untill the honour recovers , and that gratis , so that no man by sicknesse loose any part of his years worke . let any travell , it is without charge , and at every house is entertainment as in a hostery , and with it hearty welcome are stranger entertained . in a word , virginia wants not good victual , wants not good dispositions , and as god hath freely bestowed it , they as freely impart with it , yet are there aswel bad natures as good . the profit of the country is either by their labour , their stockes , or their trades . by their labours is produced corne and tobacco , and all other growing provisions , and this tobacco however now low-rated , yet a good maintenance may be had out of it , ( for they have nothing of necessity but cloathing to purchasse ) or can this mean price of tobacco long hold , for these reasons , first that in england it is prohibited , next that they have attained of late those sorts equall with the best spanish , thirdly that the sicknesse in holland is decreasing , which hath been a great obstruction to the sail of tobacco . and lastly , that as the mulbery tree grows up , tobacco will be neglected and silke , flax , two staple commodities generally fallen upon . of the increase of cattle and hoggs , much advantage is made , by selling biefe , porke , and bacon , and butter &c. either to shipping , or to send to the barbadoes , and other islands , and he is a very poor man that hath not sometimes provision to put off . by trading with indians for skine , beaver , furres and other commodities oftentimes good profits are raised ; the indians are in absolute subjection to the english , so that they both pay tribute to them and receive all their severall king from them , and as one dies they repair to the english for a successor so that none neede doubt it a place of securitie . several ways of advancement there are and imployments both for the learned and laborer , recreation for the gentry , traffique for the adventurer , congregations for the ministrie ( and oh that god would stir , up the hearts of more to go over , such as would teach good doctrine , and not paddle in faction , or state matters ; they could not want maintenance , they would find an assisting , an imbracing , a conforming people . ) it is knowne ( such preferment hath this country rewarded the industrious with ) that some from being wool-hoppers and of as mean and meaner imployment in england have there grown great merchants , and attained to the most eminent advancements the country afforded . if men cannot gaine ( by diligence ) states in those parts . ) i speake not only mine owne opinion , but divers others , and something by experience ) it will hardly be done ( unlesse by meere lucke as gamsters thrive , and other accidentals in any other part whatsoever . now having briefly set down the present state of virginia not in fiction , but in realitie , i wish the juditious reader to consider what dislike can be had of the country , or upon what grounds it is so infamously injured , i only therein covet to stop those blackmouthed babblers , that not only have and do abuse so noble a plantation , but abuse gods great blessing in adding to england so flourishing a branch , in perswading many souls , rather to follow desparate and miserable courses in england , then to ingage in so honorable an undertaking as to travile and inhabite there : but to those i shall ( if admonition will not worke on their recreant spirits ) only say . let him that is filthie be filthie still . mary-lands additions . having for . yeare served virginia the elder sister , i casting my eye on mary-land the younger , grew in amoured on her beauty , resolving like jacob when he had first served for leah , to begin a fresh service for rachell . two year and upward have i enjoyed her company with delight and profit , but was enforced by reason of her unnatural disturbances to leave her weeping for her children & would not be comforted , because they were not ; yet will i never totally forsake or be beaten off from her . twice hath she been deflowred by her own inhabitants , stript , shorne and made deformed ; yet such a naturall fertility and comelinesse doth she retain that she cannot but be loved , but be pittied ; and although she would ever have vailed to virginia as her elder , yet had not these two fatall mischiefs hapened , she would ere long have spread her self as largly , and produced as much in every respect as virginia does or could doe . mary-land is a province not commonly knowne in england , because the name of virginia includes or clouds it , it is a country wholy belonging to that honorable gentleman the lord of baltamore , granted him by pattent under the broad seal of england long since , and at his charge settled , granted for many reasons , and this for one ; that virginia having more land then they could manure or look after inconvenient time , first the duch came and tooke from the english much land which they still hold , next the swead , who intrenched neerer and had not this pattent came and prevented it , dutch , swead , french & other strangers had pend up our nation with in the bounds of virginia , whereas now they have now all mary-land , as it were their own , it being only granted for the use of brittaines and irish . it is ( not an island as is reported , but ) part of that maine adjoyning to virginia , only separated or parted from virginia , by a river of ten miles broad , called patomack river , the commodities and manner of living as in virginia , the soyle somewhat more temporate ( as being more northerly ) many stately and navigable rivers are contained in it , plentifully stored with whol some springs , a rich and pleasant soile , and so that its extraordinary goodnes hath made it rather desired then envied , which hath been fatall to her ( as beauty is often times to those that are endued with it ) and that the reader may thoroughly be informed how she hath suffered . i shall in brief relate , and conclude . it is to be understood that in the time of the late king ; virginia being whol for monarchy , and the last country belonging to england that submitted to obedience of the common-wealth of england . and there was in virginia a certaine people congregated into a church , calling themselves independents , which daily encreasing , severall consulations were had by the state of that coloney , how to suppresse and extinguish them , which was daily put in execution , as first their pastor was banished , next their other teachers , then many by informatiōs clapt up in prison , then generally difarmed ) wch was very harsh in such a country where the heathen live round about them ) by one colonel samuel mathews then a counsellor in virginia and since agent for virginia to the then parliament , and lastly in a condition of banishment , so that they knew not in those streights how to dispose of themselves . mary-land ( my present subject ) was courted by them as a refuge , the lord proprietor and his governor solicited to , and several addresses and treaties made for their admittance & entertainment into that province , their conditions were pittied , their propositions were harkened to and agree on , which was that they should have convenient portion of land assigned them , libertie of conscience and priviledge to choose their owne officers , and hold courts within themselves , all was granted them , they had a whole county of the richest land in the province asigned them , & such as themselves made choyce of , the conditions of plantations ( such as were common to all adventurers ) were shewed and propounded to them , which they extreamly approved of , and nothing was in those conditions exacted from them , but appeales to the provincial court , quit-rents , and an oath of fidelitie to the proprietor : an assembly was called thoroughout the whole country after their comming over ( consisting aswell of themselves as the rest ) and because there were some few papists that first inhabited these themselves , and others of being different judgments , an act passed that all professing in jesus christ should have equall justice , priviledges and benefits in that province , and that none on penaltie ( mentioned ) should disturb each other in their several professions , nor give the urging termes , either of round-heads , sectarie , independent , jesuit , papist , &c. intending an absolute peace and union ; the oath of fidelitie ( although none other then such as every lord of a manner requires from his tenant ) was over hauled , and this clause added to it ( provided it infring not the libertie of the conscience . ) they sat downe joyfully , followed their vocations chearfully , trad increased in their province , and divers others were by this incouraged and invited over from virginia . but these people finding themselves in a capacitie not only to capitulate , but to oversway , those that had so received and relieved them . began to pick quarrells , first with the papists , next with the oath , and lastly declared their aversness to all conformalitie , wholy ayming ( as themselves since confessed ) to deprive the lord proprietor of all his interest in that country , and make it their own : with unworthinesse ? what ingratitude ? with unparalled inhumanitie was in these practices made obvious . amongst others that became tenants in this aforesaid distress was one richard bennet merchant , who seated and settled amongst them , and so ( not only owed obedience to that government , but ) was obliged as a man received in his pretended distresse , to be a gratfull benefactor upon the setting forth of a fleet intended for the reducement of virginia , the the said bennet and one claiborne ( a pestilent enemie to the wel-faire of that province and the lord proprietor , although he had formerly submissively acknowledged he owed his forfeited life to the said proprietor , for dealing so favorably with him for his misdemeanors , as by his treacherous letters under his hand ( now in print ) is manifest , and many other acts of grace conferred on him , having a commission directed to them and others ( who miscarried by sea ) to reduce virginia ( not mary-land , for they were in obedience to the common-wealth of england , and great assistance to the said fleet ) although they knew mary-land to be excluded and dasht out of their commission , yet because the commission mentioned the bay of chesapeack ( in which mary-land was ( as well as virginia ) yet they were resolved to wreth and stretch their commission to the prejudice of mary-land and becomming abbetters and confederats with those serpents that have been so taken in , presumed to alter the government and take away the governours commission , putting in others in their place , viz. a papist in cheife , and one more , who misgoverning the country , they were excluded , and the former governor restored with an addition of commissioners of their owne creatures , and as taking power from them , untill further knowledge from england , driving herein at their own interest . the governour ( so restored ) being truly informed that their proceedings were illegal ; held courts and proceeds as if no such alteration had been made , issues out writs ( according to order ) in the name of the lord proprietor , but they require and command them to do it in the name of the keepers of the liberties of england , according to act of parliament , to which answer sufficient was given , that they never were in opposition to the present power , they had taken the engagement , & for the tenure or form of writs , they were not compelled by vertue of that act to make them other wise then they always had done , for by patent from the late k. they had power to issue out in the proprietors name , and never had used the kings name at all , therefore that act requiring all writs formerly issuing out in the late kings name , now to revolve to the keepers of the liberties of england , was no way binding to them , who had never used the kings name at all . but it was not religion , it was not punctilios they stood upon , it was that sweete , that rich , that large country they aimed at ; and therefore agrees amongst themselves to frame petitions , complaints , and subscriptions from those bandetoes to themselves ( the said bennet and claiborne ) to ease them of their pretended sufferings , and then come with arms , and againe make the province their own , exalting themselves in all place of trust and command , totally expulsing the governer , and all the hospitable proprietors , officers out of their places . but when his highnesse ( not acquainted with these matchinations ) had owned and under his hand and signet acknowledged cap. will. stone ( the former governor ) governor for the lord baltamore of his province of mary-land , he again endeavored to reasume the government , and fetched away the records from those usurpers , proclaimed peace to all not obstinate , and favorably received many submissive , who with seeming joy returned , bewailling their unworthy ingratitude & inhumanitie , blaming the unbridled ambition and base averice of those that had misled them . the province consists of foure counties already inhabited , viz. st. maries , calverton , an arundal and kent . st. maries and calverton submitted , an arundall and part of kent opposed . the governor desirous to reclaim those opposing , takes a partie about . persons with him , and sailes into those parts , one roger heamans who had a great ship under him , and who had promised to be instrumentall to the governor , to wind up those differences ( being judas like , hired to joyn with those opposing countries ) and having the governour and his vessells within reach of his ordnance , perfidiously & contrary to his undertaking and ingagments , fires at them and enforces them to the first shore to prevent that mischief . the next morning he sends messengers to those of an arundall to treat , and messengers aboard that shittle-cock heamans , but all were detained ; and on the . of march last ( being the next day and the lords day ) about . and odd of kent and anne arundall came marching against them , heaman fires a pace at them , and a small vessel of new-england under the command of one john cutts comes neere the shore and seazes the boats , provision and amunition belonging to the governour and his partie , and so in a nick , in a streight were they fallen upon . the governour being shot in many places yeilds on quarter , which was granted ; but being in hold , was threatned ( notwithstanding that quarter given ) to be imediatly executed , unlesse he would writ to the rest to take quarter , which upon his request they did , twentie odd were killed in this skirmish , and all the rest prisoners on quarter , who were disarmed & taken into custodie . but these formerly distressed supplicants for admittance , being now become high and mighty states , and supposing their conquest unquestionable , consult with themselves ( notwithstanding their quarter given ) to make their conquest more absolute , by cutting off the heads of the province , viz. the governor , the counsel and commanders thereof : and so make themselves a counsel of war , and condemn them to death : foure were presently executed , scilicet , mr. william stone-head , one of the councel ; capt. william lewis , mr. john legate gentleman , and john pedro ; the rest at the importunity of some women , and resolution of some of their souldiers ( who would not suffer their designe to take thorough effect , as being pricked in conscience for their ingratitudes ) were saved , but were amerced , fined and plundred at their pleasures : and although this was prophetiquely foreseen by diverse eminent merchants of london , who petitioned his highnesse for prevention , and that his highnesse sent a gracious command to bennet , and all others , not to disturb the lord baltamores officers , nor people in mary-land , but recalled all power or pretence of power from them ; yet they still hold , and possesse ( in defiance of so sacred a mandate ) the said province of mary-land , and sent an impious agent home to parlie whilest they plundred ; but he hath long since given up his account to the great avenger of all injuries : although sticklers ( somewhat more powerfull , but by many degrees more brazen fac't then his spirit could bare him forth to appear ) now labour to justifie these inhumanities , disorders , contempts , and rebellions ; so that i may say with the prophet jeremiah ; how doth the citty sit solitary that was full of people ? how is she become as a widdow ? she that was great amongst the nations , and princesse amongst the provinces ? how is she become tributary . thus have they brought to desolation , one of the happiest plantations that ever englishmen set foot in , and such a country ( that if it were again made formall ) might harbor in peace and plenty all such as england shall have occasion to disburthen , or desire to forsake england . a pious consideration of these distractions is by his highnesse taking notice of , and these controversies are by him referred to the hearing , and report of those two honourable and judicious gentlemen the lords whitlock and widdrington , whose pains and moderation in hearing , and mildly disputing indifferently the condition of these uproars , gives not onely hopes of relief , but have added to their renowns , by all those that ( as observed ) have been present at the severall hearings , an account whereof will ere long be published in print . upon determination whereof , it must be concluded that a settlement will follow , and then many families will flock over to inhabit these ruines , the fertility of the province will ( in short time ) make good ( excepting the blood spilt which can never be recalled nor satisfied for . ) let this be no discouragment to any to goe over , for it will now be more firmly settled then ever , and so throughly , setled that neither envy nor deceipt can again ever shake it . and being so setled , i know no country ( although i have travelled many ) that i more affect , more esteem , that which profits delights , and here is both absolute profit , reall delight ; i shall forget my undertaking in the beginning of my booke , which was not to over extall the country : for should i indeed give it its due commendations , i should seem to be suborn'd ; but in few words , it is that country in which i desire to spend the remnant of my dayes , in which i covet to make my grave . this i have not written for profit , for it is known i have given away the copy , and therefore am the less to be mistrusted for a deluder , for popular applause i did it not , for in this pregnant age , my lines appear so harsh and disordered , that i would not have affixed my name to it , but in obedience to those commands that so require it , and to prevent the imputation of a libeller , the maine drift and scope i have herein aim●d at , is to discover virginia and mary-land , and stand up in their just defences when caluminated , to let many that pine in england know , they are to their ruines deluded , that are frighted from going thither , if their wayes of livelihood be not certaine in england . post-script . a word to the governour and counsell in virginia . gentlemen , as i have done your country of virginia justice in standing up in its defence , so i expect and entreat the like from you : i know ye are honest and understand your selves ; i cannot except nor speake against any of ye , but will . claiborne , whom ye all know to be a villaine , but it is no more blemish to your degree , to have him of your societie , then it was to the apostles to have iudas of theirs , i have had injury by him by palpable cousinages done me , as i shal one day demonstrate . but for the decree of your court against one captaine thomas thoroughgood , late commander of the shipp cressent . i desire you to consider of it again and reverse it for these reasons following . i was an inhabitant of mary-land of two years standing , proscribe to die by the rebells of the bay . i fled disguised to virginia , came a bord his ship by an unknowne name , made my condition , not my person known to him , and he charitably brought me for england , otherewise i had causlesly been put to death . for which letters certifies us in england , that ye have amersed him in deep penalties , by an acted of assembly made against masters or commanders of ships that shall carrie away any of the inhabitants of your colonie without a pass . first , know i was no inhabitant of virginia , but mary-land , a government ye have nothing to doe with . next i came with my governours consent , captaine william stone who in england justifies captain thoroughgoods bringing me home : and here i must and will abide such censure or vindication as the supreame power of england shall find me to have merited ; and therfore i humbly request ye to peruse and reverse that order against him for bringing me for england . i shall hereafter give such an account to virginia of my actions from time to time , that they shall be fully satisfied ; i never deserved the least injurie either from any government , nor any private person , since i first inhabited there . but that shall be a subject particular : and a peece not usefull in england , but only to scatter in virginia amongst my friends , whos good opinion i covet , and that they may know in many odiums i have been wronged , and that i am the man that have seene affliction . finis . obseruations to be followed, for the making of fit roomes, to keepe silk-wormes in as also, for the best manner of planting of mulbery trees, to feed them. published by authority for the benefit of the noble plantation in virginia. bonoeil, john. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) obseruations to be followed, for the making of fit roomes, to keepe silk-wormes in as also, for the best manner of planting of mulbery trees, to feed them. published by authority for the benefit of the noble plantation in virginia. bonoeil, john. p. imprinted by felix kyngston, at london : . by john bonoeil. "a valuation of the commodities growing and to be had in virginia", p. -end. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data 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characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sericulture -- early works to . mulberry -- virginia -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion observations to be followed , for the making of fit roomes , to keepe silk-wormes in : as also , for the best manner of planting of mulbery trees , to feed them . pvblished by avthority for the benefit of the noble plantation in virginia . at london , imprinted by felix kyngston . . advice for making of convenient roomes to lodge silk-wormes in , and for the most commodious planting of mulbery trees , to haue the best leafe to feed them . because that these two things , first , the making of lodgings for the silk-wormes : secondly , the abundant planting of the best mulbery trees in a requisite distance one from another , whereby to haue the best leafe to feed the wormes , require some good time for the due preparation of them : therefore that no time be lost for so great and so gainfull a businesse , ( the profits whereof will be most certaine , and that with small charge , after that these two prouisions are once for all well accommodated ) we send you these necessary instructions aforehand , till you receiue a booke which shortly shall be purposely printed for you and store sent , to teach all there , the exact vsage and ordering of silk-wormes , the skill whereof may soone bee learned , and presently put in practice . of these two preparations then , which require some length of time to fit them , the first is , that you must make the lodgings and rooms for the silk-wormes , so commodiously and conueniently for them , as they may easily doe their worke , to yeeld you abundance of silke : which is but a vaine hope , if you lodge them in a place vnproper , and contrary to their nature . the chambers for to lodge and bring vp the silk-wormes in , must bee made spacious , lightsome , pleasant , neate , and wholesome , farre from ill sents , damps , fogs , and humidities : warme in cold , and cold in hot weather : they must not be lodged in the lowest roome neere the ground , nor yet in the vppermost roome neere the tiles , because of the distempers of these two contrary situations : the lowest roome may be too moyst , and the vppermost too windy , too hot , or too cold for them , according to the seasons . neuerthelesse , the lower roome is the better of the two , and may bee borne withall , if the floore be dry and boorded , and that vpon it you erect one onely single stage for the wormes , three or foure foot high from the floore , for the auoyding of cold dampes and moystures , and so as there bee too , one roome aboue it close boorded , to the end the silk-wormes may be still placed farre off from the tiles , which being neere them , are alwayes hurtfull to them , because that the winde and the cold pierceth thorow them , and the heat of the sunne is there also insupportable , when it lights vpon the roofe in his full force . thatched roofes are also naught for them , because they harbour mice and rats in them , which are great deuourers of the wormes . the most proper and commodious roomes for the silk-wormes then , are middle chambers , which must be spared for thē two months only in the spring : or else if your house-roome be too straight , you must build new lodgings expresly for them , in which they will soone quit the cost , and that durably after ; but otherwise to expect profits of them in bad roomes , will not be worth your labour . you must cast the proportion for their roomes after this manner : the silk-wormes comming of ten ounces of seed , to be kept and fed well at ease for the best profit , must haue a middle chamber of forty two foot in length , eighteene foot in bredth , and twelue foot in heighth ; and for more or lesse wormes you keepe , ground your selfe thereafter , vpon this proportion . the houses wherein you keepe them , would be situated in a good , cleere , dry ayre , for moysture is a great enemy vnto them : the chambers wherein you feed them , must haue casement windowes to open and shut on both sides the roome , being opposite one against being blacke , is greater , and better to taste , than that of the white , which is lushious ; besides all this , the blacke is of farre slower growth than the white mulbery tree . of the white mulbery tree there are manifestly knowne three kinds , which neuerthelesse are onely distinguished by the diuers colours of the fruit , which are white , blacke , and red , and seuerally brought forth by seuerall trees : all which three sorts , notwithstanding the difference of the colour of the fruit , beare but one name of the white mulbery tree . these three sorts resemble all one another , both in leaues which they bring forth , all of a meane greatnesse , and a smooth feeling , the wood of all being yellow within , and the difference onely to be knowne by the fruit , as aforesaid . the blacke mulbery tree leafe makes grosse and course silke ; but the white mulbery tree leafe makes fine , & high-prized , ( for according to the finenesse of the leafe , will the finenesse and goodnesse of the silke be : ) therefore alwayes where it is in your power to make the best choyce , store your selfe with the white mulbery tree ; which as it is farre better than the blacke , so also it springeth faster , growing more in two yeeres , than the blacke in sixe . yet among the three sorts of white mulbery trees , there is choyce also to be made ; for by the searching of some it hath been found , that the leaues comming of that white mulbery tree which beares the blacke berries , are 〈◊〉 than any of the other white mulbery trees , bearing either the white , or the red berry . wherefore if it bee possible , furnish your ground onely of this kinde , that the food of the silk-worme , and so withall , your silke may be the more exquisite . next to this , is the white mulbery tree , bearing the white berry , which some ( according as there are diuers fancies ) holds to be the better : neuerthelesse the former is generally held the best . aboue all , keepe no tree in your mulbery yard , which beares leaues very much indented ; for it is neither of so great substance , nor yeelds so much food as that which hath lesse nickes : but yet this tree will be made good by grafting vpon it . hauing chosen your best plant of the white mulbery tree bearing blacke berries , the next choise to be made , is of fitte ground to plant them in . secondly , to haue wholesome and profitable foode for your wormes , you must plant them in such a soile as is best fitting for your vine , namely , not in too fat a ground , nor yet in too barren and leane , but in a middling soile : rather in a drie than a moist , in a light than a heauy , in a grauelly than a clay . for the quantity of the leaues , true it is , the farre and rich ground is the best , but not for the quality ; for the leaner ground breed the leafe , of the most profitable and perfect nourishment : the mulbery tree hauing that in common with the vine , which brings the best wine in the like soile to this ; so then the lighter ground brings forth the more exquisite , delicate , and sauoury leafe for the foode of the silke-worme , and the fat ground a more ranke , grosse , flash , and vnsauory leafe , which being an vnwholesome kind , seldome fadges well with the worme or neuer , vnlesse it be helped by an excellent good season : whereas the leafe of the leaner and midling soyle , neuer fayles the effecting of your desired purpose . the leafe of the mulbery will be then well qualified as is fitting , if you plant them in an indifferent soyle , somewhat dry , far from springs of water , and from bogges , and from watry and foggy places ; prouided also , that they be exposed to the sunne , and kept as much as may be from the annoyance of the north and east windes : for with the vine too , the mulbery hates a cold , shady , and watry situation . and though the vine and the mulbery bring forth more in a fat strong ground then in a leaner , yet so it is , that the little of the fruite of the leaner ground being delicate , is more esteemed and of better price , than the abundance of that out of the fatter soyle , which is coorse and grosse . the third thing , is to shew the best time and order to plant and remooue the mulbery tree , and at what age the leafe is good . considering there be such store of growne mulbery trees , small and great in virginia to be taken vp , nothing shall be said now of planting the suckers or branches , nor yet of sowing the mulbery seede ( which though it be the slowest , yet it is held a sure and a good way ) but we will onely aduise you to take choyce of such well-growne mulberies , as may soonest bring profit by their forward flourishing . experience teaches , that the leaues of the olde mulbery trees are farre more healthfull for the worme , and more profitable than those of the young ones , in case they be still vigorous and not falne into extreme decay through age : the mulbery tree , as in many things , being in this also like to the vine , which brings better wine olde than young . and as the vine begins to beare good wine after the seuen or eyght first yeeres of his planting , so likewise the mulbery tree in the same age , brings forth so good leafage , wherof you may be sure to reape certaine profit . the time and manner of remoouing of the mulbery tree , is much after the fashion of others : you may remooue and plant the mulbery in september , october , nouember , december , february , march , or aprill , and in ianuary too if it be not frosty weather . take them vp in faire weather , being neither frosty nor hotte , with such care and curiousnesse that you may haue all the rootes whole and intire , without any being broken or bruised if it bee possible : which to doe , you must neither spare cost , nor paines , nor must you want patience , which is necessary for this action , for feare lest through rude hastinesse and carelesnesse , your trees ill taken vp , prooue lost charge and labour . before you take them vp , head them , cutting off all their branches , leauing some forked armes of them onely with snags , of such length as is fitting for new growth , as vsually is done in remouing of other trees . to doe well , three moneths at least before you remoue them , you must make holes in the earth ready digged for them , where you minde to set them . the longer the holes are digged before you set them , be it a whole yeere , so much the better ; for the more the earth is seasoned and prepared by the weather , the easier the trees take rooting , and draw the better nourishment from the earth . but if necessity constraine you to dig the holes at the same instant that you are to plant them , then must you burne some small wood , bushes , or straw in the holes , that the fire may supply the want of the sunne and the frost , for the fit preparing of the earth : if otherwise , you must not fill vp the holes with that earth which was taken out of thē , but with other seasoned earth , pared and taken onely from the very top of the ground , which is better seasoned by the sunne than that raw earth which lyeth deeper . the holes must bee made very large and wide for them , for to containe the roots at full ease ; you may be sure you cannot make them too big . the rootes must be set as deepe in the ground , as they were then when they were taken vp ; so shall you plant them after their naturall manner , which is best , neither too deepe , not too shallow . there must be left halfe a foot of small loose earth in the bottome of the hole , to set the roots vpon ; which earth , if it bee not well prepared before by the weather , must bee taken from the top of the ground , and by this means , they will the easier and sooner take root downward . the roots must be set downe easily , and put into the earth as neere as may bee , to the same site and naturall posture that they were when they were growing , taking heed that in placing them , you make not the roots to presse and crosse one vpon another : wherefore see that you couer the roots well , and handsomly , putting betweene them all soft and fine earth , pressing it downe , and couering them by little and little patiently with the hand , and not treading them with the feet , or vsing rammers , and beaters , as some doe , which spoyleth them , but filling them vp rather , and kneading the earth about them gently with the hand , as is said ; beginning first from the lowest roots , and so going on to the middlemost , and then at last to the highest , till the ground be leuelled . so shall all the roots be couered , without any hollownesse being left betweene them ; for this closenesse keepes the roots from taking wind , and from water standing about them , which rots them . if in the negligent taking vp , part of the roots be vnbarked , bruised , or broken , that part must be cut off before you plant it , and you must put earth close about that place which is thus hurt , that water and ayre come not betweene it and the earth , to rot it . to haue your mulbery trees grow big , and faire spred , you must shred off some two inches of the tops of all the branches round about , and especially to cut the master bough of the stocke , in lopping the top of the tree , so as in the whole height of the growth , the tree bee not aboue sixe , or seuen foot high from the ground : for keeping your trees alwayes at that height by shredding them , they will spread the more : for the substance going backe , will be imployed in nourishing of the stocke ; whereas if you let the branches grow at will , there will be much ranke and vnprofitable wood . the fourth poynt requisite for the goodnesse of the mulbery leafe , is , the regard to be had in the planting of them in fit distance and space one from another , whereby the sunne may come euery way freely to them , to giue you a well-concocted and wholsome fine leafe for your silkworms . the more space of ground the mulbery tree hath freely by himselfe , and the more frankly the ayre and sunne comes to it , the greater it growes , and brings the better leaues . therefore if you will make , as it were , whole forrests and woods of the mulbery trees , you must plant them in a straight line , and comely figure of a quincunx , euery tree being distant one from another euery way , at least foure and twenty or thirty foot . or otherwise , hauing such store of mulbery trees as you haue somewhere in virginia , you may take vp all trees betweene them , that hinder this distance from thirty foot , to thirty foot , that the sunne may come throughly to them . but if you will plant them in rankes in the hedges , and out-borders of your plough-lands , or other grounds , then may you plant them neerer together , yet alwayes without pressing them too neere one another ; for that is euer to the hurt of the tree , and the losse of the owner . but considering that the onely out-skirts of arable lands , vineyards , and other parts of your demeane lands , though indifferently large , are not sufficient to containe mulbery trees in so great a number , as is fitting to feed the wormes in abundance ; and for that on the other side , the leaues of the trees which are in the thickets and woods , are not so good and wholsome for them , as those that are set in due space in the out-borders , because the other neither haue sun , nor winde at will : a meane betweene these two extremes is found , conueniently to plant the mulbery trees for the profit of good leafage , and yet without much hindering the tillage and vse of good land . and this is to plant the trees amidst your grounds by line and leuell in double rowes , one single rowe being euen distant from the other sixteene foot , and so likewise euery tree to be set in the same distance from one another ; which being thus planted , the two rowes on each side make one faire alley . and you must dispose these allies on this manner ; namely , both along , and acrosse the field , the one alley thwarting and intercrossing the other , leauing on the outsides on them great empty squares of ground , euery square containing an acre , or more , as a man pleaseth , for to sow corne there , which may bee reaped , without being trod downe by the gatherers of the leaues ; for when they gather the leaues , they shall tread only on the allies , or neere them ; which allies taking vp but small roome , there will be but little losse of ground , either for your come , or for other vses . you must also plant the trees in these allies in such sort , that they be not set iust right ouer one against another , lest they be pestered together , but set a tree of one row , still against the empty space of the other row : so shall they haue roome and aire enough to grow lustily and freshly , hauing thus the benefit of the sun , which will alwayes come most freely vpon them , especially vpon the open sides of the great squares . in which squares you may , if you will , conueniently sow corne , specially o●es , and field pease , or such like ; which though they be trodden downe in the gathering of the leaues , yet can they haue no great hurt , by reason that the blades of these graines will bee then backwards , and they will rise againe , though they be beaten down to the ground ; so wil not wheat , rye , nor barly , which for that reason would not be sowne in your mulbery-yard , but vpon necessity . there is another commodity comes also of ploughing your mulbery grounds : for the mulbery tree prospers much better in the loose ploughed or digged ground , then in the hard cloddy medowes and pastures , so as you take heed lest in ploughing or digging about them , you hurt not the rootes . in the same squares you may also plant vines , where they will profit , as being not much hindered by the shade of the trees ; or you may , if you had rather , haue medowes or pastures in them , after the trees haue had foure or fiue yeeres rooting , so as you dig the earth loose about the roots , and sometimes dung them . in this sort , without hindering your demeanes better , than any other way , neere to your house ( for so is most fitting ) may you plant your mulbery yards with great profit , both for the goodnes of the leaf , & for the pleasure and beauty which will be in the walkes , in which also if you please , you may sow , or set somewhat , that may bee for vse and profit , and quit the cost of labouring the ground . now you must not content your selfe in planting a few ; for the mulbery trees being the maine foundation of this reuenue , that must be the chiefest thing whereat you must aime , for to plant so great a quantity of them , and so soone , that in a short time you may reape the sweetnesse of this rich profit to your contentment . those that are perfectly experienced in this businesse , aduise a man by all meanes to haue as great abundance of mulbery trees as is possible , and for one that is a good husband to reape good profit , they prescribe the quantity of two or three thousand trees ; for with a lesse number a man that will bee a master of this worke , ought not to enterprise this businesse ; for here is no question of good profit which must grow out of a sufficient number of trees . therefore it is necessary to imploy this worke heere in a great volume , or else the play will hardly be worth the candle . it is onely for women wantonly to keepe a few silk-wormes , with a few mulbery trees , more for pleasure , than for profit . so then , if you minde to be very rich indeed in this commodity , you must not stay at that number of trees aboue-named , but alwayes still augment your mulbery yard , adding thereto certaine hundreds of trees yeerly , both for feeding plenty of wormes , and also for the succour of the trees , whereof you shall doe well to let some part of them euery yeere rest vnleaued ; as lands that bee fallow , to haue them in better hart . now the profit rising by the leaues , is thus estimated : a thousand waight of mulbery leaues , is sufficient to feed an ounce of seed in silk-wormes : and an ounce of seed , if the race in goodnes , the conuenience of the lodging , the perfectnesse of the leafe , and the seasonable time for the worke of the silkwormes , and the carefull diligence of the gouernour , all agree together , ( for there must be a consort of all these ) then ( i say ) an ounce of good seed , makes easily fiue or sixe pound of silke , which what it is worth euery one knowes . and this thousand waight of leaues , some twenty , or fiue & twenty trees of a meane size , will alwayes bring forth . yea a much lesse number of trees sufficeth for so much waight , if they bee old and great . as there are some mulbery trees in some places neere auignion , so large and so abundant in branches , that one tree will furnish leaues sufficient to feed an ounce of seed . the cost and charge of the businesse yeerly , is thus rated in france , a fourth of the totall defrayes it all , and so there remaines three parts of cleere reuenue to the owner . besides this profit of silke to be made of the mulbery tree , which is of infinite commodity alone ; it is also good for many other singular vses . by tryall made , it hath been found , that the barke of the white mulbery tree makes good linnen cloth , and cordage . the wood also is good to make hoopes for tubs and barrels , and it is fit for all ioyners worke , and for any vse that is yeelding and pliant : it is also good about ships and botes : the boughs shred off , are excellent for conies : the berries are much desired of poultry , and is good feed for them ; and the leaues , all that fall of themselues to the ground in the end of summer , being laid by in some place , and taken thence day by day , as you need , and giuen boyled to swine , keepe them in good state , and begin to put them into flesh . these , and diuers other commodities come of this excellent tree ; which aboue all others therefore , you must preserue and multiply still in virginia . to this abouesaid shall be added and taught the way how to make silk-wormes , which is reported by some , the experiment whereof is so much the more necessary to bee tryed , because there is great danger in carrying of the silk-wormes seed , so long a iourney by sea to virginia . for the sea is much contrary to the nature of the silk-worme seed , and easily corrupts it , by reason of the moysture , and cold rawnesse , especially carried in winter time ; and therefore it is very hard to send it by sea in his perfection . now then , besides the gathering together of the naturall silk-wormes , said to bee in virginia , ( which out of all question must needs bee the best , both for worke , and for to haue good race of seed from them ) you shall doe well to try this experiment commended by some authors . in the spring time , shut vp a young calfe in a little darke and dry stable , and there feed it onely with mulbery leaues some twenty dayes , meane while let it not drinke at all , nor eate any other thing ; at the end of this time , kill it by strangling , and put it whole into a tub , to rot there , and couer it all ouer with mulbery leaues : out of the corruption of this carcase , come forth abundance of silk-wormes , which you may take vp with the mulbery leaues , they fastening themselues vnto them ; these fed and handled according to art and common fashion , in their due time bring forth both silke and seed , as others . some , to lessen this charge , take onely the leg of a sucking calfe , and cut out of it as much flesh as weighes seuen or eight pounds , and putting it in some woodden vessell with mulbery leaues about it , leauing it to rot , take the wormes comming out of the flesh , from the mulbery leaues to which they cleaue , and so vse them in like manner as others . considering , that bees are made but of the rottennesse of a young bull or heifer , and according to the scripture of the lion , and that wee see daily many creatures come of putrifaction : this is no improbable thing , and therefore is worth the triall , to saue the labour and danger of sending silk-worme seed by sea , which to doe well , would be changed euery foure yeeres , as you vse to doe your graine that you sowe . other things concerning the ordering of silk-wormes , you shall know by another booke which is to be printed . meane while , with all speed make these timely and necessary prouisions aforesaid , for the ground-worke of the busines , as to plant store of the best mulbery trees , in a good aire , in proper soyle , & fit distance , & dig store of holes in the ground betimes for the preparing of the earth , the better to plant the trees in : prouide also faire and fit middle lodgings for the silk-wormes : for this delicate creature , which clothes princes , and payes his charges so bountifully , cannot indure to bee lodged in base and beggerly roomes , but in those that be large , sweet , neat , wel ayred , and lightsome . it is a thing well knowne , that a few silk-wormes , fed at large , and ease , make farre more silke than a greater number , pent in narrow and ill-sauoured roomes . no ill smels must come neere them , they must be kept sweet , and oft perfumed ; therefore hauing such store of sweet woods in virginia as you haue there , you shall doe well to make their roomes and tables of those woods : sweet sents being a thing most agreeable to them . bee carefull to doe things curiously and thorowly well for them at the first , for your more plentifull and certaine gaine after : considering the charge to you is all one : and a thing once wel done , they say , is twice done , which will thereby also bring you twice double profit , with long continuance . finis . a valuation of the commodities growing and to be had in virginia : rated as they are there worth . iron ten pounds the tunne . silke coddes , two shillings sixepence the pound . raw silke , thirteene shillings foure pence the pound . silke grasse to bee vsed for cordage , sixepence the pound : but we hope it will serue for many better vses , and so yeeld a farre greater rate , whereof there can neuer bee too much planted . hempe , from ten shillings , to two and twenty shillings the hundred . flaxe , from twenty shillings to thirty shillings the hundred . cordage , from twenty shillings , to foure and twenty shillings the hundred . cotton wooll , eyght pence the pound . hard pitch , sixe shillings the hundred . tarre , fiue shillings the hundred . turpentine , twelue shillings the hundred . rozen , fiue shillings the hundred . madder crop , forty shillings the hundred , course madder , fiue and twenty shillings the hundred . woad , from twelue shillings , to twenty the hundred . annis-seeds , forty shillings the hundred . powder sugar , panels , muscauadoes and whites , fiue and twenty shillings , forty , and three pounds the hundred . sturgeon , and cauiare , as it is in goodnesse . salt , thirty shillings the weigh . masticke , three shillings the pound . salsa perilla wild , fiue pounds the hundred . salsa perilla domestick , ten pounds the hundred . red earth allenagra , three shillings the hundred . red allum , called carthagena allum , ten shillings the hundred . roach allum , called romish allum , ten shillings the hundred . berry graine , two shillings sixe pence the pound : the powder of graine , nine shillings the pound : it groweth on trees like holly berries . masts for shipping , from ten shillings , to three pounds a piece . pot-ashes , from twelue shillings the hundred , to foureteene . sope-ashes , from sixe shillings , to eyght shillings the hundred . clapboord watered , thirty shillings the hundred . pipe staues , foure pounds the thousand . rape-seede oyle , ten pounds the tunne , the cakes of it feede kine fat in the winter . oyle of walnuts , twelue pounds the tunne . lin-seede oyle , ten pounds the tunne . saffron , twenty shillings the pound . honey , two shillings the gallon . waxe , foure pounds the hundred . shomack , seuen shillings the hundred , whereof great plenty in virginia , and good quantity will be vented in england . fustick young , eyght shillings the hundred . fustick old , sixe shillings the hundred , according to the sample . sweete gums , roots , woods , berries for dies and drugs , send of all sorts as much as you can , euery sort by it selfe , there being great quantities of those things in virginia , which after proofe made , may be heere valued to their worth . and particularly , we haue great hope of the pocoone roote , that it will proue better than madder . sables , from eyght shillings the paire , to twenty shilling a paire . otters skins , from three shillings , to fiue shillings a piece . luzernes , from two shillings , to ten a piece . martins the best , foure shillings a piece . wild cats , eyghteene pence a piece . foxe skins , sixe pence a piece . muske rats skins , two shillings a doozen : the cods of them will serue for good perfumes . beuer skins that are full growne , in season , are worth seuen shillings a piece . beuer skins , not in season , to allow two skins for one , and of the lesser , three for one . old beuer skins in mantles , gloues or caps , the more worne , the better , so they bee full of furre , the pound waight is sixe shillings . the new beuer skins , are not to be bought by the pound , because they are thicke and heauy leather , and not so good for vse as the old . pearles of all sorts that you can finde : ambergreece as much as you can get : cristall rocke : send as much as you can , and any sort of minerall stones , or earth that weighs very heauy . preserue the walnut trees to make oyle of , and cut them not downe : so also preserue your mulberry and chesnut trees very carefully . in the moneth of iune , bore holes in diuers sorts of trees , whereby you shall see what gums they yeeld , and let them be well dried in the sunne euery day , and send them home in very dry caske . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e the lodgings of the silk wormes thatched leafes naught middle roomes best . the proportion of the roomes . situation of the houses for them . three sorts of white mulbery trees . the white mulbery tree better than the blacke . the white mulbery tree , bearing the blacke berry , best of all . a rule . soyle of the mulbery , for good leafe . what soyle best . the leafe of the old mulbery , the best . when to remoue the mulbery tree . how to remoue mulbery trees , and to prepare the ground for t●em . for mulbery trees to spread and grow bigger . in what space to plant the mulbery tree . the best way to plant mulbery trees in good order : like to the first of more field walkes . one man should haue two or three thousand mulbery trees in hi● yard for good profit . a thousand waight of leaues feed an ounce of seed . one great tree sometimes bear in thousand waight of leaues other profits of the mulbery tree the sea by contrary qualities corrupts the silk-worme seed . how to make silk-worme● ▪ a true discourse of the present estate of virginia and the successe of the affaires there till the of iune. . together with a relation of the seuerall english townes and forts, the assured hopes of that countrie and the peace concluded with the indians. the christening of powhatans daughter and her mariage with an english-man. written by raphe hamor the yonger, late secretarie in that colony. hamor, ralph, d. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true discourse of the present estate of virginia and the successe of the affaires there till the of iune. . together with a relation of the seuerall english townes and forts, the assured hopes of that countrie and the peace concluded with the indians. the christening of powhatans daughter and her mariage with an english-man. written by raphe hamor the yonger, late secretarie in that colony. hamor, ralph, d. . [ ], , [ ] p. by iohn beale for william welby dwelling at the signe of the swanne in pauls church yard, printed at london : . the last leaf is blank. last paragraph on i v begins "sir thomas dale". variant (earlier state): paragraph begins "but i". reproduction of the original in the university of michigan. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the 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<gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng pocahontas, d. -- early works to . indians of north america -- virginia -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trve discovrse of the present estate of virginia , and the successe of the affaires there till the of iune . . together . with a relation of the seuerall english townes and forts , the assured hopes of that countrie and the peace concluded with the indians . the christening of powhatans daughter and her mariage with an english-man . written by raphe hamor the yonger , late secretarie in that colony . alget , qui non ardet . printed at london by iohn beale for william welby dwelling at the signe of the swanne in pauls church-yard . . to the trvly honorable , and right worthy knight , sr. thomas smith , gouernour of the east india , muscou●a , north-west passages , somer islands companies , and treasurer f●r the first colony in virginia . honourable sir : haui●g in the time of my residence in virginia ( as it is true my imployment then inuited mee thereunto ) collected for my owne vse and benefit , some few occurrents and accidents , which are obuious in all new imployments , a thing which perhaps but few regard there to busie themselues with , and fewer heer to peruse : i resolued indeed only to delight my selfe , and som who i am bound to be thankefull vnto in that kinde with the vnworthy view of them , the rather , because i haue seen many publications & impressions of those affairs , by those , whose books i should be proud to beare after them : but such is the peruersenes of mankinde , such their incredulity of euery thing , saue what their eies tell them to b● true : yea , such their backwardnes in the pursuit of horable enterprises , that though there should bee no end of writing , but euery day should drawe foorth his line , and euery line his reall encouragement , as mine may in the state of the co●ony , as it now standeth , it were hard to say whether one of so many thousands as abound in england , might be thereby moued to ioine with others right worthyly disposed to become a har●y and deuoted furtherer of an action so noble , as is this , which thing if i faile in effecting , i shall not loose much labour , since when i vndertook this taske , i imagined no such thing : but meerly my owne delight and content . it shall be reward enough for me to expresse my indeauours there , though not equall with the best , yet not idly mispent . i labour not to seduce or betray any to an action or imployment , wherein once personally ingaged , they should haue any cause to blame me , neither would i force the helpe of any mans purse , more then voluntary , if i could beyond my art , vse such effectuall perswasions . there are enough in my opinion , and those the worthyest of england already vnited , as the way is now laid downe , to perfect this businesse , whose indeuours , if they proceed without , black slyding , and therein persist some fewe yeers longer , shall be requited and paid with such treble interest , as it shall not repent him that is now most cold in the pursuit , to haue refused more competitors to be sharers in the returnd profit . your noble selfe sir , euer emulous of vertue , and honourable enterprises , should shine to the world more noble in the vpholding of this imployment , though it apeared , as in the beginning , full of discouragement , which neuerthelesse , i know your self rests so assured is now more neer , then euer to perfection . your innate and habituall vertue needs no spurre , your honourable indeauours well witnesse the same : would god ( as is yours ) al mens offrings , though not so ample , were so free , so hartely sacrificed : then cou●d they not thus long haue wanted their rewards , perhaps for no other ●nd detained , but to make others , a thing which god professeth to loue and delight in , more chee●ful giuers . accept ( worthy sir ) this vnworthy treatise , the b●st t●stimony of my gratuity , which as yet my disabilities may render . trueth shall shroud and patronize it , from the maleuolent detracting multitude ; whose blame though it incurre their shame and imputation , it scorns , and returns vnto them . my zeale to the action , though i may seeme to haue forsaken it , giues mee the heart to publish , what i know to the world : to your s●lfe particularly your own worth , and de●arts to me , irrequitable , graunt but that fauourable acceptation , which euer accompanies your worth ; and i shall euer acknowledge my selfe wholy yours , in hope wherof i conclude with my seruice , & rest at your commaund to be disposed off ; ralph hamo● . to the reader . ignorant , or enuious , if you be readers : ●t is not to satisfie the best of you that i now write , a more seasonable time i must take to imbarque my selfe in so rough a sea and come off safe : onely his ●uthoritie ( who hath power to compell my selfe and duety ) hath commaunded me to satisfie his aff●ctions ( couetous of the dignitie and truth of this pious plantation ) with these particulars : that they are got abroade ▪ and become publike , was no purpose in their first conception though some respect haue made them so now : a naked and vnstrudied discourse , i acknowledge , without notes reserued but in m●morie ) to helpe it : yet thus much i doe a●ow , that it hath duety and truth to make good all other the wants , and imperfections of it : i will l●bour in no further excuse . concer●ing the virginie pious worke it selfe , how it hath thriued vnder the commaund both of sir thomas gates knight , gouernour , and sir thomas dale knight , and marshall of the collonie , these three yeeres and more : let me say , if ( setting aside thine owne ouerwe●●ing and singularity ) thy vnhoodded eye , can now at length looke vpon it ( after so many yeeres of her patience a●d passions ) thou wilt easily acknowledge , whose finger hath the al●●●-●uidance of it , and then ( i doubt nothing ) be●le●sed to here thy selfe intreated ( out of those gre●t ●lenties and hauings which god hath lent thee ) to spare a little-little portion to the ful setl●ng and finishing vp a sanctum sanctorum an holy house , a sanctuary to him , the god of the spirits , of all flesh , amongst such poore and innocent seduced sauages as we treate off , on whom let our hopes be , that it hath vouchsafed him now to be sufficiently reuenged for their forefathers ingratitude and treaso●s , and now in his appointed time to des●●d in m●rcie , to lighten them that sit in darkenes , and in the shaddow o● death , and to direct their feete in the waies of peace . sure yong though in yeeres and knowledge i may be said to be , yet let me remember , to thee perhaps much knowing ▪ reader , what the wisest man that euer writ or speake ( excepting him that was both god and man ) hath said , that such who bring others vnto righteousnesse shal themselues shine as the stars in the firmament . and doubtlesse i doe beleeue , euen amongst the rest of my articles , when these poore heathens shall be brought to entertaine the honour of the name , and glory of the gospell of our blessed sauiour , when they shall testifie of the true and euerliuing god , and iesus christ to be their saluation , their knowledge so inlarged and sanctified that without him they confesse their eternal death : i do beleeue i say ( and how can it be otherwise ? ) that they shal breake out and cry with rapture of so inexplicable mercie : blessed be the king and prince of england , and blessed be the english nation , and blessed for euer be the most high god possessor of heauen and earth , that sent these english as ●ngels to bring such glad tidings amongst vs. these will be doub●lesse the empaticke effects and exultation of ●his so christian worke , and may these nothing moue ? alas let s●●bal●at and tobiah ▪ papists and plai●es , ammonites and horonites , the seumme and dregges of the people , let them mocke at this holy businesse , they that be filthie , let them be f●lthie still , and let such swine wallow in the mire , but let not the rod of the wick●d fal● vpon the l●t of the righteous , let not them shrinke backe , and call in their helpes from this so glorious enterprise , w●ich the prophet isaiah cals the declaring of god to the left hand , but let them that know the worke , re●oice and be glad in the happie successe of it , proclaiming that it is the euerliuing god that raigneth in england , and vnto the ends of the world . excuse me ( curteous reader ) if caried beyond my purpose , i declaime passionately in this passiue and innocently despised worke , which i am sure is so full of goodnesse , and haue bin almost sixe yeeres a suffer and eye witnes of his now well nigh at chieu●d happinesse , the full and vnstaind reportory of euery accident whereof euen from his beginning , together with the causes of the backwardnes , in prosperity thus ●og , touching at the miraculous deliuery of the scattered company , cast vpon the bermudas , when those for●unate islands like so many faire neriades which receiued our wrackt company , with the death of that pure and noble hearted gentleman sir george sumers diing there my purp●se is shortly at large to publish , that at length some one escaped leaper amongst so many saued , may returne backe and pay his v●wes of thanks giuing vnto that euer to be praised mercifull prouidence that brought vs thither , vntil when i wish thy zealous and ferne●t thoughts and indeuours to a businesse so full of piety , ●● is this our virginie plantation . raphe hamor . a trve discovrse of the present estate of virginia , and the successe of the affaires there till the of iune . . the many publications and impressions of virginia , an imployment wherein to this day my selfe with many other vnstaid heads & thirstie after new designes , haue bin to vnprofitably ingaged , might iustly excuse my silence , did not the filiall duty whereby in all things to the vtmost of my power i am bound to obey my father , compell me vnwillingly thereunto : a taske i know by himselfe and others , meerely because i haue bin oculatus testis , thus imposed vpon me , in the vndertaking and performance whereof , i hartily wish that my poore relation , rich onely in truth ( as i shall cleerely iustifie my selfe by cie witnesses also ) may giue any credit or incouragement to proceede in a businesse so full of honour , and worth , whereunto ( if there were no secondary causes ) the already publisht ends , i meane the glory of god in the conuersion of those infidels , and the honour of our king and country ( which by right may claime at the least their superfluities , from those whom god hath in this world made his dispensors and purse-bearers ) might be a sufficient spurre to resolued christians , especially the state and condition of our collonie , so standing when i left it , and i assure my selfe in this time growne more mature , that an honest hart would euen relent , and mourne to thinke how poorely , i dare not say vnworthily it is prosecuted . it being true that now after fiue yeeres intestine warre with the reuengefull implacable indians , a firme peace ( not againe easily to be broken ) hath bin lately concluded , not onely with the nighbour , and bordering indidians , as on pataomecke , topahanah , and other riuers , but euen with that subtill old reuengefull powhatan and all the people vnder his subiection , for all whom powhatan himselfe stands firmely ingaged , by which meanes we shall not onely be furnished with what commodities their countrie yeeldeth , and haue all the helpes they may afforde vsin our indeuours ( as they are easily taught , and may by lenitie and faire vsage , as sir thomas dale now principall commander there , and most worthy the honour he houlds , is well experienced in their dispositions , and accordingly makes vse of them ) be brought , being naturally though ingenious , yet idlely giuē , to be no lesse industrious , nay to exceede our english , especially those which we hitherto and as yet are furnished with , who for the most part no more sensible then beasts , would rather starue in idlenesse ( witnesse their former proceedings ) then feast in labour , did not the law compell them thereunto , but also which will be most for our benefit , our owne men may without hazard , i might say with security ( by selfe-experience ) follow their feuerall labours , whereby twentie shall now bee able to performe more then heretofore hath bin fortie . though i coniecture and assure my selfe that yee cannot be ignorant by what meanes this peace hath bin thus happily both for our proceedings and the welfare of the naturals concluded , yet for the hono●● of captain argol whose indeuours in the action intituled him most worthy , i iudge it no whit impertinēt in my discourse to insert them , which w●th as much breuity as i may , not omitting the circumstances most pertinent and materiall , i shall indeuour . the general letters vpon my knowledge , directed and sent to the honourable virginia councell , being most of them ( though my selfe most vnworthy ) by me penned haue intimated , how that the euerworthy gentlemā capt. Árga●● in the heate of our home furies & disagreements by his best experience of the dispositiō of those people , partly by gentle vsage & partly by the composition & mixture of threats hath euer kept faire & friendly quarter with our neighbours bordering onother riuers of affinity , yea consanguinity , no lesse neere then brothers to rowhatan , such is his well knowne temper and discretion , yea to this passe hath he brought them , that they assuredly trust vpon what he promiseth , and are as carefull in performing their mutuall promises , as though they contended to make that maxim , that there is no faith to be held with infidels , a meere and absurd paradox : nay as i haue heard himselfe relate , who is fide dignus , they haue euen bin pens●ue and discontented with themselues , because they knew not how to doe him some acceptable good turne , which might not onely pleasure him , but euen be profitable to our whole collonie , and plantation , yea euer assuring him that when the times should present occasion , they would take hold of her forelocke , and be the instruments to worke him content , and euen thus they proued themselues as honest performers , as liberall promisers . it chaunced powhatans delight and da●ling , his daughter pocahuntas , ( whose fame hath euen bin spred in england by the title of nonparella of virginia ) in her princely progresse , if i may so terme it , tooke some pleasure ( in the absence of captaine argall ( to be among her friends at pataomecke ( as it seemeth by the relation i had ) imploied thither , as shopkeepers to a fare , to exchange some of her fathers commodities for theirs , where residing some three months or longer , it fortuned vpon occasion either of promise or profit , captaine argall to arriue there , whom pocahuntas , desirous to renue hir familiaritie with the english , and delighting to see them , as vnknowne , fearefull perhaps to be surprised , would gladly visit , as she did , of whom no sooner had captaine argall intelligence , but he delt with an old friend , and adopted brother of his iapazeus , how and by what meanes he might procure hir captiue , assuring him , that now or neuer , was the time to pleasure him , if he entended indeede that loue which he had made profession of , that in ransome of hi● he might redeeme some of our english men and armes , now in the poss●ssion of her father , promising to vse her withall faire , and gentle entr●ary : iapazeus well assured that his brother , as he p●omised would vse her curteously promised his best indeuours and secresie to accomplish his desire , and thus wrought it , making his wife an instrument ( which sex haue euer bin most powerfull in beguiling inticements ) to effect his plot which hee had thus laid , he agreed that himselfe , his wife , and pocahuntas , would accompanie his brother to the water side , whether come , his w●●e should faire a great and longing desire to goe aboorde , and see the shippe , which being there three or foure times , before she had neuer seene , and should bee earnest with her husband to permit her : he seemed angry with her , making as he pretended so vnnecessary a request , especially being without the company of women , which deniall she taking vnkindely , must faine to weepe , ( as who knows not that women can command teares ) whereupon her husband seeming to pitty those counterfeit teares , gaue her leaue to goe aboord , so that it would please pochahuntas to accompany her : now was the greatest labour to win her , guilty perhaps of her fathers wrongs , though not knowne as she supposed to goe with her , yet by her earnest perswasions , she a●●●nted : so forth with aboord they went , the best cheere that could be made was seasonably prouided , to supper they went , merry on all hands , especially iapazeus and his wife , who to expres their ioy , would ere be treading vpō capt. argals foot , as who sh●●ld say t is don , she is your own . supper ended , pochahuntas was lodged in the gunners roome , but iapazeus and his wife desired to haue some conference with their brother , which was onely to acquaint him by what ●ratagem they had betraied his prisoner , as i haue already related : after which discourse to sleepe they went , pochahuntas nothing mistrusting this policy , who neuertheles being most possessed with feare , and desire of returne , was first vp , and hastened iapazeus to be gon , capt. argall hauing secretly well rewarded him , with a small copp●r kettle , and som ●th●r les valuable toies so highly by him esteemed , that doubtlesse he would haue betraied his owne father for them , permitted both him and his wife to returne , but told him , that for diuers considerations , as for that his father had then eigh of our english men , many swords , peeces , and other tooles , which he had at seuerall times by trecherons murdering our men , taken from them , which though of no vse to him , he would not redeliuer , he would reserue pocahuntas , whereat she began to be● exceeding pensiue , and discontented , yet ignorant o the dealing of iapazeus , who in outward appearance was no les discontented that he should be the meanes of her captiuity , much a doe there was to perswade her to be patient , which with extraordinary curteous vsage , by little and little was wrought in her , and so to iames towne she was brought , a messenger to her father forthwith dispached to aduertise him , that his only daughter was in the hands & possession of the english : ther to be kept til such time as he would ransom her with our men , swords , peeces , & other tools treacherously taken from vs : the news was vnwelcome , and troublesom vnto him , partly for the loue he bare to his daughter , and partly for the loue he bare to our men his prisoners , of whom though with vs they were vnapt for any imployment ) he made great vse : and those swords , and peeces of ours , ( which though of no vse to him ) it delighted him to view , and looke vpon . he could not without long aduise & delibertion with his councell , resolue vpon any thing , and it is true , we heard nothing of him till three moneths after , by perswasions of others he returned vs seauen of our men , with each of them a musket vnseruiceable , and by them sent vs word , that whensoeuer wee pleased to deliuer his daughter , he would giue vs in satisfaction of his iniuries done to vs , and for the rest of our peeces broken and stolne from him , bushells of corne● and be for euer friends with vs , the men , and peeces in part of payment we receiued : and returned him answere , that his daughter was very well , and kindely intreated , and so should be howsoeuer he dealt with vs : but we could not beleeue that the rest of our arms were either lost , or stolne from him , and therefore till he returned them all , we would not by any meanes deliuer his daughter , and then it should be at his choice , whether he would establish peace , or continue enemies with vs. this answere as it seemed , pleased him not very wel , for we heard no more from him till in march last , when with captaine argalls shippe , and some other vessells belonging to the colony , sir thomas dale with an hundred and fifty men well appointed , went vp into his owne riuer , where his chiefest habitations were , and carried with vs his daughter , either to moue them to fight for her , if such were their courage and boldnesse , as hath been reported , or to restore the residue of our demands , which were our peeces , swords , tooles . some of the same men which he returned ( as they promised ) ran to him again , and because he had put vs to the trouble to fetch them fiue hundred bushels of corne : a great brauado all the way as we went vp the riuer they made , demaunding the cause of our comming thither , which wee tould them was to deliuer pocahuntas , whom purposely we had brought with vs , and to receiue our armes , men , & corn , or else to fight with them , burn their howses , take away their canoas , breake downe their fishing weares , and doe , them what other damages we could : some of them to set a good face on the matter , replied , that if wee came to fight with them ? we were welcome , for they were prouided for vs , councelling vs rather to retire ( if wee loued our safeties ) then proceed , bragging , as well they might , that wee had euer had the worst of them in that riuer , instancing by capt : ratliefe ( not worthy remembring , but to his dishonor ) who , with most of his company they betrayed and murthered : we told them since they durst remember vs of that mischief , vnlesse they made the better and more speedy agreement , we would now reuenge that trechery , and with this discourse by the way as we went , we proceeded , and had no sooner entred the narrow of the riuer , the channell there lying within shot of the shoare , but they let their arrowes flie amongst vs in the shippe , themselues vnseene to vs , and in the forehead hurt one of our men , whic● might haue hazarded his life without the present helpe of a skilfull chirurgion . being thus iustly prouoked , we presently manned our boates , went ashoare , and burned in that verie place some forty houses , and of the things we found therein , made freeboote and pillage , and as themselues afterward confest vnto vs , hurt and killed fiue or sixe of their men , with this reuenge sa●●sfying our selues , for that their presumption in shooting at vs , and so the next day proceeded higher vp the riuer , the indians calling vnto vs , and demaunding why we went a shoare , burnt their houses , killed and hurt their men , and tooke away their goods . we replied that though we came to them in peaceable manner , and would haue beene glad to haue receiued our demaunds with loue and peace , yet we had hearts and power to take reuenge , and punish where wrongs shold be offered , which hauing now don , though not so seuerely as we might , we rested content therewith and are ready to imbrace peace with them if they pleased , many excuses they seemed to pretend , that they shot not a● vs , but ( if any such abuse were offered ) it was some stragled indian , ignorant of our pretence in comming to them , affirming that they themselues would be right glad of our loue , and would indeauour to helpe vs to what we came for , which being in the possession of powhatan their king , they would without delay dispatch messengers to him , to know his purpose and pleasure , desiring faire quarter some howers , for so long they pretended it would be before their messengers might returne : this wee graunted , and what we promised , we euer exactly performed , the time now come , we inquired what powhatan would doe , and had for answere , that our englishmen lately with him , fearefull to be put to death by vs , were runne away , and some of powhatans men sent abroade in quest of them , but our swords and peeces so many as he had should be brought the next day , which meerely to delay time , they bare vs in hand the next day they came not , higher vp the riuer we went , and ancored neere vnto the chiefest residencie powhatan had , at a towne called matchcot where were assembled ( which we saw ) about men , well appointed with their bowes and arrowes to welcome vs , here they dared vs to come a shoare , a thing which we purposed before , so a shoare we went , our best landing being vp a high steepe hill which might haue giuen the enemy much aduantage against vs , but it seemed they as we were vnwilling to begin , and yet would gladly haue bin at blowes , being landed as if they had no shew of feare , they stirred not from vs , but walked vp and downe , by and amongst vs , the best of them inquiring for our weroance or king , with whom they would gladly consult to know the occasion of our comming thither , wherof when they were informed , they made answere that they were there ready to defend themselues , if we pleased to assault them , desiring neuerthelesse some small time to dispatch two or three men once more to their king , to know his resolution , which if not answerable to our requests , in the morning if nothing else but blood would then satisfie vs , they would fight with vs , and thereby determine our quarrell , which was but a further delay to procure time to carrie away their prouisions , neuerthelesse we agreed to this their request , assuring them till the next day by noone we would not molest , hurt , nor detaine any of them , and then before we fought , our drum and trumpets should gi●e them warning : vpon which promise of ours , two of powhatans sonnes being very desirous to see their sister who was there pr●s●nt ashore with vs , came vnto vs , at the sight of ●hom , and her well fare , whom they suspected to be worse intreated , though they had often h●ard the contrary , they much reioyced , and promised ●hat they would vndoubtedly perswade their father ●o redeeme her , and to conclude a firme peace foreuer with vs , and vpon this resolution the two brothers with vs retired aboarde , we hauing first dispatched two englishmen , ma●ster iohn rolfe and maister sparkes to acquaint their father with the businesse in hand , the next day being kindly intreated , they returned , not at all admitted powhatans prese●ce , but spake with his brother apachamo , his successor , one who hath already the commaund of all the people , who likewise promised vs his best indeauors to further our iust requests , and we because the time of the yeere being then aprill , called vs to our businesse at home to prepare ground , and set corne for our winters prouision , vpon these termes departed , giuing them respite t●ll haruest to resolue what was best for them to doe , with this prouiso , that if finall agreement were not made betwixt vs before that time , we would thith●r returne againe and destroy and take away all their corne , burne all the houses vpon that ri●er , leaue no● asish●ng weere standing , nor a canoa in any c●eeke therabout , and destroy and kill as many of them as we coul● . long before t●is time a gentleman of approued b●hauiour and hon●st cariage , maister iohn r●lfe had bin in loue with pocahuntas and ●he with him , which thing at the instant that we were in parlee with them , my selfe made known to sir thomas dal● by a letter from him , whereby he intreated his aduise and furtherance in his loue , if so it seemed fit to him ●or the good of the plantation , and pocahuntas her selfe , acquainted her brethren therewith : which resolution sir thomas da●e wel approuing , was the onely cau●e : hee was so milde amongst them , who otherwise would not haue departed their riuer without other conditions . the bruite of this pretended marriage came soone to powhatans knowledge , a thing acceptable to him , as appeared by his sudd●n consent thereunto , who some t●n daies after ●ent an ol●e vncle of hirs , named opachisco , to giue her as his deputy in the church , and two of his sonnes to see the mariage solemnized , which was accordingly done about the fist of aprill , and euer since we haue had friendly commerce and trade , not onely with powhatan himselfe , but also with his subiects round about vs ; so as now i see no reason why the coll●nie should not thriue a pace . besides this loue by this meanes with powhatan concluded , it will be worth my pa●nes to tunouer our friendship with our next neighbours , the chicohomin●es late●y confirmed , a lustie and daring people , who haue long time liued free from powhatans subiection , hauing law●s and gouernors within themselues : these people hearing of our concluded peace with powhatan , as the no●se thereof was soone bruted abroade , sent two of their men vnto vs , and two fat bucks for present to our king ( for so sir thomas dale is generally reputed and termed amongst them ) and offe●ed themselues and seruice vnto him , alleadging that albeit in former times they had bin our en●mies , and we theirs , yet they would now if we pleased become not onely our trustie friends , but euen king iames his subiects and tributari●s , and relinquish their old name of ch●cohominies , and ●ake vpon them , as they call vs the name of tossantessa● , and because they h●●e no principall commander or wer●ance , they would intreate sir thomas dale as king iames his deputie to be their supreame head , king and gouernor , and in all iust causes and quarrels to defend them , as they would be ready at all times to aide him , onely their desire was to inioy their owne lawes and liberties , and because himselfe , by reason of his many other imployments , beside the charge he hath of his owne people , may not be alwaies present amongst them , to be gouerned as formerly by eight of the elders and principall men amongst them , as his substitutes and councellers , and euen this was the summe and effect of their embassie , sir thomas dale appointed a day to send some men into their riuer , to propose certaine conditions vnto them , whereunto if they assented he would gladly accept of their proffered friendship , and be himselfe their weroance : and with this answere offering them copper for their venison , which they refused to take , dismissed them . when the appointed day came , sir thomas dale himselfe and captaine argall with men in a barge and frigot , well appointed , least any trecherie might be intended , set forward to chicohominie , an arme of our riuer some seauen miles from iames town , where we found the people according to promise expecting our comming , assembled and met together , who after their best and most friendly manner , bad vs welcome , and because our businesse at home would permit vs but small time of stay with them , they presently sent for their principal men , some of whom were then absent , whi●h hastned vnto vs , & the next morning very early assembled , and sat in counsell about this businesse , captaine argall ( supplying sir thomas dales place amongst them , who though there present for some respects , concealed himselfe , and kept aboarde his barge ) after long discourse of their former proceedings , captaine argall tould them , that now since they had intreated peace and promised their loue and friendship , hee was sent vnto them from the great weroance to conclude the same , all former iniuries on both sides , set apart and forgotten , which he would doe vpon these conditions . first that they should take vpon them , as they promised , the name of tassant●sses or english men , and be king iames his subiects , and be foreuer honest , faithfull and trustie vnto his deputie in their countrie . secondly , that they should neuer kill any of our men or cattell , but if either our men or cattle should offend them or runne to them , they should bring them home again , and should receiue ●atisfaction for the trespasse done them . thirdly , they should at all times be ready and willing to furnish vs with three or foure hundred bowmen to aide vs against the spaniards , whose name is odious amongst them , for powhatans father was driuen by them from the west-indies into those parts , or against any other indians which should , contrary to the established peace of●er vs any iniurie . fourthly , they shall not vpon any occasion whatsoeuer breake downe any of our pales , or come into any of our townes or forts by any other w●ies , issues or ports then ordinary , but first call , and say the tossantessas are there , and so comming they shall at all times be let in , and kindely entertained . fifthly , so many fighting men as they haue which may be at the least fiue hundred should yeerely bring into our store house , at the beginning of their ●aruest two bu●hels of corne a man , as tribute of their obedience to his maiestie , and to his deputy there , for which they should receiue so many iron tomahawkes or small hatchets . lastly , the eight chiefe men which gouerne as substitutes and councellors vnder sir thomas dale , shall at all times see these articles and conditions duly performed for which they shall receiue a red coat , or liue●y from ou● ki●g yeere●y , and each of them th● pi●ture of his maiesty , ingrauen iu copper , wi●h ● chaine of copper to hang it about his necke , whe●by they shall be knowne to be king iames his noble men ; so as if these conditions , or any of them be broken , the offenders themselues shall not one●y be punished , but also those co●maundets , because they stand ingaged ●or them . after these arti●les were thus proposed , the whole assembly assenting thereunto , answered with a great sho●t , and noise , that they would readily and willingly performe them all ● and immediat●ly began the chiefe of the eight to make an oration to the rest , bending his speech first to the old men , then to the yong men , and in conclusion to the women and children , giuing them thereby to vnderstand the summe of the proposed conditions : and how strictly they were to obserue them : in consideration whereof , he further declared what wee haue promised to doe for them , not onely ●o defend and keepe them from the fury & danger of powhatan , which thing they most feared , but euen from all other enemies , domesticke , or forraigne , and that we would yeerely by trade furnish them with copper , beades , hatchets , and many other necessaries , yea , which liked them best , that we would permit them to enioy their owne liberties , freedoms , and lawes , and to be gouerned as formerly , by eight of their chiefest men . it shall not be vnnecessarie to insert the occasion ( as we im●gine ) of this their much desired , vnexpected friendship , which was questionlesse some sodaine feare of powhatans displeasure , being vnited with vs , ●ow able to reuenge their disobedience done vnto him : for you must imagine , these people presuming vpon their owne strength and number ( in no one place in those parts , which we know , so many togeather ) to haue a long time neglected powhatan , and refused , ( which the place hath ▪ been formerly accutomed , and as his right may chal●enge the homage and duty of subiects , which they ought to haue performed : to which obedience , fearing our power might compell them , they chose rather to subiect themselues to vs , then being enemies to both , to expose & lay themselues open to powhat●ns tiranny , & oppression : for this they did chiefely insist vpon , that he was an ill weroaules , full of cruelty , and minstice , couetous of those things they had , and implacable if they denyed him whatsoeuer he demaunded , and f●r these reasons , desired to be made one people wi●h vs , to curbe the pride and ambition of powhatan , from whom to def●nd them ( they tould vs it would be no breach of peace on our parts since now they were no longer chicohomimes , or naturalls , of that place , but tossantessars , and king iames his subiects , whom we are bound to defend . so soone as there was an end of speaking , and the peace firmely concluded , and assented vnto , captaine argall by the gui●t of eight great peeces of copper , and eight gr●at tomahawkes , bound the eight gr●at me● , or councellors to the exact performance , and keeping of t●e same , according to the conditions proclaimed , which they very gla●ly and thankefully acc●pted , and returned him , as testimonies of their loues , venison , turkies , freshfish , baskets , mats , and such like things as they were then furnished with , and so the councell brooke vp ▪ and t●en eue●y man brought to sell to our men skinnes , boules , ma●s baskets , tobacco , &c. and became as familiar amongs● vs , as if they had been english men iudeede . thus haue i briefely as the matter would permit , discoursed our es●ablished friendship with the naturalls , and the occasions thereof , which i hope will continue so long betweene vs , till they shall haue the vnderstanding to acknowledge how much they are bound to god for sending vs amongst them ( then which ) what worke would be more acceptable to god , more honourable to our king and country ? the greatest , and many enemies and disturbers of our proceedings , and that which hath hitherto deterd our people to addresse themselues into those parts , haue been onely two ; emnity with the naturalls , and the bruit of famine : one of these two ( and that indeede , which was some cause of the other ) i haue already remoued , and shall as easily take away the other : howbeit it were too great folly ( i might say impudency in me ) to auer that there hath raigned no such in●ection in the colony , occasioned , meerly by misgouernment , idlenesse , and faction , and chiefely by the absence ofthe of the euer worthy commaunders , sir thomas gates , and sir george summers by the prouidence of god , miraculously wract and saued vpon the hopefull sumer islands , since my selfe cannot but witnesse ( of which i had some tast ) in what a miserable condition , we found the colony at our ariuall there , from the bermudas , not liuing aboue threescore persons therein , and those scarce able to goe alone , of welnigh six hundred , not full ten moneths before : yet now i dare and will boldly affirme to the greatest aduersary of the plantation , that shall auer the contrary , that there is that plenty of foode , which euery man by his owne industry may easily , & doth procure that the poorest there , & most in want , hath not bin so much pinched with hunger this yeers that if he would take any pains , he knew not wher to fetch a good meales meate : and true it is , that euery day by the prouidence , and blessing of god , and their owne industry , they haue more plenty then other , the reason hereof is at hand , for formerly , when our people were fedde out of the common store and laboured iointly in the manuring of the ground , and planting corne , glad was that man that could slippe from his labour , nay the most honest of them in a generall businesse , would not take so much faithfull and true paines , in a weeke , as now he will doe in a day , neither cared they for the increase , presuming that howsoeuer their haruest prospered , the generall store must maintain them , by which meanes we reaped not so much corne from the labours of men , as three m●n haue done for themselues : to preuent which mischiefe heerafter sir thomas dale hath taken a new course , throughout the whole colony , by which meanes , the generall store ( apparrell onely excepted ) shall not be charged with any thing : and this it is , he hath allotted to euery man in the colony , three english acres of cleere corne ground , which euery man is to mature and tend , being in the nature of farmers , ( the bermuda vndertakers onely excepted ) and they are not called vnto any seruice or labor belonging to the colony , more then one moneth in the yeere , which shall neither be in seede time , or in haruest , for which , doeing no other duty to the colony , they are yeerly to pay into the store two barrells and a halfe of corne : there to be reserued to keep new men , which shall be sent ouer , the first yeere after their arriuall : and euen by this meanes i dare say , our store will be bountifully furnished , to maintain three or foure hundred men , whensoeuer they shall be sent thither to vs , that mony which hitherto hath bin disbursed , to prouide a tweluemoneths● victualls , if there were but now halfe so much bestowed in clothes , and bedding , will be such comfort to the men , a● euen thereby the liues of many shall not onely be preserued , but also themselues kept in strength and heart , able to per●●●me such businesses , as shall be imposed vpon them● and thus shall also the former charge b● well saued , and yet more businesse effected , the action renowned and more commodity returned to the merchant , and ye● saint for want of encou●agement . concerning the vndertaking of the bermuda citty , a businesse of greatest hope , euer begunne in our territories there , their pattent , which i purpose in this treatise to insert , doth apparantly demonst●ate , vpon what termes and conditions they voluntarily haue vndertaken that imployment , how forward that businesse is , in his due place shall bee expressed , onely giue me leaue with as much breuity as i may , least any man should diuert his minde , and be fearefull to aduenture his person thither , for feare of famine and penury , to amplifie a little the plenty there , for if it be true , as most eertaine it is , that those whom i haue described vnder the title of farmers , can pay into our store , two barrels and a halfe of corne yeerely , and others who labour eleauen moneths in the generall businesse of the colony , and but one to prouide thems●lues victualls , why should any man ( if he be industrious ) mistrust staruing ? if otherwise , for any part , and i thinke all that are ingaged in the action , and vnderstand the businesse , accord with me heerein , and would not wish his company there , nay they shall much wrong themselues , and the action , if they doe not withstand such , and deny them passage : for euen they and none else haue been the occasions of the manifould imputations , & disgraces , which virginia hath innocently vndergon , through their defaults : i would therefore by these relations not onely encourage honest and industrious : but also deterre all lasie , impotent , and ill liuers from , addressing themseues thither , as being a country too worthy for them , and altogeather disconsonant to their natures , which must either brooke labour or hazard , and vndergoe much displeasure , punishment , and penury , if they escape a thing which few idlers haue don , the scuruy dis●ase , with which few , or none once infected , haue recouered . to proceed therefore in my incouragement to painefull people , such as either through crosses in this world , or wract rents , or else grea● charge of children and family lieu heer , and that not without much care and sweat , in●o extreame pouerty : for those this countrey hath present remedy : eucrie such person , so wel● disposed to aduenture thither , shal soon find the difference between their own , and that country . the affaires in the colony , being so well ordered , and the hardest taskes already ouerpast , that whosoeuer ( now , or heerafter ) shall happily arriue there , shall find● a hansome howse of some foure roomes or more , if he haue a family , to repose himselfe in rent freee , and twelue english acres of ground , adioyning thereunto , very strongly impailed , which ground is onely allotted vnto him for roots , gardaine hearbs , and corne : neither shall hee need to prouide himselfe , as were wont the first plantersi , of a yeers prouision of victualls , for that the store there will bee able to affoord him , & vpon these conditions he shall be entertained ; he shall haue for himselfe & family , a competent● ● months prouision deliuered vnto him , in which time it must bee his care to prouide for himselfe and family euer after , as those already there , to this end he shall be furnished with necessary tooles of all sorts , and for his better subsistance he shall haue poultry , and swine , and if he deserue it , a goate or two , perhaps a cow giuen him , which once compast , how happily he may liue , as doe many there , who i am sure will neuer returne , i submit to their own future well experienced iudgements . now , least any man should yet rest discouraged because as yet no mention is made of any other prouision of victualls , saue onely of bread corne , whih graunt , it may with labour be competently procured , will affoord but a bare , and miserable liuing , i thinke there is no man so ignorant to conceiue , that such a main continent as is virginia , boundlesse , for ought we haue discouered , and so goodly riuers , no where else to be parralled , should be more barraine of cattell , fish , and foule , then other lands , assuredly they are not : for true it is , that the land is stored with plenty and variety of wilde beasts , lions , bears , decre of all sorts , ( onely differing from ours in their increase , hauing vsuall , three or foure fawnes at a time , none that i haue seen or heard off vnder two : the reason whereof som of our people ascribe to the vertue of some grasse or hearb which they eate , because our goats often times bring foorth three , and most of them two : for my part i rather impute their fecundiry to the prouidence of god , who for euery mouth prouideh meate , and if this increase were not , the naturalls would assuredly starue : f●r of the deere ( they kill as doe wee bee●es in england ) all the yeer long , neither sparing yong nor olde , no not the does readie to fawne , nor the yong fawnes , if but two daies ould ) beauers , otters , foxes , racounes , almost as big as a fox , as good meat as a lamb , hares , wild cats , muske rats , squirills flying , and other of three or foure sorts , apossumes , of the bignesse and likenesse of a pigge , of a moneth ould , a beast of as strange as incredible nature , she hath commonly seauen yong ones , sometimes more and sometimes lesse which at her pleasure till they be a moneth olde or more she taketh vp into her belly ; and putteth forth againe without hurt to her selfe or them . of each of these beasts , the lion excepted , my selfe haue many times eaten , and can testifie that they are not onely tastefull , but also wholesome and nourishing foode . there are ●oule of diuers sorts , eagles , wilde turkeis much bigger then our english , cranes , herons white and ●usset , hawkes , wilde pigeons ( in winter beyond number or imagination , my selfe haue seene three or foure houres together flockes in the aire , so thicke that euen they haue shaddowed the skie from vs ) turckie bussards , partridge , suipes , owles , swans , geese , brants , ducke and mallard , droeis , shel drakes cormorants , teale , widgeon , curlewes , puits , besides other small birds , as blacke-birde , hedge sparrowes , oxeies , wood peckers , and in winter about christmas many flockes of parakertoths . for fish the riuers are plentifully stored , with sturgion , porpasse , base , rockfish , carpe , shad , herring , ele , catfish , perch flat-fish , troute , sheepes-head , drummers , iarfish , creuises , crabbes , oisters and diuerse other kindes , of all which my selfe haue seene great quantity taken , especially the last summer at smiths island , at one hale , a frigots lading of sturgion , base and other great fish in captaine argals sauie : and euen at that very place which is not aboue fifteene miles from pointeomfort , if we had been furnished with salt , to haue saued it , wee might haue taken as much fish as would haue serued vs that whole yeere . nor are these prouicion of bread , flesh and fish , al we haue for sustentation of mans life , behold more change and variety of foode , which our soile and climate affordeth , carrats , parsneps , turneps , raddish , pumpions ( of the west indie kinde in great abundance , of one seede i haue seen an hundreth , much better then ours and lasting all the yeere ) cabbadge , parsley , all manner of pothearbs and other hearbes , marger●● , time , wi●ter-sauory , lettice purslaine , &c , and besides the naturall graine of that country , as wheate pease and beanes , it did me much good to view our english wheate how forward it was , full eard , of one graine fortie cares or more , a span long , and onely wanting ripening in mid iune our english pease then ripe , and beanes very forward , and english barly very hopefull , such as mine e●es neuer beheld , better in england : and if that soile bring forth these things ( as can those which haue bin there with me affirme and witnesse ) as plentifull and vnchangeable for taste and quantity as england or any other country , why shold any man that hath his limbes , in a peaceable state as is that , so much as dreame of staruing ? to goe yet a little further , i my selfe know no one country yeelding without art or industry so manie fruites , sure i am england doth : wilde grapes in abundance al the woods ouer , their iuice sweete and pleasant in taste , some of them wee haue replanted in a vineyard adioyning to henrico , the quantity of three or foure akers which were this yeere very plentifully laden , to what perfection they will come , the next returne will aduertise : cherries little inferior to ours , which if replanted may prooue as much better as now they are worse pissmienplums in bygnes and fashion like a medlar of a flipticke quality , other sorts of plummes like to our wheat plums , and in goodnes answerable : great fields and woods abounding with strawberies much fairer and more sweete then ours , mulberries of great bignesse , and about the bermuda cittie and hundirds thereunto belonging great store thereof , maricocks of the fashion of a lemmon whose blossome may admit comparison with our most delight some and bewtifull flowers , and the fruite exceeding pleasant and tast●●●●● ches●●it-trees towards the fals as many as oakes , and as fertile , many goodly groues of chincomen trees with a huske like vnto a chesnut , raw or hoyled , luscious and harty meate : walnuts of three or four sorts , where o● 〈◊〉 might be yeerely made great quantity of oyl●s , as vsefull and good as that of oliues : some filberds i haue seene , crabbes great store , lesse , but not so sower as ours , which grafted with the siens of english● aple trees , without question would beare very good fruite , and we doubt not but to haue the siens enough the next yeere , there being in sir thomas gates his garden at iames town , many forward apple & peare trees come vp , of the kernels set the yeere before . if all this be not sufficient , loe further incouragement , the collony is already furnished with two hundred neate cattell , as many goates , infinite hogges in heards all ouer the woods , besides those to euerie towne belonging in generall , and euery priuate man , some mares , horses & colts , poultry great store , besides tame turkeis , peacockes and pigeons plentifully increasing and thriuing there , in no countrie better . of our yong steeres the next winter we doubt not to haue three or foure ploughes going , which once compast , we shall in short time be able to repay england the corne they haue lent vs. if i knew yet any further impediments which might seeme to giue discouragement to aduenture thither , i should as easily remoue them . obiect that pleaseth the want of cloathes , so long as there are wilde beasts there , and the beasts haue skinnes on their backes ( if the necessity were such ) why should not we as doe the naturals , cloath our selues therewith , it is no worse then our fore-fathers haue worne before vs , and such as will saue vs from the colde in winter , and heate in summer : but admit there ▪ were no skinnes or being there , our people disdaine to weare them . if there be any man that hath beene so ill an husband here that he cannot furnish himselfe with a yeeres prouision of apparrell ; if i might counsell he should not be suffered to goe thither , for that country is not for him , as for others who can prouide apparrell for the first yeere , i holde him a worse husband then the former , that shall at any time after be worse cloathed then he went ouer : the valuable commoditie of tobacco of such esteeme in england ( if there were nothing else ) which euery man may plant , and with the least part of his labour , tend and care will returne him both cloathes and other necessaries . for the goodnesse whereof , answerable to west-indie trinidado or craeus ( admit there hath no such bin returned ) let no man doubt . into the discourse wherof , since i am obuiously entred , i may not forget the gentleman , worthie of much commendations , which first tooke the pains to to make triall thereof , his name mr iohn rolfe , anno domini . partly for the loue he hath a long time borne vnto it , and partly to raise commodity to the aduenturers , in whose behalfe i witnesse and vouchsafe to holde my testimony in beleef● , that during the time of his aboade there , which draweth neere vpon sixe yeeres , no man hath laboured to his power , by good example there and worthy incouragement into england by his letters , then he hath done , witnes his mariage with rowhatans daughter , one of rude education , manners barbarousand cursed generation , meerely for the good and honour of the plantation : and least any man should conceiue that some sinister respects allured him hereunto , i haue made bold contrary to his knowledge in the end of my treatise to insert the true coppie of his letter , written to sir thomas dale to acquaint him with his proceedings , and purpose therein , the rather to giue testimony to the misconstruing and ill censuring multitude of his integritie , in the vndertaking a matter of so great a consequent , who in my hearing haue not spared to speak their pleasures ; his owne letter hits them home , and the better sort , who know to censure iudiciously cannot but highly commend and approue so worthy an vndertaking . thus farre i haue applied my selfe to incourage personall aduenturers : i would gladly now by worthy motiues , allure the heauie vndertakers to persist with alacritie and cheerefulnesse , both for their owne reputations , the honour of god , and their king and country . the worthier sort , j meane those nobles and others of that honourable counsell interessed therein , neede no spurre , their owne innate vertues driues them a pace . the merchant onely wants some feeling and present returne of those commodities which he is perswaded the country affordeth : to them therefore i will addresse my speech , and if i may perswade them to be constant in their proceedings some small time longer , the benefit will be the greater and the more welcome when it commeth . it is not for nothing sir thomas dale , so noblie without respect to his liuing , to his lady here in england , past the prefixed time of his resolued returne , yet remaineth there ; i am sure if he pleased he might returne with as much honour as any man from thence , i say not more . i shall little neede , and indeede it were but wast and idle for me to repeate and mention the commodities , which with onely labour may bee there procured : many treatises hath them at full . samples haue beene sent home , and no man disputeth the goodnes , or the quantitie there to be had : take therefore double courage to yourselues , and let these two yeeres neglect be restored by a cheerefull and new onset , and for your incouragement reade yet a little further , and view the face of the colony , euen superficially portraide : see what effects these three ye●res haue wrought . in may sir thomas dale , with a prosperous passage , not full eight weekes arriued there , with him about three hundred people , such as for the present speede , and dispatch could then be prouided , of worse condition then those formerly there , who i sorrow to speake it , were not so prouident , though once before bitten with hunger and pennury , as to put corne into the gound for their winters bread , but trusted to the store , then furnished but with eight months prouisiō . his first care therfore was to imploy al hands about se●ting of corne at the two forts , seated vpon ke●oughtan , henry and charles , whereby the season then not fully past , thogh about the end ; of may , we had there an indifferent crop of good corn . this businesse taken order for , and the care and trust of it committed to his vnder officers , to iames towne he hastened , where the most company were , and their daily and vsuall workes , bowling in the streetes , these he imployed about necessary workes , as felling of timber , repairing their houses ready to fall vpon their heads , and prouiding pales , post and railes to impaile his pu●posed new towne , which by reason of his ignorance in those parts , but newly arriued there , he had not resolued where to seate . for his better knowledge therefore of those parts , himselfe with an hundreth men , spent some time in discouery , first nansamund riuer , which in dispight of the indians , then our enemies , he discouered to the head , after that , our owne riuer , to the fals , wherevpon a high land inuironed with the mayn riuer , som sixteene or twentie miles , from the head of the fals , neere to an indian towne called arsahattocke , he resolued to plant his new towne , and so did , whereof in his due place i shall make a briefe relation . it was no meane trouble to him , to reduce his people , so timely to good order , being of so il a condition as may well witnesse his seuere and strict imprinted booke of articles , then needefull with all seuerity and extremity to be executed , now much mitigated , for more deserued death in those daies , then do now the least punishment , so as if the law should not haue restrained by execution , i see not how the vtter subuersion and ruine of the colony should haue bin preuented , witnesse webbes and prises designe the first yeere , since that abbots and others more daungerous then the former , and euen this summer , coles and kitchins plot , with three more , bending their course towards the southward , to a spanish plantation , reported to be there , who had trauelled ( it being now a time of peace ) some fiue daies iorney to ocanahoe● , there cut off by certaine indians , hired by vs to hunt them home to receiue their deserts . so as sir thomas dale hath not bin tyranous , nor seuere at all ; indeede the offences haue bin capitall , and the offenders dangerous , incurable members , for no vse so fit as to make examples to others , but the manner of their death may some obiect , hath bin cruell , vnusuall and barbarous , which indeede they haue not bin , witnesse france , and other countries for lesse offences : what if they haue bin more seuere then vsuall in england , there was iust cause for it , we were rather to haue regard to those whom we would haue terrified , and made fearefull to commit the like offences , then to the offenders iustly condemned , it being ●rue that amongst those people ( who for the most part are sencible onely of the bodies torment ) the feare of a cruell , painefull and vnusuall , death , more restrains them then death it selfe . thus much obuiously , i proceede in his indeuours vntill sir thomas gates his happie arriuall , which was onely in preparing timber , pales , posts and railes for the present impaling this new towne to secure himselfe and men from the mallice and trechery of the indians , in the midst and hart of whom , he was resolued to set downe , but before he could make himselfe ready for that businesse , sir thomas gates though his passage more long then vsuall , to second him herein , happily arriued about the second of august , with sixe good shippes , men , prouisions and cattle , whom as yet not fully discouered , we supposed to be a spanish fleete , thus induced the rather to beleeue , because in company with him were three caruals , vessels which neuer before had bin sent thither , and now onely for the transportation of the cattle . it did mee much good , and gaue great courage to the whole company to see the resolution of sir thomas dale , now wholy busied ( our land fortifications to weake to withstand a forraigne enemy ) in lading our prouisions aboard the two good shippes , the starre and prosperous , and our own deliuerance , then riding before iames town , aboarde which shippes , he had resolued to encounter the supposed enemy , animating his people , not onely with the hope of victory if they readily obeied his direction , but also assuring them that if by these meanes god had ordained to set a period to their liues , they could neuer be sacrificed in a more acceptable seruice , himselfe promising , rather to fire the spanish shippes with his owne , then either basely to yeelde , or to be taken : and in nothing he seemed so much discontent as that we could not possibly lade aboarde all our prouisions before ( the winde being then very faire ) they might haue bin with vs , whilest therefore the rest were labouring their vtmost to lade aboarde our prouisions , hee caused a small shallop to be manned with thirty readie and good shot to discouer directly what shippes they might be , and withall speede to returne him certaine word , which within three houres they did , assuring him that is was an english ●eete , sir thomas gates generall thereof : which newes how welcome it was vnto him , principally because now he doubted not the happie progression of the affaires in hand , let any man ( equally with him affected to the good and welfare of the action ) iudge and determine . the worthies being met , after salutation and welcome giuen , and receiued , sir thomas dale acquainted sir thomas gates both with such businesses as he had affected since his arriuall , and also of his resolution to builde a new towne , at the fales , which designe and purpose of his , sir thomas gates then principall gouernour in virginia , well approuing , furnished him with three hundred and fiftie men , such as himselfe made choise of , and the beginning of september he set from iames town , and in a day & a halfe , landed at a place where he purposed to seate & builde , where he had not bin ten daies before he had very strongly impaled seuen english acres of ground for a towne , which in honour of the noble prince henrie ( of euer happie and blessed memory , whose royall heart was euer strongly affected to that action ) he called by the name of henrico . no sooner was he thus fenced , and in a manner secured from the indians , but his next worke ( without respect to his owne health or particular welfare ) was building at each corner of the towne , very strong and high commanders or watch-towers , a faire and handsome church , and storehouses , which finished he began to thinke vpon conuenient houses , and lodgings for himselfe and men , which with as much speede as was possible , were more strongly and more handsome then any formerly in virginia , contriued and finished , and euen in foure moneths space , he had made henrico much better and of more worth then all the worke euer since the colonie began , therein done . i should be to tedious if i should giue vp the accompt of euery daies labour , which therefore i purposly omit , and will onely describe the towne , in the very state and perfection wich i left it , and first for the situation , it stan●es vpon a neck of a very high land , parts thereof inuironed with the main riuer , and cut ouer betweene the two riuers , with a strong pale , which make●h the neck of land an island . there is in this town streets of well framed howses , a hansom church , and the foundation of a more stately one laid , of brick , in length , an hundred foote , and fifty foot wide , beside store houses , watch houses , and such like : there are also , as ornaments belonging to this town , vpon the verge of this riuer , fiue faire block houses , or commaunders , wherein liue the honester sort of people , as in farmes in england , and there keepe continuall centinell for the townes security , and about two miles from the towne into the main , a pale of two miles in length , cut ouer from riuer to riuer , garded likewise with seuerall commanders , with a great quantity of corne ground impaled , sufficient if there were no more in the colony secured , to maintain with but easiy manuring , and husbandry , more men , then i suppose , will be addressed thither ( the more is the pitty ) these yeeres . for the further enlargement yet of this town , on the other side of the riuer , by impaling likewise : for we make no other fence , is secured to our vse , especially for our hogges to feede in , about twelue english miles of ground , by name , hope in faith , coxen-dale , secured by fiue forts , called , charity fort , mount malado , a retreat , or guest house for sick people , a high seat , and wholsome aire , elzabeth fort , and fort patience : and heere hath mr. whitacres chosen his parsonage , or church land , som hundred acres impaled , and a faire framed parsonage house built thereupon , called rocke hall of this towne , and all the forts thereunto belonging , hath captaine iames dauis , the principall commaunde , and gouernment . i proceed to our next and most hopefull habitation , whether we respect commodity , or security , ( which we principally aime at ) against forraigne designes , and inuasions , i meane the bermuda citty , begun about christmas last , which because it is the neerest adioyning to henrico , though the last vndertaken , i hould it pertinent to handle in the next place . this towne , or plantation is seated by land , some miles from henrico , by water fourteene , being the yeer before the habitation of the appamatucks , to reuenge the trecherous iniurie of those people , done vnto vs , taken from them , besides all their corne , the former before without the losse of any , saue onely some few of those indians , pretending our hurt ) at what time sir thomas dale , being himself vpon that seruice , and duly considering how commodious a habitation and seat it might be for vs , tooke resolution to possesse and plant it , and at that very instant , gaue it the name of the new bermudas , whereunto he hath laid out , and annexed to be belonging to the freedome , and corporation for euer , many miles of c●ampion , and woodland , in seuerall hundreds , as the vpp●r and nether hundreds , rochdale hundred , wests sherly hundred , and digges his hundred in the nether hundred he first began to plant , and inhabite for that there lyeth the most conuenient quantity of corne ground , and with a pale cut ouer from , riuer to riuer , about two miles long , wee haue securd some eight miles circuit of ground , the most part champion , and exceeding good corne ground , vppon which pale , and round about , vpon the verge of the riuer in this hundred , halfe a mile distant from each other , are very faire houses , already builded , besides diuers other particular mens houses , not so few as fifty , according to the conditions of the pattent graunted them , which who so pleaseth to peruse , shall in the end of my discourse finde it inserted . in this plantation next to sir thomas dale is principal , in the commaund , captaine georg yardley , sir thomas gates his lieftenaunt , who se endeauours haue euer deserued worthy commendations in that imployment . rochdale hundred by a crosse pale , well nigh foure miles long , is also already impaled , with bordering houses all along the pale , in which hundred our hogges , and other cattell haue twenty miles circuit to graze in securely . the vndertaking of the chiefe citty deferred till their haruest be in , which once reaped , all hands shall be imployed theron , which sir thomas dale purposeth , and he may with some labour effect his designes , to make an impregnable retreat , against any forraign inuasion , how powrefull so euer . about fifty miles from this seat , on the other side of the riuers , is iames towne situate , vpon a goodly and fertile island : which although formerly scandoled with vnhealthfull aire , we haue since approued as healthfull as any other place in the country : and this i can say by mine own experience , that that corn and gardaine ground ( which with much labour beeing when we first seated vpon it , a thick wood ) wee haue cleered , and impaled , is as fertile as any other we haue had experience and triall off . the towne it selfe by the ca●e and prouidence of sir thomos gates , who for the most part had his chiefest residence there , is reduced into a hansome forme , and hath in it two faire rowes of howses , all offramed timber , two stories , and an vpper garret , or corne lof● high , besides three large , and substantiall storehowses , ioyned togeather in length some hundred and twenty foot , and in breadth forty , and this town hath been lately newly , and strongly impaled , and a faire platforme for ornance in the west bulworke raised : there are also without this towne in the island , some very pleasa●t , and beutifull howses , two blockhouses , to obserue and watch least the indians at any time should swim ouer the back riuer , and come into the island , and certain other farme howses . the commaund and gouernment of this town , hath master iohn scarpe , li●tenant to captain francis west , brother to the right honourable , the lord lawarre . from iames towne downewards , some forty and odde miles at the mouth of the riuer , neer point comfort , vpon kecoughtan , are two pleasant and commodious forts , henrie and charles , goodly seats , and much corne ground about them , abounding with the commodities of fish , fowle , deere , and fruits , whereby the men liue there , with halfe that maintenaunce out of the store , which in other places is allowed : certainly this habitation would bee no whit inferiour to the best we haue there , saue , as yet , with the poore meanes we haue ; we cannot secure it , if a forraigne enemy , as we haue iust cans to expect daily should attempt it . and of these forts , captain georg we● was lately establishd the principall commander . it hath been our greatest care , and labour hitherto , and yet but these three yeers , the former foure meerely mispent , to compasse these businesses , which being thus setled , and brought to such perfection , as i haue described , now doth the time approch , that commodity may be expected , and if meanes bee sent ouer , will assuredly be returned . what honest spirit , hauing hitherto laboured herein , would at the vpshot ( as i may so term it ) be discouraged or desist ? i hope none , rather more will be animated , ( if need require ) to put too their helping hands and purses . and euen thus i haue shaddowed i hope , without the guilt of tedious , or prolix discourses ( as i haue been able ) the trne condition ( though many circumstances omitted ) of virginia , what may the substance be , when the externall shew is so forward , so glorious . i haue purposely omitted the relation of the contry commodities , which euery former treatise hath abundantly , the hope of the better mines , the more base , as iron , allom , and such like , perfectly discouered , and made triall off , and surely of these things i cannot make so ample relation , as others , who in the discouery of those affaires , haue bin , then my selfe more often conuersant , onely of the hopefull , and marchantable commodities of tobacco , silke grasse , and silke wormes : i dare thus much affirme , and first of tobacco , whose goodnesse mine own experience and triall induces me to be such , that no country vnder the sunne , may , or doth affoord more pleasant , sweet , and strong tobacco , then i haue tasted there , euen of mine owne planting , which , howsoeuer being then the first yeer of our triall thereof , wee had not the knowledge to cure , and make vp , yet are ther some now resident there , out of the last yeers well obserued experience , which both know , and i doubt not , wili make , and returne such tobacco this yeer● , that eu●n england shall acknowledge the goodnesse thereof . now i proceed to the silke grasse which groweth like vnto our flax , i meane not , of that kinde fo●merly sent ouer , i haue seen , euen of the naturall , and wilde plants , which captaine martin , who much delighteth in those businesses , hath made , exceeding fine , and exceeding strong silke , and himselfe hath replanted many of the wilde plants this yeere , the silke whereof he purposeth to returne for triall . the silke wormes sent thither from england , in seeds the last winter , came foorth many of them the beginning of march , others in aprill , maye , and iune , thousands of them grown to great bignesse , and a spinning , and the rest well thriuing of their increase , and commodity well knowne to be reaped by them , we haue all most assurance ( since sure i am ) no country affoordeth more store of mulbery trees , or a kind with whose leafe they more delight , or thriue better . it may be heere happily expected , that i should giue vp the relation of captaine argalls particular voyages and indeauours , and euen as in a plat , demonstrate his norward discoueries , from which businesse i desire to be excused , partly , because himselfe is best able to make his owne relations , and partly , because my home imployments would not permit me leisure to accompany him , though my selfe desirous , in any of his voyages , whose indeauours , if i should indeauour to make knowne , and publish , could receiue no honour at all by my commendations , or descriptions : much might they be impaired , through my ignorance , or vnskillfullnes to set them foorth : yet cannot i omit to publish to the world , what present reliefe he hath don to the colony , furnishing vs by two trading ▪ voyages , with three and twenty hundred bushels of corne , into our store deliuered : beside , what he reserued for his mens prouision , what he bestowed vpon well deseruers , and what his men appropriated , i passe by the benefit of peace iu those parts , by reason of his captiue pochahuntas , concluded established , and will onely name the commoditie by his meanes done vnto vs , in repairing of our weatherbeten boats , and furnishing vs with new , b●th strong , and vsefull , without whose assistance heerin , vnlesse wee should haue omitted other necessary imployments , i see not how we should haue had passage one to another . his norward discoueries towards sacadeh●c , and beyond to portroyall , sancta ▪ crux , and thereabout may not be concealed : in which his aduentures , if he had brought home no commodity to the colony , ( which yet he did very much , both of apparrell , victualls , and many other necessaries ) the honour which he hath done vnto our nation , by displanting the french , there beginning to seate & fortesie within our limits , and taking of their ship and pinnas , which he brought to iames towne , would haue been reward enough for his paines , and will euer speake loud his honour , and approue● valour . i haue heard it credibly reported , euen from the mouth of captaine argall , that in one small shippe , and in one voyage , the french haue cle●red eight thousand pounds by trade with the indians , for ●●rs , which benefit wil be as easily by vs procured . it is true the saluadges there inhabiting ( before captaine argalls arriuall ) esteemed the french as demy-gods , and had them in great estimation : but seeing them vanquished and ouercom by vs , forsook the● , yea , which is no meane point of pollicy , desired our friendship , telling captaine argall , that hee had vndone them for euer , for that the french by yeer●ly trade with them for furres , furnished them with ma●y necessaries , whereof they had great want , which trade by this meanes might happily be hindered . but captaine argall hath agreed with them to res●rue their furr●s for him , and promised the● , once a yeere to come thither , and truck with them : they seemed very well content , assuring him , that though the french should at any time arriue there , and proffer them trade , they would reserue all their furs for him , and what profit by this meanes onely , may be returned to the virginia aduenturers , i submit to captaine argalls owne oppinion and iudgement . i purrposely omitted one thing in the treatise of our concluded peace , wherewith i intend to conclud my discourse , which already i haue drawne to a longer period then i purposed , whereby wee haue gathered the better assurance , of their ho●est inward intentions , and this it is . it pleased sir thomas dale ( my selfe being much desirous before my returne for england , to visit powhatan , & his court , because i would be able to spea● somwhat thereof by mine own knowledge ) to imploy my selfe , and a● english boy for my interpreter on thomas saluage ( who had liued three yeers with powhatan , and speakes the language naturally , one whom powhatan much affecteth ) vpon a message vnto him , which was to deale with him , if by any meanes i might procure a daughter of his , who ( pochahuntas being already in our possession ) is generally reported to be his delight , and darling , and surely he esteemeth her as his owne soule ) for surer pledge of peace . i departed the fifteenth of may early in the morning , with the english boy , and two indian guides , from the bermudas , and came to his court or residence ( as i iudge some three score miles distant from vs , being seated at the h●●d almost of pama●nkie riuer , at a towne called m●tchcot ) the next night after , about twelue of the clocke , the former night lodging in the open woods , feareles and without daunger : when we were come oppo●●te to his towne , the maine riuer betweene him and vs , least at any time we should martch by land vnto him vndiscouered : my indian guides called f●r a canoa ( ● boate made onely of one tree , after the fashion of a hollow trough ) to transport vs , giuing them to know that there was two english sent vpon businesse to powhatan from the english weroance , which once knowne , a canoa was presently sent , and we ferried ouer , powhatan himselfe attending at the landing place to welcome vs. his first salutation was to the boy , whom he very wel rem●mbred , after this manner : my childe you are welcome , you haue bin a straunger to me these foure yeeres , at what time i gaue you leaue to goe to paspahae ( for so was iames towne called before our seating there ) to see your friends , and till now you neuer returned : you ( said he ) are my child , by the donatiue of captaine newport , in liew of one of my subiects namontacke , who i purposely sent to king iames his land , to see him and his country , and to returne me the true report thereof , he as yet is not returned , though many ships haue arriued here from thence , since that time , how ye haue delt with him i know not ? hauing thus ended his speech to him , he addressed himself to me , and his first salutation , without any words at all , was about my necke , and with his hand he seeled round about it , so as i might haue imagined he would haue cut my throate , but that i knew he durst not , he asked me where the chain● of pearle was , i demaunded what chaine : that , said he , which i sent my brother sir thomas dale for a present , at his first arriuall ▪ which chaine , since the peace concluded , he sent me word , if he sent any englishman vpon occasion of busines to me , he should weare about his necke , otherwise i had order from him to binde him and send him home againe . it is true sir thomas dale had sent him such word ( which till then my selfe neuer heard of ) and for this purpose had giuen his page order to deliuer me the said chaine , who forgot it : i was doubtfull at the first how to answere him , yet presently i replied that i was not ignorant of that message from his brother , formerly sent vnto him , whereby he onely cutended that if vpon extraordinary and sudden occasion , he should be co●strained to send an english man vnto him without an indian guide , then in testimonie that he sent him hee should weare the chaine about his necke : but in case any of his owne people should conduct any english vnto him , as did me , two of his owne men , one of them a counceller vnto him , who was acquainted with my businesse ▪ their testimony s●ould be sufficient , and the chaine then needelesse to be worne , which answere pleased him well , and fourth with he brought vs to his house , not full a stones cast from the water-side , whereinto being come , himselfe sat downe on his bedsteade side , bed th●re was none mo●e then a single mat , on each hand of him was placed a comely and personable young woman , not twenty yee●es old the eld●●● , which they call his queenes , the house with in round about be● set wi●h them , the outside guarded with an hundred bowmen , with their quiuers of arrowes at their backes , which at all times , & places attend his person . the first thing hee offered vs was a pipe of tobacco , which they call pissimore , whereof himselfe fi●st dranke , and then gaue it me , and when i had drank what i pleased , i returned his pipe , which with his owne hands he vouchsafed to take from me : th●n began he to inquire how his brother sir thomas dale fared , after that of his daughters welfare , her mariage , hi● vnknowne sonne , and how they liked , liued and loued together : i resolued him that his brother was very well , and his daughter so well content that she would not change her life to returne and liue with him , whereat he laughed heartily , and said he was very glad of it . now proceede ( said he ) to deliuer the cause of your vnexpected comming ; i certified him my message was priuate , to be deliuered to himselfe , without the presence of any , saue one of his counceller● , by name pepas●hicher , one of my guides , who was acquainted with my businesse , he instantly comm●uded all , both men and women out of the house , his two queenes onely excepted , who vpon no occasion whatsoeuer , may sequester themselues . now ( said he ) speake on , and my selfe by my interpreter thus begun , sir thomas dale your brother , the principal commander of the english men , sends you greeting of loue and peace , on his part inuiolable , and hath in ●estimonie thereof ( by me sent you a worthie present , vid , two large peeces of copper , fiue strings of white and blew beades , fiue wodden combes , ten fish-hookes , and a paire of kniues , all which i deliuered him , one thing after another , that he might haue time to view each particular : he willed me also to certifie you , that when you pleased to send men , he would giue you a great grinding stone : my message and gift hitherto pleased him , i proceeded thus . the bruite of the exquesite perfection of your yongest daughter , being famous through all your territories , hath come to the hearing of your brother sir thomas dale , who for this purpose hath addressed me hither , to in●reate you by that brotherly friendship you make profession of , to permit her ( with me ) to returne vnto him , partly for the desire which himse●fe hath , and partly for the desire her ●●●ter hath to see her of whom , if fame hath not bin prodigall , as like enough it hath not , your brother ( by your fauour ) would gladly make his neerest companion , wife and bed●ellow ( many times he would haue interrupted my speech , which i intreated him to heare out , and then if he pleased to returne me answere ) and the reason hereof is , because being now friendly and firmely vnited together , and made one people ( as he supposeth and beleeues ) in the band of loue , he would make a naturall vnion betweene vs , principally becaus● himselfe hath taken resolution to dwel in your country so long as he liueth , and would therefore not only haue the firmest a●surance hee may , of perpetuall friendship from you , but also hereby binde himselfe thereunto . when i had thus made an end of speaking ; the sooner by his often interruption , i had no neede to require his answere ; which readily , ●nd with no lesse grauity he retu●ned thus . i gladly accept your kings salute of loue & peace , which while i liue i shall exactly , both my selfe and subiects maintaine and conserue : his pledges thereof i receiue with no lesse thankes , albeit they are not so ample ; howbeit himselfe a greater weroance , as formerly captaine newport , whom i very well loue , was accustomed to gratefie me with . but to the purpose , my daughter whom my brother desireth , i sould within these few daies to be wife to a great weroance for two bushels of roanoake ( a small kinde of beades ) made of oystershels , which they vse and passe one to another , as we doe money ( a cubites length valuing sixe pence ) and it is true she is already gone with him , three daies iorney from me . i replied that i knew his greatnesse and power to be such , that if he pleased heerein to gratifie his brother hee might , restoring the roanoake without the imputation of iniustice , take hoame his daughter againe , the rather because she was not full twelue yeeres old , and therefore not marriageable : assuring him beside the band of peace , so much the firmer he should haue treble the prise of his daughter , in beades , copper , hatch●ts and m●ny other things more vsefull for him ? his answere hereunto was , that he loued his daughter as deere as his owne life , and though he had many children , he delighted in none so much as in her , whom if he should nor often beholde , he could not possibly liue , which she liuing with vs he knew he could not , hauing with himselfe resolued vpon no termes whatsoeuer to put himselfe into our hands , or come amongst vs , and therefore intreated me to vrge that suite no further , but returne his brother this answer . i desire no firmer assurance of his friendship , then his promise which he hath already made vnto mee ; from me , he hath a pledge , one of my daughters , which so long as she liues shall be sufficient , when she dieth he shall haue another childe of mine , but she yet liueth : i holde it not a brotherly part of your king , to desire to bereaue me of two of my children at once ; further giue him to vnderstand , that if he had no pledge at all he should not neede to distrust any iniurie from me , o● any vnder my subiection , there haue bin too many of his men and my killed , and by my occasion there shall neuer bee more , i which haue power to performeit , haue said it : no n●●'though i should haue iust occasion offered , for i am now olde , and would gladly end my daies in peace , so as if the english offer me iniury , my country is large enough , i will remoue my selfe farther from you . thus much i hope will satisfie my brother . now because your selues are wearie , and i sleepie , we will thus end the discourse of this businesse . then called he one of his men , and willed him to get some bread for vs , himselfe the meane while telling vs that they not expecting our comming , as vsually they doe eate vp all their other victnals , presently the bread was brought in two great wodden bouls , the quantity of a bushel sod breade made vp round , of the bignesse of a tenise b●ll , whereof we eate some few , and disposed the rest to many of his hungrie guarde which a●tended about vs : when we had eaten he caused to be fetch●d a great glasse of sacke , some three quarts or better , which captain newport had giuen him sixe or seauen yeeres since , carefully preserued by him , not much aboue a pint in all this time spent ; and gaue each of vs in a great oister shell some three spoonefuls ; and so giuing order to one of his people to appoint vs a house to lodge in , tooke his leaue for that night , and we departed . we had not bin halfe an houre in the house before the fleas began so to torment vs that wee could not rest there , but went forth , and vnder a broade oake , vpon a mat reposed our selues that night no sooner were we awakt and vp in the morning , but powhatan himselfe came to vs , and asked vs how we fared , and immediatly led vs to his house , where was prouided for our breakefast a great bole of indian pease and bea●es boyled together , and as much bread as might haue sufficed a dosen hungry men , about an houer after boyled fresh fish , and not long after that roasted oysters , creuises and crabbes : his ●en in this time being abroade a hunting some venison , others turkeis and such like beasts and foule as their woods afforde , who returned before ten of the clocke with three does and a bucke , very good and fat venison , and two great cocke turkeis , all which were dressed that day , and supper ended , scarce a bone to be seene . whiles i yet remained there , by great chaunce came an english man thither , almost three yeeres before that time surprised , as he was at worke neere fort henrie , one william parker growen so like both in complexion and habite to the indians , that i onely knew him by his tongue to be an englishman , he seemed very ●oyfull so happily to meete me there . of him when we often inquired , the indians euer tolde vs that he fell sicke and died , which till now we beleeued● he intreated me to vse my best indeuours to procure his returne , which thing i was purposed so soone as i knew him , and immediately went with him to powhatan , and tolde him that we credibly bel●eued that he was dead , but since it was otherwise i must needes haue him home , for my selfe of necessitie must acquaint his brother that i had seene him there : who if he returned not , would make another voyage thither purposely for him : powhatan seemed very much discontent , and thus repli●d . you haue one of my daughters with you , and i am therewith well content , but you can no sooner see or ●now of any english mans being with me , but you must haue him away , or else bre●ke peace and friendship : if you must needes h●ue him , he shal● goe with you , but i will send no guides along with you , so as if any ill befall you by the way , thanke your selues . i answered , that rather then i would goe without him , i would goe alone , the way i kne● well enough , and other daungers i feared not , since if i ●eturned not safely , he must expect our reuenge vpon him and his people , giuing him further to know , that his brother our king might haue iust occasion to distrust his loue to him , by his slight respect of me , if he returned mee home without guides . he replied not hereunto , but in passion and discontentment from me , not till suppe●time speaking any more vnto me : when sending for me , he gaue me share of such cates as were for himself prouided , and as good aspect and countenance as before ; but not a word concerning my returne , till himselfe at midnight comming to me , and the boy where we lay awaked vs , and tolde me that pepaschech●r and another of his men , in the morning should accompany vs home , earnestly reque●●ing me to remember his brother to send him these particulars . ten peeces of copper , a shauing kni●e , an iron frow to cleaue bordes , a grinding stone , not so bigge but four or fiue men may carryit , which would be bigge enough for his vse , two bone combes , such as captaine newport had giuen him ; the wodden ones his own men can make : an hundred fish-hookes or if he could spare it , rather a fishing saine , and a cat , and a dogge , with which things if his brother would furnish him , he would require his l●ue with the returne of skinnes : wherewith he was now altogether vnfurnished ( as he tolde me ) which yet i knew hee was well stored with , but his disposition mistrustfull and ielous , loues to be on the surer hand . wh● he had deliuered this●his message , he asked me if i will remembred euery paticular , which i must repeat to him for his assurance , & yet ●till doubtful that i might forget any of them , he bade me write them downe in such a table book as he shewed me , which was a very fair one , i desired him , it being of no vse to him , to giue it mee : but he tolde me , it did him much good to shew it to strangers which came vnto him : so in mine owne table booke , i wrot downe each particular , and he departed . in the morning , himselfe and wee were timely stirring to be gone : to breakefast first we went , with a good boyled turkie , which ended , he gaue vs a whole turkie , besides that we left , and three baskets of bread to carry vs home , and when we were ●eady to depart , hee gaue each of vs an excellent bucks skin , very well dressed , and white as snow , aud s●nt his sonne and daughter each of them one , demaunding if i well remembred his answer to his brother , which i repeated to him : i hope ( laid he ) this will giue him good satisfaction , if it doe not ? i will goe three daies iourny f●rther from him , and neuer see english man more : if vpon any other occasion hee send to me again , i will gladly ent●rtain his missiues , and to my powre accomplish his iust requests : and euen thus himselfe conducting vs to the water sid● , he tooke leaue of vs , and we of him : and about ten of the clock the next night after , we were come to the bermudas . this discourse i haue briefely as i could , and as the matter would permit , the rather related , to make knowne , how charie powhatan is , of the conseruation of peace , a thing much desired , and i doubt not right welcom newes , to the vndertakers heer ) as may appeare by his answeres to my requests , and also by my safe passage thither , & homwards , without the lest shew of iniury offred vnto vs , though diuers times●by the way , many stragliug indians met vs , which in former times , would gladly haue taken so ●aire occasion to worke their mischiefe and bloody● designes vpon vs. by all which , as likewise by our forward progression in our affaires , i hope such good successe and benefit to bee speedily reaped , that ●y selfe , though i blesse god for it , who hath so prouided for me , that i may liue more happily heere , then many who are fearefull to aduenture thither ) could eu●n willingly make a third voyage thither if by my poore endeauours the businesse might receiue the least furtherance . god , ( i hope ) will raise vp meanes beyond mans imagination , to perfect his owne glory and honour , in the conuersion of those people , of whom vndoubtedly , ( as in all other parts in the world , he hath predestinated some to eternall saluation , and blessed shall those be that are the instruments thereof ) i hope this poor narration will moue euery honest heart , to put his helping hand thereunto . for my part , as i haue been fiue yeers a personall workeman in that building , so shall i euer , as my meanes may permit me , be ready to offer my mite towards the furnishing of others , and againe ( if need require ) personall labor therein . to the reader . there be two properties especially remarkeable , which should moue all men earnestly and constantly , with all their meanes and endeuour , to desire the a●cheiuing of any thing , and bringing of the same vnto perfection : first the worth and excellencie : secondly the durablenesse and continuance thereof . for as that thing which is not durable , by reason of fragilitie and fugacitie , is not vsually esteemed of men , though it be excellent : so that likewise which is not precious , is worthely little regarded , though it be neuer so durable . now the virginian plantation hath both these notable properties , if at the least we will , and impeach them not our selues ; for what is m●re excellent , more precious and more glorious , then to conuert a heathen nation from worshipping the diuell , to the sa●ing knowledge , and true worship of god in christ iesus ? what more praiseworthy and charitable , then to bring a sauage people from barbarisme vnto civi●●itie ? what more honour●ble vnto our ●●●ntre● , then to reduce a farre disioyned forraign● nation , vnder the d●e obedience of our dread soueraigne the kings maiestie ? what more conuenient then to haue good s●ates abroade for our euer flowing multitudes of people at home ? what more profitable then to purchase great wealth , which most now adaies gape after ouer-greedily ? all which benefits are assuredly to b●e had and obtained by well and plentifully vpholding of the plantatio● in virginia . and for the durablenesse of all these great and singular blessings , there ●an ( by gods assistance ) be no doubt at all made , if mens hearts vnto whom god hath lent abilitie ) were but inla●ged cheerefully to aduenture and send good companies of honest industrious m●n thither with a mind to inlarge christs kingdome : for then will god assuredly maintaine his owne cause . but alas , as there was neuer yet any action so good . so honourable , so glorious , so pious and so profitable , but hath had checkes and disconr●gements , both by open enemies abroade , and intestine aduersaries at home with in it owne bowels : euen so may i truely say , hath this m●st glorious , most honourable , most pious and most profitable enterprise had . for as of old , when zerubbabel ▪ ezra and nehemia returned from babell , by allowance of the king of persia to ierusalem , and began to repaire the walles thereof , and to restore gods seruice , there wanted not a sanballat and others to say : what doe these weak● iewes ? will they fortifie themselues ? will they sa●crific● ? will they fini●h it in a day ? noe , for although they builde , yet if a fox goe vp , he shall euen breake downe that stony wall , euen so deale many sanballates and tobiahes forraigne and domesticall enemies of this most religious worke : yea there be many who will not seeme enemies thereunto , but yet will neither further the businesse themselues , no not according to their owne ingagements which in conscience and ●redit● they ought ) nor quietly suffer o●hers that otherwise ●old , but discourage them therin all they may som saying as iudah once did . the strength of the bear●rs is weakned , and there is much earth , so as we are n●t able to build● the wall . som s●ying with the vnfaithfull spies , sent forth to search the l●●d of canaan : the land wee went t●rough to ●earch it out is a land that eateth vp the inhabitan●s th●reof , for all the people we saw in it ar● stro●g and m●n of ●reat stature : yea and some others say , there is much already expended , and yet n● profit ariseth , neither is there victuals to be had , for the preseruing of life and soule together . but oh my deere countrie-men , be not so farre bewitched herewith as to be still discouraged thereat for t●ose that bring a vilde slauder vpon this action , may die by a plague bef●re the lord , as those men did : but rather remembring your a●ncient worth , renowne , valour and bounty , harken vnto caleb and iosua , who stilled the peoples mourning : saying , let vs goe vp at once and possesse it , for vndoubtedly we shall ouercome it ; yet not so much now by force of armes as the israelites did then by warrant from god ( nor by vtterly destroying of them , as some haue cruelly done since ) as by gentlenesse , loue , amity and religion . as for profit it shall come abundantly , if we can with the husband-man , but freely cast our corne into the ground , and with patience waite for a blessing . and of victuals , there is now no complaint at all , and that which was hapned by the meere lasie negligence of our owne people . now to the end that you may the better perceiue these things to be true , & be thereby the more animated cheerefully to goe forward in the vpholding of this holy worke , i will no longer detaine you from the perusall of some calebs and iosu●hs faithfull reports ( writ there in iune last this present yeere . and sent hither by the last shippe that came thence ) for further incouragement to put hereunto speedily & plentifully your helping hands with al●lacrity : as for the that are able , & yet wil not further , but indaunger the veter ruining of this so glorious a cause ( by their miserablenesse ( being without loue and charitie ) to the great dishonour of god , and our countries perpetuall shame should it now sinke , and fall to the gonnd : i leaue them to him that made them , to dispose of them according to his infinite wisdome . and so come to the letters themselues : the first and chiefest whereof is from sir thomas dale , marshall and gouernour of virginia , vnto a minister of london . to the r. and my most esteemed friend mr. d.m. at his house at f. ch. in london . right reuerend sr. by sr. thomas gates i wrot vnto you , of such occasions as then presented themselues , and now again by this worthy gentleman captaine argall i salute you : for such is the reuerend regard i haue of you , as i cannot omit any occasion to expres the sincere affection i beare you . you haue euer giuen me encouragements to perseuer in this religious warfare , vntill your last letters ; not for that you are now lesse well affected thereunto : but because you see the action to bee in danger by many of their non performances who vnder tooke the businesse . i haue vndertaken , and haue as faithfully , & with all my might indeauored the prosecution with all allacrity , as god that knoweth the heart , can beare me record , what recompence , or what rewards , by whom , or when i know not where to expect ; but from him in whose vineyard i labor , whose church with greedy appetite i desire to erect . my glorious master is gone , that would haue ennamelled with his fauours the labours i vndertake , for gods cause , and his immortall honour . he was the great captaine of our israell , the hope to haue builded vp this heauenly new ierusalem he interred ( i think ) the whole frame of this businesse , fell into his graue : for most mens forward ( at least seeming so ) desires a●e quenched , and virginia stands in desperate hazard . you there doe your duties , i will no way omit mine , the time i promised to labour , is expired : it is not a yoke of oxen hath drawn me from this feast : it is not the marriage of a wife maks me hast home , though that sall●t giue an appetite to cause me returne . ●ut i haue more care of the stock , then to set it vpon a die , and rather put my selfe to the curtesie of noble & worthy c●nsures then ruine this worke ; and haue a iury ( nay a million ) of foule mouthed detracters , scan vpon my endeauours , the ends whereof they cannot diue into . you shall briefely vnderstand , what hath betide since my last , and how we now stand , and are likely to grow to perfection , if we be not altogeather ●eglected , my stay grounded vpon such reason , as had i now returned , it would haue hazarded the ruine of all . sir thomas gates hauing imbarqued himselfe for england , i put my selfe into captaine argalls ship , ●ith a hundred and fifty men in my frigot , and other boats went into pamaunkie riuer , where powhatan hath his residence , and can in two or three daies , draw a thousand men togeather , with me i carried his daughter , who had been long ●risoner with vs , it was a day or two before we heard of them : at length they demaunded why we came ; i gaue for answere that i came to bring him his daughter , conditionally he would ( as had been agreed vpon for her ransome ) render all the armes , tooles , swords , and men that had runne away , and giue me a ●●ip full of co●ne , for the wrong 〈◊〉 had done vnto vs : if they would doe this , we would be friends , if not burne all . they demaunded time to send to their king ; i assented , i taking , they receiuing two pledges , to carrie my message to powhatan . all night my two men lay not far from the water side , about noon the next day they told them the great king was three daies ●ourney off , that opochankano was hard by , to whom they would haue had them deliuer their message , saying , that what he agreed vpon and did , the great king would confirme . this opocankano is brother to powhatan , and is his and their chiefe captaine : and one that can as soone ( if not sooner ) as powhatan commaund the men . but my men refused to doe my message vnto any saue● powhatan , so they were brought back , and i s●nt theirs to them , they tould me that they would fetch simons to me , who had thrice plaid the runnagate , ●hose lies and villany much hindred our trade for corne : but they delayed vs , so as we went a shore they shot at vs , we were not behinde hand with them , killed some , hurt others , marched into the land , burnt their houses , tooke their corne , and quartered all night ashore . the next day we went further vp the riuer , they dogged vs , and called to know ●hiter we went ; wee answered , to burne all , if they would not doe as ●e demaunded , and had been agreed vpon . they would they said , bring all the next day so wee for ba●e all hostility , went a s●ore , their men in good numbers comming amongst vs ▪ but we were very cautious & stood to our arms . the kings daughter went ashore , but would not talke to any of them scarce to them of of the best sort ▪ and to them onely ; that if her father had loued her , he would not value her lesse then olde swords , peeces , or axes : wherefore she would stil dwel with the english men , who loued her . at last came one from powhatan , who tould vs , that simons was run away , to nonsowhaticond , which was a truth , as ●fterwards appeared , but that the other english man was dead , that proued a lie : for since , mr. hamor , whom i employed to powhatan brought him to me , our peeces , swords , and tooles within fifteen daies , should be sent to iames towne , with some corne , and that his daughter should be my childe , and euer dwell vvith mee , desiring to be euer friends , and named such of his people , and neighbour kings , as he desired to be included , and haue the benefit of the peace , promising if any of our men came to him , vvithout leaue from me , he would send them back : and that if any of his men stole from vs , or killed our cattel , he vvould send them to vs to bee punished as vve thought fit . with these conditions we returned , and vvithin the time limited , part of our arms vvere sent , and . men vvith corne , and promised more , vvhich he hath also sent . opachankano desired i vvould call him friend , and that he might call me so , saying he vvas a great captaine , and did alwaies fight : that i vvas also a great captaine , and therefore he loued mee ; and that my friends should be his friends . so the bargain vvas made , and euery eight or ten daies , i haue messages and presents from him , vvith many apparances that he much desireth to continue friendshippe . novv may you iudge sir , if the god of battailes haue not a helping hand in this , that hauing our swords dravvn , killing their men , burning their houses , and taking their corne ▪ yet they tendred vs peace , and striue vvith all allacrity to keep vs in good oppinion of them ; by vvhich many benefits arise vnto vs. first , part of our armes , disgracefully lost long agoe , ( kept by the sauages as monuments and trophies of our shames ) redeliuered , some repaire to our honor . our catle to increase , without danger of destroying , our men at liberty , to hunt freely for venison , to fish , to doe any thing else , or goe any vvhither , without danger ; to follovv the husbanding of their corne securely , vvhereof vve haue aboue fiue hundred acres set , and god be praised , in more forwardnesse , then any of the indians , that i haue seene , or heard off this yeere , roots , and hearbs vve haue in abundanue ; all doubt of want is by gods blessing quite vanished , and much plenty expected . and vvhich is not the least materiall , vve may by this peace , come to discouer the countrey better , both by our own trauells , and by the relation of the sauages , as vve grovv infamiliarity vvith them , powhatans daughter i caused to be carefully instructed in christian religion , vvho after shee had made some good progresse therein , renounced publickly her countrey idolatry , openly confessed her christian faith , vvas , as she desired , baptised , and is since married to an english gentleman of good vnderstanding , ( as by his letter vnto me , coutaining the reasons for his marriage of her you may perceiue ) an other knot to binde this peace the stronger . her father and friends gaue approbation to it , and her vncle gaue her to him in the church : she liues ciuilly and louingly with him and i trust will increase in goodnesse , as the knowledge of god increaseth in her . she will goe into england with me , and were it but the gayning of this one soule , i will thinke my time , toile , and present stay vvell spent . since this accident the gouernours and people of checkahomanies , who are fiue hundred bow-men , and better , a s●out and warlike nation , haue made meanes to haue vs come vnto them , and conclude a peace , where all the gouernours would meete me . they hauing thus three or foure times importune● mee , i resolued to goe ; so taking captain argall , with fifty men in myfrigot , and barge i vvent thither : captaine argall with forty men landed , i kept aboard for some reasons . vpon the meeting they tould captain argall they had longed to be friends , that they had no king , but eight great men , who gouernd them . he tould them that we came to be friends , asked them if they would haue king iames to be their king , & whether they would be his men ? they after som conference between themselues , seemed willing of both , demaunding if we would fight against their enemies , he tould them th●t if any did them iniurie , they should sen● me word , and i would agree them , or if their ad●ersaries would not , t●en i would let them haue as many men as they would to help them : they liked well of that , and tould him that all their men should helpe vs. all this being agreed vpon , c. argall gaue euery councellor a ta●aha●k , and a peece of copper , which was kindly taken ; they requested further , that if their boats should happen to meet with our boats , and that they said they were the chikahominy englishmen , and king iames his men , we vvould let them passe : vve agreed vnto it , so that they pronounced them selues english men , and king iames his men , promising within fift●en daies to c●●e 〈◊〉 iames town to see me , and conclude theese condi●io●s , euery b●wman being to giue me as a tribute to king iames two measures of corne euery haruest , the two measu●es contayning two bushells and a halfe . and i to giue euery bowman a small tamahawke , and to euery counseller a suit of red cloath , vvhich did much please them . this people neuer acknowledged any king , before ; no nor euer would acknowledge powhatan for their king , a stout people they be , and a delicate seat they haue . now sir you see our conditions ▪ you , and al worthy men may iudge , vvhether it vvould not be a griefe to see these faire hopes frostbitten and these fresh budding plants to wither ? which had i returned , had assuredly followed : for ●eer is no one that the people vvould haue to ●ouern them , but my selfe : for i had novv come away , had i not found a generall desire in the best ●ort to retu●ne for england : letter vpon letter , request vpon request from their friends to returne , so as i knew not vpon whom to conf●rre the care of this busines in my absence , whom i thought fitte was generally distas●ed , so as seeing the eminent ensuing danger , should i haue left this multitude , not yet fully refined , , i am resolued to stay till ha●uest b● got in , and then settle things according to my poor vnderstanding , and returne : if in the interim there come no authorised gouernour from england . consider i pray you since things be brought to this passe , as you see , and that i should haue come ●way , ●f th●n through their factio●s , humors , mutinies , or indiscretion of the chiefes i had left behind , this should fall to ruine : i then shoul● receiu● th● 〈◊〉 ; i incurre the blame , for quitting the p●antation , al●hough i might doe it , both vvith my honour , my promised stay of time being expired , an● hau●ng vvarrant from my soneraigne , the kings maiesty : but the 〈◊〉 reasons moued me and that this action of such price , such excellency and assured ●rofit to 〈◊〉 own knowledge should not die to the scorne of our nation , and to giue cause of laughter to the papists that desire cur●uine . i can assure you , no countr●y of the world affoordes more assured hopes of infinit riches , which both by mi●e o●n p●●pl●s discouery , & the relation of such sauages , vvhose fidelity●e haue often found assureth me . oh vvhy should so many princes , and noble men ingage themselue● and thereby intermedling herein , haue caused a number of so●es transport themselues , and be transported hither ? vvhy should they ( i say ) relinquish this so glorious an action . for if their ends bee to build god a church , ●hey ought to perseuer : if otherwise , yet their honour ingageth th●m to be consiant . howsoeuer they stand affected , heer is enough to content them , let their end● be either for god , or mammon . these th●ngs haue animated me to stay for a little season , to leaue those , i am tied in conscience to returne vnt● , to le●●e the assured benefits of my other fortunes , the sweete society of my friends , and acquaintance , vvith all m●ndall ●elightes , and reside heer with much t●●moile , w●ich i will constant●y doe , rather then see gods glorie diminished , my king and countrey dishonoured , and these poore people , i haue the charge of ruined ▪ and so i beseech you to answere for me , if you heare me taxed for my staying , as some may iustly do , and that these are my chiefe motiues god i take to vvitnesse . remember me , and the c●use i haue in hand , in your daily meditations , and reckon me in the number of those that doe sincerely loue you and yours , and vvill euer rest in all offices of a friend , to doe you seruice . from iames towne in virginia the of iune , . thomas dale . to my verie deere and louing cosen m. g. minister of the b. f. in london . sir the colony here is much better . sir thomas dale our religious and valiant geuernour , hath now brought that to passe , which neuer before could be effected . for by vvarre vpon our enemies , and kinde vsage of our friends , he hath brought them to seeke for peace of vs , vvhich is made , and they dare not breake . but that vvhich is best , one pocahuntas or matoa the daughter of powhatan , is married to an honest and discreete english gentleman maister rolfe , and that after she had openly renounced her countrey idolatry , confessed the faith of iesus christ , and vvas baptised ; vvhich thing sir thomas dale had laboured along time to ground in her . yet notvvithstanding , are the vertuous deeds of this vvorthy knight , much debased , by the letters vvhich some vvicked men have vvritten from hence , and especially by one c. ● . if you heare any condemne this noble knight , or doe feare to come hither , for those slaunderous letters , you may vpon my vvord bouldly reproue them . you knovv that no malefactors can abide the face of the iudge , but themselues scorning to be reproued , doe prosecute vvithall haired ; all those that labour their amendment . i maruaile much that any men of honest life , should feare the sword of the magistrate , which is vnsheathed onely in their defence . but i 〈…〉 muse , that so fevv of our english ministers that vvere so hot against the surplis and subscription : come hither vvhere neither spoken of . doe they not either vvilfully hide their tallents , or keepe themselves at home for feare of loosing a fevv pleasures ? be there not any amongst them of moses his minde , and of the apostles , that for sooke all to follovv christ ? but i referre them to the iudge of all hearts , and to the king that shall reward euery one according to the gaine of his tallent . but you my cosen , holde fast that vvhich you : ●aue , and i though my promise of yeers seruice to my country be expired , vvill abide in my vocation here vntill i be lawfully called from hence . and so betaking vs all vnto the mercies of god in christ iesus , i rest for euer . virginia iune . . your most deere and louing cosen alex. whitakers . the coppie of the gentle-mans letters to sir thomas da●e , that after maried powhatans daughter , containing the reasons mou●ing him thereunto . honourable sir , and most vvorthy gouernor : vvhen your leasure shall best serue you to peruse these lines , i trust in god , the beginning vvill not strike you into a greater admiration , then the end vvill giue you good content . it is a matter of no small moment , concerning my own particular which here i impart vnto you , and vvhich toucheth mee so neerely , as the tendernesse of my saluation . howbeit i freely subiect my selfe to your graue and mature iudgement , deliberation , approbation and determination ; assuring my selfe of your zealous admonitions , and godly comforts , either perswading me to desist , or incouraging me to persist ther in , with a religious feare and godly care , for which ( from the very instant , that this began to roote it selfe , vvithin the secret bosome of my brest ) my daily and earnest praiers haue bin , still are , and euer shall bee proed forthwith as sincere , a godly zeale , as i possiblely may to be directed , aided and gouerned in all my thoughts , vvords and deedes , to the glory of god , and for my eternal consolation . to perseuere vvherein i neuer had more neede , nor ( till novv ) could euer imagine to ha●e bin moued vvith the like occasion . but ( my case standing as it doth ) vvhat better vvo●l●ly refuge can i here seeke , then to shelter my selfe vnder the safety of your fauourable protection ? and did not my ease proceede from an vnspotted conscience , i should not dare to offer to your vievv and apr●oued iudgement , these passions of my troubled soule , so full of feare and trembling is hypocrisie and dissimulation . but knovving my owne innocency & godly feruor , in the vvhole prosecution hereof , i doubt not of your benigne acceptance , and clement construction . as for malicious deprauers , & turbulet spirits , to whom nothing is tastful , but what please●h their vnsauory pallat , i passe not for them being vvell assured in my perswasion ( by the often triall and prouing of my selfe , in my holiest meditations and praiers ) that i am called hereunto by the spirit of god ; and it shall be sufficient f●r me to be protected by your selfe in all vertuous and pious indeuours . and for my more happie proceeding herein , my daily oblations shall euer be addressed to bring to passe so good effects , that your selfe , and all the vvorld may truely say : this is the worke of god , and it is maruelous in our eies . but to auoide tedious preambles , and to come neerer the matter : first suffer me vvith your patience , to svvcepe and make c●eane the way vvherein i vvalke , from all suspici●us and doubts , vvhich may be couered therein , and faithfully to re●eale vnto yo● , vvhat shou●d moue me hereunto . let therefore this my vvell adu●sed protestation , vvhich here i make betweene god and my own conscience , be a sufficient vvitnesse , at the dreadfull day of iugdement ( vvhen the secret of all m●ns harts shall be opened ) to condemne me herein , if my chiefest intent and purpose be not ▪ to striue with all my power of body and minde , in the vndertaking of so mightie a matter , no vvay led ( so farre forth as mans vveakenesse may permit ) with the unbridled desire of carnall affection : but for the good of this plantation for the honour of our countrie , for the glory of god , for my owne saluation , and for the conuerting to the true knowledge of god and iesus christ , an vnbeleeuing creatu●e , namely pokahuntas . to whom my hartie and best ●houghts are , and haue a long time bin so in●angled , and inthralled in so intricate a laborinth , that i vva● euen awearied to vnwinde my selfe there●ut . but almighty god , vvho neuer faileth his , that truely inu●cate his holy name , hath opened the gate , and led me by the hand that i might plainely see and discerne the safe paths vvherein to trea●e . to you therefore ( most noble sir ) the patron and father of vs in this countrey doe i vtter the effects of this my setled and long continued affection ( which hath made a mightie warre in my meditations ) and here i doe truely relate , to vvhat issue this dangerous combate is come vnto , vvherein i haue not onely examined , but throughle tried and pared my thoughts euen to the quicke , before i could finde any fit vvholesome and ●apt applications to cure so daungerous an vlcer i neuer failed to offer my daily and faithfull praiers to ●od , for his sacred and holy assistance , i forgot not to set before mine eies the frailty of mankinde , his prones to euill , his indulgencie of vvicked thoughts , vvith many other imperfections vvherein man is daily insnared , and oftentimes ouerthrowne , and them compared to my p●es●nt estate . nor vvas i ignorant of the heauie displeasure which almightie god conceiued against the sonnes of leuie and israel for marrying strange vviues , nor of the inconueniences vvhich may thereby arise , with other the like good motions vvhich made me looke about warily and with good circumspection , into the grounds and principall agitations , which thus should prouoke me to be in loue with one whose education hath bin rude , her manners barbarous , her generation accursed , and so discrepant in all nurtriture from my selfe , that oftentimes with feare and trembling , i haue ended my priuate controuersie with this : surely these are vvicked instigations , hatched by him who seeketh and delighteth in mans destruction ; and so with feruent praiers to ●e euer preserued from such diabolical assaults ( as i tooke those to be ) i haue taken some rest . thus when i had thought i had obtained my peace and quietnesse , beholde another , but more gracious tentation hath made breaches into my holiest and strongest meditations ; with which i haue bin put to a new triall , in a straighter manner then the former : for besides the many passions and sufferings , vvhich i haue daily , hourely , yea and in my sleepe in●ured , euen awaking mee to astonishment , taxing me with remisnesse , and carelesnesse , refusing and neglecting to performe the duetie of a good christian , pulling me by the eare , and crying : why dost not thou indeuour to make her a christian ? and these haue happened to my greater wonder , euen when she hath bin furthest seperated from me , which in common reason ( were it not an vndoubted worke of god ) might breede forgetfulnesse of a farre more worthie creature . besides , i say the holy spirit of god hath often demaunded of me , why i was created ? if not for transitory pleasures and worldly vanities , but to labour in the lords vineyard , there to sow and plant , to nourish and increase the fruites thereof , daily adding with the good husband in the gospell , somewhat to the tallent , that in the end the fruites may be reaped , to the comfort of the laborer in this life , and his saluation in the world to come ? and if this be , as vndoubtedly this is , the seruice iesus christ requireth of his best seruant ; w● vnto him that hath these instruments of pietie put into his ●ands , and wilfully despiseth to worke with them . likewise , adding hereunto her great apparance of loue to me , her desire to be taught and instructed in the knowledge of god , her capablenesse of vnderstanding , her aptnesse and willingnesse to receiue anie good impression , and a●so the spirituall , besides her owne incitements stirring me vp hereunto . what should i doe ? ●hall i be of so vntoward a disposition , as to refuse to leade the blind into the right way ? shall i be so vnnaturall , as not to giue bread to the hungrie ? or vncharitable , as not to couer the naked ? shall i despise to actuate these pious dueties of a christian ? shall the base feare of displeasing the world , ouerpower and with-holde mee from reucaling vnto man these spirituall workes of the lord , which in my meditations and praiers , i haue daily made knowne vnto him ? god forbid . i assuredly trust hee hath thus delt with me for my eternall felicitie , and for his glorie : and i hope so to be guided by his heauenly grace , that in the end by my faithfull paines , and christianlike labour , i shall atteine to that blessed promise , pronounced by that holy prophet daniell vnto the righteous that bring many vnto the knowledge of god. namely , that they shall shine like the starres foreuer and euer . a sweeter comfort cannot be to a true christian , nor a greater incouragement for him to labour all the daies of his life , in the performance thereof , nor a greater game of consolation , to be desired at the hower of death , and in the day of iudgement . againe by my reading , and conference vvith honest and religious persons , haue i rec●iued no small encouragement , besides s●rena mea conscientia , the cleerenesse of my conscience , clean from the fi●th of impurity , quae est instar●nuri ahenei , vvhich is vnto me , as a brasen vvall . if i should set down at large , the perturbations & godly motions , which haue striuen vvithin mee , i should but make a tedious & vnnecessary volume . but i doubt not these shall be sufficient both to certifie you of my tr●● intents , in discharging of my dutie to god , & to your selfe , to vvhose gracious prouidence i humbly submit my selfe , for his glory , your honour , our countreys good , the benefit of this plantation , and for the conuerting of one vnregenerate , to regeneration ; vvhich i beseech god to graunt , for his deere sonne christ iesus his sake . now if the vulgar sort , who square all mens actions by the base rule of their own filthinesse , shall taxe or taunt me in this my godly labour : let them know , it is not any hungry appetite , to gorge my selfe vvith incontinency ; sure ( if i would , and were so sensually incliued ) i might satisfie such desire , though not vvithout a seared conscience , yet vvith christians more pleasing to the eie , and lesse fearefull in the offence vnlawfully committed . nor am i in so desperate an estate , that i regard not what becommeth of mee ; nor am i out of hope but one day to see my country , nor so void of friends , nor mean in birth , but there to obtain a mach to my great content : nor haue i ignorantly passed ouer my hopes there , or regardlesly seek to loose the loue of my friends , by taking this course : i know them all , and haue not rashly ouerslipped any . but shal it please god thus to dispose of me ( which i earnestly desire to fullfill my ends before sette down ) i vvill heartely accept of it as a goaly taxe appointed me , and i will neuer cease , ( god assisting me ) vntill i haue accomplished , & brought to perfection so holy a vvorke , in which i vvill daily pray god to blesse me , to mine , and her eternall happines . and thus desiring no longer to liue , to en●oy the blessings of god , then this my resolution doth tend to such godly ends , as are by me before declared : not doubting of your fauourable acceptance , i take my leaue , beseeching almighty god to raine downe vpon you , such plenitude of his heauenly graces , as your heart can wish and desire , and so i rest , at your commaund most willing to be disposed off iohn rolfe . virginia therefore standing now in such a goodly proportion , and faire forwardnesse of thriuing , as it was neuer yet hitherto seen in , since it began to be first planted : cannot but soone come to perfection , to the exceeding great comfort of all well affected christians , and no small profit of the planters , and aduenturers : if it be well seconded and supplyed , with a good number of able men : wherefore , let none bee heerafter vnwilling all they may to further this most honourable action , and be forward to vphold and support it from falling , by their speech , and countenance , and freely aduenturing thither , both in their persons , & also by their purses , as god hath inabled them . to conclude , as azariah sayd once to king azah , iuda , and beniamin , so say i vnto all . bee yee strong threfore , and let not your hands be weake : for your worke shall haue a reward . and as the holy apostle said to the corinthians , be ye therefore stedfast , vnmoueable , abundant alwaies in the vvorkes of the lord , for as much as ye know your labour is not in vaine in the lord , let vs not therefore bee vvearie of vvelldoing : for in due season , vvee shall reape , if wee faint not as the apostle tolde the galatians . farewell . finis . errata . pag● . inc . hir . p. , l. . op●●hanka●● . p. . l. . wer●ance . p. . l. . manu●● , p. . l. . next to vs. r●ad so as if . p. . l. . halfe , p. . l. . as . p. . l. . purposed . p. . l. . diuers , p. . l. sai●e . p. . l. . after do●● read , not . p. ● . l. . leaue out , he . p. . l. , cure . p. . l. ● bring . p. . l. . read immediatlie after by name , coxendale : and after the word , called , read , hope in faith . p. . l. . some● . p. . l. . ●uring p. . l. ● . read . after discon●●●●ment , wen● , p. . l. . messengers . p. . l. . personally . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e prince henry by the counsell of virginea whereas the good shippe called the hercules, is now preparing, and almost in a readiness with necessarie prouisions, to make a supplie to the lord governour and the colonie in virginea ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by the counsell of virginea whereas the good shippe called the hercules, is now preparing, and almost in a readiness with necessarie prouisions, to make a supplie to the lord governour and the colonie in virginea ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) virginia company of london. sheet ([ ] p.). t. haveland for f. welby, [s.l. : ] imprint suggested by stc ( nd ed.). advertisement for artisans to join the colony in virginia. reproduction of original in the society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . great britain -- history -- james i, - . broadsides -- london (england) -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion by the counsell of virginea . whereas the good shippe , called the hercules , is now preparing , and almost in a readinesse with necessarie prouisions , to make a supplie to the lord gouernour and the colonie in virginea , it i● thought meet ( for the auoiding of such vagrant and vnnecessarie persons as do commonly profer themselues , being altogether vnseruiceable ) that none but honest sufficient artificers , as carpenters , smiths , coopers , fishermen , brickmen , and such like , shall be entertained into this voyage : of whom so many as will in due time repaire to the house of sir thomas smith in philpotlane , with sufficient testimonie of their skill and good behauiour , they shall receiue entertainment accordingly . virgo triumphans, or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak, richly and experimentally valued : humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare, to the parliament of england, and councell of state / by edward williams, gent. williams, edward, fl. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing w ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virgo triumphans, or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak, richly and experimentally valued : humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare, to the parliament of england, and councell of state / by edward williams, gent. williams, edward, fl. . ferrar, john, d. . [ ], p. printed by thomas harper, for john stephenson, and are to be sold at his shop ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. the material for this work was communicated to williams by john farrer or ferrar. cf. "to the reader." eng silkworms -- early works to . north carolina -- description and travel -- early works to . south carolina -- description and travel -- early works to . virginia -- description and travel -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . roanoke island (n.c.) a r (wing w ). civilwar no virgo triumphans: or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular: including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excell williams, edward f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virgo trivmphan● or , virginia in generall , but the south part therof in particular : including the fertile carolana , and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak , richly and experimentally valued . humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare , to the parliament of england , and councell of state . by edvvard williams , gent. london , printed by thomas harper , for john stephenson , and are to be sold at his shop on ludgate-hill , at the signe of the sunne , . to the supreme authority of this nation , the parliament of england . right honorable : this dedication in it selfe unworthy the honour of an addresse to your grandeurs , and of a foile too dead i●●h●ddow to approach neere your most vigorous luster , reposes it selfe yet upon a confidence that in imitation of that god ( of whom you are in power the proper representatives ) who vouchsafed graciously to accept a p●ore paire of turtles from those whose abilities could not ascend t● a more rich oblation , you will be pleased to cast a favourable aspect upo● this humble offering , as proceeding from a gratefull cleere and sincere intention , whose desire being strong●y passionate to present your hono●rs with something more worthy the auspice of a beginning yeare , is circumscribed by a narrownesse of abilities and fortunes . and indeed my lownesse had prompted me to have found out a more humble patron for this treatise ; but since the interest of that nation you have so happily restored to its just and native liberty is the principall ayme intended in it , since the publick acknowledgement of the world unites in this common testimony , that god hath subscribed to all your heroick and christian undertakings with his own broad seal of victory● with his owne field word , go on and prosper : led you through the red sea of bloud into the land of canaan , into the harvest and vintage of israel , since pharoah and his mighty ones have been swallowed up in the rapid current in the hideous cataracts of their ambit●ous opposition ; and have by loud and convincing testimonies ( testimonies attracting the admiration of your friends , and confounding the malice of your enemies ) made it a blessed object of your consideration , that the preservation and fixure requires a bl●ssing no lesse sublime , and a vert●e no less● ex●l●●d , then the acquisiti●n and tenure of conquests , m●de good in the 〈◊〉 christ●ndome by vindicating the english honour up●n the brittish ocean with a ●u●ssant navy , a formidable subject of ●●●●●ment to the forraine enemies of your sion , by a strong winged prosecution of the irish assassinates , a spacious lettred example to teach english mutineers what they may expect by the re● sentence of justice upon irish rebells : all indeavours holding forth the way to improve the interest of this nation , are improperly addressed to any other then your selves , who as you have been the unexampled instruments of our unpinion● liberty , ought to be the sole iudges of whatsoever may relate to our future felicity . we should have suspected the sincerity of history in its delineation of the majesty which sat upon that august , and venerable roman senats , after having made the land tremble under the terrour of their armies , the sea to labour under the burthen of their numerous navies , after having delivered all power oppressing the universall liberty to the revenging beak of their victorious eagles● and minted the governments of the world by the rom●n standard ; had not the concentrici●y of your undertakings had not the homogeniousnesse of your actions and felici●y , vindicated and asserted the honour of antiquity , and raysed your reputations upon so high a wing of glory , that posterity will be los● in the same mist of jealousie and incredulity of your owne augustnesse , yet for ever want the revivall of such examples the restauration of such presidents to confirme them . and to the end you may in all things either parallell or transcend that romane greatnesse , of which you are the inimitable exemplary , who inriched the heart and strengthned the armes of their dominions by dispersing colonies in all angles of their empire , your pious care hath already layd a most signall foundation by inviting incouragemen● to undertakers of that nature : in the pursuit whereof let me beg the liberty in this paper , under your honours patronage to publish the many pressing and convincing reasons which have and may induce you to prosecute a designe of such universall concernment . . it will disburthen this nation of many indigent persons , who having formerly perhaps enjoyed a fulnesse of abused or ●orfeyted plenty , & at the present reduced to an inequality of such subsistence , are commonly prompted to their own● and other me●s ruine by making the high way●s ( which should be as publike and inviolable a sanctuary as the most sacred places ) an ambuscado to innocent travellers , by which interruption of passages , there is commonly occasioned a decay and disincouragement of commerce , and dayly examples informe us , that prisons at present are almost as full of crimi●all as indebted persons . . it will take off all parish charges , in providing for destitute minors and orphans , whereof there are at presen● a burthensome multitude , wherby the parishes so freed , m●y with greater alacrity and ability , part with c●ntributory moneys to maintaine , recrui●e , and incourage your armies and navies . . those orphans so provided for may by gods blessings upon their labours become happy and wealthy instruments , advantagious to the place of their nativity in particular , and their whole nation in generall . whereas the condition of their birth and the usuall way of exposing them● makes them capable of no more gainfull calling then that of day-labourers , or which is more frequent hereditary beggers . . the republick in its present constitution abounding with so dangerous a number of male contents , who commonly like shrubs under high and spreading cedars , imagine the spacious height of others to be the cause of their owne lownesse , may by this means be honourably secured , and such men removing their discontents with their persons , will have a brave and ample theater to make their merits and abilities emergent , and a large field to fow and reape the fruit of all their honest industrious and publick intentions . . it will to admiration increase the number of ships and sea-men , ( the brazen wall of this nation ) all materialls to advance navigation , being abundantly to be furnished out of those countries , and the more ingenious passengers by conference and disputation with the k●owing mariner , will take a great delight , satisfaction , and ambition , to attaine to the theory of that knowledge , while the lesse capable being accustomed and assigned to an usuall part in the toyle thereof , and instructed by the ordinary seaman , will bee brought to a good readinesse therein and speedy perfection . . all materialls for shipping , as timber , cordage , sailes , iron , brasse , ordnance of both mettals , and what ever else we are necessitated ●o supply our wants with out of the e●sterne countries , who make it not unusuall to take advantages of their neighbours necessitie , a●d often times upon a pretence of difference or misintelligence betwixt us , embrace an occ●sion to over-rate or over-custome their commodities , or ( a reall quarrell widening ) sell it to other nations from whence we are forced to supply our selves at a second or third market . . it will give us the liberty of storing a great pa●t of europe with a larger plenty of incomparably better fish , then the holander hath found meanes to furnish it withall , and will make us in no long tract of time , if industriously prosecuted , equall , if not transcend him in that his most benificiall staple . . it will be to this common wealth a standing and plentifull magazine of wheat , rice , coleseed , r●peseed , flax , cotton , salt , pot-ashes , sope-ashes , sugars , wines , silke , olives , and what ever single is the staple of other nations , shall be found in this joyntly collected . . it will furnish us with rich furrs , buffs , hides , tallow , biefe , pork , &c. the growth and increase of cattell i● this nation , receiving a grand interuption and stop , by killing commonly very hopefull yong breed to furnish our markets , or store our shipping , meerly occasioned by want of ground to feed th●m , whereas those provinces afford such a large proportion of rich ground , that neither the increase of this or the succeeding age can in any reasonable probability overfeed the moiety . . by it many of your honours reformadoes and disbanded souldiers being dismist with the payment of such part of their arrears as your owne judgement ( guided by the rule of your immense disbursements ) shall thinke a convenient recompence , by transporting themselves thither may change their desperate fortunes into a happy ●ertainty of condition , and a contented livelyhood , which will be a means not only to disburden this republick ( as before ) but to remove all those clamors usualy disturbing your publick consultations , and to win upon them by your bounty to invert all those fearfull imprecations , with which they would ( as much as in them lies ) unblesse your proceedings , into a joyfull and fervent concurrence of prayers to the almighty to shoure downe blessings upon your heads , who , next under him , are the glorious and visible instruments of their increasing happinesse . . it will be a generous and moving incouragement to all industrious and publick spirits , to imploy those parts with which god and nature hath blessed them in the discovery of such happy inventions as may drive on hopefull designs with a lesser number of hands then is usually assigned to them , which issues of the brain are legitimate and geniall to beginning plantations , where the greatest want is that of people : but for our own or other popular kingdoms where we are commonly overprest with a greater multitude of labourer● then imployers , by much lesse acceptable , since our indigent people look upon such engins meerly as monoppolies to engrosse their livelihood . it will adde a very considerable increase to the revenue of your honours own customs , and i shal assume the liberty in all humility to offer up to your more advised deliberation by way of supplement to your incomes , whether such malefactors as the letter of the law doo●s to death , yet leaves a latitude for extent of mercy in the bosome of the judges , whose release oftentimes proves not only ruinous to them so discharged , since not seldome they returne to their vomit , but pernicious to the common-wealth reinvaded by their insolencies and disorders , might not be made instrumentally serviceable to the state , if ( as it is frequent in other countrey● , where they are condemned to the gallies ) by way of reparation for their crime , they were sentenced to serve a quantity of years according to the nature of their offences , which expired , they should enjoy all immunities with others , and by this course be reduced and accustomed to a regular course of life . of these a thousand transported and employed by an understanding improver , would by their labour advance an income of forty thousand pounds sterling per annum , at the least , and so proportionably according to their number . that all these , and many inestim●ble benefits may have their rise , increase , and perfection from the south parts o● virginia , a country unquestionably our own , devolved to us by a just title , and discovered by john cabot at the english expences who found out and tooke seisure , together with the voluntary submission of the natives to the english obedience of all that continent from cape florida northward , the excellent temper of the aire , the large proportion of ground , the incredible richnesse of soile , the admirable abundance of minerals , vegetables , medicinall drugs , timber , scituation , no lesse proper for all european commodities , then all those staples which entitle china , persia , and other the more opulent provinces of the east to their wealth , reputation , and greatnes ( besides the most christian of all improvements , the converting many thousands of the natives ) i● agreed upon by all who have ever viewed the country : to which the judgement of the most incomparable ralegh may be a convincing assertion , whose preferring of that country before either the north of virginia or new-england , though it may sufficiently command my submission and acquiescence ; yet for more particular satisfaction be pleased to accept these reasons for such praelation . . the apparent danger all the colonies may be in if this be not possessed by the english , to prevent the spaniard , who already hath seated himself on the north of florida , and on the back of virginia in , where he is already possessed of rich silver mines , and will no doubt vomit his fury and malice upon the neighbour plantations , if a prehabitation anticipate not his intentions , which backt with your authority , he understands too much of your power , and is too sadly acquainted with your admirable successes and generous resolutions , not to sit downe by any affronts offered to those under the wings of your protection , to attempt any thing against such who are immediately your owne colony , lest thereby he administers matter of a fire , to which his own fortunes in the indies must be a fewel , and himselfe raked up in its ashes . . but the south of virginia having a contiguous ledge of at the least one hundred ilands , and in the middest of those the incomparable roanoak , the most of them at the same distance from the continent that the i le of wight is from hampshire , all of hazardous accesse to forrainers , and affording a secure convenience from surprizall by the natives , will if possessed and protected by your power , be as an inoffensive nursery to receive an infant colony , till by an occasion of strength and number , we may poure our selves from thence upon the mayneland , as our ancestors the saxons from the isle of tanet into brittaine . . it dispences a moderate equality of heat and cold between the two violent extreams thereof in barbadoes and new england . it will admit of all things producible in any other part of the world , lying in the same parallel with china , persia , japan , cochinchina , candia , cyprus , sicily , the southern parts of greece , spain , italy , and the opposite regions of africa . . it hath besides all timber for shipping , the best and reddest cedars● and cypresse trees that may be found in any countrey . . and lastly , the planting of this collony will open a most compendious passage to the discovery of those more opulent kingdomes of china , cochinchina , cathaya , japan , the phillipines , summatra , and all those beauteous and opulent provinces of the east indies , which beyond dispute lye open to those seas which wash the south-west parts of virginia , through whose bosome all those most precious commodities which enable the chinesie , cathayan , persian , and indostant empires , may more conveniently , speedily , with more security and lesse expences be transported thence from spawhawn , of other remoter provinces to gombroon , by a long dangerous and expensive caravane , and from thence to surat , where when arrived the doubling of the line , calentures , scurvies , with a long train of diseases and famine attend its transportation into our owne countrey . . whereas by expandeing our selves to both sides and seas of virginia , our commerce to those noble nations lies open in short and pleasant voyages to the encouragement , enriching and delight of the s●amen , and personal adventurers , who will share in the delicacies and profits of those kingdoms , without participating in the miseries attending our present voyages thither . the cargason being easily conveyed , by much the greater part of the way , through navigable rivers , and from the eastern shore of virginia in a month , or at the largest six weekes time into england . and by this meanes the hollander , spanyard , and portugall , who ( by the supine negligence of this nation , and its merchant adventurers ) do with insufferable insolence lord over us in both the indies , when they shall to the unknitting of their joints perceive by your nursing care ●ver the infancy of your colonies , that they are arrived under your au●pice , to cover both the seas with numerous navies , and your honours eye of indulgence and providence waking to their security , will be content laying aside all other passions to wave future affronts and injuries , or fall ● deserved sacrifice to your offended justice . and that this addresse may appear the more seasonable , i have ( without any privity or relation to his person ) taken leave to intimate to your honours , that there is a gentleman whom the publick reputation and testimony of those who have the happines to know him render of excellent abilities , integrity , and a never shaken affection to your cause● in all its crisis and dangers● through which god with a clew of successe hath been your conduct ) who hath already undertaken for the transportation of some men thither , and only waits for your honours approbation and authority , the world taking notice , hopes and encouragement from thence , that as this colony is like to be the eldest of your legitimate daughters in that nature , so by your indulgence she shall have the happynesse not to be the yongest in your affection . may that god who hath begirt your house with a grove of lawrell , continue the advance of those victories till the whole nation be crowned with olives : may no sin , no ingratitude of ours divert his protecting ●and from us , his assistant arme from you : may the generations to come in admiration of your vertue and gratitude for their by you● derived happines , make every heart your monument , wherein to embalme your memory whilst the histories of all nations and times enrich their annals with your names as the most serious and triumphant part of all examples and transactions . and lastly may your owne thankfulnes to him from whom these dispensations of mercy have distilled like the dew of hermon upon your ●eads and borders , so continue in your bosoms , that when you shal be ripe for translation , he whose instruments you are , may welcom you with the approbation of , well done good and faithfull servant , which are the undisguised wishes of your honours most humble , obedient , and faithful servant . ed. williams . to the conservers and enlargers of the liberties of this nation , the lord president , and counsell of state . my lords : there is the same nearenesse of relation betwixt your lordships and the parliament of england , which is betwixt the sunne and sun-beames . they from their illustrious luminary dispensing . you disposing those bounties of warmth and animation , which have enriched the common-wealth with all the ornaments of verdure , repullulation and beauty , which at present she is in production of , and by the blessing of the sun of righteousnes ( guiding and fortifying your virtuall and healthfull influences ) may arrive to an absolute perfection , and be perpetuated to their happinesse , to your glory . this introduction which acknowledges so much of your power and greatnes , may make people admire why a treatise of this meanes for form and delivery , a presenter of such inconsiderablenes for parts and fortunes , should presume to cast themselves upon your lordships protection . but my lords , such disincouragements cannot direct any who know humility , and a condescending clemency are the ordinary attendants upon your extraordinary virtues , which take into their patronage the restauration of the publick liberty , and the felicity of nations . the scope of it is the publick benefit of a nation ; to whom should it be dedicated , but to its supporters , to its atlantes , to those who designe the aggrandissement of it in their counsels , perfectionate that designe by their armies ? it were impatriotisme not to publish it , sacriledge to addresse it to any other . it is an indeleble brand to the high-nam'd policy of the . henry , who gave away as rich provinces as any the eye of the world views to spain from england , out of avarice , incredulity or contempt ( or indeed all of them together ) of columbus his motion and condition . your lordships move in too high a sphere of prudence and circumspection to become his seconds in that his heresie of wisdom . and who knows but providence has reserved the present opportunity to your times , that under his conduct and auspice you might be designed his glorious instruments of promoving a worke which carries in its bosome the advancement of the gospel , by reduci●g the natives , in its forehead the enlargement of the english greatnesse by extending its empire . my lords , the parliament of this nation , and your selves ( like the twins of hipocrates ) having an inviolable correspondence of teares and smiles , of di●asters and blessings of life and death together , the threads of both your humane emergencies twisted and wound up in the same bottome , makes it impiety to divide the apprecation of blessings . all which may be fitly and mutually added is , that your living persons and posthume counsels may be had in just reverence and due estim●tion : that you may shine like luminaries in our english hemisphere , while the sun compleats his dayly , the moone her nightly circles , till a totall dissolution of nature usher in the great day appointed for a generall audit ; where when an account is to be given of humane actions , may the memory of your owne illustrious generous , and christian undertakings be a cordi●ll to your consciences , the justice and publick conducement of them , a reproach to others , who have abused equall talents of parts and power , and the divine approbation of their sincerity , a conviction to all those who know not how to be gratefull for their owne , or the generall happinesse . and these as they ought to be the publick exorations of all truly english ; so in particular are they the devout wishes of , my lords , your most humble and faithfull servant , edvvard williams . to the reader . it is not out of any particular vanity , to publish my many imperfections in print , nor am i to my best selfe understanding , infected with the disease which domineers in this scribling age , if the publicke benefit of the nation , to which by the condition of our birth , we ow a particular duty , had not bee●e the cleere and uninteressed center of my intentions , i should be too sensible of my owne weakne●se , to expose my selfe to the pity of the wise , the criticisme of the capricious , or the laughter of the ignorant ; and above all to be fastened by the ●ares upon a post , to beg a six penny contribution to buy me , to the trouble of their eyes and patience . ill bookes having the same unhappinesse which followes bloud-shot eyes , the very inspection of whom oftentimes contracts the disease alwayes a kind of abhorrency to the beholder . but my aymes are more publicke : he which reads this● shall discover the beauties of a long neglected virgin the incomparable roanoake , and the adja●ent excellencies of carolana , a country whom god and nature has indulged with blessings incommunicable to any other region . heere you may take view of an island and maine , fertile to admiration , and ( which is more admirable in workes of this nature ) nothing but incorrupted truth in her discovery . it shewes a way to the wealthy to improve their riches , to the necessitous and such as have lost their old , the meanes to erect new fortunes : in a word , it delivers an expedient to this common wealth , how it may shake off the disease growing upon her poverty and decay of trading . nothing but hands and hea●ts wanting to make this country a magazine of all things to the nation , a sanctuary to the afflicted , a treasure to the indigent , and an inimaginable revenue to the adventurers , all grounded upon those never-fayling foundations of reason and experience . neither doe i appropriate the honour ( if any due ) of being the sole author of this tractate , the whole substance of it full of good wishes and generall intentions , was communicated to me by a gentleman of merit and quality , upon perusall o● which , i found an obligation upon m● not to b●ry those advantages which may arise to our ●ountry by keeping it lockt up in silence : the gentl●mans nam● whose permission i obtayned to make it publicke , is mr. john farrer of g●ding in huntingdonshire , a persō of quality & fortunes , who has made good his affections to that incomparable co●ntry , by hazarding a considerable s●mme towards the advancing of the first plantation , and is yet so good a patriot to be ready i● promoving any good designe in the southerne parts of the ( there ) unequald countrey . nor is there heere inserted any thing but what my owne experience of the place , and a publike consent of uninterested authors and people , will subscribe to ; there is little of mine in this , but the language , and some few additionall collections● the substance is entirely the gentlemans above mentioned , which i thought fit to declare , that the reader may ascribe and owe what ever is materially good to him ; what is lesse acceptable or unskilfull in the contrivement , to the imperfections of edvvard williams . virginia in generall , but particularly carolana , which comprehends roanoak , and the southerne parts of virginia richly valued . the scituation and climate of virginia is the subject of every map , to which i shall refer the ●uriosity of those who desire more particular information . yet to shew that nature regards this ornament of the new world with a more indulgent eye then she hath cast upon many other countreys , whatever china , persia , iapan , cyprus , can●y , sicily , greece , the sou●h of italy , spaine , and the opposite parts of africa , to all which she is parallel , may boast of , will be p●oduced in this happy countrey . the sam● boun●y of summer , the same milde remission of winter , with a more virgin and unexhausted soyle being materiall a●guments to shew that modesty and truth receive no diminution by the comparison . nor is the present wildnesse of it without a particular beauty , being all over a naturall grove of o●kes , pines , cedars , cipresse , mulberry , chestnut , laurell , sassafras , cherry , plum-trees , and vines , all of so delectable an aspect , that the melanchollyest eye in the world cannot looke upon it without contentm●nt , nor content himsefe without admiration . no shrubs or u●derwoods choake up your passage , and in its season your foot can hardly direct it selfe where it will not be died in the bloud of large and delicious strawberries : the rivers which every way glide in deepe and navigable chan●els , betwixt the brests of this uberous countrey , and contribute to its conveniency beauty and fertility , labour with the multitude of their fi●hy inhabitants in greater variety of species , and of a more incomparable delicacy in tast and sweetnesse then whatever the european sea can boast of : sturgeon of ten feet , drummes of sixe in length ; conger , e●les , trout , salmon , bret , mul●et , cod , herings , perch , lampreyes , and what ever else can be desired to the satisfaction of the most voluptuous wishes . nor is the land any lesse provided of native flesh , elkes bigger then oxen , whose hide is admirable buffe , flesh excellent , and may be made , if kept domesticke , as usefull for draught and carriage , as oxen. deere in a numerous abundance , and delicate venison , racoones , hares , conyes , bevers , squirrell , beares , all of a delightfull nourishment for food , and their furres rich , warme , and convenient for clothing and merchandise . that no part of this happy country may bee ungratefull to the industrious , the ayre it selfe is often clouded with flights of pigeo●s , partridges , blackbirds , thrushes , dottrels , cranes , hernes , swans , geese , brants , duckes , widgeons , oxeyes , infinites of wilde turkeyes , which have beene knowne to weigh fifty pound weight , ordinarily forty . and the native corne of the country maiz , is so gratefull to the planter , that it returneth him his entrusted seed with the increase of or hu●dred interest , so facilely planted , that one man in hours may prepare as much ground , and set such a quantity of corne , that he may be secure from want of bread all the yeere following , though he should have never so large an appetite to consume it , and have nothing else to live upon . nor is it above three , or at the mo●t foure months intervall betwixt the time of planting and gathering : plan●ed in march , april , or may , it is ready for the barne in june , july , and august ; and of this by a provident management , you may have yeerely three or foure harvests . the stalk bruised yields a juice as big as rice , pleasant as sugar , and the green ears boyled in such juice is comparable in agreeablenesse to the palats to what ever our pease , sp●ragus , or hartichoke , hath eyther for satisfaction or delicacy . nor is the corne difficult in preservation , for in six or seven yeares there is scarce any sensibility of its corruption . but lest our p●lats should have so much of curiosity as to dislike what ever is not native to our owne country , and wheat is justly esteeme● more proper this happy ●oyle , though at the first too rich to receive it , after it hath contributed to your wealth by diminution of its owne richnesse , in three or foure crops of rice , flax , indian corne , coleseed , or rapeseed , will receive the english wheat with a gratefull retribution of thirty for one increase , every acre sowed with wheat will produce six , seven , or eight quarter of the graine intrusted . and though mr. bullocke be pleased to under-rate at it halfe the crowne the bushell , which in the canaries ●ill yeeld ten and twelve shillings , and in spaine eight , yet even in that proportion you are recompenced with six , seven , or eight pound the acre , of which two men by a discreet division of their time , will plow , reape , and in at the least acres . which though it may appeare a matter of admiration , yet i shall easily make it apparant by the following narration , in which such is the exactnesse of the ayre in this country , that you may have five successive harvests of the same grain in different seasons . for though a man and a boy with much ease may plow an acre every day , the ground being pliable of a rich blacke and tender mold , and no frosts or snowes , no usuall droughts or raines to hinder the going of the plow , yet i shall allow a month for the plowing of twelve acres , and thus plowing in september , october , november , december , and january , you may have your severall harvests in june , july , august , and september , which may easily bee inned by the same hands the labour not falling in a glut upon them , but the corne ripening according to its severall seasons . and thus by two mens labours onely you have a gratefull returne of at the least three hundred and sixty quarters of wheat , which will at that under rate formerly mentioned , viz s . d . yeeld so many pounds sterling : nor is there such difficulty in the threshing , as may be at first sigh't suspected , since it may easily be tread out with oxen , as it is usuall in italy and other countries . the first wheat being reaped , if you desire a croppe of barley , the same land plowed in iuly , will returne its ripe increase in september , so that from one and the same piece of ground you may have the benefit of two different harvests . but the rice ( for production of which this countrey is no lesse proper then those lands which have the greatest reputation of fertility ) sowed , ●eelds a greater encrease with the same labour acres of this plowed if valued but at s . d . the bushell , will yeeld l . all done by two men and a teame of oxen , who may by other labour in the intervall betwixt the committing the seed to ground , and its ripening , fall upon cole●seed or rape-seed , infinitely rich commodities with the same facility . the objection , that the countrey is overgrowne with woods , and consequently not in many yeares to bee penetrable for the plough , c●●●ies a great feeblenesse with it . for there are an immense quantity of indian fields cleared already to our hand by the natives , which till wee grow over populous may every way be abundantly sufficient , but that the very clearing of ground carries an extraordinary benefit with it , i wil make apparent by these following reasons . . if wee consider the benefit of pot-ashes growne from ten to fifty pound the tunne , within these twenty yeares , and in all probability likely to encrease by reason of interdicting trade betwixt us and the muscovite , from whence we used to supply our selves ; we shall finde the employment of that very staple will raise a considerable summe of money , and no man so imployed can ( if industrious ) make his labour lesse then one hundred pound , per annum : for if wee consider that those who labour about this in england give twelve pence the bushell for ashes , if wee consider to how many severall parts of the countrey they are compelled to send man and horse before they can procure any quantity to fall to worke upon● if wee consider some of the thriftiest , and wise , and understanding men , fell wood on purpose for this commodity , and yet notwithstanding this brigade of difficulties finde their adventures and labours answered with a large returne of profit , wee who have all these things , already at our owne doore without cost , may with a confidence grounded upon reason expect an advantage much greater , and a clearer profi● . nor can wee admit in discretion , that a large qu●ntity of those should not finde a speedy market , since the decay of tymber is a defect growne universall in europe , and the commodity such a necessary s●aple , that no civill nation can be conveniently without it . nor are pipestaves and clapboard a despicable commodity , of which one man may with ease make fifteene thousand yearely , which in the countrey it selfe are sold for l . in the canaries for twenty pound the thousand , and by this meanes the labour of one man will yeeld him l . per annum , at the lowest market . if all this be not sufficient to remove the incumbrance of woods , the saw mill may be taken into consideration , which is in every respect highly beneficiall by this timber for building houses , and shipping may be more speedily prepared , and in greater quantity by the labour of two or three men , then by a hundred hands after the usuall manner of sawing . the plankes of walnut-trees for tables or cubbords , cedar and cypresse , for chests , cabinets , and the adorning magnificent buildings , thus prepared will be easily transported into england , and sold at a very considerable value . but that in which there will be an extraordinary use of our woods is the iron mills , which if once erected will be an undecaying staple , and of this forty servants will by their labour raise to the adventurer foure thousand pound yearely : which may easily be apprehended if wee consider the deerenesse of wood in england , where notwithstanding this great clog of difficulty , the master of the mill gaines so much yearely , that he cannot but reckon himselfe a provident saver . neither does virginia yeeld to any other province whatsoever in excellency and plenty of this oare : and i cannot promise to my selfe any other then extraordinary successe and gaine , if this noble and usefull staple be but vigourously followed . and indeed it had long ere this growne to a full perfection , if the treachery of the indians had not crushed it in the beginning , and the backwardnesse of the virginia merchants to reerect it , hindred that countrey from the benefit arising from that universall staple . but to shew something further , what use may be made of woods besides the forementioned wallnut oyle , at the least a fourth part of the trees in viginia being of that species , is an excellent staple , and very gainefull to the industrious labourer . nor is it a contemptible profit that may be made of woods , if by boaring holes in divers trees , of whose vertues wee are yet ignorant , and collecting the juce thereof , a scrutiny be made which are fit for medicinall liquor and balsomes ; which for gummes , perfumes , and dyes , and heere i may justly take occasion to complaine of our owne sloth and indulgence , if compared to the laborious spanyard , who by this very practice have found out many excellent druggs , paints , and colours , meerely by bru●zing and grinding woods , probably convenient for such experimen●s : which if boyled , and a white peece of cloth s●eeped in the boyling liquor● will by its tincture discover what colour it is capable to give , and if many should faile in the tryall , yet does it not fall under the probability , but that divers noble and usefull mysteries of nature may be discovered by some such perforations and scrutinies . nor are the many berries commonly of an excellent collour and lustre unfit for such experiments ; since the labour is little or nothing , and the issue if succesfull of remarkable advantage . and this the spanyard hath experimented to the encrease of gaine and reputation ; and above this is so signally curi●us and industrious , that he hath disco●ered many rare and delightfull colours , not onely by the meanes before mentioned , but by bruizing and boyling divers fish-shells , the brightnesse and variety of colours giving him a just reason to pursue such curious examens . the french relations of their voyages to canada , tell us , that the indians and themselves falling into a contagious disease , of which phisitians could give no reason or remedy , they were all in a short space restored to their health meerely by drinking water , in which saxifrage was infused and boyld , which was then discovered to them by the natives , and wee justly entertaine beliefe that many excellent medicines either for conservation of nature in her vigour or restauration in her decadence may be communicated unto us , if projection of this stampe be so much incouraged by hopes of reward or honour , as to be put in practice . by this improvement of woods , the ground comming to bee cleared , wee have a soile fit to produce what ever is excellent in nature , the vine and olive which naturally simpathize together , will thrive beyond beliefe , nor need it be any interruption to tillage , since the vintage and harvest alwayes fall but in different reasons . that wild vines runne naturally over virginia , ocular experience declares who delighting in the neighbourhood of their beloloved mulberry-trees inseparable associates over all that countrey , and of which in this their wildnesse wines have beene made , of these wines if transplanted and cultivated , there can be made no doubt but a rich and generous wine would be produced : but if wee set the greeke cyprian candian or calabrian grape , those countries lying parallell with this , there neede not be made the smallest question● but it would be a staple which would enrich this countrey to the envy of france and spaine , and furnish the northerne parts of europe , and china it selfe where they plant it not , ( of which more heereafter ) with the noblest wine in the world , and at no excessive prices . and from this staple 't is not unworthy of our most serious con●ideration , what an occasion of wealth would flow upon this nation : virginia when well peopled being able to match spaine in that his soveraigne revenue , and the state by addition to their customes for exportation thereof according to the mode of france and spaine , would in no short time be sensible of this most inestimable benefit : to which if wee joyne the profits of our olives● wee may ( gods favourable hand blessi●g our industry ) be the happiest nation in europe . nor need wee be at that charge for caske under which spain● labours , where ever wee cast our eyes upon this fortunate countrey wee may finde timber proper for it . for the advance of which noble staple , i should propose that the greeke , and other rich vines , being procured from the countries to which they are geniall , every planter in that countrey might be enjoyned to keepe a constant nursery , to the end when the ground is cleared , that they may be fit for removal , and the vineyard speedily planted . further that some greeke , and other vignerous might be hired out of those countries to instruct us in the labour , and lest their envy , pride , or jealousie of being layd aside when their mysterie is discovered , may make them too reserved in communicating their knowledge , they may be assured , besides the continuance of their pension of a share in the profits of every mans vintage , which will the more easily perswade them to be liberall and faithfull in their instructions , since the publick advance of this designe cannot miscarry without a sensible losse to their particular interest . that before their going over a generall consultation may be had whith them what ground is proper , what season fit , what prevention of casualties by bleeding or splitting , what way to preserve or restore wine when vesseld , which species of wine is fittest for transportation over , or retention in the countrey , which for duration , which for present spending : it being in experience manifest that some wines refine themselves by purge upon the sea , others by the same meanes suffer an evaporation of their spirits , joyne to this that some wines collect strength and richnesse , others contract feeblenesse and sowernesse by seniority . these consultations drawne to a head by some able person , and published to be sent over in severall copies to virginia , by the inspection of which people might arrive at such competent knowledge in the mystery , that the reservation or jealousies of those vignerons , could not but be presen●ly● perceived and prevented . but from hence no occasion should bee derived to breake or fall short of any contract made with those vignerons , who are to be exactly dealt with in performance of articles , every way made good unto them , with all just respects to win upon them , and the non-performance of this hath beene the originall cause why virginia at this day doeth not abound with that excellent commodity . those contracted with as hired servants for that imployment , by what miscariage i know not , having promise broken with them , and compelled to labour in the quality of slaves , could not but expresse their resentment of it , and had a good colour of justice to conceale their knowledge , in recompence of the hard measure offered them , which occasioned the laying aside of that noble staple , the diligent prosecution whereof , had by this time brought virginia to an absolute perfection in it , and to a great degree of happinesse and wealth which would attend it . and had this beene as happily followed as it was prudently intended● that excellent country had not hung downe its desolate head in so languishing a condition as the disr●spect cast upon her , till of late yeares had reduced her to . nor had the poore planter ( who usually spends all the profits of his labour in forraigne wines ) been impoverished by the want of it : but with delight might have shaded himselfe under his vine , reaped the benefit of it in autumne , and buried all the memory and sense of his past labours in a cheerfull rejoycing by his owne harth with the issue of his owne vineyard . and from hence might barbadoes , st. christophers , and all our islands in the indies , have richer , better , and by much cheaper , wines transported to them from a place much neerer in distance then spain or the canaries ) and which doubles the benefit such intercourse together , would draw them to an association in power as well as communication of staples . were this brought to a just perfection no other nation could upon a quarrell betwixt us , and spaine , and france , reape a benefit by selling us their wine at a third market . and what wee vend now for it ( that being made native to us ) might be returned in bullion , to the apparent enriching of the common-wealth , and the impoverishing of our enemies , or at the least friends deservedly suspected . all authours of agriculture unanimously consent that neither arable pasture , meadow , or any other grounds are so benigne genuine , or proper for planting vines in , as those cleared lands are , wherein not shrubs , but tall trees were standing . and wee must want a parallell in any part of the world to compare with virginia for tall and goodly timber-trees cleared of all under woods , to which when cleared your vines may be remov●d ( the very removeall of them , as indeed of all other , giving an addition to their perfection ( the excellency of transplantation being more particularly insisted upon heereafter . ) but in the clearing of these woods it will be a saving of labour , and a delight to the vine , besides other profits following to leave the mulberry trees standing there , being such a happy correspondence together such a mutuall love ingrafted in them by nature , that wee well may conclude with this axiome , that the same nature joynes all her excellencies together by an association of simpathies . nor does she wave that her happy order in incomparable virginia , where the soile and climate that fits the one , is equally amiable to the other , their loves and hates happily according , what the one shunnes , the other flies from , what the one affects , challenges the others embraces , and were not this soile and climate most geniall and proper nature her selfe ( whose production● are never uselesse ) would never have crowned the virgin brow of this unexampled countrey , with such a universall plenty of them , or with such a voluntary league have united them every where together . virginia compared to persia . but to illustrate this with another argument : let us compare this felicity-teeming virginia , as it is scituated from degrees of latitude to ● with other countries , ●eated in the same degrees which opens us a method of observing what commodities nations so planted abound with , which found wee shall discover in this excellent virgin a disposition ingrafted by nature to be mother of all those excellencies , and to be equall ( if not superio● ) as well in all their noble staples , as in nea●enesse to their particular enricher the perpetually auspicious sunne . and this to whom virginia owes the publication and po●tract of her incomparable beauty ; mr. harri●t the noble mathematician delivers us by a happy instance in finding out for her ● noble sister of the same latitude , the most glorious persia , innobled as much by thi● comparison as in her empire . and those who have travelled and viewed persia ; unanimously relate wonders of her admirable fertility in all sorts of graine and fruits , with an unexpressible abund●nce of silke and wines : in which this her rich-bosomed sister claimes an equality in her plenty of mulberries , silke , and gums , vines , maiz , rice , and all sorts of graine : onely as a fuller-dowryed sister she merits a priority in fertility , pleasure , health , and temperature , a virgin countrey , so preserved by nature out of a desire to show mankinde fallen into the old age of the creation , what a brow of fertili●y and beauty she was adorned with when the world was vigorous and youthfull , and she her selfe was unwounded with the plough-shares , and unweakened by her numerous futur● teemings . another eye●witnesse of this victorious empire , delivers to memory that go●●●●● in a province of that countrey , is so incomparably fruitfull , that dearths are never knowne , nor famine ever suspected in it● th●t in one onely city called e●y● there is such an inestimable store of silke , that there might be bought in one day in that city as much silke as will lode three thousand camells . and he is little conversant with experience or history , who is ignorant that the abundance of silke native to that countrey and climate , is almost the sole staple of that mighty empire , by which never tobe exhausted treasure of silkes the sinewes and vitalls of the persian empire , the sophy to the generall good of christendome , keepes both the hornes of the ottoman moone from compleating their ambitious circle . and if the english east-india company of merchants were not wrong-byassed by the factions and sinister ambition of some men in authority amongst them , a great part of that wealthy staple might be transported into england , and by that meanes dispersed over all parts of europe to the enriching and honour of this nation . the digression upon this parallell hath diverted me from ampliation upon the publick benefit , which may devolve into this republick by the olive , which being genuine to the vine , will by a happy consent of nature indisputably flourish in a vast abundance , and by a transportation into the warmer regions , where the heate or scarcity of cattle causeth a like indigence of butter , will be a staple of inestimable value , and of no smaller conducement to our owne shipping , into those provinces neere the equinox , or in those voyages where the doubling of the line either putrifies , or makes it of a taste little pleasing or agreeable to the palate . virginia compared to china . but to leave persia and descend to a more wealthy and powerful parallell , the richest and mightiest empire in the world , lies in the same latitude and climate with our fortunate virginia ; namely china , divided from it only by the southsea , and ( which will bee a part of another discourse ) not of any long distance from it , agreeing with it in multitude of staples . china is stored with an infinite number of mulberry trees to feede silkewormes with , and vends silke in such a vast proportion , that in one onely city lempo , which some call liempo , the portugeses , have with no small admiration , observed that one hundred and sixty thousand pound weight of silk hath beene caried out in one shippe in the onely space of three moneths . into camb●la the chiefe city of tartary ( as authors of great repute and credit , and one who was personally there , reports ) there comes ●very day from china , a thousand waggons laden with silke . nor is china lesse happy in its multitude of navigable rivers , in its wonderfull fertility of all sorts of graine , maiz , rice , &c. of which it receiveth every yeere three or fo●re most plentifull harvests . rivers stored with an incredible quantity of fish and fowle , enriched a●d ennobled with numerous mines of gold , silver , brasse , iron , and other mettalls , quicksilver , nitre , all●m , pretious stones , p●arles , muske , cotton , sugars , rubarb , china root , vast proportions of flax , furres extraordinary rich . to this happinesse of soile and situation , they associate an equall felicity of parts and industry , by which they pretermit not one span of ground which they assign not to particular and profitable uses , and by an ingenious division of the ground according to the quality of the soyle , designe the drier part for wheat and barly , that which is more visited with an improving moysture , to rice and sug●r ; ascents and mountaines to grov●s of pines and chestnuts , betweene which are planted maiz panicle , and all kinde of pulse . in other proper places are mulberry groves , gardens● orchards , flax , and in a word no spot of ground misimployed from its proper advantage . and that virginia is parallell in neerenesse of staples , as well as neighbourhood to the sunne , to that celebrated empire , what multitudes of fish to satisfie the most voluptuous of wishes , can china glory in which virginia may not in justice boast of ? what fowles can she make ostentation of , in which virginia can be esteemed inferiour ? can china , insolent with her prosperity , solely lay clayme to a more singular honour for her affluence in maiz and other grain , for the maintenance and luxury of her plenty-wanton inhabitants , without an open injury to her equall , to her mayden sister , to our incomparable virginia ? are her mulberries springing from a voluntary bounty of nature lesse numerous or usefull then those to which china hath added all the assistance which could be expected from advantages of transplantation , or an industrious people ? if china will descend to particulars , to compare quantity and quality of fish and fowle , let her shew us turkies of pound weight , let her instance an example of one hundred and fifty fowle , to reward the labour of three charges of shot and powder , let her publish a president so worthy of admiration ( and which will not admit beliefe in those bosomes where the eye cannot be witnesse of the action ) of five thousand fish taken at one draught neere cape charls , at the entry into ches●peak bay , and which swells the wonder greater , not one fish under the measure of two feet in length . what fleets come yeerely upon the coasts of new found land , and new england for fish , with an incredible returne ? yet t is a most assured truth , that if they would make experiment upon the south of cape cod , and from thence to the coast of this happy countrey , they would find fish of a greater delicacy , and as full handed plenty , which though foraigners know not , yet if our owne planters would make use of it , would yield them a revenue which cannot admit of any diminution , whilest there are ebbes and flouds , rivers feed and receive the ocean , or nature fayles in ( the elementall originall of all things ) waters . there wants nothing but industrious spirits and incouragement , to make a rich staple of this commodity ; and would the virginians but make salt pits , in which they have a greater convenience of tides ( that part of the universe by reason of a full influence of the moone upon the almost limitlesse atlantick causing the most sp●cious fluxes and refluxes , that any shore of the other divisions in the world is sensible of ) to leave their pits full of salt-water , and more friendly and warme sunbeames to concoct it into salt , then rochel , or any parts of europe . yet notwithstanding these advantages which prefer virginia before rochel , the french king rayses a large proportion of his revenues out of that st●ple yearly , with which he supplyes a great part of christendome . and if from this staple the miserable french can procure a subsistence , some of them a comfortable livelyhood , notwithstanding all the private oppressions of their grinding landlords , the publick tallies , subsidies , aides , imposts , and other hard titles of authorized rapine . what shall wee imagine the freeborne english in a countrey where he owes no rent to any but to god and nature , where he has land to satisfie his desires in its extent , his wishes in its fertility , where free-quarter is a word onely understood by report , may expect of profit and content both in this staple of salt , in that of wines made in those countries , where either the spanish insolence and exactions , the french extortions , or the turkish imperiall robberies , though in the highest degrees of exorbitance , are not of force so to disincourage the inhabitants from attendance upon the vineyard , which notwithstanding all those horse-leach●● of imposition , returnes them such a profit as make them keepe ● middle path betweene the ●scent of riches , and precipice of poverty . nor would it be such a long intervall ( salt being first made ) betwixt the undertaking of this fishing , and the bringing it to perfection ; for if every servant were enjoyned to practise rowing , to be taught to handle sailes , and trimme a vessell , a worke easily practised , and suddainely learned , the pleasantnesse of weather in fishing season , the delicacy of the fish , of which they usually feede themselves with the best , the encouragement of some share in the profit , and their understanding what their owne benefit may bee when their freedome gives them an equallity , will make them willing and able fisher-men and seamen . to adde further to this , if wee consider the abundance , largenesse , and peculiar excellency of the s●urgeon in that countrey , it will not fall into the least of scruples , but that one species will bee of an invaluable profit to the buyer , or if wee repeate to our thoughts the singular plenty of herrings and mackarell , in goodnesse and greatnesse much exceeding what ever of that kinde these our seas produce , a very ordinary understanding may at the first inspection perceive that it will be no great difficulty to out-labour and out-vye the hollander in that his almost onely staple : which wee may also sell at a cheaper market then in common estimation ; if wee revolve the salt to be our owne , which they buy from france , or fetch from the isle of may , and that the very fraight of passengers ( of which allured by this improvement , and the publick approbation , there will be constant multitudes ) in our owne shippes will at the least defray fourths of the charges . i should not unwillingly heare ( though i dispaire ever to know it for a certainety ) that china did exceede us in fishing ; for were it granted , wee should not imagine those wa●ry inhabitants so circumscribed and limited to one part of the ocean especially the same climate and latitude , inviting them as not to visit our opposite shore of southwest virginia in as great variety and plenty . and to the more curious and able persons i shall offer what singular object it were of variety and plenty , if they would take the advantage of some tides and seasons , when the resort of fish is greatest to stoppe the returne of them out of some creeke perpetually flowing with salt by sl●ces , or such other invention : heere would those great ones generate and produce till even they laboured with their owne multitude , if permitted to increase two or three yeares , who might with very small charge be maintained , and yearely render to the proprie●●r an ocean of fish in a narrow confine of water . nor were it unworthy the labour to make an experiment whether the s●urgion himselfe might not receive a kinde of domestication in that narrow circumscript●on , especially if wee let it descend into our thoughts , that ( by small perforations in the sluces he perpet●ally admits a renovation and change of salt water ) he may receive the same benefit of liberty , namely variety of water , which he delights in when unconfined , and admitting the originall breeder not to thrive well by such imprisoning , yet customes ascending as high as nature in the breed , would make that familiar to them , which peradventure might have been offensive to the first spawner , and should they delight ( as in some seasons of the yeare fishes doe vary their resorts ) at any time in fresh water ; a large pond digged neare having either springs to fe●●e it , or raines to fill it , might by communication of a sluce receive both them and salmon , when they s●eke after the freshes . and that fishes may be unwilded , and become domestick , history will sufficiently informe us , wherein are delivered reports of some who growne more particularly intelligent , were distinguisht by names , and understood themselves so called : and mar●iall in one of his epigrams to caes●r , ( i meane domitia● ) tells the prince speaking of fishes so instructed , quid quod nomen habe●t & ad magistri nomen quisque sui venit citatus ? and further , manumque lambit , a thing , which though a poet , and con●equently bold , ev●n to untruths , yet he durst never have obtruded upon caesar , whom himselfe makes a party in the experiment . and to adde something to what hath formerly beene delivered of balsomes and colours , why from the livers and most unctuous parts of those more delicate fishes , may not curiosity finde a means to extract an oyle ; which ( if it be not medicinall , though i am enclined by severall reasons to bel●ene the affirmative ) may notwithstanding artificially distilled after its first extraction prove a delic●cy for the tables of princes and great ones , especially for sauces , and other confections which luxury hath found out for the irritation of dull and retreating appetites . but i cannot believe it to be deprived of its particular virtue in physicall operations , and the industrious conclusions of our ancestors have by such probations discovered many rich mysteries of nature ; whilst wee either glutted with our owne plenty of receipts , or out of a too fond a reverence wee pay to antiquity acquiesce in their prescriptions , as in the ne plus ultra , the hercules pillars of wisedome , beyond which there were no passage , or else feare every innovation brings inconveniences in his traine , which opinion if it had possessed those our ancestors , the world had continued in ignorance , and must for ever have layne sick of an incurable folly in the fooles hospitalls . for what concernes the flax of china , that wee may not lose the smallest circumstance of parallell with virginia , nature her selfe hath enriched this her bosome favourite with a voluntary plant , which by art , industry , and transplantation may be multiplyed and improved to a degree of as plentifull , but more excellent nature : which because of its accession to the quallity of silke , wee entitle silke grasse : of this queene elizabeth had a substantiall and rich peece of grograine made and presented to her . of this mr. porey in his discovery of the great river chamonoak , to the south of iames river delivers a relation of infinite quantity , covering the surface of a vast forest of pine-trees , being . miles in length . it had beene wished that the injun●tion given to every planter to set so many thousand plants of this kinde had been effectually prosecuted : the intermission whereof hath beene a prejudice not easily imaginable : nor is it yet too late to effect it , and in all probability by transplantation it may thrive beyond comparison larger , and the skinne of it growne more tender and delicate , may arrive to some equality with the labour of the silke-worme , if it be managed by such rules of nature best sute with its production . for hempe there is a naturall kinde of hempe , a species of flagg in that countrey , from which being boyled you may strippe a long and fine skinne , not onely proper for cordage● but the ●iner sort singularly usefull for linnen ; of this two hundred weight hath beene sent into e●gland , of which hath beene made excellent cordage , and very good linnen . this , by observation of the soile it growes in , and transplanted into grounds of like , but richer property , would together with tht silke-grasse make a staple of admirable returne and profit ; provided every planter had an injunction for this , as well as the former to sow or set a convenient proportion , to which his owne profit ( quickned with the imposition of a mulct in case of neglect ) would easily invite him . and by this meanes would virginia not onely furnish her owne people , but supply other nations with stuffes and linnen . to the brasse of china , wee shall oppose the virginian copper ( or gold , for yet it is doubtfull ) for by a concurrent relation of all the ●ndians , justified to severall english of quality , particularly to the earle of southampton in mr. poryes narrative , to sir william berkely , all seconding mr. heriots report , that within ten dayes west toward the setting of the sunne , the natives of that countrey gathered a kinde of a red sand falling with a streame issuing from a mountaine , which being washed in a sive , and set upon the fire speedily , melts and becomes some copper , which they shew us , but as they say much softer . we shall only suppose it to be copper , contrary to the opinion of divers knowing men , who apprehend it for a richer metall ; but melting with such ease two parts in five turning to a solid metall , the other three parts being peradventure not any thing of the oare , but onely such rubbidge , as joyned to the oare in rouling , and this falling meerely from the superficies of the mountaine , yet a rich copper ; what eye enlightned with the smallest beame of reason , will not conclude it for an extraordintry accession of wealth to this countrey ? and why may not the intralls of this minerall be gold , since the skinne and crust of it is copper ? nature her selfe oftentimes dealing after the mode of divers great men , delighting to lay an unregarded outside over her richest linings . to proceed in contin●ation of our compa●ison with china , if it abound more in visible silver ( of which with our abundance of staples may quickly put us into a ●ondition of entring into completion with ) yet cannot virginia in all probabili●y be destitute of that metall : for besides divers conjectures grounded upon naturall circumstances : mr. gage in his relation of the indies , as●ures us that the spanyards have found out a rich silver mine on the back side of florida westward , in degrees of latitude , and the farther they extend their search northward , the more rich and pure the mines discovered improve themselves . nor shall wee plead inferiority in pearles with china or persia , since mr. heriot assures us of a large quantity of pearles found amongst the natives , spoyled by their ignorance in boring of them , and defacing their orientall lustre , by exposing them to the fire . these were found amongst the indians at roanoak , and the relations of the natives on all hands unanimously concur that the south and west of this opulent countrey was stored with such abundance and variety , that the indians used to make and adorne babies with them : and one of the english had collected a bracelet of very orientall pearle , to the number of five thousand , which were all lost in the returne to england . if china suppose a merit of precedency in muske , virginia may justly oppose them with her musk rat , or muscassus , which in all probability cannot but be the same ; for it is a tradition received into the number of truths , that the confection of their muske in that countrey is bruizing and burying a certaine creature to putrefaction , of which this odour is effected , and it is very open to conjecture that this musk-rat or muscassus , whose flesh and skinne are extraordinary redolent and durant , and of which there is an infinite plenty , by such order may be brought to the same perfection . neither is it so improbable that this odour should proceed from putrefaction , which is naturally an abhorrence to the nosthrill : for if you apply too neare to the substance of the muske , there is an occult subolency of such a putrefactive originall . neither are all excretions of nature in themselves offensive to the sense of smelling , for the fluxe of the civet-ca● is accounted amongst our most soveraigne perfumes : and this experimented will be a staple of noble use , and no lesse benefit . nor shall wee yeeld the laurell of preeminence in richnesse of furres to china , if the furres of beavers , otters , martines , and above all black foxes ( which are upon some part of this continent ) may pretend any title to richnesse : and yet have wee beene hitherto so supinely negligent to permit the dutch and the french to carry away most of this pretious commodity , to trade in our rivers , under-sell us , and which discovers either an ●mplacable malice or insatiable avarice , trade with those indians ( of whom wee have no reason to nourish any great confidence ) for muskets and powder . to conclude , what ever else china may presume to boast of : whether nitre , allum , quicksilver , rhubarb , and china root , of which some wee have already discovered : if wee consider the parallell in latitude , the equality of temperate climate , the parity in soile , and its fertility , the similitude in brave navigable rivers , the unanimous congruity and consent in divers knowne commodities , wee shall have an ample basis to ground conjectures upon , that what ever singularity of nature that nation may imagine her selfe victorious over others , will be found equall in this garden of the world , this aemulous rivall of china , virginia : and the chineses may with as great justice deny the europeans the benefit of both eyes , as boast that they precede in any thing except antiquity of habitation and a long experienced industry , this great luminary of the new world virginia . what ever other commodities , the novelty of inhabiting this amorous virgin hath made it appeare defective in , as sugar , indigo , cotton , ginger , and other advantageous staples , wee shall appeale to all who have seene this unexampled countrey ; ( we meane roanoak , and the more southerne parts , and those countries towards the fertile mangoack ) whether it be guilty of any contrariety , distemper , or extremity , which might hinder their production . the sunne , which in other countreys makes his visit in flames and droughts , heere casts his auspicious beames , and by an innocent and complementall warmth , courts the bosome of this his particular favourite , hastening and disposing its wombe for ripe productions , which salute him in an absolute perfection . winter snowes , frosts , and other excesses , are heere only remembred , never known . the purling springs and wanton rivers every where kissing the happy soyle into a perpetuall verdure , into an unwearied fertility : no obstructions in your expectations , attempt and hope them , prosecute and enjoy them . nor have we in design to lay any imputation upon the barbadoes , which already aboundeth to admiration , with the staples last mentioned , yet it will become our charity to wish the country as healthfull , as it is fruitfull ; that it may answer the expectation and merit of its most industrious and publicke spi●ited planters● who have given a brave example to all , by the effects of their industry and unwearied constancy . from a thing almost lost to memory , ( at the least to reputation ) they have raysed the honour of that island , to be a subject of admiration for wealth and staple , and that so little a circumference of ground should be able to vent the value of two hundred and fifty thousand pound yeerely , as so●e merchants have maintayned , not only addes to the weight and measure of their just estimation , but increases the favourable wishes of all ●overs of industry , that they had a larger proportion of ground to improve upon . and if an invincible sloth doth not possesse us in virginia , ( wee meane the south ) why should not wee rayse an equall or greater profit upon as fertile and convenient a soile ? especially if we consider the populousnesse of the place , has so raysed the price of land there , which we have heere gratis , where number of inhabitants doe so little take from our abundance , that they adde to our wealth , security and plenty , and the sole meanes to increase and improve upon staples . we have made it apparant that what ev●r china hath of st●ple or delicacy , is produced or producible in this above-example virgin . but to shew that even china her selfe must in some t●i●gs giv● plac● to this more happy mayden , te●ra sigillata , or lemnia , ( as peculiar an income to the grand signiors treasury , as that of salt is to the french kings ) and of which china can no way boast , is native to this cou●trey ; vin●s are eyther not naturall , neglected , or not understood by the chineses , but in this incomparable soyle the grape presents it selfe every where to your delighted prospect . and what shadow can there be of scruple that wines well cultivated , and issuing from a rich grape , will not be as commodious a staple to that voluptuous and gluttonous nation , who wanton away their wealth in banquets , as the wines of france and spai● are to the more northerne and lesse abstenious nations of europe ? there needs no objection be made against this staple ; for the southw●st part of virginia being once discovered , the sea laid open and that passage compleat in all its numbers , the pleasure of the commerce , the richnesse of returnes , and the extraordinary quicknes of the profit , will invite so m●ny to come over and plant that commodious quarter of virginia , that as we shall never labour with too numerous a multitude of inhabitants , so we shall not have any great occasion to complaine of the pa●city of planters . nor is tobacco in those indian seas ( especially cured as in virginia , and of that strength and excellency ) a commodity of inconfiderable commerce , particularly if wee call to minde what gayne there is by the exchange for indian commodities , so that any ordinary understanding may comprehend that although tobacco should yeeld but three pence the pound in india , yet by way of barter with those nations where the returne quadruples the value in england , the gaynes gotten by it might be very considerable . but if we may beleeve printed relations ( and the person delivering it so cleerely , is , in my opinion , worthy of all credit ) tobacco from surat to moco yeeld ten for one profit , returned in eastridge feathers to england you have six to one profit ; but this is for those planters who are so infected with that disease of the countrey , that they cannot admit of any other staple , though more gainefull and lesse laborious . yet is not tobacco without its vertues : for the spaniard hath found out , besides the use of it in smoke , ( or the smoky use ) that the juice thereof ( when greene ) applyed to any wound cut , sore , and without any distinction , whether greene , festered , or cankered , will heale it speedily , and almost miraculously ; the leafe bruised or stamped , and applied to any bite or sting of a venemous quality , to any wound made by a poysoned arrow , the green leafe heated in hot ashes , and layd upon any part of the body afflicted with aches , will worke effects answerable to the most powerfull operations of nature . the benefit and part of the silke-worme mystery treated of . but to show to the world that wee may equall the best of the westerne kingdomes in this noble mystery of nature the silke-g worme : that france and italy are much below this mignon of glory and profit , the universally advantageous virginia , wee shall ●pon those in●●llible demonstrations of nature , make evident , having the clew of truth , reason , and modesty to direct us . it will not be denied by any , whose forehead is not too brazen , that no countrey is so proper for adventitious as its owne native commodities● the seeds of things suffer a deterioration by changing the propriety of that soile which was geniall to them , and the exact order of nature suffers a diminution , if wee imagine any other climate or region more proper for the perfection of any thing , then where it is originally produced . t●lli●r aff●rmes that this mystery of the silke-worme hath not been experimented in europe above a thousand yeares , being transmitted to our climate out of the asiatick world , in so much that italy hath not beene above yeares enriched with this industrious creature , france received it from italy , and it is observed , that the warmer the region , by so much larger and stronger encrease and texture receive they from the labour of this admirable and naturall weaver . france being of a colder temper then italy , their wo●mes are weaker , in the more northerne part of that kingdome from one ounce of seed they profit five or sixe pound of silke increase , worth at the least ● os . per pound , in languedock , and the warmer provinces the same quantity is increased to , , or l . but in brescia , of calabria seede , they use usually to make eleaven or twelve pound of silke from the same originall proportion . the poore people in both those kingdomes buy their mulberry leaves to feede this profitable and industrious spinner , and the very charge of those leaves amounts to a full halfe of all other their expences . the nobility of italy and france ( the grand duke of tuscany himselfe , descending into a part of this profit ) make up a considerable part of their revenue from their trees , the leaves of every one b●ing valued according to their goodnesse and quality , from five shillings to twenty and upwards , so that divers make an income of three , four , five , sometimes a thousand pounds per annum from the sole profit of their mulberry trees . the grand duke from the sale of his , rayses an income communibus annis , of sixty thousand duca●s , yet divers gentlemen in italy make a larger increase of profit , by setting out their mulberry trees to necessitous people , for halfe the gaine arising from the worme so fed . those poore contribute their seed , employ their labour , and are at all expences in bringing the silke to perfection ; yet notwithstanding when completed , the gentleman who sets out his trees , divides the moyety of the entire profit , for the hire of his leaves only , y●t are these people , ma●gre this difficulty , comfortable gayners . and the same tellier is bold to affirme , that non obstante the disagreeablenesse of the country to that worme , in the kingdome of france from the sole revenue now of silke , arises a greater intrade then from their corne , oyle and woad put together , which grow in that kingdome in vast proportions . and another french author affirmeth , that the benefit of the silke-worme , ( of which france hath had no triall till within these fifty yeeres ) ariseth to four millions per annum , ste●ling , and this he pretends to have all circumstances of truth and certainty , drawne from an exact computation to confirme it . if france ( an almost improper countrey for this improvement ) can rayse within the verge of fifty yeeres , so large and numerous a revenue , what shall we imagine italy ( a warmer region , and by much more convenient , although not altogether native for this inriching creature ) may meerely upon this staple returne in their treasury , having