A PLAIN DESCRIPTION OF THE BERMUDA, NOW CALLED SUMMER islands.  
With the manner of their discovery ANNO 1609. by the shipwreck and admirable deliverance of Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George summers, wherein are truly set forth the commodities and profits of that Rich, Pleasant, and Healthful COUNTRY.  
WITH An Addition, or more ample relation of divers other remarkable matters concerning those islands since then experienced, lately sent from thence by one of the Colony now there resident.  ECCLESIASTES 3: 11. 
God hath made every thing beautiful in his time.  
LONDON, Printed by W. Stansby, for W. Welby. 1613.   

TO THE TRULY HONOURABLE AND RIGHT WORTHY KNIGHT SIR THOMAS SMITH TREASURER for the Colonies and Companies of VIRGINIA: and Governor of Muscovia, East-India, Northwest Passage, and SUMMER islands Companies.  
HONOURABLE SIR, the wisest of Men, or rather the wisdom of God tells us, 
Eccles. 3.1.  that there is a time for all things: and that the great God, who at his own will began time itself, doth at his own Time begin all things else: the foolishness of men may ask and muse why was this so soon, and that so late? but the wisdom of God knows what is fit for every time: And surely amongst the sensible signs, and evident demonstrations of Gods all-governing providence, this is not the least, that he brings not forth his mighty works altogether, but makes every thing beautiful in his time. 
Eccl. 3. 1●.  And as in his creation he made not all at once, but produced them in their several days: so in his gubernation, he revealeth not the knowledge of all things in one Age, but discovers them in the several ages of the World. And if man ask why God doth thus, holy David gives the answer; The Lord hath so done his marvelous works, that they should be had in remembrance; 
Psal. 111.4.  for were they all in one age (such is our corruption) they would be less observed and sooner forgotten, but being declared in their several times, every Age finds matter to magnify God; And therefore He whose glorious name is to be praised for ever, reveils some marvelous thing in every generation, 
Psal. 72.19.  that so his name may be praised from Generation to Generation.  
Man's works are for the most part (as Christ saith of the Wine that is served in at feasts) best at first, and afterwards worse: but with God it is contrary; for as in the Creation, though every days work was good, yet each days was better than the former, and the last best of all: 
Gen. 1.  So in his dispensation and government of the world, all knowledge was not revealed, nor all good things made known at the first, but day unto day uttereth, and night to night (and why not also, 
Psal. 19.2.  age unto age) teacheth knowledge. And hence is it that as great secrets in nature, and as admirable perfections in art, and as rare inventions, and profitable experiments (every way) are daily discovered in these latter ages, as were in the former. There be not yet two hundred years past since the admirable art of Printing was found out, 
It began about the year 1450  an invention so excellent and so useful, so much tending to the honour of God, the manifestation of the truth, propagation of the Gospel, restoration of learning, diffusion of knowledge, and consequently the discovery and destruction of Popery, that the Pope and Popish Politicians wish it had never been, and have bestowed many a secret curse upon him that first revealed it; and no marvel, for it hastens and helps forward his confusion more than all the Mechanic mysteries in the World. Nor is yet four hundred years ago, since the superadmirable use of the Loadstone was found out. The attraction of iron unto it was seen by Aristotle, and the Ancients, and it amazed them: But the correspondency it hath with the pole-star, and consequently the excellent use of it for Navigation (being one of the greatest wonders of the world) was not known to them; nay (which is more strange) not to the Apostles themselves; for had it been, surely Saint Paul and his company had not been almost half a year in his voyage betwixt judaea and Italy, 
Acts 27.  and that through so many difficulties, and at last shipwreck; Nor would it have been said, that when neither Sun nor Star appeared for many days, 
Vers. 20.  all hope of being saved was taken away. For when neither Sun nor Star appears; yet by the help of this poor dead Creature, the Pilot can tell where he is, and knows his course, more certainly now in the wide and unmeasurable Ocean, than they could in the narrow Mediterran Sea; and more easily now will an ordinary Seaman go to the West Indies, than S. Paul with all the knowledge God had then revealed, from jerusalem to Rome: for howsoever the Lord was miraculously powerful in the Apostles, and glorious and wonderful in the Primitive Church, in giving knowledge of tongues, and other learning, and power of miracles, yet he did bound and limit it at his own pleasure, and reserved this and other of his wonderful works to be made knonwne in the later times, that so all men in all ages may know, that though all things perish, 
Psa. 102.26  yet God endures; and though all creatures wax old as a garment, yet He is the same still and for ever.  
It is yet but a hundredth years ago, that (after the world had scarce dreamt of any other habitable place of the earth, more than Asia, Africa, and Europe) God discovered to vulgar knowledge another, and as it were the new world of America, which if it had been foretold in the elder ages, millions of men would never have believed it. And that we in this present and perverse age may also know, that Times and Seasons are in God's hand, 
Acts 1.  He hath vouchsafed amongst the many excellent inventions and wonderful discoveries of these times, to make known to us of the poor Virginian plantation, and by us to the world, the hidden and long concealed truth, touching the state of the Barmuda islands. Who did not think till within these four years, but that those islands had been rather a habitation of Devils, then fit for men to dwell in? who did not hate the name when he was on Land, and shun the place when he was on the Seas? But behold the misprision and misconceits of the world! For true and large experience hath now told us, it is one of the sweetest Paradises that be upon the earth. Let them hearken to this and make use of it, that mislike all new inventions, and suspect all new discoveries, and hold it for a rule, That whatsoever is new is nought. If any had said seven years ago, the Barmuda Islands are not only accessible and habitable, but also fertile, fruitful, plentiful, and a safe, secure, temperate, rich, sweet, and healthful