A LETTER, Sent into England from the SUMMER islands.  
Written by Mr. Lewes Hughes, Preacher of God's Word there. 1615.  
¶ Printed at London by I.B. for William Welby, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Swan in Paul's Churchyard. 1615.   

The copy of a Letter written by Lewes Hughes, Preacher of God's Word in the Summer islands, to his friends in England.  
Beloved friends, the goodness of Almighty God, in keeping these islands secret, from all people of the world (except some that have come hither against their wills, to their loss, by means of shipwreck) till now that it hath pleased his holy Majesty, to discover and bestow them upon his people of England; is so great as should stir them up with thankful hearts, to praise his holy and great name, and to send such to inhabit them as fear God, and give themselves to serve him in holiness and righteousness, that so, God may love to dwell in those islands, as he did in Zion, when he said, This is my rest for ever, here will I dwell: for I have a delight therein. Psal 132.13.14. And whereas it is given out by some, that we do wrong to the King of Spain; they that think so, are in an error. For the King of Spain had never any thing to do here, and I hope never shall. The King of kings hath kept these Hands from the King of Spain and all other kings in the world; till now, that it hath pleased his holy Majesty to bestow them upon the King of England, and hath put us his subjects in quiet possession of them, without doing any wrong to the King of Spain, or any other: and our hope is that if the Spaniards shall come to invade us, that God will not suffer them to take that from us, that he hath freely given us.  
It may be that some are afraid to come hither, because of the strange reports that have gone of these islands; as that they are the islands of devils, and that here are strange apparitions of devils, and fearful thundering and lightning, as though Heaven and earth did meet together: believe me my beloved, here are no such things (thanks be to God). True it is, that as almighty God did set the Cherubims, and the blade of a sword shaking in fearful manner to keep Adam from coming into Paradise: so by fearful tempests, and terrible lightning and thunder, God hath terrified and kept all people of the world from coming into these islands to inhabit them, as appeareth by diverse signs of shipwreck, in divers places about the islands; and this, as I take it, is the cause that such reports have gone of these islands; and that all Navigators and Mariners have been careful to avoid and shun them, as they would shun the devil himself: but now, since it hath pleased God, to discover them unto, and to bestow them upon his people of England, here have been no such tempests nor danger, his holy and great name be therefore praised. And the more to stir you up to praise his hol● name: consider, I pray you of the manner how he brought our men to the first sight and true knowledge of them.  
He did not bring them to their loss and grief, by shipwreck as he did others, but to their great joy, in saving them from shipwreck: for our men were in danger of shipwreck, three days before they came to the sight of those islands: I mean our men that were bound for Virginia, in a Ship called the Sea-venture, with Sr. Thomas Gates, Sr. George Summer, and Captain Newport, had their ship so shaken and torn with a cruel tempest, as she received so much water as covered two tire of Hogsheads, above the ballast, so as men stood up to the middles with buckets and kettles to bail out water, & continually pumped for three days and three nights together, the water notwithstanding increasing upon them, and they so tired and out of hope, as they resolved to shut up the Hatches, and commit themselves to the mercy of God. Some of them that had comfortable waters fetched them out, and drank one to an other, taking their last leave one of an other, until their more joyful and happy meeting in Heaven.  
Then Sir George Summer sitting upon the poop of the ship, where he sat three days and three nights without meat, couming the ship to keep her as upright as he could, did descry land, and called upon the people to follow their pumping and bailing out of water, which they did, the water still increasing, and the ship ready to sink into the bottom of the Sea.  
Then Almighty God, who is always at hand ready to help in time of need, did show his mercy ●nd power, in causing the Sea to be calm, and in keeping the ship from sinking, and in leading her safely to a safe place, where he lodged her fast, between two rocks, so fast as she could not stir: then the people with joyful hearts, praising God went safely to shore, and saved much of their goods, and continued above nine months, very comfortably, notwithstanding that their provision of meat, was spoiled with the salt water, God did feed them plenteously with Hogs, Fish, Fowls, and other his good creatures, and did multiply them: for, in that time, there were two children borne and baptised; the one which was a boy they called Bermuda, the other which was a girl they called Barmuda. Also they builded them a ship which they called the Deliverance, and a Pinnace which they called the Patience, and so departed from these islands safely and comfortably on the tenth of May 1610. with good store of Hogs flesh powdered, to carry with them to Virginia.  