besides the advantage of climate , a hundred and fifty yeeres precedency in the mystery , and their seed more s●rong , better fed , and lesse subject to diseases and casualties ? but virginia a countrey which nature hath no lesse particul●●ly assigned for the production , food , and perfection of this creature then persia or china stored naturally with infinites of mulberry-trees , some so large that the leaves thereof have by frenchmen beene esteemed worth l● in which the indigenall and naturall worme hath beene found as bigge as wallnuts , and thriving , in the south thereof in admirable plenty and excellence ; if this mystery were but duly followed , and industriously promoved , might be a magazine for all the westerne world , and singly in her selfe outvy france , spaine , and italy , in all their advantages collected . heere the leaves are onely sold by nature , who requires no other satisfaction then industry to make use of her bounty . timber to erect their fabricks is provided , and costs no more then preparing a benevolent sunne , and a serene sky● contributing their indulgence to its perfection . no n●rrow assignation of ground ( richer then the most fertile france or italy can pretend to , or boast of ) to plant those trees on , if not neare enough to the setled plantations ; in briefe , all the conveniences imaginable to assist and advance this to the noblest commerce in the world , if neglect and sloth make us not ingratefull to our selves , and nature , by abusing our selves , by not using her bounty . to further this happy designe , let us d●scend into an unequall comparison : let us compare our most incomparable virginia , where the mulberry and the worme are aboriginall to italy , where they are onely adventitious : let us imagine our owne worme of that strength and greatnesse onely equall to those of brescia and italy , where the usuall of come from sixe ounces of seede is , o● at least pound weight of silke , and adhearing to this parallell ; let us see the apparency in the profit● a man and a boy , if their hands be not sleeping in their pockets , will feede as many wormes as come of sixe or eight ounces of seed till they be past their foure first sicknesses , and within some dayes of spinning : indeed the last dayes require a more extraordinary diligence and attendance , a more frequent and carefull feeding , because in that time they conceive , gather , and store up the disposing matter from whence the silke comes , which by an incomprehensible mystery of nature , they after as it were vomit out of their mouthes , and spinne out of their bowells . at this more particular season , there is a necessity of adding the labour of three or foure helpes more ( to which women or children are as proper as men ) which is an inconsiderable accession considering the gaine arising from it . that you may know the reason why women , children , lame and impotent persons are as ●itting to attend the last fourteene dayes , as men , will appeare by their labour , which is nothing but to feede them within doores , cleanse , dry and perfume their lodgings , with some strengthning● but not overstrong odour . and as one skilfull in this noble mystery is sufficient for the employing , overseeing , and directing hundreds under him , so ( the skill being rather experimentally to be taught , then built upon long and ambiguous precepts ) he may bee able to perfect all those under him , within the five or six weeekes time of their imployment in the full understanding the mystery . and the better to incourage both the teacher and learner of the mystery , the master should be invited by reward to be liberall in communicating his knowledge , and those under his instruction encouraged by arguments of honour and profit proposed to the best proficient , would disperse seeds of emulation and diligence , since every one would imploy himselfe seriously to engrosse and appropriate to himselfe the reputation and advantage in the victory . and in boyes and children , disputations frequently set on foot , with some slight distinction of merit , would make all that are ingeniously disposed , quicken their observation and diligence , to gaine the credit of prelation . though to take off all disincouragement or despayre , from those lesse apprehensive and docible , in this noble and gainefull trade of silke , there is no such absolute necessity layd upon them to be supersticiously and precisely curious in observing the booke rules , and written precepts , that upon the omission or unpunctuall observation of any of those precepts in hatching , lodging , feeding , and tending of the silke-wormes , wee should imagine such minute deviations might occasion an improsperity or generall failing : for wee will admit something may be wanting either in materialls , accommodation , or precisenesse of knowledge ; yet may the worke ( a higher and irresistible cause not interrupting it ) prosper and succeede , notwithstanding such defect , to the great contentment and gaine of them which keepe them . let us imagine it to be granted that the indigency of the person improving the incommodiousnesse of the place , or want of house-roome , which the bookes exactly tye us to , be in many things preterr●gular ( though such a supposition may fall upon any other part of the world more justly then virginia , where all materialls and conveniency answer our exactest wishes ) yet will dayly examples confirme us , that in languedoc , provence , and other parts of france , and as many in spaine and italy , amongst the common sort of that exaction tyred people , that one poore low-rooft cottage , and one roome in it is all the house extent they have to take their sleepe in , dresse their miserable dyet , and serve themselves of for use and retirement ; yet does this industrious creature ( such are the blessings with which god rewards the sweat of industry ) thrive as happily ( and sometimes answer labour with a greater fellcity ) as tho●e which the curiosity of richer persons fit with all commodiousnesse of chamber feeding , and attending , which is a speaking enco●ragement that no man should despaire , but reposing a cheerefull confidence in the blessing of the almighty , with this resolution , that what ever meanes , what ever curiosity , art , or precept , may contribute towards the preparing and fa●ilitation of a worke , yet the end , the event must depend on his eternall goodnesse to crowne it , and all our labours projected with never so great a talent of humane wisdome and experience , must conclude with this never failing truth : that except the lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it● except the lord keepe the city , the watchman watches but in vaine . wee must therefore lift up our hearts and eyes with thankefullnesse unto the hills , unto the mountaine of israel , and rock of david , from whence those streames of blessings must acknowledge their sole , their originall fountaine , which may serve as an admonition , that neither the whole , nor any part of the worke should be begunne without applying our devotions to him : let it therefore be the morning omen to the worke , and the evening auspice , lord prosper the worke of our hands , prosper good lord our handy workes . after the reposall of this confidence in god ; let him apply himselfe with his greatest industry and ability , with this comfort and assurance , that he cannot but make a considerable returne : though wee should be much injurious to art ( the noble right hand and midwife to nature ) if wee should deny a more promising probability of a riper and fuller gaine the more curious and observant he is in following all the approved experiments , rules , directions , and precepts thereunto belonging . but the chiefest aime and intention of those rules are to illustrate the perfection of this art , and to informe your knowledge , and better your future experience and preventionall care , if any misadventure arrive , or miscarriage in the silke-wormes , or if they prosper not equally this yeare with the last ; for by inspection upon them you may understand the cause and reason of such misadventure , and with it the remedy ; and this also takes away all dispaire or disincouragement for men , commonly men till they are convinced in the naturall cause of a disaster or failing attribute , all such mischances to nature , or else impute the non-thriving to their owne misfortune by a ridiculous opinion that they are not ordained to be fortunate in this or that mystery , so freequently does fortune incurre the blame of humane neglect or ignorance . besides wee are to imprint in our knowledge , that no rules c●n have so much of generality and exactnesse , which will not admit of deviations arising from some particular and variable circumstances . wee must not therefore conforme the nature of the climate to our rules , but our rules to it , in which wee must resume to your deliberation how , and in what one climate differs from another , how the constitution of this yeare varies from the next , or the precedent , the immediocrities of heate , cold , drought , and moisture , serenity , or mists , &c. the manner of their lodgings , the quality of the winde to be admitted or excluded : to ●emper a season inclining to a preternaturall coolenesse with an artificiall heate , to refresh and infrigidate the aire in times of immoderate heate , by admitting the cooling aire and windes proceeding from a cooler quarter , and this to be observed with a more particular care ; when they spinne their silke , that creature then being very obnoxious to be stifled with too much heat . there must be likewise a providentiall regard in a moist season , that the mulberry leaves be carefully dryed after their gathering , before they be administred for food to the silke-worme : but if the season pertake more of drought it will be wisedome to let the leaves lye and shade a little after their gathering , that they may have them coole and refreshing , and in seasons of temperature and continued droughts , it may be very requisite to water the roots of the mulberry-tree , which will be a refreshing to the leaves , and this is usually practised in spaine ; especially if the mulberry-tree be seated in a hot or dry ground , which otherwise must not be so prescribed without particular caution . nor is it below our consideration to weigh the condition of the place in which the mulberry is planted , if in a sower foule or wet soile to collect what inconvenience that food may bring unto your worme , and therefore if your necessity will admit it to avoyd such wholly , if not to use them with such qualifications as may make them l●ast offensive . after having regard to the nature of the ground your tree receives ●ts juce from , the quality of the season , in which you gather them ; it falls next to your consideration to compare the kinde and nature of the tree , together with the kinde and nature of their seed , worme , and silke , and directing your selfe by an exact observation of particular circumstances , so to make exceptions , and to order every thing with judgement and discretion thereafter , that your bookes and experience may by that meanes walke hand in hand together . but time and observations will affoord you many experiments , out of which perhaps some more rules of art may be framed , in divers particulars , more consenting to the country and climate of virginia . which finding , after good triall thereupon made , it will become the reputation of a good patriot in generall , and a good master of a family in particular , to digest them into such a regular order and method , that the publication thereof may be a common benefit to all , and a private memoriall to particulars . for since in persia and china it does not fall under likelihood , that they can oblige themselves to observe all particulars in its strictest limitation , where such an infinite quantity of silke passeth through the hands of the people , it is very agreeable to reason that in a climate of the same nature and parallell , namely virginia , there may be rules found out of far l●sse brevity● and more pertinency , then have yet been considered or published . and yet where all these rules are curiously observed , they make not on●ly in spaine and italy , but in the colder parts of france a far greater gaine ( the quantity of adventure and time considered ) by thus chargeably fe●ding of silk-wormes , then by any other commodity whatsoever . but to avoid that inconvenience of fetching leaves a far off , or attending the growth of your owne mulberries , or that necessity which makes the poorer sort of our owne miserable people to lodge them in that roome which is their kitchin , their chamber , their all . with what ease and conveniency may there be a house set up in the middle of a grove of mulberries , naturally growing , where the silkewormes , in a dry cabinet of boords , after the maner of sicily , may be kept ( described more largely in the bookes which treat of this silkeworme , then can bee expected in this paper ) set up with stones in it , in case the countrey and season require it , eyther to correct the ill sents , or ( if so be they are seated in cold● moyst , or shady places , of which your owne sense and experience will quickly acqu●int you ) to give the ayre a temper and qualification , which if not prevented , may destroy your worke by killing the silkeworme . and this lodge built for them , the season of the yeere will invite your selfe and family ( i meane such part of your family as you assigne to this worke ) to lodge there also , the time being at the most but six weekes , and for the first moneth , one third of your family will be sufficient to feed them , but the last . dayes ; the other . thirds will be requisit that the wormes may bee more often and plentifully fed● the well feeding at that time contributing much to their strength and perfection , and consequently to the improving your expected silke , both in quantity and quality . that all may be invited and courted to this undertaking , in this glorious countrey , nature hath left us destitute of no materialls . to erect these slight silken lodgings , will be no more expences , then your labour ; nor is that any greater , then to cut out some posts and studdes , fit them , and set them up● then to cleave and saw out small quarters , rafters , plankes , pales , and boards , to make and set up the sides of the house , in stead of more substantiall walls , and to cover the roofe in stead of tile . for the effecting of all which with the le●ser trouble , that countrey affords abundance of woods , which will runne out , slit , and cleave into long lengths and br●adths , which by the directnesse of the ground will rive in a manner , as if they had beene sawen for the worke . all which must be so close layd , joyned , and nayled together , the one still lapt over the other , that no winde or raine may penetrate therein to offend that labo●rious creature , and this may easily be prevented , if such chinkes and open places as you shall discover bee stopped up with lome , clay , and lime , of which materialls in those countreyes you will finde no want . and to this purpose the indian mats , and the like things may be made good use of in this way , which will be sure to keepe out winde and perhaps raine : but to these things your owne inventions , pro re nata , will abundantly furnish you with matter of preventing casualties : nor will it bee unseasonable to repeat the extraordinary convenience of saw-mills , which in this case will be in a high degree serviceable to you , and of this the whole colony will be beneficially sensible in boards , ●lankes , housing , silk-worm-lodgings , timber , shipping , and all particular kinde of uses . and this once erected , with what speed may such a house be clapped up together , with a few nailes ●ne lopping over another , either long like a bowling-alley , that the functions of the family may be distinct , and no offensive heat or sent disturbe the worme in his curious operations . or being in doubt of surprisall , some families going into the woods together may equally joyne together , and those woodden houses ( still observing that the roomes where the wormes are may be set end and end together , that so the kitchins and their lodgings may be still the two extreames ) may be cast into the forme of a fort which pall●sadoed , and your house sentinelled by halfe a dozen of good dogges , wil be a sufficient defence against all the natives of the countrey . and this may be in case they worke not in common , which if by compact they agree upon , the lodging for the wormes may be cast in the middle of such a circle , the timber houses round about shading them from over much heat , wind or moisture , and the necessary fires there made , will throughly cleere the ayre of all vapours and mists which may disorder this innocent spinner . the silke harvest ready , and the encrease brought to a just estimation : the cohabitors may according to the agreement made betwixt them , returne with their dividends , and this removall into the woods will have the same nature of content which the citizens take in a time of vacation and city wearinesse ●citizens being never so weary as when they have no worke ) to visit the delights of the countrey , though with different ends ; since these in their voyages of pleasure expend , the other both save and encrease their stock and treasure . these boards ( the worke ended ) being taken downe are serviceable for seaven yeares together , and easily erected or renewed . i am not altogether of advice , that the indians be hired to assist you in these remoter workes , as sensible how apt they and the divell t●eir tutor may be to embrace an occasion of being treacherous ; but if they could be brought to worke by parties ( well watched and spyes amongst themselves set over them ) in the middest of our most populous plantatio●s , with their wives and childr●n , who will easily runne through this curious , but not heavy labour and may be sufficient pawnes for the indian fidelity , if cunningly divided , they would be very serviceable in this kinde for a small reward , and peradventure might be made great use of for this worke heereafter by undertaking it themselves , which may be manifested for these reasons . . first , the indian is naturally curious and very ingenious , which they shew in all their works and imitations : the only thing that frights them from bringing any work to perfection , is the labour attending it . . but to feed his curiosity , there is nothing in the world more proper then this curious atome of nature the silkeworme : to see this untaught artist spin out his transparent bowels , labour such a monument out of his owne intralls , as may be the shame , the blush of artists , such a robe that solomon in all his glory might con●esse the meannesse of his apparell , in relation to the workemen , c●nnot but bring them to admiration ; and that those spi●i●s whose t●oughts are of a higher wing then ordinary , may bee convinced of a divine power of the hand of god in the creation : which gaynd upon him , it will not be impossible to drive him to an acknowledgement of redemption , if private ends or any other respect then that to gods glory , possesse not those who should cover a multitude of sinnes , by winning a soule to his creator , and forcing him from the jawes of his destroyer . . in this curiosity there is little or no labour ( a thing which they abhorre ) their women and children will bee sufficient to goe through with it : and if they could but be brought to it , our t●ade with them for silke would be of greater consequence , then all their furs or other commodities put together . . by this meanes it were possible to fasten cloaths upon them , which if once it were effected , that which mr. bullocke excellent patly calls , the universall not of nature . ambition would cement them to a more orderly course of life , and one still striving to outvie the other in bravery of habits : there would be no labour under heaven like this , to reduce them to civility , the toyle thereof being inconsiderable● and the profit great to him in respect of his now trifling merchandise : and to us by trading with them , might bee returned for ● . the pound at the most in commodities . . by this means would he be brought to plant great quantities of mulberry trees round about his plantation , which according to hi● constant inconstancy , evermore shifting , would necessarily , our ●wne numbers increasing , fall into our hands and possession , or if he should against the tide of his nature abide by them , yet a very inconsiderable trifle would buy the propriety from him . . the silkeworme harvest lighting at such a season of the year , wherein he by improvidence hath wasted all his bread-corne , at which time he usually retires into the woods to seeke a thinne s●bsistence , by the allurement of this great profit he would undoubtedly s●ay at his plantation , and allow us a share in his increase of silke , for such provision of maiz as would maintaine him , and this would be a large accession of profit to the english . . admitting virginia in its whole extent from cape henry southward ( as a worke so easily compassed , and such profit ensuing thereupon , especially to the weroances or reguli● who have many wives , slaves , and children , would hardly faile from being a universall labour ) to containe in all thirty thousand people , of which the fourth part or more men , if this staple be followed by them , and our vigilance preventing any traffick of other nations with them , it will yeeld the colony of course a trade with them worth cleare a hundred thousand pound per annum . neither doe i comprehend a sufficient reason why in so happy a climate as that of virginia ; there may not be a double silke harvest : this i am sure of , that there are secrets in nature of retardation as well as acceleration of springs , and both being industriously brough● to the experiment , the acceleration ante●eeding the first spring , and the retardation postvening the latter by three weekes , ( which may easily be effected by election and distinction of ground to plant in ) and at the latter end of the harvest the seeds being disposed and ripened for production , will without doubt produce an effect answerable to the most inestimable profit intended by it . that the election of ground may doe this , wee may see by freequent examples betwixt things well cultivated , and that which is never transplanted from its first wildnesse , and there are many presidents round about us , where in one and the same towne● one and the same fruit have oftentimes three weekes distance of time betwixt their unequ●ll maturity ; the naturall warmenesse or coldnes of the ground occasioning the advance or procrastination of fruits according to its severall disposition . nor can such a course be any interruption to harvest or vintage , both comming much after the season of the silke-worme , though i should ( in submission to better judgement ) conceive that with transplantation of trees ( such as they would have come later then ordinary , for that purpose being loosed from the ground neare upon the as●●nt of their sap would spring for that season according to ●heir expectation later then is usuall , and the next yeare its novelty of ground having made it wanton will come much earlier , and more improved then those whose fixure to the place of its first pullulation keepes it selfe to its former constancy , and by this meanes the later harvest would not be at the most three weekes time a●ter the ( usuall ) income of the first . and without doubt the chineses and persian could not vend such vast quantities of silke , with which they fa●shion so huge a part of the world with one single harvest , which though wee are at present ignorant of , yet what should discourage us from delivering such conjectures to a tryall , since the examen of it is not without probability , nor the discovery without an extraordinary certainety of profit ? those who will object that notwithstanding ● years practice italy hath not discovered this mystery , or if discovered , found it destitute of successe , may be pleased to receive this answer : that there is an immense disproportion betwixt the happyest region of italy , and the south of the excellent virginia . italy ( and that annually ) is subject much to inclemency of winters , in respect of our more temperate maiden , where snows and black swans are alike prodigies ; the cold there is rather like a phletomy to tame the plethorick abundance of springs , then dead it : nor are the springs of italy so early as ours in that climate , and the mulberry shooting forth later then all other t●ees by much , may by this meanes of transplantation and heat of soile , be equall with the first , and by that early apparence give day-light to this and other more abstruse magnalia . i have ins●sted so much the longer upon this mystery of the silk-worme , because ( if it were handled by a better pen , judgement , and ability ) it is every way noble and sublime , so much worthy the knowledge , not onely for the benefit ( which is extraordinary rich how ever ) but for the admiration of nature , who hath ab●eviated all the volum● of her other miracl●s into this her little , but exact epitome , like that artist who contracted the whole body of iliads and odysses into a nutshell . besides what wee have sayd of silke wee shall find the indian profitable to himselfe , and as in the staple of wines , of which when he has received the whole knowledge , wee cannot make the least tittle of doubt , but he will with all eagernesse prosecute it : first , because it concernes his belly , to which no people unde● heaven are more indulgent ; and secondly , his wife and children who plant his corne may take the charge of the vineyard with not much more labour . but that which turnes to our advantage is , that the indian communicating the knowledge of the grape to his neighbours , and they transmitting it all along as far as new spain , will stir up the spanish jealousie to interdict all viti-culture amongst them , and as far as the extent of his power can fathome to prosecute severely all such natives as shall make it a subject of their industry to the prejudice of spaine . this must of necessity make strong combinations and leagues against the spanish tyranny , which though they are not of themselves able to shake off , yet will the spanyard feare to extend himselfe further ( except in such strength as at present his condition denies him ) knowing the indians untinguishable thirst of revenge , and his laying hold of all opportunities to put it in execution , with all the powers of his understanding cruelty and malice . and thus shall the spanyard in case he attempts our supplantation be constantly discovered by the siding indian , and if there be a necessity to prevent his malice , by turning his designe upon his owne head , infinite occasion of intelligence may wee have from the enraged native , how to attaque him in his strongest security , where either the distance or impassability of the way will make him confident and carelesse . further use may be made of the native in fishing after pearle , to which if wee allure him by a constant trade with him for them , his owne profit will quickly enlighten his desire of more , and that desire quicken his industry . that virginia affordes multitude of pearles , mr. lane is sufficient to give publick information , where he tells us a relation delivered to him of a weroance , who had so great quantity of pearle , and did so ordinarily take the same , as that not onely his owne skinnes that he weareth , and the better sort of his gentlemen and followers are set with the sayd pearle ; but also his beds and houses are garnished with them , and that he hath such quantity of them that it is wonder to see : these are mr. lanes words exactly . nor is there any difficulty in the discovery of this , or ingrossing the trade ; especially since wee are the masters of the countrey , and if any other nation should attempt to partake in the benefit of our trade , the strength of virginia is at present such as may repell by violence , all forraigne incroachments upon their trade and livelyhood . the indians unanimously consent that twenty two mil●s beyond the falls , is a rocke of chrystall , and this they evidence by their a●rowes very many whereof are headed with it . and that dayes journey from thence , is a rocke or hill of silver oare . beyond which , over a ledge of hills , by a concurrent relation of all the indians , is the sea , which can be no other but that sea which washes the shore of china , &c. that this report of a great sea southwest beyond the mountains , cannot have the least of fiction or confederacy , since all the indians from canada to florida , doe unjarringly agree in the relation , is obvious to the meanest apprehension . the discovery whereof , if we fall upon it by degrees , will bee a worke of no long time or difficulty , but the unexpressible profit and glory of the action , will rayse the noble head of this above example countrey to such a high zenith of wealth , power , and lustre , that it will be reputed a very remarkable degree of felicity to any nation which shall reach to such a verticall point of glory , as to bee reputed but our second in these most noble considerations . by this meanes what wealth can there be in those richest provinces of the world , in those countries which nature created for h●r cabinets of excellency , which we shall not discover ? what discover without a power of appropriation ? what opulency do●s china teeme with which shall not be made our owne by the midwifry , by the juno lucina of this virtuall passage ? this by a happy transmigration , by an innocent magick will convert that countrey , ( which by a swelling denomination , yet without not some preten●e of reason its natives call by a title signifying all under heaven ) into our maid of admiration and envy virginia . her silke-worm shall spinne for carolana , her cloth of gold be weaved for roanoak . the english name shall keepe company with the sunne , and those nations who owe him a particular adoration shall honour it as the next thing sacred . the e●sterne nations oppressed with the slavery of those ill●strious horseleeches their princes , will come under our shadow , and by a thicke repayre to our most glorious and happy mayden , live with us in that liberty , which nature in their creation intended to the noblest of his creatures mankind . and by this recourse all those curiosities of art , in which those easterne nations transcend europe , will bee conveyed to us with their persons . cattell and horse in which they abound , will bee sold to us for nothing , for european trifles , whilest the more necessary stapl●s of this our westerne world , will be sold at advantages not convenient to be mentioned . the voyage short , easie , rich , and pleasant . no doubling of the line , no calentures , s●urvies , or other long passage diseases , to affright or distast the laborious seaman : whereas now the enfeebling and destroying of mariners is almost an unavoidable consequence of those long and dangerous , rather circumferences● then voyages . but lest we should sing a paean before a victory , it will not bee unworthy our labour to discourse what meanes m●y be used in this discov●ry . which if it should misse in its prosecution , ( for which fayling there is not the least shadow of probability ) yet might carry a vast profit to recompence all your paynes and expences . that it must not bee attempted at the first heat , but must have more recourses then one to the fire of a triall , will bee made apparent by these reasons . first , the inconveniency or non feysibility of carrying so much provision as will serve the discoverers , whose number , in my opinion , cannot bee lower then two hundred , if wee let slide into our deliberation the many unknowne nations , through whose territories we are to make our passage , and which by common estimation , are much more numerous in the inland , then marine countreyes . next admit wee undertake and compasse it with such a number , yet the discovery not being capable of secresie amongst such a multitude of undertakers , the publick resentment of such a felicity approaching , not suffering people to be silent ; wee should have this arrive to the spanyards knowledge , who will roule all stones under heaven to dispossesse or prepossesse , and indeed the danger his peru , chili and philippines , by such seating , may lie obnoxious to , will adde spurres to his inclination to prevent us , which till wee bee in in a condition to resist , may be effected with our absolute ruine . the safest way therefore is , by degrees to steale upon the design , and take our way thither , by ceasing of places of advantage , very frequently found in that contry , which we may progressionaly fortifie at every twenty or five and twenty miles distance , and to these places we may constantly ●end supplies of victu●lls and ammunition , not only for the men there garrisond , but for our owne reception and maint●nance in the discovery : and these men standing continu●lly upon their guard , may ( i meane those most rem●te ) by conference with the indians , discover with much ease , of what distance , what accesse , what harbours , what frequentation , and by what people the neighbour sea consists of ; to take with them exemplars of all mineralls , drugges , dies , colours , birds and beasts , drawne ●o the life in colours , which ( by an invitation of reward ) will be a surer meanes of discovery , ( if any such be ) then by multitudes of people , whose number commonly ( as in the ●x●mple of fernando soto in florida ) hastens no other discovery , but that of unavoydable famine , and being usually , either through nec●ssity , or a disordred maner of living irregular and ●ngoverned , fright the inhabitants from all commerce and conference or else make them join in a confederacy to abuse and remove them by telling their unwelcome company , golden lies , and miracles of countreys farther distant , where they are likely to find small satisfaction for their covetousnes or hunger . reason and experience will cond●mne us of folly , if wee should refuse to profit by commendable examp●es , though proc●eding from enemies or friends suspected : it will be therefore an incitement irreproveable to commend to our owne imitation the custome which the industrious spanyard practiseth in his designe of discoveries : every one of the associates carry a little horne abou● their necks in such journeys , by which meanes if the errour of the night or thickenesse of the woods occasion any separation betw●x● them , or an ambuscado of enemies make the passage doubtfull , by winding of that horne , p●esently notice is given to the rest , who upon receiving the sound give the ●irst winder notice of their residence , to which they may repaire , or testifie their apprehension and readinesse to prevent all hostile stratagems . the same indefatigable nation in their passage over rivers , presently make themselves light canoas after the indian mode , with which entring themselves and swimming their horses ( whose heads they keepe above water by a coller fastened to the boat ) they overcome difficulties of currents , which to any other but those seem● insuperable , and indeed their labour in this kinde show them of admirable resolution and constancy . though wee may entertaine grounds of hope and confidence , that this discovery of the south sea may be made without any tedious land-journey , since it is certaine that from the great confluence of waters in the gulfe of st. laurence , foure mighty rivers receive their sourse , the first whereof pouring it selfe north into canada , another running eastward into the sea called hunsons river , the third running westward into the maine are already discovered , but the fourth upon which wee have reason to fixe high expectation be●ding southward to florida , washes all the backside of virginia , and may in all probability discharge it selfe into the south ocean , which if it suit with our conjectures , virginia will have by that meanes a double accession of security and convenience . for our security it will be a naturall bar betwixt us and the jealous spanyard , who if he shou●d injustly continue the possession of ou● florida , which is indisputably english ; yet thus dividided from us by a vast river full of ●slands , and places convenient to command the channell fortified and maintained by our nation , he is too full of providence and caution to attaque us , if once in so good a posture . for the conveniency which sufficiently speakes it selfe the ease of transportation by water , and all in our owne chanell , the saving of land charges , and probability of a more speedy passage , are prespicuous arguments to commend it . and to confirme the probabilities of this passage by the lake the more strongly , the indians of canada confessed to iames cartier that it is but a moneths sayling , from thence to go to a land where cynanon and cloves are gathered . others told the same person , that from the place where they left their pinnace , there is a river which goeth south-west , from whence there is a whole moneths sayling to go to a certaine land , where there is neither ice no● snow seene , where the inhabitants doe continually war one against the other , where there is great store of orenges , almonds , nuts , and apples , with many other sorts of fruits . what ever beliefe other men bestow upon this relation , i know not ; but tru●ly in such a generall concordance of reports , where there can b● no roome left for confederacy or designe , to be perswaded of the truth therein , cannot have any vitious tincture of facility or credulity . but it is time to remit these high and noble atchievements to the prosecution of those who have more power and ability , who may give such a discovery the honour of their names , and transfer a perpetuall illustrious memory to posterity , we shall onely suppose it faisible and hope the effects will answer such supposition . which if it should faile , why may not virginia in her future felicity of silke be a new china and persia to europe ? why may not all the spicery of the east flourish with an equall successe in this our most justly tempered climate ? already can virginia boast of cinamon , which if transplanted might not be inferiour unto any ? why may not the cloves perfume virginia with as aromatick redolency as the philipine gardens . our aire is more serene , better tempered then theirs , nor have we any more sense of winter to hinder the ascent of sap then the moluccians , if it be any thing more harsh in cold , yet is it but a check to a peradventure too forward spring . what multitude of flowers have our late gardens in england seen non native to this soyle or climate ? fruits thought solely proper to italy and spaine flourish here to the envy of those count●ies , who see often times the colonies in a happier degree of prosperity then the mother , for fruit and flowers . but these designements must be the daughters of time , curiosity and industry , to whom away may be made passab●● , and easie , by that uncabinetting and deciphring of nature , garden philosophy , what harsh disposition in the world will not be lenified and refined by these curious conclusions ? dioclesian could postpose the science of governing mankinde to the knowledge of managing his scions , to see those plants grow up , which his own laureld hand had set , watred and attended● and accordingly flourish , was in a manner the production of so many children , who in this have the advantage , that their florescence is not subject to selfe-deprivation , give them but an acceptable ground● a bounteous aire , and an arriding sunne and they answer the most exact desires of the setter or ingrafter ; but children , let them have all the auxiliares of a full fortune , warmth of education , and heat of encouragement , by some private disease of the genius , by some secret malignity in nature , or its right hand custome , seldome or neuer thrive according to the wishes of the parent , they are either too ranke with insolence , too much parched with rashnesse , or withered with infamy and luxury , that those which planted them instead of delight in that which they esteemed their masterpeece , have nothing but a spring of indignation , or an autumn of melancholly to answer their expectation , and are so far from contentment at their groweth that they would have reckoned it amongst the smiles of their fortunes , that no warmth of theirs had contributed to their production , no indulgence to their continuance and education . these allu●ements are for those whose delights onely are interested and denoted to this retired activity ; but those who looke further will finde ( that which is rarely or never contingent to other contentments ) this pleasure to be attended with an inestimable p●ofit , and one of the most certaine returnes in nature : but this fertility-labouring countrey , especial●y in its southerne beauties , in its roanoak excellencies , like to a princesse , all compos'd of bounty , suffers no addresse to be made unsatisfied . gentle winters to court your seed , warme springs to marry them to perfect masculine ripenesse , nothing but ingratitude and indiligence to delay or divert its liberality , hitherto ( like those confined virgins in a barbarous seraglio ) it hath suffered the imputation or injury of sterility by a non-complacency in its savage amourists , the abundance of perfection having put them into a satiety or incapacicy of enjoyment . the truth of this being abundantly manifest , an apparent profit and delight inviting the able and industrious ; necessity must be the next argument to those whose poverty can pleade no excuse for their indiligence ; yet this laborious necessity is not so ingratefull as in england , and in other more thick-peopled countries , what ever you sweat for in this bounteous region , is crowned with a recompence amazing your expectation ; such things as make poverty and life wearisome , contempt of , or impossibility of any melioration to their condition are things heere never charged upon honest indigence , or denyed to a commendable industry , nor can they palliate their sleepe and sloth with a pretence of wanting materialls to worke upon , or plead that such things as should employ them must be first had out of england , since there is enough abundantly and naturally in that unpresidented countrey to employ their industry , to enrich their labour . though silke●grasse is unquestionably a staple which will bee neighbour to the profit of the silke-worme , though the naturall hempe-flagge may be a merchandize in time equal to english flax , though the sarsaparilla be an extraordinary vendible commodity , though pipestaves be so beneficiall● , that with not many drops an extraordinary workeman may make his labour worth sixty pounds per annum . though he has fish there , and in such abundance that the attending diligently upon two seasons , onely returnes him a reward of one hundred pound sterling in sturgion , salmon , herings , mackrell : pot-ashes a rich and never decaying staple , &c. yet since against this an objection may be made what course they may take for their provisionall subsistence . those who apprehend such doubts will be pleased to receive this answer , in which if they are sensible of reason they cannot faile to receive satisfaction . there is no man will ever be denyed the loane of corne for his house-spending , and seed till the harvest ; if he be a single man he may prepare as much ground if cleared , and set as large quantitie of corne for his owne spending and repayment of what borrowed , in two dayes space as will abundantly suffice him twelve moneths . admit there be no cleared ground , yet if he but unbarke the trees one foot round after the indian mode to prevent the shade occasioned by the leaves , which such unbarking quite destroyes , the corne ( set betwixr those trees ) will thrive and prosper exceedingly , and their greund thus prepared will last seaven or more yeares successively , and this worke cannot last him above five dayes at the longest . if he have a family , his wife and children will be able to beare part in that labour , and many others . for provision of flesh , if he can use his peece he may , even at his labour in the woods , have opportunity of killing venison , hares , wild-foule ( in their season innumerable ) and fish , of which the r●vers are all times plentifully furnished , and of great delic●cy ; if in all this abundance he is yet apprehensive of famine , wee shall refer him to the number of those who are afraid to be starved for meat in a cooks shop . besides what a small summe of money will buy your cattell , and swine in virginia ? whose feeding co●ts them nothing but thankes to god , who has spread that superficies of that noble ●ountrey with perpetuall friut and verdure . poultry in infinite variety and plenty , the forbearance of whose encrease for a small terme of years will make them so numerous , that they may alwayes have a full table . the w●st indie potatoe ( by much more delicate and large then what wee have heere growing● besides that it is a food excellently delicious and strongly nourishing , fixes himselfe wherever planted , with such an irradicable fertility , that being set it eternally grows : of this an extraordinary pleasing and strong drinke may bee composed . nor is the maiz l●sse commendable for bread then malting , of both which in its use it ●ffordeth a peculiar goodnesse and convenience : and i am much to learne how a poore man can in justice complaine of want , when he is as it were besieged with such plenty : this for provision may abundantly satisfie , but if he can be content to forbeare debauches and profusenesse for t●e first three yeares he may by any of the meanes aforesaid arrive to such a condition of ●hriving . that he may allow himselfe a large latitude of expences ( that first three yeares once expired ) without much empairing his fortun●s . but since all men either by constitution of age , oppression of yeares , or different education , are unable o● improper for the fi●●●et or hatchet , i shall offer them a way which may be lesse laborious and peradventure more gainefull ; yet before i descend to this , i must take leave by digression to enlarge something which i have already hinted on , nam●ly the benefit of transplantation . the removing and transposition of wild plants , doth with an ●xperimented happinesse wonderfully mitigate and engentile their 〈◊〉 noble nat●●e ; whether ( as an a●thour delivers it very elegantly ) it be by reason that the nature of plants , as of men , is desirous of novelty and peregrination , or because that at their parting from their former grounds they leave there that ranke wildnesse virulency and ill quality from the forest , where is first rooted the grate●ull novelty and allurement of a well cultivated s●yle makes it receive a new by exiling it from the old savagenesse and indomestication of its first seat and nature . since then the removing of wild plants addes so much to their improvement and melioration confirmed by naturall reason and unerring experience : why may not the diligent labour by removeall and transposing this excellent staple of silke grasse , make it thrive equally in greatnesse and goodnesse , there needes no more art to be used then th●t of comparing the soile ( transplantations int● worse grounds being naturally improsperous ) and though there appeare now somewhat of trouble ( though nothing of lab●ur ) in peeling the silky skinne of , yet that it may be broken as flaxe or cleared by some instrument ( the commodity richly rewarding the nobility of any invention ) to this purpose ; time and further experience will no doubt to the publick enriching of the colony and this nation make apparent . in this any one which is not sworne a servant to ease and sloth , may with a small toile reape a considerable profit . next , what will n●t those vines produce if well husbanded after their transplantation , and in this most delightfull labour the gain is so appareut that almost the blindest judgement may perceive it . orenges , lemons , pine-aples , plantanes , peaches , apricocks , peares , aples , in a word all sort of excellent fruits will grow there in full perfection ; you may sleepe whilst they are growing , after their setting or engrafting , there needes no more labour but your prayers , that they may prosper , and now and then an eye to prevent their casualties , wounds or diseases . sugars , indigos , cotton , and ginger , require a greater industry ; but if wee consider the difference betwixt the two climates of barbadoes and virginia , the immoderate heate of the first and the exact temper of the other , the labour though it may require as frequent handling , yet is by much lesse toylesome . in a word , if a man be yet timerous of a thriving condition in this countrey ; i shall with his pardon believe him , distrustfull of gods providence ; or if he be so vitiously disposed as to hope after a land where he may enjoy an undisturbed plenty without the sweat of his browes , the maps are so extreamely d●ficient in the description of such a countrey , that i must desire him to looke for a new world and kingdome , for such an easie accommodation . if any make an objection why this countrey stored with all these riches , furnished with all these staples , hath so long held downe her head in the lownesse of a desperate condition ? why being capable to crowne her browes with garlands of roses and plenty , she sate desolate amongst the willowes of neglect and poverty ? let them but recall their memory , how by the prevailency of g●ndamore the co●poration w●s dissolved , their patent cancelled , to which if wee adde the cooperation of the indian treachery in their first massacre , they will cease their wonder at its languishing condition● and convert it to a full admiration , how that colony could ever raise her endangered head out of those gulfes of distraction , in which the gold of spaine , the disincouragement of the court , the discontent of the better sort of planters , and the desperate negligence of the more inconsiderable had in humane opinion irrecoverably involved her . but the incomparable virgin hath raised her dejected head , cleared her enclouded reputation , and now like the eld●st daughter of nature expresseth a priority in her dowry ; her browes encircled with opul●ncy to be believed by no other tri●ll , but that of expeperience , her unwounded wombe full ●f all those treasuries which indeere provinces to respect of glory , and may with as great justice as any countrey the sunne honours with his eye-beames , ●ntitle her selfe to an affinity with eden , to an absolute perfection above all but paradize . and this those gentlemen to whom she vouchsaf●s the honour of her embraces , when by the blessings of god upon their labou●s s●ted with the beauty of their cornefield , they shall retire into their groves checkered with vines , olives , mirtles , from thence dilate themselves into their walkes covered in a manner , paved with orenges and lemmons , whence surfeited with variety , they incline to repose in their gardens upon nothing lesse perfumed then rose● and gilly-flowers . when they shall see their numerous heards wanton with the luxury of their pasture , confesse a narrowne●se in their barnes to receive their corne , in bosomes to expresse fully their thank●fulnesse to the almighty authour of these blessings , will ch●arefully confesse : whilst the incomparable roanoak like a queene of the ocean , encircled with an hundred attendant islands , and the most majestick carolana shall in such an ample and noble gratitude by her improvement repay her adventurers and creditors with an interest so far transcending the principall . a valuation of the commodities growing and to be had in virginia : valued in the year , . and since those times improved in all more or lesse , in some ⅓ , in others ½ , in many double , and in some treble . iron , ten pounds the tun . silke coddes , two shillings six pence the pound . raw silk , s . d . the pound , now at s . and . per pound . silke grasse to be used for cordage , d . the pound : but we hope it will serve for many better uses , and so yeeld a far greater r●te , wherof there can never be too much planted . of this q. elizabeth had a silke gowne made . hemp , from s . to s . the hundred , flax , from s , to s . the hundred . cordage , from s . to s . the hundred . cotton wooll , d . the pound . hard pitch , s . the hundred . tarre , s . the hundred . turpentine , s . the hundred . rozen , s . the hundred . madde● crop , ●s . the hundred : course madder , s . the hundred . woad , from s . to the hundred . annice seeds , s . the hundred . powder sugar , panels , muscavadoes an● whites , s● . and l . the hundred . s●urgeon , and caveare , as it is in goodnesse . salt , s . the weight . mastick , s . the pound . salsa perilla wild , l . the hundred . salsa perilla domestick , l . the hundred . red earth allenagra , s . the hundred . red allum , called carthagena a●lum , s . the hundred . roach allum , called romish allum , s . the hundred . berry graine , ●s . d the pound : the powder of graine , s . the pound : it groweth on trees like holly berries . masts for shipping , from s . to l . a peece . pot-ashes , from s . the hundred , to . now . and s . the hundred . sope-ashes , from s . to s . the hundred . clapboord watered , s . the hundred . pipe staves , l . the thousand . rape-seed oyle , l . the tun , the cakes of it feed kine fat in the winter . oyle of walnuts , l . the tun . linseed oyle● l . the tun . saffron , s . the pound . honey , s . the gallon . waxe , l . the hundred . shomacke , s . the hundred , whereof great plenty in virginia , and good quantity will be vented in england . fustick yong , s . the hundred . fustick old , s . the hundred , according to the sample . sweet gums , roots , woods , berries for dies and drugs , send of all sorts as much as you can , every sort by it sel●e , there being great quantities of those things in virginia , which after proof made , may be heere valued to their worth . and particularly , we have great hope of the pocoon root , that it will prove better then madder . sables , from s . the payre , to s . a payre . otter skin● , from s . to s . a piece . l●zernes , from s . to a piece . martins the best , s . a piece . wild ca●s , ● d . a piece . fox skins , ●d . a piece . muske rats skins , s . a dozen : the cods of them will serve 〈◊〉 good perfumes . bever skins that are full growne , in season , are worth s . a piece . bever skins , not in season , to allow two skins for one , and of the lesser , three for one . old bever skins in mantles , gloves or cap● , the more worne , the better , so they be full of fur , the pound weight is s . the new bevers skins are not to bee bought by the pound , because they are thicke and heavy leather , and not so good for use as the old . pearles of all sorts that ye can find : ambergreece as much as you can get : cristall rocke : send as much as you can , and any sort of minerall stones , or earth that weighs very heavy . preserve the walnut trees to make oile of , & cut them not down● so also preserve your mulberry and chestnut trees very carefully . in the month of june , bore holes in divers sorts of trees , wherby you shall see what gums they yield , and let them bee well dried in the sun every day , and send them home in very dry caske . finis . virginia's discovery of silke-vvorms, with their benefit and the implanting of mulberry trees : also the dressing and keeping of vines, for the rich trade of making wines there : together with the making of the saw-mill, very usefull in virginia, for cutting of timber and clapbord, to build with-all, and its conversion to other as profitable uses. williams, edward, fl. . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing w ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virginia's discovery of silke-vvorms, with their benefit and the implanting of mulberry trees : also the dressing and keeping of vines, for the rich trade of making wines there : together with the making of the saw-mill, very usefull in virginia, for cutting of timber and clapbord, to build with-all, and its conversion to other as profitable uses. williams, edward, fl. . [ ], , [ ] p. : ill. printed by t.h. for john stephenson ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. attributed to edward williams. cf. nuc pre- . the second part of the author's virginia, more especially the south part thereof ... [ d ed.] eng silkworms -- early works to . viticulture. wine and wine making -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . a r (wing w ). civilwar no virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes, with their benefit. and the implanting of mulberry trees. also the dressing and keeping of vines, for williams, edward f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes , with their benefit . and the implanting of mulberry trees . also the dressing and keeping of vines , for the rich trade of making wines there . together with the making of the saw-mill , very usefull in virginia , for cutting of timber and clapbord , to build withall , and its conversion to other as profitable uses . london , printed by t. h. for iohn s●ephenson , at the signe of the sun , below ludgate . . to all the virginia merchants , adventurers , and planters . gentlemen : the unhappinesse to be amongst the lowest of men , for parts and fortune , cannot hinder mee from the satisfaction which i receive in my selfe , that none is possessed with a more eager passion of contributing towards the advancing virginia to that degree of felicity which the bounty of nature , richnesse of soyle , and temperature of climate designed her to : and were my power but of as strong a wing as my inclinations and desires , that above-example countrey should be placed in such a zenith of stability , wealth , and glory , that it should behold all the other nationall happinesses of the world in a sphere beneath her ; and her merchants adventurers and planters , like so many load-starres to conduct mankinde into an innocent ocean of unfathom'd wealth of unrocky prosperity . no countrey under the sunne is lesse ingratefull then virginia , if she be but justly courted , but to complement a virgin for her affection by breathing smoake in her nostrils , to expresse our civilities by vapour ; and for all that vast dowry of spaciousnesse , wealth , bounty of aire , and plenty of provisions , to proffer her a joynture of tobacco , is a complement indistinguishable from incivill rudenesse . what riches may not the silke-worme , vine , olive , and almond afford us ? by these noble undertakings wee contract china two thousand leagues nearer to us , and are not troubled though spaine and italy were remooved five thousand more distant from us : and if wee could not satisfie the implacable curiosity of our senses without the easterne spices , it i● without dispute , that what every orient hath of aromatick , ●ould grow without any deterioration in this incomparable countrey . yet if , by some occult propriety of nature , these spices , and gummes should not prosper with that successe in the countrey ●o which they are onely adoptive , as where they are naturall : the south sea flowing upon the skirts of this gloriously appa●relled virgin , would not onely furnish us , but ( through our meanes ) all the westerne worl● with whatever the philippines and china have in ●heir brow , or bosome : which that it may be discovered , a publique incouragement from the merchan●s here , and the colony ●here , would awaken all spirits which have any scintillation of honour , or industry , to undertake the imployment , effect it undertaken , and by the effect raise an unperishable structure for their owne glory , perpetuated by the publique felicity . the grea●est defect that colony can with consent complaine of , is their want of shipping , and the greatest with which others finde ●hemselves perplexed , is the want of industry to build them . if virginia had not as stately timber as any other region wha●soe●er : is it had no● a soyle naturally inviting them to improve her in iron for gunnes , anchors , and other conveniences ; in hempe for cordage , flax for canvase , and pine trees for mast : this defect might be allowed for reall : but where all these concenter , it is as unreasonable to complaine , as for a man seated at a table covered with excellent provision , to accuse his fortune for suffering him to perish wi●h hunger , because his meat is not digested in his stomack , wi●hout putting his hands and teeth to labour . i could cordially wish that there were such quantity of cleared ground in virginia , that every one at his fi●st arrivall might ●ix upon the plough , that the so much discoursed of s●aples of wheat and rye , might be brought to an absolute ripenesse of per●ection : but to imagin● so many millions of trees of a facile removall , or that old planters knowing the benefit thence arising , should part with them to o●hers , and seeke new uncleared grounds for themselves , were meerely to dreame of impossibilities . but the vine , almond , and olive , may be set where the tree is onely barked about to hinder it from leaving ; besides if ●here were a necessi●y to have absolutely cleared grounds , ( ●hich reason it selfe cannot imagine , ) yet foure acres of ground so cleared ●or the vine , will re●urne ( by much ) more profi● , and l●sse trouble , then twenty acres of wheat , at such ra●es as they are prized in the common estimation . but since ●his profi● reverts to the purse wi●hout the toyle of ●radica●ing trees , as great em●lument , as if the ground were al●oge●her treel●sse , to what purpose should we court sweat and affl●ction ? or increase our miseries wi●hout any addition to ou● happin●sse ? gen●lemen , he happinesse o● this n●tion depends upon your co●stancy and prosperi●y , i● you seriously erect these staples , wee shall be free ●rom the imperious usurpations of forraigne princes upon your estates , and shipping , from the rapine of pirates upon your lives or liberties . the decayed number of our shipping may be resupplyed by encouragement of carpenters of all nations , to make use of those materialls which the inimitable liberality of this countrey gratefully presents you with : all staples ( diffusively spread in other regions ) will meet here united , and we shall arrive to that degree of happinesse , to make our intrade by much exceed our exportations : for the compleating of which , if such an inconsiderable , and lost thing as my selfe , could be any way instrumentall , i should as cheerfully hazard my life in the employment , as i now subscribe my selfe , your ready , faithfull , and most humble servant , ed. williams . the discovery of silke-wormes ; with their benefit , and implanting of mulberry trees . the mulberry tree , yielding the sole food of this exellent worme , must first bee provided for , whereof there are myriads dispers● in the wide continent of virginia , which may bee collected by transplanting , grafting , or nursering . for transplantation there are infinite advantages both of well-growne and springing mulberry trees , which may with much facility be removed , and with great felicity thrive upon such a removall , of which experience can afford frequent examples . the grafts must bee chosen from excellent good plants which expresse a large fertility , and bee something large of themselves , by which election there will bee a greater certainety of the goodness● , and a more speedy expectation of g●owth in those grafts , which thrive better when grafted one upon another , then upon the chesnut , apple-tree , elme , white ●ople● , or any other , which if they are not mortally opposite , are however praeternaturall to the silke●worme . the nu●series have so much of tediousnesse and difficulty , that i shall hardly advise to put it in practic● ; yet to those who have a stronger ●●●dulity then my reason ca● perswade mee to● i shall offer the ●ol●●xpedient of effecting it , if that may bee ca●led aptly an exp●●●●●● , which hath so little of expedi●ion in it . let ●h● 〈…〉 to make a nursery , observe , and gather such 〈…〉 will suit with his necessity● of the ripest fruit growing upon those trees which beare the fairest and roundest leaves : these thus gathered , you must wash in two or three waters , pressing them with your hands , by which meanes you shall fi●de the expressed seede in the botto●e of the water : i ●cced● more to the sowing of the mulberries whole without such expression , how ever , either the mulberry entire , or the seede may bee sowed after the manner following . a b●d of fa● earth being digged , husbanded , and the mo●ld brought into a small powder● must have strait rowes or lines in furrowes● all ha●fe a foot equally distant every furrow two inches deepe , and f●u●e broad , this distance may bee something larger that an in●ervall may bee made to the weeder in the weeding of such things ●s may hinder the mulberries growth by participating in its aliment . a great care must bee had to water it often for the first yeare , i● the weather b● dry , the succeeding yeare you may pul up and transplant your mulberry trees int● another ground more at large , viz. at two or three f●●● distance , which must bee not retransplanted till the growth arise to some six inches in the circumference● at which bignesse you m●y remove them to the ground designed for their constant fixation , leaving betwixt each tree a distance of sixteene or twenty foot , that the too muc●●i●inity may not make the extending branches mutually inconvenience either by exclusion of a full sunne , or wound themselves by intertangence of one another● in such warme countries as that of virginia , the root must bee preserved coole and moy●t , by a deeper implantation then is usuall in colder regions . for the election of your plants or sciens you may take notice of two families , or races , of mulberry trees , the black , and the white , discordant in wood , leafe , and fruit ; onely having this in common to spring later then other trees , as never emitti●g their leaves till all apprehension of cold is vanished , the black mulberry is not subdivided into any other species having the wood solid and strong , the leafe large , and rud● in the handling , the fruit black , great● and acceptable to the palate : b●t there are three app●rently di●ferent species in the white , distinguishe● onely by the colour of the fr●it , namely , white , black , and red : yet is this fruit by much lesse gratefull to the palate then that of the black mulberry . no other distinction besides , the colour of the fruit discernes them one from the other , the leaves of all three being of the same meane greatnesse of the same smooth feeling , the wood of the same internall yellownesse , almost as firme as that of the black mulberry . but the silke taking his quality from the leafe make us lay a●ide the black mulberry tree , since the bottomes from thence are too grosse and heavy , whereas the white mulberry makes silke fine and light , to temper which many feed the wormes with two ●orts of meats by dictinction of times , viz● at the beginning with white leaves , that the silke may bee fine , in the closing , with black to fortifie it , and make it weigh : yet this though it have an appearance of reason ●t the first inspection , rarely answers the expectation , the very alteration of the meate as from that which is more delicate , to that which is more grosse , being disagreable to the nature of the worme , who must shew that diminution in the quality of his silkes which hee feeles in the impairing of his n●triment . others make a contrary application of leaves by a more ( imaginative solid foundation● ) which is to begin their dieting with black , and conclude with white ; which cannot succeed better , for the black having disposed the matter of the silke , the white leaves after administred have no power to alter that seminall disposition . wee shall therefore fixe upon it as a principle of nature , not to vary the nourishment of this industrio●s creature . if wee begin with the black mulberry , the continuance of it will bee necessary . if the ground you possesse bee already planted with black mulberries , it is so much losse of time and expences to replant white : but if wee are to commence a thing de novo , every mans reason leading him to chuse the most profitable , and common exp●rience telling us that the white antecede the black ones so incredibly in the poynt of maturation , that six years of growth advance not so much the latter as two the first ; it were an act declaring bethlem for dic●ator , not to prefer the most speedy and profitable before the tedious and improper commodity . besides which em●lument the branches which by that speedy shoot they bring forth will bee usefull for propagation of that tree to infinite numbers . there is yet experimentall election amongst the white mulberries . some affirming that the leaves of those trees which emit the white fruit are fittest to bee assigned for this nourishment , which they fortifie by this reason ; that pullen and swine doe most delight in the white , and never eate the red and black but by constraint , a conjecture not altog●ther irrefragable ; for why may it not bee controverted that pullen and swine being a greedy generation , may rather ballance that which is most grosse and fulsome , as b●st adapted for their palate , then that which is nice , and subtle , and best according to the delicate tendernesse of this creature ? others who have their owne experience to fortifie their ass●rtion , commend the white mulberry bearing the black fruit , the colour demonstrating a better concoction in the fruit , and consequently in the leafe then the others . but ( which wee must bee extreamely curious in ) wee must expell from our yard all muberry trees bearing leaves too much indented , which , besides that it is an apparent signe of small subsistence and ●ncompleated nature , is more defective in quantity and quality of nourishment , then that which is lesse interruptedly circular : yet this may easily bee remedied● if you inoculate such tr●es in the bud , or eseuch●on , having neede of such freedome ; the profit thence arising being very con●iderable for this kinde of nourishment : for by this course that inconsiderable quantity of worthless and famelick leaves receives a happy melioration into an abundant plenty of substantiall and nutritive nature . nor is this transmutation improper , for any other orchard plants which will succeede to yo●r most advantagious expectation , and all indomestick and wild trees may by this bee made capable of a most happy cultivation . this infranchizing may bee practised to the answer of your desires in mulb●rries of all ages : in the older , on their new shoots of the antecedent yeare then lopped ; in the yonger upon the smallest trees of the nursery . but to graft these trees in the first season , th●t their growth will permit it● is most opportune and profitable● for by this meanes your groves of mulberry will bee in●irely delivered from all apprehension of jejune sterility , or insub●tantiall deficiency● nor can ever you feare a want of supply , if you constantly maintaine a nursery of such graf●s , not f●om the seede , but from the shoots and branches of your best trees thus propagated to an unperishable infinity by couching them in the ground , and the trees encreasing by their reimplanting are constantly furnished with leaves of an excellent sweetnesse and greatnesse , exquisitely abundant in nourishment , and consequently exempt from all the inconveniencies which walke hand in hand with ●n ingratefull wildnesse . having described what trees , grafts , and nurseries are best conducent to our mystery ; let us next dilate of their most proper soyle , and best order in planting . the best soyle and order for planting the mulberry . for the soyle it must bee chosen in particular much like that of the vines , inclining rather to dry then moyst , light then heavy , sandy then ●layie ; for those which opinionate themselves that a f●t ground is inconvenient t● mulberries● as supplying leaves of too grosse and unsubtile aliment ; the objection is pritty , but under pardon scarcely solid , neither am i capable of any reason to the contrary , why a rich soyle should not emit the growing tree● with a greater maturation and bignesse , then a leane plantation , where the tender plants are even starved with the sparenesse of distributive moysture and aliment : yet to prevent the too grosse substance of the leafe after the tree by the advantage of a rich nourishment , hath arrived to a competent greatnesse ; the order which wee shall prescribe in their planting will admit the plough amongst them , where cultivation will easily take off the soyle from all exuberancy of fullsome ranknesse . the soyle which is full of springs , lakes , rivers , or ( which is worst of all ) marshes , is particularly to be avoyded . the manner of implanting them would require a distance of foure fathomes or more , which in virginia where wee labour not under a penury of ground , may bee something more spaciously enlarged● the reasons why this extent of distance are : first , the intermixture of spreading branches , where by their contingency they violate and mutually wound themselves will bee avoyded . next , the sunne hath a more unimpeached immi●●ion and distrib●tion 〈◊〉 his beames , with which this tree is most particularly delighted . lastly , this largenesse of intervalls permits a free passage for the plough , to take off all luxuriancy of ranknesse , which t●o much inspissate● the leafes , which must feede this admirable creature . but of such graines as may with least impairement bee sowen under the mulberry trees , oats and pease are the most proper , which during the collection of the leaves may with very small detriment bee trodden upon ( the season commonly falling in april and may , when their blades are backward ) nay the very compressure of the earth makes them afterwards arise more strongly . i approve much more of interplanting the vine ; but ( which i conceive the most convenient for virginia i● ) the setting of the indian potato hath the most inestimable benefit ; the potato having such a happy multiplica●ion of and in it selfe , that whilst there is but a string of the root left behinde in the earth , the species will bee renewed . besides the excellency of the food , whether for man , or ( where such a vast abundance may soone introduce a satiety ) cattle will bring alone with it an inestimable advantage ; whereas corne may too strongly impoverish a ground , and the vine it selfe when it comes to its ripest excellency , will want the compleat comfort of the sunne beames to give fruit a well concocted maturity , the mulberry like an ambitio●s grandee , e●grossing all that favour to himselfe by his prevalency of height and greatnesse . nor should wee bee too curious to plant the trees one over against the other exactly opposite ; but still observing for beauties ●ake to set them in a right line ) rather one against the intervall of the other , that so the sunne may have no interposition from any angle , to warme , comfort , and enrich this tree , which aides the production of so many incomprehensible miracles . the order for collection of the leaves . the order to bee observed for collecting the leaves should bee precisely insisted upon , that the trees may bee of longer and flourishing duration , and the food of a more curious and unsoyled nourishment : it is a truth not to bee denyed , that the disleaving of trees is extreamely prejudiciall , and in some irrecoverably deadly ; the reason is their extraordinary scorching , by being left without any shade of protection : but the mulberry being ( as it were ) destined to this worke which it naturally supporteth , more inprejudicially endures this temper of disleaving then any other trees whatsoever . but for the obviation of this inconvenience , it will bee absolutely necessary for our master of the silkeworme , to have such a proportionable number of trees , that the halfe may alternately repose unpluckt every second yeare . this diligently put into practice will make your trees continue verdant and vigorous for many generations . to gather them with both hands leafe after leafe , is confessedly the most proper , but yet withall the most expencefull ; for the multitude of hands which such a circumstantiall labour would exact . the other way of gathering them with stripping them from the branches , is without doubt extreamely n●cent to the tree , and worm : to the tree by unbarking , wounding , and perishing its branches . nor is it lesse detrimentall to the worme seeing this disorderly collection corrupts and sullies the leaves , which this delicate nice creature perceiving , either rejects them , or sickens upon their reception by bruising the leaves , and expressing that which is the life of its substance , the juice , and this commonly with unwasht hands , which leave the ill odour unremoveable upon them . the removall of these inconveniences is easily effected by following the course they practice in some parts of spaine , which is by clipping the leaves from the branches with a sharpe instrument , like a taylors sheares ; by this way you disleave many stalkes at once , which falling into a cleane sheete spread under that tree for the purpose , seperating afterwards the leaves also , such as are sound from unsound , such as peradventure have much of the stalke , from those which are nothing but leafe , ( the stalke being hurtfull to this tender creature ) and administred to them the sunny side of the leafe upward is the most commendable practise of gathering and feeding that hath hitherto been delivered . the leaves of the old mulberry are to bee much prefer'd before those which are not come to an absolute perfection ; the age of perfection in the mulberry , we reckon to be accomplished in seven or eight yeares , as to soundnesse of nourishment ; not that they grow not after , but by that time it is growne powerfull to conc●ct such succulency as might before over master it . the trees disleaved must by a diligent hand be pruned immediatly after the last collection ; what ever is broken , wounded , or made unprofitable must bee carefully cut off . the extreames of all the branches must be top'd a little with a sharpe pruning knife , which is an invitation to nature to send forth the next yeare more vigorously . but whether it be in gathering the leaves , or pruning the trees , it must bee our principall care that they be intirely beared● the omission of which , by not taking all the leaves off , turnes back the liberallity of the repeating spring . this observation hath been grounded upon practise , made so successefull by experience , that it hath been found , that trees after such culture and disleaving , have within a month attired themselves with such a new border of leaves , that the former imbalding them hath been imperceptible . which induces me to believe a former assertion , that it is possible to have a second silke harvest by this meanes , and why not equall with the first , i know not , since the seed is more youthfull and vigorous then that of the yeare preceding growne feeble by its continuance . the raines if they fall about the time this noble creature drawes unto her perfection and period , is by much more strangely prejudiciall , then when they are in the greatest of their feeding , the wet leaves occasioning them many desperate diseases : the usuall way of prevention is to have a provision of leaves before hand , when there is any jealousie of rainy weather ; but this provision must be laid in a cleane dry place which is fresh aired , and th●t w● may remove all dangers of contracting too much heat , to be turned o●ten , which course , although the raine should not oppr●sse us , yet is it of great conveniency , not so much out of apprehension ●o be necessitated● as for the quality of the food , it being much better after fourteen or fifteen houres resting in a place cleane and drie , then when fresh from the tree . but if you are surprized by an unexpected season of wet , take those mulberries which you intend to ●op the next yeare , ( and the mulberry would be lop'd every ten or twelve yeare , which revives and strengthens the tree with a new youth ) and ●ut their branches which hung up in a drie corner , either of your house or barne , or any other coverture in airy places , will soone have their leaves drie , better condition'd , and of more efficacy then any leaves set to a fire , which is too suddaine , or to winnowing by a winde artificiall and unnaturall . the mulberries chiefe profit consisting in the leafe , we must be carefull to lose nothing of this revenue ; which considered , wee should delay the disheading or lopping of them till the wormes have done feeding , which would be about the latter end of may , or the beginning of iune● and alt●ough by the disbranching of them in such a season , we cannot expect such l●rge returning shoots as those which were cut in february or march , the distance of time being materiall in their growth , yet the profit of the leaves being double , very well answer such in●quality . the mulberry being of so ●ranke and plyable a disposition● that notwithstanding its amp●●ation in unseasonable moone and w●ather , no injuries shall hinder him from regermination . yet are not these advantag●s ( no necessity obstructing them ) to be omitted by any which are not enemies to their owne profit . the mulberries in the increase of the moone pou●ed , or lopt , bring forth their young shoots long without spread●ng bra●ches ; in the wane short , with many little branches crossi●g the principall . to reco●cile this ( the election of the time being i● our power ) the mulberries seated in leane grou●ds , are ●ost properly disheaded in the new moone : those whic● are pl●nted in ●ich ground , in the last quarter ; so will those in the leane soyle emit shoots as long as the barrenn●ss● of the place will afford them : and those of the fa●●er , th●ough the benefit of thei● seat , co●veniently ●●gaine that which they would not easi●y have done , cu● in the inc●●ase● fo● those aspi●ing branches , we●e they not r●st●ai●●d by the counte● shoots who participate with them in nou●●●hme●t would by reason of thei● unweldy length , be fo●ced to b●nd downew●●ds to the deforming of the tree f●om the shape of a muiberry into that of a palme-tree , which is not to bee feared in the rest , by reason of the leanenesse of the ground , forbidding all abundance of shooting : wee have provided for the feeding of this little and great artificer , let us now expresse an equall care in his lodging . the lodging of the silke wormes . t is a vanity to expect emolument from this mysterious creature , if wee sort him not with a lodging proper and agreeable to his nature , who c●n with no lesse disprofit bee ill accommodated in his habitation , then in his nourishment ; who to show a particular affinity with the noblest of creatures , man , makes his affection of habitation equall to his . spaciousnesse , pleasure , healthfu●lness , distance from off●nsive vapours , damps and humidities , warmth in the extreames ●f colds , coolenesse in the extreames of warmth . wh●t ever wee naturally desire and abhorre , does this creature by the prosperity or i●f●licity of his labou●● show a most experimentall r●s●ntment ●f his ●tation there●ore ●ust bee i● the meane twixt the top and bottom● of a foundation , the first being too much obnoxious to h●ats or wi●des , the second to colds and d●mps . the platforme ther●fore of your building his station must be so contrived , as to have his basis three or foure foot above the g●ound , nor ascending within an e●●●ll distanc● of the til●s . a fab●ick ( saith de serres ) of seven fathome in length , three in breadth , and two in height , will entertaine with ease the worm●s enlivened from ten ounces of seed : this pr●portion may be raised acco●ding to your seed . in virgin●a these may be of very sudden erection ; nature hath furni●h●d ●hat excellent countrey with materials , to invite all who have the desire to attempt it . th●t the aire a●d winde ( if coole and dry ) may have free passage to refresh these laborious spinners , who near upon the perfection of their worke are upo● the point of stifling● ( the season , and th●●bund●●ce of 〈◊〉 silke wherewith they are filled , both coop●rating ther●u●to ) w●e must h●ve windowes opening to all angles to receive u●susp●●ted inf●igi●●tions in extreamiti●s of heat , and wa●m●ng transpiratio●s in immod●●ate colds ; y●t with this proviso , that these windowes bee fit not onely to receive any favourable aire , but to expell all noxious vapou●s ; and because this creature loveth any thing that is white and luminous , it will sort excellently well with his disposition and safety , to p●rget or plaster the inside of the house very well and smooth , bo●h to satisfie the eye and preserve him from the danger of rats , which cannot clime up such a wall , though a principall care ought to bee used that the severall stations on which they are lodged , bee remote from all fixures to walls , which might give rats and mice advantage . to build the s●affolds containing these wormes : many pillers of carpenters worke di●ectly squared , shall bee pe●pendicularly erected , from the ground to the seeling , to support the tables which crossing the pillars upon little joynts sixteene inches di●tant one from the other ( exc●pt that from the g●ound which must bee inches . ) upon these tables doe wee l●y our wormes● but their boards must not bee equall in breadth , ev●ry table as it exceeds in height , being to bee narrower then the next below by foure inches , and the highest approaching the ●eeling to bee narrowest of all . this pyramidicall forme is of most beau●y and safety to the wormes ; when wandring upon the edges from one end of the scaffold to another , seeking a fit place ●o ●omi● their ●ilke , they fall in such a precipice from the higher scaffold to the ground , that they break themselves in pieces : but by this means fal●ing but from one scaffold to another , the smallnesse of the distance contributes to their preservation . the breadth of the most low●st table shall bee limited even to this proportion , that easily of one side a man with his hand may reach the middle to a●tend the wormes ; as for the ascending scaffolds their continuall diminution makes the serving of them of greater easinesse . a roome of any capacity will admit severall of these scaffolds ( distinct from the wall for reason before recited of rats ) and also that the attender may come on either side of the scaffold , such space being alwayes to bee left betweene their position . these scaffo●ds must bee made of an unsuspected fi●menesse , to prev●nt the falling downe of a●y ●art of it , or the whole either by the ladder which the keeper ascends , or the weight of the worms themselves , when once growne great and hea●y . to ascend these sc●ffolds , some make boards about the● , ●s it were by galleries● others have their getting up to them by little staires appropriated to this ; others by formes . i approve of none more co●venient then a light ladder which fits all , and poss●sses but one place . the timber fitt●st to employ in the tablure of this scaffolding is usually firre or such light wood : in virginia● i apprehend none fitter then cedar or cypresse , because o● their delicious odours . wee h●ve already spoken of such meanes as may refresh the overheated worme ; r●sts now to d●liver an experiment to wa●me the aire , this creature b●ing no l●s●e enemy to cold in the beginning of his apprentissage , then to hea●e when ●ee is ready to goe out ●f this w●●ld m●st●r workeman . aft●r ●aving built your house for worm● ; let there be a hole pierced through your wall , where you must make an oven , the mou●h whereof must be on the o●● side of the hous● then before you make it off , take pots like flower pots , but such a● will indure the fire● and lay them with the mouth side of these pots tending inwards towards the house● and the bottome within the oven , lay these ●●u● sidelong at an equall distance● and work● up the oven with the po●● incorporate ther●unto . this done you may make a fire in the oven , which by the benefit of the pots conv●y●s a●l the heate to you without any inconvenience of smoake . to make this heate the more agreeable to the wo●mes , and to keepe the house in a temperate and inoffensive warmth , you may put into these 〈◊〉 branches of rosemary , time , roses , juniper , &c. this figure ●heweth the order for ●●nking the t●bl●s on ●●e se●ffolds , to lay the l●aves on , for feeding the wormes . this figure sheweth how to place the rods , betweene the tables , for the wormes to climbe up , and spin their silke . this figure representeth the engine , to wind off the silk from the cods , w●●h furnaces and cawlderns necessary thereto . t●●● f●●ure ●our●ra●●s the cods , with the butterflie● come forth of them , ●o l●y ●heir e●g● upon black s●●g● , chamlet , ●ammy , or such like ●●●ffe , as in this treatise is shewed . the election and use of the seed of the silke-worme . there is a great deale of reason , that we should be curious in the election of ou●●eed ; and t is not more poetick then philosophick , that of horace : est in juvencis est in equis patrum , virsu● nec imbellem feroces progenerant aquilam columbae . what can we expect of generosity in that which has a disposition to degenerate before produced : of all the seeds proper for the vivifying this animall , there is none more exc●llent , as yet a●rived to our knowledge , then that of spaine : this de serres●ffirmeth , though he seeme to be in a kinde of haesitation , whether that of calabria march not in a higher degree of reputation , as yielding more abundance , and of equall hardn●sse with the cod of spaine ; yet this is certaine in nature and reason , that seed transported in●o other colder regions , can no way lay claime to a parity of ●hriving with that continued in its owne climate ; and i doubt not but if the south of virginia , where the silke-worme is a●o●iginally native , were duely inquired after , the seed of that would have a particular excellency , to which all the europaean na●ions must give the glory , the right hand of preheminence . but leaving this to the scrutiny which shall be made by time , and experience , we must grant the prim● opinion to the sp●nish , which however it thrive in france for foure yeares● yet afterwa●ds it degenerates extreamely , so that it must every foure yeares be renew'd , for within that circle it suffe●s a m●nif●st d●clension in goodnesse . comming from spaine it is of a dark taw●y colour , after certaine generations , gray . to prove whether the seed b● dead or not , you must expe●iment it upon your naile , that which breaks in cr●cking , c●sting forth ●umor and moisture , you may ●ssuredly ●steem for good , the other is to be rejected . the smalln●s●● of the sp●nish se●d incr●as●s the number of wormes , for which it deserves ● p●rticular p●ae●ation . no seed of above a yeare old is any fu●ther profitable , till you put them to ha●ch , you may preserve them in boxes thrust amongst wo●llen cl●athes in a trunke or chest , and let the chamber where such trunkes or chests are , be now and then aired with a fire , to the intent they being rather warme then cold , may be praedisposed for a hasty production when the season of the yeare shall invite you to put into practise . to imbibe or steep the seed of silke-wormes in the most generous wine you can procure , is an experiment that hath alwayes answered with a happy successe ; for this not onely discriminates betwixt the good and bad , ( the good alwaies subsiding , and the other floating ) but addes legitimation and strength to the approved ones , making them come forth free and fortified , and causeth them to hatch almost all at one time . after the good are taken out , they must be set to drie in the sunne , or before the fire , layd upon very clean paper , covered with white linnen , or smooth paper , lest the ●eat might bring it prejudice . the vivification of the seed . the spring being come , and the mulberries budding , it will be seasonable to put them to hatching , which ( all other wayes ●mitted , as the keeping them in a boxe , in ones pocket , between a womans brea●●s , &c. ) sorts b●● with reason and convenience , performed thus , viz. that the seed removed from its first vessell , shall b● committed into a box lined with cotton , over which you must put a white paper , which must seperate the seed from the cotton , then cover the seeds ( being not above halfe an inch thick ) with a little bed of sow , over which tow you are to lay a paper pierced very thick with small holes , much about the bignes●e of the tag of a point ; over this paper you shall lay some mulberry leaves . and this is the preparative to hatch them . to bring them forth , lay your boxe so prepared between two pillowes , which moderately warmed with a pan every two houres , and after the first three and foure dayes visiting the box at every such warming , to the end to seperate such as you shall see hatched , who will not faile to creep through the tow , and pierced paper to the mulberry leaves , to which they will cleave : which to remove , you must draw them out of the boxe by taking hold of the mulberry leaves with a needle , and removing them and the wormes adherent into a bigger boxe or si●ve ; with paper at the bottomes , distinguish those of a hasty production from those of a more slow , that the worke may arise more equall . these thus brought forth must by gradations be accustomed to indure the coolenesse of the spring , diminishing dayly something from his accidentall warmnesse : the first foure daies let them in the sieve covered with cleane linnen continue upon the bed , the curtaines closely drawne , then removed into a warme chamber , close from all penetrations , layd upon ranks close together , that they may give and receive mutuall warmth , allowing them a larger proportion of roome , as they increase in bo●y . but the most assured way to preserve the wormes untill their second change in warmth and security from vermine , dust , or other hostilities of nature , is by a great presse or cubbord made with many stages , pargetted or pasted for the agreeablenesse of the odout with oxe dung , made of firre , or mats , and to draw out at will seperately , equally distant foure inches , compassed round about with linnen tackt to the doores , with paper w●ndowes on the sides and formost doore , to admit or exclude aire after the exigency of the occa●ion ; and h●ere vacant places being left at first to enlarge them , as they increase in growth may they bee distinguished according to the dates of their first appearance upon the mulberry , rejecting all that seed , which is not enlivened before the fifth day● as unprofitable for working by confu●ion of times , and uselesse by their weaknesse . foure times doth this excellent artist change his skinne , which is the cause of his so many sicknesses . the first sicknesse arriving within eight dayes from the beginning of his life , is knowne by these symptomes ; the head growes bigge and white , and hee ●●des himselfe under the leaves : to administer any food were needlesse ; but that they are not all sick at one instant , so that some must bee given to nourish th●m which have not arrived to , or past over their sicknesse , which you shall know by their change of colour and creeping upon fresh leaves . the second sicknesse arising within eight dayes , or thereabouts , ●rom thence is knowne by the same accidentalls , and must have the s●me appl●cations , onely now they would bee removed into new , cleane , and more spacious places : the third is in all like the two o●her , though something more dangerous ; heere you must carefully prevent the accession of all cold ayres whatsoever : it may happen that some of these wormes may grow yellow , which is almost incurable in themselves , and deadly contagious to all the rest ; th●se must bee carefully selected from the rest and ejected . remove , enlarge & cleanse as before . eight or ten dayes after appears the . change or sicknes● & now the recovered wor●● being increased to their full growth , must be removed , enlarged , & cleansed , as before . at appoynted houres morning and evening must this worme bee f●d from their hatching to their fi●st change or sickness● ; from the second chang● to the third or fourth , they must bee fed three times the day at the l●●st , taking this for an assured max●me , that after the recovery from their last siknesse , the very cloying of them with leaves even to the satiety of their ●ppetite , accelerates th●● to the perfection of their taske ; for these curious v●ssells will the sooner discharge themselves of their precious inclosed substance , by how much they are the sooner replenished . nor is there any p●odigall improvidence in this ; for it hath beene observed that worm●s have eaten neare as much in eight dayes when more sparingly distributed , as in foure when liberally handed to them ; so that by such wary disp●nsa●ion they save no leaves , and lose foure dayes in point of time . but a particular eye of care must bee had to the quality of the leav●s you feede with . no goodn●sse of a selected tree being capable to secure it selfe against ●ccidentall diseases arising from the unnaturalinesse of se●sons , whe●ein by extreames of drought or moisture mildewes , heat drops , and other distempers , all the leaves oftentimes becomming yellowish , spotted , or speckled , declare the nature of that food highly unwholesome and pernicicus : such as grow out of the ●unne in the interior umbragious parts of thick trees are almost as dangerous : nor are the leaves of the second spring which shoot afresh on trees already disleaved of lesse guilt , through the inequality of their ages . one banquet of those gives the last repast that your wormes shall have neede of , a ●iuxe thence arising killing them , and easing you of further trouble , if you ●●count it so to be vigilant over your own● pro●it . the most agreeable to all wormes is to bee fed with leaves of their owne age , and by this the feeble creatur● shall meete with tender leaves , then growne strong with leaves , fu●l growne correspondent to bo●h their complexions . the fault of the wet leaves may bee corrected by patience , attending the serener season ; but of dry leaves you ought at no time ( if you regard your owne profi● with a sober p●ovidence ) to bee unprovided , and the way how to prep●re hath beene already delivered in this treatise . t●●s● preciou● creatures exact no great expence or laborious care during the first three or foure weekes , being satisfied with little , as most agreeeble to the tendern●ss● and smalln●●s● of bodies , and are very w●ll entertained with the leaves of the ●uccours or other branches , from whence for the profit of the tree one should n●c●s●●rily cu● th●m . at the beginning we go to gather leaves with h●nkerchiefs , then with little baskets , la●tly with sacks & maunds , as growing to a bignesse to require it , and a p●rfection to discern it . that the gathere●s of these leav●s sho●ld handle them with pure and washt hands , wee have already decla●ed absolutely necessary : but the governour of these chast and magnificent ●reatures must bee master of an exact purity . the smell of tobacco is deadly to them : let his observance forbeare it : let him have a watchfull eye , that none of an offensive smell approach them ; all ill breathings upon them● whether contracted by fu●some foode or nature make this innocently noble creature expresse her resentment by her owne death , or sicknesse let him pu●ifie the rankn●sse of his owne breath ( when fasting ) with good wine ere he approach them , with the odour whereof the worme is highly cherish●d . let the lodging be swept ev●ry day , and pr●served so by sp●inkling the flou●e with vinegar , and afterwards strawing it with lav●nder , spike , rosemary , time , and such like of well comforting odours . to these we may sometimes adde a perfume composed of frankincense , benioin , storax , and other quickning aromaticks burned in the lodging . let the tables be often made cleane and shifted , by often , i meane eve●y ●●●rd o● fourth day at the furth●st , at which time the litter begins to bee offensive to this curio●s natured creature ; especially with the increase of the heate , let his diligence increase , that no uncleanesse ( at that time more then ordinary maligne ) cut him from the benefit of his labours . the litter must not bee taken away by degrees to the trouble of our curious creature , but all at once ; which may bee effected , if you leave at the end of each scaffold an empty station to place the adjoyning wormes on , whose left station being made cleane is fitted for the next neighbourhood , and thus may all bee removed and shifted by degrees , and a vacant table at the other end of the scaffold r●maines to begin againe ( as afore ) within two , three , or foure dayes at the longest . and thus without carrying far , the wormes shall bee removed with ease and security , not once laying the finger upon their tender bodies ; for giving them fres● leaves at the time of their replacing , the worme will fasten to the leafe , and the leafe may bee removed with his precious burthen , with no lesse safety then convenience . it will bee requisite to dispose the tables in such a fashion that they may bee seperately taken from the scaffold like tills out of drawers ; for this the easiest and lesse nocent way of cleansing , as preventing the falling of any stench upon the lower tables● and by which they are more suddenly discharged of their filth and ordure , meerely by striking them gently on the floore , which done , let them bee swept and brushed perfectly well ; let the tables on which you put your wormes after their first sicknesse bee sprinkled with vinegar or wine , then rubbed over with sweete hearbes to delight and encourage them to labour . some have made tryall , which hath succe●ded happily of the smell of garlick and onions to refresh them ; i dare not absolutely assent to this experiment ; but it is cleare as sunne-shine , that the worme not onely rejoyces in agreeable odours , but is succoured thereby in his greatest maladies : of which we now intend to discourse . the causes of extraordinary maladies in wormes , and their c●re . the extreames of colds and heates , the too sparing , or too abundant administration of victualls in their severall ages , and a maligne disposition of the leaves are the principle causes of all extraordinary maladies which afflict this creature . if the inclemency of cold hath benummed or diseased this innocent artist , the stove or oven formerly mentioned will recover it ( the stopping of all windowes , and other admi●sories of aire cooperating : ) to the greater complement of the cure , let the lodging bee perfumed with redolent gummes , with wine , strong vinegar , or aqua vitae● if on the contrary , the torrid violence of heate have wasted the strength of this suddaine and excellent spinner : the fresh aire admitted at the doores and windowes some brave artificiall fannes or ventalls to raise this breath , if too little , or at the last the exposing them upon their t●bles out of their lodgings to enjoy an uncontrouled and liberall communion of the aire , some halfe an houre before s●nne rising are the proper meanes of their recovery . those which by a wastfull liberality of their keeper in the tendernesse of their age have injured themselves with over feeding , must bee cured by a two dayes abstin●nce , and for some two succeeding dayes di●ted with a moderation . those who famished by the negligence of their keeper are almost languishing to death , must bee restored by giving them meate in slender proportion , but frequently repeated , by such a dyet regaining their forfeited appetite . those which by having fed on yellow spotted , or too yong leav●s have contracted a fluxe , and f●om thence a jaundice and spotted colour , accompanied with black bruisings , must upon the first inspection bee immediately removed into seperate chambers , that the change of ayre and dyet may labour for their almost desperate cure , and to prevent a contagion , which from thence would universally domineere . but s●ch wormes which as ●n accession to this last disease you should behold bathed on the belly by a certain humour flowing in that part of their bodies , are as incurable , good for nothing but to repast your poultry . indeed excepting this last inexpugnable malady perfumes and change of chambers are generally conducing to overcome all diseases and to res●ore a new health and vigour . but this noble creature is by nature sufficiently priviledged from these diseases , if the unskilfullnesse or negligence of the keeper did not violate this priviledge , and by that violation increase his owne trouble . nor is this care of the keeper to bee onely limited to the day , the night too must require a part of his vigilance ; mice and rats then take advantage , and grieved that any creature should labour for man without their participation or obstruction devoure them by troop●s , and the cat her selfe enters in●o a league with these her usuall prey● to prey upon these poore things , whose in●ocency and excellency makes them the more obnoxious to their cruell avarice . to remedy this , the house must not bee without contin●all lampes , bells , and other vaine terr●u●s to aff●ight them : the keeper himselfe also , or his depu●y must frequently walke round about his little army . and le●t the oyle ( which occasions divers indispositions , if it fall ●ut in a drop upon these nice artists ) might bee p●ejudiciall , the lamp●s should bee aff●●●d on the wall , and the portable lig●ts with which hee visits his curious charge of waxe , tallow , firre tree , or any other of innoxious , but illuminative substance . these things well observed , within se●ven or eight dayes at the most , succeeding their four●h and last exuviall sickness● ; the wormes dispose themselves to pay the exp●nce of their diet. t● make prepa●ation for them , there must bee accommodations of ●ods necessary for these wormes ●o c●me up to vomit their silke , and fasten their w●bs by . to ass●mble these wormes ( the terme assigned to this worke ) the most proper matters are rosemary , cutting of vines sho●ts , of chestn●ts , o●es osiers , sallow●s , elmes ashes , and in gen●rall of all flexible shrubs , not having a●y disagreeing od●ur . the feet of these rods ●v●n●d for the better fixure shall bee joyned at inches distant to the table below , and the tops of them ●rched together at that above . w●ich epitomall amphitheater is maste● of as much beauty a● those of the caesars in the great●●t volume of their lustre and magnificence ; the ●pper part of the arch must bee plenti●ully interwoven with sprigs of lavender , spike , thyme , and shrubs delectable to the smell . by this intermixture the wormes shall have ample satisfaction to their restlesse curio●ity , where firmly to fasten their rich matter , having an election of such delectation of perfumes , & variety of shoots : but these twigs must by no means be green , the moisture extreamly offending the cattell , and not suddenly withering , if the aire be moyst . the wormes being removed to these amphitheatrall trophies , you may easily discover their gratefull inclination to spinne , by their bignesse of body , brightn●sse , and clearenesse of belly and neck , neglect of meat , and irregular wandring through the troope ; and a little after to fulfill these promises they ascend their branche● to vomit , or rather spinne out their silky substance . here you must diminish their ordinary , dayly , for they will in short time have united themselves to those shoots or twigs , quite forsaking the table . those wormes which clime not before the others union to the branches , are of a latter hatching ; and to prevent all ●nseasonable intertextures in generall , to the retarding and perishing of the whole worke , must be assembled two other tables arched as these , that they may worke together at one time . the knowledge ( when these wormes have perfected their cod● or bottoms ) may be obtained by an eare that is but the leastwaies curious , these creatures making both a pleasant humming in feeding and continuing it in fashioning their bottoms , give that noise and their compleated worke over both together . that which falls next is the propagation of the seed to be preserved till the next harvest . the propagation of the silke-worme seed . happy creature , which livest onely to doe mankinde service , and dyest when thou hast accomplished it ! miracle of n●ture ! a worme shut up in his owne monument , breakes through his silky grave , transformed into a butterflye ! employes ten dayes to erect himselfe a sepulchre , and an equall proportion of time to leave it ! disimprisoning himselfe from his owne interment , by perforation of his bottome , he returnes to the view of mankinde in the figure of a butterflye , with wings , as if he had already tryumph'd over his mortality ; which done , he and his co-triumphall females , coupling together perpetuate their species by dissolution of their bodies ; and that which compleats the miracle , may arise from the long abstinence of this living three and twenty dayes imprisoned without any sustenance or fruition of that which he takes a particular delight in , day light . removing your branches from the tables , and your silke-balls or bottomes from the branches dayes after the worke is perfected , the balls are then to be made election of , for such seed as you wil preserve for the year following . bono●ill , & de serres do both agree that there should be proportioned balls for one ounce of seed , he balls male and female ( the description of which hereafter . ) but whereas bon●●ill is of opinion that a hundred double or trebble bottomes which two or three wormes have spunne and made up in common , will produce so many wormes as bottom● : i demand his pardon if i accede rather to the judgement of de serres : for from every double or triple bottome there come● forth but one butterflye , though it hath more within : the reason is , it being not probable that they should be all ripe together , that which is most mature by perforation of the balls , exposes the other to the assault of the aire , which giving them cold , they dye imperfect . to distinguish the sexes . the male of the worme , when grown great , is knowne from the female , by a wrinkled head , and a great appearance of eyes ; the female hath the head round without any such appearance . in the bottomes of balls the male is knowne , as having work'd himselfe into a bottome , long , slender , and by much sharper at one end then the other : the bottomes of the female are bigger , softer , round at one end , halfe poynted at the other . the sex in those butterflyes is thus distinguished : the male is lesser of body then the female , stirring the wings more often and more strongly . selecting then two hundred bottomes ( male & female included in the number ) you must passe a thread through the first and outward downe , called the sleave of the ball ( using a wary hand that you pierce not into the silke , lest the cold getting in you should quite abortive your wormes ) of which you must make severall connexions composed of an equall number of both sexes ; these ( to prevent rats and mice ) must be hang'd upon some hooke in a chamber of middle temper , but something inclining to coolenesse , yet however not subject to moysture , that the butterflyes may come out with the more facility , having pierced through their confinement , though nature her selfe infuses in them disposed applications to finde out their opposite sexes , it will be necessary to couple such as yet are disjoyned : all which , after you shall perceive them in conjuncture , must bee set either upon say , piropus , tammey , chamlet , the backside of old velvet , ( in generall vpon any stuffe which has no woolly downe , wherein the graine may be lost , or where it may get betweene the threads , as is linnen ) hang'd upon the wall close by their balls , or in defect of such stuffe , take walnut-tree leaves one handfull , or more as you shall see occasion , tye them by dozens backsides together , hang them at severall nailes or pinnes , and set the coupled buterflies thereon . take the chamlet , or other stuffes , receiving the seed , and rub it gently between your hands , and the seed will come out with great facility . the principall time of the butterflyes issuing out from the cod , is in the morning about eight of the clock : the seed collected must be put into a boxe very cleane pasted with paper , to exclude all aire or dust , kept in a chest in a drye temperate place where it may be preserved till the spring following , avoyding to make any continuall fires in such chambers , lest the warmth untimely hatch the wormes , which being brought forth at such a season must perish for want of food . the spaniard takes commonly the double and triple balls for seed , not that he conceites every double ball should produce two butterflyes , or which is a conceit of more fondnesse , male and female ; but because the multiplicity of creatures spinning their silk in common , make the worke so confused that they cannot well winde it off , which makes them be put in the ranke of the pierced ones for sleave , and i must ingeniously acknowledge my self to accede to his opinion ; for these double and triple balls are not unapt for this purpose , since they commonly , as de serres observes , come rather from a lustinesse and supplenesse of the worme , then any naturall debility : which sure are so much fitter to bee culled out , that the best balls may bee made into silke , which will easily winde , and the seede of these which is fully as proper for seed , but lesse apt for silke : neither doe i know why they should not bee preferred , since the spanish seed proceeding from these double and triple balls carries a particular preheminence above the rest ; which if wee shall make use of , the use is the same with others , except that they must bee clipped at the smaller end with the poynt of a paire of scissors , with a regard that you cut not cleane through the bottome , which would by admission of wind destroy the worm , and this they doe that the butterflies , if more then one , may finde an easie passage ; the best bottomes ( if you will preserve them ) for graine , are great , hard , weighty , and of carnation or flesh colour . the balls preserved for seed being made choice of , the next thing wee are to fall upon is , how to winde off the bottomes designed for silke : which would bee of much more advantage for purity and plenty of silke , and facility of labour , if they could immediately bee wound off . the silke so freshly taken unwinding without any losse or violence : but this delayed , the gumme , by which the worme fastens her threads becomming dry , doth so harden the bottome , that without difficulty and losse , the winding cannot bee accomplished . this expeditious winding prevents the enclosed worme of her full metamorphose into a butterflye , and the bottome from perforation : but then where shall wee finde so many workemen if the designe were generall , as could in seven or eight dayes winde off so many millions of bottomes ? not excluding therefore such as can have that conveniency , the next best course to kill the butterflyes in those bottomes which wee cannot winde off , is by exposing and laying them in the sunne , the heate of which in its owne worke stifles this creature : but let this bee two or three dayes successively ( not all at one exposure , lest your silke be burned instead of stifling its spinner ) two houres before , and two houres afternoone each day respectively . let the bottomes , spread upon sheets , be turned often , that the heate may destroy equally , no one excepted from this sharpe insolation ; but this must not bee done with a rude hand , which instead of turning them may bruise the worme , the slimy matter of whose body , being thus bruised , is very prejudiciall both for staining the silke , and gluing it so together , that no artist can ever unwinde them . removing them ther●fore oftentimes during such sunning with a gentle hand , wrap them thus warmed in sheets , and let them lye in a fr●sh dry chamber . but if the sunne should faile , an oven of such moderate heate a● is usuall after two houres drawing the bread , or heated to such a degree of wa●mth ( laying it over with boards , and the bottomes in sacks upon those boards , there remaining each time an houre and a halfe , repeating it till your experience by opening the most suspected bottome finde the inclosed worme consumed ) will bee of equall operation . but that which is the best and least practised course is this : take your bottomes , and fill such a furnace or copper as your brewers use , halfe full of water : within three fingers breadth of this boyling water , lay a lid or planke or board within the copper , bored through as thick with holes as a cullender , and so fit to the side of the furnace , that it by no meanes may sinke into the water : upon this cover lay a thin carpet of darnix or the like , and upon the carpet the silke bottomes , which must bee often stirred , with care not to use too much violence . the mouth of the copper , except when you stir the bottomes , must bee constantly covered , that the heate may smother the wo●mes : your wormes being dead , lay your bottomes in some roome , where there is aire to dry their moysture . this is an assured ( though not vulgar ) experiment , and by it your silke becomes as easie in the winding , and as pure in colour and substance , as if it had beene spunne the same moment the worme had given it perfection . to wind●●ff the silke fr●m the cod , or b●ttome . the winding off the ●ilke from the cod or bottome , is thus effected : fill a caldron full of very faire water● and s●t it upon a furnace , heate it to such a degree that the wate● becomes bubbled , as though there were small pearles in the middle , being ready to seeth ; then cast in your cods ' or bottomes , still stirring them up and downe with broom● or other small bushes , if yo● shall see that the heate is not capable to make your bottomes winde , augment your fire , otherwise abate it . the bottomes winding the threads will take hold of the broome or brushes ; draw those threads so affixed the length of halfe a yard and more out with your fingers , till all the grossenesse of the bottome bee wound off , which cutting off and laying aside , take all the threads of your bottomes united into one and according to the bignesse of thread you intend to make ( as whether sowing or stitching ) chose the number , not letting the other threads fall into the water againe , which must bee reserved to succeede ) which you must runne through an wyer ring , appoynted for to ranke the threads which ( as you shall see in the draught or picture , ) must be fastened upon the fore part of a piece of wood set directly upon a forme before the round or circle , which wee call a bobin , in the top of which piece in a little space that there is , are fastned two bobin● , distant from one another two fingers ; from this wyer ●ing the thread must bee drawne and crossed upon the bobins , whose onely use there is to twist the silke through a ring which is fastned in the middest of a staffe ; above the bobins you must continue the draught of your thread ; this staffe which moves with the wheele is called a lincet set a crosse beneath the wheeles , from that ring you must fasten your thread upon the wheele it selfe , which must bee still turned till the skeyne of silke bee wound up , the representation see in the next figure . observe , when any thread disconti●ues , his bottome being wound off , to repaire your number from another bottome , this you shall perceive when your full number of bottomes stir not altogether . bee sure that you artificially cut the knots which will bee in your threads , that your silke may bee more pure and uniforme . those which cast gumme arabick in the water under pretence to make the silke winde more p●re and glossey , are but impostours , it being a meere cheate to make the silke weigh the heavier . basins , or caldrons , wherein you p●t your bottoms to winde , if of lead re●tore the silke more pure then those of copper , this mettall being subject to a rubiginous quality , from which lead is wh●ly exe●pt . let the wheeles be large for the better speeding of the worke , that two skeines may be wound off together . that the fire of the furnace may be pure , and without smoake , let it be made of charcoale . the difficulty of their winding may be mollified by sope , put in the basin or caldron ; the old cods or bottoms hardened by time , will have the naturall gumme which glues their threads dissolved , and the silke come off much more easie . those bottomes of silke preserved for seed , and pierced by the butterflyes , may be made of good use , if washing them in water you throwe them into a caldron ready to boyle , with sope in it , which must be dissolved before the bottomes are cast in : thus let them boyle a quarter of an houre , or thereabouts , which done , take them out , wash them in cleane water and d●ye them● being dyed you must beat them with a round st●ffe of a good bignesse upon a stone or some block which is better , which will make them become white , and smooth as wooll . the way to spinne them after is this . they must with the fingers be pul'd one from one another , and opened as wooll uses to be in such preparations , let it then bee put on a distaffe and spunne as small as you can , or please . treatise of the vine . that the use of the vine is really intended by nature for virginia , those infinite s●ore of grapes which crowne the forehead of that happy country are so many speaking testimonies : but what fate hath hitheto diverted our english there inhabiting from the publick undertaking a commodity of so inestimable benefit , i doe not say for a publick staple ( though it would bee as rich as any other one species of traffick whatsoever ) but even from private vineyards , where they might sit under their owne vine , drinke of their owne grapes , satisfie even the most irregular desire of their , voluptuous appetites , and all this de suo , without entring into the merchants book●s for wines , peradventure adulterate , without paying the sweat of their browes for the exudation of the grape , i dare not determinately judge , lest i might bee forced to ascribe it either to a strange nonchalency or sluggishnesse to their owne prof●● , or which is worse an inveterate contempt of all other wayes of improvement ( of what ever returne ) in comparison of fume of tobacco . but that they may not bee ignorant of the profit of the vine , they will bee pleased to know that the vine requires ( once planted ) little more labour then the hoppe . to attend upon foure acrees of hops is the ordinary undertaking of one man in england , who besides this , neglects not many other labours . if one man in virginia bee not sufficient to doe as much as another in england , ● shall either imagine him to bee lame or idle ; nor let them o●j●ct to me the heat of the countrey ; if the mid-dayes be hotter , the mornings are much colder , and the labourer in virginia hath this advantage of being full of bread to ●atie●y , whereas oftentimes the hireling in england having a family to feed , and sometimes no imployment , comes to worke with a famish'd body , and courage , lives meerly de die in diem , with as little hopes of ever changing the copy of his fortune , as renewing the lease of his cottage with his landlord : those are but leane encouragements . in virginia the meanest servant ( if he have any spirit ) is still in expectation of improving his condition , and without any presumption may cherish his hopes , which promise him ( his time expired ) a present happinesse and future possibility of a fortune equall , if not outgoing his master , the encouragement being greater , the care lesse , and his provisionall subsistence by much better : why the laborer in virginia should not ●e ( i do not say superiour ) but equall in strength of body and resolution of minde , to the miserable day-hireling in england , needs an oedipus to unriddle . by this i hope it granted , that the virginian may without any extraordinary efforts of sweat and spirits , labour equally with those of england , and upon this accompt i shall assigne a vignard of four acres to his tillage , an easie taske ; let us compute the profit with the labour , and see what may be the proceed of this ●●●portion well husbanded . that an acre of vines in virginia ( when once growne to perfection ) will yield an equall increase to a common acre of vines in france , there being as great a difference between the soyles as the acres , and much greater ) will i believe be denyed by none , who pretend to modes●y or reason : yet the acre of vines in france , one with another , very few excepted , will yield yearely ten or twelve muyds of wine , a measure containing seventy two gallons ( a very famous frenchman liebault , is my author : ) what the common acre , or arpent , is in france , the same man informes us : an arpent ( the common arpent or acre of france ) is pole in the square , the pole being longer then ours by eighteen inches ; so that one french acre yields three tun of wine and upwards ; our acre being near upon pole more , we doubt not of profit equall . the excellent virginia will pardon me , if for dilucidation of an argument , i make her pure and unexhausted browes descend to weare a gyrlond of fertility equall to that laborious and over-teeming mother , the french kingdome , nay to her common vineyards : yet let us compute the profit arising from the foure acres , being but one mans labour , we shall finde the product even by that estimate , to be twelve tunne of wine , as the recompence of his particular toyle : let us imagine this but at ten pounds the tunne , and the profits of this single person amounts to pounds per annum . here they will object the dearenesse or difficulty of caske ; but this objection must be made by those who know not virginia , where there is such an excellent convenience , and abundance of peculiarly proper timber , that the winter will afford the other labourers together with our vigneron leasure , to cleave pipe-staves sufficient for private use of caske , and to sell to the publique ; one man ( during that little season ) being easily able to make foure thousand . but our acre being a third part bigger , the soyle ½ better , why we may not promise to ou● selves this profit , is an incredulity in england , w●rth a b●and of misunderstanding , in spaine would deserve the inquisition , what soyle is most proper for the vine . hee which will goe to p●ant the vine without the twinne co●sideration of the qualyty of the soyle , and the disposition of the aire , hath much affinity with him who goes to sea without lead or compasse : the one seldome attaines his port , nor the other his harvest . the quality of the ground whereon the vine thrives best , is a fine small mo●ld , of a subsistance rather inclining to a gentle lightnesse , then a churlish stubbornesse : they which would not have it to be very fat , are ignorant that while the vine is yong , the soyle where you plant may be imployed to other tillage , and by such expence of its native richnesse , reduced to that which they commend so highly , mediocrity . but if the fitnesse of the ground transmit a rich and never-failing sap into the nascent vine , making it grow speedy and strongly , if the vine participate of this fatnesse , which it may be they call grossenesse , as desiring to have it more subtile , there is small question to be made , but that this wine so imbodied and fortified by nature , must have extraordinary spirits to preserve it , and that age will have resined all that grossenesse into more pure and noble spirits ; that if transported , the sea will contribute to its melioration : whereas this wine which they call subtile and delicate spirits , if either preserved long or transported far , will with so much applauded subtilty and delicacy lose all his spirits by age and evaporation . scruple therefore at the richnesse of your ground no more then at the ranknesse of your purse ; t is in your power to correct either if there were necessity : let it have the qualities of gentle , easie , fine and light , to be stirred , seated ( if possible ) on the decline of a hill , not neare to any marish ground , nor having any springs gliding through it ; these marish grounds you must avoyd as you would doe levell in a valley . and the reason is , that the vine growing in these parts has a crude and ●ndige●ted bloud , quickly soures , and has neither strength to commend or preserve it , and the frosts in the winter time sinking to his ro●ts , by the moyst passage of his scituation , kills it ; the grapes plumpe and breake , and when as an additionall judgement to your inj●dicious election , a rainy yeare comes to afflict , the kernells breake out , the true juice of the grape accompanying it , and though it fall out that the grape swell againe , yet let not your expectation swell upon it , for instead of good wine proceeding from thence , you will receive nothing but viny water . the gentle , easie , fine , and light ground being the best , does not so wholly arrogate all excellency , as to deny an accession , a neighbourhood of goodnesse to other soyles . the gravelly ground yieldeth wine of a great delicacy , but a small quantity ; besides the infant plants are in danger of being wash'd away in any extraordinary surfeit of raines , such grounds being not able to give them a deep rooting . the like may be said of sandy ground which notwithstanding in some places especially where it is of a nitrous substance , will not yield the palme to any ground o● whatever richnesse ; other grounds may have an enforced richnesse , but because usually all such enfatning compost consists of dung and urine , which spoyle the purity of the vine : if my advice were of any weight , they should never be used for vintage , till necessity commanded my obedience . for the disposition of the aire , as particularly whether inclining to a meridian , or oblique to the south , south-east , or south-west ; if we contemplate the nature of the vine , that it by instinct , prefers places rather hot then cold , drye then moyst ; that it ●areth stormes and tempests , it affecteth a gentle breathing winde , or a serene calme ; we may presently collect that it is neither to be placed open to the north , north-east● nor ( in virginia especially ) to that nursery of storms , the north-west quarters , nor up●n the tops of hills , where it lyes equally assailable to all : the deare place then for the vines imbraces , is a descent , towards , not in a valley ( except never subject to inundation● ) that being sheltred f●om the more blustring domine●rers in the aire , it lye open to the south , south-west , south-east , or any part of the east and west , within the south quarter , for such a gratefull mansion , and acceptable soyle assigned him , doubt not , but he will returne you a rent which shall s●tisfie your most unbounded wishes . but le●t the eye in the option of your vineyard , may impose upon you , considering that every gr●und hath some arcane quali●y which the sight is not able to discover : to make a most certaine experiment , let me propose this way of examen . make a pit in the ground ( where your intentions are to plant ) two foot deep , take a clod of the earth so cast up , powder it , and infuse it in a glasse full of cleare raine-water , do your best to incorporate it with the water by frequent agitation and mixture : let it repose till the subsided earth have made his perfect residence and settlement in the bottome , and the water recovered her native clearenesse ; taste the water , and arrest your judgement upon this , that such a tast as the water delivers to your pallate , will that earth transmit to your wine : if of an inoff●nsive or acceptable relish , you may confidently promise your selfe a wine pure , and consequently ( if the soyle be rich very noble , nor is a salt taste an ill argument : but if it be a bitter aluminous , or su●hury gust , this place is not fit for your planting , you lose your wine and your labour . but virginia has a more certaine assurance ; god and nature have pointed them a soyle ou● with their owne finger ; let them therefore fix their eyes upon those places where either the vine or mulberry grow conjoyn'd , or seperate , and let them assure themselves of the excellency of the soyle , a diffi●ence in this being an affront to nature : yet this caution is to be used that though valleyes are marshy places● may sometime have them by nature , yet their florescence would be much more excellent and healthfull if removed to such a ground as formerly we have made choice of . to make election of plants . curiosity about the choise of your vine plants will commend your husbandry ; let the vine therefore from whence you take your plant be of as little pith as may be , such unpithy vines being both fruitfull and fortified by nature , bearing a remarkable abundance of substantiall grapes and strongly resists the violence of the weather , and of this fertility and firmenesse will your plant also participate . let not the vine you meane to plant from , be above the middle of his strength , or age , and observe ab●ut september th●se which are most laden with grapes , fullest of eyes in their branches , and have been least wounded by the unseasonablenesse of weather . take not a vine growing on a south side to transplant him to a northerne : and set this downe for a principle in nature , that all plants removed to a better scituation and soyle , answer your largest hopes , by their fruitfulnesse : but transplanted to a worse , assure your selfe that without an extraordinary cultivation , there cannot be the least probability of its thriving . let your plant ( if you may with conveniency ) immediatly be planted after its seperation from its originall ; for while it yet retaines any vitall vigour , it will the sooner apply it selfe to the desire of life and nourishment . if your necessity will not admit of this festination , wrap it tenderly in its owne earth ; and when your leisure will permit you to plant it , let it soake some foure or five dayes in water , and ( if possible ) running water : this immerging is a very strong preparative to its sudden taking root . if you apprehend a necessity of keeping him long or transporting him , ( imagine it the cyprian or calabrian grape thus to bee transportable into virginia , ) put him into a close barrell fil'd up with earth ; and that no aire may mortifie him , let both ends of the plant be put into onions or garlick , or ( which is better ) made up with wax , and now and then watred , but not more then to keep the earth from resolving into a dry dust ; for too much moysture might ( instead of preserving him ) make him fructifie , and your plant would become all root . wee have already spoken how we must chuse , but not what we must make choice of : let your plants therefore be of those which grow between the highest and lowest , ( the lowest having too much of earthy juice , and the high●st too little ) let them bee round , smooth , and firme● having many eyes , and about one foot and a halfe of old wood cut off with the new . the manner , and way to ●lan● vines . human curiosity plungeth us in so many unnecessary toils , that it would almost take a person off from necessary labour : look into columella , the countrey farme , the du●ch husbandry and all those supercilious writer● , and you shall see them stand upon such impertinent puntillos ; one while the dependance upon starres benights a man , another while the ground which should produce this or that , must be cast after this forme , or else it will be barren in spight of the bounty of the divine providence . not enumerating therefore all their wayes of planting , i dare lay my life that if the vine were but set on foot in virginia , the ground prepared for it as they doe their tobacco there , by a right line , holes made instead of their hillocks , but larger , deeper , and at greater distance , that there might something grow betwixt them which might be inoffensive to it by nature , and cleare it from being choak'd with weedes , or something drawing a contrary juice , ( peradventure onions and garlick ) or something requiring small nourishment , ( as lupins ) which turn'd into the earth againe ( distance of five foot being left for a plough , with caution not to come too neare the roots , which must be bared with a stowe , the plough running first the length , and then the traverse of those rowes , which therefore must bee lineally straight ) would both fatten the earth , and cultivate the vine all at one moment . yet submitting my selfe to judgements of greater experience then my modesty or natu●e can ever hope for , i shall deliver the severall way of planting the vine , with as much brevity as the matter , and my first resolution rather to contract then inlarge , will permit mee . the first preparing of the earth to receive the vine must bee done in spring or summer , where the ground you digge or cast must bee cleansed from all manner of superfluities whatsoever ; n●mely , roots , weedes , stones , &c. this digging must bee severall times repeated , that the earth by alternate changing its place of top and bottome may bee throughly tempred , the dry refreshed , and the moyst qualified : thus cleansed , cast in into many ●urrowes ( the sides whereof the french call chevaliers or guides , because it should guide you in the planting ) the depth of eighteene inch●s or more ; let the mould cast up above , bee so disposed , that ●t may answer to the depth below . note that these furrowes in a sandy , 〈◊〉 , or wet ground must not bee so hollow as in that which is rough and crabbed : in the bottome of the first you may put stones about the bignes●e of an ordinary brick ( but round ) not bigger , which in the heate of summer refreshes , in violence of raine opens a passage to the water , that it dwell not at the root to rot it . the best season for planting of vines is in october , the moone increasing , the furrowes must bee made in august , that the exposed earth may have time of digestive preparation . if your plant have roots , you must when you plant it cut them of● all , except it bee newly gathered , if it bee a slip or cut , which though it bee not so swift of growth the first yeare , yet is of much longer continuance , you must soake it in water , if it bee possible in running water five or six dayes . hee which plants the vine , the ground thus prepared , and haveing a line with him , that hee may observe a just evennesse and streightnesse , both in the row , and to the opposite plant , that so every foure may make a regular quadrangle , must bow his plant , the bigger end forward one foot into the earth of the ditch , letting first some of the mould from the sides fall into it ; let him tread upon the mould the better to fixe the plant , and with his hand ( the foot still pressing upon that part of the plant which is inearthed ) gently raise or bow the top of the plant that it may grow erect : this done , let him cast some more mould on it , to the thicknesse of six inches , and cut the top of the plant , so as not to leave above three knots or joynts above the earth : let him proceede in planting of the rest , observing the prescribed order : some set two plants together in this order , that if one shou●d faile , the other might recompence the default . if you will have your vine to grow without stakes or props , cut it so , that you let it no : increase above two or three joynts in the yeare , which will make it to stand firme against all stormes , i● but naturally violent . it will bee extreame ill husbandry to plant vines of different kindes or qualities together , such diversity there is in their season of ripenesse ; some preventing your expectation by the suddainenesse of their maturity , others deceiving it by their late ripenesse . wee have spoken of the planting , let us now handle the culture and dresse of it , that his fertility may in some measure requi●e the labour of his impl●nting . the manner of dressing the vine . mid may will bee a season which will best informe you , whether your plants have taken so good root , that it expresses a verdure and germination in his branches ; when therefore the shoot is able to indure dressing , let it bee cut within two or three knots of the old wood , and if any other slips spring from the root , cut them away ( with care however that it wound not the root , or the maine stock , which are wonderfully offended by the too neare approach of any toole that is edged ) that the whole strength of the vine may unite into one common stock or pillar , to support and convey the sap into the permitted branches , of which you may not let any flourish the first yeare of its growth . it is observed , that to cut the vine in the decrease of the moone , makes the fleshy part of the grape of a more substantiall grossenesse and feeding , and is a peculiar remedy for those vines which are given to bee over-ranke with wood : let it bee the care of the vigneron to remoove all obstructions of weedes which uninvited participate of the vines nourishment : the surest way to kill which , is , to turne them in towards the earth , which is not onely a destruction to the thiefe of its moysture , but a r●stitution of the robbery● for the weedes so inverted enrich the ground to the great encouragement of the vine , and the no lesse profit of the vine dressers . let your knife with which you cut your vine bee very sharpe , and let your vine bee cut sloping at one cut , if possible , and not far from the old wood , that the growth of the vine may the more speedily cover the wound . the vines must bee dressed or husbanded ●hree times the yeare , the first culture of it must bee in march , at which time you are to digge about the root three quarters of a foot deep , or thereabouts : the next season must be in april , wherein you must digge about the roote , within a third of the former depth , then you must also prune it by cutting all the branches , and leaving some three knobs or joynts of the new wood in your vine of the first yeares growth , and cutting off all dead or superfluous branch●s of the old , whose permitted branches must also bee pruned , lest they should spend that aliment decreed for the grape in elongation of the branches , all succors also must bee plucked away . in august the like course is to bee used in the wine of the precedent autumne leaving two or three joynts or knobs of new wood : againe the old ones may bee onely digged , if at that time , and at all other times you perceive any dead or wounded branches , you must cut them off something further then the mortification or hurt extends ; and in all prunings let no vine bee cut in the knob or joynt , but in the space betwixt ; there following usually nothing but absolute and irremediable decaying , where they are cut in the articula● knitting● if in aprils dressing , the vine h●ve no branched but onely budded , which is most usuall ( but more especially in march ) you must nip the bud off with your fingers , to the end that the juice which would ascend to hasten the germination , may bee stopped to strengthen and engrosse the store . the third yeare the vine will beare you grapes in these countries , but i am confident that in virginia it wou●d beare at the second ; and this my confidence is grounded upon the hasty perfection all things receive in virginia● by much prec●ding all our neighbour countries . the p●ac●tree arrives not to that viri●ity of growth in eight yeares , in th●s● r●gions , which it obtaines at foure there . the like is verified in apples and cherries : and if it be que●tioned how such men which peradventure b●ing in a necessity , are not able to attend two yea●es for a retu●ne , shall in the meane while subsist : it is easi●y answered● that the intervalls betwixt the dressings of the vines will ●fford space enough for a reasonable crop of tobacco ; and ther● is much mo●e labour in looking to . plants of tobacco then the like number of vines , especially if the intersp●ces be pl●ughed , and ●ow●d with turnips or lupines , which both add● to the fatnesse and unwilding of the ground , and choake up all weeds and grasse which might afflict it . contrariwise , tobacco will admit nothing in the vacant s●aces , and must be perpetually weeded . further , though other vine-masters prescribe the digging about the roots of their plant in august● which is the busie s●●son of inning the tobacco , yet i am driven by divers reasons to wish such culture om●tted at that time of the yeare , since it layes the root by so much the nearer to a violently torrid su● which is so far from cherishing of it , that it burnes it ; by whic● meanes his c●op of tobacco need not at all to be neglected : but these vines steale into such perfection by that time ●hey are arrived at fou●e yeares growth , that twenty thousand plants of tobacco , though sold at pence per pound , ( a great rate in virginia ) will not returne you a like profit , which though it m●y be something sp●ringly believed , yet may be made apparent . for admitting our vines by th●t time of foot high , by their so often cutting of the shoots , nourished u●to a stock strong enough to support it self ; of b●anch●s , by the like tillage , equall in vigour , yield but a gallon of wine per pi●ce , yet here is tun of wine yearely , for yeares together , ( so long will the vine thus husband●d , last fruitfull , and vigorous , if planted with the slip rather then the root ) without any interruption but that which sets bounds and limit to all things , the divine providence in his dispensation of seasons . of the d●seases of vines , and their remedy . before we can justifie our expectations of a good harvest , we must providently foresee and prevent ( as much as in us lies ) such casualties as may make our hope abortive ; let us therefore cast our eye upon such diseases which m●y make the vine unfruitfull , or after the fruit produced , destroy its desired fertility . to prevent the frost from benumming , or absolutely destroying your vines , let there be layd up in divers places heaps of drye du●g , with an i●term●xture of ch●ff● and straw , and when you conjecture the appro●ch of the fro●t , set this combustible stuffe on fire , and the smoake arising from thence will so temper and qu●lifie the aire that your vine for that season will be secured from d●m●n●ge : yet if ( before you have applyed this preventive remedy ) the fruit of your vine be destroyed , cut it off very short , and the strength continuing in the rem●inder will so fortifie it , that the next yeare it will recompence you double in the quantity of your fruit ; for what it hath been rob'd of by the present . to provide against the blasting of your vine : when you perceive it upon the point of budding , cut it as late as may be ; for this late cutting it will make your vine something later● and by consequence , bloss●me or flower at such time as the sunne is ascended to his greatest degree of heat and fervor . to breake off such mists and fogs as are already gathered in the aire , and give probable menaces to fall upon your vines , you must apply your selfe to this remedy : let a smoake round about your vineyard be made with go●ts du●g , kindled and set on fire . such fogges as have outstripped your care and already fallen upon , and endammaged your v●nes , must have the malignity of their vapors taken off , or at least asswaged by irrigation of vines , with the water in which the leaves or roots of wilde cucumbers , or coloquintida have been layd some time to infuse : this must be applied immediatly after the mists . some are of an opinion that bay-trees ( which by the way are dangerously sociable to the vine ) planted round , but not too near the vineyard , wil priviledge the vine from this di●taster , by attracting all the ill disposed mallice of those fogs ●nto it selfe . this till experimented will hardly be worthy beliefe . it is an opinion no way contradicted , that fertility is restored to a vine become barren , if humane urine kept a long while stale , to make it the more salt and ranke , be dropt by degrees upon the vine stock , which must immediately after be laid about with dung and earth mixt together : the season for the application of this cure must be in autumne . another way i should conceive to be altogether as effectuall , namely , to leave it nothing but the stock , bare the roots , and lay there either acornes , chesnuts , or rotted straw ; and if the bignesse of the root will permit it , to cleave it a little way , and to thrust into the ●issure a piece of vine wood , cut small for the purpose ; it being certaine that trees themselves sometimes groane under the sicknesse of being hide-bound : vines are perceived to want moisture , when their leaves turne of a deep red colour : this disease is cured by watring them with sea-water , or stale urine . the bleeding of the vine . the vine sometimes is troubled with an extraordinary efflux , or emanation of its juice ; some call it the weeping , others the ble●ding of the vine , and this disease is commonly so violent , that if not stopped it leaves the vine without blood and life . the remedy is to breake the barke of the vine upon the body thereof , and to anoynt the wound with oyle boyled to the half , or else with the lees of wine not salted ; this done , let it bee watered with vinegar , which by how much the stronger it may bee , is so much more effect●all . the scattering vine . the vine sometimes is oppressed with an unretentive scattering dis●ase , as unable to maintaine the fruit sh●e hath produced , which shee therefore discharges , and let● fall from her ; the symptomes by which you are to judge of this disease , are an unnaturall palenes●e and drynesse of the leaves , the branch it selfe l●nguid , broad , and of a more pithy softn●sse then usuall . the cure to this , is to rub ashes beaten and mixed with strong vinegar abou● the foot of the vine , and to water all tha● is round about the stock : quaer● , whether fissures in the barke made with a sharpe knife some fixe inches long may not bee an additionall receit to the former prescription . the tree peradventure having contracted this malady by too close imprisonment in the barke , being in a manner hide bound● ; how ever the foregoing medicine cannot in this case but sort to better effect , if the tree and barke joyntly be rubbed over then the barke onely , unlesse this medicine could give a relaxation to the barke , which i have no faith in . the vine too full of branches , or luxur●ant . the v●ne expending it selfe too wastfully in overmany branches , must bee cut very short . if this overcome not that luxury , the usuall remedy is , let it bee bared at the roots , and river gravell layd round about the stock , together with a few ashes or else some stones . the reason i apprehend not , except it bee to check its fertility● which i conceive may more prosperously bee effected , if onely the branches being cut , and the stock low , you suffer that exubrancy to waste it selfe in adding more corpulency to the stock , which will of it selfe bee a sufficient spender to restraine and confine the former liberality of juice . the withering vine . if the grapes languish and dry away as they hang upon the vine , before you apply a remedy you must cast away all that are already affected with this contagion ; then water the rest with vinegar , in which ashes of vine branches have beene infused● the most assured remedy is to water the root of the vine , from whence the disease cometh with the stalest urine ; the former remedy being something irregular , as if it were easily feisible to remove a malady by application to the effects , without considering the efficient . the rotting of grapes upon the vine . there are of vines whose fruit putrifie upon the branches before they come to maturity : this disease is remedied by laying old ashes to their root , or gravell , or barley meale mixed with the seed of purcellane about the body ; quaere , whether this disease proceed from a plethorick rankn●sse or em●ciate debility : if from rankenesse all application of ashes hurt it : the symptomes of rankenesse are , when a tree lavishes his moysture into too many branches , which may make him neglect to feede the fruit , as unable to maintaine two spenders ; and i am confident the naturall remedy for this is to bare him ( as much as possible ) of wood , that it may divert the nourishment to the grape ; if from debility , which you shall perceive by a flaccid palenes in the leaves , the same remedy which wee prescribed to the withering vine , vi● . to water the root with urine of a long stalenesse , will bee the most proper . the biting of the cow or oxe . indeede the best way to prevent this disease , is to have your ground either well paled or quicksetted , or both : but that the biting or breathing of kine may not endamage the vine ( which ●●rdly recovers af●er such wound or infection ) water the f●●t stock of your vine with such water as the tanners have used in dressing and mollifying their raw hides , and you may promise your selfe to bee secured from them , they as mortally hating such sents , as the vine abhors their bite or breathing . against caterpillars . the opinion is● that caterpillars and other noysome , though little vermine , will not molest the bud or leafe of the vine , if the hooke or hedgebill wherewith you prune and cut off the superfluous branches of the vine be anoynted over with the blood of a male goat , or the fat of an asse , or of a beare ; or with the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled , or if you anoynt and rub them with the purse or sheath of a badgers stones , after your hooke has beene ground : these are curious rather then apparently approved medicines , and for their reason i must demurre to give it , quaere , whether the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled well , rubbed about the stock of the tree , may not make those reptilia ab●or the a●cending , or whether the ●uce of rew so applyed , have not the like vertue . the driving locu●ts from the vine is done by fumigation , as either fi●ing of old oxe dung , galbanum , old shooe soles , harts-●orne , womens haire ; but that which they propose las● , i conceive to bee the best , namely , to plant pionie neare them . to prevent pismires . pismires , who divers times fret in sunder the wood of the vine , even to the very marrow , will not at all approach it , if you anoynt and rub the slock with the dung of kine , or grease of asses . the bay-tree , hasell-tree , and col●worts beare a particular enmity to t●e vine , and expresse it by effects when pl●nted neare ; this i cannot believe to bee out of any magicall antipathy , but rather that these ( as the plum-tree ) are great and strong succors of juice , and happily drawing of the same , by which the vine is more particularly nourished , of which being cheated , it is no wonder if she expresse a decadency . the manner of the vintage . and now wee are come to that which is most acceptable to mankinde , the successefull fruit of his labours reaped in his vintage , which wee must not of a naturall g●eedinesse precipitate , till the grapes bee of such a kindely ripeness● of age , that to let them continue on the vine longer were to lose them ; this ripenesse is visibly understood by a mutation in the branch and grape ; in the branch you shall perceive a manifest mutation by an incline to rednesse in the grape ; if it bee white it alters towards a yellow , if red towards a black colour ; nor are the ta●te and touch les●e discerners of such full maturity ; for if they bee sweete in taste , and the liquor of a glutinous substance , cleaving to the finger ; wee may conclude that both they , and the time to gather them are of full ripenesse . there are also other signes , if the kernell expressed out of the grape betweene your fi●gers , come out cleane , and altogether seperate from the flesh or pulpe of the vine , if after such expression ( gently performed ) the grape diminish nothing from his bignesse , &c. these all , or the most of them concurring , prepare for your harvest . yet in virginia , where the harvest is more abundant then the labourers , to prevent a glut of worke flowing upon few hands , and consequently not possible to bee throughly equalled : it will no● bee amisse to use both anticipation by accelerating nature with artificiall meanes in some , and retardation by arresting the speede of growth in others , to accelerate ashes layd to the foot of vines , and those vines planted to something more advantage of an am●rous sunne , will make them antecede the others , at the least by their advance of foureteen● d●yes ; the other in their naturall course following that spice after , and the others more particularly retarded ( which may bee easily effected by the pruning of them later then the rest just upon their prep●rative to b●d ; which arresting the sap m●kes it afterwards ( though later ) returne with a greater abundance ) staying foureteene dayes later , there will be● compleately sixe weekes time 〈…〉 gathering in of your vintage . and by this meanes you 〈…〉 vineyard tilled or manured every third yeare all over , which 〈…〉 no ingratefull accession to its duration in fertility and 〈◊〉 : those of the most forward ripenesse this year , being retarded the next , and those of the naturall maturation husbanded in that manner , the next winter . the fittest season to gather them must bee in a serene unclouded sky ( the grapes having any raine or dew upon them when gathered , losing much of their perfect strength and goodn●sse ; ) for the wine made of grapes throughly dryed in their collection , hath a greater priviledge of force and continuance : but before this collection bee attempted , all things fitting to receive y●u● vintage must bee prepared in cleanlinesse and order , viz. baskets , caske , and fatts strongly hooped , tubs great and small , stands , pre●●es , &c. and all scoured , washed , and furnished with their necessary instruments and conveniencies . the grape gatherer must distinguish and seperate the leane , green , sower , withered , or rotten grapes , from those which are of absolute ripenesse and soundnesse . that the wine by such an uncomely confusion or mixture may not bee lesse pure , sprightly , and healthfull , then it was intended by nature , such inconfiderate gatherers are sayd to bee of the divells sending , to spoyle gods provisions . nor should they con●usedly mixe good with good , if of different quality , as to mingle that which is strong and rich , with which is small , but delicate . they prescribe that the grapes so gathered should bee left in the ground at least a day or two , and that ●ncovered , provided it raine not , by which meanes , say they , they will become much better , since the sunne , dew , and earth , by this exposure taking from them what ever they have of bad unprofitable moysture , refine and purifie them . a cou●se as far as my span of reason can extend , so far from this promise of refining and purifying , that it absolutely tends to their corruption . have they wanted the sunne and dew when upon the stalke ? could not the same sunne and dew which enripened them , refine and purifie them there ? as for the earths meliorating them , if melioration bee understood by putr●faction , 't is easily granted ; apples that lye on the ground are so meliorated , that is to say rotted , and shall the grape a more delicate and tender fruit avoyd it ? this is by way of digression , but it is necessary● for without this caution a modest man which re●des with an obedient judgement any booke● of these men , taking the authour for an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , subscribes to it , observes the prescription , and gaines a doctrine of future providence , by the losse of his present vintage . but after the grapes have rema●ned a day or two in the house , it will bee time to put them into the f●tt to bee trodden out equally . those which tread the grapes should before they go into the fatt have their feete and legges washed extreamely , and themselves covered with a shirt as well ●s drawers , that their sweat may not mixe with the wine , and that nothing in the act of eating fall from their mouths into it , they must bee punctuall in abstaining from eating of the grapes , while they are at this their labour . surely this way of treading the grape is derived from some abstenious man , who devised this stratagem under a pretence of expediting the worke ; but indeede to deter men from drinking that which is so uncomely prepared . i know they will alledge that by tre●ding it flowes more naturally , and withall more pure forth , then that which is pressed ; but withall give mee leave , say that the very presse it selfe if it bee not too violently and greedily laboured , makes it glide forth altogether as naturally and purely , and which is more with greater equality ; for in the presse , all the grapes feele the impultion at once , and if the owner bee not too covetous to bring the drosse and gros●e parts of the grape to a second squeezing● and mixing with the fi●st● without dispute the wine so expressed is altogether as good and strong as that which is trodden , but i am certaine much mor● clea●ly . the wine ( however● being expressed must be poured , drosse , huskes , and all , into a fat to worke or boyle in , which it must doe for the space of foure and twenty houres at the least , if you will h●ve it fine , delicate , and subtile ; but if you desire to have it strong and noble , let it worke in the fat foure or five dayes , with a covering over it , that so the vapour thereof may not exhale , or his force waste it selfe . the fat , or tub prepared , must have immediatly before his reception of the wine , a little bunch of vine branches laid before the tap-hole , which ( that it may not heave up with the wine ) must be kept downe with a cleane stone or brick , or which is better and l●s●e off●nsive , a ring of lead wound about it : this when you draw the wine will hinder the huskes or grapes from comming out with the liquor . your fat must not be full by halfe a foot or more , that the wine may have the more space to boyle or worke in . your wine in vessel'd must not be filled up to the bung , nor the bung closed , that the wine may have the greater liberty of despumation , and rejecting whatever it findes reluctant to its owne nature . every day you must fill up what is expurged , and something more , till you ●inde the wine throughly appea●ed , and discharged of whatever might be obstructive to its generosity : nor must this caske be in the cellar , but either in the open aire , or in some b●rne where it has a liberall respiration ; besides the defects in caske cannot be so easily discovered when the wine is in the cell●r , ●s in open places . when it is so throughly settled , that it hath given over all appetite or signe of boyling , you may have it committed to your cellar , which should stand upon the north here , ( in virginia upon the north-west as the coolest and driest angle ) paved wit● gravell or drye earth , which is lesse subject to moysture or ex●dations then brick , or especially stone , absolutely remote and unmo●ested by any ill odours of stables , sinkes , bathes , marshy places , &c. neither should it have any thing shut up or kept in it , which have any sent of acrimony or harshnesse , as cheese , garlick , onions , oyles , ( trane , neatsfoot , linseed , and others , not the salade-oyle ) it being observed , that nothing is more open or obnoxious to contagion then wine , especially when new . your vessells must be so rank'd in order that they touch not one another , by this meanes to leave a liberty of sight to foresee a misfortune , or prevent it when happened . they must be so close stopped in the bung with clay , that not the least irreption of aire may be capable to taint it , to which it is very subject . to cause new wine to bee quickly purged , put ( after this proportion in the rest : ) to quarts of new wine , halfe a pint of strong vinegar , and within the space of three dayes it will bee fined . to preserve must or new wine all the yeare , take that vine which voluntary distilleth from the grape ; before is suffer the presse , and put it into a vessell pitch'd within and without the same day : let the vessell be halfe full , and very well stop'd with plaster above ; and thus the new wine will continue a long while in his sweetnesse . but to adde to this experiment and the continuance of the wine , you must hinder it from working , which you may well doe , if you put the vessell into some well or river , there to remaine thirty dayes ; for not having boyled it will continue alwayes sweet , and is preserved by the heat of the pitch . others prefer the burying of this vessell in moist gravell : and ( which in my opinion is the best ) others cover the vessell first with the drosse of the wine presse , then heap upon it moyst gravell ; by which meanes , something interposing betwixt the extraordinary moysture and cold of the gravell , which might have some influxe upon the wine , your must preserved in an excellent meane of temper . to know if there be any water in the wine . the malice of servants sometimes swallowing downe their masters wine , and fearing to be discovered if the quantity be diminished , or the basenesse of the dealer to impose upon the merchant , makes both of them adulterate it with water , which not being discernable to the eye , may be made familiar to your knowledge by this experiment : take a withered rush , immerge it in the wine ; after a small space draw it out againe : if the wine have been thus bastarded , you shall perceive the water cleaving to it . otherwise , take raw and wilde peares , cutting , and cleansing them in the midst , or in lieu of them , mulberries , cast them into the wine , if they float , the wine is neat and cleare from such sophistication ; if they subside there is water in it . some doe anoint a reed , a piece of wood , or paper , hay , or some other little bundle of herbs , or strawes with oyle , which if they drye , put into the wine● and after draw them out , if the wine have been embased with water , drops thereof will gather unto the oyl● . another sure tryall is to cast un●laked lime into the wine ; if there be any adulteration , the lime dissolves , if the wine be undevirginated , the lime collects thereby a harder cementation . others take of the wine , and inject it into a frying-pan wherein there is boyling oyle , and the wine ( if depured ) declares it with a loud noise , and frequent bubbles . to make another tryall , lay an egge into the wine , the egge descending , manifests the abuse , not descending , the wine is as the grape bled it . to seperate wine from water . but as the miserable man in the pit desir●d his friend not to question how he fell in , but to advise how he should get out : we will not be satisfied that there is water in the wine , but how it may be sepe●ated from it ; which if we may believe the deliverers of it , who have published it to the world in their names , you must put into the vessell of wine melted allum , then stop the mouth of the vessell with a spunge drenched in oyle , which done , turne the mouth of the vessell so stopped , downewards , and the water onely will come forth , leaving the wine pure : the reason of this i cannot give , and have onely read ( not seen ) the expeririment . the way to correct ●ver much waterishnesse in wine . if gluts of raine have made the yeare so unseasonable , that the grape hath contracted a watry quality to the diminution of his winy goodnesse : or if it fall ou● that after the time of gathering them , there fall such store of raine , that the grapes instead of dewes are too much wetted ; ( such is the profit of exposing the gathered clusters into the open aire for houres ) the remedy is to tread them quickly , and finding the wine weake , by tasting it after it hath been put into the vessell , and begun to boyle there , it must presently be changed , and drawne out into another vessell , for so the watr● parts that are in it will stay behinde in the bottome , yet the wine standing still charged , will be totally corrected , if you put to every fifteen quarts of wine , a pint and a halfe of salt . to make wine of an acceptable odour . if you will perfume your wine with a gratefull odour , by which the braine may be strengthened , as well as the heart exalted : take a few myrtle-berries dry , bray them , and put them into a little barrell of wine ; let it so rest , close stopped , ten dayes afterwards use it at pleasure . the like effect will follow , if you take the blossoms of the grapes ( those especially which growe upon the shrubby vines ) when the vine is in flower , and cast them into the wine , the brimmes of the wine-vessell being rub'd over with the leaves of the pine and cypresse tree , and this will give it a fragrancy delightfully odorate : or which is of equall facility , you may hang an orenge , or pomecitron , ( being of a convenient greatnesse ) and prick it full of cloaves , and that in such sort as it may not touch the wine , shut up in all these applications , the vessell very close . if this like you not , take the simples of such matter as you would have your wine to smell of , infuse them in aqua vitae , the infusion may be repeated by percolation of the old herbs , and addition of new , till it have gotten a full and absolute perfection of th●se odours you desire , then poure the aqua vitae ( the herbs ●trained from it ) into the vessell of wine . to make cute . you may make the boyled wine called cute , if you boyle new wine that is good , lovely , and very sweet untill the third part thereof bee consumed ; when it is growne cold put it into a vessell and use it . but to make this cute , that it may continue all the yeare , gather your grapes whole , and let them lye spread three dayes in the sunne , on the fourth about noone tread them . the liquour or sweet wine which shal runne out into the fatt before the dro●●ey substance come under the presse , must bee boyled one third as before ; then to every nineteene quarts of wine adde an ounce of irees or corne flag well brayed , straine this wine without the lees , which being done , it will continue sweet , firme , and wholesome . to cause troubled wines to settle . to cause troubled wines , and such as are full of lees to settle , poure into thirty quarts of wine , halfe a pint of the lees of oyle boyled , till the third part bee wasted , and the wines will immedi●tely returne to their former settlement . otherwise , which is better and more easie , cast into the wine-vessell the whites of six or seven egges , and stirre them together very well with a stick . to know whether the wine will keepe long . the knowledge whether the wine will continue long or not in a good condition , is thus made apparent : when your wine is tunned up , you must within some time after change it into another vessell , leaving the lees behinde in the first ; which you must diligently stop from taking any vent whatsoever ; after some time you may looke into the lees with carefull animad version , whether they change or contract any ill sent or not , or whether they breed any gnats , or other such creatures ; if you espye none of these mutations or corrupt generation , repose your selfe with all confidence that your wine will continue pure to the longest : but t●●se symptomes discovered , will bee so many admonitions to dispose of that wine with the soonest , which is already by nature inclined to ●urne bad and corrupt ; others take a pipe of elder , or such other wood as may bee hollowed through , with which they receive the sent of the lees , and by them informe themselves how the wine is conditioned . a good pallate will divine of wines by the taste , namely that if the new wine bee sharpe and quick , they repose confidence in its goodnesse and continuance ; but if flat and heavy , then they expect nothing but the contrary to good qualities : againe , if the new wine ( when put into the vessells ) be fat and gl●wy , the sign is prosperous ; but if contrariwise , it be thinne and weake , it is ●n argument that it will easily be turned , to keepe wine at all times . to effect this , you may cast roch-allum ( very finely powdred ) into the , vessell which you meane to put your new wine in , or bay salt very finely powdred : or pibble stones , and little flints taken out of some brooke , or which will retaine the spirits of the wine from evaporating ; more certainly salade oyle , so much as will cover the superficies of the wine . to make that wine sh●l not flowre . vvine will have no flower , if you put into it the flowers of the vine , gathered , and dryed , or the meale of fetches , changing the wine into another vess●ll , when the meale or flowers are settled downe to the bottome . to prepare physicall wines . neither is this digression impertinent ; physitians are not so frequent in virginia , as in padua , or london , and were there more , yet the vast space of ground , those people take up in their scattred dwellings , makes the addresses to them very difficult : that therefore they may ( in absence of the physitian ) have some common remedies for common diseases ; i have thought fit to give them this accompt of medicinall wines out of lie●ault , all of them of excellent virtues , and easie preparations : the first shall be to make wines of wormewood . to which effect , take of sea-wormewood , or in default of that , common wormewood , especially that which hath the small stalke , and short leaves , eight drammes ; stamp them , and binde them in a cloath which is not woven too thick , cast it into the vessell , pouring new wine upon it , making this accompt , that to every three pints of wine there must bee eight drams of wormewood ; continue this proportion in the filling of your vessell , which you must leave with the vent open , that the wine fall not a new to boyling . the use of this wine is good for the paine of the stomack and liver , and to kill wormes . to make wine of horehound . this wine being very soveraigne for the cough , must bee made in the time of vintage , to which purpose you must gather of the crops and tender stalkes of horehound , of that ●specially which growes in leane untilled places ; afterwards cause them to bee dryed in the sunne , make them up into bundles , tying them with a ru●h , sinke them in the vessell to quarts of new wine ; you must put eight pound of horehound to boyle therewith , after the wine is settled the horehound must bee taken out , and the wine stopt very diligently . the wine of anise and dill very good against the difficulty of the urine : the wine of peares against the flux of the belly ; the wine of bayes against the ach and wringings of the belly ; the wine of asarum bace●●r against the j●undise , dropsies , and tertian agues ; the wine of sage against p●ines and weakenesse of the sinewes , are all made as the wine of wormewood . to make wine of betony . take betony , the leaves and seedes about one pound , put it into twenty quarts of wine , and at the expi●atio● of the seven moneth , change the wine into new vessells . this most excellent wine aswageth the paine of the reines , breaketh the stone , and healeth the jaundise . to make the wine of hysop . take the leaves of hysop well stamped , tye them fast in a very fine cloth , and cast about one pound of them into twenty quarts of new wine ; this wine is peculiarly excellent against the diseases of the lungs , an old cough , and shortnesse of breath . wine of pomgranates , made of pomgranates that are scarce ripe , being throughly bruized , and put into a vessell of thick red wine , serveth of singular use against the fluxe of the belly : to which end also serve the wines made of services , mulberries , and quinces . the ancients had a very high opinion of treacle wine , from consideration of its extraordinary vertue in asswaging and healing the bitings of serpents , and other venemous beasts . nor had the vine solely this virtue in its grape , but in the leaves also stamped and applyed unto the grieved part . this vine is thus prepared : cleave three or foure fingers breadth of the plant you intend to set , take out the pith , and replenish the vacant part with treacle , afterwards set the cloven part covered and wrapt in paper . thus vines may bee made soporiferous , if you prepare them in the same manner with opium , as before with treacle , laxative by preparing it with some soluble purge . by this meanes you may have wine to taste like the greeke calabrian frontignac , or any other noble for its excellency ; if the lees purified and preserved bee inserted into the pith of the branch , aromatick , if to these lees you adde compounds of cynamon cassia , cloves , o● what ever shall bee most agreeable to the nostrill and pallate . to remedy wines inclining to corrupt ; and first of wine beginning to soure : if you perceive wine beginning to waxe soure , put into the bottome of your vessell a pot of water well stopt , close the vessell , yet so as at a vent hole to receive and transmit a little aire : the third day draw out the pot , and you shall s●e a noble experiment of attraction , for the water will be stinking● and the wine sound & neat . at what time , and by what accidents wine is most apt to corrupt , with its remedy . the season when wines are subject to turne or bee troubled , is about the summer sol●tice , viz. the . of june , at the same time that the vine emits her blossome ; nor then alone , but sometimes about the dog-dayes● by reason of the variety of heates : generally the wine is in some sort of commotion , when a constant s●uth winde disturbes the aire , whether it bee in winter or summer , in great and continued raines also , and windes in earthquakes or mighty thunders . to keepe them f●om turning is by the injection of pan salt , when they boyle or worke , or else o● the seed of smallage , barley-bran , the leaves of bay-trees , or of fennell seed brayed with the ashes of the vine brayed . the like effect have almonds cast into the wine● or the ashes of the oake● the meale of the ●hite fetch both defends the wine from turning , and keepeth it in his soundnesse . allum broken in pieces the same , the worst application is of brimstone , lime , plaister , &c. to r●cover the wine when turned , must bee effected either by changing the vessell , by beaten pepper ; or take whites of egges , beate them very well , and take the froth from thence arising of them , poure them into the vessell , which you must immediately roule after its infusion : or else take twelve kernells of old walnuts ( the virginian walnut i conceive exceeding proper ) rost them under the ashes , and while they ●re yet hot , draw a thread through them , hang them in t●● wine , where they must bee till the wine ( which will not fail ) recover its former colour . if the wine become troubled , either the kernels of pine apples , or peaches , or the whites of egges , and a little salt will not faile to cleare and refine it : others take halfe a pound of allum , as much sugar , make a very small powder thereof , and cast it into the vessell . to helpe wine that beginnes to wast and die . if you by manifest symptomes apprehend your wine suddenly inclining to degenerate and corrupt , this course is prescribed : if it bee clarre● , take the yelke of an egge , if white , the white adde to it three ounces of cleare bright stones taken out of a running river , make them into a small powder , together with two ounces of salt , mingle all together , and ( the wine shifted into another vessell neat and cleane , not tainted with any smell beforehand ) cast in this compound ; mingle it with the wine five or sixe times the day , untill three or foure dayes bee past . this remedy is not prescribed when wine is absolutely spoy●ed , for then it would bee applyed to no purpose ; but that the carefull master should by his observation of it to such a disposition , prevent it by this experiment . to restore wine growne musty , unto his former purity . cast into the vessell cowes milke salted● some ( but to the infinite unhealthfullnesse of him that drinkes it ) attempt this restauration with allum , lime , and brimstone , a more undangerous way is to infuse in it juniper-berries , and irees roots : yet if the wine should continue this ill senting qu●lity , by having taken winde : let it bee rouled too and againe to awaken the spirits thereof , that they may the better disperse the strength of its infu●ion : afterwards set it againe upon his cantling , replenish the vessel and shut it close to prevent winde for the future . to preserve wines from sowring , may bee performed by your disposing of your vessell in a place that is very coole and dry ( the vessels being very well filled and well stopped ) to prevent as well the emission of the spirits , by which the wine continues vigorous , as the admission of aire . but in regard all men are not the masters of such opportune conveniencies , being fo●ced sometimes to make uses of places obnoxious to heate , and drawing one vessell a long time , cannot hinder the secret invasions of aire ; yet if you perceive in time that your vine begines to harbour an acid or soure quality , you shall preserve it from falling into a full degree of sourenesse ; if you take a good piece of l●rd , wrap it well in a linnen cloath , tye it to a small cord , and let it downe by the bunghole into the middle of the wine , still letting it lower as the wine decreaseth . some advise , and not without a great apparence of reason , to put into the vessell , oyle olive , or salade , in such quantity , that it may onely cover the sup●rficies of the wine : which oyle when the wine is drawne off from the lees , may bee seperated from them , and preserved . to take away the waterishnesse and crude moisture of the wine , put into the vessell the leaves of the pomgranate-tree , though in my opinion such wine being easily knowne in the fatt , when first trodden , should be corrected by boyling , as afore . the remedy against venemous beasts falling into the wine , as adders● rats , &c. is , so soone as the dead body is found , to burne it and cast the ashes into the same vessell , s●irring it about with a wooden stick : others give advice to put hot bread into the vessel which will attract all the venemous qualities to it selfe , and cleare the wine . of the olive . the vine and olive being such delightfull associates as to expresse a mutuall emulation for the glory of fertility when planted together . this treatise shall not divide them , they are both exhilaratives , the vine rejoyces the heart , the olive glads the countenance ; and that virginia may expresse the delight she affords to mankinde by being reinforced with this second sister of laughter , the olive ; this discourse particularly designed to her improvement , showes its planting and culture when planted . the olive tree , though it delight in a rich fat ground ; yet if he have a warme aire , and a south , or south-east wind to refresh him , will in all places testifie a bounteous gratitude for its scituation in an almost unlaboured for fertility : yet to prepare a place for this rich plant to prosper on , his prosperity being no small part of your owne , you must digge the pits where you intend to plant them , a yeare before such implanting ; in this pit burne some straw , or which is better castings of vine or brambles ( but no part of oake , there being such a particular enmity betwixt this tree , and the oake , that the olive not onely refuses its neighbourhood , but dies if planted in the place where the oake has beene rooted up ) or you may leave it to the sunne and raine , which will without such adustion exhale and purifie all infectious vapours : the place being provided to plant upon , we must next select our plant. select your plants from the shoots or branches of those olive trees which are yong , faire , and fertile : let them bee in thicknesse the circumference of an ordinary wr●st , in length eighteene inches ; plant it the bigger end downewards into the earth , prepared as before , and ramme the mould , mingled with dung and ashes close about it : let it be digged every yeare in autumne . the time to plant it is in april or may , it must not be transplanted for the first five yeares , nor the boughs cut or pruned till it have attained eight . graft it not but upon it selfe , so will it beare fruit better in the species and number ; in its transplantation you must take up as much of the soyle with its roots , as you can possible , and when you reset it , give it the like scitu●tion for coast and quarter that it had before . olives are intended for two uses when gathered ; either to be● served up at the table in collation , or to make oyle of the largest sort of olive , is most proper for the table , the lesser more particularly convenient for oyle : they must bee gathered with the least offence to the tree that may bee , the bruising of the branches with poles as some use it in striking downe the fruit , makes the tree barren : the best way therefore is to ascend the tree by a ladder , in faire weather ( not so much for conveniency of the gatherer ; as for the profit comming from the olive , which is not to bee taken from the tree , but when it is exceeding dry ) and pulling them with your hand put them into a wicker basket , which you shall have carryed up with you to that purpose . those olives you inten● to preserve or pickle , must not have that full ripenesse which is requisite for those you purpose to make oyle of . the olive● whic● you keepe for banquets must be full of flesh , firme , fast , large , and ovall ; if you will pickle them , put them into an earthen pot , and cover them with salt brine or verjuice , or else with honey , vinegar , oyle and salt smally beaten . if you intend to keepe them long , by changing your salt brine constantly every two or three moneths , you may effect it . for the olives whereof you are to expresse your oyle , you must gather no more at one time then what may be made into oyle that day , and the day following : before you bring them to the presse let them be spred upon hurdles , well pick'd , and cul'd ; let the hurdles not be too thick set with twigs , that the lees and watry humor of the olive ( which if ●xpressed with oyle would make it extreame full of faeculency , and corrupts it both in the nostrill and palate ) may expend , waste it selfe , and drop through ; some therefore that this malignant humor may have a full defluxion before they bring the fruit to the presse , make a high and well-raised floore , with provision of partitions to keep every dayes gathering seperate ; ( which is , if your abundance be such that your presse is not able to discharge you of them dayly ) the bottome of these partitions must be paved with a decline descent , that the moistnesse of the olives may flow away , and be received into gutters or little channels there provided for their transfluxe . the olives being thus prepared for the presse , and the presse readily provided of all things necessary , viz. of fats , v●ssels to receive your severall oyles , scoopes to draw , and empty out the oyle , covers great and small , spunges , pots to carry out the oyle , tyed about by bands or cords of hemp , or broome-barke ; the mill-stones , oyle-mills , pressers , and all other instruments serving thereunto being very well cleansed , and the aire having been before as well heated by a plentifull fire ; ( if it be not warme enough by its naturall scituation ) for the assistance of heat makes all oyly liquors resolve and runne more gently and freely , whereas cold astringes , and detaines it . this presse-house therefore should be so seated , that it may enjoy a full admission and benefit of the south sunne , that we may stand in need of very little fire , if any at all , such heat being no more assistant to the expression , then accessary to the corruption of the oyle . carry your olives thus cleansed to the presse , under which put thē whole in new willow baskets ( the willow adding a beauteous and innocent color to the oyl ; ) the willow also something staving off the rude strokes of the presse , that the olives may be bruised with as little violence , and as much leisure as possible : nor would it be inconvenient if their skin and fl●sh were a little broken at the first with a milstone , so set , that it should not breake the kernels , which would utterly spoyle the olive , taking them from the mill thus prepar'd : let them be stronglier bruised in the presse , and put foure pound of salt to every bushell of olives . the oyle which comes first is by much the best , and the●efore called virgin oyle : the second which comes with more violent expression is fitter for liniments then the table : but the last , which is extorted from the drosse , and stones , is of no use but for lampes ; or such sordid employment . the tuns and vessels wherein the oyle is to be put , must be well dressed with pitch and gumme , made very clean with warme lees , and carefully dryed with a spunge , into which you may powre your oyle within thirty dayes after the expression of it , so much time being necessarily allowed for the settling the lees , which by that will have grounded upon the bottome . the cellars where the vess●ls of oyle are to be conse●ved , must be in a place of constant drynesse and coldnesse , heat and moysture being corrupters of the oyle ; provide ther●fore a cellar on the north coast of your house : and for the better and more neat preservation of your liquor , poure it ●ather into glasse vessels or earthen pots , which ( if they be made capacio●s ) are far more convenient then the pitcht retainers we formerly spoke of . accidents befalling oyle● with their remedies : and first to rec●ver frozen oyle . if ( in the time of winter ) oyle doth freeze together with his lees , you must put into it twice boyled salt , which dissolves and clears your oyle from all further apprehension of danger ; nor need you entertaine a jealousie that it will be salt , since unctuous matters ( and especially oyle ) have seldome any relish of it . to keepe oyle from becommimg ranke . vvhen the oyle begins to change from his first purity of taste to a disposed rankenesse ; the r●medy is to melt an equall proportion of wax and oyle together , to which you are to mingle salt fried in oyle before ; this you must poure into the vessel , which composition above the prevention of it , when beginning to grow ranke , effects an entire restitution to its simple purenesse , when already affected . anniseeds cast into the vessell by a particular attraction , performe the same operation . to purifie troubled oyle . some are of advice , that the applying it to the fire or sun recleares it . others , if the vessell be strong , ca●t into it boyling water : how these remedies agree with their former assertions , ( wherein they declare heat so unnaturall to oyle ) is beyond my reconciling : i for my part , should rather make an experiment of vineger , which being cast into the oyle by degrees , hath such a penetrating and inquirent faculty over all the parts , that it would without doubt recompose it . to recover oyle corrupted in the sent. to performe this , take green olives , pound them , free them from their stones , and cast them into the oyle : or else cast the crums of barley bread mixed with corne salt : otherwise , infuse in your oyle the flowers of melilot : or else hang in the vessell a handfull of the herb coriander , and if you finde the putrifying quality yet unexpelled , cast in divers times of the same herbe , and which is better , change his vessell ; this ill odour others drive away thus : they take grapes , pick out their kernells , stampe them , and with salt make them into a lumpe or lumpes , which you must cast into the vessell , and after ten dayes faile not to change it : which must necessarily be done after the application of any remedy to oyle growne ranke and putrified , the vessell still impairing what the remedy recovers . wee have done with the oyle olive , after the manner of whose expression may bee extorted any unctuous matter of fruits , plants , or seeds● namely , wal●uts , filberds , almonds ( both sweete and bitter ) nutmegs , the kernells of peaches , pine-apples , abricots , cherries , plums , pistach●s , the seede of line , rape , cole , mustard , hempe , poppy , henbane , the seeds or pipins of apples , pears , cucumbers , gourds , melons , and other such like : but that wee may give the reader a more cleare dilucidation of the manner of preparation , wee shall briefely discover the method used in the expression of oyle from almond and nutmegs , which will easily make him apprehend all the rest ; the particu●ar reason which perswades mee to introduce the example of almonds , is b●caus● i have purposed b●fo●e i finish this concluding treatise , to discou●se particularly of the pla●●●ng the almond . whose oyle i●●o bee taken inwa●ds , is to bee thus expressed . pill the almonds after they have steeped some time in warme water , pound them in a mortar of stone or marble with a wooden pestle , make them up in little lumpes or loaves , which you may kne●d with your hands against the vapour of warme water , or put them in a glasse ves●ell of a large content● for some foure or five houres : ( let the seate and glasse bee so contrived , that it may rather bee above the water to receive the vapour on its sides and bottome , then in it ) the almond being thus mollified by the disposition of the moisture , must bee put into a haire cloth or hempen bag , and laid in a presse , whose bottome must be wel heated , hollow , and bending downewards to give the better delabency for the oyle thus expressed , you may bake the drossy part of the almonds under the ashes , which in time of necessity will serve for bread , of plenty for a dainty and fatning food to your poultry . this oyle is of soveraigne , excellency to mitigate and remove the throwes and gripes of women newly delivered , and to aswage the paines of the colli●k or reines , taking it in two ounces of white wine , or one of aqua vit● ; the line , cole , rape● wallnut , and other need not these curiou● preparations , and their cakes are of unmatchable nourishment to fatten kine and other cattle . oyle of nutmegs . oyle of nutmeg ( which in the south part of virginia not subject to any inconveniences of cold would undoubtedly flourish ) is thus made : bray them with a wooden stamper , afterwards presse them out , the plankes being very well heated ; to extract it more rich , divide them into little heapes , and steepe them three da●es in very good wine , after dry them in the shaddow of the sunne two whole dayes , then heate them reasonably in a frying pan upon the fire , sprinkling them with rose-wa●er , and presently presse them . this i judge conveniently sufficient for oyles : let us descend to the planting of the almond-tree , which as it hath a peculiar excellency , so without dispute returnes as ample profit . of the almond tree . though the almond tree delight particularly in gravelly places , of which virginia is too rich to afford a conveniency ; yet there is no dispute , but if the mould wherein you plant them bee mingled with oyster-shels , or ●●ch like , of which there is to bee found inexhaustible quantities , they will have a greater virtue then gravell to the quickning and ingerminating of this tree ; having the perplexed hardne●●e of gravell and unctuousnesse of marle united . the soyle thus prescribed ; let the seat of your almond be in a hot place fully exposed to the south or south-west , and it will not onely flourish to your expectation , but its fruit will bee excellently qualified , and in vast abundance : it groweth very well of the stone , which because it cannot bee procured new should be kept close in a vessell of earth ; to be transported , set i● as you would your peach ; it thrives very well too of the branch o● scien , which must bee cut from the top of the tree , and planted as the olive , the earth rammed very hard about it , and prepared as before , both the stone and the scien should bee steeped for the space of twelve or foure and twenty houres in homed w●ter ; the best season to set or plant it in virginia , is in october and november . this tree will bee of admirable use there , in regard that both that and the olive will hinder no undergrowing corne ; let neither this tree nor your olive grow above ten foot in the stock , and in this as in olives , if you see any branch aspiring higher then his neighbours , represse such ambition by cutting him off , o●herwise hee will divert all the sap of the tree into his owne body● an● leave his fellowes in a starving and perishing condition ; amongst which if you maintaine equality , they will altogether consent in gratitude to returne you a plentifull harvest . the barren almond tree will become fruitfull if you lay o●en his roots in winter , or else if you pierce some part of the stock close to the earth , and put through the hole a wedge of oake , watering it about with stale urine . the bitter almond will bee capable of bul●oration , if you lay round about his bared root swines dung tempered with urine , casting afterwards much mould upon it , this must bee practised yearly , till hee bee perfectly reclaimed , you will finde the same effect if you bore a hole in the stock of the tree , and put therein a wedge wrapped about with cloth dipped in hony . beasts by brousing and cropping of the first and tender branches , change the nature of sweet almonds into bitter almonds , are gathered when their huskes through the heate of the sunne begin to divide ; ( i should therefore advise that those made choice of to set , may bee taken before such exact ripenesse , that the heate of the sunne may not exhale their generating vigour ) if when you have beaten them downe you shell them altogether , and wash them in brine , they will become white , and bee preserved a long time ; cautionarily that you dry them in the sunne ; their repository or granaries must have good open admissories for an unmoist aire , and lye upon that coast that is most open to the north-west , being the driest winde in that country . the medicinall excellency of almonds , is , that they are good for those which are troubled with a clammy fleame in their throat , with weake lungs , and such as are subject to the gravell in the reines or difficulty of urine , they are great restorers to nature , and fortifie the parts tending to generation ; nor is it onely beneficiall in its fruit , for the gumme also of the almond tree arrests the spitting of blood . of the fig tree . the fig tree groweth with an unusuall celerity , as beginning to beare the second yeare from his planting , and is of that nature , that during a moneth or five weekes when grapes are ripe and good to eate , the figge also is at that season dayly mature , and fit for the pallate , it may bee planted as the vine , and effects the same soile ; such as have roots grow sooner , but without doubt the branches continue longer ; the order you observe in planting the vine adheare too in this , and it will prosper . the fittest season to plant it is in october , and the succeeding moneth to the . or twentieth : you shall cause them in planting the better to take root , if you loosen the barque , or which is better bruise it gently at the nether end of the stemme about halfe a foot . to cause them to bee fertile , and bring forth fruits remarkable for fullnesse and verdure , put to his root rich mould beaten and tempered with the setlings of oyle olive , and mans dung , or which i like better then this stercoration if it have already a benine soyle , crop the tops and ends of the branches when they first spring . to reclaime a wild fig-tree , water him at the roots with wine and oyle mixed together . if you make a composition of an equall quantity of salt brine and water bestow this irrigation in a small trench round about the body of the tree , your figges are prevented from unripe fallings . to have ea●ly figs , water the tree with oyle and pigions dung , if your ambition be not only to have the earliest , but the latest , take away the fi●st buds , when they are about the bigne●se of a beane . to keepe or preserve them , lay them in a pot of honey full and well stopped , but so that they neither touch the sides of the pot , nor one another . or take an ●arthen pot ( the figs being put in ) stop it close , and immerge this vess●ll to another full of wine , no taint or corruption will possesse your figges so inclosed , while the wine retains his goodn●sse . the plant steeped in brine , or the end thrust into a sea onion , becomes much more fruitfull when planted . this fruit is of great vertue in making the belly soluble in abundance of nourishment and provocation of sweat , dryed and mingled with the flower of linseed or fenugreeke , it resolveth and killeth all impostumes , and hard tumours , in decoctions it assists much in driving away of the co●gh , and difficulty of breath , which last vertue the fruit also expresseth very happily , if steeped in aqua vitae , the night precedent , and taken every morning during the dominion of this disease after you , the milke of the fig-tree dropt into the eare killeth the wormes in it , the leaves of the fig-tree rubbed doe provoke the hemorrhoides : the juice of figs is of equall felicity in opening them , which to increase his excellency amends all roughnesse , ill conditioned scabs small pocks , purples , freckles , ringwormes , and other ●ye●sad blemishes of the face or body therewith anointed , being first tempered with the flower of parched barley , a little cotten wool dipped in this juice , and layd upon the aking tooth asswageth the paine . of the pomeganate tree . the pomegranate tree , which may be planted either from the branch or succour , is one of the most absolute encouragers of an idle person in the world ; provided , it be exempt from the intemperate operation of the cold , neither the torrid heat of the sun , nor the barrennesse of the soyle , shal make him forgoe his glorious rubies ; no culture or dressing is required by it : yet if it be set in a rich soyle , it will be sure to make an advantage of it to his owne flourishing , and your profit : the wine thereof ( for it affordeth wine as wel as excellency of fruit ) may be made after this manner● take the ripe kernels , freed and cleansed from their skins , put them into the presse , and exact the wine , keep it in vess●ls till it is fully fined from all working , which finished , distribute such a quantity of oyle as may float over all the top of the vessel , and this preserves it from sowring or corruption . the pomegranate apple put in a pot of new earth , well covered , and luted with clay , and set into an oven so long , till the fruit may be resolved into powder , is of very princely vertue ; for ( taking the weight of half a crown thereof in red wine ) it miraculously stops the bloudy flux . it is also good in divers diseases of women , which ( because they are more arcanely peculiar to that sex ) i shal forbear to speak of . of the quince tree . the quince tree groweth much sooner from the root then branches : it delighteth in a soyle of a moyst and cold nature , and would therefore be planted towards the more umbragious and coole corners of your garden . the garden , or reclaimed quince , beareth two sorts of fruits , to which curiosity hath assigned sexes , and they are called the quince and quincesse ; the male , which is the quince , is of a more wrinkled , drye , redolent f●uit , and golden colour then the quincesse . if you graft the male upon the female , or e convers● , the quinces thence proceeding will be tender , and may be eaten raw , which without such an hermaphroditisme must of necessity have beene prepared , to which nature , rather then to eate it , crude hath de●igned it . the use of marmalade , and its preparation is so publickly known , that it is unnecessary to repeate it . it is not enough to enjoy the delight of these fruits for the summer onely : the winter too in reason should claime a part of our summer contentments , which cannot bee better expedited then by ●●ying such f●uits as are capable of a refaction , and agreeable when dryed , the principall whereof are the vine or g●ape , the fig , the peach , and abricot . how to dry grapes , that they may bee kept . your grapes being at their just ripenesse , select the fairest out of your vineyard , for such quantity as you shall use , let them lye thin spread while you prepare a lye for them , made of faire water and ashes , proceeding onely from the cuttings of the vine without any other mixture of wood whatsoever : seeth this lye till you have made a strong and clea●e liquor , then taking or straining away the ashes , put the liquor into a cleane caldron , set it againe over the fire till it bee ready to seeth ; then tying the stalkes of your grapes with thread , and fastening the thread to such sticks and in such order bunch by bunch , as chandlers use to dip their candles , which dip them into this lye foure or five severall times : which done , let them dry in the sunne , either so hanging on their sticks , o● which is better upon lattices or hurdles of rods , or the like , untill they bee conveniently dry ; then barrell them , pressing them very hard and flat in the vessell , others dry them upon such lattices or hurdles without steeping them even as they come from the vine , and peradventure more successefully . how to drie ●igges . let them ( as the grape ) bee gathered very ripe ; then lay and spread them upon hurdles or lattices of reeds or osier joyned together , with rifts or vacancies betwixt the covering of those osiers , that the aire transpiring through those voyd spaces may assist the sunne in the drying them ; but you must bee cautious that during their exposure to the open aire no raine or dew incommodate them : when they are dry barrell with the same poise of pressure used to the grapes . others take a bigge reed or cane of two or three foot in length , boring little holes all the length of it , through which they put little sticks of two foot extent , being the small and ●harpe upon which they thread the figs , till they are very full of them , and so hang the cane in the sunne , which dryed they barrell up using the same course as before . how to dry peaches a●d abricots of all sorts . vvhen they are very ripe , pare off the upper skin , cleave them into foure quarters , dry them as you did your figs , barrell them and keepe them for the winter . the manner how you shall prepare them to eate is this ; provide an earthen pot , and after you have washed your peaches in faire water , put them into the pot with as much wine as will cover the peaches , then seeth them halfe a quarter of an houre . they may be● made ready without boyling thus ; let them infuse three or fo●re dayes in wine , ( which way they are much better ) put to them beaten cynamon , and thus they will last a moneth in the wine , eaten every morning they are very wholesome , and provoke a good appetite . the fittest seasons for sowing of seeds . to prescribe rules according to our climate , to tha● of virginia , may have much of affection , but without all peradventures , little of wisdome . wee must therefore seeke for a nearer correspondence in parallells . having therefore seene some letters of an ancient date written by frenchmen , then employed in virginia● to their intrusters , wherein they conf●ss● that of all the provinces of france : none came so neare to that noble countrey , as lang●edock and provenc● , two of the eyes of that kin●dome , abounding withall the d●lights and delicacy that italy can pretend to , or spaine boast of ; i could not but apprehend that their times of sation and insition , of planting and replanting , might in some measure correspond with that place where the english are now seated , and having seene a regular di●tribution of the moneths and seasons in the yeare for sowing , grafting● and other offices belonging to the industrious lovers of agriculture ; i should both unsatisfie my owne conscience● and disoblige that countrey , and its christian inhabitants● if i did not publish it with the same resentment of affection i received it ; not that any should bee so pinioned to these precepts , that neither weather , inconveniency , or want of opportunity should make him recede from the punctuall observation of them : but i speake it out of a very strong confidence that the observations of the seasons according to these prescriptions will sort well with virginia in generall , and the planters in particular , to whom it is intended , and indeed it is as exact a directory as any yet published . i am not ignorant that criticks will laugh at this ; much good doe it them , and why so many moneths for the same seed ? why so many repetitions ? my exceptionist forgets that wee not onely covet to have things early , but their continuance : will it offend him that wee have artichokes in may ? and july both ? because wee may have cabbage , lettuse in april , shall wee bee forbidden to have any in may : the principall scope of this directer was to show how long such and such seedes might bee continued to bee sowen , and in what moneth and moone , if hee apprehend it not ; i can send him to no moneth , but that of june , nor moone , but that of midsommer . he that will sow seed , must know that , some may be sowen at all times of the moneth and moone , as , asparagus , colewort of all sorts , spinage , lettuse , parsnips , reddis● . other● would be sowed in a certaine moneth and moone , as there must bee sowen in february , the moone being — new spike garlike borage buglo●se cheruse coriander gourd● water cre●ses m●jorane palma chri●●ī flower gentl● white poppy pu●stane radish rocket rosemary sorrell double marigold thyme . full anise violet● blites skirworts white succory fennell parsley . old holy thistle cole cabbage white cole green col● cucumber● harts-horn● sampier diers graine spinage cabbage-lettu●● melon● onion● larkes-heel● burnet le●kes● so● in march the moone being , new garlick borage chervile coriander gourds m●jorane white poppy pursl●ine radish sorr●ll double marigold th●me violets . full anise bleets skirworts succory ●●nn●ll apples of love marvellous apples . old artichoke● ba●il thi●●le● bl●ss●d this●le cole cab●age white cole greene cole ci●rons cu●u●bers hart● horne sa●pire dier● graine spinage gilly flower● ●y●sop ca●●age let●use melon● onyon● fl●wer 〈◊〉 burnet leeke● savory . so● in april the moon being new majoran● flower ge●●●e thyme violet● . full apples of love marvellous appl●s . old artichokes cabbage cole citrons harts-horn● sampire gilly flowers . in may in the old of the moon blessed thi●●le● in june the moone new go●rds radishes . old melons cucumbers . in july the moone ●●ll white ●●cc●ry old cabbage let●u●e . in august the moone being full white s●●●ory● herbes growing of seedes that are sowne may bee transplanted ●t all times , except chervils , arrage , spinage , and persely , which are nothing worth when they are transplanted ; ever observed that such transplantation bee in a moist , rainy weather , otherwise they must bee very diligently watered . you may take notice that the choise and age of seedes is double , in chusing them you are to regard that they bee ripe , full , heavy , firme , grosse , and of a good colour , not falling to powder through rottennesse or bruises . some grow bettter of new seedes , as leeks , cucumbers . others grow better of old seeds , as coriander , persley , savory , beets , origanum , cre●ses , spinage , poppey . further observe , that you must preserve from cold , lettuses , artichokes , basill , cabbage cole , diers graine , melons , fifteene dayes after they put forth from the earth . make account that seedes thrive and prosper much better , when they are sowen upon such dayes as are betweene the extreames of cold and heate , then in hot , cold or dry dayes . bee pleased to remember , that seedes must bee gathered in faire weather , in the wane of the moone . they must be kept some in boxes of wood , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . bagges of leather , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . ve●●els of earth , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . others , as onions , in their huske . chibols , in their huske . leek●● in their huske . to do regularly , w● s●ould plant in the last of the moone● gather grafts in the last but one of the moone● graft two dayes after the change of the moone● an explication of the saw-mill , an engine , wherewith force of a wheele in the water , to cut timber with great speed . this engine is very common in norway and mountaines of sweden , wherewith they cut great quantity of deal-bords ; which engine is very necessary to be in a great towne or forrest , to cut timber , whether into planks or otherwise . this heer is not altogether like those of norway : for they make the piece of timber approch the sawes on certaine wheels with teeth ; but because of reparations which those toothd wheeles are often subject unto , i will omit that use : and in stead thereof , put two weights , about . or . pound weight a piece , whereof one is marked a. the other b. the cords wherewith the sayd weights doe hang , to be fastned at the end of the . peeces of moving wood , which slide on two other peeces of fixed wood , by the meanes of certaine small pulleys , which should be within the house , and so the sayd weights should alwayes draw the sayd peeces of moving wood , which advancing alway towards the sawes rising and falling , shall quickly be cut into . . or . peeces , as you shall please to put on saws , and placed at what distance you will have for the thicknesse of the planks or bords ye will cut : and when a peece is cut , then let one with a lever turne a rowler , wherto shall be fastned a strong co●d which shall bring backe the sayd peece of wood , and lift again the weights : and after put aside the peece already cut , to take againe the sawes against another peece of wood . which once done , the ingenious artist may easily convert the same to an instrument of threshing wheat , breaking of hempe or flax , and other as profitable uses . finis . the speech of the honourable sr. vvilliam berkeley governour and capt. generall of virginea, to the burgesses in the grand assembly at james towne on the of march, : together with a declaration of the whole country, occasioned upon the sight of a printed paper from england, intituled an act, &c. berkeley, william, sir, - . this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing b ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the speech of the honourable sr. vvilliam berkeley governour and capt. generall of virginea, to the burgesses in the grand assembly at james towne on the of march, : together with a declaration of the whole country, occasioned upon the sight of a printed paper from england, intituled an act, &c. berkeley, william, sir, - . p. printed by samuell broun english bookseller, hagh [the hague] : . professing loyalty to charles ii. imperfect: tightly bound, with some loss of print. reproduction of the original in the trinity college library, dublin university. eng virginia -- politics and government -- to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . a r (wing b ). civilwar no the speech of the honourable sr. vvilliam berkeley governour and capt: generall of virginea, to the burgesses in the grand assembly at james berkeley, william, sir f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread - tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the speech of the honourable sr. vvilliam berkeley governour and capt : generall of virginea , to the burgesses in the grand assembly at iames towne on the . of march / . together with a declaration of the whole country , occasioned upon the sight of a printed paper from england , intituled an act. &c. hagh , printed by samuell broun english bookeseller . . the speech of the honourable sr. william berkeley gouvernour and capt : generall of virginea , to the burgesses in the grand assembly at iames towne on the . of march / . together with a declaration of the whole country , occasioned upon the sight of a printed paper from england , intituled an act. &c. gentlemen you perceave by the declaration that the men of westminster have set out , which i beleeve you have all seene , how they meane to deale with you hereafter , who in the ●●me of their wooing and courting you propound such hard conditions to be performed on your parts , & on their owne ●othing but a benigne acceptance of your duties to them . ●ndeed me thinks they might have proposed something to ●s which might have strengthned us to beare those heavy ●haines they are making ready for us , though it were but an assurance that we shall eat the bread for which our owne oxen plow , and with our owne sweat we reape ; but this assurance ( it seemes ) were a franchise beyond the condition they have resolu'd on the question we ought to be in : for the reason why they talke so magisterially to us is this , we are forsooth their worships slaves , bought with their money and by consequence ought not to buy , or sell but with those they shall authorize with a few trifles to coszen us of all for which we toile and labour . if the whole current of their reasoning were not as ridiculous , as their actions have been tyrannicall and bloudy ; we might wonder with what browes they could sustaine such impertinent assertions : for if you looke into it , the strength of their argument runs onely thus : we have laid violent hands on your land-lord , possess'd his manner house where you used to pay your rents , therfore now tender your respects to the same house you once reverenced : i call my conscience to witnes , i lie not , i cannot in all their declaration perceave a stronger argument for what they vvould impose on us , then this which i have now told you : they talke indeed of money laid out on this country in its infancy : i vvill not say how little , nor how centuply repaid , but will onely aske , was it theirs ? they who in the beginning of this warr were so poore , & indigent , that the wealth and rapines of three kingdomes & their churches too , cannot yet make rich , but are faine to seeke out new territories and impositions to sustaine their luxury amongst themselves . surely gentlemen we are more slaves by nature , then their power can make us if we suffer our selves to be shaken with these paper bulletts , & those on my life are the heaviest they either can or will send us . 't is true with us they have long threatned the barbados , yet not a ship goes thither but to beg trade , nor will they do to us , if we dare honourably resist their imperious ordinance . assuredly gentlemen you have heard under what heavy burthens , the afflicted english nation now groanes , and calls to heaven for releife : how new and formerly unheard of impositions make the wifes pray for barrennes and their husbands deafnes to exclude the cryes of their succourles , staruing children : and i am confident you do believe , none would long endure this slavery , if the sword at their throats did not compell them to languish under the misery they howrely suffer . looke on their sufferings with the eyes of understanding , and that will prevent all your teares but those of compassion . consider with what prisons and axes they have paid those that have served them to the hazard of their soules : consider your selves how happy your are and have been , how the gates of wealth and honour are shut on no man , and that there is not here an arbitrary hand that dares to touch the substance of either poore or rich : but that which i would have you cheifly to consider with thankfullnes is : that god hath seperated you from the guilt of the crying bloud of our pious souveraigne of ever blessed memory : but mistake not gentlemen part of it will yet staine your garments if you willingly submit to those murtherers hands that shed it : i tremble to thinke how the oathes they will impose will make those guilty of ●t , that have long abhor'd the traiterousnesse of the act : but i confesse having had so frequent testimonies of your truths and courages , i cannot have a reasonable suspition of any cowardly falling of from the former resolutions , and have onely mentioned this last , as a part of my duty and care of you , not of my reall doubts and feares : or if with untryed men we were to argue on this subject , what is it can be hoped for in a change , which we have not allready ? is it liberty ? the sun looks not on a people more free then we are from all oppression . is it wealth ? hundreds of examples shew us that industry & thrift in a short time may bring us to as high a degree of it , as the country and out conditions are yet capable of : is it securety to enjoy this wealth when gotten ? with out blushing i will speake it , i am confident theare lives not that person can accuse me of attempting the least act against any mans property ? is it peace ? the indians god be blessed round about us are subdued ; we can onely feare the londoners , who would faine bring us to the same poverty , wherein the dutch found and releived us ; would take away the liberty of our consciences , and tongues , and our right of giving and selling our goods to whom vve please . but gentlemen by the grace of god we will not so tamely part with our king , and all these blessings we enjoy under him ; and if they oppose us , do but follow me , i will either lead you to victory , or loose a life which i cannot more gloriously sacrifice they for my loyalty , and your security . vera copia john corker cler : dom : commons . this speech being ended the pretended act of parliament was publiquely read in the assembly where upon ( at the motion of the howse of commons to the governour and councell ) this following vindication was unanimously agreed on . we the governour councell and burgesses of virginea , have seene a printed paper bearing date at london the . of octob. . wherein ( with other plantations of america ) we are prohibited trade and commerce with all but such as the present power shall allow of : we likewise see our selves branded in it with the ignominious names of rebells and traitors , which we so much abhor , that we would detest our selves if we thought they were deservedly imposed on us : and shall take leave to thinke we are unworthily slandered , till stronger proofes then we yet find , are brought against us to convince our judgements and consciences that we are guilty of those horrid crimes . therefore though we professe that our judgments and industry , have been long solely and necessarily imployed in providing against the necessities of our poore families , and by consequence should not presume that any act or transaction of ●ours could be worthy the publique view : yet since the plainest vindication of innocencie is accepted , we shall intimate the reasons of ours , imploring charitable and abler ●udgments to perfect what we shall hint to them in our answeares , to the aspersions we find authorised against us . and first whereas they say , that the plantations in america were seated at the cost and established by the authority of some in england , and therfore ought to be governed by the lawes of england . we conceave we may safely confesse all this , and yet not run the hazard of any misprision of guilt , nay we thinke , this only testimony of theirs were sufficient to cleere us from the aspersions of rebells , and traitors , if we had no other markes of innocency left us : for we say , we were some of us sent , others permitted to come hither by the gratious favour of our pious kings , sworne to governe , and be governed ( as farr as possible the place was capable of ) by the lawes of england ; which lawes we have inviolably and sacredly kept as farr as our abilityes to execute and our capacityes to judge would permit us , and with reason ; for these lawes onely in such times of tumults stormes , and tempests , can humanely prevent our ruines : these lawes often enjoyned us the oathes of allegeance and supremacy , and they tell us , that no power on earth can absolve or manumit us from our obedience to ou● prince , and his lawfull successors : these lawes tell us that when we have don all vve can to auoyd it , we may resist violence with force , and in a lawfull defence of ourselves , destroy any that shall endeavour to take away our lives or substance : these lawes vve professe are our guides and do beleeve vve deserve punishment and infamy if we vvillingly , or vvillfully deviate from them . secondly suppose vve vvere such slaves by nature as to be awed vvith the iron rods held over us , in what hand soever found ; would not then themselves thinke vve deserved the worst usage could be inflicted on us . for what assurance could vve give of our nevv loyalty , after having so childishly , and impiously , relinquisht our old allegeance ? could vve reasonably repine to pay vvith our ovvne swea● and bloud , those garrisons which must be kept among as , to fix such volatile obedience as ours would appeare to be ? for as the question is stated to us , we ought to yeild to whosoever possesse themselves of westminste● hall : where we experimentally have found , the heads of divers factions and pretensions , have presided and excluded one the other ; and we have no oraculous assurance , but it may be so againe ; therfore in a condition so dubious and uncertaine , as ours would be ( wherein no lesse then our soules are concern'd ) we desire them to permit us simple men to take leave to follow the perspicuous and plaine pathes of god and our lawes , & that they would be pleas'd to remember that good charitable axiome in them , that none should be condemned till they here first heard . thirdly we are told of great summes of money laid out ●n this country : for all we have receav'd we are most thankfull : but surelyit will be no evidence of ingratitude ●o say to whom we ovve most , & this must needes be acknowledg'd to our kings , who gave liberally themselves and permitted lotteries to be erected for us : we confesse private adventurers added much , and might have enjoyed the fruit of it , * if the first blow to the colony , had not taken from them all hopes or desires of prosecuting that , which they so earnestly begun ; but certainly what ever their liberallity was , we should have auoided it more then our rattle snakes , of it had inevitably made slaves , our selves , our wives , children , and posterity . since the massacre onely private marchants have adventured hither for private gaines , and we confesse have supplied us with that , which we could not well have wanted , but this we suppose would be no convincing argument to france , spaine , or the low countries , for their subjection to england because these severall places have been thus furnish't by her . if then we owe any thing it is to our kings liberallity , care , and protection , and w● beseech you give us leave to pay our acknowledgment t● them . fourthly we are told of usurping a government to our selve● we wish we could transmit our recordes to the view of ou● accusers ; by them it would appeare how little we deserv● this imputation . for since the beginning of the colony w● have never innovated nor altred any thing in the maine ●● the government : but in case we had done it , what mor● likely patrons could we chuse , to protect us then those who accuse us ? grant we had banish'd , confin'd , imprison'd condemn'd , and excecuted those that refuse to obey the lawes confirm'd by many consummated free parliaments would not those pardon and absolve us who have done the same to others that have refused to obey their edicts , when they in their consciences beleeve they ought not to acknowledg to be a parliament ? yet the truth is , vve have don● none of these things , no man here ever suffer'd in his perso● or estate : concerning the differences in england , our lavve● keepe them in better awe then to dare to speake against the protector of them : 't is true indeed , * two , chose rather to leave the country then to take the oathes of allegeance and supremacy , and we acknowledg that vve gladly parted vvith them . having ansvveared these accusations , vve appeale even to their ovvne judgments that produced them vvhether vve deserve those hatefull names of rebells and traitors : bu● vve beleive they vvill still use them to us and others because those lucky bugbeares of rebells , and malignants , have frighted divers to the desertion of honest causes : yet being ●as vve suppose in their ovvne consciences ) free from these ●nputed crimes , ( though very short sighted in such subtile matters ) vve thinke vve can easely find out the cause of this ●●cluding us the society of nations , vvhich bring us necessa●●es for vvhat our country produces : and that is the ava●●ce of a fevv interrested persons , vvho endeavour to rob us ●f all vve svveat and labour for : therefore on the vvhole ●atter vve conclude : we are resolv'd to continue our ●●legeance to our most gratious king , yet as long as his ●●atious favour permits us , vve vvill peaceably ( as for●erly ) trade vvith the londoners , and all other nations in ●nity vvith our soveraigne : protect all forraigne mer●●ants vvith our utmost force from injury in the rivers : ●●ve letters of reprisall to any injured vvith in our capes : ●lvvaies pray for the happy restauration of our king , and pentance in them , vvho to the hazard of their soules have ●●osed him . this is unammously consented to by the governour , councell and burgesses teste ro : huberd cl : cons : johan corker cl : dom : com : notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * in the yeare when ther were but persons lest alive by that massacre . * factious clergy men . by his maiesties councell for virginia whereas sundrie the aduenturers to virginia, in their zeale to that memorable worke, the plantation of that country with an english colony ... haue published a little standing lotterie consisting of but pence for euery lot ... in consideration whereof, we do certifie all men, that we do purpose ... to begin the drawing of this lotterie the day of may next ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by his maiesties councell for virginia whereas sundrie the aduenturers to virginia, in their zeale to that memorable worke, the plantation of that country with an english colony ... haue published a little standing lotterie consisting of but pence for euery lot ... in consideration whereof, we do certifie all men, that we do purpose ... to begin the drawing of this lotterie the day of may next ... counseil for virginia (england and wales) sheet ( p.). imprinted by felix kyngston for william welby, dwelling at the signe of the swanne in pauls churchyard, [london] : . includes cuts of the royal coat of arms and of the council for virginia. reproduction of original in the society of antiquaries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng lotteries -- virginia. lotteries -- england. virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . broadsides -- england -- th century. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion by his maiesties councell for virginia . sigilvm regis magnae britaniae franciae et hiberniae pro con silio svo virginiae whereas sundrie the aduenturers to uirginia in their zeale to that memorable worke , the plantation of that country with an english colonie , for the establishing of the gospell there , and the honour of our king and country , haue published a little standing lotterie , consisting but of . pence for euery lot : and therein haue proportioned to the aduenturers more then the one halfe to be repayed in money or faire prizes without any abatement , besides sundry other welcomes and rewards : hoping that the inhabitants of this honourable citie aduenturing euen but small summes of money , would haue soone supplied so little a summe appointed to so good a worke : which wee did purpose to draw out in candlemas tearme last : yet now seeing that the slow bringing in of their money hath crossed our intents , either because there was no certaine day nominated for the drawing thereof , or for some lewd aspersions that no good successe was likely to ensue to this action . wee doe therefore signifie , that a moneth past , we sent away a ship thither with her competent number of good men and munition , and doe purpose continually to supply them to the vtmost of our meanes . the rather for that wee haue information from them , that they are now able to subsist of themselues , and want only more able labouring men , and conuenient clothing for them . in consideration whereof , we do certifie all men , that we do purpose ( god willing ) to begin the drawing of this lotterie the . day of may next . and that the last day of bringing in any money shall be the . day of the same moneth : betwixt which times the books shall be brought in , and made vp , and the lots written out proportionablie according to the moneys that shall come in . imprinted by felix kyngston for william welby , dwelling at the signe of the swanne in pauls churchyard . . a good speed to virginia gray, robert, th/ th cent. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a good speed to virginia gray, robert, th/ th cent. [ ] p. printed by felix kyngston for vvilliam welbie, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the greyhound in pauls churchyard, london : . dedication signed: r.g., i.e. robert gray. signatures: a-d⁴. the first leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - ali jakobson sampled and proofread - ali jakobson text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a good speed to virginia . esay . . he shall not faile nor be discouraged till he haue set iudgement in the earth , and the jles shall wait for his law . london printed by felix kyngston for vvilliam welbie , and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the greyhound in pauls church-yard . . to the right noble and honorable earles , barons and lords , and to the right worshipfull knights , merchants and gentlemen , aduenturers for the plantation of virginea , all happie and prosperous successe , which may either augment your glorie , or increase your wealth , or purchase your eternitie . time the deuourer of his own brood consumes both man and his memorie . it is not brasse nor marble that can perpetuate immortalitie of name vpon the earth . many in the world haue erected faire and goodly monuments , whose memorie together with their monuments is long since defaced and perished . the name , memorie and actions of those men doe only liue in the records of eternitie , which haue emploied their best endeuours in such vertuous and honourable enterprises , as haue aduanced the glorie of god , and inlarged the glorie and wealth of their countrie . it is not the house of salomon , called the forrest of lebanon , that continues his name and memorie vpon the earth at this day , but his wisedome , iustice , magnificence and power , yet doe and for euer shall eternize him . a right sure foundation therefore haue you ( my lords and the rest of the most worthie aduenturers for virginia ) laid for the immortalitie of your names and memory , which , for the aduancement of gods glorie , the renowne of his maiestie , and the good of your countrie , haue vndertaken so honorable a proiect , as all posterities shal blesse you , and vphold your names and memories so long as the sunne and moone endureth : whereas they which preferre their money before vertue , their pleasure before honour , and their sensuall securitie before heroical ! aduentures , shall perish with their money , die with their pleasures , and be buried in euerlasting forgetfulnes . the disposer of al humane actions dispose your purposes , blesse your nauie as hee did the ships of salomon which went to ophie , and brought him home in one yeere six hundred threescore and six talents of gold . the preseruer of al men preserue your persons from all perils both by sea and land ; make your goings out like an host of men triumphing for the victorie , and your commings in like an armie diuiding the spoile . and as god hath made you instruments for the inlarging of his church militant heere vpon earth ; so when the period of your life shall be finished , the same god make you members of his church triumphant in heauen . amen . from mine house at the northend of sithes lane london , april . anno . your honours and worships in all affectionate well wishing , r. g. good speede to virginia . iosuah . . . then the children of ioseph spake vnto ioshua , saying , why hast thou giuē me but one lot , and one portion to inherite , seeing i am a great people ? ioshua then answered , if thou beest much people , get thee vp to the wood , and cut trees for thy selfe in the land of the perizzites , & of the giants , if mount ephraim be too narrow for thee . then the children of ioseph said , the mountaine will not be inough for vs , and all the canaanites that dwell in the low countrey , haue charcts of iron as well as they in bethshean , and in the townes of the same , as they in the valley of israel . and ioshua spake vnto the house of ioseph , to ephraim , and manasses , saying , thou art a great people , and hast great power , and shalt not haue one lot . therefore the mountain shal be thine , for it is a wood , and thou shalt cut it downe , and the endes of it shall be thine , & thou shalt cast out the canaanites thogh they haue iron charets , and though they be strong . the heauens saith dauid , euen the heauens are the lords , & so is the earth , but he hath giuen it to the children of men . psa . . . yet notwithstāding the fatherly prouidēce , & large bountie of god towards man , so improuident and irrespectiue is man , that he had rather liue like a drone , and féede vppon the fruites of other mens labors , wherunto god hath not entituled him , then looke out and flie abroad , like the bée to gather the pleasures and riches of the earth , which god hath giuen him to enioy : whece vpon it comes to passe , that although the lord hath giuen the earth to the children of men , yet this earth which is mans fee-simple by deede of gift frō god , is the greater part of it possessed & wrongfully vsurped by wild beasts , and vnreasonable creatures , or by brutish sauages , which by reason of their godles ignorance , & blasphemous idolatrie , are worse then those beasts which are of most wilde & sauage nature . as ahab therfore sometimes said to his seruants , . king. . . know ye not that ramoth gilead was ours , and we stay & take it not out of the hands of the king of aram ? so may man say to himselfe : the earth was mine , god gaue it me , and my posteritie , by the name of the children of men , and yet i stay & take it not out of the hands of beasts , and brutish sauages , which haue no interest in it , because they participate rather of the nature of beasts then men . the christian part of the world did plainly bewray this improuident and irrespectiue neglect of gods prouidence and bountie . when christopher columbus made proffer to the kings of england , portugall , and spaine , to inuest them with the most precious and richest veynes of the whole earth , neuer knowne before : but this offer was not onely reiected , but the man himself , who deserues euer to be renowned , was ( of vs english especially ) scorned & accoūted for an idle nouellist . some thinke it was because of his poore apparell , and simple lookes , but surely it is rather to be imputed to the improuidency & imprudencie of our nation , which hath alwayes bred such diffidence in vs , that we cōceit no new report , bee it neuer so likely , nor beléeue any thing be it neuer so probable , before we sée the effects . this hath alwayes béene reported of the english , by those that haue obserued the nature of nations : bodin . lib. . de repub. cap. . reporteth , that the english were alwayes accounted more warlike , valorous , and couragious , then the french , but the french went alwayes beyond them in prudence , and pollicie . and to expresse the same , he vseth the words of ennius . bellipotentes sunt magis quam sapients potentes . and it may be that this might be reported of vs english , in those times when our country was not pesteced with multitude , nor ouercharged with swarmes of people , for peace and plentie breed securitie in men : neither is it necessarie for anie man to beléeue reports , though probable , nor to follow strange proiects be they neuer so likely , so long as he hath home inbred hopes to relie vpon , and assured certainties to satisfie his future expectation . in those dayes this kingdome was not so populous as now it is , ciuell warres at home , and forreine wars abroad , did cut off the ouer-spreading branches of our people . our coūtry thē yéelded vnto all that were in it a surplussage of all necessities : it yeelded preferment in due correspondencie , for al degrees & sorts of men . the commons of our country lay free and open for the poore commons to inioy , for there was roome enough in the land for euery man , so that no mā néeded to encroch or inclose from another , whereby it is manifest , that in those dayes we had no great néed to follow strange reports , or to seeke wilde aduentures , for séeing we had not onely sufficiencie , but an ouerflowing measure proportioned to euerie man. religion and pietie taught vs , that séeing our lot was fallen vnto vs in a faire ground , and that we had a goodly heritage , rather to be content with our own , then either politikèly or ambitiously to vndertake vncouth enterprises , vnto which necessitie did no way vrge vs. but nowe god hath prospered vs with the blessings of the wombe , & with the blessings of the brests , the sword deuoureth not abroad , neither is there any feare in our streets at home ; so that we are now for multitude as the thousand of manasses , and as the ten thousads of ephraim , the prince of peace hath ioyned the wood of israel and iudah in one troe . and therefore we may iustly say , as the children of israel say here to ioshua , we are a great people , and the lande is too narrow for vs : so that whatsoeuer we haue béene , now it behooues vs to be both prudent and politicke , and not to deride and reiect good profers of profitable and gainefull expectation , but rather to imbrace euery occasion which hath any probabilitie in it of future hopes : and seeing there is neither preferment nor employment for all within the lists of our countrey , we might iustly be accounted as in former times , both imprudent and improuident , if we will yet sit with our armes foulded in our bosomes , and not rather séeke after such aduentures whereby the glory of god may be aduanced , the territories of our kingdome inlarged , our people both preferred and employed abroad , our wants supplyed at home , his maiesties customes wonderfully augmented , and the honour and renown of our nation spred and propagated to the ends of the world . many examples might be produced to mooue vs hereunto , but because they were the practises of rude and barharous people , they are no exemplarie presidents for christians : but forasmuch as euery example approued in the scripture , is a precept , i thought good to handle this conference betwéene the tribe of ioseph a family in the israel of god , & ioshua a faithfull and godly prince ouer the whole commonwealth of gods israel : which to my séeming , is much like that plot which we haue now in hand for virginia ; for here the people of ephraim and of the halfe tribe of manasses , are a great people , and so are we : and by reason of the multitude of their people , the land is too narrow for them ; and so stands our case , whereupon they repaire to 〈◊〉 to haue his warrant and direction to inlarge their ●●●oers , and so haue many of our noble men of honorable minds , worthy knights , rich marchants , & diuerse other of the best dispositiō , solicited our ioshua , and mightie monarch , that most religious & renowned king iames , that by his maiesties leaue , they might vndertake the plantation of virginia . lastly , as ioshua not onely giues leaue , but also a blessing to the childrē of ioseph in their enterprises , so hath our gratious soueraigne granted his frée charter to our people , for the vndertaking of their intended enterprise and aduenture , so that from this example , there is both sufficient warrant for our king to graunt his chacter for the plantation of virginia , and sufficient warrant also for our people to vndertake the same . and therefore for the better satisfying of some , and for the encoraging of all fortes of people concerning this proiect for virginia , let vs more fully examine the particulars of this discourse betweene the children of ioseph and ioshua . first we gather from the text , that the cause why the children of ioseph desired to inlarge their borders , was the multitude and greatnesse whereunto they were growne . god had blessed them according to the prophesie of iacob , gen. . . so that the portion which was first thought to be roomie and large inough for them , is now too narrowe and little for them . what should they do in this case ? should they prouide and establish lawes to hinder the increase of their people , as we reade of hyppodamus , sometimes a law-giuer among the miles●ans ; whose example in gouernmēt , aristotle in his . booke of politicks and . chapter , and plato in his ● . booke delegibus , haue drawne into precept and rule of policie ? should they decree against building and execting houses , luniting a certaine number and no more for euery familie in their tribe , as p●●do amongst the corinthians sometimes did , and 〈◊〉 ●●ey of paris of late enacted , taking order that old an● anciēt houses should be repayred , but no new edifices erected . anno. ? should they haue pestered themselues with inmates , and one houshold haue receiued into it two or three families ? they put none of these in practise , but with one consent they repaire to the magistrate , they complaine that their lot is not large inough , & theyshew the reason , because they are a great people . there is nothing more daungerous for the estate of common-wealths , then when the people do increase to a greater multitude and number then may instly paralell with the largenesse of the place and countrey : for hereupon comes oppression , and diuerse kinde of wrongs , mutinies , sedition , commotion , & rebellion , scarcitie , dearth , pouertie , and sundrie sorts of calamities , which either bréed the cōuersion , or euersion , of cities and common-wealths . for euen as bloud though it be the best humour in the body , yet if it abound in greater quantitie then the state of the body will beare , doth indanger the bodie , & oftentimes destroyes it : so although the honour of the king be in the multitude of people , pro. . . yet when this multitude of people increaseth to ouer great a number , the common-wealth stands subiect to many perillous inconueniences , for which cause many natiōs perceyuing their people to increase aboue a due and proportionable number , they haue sent their ouerflowing multitudes abroad into other countreyes and prouinces , to the ends they might preserue their owne in greater peace and prosperitie : so we see the husbandman deale with his groūds when they are ouercharged with cattell , he remooues them from one ground to another , and so he prouideth ●ell both for his cattel and for his ground : and so doth the maister of the bée-garden , when he soe 's a hiue pesteted with multitudes of bées , he driues the hiue , & so reapeth ● greater gaine by his ware and honie . and herupon many states-men haue thought nothing more profitable for populous common-wealths , then to haue forreigne and externe warres , to the ende that thereby the superfluous braunches might be cut off . this was the cause why scipio when he had conquered carthage , would not haue it vtterly ruinated , least saith he , the romains hauing no warres abroad , mooue ciuill warres amongst themselues at home : others séeing the multitude of their people increase , haue planted colonies with them , others haue banished them into remote countries : and the children of ioseph here being pestered with multitude come to ioshua to be directed and relieued . this should teach vs of this kingdome and countrey , prudence and prouidence , the lord hath blessed vs , and we are growne to be a great people , so that one lot is not sufficient for vs : our multitudes like too much bloud in the body , infect our countrey with plague and pouertie , our land hath brought foorth , but it hath not milke sufficient in the breast thereof to nourish all those children which it hath brought forth , it affordeth neither employment nor preferment for those that depend vpon it : and hereupon it is , that many seruiceable men giue themselues to lewd courses , as to robbing by the high way , theft , & cosoning , sharking vpon the land , piracie vpon the sea , and so are cut off by shamefull and vntimely death : others liue prophanely , riotously , and idely , to the great dishonour of almightie god , the detriment of the commonwealth . now our case standing thus it behooueth euerie one to deuise a remedie for this misery : when there was no bread in chanaā , iacob and his familie sought into egypt for corne to relieue themselues . and iacob séeing his sonnes destitute of counsel in that extremity , did sharply reprehēd them for the dissolute managing of their present state , saying : why gaze ye one vpo another ? behold , i haue heard there is food in egypt , get ye down thither , and buy vs food thence , that we may liue . euen so may it be said to a companie of people in this land , which doe nothing but gaze one vpon another , destitute of counsell , aduise , and meanes , how to prouide iustly and honestly for their maintenaunce . they heare of honourable proiects abroade , they heare of employment and preserment , they heare of plentie and abundance of many good things , of which a fruitful country largely makes offer vnto them : they heare of gaine and profite both to them and their posteritie , they heare many honourable men , many worthie wise men , many valiaunt and couragious men , many rich and wealthie men , aduenture their persons , their mony , their ships , towards the accomplishing of so godly and memorable a dsigne , and yet they sit still folowing their intemperauncie , incontinencie , and other their luxurious and riotous courses , to the high dishonour of almightie god , to the great hurt of the common-wealth , and to their own euerlasting shame and ignomie . if an honourable death were set before a vertuous minde , it would chuse rather to die heroically , then liue opprobriously . what then shall we thinke of those persons , who hauing an honourable life set before them , doe yet chuse rather to liue in idlenesse , dishonestie & obscenitie ? surely they are of degenerate and dunghill minder , neither are they worthy to be nourished in the bosome of a wel gouerned common-wealth . it was for euer a blemish to the honour and credit of vlisses , because hée feigned himselfe mad , and sowed salt in sreed of corne in his field , onely that by such a shift he might kéepe himselfe at home , and not go with the grecians to the siege of troy. so let perpetuall shame and dishonour attend vpon all those , which doting vpon their wealth , or suffeting vpon their pleasures , finde delaies and deuise shifts , either to saue their purses , or their persons , from such honourable and profitable designments , as offer probable likelyhoods of future good to this our countrey or common-wealth . thus we haue heard the dutie of the people which is prudently and prouidently to consult with the magistrates , concerning the disburdening , and discharging of such vnnecessarie multitudes as pester a commonwealth , and also to further such enterprises either with their purses or their persons as make to the same ende . now that in next place , we are to note the direction of iosua , vpon the aforesaide complaint of the children of ioseph , which is to enlarge their territories , and dilate their borders , by destroying gods enemies the perizzites , and giants , which inhabited the valleyes , bordering vpon mount ephraim , which were most abominable idolaters , and had no knowledge of the true and onely god : from whence we may learne , how odious those people are , in the sight of god , which hauing no knowledge of him and his worship , giue that honour to the insensible and vnreasonable creature , which is onely due to the omnipotent and almightie creator . for this cause hath almightie god , ouerthrowne the mightiest monarchies in the world , for this cause did hée disperse his owne israel among the nations , & neuer vouchsafed them to returne againe into their owne land . dauid by way of prophecie , doth promise a blessing to those that shall take the children of the idolatrous babilonians and dash them against the stones , and they that haue taken armes against such people , are said to fight the lords battells . saul had his kingdome rent from him and his posteritie , because he spared agag , that idolatrous king of the amalechites , whom god would not haue spared : so acceptable a seruice is it to destroy idolaters whom god hateth , but forasmuch as god doth not delight in bloud , but rather that a sinner should conuert and liue , agréeable vnto which , is that speech of our sauiour christ in the gospell , there is ioy in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth . it is far more commendable , and out of doubt more acceptable vnto god , to reclaime an idolater , vnles we haue a speciall commaundement of god to the contrarie , as saul had then to destroy him , to win him to the faith , then to depriue him of life , and to bring him to the knowledge of god , & whom he hath sent christ iesus : rather then to kill them in their ignorance , and so to bring them into daunger both of bodie and soule , for they that turne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euermore . dan. . . paul calls those whom he had won to the faith of christ , his crowne , his ioy , his glorie . . thessa . . . . as though they were the matter of his ioy , of his crowne , and of his glorie . happie therefore is he that hath an hand in turning any vnto god. and he that will finde delaie whereby so gratious a worke may be hindered , is not with god , but against god , for asmuch as he hinders the building vp of the kingdome of god. and surely so desirous is man of ciuill societie by nature , that he easily yéelds to discipline and gouernment , if he sée any reasonable motiue to induce him to the same . for we reade of certaine people in affrica , inhabiting the mountaine magnan , which offentimes do constraine straungers which trauell that way , to take the gouernment of them , and to impose lawes vnto them , whereby they may be iustly and orderly gouerned : and many nations willingly submitted themselues to the subiection of the romanes , being allured thereunto by iustice , equitie , clemencie , and vpright dealing of the romaine captaines : for it is not the nature of men , but the education of men , which make them barbarous and vnciuill , and therefore chaunge the education of men , and you shall sée that their nature will be greatly rectified and corrected : séeing therefore men by nature so easily yéelde to discipline and gouernment vpon any reasonable shewe of bettering their fortunes , it is euerie mans dutie to trauell both by sea and land , and to venture either with his person or with his purse , to bring the barbarous and sauage people to a ciuill and christian kinde of gouernment , vnder which they may learne how to liue holily , iustly , and soberly in this world , and to apprehend the meanes to saue their soules in the world to come , rather then to destroy them , or vtterly to roote them out : for a wise man , but much more a chrtstian , ought to trie all meanes before they vndertake warre : di●astation and depopulation ought to be the last thing which christians should put in practise , yet forasmuch as euerie example in the scripture as i saide is a precept , we are warranted by this direction of ioshua , to destroy wilfull and conuicted idolaters , rather then to let them liue , if by no other meanes they can be reclaimed . the report goeth , that in virginia the people are sauage and incredibly rude , they worship the diuell , offer their young children in sacrifice vnto him , wander vp and downe like beasts , and in manners and conditions , differ very litle from beasts , hauing no art , nor sciēce , nor trade , to imploy themselues , or giue themselues vnto , yet by nature louing and , gentle , and desirous to imbrace a better condition . oh how happy were that man which could reduce this people from brutishnes , to ciuilitie , to religion , to christianitie , to the sauing of their soules : happy is that man and blest of god , whom god hath endued , either with meanes or will to attempt this busines , but farre be it from the nature of the english , to exercise any bloudie crueltie amongst these people : farre be it from the hearts of the english , to giue them occasion , that the holy name of god , should be dishonoured among the infidels , or that in the plantation of that continent , they should giue any cause to the world , to say that they sought the wealth of that countrie aboue or before the glorie of god , and the propagation of his kingdome . i remember the practise of christopher collombus , which he vsed amongst the west indians , to perswade them to receiue his spaniardes to societie and commerce , which was , he obserued that they were superstitiously giuen to worship the moone , & by the skill he had in astronomie , he foresaw that within thrée daies the moone should be eclipsed : wherupon he called them together , and told them , that he had often vsed his best meanes , to bring them to a ciuill , and friendly conuerse with strangers , but they would not harken vnto him , and therefore in the presence of them all , he called vpon the moone to reuenge such a ●acha●ous people , which denied strāgers so conuerse , and commerce with them : within three dayes after the moone was much darkened by reason of the eclipse , which when the indians saw , they thought the moone to be angrie with them , & fearing some plague would proceede from her displeasure , they were easily induced to doe whatsoeuer columbus would haue them . in like maner should all men vse their wits in the first place , and weapons should alwayes be the last meanes in all our proiects . and therefore although the children of ioseph haue an expresse commaundement here in this place , to destroy those idolaters , and possesse their land , yet forasmuch as we haue no precept but by example , we must first trie all means before weapons , and when we take them into our hands , necessitie of preseruing our owne liues , must rather moue vs to destroy the enemyes of god , then either ambition , or gréedinesse of gaine , or crueltie , or anie priuate respect whatsoeuer . now the third thing which we are to obserue in this entercourse of wordes betweene the children of ioseph , and iosua , is the delayes which the people vse , and the excuses which they feigne , which seeme to import an impossibilitie , in the vndertaking of iosuas direction . and their delayes are , that the chanaanites were strong and well prouided of warlike munition , both for their owne defence , and also for the defence of those which would vndertake to supplant or inuade them , they had yron charets , & such like muniments of warre , so that it stoode not with wisedome to make an inuasion , with likelihoode to make a conquest of them . this is the nature of muddy and earthly spirits , to find delayes , and forge excuses in matters of least difficultie : man sayeth , a lion is without , i shall be slaine in the streete . prou. . . what slanders did the ten spies bring vpon the land of canaan ? which slāders the i sraelites made good groūds for their retiring back into egypt , & thought them lawfull excuses for them to murmur against moses & aaron , han●ba had much ado to bring his carthagenians into italy , they alledged the tediousnesse of the voiage ; and the inaccessible passage of the alpes . we read of caligula , sometimes emperor of rome , that he on a time condemned a certain citizens son of rome to be executed , & he sent for his father to see his sonnes execution . the father to excuse his absence , feined himselfe to be sick , whervpon the emperor sent him his horslitter , & by that meanes tooke away from him all colour of excuse . this perplexed father had good cause to find delayes to keep him at home : but they that forge cauils , to withdraw themselues from such attempts whereby god may be honored , the maiestie and royaltie of their king aduauced , the common wealth enriched , and postrecitie prouided for , would not be drawne to these attempts in caligulaes horslitter , for that is too easie meanes to draw on such backward spirits , neither would i haue them punished for their delayes , as tu●lus hostilius sometimes punished metius sufferius for his delayes : but i would some diomedes would find out a meanes to drawe them on to this enterprise , by discouering their driftes and excuses ; for all that they can alleags for their backewardnesse , is most idle and friuolous . the first obiection is , by what right or warrant we can enter into the land of these sauages , take away their rightfull in hexitance from them , and plant our selues in their places , being vnwronged or vnprouoked by them . some affirme , and it is likely to be true , that these sauages haue no particular proprietis in any part or parcell of that countrey , but only a generall recidencis there , as wild beasts haue in the forrest , for they range and wander vp and downe the countrey , without any law or gouernment , being led only by their owne lusts and sensualitie , there is not meum ortuum amongest them : so that if the whole lande should bee taken from them , there is not a man that can complaine of any particular wrong done vnto him . but the answer to the foresaid obiectiō is , that there is no intendment to take away from them by force that rightfull inheritaunce which they haue in that countrey , for they are willing to entertaine vs , and haue offered to yeelde into our handes on reasonable conditions , more lande then we shall bée able this long time to plant and manure : and out of all question vppon easie composition with them , wee may haue as much of their countrey yeelded vnto vs , by lawfull graunt from them , as wée can or will desire , so that wée goe to liue peaceablie among them , and not to supplant them : wee desire not , neither doe wee intend to take anie thing from them , ex pacto & iure foederis : but to compound with them for that wee shall haue of them : and surelie except succession and election , there cannot bee a more lawfull entrance to a kingdome then this of ours . moreouer , all polititians doe with one consent , holde and maintaine , that a christian king may lawfullie make warre vppon barbarous and sauage people , and such as liue vnder no lawfull or warrantable gouernment , and may make a conquest of them , so that the warre bee vndertaken to this ende , to reclaime and reduce those sauages from their barbarous kinde of life , and from their brutish and ferine manners , to huinanitie , pietie , and honestie . lip. lib. . pol. ca. . casman . in pol. cap. . ke●kerm . lib. . pol. pag. . and lipsius alledgeth saint augustine for proofe hereof , whose wordes are these : qui licentia iniquitatis eripitur , vtiliter vincitur . those people are vanquished to their vnspeakeable profite and gaine , which by conquest are abridged of the libertie of sinne & impietie . and the same saint augustine hath an other golden saying to this purpose . apud veros dei cultores etiam illa bella peccata non sunt qua non cupiditate & crudelitate sed pacis studio geruntur , vt mali coerceantur , & boni subleuentur : amongest the true worshippers of god , euen that warre is lawfull which is vndertaken , not for couetousnesse and crueltie , but for peace and vnities sake : so that lewde and wicked men may thereby be suppressed and good men maintained and relieued : whereby we see , that both in the opinion of polititians , and also by the iudgement of augustine himselfe , we might lawfully make warre vppon the sauages of virginia our proiect , hauing the endes aforesaid . and therefore let euerie man that is or will be an aduenturer in this plantation , examine his whole heart , and if hée finde that hée is drawne to partake in this businesse , to drawe the sauages from their barbarous kinde of life , to a moreciuill , honest , and christian kinde of life , let him not doubt of the lawfulnesse of it , but let him chéerefully and liberally put his helping hand to this businesse . secondly , they reason of the future euents by those that are alreadie past . and séeing it is aboue twentie yeares agee since this attempt was begun , and yet no good hath come of it , nor little hope of any , they holde it an vnaduised course to set the same attempt on foote againe : which obiection of theirs is very sufficientlie answered in that booke intituled noua britannia . and indeed most childish is this obiection , for neither was the end of the first attempt the same , with the end of this , nor the meanes , nor the managing of the meanes of this attempt semblable with the former , and therefore in all likelihood the euent of this cannot be iudged by the euent of the former . their second obiection is , that this age will see no profit of this plantatiō . which obiection admit it were true , yet it is too brutish , and bewraies their neglect and incurious respect of posteritie : we are not borne like beasts for our ielues , and the time present only , but besides manie other things which may challenge an interest and right in vs : posteritie and the age yet ensuing haue not the least part in our life & labours . what benefit or comfort should we haue enioyed in the things of this world , if our forefathers had not prouided better for vs , and bin more carefully respectiue of posteritie then for themselues ? we sow , we set , we plant , we build , not so much for our selues as for posteritie ; we practise the workes of godlines in this life , yet shall we not see the end of our hope before wee inioy it in the world to come : it is a blessed thing to be blessed of posteritie . it was the reioycing of the uirgin marie , that from thenceforth all generations should call her blessed . they that do not prouide for eternitie , can haue no assured hope of eternitie , and they which onely are for themselues , shall die in themselues , and shall not haue a name among posteritie , their rootes shall bee dried vp beneath , and aboue shall their branch bee cut downe , their remembrance shall perish from the earth , and they shal haue no name in the streete , iob . . . but the remembrance which a good man leaues behind him , is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary ; it is sweet as honie in all mouthes , and as musicke at a banket of wine : let it not grieue thee therefore to plant and build for posteritie , for the memorie of the iust shall bée blessed , but the name of the wicked shall rot . prou. . . others obiect the continuall charges which will prooue in their opinion very heauie and burdensome to those that shall vndertake the said plantation . these like the dog in the manger , neither eate hay themselues , neither will they suffer the oxe that would . they neuer think any charges too much that may any way increase their owne priuate estate . they haue thousands to bestow about the ingrossing of a commoditie , or vpon a morgage , or to take their neighbours house ouer his head , or to lend vpon vsurie : but if it come to a publicke good , they grone vnder the least burden of charges that can bee required of them . these men would bee vsed like sponges , they must be squeased , seeing they drnuke vp all , and will yeeld to nothing , though it concerne the common good neuer so greatly . but it is demonstratiuely prooued in noua britannia , that the charges about this plantation will be nothing , in comparison of the benefit that will grow thereof . and what notable thing i pray you can be brought to passe without charges ? the things of this world are appointed vnto man with such conditions as there may no profit accrew vnto him without paine , nor no gaine without charge : hiel will build iericho , though the foundation of it cost him his eldest sonne , & the setting vp of the gates cost him his youngest sonne : haman wil haue his wicked desire vpon the jewes , though it cost him ten thousand talents ; so little doe the wicked respect charges about the effecting of their malicious , or vaine glorious attempts , condemning those that professe pietie and religion , which for sauing charges , neglect , and often times suffer most honorable and profitable protects to faile and fall to the ground . without question kee that saues his mony , where gods glory is to bee aduanced , christian religion propagated and planted , the good of the commonwealth increased , and the glorious renowne of the king inlarged , s subiect to the curse of simon magus , his monie and he are in danger to perish together . let none therefore find delaies , or faine excuses to withhold them from this imployment for virginia , seeing euery opposition against it is an opposition against god , the king , the church , and the commonwealth . now in the last place let vs heare the answere of ioshua to the excuses of the children of ioseph , and his answere is an exhortation , that in stead of delaies they would vse art and industrie in this enterprise which they were to vndertake : art in cutting downe the trees and making the countrie champion : industrie by taking paines to conquer and cast out those idolatrous cananites , & to plant themselues in their places . from whence we are to gather , that for this present businesse of plantation in virginia , there must bee speciall choice and care had of such persons as shall be sent thither . nature hath emptied her selfe in bestowing her richest treasures vpon that countrie ; so that if art and industrie be vsed , as helpes to nature , it is likely to prooue the happiest attempt that euer was vndertaken by the english . and forasmuch as of all humane artes political gouernment is the chiefest , there must be a speciall care in the magistrate how to carry himselfe in his place and order : for herein consists the verie maine matter of the successe of this businesse . as therefore the magistrate hath the eminencie of dignitie conferred vpon him by his prince , so must he furnish himselfe with eminencie of vertue : for he shal the better containe others within the bounds and limits of honestie and godlinesse , if he first be able to containe himselfe . mala anima male imperat , plato : . de legibus . a magistrate therefore must haue a good conscience towards god , and he must also haue a louing affection towards those ouer whom hee hath the gouernment . concerning the conscience that a magistrate must carrie towards god , he must so watch ouer himselse , that at no time he burst soorth into any notorious vice , nor suffer himselfe to be stained with the imputation of any enormious crime ; for the vices of men are holden so much the greater , by how much greater the maiestie is of the partie delinquent : the blemishes of princes are deformities , and diminitiue sins in thē , are sins of the highest nature . again , he that is in place of gouernment must know that his example preualles much with those that are vnder his gouernment , so that he shall rule his subiects better by his good example of life , then by all the lawes and statutes that hee can make . lastly , a magistrate must know that the moderne times doe not onely behold him , but that he is subiect also to the view of succeeding posteritie ; and therefore tacitus doth aduise princes , lib. . ann. to beware by all meanes that they giue no occasion to chroniclers to publish their leaud and wicked actions . concerning his looing affection towards his subiects , his first care must be that he alwaies seeke the publike good of his subiects aboue his owne priuate profit : to which purpose the emperour adrian was wont to say ; ita se rempublicam gesturum vt sciret populi rem esse , non propriam . the example of alexander the great is most memorable for this purpose , who leading his souldiers through the drie and w●● places of india , had almost lost his whole armie for water . at the last one of his souldiers found out the riuer oxus , & brought the king water to quench his thirst : but the king powred the water vpon the ground before all his souldiers , and would not drinke it , speaking these words : ego bibam ? & reliqui sitient ? and when he and his whole armie came to the riuer , hee would not drinke before all his souldiers had quenched their thirst : giuing thereby all princes to vnderstand , that they should prouide for the good of their people before their owne good . thus in conscience towards god , and in affection towards his subiects ought a prince to stand affected . and if he stand so affected he will punish such as are vild and vitious , and he will aduance such as are veriuous and well disposed ; he will incourage the painfull and industrious , and he will correct the idle and dissolute ; he will establish true religion , and he will represse heresies and schismes ; he wil reiceue the weake and impotent , and he wil suppresse the mutinous and insolent ; so that god will giue a blessing , & al things wil prosper vnder his gouernment . and for as much as no policie can stand long without religion , a chiefe care must be had of sufficient , honest , & sober minded ministers to teach and instruct the people both by their life and doctrine in their dutie to god , and obedience to their rulers . when the t●●be of dan went to plant themselues in la●sh , they tooke a leuite with them to bee a father and a priest vnto them : micah thought that the lord would be better vnto him because he had a leuite in his house . neither do i euer reade of any that euer attained vnto any gouernment of what religion soeuer they were , but their first care was to prouide fit persons which might teach the people religion and diuine worship ; and therefore if this p●antatio● should bee vndertaken without this care , there were small hope of any good successe to come thereof . and as the minister being a subiect must yeeld his obedience to the magistrate , so 〈◊〉 magistrate must bee carefull to yeeld him countenance to keepe him from neglect , and maintenance to incourage him in his ministery . and it must be specially foreseene of the ministers that they resist poperie ; for as it doth infect the mind with errour , so it doth infect the manners of men with disloyaltie and treachery : and lastly they must labour to preserue the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace ; for if they ●nce ●arre , or dissent among themselues , they open a gappe to schisme and contempt of religion . policie thus establishing religion , and religion guiding policie ; prouision must be made of men furnished with arts and trades most necessarie for this busines : artificers and tradesmen must be nourished and cherished , for without artificers and tradesmen a common-wealth cannot flourish nor endure : and therefore the magistrate must specially regard them and respect them , and they must so carrie themselues that they may be respected and cherished of the magistrate . it is required at their hands that they be faithfull , painefull , and honest in their callings ; for if they be thus qualified , the countrie itselfe will make them rich . euery trade hath his mystery , which is for the most part grounded vpon deceit and fraud : but seeing the beginning of a common wealth is now attempted , the foundation must not bee laid vpon fraud and deceit , for there can no good end be expected of an euill beginning . it is requ●red likewise that they be painefull in their trades , or else the commonwealth can haue little vse or comfort of them . and here our english tradesmen and artificers are to be aduised that they be warie in taking the sauages to bee apprentices to teach them their trade , seeing there be meanes of imployment sufficient besides to set many thousands on worke ; and therefore not necessarie as yet to instruct them in our trades and mysteries . besides all this , industrie must be also added to helpe arte and nature , so that such as haue no prosessed artes and trades , must painefully im●●●y themselues in some labour or other , to the furthering of this plantation : a drone will in short space deuoure more hony than the bée can gather in along time , and therefore the magistrate must correct with al sharpenesse of discipline , those vnthriftie and vnprofitable drones , which liue idly : for there is a law giuen to the sonnes of adam to labour , and to the daughters of eue , with the sweate of their browes to get their liuing , and therefore it is an euangelicall precept that they which will not labour must not eate . in iobs time there was a very strict order taken for such as liued idely , iob . . they were chased forth from among men , and euery one showted at them as at a theefe : and surely such an order must bee taken with those that will not liue painefully in virginia , the rather because meate and drinke , and such other necessarie supplies of liueliehoode will be very precious there a while : and therefore order had more néede be taken , that such prouision be not consumed by vnseruiceable loytering companions . lastly , all degrées and sorts of people which haue prepared themselues for this plantation must be admonished to preserue vnitie , loue and concord amongst themselues : for by concord small things increase and growe to great things , but by discord great things soone come to nothing . agesilaus being demaunded why the citie of sparta was not compassed about with walles for the better defence and safety of the citie , he shewed vnto the demandant , the citizens and souldiers of sparta , all of them liuing and agréeing together in firme concord and vnitie ; these , saith agesilaus , are the walles of sparta : and out of question so it is ; concord and good agréement amongst coinhabitants is a more sure defence than walles or castles , or any other warlike munition whatsoeuer . therefore if any mutinous or seditious person dare aduenture to mooue any matter which may tend to the breach of concord and vnitie , he is presently to be suppressed as a most d●●gerous enemy to the state and gouernement there established . now all these particulars being already not onely concluded vpon , but also prouided for by the godly care of the counsell and aouenturers of virginia : i haue presumed onely to aduise , being ●●t o●●oubt that they will be as carefully performed , as they at ? already wisely and religiously determined . and thus far haue i presumed in my loue to the aduenturers , and liking to the enterprise , ●o deale in this businesse , praying as much good successe to them and it , as their owne hearts can desire hoping to sée their expectation satisfied , and the glory of england as much increased by this their honorable attempt , as euer was the romane empire by the enterprises of her greatest emperours , sorrowing with my selfe that i am not able neither in person nor purse to be a partaker in the businesse . finis . virginia impartially examined, and left to publick view, to be considered by all iudicious and honest men under which title is comprehended the degrees from to , wherein lyes the rich and healthfull countries of roanock, the now plantations of virginia and mary-land ... / by william bullock, gent. bullock, william, b. ? this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing b ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virginia impartially examined, and left to publick view, to be considered by all iudicious and honest men under which title is comprehended the degrees from to , wherein lyes the rich and healthfull countries of roanock, the now plantations of virginia and mary-land ... / by william bullock, gent. bullock, william, b. ? [ ], p. printed by john hammond ..., london : . reproduction of original in british library. item incorrectly listed in reel guide with location : . eng virginia -- description and travel. virginia -- economic conditions. maryland -- description and travel. maryland -- description and travel -- early works to . a r (wing b ). civilwar no virginia impartially examined, and left to publick view, to be considered by all iudicious and honest men. under which title, is comprehende bullock, william a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - john latta sampled and proofread - john latta text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virginia impartially examined , and left to publick view , to be considered by all iudicious and honest men . under which title , is comprehended the degrees from to , wherein lyes the rich and healthfull countries of roanock , the now plantations of virginia and mary-land . looke not upon this booke , as those that are set out by private men , for private ends ; for being read , you 'l find , the publick good is the authors onely aime . for this piece is no other then the adventurers or planters faithfull steward , disposing the adventure for the best advantage , advising people of all degrees , from the highest master , to the meanest servant , how suddenly to raise their fortunes . peruse the table , and you shall finde the way plainely layd downe . by william bvllock , gent. april , . jmprimatur , hen. whaley . london : printed by john hammond , and are to be sold at his house over-against s. andrews church in holborne . . to the right honourable , the earle of arundel and surrey , and the lord baltamore . right honourable , had those worthy gentlemen been so happie , to have laboured for the setling a iust & equall government , and designing the best advantages , as in discovering the countrey , this labour had beene spared ; wherefore he humbly prayes , that you 'l looke on this piece as through a prospective , by which you have these places rendred at a neerer distance , & you may easily find the impediments of their happinesse ; which , with as much ease as turning of the glasse , you may remove farre off , or out of sight : i must confesse , 't is some boldnesse for a private person to deale with governments ; but when you shall finde i speake your thoughts , for having lustice impartially dealt , and this from a smarting sence of iniustice done , i am confident you 'l excuse me , and the rather , for that i have shortned your lordships studies , which as i have often heard , are for settling such a government in these places , as might keep the ballance even : and if your lordships , upon perusall , shall find me onely to aime at the generall good , i am confident you 'l owne me to be , your honours humble servant , will : bvllock . to the governovr and councell of virginia , health and prosperity . gentlemen , what your rules of government or justice now are i know not , but what they were you 'll find in the ensuing discourse , wherein i strike at no mans person , but at the generall abuse . i can speak knowingly of some of your indeavours in former times for reformation ; to which you 'll find the way laid down , which may be done without eclipsing any power above you : it is proposed for absolute freemen , or a people under a higher power ; 't is a becomming garment , and strongly put together : if you shall put it on , it will beautifie the body of your little common-wealth , and make all men in love to dwell with you . when you have read this over , you 'll find my love hath swallowed up my losse , and that there 's nothing more desired , then the flourishing prosperity of unparalelled virginia , by your loving friend and servant , william bullock . to his much esteemed friends , m. samuel vassell , captaine richard cranley , captaine thomas davis , captaine benjamin cranley , captaine william ryder , captaine peter andrews , and the rest of the gentlemen adventurers to the english plantations beyond sea . most loving friends , divers of you having been pleased , to think me able to advise in cases of this nature , ( when in truth , i have been more inabled by your questions put , then you could by my resolves ) i determined to joyn my own experience with such collections i had made from you , to compose a tract , which might be usefull ; wherein i intended to shew , how love , profit , and pleasure might be raised , and after maintained by a sweet and orderly government ; and this is that which i present yee : sure i am , if you weigh it well , 't will be like a pleasant garden , where you may gather simples for many speciall uses : and although the scene be laid in virginia , yet it may be applied to divers other places . pray believe , i have not done this for the advantage of telling you in print , i am your servant ; but the necessity of a work of this nature , at this time , there never being any before , spur'd me on : and since in this , i do but trace your steps , in labouring for the publick good , i doubt not but you 'll entertain it kindly , and give the author leave to style himselfe , your truly loving friend , will : bullock . to his much honored friends , the knights and gentlemen that importuned this worke . had you given me more time , i should have been larger in your satisfaction , but this is what six nights could produce , which time you know is all i had ; and of this , the recollecting and reading my ancient studies took up much : but what is done ( upon examination ) you 'l find is clear and true : and having finished the work , feare ( lest some materiall thing should be omitted ) would not let me sleep , when at last i found i had forgot to tell you that i am , your faithfull friend and servant , william bullock . to the reader . courteous reader , this small worke is undertaken for the generall good , as well of the inhabitants , as the adventurers , and therefore requires a familiar pen , and plain matter , more then height of style : the author had rather do good , then be commended ; therefore refused to let the work be ushered in by the commendation of others : he is not ignorant , what a slight esteem this place hath amongst the generality of the people , and knowes a good name is sooner lost then recovered , and that when men joyn with common fame to destroy a good work , the devill hath got a victory ; wherein 't is extreamly considerable , how great an enemy he hath alwayes been to the planting of the gospell , especially , in places where ( as here ) the natives own him for their god : therefore let no man wonder , the good of this place hath been so much obstructed , since now they know by whom . i have in this place lost some thousands of pounds , yet cannot harbour an ill opinion , since i am fully satisfied , the fault was onely in the men i trusted , and this hath been every losers condition : wherefore let the countrey suffer no longer under our hard censures ; good laws duly executed , will make good men , and quickly change the aspect of these places , there wanting nothing else under god to make them flourish . ambition , amongst other things , hath been none of the least hinderance : therefore he doth advise all such as intend to be labourers in this harvest , to study meeknesse , and the generall good : for if it be well considered , 't is much better to be equall to , then a justice of peace , in which sense he speakes himself ; and if thou beest such , then he 's thine , william bullock . the principall motive , that drew the author to this worke , was , that finding many gentlemen have unsetled themselves , with a desire to better their fortunes in remote places , and in this condition , inquisitive after the severall plantations abroad , to the end they might make choice of the best , in which they are much troubled with the various relations both by books and men , whose onely aime is to draw all men to themselves ; and to further that work , are liberall to abuse all other places but their own : by which means men are disperst abroad in severall small numbers , at great distances from each other , which is very uncomfortable and disccusolate , whereas if they had been all directed to any one good place , they might have been in this time a great and flourishing people : and finding also ( without disparaging of other places ) that this countrey of virginia is abundantly stored with what is by all men aimed at , viz. health and wealth , so that there wants nothing to their happinesse that go over , but good instructions , which were never yet endeavoured , more then to shew the place ; i thought that man that should kindly take the stranger by the hand , and lead him to it , shewing him not onely the richest mines , but also how to dig them , would deserve much thanks . i cannot omit , by way of caution to my deere countrey-men , to admonish them , that at this time there is much strugling to draw men to new plantations , never yet seated ; and if they will peruse the books that have been set forth in the infancy of the most of our english plantations abroad , they shall see with what losse and dangers they have beene setled ; viz. by having their ships cast away , for want of knowledge of the place ; by want of food , till supplies ; by strange diseases , never before heard of ; by divisions and factions amongst themselves , and an innumerable of other incidents happening to them , whereby the places have beene severall times deserted , and again planted , before ever we could keep our footing . wherefore , i shall advise all men to make use of other mens wofull experience , and to dispose themselves to such places as are already planted , where all difficulties are now overcome . the table . section i. the lands and bounds — in . reanock . page . . virginia . the temperature of the ayre — . mary-land . what this countrey affords , of beasts , fowles , birds , and fish , for foode , and commoditie . — viz. . beasts for foode . p. . . beasts of prey . . fowles and birds for foode . ibid. . birds for delight . . birds of prey . ibid. . fish , for foode and commoditie . ibid. . for present use , and spending . ibid. what trees , fruits , rootes , and plants , are naturally found in this countrey . what english provisions , and what stores are there at this time . ibid. what commodities are here found , growing from nature . sect. ii. the true reason , how this countries prosperitie hath beene hindered , which is tearmed the countries disease , which hath beene — viz. . by the government . p. . by the commoditie that they have alwayes made their staple . . by not raysing commodities , to drive a trade for ships . ibid. . by miscarriage of good designes for staple commodities . . by the indians . ibid. . by malitious slanders . . by the unfitnesse of the people transported . sect. iii. how the countrey may be recovered . — viz . by an equall government ; and that government proposed . p. . by raysing commodities , for the constant imployment of shipping ; which hath made new-england and barbado's flourish , and will quickly doe this , there being much more advantage in the place . . by fixing upon corne , rice , rape-seed , and flax ; and all the rest of the rich commodities examined , & how and when to be falne upon , but for the present layd by , with the reasons . sect. iv. a scale , whereby , after the proportion of . li. stock , all men may know how to lay out their money for advantage . — viz. . how they shall lay it out in england . p. . how they shall dispose of themselves when they come over into the countrey . . what & how much ground they shal plough and sowe , and with what . . what their first years crop may produce in the countrey . . if they will send it for england , what it shall produce there , and how to insure it . . what they may be worth the third yeare . ibid. a great incouragement to people of all degrees . sect. v. how passengers may bee best transported , for health , and charge . — viz. . by the old way , with the convenience and inconvenience . p. . how to goe in the old way , and yet save a third part of the charge . . a victualling proposed for the planter , in his voyage thither . . to goe by new-england ships . . the best , and the neerest way , to goe by the new-found-land ships , in march , april , or may , where you may goe at halfe the old charges . ibid. when the gentlemen are over in the countrey , how they shall dispose of themselves till they be setled . a great incouragement both for masters and servants . — shewing , how masters shall imploy their servants to their best profit , without their oversight , or trouble . how servants shall worke for their masters , and themselves , without hard labour . sect. vi . how to reclaime the indians . — viz. . wherein is first considered love p. . force . it being not to be done either of these two wayes , . a third way is proposed . ibid. sect. vii . an advice to the adventurer . pag. an advice to the planter . ibid. an advice to servants . the authors offer to all men ; by which they 'l finde he 's unbyast , and in this worke hath no private ends . he freely offereth to all that shall be desirous to be further satisfied , concerning any particular mentioned in this booke , or shall meet with any objections to any thing therein propounded , to repaire to the author , who will cleare all doubts , and shew them the best and newest draught , or plot , of the countrey . reade this first , the vvorke next . before you cast your eye upon the worke it self , look stedfastly upon the author ( and as thou likest him give him credit ) whilst he tells thee that he was never in this place himself he writes of with such considence ; and therefore before he began , he had many strugling thoughts within him , perswading and disswading . but when he considered , it is no new thing , out of collections to make up the historie of a kingdom ; and that the work is not so much to set out the country ( it having been already done by many experienced men ) as to take off that odium , that malitious tongues have thrown upon it ; by discovering the true grounds and reason why the prosperitie thereof hath beene so long obstructed , and to apply a perfect cure to it : as also having warrant , that the places are what he sets them forth , from the discoveries of m. heriot , m. laine , and captaine smith , printed neere forty yeares since , and divers severall bookes lately printed ; and also , having discoursed severally , and at severall times , with captaine mathewes , captaine peirce , captaine willoughby , captaine clabourne , and divers others the principall men of that country , here in england , about nine yeares since , and his own father living there above twelve years , besides captaine andrewes , captaine douglas , captaine pryn , captaine russell , and divers other captaines and masters of ships , that have constantly used that trade ; and lastly , yeares experience of his own , bought with . li. he hopes all cause of doubt will be layd aside . section i. there having beene already so many bookes publisht of gods blessings upon these places both for health and riches , i shall not need to trouble the reader therewith ; the rather , for that the principall end of this worke is , man-midwife like , to preserve the mother already in travell , and bring the child lively into the world , advising how to cherish it in the growth , untill it have strength to provide it selfe , wherefore i shall but give a short touch of them : and first , of the lands and bounds . the continent is upon the east bounded with the north and east sea , garnished with many delicate islands of severall magnitudes , and to the west it hath no bounds , untill you come to the west and south sea , which is many miles over : on the south side is many thousand miles of land ; on the north is land to new-england , and many thousand miles further : the distance betweene mary-land and new-england , is not above miles by land , and in this distance there are many english planted , insomuch , that there are posts which go by land betweene virginia and new-england . the country is full of hills and dales , and fine prospects , and towards the sea in virginia very levell , yet not without pleasant ascendings , and descendings , but not of height to be called hills : the body of the country from the river is generally woody , but not like ours in england , for they are so cleare from under-woods , that one may be seen above a mile and a half in the wood , and the trees stands at that distance , that you may drive carts or coaches between the thickest of them , being clear from boughs a great height , yet in the summer they agree that the sun shall injure none that puts himself under their protection , whilst he refresheth himself with strawberries & grapes of a most delicious taste , which grow there in abundance . there be many fair navigable rivers , rivelets and springs , imbrodered with fresh marshes and medows , very delightfull to the prospect , sending forth exceeding sweet and pleasant savours that perfume the ayre , from the sasafras , strawberrie , & naturall flowers ; all which well considered , this place may well deserve the name of the new-paradice . whosoever desires to see the draught of this country , may looke into smiths travells , or into mercators atlas , and there he shall see the whole continent . the soyle is a rich black mould , for two foot deep , and under it a loame , of which they make a fine brick , and with it plaister their houses within , & cover it over with lime made of oyster-shells , which is much harder and more durable then our lime in england , made of chaulke , and of which there is plenty : the out-side of their houses they commonly cover with board , or case them with brick . the next in consideration , is the temperature of the ayre . to speak first of the most southerly climat , viz. from the degree of to , the aire is extream pleasant & wholsome , as it was found by m. ralph laine , m. heriot and others , who with their company sat down upon the island of roanock , which is a little to the southward of that place in virginia , where now the english are planted , in the year , and continued there one year : the winter is very little , but 't is to be observed , that as you passe from one degree to th' other northerly , the winter growes stronger and longer ; this place is but now upon planting . in that part of virginia , where now the english inhabite , which is under the degree of , and part of , the ayre is pleasant and wholsome , especially to those that are seated above the flowing of the salt water . but for such as are set downe within the flowing of the salt water , it is much like in health as here in england upon the salt marshes , which are subject to agues and fevers : the winter is not much above six weekes , which begins in december , and ends about the first of february . mary-land is also very pleasant and wholsome , and is further northerly , viz. part of , and , and therefore more cold ; the winter longer then in virginia , but nothing like our winter in england : whence it is , that some men , in the months of june , july , and august , finding their constitution of body not so well agreeing with heat , retyre themselves in those months to mary-land , which is but twelve houres passage by boat from virginia , and there enjoy perfect health , although sick when they left virginia . what is in this place found , of beasts , fowles , birds , fish , trees , fruits , both for food and commoditie . beasts for food . elkes , bigger then oxen , excellent good meat , and the hide good to make buffe . deere in abundance , excellent venizon , and the skinnes good cloathing . racoones , very good meat . hares , coneys , very good meat . beaver , excellent meat , and the furre rich. squirrells two sorts , good meat . beasts of prey , yet some of their skinnes are valuable . lyons , beares , leopards , but these and the elkes are but seldome seene neere our english plantation , their range being up in the mountaines . foxes , wild cats , otters , warme furres . martens , minkes , rich furres . wolves , but very few . poulcats . weasells . musk-rats , so called , for that their codds are stronger sented then musk-codds from east india , and never to be worne out . there are other sorts of beasts , but their names are not knowne to the english . fowles and birds for food . turkeys wild innumerable , weighing above . livre. weight . heath cocks , pigeons , partridges , black birds , thrushes , dottrells , cranes , hernes , swans , geese , brants , ducks , widgeons , oxeyes , abundance , and exellent meat . birds for delight , some for singing , others for sight . a bird that sings after any birds noat . nightingales that sing sweetly . red birds . blew birds . birds of prey . eagles . hawkes of six severall sorts . owles . there is many more that have no english names . the next is fish . first , of those that are both foode , and may be made a very good commoditie , there being in their seasons infinite plentie . drummes codd herrings sturgion salmon . fish for present spending , and these are , base sheepshead conger eeles trouts mullets playce soales mackerell brett shadd perch lampreyes lobsters shell fish . shrimpes crey-fish crabbs oysters cockles muskles all these fish for delicacie farre exceed the fish in colder climates : there are divers other fish excellent good for foode , but for that they are strange to us , i omit them . and that you may not want bread to all this good cheare , there is plentie of indian wheat , beanes , and pease . trees above twentie kindes , many no english names . two sorts of okes , ashes , walnut two sorts , elmes , cedar , cipres , mulberry trees , chesnut trees , plumme trees , puchamine trees , laurell , cherries , crahes , vines , sasafras . fruits . grapes , plummes , strawberries , raspices , maracokes ; puchamines , muskmelons , pumpions , apples , peares , quinces , apricocks , peaches , &c. there is all sorts of english fruit trees , insomuch , that out of one orchard hath beene made in one yeare fiftie butts of perry , and out of another thirtie butts of cyder . for roots , there is , potatoes , parsnips , onyons , sparragras , carrots , turneps , hartichokes , all sorts of herbes for physick or pot ; all which grow without any such trouble as is taken for them in england , and for delicacie farre exceeding the best gardens here in england . for english provisions . there is above thirtie thousand head of cattell , and an infinite number of hogges , in such plentie , that you may buy beese and porke under sixteene pence a stone : wheat and barley is very cheape ; most of them brew their owne beere , and have divers publique brew-houses , that brew excellent beere and ale : goats flesh , and mutton , but not yet so plentifull , by reason they have not beene suffered to encrease , till of late yeares : there is all sorts of tame english fowle . there is above two hundred horses and mares , and above seventie asses ; these came thither but of late yeares . naturall commodities of the countrey are , . silke grasse . of which , i have seene here in england drest , exceeding strong , and pure , fine like silke , which without question would make strong stuffes . a piece of grogram was made of this silk-grasse , and presented to queene elizabeth . silke . in roanock they found silk-wormes bigger then walnuts , and were informed by the indians , that higher in the countrey there were abundance , and bigger . flax , and hempe . which differs something from ours in the leafe and stalke , but thought to be every way as good . allum , nitrum , alumem plumeum . are all to be had from a mightie veine of earth , that runnes all alongst the sea coast , on the southermost part of virginia . wapock , of the same value with terra sigelata . pitch , tarre , rosin , turpentine ; many drugs ; wine from three sorts of grapes ; oyle from walnuts , and excellent sweet oyle from three sorts of berries , about the bignesse of acrons ; divers sorts of firre , sivet cats up roanock river ; where is pearle also to be had , iron , copper , tynne , lead , divers kinds of sweet gummes , severall sorts of dyes , woad , and sugar canes , in roanock . to which you may adde , they being now there , and which yeelds wonderfull increase , english corne of all sorts , rice , flax , and hempe , pot-ashes , rape-seed ; and to say no more , you shall not finde the earth ungratefull for any thing you trust her with . and to encourage gentlemen , that are desirous of winning honour , by making discoveries of such places as may bring the greatest wealth and riches to their owne countries , in which they shall not onely very much enrich themselves , but eternize their names ; let them peruse m. henry briggs ( that famous mathematician ) his booke printed about yeares since , wherein he makes it plaine , that a trade from virginia may be easily driven into the south and west sea , lying on the backside of virginia , not farre distant from thence , and so consequently to the east indies , and this by rivers that have their rise in the same place , with the great rivers of virginia ; but as the virginia rivers empty themselves into the east or north sea , so the other rivers empty themselves into the west or south sea . in the degrees of , and , they receive three harvests in five moneths of the indian corn from the self-same ground , viz. they sowe in aprill , and reape in june ; sowe in june , and reape in july ; sowe in july , and reape in august . virginia yeelds two harvests in one yeare , viz. they reape their wheat in july and then sowe barley , and reape in october . their increase is generall from quarters to quarters of an acre . their indian corne yields them above quarters for one . english fruits that have been transported bear wonderfully , and twice as fair as in england , and in deliciousnesse farre exceeding what they were before ; their apricocks and peaches grow all on standing trees , and not against walls : let this suffice for the countrey . sect. ii. i am in the next place , in order to the cure , first to discover the disease of this country , and how contracted ; of which , the government is the greatest of all ; for no wise man will either transport himselfe , or send his estate to such a place where is no setled government , and wholsome lawes to preserve mens lives and estates , and to maintaine honest commerce . the government is , by governour , councell , and assembly . the governour is commonly a stranger , sent from england , and is to last but three yeares , in which time , he must not be blamed , if he doe his owne worke . amongst other things , he can call trustees and debtors to be of the councell , which puts the adventurer to a stand . and this well considered , hath gone a great way in the disease . for , by it justice is stifled , and the adventurer must never hope for justice , since the debtor is by the governours favour , made both judge and party ; by which meanes 't is cleare , the greater the aduenture the surer lost , for the trustee shall be the sooner a councellor . in these things i speake experimentally of such as were before , but doe not charge the present governours , for by their care the plantation is in some reasonable condition of recovery . next , by the people . the assembly in manner as it hath beene chosen , hath been mischievous , for they have not beene elected for their honesties and abilities , but by their great port , although maintained with an adventurers purse ; and such was the assembly , when most of them being bound to pay mony-debts , made an act of assembly , that they should pay their debts in tobacco at . d. per li. when it was sold at the same time in the countrey for one penny . the laws were bad , and worse administred , by which meanes industrie was discouraged , and strifes countenanced . the councells time , that should be better spent for the encouraging of others , taken up in hearing , but not determining unnecessary strifes . next , the disease growes by the commoditie they have and doe make their staple ; which , first , from the very infancy of the plantation , they have made tobacco their staple , which hath been sent for england in such quantities , as many yeares there hath beene some hundred thousand pounds weight , not worth the fraught and custome , and by this means many a poore planter hath been destroyed . secondly , tobacco being once in the ground , is never out of hand till in the hogs-head ; and , which is the misery of it , the moneths of june , july , and august , being the very height of the summer , the poore servant goes daily through the rowes of tobacco stooping to worme it , and being over-heated he is struck with a calenture or feaver , and so perisheth : this hath been the losse of divers men . thirdly , the tobacco is ripe but once in the year , and ships goe for virginia at that time when they may have the tobacco for their home-ward fraught , there being nothing else to lade them , which makes many here in england thinke , that it is a yeares voyage to virginia , whereas if there were other commodities to lade shipping , they might go and return in four or five moneths at the most , by which meanes many a man that would willingly have gone away in march , had there beene shipping to transport him , is of another minde , or hath otherwise settled himselfe before september comes , which is the usuall time of going . fourthly , that by ships going in this manner , they are pestered with people , who thereby are very much indangered in their healths , and the passenger is at as much more charge in his transportation as otherwise he should be , for he payes l. s. for a mans passage , and keeping his men at charge in the cookes shops in saint katherines five or six weekes , stands him neare in li. a man more , whereas , if ships were constantly going , it would not stand him in above li. s. a man . the indians treachery , like a malignant disease , hath hindred many friends from visiting it , for the massacre in , wherein was slain , hath scared many people from coming to it , which if truly understood would not fright the meanest spirit , since the english , by reposing trust and confidence in the indian , gave the opportunity , for it was not the strength of millions could injure them . and whosoever shall reade the relation of the massacre , set out , will find there is no danger in them , except you give them weapons , and stand still whilst they destroy you . and next , the miscarriage of good designes for staple commodities hath added much , wherein i could instance in particular , by whom the designes of making pot-ashes , rape , and walnut orle , and other staples , as also setting up saw-mills , were set on foot , and the particular reasons how they came to fail ; which was not for want of the countries being plentifully stored with materialls , but by other casualties : the particuculars would take up too much room in this place ; my desire being to make this so short as the very essence of the matter will beare , that it may not tire but delight and fully satisfie the reader : wherefore i will give you some few generalls , whereby such may be adminished , as shall come after , how to avoid the mischiefes they fell under . . the first is , that this country being in it self so rich as is before set forth , many men ayming from small stocks to be suddenly rich , have spent themselves in courting their designs , and when all parties were agreed , not so much money left , as would procure the licence to marrie . . next , having built their designes upon some one artificers life , his death hath brought destruction to the worke . . or the worke being here formed and sent over , some principall part hath beene lost , or broken , and none in that countrey able to repaire the losse , the worke hath suffered . . or else having fully outed themselves at the first , what they intended to adventure , and upon that expecting a suddaine and certaine returne , when in stead thereof they have beene saluted with a bill of exchange to pay , or a particular to provide a second supply ; and being put by their confident expectation , they fall into despaire , and since it will not come at the first pull , give it over . . they goe in partnership , and upon some pettie difference draw severall wayes , and let the designe to the ground . . a sixt is , that when men come fresh over , their credits are sound , and so soone forget wherefore they came , idling out their time , till their new-contracted debts overtake them , and so they and their designes are lost : and this i have knowne to be the losse of many a good designe . malitious tongues hath impaired it much : for it hath beene a constant report amongst the ordinarie sort of people , that all those servants who are sent to virginia , are sold as slaves : whereas the truth is , that the merchants who send servants , and have no plantations of their owne , doe onely transferre their time over to others , but the servants serve no longer then the time they themselves agreed for in england : and this is an ordinarie course in england , and no prejudice or hurt to the servant . and lastly , the unfitnesse of the people transported for the worke , or being fit , not well ordered , hath hindred the countries recoverie very much . the usuall way of getting servants , hath been by a sort of men nick-named spirits , who take up all the idle , lazie , simple people they can intice , such as have professed idlenesse , and will rather beg then work ; who are perswaded by these spirits , they shall goe into a place where food shall drop into their mouthes : and being thus deluded , they take courage , and are transported . but not finding what was promised , their courage abates , & their minds being dejected , their work is according : nor doth the master studie any way how to encourage them , but with sowre looks , for which they care not ; and being tyred with chasing himselfe , growes carelesse , and so all comes to nothing . more might be said upon this subject , were it fit : 't is most certaine , that one honest labouring husbandman shall doe more then five of these . sect. iii. having thus considered the disease , and how contracted , i shall prescribe a plaine and easie way for the recoverie , which shall be , first , by a wholsome and equall government , that may incourage , delight , and secure all men . before you enter into the government , observe the proposer , whom you shall finde more imployed about the foundation then the building , since 't is found , that the first failing , the second cannot stand : and that he may not appeare altogether ignorant of what he undertakes , 't is fit you should understand , that amongst other things he lookt into the fabrick of englands lawes , and finding reason the key , he endeavoured to enter , where at the very first , his reason quarrelled with that part of the building . wherein the dissent of fee-simple estates was lodged , since the doore onely opened to let in the brothers of the whole bloud , but was shut against the brothers of the half , although they were the children of one father ; and that rather then let them in , though so neere , the estate must look an heire of the whole bloud , though he can but call cousin at never so great a distance , who as it were shall snatch the estate away , as if the half brothers were all bastards . and prying further into this part , he found many mischiefes depending on it ; to instance one for all : a man in povertie marries as poorely , and hath a sonne ; the wife dyes , he after marries richly , and hath many children , purchaseth a fee-simple estate , then dyes : the sonne by the first venture , enters and dyes ; his cousin , it matters not in what degrees distant , shall wipe the rest of the children of the estate which was brought by their owne mother . my reason told me , that the fathers owne children should be successively let in before the cousin of the whole bloud : but being satisfied in knowing the harsh reason of this law , which was onely to preserve the estate in the whole bloud in a right line ; he ventured further , desiring to understand the uniformitie , but met such contrarieties of judgements & opinions , both in law and equitie , upon the selfe-same cases , occasioned by the strength of reason , more prevayling with one judge then another , & rules in pleading , accompanied with various circumstances and niceties , full of intricacies , and multitudes of officers and offices , ( to know which severally , requires an age ) had swell'd these buildings to that vastnesse , that he plainely saw , it was not one mans whole lives studie could make him master thereof ; all which proceeded from the mixture of the laws of other nations , who in severall times had power over this kingdom : all which consider'd , made him retire , and to content himself in seeking upon what foundation this strange and labyrinth-like building was erected , which he discovered to be politick reason , and then he thought whether ( since the ground-work in the general was so good , & those who had the government so minded ) those parts of the foundation , that are so harsh and rugged , might not be altered and made more smooth and equall , and the building made to answer : but he found it could not be , without apparant danger to the whole , since so many with severall titles had built their estates upon it . next , he apprehended to take the whole building down , and the foundation from the best of the materialls new laid , and then , whether men might not in the mean time , and untill the fabrick should be again erected , lodge their estates in some safe hand , to be delivered them back , after the structure finisht , by some generall and free title : he was presently answered ; that happily many in possession would willingly consent , but those interessed in estates tayl , the heires of the whole bloud , and of the half , the heires according to severall customes , the lords of manours , and their customary tenants , and many more of like nature , would never agree about the redelivery of them back . by which he perceived it was impossible to alter any of englands lawes , with justice to all interests , onely some thing might be done to prevent the mischiefe that lay upon the subject in the course and proceedings of the lawes , and this no better way , then having in all times faithfull and able lawyers , and that there might be some better way found out to make such as intend to professe the law , to spend more time in their studies , before they undertake to advise men how to lose their estates . all which being weighed , he was resolved , that no structure could be so commodious and delightfull , as when it is carried up intire , with consideration , that in case the family increase , there might be additions without defacing . wherfore having by the means aforesaid a little knowledge of the foundation of englands laws , & having by experience found many mischiefs and inconveniencies to grow from severall parts thereof , he considered , whether he might not venture from thence to design a pleasant and intire building , wherewith all men ( not otherwise clog'd and fettered with estates , held by ancient and intricate titles & customes ) might be taken , and chearfully contribute to the work : & upon enquiry after a place to set his frame upon , he found the forraigne plantations were already hard at work about it ; but having surveyed their draught , he clearly saw they had left too many doors for inconveniences , & which was worse , the foundation was mistaken , and so the higher they built , the more dangerous . all which was easy to be rectified , since in respect they were as yet but pin'd together with their interest under a common title , and slightly fastned with personall ties : being glad of this advantage , that possibly he might be the author of so good a work , he chearfully undertooke the modelling the same . and finding that government is no other then the extraction of power into the hand of one or more , to the end it may be dispenced upon all occasions for the peoples good & safety , he considered , that those in whom the power rested , ought to be for wisdome , justice , and integrity , drawn from the very quintessence of the people , which must be done by a through knowledge of each other , whereby they would be able from amongst themselves , to set the best , the first step towards the government , and they presently to have power over those that chose them , but not to be in the chusers power to call back ; the highest power , after , shall by steps raise them according to their abilities , which you 'l find more plain in the following government . the medell of government proposed . first , before the going over of the companie , they together with the adventurers , to chuse thirteene able and fit men to be of the councell . secondly , that these shall from amongst themselves make choise of an able man to be governour ; and this to be done by a balletting box , that it may never be knowne who was for , or against the election . a thirdly , that the governour shall be elected in manner following ; viz. the eldest of the councell to stand first singly for election , but he to have no hand in it ; and in case the election goe on the negative , then the next of the councell in senioritie to stand , and so every man of the councell shall stand , untill the governour be fixed . and in case the electors shall be even , viz. six to six , it shall be taken in the negative : but if through faction the negative shall goe round , so that no man be elected , then the eldest of the councell , that first stood for the election , shall be governour ; b and he at the yeares end shall surrender up the government , and sit at the table as eldest of the councell : c and then the councell shall proceed to a new election of the governour for the ensuing yeare ; which shall be done in manner aforesaid , beginning first with him that was the late governour . fourthly , the governour and councell to agree upon some knowing man of the law to be secretarie . that the people may be satisfied of the equalitie of the government , and that all men may be encouraged to studie the good of the countrey , they shall finde steps raysing them to the government . wherefore i propose , that untill the countrey shall be in a condition to be divided into shires , hundreds , and parishes , the people shall be numbred by freeholders ; and every fortie or fiftie free-holders , more or lesse , according to the number that are neerest neighbours , shall be called a division , by the name of the chiefest man inhabiting amongst them , or by some other name , as shall by the councell be thought fit : and these to have power at a certaine day and place in every yeare , to meet within their owne division , and then to make choice from amongst themselves of six able and fit men ; and their names being presented to the governour , he by himselfe , in the presence of the councell , shall appoint three out of the said six , who for the yeare following shall be stiled the superintendents of that division , and shall have such power as is hereafter provided : and at the yeares end , the people of every division shall in like manner meet , and shall make choice of three more from amongst themselves , whose names , together with the last superintendents , shall be presented to the governour , and he shall out of them , in manner aforesaid , appoint three that shall be superintendents for the following yeare : by this , the three first superintendents , if found honest , may still continue . the generall or great assembly shall consist of the said superintendents , who at a certain day and place , every yeare , as shall be most convenient , without further summons , shall meet in the assembly , and in this assembly , the governour shall have the chief place , and the councell to have places there according to their degrees . the secretarie of state shall have a place under the governour , and shall be speaker in these assemblies : the governour , for that he is the head , and hath a power above them all , shall not vote ; but hearing the debates , and making objections , he will be the better inabled to use his power in his negative voice . but when the countrey shall be so well peopled , that there may be of the division aforesaid , then all the superintendents shall not come to the assemblies in manner aforesaid , but the people shall chuse one of their three superintendents , in every division , to come to the assembly . no assembly shall sit longer then twentie dayes . before the rising of the assembly , the governour shall appoint twelve men of the assembly to be assistants to the councell , for the yeare following . there shall be a judge , or judges . there shall be a treasurer . there shall be a surveyer . it must be agreed , when the number of assembly men be knowne , what number of assembly men , and what of the councell shall make a court . all lawes shall be made in manner following . they shall be proposed and debated in the great assembly : and if the vote of the assembly be for the law , then the governour and councell by themselves shall debate it ; and if it be agreed by them , then the governour ( who is also not to vote with the councell ) shall consider of it ; and if he assent to it , then to be a law , otherwise not . the power of the great assembly . besides their consents to the lawes , they shall have cognizance of appeales from the governour and councell , and shall examine and punish all briberie that any of the councell or secretarie shall be found guiltie of ; and the governour shall also be answerable to them for briberie or injustice done by him : but the governour shall not be questioned , untill the charge , if it be briberie , shall be proved by oath ; and none of the councell shall be questioned for any the matters aforesaid , unlesse the plaintife make oath of the truth of the charge : and then the charge being upon debate thought fit to be taken into consideration , the partie charged shall not be admitted to sit in the assembly till he be cleared , nor have any vote upon the debate of his charge . no single oath shall charge any more then one man of the councell , but there shal be two mens oathes to charge two , and three men to charge three , and so for more . the fame of the parties swearing the charge , either against the governour or councell , shall be first considered , if desired by the partie charged ; and upon that , the charge to be accepted , or throwne out . the secretarie , treasurer , and surveyor , shal not be displaced , but by the assembly . none of the assembly , except he be of the councell , shall begin any motion in the assembly against any law already made , upon paine of being dismist the assembly , and his other places of trust in the colonie . all assembly or councell-men that shall presume to move any thing tending to the subversion of the government , or the apparent disturbance thereof , shall be punished according to the merit of the offence , as the assembly shall thinke fit . the power of the governour . besides his negative voyce in making of lawes , he shall have power to command the due execution of the establisht lawes . he shall on a certaine day every yeare , in the presence of the councell , chuse out of the six presented to him by every division , the three superintendents , and in case any of them dye , or upon complant be discharged , then out of the three that shall be presented to him by the division , whereof he was a superintendent that was discharged , he shall chuse one to supply the place of the dead or discharged superintendent . the people shall not present one man twice in one year to be a superintendent ; all warrants shall issue out in his name . he , by the assent of the major part of the councell , shall give such titles to men of desert , as shall be warranted by the law . he shall by himselfed etermine all causes of appeales in equitie under . li. he shall have an arbitrary power in all matters concerning the peace , not otherwise provided for by the lawes . he shall have such allowance , and in such manner for the defraying of his charge , as shall be agreed on by the assembly . he shall have power upon complaint , to discharge any superintendents , and to send a warrant to the division to elect new men , but the partie discharged may appeale to the councell , by delivering his petition to the secretarie . if any division cannot agree about the chusing men to be superintendents , then he at the time and in manner aforesaid shall appoint three of that division , as he shall thinke fit to be superintendents . he shall treat with all agents and messengers from other colonies , and after advice had with the councell shall give answers . he shall on a certaine day , in manner aforesaid , appoint out of the assembly twelve to be assistants to the councell for the ensuing yeare . he shall in manner aforesaid , nominate every forty or fifty free-holders of the neerest neighhourhood , that shall chuse men to make superintendents . he shall take care of the adventurers estates in such manner as is hereafter provided . he shall , with the advice and consent of the major part of the councell , call assemblies so often as shal be thought fit . upon complant of the superintendents , he shall examine the trustees of the adventurers plantations , and shall prescribe such rules for the prevention of the abuse of the adventurers , as shall be thought fit , and shall referre the punishment of the trustees to the councell . upon the complaint of the adventurers , he ( without notice first given to the trustees ) shall appoint three of the assistants to audite and examine the trustees accompts , and report it to the councell , who shall see justice done betweene the adventurers and trustees . the secretarie shall be assisting to him in all the matters aforesaid , to informe the governour what the law is at all times , as occasion shall require . no appeale from the governour , but to the generall assembly , except in case of turning out a superintendent , who shall appeale to the councell . he shall determine all differences concerning place either in the councell or elsewhere . he advising with the councell , shall pardon death , but the judge before whom the matter was tryed shall first certifie . he shall appoint two or three of the assistants to audite any accompts that shall be in difference . the power of the governour and councell joynt . they shall determine all appeales that shall be brought before them . no appeales from them to the generall assembly shal be admitted , untill obedience be first given to their decree . these , in all cases that concerne the good of the colonie , except raising men and money , shall have an arbitrarie power , except in such cases as are provided for by the law . these , together with the major part of the assistants , shall have power for the raising and levying of men and money for defence of the colonie , and an accompt thereof shall be given at the next generall assembly , which shall be reported there by the secretary . these to have power over their members , without the consent of the governour , and put out and take in by the former manner of elections , whom they please of the assistants , but shall not exceed their number , & they shall refer the punishment of a councellor to the great assembly , except imprisonment , which they shall have power to doe . they , together with the governour , shall have power to elect judges , and remove them , as they shall see cause . they shall elect all officers as are not otherwise provided to be elected . they shall have power to question and punish all inferior officers . the power of a judge . he shall keepe his courts upon such dayes , and in such places as shal be appointed him by the councell . he shall issue out his warrants to the superintendents , to impannell juries to attend the court , and in case the difference happen to be betweene two men of two severall divisions , then a jurie to be made up equally out of both the divisions . he shall sit in court in the fore-noones , and try all causes properly tryable by juries , and in case any matter of equitie that he shall thinke fit be offered , he shall after verdict respite judgement , and in the after-noone of the same day , shall sit judge in equitie , where the witnesses being all ready , as may be presumed because of the tryall at law , he shall determine the equity of the cause : but if it shall appeare to him that witnesses , or papers were wanting , and not by default of the partie ; then he shall leave the cause to the governour , if under . li. if above , to the councell . he shall for discoverie of the truth , examine the parties upon their oaths if desired , but in this case the parties oath shall conclude the cause . if any captiall offender be tryed before him , and he shall thinke the prisoner capable of mercie , then he shall certifie the governour thereof , and for the present reprieve the prisoner . he shall refer all accompts to be audited by such men as the governour shall appoint . the power of the superintendents . they shall once in a weeke or a fortnight keepe a court . they or any two of them shall finally determine all causes arising within their divisions , not exceeding . livre. in which cases no appeale shal be but for apparent injustice . they shall call the parties before them in all other causes , and end the businesse if they can , but without coercive power . none shall be admitted to sue or petition , unlesse he alleadge that the superintendents have had the hearing of the cause , and could not end it . and in case the suggestion be false , then the petitioner shall pay costs , and be dismissed back to the superintendents . they shall appoint a fit officer to attend them , who shal be as a constable , to execute all warrants . they shall have power joyntly and severally in all cases of the peace , as a justice of peace . they shall command before them any trustee of an adventurers plantation within their division , and examine him concerning frauds , or other indirect courses taken , whereby the adventurers may be in danger to suffer and reprehend him , or certifie the governour , as occasion shall require . they shall immediately take care of any adventurers estate , upon the death of a trustee , and secure it untill the governour can be certified thereof , and he take further order in it . they shall cause all such warrants to be executed , as shal be directed from the assembly , governour , councell , and judges to them . no appeale from any court , but for injustice , which must be made good in some one particular , otherwise the partie appealing , to make reparation to the parties from whom he did appeale , as shal be thought fit by the court appealed to . concerning adventurers , all adventurers that send any adventure , may direct a coppy of his adventure to the governour and councell , together with the names of the trustee ; who shall before the governour acknowledge himself to be trusted with the estate , & from this time the whole colonie shal take care that he be not injured , by any indirect practice of his trustee : and without this the colonie shall take no care of the estate . no bond or bill shall bind any trustee , unlesse the same be acknowledg'd before the superintendents and entred by them into a book , to whom such trustee shall give satisfaction for his so running into debt . none shall buy or take any servants , cattle , carr , plough , or utensills belonging to the plantation of any trustees to pawne , unlesse it be in manner as aforesaid . no trustee shal be compted a free-holder , unlesse he have acres of his owne land stock't and manned , and a plough going in it . none but free-holders shal be superintendents . all debts to be paid by any planter in the yeare to come , shal be acknowledged before the superintendents of the division wherein the planter lives , otherwise not to be recoverable which acknowledgement shall have the force of a judgement . if a merchant complaine of his factour , the governour in presence of the councel , shall appoint either two assistants or any superintendencie to take the accompt and certifie the councel that justice may be done . if any planter or merchant dye the superintendents of the place shall at the perills of their divisions , immediately seize upon the estate , and shall inventorie and appraise it , & if the executor or he that hath right to the administration be not in the countrey to receive the same , then they shall send a duplicate subscribed by them , of the inventorie and appraizment to the governour , that the same may be entred into the register . the superintendents may put in such persons to manage the estate and take such security from them , as they shall thinke fit for the whole division shall be answerable for the estate to the governour , and the whole colonie shal be answerable to the partie interessed . but if the governour , upon perusall of the inventorie , shall find the estate too weake to beare the charge of management , or that there is any deade commoditie therein ; then he shall direct his warrants to the superintendents , to make sale of both , or of the commoditie onely , as he shall thinke fit , who shall appoint a day in the ensuing weeke for the selling thereof . but on the sunday before the day of sale , the said day , together with the particulars to be sold , shal be published in their owne church , and three more of the neerest neigbouring churches , and the same at the day aforesaid shal be sold to the fairest bidder , and a duplicate of their doings herein subscribed , they shall send to the governour , which shall be also entred as a foresaid . the superintendents ( for that the division is to be charged ) shall have power to command all debts due to the defunct , to be levied or wel secured , so that nothing be lost by their negligence , otherwise the division to be answerable for it . all money that shal be received , shal be paid to the treasurer for the use of the interessed , who shall not deliver it but upon the governours warrant . by this meanes , the whole colonie is chargeable to make good the estates that shall fall in manner aforesaid . oathes to be drawne for governour , councell , assembly , judge , superintendents , overseers , and other officers . this modell will serve , either for a free people that shall sit downe of themselves , without any superintendent power over them for their protection , or it may well agree with superintendent power in any plantation alreadie setled ( unlesse the owner of that power intend to rule by will ) if the election of the governour be onely altered in this manner ; viz. that those who have the power , shall nominate the first governour , and he not to be displaced but by the great assembly ; and after the councell , in manner as is set downe before , to chuse three from amongst themselves , out of which , such as have the power may appoint one to succeed , and till his or their pleasure be knowne therein , the councell out of themselves to elect a man to supply the governours place . the mischiefe , by sending strangers to governe this countrey , who neither knowes the people nor their customes , neither they him , must be prevented , if ever the countrey prosper . studie this modell of government , and compare it with any other that hath been , or is now in being , and you shall finde prevented those mischiefes , that like so many degrees of poyson make some giddy , others deadly sick , swelling them to bursting . in it you may , see every man harmoniously working , according to his severall indowments of minde and body : first , to preserve it in health , by stifling in the infancie all contentions and love-breaking strifes ; next , to feede , clothe , and enrich it , resolving with speed to make their common-wealth flourish ; which cannot be doubted , since in it all are so much pleased and delighted : the common people fitting and chusing the stones for this strong and sumptuous building , the governour and councell laying and setting these stones ( so provided ) for the best advantages , whilst the adventurer is searching for , and sending materialls from all places . another good meanes to the recovery must be by raising commodities for the constant imployment of shipping ; and although this speak it self , yet examples will doe well . and first let us look upon new england , a plantation begun thirteen yeares since virginia , viz. in the yeare , the ground no more comparable to virginia , then the north of scotland , is to the south of england , they have no sugar , indigo , ginger , or any other of the rich commodities before spoken of , neither will they grow there ; yet in this little time of years they are become a flourishing people , and with many gallant ships built , and every way fitted with materialls raised out of their own countrey ; and also ladden with their own native commodities , drive a trade with all the world , insomuch as men shall seldome misse passage for new england from london , once in two moneths ; and by this means , have many fine towns , and are full of people . next look upon that little island of barbado's not much bigger then the isle of wight , which lay languishing of the disease virginia now grones under , ( till within this five or six years past , ) you may see how by the strength of an indifferent staple commodity , viz sugar , indigo , cotton wool , & ginger , it is strangely recovered , that there 's whole fleets of ships constantly going & coming between it and england , so that passengers are going , thither constantly , and they are grown to that height of trade , that it hath been affirmed to me from very good hands inhabiting in that place , that the last yeare there was from all places imployed thither above onehundred sail of ships , and they are seldome without twenty , or thirty sail in their harbour . yet i can well remember the time , when their fame was much worse , then virginia's now is . by this means , they have great numbers of men transport themselves of all degrees . and all this is forst , by the commodity ; for their government is not so good that any wise man should be in love with , nor is this island so extraordinary pleasant to intice men above other places , also the adventurers have had as indifferent measure there . and this well and wisely considered , how much more shall that place flourish , whereby a sweet and harmonious government all men shall have faire and honest dealing , in a land full of pleasure and delight , yielding abundance of the best staple commodities in the whole world . the next help to the recovery , must be by the commodity , we are to fix upon , wherefore , we will examine all , and make choice of the best . there is without question in this country , store of gold , and silver mynes , which i could clearly demonstrate , but the discovery will bring ruine to the place , for all princes , and potentates clayme an interest in gold and silver , which they will reach with their swords . i shall say no more of them . the next is sugar , indigo , cotton wool , and ginger , the very commodities of the said island ; all which will grow on the southermost part of virginia , but yet they will not do the work , for first the sugar canes and indigo seeds to plant , must be brought from the barbado's or some other place , and then they are two or three yeares before perfect ; and experienced men will also be wanting , and will be a work in respect of the charge , that but a few can compasse : and which is worst of all , the said islands having gotten the start , will make those commodities drugges , before our harvest ; for in this little time , indigo is fallen from nine shillings per pound , to three shillings six pence , and i have heard some of the gentlemen themselves say , that indigo in a very little time will not quit cost . these are fine commodities for wise men to be doing with , indifferent quantities , but not to be the staples that must do the work . the next in consideration , will be wine , reisons , dyes , and drugges ; truly great quantities of these , will make them drugges indeed : besides , the time and money spent before they can be brought to perfection , may happily make the poore planter , with the horse starve , whilst the grasse grows . yet i confesse all these are very good to be brought on by degrees , without prejudice to the main designe . the next that offer themselves , are mynes of copper , tinne , iron , and lead , of all which , there is plenty in virginia . these are clearly of the best sort of staples , but they require a great deale of charge and time to bring them to perfection , and there is much of casualty happens in the working raised . therefore , if we run greedily upon them , they may chance to be too heavy for us , either in lifting , or carrying . wherefore my advice is , that these things may be stoln upon , at most leasure time , and when we have built a sure foundation upon staple commodities of a quicker production . and now will i think of silk , pot-ashes , rape , and walnut oyle : and these are very good staples . but yet when i consider , we are not all pot-ashes , nor oylemakers , nor masters of the silk-worme mystery , nor can presently be at the charge , these are not such as must be built upon for the present staples . i will not say , but a single , double , or treble purse , so as they be strong , may easily with great advantage effect any of the aforesaid staples ; and by degrees , the rest may follow . then we find in the countrey masts for ships , pitch , tarre , rossine , turpentine , clapboard , and pipestaves : these are good staples , but grosse commodities , and most of them fitter to be made use of in the countrey for building ships , and will do well when there are no other fraughts . these in their proportions are sure commodities , and will helpe exceedingly , after better staples are set upon . i will now present you with englands staples , amongst which i find corn , hemp , flax , rape-seed , cattle , wool , to which i will adde one more , that cannot be had in england , and that is rice , i am sure we can all be masters of the plough , and shall soon be masters of the rest . and here i fix for these reasons . first , for that we may all fall to these workes so soone as we are landed , and the season come . secondly , because flax , rice , and rape-seed will grow all the countrey over , and wheat in all places , where the ground hath beene broken up before , of which there is plenty upon every plantation which is past bearing of tobacco , yet the best for wheate ; and there be divers other places , where vvheat will prosper exceedingly , that are not over-rich ; for in many places , where the ground was never broke up , 't is too rich for our english corn , sending up the stalk so high , that the wind layes it : and cattle are there already in abundance . the principallest reason is , that many ships may be yearely laden by a few hands imployed in corn , rice , rape-seed , and flax , and if you observe but the following scale , you shall find three hands to make yearly above twenty two tunnes of corne , and flax : and so proportionably a thousand hands imployed in wheat , rice , flax , and rape-seed , will yearely lade fifty sail of ships , of one hundred and fifty tunne a ship ; by which it is evident that an infinite trade by sea might be suddenly driven , there being already in this place above men , besides women , and children , and such numbers of ships constantly comming and going , would quickely people the countrey : and it is not from the purpose to shew the failings of the first adventurers for want of this foundation , for if you peruse their books printed , you shall find after they have told you , what the beauties are of the place , that their commodities they intended , were cordage , pot-ashes , iron , and the like ; in all which many hands can make but slow worke , as to the lading of ships , for the advantage of this place is , to raise the best of rough commodities to be transported . where hands are plenty , labour is cheap . and for the greater incouragement , there is in this countrey all materialls for the building and compleat finishing ships , to carry these commodities to their markets : before i go further , let me recollect my selfe , and thinke what a blessed countrey must this be , where gods blessings severally distributed upon other countries meet all in one . sect. iiii. a scale , whereby after the proportion of . li. stock all men may know how to imploy their money upon this worke . this scale is made for a master and his two servants .   li . s. d. a plough every way fitted three spades , three shovells , three mattocks , two felling-axes , two hatches , one two hand-saw , and one hand-saw . three gallons of strong water , and a case . one fowling-peece , powder & shot a casting net hookes and lines to fish . one iron pot , one prying pan , one spit , woodden platters , dishes and porringers . to be invested in linnen or woollen clothes , shoes , iron-worke , or stuffes , to be carried over .   this . li. thus invested you may be confident to make . li . in the countrey , since you are to deale with them for cattle , corne , and flax-seed ; this adventure shall provide cattle for the plough , corne , sow , pigges , and poultrie for your house , and to sowe . for cloathing the two servants . two cloath suites two canvas suites two woollen drawers & two wast-coats six shirts foure paire of stockings foure paire of shoes two monmouth caps six neck handkerchiefes eight ells of strong canvas to make bed and boulster . one rug and two blanckets the abovesaid charge of servants is the passage of three will be head money to the chyrurgion of the ship . the fraught of a hogs-head in tonnage   brought from the other side the totall is remaining of the . li . to be disposed of as he shall thinke fit , or he may carry another servant . how the planter shall bestow himself when he first comes over , untill he can settle ; and what he shall imploy himselfe upon , with a reasonable proposition what in a yeare , god assisting , may by his labour be produced . now having thus fitted our small family , i shall advise them , when they come over , how to settle , which shall be in this manner , either for the first yeare joyn strength with some planter there , where he shall find them all willing to receive him , either to diet , or he diet himself , and lodge with them ; yet it will be best for him to board ; for he may board himself , and his two men for twenty pound a year , and in this i speak much with the most ; for my self was offered eight yeares since , by captain matthewes , captain pierce , and divers others , to board all my family at five pound a head , and to have better entertainment then any gentleman in england for thirty pound a year , and now diet is much cheaper , and of this let no man doubt , since in the north of england , wales , the isle of man , and in the west he may diet at the same rate , and cheaper the reason is , where money and trade is not quicke , diet is cheap , so that if he resolve this course , which is far the best , then much of the abovesaid charge might be saved , insomuch as he might carry over another servant for the same charge , and being thus fitted , i shall advise him , to fall upon some piece of the planters ground , that is cleared , and left by the planter , because hee hath wrought it out of heart with tobacco , and is to him of no use , yet the best for this designe , of which grounds , there are great quantities , the planter will give him leave for nothing , or for a very inconsiderable matter , and when his seed is in the ground , then he shall have good time to look out where to fix , and after he hath taken his first years crop , then to remove to that place he intends to settle , where he shall have one hundred , and fifty acres , for ever ; that is to say , fifty acres for each man he transports ; and his crop by gods blessing , will then inable him to build a pretty house , and treble his strength in servants ; and next yeare a gentleman . let not our young planter fear that he shall want any thing for being new come over , and uningaged in the countrey , his credit for any thing he shall want , will be as good as the best mans in the countrey , but let him not be bold with it , lest he forget his errand , and loiter out his time in good fellowship , then which , there can be nothing more dangerous , since he is but now entring into his preferment : this caveat is good , for it hath lost many a man . and now having fitted him to his work , i will advise him in it . he shall plough but twenty three acres , twenty whereof he shall sowe with wheat , and three with flax , for which work i will allow him eight weekes with two hands , which may with much ease be done , the ground being light : but if the dutch ploughing comes in use , as i doubt not but this yeare it will , then one man doth the work of ploughing , and the two spare hands shall fall upon the inclosing the ground that is a ploughing , and after the seed is in the ground , the third hand falls in , there being nothing else to do till harvest ; long before which , i doubt not , but the enclosing acres will be done , when they may fall to building their new house , or preparing of ground against the next year by inclosing . the harvest being come , the flax is first to be reaped , which i should have told you before , must not be sowne till may , for which worke and the beating out the seed , i allow three weeks ; then comes the twenty acres of corne to be reaped , for which i allow three weeks ; there needs no trouble of carting till it be threshed , for it shal be threshed or trodden out with oxen in the field ; i shall allow six dayes in worke for watering of the flax ; for the threshing of the corne i allow ten weekes , but if it be trod or rubbed out as in the islands with oxen , a fortnight and lesse will doe it ; i allow twenty five weekes for dressing nine hundred stone of flax , in which a man shall dresse but two stone a day , in this worke the year is compleatly spent ; in england i know it would be done in two thirds of the time , but i had rather value it as i doe , that every man may be satisfied of the truth of the proposition . now , notwithstanding what is so confidently reported of the great increase of this country , of which truth i am satisfied , i shall onely esteeme it equall with the best of our english ground ; and then five quarters from an acre of wheat , and three hundred stone at li. to the stone of flax , and sixteene bushells of flax-seed from an acre shall well content me ; if there be more ; it will discourage no man , and it is well known , we have some ground in england , that beares neere six quarters of wheat , on an acre : and divers of the flax-masters about london have confest the proposition for flax , to be true . now let us turne our commodity into money , and see if our labour be not sweetly recompensed .   li . s. d. the acres produceth me at quarters an acre , quarters , which i value but at . s. . d. per bushell , which is . s. per quarter , and is in toto the acres of flax at stone per acre is stone , which i value at . s. . d. per stone , and is bushells of flax-seed at . s. per bushell . by which it is plaine , selling of the commoditie in the countrey , his yeares labour produceth what a strange adventure that man runnes , that puts himself in print , he is sure to be judged without hearing . pray gentlemen , speak out : but not altogether ; and i shall endeavour your satisfaction : you object , that the corne , lying so long in the field , before threshing , must be spoiled , or in great danger ; if you will enquire of the honest gentry of that countrey ; they will tell you the weather at that time is not inconstant , however , with little labour , it might be stackt safe ; your second is , who shall buy it ? truly sir , since it is for the advantage of the work , i will admit your objection , and so am driven to seeke a market , and for want of other shipping , am forced to send it for england , which in the common opinion , will be sending sugar to barbado's . but we are bound to see it , and now i lade quarters of wheat shot in hold , which is tunnes , and pay . l. per tunne fraught , which is nine hundred stone of flax , for which i allow three tunne , at . l. per tunne , which is the flax-seed i keep in the country , for that will sell there .   it is ten to one you have not lesse then . s. . d. a bushell for it in london which is . s. per quarter , and is in all the stone of flax of virginia , being far beyond other flax in colour and strength , i doubt not but it may yield . d. per stone . the totall is fraught deducted the ramainder is the price i would have taken in virginia for the wheat and flax was , cleared by this bad market to petty charges and profit over and above the mony i would have sold it for in virginia , and i am confident a worse market cannot be had , i hope having proposed every thing we buy at the highest rate , and every thing we sell at the lowest rate , and in the worst market ; you will be satisfied of the reality of the proposition , and that it is a sure foundation for a greater building . i see you have something else , pray what is it ? you would know what the poore planter shall doe to supply him till the returne of his adventure , and then what shall become of him if his adventure miscarrie ? truly you have give me that advantage by your objecting of dangers , that i shall insure the adventure and the new planter at the end of the two first yeares , shall insure him selfe to be in a better condition then the gentleman that in england hath . li. per annum , and shall every yeare double his estate at the least , and this with much ease . wherefore i must tell you that our planters credit is strong , either in the countrey with the planters , or with the merchants , for so much if not more then his commoditie is worth ; his old stock is still the same , and therefore wants nothing , but to pay for his and his mans diet and their wages for the fore-going yeare , which is . l. yet i will allow him to spend the overplus above . livre. which in the country was . li. or in england will be more , & this . l. in goods he shal send by the last shipping that comes for england , he needs not fear to have his market forestall'd since his commoditie is so staple , and his advantage will be , that hee may send his letters of advice to his friends by the first ships , that they may in england before hand know , what ships the adventure comes in , and cause the . l. adventure to be insured , which hath been usually done for . s. and the adventure being arrived in england , i propose it to be laid out for the planters good in manner following . . li. for the passage and cloathing of six men , which it will plentifully doe , since they will need nothing but cloathes and to pay their passages . . li. in two guns , powder and shot , plough , irons , and iron-tooles , as he shall appoint . . li to be invested in commodities as he shall direct to buy more cattle in the countrey . . li. . s. paid for the premio of the first ensurance . . li allowed for petty charge , and content his friends that shall doe his buisines . . li. . s. to ensure the adventure to virginia . — and now is our planter secure of his estate , and when the adventure comes over , he is nine men strong , and by their reasonable endeavours may against the next return , in the follwing year by the rule aforesaid , have an estate of above . li. . s. besides his stock , which shews him he is in a happy condition . and to encourage the new flanter , let him consider with himselfe that it is but two or three yeares care , to bring him to this safe harbour , and what paines and labour is taken by the poore farmer in england , getting his bread with the sweat of his browes , and after eating it with care and sorrow , & all this but to pay his land-lord's rent , and to procure some small subssistance ; whereas here is no rent to pay , and yet the land twice as good as the best in england , food plenty , cost nothing but taking , which is done with much ease . rice , and rape-seed are farre richer commodities , and done all with the same or lesser care and labour , these grow best upon the richest ground , and therefore most fit for the countrey , the increase and profit much greater then those i have taken to illustrate the proposition by , for my desire was , to examine the meanest of the said staples ; and let the best alone to help themselves . if all this will not make thomas a believer , let him then enquire of the principallest straights and spanish merchants , walking the exchange , and they shall tell him , that when they can be satisfied that there is either corne , rice , hemp , or flax to be had , there shall be no want of ships , and ready money paid for it , at the rate that i propose , they will tell him a hundred pound hath been usually assured from virginia for s . thus having brought the planter to happinesse in this life , i shall with some few admonitions shake hands and leave him to the god of mercies protection . first , that god be by him and his family truly served , and before and after work his blessing be duly implored . secondly , i shall advise him that he let not his mind rise with his riches , for that is the ready way to forget that god that gave them , and to make them like the sweetest sinnes that delight the body , but poyson the soul . thirdly , that he halt not between this and any other designe , let it appeare never so beautifull , but fall close to this , till he hath put himselfe past danger . fourthly , that he make no use of his credit , but for absolute necessity . for other advise , he shall find them under the title of advise in the end of the book . and now let me turn back , and look upon my poore spirited countreymen in england , and examine first the meanest , that is , the poore ploughman , day-labourer , and poore artificer , and i shall find them labouring , and sweating all dayes of their lives ; some for fourteen pence , others for sixteen , eighten , twenty pence , or two shillings a day ; which is the highest of wages to such kind of people , and the most of them to end their dayes in sorrow , not having purchased so much by their lives labour , as will scaace preserve them in their old dayes from beggery : where by adventuring themselves , in a foure , or five weekes voyage ( at most ) over the seas ; which is nothing ; they may with lesse labour , and care , in foure or five yeares see themselves in a condition never again to want ; but to live like gentlemen , and that by their owne trades they have been bred in , for where a great merchant-like trade is driven , as will be suddenly in this place ; all artificers and handicraft labour is dear , which will appeare more plain , if we here in england , consider the difference , betweene the north parts , where you may have a labourer for foure , five , or six pence the day , and london where we pay twelve , fourteen , or sixteen pence the day , the reason is because of the great trade that 's driven at london by merchants , and the little or trade in the north . next i shall look upon the poore yeoman , with ten , fifteen , or twenty pound per annum land , or the value thereof in his purse ; which with continuall care helps him to eat bread ; yet this estate weighed by the aforesaid scale , will truly tell him , that being transported to this place he is a gentleman of three hundred pound a yeare at least . then come i sadly to look upon the poore gentleman of fiftie , sixtie , or a hundred pound per annum , who was happily the youngest sonne of some gentleman , of a great estate , which was settled upon the eldest son and this to keep up the familie , onely that the younger children might be quiet , there is some superfluities thereof , thrown amongst them , which together with their gentility , and the expectation of an elder brothers death , holds them up ; till children and charge sucks them under miserie : let these men timely bring their estates to this ballance , and they shall make themselves elder brothers . the merchant is ready for receiving the commodity , and to performe his part ; but that is to be done without the scale : yet i must joyne him with the adventurer ; for which i know in time he will give me thankes : and my advice shall be to him , and the adventurer to bring foure or five hundred pound to the scale , and they will finde it profitable without danger : for the government will make the scale go true . the man of money too , if his heart will serve him , may weigh two or three hundred pound at this scale , and he will finde it in two yeares , more then ballance the yearly use of foure or five thousand pound , and the government for his security , will assure him , that his money is placed secure . and lastly , i propose to the gentlemen or elder brothers , ( who have had or now have great estates ) that it is good policy to have two strings to their bow , for it hath been a thing taking very much with wise men not to adventure all their estates upon one title , nor in any one county , and their wisdome never appeared so much as in these distracted times ; for when the enemy had possession of their estates , in one county they have happily been free in another which was enough to support them in the storm during the war , but how miserable are the vanquished , it had been happy for them , had their estates been divided in two or three kingdomes , for there is many a gallant gentleman , who before these warres , had some one , others two , and some three thousand pounds per annum ; and now not able to feed their families : and others living upon their estates have had their bread taken from them to feed taxes , and in the best condition have been content , to receive the ordinary revenue of their estates , and being full of children , have beene glad to set downe under ; that their estates might grow over them , and if they shall bring part of their estates to this scale , they shall not onely find a safe harbour to retire to , in the worst of the storme ; but till then , that little part will be growing , and in a short time swell bigger then the bulk of all the rest . sect. v. the next thing that i am in order to handle is , that untill commodities bee raised , for a constant trade of shipping , how passengers may be transported with the best convenience , both for health , and charge . and first i will tell you of the ordinary way , with the conveniences , and inconveniences , both for health , and charge . the ordinary time of going , is about september , or october , which times ships have made choice of , in respect the crop of tobacco will be ready for their homeward fraught , which is alwayes in , or about december , and so they lade , and returne in february , march , or aprill . the charge .   li . s. d. the servants are taken up by such men as we here call spirits , and by them put into cookes houses about saint katherines , where being once entred , are kept as prisoners untill a master fetches them off ; and they lye at charges in these places a moneth or more , before they are taken away . when the ship is ready , the spirits charges and the cooke for dieting paid , they are shipped , and this charge is commonly the passage money for a man is head money to the chyrurgion so that a servant stands them commonly in they pay for a tun of goods fraught health . the ships taking of men by the pole is extreame unhealthy , for by this means to make the greater fraught they take so many , that their ship is pestured , and subject to diseases , which hath happened very often . and they being onely bound to land the passengers in virginia at large , or else in some particular river ; they take no further care , but at the place where they themselves design their ships to go , they set their passengers on land , which many times falls out to be distant from the plantations , to which the most of the passengers are bound some thirty , forty , or fifty miles and more , and some of the passengers being sickly at their landing , perish before they arrive at their home . and the latter the ships come to virginia the worse , for then they are set a shore in the very strength of winter , which is about the last of december , and being weake are spoiled with cold , whereas if they had been set down at their plantations , they would soone recover their healths . the best and cheapest way for those that intend to go at these time , which for the reasons aforesaid are the worst , as also being longest , in that they go above leagues out of the way , hauling over to the azoras or westerne islands , for the advantage of the wind . let them upon the exchange inquire what passengers are going , and there make a consortship of those who live nearest together in the countrey , and having made themselves up a considerable number of thirty or forty , let them then bind the master to set them downe with his ship , at or so neere that particular place they designe to go to , as the ship can come . but the better way will be , if they can make up so many passengers a will give a ship a fraught , then to hire a ship amongst themselves , to set them downe at their place in virginia , which will make the planters stock go further by a third part , then it would doe by transporting himself as aforesaid ; which i demonstrate in manner following . suppose i had passengers , and tuns of goods . i look out for a ship of tuns , which will doe it very well , and hire her either by the month or the voyage , which i shall find best cheap ; this ship i can have for . li . a month , but in respect they will not let her for a lesse time then five or six months , and i having no commoditie as yet to relade her home , i will therefore agree for the voyage outward , and after i am set down , let him make his best advantage of any imployment he shall meet with , and to performe this service i can have him for . l. at the most , the owners victualling their owne company , and finding all things perteining to the ship ; but you may observe , if you will take upon you a flemish bottome , she will goe cheaper , which in case a fleet of ships went together , i would do . now for that i have observed salt meates which is the sea diet , doth not so well agree with land-men , and besides that manner of victualling is very deare , i shall for the passengers propose a better and more pleasant diet & far cheaper which will not stand you in at above three fourths of the usuall charge . and first i propose a meat with which the dutch victuall very much , and call it gruts , which like oatemeale thickens extreamly in boyling , and being buttered is a very pleasing and satisfying dish , which i have experienced in dutch ships , or otherwise you may have rice and a little spice , with butter or bag-puddings with plumbs , with a little flesh , butter , cheese , and fish , which well proportioned will both please and fill the passenger ; in diet if the mind be satisfie , the stomacke soone agrees . and after this rate let us examine the accompt . victuall for men for two months at . s. a man per moneth is for freight of the ship so that the charge of transporting men and tunnes of goods is the former way it will cost you viz. . li. . s. per man for . men is for freight of tunnes of goods at . l. per tunne is the totall of the charge of men and tnuns of goods by this course is by which it is plaine you may carry your men and goods , at a very little more then half the charge that you give the other way . and i shall desire you to consider what an advantage 't is to the poore planter , to have his stock made twice as good as t was . all this considered , let it justifie the scale , in the charge of passage . the next way is upon new englands ships , which go and come almost all the yeare , but this will be after the old charge , except you take her wholly to freight , or have a very considerable number toward the same , the difference , which is much will be , you may take your own time to go over . but within one year or two , i doubt not , but the staples aforesaid , will be there in such quantities , men shall passe all the year long at the forementioned easie rate . but the last , and best way , will be in the moneths of february march , april , by our shipping that go to new-found-land , those that go first , go to fish : the last go to take in that fish , all these ships go light to new-found-land , except some of the fishers , who lade salt for the fisherie . and i am confident , you may have one of those ships , ( and they are commonly of the best , and most warlike ships of merchants ) of tunnes for l. , and one of these will carry handsomly passengers and tunnes of goods ; and let us see our condition now . the diet of the passengers for the time in manner aforewith fresh meat is the fraught of the ship is , the totall charge of transporting passengers , and tunnes of goods is , should you carry them by the old course , the passage of men at . li. . s. per man is the fraught of tunnes of goods , at l. per tunne is the charge in the old way of men , and tunne of goods is by which it is plain all parties very well satisfied , the planter is not at much above one third part of the usuall charge . pray marke it , that whereas our planter by the old way could carry but five men , he may by this carry thirteene . besides which it is extreamly to be considered that the freight being so cheap , there may be store of good horses carried over in a short time ; there being as yet in the countrey , not much above horses and mares , and that would quickly make them do , what is not fitting every man should know besides that , the passage is so cheap , it is exceding advantagious ; especially , if you get away in march , your passage will be pleasant , both for fair weather , and shortnesse , since now you go not out of your way to the azores as in the winter voyage : but you go the straight way : for these two wayes differ just as the bow and string , and your voyage , is sometime under a moneth , seldome above : for in this time of the year the winds hang easterly from our coast , which follows you all the way ; nor is this all : for you shall come into the countrey , the pleasantest time of all the yeare , when being in the splendour of her beauty , shee 'll ravish you with delight for welcome . nor are you come at this time to pleasure without profit , but if the pleasures will let you retire to your businesse , you may fall presently into the ground and before august have a crop of flax , rice , corne , beanes , and pease . having now brought the gentlemen and yeomen into the countrey , i le be their harbinger , and provide them good quarters till they shall be setled . i know it is a common opinion received , that such as go to virginia , come to a wildernesse , and they must lie in the fields , till they can build them a house , such false rumours hath lockt up this paradice of the earth from many a deserving man , but the truth is let thy titles be what they will , thou art but a gentleman , and very many such thou shalt find there , who to prevent thy asking will freely and with all sweet respects invite thee to be their guest , and compt themselves sufficiently rewarded that you 'le entertaine their motion ; men of lower condition shall find the like with as heartie welcome to their beefe , bacon , and bag-pudding , as ever tom gave dick , or winifred gave parnell in our countrie ; and being thus fitted they will willingly leave you their ground for a crop , or you may looke out to seate your selfe upon your owne , which so soone as you have made choice of , will by the court be confirmed to you and your heires for ever . i should have fitted you with servants , before your comming into the countrey , but since it is onely our fancies have beene there to take a view against our persons come , wee 'le not goe without servants . and of servants the best are best cheape . therefore i le not advice the spiriting way , which sends drones to the hive , in stead of bees , but that you take stout labourers and good worke-men , giving them honest wages from . li. to . livre. a yeare according to the quallity of the men , for if we in england can pay . or . livre. per annum rent for a farme , and give great wages , we may much better give wages where our ground is twice as good , and no rent paid . besides it keepes a servant in heart , and makes him at all times willing to put forth his strength in that masters service , that gives him meanes to thrive , and taking this course you may pick and chuse your servants . onely this i must advise , that you agree with your servant for foure yeares at least , and considering that you pay his passage , and are at other charges with him , let the charge be proportioned upon the foure or more yeares wages that he is to serve you , and so deduct it every yeare . and for servants encouragement , they shall finde themselves at the very first in the condition of journy-men for foure or five yeares , and before seven yeares end he shall have a faire estate . i will in the first place helpe the weakest to avoid the trouble of the strongest , whom i suppose may have three pound the first yeare , and presuming for that he went well cloathed out of england , it will be all his owne at the yeares end , with this three pound i le buy him a haifer , and send twenty shillings of it into england in some commoditie of the countrey , as to say three or foure flitches of bacon or the like , which he may well doe with twenty shillings and more ; and for that the bacon of virginia surpasseth our english , which i have often experimented here in england , i doubt not but at the least ( for i love to value all things of this nature at the least ) it will yeeld him eight groates a stone , and supposing his foure flitches way but twenty stone which they 'le doe ( and ten more ) he hath here in england for his bacon two pound three shillings foure pence , and this lade out in pins , laces , & combes , for the maids shall in virginia be double , and now his cow hath caved , and he hath five pound in his purse , besides his yeares wages to receive , which tells him he hath now served his master two yeares . and following this course if i find him at the end of his time with lesse then sixty pound in his purse , besides his stock of cattle , i shall say he hath either been an extraordinary ill husband or a negligent simple fellow which if he have not . let him bring his . li . to the aforesaid ballance and then ( if he looke up to god ) he may see himselfe fit to wooe a good mans daughter . besides this there are better things , for men will plant very little tobacco , and at leisure time he may without any prejudice to his master , plant . li. in tobacco a yeare , which as the quantitie faules will rise in price , and may be worth to him . s. . d. per li. i have knowne it sold at . s. and . s. . d. the worst , so that here is . li . . s. gotten every year , and the imployment of this mony will rise to a good fain in two or three returnes . nor is this all , for he will find in the end of this book , i shall advise his master to give him something else . truly i would say something to maid-servants , but they are impatient and will not take advice but from a husband , for if they come of an honest stock and have a good repuce , they may pick and chuse their husbands out of the better sort of people , i have sent over many , but never could keepe one at my plantation three moneths , except a poore silly wench , made for a foile to set of beautie , and yet a proper young fellow must needs have her , and being but new come out of his time and not strong enough to pay the charges i was at in cloathing and transporting her , was content to serve me a twelve moneth for a wife . to conclude this , whereas in england many daughters makes the fathers purse leane , the sonnes here make the leane pursgs , wherefore to avoid this danger , i shall advise that man that 's full of children to keepe his sonnes in england , and send his daughters to virginia , by which meanes he shall not give but receive portions for all his chlidren . sect. vi . the next in order is , how be gods assistance the indians may be reelaimede wherein i shall first bigin with love . and when i consider this way hath been attempted but the successe : for by it divers honest men have been lost , i shall let love alone to worke with christians , for with indians it cannot , since there must be an acquaintance to procure familiaritie upon which trust and confidence is reposed , which is the common foundation of love , but the indians being a wild people and of a subtill and treacherous nature , as sad experience tell us we must not acquaint our selves with them to trust . next i will consider force and that hath bin fatall to the indians , there having beene great numbers of them slaine . and this will not doe till they be wholy vanquished , which is a worke ( although a small number of english may , and can deale with great numbers of ( indians not , to be effected , but with a vast expence both of money and time , in respect of the largenesse of the continent , wherein the countrey is , being much bigger then many englands , scotlands and irelands together . wherefore and for that this course agrees not with the profession of christianity , i shall not think of it . i will therefore consider of a third way , in which ( not leaving our dependance upon god for his assistance ) i shall look upon nature . and i will examine the ordinary course of taming wild and fierce beasts , these differing from them in nothing , but that they are endued with naturall reason . it must be observed , the more you thwart nature , the fiercer you make it : and therefore we are first to study , what they are most enclined to : and having found it , then to fit them with those things they naturally are delighted in , and so by degrees you take from them all feare ; which is the principall abstacle , and at last reclaime them : this is enough for the generall . now to come to our wilde people , who being endued with naturall reason , i doubt not , but they may more easily reelamed . first , therefore i will inquire what most predomminates in nature , and i find ambition to be to the princpall marke that nature aymes at . for all men are naturally ambitious either of knowledge , honour , or of wealth , to attaine which the greatest dangers harshest studies and the hardest labours are made pleasures . therefore we must make use of ambition being the universall net of nature to take these men . now let us looke what it is that drawes us to this net and we shall find it to be a sence of our own nakednesse , and it was the case of adam and evah our first parents , wherefore i shall say , that if the devill could by this meanes worke upon them , to so bad an end , god will assistus by the same meanes ( since it is to a better end ) to work upon these it being to his glory . now in order to the reclaming of these men we must consider . first , that they are ignorantly naked in the knowledge of all things , but what they are prompt to by nature for selfe preservation . secondly , that the countrey affording plenty of provisions to sustaine nature , they take little care for the future . thirdly , that being thus provided , they seeke not nor care for comerce . fourthly , that for the reasons aforesaid they are independent upon any other people , and care not to converce with any but themselves . wherefore if ever they be reclaimed it must be . first , by making them sensible of their nakednesse . secondly , by taking them off from their confidence upon nature , whereby they may take care for the future . thirdly , that they may desire comerce . fourthly , that they may be brought to depend . and for that they cannot be talkt into a sight of themselves , i shall propose that we gently steal through their nature , till we can come to pull off the scale from their eyes , that they may see their owne nakednesse ; which must be done in manner following . either by making them ambitious of honour , or by making them ambitious of riches . in the first we must take their werowances or great men : they already being at that lock of being one better then another . in the second , let us not doubt but we shall take them all , for there is but a very few men in the world either christian or heathan , that are not taken with it . first , i shall advise that slight jewells be made at the publique charge of thirty or forty shillings price , and one better then the rest , of some such toyes as they shall most affect , which fitted with ribands to weare about their necks or their heads , as their custome amongst them is ; shal be sent from the governour of the plantation in his own , and also in the name of the people and the governour to distinguish them by some pretty titles , which should be alwaies after observed ; as also to make some of them favourites , and to sollicite their preferment with their king , & this by degrees will kindle the fire of ambition , which once in a flame must be fed , and then is the time to worke . for the second i shall advise , that their nature be observed what way it most poynts at , and then fit them with what they most desire , and if by degrees you can bring some of them to weare slight loose garments in summer , or to keep them warme in the winter ; which if you can effect , the worke is halfe done , and this i am confident is very easie : for a little to the northward of the place i write of , they are fallen into a way of cloathing themselves without course welch cloath of blew and red colours , and the better sort of the indians in this place do weare coats of skinnes , with the furre side next to their bodyes in the winter , and the skin side in the summer : and that you may perceive them already comming , they have for the most part altered their old fashion , of making their coats , and now in imitation , make them like english cloakes ; but this must be at the publick charge , they having few valuable commodities to purchase them , yet the charge will not be great , for i shall advise that this be not practised upon the generallity , but upon some one king and his people that are most tractable , and of the nearest neigbourhood , and they are commonly about two hundred or two hundred and fifty indians , and five or six shillings a man will do it ; besides , there will be something to retribute the charge , viz. beaver , otter , and other skinnes , indian corne , beanes , and pease , with other things , so that it is possible the charge may be defrayed , and having won these , you need not fear the comming in of the rest . the poore indian being cloathed , his sight is cleared , he sees himselfe naked , and you 'le finde him in the snare . for now they begin to vye who is the better man , which must be determined by their cloathes , and to purchase them , they 'le be at their wits end , since they have nothing valuable , and if you draw the net wisely they are sure . but it must be considered , that although their minds be fetter'd , yet their nature is not tamd , wherefore you must thinke of proposing some thing to them , that may inable them to be masters of cloathes , which must in no wayes trench upon their liberties . therefore in the first place you may propose easie workes , and draw them on by degrees , and you shall finde , that for themselves they will worke , but not for you . you shall likewise propose to their king , that if hee 'l send thirty or forty men to helpe in your harvest , hee shall have a cloake , or breeches and doublet , or the like , and his men should have every one something . or otherwise , set them to peeling of hempe , or braking of flax in winter , where they should for the present , to incourage them , have more then they earned , and then bring them to drive the plough , or thresh corne , or the like , but in no wise let them continue at any one worke to a dislike , but play with them , you still fitting varietie of workes to their fancies ; thus by degrees ( god assisting ) you shall make them conquer themselves : by this meanes in two or three yeares you will draw them to a confidence in you , to trust their children to be brought up by you , and they 'l learne english , which will be a good step to bring them to christianitie . having brought them thus farre , you need not be directed how to leade them further , your owne reason and profit will doe it ; never feare their falling back , for their owne ends shall keepe them to you , because their minds will prompt them to pride , and they 'l cover to be finer then their fellowes . and now have you opened their eyes , made them care for the future , drawn them to commerce , and made them depend . and in the end , by gods mercy to them , make them good christians . thus have i done with the indians : onely this take notice of , i do not advise that at any hand you suffer them to come into your house , or any further then your field or out-working houses , neither admit more of them to come then you can master , and that they alwayes come without their armes , untill you see them so sensible of their poverty , that they come necesitated to worke . sect. vii . i am now to advise the adventurer , planter , and servant , of such things as are proper to them . having before advised of the mischiefe of procuring of servants , and of the convenience and inconvenience of the usuall passage to virginia , and how to prevent the inconveniency , as also of a better way of passage , and like wise to dispose of your selfe in the countrey when you come first there , and what commodities to fall presently upon , i shall now advise . first to the adventurer . first , that whatsoever his designe be , not to depend upon the life of any one man for the perfecting the worke , but to send two at the least of equall abilitie , and one to succeed the other in case of death . secondly , that for whatsoever belongeth to art , that it be here made in england , least when the worke comes over , none be found there able to do it , and so it perish , or if there be any principall in it , that may be indangered to be lost or broken , that he send two of the same for feare of falling . thirdly , that if there be parteners in the busines , they so article that the fayler to supply his part , shall forfeit it to the rest . lastly , whatsoever the designe be , yet send over a plough or two , for this if their designe faile , or untill the designe be perfected , will turne to accompt , and make them great gainers . secondly to the planter . first , that they take the planters leave where for the present they shall reside , and doe not neglect the opportunitie of falling into the ground with the plough so soone as the seasons come . secondly , that when the corne is in the ground , then is the time to looke out for the place , they shall after settle themselves upon , in which they must take care not to settle on the places neere the ebbing and flowing of the salt water , for they are there , as here in england all aguish , next that they make choice of some place neere a navigable river , where they may have the conveniency of fresh marshes , meadows , and fish , and if they can where some pleasant rising hills be , but at no rate doe not strugle too farre from neighbours , for that 's disconsolate . thirdly , let them build their houses of brick , or otherwise with timber , let it be done with substantiall compleat lengths ( since they have timber enough ) which will save halfe charges in carpenters worke , line it on the inside thick with loame , and cover it with lime , for that will make it warme in winter , make your modell or plate-forme such that when your family shall increase you may adde to your buildings without defacing or inconveniencing any roomes . fourthly , examine the ground and sowe proper seed in the proper parts , sowe not wheat in the richest , for that will be too rich , and will not turne to accompt , but in your richest sowe rape , rice , or flax-seed , and two or three crops of this , will bring the ground to beare wheat your life after . in england chuse good servants , able worke-men ; and give them good wages , fear not the wages : of every ten servants let foure be boyes , and ever after send for good lusty youths , for they will serve eight or nine yeares , whereas men will hardly be gotten to serve above four or five , and taking this course the boyes wil be men when the mens times expire , and being trayned up in the service under good men , they will prove excellent servants . fifthly , that the servants may do their work without trouble in over-seeing , or without fretting or vexing their masters patience , i shall advise such a way , as they may worke for themselves , and their masters together for be well assured , the best of them ; will work more to get themselves a shilling , then to get you ten , and that they may with much content , and profit to themselves , make their servants shew the best of their abilities , it were good to consider what or how much of any worke to be done by a servant in a day would be satisfactory , and then that being done , he should have an allowance for what he should do more . as for example ; two stone , or two stone and a half of flax to be drest in a day is indifferent , i would then give him foure pence a stone , for what he should do more : this will extreamly incourage the servant , and very good use may be made of it , or let him have the remainder of the day to plant a little tobacco for himselfe , or for any other thing ; i have tried all wayes , but never found the like . sixthly , that for such servants as are above the age of twenty yeares , who can deserve wages in england , give them wages in manner following , viz. three pound the first yeare , and so increase the wages twenty shilings a year to the end of their time . seventhly , and for youths , when they shall attain to the age of twenty one years , to give wages , and increasing to the end of their time , in manner aforesaid . eighthly , and to undertake to give the servants . actes of land , at the end of their time , to them and their heirs for ever : which land shall be given the master , by the court , for them . ninthly , that they agree with artificers for shares . tenthly , that they enquire after all advantagious commodities that are produced from the earth , and learn how to bring them to perfection . eleventhly , that they enquire after all manner of slight engines , that will save hand-labour , there being nothing dear in the countrey but labour . twelfthly , and for that the masters will be at charge of transporting and cloathing them ; let that charge be deducted proportionably every year out of their wages . thirteenthly , they must be carefull to covenant with their servants , to forfeit for every dayes work they shall neglect , double the value of their dayes labour : but for neglect in harvest , ten times the value . fourteenthly , the difference that may arise between the master and servant , upon their covenants , to be determined by the superintendents . lastly , they must shew their servants indentures to the court , and then they shall have acres of land for every servant setled upon them , and their heirs for ever , which fifty acres , is over and above what the servants shall have . for servants . first , they to covenant with their masters , not to plant above two hundred weight of tobacco per annum : whereas heretofore a servant planted . secondly , this will take off all mens depending on tobacco , which hath been the fatall commodity of that countrey , and masters will find a better way to employ their servants . thirdly , that they looke their masters covenant , to give them thirty . acres of land , and pay them the wages they shall agree for in money , or the commodity of the countrey , money worth . fourthly , let the servant agree with his master upon the sum laid our for him before his transportation , that he be not abused therein when he contes into the countrey , and let the same be set down in the indentures . fifthly , this carefully observed , with the rules before prescribed in this book , will assure the servant , that at the end of his time , he shall be in a flourishing condition , never more to serve any man . a single man that can but pay his passage , may have ten pound a yeare for his service , and be found meat and drink . lastly , if any gentlemen or others with their families , and also artificers in any trade , labourers or servants shall be desirous to transport themselves for the bettering of their fortunes , either to this place , or any other of the english plantations abroad , let them repair to the authour , who for the love he bears his countrey , will freely advise them how to dispose of themselves for their greatest advantage , which shall inable them to do much more with one hundred pounds then they could heretofore do for one hundred and fifty pound , of which benefit the planter shall also have the advantage , and servants shall be upon sure termes knowing their work , and their conditions , and they shall see plainly that in a little time , they shall by gods blessing , become men of good estates , he will also advise how they may transport themselves with the best safety in these times , from any danger of being taken . and if any gentlemen that shall not go themselves , but are desirous to adventure , he will direct them how they may best dispose thereof for their advantage , and that in eighteen moneths they shall be reimbursed their principally money , and after shall , constantly receive much above fifty pound for every hundred pound they adventured at first , and owners of ships shall have good imployment , for their ships not letting them lie rotting by the walls , as 〈◊〉 now and heretofore they have done . the authour is sensible that these offers are something large , yet let no man doubt of the truth thereof , the being inabled thereto by his deare bought experience , and all men may be satisfied , that it hath been rarely found , that any one particular good work hath been faln upon , but some one man hath originally been the authour , or the originall motion hath proceeded from one mans breast . those rich mines of the west indies were first offered by one man to henry the seventh : but he not having faith enough to believe , or not willing to venture a little money to be satisfied of the truth , refused it : and after , it was offered by the same man to the then king of spain , who hearkened to him ; and all the world knowes , that from this one mans motion , the kings of spain have within this yeares received from thence many thousand millions of pounds : besides , it hath extreamly inriched the gentlemen , and merchants of that kingdom . many of the like examples might be shewed , but they are so generally known to all men , that i le say no more , onely that there was some time spent , after the king of spain had set footing in the west indies , before he could come by travell to the mynes ; and these places the english have inhabited much more time then the king of spains subjects had done in the west indies , before they discovered that countries wealth . but god , that is the authour of all good things , hath not in all this time beene pleased to let any man looke further then tobacco ; and no man can say , but that he is now pleased freely to offer his blessings bestowed upon these countries , in the riches thereof , to us , since all this time , there was never any man that had the heart to labour for the generall good in this nature before . reader i cannot let thee goe till i have againe put thee in mind of my epistle to thee , in which i discovered the great obstructor of this countries prosperitie ; who i know being now againe alarm'd , will fiercely send his spirits abroad with lyes and calumnies to abate the peoples courage , since his kingdom will be so much indangered , by the through planting of this place with christians ; and i am confident he shall no longer prevaile : for my spirit would not let me rest , till i had by this , bid defiance to him and all his subtill practises . therefore be not led by any false reports , for thou shalt find me ready with all freenesse to give thee full satisfaction in the truths that any way concernes this place , or is conteined in this book ; and this i freely offer to men of all conditions , whether masters or servants . you have my name in the title page , and you shall be directed to my chamber in the middle-temple , either by m. collinson , an iron-monger in cornehill , m. pollington a haberdasher in lumbard-street , or m. beadle . stationer in pleet-street , next to the middle-temple gate , or the shops under the said gate . my time would not permit such care of the presse , in correcting , as was fitting ; but since it is right in the matter , i shall desire the reader to excuse the printers slips in the manner . pag. . joyne plants with roots , and then read for roots and plants . pag. . the summe of l. next under l. and l. is onely the totall of the fraught , and not the value of a particular , as by the placing you may suppose it . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- the countries disease . this prevents strife about elections . a this election being simple , gives way , that if there be one man in all the councell , although the youngest in degree , fitter then the rest , he may as soon arive at the government as any of his seniors , by which 't is possible that this common wealth may be governed by the wisest and justest men in the country , which cannot be , when two stand in competition for it , then the one must have it : and this will draw every man to be ambitious to studie the good of the countrey . b this is a tie upon the governour , to walk equally and justly before the people . c by this the governour , if just , able , and good , may continue his life in the government . by this 't is possible , that the ablest and honestest of the people shall alwayes be in authority : for this is the first step to the government . the people will be carefull to chuse good , and able men , since those they chuse shall immediately exercise a power over them . this will encourage men to be just and deserving . by this means the people shall have an accompt of the governours and councels carriage for the generall good . by this a good understanding will be had between the governour and the people , and nothing in probabilitie may be presumed shall be moved , whereby the common-wealth shall be in danger . this provides , there may be a good councel of the wisest & honestest of the people , and by it a confusion of councell and councellours is avoided . these are next in degree for councellors , and in the interim serve for excellent uses , as you shall see hereafter . by this course there can be no surprisalls in making lawes , but all lawes will be truly understood & weyed , before confirmed . by this , the people have a tie upon the governour and councel , and yet they be not indangered by the people , but upon just & cleare grounds . by this they are servants immediatly to the common-wealth , and not so easily drawne to serve ends . it lawes established may upon some fond conceit of a self-wise man be struck at , the lawes will be alwayes tottering : but if there be any law inconvenient , let it be shewed to the governour , and councell , who should best understand the lawes , and they being made sensible of it , let them move it . this may be either by himself , or with the councell , as shall be thought fit . out of these shall be alwayes chosen men to represent the adventurers , in examining the trustees accompts , by this the trustees shall not prevail with the governour , to get his friends nominated to take the accompts . by this , the danger of laying continuall burthens upon the people is taken away . this prevents the governour for making a councell of his favourits , which if admitted , might be destruction . for if . livre. aforesaid shall produce above l. per annum . li. which is the estate i here value , may produce much more then l. per annum , and the master live plentifully . adventurer is in the sense of the book him that sends to plant the government wil preserve this estate with the increase . examine how many gentlemen have run themselves in debt beyonde their estates to supply them in the warres . examine those that lay under the power of both armies . and if you will look int● the books printed by the virginia company , in , or you shall find that of men transported in one fleet , in the time aforesaid here died but one . chusing of ground . building of houses . what seed to sowe , & upon what ground . carrying of servants . servants reward . the generall historie of virginia, new-england, and the summer isles with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours from their first beginning. an⁰: . to this present . with the procedings of those severall colonies and the accidents that befell them in all their journyes and discoveries. also the maps and descriptions of all those countryes, their commodities, people, government, customes, and religion yet knowne. divided into sixe bookes. by captaine iohn smith sometymes governour in those countryes & admirall of new england. smith, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the generall historie of virginia, new-england, and the summer isles with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours from their first beginning. an⁰: . to this present . with the procedings of those severall colonies and the accidents that befell them in all their journyes and discoveries. also the maps and descriptions of all those countryes, their commodities, people, government, customes, and religion yet knowne. divided into sixe bookes. by captaine iohn smith sometymes governour in those countryes & admirall of new england. smith, john, - . barra, john, ca. - , engraver. [ ], , - p., [ ] plates ( folded) : ports., maps printed by i[ohn] d[awson] and i[ohn] h[aviland] for michael sparkes, london : . largely a collected edition of his "a description of new england", "a map of virginia", "new englands trials", and "a true relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in virginia since the first planting of that collony, which is now resident in the south part thereof, till the last returne from thence". the title page is engraved and signed: grauen by iohn barra. "dawson pr[inted]. )(² , a-n⁴. haviland pr[inted]. p-ii⁴"--stc. some copies have an errata slip. for details on various states see sabin. reproduction of the original in harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng indians of north america -- virginia -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . virginia -- description and travel -- early works to . new england -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . bermuda islands -- history -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the generall historie of virginia , new-england , and the summer isles : with the names of the adventurers , planters , and governours from their first beginning an : . to this present . with the procedings of those severall colonies and the accidents that befell them in all their journyes and discoveries . also the maps and descriptions of all those countryes , their commodities , people , government , customes , and religion yet knowne . divided into sixe bookes . by captaine iohn smith sometymes governour in those countryes & admirall of new england . london printed by i.d. and i.h. for michael sparkes . . to the illvstriovs and most noble princesse , the lady francis , duchesse of richmond and lenox . may it please your grace , this history , as for the raritie and varietie of the subiect , so much more for the judicious eyes it is like to vndergoe , and most of all for that great name , whereof it dareth implore protection , might and ought to haue beene clad in better robes then my rude military hand can cut out in paper ornaments . but because , of the most things therein , i am no compiler by hear-say , but haue beene a reall actor ; i take my selfe to haue a propertie in them : and therefore haue beene bold to challenge them to come vnder the reach of my owne rough pen. that , which hath beene indured and passed through with hardship and danger , is thereby sweetned to the actor , when he becometh the relator . i haue deeply hazarded my selfe in doing and suffering , and why should i sticke to hazard my reputation in recording ? he that acteth two parts is the more borne withall if he come short , or fayle in one of them . where shall we looke to finde a iulius caesar , whose atchieuments shine as cleare in his owne commentaries , as they did in the field ? i confesse , my hand , though able to weild a weapon among the barbarous , yet well may tremble in handling a pen among so many indicious : especially when i am so bold as to call so piercing , and so glorious an eye , as your grace , to view these poore ragged lines yet my comfort is , that heretofore honorable and vertuous ladies , and comparable but amongst themselues , haue offred me rescue and protection in my greatest dangers : even in forraine parts , i haue felt reliefe from that sex . the beauteous lady tragabigzanda , when i was a slaue to the turkes , did all she could to secure me . when i overcame the bashaw of nalbrits in tartaria , the charitable lady call●mata supplyed my necessities . in the vtmost of many extremities , that blessed pokahontas , the great kings daughter of virginia , oft saved my life . when i escaped the crueltie of pirats and most furious stormes , a long time alone in a small boat at sea , and driven ashore in france , the good lady madam chanoyes , bountifully assisted me . and so verily these my adventures haue tasted the same influence from your gratious hand , which hath given birth to the publication of this narration . if therefore your grace shall daigne to cast your eye on this poore booke , view i pray you rather your owne bountie ( without which it had dyed in the wombe ) then my imperfections , which haue no helpe but the shrine of your glorious name to be sheltered from censorious condemnation . vouchsafe some glimpse of your honorable aspect , to accept these my labours ; to protect them vnder the shadow of your excellent name : which will inable them to be presented to the kings royall maiestie , the most admired prince charles , and the queene of bohemia : your sweet recommendations will make it the worthier of their good countenances . and as all my endevours are their due tribute : so this page shall record to posteritie , that my service shall be to pray to god , that you may still continue the renowned of your sexe , the most honored of men , and the highly blessed of god. your graces faithfull and devoted servant , iohn smith . ¶ a preface of foure poynts . this plaine history humbly sheweth the truth ; that our most royall king iames hath place and opportunitie to inlarge his ancient dominions without wronging any ; ( which is a condition most agreeable to his most iust & pious resolutions : ) and the prince his highness may see where to plant new colonies . the gaining prouinces addeth to the kings crown : but the reducing heathen people to ciuilitie and true religion , bringeth honour to the king of heauen . if his princely wisedome and powerfull hand , renowned through the world for admirable government , please but to set these now estates into order ; their composure will be singular : the counsell of divers is confused ; the generall stocke is consumed ; nothing but the touch of the kings sacred hand can erect a monarchy . most noble lords and worthy gentlemen , it is your honors that haue imployed great paines and large expence in laying the foundation of this state , wherein much hath beene buried vnder ground , yet some thing hath sprung vp , and giuen you a taste of your adventures . let no difficulties alter your noble intentions . the action is an honour to your country : and the issue may well reimburse you your summes expended . our practices haue hitherto beene but assayes , and are still to be amended . let your bountie supply the necessities of weake beginnings , and your excellent iudgements rectifie the proceedings ; the returne cannot choose in the end but bring you good commodities , and good contentments , by your aduancing shipping and fishing so vsefull vnto our nation . yee valiant and generous spirits , personall possessors of these new-found territories , banish from among you cowardise , covetousnes , iealousies , and idlenes , enemies to the raising your honours and fortunes ; vertue , industry , and amitie , will make you good and great , and your merits liue to ensuing ages . you that in contempt of necessities , hazard your liues and estates , imploying your studies & labours in these faire endevours , liue and prosper as i desire my soule should prosper . for my selfe let emulation and enuie cease , i ever intended my actions should be vpright : now my care hath beene that my relations should giue every man they concerne , their due . but had i not discovered and liued in the most of those parts , i could not possibly haue collected the substantiall truth from such a number of variable relations , that would haue made a volume at least of a thousand sheets . though the beginning may seeme harsh in regard of the antiquities , breuitie , and names ; a pleasanter discourse ensues . the stile of a souldier is not eloquent , but honest and iustifiable ; so i desire all my friends and well-wishers to excuse and accept it , and if any be so noble as to respect it , he that brought new england to light , though long since brought in obscuritie , he is againe to be found a true servant to all good designes . so i ever rest yours to command , iohn smith . a gentleman desirous to be vnknowne , yet a great benefactor to virginia , his loue to the author , the company , and history . stay , reade , behold , skill , courage , knowledge , arts ; wonder of nature : mirror of our clime . mars , vulcan , neptune striue to haue their parts , rare ornaments , rich honours of our time . from far fetcht indies , and virginia's soyle , here smith is come to shew his art and skill : he was the smith that hammered famins foyle , and on powhatan's emperour had his will. though first colūbus , indies true christofer ; cabots , braue florida , much admirer ; meta incognita , rare martin frobisher ; gilberts braue humphery , neptunes deuourer ; captaine amadis , raleighs discouerer ; sir richard grenvill , zealands braue coaster : drake , doomes , drowne , death , spaines scorner ; gosnolds relates , pring prime observer . though these be gone , and left behinde a name , yet smith is here to anvile out a peece to after ages , and eternall fame , that we may haue the golden iasons fleece . he vulcan like di● forge a true plantation , and chain'd their kings , to his immortall glory ; restoring peace and plentie to the nation , regaining honour to this worthy story . by him the infidels had due correction , he blew the bellowes still of peace and plentie : he made the indians bow vnto subiection , and planters ne're return'd to albion empty . the colonies pin'd , staru'd , staring , bones so feeble , by his braue proiects , proued strong againe : the souldiers ' lowance he did seeke to treble , and made the salvage in vncouth place remaine . he left the countrey in prosperous happie state , and plenty stood with peace at each mans doore : regarding not the salvage loue nor hate : thēselues grew well , the indiās wondrous poore . this there he did and now is home return'd , to shew vs all that never thither goe : that in his heart , he deepely oft hath mourn'd , because the action goeth on so slow . braue , graue , wise , rich , prize benefactors , replant , want , continue still good actors . be kinde , and finde , bring eyes to blind ; by gods great might , giue indians light . spend money , bloud , to doe that good , that may giue indians heav'nly food . and god no lesse , you still shall blesse ; both you and yours the lands possesse . s. m. see here behold as in a glasse , all that is , or is and was . t. t. . samuel purchas of his friend captaine iohn smith , and his virginia . loe here smiths forge , where forgery's ro●gue-branded , true pegasus is shoo'd , fetters are forged for silke-sotts , milk-sops , base sloth , farre hence landed , ( soile-chang'd , * soule-soil'd still ) englands dregs , discharged , to plant ( supplant ! ) virginia , home-disgorged : where vertues praise frames good men stories armour 'gainst time , achilles-like , with best arts charged ; pallas , all-arm'd , all-learn'd , can teach sword-grammer , can pens of pikes ; armes t' arts ; to scholar , souldier , hammer : can pilgrim make a maker ; all so-well hath taught smith scoure my rustie out-worne muse , and so coniur'd her in virginian cell , that things vnlearned long by want of vse , shee fresh areeds me read , without abuse by fabling . arthurs great acts little made by greater lies she saith ; seales faith excuse a t' island , groonland , estotiland to wade after lie-legends ; malgo , brandon , are wares braide . the fryer of linne b frights her with his black art ; nor brittish bards can tell where madoc c planted . cabots , thorns , elyots truth haue wenne her heart ; eldest di●cov'rers of new worlds cont'nent ( granted so had iust fates . ) colon and vespuce panted ; this got the name d , last , least of three ; the other new worlds isles found first : cabot is most chanted in three-mens-song ; did more new world discover then both , then any ; an hundred degrees coasted over . haile s ir sebastian , englands northern pole , virginia's finder ; virgin eliza nam'd it , ga●e't raleigh . ( rut , prat , hore , i not enrole ) amadas rites to english right first fram'd it . lane planted , return'd , nor had english tam'd it : greenviles and whites men all slaine ; new plantation iames founds , sloth confounds , feare , pride , faction sham'd it : smiths forge mends all , makes chaines for savage nation , frees , feeds the rest ; the rest reade in his bookes relation . thomas macarnesse to his worthy friend and countryman , captaine iohn smith . who loues to liue at home , yet looke abroad , and know both passen and vnpassen road , the prime plantation of an vnknowne shore , the men , the manners , fruitfulnesse , and store : read but this little booke , and then confesse , the lesse thou lik'st and lou'st , thou liu'st the lesse . he writ it with great labour , for thy good , twice over , now in paper , 'fore in blood ; it cost him deare , both paines , without an ayme of private profit , for thy publicke gaine . that thou mightst read and know and safely see , what he by practice , thou by theoree . commend him for his loyall loving heart , or else come mend him , and take thou his part . to his friend captaine iohn smith , and his worke. i know not how desert more great can rise , then out of danger t' ane for good mens good ; nor who doth better winne th' olympian prize , than he whose countryes honor stirres his bloud ; private respects haue private expectation , publicke designes , should publish reputation . this gentleman whose volumne heere is stoard with strange discoverie of gods strangest creatures , giues vs full view , how he hath sayl'd , and oar'd , and marcht , full many myles , whose rough defeatures , hath beene as bold , as puissant , vp to binde their barbarous strength 's , to follow him dog-linde . but wit , nor valour , now adayes payes scores for estimation ; all goes now by wealth , or friends ; tush ● thrust the beggar out of dores that is not purse-lyn'd ; those which liue by stealth shall haue their haunts ; no matter what 's the guest in many places ; monies well come best . but those who well discerne , esteeme not so : nor i of thee braue smith , that hast beat out thy iron thus ; though i but little know to what t' hast seene ; yet i in this am stout : my thoughts , maps to my minde some accidents , that makes mee see thy greater presidents . io : done. to my worthy friend captaine iohn smith . how great a part of knowledge had wee lost , both of virginia and the summer isles , had not thy carefull diligence and cost inform'd vs thus , with thy industrious stile ! like caesar now thou writ'st what thou hast done , these acts , this booke will liue while ther 's a sunne . edw : worseley . to his much respected friend captaine iohn smith . envie avant . for smith , whose anvill was experience , could take his heat , knew how and when to strike , wrought well this peece ; till after-negligence mistaking temper , cold , or scorch'd ; or like vnskilfull workmen , that can never fyle nor pollish it , that takes in forge such toyle : heere noble smith , thou shewest the temper true , which other tampring - tempres never knew . ro : norton . to his loving friend captaine iohn smith . where actions speake the praises of a man , there , pennes that vse to flatter silent be , or if they speake , it is to scorne or scanne ; for such with vertue seldome doe agree . when i looke backe on all thy labours past , thy travels , perils , losses oft ●ustaind by sea and land ; and ( which is worst and last ) neglect or small reward , so dearely gaind . i doe admire thy still vndanted spirit ; vnwearied yet to worke thy countries good . this be thy praise then , due vnto thy merit ; for it th' hast venter'd life ; and lost thy blood . . . . . . . truth , travayle , and neglect , pure , painefull , most vnkinde , . . . . . . 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 ●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 ha●no prince of carthage , and how it was offred k. hen. . by chr. cullumbus , that vndertooke it for the spanyards . . how iohn cabot was imployed by king hen. the . 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 q●cene elizabeth . page — . sir richard greenvill sent thither with . 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. — . the observations of master heriot . of their commodities , victuall , fru●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. — . sir rich : greenvill sent to supply them . not finding them , left fiftie . their successe . page . master white sent to relieue them , found they were all slaine , yet left . more , and departed . returning the second time , he could not heare of them ; his observations and accidents . pag. — . a discovery by captaine gosnoll of elizabeths isles ; his observations , relations , and returne . pag. . . the voyage of captaine pring to the same coast. the discovery of captaine waymouth ; his observations , relations , and returne . pag. — . 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 s●aven navigable rivers that fall into it , with their severall inhabitants , and diversitie of language , pag. — . 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 . . — . 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. — . 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. — . 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. — . 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. . . 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. — . 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 . powhata● 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. — . their first supply and accidents . the salvages opinion of our god. captaine smith revisits powhatan ; iames towne burnt ; a co●ceited gold mine ; a needlesse charge ; captaine newports returne for england . pag — . 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. . their names landed in this supply . p. . the discovery of the bay of chriapeack . their fight and conference with the kuskarawaoks ; ambuscadoes prevented in the river patawomek ; a mine like antimony . pag. — . how to deale with the salvages . smith neare killed with a stingray . with many other accidents in the discovery . a needlesse misery at iames towne redressed . pag. — . the second voyage to discover the bay. their incounter with the massawomekes and tockwhoghs ; the sasquesahanoughs offer subiectio to the english. the exceeding loue of the salvage mos●o their fight with the rapahanocks ; their fight with the manahokes . the king of hasla●ing●'s brother taken prisoner ; his relation of those mountainers ▪ p●ac● 〈◊〉 with all those nations . pag. ●- . the ●iscovery of the r●ver payankatank ; then sight with the n●ndsamunds , & chisapeacks ; their returne to iames town . p. . the presidency surrendred to cap. smith . the second supply by captaine newport , many presents sent from england to powhatan , his scorne ▪ consultations ; factions suppressed ; cap. smith visiteth powhatan ; pocahontas entertaines him with a maske ; the coronation of powhatan , and conditions . pag. . the discovery of the monacans ; a punishment for swearing ; the chickahamanians forced to contribution ; the abuses of the mariners ; master scriveners voyage to werowocomoco . pag. — . captaine smiths relation to england of the estate of the colony : the names of them arrived in this supply . pag. . . nandsamund forced to contribution . the first marriage in virginia . apamatuck discovered . pag. . captaine smiths iourney to pamavnkee . the discovery of the chawwonocks . smiths discourse to powhatan ; his reply and slattery ; and his discourse of peace and warre . powhatans plot to murther smith , discovered by his daughter pocahontas , pag. . their escape at pamavnkee . the dutchmen deceiue captaine winne , and arme the salvages ; sixteene english beset by seven hundred salvages , smith takes their king opechankanough prisoner ; the salvages excuse & reconcilement . p. . — . master scrivener and others drowned ; master wiffins desperate iourney to pamavnkee ; powhatan constraines his men again to be trecherous ; he is forced to fraught their ship ; smith poysoned ; the dutch mens trechery . pag. — . the dutch-mens plot to murther smith . he taketh the king of paspahegh prisoner , and others ; they become all subiect to the english. pag. . a salv●ge smoothered , yet recovered ; three or foure salvages slaine in drying stolne powder . great extremity occasioned by ratts ; bread made of dryed sturgeon ; the punishment for loyterers ; the discovery of the mangoags . captaine argals first arrivall ; the inconveniences in a plantation . p. — . the government altered ; the arrivall of the third supply ; mutinies ; nandsamund planted ; breach of peace with the salvages ; powhatans chiefe seat bought for copper ; mutinies . pag. . . captaine smith blowne vp with gun-powder ; a bloudy intent ; the causes why he left the country and his commission ; his returne for england ; the ends of the dutch-men . certaine verses of seaven gentlemen . p . the fourth booke . with their proceedings after the alteration of the government . how the mutiners proceeded ; the salvage , revolt ; the planting point comfort , them at nandsamund , and the fals , defeated by the salvages . captaine ratliff , with thirtie slaine by powhatan . the fruits of improvidence . the arrivall of sir thomas gates . iames towne abandoned . the arrivall of the lord la warre ; their actions , and both their returnes . pag. — . the government left to captaine percie ; & his proceedings . the arrivall of sir thomas dale , and his actions . pag. — . the second arrivall of sir thomas gates ; the building henerico , and the bermudas ; how captaine argall tooke pocahontas prisoner . dales voyage to pamavnkee . the marriage of pocahontas to master rolfe . articles of peace with the salvages . p. . — . the government left to sir thomas dale . captaine argals voyage to port royall . master hamers to powhatan ; and their accidents . pag. . . the manner of the lottery . a spanish shippe in virginia . dale with pocahontas comes for england . capt. yerley left deputy governour ; his warres and peace with the chickahamanians , and proceedings . pag. — . a relation to queene anne of the quality & conditiō of pocahontas ; how the queen entertained her ; capt. argall sent governor ; the death of powhatan ; ten english slaine ; argals accidents and proceedings . the lord de la warre sent againe governour ; his death . a relation of their present estates . haile-stones . inches about . pag. — . sir george yerley sent g●vernor ; waraskoyack planted . a parliament in virginia ; foure corporations appointed ; the adventures of cap. ward ; the number of ships and men sent this yeare ; gifts given ; patents granted . pag. — . a desperate sea fight by captaine chester with two spanish men of warre ; the names of the adventurers . pag. — . notes and observations . a relation of their estates by master stockam . the arrivall of sir francis wyat with nine ships . master gockings plantation ; and their accidents ; the number of ships and men sent this yeare ; gifts given , patents granted p. — . master poties iourneyes to pawtuxunt , and other places , with his accidents pag. . — . capt. each sent to build forts and barks . the cause and manner of the massacre ; the numbers slaine ; the providence of cap. nuse ; cap. chroshaw his voyage to patowomek . pag. — . capt. smiths offer to the company to suppresse the salvages . their answer ; the manner of the satlery ; chroshaw stayes at patawomek ; the escape of waters and his wife . cap. hamar goes to patawomek ; chroshaws plot for all their preservations . capt. madison sent to patawomek . cap. powell kils three salvages . sir george yerleys iourney to acomack . the misery of captaine nuse . the kindness of the king of patawomek ; a vile policy of a salvage ; madisons mischiefe vnto the patawomeks . it was not well don to make opechankanough drinke healths . . surpriseth nandsamund and pamavnkee . the opinion of cap. smith how to subiect the salvages . the arriuall of cap. butler in virginia , and other accidents . pag. — . the losse of cap. spilman and . men . a particular of such necessaries as are fit for private persons or families . pag. . . a briefe relation by cap. smith to his mai●sties commissioners , for the reformation of virginia . the questions the right worthie commissioners demanded , and his answers ; how the king hath pleased to take it into his consideration . pag. — . at this present two ships are going ; more a preparing ; new commissions sent . a proclamation , no tobacco be vsed in englād , but what shall come from virginia , or the somer isles ; quere the proclamation . the fift booke . a mappe of the somer isles and fortresses . the description of the isles , the fruits , fishes , soyle , ayre , beasts , birds , with the relation of the shipwrack of henry may. pag. — . the shipwrack of sir tho : gates , and sir george somers ; their accidents , deliverāce and arrivall in virginia . somers returne to the isles ; his death , and epitaph , the accidents hapned ; three men lived there alone two yeares . pag. — . master more sent to make a plantation . a peece of amber greece found of . pound weight ; much dissension ; mores industrie in fortifying and waighing ordnance out of the wra●ks . their first supply ; a strange increase of potatoes . the attempt of spanish ships ; a great mortality ; a strange being of ravens ; a new supply , with their accidents , and moores returne . pag. — . the rent of the six governours ; a wonderfull accident of hilliard , not much lesse then a miracle . pag. . . the government of ca. tuckar ; assises ; the strange adventure of men in a boat ; plants from the west indies ; the endevours of cap. powell ; assises . the country neer devoured with ratts ; their strange confusion . the divisions of the isles into tribes , and tribes into shares , by mr. norwood ; the names of the adventurers , and their shares . p. — . the first magazin ; two exployts of desperate fugitiues . the returne of cap. tuckar . cap kendall left deputy-governor , & their accidents . pag. - . the government of cap. butler ; a platforme burnt , and much hurt by a hericano . the refortifying the kings castle . the arrivall of two dutch frigots . the rebuilding the mount , and a tombe for sir george somers . the reformation of their lawes and officers . their assises . a parliament . their acts ; their opinion of the magazin . the building three bridges . the generall assises ; a strange deliverance of a spanish wracke . a strange sodomy ; many ordnances got from wracks . their estates present . p. - . master barnard sent to be governour ; his arrivall , death , and funerall , with the proceedings of mr. harrison his successor , & cap. woodhouse their governor . pag. - . certaine verses of master withers , and other gentlemen . the sixt booke . a mappe of new-england . how this country hath bin accounted but a miserable desert . captain smiths first voyage ; what peace and warres he had with the salvages , and within . moneths returned with l. worths of commodities ; got prince charles to call it new-england . a table of the old names and the new . pag. ▪ . cap. hobsons voyage to capan ; the londoners apprehend it . the situation : notes for ignorant vndertakers . the description of the country . staple commodities ; present proofe of the healthfulnesse of the clime . observations of the hollanders chiefe trade . p. . examples of the altitude comparatiuely ; the reasons why to plant it . an example of the gaines every yeare ; a description of . severall countries in particular . of their kings , rivers , harbors , isles , mountains , landmarks , fruits , woods , birds , fishes , beasts , &c. and how as well gentlemen , as mecanicks , may be imployed , & get much wealth , with the reasons and causes of the defaylements . p. — . cap. smiths second voyage ; his ship neere foundered in the sea ; he reimbarketh himselfe ; incountreth the english pyrats ; fought with the french pyrates ; is betrayed by . french men of warre ; how he was released ; his men ran from him with ship and all ; how he lived with the french men ; what fights they had , what prizes they tooke ; the french mens ingratitude . sayle cast away : how he escaped , proceeded in france , returned for england , and punished them ran from him . pag. — . the yearely trialls of new-england ; the benefit of fishing , as mr. dee , and divers report , and approoved by the hollanders records ; how it becomes so well apprehended , that more then . haue gone thither to fish , with an estimate of their gaines , with many observations and accidents . pag. - . a plantation in new-england ; their first landing ; divers iourneys & accidents ; the description of the harbors , bayes , lakes , and that place they inhabit , called new-plimouth ; conference with the salvages ; and kinde vsage of the king of the massasoyts ; a strange policie of tusquantum . pag. — . the salvages make warres for their friendships ; the english revenge their friends iniuries . notes and observations . they lived two yeares without supplyes ; the death of tusquantum ; they contriue to murther the english ; how the english did cure a king sicke to death ; two most desperate salvages ; the courage of cap. standish ; the salvages sue for peace . pag. — . a most remarkable observation of gods loue . sayle fished th●re this yeare ; the religion of the salvages ; the government ; an answer to obiections ; considerations ; the charge ; the order of the western men . p. — . the effects of shipping ; the popes order for the east and west indies how to build a little navy royall ; contention for new-englād . the necessitie of martiall power . p. - . the charge to set forth a ship of a . tuns , both to make a fishing voyage , & increase the plantation . the facilitie of the fishing lately observed . their present estate at new-plimouth , and order of government . it s not his part that is the best translator , to render word for word to every author . how ancient avthors report , the nevv-vvorld , now called america , was discovered : and part thereof first planted by the english , called virginia , with the accidents and proceedings of the same . ❧ the first booke . for the stories of arthur , malgo , and brandon , that say a thousand yeares agoe they were in the north of america ; or the fryer of linn that by his blacke art went to the north pole in the yeare . in that i know them not . let this suffice . the chronicles of wales report , that madock , sonne to owen quineth , prince of wales seeing his two brethren at debate who should inherit , prepared certaine ships , with men and munition , and left his country to seeke aduentures by sea : leauing ireland north he sayled west till he came to a land vnknowne . returning home and relating what pleasant and fruitfull countries he had seene without inhabitants , and for what barren ground his brethren and kindred did murther one another , he provided a number of ships , and got with him such men and women as were desirous to liue in quietnesse , that arriued with him in this new land in the yeare : left many of his people there and returned for more . but where this place was no history can show . the spanyards say hanno a prince of carthage was the first : and the next christopher cullumbus , a genoesian , whom they sent to discover those vnknowne parts . . but we finde by records , cullumbus offered his seruice in the yeare . to king henry the seauenth ; and by accident vndertooke it for the spanyards . in the interim king henry gaue a commission to iohn cabot , and his three sonnes , sebastian , lewis , and sautius . iohn and sebastian well provided , setting sayle , ranged a great part of this vnknowne world , in the yeare . for though cullumbus had found certaine iles , it was . ere he saw the continent , which was a yeare after cabot . now americus came a long time after , though the whole continent to this day is called america after his name , yet sebastian cabot discovered much more then them all , for he sayled to about forty degrees southward of the lyne , and to sixty-seauen towards the north : for which king henry the eight knighted him and made him grand pilate of england . being very aged king edward the sixt gaue him a pention of l. ● . d. yearely . by his directions sir hugh willowby was sent to finde out the country of russia , but the next yeare he was found frozen to death in his ship , and all his company . mr martin frobisher was sent in the yeare . by our most gracious queene elizabeth , to search for the northwest passage , and meta incognita : for which he was knighted , honored , and well rewarded . sir humphrey gilbert a worthy knight attempted a plantation in some of those parts : and obtained letters pattents to his desire : but with this proviso , he should maintaine possession in some of those vast countries within the tearme of sixe yeares . yet when he was provided with a navy able to incounter a kings power , even here at home they fell in diuisions , and so into confusion , that they gaue over the designe ere it was begun , notwithstanding all this losse , his vndanted spirit began againe , but his fleet fell with new-found land , and he perished in his returne , as at large you may read in the third volume of the english voyages , written by mr hackluit . vpon all those relations and inducements , sir walter raleigh , a noble gentleman , and then in great esteeme , vndertooke to send to discover to the southward . and though his occasions and other imployments were such he could not goe himselfe , yet he procured her maiesties letters pattents , and perswaded many worthy knights and gentlemen to adventure with him to finde a place fit for a plantation . their proceedings followeth . the most famous , renowned , and euer worthy of all memory , for her courage , learning , iudgement , and vertue , queene elizabeth , granted her letters patents to sir walter raleigh for the discovering and planting new lands & countries , not actually possessed by any christians . this patenty got to be his assistants sir richard grenvell the valiant , mr william sanderson a great friend to all such noble and worthy actions , and divers other gentlemen and marchants , who with all speede prouided two small barkes well furnished with all necessaries , vnder the command of captaine philip amidas and captaine barlow . the . of aprill they set sayle from the thames , the tenth of may passed the canaries , and the tenth of iune the west indies : which vnneedfull southerly course , ( but then no better was knowne ) occasioned them in that season much sicknesse . the second of iuly they fell with the coast of florida in shoule water , where they felt a most dilicate sweete smell , though they saw no land , which ere long they espied , thinking it the continent : an hundred and twenty myles they sayled not finding any harbor . the first that appeared , with much difficulty they entred , and anchored , and after thankes to god they went to view the next land adioyning to take possession of it for the queenes most excellent maiestie : which done , they found their first landing place very sandy and low , but so full of grapes that the very surge of the sea sometimes over-flowed them : of which they found such plenty in all places , both on the sand , the greene soyle and hils , as in the plaines as well on euery little shrub , as also climbing towardes the tops of high cedars , that they did thinke in the world were not the like abundance . we passed by the sea-side towards the tops of the next hills being not high : from whence we might see the sea on both sides , and found it an i le of twentie myles in length , and six in breadth , the vallyes replenished with goodly tall cedars . discharging our muskets , such a flocke of cranes , the most white , arose by vs , with such a cry as if an army of men had shouted altogether . this i le hath many goodly woods , and decre , conies , and foule in incredible abundance , and vsing the authors owne phrase , the woods are not such as you finde in bohemia , moscovia , or hercinia , barren and fruitlesse , but the highest and reddest cedars of the world , bettering them of the assores , indies , or libanus : pynes , cypres , saxefras , the lentisk that beareth mastick , and many other of excellent smell and qualitie . till the third day we saw not any of the people , then in a little boat three of them appeared , one of them went on shore , to whom wee rowed , and he attended vs without any signe of feare ; after he had spoke much though we vnderstood not a word , of his owne accord he came boldly aboord vs , we gaue him a shirt , a hat , wine and meate , which he liked well , and after he had well viewed the barkes and vs , he went away in his owne boat , and within a quarter of a myle of vs in halfe an houre , had loaden his boat with fish , with which he came againe to the poynt of land , and there devided it in two parts , poynting one part to the ship , the other to the pinnace , and so departed . the next d●y came diuers boats , and in one of them the kings brother , with forty or fifty men , proper people , and their behauiour very ciuill ; his name was granganame● , the king is called wingina , the country wingandacoa . leauing his boats a little from our ships , he came with his trayne to the poynt : where spreading a matte he sat downe . though we came to him well armed , he made signes to vs to sit downe without any shew of feare , stroking his head and brest , and also ours , to expresse his loue . after he had made a long speech vnto vs , we presented him with diuers toyes , which he kindly accepted . he was greatly regarded by his people , for none of them did sit , nor speake a word , but foure , on whom we bestowed presents also , but he tooke all from them , making signes all things did belong to him . the king himselfe in a conflict with a king his next neighbour and mortall enemy , was shot in two places through the body , and the thigh , yet recouered : whereby he lay at his chiefe towne six dayes iourney from thence . a day or two after shewing them what we had , granganamco taking most liking to a pewter dish , made a hole in it , hung it about his necke for a brest-plate : for which he gaue vs twenty deere skins , worth twenty crownes ; and for a copper kettell , fiftie skins , worth fiftie crownes . much other trucke we had , and after two dayes he came aboord , and did eate and drinke with vs very merrily . not long after he brought his wife and children , they were but of meane stature , but well fauoured and very bashfull ; she had a long coat of leather , and about her privities a peece of the same , about her forehead a band of white corrall , and so had her husband , in her eares were bracelets of pearle , hanging downe to her middle , or the bignesse of great pease ; the rest of the women had pendants of copper , and the noblemen fiue or sixe in an eare ; his apparrell as his wiues , onely the women weare their haire long on both sides , and the men but on one ; they are of colour yellow , but their hayre is blacke , yet we saw children that had very fayre chesnut coloured hayre . after that these women had beene here with vs , there came downe from all parts great store of people , with leather , corrall , and diuers kinde of dyes , but when granganameo was present , none durst trade but himselfe , and them that wore red copper on their heads , as he did . when 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 . ynches high . the soyle is most plentifull , sweete , wholesome , and fruitfull of all o●her , there are about . 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 . leagues ; at the north end was . 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 fea●ting house was their idoll of whom they ●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 be●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 & . 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 . are in league each with other . towards the south . . 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 . 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 . myles in length , and betweene them and the mayne , a great long sea , in some places . . . or . myles broad , in other more , somewhere lesse . and in this sea are . iles of diuers bignesses , but to get into it , you haue but . 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 mis●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 m●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 . ●● . the . of aprill he departed from plimouth with . 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 h●ryot and master iohn clarke . the . day we fell with the canaries , and the . 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 . we fell with the mayne of florida , and were put in great danger vpon cape fear . the . 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 croo●on . the . the generall victualed for . dayes , with a selected company went to the maine , and discovered the townes of pomeiok , aquascogoc , secctan , and the great lake called paquipe . at aquascogoc the indians stole a siluer cup , wherefore we burnt the towne and spoyled their corne , so returned to our fleete at tocokon . whence we wayed for hatorask , where we rested , and granganimeo , king wingina's brother with m●nteo came abord our admirall , the admirall went for weapomeiok , & master iohn arundell for england . our generall in his way home tooke a rich loaden ship of . tunns , with which he ariued at plimouth the . of september . . these were left vnder the command of master ralph layne to inhabite the country , but they returned within a yeare . philip amidas admirall . master thomas heryot . master acton . master stafford . master thomas luddington . master maruyn . cap. vaghan . master gardiner . master kendall . master predeox . master rogers . master haruy. master snelling . master antony russe . master allen. master michaell pollison . master thomas bockner . master iames mason . master dauid salter . master iames skinner . with diuers others to the number of . touching the most remarkeable things of the country and our proceeding from the of august . till the . of iune . we made roanoack our habitation . the vtmost of our discouery southward was secotan as we esteemed . leagues from roanoacke . the passage from thence was thought a broad sound within the maine , being without kenning of land , yet full of flats and shoulds that our pinnasse could not passe , & we had but one boat with . ores , that would carry but . men with their prouisions for . dayes : so that because the winter approached we left those discoueries till a stronger supply . to the northward ; our farthest was to a towne of the chesapeacks , from roanoack . myles . the passage is very shallow and dangerous by reason of the breadth of the sound and the little succour for a storme , but this teritory being . myle from the shoare , for pleasantnest of seate , for temporature of climate , fertility of soyle and comoditie of the sea , besides beares , good woods , saxefras , walnuts &c. is not to be , excelled by any other whatsoeuer . there be sundry other kings they call weroances as the mangoacks , trypaniks and opposians , which came to visit vs. to the northwest our farthest was chawonock from roanoack . myles our passage lyeth through a broad sound , but all fresh water , and the channell nauigable for a ship , but out of it full of shoules . the townes by the way by the water , are passaquenock the womens towne , chepanoe , weapomciok ; from muscamunge wee enter the riuer and iurisdiction of chawonock , there it beginneth to straiten , and at chawonock it is as thames at lambeth : betwixt them as we passed is goodly high land on the left hand , and there is a towne called ohanock , where is a great corne field , it is subiect to chawonock , which is the greatest prouince vpon the riuer , and the towne it selfe can put seuen hundred men into the field , besides the forces of the re●t . the king is lame , but hath more vnderstanding then all the rest . the river of moratoc is more famous then all the rest , and openeth into the sound of weapometok , and where there is but a very small currant in chawonock , it hath so strong a currant from the southwest , as we doubted how to row against it . strange things they report of the head of this riuer , and of moratoc it selfe , a principall towne on it , & is thirtie or fortie dayes iourney to the head . this lame king is called menatonon . when i had him prisoner two dayes , he told mee that . d●yes iourney in a canow vp the riuer chawonock , then landing & going foure dayes iourney northeast , there is a king whose country lyeth on the sea , but his best place of strength is an iland in a bay inuironed with deepe water , where he taketh that abundance of pearle , that not onely his skins , and his nobles , but also his beds and houses are garnished therewith . this king was at chawonock two yeares agoe to trade with blacke pearle , his worst sort whereof i had a rope , but they were naught ; but that king he sayth hath store of white , and had trafficke with white men , for whom he reserued them ; he promised me guides to him , but aduised me to goe strong , for he was vnwilling strangers should come in his country , for his country is populous and valiant men . if a supply had come in aprill , i resolued to haue sent a small barke to the northward to haue found it , whilest i with small boates and . men would haue gone to the head of the riuer chawonock , with sufficient guides by land , inskonsing my selfe euery two dayes , where i would leaue garrisons for my retreat till i came to this bay. very neare vnto it is the riuer of moratoc , directly from the west , the head of it springeth out of a mayne rocke , which standeth so neare the sea , that in stormes the sea beats ouer it into this fresh spring , that of it selfe at the surse is a violent streame . i intended with two wherries and fortie persons to haue menatonons sonne for guide , to try this presently , till i could meete with some of the moratocks , or mangoaks , but hoping of getting more victuall from the saluages , we as narrowly escaped staruing in that discouery as euer men did . for pemissapan who had changed his name of wingina vpon the death of his brother granganameo , had giuen both the chawonests , and mangoaks word of my purpose : also he told me the chawonocks had assembled two or three thousand to assault me at roanok , vrging me daily to goe against them , and them against vs ; a great assembly i found at my comming thether , which suddaine approach did so dismay them , that we had the better of them : & this confederacy against vs was procured by pemissapan himselfe our chiefe friend we trusted ; he sent word also to the moratoks and the mangoaks , i came to inuade them , that they all fled vp into the high country , so that where i assured my selfe both of succour and prouision , i found all abandoned . but being thus farre on my iourney . myles from home , and but victuals for two dayes , besides the casualties of crosse winds , stormes , and the saluages trechery , though we intended no hurt to any : i gaue my company to vnderstand we were onely drawne forth vpon these vaine hopes by the saluages to bring vs to confusion : a councell we held , to goe forward or returne , but they all were absolutely resolued but three , that whilst there was but one pynt of corne for a man , they would not leaue the search of that riuer ; for they had two mastiue dogs , which boyled with saxefras leaues ( if the worst fell out ) vpon them and the pottage they would liue two dayes , which would bring them to the sound , where they should finde fish-for two dayes more to passe it to roanock , which two dayes they had rather fast then goe backe a foote , till they had seene the mangoaks either as friends or foes . though i did forsee the danger and misery , yet the desire i had to see the mangoaks was , for that there is a prouince called chaunis temoatan , frequented by them and well knowne to all those countries , where is a mine of copper they call wassador ; they say they take it out of a riuer that falleth swiftly from high rocks in shallow water , in great bowles , couered with leather , leauing a part open to receiue the mettall , which by the change of the colour of the water where the spout falleth , they suddainly chop downe , and haue the bowlefull , which they cast into the fire , it presently melteth , and doth yeeld in fiue parts at the first melting two parts mettall for three of ore. the mangoaks haue such plenty of it , they beautifie their houses with great plates thereof : this the salvages report ; and young skiko the king of chawonocks sonne my prisoner , that had beene prisoner among the mangoak● , but neuer at chaunis temoatan , for he sayd that was twentie dayes iourney ove● and ●rom the mangoaks . menatonon also confirmed all this , and promised me guids to this mettall country ; by land to the mangoaks is but one dayes iourney , but seauen by water , which made me so willing to haue met them for some assay of this mettall : but when we came there we found no creature , onely we might see where had beene their fires . after our two dayes iourney , and our victuals spent , in the euening we heard some call as we thought manteo , who was with me in the boat ; this made vs glad , he made them a friendly answer , which they answered with a song we thought for welcome , but he told vs they came to fight . presently they did let flie their arrowes about the boat , but did no hurt , the other boat scouring the shore we landed : but they all were fled , and how to finde them wee knew not . so the next morning we returned to the mouth of the riuer , that cost vs foure dayes rowing vp , and here our dogs pottage stood vs in good stead , for we had nothing els : the next day we fasted being windbound , and could not passe the sound , but the day following we came to chippanum , where the people were fled , but their wires afforded vs fish : thus being neare spent , the next day god brought vs to roanocke . i conclude a good mine , or the south sea will make this country quickly inhabited , and so for pleasure and profit comparable with any in the world : otherwise there will be nothing worth the fetching . provided there be found a better harbour then yet there is , which must be northward if there be any . master vaughan , no lesse hoped of the goodnesse of the mine , then master heriot that the riuer moratocks head , either riseth by the bay of mexico , or very neare the south sea , or some part that openeth neare the same , which cannot with that facilitie be done as from the bay of pearles , by insconsing foure dayes iourney to the chawonoks , mangoaks , and moratocks , &c. the conspiracy of pemissapan ; the discouery of it ; and our returne for england with sir francis drake . ensenore a saluage , father to pemissapan , the best friend we had after the death of granganimeo , when i was in those discoueries , could not prevaile any thing with the king from destroying vs , that all this time god had preserued , by his good counsell to the king to be friendly vnto vs. pemissapan thinking as the brute was in this last iourney we were slaine and starued , began to blaspheme our god that would suffer it , and not defend vs , so that old ensenore had no more credit for vs : for he began by all the deuises he could to inuade vs. but in the beginning of this brute , when they saw vs all returne , the report false , and had manteo , and three saluages more with vs , how little we esteemed all the people we met , and feared neither hunger , killing , or any thing , and had brought their greatest kings sonne prisoner with vs to roanock : it a little asswaged all his deuises , and brought ensenore in respect againe , that our god was good , and wee their friends , and our foes should perish , for we could do● them more hurt being dead , then liuing , and that being an hundred myles from them , shot , and strucke them sicke to death , and that when we die it is but for a time , then we returne againe . but that which wrought the most feare among them was the handy-worke of almightie god. for certaine dayes after my returne , menatonon sent messengers to me with pearle , and okisco king of weopomcoke , to yeeld himselfe seruant to the queene of england . okisco with twenty-foure of his principall men came to pemissapan to acknowledge this dutie and subiection , and would performe it . all which so changed the heart of pemissapan , that vpon the aduise of ensenore , when we were ready to famish they came and made vs wires , and planted their fields they intended to abandon ( we not hauing one corne till the next haruest to sustaine vs ) . this being done our old friend ensenore dyed the twenty of aprill , then all our enemies wrought with pemissapan to put in practise his deuises , which he easily imbraced , though they had planted corne by vs , and at dasamonpeack two leagues from vs. yet they got okisco our tributary to get seuen or eight hundred ( and the mandoages with the chisapeans should doe the like ) to meete ( as their custome is ) to solemnize the funerall of ensenore . halfe of whom should lye hid , to cut off the straglers , seeking crabs and prouision : the rest come out of the mayne vpon the signall by fire . twenty of the principall of pemissapans men had charge in the night to beset my house , put fire in the reeds that couered it , which might cause me run out so naked and amazed , they might without danger knocke out my braines . the same order for mr heriots , and the rest : for all should haue beene fired at an instant . in the meane time they should sell vs nothing , and in the night spoyle our wires , to make nenessitie disperse vs. for if we were but ten together , a hundred of them would not meddle with vs. so our famine increased , i was forced to send captaine stafford to croatan , with twentie to feed himselfe , and see if he could espie any sayle passe the coast ; mr predeox with ten to hatarask vpon the same occasion : and other small parties to the mayne to liue vpon rootes and oysters . pemissapan sequestring himselfe , i should not importune him for victuall , and to draw his troupes , found not the chawonests so forward as he expected , being a people more faithfull and powerfull , and desired our friendships , and was offended with him for raising such tales , and all his proiects were revealed to me by skico my prisoner ; who finding himselfe as well vsed by me , as pemissapan tould me all . these troubles caused me send to pemissapan , to put suspition in his head , i was to goe presently to croatan to meete a fleete came to me , though i knew no such matter : and that he would lend me m●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 . 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 . 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 . and arriued in portsmouth the . 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 . severall sorts that are dispersed in the country : of which . 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 . . or . ynche● long , and more . trouts porpisses , rayes , mullers , old-wiues , pla●ce , tortoises both by sea and land : crabs , oysters , mussels , scalops , periwinckles , crevises , secanank : we haue the pictures of . 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 . severall sorts . their woods are such as ours in england for the most part , except rakeock a grea● 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 easier reformed . they beleeue there are many gods which they call mantoac , but of different sorts and degrees . also that there is one chiefe god that hath beene from all eternitie , who as they say when he purposed first to make the world , made first other gods of a principall order , to be as instruments to be vsed in the creation and government to follow : and after the sunne , moone , and starres , as pettie gods ; and the instruments of the other order more principall . first ( they say ) were made waters , out of which by the gods were made all diversitie of creatures that are visible or invisible . for mankinde they say a woman was made first , which by the working of one of the gods conceiued and brought forth children ; and so they had their beginning , but how many yeares or ages since they know not ; having no records but onely tradition from father to sonne . they thinke that all the gods are of humane shape , and therefore represent them by images in the formes of men ; which they call kewasowok : one alone is called kewasa ; them they place in their temples , where they worship , pray , sing , and make many offerings . the common sort thinke them also gods . they beleeue the immortalitie of the soule , when life departing from the body , according to the good or bad workes it hath done , it is c●rried vp to the tabernacles of the gods , to perpetuall happpinesse , or to popogusso , a great pit : which they thinke to be at the furthest parts of the world , where the sunne sets , and there burne continually . to confirme this they told me of two men that had beene lately dead , and revived againe ; the one hapned but few yeares before our comming into the country ; of a bad man , which being dead and buried , the next day the earth over him being seene to moue , was taken vp , who told them his soule was very neare entering into popogusso , had not one of the gods saued him and gaue him leaue to returne againe , to teach his friends what they should doe to avoyd such torment . the other hapned the same yeare we were there , but sixtie myles from vs , which they told me for news , that one being dead , buried , & taken vp as the first , shewed , that although his body had layne dead in the graue , yet his soule liued , and had travailed far in a long broad way , on both sides whereof grew more sweet , fayre , and delicate trees and fruits , then ever he had seene before ; at length he came to most braue and fayre houses , neare which he met his father , that was dead long agoe , who gaue him charge to goe backe , to shew his friends what good there was to doe , to inioy the pleasures of that place ; which when hee had done hee should come againe . what subtiltie so ever be in the weroances , and priests ; this opinion worketh so much in the common sort , that they haue great respect to their governours : and as great care to avoyde torment after death , and to enioy blisse . yet they haue divers sorts of punishments according to the offence , according to the greatnesse of the fact . and this is the sum of their religion , which i learned by having speciall familiaritie with their priests , wherein they were not so sure grounded , nor gaue such credit , but through conversing with vs , they were brought into great doubts of their owne , and no small admiration of ours : of which many desired to learne more then we had meanes for want of vtterance in their language to expresse . most things they saw with vs as mathematicall instruments , sea compasses ; the vertue of the loadstone , perspectiue glasses , burning glasses : clocks to goe of themselues ; bookes , writing , guns , and such like ; so far exceeded their capacities , that they thought they were rather the workes of gods then men ; or at least the gods had taught vs how to make them , which loued vs so much better then them ; & caused many of them giue credit to what wespake concerning our god. in all places where i came , i did my best to make his immortall glory knowne . and i told them , although the bible i shewed them , contained all ; yet of it selfe , it was not of any such vertue as i thought they did conceiue . notwithstanding many would be glad to touch it , to kisse , and imbrace it , to hold it to their breasts , and heads , and stroke all their body over with it . the king wingina where we dwelt , would oft be with vs at prayer . twice he was exceeding sicke and like to dye . and doubting of any helpe from his priests , thinking he was in such danger for offending vs and our god , sent for some of vs to pray , and be a meanes to our god , he might liue with him after death . and so did many other in the like case . one other strange accident ( leauing others ) will i mention before i end , which mooued the whole country that either knew or heard of vs , to haue vs in wonderfull admiration . there was no towne where they had practised any villany against vs ( we leaving it vnpunished , because we sought by all possible meanes to winne them by gentlenes ) but within a few dayes after our departure , they began to dye ; in some townes twenty , in some forty , in some sixty , and in one an hundred and twenty , which was very many in respect of their numbers . and this hapned in no place ( we could learn ) where we had bin , but where they had vsed some practise to betray vs. and this disease was so strange , they neither knew what it was , nor how to cure it ; nor had they knowne the like time out of minde ; a thing specially observed by vs , as also by themselues , in so much that some of them who were our friends , especially wingina , had observed such effects in foure or fiue townes , that they were perswaded it was the worke of god through our meanes : and that we by him might kill and slay whom we would , without weapons , and not come neare them . and therevpon , when they had any vnderstanding , that any of their enemies abused vs in our iourneyes , they would intreat vs , we would be a meanes to our god , that they , as the others that had dealt ill with vs , might dye in like sort : although we shewed them their requests were vngodly ; and that our god would not subiect himselfe to any such requests of men , but all things as he pleased came to passe : and that we to shew our selues his true servants , ought rather to pray for the contrary : yet because the effect sell out so suddenly after , according to their desires , they thought it came to passe by our meanes , and would come giue vs thankes in their manner , that though we satisfied them not in words , yet in deeds we had fulfilled their desires . this marueilous accident in all the country wrought so strange opinions of vs , that they could not tell whether to thinke vs gods or men . and the rather that all the space of their sicknesse , there was no man of ours knowne to die , or much sicke . they noted also we had no women , nor cared for any of theirs : some therefore thought we were not borne of women , and therefore not mortall , but that we were men of an old generation many yeares past , & risen againe from immortalitie . some would prophesie there were more of our generation yet to come , to kill theirs and take their places . those that were to come after vs they imagined to be in the ayre , yet invisible and without bodies : and that they by our intreaties , for loue of vs , did make the people die as they did , by shooting invisible bullets into them . to confirme this , their physicians to excuse their ignorance in curing the disease , would make the simple people beleeue , that the strings of bloud they sucked out of the sicke bodies , were the strings wherein the invisible bullets were tyed , and cast . some thought we shot them our selues from the place where we dwelt , and killed the people that had offended vs , as we listed , how farre distant soever . and others said it was the speciall worke of god for our sakes , as we had cause in some sort to thinke no lesse , whatsoever some doe , or may imagine to the contrary ; especially some astrologers by the eclipse of the sunne we saw that yeare before our voyage , and by a comet which began to appeare but a few dayes before the sicknesse began : but to exclude them from being the speciall causes of so speciall an accident , there are farther reasons then i thinke fit to present or alledge . these their opinions i haue set downe , that you may see there is hope to imbrace the truth , and honor , obey , feare and loue vs , by good dealing and government : though some of our company towards the latter end , before we came away with sir francis drake shewed themselues too furious , in slaying some of the people in some townes , vpon causes that on our part might haue bin borne with more mildnesse ; notwithstanding they iustly had deserued it . the best neverthelesse in this , as in all actions besides , is to be indevoured and hoped ; and of the worst that may happen , notice to be taken with consideration ; and as much as may be eschewed ; the better to allure them hereafter to civilitie and christianitie . thus you may see , how nature her selfe delights her selfe in sundry instruments , that sundry things be done to decke the earth with ornaments ; nor suffers she her servants all should runne one race , but wills the walke of every one frame in a divers pace ; that divers wayes and divers workes , the world might better grace . written by thomas heriot , one of the voyage . how sir richard grenvill went to relieue them . in the yeare of our lord . sir walter raleigh and his associates prepared a ship of a hundred tun , fraughted plentifully of all things necessary : but before they set sayle from england it was easter . and arriving at hatora●k , they after some time spent in seeking the collony vp in the country , and not finding them , returned with all the provision againe to england . about . or . dayes after , sir richard grenvill accompanied with three ships well appoynted , arrived there . who not finding the aforesaid ship according to his expectation , nor hearing any newes of the collony there seated , and left by him as is said . travailing vp and downe to seeke them , but when he could heare no newes of them , and found their habitation abandoned , vnwilling to lose the possession of the country , after good deliberation he landed fiftie men in the i le of roanoak , plentifully furnished with all manner of provision for two yeares : and so returned for england . where many began strangely to discant of those crosse beginnings , and him ; which caused me remember an old saying of euripides . who broacheth ought that 's new , to fooles vntaught , himselfe shall iudged be vnwise , and good for naught . three ships more sent to relieue them by mr. white . we went the old course by the west indies , and simon ferdinando our continuall pilot mistaking virginia for cape fear , we sayled not much to haue beene cast away , vpon the conceit of our all-knowing ferdinando , had it not beene prevented by the vigilancy of captaine stafford . we came to hatorask the . of iuly , and with fortie of our best men , intending at roanoack to find the men left by sir richard grenvill . but we found nothing but the bones of a man , and where the plantation had beene , the houses vnhurt , but overgrowne with weeds , and the fort defaced , which much perplexed vs. by the history it seemes simon ferdinando did what he could to bring this voyage to confusion ; but yet they all arrived at hatorask . they repayred the old houses at roanock , and master george how , one of the councell , stragling abroad , was slaine by the salvages . not long after master stafford with . men went to croatan with manteo , whose friends dwelled there : of whom we thought to haue some newes of our men . they at first made shew to fight , but when they heard manteo , they threw away their armes , and were friends , and desired there might be a token giuen to be knowne by , least we might hurt them by misprision , as the yeare before one had bin by master layne , that was ever their friend , and there present yet lame . the next day we had conference with them concerning the people of secotan , aquascogoc , and pomeiok , willing them of croatan to see if they would accept our friendship , and renew our old acquaintance : which they willingly imbraced , and promised to bring their king and governours to roanoak , to confirme it . we also vnderstood that master howe was slaine by the men of wingina , of dassamonpeack : and by them of roanoack , that the fiftie men left by sir richard grenvill , were suddainly set vpon by three hundred of secotan , aquascogoc , and dassamonpeack . first they intruded themselues among of them by friendship , one they slew , the rest retyring to their houses , they set them on fire , that our men with what came next to hand were forced to make their passage among them ; where one of them was shot in the mouth , and presently dyed , and a salvage slaine by him . on both sides more were hurt ; but our men retyring to the water side , got their boat , & ere they had rowed a quarter of a myle towards hatorask , they tooke vp foure of their fellowes , gathering crabs and oysters : at last they landed on a little i le by hatorask , where they remained a while , but after departed they knew not whether . so taking our leaues of the croatans , we came to our fleet at hatorask . the governour having long expected the king and governours of pomeiok , secotan , aquascogoc , and dassamonpeack , and the . dayes expired , and no newes of them , being also informed by those of croatan , that they of dassamonpeack slew master how , and were at the driving our men from raonoack he thought no longer to deferre the revenge . wherefore about midnight , with captaine stafford , and twentie-foure men , whereof manteo was one , for our guide , ( that behaved himselfe towards vs as a most faithfull english man ) he set forward . the next day by breake of day we landed , and got beyond their houses , where seeing them sit by the fire we assaulted them . the miserable soules amazed fled into the reeds , where one was shot through , and we thought to haue beene fully revenged , but we were deceiued , for they were our friends come from croatan to gather their corne , because they vnderstood our enemies were fled after the death of master how , and left all behinde them for the birds . but they had like to haue payd too deare for it , had we not chanced vpon a weroances wife , with a childe at her backe , and a salvage that knew captaine stafford , that ran to him calling him by his name . being thus disappointed of our purpose , we gathered the fruit we found ripe , left the rest vnspoyled , and tooke menatonon his wife with her childe , and the rest with vs to roanoak . though this mistake grieued manteo , yet he imputed it to their own folly , because they had not kept promise to come to the governor at the day appointed . the . of august our salvage manteo was christened , and called lord of dassamonpeack , in reward of his faithfulnesse . and the th , ellinor the governours daughter , and wife to ananias dare , was delivered of a daughter in roanoak ; which being the first christian there borne , was called virginia . our ships being ready to depart , such a storme arose , as the admirall was forced to cut her cables : and it was six dayes ere she could recover the shore , that made vs doubt she had beene lost , because the most of her best men were on shore . at this time controversies did grow betwixt our governour and the assistants , about choosing one of them . to goe as factor for them all to england ; for all refused saue one , whom all men thought most insufficient : the conclusion was by a generall consent , they would haue the governour goe himselfe , for that they thought none would so truly procure there supplyes as he . which though he did what he could to excuse it , yet their importunitie would not cease till he vndertooke it , and had it vnder all their hands how vnwilling he was , but that necessity and reason did doubly constraine him . at their setting sayle for england , waighing anchor , twelue of the men in the flyboat were throwne from the capstern , by the breaking of a barre , and most of them so hurt , that some never recovered it . the second time they had the like fortune , being but . they cut the cable and kept company with their admirall to flowres and coruos ; the admirall stayed there looking for purchase : but the flyboats men grew so weake they were driuen to smerwick in the west of ireland . the governour went for england ; and simon ferdinando with much adoe at last arrived at portsmouth . . the names of those were landed in this plantation were , iohn white governour . roger bayley . ananias dare. simon ferdinando . christopher couper . thomas stevens . iohn samson . thomas smith . dionis haruie . roger prat. george how. antony cage . with divers others to the number of about . the fift voyage to virginia ; vndertaken by mr. iohn white . . the . of march three ships went from plimouth , and passed betwixt barbary and mogadoro to dominico in the west indies . after we had done some exployts in those parts , the third of august wee fell with the low sandy iles westward of wokokon . but by reason of ill weather it was the , ere we could anchor there ; and on the . we came to croatan , where is a great breach in degrees and a halfe , in the northeast poynt of the i le . the . we came to hatorask in . degrees & a terse , at . fadom , leagues from shore : where we might perceiue a smoake at the place where i left the colony , . the next morning captaine cooke , captaine spicer , & their companies , with two boats left ●ur ships , and discharged some ordnance to giue them notice of our comming , but when we came there , we found no man , nor signe of any that had beene there lately : and so returned to our boats. the next morning we prepared againe for roanoack . captaine spicer had then sent his boat ashore for water , so it was ten of the clocke ere we put from the ships , which rode two myles from the shore . the admirals boat , being a myle before the other , as she passed the bar , a sea broke into the boat and filled her halfe full of water : but by gods good will , and the carefull stearage of captaine cook , though our provisions were much wet we safe escaped , the wind blew hard at northeast , which caused so great a current and a breach vpon the barre ; captaine spicer passed halfe over , but by the indiscreet steering of ralph skinner , their boat was overset , the men that could catch hold hung about her , the next sea cast her on ground , where some let goe their hold to wade to shore , but the sea beat them downe . the boat thus tossed vp and downe captaine spicer and skinner hung there till they were drowne ; but . that could swim a little , kept themselues in deeper water , were saued by the meanes of captaine cook , that presently vpon the oversetting of their boat , shipped himselfe to saue what he could . thus of eleuen , seuen of the chiefest were drowned . this so discomfited all the saylers , we had much to do to get them any more to seeke further for the planters , but by their captaines forwardnes at last they fitted themselues againe for hatorask in boats , with persons . it was late ere we arrived , but seeing a fire through the woods , we sounded a trumpet , but no answer could we heare . the next morning we went to it , but could see nothing but the grasse , and some rotten trees burning . we went vp and downe the i le , and at last found three faire romane letters carved . c.r.o. which presently we knew to signifie the place where i should find them , according to a secret note betweene them & me : which was to write the name of the place they would be in , vpon some tree , dore , or post : and if they had beene in any distresse , to signifie it by making a crosse over it . for at my departure they intended to goe fiftie myles into the mayne . but we found no signe of distresse ; then we went to a place where they were left in sundry houses , but we found them all taken downe , and the place strongly inclosed with a high palizado , very fortlike ; and in one of the chiefe posts carued in fayre capitall letters croatan , without any signe of distresse , and many barres of iron , two pigs of lead , foure fowlers , iron shot , and such like heauie things throwne here and there , overgrowne with grasse and weeds . we went by the shore to seeke for their boats but could find none , nor any of the ordnance i left them . at last some of the sailers found divers chists had beene hidden and digged vp againe , and much of the goods spoyled , and scattered vp and downe , which when i saw , i knew three of them to be my owne ; but bookes , pictures , and all things els were spoyled . though it much grieued me , yet it did much comfort me that i did know they were at croatan ; so we returned to our ships , but had like to haue bin cast away by a great storme that continued all that night . the next morning we weighed anchor for croatan : having the anchor a-pike , the cable broke , by the meanes whereof we lost another : letting fall the third , the ship yet went so fast a drift , we fayled not much there to haue split . but god bringing vs into deeper water ; considering we had but one anchor , and our provision neare spent , we resolued to goe forthwith to s. iohns ile , hispaniola , or trinidado , to refresh our selues and seeke for purchase that winter , and the next spring come againe to seeke our country-men . but our vice admirall would not , but went directly for england , and we our course for trinidado . but within two dayes after , the wind changing , we were constrained for the westerne iles to refresh our selues , where we met with many of the queenes ships our owne consort , and divers others , the . of seeptember . and thus we left seeking our colony , that was neuer any of them found , nor seene to this day . and this was the conclusion of this plantation , after so much time , labour , and charge consumed . whereby we see ; not all at once , nor all alike , nor ever hath it beene , that god doth offer and confer his blessings vpon men . written by master iohn white . a briefe relation of the description of elizabeths ile , and some others towards the north part of virginia ; and what els they discovered in the yeare . by captaine bartholomew gosnoll , and captaine bartholomew gilbert ; and divers other gentlemen their associates . all hopes of virginia thus abandoned , it lay dead and obscured from . till this yeare . that captaine gosnoll , with . and himselfe in a small barke , set sayle from dartmouth vpon the . of march. though the wind favoured vs not at the first , but forced vs as far southward as the asores , which was not much out of our way ; we ran directly west from thence , whereby we made our iourney shorter then heretofore by . leagues : the weaknesse of our ship , the badnes of our saylers , and our ignorance of the coast , caused vs carry but a low sayle , that made our passage longer then we expected . on fryday the . of may we made land , it was somewhat low , where appeared certaine hummocks or hills in it : the shore white sand , but very rockie , yet overgrowne with fayre trees . comming to an anchor , indians in a baske shallop , with mast and sayle came boldly aboord vs. it seemed by their signes & such things as they had , some biskiners had fished there : being about the latitude of . but the harbour being naught , & doubting the weather , we went not ashore , but waighed , and stood to the southward into the sea. the next morning we found our selues imbayed with a mightie headland : within a league of the shore we anchored , and captaine gosnoll , my selfe , & three others went to it in our boat , being a white sand & a bold coast . though the weather was hot , we marched to the highest hils we could see , where we perceiued this headland part of the mayn , neare invironed with ilands . as we were returning to our ship , a good proper , lusty young man came to vs , with whom we had but small conference , and so we left him . herein . or . houres we tooke more cod then we knew what to doe with , which made vs perswade our selues , there might be found a good fishing in march , aprill , and may. at length we came among these fayre iles , some a league , . . . or . from the mayne , by one of them we anchored . we found it foure myles in compasse , without house or inhabitant . in it is a lake neare a myle in circuit ; the rest overgrowne with trees , which so well as the bushes , were so overgrowne with vines , we could scarce passe them . and by the blossomes we might perceiue there would be plenty of strawberries , respises , gousberries , and divers other fruits : besides , deere and other beasts we saw , and cranes , hernes , with divers other sorts of fowle ; which made vs call it martha's vineyard . the rest of the isles are replenished with such like ; very rocky , and much tinctured stone like minerall . though we met many indians , yet we could not see their habitations : they gaue vs fish , tobacco , and such things as they had . but the next isle we arrived at was but two leagues from the maine , & . myle about , invironed so with creekes and coves , it seemed like many isles linked together by small passages like bridges . in it is many places of plaine grasse , and such other fruits , and berries as before were mentioned . in mid-may we did sow wheat , barley , oates , & pease , which in . dayes sprung vp . inches . the soyle is fat and lusty : the crust therof gray , a foot or lesse in depth . it is full of high timbred okes , their leaues thrise so broad as ours : cedar straight and tall , beech , holly , walnut , hazell , cherry trees like ours , but the stalke beareth the blossom or fruit thereof like a cluster of grapes , forty or fiftie in a bunch . there is a tree of orange colour , whose barke in the filing is as smooth as velvet . there is a lake of fresh water three myles in compasse , in the midst an isle containing an acre or thereabout , overgrowne with wood : here are many tortoises , and abundance of all sorts of foules , whose young ones we tooke and cate at our pleasure . grounds nuts as big as egges , as good as potatoes , and . on a string , not two ynches vnder ground . all sorts of shell fish , as schalops , mussels , cockles , crabs , lobsters , welks , oysters , exceeding good and very great ; but not to cloy you with particulars , what god and nature hath bestowed on those places , i refer you to the authors owne writing at large . we called this isle elizabeths isle , from whence we went right over to the mayne , where we stood a while as ravished at the beautie and dilicacy of the sweetnesse , besides divers cleare lakes , whereof we saw no end , & meadows very large and full of greene grasse , &c. here we espyed . salvages , at first they expressed some feare , but by our courteous vsage of them , they followed vs to the necke of land , which we thought had beene severed from the mayne , but we found it otherwise . here we imagined was a river , but because the day was farre spent , we left to discover it till better leasure . but of good harbours , there is no doubt , considering the land is all rocky and broken lands . the next day we determined to fortifie our selues in the isle in the lake . three weekes we spent in building vs there a house . but the second day after our comming from the mayne , . canows with neare . salvag●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 . of iune , and arrived at e●mouth , the 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 . . 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 l. to furnish out two barkes , the one of . tuns , with . men and boyes , the other . tuns , with . 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 . 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 . 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 . as good sea men , & all necessary provisiōs as could possibly be gotten , we put to sea ; and the of aprill fell with flowres and coruos . we intended as we were directed towards the southward of . but the winds so crossed vs wee fell more northwards about . and . minuits , we sounded at . fathom , & by that we had run leagues we had but . yet saw no land ; from the mayne top we descryed a whitish sandy clift , west north-west some . leagues from vs , but ere we had run two leagues further we found many shoules and breaches , sometimes in . fadom and the next throw . or . 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 . or . 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 . 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 . 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 . . . . or . 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 . of may , where among our garden-seeds we sowed pease and barley , which in . dayes grew vp . 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 . or . 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 . our captaine with . went to discover the mayne : we in the ship espyed . canowes that came towards the ship . which after they had well viewed , one of them came aboord with . 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 myles , and returned backe to bring in the ship . the salvages also kept their words and brought vs . bever , oter , and sable skins , for the value of . 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 . yet would they row faster with . ores in their canowes then we with . 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 c●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 . 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 . severall waies a ship might be brought into this bay. in the interim there came . 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 . myles , of which i had rather not write , then by my relation detract from it , it is in breadth a myle , neare . myles ; and a channell of . . . . or . fadom , & on both sides every halfe myle gallant coues , to containe in many of them sayle , where they may lye on oze without cable or anchor , onely mored with a hanser , and it floweth . 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 . 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 . of iune we departed hence . when we had run . leagues we had . fadom , ●hen . then . after . or . watches more we were in . fadoms , where we tooke so much cod as we did know what to doe with , and the . 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 . . 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 incōveniences 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 . and . 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 , . and this is vnder the degrees . . and . 