The eleventh of july 1612. Master Richard Moor now Deputy Governor, arrived safely, and with him about 50. souls, men, women, and children, to inhabit these islands, and since that time (by the mercy of God) divers other ships out of England have arrived safely with good supplies: therefore let not the report that hath gone of these islands discourage any of the people of England from coming hither.  
Neither let the fear of foreign invasion discourage any. For; as I am persuaded, and have heard Mariners, that have traveled far say, the like islands are not to be found in the world, where men may dwell so safe from foreign invasion, because God hath so compassed them about with fearful rocks, as ships are not able to come near, but in two Channels, that lead into two goodly and large harbours; the one at a place called the Gurnats' head, the other at a place called Davies Point.  
The Channels are so narrow and curious, as ships must come in very leisurely, one after another, so as the forts on both sides the channels may sink them with ease, by the help of God.  
As it hath pleased God, (for the safety of those islands) in their first creation, to environ them about with fearful rocks: so now in their first plantation, it hath pleased his holy majesty, to put into the heart of Mr Moor, now deputy Governor, to fortify them within, so as in the judgement of man, they are invincible.  
At the Gurnats' head he hath built three forts, and planted them with great pieces, and men to defend them; and at Davies Point he hath builded two forts, and planted them with great pieces and men to defend them. He hath also built divers other forts to keep long boats from landing, and to clear the harbours, if ships should come in.  
If long boats should venture to land any there, they will be but as men cast away, because ships can not come near to rescue or help any way: therefore let not fear of foreign invasion, keep any from coming hither.  
There is great hope that (by the blessing of God) men may in time live very comfortably here, and grow rich if they will provide feeds of Indigo, etc. and plants of currants, figs, raisins, mulberry-trees for the silkworms, & vines, that they may have wine for their own drinking: I say for their own drinking, because wine considering the leakeage, trouble, and charge will be one of the least commodities these islands will afford.  
For the present, Tobacco is the best commodity.  
And for victuals, if men have boats, nets, lines, hooks, and striking irons, they may have good fish at all times; as Rockfish, Angell-fish, Hogge-fish, Amber-fish, Cutle-fish, Pilat-fish, Hedgehog-fish, Cunny-fish, Old-wives, Singrays, Snappers, Groopers, Cavallies, Morrays, Mullets, Mackerel, Pilchers, Breames, Lobster's, Turtles, sharks, etc.  
Also here are Eels in fresh water ponds. rivers here are none, but ponds and wells of very good and wholesome water, and a water descending from an hill, which floweth and ebbeth with the Sea, and yet drinketh always sweet, like milk.  
Here is also plenty of Sea fowls, at one time of the year; as about the middle of October: Birds which we call Cahouze, and Pimlicoes come in.  
The Cahouze continue till the beginning of june in great abundance; they are bigger bodied than a Pigeon, & of a very firm & good flesh. They are taken with ease, if one do but sit down in a dark night, and make a noise, there will more come to him then he shall be able to kill: some have told me that they have taken twelve and fowreteene dozen in an hour.  
When the Cahouze time is out, other birds called Noddies, and Sandie birds come in, and continue till the latter end of August.  
Here is no kind of beasts but hogs and cats, & they but in one or two places, which are thought to come at first by means of shippe-wrack. The Hogs were many, but now are brought to a small number.  
The Calves and Lambs that we brought out of England, did prosper exceedingly, till the hunters met with them.  
The Cocks and Hens we brought with us, do prosper and increase much, and are a great comfort unto us.  
And now that we have found out the right seasons of the year to set Corn, we are like (by the blessing of God) to have plenty of this country wheat, which is very good, large and fair, and more hearty and strong than our English wheat.  
Young children do thrive and grow up exceeding well, the climate is so temperate and agreeable to our English constitutions.  
The Air is very wholesome, and not subject to such contagious infections as it is in England.  
The longest day in the year is fowerteene hours, and the shortest ten from sun to sun. When it is noon in England, it is about eight of the clock in the morning with us.  
The seasons of the year are two; a hot season, that beginneth about the middle of May, and continueth till the midst of August: all the rest of the year is as a continual spring.  
The heat of Summer is not so extreme, but it may be well endured.  