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 other great causes , not onely to haue made them sicke , but even to end their dayes , &c. the sommer is hot as in spaine ; the winter cold as in france or england . the heat of sommer is in iune , iuly , and august , but commonly the coole breeses asswage the vehemency of the heat . the chiefe of winter is halfe december , ianuary , february , and halfe march. the colde is extreame sharpe , but here the proverbe is true , that no extreame long continueth . in the yeare . was an extraordinary frost in most of europe , and this frost was found as extreame in virginia . but the next yeare for . or . dayes of ill weather , other . dayes would be as sommer . the windes here are variable , but the like thunder and lightning to purifie the ayre , i haue seldome either seene or heard in europe . from the southwest came the greatest gusts with thunder and heat . the northwest winde is commonly coole and bringeth faire weather with it . from the north is the greatest cold , and from the east and southeast as from the barmudas , fogs and raines . some times there are great droughts , other times much raine , yet great necessitie of neither , by reason we see not but that all the raritie of needfull fruits in europe , may be there in great plentie , by the industry of men , as appeareth by those we there planted . there is but one entrance by sea into this country , and that is at the mouth of a very goodly bay , . or . myles broad . the cape on the south is called cape henry , in honour of our most noble prince . the land white hilly sands like vnto the downes , and all along the shores great plentie of pines and firres . the north cape is called cape charles , in honour of the worthy duke of yorke . the isles before it , smith's isles , by the name of the discover . within is a country that may haue the prerogatiue over the most pleasant places knowne , for large and pleasant navigable rivers , heaven & earth never agreed better to frame a place for mans habitation ; were it fully manured and inhabited by industrious people . here are mountaines , hils , plaines , valleyes , rivers , and brookes , all running most pleasantly into a faire bay , compassed but for the mouth , with fruitfull and delightsome land . in the bay and rivers are many isles both great & small , some woody , some plaine , most of them low and not inhabited . this bay lyeth north and south , in which the water floweth neare . myles , and hath a channell for myles , of depth betwixt and fadome , holding in breadth for the most part or myles . from the head of the bay to the northwest , the land is mountanous , and so in a manner from thence by a southwest line ; so that the more southward , the farther off from the bay are those mountaines . from which fall certaine brookes which after come to fiue principall navigable rivers . these run from the northwest into the south east , and so into the west side of the bay , where the fall of every river is within or myles one of another . the mountaines are of divers natures : for at the head of the bay the rockes are of a composition like mill stones . some of marble , &c. and many peeces like christall we found , as throwne downe by water from those mountaines . for in winter they are covered with much snow , and when it dissolveth the waters fall with such violence , that it causeth great inundations in some narrow valleyes , which is scarce perceived being once in the rivers . these waters wash from the rocks such glistering tinctures , that the ground in some places seemeth as guilded , where both the rocks and the earth are so splendent to behold , that better iudgements then ours might haue beene perswaded , they contained more then probabilities . the vesture of the earth in most places doth manifestly proue the nature of the soyle to be lusty and very rich . the colour of the earth we found in diverse places , resembleth bole armoniac , terra sigillata , and lemnia , fullers earth , marle , and divers other such appearances . but generally for the most part it is a blacke sandy mould , in some places a fat slimy clay , in other places a very barren gravell . but the best ground is knowne by the vesture it beareth , as by the greatnesse of trees , or abundance of weeds , &c. the country is not mountanous , nor yet low , but such pleasant plaine hils , and fertile valleyes , one prettily crossing another , & watered so conveniently with fresh brookes and springs , no lesse commodious , then delightsome . by the rivers are many plaine marishes , containing some some . some acres , some more , some lesse . other plaines there are few , but onely where the salvages inhabit : but all overgrowne with trees & weeds , being a plaine wildernesse as god first made it . on the west side of the bay , we sayd were . faire and delightfull navigable rivers . the first of those , and the next to the mouth of the bay hath his course from the west northwest . it is called powhatan , according to the name of a principall country that lyeth vpon it . the mouth of this river is neare three myles in breadth , yet doe the shoules force the channell so neare the land , that a sacre will overshoot it at point blanke . it is navigable myles , the shouldes and soundings are here needlesse to be expressed . it falleth from rockes farre west in a country inhabited by a nation they call monacans . but where it commeth into our discovery it is powhatan . in the farthest place that was diligently observed , are falles , rockes , shoules , &c. which makes it past navigation any higher . thence in the running downeward , the river is enriched with many goodly brookes , which are maintained by an infinit number of small rundles and pleasant springs , that disperse themselues for best service , as do the veines of a mans body . from the south there fals into it : first , the pleasant river of apamatuck . next more to the east are two small rivers of quiyoughcohanocke . a little farther is a bay wherein falleth or prettie brookes & creekes that halfe intrench the inhabitants of warraskoyac , then the river of nandsamund , and lastly the brooke of chisapeack . from the north side is the river of chickahamania , the backe river of iames towne ; another by the cedar isle , where we liued ten weekes vpon oysters , then a convenient harbour for fisher boats at kecoughtan , that so turneth it selfe into bayes and creekes , it makes that place very pleasant to inhabit ; their cornefields being girded therein in a manner as peninsulaes . the most of these rivers are inhabited by severall nations , or rather families , of the name of the rivers . they haue also over those some governour , as their king , which they call werowances . in a peninsula on the north side of this river are the english planted in a place by them called iames towne , in honour of the kings most excellent maiestie . the first and next the rivers mouth are the kecoughtans , who besides their women & children , haue not past . fighting men . the paspaheghes ( on whose land is seated iames towne , some . myles from the bay ) haue not past . the river called chickahamania neare . the weanocks . the arrowhatocks . the place called powhatan , some . on the south side this river the appamatucks haue sixtie fighting men . the quiyougcohanocks . the nandsamūds . the chesapeacks . of this last place the bay beareth the name . in all these places is a severall commander , which they call werowance , except the chickahamanians , who are governed by the priests and their assistants , or their elders called caw-cawwassoughes . in sommer no place affordeth more plentie of sturgeon , nor in winter more abundance of foule , especially in the time of frost . i tooke once sturgeons at a draught , at another . from the later end of may till the end of iune are taken few , but yong sturgeons of two foot , or a yard long . from thence till the midst of september , them of two or three yards long and few others . and in or , houres with one net were ordinarily taken or : often more , seldome lesse . in the small rivers all the yeare there is good plentie of small fish , so that with hookes those that would take paines had sufficient . foureteene myles northward from the river powhatan , is the river pamavnkee , which is navigable or myles , but with catches and small barkes or myles farther . at the ordinary flowing of the salt water , it divideth it selfe into two gallant branches . on the south side inhabit the people of youghtanund , who haue about men for warres . on the north branch mattapament , who haue men . where this river is divided the country is called pamavnkee , and nourisheth neare able men . about . myles lower on the north side of this river is werawocomoco , where their great king inhabited when i was delivered him prisoner ; yet there are not past able men . ten or twelue myles lower , on the south side of this river , is chiskiack , which hath some or men . these , as also apamatuck , irrohatock , and powhatan , are their great kings chiefe alliance , and inhabitants . the rest his conquests . before we come to the third river that falleth from the mountaines , there is another river ( some myles navigable ) that commeth from the inland , called payankatanke , the inhabitants are about or serviceable men . the third navigable river is called toppahanock . ( this is navigable some myles ) at the top of it inhabit the people called mannahoacks amongst the mountaines , but they are aboue the place we described . vpon this river on the north side are the people cuttatawomen , with fighting men . higher are the moraughtacunds , with . beyond them rapahanock with . far aboue is another cuttatawomen with . on the south is the pleasant seat of nantaughtacund having men . this river also as the two former , is replenished with fish and foule . the fourth river is called patawomeke , or myles in breadth . it is navigable myles , and fed as the rest with many sweet rivers and springs , which fall from the bordering hils . these hils many of them are planted , and yeeld no lesse plentie and varietie of fruit , then the river exceedeth with abundance of fish . it is inhabited on both sides . first on the south side at the very entrance is wighcocomoco & hath some men , beyond them sekacawone with . the onawmanient with . and the patawomekes more then . here doth the river divide it selfe into or convenient branches . the greatest of the least is called quiyough , trending northwest , but the river it selfe turneth northeast , and is still a navigable streame . on the westerne side of this bought is tauxenent with men . on the north of this river is secowocomoco with . somewhat further potapaco with . in the east part is pamacaeack with . after moyowance with . and lastly , nacotchtanke with . the river aboue this place maketh his passage downe a low pleasant valley overshaddowed in many places with high rocky mountaines ; from whence distill innumerable sweet and pleasant springs . the fift river is called pawtuxunt , of a lesse proportion then the rest ; but the channell is fadome deepe in some places . here are infinit skuls of divers kindes of fish more then elswhere . vpon this river dwell the people called acquintanacksuak , pawtuxunt , and mattapanient . two hundred men was the greatest strength that could be there perceived . but they inhabit together , and not so dispersed as the rest . these of all other we found most civill to giue intertainement . thirtie leagues northward is a river not inhabited , yet navigable ; for the red clay resembling bole armoniack we called it bolus . at the end of the bay where it is or myles in breadth , it divides it selfe into . branches , the best commeth northwest from among the mountaines , but though canows may goe a dayes iourney or two vp it , we could not get two myles vp it with our boat for rockes . vpon it is seated the sasquesahanocks , neare it north and by west runneth a creeke a myle and a halfe : at the head whereof the eble left vs on shore , where we found many trees cut with hatchets . the next tyde keeping the shore to seeke for some salvages ; ( for within thirtie leagues sayling , we saw not any , being a barren country , ) we went vp another small river like a creeke or myle . from thence returning we met canowes of the massowomeks , with whom we had conference by signes , for we vnderstood one another scarce a word : the next day we discovered the small river & people of tockwhogh trending eastward . having lost our grapnell among the rocks of sasquesahanocks , we were then neare myles from home , and our barge about two runs , and had in it but men to performe this discovery , wherein we lay aboue weekes vpon those great waters in those vnknowne countries , having nothing but a little meale , oatemeale and water to feed vs , and scarce halfe sufficient of that for halfe that time , but what provision we got among the salvages , and such rootes and fish as we caught by accident , and gods direction ; nor had we a mariner nor any had skill to trim the sayles but two saylers and my selfe , the rest being gentlemen , or them were as ignorant in such toyle and labour . yet necessitie in a short time by good words and examples made them doe that that caused them ever after to feare no colours . what i did with this small meanes i leaue to the reader to iudge , and the mappe i made of the country , which is but a small matter in regard of the magnitude thereof . but to proceed , of those sasquesahanocks came to vs with skins , bowes , arrows , targets , beads , swords , and tobacco pipes for presents . such great and well proportioned men are seldome seene , for they seemed like giants to the english , yea and 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 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 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 men . after that , is the river tants wighcocomoco , & on it a people with 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 men , & they of accomack 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 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 or 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 , , or 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 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 or 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 blacke wings , herons , geese , brants , ducke , wigeon , dotterell , oxeies , parrats , and pigeons . of all those sorts great abundance , and some other strange kinds , to vs vnknowne by name . but in sommer not any , or a very few to be seene . of fish we were best acquainted with sturgeon , grampus , porpus , seales , stingraies , whose tailes are very dangerous . bretts , mullets , white salmonds , trowts , soles , plaice , herrings , conyfish , rockfish , eeles , lampreys●punc ; catfish , shades●punc ; p●arch of three sorts , crabs , shrimps , crevises , oysters , cocles , and m●scles . but the most strange fish is a small one , so like the picture of st george his dragon , as possible can be , except his legs and wings , and the toadefish , which will swell till it be like to burst , when it commeth into the ayre . concerning the entrailes of the earth , little can be said for certaintie . there wanted good refiners ; for those that tooke vpon them to haue skill this way , tooke vp the washings from the mountaines , and some moskered shining stones and spangles which the waters brought downe , flattering themselues in their owne vaine conceits to haue beene supposed what they were not , by the meanes of that ore , if it proued as their arts and iudgements expected . onely this is certaine , that many regions lying in the same latitude , afford mines very rich of divers natures . the crust also of these rockes would easily perswade a man to beleeue there are other mines then yron and steele , if there were but meanes and men of experience that knew the mine from spar. of their planted fruits in virginia , and how they vse them . they divide the yeare into fiue seasons . their winter some call popanow , the spring cattapeuk , the sommer cohattayough , the earing of their corne nepinough , the harvest and fall of leafe taquitock . from september vntill the midst of november are the chiefe feasts & sacrifice . then haue they plentie of fruits as well planted as naturall , as corne , greene and ripe , fish , fowle , and wilde beasts exceeding fat . the greatest labour they take , is in planting their corne , for the country naturally is overgrowne with wood . to prepare the ground they bruise the barke of the trees neare the root , then doe they scortch the roots with fire that they grow no more . the next yeare with a crooked peece of wood they beat vp the weeds by the rootes , and in that mould they plant their corne. their manner is this . they make a hole in the earth with a sticke and into it they put foure graines of wheate and two of beanes these hol●s they make foure foote one from another ; their women and children do continually keepe it with weeding , and when it is growne middle high , they hill it about like a hop-yard . in aprill they begin to plant , but their chiefe plantation is in may , and so they continue till the midst of iune . what they plant in aprill they reape in august , for may in september , for iune in october ; every stalke of their corne commonly beareth two eares , some three , seldome any foure , many but one , and some none . every care ordinarily hath betwixt and graines . the stalke being greene hath a sweet iuice in it , somewhat like a sugar cane , which is the cause that when they gather their corne greene , they sucke the stalkes : for as we gather greene pease , so doe they their corne being greene , which excelleth their old . they plant also pease they call assentamen● , which are the same they call in italy , fag●h . their beanes are the same the turkes call garnanses , but these they much esteeme for dainties . their corne they rost in the eare greene , and bruising it in a morter of wood with a polt , lap it in rowles in the leaues of their corne , and so boyle it for a daintie . they also reserue that corne late planted that will not ripe , by roasting it in hot ashes , the heat thereof drying it . in winter they esteeme it being boyled with beanes for a rare dish , they call pausarowmena . their old wheat they first steepe a night in hot water , in the morning pounding it in a morter . they vse a small basket for their temmes , then pound againe the great , and so separating by dashing their hand in the basket , receiue the flower in a platter made of wood , scraped to that forme with burning and shels . tempering this flower with water , they make it either in cakes , covering them with ashes till they be baked , and then washing them in faire water , they drie presently with their owne heat : or else boyle them in water , eating the broth with the bread which they call ponap . the grouces and peeces of the cornes remaining , by fanning in a platter or in the wind , away , the branne they boyle or houres with water , which is an ordinary food they call vstatahamen . but some more thriftie then cleanly , doe burne the core of the eare to powder , which they call pungnough , mingling that in their meale , but it never tasted well in bread , nor broth . their fish & flesh they boyle either very tenderly , or boyle it so long on hurdles over the fire , or else after the spanish fashion , putting it on a spit , they turne first the one side , then the other , till it be as drie as their ierkin beefe in the west indies , that they may keepe it a moneth or more without putrifying . the broth of fish or flesh they eat as commonly as the meat . in may also amongst their corne they plant pumpeons , and a fruit like vnto a muske mellon , but lesse and worse , which they call macocks . these increase exceedingly , and ripen in the beginning of iuly , and continue vntill september . they plant also maracocks a wild fruit like a lemmon , which also increase infinitely . they begin to ripe in september , and continue till the end of october . when all their fruits be gathered , little els they plant , and this is done by their women and children ; neither doth this long suffice them , for neare three parts of the yeare , they onely obserue times and seasons , and liue of what the country naturally affordeth from hand to mouth , &c. the commodities in virginia , or that may be had by industrie . the mildnesse of the ayre , the fertilitie of the soyle , and situation of the rivers are so propitious to the nature and vse of man , as no place is more convenient for pleasure , profit , and mans sustenance , vnder that latitude or climat . here will liue any beasts , as horses , goats , sheepe , asses , hens , &c. as appeared by them that were carried thether . the waters , isles , and shoales , are full of safe harbours for ships of warre or marchandize , for boats of all sorts , for transportation or fishing , &c. the bay and rivers haue much marchantable fish , and places fit for salt coats , building of ships , making of iron , &c. muscovia and polonia doe yearely receiue many thousands , for pitch , tarre , sope-ashes , rosen , flax , cordage , sturgeon , masts . yards , wainscot , firres , glasse , and such like ; also swethland for iron and copper . france in like manner , for wine , canvas , and salt. spaine asmuch for iron , steele , figges , reasons , and sackes . italy with silkes and velvets consumes our chiefe commodities . holland maintaines it selfe by fishing and trading at our owne doores . all these temporize with other for necessities , but all as vncertaine as peace or warres . besides the charge , travell , and danger in transporting them , by seas , lands , stormes , and pyrats . then how much hath virginia the prerogatiue of all those flourishing kingdomes , for the benefit of our land , when as within one hundred myles all those are to be had , either ready provided by nature , or else to be prepared , were there but industrious men to labour . onely of copper we may doubt is wanting , but there is good probabilitie that both copper and better minerals are there to be had for their labour . other countries haue it . so then here is a place , a nurse for souldiers , a practise for mariners , a trade for marchants , a reward for the good , and that which is most of all , a businesse ( most acceptable to god ) to bring such poore infidels to the knowledge of god and his holy gospell . of the naturall inhabitants of virginia . the land is not populous , for the men be few ; their far greater number is of women and children . within myles of iames towne , there are about some people , but of able men fit for their warres scarce . to nourish so many together they haue yet no meanes , because they make so small a benefit of their land , be it never so fertile . six or seauen hundred haue beene the most hath beene seene together , when they gathered themselues to haue surprised mee at pamavnkee , having but fifteene to withstand the worst of their fury . as small as the proportion of ground that hath yet beene discovered , is in comparison of that yet vnknowne : the people differ very much in stature , especially in language , as before is expressed . some being very great as the sasquesahanecks ; others very little , as the wighcocomocoes : but generally tall and straight , of a comely proportion , and of a colour browne when they are of any age , but they are borne white . their hayre is generally blacke , but few haue any beards . the men weare halfe their beards shaven , the other halfe long ; for barbers they vse their women , who with two shels will grate away the hayre , of any fashion they please . the women are cut in many fashions , agreeable to their yeares , but ever some part remaineth long . they are very strong , of an able body and full of agilitie , able to endure to lie in the woods vnder a tree by the fire , in the worst of winter , or in the weedes and grasse , in ambuscado in the sommer . they are inconstant in every thing , but what feare constraineth them to keepe . craftie , timerous , quicke of apprehension , and very ingenuous . some are of disposition fearefull , some bold , most cautelous , all savage . generally covetous of copper , beads , and such like trash . they are soone moued to anger , and so malicious , that they seldome forget an iniury : they seldome steale one from another , least their coniurers should reveale it , and so they be pursued and punished . that they are thus feared is certaine , but that any can reueale their offences by coniuration i am doubtfull . their women are carefull not to be suspected of dishonestie without the leaue of their husbands . each houshold knoweth their owne lands , and gardens , and most liue of their owne labours . for their apparell , they are sometime covered with the skinnes of wilde beasts , which in winter are dressed with the hayre , but in sommer without . the better sort vse large mantels of deare skins , not much differing in fashion from the irish mantels . some imbrodered with white beads , some with copper , other painted after their manner . but the common sort haue scarce to cover their nakednesse , but with grasse , the leaues of trees , or such like . we haue seene some vse mantels made of turky feathers , so prettily wrought & woven with threads that nothing could be discerned but the feathers . that was exceeding warme and very handsome . but the women are alwayes covered about their middles with a skin , and very shamefast to be seene bare . they adorne themselues most with copper beads and paintings . their women , some haue their legs , hands , breasts and face cunningly imbrodered with divers workes , as beasts , serpents , artificially wrought into their flesh with blacke spots . in each eare commonly they haue great holes , whereat they hang chaines , bracelets , or copper . some of their men weare in those holes , a small greene and yellow coloured snake , neare halfe a yard in length , which crawling and lapping her selfe about his necke oftentimes familiarly would kisse his lips . others weare a dead rat tyed by the taile . some on their heads weare the wing of a bird , or some large feather with a rattell . those rattels are somewhat like the chape of a rapier , but lesse , which they take from the taile of a snake . many haue the whole skinne of a hawke or some strange foule , stuffed with the wings abroad . others a broad peece of copper , and some the hand of their enemy dryed . their heads and shoulders are painted red with the roote pocone brayed to powder , mixed with oyle , this they hold in sommer to preserue them from the heate , and in winter from the cold . many other formes of paintings they vse , but he is the most gallant that is the most monstrous to behold . their buildings and habitations are for the most part by the rivers , or not farre distant from some fresh spring . their houses are built like our arbors , of small young springs bowed and tyed , and so close covered with mats , or the barkes of trees very handsomely , that notwithstanding either winde , raine , or weather , they are as warme as stooues , but very smoaky , yet at the toppe of the house there is a hole made for the smoake to goe into right over the fire . against the fire they lie on little hurdles of reeds covered with a mat , borne from the ground a foote and more by a hurdle of wood . on these round about the house they lie heads and points one by th' other against the fire , some covered with mats , some with skins , and some starke naked lie on the ground , from to in a house . their houses are in the midst of their fields or gardens , which are small plots of ground . some acres , some . some . some . some more , some lesse . in some places from to of those houses together , or but a little separated by groues of trees . neare their habitations is little small wood or old trees on the ground by reason of their burning of them for fire . so that a man may gallop a horse amongst these woods any way , but where the creekes or rivers shall hinder . men , women , and children haue their severall names according to the severall humor of their parents . their women ( they say ) are easily delivered of childe , yet doe they loue children very dearely . to make them hardie , in the coldest mornings they them wash in the rivers , and by painting and oyntments so tanne their skinnes , that after a yeare or two , no weather will hurt them . the men bestow their times in fishing , hunting , warres , and such man-like exercises , scorning to be seene in any woman-like exercise , which is the cause that the women be very painefull , and the men often idle . the women and children doe the rest of the worke . they make mats , baskets , pots , morters , pound their corne , make their bread , prepare their victuals , plant their corne , gather their corne , beare all kind of burdens , and such like . their fire they kindle presently by chafing a dry pointed sticke in a hole of a little square peece of wood , that firing it selfe , will so fire mosse , leaues , or any such like dry thing , that will quickly burne . in march and aprill they liue much vpon their fishing wires ; and feed on fish , turkies , and squirrels . in may and iune they plant their fields , and liue most of acornes , walnuts , and fish . but to amend their dyet , some disperse themselues in small companies , and liue vpon fish , beasts , crabs , oysters , land tortoises , strawberries , mulberries , and such like . in iune , iuly , and august , they feed vpon the rootes of tocknough berries , fish , and greene wheat . it is strange to see how their bodies alter with their dyet , even as the deere & wilde beasts they seeme fat and leane , strong and weake . powhatan their great king , and some others that are provident , rost their fish and flesh vpon hurdles as before is expressed , and keepe it till scarce times . for fishing , hunting , and warres they vse much their bow and arrowes . they bring their bowes to the forme of ours by the scraping of a shell . their arrowes are made some of straight young sprigs , which they head with bone , some or ynches long . these they vse to shoot at squirrels on trees . another sort of arrowes they vse made of reeds . these are peeced with wood , headed with splinters of christall , or some sharpe stone , the spurres of a turkey , or the bill of some bird . for his knife he hath the splinter of a reed to cut his feathers in forme . with this knife also , he will ioynt a deere , or any beast , shape his shooes , buskins , mantels , &c. to make the noch of his arrow he hath the tooth of a beaver , set in a sticke , wherewith he grateth it by degrees . his arrow head he quickly maketh with a little bone , which he ever weareth at his bracert , of any splint of a stone , or glasse in the forme of a heart , and these they glew to the end of their arrowes . with the sinewes of deere , and the tops of deeres hornes boyled to a ielly , they make a glew that will not dissolue in cold water . for their warres also they vse targets that are round and made of the barkes of trees , and a sword of wood at their backes , but oftentimes they vse for swords the horne of a deere put through a peece of wood in forme of a pickaxe . some a long stone sharpned at both ends , vsed in the same manner . this they were wont to vse also for hatchets , but now by trucking they haue plentie of the same forme of yron . and those are their chiefe instruments and armes . their fishing is much in boats. these they make of one tree by burning and scratching away the coales with stones and shels , till they haue made it in forme of a trough . some of them are an elne deepe , and fortie or fiftie foote in length , and some will beare men , but the most ordinary are smaller , and will beare , , or . according to their bignesse . in stead of oares , they vse paddles and stickes , with which they will row faster then our barges . betwixt their hands and thighes , their women vse to spin , the barkes of trees , deere sinewes , or a kind of grasse they call pemmenaw , of these they make a thread very even and readily . this thread serveth for many vses . as about their housing , apparell , as also they make nets for fishing , for the quantitie as formally braded as ours . they make also with it lines for angles . their hookes are either a bone grated as they noch their arrowes in the forme of a crooked pinne or fish-hooke , or of the splinter of a bone tyed to the clift of a little sticke , and with the end of the line , they tie on the bait . they vse also long arrowes tyed in a line , wherewith they shoote at fish in the rivers . but they of accawmack vse staues like vnto iauelins headed with bone . with these they dart fish swimming in the water . they haue also many artificiall wires , in which they get abundance of fish . in their hunting and fishing they take extreame paines ; yet it being their ordinary exercise from their infancy , they esteeme it a pleasure and are very proud to be expert therein . and by their continuall ranging , and travell , they know all the advantages and places most frequented with deere , beasts , fish , foule , roots , and berries . at their huntings they leaue their habitations , and reduce themselues into companies , as the tartars doe , and goe to the most desert places with their families , where they spend their time in hunting and fowling vp towards the mountaines , by the heads of their rivers , where there is plentie of game . for betwixt the rivers the grounds are so narrowe , that little commeth here which they devoure not . it is a marvell they can so directly passe these deserts , some or dayes iourney without habitation . their hunting houses are like vnto arbours covered with mats . these their women beare after them , with corne , acornes , morters , and all bag and baggage they vse . when they come to the place of exercise , every man doth his best to shew his dexteritie , for by their excelling in those qualities , they get their wiues . fortie yards will they shoot levell , or very neare the marke , and is their best at random . at their huntings in the deserts they are commonly two or three hundred together . having found the deere , they environ them with many fires , & betwixt the fires they place themselues . and some take their stands in the midsts . the deere being thus feared by the fires , and their voyces , they chase them so long within that circle , that many times they kill , , , or at a hunting . they vse also to driue them into some narrow poynt of land , when they find that advantage ; and so force them into the river , where with their boats they haue ambuscadoes to kill them . when they haue shot a deere by land , they follow him like bloud-hounds by the bloud , and straine , and oftentimes so take them . hares , partridges , turkies , or egges , fat or leane , young or old , they devoure all they can catch in their power . in one of these huntings they found me in the discovery of the head of the river of chickahamania , where they slew my men , and tooke me prisoner in a bogmire , where i saw those exercises , and gathered these observations . one salvage hunting alone , vseth the skinne of a deere slit on the one side , and so put on his arme , through the neck , so that his hand comes to the head which is stuffed , and the hornes , head , eyes , eares , and every part as artificially counterfeited as they can devise . thus shrowding his body in the skinne by stalking , he approacheth the deere , creeping on the ground from one tree to another . if the deere chance to find fault , or stand at gaze , he turneth the head with his hand to his best advantage to seeme like a deere , also gazing and licking himselfe . so watching his best advantage to approach , having shot him , he chaseth him by his bloud and straine till he get him . when they intend any warres , the werowances vsually haue the advice of their their priests and coniurers , and their allies , and ancient friends , but chiefely the priests determine their resolution . every werowance , or some lustie fellow , they appoint captaine over every nation . they seldome make warre for lands or goods , but for women and children , and principally for revenge . they haue many enemies , namely , all their westernly countries beyond the mountaines , and the heads of the rivers . vpon the head of the powhatans are the monacans , whose chiefe habitation is at rasauweak , vnto whom the mowhemenchughes , the massinnacacks , the monahassanughs , the monasickapanoughs , and other nations pay tributes . vpon the head of the river of toppahanock is a people called mannahoacks . to these are contributers the tauxanias , the shackaconias , the ontponeas , the tegninateos , the whonkenteaes , the stegarakes , the hassinnungaes , and divers others , all confederates with the monacans , though many different in language , and be very barbarous , liuing for the most part of wild beasts and fruits . beyond the mountaines from whence is the head of the river patawomeke , the salvages report inhabit their most mortall enemies , the massawomekes , vpon a great salt water , which by all likelihood is either some part of cannada , some great lake , or some inlet of some sea that falleth into the south sea . these massawomekes are a great nation and very populous . for the heads of all those rivers , especially the pattawomekes , the pautuxuntes , the sasquesa●anocks , the tockwoughes are continually tormented by them : of whose crueltie , they generally complained , and very importunate they were with me , and my company to free them from these tormentors . to this purpose they offered food , conduct , assistance , and continuall subiection . which i concluded to effect . but the councell then present emulating my successe , would not thinke it fit to spare me fortie men to be hazzarded in those vnknowne regions , having passed ( as before was spoken of ) but with , an● so was lost that opportunitie . seaven boats full of these massawomekes wee encountred at the head of the bay ; whose targets , baskets , swords , tobaccopipes , platters , bowes , and arrowes , and every thing shewed , they much exceeded them of our parts , and their dexteritie in their small boats , made of the barkes of trees , sowed with barke and well luted with gumme , argueth that they are seated vpon some great water . against all these enemies the powhatans are constrained sometimes to fight . their chiefe attempts are by stratagems , trecheries , or surprisals . yet the werowances women and children they put not to death , but keepe them captiues . they haue a method in warre , and for our pleasures they shewed it vs , and it was in this manner performed at mattapanient . having painted and disguised themselues in the fiercest manner they could devise . they divided themselues into two companies , neare a hundred in a company . the one company called monacans , the other powhatans . either army had their captaine . these as enemies tooke their stands a musket shot one from another ; ranked themselues a breast , and each ranke from another or yards , not in fyle , but in the opening betwixt their fyles . so the reare could shoot as conveniently as the front. having thus pitched the fields : from either part went a messenger with these conditions , that whosoever were vanquished , such as escape vpon their submission in two dayes after should liue , but their wiues and children should be prize for the conquerours . the messengers were no sooner returned , but they approached in their orders ; on each flanke a serieant , and in the reare an officer for lieutenant , all duly keeping their orders , yet leaping and singing after their accustomed tune , which they onely vse in warres . vpon the first flight of arrowes they gaue such horrible shouts and screeches , as so many infernall hell hounds could not haue made them more terrible . when they had spent their arrowes , they ioyned together pre●tily , charging and retyring , every ranke seconding other . as they got advantage they catched their enemies by the hayre of the head , and downe he came that was taken . his enemy with his wooden sword seemed to beat out his braines , and still they crept to the reare , to maintaine the skirmish . the monacans decreasing , the powhatans charged them in the forme of a halfe moone ; they vnwilling to be inclosed , fled all in a troope to their ambuscadoes , on whom they led them very cunningly . the monacans disperse themselues among the fresh men , wherevpon the powhatans retired , with all speed to their seconds ; which the monacans seeing , tooke that advantage to retire againe to their owne battell , and so each returned to their owne quarter . all their actions , voyces , and gestures , both in charging and retiring were so strained to the height of their qualitie and nature , that the strangenesse thereof made it seeme very delightfull . for their musicke they vse a thicke cane , on which they pipe as on a recorder . for their warres they haue a great deepe platter of wood . they cover the mouth thereof with a skin , at each corner they tie a walnut , which meeting on the backside neere the bottome , with a small rope they twitch them together till it be so tought and stiffe , that they may beat vpon it as vpon a drumme . but their chiefe instruments are rattles made of small gourds , or pumpeons shels . of these they haue base , tenor , countertenor , meane , and treble . these mingled with their voyces sometimes twenty or thirtie together , make such a terrible noise as would rather affright , then delight any man. if any great commander arriue at the habitation of a werowance , they spread a mat as the turkes doe a carpet for him to sit vpon . vpon another right opposite they sit themselues . then doe all with a tunable voice of shouting bid him welcome . after this doe two or more of their chiefest men make an oration , testifying their loue . which they doe with such vehemency , and so great passions , that they sweat till they drop , and are so out of breath they can scarce speake . so that a man would take them to be exceeding angry , or stark mad . such victuall as they haue , they spend freely , and at night where his lodging is appointed , they set a woman fresh painted red with pocones and oyle , to be his bed-fellow . their manner of trading is for copper , beads , and such like , for which they giue such commodities as they haue , as skins , foule , fish , flesh , and their country corne. but their victualls are their chiefest riches . every spring they make themselues sicke with drinking the iuyce of a roote they call wighsacan , and water ; whereof they powre so great a quantitie , that it purgeth them in a very violent manner ; so that in three or foure dayes after , they scarce recover their former health . sometimes they are troubled with dropsies , swellings , aches , and such like diseases ; for cure whereof they build a stoue in the forme of a doue-house with mats , so close that a few coales therein covered with a pot , will make the patient sweat extreamely . for swellings also they vse small peeces of touchwood , in the forme of cloues , which pricking on the griefe they burne close to the flesh , and from thence draw the corruption with their mouth . with this roote wighsacan they ordinarily heale greene wounds . but to scarrifie a swelling , or make incision , their best instruments are some splinted stone . old vlcers , or putrified hurts are seldome seene cured amongst them . they haue many professed phisicians , who with their charmes and rattles , with an infernall rout of words and actions , will seeme to sucke their inward griefe from their navels , or their grieued places ; but of our chirurgians they were so conceited , that they beleeued any plaister would heale any hurt . but 't is not alwayes in phisicians skill , to heale the patient that is sicke and ill : for sometimes sicknesse on the patients part , proues stronger farre then all phisicians art . of their religion . there is yet in virginia no place discovered to be so savage , in which they haue not a religion , deere , and bow , and arrowes . all things that are able to doe them hurt beyond their prevention , they adore with their kinde of divine worship ; as the fire , water , lightning , thunder , our ordnance , peeces , horses , &c. but their chiefe god they worship is the devill . him they call okee , and serue him more of feare then loue . they say they haue conference with him , and fashion themselues as neare to his shape as they can imagine . in their temples they haue his image euill favouredly carved , and then painted and adorned with chaines of copper , and beads , and covered with a skin , in such manner as the deformitie may well suit with such a god. by him is commonly the sepulcher of their kings . their bodies are first bowelled , then dried vpon hurdles till they be very dry , and so about the most of their ioynts and necke they hang bracelets , or chaines of copper , pearle , and such like , as they vse to weare , their inwards they stuffe with copper beads , hatchets , and such trash . then lappe they them very carefully in white skins , and so rowle them in mats for their winding sheets . and in the tombe which is an arch made of mats , they lay them orderly . what remaineth of this kinde of wealth their kings haue , they set at their feet in baskets . these temples and bodies are kept by their priests . for their ordinary burials , they dig a deepe hole in the earth with sharpe stakes , and the corpse being lapped in skins and mats with their iewels , they lay them vpon stickes in the ground , and so cover them with earth . the buriall ended , the women being painted all their faces with blacke cole and oyle , doe sit twenty-foure houres in the houses mourning and lamenting by turnes , with such yelling and howling , as may expresse their great passions . in every territory of a werowance is a temple and a priest , two or three or more . their principall temple or place of superstition is at vitamussack at pamavnk●e , neare vnto which is a house , temple , or place of powhatans . vpon the top of certaine red sandy hils in the woods , there are three great houses filled with images of their kings , and devils , and tombes of their predecessors . those houses are neare sixtie foot in length built arbour-wise , after their building . this place they count so holy as that but the priests & kings dare come into them ; nor the salvages dare not goe vp the river in boats by it , but they solemnly cast some peece of copper , white beads , or pocones into the river , for feare their okee should be offended and revenged of them . thus , feare was the first their gods begot : till feare began , their gods were not . in this place commonly are resident seauen priests . the chiefe differed from the rest in his ornaments , but inferior priests could hardly be knowne from the common people , but that they had not so many holes in their eares to hang their iewels at . the ornaments of the chiefe priest were certaine attires for his head made thus . they tooke a dosen , or , or more snakes skins and stuffed them with mosse , and of weesels and other vermines skins a good many . all these they tie by their tailes , so as all their tailes meete in the toppe of their head like a great tassell . round about this tassell is as it were a crowne of feathers , the skins hang round about his head , necke , and shoulders , and in a manner cover his face . the faces of all their priests are painted as vgly as they can devise , in their hands they had every one his rattle , some base , some smaller . their devotion was most in songs , which the chiefe priest beginneth and the rest followed him , sometimes he maketh invocations with broken sentences by starts and strange passions , and at every pause , the rest giue a short groane . thus seeke they in deepe foolishnesse , to climbe the height of happinesse . it could not be perceiued that they keepe any day as more holy then other ; but onely in some great distresse of want , feare of enemies , times of triumph and gathering together their fruits , the whole country of men , women , and children come together to solemnities . the manner of their devotion is , sometimes to make a great fire , in the house or fields , and all to sing and dance about it with rattles and shouts together , foure or fiue houres . sometimes they set a man in the midst , and about him they dance and sing , he all the while clapping his hands , as if he would keepe time , and after their songs and dauncings ended they goe to ●heir feasts . through god begetting feare , mans blinded minde did reare a hell-god to the ghosts ; a heaven-god to the hoasts ; yea god vnto the seas : feare did create all these . they haue also divers coniurations , one they made when i was their prisoner ; of which hereafter you shall reade at large . they haue also certaine altar stones they call pawcorances , but these stand from their temples , some by their houses , others in the woods and wildernes●es , where they haue had any extraordinary accident , or incounter . and as you travell , at those stones they will tell you the cause why they were there erected , which from age to age they instruct their children , as their best records of antiquities . vpon these they offer bloud , deere suet , and tobacco . this they doe when they returne from the warres , from hunting , and vpon many other occasions . they haue also another superstition that they vse in stormes , when the waters are rough in the rivers and sea coasts . their coniurers runne to the water sides , or passing in their boats , after many hellish outcryes and invocations , they cast tobacco , copper , pocones , or such trash into the water , to pacific that god whom they thinke to be very angry in those stormes . before their dinners and suppers the better sort will take the first bit , and cast it in the fire , which is all the grace they are knowne to vse . in some part of the country they haue yearely a sacrifice of children . such a one was at quiyoughcohanock some ten myles from iames towne , and thus performed . fifteene of the properest young boyes , betweene ten and fifteene yeares of age they painted white . having brought them forth , the people spent the forenoon● in dancing and singing about them with rattles . in the afternoone they put those children to the roote of a tree . by them all the men stood in a guard , every one having a bastinado in his hand , made of reeds bound together . this made a lane betweene them all along , through which there were appointed fiue young men to fetch these children : so every one of the fiue went through the guard to fetch a childe each after other by turnes , the guard fiercely beating them with their bastinadoes , and they patiently enduring and receiuing all ▪ defending the children with their naked bodies from the vnmercifull blowes , that pay them soundly , though the children escape . all this while the women weepe and cry out very passionately , prouiding mats , skins , mosse , and dry wood , as things fitting their childrens funerals . after the children were thus passed the guard , the guard tore down the trees , branches & boughs , with such violence that they rent the body , and made wreaths for their heads , or bedecked their hayre with the leaues . what els was done with the children , was not seene , but they were all cast on a heape , in a valley as dead , where th●y made a great feast for all the company . the werowance being demanded the meaning of ●his sacrifice , answered that the children were not all dead , but that the okee or divell did sucke the bloud from their left breast , who chanced to be his by lot , till they were dead , but the rest were kept in the wildernesse by the young men till nine moneths were expired , during which time they must not converse with any , and of these were made their priests and coniurers . this sacrifice they held to be so necessary , that if they should omit it , their okee or devill , and all their other quiyoughcosughes , which are their other gods , would let them haue no deere , turkies , corne , nor fish , and yet besides , he would make a great slaughter amongst them . they thinke that their werowances and priests which they also esteeme quiyoughcosughes , when they are dead , doe goe beyond the mountaines towards the setting of the sunne , and ever remaine there in forme of their okee , with their heads painted with oyle and pocones , finely trimmed with feathers , and shall haue beads , hatchets , copper , and tobacco , doing nothing but dance and sing , with all their predecessors . but the common people they suppose shall not liue after death , but rot in their graues like dead dogs . to divert them from this blind idolatry , we did our best endevours , chiefly with the werowance of quiyoughcohanock , whose devotion , apprehension , and good disposition , much exceeded any in those countries , with whom although we could not as yet prevaile , to forsake his false gods , yet this he did beleeue that our god as much exceeded theirs , as our gunnes did their bowes & arrowes , and many times did send to me to iames towne , intreating me to pray to my god for raine , for their gods would not send them any . and in this lamentable ignorance doe these poore soules sacrifice themselues to the devill , not knowing their creator ; and we had not language sufficient , so plainly to expresse it as make them vnderstand it ; which god grant they may . for , religion 't is that doth distinguish vs , from their bruit humor , well we may it know ; that can with vnderstanding argue thus , our god is truth , but they cannot doe so . of the manner of the virginians government . although the country people be very barbarous , yet haue they amongst them such government , as that their magistrates for good commanding , and their people for due subiection , and obeying , excell many places that would be counted very civill . the forme of their common-wealth is a monarchicall government , one as emperour ruleth ouer many kings or governours . their chiefe ruler is called powhatan , and taketh his name of his principall place of dwelling called powhatan . but his proper name is wahunsonacock . some countries he hath which haue beene his ancestors , and came vnto him by inheritance , as the country called powhatan , arrohateck , appamatuck , pamavnkee , youghtanund , and mattapanient . all the rest of his territories expressed in the mappe , they report haue beene his severall conquests . in all his ancient inheritances , he hath houses built after their manner like arbours , some . some . yards long , and at every house provision for his entertainement according to the time . at werowcomoco on the northside of the river pamavnkee , was his residence , when i was delivered him prisoner , some myles from iames towne , where for the most part , he was resident , but at last he tooke so little pleasure in our neare neighbourhood , that he retired himselfe to orapakes , in the desert betwixt chickahaman●a and youghtanund . he is of personage a tall well proportioned man , with a sower looke , his head somwhat gray , his beard so thinne , that it seemeth none at all , his age neare sixtie ; of a very able and hardy body to endure any labour . about his person ordinarily attendeth a guard of or of the tallest men his country doth afford . every night vpon the foure quarters of his house are foure sentinels , each from other a flight shoot , and at every halfe houre one from the corps du guard doth hollow , shaking his lips with his finger betweene them ; vnto whom every sentinell doth answer round from his stand : if any faile , they presently send forth an officer that beateth him extreamely . a myle from orapakes in a thicket of wood , he hath a house in which he keepeth his kinde of treasure , as skinnes , copper , pearle , and beads , which he storeth vp against the time of his death and buriall . here also is his store of red paint for oyntment , bowes and arrowes , targets and clubs . this house is fiftie or sixtie yards in length , frequented onely by priests . at the foure corners of this house stand foure images as sentinels , one of a dragon , another a beare , the third like a leopard , and the fourth like a giantlike man , all made evill favouredly , according to their best workemanship . he hath as many women as he will , whereof when he lieth on his bed , one sitteth at his head , and another at his feet , but when he sitteth , one sitteth on his right hand and another on his left . as he is weary of his women , he bestoweth them on those that best deserue them at his hands . when he dineth or suppeth , one of his women before and after meat , bringeth him water in a wooden platter to wash his hands . another waiteth with a bunch of feathers to wipe them in stead of a towell , and the feathers when he hath wiped are dryed againe . his kingdomes descend not to his sonnes nor children , but first to his brethren , whereof he hath . namely , opitchapan , opechancanough , and catataugh , and after their decease to his sisters . first to the eldest sister , then to the rest , and after them to the heires male or female of the eldest sister , but never to the heires of the males . he nor any of his people vnderstand any letters , whereby to write or reade , onely the lawes whereby he ruleth is custome . yet when he listeth his will is a law and must be obeyed : not onely as a king , but as halfe a god they esteeme him . his inferiour kings whom they call werowances , are tyed to rule by customes , and haue power of life and death at their command in t●at nature . but this word werowance , which we call and construe for a king , is a common word , whereby they call all commanders : for they haue but few words in their language , and but few occasions to vse any officers more then one commander , which commonly they call werowance , or caucorouse , which is captaine . they all know their severall lands , and habitations , and limits , to fish , soule , or hunt in , but they hold all of their great werowance powhatan , vnto whom they pay tribute of skinnes , beads , copper , pearle , deere , turkies , wild beasts , and corne . what he commandeth they dare not disobey in the least thing . it is strange to see with what great feare and adoration , all these people doe obey this powhatan . for at his feet they present whatsoever he commandeth , and at the least frowne of his brow , their greatest spirits will tremble with feare : and no marvell , for he is very terrible & tyrannous in punishing such as offend him . for example , he caused certaine malefactors to be bound hand and foot , then having of many fires gathered great store of burning coales , they rake these coales round in the forme of a cockpit , and in the midst they cast the offenders to broyle to death . sometimes he causeth the heads of them that offend him , to be laid vpon the altar or sacrificing stone , and one with clubbes beats out their braines . when he would punish any notorious enemy or malefactor , he causeth him to be tyed to a tree , and with mussell shels or reeds , the executioner cutteth off his ioynts one after another , ever casting what they cut of into the fire ; then doth he proceed with shels and reeds to case the skinne from his head and face ; then doe they rip his belly and so burne him with the tree and all . thus themselues reported they executed george cassen . their ordinary correction is to beate them with cudgels . we haue seene a man kneeling on his knees , and at powhatans command , two men haue beate him on the bare skin , till he hath fallen senselesse in a sound , and yet never cry nor complained . and he made a woman for playing the whore , sit vpon a great stone , on her bare breech twenty-foure houres , onely with corne and water , every three dayes , till nine dayes were past , yet he loued her exceedingly : notwithstanding there are common whores by profession . in the yeare , he surprised the people of payankatank his neare neighbours and subiects . the occasion was to vs vnknowne , but the manner was thus . first he sent divers of his men as to lodge amongst them that night , then the ambuscadoes environed all their houses , and at the houre appointed , they all fell to the spoyle , twenty-foure men they slew , the long haire of the one side of their heads , with the skinne cased off with shels or reeds , they brought away . they surprised also the women , and the children , and the werowance . all these they presented to powhatan . the werowance , women and children became his prisoners , and doe him service . the lockes of haire with their skinnes he hanged on a line betwixt two trees . and thus he made ostentation of his triumph at werowocomoco , where he intended to haue done as much to mee and my company . and this is as much as my memory can call to minde worthy of note ; which i haue purposely collected , to satisfie my friends of the true worth and qualitie of virginia . yet some bad natures will not sticke to slander the countrey , that will slovenly spit at all things , especially in company where they can finde none to contradict them . who though they were scarce en●r ten myles from iames towne , or at the most but at the falles ; yet holding it a great disgrace that amongst so much action , their actions were nothing , exclaime of all things , though they never adventured to know any thing ; nor euer did any thing but devoure the fruits of other mens labours . being for most part of such tender educations , and small experience in martiall accidents , because they found not english cities , nor such faire houses , nor at their owne wishes any of their accustomed dainties , with feather beds and downe pillowes , tavernes and alehouses in every breathing place , neither such plentie of gold and silver and dissolute libertie , as they expected , had little or no care or any thing , but to pamper their bellies , to fly away with our pinnaces , or procure their meanes to returne for england . for the country was to them a misery , a ruine , a death , a hell , and their reports here , and their actions there according . some other there were that had yearely stipends to passe to and againe for transportation : who to keepe the mysterie of the businesse in themselues , though they had neither time nor meanes to know much of themselues ; yet all mens actions or relations they so formally tuned to the temporizing times simplicitie , as they could make their ignorances seeme much more , then all the true actors could by their experience . and those with their great words deluded the world with such strange promises , as abused the businesse much worse then the rest . for the businesse being builded vpon the foundation of their fained experience , the planters , the money and meanes haue still miscarried : yet they ever returning , and the planters so farre absent , who could contradict their excuses ? which , still to maintaine their vaine glory and estimation , from time to time haue vsed such diligence as made them passe for truths , though nothing more false . and that the adventurers might be thus abused , let no man wonder ; for the wisest liuing is soonest abused by him that hath a faire tongue and a dissembling heart . there were many in virginia meerely proiecting , verball , and idle contemplators , and those so devoted to pure idlenesse , that though they had liued two or three yeares in virginia , lordly , necessitie it selfe could not compell them to passe the peninsula , or pallisadoes of iames towne , and those witty spirits , what would they not affirme in the behalfe of our transporters , to get victuall from their ships , or obtaine their good words in england , to get their passes . thus from the clamors , and the ignorance of false informers , are sprung those disasters that sprung in virginia : and our ingenious verbalists were no lesse plague to vs in virginia , then the locusts to the egyptians . for the labour of twentie or thirtie of the best onely preserved in christianitie by their industry , the idle livers of neare two hundred of the rest : who liuing neere ten moneths of such naturall meanes , as the country naturally of it selfe afforded , notwithstanding all this , and the worst fury of the salvages , the extremitie of sicknesse , mutinies , faction , ignorances , and want of victuall ; in all that time i lost but seaven or eight men , yet subiected the salvages to our desired obedience , and receiued contribution from thirtie fiue of their kings , to protect and assist them against any that should assault them , in which order they continued true and faithfull , and as subiects to his maiestie , so long after as i did governe there , vntill i left the countrey : since , how they haue revolted , the countrie lost , and againe replanted , and the businesses hath succeded from time to time , i referre you to the relations of them returned from virginia , that haue beene more diligent in such observations . iohn smith writ this with his owne hand . because many doe desire to know the manner of their language , i haue inserted these few words . ka katorawines yowo . what call you this . nemarough , a man. crenepo , a woman . marowanchesso , a boy . yehawkans , houses . matchcores , skins , or garments . mockasins , shooes . tussan , beds . pokatawer , fire . attawp , a bow . attonce , arrowes . monacookes , swords . aumouhhowgh , a target . pawcussacks , gunnes . tomahacks , axes . tockahacks , pickaxes . pamesacks , kniues . accowprets , sheares . pawpecones , pipes . mattassin , copper vssawassin , iron , brasse , silver , or any white mettall . musses , woods . attasskuss , leaues , weeds , or grasse . chepsin , land. shacquohocan . a stone . wepenter , a cookold . suckahanna , water . noughmass , fish. copotone , sturgeon . weghshaughes , flesh. sawwehone , bloud . netoppew , friends . marrapough , enemies . maskapow , the worst of the enemies . mawchick chammay , the best of friends casacunnakack , peya quagh acquintan vttasantasough , in how many daies will there come hither any more english ships . their numbers . necut , . ningh , . nuss , . yowgh , . paranske , . comotinch , . toppawoss , nusswash , . kekatawgh , . kaskeke they count no more but by tennes as followeth . case , how many . ninghsapooeksku , . nussapooeksku , . yowghapooeksku , . parankestassapoocksku , . comatinchtassapooeksku , . nussswashtassapooeksku , . kekataughtassapooeksku , . necuttoughtysinough , . necuttwevnquaough , . rawcosowghs , dayes . keskowghes , sunnes . toppquough . nights . nepaww●showghs , moones . pawpaxsoughes , yeares . pummahumps , starres . osies , heavens . okees , gods. quiyoughcosoughs , pettie gods , and their affinities . righcomoughes , deaths . kekughes , liues . mowchick woyawgh tawgh ●oeragh kaqueremecher , i am very hungry ? what shall i eate ? tawnor nehiegh powhatan , where dwels powhatan . mache , nehiegh yourowgh , orapaks . now he dwels a great way hence at orapaks . vittapitchewayne anpechitchs nehawper werowacomoco , you lie , he staid ever at werowacomoco . kator nehiegh mattagh neer vttapitchewayne , truely he is there i doe not lie . spaughtynere keragh werowance mawmarinough k●katē wawgh peyaquaugh . run you then to the king mawmarynough and bid him come hither . vtteke , e peya weyack wighwhip , get you gone , & come againe quickly . kekaten pokahontas patiaquagh niugh tanks manotyens neer mowchick rawrenock audowgh , bid pokahontas bring hither two little baskets , and i will giue her white beads to make her a chaine . finis . ould virginia c : s their triumph about him c : smith bound to a tree to be shott to death c. s. how they tooke him prisoner in the oaze c.s. c. smith bindeth a saluage to his arme , fighteth with the king of pamaunkee and all his company , and slew of them . c : smith takes the king of paspahegh prisoner . ao. . a coniurer . their idoll a priest their coniuration about c : smith ● a description of part of the adventures of cap : smith in virginia . a state of leau●es . graven and extracted out of the generall history of virginia , new england , and som̄er ises , by robert vaughan . c. smith taketh the king of pamavnkee prisoner the countrey wee now call virginia beginneth at cape henry aistant from roanoack miles , where was sr. raleigh's psantation . and because the people differ very little from t●em of powhatan in any thing , i have inserted those figures in this place because of the conveniency . c.s. king powhatan com̄ands c. smith to be slayne , his daughter pokahontas begge his life his thankfullness and how he subiected of their kings . reade ● history . printed by iames reeve ❧ the third booke . the proceedings and accidents of the english colony in virginia , extracted from the authors following , by william simons , doctour of divinitie . chapter i. it might well be thought , a countrie so faire ( as virginia is ) and a people so tractable , would long ere this haue beene quietly possessed , to the satisfaction of the adventurers , & the eternizing of the memory of those that effected it . but because all the world doe see a defailement ; this following treatise shall giue satisfaction to all indifferent readers , how the businesse hath bin carried : where no doubt they will easily vnderstand and answer to their question , how it came to passe there was no better speed and successe in those proceedings . captaine bartholomew gosnoll , one of the first movers of this plantation , having many yeares solicited many of his friends , but found small assistants ; at last prevailed with some gentlemen , as captaine iohn smith , mr edward-maria wingfield , mr robert hunt , and divers others , who depended a yeare vpon his proiects , but nothing could be effected , till by their great charge and industrie , it came to be apprehended by certaine of the nobilitie , gentry , and marchants , so that his maiestie by his letters patents , gaue commission for establishing councels , to direct here ; and to governe , and to execute there . to effect this , was spent another yeare , and by that , three ships were provided , one of tuns , another of . and a pinnace of . the transportation of the company was committed to captaine christopher newport , a marriner well practised for the westerne parts of america . but their orders for government were put in a box , not to be opened , nor the governours knowne vntill they arrived in virginia . on the of december , . we set sayle from blackwall , but by vnprosperous winds , were kept six weekes in the sight of england ; all which time , mr hunt our preacher , was so weake and sicke , that few expected his recovery . yet although he were but twentie myles from his habitation ( the time we were in the downes ) and notwithstanding the stormy weather , nor the scandalous imputations ( of some few , little better then atheists , of the greatest ranke amongst vs ) suggested against him , all this could never force from him so much as a seeming desire to leaue the busines , but preferred the service of god , in so good a voyage , before any affection to contest with his godlesse foes , whose disasterous designes ( could they haue prevailed ) had even then overthrowne the businesse , so many discontents did then arise , had he not with the water of patience , and his godly exhortations ( but chiefly by his true devoted examples ) quenched those flames of envie , and dissention . we watered at the canaries , we traded with the salvages at dominica ; three weekes we spent in refreshing our selues amongst these west-india isles ; in gwardalupa we found a bath so hot , as in it we boyled porck as well as over the fire . and at a little isle called monica , we tooke from the bushes with our hands , neare two hogsh-heads full of birds in three or foure houres . in mevis , mona , and the virgin isles , we spent some time , where , with a lothsome beast like a crocodil , called a gwayn , tortoises , pellicans , parrots , and fishes , we daily feasted . gone from thence in search of virginia , the company was not a little discomforted , seeing the marriners had dayes passed their reckoning and found no land , so that captaine ratliffe ( captaine of the pinnace ) rather desired to beare vp the helme to returne for england , then make further search . but god the guider of all good actions , forcing them by an extreame storme to hull all night , did driue them by his providence to their desired port , beyond all their expectations , for never any of them had seene that coast . the first land they made they called cape henry ; where thirtie of them recreating themselues on shore , were assaulted by fiue salvages , who hurt two of the english very dangerously . that night was the box opened , and the orders read , in which bartholomew gosnoll , iohn smith , edward wingfield , christopher newport , iohn ratliffe , iohn martin , and george kendall , were named to be the councell , and to choose a president amongst them for a yeare , who with the councell should governe . matters of moment were to be examined by a iury , but determined by the maior part of the councell , in which the president had two voyces . vntill the of may they sought a place to plant in , then the councell was sworne , mr wingfield was chosen president , and an oration made , why captaine smith was not admitted of the councell as the rest . now falleth every man to worke , the councell contriue the fort , the rest cut downe trees to make place to pitch their tents ; some provide clapbord to relade the ships , some make gardens , some nets , &c. the salvages often visited vs kindly . the presidents overweening iealousie would admit no exercise at armes , or fortification , but the boughs of trees cast together in the forme of a halfe moone by the extraordinary paines and diligence of captaine kendall . newport , smith , and twentie others , were sent to discover the head of the river : by divers small habitations they passed , in six dayes they arrived at a towne called powhatan , consisting of some twelue houses , pleasantly seated on a hill ; before it three fertile isles , about it many of their cornefields , the place is very pleasant , and strong by nature , of this place the prince is called powhatan , and his people powhatans , to this place the river is navigable : but higher within a myle , by reason of the rockes and isles , there is not passage for a small boat , this they call the falles , the people in all parts kindly intreated them , till being returned within twentie myles of iames towne , they gaue iust cause of iealousie , but had god not blessed the discoverers otherwise then those at the fort , there had then beene an end of that plantation ; for at the fort , where they arrived the next day , they found men hurt , and a boy slaine by the salvages , and had it not chanced a crosse barre shot from the ships strooke downe a bough from a tree amongst them , that caused them to retire , our men had all beene slaine , being securely all at worke , and their armes in dry fats . herevpon the president was contented the fort should be pallisadoed , the ordnance mounted , his men armed and exercised , for many were the assaults , and ambuscadoes of the salvages , & our men by their disorderly stragling were often hurt , when the salvages by the nimblenesse of their heeles well escaped . what toyle we had , with so small a power to guard our workemen adayes , watch all night , resist our enemies , and effect our businesse , to relade the ships , cut downe trees , and prepare the ground to plant our corne , &c , i referre to the readers consideration . six weekes being spent in this manner , captaine newport ( who was hired onely for our transportation ) was to returne with the ships . now captaine smith , who all this time from their departure from the canaries was restrained as a prisoner vpon the scandalous suggestions of some of the chiefe ( envying his repute ) who fained he intended to vsurpe the government , murther the councell , and make himselfe king , that his confederats were dispersed in all the three ships , and that divers of his confederats that revealed it , would affirme it , for this he was committed as a prisoner : thirteene weekes he remained thus suspected , and by that time the ships should returne they pretended out of their commisserations , to referre him to the councell in england to receiue a check , rather then by particulating his designes make him so odious to the world , as to touch his life , or vtterly overthrow his reputation . but he so much scorned their charitie , and publikely defied the vttermost of their crueltie , he wisely prevented their policies , though he could not suppresse their envies , yet so well he demeaned himselfe in this businesse , as all the company did see his innocency , and his adversaries malice , and those suborned to accuse him , accused his accusers of subornation ; many vntruthes were alledged against him ; but being so apparently disproved , begat a generall hatred in the hearts of the company against such vniust commanders , that the president was adiudged to giue him l. so that all he had was seized vpon , in part of satisfaction , which smith presently returned to the store for the generall vse of the colony . many were the mischiefes that daily sprung from their ignorant ( yet ambitious ) spirits ; but the good doctrine and exhortation of our preacher mr hunt reconciled them , and caused captaine smith to be admitted of the councell ; the next day all receiued the communion , the day following the salvages voluntarily desired peace , and captaine newport returned for england with newes ; leaving in virginia . the of iune . by this obserue ; good men did ne'r their countries ruine bring . but when evill men shall iniuries beginne ; not caring to corrupt and violate the iudgements-seats for their owne lucr's sake : then looke that country cannot long haue peace , though for the present it haue rest and ease . the names of them that were the first planters , were these following . councel . mr edward maria wingfield . captaine bartholomew gosnoll . captaine iohn smith . captaine iohn ratliffe . captaine iohn martin . captaine george kendall . gent. mr robert hunt preacher . mr george percie . anthony gosnoll . george flower . cap. gabriell archer . robert fenton . robert ford. william bruster . edward harrington . dru pickhouse . thomas iacob . iohn brookes . ellis kingston . thomas sands . beniamin beast . iehu robinson . thomas mouton . eustace clovill . stephen halthrop . kellam throgmorton . edward morish . nathaniell powell . edward browne . robert bebethland . iohn penington . ieremy alicock . george walker . thomas studley . richard crofts . nicholas houlgraue . thomas webbt . iohn waller . iohn short. william tankard . william smethes . francis snarsbrough . richard simons . edward brookes . richard dixon . iohn martin . roger cooke . anthony gosnold . tho : wotton , chirurg . iohn stevenson . thomas gore . henry adling . francis midwinter . richard frith . carpenters . william laxon . edward pising . thomas emry . robert small . labourers . iohn laydon . william cassen . george cassen . thomas cassen . william rodes . william white . old edward . henry tavin . george goulding . iohn dods . william iohnson . william vnger . iam : read , blacksmith . ionas profit , sailer . tho : cowper , barber . will : garret , bricklayer . edward brinto , mason . william loue , taylor . nic : scot , drum. wil : wilkinson , chirurg . samuell collier , boy . nat. pecock , boy . iames brumfield , boy . richard mutton , boy . with divers others to the number of . chap. ii. what happened till the first supply . being thus left to our fortunes , it fortuned that within ten dayes scarce ten amongst vs could either goe , or well stand , such extreame weaknes and sicknes oppressed vs. and thereat none need marvaile , if they consider the cause and reason , which was this ; whilest the ships stayed , our allowance was somewhat bettered , by a daily proportion of bisket , which the sailers would pilfer to sell , giue , or exchange with vs , for money , saxefras , furres , or loue . but when they departed , there remained neither taverne , beere ▪ house , nor place of reliefe , but the common kettell . had we beene as free from all sinnes as gluttony , and drunkennesse , we might haue beene canonized for saints ; but our president would never haue beene admitted , for ingrossing to his private , oatmeale , sacke , oyle , aqua-vitae , beefe , egges , or what not , but the kettell ; that indeed he allowed equally to be distributed , and that was halfe a pint of wheat , and as much barley boyled with water for a man a day , and this having fryed some . weekes in the ships hold , contained as many wormes as graines ; so that we might truely call it rather so much bran then corne , our drinke was water , our lodgings castles in the ayre : with this lodging and dyet , our extreame toile in bearing and planting pallisadoes , so strained and bruised vs , and our continuall labour in the extremitie of the heat had so weakned vs , as were cause sufficient to haue made vs as miserable in our natiue countrey , or any other place in the world . from may , to september , those that escaped , liued vpon sturgeon , and sea-crabs , fiftie in this time we buried , the rest seeing the presidents proiects to escape these miseries in our pinnace by flight ( who all this time had neither felt want nor sicknes ) so moved our dead spirits , as we deposed him ; and established ratcliffe in his place , ( gosnoll being dead ) kendall deposed , smith newly recovered , martin and ratcliffe was by his care preserved and relieued , and the most of the souldiers recovered , with the skilfull diligence of mr thomas wotton our chirurgian generall . but now was all our provision spent , the sturgeon gone , all helps abandoned , each houre expecting the fury of the salvages ; when god the patron of all good indevours , in that desperate extremitie so changed the hearts of the salvages , that they brought such plenty of their fruits , and provision , as no man wanted . and now where some affirmed it was ill done of the councell to send forth men so badly provided , this incontradictable reason will shew them plainely they are too ill advised to nourish such ill conceits ; first , the fault of our going was our owne , what could be thought fitting or necessary we had , but what we should find , or want , or where we should be , we were all ignorant , and supposing to make our passage in two moneths , with victuall to liue , and the advantage of the spring to worke ; we were at sea fiue moneths , where we both spent our victuall and lost the opportunitie of the time , and season to plant , by the vnskilfull presumption of our ignorant transporters , that vnderstood not at all , what they vndertooke . such actions haue ever since the worlds beginning beene subiect to such accidents , and every thing of worth is found full of difficulties , but nothing so difficult as to establish a common-wealth so farre remote from men and meanes , and where mens mindes are so vntoward as neither doe well themselues , nor suffer others . but to proceed . the new president and martin , being little beloved , of weake iudgement in dangers , and lesse industrie in peace , committed the managing of all things abroad to captaine smith : who by his owne example , good words , and faire promises , set some to mow , others to binde thatch , some to build houses , others to thatch them , himselfe alwayes bearing the greatest taske for his owne share , so that in short time , he provided most of them lodgings , neglecting any for himselfe . this done , seeing the salvages superfluitie beginne to decrease ( with some of his workemen ) shipped himselfe in the shallop to search the country for trade . the want of the language , knowledge to mannage his boat without sailes , the want of a sufficient power , ( knowing the multitude of the salvages ) apparell for his men , and other necessaries , were infinite impediments , yet no discouragement . being but six or seauen in company he went downe the river to kecoughtan , where at first they scorned him , as a famished man , and would in derision offer him a handfull of corne , a peece of bread , for their swords and muskets , and such like proportions also for their apparell . but seeing by trade and courtesie there was nothing to be had , he made bold to try such conclusions as necessitie inforced , though contrary to his commission : let fly his muskets , ran his boat on shore , whereat they all fled into the woods . so marching towards their houses , they might see great heapes of corne : much adoe he had to restraine his hungry souldiers from present taking of it , expecting as it hapned that the salvages would assault them , as not long after they did with a most hydeous noyse . sixtie or seaventie of them , some blacke , some red , some white , some party-coloured , came in a square order , singing and dauncing out of the woods , with their okee ( which was an idoll made of skinnes , stuffed with mosse , all painted and hung with chaines and copper ) borne before them : and in this manner being well armed , with clubs , targets , bowes and arrowes , they charged the english , that so kindly receiued them with their muskets loaden with pistoll shot , that downe fell their god , and divers lay sprauling on the ground ; the rest fled againe to the woods , and ere long sent one of their quiyoughkasoucks to offer peace , and redeeme their okee . smith told them , if onely six of them would come vnarmed and loade his boat , he would not only be their friend , but restore them their okee , and giue them beads , copper , and hatchets besides : which on both sides was to their contents performed : and then they brought him venison , turkies , wild-foule , bread , and what they had , singing and dauncing in signe of friendship till they departed . in his returne he discovered the towne and country of warraskoyack . thus god vnboundlesse by his power , made them thus kind , would vs deuour . smith perceiving ( notwithstanding their late miserie ) not any regarded but from hand to mouth ( the company being well recovered ) caused the pinnace to be provided with things fitting to get provision for the yeare following ; but in the interim he made . or . iournies and discovered the people of chickahamania : yet what he carefully provided the rest carelesly spent . wingfield and kendall liuing in disgrace , seeing all things at randome in the absence of smith , the companies dislike of their presidents weaknes , and their small loue to martins never mending sicknes , strengthened themselues with the sailers , and other confederates to regaine their former credit and authority , or at least such meanes abord the pinnace , ( being fitted to saile as smith had appointed for trade ) to alter her course and to goe for england . smith vnexpectedly returning had the plot discovered to him , much trouble he had to prevent it , till with store of sakre and musket shot he forced them stay or sinke in the riuer , which action cost the life of captaine kendall . these brawles are so disgustfull , as some will say they were better forgotten , yet all men of good iudgement will conclude , it were better their basenes should be manifest to the world , then the busines beare the scorne and shame of their excused disorders . the president and captaine archer not long after intended also to haue abandoned the country , which proiect also was curbed , and suppressed by smith . the spaniard never more greedily desired gold then he victuall , nor his souldiers more to abandon the country , then he to keepe it . but finding plentie of corne in the riuer of chickahamania where hundreds of salvages in diuers places stood with baskets expecting his comming . and now the winter approaching , the rivers became so covered with swans , geese , duckes , and cranes , that we daily feasted with good bread , virginia pease , pumpions , and putchamins , fish , fowle , and diverse sorts of wild beasts as fat as we could eate them : so that none of our tuftasfaty humorists desired to goe for england . but our comaedies never endured long without a tragedie ; some idle exceptions being muttered against captaine smith , for not discovering the head of chickahamania river , and taxed by the councell , to be too slow in so worthy an attempt . the next voyage hee proceeded so farre that with much labour by cutting of trees in sunder he made his passage , but when his barge could passe no farther , he left her in a broad bay out of danger of shot , commanding none should goe a shore till his returne : himselfe with two english and two salvages went vp higher in a canowe , but hee was not long absent , but his men went a shore , whose want of government , gaue both occasion and opportunity to the salvages to surprise one george cassen , whom they slew , and much failed not to haue cut of the boat and all the rest . smith little dreaming of that accident , being got to the marshes at the rivers head , twentie myles in the desert , had his * two men slaine ( as is supposed ) sleeping by the canowe , whilst himselfe by fowling sought them victuall , who finding he was beset with . salvages , two of them hee slew , still defending himselfe with the ayd of a salvage his guid , whom he bound to his arme with his garters , and vsed him as a buckler , yet he was shot in his thigh a little , and had many arrowes that stucke in his cloathes but no great hurt , till at last they tooke him prisoner . when this newes came to iames towne , much was their sorrow for his losse , fewe expecting what ensued . sixe or seuen weekes those barbarians kept him prisoner , many strange triumphes and coniurations they made of him , yet hee so demeaned himselfe amongst them , as he not onely diverted them from surprising the fort , but procured his owne libertie , and got himselfe and his company such estimation amongst them , that those salvages admired him more then their owne quiyouckosucks . the manner how they vsed and deliuered him , is as followeth . the salvages hauing drawne from george cassen whether captaine smith was gone , prosecuting that oportunity they followed him with . . bowmen , conducted by the king of pamavnkee , who in diuisions searching the turnings of the riuer , found robinson and emry by the fire side , those they shot full of arrowes and slew . then finding the captaine ▪ as is said , that vsed the salvage that was his guide as his sheld ( three of them being slaine and diuers other so gauld ) all the rest would not come neere him . thinking thus to haue returned to his boat , regarding them , as he marched , more then his way , slipped vp to the middle in an oasie creeke & his salvage with him , yet durst they not come to him till being neere dead with cold , he threw away his armes . then according to their composition they drew him forth and led him to the fire , where his men were slaine . diligently they chafed his benummed limbs . he demanding for their captaine , they shewed him opechankanough , king of pamavnkee , to whom he gaue a round ivory double compass dyall . much they marvailed at the playing of the fly and needle , which they could see so plainely , and yet not touch it , because of the glasse that covered them . but when he demonstrated by that globe-like iewell , the roundnesse of the earth and skies , the spheare of the sunne , moone , and starres , and how the sunne did chase the night round about the world continually ; the greatnesse of the land and sea , the diversitie of nations , varietie of complexions , and how we were to them antipodes , and many other such like matters , they all stood as amazed with admiration . notwithstanding , within an houre after they tyed him to a tree , and as many as could stand about him prepared to shoot him , but the king holding vp the compass in his hand , they all laid downe their bowes and arrowes , and in a triumphant manner led him to orapaks , where he was after their manner kindly feasted , and well vsed . their order in conducting him was thus ; drawing themselues all in fyle , the king in the middest had all their peeces and swords borne before him . captaine smith was led after him by three great salvages , holding him fast by each arme : and on each side six went in fyle with their arrowes nocked . but arriving at the towne ( which was but onely thirtie or fortie hunting houses made of mats , which they remoue as they please , as we our tents ) all the women and children staring to behold him , the souldiers nrst all in fyle performed the forme of a bissom so well as could be ; and on each flanke , officers as serieants to see them keepe their orders . a good time they continued this exercise , and then cast themselues in a ring , dauncing in such severall postures , and singing and yelling out such hellish notes and screeches ; being strangely painted , every one his quiver of arrowes , and at his backe a club ; on his arme a fox or an otters skinne , or some such matter for his vambrace ; their heads and shoulders painted red , with oyle and pocones mingled together , which scarlet-like colour made an exceeding handsome shew ; his bow in his hand , and the skinne of a bird with her wings abroad dryed , tyed on his head , a peece of copper , a white shell , a long feather , with a small rattle growing at the tayles of their snaks tyed to it , or some such like toy . all this while smith and the king stood in the middest guarded , as before is said , and after three dances they all departed . smith they conducted to a long house , where thirtie or fortie tall fellowes did guard him , and ere long more bread and venison was brought him then would haue served twentie men , i thinke his stomacke at that time was not very good ; what he left they put in baskets and tyed over his head . about midnight they set the meate againe before him , all this time not one of them would eate a bit with him , till the next morning they brought him as much more , and then did they eate all the old , & reserved the new as they had done the other , which made him thinke they would fat him to eat him . yet in this desperate estate to defend him from the cold , one maocassater brought him his gowne , in requitall of some beads and toyes smith had given him at his first arrivall in virginia . two dayes after a man would haue slaine him ( but that the guard prevented it ) for the death of his sonne , to whom they conducted him to recover the poore man then breathing his last . smith told them that at iames towne he had a water would doe it , if they would let him fetch it , but they would not permit that ; but made all the preparations they could to assault iames towne , crauing his advice , and for recompence he should haue life , libertie , land , and women . in part of a table booke he writ his minde to them at the fort , what was intended , how they should follow that direction to affright the messengers , and without fayle send him such things as he writ for . and an inventory with them . the difficultie and danger , he told the salvages , of the mines , great gunnes , and other engins exceedingly affrighted them , yet according to his request they went to iames towne , in as bitter weather as could be of fro●t and snow , and within three dayes returned with an answer . but when they came to iame towne , seeing men sally out as he had told them they would , they fled ; yet in the night they came againe to the same place where he had told them they should receiue an answer , and such things as he had promised them , which they found accordingly , and with which they returned with no small expedition , to the wonder of them all that heard it , that he could either divine , or the paper could speake : then they led him to the youthtanunds , the mattapanicuts , the payankatanks , the nantaughtacunds , and onawmanients vpon the rivers of rapahanock , and patawomek , over all those rivers , and backe againe by divers other severall nations , to the kings habitation at pamavnkee , where they entertained him with most strange and fearefull coniurations ; as if neare led to hell , amongst the devils to dwell . not long after , early in a morning a great fire was made in a long house , and a mat spread on the one side , as on the other , on the one they caused him to sit , and all the guard went out of the house , and presently came skipping in a great grim fellow , all painted over with coale , mingled with oyle ; and many snakes and wesels skins stuffed with mosse , and all their tayles tyed together , so as they met on the crowne of his head in a tassell ; and round about the tassell was as a coronet of feathers , the skins hanging round about his head , backe , and shoulders , and in a manner covered his face ; with a hellish voyce and a rattle in his hand . with most strange gestures and passions he began his invocation , and environed the fire with a circle of meale ; which done , three more such like devils came rushing in with the like antique tricks , painted halfe blacke , halfe red : but all their eyes were painted white , and some red stroakes like mutchato's , along their cheekes : round about him those fiends daunced a pretty while , and then came in three more as vgly as the rest ; with red eyes , and white stroakes over their blacke faces , at last they all sat downe right against him ; three of them on the one hand of the chiefe priest , and three on the other . then all with their rattles began a song , which ended , the chiefe priest layd downe fiue wheat cornes : then strayning his armes and hands with such violence that he sweat , and his veynes swelled , he began a short oration : at the conclusion they all gaue a short groane ; and then layd down three graines more . after that , began their song againe , and then another oration , ever laying downe so many cornes as before , till they had twice incirculed the fire ; that done , they tooke a bunch of little stickes prepared for that purpose , continuing still their devotion , and at the end of every song and oration , they layd downe a slicke betwixt the divisions of corne. till night , neither he nor they did either eate or drinke , and then they feasted merrily , with the best provisions they could make . three dayes they vsed this ceremony ; the meaning whereof they told him , was to know if he intended them well or no. the circle of meale signified their country , the circles of corne the bounds of the sea , and the stickes his country . they imagined the world to be flat and round , like a trencher , and they in the middest . after this they brought him a bagge of gunpowder , which they carefully preserved till the next spring , to plant as they did their corne ; because they would be acquainted with the nature of that seede . opitchapam the kings brother invited him to his house , where , with as many platters of bread , soule , and wild beasts , as did environ him , he bid him wellcome ; but not any of them would eate a bit with him , but put vp all the remainder in baskets . at his returne to opechancanoughs , all the kings women , and their children , flocked about him for their parts , as a due by custome , to be merry with such fragments . but his waking mind in hydeous dreames did oft see wondrous shapes , of bodies strange , and huge in growth , and of stupendious makes . at last they brought him to meronocomoco , where was powhatan their emperor . here more then two hundred of those grim courtiers stood wondering at him , as he had beene a monster ; till powhatan and his trayne had put themselues in their greatest braveries . before a fire vpon a seat like a bedsted , he sat covered with a great robe , made of rarowcun skinnes , and all the tayles hanging by . on either hand did sit a young wench of or yeares , and along on each side the house , two rowes of men , and behind them as many women , with all their heads and shoulders painted red ; many of their heads bedecked with the white downe of birds ; but every one with something : and a great chayne of white beads about their necks . at his entrance before the king , all the people gaue a great shout . the queene of appamatuck was appointed to bring him water to wash his hands , and another brought him a bunch of feathers , in stead of a towell to dry them : having feasted him after their best barbarous manner they could , a long consultation was held , but the conclusion was , two great stones were brought before powhatan : then as many as could layd hands on him , dragged him to them , and thereon laid his head , and being ready with their clubs , to beate out his braines , pocahontas the kings dearest daughter , when no intreaty could prevaile , got his head in her armes , and laid her owne vpon his to saue him from death : whereat the emperour was contented he should liue to make him hatchets , and her bells , beads , and copper ; for they thought him aswell of all occupations as themselues . for the king himselfe will make his owne robes , shooes , bowes , arrowes , pots ; plant , hunt , or doe any thing so well as the rest . they say he bore a pleasant shew , but sure his heart was sad . for who can pleasant be , and rest , that liues in feare and dread : and having life suspected , doth it still suspected lead . two dayes after , powhatan having disguised himselfe in the most fearefullest manner he could , caused cap t : smith to be brought forth to a great house in the woods , and there vpon a mat by the fire to be left alone . not long after from behinde a mat that divided the house , was made the most dolefullest noyse he ever heard ; then powhatan more like a devill then a man with some two hundred more as blacke as himselfe , came vnto him and told him now they were friends , and presently he should goe to iames towne , to send him two great gunnes , and a gryndstone , for which he would giue him the country of capahowosick , and for ever esteeme him as his sonne nantaquoud . so to iames towne with guides powhatan sent him . that night they quarterd in the woods , he still expecting ( as he had done all this long time of his imprisonment ) every houre to be put to one death or other : for all their feasting . but almightie god ( by his divine providence ) had mollified the hearts of those sterne barbarians with compassion . the next morning betimes they came to the fort , where smith having vsed the salvages with what kindnesse he could , he shewed rawhunt , powhatans trusty servant two demi-culverings & a mill-stone to carry powhatan : they found them somewhat too heavie ; but when they did see him discharge them , being loaded with stones , among the boughs of a great tree loaded with isickles , the yee and branches came so tumbling downe , that the poore salvages ran away halfe dead with feare . but at last we regained some conference with them , and gaue them such toyes ; and sent to powhatan , his women , and children such presents , as gaue them in generall full content . now in iames towne they were all in combustion , the strongest preparing once more to run away with the pinnace ; which with the hazzard of his life , with sakre falcon and musket shot , smith forced now the third time to stay or sinke . some no better then they should be , had plotted with the president , the next day to haue ▪ put him to death by the leviticall law , for the liues of robinson and emry , pretending the fault was his that had led them to their ends : but he quickly tooke such order with such lawyers , that he layd them by the heeles till he sent some of them prisoners for england . now ever once in foure or fiue dayes , pocahontas with her attendants , brought him so much provision , that saved many of their liues , that els for all this had starved with hunger . thus from numbe death our good god sent reliefe , the sweete asswager of all other griefe . his relation of the plenty he had seene , especially at warawocomoco , and of the state and bountie of powhatan , ( which till that time was vnknowne ) so revived their dead spirits ( especially the loue of pocahontas ) as all mens feare was abandoned . thus you may see what difficulties still crossed any good indevour : and the good successe of the businesse being thus oft brought to the very period of destruction ; yet you see by what strange means god hath still delivered it . as for the insufficiency of them admitted in commission , that error could not be prevented by the electors ; there being no other choise ; and all strangers to each others education , qualities , or disposition . and if any deeme it a shame to our nation to haue any mention made of those inormities , let them pervse the histories of the spanyards discoveries and plantations , where they may see how many mutinies , disorders , and dissentions haue accompanied them , and crossed their attempts : which being knowne to be particular mens offences ; doth take away the generall scorne and contempt , which malice , presumption , covetousnesse , or ignorance might produce ; to the scandall and reproach of those , whose actions and valiant resolutions deserue a more worthy respect . now whether it had beene better for captaine smith , to haue concluded with any of those severall proiects , to haue abandoned the countrey , with some ten or twelue of them , who were called the better sort , and haue left mr hunt our preacher , master anthony gosnoll , a most honest , worthy , and industrious gentleman , master thomas wotton , and some others of his countrymen to the fury of the salvages , famine , and all manner of mischiefes , and inconveniences , ( for they were but fortie in all to keepe possession of this large country ; ) or starue himselfe with them for company , for want of lodging : or but adventuring abroad to make them provision , or by his opposition to preserue the action , and saue all their liues ; i leaue to the censure of all honest men to consider . but we men imagine in our iolitie , that 't is all one , or good or bad to be . but then anone wee alter this againe , if happily wee feele the sence of paine ; for then we 're turn'd into a mourning vaine . written by thomas studley , the first cape merchant in virginia , robert fenton , edward harrington , and i. s. chap. iii. the arrivall of the first supply , with their proceedings , and the ships returne . all this time our care was not so much to abandon the countrey ; but the treasurer and councell in england , were as diligent & carefull to supply vs. two good ships they sent vs , with neare a hundred men , well furnished with all things could be imagined necessary , both for them and vs ; the one commanded by captaine newport : the other by captaine francis nelson , an honest man , and an expert marriner . but such was the lewardnesse of his ship ( that though he was within the sight of cape henry ) by stormy contrary winds was he forced so farre to sea , that the west indies was the next land , for the repaire of his masts , and reliefe of wood and water . but newport got in and arrived at iames towne , not long after the redemption of captaine smith . to whom the salvages , as is sayd , every other day repaired , with such provisions that sufficiently did serue them from hand to mouth : part alwayes they brought him as presents from their kings , or pocahontas ; the rest he as their market clarke set the price himselfe , how they should sell : so he had inchanted these poore soules being their prisoner ; and now newport , whom he called his father arriving , neare as directly as he foretold , they esteemed him as an oracle , and had them at that submission he might command them what he listed . that god that created all things they knew he adored for his god : they would also in their discourses tearme the god of captaine smith . thus the almightie was the bringer on , the guide , path , terme , all which was god alone . but the president and councell so much envied his estimation among the salvages , ( though we all in generall equally participated with him of the good thereof , ) that they wrought it into the salvages vnderstandings ( by their great bounty in giving foure times more for their commodities then smith appointed ) that their greatnesse and authoritie as much exceeded his , as their bountie and liberalitie . now the arrivall of this first supply so overioyed vs , that wee could not devise too much to please the marriners . we gaue them libertie to trucke or trade at their pleasures . but in a short time it followed , that could not be had for a pound of copper , which before was sould vs for an ounce : thus ambition and sufferance cut the throat of our trade , but confirmed their opinion of the greatnesse of capt. newport , ( wherewith smith had possessed powhatan ) especially by the great presents newport often sent him , before he could prepare the pinnace to goe and visti him : so that this great savage desired also to see him . a great coyle there was to set him forward . when he went he was accompanied with captaine smith , & mr scrivener , a very wise vnderstanding gentleman , newly arrived and admitted of the councell , with thirtie or fortie choisen men for their guard . arriving at werowocomoco , newports conceit of this great savage bred many doubts and suspitions of trecheries , which smith to make appeare was needlesse , with twentie men well appointed , vndertooke to encounter the worst that could happen : knowing all is but one , and selfe-same hand , that thus both one while scourgeth , and that helpeth vs. nathaniell powell . gent. robert behethland . gent. mitchell ●hittiplace . gent. william ●hittiplace . gent. anthony gosnoll . gent. richard wyssin . gent. iohn taverner . gent. william dyer . gent. thomas coe . gent. thomas hope . gent. anas todkill . gent. these , with nine others ( whose names i haue forgotten ) comming a-shore , landed amongst a many of creekes , over which they were to passe such poore bridges , onely made of a few cratches , thrust in the ose , and three or foure poles laid on them , and at the end of them the like , tyed together onely with barkes of trees , that it made them much suspect those bridges were but traps . which caused smith to make diverse salvages goe over first , keeping some of the chiefe as hostage till halfe his men were passed , to make a guard for himselfe and the rest . but finding all things well , by two or three hundred salvages they were kindly conducted to their towne . where powhatan strained himselfe to the vtmost of his greatnesse to entertaine them , with great shouts of ioy , orations of protestations ; and with the most plenty of victualls he could provide to feast them . sitting vpon his bed of mats , his pillow of leather imbrodered ( after their rude manner with pearle and white beads ) his attyre a faire robe of skinnes as large as an irish mantell : at his head and feete a handsome young woman : on each side his house sat twentie of his concubines , their heads and shoulders painted red , with a great chaine of white beads about each of their neckes . before those sat his chiefest men in like order in his arbour-like house , and more then fortie platters of fine bread stood as a guard in two fyles on each side the doore . foure or fiue hundred people made a guard behinde them for our passage ; and proclamation was made , none vpon paine of death to presume to doe vs any wrong or discourtesie . with many pretty discourses to renew their old acquaintance , this great king and our captaine spent the time , till the ebbe left our barge aground . then renewing their feasts with feares , dauncing and singing , and such like nurth , we quartered that night with powhatan . the next day newport came a shore and receiued as much content as those people could giue him : a boy named thomas salvage was then giuen vnto powhatan , whom newport called his sonne ; for whom powhatan gaue him namontack his trustie servant , and one of a shrewd , subtill capacitie . three or foure dayes more we spent in feasting , dauncing , and trading , wherein powhatan carried himselfe so proudly , yet discreetly ( in his salvage manner ) as made vs all admire his naturall gifts , considering his education . as scorning to trade as his subiects did ; he bespake newport in this manner . captaine newport it is not agreeable to my greatnesse , in this pedling manner to trade for triftes ; and i esteeme you also a great werowance . therefore lay me downe all your commodities together ; what i like i will take , and in recompence giue you what i thinke fitting their value . captaine smith being our interpreter , regarding newport as his father , knowing best the disposition of powhatan , could vs his intent was but onely to cheate vs ; yet captaine newport thinking to out braue this salvage in ostentation of greatnesse , and so to bewitch him with his bountie , as to haue what he listed , it so hapned , that powhatan hauing his desire , valued his corne at such a rate , that i thinke it better cheape in spaine : for we had not foure bushells for that we expected to haue twentie hogsheads . this bred some vnkindnesse betweene our two captaines ; newport seeking to please the vnsatiable desire of the salvage , smith to cause the salvage to please him ; but smothering his distast to avoyd the saluages suspition , glanced in the eyes of powhatan many trifles , who fixed his humor vpon a few blew beades . a long time he importunately desired them , but smith seemed so much the more to affect them , as being composed of a most rare substance of the coulour of the skyes , and not to be worne but by the greatest kings in the world . this made him halfe madde to be the owner of such strange iewells : so that ere we departed , for a pound or two of blew beades , be brought ouer my king for . or . bushells of corne ; yet parted good friends . the like entertainment we found of opechankanough king of pamavnkee , whom also he in like manner fitted ( at the like rates ) with blew beads , which grew by this meanes , of that estimation , that none durst weare any of them but their great kings , their wiues and children . and so we returned all well to iames towne , where this new supply being lodged with the rest , accidentally fired their quarters and so the towne , which being but thatched with reeds , the fire was so fierce as it burnt their pallisado's , ( though eight or ten yards distant ) with their armes , bedding , apparell , and much priuate prouision . good master hunt our preacher lost all his library and all he had but the cloathes on his backe : yet none neuer heard him repine at his losse . this happned in the winter in that extreame frost . . now though we had victuall sufficient i meane onely of oatmeale , meale and corne , yet the ship staying . weekes when shee might as wel haue beene gone in . dayes , spent a great part of that , and neare all the rest that was sent to be landed . when they departed what there discretion could spare vs , to make a little poore meale or two , we called feastes , to relish our mouthes : of each somwhat they left vs , yet i must confesse , those that had either money , spare clothes credit to giue billes of paiment , gold rings , furrs , or any such commodities , were euer welcome to this remouing tauerne , such was our patience to obay such vile commanders , and buy our owne provisions at . times the value , suffering them feast ( we bearing the charge ) yet must not repine , but fast , least we should incurre the censure of factious and seditious persons : and then leakage , ship-rats , and other casuallties occasioned them losse , but the vessels and remnants ( for totals ) we were glad to receaue with all our hearts to make vp the account , highly commending their prouidence for preseruing that , least they should discourage any more to come to vs. now for all this plenty our ordynary was but meale and water , so that this great charge little releeued our wants , whereby with the extremitie of the bitter cold frost and those defects , more then halfe of vs dyed ; i cannot deny but both smith and skriuener did their best to amend what was amisse , but with the president went the maior part , that there hornes were to short . but the worst was our guilded refiners with their golden promises made all men their slaues in hope of recompences ; there was no talke , no hope , no worke , but dig gold , wash gold , refine gold , loade gold , such a bruit of gold , that one mad fellow desired to be buried in the sands least they should by there art make gold of his bones : little neede there was and lesse reason , the ship should stay , there wages run on , our victualls consume . weekes , that the mariners might say , they did helpe to build such a golden church that we can say the raine washed neere to nothing in . dayes . were it that captaine smith would not applaude all those golden inventions , because they admitted him not to the sight of their trialls nor golden consultations , i know not ; but i haue heard him oft question with captaine martin & tell him , except he could shew him a more substantiall triall , he was not inamoured with their durty skill , breathing out these and many other passions , neuer any thing did more torment him , then to see all necessary busines neglected , to fraught such a drunken ship with so much guilded durt . till then we neuer accounted , captaine newport a refiner , who being ready to set saile for england , & we not hauing any vse of parliaments , plaies , petitions , admiralls , recorders , interpreters , chronologers , courts of plea , nor iustices of peace , sent master wingfield and captaine archer home with him , that had ingrossed all those titles , to seeke some better place of imployment . oh cursed gold those , hunger-starved movers , to what misfortunes lead'st thou all those lovers ! for all the china wealth , nor indies can suffice the minde of an av'ritious man. chap. iiii. the arrivall of the phoenix ; her returne ; and other accidents . the authoritie now consisting in captaine martin , and the still sickly president , the sale of the stores commodities maintained his estate , as an inheritable revenew . the spring approaching , and the ship departing , mr scrivener and captaine smith devided betwixt them the rebuilding iames towne ; the repairing our pallizadoes ; the cutting downe trees ; preparing our fields ; planting our corne , and to rebuild our church , and recover our store house . all men thus busie at their severall labours , master nelson arrived with his lost phoenix ; lost ( i say ) for that we all deemed him lost . landing safely all his men , ( so well he had mannaged his ill hap , ) causing the indian isles to feede his company , that his victuall to that we had gotten , as is said before , was neare after our allowance sufficient for halfe a yeare . he had not any thing but he freely imparted it , which honest dealing ( being a marriner ) caused vs admire him : we would not haue wished more then he did for vs. now to relade this ship with some good tydings , the president ( not holding it stood with the dignitie of his place to leaue the fort ) gaue order to captaine smith to discover and search the commodities of the monacans countrey beyond the falls . sixtie able men was allotted them , the which within six dayes , smith had so well trained to their armes and orders , that they little feared with whom they should incounter : yet so vnseasonable was the time , and so opposit was captaine martin to any thing , but onely to fraught this ship also with his phantasticall gold , as captaine smith rather desired ●o relade her with cedar , ( which was a present dispatch ) then either with durt , or the hopes and reports of an vncertaine discovery , which he would performe when they had lesse charge and more leisure . but , the god of heav'n , he eas'ly can immortalize a mortall man , with glory and with fame . the same god , ev'n as eas'ly may afflict a mortall man , i say , with sorrow and with shame . whilst the conclusion was a resolving , this hapned . powhatan ( to expresse his loue to newport ) when he departed , presented him with twentie turkies , conditionally to returne him twentie ●words , which immediately was sent him ; now after his departure he presented captaine smith with the like luggage , but not finding his humor obeyed in not sending such weapons as he desired , he caused his people with twentie devices to obtaine them . at last by ambuscadoes at our very ports they would take them perforce , surprise vs at worke , or any way ; which was so long permitted , they became so insolent there was no rule ; the command from england was so strait not to offend them , as our authoritie-bearers ( keeping their houses ) would rather be any thing then peace-breakers . this charitable humor prevailed , till well it chanced they medled with captaine smith , who without farther deliberation gaue them such an incounter , as some he so hunted vp and downe the isle , some he so terrified with whipping , beating , and impriso●ment , as for revenge they surprised two of our forraging disorderly souldiers , and having assembled their forces , boldly threatned at our ports to force smith to redeliver seven salvages , which for their villanies he detained prisoners , or we were all but dead men . but to try their furies he sallied out amongst them , and in lesse then an houre , he so hampred their insolencies , they brought them his two men , desiring peace without any further composition for their prisoners . those he examined , and caused them all beleeue , by severall vollies of shot one of their companions was shot to death , because they would not confesse their intents and plotters of those villanies . and thus they all agreed in one point , they were directed onely by powhatan to obtaine him our weapons , to cut our owne throats , with the manner where , how , and when , which we plainly found most true and apparant : yet he sent his messengers , and his dearest daughter pocahontas with presents to excuse him of the iniuries done by some rash vntoward captaines his subiects , desiring their liberties for this time , with the assurance of his loue for ever . after smith had given the prisoners what correction he thought fit , vsed them well a day or two after , & then delivered them pocahontas , for whose sake onely he fayned to haue saued their liues , and gaue them libertie . the patient councell that nothing would moue to warre with the salvages , would gladly haue wrangled with captaine smith for his crueltie , yet none was slaine to any mans knowledge , but it brought them in such feare and obedience , as his very name would sufficiently affright them ; where before , wee had sometime peace and warre twice in a day , and very seldome a weeke , but we had some trecherous villany or other . the fraught of this ship being concluded to be cedar , by the diligence of the master , and captaine smith , she was quickly reladed : master scrivener was neither idle nor slow to follow all things at the fort ; the ship being ready to set sayle , captaine martin being alwayes very sickly , and vnserviceable , and desirous to inioy the credit of his supposed art of finding the golden mine , was most willingly admitted to returne for england . for he hath not fill'd his lapp , that still doth hold it oap . from the writings of thomas studley , and anas t●dkill . their names that were landed in this supply . mathew scrivener appointed to be one of the councell . gent. michaell phittiplace . william phittiplace . ralph morton . richard wyffing . iohn taverner . william cantrell . robert barnes . richard fetherstone . george hill. george pretty . nathaniell causy . peter pory . robert gutler . michaell sicklemore . william bentley . thomas coe . doctor russell . ieffrey abbot . edward gurgana . richard worley . timothy leeds . richard killingbeck . william spence . richard ●rodger . richard pots . richard mullinax . william bayley . francis perkins . iohn harper . george forest. iohn nichols . william griuell . labourers . raymōd goodison . william simons . iohn spearman . richard bristow . william perce . iames watkins . iohn bouth . christopher rods. richard burket . iames burre . nicholas ven. francis perkins . richard gradon . rawland nelstrop . richard savage . thomas savage . richard milmer . william may. vere . michaell . bishop wiles . taylers . thomas hope . william ward . iohn powell . william yong. william beckwith . larence towtales . apothecaries . thomas field . iohn harford . dani : stallings , ieweller . will : dawson , a refiner . abram ransack , a refiner . wil. iohnson , a goldsmith . peter keffer , a gunsmith . rob. alberton , a perfumer . richard belfuld , a goldsmith . post ginnat , a chirurg . iohn lewes , a cooper . robert cotton , a tobacco-pipe-maker . richard dole , a black-smith . and divers others to the number of . chapter v. the accidents that hapned in the discovery of the bay of chisapeack . the prodigalitie of the presidents state went so deepe into our small store , that smith and scrivener tyed him and his parasites to the rules of proportion . but now smith being to depart , the presidents authoritie so overswayed the discretion of mr scrivener , that our store , our time , our strength and labours were idely consumed to fulfill his phantasies . the second of iune . smith left the fort to performe his discovery with this company . walter russell , doctor of physicke . gentlemen . ralfe murton . thomas momford . william cantrill . richard fetherston . iames burne . michell sicklemore . souldiers . ionas profit . anas todkill . robert small . iames watkins . iohn powell . iames read. richard keale . these being in an open barge neare three tuns burthen , leaving the phoenix a● cape henry , they crossed the bay to the easterne shore , and fell with the isles called smiths isles , after our captaines name . the first people we saw were two grim and stout salvages vpon cape charles , with long poles like lauelings , headed with bone , they boldly demanded what we were , and what we would ; but after many circumstances they seemed very kinde , and directed vs to accomack , the habitation of their werowance , where we were kindly intreated . this king was the comliest , proper , civill salvage we incountred . his country is a pleasant fertile clay ●oyle , some small creekes ; good harbours for small barks , but not for ships . he told vs of a strange accident lately happened him , and it was , two children being dead ; some extreame passions , or dreaming visions , phantasies , or affection moued their parents againe to revisit their dead carkases , whose benummed bodies reflected to the eyes of the beholders such delightfull countenances , as though they had regained their vitall spirits . this as a miracle drew many to behold them , all which being a great part of his people , not long after dyed , and but few escaped . they spake the language of powhatan , wherein they made such descriptions of the bay , isles , and rivers , that often did vs exceeding pleasure . passing along the coast , searching every inlet , and bay , fit for harbours and habitations . seeing many isles in the midst of the bay we bore vp for them , but ere we could obtaine them , such an extreame gust of wind , rayne , thunder , and lightening happened , that with great danger we escaped the vnmercifull raging of that ocean-like water . the highest land on the mayne , yet it was but low , we called keales hill , and these vninhabited isles , russels isles . the next day searching them for fresh water , we could find none , the defect whereof forced vs to follow the next easterne channell , which brought vs to the river of wighcocomoco . the people at first with great fury seemed to assault vs , yet at last with songs and daunces and much mirth became very tractable , but searching their habitations for water , we could fill but three barricoes , & that such puddle , that never till then we ever knew the want of good water . we digged and searched in many places , but before two daies were expired , we would haue refused two barricoes of gold for one of that puddle water of wighcocomoco . being past these isles which are many in number , but all naught for habitation , falling with a high land vpon the mayne , we found a great pond of fresh water , but so exceeding hot wee supposed it some bath ; that place we called poynt ployer , in honor of that most honourable house of mousay in britaine , that in an extreame extremitie once relieued our captaine . from wighcocomoco to this place , all the coast is low broken isles of morap , growne a myle or two in breadth , and ten or twelue in length , good to cut for hay in summer , and to catch fish and foule in winter : but the land beyond them is all covered over with wood , as is the rest of the country . being thus refreshed in crossing ouer from the maine to other isles , we discouered the winde and waters so much increased with thunder , lightning , and raine , that our mast and sayle blew ouerbord and such mighty waues ouerracked vs in that small barge that with great labour we kept her frō sinking by freeing out the water . two dayes we were inforced to inhabite these vninhabited isles which for the extremitie of gusts , thunder , raine , stormes , and ill wether we called limbo . repairing our saile with our shirts , we set sayle for the maine and fell with a pretty convenient riuer on the east called cuskarawaok , the people ran as amazed in troups from place to place , and diuers got into the tops of trees , they were not sparing of their arrowes , nor the greatest passion they could expresse of their anger . long they shot , we still ryding at an anchor without there reatch making all the signes of friendship we could . the next day they came vnarmed , with euery one a basket , dancing in a ring , to draw vs on shore : but seeing there was nothing in them but villany , we discharged a volly of muskets charged with pistoll shot , whereat they all lay tumbling on the grownd , creeping some one way , some another into a great cluster of reedes hard by ; where there companies lay in ambuscado . towards the euening we wayed , & approaching the shoare , discharging fiue or six shot among the reedes , we landed where there lay a many of baskets and much bloud , but saw not a salvage . a smoake appearing on the other side the riuer , we rowed thither , where we found two or three little houses , in each a fire , there we left some peeces of copper , beads , bells , and looking glasses , and then went into the bay , but when it was darke we came backe againe . early in the morning foure salvages came to vs in their canow , whom we vsed with such courtesie , not knowing what we were , nor had done , hauing beene in the bay a fishing , bad● vs stay and ere long they would returne , which they did and some twentie more with them ; with whom after a little conference , two or three thousand men women & childrē came clustring about vs , euery one presēting vs with something , which a little bead would so well require , that we became such friends they would contend who should fetch vs water , stay with vs for hostage , conduct our men any whither , and giue vs the best content . here doth inhabite the people of sarapinagh , nause , arseek , and nantaquak the best marchants of all other salvages . they much extolled a great nation called massawomekes , in search of whom we ret●●●ed by limbo : this riuer but onely at the ●nt●ance is very narrow , and the people of small stature as them of wightcocomoco , the land but low , yet it may proue very commodious , because it is but a ridge of land betwixt the bay and the maine ocean . finding this easterne shore , shallow broken isles , and for most part without fresh water , we passed by the straites of limbo for the westerne shore : so broad is the bay here , we could scarce perceiue the great high clifts on the other side : by them we anchored that night and called them r●ccards clift●s . . leagues we sayled more northwards not finding any inhabitants , leauing all the easterne shore , lowe islandes , but ouergrowne with wood , as all the coast beyond them so farre as wee could see : the westerne shore by which we sayled we found all along well watered , but very mountanous and barren , the vallies very fertill , but extreame thicke of small wood so well as trees , and much frequented with wolues , beares , deere and other wild beasts . we passed many shallow creekes , but the first we found nauigable for a ship , we called bolus , for that the clay in many places vnder the clifts by the high water marke , did grow vp in red and white knots as gum out of trees ; and in some places so participated together as though they were all of one nature , excepting the coulour , the rest of the earth on both sides being hard sandy grauell , which made vs thinke it bole-armoniack and terra sigillata . when we first set sayle some of our gallants doubted nothing but that our captaine would make too much hast home , but hauing lien in this small barge not aboue . or . dayes , oft tyred at the oares , our bread spoyled with wet so much that it was rotten ( yet so good were their stomacks that they could disgest it ) they did with continuall complaints so importune him now to returne , as caused him bespeake them in this manner . gentlemen if you would remember the memorable history of sir ralph layne , how his company importuned him to proceed in the discovery of moratico , alleadging they had yet a dog , that being boyled with saxafras leaues , would richly feede them in their returnes ; then what a shame would it be for you ( that haue bin so suspitious of my tendernesse ) to force me returne , with so much provision as we haue , and scarce able to say where we haue beene , nor yet heard of that we were sent to seeke ? you cannot say but i haue shared with you in the worst which is past ; and for what is to come , of lodging , dyet , or whatsoeuer , i am contented you allot the worst part to my selfe . as for your feares that i will lose my selfe in these vnknowne large waters , or be swallowed vp in some stormie gust ; abandon these childish feares , for wor●e then to past ●s not likely to happen : and there is as much danger to returne as to proceede . regaine therefore your old spirits for returne i will not ( if god please ) till i haue 〈◊〉 the massawomeks , found patawomek , or the head of this water you conceit to be endl●sse . two or . dayes we expected winde & wether , whose aduerse extremities added such discouragement , that three or foure fell sicke , whose pittifull complaints caused vs to to returne , leauing the bay some nine miles broad , at nine and ten fadome water . the . of iune we fell with the riuer patowomek : 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 w●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 , ●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 spāgled 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 endles●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 pl●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 pro●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 presētly 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 waraskoyack the of iuly ; where trimming her with painted streamers , and such devises as we could , we made them at iames towne iealous of a spanish frigot , where we all god be thanked safely arrived the of iuly . there we found the last supply were all sicke , the rest some lame , some bruised , all vnable to doe any thing but complaine of the pride and vnreasonable needlesse crueltie of the silly president , that had riotously consumed the store : and to fulfill his follies about building him an vnnecessary building for his pleasure in the woods , had brought them all to that misery ; that had we not arrived , they had as strangely tormented him with revenge : but the good newes of our discovery , and the good hope we had by the salvages relation , that our bay had stretched into the south sea , or somewhat neare it , appeased their fury ; but conditionally that ratliffe should be deposed , and that captaine smith would take vpon him the government , as by course it did belong . their request being effected , he substituted mr scrivener his deare friend in the presidency , equally distributing those private provisions the other had ingrossed , appointing more honest officers to assist master scrivener ( who then lay exceeding sicke of a callenture ) and in regard of the weaknesse of the company , and heate of the yeare , they being vnable to worke , he left them to liue at ease , to recover their healths , but imbarked himselfe to finish his discovery . written by walter russell , anas todkill , and thomas momford . chap. vi. the government surrendred to master scrivener . what happened the second voyage in discovering the bay. the of iuly , captaine smith set forward to finish the discovery with twelue men : their names were gentlemen . nathaniell powell . thomas momford . richard fetherston . michell sicklemore . iames bourne . anthony bagnall , chir. souldiers . ionas profit . anas todkill . edward pising . richard keale . iames watkins . william ward . the wind being contrary caused our stay two or three dayes at kecoughtan : the king feasted vs with much mirth , his people were perswaded we went purposely to be revenged of the massawomeks . in the evening we fired a few rackets , which flying in the ayre so terrified the poore salvages , they supposed nothing vnpossible we attempted ; and desired to assist vs. the first night we anchored at stingray isle . the next day crossed patawomeks river , and hasted to the river bolus . we went not much further before we might see the bay to divide in two heads , and arriving there we found it divided in foure , all which we searched so farre as we could sayle them . two of them we found inhabited , but in crossing the bay , we incountred or canowes full of massawomeks , we seeing them prepare to assault vs , left our oares and made way with our sayle to incounter them , yet were we but fiue with our captaine that could stand , for within dayes after we left kecoughtan , the rest ( being all of the last supply ) were sicke almost ●o death , vntill they were seasoned to the country . having shut them vnder our tarpawling , we put their hats vpon stickes by the barges side , and betwixt two hats a man with two peeces , to make vs seeme many , and so we thinke the indians supposed those hats to be men , for they fled with all possible speed to the shore , and there stayed , staring at the sayling of our barge till we anchored right against them . long it was ere we could draw them to come vnto vs. at last they sent two of their company vnarmed in a canow , the rest all followed to second them if neede required . these two being but each presented with a bell , brought aboord all their fellowes , presenting our captaine with venison , beares flesh , fish , bowes , arrowes , clubs , targets , and beares-skinnes . we vnderstood them nothing at all , but by signes , whereby they signified vnto vs they had beene at warres with the tockwoghes , the which they confirmed by shewing vs their greene wounds , but the night parting vs , we imagined they appointed the next morning to meete , but after that we never saw them . entring the river of tockwogh , the salvages all armed , in a fleete of boats , after their barbarous manner , round invironed vs ; so it chanced one of them could speake the language of powhatan , who perswaded the rest to a friendly parley . but when they saw vs furnished with the massawomeks weapons , and we faining the invention of kecoughtan , to haue taken them perforce ; they conducted vs to their pallizado●d towne , mantelled with the barkes of trees , with scaffolds like mounts , brested about with brests very formally . their men , women , and children with daunces , songs , fruits , furres , and what they had , kindly welcommed vs , spreading mat● for vs to sit on , stretching their best abilities to expresse their loues . many hatchets , kniues , peeces of iron , and brasse , we saw amongst them , which they reported to haue from the sasquesahanocks , a mightie people and mortall enemies with the massawomeks . the sasquesahanocks inhabit vpon the chiefe spring of these foure branches of the bayes head , two dayes iourney higher then our barge could passe for rocks , yet we prevailed with the interpreter to take with him another interpreter , to perswade the sasquesahanocks to come visit vs , for their language are different . three or foure dayes we expected their returne , then sixtie of those gyant-like people came downe , with presents of venison , tobacco pipes three foot in length , baskets , targets , bowes and arrowes . fiue of their chiefe werowances came boldly aboord vs to crosse the bay for tockwhogh , leaving their men and canowes ; the wind being so high they durst not passe . our order was daily to haue prayer , with a psalme , at which solemnitie the poore salvages much wondred , our prayers being done , a while they were busied with a consultation till they had contrived their businesse . then they began in a most passionate manner to hold vp their hands to the sunne , with a most fearefull song , then imbracing our captaine , they began to adore him in like manner : though he rebuked them , yet they proceeded till their song was finished : which done with a most strange furious action , and a hellish voyce , began an oration of their loues ; that ended , with a great painted beares skin they covered him : then one ready with a great chayne of white beads , weighing at least six or seaven pound , hung it about his necke , the others had mantels , made of divers sorts of skinnes sowed together ; all these with many other toyes they layd at his feete , stroking their ceremonious hands about his necke for his creation to be their governour and protector , promising their aydes , victualls , or what they had to be his , if he would stay with them , to defend and revenge them of the massawomecks . but we left them at tockwhogh , sorrowing for our departure , yet we promised the next yeare againe to visit them . many descriptions and discourses they made vs , of atquanachuck , massawomek , & other people , signifying they inhabit vpon a great water beyond the mountaines , which we vnderstood to be some great lake , or the river of canada : and from the french to haue their hatchets and commodities by trade . these know no more of the territories of powhatan , then his name , and he as little of them , but the atquanachuks are on the ocean sea. the highest mountaine we saw northward wee called perigrines mount , and a rocky river , where the massawomeks went vp , willowbyes river , in honor of the towne our captaine was borne in , and that honorable house the lord willowby , his most honored good friend . the sasquesahanocks river we called smiths falles ; the next poynt to tockwhogh , pisings poynt ; the next it poynt bourne . powells isles and smals poynt is by the river bolus ; and the little bay at the head profits poole ; watkins , reads , and momfords poynts are on each side limbo ; ward , cantrell , and sicklemore , betwixt patawomek and pamavnk●e , after the names of the discoverers . in all those places and the furthest we came vp the rivers , we cut in trees so many crosses as we would , and in many places made holes in trees , wherein we writ notes , and in some places crosses of brasse , to signifie to any , englishmen had beene there . thus having sought all the inlets and rivers worth noting , we returned to discover the river of pawtuxunt ; these people we found very tractable , and more civill then any , we promised them , as also the patawomeks to revenge them of the massawomeks , but our purposes were crossed . in the discovery of this river some call rapathanock , we were kindly entertained by the people of moraughtacund ; here we incountered our old friend mosco , a lusty salvage of wighcocomoco vpō the river of patawomek , we supposed him some french mans sonne , because he had a thicke blacke bush beard , and the salvages seldome haue any at all , of which he was not a little proud , to see so many of his country-men . wood and water he would fetch vs , guide vs any whether , nay , cause divers of his countrymen helpe vs towe against winde or tyde from place to place till we came to patawomek : there he rested till we returned from the head of the river , and occasioned our conduct to the mine we supposed antimony . and in the place he fayled not to doe vs all the good he could , perswading vs in any case not to goe to the rapahanocks , for they would kill vs for being friends with the moraughtacunds that but lately had stolne three of the kings women . this we did thinke was but that his friends might onely haue our trade : so we crossed the river to the rapahanocks . there some or standing on the shore , directed vs a little creeke where was good landing , and commodities for vs in three or foure canowes we saw lie there : but according to our custome , we demanded to exchange a man in signe of loue , which after they had a little consulted , foure or fiue came vp to the middles , to fetch our man , and leaue vs one of them , shewing we need not feare them , for they had neither clubs , bowes , nor arrowes . notwithstanding , anas todkill , being sent on shore to see if he could discover any ambuscadoes , or what they had , desired to goe over the playne to fetch some wood , but they were vnwilling , except we would come into the creeke , where the boat might come close ashore . todkill by degrees having got some two stones throwes vp the playne , perceived two or three hundred men ( as he thought ) behind the trees , so that offering to returne to the boat , the salvages assayed to carry him away perforce , that he called to vs we were betrayed , and by that he had spoke the word , our hostage was over-boord , but watkins his keeper slew him in the water . immediatly we let fly amongst them , so that they fled , & todkill escaped , yet they shot so fast that he fell flat on the ground ere he could recover the boat . here the massawomek targets stood vs in good stead , for vpon mosco's words , we had set them about the forepart of our boat like a forecastle , from whence we securely beat the salvages from off the plaine without any hurt : yet they shot more then a thousand arrowes , and then fled into the woods . arming our selues with these light targets ( which are made of little small sticks woven betwixt strings of their hempe and silke grasse , as is our cloth , but so firmely that no arrow can possibly pierce them : ) we rescued todkill , who was all bloudy by some of them who were shot by vs that held him , but as god pleased he had no hurt ; and following them vp to the woods , we found some slaine , and in divers places much bloud . it seems all their arrowes were spent , for we heard no more of them . their canows we tooke ; the arrowes we found we broke , saue them we kept for mosco , to whom we gaue the canowes for his kindnesse , that entertained vs in the best trivmphing manner , and warlike order in armes of conquest he could procure of the moraughtacunds . the rest of the day we spent in accomodating our boat , in stead of thoules wee made stickes like bedstaues , to which we fastened so many of our massawomek targets , that invironed her as wast clothes . the next morning we went vp the river , and our friend mosco followed vs along the shore , and at last desired to goe with vs in our boat. but as we passed by pisacack , matchopeak , and mecuppom , three townes situated vpon high white clay clifts ; the other side all a low playne marish , and the river there but narrow . thirtie or fortie of the rapahanocks , had so accommodated themselues with branches , as we tooke them for little bushes growing among the sedge , still seeing their arrowes strike the targets , and dropped in the river : where-at mosco fell flat in the boat on his face , crying the rapahanocks , which presently we espied to be the bushes , which at our first volley fell downe in the sedge : when wee were neare halfe a myle from them , they shewed themselues dauncing and singing very merrily . the kings of pissassack , nandtaughtacund , and cuttatawomen , vsed vs kindly , and all their people neglected not any thing to mosco to bring vs to them . betwixt secobeck and massawteck is a small isle or two , which causeth the river to be broader then ordinary ; there it pleased god to take one of our company called mr fetherstone , that all the time he had beene in this country , had behaved himselfe , honestly , valiantly , and industriously , where in a little bay we called fetherstones bay wee buryed him with a volley of shot : the rest notwithstanding their ill dyet , and bad lodging , crowded in so small a barge , in so many dangers never resting , but alwayes tossed to and againe , had all well recovered their healths . the next day wee sayled so high as our boat would float , there setting vp crosses , and graving our names in the trees . our sentinell saw an arrow fall by him , though we had ranged vp and downe more then an houre in digging in the earth , looking of stones , herbs , and springs , not seeing where a salvage could well hide himselfe . vpon the alarum by that we had recovered our armes , there was about an hundred nimble indians skipping from tree to tree , letting fly their arrows so fast as they could : the trees here served vs for baricadoes as well as they . but mosco did vs more service then we expected , for having shot away his quiver of arrowes , he ran to the boat for more . the arrowes of mosco at the first made them pause vpon the matter , thinking by his bruit and skipping , there were many salvages . about halfe an houre this continued , then they all vanished as suddainly as they approached . mosco followed them so farre as he could see vs , till they were out of sight . as we returned there lay a salvage as dead , shot in the knee , but taking him vp we found he had life , which mosco seeing , never was dog more furious against a beare , then mosco was to haue beat out his braines , so we had him to our boat , where our chirurgian who went with vs to cure our captaines hurt of the stingray , so dressed this salvage that within an houre after he looked somewhat chearefully , and did eate and speake . in the meane time we contented mosco in helping him to gather vp their arrowes , which were an armefull , whereof he gloried not a little . then we desired mosco to know what he was , and what countries were beyond the mountaines ; the poore salvage mildly answered , he and all with him were of hasinninga , where there are three kings more , like vnto them , namely the king of stegora , the king of tauxuntania , and the king of shakahonea , that were come to moha●kahod , which is onely a hunting towne , and the bounds betwixt the kingdome of the mannahocks , and the nandtaughtacunds , but hard by where we were . we demanded why they came in that manner to betray vs , that came to them in peace , and to seeke their loues ; he answered , they heard we were a people come from vnder the world , to take their world from them . we asked him how many worlds he did know , he replyed , he knew no more but that which was vnder the skie that covered him , which were the powhatans , with the monacans , and the massawomeks , that were higher vp in the mountaines . then we asked him what was beyond the mountaines , he answered the sunne : but of any thing els he knew nothing ; * because the woods were not burnt . these and many such questions wee demanded , concerning the massawomeks , the monacans , their owne country , and where were the kings of stegora , tauxsintania , and the rest . the monacans he sayd were their neighbours and friends , and did dwell as they in the hilly countries by small rivers , liuing vpon rootes and fruits , but chiefly by hunting . the massawomeks did dwell vpon a great water , and had many boats , & so many men that they made warre with all the world . for their kings , they were gone every one a severall way with their men on hunting : but those with him came thither a fishing till they saw vs , notwithstanding they would be altogether at night at mahaskahod . for his relation we gaue him many toyes , with perswasions to goe with vs , and he as earnestly desired vs to stay the comming of those kings that for his good vsage should be friends with vs , for he was brother to hasinninga . but mosco advised vs presently to be gone , for they were all naught , yet we told him we would not till it was night . all things we made ready to entertain what came , & mosco was as diligent in trimming his arrowes . the night being come we all imbarked , for the riuer was so narrow , had it beene light the land on the one side was so high , they might haue done vs exceeding much mischiefe . all this while the k. of hasinninga was seeking the rest , and had consultation a good time what to doe . but by their espi●s seeing we were gone , it was not long before we heard their arrowes dropping on every side the boat ; we cause● our salvages to call vnto them , but such a yelling & hallowing they made that they heard nothing , but now and then a peece , ayming so neare as we could where we heard the most voyces . more then myles they followed vs in this manner ; then the day appearing , we found our selues in a broad bay , out of danger of their shot , where wee came to an anchor , and fell to breakfast . not so much as speaking to them till the sunne was risen ; being well refreshed , we vntyed our targets that couered vs as a deck , and all shewed our selues with those shields on our armes , and swords in our hands , and also our prisoner amoroleck ; a long discourse there was betwixt his countrimen and him , how good wee were , how well wee vsed him , how wee had a patawomek with vs , loued vs as his life , that would haue slaine him had we not preserued him , and that he should haue his libertie would they be but friends ; and to doe vs any hurt it was impossible . vpon this they all hung their bowes and quivers vpon the trees , and one came swimming aboord vs with a bow tyed on his head , and another with a quiver of arrowes , which they deliuered our captaine as a present , the captaine hauing vsed them so kindly as he could , told them the other three kings should doe the like , and then the great king of our world should be their friend , whose men we were . it was no sooner demanded but performed , so vpon a low moorish poynt of land we went to the shore , where those foure kings came and receiued amoroleck : nothing they had but bowes , arrowes , tobacco-bags , and pipes : what we desired , none refused to giue vs , wondering at every thing we had , and heard we had done : our pistols they tooke for pipes , which they much desired , but we did content them with other commodities , and so we left foure or fiue hundred of our merry mannahocks , singing , dauncing , and making merry , and set sayle for moraughtacund . in our returnes we visited all our friends , that reioyced much at our victory against the mannahocks , who many times had warres also with them , but now they were friends , and desired we would be friends with the rapahanocks , as we were with the mannahocks . our captaine told them , they had twise assaulted him that came onely in loue to doe them good , and therefore he would now burne all their houses , destroy their corne , and for euer hold them his enemies , till they made him satisfaction ; they desired to know what that should be : he told them they should present him the kings bow and arrowes , and not offer to come armed where he was ; that they should be friends with the moraughtacunds his friends , and giue him their kings sonne in pledge to performe it , and then all king iames his men should be their friends . vpon this they presently sent to the rapahanocks to meete him at the place where they first fought , where would be the kings of nantautacund and pissassac : which according to their promise were there so soone as we ; where rapahanock presented his bow and arrowes , and confirmed all we desired , except his sonne , having no more but him he could not liue without him , but in stead of his sonne he would giue him the three women moraughtacund had stol●e . this was accepted : and so in three or foure canowes , so many as could went with vs to moraughtacund , where mosco made them such relations , and gaue to his friends so many bowes and arrowes , that they no lesse loued him then admired vs. the women were brought our captaine , to each he gaue a chayne of beads : and then causing moraughtacund , mosco , and rapahanock stand before him , bid rapahanock take her he loued best , and moraughtacund chuse next , & to mosco he gaue the third . vpon this away went their canowes over the water , to fetch their venison , and all the provision they could , and they that wanted boats swam over the river : the darke commanded vs then to rest . the next day there was of men , women , and children , as we coniectured , six or seauen hundred , dauncing , & singing , and not a bow nor arrow seene amongst them . mosco changed his name v●tasantascugh , which we interpret stranger , for so they call vs. all promising ever to be our friends , and to plant corne purposely for vs ; and we to provide hatchets , beads , and copper for them , we departed , giuing them a volley of shot , and they vs as loud shouts and cryes as their strengths could vtter . that night we anchored in the river of payankatank , and discovered it so high as it was navigable , but the people were most a hunting , saue a few old men , women , and children , that were tending their corne , of which they promised vs part when we would fetch it , as had done all the nations where ever we had yet beene . in a fayre calme , rowing towards poynt comfort , we anchored in gosnolls bay , but such a suddaine gust surprised vs in the night with thunder and rayne , that we never thought more to haue seene iames towne . yet running before the wind , we sometimes saw the land by the flashes of fire from heaven , by which light onely we kept from the splitting shore , vntill it pleased god in that blacke darknesse to preserue vs by that light to finde poynt comfort : there refreshing our selues , because we had onely but heard of the chisapeacks & nandsamunds , we thought it as fit to know all our neighbours neare home , as so many nations abroad . so setting sayle for the southerne shore , we sayled vp a narrow river vp the country of chisapeack ; it hath a good channell , but many shoules about the entrance . by that we had sayled six or seauen myles , we saw two or three little garden plots with their houses , the shores overgrowne with the greatest pyne and firre trees wee ever saw in the country . but not seeing nor hearing any people , and the riuer very narrow , we returned to the great riuer , to see if we could finde any of them . coasting the shore towards nandsamund , which is most oyster-bankes ; at the mouth of that riuer , we espied six or seauen salvages making their wires , who presently fled : ashore we went , and where they wrought we threw diuers toyes , and so departed . farre we were not gone ere they came againe , and began to sing , and daunce , and recall vs : and thus we began our first acquaintance . at last one of them desired vs to goe to his house vp that riuer , into our boat voluntarily he came , the rest ran after vs by the shore with all shew of loue that could be . seauen or eight myles we sayled vp this narrow riuer : at last on the westerne shore we saw large cornefields , in the midst a little isle , and in it was abundance of corne ; the people he told vs were all a hunting , but in the isle was his house , to which he inuited vs with much kindnesse : to him ▪ his wife , and children , we gaue such things as they seemed much contented them . the others being come , desired vs also to goe but a little higher to see their houses : here our host left vs , the rest rowed by vs in a canow , till we were so far past the isle the riuer became very narrow . here we desired some of them to come abord vs , wherat pausing a little , they told vs they would but fetch their bows and arrowes and goe all with vs , but being a-shore and thus armed , they perswaded vs to goe forward , but we could neither perswade them into their canow , nor into our boat. this gaue vs cause to prouide for the worst . farre we went not ere seauen or eight canowes full of men armed appeared following vs , staying to see the conclusion . presently from each side the riuer came arrowes so fast as two or three hundred could shoot them , whereat we returned to get the open . they in the canowes let fly also as fast , but amongst them we bestowed so many shot , the most of them leaped overboard and swam ashore , but two or three escaped by rowing , being against their playnes : our muskets they found shot further then their bowes , for wee made not twentie shot ●re they all retyred behind the next trees . being thus got out of their trap , we seised on all their canowes , and moored them in the midst of the open . more then an hundred arrowes stucke in our targets , and about the boat , yet none hurt , onely anthony bagnall was shot in his hat , and another in his sleeue . but seeing their multitudes , and suspecting as it was , that both the nandsamunds , and the chisapeacks were together , we thought it best to ryde by their canowes a while , to bethinke if it were better to burne all in the isle , or draw them to composition , till we were prouided to take all they had , which was sufficient to feed all our colony : but to burne the isle at night it was concluded . in the interim we began to cut in peeces their canowes , and they presently to lay downe their bowes , making signes of peace : peace we told them we would accept , would they bring vs their kings bowes and arrowes , with a chayne of pearle ; and when we came againe giue vs foure hundred baskets full of corne , otherwise we would breake all their boats , and burne their houses , and corne , and all they had . to performe all this they alledged onely the want of a canow ; so we put one a drift & bad them swim to fetch her : and till they performed their promise , wee would but onely breake their canowes . they cryed to vs to doe no more , all should be as we would : which presently they performed , away went their bowes and arrowes , and tagge and ragge came with their baskets : so much as we could carry we tooke , and so departing good friends , we returned to iames towne , where we safely arrived the . of september , . there we found mr scrivener , and divers others well recovered : many dead ; some sicke : the late president prisoner for mutiny : by the honest diligence of master scrivener , the haruest gathered , but the provision in the store much spoyled with rayne . thus was that summer ( when little wanted ) consumed and spent , and nothing done ( such was the gouernment of captaine ratliffe ) but onely this discovery ; wherein to expresse all the dangers , accidents , and incounters this small number passed in that small barge , by the scale of proportion , about three thousand myles , with such watery dyet in those great waters and barbarous countries ( till then to any christian vtterly vnknowne ) i rather referre their merit to the censure of the courteous and experienced reader , then i would be tedious or partiall being a partie . but to this place to come who will adventure , with iudgements guide and reason how to enter : finds in this worlds broad sea , with winde and tyde , ther 's safer sayle then any where beside , but 'cause to wanton novices it is a province full of fearefulnesse i wiss ; into the great vast deepe to venter out : those shallow rivers let them coast about . and by a small boat learne there first , and marke , how they may come to make a greater barke . written by anthony bagnall , nathanaell powell , and anas todkill . chapter vii . the presidency surrendred to captaine smith : the arrivall and returne of the second supply . and what happened . the tenth of september , by the election of the councell , and request of the company , captaine smith receiued the letters patents : which till then by no meanes he would accept , though he was often importuned therevnto . now the building of ratliffes pallace stayed as a thing needlesse ; the church was repaired ; the store-house recouered ; buildings prepared for the supplyes , we expected ; the fort reduced to a fiue-square forme ; the order of the watch renewed ; the squadrons ( each setting of the watch ) trained ; the whole company euery saturday exercised , in the plaine by the west bulwarke , prepared for that purpose , we called smithfield : where sometimes more then an hundred salvages would stand in an amazement to behold , how a fyle would batter a tree , where he would make them a marke to shoot at ; the boats trimmed for trade , which being sent out with lieutenant percy , in their iourney incountred the second supply , that brought them backe to discover the country of monacan . how or why captaine newport obtained such a private commission , as not to returne without a lumpe of gold , a certaintie of the south sea , or one of the lost company sent out by sir water raleigh , i know not ; nor why he brought such a fiue peeced barge , not to beare vs to that south sea , till we had borne her over the mountaines , which how farre they extend is yet vnknowne . as for the coronation of powhatan , and his presents of bason and ewer , bed , bedstead , clothes , and such costly nouelties , they had beene much better well spared then so ill spent , for wee had his favour much better onely for a playne peece of copper , till this stately kinde of soliciting , made him so much overvalue himselfe , that he respected vs as much as nothing at all . as for the hyring of the poles and dutch-men , to make pitch , tar , glasse ▪ milles , and sope ashes , when the country is replenished with people , and necessaries , would haue done well , but to send them and seauentie more without victualls to worke , was not so well aduised nor considered of , as it should haue beene . yet this could not haue hurt vs had they beene . though then we were that wanted for our selues . for we had the salvages in that decorum ( their harvest being newly gathered , that we feared not to get victuals for . now was there no way to make vs miserable , but to neglect that time to make prouision whilst it was to be had , the which was done by the direction from england to performe this strange discovery , but a more strange coronation to loose that time , spend that victualls we had , tyre and starue our men , hauing no meanes to carry victuals , munition , the hurt or sicke , but on their owne backes . how or by whom they were inuented i know not : but captaine newport we onely accounted the author , who to effect these proiects , had so guilded mens hopes with great promises , that both company and councell concluded his resolution for the most part : god doth know they little knew what they did , nor vnderstood their owne estates to conclude his conclusions , against all the inconveniences the foreseeing president alledged . of this supply there was added to the councell , one captaine richard waldo , and captaine wynne , two auncient souldiers , and valiant gentlemen , but yet ignorant of the busines , ( being but newly arriued . ) ratliffe was also permitted to haue his voyce , & mr scrivener , desirous to see strange countries : so that although smith was president , yet the maior part of the councell had the authoritie and ruled it as they listed . as for clearing smiths obiections , how pitch and tarre , wainscot , clapbord , glasse , and sope ashes , could be provided , to relade the ship , or provision got to liue withall , when none was in the country , and that we had , spent , before the ship departed to effect these projects . the answer was , captaine newport vndertooke to fraught the pinnace of twentie tunnes with corne in going and returning in his discovery , and to refraught her againe from werowocomoco of powhatan . also promising a great proportion of victualls from the ship ; inferring that smiths propositions were onely devices to hinder his iourney , to effect it himselfe ; and that the crueltie he had vsed to the salvages , might well be the occasion to hinder these designes , and seeke revenge on him . for which taxation all workes were left , and chosen men were appointed for newports guard in this discovery . but captaine smith to make cleare all those seeming suspitions , that the salvages were not so desperate as was pretended by captaine newport , and how willing ( since by their authoritie they would haue it so ) he was to assist them what he could , because the coronation would consume much time , he vndertooke himselfe their message to powhatan , to intreat him to come to iames towne to receiue his presents . and where newport durst not goe with lesse then . he onely tooke with him captaine waldo , mr andrew buckler , edward brinton , and samuel collier : with these foure he went over land to werowocomoco , some myles ; there he passed the river of pamavnkee in a salvage canow . powhatan being myles of , was presently sent for : in the meane time , pocahontas and her women entertained captaine smith in this manner . in a fayre plaine field they made a fire , before which ▪ he sitting vpon a mat , suddainly amongst the woods was heard such a hydeous noise and shreeking , that the english betooke themselues to their armes , and seized on two or three old men by them , supposing powhatan with all his power was come to surprise them . but presently pocahontas came , willing him to kill her if any hurt were intended , and the beholders , which were men , women , and children , satisfied the captaine there was no such matter . then presently they were presented with this anticke ; thirtie young women came naked out of the woods , onely covered behind and before with a few greene leaues , their bodies all painted , some of one colour , some of another , but all differing , their leader had a fayre payre of bucks hornes on her head , and an otters skinne at her girdle , and another at her arme , a quiver of arrowes at her backe , a bow and arrowes in her hand ; the next had in her hand a sword , another a club , another a pot-sticke ; all horned alike : the rest every one with their severall devises . these fiends with most hellish shouts and cryes , rushing from among the trees , cast themselues in a ring about the fire , singing and dauncing with most excellent ill varietie , oft falling into their infernall passions , and solemnly againe to sing and daunce ; having spent neare an houre in this mascarado , as they entred in like manner they departed . having reaccōmodated themselues , they solemnly invited him to their lodgings , where he was no sooner within the house , but all these nymphes more tormented him then ever , with crowding , pressing , and hanging about him , most tediously crying , loue you not me ? loue you not me ? this salutation ended , the feast was set , consisting of all the salvage dainties they could devise : some attending , others singing and dauncing about them ; which mirth being ended , with fire-brands in stead of torches they conducted him to his lodging . thus did they shew their feats of armes , and others art in dauncing : some other vs'd there oaten pipe , and others voyces chanting . the next day came powhatan : smith delivered his message of the presents sent him , and redelivered him namontack he had sent for england , desiring him to come to his father newport , to accept those presents , and conclude their revenge against the monacans . wherevnto this subtile savage thus replyed . if your king haue sent me presents , i also am a king , and this is my land : eight dayes i will stay to receiue them . your father is to come to me , not i to him , nor yet to your fort , neither will i bite at such a bait : as for the monacans i can revenge my owne iniuries , and as for atquanachuk , where you say your brother was slaine , it is a contrary way from those parts you suppose it ; but for any salt water beyond the mountaines , the relations you haue had from my people are false . wherevpon he began to draw plots vpon the ground ( according to his discourse ) of all those regions . many other discourses they had ( yet both content to giue each other content in complementall courtesies ) and so captaine smith returned with this answer . vpon this the presents were sent by water which is neare an hundred myles , and the captains went by land with fiftie good shot . all being met at werowocomoco , the next day was appointed for his coronation , then the presents were brought him , his bason and ewer , bed and furniture set vp , his scarlet cloke and apparell with much adoe put on him , being perswaded by namontack they would not hurt him : but a soule trouble there was to make him kneele to receiue his crowne , he neither knowing the maiesty nor meaning of a crowne , nor bending of the knee , endured so many perswasions , examples , and instructions , as tyred them all ; at last by leaning hard on his shoulders , he a little stooped , and three having the crowne in their hands put it on his head , when by the warning of a pistoll the boats were prepared with such a volley of shot , that the king start vp in a horrible feare , till he saw all was well . then remembring himselfe , to congratulate their kindnesse , he gaue his old shooes and his mantell to captaine newport : but perceiving his purpose was to discover the monacans , he laboured to divert his resolution , refusing to lend him either men or guides more then namontack ; and so after some small complement all kindnesse on both sides , in requitall of his presents he presented newport with a heape of wheat eares that might containe some or bushels , and as much more we bought in the towne , wherewith we returned to the fort. the ship having disburdened her selfe of persons , with the first gentlewoman and woman-seruant that arrived in our colony . captaine newport with chosen men , led by captaine waldo , lieutenant percie , captaine winne , mr west , and mr scrivener , set forward for the discovery of monacan , leaving the president at the fort with about . or . ( such as they were ) to relade the ship. arriving at the falles we marched by land some fortie myles in two dayes and a halfe , and so returned downe the same path we went. two townes we discovered of the monacans , called massinacak and mowhemenchouch , the people neither vsed vs well nor ill , yet for our securitie we tooke one of their petty kings , and led him bound to conduct vs the way . and in our returnes searched many places we supposed mines , about which we spent some time in refyning , having one william gallicut , a refyner fitted for that purpose . from that crust of earth we digged , he perswaded vs to beleeue he extracted some small quantitie of silver ; and ( not vnlikely ) better stuffe might be had for the digging . with this poore tryall , being contented to leaue this fayre , fertile , well watered country ; and comming to the falles , the salvages fayned there were divers ships come into the bay , to kill them at iames towne . trade they would not , and finde their corne we could not ; for they had hid it in the woods : and being thus deluded , we arrived at iames towne , halfe sicke , all complaining , and tyred with toyle , famine , and discontent , to haue onely but discovered our guilded hopes , and such fruitlesse certainties , as captaine smith fortold vs. but those that hunger seeke to slake , which thus abounding wealth would rake : not all the gemmes of ister shore , nor all the gold of lydia's store , can fill their greedie appetite ; it is a thing so infinite . no sooner were we landed , but the president dispersed so many as were able , some for glasse , others for tarre , pitch , and sope-ashes , leauing them with the fort to the councels oversight , but of vs he conducted downe the river some myles from iames towne , to learne to make clapbord , cut downe trees , and lye in woods . amongst the rest he had chosen gabriel beadle , and iohn russell , the onely two gallants of this last supply , and both proper gentlemen . strange were these pleasures to their conditions ; yet lodging , eating , and drinking , working or playing , they but doing as the president did himselfe . all these things were carried so pleasantly as within a weeke they became masters : making it their delight to heare the trees thunder as they fell ; but the axes so oft blistered their tender fingers , that many times every third blow had a loud othe to drowne the eccho ; for remedie of which sinne , the president devised how to haue every mans othes numbred , and at night for every othe to haue a cann of water powred downe his sleeue , with which every offender was so washed ( himselfe and all ) that a man should scarce heare an othe in a weeke . for he who scornes and makes but iests of cursings , and his othe , he doth contemne , not man but god , nor god , nor man , but both . by this , let no man thinke that the president and these gentlemen spent their times as common wood-haggers at felling of trees , or such other like labours , or that they were pressed to it as hirelings , or common slaues ; for what they did , after they were but once a little invred , it seemed and some conceited it , onely as a pleasure and recreation , yet or of such voluntary gentlemen would doe more in a day then of the rest that must be prest to it by compulsion , but twentie good workemen had beene better then them all . master scrivener , captaine waldo , and captaine winne at the fort , every one in like manner carefully regarded their charge . the president returning from amongst the woods , seeing the time consumed and no provision gotten , ( and the ship lay idle at a great charge and did nothing ) presently imbarked himselfe in the discovery barge , giving order to the councell to send lieutenant percie after him with the next barge that arrived at the fort ; two barges he had himselfe and men , but arriving at chickahamania , that dogged nation was too well acquainted with our wants , refusing to trade , with as much scorne and insolency as they could expresse . the president perceiuing it was powhatans policy to starue vs , told them he came not so much for their corne , as to revenge his imprisonment , and the death of his men murthered by them , and so landing his men and readie to charge them , they immediately fled : and presently after sent their ambassadors with corne , fish , foule , and what they had to make their peace , ( their corne being that yeare but bad ) they complained extreamely of their owne wants , yet fraughted our boats with an hundred bushels of corne , and in like manner lieutenant percies , that not long after arrived , and having done the best they could to content vs , we parted good friends , and returned to iames towne . though this much contented the company , ( that feared nothing more then starving ) yet some so envied his good successe , that they rather desired to hazzard a starving , then his paines should proue so much more effectuall then theirs . some proiects there were invented by newport and ratliffe , not onely to haue deposed him , but to haue kept him out of the fort ; for that being president , he would leaue his place and the fort without their consents , but their hornes were so much too short to effect it , as they themselues more narrowly escaped a greater mischiefe . all this time our old taverne made as much of all them that had either money or ware as could be desired : by this time they were become so perfect on all sides ( i meane the souldiers , saylers , and salvages ) as there was tenne times more care to maintaine their damnabl● and private trade , then to provide for the colony things that were necessary . neither was it a small policy in newport and the marriners to report in england we had such plentie , and bring vs so many men without victuals , when they had so many private factors in the fort , that within six or seauen weeks , of two or three hundred axes , chissels , how 's , and pick-axes , scarce twentie could be found : and for pike-heads , shot , powder , or any thing they could steale from their f●llowes , was vendible ; they knew as well ( and as secretly ) how to convey them to trade with the salvages for furres , baskets , mussaneeks , young beasts , or such like commodities , as exchange them with the saylers for butter , cheese , beefe , porke , aqua vitae , beere , bisket , oatmeale , and oyle : and then fayne all was sent them from their friends and though virginia affoorded no furres for the store , yet one master in one voyage hath got so many by this indirect meanes , as he confessed to haue sold in england for l. those are the saint-seeming worthies of virginia , that haue notwithstanding all this meate , drinke , and wages ; but now they begin to grow weary , their trade being both perceived and prevented ; none hath beene in virginia that hath observed any thing , which knowes not this to be true , and yet the losse , the scorne , the misery , and shame , was the poore officers , gentlemen , and carelesse governours , who were all thus bought & sold ; the adventurers cousened , and the action overthrowne by their false excuses , informations , and directions . by this let all men iudge , how this businesse could prosper , being thus abused ●y such pilfring occasions . and had not captaine newport cryed peccavi , the president would haue discharged the ship , and caused him to haue stayed one yeare in virginia , to learne to speake of his owne experience . master scrivener was sent with the barges and pinnace to werowocomoco , where he found the salvages more readie to fight then trade ; but his vigilancy was such as prevented their proiects , and by the meanes of namontack got three or foure hogsheads of corne , and as much pocones , which is a red roote , which then was esteemed an excellent dye . captaine newport being dispatched , with the tryals of pitch , tarre , glasse , frankincense , sope ashes ; with that clapboord and waynscot that could be provided : met with mr scrivener at poynt comfort , and so returned for england . we remaining were about two hundred . ¶ the copy of a letter sent to the treasurer and councell of virginia from captaine smith , then president in virginia . right honorable , &c. i received your letter , wherein you write , that our minds are so set vpon faction , and idle conceits in diuiding the country without your consents , and that we feed you but with ifs & ands , hopes , & some few proofes ; as if we would keepe the myste●y of the businesse to our selues : and that we must expresly follow your instructions sent by captain newport : the charge of whose voyage amounts to neare two thousand pounds , the which if we cannot defray by the ships returne , we are like to r●main as banished men . to these particulars i humbly intreat your pardons if i offend you with my rude answer . for our factions , vnlesse you would haue me run away and leaue the country , i ca●not prevent them , because i do make many stay that would els fly any whether . for the i●le letter sent to my lord of salisbury , by the president and his conf●derats , for diuiding the country &c. what it was i know not , for you saw no hand of mine to it ; nor euer dream't i of any such matter . that we feed you with hopes , &c. though i be no scholer , i am past a schoole boy ; and i desire but to know , what either you , and these here doe know , but that i haue learned to tell you by the continuall hazard of my life . i haue not concealed from you any thing i know ; but i feare some cause you to beleeue much more then is true . expresly to follow your direstions by captaine newport , though they be performed , i was directly against it ; but according to our commission , i was content to be overrul●d by the maior part of the councell , i feare to the hazard of vs all ; which now is generally confessed when it is too late . onely captaine winne and captaine waldo i haue sworne of the councell , and crowned powhatan according to you instructions . for th● charge of this voyage of two or three thousand pounds , we haue not receiued the value of an hundred pounds . and for the quartred boat to be borne by th● souldiers over the falles , newport had of the best men he could chuse . if he had burnt her to ash●s , one might haue carried her in a bag , but as she is , fiue hundred cann●t , to a navigable place aboue the falles . and for him at that time to find in the south sea , a mine of gold ; or any of them sent by sir walter raleigh : at our consultation i told them was as likely as the rest . but during this great discovery of thirtie myles , ( which might as well haue beene done by one man , and much more , for the value of a pound of copper at a seasonable tyme ) they had the pinnace and all the boats with th●m , but one that remained with me to serue the fort. in their absence i followed the new begun workes of pitch and tarre , glasse , sope-ashes , and clapboord , whereof some small quantities we haue sent you . but if you rightly consider , what an infinite toyle it is in russia and swethland , where the woods are proper for naught els , and though there be the helpe both of man and beast in those ancient common-wealths , which many an hundred yeares haue vsed it , yet thousands of those poore people can scarce g●t necessaries to liue , but from h●nd to mouth . and though your factors there can buy as much in a week as will fraught you a ship , or as much as you please ; you must not expect from vs any such matter , which are but a many of ignorant miserable soules , that are scarce able to get wherewith to liue , and defend our selues against the inconstant salvages : finding but here and there a tree fit for the purpose , and want all things els the russians haue . for the coronation of p●whatan , by whose advice you sent him such presents , i know not ; but this giue me leaue to tell you , i feare th●y will be the confusion of vs all ere we heare from you againe . at your ships arrivall , the salvages harvest was newly gathered , and we going to buy it , our owne not being halfe sufficient for so great a number . as for the two ships loading of corne n●wport pr●mised to provide vs from powhatan , he brought vs but foureteene bushels ; and from the monacans nothing , but the most of the men sicke and neare famished . from your ship we had not provision in victuals worth twenty pound , and we are more then two hundred to liue vpon this : the one halfe sicke , the other little better . for the saylers ( i confesse ) they daily make good cheare , but our dyet is a little meale and water , and not sufficient of that . though there be fish in the sea , foules in the ayre , and beasts in the woods , their bounds are so large , they so wilde , and we so weake and ignorant , we cannot much trouble them . captaine newport we much suspect to be the authour of those inventions . now that you should know , i haue made you as great a discovery as he , for lesse charge then he spendeth you every meale ; i haue sent you this mappe of the bay and rivers , with an annexed relation of the countries and nations that inhabit them , as you may see at large . also two barrels of stones , and such as i take to be good iron ore at the least ; so devided , as by their notes you may see in what places i found them . the souldiers say many of your officers maintaine their families out of that you send vs : and that newport hath an hundred pounds a yeare for carrying newes . for every master you haue yet sent can find the way as well as he , so that an hundred pounds might be spared , which is more then we haue all , th●t helpe to pay him wages . cap. ratliffe is now called sickl●more , a poore counterfeited imposture . i haue sent you him home , least the company should cut his throat . what he is , now every one can tell you : if he and archer returne againe , they are sufficient to keepe vs alwayes in factions . when you send againe i intreat you rather send but thirty ca●penters , husbandmen , gardiners , fisher men , blacksmiths , masons , and diggers vp of trees , roots , well provided ; then a thousand of such as we haue : for except wee be able both to lodge them , and feed them , the most will consume with want of necessaries before they can be made good for any thing . thus if you please to consider this account , and of the vnnecessary wages to captaine newport , or his ships so long lingering and staying here ( for notwithstanding his boasting to leaue vs victuals for mon●ths , though we had by this discovery lame and sicke , and but a pinte of corne a day for a man , we were constrained to giue him three hogsheads of that to victuall him homeward ) or yet to send into germany or poleland for glasse-men & the rest , till we be able to sustaine our selues , and relieue them when they come . it were better to giue fiue hundred pound a tun for those grosse commodities in denmarke , then send for them hither , till more necessary things be provided . for in over-toyling our weake and vnskilfull bodies , to satisfie this desire of present profit , we can scarce ever recover our selues from one supply to another . and i humbly intreat you hereafter , let vs know what we should receiue , and not stand to the saylers courtesie to leaue vs what they please , els you may charge vs with what you will , but we not you with any thing . these are the causes that haue kept vs in virginia , from laying such a foundation , that ●re this might haue given much better content and satisfaction ; but as yet you must not looke for any profitable returnes : so i humbly rest . the names of those in this supply , were these : with their proceedings and accidents . captaine peter winne , captaine richard waldo , were appoynted to be of the councell . master francis vvest , brother to the lord la vvarre . gent. thomas graues . raleigh chroshaw . gabriel beadle . iohn beadle . iohn russell . william russell . iohn cuderington . william sambage . henry leigh . henry philpot. harmon harrison . daniel tucker . henry collins . hugh wolleston . iohn hoult . thomas norton . george yarington . george burton . thomas abbay . william dowman . thomas maxes . michael lowick . master hunt. thomas f●rr●st . iohn dauxe . tradsmen . thomas ph●lps . iohn prat. iohn clarke . ieffrey shortridge . dionis oconor . hugh winne . dauid ap hugh . thomas bradley . iohn burra● . thomas l●vander . henry bell. master powell . david ellis . thomas gibson . labourers . thomas dawse . thomas mallard . william tayler . thomas fox . nicholas hancock . walker . williams . floud . morley . rose . scot. hardwyn . boyes . milman . hilliard . mistresse forrest , and anne burras her maide ; eight dutch men and poles , with some others , to the number of seaventie persons , &c. these poore conclusions so affrighted vs all with famine , that the president provided for n●ndsamund , and tooke with him captaine winne , and mr scrivener , then returning from captaine newport . these people also long denied him not onely the baskets of corne th●y promised , but any trade at all ; ( excusing themselues they had ●pent most they had , and were commanded by powhatan to keepe that they had , and not to let vs come into their river ) till we were constrained to begin with them perforce . vpon the discharging of our muskets they all fled and shot not an arrow ; the first house we came to we set on fire , which when they perceiued , they desired we would make no more spoyle , and they would giue vs halfe they had : how they collected it i know not , but before night they loaded our three boats ; and so we returned to our quarter some foure myles downe the river , which was onely the open woods vnder the lay of a hill , where all the ground was covered with snow , and hard frozen ; the snow we digged away and made a great fire in the place ; when the ground was well dryed , we turned away the fire ; and covering the place with a mat , there we lay very warme . to keepe vs from the winde we made a shade of another mat ; as the winde turned we turned our shade , and when the ground grew cold we remoued the fire . and thus many a cold winter night haue wee laine in this miserable manner , yet those that most commonly went vpon all those occasions , were alwayes in health , lusty , and sat . for sparing them this yeare , the n●xt yeare they promised to plant purposely for vs ; and so we returned to iames towne . about this time there was a marriage betwixt iohn laydon and anne burras ; which was the first marriage we had in virginia . long he stayed not , but fitting himselfe and captaine waldo with two barges . from chawopoweanock , and all parts thereabouts , all the people were fled , as being iealous of our intents ; till we discovered the riv●r and people of apamatuck ; where we found not much , that they had we equally divided , but gaue them copper , and such things as contented them in consideration . master scrivener and lieutenant percie went also abroad , but could find nothing . the president seeing the procrastinating of time , was no course to liue , resolved with captaine waldo ( whom he knew to be sure in time of need ) to surprise powhatan , and all his provision , but the vnwillingnesse of captaine winne , and master scrivener , for some private respect , plotted in england to ruine captaine smith , did their best to hinder their proiect ; but the president whom no perswasions could perswade to starue , being invited by powhatan to come vnto him : and if he would send him but men to build him a house , giue him a gryndstone , fiftie swords , some peeces , a cock and a hen , with much copper and beads , he would lo●d his ship with corne. the president not ignorant of his devises and subtiltie , yet vnwilling to neglect any opportunitie , presently sent three dutch-men and two english , having so small allowance , few were able to doe any thing to purpose : knowing there needed no better a castle to effect this proiect , tooke order with captaine waldo to second him , if need required ; scrivener he left his substitute , and set forth with th● pinnace , two barges , and fortie-six men , which onely were such as voluntarily offered themselues for his iourney , the which by reason of mr scriveners ill successe , was censured very desperate , they all knowing smith would not returne emptie , if it were to be had ; howsoever , it caused many of those that he had appointed , to find excuses to stay behinde . chap. viii . captaine smiths iourney to pamavnkee . the twentie-nine of december he set forward for werowocomoco : his company were these ; in the discovery barge himselfe . gent. robert behethland . nathanael graues . iohn russell . raleigh chrashow . michael sicklemore . richard worley . souldiers . anas todkill . william loue. william bentley . ieffrey shortridge . edward pising . william ward . in the pinnace . lieutenant percie , brother to the earle of northumberland . master francis west , brother to the lord la warre . william phittiplace , captaine of the pinnace . gent. michael phittiplace . ieffrey abbot , serieant . william tankard . george yarington . iames browne . edward brinton . george burton . thomas coe . ionas profit , master . robert ford , clarke of the councell . iohn dods , souldier . henry powell , souldier . thomas gipson , david ellis , nathanael peacock , saylers . iohn prat , george acrig , iames read , nicholas hancock , iames watkins , thomas lambert , foure dutch-men , and richard salvage were sent by land before to build the house for powhatan against our arrivall . this company being victualled but for three or foure dayes , lodged the first night at warraskoyack , where the president tooke sufficient provision . this kind king did his best to divert him from seeing powhatan , but perceiuing he could not prevaile , he advised in this manner . captaine smith , you shall find powhatan to vse you kindly , but trust him not , and be sure he haue no oportunitie to seize on your armes ; for he hath sent for you onely to cut your throats . the captaine thanking him for his good counsell : yet the better to try his loue , desired guides to chawwonock ; for he would send a present to that king , to bind him his friend . to performe this iourney was sent mr sicklemore , a very valiant , honest , and a painefull souldier : with him two guides , and directions how to seeke for the lost company of sir walter raleighs , and silke grasse . then we departed thence , the president assuring the king perpetuall loue ; and left with him samu●l collier his page to learne the language . so this kings deeds by sacred oath adiur'd . more wary proues , and circumspect by ods : fearing at least his double forfeiture ; to offend his friends , and sin against his gods. the next night being lodged at kecoughtan ; six or seaven dayes the extreame winde , rayne , frost and snow caused vs to keepe christmas among the salvages , where we were never more merry , nor fed on more plentie of good oysters , fish , flesh , wild-soule , and good bread ; nor never had better fires in england , then in the dry , smoaky houses of kecoughtan : but departing thence , when we found no houses we were not curious in any weather to lye three or foure nights together vnder the trees by a fire , as formerly is sayd . an hundred fortie eight foules the president , anthony bagnall , and serieant pising did kill at three shoots . at kiskiack the frost & contrary winds forced vs three or foure dayes also ( to suppresse the insolency of those proud salvages ) to quarter in their houses , yet guard our barge , and cause them giue vs what we wanted ; though we were but twelue and himselfe , yet we never wanted shelter where we found any houses . the of ianuary we arrived at werowocomoco , where the river was frozen neare halfe a myle from the shore ; but to neglect no time , the president with his barge so far had approached by breaking the ice , as the ebbe left him amongst those oasie shoules , yet rather then to lye there frozē to death , by his owne example he taught them to march neere middle deepe , a flight shot through this muddy frozen oase . when the barge floated , he appoynted two or three to returne her aboord the pinnace . where for want of water in melting the ice , they made fresh water , for the river there was salt . but in this march mr russell , ( whom none could perswade to stay behinde ) being somewhat ill , and exceeding heauie , so overtoyled himselfe as the rest had much adoe ( ere he got ashore ) to regaine life into his dead benummed spirits . quartering in the next houses we found , we sent to powhatan for provision , who sent vs plentie of bread , turkies , and venison ; the next day having feasted vs after his ordinary manner , he began to aske v● , when we would be gone : fayning he sent not for vs , neither had he any corne ; and his people much lesse : yet for fortie swords he would procure vs fortie baskets . the president shewing him the men there present that brought him the message and conditions , asked powhatan how it chanced he became so forgetfull ; thereat the king concluded the matter with a merry laughter , asking for our commodities , but none he liked without gunnes and swords , valuing a basket of corne more precious then a basket of copper ; saying he could rate his corne , but not the copper . captaine smith seeing the intent of this subtill salvage began to deale with him after this manner . powhatan , though i had many courses to haue made my provision , yet beleeving your promises to supply my wants , i neglected all to satisfie your desire : and to testifie my loue , i sent you my men for your building , neglecting mine owne . what your people had you haue ingrossed , forbidding them our trade : and now you thinke by consuming the time , we shall consume for want , not having to fulfill your strange demands . as for swords and gunnes , i told you long agoe i had none to spare ; and you must know those i haue can keepe me from want : yet steale or wrong you i will not , nor dissolue that friendship we haue mutually promised , except you constraine me by our bad vsage . the king having attentiuely listned to this discourse , promised that both he and his country would spare him what he could , the which within two dayes they should receiue . yet captaine smith , sayth the king , some doubt i haue of your comming hither , that makes me not so kindly seeke to relieue you as i would : for many doe informe me , your comming hither is not for trade , but to invade my people , and possesse my country , who dare not come to bring you corne , seeing you thus armed with your men . to free vs of this feare , leaue aboord your weapons , for here they are ne●alesse , we being all friends , and for ever powhatans . with many such discourses they spent the day , quartering that night in the kings houses . the next day he renewed his building , which hee little intended should proceede . for the dutch-men finding his plentie , and knowing our want , and perceiving his preparations to surprise vs , little thinking we could escape both him and famine ; ( to obtaine his favour ) revealed to him so much as they knew of our estates and proiects , and how to prevent them . one of them being of so great a spirit , iudgement , and resolution , and a hireling that was certaine of his wages for his labour , and ever well vsed both he and his countrymen ; that the pr●sident knew not whom better to trust ; and not knowing any fitter for that imployment , had sent him as a spy to discover powhatans intent , then little doubting his honestie , nor could ever be certaine of his villany till neare halfe a yeare after . whilst we ●xpected the comming in of the country , we wrangled out of the king ten quarters of corne for a copper kettell , the which the president perceiving him much to affect , valued it at a much greater rate ; but in regard of his scarcity he would accept it , provided we should haue as much more the next yeare , or els the country of monacan . wherewith each seemed well contented , and powhatan began to expostulate the difference of peace and warre after this manner . captaine smith , you may vnderstand that i having seene the death of all my people thrice , and not any one liuing of those three generations but my selfe ; i know the difference of peace and warre better then any in my country . but now i am old and ere long must die , my brethren namely opitchapam , opechancanough , and kekataugh my two sisters , and their two daughters , are distinctly each others successors . i wish their experience no lesse then mine , and your loue to them no lesse then mine to you . but this bruit from nandsamund , that you are come to destroy my country , so much affrighteth all my people as they dare not visit you . what will it availe you to take that by force you may quickly haue by loue , or to destroy them that provide you food . what can you get by warre , when we can hide our provisions and fly to the woods ? whereby you must famish by wronging vs your friends and why are you thus iealous of our loues seeing vs vnarmed , and both doe , and are willing still to feede you , with that you cannot get but by our labours ? thinke you i am so simple , not to know it is better to eate good meate , lye well , and sleepe quietly with my women and children , laugh and be merry with you , haue copper , hatchets , or what i want being your friend : then be forced to flie from all , to lie cold in the woods , feede vpon acornes , rootes , and such trash , and be so hunted by you , that i can neither rest , eate , nor sle●pe ; but my tyred men m●st watch , and if a twig but breake , every one cryeth there commeth captaine smith : then must i fly i know not whether : and thus with miserable feare , end my miserable life , leauing my pleasures to such youths as you , which through your rash vnaduisednesse may quickly as miserably end , for want of that , you never know where to finde . let this ther●fore assur● you of our loues , and every yeare our friendly trade shall furnish you with corne ; and now also , if you would come in friendly manner to see vs , and not thus with your guns and swords as to invade your foes . to this subtill discourse , the president thus replyed . seeing you will not rightly conceiue of our words , we striue to make you know our thoughts by our deeds ; the vow i made you of my loue , both my selfe and my men haue kept . as for your promise i find it euery day violated by some of your subiects : yet we finding your loue and kindnesse , our custome is so far from being vngratefull , that for your sake onely , we haue curbed our thirsting desire of revenge ; els h●d they knowne as well the crueltie we vse to our enemies , as our true loue and courtesie to our friends . and i thinke your iudg●ment sufficient to conceiue , as well by the adventures we haue vndertaken , as by the advantage we haue ( by our armes ) of yours : that had we intended you any hurt , long ere this we could haue effected it . your people comming to iames towne are entertained with their bowes and arrowes without any exceptions ; we esteeming it with you as it is with vs , to weare our armes as our apparell . as for the danger of our enemies , in such warres consist our chiefest pleasure : for your riches we haue no vse : as for the hiding your provision , or by your flying to the woods , we shall not so vnadvisedly starue as you conclude , your friendly care in that behalfe is needlesse , for we haue a rule to finde beyond your knowledge . many other discourses they had , till at last they began to trade . but the king seeing his will would not be admitted as a law , our guard dispersed , nor our men disarmed , he ( sighing ) breathed his minde once more in this manner . captaine smith , i neuer vse any werowance so kindely as your selfe , yet from you i receiue the least kindnesse of any . captaine newport gaue me swords , copper , cloathes , a bed , towels , or what i desired ; euer taking what i offered him , and would send away his gunnes when i intreated him : none doth deny to lye at my feet , or refuse to doe what i desire , but onely you ; of whom i can haue nothing but what you regard not , and yet you will haue whatsoeuer you demand . captaine newport you call father , and so you call me ; but i see for all vs both you will doe what you list , and we must both seeke to content you . but if you intend so friendly as you say , send hence your armes , that i may beleeue you ; for you see the loue i beare you , doth cause me thus nakedly to forget my selfe . smith seeing this salvage but trifle the time to cut his throat , procured the salvages to breake the ice , that his boate might come to fetch his corne and him : and gaue order for more men to come on shore , to surprise the king , with whom also he but trifled the time till his men were landed : and to keepe him from suspicion , entertained the time with this reply . powhatan you must know , as i haue but one god , i honour but one king ; and i liue not here as your subiect , but as your friend to pleasure you with what i can . by the gifts you bestow on me , you gaine more then by trade : yet would you visit mee as i doe you , you should know it is not our custome , to sell our curtesies as a vendible commodity . bring all your countrey with you for your guard , i will not dislike it as being ouer iealous . but to content you , tomorrow i will leaue my armes , and trust to your promise . i call you father indeed ▪ and as a father you shall see i will loue you : but the small care you haue of such a childe caused my men persw●de m● to looke to my selfe . by this time powhatan hauing knowledge his m●n were ready whil●st the ice was a breaking , with his luggage women and children , fled . yet to auoyd suspicion , left two or three of the women talking with the captaine , whilest hee secretly ran away , and his men that secretly beset the house . which being pr●sently discouered to captaine smith , with his pistoll , sword , and target hee made such a passage among these naked diuels ; that at his first shoot , they next him rumbled one ouer another , and the rest quickly fled some one way some another : so that without any hurt , onely accompanied with iohn russell , hee obtained the c●rps du guard . when they perceiued him so well escaped , and with his eighteene men ( for he had no more with him a s●●re ) to the vttermost of their skill they sought excuses to dissemble the matter : and powhatan to excuse his flight and the sudden com●ing of this multitude , sent our captaine a great bracelet and a chaine of pearle , by an ancient oratour that bespoke vs to this purpose , perceiuing euen then from our pinnace , a barge and men departing and comming vnto vs. captaine smith , our werowance is fled , fearing your gunnes , and knowing when the ice was broken there would come more men , sent these numbers but to guard his corne from stealing , that might happen without your knowledge : now though some bee hurt by your ●●sprision , yet powhatan is your friend and so will for euer continue . now since the ice is open , he would haue you send away your corne , and if you would haue his company , send away also your gunnes , which so affright his people , that they dare not come to you as hee promised they should . then hauing prouided baskets for our men to carry our corne to the boats , they kindly offered their seruice to guard our armes , that none should steale them . a great many they were of goodly well proportioned fellowes , as grim as diuels ; yet the very sight of cocking our matches , and being to let fly , a few wordes caused them to leaue their bowes and arrowes to our guard , and beare downe our corne on their backes ; wee needed not imp●rtune them to make dispatch . but our barges being left on the oase by the ebbe , caused vs stay till the next high-water , ●o that wee returned againe to our old quarter . powhatan and his dutch-men brusting with desire to haue the head of captaine smith , for if they could but kill him , they thought all was theirs , neglected not any oportunity to effect his purpose . the indians with all the merry sports they could deuise , spent the time till night : then they all returned to powhatan , who all this time was making ready his forces to surprise the house and him at supper . notwithstanding the eternall all-seeing god did preuent h●● , and by a strange meanes . for pocahontas his dearest iewell and daughter , in that darke night came through the irksome woods , and told our captaine great cheare should be sent vs by and by : but powhatan and all the power he could make , would after come k●ll vs all , if they that brought it could not kill vs with our owne weapons when we were at supper . therefore if we would liue shee wished vs presently to bee gone . such things as shee delighted in , he would haue giuen her : but with the teares running downe her cheekes , shee said shee durst not be seene to haue any : for if powhatan should know it , she were but dead , and so shee ranne away by her selfe as she came . within lesse then an houre came eight or ten lusty fellowes , with great platters of venison and other victuall , very importunate to haue vs put out our matches ( whose smoake made them sicke ) and sit down to our victuall . but the captaine made them taste euery dish , which done hee sent some of them backe to powhatan , to bid him make haste for hee was prepared for his comming . as for them hee knew they came to betray him at his supper : but hee would prevent them and all their other intended villanies : so that they might be gone . not long after came more messengers , to see what newes ; not long after them others . thus wee spent the night as vigilantly as they , till it was high-water , yet seemed to the saluages as friendly as they to vs : and that wee were so desirous to giue powhatan content , as hee requested , wee did leaue him edward brynton to kill him foule , an● the dutch-men to finish his house ; thinking at our returne from pamavnkee the frost would be gone , and then we might finde a better oportunity if necessity did occasion it , little dreaming yet of the dutch-mens treachery , whose humor well suted this verse : is any free , that may not liue as freely as he list ? let vs liue so , then w' are as free , and bruitish as the best . chap. ix . how wee escaped surprising at pamavnkee . we had no sooner set sayle but powhatan returned , and sent adam and francis ( two stout dutch-men ) to iames towne : who faining to captaine winne that all things were well , and that captaine smith had vse of their armes , wherefore they requested new ( the which were giuen them ) they told him their comming was for some extraordinary tooles , and shift of apparell ; by which colourable excuse they obtained sixe or seauen more to their confederacie , such expert theeues , that presently furnished them with a great many swords , pike-heads , peeces , shot , powder and such like : saluages they had at hand to carry it away , and the next day they returned vnsuspected , leauing their confederates to follow , and in the interim to convay them such things as they could : for which seruice they should liue with powhatan as his chiefe affected , free from those miseries that would happen the colony . samuel their other consort powhatan kept for their pledge , whose diligence had prouided them three hundred of their kinde of hatchets ; the rest fifty swords , eight peeces , and eight pikes . brynton and richard salvage seeing the dutch-men so diligent to accommodate the saluages with weapons , attempted to haue gotten to iames towne , but they were apprehended , and expected euer when to be put to death . within two or three dayes we arriued at pamavnkee , the king as many dayes entertained vs with feasting and much mirth . and the day appointed to beginne our trade , the president , lieutenant percie , mr. west , mr. russell , mr. behethland , mr. crashaw ▪ mr. powell , mr. ford , and some others to the number of fifteene , went vp to opechancanoughs house a quarter of a mile from the riuer ) where wee found nothing but a lame fellow and a boy : and all the houses round about of all things abandoned . not long wee stayed ere the king arriued , and after him came diuerse of his people loaden with bowes and arrowes : but such pinching commodities , and those esteemed at such a value , as our captaine began with the king after this manner . opechancanough , the great loue you professe with your tongue , seemes meere deceit by your actions . last yeere you kindly fraughted out ship : but now you haue inuited mee to starue with hunger : you know my want , and i your plenty ; of which by some meanes i must haue part : remember it is fit for kings to keepe their promise . here are my commodities ; whereof take your choice , the rest i will proportion fit bargains for your pe●ple . the king seemed kindly to accept his offer , and the better to colour his proiect , sold vs what they had to our owne content , promising the next day more company , better prouided . the barges and pinnace being committed to the charge of mr. phetiplace ; the president with his old fifteene marched vp to the kings house , where wee found foure or fiue men newly arriued , each with a great basket . not long after came the king , who with a strained cheerfulnesse held vs with discourse what paines he had taken to keep his promise ; till mr. russell brought vs in newes that we were all betrayed : for at least seuen hundred saluages well armed , had inuironed the house , and beset the fields . the king coniecturing what russell related , wee could well perceiue how the extremity of his feare bewrayed his intent : whereat some of our company seeming dismaied with the thought of such a multitude ; the captaine encouraged vs to this effect . worthy countrey-men , were the mischiefes of my seeming friends no more then the danger of these enemies , i little cared were they as many more : if you dare doe , but as i. but this is my torment , that if i escape them , our malicious councell with their open mouthed minions , will make me such a peace breaker ( in their opinions in england ) as will breake my necke . i could wish those here , that make these seeme saints , and me an oppressor . but this is the worst of all , wherein i pray you aid mee with your opinions . should wee beginne with them and surprise the king , we cannot keepe him and defend well our selues . if wee should each kill our man , and so proceed with all in the house ; the rest will all fly : then shall wee get no more then the bodies that are slaine , and so starue for victuall . as for their fury it is the least danger , for well you know , being alone assaulted with two or three hundred of them , i made them by the helpe of god compound to saue my life . and wee are sixteene , and they but seauen hundred at the most ; and assure your selues , god will so assist vs , that if you dare stand but to discharge your pieces , the very smoake will bee sufficient to affright them . yet howsoeuer , let vs fight like men , and not die like sheepe : for by that meanes you know god hath oft deliuered mee , and so i trust will now . but first , i will deale with them , to bring it to passe wee may fight for something , and draw them to it by conditions . if you like this motion , promise me you will be valiant . the time not permitting any argument , all vowed to execute whatsoeuer hee attempted , or die : whereupon the captaine in plaine tearmes told the king this . i see opechancanough your plot to murder me , but i feare it not . as yet your men and mine haue done no harme , but by our direction . take therefore your armes , you see mine , my body shall bee as naked as yours : the isle in your riuer is a fit place , if you be contented : and the conquerour ( of vs two ) shall be lord and master ouer all our men . if you haue not enough , take time to fetch more , and bring what number you will ; so euery one bring a basket of corne , against all which i will stake the value in copper , you see i haue but fifteene , and our game shall be , the conquerour take all . the king being guarded with forty or fifty of his chiefe men , seemed kindly to appease smiths suspicion of vnkindnesse , by a great present at the doore , they intreated him to receiue . this was to draw him out of the doore , where the bait was guarded with at least two hundred men , and thirty lying vnder a great tree ( that lay thwart as a barricado ) each his arrow nocked ready to shoot . the president commanded one to go see what what kind of deceit this was , and to receiue the present ; but hee refused to doe it : yet the gentlemen and all the rest were importunate to goe , but he would not permit them , being vexed at that coward : and commanded lieutenant percie , master west , and the rest to make good the house ; master powell and master behethland he commanded to guard the doore , and in such a rage snatched the king by his long locke in the middest of his men , with his pistoll readie bent against his brest . thus he led the trembling king , neare dead with feare amongst all his people : who delivering the captaine his vambrace , bow , and arrowes , all his men were easily intreated to cast downe their armes , little dreaming any durst in that manner haue vsed their king : who then to escape himselfe bestowed his presents in good sadnesse , and causing a great many of them come before him vnarmed , holding the king by the hayre ( as is sayd ) he spake to them to this effect . i see ( you pamavnkees ) the great desire you haue to kill me , and my long suffering your iniuries hath imboldened you to this presumption . the cause i haue forborne your insolencies , is the promise i made you ( before the god i serue ) to be your friend , till you giue me iust cause to be your enemy . if i keepe this vow , my god will keepe me , you cannot hurt me , if i breake it , he will destroy me . but if you shoot but one arrow to shed one drop of bloud of any of my men , or steale the least of these beads , or copper , i spurne here before you with my foot ; you shall see i will not cease revenge ( if once i begin ) so long as i can heare where to finde one of your nation that will not deny the name of pamavnk . i am n●t now at rassaweak halfe drowned with myre , where you tooke me prisoner ; yet then for keeping your promise and your good vsage and saving my life , i so affect you , that your denyals of your trechery , doe halfe perswade me to mistake my selfe . but if i be the marke you ayme at , here i stand , shoot he that dare . you promised to fraught my ship ere i departed , and so you shall , or i meane to load her with your dead carcasses , yet if as friends you will come and trade , i once more promise not to trouble you , except you giue me the first occasion , and your king shall be free and be my friend , for i am not come to hurt him or any of you . vpon this away went their bowes and arrowes , and men , women , and children brought in their commodities : two or three houres they so thronged about the president and so overwearied him , as he retyred himselfe to rest , leauing mr behethland and mr powell to receiue their presents , but some salvages perceiuing him fast asleepe , & the guard somewhat carelesly dispersed , fortie or 〈◊〉 of their choi●e men each with a club , or an english sword in his hand began to enter the house with two or three hundred oth●rs , that pressed to second them . the noyse and hast they made in , did so shake the house they awoke him from his sleepe , and being halfe amazed with this suddaine sight , bet●oke him strait to his sword and target ; mr chrashaw and some others charged in like manner ; whereat they quickly thronged faster backe then before forward . the house thus cleansed , the king and some of his auncients we kept yet with him , who with a long oration , excused this intrusion . the rest of the day was spent with much kindnesse , the companie againe renewing their presents with their best provisions , and whatsoever he gaue them they seemed therewith well contented . now in the meane while since our departure , this hapned at our fort. master scrivener having receiued letters from england to make himselfe either caesar or nothing , he began to decline in his affection to captaine smith , that ever regarded him as himselfe , and was willing to crosse the surprising of powhatan ▪ some certaine daies after the presidents departure , he would needs goe visit the isle of hogs , and tooke with him captaine waldo ( though the president had appointed him to be ready to second his occasions ) with mr anthony gosnoll and eight others ; but so violent was the wind ( that extreame frozen time ) that the boat sunke , but where or how none doth know . the skiff was much over loaden , and would scarce haue liued in that extreame tempest had she beene empty : but by no perswasion he could be diverted , though both waldo and an hundred others doubted as it hapned . the salvages were the first that round their bodies , which so much the more encouraged them to effect their proiects . to advertise the president of this heavie newes , none could be found would vndertake it , but the iorney was often refused of all in the fort , vntill master richard wyffin vndertooke alone the performance thereof . in this iourney he was incountred with many dangers and difficulties in all parts as he passed . as for that night he lodged with powhatan , perceiuing such preparation for warre , not finding the president there : he did assure himselfe some mischiefe was intended . pocahontas hid him for a time , and sent them who pursued him the cleane contrary way to seeke him ; but by her meanes and extraordinry bribes and much trouble in three dayes travell , at length he found vs in the middest of these turmoyles . this vnhappy newes the president swore him to conceale from the company , and so di●●embling his sorrow with the best countenances he could , when the night approched went safely aboord with all his souldiers ; leauing opechancanough at libertie , according to his promise , the better to haue powhatan in his returne . now so extreamely powhatan had threatned the death of his men , if they did not by some meanes kill captaine smith ; that the next day they appointed all the countrey should come to trade vnarmed : yet vnwilling to be trecherous , but that they were constrained , hating fighting with him almost as ill as hanging , such feare they had of bad successe . the next morning the sunne had not long appeared , but the fields appeared covered with people and baskets , to tempt vs on shore : but nothing was to be had without his presence , nor they would not indure the sight of a gun . when the president saw them begin to depart , being vnwilling to loose such a bootie , he so well conceived the pinnace , and his barges with ambuscadoes , as onely with lieutenant percie , mr west , and mr russell , with their armes went on shore ; others he appointed vnarmed to receiue what was brought . the salvages flocked before him in heapes , and the banke serving as a trench for a retreat , he drew them fayre open to his ambuscado's . for he not being to be perswaded to goe visit their king ▪ the king knowing the most of them vnarmed , came to visit him with two or three hundred men , in the forme of two halfe moones ; and with some twentie men , and many women loaden with painted baskets . but when they approached somewhat neare vs , their women and children ●led . for when they had environed and beset the fields in this manner , they thought their purpose sure , yet so trembled with feare as they were scarse able to ●●ck their arrowes : smith standing with his three men ready bent , beholding them till they were within danger of our ambuscado's , who vpon the word di●cov●r●d themselues , and he retyred to the barge . which the salvages no sooner perceived , then away they fled , esteeming their heeles for their best advan●age . that night we sent mr chr●shaw , and mr ford to iames towne to cap. winne ▪ in the way betweene wer●wocomoco and the fort they met foure or fiue of the dutch-mens confederates going to powhatan : the which to excuse those gentlemens suspition of their running to the salvages , returned to the fort and there continued . the salvages hearing our barge goe downe the river in the night , were so terribly affrayde , that we sen● for more men ( we having to much threatned their ruine , and the rasing of th●ir houses , boats , and wires ) that the next day the king sent our captaine a chayne of pearle , to alter his purpose and stay his men : promising though they wanted t●emselues , to fraught our ship and bring it aboord to avoyd suspition . so that fiue or six dayes after , from all parts of the country within ten or twelue myles in the extreame frost and snow , they brought vs provision on their naked backes . yet notwithstanding this kindnesse and trade , had their art and poyson beene sufficient , the president , with mr west , and some others had beene poysoned ; it made them sicke , but exp●ll●d it selfe . wecuttanow , a stout young fellow , knowing he was suspected for bringing this present of poyson , with fortie or fiftie of his chiefe companions ( seeing the president but with a few men at potavneak ) so proudly braued it , as though he expected to incounter a revenge . which the president perceiving in the midst of hi● company , did not onely beate , but spurned him like a dogge , as scorning to doe h●m any worse mischiefe . wherevpon all of them fled into the woods , thinking they had done a great matter to haue so well escaped : and the townsmen remaining presently fraughted our barge to be rid of our companies , framing many ●●c●ses to excuse wecuttanow , ( being sonne to their chiefe king , but po●hatan ) and told vs if we would shew them him that brought the poyson , they would deliver him to vs to punish as we pleased . men may thinke it strange there should be such a stirre for a little corne , but had it beene gold with more ease wee might haue got it ; and had it wanted , the whole colony had starued . wee may be thought very patient to endure all those iniuries , yet onely with fearing them wee got what they had . whereas if we had taken revenge , then by their losse , we should haue lost our selues . we searched also the countries of youghtanund and mattapanient , where the people imparted that little they had with such complaints and teares from the eyes of women and children , as he had beene too cruell to haue beene a christian , that would not haue beene satisfied and moued with compassion . but had this hapned in october , november , and december , when that vnhappie discovery of monacan was made , we might haue fraughted a ship of fortie tuns , and twise as much might haue beene had from the rivers of rapahanock , patawomek , and pawtuaunt . the maine occasion of our thus temporizing with them was , to part friends as we did , to giue the lesse cause of suspition to powhatan to fly , by whom we now returned with a purpose to haue surprised him and his provision . for effecting whereof ( when we came against the towne ) the president sent mr wyffin and mr coe ashore to discover and make way for his intended proiect . but they found that those damned dutch-men had caused powhatan to abandon his new house and werowocomoco , and to carry away all his corne and provision : and the people they found so ill affected , that they were in great doubt how to escape with their liues . so the president finding his intent frustrated , and that there was nothing now to be had , and therefore an vnfit time to revenge their abuses , sent master michael phittiplace by land to iames towne , whether we sayled with all the speed we could ; wee having in this iourney ( for ● . of copper , and ● . of iron & beads ) enough to keepe men six weekes , and every man for his reward a moneths provision extraordinary ( no trade being allowed but for the store ) we got neare ● ● waight of deere suct , and delivered to the cape merchant bushels of corne. those temporizing proceedings to some may seeme too charitable , to such a daily daring trecherous people : to others not pleasing , that we washed not the gr●und with their blouds , nor shewed such strange inventions in mangling , murdering , ransacking , and destroying ( as did the spanyards ) the simple bodies of such ignorant soules ; nor delightfull , because not stuffed with relations of heapes and ioynes of gold and silver , nor such rare commodities , as the portugals and spany●rds found in the east and west indies . the want whereof hath begot vs ( that were the first vndertakers ) no lesse sco●ne and contempt , then the noble conquests and valiant adventures beautified with it , prayse and honour . too much i confesse the world cannot attribute to their ever memorable merit : and to cleare vs from the blind worlds ignorant censure , these few words may suffice any reasonable vnderstanding . it was the spanyards good hap to happen in those parts where were infinite numbers of people , who had manured the ground with that providence , it affoorded victualls at all times . and time had brought them to that perfection , they had the vse of gold and silver , and the most of such commodities as those countries affoorded : so that , what the spanyard got was chiefely the spoyle and pillage of those countrey people , and not the labours of their owne hands . but had those fruitfull countries beene as salvage , as barbarous , as ill peopled , as little planted , laboured , and manured , as virginia : their proper labours it is likely would haue produced as small profit as ours . but had virginia beene peopled , planted , manured , and adorned with such store of precious iewels , and rich commodities as was the indies : then had we not gotten and done as much as by their examples might be expected from vs , the world might then haue traduced vs and our merits , and haue made shame and infamy our recompence and reward . but we chanced in a land even as god made it , where we found onely an idle , improvident , scattered people , ignorant of the knowledge of gold or silver , or any commodities , and carelesse of any thing but from hand to mouth , except bables of no worth ; nothing to incourage vs , but what accidentally we found nature afforded . which ere we could bring to recompence our paines , defray our charges , and satisfie our adventurers ; we were to discover the countrey , subdue the people , bring them to be tractable , civill , and industrious , and teach them trades , that the fruits of their labours might make vs some recompence , or plant such colonies of our owne , that must first make prouision how to liue of themselues , ere they can bring to perfection the commodities of the country : which doubtlesse will be as commodious for england as the west indies for spaine , if it be rightly mannaged : notwithstanding all our home-bred opinions , that will argue the contrary , as formerly some haue done against the spanyards and portugalls . but to conclude , against all rumor of opinion , i onely say this , for those that the three first yeares began this plantation ; notwithstanding all their factions , mutinies , and miseries , so gently corrected , and well prevented : pervse the spanish decades ; the relations of master hackl●● , and tell me how many ever with such small meanes as a barge of tuns , sometimes with seauen , eight , or nine , or but at most , twelue or sixteene men , did ever discover so many fayre and navigable rivers , subiect so many severall kings , people , and nations , to obedience , and contribution , with so little bloudshed . and if in the search of those countries we had hapned where wealth had beene , we had as surely had it as obedience and contribution , but if we haue overskipped it , we will not enuie them that shall find it : yet can we not but lament , it was our fortunes to end when we had but onely learned how to begin , and found the right course how to proceed . by richard wyffin , william phittiplace , ieffrey abbot , and anas todkill . chap. x. how the salvages became subiect to the english. when the ships departed , all the provision of the store ( but that the president had gotten ) was so rotten with the last summers rayne , and eaten with rats and wormes , as the hogges would scarcely eate it . yet it was the souldiers dyet till our returnes , so that we found nothing done , but our victuals spent , and the most part of our tooles , and a good part of our armes conveyed to the salvages . but now casting vp the store , and finding sufficient till the next harvest , the feare of starving was abandoned , and the company divided into tens , fifteens , or as the businesse required ; six houres each day was spent in worke , the rest in pastime and merry exercises , but the vntowardnesse of the greatest number caused the president advise as followeth . countrymen , the long experience of our late miseries , i hope is sufficient to perswade every one to a present correction of himselfe , and thinke not that either my pains , nor the adventurers purses , will ever maintaine you in idlenesse and sloath . i speake not this to you all , for divers of you i know deserue both honour and reward , better then is yet here to be had : but the greater part must be more industrious , or starue , how euer you haue beene heretofore tollerated by the authoritie of the councell , from that i haue often commanded you . you see now that power resteth wholly in my selfe : you must obey this now for a law , that he that will not worke shall not eate ( except by sicknesse he be disabled : ) for the labours of thirtie or fortie honest and industrious men shall not be consumed to maintaine an hundred and fiftie idle loyterers . and though you presume the authoritie here is but a shadow , and that i dare not touch the liues of any but my owne must answer it : the letters patents shall each weeke be read to you , whose contents will tell you the contrary . i would wish you therefore without contempt seeke to obserue these orders set downe , for there are now no more counsellers to protect you , nor curbe my endevours . therefore he that offendeth , let him assuredly expect his due punishment . he made also a table , as a publicke memoriall of every mans deserts , to incourage the good , and with shame to spurre on the rest to amendment . by this many became very industrious , yet more by punishment performed their businesse , for all were so tasked , that there was no excuse could prevaile to deceiue him : yet the dutch-mens consorts so closely convayed them powder , shot , swords , and tooles , that though we could find the defect , we could not finde by whom , till it was too late . all this time the dutch men remaining with powhatan , ( who kindly entertained them to instruct the salvages the vse of our armes ) and their consorts not following them as they expected ; to know the cause , they sent francis their companion , a stout young fellow , disguised like a salvage , to the glasse-house , a place in the woods neare a myle from iames towne ; where was their rendezvous for all their vnsuspected villany . fortie men they procured to lie in ambuscado for captaine smith , who no sooner heard of this dutch-man , but he sent to apprehend him ( but he was gone ) yet to crosse his returne to powhatan , the captaine presently dispatched . shot after him , himselfe returning from the glasse-house alone . by the way he incountred the king of pasp●hegh , a most strong stout salvage , whose perswasions not being able to perswade him to his ambush , seeing him onely armed but with a fau●heon , attempted to haue shot him , but the president prevented his shoot by grapling with him , and the salvage as well prevented him for drawing his faucheon , and perforce bore him into the river to haue drowned him . long they strugled in the water , till the president got such hold on his throat , he had neare strangled the king ; but having drawne his faucheon to cut off his head , seeing how pittifully he begged his life , he led him prisoner to iames towne , and put him in chaynes . the dutch-man ere long was also brought in , whose villany though all this time it was suspected , yet he fayned such a formall excuse , that for want of language captaine winne vnderstood him not rightly , and for their dealings with powhatan , that to saue their liues they were constrained to accommodate his armes , of whom he extreamely complained to haue detained them perforce , and that he made this escape with the hazard of his life , and meant not to haue returned , but was onely walking in the woods to gather walnuts . yet for all this faire tale , there was so small appearance of truth , and the plaine confession of paspahegh of his trechery , he went by the heeles : smith purposing to regaine the dutch-men , by the saving his life . the poore salvage did his best by his daily messengers to powhatan , but all returned that the dutch-men would not returne , neither did powhatan stay them ; and to bring them fiftie myles on his mens backes they were not able . daily this kings wiues , children , and people came to visit him with presents , which he liberally bestowed to make his peace . much trust they had in the presidents promise : but the king finding his guard negligent , though fettered yet escaped . captaine winne thinking to pursue him found such troupes of salvages to hinder his passage , as they exchanged many vollies of shot for flights of arrowes . captaine smith hearing of this in returning to the fort , tooke two salvages prisoners , called kemps and tussore , the two most exact villaines in all the country . with these he sent captaine winne and fiftie choise men , and lieutenant percie , to haue regained the king , and revenged this iniury , and so had done , if they had followed his directions , or beene advised with those two villaines , that would haue betrayed both king & kindred for a peece of copper , but he trifling away the night , the salvages the next morning by the rising of the sunne , braved him to come ashore to fight : a good time both sides let fly at other , but we heard of no hurt , onely they tooke two canowes , burnt the kings house , and so returned to iames towne . the president fearing those bravado's would but incourage the salvages , began againe himselfe to try his conclusions , whereby six or seauen were slaine , as many made prisoners . he burnt their houses , tooke their boats , with all their fishing wires , and planted some of them at iames towne for his owne vse , and now resolved not to cease till he had revenged himselfe of all them had iniured him . but in his iourney passing by paspahegh towards chickahamania , the salvages did their best to draw him to their ambuscadoes ; but seeing him regardlesly passe their country , all shewed themselues in their bravest manner . to try their valours he could not but let fly , and ere he could land , they no sooner knew him , but they threw downe their armes and desired peace . their orator was a lustie young fellow called okaning , whose worthy discourse deserveth to be remembred . and thus it was : captaine smith , my master is here present in the company , thinking it capt. winne , and not you , ( of him he intended to haue beene revenged ) having never offended him . if he hath offended you in escaping your imprisonment , the fishes swim , the foules fly , and the very beasts striue to escape the snare and liue . then blame not him being a man. he would intreat you remember , you being a prisoner , what paines he tooke to saue your life . if since he hath iniured you he was compelled to it : but howsoeuer , you haue revenged it with our too great losse . we perceive and well know you intend to destroy vs , that are here to intreat and desire your friendship , and to enioy our houses and plant our fields , of whose fruit you shall participate : otherwise you will haue the worse by our absence ; for we can plant any where , though with more labour , and we know you cannot liue if you want our harvest , and that reliefe we bring you . if you promise vs peace , we will beleeue you ; if you proceed in revenge we will abandon the country . vpon these tearmes the president promised them peace , till they did vs iniury , vpon condition they should bring in provision . thus all departed goods friends , and so continued till smith left the countrey . arriving at iames towne , complaint was made to the president , that the chickahamanians , who all this while continued trade and seemed our friends , by colour thereof were the onely theeues . and amongst other things a pistoll being stolne and the theefe fled , there was apprehended two proper young fellowes , that were brothers , knowne to be his confederates . now to regaine this pistoll , the one was imprisoned , the other was sent to returne the pistoll againe within twelue houres , or his brother to be hanged . yet the president pittying the poore naked salvage in the dungeon , sent him victuall and some char-coale for a fire : ere midnight his brother returned with the pistoll , but the poore salvage in the dungeon was so smoothered with the smoake he had made , and so pittiously burnt , that wee found him dead . the other most lamentably bewayed his death , and broke forth into such bitter agonies , that the president to quiet him , told him that if hereafter they would not steale , he would make him aliue againe : but he little thought he could be recovered . yet we doing our best with aqua vitae and vineger , it pleased god to restore him againe to life , but so drunke & affrighted , that he seemed lunaticke , the which as much tormented and grieued the other , as before to see him dead . of which maladie vpon promise of their good behaviour , the president promised to recover him : and so caused him to be layd by a fire to sleepe , who in the morning having well slept , had recovered his perfect senses , and then being dressed of his burning , and each a peece of copper giuen them , they went away so well contented , that this was spread among all the salvages for a miracle , that captaine smith could make a man aliue that was dead . another ingenuous salvage of powhatans , having gotten a great bag of powder , and the backe of an armour , at werowocomoco amongst a many of his companions , to shew his extraordinary skill , he did dry it on the backe as he had seene the souldiers at iames towne . but he dryed it so long , they peeping over it to see his skill , it tooke fire , and blew him to death , and one or two more , and the rest so scorched , they had little pleasure to meddle any more with powder . these and many other such pretty accidents , so amazed and affrighted both powhatan , and all his people , that from all parts with presents they desired peace ; returning many stolne things which we never demanded nor thought of ; and after that , those that were taken stealing , both powhatan and his people haue sent them backe to iames towne , to receiue their punishment ; and all the country became absolute as free for vs , as for themselues . chap. xi . what was done in three moneths having victualls . the store devoured by rats , how we liued three moneths of such naturall fruits as the country affoorded . now we so quietly followed our businesse , that in three moneths wee made three or foure last of tarre , pitch , and sope ashes ; produced a tryall of glasse ; made a well in the fort of excellent sweet water , which till then was wanting ; built some twentie houses ; recovered our church ; provided nets and wires for fishing ; and to stop the disorders of our disorderly theeues , and the salvages , built a blockhouse in the neck of our isle , kept by a garrison to entertaine the saluages trade , and none to passe nor repasse saluage nor christian without the presidents order . thirtie or forty acres of ground we digged and planted . of three sowes in eighteene moneths , increased , and od piggs . and neere . chickings brought vp themselues without hauing any meat giuen them : but the hogs were transported to hog●isle : where also we built a block-house with a garison to giue vs notice of any shipping , and for their exercise they made clapbord and waynicot , and cut downe trees . we built also a fort for a retreat neere a conuement riuer vpon a high commanding hill , very hard to be assalted and easie to be defended , but ere it was finished this defect caused a stay . in searching our casked corne , we found it halfe rotten , and the rest so consumed with so many thousands of rats that increased so fast , out there originall was from the ships , as we knew not how to keepe that little we had . this did driue vs all to our wits end , for there was nothing in the country but what nature afforded . vntill this time kemps and tassore were fettered prisoners , and did double taske and taught vs how to order and plant our fields : whom now for want of victuall we set at liberty , but so well they liked our companies they did not desire to goe from vs. and to expresse their loues for . dayes continuance , the countrie people brought vs ( when least ) . a day , of squirrils , turkyes , deere and other wilde beasts : but this want of corne occasioned the end of all our works , it being worke sufficient to provide victuall . . or . with ensigne laxon was sent downe the riuer to liue vpon oysters , and . with liutenant percy to try for fishing at poynt comfort ● but in six weekes they would not agree once to cast out the net , he being sicke and burnt fore with gun-pouder . master west with as many went vp to the falls , but nothing could be found but a few acornes ; of that in store euery man had their equall proportion . till this present , by the hazard and indeuours of some thirtie or fortie , this whole colony had ever beene fed . we had more sturgeon , then could be deuoured by dog and man , of which the industrious by drying and pounding , mingled with caviar● , sorell and other wholesome hearbes would make bread and good meate : others would gather as much tockwhogh roots , in a day as would make them bread a weeke , so that of those wilde fruites , and what we caught , we liued very well in regard of such a diet , but such was the strange condition of some , that had they not beene forced nolens , volens , perforce to gather and prepare their victuall they would all haue starued or haue eaten one another . of those wild fruits the salvages often brought vs , and for that , the president would not fullfill the vnreasonable desire , of those distracted gluttonous loyterers , to sell not only out kettles , how 's , tooles , and iron , nay swords , pieces , and the very ordnance and howses , might they haue prevayled to haue beene but idle : for those saluage fruites , they would haue had imparted all to the saluages , especially for one basket of corne they heard of to be at powhatās , fifty myles from our fort. though he bought neere halfe of it to satisfie their humors , yet to haue had the other halfe , they would haue sould their soules , though not sufficient to haue kept them a weeke . thousands were there exclamations , suggestions and deuises , to force him to those base inventions to haue made it an occasion to abandon the country . want perforce constrained him to indure their exclaiming follies , till he found out the author , one dyer a most crafty fellow and his ancient maligner , whom he worthily punished , and with the rest he argued the case in this maner . fellow souldiers , i did little thinke any so false to report , or so many to be so simple to be perswaded , that i either intend to starue you , or that powhatan at this present hath corne for himselfe , much lesse for you ; or that i would not haue it , if i knew where it were to be had . neither and i thinke any so malitious as now i see a great many ; yet it shal not so passionate me , but i will doe my best for my most maligner . but dreame no longer of this vaine hope from powhatan , not that i will longer forbeare to force you , from your idlenesse , and punish you if you rayle . but if i finde any more runners for newfoundland with the pinnace , let him assuredly looke to ariue at the gallows . you cannot deny but that by the hazard of my life many a time i haue saued yours , when ( might your owne wills haue preuailed ) you would haue starued ; and will doe still whether i will or noe ; but i protest by that god that made me , since necessitie hath not power to force you to gather for your selues those fruites the earth doth y●eld , you shall not onely gather for your selues , but those that are sicke . as yet i neuer had more from the stor● then the worst of you : and all my english extraordinary prouision that i haue , you shall see me diuide it amongst the sick . and this saluage trash you so scornfully repine at ; being put in your mouthes your stomackes can disgest , if you would haue better you should haue brought it ; and therefore i will take a course you shall prouide what is to be had . the sick shall not starue , but equally share of all our labours ; and he that gathereth not every day as much as i doe , the next day shall be set beyond the riuer , and be banished from the fort as a droue , till he amend his conditions or starue . but some would say with seneca . i know those things thou sayst are true good nurse , but fury forceth me to follow worse . my man is burried headlong vp and downe : desiring better counsell , yet finds none . this order many murmured was very cruell , but it caused the most part so well ●●●tirre themselues , that of . ( ●xcept they were drowned ) there died not past seuen as : for captaine winne and master leigh they were dead ere this want hapned , and the rest dyed not so , want of ●uch as preserued the rest . many were billetted amongst the saluage , ●h●r●oy we knew all their passages , fields and habitations , how t● gather and vse there fruits as well as themselues ; for they did know wee had such a commanding power at iames towne they durst not wrong vs of a pin . so well those poore salvages vsed vs that were thus billetted , that diuers of the s●uldiers ran away to search kemps & tassore our old prisoners . glad were these salvages to haue such an oportunity to testifie their loue vnto vs , for in stead of entertaining them , and such things as they had stollen , with all their great offers , and promises they made them how to reuenge their iniuryes vpon captaine smith ; kemps first mad● himselfe sport , in shewing his countrie men ( ●y them ) how he was vsed , feeding ●ē with this law , who would not work must not eat , till they were neere starued in ●●●de , continually threatning to beate them to death : neither could they get from him , till hee and his consorts brought them perforce to our captaine , that so well contented him and punished them , as many others that intended also to follow them , were rather contented to labour at home , then aduenture to liue idl●ly amongst the salvages ; ( of whom there was more hope to make better christians 〈◊〉 good subiects , then the one halfe of those that counterfeited themselues both . ) for so affraide was 〈◊〉 those kings and the better sort of the people to displease vs , that some of the baser sort that we haue extreamly hurt and punished for 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 wood● , into a high country towards the s●●thwest : ●here they saw here and there a little c●rne fi●●d , by some little spring or smal brooke , but no riuer they could see : the pe●●le in all re●pects like the rest , except there language : they liue most vpon rootes , fruites and wilde beast● ; and trade with them towards the sea and the fatter countryes for dryed fish and corne , for sk●ns . all this time to recouer the dutch-men and one bentley another fugitiue , we imployed one willi●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 e●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 ●●rst oportunity ; th●● se●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 ●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 thē should returne from our peninsula . but this brute cōming to the ●ares of the impatiēt multitude they so importuned the president to cut off those dutch men , as amongst many that offred to cut their throats bef●re the face of powhatā , the first was lieutenāt percy , and mr. iohn cuderington , two gentlemen of as bold resolute spirits as could possibly be foūd . but the presidēt had occasiō 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 disple●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 all his souldiers , with a tripple power , and twice tripple better meanes ; by what they haue done in his absence , the world may see what they would haue done in his presence , had he not prevented their indiscretions : it doth iustly proue , what cause he had to send them for england , and that he was neither factious , mutinous , nor dishonest . but they haue made it more plaine since his returne for england ; having his absolute authoritie freely in their power , with all the advantages and opportunitie that his labours had effected . as i am sorry their actions haue made it so manifest , so i am vnwilling to say what reason doth compell me , but onely to make apparant the truth , least i should seeme partiall , reasonlesse , and malicious . chapter xii . the arrivall of the third supply . to redresse those jarres and ill proceedings , the treasurer , councell , and company of virginia , not finding that returne , and profit they expected ; and them ingaged there , not having meanes to subsist of themselues , made meanes to his maiestie , to call in their commission , and take a new in their owne names , as in their owne publication , . you may ●eade at large . having thus annihilated the old by vertue of a commission made to the right honourable , sir thomas west , lord de la warre , to be generall of virginia ; sir thomas gates , his lieutenant ; sir george somers , admirall ; sir thomas dale , high marshall ; sir fardinando wainman , generall of the horse ; and so all other offices to many other worthy gentlemen , for their liues : ( though not any of them had ever beene in virginia , except captaine newport , who was also by patent made vice-admirall : ) those noble gentlemen drew in such great summes of money , that they sent sir thomas gates , sir george somers , and captaine newport with nine shippes , and fiue hundred people , who had each of them a commission , who first arrived to call in the old , without the knowledge or consent of them , that had endured all those former dangers to beat the path , not any regard had at all of them . all things being ready , because those three captaines could not agree for place , it was concluded they should goe all in one ship , so all their three commissions were in that ship with them called the sea-venture . they set sayle from england in may . a small catch perished at sea in a hericano : the admirall with an hundred and fiftie men , with the two knights , and their new commission , their bils of loading , with all manner of directions , and the most part of their provision arrived not . with the other seaven ships as captaines arrived ratliffe , whose right name ( as is sayd ) was sicklemore , martin , and archer , with captaine wood , captaine webbe , captaine moone , captaine king , captaine davis , and divers gentlemen of good meanes , and great parentage . but the first as they had beene troublesome at sea , began againe to marre all ashore : for though ( as is said ) they were formerly sent for england , yet now returning againe , graced by the titles of captaines of the passengers , seeing the admirall wanting , and great probabilitie of her losse , strengthened themselues with those new companies , so exclaiming against captaine smith , that they mortally hated him ere ever they saw him . who vnderstanding by his scouts the arrivall of such a fleet , little dreaming of any such supply , supposed them spanyards . but he quickly so determined and ordered our affaires , as we little feared their arrivall , nor the successe of our incounter ; nor were the salvages any way negligent for the most part , to ayd and assist vs with their best power . had it so beene we had beene happy ; for we would not haue trusted them but as our foes , where receiuing them as our countreymen and friends , they did what they could to murther our president , to surprise the store , the fort , and our iudgings , to vsurpe the government , and make vs all their servants and slaues , till they could consume vs and our remembrance ; and rather indeed to supplant vs then supply vs , as master william box an honest gentleman in this voyage thus relateth . in the tayle of a hericano wee were separated from the admirall , which although it was but the remainder of that storme , there is seldome any such in england , or those northerne parts of europe . some lost their masts , some their sayles blowne from their yards ; the seas so over-raking our ships , much of our prouision was spoyled , our fleet separated , and our men sicke , and many dyed , and in this miserable estate we arrived in virginia . but in this storme , when ratling thunder ran along the clouds ; did not the saylers poore , and masters proud a terror feele as strucke with feare of god ? did not their trembling ioynts then dread his rod ? least for foule deeds and black mouth'd blasphemies , the rufull time be come that vengeance cryes . to a thousand mischiefes those lewd captaines led this lewd company , wherein were many vnruly gallants , packed thither by their friends to escape ill destinies , and those would dispose and determine of the government , sometimes to one , the next day to another ; to day the old commission must rule , to morrow the new , the next day neither , in fine they would rule all , or ruine all : yet in charitie we must endure them thus to destroy vs , or by correcting their follies , haue brought the worlds censure vpon vs to be guiltie of their blouds . happie had we beene had they never arrived , and we for ever abandoned , and as we were left to our fortunes : for on earth for the number was never more confusion , or misery , then their factions occasioned . the president seeing the desire those braues had to rule ; seeing how his authoritie was so vnexpectedly changed , would willingly haue left all , and haue returned for england . but seeing there was small hope this new commission would arriue , longer he would not suffer those factious spirits to proceede . it would be too tedious , too strange , and almost incredible ; should i particularly relate the infinite dangers , plots , and practices , he daily escaped amongst this factious crew ; the chiefe whereof he quickly layd by the heeles , till his leasure better served to doe them iustice : and to take away all occasions of further mischiefe , master percie had his request granted to returne for england , being very sicke ; and mr west with an hundred and twentie of the best he could chuse , he sent to the f●lles ; martin with neare as many to nandsamund , with their due proportions of all provisions according to thir numbers . now the presidents yeare being neare expired , he made captaine martin president to follow the order for the election of a president every yeare : but he knowing his owne insufficiency , and the companies vntowardnesse and little regard of him , within three houres after resigned it againe to captaine smith , and at nandsamund thus proceeded . the people being contributers vsed him kindly ; yet such was his iealous feare , in the midst of their mirth , he did surprise this poore naked king , with his monuments , houses , and the isle he inhabited , and there fortified himselfe ; but so apparantly distracted with feare , as imboldened the salvages to assault him , kill his men , release their king , gather and carry away a thousand bushels of corne , he not once offering to intercept them ; but sent to the president then at the falles for thirtie good shot ; which from iames towne immediately was sent him . but he so well imployed them they did iust nothing , but returned complaining of his tendernesse : yet he came away with them to iames towne , leauing his company to their fortunes . here i cannot omit the courage of george forrest , that had seauenteene arrowes sticking in him , and one shot through him , yet liued sixe or seauen dayes , as if he had small hurt , then for want of chirurgery dyed . master west having seated his men by the falles , presently returned to reuisit iames towne : the president followed him to see that company seated ; met him by the way , wondering at his so quicke returne ; and found his company planted so inconsiderately , in a place not onely subiect to the rivers invndation , but round invironed with many intollerable inconueniences . for remedie whereof he presently sent to powhatan to sell him the place called powhatan , promising to defend him against the monacans . and these should be his conditions ( with his people ) to resigne him the fort and houses , and all that countrey for a proportion of copper ; that all stealing offenders should be sent him , thereto receiue their punishment ; that every house as a custome should pay him a bushell of corne for an inch square of copper , and a proportion of pocones , as a yearely tribute to king iames for their protection , as a dutie ; what else they could spare to barter at their best discretions . but both this excellent place and those good conditions did those furies refuse , contemning both him , his kinde care and authoritie . so much they depended on the lord generals new commission , as they regarded none : the worst they could doe to shew their spights they did ; supposing all the monacans country , gold ; and none should come there but whom they pleased . i doe more then wonder to thinke how onely with fiue men , he either durst or would adventure as he did , ( knowing how greedie they were of his bloud ) to land amongst them , and commit to imprisonment all the chi●ftaines of those mutinies , till by their multitudes being an hundred and twentie they forced him to retyre : yet in that interim he surprised one of their boates , wherewith he returned to their ship ; where in deed was their prouision , which also he tooke , and well it chanced he found the marriners so tractable and constant , or there had beene small possibilitie he had ever escaped . there were divers other of better reason and experience , that from their first landing , hearing the generall good report of his old souldiers , and seeing with their eyes his actions so well mannaged with discretion , as captaine wood , captaine webbe , cap. moone , captaine fitz iames , master william powell , master partridge , master white , and divers others , when they perceiued the malice of ratliffe and archer , and their faction , left their companies , and ever rested his faithfull friends . but the worst was that the poore salvages , that daily brought in their contribution to the president , that disorderly company so tormented those poore soules , by stealing their corne , robbing their gardens , beating them , breaking their houses and keeping some prisoners ; that they daily complained to captaine smith , he had brought them for protectors , worse enemies then the monacans themselues : which though till then , for his loue they had endured , they desired pardon if hereafter they defended themselues ; since he would not correct them , as they had long expected he would . so much they importuned him to punish their misdemeanors , as they offered ( if he would leade them ) to fight for him against them . but having spent nine dayes in seeking to reclaime them ; shewing them how much they did abuse themselues with these great guilded hopes of the south sea mines , commodities , or victories , they so madly conceived ; then seeing nothing would prevaile , he set sayle for iames towne . thus oft we see from small greene wounds , and from a little griefe , a greater sore and sicknesse growes , then will admit reliefe : for thus themselues they did be guile , and with the rest play'd theefe . now no sooner was the ship vnder sayle , but the salvages assaulted those hundred and twentie in their fort , finding some stragling abroad in the woods : they slew many , and so affrighted the rest , as their prisoners escaped , and they safely retyred , with the swords and cloakes of those they had slaine . but ere wee had sayled halfe a league , our ship grounding , gaue vs once more libertie to summon them to a parley ; where we found them all so strangely amazed with this poore silly assault of twelue saluages , that they submitted themselues vpon any tearmes to the presidents mercy ; who presently put by the heeles sixe or seauen of the chiefe offenders : the rest he seated gallantly at powhatan , in that salvage fort , readie built , and prettily fortified with poles and barkes of trees , sufficient to haue defended them from all the salvages in virginia , dry houses for lodgings and neere two hundred accres of ground ready to be planted , and no place we knew so strong , so pleasant and delightfull in virginia for which we called it non-such . the salvages also hee presently appeased , redeliuering to either party their former losses . thus all were friends . new officers appointed to command , and the president againe ready to depart , at that instant arriued captaine west , whose gentle nature ( by the perswasions and compassion of those mutinous prisoners , alledging they had onely done this for his honor ) was so much abused , that to regaine their old hopes , new turboyles did arise . for they a-shore being possessed of all there victuall , munition , and euery thing , grew to that height in their former factions , as the president left them to their fortunes : they returned againe to the open ayre at wests fort , abandoning non such , and he to iames towne with his best expedition , but this hapned him in that iourney . sleeping in his boate , ( for the ship was returned two daies before ) accidentallie , one fired his powder-bag , which tore the flesh from his body and thighes , nine or ten inches square in a most pittifull manner ; but to quench the tormenting fire , frying him in his cloaths he leaped over-boord into the deepe river , where ere they could recouer him he was neere drowned . in this estate without either chirurgian , or chirurgery he was to goe neere an hundred myles . arriving at iames towne , causing all things to be prepared for peace or warres to obtaine provision , whilest those things were providing , ratliffe , archer , & the rest of their confederates , being to come to their trials ; their guiltie consciences , fearing a iust reward for their deserts , seeing the president , vnable to stand , and neere berest of his senses by reason of his torment , they had plotted to haue murdered him in his bed . but his heart did faile him that should haue giuen fire to that mercilesse pistoll . so not finding that course to be the best , they ioyned together to vsurpe the government , thereby to escape their punishment . the president , had notice of their proiects , the which to withstand , though his old souldiers importuned him but permit them to take their heads that would resist his command , yet he would not suffer them , but sent for the masters of the ships , and tooke order with them for his returne for england . seeing there was neither chirurgian , nor chirurgery in the fort to cur● his hurt , and the ships to depart the next day , his commission to be suppressed he knew not why , himselfe and souldiers to be rewarded he knew not how , and a new commission granted they knew not to whom ( the which disabled that authority he had , as made them presume so oft to those mutinies as they did : ) besides so grievous were his wounds , and so cruell his torments ( few expecting he could liue ) nor was hee able to follow his busines to regaine what they had lost , suppresse those factions , and range the countries for provision as he intended ; and well he knew in those affaires his owne actions and presence was as requisit as his directions , which now could not be , he went presently abroad , resoluing there to appoint them governours , and to take order for the mutiners , but he could finde none hee thought fit for it would accept it . in the meane time , seeing him gone , they perswaded master percy to stay , who was then to goe for england , and be their president . within lesse then an houre was this mutation begun and concluded . for when the company vnderstood smith would leaue them , & saw the rest in armes called presidents & councellors , divers began to fawne on those new commanders , that now bent all their wits to get him resigne them his commission : who after much adoe and many bitter repulses ; that their confusion ( which he ●ould them was at their elbowes ) should not be attributed to him , for leauing the colony without a commission , he was not vnwilling they should steale it , but never would he giue it to such as they . and thus , strange violent forces drew vs on vnwilling : reason perswading 'gainst our loues rebelling . we saw and knew the better , ah curse accurst ! that notwithstanding we imbrace the worst . but had that vnhappie blast not hapned , he would quickly haue qualified the heate of those humors , and factions , had the ships but once left them and vs to our fortunes ; and haue made that provision from among the salvages , as we neither feared spanyard , salvage , nor famine ; nor would haue left virginia , nor our lawfull authoritie , but at as deare a price as we had bought it , and payd for it . what shall i say but thus , we left him , that in all his proceedings , made iustice his first guide , and experience his second , even hating basenesse , sloath , pride , and indignitie , more then any dangers ; that neuer allowed more for himselfe , then his souldiers with him ; that vpon no danger would send them where he would not lead them himselfe ; that would never see vs want , what he either had , or could by any meanes get vs ; that would rather want then borrow , or starue then not pay ; that loued action more then words , and hated falshood and covetousnesse worse then death ; whose adventures were our liues , and whose losse our deaths . leaving vs thus with three ships , seaven boats , commodities readie to trade , the harvest newly gathered , ten weeks provision in the store , foure hundred nintie and od persons , twentie-foure peeces of ordnance , three hundred muskets , snaphances , and firelockes , shot , powder , and match sufficient , curats , pikes , swords , and morrios , more then men ; the salvages , their language , and habitations well knowne to an hundred well trayned and expert souldiers ; nets for fishing ; tooles of all sorts to worke ; apparell to supply our wants ; six mares and a horse ; fiue or sixe hundred swine ; as many hennes and chickens ; some goats ; some sheepe ; what was brought or bred there remained . but they regarding nothing but from hand to mouth , did consume that wee had , tooke care for nothing , but to perfect some colourable complaints against captaine smith . for effecting whereof three weekes longer they stayed the ships , till they could produce them . that time and charge might much better haue beene spent , but it suted well with the rest of their discretions . besides iames towne that was strongly pallizadoed , containing some fiftie or sixtie houses , he left fiue or sixe other severall forts and plantations : though they were not so sumptuous as our successors expected , they were better then they provided any for vs. all this time we had but one carpenter in the countrey , and three others that could doe little , but desired to be learners : two blacksmiths ; two saylers , & those we write labourers were for most part footmen , and such as they that were adventurers brought to attend them , or such as they could perswade to goe with them , that neuer did know what a dayes worke was , except the dutch-men and poles , and some dozen other . for all the rest were poore gentlemen , tradsmen , serving-men , libertines , and such like , ten times more fit to spoyle a common-wealth , then either begin one , or but helpe to maintaine one . for when neither the feare of god , nor the law , nor shame , nor displeasure of their friends could rule them here , there is small hope ever to bring one in twentie of them ever to be good there . notwithstanding , i confesse divers amongst them , had better mindes and grew much more industrious then was expected : yet ten good workemen would haue done more substantiall worke in a day , then ten of them in a weeke . therefore men may rather wonder how we could doe so much , then vse vs so badly , because we did no more , but leaue those examples to make others beware , and the fruits of all , we know not for whom . but to see the justice of god vpon these dutch-men ; valdo before spoke of , made a shift to get for england , where perswading the merchants what rich mines he had found , and great service he would doe them , was very well rewarded , and returned with the lord la warre : but being found a meere impostor , he dyed most miserably . adam and francis his two consorts were fled againe to powhatan , to whom they promised at the arrivall of my lord , what wonders they would doe , would he suffer them but to goe to him . but the king seeing they would be gone , replyed ; you that would haue betrayed captaine smith to mee , will certainely betray me to this great lord for your peace : so caused his men to beat out their braines . to conclude , the greatest honour that ever belonged to the greatest monarkes , was the inlarging their dominions , and erecting common-weales . yet howsoever any of them haue attributed to themselues , the conquerors of the world : there is more of the world never heard of them , then ever any of them all had in subiection : for the medes , persians , and assyrians , never conquered all asia , nor the grecians but part of europe and asia . the romans indeed had a great part of both , as well as affrica : but as for all the northerne parts of europe and asia the interior southern and westerne parts of affrica , all america & terra incognita , they were all ignorant : nor is our knowledge yet but superficiall . that their beginnings , ending , and limitations were proportioned by the almightie is most evident : but to consider of what small meanes many of them haue begun is wonderfull . for some write that even rome her selfe , during the raigne of romulus , exceeded not the number of a thousand houses . and carthage grew so great a potentate , that at first was but incirculed in the thongs of a bulls skinne , as to fight with rome for the empire of the world . yea venice at this time the admiration of the earth , was at first but a marish , inhabited by poore fishermen . and likewise ninivie , thebes , babylon , delus , troy , athens , mycena and sparta , grew from small beginnings to be most famous states , though now they retaine little more then a naked name . now this our yong common-wealth in virginia , as you haue read once consisted but of persons , and in two yeares increased but to . yet by this small meanes so highly was approved the plantation in virginia , as how many lords , with worthy knights , and braue gentlemen pretended to see it , and some did , and now after the expence of fifteene yeares more , and such massie summes of men and money , grow they disanimated ? if we truely consider our proceedings with the spanyards , and the rest , we haue no reason to despayre , for with so small charge , they never had either greater discoveries , with such certaine tryals of more severall commodities , then in this short time hath beene returned from virginia , and by much lesse meanes . new england was brought out of obscuritie , and affoorded fraught for neare sayle of ships , where there is now erected a braue plantation . for the happines of summer isles , they are no lesse then either , and yet those haue had a far lesse , and a more difficult beginning , then either rome , carthage , or venice . written by richard pots , clarke of the councell , william tankard , and g.p. new seeing there is thus much paper here to spare , that you should not be altogether clered with prose ; such verses as my worthy friends bestowed vpon new england , i here present you , because with honestie i can neither reiect , nor omit their courtesies . in the deserued honour of the author , captaine iohn smith , and his worke. damn'd envie is a sp'rite , that ever haunts beasts , mis-nam'd men ; cowards , or ignorants . but , onely such shee followes , whose deare worth ( maugre her malice ) sets their glory forth . if this faire overture , then , take not ; it is envie 's spight ( deare friend ) in men of-wit ; or feare , lest morsels , which our mouths possesse , might fall from thence ; or else , t is sottishnesse . if either ; ( i hope neither ) thee they raise ; thy * letters are as letters in thy praise ; who , by their vice , improue ( when they reprooue ) thy vertue ; so , in hate , procure thee loue. then , on firme worth : this monument i frame ; scorning for any smith to forge such fame . iohn davies , heref : to his worthy captaine the author . that which wee call the subiect of all storie , is truth : which in this worke of thine giues glorie to all that thou hast done . then , scorne the spight of envie ; which doth no mans merits right . my sword may helpe the rest : my pen no more can doe , but this ; i 'aue said enough before . your sometime souldier , i. codrinton , now templer . to my worthy friend and cosen , captaine iohn smith ▪ it over-ioyes my heart , when as thy words of these designes , with deeds i doe compare . here is a booke , such worthy truth affords , none should the due desert thereof impare : sith thou , the man , deserving of these ages , much paine hast ta'en for this our kingdomes good , in climes vnknowne , 'mongst turks and salvages , t' inlarge our bounds ; though with thy losse of blood . hence damn'd detraction : stand not in our way . envie , it selfe , will not the truth gainesay . n. smith . in the deserved honour of my honest and worthy captaine , iohn smith , and his worke. captaine and friend ; when i pervse thy booke ( with iudgements eyes ) into my heart i looke : and there i finde ( what sometimes albion knew ) a souldier , to his countries-honour , true . some fight for wealth ; and some for emptie praise ; but thou alone thy countries fame to raise . with due discretion , and vndanted heart , i ( oft ) so well haue seene thee act thy part in deepest plunge of hard extreamitie , as forc't the troups of proudest foes to flie . though men of greater ranke and lesse desert would pish-away thy praise , it can not start from the true owner : for , all good mens tongues shall keepe the same . to them that part belongs . if , then , wit , courage , and successe should get thee fame ; the muse for that is in thy debt : a part whereof ( least able though i be ) thus here i doe disburse , to honor thee . raleigh crashaw . michael phettiplace , wil : phettiplace , and richard wiffing , gentlemen , and souldiers vnder captaine smiths command : in his deserved honour for his worke , and worth. vvhy may not wee in this worke haue our mite , that had our share in each black day and night , when thou virginia foild'st , yet kept'st vnstaind ; and held'st the king of paspeheh exchaind . thou all alone this salvage sterne didst take . pamavnkees king wee saw thee captiue make among seauen hundred of his stoutest men , to murther thee and vs resolved ; when fast by the hayre thou ledst this salvage grins ; thy pistoll at his breast to governe him : which did infuse such awe in all the rest ( sith their drad soveraigne thou had'st so distrest ) that thou and wee ( poore sixteene ) safe retir'd vnto our helplesse ships . thou ( thus admir'd ) didst make proud powhatan , his subiects send to iames his towne , thy censure to attend : and all virginia's lords , and pettie kings , aw'd by thy vertue , crouch , and presents brings to gaine thy grace ; so dreaded thou hast beene : and yet a heart more milde is seldome seene ; so , making valour vertue , really ; who hast nought in thee counterfeit , or slie ; if in the sleight be not the truest art , that make's men famoused for faire desert . who saith of thee , this sauors of vaine glorie , mistakes both thee and vs , and this true storie . if it be ill in thee , so well to doe ; then , is ill in vs , to praise thee too . but , if the first be well done ; it is well , to say it doth ( if so it doth ) excell . praise is the guerdon of each deare desert making the praised act the praised part with more alacritie : honours spurre is praise ; without which , it ( regardlesse ) soone decaies . and for this paines of thine wee praise thee rather ▪ that future times may know who was the father of that rare worke ( new england ) which may bring , praise to thy god , and profit to thy king. the summer ils. the tribes ar signifyed by these figurs . sands . southampton . warwick . padget . pembrok . cauendish . smith . hambleton . st catherins forte f pembroks forte k kings castell m southampton forte l devonshire redute o a scale of miles st george towne d warwicks forte e the bridges a.b.c. p riches mount state house the letters a.b.c. shew the sittuation of the bridges p the mount. d.e.f.g.h.i.k.l.m.n.o. the forts how and by whom they wer made the history will shew you . the discription of the land by mr norwood . all contracted into this order by captaine iohn smith . smiths forte i pagets forte h penistons redoute g charles forte n printed by iames reeve the fovrth booke . to make plaine the trve proceedings of the historie for . we must follow the examinations of doctor simons , and two learned orations published by the companie ; with the relation of the right honourable the lord de la ware. what happened in the first gouernment after the alteration in the time of captaine george piercie their gouernour . the day before captaine smith returned for england with the ships , captaine dauis arriued in a small pinace , with some sixteene proper men more : to these were added a company from iames towne , vnder the command of captaine iohn sickelmore alias ratliffe , to inhabit point comfort . captaine martin and captaine west , hauing lost their boats and neere halfe their men among the saluages , were returned to iames towne ; for the saluages no sooner vnderstood smith was gone , but they all reuolted , and did spoile and murther all they incountered . now wee were all constrained to liue onely on that smith had onely for his owne companie , for the rest had consumed their proportions , and now they had twentie presidents with all their appurtenances : master piercie our new president , was so sicke hee could neither goe nor stand . but ere all was consumed , captaine west and captaine sickelmore , each with a small ship and thirtie or fortie men well appointed , sought abroad to trade . sickelmore vpon the confidence of powhatan , with about thirtie others as carelesse as himselfe , were all slaine , onely ieffrey shortridge escaped , and pokahontas the kings daughter saued a boy called henry spilman , that liued many yeeres after , by her meanes , amongst the patawomekes . powhatan still as he found meanes , cut off their boats , denied them trade , so that captaine west set saile for england . now we all found the losse of captaine smith , yea his greatest maligners could now curse his losse : as for corne , prouision and contribution from the saluages , we had nothing but mortall wounds , with clubs and arrowes ; as for our hogs , hens , goats , sheepe , horse , or what liued , our commanders , officers & saluages daily consumed them , some small proportions sometimes we tasted , till all was deuoured ; then swords , armes , pieces , or any thing , wee traded with the saluages , whose cruell fingers were so oft imbrewed in our blouds , that what by their crueltie , our gouernours indiscretion , and the losse of our ships , of fiue hundred within six moneths after captaine smiths departure , there remained not past sixtie men , women and children , most miserable and poore creatures ; and those were preserued for the most part , by roots , herbes , acornes , walnuts , berries , now and then a little fish : they that had startch in these extremities , made no small vse of it ; yea , euen the very skinnes of our horses . nay , so great was our famine , that a saluage we slew , and buried , the poorer sort tooke him vp againe and eat him , and so did diuers one another boyled and stewed with roots and herbs : and one amongst the rest did kill his wife , powdered her , and had eaten part of her before it was knowne , for which hee was executed , as hee well deserued ; now whether shee was better roasted , boyled or carbonado'd , i know not , but of such a dish as powdered wise i neuer heard of . this was that time , which still to this day we called the staruing time ; it were too vile to say , and scarce to be beleeued , what we endured : but the occasion was our owne , for want of prouidence , industrie and gouernment , and not the barrennesse and defect of the countrie , as is generally supposed ; for till then in three yeeres , for the numbers were landed vs , we had neuer from england prouision sufficient for six moneths , though it seemed by the bils of loading sufficient was sent vs , such a glutton is the sea , and such good fellowes the mariners ; we as little tasted of the great proportion sent vs , as they of our want and miseries , yet notwithstanding they euer ouer-swayed and ruled the businesse , though we endured all that is said , and chiefly liued on what this good countrie naturally afforded ; yet had wee beene euen in paradice it selfe with these gouernours , it would not haue beene much better with vs ; yet there was amongst vs , who had they had the gouernment as captaine smith appointed , but that they could not maintaine it , would surely haue kept vs from those extremities of miseries . this in ten daies more , would haue supplanted vs all with death . but god that would not this countrie should be vnplanted , sent sir thomas gates , and sir george sommers with one hundred and fiftie people most happily preserued by the bermudas to preserue vs : strange it is to say how miraculously they were preserued in a leaking ship , as at large you may reade in the insuing historie of those ilands . the gouernment resigned to sir thomas gates , . when these two noble knights did see our miseries , being but strangers in that countrie , and could vnderstand no more of the cause , but by coniecture of our clamours and complaints , of accusing and excusing one another : they embarked vs with themselues , with the best meanes they could , and abandoning iames towne , set saile for england , whereby you may see the euent of the gouernment of the former commanders left to themselues ; although they had liued there many yeeres as formerly hath beene spoken ( who hindred now their proceedings , captaine smith being gone . ) at noone they fell to the i le of hogs , and the next morning to mulbery point , at what time they descried the long-boat of the lord la ware , for god would not haue it so abandoned . for this honourable lord , then gouernour of the countrie , met them with three ships exceedingly well furnished with all necessaries fitting , who againe returned them to the abandoned iames towne . out of the obseruations of william simmons doctor of diuinitie . the gouernment deuolued to the lord la ware. his lordship arriued the ninth of iune . accompanied with sir ferdinando warnman , captaine houl●roft , captaine lawson , and diuers other gentlemen of sort ; the tenth he came vp with his fleet , went on shore , heard a sermon , read his commission , and entred into consultation for the good of the colonie , in which secret counsell we will a little leaue them , that we may duly obserue the reuealed counsell of god. hee that shall but turne vp his eie , and behold the spangled canopie of heauen , or shall but cast downe his eie , and consider the embroydered carpet of the earth , and withall shall marke how the heauens heare the earth , and the earth the corne and oile , and they relieue the necessities of man , that man will acknowledge gods infinite prouidence : but hee that shall further obserue , how god inclineth all casuall euents to worke the necessary helpe of his saints , must needs adore the lords infinite goodnesse ; neuer had any people more iust cause , to cast themselues at the very foot-●toole of god , and to reuerence his mercie , than this distressed colonie ; for if god had not sent sir thomas gates from the bermudas , within foure daies they had almost beene famished ; if god had not directed the heart of that noble knight to saue the fort from fiering at their shipping , for many were very importunate to haue burnt it , they had beene destitute of a present harbour and succour ; if they had abandoned the fort any longer time , and had not so soone returned , questionlesse the indians would haue destroied the fort , which had beene the meanes of our safeties amongst them and a terror . if they had set saile sooner , and had lanched into the vast ocean , who would haue promised they should haue incountered the fleet of the lord la ware , especially when they made for new found land , as they intended , a course contrarie to our nauie approaching . if the lord la ware had not brought with him a yeeres prouision , what comfort would those poore soules haue receiued , to haue beene relanded to a second distruction ? this was the arme of the lord of hosts , who would haue his people passe the red sea and wildernesse , and then to possesse the land of canaan : it was diuinely sp●ken of heathen socrates , if god for man be carefull , why should man bee ouer-distrustfull ? for he hath so tempered the contrary qualities of the elements , that neither cold things want heat , nor moist things dry , nor sad things spirits , to quicken them thereby , yet make they musicall content of contrarietie , which conquer'd , knits them in such links together , they doe produce euen all this whatsoeuer . the lord gouernour , after mature deliberation , deliuered some few words to the companie , laying iust blame vpon them , for their haughtie vanities and sluggish idlenesse , earnestly intreating them to amend those desperate follies , lest hee should be compelled to draw the sword of iustice , and to cut off such delinquents , which he had rather draw , to the shedding of his vitall bloud , to protect them from iniuries ; heartning them with relation of that store hee had brought with him , constituting officers of all conditions , to rule ouer them , allotting euery man his particular place , to watch vigilantly , and worke painfully : this oration and direction being receiued with a generall applause , you might shortly behold the idle and restie diseases of a diuided multitude , by the vnitie and authoritie of this gouernment to be substantially cured . those that knew not the way to goodnesse before , but cherished singularitie and faction , can now chalke out the path of all respectiue dutie and seruice : euery man endeuoureth to outstrip other in diligence : the french preparing to plant the vines , the english labouring in the woods and grounds ; euery man knoweth his charge , and dischargeth the same with alacritie . neither let any man be discouraged , by the relation of their daily labour ( as though the sap of their bodies should bee spent for other mens profit ) the setled times of working , to effect all themselues , or as the aduenturers need desire , required no more paines than from six of the clocke in the morning , vntill ten , and from two in the afternoone , till foure , at both which times they are prouided of spirituall and corporall reliefe . first , they enter into the church , and make their praiers vnto god , next they returne to their houses and receiue their proportion of food . nor should it bee conceiued that this businesse excludeth gentlemen , whose breeding neuer knew what a daies labour meant , for though they cannot digge , vse the spade , nor practice the axe , yet may the staied spirits of any condition , finde how to imploy the force of knowledge , the exercise of counsell , the operation and power of their best breeding and qualities . the houses which are built , are as warme and defensiue against wind and weather , as if they were tiled and slated , being couered aboue with strong boards , and some matted round with indian mats . our forces are now such as are able to tame the furie and trecherie of the saluages : our forts assure the inhabitants , and frustrate all assaylants . and to leaue no discouragement in the heart of any , who personally shall enter into this great action , i will communicate a double comfort ; first , sir george sommers , that worthy admirall hath vndertaken a dangerous aduenture for the good of the colonie . vpon the . of iune , accompanied with captaine samuel argall , hee returned in two pinaces vnto the bermudas , promising ( if by any meanes god will open a way to that iland of rocks ) that he would soone returne with six moneths prouision of flesh ; with much crosse weather at last hee there safely arriued , but captaine argall was forced backe againe to iames towne , whom the lord de la ware not long after sent to the riuer of patawomeke , to trade for corne ; where finding an english boy , one henry spilman , a young gentleman well descended , by those people preserued from the furie of powhatan , by his acquaintance had such good vsage of those kinde saluages , that they fraughted his ship with corne , wherewith he returned to iames towne . the other comfort is , that the lord la ware hath built two new forts , the one called fort henry , the other fort charles , in honour of our most noble prince , and his hopefull brother , vpon a pleasant plaine , and neare a little riuilet they call southampton riuer ; they stand in a wholsome aire , hauing plentie of springs of sweet water , they command a great circuit of ground , containing wood , pasture and marsh , with apt places for vines , corne and gardens ; in which forts it is resolued , that all those that come out of england , shall be at their first landing quartered , that the wearisomnesse of the sea , may bee refreshed in this pleasing part of the countrie , and sir thomas gates hee sent for england . but to correct some iniuries of the paspahegs , he sent captaine pearcie , master stacy , and fiftie or threescore shot , where the saluages flying , they burnt their houses , tooke the queene and her children prisoners , whom not long after they slew . the fertilitie of the soile , the temperature of the climate , the forme of gouernment , the condition of our people , their daily inuocating of the name of god being thus expressed ; why should the successe , by the rules of mortall iudgement , bee disparaged ? why should not the rich haruest of our hopes be seasonably expected ? i dare say , that the resolution of caesar in france , the designes of alexander , the discoueries of hernando cortes in the west , and of emanuel king of portugal in the east , were not encouraged vpon so firme grounds of state and 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 . 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 de●●cts with honour and securitie . out of a declaration published by the counsell , . 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 thre● 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 . kine , and . 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 , . the gouernment surrendred to sir thomas dale , who arriued in virginia the tenth of may , . 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 . 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 ●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 riuer of nausamund , in despight of the indians then our enemies ; then our owne riuer to the fales , where vpon a high land , inuironed with the maine riuer , some twelue miles from the fales , by arsahattock , he resolued to plant his new towne . it was no small trouble to reduce his people so timely to good order , being of so ill a condition , as may well witnesse his seueritie and strict imprinted booke of articles , then needfull with all extremitie to be executed ; now much mitigated ; so as if his lawes had not beene so strictly executed , i see not how the vtter subuersion of the colonie should haue beene preuented , witnesse webbes and prices designe the first yeere , since that of abbots , and others , more dangerous than the former . here i entreat your patience for an apologie , though not a pardon . this ieffrey abbots , how euer this author censures him , and the gouernour executes him , i know he had long serued both in ireland and netherlands , here hee was a sargeant of my companie , and i neuer saw in virginia a more sufficient souldier , lesse turbulent , a better wit , more hardy or industrious , nor any more forward to cut off them that sought to abandon the countrie , or wrong the colonie ; how ingratefully those deserts might bee rewarded , enuied or neglected , or his farre inferiors preferred to ouer-top him , i know not , but such occasions might moue a saint , much more a man , to an vnaduised passionate impatience , but how euer , it seemes he hath beene punished for his offences , that was neuer rewarded for his deserts . and euen this summer cole and kitchins plot with three more , bending their course to ocanahowan , fiue daies iourney from vs , where they report are spaniards inhabiting . these were cut off by the saluages , hired by vs to hunt them home to receiue their deserts : so as sir thomas dale hath not beene so tyrannous nor seuere by the halfe , as there was occasion , and iust cause for it , and though the manner was not vsuall , wee were rather to haue regard to those , whom we would haue terrified and made fearefull to commit the like offences , than to the offenders iustly condemned , for amongst them so hardned in euill , the feare of a cruell , painfull and vnusuall death more restraines them , than death it selfe . thus much i haue proceeded of his endeuours , vntill the comming of sir thomas gates , in preparing himselfe to proceed as he intended . now in england againe to second this noble knight , the counsell and companie with all possible expedition prepared for sir thomas gates six tall ships , with three hundred men , and one hundred kine and other cattell , with munition and all other manner of prouision that could be thought needfull ; and about the first or second of august , . arriued safely at iames towne . the gouernment returned againe to sir thomas gates , . these worthy knights being met , after their welcoming salutations , sir thomas dale acquainted him what he had done , and what he intended , which designe sir thomas gates well approuing , furnished him with three hundred and fiftie men , such as himselfe made choice of . in the beginning of september , . hee set faile , and arriued where hee intended to build his new towne : within ten or twelue daies he had inuironed it with a pale , and in honour of our noble prince henry , called it henrico . the next worke he did , was building at each corner of the towne , a high commanding watch-house , a church , and store-houses ; which finished , hee began to 〈…〉 conuenient houses for himselfe and men , which with all possible speed hee could he effected , to the great content of his companie , and all the colonie . this towne is situated vpon a necke of a plaine rising land , three parts inuironed with the maine riuer , the necke of land well impaled , makes it like an i le ; it hath three streets of well fram●d houses , a handsome church , and the foundation of a better laid , to bee built of bricke , besides store-houses , watch-houses , and such like : vpon the verge of the riuer there are fiue houses , wherein liue the honester sort of people , as farmers in england , and they keepe continuall centinell for the townes securitie . about two miles from the towne , into the maine , is another pal● , neere two miles in length , from riuer to riuer , guarded with seuerall commanders , with a good quantitie of corne-ground impailed , sufficiently secured to maintaine more than i suppose will come this three yeeres . on the other side of the riuer , for the securitie of the towne , is intended to be impaled for the securitie of our hogs , about two miles and a halfe , by the name of hope in faith , and coxendale , secured by fiue of our manner of forts , which are but palisadoes , called charitie fort , mount malado , a guest house for sicke people , a high ●eat and wholsome aire , elisabeth fort , and fort patience : and here hath master whitaker chosen his parsonage , impaled a faire framed parsonage , and one hundred acres called rocke hall , but these are not halfe finished . about christmas following , in this same yeere . in regard of the iniurie done vs by them of apamatuck ▪ sir thomas dale , without the losse of any , except some few saluages , tooke it and their corne , being but fiue miles by land from henrico , and considering how commodious it might be for vs , resolued to possesse and plant it , and at the instant called it the new bermudas , whereunto hee hath laid out and annexed to the belonging freedome and corporation for euer , many miles of champian and woodland ground in seuerall hundreds , as the vpper and nether hundreds , rochdale hundred , west sherly hundred , and digs his hundred . in the nether hundred he first began to plant , for there is the most corne-ground , and with a pale of two miles , cut ouer from riuer to riuer , whereby we haue secured eight english miles in compasse ; vpon which circuit , within halfe a mile of each other , are many faire houses already built , besides particular mens houses neere to the number of fiftie . rochdale , by a crosse pale welnigh foure miles long , is also planted with houses along the pale , in which hundred our hogs and c●ttell haue twentie miles circuit to graze in securely . the building of the citie is referred till our haruest be in , which he intends to make a retreat against any forraigne enemie . about fiftie miles from these is iames towne , vpon a fertill peninsula , which although fomerly scandaled for an vnhealthful aire , wee finde it as healthfull as any other part of the countrie ; it hath two rowes of houses of framed timber , and some of them two stories , and a garret higher , three large store-houses ioined together in length , and hee hath newly strongly impaled the towne . this i le , and much ground about it , is much in habited : to kecoughtan we accounted it fortie miles , where they liue well with halfe that allowance the rest haue from the store , because of the extraordinarie quantitie of fish , fowle and deere ; as you may reade at large in the discoueries of captaine smith . and thus i haue truly related vnto you the present estate of that small part of virginia wee frequent and possesse . since there was a ship fraughted with prouision , and fortie men ; and another since then with the like number and prouision , to stay twelue moneths in the countrie , with captaine argall , which was sent not long after . after hee had recreated and refreshed his companie , hee was sent to the riuer patawomeake , to trade for corne , the saluages about vs hauing small quarter , but friends and foes as they found aduantage and opportunitie : but to conclude our peace , thus it happened . captaine argall , hauing entred into a great acquaintance with iapazaws , an 〈…〉 of captaine smiths , and so to all our nation , euer since ●ee d●scouered the countrie : hard by him there was pocahontas , whom captaine smiths relations intituleth the numparell of virginia , and though she had beene many times a preseruer of him and the whole colonie , yet till this accident shee was neuer seene at iames towne since his departure , being at patawom●ke , as it seemes , thinking her selfe vnknowne , was easily by her friend iapazaws perswaded to goe abroad with him and his wife to see the ship , for captaine argall had promised him a copper kettle to bring her but to him , promising no way to hurt her , but keepe her till they could conclude a peace with her father ; the saluage for this copper kettle would haue done any thing , it seem●d by the relation ; for though she had seene and beene in many ships , yet hee caused his wife to faine how desirous she was to see one , and that hee offered to beat her for her importunitie , till she wept . but at last he told her , if pocahontas would goe with her , hee was content : and thus they betraied the poore innocent pocahontas aboord , where they were all kindly feasted in the cabbin . iapazaws treading oft on the captaines foot , to remember he had done his part , the captaine when he saw his time , perswaded pocahontas to the gun-roome , faining to haue some conference with iapazaws , which was onely that she should not perceiue hee was any way guiltie of her captiuitie : so sending for her againe , hee told her before her friends , she must goe with him , and compound peace betwixt her countrie and vs , before she euer should see powhatan , whereat the old iew and his wife began to howle and crie as fast as pocahontas , that vpon the captaines faire perswasions , by degrees pacifying her selfe , and iapazaws and his wife , with the kettle and other toies , went merrily on shore , and shee to iames towne . a messenger forthwith was sent to her father , that his daughter pocahontas he loued so dearely , he must ransome with our men , swords , peeces , tooles , &c. hee trecherously had stolne . this vnwelcome newes much troubled powhatan , because hee loued both his daughter and our commodities well , yet it was three moneths after ere hee returned vs any answer : then by the perswasion of the councell , he returned seuen of our men , with each of them an vnseruiceable musket , and sent vs word , that when wee would deliuer his daughter , hee would make vs satisfaction for all iniuries done vs , and giue vs fiue hundred bushels of corne , and for euer be friends with vs. that he sent , we receiued in part of payment , and returned him this answer : that his daughter should be well vsed , but we could not beleeue the rest of our armes were either lost or stolne from him , and therefore till hee sent them , we would keepe his daughter . this answer , it seemed , much displeased him , for we heard no more from him a long time after , when with captaine argals ship , and some other vessels belonging to the colonie , sir thomas dale , with a hundred and fiftie men well appointed , went vp into his owne riuer , to his chiefe habitation , with his daughter ; with many scornfull brauado's they affronted vs , proudly demanding why wee came thither ; our reply was , wee had brought his daughter , and to receiue the ransome for her that was promised , or to haue it perforce . they nothing dismayed thereat , told vs , we were welcome if wee came to fight , for they were prouided for vs , but aduised vs , if wee loued our liues to retire ; else they would vse vs as they had done captaine ratcliffe : we told them , wee would presently haue a better answer ; but we were no sooner within shot of the shore than they let flie their arrowes among vs in the ship . being thus iustly prouoked , wee presently manned our boats , went on shore , burned all their houses , and spoiled all they had we could finde ; and so the next day proceeded higher vp the riuer , where they demanded ●hy wee burnt their houses , and wee , why they shot at vs : they replyed , it was some s●ragling saluage , with many other excuses , they in●ended no hurt , but were our friends : we told them , wee came not to hurt them , but v●sit them as friends also . vpon this we concluded a peace , and forthwith they dispatched messengers to powhatan , whose answer , they told vs , wee must expect foure and twentie houres ere the messengers could returne : then they told vs , our men were runne away for feare we would hang them , yet powhatans men were runne after them ; as for our swords and peeces , they should be brought vs the next day , which was only but to delay time ; for the next day they came not . then we went higher , to a house of powhatans , called matchot , where we saw about foure hundred men well appointed ; here they dar●d vs to come on shore , which wee did ; no shew of feare they made at all , nor offered to resist our landing , but walking boldly vp and downe amongst vs , demanded to conferre with our captaine , of his comming in that manner , and to haue truce till they could but once more send to their king to know his pleasure , which if it were not agreeable to their expectation , then they would fight with vs , and defend their owne as they could , which was but onely to deferre the time , to carrie away their prouision ; yet wee promised them truce ti●l the next day at noone , and then if they would fight with vs , they should know when we would begin by our drums and trumpets . vpon this promise , two of powhatans sonnes came vnto vs to see their sister , at whose sight , seeing her well , though they heard to the contrarie , they much reioiced , promising they would perswade her father to redeeme her , and for euer be friends with vs. and vpon this , the two brethren went aboord with vs , and we sent m●ster iohn rolfe and master sparkes to powhatan , to acquaint him with the businesse ; kindly they were entertained , but not admitted the presence of powhatan , but they spoke with opechaucanough , his brother and successor ; hee promised to doe the best he could to powhatan , all might be well . so it being aprill , and time to prepare our ground and set our corne , we returned to iames towne , promising the forbearance of their performing their promise , till the next haruest . long before this , master iohn rolfe , an honest gentleman , and of good behauiour , had beene in loue with pocahontas , and she with him , which thing at that instant i made knowne to sir thomas dale by a letter from him , wherein hee intreated his aduice , and she acquainted her brother with it , which resolution sir thomas dale well approued : the brute of this mariage came soone to the knowledge of powhatan , a thing acceptable to him , as appeared by his sudden consent , for within ten daies he sent opachisco , an old vncle of hers , and two of his sons , to see the manner of the mariage , and to doe in that behalfe what they were requested , for the confirmation thereof , as his deputie ; which was accordingly done about the first of aprill : and euer since wee haue had friendly trade and commerce , as well with powhatan himselfe , as all his subiects . besides this , by the meanes of powhatan , we became in league with our next neighbours , the chicahamanias , a lustie and a daring people , free of themselues . these people , so soone as they heard of our peace with powhatan , sent two messengers with presents to sir thomas dale , and offered him their seruice , excusing all former iniuries , hereafter they would euer be king iames his subiects , and relinquish the name of chickahamania , to be called tassautessus , as they call vs , and sir thomas dale there gouernour , as the kings deputie ; onely they desired to be gouerned by their owne lawes , which is eight of their elders as his substitutes . this offer he kindly accepted , and appointed the day hee would come to visit them . wh●n the appointed day came , sir thomas dale and captaine argall with fiftie men well appointed , went to chickahamania , where wee found the people expecting our comming , they vsed vs kindly , and the next morning sate in counsell , to conclude their peace vpon these conditions : first , they should for euer bee called englishmen , and bee true subiects to king iames and his deputies . secondly , neither to kill nor detaine any of our men , nor cattell , but bring them home . thirdly , to bee alw●ies ready to furnish vs with three hundred men , against the spaniards or any . fourthly , they shall not enter ●ur townes , but send word they are new englishmen . fiftly , that euery fighting man , at the beginning of haruest , shall bring to our store two bushels of corne , for tribute , for which they shall rec●iue so many hatchets . lastly , the eight chiefe men should see all this performed , or receiue the punishment themselues : for their diligence they should haue a red coat , a copper chaine , and king iames his picture , and be accounted his noblemen . all this they concluded with a generall assent , and a great shout to confirme it : then one of the old men began an oration , bending his speech first to the old men , then to the young , and then to the women and children , to make them vnderstand how strictly they were to obserue these conditions , and we would defend them from the furie of powhatan , or any enemie whatsoeuer , and furnish them with copper , beads , and hatchets ; but all this was rather for feare powhatan and we , being so linked together , would bring them againe to his subiection ; the which to preuent , they did rather chuse to be protected by vs , than tormented by him , whom they held a tyrant . and thus wee returned againe to iames towne . when our people were fed out of the common store , and laboured iointly together , glad was he could slip from his labour , or slumber ouer his taske he cared not how , nay , the most honest among them would hardly take so much true paines in a weeke , as now for themselues they will doe in a day , neither cared they for the increase , presuming that howsoeuer the haruest prospered , the generall store must maintaine them , so that wee reaped not so much corne from the labours of thirtie , as now three or foure doe prouide for themselues . to preuent which , sir thomas dale hath allotted euery man three acres of cleare ground , in the nature of farmes , except the bermudas , who are exempted , but for one moneths seruice in the yeere , which must neither bee in feed-time , nor haruest ; for which doing , no other dutie they pay yeerely to the store , but two barrels and a halfe of corne ( from all those farmers , whereof the first was william spence , an honest , valiant , and an industrious man , and hath continued from . to this present ) from those is expected such a contribution to the store , as wee shall neither want for our selues , nor to entertaine our supplies ; for the rest , they are to worke eleuen moneths for the store , and hath one moneth onely allowed them to get prouision to keepe them for twelue , except two bushels of corne they haue out of the store ; if those can liue so , why should any feare staruing , and it were much better to denie them passage , that would not ere they come , bee content to ingage themselues to those conditions : for onely from the slothfull and idle drones , and none else , hath sprung the manifold imputations , virginia innocen●ly hath vndergone ; and therefore i would deter such from comming here , that cannot well brooke labour , except they will vndergoe much punishment and penurie , if they escape the skuruie : but for the industrious , there is reward sufficient , and if any thinke there is nothing but bread , i referre you to his relations that discouered the countrie first . the gouernment left to sir thomas dale vpon sir thomas gates returne for england . sir thomas dale vnderstanding there was a plantation of frenchmen in the north part of virginia , about the degrees of . sent captaine argall to port royall and sancta crux , where finding the frenchmen abroad dispersed in the woods , surprized their ship and pinnace , which was but newly come from france , wherein was much good apparel , and other prouision , which he brought to iames towne , but the men escaped , and liued among the saluages of those countries . it pleased sir thomas dale , before my returne to england , because i would be able to speake somewhat of my owne knowledge , to giue mee leaue to visit powhatan and his court : being prouided , i had thomas saluage with mee , for my interpreter , with him and two saluages for guides , i went from the bermuda in the morning , and came to match●t the next night , where the king lay vpon the riuer of pamavuke ; his entertainment was strange to me , the boy he knew well , and told him ; my child , i gaue you leaue , being my boy , to goe see your friends , and these foure yeeres i haue not seene you , nor heard of my owne man namoutack i sent to england , though many ships since haue beene returned thence : hauing done with him , hee began with mee , and demanded for the chaine of pearle he sent his brother sir thomas dale at his first arriuall , which was a token betwixt them , when euer hee should send a messenger from himselfe to him , he should weare that chaine about his necke , since the peace was concluded , otherwaies he was to binde him and send him home . it is true sir thomas dale had sent him such word , and gaue his page order to giue it me , but he forgot it , and till this present i neuer heard of it , yet i replyed i did know there was such an order , but that was when vpon a sudden he should haue occasion to send an englishman without an indian guide ; but if his owne people should conduct his messenger , as two of his did me who knew my message , it was sufficient ; with which answer he was contented , and so conducted vs to his house , where was a guard of two hundred bow-men , that alwaies attend his person . the first thing he did , he offered me a pipe of tobacco , then asked mee how his brother sir thomas dale did , and his daughter , and vnknowne sonne , and how they liued , loued and liked ; i told him his brother was well , and his daughter so contented , she would not liue againe with him ; whereat he laughed , and demanded the cause of my comming : i told him my message was priuate , and i was to deliuer it onely to himselfe and papaschicher , one of my guides that was acquainted with it ; instantly he commanded all out of the house , but onely his two queenes , that alwaies sit by him , and bade me speake on . i told him , by my interpreter , sir thomas dale hath sent you two pieces of copper , fiue strings of white and blue beads , fiue woodden combes , ten fish-hookes , a paire of kniues , and that when you would send for it , hee would giue you a grind-stone ; all this pleased him : but then i told him his brother dale , hearing of the same of his youngest daughter , desiring in any case he would send her by me vnto him , in testimonie of his loue , as well for that he intended to marry her , as the desire her sister had to see her , because being now one people , and hee desirous for euer to dwell in his countrie , he conceiued there could not be a truer assurance of peace and friendship , than in such a naturall band of an vnited vnion . i needed not entreat his answer by his oft interrupting mee in my speech , and presently with much grauitie he thus replyed . i gladly accept your salute of loue and peace , which while i liue , i shall exactly keepe , his pledges thereof i receiue with no lesse thanks , although they a●e not so ample as formerly he had receiued ; but for my daughter , i haue sold her within this few daies to a great werowance , for two bushels of rawrenoke , three daies iournie from me . i replyed , i knew his greatnesse in restoring the rawrenoke , might call her againe to gratifie his brother , and the rather , because she was but twelue yeeres old , assuring him , besides the band of peace , hee should haue for her , three times the worth of the rawrenoke , in beads , copper , hatchets , &c. his answer was , he loued his daughter as his life , and though hee had many children , hee delighted in none so much as shee , whom if he should not often behold , he could not possibly liue , which she liuing with vs he could not do , hauing resolued vpon no termes to put himselfe into our hands , or come amongst vs ; therefore desired me to vrge him no further , but returne his brother this answer : that i desire no former assurance of his friendship , than the promise hee hath made , from me he hath a pledge , one of my daughters , which so long as she liues shall be sufficient , when she dies , he shall haue another : i hold it not a brotherly part to desire to bereaue me of my two children at once . farther , tell him though he had no pledge at all , hee need not distrust any iniurie from me or my people ; there haue beene too many of his men and mine slaine , and by my occasion there shall neuer be more , ( i which haue power to performe it , haue said it ) although i should haue iust cause , for i am now old , & would gladly end my daies in peace ; if you offer me iniurie , my countrie is large enough to goe from you : thus much i hope will satisfie my brother . now because you are wearie , and i sleepie , wee will thus end . so commanding vs victuall and lodging , we rested that night , and the next morning he came to visit vs , and kindly conducted vs to the best cheere hee had . william parker . while i here remained , by chance came an englishman , whom there had beene surprized three yeeres agoe at fort henry , growne so like , both in complexion and habit like a saluage , i knew him not , but by his tongue : hee desired mee to procure his libertie , which i intended , and so farre vrged powhatan , that he grew discontented , and told mee , you haue one of my daughters , and i am content , but you cannot see one of your men with mee , but you must haue him away , or breake friendship ; if you must needs haue him , you shall goe home without guides , and if any euill befall you , thanke your selues : i told him i would , but if i returned not well , hee must expect a reuenge , and his brother might haue iust cause to suspect him . so in passion he le●t me till supper , and then gaue me such as hee had with a cheerefull countenance : about midnight hee awaked vs , and promised in the morning my returne with parker ; but i must remember his brother to send him ten great pieces of copper , a shauing-knife , a frowe , a grindstone , a net , fish-hookes , and such toies ; which lest i should forget , he caused me write in a table-booke he had ; how euer he got it , it was a faire one , i desired hee would giue it me ; he told me , no , it did him much good in shewing to strangers , yet in the morning when we departed , hauing furnished vs well with prouision , he gaue each of vs a bucks skin as well dressed as could be , and sent two more to his sonne and daughter : and so we returned to iames towne . written by master ralph hamor and iohn rolph . i haue read the substance of this relation , in a letter written by sir thomas dale , another by master whitaker , and a third by master iohn rolse ; how carefull they were to instruct her in christianity , and how capable and desirous shee was thereof , after she had beene some time thus tutored , shee neuer had desire to goe to her father , nor could well endure the society of her owne nation : the true affection she constantly bare her husband was much , and the strange apparitions and violent passions he endured for her loue , as he deeply protested , was wonderfull , and she openly renounced her countries idolatry , confessed the faith of christ , and was baptized , but either the coldnesse of the aduenturers , or the bad vsage of that was collected , or both , caused this worthy knight to write thus . oh why should so many princes and noblemen ingage themselues , and thereby intermedling herein , haue caused a number of soules transport themselues , and be transported hither ? why should they , i say , relinquish this so glorious an action : for if their ends be to build god a church , they ought to perseuere ; if otherwise , yet their honour ingageth them to be constan● ; howsoeuer they stand affected , here is enough to content them . these are the things haue animated me to stay a little season from them , i am bound in conscience to returne vnto ; leauing all contenting pleasures and mundall delights , to reside here with much turmoile , which i will rather doe than see gods glory diminished , my king and count●y dishonoured , and these poore soules i haue in charge reuiued , which would quickly happen if i should leaue them ; so few i haue with me fit to command or manage the businesse : master whitaker their preacher complaineth , and much museth , that so few of our english ministers , that were so hot against the surplice and subscription come hether , where neither is spoken of . doe they not wilfully hide their talents , or keepe themselues at home , for feare of losing a few pleasures : be there not any among them of moses his minde , and of the apostles , that forsooke all to follow christ , but i refer them to the iudge of all hearts , and to the king that shall reward euery one according to his talent . from virginia . iune : . . the businesse being brought to this perfection , captaine arga●l returned for england , in the latter end of iune , . ariuing in england , and bringing this good tidings to the councell and company by the assistances of sir thomas gates , th●t also had returned from virginia but the march before ; it was presently concluded , that to supply this good successe with all expedition , the standing lottery should be drawne with all diligent conueniency , and that posterity may remember vpon occasion to vse the like according to the declaration , i thinke it not amisse to remember thus much . the contents of the declaration of the lottery published by the counsell . it is apparent to the world ; by how many former proclamations , we manifested our intents , to haue drawn out the great standing lottery long before this , which not falling out as we desired , and others expected , whose monies are aduentured ther●in , we thought good therefore for the auoiding all vniust and sinister constructions , to resolue the doubts of all indifferent minded , in three speciall points for their better satisfaction . but ere i goe any farther , let vs remember there was a running lottery , vsed a long time in saint pauls church-yard , where this stood , that brought into the treasury good summes of mony dayly , though the lot was but small . now for the points , the first is , for as much as the aduenturers came in so slackly for the yeere past , without preiudice to the generality , in losing the blankes and prises , we were forced to petition to the honourable lords , who out of their noble care to further this plantation , haue recommended their letters to the countries , cities , and good townes in england , which we hope by sending in their voluntary aduenturers , will sufficiently supply vs. the second for satisfaction to all honest well affected minds , is , that though this expectation answer not our hopes , yet wee haue not failed in our christian care , the good of that colony , to whom we haue lately sent two sundry supplies , and were they but now supplied with more hands , wee should soone resolue the diuision of the country by lot , and so lessen the generall charge . the third is our constant resolution , that seeing our credits are so farre ingaged to the honourable lords and the whole state , for the drawing this great lottery , which we intend shall be without delay , the . of iune next , desiring all such as haue vndertaken with bookes to solicit their friends , that they will not with-hold their monies till the last moneth be expired , lest we be vnwillingly forced to proportion a lesse value and number of our blankes and prises which hereafter followeth . welcomes . to him that first shall be drawne out with a blanke , crownes . to the second , crownes . to the third , crownes . to him that euery day during the drawing of this lottery , shall bee first drawne out with a blanke , crownes . prizes . great prize of crownes . great prizes , each of crownes . great prizes , each of crownes . great prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . prizes , each of crownes . rewards . to him that shall be last drawne out with a blanke , crownes . to him that putteth in the greatest lot , vnder one name , crownes . to him that putteth in the second greatest number , crownes . to him that putteth in the third greatest number , crownes . to him that putteth in the fourth greatest number , crownes . if diuers be of equall number , their rewards are to be diuided proportionally . addition of new rewards . the blanke that shall bee drawne out next before the great prize shall haue crownes . the blanke that shall be drawne out next after the said great prize crownes . the blancks that shall be drawne out immediatly before the two next great prizes , shall haue each of them crownes . the seuerall blankes next after them , each shall haue crownes . the seuerall blankes next before the foure great prizes , each shall haue crownes . the seuerall blankes next after them , each shall haue crownes . the seuerall blankes next before the six great prizes , each shall haue crownes . the seuerall blankes next after them , each shall haue crownes . the prizes , welcomes , and rewards , shall be payed in ready mony , plate , or other goods reasonably rated ; if any dislike of the plate or goods , he shall haue mony , abating only the tenth part , except in small prizes of ten crownes or vnder . the mony for the aduenturers is to be paied to sir thomas smith , knight , and treasurer for virginia , or such offic●rs as he shall appoint in city or country , vnder the common seale of the company for the rece●t thereof . all prizes , welcomes and rewards drawne where euer they dwell , shall of the treasurer haue present pay , and whosoeuer vnder one name or po●sie payeth three pound in ready money , shall receiue six shillings and eight pence , or a siluer spoone of that value at his choice . about this time it chanced a spanish ship , beat too and againe before point comfort , and at last sent a shore their boat , as desirous of a pilot. captaine iames dauis the gouernor , immediatly gaue them one , but he was no sooner in the boat , but away they went with him , leauing three of their companions behind them ; this sudden accident occasioned some distrust , and a strict examination of those three thus left , yet with as good vsage as our estate could afford them . they only confessed hauing lost their admirall , accident had forced them into those parts , and two of them were captaines , and in chi●fe authority in the fleet : thus they liued till one of them was found to be an englishman , and had been the spaniards pilot for england in . and hauing here induced some male-contents , to beleeue his proiects , to run away with a small barke , which was apprehended , some executed , and he expecting but the hangmans curtesie , directly confessed that two or three spanish ships was at sea , purposely to discouer the estate of the colony , but their commission was not to be opened till they arriued in the bay , so that of any thing more he was vtterly ignorant . one of the spaniards at last dyed , the oth●r was sent for england , but this reprieued , till sir thomas dale hanged him at sea in his voyage homeward ; the e●glish pilot they carried for spaine , whom after a long time imprisonment , with much ●●te was returned for england . whilst those things were effecting , sir thomas dal● , hauing setled to his thinking all things in good order , made choice of one master george yearly , to be depu●y-gouernour in his absence , and so returned for england , accompanied with po●ahontas the kings daughter , and master r●lfe her husband , and arriued at plimmoth the . of iune . . the gouernment left to captaine yearly . now a little to commentary vpon all these proceedings , let me leaue but this as a caueat by the way ; if the alteration of gouernment hath subuerted great empires , how dangerous is it then in the infancy of a common-weale ? the multiplicity of gouernors is a great damage to any state , but vncertaine daily changes are burdensome , because their entertainments are chargeable , and many will make hay whilst the sunne doth shine , how euer it shall fare with the generality . this deare bought land with so much bloud and cost , hath onely made some few rich , and all the rest losers . but it was intended at the first , the first vndertakers should be first preferred and rewarded , and the first aduenturers satisfied , and they of all the rest are the most neglected ; and those that neuer aduentured a groat , neuer see the country , nor euer did any seruice for it , imploied in their places , adorned with their deferrs , and inriched with their ruines ; and when they a●e led fat , then in commeth others so leane as they were , who through their omnipotency doe as much . thus what one officer doth , another vndoth , only ayming at their owne ends , thinking all the world derides his dignity , cannot 〈◊〉 is coffe●s being in authority with any thing . euery man hath his minde free , but he can neuer be a true member to that estate , that to enrich himselfe beggers all the countrie . which bad course , there are many yet in this noble plantation , whose true honour and worth as much scornes it , as the others loues it ; for the nobilitie and gentrie , there is scarce any of them expects any thing bu● the prosperitie of the action : and there are some merchants and others , i am confidently perswaded , doe take more care and paines , nay , and at their continual● great charge , than they could be hired to for the loue of money , so honestly regarding the generall good of this great worke , they would hold it worse than sacrilege , to wrong it but a shilling , or extort vpon the common souldier a penny . but to the purpose , and to follow the historie . mr. george yearly now inuested deputie gouernour by sr. thomas dale , applied himselfe for the most part in planting tobacco , as the most present commoditie they could deuise for a present gaine , so that euery man betooke himselfe to the best place he could for the purpose : now though sir thomas dale had caused such an abundance of corne to be planted , that euery man had sufficient , yet the supplies were sent vs , came so vnfurnished , as quickly eased vs of our superfluitie . to relieue their necessities , he sent to the chickahamanias for the tribute corne sir thom●s dale and captaine argall had conditioned for with them : but such a bad answer they returned him , that hee drew together one hundred of his best shot , with whom he went to chick●hamania ; the people in some places vsed him indifferently , but in most places with much scorne and contempt , telling him he was but sir thomas d●les man , and they had payed his master according to condition , but to giue any to him they had no such order , neither would they obey him as they had done his master ; after he had told them his authoritie , and that he had the same power to enforce them that dale had , they dared him to come on shore to fight , presuming more of his not daring , than their owne valours . yearly seeing their insolencies , made no great difficultie to goe on shore at ozinies , and they as little to incounter him : but marching from thence towards mamanahunt , they put themselues in the same order they see vs , lead by their captaine kissanacomen , gouernour of ozinies , & so marched close along by vs , each as threatning other who should first begin . but that night we quartered against mamanahunt , and they passed the riuer . the next day we followed them ; there are few places in virginia had then more plaine ground together , nor more plentie of corne , which although it was but newly gathered , yet they had hid it in the woods where we could not finde it : a good time we spent thus in arguing the cause , the saluages without feare standing in troupes amongst vs , seeming as if their countenances had beene sufficient to dant vs : what other practises they had i know not ; but to preuent the worst , our captaine caused vs all to make ready , and vpon the word , to let flie among them , where he appointed : others also he commanded to seize on them they could for prisoners ; all which being done according to our direction , the captaine gaue the word , and wee presently discharged , where twelue lay , some dead , the rest for life sprawling on the ground , twelue more we ●●oke prisoners , two whereof were brothers , two of their eight elders , the one tooke by sergeant boothe , the other by robert a polonian ; neere one hundred bushels of corne we had for their ransomes , which was promised the souldiers for a reward , but it was not performed : now opechankanough had agreed with our captaine for the subiecting of those people , that neither hee nor powhatan could euer bring to their obedience , and that he should make no peace with them without his aduice : in our returne by ozinies with our prisoners wee met opechankanough , who with much adoe , fained with what paines hee had p●ocured their peace , the which to requite , they called him the king of ozin●s , and brought him from all parts many presents of beads , copper , and such trash as they had ; here as at many other times wee were beholding to captaine henry spilman our interpreter , a gentleman had liued long time in this countrie , and sometimes a prisoner among the saluages , and done much good seruice , though but badly rewarded . from hence we marcht towards iames towne , we had three boats loaded with corne and other luggage , the one of them being more willing to be at iames towne with the newes than the other , was ouerset , and eleuen men cast away with the boat , corne and all their prouision ; notwithstanding this put all the rest of the saluages in that feare , especially in regard of the great league we had with opechankanough , that we followed our labours quietly , and in such securitie , that diuers saluages of other nations , daily frequented vs with what prouisions they could get , and would guide our men on hunting , and oft hunt for vs themselues . captaine yearly had a saluage or two so well trained vp to their peeces , they were as expert as any of the english , and one hee kept purposely to kill him fowle . there were diuers others had saluages in like manner for their men . thus we liued together , as if wee had beene one people , all the time captaine yearley staied with vs , but such grudges and discontents daily increased among our selues , that vpon the arriuall of captaine argall , sent by the councell and companie to bee our gouernour , captaine yearley returned for england in the yeere . from the writings of captaine nathaniel powell , william cantrill , sergeant boothe , edward gurganey . during this time , the lady rebecca , alias pocahontas , daughter to powhatan , by the diligent care of master iohn rolfe her husband and his friends , was taught to speake such english as might well bee vnderstood , well instructed in christianitie , and was become very formall and ciuill after our english manner ; shee had also by him a childe which she loued most dearely , and the treasurer and company tooke order both for the maintenance of her and it , besides there were diuers persons of great ranke and qualitie had beene very kinde to her ; and before she arriued at london , captaine smith to deserue her former courtesies , made her qualities knowne to the queenes most excellent maiestie and her court , and writ a little booke to this effect to the queene : an abstract whereof followeth . to the most high and vertuous princesse queene anne of great brittanie . most admired queene , the loue i beare my god , my king and countrie , hath so oft emboldened mee in the worst of extreme dangers , that now honestie doth constraine mee presume thus farre beyond my selfe , to present your maiestie this short discourse : if ingratitude be a deadly poyson to all honest vertues , i must bee guiltie of that crime if i should omit any meanes to bee thankfull . so it is , that some ten yeeres agoe being in virginia , and taken prisoner by the power of powhatan their chiefe king , i receiued from this great saluage exceeding great courtesie , especially from his sonne nantaquaus , the most manliest , comeliest , boldest spirit , i euer saw in a saluage , and his sister pocahontas , the kings most deare and wel-beloued daughter , being but a childe of twelue or thirteene yeeres of age , whose compassionate pitifull heart , of my desperate estate , gaue me much cause to respect her : i being the first christian this proud king and his grim attendants euer saw : and thus inthralled in their barbarous power , i cannot say i felt the least occasion of want that was in the power of those my mortall foes to preuent , notwithstanding al their threats . after some six weeks fatting amongst those saluage courtiers , at the minute of my execution , she hazarded the beating out of her owne braines to saue mine , and not onely that , but so preuailed with her father , that i was safely conducted to iames towne , where i found about eight and thirtie miserable poore and sicke creatures , to keepe possession of all those large territories of ●irginia , such was the weaknesse of this poore common-wealth , as had the saluages not fed vs , we directly had starued , and this reliefe , most gracious queene , was commonly brought vs by this lady pocahontas , notwithstanding all these passages when inconstant fortune turned our peace to warre , this tender virgin would still not spare to dare to visit vs , and by her our iarres haue beene oft appeased , and our wants still supplyed ; were it the policie of her father thus to imploy her , or the ordinance of god thus to make her his instrument , or her extraordinarie affection to our nation , i know not : but of this i am sure ; when her father with the vtmost of his policie and power , sought to surprize mee , hauing but eighteene with mee , the darke night could not affright her from comming through the irkesome woods , and with watered eies gaue me intelligence , with her best aduice to escape his furie ; which had hee knowne , hee had surely slaine her . iames towne with her wild traine she as freely frequented , as her fathers habitation ; and during the time of two or three yeeres , she next vnder god , was still the instrument to preserue this colonie from death , famine and vtter confusion , which if in those times had once be●ne dissolued , virginia might haue line as it was at our first arriuall to this day . since then , this businesse hauing beene turned and varied by many accidents from that i left it at : it is most certaine , after a long and troublesome warre after my departure , betwixt her father and our colonie , all which time shee was not heard of , about two yeeres after shee her selfe was taken prisoner , being so detained neere two yeeres longer , the colonie by that meanes was relie●ed , peace concluded , and at last reiecting her barbarous condition , was ma●ied to an e●gl●s● ge●●leman , with whom at this present she i● in england ; ●he first christi●n ●uer of ●hat nation , the first virgi●i●n euer sp●ke en●l●●●●r ●r 〈…〉 mariage by an e●gl●shman , a matter surely , if my meaning bee truly ●●●●●dered and well vnderstood , worthy a princes vnderstanding . thus most gracious lady , i haue related to your ma●estie , what at your best leasure our approued h●stories will account you at large , and done in the time of your maiesties life , and howeuer this might bee presented you from a more worthy pen , i● cannot from a more honest heart , as yet i neuer begged any thing of the state , or any , and it is my want of abilitie and her exceeding desert , your birth , meanes and author●tie , hir birth , vertue , want and simplicitie , doth make mee thus bold , humbly to beseech your m●iestie to take this knowledge of her , though it be from one so vnworthy to be the reporter , as my selfe , her husbands estate not being able to make her fit to attend your maiestie : the most and least i can doe , is to tell you this , because none so oft hath tried it as my selfe , and the rather being of so great a spirit , how euer her stature : if she should not be well receiued , seeing this kingdome may rightly haue a kingdome by her meanes ; her present loue to vs and christianitie , might turne to such scorne and furie , as to diuert all this good to the worst of euill , where finding so great a queene should doe her some honour more than she can imagine , for being so kinde to your seruants and subiects , would so rauish her with content , as endeare her dearest bloud to effect that , your maiestie and all the kings honest subiects most earnestly desire : and so i humbly kisse your gracious hands . being about this time preparing to set saile for new-england , i could not stay to doe her that seruice i desired , and she well deserued ; but hearing shee was at branford with diuers of my friends , i went to see her : after a modest salutation , without any word , she turned about , obscured her face , as not seeming well contented ; and in that humour her husband , with diuers others , we all left her two or three houres , repenting my selfe to haue writ she could speake english. but not long after , she began to talke , and remembred mee well what courtesies shee had done : saying , you did promise powhatan what was yours should bee his , and he the like to you ; you called him father being in his land a stranger , and by the same reason so must i doe you : which though i would haue excused , i durst not allow of that title , because she was a kings daughter ; with a well set countenance she said , were you not afraid to come into my fathers countrie , and caused feare in him and all his people ( but mee ) and feare you here i should call you father ; i tell you then i will , and you shall call mee childe , and so i will bee for euer and euer your countrieman . they did tell vs alwaies you were dead , and i knew no other till i came to plimoth ; yet powhatan did command vitamatomakkin to seeke you , and know the truth , because your countriemen will lie much . this saluage , one of powhatans councell , being amongst them held an vnderstanding fellow ; the king purposely sent him , as they say , to number the people here , and informe him well what wee were and our state . arriuing at plim●th , according to his directions , he got a long sticke , whereon by notches hee did thinke to haue kept the number of all the men hee could see , but he was quickly wearie of that taske : comming to london , where by chance i met him , hauing ren●wed our acquaintance , where many were desirous to heare and see his behauiour , hee told me powhatan did bid him to finde me out , to shew him our god , the king , queene , and prince , i so much had told them of : concerning god , i told him the best i could , the king i heard he had seene , and the rest hee should see when he would ; he denied euer to haue seene the king , till by circumst●nces he was satisfied he had : then he replyed very sadly , you gaue powhatan a white dog , which powhatan fed as himselfe , but your king gaue me nothing , and i am better than your white dog. the small time i staid in london , diuers courtiers and others , my acquaintances , hath gone with mee to see her , that generally concluded , they did thinke god had a great hand in her conuersion , and they haue seene many english ladies worse fauoured , proportioned and behauioured , and as since i haue heard , it pleased both the king and queenes maiestie honourably to esteeme her , accompanied with that honourable lady the lady de la ware , and that honourable lord her husband , and diuers other persons of good qualities , both publikely at the maskes and otherwise , to her great satisfaction and content , which doubtlesse she would haue deserued , had she liued to arriue in virginia . the gouernment deuolued to captaine samuel argall , . the treasurer , councell and companie , hauing well furnished captaine samuel argall , the lady pocahontas alias rebecca , with her husband and others , in the good ship called the george , it pleased god at graues-end to take this young lady to his mercie , where shee made not more sorrow for her vnexpected death , than ioy to the beholders , to heare and see her m●ke so religious and godly an end . her little childe thomas rolfe therefore was left at plim●th with sir lewis stukly , that desired the keeping of it . captaine hamar his vice-admirall was gone before , but hee found him at plimoth . in march they set saile . and in may he arriued at iames towne , where hee was kindly entertained by captaine yearley and his companie in a martiall order , whose right hand file was led by an indian . in iames towne he found but fiue or six houses , the church downe , the palizado's broken , the bridge in pieces , the well of fresh water spoiled ; the store-house they vsed for the church , the market-place , and streets , and all other spare places planted with tobacco , the saluages as frequent in their houses as themselues , whereby they were become expert in our armes , and had a great many in their custodie and possession , the colonie dispersed all about , planting tobacco . captaine argall not liking those proceedings , altered them agreeable to his owne minde , taking the best order he could for repairing those defects which did exceedingly trouble vs ; we were constrained euery yeere to build and repaire our old cottages , which were alwaies a decaying in all places of the countrie , yea , the very courts of guard built by sir thomas dale , was ready to fall , and the palizado's not sufficient to keepe out hogs . their number of people were about . but not past . fit for husbandry and tillage : we found there in all one hundred twentie eight cattell , and fourescore and eight goats , besides innumerable numbers of swine , and good plentie of corne in some places , yet the next yeere the captaine sent out a frigat and a pinnace , that brought vs neere six hundred bushels more , which did greatly relieue the whole colonie : for from the tenants wee seldome had aboue foure hundred bushels of rent corne to the store , and there was not remaining of the companies companie , past foure and fiftie men , women and children . this yeere hauing planted our fields , came a great drought , and such a cruell storme of haile , which did such spoile both to the corne and tobacco , that wee reaped but small profit , the magazine that came in the george , being fiue moneths in her passage , proued very badly conditioned , but ere sh● arriued , we had gathered and made vp our tobacco , the best at three shillings the pound , the rest at eighteene pence . to supply vs , the councell and company with all possible care and diligence , furnished a good ship of some two hundred and fiftie tunne , with two hundred people and the lord la ware. they set saile in aprill , and tooke their course by the westerne iles , where the gouernour of the i le of saint michael receiued the lord la ware , and honourably feasted him , with all the content hee could giue him . going from thence , they were long troubled with contrary winds , in which time many of them fell very sicke , thirtie died , one of which number was that most honourable lord gouernour the lord la ware , whose most noble and generous disposition , is well knowne to his great cost , had beene most forward in this businesse for his countries good : yet this tender state of virginia was not growne to that maturitie , to maintaine such state and pleasure as was fit for such a personage , with so braue and great attendance : for some small number of aduentrous gentlemen to make discoueries , and lie in garrison , ready vpon any occasion to keepe in feare the inconstant saluages , nothing were more requisite , but to haue more to wait & play than worke , or more commanders and officers than industrious labourers was not so necessarie : for in virginia , a plaine souldier that can vse a pick-axe and spade , is better than fiue knights , although they were knights that could breake a lance ; for men of great place , not inured to those incounters ; when they finde things not sutable , grow many times so discontented , they forget themselues , & oft become so carelesse , that a discontented melancholy brings them to much sorrow , and to others much miserie . at last they stood in for the coast of new-england , where they met a small frenchman , rich of beuers and other furres . though wee had here but small knowledge of the coast nor countrie , yet they tooke such an abundance of fish and fowle , and so well refreshed themselues there with wood and water , as by the helpe of god thereby , hauing beene at sea sixteene weekes , got to virginia , who without this reliefe had beene in great danger to perish . the french-men made them such a feast , with such an abundance of varietie of fish , fowle and fruits , as they all admired , and little expected that wild wildernesse could affoord such wonderfull abundance of plentie . in this ship came about two hundred men , but very little prouision , and the ship called the treasurer came in againe not long after with fortie passengers ; the lord la wares ship lying in virginia three moneths , wee victualled her with threescore bushels of corne , and eight hogsheads of flesh , besides other victuall she spent whilest they tarried there : this ship brought vs aduice that great multitudes were a preparing in england to bee sent , and relied much vpon that victuall they should finde here : whereupon our captaine called a councell , and writ to the councell here in england the estate of the colonie , and what a great miserie would insue , if they sent not prouision as well as people ; and what they did suffer for want of skilfull husbandmen , and meanes to set their ploughs on worke , hauing as good ground as any man can desire , and about fortie bulls and oxen , but they wanted men to bring them to labour , and irons for the ploughs , and harnesse for the cattell . some thirtie or fortie acres wee had sowne with one plough , but it stood so long on the ground before it was reaped , it was most shaken , and the rest spoiled with the cattell and rats in the barne , but no better corne could bee for the quantitie . richard killingbeck being with the captaine at kekoughtan , desired leaue to returne to his wife at charles hundred , hee went to iames towne by water , there he got foure more to goe with him by land , but it proued that he intended to goe trade with the indies of chickahamania , where making shew of the great quantitie of trucke they had , which the saluages perceiuing , partly for their trucke , partly for reuenge of some friends they pretended should haue beene slaine by captaine yearley , one of them with an english peece shot killingbeck dead , the other saluages assaulted the rest and slew them , stripped them , and tooke what they had : but fearing this murther would come to light , and might cause them to suffer for it , would now proceed to the perfection of villanie ; for presently they robbed their machacomocko house of the towne , stole all the indian treasure thereout , and fled into the woods , as other indians related . on sunday following , one farfax that dwelt a mile from the towne , going to church , left his wife and three small children safe at home , as he thought , and a young youth : she supposing praier to be done , left the children , and went to meet her husband ; presently after came three or foure of those fugitiue saluages , entred the house , and slew a boy and three children , and also another youth that stole out of the church in praier time , meeting them , was likewise murdered . of this disaster the captaine sent to opechankanough for satisfaction , but he excused the matter , as altogether ignorant of it , at the same time the saluages that were robbed were complaining to opechankanough , and much feared the english would bee reuenged on them , so that opechankanough sent to captaine argall , to assure him the peace should neuer be broken by him , desiring that he would not reuenge the iniurie of those fugitiues vpon the innocent people of that towne , which towne he should haue , and sent him a basket of earth , as possession giuen of it , and promised , so soone as possibly they could catch these robbers , to send him their heads for satisfaction , but he neuer performed it . samuel argall , iohn rolfe . a relation from master iohn rolfe , iune . . concerning the state of our new common-wealth , it is somewhat bettered , for we haue sufficient to content our selues , though not in such abundance as is vainly reported in england . powhatan died this last aprill , yet the indians continue in peace . itopatin his second brother succeeds him , and both hee and opechankanough haue confirmed our former league . on the eleuenth of may , about ten of the clocke in the night , happened a most fearefull tempest , but it continued not past halfe an houre , which powred downe hailestones eight or nine inches about , that none durst goe out of their doores , and though it tore the barke and leaues of the trees , yet wee finde not they hurt either man or beast ; it fell onely about iames towne , for but a mile to the east , and twentie to the west there was no haile at all . thus in peace euery man followed his building and planting without any accidents worthy of note . some priuate differences happened betwixt captaine bruster and captaine argall , and captaine argall and the companie here in england ; but of them i am not fully informed , neither are they here for any vse , and therefore vnfit to be remembred . in december one captaine stallings , an old planter in those parts , being imployed by them of the west countrie for a fishing voyage , in new-england , fell foule of a frenchman whom hee tooke , leauing his owne ship to returne for england , himselfe with a small companie remained in the french barke , some small time after vpon the coast , and thence returned to winter in virginia . the gouernment surrendred to sir george yearley . for to begin with the yeere of our lord , . there arriued a little pinnace priuatly from england about easter for captaine argall , who taking order for his affaires , within foure or fiue daies returned in her , and left for his deputy , captaine nathaniel powell . on the e●ighteenth of aprill , which was but ten or twelue daies after , arriued sir george yearley , by whom we vnderstood sir edwin sands was chosen treasurer , and master iohn farrar his deputy , and what great supplies was a preparing to be sent vs , which did rauish vs so much with ioy and content , we thought our selues now fully satisfied , for our long toile and labours , and as happy men as any in the world . notwithstanding , such an accident hapned captaine stallings , the next day his ship was cast away , and he not long after slaine in a priuate quarrell . sir george yearly to beginne his gouernment , added to be of his councell , captaine francis west , captaine nathaniel powell ▪ master iohn pory , master iohn rolfe , and master william wickam , and master samuel macocke , and propounded to haue a generall assembly with all expedition . vpon the twelfth of this moneth , came in a pinnace of captaine bargraues , and on the seuenteenth captaine lownes , and one master euans , who intended to plant themselues at waraskoyack , but now ophechankanough will not come at vs , that causes vs suspect his former promises . in may came in the margaret of bristoll , with foure and thirty men , all well and in health , and also many deuout gifts , and we were much troubled in examining some scandalous letters sent into england , to disgrace this country with barrennesse , to discourage the aduenturers , and so bring it and vs to ruine and confusion ; notwithstanding , we finde by them of best experience , an industrious man not other waies imploied , may well tend foure akers of corne , and . plants of tobacco , and where they say an aker will yeeld but three or foure barrels , we haue ordinarily foure or fiue , but of new ground six , seuen , and eight , and a barrell of pease and beanes , which we esteeme as good as two of corne , which is after thirty or forty bushels an aker , so that one man may prouide corne for fiue , and apparell for two by the profit of his tobacco ; they say also english wheat will yeeld but sixteene bushels an aker , and we haue reaped thirty : besides to manure the land , no place hath more white and blew marble than here , had we but carpenters to build and make carts and ploughs , and skilfull men that know how to vse them , and traine vp our cattell to draw them , which though we indeuour to effect , yet our want of experience brings but little to perfection but planting tobaco , and yet of that many are so couetous to haue much , they make little good ; besides there are so many sofisticating tobaco-mungers in england ▪ were it neuer so bad , they would sell it for verinas , and the trash that remaineth should be virginia , such deuilish bad mindes we know some of our owne country-men doe beare , not onely to the businesse , but also to our mother england her selfe ; could they or durst they as freely defame her . the . of iune came in the triall with corne and cattell all in safety , which tooke from vs cleerely all feare of famine ; then our gouernour and councell caused burgesses to be chosen in all places , and met at a generall assembly , where all matters were debated thought expedient for the good of the colony , and captaine ward was sent to monahigan in new england , to fish in may , and returned the latter end of may , but to small purpose , for they wanted salt : the george also was sent to new-found-land with the cape merchant , there she bought fish , that defraied her charges , and made a good voyage in seuen weekes . about the last of august came in a dutch man of warre that sold vs twenty negars , and iapazous king of patawomeck , came to iames towne , to desire two ships to come trade in his riuer , for a more plentifull yeere of corne had not beene in a long time , yet very contagious , and by the trechery of one poule , in a manner turned heathen , wee were very iealous the saluages would surprize vs. the gouernours haue bounded foure corporations ; which is the companies , the vniuersity , the gouernours and gleabe land : ensigne wil. spencer , & thomas barret a sergeant , with some others of the ancient planters being set free , we are the first farmers that went forth , and haue chosen places to their content , so that now knowing their owne land , they striue who should exceed in building and planting . the fourth of nouember the bona noua came in with all her people lusty and well ; not long after one master dirmer sent out by some of plimoth for new-england , arriued in a barke of fiue tunnes , and returned the next spring ; notwithstanding the ●il rumours of the vnwholsomnesse of iames towne , the new commers that were planted at old p●spaheghe , little more then a mile from it , had their healths better then any in the country . in december captaine ward returned from pat●womeck , the people there dealt falsly with him , so that hee tooke . bushels of corne from them perforce . captaine woddiffe of bristol came in not long after , with all his people lusty and in health , and we had two particular ●ouernors sent vs , vnder the titles of deputies to the company , the one to haue charg● of the colledge land , the other of the companies : now you are to vnderst●nd , that because there haue beene many compl●ints against the g●uernors , c●p●aines , and officers in virginia , for buy●ng and selli●g ●en and b●●es , or to b●● set ouer from one to another for a yeerely rent , was ●eld in 〈◊〉 a ●●●ng most intolerable , o● that ●he tenants or lawfull seruan●s sho●ld b● put ●●om ●●●ir p●●ces , or abridged their couenants , ●as ●o ●di●us , 〈◊〉 the ●ery 〈◊〉 ●h●re●● b●●ught a great scandall to the generall action . t●● 〈…〉 good and wor●h● 〈…〉 and ●p●ointed a hundred men sho●● 〈…〉 prouided to serue and attend the gouer●●●● 〈…〉 gouernm●nt , which number he was to make good at his departure , and 〈◊〉 to his successor in like manner , fifty to the deputy-gouernour of the college land , and fifty to the d●puty of the companies land , fifty to the treasurer , to the secretary fiue and twenty , and more to the marshall and c●pe merchant ; which they are also to leaue to their successors , and likewise to euery particular officer such a compe●ency , as he might liue well in his office , without oppressing any vnder their charge , which good law i pray god it be well obserued , and then we may truly say in virginia , we are the most happy people in the world . by me iohn rolfe . there went this yeere by the companies records , . ships , and . persons to be thus disposed on : tenants for the gouernors land fourescore , besides fifty sent the former spring ; for the companies land a hundred and thirty , for the college a hundred , for the glebe land fifty , young women to make wiues ninety , seruants for publike seruice fifty , and fifty more whose labours were to bring vp thirty of the infidels children , the rest were sent to priuate plantations . two persons vnknowne haue giuen faire plate and ornaments for two communion tables , the one at the college , the other at the church of mistris mary robinson , who towards the foundation gaue two hundred pound . and another vnknowne person sent to the treasurer fiue hundred and fifty pounds , for the bringing vp of the saluage children in christianity . master nicholas farrar deceased , hath by his will giuen three hundred pounds to the college , to be paid when there shall be ten young saluages placed in it , in the meane time foure and twenty pound yeerely to bee distributed vnto three discreet and godly young men in the colony , to bring vp three wilde young infidels in some good course of life , also there were granted eleuen pattents , vpon condition to transport people and cattle to increase the plantations . a desperat sea-fight betwixt two spanish men of warre , and a small english ship , at the i le of dominica going to virginia , by captaine anthony chester . hauing taken our iourney towards virginia in the beginning of february , a ship called the margaret and iohn , of one hundred and sixty tuns , eight iron peeces and a falcon , with eightie passengers besides sailers ; after many tempests and foule weather , about the foureteenth of march we were in thirteene degrees and an halfe of northerly latitude , where we descried a ship at hull ; it being but a faire gale of wind , we edged towards her to see what she was , but she presently set saile , and ran vs quickly out of sight : this made vs keepe our course for mettalina , and the next day passing dominica , we came to an anchor at guardalupo , to take in fresh water . six french-men there cast away sixteene moneths agoe came aboord vs ; they told vs a spanish man of warre but seuen daies before was seeking his consort , and this was she we descried at hull . at m●uis we intended to refresh our selues , hauing beene eleuen weeks pestered in this vnwholsome ship ; but there we found two tall ships with the hollanders colours , but necessitie forcing vs on shore , we anchored faire by them , and in friendly manner sent to hale them : but seeing they were spaniards , retiring to our ship , they sent such a volley of shot after vs , that shot the boat , split the oares , and some thorow the clothes , yet not a man hurt ; and then followed with their great ordnance , that many times ouer-racked our ship , which being so cumbred with the passengers prouisions , our ordnance was not well fitted , nor any thing as it should haue beene . but perceiuing what they were , we fitted our selues the best we could to preuent a mischiefe , seeing them warp themselues to windward , we thought it not good to be boorded on both sides at an anchor , we intended to set saile , but that the vice-admirall battered so hard our star-boord side , that we fell to our businesse , and answered their vnkindnesse with such faire shot from a demiculuering , that shot her betweene wind and water , whereby she was glad to leaue vs and her admirall together . comming faire by our quarter , he tooke in his holland flag , and put forth his spanish colours , and so haled vs. we quietly and quickly answered him , both what wee were , and whither bound , relating the effect of our commission , and the cause of our comming thither for water , and not to annoy any of the king of spaines subiects , nor any . she commanded vs amaine for the king of spaine , we replied with inlarging the particulars what friends both the kings our masters were , and as we would doe no wrong , we would take none . they commanded vs aboord to shew our commission , which we refused , but if they would send their boat to vs willingly they should see it . but for answer they made two great shot at vs , with a volley of small shot , which caused vs to leaue the decks ; then with many ill words they laid vs aboord , which caused vs to raise our maine saile , and giue the word to our small shot which lay close and ready , that paid them in such sort , they quickly retired . the fight continued halfe an houre , as if we had beene inuironed with fire and smoke , vntill they discouered the waste of our ship naked , where they brauely boorded vs loofe for loofe , hasting with pikes and swords to enter , but it pleased god so to direct our captaine , and encourage our men with valour , that our pikes being formerly placed vnder our halfe deck , and certaine shot lying close for that purpose vnder the port holes , encountred them so rudely , that their fury was not onely rebated , but their hastinesse intercepted , and their whole company beaten backe , many of our men were hurt , but i am sure they had two for one . in the end they were violently repulsed , vntill they were reinforced to charge ag●in● by their comm●●ds , wh● standing vpon their honors , thought it a great indig●ity to be so aff●onted , which caused a second charge , and that answered with a second beating backe : whereat the captaine grew iuraged , and constrained them to come on againe afresh , which they did so effectually , that questionlesse it had wrought an alteration , if the god that tosseth monarchies , and reareth m●untaines , had not taught vs to tosse our p●kes with prosperous euents , and powred out a volley of small shot amongst them , whereby that valiant commander was slaine , and many of his souldiers dropped downe likewise on the top of the hatches . this we saw with our eies , and reioyced with it at our hearts , so that we might perceiue good successe comming on , our captaine presently tooke aduantage of their discomfiture ; though with much comiseration of that resolute captaine , and not onely plied them againe with our ordnance , but had more shot vnder the pikes , which was bestowed to good purpose , and amazed our enemies with the suddennesse . amongst the rest , one lucas , our carpenters mate , must not be forgotten , who perceiuing away how to annoy them ; as they were thus puzl●d and in a confusion , drew out a minion vnder the halfe decke , and there bent it vpon them in such a manner , that when it was fired , the cases of stones and peeces of iron fell vpon them so thick , as cleared the decke , and slew many , and in short time we saw few assailants , but such as crept from place to place couertly from the fury of our shot , which now was thicker than theirs : for although has far as we may cōmend our enemies , they had done something worthy of commendations ; yet either wanting men , or being ouertaken with the vnlooked for valour of our men , they now began to shrinke , and giue vs leaue to be wanton with our aduantage . yet we could onely vse but foure peece of ordnances , but they serued the turne as well as all the rest : for she was shot so oft betweene wind and water , we saw they were willing to leaue vs , but by reason she was fast in the latch of our cable , which in haste of weighing our anchor hung aloofe , she could not cleare her selfe as she wrought to doe , till one cut the cable with an axe , and was slaine by freeing vs. hauing beene a boord vs two houres and an halfe , seeing her selfe cleere , all the shot wee had plaied on both sides , which lasted till we were out of shot , then we discouered the vice-admirall comming to her assistance , who began a farre off to ply vs with their ordnances , and put vs in minde we had another worke in hand . whereupon we separated the dead and hurt bodies , and manned the ship with the rest , and were so well incouraged wee waifed them amaine . the admirall stood aloofe off , and the other would not come within falcon shot , where she lay battering vs till shee receiued another paiment from a demiculuering , which made her beare with the shore for smooth water to mend her leakes . the next morning they both came vp againe with vs , as if they had determined to deuour vs at once , but it seemed it was but a brauado , though they forsooke not our quarter for a time within musket shot ; yet all the night onely they kept vs company , but made not a shot . during which time we had leasure to prouide vs better than before : but god bethanked they made onely but a shew of another a●sault , ere suddenly the vice-admirall fell a starne , and the other lay shaking in the wind , and so they both left vs. the fight continued six houres , and was the more vnwelcome , because we were so ill prouided , and had no intent to sight , nor giue occasion to disturbe them . as for the losse of men , if religion had not taught vs what by the prouidence of god is brought to passe , yet daily experience might informe vs , of the dangers of wars , and perils at sea , by stormes tempests , shipwracks , encounters with pirats , meeting with enemies , crosse winds , long vo●ages , vnknowne shores , barbarous nations , and an hundred inconueniences , of which humane pollicies are not capable , nor mens coniectures apprehensiue . we lost doctor bohun , a worthy valian● gentleman , ( a long time brought vp amongst the most learned surgeons , and physitions in netherlands , and this his second iourney to virginia : ) and seuen slaine out right , two died shortly of their wounds ; sixte●n● was shot , whose limbs god be thanked was recouered without maime , and now setled in virginia : how many they lost we know not , but we saw a great many lie on the decks , and their skuppers runne with bloud , they were abou● three hundred tunnes a peece , each sixteene or twentie brasse peeces . captaine chester , who in this fight had behaued himselfe like a most vigilant , resolute , and a couragious souldier , as also our honest and valiant master , did still so comfort and incourage vs by all the meanes they could , at last to all our great contents we arriued in virginia , and from thence returned safely to england . the names of the aduenturers for virginia , alphabetically set downe , according to a printed booke , set out by the treasurer and councell in this present yeere , . a sir william aliffe . sir roger aston . sir anthony ashley . sir iohn akland . sir anthonie aucher . sir robert askwith . doctor francis anthony . charles anthony . edward allen. edmund allen esquire . iohn allen. thomas allen. william atkinson , esquire . richard ashcroft . nicholas andrews . iohn andrews the elder . iohn andrews the younge● . iames ascough . giles allington . morris abbot . ambrose asten . iames askew . anthony abdey . iohn arundell , esquire . b edward , earle of bedford iames , lord bishop of bathe and wells . sir francis barrington . sir morice barkley . sir iohn benet . sir thomas beamont . sir amias bamfield . sir iohn bourcher . sir edmund bowyer . sir thomas bludder . sir george bolles . sir iohn bingley . sir thomas button . sir henry beddingfield . companie of barbers-surgeons . companie of bakers . richard banister . iohn bancks . miles bancks . thomas barber . william bonham . iames bryerley . william barners . anthony barners , esquire ▪ william brewster . richard brooke . hugh brooker , esquire . ambrose brewsey . iohn brooke . matthew bromridge . christopher brooke , esquire . martin bond. gabriel beadle . iohn beadle . dauid borne . edward barnes . iohn badger . edmund branduell . robert bowyer , esquire . bobert bateman . thomas britton . nicholas benson . edward bishop . peter burgoney . thomas burgoney . robert burgoney . christopher baron . peter benson . iohn baker . iohn bustoridge . francis burl●y . william browne . robert barker . samuel burnham . edward barkley . william bennet . captaine edward brewster . thomas brocket . iohn bullock . george bache . thomas bayly . william barkley . george butler . timothie bathurst . george burton . thomas bret. captaine iohn brough . thomas baker . iohn blunt. thomas bayly . richard and edward blunt. mineon burrell . richard blackmore . william b●ck . beniamin brand. iohn busbridge . william burrell . william barret . francis baldwin . edward b●rber . humphrey basse. robert bell. matthew bromrick . iohn beaumont . george barkley . peter bartle . thomas bretton . iohn blount . arthur bromfeld esquire . william b●rbloke . charles beck . c george , lord archbishop of canterburie . william lord cranborne , now earle of salisburie . william , lord compton , now earle of north-hampton . william lord cauendish , now earle of deuonshire . richard , earle of clanricard . sir william cauendish now lord cauendish . gray , lord chandos . sir henry cary. sir george caluert . sir lionell cranfield . sir edward cecill . sir robert cotten . sir oliuer cromwell . sir anthony cope . sir walter cope . sir edward carr. sir thomas conisbie . sir george cary. sir edward conwey . sir walter chute . sir edward culpeper . sir henry cary , captaine . sir william crauen . sir walter couert . sir george coppin . sir george chute . sir thomas couentry . sir iohn cutts . lady cary. company of cloth-workers . citie of chichester . robert chamberlaine . richard chamberlaine . francis couill . william coyse , esquire . abraham chamberlaine . thomas carpenter . anthony crew . richard cox. william crosley . iames chatfeild . richard caswell . iohn cornelis . randall carter . execut●rs of randall carter . william canning . edward carue , esquire . thomas cannon , esquire . richard champion . rawley crashaw . henry collins . henry cromwell . iohn cooper . richard cooper . io●n casson . thomas colth●rst . all●n cotten . edward cage . abraham carthwright . robert coppin . thomas conock . io●n clapham . thomas church . william carpenter . laurence campe. iames cambell . christopher cl●theroe . matthew cooper . georg● chamber . captaine iohn cooke . c●ptaine thomas conwey , esquire . edward culpeper , esquire . master william crashaw . abraham colm●r . iohn culpeper . edmund colbey . richard cooper . robert creswell . iohn cage , esquire , matthew caue , william crowe . abraham carpenter . iohn crowe . thomas cordell . richard connock , esquire . william compton . william chester . th●mas couel . richard carmarden , esquire . william and paul canning . h●nry cromwell , esquire . simon codrington . clement chichley . iames cullemore . william cantrell . d richard earle of dorset . edward lord d●nny . sir iohn digbie , now lord digbie . sir iohn doderidge . sir drew drewry the elder . sir thomas dennis . sir robert drewry . sir iohn dauers . sir dudley digs . sir marmaduke dorrel . sir thomas dale . sir thomas denton , companie of drapers . thomas bond , esquire . dauid bent , esquire . comanie of dyers . towne of douer . master richard dea●e , alderman , henry dawkes . edward dichfield . william dunne . iohn dauis . matthew d●qu●st●r . philip durdent . abraham dawes . iohn dike . thomas draper . lancelot dauis . rowley dawsey . william dobson esquire . anthony dyot , esquire , auery dranfield . roger dye . iohn downes . iohn drake . iohn delbridge . beniamin decro● thomas dyke . ieffery duppa . daniel darnelly . sara draper . clement and henry dawkne● . e thomas , earle of exeter . sir thomas euerfield . sir francis egiock . sir robert edolph . iohn eldred , esquire . william euans . richard euans . hugh euans . raph ewens , esquire . iohn elkin . robert euelin . nicholas exton . iohn exton . george etheridge . f sir moyle finch . sir henry fanshaw . sir thomas freake . sir peter fretchuile . sir william fl●●twood . sir henry fane . company of fishmongers . iohn fletcher . iohn farmer . martin fre●man , esquire . ralph freeman . william and ralph fr●●man . michael fetiplace . vvilliam fettiplace . thomas forrest . edward fl●etwood , esquire . william f●lgate . william field . nichol●s f●rrar . iohn farrar . giles francis. edward fawcet . richard farrington . iohn francklin . richard frith . iohn ferne. george farmer . thomas francis. iohn fenner . nicholas fuller , esquire . thomas f●xall . william fl●et . peter franck , esquire . richard fishborne . vvilliam faldoe . iohn fletcher , and company . vvilliam ferrars . g lady elizabeth gray . sir iohn gray . sir vvilliam godolfine . sir thomas gates . sir vvilliam gee . sir ri●hard grobham . sir vvilliam garaway . sir francis goodwin . sir george goring . sir thomas grantham . company of grocers . company of goldsmiths . company of girdlers . iohn geering . iohn gardiner . richard gardiner . iohn gilbert . thomas graue . iohn gray . nicholas griece . richard goddard . thomas gipps . peter gates . thomas gibbs esquire . laurence greene. william greenwell . robert garset . robert gore . thomas gouge . francis glanuile , esquire . g henry , earle of huntington . lord theophilus haward , l. walden . sir iohn harrington , l. harington . sir iohn hollis , now lord hautein . sir thomas holecroft . sir william harris . sir thomas harefleet . sir george haiward . sir vvarwicke heale . sir baptist hicks . sir iohn hanham . sir thomas horwell . sir thomas hewit . sir vvilliam herrick . sir eustace hart. sir pory huntley . sir arthur harris . sir edward heron. sir perseuall hart. sir ferdinando heiborne . sir lawrence hide . master hugh hamersley , alderman . master richard heron , alderman . richard humble , esquire . master richard hackleuit . edward harrison . george holeman . robert hill. griffin hinton . iohn hawkins . vvilliam hancocke . iohn harper . george hawger . iohn holt. iohn huntley . ieremy heiden . ralph hamer . ralph hamer , iunior . iohn hodgeson . iohn hanford . thomas harris . richard howell . thomas henshaw . leonard harwood tristram hill. francis haselridge . tobias hinson . peter heightley . george hawkenson . thomas hackshaw . charles hawkens , iohn hodgis . william holland . robert hartley . gregory herst . thomas hodgis . william hodgis . roger harris . iohn harris . m. iohn haiward , iames haiward . nicholas hide , esquire . iohn hare , esquire . william hackwell , esquire , gressam hoogan . humfrey hanford . william haselden . nicholas hooker . doctor anthony hunten , iohn hodsale . george hooker , anthony hinton . iohn hogsell . thomas hampton . william hicks . william holiland , ralph harison . harman harison . i sir thomas iermyn . sir robert iohnson . sir arthur ingram . sir francis iones . company of ironmongers . company of inholders . company of imbroyderers . bailiffes of ipswich . henry iackson . richard ironside . m. robert iohnson alderman . thomas iones . william iobson . thomas iohnson . thomas iadwine . iohn iosua . george isam . philip iacobson . peter iacobson . thomas iuxson senior . iames iewell . gabriel iaques . walter iobson . edward iames. zachary iones , esquire . anthony irbye , esquire . william i-anson . humfrey iobson . k sir valentine knightley . sir robert killegrew . sir charles kelke . sir iohn kaile . richard kirrill . iohn kirrill . raph king. henry kent . towne of kingslynne . iohn kettleby , esquire . walter kirkham , esquire . l henry earle of lincolne . robert , l. lisle , now earle of leicester . thomas , lord laware . sir francis leigh . sir richard lowlace . sir william litton . sir iohn lewson . sir william lower . sir samuel leonard . sir samson leonard . company of lethersellers . thomas laughton . william lewson . peter latham . peter van lore . henry leigh . thomas leuar . christofer landman . morris lewellin . edward lewis . edward lewkin . peter lodge . thomas layer thomas lawson . francis lodge . iohn langl●y . dauid loide . iohn leuit● . thomas fox and luke lodge . captaine richard linley . arnold lulls . william lawrence . i●hn landman . nicholas lichfield . nicholas leate . ged●on de laune . m phil●p earle of montgomerie . doctor george mountaine , now lord bishop of lincolne . william lord mounteagle , now lord morley . sir thomas mansell . sir thomas mildmay . sir william maynard . sir humfrey may. sir peter manhood . sir iohn merrick . sir george more . sir robert mansell . sir arthur mannering . sir dauid murrey . sir edward michelborn . sir thomas middleton . sir robert miller . sir caualiero maicott . doctor iames meddas . richard martin , esquire . company of mercers . company of merchant taylors . otho mowdite . captaine iohn martin . arthur mouse . adrian more . thomas mountford . thomas morris . ralph moorton . francis mapes . richard maplesden . iames monger . peter monsell . robert middleton . thomas maile . iohn martin . iosias maude . richard morton . george mason . thomas maddock . richard moore . nicholas moone . alfonsus van medkerk . captaine henry meoles . philip mutes . thomas mayall . humfrey marret . iaruis munaz . robert mildmay . william millet . richard morer . iohn miller . thomas martin . iohn middleton . francis middleton . n dudly , lord north. francis , lord norris . sir henry neuill of barkshire . thomas nicols . christopher nicols . vvilliam nicols . george newce . ioseph newberow . christopher newgate . thomas norincott . ionathan nuttall . thomas norton . o william oxenbridge , esquire , robert ossley . francis oliuer . p vvilliam , earle of pembroke . vvilliam , lord paget . iohn , lord petre. george percy , esquire . sir christofer parkins . sir amias preston . sir nicholas parker . sir vvilliam poole . sir stephen powell . sir henry peyton . sir iames perrot . sir iohn pettus . sir robert payne . vvilliam payne . iohn payne . edward parkins . edward parkins his widow . aden perkins . thomas perkin . richard partridge . william palmer . miles palmer . robert parkhurst . richard perciuall , esquire . richard poyntell . george pretty . george pit. allen percy . abraham peirce . edmund peirce . phenice pet. thomas philips . henry philpot. master george procter . robert penington . peter peate . iohn prat. william powell . edmund peashall . captaine william proude . henry price . nicholas pewriffe . thomas pelham . richard piggot . iohn pawlet , esquire . robert pory . richard paulson . q william quicke . r sir robert rich , now earle of warwicke . sir thomas row. sir henry rainsford . sir william romney . sir iohn ratcliffe . sir steuen ridlesdon . sir william russell . master edward rotheram , alderman . robert rich. tedder roberts . henry robinson . iohn russell . richard rogers . arthur robinson . robert robinson . millicent ramsden . iohn robinson . george robins . nichalas rainton . henry rolffe . iohn reignolds . elias roberts . henry reignolds , esquire . william roscarrocke , esquire . humfrey raymell . richard robins . s henry , earle of southampton . thomas earle of suffolke . edward semer , earle of hartford . robert , earle of salisbury . mary , countesse of shrew●bury . edmund , lord sheffeld . robert , lord spencer . iohn , lord stanhope . sir iohn saint-iohn . sir thomas smith . sir iohn samms . sir iohn smith . sir edwin sandys . sir samuel sandys . sir steuen some . sir raph shelton . sir thomas stewkley . sir william saint-iohn . sir william smith . sir richard smith . sir martin sinteuill . sir nicolas salter . doctor matthew sutcliffe of exeter . captaine iohn smith . thomas sandys , esquire . henry sandys , esquire . george sandys , esquire . company of skinners . company of salters . company of stationers . iohn stokley . richard staper . robert singleton . thomas shipton . cleophas smith . richard strongthar● . hildebrand spruson . matthew scriuener . othowell smith . george scot. hewet staper● . iames swift . richard stratford . edmund smith . robert smith . matthias springham . richard smith . edward smith . ionathan smith . humfrey smith . iohn smith . george swinhow . ioseph some . william sheckley . iohn southick . henry shelley . walter shelley . richard snarsborow . george stone . hugh shepley . william strachey . vrion spencer . iohn scarpe . thomas scott . william sharpe . steuen sparrow . thomas stokes . richard shepard . henry spranger . william stonnard . steuen sad. iohn stockley . thomas steuens . matthew shepard . thomas sherwell . william seabright , esquire . nicholas sherwell . augustine steward . thomas stile . abraham speckhard . edmund scot. francis smalman . gregory sprint , esquire . thomas stacey . william sandbatch . augustine stuard , esquire . t sir william twisden . sir william throckmorton . sir nicholas tufton . sir iohn treuer . sir thomas tracy . george thorpe , esquire . doctor william turner . the trinity house . richard turner . iohn tauerner . daniel tucker . charles towler . william tayler . leonard townson . richard tomlins . francis tate , esquire . andrew troughton . george tucker . henry timberlake . william tucker . lewis tite . robert thornton . v sir horatio vere . sir walter vaughan . henry vincent . richard venne . christopher vertue . iohn vassell . arthur venne . w henry bishop of vvorcester . francis west , esquire . sir ralph winwood . sir iohn wentworth . sir william waad . sir robert wroth. sir perciual willoby . sir charles wilmott . sir iohn wats . sir hugh worrell . sir edward waterhouse . sir thomas wilsford . sir richard williamson . sir iohn wolstenholm . sir thomas walsingham . sir thomas watson . sir thomas wilson . sir iohn weld . mistris kath. west , now lady conway . iohn wroth , esquire . captaine maria winckfield , esquire , thomas webb . rice webb . edward webb . sands webb . felix wilson . thomas white . richard wiffen . william williamson . humfrey westwood . hugh willeston . thomas wheatley . william wattey . william webster . iames white . edmund winne . iohn west . iohn wright . edward wooller . thomas walker . iohn wooller . iohn westrow . edward welch . nathaniel waad . richard widowes . dauid waterhouse , esquire . captaine owen winne . randall wetwood . george wilmer , esquire . edward wilkes . leonard white . andrew willmer . clement willmer . george walker . william welbie . francis whistler . thomas wells . captaine thomas winne . iohn whittingham . thomas wheeler . william willet . deuereux woogam . iohn walker . thomas wood. iohn willet . nicholas wheeler . thomas wale . william wilston . iohn waller . william ward . william willeston . iohn water . thomas warr , esquire . dauid wiffen . garret weston . y sir george yeardley , now gouernour of virginia . william yong. simon yeomans . z edward , lord zouch . iohn zouch , esquire . that most generous and most honourable lord , the earle of south-hampton , being pleased to take vpon him the title of treasurer , and master iohn farrar his deputy , with such instructions as were necessary , and admonitions to all officers to take heede of extortion , ingrosing commodities , forestalling of markets , especially to haue a vigilant care , the familiarity of the saluages liuing amongst them made them not way to betray or surprize them , for the building of guest-houses to relieue the weake in , and that they did wonder in all this time they had made no discoueries , nor knew no more then the very place whereon they did inhabit , nor yet could euer see any returne for all this continuall charge and trouble , therefore they sent to be added to the councell seuen gentlemen , namely mr. thorp , captaine nuce , mr. tracy , captaine middleton , captaine blount , mr. iohn pountas , and mr. harwood , with men , munition , and all things thought fitting , but they write from virginia , many of the ships were so pestred with diseased people , & thronged together in their passage , there was much sicknesse and a great mortality , wherfore they desired rather a few able sufficient men well prouided , then great multitudes , and because there were few accidents of note , but priuate aduertisements by letters , we will conclude this yeere , and proceed to the next . collected out of the councels letters for virginia . the instructions and aduertisements for this yeere were both from england and virginia , much like the last : only whereas before they had euer a suspicion of opechankanough , and all the rest of the saluages , they had an eye ouer him more then any , but now they all write so confidently of their assured peace with the saluages , there is now no more feare nor danger either of their power or trechery , so that euery man planteth himselfe where he pleaseth , and followeth his businesse securely . but the time of sir george yearley being neere expired , the councel here made choise of a worthy young gentleman sir francis wyat to succeed him , whom they forth with furnished and prouided , as they had done his predecessors , with all the necessary instructions all these times had acquainted them for the conuersion of the saluages , the suppressing of planting tobacco , and planting of corne , not depending continually to be supplied by the saluages , but in case of necessity to trade with them , whom long ere this , it hath beene promised and expected should haue beene fed and relieued by the english , not the english by them ; and carefully to redresse all the complaints of the needlesse mortality of their people , and by all diligence seeke to send something home to satisfie the aduenturers , that all this time had only liued vpon hopes , grew so weary and discouraged , that it must now be substance that must maintaine their proceedings , & not letters , excuses and promises ; seeing they could get so much and such great estates for themselues , as to spend after the rate of . pounds , , , , , , , , , . nay some . or . pounds yearely , that were not worth so many pence when they went to virginia , can scarce containe themselues either in diet , apparell , gaming , and all manner of such superfluity , within a lesse compasse than our curious , costly , and consuming gallants here in england , which cannot possibly be there supported , but either by oppressing the comminalty there , or deceiuing the generality here ( or both . ) extracted out of the councels letters for virginia . from virginia , by the relations of the chieftains there , & many i haue conferred with , that came from thence hither , i haue much admired to heare of the incredible pleasure , profit and plenty this plantation doth abound in , and yet could neuer heare of any returne but tobacco , but it hath oft amazed me to vnderstand how strangely the saluages hath beene taught the vse of our armes , and imploied in hunting and fowling with our fowling peeces , and our men rooting in the ground about tobacco like swine ; besides that , the saluages that doe little but continually exercise their bow and arrowes , should dwell and lie so familiarly amongst our men that practised little but the spade , being so farre asunder , and in such small parties dispersed , and neither fort , exercise of armes vsed , ordnances mounted , courts of guard , nor any preparation nor prouision to preuent a forraine enemy , much more the saluages howsoeuer ; for the saluages vncertaine conformity i doe not wonder , but for their constancy and conuersion , i am and euer haue beene of the opinion of master ionas stockam a minister in virginia , who euen at this time , when all things were so prosperous , and the saluages at the point of conuersion , against all their gouernours and councels opinions , writ to the councell and company in england to this effect . may . we that haue left our natiue country to soiourne in a strange land , some idle spectators , who either cowardly dare not , or couetously will not aduenture either their purses or persons in so commendable a worke ; others supporting atlas of this ilmost vnsupportable burdens as your selues , without whose assistance this virginia firmament ( in which some ) and i hope in short time will shine many more glorious starres , though there be many italiannated and spaniolized englishmen enuies our prosperities , and by all their ignominious scandals they can deuise seekes to dishearten what they can , those that are willing to further this glorious enterprize , to such i wish according to the decree of darius , that whosoeuer is an enemy to our peace , and seeketh either by getting monipolicall patens , or by forging vniust tales to hinder our welfare , that his house were pulled downe , and a paire of gallowes made of the wood , and he hanged on them in the place . as for those lasie seruants , who had rather stand all day idle , than worke , though but an houre in this vineyard , and spend their substance riotously , than cast the superfluity of their wealth into your treasury , i leaue them as they are to the eternall iudge of the world . but you right worthy , that hath aduentured so freely , i will not examine , if it were for the glory of god , or your desire of gaine , which it may be you expect should flow vnto you with a full tide , for the conuersion of the saluages : i wonder you vse not the meanes , i confesse you say well to haue them conuerted by faire meanes , but they scorne to acknowledge it , as for the gifts bestowed on them they deuoure them , and so they would the giuers if they could , and though many haue endeuoured by all the meanes they could by kindnesse to conuert them , they finde nothing from them but derision and ridiculous answers . we haue sent boies amongst them to learne their language , but they returne worse than they went ; but i am no states-man , nor loue i to meddle with any thing but my bookes , but i can finde no probability by this course to draw them to goodnesse ; i and am perswaded if mars and minerua goe hand in hand , they will effect more good in an houre , then those verball mercurians in their liues , and till their priests and ancients haue their throats cut , there is no hope to bring them to conuersion . the gouernment of sir francis wyat. about october arriued sir francis wyat , with master george sands , appointed treasurer , master dauison secretary , doctor pot the physician , and master cloyburne the surgian , but much prouision was very badly conditioned , nay the hogs would not eat that corne they brought , which was a great cause of their sicknesse and mortality , and whatsoeuer is said against the virginia corne , they finde it doth better nourish than any prouision is sent thither ; the sailers still they complaine are much to blame for imbes●ing the prouisions sent to priuate men , killing of swine , and disorderly trucking ; for which some order would be taken . in them nine ships that went with sir francis vvyat not one passenger died , at his arriuall he sent master thorpe to opechancanough , whom hee found much satisfied with his comming , to confirme their leagues as he had done his predecessors , and so contented his people should coinhabit amongst them , and hee found more motions of religion in him than could be imagined : euery man betaking himselfe to his quarter , it was ordered , that for euery head they should plant but . plants of tobacco , and vpon each plant nine leaues , which will be about . weight , the corne being appointed but at two shillings & six pence the bushell , required such labour , it caused most men neglect it , and depend vpon trade ; where were it rated at ten shillings the bushell , euery man would indeuour to haue plenty to sell to the new commers , or any that wanted , and seldome any is transported from england , but it standeth in as much , besides the hazard and other necessaries , the ships might transport of that burden . the . of nouember arriued master gookin out of ireland , with fifty men of his owne , and thirty passengers , exceedingly well furnished with all sorts of prouision and cattle , and planted himselfe at nupors-newes : the cotten trees in a yeere grew so thicke as ones arme , and so high as a man : here any thing that is planted doth prosper so well as in no place better . for the mortality of the people accuse not the place , for of the old planters and the families scarce one of twenty miscarries , onely the want of necessaries are the occasions of those diseases . and so wee will conclude this yeere with the shipping and numbers sent . out of the councels letters from virginia . this yeere was sent one and twenty saile of ships that imployed more than . sailers and . men , women and children of diuers faculties , with foure-score cattle ; the tiger fell in the turkes hands , yet safely escaped , and by the returne of their letters from thence , the company is assured there can bee no fitter places of mines , wood and water for iron than there ; and the french men affirme no country is more proper for vines , oliues , sike , rice and salt , &c. of which the next yeere they promise a good quantity . gifts . the gentlemen and mariners that came in the royall iames from the east-indies , gaue towards the building of a free schoole pound , eight shillings , and six pence ; and an vnknowne person to further it , sent thirtie pounds ; and another in like manner fiue & twentie pounds ; another refusing to be made knowne , gaue fortie shillings yeerely for a sermon before the virginia companie : also another that would not be knowne , sent for the college at henrico , many excellent good religious bookes , worth ten pound , & a most curious map of al that coast of america , master thomas bargaue their preacher there deceased , gaue a librarie valued at one hundred markes : and the inhabitants hath made a contribution of one thousand and fiue hundred pounds , to build a house for the entertaining of strangers . this yeere also there was much suing for patents for plantations , who promised to transport such great multitudes of people : there was much disputing concerning those diuisions , as though the whole land had beene too little for them : six and twentie obtained their desires , but as yet not past six hath sent thither a man ; notwithstanding many of them would haue more , and are not well contented ; whom i would intreat , and all other wranglers , to peruse this saying of honest claudius . see'st not the world of natures worke , the fairest well , i wot , how it , it selfe tog●t●er ties , as in a true-loues knot . nor seest how th' elements ayre combin'd , maintaine one constant plea , h●w midst of heauen contents the sunne , and shore containes the sea ; and how the aire both compasseth , and carrieth still earths frame , yet neither pressing burden● it , nor parting leaues the same . the obseruations of master iohn pory secretarie of virginia , in his trauels . hauing but ten men meanly prouided to plant the secretaries land on the easterne shore nee●e d●●mack . captaine wilcocks plantation , the better to secure and ass●●t each other . sir george yearley intending to visit smiths iles , fell so sicke that he could not , so that he sent me with estinien m●ll a french-man , to find● a conuenient place to make salt in . not long after namenacus the king of pawtuxunt , came to vs to seeke for thomas saluage our interpreter . thus insinuating himselfe , he led vs into a thicket , where all sitting downe , he shew●d vs his n●ked brest ; asking if we saw any deformitie vpon it , we told him , no ; no more , said hee , is the inside , but as sincere and pure ; therefore come freely to my countrie and welcome : which wee promised wee would within six weekes after . hauing taken a muster of the companies tenants , i went to smiths iles , where was our salt ho●se : not farre off wee found a more conuenient plac● , and ●o retu●ned to iames towne . being furnished t●e second ●ime , wee arriued at aquo hanock , and conferred with kiptopeke thei● king , p●ssing russels ile and onaucoke , we arriued at pawtuxunt : the discription of those places , you may reade in captaine smiths discoue●ies , therefore needlesse to bee writ againe . but here arriuing at a●toughcomoco the habi●ation of namenacu● and w●manato , his brother , long wee staied not ere they came aboord vs with a brasse kettle , as bright without as within , ful of boyled o●sters strict order was giuen none should offend vs , so that the next day i went with the ●wo kings a hunting , to discouer what i could in their confines . wam●nato brought mee first to his house , where hee shewed once his wife and children , and ma● . corne-fields ; and being two miles within the woods a hunting , as the younger conducted me forth , so the elder brought me home , and vsed me as kindly as he could , after their manner . the next day he presented me twelue beuer skinnes and a canow , which i requited with such things to his content , that he promised to keept them whilst hee liued , and burie them with him being dead . hee much wondered at our bible , but much more to heare it was the law of our god , and the first chapter of genesis expounded of adam and eue , and simple mariage ; to which he replyed , hee was like adam in one thing , for he neuer had but one wife at once ; but he , as all the rest , seemed more willing of other discourses they better vnderstood . the next day the two kings with their people , came aboord vs , but brought nothing according to promise ; so that ensigne saluage challenged namenacus the breach of three promises , viz. not in giuing him a boy , not corne , though they had plentie , nor moutapass a fugitiue , called robert marcum , that had liued ▪ yeeres amongst those northerly nations , which hee cunningly answered by excuses . womanato it seemes , was guiltlesse of this falshood , because hee staied alone when the rest were gone . i asked him if he desired to bee great and rich ; he answered , they were things all men aspired vnto : which i told him he should be , if he would follow my counsell , so he gaue me two tokens , which being returned by a messenger , should suffice to make him confident the messenger could not abuse vs. some things being stolne from vs , he tooke such order that they were presently restored , then we interchanged presents : in all things hee much admired out discretions , and gaue vs a guide that hee called brother , to conduct vs vp the riuer : by the way we met with diuers that stil tould vs of marcum : and though it was in october , we found the countrie very hot , and their corne gathered before ours at iames towne . the next day we went to paccamaganant , and they directed vs to assacomoco , where their king cassatowap had an old quarrell with ensigne saluage , but now seeming reconciled , went with vs , with another werowance towards mattapanient , where they perswaded vs ashore vpon the point of a thicket ; but supposing it some trecherie , we returned to our boat : farre we had not gone from the shore , but a multitude of saluages fallied out of the wood , with all the ill words and signes of hostilitie they could . when wee saw plainly their bad intent , wee set the two werowances at libertie , that all this while had line in the cabbin , as not taking any notice of their villanie , because we would conuert them by courtesie . leauing them as we found them , very ciuill and subtill , wee returned the same way wee came , to the laughing kings on the easterne shore , who told vs plainly , namanicus would also haue allured him into his countrie , vnder colour of trade to cut his throat . hee told vs also opechancanough had imployed onianimo to kill saluage , because he brought the trade from him to the easterne shore , and some disgrace hee had done his sonne , and some thirteene of his people before one hundred of those easterlings in reseuing thomas graues whom they would haue slaine , where hee and three more did challenge the thirteeene pamavukes to fight , but they durst not , so that all those easterlings so derided them , that they came there no more . this thomas saluage , it is sixteene yeeres since he went to virginia , being a boy , hee was left with powhatan , for namontacke to learne the language , and as this author affirmeth , with much honestie and good successe hath serued the publike without any publike recompence , yet had an arrow shot through his body in their seruice . this laughing king at accomack , tels vs the land is not two daies iourny ouer in the broadest place , but in some places a man may goe in halfe a day , betwixt the bay and the maine ocean , where inhabit many people , so that by the narrownesse of the land there is not many decre , but most abundance of fish and fowle . kiptope his brother rules ● his lieutenant , who seeing his younger brother more affected by the people than himselfe , freely resigned him the moitie of his countrie , applying himselfe onely to husbandry and hunting , yet nothing neglected in his degree , nor is hee carelesse of any thing concernes the state , but as a vigilant and faithfull counceller , as hee is an affectionated brother , bearing the greater burden in gouernment , though the lesser honour , where cleane contrary they on the westerne shore , the younger beares the charge , and the elder the dignitie . those are the best husbands of any saluages we know : for they prouide corne to serue them all the yeare , yet spare ; and the other not for halfe the yeare , yet want . they are the most ciuill and tractable people we haue met with , and by little sticks will keepe as iust an account of their promises , as by a tally . in their mariages they obserue a large distance , as well in affinitie as consanguinitie ; nor doe they vse that deuillish custome in making black boyes . there may be on this shore about two thousand people : they on the west would inuade them , but that they want boats to crosse the bay , and so would diuers other nations , were they not protected by vs. a few of the westerly runnagados had conspired against the laughing king , but fearing their treason was discouered , fled to smiths iles , where they made a massacre of deere and hogges ; and thence to rickahake , betwixt cissapeack and nansamund , where they now are seated vnder the command of itoyatin , and so i returned to iames towne , where i found the gouernment rendred to sir francis wyat. in february also he trauelled to the south riuer chawonock , some sixtie miles ouer land , which he found to be a very fruitfull and pleasant country , yeelding two haruests in a yeare , and found much of the silke grasse formerly spoken of , was kindly vsed by the people , and so returned . captaine each sent to build a fort to secure the countrey . it was no small content to all the aduenturers to heare of the safe ariuall of all those ships and companies , which was thought sufficient to haue made a plantation of themselues : and againe to second them , was sent captaine each in the abigale , a ship of three or foure hundred tunnes , who hath vndertaken to make a block-house amongst the oyster banks , that shall secure the riuer . the furnishing him with instruments , cost three hundred pounds ; but the whole charge and the ships returne , will be neere two thousand pounds . in her went captaine barwicke with fiue and twentie men for the building ships and boats , and not other waies to be imploied : and also a selected number to build the e●st indie schoole , but as yet from virginia little returnes but priuate mens tobacco , and faire promises of plentie of iron , silke , wine , and many other good and rich commodities , besides the speedy conuersion of the saluages , that at first were much discouraged from liuing amongst them , when they were debarred the vse of their peeces ; therefore it was disputed as a matter of state , whether such as would liue amongst them should vse them or not , as a bait to allure them ; or at least such as should bee called to the knowledge of christ. but because it was a great trouble for all causes to be brought to iames towne for a triall , courts were appointed in conuenient places to releeue them : but as they can make no lawes in virginia till they be ratified here ; so the● thinke it but reason , none should bee inacted here without their consents , because they onely feele them , and must liue vnder them . still they complaine for want of corne , but what must be had by trade , and how vnwilling any officer when he leaueth his place , is to make good his number of men to his successor , but many of them during their times to help themselues , vndoes the company : for the seruants you allow them , or such as they hire , they plant on their priuate lands , not vpon that belongeth to their office , which crop alwaies exceeds yours , besides those which are your tenants to halfes , are forced to row them vp and downe , whereby both you and they lose more then halfe . nor are those officers the ablest or best deseruing , but make their experience vpon the companies cost , and your land lies vnmanured to any purpose , and will yeeld as little profit to your next new officers . the massacre vpon the two and twentieth of march. the prologue to this tragedy , is supposed was occasioned by nemattanow , otherwise called iack of the feather , because hee commonly was most strangely adorned with them ; and for his courage and policy , was accounted amongst the saluages their chiefe captaine , and immortall from any hurt could bee done him by the english. this captaine comming to one morgans house , knowing he had many commodities that hee desired , perswaded morgan to goe with him to pamauke to trucke , but the saluage murdered him by the way ; and after two or three daies returned againe to morgans house , where he found two youths his seruants , who asked for their master : iack replied directly he was dead ; the boyes suspecting as it was , by seeing him weare his cap , would haue had him to master thorp : but iack so moued their patience , they shot him , so he fell to the ground , put him in a boat to haue him before the gouernor , then seuen or eight miles from them . but by the way iack finding the pangs of death vpon him , desired of the boyes two things ; the one was , that they would not make it knowne hee was slaine with a bullet ; the other , to bury him amongst the english. at the losse of this saluage opechankanough much grieued and repined , with great threats of reuenge ; but the english returned him such terrible answers , that he cunningly dissembled his intent , with the greatest signes he could of loue and peace , yet within foureteene daies after he acted what followeth . sir francis wyat at his arriuall was aduertised , he found the countrey setled in such a firme peace , as most men there thought sure and vnuiolable , not onely in regard of their promises , but of a necessitie . the poore weake saluages being euery way bettered by vs , and safely sheltred and defended , whereby wee might freely follow our businesse : and such was the conceit of this conceited peace , as that there was seldome or neuer a sword , and seldomer a peece , except for a deere or fowle , by which assurances the most plantations were placed straglingly and scatteringly , as a choice veine of rich ground inuited them , and further from neighbours the better . their houses generally open to the saluages , who were alwaies friendly fed at their tables , and lodged in their bed-chambers , which made the way plaine to effect their intents , and the conuersion of the saluages as they supposed . hauing occasion to send to opechankanough about the middle of march , hee vsed the messenger well , and told him he held the peace so firme , the sky should fall or he dissolued it ; yet such was the treachery of those people , when they had contriued our destruction , euen but two daies before the massacre , they guided our men with much kindnesse thorow the woods , and one browne that liued among them to learne the language , they sent home to his master ; yea , they borrowed our boats to transport themselues ouer the riuer , to consult on the deuillish murder that insued , and of our vtter extirpation , which god of his mercy ( by the meanes of one of themselues conuerted to christianitie ) preuented , and as well on the friday morning that fatall day , being the two and twentieth of march , as also in the euening before , as at other times they came vnarmed into our houses , with deere , turkies , fish , fruits , and other prouisions to sell vs , yea in some places sat downe at breakfast with our people , whom immediatly with their owne tooles they slew most barbarously , not sparing either age or sex , man woman or childe , so sudden in their execution , that few or none discerned the weapon or blow that brought them to destruction : in which manner also they slew many of our people at seuerall works in the fields , well knowing in what places and quarters each of our men were , in regard of their familiaritie with vs , for the effecting that great master-peece of worke their conuersion ; and by this meanes fell that fatall morning vnder the bloudy and barbarous hands of that perfidious and inhumane people , three hundred forty seuen men , women and children , most by their owne weapons , and not being content with their liues , they fell againe vpon the dead bodies , making as well as they could a fresh murder , defacing , dragging , and mangling their dead carkases into many peeces , and carying some parts away in derision , with base and brutish triumph . neither yet did these beasts spare those amongst the rest well knowne vnto them , from whom they had daily receiued many benefits , but spightfully also massacred them without any remorse or pitie ; being in this more fell then lions and dragons , as histories record , which haue preserued their benefactors ; such is the force of good deeds , though done to cruell beasts , to take humanitie vpon them , but these miscreants put on a more vnnaturall brutishnesse then beasts , as by those instances may appeare . that worthy religions gentleman m. george thorp , deputie to the college lands , sometimes one of his maiesties pensioners , & in command one of the principall in virginia ; did so truly affect their conuersion , that whosoeuer vnder him did them the least displeasure , were punished seuerely . he thought nothing too deare for them , he neuer denied them any thing , in so much that when they complained that our mastiues did feare them , he to content them in all things , caused some of them to be killed in their presence , to the great displeasure of the owners , and would haue had all the rest guelt to make them the milder , might he haue had his will. the king dwelling but in a cottage , he built him a faire house after the english fashion , in which he tooke such pleasure , especially in the locke and key , which he so admired , as locking and vnlocking his doore a hundred times a day , he thought no deuice in the world comparable to it . thus insinuating himselfe into this kings fauour for his religious purpose , he conferred oft with him about religion , as many other in this former discourse had done , and this pagan confessed to him as he did to them , our god was better then theirs , and seemed to be much pleased with that discourse , and of his company , and to requite all those courtesies ; yet this viperous brood did , as the sequell shewed , not onely murder him , but with such spight and scorne abused his dead corps as is vnfitting to be heard with ciuill eares . one thing i cannot omit , that when this good gentleman vpon his fatall houre , was warned by his man , who perceiuing some treachery intended by those hell-hounds , to looke to himselfe , and withall ran away for feare he should be apprehended , and so saued his owne life ; yet his master out of his good meaning was so void of suspition and full of confidence ▪ they had slaine him , or he could or would beleeue they would hurt him . captaine nathaniel powell one of the first planters , a valiant souldier , and not any in the countrey better knowne amongst them ; yet such was the error of an ouer-conceited power and prosperitie , and their simplicities , they not onely slew him and his family , but butcher-like hagled their bodies , and cut off his head , to expresse their vttermost height of cruelty . another of the old company of captaine smith , called nathaniel causie , being cruelly wounded , and the saluages about him , with an axe did cleaue one of their heads , whereby the rest fled and he escaped : for they hurt not any that did either fight or stand vpon their guard . in one place where there was but two men that had warning of it , they defended the house against . or more that assaulted it . m. baldwin at warraskoyack , his wife being so wounded , she lay for dead , yet by his oft discharging of his peece , saue ●●er , his house , himselfe , & diuers others . at the same time they came to one mast●r harisons house , neere halfe a mile from baldwines , where was master thomas hamer with six men , and eighteene or nineteene women and children . here the saluages with many presents and faire perswasions , fained they came for capt. ralfe hamer to go to their king , then hunting in the woods , presently they sent to him , but he not comming as they expected , set fire of a tobacco-house , and then came to tell them in the dwelling house of it to quench it ; all the men ran towards it , but master hamer not suspecting any thing , whom the saluages pursued , shot them full of arrowes , then beat out their braines . hamer hauing finished a letter hee was a writing , followed after to see what was the matter , but quickly they shot an arrow in his back , which caused him returne and barricado vp the doores , whereupon the saluages set fire on the house . harisons boy finding his masters peece loaded , discharged it at randome , at which bare report the saluages all fled , baldwin still discharging his peece , and mr hamer with two and twentie persons thereby got to his house , leauing their owne burning . in like manner , they had fired lieutenant basse his house , with all the rest there about , slaine the people , and so left that plantation . captaine hamer all this while not knowing any thing , comming to his brother that had sent for him to go hunt with the king , meeting the saluages chasing some , yet escaped , retired to his new house then a building , from whence he came ; there onely with spades , axes , and brick bats , he defended himselfe and his company till the saluages departed . not long after , the master from the ship had sent six musketiers , with which he recouered their merchants store-house , where he armed ten more , and so with thirtie more vnarmed workmen , found his brother and the rest at b●ldwins : now seeing all they had was burnt and consumed , they repaired to iames towne with their best expedition ; yet not far from martins hundred , where seuenty three were slaine , was a little house and a small family , that heard not of any of this till two daies after . all those , and many others whom they haue as maliciously murdered , sought the good of those poore brutes , that thus despising gods mercies , must needs now as miscreants be corrected by iustice : to which leauing them , i will knit together the thred of this discourse . at the time of the massacre , there were three or foure ships in iames riuer , and one in the next , and daily more to come in , as there did within foureteene daies after , one of which they indeuoured to haue surprised : yet were the hearts of the english euer stupid , and auerted from beleeuing any thing might weaken their hopes , to win them by kinde vsage to christianitie . but diuers write from thence , that almighty god hath his great worke in this tragedy , and will thereout draw honor and glory to his name , and a more flourishing estate and safetie to themselues , and with more speed to conuert the saluage children to himselfe , since he so miraculously hath preserued the english ; there being yet , god be praised , eleuen parts of twelue remaining , whose carelesse neglect of their owne safeties , seemes to haue beene the greatest cause of their destructions : yet you see , god by a conuerted saluage that disclosed the plot , saued the rest , and the pinnace then in pamavukes riuer , whereof ( say they ) though our sinnes made vs vnworthy of so glorious a conuersion , yet his infinite wisdome can neuerthelesse bring it to passe , and in good time , by such meanes as we thinke most vnlikely : for in the deliuery of them that suruiue , no mans particular carefulnesse saued one person , but the meere goodnesse of god himselfe , freely and miraculously preseruing whom he pleased . the letters of master george sands , a worthy gentleman , and many others besides them returned , brought vs this vnwelcome newes , that hath beene heard at large in publike court , that the indians and they liued as one nation , yet by a generall combination in one day plotted to subuert the whole colony , and at one instant , though our seuerall plantations were one hundred and fortie miles vp on riuer on both sides . but for the better vnderstanding of all things , you must remember these wilde naked natiues liue not in great numbers together , ●●t dispersed , commonly in thirtie , fortie , fiftie , or sixtie in a company . some places haue two hundred , few places more , but many lesse ; yet they had all warning giuen them one from another in all their habitations , though farre asunder , to meet at the day and houre appointed for our destruction at al our seueral plantations ; some directed to one place , some to another , all to be done at the time appointed , which they did accordingly : some entring their houses vnder colour of trading , so tooke their aduantage ; others drawing vs abroad vnder faire pretences , and the rest suddenly falling vpon those that were at their labours . six of the counsell suffered vnder this treason , and the slaughter had beene vniuersall , if god had not put it into the heart of an indian , who lying in the house of one pace , was vrged by another indian his brother , that lay with him the night before to kill pace , as he should doe perry which was his friend , being so commanded from their king ; telling him also how the next day the execution should be finished : perrys indian presently arose and reueales it to pace , that vsed him as his sonne ; and thus them that escaped was saued by this one conuerted infidell . and though three hundred fortie seuen were slaine , yet thousands of ours were by the meanes of this alone thus preserued , for which gods name be praised for euer and euer . pace vpon this , securing his house , before day rowed to iam●s towne , and told the gouernor of it , whereby they were preuented , and at such other plantations as possibly intelligence could be giuen : and where they saw vs vpon our guard , at the sight of a peece they ranne away ; but the rest were most slaine , their houses burnt , such armes and munition as they found they tooke away , and some cattell also they destroied . since wee finde opechankanough the last yeare had practised with a king on the easterne shore , to furnish him with a kind of poison , which onely growes in his country to poison vs. but of this bloudy acte neuer griefe and shame poss●ssed any people more then themselues , to be thus butchered by so naked and cowardly a people , who dare not stand the presenting of a staffe in manner of a peece , nor an vncharged peec● in the hands of a woman . ( but i must tell those authors , though some might be thus cowardly , there were many of them had better spirits . ) thus haue you heard the particulars of this massacre , which in those respects some say will be good for the plantation , because now we haue iust cause to destroy them by all meanes possible : but i thinke it had beene much better it had neuer happened , for they haue giuen vs an hundred times as iust occasions long agoe to subiect them , ( and i wonder i can heare of none but master ●●ockam and master whitaker of my opinion . ) moreouer , where before we were troubled in cleering the ground of great timber , which was to them of small vse : now we may take their owne plaine fields and habitations , which are the p●easantest places in the countrey . besides , the deere , turkies , and other beasts and fowles will exceedingly increase if we beat the saluages out of the countrey , for at all times of the yeare they neuer spare male nor female , old nor young , egges nor birds , fat nor leane , in season or out of season with them , all is one . the like they did in our swine and goats , for they haue vsed to kill eight in tenne more then we , or else the wood would most plentifully abound with victuall ; besides it is more easie to ciuilize them by conquest then faire meanes : for the one may be made at once , but their ciuilizing will require a long time and much industry . the manner how to suppresse them is so often related and approued , i omit it here : and you haue twenty examples of the spaniards how they got the west-indies , and forced the treacherous and rebellious infidels to doe all manner of drudgery worke and slauery for them , themselues liuing like souldiers vpon the fruits of their labours . this will make vs more circumspect , and be an example to posteritie : ( but i say , this might as well haue beene put in practise sixteene yeares agoe as now . ) thus vpon this anuill shall wee now beat our selues an armour of proofe hereafter to defend vs against such incu●sions , and euer hereafter make vs more circumspect : but to helpe to repaire this losse , besides his maiesties bounty in armes , he gaue the company out of the tower , and diuers other honorable persons haue renewed their aduentures , we must not omit the honorable citie of london , to whose endlesse praise wee may speake it , are now setting forward one hundred persons , and diuers others at their owne costs are a repairing , and all good men doe thinke neuer the worse of the businesse for all these dis●sters . what growing state was there euer in the world which had not the like ? rome grew by oppression , and rose vpon the backe of her enemies : and the spaniards haue had many of those counterbuffes , more than we . columbus , vpon his returne from the west-indies into spaine , hauing left his people with the indies , in peace and promise of good vsage amongst them , at his returne backe found not one of them liuing , but all treacherously slaine by the saluages . after this againe , when the spanish colonies were increased to great numbers , the indians from whom the spaniards for trucking stuffe vsed to haue all their corne , generally conspired together to plant no more at all , intending thereby to famish them ; themselues liuing in the meane time vpon cassaua , a root to make bread , onely then knowne to themselues . this plot of theirs by the spaniards ouersight , that foolishly depended vpon strangers for their bread , tooke such effect , and brought them to such misery by the rage of famine , that they spared no vncleane nor loathsome beast , no not the poisonous and hideous serpents , but eat them vp also , deuouring one death to saue them from another ; and by this meanes their whole colony well-neere surfeted , sickned and died miserably , and when they had againe recouered this losse , by their incontinency an infinite number of them died on the indian disease , we call the french pox , which at first being a strange and an vnknowne malady , was deadly vpon whomsoeuer it lighted : then had they a little flea called nigua , which got betweene the skinne and the flesh before they were aware , and there bred and multiplied , making swellings and putrifactions , to the decay and losse of many of their bodily members . againe , diuers times they were neere vndone by their ambition , faction , and malice of the commanders . columbus , to whom they were also much beholden , was sent with his brother in chaines into spaine ; and some other great commanders killed and murdered one another . pizzaro was killed by almagros sonne , and him vasco beheaded , which vasco was taken by blasco , and blasco was likewise taken by pizzaros brother : and thus by their couetous and spightfull quarrels , they were euer shaking the maine pillars of their common-weale . these and many more mischiefes and calamities hapned them , more then euer did to vs , and at one time being euen at the last gaspe , had two ships not arriued with supplies as they did , they were so disheartned , they were a leauing the countrey : yet we see for all those miseries they haue attained to their ends at last , as is manifest to all the world , both with honour , powe● , and wealth : and whereas be●ore few could be hired to goe to inhabit there , now with great sute they must obtaine it ; but where there was no honesty , nor equity , nor sanctitie , nor veritie , nor pie●ie , nor good ciuilitie in such a countrey , certainly there can bee no stabilitie . therefore let vs not be discouraged , but rather animated by those conclusions , seeing we are so well assured of the goodnesse and commodities may bee had in virginia , nor is it to be much doubted there is any want of mines of most sorts , no not of the richest , as is well knowne to some yet liuing that can make it manifest when time shall serue : and yet to thinke that gold and siluer mines are in a country otherwise most rich and fruitfull , or the greatest wealth in a plantation , is but a popular error , as is that opinion likewise , that the gold and siluer is now the greatest wealth of the west indies at this present . true it is indeed , that in the first conquest the spaniards got great and mighty store of treasure from the natiues , which they in long space had heaped together , and in those times the indians shewed them entire and rich mines , which now by the relations of them that haue beene there , are exceedingly wasted , so that now the charge of getting those metals is growne excessiue , besides the consuming the liues of many by their pestilent smoke and vapours in digging and refining them , so that all things considered , the cleere gaines of those metals , the kings part defraied , to the aduenturers is but small , and nothing neere so much as vulgarly is imagined ; and were it not for other rich commodities there that inrich them , those of the contraction house were neuer able to subsist by the mines onely ; for the greatest part of their commodities are partly naturall , and partly transported from other parts of the world , and planted in the west-indies , as in their mighty wealth of sugarcanes , being first transported from the canaries ; and in ginger and other things brought out of the east-indies , in their cochanele , indicos , cotton , and their infinite store of hides , quick-siluer , allum , woad , brasill woods , dies , paints , tobacco , gums , balmes , oiles , medicinals and perfumes , sassaparilla , and many other physicall drugs : these are the meanes whereby they raise that mighty charge of drawing out their gold and siluer to the great & cleare reuenue of their king. now seeing the most of those commodities , or as vsefull , may be had in virginia by the same meanes , as i haue formerly said ; let vs with all speed take the priority of time , where also may be had the priority of place , in chusing the best seats of the country , which now by vanquishing the saluages , is like to offer a more faire and ample choice of fruitfull habitations , then hitherto our gentlenesse and faire comportments could attaine vnto . the numbers that were slaine in those seuerall plantations . at captaine berkleys plantation , himselfe and . others , seated at the falling-crick , . miles from iames city . master thomas sheffelds plantation , some three miles from the falling-crick , himselfe and . others . at henrico iland , about two miles from sheffelds plantation . slaine of the college people , twenty miles from henrico . at charles city , and of captaine smiths men . at the next adioyning plantation . at william farrars house . at brickley hundred , fifty miles from charles city , master thorp and at westouer , a mile from brickley . at master iohn wests plantation . at captaine nathaniel wests plantation . at lieutenant gibs his plantation . at richard owens house , himselfe and at master owen macars house , himselfe and at martins hundred , seuen miles from iames city . at another place . at edward bonits plantation . at master waters his house , himselfe and at apamatucks riuer , at master perce his plantation , fiue miles from the college . at master macocks diuident , captaine samuel macock , and at flowerda hundred , sir george yearleys plantation . on the other side opposite to it . at master swinhows house , himselfe and at master william bickars house , himselfe and at weanock , of sir george yearleys people . at powel brooke , captaine nathaniel powel , and at south-hampton hundred . at martin brandons hundred . at captaine henry spilmans house . at ensigne spences house . at master thomas perse his house by mulbery i le , himselfe and the whole number . men in this taking bettered with affliction , better attend , and mind , and marke religion , for then true voyces issue from their hearts , then speake they what they think● in inmost parts , the truth remaines , they cast off sained arts. this lamentable and so vnexpected a distaster caused them all beleeue the opinion of master stockam , and draue them all to their wits end : it was twenty or thirty daies ere they could resolue what to doe , but at last it was concluded , all the petty plantations should be abandoned , and drawne onely to make good fiue or six places , where all their labours now for the most part must redound to the lords of those lands where they were resident . now for want of boats , it was impossible vpon such a sudden to bring also their cattle , and many other things , which with much time , charge and labour they had then in possession with them ; all which for the most part at their departure was burnt , ruined and destroyed by the saluages . only master gookins at nuports-newes would not obey the commanders command in that , though hee had scarce fiue and thirty of all sorts with him , yet he thought himselfe sufficient against what could happen , and so did to his great credit and the content of his aduenturers . master samuel iorden gathered together but a few of the straglers about him at beggers-bush , where he fortified and liued in despight of the enemy . nay , mistrisse proctor , a proper , ciuill , mod●st gentlewoman did the like , till perforce the english officers forced her and all them with her to goe with them , or they would fire her house themselues , as the saluages did when they were gone , in whose despight they had kept it , and what they had a moneth or three weekes after the massacre ; which was to their hearts a griefe beyond comparison , to lose all they had in that manner , onely to secure others pleasures . now here in england it was thought , all those remainders might presently haue beene reduced into fifties or hundreds in places most conuenient with what they had , hauing such strong houses as they reported they had , which with small labour might haue beene made inuincible castles against all the saluages in the land , and then presently raised a company , as a running armie to torment the barbarous and secure the rest , and so haue had all that country betwixt the riuers of powhatan and pamavuke to range and sustaine them ; especially all the territories of kecoughtan , chiskact and paspahege , from ozenies to that branch of pamavuke , comming from youghtanund , which strait of land is not past . or . miles , to haue made a peninsula much bigger then the summer iles , inuironed wi●h the broadest parts of those two maine riuers , which for plenty of such things as virgnia affords is not to be exceeded , and were it well manured , more then sufficient for ten thousand men . this , were it well vnderstood , cannot but be thought be●ter then ●o bring fiue or six hundred to lodge and liue on that , which before would not well receiue and maintaine a hundred , planting little or nothing , but spend that they haue vpon hopes out of england , one euill begetting another , till the disease is past cure : therefore it is impossible but such courses must produce most fearefull miseries and extreme extremities ; if it proue otherwise , i should be exceeding glad . i confesse i am somewhat too bold to censure other mens actions being not present , but they haue done as much of me ; yea many here in england that were neuer there , & also many there that knowes little more then their plantations , but as they are informed ; and this doth touch the glory of god , the honour of my country , and the publike good so much , for which there hath beene so many faire pretences , that i hope none will be angry for speaking my opinion , seeing the old prouerbe doth allow losers leaue to speake ; and du bart as saith , euen as the wind the angry ocean moues , waue hunteth waue , and billow billow shoues , so doe all nations iustell each the other , and so one people doe pursue another , and scarce a sec●nd hath the first vnhoused , before a third him thence againe haue roused . amongst the multitude of these seuerall relations , it appeares captaine nuse seeing many of the difficulties to ensue , caused as much corne to be planted as he could at elizabeths city , & though some destroyed that they had set , fearing it would serue the saluages for ambuscadoes , trusting to releefe by trade , or from england , which hath euer beene one cause of our miseries , for from england wee haue not had much , and for trading , euery one hath not ships , shalops , interpreters , men and prouisions to performe it , and those that haue , vse them onely for their owne priuate g●ine , not the publike good , so that our beginning this yeere doth cause many to distrust the euent of the next . here wee will leaue captaine nuse for a while , lamenting the death of captaine norton , a valiant industrious gentleman , adorned with many good qualities , besides physicke and chirurgery , which for the publike good he freely imparted to all gratis , but most bountifully to the poore ; and let vs speake a little of captaine croshaw amongst the midst of those broiles in the riuer of patawom●ke . being in a small barke called the elizabeth , vnder the command of captaine spilman , at cekacawone , a saluage stole aboord them , and told them of the massacre , and that opechancanough had plotted with his king and country to betray them also , which they refused , but them of wighcocomoco at the mouth of the riuer had vndertaken it ; vpon this spilman went thither , but the saluages seeing his men so vigilant and well armed , they suspected themselues discouered , and to colour their guilt , the better to delude him , so contented his desire in trade , his pinnace was neere fraught ; but seeing no more to be had , croshaw went to patawomek ▪ where he intended to stay and trade for himselfe , by reason of the long acquaintance he had with this king that so earnestly entreated him now to be his friend , his countenancer , his captaine and director against the pazaticans , the nacotchtanks ▪ and moyaons his mortall enemies . of this oportunity croshaw was glad , as well to satisfie his owne desire in some other purpose he had , as to keepe the king as an opposite to opechancanough , and adhere him vnto vs , or at least make him an instrument against our enemies ; so onely elis hill stayed with him , and the pinnace returned to elizabeths city ; here shall they rest also a little , till we see how this newes was entertained in england . it was no small griefe to the councell and company , to vnderstand of such a supposed impossible losse , as that so many should fall by the hands of men so contemptible ; and yet hauing such warnings , especially by the death of nemattanow , whom the saluages did thinke was shot-free , as he had perswaded them , hauing so long e●caped so many dangers without any hurt . but now to leape out of this labyrinth of melancholy , all this did not so discourage the noble aduenturers , nor diuers others still to vndertake new seuerall plantations , but that diuers ships were dispatched away , for their supplies and assistance thought sufficient . yet captaine smith did intreat and moue them to put in practise his old offer , seeing now it was time to vse both it and him , how slenderly heretofore both had beene regarded , and because it is not impertinent to the businesse , it is not much amisse to remember what it was . the proiect and offer of captaine iohn smith , to the right honourable , and right worshipfull company virginia . if you please i may be transported with a hundred souldiers and thirty sailers by the next michaelmas , with victuall , munition , and such necessary prouision , by gods assistance , we would endeuour to inforce the saluages to leaue their country , or bring them in that feare and subiection that euery man should follow their businesse securely , whereas now halfe their times and labours are spent in watching and warding , onely to defend but altogether vnable to suppresse the saluages , because euery man now being for himselfe will be vnwilling to be drawne from their particular labours , to be made as pack-horses for all the rest , without any certainty of some better reward and preferment then i can vnderstand any there can or will yet giue them . these i would imploy onely in ranging the countries , and tormenting the saluages , and that they should be as a running army till this were effected , and then settle themselues in some such conuenient place , that should euer remaine a garison of that strength , ready vpon any occasion against the saluages , or any other for the defence of the countrey , and to see all the english well armed , and instruct them their vse . but i would haue a barke of one hundred tunnes , and meanes to build sixe or seuen shalops , to transport them where there should bee occasion . towards the charge , because it is for the generall good , and what by the massacre and other accidents , virginia is disparaged , and many men and their purses much discouraged , how euer a great many doe hasten to goe , thinking to bee next heires to all the former losses , i feare they will not finde all things as they doe imagine ; therefore leauing those gilded conceits , and diue into the true estate of the colony ; i thinke if his maiestie were truly informed of their necessitie , and the benefit of this proiect , he would be pleased to giue the custome of virginia , and the planters also according to their abilities would adde thereto such a contribution , as would be fit to maintaine this garison till they be able to subsist , or cause some such other collections to be made , as may put it with all expedition in practice ; otherwise it is much to be doubted , there will neither come custome , nor any thing from thence to england within these few yeares . now if this should be thought an imploiment more fit for ancient souldiers there bred , then such new commers as may goe with me ; you may please to leaue that to my discretion , to accept or refuse such voluntaries , that will hazard their fortunes in the trialls of these euents , and discharge such of my company that had rather labour the ground then subdue their enemies : what releefe i should haue from your colony i would satisfie and spare them ( when i could ) the like courtesie . notwithstanding these doubts , i hope to feede them as well as defend them , and yet discouer you more land vnknowne then they all yet know , if you will grant me such priuiledges as of necessity must be vsed . for against any enemy we must be ready to execute the best can be deuised by your state there , but not that they shall either take away my men , or any thing else to imploy as they please by vertue of their authority , and in that i haue done somewhat for new-england as well as virginia , so i would desire liberty and authority to make the best vse i can of my best experiences , within the limits of those two patents , and to bring them both in one map , and the countries betwixt them , giuing alwaies that respect to the gouernors and gouernment , as an englishman doth in scotland ▪ or a scotchman in england , or as the regiments in the low-countries doe to the gouernors of the townes and cities where they are billited , or in garrison , where though they liue with them , and are as their seruants to defend them , yet not to be disposed on at their pleasure , but as the prince and state doth command them , and for my owne paines in particular i aske not any thing but what i can produce from the proper labour of the saluages . their answer . i cannot say , it was generally for the company , for being published in their court , the most that heard it liked exceeding well of the motion , and some would haue been very large aduenturers in it , especially sir iohn brookes and master dauid wyffin , but there were such diuisions amongst them , i could obtaine no answer but this , the charge would be too great ; their stocke was decayed , and they did thinke the planters should doe that of themselues if i could finde meanes to effect it ; they did thinke i might haue leaue of the company , prouided they might haue halfe the pillage , but i thinke there are not many will much striue for that imploiment , for except it be a little corne at some time of the yeere is to be had , i would not giue twenty pound for all the pillage is to be got amongst the saluages in twenty yeeres : but because they supposed i spake only for my owne ends , it were good those vnderstand prouidents for the companies good they so much talke of , were sent thither to make triall of their profound wisdomes and long experiences . about this time also was propounded a proposition concerning a sallery of fiue and twenty thousand pounds to be raised out of tobacco , as a yeerely pension to bee paid to certaine officers for the erecting a new office , concerning the sole importation of tobacco , besides his maiesties custome , fraught , and all other charges . to nominate the vndertakers , fauourers and opposers , with their arguments ( pro ) and ( con ) would bee too tedious and needlesse being so publikely knowne ; the which to establish , spent a good part of that yeere , and the beginning of the next . this made many thinke wonders of virginia , to pay such pensions extraordinary to a few here that were neuer there , and also in what state and pompe some chieftaines and diuers of their associates liue in virginia , and yet no money to maintaine a garrison , pay poore men their wages , nor yet fiue and twenty pence to all the aduenturers here , and very little to the most part of the planters there , bred such differences in opinion it was dissolued . now let vs returne to captaine croshaw at patawomek , where he had not beene long ere opechancanough sent two baskets of beads to this king , to kill him and his man , assuring him of the massacre he had made , and that before the end of two moones there should not be an englishman in all their countries : this fearefull message the king told this captaine , who replied , he had seene both the cowardise and trechery of opechancanough sufficiently tried by captaine smith , therefore his threats he feared not , nor for his fauour cared , but would nakedly fight with him or any of his with their owne swords ; if he were slaine , he would leaue a letter for his country men to know , the fault was his owne , not the kings ; two daies the king deliberated vpon an answer , at last told him the english were his friends , and the saluage emperour opitchapam now called toyatan , was his brother , therefore there should be no bloud shed betwixt them , so hee returned the presents , willing the pamavukes to come no more in his country , lest the english , though against his will , should doe them any mischiefe . not long after , a boat going abroad to seeke out some releefe amongst the plantations , by nuports-newes met such ill weather , though the men were saued they lost their boat , which the storme and waues cast vpon the shore of nandsamund , where edmund waters one of the three that first stayed in summer iles , and found the great peece of amber-greece , dwelling in virginia at this massacre , hee and his wife these nandsamunds kept prisoners till it chanced they found this boat , at which purchase they so reioyced , according to their custome of triumph , with songs , dances and inuocations , they were so busied , that waters and his wife found opportunity to get secretly into their canow , and so crossed the riuer to kecoughtan , which is nine or ten miles , whereat the english no lesse wondred and reioyced , then the saluages were madded with discontent . thus you may see how many desperate dangers some men escape , when others die that haue all things at their pleasure . all men thinking captaine croshaw dead , captaine hamer arriuing with a ship and a pinnace at patawomeke , was kindly entertained both by him and the king ; that don hamar told the king he came for corne : the king replied hee had none , but the nacotchtanks and their confederats had , which were enemies both to him and them ; if they would fetch it , he would giue them . or choise bow-men to conduct and assist them . those saluages with some of the english they sent , who so well played their parts , they slew . of the nacotchtanks , some write but . and some they had a long skirmish with them ; where the patawomeks were so eager of reuenge , they driue them not onely out of their towne , but all out of fight through the woods , thus taking what they liked , and spoiling the rest , they retired to patawomek , where they lef● captaine croshaw , with foure men more , the rest set saile for iames towne . captaine croshaw now with fiue men and himselfe found night and day so many alarums , he retired into such a conuenient place , that with the helpe of the saluages , hee had quickly fortified himselfe against all those wilde enemies . captaine nuse his pinnace meeting hamar by the way vnderstanding all this , came to see captaine croshaw : after their best enterchanges of courtesies , croshaw writ to nuse the estate of the place where he was , but vnderstanding by them the poore estate of the colony , offered if they would send him but a bold shallop , with men , armes and prouision for trade , the next haruest he would prouide them corne sufficient , but as yet it being but the latter end of sune , there was little or none in all the country . this being made knowne to the gouernour and the rest , they sent captaine madyson with a ship and pinnace , and some six and thirtie men : those croshaw a good time taught the vse of their armes , but receiuing a letter from boyse his wife , a prisoner with nineteene more at pamavuke , to vse meanes to the gouernour for their libertie ; so hee dealt with this king , hee got first two of his great men to goe with him to iames towne , and eight daies after to send foure of his counsell to pamavuke , there to stay till he sent one of his two to them , to perswade opachankanough to send two of his with two of the patawomekes , to treat about those prisoners , and the rest should remaine their hostage at pamavuke ; but the commanders , at iames towne , it seemes , liked not of it , and so sent the patawomekes backe againe to their owne countrie , and captaine croshaw to his owne habitation . all this time we haue forgot captaine nuse , where we left him but newly acquainted with the massacre , calling all his next adioyning dispersed neighbours together , he regarded not the pestring his owne house , nor any thing to releeue them , and with all speed entrenched himselfe , mounted three peece of ordnance , so that within . daies , he was strong enough to defend himselfe from all the saluages , yet when victuall grew scant , some that would forrage without order , which he punished , neere occasioned a mutiny . notwithstanding , he behaued himselfe to fatherly and kindly to them all , they built two houses for them he daily expected from england , a faire well of fresh water mantled with bricke , because the riuer and cricks are there brackish or salt ; in all which things he plaied the sawyer , carpenter , dauber , laborer , or any thing ; wherein though his courage and heart were steeled , he found his body was not made of iron , for hee had many sicknesses , and at last a dropsie , no lesse griefe to himselfe , then sorrow to his wife and all vnder his gouernment . these crosses and losses were no small increasers of his malady , nor the thus abandoning our plantations , the losse of our haruest , and also tobacco which was as our money ; the vineyard our vineyetours had brought to a good forwardnesse , bruised and destroyed with deere , and all things ere they came to perfection , with weeds , disorderly persons or wild beasts ; so that as we are i cannot perceiue but the next yeere will be worse , being still tormented with pride and flattery , idlenesse and couetousnesse , as though they had vowed heere to keepe their court with all the pestilent vices in the world for their atte●dants , inchanted with a conceited statelinesse , euen in the very bottome of miserable senselesnesse . shortly after , sir george yearly and captaine william powel , tooke each of them a company of well disposed gentlemen and others to seeke their enemies . yearl●y ranging the shore of wean●ck , could see nothing but their old houses which he burnt , and so went home : powel searching another part , found them all fled but three he met by chance , whose heads hee cut off , burnt their houses , and so returned ; for the saluages are so light and swift , though wee see them ( being so loaded with armour ) they haue much aduantage of vs though they be cowards . i confesse this is true , and it may cause some suppose they are grown inuincible : but will any goe to catch a hare with a taber and a pipe ? for who knowes not though there be monsters both of men and beasts , fish and fowle , yet the greatest , the strongest , the wildest , cruellest , fiercest and cunningest , by reason , art and vigilancy , courage and industry hath beene slaine , subiected or made tame , and those are still but saluages as they were , onely growne more bold by our owne simplicities , and still will be worse and worse till they be tormented with a continuall pursuit , and not with lying inclosed within palizados , or affrighting them out of your sights , thinking they haue done well , can but defend themselues : and to doe this to any purpose , will require both charge , patience and experience . but to their proceedings . about the latter end of iune , sir george yearley accompanied with the councell , and a number of the greatest gallants in the land , stayed three or foure daies with captaine nuse , he making his moane to a chiefe man amongst them for want of prouision for his company , the great commander replied hee should turne them to his greene corne , which would make them plumpe and fat : these fields being so neere the fort , were better regarded and preserued then the rest , but the great mans command , as we call them , was quickly obeied , for though it was scarce halfe growne either to the greatnesse or goodnesse , they deuoured it greene though it did them small good . sir george with his company went to a●comack to his new p●antation , where he staied neere six weekes ; some corne he brought home , but as he aduentured for himselfe , he accordingly enioyed the benefit ; some pety magazines came this summer , but either the restraint by proclamation , or want of boats , or both , caused few but the chieftaines to be little better by them . so long as captaine nuse had any thing we had part ; but now all being spent , and the people forced to liue vpon oisters and crabs , they became so faint no worke could be done ; and where the law was , no worke , no meat , now the case is altered , to no meat , no worke ; some small quantity of milke and rice the captaine had of his owne , and that he would distribute gratis as he saw occasion ; i say gratis , for i know no place else , but it was sold for ready paiment : those eares of corne that had escaped till august , though not ripe by reason of the late planting , the very dogs did repaire to the corne fields to seeke them as the men till they were hanged ; and this i protest before god is true that i haue related , not to flatter nuse , nor condemne any , but all the time i haue liued in virginia , i haue not seene nor heard that any commander hath taken such continuall paines for the publike , or done so little good for himselfe , and his vertuous wife was no lesse charitable and compassionate according to her power . for my owne part , although i found neither mulberies planted , houses built , men nor victuall prouided , as the honourable aduenturers did promise mee in england ; yet at my owne charge , hauing made these preparations , and the silke-wormes ready to be couered , all was lost , but my poore life and children , by the massacre , the which as god in his mercy did preserue , i continually pray we may spend to his glory . the . of september , we had an alarum , and two men at their labours slaine ; the captaine , though extreme sicke , sallied forth , but the saluages lay hid in the corne fields all night , where they destroyed all they could , and killed two men more , much mischiefe they did to master edward hills cattle , yet he alone defended his house though his men were sicke and could doe nothing , and this was our first assault since the massacre . about this time captaine madyson passed by vs , hauing taken prisoners , the king of patawomek , his sonne , and two more , and thus it happened ; madyson not liking so well to liue amongst the saluages as croshaw did , built him a strong house within the fort , so that they were not so sociable as before , nor did they much like poole the interpret ; many alarums they had , but saw no enemies : madyson before his building went to moyaones , where hee got prouision for a moneth , and was promised much more , so he returned to patawomek and built this house , and was well vsed by the saluages . now by the foure great men the king sent to pamavuke for the redemption of the prisoners , madyson sent them a letter , but they could neither deliuer it nor see them : so long they stayed that the king grew doubtfull of their bad vsage , that hee swore by the skyes , if they returned not well , he would haue warres with opechankanough so long as he had any thing : at this time two of madysons men ranne from him , to finde them he sent master iohn vpton and three more with an indian guide to nazatica , where they heard they were . at this place was a king beat out of his country by the n●costs , enemies to the patawomeks ; this expulsed king though he professed much loue to the patawomeks , yet hee loued not the king because he would not helpe him to reuenge his iniuries , but to our interpreter poole hee protested great loue , promising if any treason were , he would reueale it ; our guide conducted this bandy to with them vp to patawomek and there kept him ; our fugitiues we found the patawomeks had taken and brought home , and the foure great men returned from pamavuke ; not long after , this expulsed king desired priuate conference with poole , vrging him to sweare by his god neuer to reueale what hee would tell him , poole promised he would not ; then quoth this king , those great men that went to pamavuke , went not as you suppose they pretended , but to contract with opechankanough how to kill you all here , and these are their plots . first , they will procure halfe of you to goe a fishing to their furthest towne , and there set vpon them , and cut off the rest ; if that faile , they will faine a place where are many strangers would trade their furres , where they will perswade halfe of you to goe trade , and there murder you and kill them at home ; and if this faile also , then they will make alarums two nights together , to tire you out with watching , and then set vpon you , yet of all this , said he , there is none acquainted but the king and the great coniurer . this being made known to the captain , we all stood more punctually vpon our guard , at which the saluages wondering , desired to know the cause ; we told them we expected some assault from the pamavukes , whereat they seemed contented , and the next day the king went on hunting with two of our men , and the other a fishing and abroad as before , till our shallop returned from iames towne with the two saluages , sent home with captaine croshaw : by those the gouernour sent to madyson , that this king should send him twelue of his great men ; word of this was sent to the king at another towne where he was , who not comming presently with the messenger , madyson conceited hee regarded not the message , and intended as he supposed the same treason . the next morning the king comming home , being sent for , he came to the captaine and brought him a dish of their daintiest fruit ; then the captaine fained his returne to iames towne , the king told him he might if he would , but desired not to leaue him destitute of aid , hauing so many enemies about him ; the captaine told him he would leaue a guard , but intreated his answer concerning the twelue great men for the gouernour ; the king replied , his enemies lay so about him he could not spare them , then the captaine desired his sonne and one other ; my sonne , said the king , is gone abroad about businesse , but the other you desire you shall haue , and that other sits by him , but that man refused to goe , whereupon madyson went forth and locked the doore , leauing the king , his sonne , and foure saluages , and fiue english men in the strong house , and setting vpon the towne with the rest of his men , slew thirty or forty men , women and children ; the king demanding the cause , poole told him the treason , crying out to intreat the captaine cease from such cruelty : but hauing slaine and made flye all in the towne , hee returned , taxing the poore king of treason , who denied to the death not to know of any such matter , but said , this is some plot of them that told it , onely to kill mee for being your friend . then madyson willed him , to command none of his men should shoot at him as he went aboord , which he presently did , and it was performed : so madyson departed , leading the king , his sonne , and two more to his ship , promising when all his men were shipped , he should returne at libertie ; notwithstanding he brought them to iames towne , where they lay some daies , and af●er were sent home by captaine hamer , that tooke corne for their ransome , and after set faile for new found land. but , alas the cause of this was onely this they vnderstood , nor knew what was amisse . euer since the beginning of these plantations , it hath beene supposed the king of spaine would inuade them , or our english papists indeuour to dissolue them . bu● neither all the counsels of spaine ▪ nor papists in the world could haue deuised a better course to bring them all to ruine , then thus to abuse their friends , nor could there euer haue beene a better plot , to haue ouerthrowne opechankanough then captaine chroshaws , had it beene fully managed with expedition . but it seemes god is angry to see virginia made a stage where nothing but murder and indiscretion contends for victory . amongst the rest of the plantations all this summer little was done , but securing themselues and planting tobacco , which passes there as current siluer , and by the oft turning and winding it , some grow rich , but many poore , notwithstanding ten or twelue ships or more hath arriued there since the massacre , although it was christmas ere any returned , and that returne greatly reuiued all mens longing expectation here in england : for they brought newes , that notwithstanding their extreme sicknesse many were recouered , and finding the saluages did not much trouble them , except it were sometimes some disorderly straglers they cut off . to lull them the better in securitie , they sought no reuenge till their corne was ripe , then they drew together three hundred of the best souldiers they could , that would leaue their priuate businesse , and aduenture themselues amongst the saluages to surprize their corne , vnder the conduct of sir george yearley , being imbarked in conuenient shipping , and all things necessary for the enterprise , they went first to nands●mund , where the people set fire on their owne houses , and spoiled what they could , and then fled with what they could carry ; so that the english did make no slaughter amongst them for reuenge . their corne fields being newly gathered , they surprized all they found , burnt the houses remained vnburnt , and so departed . quartering about kecoughtan , after the watch was set , samuell collyer one of the most ancientest planters , and very well acquainted with their language and habitation , humors and conditions , and gouernor of a towne , when the watch was set going the round , vnfortunately by a centinell that discharged his peece , was slaine . thence they sailed to pamavuke , the chiefe seat of opechankanough , the contriuer of the massacre : the saluages seemed exceeding fearefull , promising to bring them sara , and the rest of the english yet liuing , with all the armes , and what they had to restore , much desiring peace , and to giue them any satisfaction they could . many such deuices they fained to procrastinate the time ten or twelue daies , till they had got away their corne from all the other places vp the riuer , but that where the english kept their quarter : at last , when they saw all those promises were but delusions , they seised on all the corne there was , set fire on their houses : and in following the saluages that fled before thē , some few of those naked deuils had that spirit , they lay in ambuscado , and as our men marched discharged some shot out of english peeces , and hurt some of them flying at their pleasures where they listed , burning their empty houses before them as they went to make themselues sport : so they escaped , and sir george returned with corne , where for our paines we had three bushels apeece , but we were enioyned before we had it , to pay ten shillings the bushell for fraught and other charges . thus by this meanes the saluages are like as they report , to endure no small misery this winter , and that some of our men are returned to their former plantations . what other passages or impediments hapned in their proceedings , that they were not fully reuenged of the saluages before they returned , i know not ; nor could euer heare more , but that they supposed they slew two , and how it was impossible for any men to doe more then they did : yet worthy ferdinando courtus had scarce three hundred spaniards to conquer the great citie of mexico , where thousands of saluages dwelled in strong houses : but because they were a ciuilized people , had wealth , and those meere barbarians as wilde as beasts haue nothing ; i intreat your patience to tell you my opinion , which if it be gods pleasure i shall not liue to put in practice , yet it may be hereafter vsefull for some , but howsoeuer i hope not hurtfull to any , and this it is . had these three hundred men beene at my disposing , i would haue sent first one hundred to captaine rawley chroshaw to patawomek , with some small ordnance for the fort , the which but with daily exercising them , would haue struck that loue and admiration into the patowomeks , and terror and amazement into his enemies , which are not farre off , and most seated vpon the other side the riuer , they would willingly haue beene friends , or haue giuen any composition they could , before they would be tormented with such a visible feare . now though they be generally persidious , yet necessity constraines those to a kinde of constancy because of their enemies , and neither my selfe that first found them , captaine argall , chroshow , nor hamar , neuer found themselues in fifteene yeares trials : nor is it likely now they would haue so hostaged their men , suffer the building of a fort , and their women and children amongst them , had they intended any villany ; but suppose they had , who would haue desired a better aduantage then such an aduertisement , to haue prepared the fort for such an assault , and surely it must be a poore fort they could hurt , much more take , if there were but fiue men in it durst discharge a peece : therefore a man not well knowing their conditions , may be as wel too iealous as too carelesse ; such another lope skonce would i haue had at onawmanient ▪ and one hundred men more to haue made such another at atquacke vpon the riuer of toppahanock , which is not past thirteene miles distant from onawmanient : each of which twelue men would keepe , as well as twelue thousand , and spare all the rest to bee imploied as there should be occasion . and all this with these numbers might easily haue beene done , if not by courtesie , yet by compulsion , especially at that time of september when all their fruits were ripe , their beasts fat , and infinite numbers of wilde fowle began to repaire to euery creeke , that men if they would doe any thing ▪ could not want victuall . this done , there remained yet one hundred who should haue done the like at ozinicke , vpon the riuer of chickahamania , not past six miles from the chiefe habitations of opechankanough . these small forts had beene cause sufficient to cause all the inhabitants of each of those riuers to looke to themselues . then hauing so many ships , barks , and boats in virginia as there was at that present , with what facility might you haue landed two hundred and twentie men , if you had but onely fiue or six boats in one night ; forty to range the branch of mattapanyent , fortie more that of youghtanund , and fortie more to keepe their randiuous at pamavuke it selfe . all which places lie so neere , they might heare from e●ch other within foure or fiue houres , and not any of those small parties , if there were any valour , discretion , or industry in them , but as sufficient as foure thousand , to force them all to contribution , or take or spoile all they had . for hauing thus so many conuenient randeuous to beleeue each other , though all the whole countries had beene our enemies , where could they rest , but in the depth of winter we might burne all the houses vpon all those riuers in two or three daies ? then without fires they could not liue , which they could not so hide but wee should finde , and quickly so tire them with watching and warding , they would be so weary of their liues , as either fly all their countries , or giue all they had to be released of such an hourely misery . now if but a small number of the saluages would assist vs , as there is no question but diuers of them would ; and so suppose they could not be drawne to such faction ; were to beleeue they are more vertuous then many christians , and the best gouerned people in the world . all the pamavukes might haue beene dispatched as well in a moneth as a yeare , and then to haue dealt with any other enemies at our pleasure , and yet made all this toile and danger but a recreation . if you think this strange or impossible , men with my selfe i found sufficient , to goe where i would adaies , and surprise a house with the people , if not a whole towne in a night , or incounter all the power they could make , as a whole army , as formerly at large hath beene related : and it seemes by these small parties last amongst them , by captaine crashow , hamar , and madyson , they are not growne to that excellency in policy and courage but they might bee encountred , and their wiues and children apprehended . i know i shall bee taxed for writing so much of my selfe , but i care not much , because the iudiciall know there are few such souldiers as are my examples , haue writ their owne actions , nor know i who will or can tell my intents better then my selfe . some againe finde as much fault with the company for medling with so many plantations together , because they that haue many irons in the fire some must burne ; but i thinke no if they haue men enow know how to worke them , but howsoeuer , it were better some burne then haue none at all . the king of spaine regards but how many powerfull kingdomes he keepes vnder his obedience , and for the saluage countries he hath subiected , they are more then enow for a good cosmographer to nominate , and is three mole-hills so much to vs ; and so many empires so little for him ? for my owne part , i cannot chuse but grieue , that the actions of an englishman should be inferior to any , and that the command of england should not be as great as any monarchy that euer was since the world began , i meane not as a tyrant to torment all christendome , but to suppresse her disturbers , and conquer her enemies . for the great romans got into their hand the whole worlds compasse , both by sea and land , or any seas , or heauen , or earth extended , and yet that nation could not be contented . much about this time arriued a small barke of barnestable , which had beene at the summer iles , and in her captaine nathaniel butler , who hauing beene gouernor there three yeares , and his commission expired , he tooke the opportunity of this ship to see virginia : at iames towne he was kindly entertained by sir francis wyat the gouernor . after he had rested there foureteene daies , he fell vp with his ship to the riuer of chickahamania , where meeting captaine william powell ▪ ioyning together such forces as they had to the number of eighty , they set vpon the chickahamanians , that fearefully fled , suffering the english to spoile all they had , not daring to resist them . thus he returned to iames towne , where hee staied a moneth , at kecoughtan as much more , and so returned for england . but riding at kecoughtan , m. iohn argent , sonne to doctor argent , a young gentleman that went with captaine butler from england to this place , michael fuller , william gany , cornelius may , and one other going ashore with some goods late in a faire euening , such a sudden gust did arise , that driue them thwart the riuer , in that place at least three or foure miles in bredth , where the s●ore was so shallow at a low water , and the boat beating vpon the sands , they left her , wading neere halfe a mile , and oft vp to the chin : so well it hapned , master argent had put his bandileir of powder in his hat , which next god was all their preseruations : for it being february , and the ground so cold , their bodies became so benumbed , they were not able to strike fire with a steele and a stone hee had in his pocket ; the stone they lost twice , and thus those poore soules groping in the darke , it was master argents chance to finde it , and with a few withered leaues , reeds , and brush , make a small fire , being vpon the chisapeaks shore , their mortall enemies , great was their feare to be discouered . the ioyfull morning appearing , they found their boat and goods driue ashore , not farie from them , but so split shee was vnseruiceable : but so much was the frost , their clothes did freeze vpon their backs , for they durst not make any great fire to dry them , lest thereby the bloudy saluages might discry them , so that one of them died the next day , and the next night digging a graue in the sands with their hands , buried him . in this bodily feare they liued and fasted two daies and nights , then two of them went into the land to seeke fresh water ; the others to the boat to get some meale and oyle , argent and his comrado found a canow , in which they resolued to aduenture to their ship , but shee was a drift in the riuer before they returned : thus frustrate of all hopes , captaine butler the third night ranging the shore in his boat to seeke them , discharged his muskets , but they supposing it some saluages had got some english peeces , they grew more perplexed then euer , so he returned and lost his labour . the fourth day they vnloaded their boat , and stopping her leakes with their handkerchiefes , and other rags , two rowing , and two bailing out the water ; but farre they went not ere the water grew vpon them so fast , and they so tired , they thought themselues happy to be on shore againe , though they perceiued the indians were not farre off by their fires . thus at the very period of despaire , fuller vndertooke to sit a stride vpon a little peece of an old canow ; so well it pleased god the wind and tide serued , by padling with his hands and feet in the water , beyond all expectation god so guided him three or foure houres vpon this boord , he arriued at their ship , where they no lesse amazed then he tired , they tooke him in . presently as he had concluded with his companions , he caused them discharge a peece of ordnance if he escaped , which gaue no lesse comfort to master argent and the rest , then terror to those plantations that heard it , ( being late ) at such an vnexpected alarum : but after , with warme clothes and a little strong water , they had a little recouered him , such was his courage and care of his distressed friends , he returned that night againe with master felgate to conduct him to them , and so giuing thanks to god for so hopelesse a deliuerance , it pleased his diuine power , both they and their prouision came safely aboord , but fuller they doubt will neuer recouer his benumbed legs and thighes . now before butlers arriuall in england , many hard speeches were rumored against him for so leauing his charge , before he receiued order from the company : diuers againe of his souldiers as highly commended him , for his good gouernment , art , iudgement and industry . but to make the misery of virginia appeare that it might be reformed in time , how all those cities , townes , corporations , forts , vineyards , nurseries of mulberies , glasse-houses , iron forges , guest-houses , silke-wormes ▪ colleges , the companies great estate , and that plenty some doe speake of here , are rather things in words and paper then in effect , with diuers reasons of the causes of those defects ; if it were false , his blame nor shame could not be too much : but if there bee such defects in the gouernment , and distresse in the colony , it is thought by many it hath beene too long concealed , and requireth rather reformation then disputation : but howeuer , it were not amisse to prouide for the worst , for the best will help it selfe . notwithstanding , it was apprehended so hardly , and examined with that passion , that the brute thereof was spread abroad with that expedition , it did more hurt then the massacre ; and the fault of all now by the vulgar rumour , must be attributed to the vnwholesomnesse of the ayre , and barrennesse of the countrey , as though all england were naught , because the fens and marshes are vnhealthy ; or barren , because some will lie vnder windowes and starue in cheap-side , rot in goales , die in the street , high-waies , or any where , and vse a thousand deuices to maintaine themselues in those miseries , rather then take any paines , to liue as they may by honest labour , and a great part of such like are the planters of virginia , and partly the occasion of those defailements . in the latter end of this last yeare , or the beginning of this , captaine h●nrie spilman a gentleman , that hath liued in those countries thirteene or foureteene yeares , one of the best interpreters in the land , being furnished with a barke and six and twentie men , hee was sent to trucke in the riuer of patawomek , where he had liued a long time amongst the saluages , whether hee presumed too much vpon his acquaintance amongst them , or they sought to be reuenged of any for the slaughter made amongst them by the english so lately , or hee sought to betray them , or they him , are all seuerall relations , but it seemes but imaginary : for then returned report they left him ashore about patawomek , but the name of the place they knew not , with one and twentie men , being but fiue in the barke , the saluages ere they suspected any thing , boorded them with their canowes , and entred so fast , the english were amazed , till a sailer gaue fire to a peece of ordnance onely at randome ; at the report whereof , the saluages leapt ouer-boord , so distracted with feare , they left their canowes and swum a shore ; and presently after they heard a great brute amongst the saluages a shore , and saw a mans head throwne downe the banke , whereupon they weighed anchor and returned home , but how he was surprised or slaine , is vncertaine . thus things proceed and vary not a iot , whether we knew them , or we know them not . a particular of such necessaries as either priuate families , or single persons , shall haue cause to prouide to goe to virginia , whereby greater numbers may in part conceiue the better how to prouide for themselues . apparell . a monmoth cap. s. d. falling bands . s. d. shirts . s. d. waste-coat . s. d. suit of canuase . s. d. suit of frize . s. suit of cloth. s. paire of irish stockings . s. paire of shooes . s. d. paire of garters . d. dozen of point● . d. paire of canuas sheets . s. ells of canuas to make a bed and boulster , to be filled in virginia , seruing for two men . s. ells of course canuas to make a bed at sea for two men . s. course rug at sea for two men . s.   l. victuall for a whole yeare for a man , and so after the rate for more . bushels of meale . l. bushels of pease . s. bushels of otemeale . s. gallon of aquavitae . s. d. gallon of oyle . s. d. gallons of vineger . s.   l. s. armes for a man , but if halfe your men be armed it is well , so all haue swords and peeces . armor compleat , light . s. long peece fiue foot and a halfe , neere musket bore . l. s. sword. s. belt. s. bandilier . s. d. pound of powder . s. pound of shot or lead , pistoll and goose shot . s.   l. s. d. tooles for a family of six persons , and so after the rate for more . broad howe 's at s. a peece . s. narrow howe 's at d. a peece . s. d. broad axes at s. d. a peece . s. d. felling axes at d. a peece . s. d. steele handsawes at d. a peece . s. d two handsawes at s. a peece . s. whipsaw , set and filed , with box , file and wrest . s. hammers d. a peece . s. shouels d. a peece . s. d. spades at d. a peece . s. augers at d. peece . s. chissels at d. a peece . s. percers stocked d. a peece . d. gimblets at d. a peece . d. hatchets at d. a peece . s. d. frowes to cleaue pale d. each s. hand bills d. a peece . s. d. grindstone . s. nailes of all sorts to the value of l. pickaxes . s.   l. s. d. houshold implements for a family and six persons , and so for more or lesse after the rate . iron pot . s. kettell . s. large frying-pan . s. d. gridiron . s. d. skellots . s. spit . s. platters , dishes , spoones of wood . s.   l. s. for sugar , spice , and fruit , and at sea for six men . s. d. so the full charge after this rate for each person , will amount about the summe of l. s. d. the passage of each man is l. the fraught of these prouisions for a man , will be about halfe a tun , which is l. s. so the whole charge will amount to about l. now if the number be great , nets , hooks and lines , but cheese , bacon , kine and goats must be added . and this is the vsuall proportion the virginia company doe bestow vpon their tenents they send . a briefe relation written by captaine smith to his maiesties commissioners for the reformation of virginia , concerning some aspersions against it . honourable gentlemen , for so many faire and nauigable riuers so neere adioyning , and piercing thorow so faire a naturall land , free from any inundations , or large fenny vnwholsome marshes , i haue not seene , read , nor heard of : and for the building of cities , townes , and wharfage , if they will vse the meanes , where there is no more ebbe nor floud , nature in few places affoords any so conuenient , for salt marshes or quagmires . in this tract of iames towne riuer i know very few ; some small marshes and swamps there are , but more profitable then hurtfull : and i thinke there is more low marsh ground betwixt eriffe and chelsey , then kecoughton and the falls , which is about one hundred and eighty miles by the course of the riuer . being enioyned by our commission not to vnplant nor wrong the saluages , because the channell was so neere the shore , where now is iames towne , then a thicke groue of trees ; wee cut them downe , where the saluages pretending as much kindnesse as could bee , they hurt and slew one and twenty of vs in two houres : at this time our diet was for most part water and bran , and three ounces of little better stuffe in bread for fiue men a meale , and thus we liued neere three moneths : our lodgings vnder boughes of trees , the saluages being our enemies , whom we neither knew nor vnderstood ; occasions i thinke sufficient to make men sicke and die . necessity thus did inforce me with eight or nine , to try conclusions amongst the saluages , that we got prouision which recouered the rest being most sicke . six weeks i was led captiue by those barbarians , though some of my men were slaine , and the rest fled , yet it pleased god to make their great kings daughter the means to returne me safe to iames towne , and releeue our wants , and then our common-wealth was in all eight and thirty , the remainder of one hundred and fiue . being supplied with one hundred and twenty , with twelue men in a boat of three tuns , i spent foureteene weeks in those large waters ; the contents of the way of my boat protracted by the skale of proportion , was about three thousand miles , besides the riuer we dwell vpon , where no christian knowne euer was , and our diet for the most part what we could finde , yet but one died . the saluages being acquainted , that by command from england we durst not hurt them , were much imboldned ; that famine and their insolencies did force me to breake our commission and instructions , cause powhatan fly his countrey , and take the king of pamavuke prisoner ; and also to keepe the king of paspahegh in shackels , and put his men to doubletaskes in chaines , till nine and thirty of their kings paied vs contribution , and the offending saluages sent to iames towne to punish at our owne discretions : in the two last yeares i staied there , i had not a man slaine . all those conclusions being not able to preuent the bad euents of pride and idlenesse , hauing receiued another supply of seuentie , we were about two hundred in all , but not twentie work-men : in following the strict directions from england to doe that was impossible at that time ; so it hapned , that neither wee nor they had any thing to eat , but what the countrey afforded naturally ; yet of eightie who liued vpon oysters in iune and iuly , with a pint of corne a week for a man lying vnder trees , and for the most part liuing vpon sturgion , which was dried til we pounded it to powder for meale , yet in ten weeks but seuen died . it is true , we had of tooles , armes , & munition sufficient , some aquavitae , vineger , meale , pease , and otemeale , but in two yeares and a halfe not sufficient for six moneths , though by the bils of loading the proportions sent vs , would well haue contented vs , notwithstanding we sent home ample proofes of pitch , tar , sope ashes , wainskot , clapboord , silke grasse , iron ore , some sturgion and glasse , saxefras , cedar , cypris , and blacke walnut , crowned powhaton , sought the monacans countrey , according to the instructions sent vs , but they caused vs neglect more necessary workes : they had better haue giuen for pitch and sope ashes one hundred pound a tun in denmarke : wee also maintained fiue or six seuerall plantations . iames towne being burnt , wee rebuilt it and three forts more , besides the church and store-house , we had about fortie or fiftie seuerall houses to keepe vs warme and dry , inuironed with a palizado of foureteene or fifteene foot , and each as much as three or foure men could carrie . we digged a faire well of fresh water in the fort , where wee had three bulwarks , foure and twentie peece of ordnance , of culuering , demiculuering , sacar and falcon , and most well mounted vpon conuenient plat-formes , planted one hundred acres of corne. we had but six ships to transport and supply vs , and but two hundred seuenty seuen men , boies , and women , by whose labours virginia being brought to this kinde of perfection , the most difficulties past , and the foundation thus laid by this small meanes ; yet because we had done no more , they called in our commission , tooke a new in their owne names , and appointed vs neere as many offices and officers as i had souldiers , that neither knew vs nor wee them , without our consents or knowledge ; since there haue gone more then one hundred ships of other proportions , and eight or ten thousand people . now if you please to compare what hath beene spent , sent , discouered and done this fifteene yeares , by that we did in the three first yeares , and euery gouernor that hath beene there since , giue you but such an account as this , you may easily finde what hath beene the cause of those disasters in virginia . then came in captaine argall , and master sedan , in a ship of master cornelius , to fish for sturgion , who had such good prouision , we contracted with them for it , whereby we were better furnished then euer . not long after came in seuen ships , with about three hundred people ; but rather to supplant vs then supply vs , their admirall with their authoritie being cast away in the bermudas , very angry they were we had made no better prouision for them . seuen or eight weekes we withstood the invndations of these disorderly humors , till i was neere blowne to death with gun-powder , which occasioned me to returne for england . in the yeare about michaelmas , i left the countrey , as is formerly related , with three ships , seuen boats , commodities to trade , haruest newly gathered , eight weeks prouision of corne and meale , about fiue hundred persons , three hundred muskets , shot , powder , and match , with armes for more men then we had . the saluages their language and habitation , well knowne to two hundred expert souldiers ; nets for fishing , tooles of all sorts , apparell to supply their wants : six mares and a horse , fiue or six hundred swine , many more powltry , what was brought or bred , but victuall there remained . hauing spent some fiue yeares , and more then fiue hundred pounds in procuring the letters patents and setting forward , and neere as much more about new england , &c. thus these nineteene yeares i haue here and there not spared any thing according to my abilitie , nor the best aduice i could , to perswade how those strange miracles of misery might haue beene preuented , which lamentable experience plainly taught me of necessity must insue , but few would beleeue me till now too deerely they haue paid for it . wherefore hitherto i haue rather left all then vndertake impossibilities , or any more such costly taskes at such chargeable rates : for in neither of those two countries haue i one foot of land , nor the very house i builded , nor the ground i digged with my owne hands , nor euer any content or satisfaction at all , and though i see ordinarily those two countries shared before me by them that neither haue them nor knowes them , but by my descriptions : yet that doth not so much trouble me , as to heare and see those contentions and diuisions which will hazard if not ruine the prosperitie of virginia , if present remedy bee not found , as they haue hindred many hundreds , who would haue beene there ere now , and makes them yet that are willing to stand in a demurre . for the books and maps i haue made , i will thanke him that will shew me so much for so little recompence , and beare with their errors till i haue done better . for the materials in them i cannot deny , but am ready to affirme them both there and here , vpon such grounds as i haue propounded , which is to haue but fifteene hundred men to subdue againe the saluages , fortifie the countrey , discouer that yet vnknowne , and both defend & feed their colony , which i most humbly refer to his maiesties most iudiciall iudgement , and the most honourable lords of his priuy councell , you his trusty and well-beloued commissioners , and the honourable company of planters and well-willers to virginia , new-england and sommer-ilands . out of these obseruations it pleased his maiesties commissioners for the reformation of virginia , to desire my answer to these seuen questions . quest. . what conceiue you is the cause the plantation hath prospered no better since you left it in so good a forwardnesse ? answ. idlenesse and carelesnesse brought all i did in three yeeres in six moneths to nothing , and of fiue hundred i left , scarce threescore remained , and had sir thomas gates not got from the bermudas , i thinke they had beene all dead before they could be supplied . quest. . what conceiue you should be the cause , though the country be good , there comes nothing but tobacco ? answ. the oft altering of gouernours it seemes causes euery man make vse of his time , and because corne was stinted at two shillings six pence the bushell , and tobacco at three shillings the pound , and they value a mans labour a yeere worth fifty or threescore pound , but in corne not worth ten pound , presuming tobacco will furnish them with all things ; now make a mans labour in corne worth threescore pound , and in tobacco but ten pound a man , then shall they haue corne sufficient to entertaine all commers , and keepe their people in health to doe any thing , but till then , there will be little or nothing to any purpose . quest. . what conceiue you to haue beene the cause of the massacre , and had the saluages had the vse of any peeces in your time , or when , or by whom they were taught ? answ. the cause of the massacre was the want of marshall discipline , and because they would haue all the english had by destroying those they found so carelesly secure , that they were not prouided to defend themselues against any enemy , being so dispersed as they were . in my time , though captaine nuport furnished them with swords by truck , and many fugitiues did the like , and some peeces they got accidentally , yet i got the most of them againe , and it was death to him that should shew a saluage the vse of a peece . since i vnderstand they became so good shot , they were imployed for fowlers and huntsmen by the english. quest. . what charge thinke you would haue setled the gouernment both for defence and planting when you left it ? answ. twenty thousand pound would haue hyred good labourers and mechanicall men , and haue furnished them with cattle and all necessaries , and . of them would haue done more then a thousand of those that went , though the lord laware , sir ferdinando waynman , sir thomas gates and sir thomas dale were perswaded to the contrary , but when they had tried , they confessed their error . quest. . what conceiue you would be the remedy and the charge ? answ. the remedy is to send souldiers and all sorts of labourers and necessaries for them , that they may be there by next michaelmas , the which to doe well will stand you in fiue thousand pound , but if his maiesty would please to lend two of his ships to transport them , lesse would serue , besides the benefit of his grace to the action would encourage all men . quest. . what thinke you are the defects of the gouernment both here and there ? answ. the multiplicity of opinions here , and officers there , makes such delaies by questions and formalitie , that as much time is spent in complement as in action ; besides , some are so desirous to imploy their ships , hauing six pounds for euery passenger , and three pounds for euery tun of goods , at which rate a thousand ships may now better be procured then one at the first , when the common stocke defrayed all fraughts , wages , prouisions and magazines , whereby the ships are so pestred , as occasions much sicknesse , diseases and mortality , for though all the passengers die they are sure of their fraught ; and then all must be satisfied with orations , disputations , excuses and hopes . as for the letters of aduice from hence , and their answers thence , they are so well written , men would beleeue there were no great doubt of the performance , and that all things were wel , to which error here they haue beene euer much subiect ; and there not to beleeue , or not to releeue the true and poore estate of that colony , whose fruits were commonly spent before they were ripe , and this losse is nothing to them here , whose great estates are not sensible of the losse of their aduentures , and so they thinke ; or will not take notice ; but it is so with all men : but howsoeuer they thinke or dispose of all things at their pleasure , i am sure not my selfe onely , but a thousand others haue not onely spent the most of their estates , but the most part haue lost their liues and all , onely but to make way for the triall of more new conclusions , and he that now will aduenture but twelue pounds ten shillings , shall haue better respect and as much fauour then he that sixteene yeere agoe aduentured as much , except he haue money as the other hath , but though he haue aduentured fiue hundred pound , and spent there neuer so much time , if hee haue no more and not able to begin a family of himselfe , all is lost by order of court. but in the beginning it was not so , all went then out of one purse , till those new deuices haue consumed both mony and purse ; for at first there were but six patentees , now more then a thousand , then but thirteene counsailors , now not lesse then an hundred ; i speake not of all , for there are some both honourable and honest , but of those officers , which did they manage their owne estates no better then the affaires of virginia , they would quickly fall to decay so well as it ; but this is most euident , few officers in england it hath caused to turne banquerupts , nor for all their complaints would leaue their places , neither yet any of their officers there , nor few of the rest but they would be at home , but fewer aduenturers here will aduenture any more till they see the businesse better established , although there be some so wilfully improuident they care for nothing but to get thither , and then if their friends be dead , or want themselues , they die or liue but poorely for want of necessaries , and to thinke the old planters can releeue them were too much simplicity ; for who here in england is so charitable to feed two or three strangers , haue they neuer so much ; much lesse in virginia where they want for themselues . now the generall complaint saith , that pride , couetousnesse , extortion and oppression in a few that ingrosses all , then sell all againe to the comminalty at what rate they please , yea euen men , women and children for who will giue most , occasions no small mischiefe amongst the planters . as for the company , or those that doe transport them , prouided of necessaries , god forbid but they should receiue their charges againe with aduantage , or that masters there should not haue the same priuilege ouer their seruants as here , but to sell him or her for forty , fifty , or threescore pounds , whom the company hath sent ouer for eight or ten pounds at the most , without regard how they shall be maintained with apparell , meat , drinke and lodging , is odious , and their fruits sutable , therefore such merchants it were better they were made such merchandize themselues , then suffered any longer to vse that trade , and those are defects sufficient to bring a well setled common-wealth to misery , much more virginia . quest. . how thinke you it may be rectified ? answ. if this maiestie would please to intitle it to his crowne , and yearely that both the gouernours here and there may giue their accounts to you , or some that are not ingaged in the businesse , that the common stocke bee not spent in maintaining one hundred men for the gouernour , one hundred for two deputies , fifty for the treasurer , fiue and twenty for the secretary , and more for the marshall and other officers who were neuer there nor aduentured any thing , but onely preferred by fauour to be lords ouer them that broke the ice and beat the path , and must teach them what to doe , if any thing happen well , it is their glory ; if ill , the fault of the old directors , that in all dangers must endure the worst , yet not fiue hundred of them haue so much as one of the others ; also that there bee some present course taken to maintaine a garrison to suppresse the saluages , till they be able to subsist , and that his maiesty would please to remit his custome , or it is to be feared they will lose custome and all , for this cannot be done by promises , hopes , counsels and countenances , but with sufficient workmen and meanes to maintaine them , not such delinquents as here cannot be ruled by all the lawes in england , yet when the foundation is laid , as i haue said , and a common-wealth established , then such there may better be constrained to labour then here : but to rectifie a common-wealth with debaushed people is impossible , and no wise man would throw himselfe into such a society , that intends honestly , and knowes what he vndertakes , for there is no country to pillage as the romans found : all you expect from thence must be by labour . for the gouernment i thinke there is as much adoe about it as the kingdomes of scotland and ireland , men here conceiting virginia as they are , erecting as many stately offices as officers with their attendants , as there are labourers in the countrey , where a constable were as good as twenty of their captaines , and three hundred good souldiers and labourers better then all the rest that goe onely to get the fruits of other mens labours by the title of an office . thus they spend michaelmas rent in mid-summer moone , and would gather their haruest before they haue planted their corne. as for the maintenance of the officers , the first that went neuer demanded any , but aduentured good summes , and it seemes strange to me , the fruits of all their labours , besides the expence of an hundred and fifty thousand pounds , and such multitudes of people , those collaterall officers could not maintaine themselues so well as the old did , and hauing now such liberty to doe to the saluages what they will , the others had not . i more then wonder they haue not fiue hundred saluages to worke for them towards their generall maintenance , and as many more to returne some content and satisfaction to the aduenturers , that for all their care , charge and diligence , can heare nor see nothing but miserable complaints ; therefore vnder your correction to rectifie all , is with all expedition to passe the authority to them who will releeue them , lest all bee consumed ere the differences be determined . and except his maiestie vndertake it , or by act of parlament some small tax may be granted throughout his dominions , as a penny vpon euery poll , called a head-penny ; two pence vpon euery chimney , or some such collection might be raised , and that would be sufficient to giue a good stocke , and many seruants to sufficient men of any facultie , and transport them freely for paying onely homage to the crowne of england , and such duties to the publike good as their estates increased reason should require . were this put in practice , how many people of what quality you please , for all those disasters would yet gladly goe to spend their liues there , and by this meanes more good might be done in one yeere , then all those pety particular vndertakings will effect in twenty . for the patent the king may , if he please , rather take it from them that haue it , then from vs who had it first , pretending to his maiesty what great matters they would doe , and how little we did , and for any thing i can conceiue , had we remained still as at first , it is not likely we could haue done much worse ; but those oft altering of gouernments are not without much charge , hazard and losse . if i be too plaine , i humbly craue your pardon ; but you requested me , therefore i doe but my duty . for the nobility , who knowes not how freely both in their purses and assistances many of them haue beene to aduance it , committing the managing of the businesse to inferiour persons , amongst whom questionlesse also many haue done their vtmost best , sincerely and truly according to their conceit , opinion and vnderstanding ; yet grosse errors haue beene committed , but no man liues without his fault ; for my owne part , i haue so much adoe to amend my owne , i haue no leisure to looke into any mans particular , but those in generall i conceiue to be true . and so i humbly rest yours to command , i. s. thus those discords , not being to be compounded among themselues , nor yet by the extraordinary diligences , care and paines of the noble and right worthy commissioners , sir william iones , sir nicholas fortescue , sir francis goston , sir richard sutton , sir henry bourgchier and sir william pit ; a corante was granted against master deputy farrar , and . or . others of that party to plead their causes before the right honourable , the lords of his maiesties priuy councell : now notwithstanding all the relations , examinations , and intercepting of all letters whatsoeuer came from thence , yet it seemes they were so farre vnsatisfied and desired to know the truth , as well for the preseruation of the colony , as to giue content and doe all men right , they sent two commissioners strictly to examine the true estate of the colony . vpon whose returne after mature deliberation , it pleased his royall maiesty to suppresse the course of the court at deputy farrars , and that for the present ordering the affaires of virginia , vntill he should make a more full settlement thereof , the lord viscount mandeuile , lord president of his maiesties priuie councell , and also other priuy councellors , with many vnderstanding knights and gentlemen , should euery thursday in the afternoone meet at sir thomas smiths in philpot lane , where all men whom it should concerne may repaire , to receiue such directions and warrant for their better security , as more at large you may see in the proclamation to that effect , vnder the great seale of england , dated the . of iuly , . but as for the relations last returned , what numbers they are , how many cities , corporations , townes , and houses , cattle and horse they haue , what fortifications or discoueries they haue made , or reuenge vpon the saluages ; who are their friends or foes , or what commodities they haue more then tobacco , & their present estate or what is presently to be put in execution , in that the commissioners are not yet fully satisfied in the one , nor resolued in the other , at this present time when this went to the presse , i must intreat you pardon me till i be better assured . thus far i haue trauelled in this wildernesse of virginia , not being ignorant for all my paines this discourse will be wrested , tossed and turned as many waies as there is leaues ; that i haue writ too much of some , too little of others , and many such like obiections . to such i must answer , in the companies name i was requested to doe it , if any haue concealed their approued experiences from my knowledge , they must excuse me : as for euery fatherles ▪ or stolne relation , or whole volumes of sofisticated rehearsals , i leaue them to the charge of them that desire them . i thanke god i neuer vndertooke any thing yet any could tax me of carelesnesse or dishonesty , and what is hee to whom i am indebted or troublesome ? ah! were these my accusers but to change cases and places with me but . yeeres , or till they had done but so much as i , it may be they would iudge more charitably of my imperfections . but here i must leaue all to the triall of time , both my selfe , virginia's preparations , proceedings and good euents , praying to that great god the protector of all goodnesse to send them as good successe as the goodnesse of the action and country deserueth , and my heart desireth . finis . the fifth booke . the generall historie of the bermvdas , now called the summer iles , from their beginning in the yeere of our lord . to this present . with their proceedings , accidents and present estate . before we present you the matters of fact , it is fit to offer to your view the stage whereon they were acted , for as geography without history seemeth a carkasse without motion , so history without geography , wandreth as a vagrant without a certaine habitation . those ilands lie in the huge maine ocean , and two hundred leagues from any continent , situated in . degrees and . minutes , of northerly latitude , and distant from england west south-west , about . miles , some twenty miles in length , and not past two miles and a halfe in breadth , enuironed with rocks , which to the north-ward , west-ward , and south-east , extend further then they haue bin yet well discouered : by reason of those rocks the country is naturally very strong , for there is but two places , & scare two , vnlesse to them who know them well , where shipping may safely come in , and those now are exceeding well fortified , but within is roome to entertaine a royall fleet : the rocks in most places appeare at a low water , neither are they much couered at a high , for it ebbs and flowes not past fiue foot ; the shore for most part is a rocke , so hardened with the sunne , wind and sea , that it is not apt to be worne away with the waues , whose violence is also broke by the rocks before they can come to the shore : it is very 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 . 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 . there are great abundance of white , red and yellow coloured potatoes , tobacco , sugarcanes , indicos , parsnips , exceeding large r●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 whatsoeuer else may be expected for the satisfaction either of curiosity , necessity or delight . neither hath the aire for her part been wanting with due supplies of many sorts of fowles , as the gray and white hearne , the gray and greene plouer , some wilde ducks and malards , coots and red-shankes , sea-wigions , gray-bitterns , cormorants , numbers of small birds like sparrowes and robins , which haue lately beene destroyed by the wilde cats , wood-pickars , very many crowes , which since this plantation are kild , the rest fled or seldome seene except in the most vninhabited places , from whence they are obserued to take their flight about sun set , directing their course towards the north-west , which makes many coniecture there are some more ilands not far off that way . sometimes are also seene falcons & iar-falcons , ospraies , a bird like a hobby , but because they come seldome , they are held but as passengers ; but aboue all these , most deseruing obseruation and respect are those two sorts of birds , the one for the tune of his voice , the other for the effect , called the cahow , and egge ▪ bird , which on the first of may , a day constantly obserued , fall a laying infinite store of eggs neere as big as hens , vpon certaine small sandie baies especially in coupers i le ; and although men sit downe amongst them when hundreds haue bin gathered in a morning , yet there is hath stayed amongst them till they haue gathered as many more : they continue this course till midsummer , and so tame & feareles , you must thrust them off from their eggs with your hand ; then they grow so faint with laying , they suffer them to breed & take infinite numbers of their yong to eat , which are very excellent meat . the cahow is a bird of the night , for all the day she lies hid in holes in the rocks , where they and their young are also taken with as much ease as may be , but in the night if you but whoop and hollow , they will light vpon you , that with your hands you may chuse the fat and leaue the leane ; those they haue only in winter : their eggs are as big as hens , but they are speckled , the other white . mr. norwood hath taken twenty dozen of them in three or foure houres , and since there hath beene such hauocke made of them , they were neere all destroyed , till there was a strict inhibition for their preseruation . the tropicke bird is white , as large as a pullet , with one onely long feather in her taile , and is seldome seene far distant from other of the tropicks : another small bird there is , because she cries pemblyco they call her so , she is seldome seene in the day but when she sings , as too oft she doth very clamorously ; too true a prophet she proues of huge winds and boysterous weather : there were a kinde of small owles in great abundance , but they are now all slaine or fled : some tame ducks , geese and pigeons there are , but the two latter prosper not . concerning vermine and noisome creatures , there are not many , but onely rats and cats , there increased since the plantation , but how they agree together you shall heare hereafter . the musketas and flies are also too busie , with a certaine india bug , called by the spaniards a cacarootch , the which creeping into chests they eat and defile with their ill-sented dung : also the little ants in summer time are so troublesome , they are forced to dry their figs vpon high frames ▪ and anoint their feet with tar , wherein they sticke , else they would spoile them all ere they could be dryed : wormes in the earth also there are , but too many , so that to keepe them from destroying their corne and tobacco , they are forced to worme them euery morning , which is a great labour , else all would be destroyed . lizards there were many and very large , but now none , and it is laid they were destroyed by the cat. certaine spiders also of very large size are found hanging vpon trees , but instead of being any way dangerous as in other places , they are here of a most pleasing aspect , all ouer drest , as it were with siluer , gold , and pearle , and their webs in the summer wouen from tree to tree , are generally a perfect raw silke , and that as well in regard of substance as colour , and so strong withall , that diuers birds bigger than black-birds , being like snipes , are often taken and snared in them as a net : then what would the silke-worme doe were she● there to feede vpon the continuall greene mulbery ? but aboue all the rest of the elements , the sea is found most abundantly liberall : hence haue they as much excellent fish , and as much variety as need be desired . the most of which being vnknowne to our northerne parts , got there new names , either for their shapes or conditions ; as the large rocke-fish from his like hew , and haunting amongst the rocks , the fat hog-fish from his swine-like shape and shout : for this is not the old knowne hog-fish with brussels on his backe ; the delicate amber-fish from his taste and smell , angell-fish , cony-fish , the small yellow taile from that naturall painting ; the great growper from his odde and strange grunting , some of them yet knowne to the americans , as the purgoose , the cauallo , the gar-fish , flying-fish and morerayes : the rest are common to other continents ; as the whale in great numbers , the sharke , the pilot-fish , the sea-breame , the oyster and lobster , with diuers others ; twenty tortoises haue beene taken in a day , and some of them will affoord halfe a bushell of egges , and suffice to feed forty men at a meale . and thus haue you briefely epitomized mother natures benefits to this little , yet dainty spot of earth , neither were it ingenuity to conceale wherein shee inclineth to the stepdame , especially since the particulars are so few , as rather requisite antidotes against idlenesse to rouse vp industry , then any great cause of much distaste , much lesse despaire : and of those to speake troth , there are onely two : viz. the winds , and the wormes , especially in the spring and autumne ; and thus conditioned as yet we will let rest these small ilands , in the midst of this mightie and maine ocean , so inuironed on euery side , by infinite numbers of vncertaine scattered rocks , lying shallowly hid vnder the surface of the water , a league , two , three , foure , or fiue , to sea , to the which aduantagers added by art , as hereafter you shall heare at large , and finde described in the map. it may well be concluded to be the most impregnable place in the world , and although the amber greece , pearles , nor tobacco , are of that quantity and certainty to be relied vpon to gaine wealth ; yet by practise and experience they finde , by silke , saffron , indico , madar , sugar-canes , wine , oile , and such like great profit may be expected : yet were those hopelesse in regard of their conueniency to nourish and maintaine themselues , and releeue them shall visit them with wood , water , and other necessaries , besides what an eye-sore they are already becommed to them that haue them not , and how deare and pretious to them that haue them , i thinke none will deny but they are well worth the keeping : and so we will proceed to the accidents that befell the first finders ; also the proceedings of the first planters and their successors , master norrod , thomas sparkes , and diuers others . a briefe relation of the shipwracke of henry may. how these iles came by the name of bermudas , or the infinite number of blacke hogs , or so fearefull to the world , that many called them the i le of deuils , that all men did shun as hell and perdition ; i will not expostulate , nor trouble your patiences with those vncertaine antiquities further then thus ; our men found diuers crosses , peeces of spanish monies here and there . two or three wracks also they found , by certaine inscriptions to bee some spanish , some dutch , some french ; but the greatest rumour is , that a spanish ship called bermudas was there cast away , carrying hogges to the west-indies that swam a shore , and there increased : how the spaniards escaped is vncertaine : but they say , from that ship those iles were first called bermudas , which tilt then for six thousand yeares had beene namelesse . but the first english-man that was euer in them , was one henry may , a worthy mariner that went with captaine lancaster to the east-indies . and in their returne by the west-indies , being in some distresse , sent this henry may for england by one mounsier de la barbotier , to acquaint the merchants with their estate . the last of nouember , saith may , we departed from laguna in hispaniola , and the seuenteenth of december following , we were cast away vpon the north-west of the bermudas ; the pilots about noone made themselues southwards of the iles twelue leagues , and demanded of the captaine their wine of hight as out of all danger , which they had : but it seeme , they were either drunke , or carelesse of their charge ; for through their negligences a number of good men were cast away . i being but a stranger amongst fiftie and odde french-men , it pleased god to appoint me to be one of them should be saued . in this extremity we made a raft , which we towed with our boat , there were but six and twentie of vs saued ; and i seeing scarce roome for the one halfe , durst not passe in amongst them till the captaine called me along with him , leauing the better halfe to the seas mercy : that day we rowed till within two houres of night ere we could land , being neere dead with thirst , euery man tooke his way to seeke fresh water , at length , by searching amongst many weeds , we found some raine water , but in the maine are many faire baies , where we had enough for digging . now it pleased god before our ship split we saued our carpenters tooles , some nailes , sailes , and tacklings , wherewith we went roundly to worke , and built a barke of eighty tunues : in stead of pitch , we made lime , mixed with tortoise oyle , and as the carpenters calked her , i and another paied the seames with this plaster , which being in aprill , became quickly dry , and as hard as a stone . in aprill it was so hot , we feared our water would faile , two great chests wee made , which we calked as our ship ; those we stowed on each side our maine mast , filled them with water and thirtie liue tortoises : wee found many hogges , but so leane wee could not eat them ; the tops of the palmetaberries was our bread , and the iuyce we got out of the trees we cut downe our drinke , and of the leaues , which are more then an ell long , we couered our cabens , & made our beds , and found many of those prouisions as is related , but little foule weather . the eleuenth of may it pleased god to set vs cleere of the i le , after wee had liued there fiue moneths : and the twentieth wee fell with cape britton , neere new found land , where refreshing our selues with wood and water , and such things as we could get of the saluages , it seemed a good countrey , but we staied not past foure houres before we set saile for the banke of new found land , where wee met many ships , but not any would take in a man of vs , vntill it pleased god we met a barke of fawmothe , which receiued vs for a little time , and with her we tooke a french ship , wherein i left captaine de la barbotier , my deare friend , and all his company : and in august arriued at falmouth in this honest english barke , . written by me henry may. the first english ship knowne to haue beene cast away vpon the bermudas . from the relation of mr. iordan , master iohn euens , master henry shelly , and diuers others . you haue heard , that when captaine smith was gouernor of virginia , there were nine ships sent with sir thomas gates , and sir george somers , and captaine nuport with fiue hundred people , to take in the old commission , and rectifie a new gouernment : they set saile in may , and in the height of thirty degrees of northerly latitude , they were taken with an extreme storme , or rather a part of hericano , vpon the fiue and twentieth of iuly , which as they write , did not onely separate them from the fleet , but with the violent working of the seas , their ship became so shaken , torne , and leake , she receiued so much water as couered two tire of hogsheads aboue the ballace , that they stood vp to the middles , with buckets , baricos , and kettles , to baile out the water . thus bailing and pumping three daies and three nights without intermission , and yet the water seemed rather to increase then diminish , in so much that being all vtterly spent with labour , were euen resolued without any hope to shut vp the hatches , and commit themselues to the mercy of the sea , which is said to be mercilesse , or rather to the mercy of almighty god , whose mercy farre exceeds all his workes ; seeing no sense or hope in mans apprehension , but presently to sinke : some hauing some good and comfortable waters , fetched them and dranke one to another , as taking their last leaues vntill a more happy , and a more ioyfull meeting in a more blessed world , when it pleased god out of his most gracious and mercifull prouidence , so to direct and guide their ship for her most aduantage ; that sir george somers all this time sitting vpon the poupe , scarce taking leisure to eat nor sleepe , couing the ship to keepe her as vpright as he could , otherwaies she must long ere that needs haue foundered , most wishedly and happily descried land ; whereupon he most comfortably incouraged them to follow their worke , many of them being fast asleepe : this vnlooked for welcome newes , as if it had bin a voice from heauen , hurrieth them all aboue hatches , to looke for that they durst scarce beleeue , so that improuidently forsaking that taske which imported no lesse then their liues , they gaue so dangerous aduantage to their greedy enemy the salt water , which still entred at the large breaches of their poore wooden castle , as that in gaping after life , they had well-nigh swallowed their death . surely it is impossible any should now be vrged to doe his best , and although they knew it , that place all men did so shun , yet they spread all the faile they could to attaine them : for not long it was before they strucke vpon a rocke , till a surge of the sea cast her from thence , and so from one to another , till most luckily at last so vpright betwixt two , as if she had beene in the stocks , till this they expected but euery blow a death : but now behold , suddenly the wind giues place to a calme , and the billowes , which each by ouertaking her , would in an instant haue shiuered her in peeces , become peaceable and still , so that with all conueniency and ease , they vnshipped all their goods , victuall , and persons into their boats , and with extreme ioy , euen almost to amazednesse , arriued in safetie , though more then a league from the shore , without the losse of a man ; yet were they in all one hundred and fiftie : yet their deliuerance was not more strange in falling so happily vpon the land , as their feeding and preseruation was beyond their hopes ; for you haue heard , it hath beene to the spaniards more fearefull then an vtopian purgatory , and to all sea-men no lesse terrible then an inchanted den of furies and deuils , the most dangerous , vnfortunate , and forlorne place in the world , and they found it the richest , healthfullest and pleasantest they euer saw , as is formerly said . being thus safe on shore , they disposed themselues to search the iles for food and water ; others to get a shore what they could from the ship ; not long sir george wandred but found such a fishing , that in halfe an houre with a hooke and line , he tooke so many as sufficed the whole company , in some places they were so thicke in the coues , and so great , they durst not goe in left they should bite them , and these rocke fish are so great two will load a man , and fatter nor better fish cannot be . mr. shelly found a bay neere a quarter of a mile ouer , so full of mullets , as none of them before had euer seene or heard of the like : the next day seeking to kill them with fis-gigs , they stracke so many the water in many places was red with bloud , yet caught not one , but with a net they caught so many as they could draw a shore , with infinite number of pilchards and diuers other sorts ; great craw-fishes in a night by making a fire they haue taken in great quantity . sir george had twice his hooke and line broke out of his hand , but the third time he made it so strong he caught the same fish , which had pulled him into the sea had not his men got hold of him , whereby he had his three hookes againe were found in her belly . at their first hunting for hogs they found such abundance ; they killed and this hunting & fishing was appointed to captaine robert walsingham , and mr. henry shelly for the company in general : they report they killed at least . besides pigs , and many that were killed by diuers others ; for the birds in their seasons , the facility to make their cabens of palmera leaues , caused many of them vtterly forget or desire euer to returne from thence , they liued in such plenty , peace and ease . but let vs remember how the knights began to resolue in those desperat affaires : many proiects they had , but at last it was concluded , to decke their long boat with their ship hatches ; which done , with all expedition they sent master rauen , a very sufficient mariner , with eight more in her to virginia , to haue shipping from thence to fetch them away ; three weekes or a moneth they expected her returne , but to this day she was neuer more heard of ; all this time was spent in searching the iles : now although god still fed them with this abundance of plenty , yet such was the malice of enuy or ambition , for all this good seruice done by sommers , such a great difference fell amongst their commanders , that they liued asunder in this distresse , rather as meere strangers then distressed friends : but necessity so commanded , patience had the victory . two ships at this time by those seuerall parties were a building ; in the meane time two children were borne , the boy was called bermudas , the girle bermuda , and amongst all those sorrowes they had a merry english mariage ; the forme of those iles you may see at large in the map of mr. norwood , where you may plainly see no place knowne hath better walls , nor a broader ditch . but hauing finished and rigged their two new cedar ships with such prouisions they saued from the sea-aduenturer they left amongst the rocks , they called the one the patience , the other the deliuerance ; they vsed lime and oile , as may did for pitch and tar. sir george summers had in his barke no iron at all but one bolt in her keele ; now hauing made their prouisions of victuall and all things ready , they set saile the tenth of may . onely leauing two men behinde them , called christopher carter and edward waters , that for their offences , or the suspition they had of their iudgements , fled into the woods , and there rather desired to end their daies then stand to their trials and the euent of iustice ; for one of their consorts was shot to death , and waters being tied to a tree also to be executed , had by chance a knife about him , and so secretly cut the rope , he ran into the woods where they could not finde him . there were two saluages also sent from virginia by captain smith , the one called namuntack , the other matchumps , but some such differences fell betweene them , that matchumps slew namuntack , and hauing made a hole to bury him , because it was too short , he cut of his legs and laid them by him , which murder he concealed till he was in virginia . the foure and twentieth of the same moneth they arriued in virginia at iames towne , where they found but threescore persons , as you may reade at large in the history of virginia , of the fiue hundred left by captaine smith , also of the arriuall of the lord laware , that met them thus bound for england , returned them backe , and vnderstanding what plenty there was of hogs and other good things in the bermudas , was desirous to send thither to supply his necessary occasions ; whereupon sir george summers , the best acquainted with the place , whose noble minde euer regarded a generall good more then his owne ends , though aboue threescore yeeres of age , and had meanes in england sutable to his ranke , offered himselfe by gods helpe to performe this dangerous voyage againe for the bermudas , which was kindly accepted , so vpon the . of iune , he imbarked in his cedar ship , about the burthen of thirty tunnes , and so set saile . much foule and crosse weather he had , and was forced to the north parts of virginia , where refreshing himselfe vpon this vnknowne coast , he could not bee diuerted from the search of the bermudas , where at last with his company he safely arriued : but such was his diligence with his extraordinary care , paines and industry to dispatch his businesse , and the strength of his body not answering the euer memorable courage of his minde , hauing liued so long in such honourable seruices , the most part of his well beloued and vertuous life , god and nature here determined , should euer remaine a perpetuall memory of his much bewailed sorrow for his death : finding his time but short , after he had taken the best course he could to settle his estate , like a valiant captaine he exhorted them with all diligence to be constant to those plantations , and with all expedition to returne to virginia . in that very place which we now call saint georges towne , this noble knight died , whereof the place taketh the name . but his men , as men amazed , seeing the death of him who was euen as the life of them all , embalmed his body and set saile for england , being the first that euer went to seeke those ilands , which haue beene euer since called summers iles , in honour of his worthy memory , leauing three men behind them , that voluntarily stayed , whose names were christopher carter , edward waters , there formerly left as is said , and edward chard . this cedar ship at last with his dead body arriued at whit-church in dorsetshire , where by his friends he was honourably buried , with many vollies of shot , and the rites of a souldier , and vpon his tombe was bestowed this epitaph . hei mihi virginia quod tam cito praeterit aestas , autumnus sequitur , saeuiet inde & biems ; at ver perpetuum nascetur , & anglialaeta , decerpit flores florida terra tuas . in english thus : alas virginia's summer so soone past , autumne succeeds and stormy winters blast , yet englands ioyfull spring with ioyfull showers , o florida , shall bring thy sweetest flowers . the honour of this resulution belongs principally to carter , for through his importunity , not to leaue such a place abandoned , chard & waters were moued to stay with him , and the rest promised w●th all the speed they could againe to reuisit them . but the ship once out of sight , those three lords , the sole inhabitants of all those ilands , began to erect their little common wealth for a while with brotherly regency , repairing the ground , planting corne , and such seeds and fruits as they had , building a house , &c. then making priuy search amongst the creusses and corners of those craggy rocks , what this maine ocean since the worlds creation had throwne amongst them , at last they chanced vpon the greatest peece of amber-greece was euer seene or heard of in one lumpe , being in weight fourescore pound , besides diuers other small peeces . but now being rich , they grew so proud and ābitious , contempt tooke such place , they fell out for superiority , though but three forlorne men , more then three thousand miles from their natiue country , and but small hope euer to see it againe . notwithstanding , they sometimes fell from words to blowes about meere trifles : in one of which fights , one of them was bitten with his owne dog , as if the dumbe beast would reproue them of their folly ; at last chard and waters , the two greater spirits , must try it out in the field , but carter wisely stole away their weapons , affecting rather to liue amongst his enemies , then by being rid of them liue alone ; and thus those miserable men liued full two yeeres , so that all their clothes were neere worne cleane from their backs , and their hopes of any forraine releefe as naked as their bodies . at last they began to recouer their wits , yet in a fashion perhaps would haue cost them dearer then when they were mad ; for concluding a tripartite peace of their marachin warre , they resolued to frame as good a boat as they could , and therein to make a desperate attempt for virginia , or new found land ; but no sooner were they entred into that resolution , but they descried a saile standing in for the shore , though they neither knew what she was , nor what she would , they were so ouer-ioyed , with all possible speed they went to meet her , and according to their hearts desire she proued an english-man , whom they safely conducted into their harbour . now you are to vnderstand , that captaine matthew somers . nephew and heire to sir george , that returned with his dead body , though both he and his company did their vtmost in relating all those passages to their countrey-men and aduenturers , their relations were beleeued but as trauellers tales , till it came to be apprehended by some of the virginia company , how beneficiall it might be , and helpfull to the plantation in virginia , so that some one hundred and twentie of them bought the pretended right of all the company , and had sent this ship to make a triall ; but first they had obtained letters patents of the kings most excellent maiestie . sir thomas smith was elected treasurer and gouernor heere , and master richard more to be gouernor of the iles and colony there . the first beginning of a colonie in the somer iles , vnder the command of master richard more , extracted out of a plot of master richard norwood surueior , and the relations of diuer's others . master more thus finding those three men not onely well and lusty , but well stored with diuers sorts of prouisions , as an acre of corne ready to be gathered , numbers of pumpions and indian beanes , many tortoises ready taken , good store of hogs flesh salted , and made in flitches of bacon , were very good , and so presently landed his goods and sixty persons towards the beginning of iuly . vpon the south side of smiths i le . not long after his arriuall , more hauing some priuate intelligence of this amber-greece , tooke first chard in examination , he being one of the three the most masterfull spirit , what amber-greece , pearle , treasure , or other commodities they had found . chard no lesse witty then resolute , directly answered ; not any thing at all but the fruits of the i le , what his fellowes had done he knew not , but if they had , he doubted not but to finde it out , and then hee should know it certainly . this he spake onely to win time to sweare his consorts to secrecy , and he would finde the meanes how they should all returne in that ship with it all for england , otherwise they should be deceiued of all . till this was effected they thought euery houre an age ; now for the better conueiance of it aboord , they acquainted it to captaine dauis , master of the ship , and one master edwin kendall , that for their secrecy and transportation should participate with them : without further ceremony the match was accepted , and absolutely concluded , the plot laid , time and place set downe to haue it aboord . but carter , were it for feare the gouernor at last should know of it , to whom so oft they had denied it ; or that the rest should deceiue him , is vncertaine ; but most certaine it is , he reuealed all the plot to master more : to get so much wealth he knew would please them in england , though it did displease all his company , and to lose such a prize he would not for hazarding a mutiny . so first hee reuealed himselfe to kendall in faire tearmes , reprouing his dishonesty , but not being answered according to his expectation , he committed both chard and him to person . the next sabboath day dauis comming on shore , more also taxed with very hard language and many threats , to lay him fast also if he mended not his manners ; dauis for the present replied little , but went with him to the place of praier : but in the midst of diuine seruice he goeth away , commanding all his sea-men to follow him presently aboord , where he encourageth them to stand to him like men , and hee would free the prisoners , haue all the amber-greece for themselues , and so be gone . the gouernor hearing of this resolution , prepares with his company to repulse force with force , so that a generall expectance of a ciuill vnciuill warre possessed euery man ; but this threatning gust passed ouer more calmlier then was expected ; for dauis hauing better aduised with himselfe , repen●ed his rashnesse , and desired a reconcilement with the gouernor . peace thus concluded , kendall was set at libertie , but chard was condemned , and vpon the ladder to be hanged for his obstinacy ; yet vpon better consideration more repriued him , but kept him a prisoner all the time he staied in the country , which was generally thought a very bad reward for his great desert , and that there was more of this amber-greece imbeziled , then would haue contented all the finders , that neuer had any consideration at all . the greatest part though more thus recouered , yet dauis and kendall had so much , either by the ignorance or conniuency of the gouernors , that arriuing in england , they prepared themselues for a new voiage ; at last they two falling out , the company hauing notice thereof , so tormented them both , they gaue ouer their voiage , and durst not be seene a long time after . the gouernor thus rid of the ship and those discontents , remoued his seat from smiths i le to saint georges , after he had fitted vp some small cabbens of palmata leaues for his wife and family , in that valley where now stands their prime towne called s. georges , hee began to apply himselfe to fortifie the countrey , and training his men in the exercise of armes . for although he was but a carpenter , he was an excellent artist , a good gunner , very witty and industrious : he built and laid the foundation of eight or nine forts , called the kings castle , charles fort , pembrookes fort , smiths fort , pagits fort , gates fort , warwicks castle , saint katharines fort , &c. mounting in them all the ordnance he had , preparing the ground to build houses , plant corne , and such fruits as they had . being thus busied , and as the necessitie of the time required , keeping his men somewhat hard at worke , master keath his minister , were it by the secret prouocation of some drones , that grew weary of their taskes , or his affection to popularity is not certaine : but he begins to tax the gouernor in the pulpit , hee did grinde the faces of the poore , oppressing his christian brethren with pharoab ▪ taxes . more finding this in short time , might breed ill bloud , called the company together and also the minister , vrging them plainly , to tell him wherein he had deserued those hard accusations : whereupon , with an vniuersall cry they affirmed the contrary , so that keath downe of his knees to aske him forgiuenesse . but master more kindly tooke him vp , willing him to kneele to god , and hereafter be more modest and charitable in his speeches ; notwithstanding two other discontents so vpbraided more with that doctrine , and stood to maintaine it , he impaneled a iury , with a great deale of seeming much adoe he would hang them being condemned , one of them with the very feare , fell into a dead palsie ; so that the other was set at libertie , and proued after a very good labourer . many conclusions he tried about the sea-venture , the wracke of sir george somers , but he got onely for his paines but two peece of ordnance . hauing framed a church of timber , it was blowne downe by a tempest , so that he built another in a more closer place with palmeta leaues . before this yeere was expired , the aduenterers sent them an aduiso with thirtie passengers and good prouisions , to prepare with all expedition for their defence against the spaniard , whom they vnderstood ere long would visit them : this occasioned him to keepe all his men together in that i le so hard at worke , that wanting libertie to goe abroad for food , liuing onely on that they had , and expected daily to receiue from england , they were so ouer-toiled , many fell sicke , but none died . very earnest this ship was to haue all the amber-greece , which m. more perceiuing , was the chiefest cause of their comming , and that it was the onely loadstone to draw from england still more supplies ; for all the expresse command sent from the company , he returned this ship but with the one third part ; so from thence she went to virginia , and not long after arriued safely in england . but before her returne the company sent the martha with sixtie passengers more ▪ they arriued in iune with one master bartlet to suruey the iland , and the estate of the colonie , with expresse command for all the amber-greece : but more perceiuing him not as he would haue him , and that the company began to mistrust him , would send no more but another third part , wherewith they returned , leauing a french-man to make triall of the mulberies for silke , but he did not bring any thing to perfection ; excusing himselfe , they were not the right mulberies he expected . about this time they were in hope of a small crop of tobacco , but it was most spoiled for want of knowledge to vse it . now in england master more became amongst the merchants maruelous distastfull , for the detaining so long the amber-greece ; which delaies they so much abhorred , they forthwith dispatched the elizabeth the second time and forty passengers , much rebuking more for so long detaining the amber-greece : for the which , hauing now no more colourable excuses , he deliuered it , wherewith the ship went to virginia , & thence home . in this ship was brought the first potato roots , which flourished exceedingly for a time , till by negligence they were almost lost ( all but two cast-away roots ) that so wonderfully haue increased , they are a maine releefe to all the inhabitants . this ship was not long gone but there came two spanish ships , founding with their boat , which attempted to come in : but from the kings castle master more made but two shot , which caused them presently depart . marke here the handy worke of the diuine prouidence , for they had but three quarters of a barrell of powder , and but one shot more , and the powder by carelesnesse was tumbled downe vnder the mussels of the two peeces , were discharged , yet not touched with fire when they were discharged . this feare thus past , appeares another much worse , which was the extremity of famine ; in this extemity god sent captaine daniel elfrid with a caruell of meale which a little relieued them , but brought withall so many rats , that within two yeeres after neere ruined all ; now though elfrid had deceiued his friend fisher of this caruell in the west . indies , they reuenged fishers iniury , for elfrid had his passage for england , and they made vse of all he had . some two moneths after , came in the blessing with an hundred passengers ; and two daies after the starre with a hundred and foure score more , amongst which were many gentlemen , as master lower for marshall , master barret , master felgate , and diuers others ; but very vnproper for what they vndertooke . within foureteene daies after came in the margaret and two frygats , and in them one hundred and threescore passengers ; also master bartlet came now expresly to diuide the country into tribes , and the tribes into shares . but master more finding no mention made of any part for himselfe nor all them with him , as he was promised in england , by no meanes would admit of any diuision , nor suffer his men from finishing their fortifications , which was so necessary , it was his maine ambition to see that accomplished ; but such vnkindnesse grew betwixt this master bartlet and the gouernour , that the rude multitude with all the disdaine they could deuise caused bartlet returne for england as he came . about this time william millington was drawne into the sea by a fish , but neuer after euer seene . the neglect of this diuision was very hardly conceited in england , so that master more grew more and more in dislike with the company ; notwithstanding he followed the building of these forts so earnestly , neglecting planting of corne , till their store was neere all consumed , whereby they became so feeble and weake , some would not , others could not goe abroad to seeke releefe , but statued in their houses , and many that went abroad , through weaknesse were subiect to be suddenly surprized with a disease called the feauges , which was neither paine nor sicknesse , but as it were the highest degree of weaknesse , depriuing them of power and ability from the execution of any bodily exercises , whether it were working , walking , or what else : being thus taken , if any presently gaue them food , many times they straight recouered , yet some after a little rest would bee able to walke , but if they found not present succour , died . about this time or immediatly before , came in a company of rauens , which continued amongst them all the time of this mortality and then departed , which for any thing knowne , neither before nor since were euer seene or heard of : this with diuers other reasons caused master more to goe out to sea , to see if he could discouer any other ilands , but he went not farre ere ill weather forced him backe ; and it were a noble aduenture of him would vndertake to make more perfect all the dangers are about the summer iles. thus famine and misery caused gouernour more leaue all his workes , and send them abroad to get what they could ; one hundred and fifty of the most weake and sicke he sent to coupers i le , where were such infinite numbers of the birds called cahowes , which were so fearelesse they might take so many as they would , and that admired abundance of fish , that the extremity of their hunger , and their gluttony was such , those heauenly blessings they so consumed and wasted by careles●●sse and surfetting , many of them died vpon those silly birds that offered themselues to the slaughter , which the gouernour vnderstanding , caused them for change of aire to be remoued to port-royall , and a company of fishers with a boat to releeue them with fish , but the gange grew so lazie the poore weaklings still died ; they that remained killed the cattle they found in the i le , faining the heat caused them to runne into the sea and so were drowned ; so that the gouernour sent againe for them home , but some obtained leaue still to liue abroad ; one amongst the rest hid himselfe in the woods , and liued onely on wilkes and land crabs , sat and lusty many moneths , but most of them being at saint georges , ordinarily was taken one hundred and fifty or two hundred great fishes daily for their food ; for want of hookes and lines , the smith made hookes of old swords , and lines of old ropes , but finding all those poore engines also decay , they sent one of the two frigats last left with them for england , to tell them of this misery . all which was now attributed to master mores peruersnesse , who at first when he got the amber-greece had not such a generall applause , but now all the worst could possibly be suggested was too good for him ; yet not knowing for the present how to send a better , they let him continue still , though his time was neere expired , and with all speed sent the welcome fraught with prouision , where shee well arriued , and proued her selfe as welcome in deed as in name ; for all those extremities , master lewes hues writeth , not one of all those threescore that first beganne this plantation was dead , which shewes it was not impossible , but industry might haue preuented a great part of the others sluggish carelesnesse . this ship much refreshed this miserable colony , but master more seeing they sent not for him , his time being now expired , vnderstanding how badly they reputed him in england , and that his imploiment now was more for their owne ends then any good for himselfe , resolued directly to returne with this ship . hauing setled all things in the best order he could , left the gouernment to the charge of the counsell of six to succeed each other monethly , till they had further directions from england ; whose names were captaine miles kendall , captaine iohn mansfield , thomas knight , charles caldycot , edward waters , and christopher carter , with twelue others for their assistances . more thus taking leaue of those ilands , arriued in england , much wrangling they had , but at last they confirmed him according to promise eight shares of land , and so he was dismissed of his charge , with shew of fauour and much friendship . the rule of the six gouernors . the first thing they did was casting of lots , who should rule first , which lot lighted vpon master caldicot . this last supply somewhat abated the extremitie of their miseries , and the better in that their fortifications being finished , they had the more leasure to goe abroad with that meanes was brought to that purpose to fish . chard as you haue heard , whom all this while more had kept prisoner , they set at libertie : now by reason of their former miseries , little or nothing could be done ; yet this gouernor hauing thus concluded his moneth , and prepared a frigot and two and thirtie men , hee imbarked himselfe with two other of his fellow counsellers ; namely , knight and waters for the west-indies , to get fruits and plants , goats , young cattle , and such like . but this poore vessell , whether through ill weather , or want of mariners , or both , in stead of the indies fell with the canaries , where taking a poore portugall ▪ the which they manned with ten of their owne people , as soone after separated from her in a storme , & the next day was taken by a french pickaroune , so that the frigot out of hope of her prize , makes a second time for the west-indies , where she no sooner arriued , but foundred in the sea ; but the men in their boat recouered a desolate ile , where after some few moneths stay , an english pyrat tooke them in , and some of them at last got for england , and some few yeares after returned to the somer iles. captaine iohn mansfield his moneth . the frigot thus gone , captaine mansfield succeeded . then was contriued a petition , as from the generalitie , vnto the triumuirat gouernors ; wherein they supplicated , that by no meanes they should resigne the gouernment to any should come from england , vpon what tearmes soeuer , vntill six moneths after the returne of their ship sent to the west-indies : about this vnwarrantable action , m●ster lewes hues their preacher was so violent in suppressing it , that such discontents grew betwixt the gouernors and him , and diuisions among the company , he was arraigned , condemned , and imprisoned , but not long detained before released . then the matter fell so hotly againe to be disputed betwixt him and one master keath a scotch-man , that professed schollership , that made all the people in a great combustion : much adoe there was , till at last as they sate in the church and ready to proceed to a iudiciary course against master hues , suddenly such an extreme gust of wind and weather so ruffled in the trees and church ; some cried out , a miracle ; others , it was but an accident common in those iles , but the noise was so terrible it dissolued the assembly ▪ notwithstanding , master hues was againe imprisoned , and as suddenly discharged ; but those factions were so confused , and their relations so variable , that such vnnecessary circumstances were better omitted then any more disputed . this mans moneth thus ended , begins master carter , which was altogether spent in quietnesse , and then captaine miles kendall had the rule , whose moneth was also as quietly spent as his predecessors . then captaine mansfield begins his second moneth , when the ship called the edwin arriued with good supplies . about this time diuers boats going to sea were lost , and some men drowned ; and many of the company repaired to master hues , that there might bee a councell according to master mores order of six gouernours , and twelue assistants ; whereupon grew as many more such silly brawles as before , which at last concluded with as simple a reconciliation . in the interim happened to a certaine number of priuate persons as miserable and lamentable an accident , as euer was read or heard of , and thus it was : in the month of march , a time most subiect of all others to such tempests ; on a friday there went seuen men in a boat of two or three runnes to fish . the morning being faire , so eager they were of their iourney , some went fasting : neither carried they either meat or drinke with them , but a few palmeta berries , but being at their fishing place some foure leagues from the shoare , such a tempest arose , they were quickly driuen from the sight of land in an ouergrowne sea , despairing of all hope , onely committing themselues to gods mercy , set the boat driue which way shee would . on sunday the storme being somewhat abated , they hoysed saile as they thought towards the island . in the euening it grew starke calme ; to that being too weake to vse their oares , they lay a drift that night . the next morning andrew hilliard , for now all his companions were past strength either to helpe him or themselues : before a small gale of wind spred his saile againe . on tuesday one died , whom they threw ouer board . on wednesday three . and on thursday at night the sixt . all these but the last were buried by hilliard in the sea , for so weake hee was growne hee could not turne him ouer as the rest , whereupon hee stripped him , ripping his belly with his knife , throwing his bowels into the water , hee spread his body abroad tilted open with a sticke , and so lets it lie as a cisterne to receiue some lucky raine-water , and this god sent h●m presently after , so that in one small shoure hee recouered about foure spoonefuls of raine water to his vnspeakeable refreshment ; he also preserued neere halfe a pint of blood in a shooe , which he did sparingly drinke of to moist his mouth : two seuerall dates he fed on his flesh , to the quantity of a pound , on the eleuenth day from his losing the sight of land , two flying fishes fals in his boat , whose warme iucie blood hee sucked to his great comfort . but within an houre after to his greater comfort you will not doubt , he once againe descried the land , and within foure houres after was cast vpon a rocke neere to port royall , where his boat was presently split in pieces , but himselfe , though exreamly weake , made shift to clamber vp so steepe and high a rocke , as would haue troubled the ablest man in the i le to haue done that by day hee did by night . being thus astride on a rocke , the tumbling sea had gotten such poss●ssion in his braines , that a good while it was before his giddy head would suffer him to venture vpon the forsaking it : towards the morning he craules a shore , and then to his accomplished ioy descernes where hee is , and trauels halfe a day without any refreshment then water , whereof wisely and temperately he stinted himselfe , otherwise certainely hee had drunke his last . in which case hee attaines a friends house : where at the first they tooke him for a ghost , but at last acknowledged and receiued him with ioy , his story after some houres of recouery of strength to tell it , heard out with admiration : he was not long after conueyed to the towne , where he receiued his former health , and was liuing in the yeere . the next newes that happened in this time of ease , was , that a merry fellow hauing found some few dollars against the flemish wracke , the bruit went currant the treasure was found , and they all made men . much adoe there was to preuent the purloining of it , before they had it : vvhere after they had tyred themselues vvith searching , that they found , amounted not to aboue twenty pounds starling , vvhich is not vnlike but to be the remainder of some greater store , washed from some wracke not farre from the shore . the company by the edwin receiuing newes of the reuels vvere kept in sommer iles , resolued to make choice of a new gouernour , called master daniel tuckar , that a long time had bin a planter in virginia in the gouernment of captaine smith . all things being furnished for his voyage ; hee set saile in the george , consorted vvith the edwin , with many passengers , which being discouered by them in those iles , they supposed them the frigot sent to the west indies ; but when they vnderstood vvhat they vvere , much preparation they made to resist the new gouernour . many great ostentations appeared on both sides , but vvhen the quondam gouernour did see his men for most part forsake him ; all was very well and quietly compounded , and with much kindnesse receiued and welcomed a shore , where his commission was no sooner read , then they accepted and acknowledged him for their gouernour . the gouernment of captaine daniel tuckar . about the mistd of may arriued this gouernor , where finding the inhabitants both abhorring all exacted labour , as also in a manner disdaining and grudging much to be commanded by him ; it could not but passionate any man liuing . but at last according to the virginia order , hee set euery one was with him at saint georges , to his taske , to cleere grounds , fell trees , set corne , square timber , plant vines and other fruits brought out of england . these by their taske masters by breake a day repaired to the wharfe , from thence to be imployed to the place of their imployment , till nine of the clocke , and then in the after-noone from three till sunne-set . beside meat , drinke and cloaths , they had for a time a certaine kinde of brasse money with a hogge on the one side , in memory of the abundance of hogges was found at their first landing . this course thus squared , imitating diuers orders vsed in virginia , by sir tho. dale : he began by them to looke into his instructions giuen by the company . whereupon by one mr. richard norwood a suruayor , sent ouer for that purpose , in the time of master moore , hee began to lay out the eight tribes in the maine , which were to consist of fifty shares to a tribe ; and twenty fiue acers to euery share . he also began to plant some colony men , on some of the especiall shares . he swore also certaine of the chiefe men of euery tribe to bee bailiffes thereof ; and appointed as many men as hee was able for all supplied shares . the goods landed in the store houses hee sent from thence , and dispersed it to his workemen in generall : some boats also began to be builded ; but the pinace called the thomas suspected might make an escape , was laid vp in a docke , were shee yet remaineth . in the beginning of the second moneth of his gouernment , he directed warrants to all the bailiffes , for the holding of a generall assise at saint georges , and appointed master stokes lieutenant of the kings castle at the gurnets head . the edwin came with him he sent to the west indies by directions from england , to trade with the natiues , for cattell , corne , plants , and other commodities . a course of great importance , which had it been pursued , would certainly haue produced more hopefull effects for the good of the colony , then all the supplies and magazines from england hath or will in a long time . presently after her departure began the assises , executed by his deputy . the chiefe matter handled was the hanging one iohn wood a french man , for speaking many distastefull and mutinous speeches against the gouernour , to shew the rest by that example , the power of his authority , which after with his owne hands he so oft executed with a bastinado amongst the poorer sort ; many tearmed it a cruelty , not much lesse then tyranny : but the sequell is more then strange . so it was that fiue of them , seeing by no meanes they could get passage for england , resolued to vndergoe all hazards but they would make an escape from such seruitude . the chiefe mariner and plotter of this businesse , was richard sanders and his confederates , william goodwin a ship carpenter , thomas harison a ioyner , iames barker a gentleman , and henry puet . these repairing to the gouernour , and with pleasing insinuations told him , if hee would allow them but things necessary , they would build him a boat of two or three tunnes , with a close decke , should goe a fishing all weathers . the gouernour halfe proud that hee had brought his men to so good a passe , as he conceiued , to offer themselues to so necessary a worke ; instantly with all willingnesse furnished them with all things they could desire , and many faire promises to incourage them to performe it with all expedition . hauing made choise of a place most fit from molestation , they went forward with that expedition , that in a short time shee was brought to perfection . by this time , the ship that brought the gouernour , being ready to depart , hee sends a lusty gange to goe fetch his new boat to carry him aboard , but arriuing at the place where she was built , they could heare no more of her , but she was gone the last euening to sea , to try how shee would saile . much search and dispute was where this boat should be : but at last they found diuers letters in the cabbins , to this effect , directed to the gouernour , and other their friends : that their hard and bad vsage was so intolerable , and their hope so small euer againe to see their countrey , or be deliuered from such seruitude , they did rather chuse to put themselues to that desperate hazard to goe for england , in which if they miscaried , as it was much to be mistrusted , their liues and bloods should be required at their hands was the cause . a compasse diall barker had borrowed of master hues , to whom he writ that as hee had oft perswaded them to patience , and that god would pay them though none did : hee must now bee contented with the losse of his diall , with his owne doctrine . such leasure they found to bee merry when in the eye of reason they were marching into a most certaine ruine . the gouernour being thus satisfied of their escape , extreamly threatned them no lesse then a hanging , but the stormes of the ocean they now more feared then him ; good prouision by bartering they had got from the ship , where goodwin in a brauado told the mariners , though he could not be permitted to goe with them , yet peraduenture hee might be in england before them , whereat the master and his mate laughed merrily . but hauing beene now vnder saile three weekes , the winds so fauoured them , they felt nothing of what they had cause to feare : then a blustering gale blowing in their teeth , put them to much extremity for diuers dayes , then becomming more gentle away they past prosperously some eight or ten dayes more , till meeting a french piccaroune of whom they desired succour , hee like himselfe tooke from them what hee liked , leauing them not so much as a crosse-staffe to obserue withall , and so cast them off : their course still they continued till their victuall began to fall to the lowest ebbe ; and the very knees of their small vessell were halfe hewed away for fire wood . at last to their infinit ioy they arriued in ireland , where the earle of tomund honorably entertained them , and caused the boat to be hung vp for a monument , and well she might , for shee had sailed more then . miles by a right line thorow the maine sea , without any sight of land , and i thinke since god made the world , the like nauigation was neuer done , nor heard of . this fortunate sanders going to the east indies , in the rifling some ships there tooke , it was his chance to buy an old chest , for three or foure shillings , but because it wanted a key hee repented his bargaine , and would gladly haue sold it againe for lesse . a certaine time it lay tossed to and fro as a thing hee little regarded , but at last hauing little to doe , hee broke it open , where he found a thousand pounds starling , or so much gold as bought him in england a good estate , which leauing with his wife he returned againe to the east indies . the george setting saile three dayes after this escape , the gouernour seazed and confiscated all that those fugitiues left behinde them . within a weeke after returned the edwin from the west indies , furnished with figges , pynes , sugar-canes , plantaines , papanes and diuers other plants , which were presently replanted , and since increased into greater numbers , also an indian and a negar , and so much ligna vitae as defrayed all the charge . the gouernor thus busied amongst his plants , making hedges of figtrees , and pomgranets , and seuerall diuisions by palizadoes for the defence of their guarding and keeping their cattell , for in such husbandry qualities he well deserued great commendations . the aduenturers to supply him sent with all speed they could the hopewell , a small barke , but an excellent sailer , and in her one captaine powell an excellent mariner , and well acquainted in the indies where he was to goe trade , after he had landed his passengers in the summer iles : but in his iourney at the westerne iles meeting a brasile man , hee liked the suger and passengers so well , hee mand the caruill with his owne men , and continued his course , but bethinking himself how this would be entertained at the summer iles , hee found such doubts , hee went directly for the west indies to take time to resolue what to doe : arriuing there hee met a french rouer , one euery way as cunning as himselfe , but much more trecherous . a great league of kindnesse is soone made betweene them , vpon confidence whereof , powell and some of the chiefe with him being inuited aboord him , is easily entised , and in the midst of their cups both hee and his company treacherously made prisoners ; and thus was forced to giue him their prise , or hang at the yards arme with all his company . hauing set them a shore , away goes the french man ; powels ship being but hard by , presently fetcht them all a boord , but finding his victuall neere spent , and no hope at all to recouer his prize , set his portugales on shore , and set saile for the summer iles ; where safely arriuing , hee declared the whole passage to the gouernour , lest some other in telling might make it worse , of which the gouernour seemed well enough to approue . this gouernour still spent his time in good husbandry , although some of the snarling sort here in england , whom nothing will please , writ to him hee was fitter to be a gardiner then a gouernour : some time he spent in digging of a great pond , but that worke proued altogether vnprofitable : about that time was held the second assise . the greatest matter passed , was a proclamatiō against the spoile of cahowes , but it came too late , for they were most destroyed before : a platforme hee caused to be erected by pagits fort , where a good fort were very necessary . captaine powell not hauing performed his seruice in the west indies , he conditioned with the company , is sent thither againe by this gouernour , and thirteene or fourteene of his best men , furnished with all things necessary . in the meane time the company vnderstanding , that in ianuary , february and march , there are many whales , for which fishing they sent the neptune , a tall ship well prouided with euery thing fitting for that purpose . but before she arriued , captaine tuckar , who had brought also with him most prouisions for that imploiment , sent three good shalops to try what could be done , but whether it was the swiftnes of the whale in swimming , or the condition of the place , certaine it is for all their labour and hazard , they could kill none , though they strucke many . to begin his second yeere , he called the third assise , where diuers were punished as their faults deserued : three were condemned to die ; two were repriued , but the third was hanged : the next day there was also a leuy for the repairing two forts ; but that labour tooke not such effect as was intended , for want of good directions . but the great god of heauen being angry at somewhat happened in those proceedings , caused such an increase of silly rats , in the space of two yeeres so to abound , before they regarded them , that they filled not onely those places where they were first landed , but swimming from place to place , spread themselues into all parts of the countrey , insomuch that there was no iland but it was pestered with them ; and some fishes haue beene taken with rats in their bellies , which they caught in swimming from i le to i le : their nests they had almost in euery tree , and in most places their burrowes in the ground like conies : they spared not the fruits of the plants , or trees , nor the very plants themselues , but are them vp . when they had set their corne , the rats would come by troupes in the night and scratch it out of the ground . if by diligent watch any escaped till it came to earing , it should then very hardly escape them : and they became noysome euen to the very persons of men . they vsed all the diligence they could for the destroying of them , nourishing cats both wilde and tame , for that purpose ; they vsed rats-bane , and many times set fire on the woods , that oft ran halfe a mile before it was extinct ; euery man was enioyned to set twelue traps , and some of their owne accord haue set neere an hundred , which they euer visited twice or thrice in a night ; they also trained vp their dogges to hunt them , wherein they became so expert , that a good dog in two or three houres would kil forty or fity . many other deuices they vsed to destroy them , but could not preuaile , finding them still increasing against them : nay they so deuoured the fruits of the earth , that they were destitute of bread for a yeere or two ; so that when they had it afterwards , they were so wained from it , they easily neglected to eat it with their meat . besides they endeuoured so much for the planting tobacco for present gaine , that they neglected many things might more haue preuailed for their good , which caused amongst them much weaknesse and mortality , since the beginning of this vermine . at last it pleased god , but by what meanes it is not well knowne , to take them away ; in so much that the wilde cats and many dogs which liued on them , were famished , and many of them leauing the woods , came downe to their houses , and to such places where they vse to garbish their fish , and became tame . some haue attributed the destruction of them the to encrease of wild cats , but that is not likely they should be so suddenly encreased rather at that time , then foure yeeres before ; and the chiefe occasion of this supposition was , because they saw some companies of them leaue the woods , and slew themselues for want of food . others by the coldnesse of winter , which notwithstanding is neuer so great there , as with vs in march , except it be in the wind : besides the rats wanted not the fethers of young birds and chickins , which they daily killed , and palmeta mosse to build themselues warme nests out of the wind , as vsually they did ; neither doth it appeare that the cold was so mortall to them , seeing they would ordinarily swimme from place to place , and bee very fat euen in the midst of winter . it remaineth then , that as god doth sometimes effect his will without subordinate and secondary causes , so wee need not doubt , but that in the speedy encrease of this vermine ; as also by the preseruation of so many of them by such weake meanes as they then enioyed , and especially in the so sudden remouall of this great annoyance , there was ioyned with and besides the ordinary and manifest meanes , a more mediate and secret worke of god. about this time henry long , with seuen others in an extreame storme were cast away , but three of them escaped . one of them being asked what hee thought in the worst of that extremity , answered , he thought nothing but gallowes claime thy right , and it seemes god well heard his prayer , and rewarded his ingratitude ; for he was hanged within halfe a yeere after . in that march also fiue men went to sea , but as yet was neuer heard of , and three more drowned in a boat . by hilliards house grew a very faire cedar , which by a thunder clap was rent almost to small shiuers , and a man stood by him , and samuel tanton , most fearfully blasted , yet neither they , the house , not a little childe , yet a paire of racks in the house was all torne to fitters . the neptune not long after arriuing to fish for whale , her fortune proued no better then the gouernours , yet some are of opinion , profit might be made by them . in may they discried foure saile , so that manning all their forts , they stood two daies in armes , expecting what they were ; at last they found it master powell returned from the west-indies in the hopewell , where missing such trade as he expected , these three frigots comming in his way , he could not chuse but take them ; meale , hides and munition was their lading : faire weather the gouernor made with powell , till he had got all the goods into his owne possession , and then called powell to a strict account for doing such an vnwarrantable act ; much a doe then was betwixt the taker and receiuer ; but powell was glad to be excused to answer it in england , leauing all hee had taken behinde him in the iles : the neptune also returned with him , but noble powell lost all his pay and pillage for this yeeres worke . for which the company sent for to tuckar , so that he also lost his part as well as powell : notwithstanding , the gouernour by this meanes being strong in shipping ▪ fitted the caruill with twelue men , vnder the command of edward waters formerly spoken of , and sent them to virginia about such businesse as hee had conceiued . arriuing there , they obtained some goates , and and hogs , & what they could spare , and so returned for the summer iles ; but whether they could not finde the iles for want of skill , or beaten off by ill weather , or the ill will they bare the gouernor , it matters not much : but they bare vp again for virginia , where they all remained , and would returne no more to summer iles. the gouernour thinking to make some vse of the hides , set some that professed themselues tanners , to make tryall of their skill ; but they lost their labours and spoiled the hides . also he called another assise cōcerning a poore fellow called gabriel , for concealing some speeches m. pollard and m. rich should vse , tending to the dis-reputation of the gouernour , and his iniustice and cruelties ; which being brought within the compasse of sedition and mutiny , though a yeere agoe ; many were called in question about it , although euery one ordinarily had spoke as much . yet gabriel for example sake was condemned to bee hanged , and was vpon the ladder , but reprieued . the other two m. pollard , and m. rich were imprisoned , but vpon better consideration , the fact appeared so small and ridiculous , vpon their submission they were pardoned , and restored to their places . the diuision of the summer iles into tribes , by master richard norwood , surueyor . according to the directions of the councell and company , as they had determined by lot , m. norwood tooke a plot of the i le , and diuided it with as much faithfulnes as he could , assigning to euery aduenturer his share or proportion , as namely , to lay out a large proportion , to bee called the generall land , and imployed for publike vses , as for the maintenance of the gouernour , ministers , commanders of forts , souldiers , and such like : and to this end was assigned s. georges iland , s. dauids iland , longbridge iland , smiths iland , coopers iland , cony iland , nonesuch iland , part of the maine , and sundry other small iles. the rest was to be diuided into eight parts , each part to be called a tribe , and to haue his denomination of some principall person that was aduenturer therein : and accordingly the first tribe to bee eastward , was then called bedfords tribe , now hamiltons : the second , smiths : tribe the third , cavendish , now deuonshires : the fourth , pembrooks : the fift , pagits : the sixt , mansils , now warwicks : the seuenth , southhampton : the eighth , sands : in the honours of the right honorable the marquis hamilton , sir thomas smith , the earle of deuonshire , the earle of pembrooke , the lord pagit , the earle of warwicke , the earle of southhampton , and sir edwin sands . againe each of those tribes were to bee diuided into fifty parts , called shares ; and euery aduenturer to haue his shares in these tribes as was determined , by casting lots in england , the manner of it appeares by the map , and more largely by his booke of the suruay of the countrey , which is in the records of the colony . and then began this which was before as you haue heard , but as an vnsetled and confused chaos , to receiue a disposition , forme , and order , and become indeed a plantation . the names of the aduenturers , and their shares in euery tribe , according to the suruey , and the best information yet ascertained , of any of their alterations . hamiltons tribe . iames l. marquis hamil . share . sir edward harwood . share . m. iohn delbridge . share . m. iohn dike . share . m. ellis roberts . share . m. robert phips . share . m. ralph king. share . m. quicks assignes . share . m. william cannig . share . m. william cannig . share . m. william web. share . m. iohn bernards assignes . share . m. elias roberts iun. share . m. iohn gearing . share . m. cleophas smith . share . robert earle of warwick . share . m. thomas couell . share . m. greenwels assignes . share . m. cley . share . m. powlson . share . m. iohn dike . . / share . comon land for conueniency . share . m. iohn dike . . / share . m. george thorps assignes . share . . smiths tribe . sir dudley digs assignes . share . m. richard edwards . share . m. william pane. share . m. robert smith . share . m. george barkley assignes . share . sir samuel sands . share . m. anthony pennistone . share . sir edwin sands . share . sir thomas smith . share . m. richard more . share . m. ad. brumfield share . m rob. iohnson alderman . share . m. iohn wroth. share . m. george smith . share . . deuonshire tribe . m. anth. penistone . share . m. iohn dike . share . m. iohn dike . share . m. iohn bernards heires . shares . robert earle of warwick . shares . m. francis west . shares . will. lord cavendish . shares . will. earle of deuonshire . shares . m. edw. luckin . shares . m. edw. ditchfield . shares . m. edw. ditchfield . shares . m. will. nicols . shares . m. edw. ditchfield . shares . m. iohn fletcher . shares . m. gedion delawne . shares . m. anth. pennistone . shares . m. best . shares . m. edw. luckin . shares . m. richard rogers . shares . m. will. palmer . shares . . pembrookes tribe . m. george smith . shares . gleab land . shares . m. nicholas hide . shares . sir lawrence hide . shares . m. thomas iudwyn . shares . will. earle of pemb. shares . m. richard edwards . shares . m. harding . shares . m. rich. edwards . shares . m. elias roberts . shares . m. rich. edwards . shares . m. iacobsons assignes . shares . m. iohn farrar . shares . m. nicholas farrar . shares . m. nicholas . farrar . shares . m. will. canning . shares . m. richard martin . shares . m. moris abbot . shares . m. rich. caswell . shares . m. rich. caswell . shares . m. vvill. caswell . shares . m. rich. edwards . shares . m. rich. caswell . shares . m. rich. edwards . shares . m. george sands assignes . shares . m. will. paine . shares . . pagits tribe . m. iohn chamberlaine . shares . m. tho. ayres , and shares . m. rich. wiseman . shares . m. rich. wiseman shares . will. lord pagit . shares . m. will. palmer . shares . m. bagnell . shares . m. iohn bale . shares . m. wheatley . shares . m. christop . barron . shares . m. iohn wodall . shares . m. iohn wodall . shares . m. lewis . shares . m. owen arthors assignes . shares . m. george etheridge . shares . 