Fresh gales of Wind we have every day.  
The greatest annoyance are flies, for two months and a half: they are almost as busy in England.  
Long and drizzling rain is seldom seen, but great showers with great drops very often.  
Thunder and lightning, do no such hurt here as in England.  
Snow, hail, frost, thick and foggy mists we have none.  
The night is lighter and more comfortable here then in England.  
The birds make a noise almost all night, but not with such pleasant tunes as the Larks, and other birds do in England.  
Hear is no bird that singeth in the day but the sparrow, the Robin-redbreast, & the Robin williams.  
The earth is very fertile, and so mellow and gentle, as it needeth neither ploughing, nor digging, so that after the wood is taken off, and the grass and weeds be burnt and destroyed, and the common business of fortifying be once ended, men shall live here in much case, without such moiling and toiling as is in England. The greatest labour will be in worming and pruning of some plants, which children may do as well, and better than men.  
I wish that all they that hereafter shall come hither out of England, would consider with themselves, that these islands, were never inhabited till now, and that therefore they must of necessity labour hard at first, and be contented to endure hardness and some want of many necessaries.  
In time (by the grace of God) the storehouse shall be furnished with all necessaries, for such as have money, and they that have not, if they be honest and industrious, shall be trusted: But now in regard that the greatest part of the people that be here, came very rashly and carelessly, not considering whither they went, nor what they might in time have need of, I think that all that can be brought into the store as yet will be taken up by them: and therefore I advise such as are to come, (to bring every one that is able) a barrel or two of biscuits for his own eating, till he have cleared his ground, and have wheat of his own.  
Also let them bring oil, vinegar, aquavite, barrel butter, pots, kettles, frying pans, trivets, bowls, trays, tanckards or pots to drink in, pails to fetch water in, and little barrels or jars to keep it in for their drink. The water is very good and wholesome, such as many do delight in.  
Also let them bring tongues, fireshovels, bellows, tinderboxes, brimstone, flintstones, and steels, spits, dripping-pans, candle sticks, lamps, locks, spades, shovels, pickaxes, hatchets, whetstones; saws, hammers, pearcers' pincers, and nails, of all sorts so many as will serve to build a house with, and leather to mend their shoes, & sparrowbils, or nails to drive into them, else the rocks will tear them out quickly.  
Also let them bring bedding: flock-beds are better than feather beds. And for apparel, for the summer, let them bring Canvas, or stuffs; blue linen & good buckram the women do wish for.  
Also let them not forget to bring Castle soap, pins points, laces, needles, thread, thimbles, shears, and scissors. Also let them bring strong fishing lines, of 12. or 14. faddoms long, and some small of whipcords and strong hooks, the biggest, and as divers as they can, and some small hooks for breams.  
And above all things have a cate to leave their sins beninde them, and come hither as it were into a new world, to lead a new life; and for the comfort of their souls let them bring Bibles, and other good books: and pack up all their small stuff in barrels; the barrels will afterwards serve them for many good uses.  
Idle persons, and such as are given to filching, do live here in great misery: so also do all whorish women in great disgrace, hated and loathed of all honest people, which makes them weep, and sigh with tears to wish themselves in England again, and for their comfort, to cool them a little, they are now & then tawed at a boats tail up and down the harbour: so were a couple served together, a man and a woman that came in the ship that came in, and so have divers others.  
Also all such as are profaners of the Sabbath, and come to the service of God but when they list, I see that God findeth them out, and denieth them his blessing.  
All they that have grace to serve God, are sure to prosper and live comfortably, because God hath said. Behold my servants shall eat, and ye shall be hungry: behold my servants shall drink, and ye shall be thirsty: behold my servants shall rejoice and ye shall be ashamed: behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, and ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of mind. Isai 65.13.14.  
Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and upon them that trust in his mercy, to deliver their souls from death, & to preserve them in famine. Psal. 33.18. & 19  
The Lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good. Psal. 34.10.  
Wait thou on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee, thou shalt inherit the land, when the wicked shall perish, thou shalt see. Psal. 37.34:  
The God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord JESUS, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in all good works to do his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight, through JESUS CHRIST, to whom be praise for ever and ever, Amen. Heb. 13.20.21.  
From the Summer islands this 21. of December. 1614 Yours as his own, Lewes Hughes.