〈…〉 shares . sir vvill. vvade . shares . m. iohn bernards heires . shares . . warwicks tribe . m. vvheatley . shares . cap. daniel tuckar . shares . m. will. felgate . shares . rob. earle of warwicke . shares . m. george smith . shares . m. sam. tickner . shares . m. francis mevell . shares . m. sephen sparrow . shares . m. ioseph man. shares . cap. daniel tuckar . shares . m. elias more . shares . doctor . anth. hunton shares . m. francis moverill . shares . m. rich. poulson shares . m. math. shephard . shares . m. george tuckar . shares . m. ch. clitheroe . shares . m. george swinow . shares . m. rich. tomlings . shares . m. francis meverill . shares . m. iohn waters . shares . m. martin bond. shares . . southamptons tribe . cap. dan. tuckar . shares . m. iohn britton . shares . m. rich. chamberland . shares . m. leon. harwods assignes . shares . m. iohn banks . shares . sir nathanael rich. shares . rob. earle of vvarwicke . shares . m. richard more . shares . m. george scot. shares . m. edward scot. shares . m. antho. abdy . shares . hen. earle of southampton . shares . m. and. broumfield . shares . m. henry timbed . shares . sir tho. hewet . shares . m. perce . shares . sir raloh winwood . shares . . sandys tribe . m. george barcklies heires . shares . sir edwin sands . shares . m. ierom hidon . shares . m. tho. millin and shares . m. iohn cuffe . shares . m. robert chamberlaine . shares . m. abr. chamberlaine . shares . m. george smith . shares . m. robert gore . shares . sir. edw. sackvile . shares . sir iohn dauers . shares . m. robert gore . shares . m. iohn delbridge . shares . m. iohn vvroth . shares . m. iohn vvests heires . shares . m. richard chamberlaine . shares . touching the common ground in each tribe , as also the ouer-plus , you may finde that at large in the booke of surueyes amongst their records . now though the countrey was small , yet they could not conueniently haue beene disposed and well setled , without a true description and a suruey of it ; and againe , euery man being setled where he might constantly abide , they knew their businesse , and fitted their houshold accordingly : then they built no more cabbens , but substantiall houses , they cleered their grounds , and planted not onely such things as would yeeld them their fruits in a few moneths , but also such as would affoord them profit within a few yeares , so that in a short time the countrey began to aspire , and neerely approach vnto that happinesse and prosperitie , wherein now it flourisheth , &c. but to follow the history ; vpon the best plot of ground could be found , the gouernor preuailed so much with the generalitie , they built a faire house of cedar , which being done , he appropriated it to himselfe , which occasioned exceeding much distaste . about this time arriued the diana with a good supply of men and prouision , and the first magazin euer seene in those iles ; which course is not so much commended here , as cursed and abhorred by reason of enhansements of all the inhabitants there ; six or seuen weeks this ship staied , then hauing towards her fraught thirtie thousand weight of tobacco ; which prouing good , and comming to a lucky market , gaue great encouragement to the aduenturers to goe lustily forward in their plantation , and without such successe , there is nothing but grudging and repining . but about the appropriation of this new built house , many bad discontents grew betwixt the oppressed colony and the gouernor , especially betwixt him and the minister , and lewes , who would neither be feared with threats nor imprisonment , that their malice continued till they met in england , of which the minister made the cause so plaiue , hee very well and honestly it seemes , discharged himselfe . now in those times of these endlesse vnciuill broiles , two desperate men and a proper gentlewoman got into a boat , and thinking to make an escape to virginia , as appeared by some letters they left behinde them were neuer more heard on . the very next moneth after the like was attempted by six others , so desirous they were to be rid of their seruitude ; but their plot being discouered by one of their societie , they were apprehended , arraigned , and condemned to be hanged : the next day being led with halters about their neckes to the place of execution , one was hanged , and the rest repriued . the diana arriuing well in england , for all the infinite numbers of complaints , the tobacco did helpe to sweeten all manner of grieuances , yet it bred a distaste in the opinions of so many , they began to thinke of another gouernor ; but for that time it was so qualified by diuers of his friends , they dispatched away the blessing , which arriued in the somer iles. though their generall letter was faire and courteous to the gouernor , yet by the report of the passengers and diuers particular letters from his friends , it was assured him his cruelty and couetousnesse , for all his paines and industry was much disliked , nor was he like to enioy his house , and that land he had planted for himselfe , by the extreme oppression of the comminalty . this caused so many ielousies to arise in his conceit , that at last he fully resolued to returne by this ship , that no sooner set saile from england , then they proceeded to the nomination of a new gouernor . many were presented according to the affections of those that were to giue in their voices , but it chiefely rested betwixt one captaine southwell , and one mr nathaniel butler , where wee will leaue them a while to the consideration of the court and company . now captaine tuckar hauing instituted captaine kendall one of the six gouernors before spoken of for his substitute , returned with this ship directly for england , as well to excuse himselfe of those obiections he suspected , as to get assured him the house and land he had alotted for himselfe , lest it might otherwise be disposed of in his absence . collected out of their records by n. b. and the relations of m. pollard , and diuers others . the gouernment of captaine miles kendall , deputy for captaine tuckar . the vnexpected returne of captaine tuckar , caused a demurre in the election of the new gouernor ; some perswading these oft changes were so troublesome , dangerous , and chargeable , it were best to continue captaine kendall ; others againe stood for captaine tuckar , but during the time of these opinions , the gilliflower was dispatched with a supply . now i should haue remembred , tuckar was no sooner out of the harbour , but he met master elfred in a ship called the treasurer , sent from virginia to trade : by her he writ to his deputy master kendall , to haue a care of all things , and beware of too much acquaintance with this ship , which hee suspected was bound for the west-indies . notwithstanding , elfred receiued what kindnesse the i le could afford ; he promised to reuisit them at his returne ; this done , because they would not be gouernlesse when his deputiship was expired , there was a generall assembly , and by that election kendall was confirmed to succeed still gouernor . now they began to apply themselues to the finishing some plat-forme about smiths fort , and laying the foundation of a church to be built of cedar , till the gillyflower arriued with some priuate letters to kendall , how he was elected gouernor of those iles for three yeeres . during her stay they held their assises , where for some few suspected facts three were condemned , and the better to terrifie the rest , led to the place of execution , but reprieued ; diuers of the rest had their faults pardoned , and the gilliflower set saile for new found land . the loue and kindnesse , honesty and industry of this captaine kendall , hath beene very much commended ; by others , somewhat disliked : but an angell in those imploiments cannot please all men , yet this consideration bred much ill bloud as well here as there , so that the company directly concluded , captaine butler should with what expedition they could , goe to be their gouernor : in the interim they tooke the opportunitie of a ship , called the sea-flower , bound for virginia , and by her sent a preacher and his family , with diuers passengers , and newes of a new gouernor . this bred a great distaste amongst many , that still they should haue new officers and strangers for their gouernors they neuer heard of , and themselues still kept there whether they would or no , without any preferment , no nor scarce any of them their inhabiting , to haue any land at all of their owne , but liue all as tenants , or as other mens poore seruants . about this time came in captaine kerby with a small barke from the west-indies , who hauing refreshed himselfe , was very kindly vsed by the gouernor and so departed . not long after a dutch frigot was cast away vpon the westerne shore , yet by the helpe of the english they saued the men , though the ship perished amongst the rocks . a little after one ensigne wood being about the loading of a peece , by thrusting a pike into the concauitie , grating vpon the shot , or somewhat about the powder , strucke fire within her and so discharged , but wounded him cruelly and blew him into the sea , though hee was got out by some that stood by him , yet hee died of those wounds . within two or three daies after , captaine elfred now comes in a second time : but of that we shall say more in the gouernment of captaine butler , who presently after arriued with a good supply , and was kindly entertained by captaine kendall and all the colony . from a relation of tho. sparks , and diuers others . the gouernment of captaine nathaniel butler . captaine butler being arriued the twentieth of october , . some mutterings there was how to maintaine their election of captaine kendall , but better remembring themselues , that conceit quickly dissolued . the next day , kendall , the ministers , and the counsell went aboord to salute the new gouernor , where after they had dined with the best entertainment he could giue them ; they saw the redout belonging to the kings castle by a mischance on fire , whither he repaired with all the meanes he could to quench it ; but all the platforme and cariages were consumed before their faces , and they could not helpe it . two daies after he went vp to the towne , had his commission publikely read , made a short speech to the company , and so tooke vpon him the gouernment . then presently he began to repaire the most necessary defects : the next moneth came in the garland , sent from england six or seuen weekes before him ; so that being seuenteene weeks in her voyage , it was so tedious and grieuous to diuers of the fresh-water passengers , that such a sicknesse bred amongst them , many died as well sailers as passengers . hauing taken the best order he could for their releefe , passed through all the tribes , and held his first assise in captaine tuckars house at the ouer-plus . towards the last of this moneth of nouemb. there arose a most terrible storme or hericano , that blew vp many great trees by the roots : the warwick that brought the gouernor was cast away , but the garland rid by her , saued her selfe by cutting downe her masts ; and not long after a second storme , no lesse violent then the first , wherein the mount which was a frame of wood built by master more for a watch-tower to looke out to sea , was blowne vp by the roots , and all that winter crop of corne blasted : and thus was the new gouernor welcomed . with the beginning of the new yeere he began his first peece of fortification , vpon a rocke which flankers the kings castle , and finding the ship called the treasurer starke rotten and vnseruiceable , hee tooke nine peeces of ordinance from her to serue other vses . the garland for want of meanes , could not make her voiage to virginia as she was appointed ; wherefore he entertained her to returne to england , with all the tabacco they had in the i le . it was ianuary before she departed , in which time shee failed not much to haue beene twice cast away . but those strange and vnauoidable mischances , rather seemed to quicken the gouernors industry then to dull it . hauing finished the church begun by captaine kendall , with an infinite toile and labour he got three peeces out of the wracke vvarwicke . hauing an excellent dutch carpinter he entertained of them that were cast away in the dutch frigot ; he imploied him in building of boats , whereof they were in exceeding great want . in february they discouered a tall ship beating too and againe , as it seemed by her working , being ignorant of the coast ; some thought her a spaniard to view their forts , which stand most to that part she so neerely approached ; some , english ; but the most , some dutch man of warre : the wind blew to high , they durst not send out a boat , though they much doubted she would be foule of their rocks , but at last she bore vp rommy for the sea , and we heard of her no more . that euening , a lucky fellow it should seeme he was , that found a peece of amber-greece of eight ounces , as he had twice before , which bringing to the gouernor , he had ready money for the one halfe , after three pound an ounce , according to their order of court , to encourage others to looke out for more , and preuent the mischiefe insueth by concealing of it . within a few daies after , they descried two frigots that came close to the shore , and sent a letter to the gouernor , writ in italian , that they were hollanders had beene in the west-indies , and desired but to arriue , refresh themselues with wood and water , and so be gone . the gouernor forthwith sent them to vnderstand , that being there vnder his maiestie of england to command those iles , he was to carrie himselfe a friend to his friends , and an enemy to his enemies ; if therefore he could shew a lawfull commission for his being honestly and nobly emploied , he and his should be kindly welcome , otherwise they were to aduenture at their perills . but his commission was so good , he staied there two moneths , and was so well fitted with oile & bacon , they were all glad and happy of this dutch captaine scoutans arriuall , with many thanks to their old friend captaine powell that had conducted him thither : the colony being exceedingly in great want and distresse , bought the most part of it at reasonable rates , so captaine scoutan returned to the west-indies , and captaine powell for his part in the low-countries . whilest these things were in action , the aduenturers in \ england made many a long looke for their ships ; at last the garland brought them all the newes , but the tobacco was so spoiled either in the leaking ship , or the making vp , it caused a great suspicion there could none was good come from those iles ; where ( were they but perfit in the cure ) questionlesse it would be much better then a great quantitie of that they sell for verinas , and many a thousand of it in london hath beene bought and sold by that title . the gouernor being cleere of those distractions , falls vpon the restoring of the burnt redoubt , where he cuts out a large new plat-forme , and mounts seuen great peece of ordnance vpon new cariages of cedar . now amongst all those troubles , it was not the least to bring the two ministers to subscribe to the booke of common praier , which all the bishops in england could not doe . finding it high time to attempt some conformitie , bethought himselfe of the liturgie of garnsey and iarse , wherein , all those particulars they so much stumbled at , were omitted . no sooner was this propounded , but it was gladly imbraced by them both , whereupon the gouernor translated it verbatim out of french into english , and caused the eldest minister vpon easter day to begin the vse thereof at s. georges towne , where himselfe , most of the councell , officers and auditorie receiued the sacrament : the which forme they continued during the time of his gouernment . much about this time , in such a faire morning , that had inuited many boats farre out to the sea to fish , did rise such a hericano that much indangered them all , so that one of them with two boies were driuen to sea and neuer more heard of . the ministers thus agreed , a proclamation was published for keeping of the sabbath , and all the defectiue cariages he endeuoured to haue renewed , builded a small boat of cedar onely to goe with ores , to be ready vpon any occasion to discouer any shipping , and tooke order euery fort should haue the like : also caused numbers of cedars to be brought from diuers places in flotes , to rebuild the mount , which with an vnspeakable toile , was raised seuen foot higher then before , and a falcon mounted at the foot , to be alwaies discharged for a warning to all the forts vpon the discouery of any shipping , and this he called rich mount. this exceeding toile and labour , hauing no cattle but onely mens strengths , caused many petitions to the gouernour , that all those generall works might cease till they had reaped their haruests , in that they were in great distresse for victuall ; which hee so well answered , their owne shames did cause them desist from that importunity , and voluntarily performe as much as hee required . finding accidentally a little crosse erected in a by place , amongst a many of bushes , vnderstanding there was buried the heart and intrailes of sir george summers , hee resolued to haue a better memory for so worthy a souldier , then that . so finding also a great marble stone brought out of england , hee caused it by masons to bee wrought handsomely and laid ouer the place , which hee inuironed with a square wall of hewen stone , tombe like ; wherein hee caused to bee grauen this epitaph he had composed , and fixed it vpon the marble stone ; and thus it was , in the yeere , noble sir george summers went hence to heauen ; whos 's well tri'd worth that held him still imploid , gaue him the knowledge of the world so wide . hence 't was by heauens decree , that to this place he brought new guests , and name to mutuall grace . at last his soule and body being to part , he here bequeath'd his entrails and his heart . vpon the sixt of iune began the second assise , that reduced them to the direct forme vsed in england . for besides the gouernour and councell , they haue the bailiffes of the tribes , in nature of the deputy lieutenants of the shires in england , for to them are all precepts and warrants directed , and accordingly answered and respected ; they performe also the duties of iustices of peace , within their limits . the subordinate officers to these in euery tribe , are the constables , head-borowes , and church-wardens ; these are the triers of the tobacco , which if they allow not to be marchantable , is burnt : and these are the executioners of their ciuill and politicke causes . for points of warre and martiall affaires , they haue the gouernour for lieutenant generall , the sergeant maior , master of ordinance , captaines of companies , captaines of forts , with their seuerall officers , to traine and exercise those numbers vnder their charge , in martiall discipline . concerning their courts for decision of right and iustice , the first , though last in constitution , is their generall assembly ; allowed by the state in england , in the nature of a parliament , consisting of about forty persons ; viz. the gouernour , the counsell , the bailiffes of the tribes , and two burgesses of each tribe chosen by voyces in the tribe , besides such of the clergie as the gouernour thinkes most fit , to be held once a yeere , as you shall heare more thereof hereafter . the next court is the assise or iayles of deliuerie , held twice euery yeere , in christmas , and whitson weeke , for all criminall offenders , and ciuill causes betwixt party and party ; as actions of debt , trespasse , battery , slander , and the like : and these are determined by a iury of twelue men , and aboue them is also a grand iury to examine matters of greater consequence . the last day of the assise might also well be held a court , for hearing the trangressions in matters of contempt , mis-behauiour towards any magistrate , riots , seditious speakers , contemners of warrants , and such like : there are also as occasion shall require , many matters heard by the gouernor , or his officers , and oft iustice done in seuerall places , but those are but as daies of hearing , and as preparatiues against their courts , &c. at this last assize eighteene were arrained for criminall causes , a number very extraordinary considering the place ; but now occasioned by reason of the hard yeere , and the store of ill chosen new commers ; of these , some were censured to the whipping post , some burned in the hand , but two were condemned to die , yet the one was reprieued , the other hanged ; this done , euery man returned to his home : many trials they made againe about the warwicke , but to small purpose , her ordnance being lashed so fast they could not be vnloosed , till the ropes and decks were rotten , yet some few buttes of beare being storie they got , which though it had lien six moneths vnder water was very good , notwithstanding the next yeere they recouered fiue peeces of ordnance . vpon the first of august , according to the companies instructions from england , began the generall assembly at the towne of saint george , which was the first these iles euer had ; consisting as is said , of the gouernour , councell , bailiffes , and burgesses , and a secretarie to whom all bils were presented , and by him openly read in the house , also a clerke to record the acts , being thirty two in all ; fifteene of which being sent into england , were by a generall consent receiued and enacted , the titles whereof are these following : as for all the reasons for them , they would be too tedious to recite . the first was against the vniust sale and letting of apprentises and other seruants , and this was especially for the righting the vndertakers in england . the second , concerning the disposing of aged , diseased , and impotent persons , for it being considered how carelesse many are in preferring their friends , or sending sometimes any they can procure to goe , such vnseruiceable people should be returned back at their charge that sent them , rather then be burdensome to the poore inhabitants in the iles. the third , the necessary manning the kings castle , being the key of the i le , that a garison of twelue able men should bee there alwaies resident : and . eares of corne , and . pounds of tobacco payed them by the generality yeerely , as a pension . the fourth , against the making vnmarchantable tobacco , and officers sworne to make true trials , & burne that was naught . the fist , inioyned the erection of certaine publike bridges , and the maintenance of them . the sixt , for a continuall supply of victuall for all the forts , to bee preserued , till some great occasion to vse it . the seuenth was , for two fixed dayes euery yeere for the assises . the eight , commands the making of high-waies , and prohibiting the passage ouer mens grounds and planted fields , as well to preuent the spoyling of gardens , as conueniencie to answer any alarum . the ninth , for the preseruing young tortoises and birds , that were carelesly destroyed . the tenth , prouided against vagabonds , & prohibited the entertainement of other mens seruants . the eleuenth , compelled the setting of a due quantity of corne for euery family . the twelfth , the care corne being set , enioyned the keeping vp of their poultry till it was past their reaches . the thirteenth , for the preseruation of sufficient fences , & against the selling of marked trees appointed for bounds . the fourteenth , granted to a leuy for a thousand pound weight of tobacco , towards the payment of publike workes , as the bridges and the mount . the fifteenth , for the enioyning an acknowledgement and acception of all resident gouernours , and the warranting him to continue , though his time be expired , till the arriuall of a legitimate successor from england , to preuent all vomeet and presumptuous elections , besides it was desired by petition in england , the new gouernous should liue two months as a priuate man after his arriuall , if his predecessor did stay so long , the better to learne and obserue his course . and these are the contents of those fifteene acts , applied as you may perceiue : which the lawes of england could not take notice of , because euery climate hath somewhat to it selfe in that kinde in particular ; for otherwise as it is conceiued , it had beene a high impudency and presumption to haue medled with them , or indeed with any such as these lawes , that had with such great iudgement and iustice alwaies prouided for . no sooner was this businesse ouer , but the magazin ship is discouered , and that night came into the harbour , but in a very weake and sickly case , hauing cast ouer board twenty or thirty of her people , and so violent was the infection , that the most part of the failers , as well as passengers , were so sicke , or dismaid , or both , that the master confessed , had they stayed at the sea but a weeke longer , they had all perished . there arriued with this ship diuers gentlemen of good fashion , with their wiues and families ; but many of them crasie by the tediousnesse of the voyage : howsoeuer most of them , by the excellent salubrity of the aire , then which the world hath not a better , soone after recouered ; yet some there were that died presently after they got ashore , it being certainly the quality of the place , either to kill , or cure quickly , as the bodies are more or lesse corrupted . by this ship the company sent a supply of ten persons for the generality , but of such bad condition that it seemed they had picked the males out of newgate , the females from bridewell : as the gouernour found it his best course , to grant out the women to such as were so greedy of wiues , and would needs haue them for better for worse ; and the men hee placed in the kings castle for souldiers . but this bad , weake , sickly supply being dispersed for their best reliefe , by the much imployment of his boats in remoouing them , many of his owne men became infected , so that for some weekes , they were not able to doe him any seruice at all . strict instructions also they brought for the planting of sugar cane● , for which the iland being rockie and dry , is so vnproper , that few as yet haue beene seene to prosper : yet there are others hold the contrary opinion , that there is raine so ordinarily , the iles are so moist , as produceth all their plants in such infinit abundance : there is no great reason to suspect this , were it rightly vsed , more then the r●st . seuenty thousand weight of tobacco being prepared towards her fraught , she returned for england . no sooner was shee gone then came in another , sent by the company and generalty , well conditioned , but shee failed not much to haue beene cast away amongst those dangerous & terrible rocks ; by her came also expresse command , they should entertaine no other ships , then were directly sent from the company : this caused much grudging , and indeed a generall distraction and exclamation among the inhabitants , to be thus constrained to buy what they wanted , and sell what they had at what price the magazin pleased , and to debarre true men from comming to them for trade or reliefe , that were daily receiued in all the harbours in england . so long this ship stayed going for fraught and wages , the master not caring how long he lay at that rate in a good harbour , the gouernour was ready to send her away by proclamation . thus ended the first yeere of the gouernment of c. butler . with the first of the second yeere were held the assises , where all the bailiffes were fined for not giuing a beginning to the building of the bridges ; there was also an order to restraine the excessiue wages all handicrafts men would haue : and that the church-wardens should meet twice a yeere , to haue all their presentments made perfect against the assises . the assises done , all the ablest men were trained in their armes , and then departed to their owne homes . the towne thus cleered , he made certaine new carriages for some demy culuerings , and a large new store-house of cedar for the yeerely magazines goods ; finished warwicks fort begun by master more , and made a new platforme at pagits fort , also a faire house of lime and stone for the townes-house . the three bridges appointed by the generall assembly , was followed with such diligence , though they were more then an hundred , or an hundred and twenty foot in length , hauing the foundation and arches in the sea , were raised and accomplished , so that man or beast with facility might passe them . at whitsonday was held the fourth generall assise at saint georges , where were tryed twenty seuerall causes ; foure or fiue were whipped or burnt in the hand , for breaking of houses : also an order was made , that the party cast in the triall of any cause , should pay to euery of the iurours foure pence : moreouer , that not past ten leaues at the most should grow vpon a plant of tobacco , and that also in the making it vp , a distinction should diligently be obserued of two kinds , a better and a worse : then they built a strong stone house for the captaine of the kings castle and corps du guard ; and repaired what defects they could finde in the platformes and carriages . captaine powell so oft mentioned , hauing beene in the west-indies for the states of holland , came to an anchor within shot of their ordnance , desiring admittance for wood and water , of which hee had great need , but the gouernor would not permit him , so he weighed and departed , whereat the company were so madded , it was not possible to constraine them to cease their exclaimations against the companies inhihition , till they were weary with exclaming : but still for their better defence , not thinking themselues sufficiently secure , hauing finished two new plat-formes more , arriued the magazin ship , but her master was dead , and many of the passengers , the rest for most part very sicke ; and withall , a strange and wonderfull report of much complaint made against the gouernor to the company in england , by some of them returned in the last yeeres shipping : but it was eight daies before she could get in by reason of ill weather , being forced againe to sea ; so that time , they kept euery night continually great fires , she might see the ile as well by night as day ; but at last she arriued , and he plainly vnderstood , he had more cause a great deale to looke for misconstruction of all his seruice then an acknowledgment , much lesse a recompence any better then his predecessors ; but it is no new thing to require the best desert with the most vildest of ingratitude . the very next daies night after the arriuall of the magazins ship , newes was brought the gouernor by a dismaied messenger from sands his tribe , that one hundred spaniards were landed in that part , and diuers ships discouered at sea , whereupon he presently manned the forts , and instantly made thitherward in person with twentie men , determining as he found cause to draw together more strength by the way . being got thither by the breake of the next day , in stead of an enemy which he expected , he met onely with a company of poore distressed portugals and spaniards , who in their passage from carthagena in the west-indies , in consort with the spanish fleet of plait ; by the same storme that had indangered the magazin ship , lost theirs vpon those terrible rocks , being to the number of seuenty persons , were strangely preserued ; and the manner was thus . about sunne-set their ship beating amongst the rocks , some twenty of the sailers got into the boat with what treasure they could , leauing the captaine , the master , and all the rest to the mercy of the sea. but a boy not past foureteene yeares of age that leaped after to haue got into the boat , missing that hope , it pleased god he got vpon a chest a drift by him , whereon they report he continued two daies , and was driuen neere to the cleane contrary part of the i le , where he was taken vp neere dead , yet well recouered . all this night the ship sticking fast , the poore distressed in her the next day spying land , made a raft , and were those gaue the alarum first a shore about three of the clocke in the after noone . the morning after , about seuen of the clocke came in the boat to a place called mangroue bay ; and the same day their carpenter was driuen a shore vpon a planke neere hog-bay . there was a gentlewoman that had stood wet vp to the middle vpon the raft from the ship to the shore , being big with childe ; and although this was vpon the thirteenth of september , she tooke no hurt , and was safely deliuered of a boy within three daies after . the best comfort could be giuen them in those extremities they had , although some of the baser sort had beene rifling some of them before the gouernors arriuall : also the spanish captaine and the chiefe with him , much complained of the treachery of his men to leaue him in that manner , yet had conueyed with them the most of the money they could come by , which he easily missed ; whereupon hee suddenly caused all them he accused , to be searched , and recouered to the value of one hundred and fortie pounds starling , which he deliuered into the captaines hands , to be imploied in a generall purse towards their generall charge : during their stay in the iles , some of the better sort , nine or ten weeks dieted at his owne table , the rest were billited amongst the inhabitants at foure shillings the weeke , till they found shipping for their passage , for which they paied no more then the english paied themselues ; and for the passage of diuers of them , the gouernor was glad to stand bound to the master ; some others that were not able to procure such friendship , were so constrained to stay in the iles , till by their labours they had got so much as would transport them ; and thus they were preserued , releeued , and deliuered . in the moneth insuing arriued the second ship , and she also had lost her master , and diuers of her passengers ; in her came two virginian women to be married to some would haue them , that after they were conuerted and had children , they might be sent to their countrey and kindred to ciuilize them . towards the end of this moneth came in the third ship with a small magazin , hauing sold what she could , caried the rest to virginia , and neuer did any of those passengers complaine either of their good diet , or too good vsage at sea ; but the cleane contrary still occasioned many of those extremities . the fift of nouember the damnable plot of the powder treason was solemnized , with praiers , sermons , and a great feast , whereto the gouernor inuited the chiefe of the spaniards , where drinking the kings health , it was honored with a quicke volly of small shot , which was answered from the forts with the great ordnance , and then againe concluded with a second volley of small shot ; neither was the afternoone without musicke and dancing , and at night many huge bone-fires of sweet wood . the spaniards to expresse their thankfulnesse at their departure , made a deed of gift to the gouernor of whatsoeuer he could recouer of the wracked ship ; but the ships as they went out came so dangerously vpon a rock , that the poore spaniards were so dismaied , swearing this place was ominous vnto them , especially the women , that desired rather to goe a shore and die howsoeuer , than aduenture any further in such a labyrinth of dangers , but at last she got cleere without danger , and well to england ; the other went to virginia , wherein the gouernor sent two great chests filled with all such kinds and sorts of fruits and plants as their ilands had ; as figs , pomgranats , oranges , lemons , sugar-canes , plantanes , potatoes , papawes , cassado roots , red pepper , the prickell peare , and the like . the ships thus dispatched , hee goeth into the maine , and so out to sea to the spanish wracke . he had beene there before presently after her ruine , for neuer had ship a more sudden death , being now split in peeces all vnder water . he found small hope to recouer any thing , saue a cable and an anchor , and two good sacars ; but the wind was so high hee was forced to returne , being ten miles from the shore , onely with three murderers , which were knowne to be the same captaine kendall had sold to captaine kerby , whose ship was taken by two men of warre of carthagena , the most of his men slaine or hanged , and he being wounded , died in the woods . now their pilot being at this seruice , got thus those three murderers to their ship , and their ship thus to the bermudas , as the spaniards remaining related to the gouernor and others . hauing raised three small bulwarkes at southamptons fort , with two curtaines , and two rauilings , which indeed is onely the true absolute peece of fortification in the iles ; christmas being come , and the prefixed day of the assise ; diuers were whipped and burnt in the hand , onely three young boyes for stealing were condemned , and at the very point of hanging repriued . the gouernour then sent his lieutenant all ouer the maine to distribute armes to those were found most fit to vse them , & to giue order for their randezuous , which were hanged vp in the church . about this time it chanced a pretty secret to be discouered to preserue their corne from the fly , or weauell , which did in a manner as much hurt as the rats . for the yeere before hauing made a proclamation that all corne should be gathered by a certaine day , because many lazy persons ranne so after the ships to get beere and aquavitae , for which they will giue any thing they haue , much had beene lost for want of gathering . this yeare hauing a very faire crop , some of the inhabitants , none of the best husbands , hastily gathered it for feare of the penaltie , threw it in great heaps into their houses vnhusked , and so let it lie foure or fiue moneths , which was thought would haue spoiled it : where the good husbands husked it , and with much labour hung it vp , where the flies did so blow on it , they increased to so many weauels , they generally complained of great losse ; but those good fellowes that neuer cared but from hand to mouth , made their boasts , that not a graine of theirs had beene touched nor hurt , there being no better way to preserue it then by letting it lie in its huske , and spare an infinite labour formerly had beene vsed . there were also very luckily about this time found out diuers places of fresh water , of which many of the forts were very destitute , and the church-wardens and side-men were very busie in correcting the prophaners of the sabbath , drunkards , gamesters , and such like . there came also from virginia a small barke with many thanks for the presents sent them ; much aquauitae , oile , sacke and bricks they brought in exchange of more fruits and plants , ducks , turkies and limestone , of which she had plenty , and so returned . during the aboad of the stay of this ship , the mariage of one of the virginia maides was consummated with a husband fit for her , attended with more then one hundred guests , and all the dainties for their dinner could be prouided ; they made also another triall to fish for whales , but it tooke no more effect then the former : this was done by the master of the virginia ship that professed much skill that way , but hauing fraughted his ship with lime-stone , with . weight of potatoes , and such things as he desired , returned for virginia . aprill and may were spent in building a strong new prison , and perfecting some of the fortifications , and by the labour of twenty men in fourteene daies was got from the spanish wracke foure excellent good sacres , and mounted them at the forts . then began the generall assize , where not fewer then fifty ciuill , or rather vnciuill actions were handled , and twenty criminall prisoners brought to the bar ; such a multitude of such vild people were sent to this plantation , that he thought himselfe happy his time was so neere expired : three of the foulest acts were these : the first for the rape of a married woman , which was acquitted by a senselesse iury ; the second for buggering a sow , and the third for sodomy with a boy , for which they were hanged ; during the time of the imprisonment of this buggerer of the sow , a dung-hill cocke belonging to the same man did continually haunt a pigge of his also , and to the wonder of all them that saw it who were many , did so frequently tread the pigge as if it had beene one of his hens , that the pigge languished and died within a while after , and then the cocke resorted to the very same sow ( that this fellow was accused for ) in the very same manner ; and as an addition to all this , about the same time two chickens were hatched , the one whereof had two heads , the other crowed very loud and lustily within twelue houres after it was out of the shell . a desperate fellow being to bee arraigned for stealing a turky , rather then he would endure his triall , secretly conueighed himselfe to sea in a little boat , and neuer since was euer heard of , nor is he euer like to be , without an exceeding wonder , little lesse then a miracle . in iune they made another triall about the spanish wracke , and recouered another sacre and a murderer , also he caused to be hewed out of the maine rocke a paire of large staires for the conuenient landing of goods and passengers , a worke much to the beauty and benefit of the towne . with twenty chosen men , and two excellent divers , the gouernour went himselfe to the wracke warwick ▪ but they could recouer but one murderer , from thence he went to the sea-aduenture , the wracke of sir george summers , the hull though two or three fathomes in the water , they found vnperished and with much a doe weighed a sacre , her sheat anchor , diuers barres of iron and pigs of lead , which stood the plantation in very great stead . towards the end of iuly he went to seeke for a wracke they reported lay vnder water with her hatches spiked vp , but they could not finde her , but from the spanish wracke lay there by they weighed three faire sacres more , and so returned through the tribes to saint georges : some were also imployed to seeke out beds of oisters for pearle , some they found , some seed pearle they got , but out of one little shell aboue all the rest they got about . small pearle , but somewhat defectiue in their colour . the time of captain butlers gouernment drawing neere an end , the colony presented vnto him diuers grieuances , to intreat him to remember to the lords and company in england at his returne : also they appointed two to be ioyned with him , with letters of credence to solicit in their behalfe those grieuances following : first , they were defrauded of the food of their soules : for being not fewer then one thousand and fiue hundred people , dispersed in length twenty miles , they had at that present but one minister , nor neuer had but two , and they so shortned of their promises , that but onely for meere pity they would haue forsaken them . secondly , neglected in the safety of their liues by wants of all sorts of munition . thirdly , they had beene censured contrary to his maiesties lawes , and not allowed them the benefit of their booke as they are in england , but by captaine butler . fourthly , they were frustrated of many of their couenants , and most extremely pinched and vndone by the extortion of the magazine , for although their tobacco was stinted but at two shillings sixpence the pound , yet they pitched their commodities at what rate they pleased . fifthly , their fatherlesse children are left in little better condition then slaues , for if their parents die in debt , their children are made as bondmen till the debt be discharged : these things being perfected , there grew a great question of one heriot for plotting of factions and abusing the gouernour , for which he was condemned to lose his eares , yet he was vsed so fauourably he lost but the part of one in all . by this time it being growne past the wonted season of the comming in of ships from england , after a generall longing and expectation , especially of the gouernour , whose commission being neere vpon expiration , gaue him cause to wish for a meane of deliuerance from so troublesome and thanklesse an imploiment as he had hitherto found it ; a saile is discouered , and long it was not before shee arriued in the kings castle-harbour : this barke was set out by two or three priuate men of the company , and hauing landed her supplies , was to goe for virginia ; by her the gouernour receiued certaine aduertisements of the carriage and behauiour of the spaniards , which he had reliued as you haue heard the yeere before ; that quite contrary both to his merit , their vow , and his owne expectation , they made clamours against him , the which being seconded by the spanish ambassadour , caused the state to fall in examination about it ; whereupon hauing fully cleared their ingratefulnesse and impudency , and being assured of the choice of a successor that was to be expected within fiue or six weekes ; hee was desirous to take the opportunity of this barke , and to visit the colony in virginia in his returne for england : leauing the gouernment to captaine felgat , captaine stokes ▪ master lewis hewes , master nedom and master ginner , but now his time being fully expired , and the fortifications finished , viz. the kings castle wherein were mounted vpon sufficient platformes sixteene peece of ordnances : in charles fort two ; in southampton fort fiue , betwixt which and the castle passeth the chanell into the harbour , secured by three and twenty peeces of good artillery to play vpon it . in cowpers ile is pembrocks fort , where is two peeces . the chanell of saint george is guarded by smiths fort , and pagits fort , in which is eleuen peece of ordnance . saint george towne is halfe a league within the harbour , commanded by warwicks fort , where are three great peeces , and on the wharfe before the gouernours house eight more , besides the warning peece by the mount , and three in saint katharines ; so that in all there are ten fortresses and two and fifty peeces of ordnance sufficient and seruiceable : their formes and situations you may see more plainlier described in the map ; and to defend those , he left one thousand fiue hundred persons with neere a hundred boats , and the i le well replenished with store of such fruits , prouisions and poultry , as is formerly related ; yet for so departing and other occasions , much difference hath beene betwixt him and some of the company , as any of his predecessors , which i rather wish were reconciled , then to be a reporter of such vnprofitable dissentions . for till trechery and faction , and auarice be gone , till enuy and ambition , and backbiting be none , till periury and idlenesse , and iniury be out , and truly till that villany the worst of all that rout ; vnlesse those vises banisht be , what euer forts you haue . a hundred walls together put will not haue power to saue . master iohn barnard sent to be gouernour . to supply this place was sent by the noble aduenturers iohn bernard , a gentleman both of good meanes and quality , who arriued within eight daies after butlers departure with two ships , and about one hundred and forty passengers with armes and all sorts of munition and other prouisions sufficient . during the time of his life which was but six weekes in reforming all things he found defectiue , he shewed himselfe so iudiciall and industrious as gaue g●eat satisfaction , and did generally promise vice was in great danger to be suppressed , and vertue and the plantation much aduanced ; but so it hapned that both he and his wife died in such short time they were both buried in one day and one graue , and master iohn harrison chosen gouernour till further order came from england . what hapned in the gouernment of master iohn harrison . they are still much troubled with a great short worme that deuours their plants in the night , but all the day they lie hid in the ground , and though early in the morning they kill so many , they would thinke there were no more , yet the next morning you shall finde as many . the caterpillers to their fruits are also as pernicious , and the land crabs in some places are as thicke in their borowes as conies in a warren , and doe much hurt ; besides all this , there hapned this yeere a very heauy disaster , for a ship wherein there had beene much swearing and blaspheming vsed all the voyage , and landed what she had to leaue in those iles , iou●ally froliking in their cups and tobacco , by accident fired the powder , that at the very instant blew vp the great cabin , and some one way and some another , it is a wonder to thinke how they could bee so blowne out of the gun-roome into the sea , where some were taken vp liuing , so pitifully burned , their liues were worse then so many deaths , some died , some liued , but eighteene were lost at this fatall blast , the ship also immediatly sunke with threescore barrels of meale sent for virginia , and all the other prouision in her was thus lost . now to consider how the spaniards , french , and dutch , haue beene lost and preserued in those inuincible iles , yet neuer regarded them but as monuments of miseries , though at this present they all desire them ; how sir thomas gates ▪ and sir george summers being ready to sinke in the sea were saued , what an incredible abundance of victuall they found , how it was first planted by the english , the strange increase of rats , and their sudden departure , the fiue men came from england in a boat , the escape of hilliard , and the rest of those accidents there hapned , a man would thinke it a tabernacle of miracles , and the worlds wonder , that from such a paradise of admiration who would thinke should spring such wonders of afflictions as are onely fit to be sacrificed vpon the highest altars of sorrow , thus to be set vpon the highest pinacles of content , and presently throwne downe to the lowest degree of extremity , as you see haue beene the yeerely succeedings of those plantations ; the which to ouercome , as it is an incomparable honour , so it can be no dishonour if a man doe miscarry by vnfortunate accidents in such honourable actions , the which renowne and vertue to attaine hath caused so many attempts by diuers nations besides ours , euen to passe through the very amazement of aduentures . vpon the relation of this newes the company hath sent one captaine woodhouse , a gentleman of good repute and great experience in the warres , and no lesse prouident then industrious and valiant : then returned report , all goeth well there . it is too true , in the absence of the noble treasurer , sir edward sackvill , now earle of dorset , there haue beene such complaints betwixt the planters and the company , that by command the lords appointed sir thomas smith againe treasurer , that since then according to their order of court he is also elected , where now we must leaue them all to their good fortune and successe , till we heare further of their fortunate proceedings . finis . to his friend captaine smith , vpon his description of new-england . sir ; your relations i haue read : which shew , ther 's reason i should honour them and you : and if their meaning i haue vnderstood , i dare to censure thus : your proiect 's good ; and may ( if follow'd ) doubtlesse quit the paine ▪ with honour , pleasure and a trebble gaine ; beside the benefit that shall arise to make more happy our posterities . for would we daigne to spare , though 't were no more then what ore-fils , and surfets vs in store , to order nature's fruitfulnesse a while in that rude garden , you new-england stile ; with present good , ther 's hope in after-daies thence to repaire what time and pride decaies in this rich kingdome . and the spacious west being still more with english bloud possest , the proud iberians shall not rule those seas , to checke our ships from sailing where they please , nor future times make any forraine power become so great to force a bound to our . much good my minde foretels would follow hence with little labour , and with lesse expence . thriue therefore thy designe , who ere enuy : england may ioy in england's colony , virginia seeke her virgin sisters good , be blessed in such happy neighbourhood : or , whatsoere fate pleaseth to permit , be thou still honour'd for first mouing it . george wither , è societate lincol. to that worthy and generous gentleman , my very good friend , captaine smith . may fate thy proiect prosper , that thy name may be eternized with liuing fame : though foule detraction honour would peruert , and enuie euer waits vpon desert : in spight of pelias , when his hate lies cold , returne as iason with a fleece of gold . then after-ages shall record thy praise , that a new-england to this i le didst raise : and when thou di'st ( as all that liue must die ) thy fame liue here ; thou , with eternity . r. gunnell . to his worthy captaine , the author . oft thou hast led , when i brought vp the rere in bloudy wars , where thousands haue beene slaine . then giue me leaue in this some part to beare ; and as thy seruant , here to reade my name . t is true , long time thou hast my captaine beene in the fierce warres of transiluania : long ere that thou america hadst seene , or led wast captiu'd in virginia ; thou that to passe the worlds foure parts dost deeme no more , then t' were to goe to bed , or drinke , and all thou yet hast done , thou dost esteeme as nothing . this doth cause me thinke that thou i 'aue seene so oft approu'd in dangers , ( and thrice captiu'd , thy valour still hath freed ) art yet preserued , to conuert those strangers : by god thy guide i trust it is decreed . for me : i not commend but much admire thy england yet vnknowne to passers by-her . for it will praise it selfe in spight of me ; thou it , it thou , to all posterity . your true friend and souldier , ed. robinson . to my honest captaine , the author . malignant times ! what can be said or done , but shall be censur'd and traduc't by some ! this worthy worke , which thou hast bought so deare , ne thou , nor it , detractors need to feare . thy words by deeds so long thou hast approu'd , of thousands know thee not thou art belou'd . and this great plot will make thee ten times more knowne and belou'd , than ere thou wert before . i neuer knew a warrier yet , but thee , from wine , tobacco , debts , dice , oaths , so free . i call thee warrier : and i make the bolder ; for , many a captaine now , was neuer souldier . some such may swell at this : but ( to their praise ) when they haue done like thee , my muse shall raise their due deserts to worthies yet to come , to liue like thine ( admir'd ) till day of doome . your true friend , sometimes your souldier , tho. carlton . new england the most remarqueable parts thus named by the high and mighty prince charles , prince of great britaine the portraictuer of captayne iohn smith admirall of new england . these are the lines that shew thy face ; but those that shew thy grace and glory , brighter bee : thy faire-discoueries and fowle-overthrowes of salvages , much civilliz'd by thee best shew thy spirit ; and to it glory wyn ; so , thou art brasse without , but golde within . if so ; in brasse , too soft smiths acts to beare i fix thy fame , to make brasse steele out weare . thine , as thou art virtues , go●●● dauies . heref : hony s oit qvi mal y pense . a scale of leagues observed and described by captayn john smith . london printed by geor : low the sixth booke . the generall historie of new-england . concerning this history you are to vnderstand the letters-patents granted by his maiesty in . for the limitation of virginia , did extend from . to . which was diuided in two parts ; namely , the first colony and the second : the first was to the honourable city of london , and such as would aduenture with them to discouer and take their choice where they would , betwixt the degrees of . and . the second was appropriated to the cities of bristol , exeter and plimoth , &c. and the west parts of england , and all those that would aduenture and ioine with them , and they might make their choise any where betwixt the degrees of . and . prouided there should bee at least . miles distance betwixt these . colonies , each of which had lawes , priuileges and authoritie , for the gouernment and aduancing their seuerall plantations alike . now this part of america hath formerly beene called norumbega , virginia , nuskoncus , penaquida , cannada , and such other names as those that ranged the coast pleased . but because it was so mountainous , rocky and full of iles , few haue aduentured much to trouble it , but as is formerly related ; notwithstanding , that honourable patron of vertue , sir iohn popham , lord chiefe iustice of england , in the yeere . procured meanes and men to possesse it , and sent captaine george popham for president , captaine rawley gilbert for admirall , captaine edward harlow master of the ordnance , captaine robert dauis sargeant-maior , captaine elis best marshall , master seaman secretary , captaine iames dauis to be captaine of the fort , master gome carew chiefe searcher : all those were of the councell , who with some hundred more were to stay in the country : they set saile from plimoth the last of may , and fell with monahigan the eleuenth of august . at sagadahock . or . leagues southward , they planted themselues at the mouth of a faire nauigable riuer , but the coast all thereabouts most extreme stony and rocky : that extreme frozen winter was so cold they could not range nor search the country , and their prouision so small , they were glad to send all but . of their company backe againe : their noble president captaine popham died , and not long after arriued two ships well prouided of all necessaries to supply them , and some small time after another , by whom vnderstanding of the death of the lord chiefe iustice , and also of sir iohn gilbert , whose lands there the president rawley gilbert was to possesse according to the aduenturers directions , finding nothing but extreme extremities , they all returned for england in the yeere . and thus this plantation was begunne and ended in one yeere , and the country esteemed as a cold , barren , mountainous , rocky desart . notwithstanding , the right honourable henry earle of south-hampton and those of the i le of wight , imploied captaine edward harlow to discouer an i le supposed about cape cod , but they found their plots had much abused them , for falling with monahigan , they found onely cape cod no i le but the maine , there they detained three saluages aboord them , called pechmo , monopet and pekenimne , but pechmo leapt ouer board , and got away ; and not long after with his consorts cut their boat from their sterne , got her on shore , and so filled her with sand , and guarded her with bowes and arrowes the english lost her : not farre from thence they had three men sorely wounded with arrowes . anchoring at the i le of nohone , the saluages in their canowes assaulted the ship till the english guns made them retire , yet here they tooke sakaweston , that after he had liued many yeeres in england went a souldier to the warres of bohemia . at capawo they tooke coneconam and epenow , but the people at agawom vsed them kindly , so with fiue saluages they returned for england , yet sir francis popham sent diuers times one captaine williams to monahigan onely to trade and make core fish , but for any plantations there was no more speeches . for all this , as i liked virginia well , though not their proceedings , so i desired also to see this country , and spend some time in trying what i could finde for all those ill rumors and disasters . from the relations of captaine edward harlow and diuers others . in the month of aprill . at the charge of capt. marmaduke roydon , capt. george langam , mr. iohn buley and mr. william skelton , with two ships from london , i chanced to arriue at monahigan an i le of america , in . of northerly latitude : out plot was there to take whales , for which we had one samuel cramton and diuers others expert in that faculty , & also to make trialls of a mine of gold & copper ; if those failed , fish and furs were then our refuge to make our selues sauers howsoeuer : we found this whale-fishing a costly conclusion , we saw many and spent much time in chasing them , but could not kill any . they being a kinde of iubartes , and not the whale that yeelds fins and oile as we expected ; for our gold it was rather the masters deuice to get a voyage that proiected it , then any knowledge he had at all of any such matter ; fish and furs were now our guard , & by our late arriuall and long lingring about the whale , the prime of both those seasons were past ere wee perceiued it , wee thinking that their seasons serued at all times , but we found it otherwise , for by the middest of iune the fishing failed , yet in iuly and august some were taken , but not sufficient to defray so great a charge as our stay required : of dry fish we made about forty thousand , of cor-fish about seuen thousand . whilest the sailers fished , my selfe with eight others of them might best bee spared , ranging the coast in a small boat , we got for trifles neere eleuen thousand beuer skinnes , one hundred martins , as many otters , and the most of them within the distance of twenty leagues : we ranged the coast both east and west much further , but eastward our commodities were not esteemed , they were so neere the french who afforded them better , with whom the saluages had such commerce that only by trade they made exceeding great voyages , though they were without the limits of our precincts ; during the time we tried those conclusions , not knowing the coast , nor saluages habitations : with these furres , the traine oile and cor-fish , i returned for england in the barke , where within six moneths after our departure from the downes , wee safely arriued backe ; the best of this fish was sold for . li. the hundred , the rest by ill vsage betwixt three pounds and . shillings . the other ship stayed to fit her selfe for spaine with the dry fish which was sold at maligo at forty rialls the quintall , each hundred weighing two quintals and a halfe . but one thomas hunt the master of this ship ( when i was gone ) thinking to preuent that intent i had to make there a plantation , thereby to keepe this abounding countrey still in obscuritie , that onely he and some few merchants more might enioy wholly the benefit of the trade , and profit of this countrey , betraied foure and twenty of those poore saluages aboord his ship , and most dishonestly and inhumanely for their kinde vsage of me and all our men , caried them with him to maligo , and there for a little priuate gaine sold those silly saluages for rials of eight ; but this vilde act kept him euer after from any more imploiment to those parts . now because at this time i had taken a draught of the coast , and called it new england , yet so long he and his consorts drowned that name with the eccho of cannaday , and some other ships from other parts also , that vpon this good returne the next yeere went thither , that at last i presented this discourse with the map , to our most gracious prince charles , humbly intreating his highnesse hee would please to change their ba●barous names for such english , as posteritie might say prince charles was their god-father , which for your better vnderstanding both of this discourse and the m●p , peruse this schedule , which will plainly shew you the correspondency of the old names to the new , as his highnesse named them . the old names . the new names . cape cod. cape iames. the harbor at cape cod. milforth hauen . chawum . barwick . accomack . plimoth . sagoquas . oxford . massachusets mount. cheuit hills . massachusits riuer . charles riuer . totan . famouth . a great bay by cape anne . bristow . cape tragubigsanda . cape anne . naembeck . bastable . aggawom . southampton . smiths iles. smiths iles. passataquack . hull . accominticus . boston . sassanows mount. snowdon hill . sowocatuck . ipswich . bahanna . dartmouth . a good harbor within that bay. sandwich . ancociscos mount. shuters hill . ancocisco . the base . anmonghcawgen . cambridge . kenebecka . edenborow . sagadabock . leth. pemmayquid . s. iohns towne . segocket . norwich . mecadacut . dunbarton . pennobscot . aberden . nusket . low mounds . those being omitted i named my selfe . monahigan . barties iles. matinack . willowbies iles. metinacus . haughtons iles. the rest of the names in the map , are places that had no names we did know . but to continue the history succeedingly as neere with the day and yeere as may bee . returning in the barke as is said ; it was my ill chance to put in at plimoth , where imparting those my purposes to diuers i thought my friends , whom as i supposed were interested in the dead patent of this vnregarded countrey , i was so encouraged and assured to haue the managing their authoritie in those parts during my life , and such large promises , that i ingaged my selfe to vndertake it for them . arriuing at london , though some malicious persons suggested there was no such matter to be had in that so bad abandoned countrey , for if there had , other could haue found it so well as i ; therefore it was to be suspected i had robbed the french men in new france or cannada , and the merchants see me forth seemed not to regard it , yet i found so many promised me such assistance , that i entertained michael cooper the master of the barke , that returned with me and others of the company : how he dealt with others , or others with him , i know not ; but my publike proceeding gaue such encouragement , that it became so well apprehended by some few of the virginia company , as those proiects for fishing onely was so well liked , they furnished couper with foure good ships to sea , before they at plimoth had made any prouision at all for me ; but onely a small barke set out by them of the i le of wight . some of plimoth , and diuers gentlemen of the west countrey , a little before i returned from new england , in search for a mine of gold about an i le called capawuck , south-wards from the shoules of cape iames , as they were informed by a saluage called epenew ; that hauing deluded thē as it seems thus to get home , seeing they kept him as a prisoner in his owne countrey , and before his friends , being a man of so great a stature , he was shewed vp and downe london for money as a wonder , and it seemes of no lesse courage and authoritie , then of wit , strength , and proportion : for so well he had contriued his businesse , as many reported he intended to haue surprised the ship ; but seeing it could not be effected to his liking , before them all he leaped ouer-boord . many shot they made at him , thinking they had slaine him , but so resolute they were to recouer his body , the master of the ship was wounded , and many of his company ; and thus they lost him , & not knowing more what to do , returned againe to england with nothing , which so had discouraged all your west countrey men , they neither regarded much their promises , and as little either me or the countrey , till they saw the london ships gone and me in plimoth according to my promise , as hereafter shall be related . i must confesse i was beholden to the setters forth of the foure ships that went with couper , in that they offered me that imploiment if i would accept it ; and i finde still my refusall incurred some of their displeasures , whose loue and fauour i exceedingly desired ; and though they doe censure me opposite to their proceedings , they shall yet still in all my words and deeds finde , it is their error , not my fault that occasions their dislike : for hauing ingaged my selfe in this businesse to the west countrey , i had beene very dishonest to haue broke my promise , nor will i spend more time in discouery or fishing , till i may goe with a company for a plantation ; for i know my grounds , yet euery one to whom i tell them , or that reads this booke , cannot put it in practise , though it may helpe any that hath seene or not seene to know much of those parts : and though they endeuour to worke me out of my owne designes , i will not much enuy their fortunes : but i would be sorry their intruding ignorance should by their defailments bring those certainties to doubtfulnesse . so that the businesse prosper i haue my desire , be it by whomsoeuer that are true subiects to our king and countrey : the good of my countrey is that i seeke , and there is more then enough for all , if they could be contented . new england is that part of america in the ocean sea , opposite to noua albion in the south sea , discouered by the most memorable sir francis drake in his voyage about the world , in regard whereof this is stiled new england , being in the same latitude new france of it is northwards , southwards is virginia , and all the adioyning continent with new granado , new spaine , new andolosia , and the west-indies . now because i haue beene so oft asked such strange questions of the goodnesse and greatnesse of those spatious tracts of land , how they can be thus long vnknowne , or not possessed by the spaniards , and many such like demands ; i intreat your pardons if i chance to be too plaine or tedious in relating my knowledge for plaine mens satisfaction . florida is the next adioyning to the indies , which vnprosperously was attempted to be planted by the french , a countrey farre bigger then england , scotland , france and ireland , yet little knowne to any christian , but by the wonderfull endeuours of ferdinando de soto , a valiant spaniard , whose writings in this age is the best guide knowne to search those parts . virginia is no ile as many doe imagine , but part of the continent adioyning to florida , whose bounds may be stretched to the magnitude thereof , without offence to any christian inhabitant , for from the degrees of thirtie to forty eight , his maiesty hath now enlarged his letters patents . the coast extending southwest and north-east about sixteene or seuenteene hundred miles , but to follow it aboord the shore may well be three thousand miles at the least : of which twentie miles is the most giues entrance into the bay of chisapeacke , where is the london plantation , within which is a countrey , as you may perceiue by the map , of that little i discouered , may well suffice three hundred thousand people to inhabit : but of it , and the discoueries of sir ralph laine and master heriot , captaine gosnold , and captaine waymouth , they haue writ so largely , that posteritie may be bettered by the fruits of their labours . but for diuers others that haue ranged those parts since , especially this countrey now called new england , within a kenning sometimes of the shore ; some touching in one place , some in another ; i must intreat them pardon me for omitting them , or if i offend in saying , that their true descriptions were concealed , or neuer were well obserued , or died with the authors , so that the coast is yet still but euen as a coast vnknowne and vndiscouered . i haue had six or seuen seuerall plots of those northerne parts , so vnlike each to other , or resemblance of the country , as they did me no more good then so much waste paper , though they cost me more , it may bee it was not my chance to see the best ; but lest others may be deceiued as i was , or through dangerous ignorance hazard themselues as i did , i haue drawne a map from point to point , i le to i le , and harbour to harbour , with the soundings , sands , rocks , and land-markes , as i passed close aboord the shore in a little boat ; although there bee many things to bee obserued , which the haste of other affaires did cause me to omit : for being sent more to get present commodities , then knowledge of any discoueries for any future good , i had not power to search as i would ; yet it will serue to direct any shall goe that waies to safe harbours and the saluages habitations : what merchandize and commodities for their labours they may finde , this following discourse shall plainly demonstrate . thus you may see of these three thousand miles , more then halfe is yet vnknowne to any purpose , no not so much as the borders of the sea are yet certainly discouered : as for the goodnesse and true substance of the land , we are for most part yet altogether ignorant of them , vnlesse it be those parts about the bay of chisapeack and sagadahock , but onely here and there where we haue touched or seene a little , the edges of those large dominions which doe stretch themselues into the maine , god doth know how many thousand miles , whereof we can yet no more iudge , then a stranger that saileth betwixt england and france , can describe the harbours and dangers by landing here or there in some riuer or bay , tell thereby the goodnesse and substance of spaine , italy , germany , bohemia , hungaria , and the rest ; nay , there are many haue liued fortie yeeres in london , and yet haue scarce beene ten miles out of the citie : so are there many haue beene in virginia many yeeres , and in new england many times , that doe know little more then the place they doe inhabit , or the port where they fished , and when they come home , they will vndertake they know all virginia and new england , as if they were but two parishes or little ilands . by this you may perceiue how much they erre , that thinke euery one that hath beene in virginia or new england , vnderstandeth or knoweth what either of them are ; or that the spaniards know one halfe quarter of those large territories they possesse , no not so much as the true circumference of terra incognita , whose large dominions may equalize the goodnesse and greatnesse of america for any thing yet knowne . it is strange with what small power he doth range in the east-indies , and few will vnderstand the truth of his strength in america : where hauing so much to keepe with such a pampered force , they need not greatly feare his fury in sommer iles , virginia , or new england , beyond whose bounds america doth stretch many thousand miles . into the frozen parts whereof , one master hutson an english mariner , did make the greatest discouerie of any christian i know , where hee vnfortunately was left by his cowardly company , for his exceeding deserts , to end and die a most miserable death . for affrica , had not the industrious portugals ranged her vnknowne parts , who would haue sought for wealth amongst those fried regions of blacke brutish negars , where notwithstanding all their wealth and admirable aduentures and endeuours more then one hundred and fortie yeeres ; they know not one third part of those blacke habitations . but it is not a worke for euery one to manage such an affaire , as make a discouery and plant a colony , it requires all the best parts of art , iudgement , courage , honesty , constancy , diligence , and industry , to doe but neere well ; some are more proper for one thing then another , and therein best to be imploied : and nothing breeds more confusion then misplacing and misimploying men in their vndertakings . columbus , courtes , pitzara , zoto , magilanus , and the rest serued more then a prentiship , to learne how to begin their most memorable attempts in the west-indies , which to the wonder of all ages successefully they effected , when many hundreds of others farre aboue them in the worlds opinion , being instructed but by relation , came to shame and confusion in actions of small moment , who doubtlesse in other matters were both wise , discreet , generous and couragious . i say not this to detract any thing from their incomparable merits , but to answer those questionlesse questions , that keepe vs backe from imitating the worthinesse of their braue spirits , that aduanced themselues from poore souldiers to great captaines , their posterity to great lords , their king to be one of the greatest potentates on earth , and the fruits of their labours his greatest power , glory , and renowne . the description of new england . that part we call new england , is betwixt the degrees of fortie one and fortie fiue , the very meane betwixt the north pole and the line ; but that part this discourse speaketh of , stretcheth but from penobscot to c●pe cod , some seuentie fiue leagues by a right line distant each from other ; within which bounds i haue seene at least fortie seuerall habitations vpon the sea coast , and sounded about fiue and twentie excellent good harbours , in many whereof there is anchorage for fiue hundred saile of ships of any burden ; in some of them for one thousand , and more then two hundred iles ouer-growne with good timber of diuers sorts of wood , which doe make so many harbours , as required a longer time then i had to be well obserued . the principall habitation northward we were at , was pennobscot : southward along the coast and vp the riuers , we found mecadacut , segocket , pemaquid , nuscoucus , sagadahock , aumoughcowgen , and kenebeke ; and to those countries belong the people of segotago , paghhuntanuck , pocopassum ▪ taughtanakagnet , warbigganus , nassaque , masherosqueck , wawrigweck , mos●oquen , wakcogo , pasharanack , &c. to these are alied in confederacy , the countries of ancocisco , accomynticus , passataquack , aggawom , and naemkeck : all these for any thing i could perceiue , differ little in language , fashion , or gouernment , though most of them be lords of themselues , yet they hold the bashabes of penobscot , the chiefe and greatest amongst them . the next i can remember by name , are mattahunts , two pleasant iles of groues , gardens , and corne fields a league in the sea from the maine : then totant , massachuset , topent , secassaw , totheet , nasnocomacack , accomack , chawum , patuxet , massasoyts , pakanokick : then cape cod , by which is pawmet and the i le nawset , of the language and aliance of them of chawum ; the others are called massachusets , and differ somewhat in language , custome , and condition : for their trade and merchandize , to each of their principall families or habitations , they haue diuers townes and people belonging , and by their relations and descriptions , more then twentie seuerall habitations and riuers that stretch themselues farre into the countrey , euen to the borders of diuers great lakes , where they kill and take most of their otters , from pennobscot to sagadaboc . this coast is mountainous , and iles of huge rockes , but ouer-growne for most part , with most sorts of excellent good woods , for building houses , boats , barks or ships , with an incredible abundance of most sorts of fish , much fowle , and sundry sorts of good fruits for mans vse . betwixt sagadahock , & sowocatuck , there is but two or three sandy bayes , but betwixt that and cape iames very many : especially the coast of the massachusets is so indifferently mixed with high clay or sandy clifts in one place , and the tracts of large long ledges of diuers sorts , and quaries of stones in other places , so strangely diuided with tinctured veines of diuers colours : as free-stone for building , slate for tyling , smooth stone to make furnasses and forges for glasse and iron , and iron ore sufficient conueniently to melt in them ; but the most part so resembleth the coast of deuonshire , i thinke most of the clifts would make such lime-stone : if they bee not of these qualities , they are so like they may deceiue a better iudgement then mine : all which are so neere adioyning to those other aduantages i obserued in these parts , that if the ore proue as good iron and steele in those parts as i know it is within the bounds of the countrey , i dare ingage my head ( hauing but men skilfull to worke the simples there growing ) to haue all things belonging to the building and rigging of ships of any proportion and good merchandise for their fraught , within a square of ten or foureteene leagues , and it were no hard matter to proue it within a lesse limitation . and surely by reason of those sandy clifts , and clifts of rocks , both which we saw so planted with gardens and corne fields , and so well inhabited with a goodly , strong , and well proportioned people , besides the greatnesse of the timber growing on them , the greatnesse of the fish , and the moderate temper of the aire ( for of fiue and forty not a man was sicke , but two that were many yeares diseased before they went , notwithstanding our bad lodging and accidentall diet ) who can but approue this a most excellent place , both for health and fertilitie : and of all the foure parts of the world i haue yet seene not inhabited , could i haue but means to transport a colony , i would rather liue here then any where , and if it did not maintaine it selfe , were we but once indifferently well fitted , let vs starue . the maine staple from hence to bee extracted for the present , to produce the rest , is fish , which howbeit may seeme a meane and a base commoditie ; yet who will but truly take the paines and consider the sequell , i thinke will allow it well worth the labour . it is strange to see , what great aduentures the hopes of setting forth men of warre to rob the industrious innocent would procure , or such massie promises in grosse , though more are choaked then well fed with such hastie hopes . but who doth not know that the poore hollanders chiefely by fishing at a great charge and labour in all weathers in the open sea , are made a people so hardy and industrious , and by the venting this poore commoditie to the easterlings for as 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 f●sh , pitch , wood , or such grosse commodities ? what voiages and discoueries , e●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 h●●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 p●r●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 with fishers , as the fishing decaieth , so that many oft times are constrained to returne with a small fraught . norway and poland affoords pitch and tarre , masts and yards . sweathland and russia , iron and ropes . france and spaine , canuase , wine , steele , iron , and oile , italy and greece , silkes and fruits . i dare boldly say , because i haue seene naturally growing or breeding in those parts , the same materials that all these are made of , they may as well bee had here , or the most part of them within the distance of seuentie leagues for some few ages , as from all those parts , vsing but the same meanes to haue them that they doe ; but surely in virginia , their most tender and daintiest fruits or commodities , would be as perfit as theirs , by reason of the heat , if not in new england , and with all those aduantages . first , the ground is so fertill , that questionlesse it is capable of producing any graine , fruits , or seeds , you will sow or plant , growing in the regions aforenamed : but it may be not to that perfection of delicacy , because the summer is not so hot , and the winter is more cold in those parts we haue yet tried neere the sea side , then wee finde in the same height in europe or asia : yet i made a garden vpon the top of a rocky i le in three and forty degrees and an halfe , foure leagues from the maine in may , that grew so well , as it serued vs for sallets in iune and iuly . all sorts of cattle may here be bred and fed in the iles or peninsulaes securely for nothing . in the interim , till they increase ( if need be ) obseruing the seasons , i durst vndertake to haue corne enough from the saluages for three hundred men , for a few trifles ; and if they should be vntowards , as it is most certaine they will , thirtie or fortie good men will be sufficient to bring them all in subiection , and make this prouision , if they vnderstand what to doe ; two hundred whereof may eight or nine moneths in the yeere be imploied in helping the fisher-men , till the rest prouide other necessaries , fit to furnish vs with other commodities . in march , aprill , may , and halfe iune , heere is cod in abundance ; in may , iune , iuly , and august , mullit and sturgion , whose roes doe make cauiare and puttargo ; herring , if any desire them : i haue taken many out of the bellies of cods , some in nets ; but the saluages compare the store in the sea with the haires of their heads : and surely there are an incredible abundance vpon this coast. in the end of august , september , october , and nouember , you may haue cod againe to make core-fish or poore-iohn : hake you may haue when the cod failes in summer , if you will fish in the night , which is better then cod. now each hundred you take here , is as good as two or three hundred in new found land ; so that halfe the labour in hooking , splitting and touring , is saued : and you may haue your fish at what market you will , before they haue any in new found land , where their fishing is chiefely but in iune and iuly , where it is here in march , aprill , may , september , october and nouember , as is said ; so that by reason of this plantation , the merchants may haue their fraught both out and home , which yeelds an aduantage worth consideration . your core-fish you may in like manner transport as you see cause , to serue the ports in portugall , as lisbone , auera , porta port , and diuers others , ( or what market you please ) before your ilanders returne . they being tied to the season in the open sea , and you hauing a double season , and fishing before your doores , may euery night sleep quietly ashore with good cheere , and what fires you will , or when you please with your wiues and family : they onely and their ships in the maine ocean , that must carie and containe all they vse , besides their fraught . the mullits here are in that abundance , you may take them with nets sometimes by hundreds , where at cape blanke they hooke them ; yet those are but a soot and a halfe in length ; these two , three , or foure , as oft i haue measured , which makes me suspect they are some other kinde of fish , though they seeme the same , both in fashion and goodnesse . much salmon some haue found vp the riuers as they haue passed , and here the aire is so temperate , as all these at any time may be preserued . now , young boies and girles saluages , or any other bee they neuer such idlers , may turne , carie or returne a fish , without either shame or any great paine : he is very idle that is past twelue yeeres of age and cannot doe so much , and she is very old that cannot spin a threed to make engins to catch a fish . for their transportation , the ships that goe there to fish may transport the first : who for their passage will spare the charge of double manning their ships , which they must do in new found land to get their fraught ; but one third part of that company are onely proper to serue a stage , carie a barrow , and turne poore-iohn ; notwithstanding , they must haue meat , drinke , clothes , & passage so well as the rest . now all i desire is but this , that those that voluntarily will send shipping , should make here the best choice they can , or accept such as shall bee presented them to serue them at that rate : and their ships returning leaue such with me , with the value of that they should receiue comming home , in such prouisions and necessarie tooles , armes , bedding , apparell , salt , nets , hookes , lines , and such like , as they spare of the remainings ; who till the next returne may keepe their boats , and doe them many other profitable offices . prouided , i haue men of abilitie to teach them their functions , and a company fit for souldiers to be ready vpon any occasion , because of the abuses that haue beene offered the poore saluages , and the libertie that both french and english , or any that will , haue to deale with them as they please ; whose disorders will be hard to reforme , and the longer the worse : now such order with facilitie might be taken , with euery port , towne , or citie , with free power to conuert the benefit of their fraughts to what aduantage they please , and increase their numbers as they see occasion , who euer as they are able to subsist of themselues , may begin the new townes in new england , in memory of their old : which freedome being confined but to the necessitie of the generall good , the euent ( with gods helpe ) might produce an honest , a noble , and a profitable emulation . salt vpon salt may assuredly be made , if not at the first in ponds , yet till they be prouided this may be vsed : then the ships may transport kine , horse , goats , course cloth , and such commodities as we want ; by whose arriuall may be made that prouision of fish to fraught the ships that they stay not ; and then if the sailers goe for wages it matters not , it is hard if this returne defray not the charge : but care must be had they arriue in the spring , or else that prouision be made for them against winter . of certaine red berries called kermes , which is worth ten shillings the pound , but of these haue beene sold for thirty or forty shillings the pound , may yeerely be gathered a good quantity . of the muskrat may be well raised gaines worth their labour , that will endeuour to make triall of their goodnesse . of beuers , otters and martins , blacke foxes , and furres of price , may yeerely be had six or seuen thousand , and if the trade of the french were preuented , many more : . this yeere were brought from those northerne parts into france , of which trade we may haue as good part as the french if we take good courses . of mines of gold and siluer , copper , and probabilities of lead , crystall and allum , i could say much if relations were good assurances ; it is true indeed , i made many trialls according to the instructions i had , which doth perswade me i need not despaire but that there are metals in the country : but i am no alcumist , nor will promise more then i know : which is , who will vndertake the rectifying of an iron forge , if those that buy meat and drinke , coles , ore , and all necessaries at a deare rate , gaine , where all these things are to be had for taking vp , in my opinion cannot lose . of woods , seeing there is such plenty of all sorts , if those that build ships and boats , buy wood at so great a price , as it is in england , spaine , france and holland , and all other prouisions for the nourishment of mans life , liue well by their trade ; when labour is all required to take these necessaries without any other tax , what hazard will be here but to doe much better , and what commodity in europe doth more decay then wood ? for the goodnesse of the ground , let vs take it fertill or barren , or as it is , seeing it is certaine it beares fruits to nourish and feed man & beast as well as england , and the sea those seuerall sorts of fishes i haue related : thus seeing all good things for mans sustenance may with this facility be had by a little extraordinary labour , till that transported be increased , & all necessaries for shipping onely for labour , to which may added the assistance of the saluages which may easily be had , if they be discreetly handled in their kinds , towards fishing , planting , and destroying woods , what gaines might be raised if this were followed ( when there is but once men to fill your store houses dwelling there , you may serue all europe better and farre cheaper then can the iland fishers , or the hollanders , cape-blanke , or newfound land , who must be at much more charge then you ) may easily be coniectured by this example . two thousand will fit out a ship of . tunnes , & one of . tuns , if of the dry fish they both make fraught , that of . and goe for spaine , sell it but at ten shillings a quintall , but commonly it giues fifteene or twenty , especially when it commeth first , which amounts to . or pound , but say but ten , which is the lowest , allowing the rest for waste , it amounts at that rate to . which is the whole charge of your two ships and the equipage , then the returne of the mony and the fraught of the ship for the vintage or any other voyage is cleere gaine , with your ship of one hundred tunnes of traine oile and cor-fish , besides the beuers and other commodities , and that you may haue at home within six moneths if god please to send but an ordinary passage ; then sauing halfe this charge by the not staying of your ships , your victuall , ouerplus of men and wages , with her fraught thither with necessaries for the planters , the salt being there made , as also may the nets and lines within a short time ; if nothing may be expected but this , it might in time equalize your hollanders gaines , if not exceede them , hauing their fraughts alwaies ready against the arriuall of the ships , this would so increase our shipping and sailers , and so incourage and imploy a great part of our idlers and others that want imployment fitting their qualities at home , where they shame to doe that they would doe abroad , that could they but once taffe the sweet fruits of their owne labours , doubtlesse many thousands would be aduised by good discipline to take more pleasure in honest industry , then in their humors of dissolute idlenesse . but to returne a little more to the particulars of this countrey , which i intermingle thus with my proiects and reasons , not being so sufficiently yet acquainted in those parts , to write fully the estate of the sea , the aire , the land , the fruits , their rocks , the people , the gouernment , religion , territories , limitations , friends and foes : but as i gathered from their niggardly relations in a broken language , during the time i ranged those countries , &c. the most northerne part i was at , was the bay of pennobscot , which is east and west , north and south , more then ten leagues : but such were my occasions , i was constrained to be satisfied of them i found in the bay , that the riuer ranne farre vp into the land , and was well inhabited with many people , but they were from their habitations , either fishing amongst the iles , or hunting the lakes and woods for deere and beuers : the bay is full of great iles of one , two , six or eight miles in length , which diuides it into many faire and excellent good harbours . on the east of it are the tarrentines , their mortall enemies , where inhabit the french , as they report , that liue with those people as one nation or family : and northwest of pennobscot is mecaddacut , at the foot of a high mountaine , a kinde of fortresse against the tarrentines , adioyning to the high mountaines of pennobscot , against whose feet doth beat the sea ; but ouer all the land , iles , or other impediments , you may well see them foureteene or eighteene leagues from their situation . segocket is the next , then nuskoucus , pemmaquid , and sagadahock : vp this riuer , where was the westerne plantation , are aumoughcawgen , kinnebeke , and diuers others , where are planted some corne fields . along this riuer thirtie or fortie miles , i saw nothing but great high clifts of barren rocks ouergrowne with wood , but where the saluages dwell there the ground is excellent salt , and fertill . westward of this riuer is the country of aucocisco , in the bottome of a large deepe bay , full of many great iles , which diuides it into many good harbours . sawocotuck is the next , in the edge of a large sandy bay , which hath many rockes and iles , but few good harbours , but for barkes i yet know ; but all this coast to pennobscot , and as farre as i could see eastward of it is nothing , but such high craggy clifty rockes and stony iles , that i wonder such great trees could grow vpon so hard foundations . it is a countrey rather to affright then delight one , and how to describe a more plaine spectacle of desolation , or more barren , i know not , yet are those rocky iles so furnished with good woods , springs , fruits , fish and fowle , and the sea the strangest fish-pond i euer saw , that it makes me thinke , though the coast be rocky and thus affrightable , the vallies and plaines and interior parts may well notwithstanding be very fertill . but there is no country so fertill hath not some part barren , and new-england is great enough to make many kingdomes and countries , were it all inhabited . as you passe the coast still westward , accominticus and passataquack are two conuenient harbours for small barkes ; and a good country within their craggy clifts . augoan is the next : this place might content a right curious iudgement , but there are many sands at the entrance of the harbour , and the worst is , it is imbayed too farre from the deepe sea ; here are many rising hils , and on their tops and descents are many corne fields and delightfull groues : on the east is an i le of two or three leagues in length , the one halfe plaine marish ground , fit for pasture or salt ponds , with many faire high groues of mulbery trees and gardens ; there is also okes , pines , walnuts , and other wood to make this place an excellent habitation , being a good and safe harbour . nai●mkeck , though it be more rocky ground , for augoan is sandy , not much inferiour neither for the harbour , nor any thing i could perceiue but the multitude of people : from hence doth stretch into the sea the faire headland tragabigzanda , now called cape an , fronted with the three iles wee called the three turkes heads ; to the north of this doth enter a great bay , where we found some habitations and corne fields , they report a faire riuer and at least . habitations doth possesse this country . but because the french had got their trade , i had no leisure to discouer it : the iles of mattahunts are on the west side of this bay , where are many iles and some rocks that appeare a great height aboue the water like the pyramides in aegypt , and amongst them many good harbours , and then the country of the massachusits , which is the paradice of all those parts , for here are many iles planted with corne , groues , mulberies , saluage gardens and good harbours , the coast is for the most part high clayie sandy clifts , the sea coast as you passe shewes you all along large corne fields , and great troupes of well proportioned people : but the french hauing remained here neere six weekes , left nothing for vs to take occasion to examine the inhabitants relations , viz. if there be three thousand people vpon those iles , and that the riuer doth pierce many daies iourney the entrailes of that country : we found the people in those parts very kinde , but in their f●ry no lesse valiant , for vpon a quarrell we fought with forty or fifty of them , till they had spent all their arrowes , and then we tooke six or seuen of their canowes , which towards the euening they ransomed for beuer skinnes , and at quonahasit falling out there but with one of them , he with three others crossed the harbour in a canow to certaine rockes whereby wee must passe , and there let flie their arrowes for our shot , till we were out of danger , yet one of them was slaine , and another shot through his thigh . then come you to accomacke an excellent good harbour , good land , and no want of any thing but industrious people : after much kindnesse , wee fought also with them , though some were hurt , some slaine , yet within an houre after they became friends . cape cod is the next presents it selfe ; which is onely a headland of high hils , ouer-growne with shrubby pines , hurts and such trash , but an excellent harbour for all weathers . this cape is made by the maine sea on the one side , and a great bay on the other in forme of a sickell , on it doth inhabit the people of pawmet , and in the bottome of the bay them of chawum : towards the south and south-west of this cape , is found a long and dangerous shoule of rocks and sand , but so farre as i incercled it , i found thirty fathome water and a strong currant , which makes mee thinke there is a chanell about this shoule , where is the best and greatest fish to be had winter and summer in all the country ; but the saluages say there is no chanell , but that the shoales beginne from the maine at pawm●t to the i le of nawset , and so extends beyond their knowledge into the sea. the next to this is capawucke , and those abounding countries of copper , corne , people and mineralls , which i went to discouer this last yee●e , but because i miscarried by the way i will leaue them till god please i haue better acquaintance with them . the massachusets they report sometimes haue warres with the bashabes of pennobscot , & are not alwaies friends with them of chawum and their alliance ; but now they are all friends , and haue each trade with other so farre as they haue society on each others frontiers , for they make no such voyages as from pennobscot to cape cod , seldome to massachset . in the north as i haue said they haue begun to plant corne , whereof the south part hath such plenty as they haue what they will from them of the north , and in the winter much more plenty of fish and fowle , but both winter & summer hath it in one part or other all the yeere , being the meane and most indifferent temper betwixt heat and cold , of all the regions betwixt the line and the pole , but the furs northward are much better , and in much more plenty then southward . the remarkablest iles and mountaines for land markes are these : the highest ile is sorico in the bay of pennobscot , but the three iles , and the iles of matinack are much further in the sea : merynacus is also three plaine iles , but many great rocks : monahigan is a round high i le , and close by it monanis , betwixt which is a small harbour where we rid ; in damerils iles is such another , sagadahocke is knowne by satquin , and foure or fiue iles in their mouth . smiths iles are a heape together , none neere them against accomintycus : the three turkes heads , are three iles , seene farre to sea-ward in regard of the head-land . the chiefe head-lands , are onely cape tragabigzanda , and cape cod , now called cape iames , and cape a●ne . the chiefe mountaines , them of pennobscot , the twinkling mountaine of acocisco , the great mountaine of sassanow , and the high mountaine of m●ss●c●uset . each of which you shall finde in the map , their places , forme , and al●●●des . the waters are most pure , proceeding from the intrailes of rocky mounta●●es : the herbs and fruits are of many sorts and kinds , as alkermes , currans , mu●beries , vines , respises , gooseberies , plums , wall-nuts , chesse-nuts , small - 〈◊〉 , pumpions , gourds , strawberies , beanes , pease , and maize ; a kinde or two of flax , wherewith they make nets , lines , and ropes , both small and great , very strong for their quantities . oake is the chiefe wood , of which there is great difference , in regard of the soyle where it groweth , firre , pine , wall-nut , chesse-nut , birtch , ash , elme , cipris , cedar , mulbery , plum tree , hazell , saxefras , and many other sorts . eagles , grips , diuers sorts of hawkes , craines , geese , brants , cormorants , ducks , cranes , swannes , sheldrakes , teale , meawes , gulls , turkies , diue-doppers , and many other sorts whose names i know not . whales , grompus , porkpisces , turbut , sturgion , cod , hake , haddocke , cole , cuske or small ling , sharke , mackarell , herring , mullit , base , pinnacks , cunners , pearch , eeles , crabs , lobsters , mustels , wilks , oisters , clamps , periwinkels , and diuers others , &c. moos , a beast bigger than a stag , deare red and fallow , beuers , wol●es , foxes both blacke and other , aroughcunds , wilde cats , beares , o●t●rs , m●●tins , fitches , musquassus , and diuers other sorts of vermin whose names i kn●w not : all these and diuers other good things doe here for want of vse still increase and decrease with little diminution , whereby they grow to that abundance , you shall scarce finde any bay , shallow shore or coue of sand , where you may not take many clamps or lobsters , or both at your pleasure , and in many places load your boat if you please , nor iles where you finde not fruits , birds , crabs , and mi●stels , or all of them ; for taking at a low water cod , cuske , hollibut , scare , turbut , mackarell , or such like are taken plentifully in diuers sandy bayes , store of mullit , bases , and diuers other sorts of such excellent fish as many as their net can hold : no riuer where there is not plenty of sturgion , or salmon , or both , all which are to be had in abundance obseruing but their seasons : but if a man will goe at christmas to gather cherries in kent , though there be plenty in summer , he may be deceiued ; so here these plenties haue each their seasons , as i hau● expressed ; we for the most part had little but bread and vinegar , and though the most part of iuly when the fishing decayed , they wrought all day , lay abroad in the iles all night , and liued on what they found , yet were not sicke : but i would wish none long put himselfe to such plunges , except necessity constraine it : yet worthy is that person to starue that here cannot liue if he haue sense , strength and health , for there is no such penury of these blessings in any place but that one hundred men may in two or three houres make their prouisions for a day , and he that hath experience to manage these affaires , with forty or thirty honest industrious men , might well vndertake ( if they dwell in these parts ) to subiect the saluages , and feed daily two or three hundred men , with as good corne , fish , and flesh as the earth hath of those kinds , and yet make that labour but their pleasure : prouided that they haue engines that be proper for their purposes . who can desire more content that hath small meanes , or but onely his merit to aduance his fortunes , then to tread and plant that ground he hath purchased by the hazard of his life ; if hee haue but the taste of vertue and magnanimity , what to such a minde can bee more pleasant then planting and building a foundation for his posterity , got from the rude earth by gods blessing and his owne industry without preiudice to any , if hee haue any graine of faith or zeale in religion , what can he doe lesse hurtfull to any , or more agreeable to god , then to seeke to conuert those poore saluages to know christ and humanity , whose labours with discretion will triple require thy charge and paine ; what so truly sutes with honour and honesty , as the discouering things vnknowne , erecting townes , peopling countries , informing the ignorant , reforming things vniust , teaching vertue and gaine to our natiue mother country ; a kingdome to attend her , finde imploiment for those that are idle , because they know not what to doe : so farre from wronging any , as to cause posterity to remember thee , and remembring thee , euer honour that remembrance with praise . consider what were the beginnings and endings of the monarchies of the chaldeans , the syrians , the grecians and romans , but this one rule ; what was it they would not doe for the good of their common weale , or their mother city ? for example : rome , what made her such a monarchesse , but onely the aduentures of her youth , not in riots at home , but in dangers abroad , and the iustice and iudgement out of their experiences when they grew aged ; what was their ruine and hurt but this , the excesse of idlenesse , the fondnesse of parents , the want of experience in maiestrates , the admiration of their vndeserued honours , the contempt of true merit , their vniust iealousies , their politike incredulities , their hypocriticall seeming goodnesse and their deeds of secret lewdnesse ; finally in fine , growing onely formall temporists , all that their predecessors got in many yeeres they lost in a few daies : those by their paines and vertues became lords of the world , they by their case and vices became slaues to their seruants ; this is the difference betwixt the vse of armes in the field , and on the monuments of stones , the golden age and the leaden age , prosperity and misery , iustice and corruption , substance and shadowes , words and deeds , experience and imagination , making common weales , and marring common weales , the fruits of vertue , and the conclusions of vice . then who would liue at home idly , or thinke in himselfe any worth to liue , onely to eat , drinke and sleepe , and so die ; or by consuming that carelesly , his friends got worthily , or by vsing that miserably that maintained vertue honestly , or ▪ for being descended nobly , and pine , with the vaine va●nt of great kindred in penury , or to maintaine a silly shew of brauery , toile out thy heart , soule and time basely ; by shifts , tricks , cards and dice , or by relating newes of other mens actions , sharke here and there for a dinner or supper , deceiue thy friends by faire promises and dissimulation , in borrowing where thou neuer meanest to pay , offend the lawes , surfet with excesse , burthen thy countrie , abuse thy selfe , despaire in want , and then cousen thy kindred , yea euen thy owne brother , and wish thy parents death ( i will not say damnation ) to haue their estates , though thou seest what honours and rewards the world yet hath for them , that will seeke them and worthily deserue them . i would bee sorry to offend , or that any should mistake my honest meaning ; for i wish good to all , hurt to none : but rich men for the most part are growne to that dotage through their pride in their wealth , as though there were no accident could end it or their life . and what hellish care doe such take to make it their owne misery and their countries spoile , especially when there is most need of their imploiment , drawing by all manner of inuentions from the prince and his honest subiects , euen the vitall spirits of their powers and estates : as if their baggs or brags were so powerfull a defence , the malicious could not assault them , when they are the onely bait to cause vs not onely to bee assaulted , but betrayed and murthered in our owne security ere wee will perceiue it . may not the miserable ruine of constantinople , their impregnable walls , riches and pleasures last taken by the turke , which were then but a bit in comparison of their mightinesse now , remember vs of the effects of priuate couetousnesse , at which time the good emperour held himselfe rich enough , to haue such rich subiects , so formall in all excesse of vanity , all kinde of delicacy and prodigality : his pouerty when the turke besieged the citizens ( whose merchandizing thoughts were onely to get wealth ) little conceiuing the desperat resolution of a valiant expert enemy , left the emperour so long to his conclusions , hauing spent all he had to pay his young raw discontented souldiers , that suddenly he , they , and their city were all a prey to the deuouring turke , and what they would not spare for the maintenance of them who aduentured their liues to defend them , did serue onely their enemies to torment them , their friends and country , and all christendome to this present day . let this lamentable example remember you that are rich ( seeing there are such great theeues in the world to rob you ) not grudge to lend some proportion to breed them that haue little , yet willing to learne how to defend you , for it is too late when the deed is doing . the romans estate hath beene worse then this , for the meere couetousnesse and extortion of a few of them so moued the rest , that not hauing any imploiment but contemplation , their great iudgements grew to so great malice , as themselues were sufficient to destroy themselues by faction ; let this moue you to imbrace imployment , for those whose educations , spirits and iudgements want but your purses , not only to preuent such accustomed dangers , but also to gaine more thereby then you haue ; and you fathers that are either so foolishly fond , or so miserably couetous , or so wilfully ignorant , or so negligently carelesse , as that you will rather maintaine your children in idle wantonnesse till they grow your masters , or become so basely vnkinde that they wish nothing but your deaths , so that both sorts grow dissolute , and although you would wish them any where to escape the gallowes and ease your cares , though they spend you fiere one , two or three hundred pound a yeere , you would grudge to giue halfe so much in aduenture with them to obtaine an estate , which in a small time , but with a little assistance of your prouidence , might bee better then your owne ; but if an angell should tell you any place yet vnknowne can affoord such fortunes , you would not beleeue it , no more then columbus was beleeued there was any such land , as is now the well knowne abounding america , much lesse such large regions are yet vnknowne , as well in america , as in africa and asia , and terra i●cognita . i haue not beene so ill bred but i haue tasted of plenty and pleasure , as well as want and misery ; nor doth necessity yet , or occasion of discontent force me to these endeuours , nor am i ignorant what small thankes i shall haue for my paines , or that many would haue the world imagine them to bee of great iudgement , that can but blemish these my designes , by their witty obiections and detractions , yet ( i hope ) my reasons with my deeds will so preuaile with some , that i shall not want imploiment in these affaires , to make the most blinde see his owne senselesnesse and incredulity , hoping that gaine will make them affect that which religion , charity and the common good cannot . it were but a poore deuice in mee to deceiue my selfe , much more the king and state , my friends and country with these inducements , which seeing his maiesty hath giuen permission , i wish all sorts of worthy honest industrious spirits would vnderstand , and if they desire any further satisfaction , i will doe my best to giue it , not to perswade them to goe onely , but goe with them ; not leaue them there , but liue with them there : i will not say but by ill prouiding and vndue managing , such courses may bee taken may make vs miserable enough : but if i may haue the execution of what i haue proiected , if they want to eat , let them eat or neuer disgest mee ; if i performe what i say , i desire but that reward out of the gaines may sute my paines , quality and condition , and if i abuse you with my tongue , take my head for satisfaction . if any dislike at the yeeres end , defraying their charge , by my consent they should freely returne ; i feare not want of company sufficient , were it but knowne what i know of these countries , and by the proofe of that wealth i hope yeerely to returne , if god please to blesse me from such accidents as are beyond my power in reason to preuent ; for i am not so simple to thinke that euer any other motiue then wealth will euer erect there a common wealth , or draw company from their ease and humors at home , to stay in new-england to effect my purposes . and lest any should thinke the toile might be insupportable , though these things may bee had by labour and diligence ; i assure my selfe there are who delight extremely in vaine pleasure , that take much more paines in england to enioy it , then i should doe here to gaine wealth sufficient , and yet i thinke they should not haue halfe such sweet content : for our pleasure here is still gaines , in england charges and losse ; here nature and liberty affoords vs that freely which in england we want , or it costeth vs deerely . what pleasure can bee more then being tired with any occasion a shore , in planting vines , fruits , or herbes , in contriuing their owne grounds to the pleasure of their owne minds , their fields , gardens , orchards , buildings , ships , and other workes , &c. to recreate themselues before their owne doores in their owne boats vpon the sea , where man , woman and childe , with a small hooke and line , by angling may take diuers sorts of excellent fish at their pleasures ; and is it not pretty sport to pull vp two pence , six pence , and twelue pence , as fast as you can hale and vere a line ; hee is a very bad fisher cannot kill in one day with his hooke and line one , two , or three hundred cods , which dressed and dryed , if they bee sold there for ten shillings a hundred , though in england they will giue more then twenty , may not both seruant , master and merchant be well content with this gaine ? if a man worke but three daies in seuen , hee may get more then hee can spend vnlesse hee will bee exceedingly excessiue . now that carpenter , mason , gardiner , tailer , smith , sailer , forger , or what other , may they not make this a pretty recreation , though they fish but an houre in a day , to take more then they can eat in a weeke , or if they will not eat it , because there is so much better choise , yet sell it or change it with the fisher-men or merchants for any thing you 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 , would long ere this haue troubled their neighbours , or haue eaten the pride of spaine it selfe . now hee knowes little that knowes not england may well spare many more people then spaine , and is as well able to furnish them with all manner of necessaries ; and seeing for all they haue , they cease not still to search for that they haue not , and know not ; it is strange we should be so dull , as not maintaine that which we haue , and pursue that we know : surely , i am sure many would take it ill , to be abridged of the titles and honors of their predecessor● ; when if but truly they would iudge themselues , looke how inferior they are to their noble vertues , so much they are vnworthy of their honors and liuings , which neuer were ordained for shewes and shadowes , to maintaine idlenesse and vice , but to make them more able to abound in honor , by heroicall deeds of action , iudgement , pietie , and vertue . what was it both in their purse and person they would not doe , for the good of their common-wealth , which might moue them presently to set out their spare children in these generous designes ; religion aboue all things should moue vs , especially the clergie , if we are religious , to shew our faith by our works , in conuerting those poore saluages to the knowledge of god , seeing what paines the spaniards takes to bring them to their adultered faith ▪ honor might moue the gentry , the valiant , and industrious , and the hope and assurance of wealth , all , if we were that we would seeme , and be accounted ; or be we so farre inferior to other nations , or our spirits so farre deiected from our ancient predecessors , or our mindes so vpon spoile , piracy , and such villany , as to serue the portugall , spaniard , dutch , french , or turke , ( as to the cost of europe too many doe ) rather then our god , our king , our country , and our selues ; excusing our idlenesse and our base complaints by want of imploiment , when here is such choice of all sorts , and for all degrees , in the planting and discouering these north parts of america . my second voyage to new england . in the yeere of our lord . i was imploied by many my friends of london , and sir ferdinando gorges , a noble knight , and a great fauourer of those actions , who perswaded the reuerend deane of exeter doctor sutliffe , and diuers merchants of the west , to entertaine this plantation . much labour i had taken to bring the londoners and them to ioyne together , because the londoners haue most money , and the westerne men are most proper for fishing ; and it is neere as much trouble , but much more danger , to faile from london to plimoth , then from plimoth to new england , so that halfe the voiage would thus be saued , yet by no meanes i could preuaile , so desirous they were both to be lords of this fishing . now to make my words more apparant by my deeds , to begin a plantation for a more ample triall of those conclusions , i was to haue staied there but with sixteene men , whose names were ; tho. dirmer . gent. iohn gosling . sould. thomas digby . walter chisell . were to learne to be sailers . edw. stallings . william ingram . daniel baker . robert miller . daniel cage . dauid cooper . adam smith . and two boyes . francis abbot . iohn partridge . tho. watson . i confesse i could haue wished them as many thousands , had all other prouisions beene in like proportion ; nor would i haue had so few , could i haue had means for more : yet would god haue pleased we had safely arriued , i doubted not but to haue performed more then i promised , and that many thousands ere this would haue bin there ere now . the maine assistance next god i had to this small number , was my acquaintance amongst the saluages , especially with dohoday , one of their greatest lords , who had liued long in england , and another called tantum , i caried with mee from england , and set on shore at cape cod ; by the meanes of this proud saluage , i did not doubt but quickly to haue got that credit amongst the rest of the saluages and their alliance , to haue had as many of them as i desired in any designe i intended , and that trade also they had by such a kinde of exchange of their countrey commodities , which both with ease and securitie might then haue beene vsed with him and diuers others : i had concluded to inhabit and defend them against the tarentines , with a better power then the french did them ; whose tyrannie did inforce them to embrace my offer with no small deuotion : and though many may think me more bold then wise , in regard of their power , dexteritie , treachery , and inconstancy , hauing so desperately assaulted , and betraied many others ; i say but this ( because with so many , i haue many times done much more in virginia then i intended here , when i wanted that experience virginia taught mee ) that to me it seemes no more danger then ordinary : and though i know my selfe the meanest of many thousands , whose apprehensiue inspection can pierce beyond the bounds of my abilities , into the hidden things of nature , art , and reason : yet i intreat such , giue mee leaue to excuse my selfe of so much imbecillitie , as to say , that in these eighteene yeeres which i haue beene conuersant with these affaires , i haue not learned , there is a great difference betwixt the directions and iudgement of experimentall knowledge , and the superficiall coniecture of variable relation : wherein rumour , humour , or misprision haue such power , that oft times one is enough to beguile twentie , but twentie not sufficient to keepe one from being deceiued . therefore i know no reason but to beleeue my owne eies before any mans imagination , that is but wrested from the conceits of my owne proiects and endeuours , but i honor with all affection , the counsell and instructions of iudiciall directions , or any other honest aduertisement , so farre to obserue , as they tie me , not to the crueltie of vnknowne euents . these are the inducements that thus drew me to me to neglect all other imploiments , and spend my time and best abilities in these aduentures , wherein though i haue had many discouragements , by the ingratitude of some , the malicious slanders of others , the falsenesse of friends , the treachery of cowards , and slownesse of aduenturers . now you are to remember , as i returned first from new england at plimoth , i was promised foure good ships ready prepared to my hand the next christmas , and what conditions and content i would desire , to put this businesse in practise , and arriuing at london , foure more were offered me with the like courtesie . but to ioyne the londoners & them in one , was most impossible ; so that ianuary with two hundred pound in chash for aduenture , and six gentlemen well furnished , i went from london to the foure ships were promised me at plimoth , but i found no such matter : and the most of those that had made such great promises , by the bad returne of the ship went for gold , and their priuate emulations , were extinct and qualified . notwithstanding at last , with a labyrinth of trouble , though the greatest of the burden lay-on me , and a few of my particular friends , i was furnished with a ship of two hundred tunnes ; and another of fiftie : but ere i had sailed one hundred and twentie leagues , she brake all her masts , pumping each watch fiue or six thousand strokes ; onely her spret-saile remained to spoone before the winde , till we had re-accommodated a iury-mast to returne for plimoth , or founder in the seas . my vice-admirall being lost , not knowing of this , proceeded her voyage ; now with the remainder of those prouisions , i got out againe in a small barke of sixtie tuns with thirty men : for this of two hundred , and prouision for seuentie , which were the sixteene before named , and foureteene other sailers for the ship ; with those i set saile againe the foure and twentieth of iune , where what befell me ( because my actions and writings are so publike to the world ) enuy still seeking to scandalize my endeuours , and seeing no power but death can stop the chat of ill tongues , nor imagination of mens minds , lest my owne relations of those hard euents might by some constructors bee made doubtfull , i haue thought it best to insert the examinations of those proceedings , taken by sir lewis stukeley , a worthy knight , and vice-admirall of deuonshire , which was as followeth . the examination of daniel baker , late steward to captaine iohn smith , in the returne of plimoth , taken before sir lewis stukeley knight , the eighth of december , . the effect in briefe was this : being chased by one fry an english pirat , edward chambers the master , iohn miller his mate , thomas digby the pylot , and diuers others importuned him to yeeld ; much swaggering wee had with them , more then the pirats , who agreed vpon such faire conditions as we desired , which if they broke , he vowed to sinke rather then be abused . strange they thought it , that a barke of threescore tuns with foure guns should stand vpon such termes , they being eightie expert sea-men , in an excellent ship of one hundred and fortie tuns , and thirty six cast peeces and murderers : but when they knew our captaine , so many of them had beene his souldiers , and they but lately runne from tunis , where they had stolne this ship , wanted victuall , and in combustion amongst themselues , would haue yeelded all to his protection , or wafted vs any whither : but those mutinies occasioned vs to reiect their offer , which afterward we all repented . for at fiall we met two french pirats , the one of two hundred tuns , the other thirty : no disgrace would cause our mutiners fight , till the captaine offered to blow vp the ship rather then yeeld , till hee had spent all his powder : so that together by the eares we went , and at last got cleere of them for all their shot . at flowers we were againe chased with foure french men of warre , the admirall one hundred and fortie tuns , and ninety men well armed ; the rest good ships , and as well prouided : much parly we had , but vowing they were rochilers , and had a commission from the king onely to secure true men , and take portugals , spaniards , and pirats , and as they requested , our captaine went to shew his commission , which was vnder the broad seale , but neither it nor their vowes they so much respected , but they kept him , rifled our ship , manned her with french men , and dispersed vs amongst their fleet : within fiue or six daies they were increased to eight or nine saile . at last they surrendred vs our ship , and most of our prouisions , the defects they promised the next day to supply , and did . notwithstanding , there was no way but our mutiners would for england , though we were as neere new england , till the major part resolued with our captaine to proceed . but the admirall sending his boat for our captaine , they espying a saile , presently gaue chase , whereby our mutiners finding an opportunitie in the night ran away , and thus left our captaine in his cap , bretches , and wast-coat , alone among the french men : his clothes , armes , and what he had , our mutiners shared among them , and with a false excuse , faining for feare lest he should turne man of warre , they returned for plimoth : fifteene of vs being land-men , not knowing what they did . daniel cage , edward stalings , walter chisell , dauid cooper , robert miller , and iohn partridge , vpon oath affirmes this for truth before the vice-admirall . now the cause why the french detained mee againe , was the suspition this chambers and minter gaue them , that i would reuenge my selfe vpon the banke , or in new found land , of all the french i could there encounter , and how i would haue fired the ship , had they not ouer-perswaded me : and that if i had but againe my armes , i would rather sinke by them , then they should haue from me but the value of a bisket ; and many other such like tales to catch but opportunitie in this manner to leaue me , and thus they returned to plimoth , and perforce with the french men i thus proceeded . being a fleet of eight or nine saile , we watched for the west-indies fleet , till ill weather separated vs from the other eight : still wee spent our time about the iles of the assores , where to keepe my perplexed thoughts from too much meditation of my miserable estate , i writ this discourse , thinking to haue sent it to you of his maiesties councell by some ship or other , for i saw their purpose was to take all they could . at last we were chased by one captaine barra , an english pirat in a small ship , with some twelue peece of ordnance , about thirty men , and neere all starued . they fought by courtesie releefe of vs , who gaue them such faire promises , as at last they betraied captaine wollistone his lieutenant , and foure or fiue of his men aboord vs , and then prouided to take the rest perforce . now my part was to be prisoner in the gun-roome , and not to speake to any of them vpon my life , yet had barra knowledge what i was . then barra perceiuing well those french intents , made ready to fight , and wollistone as resolutely regarded not their threats , which caused vs demurre vpon the matter longer some sixteene houres , and then returned them againe captaine wollistone and all their prisoners , and some victuall also vpon a small composition : but whilest we were bartering thus with them ; a caruill before our faces got vnder the castle of gratiosa , from whence they beat vs with their ordnance . the next wee tooke was a small english man of poole from new found land : the great cabben at this present was my prison , from whence i could see them pillage these poore men of all that they had , and halfe their fish : when hee was gone , they sold his poore clothes at the maine mast by an out-cry , which scarce gaue each man seuen pence a peece . not long after we tooke a scot fraught from saint michaels to bristow , he had better fortune then the other ; for hauing but taken a boats loading of sugar , marmelade , suckets , and such like , we descried foure saile , after whom we stood , who forling their maine sailes attended vs to fight , but our french spirits were content onely to perceiue they were english red crosses . within a very small time after wee chased . spanish ships that came from the indies , we fought with them foure or fiue houres , tore their sailes and sides with many a shot betwixt wind and weather , yet not daring to boord them , lost them , for which all the sailers euer after hated the captaine as a professed coward . a poore caruill of brasile was the next wee chased ; and after a small fight , thirteene or foureteene of her men being wounded , which was the better halfe , we tooke her with three hundred and seuenty chests of sugar , one hundred hides , and thirty thousand rialls of eight . the next was a ship of holland , which had lost her consorts in the streights of magilans , going for the south sea , she was put roomy , she also these french men with faire promises , cunningly betraied to come aboord them to shew their commission , and so made prise of all : the most of the dutch-men we tooke aboord the admirall , and manned her with french-men , that within two or three nights after ran away with her for france , the wounded spaniards we set on shore on the i le of tercera ▪ the rest we kept to saile the caruill . within a day or two after , we met a west-indies man of warre , of one hundred and sixtie tuns , a fore noone wee fought with her , and then tooke her with one thousand one hundred hides , fiftie chests of cutchancle , foureteene coffers of wedges of siluer , eight thousand rialls of eight , and six coffers of the king of spaines treasure , besides the good pillage and rich coffers of many rich passengers . two moneths they kept me in this manner to manage their fights against the spaniards , and bee a prisoner when they tooke any english. now though the captaine had oft broke his promise , which was to put me on shore the iles , or the next ship he tooke ; yet at the last he was contented i should goe in the caruill of sugar for france , himselfe seeming as resolued to keepe the seas , but the next morning we all set saile for france , and that night we were separated from the admirall and the rich prise by a storme . within two daies after wee were hailed by two west-indies men : but when they saw vs waise them for the king of france ▪ they gaue vs their broad sides , shot thorow our maine mast , and so left vs. hauing liued now this summer amongst those french men of warre , with much adoe we arriued at the gulion , not farre from rotchell : where in stead of the great promises they alwaies fed me with , of double satisfaction and full content , and tenne thousand crownes was generally concluded i should haue ; they kept me fiue or six daies prisoner in the caruill , accusing me to be he that burnt their colony in new france , to force me to giue them a discharge before the iudge of the admiraltie , and stand to their courtesies for satisfaction , or lie in prison , or a worse mischiefe : indeed this was in the time of combustion , that the prince of candy was with his army in the field , and euery poore lord , or men in authoritie , as little kings of themselues : for this iniury was done me by them that set out this voyage ( not by the sailers ) for they were cheated of all as well as i , by a few officers aboord , and the owners on shore . but to preuent this choise , in the end of such a storme that beat them all vnder hatches , i watched my opportunitie to get a shore in their boat , whereinto in the darke night i secretly got , and with a halfe pike that lay by me , put a drift for rat ile : but the currant was so strong , and the sea so great , i went a drift to sea , till it pleased god the wind so turned with the tide , that although i was all this fearefull night of gusts and raine in the sea the space of twelue houres , when many ships were driuen ashore , and diuers split : ( and being with skulling and bayling the water tired , i expected each minute would sinke me ) at last i arriued in an o●zy i le by charowne , where certaine fowlers found me neere drowned , and halfe dead , with water , cold , and hunger . my boat i pawned to finde meanes to get to rotchell ; where i vnderstood our man of war & the rich prize , wherein was the cap. called mounsieur poyrune , and the thirtie thousand rialls of eight we tooke in the caruill , was split , the captaine drowned and halfe his company the same night , within six or seuen leagues of that place ; from whence i escaped in the little boat by the mercy of god , far beyond all mens reason or my expectation , arriuing at rotchell : vpon my complaint to the iudge of the admiraltie , i found many good words and faire promises , and ere long many of them that escaped drowning , told me the newes they heard of my owne death : these i arresting , their seuerall examinations did so confirme my complaint , it was held proofe sufficient . all which being performed according to their order of justice , from vnder the iudges hand , i presented it to sir thomas edmonds , then ambassadour at burdeaux , where it was my chance to see the arriuall of the kings great mariage brought from spaine . here it was my good fortune to meet my old friend master crampton , that no lesse grieued at my losse , then willingly to his power did supply my wants , and i must confesse , i was more beholden to the french men that escaped drowning in the man of warre , madam chanoyes at rotchell , and the lawyers of burdeaux , then all the rest of my country-men i met in france . of the wracke of the rich prise , some three thousand six hundred crownes worth of goods came ashore , and was saued with the caruill , which i did my best to arrest : the iudge promised i should haue iustice , what will be the conclusion as yet i know not . but vnder the couler to take pirats and the west-indie men ( because the spaniards will not suffer the french to trade in the west-indies ) any goods from thence , though they take them vpon the coast of spaine are lawfull prize , or from any of his teritories out of the limits of europe : and as they betraied me , though i had the broad-seale , so did they rob and pillage twentie saile of english men more , besides them i knew not of the same yeere . leauing thus my businesse in france i returned to plimoth , to finde them had thus buried me amongst the french ; and not onely buried me , but with so much infamy as such treacherous cowards could suggest to excuse their villanies . the chiefetaines of this mutiny that i could finde , i laid by the heeles , the rest like themselues confessed the truth , as you haue heard . now how i haue or could preuent these accidents , hauing no more meanes , i rest at your censures ; but to proceed to the matter ; yet must i sigh and say , how oft hath fortune in the world ( thinke i ) brought slauery , freedome , and turned all diuersly . newfoundland i haue heard at the first , was held as desperate a fishing as this i proiect for new england , placentia , and the banke nere also as doubtfull to the french : but for all the disasters hapned me , the businesse is the same it was , and the fiue ships went from london , whereof one was reported more then three hundred tunnes , found fish so much , that neither izeland man , nor newfoundland man i could heare of hath bin there , will go any more to either place , if they may go thither . so that vpon the good returne of my vice-admirall , this yeere are gone or sailes , and from london as many , only to make voyages of profit : where from plimoth , as if all the english had bin there till my returne , put all their returnes together , they would scarce make one a sauour of neere a dozen i could nominate , except one sent by sir francis popam ; though there be fish sufficient , as i am perswaded , to fraugh yerely foure or fiue hundred saile , or as many as will goe . for this fishing stretcheth along the sea coast from cape iames to newfoundland , which is seuen or eight hundred miles at the least , and hath his course in the deepes , and by the shore , all the yere long , keeping their hants and feedings , as the beasts of the field , and the birds of the aire . but all men are not such as they should be , that haue vndertaken those voyages : all the romans were not scipiocs , nor carthagenians hanibals , nor all the genw●ses columbusses ▪ nor all the spaniards courteses : had they diued no deeper in the secrets of their discoueries then we , or stopped at such doubts and poore accidentall chances , they had neuer beene remembred as they are , yet had they no such certainties to begin as we . but to conclude , adam and eue did first begin this innocent worke to plant the earth to remaine to posterity , but not without labour , trouble , and industry . noe and his family began againe the second plantation ; and their seed as it still increased , hath still planted new countries , and one countrey another , and so the world to that estate it is : but not without much hazard , trauell , mortalities , discontents , and many disasters . had those worthy fathers , and their memorable off-spring , not beene more diligent for vs now in these ages , then we are to plant that yet are vnplanted for the after liuers . had the seed of abraham , our sauiour christ , and his apostles , exposed themselues to no more dangers to teach the gospell then we , euen wee our selues had at this present beene as saluage , and as miserable as the most barbarous saluage , yet vnciuilized . the hebrewes and lacedemonians , the gothes , the grecians , the romanes , and the rest , what was it they would not vndertake to inlarge their teritories , enrich their subiects , resist their enemies . those that were the founders of those great monarchies and their vertues , were no siluered idle golden pharises , but industrious iron steeled publicans : they regarded more prouisions and necessaries for their people , then iewels , riches , ease , or delight for themselues ; riches were their seruants , not their masters . they ruled ( as fathers , not as titants ) their people as children , not as slaues ; there was no disaster could discourage them ; and let none thinke they incountred not with all manner of incumbrances . and what hath euer beene the worke of the greatest princes of the earth , but planting of countries , and ciuilizing barbarous and inhumane nations to ciuilitie and humanitie , whose eternall actions fills our histories . lastly , the portugals and spaniards , whose euer-liuing actions before our eies will testifie with them our idlenesse , and ingratitude to all posterities , and the neglect of our duties , in our pietie and religion . we owe our god , our king and countrey , and want of charitie to those poore saluages , whose countrey wee challenge , vse and possesse ; except wee be but made to vse , and marre what our fore-fathers made , or but onely tell what they did , or esteeme our selues too good to take the like paines . was it vertue in them to prouide that doth maintaine vs , and basenesse in vs to doe the like for others ? surely no. then seeing we are not borne for our selues , but each to help other , and our abilities are much alike at the houre of our birth , and the minute of our death : seeing our good deeds or our bad by faith in christs merits , is all we haue , to carie our soules to heauen or hell . seeing honor is our liues ambition , and our ambition after death to haue an honorable memory of our life : and seeing by no meanes we would be abated of the dignities and glories of our predecessors , let vs imitate their vertues to be worthily their successors : to conclude with lucretius , its want of reason , or its reasons want which doubts the minde and iudgement , so doth dant , that those beginnings makes men not to grant . iohn smith writ this with his owne hand . here followeth a briefe discourse of the trials of new england , with certaine obseruations of the hollanders vse and gaine by fishing , and the present estate of that happy plantation , begun but by sixtie weake men , in the yeere of our lord . and how to build a fleet of good ships to make a little nauy royall , by the former author . he saith , that it is more then foure and forty yeeres agoe , and it is more then fortie yeeres agoe since he writ it ; that the herring busses out of the low countries vnder the king of spaine , were fiue hundred , besides one hundred french men , and three or foure hundred saile of flemings . the coast of wales and lancashire was vsed by saile of strangers . ireland at beltamore , fraughted yeerely three hundred saile of spaniards , where king edward the sixt intended to haue made a strong castle , because of the straight to haue tribute for fishing . black rocke was yerely fished by three or foure hundred saile of spaniards , portugals , and biskiners . the hollanders raise yeerely by herring , cod , and ling , thirty thousand pounds : english and french , by salt-fish , poore-iohn , salmons , and pilchards , three hundred thousand pounds : hambrough and the sound , for sturgion , lobsters and eeles , one hundred thousand pounds : cape blanke for tunny and mullit , by the biskiners and spaniards , thirty thousand pounds . that the duke of medina receiueth yeerely tribute of the fishers , for tunny , mallit , and porgos , more then ten thousand pounds . lubecke hath seuen hundred ships ; hambrough six hundred ; emden lately a fisher towne , one thousand foure hundred , whose customes by fishing hath made them so powerfull as they be . holland and zeland not much greater then yorkeshire , hath thirty walled townes , foure hundred villages , and twenty thousand saile of ships and hoies ; three thousand six hundred are fisher-men , whereof one hundred are doggers , seuen hundred pinkes and well-boats , seuen hundred fraud-boats , britters , and tode-boats , with thirteene hundred busses , besides three hundred that yeerely fish about yarmouth , where they sell their fish for gold : and fifteene yeeres agoe they had more then an hundred and sixteene thousand sea-faring-men . these fishing ships doe take yeerely two hundred thousand last of fish , twelue barrels to a last , which amounts to . pounds by the fisher mens price , that . yeeres agoe did pay for their tenths three hundred thousand pound , which venting in pumerland , sprustia , denmarke , lefeland , russia , swethland , germany , netherlands , england , or else where , &c. makes their returnes in a yeere about threescore and ten hundred thousand pounds , which is seuen millions ; and yet in holland there is neither matter to build ships nor merchandize to set them forth , yet by their industry they as much increase as other nations decay ; but leauing these vncertainties as they are , of this i am certaine . that the coast of england , scotland and ireland , the north sea with island and the sound , newfound-land and cape blanke , doe serue all europe , as well the land townes as ports , and all the christian shipping , with these sorts of staple fish , which is transported from whence it is taken many a thousand mile , viz. herring , salt fish , poore-iohn , sturgion , mullit , tunny , porgos , cauiare , buttargo . now seeing all these sorts of fish , or the most part of them may be had in a land more fertill , temperate and plentifull of all necessaries , for the building of ships , boats and houses , and the nourishment of man , the seasons are so proper , and the fishings so neere the habitations we may there make , that new-england hath much aduantage of the most of those parts , to serue all europe farre cheaper then they can , who at home haue neither wood , salt , nor food , but at great rates , at sea nothing but what they carry in their ships , an hundred or two hundred leagues from the habitation . but new-englands fishings is neere land , where is helpe of wood , water , fruits , fowles , corne or other refreshings needfull , and the terceras , mederas , canaries , spaine , portugall , prouaues , sauoy , sicillia , and all italy , as conuenient markets for our dry fish , greene fish , sturgion , mullit , cauiare and buttargo , as norway , swethland , l●●tuania or germany for their herring , which is heare also in abundance for taking ; they returning but wood , pitch , tar , sope-ashes , cordage , flax , wax , and such like commodities ; wee wines , oiles , sugars , silkes , and such merchandize as the straits offoord , whereby our profit may equalize theirs , besides the increase of shipping and marriners : and for proofe hereof . in the yeere of our lord . you haue read how i went from london : also the next yeere . how foure good ships went from london , and i with two more from plimoth , with all our accidents , successes and returnes : in the yeere . ere i returned from france , the londoners for all their losse by the turkes , sent foure ships more ; foure more also went from plimoth ; after i returned from france , i was perswaded againe to goe to plimoth with diuers of my friends with one hundred pound for our aduentures besides our charges , but wee found all things as vntoward as before , and all their great promises nothing but aire : yet to prepare the voyage against the next yeere , hauing acquainted a great part of the nobility with it , and ashamed to see the prince his highnesse till i had done some what worthy his princely view ; i spent that summer in visiting the cities and townes of bristoll , exeter , bastable , bodnam , perin , foy , milborow , saltash , dartmouth , absom , tattnesse , and the most of the gentry in cornewall and deuonshire , giuing them bookes and maps , shewing how in six moneths the most of those ships had made their voyages , and some in lesse , and with what good successe ; by which incitation they seemed so well contented , as they promised twenty saile of ships should goe with mee next yeere , and in regard of my paines , charge , and former losses , the westerne commissioners in behalfe of themselues and the rest of the company , and them hereafter that should be ioyned to them , contracted with me by articles indented vnder our hands , to be admirall of that country during my life , and in the renewing of their letters-patents so to be nominated . halfe the fruits of our endeuours to be theirs , the rest our owne ; being thus ingaged , now the businesse is made plaine and likely to prosper , some of them would not onely forget me and their promises , but also obscure me , as if i had neuer beene acquainted in the businesse , but i am not the first they haue deceiued . there was foure good ships prepared at plimoth , but by reason of their disagreement , the season so wasted , as onely two went forward , the one being of two hundred tunnes , returned well fraught to plimoth , and her men in health , within fiue moneths ; the other of fourescore tunnes went for bilbow with drie fish and made a good returne . in this voyage edward rowcroft , alias stallings , a valiant souldier , that had beene with me in virginia , and was with me also when i was betrayed by the french , was sent againe in those ships , and hauing some wrong offered him there by a french man , he tooke him , and as he writ to me , went with him to virginia with fish , to trade with them for such commodities as they might spare : he had not past ten or twelue men , and knew both those countries well , yet he promised me the next spring to meet me in new-england , but the ship and he both perished in virginia . this yeere againe , diuers ships intending to goe from plimoth , so disagreed , there went but one of two hundred tunnes , who stayed in the country about six weeks , which with eight and thirty men and boies had her fraught , which she sold at the first penny for . besides the furres : so that euery poore sailer that had but a single share had his charges and sixteene pound ten shillings for his seuen moneths worke . master thomas di●m-ire an vnderstanding and industrious gentleman , that was also with m● amongst the french men , hauing liued about a yeere in newfoundland , returning to plimoth , went for new-england in this ship , so much approued of this country , that he staied there with fiue or six men in a little boat , finding two or three french men amongst the saluages who had lost their ship , augmented his company , with whom he ranged the coast to virginia , where he was kindly welcommed and well refreshed , thence returned to new-england againe , where hauing beene a yeere , in his backe returne to virginia he was so wounded by the saluages , he died vpon it ; let not men attribute these their great aduentures , and vntimely deaths to vnfortunatenesse , but rather wonder how god did so long preserue them with so small meanes to doe so much , leauing the fruits of their labours to be an incouragement to those our poore vndertakings , and as warnings for vs not to vndertake such great workes with such small meanes , and this for aduantage as they writ vnto me , that god had laid this country open for vs , and slaine the most part of the inhabitants by ciuill warres and a mortall disease , for where i had seene one hundred or two hundred saluages , there is scarce ten to be found , and yet not any one of them touched with any sicknesse but one poore french man that died ; they say this plague vpon them thus sore fell , it was because they pleas'd not tantum well . from the west country to make triall this yeere onely to fish , is gone six or seuen saile , three of which i am certainly informed made so good a voyage , that euery sailer that had a single share had twenty pound for his seuen moneths work , which is more then in twenty moneths he should haue gotten , had he gone for wages any where . now although these former ships haue not made such good voiages as they expected , by sending opinionated vnskilfull men , that had not experienced diligence to saue that they tooke , nor take that there was , which now patience and practice hath brought to a reasonable kinde of perfection ; in despight of all detractors and calumniations the country yet hath satisfied all , the defect hath beene in their vsing or abusing it , not in it selfe nor me : but , adue desert , for fortune makes prouision for knaues and fooles , and men of base condition . now all these proofes and this relation i now called new-englands triall . i caused two or three thousand of them to be printed , one thousand with a great many maps both of virginia and new-england . i presented to thirty of the chiefe companies in london at their halls , desiring either generally or particularly ( them that would ) to imbrace it , and by the vse of a stocke of fiue thousand pound , to ease them of the superfluity of the most of their companies that had but strength and health to labour ; neere a yeere i spent to vnderstand their resolutions , which was to me a greater toile and torment , then to haue beene in new-england about my businesse but with bread and water , and what i could get there by my labour ; but inconclusion , seeing nothing would be effected , i was contented as well with this losse of time and charge as all the rest . a plantation in new-england . vpon these inducements some few well disposed gentlemen , and merchants of london and other places , prouided two ships , the one or a hundred and threescore tunnes ▪ the other of threescore and ten , they left the coast of england the two and thirtieth of august , with about a hunred and twenty persons , but the next day the lesser ship sprung a leake , that forced their returne to plimoth , where discharging her and twenty passengers ; with the greater ship and one hundred passengers besides sailers , they set saile againe the sixt of september , and the ninth of nouember fell with cape iames , but being pestred nine weekes in this leaking vnwholsome ship , lying wet in their cabins , most of them grew very weake and weary of the sea ; then for want of experience , ranging two and againe six weekes before they found a place they liked to dwell on , forced to lie on the bare ground without couerture , forty of them died , and threescore were left in very weake estate at the ships comming away , about the fifth of aprill following , and arriued in england the sixth of may. though the harbour be good , the shore is so shallow , they were forced to wade a great way vp to the knees in water , & vsed that that did them much hurt ; & little fish they found but whailes , and a great kinde of muftell so fat , that few did eat of them that were not sicke : these miseries occasioned some discord , and gaue some appearance of faction , but all was so reconciled , that they vnited themselues by common consent vnder their hands , to a kinde of combination of a body politike , by vertue whereof to inact and constitute lawes and ordinances , and officers from time to time , as should bee thought most conuenient for their generall good . sixteene or seuenteene daies they could doe little for want of their shallop which was amending , yet captaine miles standish , vnto whom was ioyned in councell , william bradfor , stephen hopkins and edward tilly , went well armed a shore , and by that time they had gone a mile , met fiue or six indians that fled into the woods : we traced them by the footing eight or ten miles , then the night approaching we made a fire , by which we lay that night , and the next morning followed the saluages by their tract , thinking to finde their habitations , but by the way we found a deere amongst many faire springs of water , where we refreshed our selues ; then we went a shore and made a fire , that they at the ship might perceiue where we were , and so marched to a place where we supposed was a riuer ; by the way we saw many vines , saxefras , haunts of deere & fowle , and some fi●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 skull of a man that had fine yellow hare still on it , and some of the flesh vnconsumed , a knife , a pack-needle , and two or three old iron things was bound vp in a sailers canuase cassocke , also a paire of cloth breeches ; in the lesse bundle we found likewise of the same powder , and the bones and head of a little childe ; about the legs and other parts of it was bound strings and braslets of white beades , there was also a little bow , and some other odde knacks , the prettiest we tooke , and couered againe the corps as they were : not farre from thence were two of their houses , where were a great deale of their miserable houshold stuffe , which we left as wee found , and so returned to our boat , and lay aboord that night . many arguments we had to make here our plantation or not ; in the intrim , mistris white was brought to bed of a young sonne , which was called perigrine : and a sailer shooting at a whale , his peece flew in peeces stocke and all , yet he had no hurt . a foolish boy discharging his fathers peece hard by halfe a barrell of powder , and many people by it , it pleased god it escaped firing , so that no hurt was done . but to make a more certaine discouery where to seat our selues , captaine standish , master caruer , william branford , edward winsloe , iohn tilly , edward tilly , with diuers others to the number of seuenteene , vpon the sixt of december set saile , and hauing sailed six or seuen leagues , we espied eight or ten saluages about a dead grampus : still following the shore we found two or three more cast vp by the ill weather , many we see in the water , therefore we called it grampus bay : ships may ride well in it , but all the shore is very shallow slats of sand ; at last seuen or eight of vs went a shore , many fields we saw where the saluages had inhabited , and a buriall place incompassed with a palizado , so we returned to our shallop , in the night we heard a hideous cry and howling of wolues and foxes ; in the morning as we were ready to goe into our shallop , one of our men being in the woods , came running crying , indians , indians , and with all their arrowes flying amongst vs , some of our men being in the boat , and their armes a shore , so well it chanced , captaine standish with two or three more discharged their peeces till the rest were ready , one saluage more stout then the rest kept vnder a tree , till he had shot three or foure arrowes , and endured three or foure musket shot , but at last they all fled , this was about breake of day in the morning when they saw vs , and we not them . hauing the wind faire , we sailed along the coast . or . leagues , thinking to haue got to a harbour where one of our company had beene , within . leagues of cape cod ▪ for neither cricke nor harbour in this bay we could finde ; and the wind so increased , our rudder broke , and our mast flew ouer-boord , that we were in danger to be cast away , but at last it pleased god we were in a harbor we knew not , thinking it one we were acquainted with , this we found to be an i le where we rid that night , and hauing well viewed the land about it , and founded the bay to be a good harbour for our ship , compassed with good land , and in it two faire iles , where there is in their seasons innumerable store of all sorts of fish and fowle , good water , much plaine land , which hath beene planted ; with this newes we returned to our ship , and with the next faire wind brought her thither , being but within the sight of cape cod ; in the meane time goodwife alderton was deliuered of a sonne , but dead borne . vpon the . of december , so many as could went to worke vpon the hill , where we purposed to build our platforme for our ordnance , which doth command all the plaine and the bay , and from whence wee may see far into the sea , and be easily impailed , so in the afternoone we went to measure out the grounds , and diuided our company into families , alotting to euery person halfe a poule in bredth and three in length , and so we cast lots where euery man should lie , which we staked out , thinking this proportion enough at the first to impale for lodgings and gardens . francis billington from the top of a tree seeing a great water some three miles from vs in the land , went with the masters mate , and found it two great lakes of fresh water , the bigger fiue or six miles in circuit , and an i le in it of a cables length square ; the other three miles in compasse , full of fish and fowle , and two brooks issuing from it , which will be an excellent helpe in time for vs , where they saw seuen or eight indian houses , but no people . foure being sent a mile or two from our plantation , two of them stragling into the woods was left , for comming to a lake of water they found a great deere , hauing a mastiue bitch and a spanell with them , they followed so farre they could not finde the way backe , that afternoone it rained , and did freeze and snow at night ; their apparell was very thin , and had no weapons but two sickles , nor any victuals , nor could they finde any of the saluages habitations ; when the night came they were much perplexed that they had no other bed then the earth , nor couerture then the skies , but that they heard , as they thought , two lions roaring a long time together very nigh them , so not knowing what to doe , they resolued to climbe vp into a tree , though that would be an intollerable cold lodging , expecting their cōming they stood at the trees root , and the bitch they held fast by the necke , for shee would haue beene gone to the lions or what they were , that as it chanced came not nigh them , so they watched the tree that extreme cold night , and in the morning trauelling againe , passing by many lakes , brooks and woods , and in one place where the saluages had burnt . or . miles in length , which is a fine champion country , in the afternoone they discouered the two iles in their bay , and so that night neere famished they got to their plantation , from whence they had sent out men euery way to seeke them ; that night the house they had built and thatched , where lay their armes , bedding , powder , &c. tooke fire and was burnt , the coast is so shoule , the ship rides more then a mile from the fort , but god be thanked no man was hurt though much was burnt . all this time we could not haue conference with a saluage , though we had many times seene them and had many alarums , so that we drew a councell , and appointed captaine standish to haue the command of all martiall actions , but euen in the time of consultation the saluages gaue an alarum : the next day also as wee were agreeing vpon his orders , came a tall saluage boldly amongst vs , not fearing any thing , and kindly bad vs welcome in english ; he was a sagamo , towards the north , where the ships vse to fish , and did know the names of most of the masters that vsed thither : such victuall as we had we gaue him , being the first saluage we yet could speake with , he told vs this place where we were was called patuxet , and that all the people three or foure yeeres agoe there died on the plague : in a day or two we could not be rid of him , then he returned to the massasoyts from whence he came , where is some sixty people , but the nawsits are . strong , which were they encountred our people at the first . two daies after this samoset , for so was his name , came againe , and brought fiue or six of the massasoyts with him , with certaine skinnes , and certaine tooles they had got that we had left in the woods at their alarums : much frie●-dship they promised , and so departed , but samoset would not leaue vs , but fained himselfe sicke , yet at last he went to entreat the saluages come againe to confirme a peace : now the third time , as we were consulting of our marshall orders , two saluages a●peared , but when we went to them they vanished : not long after came samo●et , & squanto , a natiue of patuxet where we dwell , and one of them carried into spaine by hunt , thence brought into england , where a good time he liued ; and now here signified vnto vs , their great sachem of massasoyt , with quadaquina his brother , and all their men , was there by to see vs : not willing to send our gouernour , we sent edward wollisto with presents to them both , to know their minds , making him to vnderstand by his interpreters how king iames did salute him and was his friend ; after a little conference with twenty of his men , he came ouer the brooke to our plantation , where we set him vpon a rug , and then brought our gouernour to him with drums and trumpets ; where after some circumstances , for they vse few complements , we treated of peace with them to this effect . that neither he nor any of his should iniury or doe hurt to any of vs ; if they did , he should send vs the offender , that we might punish him , and wee would doe the like to him : if any did vniustly warre against him , we would aid him , as he should vs against our enemies , and to send to his neighbour confederats to certifie them of this , that they might likewise be comprised in these conditions , that when any of them came to vs , they should leaue their bow and arrowes behinde them , as we would our peeces when we came to them , all which the king seemed to like well of , and was applauded of his followers , in his person hee is a very lusty man , in his best yeeres , an able body , graue of countenance , and spare of speech : in his attire little differing from the rest ; after all was done , the gouernour conducted him to the brooke , but kept our hostage till our messengers returned : in like manner we vsed quaddaquina , so all departed good friends . two of his people would haue staied with vs , but wee would not permit them , onely sam●set and squanto wee entertained kindly ; as yet wee haue found they intend to keepe promise , for they haue not hurt our men they haue found stragling in the woods , and are afraid of their powerfull aduersaries the narrobiggansets , against whom hee hopes to make vse of our helpe . the next day squanto went a fishing for eeles , and in an houre he did tread as many out of the ose with his feet as he could lift with his hand , not hauing any other instrument . but that we might know their habitations so well as they ours , stephen hopkins and edward winslo had squa●tum for their guide and interpreter ; to packanoki , the habitation of the king of massasoyt , with a red horsemans coat for a present , to entreat him by reason we had not victuall to entertaine them as we would , he would defend his people so much from visiting vs ; and if hee did send , he should alwaies send with the messenger a copper chaine they gaue him , that they might know he came from him , and also giue them some of his corne for seede : that night they lodged at namasoet , some fifteene miles off : by the way we found ten or twelue women and children that still would pester vs till we were weary of them , perceiuing it is the manner of them , where victuall is to bee gotten with most ease , there they will liue ; but on that riuer of namasch●t haue beene many habitations of the saluages that are dead , and the land lies waste , and the riuer abounding with great plenty of fish , and hath beene much frequented by the french. the next day trauelling with six or seuen indians , where we were to wade ouer the riuer , did dwell onely two old men of that nation then liuing , that thinking vs enemies , sought the best aduantage they could to fight with vs , with a wonderfull shew of courage , but when they knew vs their friends they kindly welcommed vs ; after we came to a towne of the massasoits , but at pakanoki the king was not : towards night he arriued and was very proud , both of our message and presents , making a great oration to all his people , was not he massasint , commander of the country about him , was not such a towne his , and the people of it , and . townes more he named was his ? and should they not bring their skins to vs ? to which they answered , they were his and they would ; victual they had none , nor any lodging , but a poore planke or two , a foot high from the ground , wheron his wife and he lay at the one end , we at the other , but a thin mat vpon them , two more of his chiefe men pressed by and vpon vs , so that we were worse weary of our lodging then of our iourney . although there is such plenty of fish and fowle and wild beasts , yet are they so lasie they will not take paines to catch it till meere hunger constraine them , for in two or three daies we had scarce a meales meat , whereby we were so faint , we were glad to be at home : besides what for the fleas , and their howling and singing in the night in their houses , and the musketas without doores , our heads were as light for want of sleepe , as our bellies empty for want of meat . the next voiage we made was in a shallop with ten men to nawsit , sixteene miles from vs , to fetch a boy was lost in the woods we heard was there , whom aspinet their king had bedecked like a saluage , but very kindly he brought him to vs , and so returned well to patuyet . immediatly after the arriuall of the last ship , they sent another of fiue and fifty tuns to supply them ; with seuen and thirty persons they set saile in the beginning of iuly , but being crossed by westernly winds , it was the end of august ere they could passe plimoth , and arriued in new-england at new-plimoth , now so called the . of nouember , where they found all the people they left so ill , lusty and well for all their pouerties , except six that died : a moneth they stayed ere they returned to england , loaded with clap-boord , wainscot and wallnut , with about three hogs-heads of beuer skinnes the . of december : and drawing neere our coast was set on by a french man set out by the marquesse of cera , gouernour of ile deu , where they kept the ship , imprisoned the master and company , tooke from them to the value of ▪ pound , and after . daies sent them home with a poore supply of victuall , their owne being deuoured by the marquesse and his hungry seruants . now you are to vnderstand this . brought nothing , but relied wholly on vs to make vs more miserable then before , which the sachem couanacus no sooner vnderstood , but sent to tusquantum our interpreter , a bundle of new arrowes in a snakes skinne ; tusquantum being absent , the messenger departed , but when we vnderstood it was a direct challenge , we returned the skin full of powder and shot , with an absolute defiance , which caused vs finish our fortification with all expedition . now betwixt our two saluages , tusquantum and hobbamock , gre●● such great emulation , we had much adoe to know which best to trust . in a iourney we vndertooke , in our way we met a saluage of tusquantums , that had cut his face fresh bleeding , to assure vs massasoyt our supposed friend , had drawne his forces to packanokick to assault vs. hobomak as confidently assured vs it was false , and sent his wife as an espy to see ; but when she perceiued all was well , shee told the king massasoyt how tusquantum had abused him , diuers saluages also hee had caused to beleeue we would destroy them , but he would doe his best to appease vs ; this he did onely to make his country-men beleeue what great power hee had with vs to get bribes on both sides , to make peace or warre when he would , and the more to possesse them with feare , he perswaded many we had buried the plague in our store house , which wee could send when we listed whither wee would , but at last all his knauery being discouered , massasowat sent his knife with messengers for his head or him , being his subiect ; with much adoe we appeased the angry king and the rest of the saluages , and freely forgaue tusquantum , because he speaking our language we could not well be without him . a iourney to the towne of namaschet , in defence of the king of massasoyt , against the narrohigganses , and the supposed death of squantum . a great difference there was betwixt the narrohigganses and the massasoytes , that had alwaies a iealousie ; coubatant one of their petty sachems was too conuersant with the narrohigganses , this coubatant liued much at namas●het and much stormed at our peace with his king and others ; also at squantum , and tokamahamon , and hobomak our friends , and chiefe occasioners of our peace , for which he sought to muther hobomak ; yet tokamahamon went to him vpon a rumour he had taken masasoyt prisoner , or forced him from his country , but the other two would not , but in priuat to see if they could heare what was become of their king ; lodging at namaschet they were discouered to coubatant , who surprized the house and tooke squantum , saying , if hee were dead the english had lost their tongue ; hobomak seeing that , and coubatant held a knife at his brest , being a strong lusty fellow , brake from them and came to new-plimoth , full of sorrow for squantum , whom he thought was slaine . the next day we sent ten men with him armed to be reuenged of coubatant , who conducted vs neere namaschet , where we rested and refreshed our selues til midnight , and then we beset the house as we had resolued ; those that entred the house demanded for coubatant , but the saluages were halfe dead with feare , we charged them not to stirre , for we came to hurt none but coubatant , for killing squantum , some of them seeking to escape was wounded , but at last perceiuing our ends , they told vs coubatant was gone and all his men , and squantum was yet liuing , & in the towne ; in this hurly burly we discharged two peeces at randome , which much terrified all the inhabitants except squantum and tokamahamon , who though they knew not the end of our cōming , yet assured themselues of our honesties , that we would not hurt them ; the women and children hung about hobomak ▪ calling him friend , and when they saw we would hurt no women , the young youths cryed we are women ; to be short , we kept them all , and whilest we were searching the house for coubatant , hobomak had got to the top , and called squantum & tokamahamon , which came vnto vs accompanied with others , some armed , others naked , those that had bowes we tooke them from them , promising them againe when it was day : the house wee tooke for our quarter that night and discharged the prisoners , and the next morning went to breakfast to squantums house ; thither came all them that loued vs to welcome vs , but all coubatants faction was fled , then we made them plainly know the cause of our comming , & if their king massasoyt were not well , we would be reuenged vpon the narrohiggansets , or any that should doe iniury to hobomak , squantum , or ●ny of their friends ; as for those were wounded we were sorry for it , and offered out surgion should heale them , of this offer a man and a woman accepted , that went home with vs , accompanied with squantum , and many other knowne friends , that offered vs all the kindnesse they could . from the west of england there is gone ten or twelue ships to fish , which were all well fraughted : those that came first at bilbow , made seuenteene pound a single share , besides beuers , otters , and martins skinnes ; but some of the rest that came to the same ports , that were all ready furnished , so glutted the market , that the price was abated , yet all returned so well contented , that they are a preparing to goe againe . there is gone from the west countrey onely to fish , fiue and thirtie ships , and about the last of aprill two more from london ; the one of one hundred tunnes , the other of thirtie , with some sixtie passengers to supply the plantation . now though the turke and french hath beene somewhat too busie in taking our ships , would all the christian princes be truly at vnitie , as his royall maiestie our soueraigne king iames desireth , seuentie saile of good ships were sufficient to fire the most of his coasts in the leuant , and make such a guard in the straights of hellespont , as would make the great turke himselfe more affraid in constantinople , then the smallest red-crosse that crosses the seas would be , either of any french pickaroun , or the pirats of algere . an abstract of diuers relations sent from the colony in new england , iuly . . since the massacre in virginia , though the indians continue their wonted friendship , yet wee are more wary of them then before ; for their hands hath beene imbrued in much english bloud , onely by too much confidence , but not by force , and we haue had small supplies of any thing but men . here i must intreat a little your fauours to digresse , they did not kill the english in virginia , because they were christians : but for their weapons and copper , which were rare nouelties ; but now they feare we may beat them out of their dens , which lions and tigers will not admit but by force . but must this be an argument for an english man , and discourage any in virginia or new england : no , for i haue tried them both , as you may reade at large in the historie of virginia ; notwithstanding since i came from thence , the honourable company hath beene humble suiters to his maiestie , to get vagabonds and condemned men to goe thither ; nay , so the businesse hath beene so abused , that so much scorned was the name of virginia , some did chuse to be hanged ere they would goe thither , and were : yet for all the worst of spight , detraction , and discouragement , and this iamentable massacre , there is more honest men now suiters to goe , then euer hath beene constrained knaues . and it is not vnknowne to most men of vnderstanding , how happy many of those collumners hath thought themselues that they might be admitted ; and yet pay for their passage to goe now to virginia , and i feare mee there goeth too many of those , that hath shifted heere till they could no longer ; and they will vse that qualitie there till they hazard all . to range this countrey of new england in like manner , i had but eight , as is said , and amongst their bruit conditions , i met many of their silly encounters , and i giue god thankes , without any hurt at all to me , or any with mee . when your west-countrey men were so wounded and tormented with the saluages , though they had all the politicke directions that had beene gathered from all the secret informations could be heard of , yet they found little , and returned with nothing . i speak not this out of vaine-glory , as it may be some gleaners , or some who were neuer there may censure me ; but to let all men be assured by those examples , what those saluages are , that thus strangely doe murder and betray our country-men : but to the purpose ; the paragon with thirtie seuen men sent to releeue them , miscaried twice vpon our english coast , whereby they failed of their supplies . it is true , there hath beene taken one thousand bases at a draught ; and in one night twelue hogsheads of herrings : but when they wanted all necessaries both for fishing and sustinance , but what they could get with their naked industry , they indured most extreme wants , hauing beene now neere two yeeres without any supply to any purpose , it is a wonder how they should subsist , much lesse so to resist the saluages , fortifie themselues , plant sixtie acres of corne , besides their gardens that were well replenished with many vsuall fruits . but in the beginning of iuly came in two ships of master westons , though we much wanted our selues , yet we releeued them what we could : and to requite vs , they destroied our corne and fruits then planted , and did what they could to haue done the like to vs. at last they were transported to wichaguscusset at the massachusets , where they abused the saluages worse then vs. we hauing neither trade , nor scarce any thing remaining , god sent in one master iones , and a ship of westons had beene at monahigan amongst the fisher-men , that for beuer skinnes and such merchandize as wee had , very well refreshed vs , though at deere rates . weston left also his men a small barke , and much good prouision , and so set saile for england . then wee ioyned with them to trade to the southward of cape cod , twice or thrice wee were forced to returne ; first by the death of their gouernor ; then the sicknesse of captaine standish . at last our gouernor master bradford vndertooke it himselfe to haue found the passage betwixt the shoules and the maine , then tusquantum our pilot died , so that we returned to the massachusets , where we found the trade spoiled , and nothing but complaints betwixt the saluages and the english. at nawset we were kindly vsed and had good trade , though we lost our barge , the saluages carefully kept both her wracke , and some ten hosheads of corne three moneths , and so we returned some by land , some in the ship . captaine standish being recouered , went to fetch them both , and traded at namasket and monomete , where the people had the plague , a place much frequented with dutch and french. here the sachem put a man to death for killing his fellow at play , wherein they are so violent , they will play their coats from their backs , and also their wiues , though many miles from them . but our prouision decaying , standish is sent to mattachist , where they pretended their wonted loue ; yet it plainly appeared they intended to kill him . escaping thence , wee went to monomete , where we found nothing but bad countenances . heare one wittuwamat a notable villaine , would boast how many french and english hee had slaine : this champion presenting a dagger to the sachem canacum he had got from the english , occasioned vs to vnderstand how they had contriued to murder all the english in the land , but hauing such a faire opportunitie , they would begin heere with vs. their scornfull vsage made the captaine so passionate to appease his anger and choler , their intent made many faire excuses for satisfaction : scar a lusty saluage , alwaies seeming the most to effect vs , bestowed on vs the best presents he had without any recompence , saying ; hee was rich enough to bestow such fauours on his friends , yet had vndertaken to kill the captaine himselfe , but our vigilencies so preuented the aduantage they expected , we safely returned , little suspecting in him any such treachery . during this time a dutch ship was driuen a shore at massasowat , whose king lay very sicke , now because it is a generall custome then for all their friends to visit them : master winslow , and master hamden , with habamok for their guide , were sent with such cordialls as they had to salute him ; by the way they so oft heard the king was dead , habamok would breake forth in those words , my louing sachem , my louing sachem , many haue i knowne , but neuer any like thee , nor shall euer see the like amongst the saluages ; for he was no lier , nor bloudy and cruell like other indians , in anger soone reclaimed , he would be ruled by reason , not scorning the aduice of meane men , and gouerned his men better with a few strokes , then others with many : truly louing where he loued , yea he feared wee had not a faithfull friend left amongst all his countrey-men , shewing how oft he had restrained their malice , much more with much passion he spoke to this purpose , till at last we arriued where we found the dutchmen but newly gone , and the house so full we could hardly get in . by their charmes they distempered vs that were 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 obtak●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 wi●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 vnd●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 ki●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 hobam●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 v●deses , which is one of the chiefe next the king , and so bold in the warres , that they thinke no weapon can kill them : and those are such as coniure in virginia , and cause the people to doe what they list . for their gouernment : euery sachem is not a king , but their great sachems haue diuers sachems vnder their protection , paying them tribute , and dare make no warres without his knowledge ; but euery sachem taketh care for the widowes , orphans , the aged and maimed , nor will they take any to first wife , but them in birth equall to themselues , although they haue many inferior wiues and concubins that attend on the principall ; from whom he neuer parteth , but any of the rest when they list , they inherit by succession , and euery one knowes their owne bounds . to his men , hee giueth them land , also bounded , and what deere they kill in that circuit , he hath the sore-part ; but it in the water , onely the skin : but they account none a man , till hee hath done some notable exploit : the men are most imploied in hunting , the women in slauery ; the younger obey the elders : their names are variable ; they haue harlots and honest women : the harlots neuer marrie , or else are widowes . they vse diuorcement , and the king commonly punisheth all offenders himselfe : when a maid is maried , she cutteth her haire , and keepes her head couered till it be growne againe . their arts , games , musicke , attire , burials , and such like , differ very little from the virginians , onely for their chronicles they make holes in the ground , as the others set vp great stones . out of the relations of master edward winslow . now i know the common question is , for all those miseries , where is the wealth they haue got , or the gold or siluer mines ? to such greedy vnworthy minds i say once againe : the sea is better then the richest mine knowne , and of all the fishing ships that went well prouided , there is no complaint of losse nor misery , but rather an admiration of wealth , profit , and health . as for the land were it neuer so good , in two yeeres so few of such small experience liuing without supplies so well , and in health , it was an extraordinary blessing from god. but that with such small meanes they should subsist , and doe so much , to any vnderstanding judgement is a wonder . notwithstanding , the vaine expectation of present gaine in some , ambition in others , that to be great would haue all else slaues , and the carelesnesse in prouiding supplies , hath caused those defailements in all those plantations , and how euer some bad conditions will extoll the actions of any nation but their owne : yet if we may giue credit to the spaniards , portugals , and french writings , they indured as many miseries , and yet not in twenty yeeres effected so much , nay scarce in fortie . thus you may see plainly the yeerely successe from new england by virginia , which hath beene so costly to this kingdome , and so deare to me , which either to see perish , or but bleed ; pardon me though it passionate me beyond the bounds of modesty , to haue beene sufficiently able to fore-see their miseries , and had neither power nor meanes to preuent it . by that acquaintance i haue with them , i call them my children , for they haue beene my wife , my hawks , hounds , my cards , my dice , and in totall , my best content , as indifferent to my heart , as my left hand to my right . and notwithstanding , all those miracles of disasters haue crossed both them and me , yet were there not an englishman remaining , as god be thanked notwithstanding the massacre there are some thousands ; i would yet begin againe with as small meanes as i did at first , not that i haue any secret encouragement ( i protest ) more then lamentable experience ; for all their discoueries i haue yet heard of , are but pigs of my owne sow , nor more strange to me , then to heare one tell me hee hath gone from billingsgate and discouered grauesend , tilbury , quinborow , lee , and margit , which to those did neuer heare of them , though they dwell in england , might bee made some rare secrets and great countries vnknowne , except some few relations of master dirmer . in england , some are held great trauellers that haue seene venice , and rome , madrill , toledo , siuill , algere , prague , or ragonsa , constantinople , or ierusalem , and the piramides of egypt ; that thinke it nothing to goe to summer iles , or virginia , which is as far as any of them ; and i hope in time will proue a more profitable and more laudable iourney : as for the danger , you see our ladies and gentlewomen account it nothing now to goe thither ; and therefore i hope all good men will better apprehend it , and not suffer them to languish in despaire , whom god so wonderfully and oft hath preserued . what here i haue writ by relation , if it be not right i humbly intreat your pardons , but i haue not spared any diligence to learne the truth of them that haue beene actors , or sharers in those voyages ; in some particulars they might deceiue mee , but in the substance they could not : for few could tell me any thing , except where they fished . but seeing all those haue liued there , doe confirme more then i haue writ , i doubt not but all those testimonies with these new begun examples of plantation , will moue both citie and country , freely to aduenture with me more then promises . but because some fortune-tellers say , i am vnfortunate ; had they spent their time as i haue done , they would rather beleeue in god then their calculations , and peraduenture haue giuen as bad an account of their actions , and therefore i intreat leaue to answer those obiecters , that thinke it strange , if this be true , i haue made no more vse of it , rest so long without imploiment , nor haue no more reward nor preferment : to which i say ; i thinke it more strange they should tax me , before they haue tried as much as i haue , both by land and sea , as well in asia and affrica , as europe and america , where my commanders were actors or spectators , they alwaies so freely rewarded me , i neuer needed bee importunate , or could i euer learne to beg : what there i got , i haue spent ; yet in virginia i staied , till i left fiue hundred behinde me better prouided then euer i was , from which blessed virgin ( ere i returned ) sprung the fortunate habitation of summer iles. this virgins sister , now called new england , at my humble sute , by our most gracious prince charles , hath beene neere as chargeable to me and my friends : for all which , although i neuer got shilling but it cost mee a pound , yet i would thinke my selfe happy could i see their prosperities . but if it yet trouble a multitude to proceed vpon these certainties , what thinke you i vndertooke when nothing was knowne but that there was a vast land ? i neuer had power and meanes to doe any thing , though more hath beene spent in formall delaies then would haue done the businesse , but in such a penurious and miserable manner , as if i had gone a begging to build an vniuersitie : where had men beene as forward to aduenture their purses , and performe the conditions they promised mee , as to crop the fruits of my labours , thousands ere this had beene bettered by these designes . thus betwixt the spur of desire and the bridle of reason , i am neere ridden to death in a ring of despaire ; the reines are in your hands , therefore i intreat you ease me , and those that thinke i am either idle or vnfortunate , may see the cause and know : vnlesse i did see better dealing , i haue had warning enough not to be so forward againe at euery motion vpon their promises , vnlesse i intended nothing but to carie newes ; for now they dare aduenture a ship , that when i went first would not aduenture a groat , so they may be at home againe by michaelmas , which makes me remember and say with master hackluit ; oh incredulitie the wit of fooles , that slouingly doe spit at all things faire , a sluggards cradle , a cowards castle , how easie it is to be an infidell . but to the matter : by this all men may perceiue , the ordinary performance of this voyage in fiue or six moneths , the plentie of fish is most certainly approued ; and it is certaine , from cannada and new england , within these six yeeres hath come neere twenty thousand beuer skinnes : now had each of these ships transported but some small quantitie of the most increasing beasts , fowles , fruits , plants , and seeds , as i proiected ; by this time their increase might haue beene sufficient for more then one thousand men : but the desire of present gaine ( in many ) is so violent , and the endeuours of many vndertakers so negligent , euery one so regarding their priuate gaine , that it is hard to effect any publike good , and impossible to bring them into a body , rule , or order , vnlesse both honesty , as well as authoritie and money , assist experience . but your home-bred ingrossing proiecters will at last finde , there is a great difference betwixt saying and doing , or those that thinks their directions can be as soone and easily performed , as they can conceit them ; or that their conceits are the fittest things to bee put in practise , or their countenances maintaine plantations . but to conclude , the fishing will goe forward w●ether you plant it or no ; whereby a colony may be then transported with no great charge , that in short time might prouide such fraughts , to buy on vs there dwelling , as i would hope no ship should goe or come emptie from new england . the charge of this is onely salt , nets , hookes , lines , kniues , irish-rugges , course cloth , beads , glasse , and such trash , onely for fishing and trade with the saluages , besides our owne necessarie prouisions , whole endeuours would quickly defray all this charge , and the saluages did intreat me to inhabit where i would . now all those ships till these last two yeeres , haue beene fishing within a square of two or three leagues , and scarce any one yet will goe any further in the port they fish in , where questionlesse fiue hundred may haue their fraught as well as elsewhere , and be in the market ere others can haue the fish in their ships , because new englands fishing begins in february , in newfoundland not till the midst of may ; the progression hereof tends much to the aduancement of virginia and summer iles , whose empty ships may take in their fraughts there , and would be also in time of need a good friend to the inhabitants of newfoundland . the returnes made by the westerne men , are commonly diuided in three parts ; one for the owner of the ship ; another for the master and his company ; the third for the victualers , which course being still permitted , will be no hinderance to the plantation as yet goe there neuer so many , but a meanes of transporting that yeerely for little or nothing , which otherwise wil cost many hundreds of pounds . if a ship can gaine twenty , thirty , fifty in the hundred ; nay three hundred for one hundred in seuen or ten moneths , as you see they haue done , spending twice so much time in comming and going as in staying there : were i there planted , seeing the variety of the fishings serue the most part of the yeere , and with a little labour we might make all the salt we need vse , as is formerly said , and can conceiue no reason to distrust of good successe by gods assistance ; besides for the building of ships , no place hath more conuenient harbours , ebbe , nor floud , nor better timber ; and no commoditie in europe doth more decay then wood . master dee his opinion for the building of ships . master dee recordeth in his brittish monarchy , that king edgar had a nauy of foure thousand saile , with which he yeerely made his progresse , about this famous monarchy of great britaine , largely declaring the benefit thereof ; whereupon hee proiected to our most memorable queene elizabeth , the erecting of a fleet of sixty saile , he called a little nauy royall : imitating that admired pericles prince of athens , that could neuer secure that tormented estate , vntill he was lord and captaine of the sea. at this none need wonder , for who knowes not her royall maiestie during her life , by the incredible aduentures of her royall nauy , and valiant souldiers and sea-men , notwithstanding all treacheries at home , the protecting and defending france and holland , and reconquering ireland ; yet all the world by sea and land both feared or loued , and admired good queene elizabeth . both to maintaine and increase that incomparable honour ( god be thanked ) to her incomparable successor , our most royall lord and soueraigne king iames , this great philosopher hath left this to his maiestie and his kingdomes consideration : that if the tenths of the earth be proper to god , it is also due by sea. the kings high waies are common to passe , but not to dig for mines or any thing : so englands coasts are free to passe but not to fish , but by his maiesties prerogatiue . his maiesty of spaine permits none to passe the popes order , for the east and west indies but by his permission , or at their perils ; if all that world be so iustly theirs , it is no iniustice for england to make as much vse of her owne shores as strangers doe , that pay to their owne lords the tenth , and not to the owner of those liberties any thing to speake of , whose subiects may neither take nor sell any in their teritories : which small tribute would maintaine this little nauy royall , and not cost his maiesty a peny , and yet maintaine peace with all forrainers , and allow them more courtesie then any nation in the world affords to england . it were ashame to alleage , that holla●d is more worthy to enioy our fishing as lords thereof , because they haue more skill to handle it then we , as they can our wooll and vndressed cloth , notwithstanding all their warres and troublesome disorders . to get money to build this nauy , he saith , who would not spare the one hundreth penny of his rents , and the fiue hundreth penny of his goods ; each seruant that taketh forty shillings wages , foure pence ; and euery forrainer of seuen yeeres of age foure pence , for seuen yeeres ; not any of these but they will spend three times so much in pride , wantonnesse , or some superfluitie : and doe any men loue the securitie of their estates , that of themselues would not bee humble suters to his maiesty to doe this of free will as a voluntary beneuolence , or but the one halfe of this ( or some such other course as i haue prounded to diuers of the companies ) free from any constraint , tax , lottery , or imposition ; so it may be as honestly and truly imploied , as it is proiected , the poorest mechanicke in this king-would gaine by it . then you might build ships of any proportion and numbers you please , fiue times cheaper then you can doe here , and haue good merchandize for their fraught in this vnknowne land , to the aduancement of gods glory , his church and gospel , and the strengthning and releefe of a great part of christendome without hurt to any , to the terror of pirats , the amazement of enemies , the assistance of friends , the securing merchants , and so much increase of nauigation , to make englands trade and shipping as much as any nations in the world , besides a hundred other benefits , to the generall good of all true subiects , & would cause thousands yet vnborne to blesse the time , and all them that first put it in practise . now lest it should be obscured as it hath beene to priuat ends , or so weakely vndertaken by our ouerweening incredulity , that strangers may possesse it whilest we contend for new-englands goods , but not englands good ; i haue presented it as i haue said , to the prince and nobility , the gentry and commonalty , hoping at last it will moue the whole land to know it and consider of it ; since i can finde them wood and halfe victuall , with the foresaid aduantages : were this country planted , with what facility they may build and maintaine this little nauy royall , both with honour , profit and content , and inhabit as good a country as any in the world within that paralell , which with my life and what i haue , i will endeuour to effect , if god please and you permit . but no man will goe from hence to haue lesse freedome there then here , nor aduenture all they haue to prepare the way for them will scarce thanke them for it ; and it is too well knowne there haue beene so many vndertakers of patents , and such sharing of them , as hath bred no lesse discouragement then wonder , to heare such great promises and so little performance ; in the interim , you see the french and dutch already frequent it , and god forbid they in virginia , or any of his maiesties subiects , should not haue as free liberty as they . to conclude , were it not for master cherley and a few priuate aduenturers with them , what haue we there for all these inducements ? as for them whom pride or couetousnesse lulleth asleepe in a cradle of slothfull carelesnesse , would they but consider how all the great monarchies of the earth haue beene brought to confusion , or but remember the late lamentable experiences of constantinople , and how many cities , townes and prouinces , in the faire rich kingdoms of hungaria , transiluania , wallachia & moldauia , and how many thousands of princes , earles , barons , knights , merchants , and others , haue in one day lost goods , liues and honours , or sold for slaues like beasts in a market place , their wiues , children and seruants slaine , or wandring they knew not whither , dying or liuing in all extremities of extreme miseries and calamities , surely they would not onely doe this , but giue all they haue to enioy peace and liberty at home , or but aduenture their persons abroad ; to preuent the conclusions of a conquering foe , who commonly assaulteth and best preuaileth where he findeth wealth and plenty , most armed with ignorance and security . though the true condition of warre is onely to suppresse the proud and defend the innocent , as did that most generous prince sigismundus , prince of those countries , against them whom vnder the colour of iustice and piety , to maintaine their superfluity of ambitious pride , thought all the world too little to maintaine their vice , and vndoe them , or keepe them from ability to doe any thing , that would not admire and adore their honours , fortunes , couetousnesse , falshood , bribery , cruelty , extortion , and ingratitude , which is worse then cowardize or ignorance , and all manner of vildnesse , cleane contrary to all honour , vertue , and noblenesse . iohn smith writ this with his owne hand . here follow certaine notes and obseruations of captaine charles whitbourne concerning new-found land , which although euery master trained vp in fishing , can make their proportions of necessaries according to their custome , yet it is not much amisse here to insert them , that euery one which desires the good of those actions know them also . besides in his booke intituled , a discouery of new-found land , and the commodities thereof , you shall finde many excellent good aduertisements for a plantation ; and how that most yeeres this coast hath beene frequented with . saile of his maiesties subiects , which supposing but . tunnes a peece , one with another , they amount to . tunnes , and allowing men and boies to euery barke , they will make . persons , whose labours returne yeerely to about . pound sterling , besides the great numbers of brewers , bakers , coupers , ship-carpenters , net-makers , rope-makers , hooke-makers , and the most of all other mecanicall trades in england . the charge of letting forth a ship of . tuns with . persons , both to make a fishing voyage , and increase the plantation .   l. s. d. inprimis , . weight of bisket at . s. a . weight . . .   tun of beere and sider at . s. . d. a tun. . .   hogsheads of english beefe . .     hogsheads of irish beefe . .     fat hogs salted with salt and caske . . .   bushels of pease .     ferkins of butter . .     waight of cheese . . .   bushell of mustard-seed .   .   hogshead of vinegar . . .   wood to dresse meat withall . .     great copper kettle . .     small kettles . .     frying-pans .   . . platters , ladles and cans . .     a paire of bellowes for the cooke .   . . taps , boriers and funnels . .     l●cks for the bread roomes .   . . weight of candles . . .   , quarters of salt at . s. the rushell . . .   mats & dinnage to lie vnder it . . .   salt shouels .     particulars for the . persons to keepe . fishing boats at sea , with . men in euery boat , imploies . and . foot of elme boords of an inch thicke , . s. each one . .     nailes for the . boats , at . s. . d. a . . . nailes at . s . d. . . . nailes at . d. .   .   weight of pitch at . s. . .     of good orlop nailes . . .   more for other small necessaries . .     a barrell of tar.   .   weight of black ocome . .     thrums for pitch maps .   . . bolls , buckets and pumps . .     brazen crocks . .     canuas to make boat sailes & small ropes , at . s. for each saile , . .   rode ropes which containe . weight at s the . .     dozen of fishing lines . .     d●z●n of fishing hookes . .     for squid line .   .   for pots and liuer maunds .   .   iron works for the boats ruthers . .     kipnet irons .   .   twine to make kipnets and gagging hooks .   .   good nets at . s. a net . .     saynes , a great and a lesse . .     weight of sow-lead . .     couple of ropes for the saynes . .     dry-fats to keepe them in .   .   t●ine for store .   .   flaskets and bread baskets .   .   for haire cloth . .     . tuns of vinegar caske for water . . . . do●zen of deale bourds .   .   barrels of oatmeale . . .   weight of spikes . . .   good axes , . hand hatchets , . drawers , . drawing irons .   .   yards of wollencloth for cuffs .   .   yards of good cannasse .   .   a grand-stone or two .   .   of poore iohn to spend in going . . .   hogshead of aquauitae . .     arme sawes , . handsawes , . thwart sawes , . augers , . crowes of iron , . sledges , . shod shouels , . picaxes , . matocks ; and . hammers . .     the totall summe is . . . all these prouisions the master of purser is to be accountable what is spent and what is left , with those which shall continue there to plant , and of the . thus prouided for the voyage , ten may well be spared to leaue behind them , with . weight of bisket , . hogsheads of sider or beere , halfe a hogshead of beefe , sides of dry bakon , . bushell of pease , halfe a ferkin of butter , halfe . weight of cheese , a pecke of mustard-seed , a barrell of vinegar , . pound of candles , . pecks of oa●meale , halfe a hogshead of aquauitae , . copper kettles , . brasse crock , . frying-pan , a grindstone , and all the hatchets , woodhooks , sawes , augers , &c. and all other iron tooles , with the . boats and their implements , and spare salt , and what else they vse not in a readinesse from yeere to yeere , and in the meane time serued them to helpe to build their houses , cleanse land , and further their fishing whilst the ships are wanting . by his estimation and calculation these . boats with . men in a summer doe vsually kill . fish for euery boat , which may amount to . allowing . fishes to the . sometimes they haue taken aboue . for a boat , so that they load not onely their owne ship , but prouide great quantities for sacks , or other spare ships which come thither onely to buy the ouerplus : if such ships come not , they giue ouer taking any more , when sometimes there hath beene great abundance , because there is no fit houses to lay them in till another yeere , now most of those sacks goeth empty thither , which might as well transport mens prouision and cattle at an easie rate as nothing , either to new-england or new-found land , but either to transport them for nothing or pay any great matter for their liberty to fish , will hardly effect so much as freedome as yet ; nor can this be put in practice as before i said , till there be a power there well planted and setled to entertaine and defend them , assist and releeue them as occasion shall require , otherwaies those small diuisions will effect little , but such miserable conclusions as both the french and we too long haue tried to our costs . now commonly . fish will load a ship of . tunnes in new-found land , but halfe so many will neere doe it in new-england , which carried to toloune or merselus , ●here the custome is small , and the kintall lesse then . english ▪ pounds weight , and the prise when least , . shillings the kintall , which at that rate amounts to . l. starling ; and the ship may either there be discharged or imployed as hath beene said to refraught for england , so that the next yeere she may be ready to goe her fishing voyage againe , at a farre cheaper rate then before . to this adde but . tuns of traine oile , which deliuered in new found land , is . l. the tun , makes . l. then it is hard if there be not . of co●●fish , which also sold there at . l. the . makes . l. which brought to england , in somes places yeelds neere halfe so much more ; but ●f at mers●lus it be sold for . d. the kentall , as commonly it is , and much dearer , it amounts to . l. and if the boats follow the fishing ●ll the . of october , they may take . more , which with their traine in n●w-found land at . l. the . will amount to . l. which added to . l. with . l. for oile , and . of cor-fish . l. and the ouerplus at merselus , which will be . l. make the totall . l. which diuided in three parts according to their custome , the victualer hath for the former particulars , amounting to . l. . l. so all the charge defraied , hee gaines . l. . s. then for the fraught of the ship there is . l. and so much for the master and his company , which comparing with the voiages hath beene made to new-england , you may easily finde which is the better though both bee good . but now experience hath taught them at new-plimoth , that in aprill there is a fish much like a herring that comes vp into the small brookes to spawne , and where the water is not knee deepe , they will presse vp through your hands , yea though you beat at them with cudgels , and in such abundance as is incredible , which they take with that facility they manure their land with them when they haue occasion ; after those the cod also presseth in such plenty , euen into the very harbours , they haue caught some in their armes , and hooke them so fast , three men oft loadeth a boat of two tuns in two houres , where before they vsed most to fish in deepe water . the present estate of new-plimoth . at new-plimoth there is about persons , some cattell and goats , but many swine and poultry , dwelling houses , whereof were burnt the last winter , and the value of fiue hundred pounds in other goods ; the towne is impailed about halfe a mile compasse . in the towne vpon a high mount they haue a fort well built with wood , lome , and stone , where is planted their ordnance : also a faire watch-tower , partly framed for the sentinell , the place it seemes is healthfull , for in these last three yeeres , notwithstanding their great want of most necessaries , there hath not one died of the first planters , they haue made a salt worke , and with that salt preserue the fish they take , and this yeare hath fraughted a ship of . tunnes . the gouernour is one mr. william bradford , their captaine miles standish ; a bred souldier in holland ; the chiefe men for their assistance is master isaak alderton , and diuers others as occasion serueth ; their preachers are master william bruster and master iohn layford . the most of them liue together as one family or houshold , yet euery man followeth his trade and profession both by sea and land , and all for a generall stocke , out of which they haue all their maintenance , vntill there be a diuident betwixt the planters and the aduenturers . those planters are not seruants to the aduenturers here , but haue onely councells of directions from them , but no iniunctions or command , and all the masters of families are partners in land or whatsoeuer , setting their labours against the stocke , till certaine yeeres be expired for the diuision : they haue young men and boies for their apprentises and seruants , and some of them speciall families , as ship-carpenters , salt-makers , fish-masters , yet as seruants vpon great wages . the aduenturers which raised the stocke to begin and supply this plantation were about . some gentlemen , some merchants , some handy-crafts men , some aduenturing great summes , some small , as their estates and affection serued . the generall stocke already imploied is about . l. by reason of which charge and many crosses , many of them would aduenture no more , but others that knowes , so great a designe cannot bee effected without both charge , losse and crosses , are resolued to goe forward with it to their powers ; which deserue no small commendations and encouragement . these dwell most about london , they are not a corporation , but knit together by a voluntary combination in a society without constraint or penalty , aiming to doe good & to plant religion ; they haue a president & treasurer , euery yeere newly chosen by the most voices , who ordereth the affaires of their courts and meetings , and with the assent of the most of them , vndertaketh all ordinary businesses , but in more weighty affaires , the assent of the whole company is required . there hath beene a fishing this yeere vpon the coast about . english ships : and by cape anne , there is a plantation a beginning by the dorchester men , which they hold of those of new-plimoth , who also by them haue set vp a fishing worke ; some talke there is some other pretended plantations , all whose good proceedings the eternal god protect and preserue . and these haue beene the true proceedings and accidents in thos● plantations . now to make a particular relation of all the acts and orders in the courts belonging vnto them , of the anihilating old patents and procuring new ; with the charge , paines and arguments , the reasons of such changes , all the treaties , consultations , orations , and dissentions about the sharing and diuiding those large territories , confirming of counsailers , electing all sorts of officers , directions , letters of aduice , and their answers , disputations about the magazines and impositions , su●ers for patents , positions for freedomes , and confirmations with complaints of iniuries here , and also the mutinies , examinations , arraignements , executions , and the cause of the so oft reuolt of the saluages at large , as many would haue had , and it may be some doe expect it would make more quarrels then any of them would willingly answer , & such a volume as would tire any wise man but to read the contents ; for my owne part i rather feare the vnpartiall reader wil thinke this rather more tedious then necessary : but he that would be a practitioner in those affaires , i hope will allow them not only needfull but expedient : but how euer , if you please to beare with those errors i haue committed , if god please i liue , my care and paines shall endeuour to be thankfull : if i die , accept my good will : if any desire to be further satisfied , what defect is found in this , they shall finde supplied in me , that thus freely haue throwne my selfe with my mite into the treasury of my countries good , not doubting but god will stirre vp some noble spirits to consider and examine if worthy columbus could giue the spaniards any such certainties for his designe , when queene isabel of spaine set him forth with . saile , and though i promise no mines of gold , yet the warlike hollanders let vs imitate but not hate , whose wealth and strength are good testimonies of their treasury gotten by fishing ; and new-england hath yeelded already by generall computation one hundred thousand pounds at the least . therefore honourable and worthy country men , let not the meannesse of the word fish distaste you , for it will afford as good gold as the mines of guiana or pot●ssie , with lesse hazard and charge , and more certainty and facility . i. s. i. s. finis . errata pag. . line . for quineth , reade guineth . pag. . li. . reade from the company . and li. . for . pounds reade . pounds . pag. . li. . for . men , reade . men , pag. . li. . for goston reade gofton , and coranto quowarranto , and li. reade before the iudges in westminster hall , for the lords of his maiesties priuy counsell . there are many other errors , which being but small i intreat the courteous reader to correct as he findeth them . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * coelum non attimum mutant a these are said a thousād yeares agoe to haue beene in the north parts of america . b he is said to discover the pole . c madoc ap ow●n planted some remote western parts . . d america named of americus vesputius , which discovered les then colon or s ir s●bastian cabot , and the continent later . colō first found the isles . the continen● . aboue a yeare after cabot had don it . he was set forth by henry and after by hen. . kni●hted , and made grand pilot of englād by ed. vnder whō he procured the sending of s ir hugh willoughby , & discovery of greenland and russia : having by himself discovered on america frō north lat . to neere ●o south ▪ notes for div a -e * virginia now inhabited , and new-england . notes for div a -e their arrivall . ●●pundance ●f g●apes . the i le of w●kokon . in lybanus are not many . conference with a salvage . the arriuall of the kings brother . trade with the salvages . note . the ile roanoak . the great courtesie of a woman . a banquet . skicoac a great towne . pomovik . how the country was called virginia . sir richard grenvils , voyage . . their first plantation . chawonock . chawonock . men . menatonon his relations of the i le of pearle , and a rich mine , & the sea by it . pemissapan his trechery . the discouery of the riuer morat●c . a noble resolution . the strange mine of chaunis temoatan . the great currant of the river morat●● . the conspiracy of pemissapan . the death of a most rare salvage . a slaughter of two salvages . pemissapan slaine and ● . others . a most generous courtesie of sir francis drake . virginia abandoned . cōmodities . dyes . a strange salt. rootes . fruits that 's strange . beasts extraordinary . fish. foules . their religion . how the world was made . how man was made . how they vse their gods . whether they goe after death . two men risen from death . the subtiltie of their priests . their simplicitie . their desire of salvation . a wonderfull accident . their strange opinions . calling . sir richard grenvill left fiftie ●en . master white his voyages . . one of the councell slaine . how the fiftie men were slain● . an ill misprision . a child borne in virginia . a controversie who to send for factor to england . master white his returne to virginia . captaine spicer and seauen others drowned . they finde where they had buryed their provisions . the end of this plantation . . yeares it lay dead . their first landing . martha's vineyard . elizabeths island . a ' copper mine . their return . dangerous shoules . cod and whales . their first landing . pentecost harbour . the captains diligence . trade with the salvages . their trechery . fiue salvages surprised . a description of the river . notes for div a -e the latitude . the temperature . the windes . the entrances . cape henry . cape charles . the country . the mountaines . the soyle . the valleyes . plaines . the river powhatan . the branches iames towne . the severall inhabitants . r. pamavnkee . the inhabitants . payankatank . r. toppahanock r. the inhabitants . patawomek , r. the inhabitants . pawtuxunt , r. bolus , r. the head of the bay. sasquesahanock . the description of a sasquesahanough . tockwhogh , r. rapahanock , r. kuskarawaock r. wighcocomoco , r. accomack , r. chawonock . the severall languages . why there is little grasse . woods with their fruits . elme . walnuts . supposed cypres . mulberries . chesnuts . cherries . vines . chechinquamins . rawcomens . how they vse their fruits . walnut mille . gummes . cedats . saxafiastrees . berries . matoum . strawberries . hearbes . rootes . wig●sacan a roote . pocones a small roote . musquaspen a roote . pellitory . sasafrage . onyons . their chiefe beasts are deere . aroughcun . squirrels . assapanick , a squirrel flying . opassom . mussascus . beares . the beaver . otters . vtchūquoyes . foxes-dogges . martins . polcats . weesels , and minkes . birds . fish. the rockes . how they divide the yeare . how they prepare the ground . how they plant . how they vse their corne. how they vse their fish and flesh . planted fruits a proofe cattell will liue well . the commodities . the numbe●● seaven hundred men were the most were seene together when they thought to haue surprised captaine smith . a description of the people . the barbers . the constitution . the disposition . the possessions . their attire . their ornaments . their buildings . their lodgings . their gardens how they vse their children . the industrie of their women . how they strike fire . the order of dyet . how they make their bow●s and arrowes . their kniues . their targets and swords . their boats. how they spin . their fish-hookes . how they hunt . one salvage hunting alone . their consultations . their enemies . massawomekes . their offer of subiection . their manner of battell . their musicke . their entertainement . their trade . their phisicke . their chirurgery . their charms to cure . their god. how they bury their kings their ordinary burials . their temples . their ornaments for their priests . the times of solemnitie● . their coniurations . their altars . sacrifices to the water . their solemn sacrifices of children , which they call black-boyes . those black-boyes are made so mad with a kind of drinke , that they will do● any mischiefe , at the command of their keepers . their resurrection . a description of powhatan . his attendāce and watch . his treasury . his wiues . his successors their authoritie . the tenor of their lands . his manner of punishments . ● . notes for div a -e s ir thomas smith treasurer . the first mover of the action , orders for government . monica an vnfrequented isle full of birds . their first landing . matters of government . the discovery of the falles & powhatan . the fort assaulted by the salvages . captain newports returne for england . s ir thomas smith treasurer . the occasion of sicknesse . the sailers abuses . a bad president . plentie vnexpected . the building of iames towne . the beginning of trade abroad . amoris , a salvage his best friend slaine for loving vs. the discovery of chickahamine . another proiect to abandon the country . * iehu robinson and thomas emry slaine . captaine smith taken prisoner . the order they observed in then trivmph . how he should haue beene slaine at orapacks . how he saued iames towne from being surprised . how they did coniure him at pamavnkee . how powhatan entertained him . how pocahontas saved his life . how powhatan sent him to iames towne . the third proiect to abandon the countrey . a true proofe of gods loue to the action . of two evils the lesse was chosen . the phoenix from cape henry forced to the west indies . their opinion of our god. smith : revisiting bowhatan . powhatan his entertainement . the exchāge of a christian for a salvage . powhatant speech . differences of opinions . iames towne burnt . a ship i dely loytering . weekes . the effect of meere verbalists . a needlesse charge . a return● to england . the rebuilding iames towne . sixtie appointed to discover the monacans . an ill example to sell swords to salvages . the presidents weaknesse . smiths attempt to suppresse the salvages insolencies . powhatans excuse . a ship fraught with cedar . s ir thomas smith treasurer . a strange mortalitie of salvages . russels isles . wighcocomoco . an extreame want of fresh water . their barge neare sunke in a gust . cuskarawaock . the first notice o● the massawomeks , bolus riuer . smith● speech to his souldiers . the discouery of patawomek . ambuscadoes of salvages . a trecherous proiect . a myne like antimony . an aboundant plenty of fish . how to deale with the salvages . captaine smith neare killed with a stingray . the salvages affrighted with their owne suspition . needlesse misery at iames towne . the salvages admire fire-workes . an incounter with the massawomeks at the head of the bay. an incounter with the tockwhoghs . hatchets from the sasquesahanocks . the sasquesahanocks offer to the english. pawtuxunt , r. rapahanock , r. the exceeding loue of the salvage mosco . our fight with the rapahanocks . the salvages disguised like bushes fight . our fight with the manahaacks . a salvage shot and taken prisoner . his relation of their countries . * they cannot trauell but where the woods are burnt . how we concluded peace with the foure kings of monahoke . how we became friends with the rapahanocks . the discovery of payankatank . a notable trechery of the nandsamunds . the fight with the chisapeacks and nandsamund● . how they became friends . the proce●ding at iames towne . powhatans scorne when his courtesie was most deserved . no better way to overthrow the busines then by our instructors . a consultation , where all the councell was against the president . capt. smith goeth with . to powhatan , when newport feared with . a virginia maske . the womens entertainement . captaine smiths message . powhatans answer . powhatans coronation . the discovery of monacan . how the salvages deluded cap. newport . a punishment for swearing . . men better then . the chickahamania's forced to contribution . a bad reward for well-doing . a good taverne in virginia . a bad trade of the masters and saylers . master scriveners voyage to werowocomoco . nandsamund forced to contribution . the first marriage in virginia . apamatuck discovered . the good counsell of warraskoyack . plentie of victualls . foules killed at three shootes . cap. smiths discourse to powhatan . powhatans reply and flattery . powhatan discourse of peace and warre . capt. smiths reply . powhatans importunity to haue vs vnarmed to betray vs. cap. smiths discourse to delay time , till he found oportunity to surprise the king. powhatans plot to haue murdered smith . a chaine of pearle sent the captaine for a present . pretending to kill our men loaded with baskets , we caused them do it themselues . pocahontas bewrayes her fathers deceit to kill vs. the dutch men deceiue cap. winne . the dutch men furnish the saluages with armes . smiths speech to opechancanough . . saluages beset the english being but . smiths speech to his company . smiths offer to opechancanough . opecahncanoughs deuic● to betray smith . smith taketh the king prisoner . smiths discourse to the pamavnkees . the salvages dissemble their intent . their excuse and reconcilement . the losse of mr. scrivener and others with a skiff . master wyffins desperate iourney . powhatan constraineth his men to be trecherous . the third attempt to betray vs. a chayne of pearle sent to obtaine peace . the president poysoned : the offend●r punished . the salvages want and povertie . the dutch-men did much hurt . an apology for the first planters . the presidents advice to the company . the dutch-mens plot to murther cap. smith . smith taketh the king of paspahegh prisoner . cap. smith taketh two salvages prisoners . the salvages desire peace . okaning his oration . a salvage smoothered at iames towne , and recovered . two or three salvages slaine in drying powder . great extremitie by rats . bread made of dried sturgeon . their desire to destroy themselues . the presidents order for the drones but seuen of dyed in nine moneth● . the salvages returne our fugitiues . master sicklemores iourney to chawwonoke master powels iorney to the mangoags . the dutch mens proiects . two gentlemen sent to the germans . the first arriuall of captaine argall . note these inconveniences . the alterat●on of the government . s ir thomas smith treasurer . the losse of virginia . the salvages offer to fight vnder our colours . mutinies . the planting nandsamund . the breach of peace with the salvages . powhatan bought for copper . mutini● . fiue suppresse an hundred and twentie . breach of peace with the salvage at the falle● . an assalt by the salvages the planting of non-such . the salvages appeased . captaine smith blowne vp with powder . a bloudy intent . the causes why smith left the countrey and his commission . the ends of the dutch-men . * hindere●● , notes for div a -e the planting point comfort . the arriuall of sir thomas gates . iames towne abandoned . the arriuall of the lord la ware. sir george sommers returne to the bermudas . the building fort henry and fort charles . sir thomas smith treasurer . the relation of the lord la ware. . kine and . swine sent to virginia . sir thomas smith treasurer . the arriuall of sir thomas dale . his preparation to build a new towne . diuers mutinie suppressed . the second arriuall of sir thomas gates . the building of henrico . the building the bermudas . sir thomas smith treasurer . captaine argals arriuall . ☞ how pocahontas was taken prisoner . ☞ seuen english returned from powhatan prisoners . sir thomas dale his voyage to pamavuke . a man shot in the forehead . two of powhatans sonnes come to see pocahontas . ☜ the mariage of pocahontas to master iohn rolfe . sir thomas smith treasurer . the chicahamanias desire friendship . articles of peace the benefit of libertie in the planters . william spence the first farmer in virginia . captaine argall voyage to port royall . sir thomas smith treasurer . master hamars iourney to powhatan . his message to powhatan . powhatans answer . william parker recouered . from a letter of sir thomas dale and master w●itakers . sir thomas smith treasurer . a spanish ship in virginia . sir thomas smith treasurer . a digression . the gouernment of captaine yea●ley . twelue saluages slaine , twelue prisoners taken , and peace concluded . 〈◊〉 eleuen men cast away . a bad-presiders . pocahontas instructions . a relation to queene anne , of pocahontas . pocahontas meeting in england with captaine smith . vitamatomack , obseruations of his vsage . pocahontas her entertainment with the queene . sir thomas smith treasurer . the death of pocahontas . . bushels of corne from the saluages . sir thomas smith treasurer . the death of the lord la ware. they are relieued in new-england . richard killingbeck and foure other murdered by the saluages . their church and store-house . farfax , three children and two boyes also murdered . powhatans death . haile-stones eight inches about . sir edwin sands treasurer . master iohn fare● deputie . waraskoyack planted . a barrell they account foure bushels . their time of parlament . foure corporations named . captaine wards exploit . the number of ships and men . gifts giuen . but few performe them . the earle of southampton treasurer , and m. iohn ferrar deputy . a french-man cast away at guardalupo . the spaniards begin . the vice-admirall shot betweene wind and water . the manner of their fight . the captaine slaine . a worthy exploit of lucas . the euent of the fight . the ea●le of south-hampton treasurer . master iohn farrar deputy . the election of sir francis wyat gouernour for virginia . notes worthy obseruation . a degression . master stockams relation . the arriuall of sir francis wyat. master gookins plantation . the number of ships and men gifts giuen . patents granted , my iourney to the easterne shore . a good place to make salt in the king of pawtxunts entertainment . the trecherie of namanicus . thomas saluages good seruice . the earle of south●mpton treasure . , and nicolas farrar deputy . fiue and twentie sent only to build barks and boats. the death of nemattanow , writ by m. wimp . security a bad guard ▪ the manner of the massacre . their cruelty . the murder of master thorp . the slau●hter of captaine powell . a saluage slaine . m. baldwines escape . m. thomas hamer with escapeth . captaine ralfe hamer with forty escapeth . the saluages attempt to surprise a ship . six of the councell slaine . how it was reuealed . memorandums . captaine smith . his maiesties g●t . london sets out persons . a lamentable example , t●o oft app●oued . note this conclusion . how the spania●ds raise their wealth in the west indies . how they were reduced to fiue or six places . gooki●s and 〈◊〉 , resolutions . the opinion of captaine smith . the prouidence of captaine nuse . captaine croshaw his voyage to patawom●k . the arriuall of this newes in england . captaine smiths offer to the company . their answer , the manner of the sallery . captaine croshaw states at patawomek , and his aduentures . the escape of waters and his w●●e . the arriuall of captaine 〈◊〉 at patawomek . croshaws fort and plot for trade . ●●●taine madys●●●ent ●ent to pataw●m●k . the industry of captaine nuse . captaine powel kils . saluages . the opinion of captaine smith . sir george yearleys iourny to accomack . captaine nuse his misery . an alarum , foure slaine . the kindnesse of the king of patawomek . a saluage● policy . mad●son takes the k●ng and kils . o● . the king set at liberty . a digression their proceedings of the other plantations . surpriseth nandsamund . samuell collyer slaine . they surprise pamavuke . the opinion of captaine smith . how to subiect all the saluages in virginia . the arriuall of captaine butler , & his accidents . a strange deliuera●ce of master a●gent & others . how captaine spilman was left in the riuer of patawomek . the earle of southampton treasurer . apparell for one man , and so after the rate for more . the causes of our first miseries . but ● english in all virginia . proofes of the healthfulnesse of the countrey . how the saluages became subiected . how we liued of the natural fruits of the countrey . proofe of the commodities we returned . what we built . how i left the country . my charge . my reward . the king hath pleased to take it i●to 〈◊〉 ●●●sideration . notes for div a -e the description of the iles. the clime , temper and fertility . trees and fruits . the prickell peare . the poison weed . the red weed . the purging beane . the costiue tree . red pepper . the sea feather . fruits transported . birds . egge-birds . cahowes . the tropicke bird and the pemblicos presagements . of vermine . 〈◊〉 ashes . the most hurtfull things in those iles. how it is supposed they were called the bermud●● . the building and calking their barke . his returne for england . a most desperate estate by a storm . the care and iudgement of sir george somers . an euident token of gods mercy . sir george somers 〈…〉 what meanes they m●de to send to virginia . a mariage , and two children borne . their arriuall in virginia . sir george s●mmers his returne to the bermudas . 〈…〉 the proceedings of the three men . a peece of amber-greece of . pound weight . how they were supplied . . the arriuall of master more . . sir thomas smith treasurer . their differences about the amber-greece . chard in danger of hanging . master mores industry in fortifying and planting . a contention of the minister ag●inst the gouernor . two peeces w●●hed out of the sea aduenture . the first supply . . the second supply . sir thomas smith treasurer . a strange increase of potatoes . the attempt of two spanish ships . a great famine and mortalitie . sir thomas smith treasurer . a strange being of rauens . all workes abandoned to get onely victual . a supply , and m. mores returne . sir thomas smith treasurer . master carter . captaine kendall capt. mansfield . a wonderfull accident . treasure found in the summer iles. a new gouernor chosen . sir thomas smith treasurer . captaine tuckars proceedings . a barke sent to the west indies . the assises . the strange aduenture of fiue men in a boat . plants from the west indies . the exploits of captain pow●ll . the second assise . the third assise . sir thomas smith treasurer . the countrey neere deuoured with rats . a strange confusion of rats . the returne of m. powel from the indies . a supposed mutiny by m. pollard , and m. rich. . the diuision of the iles into tribes . sir thomas smith treasurer . the first magazin . two exploits of desperate fugitiues . the arriuall of the blessing . the arriuall of two ships . captaine butler chosen gouernor . a plat-forme burnt , and much hurt by a hericano . . the refortifying the kings castle . amber-greece found . the arriuall of two dutch frigots . the differences betwixt the ministers . the rebuilding the mount. the tombe of sir george summers . their manner of lawes reformed . martiall officers . ciuill officers and courts . the second assise . a generall assemblie in manner a parliament . their acts. the arriuall of the magazin ship . . weight of tobacco . the building of three bridges and other works . the generall assises , and the proceedings . a strange deliuerance of a spanish wracke . how they solemnized the powder treason , and the arriuall of two ships . the spaniards returne , and in danger againe . . three english murderers found in the spanish wracke . their assises , and other passages . a strange sodomy . more trialls about the wracks . the planters complaints . the returne of captaine butler . the lord caue●d●sh t●easu●er . master nicholas farrar deputy . sir edward sackuil treasurer . master gabriel barber deputy . note . . sir thomas smith treasurer , and master edwards deputy . notes for div a -e sir francis popham treasurer . my first voyage to new england . . the cōmodities i got amounted to . pounds . the trechery of master hunt. how prince charles called the most remarkable places in new england . aspersions against new england . captaine hobson his voiage to capawuk . the londoners send foure good ships to new england . the situation of new england . notes of florida . notes of virginia . obseruations so● presumptuous ignorant directors . the principall countries or gouernments . a proofe of an excellent clime ▪ staple commodities present . obseruations of the hollanders . note . note . examples of the altitude comparatiuely . in spaine . in france . in greece . in asia . beyond the line . the particular staple commodities that may be had by industry . the nature of the ground approued . the seasons for fishing approued . imploiment for poore people and fatherlesse children . the facilitie of the plantation . present commodities . kermes . musquasse● . beuers . mines . woods . an example of the g●●●s vpon euery yeere or six moneths returne . a description of the countrey in particular , and their situations . an indian slaine , another shot . the land markes . herbs and fruits woods . birds . fishes . beasts . a note for men that haue great spirits and small meanes . an example of secure couetousnesse . the authors conditions . the planters pleasures and profit . imploiments for gentlemen . imploiments for labourers . examples of the spaniards . the causes of our defailments . the blisse of spaine . my second voiage to new england . the ground and plot for our plantation . the meanes vsed to preuent it and n●c . how i set saile and returned . my reimbarkement , encounter with pirats , and imprisonment by the french. a double treachery . a fleet of nine french men of war , and fights with the spaniard . a prise of fish. a scotch prise . a prise worth crownes . a prise worth crownes . my escape from the french men . what law i had . my returne for england . the successe of my vice-admirall . m. d●e his report . the benefit of fishing , as mr gentleman and others report . the records of holland and other learned obseruers my sute to the country . my sute to the citie . their first iourny by land . their first iourny by shallop . accidents . their second iourney by water to finde a place to plant in . their first fight with the saluages . the description of their place to plant in . another boy borne in new-england . their first plantation . two faire lakes . two men lost themselues in the woods . their first conference with a saluage . the second conference . their conditions of peace . a iourney to pakanoki . a great courage of two old saluages . how the king vsed them . a voyage to nawsit . they surprise the saluages . notes and obseruations . they liued two yeeres without supply . westons plantation . the death of tusquantum . tusquantum at his death desired the english to pray he might go dwell with the english mens god , for theirs was a good god. they contriue to murder all the english. the sicknesse of king massasowat . his cure by the english. the kings thankfulnesse . a bad example . captaine standish sent to suppresse the saluages . two desperate saluages slaine . the saluages ouer co●●med . an extreme drought . a wonderfull blessing & signe of gods loue . forty saile sent to fish . their religion . their gouernment . an answer to obiections . the ordinary voyage to goe to virginia or new-england . the obiections against me . my answer . considerations . the charge . the order of the westerne men . the gaines . the effects of shipping . the popes order for the east and west indies . how to get money to build this little nauy . contention for new-englands goods , not her good . the necessity of martiall power . the facility of the fishing lately obserued . the present estate of the plantation at new-plimoth . . their order of gouernment . a direction for adventurers with small stock to get two for one, and good land freely and for gentlemen and all servants, labourers, and artificers to live plentifully : and the true description of the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest plantation of new albion in north virginia proved by thirteen witnesses : together with a letter from master robert evelin, that lived there many yeares, shewing the particularities and excellency thereof ... evelyn, robert, th cent. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing e ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing e estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a direction for adventurers with small stock to get two for one, and good land freely and for gentlemen and all servants, labourers, and artificers to live plentifully : and the true description of the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest plantation of new albion in north virginia proved by thirteen witnesses : together with a letter from master robert evelin, that lived there many yeares, shewing the particularities and excellency thereof ... evelyn, robert, th cent. [ ] p. : coat of arms s.n.], [london : . coat of arms of great britain on p. [ ]. place of publication from wing. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . new jersey -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . a r (wing e ). civilwar no a direction for adventurers vvith small stock to get two for one, and good land freely: and for gentlemen, and all servants, labourers, and evelyn, robert c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a direction for adventvrers vvith small stock to get two for one , and good land freely : and for gentlemen , and all servants , labourers , and artificers to live plentifully . and the true description of the healthiest , pleasantest , and richest plantation of new albion , in north virginia , proved by thirteen witnesses . together with , a letter from master robert evelin , that lived there many yeares , shewing the particularities , and excellency thereof . with a briefe of the charge of victuall , and necessaries , to transport and buy stocke for each planter , or labourer , there to get his master l. per annum , or more in twelvetrades , and at . l. charges onely a man . printed in the yeare , . honi soit qvi mal y pense the true description of the healthiest , pleasantest , and richest plantation of new albion in north virginia , proved by witnesses . whereas that part of america , or north virginia , lying about degrees at delaware bay called the province of new albion , is scituate in the best , and same temper , and as italy , betweene too cold germany , and too hot barbary , so this lying just midway betweene new england miles north , and virginia miles south , where now are setled english and ships in trade , is freed from the extreame cold and barrennesse of the one , and heat and aguish marshes of the other , and is like lumbardy , and a rich fat soyle plaine , and having rivers on the maine land , great isles , and partaketh of the healthiest ayre and most excellent commodities of europe , and replenished with the goodliest woods of oakes and all timber for ships and masts , mulberries for silke , sweet cypres , cedars , pines and perres , sorts of grapes for wine , and raisins and with the greatest variety of choyce fruits , fish and fowle , stored with all sorts of corne yeelding . . and . quarters an acre : silkegras , salt , good mines and ●iers ware , sorts of deere , buffes and huge elkes to plow and worke , all bringing young at once : the vplands covered many moneths with berries , rootes chestnuts , walnuts , beach and oake mast to feed them hogs and turkeys , in a flock , and having neere the colony of manteses acres of plaine mead land and meere levell to be flowed and fludded by that river for corne , rice , rapes , flax , and hemp . after yeares trading and discovery there and tryall made , is begunne to be planted and stored by the governour and company of new albion consisting of lords , barronets , knights and marchants , who for the true informing of themselves , their friends , adventurers , and partners by residents and traders there foure severall yeares out of their iournall bookes , namely by captaine browne a ship master , and master stafford his mate , and by captaine clayborn years there trading , and constantine his indian there born and bred , and by master robert evelin yeares there ; yet by eight of their hands subscribed and enrolled doe testifie this to bee the true state of the country , of the land , and delaware bay or charles river , which is further witnessed by captaine smith and other bookes of virginia and by new englands prospect , new canaan , captaine powells map , and other description of new england . captaine browne . captaine clayborne . robert evelin . stafford . constantine . stratton . thomas white . richard buckham . christof : thomas . edward monmouth . tenis palee . edward rhodes . peter rixford . master evelins letter . good madam : sir edmund persisting still in his noble purpose to goe on with his plantation in delaware or charles river ▪ just midway between new england & virginia , wherewith my vncle young , and i severall yeares resided , hath often informed himselfe , both of mee , and master stratton , as i perceive by the hands subscribed of eward monmouth , tenis pale and as master buckham , master white , and other ship masters , and saylors , whose hands i know and it to be true that there lived and traded with mee , is sufficiently instructed of the state of the country , and people there , and i should very gladly according to his desire have waited on you into hampshire to have informed your ladyship in person , had not i next weeke beene passing to virginia , but neverthelesse to satisfie you of the truth , i thought good to write unto you my knowledge , and first to describe you from the north side of delaware unto hudsons river , in sir edmunds patent , called new albion , which lyeth just betweene new england and maryland , and that ocean sea i take it to bee about miles , i find some broken land , isles and inlets , and many small isles at egbay : but going to delaware bay by cape may which is miles at most , and is as i understand very well set out , and printed in captaine powels mappe of new england , done as is told me by a draught i gave to m. daniell the plotmaker , which sir edmund saith you have at home on that north side about five miles within a port , or rode for any ships called the nook , and within it lyeth the king of kechemeches , having as i suppose , about men : and leagues higher a little above the bay and bar is the river of manteses which hath miles on charles river and miles running up a faire navigable deepe river all a flat levell of rich fresh and fat blacke marsh mould , which i thinke to bee acres , in this sir edmund intendeth as he saith to settle , and there the king of manteses hath about bow men , next above about leagues higher is a faire deepe river miles navigable , where is free-stone , and there over against is the king of sikonesses , and next is a asomocches river & king with men , and next is eriwoneck a king of men where we sate down , and miles above is the king of ramcocke with a men , and miles higher the king of axion with men , and next to him ● . leagues overland an inland king of calcefar with . men , and then there is in the middle of charles-river two faire wooddy isles , very pleasant , and fit for parks ▪ the one of a thousand acres , the other of fowerteen hundred , or thereabout . and six leagues higher , neare a creek called mosilian , the king having two hundred men . and then wee come to the fals , made by a rocke of lime-stone , as i suppose it is about sixty and five leagues from the sea , neare to which is an isle fit for a citie , all materialls there to build : & above , the river faire and navigable , as the indians informe me , for i went but ten miles higher . i doe account all the indians to be eight hundred , and are in severall factions , and warre against the sasque hanocks , and are all extreame fearfull of a gun , naked and unarmed against our shot , swords , and pikes i had some bickering with some of hem , and they are of so little esteeme , as i durst with fifteene men sit downe , or trade in despight of them , and since my return swedes are setled there , and so sometime six dutch doe in a boat trade without feare of them . i saw there an infinite quantitie of bustards , swans , geese ; and fowle covering the shoares , as within the like multitude of pigeons , and store of turkies , of which i tryed one to weigh fourty and six pounds . there is much variety and plenty of delicate fresh and sea-fish and shell-fish , and whales or grampus : elkes , deere that bring three young at a time , and the woods bestrewed many moneths with chest-nuts , wall-nuts , and mast of severall sorts to feed them and hoggs , that would increase exceedingly . there the barren grounds have fower kindes of grapes , and many mulberries , with ash , elms , and the tallest and greatest pines and pitch-trees that i have seen . there are cedars , cypresse , and sassafras , with wilde fruits , peares , wilde cheries , pine-apples , and the daintie parsemenas . and there is no question but almonds , and other fruits of spaine will prosper , as in virginia . and ( which is a good comfort ) in fower & twenty houres you may send or go by sea to new-england or virginia , with a faire winde , you may have cattle , and from the indians . barrels of corne , at twelve-pence a bushell in truck , so as victuals are there cheaper and better , then to be transported : neyther doe i conceive any great need of a fort or charge , where there is no enemy . if sir edmund will bring with him three hundred men or more , there is no doubt but hee may doe very well and grow rich , for it is most pure healthfull ayre , & such pure wholsome springs , rivers , and waters , as are delightfull , of a desart , as can bee seene , with so many varieties of severall flowers , trees , and forrests for swine . so many faire risings and prospects , all green and verdant : and mary-land a good friend and neighbour , in foure and twenty howers ready to comfort and supply . and truly i beleeve , my lord of baltamore will be glad of sir edmunds plantation and assistance against any enemy or bad neighbour . and if sir edmund imploy some men to sow flax , hemp and rapes in those rich marshes , or build ships , & make pipe-staves , and load some ships with these wares , or fish from the northward , hee may have any money , ware , or company brought him by his owne ships , or the ships of virginia or new-england all the yeare . and because you are of the noble house of the pawlets , and as i am informed , desire to lead many of your friends and kindred thither , whom as i honour , i desire to serve , i shall intreat you to beleeve me as a gentleman and christian , i write you nothing but the truth , and hope there to take opportunity in due season , to visit you and doe all the good offices in virginia , my place or friends can serve you in . and thus tendring my service , i rest madam your ladiships most humble faithfull servant rob : evelm provisions for each man and the charge from london . . canvas , or linnen clothes , shooes , hats , &c. costing here foure pound for two men to buy cowes , goats , and hogs in virginia , tersera islands , or ireland , which there yeelds six pound , and will buy one cow , two goats , two sowes , which for each man comes to . l. . . . freight for a passenger , and his halfe tonne of provisions and tooles . . l. . . . victualls till his owne stock and croppe , maintain him for seaven monethes . . l. . . that is , pease , oatemeale , and aquavite , . s. five bushells of meale , of which two to be baked into biskets , and five bushells of mault , some must be ground and brewed for the voyage both . l. . s. a hundred of beese , and pork , . l. . s. two bushels of roots . s. salt fish , . s cask to carry provision . s. five pound of butter . . s. . one hogshead of eares of corne , garden seeds , hemp and linseed with caske . . . . . armes ( viz. ) a sword , calliver or long pistoll , pike head : six pound of powder , ten pound of shot , half an old slight armour , that is , two to one armor . . . s. . . tools , a spade , axe , and shovell . s. iron , and steele to make and mend more , and two hundred of nailes . . s. . . s. . . guns and powder for the fort , that is to every , . foure murtherers . l. a barrell of powder , . l. . s. that is to each man , . s. bed and sheets of canvas to be filled with huls each man , . s. summe totall . . l. . . each adventurer of twenty or fifty men must provide houshold necessaris , as irons , and chaines for a draw-bridge , two mares or horses to breed or ride on , which with hay ▪ oates , and water , will for foure pound a peece , be transported ; pots , pans , dishes , iron for a cart and plow , chaines , sithes , and sickels , nets , lines , and hookes . a sayle for a fishing shallop of three tonne , and hemp to imploy his people in making them , as with hayre and canvas for quilts , aswell on shipboard , as demurring at the sea port , as with locks , keyes , bolts , and glass casements for his house . and generally , fit implements for the worke or trade he intends . . here by bringing good labourers , and tradsemen , the provident planters may doe well by giving shares or double wages when each man may earne his , nay , and shillings a day . . for here the ship-carpenters ten men a day will build a tun of shipping as in england , which with masts , and yeardes there taken is here , and there wort . l. a tun and yet here , and there is built at l. a tun wages , which is s. a dayes worke , having the timber without money . . here in . dayes they make a thousand of pipe-staves , worth here seven pound , and at the canaries twenty pound a thousand , and so get seven shillings a dayes work . . here in making iron they save l. a tun in the price of wood , and l. more in digging the iron mine , and saving land carriage of it , and of the charcole , for mine is taken on the sea beach , and wood floated downe the rivers , and so each man earnes s. d. a day , iron valued at ● l. per tun . . here the constant trade of . ships , and . men a fishing begin to leave cold newfoundland small fish , and late taken , when this is before theirs two moneths at the market , . fish here yeelds quintales , there scarce one and here is fish all the year , there but only in the warm months , so as for weekes worke each man above his diet , passage , and returne , gets l. and l. a man , and herein dried base , in sturgeon , in pressed mackrell . herings , and pilchers , is got , as well as in cod-fish s. and s. a day . and this returns ready french and spanish coyne . . here the glorious ripening sun as warme as italy or spaine brings rare fruits , wines , and such store of anniseed , and licoras as well as bay-salt made without boyling onely in pannes with the sunne , that each labourer maketh bushels a day worth in these three s. a day , and this mayden soyle , so comforted with the suns glittering beams , and being digged , and set with the indian wheate , and their beanes , and pease ; with s. charge in daies worke with seede , yeelds quarters an acre , the same wheat being times as big , and as weighty as ours ; beside potatoes , woad , madder and tobacco will yeeld halfe a tun of flax , and a tun of hempe ; worth l. an acre : and s. a daies worke . . here as in province in france walnut-milke , or oyle ground and pressed will yeeld the gatherer ten gallons , and s. a daies worke . . here the land lyeth covered months with beech , and oke mast , walnuts , and chestnuts and moneths with groundnuts ; and wild pease : and fetches yeerely so as sixty hogs for one ; and a hundred turkeyes ; partriges , hethpoults ; and tame poultry eating their fill , for one is an ordinary increase . . here the sope , and potashes , men paying in england d. a bushell ; and d. carriage for ashes ; and l. a tun for potashes make them for a quarter and lesse ; and get s. a dayes worke , by cutting , reeking , and burning whole plaines of ferne ; brambles , and wild vines being thrice as strong as woodashes . here a ship may go ; and returne in four moneths laded and comfortably see their freinds ; making three voyages a yeer , in a healthy ayre freed from enemies , and turks , and get two for on each voyage : that is six for one of that stocke and proceed in a yeer . . here the kind gentleman that in england doth not live without debts , mortgages , suretiship , lawsuits , & troubles , may here settle , and avoyd bad company and tempting occasions , and live in plenty , and variety of all sports , hunting deer , hauking foule , fishing , and many more sports , and sorts of game as with dainty fruits ; and lay up his spare rents . . here the souldier , and gentlemen wanting imployment , and not bred to labour without going to wars to kill christians , for s. a weeke in the mouth of the roaring canon or in a seige threatned with famine , and pestilence : but with a quilt sute arrow proofe , and a light albion gunspear : and but ten together against a few naked salvages may like a devout apostolique souldier with sword , and the word to civilize , and convert them to be his majesties lieges , and by trading with them , for furs get his ten shillings a day and at home intermixing sport , and pleasure , with profit , store his parkes with elkes , and fallow deere , and are fit to ride , milke or draw , the first as big as oxen , and bringing three a yeete , and with hares a yard long , and with five hundred turkeys in a flock got by nets , in stalking , and get his five shillings a day at least . all adventurers of l. to bring men , shall have acres and a mannor with royalties at . s. rent , and whosoever is willing so to transport himselfe or servant at . l. a man , shall for each man have acres freely granted for ever and at 〈…〉 may be instructed how in . weekes to passe , and in dayes to get fit servants and artificers for wages , diet , and clothes , and apprentices according to the . statutes : eliz. all which after yeeres service , are to have , acres of free land and some stocke and bee freeholders . finis . nevves from virginia the lost flocke triumphant. with the happy arriuall of that famous and worthy knight sr. thomas gates: and the well reputed & valiant captaine mr. christopher newporte, and others, into england. with the maner of their distresse in the iland of deuils (otherwise called bermoothawes) where they remayned . weekes, & builded two pynaces, in which they returned into virginia. by r. rich, gent. one of the voyage. rich, richard, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) nevves from virginia the lost flocke triumphant. with the happy arriuall of that famous and worthy knight sr. thomas gates: and the well reputed & valiant captaine mr. christopher newporte, and others, into england. with the maner of their distresse in the iland of deuils (otherwise called bermoothawes) where they remayned . weekes, & builded two pynaces, in which they returned into virginia. by r. rich, gent. one of the voyage. rich, richard, fl. . [ ] p. : ill. (woodcut) printed by edw: allde, and are to be solde by iohn wright at christ-church dore, london : . in verse. signatures: a-b⁴. the first leaf bears signature-mark "a" and a woodcut of a ship; the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gates, thomas, -- sir, d. . newport, christopher, ca. - . virginia -- description and travel -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . bermuda islands -- description and travel -- early works to . bermuda islands -- history -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - taryn hakala sampled and proofread - taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion depiction of ship a the lost flocke triumphant . with the happy arriuall of that famous and worthy knight s r. thomas gates : and the well reputed & valiant captaine m r. christopher newporte , and others , into england . ¶ with the maner of their distresse in the iland of deuils ( otherwise called bermoothawes ) where they remayned . weekes , & builded two pynaces , in which they returned into virginia . by r. rich , gent. one of the voyage . london printed by edw : allde , and are to be solde by iohn wright at christ-church dore . . to the reader . reader , how to stile thee i knowe not , perhaps learned , perhaps vnlearned : happily captious , happily enuious : indeed what or how to tearme thee i know not , only as i began i will proceede . reader , thou dost peraduenture imagine that i am mercenarie in this busines , and write for money ( as your moderne poets vse ) hyred by some of those euer to be admired aduenturers , to flatter rhe world : no , i disclaime it , i haue knowne the voyage , past the danger , seene that honorable work of virginia , & i thanke god am arriud here to tell thee what i haue seene , don , & past : if thou wilt be lieue me so , if not so to : for i cannot force thee but to thy owne liking : i am a soldier , blunt and plaine , and so is the phrase of my newes : and i protest it is true . if thou aske why i put it in verse ? i prethee knowe , it was onely to feede mine owne humour : i must confesse , that had i not debard my selfe of that large scope which to the writing of prose is allowed , i should haue much easd my selfe , and giuen thee better content . but i intreat thee to take this as it is ; and before many daies expire , i will promise thee the same worke more at large . i did feare preuention by some of your writers , if they should haue gotten but some part of the newes by the tayle , and therefore though it be rude , let it passe with thy liking , and in so doing i shall like well of thee : but how euer , i haue not long to stay : if thou wilt be vnnaturall to thy country-man , thou maist , i must not loose my patrymonie ; i am for virginia againe , and so i will bid thee hartily farewell , with an honest verse : as i came hether to see my natiue land , to waft me backe lend me thy gentle hand . thy louing country-man . r r. newes from virginia of the happy ariuall of that famous & worthy knight sir thomas gates and well reputed and valiant captaine newport into england . it is no idle fabulous tale , nor is it fayned newes : for truth herselfe is heere arriu'd , because you should not muse . with her , both gates and newport come , to tell report doth lye : which did deuulge vnto the world , that they at sea did dye . t is true that eleauen monthes and more , these gallant worthy wights : was in the shippe ( sea-venture nam'd ) depriu'd virginia's sight . and brauely did they glyde the maine , till neptune gan to frowne : as if a courser prowdly backt , would throwe his ryder downe . the seas did rage , the windes did blowe , distressed were they then : their ship did leake , her tacklings breake , in daunger were her men . but heauen was pylotte in this storme , and to an iland nere : bermoothawes call'd , conducted then , which did abate their feare . but yet these worthies forced were , opprest with weather againe : to runne their ship betweene two rockes , where she doth still remaine . and then on shoare the iland came , inhabited by hogges : some foule and tortoyses there were they onely had one dogge to kill these swyne , to yeild them food that little had to eate : their store was spent , and all things scant , alas they wanted meate . a thousand hogges that dogge did kill , their hunger to sustaine : and with such foode , did in that i le two and forty weekes remaine . and there two gallant pynases , did build , of seader-tree : the braue deliuerance one was call'd , of seauenty tonne was shee . the other patience had to name , her burthen thirty tonne : two only of their men which there , pale death did ouercome . and for the losse of those two soules , which were accounted deere : a sonne and daughter then was borne and were baptized there . the two and forty weekes being past , they hoyst sayle and away : their ships with hogs well freighted were , their harts with mickle ioy . and so vnto virginia came , where these braue souldiers finde the english-men opprest with greife and discontent in minde . they seem'd distracted and forlorne , for those two worthyes losse : yet at their home returne they ioyd , among'st them some were crosse . and in the mid'st of discontent , came noble delaware : he heard the greifes on either part , and sett them free from care . he comforts them and cheeres their hearts , that they abound with ioy : he feedes them full and feedes their soules , with gods word euery day . a discreet counsell he creates , of men of worthy fame : that noble gates leiftenant was the admirall had to name . the worthy sir george somers knight , and others of commaund : maister georg pearcy which is brother , vnto northumberland . sir fardinando wayneman knight and others of good fame : that noble lord , his company , which to virginia came and landed there : his number was one hundred seauenty : then ad to the rest and they make full , foure hundred able men . where they vnto their labour fall , as men that meane to thriue : let 's pray that heauen may blesse them all and keep them long aliue . those men that vagrants liu'd with vs , haue there deserued well : their gouernour writes in their praise , as diuers letters tel . and to th' aduenturers thus he writes , be not dismayd at all : for scandall cannot doe vs wrong god will not let vs fall . let england knowe our willingnesse , for that our worke is good , wee hope to plant a nation , where none before hath stood . to glorifie the lord t is done , and to no other end : he that would crosse so good a worke , to god can be no friend . there is no feare of hunger here , for corne much store here growes , much fish the gallant riuers yeild , t is truth , without suppose . great store of fowle , of venison , of grapes , and mulberries , of chesnuts , walnuts , and such like , of fruits and strawberries , there is indeed no want at all : but some condiciond ill , that wish the worke should not goe on , with words doe seeme to kill . and for an instance of their store , the noble delaware , hath for a present hither sent , to testific his care , in mannaging so good a worke , two gallant ships : by name the blessing and the hercules , well fraught , and in the same two ships , are these commodities : furres , sturgeon , cauiare , blacke-walnut-tree , and some deale-boords , with such they laden are : some pearle , some wainscot and clapbords , with some sassafras wood : and iron promist , for t is true , their mynes are very good . then maugre scandall , false report , or any opposition th' aduenturers doe thus deuulge : to men of good condition : that he that wants shall haue reliefe , be he ofhonest minde : apparell , coyne , or any thing , to such they will be kinde . to such as to virginia , do purpose to repaire : and when that they shall thither come , each man shall haue his share . day wages for the laborer , and for his more content , a house and garden plot shall haue , besides , t' is further ment that euery man shall haue a part , and not thereof denaid : of generall profit , as if that he twelue pounds ten shillings paid , and he that in virginia , shall copper coyne receiue , for hyer or commodities , and will the country leaue , vpon deliuery of such coyne , vnto the gouernour : shall by exchange at his returne , be by their treasurer paid him in london at first sight , no man shall cause to grieue : for 't is their generall will and wish that euery man should liue . the number of aduenturers , that are for this plantation : are full eight hundred worthy men , some noble , all offashion . good , discreete , their worke is good , and as they haue begun : may heauen assist them in their worke , and thus our newes is done . finis . a true and sincere declaration of the purpose and ends of the plantation begun in virginia of the degrees which it hath receiued; and meanes by which it hath beene aduanced: and the resolution and conclusion of his maiesties councel of that colony, for the constant and patient prosecution thereof, vntill by the mercies of god it shall retribute a fruitful haruest to the kingdome of heauen, and this common-wealth. sett forth by the authority of the gouernors and councellors established for that plantation. counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true and sincere declaration of the purpose and ends of the plantation begun in virginia of the degrees which it hath receiued; and meanes by which it hath beene aduanced: and the resolution and conclusion of his maiesties councel of that colony, for the constant and patient prosecution thereof, vntill by the mercies of god it shall retribute a fruitful haruest to the kingdome of heauen, and this common-wealth. sett forth by the authority of the gouernors and councellors established for that plantation. counseil for virginia (england and wales) [ ], p. printed [by george eld] for i. stepneth, and are to be sold [by w. burre] at the signe of the crane in paules churchyard, at london : . printer's name from stc; bookseller's name from stc addendum. published to offset the bad reports from virginia current after the return of the ship from jamestown in .--nuc pre- . a variant (stc a) misprints "stepney" in the imprint; this is the later. some print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- sources. -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - taryn hakala sampled and proofread - taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trve and sincere declaration of the purpose and ends of the plantation begun in virginia , of the degrees which it hath receiued ; and meanes by which it hath beene aduanced : and the resolution and conclusion of his maiesties councel of that colony , for the constant and patient prosecution thereof , vntill by the mercies of god it shall common-wealth . sett forth by the authority of the gouernors and councellors established for that plantation . a word spoken in due season , is like apples of gold , with pictures of siluer . prouer. . . feare is nothing else , but a betraying of the succors which reason offereth . wis . . . at london , printed for i. stepneth , and are to be sold at the signe of the crane in paules churchyard . . a true and sincere declaration of the purpose & ends of the plantation begun in virginia ; of the degrees which it hath receiued ; and meanes by which it hath bene aduanced : and the resolution and conclusion of his maiesties councell of that colony , for the constant and patient prosecution thereof , vntill by the mercies of god it shall retribute a fruitfull haruest to the kingdom of heauen , and to this common-wealth . it is reserved , and onely proper to diuine wisedome to fore-see and ordaine , both the endes and wayes of euery action . in humaine prudence it is all can be required , to propose religious and noble , and feasable ends ; & it can haue no absolute assurance , and infalliblenesse in the waies and meanes , which are contingent , and various , perhaps equally reasonable , subiect to vnpresent circumstances , and doubtfull euents , which euer dignifie , or beetray the councells , from whence they were deriued . and the higher the quality , and nature , and more remoued from ordinary action ( such as this is , of which we discourse ) the more perplexed and misty are the pathes there-vnto . vpon which grounds , we purpose to deliuer roundly and clearely , our endes and wayes to the hopefull plantations begun in virginia : and to examine the truth , and safety of both , to redeeme our selues and so noble an action , from the imputations and aspertions , with which ignorant rumor , virulent enuy , or impious subtilty , daily callumniateth our industries , and the successe of it : wherein we doubt not , not only to satisfie euery modest and wel-affected heart of this kingdome ; but to excite and kindle the affections of the incredulous , and lazy ; and to coole and asswage the curiosity of the iealous , and suspitious ; & to temper and conuince , the malignity of the false , and treacherous . the principall and maine ends ( out of which are easily deriued to any meane vnderstanding infinit lesse , & yet great ones ) weare first to preach , & baptize into christian religion , and by propagation of that gospell , to recouer out of the armes of the diuell , a number of poore and miserable soules , wrapt vpp vnto death , in almost inuincible ignorance ; to endeauour the fulfilling , and accomplishment of the number of the elect , which shall be gathered from out all corners of the earth ; and to add our myte to the treasury of heauen , that as we pray for the comming of the kingdome of glory , so to expresse in our actions , the same desire , if god haue pleased , to vse so weak instruments , to the ripening & consummation thereof . secondly , to prouide and build vp for the publike honour and safety of our gratious king and his estates ( by the fauor of our superiors euen in that care ) some small rampier of our owne , in this opportune and generall summer of peace , by trans-planting the rancknesse and multitude of increase in our people ; of which there is left no vent , but age ; and euident danger that the number and infinitenesse of them , will out-grow the matter , whereon to worke for their life , and sustentation , and shall one infest and become a burthen to another . but by this prouision they may bee seated as a bulwarke of defence , in a place of aduantage , against a stranger enemy , who shall in great proportion grow ritch in treasure , which was exhausted to a lowe estate ; and may well indure an increase of his people long wasted with a continuall warre , and dispersed vses and losses of them : both which cannot choose but threaten vs , if wee consider , and compare the ends , ambitions and practises , of our neighbour countries , with our owne . lastly , the apparance and assurance of priuate commodity to the particular vndertakers , by recouering and possessing to them-selues a fruitfull land , from whence they may furnish and prouide this kingdome , with all such a necessities , & defects vnder which we labour , and are now enforced to buy , and receiue at the curtesie of other princes , vnder the burthen of great customes , and heauy impositions , and at so high rates in trafique , by reason of the great waste of them from whence they are now deriued , which threatens almost an impossibilty long to recouer them , or at least such losse in exchange , as both the kingdome and merchant , will be weary of the deerenesse and perrill . these being the true , and essentiall ends of this plantation , and corresponding to our first rule , of religious , noble , and feaseable , two of which are not questioned , the third easie , and demonstrable in the second limme , when wee shall examine the causes of some disaster and distemper in the wayes vnto them : these beeing admitted of , for such as we pretend them to bee , and standing yet firme and safe in them-selues , we hope easily to iustifie the first part of our vndertaking , and presume to auerre , that in this branche there ariseth to no peaceable man , any scruple or doubt , to suspect the issue , or to with-draw his affection and assistance , or to callumniat the proiect , or our choise of it . in discussion and examination of the second part , which is the wayes , by which wee hope to arriue at these ends , and in which no humaine reason can so prouide but that many circumstances , and accidents , shall haue as great a stroake in the euent , as any councell shall haue ; wee must first briefly deliuer the course of this plantation , from the infancie thereof ; and then let vs equally consider , whether from so small a roote , it hath not had a blessed and vnexpected growth : next , wee will call before vs all the obiections , and confesse ingenuously all the errors & discouragements , which seeme to lye so heauie , as almost to presse to death this braue and hopefull action ; and releeue it , wee doubt not , from that , which with reasonable men , can at most bee but a pause , and no entire desertion , and restore it to the primarie estate , lîfe , and reputation . in the yeare . captaine newport , with three ships , discouered the bay of chessiopeock in the height of thirty seauen degrees of northerly latitude , and landed a hundred persons of sundry qualities and arts , in a riuer falling into it ; and left them vnder the gouernment of a president and councell , according to the authority deriued from , and limitted by his maiesties letters pattents . his returne gaue vs no hope of any extraordinary consequence , yet onely vpon report of the nauigablenesse of the riuer , pleasure , fertility , and scituation of the land , to our proiected ends , wee freshly and cheerefully sent in the next yeare a like number : and yet also receiuing nothing new , wee had courage and constancie to releeue them the third time , with one hundred more : at which returne experience of error in the equality of gouernors , and some out-rages , and follies committed by them , had a little shaken so tender a body ; after consultation and aduise of all the inconueniences in these three supplies , and finding them to arise out of two rootes , the forme of gouernment , and length and danger of the passage , by the southerly course of the indyes : to encounter the first , wee did resolue and obteine , to renew our letters pattents , and to procure to our selues , such ample and large priuiledges and powers , by which wee were at liberty to reforme and correct those already discouered , and to preuent such as in the future might thteaten vs ; and so , to sett and furnish out vnder the conduct of one able and absolute gouernor , a large supply of fiue hundred men , with some number of families , of wife , children , and seruants , to take fast holde and roote in that land , and this resolution was with much alacritie and confidence . and to meete the second inconuenience , wee did also prepare to sett out , one small shipp , for discouery of a shorter way , and to make tryall of the fishing within our bay , and riuer . hetherto , vntill the sending of this auisall for experience , and fleete for setling the gouernment , appeares no distaste , nor despaire ; for euery supply in some respect , was greater then other , and that in preparation greater then them all in euery respect , and must in reason hold anologie and proportion with our expectations and hopes at the dis-inboging of it . so that what-so-euer wound or palsie this noble action hath gotten , & the sicknesse vnder which it seemes to faint , must needs arise out of the successe of these two : which wee will now examine apart with all equitye and cleerenesse , and waigh , whither there bee any such reason , to desist from the prosecution thereof , in rectified iudgement ; or to fall so lowe in our resolutions , and opinions of it , as rumor and ignorance doth pretend wee doe , or haue cause to doe . for the discouerie , captaine argoll receiued our commission vnder our seale , with instruction ( to auoide all danger of quarrell with the subiects of the king of spaine ) not to touch vpon any of his dominions actually possessed , or rightly entituled vnto , and to shape his course free from the roade of pyrotts , that hang vpon all streights and skirts of lands ; and to attempt a direct and cleare passage , by leauing the canaries to the east , and from thence , to runne in a streight westerne course , or some point neere there-vnto . and so to make an experience of the windes and currents which haue affrighted all vnder-takers by the north. by which discouery , there would growe to vs much securitie , and ease , and all occasion of offence remooued , and wee should husband and saue a moyetie of the charge in victuall and freight , which was expended , and lost in the south erne passage . to these endes hee sett sayle from portsmouth the fift day of may ; and shaping his course south-south-west to the height of thirty degrees , leauing the canaries a hundred leagues to the east , hee found the windes large , and so tooke his course direct west , & did neuer turne nearer the south : & beeing in the longitude of the barmudos hee found the winde a little scant vppon him , yet so , that on the thirteenth of iuly he recouered our harbor : and in tryall found no currant , nor any thing else which should deter vs from this way . hee made his iourney in nine weekes , and of that , was becalmed fourteene dayes : whervpon hee hath diuers times since his returne publikely auowed , and vndertaken to make this passage within seauen weekes : and that the windes in all this course , are as variable , as at other places , and no apparant inconuenience in the way . so that the maine end of this aduise hath succeeded almost beyond our hopes ; the second for fishing , proued so plentifull , especially of sturgion , of which sort hee could haue loaded many ships , if he had had , some man of skill to pickell and prepare it for keeping , whereof he brought sufficient testimony both of the flesh and caueary , that no discreet man will question the truth of it , so it appeares cleerely that from hence there can bee deriued no cause to susspect or desist from our first endes , but so contrary , that in this proiect both our purposes and waies were happy and successefull euen to our desires . but from this ship ariseth a rumor of the necessity and distresse our people were found in , for want of victuall : of which , though the noise haue exceeded the truth , yet we doe confesse a great part of it ; but can lay aside the cause and fault from the dessigne , truely and home vpon the misgouernment of the commāders , by dissention and ambition among themselues , and vpon the idlenesse and bestiall slouth , of the common sort , who were actiue in nothing but adhearing to factions and parts , euen to their owne ruine , like men almost desperate of all supply , so conscious , and guilty they were to them-selues of their owne demerit , and lasinesse . but so soone as captaine argoll arriued among them , whose presence and example gaue new assurance of our cares , and new life to their indeauours , by fishing onely in few daies , they were all recouered , growne hearty , able , and ready to vndertake euery action : so that if it bee considered that without industry no land is sufficient to the inhabitants : and that the trade to which they trusted , betrayed them to loose the opportunity of seed-time , and so to rust and weare out them-selues : for the naturals withdrew from all commerce and trafficke with them , cunningly making a war vpon them , which they felt not , who durst no other-way appeare an enemye : and they beeing at diuision among themselues , and without warrant from hence , could not resolue to inforce that , which might haue preserued them , and which in such a necessity is most lawfull to doe , euery thing returning from ciuill propryety to naturall , and primary community : lastly if it bee remembred , that this extremitie in which they were now relieued , ( which is as happy in the presage of gods future blessing as in his present prouidence and mercy ) was but an effect of that , we did fore-see in the first gouernment , and for which the forme was chaunged , and the new in proiect , and therfore cannot bee obiected as any iust exception to the successe of this , but a consequent considered , and digested in the former : it is then i say euident , that in al the progresse of this discouery , or any thing accidentall to it , there cannot bee rack'd nor pressed out any confession , either of error in the ends , or miscarriadges in the waies vnto them . to the establishment of a gouernment , such as should meete with all the reuealed inconueniences ; wee gaue our commission to an able & worthy gentleman , sr. thomas gates , whome we did nominat and appoint sole and absolute gouernor of that colony , vnder diuers limitations , & instructions expressed in writing : and with him wee sent sir george summers admirall , and captaine newport vice-admirall of virginia , and diuers other persons of rancke and quality , in seauen shippes , and two pinnaces , with seuerall commissions sealed , successiuely to take place one after another , considering the mortality , and vncertainty of humaine life , and these to be deuided into seuerall ships . our fleete weighed anchor from falmouth the eight of iune , the winde beeing fayre , they shaped a course for the height of the canaries ; within few dayes sayle , the gouernor calling a councel of al the captaines , maisters and pilots , it was resolued , they should runne southerly vnto the tropicque , and from thence beare away west : ( which error will take vpp all the obiections of sicknesse , the sun being then in it , was the cause of all the infection , and disease of our men ) at this consultation , was deliuered an instruction vnder seale , to euery maister , with a prouision what course should bee taken , if the fleete were seperated ; which was that if the windes scanted , or were contrary , or that any lost sight of the admirall , they should steere away for the west indies , and make the baruada an iland to the north of dominico , and there to haue their rendevous , and to stay seauen daies one for another . in this height and resolution , short of the west-indies . leagues , on s. iames day a terrible tempest ouer-took them , and lasted in extremity . houres , which scattered the whole fleete , and wherein some of them spent their masts , and others were much distressed : within three daies foure of the fleete mette in consort , and hearing no newes of their admirall , and the windes returning large for virginia , and they wearied and beaten , it was resolued among them , to beare right away for our bay , and to decline their commission , which within fewe dayes they made , and arriued in the kings riuer , on the eleuenth of august : in this passage , foureteene degrees to the south-ward of virginia , ran no current with them , which should hinder or make difficult that in proposition by the north-west . within sixe dayes after came in one , and within fiue , another of our fleete , the maisters of both hauing fallen vpon the same councell , by the opportunity of the winde , not to seeke the baruada , but to steere away for our harbor , which doubtlesse the admirall him-selfe did not obserue , but obeyed his owne directions , and is the true or probable cause of his beeing cast so farre into suspition ; where perhapps bound in with winde , perhaps enforced to stay the masting or mending of some what in his ship , torne or lost in this tempest , wee doubt not , but by the mercy of god hee is safe , with the pinnace which attended him , and shall both , or are by this time arriued at our colony . not long after these , another of our small pinnaces , yet also vnaccounted for , recouered the riuer alone ; and now seauen of our fleete beeing in , they landed in health neere foure hundred persons ; who beeing put a shore without their gouernor , or any order from him , ( all the commissioners and principall persons beeing aboord him , ) no man would acknowledge a superior : nor could from this headlesse and vnbrideled multitude , bee any thing expected , but disorder and ryott , nor any councell preuent , or fore-see , the successe of these wayes . now if wee compare the disasters of this supply , with the maine ends , it will appeare they haue weakened none of them , but that they still remaine safe and feasable , for any thing ariseth in obiection out of them . for that these accidents and contingencies , were euer to bee expected , and a resolution was to bee put on at first , armed against the probability of them . who can auoid the hand of god , or dispute with him ? is hee fitt to vnder-take any great action , whose courage is shaken and dissolued with one storme ? who knows , whither he that disposed of our hearts to so good beginnings , bee now pleased to trye our constancie and perseuerance , and to discerne betweene the ends of our desires , whither pyety or couetousnesse carryed vs swifter ? for if the first were the principall scope , hence ariseth nothing to infirme or make that impossible : but as it falleth out in businesse of greatest consequence , sometime the noblest ends , vpon which wee are most intense , are furthest remooued from the first stepps made vnto them , and must by lesser and meaner bee approched ; so plantation of religion beeing the maine and cheefe purpose , admitts many things of lesse and secondary consequence of necessity to bee done before it : for an error or miscarriage in one of which , to desist or staggar , were to betray our principall end cowardly and faintly , and to drawe vpon our selues iust scorne and reprehension . whither we shall discourse out of reason , or example ; that euery action hath proportionall difficulties , to the greatnesse thereof , such as must necessarily bee admitted from the first conception , and such as euen in the passage , dignifie both the actors and the worke , if with prudence they fore-see all the hazards , and with patence and constancie , meete and encounter them . it must eyther bee confessed , that it was folly from the origen and first stepp , not to haue beene prepar'd for such as these ; or that it is none now , not to quitt it , for them , but the greatest of all to say , who would haue expected this ? if wee cast our eye vpon the spanish conquest of the indyes , how aboundant their stories are of fleets , battailes , & armies lost : eighteene vpon the attempt of guiana , and more then seuentie in both the indies , and yet with how indefatigable industrye , and prosperous fate , they haue pursued and vanquished all these , their many armies maintained in europe , can witnesse , with too lamentable an experience . if wee compare the beginnings , they were meaner then ours , and subiect to all the same , and much more vncertainty , if the religion , which shall crowne the successe , it admitts no controuersie nor comparison , among those , to whome we write : if the commodities , they , which wee haue in assurance and knowledge , are of more necessity , and those in hope equally rich and aboundant . but to come home to our purpose : that which seemes to disharten or shake our first grounds in this suppyle ; ariseth from two principall sources , of which , one was cause of the other ; first , the tempest : and can any man expect an answer for that ? next , the absence of the gouernour , an effect of the former , for the losse of him is in suspence , and much reason of his safetye against some doubt ; and the hand of god reacheth all the earth . now if these two onely bee the maine crosses , which staggar the feasablenesse , consider that of three voyadges before , no man miscaried in the way , and that all other depend on these , as the misgouernment of our men , their idlenesse , their want , and the empty returne of out fleet , wherein if wee recouer and correct the cause , we vanquish al things consequent vnto it , and yet in apparance , if with these wee compare the aduantages which we haue gotten , in the shortnesse and security of the passadge , in the intelligence of some of our nation planted by sir water raleigh ( yet a liue ) within fifty mile of our fort , who can open the wombe and bowells of this country : as is testefied by two of our colony sent out to seeke them , who , ( though denied by the slauages speech with them ) found crosses , & leters , the characters & assured testimonies of christians newly cut in the barkes of trees : if wee consider the assurednesse of the commodities , wines , pitch , sope-ashes , timber for al vses , iron , steele , copper dyes , cordage , silke-grasse , pearle , which , ( though discoulered and softned by fire , for want of skill in the naturalls to peirce them ) was found in great aboundance in the house of their sepultures . if wee consider i say , and compare these certainties and truthes , as lesse endes to strengthen , and produce our first and principall , with those casuall and accidentall misaduentures and errors , which haue befalne vs , before euery equall and resolued heart , they will vanish and become smoake and ayre , and not only keep vpright , but raise our spirits and affections , and reconcile our reasons to our desires . if any obiect the difficulty of keeping that wee shall possesse ; if this discourse could admit a disputation of it , it should easilye appeare , that our confidence against any enemy , is built vppon solid and substantiall reason : and to giue some taste thereof ; our enemies must bee eyther the natiues , or strangers ; against the first the war would be as easie as the argument . for the second ; a few men may dispute the possession of any place wherin they are fortified , where the enemy is so much a stranger , as that hee must discouer and fight at once : vpon al dis-aduantages of streights , foords , and woods ; and where hee can neuer march with horse , nor with ordinance without them ; nor can abide to stay many months , when all his releefe must bee had from his shipps , which cannot long supply a number competent to besiege : neither is it possible to blocke vs vp , by planting betweene vs and the sea , the riuers beeinge so broad , and so many out-lets from them into the bay. besides the protection and priuiledge of subiects to so potent a king , whome any wise estate wil be wary to affront or prouoke . wee doubt not , but by examination of what is said , our first ends are yet safe , and the waies vnto them in no sort so difficult , as should more affright and deter vs now , then at the first meditation of them . but if these bee not sufficient to satissie , and encourage , euery honest affection we will not so desist , but vrge the necessity of a present supply , to redeeme the defects , and misaduentures of the last : that seeing all the dangers and sicknesses haue sprung from want of effecting our purpose of sending an able gouernor : wee haue concluded and resolued to set forth the right honor : the lord de la warr by the last of ianuary , and to giue him all the liberties and priuiledges , which wee haue power to deriue vpon him , and to furnish him with all necessaries fit for his quality , person , and the businesse which he shall vndergoe , and so by gods grace to persist vntill we haue made perfect our good and happy beginnings . if these shall not yet suffice to resolution , that a baron and peere of this kingdom ( whose honour nor fortune needs not any desperate medecine ) one of so approued courage , temper , and experience , shall expose him-selfe for the common-good to al these hazards and paines which we feare and safely talke off , that sitt idle at home ; & beare a great part vpon his owne charge , and reuiue and quicken the whole by his example , constancy , and resolution ? if you haue no implicite faith nor trust in vs , that gouerne this businesse ; to whom there must be some aduantage granted in our practise , and intelligence ( especially in this ) aboue ordinary persons ; that we haue no will nor intent , to betray our poore country-men , nor to burthen our owne consciences , nor to draw so iust scorne , and reproach vppon our reputations ? if our knowledge and constant perswasion , of the fruitfulnesse and wholesomnesse of this land , and of the recompence it shall in time bring to this kingdome , and to euery particular member of this plantation , be of no authority ? if this seem not to you some argument , that euery man returned is desirous to go backe to that which they account and call their owne home : and doe vppon their liues iustifie , which else they wilfully betray ; that if the gouernment be settled , and a supply of victuall for one yeare sent , so that they may haue a seed and haruest before them , they will neuer neede nor expect to charge vs with more expence , for any thing of necessity to mans life ; but they will haue leasure and power , to retribute with infinite aduantage all the cost bestowed vpon them : if all these bee yet too weake to confirme the doubtfull , or awake the drousie , then let vs come nearer , and arise , from their reasons and affections to their soules , and consciences : remember that what was at first but of conueniency , and for honor , is now become a case of necessity , and piety : let them consider , that they haue promised to aduenture and not performd it , that they haue encouraged & exposed many of honorable birth , and which is of more consequence . of our bretheren by our common mother the church , christians of one faith , and one baptisme to a miserable and vn-euitable death , let not any man flatter himselfe , that it concernes not him : for hee that forsakes another , whome he may safely releeue , is as guilty of his death as he that can swimme , and forsakes himselfe by refusing , is of his owne . let euery man looke inward , and disperse that clowd of auarice , which darkeneth his spirituall sight , and hee will finde there , that when hee shall appeare before the tribunall of heauen , it shall be questioned him what hee hath done ? hath hee fed and cloth'd the hungry and naked ? it shall be required , what hee hath done for the aduancement of that gospell which hath saued him ; and for the releefe of his makers image , whome hee was bound to saue : o let there bee a vertuous emulation betweene vs and the church of rome , in her owne glory , and treasury of good workes ! and let vs turne all our contentions vpon the common enemy of the name of christ . how farre hath shee sent out her apostles and thorough how glorious dangers ? how is it become a marke of honor to her faith , to haue conuerted nations , and an obloquie cast vppon vs , that wee hauing the better vine , should haue worse dressers and husbanders of it ? if piety , honour , easinesse , profit , nor conscience , cannot prouoake , and excite ( for to all these wee haue applyed our discourse . ) then let vs turne from hearts of stone and iron , and pray vnto that mercifull and tender god , who is both easie & glad to be intreated , that it would please him to blesse and water these feeble beginnings , and that as he is wonderfull in all his workes , so to nourish this graine of seed , that it may spread till all people of the earth admire the greatnesse , and seeke the shades and fruite thereof : that by so faint and weake indeuors his great councels may bee brought forth , and his secret purposes to light , to our endlesse comforts and the infinite glorye of his sacred name . amen . to render a more particular satisfaction and account of our care , in prouiding to attend the right honourable the lord de la war , in this concluded and present supply , men of most vse and necessity , to the foundation of a common-wealth ; and to auoyde both the scandall and perill , of accepting idle and wicked persons ; such as shame , or feare compels into this action ; and such as are the weedes and rancknesse of this land ; who beeing the surfet , of an able , healthy , and composed body ; must needes bee the poyson of one so tender , feeble , and yet vnformed : and to divulge and declare to all men , what kinde of persons , as well for their religion and conuersations , as faculties , arts , and trades , we purpose to accept of : wee haue thought it conuenient to pronounce that for the first prouision , wee will receiue no man , that cannot bring or render some good testimony of his religion to god , and ciuill manners and behauiour to his neighbour , with whom he hath liued ; and for the second , wee haue set downe in a table annexed , the proportion , and number wee will entertaine in euery necessary arte , vpon proofe and assurance , that euery man shall bee able to performe that which hee doth vndertake , whereby such as are requisite to vs , may haue knowledge and preparation , to offer themselues , and wee shall bee ready to giue honest entertainment and content , and to recompence with extraordinary reward , euery sit and industrious person , respectiuely to his paines and quality . the table of such as are required to this plantation . foure honest and learned ministers . . surgeons . . druggists . . iron men for the furnace and hammer . . armorers . . gun-founders . . black-smiths . . sawyers . . carpenters . . ship-wrights . . gardeners . . turners . . brick-makers . . tile-makers . . fisher-men . . fowlers . . sturgion dressers , and preseruers of the caneary . . salt-makers . . coopers . . coller-makers for draught . . plow-wrights . . rope-makers . . vine dressers . . presse makers . . ioyners . . sope-ashe makers . . pitch boylers . . minerall men . . planters of sugar cane . . silke dressers . . pearle drillers . . bakers . . brewers . . colliers . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e a copper , iron . steele , timber for shipps , yards , masts . cordage , sope-ashes . he that went for that purpose dyed in the way . with euery werowan or king , is buried al his wealth , for they beleeue that hee that dieth ritchest liueth in another world hapiest . as a doore turneth vpon his hinges , so doth the sluggard vpon his bed . prou . . a briefe and true relation of the discouerie of the north part of virginia being a most pleasant, fruitfull and commodious soile: made this present yeere , by captaine bartholomew gosnold, captaine bartholowmew [sic] gilbert, and diuers other gentlemen their associats, by the permission of the honourable knight, sir walter ralegh, &c. written by m. iohn brereton one of the voyage. whereunto is annexed a treatise, of m. edward hayes, conteining important inducements for the planting in those parts, and finding a passage that way to the south sea, and china. brereton, john, -ca. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a briefe and true relation of the discouerie of the north part of virginia being a most pleasant, fruitfull and commodious soile: made this present yeere , by captaine bartholomew gosnold, captaine bartholowmew [sic] gilbert, and diuers other gentlemen their associats, by the permission of the honourable knight, sir walter ralegh, &c. written by m. iohn brereton one of the voyage. whereunto is annexed a treatise, of m. edward hayes, conteining important inducements for the planting in those parts, and finding a passage that way to the south sea, and china. brereton, john, -ca. . hayes, edward, fl. . with diuers instructions of speciall moment newly added in this second impression. p. [printed at eliot's court press] impensis geor. bishop, londini : . identification of printer from stc. reproduction of the original in: university of michigan. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng gosnold, bartholomew, d. . gilbert, bartholomew. virginia -- description and travel -- early works to . america -- discovery and exploration -- english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - aptara rekeyed and resubmitted - pip willcox sampled and proofread - pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a briefe and true relation of the discouerie of the north part of virginia ; being a most pleasant , fruitfull and commodious soile : made this present yeere , by captaine bartholomew gosnold , captaine bartholowmew gilbert , and diuers other gentlemen their associats , by the permission of the honourable knight , sir walter ralegh , &c. written by m. iohn brereton one of the voyage . whereunto is annexed a treatise , of m. edward hayes , conteining important inducements for the planting in those parts , and finding a passage that way to the south sea , and china . with diuers instructions of speciall moment newly added in this second impression . londini , impensis geor. bishop . . to the honourable , sir walter ralegh , knight , captaine of her maiesties guards , lord warden of the stanneries , lieutenant of cornwall , and gouernour of the isle of iersey . honourable sir , being earnestly requested by a déere friend , to put downe in writing , some true relation of our late performed voyage to the north parts of virginia ; at length i resolued to satisfie his request , who also emboldened me to direct the same to your honourable consideration ; to whom indéed of duetie it perteineth . may it please your lordship therefore to vnderstand , that vpon the sixe and twentieth of march , being friday , we went from falmouth , being in all , two & thirtie persons , in a small barke of dartmouth , called the concord , holding a course for the north part of virginia : and although by chance the winde fauoured vs not at first as we wished , but inforced vs so farre to the southward , as we fell with s. marie , one of the islands of the açores ( which was not much out of our way ) but holding our course directly from thence , we made our iourney shorter ( than hitherto accustomed ) by the better part of a thousand leagues , yet were wée longer in our passage than we expected ; which happened , for that our barke being weake , we were loth to presse her with much saile ; also , our sailers being few , and they none of the best , we bare ( except in faire weather ) but low saile ; besides , our going vpon an vnknowen coast , made vs not ouer-bolde to stand in with the shore , but in open weather ; which caused vs to be certeine daies in sounding , before we discouered the coast , the weather being by chance , somewhat foggie . but on friday the fourtéenth of may , early in the morning , wée made the land , being full of faire trées , the land somewhat low , certeine hummocks or hilles lying into the land , the shore full of white sand , but very stony or rocky . and standing faire alongst by the shore , about twelue of the clocke the same day , we came to an anker , where eight indians , in a baskeshallop with mast and saile , an iron grapple , and a kettle of copper , came boldly aboord vs , one of them apparelled with a wastcoat and breeches of blacke serdge , made after our sea-fashion , hose and shoes on his féet ; all the rest ( sauing one that had a paire of breeches of blue cloth ) were naked . these people are of tall stature , broad and grim visage , of a blacke swart complexion , their eie-browes painted white ; their weapons are bowes and arrowes . it seemed by some words and signes they made , that some basks or of s , iohn de luz , haue fished or traded in this place , being in the latitude of . degrées . but riding heere , in no very good harbour , and withall , doubting the weather , about thrée of the clocke the same day in the afternoone we weighed , & standing southerly off into sea the rest of that day and the night following , with a fresh gale of winde , in the morning we found our selues embaied with a mightie headland ; but comming to an anker about nine of the clocke the same day , within a league of the shore , we hoised out the one halfe of our shallop , and captaine bartholmew gosnold , my selfe , and thrée others , went ashore , being a white sandie and very bolde shore ; and marching all that afternoone with our muskets on our necks , on the highest hilles which we saw ( the weather very hot ) at length we perceiued this headland to be parcell of the maine , and sundrie islands lying almost round about it : so returning ( towards euening ) to our shallop ( for by that time , the other part was brought ashore and set together ) we espied an indian , a yoong man , of proper stature , and of a pleasing countenance ; and after some familiaritie with him , we left him at the sea side , and returned to our ship ; where , in fiue or sixe houres absence , we had pestered our ship so with cod fish , that we threw numbers of them ouer-boord againe : and surely , i am persuaded that in the moneths of march , april , and may , there is vpon this coast , better fishing , and in as great plentie , as in newfound-land : for the sculles of mackerell , herrings , cod , and other fish , that we daily saw as we went and came from the shore , were woonderfull ; and besides , the places where we tooke these cods ( and might in a few daies haue laden our ship ) were but in seuen fadome water , and within lesse than a league of the shore : where , in newfound-land they fish in fortie or fiftie fadome water , and farre off . from this place , we sailed round about this headland , almost all the points of the compasse , the shore very bolde : but as no coast is frée from dangers , so i am persuaded , this is as frée as any . the land somwhat lowe , full of goodly woods , but in some places plaine . at length we were come amongst many faire islands , which we had partly discerned at our first landing ; all lying within a league or two one of another , and the outermost not aboue sixe or seuen leagues from the maine : but cōming to an anker vnder one of them , which was about thrée or foure leagues from the maine , captaine gosnold , my selfe , and some others , went ashore , and going round about it , we found it to be foure english miles in compasse , without house or inhabitant , sauing a little old house made of boughes , couered with barke , an olde piece of a weare of the indians , to catch fish , and one or two places , where they had made fires . the chiefest trées of this island , are béeches and cedars ; the outward parts all ouergrowen with lowe bushie trées , thrée or foure foot in height , which beare some kinde of fruits , as appeared by their blossomes ; strawberries , red and white , as sweet and much bigger than ours in england : rasberies , gooseberies , hurtleberies , and such an incredible store of uines , aswell in the wooddie part of the island , where they run vpon euery trée , as on the outward parts , that we could not goe for treading vpon them : also , many springs of excellent swéet water , and a great standing lake of fresh water , néere the sea side , an english mile in compasse , which is mainteined with the springs running excéeding pleasantly thorow the wooddie grounds which are very rockie . here are also in this island , great store of déere , which we saw , and other beasts , as appeared by their tracks ; as also diuers fowles , as cranes , hernshawes , bitters , géese , mallards , teales and other fowles , in great plenty ; also , great store of pease , which grow in certeine plots all the island ouer . on the north side of this island we found many huge bones and ribbes of whales . this island , as also all the rest of these islands , are full of all sorts of stones fit for building ; the sea sides all couered with stones , many of them glistring and shining like minerall stones , and verie rockie : also , the rest of these islands are replenished with these commodities , and vpon some of them , inhabitants ; as vpon as island to the northward , and within two leagues of this ; yet wée found no townes , nor many of their houses , although we saw manie indians , which are tall big boned men , all naked , sauing they couer their priuy parts with a blacke tewed skin , much like a black smiths apron , tied about their middle and betwéene their legs behinde : they gaue vs of their fish readie boiled , ( which they carried in a basket made of twigges , not vnlike our osier ) whereof we did eat , and iudged them to be fresh water fish : they gaue vs also of their tabacco , which they drinke gréene , but dried into powder , very strong and pleasant , and much better than any i haue tasted in england : the necks of their pipes are made of clay hard dried , ( whereof in that island is great store both red and white ) the other part is a piece of hollow copper , very finely closed and semented together . wée gaue vnto them certeine trifles , as kniues , points , and such like , which they much estéemed . from hence we went to another island , to the northwest of this , and within a league or two of the maine , which we found to bee greater than before we imagined , being . english miles at the least in compasse ; for it conteineth many pieces or necks of land , which differ nothing frō seuerall islands , sauing that certeine banks of small bredth , do like bridges , ioine them to this island . on the outsides of this island are many plaine places of grasse , abundance of strawberies & other berries before mentioned . in mid may we did sowe in this island ( for a triall ) in sundry places , wheat , barley , oats , and pease , which in fourtéene daies were sprung vp nine inches and more . the soile is fat and lustie , the vpper crust of gray colour ; but a foot or lesse in depth , of the colour of our hempe-lands in england ; and being thus apt for these and the like graines ; the sowing or setting ( after the ground is clensed ) is no greater labour , than if you should set or sow in one of our best prepared gardens in england . this island is full of high timbred oakes , their leaues thrise so broad as ours ; ceders , straight and tall ; béech , elme , hollie , walnut trees in aboundance , the fruit as bigge as ours , as appeared by those we found vnder the trees , which had lien all the yéere vngathered ; haslenut trées , cherry trées , the leafe , barke and bignesse not differing from ours in england , but the stalke beareth the blossoms or fruit at the end thereof , like a cluster of grapes , forty or fifty in a bunch ; sassafras trées great plentie all the island ouer , a trée of high price and profit ; also diuers other fruit trées , some of them with strange barkes , of an orange colour , in feeling soft and smoothe like ueluet : in the thickest parts of these woods , you may sée a furlong or more round about . on the northwest side of this island , néere to the sea side , is a standing lake of fresh water , almost thrée english miles in compasse , in the middest whereof stands a plot of woody ground , an acre in quantitie or not aboue : this lake is full of small tortoises , and excéedingly frequented with all sorts of fowles before rehearsed , which breed , some low on the banks , and others on low trees about this lake in great aboundance , whose yong ones of all sorts we tooke and eat at our pleasure : but all these fowles are much bigger than ours in england . also , in euery island , and almost in euery part of euery island , are great store of ground nuts , fortie together on a string , some of them as bigge as hennes egges ; they grow not two inches vnder ground : the which nuts we found to be as good as potatoes . also , diuers sorts of shell-fish , as scalops , muscles , cockles , lobsters , crabs , oisters , and wilks , exéeding good and very great . but not to cloy you with particular rehearsall of such things as god & nature hath bestowed on these places , in comparison whereof , the most fertil part of al england is ( of it selfe ) but barren ; we went in our light-horsman from this island to the maine , right against this island some two leagues off , where comming ashore , we stood a while like men rauished at the beautie and delicacie of this swéet soile ; for besides diuers cléere lakes of fresh water ( whereof we saw no end ) modowes very large and full of gréene grasse ; euen the most woody places ( i speake onely of such as i saw ) doe grow so distinct and apart , one trée from another , vpon gréene grassie ground , somewhat higher than the plaines , as if nature would shew her selfe aboue her power , artificiall . hard by , we espied seuen indians , and cumming vp to them , at first they expressed some feare ; but being emboldned by our curteous vsage , and some trifles which we gaue them , they followed vs to a necke of land , which we imagined had beene seuered from the maine ; but finding it otherwise , we perceiued a broad harbour or riuers mouth , which ranne vp into the maine : and because the day was farre spent , we were forced to returne to the island from whence we came , leauing the discouery of this harbour , for a time of better leasure . of the goodnesse of which harbour , as also of many others thereabouts , there is small doubt , considering that all the islands , as also the maine ( where we were ) is all rockie grounds and broken lands . now the next day , we determined to fortifie our selues in a little plot of ground in the midst of the lake aboue mentioned , where we built an house , and couered it with sedge , which grew about this lake in great aboundance ; in building whereof , we spent thrée wéeks and more : but the second day after our comming from the maine , we espied canowes or boats , with fiftie indians in them , comming toward vs from this part of the maine , where we , two daies before landed ; and being loth they should discouer our fortification , we went out on the sea side to méete them ; and comming somewhat néere them , they all sat downe vpon the stones , calling aloud to vs ( as we rightly ghessed ) to doe the like , a little distance from them : hauing sat a while in this order , captaine gosnold willed me to goe vnto them , to sée what countenance they would make ; but as soone as i came vp vnto them , one of them , to whom i had giuen a knife two daies before in the maine , knew me , ( whom i also very wel remembred ) and smiling vpon me , spake somewhat vnto their lord or captaine , which sat in the midst of them , who presently rose vp and tooke a large beauer skin from one that stood about him , and gaue it vnto me , which i requited for that time the best i could : but i , pointing towards captaine gosnold , made signes vnto him , that he was our captaine , and desirous to be his friend , and enter league with him , which ( as i perceiued ) he vnderstood , and made signes of ioy : whereuppon captaine gosnold with the rest of his companie , being twenty in all , came vp vnto them ; and after many signes of gratulations ( captaine gosnold presenting their lord with certaine trifles which they wondred at , and highly estéemed ) we became very great friends , and sent for meat aboord our shallop , and gaue them such meats as we had then readie dressed , whereof they misliked nothing but our mustard , whereat they made many a sowre face . while we were thus mery , one of them had conueied a target of ours into one of their canowes , which we suffered , onely to trie whether they were in subiection to this lord to whom we made signes ( by shewing him another of the same likenesse , and pointing to the canow ) what one of his companie had done : who suddenly expressed some feare , and speaking angerly to one about him ( as we perceiued by his countenance ) caused it presently to be brought backe againe . so the rest of the day we spent in trading with them for furres , which are beauers , luzernes , marterns , otters , wild-cat skinnes , very large and déepe furre , blacke foxes , conie skinnes , of the colour of our hares , but somewhat lesse , déere skinnes , very large , seale skinnes , and other beasts skinnes , to vs vnknowen . they haue also great store of copper , some very redde ; and some of a paler colour ; none of them but haue chaines , earings or collars of this mettall : they head some of their arrows herewith much like our broad arrow heads , very workmanly made . their chaines are many hollow pieces semented together , ech piece of the bignesse of one of our réeds , a finger in length , ten or twelue of them together on a string , which they weare about their necks : their collars they weare about their bodies like bandelieres a handfull broad , all hollow pieces , like the other , but somewhat shorter , four hundred pieces in a collar , very fine and euenly set together . besides these , they haue large drinking cups made like sculles , and other thinne plates of copper , made much like our boare-speare blades , all which they so little estéeme , as they offered their fairest collars or chaines , for a knife or such like trifle , but we séemed little to regard it ; yet i was desirous to vnderstand where they had such store of this mettall , and made signes to one of them ( with whom i was very familiar ) who taking a piece of copper in his hand , made a hole with his finger in the ground , and withall pointed to the maine from whence they came . they strike fire in this manner ; euery one carrieth about him in a purse of tewd leather , a minerall stone ( which i take to be their copper ) and with a flat emerie stone ( wherewith glasiers cut glasse , and cutlers glase blades ) tied fast to the end of a little sticke , gently he striketh vpon the minerall stone , and within a stroke or two , a sparke falleth vpon a piece of touchwood ( much like our spunge in england ) and with the least sparke he maketh a fire presently . we had also of their flaxe , wherewith they make many strings and cords , but it is not so bright of colour as ours in england : i am perswaded they haue great store growing vpon the maine , as also mines and many other rich commodities , which we , wanting both time and meanes , could not possibly discouer . thus they continued with vs thrée daies , euery night retiring them selues to the furthermost part of our island two or three miles from our fort : but the fourth day they returned to the maine , pointing fiue or six times to the sun , and once to the maine , which we vnderstood , that within fiue or six daies they would come from the maine to vs againe : but being in their canowes a little from the shore , they made huge cries & shouts of ioy vnto vs ; and we with our trumpet and cornet , and casting vp our cappes into the aire , made them the best farewell we could : yet six or seuen of them remained with vs behinde , bearing vs company euery day into the woods , and helpt vs to cut and carie our sassafras , and some of them lay aboord our ship . these people , as they are excéeding courteous , gentle of disposition , and well conditioned , excelling all others that we haue séene ; so for shape of bodie and louely fauour , i thinke they excell all the people of america ; of stature much higher than we ; of complexion or colour , much like a darke oliue ; their eie-browes and haire blacke , which they weare long , tied vp behinde in knots , whereon they pricke feathers of fowles , in fashion of a crownet : some of them are blacke thin bearded ; they make beards of the haire of beasts : and one of them offered a beard of their making to one of our sailers , for his that grew on his face , which because it was of a red colour , they iudged to be none of his owne . they are quicke eied , and stedfast in their looks , fearelesse of others harmes , as intending none themselues ; some of the meaner sort giuen to filching , which the very name of saluages ( not weighing their ignorance in good or euill ) may easily excuse : their garments are of déere skins , and some of them weare furres round and close about their necks . they pronounce our language with great facilitie ; for one of them one day sitting by mee , vpon occasion i spake smiling to him these words : how now ( sirrha ) are you so saucie with my tabacco ? which words ( without any further repetition ) he suddenly spake so plaine and distinctly , as if he had béene a long scholar in the language . many other such trials we had , which are héere néedlesse to repeat . their women ( such as we saw ) which were but thrée in all , were but lowe of stature , their eie-browes , haire , apparell , and maner of wearing , like to the men , fat , and very well fauoured , and much delighted in our company ; the men are very dutifull towards them . and truely , the holsomnesse and temperature of this climat , doth not onely argue this people to be answerable to this description , but also of a perfect constitution of body , actiue , strong , healthfull , and very wittie , as the sundry toies of theirs cunningly wrought , may easily witnes . for the agréeing of this climat with vs ( i speake of my selfe , & so i may iustly do for the rest of our company ) that we found our health & strength all the while we remained there , so to renew and increase , as notwithstanding our diet and lodging was none of the best , yet not one of our company ( god be thanked ) felt the least grudging or inclination to any disease or sicknesse , but were much fatter and in better health than when we went out of england . but after our barke had taken in so much sassafras , cedar , furres , skinnes , and other commodities , as were thought conuenient ; some of our company that had promised captaine gosnold to stay , hauing nothing but a sauing voyage in their minds , made our company of inhabitants ( which was small enough before ) much smaller ; so as captaine gosnold séeing his whole strength to consist but of twelue men , and they but meanly prouided , determined to returne for england , leauing this island ( which he called elizabeths island ) which as many true sorrowfull eies , as were before desirous to sée it . so the . of iune , being friday , we weighed , and with indifferent faire winde and weather came to anker the of iuly , being also friday ( in all , bare fiue wéeks ) before exmouth . your lordships to command , ihon brereton . a briefe note of such commodities as we saw in the countrey , notwithstanding our small time of stay . trees . sassafras trees , the roots wherof at . s. the pound are . l. the tunne . cedars tall and straight , in great abundance . cypres trees . oakes . walnut trees great store . elmes . beech. hollie . haslenut trees . cherry trees . cotten trees . other fruit trees to vs vnknowen . the finder of our sassafras in these parts , was one master robert meriton . fowles . eagles . hernshawes . cranes . bitters . mallards . teales . geese . pengwins . ospreis and hawks . crowes . rauens . mewes . doues . sea-pies . blacke-birds with carnation wings . beasts . deere in great store , very great and large . beares . luzernes . blacke foxes . beauers . otters . wilde-cats , verie large and great . dogs like foxes , blacke and sharpe nosed . conies . fruits , plants , and herbs . tabacco , excellent sweet and strong . vines in more plenty than in france . ground-nuts , good meat , & also medicinable . strawberries . raspeberries . gooseberries . hurtleberries . pease growing naturally . flaxe . iris florentina , whereof apothecaries make sweet balles . sorrell , and many other herbs wherewith they made sallets . fishes . vvhales . tortoises , both on land and sea . seales . cods . mackerell . breames . herrings . thornbacke . hakes . rockefish . doggefish . lobstars . crabbes . muscles . wilks . cockles . scallops . oisters . snakes foure foot in length , and sixe inches about , which the indians eat for daintie meat , the skinnes whereof they vse for girdles . colours to die with , red , white , and blacke . mettals and stones . copper in great abundance . emerie stones for glasiers & cutlers . alabaster very white . stones glistering and shining like minerall stones . stones of a blue mettalline colour , which we take to be steele oare . stones of all sorts for buildings . clay , red & white , which may proue good terra sigillata . a briefe note of the sending another barke this present yeere . by the honorable knight , sir walte ralegh , for the searching out of his colonie in virginia . samuel mace of weimouth , a very sufficent mariner , an honest sober man , who had béene at virginia twise before , was imploied thither by sir walter ralegh , to finde those people which were left there in the yeere . to whose succour he hath sent fiue seuerall times at his owne charges . the parties by him set foorth , performed nothing ; some of them following their owne profit elsewhere ; others returning with friuolous allegations . at this last time , to auoid all excuse , he bought a barke , and hired all the company for wages by the moneth : who departing from weimouth in march last , fell fortie leagues to the southwestward of hatarask , in thirtie foure degrées or thereabout ; and hauing there spent a moneth ; when they came along the coast to séeke the people , they did it not , pretending that the extremitie of weather and losse of some principall ground-tackle , forced and feared them from searching the port of hatarask , to which they were sent . from that place where they abode , they brought sassafras , radix chinae or the china root , beniamin , cassia , lignea , & a rinde of a trée more strong than any spice as yet knowen , with diuers other commodities , which hereafter in a larger discourse may come to light . a treatise , conteining important inducements for the planting in these parts , and finding a passage that way to the south sea and china . the voiage which we intend , is to plant christian people and religion vpon the northwest countries of america , in places temperat and well agréeing with our constitution , which though the same doe lie betwéene . and . degrees of latitude , vnder the paralels of italy and france , yet are not they so hot ; by reason that the suns heat is qualified in his course ouer the ocean , before he arriueth vpon the coasts of america , attracting much vapour from the sea : which mitigation of his heat , we take for a benefit to vs that intend to inhabit there ; because vnder the climat of degrees , the same would be too vehement els for our bodies to endure . these lands were neuer yet actually possessed by any christian prince or people , yet often intended to be by the french nation , which long sithence had inhabited there , if domesticall warres had not withheld them : notwithstanding the same are the rightfull inheritance of her maiestie , being first discouered by our nation in the time of king henrie the seuenth , vnder the conduct of iohn cabot and his sonnes : by which title of first discouery , the kings of portugall and spaine doe holde and enioy their ample and rich kingdomes in their indies east and west ; and also lately planted in part by the colonies sent thither by the honourable knight , sir walter ralegh . the course vnto these countreys , is thorow the ocean , altogether frée from all restraint by forren princes to be made ; whereunto other our accustomed trades are subiect ; apt for most winds that can blow , to be performed commonly in or daies . the coast faire , with safe roads and harbors for ships : many riuers . these lands be faire and pleasant , resembling france , intermedled with mountaines , valleys , medowes , woodlands , and champians . the soile is excéeding strong , by reason it was neuer manured ; and will be therefore most fit to beare at first , rape-séeds , hempe , flax , and whatsoeuer els requireth such strong soile . rape-oiles , and all sorts of oiles , will be very commodious for england , which spendeth oiles aboundantly about clothing and leather-dressing . in like sort , hempe and flax are profitable , whether the same be sent into england , or wrought there by our people ; oad also will grow there aswell or better then in terçera . the saluages weare faire colours in some of their atire , whereby we hope to finde rich dies and colours for painting . the trées are for the most part , cedars , pines , spruse , firre and oaks to the northward . of these trées will be drawen tarre and pitch , rosen , turpentine , and soape-ashes : they will make masts for the greatest shippes of the world : excellent timbers of cedar , and boords for curious building . the cliffes vpon the coasts and mountaines euery where shew great likelihood of minerals . a very rich mine of copper is found , whereof i haue séene proofe ; and the place described . not farre from which there is great hope also of a siluer mine . there be faire quarries of stone , of beautifull colours , for buildings . the ground bringeth forth , without industrie , pease , roses , grapes , hempe , besides other plants , fruits , herbs and flowers , whose pleasant view and delectable smelles , doe demonstrate sufficiently the fertility and swéetnesse of that soile and aire . beasts of many kindes ; some of the bignesse of an oxe , whose hides make good buffe : déere , both red and of other sorts in aboundance : luzerns , marterns , sables , beauers , beares , otters , wolues , foxes , and squirrels , which to the northward are blacke , and accounted very rich furres . fowles both of the water and land , infinit store and varietie ; hawks both short and long winged , partriges in abundance , which are verie great , and easily taken . birds great and small , some like vnto our blacke-birds , others like canarie-birds : and many ( as well birds as other creatures ) strange and differing from ours of europe . fish , namely , cods , which as we encline more vnto the south , are more large and vendible for england and france , then the newland fish . whales and seales in great abundances . oiles of them are rich commodities for england , whereof we now make soape , besides many other vses . item , tunneys , anchoues , bonits , salmons , lobsters , oisters hauing pearle , and infinit other sorts of fish , which are more plentifull vpon those northwest coasts of america , than in any parts of the knowen world . salt is reported to be found there , which els may be made there , to serue sufficiently for all fishing . so as the commodities there to be raised both of the sea and land ( after that we haue planted our people skilfull and industrious ) will be , fish , whale and seale oiles , soape ashes and soape , tarre and pitch , rosen and turpentine , masts , timber and boords of cedars , firres , and pines , hempe , flaxe , cables and ropes , saile-clothes , grapes , and raisens and wines , corne , rape-séeds & oiles , hides , skinnes , furres , dies and colours for painting , pearle , mettals , and other minerals . these commodities before rehearsed , albeit for the most part they be grosse , yet are the same profitable for the state of england specially , aswell in regard of the vse of such commodities , as for the imploiment also of our people and ships ; the want whereof , doth decay our townes and ports of england , and causeth the realme to swarme full with poore and idle people . these commodities in like sort , are of great vse and estimation in all the south and westerne countreys of europe ; namely , italie , france and spaine : for the which all nations that haue béene accustomed to repaire vnto the newfound-land for the commoditie of fish and oiles alone , will henceforward forsake the newfound-land , and trade with vs , when once we haue planted people in those parts : by whose industrie shall be prouided for all commers , both fish and oiles , and many commodities besides , of good importance & value . then will the spaniards and portugals bring vnto vs in exchange of such commodites before mentioned , wines , swéet oiles , fruits , spices , sugars , silks , gold and siluer , or whatsoeuer that europe yéeldeth , to supply our necessities , and to increase our delights . for which spanish commodities and other sorts likewise , our merchants of england will bring vnto vs againe , cloth , cattell , for our store and bréed , and euery thing els that we shall néed , or that england shall haply exchange for such commodities . by this intercourse , our habitations will be made a staple of all vendible commodities of the world , and a meanes to vent a very great quantitie of our english cloth into all the cold regions of america extended very farre . this intercourse also will be soone drawen together by this reason : that néere adioining vpon the same coasts of new-found-land , is the greatest fishing of the world ; whether doe yéerely repaire about sailes of ships , for no other commoditie than fish and whale-oiles . then forasmuch as merchants ar diligent inquisitours after gaines , they will soone remooue their trade from newfound-land vnto vs néere at hand , for so great increase of gaine as they shall make by trading with vs. for whereas the voyage vnto the newfound-land is into a more cold and intemperate place , not to be traded nor frequented at all times , nor fortified for securitie of the ships and goods ; oft spoiled by pirats or men of warre ; the charges great for salt ; double manning and double victualling their ships , in regard that the labor is great and the time long , before their lading can be made readie : they cary outwards no commodities for fraight ; and after sixe moneths voyage , their returne is made but of fish and oiles . contrariwise , by trading with vs at our intended place , the course shal be in a maner as short ; into a more temperate and healthfull climat ; at all times of the yéere to be traded ; harbors fortified to secure ships and goods ; charges abridged of salt , victualling and manning ships double : because lading shall be prouided vnto their hands at a more easie rate than themselues could make it . they shall carry fraight also outward , to make exchange with vs ; and so get profit both waies : and then euery foure moneths they may make a voyage and returne , of both fish and oiles , and many other commodities of good worth . these reasons aduisedly waighed , shall make our enterprise appeare easie , and the most profitable of the world , for our nation to vndertake . the reasons we chiefly relie vpon are these , namely . those lands which we intend to inhabit , shall minister vnto our people , the subiect and matter of many notable commodities . england shall affoord vs people both men , women and children aboue , which may very happily be spared from hence to worke those commodities there . newfound-land shall minister shipping to carrie away all our commodities , and to bring others vnto vs againe for our supplie . now two of these reasons are already effected vnto our hands : that is to say : the place where we shall finde rich commodities , and ships to vent them . it remaineth onely for our parts , to carrie and transport people with their prouisions from england , where the miserie and necessitie of manie crie out for such helpe and reliefe . this considered , no nation of christendom is so fit for this action as england , by reason of our superfluous people ( as i may tearme them ) and of our long domesticall peace . and after that we be once men strong , victualled and fortified , we can not be remooued by as many thousands . for besides that , we haue séene both in france and the low-countreys , where men well fortified and victualled , haue kept out the forces both of the french & spanish kings , euen within their owne kingdomes : it shall be also a matter of great difficulty , to transport an army ouer the ocean with victuals and munition , and afterwards to abide long siege abroad , against vs fortified within , where the very elements and famine shall fight for vs , though we should lie still and defend onely . the saluages neither in this attempt shall hurt vs , they being simple , naked and vnarmed , destitute of edge-tooles or weapons ; whereby they are vnable either to defend thēselues or to offend vs : neither is it our intent to prouoke , but to cherrish and win them vnto christianitie by faire meanes ; yet not to trust them too far , but to prouide against all accidents . then to conclude , as we of all other nations are most fit for a discouery and planting in remote places ; euen so , vnder the heauens there is no place to be found so conuenient for such a purpose ; by reason of the temperature , commodities , apt site for trade , & repaire thither already of so many ships , which in any other frequented countrey , can not be procured in a mans age , nor with expense of halfe a million . so as the onely difficultie now , is in our first preparation to transport some few people at the beginning ; the charges whereof shall be defraied by our first returne , of fish and some commodities of sassafras , hides , skinnes and furres , which we shall also haue by trading with the saluages . the proofe of which commodities shall incourage our merchants to venter largely in the next . the supplie shall easily and continually be sent by ships , which yéerely goe from hence vnto the newfound-land and vs ; and the intercourse & exchange we shall haue with all nations repairing thither , shall store vs with aboundance of all things for our necessities and delightes . which reasons if they had béene foreséene of them that planted in the south part of virginia ( which is a place destitute of good harbours , and farre from all trade ) no doubt but if they had settled neerer vnto this frequented trade in the newfound-land , they had by this time béene a flourishing state , and plentifull in all things ; who also might then haue made way into the bowels of that large continent , where assuredly we shall discouer very goodly and rich kingdomes and cities . it may also séeme a matter of great consequence for the good and securitie of england ; that out of these northerly regions we shall be able to furnish this realme of all maner of prouisions for our nauies ; namely , pitch , rosen , cables , ropes , masts , and such like ; which shall be made within those her maiesties owne dominions , by her owne subiects , and brought hither thorow the ocean , frée from restraint of any other prince ; whereby the customes and charges bestowed by our merchants ( to the inriching of forren estates ) shall be lessened , and turned to the benefit of her highnesse and her deputies in those parts : which also shall deliuer our merchants from many troubles & molestations which they now vnwillingly indure in our east trades ; and shall make vs the lesse to doubt the malice of those states whom now we may not offend , lest we should be intercepted of the same prouisions , to the weakening of our nauie , the most roiall defence of this noble realme . of a conuenient passage and trade into the south sea , vnder temperate regions part by riuers , and some part ouer land , in the continent of america . neither vpon the discoueries of iaques noel , who hauing passed beyond the thrée saults , where iaques carrier left to discouer , finding the riuer of s. laurence passable on the other side or branch ; and afterwards , vnderstood of the inhabitants , that the same riuer did lead into a mighty lake , which at the entrance was fresh , but beyond , was bitter or salt ; the end whereof was vnknowen . omitting therefore these hopes , i will ground my opinion vpon reason and nature , which will not faile . for this we know alreadie , that great riuers haue béene discouered a thousand english miles into that continent of america ; namely , that of s. laurence or canada . but not regarding miles more or lesse , most assuredly , that and other knowen riuers there doe descend from the highest parts or mountaines , or middle of that continent , into our north sea . and like as those mountains doe cast from them , streames into our north seas ; euen so the like they doe into the south sea , which is on the backe of that continent . for all mountaines haue their descents toward the seas about them , which are the lowest places and proper mansions of water : and waters ( which are contained in the mountaines , as it were in cisternes ) descending naturally , doe alwaies resort vnto the seas inuironing those lands : for example ; from the alps confining germanie , france , and italie , the mighty riuer danubie doth take his course east , and dischargeth into the pontique sea : the rhine , north , and falleth into the germane sea : the rhosne , west , and goeth into the mediterran sea : the po , south , is emptied into the adriatick or gulfe of venice . other instances may be produced to like effect in africk ; yea , at home amongst the mountaines in england . seeing then in nature this can not be denied , and by experience elsewhere is found to be so , i will shew how a trade may be disposed more commodiously into the south sea thorow these temperate and habitable regions , than by the frozen zones in the supposed passages of northwest or northeast : where , if the very moment be omitted of the time to passe , then are we like to be frozen in the seas , or forced to winter in extreame cold and darkenesse like vnto hell : or in the midst of summer , we shal be in perill to haue our ships ouerwhelmed or crusht in pieces by hideous and fearefull mountaines of yce floting vpon those seas . therefore foure staple-places must be erected , when the most short and passable way is found : that is to say , two vpon the north side , at the head and fall of the riuer ; and two others on the south side , at the head and fall also of that other riuer . prouided , that ships may passe vp those riuers vnto the staples , so farre as the same be nauigable into the land ; and afterwards , that boats with flat bottomes may also passe so high and néere the heads of the riuers vnto the staples , as possibly they can , euen with lesse than two foot water , which can not then be far from the heads ; as in the riuer of chagre . that necke or space of land betwéene the two heads of the said riuers , if it be leagues ( which is not like ) the commodities from the north and from the south sea brought thither , may wel be carried ouer the same vpon horses , mules or beasts of that countrey apt to labour ( as the elke or buffel ) or by the aid of many saluages accustomed to burdens ; who shall stead vs greatly in these affaires . it is moreouer to be considered , that all these countreys do yéeld ( so farre as is knowen ) cedars , pines , firre trées and oaks , to build , mast , and yeard ships ; wherefore we may not doubt , but that ships may be builded on the south sea . then as ships on the south side may goe and returne to and from cathay , china , and other most rich regions of the east world in fiue moneths or thereabouts ; euen so the goods being carried ouer vnto the north side , ships may come thither from england to fetch the same goods , and returne by a voyage of foure or fiue moneths vsually . so as in euery foure moneths may be returned into england the greatest riches of cathay , china , iapan , and the rest which will be spices , drugges , muske , pearle , stones , gold , siluer , silks , clothes of gold , & all maner of precious things , which shall recompense the time and labour of their transportation and carriage , if it were as farre and dangerous as the moores trade is from fess and marocco ( ouer the burning and moueable sands , in which they perish many times , and suffer commonly great distresses ) vnto the riuer called niger in africa , and from thence , vp the said riuer manie hundred miles ; afterwards ouer-land againe , vnto the riuer nilus ; and so vnto cairo in egypt , from whence they returne the way they came . or if it were a voyage so farre as our merchants haue made into persia , euen to ormus , by the way of the north , through russia into the caspian sea , and so foorth , with paiment of many tolles . but this passage ouer and thorow the continent of america , as the same shall be alwaies vnder temperate and habitable climats , and a pleasant passage after it hath béene a little frequented : euen so it must fall out much shorter than it séemeth , by false description of that continent , which doth not extend so farre into the west , as by later nauigations is found and described in more exquisit charts . besides that , the sea extends it selfe into the land very farre in many places on the south side ; whereby our accesse vnto the south ocean , shall be by so much the shorter . finis . inducements to the liking of the voyage intended towards virginia in . and . degrees of latitude , written . by m. richard hakluyt the elder , sometime student of the middle temple . the glory of god by planting of religion among those infidels . the increase of the force of the christians . the possibilitie of the inlarging of the dominions of the quéenes most excellent maiestie , and consequently of her honour , reuenues , and of her power by this enterprise . an ample vent in time to come of the woollen clothes of england , especially those of the coursest sorts , to the maintenance of our poore , that els sterue or become burdensome to the realme : and vent also of sundry our commodities vpon the tract of that firme land , and possibly in other regions from the northerne side of that maine . a great possibilitie of further discoueries of other regions from the north part of the same land by sea , and of vnspeakable honor and benefit that may rise vpon the same , by the trades to ensue in iapan , china , and cathay , &c. by returne thence , this realme shall receiue ( by reason of the situation of the climate , and by reason of the excellent soile ) oade , oile , wines , hops , salt , and most or all the commodities that we receiue from the best parts of europe , and we shall receiue the same better cheape , than now we receiue them , as we may vse the matter . receiuing the same thence , the nauie , the humane strength of this realme , our merchants and their goods shal not be subiect to arrest of ancient enemies & doubtfull friends , as of late yéeres they haue béene . if our nation do not make any conquest there , but only vse trafficke and change of commodities , yet by meane the countrey is not very mightie , but diuided into pety kingdoms , they shall not dare to offer vs any great annoy , but such as we may easily reuenge with sufficient chastisement to the vnarmed people there . whatsoeuer commodities we receiue by the stéelyard merchants , or by our owne merchants from eastland , be it flaxe , hempe , pitch , tarre , masts , clap-boord , wainscot , or such like ; the like good may we receiue from the north and northeast part of that countrey néere vnto cape briton , in returne for our course woollen clothes , flanels and rugges fit for those colder regions . the passage to and fro , is thorow the maine ocean sea , so as we are not in danger of any enemies coast . in the voyage , we are not to crosse the burnt zone , nor to passe thorow frozen seas encombred with ice and fogs , but in temperate climate at all times of the yéere : and it requireth not , as the east indie voiage doth , the taking in of water in diuers places , by reason that it is to be sailed in fiue or six wéeks : and by the shortnesse , the merchant may yéerely make two returnes ( a factory once being erected there ) a matter in trade of great moment . in this trade by the way in our passe to and fro , we haue in tempests and other haps , all the ports of ireland to our aid , and no néere coast or any enemy . by this ordinary trade we may annoy the enemies to ireland , and succour the quéenes maiesties friends there , and in time we may from virginia yéeld them whatsoeuer commoditie they now receiue from the spaniard ; and so the spaniards shall want the ordinary victual that heertofore they receiued yéerely from thence , and so they shall not continue trade , nor fall so aptly in practise against this gouernment , as now by their trade thither they may . we shall , as it is thought , enioy in this voyage , either some small islands to settle on , or some one place or other on the firme land to fortifie for the saftie of our ships , our men , and our goods , the like whereof we haue not in any forren place of our trafficke , in which respect we may be in degrée of more safetie , and more quiet . the great plentie of buffe hides , and of many other sundry kinds of hides there now presently to be had , the trade of whale and seale fishing , and of diuers other fishings in the great riuers , great bayes , and seas there , shall presently defray the charge in good part or in all of the first enterprise , and so we shall be in better case than our men were in russia , where many yéeres were spent , and great summes of money consumed , before gaine was sound . the great broad riuers of that maine that we are to enter into so many leagues nauigable or portable into the maine land , lying so long a tract with so excellent and so fertile a soile on both sides , doe séeme to promise all things that the life of man doth require , and whatsoeuer men may wish , that are to plant vpon the same , or to trafficke in the same . and whatsoeuer notable commoditie the soile within or without doth yéeld in so long a tract that is to be carried out from thence to england , the same riuers so great and déepe , do yéeld no small benefit for the sure , safe , easie and cheape cariage of the same to shipboord , be it of great bulke or of great weight . and in like sort whatsoeuer commoditie of england the inland people there shall néed , the same riuers doe worke the like effect in benefit for the incariage of the same , aptly , easily , and cheaply . if we finde the countrey populous , and desirous to expel vs , and iniuriously to offend vs , that séeke but iust and lawfull trafficke , then by reason that we are lords of nauigation , and they not so , we are the better able to defend our selues by reason of those great riuers , & to annoy them in many places . where there be many petie kings or lords planted on the riuers sides , and by all likelihood mainteine the frontiers of their seuerall territories by warres , we may by the aide of this riuer ioine with this king héere , or with that king there , at our pleasure , and may so with a few men be reuenged of any wrong offered by any of them ; or may , if we will procéed with extremitie , conquer , fortifie , and plant in soiles most swéet , most pleasant , most strong , and most fertile , and in the end bring them all in subiection and to ciuilitie . the knowen abundance of fresh fish in the riuers , and the knowen plentie of fish on the sea coast there , may assure vs of sufficient victuall in spight of the people , if we will vse salt and industrie . the knowen plentie and varietie of flesh , of diuers kinds of beasts at land there , may séeme to say to vs , that we may cheaply victuall our nauies to england for our returnes , which benefit euery where is not found of merchants . the practise of the people of the east indies , when the portugals came thither first , was to cut from the portugals their lading of spice : and heereby they thought to ouerthrow their purposed trade . if these people shall practise the like , by not suffering vs to haue any commoditie of theirs without conquest , ( which requireth some time ) yet may we mainteine our first voyage thither , till our purpose come to effect , by the sea-fishing on the coasts there , and by dragging for pearles , which are said to be on those parts ; and by returne of those commodities , the charges in part shall be defraied : which is a matter of consideration in enterprises of charge . if this realme shall abound too too much with youth , in the mines there of golde , ( as that of chisca and saguenay ) of siluer , copper , yron , &c. may be an imployment to the benefit of this realme ; in tilling of the rich soile there for graine , and in planting of uines there for wine ; or dressing of those uines which grow there naturally in great abundance , oliues for oile ; orenge trées , limons , figs and almonds for fruit ; oad , saffron , and madder for diers ; hoppes for brewers ; hempe , flaxe ; and in many such other things , by imploiment of the soile , our people void of sufficient trades , may be honestly imploied , that els may become hurtfull at home . the nauigating of the seas in the voyage , and of the great riuers there , will bréed many mariners for seruice , and mainteine much nauigation . the number of raw hides there of diuers kindes of beasts , if we shall possesse some island there , or settle on the firme , may presently imploy many of our idle people in diuers seuerall dressings of the same , and so we may returne them to the people that can not dresse them so well ; or into this realm , where the same are good merchandize ; or to flanders , &c. which present gaine at the first , raiseth great incouragement presently to the enterprise . since great waste woods be there , of oake , cedar , pine , wall-nuts , and sundry other sorts , many of our waste people may be imployed in making of ships , hoies , busses and boats ; and to making of rozen , pitch and tarre , the trées naturall for the same , being certeinly knowen to be néere cape briton and the bay of menan , and in many other places there about . if mines of white or gray marble , iet , or other rich stone be found there , our idle people may be imployed in the mines of the same , and in preparing the same to shape , and so shaped , they may be caried into this realm as good balast for our ships , and after serue for noble buildings . sugar-canes may be planted aswell as they are now in the south of spaine , and besides the imploiment of our idle people , we may receiue the commodity cheaper , and not inrich infidels or our doubtful friends , of whom now we receiue that commoditie . the daily great increase of woolles in spaine , and the like in the west indies , and the great imploiment of the same into cloth in both places , may mooue vs to endeuour , for vent of our cloth , new discoueries of peopled regions , where hope of sale may arise ; otherwise in short time many inconueniences may possibly ensue . this land that we purpose to direct our course to , lying in part in the degree of latitude , being in like heat as lisbone in portugall doth , and in the more southerly part as the most southerly coast of spaine doth , may by our diligence yeeld vnto vs besides wines and oiles and sugars , orenges , limons , figs , resings , almonds , pomegranates , rice , raw-silks such as come from granada , and diuers commodities for diers , as anile and cochenillio , and sundry other colours and materials . moreouer , we shall not onely receiue many precious commodities besides from thence , but also shal in time finde ample vent of the labour of our poore people at home , by sale of hats , bonets , kniues , fish-hooks , copper kettles , beads , looking-glasses , bugles , & a thousand kinds of other wrought wares , that in short time may be brought in vse among the people of that countrey , to the great reliefe of the multitude of our poore people , and to the woonderfull enriching of this realme . and in time , such league & entercourse may arise betwéene our stapling seats there , and other ports of our northern america , and of the islands of the same , that incredible things , and by few as yet dreamed of , may spéedily follow , tending to the impeachment of our mightie enemies , and to the common good of this noble gouernment . the ends of this voyage are these : . to plant christian religion . . to trafficke . . to conquer . or , to doe all thrée . to plant christian religion without conquest , will bée hard . trafficke easily followeth conquest : conquest is not easie . trafficke without conquest séemeth possible , and not vneasie . what is to be done , is the question . if the people be content to liue naked , and to content themselues with few things of méere necessity , then trafficke is not . so then in vaine séemeth our voyage , vnlesse this nature may be altered , as by conquest and other good meanes it may be , but not on a sudden . the like whereof appeared in the east indies , vpon the portugals seating there . if the people in the inland be clothed , and desire to liue in the abundance of all such things as europe doth , and haue at home all the same in plentie , yet we can not haue trafficke with them , by meane they want not any thing that we can yéeld them . admit that they haue desire to your commodities , and as yet haue neither golde , siluer , copper , iron , nor sufficient quantitie of other present commoditie to mainteine the yéerely trade : what is then to be done ? the soile and climate first is to be considered , and you are with argus eies to sée what commoditie by industrie of man you are able to make it to yéeld , that england doth want or doth desire : as for the purpose , if you can make it to yéeld good wine , or good oile , as it is like you may by the climat , ( where wilde uines of sundry sorts doe naturally grow already in great abundance ) then your trade may be mainteined . but admit the soile were in our disposition ( as yet it is not ) in what time may this be brought about ? for wine this is to be affirmed , that first the soile lying in or degrées in the temperature of south spaine , in setting your uine-plants this yéere , you may haue wine within thrée yéeres . and it may be that the wilde uines growing there already , by orderly pruning and dressing at your first arriuall , may come to profit in shorter time . and planting your oliue trées this yéere , you may haue oile within thrée yéeres . and if the sea shores be flat , and fit for receipt of salt water , and for salt making , without any annoy of néere freshes , then the trade of salt onely may mainteine a yéerely nauigation ( as our men now trade to the isle of maio , and the hollanders to terra firma néere the west end of the isle of margarita . ) but how the naturall people of the countrey may be made skilfull to plant uines , and to know the vse , or to set oliue trées , and to know the making of oile , and withall to vse both the trades , that is a matter of small consideration : but to conquer a countrey or prouince in climate & soile of italie , spaine , or the islands from whence we receiue our wines & oiles , and to man it , to plant it , and to kéepe it , and to continue the making of wines and oiles able to serue england , were a matter of great importance both in respect of the sauing at home of our great treasure now yéerely going away , and in respect of the annoyance thereby growing to our enemies . the like consideration would be had , touching a place for the making of salt , of temperature like those of france , not too too colde , as the salts of the northern regions be ; nor too too firy , as those be that be made more southerly than france . in regard whereof , many circumstances are to be considered ; and principally , by what meane the people of those parties may be drawen by all courtesie into loue with our nation ; that we become not hatefull vnto them , as the spaniard is in italie and in the west indies , and elswhere , by their maner of vsage : for a gentle course without crueltie and tyrannie best answereth the profession of a christian , best planteth christian religion ; maketh our seating most void of blood , most profitable in trade of merchandise , most firme and stable , and least subiect to remooue by practise of enemies . but that we may in seating there , not be subiect wholly to the malice of enemies , and may be more able to preserue our bodies , ships , and goods in more safetie , and to be knowen to be more able to scourge the people there , ciuill or sauage , than willing to offer any violence . and for the more quiet exercise of our manurance of the soiles where we shall seat , and of our manuall occupations , it is to be wished that some ancient captaines of milde disposition and great iudgement be sent thither with men most skilfull in the arte of fortification ; and that direction be taken that the mouthes of great riuers , and the islands in the same ( as things of great moment ) be taken , manned , and fortified ; and that hauens be cut out for safetie of the nauie , that we may be lords of the gates and entries , to goe out and come in at pleasure , and to lie in safetie , and be able to command and to controle all within , and to force all forren nauigation to lie out in open rode subiect to all weathers , to be dispersed by tempests and flawes , if the force within be not able to giue them the encounter abroad . the red muscadell grape , that bishop grindall procured out of germanie ; the great white muscadell ; the yellow grape : the cuts of these were woont yéerely to be set at fulham ; and after one yeeres rooting to be giuen by the bishop , and to be sold by his gardener . these presently prouided , and placed in earth , and many of these so rooted , with store of cuts vnrooted besides , placed in tubbes of earth shipped at the next voyage , to be planted in virginia , may begin uineyards , and bring wines out of hand . prouision great of wilde oliue trées may be made out of this citie so then to be caried , to encrease great store of stocks to graffe the best oliue on : and virginia standing in the same degrée that the shroffe the oliue place doth in spaine , we may win that merchandise , grassing the wilde . sugar-canes , if you can not procure them from the spanish islands , yet may you by our barberie merchants procure them . there is an herbe in persia , whereof anile is made , and it is also in barbarie : to procure that by séed or root , were of importance for a trade of merchandise for our clothing countrey . oad by the séeds you may haue ; for you may haue hundreds of bushels in england , as it is multiplied : and hauing soile and labor in virginia cheape , and the oad in great value , lying in small roome , it will be a trade of great gaine to this clothing realme : and the thing can not be destroyed by saluages . the roots of this you may haue in plenty and number comming in the trade : so this may grow in trade within a yéere ready for the merchant . figge trées of many good kinds may be had hence in barrell , if now presently they be prouided ; and they in that climat will yéeld noble fruit , and feed your people presently , and will be brought in frailes home as merchandise , or in barrell , as resings also may be . sawed boords of sassafras and cedar , to be turned into small boxes for ladies and gentlewomen , would become a present trade . to the infinite naturall increase of hogs , to adde a deuice how the same may be fed by roots , acornes , &c. without spoiling your corne , would be of great effect to féed the multitude continually imployed in labour : and the same cheaply bred and salted , and barrelled there and brought home , will be well solde for a good merchandise ; and the barrels after , will serue for our home herring-fishing ; and so you sell you woods and the labour of your cooper . receiuing the saluage women and their children of both sexes by courtesie into your protection , and imploying the english women and the others in making of linnen , you shal raise a woonderfull trade of benefit , both to carie into england and also into the islands , and into the maine of the west indies , victuall and labour being so cheape there . the trade of making cables and cordage there , will be of great importance , in respect of a cheape maintenance of the nauie that shall passe to and fro ; and in respect of such nauie as may in those parties be vsed for the venting of the commodities of england to be brought thither . and powldauies , &c. made for sailes of the poore saluages , yeeld to the nauie a great helpe , and a great gaine in the trafficke . but if séeking reuenge on euery iniurie of the saluages we séeke blood & raise war , our uines , our oliues , our figge trées , our sugar-canes , our orenges and limons , corne , cattell , &c. will be destroyed , and trade of merchandise in all things ouerthrowen ; and so the english nation there planted and to be planted , shal be rooted out with sword and hunger . sorts of men which are to be passed in this voyage . men skilfull in all minerall causes . men skilfull in all kinde of drugges . fishermen , to consider of the sea fishings there on the coasts , to be reduced to trade hereafter : and others for the fresh water fishings . salt-makers , to view the coast , and to make triall how rich the sea-water there is , to aduise for the trade . husbandmen , to view the soile , to resolue for tillage in all sorts . uineyard-men bred , to sée how the soile may serue for the planting of uines . men bred in the shroffe in south spaine , for discerning how oliue trées may be planted there . others , for planting of orenge trées , figge trées , limon trées , and almond trées ; for iudging how the soile may serue for the same . gardeners , to prooue the seuerall soiles of the islands , and of our setling places , to sée how the same may serue for all herbs and roots for our victualling ; since by rough seas sometimes we may want fish , and since we may want flesh to victuall vs , by the malice of the naturall people there : and gardeners for planting of our common trées of fruit , as peares , apples , plumines , peaches , medlers , apricoes , quinces for conserues , &c. lime-makers , to make lime for buildings . masons , carpenters , &c. for buildings there . bricke-makers and tile-makers . men cunning in the art of fortification , that may chuse out places strong by nature to be fortified , and that can plot out and direct workemen . choise spade-men , to trench cunningly , and to raise bulwarks and rampiers of earth for defence and offence . spade-makers , that may , out of the woods there , make spades like those of deuonshire , and of other sorts , and shouels from time to time for common vse . smithes , to forge the yrons of the shouels and spades , and to make blacke billes and other weapons , and to mend many things . men that vse to breake ash trées for pike-staues , to be imploied in the woods there . others , that finish vp the same so rough hewd , such as in london are to be had . coopers , to make caske of all sorts . forgers of pikes heads and of arrow heads , with forges , with spanish yron , and with all maner of tooles to be caried with them . fletchers , to renew arrowes , since archerie preuaileth much against vnarmed people : and gunpowder may soone perish , by setting on fire . bowyers also , to make bowes there for néed . makers of oares , since for seruice vpon those riuers it is to great purpose , for the boats and barges they are to passe and enter with . shipwrights , to make barges and boats , and bigger vessels , if néed be , to run along the coast , and to pierce the great bayes and inlets . turners , to turne targets of elme and tough wood , for vse against the darts and arrowes of saluages . such also as haue knowledge to make targets of horne . such also as can make armor of hides vpon moulds , such as were woont to be made in this realme about an hundred yéeres since , and were called scotish iacks : such armor is light and defensiue enough against the force of saluages . tanners , to tanne hides of buffes , oxen , &c. in the isles where you shall plant . white tawyers of all other skinnes there . men skilfull in burning of sope ashes , and in making of pitch , and tarre , and rozen , to be fetched out of prussia and poland , which are thence to be had for small wages , being there in maner of slaues . the seuerall sorts of trées , as pines , firres , spruses , birch and others , are to be boared with great augers a foot or halfe a yard aboue the ground , as they vse in vesely towards languedock and néere bayona in gascoigne : and so you shall easily and quickly sée what gummes , rozen , turpentine , tarre , or liquor is in them , which will quickly distill out cléerely without any filthie mixture , and will shew what commoditie may be made of them : their goodnesse and greatnesse for masts is also to be considered . a skilfull painter is also to be caried with you , which the spaniards vsed commonly in all their discoueries to bring the descriptions of all beasts , birds , fishes , trées , townes , &c. a briefe note of the corne , fowles , fruits and beasts of the inland of florida on the backeside of virginia , taken out of the chapter of the discouery of the said countrey , begun by fernando de soto gouernour of cuba , in the yeere of our lord . the bread which they eat in all the land of florida , is of maiz , which is like to course millet . and in all the islands and west indies from the antiles forward there is this maiz. likewise in florida there be many wallnuts , plummes , mulberies , & grapes . they sowe their maiz , and gather it , euery man his owne croppe . the fruits are common to all men , because they grow abundantly in the fields without planting or dressing . in the mountaines there grow chestnuts ; they are somewhat smaller than the chestnuts of spaine , which are called collarínnas . from rio grande toward the west , the walnuts are differing from the other ; for they are softer and round like bullets . and from rio grande toward puerto del spirito santo eastward , for the most part they are harder . and the trées and nuts are like in fashion vnto those of spaine . there is in all the countrey a fruit which groweth vpon an herbe or plant like to the herbe called dogs-tongue , which the indians doe sowe . the fruit is like vnto the peres rial : it is of a very good rellish , and of a pleasant taste . another herbe groweth in the fields , which beareth a fruit néere the ground like to a strawberie , very pleasant in taste . the plummes are of two sorts , red and gray , in fashion and bignesse of walnuts , and haue thrée or foure stones in them . these are better than any in spaine , and they make better prunes of them . the want of dressing is perceiued only in the grapes : which although they be great , yet they haue a great kernell . all the rest of the fruits are very perfect , and lesse hurtfull than those of spaine . there are in florida many beares , lions , stags , roe-bucks , wild-cats , and conies . there be many wild-hennes as bigge as peacocks , small partridges like those of africa , cranes , ducks , rolas , black-birds , and sparrowes . there be certeine blacke birds bigger than sparrowes and lesser than stares . there be sore-hauks , faulcons , gosse-hauks , and all fowles of pray that are in spaine . the indians are well proportioned . those of the plaine countreys are taller of stature , and better proportioned than those of the mountaines . those of the inland are better furnished with corne and wealth of the countrey , than those of the sea coast . the countrey on the sea coast toward the gulfe of mexico is barren and poore , and the people more warrelike . the coast beareth from puerto del spirito santo vnto apalache , and from apalache to rio de palmas almost from east to west ; from rio de palmas vnto noua hispania it runneth from north to south . it is a gentle coast , but it hath many sholds and banks or shelues of sand . a note of such commodities as are found in florida next adioining vnto the south part of virginia , taken out of the description of the said countrey , written by mounsieur rene laudonniere , who inhabited there two sommers and one winter . the countrey of florida is flat , and diuided with diuers riuers , and therefore moist , and is sandy towards the sea-shore . there groweth in those parts great quantitie of pyne trées , which haue no kernels in the apples that they beare . their woods are full of oakes , walnut trées , blacke cherrie trées , mulberie trées , lentiskes which yéeld masticke , and chestnut trées , which are more wilde than those of france . there is great store of cedars , cypresses , baies , palme trées , grapes : there is there a kinde of medlars , the fruit whereof is better then that of france , and bigger . there are also plumme trées , which beare very faire fruit , but such as is not very good . there are raspesses , and a little bery which we call among vs blues , which are very good to eat . there grow in that countrey a kinde of rootes , which they call in their language hazes , whereof in necessitie they make bread . there is also the trée called esquine , ( which i take to be the sassafras ) which is very good against the pocks and other contagious diseases . the beasts best knowen in this countrey are stagges , roes , deere , goates , leopards , ownces , lucernes , diuers sorts of woolues , wilde dogges , hares , connies , and a certeine kinde of beast that differeth little from the lion of africke . the fowles are turkie cocks , partridges , perrots , pigeons , ringdoues , turtles , blacke birds , crowes , tarcels , faulcons , leonards , herons , cranes , storkes , wilde géese , mallards , cormorants , herneshawes , white , red , blacke , and gray , and an infinit sort of all wildfoule . there is such aboundance of crocodiles , that oftentimes in swimming , men are assailed by them : of serpents there are many sorts . there is found among the sauages good quantitie of gold and siluer , which is gotten out of the ships that are lost vpon the coast : neuerthelesse they say ; that in the mountains of apalatcy , there are mines of copper , which i thinke to be gold. there is also in this countrey , great store of graines and herbes , whereof might be made excellent good dies and paintings of all kinde of colours . they sowe their maiz or corne twice a yéere , to wit , in march and in iune : and all in one and the same soile : the said maiz from the time that it is sowed , vnto the time that it is gathered , is but thrée moneths in the ground . they haue also faire pumpions and very good beanes : they haue certeine kinds of oile , wherewith they vse to annoint themselues . a briefe extract of the merchantable commodities found in the south part of virginia , ann . . and . gathered out of the learned worke of master thomas herriot , which was there remaining the space of eleuen moneths . silke of grasse , or grasse-silke , the like whereof groweth in persia , whereof i haue séene good grograine made . worme-silke . flaxe and hempe . aslom . wapeih a kinde of earth so called by the naturall inhabitants , very like to terra sigillata , and by some of our physitions found more effectuall . pitch , tarre , rozen , and turpentine : there are those kinds of trées that yéeld them aboundantly and in great store . sassafras , called by the inhabitants wynauk : of whose soueraigne and manifold vertues , reade monardes the phisician of siuile , in his booke entituled in english : the ioyfull newes from the west indies . cedar . uines of two sorts . oile : there are two sorts of wall-nuts , both holding oile . furthermore , there are thrée seuerall kindes of berries , in the forme of oake acornes , which also by the experience and vse of the inhabitants , we finde to yéeld very good and swéete oile . there are also beares , which are commonly very fat , and in some places there are many , their fatnesse because it is so liquid , may well be termed oyle , and hath many speciall vses . furres . ottars , marternes , and lucernes . déere skinnes . ciuet cattes . iron . copper . the foresaid copper , we also found by triall to hold siluer . pearle . one of our company , a man of skill in such matters , had gathered together from the sauages , aboue fiue thousand . swéet gummes of diuers kinds , and many other apothecary drugs . dies of diuers kinds . there is shoemake , well knowen and vsed in england for blacke ; the séed of an herbe called wasebur , little small rootes called chappacor , and the barke of a trée called by the inhabitants , tangomockonomindge , which dies are for diuers sorts of red . commodities in virgina , knowen to yeeld victuals . pagatowr or mays , which is their principall corne . okindgier , called by vs beanes . wickonzour , called by vs pease . macocquer , called by vs , pompions , mellons , & gourds . an herbe which in dutch is called melden , being a kinde of orage , &c. an herbe in forme of a marigold , sixe foot in height , taken to be planta solis . vppowoc , or tabacco , of great estimation among the sauages . rootes . openauck , a kinde of rootes of round forme , as bigge as wall-nuts , some farre greater . monardes calleth them beades , or pater nostri of sancta helena , and master brereton ground nuts . okeepenank , are rootes of round shape found in dry grounds , the inhabitants vse to boile and eat many of them . tsinaw , a kinde of roote much like vnto that which in england is called the china roote , brought from the east indies . coscushaw , a roote taken to be that which the spaniards in the west indies , doe call cassauy . habascon , a roote of hot taste , almost of the forme and bignesse of a parsney . léekes differing little from ours in england . fruites . chestnuts there are in diuers places great store , vsed diuers waies for food . walnuts there are two kinds , and of them infinit store in many places , where are very great woods for many miles together , the third part of the trées are walnut trées , they vse them for meate , and make a milke of them of verie pleasant taste , and holesome . medlers , a kinde of very good fruit , they are as red as cherries , and very lushous swéet . mutaquesunnauk , a kinde of pleasant fruit , almost of the shape and bignesse of english peares , but they are of a perfect red colour , as well within as without , they grow on a plant whose leaues are very thicke and full of prickles , as sharpe as néedles : some , which haue béene in noua hispania , where they haue séene that kinde of red die of excéeding great price , which is called cochenile , to grow , do describe his plant right like vnto this of mutaquesunnauk : howbeit the cochenile is not the fruit , but a graine found on the leaues of the plant , and stricken off vpon sheetes , and dried in the sunne . grapes there are of two sorts , which i mentioned in the merchantable commodities . strawberies there are , as good and as great as in any english garden . such as we haue in england . mulberies , apple-crabbes , hurts , or hurtleberies , sacquenummener a kinde of berries almost like vnto capers but somewhat greater , which grow together in clusters vpon a plant or hearbe that is found in shollow waters , being boiled eight or nine houres according to their kinde , are very good meat and holsome , otherwise if they be eaten , they will make a man for the time franticke or extremely sicke . a réed which beareth a séed almost like vnto our rie or wheat and being boiled is good meat . in our trauells in some places , we found wilde pease like vnto ours in england , but that they were lesse , which are also good meat . a kind of berry like vnto an acorne , of fiue sorts , growing on seuerall kindes of trées : the one sort is called sagatemener , the second , osamener , the third pummuckoner . the inhabitants vse to dry them vpon hurdles like malt in england . when they vse them , they first water them till they be soft , and then being sod , they make loues of bread of them . of these thrée kindes also the inhabitants doe vse to make swéet oile . the fourth sort is called sapummener , which being boiled or perched be like vnto rosted chesnuts ; of this sort they make bread also . the fift sort is called mangummenauk , the very acorne of their kind of oake ; being dried as the rest , and after watered , they boile them , and their seruants , and somtimes the chiefe themselues eate them with their fish and flesh . beasts . deere , vp into the countrey very great , and in some places , great store . conies , of a gray colour like vnto hares : they make mantles of the furre or flue of their skinnes . saquenuckot and maquowoc , two kindes of small beasts greater then conies , which are very good meat . squirels , which are of a gray colour , we haue taken and eaten . beares , which are of blacke colour . they are good meat . and being hunted they climbe vp into trées and are killed by the saluages with their arrowes , and sometimes by vs with our caliuers . the lion is sometimes killed by the saluages and eaten . woolues or wooluish dogges . i haue the names of eight and twenty sorts of beasts dispersed in the maine , of which their are onely twelue kindes by vs as yet discouered . fowle turkie cocks and turkie hennes , stock-doues , and partriges , cranes , hernes , and in winter great store of swannes , and géese . there are also parrots , falcons , and marlin haukes . of all sorts of foules i haue the names in the countrey language of fowrescore and sixe . fish. sturgions , herrings , porpoises , troutes , rayes , old-wiues , mullets , plaice , and very many other sorts of very excellent fish . seacrabs , oisters , great , small , round , long : muscles , scalops , periwincles , and creuises . seekanauk , a kinde of crustie shell-fish , which is good meate , about a foot in bredth , hauing a crusty taile , many legges like a crabbe , and her eyes in her backe . they are found in shallowes of water , and sometimes on the shore . tortoises both of land and sea kinde ; they are very good meats and their egges also : certaine briefe testimonies touching sundry rich mines of gold , siluer , and copper , in part found and in part constantly heard of , in north florida , and the inland of the maine of virginia , and other countreys there vnto on the north part neere adioining , gathered out of the works , all ( one excepted ) extant in print , of such as were personall trauellers in those countries in the second relation of iaques cartier the chapter he reporteth that he vnderstood by donnacona the king of the countrey , and others , that to the southwest of canada there are people clad with cloth , as the french were , very honest , and many inhabited townes , and that they haue great store of gold and red copper , &c. in the discouery of the inland of florida farre to the north begun by fernando de soto , gouernour of cuba in the yéere . ( and to be séene in print in the hands of master richard hackluyt ) the indians in many places farre distant the one from the other gaue them often and certaine aduertisement , that beyond the mountaines northward there were mines of gold at a place called by them chisca , and some shewed the maner which the indians vsed in refining the same . this place in mine opinion cannot be farre from the great riuer that falleth into the southwest part of the bay of chesepioc . the indians enformed mounsieur rene laudonniere in florida , that there were mines of red mettall , which they call in their language sieroa pira , in the muuntaines of apalatcy , which vpon triall made thereof by the french was found perfect gold , as appeareth pagina . in the third volume of the english voiages , and in the same relation there is very often mention of siluer and excellent perfect and faire perles found by the french in those parts . in the late discouerie of new mexico made by antonio de espeio on the backe side of virginia extant in spanish and english in the third volume of the english voyages paginis . &c. there is mention of rich siluer mines ( and sometimes of gold in aboundance ) eleuen or twelue times found as they trauelled northward , by men very skilfull in minerall matters , which went in the voyage for that purpose . the large description and chart of which voyage containing great numbers of townes and diuers great riuers discouered in that action made in mexico by francisco xamuscado being intercepted afterward by the english at sea , we haue in london to be shewed to such as shall haue occasion to make vse of the same . the constant report of many of the saluages to the worshipfull master ralfe lane then gouernour of the english colonie in virginia of the rich mine of wassador or gold at a place by them named channis temoatam , twentie daies iourney ouerland from the mangoaks , set downe by himselfe at large in the first part of his relation of the said countrey of virginia , extant in the third volume of the english voyages pagina . is much to be regarded and considered by these that intend to prosecute this new enterprise of planting nere vnto those parts . i could giue large information of the rich copper mine in the east side of the bay of menan within or . leagues to the southwest of cape breton , whereof i my selfe haue séene aboue an hundred pieces of the copper , and haue shewed some part thereof to diuers knightes of qualitie , as also of salt as good as that of buruage in france , found néere that bay , and could make proofe of the testimonie of the saluages touching a siluer mine in another bay within two or thrée leagues to the west of the aforesaid bay of menan : but i reserue a further relation héereof to a more conuenient time and place . yf it please any man to read the summarie of gonsaluo de ouiedo extant in part in the english decads , of the voyage of sebastian cabote along this coast of virginia and norumbega : and the short relation of iohn de verarsana , which ranged the said coast long after him in the yéere . which is also to be séene in the third volume of the english voyages pagine . he shall finde often mention of rich minerals and store of excellent copper , which so long agoe they saw among the saluages , they being the first knowen christians that euer saw those coasts . so that it were more then wilful madnesse to doubt of rich mines to be in the aforesaid countreys . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e they fel with s. marie , one of the açores . they discouered land the . of may. eight indians come aboord of them . the description of them . their first landing . another indian . anexcellent codfishing . a great headland . many faire islands . the first island called marthaes vineyard . beeches . cedars . uines in abundance . springs . a lake . deere . other beasts . cranes . hernshawes . bitters . geese . mallards . teales . tabacco . elizabeths island . wheat , barley , and oats sowed , came vp nine inches in fourteene daies . oakes . cedars . beech. elme . hollie . walnut trees . cherry trees . sassafras trees . diuers other trees . a lake three miles about . small tortoises . abundance of fowles , much bigger than ours in england . ground nuts . shell fish . the exceeding beautie of the maine land . great lakes . large medowes . seuen indians . a broad riuer . a good harbour . the english house . eleuen canows with fiftie indians in them . their captaine . seuerall sorts of furres . red copper in abundance . chaines . collars . drinking cuppes of copper . mines of copper . minerall stones . emerie stones . flaxe . indians apt for seruice . sassafras . a goodly people , & of good conditions . their apparell . their women . the goodnesse or the climat . their return . notes for div a -e temperate climats . her maiesties title . a commodious and safe course . riuers . fertile lands . rape oiles . dies . minerals . copper . grapes . beasts . fowles . commodities in generall . imploiment of our people , and repairing decaied ports . the trade to newfound-land shal be remoued to vs. spanish commodities . english commodities . uent of our cloth. intercourse will soone be had with other nacions . in commodities in the newland trade . commodities by hauing trade with vs. note . an easie enterprise , and great reward . the english nation most fit for discoueries . the saluages vnable to defend or offend . this action but set on foot , will goe forward of it selfe . ouersight in choise of a new habitation . a matter of importance for england . a large course of a riuer thorow a mightie continent , produceth a portable riuer . notes for div a -e meanes to breed a speedie trade . a gentle course best to be held . notes for div a -e their fruits . these may be the tunas . the beasts of florida . notes for div a -e the trees of florida . good grapes the beasts of florida . the fowles of florida . gold and siluer . store of dies and colours . oile in florida , notes for div a -e these plants are called tunas also , whereof there be three sorts : that which beareth no fruit bringeth foorth the cochenile . notes for div a -e i take these to be the people toward cibola , clad in mantels of cotten . a true relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in virginia since the first planting of that collony, which is now resident in the south part thereof, till the last returne from thence written by captaine smith [cor]one[ll] of the said collony, to a worshipfull friend of his in england. smith, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc . estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in virginia since the first planting of that collony, which is now resident in the south part thereof, till the last returne from thence written by captaine smith [cor]one[ll] of the said collony, to a worshipfull friend of his in england. smith, john, - . [ ] p. printed for iohn tappe, and are to bee solde at the greyhound in paules-church-yard, by w.w., london : . running title: newes from virginia. signatures: [pi]¹ a-e⁴. t.p. contains illustration. includes fascimile t.p. imperfect: t.p. defaced with slight loss of print. reproduction of original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp 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remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng indians of north america -- virginia. virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trve relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in virginia since the first planting of that collony , which is now resident in the south part thereof , till the last returne from thence . written by captaine smith coronell of the said collony , to a worshipfull friend of his in england . london printed for iohn tappe , and are to bee solde at the greyhound in paules-church-yard , by w. w. to the courteous reader . courteous , kind , & indifferent readers , whose willingnesse to reade & heare this following discourse , doth explaine to the world your hearty affection , to the prosecuting and furtherance of so worthy an action : so it is , that like to an vnskilfull actor , who hauing by misconstruction of his right cue , ouer-slipt himselfe , in beginning of a contrary part , and fearing the hatefull hisse of the captious multitude , with a modest blush retires himselfe in priuate ; as doubting the reprehension of his whole audience in publicke , and yet againe vpon further deliberation , thinking it better to know their censures at the first , and vpon submission to reape pardon , then by seeking to smother it , to incurre the danger of a secret scandall : imboldening himselfe vpon the curteous kindnesse of the best , and not greatly respecting the worst , comes fourth againe , makes an apollogie for himselfe , shewes the cause of his error , craues pardon for his rashnes , and in fine , receiues a generall applauditie of the whole assemblie : so i gentle readers , happening vpon this relation by chance ( as i take it , at the second or third hand ) induced thereunto by diuers well willers of the action , and none wishing better towards it then my selfe , so farre foorth as my poore abilitie can or may stretch too , i thought good to publish it : but the author being absent from the presse , it cannot be doubted but that some faults haue escaped in the printing , especially in the names of countries , townes , and people , which are somewhat strange vnto vs : but most of all , and which is the chiefe error , ( for want of knowledge of the writer ) some of the bookes were printed vnder the name of thomas watson , by whose occasion i know not , vnlesse it were the ouer rashnesse , or mistaking of the workemen , but since hauing learned that the saide discourse was written by captaine smith , who is one of the counsell there in virginia : i thought good to make the like apollogie , by shewing the true author so farre as my selfe could learne , not doubting , but that the wise noting it as an error of ignorance , will passe it ouer with patience , and if worthy an applauditie , to reserue it to the author , whose paines in my iudgement deserueth commendations ; somewhat more was by him written , which being as i thought ( fit to be priuate ) i would not aduenture to make it publicke what more may be expected concerning the scituation of the country , the nature , of the clime , number of our people there resident , the manner of their gouernment , and liuing , the commodities to be produced , & the end & effect it maycome too , i can say nothing more then is here written , only what i haue learned and gathered from the generall consent of all ( that i haue conuersed withall ) aswell marriners as others , which haue had imploymēt that way ; is that the country is ex●cellēt & pleasant , the clime temperate and healthfull , the ground fertill and good , the commodities to be expected ( if well followed ) many , for our people , the worst being already past , these former hauing indured the heate of the day , whereby those that sha●l succeede , may at ease labour for their profit , in the most sweete , coole , and temperate shade : the action most honorable , and the end to the high glory of god , to the erecting of true religion among infidells , to the ouerthrow of superstition and idolatrie , to the winning of many thousands of wandring sheepe , vnto christs fold , who now , and till now , haue strayed in the vnknowne paths of paganisme , idolatrie , and susperstition : yea , i say the action being well followed , as by the graue senators , and worthy aduenturors , it hath beene worthily begunne : will tend to the euerlasting renowne of our nation , and to the exceeding good and benefit of our weale publicke in generall : whose counsells , labours , godly and industrious endeuours , i beseech the mightie iehouah to blesse , prosper , and further , with his heauenly ayde , and holy assistance . farewell . i. h. a true relation of such occurrences and accidents of note , as hath hapned in virginia , since the first planting of that collony , which is now resident in the south part thereof , till the last returne . kinde sir , commendations remembred , &c. you shall vnderstand that after many crosses in the downes by tempests wee arriued safely vppon the southwest part of the great canaries : within foure or fiue daies after we set saile for dominica , the . of aprill : the first land we made , wee fell with cape henry , the verie mouth of the bay of chissiapiacke , which at that present we little expected , hauing by a cruell storme bene put to the northward : anchoring in this bay twentie or thirtie went a shore with the captain ▪ and in comming aboard , they were assalted with certaine indians , which charged them within pistoll shot : in which conflict , captaine archer and mathew morton were shot : wherupon , captaine newport seconding them , made a shot at them , which the indians little respected , but hauing spent their arrowes retyred without harme and in that place was the bar opened , wherin the counsell for virginia was nonnnated : and arriuing at the place where we are now seated , the counsell was sworne , the president elected , which for that yeare was maister edm. maria wingfield , where was made choice for our scituation , a verie fit place for the erecting of a great cittie , about which some contention passed betwixt captaine wingfield and captaine gosnold , not-with-standing all out prouision was brought a shore , and with as much speede as might bee wee went about our fortification . the two and twenty day of aprill , captain newport and my selfe with diuers others , to the number of twenty two persons , set forward to discouer the riuer , some fiftie or sixtie miles , finding it in some places broader , & in some narrower , the countrie ( for the moste part ) on each side plaine high ground , with many fresh springes , the people in all places kindely intreating vs , daunsing and feasting vs with strawberries , mulberies , bread , fish , and other their countrie prouisions wherof we had plenty : for which captaine newport kindely requited thei● least fauours with bels pinnes , needles , beades or glasses , which so contented them that his liberallitie made them follow vs from place to place , and euer kindely to respect vs. in the midway staying to refresh our selues in a little ile foure or fiue sauages came vnto vs which described vnto vs the course of the riuer , and after in our iourney , they often met vs , trading with vs for such prouision as wee had , and ariuing at ar●atecke , hee whom we supposed to bee the chiefe king of all the rest , moste kindely entertained vs , giuing vs in a guide to go with vs vp the riuer to powhatan , of which place their great emperor taketh his name , where he that they honored for king vsed vs kindely . but to finish this discouerie , we passed on further , where within an i le we were interrepted with great craggy stones that in midst of the riuer , where the water falleth so rudely , and with such a violence , as not any boat can possibly passe , and so broad disperseth the streame , as there is not past flue or sire foote at a low water , and to the shore scarce passage with a barge , the water floweth foure foote , and the freshes by reason of the rockes haue left markes of the inundations . or . foote : the sooth side is plaine low ground , and the north side high mountaines , the rockes being of a grauelly nature , interlace● with many vains of glistring spangles that night we returned to powhatan : the next day ( being whitsunday after dinner ) we returned to the fals , leauing a mariner in pawn with the indians for a guide of theirs , hee that they honoured for king followed vs by the riuer . that afternoone we trifled in looking vpon the rockes and riuer ( further he would not goe ) so there we erected acrosse , and that night taking our man at powhatans , cap. newport congratulated his kindenes with a gown and a hatchet : returning to arsetecke , and stayed there the next day to obserue the height therof , & so with many slgnes of loue we departed . the next day the queene of agamatack kindely intreated vs , her people being no lesse contented then the rest , and from thence we went to another place , ( the name whereof i doe not remember ) where the people shewed vs the manner of their diuing for mussels , in which they finde pearles . that night passing by weanock some twentie miles from our fort , they according to their former churlish condition , seemed little to affect vs , but as wee departed and lodged at the point of weanocke , the people the next morning seemed kindely to content vs , yet we might perceiue many signes of a more iealousie in them then before , and also the hinde that the king of arseteck had giuen vs , altered his resolution in going to our fort , and with many kinde circumstances left vs there . this gaue vs some occasion to doubt some mischiefe at the fort , yet capt. newport intended to haue visited paspahegh and tappahanocke , but the instant change of the winde being faire for our return , we repaired to the fort withall speed , where the first we heard was that . indians the day before had assalted the fort , & supprised it , had not god ( beyond al their expectations ) by meanes of the shippes at whom they shot with their ordinances & muskets , caused them to retire , they had entred the fort with our own men , which were then busied in setting corne , their armes beeing then in driesats & few ready but certain gentlemē of their own , in which conflict , most of the counsel was hurt , a boy slaine in the pinnas , and thirteene or fourteene more hurt withall speede we pallisadeed our fort : ( each other day ) for sixe or seauen daies we had alarums by ambuscadoes , and foure or fiue cruelly wounded by being abroad : the indians losse wee know not , but as they report three were slain and diuers hurt . captaine newport hauing set things in order , set saile for england the of june , leauing prouision for . or weeks . the day before the ships departure , the king of pamaun●e sent the indian that had met vs before in our discouerie , to assure vs peace , our fort being then palisadoed round , and all our men in good health and comfort , albeit , that throgh some discentented humors , it did not so long continue , for the president and captaine gosnold , with the rest of the counsell , being for the moste part discontented with one another in so much , that things were neither carried with that discretion nor any busines effected in such good sort as wisdome would , nor our owne good and safetie required thereby , and through the hard dealing of our president , the rest of the counsell beeing diuerslie affected through his audarious commaund , and for captaine martin , ( albeit verie honest ) and wishing the best good , yet so sicke and weake , and my selfe so disgrac'd through others mallice , through which disorder god ( being angrie with vs ) plagued vs with such famin and sicknes , that the liuing were scarce able so bury the dead : our want of sufficient and good victualls , with continuall watching , foure or fiue each night at three bulwarkes , being the chiefe cause : onely of sturgion wee had great store , whereon our men would so greedily surfet , as it cost manye their liues : the sack , aquauitie , and other preseruatiues for our health , being kept onely in the presidents hands , for his owne diet , and his few associates : shortly after captaine gosnold fell sicke , and within thrée wéekes died , captaine ratcliffe being then also verie sicke and weake , and my selfe hauing also tasted of the extremitie therof , but by gods assistāce being well recouered . kendall about this time , for diuers reasons deposed from being of the councell : and shortly after it pleased god ( in our extremity ) to moue the indians to bring vs corne , ere it was halfe ripe , to refresh vs , when we rather expected when they would destroy vs : about the tenth of september there was about . of our men dead , at which time captaine wingefield hauing ordred the affaires in such sort that he was generally hated of all , in which respect with one consent he was deposed from his presidencie , and captaine ratcliffe according to his course was elected . our prouision being now within twentie dayes spent , the indians brought vs great store both of corne and bread ready made : and also there came such aboundance of fowles into the riuers as greatly refreshed our weake estates , wherevppon many of our weake men were presently able to goe abroad . as yet we had no houses to couer vs , our tents were rotten , and our cabbins worse then nought : our best commoditie was yron which we made into little chissels , the president , and captaine martins sicknes , constrayned me to be cape marchant , and yet to spare no paines in making houses for the company , who notwithstanding our misery , little ceased their mallice , grudging and mattering . as at this time were most of our chiefest men either sicke or discontented , the rest being in such dispaire , as they would rather starue and rot with idlenes , then be perswaded to do any thing for their owne reliefe without constraint : our victualles being now within eighteene dayes spent , and the indians trade decreasing , i was sent to the mouth of y● riuer , to kegquouhtan an indian towne , to trade for corne , and try the riuer for fish , but our fishing we could not effect by reason of the stormy weather . the indians thinking vs neare famished , with carelesse kindnes , offred vs little pieces of bread , & small handfulls of beanes or wheat , for a hatchet or a piece of copper : in the like maner i entertained their kindnes , and in like scorne offered them like commodities , but the children , or any that shewed extraordinary kindenes , i liberally contented with free gifte , such trifles as wel cōtented them ▪ finding this co●●e comfort , i anchored before the towne , and the next day returned to trade , but god ( the absolute disposer of all heartes ) altered their conceits , for now they were no lesse desirous of cut commodities then we of their corne : vnder colour to fetch fresh water , i sent a man to discouer the towne , their corne , and force , to trie their intent , in that they desired me vp to their houses : which well vnderstanding , with foure shot i visited them , with fish , oysters , bread and déere , they kindly trades with me and my men , beeing no lesse in doubt of my intent , then i of theirs , for well i might with twentie men haue fraighted a shippe with corne : the towne conteineth eighteene houses , pleasantly seated vpon three acres of ground , vppon a plaine , halfe inuironed with a great bay of the great riuer , the other parte with a baye of the other riuer falling into the great baye , with a little i le fit for a castle in the mouth thereof , the towne adioyning to the mains by a necke of land of sixtie yardes . with sixteene bushells of corne i returned towards our forte : by the way i encountred with two canowes of indians , who came ab●ord me , being the inhabitants of waroskoyack , a kingdome on the south side of the riuer , which is in breadth . miles and mile or neare from the mouth : with these i traded , who hauing but their hunting prouision , requested me to returne to their towne , where i should load my boat with corne , & with near thirtie bushells i returned to the fort , the very name wherof gaue great comfort to our desparing company : time thus passing away , & hauing not aboue . daies vituals left , some motiōs were made about our presidents & capt. archeri going for england , to procure a supply , in which meane time we had reasonablly fitted vs with houses , and our president & capt. martin being able to walk abroad , with much ado do it was concluded , that the pinnace and barge should goe towards powhatan , to trade for corne : letts were cast who should go in her , the chance was mine , & while she was arigging . i made a voiage to topohanack , where ariuing , there was but certain women & children who fled from their houses , yet at last i drew them to draw néere , truck they durst not , corne they had plenty , & to spoile i had no cōmission : in my resume to paspahegh , i traded with that churlish & trecherous nation : hauing loaded or bushels of corne , they offred to take our pieces and swords , yet by stelth , but séeming to dislike it , they were ready to assault vs , yet stāding vpon our guard in coasting the shore , diuers out of the woods would meet with vs with corn & trade , but least we should be constrained , either to indure ouermuch wrong or directly fal to reuenge , séeing them dog vs , from place to place , it being night , & our necessitie not fit for warres , we tooke occasion to returne with bushells of corne : cap. martin after made iournies to that nation of paspahegh but eache tune returned with . or . bushells . all things being now ready for my iourney to powhatan , for the performance thereof , i had . men and my selfe for the barge , as well for discouerie , as trading , the pinnace , . marriners , & . landmen to take in out ladings at conuenient places . the of nouember i set forward for the discouery of the country of chikhamania , leauing the pinnace the next tide to followe and stay for my comming at point weanock , miles from our fort : the mouth of this riuer falleth into the great riuer at paspahegh , miles aboue our fort : that afternoone i stayed the eb , in the bay of paspahegh with the indiās : towards the euening certaine indians haled me , one of them being of chikahamania , offred to cōduct me to his country , the paspabegheans grudged therat : along we went by moonelight , at midnight he brought vs before his towne , desiring one of our men to go vp with him , whom he kindely intertained , and returned back to the barge : the next morning i went vp to the towne , and shewed them what copper and hatchets they shold haue for corne , each family seeking to giue me most content : so long they caused me to stay that at least was expecting my comming by the riuer with corne , what i liked i bought , and least they should perceiue my too great want i went higher vp the riuer : this place is called manosquosick a quarter of a mile from the riuer , conteining thirtie or fortie houses , vppon an exceeding high land : at the foote of the hill towards the riuer , is a plaine wood , watered with many springes , which fall twentie yardes right downe into the riuer : right against that same is a great marsh , of . or . miles circuit , deuided in ilands , by the parting of the riuer , abounding with fish & fouls all sorts a mile from thence is a towne called oraniocke , i further discouered the townes of m●nsa , apahaock , werawahone , & mamanahūt at eche place kindely vsed , especially at the last , being the hart of the country , where were assembled . people with such aboūdāce of corne , as hauing laded our barge , as also i might haue laded a ship : i returned to paspahhegh , & considering that want of corne at our fort , it being night , with that ebb , by midnight i ariued at our fort , where i found our pinnis run aground : the next morning i vnladed seauē hogsheds into our store , the next morning i returned againe : the second day i ariued at mamanahūt , wher y● people hauing heard of my cōming , were ready with or . baskets litle & great , of which hauing laded my barge , with many signes of great kindnes i returned : at my departure they requested me to hear our pieces , being in the midst of the riuer , which in regard of y● eccho séemed a peale of ordnance , many birds and fowles they see vs dayly kil that much feared them , so desirous of trade wer they , that they would follow me with their canowes , & for any thing giue it me , rather then returne it back : so i vnladed again or . hogsheads at our fort . hauing thus by gods assistance gotten good store of corne , notwithstanding some bad spirrits not content with gods prouidence , still grew ●●●tinous , in so much , that our president hauing ocasion to chide the s●ith for his misdeamenor , he not only gaue him bad language , but also offred to strike him with some of his tooles , for which rebellious act , the smith was by a jury condemned to be hanged , but being vppon the ladder continuing verry obstinate , as hoping vpon a rescue : when he saw no other way but death with him , he became penitent , & declared a dangerous conspiracy , for which captains kendall as principal , was by a jury condē●ed & shot to death . this conspiracy appeased , i set forward for the discouery of the riuer of checka hamania : this third time i discouered y● townes of matapamient , morinogh , ascacap , moysenock righkahauck , nechanichock , mattalūt , attamuspincke , & diuers others , their plenty of corne i found decreased , yet lading the barge , i returned to our fort : our store being now indifferently wel prouided with corne , there was much adoe for to haue the pinace goe for england , against which captain martin & my selfe , standing chiefly against it , and in fine after many debatings , pro & contra , it was reolued to stay a ●urther resolutiō : this matter also quieted , i set forward to finish this discouery , which as yet i had neglected in regard of y● necessitie we had to take in prouision whilst it was to be had : ● . miles i passed vp that riuer , which for the most part is a quarter of a mile broad , & . fatham & a half deep , exceeding vsey , many great low marshes , & many high lāds , especially about that midst at a place called moysonicke , a peninsule of . miles cicuit , betwixt two riuers ioyned to the main , by a neck of . or . yards , and . or yards from the high water marke : on both sides in the very necke of the maine , are high hills and dales , yet much inhabited , the i le declining in a plaine fertile corn● field , the lower end a low marsh , more plentie of swannes , cranes , geese , duckes , and mallards , & diuers sorts of fowles none would desire : more plaine fertile planted ground , in such great proportions as there i had not seene , of a light blacke sandy mould , the cliffes commonly red , white and yellowe coloured sand , & vnder red & white clay , fish great plenty , & people aboundance , the most of their inhabitants , in view of that neck of land , where a better seat for a towne cannot be desired : at the end of forty miles this riuer inuironeth many low ilands , at each high water drowned for a mile , where it vniteth it selfe , at a place called . apokant the highest towns inhabited . . miles higher i discouered with the barge ; in the mid way , a great tree hindred my passage which i cut in two : heere the riuer became narrower , . or . foote at a high water , and . or . at a lowe : the streame exceeding swift , & the bottom hard channell , the ground most part of a low plaine , sandy soyle , this occasioned me to suppose it might issue from some lake or some broad ford , for it could not be far the head , but rather then i would endanger the barge , yet to haue beene able to resolue this doubt , & to discharge the imputation of malicious tungs , that halfe suspected i durst not for so long delaying , some of the company as desirous as my self , we resolued to bier a canow , and returne with the barge to apocant , there to leaue the barge secute , and put our selues vppon the aduenturs : the country onely a vast and wilde wildernes , and but onely that towne : within three or foure mile we hired a canow , and . indians to row vs that next day a fowling : hauing made such prouision for the barge as was needfull , i lett her there to ride , with expresse th●rge not any to go ashore til my returne . though some wise men may condemn this too bould attempt of too much indiscretion , yet if they well cōsider the friendship of the indians , inconducting me , the desolatenes of the country , the propabilitie of some lacke , & the malicious iudges of my actions at home●as also to ha●e some matters of worth to incourage our aduenturers in england , might well haue caused any honest 〈◊〉 to haue done the like , as wel for his own discharge as for the publike g●d : hauing indians for my guide & of our own company , i set forward , leauing in the bargs : hauing disco●ered miles further in this desart , the riuer stil kept his depth and bredth , but much more combred with trées : here we went ashore ( being some miles higher then that barge had bene ) to refresh our selues , during the boyling of our vituals : one of the indians i to●ke with me , to sée the nature of the soile , & to crosse the bought● of the riuer , the other indian i lest with m. robbinson and thomas emry , with their matches light and order to discharge a peace , for my retreat at the first sight of any indian , but within a quarter of an houre i heard a leud cry , and hollowing of indians , but no warning peece , supposing them surprised , and that the indians had betraid vs , presently i seazed him & bound his arme fast to my hand in a garter , with my pistoll ready bent to be reuenged on him : he aduised me to fly , and seemed dignorant of what was done , but as we went discoursing , i was struck with an arrow an the right thigh , but without harme : vpon this occasion i espied indians drawing their bowes , which i preuented in discharging a french pistoll : by that i had charged againe or more did the like , for the first fell downe and fled : at my discharge they did the like , my hinde i made my barricado who offeced not to striue , . or . arrowes were shot at me but short , or times i had discharged my pistoll ●re the king of pamaūck called opeckākenough with men , inuironed●e , eache drawing their bowe , which d●●e they laid them vpon the ground , yet without shot , my hinde treated betwixt them and me of conditions of peace , he discouered me to be the captaine , my request was to retire to that boate , they demaunded my armes , the rest they saide were slaine , onely me they would reserue : the indian importuned me not to that . in retiring being in the midst of alow quagmire , and minding them more then my steps , i slept fast into the quagmire , and also the indian in drawing me forth : thus surprised , i resolued to trie their mercies , my armes i casts from me , till which none durst approch me : being ceazed on me , they drew me out and led me to the king , i presented him with a compasse diall , describing by my best 〈◊〉 the vse therof , whereat he so amazedly admired , as he suffered me to proceed in a discourse of the roundnes of the earth , the course of the sunne , moone , starres and plannets , with kinde speeches and bread he requited me , conducting me where the canow lay and iohn robbinson slaine , with or . arrowes in him . emry i saw not , i perceiued by the aboundance of fires all ouer the woods , at each place i expected when they would execute me , yet they vsed me with what kindnes they could : approaching their towne , which was within miles where i was taken , onely made as arbors and couered with mats , which they remoue as occasion requires : all the women and children , being aduertised of this accident , came foorth to meet them , the king well guarded with bowmen flanck and rear , and each flanck before him asword & a péece , and after him the like , then a bowman , then i on each hand a boweman , the rest in file in the reare , which reare led foorth amongst the trees in a vishion , eache his bowe and a handfull of arrowes , a quiner at his back gumly paintes : on eache fl●nck a sargeant , the one running alwaies towarde the front the other towards the reare , each a true pace and in excéeding good order , this being a good time continued , they 〈◊〉 themselues in a ring with a daunce , and 〈◊〉 eache man departed to his lodging , the captain conducting me to his lodging a quarter of venison and some ten pound of bread i had for supper , what i left was reserued for me , and sent with me to my l●dging : each morning . women 〈◊〉 me three great platters of fine bread , more venison then ten men could deuour i had , my gowne , points and garters , my compas and a tablet they gaue me again , though ordinarily guarded me , i wanted not what they could deuise to content me : and still our longer acquaintance increased our ●etter affection : much they threatned to assault our forts , as they were solicited by the king of paspahegh , who shewed at our fort great signes of sorrow for this mischance : the king too he great delight in vnderstanding the manner of our ships and sayling the seas , the earth & skies and of our god : what he knew of the dominious he spared not to acquaint me with , as of certaine men cloathed at a place called ocanahonan , cloathed like me , the course of our riuer , and that within or daies iourney of the falles , was a great turning of salt water : i desired he would send a messenger to paspahegh , with a letter i would write , by which they shold vnderstand , how kindly they vsed me , and that i was well least they should reuenge my death : this he granted and sent three men , in such weather , as in reason were vnpossible , by any naked to be indured : their cruell mindes towards the fort i had deuerted , in describing the ordinance & the mines in the fields , as also the reuenge captain newport would take of them at his returne , their intent , i incerted the fort , the people of ocanahonum and the back sea , this report they after found diuers indians that c●nfirmed the next day after my letter , came a saluage to my lodging , with his sword to haue slaine me , but being by my guard intercepted , with abowe and arrow he offred to haue effected his purpose : the cause i knew not , till the king vnderstanding thereof came and told me of a man a dying , wounded with my pistoll : he tould me also of another i had slayne , yet the most concealed they had any hurte : this was the father of him i had slayne , whose fury to pre●ent , the king presently conducted me to another kingdome , vpon the top of the next northerly riuer , called youghtanan , hauing feasted me , he further led me to another branch of the riuer , called mattapament , to swo other hunting townes they led me , and to each of these countries , a house of the great emperour of pewhakan , whom as yet i supposed to bee at the fals , to him i tolde him i must goe , and to returne to paspahegh , after this foure or fiue dayes marsh , we returned to rasawrack , the first towne they brought me too , where binding the mats in bundels , they marched two dayes iourney , and crossed the riuer of youghtanan , where it was as broad as thames : so conducting me to a place called menapacute in pamaunke , where the king inhabited : the next day another king of that nation called kekataugh , hauing receiued some kindnes of me at the fort , kindly inuited me to feast at his house , the people from all places flocked to sée me , each shewing to content me . by this the great king hath foure or fiue houses , each containing fourescore or an hundred foote in length , pleasantly seated vpon an high sandy hill , from whence you may sée westerly a goodly low country , the riuer before the which his crooked course causeth many great marshes of excéeding good ground . an hundred houses , and many large plaines are here togither inhabited more abundance of fishe fowle , and a pleasanter seat cannot be imagined : the king with fortie bowmen to guard me , intreated me to discharge my pistoll , which they there presented me with a mark at six score to strike therwith but to spoil the pr●ctise i broke the cocke , whereat they were much discontented though a chaunce supposed . from hence this kind king conducted mee to a place called topahanocke , a kingdome vpon another riuer northward : the cause of this was , that the yeare before , a shippe had béene in the riuer of pamaunke , who hauing beene kindly entertained by powhatan their emperour , they returned thence , and discouered the riuer of topahanocke , where being receiued with like kindnesse , yet he slue the king , and looks of his people , and they supposed i were hee , but the people reported him a great man that was captaine , and vsing mee kindly , the next day we departed . this riuer of topahanock , séemeth in breadth not much lesse then that we dwell vpon . 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the riuer is a countrey called cuttata women vpwards is ma●rough tacum tapohanock , appamatuck , and nantengs ●acum ; at topmanahocks , the head issuing from many mountaines , the next night i lodged at a hunting town of powha●ams , and the next day arriued at waran●comoco vpon the riuer of pama●ncke , where the great king is resident : by the way we passed by the top of another little riuer , which is betwixt the two called payankatank . the most of this countrey though desert , yet excéeding fertil , good timber , most hils and dales , in each valley a cristall spring . arrioing at weramocomoco their emperour , proudly lying vppon a bedstead a foote high vpon seune or twelue mattes , richly hung with manie chaynes of great pearles about his necke , and couered with a great coucring of rahaughcums : at heade sat a woman , at his feete another , on each side sitting vppon a matte vppon the ground were raunged his chiefe men on each side the fire , tenne in a ranke , and behinde them as many yong women , each a great chaine of white beades ouer their shoulders : their heades painted in ridde and with such a graue and maiesticall countenance , as draue me into admiration to sée such state in a naked saluage , hee kindly welcomed me with good wordes , and great platters of sondrie v●ctuals , assuring mee his friendship , and my libertie within foure dayes , hee much delighted in opechan comoughs relation of what i ha● described to him , and oft examined me vpon the same . hee asked mee the cause of our comming , i tolde him being in fight with the spaniards our enemie , beeing ouer powred neare put to retreat , and by extreame weather put to this shore , where landing at chesipiack , the people shal vs , but at ke●u●ughtan they kindly vsed vs , we by signes demaunded fresh water , they described vs vp the riuer was all fresh water , at p●spahegh , also they kindly vsed vs , one pinnsse being leake wee were inforced to stay to mend her , till captaine newport my father came to conduct vs away . he demaunded why we went further with our boa●e , i tolde him , in that i would haue occasion to talke of the backe sea , that on the other side the maine , where was salt water , my father had a childe flaine , whiche wée supposed m●nocan his enemie , whose death we intended to reuenge . after good deliberation , hée began to describe mee the countreys beyonde the falles , with many of the rest , confirming what not onely opechancanoyes , and an indian which had beene prosoner to pewhatan had before tolde mee , but some called it fiue dayes , some sixe , some eight , where the sayde water dashed amongest many stones and rockes , each storme which caused off tymes the heade of the riuer to bee brackish : anchanachuck he described to bee the people that had slaine my brother , whose death hée would reuenge . hée described also vpon the same sea , a mighty nation called pocoughtronack , a fierce nation that did eate men , and warred with the people of moyaoncer , and pataromerke , nations vpon the toppe or the heade of the bay , vnder his territories , where the yeare before they had slein an hundred , he signified their crownes were shauen , long haire in the necke , tied on a knot , swords like polla●es . beyond them he described people with short coates , and sléeues to the elbowes , that passed that way in shippes like ours . many kingdomes hée described mée to the heade of the bay , which séemed to bée a mightie riuer , issuing from mightie mountaines betwixt the two seas , the people cloathed at ocamahowan . he also confirmed , and the southerly countries also , as the rest , that reported vs to be within a day & a halfe of mangoge , two dayes of chawwonock , . frō roo●ock , to the south part of the backe sea : he described a countrie called anone , where they haue abundance of brasse , and houses walled as outs . i required his discourse , seeing what pride hée had in his great and spacious dominions , seeing that all hee knewe were vnder his territories . in describing to him the territorles of europe , which was subiect to our great king whose subiect i was , the innumerable multitude of his ships , i gaue him to vnderstand the noyse of trumpets , and terrible manner of fighting were vnder captain newport my father , whom i intituled the meworames which they call king of all the waters , at his greatnesse hee admired , and not a little feared : hee desired mee to forsake paspaliegh , and to liue with him vpon his riuer , a countrie called capa howasicke : hée promised to giue me corne , venison , or what i wanted to feede vs , hatchets and copper wee should make him , and none should disturbe vs. this request i promised to performe : and thus hauing with all the kindnes hee could deuise , sought to content me : hee sent me home with . men , one that vsually carried my gowne and knapsacke after me , two other loded with bread , and one to accompanie me . this riuer of pamaunke is not past twelue mile from that we dwell on , his course northwest , and westerly , as the other . weraocomoco , is vpon salt water , in bredth two myles , and to keepeth his course without any tarrying some twenty miles , where at the parting of the fresh water and the salt , if diuideth it selfe into two partes , the one part to goughland , as broad as thames , and ●auigable , with a boats threescore or foure score miles , and with a shippe 〈◊〉 , excéeding crooked , and manie low grounds and marishes , but inhabited with aboundance of warlike and tall people . the countrey of youghtomam , of no lesse worth , onely it is lower , but all the soyle , a fatte , fertill , sandie ground . aboue manapacumter , many high sandie mountaines . by the riuer is many rockes , seeming if not of seuerall mines : the other branch a little lesse in breadth , yet extendeth not neare so farre , nor so well inbabited , somewhat lower , and a white sandle , and a white clay soyle : here is their best terra sigillata : the month of the riuer , as i see in the discouerie therof with captain newport , is halfe a wile broad , & within foure miles not aboue a musket shot : the channell excéeding good and dée●s , the riuer straight to the 〈◊〉 . kiskirk the nearest nation to the entrances . their religion and ceremonie i obserued was thus : thrée or foure dayes after my taking seuen of them in the house where i lay , each with a rattle began at ten a clocke in the morning to sing about the fire , which they inuironed with a circle of meale , and after a foote or two from that , at the end of each song , layde downe two or thrée graines of wheate , continuing this order till they haue included sixe or seuen hundred in a halfe circle , and after that two or thrée more circles in like maner , a hand bredth from other : that done , at each song , they put betwixt euerie three , two or fiue graines , a little slicke , so counting as an old woman her pater noster . one disguised with a great skinne , his bead ●ung round with little skinnes of weasels , and other vermine , with a crownel of feathers on his head , painted as vgly as the diuell , at the end of each song will make many signes and demonstrations , with strange and vehement actions , great cakes of déere suet , deare , and tobacco he casteth in the fire , till sixe a clocke in the euening , their howling would continue ere they would depart . each morning in the coldest frost , the principall to the number of twentie or thirtie , assembled themselues in a round circle , a good distance from the towne , where they told me they there consulted where to hunt the next day : so fat they fed nice , that i much doubted they intended to haue sacrificed mee to the quiyoughquosicke , which is a superiour power they worship , a more vglier thing cannot be described : one they haue for chief sacrifices , which also they call quiyoughquosick : to cure the sick , a man with a rattle , and extreame howling , showting , singing , and such violent gestures , and anticke actions ouer the patient will sucke out blood and flegme from the patient out of their vnable stomacke , or any diseased place , as no labour will more tire them , tobacco they offer the water in passing in fowle weather . the death of any they lament with great sorrow and weeping : their kings they burie betwixt two mattes within their houses , with all his beads , tewels , hatchets , and copper : the other in graues like ours . they acknowledge no resurrection . powhatan hath thrée brethren , and two sisters , each of his bretheren succéeded other . for the crowne , their heyres inverite not , but the first heyres of the sisters , and so successiuely the weomens heires : for the kings haue as many weomen as they will , his subiects two , and most but one . from weramocomoco is but . miles , yet the indians trifled away that day , and would not goe to our forte by any perswasions : but to certaine olde hunting houses of paspahegh we lodged all night . the next morning ere sunne rise , we set forward for our fort , where we arriued within an houre , where each man with the truest signes of ioy they could expresse welcommed mee , except m. archer , and some . or . of his , who was then in my absence , sworne counsellour , though not with the consent of captaine martin : great blame and imputation was laide vpon mée by them , for the losse of our two men which the indians slew : inso much that they purposed to depose me , but in the midst of my miseries , it pleased god to send captaine nuport , who arriuing there the same night , so tripled our ioy , as for a while these plots against me were deferred though with much malies against me , which captain newport in short time did plainly see . now was maister scriuener , captaine martin , and my selfe , called couns●llers . within fiue or sixe dayes after the arriuall of the ship , by a mischaunce our fort was burned and the most of our apparell , lodging and priuate prouision , many of our old men diseased , and of our new for want of lodging perished . the empercur powhatan each wéeke once or twice sent me many presents of deare , bread raugroughcuns , halfe alwayes for my father , whom he much desired to sée , and halfe for me : and so continually importuned by messengers and presents , that i would come to fetch the corne , and take the countrie their king had giuen me , as at last captaine newport resolued to go see him . such acquaintance i had amongst the indians , ●and such confidence they had in me , as neare the fort they would not come till i came to them , euery of them calling me by my name , would not sell any thing till i had first receiued their presents , and what they had that i liked , they deferred so my discresion : but after acquaintance , they vsually came into the fort at their pleasure : the president , and the rest of the councell , they kenew not , but captaine newports greatnesse i had so described , as they conceyued him the chiefe , the rest his children , officers , and seruants . we had agreed with that king of paspahegh to conduct two of our men to a place called panawicke beyond r●onok , where he reported many men to be apparelled . wee lended him at warraskoyack , where playing the villaine , and deluding vs for rewards , returned within thrée or foure dayes after without going further . captaine newport , maister scrinener , and my selfe , found the mouth of pamauncks riuer , some . or . miles northward from cape henricke , the chanell good as before expressed . arriuing at weramocomoca , being iealous of the intent of this politick saluage , to discouer his intent the better , i with . shot armed in jacks went a shore , the bay where he dwelleth hath in it . cricks , and a●ile and a halfe from the chanel all est , being conducter to the towne , i found my selfe mistaken in the cr●eke , for they al there were within lesse then a mile , the emperors sonne called naukaquawis , the captaine that looke me , and diuerse others of his chiefe men conducted me to their kings habitation , but in the mid way i was intercepted by a great créek ouer which they had made a bridge of grained stakes & ratles , the king of kiskieck , and namontack , who all the iourney the king had sent to guide vs , had conducted vs this passage , which caused me to suspect some mischiefe : the barge i had sent to méet me at the right lanting , when i found my selfe first deceyued , and knowing by experience the most of their courages to procéede from others feare , though fewe lyked the passage , i intermingled the kings sonne , our conductors , and his chiefe men amongst ours , and led forward , leauing halfe at the one ende to make a guard for the passage of the front. the indians seeing the weakenesse of the bridge , came with a canow , and tooke me in of the middest with foure or flue more , bring landed wee made a guard for the rest till all were passed , two in a ranke we marched to the emperors house . before his house stood fortie or fiftie great platters of fine bread , being entred the house , with loude tunes they all made signes of great ioy . this proude saluags , hauing his finest women , and the principall of his chiefe men assemble● , sate in rankes as before is expressed , himselfe as vpon a throne at the vpper ende of the house , with such a maiestie as i cannot expresse , nor yet haue often seene , either in pagan or christian , with a kinde countenance hee has ●●ce welcome , and caused a place to bee made by himselfe to sit , i presented him a sute of red cloath , a white greyhound , and a hatte , as jewels he estéemed them , and with a great oration made by thrée of his nobles , if there be any amongst saluages , kindly accepted them , with a publike confirmation of a perpetuall league and friendship . after that , he commaunded the quéen● of apamatuc , a comely yong saluage , to giue ●water● water , a turkie-cocke , and breade to eate : being thus feasted , hee began his discourse to this purpose . your kinde visitation doth much content mee , but where is your father whom i much desire to see , is he not with you . i told him he remained aboord , but the next day he would come vnto him , with a merrie coūtenance he asked me for certaine péeces i which promised him , when i went to paspahegh , i told according to my promise , that i proffered the man that went with me foure 〈◊〉 coluerings , in that he so desired a great gunne , but they re●●sed to take them , whereat with alowde laughter , he desired to giue him some of lesse burthen , as for the other i gaue him them , being sure that none could carrie them : but where are these men you promised to come with you , i told him without , who thervpon gaue order to hau● them brought in , two after two , euer mainteining the guard without . and as they presented themselues euer with thankes , he would sainte me , and caused each of them to haue foure or fiue pound of bread giuen them . this done , i asked him for the corne and ground he promised me he told me i should haue it , but he expected to haue all these men lay their armes at his féet , as did his subiects . i tolde him that was a ceremonie our enemies desired , but neuer our friends , as we presented our selues vnto him , yet that he should 〈◊〉 doubt of our friendship : the next day my father would giue him a child of ●is , in full assurance of our loues , and not only that , but when he should thinke it conuenient , wée would deliuer vnder his subiection the country of manacam and pocough●aonack his enemies . this so contented him , as immediatly with attentiue silence , with a lowd oration he proclaimed me awerowanes of powhaton , and that all his subiects should so estéeme vs , and no man account vs strangers nor paspaheghans , but powhatans , and that the corne , weomen and country , should be to vs as to his owne people : this proffered kindnes for many reasons we contemned not , but with the best languages and signes of thankes i could expresse , i tooke my leaue . the king rising from his seat , conducted me foorth , and caused each of my men to haue as much more bread as hée could beare : giuing me some in a basket , & as much he sent a board for a present to my father : victuals you must know is all there wealth , and the greatest kindnes they could shew vs : arriuing at the riuer , the barge was fallen so low with the ebbe , though i had giuen order and oft sent to preuent the same , yet the messengers deceiued mée , the skies being very thicke and rainie , the king vnderstanding this mischance , sent his sonne and mamontacke , to conduct mée to a great house sufficient to lodge mée , where entring i saw it hung round with bowes and arrowes . the indians vsed all diligence to make vs fires , & giue vs content : the kings orators presently entertained vs with a kinde oration , with expresse charge that not any should steale , or take out bowes or arrowes , or offer any iniury . presently after he sent me a quarter of venizon to slay my stomacke : in the euening hée sent for mee to come onely with two shot with me : the company i g●ue order to stand vpon their guard , & to maintaine two sentries at the ports all night . to my supper he set before me meate for twenty men , & seeing i could not eate , hee caused it to be giuen to my men : for this is a generall custome , that what they giue , not to take againe , but you most either eate it , giue it away , or carry it with you : two or thrée houres we spent in our a●●ent discourses , which done , i was with a fire stick lighted to my lodging . the next day the king conducting mée to the riuer , shewed me his canawes , and described vnto me how hée sent them ouer the baye , for tribute beades : and also what countries paide him beads , copper or 〈◊〉 . but séeing captaine nuport , and maister scriuener , comming a shore , the king retu●ned to his house , and i went to meete him , with a trumpet before him , wée marched to the king : who after his old manner kindly receiued him , especially a boy of thirtéen yeeres old , called thomas saluage , whom he gaue him as his sanne : he requited this kindnes with each of vs a great basket of beanes , and entertaining him with the former discourse , we passed away that day , and agréed to bargaine the next day , and so returned to our pinnis : the next day comming● shore in like order , the king hauing kindly entertained vs with a breakfast , questioned with vs in this manner . why we came armed in that sort , séeing hée was our friend , and had neither bowes nor arrowes , what did wée doubt ? i told him it was the custome of our country , not doubting of his kindnes any waies , wherewith though hée séemed satisfied , yet captaine nuport caused all our men to retire to the water side , which was some thirtie score from thence : but to preuent the worst , maister scriuener or i were either the one or other by the barge , experience had w●ll taught me to beléeue his friendship , till conuenient opportunity suff●ed him to betrey vs , but quickly this polititian had perceiued my absence , and ●unningly sent for mée ; i sent for maister scriuener to supply my place , the king would demaund for him , i would againe relée●● him , and they sought to satisfie our suspition with kind language , and not being agréed to trade for corne , hée desired to sée all our hatchets and copper together , for which he would giue vs corne , with that auncient trick● the chick ahamaniens had oft acquainted me : his offer i refused , offering first to sée what hée would giue for one piece , hée séeming to despise the nature of a merchant , did scorne to sell , but we freely should giue him , and he liberally would requite vs. captaine nuport would not with lesse then twelue great coppers try his kindnes , which he liberally requited with as much corne as of chickah●mania , i had for one of lesse proportion : our hatchets hée would also haue at his owne rate , for which kindnes ●ée much séemed to affect captaine nuport , some few bunches of blew beades i had , which he much desired , and seeing so few , he off●●d me a basket of two pecks , and that which i drew to be thrée pecks at the least , and yet séemed contented and desired more : i agréed with him the next day for two bushells , for y● ebbe now constrained vs to returne to our boate , although he earnestly vesi●ed vs to stay dinner which was a prouiding , and being ready he sent aboard after vs , which was bread and venizon , sufficient for fiftie or sixtie persons . the next day hee sent his sonne in the morning not to bring a shore with vs any pieces , least his weomen and children should fears . captaine nuports good beliefe would haue satisfied that request , yet twentie or twentie five shot we got a shore : the king in portuning mée to leave my armes aboard , much misliking my sword , pistol and target , i told him the man that slew my brother with the like tearmes had perswaded me , and being vnarmed shot at vs , and so betraide vs. he oft entreated captaine nuport that his men might leane their armes , which still hée commanded to the water side , this day we spent in trading for blew beads , and hauing neare straighted our barge . captaine nuport returned with them that came abord , hauing me and maister scriuener a shore , to follow in canowes ; into one i got with sixe of our men , which béeing lan●hed a stones cast from the shore stuck fast in the ose : maister scriuener séeing this example , with seuen or eight more passed the dreadfull bridge , thinking to haue found déeper water on the other cr●●ke , but they were in forced to stay with such entertainment as a saluage , being forced ashore with wind and raine , hauing in his canow , as commonly they haue , his house and houshold , instantly seeing 〈◊〉 vp a house of mats which succoured them from the storme . 〈◊〉 the indians seeing 〈◊〉 pestred in the ose , called to me , sixe or seuen of the kings chiefs men threw off their skins , and to the middle in ose came to bear me out on their heads , their import●●acie caused me better to like the canow then their curtes●e , excusing my deniall for feare to fall into the ose , desiring them to bring me some w●●d , fire , and mats , to couer me , and i would content them : each presently gaue his helpe to satisfie my request , which paines a horse would scarce haue indured , yet a couple of bells richly contented them . the emperors sent his seaman mantiuas in the euening with bread and victuall for me and my men , he no more scrip●●●s then the rest séemed to take a pride in shewing how 〈◊〉 he regarded that miserable cold and d●rty passage , though a d●ggs would scarce haue indured it , this kindnes i found , when i litle expected lesse then a mischiefs , but the black● night parting our companies , ere midnight the 〈◊〉 serued to carry vs aboard : the next day we came ashore , the king with a solemne discourse causing all to depart , but his principall men , and this was the effect , when as hée perceiued that we had a desire to inuade monacum , against whom he was no professed enemy , yet thus farre hée would assist vs in this enterprise : first hée would send his spies , perfectly to vnderstand their strength and ability ●o fight , with which he would acquaint vs himselfe . captaine nuport would not be séene in it himselfe , being great werowances , they would stay at home , but i , maister scriuener , and two of his sonnes , and opechankanough . the king of pamaunke should haue . of his men to goe before as though they were hunting , they giuing vs notise where was the aduantage we should kill them , the wcomen and young children he wished we should spare , & bring them to him , only . or . of our men he held sufficient for this exploit : our boats should stay at the falls , where we might hew timber , which we might conuey each man a piece till we were past the stones , and there ioyne them , to passe our men by water , if any were shot , his men should bring them backe to our boats , this faire tale had almost made captaine nuport vndertake , by this meanes to discouer the south sea , which will not be without trecherie , if wée ground our intent vpon his constancie . this day we spent in trading , dancing , and much mirth , the king of pamaunke sent his messenger , as yet not knowing captaine nuport , to come vnto him : who had long expected mée , desiring also my father to visite him : the messenger stayed to conduct vs , but powhatan vnderstanding that we had hatchets lately come from paspahegh , desired the next day to trade with vs , and not to go further . this new tricke he cunningly pot vpon him , but onely to haue what hee listed , and to try whether we would go or stay , opechanke●oughs messenger returned that wée would not come : the next day his daughter came to entreat me , shewing her father had hurt his legge , and much sorrowed he could not see me . captaine nuport being not to bée perswaded to goe in , that powhatan had desired vs to stay : sent her away with the like answer , yet the next day vpon better consideration intreatie pre●ailed , and wée anchored at cinquoateck , the first ●waine aboue the parting of the riuer , where dwelled two kings of pamaunke , brothers to powhatan : the one called opitchapam , the other katatough , to these i went a shore , who kindly intreated mée and maister scriuener , sending some presents aboard to captain● nuport , whilst we were trucking with these kings . opechankanough his wife , weomen , and children came to méete me with a naturall kind affection , hée séemed to reioyce to sée me . captaine nuport came a shore , with many kind discourses wée passed that foren●●ne : and after di●●er , captaine nuport went about with the pinnis to menapacant which is twenty miles by water , and not one by land : opechankanough , conducted me and maister scriuener by land , where hauing built a feasting house a purpose to entertaine vs with a kind orali●n , after their manner and his best prouision , kindly welcomed vs , that day he would not trucks , but did his best to delight vs with content : captaine nuport arriued towards euening , whom the king presented with sixe great platters of fiue bread , and pansa●owm●●a , the next day till none wée traded : the king feasted all the company , and the afternoone was spent in playing , dauncing , and delight , by no meanes hée would haue vs depart till the next day , he had feasted vs with veni●on , for which he had sent , hauing spent his first and second prouision in expecting out comming : the next day he performed his promise , giuing more to vs three , then would haue sufficed . and in that we carried not away what we le●● , hée sent it after vs to the pinnis , with what words or signes of loue he could expresse , we departed . captaine . nuport in the pinnis , leauing mée in the barge to digge a rocke , where wée supposed a mine at cinquaoreck , which done , ere midnight i arriued at werac●m●co , where our pinnis anchored , b●ing . miles from cinquao●ecke , the next day we tooke leaue of powhatan , who in regard of his kindnes gaue him an indian , he will affected to goe with him for england in stéed of his sonne , y● cause i assure me was to know our strength and countries condition : y● next day we arriued at kiskiack , the people so scornefully entertained vs , as with what signes of scorne and discontent we could , we departed and returned to our fort with . bushells of corne , our president being not wholy recouered of his sicknes , in discharging , his piece brake and split his hand off , which he is not yet well recouered . at captaine nuports arriuall , wée were victualled for tw●lue wéekes , and hauing furnished him of what hée thought good , hée set saile for england the tenth of aprill : maister scriuener and my selfe with our shallop , accompanied him to captaine hendrick . powhatan hauing for a farrewell , sent him fiue or sixe mens loadings , with torkeyes for swords , which hée sent him in our return to y●●ort : we discouered the 〈◊〉 of nausamd , a proud warlike nation , as well we may testified , at our first arriuall at chesiapiack : but that iniury captaine nuport well reuenged at his returne , where some of them in●i●●ng him to their 〈◊〉 by a da●nce , hee perceiuing their intent , with a vally of musket that , slew one , and shot one or two more , as themselues confesse , the king at our ariuall sent for me to come vnto him : i sent him word what commodities i had to exchange for wheat , and if he would as had the rest of his neighbours , conclude a peace , we were contented , at last he came downe before the boate which rid at anchor some fortie yards from y● shore , he signified to me to come a shore , and sent a canow with foure or fiue of his men , two whereof i desired to come aboard & to stay , & i would send two to talke with their king a shore , to this hée agréed : the king wée presented with a piece of copper , which he kindly excepted , and sent for victualls to entertaine the messengers . maister scriuener and my selfe also , after that went a shore : the king kindly feasted vs , requesting vs to stay to trade till the next day , which hauing done , we returned to the fort , this riuer is a musket shot broad , each side being should bayes , a narrow channell but three f●dom , his course for eightéene miles , almost directly south , and by west , where beginneth the first inhabitants , for a mile it turneth directly east , towards the west , a great bay and a white chaukie iland , conuenient for a fort : his next course south , where within a quarter of a mile , the riuer diuideth in two , the neck a plaine high corne field , the wester bought a high plaine likewise , the northeast answerable in all respects : in these plaines are planted aboundance of houses and people , they may containe . acres of most excellent fertill ground , so sweéete , so pleasant , so beautifull , and so strong a prospect , for an inuincible strong citty , with so many commodities , that i know as yet i haue not seene : this is within one deies iourney of chawwonocke , the riuer falleth into the kings riuer , within twelue miles of cape-hendicke . at our fort , the ●ooles we had were so ordinarily stolen by the indians , as necessity inforced vs to correct their brauing théeuerie : for he that stol● to day , durst came againe the next day . one amongst the rest , hauing stolen two swords , i got the counsels consent to set in the bilboes : the next day with three more , he came with their woodden swords in the midst of our men to steale , their custome is to take any thing they can ceaze off , onely the people of pamaunke , wee haue not found stealing : but what others can steale , their king receiueth . i had them depart , but flourishing their swords , they séemed to defend what they could catch but out of our hands , his pride vrged me to turne him from amongst vs , whereat he offred to strike me with his sword , which i preuented , striking him first : the rest eff●ing to reuenge the blow , receiued suck an incounter , and sled ; the better to affright them , i pursued them with fiue or sixe shot , and so chased them out of the iland : the beginning of this broyle , litle expecting by his carriage , we durst haue resisted , hauing euen till that present , not béene contradicted , especially them of paspahegh : these indians within one houre , hauing by other saluages , then in the fort , vnderstood that i threatned to be reuenged , came presently of themselues , and fell to working vpon our wears , which were then in hand by other saluages , who séeing their pride so incountred , were so so submissiue , and willing to doe any thing as might be , and with trembling feare , desired to be friends within thrée daies after : from nawsamond which is . miles from vs , the king sent vs a hatchet , which they had stollen from vs at our being there : the messenger as is the custome , also wée well rewarded and contented . the twenty of aprill , being at worke , in hewing downe trees , and setting corne , an alarum caused vs with all speede to take our armes , each expecting a new assault of the saluages : but vnderstanding it a boate vnder saile , our doubts were pr●●ently satisfied , with the happy sight of maister nelson , his many perrills of extreame stormes and tempests . his ship well , as his company could testifie his care in sparing our prouision , was well : but the prouidence thereof , as also of our stones , hatchets , and other fooles , onely ours excepted , which of all the rest was most necessary , which might inforce vs , to think either a seditious traitor to our action , or a most vnconscionable deceiuer of our treasures . this happy arriuall of maister nelson in the phenix , hauing beene then about thrée monethes missing , after captaine nuports arriuall , being to all our expectations lost : albeit , that now at the last , hauing béene long crossed with tempest●ous weather , and contrary winds , his so vnexpected comming , did so rauish vs with exceeding ioy , that now we thought our selues as well filled , as our harts could wish , both with a competent number of men , as also for all other néedfull prouisions , till a further supply should come vnto vs : whereupon the first thing that was concluded , was , that my selfe , and maister scriuener , should with . men goe with the best meanes we could prouide , to discouer beyond the falls , as in our iudgements conueniently we might : sixe or seauen daies we spent only in trayning , our men to march , fight , and scirwish in the woods , their willing minds to this action , so quickned their vnderstanding in this exercise , as in all iudgements wée were better able to fight with powhatans whole force : in our order of battle amongst the trées , ( for thicks there is few ) then the fort was to rep●●s● . at the first ass●ult , with some tenne or twenty shot , not knowing what to doe , nor how to vse a piece : our warrant being s●aled , maister nelson refused to 〈◊〉 vs with the voluntary marriners , and himselfe as be promised , vnlesse we would stand bound to pay the hire for shippe , and marriners , for the time they stayed : and further there was some controuersie , through the diuersitie of contrary opinions , some alleadging , that how profitable , and to what good purpose soeuer our iourney should portend , yet our commission , commanding no certaine designe , we should be taxed for the most indiscréete men in the world , besides the wrong we should doe to captaine nuport , to whom only all discoueries did belong , and 〈◊〉 no other : the meanes for guides , beside the vncertaine courses of the riuer , from which we could not erre much , each night would fortifie vs in two houres , better then that they first called the fort , their townes vpon the riuer , each within one dayes iourney of other , besides our ordinary prouision , might well be supp●sed to adde reliefe : for truck & dealing only , but in loue & peace , as with the rest ; if they assalted vs , their townes they cannot defend , nor their lnggage to conuey , that we should not share , but admit the worst , . daies prouision we had of ch●●se , o●tmeale , and b●●ket besides our rand●nous , we could and might haue hid in the ground . with sixe men , captaine martin , would haue vndertaken it himselfe , leauing the rest to defend the fort , and plant our corne : yet no reason could be reason , to procéed● forward , though we were going aboard to set saile : these discontents caused so many doubts to some , and discouragement to others , as our iourney ended : yet some of vs procured petitions to set vs forward , only with hope o● our owne confusions , our next course was to turne husbandmen , to fell trées and set corne. fiftie of our men , we imployed in this seruice , the rest kept the fort , to doe the command of the president , and captaine martin , . dayes the ship lay expecting that triall of certain matters , which for some cause i keepe priuate : that next exploit was an indian hauing stolen an are was so pursued by maister scriuener , & them next him , as he threw it downe , and flying , drew his how at any that durst incounter him : within foure or fiue dayes alter , maister scr●uener and i , being a little from the fort , among the corne , two indiants , each with a codgell , and all newly painted with t●rrasigillate , came circling about mée , as though they would haue clubed me like a hare : i knew their faining loue is towards me , not withort a deadly hatred , but to preuent the worst , i calling maister scriuener retired to the fort : the indians seeing me suspect them , with good 〈◊〉 , asked me for some of their men , whom they would beate , and went with me into our fort , ●●nding one that lay ordinarily with vs , only for a spie : they offered to beat him , i in perswading them to forbeare , they offered to beginne with me being now foure for two other arrayed in like manner , came in on the other side the fort : wherevpon i caused to shut the ports , and apprehend them . the president and counsell , being presently acquainted , remembring at the first assault , they came in like manner , and neuer else but against some villauie , concluded to commit them to prison , and expect the euent , eight more we ceazed at that present , an houre after came three or foure other strangers , extraordinarily fited with arrowes , s●innes , and shooting glo●es , their iealousie and feare , bewrayed their bad intent , as also their suspitious departure . the next day came first an indian , then another as embassa●ors for their men , they desired to speake with me , our discourse was , that what spades , shouells , swords , or fooles they had staine , to bring home ( if not the next day , they should hang ) the next newes was , they had taken two of our men , ranging in the woods , which mischiefe no punishment will preuent bat hanging , and these they would should redeeme their owne . or . thus brauing vs to our doores , we desired the president , and captaine martin , that afternoone to sally vpon them , that , they might but know , what we durst to doe , and al night mand our barge , and burnt their townes , and spoiled , and destroyes , what we could , but they brought our men , and fréely deliuered them : the president released one , the rest we brought well guarded , to morning and euening prayers our men all in armes , their trembling feare , then caused them to much sorrow , which till then scoffed , and scorned at what we durst doe , the counsell concluded , that i should terrifle them with some torture , to know if i co●ld know their intent the next day i bound one in hold , to the maint mast , and presenting fire muskets with match in the cockes , forced him to desire life , to answere my demaunds he could not , but one of his comouodos was of the counsell of paspahegh , that could satisfie me : i releasing him out of sight , i affrighted the other , first with the rack , then with muskets , which séeing , he desired me to stay , and hée would confesse to this execution maister scriuener came , his discourse was to this effect , that paspehegh , the chickahamaniar , youghtanum , pamaunka , mattapanient , & kiskiack . these nations were altogether a hunting that tooke me , paspahegh , & chicahamanya , had entended to surprise vs at worke , to haue had our tools : powhatan , & al his would s●me friends , till captaine nuports returne , that he had againe his men , which he called namontack , where with a great feast hee would so enamor captain nuport & his men , as they should ceaze on him , and the like traps would be laied for 〈◊〉 . this trap for our fooles , we suspected the chiefe occasion was foure daies before powhatan 〈◊〉 sent the boy he had to vs , with many turkies to maister scriuener , and mée , vnderstanding i would go vp into his countries to destroy them , and he doubled it the more , in that i so oft practised my men , whose shooting he heard to his owne lodging , that much feared his wiues , and children ; we sent him word , we entended no such thing , but only to goe to powhatan , to séeke stones to make hatchets , except his men shoot at vs , as paspahegh had told vs they would , which if they did shoote but one arrowe , we would destroy them , and least this mischiefe might happen , sent the boy to acquaint him thus much , and request him to send vs weanock , one of his subiects for a guide , that boy he returned backe with his chest , & apparell , which then we had giuen him , desiring another for him , y● cause was , he was practising with the chikahamanias , as the boy suspected some vnlanie , by their extraordinary resort , & secret conference 〈◊〉 : whence they would send him . the boy we keepe , now we would send him many me●s ; sengers , & presents , the guide we desired be sent vs & withall requested vs to returne him , either the boy or some order , but none he could haue , & that day these indians were apprehended , his sonne with others that had loaded at our fort , returned & being out of the fart , rayl●d on me , to 〈…〉 our 〈…〉 enemies to 〈◊〉 & to y● 〈…〉 after w●anock that had 〈◊〉 with 〈…〉 kept to haue 〈…〉 returned , and secretly after him , amocis toe paspaheyan , who alwaies they kept amongst vs for , 〈◊〉 , whom the better to auoide suspition , presently after they came to bea●e away : these presumptions induced me to take any occasion , not onely to try the honesty of amocis , the spie but also the meaning o● these cunning crickes of their emperour of powhatan ; whose true 〈◊〉 captaine ma●●●n most confidently pleades . 〈…〉 of m●cano● , which was the counseller of pasp●●●gh : first i then maister 〈◊〉 , vpon their seuerall examinations , ●ound by them all confirmed , that paspahegh , and c●●●kahammania did hate vs , and intended some mischiefe , and who they were that tooke me , the names of them that stole our tooles , and swords , and that powhatan receiued them , they all agreed : certaine vo●●lies of shot we caused to be discharged , which caused each other to thinke that their fellowes had beene slaine . powhatan vnderstanding we detained certaine saluages , seat his daughter , a child al tenne yeares old , which not only for feature , countenance , & proportion much exceedeth any of the rest of his people , but for wit , and spirit , the only nonpariel of his country : this hee sent by his most trustie messenger , called rawhunt , as much excéeding in 〈…〉 person , but of a subtill wit , and crafty vnderstanding , he with a long circumstance , told mee , how well powhatan , loued and respected mée , and in that i should not doubt any way of his kindnesse , ●e had sent his child , which he most esteemed , to see me , a deere , and bread , besides for a present : desiring me that the boy might come againe , which he loued exceedingly , his little daughter hée had taught this lesson also : not taking notice at all of the ind●ans that had beene prisoners three daies , till that morning that she saw their fathers are friends come quietly , and in good ●earmes to entreate their libertie . opechaukanough , sent also vnto vs , that for his sake , we would release two that were his friends , and for a token sent me his shooting gloue , and bracer , which the day our men was taken vpon , 〈◊〉 himselfe from the rest a long time , intreated to speake with me , where in token of peace , he had preferred me the same : now all of them hauing found their perempsorie conditions , but to increase our malice , which they seeing vs begin to threaten to destroy them , as familiarly as before , without suspition , or feare , came amongst vs , to begge libertie for their men : in the afternoone they being gone , we guarded them as before to the church , and after prayer , gaue them to pocahuntas , the kings daughter , in regard of her fathers kindnesse in sending her : after hauing well fed them , as all the time of their imprisonment , we gaue them their bowes , arrowes , or what else they had , and with much content , sent them packing : pocahuntas , also we requited , with such trifles as contented her , to tel that we had vsed that paspaheyans very kindly in so releasing them . the next day we had suspition of some other practise for an ambuscado , but perfectly wée could not discouer it , two daies after a paspheyan , came to shew vs a glistering minerall stone : and with signes demonstrating it to be in great aboundance , like vnto rockes , with some dozen more , i was sent to seeke to digge some quantitie , and the indean to conduct me : but suspecting this some tricke to delude vs , for to get some copper of vs , or with some ambuscado to betray vs , séeing him falter in his tale , being two miles on our way , led him ashore , where abusing vs from place to place , and so seeking either to haue drawne vs with him into the 〈◊〉 , or to haue giuen vs the s●ppe : i shewed him copper , which i promised to haue giuen him , if he had performed his promise , but for his scoffing and abusing vs , i gaue him twentie lashes with a rope , and his bowes and arrowes , bidding him 〈◊〉 if he durst , and so let him goe . in all this time , our men being all or the most part well recouered , and we not willing to trifle away more time then necessitie enforced vs vnto , we thought good for the better content of the aduenturers , in some reasonable sort to ●raight home maister nelson with cedar wood , about which , our men going with willing minds , was in very good time effected , and the ship sent for england ; wee now remaining being in good health , all our men wel cōtended , free from mutinies , in loue one with another , & as we hope in a continuall peace with the indians , where we doubt not but by gods gracious assistance , and the aduenturers willing minds , and speedie furtherance to so honorable an action in after times , to sée our nation to enioy a country , not onely excéeding pleasant for habitation , but also very profitable for comerce in generall , no doubt pleasing to almightie god , honourable to our gracio●s soueraigne , and commodious generally to the whole kingdome . finis . virginia's god be thanked, or a sermon of thanksgiving for the happie successe of the affayres in virginia this last yeare. preached by patrick copland at bow-church in cheapside, before the honorable virginia company, on thursday, the . of aprill . and now published by the commandement of the said honorable company. hereunto are adjoyned some epistles, written first in latine (and now englished) in the east indies by peter pope, an indian youth, borne in the bay of bengala, who was first taught and converted by the said p.c. and after baptized by master iohn wood, dr in divinitie, in a famous assembly before the right worshipfull, the east india company, at s. denis in fan-church streete in london, december . copland, patrick, ca. -ca. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) virginia's god be thanked, or a sermon of thanksgiving for the happie successe of the affayres in virginia this last yeare. preached by patrick copland at bow-church in cheapside, before the honorable virginia company, on thursday, the . of aprill . and now published by the commandement of the said honorable company. hereunto are adjoyned some epistles, written first in latine (and now englished) in the east indies by peter pope, an indian youth, borne in the bay of bengala, who was first taught and converted by the said p.c. and after baptized by master iohn wood, dr in divinitie, in a famous assembly before the right worshipfull, the east india company, at s. denis in fan-church streete in london, december . copland, patrick, ca. -ca. . pope, peter, fl. . [ ], , [ ] p. printed by i[ohn] d[awson] for william sheffard and iohn bellamie, and are to be sold at his shop at the two grey-hounds in corne-hill, neere the royall exchange, london : . printer's name from stc. the epistles by peter pope, with caption title "to the most illustrious knight, sir thomas smith ..", have separate register. they include the latin originals. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sermons, english. virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - tcp staff (oxford) sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virginia's god be thanked , or a sermon of thanksgiving for the happie successe of the affayres in virginia this last yeare . preached by patrick copland at bow-church in cheapside , before the honorable virginia company , on thursday , the . of aprill . and now published by the commandement of the said honorable company . hereunto are adjoyned some epistles , written first in latine ( and now englished ) in the east indies by peter pope , an indian youth , borne in the bay of bengala , who was first taught and converted by the said p. c. and after baptized by master iohn wood , dr in divinitie , in a famous assembly before the right worshipfull , the east india company , at s. denis in fan-church streete in london , december . . london printed by i. d. for william sheffard and iohn bellamie , and are to be sold at his shop at the two greyhounds in corne-hill , neere the royall exchange . . to the right noble and honorable earles , barons , and lords ; and to the right worshipfull knights , marchants , and gentlemen , adventurers for the plantation in virginia ; all happinesse , externall , internall , and eternall in christ iesus our blessed saviovr . after i had discharged the charge laid vpon me by your honourable and worshipfull court ; and was presently after , sollicited by some of your honourable societie , to present to the eye , what i had deliuered to the eare . though at first , i was indeed very vnwilling , at their intreatie : yet , being commanded by your honourable court to publish what before you had intreated mee to preach ; and weighing well with my selfe , that words spoken , are soone come , soone gone ; but that written withall , they make a deeper impre●●ion : for , by striking as well the eye of the reader , as the eare of the hearer , they peirce his heart the better , and saue his soule the sooner . hereupon , that i might testifie how much i honour your lawful commandements ; and withall , that i might confirme with my pen that grace , which it pleased god to worke by my voyce ; i haue now yeelded to all of your requests , making that common to all , which then was imparted but to some : onely in desire some way to witnesse my dutifull respect ●o your honourable court , and loue to your noble plantation . for , seeing many of your noble and worthy company haue spent a great part of their painefully gained estates vpon this honourable action ; and reioyce in nothing more then in this , that god hath giuen them a price in their hand , and a heart to vse it for the furthering of this glorious worke ; how could i , at so earnest intreatie , refuse to adventure this mite of mine , among so many worthie adventures of theirs ? how could i ( i say ) refuse to make their publique bountie , and your publique thankesgiuing , yet more publique ? if your honours will be pleased to take in good part what now i impart ; it may proue a spurre vnto me , to vndertake some bet●er piece of seruice for the good of your noble plantation ; at least , if it lie in my poore power to bring it to passe . thus intreating your honours fauourable acceptance , i rest london this of may. . in all humble dutie to be commanded p. c. virginia's god be thanked . psalme , . verse . . they that goe downe to the sea in ships , and occupie in the great waters ; . they see the workes of the lord , and his wonders in the deepe : . for hee commandeth , and raiseth the stormie winde , and it lifteth vp the waues thereof . . they mount vp to the heaven , and descend to the deepe ; so that their soule melteth for trouble : they are tossed too and fro , and stagger like a drunken man , and all their cunning is gone . . then they cry vnto the lord in their trouble ; and hee bringeth them out of their distresse . . he turneth the storme to a calme , so that the waues thereof are still . . when they are quieted they are glad ; and he bringeth them to the haven where they would be . . let them therefore confesse before the lord , his loving kindnesse ; and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men . . and let them exalt him in the congregation of the people , & prayse him in the assembly of the elders . the occasion of our present meeting ( right honorable , right worshipfull , and dearely beloved in our lord iesus christ ) is to celebrate the goodnes of our good and gracious god , & to giue him publique and solemne prayses for the sa●e arriving of your fleete of . sayle of ships in virginia , in november , and december last : and for the happie ( yea , and in a maner miraculous ) landing o● . people m●n , women , and children , all in health : as also for the hopeful and good successe , wherewith almightie god hath crowned your colony in that heathen-now christian kingdome . this taske being layd vpon me ( the vnworthi●st of many , who could and would haue performed it better ) i haue endevoured to discharge , according to the scantling of time , and measure of grace vouchsafed vnto mee . the prophet in this psalme , magnifying the providence of god , against all prophane epicures , and carnall worldlings ( who ascribe all ●hings , either to blinde fortune ; or their owne industrie ) setteth downe foure kindes of men , which are most indebted vnto god for deliverance from dangers : the first is of those , who in their iourney by land haue escaped a dearth , from the first verse to the tenth . the second , is of prisoners inlarged and set at libertie , from the tenth verse , to the seaventeenth . the third , is of such , as are freed from a desperate and mortall sicknesse , from the . verse to the . the last , is of mariners , saylers , and sea-faring men ; who haue escaped a storme , and haue got into the wished haven , from the . verse to the . this last part , being the text appoynted for my present discourse ; i haue for my better proceeding in it ; and your memories sake , reduced to these three heads , a danger , a deliverance , a dutie . the danger is set downe verse , . . . ( for the other two verses , are but as it were , an introduction into it ) for hee commaundeth , and raiseth the stormie winds &c. the deliv●rance from the danger is set forth by the meanes that these sea-faring men vse to bee freed from it , viz. faith●ull and fervent prayer vnto god , verse . . . then they cry vnto the lord in their trouble &c. the dutie , is delivered verse . . let them therefore confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse &c. to speake of these in order ; the first thing wee haue to note is this , that great is the danger of sea-faring men . a liuely image of their vncertaine and variable liues is heere set downe by the prophet . and if we marke wel the comparison ; it is next to famine , imprisonment , and a deadly disease to be a sea-man : for as one sayth navigantes neque inter vivos , neque inter mortuous . saylers are neither amongst the living , nor yet amongst the dead : as having but a few inches of planke betweene them and death , they hang betweene both ; ready to offer vp their soules to every flaw of wind , and billow of water wherein they are tossed . the immoveable rocks , and the mutable windes ; the ouerflowing waters , and swallowing sands ; the tempestuous stormes , & spoyling pyrats haue their liues at their mercy and commaund . mariners living in the sea , almost as fishes , hauing the waters as their necessariest element : are commonly men voyd of feare , ventrous and contemners of dangers : yet when god on a sudden commandeth a ●●orme , and sitteth himselfe in the mouth of the tempest : when their ship is foundred with water vnder them ; when life and soule are readie to shake hands , and depart this present world ; then , euen these nought-fearing fellowes , these high stomaked men tremble for feare like faint-hearted women that shrink at euery stirre in a wherrie on the river of thames in a rough and boysterous tyde : or like vnto a yong souldier , which starteth at the shooting off of a gun. i remember what aeschi●es spak of demosthenes at rhodes when he read the defence that demosthenes had framed to his accusation ; the people wondring at the strength and validitie of it . quid si ipsam andissetis bestiam sua verba pronu●cia●tem● what would you haue tho●ght ( sayd he ) if you had heard the beast ( for so hee speaketh disgracefully of demosthenes ) pronouncing it with his owne mouth ? you wonder at the hearing of the dangerous storme , described here by the prophet ; but what would you say , if you had seene it your selues with your owne eyes ? ionah , a sea-faring man , when he writeth of the storme wherein he was ; his pen wrote nothing so effectually , as his heart felt : and being the scribe and orator onely , hee is nothing so fluent and copious as when he is the patient . the stile of his history is simple & plaine ionah prayed v●to the lord his god out of the belly of the fish . what one word therein is loftie and magnificent , and lifted aboue the common course of speech ? but the stile of ionah himselfe speaking from a sense and feeling of his owne woes , is full of ornament and maiestie , full of tr●nslated and varied phrases , as if a sentence of ordinarie termes were not sufficient to expresse his extraordinarie woes : for being in affliction , and in the danger it selfe ; it is not sayd as before that he prayed , but that he cryed , praying is turned into crying ; not from the belly of the fish , but fro● the belly of hell : a maru●ilous transformation : and the trouble he speaketh of , is said to be a casting of him into the bottome of the midst of the sea ; and a compassing of him about with flouds , surges & waues , which went ouer and ouer his head : nay , a compassing about of his soule , and a very melting of it for tro●ble , as heere in this psal. verse . and a wrapping about of his head with weedes , and a going downe vnto the bottome of the mountaines . let the scriptures bee throughly searched againe and againe , from the beginning of genesis , to the end of the revelation ; and wee shall hardly meete with the like description of misery , so emphatically and pathetically set out as this of sea-faring men , set downe both in that second chapter of ionah , and in this . psalme . the miseries of iob , you all know how vehement they were , and he neuer more kind●ly expressed them then by this translation . am i a sea , or a whale-fish that thou keepest me in ward ? will you yet see the great danger of sea men , i will leade you along to weigh it by an experience and tryal of mine own , in a typhoon , or cruel tempest that i met with off of the islands of macqa● , adioyning to the continent of chyna . in this typhoon or storme , our goodly vnicorne ( a ship of ● t●nne ) was cast away vpon the continent of chyna ; but all the people ( blessed be god ) saued ; and though at their first landing vpon the chyna shore , they were rifled by some of the baser ●ort of the chynae● ; yet vpon the comming of the mandarins , or governours , they had good entertainement of dyet & house-roome for their mony , and were very kindly vsed by those of better note . in this tempest wee lost also our pinnace , with or men in her which we had sent before vs to firando ( an island adioyning to iapan ) to giue notice of our comming , of whom we never heard newes : wee cut off our long boate , and let her goe ; we sunke our shallop with two men in her , who were swallowed vp by the waues . such was this storme , as if ionah had been flying vnto tharshish . the ayre was beclouded , the heavens were obscured , and made an egyptian night of fiue or sixe dayes perpetuall horror : the experience of our sea-men was amased ; the skil of our mariners was confounded ; our royal iames most violently and dangerously leaked ; & those which pumped to keepe others from drowning , were halfe drowned themselues with continuall pumping . but god that heard ionah crying out of the belly of hell ; and who , heere is sayd to turne a storme into a calme ; hee pitied the distresses of his servants ; hee hushed the tempest , and brought vs safely to firando , our wished haven . o that the tempest of macqau may never out of my minde , but that this wonderfull deliverance and al other gods mercies , may stil be iogging mee at the elbow , and putting me in minde to confesse before the lord his loving kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ; that i may exalt him in the congregation of the people , and prayse him in the assemblie of the elders . but you will say , what needeth all this discourse , touching the danger of sea-men ; we are met together for another purpose , to giue thanks vnto god ? beloued , i doe confesse indeed it is so , that the end of our present meeting is for thankesgiuing . but how can wee●er be feelingly thankfull , as we should in word and deed , if wee know not the danger wherein wee are , and the deliverance vouchsafed vnto vs ? will not the true knowledge and deepe consideration of these , make vs put so many the more thankes into our sacrifice of prayse ? wherefore i beseech you to take to heart , first , the danger of your people in their passages both to virginia , and after their landing . secondly , the danger of your whole colony there . thirdly , the danger of your selues here at home . and left others , that are not of your honourable company , may thinke this point impertinent to them ; let all of vs consider the dangers wherein we were , and still are ; and the many deliverances vouchsafed vnto vs ( for i must intreat you to giue me leaue to joyne danger and deliverance together , for the better stirring of you vp vnto your dutie . ) and then i doubt not , but all of vs shall haue cause to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men . and first , to touch the danger of your people , both in their passage to virginia , and after their landing there , may i not say in the words of iob , will yee giue the words of him that is afflicted to the winde ? as if he had said , when affliction it selfe , and the inmost sorrowes of my heart tell my tale , will you not regard it ? o that your soules were in my soules stead , that you felt as much sorrow as i doe : l●quor in angustia mea ; quer●r in amaritudine animae mea , i speake that that i speake from a world of trouble ; i make my complaint in the bitternesse of my soule . surely , if some hundreds of those that mis-carried in the infancie , and at the first beginning of your plantation , ( which is exceedingly bettered within these . yeeres ) were now aliue , i thinke they would speake no otherwise than iob spake● wil you giue the words of thē that are afflicted to the winde ? will ye not beleeue in what danger we were , when some of vs made shipwracke vpon the supposed inchanted ilands ; when others of vs encountred with bloudie enemies in the west indies ; when many of vs dyed by the way ; and when those that were left aliue , some perished a shore , for want of comfortable prouisions , and looking vnto , and others were killed with the bowes and arrows of the savages vpon our first landing there ? i presume , i speake to melting hearts of flesh , as tenderly sensible of your brethrens woe , as heartily thankful for your owne good . and now , beloued , since the case is altered , that all difficulties are swallowed vp : and seeing , first , there is no danger by the way ; neither through encountring of enemy , or pyrate ; nor meeting with rockes , or sholes ( all which to sea-faring men are very dangerous , and from all which your ships and people are farre remoued , by reason of their faire and safe passage through the maine ocean ) nor through the tediousnesse of the passage ; the fittest season of the yeare for a speedie passage , being now farre better knowne then before ; and by that meanes the passage it selfe made almost in so many weekes , as formerly it was wont to be made in moneths ; which i conceiue to be , through the blessing of god , the maine cause of the safe arriuall of your last fleete of nine sayle of ships , that not one ( but one , in whose roome there was another borne ) of eight hundred , which were transported out of england and ireland for your plantation , should miscarry by the way ; whereas in your former voyages scarce . of a . arrived safely in virginia . and secondly , seeing there is no danger after their landing , either through warres , or famine , or want of conuenient lodging , and looking too , through which many miscarried heretofore ; for , blessed be god , there hath beene a long time , and still is a happie league of peace and amitie soundly concluded , and faithfully kept , betweene the english and the natiues , that the feare of killing each other is now vanished away . besides , there is now in your plantation plentie of good and wholesome provisions for the strength and comfort , not onely of the colony , but also of all such as after their passage doe land ashore . there is also convenient lodging , and carefull attendance provided for them , till they can provide for themselues ; and a faire inne for receiuing and harbouring of strangers , erecting in iames cittie ; to the setting vp of which , both your worshipfull governour , sir francis wyat , and your worthie treasurer , master george sands doe write , that they doubt not , but there will be raised betweene fifteene hundred and two thousand pounds ; to which euery man contributeth cheerefully and bountifully ; they being all free-hearted , and open-handed to all publique good workes . seing , i say , that now all former difficulties ( which much hindered the progresse of your noble plantation ) are removed , and in a maner ouercome : and that your people in your colony ( through gods mercy ) were all in good health , euery one busied in their vocations , as bees in their hiues , at the setting sayle of your ship the concord from virginia in march last . o what miracles are these ? o what cause haue you and they to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ? but to passe from the danger and deliverance of your people , who indangered , yea , lost their liues in setling of your plantation , consider , i beseech you , in the second place , the danger wherein your whole colony stood , at the time of sir thomas gates arriving in virginia from the summer ilands , when it was concluded a few dayes after his landing , by himselfe , sir george summers , captaine newport , and the whole counsell , by the generall approbation of all , to abandon the colony ( because of the want of provisions ) and to make for new-found-land , and so for england . and will not the hopefull setling of your colony there , now vnder the government of a worthy and worshipfull commander ; and a wise and wel-experienced counsell , stirre you vp to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ? but , if neither the danger of your people ; nor the danger of your whole colony abroad , and the deliverance vouchsafed to them both be enough to stirre you vp to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse : then i beseech you , in the third place , to consider the danger of your owne selues here at home . what masse of money haue you buried in that plantation ? how many of you had it not made to wish that you had neuer put your hand to this plough ? nay , how many of you had it not made to shrinke in your shoulders ; and to sinke ( as it were ) vnder the burden , and to be quite out of hope for euer seeing penny of that you had so largely depursed ? and now , beloued , is not the case altered ? are not your hopes great of seeing ; nay , of feeling , within a few yeares of double , treble ; yea , i may say of tensold for one ? doe not all of you know what that religious and judicious overs●er of your colledge lands there writeth vnto you from thence ? no man ( sayth he ) can iustly say , that this country is not capable of all those good things , that you in your wisedomes , with your great charge haue projected , both for her wealth and honour : and also of all other good things , that the most opulent parts of christendome doe afford ; neither are wee hopelesse , that this country may also yeeld things of better value then any of those ? and surely , by that which i haue heard and seene abroad in my travailing to india and iapan , i am confirmed in the truth of that which he doth write . for iapan , lying in the same latitude that virginia doth ; and if there be any ods , virginia hath them , as lying more southerly then iapan doth : iapan ( i say ) lying vnder the same latitude that virginia doth , aboundeth with all things for profit and pleasure , being one of the mightiest and opulentest empires in the world , hauing in it many rich mines of gold and siluer . and had you not a taste of some marchantable commodities sent vnto you from virginia some yeeres agoe , whilest that worshipfull and worthy gouernour , sir thomas dale sent home vnto you samples of aboue a dossen severall good commodities from thence ? haue you not now great hopes of abundance of corne , wine , oyle , lemmons , oranges , pomegranats , and all maner of fruites pleasant to the eye , and wholesome for the belly ? and of plentie of silke , silke grasse , cotton-wooll , flax , hempe &c. for the backe ? are not you already possessed with rich mines of copper and yron , and are not your hopes great of farre richer minerals ? haue you not read what of late your worthie treasurer doth write vnto you ? if ( sayth hee ) wee ouercome this yeere the yron-workes , glasse-workes , salt-works ; take order for the plentifull setting of corne ; restraine the quantitie of tobacco , and mend it in the qualitie , plant vines , mulbery-trees , fig-trees , pomegranats , potatoes , cotton woolles ; and erect a faire inne in iames citie ( to the setting vp of which , i doubt not but wee shall raise fifteene hundred or two thousand pounds : for every man giues willingly towards this and other publique workes ) you haue enough for this yeere . and a little after , in the same letter● maister pory deserues good incouragement for his paineful discoveries to the south-ward , as far as the choanoack , who although he hath trod on a litle good ground , hath past through great forests of pynes . or . myle broad and aboue . mile long , which will serue well for masts for shipping , and for pitch and ●arre , when we shall come to extend our plantatiōs to those borders . on the other side of the river there is a fruitfull countrie blessed with aboundance of corne , reaped twise a yeere : aboue which is the copper mines , by all of all places generally affirmed . hee hath also met with a great deale of silke grasse which growes there monethly of which maister harriot , hath affirmed in print many yeeres agoe , that it will make silke grow-graines● and of which and cotten woll all the cambaya and bengala stuffes are made in the east indies . heard you not with your owne eares what m. iohn martin an armenian by birth ( that hath lived now . or . yeeres in virginia , and is but very lately come from thence , and purposeth ( as all others that are lately come ouer , who also farre preferre virginia to england ) to returne thither againe , with this resolution , there to liue and die ) said in the audience of your whole court the th of this instant ? i haue travailed ( said he ) by land over eighteene severall kingdomes ; and yet all of them in my minde , come farre short of virginia , both for temperature of ayre , and fertilitie of the soyle . all this throughly considered , o how great cause haue you to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ? and that all of vs here present may confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ; let vs take to heart our private , our publique dangers and deliverances : from how many dangers eminent and imminent hath the lord delivered vs and our whole land in eightie-eight ; and in the gun powder-treason ? haue wee not then all of vs good cause to exalt the lord in the congregation of the people , and to prayse him in the assembly of the elders ? nay , haue not elders and yongers , and all good cause so to doe ? but , alas , i am afraid , that we haue forgotten the louing kindnesse of the lord , and his wonderfull deliverances bestowed vpon vs. beneficij memoria est brevissima ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . may not england justly be charged with israels sinne , whose prayers and prayses ended so soone as they passed the red sea ? amongst the tribes , there was one named manasse , which signifies , forgetfulnes ; i pray god the tribes , euen the heads of our people forget it not ; but that we and the whole land , may confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ; and se●ke to exalt him in the congregation of the people , and to prayse him in the assembly of the elders . verse . then they cryed vnto the lord in their trouble &c. thus having spoken of the danger , i come now to speake a word of the deliverance , and the meanes which these sea-faring men vsed to be freed from their trouble , which is faithfull & fervent prayer , then they cryed vnto the lord , &c. faithfull and fervent prayer vnto god , in the name of iesus christ , is a sure meanes to procure helpe in trouble , and to free vs from the greatest danger that is , or at least from the evill thereof . these mariners going vnto god , not with a cold and carelesse devotion ; nor with a dombe spirit : but with as earnest and impatient a voyce , as the affection of their heart , and affliction of their body could send forth : they thus crying vnto the lord in their trouble ; hee brought them out of their distresse , he hushed the storme : he brought them to the haven of their desire , & made them glad at the heart . as david gaue charge to his souldiers that they should not kill absolom his sonne , though hee sent them against absolom to stay his rebellion : so god forbids his crosses to destroy his children , though he send them against his children , to purge out their corruptions . as iohn after the voyce of thunder heard the voyce of harpers ; so when the saints haue heard the noyse of sorrow , they shall heare the sound of ioy . as the viper leapt vpon paul , and leapt off againe : so troubles leape vpon the righteous and leape off againe , as though they had mistaken the partie , and rapt at the wrong doore . one calleth affliction the trance of the righteous , because they seeme dead for a while , but they wake againe . now all this commeth to passe , because the lord sendeth the spirit of prayer into the hearts of his children , whereby they cry vnto him in the time of their trouble , and therefore no marveile , when they cry vnto the lord in their trouble , that he bringeth them out of their distresse . the most ef●●ctuall spe●ch to the secret eares of god commeth not from wordes , but from sighes and grones : he that heareth without eares can interpret our prayers without our tongues● hee that saw and fancied nathaniel vnder the fig-tree , before he was called , hee that saw and sanctified iohn bap●ist in his mothers wombe before hee came forth , he s●eth , and blesseth our praiers fervently conceived in the bosome of our consciences before they be vttered . but if they be faint and faithlesse , they shall be answ●red of god , as the prayers of baals priests were , who though they cried lowd ●rom morning to noone , and to the offering vp of the euening sacrifice ; and cut themselues till the bloud gushed out vpon them , yet there was none to heare , nor to regard their roarings . giue therefore but thy prayer a voyce to cry : for , it must not be dumbe , nor tong-tied ; giue it an eye to seeke : for , it must not be wandring and carelesse ; and giue it an hand to knocke : for , it must not feare to molest and disquiet ; and not onely shalt thou bee freed from dangers , but the doores , yea , all the treasures and jewels of the kingdome of heaven shall be open vnto it . but some , it may be , will say , my danger is great ; yea , so great that it maketh my heart to ake within me , and my soule to melt for sorrow . i answere , the greatnesse of our danger cannot be a stop to our deliverance ; if we can but call and cry vnto the lord in our trouble , hee will bring vs out of our distresse . the sea-faring men here described , had their hearts to melt for sorrow , yet crying vnto the lord in their trouble , he brought them out of their distresse ? the word here translated , distresse , is by arias montanus translated de coarctationibus ; and by iunius and tremellius , ex angustijs . so that the trouble here spoken of , is not properly trouble , but narrownes & straights . be our case then never so desperate , the lord can helpe it : for , nothing is vnpossible to him . the israelites groaned vnto him in egypt , he heard and deliuered them from the tyrannie of pharaoh : the yong men in the fierie furnace called vpon him , and were deliuered : the cry of daniel stopped the mouth of the roaring lyons ; paul and silas being in bonds , prayed , and their chaynes fell loose from them ; the doores opened and gaue them passage . although wee be plunged never so low , that we know not where to seeke , nor where to finde ; although the floods of troubles runne cleane ouer and ouer vs ; in so much that we seeme to our selues past helpe and recovery ; yet are we not indeede past helpe , so long as we are not past desire to be holpen . men indeed are altogether amazed , and in a maner bereft of wit and vnderstanding , when they feele themselues dangerously tossed too and fro , as here these sea-faring men did ; but when they cried in their trouble vn●o the lord , he brought them out of their distresse . there was neuer affliction so great , but the hand of the lord hath beene able to master it ; there was neuer storme so fierce , but his power hath beene able to allay it . therefore , if out soules doe euen melt for trouble within vs ; wee must not take discomfort at it . the lord sitteth aboue the water-floods ; the lord commandeth the sea , and all that is therein ; the lord that turneth the storme to a calme ( blessed be his name , and let the might of his maiesty receiue honour for euermore ) hee will neuer forsake his children that crie vnto him ; neither in health nor sickenes , light nor darkenesse , stormes nor calmes ; in the land of the liuing , nor in the land of forgetfulnes . therefore , let vs resolue with holy dauid , though i should walke thorow the valley of the shadow of death , i will feare no euill . i will feare no euill ( saith dauid ) neither great nor small : for it is all one with god to deliuer from the greater stormes , aswell as from the lesser . some difference there is indeed of dangers and deliuerances out of them , but it is only such as in books printed on large and lesse letter and paper , the matter not varying at all ; for example . whē god brought some of the ships of your former fleetes to virginia in safty ; here gods prouidence was seen & felt priuately by some ; and this was a deliuerance , written ( as it were ) in quarto on a lesser paper & letter . but now , when god brought all of your . ships , and al your people in thē in health & safety to virginia : yea and that ship tyger of yours , which had fallen into the hands of the turkish men of war , through tempest and contrary windes , she not being able to beare sayle , and by that meanes drouen out of her course some hundreds of miles : for otherwise of it selfe the passage from england to virginia , is out of the walke of turkes , and cleere and safe from all pyrates , who commonly lurke neere ilands , and head-lands , and not in the maine ocean . when this your tyger had falne , by reason of this storme , and some indiscretion of her m●ster and people , who taking the turkes to haue beene flemmings , bound for holland or england , bore vp the helme to speake with them : for they needed not if they had listed to haue come neere the turkes , but haue proceeded safely on their voyage ) into the hands of those mercilesse turkes , who had taken from them most of their victuals , and all of their seruiceable sayles , tackling and anchors , and had not so much as left them an houre-glasse or compasse to steere their course , thereby vtterly disabling them from going from them , and proceeding on their voyage . when ( i say ) god had ransomed her out their hands , as the prophet speaketh , by another sayle which they espyed , and brought her likewise safely to virginia with all her people , two english boyes onely excepted , for which the turkes gaue them two others , a french youth and an irish. was not there the presence of god printed , as it were , in folio on royall crowne paper and capitall letters , that , as habacucke sayth , they that runne and ride post may reade it . o then how great cause haue you and they , to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men ? verse . . let them therefore confesse before the lord , &c. hitherto of the danger and d●liuerance ; now of the dutie , which , in a word , is thanksgiuing . the greater our danger i● ; the more ioyfull is our deliuerance , and ●he more cheerfully ought wee to confesse before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonder●ull workes before the sonnes of men . thanksgiuing is the end of our deliuerance . this dutie carefully performed , is a singular exercise of faith , when men standing vpon the shore , and beholding the dangerous and tumultuous seas which they haue passed , are stirred vp to sacrifice prayse and glory to him for the s●me . gen. . . exod. . psal. . . this seruice is a further worke of faith then petition : for they which are but illightned ●gainst death may serue in a sort to make some petitions to god ; but they neuer bethinke them at-all of the dutie of thanksgiuing , when they haue receiued benefits from him . and for this cause , nine of the ten leapers which christ cleansed , are defamed to all posteritie by the holy ghost in the gospel . let vs labour to purge our selues of such a wickednesse , spending much of our time in songs of thanksgiuing , confessing before the lord his louing kindnesse , and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men . for thanksgiuing is , as it were , the homage or rent-charge , which wee are to returne to god for all his mercies , especially for our right to our inheritance in heauen . and wee know that if men refuse to do their homage , or pay their rent to their earthly land-lord , they shal deserue thereby to be turned out of their farmes , & others to be put in their roome , which shall discharge the duty better . so , if we proue vnthankfull to the lord of heauen , shall wee not iustly deserue to lose our inheritance ? wherefore let vs doe as men , which are bound by bond to make tender of a sum of money vpon great penalty in a certaine place ; and , at a certaine time named in the bond , they will be sure to tender the paiment in the place , and at the time appointed and specified in the bond , lest they incurre the penaltie . euen so , &c. let vs beware wee doe not forslow our thankfulnesse vpon light and slight excuses , lest we forfeit gods louing kindnes , & our owne saluation . let vs weigh , what god hath done for vs , & lay all gods benefits together , thereby the be●ter to sti●re vs vp vnto thankfulnes . leah beareth one son , & calleth his name reuben ; a second son , & called his name simeon , and a third , and called him leni ; but when aboue exspectation she conceiueth , and beareth the fourth time , she purposely cals his name iudah , & expresly protests that she wil praise the lord. if one benefit moue you not , many should if many haue not done it , yet this last & late mercy passing all the former . o call it iudah , & now of set purpose praise the lord , & confesse before him his louing kindnesse and his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men . which that you may the better do , giue me leaue i pray you to shew you how your thanksgiuing ought to be qualified , that it may be a sweet sauour vnto god. it must be accompanied , . with confessi●● . . with exalt●tion . confession againe , is either of gods louing kindnes ; or of his wonderfull workes . there are two things in which gods louing kindnesse is to be seene , . in giuing . . in forgiuing . gods louing kindnes in giuing , is to be praised : for is not god a great & good benefactor or ours , and do wee not greatly praise our benefactors ? o let vs confesse his louing kindnesse as he is our benefactor . gods louing kindnesse in forgiuing our sinnes is also to be confessed . i shewed you before the danger of your people sent to virgini● , the danger of your colony planted there , and the danger of your owne selues here at home . and now if you looke to the primitiue & original cause of al these your great dangers , and many dis-asters that haue heretofore befalne to your plantation , i suppose you shall soon find the cause to be sin . the marriners in the transportation of ionah , made no question hereof . let vs with these marriners cast lots that wee may know for whose cause this euill came vpon your plantation in virginia . was it for the sin of our land in generall , either because ( as it is said of m●r●● ) it came not out to helpe forward this worke of the lord with their prayers and purses ; or was it because ( as the prophet speaketh , ) the whole head is sicke , and the whole heart is heauy , from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head , there is nothing whole therein , &c. surely , surely , the sinnes of our land are crying sinnes ; and is it any wonder if they doe awake the iustice of god , and turne the mercies of heauen into roddes of indignation ? or was it for the sinne of your owne society at home ; because you haue eyther too much affected your gaine ? or too too seldome called vpon the name of god in prayer for giuing his blessing to your plantation ? or too faintly depended vpon god by faith and patience for the issue ? or too much neglected god in thankefulnesse for the successe ? i can not excuse nor accuse you ; you need not care to bee iudged by mans day : your consciences can best tell you , whether the lot fall vppon you or not . or , was it for the sinne of such as you haue transported to your plantation , because ( most of them at the first , beeing the very scumme of the land , and great pity it was that no better at that time could be had ; ) they neglected gods worship , liued in idlenesse , plodded conspiracies , resisted the gouernment of superiours , and caried themselues dissolutely amongst the heathens . if in any of these they haue offended , was not gods rod of mortalitie iustly vpon them for their sinnes ? but now ( beloued ) almighty god hath graciously looked vpon you and your people , in passing by their and your sins ; the lord hath sayd to the destroying angel , it is sufficient , hold now ●hy hand ; the mortality of your people is ceased abroad : and the hope of your good returnes is increased at home : o ●herefore , ought you not to confesse before the lord his louing kindnes , both in giuing of mercies , and forgiuing of sinnes ? another confession there must be , of gods wonderfull workes . and both these confessions are againe and againe repeated in the amebe , burden or foote of this psalme . it is most true , that all gods workes are wonderfull ( for he hath made them all in wisedome , in number , weight and measure ) and that the lord declareth himselfe to be great and wonderfull euen in the least of them amongest the sonnes of men . this pharaohs inchanters did confesse , this is the finger of god , in the little lowse . but vnthankfull man taketh no notice of ordinary fauours , common protection , health , plenty , rest , pleasure , which are vsuall with them , and therefore gods name is not praised for them : for except christ worke miracles , they will not beleeue ; what signe ( sayd the fleshly hearers of christs word ) shewest thou , that we may see it , and beleeue thee ? what dost ●hou worke ? no signe , no faith : yea except god do great things for them , that they may be able to say , that he hath not done so to any , and we neuer saw such a thing ; they will not confesse his louing kindnesse , but rather smother both it , and his wonderfull workes . let vs therefore consider and weigh well the wonderful workes of the lord : for , is it not a work of wonder to command the creatures against the course of nature ? as to cause the winde to cease with a word , and to quiet the seas onely with a becke ? to stay the fire that it doe not burne ; and the hungry lyons that they doe not deuoure ? to mollifie the hearts of saluages , and to make some of them voluntarily to remooue from their owne warme and well seated and peopled habitations , to giue place to strangers , whom they had neuer before seene : as p●whatan at the first plantation of the english , to remoue from his owne station , and now of late the mattaw●mbs to depart from their cleared and rich grounds ; and to make others of them ( as opachancano ) to sell to the english and their gouernour sir george yeardly the right and title they had to their possessions ? yet all these hath the lord done , and are they not wonderfull works indeed ? o then let vs stir vp our selues and others , and call vpon them , saying , come and hearken all yee that feare god , and i will tell you what the lord hath done to my soule . o let vs confesse before the lord , as his louing kindnesse , so also his wonderfull workes before the sonnes of men . but alas , i am afraid , that it is with vs concerning gods wonderfull workes , as it was with the people of the iewes , concerning the wonders of gods law , of whom god by his prophet complayneth ; i haue written to them the great things of my law , but they were accounted as a strange thing . god had vouchsafed to teach them the wonders of his word , what greater bounty ? they passed by them , as things not worthy to be wondred at and regarded ; what greater impiety ? o that it were not with vs touching his wonderfull workes , as it was with them concerning the wonders of his law ? our thankesgiuing , if it be good , must bee accompanied with exalting of the lord. now , to exalt the lord none can properly be said to doe it ; for who can exalt the highest that exalteth all , and is exalted of none ? to exalt the lord then in the congregation of his people , is nothing else , but as dauid expounds it , to wish prosperity vnto gods church , & to procure the wealth of gods people . o then ( beloued ) would you haue god to accept of your thankes , and to giue a blessing to your colony abroad , and your selues at home ; studie to wish well , and to doe well to gods church and people . labour first , to procure faithfull , honest , and peaceable preachers , and send them ouer to your people ( as you haue sent some already , both of good learning and sanctified life , and many more such may you send , ) that they may open their eies , that they may turne from darknes to light ; and from the power of satan vnto god ; that they may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes , and an inheritance amongst them which are sanctified by faith in christ. if you prouide not spiritual foode for your people , aswell as corporall , what better prouision make you , then you doe for your bruite beasts which feede in your pastures ? nay , do you make so good ? for , hath not an oxe therein what he needeth ; but a man without this , is hee not left vnprouided of the farre better part , euen his soule ? yea , and if you haue no care to prouide good preachers for your people , but send ouer vnto them such as offer themselues hand ouer head ; you prouide not well for your selues : for , what assurance can you haue of them , who haue no assurance of themselues ? what seruice can you expect from them which perfourme none vnto almightie god ? will they euer be faithfull vnto you , that are vnfaithfull vnto him ? and how can they bee faithfull vnto god , if they haue not faithfull preachers to bring them vnto him ? surely , the best you can looke from them , is but eie-seruice , which how good this wil be , i leaue it to yourselues well to consider of , who haue felt the smart of it by your slow returnes . nothing can cast a sure knot vpon the hearts of your people , but the true knowledge and feare of god : so as when you aduance religion , you aduance together with it your owne profit . the neglect of this hath made your hopes in your long looked for returnes , to this houre to bee frustrate . obed ed●m prospered the better for the arke of god. the iewes had no good harnest whilest they left off to build gods temple ; and they amended in their estate when they amended that fault , and reformed themselues . amongst other of the causes , that it hath not pleased god to be succesfull vnto your plantation at the beginning thereof , and in the infancy of the same . that worthy ouer-seer of your colledge lands before mentioned , giueth this as one ; that you haue not as you ought ( for these bee his very words ) preferred gods glory by your serious endeauo●rs of conuerting the natiues , who ( as he writeth ) do liue so peaceably amongst vs , and round about vs , as they do euen seeme to groane vnder the burden of the bondage of satan , and to want nothing but meanes to be deliuered . and this hee confirmeth by a discourse which he had with opachankan● , their great king , who hath succeeded powhatan , whose daughter pokah●●ta● , one maister iohn rolfe , an english gentleman of good worth , married : for he found that the sayd opachankano had more notions of religion in him , then could be imagined in so great a blindnesse , since he willingly acknowledged that theirs was not the right way , desiring to be instructed in ours : and confessing that god loued vs more then them ; and that he thought the cause of his anger against thē , was their custome of making their children blacke-boyes , or consecrating them to sathan . hee found also that the sayd opachankan● had some knowledge of many of the fixed s●arres , and had obserued the north starre , and the course of the constellations about it , and called the great beare manquahanum , which in their language doth signifie the sunne . i might heere speake something touching my owne experience , of the willingnesse of the heathens in gen●rall in all the easterne parts of the world , where i haue trauailed , how ready they are to receiue the gospel , if there were but preachers amongst them that could and would instruct them by their doctrine and life . and of one of them in speciall , which i brought with me out of india to england , and taught him ( i not being able to speak otherwise to him , nor he to mee , but by signes , ) to speake , to reade and write the english tongue and hand , both romane and secretary , within lesse then the space of a yeare , so that his maiestie and many of the nobilitie wondered at his hand ; and within the compasse of three yeares , i taught him the grounds of religion , and to learn most of saint pa●les epistles by heart , and to giue a publique confession of his faith the day hee was baptized in a famous assembly heere in the cittie , before the right worshipfull the east india company , and since to write the latine epistles heereunto adioyned . i could heere say much of the double diligence of iesuites their poysoning with the coloquintida of popery many thousand soules in the e●st i●dies and iapan , and other the remotest parts of the world : all which might bee motiues strong enough to stirre you vp to haue a greater care of the planting of the gospell in your plantations . but time now calleth vppon mee to excite you , as to labour to procure and send ouer honest and painefull preachers , so in the second place to haue a care ( as i know you haue ) to procure and send ouer skilfull and pianefull tradesmen and husbandmen , to follow their trades , and to cultiuate the ground . our countrey aboundeth with people ; your colony wanteth them : you all know that there is nothing more dangerous for the estate of commonwealths , then when the people doe increase to a greater number and multitude , then may iustly parall●ll with the largenesse of the place and country in which they liue . for , euen as bloud , though it be the best humour in the body , yet if it abound in greater quantitie , then the vessell and state of the body will contayne and beare , doeth indanger the body , and oftentimes destroyes it : so although the honour of a king be in the multitude of people ( as wise king salomon speaketh ) yet when this multitude of people increaseth to ouer great a number , the common wealth stands subiect to many perillous inconneniences , as famine , pouerty , and sundry other sorts of calamities . thus hauing falne into this point of exalting god in the congregation of the people , and the assembly of the elders , i haue here good occasion offered to mee to blesse god for the prudence and prouidence of this honourable citie , the honourable elders thereof , the honourable lord maior , and the right worshipfull the aldermen his brethren ; who seeing this cittie to be mightily increased , and fearing lest the ouer-flowing multitude of inhabitants should , like too much bloud in the body , infect the whole cittie with plague and pouertie ; haue therefore deuised in their great wisdomes a remedy for this malady , to wit , the transporting of their ouer-flowing multitude into virginia ; which was first put in practise in the maioralitie of that worthy & famous lord maior sir george b●wl●● , who se●t ouer a hundred persons , the halfe of their charge being borne by the citie ; the other halfe by the honourable virginia company ; which worthy course was afterwards followed by the right worshipfull sir william cockins , in whose maioraltie were sent ouer a hundred more in the like nature . and now likewise the right honourable , the present lord maior , with the right worshipfull the aldermen his brethren , intend to con●inue this course , that they may ease the citie of a many that are ready to starue , and do starue dayly in our streetes ( to the great griefe of all tender-hearted and mercifull men ) for want of foode to put into their mouthes . this course , i say , they haue taken already , and meane to prosecute it , as i am informed , to the end they may preserue this famous cittie in greater peace and prosperitie : herein wisely imitattng the prudent and prouident husbandman , whom they see thus to deale with his grounds , when they are ouercharged with cattle : for , as he by remouing thē from one ground to another , prouideth well both for his cattle and for his ground : so they in their wisedoms , by remouing their super-increasing people from the citty to virginia , haue prouided well both for this cittie and their people : for , whereas many of those which were sent ouer , were a burden to this citty , they are now through the good gouernment there , and gods blessing vpon the works their hands ) become men able to liue of themselues in good sort and fashion in virginia ; being before their sending ouer like to vnconuerted onesymus , vnp●ofitable vnto all ; and now by their being there , like vnto the same onesymus , but truely conuerted , profitable to the plantation , and to the cittie ; to the one by their paines , to the other by their prayers , blessing god from the bottome of their hearts that they were sent from london to virginia ; yea , blessing also the lord maiors , in whose time they were sent ouer . i may say of this singular prudence and prouidence of this honourable cittie , what our sauiour sayd of the fact of marie magdalen in powring her costly oyntment on his sacred head ( howsoeuer some sonnes of beliall maligne this worthy worke , as iudas the traitor , and some of hell , maligned ●●at act of ma●ies anoynting of christ , pretending ●●e good of the poore , but intending it as much as his owne saluation , which was little or nothing at all , ) verily i say vnto you wheresoeuer this gospell shall bee preached , throughought all the world , there shall also this that she hath done be spoken of , for a memoriall of her . so verily , i say of this honourable city and worthy elders thereof , that so long as there shall continue any english in virginia ( and we hope their race shall continue there till the second comming of our blessed sauiour ) transported from this citie thither , they shall not c●ase to pray for the prosperitie of this famous citie , and worthy gouernours thereof . wherefore let me beseech so many of the right . worshipfull and worthy gouernours of this famous cittie , as are present , ( and i humbly intreate them , to stirre vppe all such as are absent ) to proceede as they haue begunne , that their way may shine as the light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day ; that what was spoken of ruth , may bee verified in them ; thou hast shewed more goodnesse in the latter end , then at the beginning : and that that may bee their praise , which is recorded to be the commendation of the church of thy●tir● ; i know thy workes , and thy loue and seruice , and faith and patience ; and how thy workes are more at the last then as the first . right worshipfull , yee are plentifull in other good workes , the maintaining of your ho●pitals , and other publike workes in this famous cittie , preach your munificence through all the world , as the faith and obedience of the romans was published abroad among all . o be rich in well doing this way likewise , that it may be sayd of you , many haue done worthily for the plantation in virginia , but the honourable citty of london surmounteth them all . your cittie ( as i sayd ) aboundeth in people ( and long may it doe so ) the plantation in virginia is capable enough to receiue them ; o take cour●e to ease your cittie , and to prouide well for your people by sending them ouer thither ; that both they of that colony there , and they of your owne cittie here , may liue to blesse your prudent and prouident gouernment ouer them . for , i haue heard many of the painfullest labourers of your cittie , euen with teares bemoane the desolate estate of their poore wiues and children ; who though they rise earely , taw and teare their flesh all the day long with hard labour , and goe late to bed , and feede almost all the weeke long vpon browne bread and cheese , yet are scarce able to put bread in their mouthes at the weekes end , and cloathes on their backes at the yeares end ; and all because worke is so hard to be come by , and there be so many of the same trade , that they can not thriue one for another . right worshipfull , i beseech you ponder ( as i know you doe ) the forlorne estate of many of the best members of your citty , and helpe them , o helpe them out of their misery ; what you bestow vppon them in their transportation to virginia , they will repay it at present with their prayers , and when they are able with their purses ; and god in the meane while , will plentifully reward your liberalitie this way with his blessing vpon your famous citie , vpon your selues , vpon your posteritie : for doth not your mercifull god , the lord of hosts , bid you proue him , if hee will not open the windowes of heauen vnto you , and powre you out a blessing without measure ? and that i may bend my speech vnto all , seing so many of the lords worthies haue done worthily in this noble action : yea , and seing that some of them greatly rejoyce in this ( as i haue heard it from their owne mouthes ) that god hath inabled them to helpe forward this glorious worke , both with their prayers and with their purses , let it be your griefe and sorrow to be exempted from the company of so many honourable minded men , and from this noble plantation , tending so highly to the advancement of the gospell ; and to the honouring of our drad soveraigne , by inlarging of his kingdomes , and adding a fifth crowne vnto his other foure : for , en dat virginia quintam , is the motto of the legal seale of virginia . and let mee , in a word , shut vp all , vnto you all , that hath beene spoken with that exhortation of the apostle ; my beloved brethren , be yee stedfast , vnmoueable , aboundant alwayes in the worke of the lord : for as much as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the lord . finis . to the most illustrious knight , sir thomas smith , the most prudent gouernour of the east-indy company , eternall felicity in the lord. right worshipfull , in many respects to be reuerenced by me . may it please your worship to pardon my boldnesse in visiting you with this rude epistle , to the end that i may shew my thankefulnesse towards you for your great and many benefits bestowed vpon me : as soone as god shal enable me to make a greater progresse in the latine tongue , you may expect a longer ; yea , perhaps a more elegant and eloquent letter . in the interim i doubt not but your worship ( in regard of your clemencie towards me ) will accept in good part these witnesses of a thankefull mind . the almightie and all powerfull god preserue you long in health , that you may be ( as you are ) a grace and ornament to the companie of marchants , that you may attaine to high honour here on earth , and most ample glorie hereafter in heauen : farewell . from your royall iames , this . of april . a fauorite of your illustrious dignity . peter pope . to the vvorshipfull and worthy captaine , martin pring , commander of the sea nauy of the east-india company in india . i shal peraduenture seeme bold ( most illustrious mecoenas ) daring to trouble your learned eares with this rude epistle , but your humanity towards all , and beneuolent loue toward the learned incouraged me , though the least of the learned , yet most desirous of learning , and a louer of learned men , to present vnto you these first fruits of my wit , and first tryall in the latine tongue ; to the end i may testifie how much i loue both you and the excellent gifts and graces of god bestowed vpon you . now if you will bee pleased to take in good part , and haue respect to these vnpolished lines , you may perhaps ore it bee long , expect from the some more learned and better digested letters . farewell worshipfull sir. from the iames royall . . ianuary . to the same . worshipfull sir , in regard of late it was your pleasure to witnesse your loue to me by a gift , to the end that hereafter i might account you not onely a speciall friend , but also a worthy supporter of me in learning ; it was most acceptable vnto mee : and as i embrace this pledge of your beneuolence , so interchangeably i promise my selfe to be respectiue towards you , according as your piety and liberality deserue . of both which towards all , especially towards me , this token is a sufficient witnesse . for the present i haue but little , which i may render for your great liberality towards mee ( and to returne nothing at all , were altogether a signe of an vngrateful mind ) vnlesse it be this small paper-gift . now if i may perceiue that any gift of this kind shall be acceptable to you , i will satisfie you either with these or the like euen to the full . farewell worshipfull and worthy sir : the lord alwayes guid you with his spirit , and vphold you with his mighty power , and euery day inrich you with the rich graces of his spirit . from the iames royall , the . of may. . your worships in all dutifull obedience . peter pope . illustrissimo equiti aurato , domino thomae smit● , societatis mercatorum indiae orientalis gubernatori prudentissimo , aeternam in domino felicitatem . clarissime domine , multis nominibus plurimùm mihi colende , libet si licet epistolio te hoc , rudi licet , in●isere ; quò gratitudinem in te m●am , ob magna multaque tua in me collata beneficia tester . vbi deus maiores in lingua latina dederit progressus , longiores fortassis etiam elegantiores a● magis disertas , a me expectabis literulas . interea non dubito quin cels●●do vestra , pro ea quae tua in me est ●lementia , ha● grati animi testes , aequi bonique consulat . deus opt . max. te longè multùmque incolumem seru●t ● quò illustri mercatorum societati sis decorì ac ornamento eximio , atque ita hîc fauorem assequaris ampliorem , & in coelis amplissimum . vale ex regali vestra iacobo . . aprilis . illustrissima amplitudinis ●●a studio ●iss●●●s . petrus papa . clarissimo domino d. martino pringo , nauticae classis societatis mercatorum indiae orientalis , praefecto vigilantissimo , petrus papa . s. p. d. avdax fortassis videbor ( mecoen●s illustrissime ) qui a●deam doctas ●uas aures r●d● hoc epistolio interturbare ; sod quae tua est in omnes bamani●●s , & in li●era●●● ben●●●l●us amor , me ( literarurum licet minimum , literarū tamen studio fissim●●● , & literatorum amantissimum ) induxit , vt has ingenij mei primitias ; & in lingua latina primum specimen tuo ●●mini inscriberem , quò testatum faciam quami ●e , & eximias in te collatas dei dotes , colam . quòd si inexpolit●● has literalas aqu● bonique consulueris , e●l●iores fort●ss● breui & magis comptas a nobis expectabis . vale pl●rimùm mihi colende . ex regati iacobo . ianuarij . eidem . qvod ●uper mihi per donum innotescere voluisti ( domine plurimùm mihi colende ) vt posthacte non inter amicos solum , sed & inter beneficos mecoenates cens●am , gratum mihi fuit : ac sicuti amplector hanc beneuolentiaetua tesseram , ita viciss●● p●lliceor me beneuolo erga te fore animo , prout & tua pi●tas , & liberalitas merentur ; cuius vtriusque in omnes , me preserti●● , tantis tuis d●nis ill●st●● specimen apparet . inpresentiarum parum est quod protanta tua in ●e liberalitate referam ( nihil autem referre animi esset 〈◊〉 i●gratissimi ) praeter chartaceum hoc mun●scul●● . quòd fih●i●sce●odi mu●mosyna persp●xere tibi gr●ta ess● , ●is a●t 〈◊〉 similib●s te ad satietatem , 〈◊〉 ad fastidium vsque satiabo . vale domine eximie , & plu●imùm mihi ex anim● colende . dominus spiritu te suo semper gubernet , sustineat inuicta virtute & suis donis indies locupletet . ex regali iacobo may . . vestra celsitudinis studio fissi●●● , petrus papa . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e d. great is the danger of sea-faring men . pittacus . ionah . . verse . verse . verse . iob . . iob . . . summer ilands . master george thorpe in his letter written from iames citie may . . master george sandes in his letter written from iames citie march . . d. there is no daunger so great , out of which faithful and fervent prayer will not helpe a man. king. . ● . &c. vmimmitskothebem . psal. . . esa. . . hab. . . d. the more & ●reater gods blessings are vpō vs , the larger & heartier ought our prayses and thanksgiuings be vnto god for the same . gen. . . . &c. ionah● . . iudg. . . isay . . . cor. : ● . sam. . . ps●l . . . & . . & . . exod. . . iohn . . psal. . . marke . . psal. . . hosea . . psal. . . . act● . . . sam. . . deut. . . hag. . . . peter pope , so named by his maiestie . pro● . . . philem. ver . ● . ioh. . . . ●c mat. . . pro● . . . ruth . . re● . . . r●●●● . . & . . mal. . ● . cor. . ● . for the plantation in virginia. or nova britannia virginia company of london. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) for the plantation in virginia. or nova britannia virginia company of london. sheet ([ ] p.) printed for iohn windet, london : . announcement of an intended voyage to virginia, and the terms on which laborers will be accepted as colonists. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng smith, thomas, -- sir, ?- -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ❧ for the plantation in virginia . or nova britannia . vvhereas ( if god permit ) for the better setling of the colony and plantation in virginia , there is a voyage intended thither by many noble men , knights , marchants , and others , to bee furnished and set forth with all conuenient speed : and for that so honorable an action pleasing to god , and commodious many waies to this common-wealth , should be furthered and furnished with al meanes and prouisions necessarie for the same , wherein both honorable and worshipfull personages , doe purpose & prepare to goe thither in their owne persons : this is therfore to intimate and giue notice to al artificers , smiths , carpenters , coopers , shipwrights , turners , planters , vineares , fowlers , fishermen , mettell-men of all sorts , brick-makers , brick-layers , plow-men , weauers , shoo-makers , sawyers spinsters , and all other labouring men and women , that are willing to goe to the said plantation to inhabite there , that if they repayre into phillpot lane , to the house of sir thomas smith , treasurer for the said colony , their names shall be registred , and their persons shall be esteemed at a single share , which is twelue pound ten shillings , and they shall be admitted to goe as aduenturers in the said voyage to virginia , where they shall haue houses to dwell in , with gardens and orchards , and also foode and clothing at the common charge of the ioynt stocke , they shall haue their diuident also in all goods and marchandizes , arising thence by their labours , and likewise their diuident in lands to them and to their heyres for euer : and if they shall also bring in money to aduenture in the ioynt stock , their shares both in goods and lands shal be augmented accordingly . and likewise al other that wil bring in twenty fiue pound or more by the last of march , though they goe not in their persons shall be accepted for free-men of the company , and shall haue their billes of aduenture , as all other aduenturers haue in the same action . london printed by iohn windet . . by the king a proclamation for setling the plantation of virginia. england and wales. sovereign ( - : charles i) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) by the king a proclamation for setling the plantation of virginia. england and wales. sovereign ( - : charles i) charles i, king of england, - . leaves. by bonham norton and iohn bill, printers to the kings most excellent maiestie, printed at london : m.dc.xxv [ ] caption title. imprint from colophon. arms with "c r" at top; imprint begins "printed". "giuen at our court at white-hall, the thirteenth day of may, in the first yeere of our reigne of great britaine, france and ireland." reproduction of original in: henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng tobacco industry -- early works to . monopolies -- great britain -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - . great britain -- history -- charles i, - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion diev et mon droit . ❧ by the king. ❧ a proclamation for setling the plantation of virginia . whereas the colonie of virginia , planted by the hands of our most deare father of blessed memory , for the propagation of christian religion the increase of trade , and the enlarging of his royall empire , hath not hitherto prospered so happily , as was hoped and desired , a great occasion whereof his late maiesty conceiued to be , for that the gouernment of that colony was committed to the company of virginia , encorporated of a multitude of persons of seuerall dispositions , amongst whom the affaires of greatest moment were , and must be ruled by the greater number of uotes and uoyces ; and therefore his late maiestie , out of his great wisedome , and depth of iudgement , did desire to resume that popular gouernment , and accordingly the letters patents of that incorporation , were by his highnesse direction in a legall course questioned , and thereupon iudicially repealed , and adiudged to bee voyde ; wherein his maiesties ayme was onely , to reduce that gouernment into such a right course , as might best agree with that forme which was held in the rest of his royall monarchy , and was not intended by him , to take away , or impeach the particular interest of any priuate plantor , or aduenturer , nor to alter the same , otherwise then should be of necessity for the good of the publique : and wheras we continue the like care of those colonies and plantations , as our late deare father did , and vpon deliberate aduice and consideration , are of the same iudgement that our said father was of , for the gouernment of that colony of virginia ; now lest the apprehension of former personall differences , which haue heretofore happened ( the reuiuing and continuing whereof wee vtterly disallow , and strictly forbid ) might distract the mindes of the plantors and aduenturers , or the opinion , that we would neglect those plantations , might discourage men to goe or send thither , & so hinder the perfecting of that worke , wherin we hold the honor of our deare father deceased , and our owne honour to be deeply engaged ; we haue thought fit to declare , and by our royal proclamation to publish our owne iudgement , and resolution in these things , which by gods assistance wee purpose constantly to pursue . and therefore wee doe by these presents publish and declare to all our louing subiects , and to the whole world , that wee hold those territories of virginia and the sommer-ilands , as also that of new england , where our colonies are already planted , & within the limits & bounds wherof , our late deare father , by his letters patents , vnder his great seale of england , remaining of record , hath giuen leaue and liberty to his subiects to plant and inhabite , to be a part of our royall empire , descended , vpon us and vndoubtedly belonging and appertaining vnto us ; and that we hold our selfe , aswell bound by our regal office , to protect , maintaine , and support the same , and are so resolued to doe , as any other part of our dominions : and that our full resolution is , to the end that there may be one vniforme course of gouernment , in , and through all our whole monarchie , that the gouernment of the colonie of virginia shall immediatly depend vpon our selfe , and not be committed to any company or corporation , to whom it may be proper to trust matters of trade and commerce , but cannot bee fit or safe to communicate the ordering of state-affaires , be they of neuer so meane consequence : and that therefore wee haue determined , that our commissioners for those affaires , shall proceed according to the tenor of our commission directed vnto them , vntill wee shall declare our further pleasure therein . neuerthelesse we doe herby declare , that wee are resolued , with as much conuenient expedition , as our affaires of greater importance will giue leaue , to establish a councell , consisting of a few persons of vnderstanding and qualitie , to whom we will giue trust for the immediate care of the affaires of that colony , and who shall be answerable to us for their proceedings , and in matters of greater moment , shall be subordinate and attendant vnto our priuie councell heere ; and that we will also establish another councell to be resident in virginia , who shall be subordinate to our councell here for that colonie ; and that at our owne charge we will maintaine those publique officers and ministers , and that strength of men , munition , and fortification , as shall be fit and necessary for the defence of that plantation , and will by any course that shall be desired of us , settle and assure the particular rights and interests of euery planter and aduenturer , in any of those territories , which shall desire the same , to giue them full satisfaction for their quiet and assured enioying thereof . and lastly , whereas it is agreed on all sides , that the tobacco of those plantations of virginia and the sommer islands ( which is the onely present meanes for their subsisting ) cannot be managed for the good of the plantations , vnlesse it be brought into one hand , whereby the forreigne tobacco may be carefully kept out , and the tobacco of those plantations may yeeld a certaine and ready price to the owners thereof ; wee doe hereby declare , that to auoid all differences and contrariety of opinions , which will hardly be reconciled amongst the planters and aduenturers themselues , we are resolued to take the same into our owne hands , and by our seruants or agents for us , to giue such prices to the planters and aduenturers for the same , as may giue them reasonable satisfaction and encouragement ; but of the maner thereof , wee will determine hereafter at better leisure : and when we shall haue concluded the same , we shall expect , that all our louing subiects will readily conforme themselues thereunto . and in the meane time , because the importation and vse of forreigne tobacco , which is not of the growth of those plantations , or one of them , will visibly & assuredly vndermine and destroy those plantations , by taking away the meanes of their subsistence , we doe hereby strictly charge and command , that our late proclamation , bearing date the ninth day of april last , intituled , ( a proclamation touching tobacco ) shall in all points and parts thereof , be duely and strictly obserued , vpon paine of our high displeasure , and such further penalties and punishments , as by the sayd proclamation are to be inflicted vpon the offenders . and we doe hereby aduise all our louing subiects , and all others whom it may concerne , not to aduenture the breach of our royall commandement in any of the premisses , we being fully resolued , vpon no importunitie or intercession whatsoeuer , to release or remit the deserued punishment of such , as shall dare to offend against the same , seeing we holde not our selfe onely , but our people interessed therein . giuen at our court at white-hall , the thirteenth day of may , in the first yeere of our reigne of great britaine , france , and ireland . god saue the king. ¶ printed at london by bonham norton and iohn bill , printers to the kings most excellent maiestie . m.dc.xxv . his maiesties gracious letter to the earle of south-hampton, treasurer, and to the councell and company of virginia heere commanding the present setting vp of silke works, and planting of vines in virginia. and the letter of the treasurer, councell, and company, to the gouernour and councell of state there, for the strict execution of his maiesties royall commands herein. also a treatise of the art of making silke ... together with instructions how to plant and dresse vines, and to make wine, and how to dry raisins, figs, and other fruits ... set foorth for the benefit of the two renowned and most hopefull sisters, virginia, and the summer-ilands. by iohn bonoeil frenchman, seruant in these imployments to his most excellent maiesty of great brittaine, france, ireland, virginia, and the summer-ilands. published by authority. bonoeil, john. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : , : ) his maiesties gracious letter to the earle of south-hampton, treasurer, and to the councell and company of virginia heere commanding the present setting vp of silke works, and planting of vines in virginia. and the letter of the treasurer, councell, and company, to the gouernour and councell of state there, for the strict execution of his maiesties royall commands herein. also a treatise of the art of making silke ... together with instructions how to plant and dresse vines, and to make wine, and how to dry raisins, figs, and other fruits ... set foorth for the benefit of the two renowned and most hopefull sisters, virginia, and the summer-ilands. by iohn bonoeil frenchman, seruant in these imployments to his most excellent maiesty of great brittaine, france, ireland, virginia, and the summer-ilands. published by authority. bonoeil, john. southampton, henry wriothesley, earl of, - . england and wales. sovereign ( - : james i). virginia company of london. counseil for virginia (england and wales) [ ], p. : ill. (woodcuts) printed by felix kyngston, london : . the bulk of the work is john bonoeil's treatise, which is a different one from stc . the first leaf is blank. reproduction of the originals in the british library and the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. appears at reel (british library copy) and at reel (henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng sericulture -- early works to . viticulture -- early works to . virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - taryn hakala sampled and proofread - taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion his maiesties graciovs letter to the earle of sovth-hampton , treasurer , and to the councell and company of virginia heere : commanding the present setting vp of silke works , and planting of vines in virginia . and the letter of the treasurer , councell , and company , to the gouernour and councell of state there , for the strict execution of his maiesties royall commands herein . also a treatise of the art of making silke : or , directions for the making of lodgings , and the breeding , nourishing , and ordering of silkewormes , and for the planting of mulbery trees , and all other things belonging to the silke art. together with instructions how to plant and dresse vines , and to make wine , and how to dry raisins , figs , and other fruits , and to set oliues , oranges , lemons , pomegranates , almonds , and many other fruits , &c. and in the end , a conclusion , with sundry profitable remonstrances to the colonies . set foorth for the benefit of the two renowned and most hopefull sisters , virginia , and the summer-ilands . by iohn bonoeil frenchman , seruant in these imployments to his most excellent maiesty of great brittaine , france , ireland , virginia , and the summer-ilands . published by authority . london printed by felix kyngston . . royal seal britainiae ❀ franciae ❀ et ❀ hiberniae ❀ sigilvm ❀ regis ❀ magnae ❀ james r. right trusty and welbeloued , we greet you well : whereas we vnderstand , that the soyle in virginia naturally yeeldeth store of excellent mulbery trees , we haue taken into our princely consideration , the great benefit that may grow to the aduenturers and planters , by the breed of silkewormes , and setting vp of silkewormes in those parts . and therefore of our gracious inclination to a designe of so much honour and aduantage to the publike , wee haue thought good , as at sundry other times , so now more particularly to recommend it to your speciall care , hereby charging and requiring you to take speedy order , that our people there , vse all possible diligence in breeding silkewormes , and erecting silkeworkes , and that they rather bestow their trauell in compassing this rich and solid commodity , then in that of tobacco ; which besides much vnnecessary expence , brings with it many disorders and inconueniences . and for as much as our seruant , iohn bonoeil hath taken paines in setting downe the true vse of the silkeworme , together with the art of silkemaking , and of planting vines , and that his experience and abilities may much conduce to the aduancemēt of this busines ; we doe hereby likewise require you to cause his directions , both for the said silkeworkes and vineyards , to bee carefully put in practice thorowout our plantations there , that so the worke may goe on cheerfully , and receiue no more interruptions nor delayes . giuen vnder our signet , at our palace of westminster , the ninth day of iuly , in the twentieth yeere of our raigne of england , france and ireland , and of scotland the fiue and fiftieth . to our right trusty and right welbeloued cousin and councellour , henry , earle of south-hampton , treasurer of our plantation in virginia , and to our trusty and welbeloued , the deputy , and others of our said plantation . virginia . may it please the reader to amend the faults in printing thus . pag. line   amend . . . seuen or eight weekes sixe or seuen weekes . . in store of beares in store of beuers . . millions of mulberie trees millions of mulbery seeds . . to this silkeworme to this silke worke ibid. . of the silkewormes breede of the silkewormes bredde ibid. . the silkewormes spinning the silkewormes comming . . strest rule strest rules ibid. . onely spaine onely in spaine . . and a●ngentle them and engentle them to the right noble company of virginia , health . my lords and others , i haue been induced to present this small tract vnto you from the superaboundant desire i haue to further and aduance the good successe of that noble plantation : this discourse is therfore touching the feeding and intertainement of your silkewormes : it shews how mulbery trees must bee planted , and their leaues gathered , how to sowe the seeds of mulbery trees for him that will set vp a seminary or orchard of the best trees of that nature : also how to erect , set vp , and build houses for the silkewormes : withall , this giues direction how to plant and set the vine , how to dresse and till it , of sundry sorts and fashions . likewise it shewes when the grapes are fit to be gathered , and how they are to make wine . furthermore , how to plant and set peach trees and figge trees , which in hot countries are commonly set amongst vines , in vineyards in the open fields : also , how to set the stones of diuers kindes of fruites , and how to dry both raysins , figges and peaches , to keepe and preserue long . i haue a seruant of mine , who hath dwelt in virginia these sixe yeeres , besides others of my friends and acquaintance , of the countrey of languedock in france ( which now dwell in virginia also , being sent thither at the great charge of the company , to make silke and dresse vines ) all which haue certified me by their letters , which i haue receiued from thence , that the woods in virginia are full of mulbery trees , of the tallest and broadest that euer they saw in any country , and great numbers there are of sundry sizes and bignes : and namely , that they haue seene there some speciall trees , of which one alone is able to bring forth as many leaues as will feede so many silkewormes , as shall yeeld fiue pound of silke per annum . also , they informe me , that there is great aboundance of vines in virginia , and many of them well loaden with grapes : but because that young growing wood , bushes and weeds , so much choake and couer them , they cannot come to their full ripenesse : and the vermine , by reason the grapes grow in the woods , eate many of them vp before they come to maturity : moreouer , they auouch that virginia is a better country then languedock , which is one of the fruitefullest prouinces in all france , by reason of the heate thereof and the richnes of the soyle , which notwithstanding , if so be virginia be once well inhabited and peopled , it must needs exceed it ; namely for this reason , because the mulbery trees , and the vines doe both grow naturally in virginia , with many other good things , which come only by force and labor in the best parts of france : and none may doubt hereof , to wit , that the vine being chosen of the best plants there , and well dressed ▪ but that it will assuredly bring forth very good fruite . also , other vine plants may be sent thither from other countries , to try which of them will proue best : and of that which wee haue formerly said , that the mulbery trees grow in aboundance naturally in virginia , it must needs thence follow , that the wormes will feed much better , and with lesse labour of men , then those in other countries doe , where mulbery trees grow onely , with maine labour and toyle , and the silke also of them will be farre better : and such quantity of silke may easily be made in virginia ( if there were store of hands ) as in a very short time it would serue all christendome . what an honour and wealth it would be to this kingdome of england , all men may iudge . . the manner how to prepare the places , wherein silkewormes are to be nourished . certaine , yea and many authors haue written , that such places are neither to be too neere the earth , nor too neere the tiles ; neither too low nor too high : to whom i confesse , this is good for such men as haue choyce of places ; but there are many poore folkes , that are not able to get housing with all commodities and fitnes : and i haue seene by experience in the countrey of languedock , prouence , and in seuenes , and in the countrey of auignon , and in some part of italy , certaine poore folkes which dwell out of townes , which haue but one house vpon an earthen floore , and in it but one roome , where at one end they haue their bed , and at the other they dresse their meate , which notwithstanding nourish silkewormes in it , in the season of the yeere , at which time they prepare and set forth a corner of the said cottage to the same effect , according to the quantity of the leaues which they haue : and oftentimes they pay for the leaues of a great mulbery tree , sixe or eyght shillings the yeere , yea and many times the wormes thriue better in them , then in great chambers with other men , i meane , for the little quantity of wormes which such poore people haue . moreouer i haue obserued , that the silke-wormes doe loue and affect the ayre that comes from the dry sweet earth : prouided that care be had when the weather is cold , or moist , to make some fire in such roomes , either of wood or of coales , that are not of any strong smell . . of the building of houses to nourish silkewormes in . those that will build with small charges houses in virginia , wherein to feed wormes after the manner as is practised in messina in sicilie ( in which countrey there is some store of mulbery trees within the woods ) it is a thing which may easily bee done also in virginia , because there are likewise great numbers of mulbery trees there within the woods , and the countrey hot , and all things for this purpose most fitting . this to doe then , they must chuse a place in a good ayre , and neere the mulbery trees , and there build a long house , in forme of a bowling alley , couered ouer ; but a little higher and somewhat larger . they must couer it well , either with tiles , plankes , or other things , against the heate and raine , for the preseruation of the wormes . and the sides of the walles must be well closed either with plaster , plankes or other matter . in these walles , make many windowes on both the sides of the house ; let the windowes be of wood , to open and shut , and to giue ayre to the wormes , whensoeuer they need it ; and for as much as the south winde is hurtfull to the wormes , those windowes must be shut carefully on that side , when the winde blowes there ; these windowes may be couered with paper , which windowes may be set on and taken off the hinges when neede is . furthermore , some must watch , that neither rats , mice , birds , nor poultry come there ; for they will eate vp the wormes . likewise the pissemires sometimes hurt them much , and therefore care must bee had , to marke the places on which side they come , and there sowe saw-dust of oake wood , ashes , or lyme , or else rub the walles whereby they passe , with chalke , or with the oyle of iuniper , or any other kinde of oyle , on the outside of the house onely : for on the inside of the house , oyle would be hurtfull to the wormes ; beware also , that the paper of the windowes bee not oyled . . touching the erecting and building vp of hot-houses or ouens . svch men as are prouided of fit houses as aforesaid for the said wormes , may build in them hot-houses , as they make in such countries , wherein they nourish great numbers of silkewormes . they must build of these hot-houses , at both the ends of the house , if it bee great and spacious ; but if the house be little , one will bee enough . and it must bee built in this forme following . first , a hole must be made in the house wall , wherein you will build your hot-house or ouen , and therein build vp , as it were an ouen , after the manner of the countrey ouens . the ouens mouth must be at the outside of the house , with a little chimney to it , and the backe of the ouen , within the inside of the house . then must you haue earthen pots , like flower pots , without holes in the bottomes , and scarce so big as they , which must be made purposely , so as they may be able to abide the fire ▪ these pots must be placed with a distant proportion of space , betweene pot and pot , and so build them in , within the vault of the said ouen , with bricke and clay ; the mouth of the said pots must stand out at the backe of the ouen , and looke into the inside of the house , but the bottomes of the pots must stand and looke towards the fire , within the inside of the ouen : and in this manner must the pots be incorporate within the ouen . after this done , you may make fire in the ouen when neede shall bee ; for the pots being hot , will thereby cast a heate out , and warme all the house , and the smoke gets out at the chimney of the ouens mouth , at the outside of the house . item , it will be good to put into these pots , certaine branches of rosemary , or tyme , roses , or other sweet smels , for that is a meane to keepe the house in a temperate and reasonable heate , as need and occasion requireth . besides , those sweet smels are very agreeable and pleasing to the wormes . these ouens or stoues will bee very vsefull in virginia , principally in those silkeworme-houses which shall be built amongst the woods , where store of mulbery trees grow : for these places being more cold , shady , and moist then others , where the sunne comes freely : by this meanes they may heate , dry , temper , and well qualifie the ayre there as they please , and make the place thereby euery way well agreeing to the silkewormes . in these wooddy places also , you shall do well to cut downe all other trees that grow neere to the mulbery trees , and ouer-shade them , and also to prune off the boughs of the mulbery trees that grow too thicke , that so the sun may come fairely to the trees and leaues , for the bettering of the food for the silkewormes . . of the greatnesse of the houses . men may build them as great , or as little as they please , albeit the larger , still the more commodious : howsoeuer , it will be well , to make a partition in one end of the house , and to boord that corner so parted with boords , to coole the leaues in it , as soone as they are gathered , and to make a dore on the outside , to goe in thereat to lay in the leaues , and the other dore on the inside , to take out and giue meate to the wormes . item , it will bee conuenient to make either in the midst of the house , or against the walles , as they shall iudge the fittest , a certaine frame of wood , with boords or little tables , one stage or story still aboue another , euery one of which stages of tables or shelues , must be distant from another , one foote and a halfe , or thereabouts , and in euery frame , there may bee fiue or sixe stories or roomes of shelues , according to the height of the roofe of the house , all of one distance one from the other ; and as touching the breadth of the said tables or shelues of these frames , they must be foure foote broad , those shall be set in the middle of the house : but such as shall bee set against the wall , must haue but three foote breadth , because they cannot serue & reach leaues to the wormes , that shall be laid vpon them , but on the one side . it is to be noted , that the bords or shelues that are to be put in such frames , are to be of firre , or of other wood that hath no strong and ill smell , or else let them bee made of reeds , or best of all of indian mats , to serue in stead of shelues of wood : for these are the fittest of all other , because they keepe the wormes more dry and fresh in hot weather , by reason of the wind that blowes thorow them . these mats may haue crosse ioices of boord to support them , or else cord put thorow the bored holes of the sides of the frame , as bedcords in a bedsted ; but if the tables or stages be made of boords , then they are to be very thinne , to the end they may not receiue too much moystnesse from the wormes . the frame must be made very firme and strong , lest if it fall , it kill all your wormes , and you lose your labour , which hath happened to some . touching the length of the said frames , they may bee according to the length of the boords you haue : but if the boords happen to bee very long , then they must be vnderpropt with some piece of wood in the middle . men mayset vp such frames in little houses , as well as in great houses , but lesse , according to the bignesse of the house ; also they may take away such frames once a yeere , namely , after that the wormes haue spun their silke , and so for that time the house may serue for some other vse : prouided alwaies , they dresse , nor take no tobacco there ; for it is exceeding contrary and mortall to the wormes ; euen the very breath of one that hath taken it , breathing vpon them , will certainely kill them . likewise care must be had , once euery yeere when you set vp the said frames and tables , to wash them well , and to rub them with sweete smelling hearbes , as with rosemary , time , fennell or such like . . the time when silke-wormes are to be hatched out of their seeds or egges . first of all , when the spring time is come , and you see that the mulbery trees thrust forth great buds , and their leaues begin to shew forth themsel●●s , then must you take the silk-wormes seede , according to the quantity of leaues , and the roome of the house that you haue to feede them in , and put the said seed within a new box , or in a cleane linnen cloth , and keepe the seede reasonable warme , either within your pocket or otherwise . after foure or fiue daies , you shall visit it very often , and as soone as you see some wormes hatched , then must you put the seed in a bigger box , if the former be too little , but let it be very cleane : and care must be had , that the said seede be no thicker in the box , then halfe an inch thick . after that , you must take a piece of cleane paper , of the roundnesse or compasse of the box , and fill it with holes , as big as the tag of a point can make , and lay that round paper ouer the seed in the box ; then set mulbery leaues , the yongest and tendrest leaues you can get , ouer the said paper , that the wormes may passe thorow the holes , and feede on the leaues . also care must be had , that when you shall see the leaues couered with little and blackish wormes , you must draw them out of the boxe , with the whole leaues , with the poynt of a pin or such like thing , and lay them in sheetes of great and strong paper , turning vp all the edges of the said paper about an inch or more , for the better containing of the wormes , and easier remoouing them , or in a bigger boxe , the leaues with the wormes vpon it , close by one another : and assoone as you haue taken away both leaues and wormes , put in new fresh leaues , the youngest and tenderest vpon the said seed , and so doe still , till all the wormes be hatched : for sometimes it will be seuen or eyght dayes till they all can be hatched . then put together all such as were hatched in two or three dayes , without mingling them with those that are bigger or lesser , and giue them fresh leaues once a day . also care must be had , that while the wormes come forth of the seed , to keepe it in reasonable warmth , either neere the fire or betweene two pillowes , which are for that end to be warmed often , yet in a meane , lest you spoile all with too much heate . depiction of scaffold with leaves by this figure is shewed the order , to ranke the tables on the scaffolds , for to lay the leaues on , to feede the wormes there . depiction of scaffold with rods by this figure is shewed the manner to place the rods betweene the tables for the wormes to clime vp 〈…〉 d spinne their silke . depiction of silk weaving engine by this figure is shewed the fashion of the engine , how to wind oft the silke from the cods , with the furnaces and cawtherns for that purpose . depiction of cocoons and butterflies by this figure is shewed the portraits of the cods , and the butterflies comne forth of them , to engender and lay their egs vpon blacke serge , chamblet , tammey or such like stuffes as hath been said . . how to enlarge the silkewormes , and cleanse them from ordure as they grow . when you perceiue the wormes begin to wax in bignesse , and therefore presse one another too much , about a quarter of an houre or thereabouts , after that you haue giuen them fresh leaues , you shall take out the said leaues againe , together with all the wormes from the said paper or box , and shall set them in a larger place ; and if there remaine any wormes vpon the old leaues , then must you set fresh leaues in a smal quantity , to the end the wormes may gather themselues vpon them , to be taken out as we haue said : which when they haue done , you may cast out the old leaues and their ordure ; and this must be done twice a weeke or thereabouts . it is to bee noted , that in hot countries , the wormes doe eate but seuen or eight weekes at most , in a whole yeere , and the foure first weekes after they bee hatched , they require but very small attendance . also it is to be noted , that the wormes , before they come to their perfection , haue foure sicknesses , naturall to them , as wee will shew . . touching their first sicknesse . eight or ten daies after that you shall see the wormes heads growne bigge and white , it is a signe that they enter into their first sicknesse , and mewing or changing their first skin . then shall you see them hide themselues vnder the leaues , without eating of them . then must you giue them but a few leaues , namely , to feed these among them that be not sicke , and those onely ▪ for you are to know , that their sicknesse comes not to them all and euerie one at once and the same time . two or three daies after that , you shall see them come from vnder the leaues of a grayish colour , and creeping vpon the leaues that are freshly set on . then must you shift them to another place , and cleanse them as we haue said . also you are to note , that vntill such time as the wormes haue passed their third sicknesse , you are to lay vnder them , vpon the tables or shelues , leaues of broad , coorse , cleane paper , and twice a day giue them new and fresh greene leaues to feed on , laying the smooth sides of the leaues vpward , and that side of the leafe which is full of veines and strings downe-ward , for the worme comes vp to the vpper part of the leafe alwaies to feed , and it feeds best , and with most ease , vpon the smoothest side of the leafe , being the tenderest . you must also teare the leafe in the middle , or in more pieces , that the worme may the more readily and easily creepe thorow it , to get vpon the top of it , which will be more needfull in virginia , because of the broadnesse of the leaues there . . their second sicknesse . eight daies after , or thereabouts , the said wormes being waxen whiter , and bigger by the one halfe , they begin to enter into their second sicknesse naturall to them . then may you see them againe hidden vnder the leaues : then are you to gouerne them as we haue said before , and as they grow bigger , to shift them from time to time , into new , cleane , fresh , and more spacious places . . the third naturall sicknesse of silke-wormes . eight or ten daies more after that , you shall see them waxe bigger yet by the one halfe , remayning vnder the leaues as aforesaid ; then enter they into their sicknesse , and alteration of their skin . then must you giue them but a few leaues , as we said before , and keepe the roome where they are , reasonably warme , during their said sicknesse ; for it is the most dangerous of all the rest , for there somtimes some of the wormes grow very yellow , and yeeld a watrish matter out from them , which is a certaine signe of their death , and they are so contagious then vnto others , that if then they be not picked from the rest , and throwne away , they will likewise infect them . then must you change their place as afore , into a larger and more spacious , according as they increase in number and bignesse of body . then may you take them very gingerly & softly , with all the leaues with your fingers ends , very cleane . but haue speciall care , that you haue touched no tobacco ; and if you haue taken any , beware you breathe not neere vpon them : for this and other strong sents are a pest vnto the wormes . after their third sicknesse , giue them fresh leaues three times a day : and you must first let the said leaues be cooled an houre or more , for that is better , before you giue them to the silke-wormes . when the leaues are too fresh , they surfet , and feed so greedily as to burst themselues . beware you gather the leaues not wet , that is to say , after the raine , or after the dew , but you must gather them drie : take heed you giue them not wet to the wormes ; for that will spoile them : therefore you shall doe well , if you feare a raynie season , to gather in faire w●ather as many leaues as may serue you a day or two : for being kept in a coole place , not moist , as in a drie soller or such like , and the leaues something spred abroad , and often turned that they heate not , after this sicknesse , you may set your wormes vpon the shelues without paper , if you will. . their fourth naturall sicknesse . eight or ten daies more , after that , more or lesse , the wormes enter into their fourth sicknesse : now are they waxen far bigger of body , then euer before ; then must you gouerne , and attend them as we haue before described . and then you must prouide more places , according to the quantity of the wormes you haue ; and from time to time shift them into fresh and neate places , more ample and large , yet so , as they may be reasonably neere one to another ; and then giue them as many leaues as they will eate , tearing them in the middle . . what prouision of branches must be made , to cause . silkewormes to spin their silke . seuen or eight daies before the wormes be readie to spin , you must make prouision of branches of trees , of the smallest & firmest that can be gotten , as birchin boughes , heath or hather , broome , cuttings of vines , or any flexible and bending tough branches : they must not be vsed greene , but drie , for feare the moistnesse of the greene branches hurt the wormes ; and mingle with these boughes certaine sweet hearbes , as rosemary , time , or lauender , because the silkewormes loue greatly aromaticall smels , but not sents that are strong and vnpleasant . . the time when to cause wormes to spinne ; and how you are to set and dresse vp boughes . ten or twelue dayes , after the wormes shall haue attayned to their full bignesse of body , according to their course of nature ; then shall you see some of them runne vpon the greene fresh mulbery leaues , without eating any of them . if then you perceiue them to be very bright and cleere in their belly and necke , that is a signe and token they are ready to spinne . then are you to prepare and set vp your boughs and branches , and set them in rancks , vpon the stories of shelues or tables , vpright standing , the bigger end resting vpon the lowest shelfe , and the small end of the said boughes , resting against the next vpper shelfe or boord to that , and spread them about , arching at large what you can , to the end the wormes may haue more roome and scope , to make their balls or bottoms of silke , leauing a foot and a quarter distance , betweene the said boughes one from another , at the bigger , and lower end of them . and between the two sides or arches of these said boughes , vpon the shelfe you are to set your wormes , and giue them fresh , greene , and tender leaues , as much as they will eate . and as you shall perceiue them to be ready to make their silke , they will be clyming vp , vpon the said boughes . and if you see any of them not to get vp , but wander heere and there from the said branches , not finding them , you must take him , or them with your fingers , cleanely , and nicely , and set it at the foot of the bough : for then , if he be ready to spin , hee will get vpon it . at that time , you must clense them very often , because they dung much ; and then you may handle them with the hand , for that reioyces them , so you haue a care not to crush or presse them . and when you shall see that there remaine but a few to spin , take the rest , and put them with others of the same forwardnesse . let care bee had alwayes , as well of those that gather the leaues , as those that handle the wormes , that their hands be very neat and cleane , as we haue remembred . likewise you must haue care , when the weather is cold , or moist , to haue some fire in the roome . if you cast a little vineger vpon the coales , or some sweet smelling herbes , or flowers , into the pots built in the ouens to that end , it comforts the wormes . and as for such men as haue no such ouens , they may make some fire in the chimney of the roomes , or in a pan with wood-coales well kindled first . . when you must draw the silke balls , b●●tomes , or cods , after that the wormes haue made them . ten dayes after , or thereabouts , that the silkewormes haue made their silke balls , or bottoms vpon the boughes ; then are you to take away the branches with the balls , and to take the cods off from the said boughes or branches . then also must you chuse out the very best silke balls , to make as much seed , as you will preserue for the next yeere . there goes two hundred silke cods , or bottoms , to make one ounce of seed : but if they bee double , that is to say , if there bee found two or three wormes in one silke ball or bottome , as it often falleth out , we are to iudge and estimate then , that one hundred couple of wormes will make one ounce of seed , or thereabouts . and one ounce of seed bringeth foorth sixe , eight , and ten pounds of silke by the yeere , more or lesse , according as the season is fitting . in valencia , in granada , and in sundry other places , they keepe ordinarily for seed , those bottoms of silke , wherein are two or three wormes a piece : because their silke is neither so fine , nor so easie to bee spun , as the others . they may bee knowne by the handling of them , for they are stronger , rounder , and bigger then the rest : but sometimes it falleth out , that the wormes cannot breake thorow their silke bottoms ; in such case , they must be clipped at the smaller end with the point of a paire of sisers , without cutting the piece cleane off from the bottome , in which you must haue a care not to offend the wormes : then with a needle and a thred , must you thred them together , not thrusting the needle thorow the body of the bottome , but at one side ; onely passing the needle thorow the first coorse downe or sleaue . note also , that such silke bottomes as haue but one worme , you need not to cut them . then hang them vpon nailes , or woodden pinnes , where vermine cannot come . and when the wormes shall come forth and be butterflies , you are to take them by the wings , and set them vpon certaine shelues ; to the end that the male and the female may couple together . also then must you be prouided of some stuffe , old or new , that hath no wooll vpon it ( but vse no linnen or paper ) and hang vp the said stuffe in some part of the house ; then take the butterflies all coupled together as they are , by their wings , and set them vpon the said stuffe , be it say , piropus , the backside of old veluet , or such like stuffe as hath no wooll on it , so hang'd vp against the walles , as we haue said ; but in any case , set not them thereon , till they be coupled and ioyned together ; for otherwise the seed would prooue worth nothing . and if any be so poore , that they cannot get such stuffe , let them take walnut-tree leaues , one handfull , or more , and tye them together by doozens , the backe of the leaues on the backside , and hang them at a naile , or pinne , and set the coupled butterflies vpon them , as we haue said . note that the butterflies come not out of the cod commonly but in the morning , about eight a clocke . you shall know the seed by the colour thereof , the good from the bad , to wit , that of coupled wormes which is good , becommeth blackish within eight or ten dayes after ; the other remaineth yellowish , and that is worth nothing . when you see that all the butterflies be dead , and the seed become grayish , you shall take it vp with a knife , very gingerly , and that which remaineth vpon the leaues , you may take vp easily with your fingers . and if by chance some seed should be laid vpon paper or linnen , it cleaueth so fast , that you cannot get it off , without spoyling it ; in such case you must keepe it , paper and all , to the next yeere ; and in the due season , the wormes will come foorth thereout of themselues . but the other seed gathered from the stuffe or leaues aforesaid , you must put in a boxe , very cleane , the sides close pasted with paper , that no aire nor dust get in , and keepe it in a chest , in a dry temperate place , till the next yeere : but take heed you keepe it neither in too cold , nor in too warme a place ; for then the heate would hatch the wormes , though it were in winter ; and then being no leaues to feed them , they starue and dye , and so all your labour is lost . . how you may discerne the male worme , from the female , the silk bottomes of the males , and females , and also the male butterfly , from the female . now to know the male worme from the female , ( which cannot be well discerned till the wormes bee growne great ) you shall distinguish them by their heads , because the male worme hath his head more wrinkled , hauing eyes , as a man would thinke : whereas the female hath her head round , with small appearance of eyes . as for the bottomes , you may know the male , by the forme of his silke bottome : for the male maketh his bottome lesser , and very sharpe at one end , and but halfe so sharp at the other end . whereas the silke bottomes of the females , are bigger , and softer , round at one end , and halfe poynted at the other . as concerning the butterflies , the male is lesser of body then the female , and stirs the wings oftener then the female , and more strongly . . how you must mannage and handle the silke bottomes , to draw their silke out of them , before the wormes turne to be butterflies . as soone as you haue taken the bottomes of silke from the branches abouenamed , before they turne to bee butterflies , it is best to spinne the silke from off the bottomes , because after the bottomes haue bin once pearced , they cannot yeeld so fine silke , but onely a coorse silk or sleaue . and he that shall not be able to get his silke to be spunne , before the bottome may be pierced , which will be about a fortnight , or three weekes , after the wormes haue spun , then aforehand you may kill the wormes thus with the heate of the sunne . to this end then , you must spread the silke bottomes in the sun , at noone-day , when it is in the greatest heate , vpon plankes , or such like , for the space of one houre , turning them often . after that , gather them all into a heape , in a linnen cloth , and therewith couer them , to smother the wormes within their bottomes , and continue in so doing two or three dayes . and in case the sun should bee wanting in light and heate , to kill the wormes ; then after you haue drawn your bread from out the ouen , or else hauing heated it , to the same measure and proportion of heate , all the embers of the fire first taken out , you may put the bottomes into the ouen , vpon woodden boords , or some such like thing , and stirre them often , as wee haue already said : but remember that you leaue not the bottoms aboue an houre in the ouen , lest the silke burne , or being too much dryed vp , become vnfit to be spunne afterwards . beware also the ouen be not too hot . and if the wormes be not dead at the first time , put them in againe till they bee dead . after that , you must keepe the silke bottomes in a place where they may not be pressed together too hard , and where vermine cannot come . and so you may keepe them till you haue time conuenient to spinne the silke . yet if you can spinne the silke before you kill the wormes , the silke will prooue much better , and more easie to be spunne . there is another way , and better , to kill the wormes within their bottomes , for such as can doe it ; and this they practise at messina . they haue furnaces , and great cauldrons or coppers , such as diers vse , those they fill halfe full with water ; then they make a fire in the furnace , to heate the water . then they lay a round lid or couer of planke or boord within the cauldron or copper , but so borne vp by the copper , that it touch not the water , though it lye neere to it , within three or foure fingers bredth of it , which round lid or couer must be bored as full of holes as a siue : vpon this couer they lay a thin carpet of darnix , or the like , and vpon the carpet , the silke bottomes are laid , which must be stirred often , and the cauldron or copper must bee couered aboue the lid , that the heate may smother the wormes within the bottomes . when the wormes be dead , take vp the bottomes , and lay them in some roome where there is ayre , to draw out and dry their moystnesse . by this meanes the silke loseth not the colour , and is as good , and as easie to be spunne , as if it had been spun assoone as the wormes had made it . . the manner how to prepare the silke bottomes that be pierced , which were kept for seed , how to make of them course silke , and of the best and finest of that kind . as concerning such bottomes of silke as are pierced , they cannot serue to make fine silke , but coorse , yet of that you shall make the best of that sort , namely , when they be rightly mannaged in this manner : take the said pierced bottomes , and wash them in fresh water , hauing by you a cauldron with cleere water in it , which being set on the fire , and ready to boyle , put sope in it , and when that it boyleth , and the sope is molten , put the silke bottomes in it , and let them boyle one quarter of an houre , or thereabouts , and stirre them . after that , take them out , and wash them in clean water , and dry them . when they are dryed , then must you beate them with a round staffe of a good bignesse , vpon a stone , or other thing , and then they will become white , and smooth as wooll : after that , women may spin them , in this manner as followeth : first of all , they must pull them with their fingers one after another , and open them very wide as they doe wooll when they spin it . then must they put the silke vpon the distatfe , and spin it as small and fine as they can , or will. others doe card it with cards made for the purpose , but then it cannot be spunne so euen . as touching the refuse or drosse , that must bee carded , for to spin it . he that will haue his said coorse silke yellow , be must put the pierced bottomes in fresh water foure or fiue dayes , and change the water euery day , and presse the bottomes with his hands ; after that , hee must dry them and so they may be spunne , as though they had been sodden ; and this , without losing their colour . . how you are to gather the mulbery leaues , so as the trees may best thriue thereby , and the leaues be the better . it is good for him that hath mulbery trees , that hee gather his leaues but once in two yeeres ; viz. if he haue . trees , to gather the leaues of . one yeere , keeping the other halfe for the next yeere ; neuerthelesse , such as cannot spare the leaues , may gather them in this manner that followeth : of all the principall boughes and branches of the trees , you are to gather leafe after leafe , leauing the stalkes behind , and the ends or tips of the branches together with the younger leaues , to the end that the said boughes or branches may grow so much the better . and as for the little sprigs , that grow within the trees , if they bee in too great number , and thicke or ranke , you may plucke them off with their leaues . as touching young mulbery trees , you are to gather the leaues onely of the principall branches , as wee haue said . care must be had to keepe the leaues of the older trees , till the wormes haue passed their third and fourth sicknesse ; for then it is , that they beget their silke ; and the leaues of such old trees beget more silke then the yong ones . and the wormes eate more leaues in three or foure dayes after they are growne to their bignesse , then euer they did in all their time before . now , forasmuch as it sometimes falleth out in the spring time , that it raines two or three dayes together , so as the leaues cannot dry by the weather ; in such a case , while the wormes are yet little , you may cut off some branches of the mulbery trees , and hang them vp in houses , where the ayre may come to dry them , and as soone as the leaues be dry , you must plucke them ; for otherwise the branches would draw the sappe and iuyce of the leaues to them . otherwise , if you gather the leaues wet , you may dry them , by spreading them vpon a cleane linnen cloth , stirring them often , and wiping them with another cleane linnen cloth , till they be dry . . touching the husbanding of mulbery trees . it is to be noted , that mulbery trees are to bee husbanded , opened , digged , and dunged at the foote , as the oliue tree , namely , in such places where they grow , with mayne labour of men . but in such places where they grow naturally , where the nature of the soyle is such , that it bringeth them foorth without so much handy labour , there their fruit is better . and those men that will haue some trees planted vpon their land , they are to make good choice of them in summer , and marke them so , as they may know them in winter , to remooue them in the due season fit to plant them in . and to chuse the very best of them , you are to cull out such as haue round leaues , and not forked , for both the fruit , and the leaues of them are better then those of the other trees . these fiue and twenty yeeres i haue seene diuers countreys , where they began ( and afterwards found it very profitable ) to plant mulbery trees about their grounds , in stead of hedges , where they grow so speedily , that the second yeere they may begin to gather some leaues , during the time that the wormes are small : forasmuch as the leaues of little trees grow sooner , then they of big trees . to plant mulbery trees in forme of a thicke hedge , for to haue the first yong leaues , for the wormes new hatched , you must make a ditch of a foote and a halfe deepe , and as broad , and therein plant your yong trees , then fill the ditch with earth almost full : then cut off the branches of the trees that you haue set ; for that will make them grow the better ; and place them two foot neere one another . and whosoeuer will haue a double hedge of them , let him make another ditch three or foure foote neere that , and plant it as in the other : their wood , when they are plashed , is as good to burne , as any other ; and their ashes better . . how to prepare the seed of mulbery trees to make a nurcery . whosoeuer will make a nurcery of the seed of mulbery trees , when the fruit is ripe , let him obserue that tree , that beares the fairest and roundest leafe ; and of that tree let him gather so many mulberies , as will fit him for his seed , which must be thus vsed . first , wash the mulberyes in two or three waters , pressing them with your hands , and then take vp the seed that remaineth in the bottome of the water . after that , dry your seed in the house , and keepe it till the moneth of march next comming . such men as will gaine one yeere , sow it assoone as they haue gathered it , without drying it ; and other men sow the mulberies whole as they are , in that manner that we will say . . in what manner you are to sow the seed of mulbery trees for a nurcery . first , you must dig , husband , and make beds of fat earth , the mold being made small , and wel dunged with good old dung , thorowly rotten , and you must make your beds foure foot , or foure and a halfe broad : and within the said beds , you must make foure or fiue straight lines of rayes or furrowes , all halfe a foot equally distant one from another , and euery furrow must bee two inches deepe , and foure broad ; and betweene euery bed you must leaue little allies , or spaces halfe a foot broad , which will serue you to goe to weed or water them , without treading vpon them . then are you to sowe the seed in the said furrowes , and couer it an inch deepe or thereabout , of the finest mould . the first yeere you must take care to water it often , if the weather bee dry , and the earth must bee kept cleane from weeds . a yeere after that , you may pull vp , and transplant your mulbery trees into another ground more at large , viz. two foot one from the other , as ordinarily other trees are disposed of : and there let them grow till they bee as bigge as a mans arme at his wrest , or thereabouts . and then you may transplant them , into the place , or ground , where you will haue them continue for euer : leauing a distance the one from the other , of fifteene or sixteene foote , namely , so as the boughes of one tree grow not within another . care must bee had , that in hot countreys these trees be set deeper into the earth , then in a cold soyle , for feare of burning the rootes . . another discourse how to plant the vine , how to dresse and husband it sundry wayes , how to chuse the ground and the seate to that effect . first , such as will plant vines , they are to chuse a soyle proper and conuenient for that vse . if you plant it in a low ground , and moyst , there the vine growes well , and beares store of fruit , but the grapes neuer ripen well , and therefore the wine is not good , nor can it be kept long . you must then make choice of a dry soyle , whose aspect is toward the full south sunne , and couered or sheltered from the noth wind , if it bee possible . and if you meete with rising ground , as the sides of hills hanging downe , they are most proper , and though they bee full of little stones , and grauell , they are also the better for them , and not the worse ; the wine of such places being better able to be kept long , and fitter also to be carried farre . first , you must open the earth , and dig it one foot and a halfe deepe , or thereabouts . and after you haue digged as much earth as you haue plants to set , you must make ditches in the said ground looking towards the full south , one foot and a halfe deepe , and as broad , and of the length that the place is of . the ditches must bee three or foure foot distant one from another : so after you haue selected your plants , whether with roots , or without , as of slips or cuttings ( for the vine growes aswell without root , as with , and that which is set without root , is of the longer indurance and lasting ; though true it is , that the first yere it will not grow so much as that which hath rootes ) these plants i say , must bee planted three or foure foot one from another , in as much distance as the ditches are one from another . and the vine plants must be planted in a straight line , in forme of a checker , quadrangle-wise . heere obserue , that if the plants bee without rootes , you must cause them to soke in fresh water , twelue or fifteene dayes ere you plant them , putting the big end of the plant in the water a foot deepe . but if they haue roots , you must cut them off ( vnlesse they were pluckt vp one day or two at most before you plant them ) and put them in water two or three dayes . he that shall plant the vine , must haue one to helpe him , who shall lay the vine in the ditch , all along the said ditch , of what distance he will , one from the other . and in planting , he shall tread in the ditch , letting some of the digged earth fall into the place where hee is to plant or set his vine ; then shall hee take his plant , and bow it one foot in the earth of the ditch , or thereabouts , according to the length of the plant , putting the biggest end within the ditch , towards the plumpe , south of the sunne-rising , and with the hand , raising vp the point , end , or top of it , setting his foot on the root , and casting some mould on it , halfe a foot deepe or more , and treading on it , that it may bee firme . and hee must doe so , all along the ditch , vsing a line , to plant them with an equall distance , doing the like in , and thorow all the ditches . when your vine shall bee thus planted , then let fall more mould within the ditch all along , yet you must not fill it vp the first yeere . also bee sure that you make that earth that is betweene two ditches , slaunt on both sides . and husbanding the said vine from time to time , the earth of it selfe will fall into the ditches , and fill them . the vine is no sooner planted , but it must bee cut , not leauing vpon each branch aboue three knobs or knots , which wee call eyes : but the old vine that is planted about houses , to make long vines , that must not bee cut as yet ; for you must leaue it all the old wood or branches , and one part of the last yeeres branches ; both must bee cut the first yeere , in the beginning of the new moone : the second yeere it must bee cut at the full moone , and then leaue it but one branch , the lowest and strongest , leauing vpon the said branch , but foure knobs or knots , or thereabouts , according as the vine shall bee waxed . also you are to note , that in cutting the vine , you must haue a good knife , or rather a sharpe hooke , as in france , in such a forme as the shoomakers knife , wherewith you must cut the branches very euen , and very neere the old wood , to the end that the vine growing , may couer the cut . when you see in the moneth of may or iune , that there grow vpon your vine many sprigs arising from tho foote of the old wood , you must plucke them off with your hand , and let none grow , but such as grow vpon the last yeeres branches , vnles the vine be very strong ; in such case you may leaue her some of such twigs to multiply her . those that will haue their vines grow without stakes or props , as they doe in languedock and prouence , such you are to cut so short euery yeere , that you leaue them but two or three knobs , to the end the vine may grow big and be strong enough at the foote . the third yeere , the vine begins to pay and recompence or reward her master for his labors ; then must you cut her a little longer , and leaue her more branches , ( viz. ) two or three in euery one , and euer the lowest . obserue also , that if the vine breed much wood , then you must cut it when the moone wayneth ; but if it bring forth little wood or branches , cut it in the first quarter of the moone , toward the full thereof : all must be cut in december , ianuary , and february . . another manner of planting the vine , namely , such as haue no rootes . first of all you must digge and prepare the earth ( as we haue said ) and make it very euen : then take a line and lay it along the earth where you will plant , looking toward the south sunne , as we haue said . you must haue a pinne or dibble of iron or of wood , to make a hole therewith in the earth , one foot and a quarter deepe ; then put the biggest end of your vine-plant within the hole of the earth so made ; and if you haue dung very rotten , put of it one handfull in the said hole ; then treade it with your foote , and with the pinne or dibble bore the earth round about the plant to fasten it , that the earth may thereby ioyne close , and be combined with it ; then cut it , as we haue said , and keepe it very neate and cleane from weeds all the yeere . . another fashion of dressing the vine , after the manner of italy , and of piedmont or sauoy . the greatest part of the vines of those countries are planted in the open fields , and grow vp vpon trees , that are planted there to that end ; they plant one or two vines at one tree , namely , of the longest vines they can get , to the end they may grow , and bee the sooner vpon the top of each tree ; and they cut the branches of the trees off , that bee too long , that the trees may grow round , as much as may be . touching the vine , it must be cut euery yeere , as we said already , yet they must leaue this many more branches then are vsually left vpon other vines . and where there are no trees planted , there cut off some long and big boughes of trees , or get euen whole trees , of the bignes of a mans thigh or thereabouts , leauing onely vpon them the bigger end of the boughes , and plant them in the earth , to support and proppe vp the vine . obserue also , that they plant the said trees or boughes ten or twelue foote distance one from another or thereabouts . you must bee carefull when they be rotten , to set others in their rooms . also they may till and sowe that land with corne , not endammaging the vine , which is husbanded while they till the said land. and for as much as in virginia there are found old vines in the lands , that the inhabitants doe cleere for their vse , they might spare the said vines , and plant by them such trees or boughes , as we said , and tye the vines vpon them , to prop them vp , as is said ; for they would bring forth much fruite the very first yeere , which would be as much time gayned , and labour spared . withall , they might also plant of the longest vines they could finde , neere to the trees , to cause them grow vpon them , both neere the houses and wayes , where they would haue trees to growe ; and these vines will beare great store of grapes , though not to make so good wine , as is made of the low vine , yet good enough to bee drunke at meate . i haue seene in the low geuanden in languedock , a tree bearing a vine , which hath yeelded in one yeere as many grapes , as made halfe a tunne of wine . . another forme of dressing the vine , as they doe in viuaretz and in auuergne . they plant it as we haue said , and they cut it a little longer then they doe in languedock ; after that , they plant stakes of wood , of fiue or sixe foote long , and binde three or foure of them together by their vpper ends , in forme of a round tent ; this they doe thus , because the vine there is stronger then in other places of france , and they tye the vine vpon them . but in winter , when they will cut the vine , and husband it , they take away the stakes : and towards the end of march , they set them vp againe , as they doe in france , where they sticke but one stake vpright at one vine , whereto they binde it . . another way to dresse the vine , after the manner of the countrey of seuenes . there they plant the vine as followeth . first , hauing prepared the soyle , they make ditches , as we haue told you before ; then plant they the vine two foote , one from the other : and the first yeere they cut it very short , leauing but three knobs or knots out of the earth . the second yeere they cut it at the first quarter of the moone , and leaue to euery one but one branch , as long as they can leaue it , and set a stake at euery one of the vines . two yeeres after , they prouide them certaine woodden forkes , of the bignes of a mans legge , and woodden poles as big as his arme , also smaller poles : then they sticke the forkes in the earth , from sixe to sixe foote distance , all along the ditch where the vine is planted , and as much in height , or lesse if they thinke it fit , and so they doe alike in each ditch : then they lay the bigger poles from one forke to another , tying them together with osier or willow ; and then they tye the lesser poles , being sixe or seuen foote length , athwart ouer the bigger poles , binding them together with osier , in distance one from another of one foote and a halfe , much in the forme of the nets that men lay to take deere to transport from one parke into another . they cut the vine the second yeere , as long as they can leaue it , and they leaue it but one branch , to wit , the strongest , to the end the vine may mount vp the sooner vpon the said frame of poles , which we now described , and they binde it thereupon . now when the vine is vpon it , which is the yeere following , then must you leaue more branches to the said vine , when you cut it , according as you shall see that her stocke is strong and able enough to feede her . and you must leaue in euery branch , fiue or sixe knots or eyes , and euery yeere binde vp the ends of all the new branches which are left vncut ; vpon the pole , frame with osier , or with greene rushes , or what you can get . they plant such vines vpon the arable lands about houses , and vpon or ouer the high wayes , terming them treillies or platted high vines , which they plant as followeth . first , they digge a ditch in the place , where they meane to set the vine , in that sort we described afore : and they plant the vine within the ditch , as also wee haue shewed : then prouide they woodden forkes , and bigger and smaller poles , as is afore set downe . such forkes as are set in the ditch , must be but two or three foote high : plant a row of them , sixe or seuen foote from the said ditch or thereabouts , right against the south , and lay on them great and small poles , and tye them as aforesaid . such vines as are planted ouer the high waies too , and neere houses , there the forkes must bee longer , to wit , seuen or eyght foote high , and the poles so much the stronger , to bee able to beare the burden of the vines , and hauing a respect to the breadth of the said wayes . carts and horsemen passe vnder them in those countries , without hurt to the vines , or molestation to the passengers . such vines , are to be planted , at both the sides of such waies , and tyed vp and dressed as is said . . how to husband the vine , and in what season of the yeere . the vine must be husbanded three times a yeere , to wit , in march for the first time , the second time in may , the third in august . in march you are to digge it deepe enough , ( viz. ) three quarters of a foote depth or thereabouts ; and at the other times halfe a foote deep or thereupon : and in plowing it , you must haue care to plucke off the ends that grow vpon the old wood of the said vines , for they spoyle the vine . . how you are to chuse the vine-plants , for to plant of the best . when the grapes be ripe , then consider what plants be best , and which beare most branches . then marke the same plants so , as you may know them againe in winter , to transplant of them elsewhere . and also if there bee any vines that thriue not well , plucke them vp , and set in their roome some of those fruitfull ones : and if there bee any vine which hath a branch long enough , cut it not from the vine , but lay it in the earth a foote and a halfe deepe , or thereabouts , leauing out of the earth the small end thereof , with three or foure knots vpon it , and cut off the rest . it will bring forth fruite the same yeere . but you must lay in the earth so but one branch of a vine in one yeere , for feare you spoyle the vine by too much sucking it . you are to cut the same branch frō the old vine , the next yeere after that , to the end it draw not the sappe and iuyce away too much from the old one ; and by that time the said branch will haue taken roote enough , able to feede it selfe . and thus you may store and furnish your vineyard in a small time with very good plants . . how to make wine , and how to know when the grapes are fully ripe . when you shall see the grapes very blacke , and that there are no grayish graines among them , and that the stalke of the branch is become reddish , and the white grapes draw to be of a yellowish colour , and the graynes tender ; these be tokens that they are ripe , which thing you shall yet better perceiue in tasting them ; if they be sweete in taste , and the liquor be gluish betweene your fingers , then is it time to gather them . yet in euery place they cannot ripen alike , so wel as in some , though it be vnder the same climate . in low places , and moist wet grounds , they are neuer so good , nor so soone ripe , as they are in the dry grounds , and the hilly or sides of hills , and as in the stony and grauelly grounds ; and that is the cause , why they are not to be gathered so soone in moist grounds . note also , when you gather your grapes , that you may haue the wine to be good and fit to keepe long ; doe it in dry weather , not in rayny , for that spoyles the wine , and takes away his strength , and hurteth the vine . when you gather your grapes , chuse the ripest , and carry them home ; but afore-hand prouide a vat , or such a tub as brewers vse in brewing . and such as haue no great store of grapes , 〈…〉 vse lesser vessels , as barrels or halfe hogs-heads , to let the wine purge it selfe in . the grapes must be trodden in the vessell , with bare legs and feet ; first of all in a lesser vessell or tub , and then after that , remoue the trodden grapes , into a bigger vat , by degrees as they are trodden , huske and all together : and you may fill the vat or tub , within halfe a foot of the brim therof . such vessels must stand vpon the one end , vpon their bottome , but all open vpward : they must be well bound ; for otherwise the force of the new wine will breake them all in pieces . whosoeuer will haue his wine all claret , let him gather all his grapes all at once , the white and the blacke , and put them all together in the vessell , and let them worke together . before you put them into the vat or tub , make a little bundle of short vine-branches ; then make a hole in the low end of the vat or tub in the forepart , to draw the wine out , when it is purged : put the said bundle of vine-branches within the said vessell , iust before the tap-hole , and lay a cleane stone or bricke vpon it , to keepe it from heauing vp with the wine ; this will hinder , when you draw the wine , that the skins or huskes of the grapes come not out at the tap-hole with it . you must let the wine worke , and purge it selfe , fiue or sixe dayes , or more , if you will haue it looke very red . after that , draw it below , and put it in barrels or hogsheads . by this time , you hauing gathered your greener grapes , after you haue trodden the same , as we haue said , put them into the vat or tub , with the huskes or skinnes of the former pressed grapes , out of which you haue drawne the wine , and mingle them well together , either with the foot or with a staffe , and let the wine worke together as before , and it will bee a meane small wine for the houshold : after , when it hath purged it selfe seuen or eight dayes , draw it out and barrell it . beware you stop not the large vpper hole of the vessell , vntill the wine hath lost and spent all his great heate . there are some , who after this , presse the huskes in the presse , drawing out all that can come thereout , putting that liquor into a barrell by it selfe . others goe further , and put water to the huskes and latter wine , at diuers times , not all at once , but by little and little , putting one tenth part of water , in proportion of the quantity of the wine , which they haue so drawne , and they let it worke and purge it selfe in the vat , or lesser vessell , fiue or sixe dayes , and then draw it and barrell it : this will be prettie smal wine for the seruants or houshold . and whosoeuer will make wine meerely white , let him gather all his white grapes by themselues , and let the wine worke and purge it selfe in the vat but two or three dayes ; for if you let it stand longer , the colour will be yellow ; this is the manner practised in languedoc , prouence , and elsewhere : but in poictou and in some other parts of france , they doe otherwise , that it may be the whiter . after it hath been trodden , draw out the wine , and put it in barrels , and there let it purge , without his huskes or skinnes . you must be carefull to fill vp the barrels euery day , according as it diminisheth with working , otherwise the lees and other corruptions will goe downe into the barrels , and when hot weather commeth , will spoile the wine . you may do so with the claret , when you will not haue it too red , but cleere , and namely in hot countries . . obseruations touching the wild vine , that groweth in virginia , and how to make wine of the same . i haue been informed by such as haue bin in virginia , that there grow infinite number of wilde vines there , and of seuerall sorts ; some climbe vp to the top of trees in the woods , and they bring forth great quantities of small blacke grapes , which are the plainer to be seene , when the leaues are falne off from the trees . another sort of grapes there is , that runne vpon the ground , almost as big as a damson , very sweet , and maketh deepe red wine , which they call a fox-grape . a third sort there is , which is a white grape , but that is but rare , which are all deuoured by the birds and beasts . now if such men as dwell there , would take the paines to gather some of them , when they be ripe , and tread them as aforesaid , and make the wine worke with water , putting it in vats or tubs , as we said , it would purge it selfe as well as good wine doth ; and if the grapes bee too hard , they may boyle them with some water ; and if the cauldron be too little to boyle them all together , boyle them one after another , till all be boyled , and then put them all into the vat or tub , to wit , the wine , the water , and the huskes of the grapes , and then let them worke thus together fiue or sixe dayes , or else so long till you thinke it fit and good to bee drunke . after that , you may draw it , and barrell it , as wee haue said , and vse it when you need . i haue oftentimes seen such wine made reasonable good for the household . and by this meanes euery man may presently haue wine in virginia to drinke . . how to plant the figge tree , and the nature of the same . the figge tree is a tree that groweth speedily , and the second yeere beginneth to beare fruit , and is of that nature , that during a moneth or fiue weekes , in that season when grapes are ripe and good to eate , you may gather ripe figs of it euery day . the fig tree heerein is like the vine , that it may be planted without rootes , of a branch , albeit such as haue roots , bring forth sooner : and being either plucked vp , or cut off a long time before , you must put them in water ( as we haue said of the vine ) and plant them in the like manner . and in hot countries , they plant them ordinarily in the open vineyards , for it loues naturally to grow with the vine , as hauing affinity together ; for their fruit grow , and are ripe at one time . when you plant the figge tree without root , you must lay the branch within the earth , as we haue said of the vine . . how to plant peach trees , and the nature of them . the peach trees of euery kinde , are trees of no long continuance , and ordinarily are planted in the open vineyards , as the figge trees , without hurt to them ; and their fruit ripens in one season . many being in their vineyards , when they gather and eate a peach that pleases them well in their taste , doe forthwith plant the stone thereof in the earth , in that place where they will haue a peach tree grow the next yeere , and there the same groweth without any further labour . the like may be done of all sorts of peaches , yea euen with apricots : and those that will not plant them in their vineyard , may plant them first in their garden , and transplant them afterwards where they please , and they will bring forth the like fruit , as the tree of which the stone was . there are places in france , as at paris , where they graft them vpon plum-trees , or almond-trees , which are more lasting , though not fit to be planted in vineyards , because the plum-tree breeds too many roots and suckers , which spoyle the vine . . how to plant quince-trees . as for quince-trees , they may be planted of a bough thereof , without roote , as figge trees : though it is better to plant them with rootes , when such may be had . they like well to be planted in moyst ground , yet they will grow euery where . also you may graft them , one vpon the other , thereby to get the better fruite . likewise you may sowe his seede , to wit , when his fruite is ripe , then are you to take out the kernels , and sow them , as you sowe the seeds , and kernels of apples and peares , which commonly is done in february and march. . of the oliue tree , and the nature thereof . the oliue tree also is a great louer of the vine , commonly they plant it in march , aprill and may , ordinarily they plant no nurceries of them , because they are a long time in growing . there growes at the roote of the olde trees , sprigs , or suckers , which being growne bigge , they vse to cut them off , together with as great a piece of the stocke of the olde tree , as is a mans two fists or thereabouts , and this is without hurting the tree , and so they plant the said sprigges or suckers with their adiunct aforesaid , putting that great piece in the earth , which serues it in stead of a roote , then must we cut off his head or toppe vpward , as commonly wee doe to other trees . also you may sowe some of his fruite , together with the stone thereof , being very ripe , as about christ-tide , when they are blackish , and this without drying them . you must husband it at the roote , as the vine , twice in a yeere , and fatten the earth with good dung , if need require . in many places they sowe corne or other things vnder the oliue trees , without hurt to them . . of the pomegranate tree , and of his nature . the pomegranate tree is euer little , of the bignesse and forme of a white thorne : in hot countries they growe neere the high-wayes , and in woods , especially in stony ground . they make few nurceries of them , because they cast many sprigs at the foote , whereof so many may bee pluckt off and planted where they will , and as many as they please . note , that there are some sweet , and some bitter ; the bitter are not eaten , but are good for other vses , as namely , for curriers to giue a good glosse to their spanish leather skinnes . being once sowne or planted in any place , there they grow of themselues , and hee that will sowe of them , when he eates of the best of them , he may put the seede , or kernell of them presently in the earth . . the manner of sowing the seedes or kernels of sundry kindes of fruites , for to haue trees of them : and how to preserue the seedes , vntill the time be fit to sowe them . for the seede of the vine , it may bee well sowne , and it will grow as other seeds doe : but because it is a long time a growing , they vse to sowe very little of it . yet whosoeuer would be curious to trie conclusions , may sow of it , as they sowe other seeds . for to draw out and get the seedes of them , the grapes being very ripe , you must gather ▪ them and wring them betweene your hands , and so take out the seeds or kernels , and then sowe the same presently , or else dry them in the shaddow , not in the sunne , and keepe them till february or march next comming , and then soke them in fresh water two or three dayes before you sowe them . . for the seed of the fig tree , draw it also out of his figs , being fresh , and sowe it , as that of the mulbery tree , whereof wee haue treated already . . the stones of peaches and apricots , are the seed of those trees , which thriue best , when they are planted assoone as they are out of their fruit , without drying them . and those that will keepe them till march next , must dry them in the shaddow , not in the sun. and before you plant them , put them foure or fiue dayes in water or wine , then put them foure inches deepe in the earth . otherwise , without drying them , you may keepe them in an earthen pot , with earth in it . . the cherry stone is to be mannaged as the peach and apricot , as wee sayd before . the fruit that comes of them , will prooue as the cherries were , howbeit , not altogether so big as the former were . . wall-nuts must also be planted greene , and fresh , and with all the vpper rinde , and take heed rats and mice come not at them to eate them , for they are very liquorish of them . also , you may keepe them dry , as we said heeretofore of other things , but they profit not so well . the tree that shall come thereof , being of the said nature , will produce the like fruit . . the almond is to be husbanded and planted as the peach and apricot . . the stones of plums are to bee vsed and planted as the almond ; but the tree that shal come of them , will not bee so good , and that is the reason why they must be grafted . . the chest-nut is to be planted greene and fresh , else it will neuer prosper , if you let it be dried . you must put them in the earth , three or foure inches deepe ; and to keepe them , you must put them in fresh water three or foure dayes , then wipe off the water from them , and keepe them in a pot with earth in it , vntill the spring come , to plant them . the trees that will come of them , will not bring forth so good fruit , as the chest-nut was , and therefore the best way is to graft them . . the seeds of lemons and oranges , ordinarily are sowne , assoone as they are taken out of their fruit . they prepare the soyle towards the south , well digged and dunged , and plant them the small end vpward , two inches deep in the earth . also they graft them ordinarily , to get the better and goodlier fruit of them . . for the seeds of apples and peares , the fruit being very ripe , you are then to take out the seed , and dry them in the shade , and you may keepe them till february following or march , to sow them . then must you haue prepared for them good ground , and you must make in it small rayes or furrowes , of two or three inches in breadth , and of like depth , each furrow being three quarters of a foot distant one from the other , and you must sow the seed within the said furrowes , couering them with earth . it is very good to sow them , assoone as they are taken out of their fruit ; for they come foorth of the earth the sooner : and it is needful to graft them , because the fruit that proceedeth of them otherwise , is not so good . it is also good , that all the seeds and stones here beforenamed , be planted and sowne at the first quarter of the moone . . how to dry grapes , to keepe them . when the grapes be very ripe , then are you to choose them in the vineyard , of the biggest and best , and namely , white ones . after you haue chosen and gathered as many as you will haue , you must burne a certaine quantity of vine-cuttings , not mingling therewith any other kind of wood , and then gather the ashes thereof ( but the best is , that they bee all of white vine branches : ) after that , put faire water and those ashes in a cawldron vpon the fire , and seethe them together , till you haue made a cleere liquor ; then taking away all the ashes , put the liquor into a cleane cawldron againe , and set it ouer the fire , and being ready to seethe , then must yee take rods of wood , such as chandlers vse , whereupon they set and make their candles ; vpon which rods you must tye the bunches all along , one bunch of grapes on one side the rod , and on the other side another bunch of grapes ; tye them with thred by their stalkes to hang them on ; which done , then diue them in the liquour , as the chandler puts his candles in the molten tallow , and that sundry times , as foure or fiue times : thus , hauing diued one rod of raysins , hang it by to dry ; then take another , and wet it in the same manner , and set it by , and doe so of all the rest : then hang them vp in the sun , or else spread them vpon hurdles or lattices of rods , or such like , vntill they bee almost dry : then barrell them , pressing them very flat in the said barrels . others dry them , without this steeping them , euen as they come from the vine . . how to dry figs. first , gather them very ripe ; and hauing made ready hurdles or lattices of reeds , or of osier , ioyned together , as osier lattices vse to be , with lights or cli●ts betweene osier and osier , to the end that the ayre passing thorow the rifts , & void spaces of them , may helpe the sun to dry them vp , when they are spred vpon the said lattice tables ; and take heed , that neither the raine , nor the dew fall vpon them . also you may drie them in this manner : first take a big reede or cane , of two or three foote long , and bore little holes all the length of it , thorow which holes you are to put little stickes very sharpe , of two foote long ; then thred the figs vpon the little stickes , till they be very full of them ; then hang the cane in the sun ; and when they be dry , barrell them , pressing them very hard in the barrell , as we said of grapes . . how to drie peaches of all kinds , and apricots . when they bee very ripe , then you must pare off the vpper skin , and cleaue them into foure quarters , and dry them as figs , and barrell them , to keepe them for winter . the manner how to dresse them , after they are dry , for to eate them , is this ; you must prouide a cleane earthen pot , and after you haue washed your peaches in faire water , then put them into the pot , and put in as much wine as will couer the peaches , and then seethe them halfe a quarter of an houre . also they may bee made ready another way without boyling them , by putting them in wine , and soking them three or foure daies ; and this way they are better . also you may put in some cinnamom in powder ; in this manner you may keepe them one moneth within the said pot . vsing them euery morning , they prouoke an appetite or good stomack , and are very wholesome . . how to hinder wild beasts , from eating the fruits in the night . you must make fires in sundry places , and namely , in euery such way as leadeth to the wood , and that only in the night , and no wild beast will come neere them . and specially doe this about the vineyards , from the time the grapes begin to be ripe , vntill they be wholly ripe . . aduice for those in virginia , touching the place for to plant vines in . forasmuch as euery plat of ground is not fit for the vine , it were good and conuenient , that euery towne and village , wherabouts is , or shall bee found any good or proper ground for that purpose , that there the inhabitants should plant vines one neere another : and such men as haue intrest or right to such grounds , may change them for some other , in another quarter of the countrey , according to the quantity , that euery one may be able to apply himselfe vnto . for the vines being thus ioyned together , will not cost more to keepe then one plat ; neither shall the wild beasts eate any the more ; and so one may helpe another , and learne one of another like good neighbours . conclusion . i haue many more vsefull things to impart , which for want of leasure i must leaue vnpublished till some other time . wherefore i will now onely heartily recommend these my approued experiments ( which i haue sent you ) to the care and diligent practice , of you the colonies of virginia and the summer ilands . if you cheerefully apply your selues to these instructions , i shall be incouraged to doe more and better seruice for you heereafter ; and you for your paines , i dare assure it , shall be richly recompenced with ample profit . especially , and aboue all others , if you constantly pursue those two most inualuable commodities of silkes and wines , which you may with ease and little cost bring speedily to perfection . for nature ( which doth nought in vaine ) hath euery where for this purpose , most luxuriously stored virginia ready to your hands , with excellent mulbery trees , and vines of diuers sorts , which none , though neuer so malicious , or can , or dare deny . since then that nature her selfe , as proud of this her sumptuous worke , beckens you to her , and points you round about , with her bounteous hand , to behold heere in euery place , her braue mulberies , and her merry vines , listen no more to me then , but hearken to her now , what she sayes and truly counsels you , most part from her selfe , and some part of what she hath heard from others . and thus she speakes vnto you : friends of my best beloued nation , view mee well , and tell mee if you are not come into another land of promise , into another paradise ? to passe by my most fertile graine ( so much of all commended ) the nourishing maiz , and many other things ; behold now onely , my two great treasures , my richest plants , my mulberies and my vines , which i haue purposely prouided ready for you , and that abundantly , without your care , without your cost or charge . beleeue mee , i make all my least and commonest workes , for some good purpose euer , much more these then that are so precious . regard them well . i heare you all confesse now , they are rich and beautifull : how haps it then , that i and they are slighted so much by you ? and that which worst is , all for a smoakie witch ? i haue heard some say , that dice are made of coniurers bones , and cards of witches skins , whereby those that handle them , though they lose still , and are vndone by them , yet they can neuer leaue them . sure there is some such sorcery in this weed ; it was first sowne ( it seemes ) by some indian enchanters hand , with spels and magicke verses , or otherwise you could neuer so much dote on it . for all the fruit of this , it is but smoke , which vanishes , and likely will not alwayes last . but these my two other bounties i haue giuen you , for silkes and wines , be they neuer so plentifull , yet shall they be alwayes durable , and generally staple , to your excessiue gaine . doe not then still ixion-like , imbrace a cloud , for iuno , and smoake , for substance . let but the fruitfull soyle and happy clime heere ( the chiefe nurse of these and all other plants ) perswade you for mee . all authors of agriculture will tell you , that neither arable , pasture , meddowes , nor any other grounds , are so proper to plant the vine in , as those cleered grounds are , wherein not shrubs , but tall trees grew . and what countrey in the world so full as this , of tall and goodly timber trees ? so as when you cleere your grounds , you easily may remooue your vines into them , and the remoouing giues them also a perfection . likewise may you leaue your mulberies still growing , euen where you plant your vines : for such loue and affinity there is betweene these two , ( as good things alwayes goe together ) that the soyle and clime which fits the one , fits the other ; and what the one loues or hates , the other doeth the like . were not this knowne to all , yet the abundance of them both , so naturally growing here together , would , without other experience , sufficiently confirme it . againe , were not this countrey and climate heere most proper which i haue chosen for them , you should not haue seene them , be sure of it , so freely and willingly flourish euery where as they doe . for this purpose compare virginia now , with other countries , that are seated in the same degree of latitude that she is , marke their commodities , and you shall see , that shee is as well a kinne to them , in them , as in the same degree . your great mathematician hariot , who liued sometime in virginia , and who with many praises ( iustly due vnto her ) wrote of her , and her commodities , saith in that his booke , that she is seated in the same latitude that persia is : and they that haue trauelled persia , and write of it , will tell you ⋆ how it abounds with all good graine and fruits , and how it exceeds in silkes , and wines , as this her cousin-german , in the same degree , virginia , doth the like , with mulberies , vines , maize , and other graine . another , an eye witnesse also of persia , saith , that ⋆ chorazain , a prouince of that countrey , is so fruitfull of all things , that a dearth is neuer knowne there : and that you may see in one onely city , called , eri , such store of silke , as in one day you may buy as much as will load . cammels . and who knowes not , that the abundance of silke , raised from the propriety of that soyle & climate , is the vnspeakable rich staple commodity of that great empire ? these silkes are the sinewes of the persian state , by which treasure , the sophy is inabled still as hee doth , to wage warre with the turke , to the great good of all christendome . i need not tell you , by the way , how hopefull a trade this is to the english east india company , if it bee not ( as pity it were ) sinisterly hindred . for by this meanes great store of clothes may be vented there , multitudes of poore set on worke , and england inriched , and made in time the magazin for silkes . and by this fetching of silke still from the fountaine head in persia , the turke shall be depriued of this great tribute , weakened in his treasure and impouerished ; and the persian , by this trade , bee the more inriched and strengthened against the turke , to the common good of christendome . and i hope all good men will wish this trade to prosper and proceed still with the persian , farre rather then with the turke . so much the more , for that all authours and trauellers report , * the persian to be courteous , gentle , liberall , kind to christians , and a louer of learning and of arts , especially astrologie , physicke , and poetry ; so as when there shall bee an ambassadour once settled with the sophy , there can be expected nothing but all good vsage , with a greater gaine . the turke contrariwise is rude , barbarous , cruell , couetous , perfidious , a christian and a learning-hater . the loue of persia , so like virginia in many things , hath made me stay longer in her then otherwise i would : but now i will take my leaue of her , and her rich store of silkes , and leade you thence , to a greater and a more opulent empire yet , to china , ⋆ which also is seated in the same degree of latitude that our virginia is : and heere you may see how likewise they two are a kinne in sundry naturall commodities , which by reciting and comparing of them , you shall easily perceiue . china is stored with woods of mulberies to feed silke wormes with , and such abundance of silkes they make , ⋆ that at the city of nimpo , which others call liampo , the portugals haue obserued ● . pound waight of silke , carryed out in ships in three moneths space . into cambula , the chiefe city of tartary , there come euery day from china , about a thousand wagons laden with silke , as ⋆ authours of no small credit , and one that was there , reports . china also is full of nauigable riuers , and is fertile of all graine , maiz , rice , and others , of which it hath three or foure haruests in a yeere ; it is stored with fish and fowle , it hath mines of siluer , brasse , iron , and other metals , quick-siluer , niter , allom , and precious stones , pearle , muske , cotton , rubarb , china roots , store of flax , and rich furres . ⋆ they lose not a span of ground , but all places are imployed to their proper vse : the dryer , they sow with wheat and barly ; the moyst , with rice and sugar canes : hils and mountaines abound with pine-trees , and chessenuts , betweene which they plant maiz , and sow panicke , and all kind of pulse : in other proper places , are mulbery groues , faire gardens , orchards , and flax grounds , no waste land , but all put to some good vse or other . it is not my purpose to speake of the sharpe wit , or of the excellent art and industry of the chineses , wherein they equall , if not exceed all nations of the world againe : that is besides our matter now : but as there is a consanguinity betwixt china and virginia , in the same degree of latitude ; so i will onely compare and shew the like affinity and agreement betwixt the natiue commodities of the one and the other climate : china hath store of maiz for food , and mulbery trees for silke , and what maiz , and mulberies virginia hath , is so well knowne to all , as of that i need say no more . china yeelds store of fish and fowle , virginia hath the like ; and for fish , no where more plenty , nor so large as there : witnesse your many sailes , that yeerly come out of england hither , for this purpose , so as at this time , it makes a great trade , and will yeerely more and more increase still , especially after your salt-works ( that are now setting vp ) are finished ; and for the flax of china , you haue naturally growing in virginia , silke-grasse , flax , and hempe , of diuers sorts , and of approoued goodnesse , and which culture will yet much more perfect . you haue likewise , as china , knowne mines of iron , and of copper , and of other richer mines also you haue more then hopes : china hath pearle , and some of the indians weare it in virginia : as it hath muske , so hath virginia , the beasts called by some , muscassus , which haue good muske , and by all likelihood are of the same kind . the rich furres reported of china , are exceeded by virginia , in store of beares , otters , martins , and black fox skins , besides many others , of which the french and dutch haue made hard by you heere , a great trade , these many yeeres . as for the other naturall commodities , mentioned , that china hath , and are not yet here knowne to the now colony , as rubarb , china roots , ⋆ niter , allom , quick-siluer , &c. you may probably at least presume , considering that virginia consorts with china in so many knowne things , as in the same height , the like happy tempered clime , the like fruitfull soyle , the like many nauigable riuers , the many like natiue knowne commodities , already named : you may probably presume ( i say ) that time & your industry , in diligent searching ( which for these reasons you ought the rather to quicken ) will discouer also heereafter many of these , if not all vnto you . and as for the other commodities that virginia hath not at all as yet , as rice and sugars , likewise none may doubt , seeing the soyle and clime heere are indued with no contrarieties , extremities , or distemperatures to hinder the growth of them , but hath all conueniences alike fitting for these purposes ; there is no doubt then ( i say ) but that when they are once transported hither from other places , and planted heere , but that it must needs prooue capeable of them , being so naturally fitted already for them . neither yet is it to bee thought , that any cultiuated country in the world , though neuer so fruitfull , had all things at first there naturally growing in it , as now it hath , but that many of them were brought afterwards thither from other places . and so in like sort , the spaniards haue transported out of europe and the east-indies , diuers plants of fruits , drugs and dies , and many rich commodities , which they haue prosperously planted in the west indies , to their great gaine , as may easily bee shewne . and you , if you consider your store of your plaine , moist , fat , and fruitfull grounds , and your goodly riuers by them , for helpe of water , you cannot doubt but that you are most fitly prouided for the entertaining and bringing vp of rice and sugar canes . you haue already made succesfull triall of other grounds , which prooue most proper for cotten wooll plants and indico , for the ordering of which , and of many other more profitable commodities , you shall shortly ( as i heare ) haue directions printed and sent vnto you . now for the three or foure haruests which china hath yeerely , so as dearth is neuer heard of there : it is knowne likewise and written of ⋆ virginia , that at roanoak they reap three haruests in fiue moneths space : they sowe in may , and in iune , and in iuly ; and reape againe , in iuly , august , and september . and as for that part of virginia which is now planted , there is ⋆ one of the most ancient and expert planters now in england , that credibly auerres , that they may , and doe begin to sowe of our countrey graine in september , and so after continue stil their seed season for wheat very well vntill the middle of february following , and about the end of iune , they begin to reape the first haruest of wheate and barley , which is very good , and in the other moneths after , that which was later sowne . whereupon is to be inferred , that virginia hauing store of ploughes and good husbandmen , need not onely neuer feare dearth and scarcity , but may by the many seedings and many haruests , bee made a countrey as plentifull of all graine , as china , or any other whatsoeuer in the world . besides , some knowne commodities you haue , which china wants : to omit others , that which is called terra-lemnia , formerly a peculiar treasure of the great turkes onely , ⋆ and wine of grapes , whereof they haue none : for all theirs are made either of the palme tree called cocos , or of the palme that beares dates , which being exceeding good , and made with diuers mixtures , after diuers fashions , this perhaps makes them lesse care either to plant or to dresse the vine . but to bid china farewell now , and the multiplicitie of her commodities and her affinities with virginia , i will returne againe to speake particularly of our mulberies and silke : and for this purpose i will now carrie you into france and italy , onely to viewe the rich and mighty profits that they make of them : notwithstanding their mulbery trees ( which are esteemed alwaies to counteruaile the halfe of all the whole charges of this businesse ) are not produced by the earth of her owne accord , with my helpe onely , as here , but by labour and industry and expence . ⋆ augustino gallo an excellent author of agriculture saith , that but a few yeeres since ( finding the sweete by keeping silke-wormes ) in the territory of bresci● ▪ they did yeerely sow millions of mulbery trees , which after foure yeeres growth , the best and fayrest of them were remoued , to bee planted by high way sides or other places , where they thought fitting , and that both noble and ignoble did take such a pleasure in keeping great store of silke-wormes , so as gaine quickening their industry , they did more and more amongst all sorts yeerely augment this businesse . ⋆ it is not aboue twenty yeeres , since these silke-wormes were generally set vp in france , henry the great , with great wisedome appointing commissioners for that purpose . ⋆ le tellier , in his booke of the silke-arte , saith , that the inuention and first knowledge of silke , came from the east indies into europe aboue a thousand yeers since , & was brought into italy , not aboue two or three hundred yeeres agoe : for before that time , this fabrick and worke was more rare and strange there , then it was about twenty yeeres since , in france , afore which time ( though not many yeeres since ) the people of prouence , languedock and dauphine ( the neighbour prouinces to italy ) applying themselues to this silke-worme , found the progresse so easie and profitable , insomuch as the sole reuenew of silke , brings more money ( saith he ) at this present to those prouinces , then all their corne , oyle , & woad , together , which notwithstanding are there in very great aboundance ; ⋆ another saith , that france must saue and gaine by the progresse of this silke fabrick , aboue foure millions a yeere ; italy then incomparably more : and yet france for the getting of this great gaine , makes of the silke-wormes breede , of one ounce of seede , in the most places , but fiue or sixe pound of silke , euery pound worth two & three french crownes and somewhat more . yet in the better parts of france , as in languedock , and prouence , they make seuen or eight pounds of sike , of an ounce of sike-seede . ⋆ but in italy , namely , in brescia , they make of one ounce of spanish silke-seede , eight , nine and tenne pound of silke , and the silke-wormes spinning of this ounce of silke-seede , cate but about two hundred and fifty pound waight ( after the ⋆ pound waight of brescia ) of mulberie leaues to make the said quantitie of silke ; and of an ounce of calabrian silke-seed , they make there in brescia eleuen and twelue pound waight of silke , and the wormes of that seede ( as being of a bigger breede ) eate about three hundred brescia waight of mulbery leaues ; and no doubt but in other places of italy , which are yet more proper for this businesse , they make of the like proportion of seed , a greater quantity of silke then this . such difference there is betwixt clymate and clymate , in the naturall propriety of it , to the great increasing and bettering of this worke . considering therefore the great charge and labour , that italy and france is at , in planting of mulbery trees , and for that purpose sowing mulbery seeds , and expecting sixe or seuen yeere after ( for so long it is ere they grow to perfection ) afore they can make good profit of them , and considering besides , that their clymate is nothing so proper for this silke-commodity , as virginia is , and yet for all that , they make their greatest gaine of it : it cannot be doubted then , but virginia hauing infinite store of the best sort of mulbery trees , ready growne vp to your hands , without your charge or labour , and hauing the clymate ( as is experimented ) more naturally proper for this worke , and the food for the silkewormes better , whereby they become more strong , to passe their naturall and other casuall sicknesses with lesse danger , and so are generally more healthfull , and also are bigger bodied , and make larger silke-bottomes , and finish their worke in a shorter time then other doe other-where ; hauing all these preeminences , it cannot be doubted ( i say ) by any reasonable man , but that virginia is euery way better fitted , to yeeld incomparably a farre richer profit by the silkeworkes to you , then france or italy can doe to them . and if in france , their profit be thus rated by them , which account alwaies , that the fourth part of the price of the silke defrayes all the charges , there remayning three parts of cleere gaine to the owner , and in italy , a sixth part will discharge al expences , making fiue parts of cleere gaine , where they reckon neuerthelesse , that the price of the mulbery leafe ( as i will shew by and by ) counteruailes the full halfe of the whole charge of the silkeworke ; you may then certainely assure your selues , that in virginia , where you haue what store of mulbery leaues you will for nothing , with all the other aduantages afore mentioned , that the tenth or twelfth part of your silke you make there , must needs cleere all your charges , and make nine ; ten or eleuen parts cleere gaine to your selues . your chiefe charge will be , for the gathering of the leaues to feed the wormes . a man and a boy will feede the wormes , comming of sixe ounces of seeds , till they be past their fourth sicknesse , and within a fortnight of spinning . but for the last fortnight , because the wormes must be then carefully and often fed ( that being the chiefe time , wherein they conceiue , and store vp the matter for the silke , which they after vomit out and spin ) then you must adde three or foure helpers , to the other two aforesaid . for the feeding , and shifting of the wormes , and other imployments , women , children , and impotent persons may be vsed . and as one skilfull gouernour of the silkewormes may imploy hundreds vnder him , so he may in sixe weekes space , easily teach them the chiefest points of this art , if they be capable , and will addict themselues to the learning of it . ⋆ the gouernour of the silkewormes in france , hath two , three and foure crownes a month , besides his diet : and his charge continues , from the first hatching of the wormes , to the finishing and winding of the silke . ⋆ moreouer , you must not thinke it to be absolutely necessary , to be so superstitious in curiously following all the booke rules and written precepts , so as if any of them be omitted , or euery thing be not precisely followed , in the hatching , lodging , feeding , and tending of the silkewormes , that then all the businesse is spoiled and ouerthrowne : for it may notwithstanding profit and succeed , to the contentment of those that keepe them . onely let euery man doe what he can commodiously , to his power and ability , and assure himselfe , though he keepe not all strict rules in euery thing , that yet he may make a great gaine , notwithstanding still the greater , the more curious he be in obseruing and practising all the approued experiments , rules , and precepts hereunto belonging . these rules are chiefly to shew the perfection of this art , and that also a man may learne thereby , that if the silkewormes miscarrie or prosper not so well one yeere , what might be the cause of it , and where the fault lay , and how next yeere that may be remedied which was amisse afore , without despayring or being discouraged . besides you must know , that all generall rules euer admit some exceptions , and varie according to some particular circumstances . and therefore to make the rules the surer for you , the nature of the clymate must be obserued , how and in what one clymate differs from another , as also the season of one yeere , altering from another , in cold , heat , drought , or moysture , the manner of the lodgings , the qualities of the windes , to be let in , and kept out vpon occasion fitting , and so according to all the different qualities , to gouerne this worke differently with discretion . as if it be a cold season , to vse more artificiall heat , for the cherishing the wormes ; if it be a verie hot season , to let in the coole ayre and the windes , as much as may be to refresh them , especially when they spin their silke , for feare of stifling them with too much heat . if it be a moist time ( the worst season of all other euer for the silkewormes ) to vse drying heats and perfumes so much the more , to qualifie the moist and the ill season , and to be carefull , that the mulbery leafe be wel dried , and kept the longer after it be gathered , afore it be giuen . but if the season be dry , then consider , that the leafe , after it hath lyen and cooled a while , may be giuen the fresher , and the mulbery tree roots may be watered in these droughts , to refresh the leaues , as they doe sometimes in spaine , especially if it be in a drie and hot ground , which otherwise without these cautions were not so good . then must you consider also , if the mulbery tree grow in a shady place , or in a sowre , foule or wet soile , what inconuenience that food may bring vnto the worm , & thereafter either to auoid it wholy , if it be possible , or else to qualifie it as well as may be : neuerthelesse noting that in a hot and dry yeere , a man may be more bold to feed with those leaues , that grow in a shady or moist ground , by reason the temper of the season hath the better corrected the ill quality of them . thus regard with reason alwaies , what kinde of ground the leafe grew in , and in what qualified season you gather it in , and consider the kinde , and nature of the tree , and the nature and kinde of the silke-seed you vse , and according to all particular circumstances , well pondered , so to make your exceptions , and to order euerie thing with iudgement , and discretion thereafter . time and obseruation will teach you many experiments , out of which perhaps some more rules of art may be made , as best fitting in some particularities , the countrie and clymate of virginia , which finding , after good triall made , you shall doe well to set them downe in writing , that in time they may be published also , for the better directing , and profiting of others . and because in persia ( where such infinite store of silke is made ) it is not likely , that they tie themselues to all the strict rule , and niceties , which for the most part are necessary to be obserued in many countries , but doe what is fitting otherwise , for that clymate , most proper for this worke ; ( with which virginia so neerely agrees , and naturally consorts as is aforesaid ) for this especiall purpose therefore , meanes are made ( i heare ) to certifie you from the english factory in persia , of the art and order that they vse , in all particulars , for the silke-workes there ; which may guide you , happily , to a more compendious and ready way , for the better speeding of this rich businesse . and yet where all these rules are curiously followed , they make not onely spaine , and italy , but in the worser parts of france , and other-where , a farre greater gaine ( so much for so much ) by feeding the silke-wormes , then by any other commodity whatsoeuer . insomuch as some gentlemen in italy , which keepe no silke-wormes themselues ( and which are therefore of the worst sort of husbands ) yet by letting out their mulbery trees to others , for the leafe onely , make a great part of their reuenues , some . li. some . li. a yeere ; some more , some lesse , according to the number , greatnesse , and goodnesse of their mulbery trees . ⋆ so likewise in auignon , dauphiné , lauguedoc , prouence , and other parts of france , some let out their mulbery trees to others , from two shillings , to twelue shillings apiece and vpwards , accordingly as they are . ⋆ but some other gentlemen in italy let out their mulberie trees , after another maner , namely , they are at the charge onely , to giue the leafe of their mulbery trees , to some poore folkes , for which they are to finde at their cost , the silke-seed , and are to feed and tend the wormes , till they haue made their silke : which done , they deuide the silke bottomes , by halues betweene them . thus you see , what a rich reuenue i haue prouided for you , in mulbery trees alone , which are halfe the charge , and yet cost you nothing . and i hope i need not tell you , how it is a matter , no lesse profitable then easie , for the better aduancing this commodity , to build for this purpose farre from your houses ( if need be ) in the most conuenient places , of the best mulbery woods , some slight silke-worme lodgings , soone set vp , and with stoues in them , after that excellent manner of sicilie , formerly described ; which by this art may correct the ill site and temper , and qualifie the ayre well , in the cold , moyst and shady woods , lest otherwise that might be a hindrance to this worke . and here also in these lodgings , you may make good shift ( especially for so great a gaine ) with necessary prouisions to lodge your selues , from the beginning , to the end of your silke-haruest time , about some sixe weekes only : where you shall need but one third part of your companie , the first foure weekes , and two third parts more , the last fortnight onely , for the often then and plentifull feeding of the wormes . to inuite you to this enterprise , you haue aboundance of choyce materials , to erect these silke-lodgings with , which will cost you nothing , but a little labour , to cut out some posts , and to fit them and set them vp ; or to sawe out small quarters , and rafters , and plankes , and boords , to fence the sides in stead of walles , and to couer the roofe in stead of tiles ; all which must be so close layd in all places , one within another , that no raine , winde , nor weather get in at any riftes or creuises to hurt the wormes . which the better to preuent , the chinkes ( if any be ) may be all stopped , euery where about , with some loame or clay . and thus for their better profit , may many families ( especially of the poorer sort ) ioyne hands together , for the speedy setting vp of these silke-lodgings , and for the gathering and sorting of the mulbery leaues , and for the helping and teaching one another to feed and order the wormes , and so worke , and liue together , all the silke-haruest time , and at the end of it , to deuide all the silke bottomes made amongst them , by number , weight , or measure , after the number and proportion of euerie family , and person ; as to some one , some two , some three , some foure shares , and so more or lesse ratably , and according to their first agreements set downe in writing . here also in the meane time , for their better sustenance , may they commodiously keepe neere about them , their poultry , swine , and milch cattell , for milke and butter , and spare their owne pastures neere home the while . thus you see , what rich benefits i affoord you , for your small labour onely . and if i should giue you all things perfect , without your paines at all , i should breed but mine owne contempt , and nurse your sloth . for these my great commodities , and all other then , i aske some little attendance of you ( iustly due vnto me ) to bring them to perfection . giue me but two hand-maids onely , art and industry , to waite vpon me , and i will most honourably and richly then endow both them and you . and for this purpose now ( not to speake of husbandry at large ) i will chiefly commend the skill of gardening , to you all and euery one . let none be ignorant to sow , to set , to plant , to graft , to manure , to dresse , and order all plants , according to their kinds , and that in proper grounds and seasons fitting them . this is part of that skill , which emperours , kings , and senators of rome haue both writ of and practised . let no man then disdaine it , but get and peruse their and such like bookes of this , and other husbandry . i know not whether the profit of it , or delight be greater . wherefore all and euery one in virginia , men and women too , from the highest to the lowest in some proportion , must know and practise it , if they minde to thriue , prosper , and haue true delight . by gardening alone ( especially in these rich grounds and temperate clime ) may all haue delicate variety , and good sufficiencie of sustenance , were there nothing else , for summer and for winter . besides the cassaui , for good bread , i might particularize the wholesome and great variety of many other nourishing roots and herbs , and of other garden and orchard fruits , in these hotter countreys especially , most excellent for food . and this was the chiefe sustenance of the wise and sober ancients in the golden times . panis and holus ( ⋆ by a most learned and iudicious writer ) are deriued from two greeke words , that signifie all , and the whole : for the ancients esteemed ( saith he ) that if they had but bread and garden fruit , they had all and the whole , and euery whit that was necessary for their food . neither is this all for as you may be fed , so may you bee clothed also , by this skill alone , as by the expert planting of cotten , silke grasse , flaxe , hempe , and some such other like . besides , the art of planting well followed , as it can , so will it bring you to the greatest wealth aboue all things whatsoeuer else . i need not tel you besides of the mulbery plants for silkes , the infinite treasure by planting vines , oliue trees , and sugar canes , for wines , oyles , and sugars , nor of many other rich plants , for physicall drugs , dies , paints , and many other vses . and as for your wine and oyles to be made heere , besides many other profits , you shall therein bee aduantaged , aboue the west-indies also , which haue neither of these two commodities ; the king of spaine , in policie forbidding the planting of them there , notwithstanding the countrey is very proper for them . for they two being the great staple commodities of spaine , the canaries , and other his dominions , with which they abound , and knowing that trade of merchandize consists in bringing in of wares from one countrey into another , maintaines mutuall trafficke therefore , betwixt his west indies and his other dominions , by the taking of the commodities of one another , which cannot be done , vnlesse one countrey haue store of those commodities , which the other wants ; for store of the same merchandize in all parts , would but glut & hinder all . wherfore to ballance the commodities well of all his dominions , for the good of all , the planting for wines and oiles in the west indies , vpon good reasons were inhibited . the like he doth in brasilia , who though they haue store of ginger there , yet may it not bee carried from thence into spaine , for feare of impouerishing them of s. domingo , whose chiefest trade it is to get their liuings by . and the like doth great brittaine for you heere , which suffer no sheepe to be carried thither , that cloth might not be made there , but so orders it for the good of both , that you heere shall haue from thence , her natiue commodities , and her manufactures onely , and vse no forraine merchandize , but such as is for health or like necessity , for which you returne the proper commodities of virginia thither . moreouer , by the arte of skilfull planting , grafting , transplanting , and remoouing , the bad wilde plants are wonderfully bettered : insomuch , as one of the best authors of husbandry saith , ⋆ that euery replanting or remooing of wilde plants ( hauing regard to the fitnesse of the soile and season ) is worth halfe a grafting : so as two remooues then , are worth a whole grafting . one that hath writ a historiosme , sayes well and wittily , ⋆ that this remoouing and transplanting of wild plants , doeth wonderfully mitigate and a ingentle them , whether it bee ( saith he ) because that the nature of plants , as of men , is desirous of nouelty and peregrination , or because that at their parting ( from the former grounds ) they leaue there that ranke wildnesse , virulence , and ill quality that is in them , and as wild beasts , so they become gentle by handling , whilst the plant is pluckt vp by the roote . since then the transplanting and remoouing wild plants , doe so much domesticate and inable them , i need not tell you then , how by grafting , or remoouing only , the mulbery trees and wild vines may infinitely be bettered ; to shew this , i will instance in one plant for all . in the printed booke of the valuations of the commodities of virginia , sarsaparillia wilde , is fiue pound the hundred , and sarsaparillia domesticke , is ten pound the hundred : so as the spaniard hauing no other but the wilde sarsaparillia at first , yet by replanting and cultiuating it , that he made it domesticke , and so much thereby innobled it in worth and goodnesse , as raised it to a double price you see . and the like is to be done with other wild plants , by the often remoouing or grafting of them . as he then that was asked , what was the first , and chiefest thing in oratory , said , pronunciation : and being demanded what was the second thing in it , and afterwards , what was the third , still answered , pronunciation : so if i were asked what were the best art , chiefly to aduance the plantation and planters ; i should answere as oft , or oftner , the garden art of planting , planting still . i could wish therefore , that euery free-holder , besides his proper profession , should be inioyned to haue a garden , and practise sometimes gardening and planting : and that according to the custome and wise institution of the romane censors , those should bee seuerely punished , that did not husband well their fields and gardens , and well culture their vineyards , trees , and plants . let euery one then in virginia and the summer ilands , that mindes to haue plenty of healthfull food , and of good raiment , and of great wealth , let him begin to addict and delight himselfe , in this most profitable and pleasing art of gradening and grafting . now whereas the labor of cleering the woodded grounds heere in virginia , is supposed by some to be a hindrance to your profit ; it is nothing so ; for the many great commodities that to good husbands may arise , by the wood still cleered off the grounds , will with large interest , meane while , repay the cost and labour , especially after that excellent and rare inuention of saw-mills ( an incredible aduancement to the colonie ) bee once put in practice . what should i speake of the store of timber , so necessary for your buildings , and other vses ? for clapbord , pipe-staues , and other rich wood for noble seruices ? or of the abundant store of wood , neuer to be spent , for your iron workes ? and for your glasse furnaces now set vp ? for pot-ashes , and sope-ashes ? for boyling of sugars ? and of pitch and tarre ? and for all furnace works ? ( the great deuourers of fewell and destroyers of woods ) besides , of the great vse & profit of propping your vines , by whole trees or by stalkes ? & for poles for the hops which grow here wild ? but aboue all , what endlesse store of excellent timber haue you for the most excellent vse of building ships ? and heerein i cannot , i confesse , conceale the pride i take in my virginia . for what countrey in the world againe , abounds so plentifully as this , with all things whatsoeuer for making ships ? no one thing is wanting ; for besides timber of all sorts , for all vses in this kind , and store of masts , no where taller and larger ; you haue tried iron also of perfect goodnesse , and silke grasse , flaxe , and hempe , as well for sayles and cordage , as for richer vses , and forrests of trees for pitch and tarre , so as nothing for this purpose was lacking heere but onely shipwrights , which now also with great wisdome are lately sent , to build you boats and pinnaces for trade , and busses , for the richest fishing here that all the world affords . of cod and sturgeon , of great skulls of herring , as big againe as those in other places , and such plenty also of other excellent fish vnknowne to these parts , that by credible report , ⋆ there haue beene . taken at a draught , the least , of two foot in length , whereof likewise there might bee a great gaine made , by skilfull salting , pickling , or drying of them . moreouer , besides the increase of shipping and of mariners , and the store of sustenance that this fishing may yeeld vnto the colony ( for which purpose therefore , no housholder that is a good husband , will be without his fisherboats and nets for his owne prouisions ) there be yet other great aduantages and profits also that it brings with it , namely , the fishing vpon the coasts of virginia , being much more timely then in other places , your marchants haue made their prime markets , and are ready to returne , before others come that bring their fish from other places . to this , salt being made now in virginia , you shall with small charge transport great multitudes of people hither : for since there may well bee many hundred saile imployed in fishing here , people will be brought most part for the salt , that they lade heere for their fishing , which will cost you but little . and by this meanes also , may a double profit be raised vnto the planters , by bringing their people hither euery fishing time , and as occasion serues , taking some of his men here with him to helpe him fish ; which done , he sends them backe againe vnto the colony , to follow his commodities and other businesses heere . but to goe on now , though this be granted by some , that the store of wood in virginia well vsed , is no impediment but a matter of singular benefit to the plantation , yet others obiect some other hinderances by the natiue sauages . but as for the many aduantages that arise , rather by the iust warring with them , and vanquishing of them ( a matter so easie to bee done ) i referre you to the last declaration of the state and colony of virginia , where the reasons are well and fully handled . as for my selfe i vtterly disclaime them , they haue done against all my lawes , they are most vnnaturall , and so none of mine . and therefore they that know no industry , no arts , no culture , nor no good vse of this blessed country heere , but are meere ignorance , sloth , and brutishnesse , and an vnprofitable burthen onely of the earth : such as these ( i say ) like the dai and syri , and such other people , are naturally borne slaues , as my chiefest secretary well defines : and there is a naturall kind of right in you , that are bred noble , learned , wise , and vertuous , to direct them aright , to gouerne and to command them . but others now there be , perhaps , that are discouraged from this worthy enterprise , by raylers and scoffers at this noble worke , men next a kinne , indeed , to these hatefull sauages , enemies heerein to god , their king , and country ; but regard not them . the mocker not regarded , is mocked himselfe . goe on then , and cheerfully proceed , especially in those my two fore-praised great commodities , which if you doe , as you know not yet the twentieth part of them that this rich country yeelds , so those then also , i will shew heereafter to you . amongst all which , the most honourable and the chiefest is , that by the industry of some noble and heroicke spirits ( borne to immortalize their names and nation ) a passage to the south sea , will , beyond our falls and mountaines , through the continent of virginia , assuredly bee found . all the indians from canada to florida , relate , that there is beyond the mountaines here , to the west , and northwestward , a great sea , and men and ships , in shape and fashion like to yours that trade there : so as this can be no fiction nor no falshood : these diuers nations being so farre asunder , all constantly agreeing in the same report . by this discouery and passage to the south sea found , being from our falls ( by the natiues relation hereabouts , and by the iudgement and computation of most learned mathematicians ) about a fortnights iourney onely , or thereabouts , part to be made by land , and part by water , by some riuers leading to that sea : what an infinite rich trade may there bee made from hence then , to the east indies , to china , to cathay , and other places in the south sea ? for this passage , as it wil be short , safe , and easie , so will it not only saue the liues of many men now daily lost , and spare much shipping of necessity wasted , by the great long voyages that now are taken , but will also bring great wealth and treasure , trebling the gaine now got , by your quick returne that will be heereby made . moreouer also , what a great rich staple ? what a mighty magazine of commodities for all christendome , will bee thereby erected in virginia , and make the speedy peopling , aduancing , strengthening , and inriching of it , to the great and endlesse honour of his sacred maiesty , in whose auspicious raigne , and by whose wisedome , fauour , and gracious furtherance , this famous worke is brought to passe , to the vnspeakeable benefit of his flourishing kingdomes , and to the euerlasting glory , and immortal name of them , by whom this happy discouery must bee perfected ? but for this purpose , i referre you farther to the treatise of the west and north-west passage to the south sea by virginia , written by that excellent mathematician master henry briggs , and lately published , as also to his map thereof , with a more large discourse , shortly to come foorth in print . lastly , remember now and practise what i haue said , and in despight of malice , you shall finde all solid truth that i haue spoken to you . i take my leaue now , and as i haue blessed you many wayes , so giue i to all of you my hearty blessing . prosper and farewell . finis . the treasvrovr covncell and company of virginia , to the gouernour and councell of state in virginia residing . after our very hearty commendations : his sacred maiesty , out of his high wisedome and care of the noble plantation of virginia , hath been graciously pleased to direct his letters to vs heere in england , thereby commanding vs to aduance the setting vp of silke workes , and planting of vineyards ; as by the copy herewith sent , you may perceiue . the intimation of his maiesties pleasure , wee conceiue to be a motiue sufficient , to induce you to imploy all your indeuours to the setting forward those two staple commodities of silke , and wine ; which brought to their perfection , will infinitely redound to the honour , benefit and comfort of the colony , and of this whole kingdome : yet we , in discharge of our duties , doe againe renew our often and iterated instructions , and inuite you cheerfully , to fall vpon these two so rich , and necessary commodities . and if you shall finde any person , either through negligence or wilfulnesse , to omit the planting of vines , and mulbery trees , in orderly and husbandly manner , as by the booke is prescribed , or the prouiding of conuenient roomes for the breeding of wormes ; we desire they may by seuere censures and punishment , be compelled thereunto . and on the contrary , that all fauour and possible assistance bee giuen to such , as yeeld willing obedience to his highnesse commands therein . the breach or performance whereof , as we are bound to giue a strict account , so will it also be required of you the gouernour and councell especially . herein there can be no plea , either of difficulty or impossibility ; but all the contrary appeares , by the naturall abundance of those two excellent plants afore-named euery where in virginia : neither will such excuses be admitted , nor any other pretences serue , whereby the businesse be at all delayed : and as we formerly sent at our great charge the french vignerons to you , to teach you their art ; so for the same purpose we now commend this booke vnto you , to serue as an instructour to euery one , and send you store of them to bee dispersed ouer the whole colony , to euery master of a family one . silk-seed you shall receiue also by this ship , sufficient to store euery man : so that there wants nothing , but industry in the planter , suddenly to bring the making of silke to its perfection : which either for their owne benefit ( we hope ) they will willingly indeuour , or by a wholesome and necessary seuerity they must be inforced . this particular aduice we thought necessary to giue you , lest that if it should haue come to you mingled with others , you would haue interpreted it as a common instruction , or a businesse that was not taken so to heart , as this is by vs , and we hope will be by you in humble obedience to his sacred maiesties royall instructions . the paines and industry of the authour , for the benefit of the plantations ( being a member of our company ) are sufficient arguments of his good affection to the action , and they both deserue your best acceptance and ours , that others may thereby be inuited to impart their knowledge in businesse of this and the like nature ; whereby the colony may not onely bee supported for the present , but brought to that perfection , that may redound to the glory of god , the honour of his maiesty , and the inestimable benefit of his noble kingdomes ; which as they are the true aime and end the aduenturers and planters haue proposed vnto themselues ; so ought they to bee still the honorable seeds to put others also forward in this action : we commend this businesse againe to your speciall care . and so we commit you all , and your waighty affaires , to the protection of the almighty . henry southampton . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e virginia in the same degree of latitude that persia is . ⋆ paulus venetus , . booke , . chap. ⋆ ludouicus romanus , . booke , . chap. see master mu●nes , and master m●sseldens bookes of this * paulus venetus , mercator . ⋆ virginia in the same degree of latitude that china is . ⋆ joh. bar●ius , de●ad asia● . mercator . ⋆ paul venetus . mercator . bertius geograph . ⋆ gonsales mendosa historie of china . . booke , . chap. ⋆ mercator in his description of virginia saith , that it hath allom , niter , pitch , tarre , turpentine , iron , copper , silke , flax , hempe , tobacco , and precious stones . ⋆ mercator , in his des 〈…〉 tion of virginia . ⋆ mr. perce , the cape merchant , vnder his hand-writing . ⋆ mendosa , history of china . ⋆ agricoltura giornata . . ⋆ ol. serres . agricultur . booke . cap. . ⋆ le tellier memoires & instructions , &c. pag. . ⋆ ol. serres agricultur . booke . cap. . ⋆ agostino gallo . giornata of his agriculture . ⋆ the brescia pound waight is twelue ounces waight of genoa and eight ounces waight of the great ounce of venice . ⋆ ol. serres ibid. ⋆ le tellier in his booke of the silke-art . ⋆ ol. serres ibid. ⋆ augustino gallo , ibid. ⋆ julius scaliger . ⋆ ol. serres book . . cha. . ⋆ plin. natural . hist . lib. . c. ⋆ m. purchas in his pilgrimage . arist . ● . politic. 〈…〉 septima pars patentium de anno regni regis jacobi secundi quarto england and wales. sovereign ( - : james ii) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing j b estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) septima pars patentium de anno regni regis jacobi secundi quarto england and wales. sovereign ( - : james ii) culpeper, thomas, - . p. s.n., [london : ?] caption title. imprint suggested by nuc pre- imprints. also published as: grant of the northern neck in virginia to lord culpepper. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng land grants -- virginia. virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- sources. great britain -- charters, grants, privileges. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion septima pars patentium de anno regni regis iacobi secundi quarto . iames the second , by the grace of god king of england , scotland , france , and ireland , defender of the faith , &c. to all to whom these presents shall come , greeting . whereas our late royal brother of blessed memory by his letters patents under the great seal of england , bearing date at westminster , the eighth day of may , in the one and twentieth year of his reign , for the considerations therein expressed , did give , grant , and confirm unto henry earl of st. albans , iohn lord berkeley , sir william morton and iohn trethewy , their heirs and assigns for ever , all that intire tract , territory , or parcel of land , situate , lying , and being in america , and bounded by and within the heads of the rivers tappahanock aliàs rapahanock and quirriough or pattawomacke rivers ; the courses of the said rivers , as they are commonly called or known by the inhabitants and descriptions of those parts , and chesapoyocke bay ; together with the rivers themselves , and all the islands within the banks of those rivers ; and all woods , underwoods , timber , and trees , ways , waters , rivers , ponds , pools , water-courses , fishings , streams , havens , ports , harbours , creeks , wrecks of sea , fish , royal deer , wild beasts and fowl of what nature and kind soever ; mines of gold and silver , lead , tinn , iron and copper , and quarries of stone and coal , which then were or at any time then after should be had , coming , being , arising , renewing , accrewing , found , or taken within the bounds and precincts aforesaid ; together with the royalties of hawking and hunting , for themselves , their heirs and assigns , servants and tenants , in and upon the lands and premisses aforesaid , and in and upon every part and parcel thereof ; saving , excepting , and reserving to himself , his heirs and successors , one full fifth part of all gold mines or gold oare , and one full tenth part of all silver mines and silver oare thereafter to be had or found within the said tract or territory of land : to have , hold , and enjoy all the said tract , territory , or portion of lands , and all and singular other the premisses , with their and every of their appurtenances thereby granted or mentioned , or intended to be granted ( except as before is excepted ) to the said henry earl of st. albans , iohn lord berkeley , sir william morton and iohn trethewy , their heirs and assigns for ever , to their only use and behoof , and to no other use , intent , or purpose whatsoever ; yielding and paying therefore yearly on the feast of st. iohn baptist , to him , his heirs and successors , the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence , at the receipt of iames-towne in the dominion of virginia , in lieu of all services and demands whatsoever , as by the same letters patents , amongst several other grants , powers , authorities , privileges , licences , clauses and provisoes therein contained , relation being thereunto had , more fully and at large it doth and may appear , in which amongst several other things there is particularly inserted this proviso following : provided also , that as to so much , and such part and parts of the premisses hereby intended to be granted , as within the time and space of one and twenty years now next coming shall not be possessed , inhabited , or planted at or by the means or procurement of the said henry earl of st. albans , iohn lord berkeley , sir william morton , and iohn trethewy , their heirs and assigns , these presents , and the grant hereby made shall cease , determine , and be void ; and we , our heirs , and successors , may dispose thereof to any other person or persons whatsoever , any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding . and whereas the said henry earl of st. albans , iohn lord berkeley , sir william morton , and iohn trethewy , their heirs and assigns , have by good and sufficient conveyances and assurances in the law , for valuable considerations , sold , conveyed and assured the said whole tract , territory , and portion of land , and all and singular the premisses and every part and parcel thereof , and all their estate , right , title and interest therein , together with the said letters patents unto thomas lord culpepper , eldest son and heir of iohn late lord culpepper deceased , his heirs and assigns for ever , who is thereby become sole owner and proprietor thereof in fee simple , to whom we are willing to give all due encouragement and assistance , by confirming and enlarging the said letters patents , and releasing the last before mentioned proviso . now know ye , that we , for and in consideration of the many faithful and acceptable services done unto our late royal father and brother of blessed memory , by the said iohn lord culpepper , as also by the said thomas lord culpepper to our said late royal brother and our self , and all along from time to time , and for divers other good causes and considerations us thereunto especially moving , of our especial grace , certain knowledge , and mere motion , have given , and granted , and confirmed , and by these presents for us , our heirs and successors , do give , grant and confirm unto the said thomas lord culpepper , all all that entire tract , territory or parcel of land , situate , lying , and being in virginia in america , and bounded by and within the first heads or springs of the rivers of tappanhanocke aliàs rappahanocke , and quiriough aliàs patawomacke rivers , the courses of the said rivers , from their said first heads or springs , as they are commonly called and known by the inhabitants , and descriptions of those parts , and the bay of chesapoyocke , together with the said rivers themselves , and all the islands within the outermost banks thereof , and the soil of all and singular the premisses , and all lands , woods , underwoods , timber and trees , ways , mountains , swamps , marshes , waters , rivers , ponds , pools , lakes , water-courses , fishings , streams , havens , ports , harbours , bays , creeks , ferries , with all sorts of fish , as well whales , sturgeons , and other royal fishes , as all others whatsoever , wrecks of sea , flotson , jetson , and lagan , and all sorts of deer , wild beasts , and fowl , of what nature or kind soever ; and all manner of deodands , goods of felons and fugitives , treasure trove , waifs , strays , fines , forfeitures , escheats , advowsons , royalties and hereditaments whatsoever , with all mines of gold and silver , lead , tin , iron and copper , and all quarries of stone and coal within the limits and precincts aforesaid , which now are , or at any time or times hereafter , shall be had , coming , being , arising , growing , renewing , accrewing , found , or taken within the bounds , limits , precincts or places aforesaid : saving , excepting , and reserving to us , our heirs and successors , one full fifth part of gold mines , or gold oare , and one full tenth part of all silver mines , and silver oare , now being , or hereafter to be had or found within the said tract , or territory of land ; to have , hold and enjoy all the said tract , territory , or portion of land , and every part and parcel thereof , and all and singular other the premisses , with their and every of their appurtenances hereby granted or mentioned , or intended to be granted , except as before is excepted , to the said thomas lord culpepper , his heirs and assigns for ever , to his and their only use and behoof , and to no other use , intent or purpose whatsoever , yielding and paying therefore yearly from henceforth , on the feast of st. iohn baptist , to us , our heirs and successors , the sum of six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence , at the receipt of iames-town in our colony of virginia ▪ in lieu of all services and demands whatsoever , the first payment thereof to be made on the feast day of st. iohn baptist next ensuing the day of the date of these presents . and we do hereby , for us , our heirs and successors further give , grant , ratify and confirm to the said thomas lord culpepper , his heirs and assigns for ever , all and singular the grants , powers , authorities , privileges , licences and clauses in the said herein before recited letters patents mentioned , granted , or contained , in as large and ample manner to all intents and purposes whatsoever , as if the same and every of them had been particularly granted and expressed in these our letters patents , except only the above mentioned proviso . and we do further of our especial grace , certain knowledge , and mere motion , for us , our heirs and successors , fully and absolutely for ever release and discharge the said above mentioned proviso , and every part thereof , and every matter and thing therein contained , in as large and ample manner to all intents and purposes whatsoever as if the same had never been made , hereby declaring the same to be null and void . and the said thomas lord culpepper , his heirs and assigns , and the said tract , territory and premisses , and every part thereof , to be for ever freed , cleared , and discharged from the same , so and in such manner , that the said thomas lord culpepper , his heirs and assigns , may freely and absolutely enter into , have , hold , occupy , possess and enjoy the said tract , territory , and all and singular other the premisses freed and discharged of the said proviso , and all right , title , and equity thereupon , to be had in as large , ample , beneficial manner to all intents and purposes , as if the same proviso had been never had or made , any thing in the said recited letters patents , or any thing therein or herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding . and we do for us , our heirs and successors , fully and absolutely release and discharge the said thomas lord culpepper , his heirs and assigns , and the said tract , territory and premisses , and every part thereof , from all arrears of the said rent of six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence due at any time before the day of the date hereof , and from all other claims and demands whatsoever , except what is in these presents excepted and reserved to us , our heirs and successors . and we do hereby , for us , our heirs and successors , straightly charge and command the governor and council of virginia now and for the time being , and all judges , sheriffs , escheators , and other officers whatsoever , now and for the time being in our said colony severally and respectively , that they , or any of them , do not intermeddle with the disposal , or disturb the said thomas lord culpepper in the full and quiet enjoyment of the afore mentioned tract and territory , or any part thereof , or of the hereby granted escheats , advowsons , royalties and premisses , or any of them ; but that they and every of them in their respective places and stations be aiding and assisting to him the said thomas lord culpepper , his heirs and assigns , in and about the same , and in the execution of all and singular the grants , powers and authorities hereby granted and confirmed , or mentioned or intended to be hereby granted and confirmed , according to our royal intent and meaning herein before declared . and lastly , we do for us , our heirs and successors , declare and grant that these our letters patents , or the enrollment thereof , shall be in and by all things firm , valid , and effectual in the law , according to the tenor and true meaning of the same , notwithstanding the not describing or setting forth , or not rightly or truly describing or setting forth of the said tract , territory or parcel of land , or any other the premisses hereby granted , or of the buttings , boundaries , or situation of the same , or of any part thereof , or of any tenants , farmers , or occupiers of the premisses , or any part thereof , or any other defect , omission , non-recital , mis-recital , incertainty , or insufficiency in these our letters patents , or any act , statute , ordinance , provision , usage , custom , restriction , or any other matter , cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding . and although express mention , &c. in witness , &c. witness the king at westminster , the seven and twentieth day of september . by writ of privy seal . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e d' con ' thome dno colpepper . the inconueniencies that haue happened to some persons vvhich haue transported themselues from england to virginia, vvithout prouisions necessary to sustaine themselues, hath greatly hindred the progresse of that noble plantation for preuention of the like disorders heereafter, that no man suffer, either through ignorance or misinformation; it is thought requisite to publish this short declaration: wherein is contained a particular of such necessaries, as either priuate families or single persons shall haue cause to furnish themselues with ... virginia company of london. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the inconueniencies that haue happened to some persons vvhich haue transported themselues from england to virginia, vvithout prouisions necessary to sustaine themselues, hath greatly hindred the progresse of that noble plantation for preuention of the like disorders heereafter, that no man suffer, either through ignorance or misinformation; it is thought requisite to publish this short declaration: wherein is contained a particular of such necessaries, as either priuate families or single persons shall haue cause to furnish themselues with ... virginia company of london. sheet ([ ] p.) by felix kyngston, imprinted at london : . probably issued by the virginia company of london. also issued as part of "a declaration of the state of the colony and affaires in virginia" (stc ). reproduction of a photostat of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the inconveniencies that have happened to some persons which have transported themselves from england tovirginia ; vvithout prouisions necessary to sustaine themselues , hath greatly hindred the progresse of that noble plantation : for preuention of the like disorders heereafter , that no man suffer , either through ignorance or misinformation ; it is thought requisite to publish this short declaration : wherein is contained a particular of such necessaries , as either priuate families or single persons shall haue cause to furnish themselues with , for their better support at their first landing in virginia ; whereby also greater numbers may receiue in part , directions how to prouide themselues . one monmouth cap li. s. d. three falling bands — li. s. d. three shirts — li. s. d. one waste-coate — li. s. d. one suite of canuase — li. s. d. one suite of frize — li. s. d. one suite of cloth — li. s. d. three paire of irish stockins — li. s. — d. foure paire of shooes — li. s. d. one paire of garters — li. s. d. one doozen of points — li. s. d. one paire of canuase sheets — li. s. d. seuen ells of canuase , to make a bed and boulster , to be filled in virginia . s. — one rug for a bed . s. which with the bed seruing for two men , halfe is — — li. s. d. fiue ells coorse canuase , to make a bed at sea for two men , to be filled with straw , iiij . s. — one coorse rug at sea for two men , will cost vj. s. is for one — — li. s. d. li. s. d. victuall . for a whole yeere for one man , and so for more after the rate . eight bushels of meale li. s. d. two bushels of pease at . s. — li. s. d. two bushels of oatemeale . s. . d. — li. s. d. one gallon of aquauitae — li. s. d. one gallon of oyle — li. s. d. two gallons of vineger . s. — li. s. d. li. s. d. armes . for one man , but if halfe of your men haue armour it is sufficient so that all haue peeces and swords . one armour compleat , light — li. s. d. one long peece , fiue foot or fiue and a halfe , neere musket bore li. s. — d. one sword — li. s. — d. one belt — li. s. — d. one bandaleere — li. s. d. twenty pound of powder — li. s. d. sixty pound of shot or lead , pistoll and goose shot — li. s. d. li. s. d. tooles . for a family of . persons and so after the rate for more . fiue broad howe 's at . s. a piece — li. s. — d. fiue narrow howe 's at . d. a piece — li. s. d. two broad axes at . s. . d. a piece — li. s. d. fiue felling axes at . d. a piece — li. s. d. two steele hand sawes at . d. a piece — li. s. d. two two-hand-sawes at . s. a piece — li. s. — d. one whip-saw , set and filed with box , file , and wrest — li. s. — d. two hammers . d. a piece — li. ● s. d. three shouels . d. a piece — li. s. d. two spades at . d. a piece — li. s. — d. two augers . d. a piece — li. s. d. sixe chissels . d. a piece — li. s. d. two percers stocked . d. a piece — li. s. d. three gimlets . d. a piece — li. s. d. two hatchets . d a piece — li. s. d. two froues to cleaue pale . d. — li. s. d. two hand-bills . a piece — li. s. d. one grindlestone . s. — li. s. d. nailes of all sorts to the value of li. s. — d. two pickaxes — li. s. — d. li. s. d. houshold implements . for a family of . persons , and so for more or lesse after the rate . one iron pot li. s. — d. one kettle — li. s. — d. one large frying-pan — li. s. d. one gridiron — li. s. d. two skillets — li. s. — d. one spit — li. s. — d. platters , dishes , spoones of wood — li. s. — d. li. s. d. for suger , spice , and fruit , and at sea for . men li. s. d. so the full charge of apparrell , victuall , armes , tooles , and houshold stuffe , and after this rate for each person , will amount vnto about the summe of li. s. — d. the passage of each man is li. s. — d. the fraight of these prouisions for a man , will bee about halfe a tun , which is li. s. — d. so the whole charge will amount to about li. s. d. nets , hookes , lines , and a tent must be added , if the number of people be greater , as also some kine . and this is the vsuall proportion that the virginia company doe bestow vpon their tenants which they send . whosoeuer transports himselfe or any other at his owne charge vnto virginia , shall for each person so transported before midsummer ▪ haue to him and his heires for euer fifty acres of land vpon a first , and fifty acres vpon a second diuision . imprinted at london by felix kyngston . . a true declaration of the estate of the colonie in virginia vvith a confutation of such scandalous reports as haue tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise. published by aduise and direction of the councell of virginia. counseil for virginia (england and wales) approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a true declaration of the estate of the colonie in virginia vvith a confutation of such scandalous reports as haue tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise. published by aduise and direction of the councell of virginia. counseil for virginia (england and wales) [ ], p. printed [by eliot's court press and william stansby] for william barret, and are to be sold [by edward blount] at the blacke beare in pauls church-yard, london : . printer's and bookseller's names from stc and addendum. "eliot's court press pr[inted]. a- st f; stansby the rest". the first leaf is blank except for signature-mark "a". running title reads: a true declaration of virginia. reproduction of the original in the new york public library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng virginia -- history -- colonial period, ca. - -- sources. -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - taryn hakala sampled and proofread - taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trve declaration of the estate of the colonie in virginia , with a confutation of such scandalous reports as haue tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise . published by aduise and direction of the councell of virginia . printer's or publisher's device london , printed for william barret , and are to be sold at the blacke beare in pauls church-yard . . a true declaration of the estate in virginia . there is a great distance , betwixt the vulgar opinion of men , and the iudicious apprehension of wise men . opinion is as blind oedipus , who could see nothing , but would heare all things , hinc aucupari verba rumoris vagi , to hawke after the winged report of a vagabond rumor . but iudgement , is as salomon in his throne , able by the spirit of wisedome , to discerne betwixt contesting truth , and falshood : neither depending on the popular breath of fame , which is euer partiall , nor vpon the euent of good designes , which are euer casuall . these two commanders of our affections , haue diuided the vniuersall spirits of our land , whilst ( in the honorable enterprise for plantation in virginia ) some , are caried away with the tide of vulgar opinion , and others , are encouraged , by the principles of religion , and reason . but because , it is for hawkes and not for men , to build their nests in aires , and because the honor and prosperity of this so noble an action , is eclipsed by the interposition of clamorous & tragicall narrations : the compiler of this relation endeuoureth to wash away those spots , which foule mouths ( to iustifie their owne disloialty ) haue cast vpon so fruitfull , so fertile , and so excellent a country . wherein he professeth , that he will relate nothing ( concerning virginia ) but what he hath from the secrets of the iudiciall councell of virginia , from the letters of the lord la ware , from the mouth of sir thomas gates , whose wisedomes ( he conceiueth ) are not so shallow , as easily to be deceiued of others , nor consciences so wretched , as by pretences to deceiue others . but when a matter of such consequence , is not to be shufled ouer with supine negligence , and when no man raiseth a faire building , that laith not a firme foundation , it will not be impertinent , to dig a little deeper , that we may build a great deale higher : and from the vniuersall policie of all ciuill states ( in replenishing the world with colonies of domesticall subiects ) to deriue this wisedome to our populous state and country . that which origen said of christs actions in vertues morall , holdeth proportion with gods actions in gouernment politicall , dei facta , sunt nostra praecepta , gods actions , are our instructions : who ( in the eleuenth of genesis ) turned the greatest cursing , into the greatest blessing , and by confusion of tongues , kept them from confusion of states ; scattering those clouen people , into as many colonies ouer the face of the earth , as there are diuersities of languages in the earth . now if tertullians rule be true , omne genus ab origine censendum that euery action is most beutifull in the originall . can there be a better beginning then from god , whose wisedome is not questioned , and whose footsteps in all succeeding ages haue beene followed . search the records of diuine truth , and humane monuments of state , you shall find , salmanasar transporting the babilonians , and other gentiles , to samaria : and replenishing with the captiues of israell , the dispeopled confines of media . you shall find that . yeeres after the destruction of troy the ionian colony , was carried from greece , to asia : by which that famous city of ephesus was first builded , and inhabited . you shall find the egiptians , planted babilon , argos , and athens . the phenicians first inhabiting carthage , vtica , and thebes . that timolcon and the city of corinth , at one time repeopled sicilie , with . soules . that the romans deduced . colonies out of the city of rome into the wombe of italy . that bremius an englishman by birth , but sonne in law to the king of france , with an equall third part of the kingdome , entred into the hart of italy , gaue the prime sacke to the city of rome , and diuerted from thence to gallograecia , whose ofspring possesse that land vnto this day . that the admirall of france , among all the feares and discouragements of ciuill wars , neuer gaue ouer the proiect of plantation in florida . which heroicall actions , haue not beene vndertaken by so mighty states and princes , vpon triuiall and vulgar motiues , when by these courses that first blessing ( of crescite and multiplicamini , increase and multiplie ) hath beene sanctified : the meaner sorte haue beene prouided : the matter of plagues , famine and sedition , hath beene exhausted : the fennes of a state politique were drained : the enemies of their peace were bridled : the reuenues of their treasury were augmented : and the limites of their dominions were enlarged . which diuine , humane , externall , and domesticall , examples , doe shine before vs , as a pharaoes towre , that wee should not make shipwracke of our intentions , concerning virginia . blacke enuie , and pale feare , being not able to produce any arguments , why that should bee lawfull for france , which is ( in vs ) vnlawfull : that which to rome was possible , ( to vs ) is impossible : that which to others is honourable , and profitable , ( in vs ) should bee traduced , as incommodious , base , and contemptible : wherefore vnder these three heads of lawfulnesse , possibility , and commoditie , will i marshall all those reasons , which may resolue the religious , encourage the personall , confirme the noble , and satisfie the timorous aduenturer . first , if it bee vnlawfull : it must be so , either in respect of the law of god , or in regard of the lawe of man. if in respect of gods lawe , ( considering our primarie end is to plant religion , our secondarie and subalternate ends are for the honour and profit of our nation ) i demand a resolution of this plaine question : whether it bee not a determinated truth , that the gospell should bee preached , to all the world , before the end of the world ? if , it must bee preached , ( as heauen and earth must passe awaie , but gods word shall not passe awaie ) then must it bee preached , one of these three waies : either meerly apostolically , without the helpe of man , ( without so much as a staffe ( or meerely imperiallie , when a prince , hath conquered their bodies , that the preachers may feede their soules ; or mixtly , by discouerie , and trade of marchants ; where all temporall meanes are vsed for defence , and security , but none for offence , or crueltie . for the first ( to preach apostolicallie ) it is simplie impossible : except wee had the gift of tongues , that euerie nation might heare the word of god in their owne language ; or the guift of miracles , that it might be confirmed , with wonders from heauen ; which two beeing ceased , questionlesse the identicall commission of the apostles is expired : or if yet the matter bee vrged , that god by fishers did conuert emperors and therefore that wee must aduenture our liues without humane helpe ; yet must it bee remembred , that there is no apostolicall preaching , but where wee may expect eitheir their conuersion , or our martyrdome . but we can expect neither , not their conuersion who cannot vnderstand vs , nor our martyrdome , when the people of florida , did deuoure the preachers of the word , without speaking any word . non quia christiani , sed quia homines , not because they were christian men , but because they were men , wee cannot be said to be martyrs , when wee are not killed because wee are christians . and therefore the iesuite acosta confesseth ( notwithstanding bellarmines relation of indian miracles ) that they haue no tongues , they haue no signes from heauen , and they can haue no martyrdome , and by consequent there is no meanes left of apostolicall preaching . for the second , to preach the gospell to a nation conquered , and to set their soules at liberty , when we haue brought their bodies to slauerie ; it may be a matter sacred in the preachers , but i know not how iustifiable in the rulers . who for their meere ambition , doe set vpon it , the glosse of religion . let the diuines of salamanca , discusse that question , how the possessor of the west indies , first destroied , and then instructed . the third , belongs to vs , who by way of marchandizing and trade , doe buy of them the pearles of earth , and sell to them the pearles of heauen ; which action , if it be vnlawfull , it must proceede from one of these three grounds , either because we come to them , or trade with them , or tarrie and dwell and possesse part of their country amongst them . is it vnlawfull because wee come to them ? why is it not a dutie of christianitie , to behold the imprinted footsteps of gods glorie , in euery region vnder heauen ? is it not against the lawe of nations , to violate a peaceable stranger , or to denie him harbour . the ethiopians , egyptians , and men of china , are branded with a foule marke of sanguinarie and barbarous inhumanity , for blessing their idols , with the bloud of strangers . it is not vnlawfull to trade with them , except salomon shall bee condemned for sending for gold to ophir , abraham for making a league with abimelech , and all christendome shall bee traduced , for hauing comerce with turks and miscreants . finallie , it is not vnlawfull , that wee possesse part of their land , and dwell with them , and defend our selues from them . partlie because there is no other , moderate , and mixt course , to bring them to conuersion , but by dailie conuersation , where they may see the life , and learne the language each of other . partlie , because there is no trust to the fidelitie of humane beasts , except a man will make a league , with lions , beares , and crocodiles . partlie because there is roome sufficient in the land ( as sichem sometime said ) for them , and vs : the extent of an hundred miles , being scarce peopled with . inhabitants . partlie , because they haue violated the lawe of nations , and vsed our ambassadors as ammon did the seruants of dauid : if in him it were a iust cause to warre against the ammonites , it is lawfull , in vs , to secure our selues , against the infidels . but chieflie because paspehay , one of their kings , sold vnto vs for copper , land to inherit and inhabite . powhatan , their chiefe king , receiued voluntarilie a crowne and a scepter , with a full acknowledgement of dutie and submission . principallie when captaine newport was with powhatan at warow a comaco hee desired him to come from iames towne as a place vnholesome , and to take possession of an other whole kingdome which he gaue vnto him . if any man alleadge , that this was done in subtlety , not that they euer meant we should possesse them , but that they might first gaine by vs , and then destroy vs. this makes our cause , much the iuster , when god turned their subtletie , to our vtilitie : giuing vnto vs a lawfull possession , ( as pharaoe gaue goshen to israell ; or ephron sold his caue to abraham ) and freeing vs , from all impious and sinister construction . if anie man alleadge , that yet wee can possesse no farther limits , than was allotted by composition , and that fortitudo sine iustitia , est iniquitatis materia , fortitude without iustice , is but the firebrand of iniquitie . let him know that plato defineth it , to bee no iniustice , to take a sword out of the hand of a mad man ; that austen hath allowed it , for a lawfull offensiue warre , quod vlciscitur iniurias that reuengeth bloudie iniuries . so that if iust offences fhall arise , it can bee no more iniustice to warre against infidells , than it is when vpon iust occasions wee warre against christians . and therefore i cannot see , but that these truths , will fanne away all those chaffie imputations , which anie romish boasters ( that challenge a monopolie of all conuersions ) will cast vpon it , or any scrupulous conscience can impute vnto it . certainlie the church of geneua in the yeere . determined in a synode , whereof ( caluine ) was president , to send peter richier , and william quadrigarius , vnder a french captaine to brasilia , who although they were supplanted , by the comming of the cardinall of loraine , and the trecherie of their double hearted leader , yet would not the church of geneua , ( after a synodicall consultation ) haue sent their ministers to such an aduenture , had not all scruples , ( in their iudgement ) beene cleared by the light of scripture . when therefore , it is a sweete smelling sacrifice , to propagate the name of iesus christ , when the babylonish inchantresse ( if her owne calenders , are to bee credited ) hath compassed sea , and land , to make , sixe , eight , or ten millions , of romish proselites . when there is no other , mixt , moderate , course , to transport the virginian soules to heauen . when there hath beene a reall concession from their rurall emperour , that hath licensed vs to negotiate among them , and to possesse their countrie with them . when there is more vnpeopled continent of earth , than wee and they ( before the dissolution of the pillars of heauen ) can ouerburden with multitude . when we neuer intend to play the rehoboams , and to scourge them with scorpions . it is not good , to create more sinnes , then god euer censured : nor to brand that action with impietie , which god hath begun for promulgating of his glorie nunquid ideo deforme est , quia figura mentitur ? is the action therefore deformed , because a false glasse doth slaunder it ? concerning the other braunch of this discourse , wherein some slie whisperers would seeme to cast an aspersion of iniustice vpon the action , supposing some forraine prince to haue a former interest . certainlie hee is but a rotten subiect that quarells the actions of his countrie , descrying a serpentine stinge vnder the faire leaues of pietie . and though it bee not for a theoreticall schollar , to circumscribe the dominions of princes , yet a few proofes from antiquitie , shall suffice to controwle ignorant or presumptuous follie . in the yeere . madocke the sonne of owen guyneth prince of northwales ( leauing the land in contention betwixt his two brethren howell and dauid ) sailed into the west indies , and after a second , and a third returne , and supplie , setled himselfe in those dominions . in the yeere . iohn cabot a venetian , but the indenized subiect of king henrie the seauenth discouered the north parts of america , to meta incognita , and so it was annexed to the crowne of england . as for the donation of alexander the sixt ; it is but a reciprocall clawing , when emperors create their seruants bishops vniuersall , and shauelings create their lords , emperors generall . if the donation of constantine were not more vertuall for saint peters patrimonie , wee should haue neede of more purgatories , to maintaine fuell in the popes kitchen : for if the kingdome of christ was not on earth , what a transubstantiated power , doth the pretended vicar of christ claime , to dispose all the kingdomes of the earth . petrarch recordeth a memorable historie , of sautius brother to the king of spaine , who was elected generall against the saracens of egypt , and comming to rome for that purpose , the bishop of rome , made it to bee proclaimed in the consistorie that hee bestowed the kingdome of egypt vpon sautius . sautius vnderstanding this fauour , ( by his interpreter ) commanded to proclaime the pope , great caleph of baldacho : perfuming the sonne of pride , with his owne smoke . the pope hauing no more power , to make sautius a king , then sautius had power to make the pope a caleph . let such retailers of crownes remember , who it was that sometime saide , all these will i giue thee if thou wilt fall downe , and worship me , and yet with this item that the diuell pretended to giue no more than he saw . these points beeing thus defined , i come to the possibility . against which three maine impediments are obiected . first the daungerous passage by sea , secondlie the barrennesse of the countrie , thirdly the vnholesomnesse of the climate : the storme that seperated the admirall from the fleete proouing the first , the famine amongst our men importing the second , the sicknesse of our men arguing the third . all which discouragements doe astonish our men with feare , as though our expences were vnprofitable , when our ends are impossible . but before i shall enter into this discourse i must craue leaue to make a necessarie digression , and to iustifie his reputation whose worth is of speciall regard in this plantation . sir thomas gates supposeth himselfe accused publiquelie and in print of a treeble defect . first that hee ranne so farre southerlie and into the tropique , that the heat caused the infection in the ships . secondlie that hee gaue a sealed direction , that if they were seperated by anie storme , that they should make for the baruada in the west indies , which direction himselfe following , it caused his shipwracke , but the other shippes , ( vpon better iudgement ) declining these instructions , ariued safelie in virginia . thirdlie that hee caried in one bottome all the principall commissioners who should successiuelie haue gouerned the colonie . against all which imputations , hee maketh this iust apologie . first hee confesseth that a little before they came vnto the canaries , that hee entred into consultation with sir george summers , captaine newport , and the other of chiefe regarde in the fleete , wherein it was resolued by an vniformitie of consent , to runne southerlie into the tropique , which they did , till they came to the height of foure and twentie , but hee denieth that this course was anie cause of infection . for in the faulcon , the blessing , the lyon , ( and in the admirall wherein were one hundred and fiftie soules ) there was not one sicke of the pestilence nor other disease ; in the other two ships the infection was somewhat hote , but they shipped the same from london ; to the second hee affirmeth , that hee first gaue them sealed instructions ( not to bee opened till a time of storme ) which directed them to the baruada , but after when they came to the height of foure and twentie , hee countermaunded those directions by word of mouth , and assigned them , ( that if they were scattered ) that they should make with all speede for virginia . which himselfe ( esteeming the price of time vnualuable ) woulde haue executed , had not the violent leake of the shippe hindred him , so that the other ships safe ariuall in virginia , proceeded originallie from his aduise and authoritie . to the third , he briefly signifieth , that no other commissioners were in his ship , but such , ( as for especiall reasons ) were precisely and peremptorily appointed , by the councell of virginia . and thus you see , that tacitus wisely obserued two great enemies of great actions , ignorantiam veri , & inuidiam , the ignorance of truth , and the emulation of vertue . to returne therefore vnto the maine channell of this discourse , and to dispell the clouds of feare , that threaten shipwracks , and sea-dangers : for we are not to extenuate the seas tempestuous violence , nor yet therefore to dispaire of gods assisting prouidence . for true it is , that when sir thomas gates , sir george summers , and captaine newport , were in the height of . and the . of iuly . there arose such a storme , as if ionas had been flying vnto tarshish : the heauens were obscured , and made an egyptian night of three daies perpetuall horror ; the women lamented ; the hearts of the passengers failed ; the experience of the sea captaines was amased : the skill of the marriners was confounded : the ship most violently leaked , and though two thousand tunne of water by pumping from tuesday noone till fryday noone was discharged , notwithstanding the ship was halfe filled with water , and those which laboured to keepe others from drowning were halfe drowned themselues in labouring . but god that heard ionas crying out of the belly of hell , he pittied the distresses of his seruants : for behold , in the last period of necessitie , sir george summers descryed land , which was by so much the more ioyfull , by how much their danger was despairefull . the islands on which they ●ell were the bermudos , a place hardly accessable , through the inuironing rocks and dangers : notwithstanding they were forced to runne their ship on shoare , which through gods prouidence fell betwixt two rockes , that caused her to stand firme and not immediately to be broken , god continuing his mercie vnto them , that with their long boats they transported to land before night , all their company , men , women , and children , to the number of one hundred and fiftie , they carryed to shoare all the prouision of vnspent and vnspoyled victuals , all their furniture and tackling of the ship , leauing nothing but bared ribs , as a pray vnto the ocean . these islands of the bermudos , haue euer beene accounted as an inchaunted pile of rockes , and a desert inhabitation for diuels ; but all the fairies of the rocks were but flocks of birds , and all the diuels that haunted the woods , were but heards of swine . yea and when acosta in his first booke of the hystories of the indies , auerreth , that though in the continent there were diuerse beasts , and cattell , yet in the islands of hispaniola , iamaica , marguarita , and dominica , there was not one hoofe , it increaseth the wonder , how our people in the bermudos found such abundance of hogs , that for nine moneths space they plentifully sufficed : and yet the number seemed not much diminished . again , as in the great famine of israell , god commanded elias to flie to the brooke cedron , and there fed him by rauens ; so god prouided for our disconsolate people in the midst of the sea by foules : but with an admirable difference : vnto elias the rauens brought meat , vnto our men the foules brought ( themselues ) for meate : for when they whisteled , or made any strange noyse , the foules would come and sit on their shoulders , they would suffer themselues to be taken and weighed by our men , who would make choise of the fattest and fairest , and let flie the leane and lightest . an accident , i take it , that cannot be paralleld by any hystorie , except when god sent abundance of quayles to feed his israel in the barren wildernesse . lastly they found the berries of cedar , the palmeto tree , the prickle peare , sufficient fish , plentie of tortoises , and diuers others kinds , which sufficed to sustaine nature . they found diuersity of woods , which ministred materials for the building of two pinaces , according to the direction of the three prouident gouernours . consider all these things together . at the instant of neede , they descryed land , halfe an hower more , had buried their memorial in the sea. if they had fel by night , what expectation of light , from an vninhabited desart ? they fell betwixt a laberinth of rockes , which they conceiue are mouldred into the sea , by thunder and lightning . this was not ariadnes threed , but the direct line of gods prouidence . if it had not beene so neere land , their companie or prouision had perished by water : if they had not found hogs , and foule , and fish , they had perished by famine : if there had not beene fuell , they had perished by want of fire : if there had not beene timber they could not haue transported themselues to virginia , but must haue beene forgotten foreuer . nimium timet qui deo non credit , he is too impiously fearefull , that will not trust in god so powerfull . what is there in all this tragicall comaedie that should discourage vs with impossibilitie of the enterprise ? when of all the fleete , one onely ship , by a secret leake was indangered , and yet in the gulfe of despaire , was so graciously preserued . quae videtur poena , est medicina , that which we accompt a punishment of euill , is but a medicine against euill . after nine moneths aboade in these islands , on the tenth of may . they imbarqued themselues in their two new built pinaces , and after some eleuen daies saile , they arriued neere point comfort vpon the coast of virginia : where they had intelligence of so wofull miserie , as if god had onely preserued them , to communicate in an new extremitie . from which calamitie , the other arguments of impossibilitie are framed ; for if the countrie bee barren , or the scituation contagious ; as famine , and sicknesse , destroy our nation : wee striue against the streame of reason , and make our selues the subiects of scorne and derision . therefore in this maine point of consequence , i will propound this plaine and simple methode ; first to demonstrate that there is , and may be in virginia a sufficient meanes ( in all abundance ) to sustaine the life of man ; next that the climate is wholesome and temperate , agreeing with the constitutions of our men ; thirdly , that those extremities proceeded from accidentall and not inherent euils . lastly , i will delineate the state of the the colony , as sir thomas gates left it vnder the gouernment of the honorable l. laware : whereby it shall appeare , that all difficulties are amended , and that the state of that countrie is sufficiently mannaged . to begin , with the staffe of bread . it is auowed vnto mee , in writing , in the words of the author , that hath been there , as followeth . they vse to put their wheat into the ground , fiue cornes in one spit of earth , and two beanes with them : which wheat cornes multiplying into diuers stalks , grow vp twelue , or fourteene foote high : yeelding some foure , fiue , or six eares , on euery stalke ; and in euery eare , some fiue hundred , some six hundred , some seauen hundred cornes : the two beanes , runne vpon the stalkes of the wheat , as our garden pease vpon stickes , which multiplie to a wonderous increase . i cannot let slip a great secret , ( saith the author ) whereof i will auouch no more , then with my hands and eyes i haue handled and seene , and whereof to my great comfort , j haue often tasted : the wheat beeing sowen thicke , some stalkes beare eares of corne , and some ( like siences in trees ) beare none : but in those barren stalkes , there is as much iuice as in some sugar cane , of so delicate a tast , as no fruit in england , is comparable to it ; out of which sir raph lane conceiued , that wee may extract sugar , in great quantity . but sir thomas gates affirmeth that our men doe make cordiall drinke thereof , to their great comfort . besides , the naturall pease of the countrie returne an increase innumerable , our garden fruits , both roots , hearbes , and flowers , doe spring vp speedily , all things committed to the earth , do multiply with an incredible vsurie . the beasts of the countrie , as deere , red , and fallow , do answere in multitude ( people for people considered ) to our proportion of oxen , which appeareth by these experiences . first the people of the countrie are apparelled in the skinnes of these beasts ; next , hard by the fort , two hundred in one heard haue been vsually obserued : further , our men haue seene . of these skins pyled vp in one wardroabe of powhaton ; lastly , infinite store haue been presented to captaine newport vpon sundry occurrents : such a plentie of cattell , as all the spaniards found not in the whole kingdome of mexico , when all their presents were but hennes , and ginycocks , and the bread of maize , and cently . there are arocouns , and apossouns , in shape like to pigges , shrowded in hollow roots of trees ; there are hares and conies , and other beasts proper to the countrie in plentifull manner . our transported cattell , as horses , kine , hogs , and goats , do thriue most happily : which is confirmed by a double experiment ; one , of sir raph lane , who brought kine from the west indian island ; the other of our colony , who need take no other care of them , but least they should straie too farre , or be stolne from them . the turkyes of that countrie are great , and fat , and exceeding in plentie . the riuers from august , or september , till february , are couered with flocks of wildfoule : as swannes , geese , ducke , mallard , teal , wigeons , hearons , bitters , curlewes , godwights , plouers , snights , dottrels , cormerants , ( to vse the words of sir thomas gates ) in such abundance , as are not in all the world to be equalled . the fruits : as apples , running on the ground , in bignesse and shape of a small lemmon , in colour and tast like to a preserued apricock : grapes and walnuts innumerable ; the vines being as common as brambles , the walnut trees as the elmes in england . what should i speake of cucumbers , muske melons , pompions , potatoes , parsneps , carrets , turnups , which our gardens yeelded with little art and labour . god in this place is euer concurring with his gracious influence , if man strangle not his blessings , with carelesse negligence . it shall suffice to conclude in the words and phrase of that noble gouernour , the lo. laware , as it is warranted to mee by the copie of his letters sent to the virginian councell . howsoeuer , men haue belyed both it and themselues , heretofore , yet let no rumor of the countrie ( as if in the wombe thereof lay not these elementall seedes of plenty and increase ) waue any mans faire purposes , or wrest them to a declyning and falling off from the businesse . for the healthinesse and temperatenesse of the clymate , agreeing to our constitutions , much neede not be related , since in all the former written treatises , it is expresly obserued . no man ought to judge of any countrie by the fennes and marshes ( such as is the place where james towne standeth ) except we will condemne all england , for the wilds and hundreds of kent and essex . in our particular , wee haue an infallible proofe of the temper of the countrie : for of an hundred and odd , which were seated at the falles , vnder the gouernment of captaine francis west , and of an hundred to the sea-ward on the south side of the riuer , ( in the countrie of the nansamunds ) vnder the charge of captaine iohn martin ; of all these two hundred , there did not so much as one man miscarrie : when in iames towne , at the same time , and in the same moneths , . sickned , and halfe the number died . the like experiment was long since in the regiment of sir raph lane , where , in the space of one whole yeare , not two of one hundred perished . adde vnto this the discourse of philosophie , when in that countrie flesh will receiue salt , and continue vnputrified ( which it will not in the west indies ) when the most delicate of all flowers , grow there as familiarly , as in the fields of portingale , where the woods are replenished with more sweet barks , and odors , then they are in the plesantest places of florida . how is it possible that such a virgin and temperat aire , should work such contrarie effects , but because our fort ( that lyeth as a semy-iland ) is most part inuironed with an ebbing and flowing salt water , the owze of which sendeth forth an vnwholsome & contagious vapour ? to close vp this part with sir thomas gates his experiment : he professeth , that in a fortnights space he recouered the health of most of them by moderat labour , whose sicknesse was bred in them by intemperate idlenes . if any man shall accuse these reports of partiall falshood , supposing them to be but vtopian , and legendarie fables , because he cannot conceiue , that plentie and famine , a temperate climate , and distempered bodies , felicities , and miseries can be reconciled together , let him now reade with judgement , but let him not judge before he hath read . the ground of all those miseries , was the permissiue prouidence of god , who , in the fore-mentioned violent storme , seperated the head from the bodie , all the vitall powers of regiment being exiled with sir thomas gates in those infortunate ( yet fortunate ) ilands . the broken remainder of those supplies made a greater shipwrack in the continent of virginia , by the tempest of dissention : euery man ouervaluing his own worth , would be a commander : euery man vnderprising an others value , denied to be commanded . the emulation of caesar and pompey , watered the plains of pharsaly with bloud , and distracted the sinewes of the romane monarchy . the dissentions of the three besieged captains betraied the citie of hierusalem to vespasian . how much more easily might ambitious discord teare in peeces an infant colony , where no eminent and respected magistrats had authoritie to punish presumptuous disobedience . tacitus hath obserued , that when nero sent his old trained souldiers to tarantum and autium , ( but without their captains and centurians ) that they rather made a number , then a colony : euery souldier secretly glided into some neighbour prouince , and forsooke their appointed places : which hatched this consequent mischiefe ; the cities were vninhabited , and the emperour was frustrated : when therfore licence , sedition , and furie , are the fruits of a headie , daring , and vnruly multitude , it is no wonder that so many in our colony perished : it is a wonder , that all were not deuoured . omnis inordinatus animus sibi ipsi fit poena , euery inordinate soule becomes his owne punishment . the next fountaine of woes was secure negligence , and improuidence , when euery man sharked for his present bootie but was altogether carelesse of succeeding penurie . now , i demand whether sicilia , or sardinia , ( sometimes the barnes of rome ) could hope for increase without manuring ? a colony is therefore denominated , because they should be coloni , the tillers of the earth , and stewards of fertilitie : our mutinous loiterers would not sow with prouidence , and therefore they reaped the fruits of too deare-bought repentance . an incredible example of their idlenes , is the report of sir thomas gates , who affirmeth , that after his first comming thither , he hath seen some of them eat their fish raw , rather than they would go a stones cast to fetch wood and dresse it . dij laboribus omnia vendunt , god sels vs all things for our labour , when adam himselfe might not liue in paradice without dressing the garden . vnto idlenesse , you may ioyne treasons , wrought by those vnhallowed creatures that forsooke the colony , and exposed their desolate brethren to extreame miserie . you shall know that . or . of the companie , were appointed ( in the ship called the swallow ) to truck for corne with the indians , and hauing obtained a great quantitie by trading , the most seditious of them , conspired together , persuaded some , & enforced others , to this barbarous proiect . they stole away the ship , they made a league amongst themselues to be professed pirates , with dreames of mountaines of gold , and happy robberies : thus at one instant , they wronged the hopes , and subuerted the cares of the colony , who depending vpon their returne , fore-slowed to looke out for further prouision : they created the indians our implacable enemies by some violence they had offered : they carried away the best ship ( which should haue been a refuge , in extremities : ) they weakned our forces , by substraction of their armes , and succours . these are that scum of men that fayling in their piracy , that beeing pinched with famine and penurie , after their wilde rouing vpon the sea , when all their lawlesse hopes failed , some remained with other pirates , they men vpon the sea , the others resolued to returne for england , bound themselues by mutuall oath , to agree all in one report , to discredit the land , to deplore the famyne , and to protest that this their comming awaie , proceeded from desperate necessitie : these are they , that roared out the tragicall historie of the man eating of his dead wife in virginia ; when the master of this ship willingly confessed before witnesses , that at their comming awaie , they left three moneths victuals , and all the cattell liuing in the fort : sometimes they reported that they saw this horrible action , sometimes that captaine dauies sayd so , sometimes that one beadle the lieutenant of captaine dauies did relate it , varying this report into diuersitie of false colours , which hold no likenesse and proportion : but to cleare all doubts , sir thomas gates thus relateth the tragedie . there was one of the companie who mortally hated his wife , and therefore secretly killed her , then cut her in pieces and hid her in diuers parts of his house : when the woman was missing , the man suspected , his house searched , and parts of her mangled body were discouered , to excuse himselfe he said that his wife died , that hee hid her to satisfie his hunger , and that he fed daily vpon her . vpon this , his house was againe searched , where they found a good quantitie of meale , oatemeale , beanes and pease . hee thereupon was araigned , confessed the murder , and was burned for his horrible villany . now shall the scandalous reports of a viperous generation , preponderate the testimonies of so worthie leaders ? shall their venemous tongues , blast the reputation of an auncient & worthy peere , who vpon the ocular certainty of future blessings , hath protested in his letters , that he will sacrifice himselfe for his countrie in this seruice , if he may be seconded ; and if the company doe giue it ouer he will yet lay all his fortunes vpon the prosecution of the plantation ? shall sworne lyes , and combined oathes , so far priuiledge trechery , and piracy as to rob vs of our hopes , & to quell our noble resolutions ? god forbid : qui in mendacio confidit , cito diffidit , a lyers confidence , is but a blazing diffidence . vnto treasons , you may ioyne couetousnesse in the mariners , who for their priuate lucre partly imbezeled the prouisions , partly preuented our trade with the indians , making the matches in the night , and forestalling our market in the day : whereby the virginians were glutted with our trifles , and inhaunced the prices of their corne and victuall . that copper which before would haue prouided a bushell , would not now obtaine so much as a pottle : non habet euentus sordida praeda bonos , the consequent of sordid gaine is vntimely wretchednesse . ioyne vnto these an other euill : there is great store of fish in the riuer , especially of sturgeon ; but our men prouided no more of them , then for present necessitie , not barrelling vp any store against that season the sturgeon returned to the sea . and not to dissemble their folly , they suffered fourteene nets ( which was all they had ) to rot and spoile , which by orderly drying and mending might haue been preserued : but being lost , all help of fishing perished . quanto maiora timentur dispendia , tanto promptior debet esse cautela , fundamentall losses that cannot be repealed , ought with the greatest caution to be preuented . the state of the colony , by these accidents began to find a sensible declyning : which powhatan ( as a greedy vulture ) obseruing , and boyling with desire of reuenge , he inuited captaine ratclife , and about thirty others to trade for corne , and vnder the colour of fairest friendship , he brought them within the compasse of his ambush , whereby they were cruelly murthered , and massacred . for vpon confidence of his fidelitie , they went one and one into seuerall houses , which caused their seuerall destructions , when if but any sixe had remained together , they would haue been a bulwarke for the generall preseruation . after this , powhatan in the night cut off some of our boats , he draue away all the deere into the farther part of the countrie , hee and his people destroyed our hogs , ( to the number of about sixe hundred ) he sent none of his indians to trade with vs , but laied secret ambushes in the woods , that if one or two dropped out of the fort alone , they were indaungered . cast vp this reckoning together : want of gouernment , store of idlenesse , their expectations frustrated by the traitors , their market spoyled by the mariners , our nets broken , the deere chased , our boats lost , our hogs killed , our trade with the indians forbidden , some of our men fled , some murthered , and most by drinking of the brackish water of iames fort weakened , and indaungered , famyne and sicknesse by all these meanes increased , here at home the monies came in so slowly , that the lo. laware could not be dispatched , till the colony was worne and spent with difficulties : aboue all , hauing neither ruler , nor preacher , they neither feared god nor man , which prouoked the wrath of the lord of hosts , and pulled downe his iudgements vpon them . discite iustitiam moniti . now , ( whether it were that god in mercie to vs would weede out these ranke hemlockes ; or whether in iudgement to them he would scourge their impieties ; or whether in wisedome he would trie our patience , vt magna magnè desideremus , that wee may beg great blessings earnestly ) our hope is that our sunne shall not set in a cloude , since this violent storme is dispersed , since all necessarie things are prouided , an absolute and powerfull gouernment is setled , as by this insuing relation shall be described . when sir thomas gates arriued in virginia , the strange and vnexpected condition wherein he found the colony , gaue him to vnderstand , how neuer was there more neede of all the powers of judgement , then at this present ; it being now his charge , both to saue such as he found so forlorne and wretched , as to redeeme himselfe and his from fal ing into the like calamities . all which considered , he entred into consultation with sir george summers , and captaine newport , and the gentlemen and councell of the former gouernment . they examined first their store , which after two cakes a day to a man , would hold out but sixteene dayes , ( it being fiue moneths betwixt the stealing away of the swallow , and his landing ) the corne of the indians but newly sowed , not an eye of sturgeon , as yet appeared in the riuer : and therefore at the same consultation it was concluded by a generall approbation , that they should abandon the countrie , and in the foure pinaces ( which remained in the riuer ) they should make for the new found land , where ( it beeing fishing time ) they might meete with many english ships , into which they hoped to disperse the most of the company . this conclusion taking effect , vpon the seuenth of iune sir thomas gates ( hauing appointed euery ship her complement and number , and deliuered likewise to each a proportionable weight of prouision ) caused euery man to repaire aboord ; his company ( and of his company himselfe ) remained last on shore , to keepe the towne from being burned , which some of our owne company maliciously threatned . about noone they fell downe with the tyde to the iland of hogges , and the next morning to the mulbury iland : at what time , they discouered the long boate of the lord laware , which his lordship ( hearing of this resolution by the captaine of the fort , which standeth at the mouth of the riuer ) suddenly dispatched with letters to sir thomas gates , which informed him of his lordships arriuall . vpon receite of these letters , sir thomas gates bore vp the helme , and that night with a fauourable winde relanded all our men at the fort. before which , the tenth of iune ( being sunday ) his lordship came with all his fleete , went ashore in the afternoone , heard a sermon , read his commission , and entred into consultation for the good of the colony . in which secret counsell , i will a little leaue his lordship , that wee may duly obserue the reuealed counsell of god. he that shal but turne vp his eye , and behold the spangled canopie of heauen , shall but cast down his eye , and consider the imbroidered carpet of the earth , and withall shall marke , how the heauens heare the earth , the earth heare the corne and oyle , and they relieue the necessities of man , that man wil acknowledge gods infinite prouidence . but hee that shall further obserue , how god inclineth all casuall euents , to worke the necessary helpe of his saints , must needs adore the lords infinite goodnesse . neuer had any people more iust cause to cast themselues at the foot-stoole of god , and to reuerence his mercy , then our distressed colony : for if god had not sent sir thomas gates from the bermudos within foure daies , they had all beene famished : if god had not directed the heart of that worthy knight , to saue the fort from fire at their shipping , they had been destitute of a present harbor , and succor ; if they had abandoned the fort any longer time , and had not so soone returned , questionlesse the indians would haue destroied the fort , which had beene the meanes of our safety among them , and a terrour vnto them . if they had set saile sooner , and had lanched into the vast ocean , who could haue promised , that they should haue encountred the fleet of the lo. la-ware ? especially when they made for the new-found land , a course contrary to our nauies approaching . if the lord la-ware had not brought with him a yeares prouision , what comfort could those soules haue receiued , to haue beene relanded to a second destruction ? brachium domini , this was thearme of the lord of hosts , who would haue his people to passe the redde sea and wildernesse , and then to possesse the land of canaan : it was diuinely spoken of heathen socrates , si deus sit solicitus prote , cur tu tibi sis solicitus ? if god for man be carefull , why should man be ouer distrustfull ? the noble lord gouernor , after mature deliberation , deliuered some few words to the company , laying iust blame vpon them for their haughty vanities , and sluggish idlenesse ; earnestly entreating them to amend those desperate follies , lest he should be compelled to draw the sword of iustice , and to cut off such delinquents , which he had rather draw ( euen to the shedding of his vital blood ) to protect them from iniuries ; heartning them with relation of that store hee had brought with him ; constituting officers of all conditions to rule ouer them , alotting euery man his particular place to watch vigilantly and worke painefully . this oration and direction being receiued with a generall applause , you might shortly behold the idle and restie diseases of a diuided multitude , by the vnity and authority of this gouernment , to be substantially cured . those that knew not the way to goodnes before , but cherished singularity and faction , can now chalke out the path of all respectiue duetie and seruice : euery man endeuouring to out-strip each other in diligence : the french preparing to plant the vines , the english labouring in the woods and groundes ; euery man knoweth his charge , and dischargeth the same with alacrity . neither let any man be discouraged , by the relation of their daily labor , ( as though the sappe of their bodies should be spent for other mens profite ) the setled times of working ( to effect all themselues , or the aduenturers neede desire ) requiring no more pains then from sixe of clocke in the morning vntill ten , and from two of the clocke in the afternoone till foure : at both which times they are prouided of spiritual and corporall relie●e . first , they enter into the church , and make their prayers vnto god ; next , they returne to their houses , and receiue their proportion of foode . nor should it be conceiued , that this busines excludeth gentlemen , whose breeding neuer knew what a daies labour meant ; for though they cannot digge , vse the square , nor practise the axe and chizell ; yet may the stayde spirits of any condition finde how to employ the force of knowledge , the exercise of counsell , the operation and power of their best breeding and qualities . the houses which are built are as warme and defensible against winde and weather , as if they were tiled and slated ; being couered aboue with strong boordes , and matted round within , according to the fashion of the indians . our forces are now such as are able to tame the fury and treachery of the sauages : our forts assure the inhabitants , and frustrate all assailants . and to leaue no discouragement in the heart of any , who personally shall enter into this great action , i will communicate a double comfort : first , sir george summers ( that worthy admiral ) hath vndertaken a dangerous aduenture , for the good of the colony . vpon the fifteenth of iune ( accompanied with captaine samuel argoll ) he returned in two pinaces vnto the bermudos ; promising ( if by any meanes god will open a way to that iland of rockes ) that he would soone returne with sixe moneths prouision of flesh , and with liue hogges to store againe virginia . it is but eleuen daies saile , and we hope that god will send a pillar of fire to direct his iourney . the other comfort is , that the lord gouernour hath built two new forts ( the one called fort henry , and the other fort charles , in honor of our most noble prince and his hopefull brother ) vpon a pleasant hill , and neere a little riuelet , which we call south ▪ hampton riuer . they stand in a wholsome ayre , hauing plenty of springs of sweete water ; they command a great circuit of ground , containing wood , pasture and meadow ; with apt places for vines , corne and gardens . in which forts it is resolued , that all those that come out of england shall be at their first landing quartered ; that the wearisomnes of the sea may bee refreshed in this pleasing part of the countrey . the fertility of the soile , the temperature of the climate , the form of gouernment , the condition of our people , their daily inuocating of the name of god , being thus expressed ; why should the successe ( by the rules of mortall iudgement ) be despaired ? why should not the rich haruest of our hopes be seasonably expected ? i dare say , that the resolution of caesar in fraunce , the designes of alexander in greece , the discoueries of hernando cortes in the west , and of emanuel , king of portugale in the east , were not incouraged vpon so firme grounds of state and possibility . all which i could demonstrate out of their owne records , were i not preuented with hast , to satisfie their longings , who with an open care , hearken after the commodities of the countrey : whose appetites i will no longer frustrate , then their eyes can runne ouer this succinct narration . i called it a succinct narration , because the commodities in former treatises haue beene largely described , which i will only here epitomise , lest any man should change his resolution , when the same grounds remaine , which were the cause of his former aduenture . the councell of virginia ( finding the smalnesse of that returne , which they hoped should haue defraied the charge of a new supply ) entred into a deepe consultation , and propounded amongst themselues , whether it were fit to enter into a new contribution , or in time to send for home the lord la-ware , and to abandon the action . they resolued to send for sir thomas gates , who being come , they adiured him to deale plainely with them , and to make a true relation of those things which were presently to be had , or hereafter to be hoped for in virginia ▪ sir thomas gates with a solemne and sacred oath replied , that all things before reported were true : that the country yeeldeth abundance of wood , as oake , wainscot , walnut tres , bay trees , ashe , sarsafrase , liue oake , greene all the yeare , cedar and firre ; which are the materials , of foape ashes , and pot ashes , of oyles of walnuts , and bayes , of pitch and tarre , of clap boards , pipe ▪ staues , masts and excellent boardes of forty , fifty and sixtie length , and three foote bredth , when one firre tree is able to make the maine mast of the greatest ship in england . he auouched , that there are incredible variety of sweet woods , especially of the balsamum tree , which distilleth a pretious gum ; that there are innumerable white mulberry trees , which in so warme a climate may cherish and feede millions of silke wormes , and returne vs in a very short time , as great a plenty of silke as is vented into the whole world from al the parts of italy : that there are diuers sorts of minerals , especially of iron oare , lying vpon the ground for ten miles circuite ; of which we haue made triall at home , that it maketh as good iron as any is in europe : ) that a kinde of hempe or flax , and silke grasse doe grow there naturally , which will affoord stuffe for all manner of excellent cordage : that the riuer swarmeth with sturgeon ; the land aboundeth with vines , the woodes doe harbor exceeding store of beauers , foxes and squirrils , the waters doe nourish a great encrease of otters ; all which are couered with pretious furres : that there are in present discouered dyes and drugs of sundry qualities ; that the orenges which haue beene planted , did prosper in the winter , which is an infallible argument , that lymmons , sugar canes , almonds , rice , anniseede , and all other commodities which we haue from the staights , may be supplied to vs in our owne countrey , and by our owne industry : that the corne yeeldeth a trebble encrease more then ours ; and lastly , that it is one of the goodliest countries vnder the sunne ; enterueined with fiue maine riuers , and promising as rich entrals as any kingdome of the earth , to whom the sunne is no neerer a neighbour . vvhat these things will yeelde , the merchant best knoweth , who findeth by experience , that many hundreth of thousands of pounds are yearly spent in christendome in these commodities . the merchant knoweth , that caueare and traine which come from russia , can be brought hither but once in the yeare , in regard of the ice : and that sturgeon which is brought from the east countries , can come but twice a yeare ; and that not before the end of aprill , or the beginning of may ; which many times in regard of the heat of those moneths , is tainted in the transportation : when from virginia they may be brought to vs in foure and twenty daies , and in al the colde seasons of the yeare . the merchants know , that the commodity of sope and pot ashes are very scant in prussia ; that they are brought three hundred miles by land , and three hundred miles by riuers , before they come to the sea ; that they pay a custome there , and another in denmarke , which enhanceth the prices exceedingly : but in virginia they may haue them without carriage by land or custom ( because fiue nauigable riuers doe lead vp fiue seuerall waies into the bowels of the whole countrey . ) as therefore the like riuers , are the cause of the riches of holland , so will these be to vs a wondrous cause of sauing of expences . the merchant knoweth , that through the troubles in poland & muscouy , ( whose eternall warres are like the antipathy of the dragon & elephants ) all their traffique for mastes , deales , pitch , tarre , flaxe , hempe , and cordage , are euery day more and more indangered , and the woods of those countries are almost exhausted . all which are to be had in virginia with farre lesse charge , and farre more safety . lastly , the merchant knoweth , that for our commodities in the staights , as sweet wines , orenges , lemmonds , anniseeds , &c. that we stand at the deuotion of politique princes and states , who for their proper vtility , deuise all courses to grinde our merchants , all pretences to confiscate their goods , and to draw from vs al marrow of gaine by their inquisitiue inuentions : when in virginia , a few yeares labour by planting and husbandry , will furnish all our defects , with honour and security ; especially since the frenchmen ( who are with the lord gouernour ) do confidently promise , that within two yeares we may expect a plentifull vintage . vvhen therfore this noble enterprise , by the rules of religion is expresly iustified ; when the passages by sea are all open and discouered ; when the climate is so fruitfully tempered ; when the naturall riches of the soile are so powerfully confirmed : will any man so much betray his owne inconsiderate ignorance , and bewray his rashnesse ; that when the same sunne shineth , he should not haue the same eies to beholde it ; when the same hope remaines , he should not haue the same heart to apprehend it ? at the voyage of sir thomas gates , what swarmes of people desired to be transported ? what alacrity and cheerefulnesse in the aduenturers by free wil offerings , to build vp this new tabernacle ? shall we now be deiected ? shall we cast downe our heads like bull rushes ? because one storme at sea hath deferred our ioyes and comforts ! vve are too effeminate in our longings , and too impatient of delaies . gods al-disposing prouidence , is not compellable by mans violence . let any wisedome giue a solide reason , why his purpose should be changed , when those grounds which gaue life to his first purpose , are not changed . it is but a golden slumber , that dreameth of any humane felicity , which is not sauced with some contingent miserie . dolor & voluptas , inuicem cedunt , griefe and pleasure are the crosse sailes of the worlds euer-turning-windmill . let no man therefore be ouer wise , to cast beyond the moone and to multiply needlesse doubts and questions . hannibal by too much wisedome , lost opportunity to haue sacked rome charles the eighth of fraunce , by temporising , lost the kingdome of naples , and the gouernement of florence : henry the seuenth by too much ouer-warines , lost the riches of the golden indies . occasion is pretious , but when it is occasion . some of our neighbours would ioine in the action , if they might be ioynt inheritors in the plantation ; which is an euident proose , that virginia shall no sooner be quitted by vs , then it will be reinhabited by them . a dishonor of that nature , that will eternally blemish our nation ; as though we were like the furious pyrrhus , or impetuous swissers , who in a brunt can conquer any thing , but with wisedome can maintaine nothing . it is time to wipe away such an imputation of barbarisme , especially since the consequence is so pregnant , that without this or the like , the state cannot subsist without some dangerous and imminent mutation . he is ouer blinde that doth not see ▪ what an inundation of people doth ouerslow this little iland : shall we vent this deluge , by indirect and vnchristian policies ? shal we imitate the bloody and heathenish counsell of the romanes , to leane a catthage standing , that may exhaust our people by forraine warre ? or shall we nourish domesticall faction , that as in the dayes of vitellius and vespasian , the sonne may imbrew his hands in the blood of the father ? or shall we follow the barbarous foot-steps of the state of china , to imprison our people in a little circle of the earth , and consume them by pestilence ? or shall we like the beast of babylon , denie to any sort the honourable estate of mariage , and allow abhominable stewes , that our people may not ouer increase in multitude ? or shall we take an inhumane example from the muscouite , in a time of famine to put tenne thousand of the poore vnder the yce as the mice and rats of a state politique ? if all these be diabolicall and hellish proiects , what other means remaines to vs , but by setling so excellent a plantation , to disimbarke some millions of people vpon a land that floweth with all manner of plenty ? to wade a little further , who euer saluted the monuments of antiquity , and doth not finde , that carthage aspired to be empresse of the world , by her opportunity of hauens and multitude of shipping ? what hindereth the great mahumetane prince , from seazing vpon al the territories of europe , but onely the want of skilfull marriners ? what created the rich and free states of holland , but their winged nauy ? it was a fit embleme that painted death standing vpon the shoares of fraunce , germany and spaine , and looking ouer into england : intymating vnto vs , that so long as we are lords of the narrow seas , death stands on the other shoares , and onely can looke vpon vs : but if our wooden wals were ruinated , death would soone make a bridge to come ouer , and deuoure our nation . when therefore our mils of iron , and excesse of building , haue already turned our greatest woods into pasture and champion , within these few years ; neither the scattered forrests of england , nor the diminished groues of ireland , will supply the defect of our nauy . when in virginia there is nothing wanting , but onely mens labours , to furnish both prince , state and merchant , without charge or difficulty . againe , whither shall wee transport our cloth , and how shall we sustaine our artisans ? shall we send it into turkey ? some priuate and deceitfull auarice hath discredited our merchandize . into spaine ? it aboundeth with sheepe and wooll . into poland and muscouy ? the daunger doth ouer-ballance the gaine in times of contention . into fraunce and germany ? they are for the most part supplied by their owne peace . vvhen if our colony were peopled in virginia , mutabit vellera merces , we shall exchange our store of cloth for other merchandize . let any man resolue why the councell of virginia , doe now most earnestly continue their aduentures ? why those that were ( eye witnesses ) of the former supposed miseries , do voluntarily returne with ioy and comfort ? why those noble and worthy personages , doe offer to make the action good vpon the hazard of their liues & fortunes ? and why sir thomas gates longeth and hasteneth to go thither again , and the lord la-ware desireth so earnestly to stay there ? are not all these things as deere to them as to any other of the aduenturers ? haue not their hopes the same wings ? their feares the same fetters ? their estates the same rockes ? their liues and soules greater gulfes of perill and despair ? and yet neither the imbracements of their wiues , nor indulgence to their babes , nor the neglect of their domesticke fortunes , nor banishment from their natine soile , nor any experimented dangers haue broken their noble resolution . and therefore , he that desireth to purchase inf●llible hope of priuate vtility ; hee that aimeth at the honor & wealth of his natiue country ; he that esteemeth his owne repute as deere as his owne eies ; he that ende●uo●reth to enlarge the dom nions of his prince , and the kingdome of his god : let him remember what hee hath already spent , which is all buried ; let him consider the consequences of state , which are all vanished into smoake ; let him conceiue what a scorne we shall be made to the maligners of our state abroad , and our il affected at home ; let him meditate , the external riches of other kingdoms , able to buy and sell the monarch of the west ; let him heare the triumphant boasting of the beast of rome , as though god would not suffer our schismaticall and hereticall religion , to be infused into a new conuerted region : o all ye worthies , follow the euer-sounding trumpet of a blessed honour ; let religion be the first aim of your hopes , & caetera adijcientur , and other things shall be cast vnto you : your names shall be registred to posterity with a glorious title ; these are the men , whom god raised to augment the state of their countrey , and to propagate the gospell of iesus christ. neyther ought any man to liue vnder augustus , as if he liued vnder domitian , quibus inertia est pro sapientia ; to whom sluggishnes & priuacy is imputed for wisedome and pollicy . the same god that hath ioyned three kingdomes vnder one caesar , wil not be wanting to adde a fourth , if wee would dissolue that frosty ioinesse which chilleth our zeale , and maketh vs so cold in the action . but it is a meere idaea , speculation and fancy , to sow sparingly , and yet expect for to reape plentifully ; when a penurious supply is like the casting on of a little water vpon a great fire , that quencheth not the heat , but augments it : when procrastinating delayes , and lingring counsels , doe lose the oportunity of flying time ; whereby we rather bewray our colony then releeue them : let no man adore his golde as his god , nor his mammon as his maker . if god haue scattered his blessings vpon you as snow , will you returne no tributary acknowledgement of his goodnesse ? if you will , can you select a more excellent subiect , then to cast downe the altars of diuels , that you may raise vp the altar of christ : to forbid the sacrifice of men , that they may offer vp the sacrifice of contrite spirites ; to reduce barbarisme and infidelity , to ciuill gouernement and christianity ? sifrigido loquor , nihil loquor ; if i speake to a man void of piety , i speake but the words of winde and vanity ; otherwise how doth that man groane vnder the worlds corruption , that doth not actually or vocally hasten the worldes conuersion ? doubtye not but god hath determined , and demonstrated ( by the wondrous preseruation of those principal persons which fell vpon the bermudos ) that he will raise our state , and build his church in that excellent climate , if the action be seconded with resolution and religion . nil disperandum christo duce , & auspice christo . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e colonies . three heads . lawfull , possible , profitable . corne. pease . fruits . hearbs . beasts . wlidfoule fruits . temperature .