habitation for Man and especially for English bodies; oh how loudly would he have been laughed at, and hist our of most men's companies! And yet no more than He would have been who four hundred years ago should have told the world, that by the use and help of a stone a man should more safely sail upon the Ocean, round about the earth, then formerly in the narrow Seas: Or then He who two hundred years ago should have said, there was an Art by which all writing of books should be saved, and that two men should Print more in a day, than two hundred can write: Or then He who 100. t years ago did tell us, there was another world, as it were under our feet, wherein men lived like us, and a richer part of the world than ours. And yet all these are now proved true before our eyes, and all the world can witness it; and who is he that feels not the benefit of these three blessings? Now therefore let the jealous and suspicious world bear his due reproof, and let God have his due glory and praise, who brings to light things that lie hid in darkness, and reveiles his marvelous works in his due time. And let the Planters and Patrons of the Virginia Colonies take heart and comfort themselves; for that God, who by discovering these islands to them hath delivered the world from that old inveterate error, and given them the rightful possession (under God and his Majesty) of so rich so wholesome, and healthful islands, which may be as nurseries to Virginia, hath hereby let the world see that he will uphold that Christian plantation, if men should be so base and beastly to forsake it. But (worthy Sir) if other men were like you, I needed not to make that (If) if all as able as you were as willing, and forward as you, we should soon see a flourishing Christian Church, and Commonwealth in Virginia; But let this be your comfort, there is One that is more able, is also more willing than you, even the God of heaven and earth: it is his work you manage, and his cause you have in hand; he may work with comfort that works with God and for God; he that works with God is sure to prevail; he that works for God is sure to be rewarded. You know good Sir (and you better than many) that He is well kept whom God keeps, and know also that he shall be royally rewarded whom God rewards. And know further for your comfort, that though the burden lie upon you and a few more, yet are there many honourable & worthy men of all sorts, who will never shrink from you: Go on therefore with courage and constancy, and be assured that though by your Honourable Embassages, and employments, and by your charitable & virtuous courses, you have gained a worthy reputation in the world, yet nothing that you ever did or suffered more honours you in the eyes of all that are godly-wise, than your faithful and unwearied prosecution, your continual and comfortable assistance of these foreign Plantations. A work so honourable to God, our Religion, our King, and our Country; so comfortable to the Souls of the poor savages, and so profitable to the Adventurers (that of Virginia for our Posterities, but this of the Bermudas for the present) as the like (for all these put together) hath not been attempted in the Christian world these many Ages. And be cause it is the glory of God to declare his works: I cannot but commend your wisdoms in publishing those strange and welcome news from the Bermudas: the style is base and broken, I confess, but it better beseems the bare and naked truth. Now then let the Christian world rejoice to see, that God is worshipped in the devils islands, and that English men live safely and sweetly there where never any lived before them. It is almost four years ago since our valorous Commanders Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George summers, with a hundred and fifty Persons more, were in a terrible tempest cast away upon these islands, and so found it, when they sought it not: and though they suffered shipwreck upon the Rocks that compass these islands (as all other did that ever pitched upon them) yet were they preserved every man; which never befell any but themselves, such was the favour of God unto them; And there they lived in health and safety almost a year, when all the world held them dead, and had lived there till this day, and for aught we know, for ever, had they not made themselves two little ships of Cedar, in which they went to Virginia, yet leaving two men in the islands, whom Sir George summers coming back again from Virginia the same year, and our Colony sent thither the last year, found in health and good liking: Our Colony, consisting of some threescore men, hath now been there almost a year, from whom we receive this plain and simple, but comfortable Narration, and to whom we now send a supply, not of victuals, or such provisions, for they need none such, but of men and women, for habitation and plantation; which by the blessing of God now goes away this present month, there to plant a Christian Church, to endure to the world's end, where never man dwelled before, since the world's beginning: Oh happy men who there find God & his Angels, where the world thought had been nothing, but the Devil and his Swine into which he entered. The God that led them to it, saved them upon it, 
Math. 8.31, 32.  fed them in it, and sends us so comfortable news from it, still bless it and defend it, and all his children in it, and all that now or hereafter go to it, and all that love it, and assist the plantation of God's Church in it: Peace be upon them and Mercy, and upon the Israel of God, Amen. And to you my brethren that be there and have the honour to lay the first foundation of God's Church there, and to you much honoured Knight, and the rest, who by your care and charge do bear the burden, and maintain the life of such glorious actions which lie neglected in this base and unworthy world; for this your holy and heroical resolutions, and your love therein appearing to the Lord jesus Christ and his holy Gospel, to our King and Country, I profess and devote myself in all offices and duties of a Christian  
Your Servant in Christ jesus. W. C.   

To the Reader.  
Good Reader, this is the first Book published to the world touching Summer islands: but who shall live to see the last? A more full and exact description of the Country, and Narration of the nature, site, and commodities, together with a true History of the great deliverance of Sir Thomas Gates and his Company upon them, which was the first discovery of them; thou mayest surely expect, if God will, to come into thy hands. This short Narration, in the mean time, shall rather prepare thee for it, then prevent thee of it.   

A DISCOVERY OF THE BERMUDA, NOW CALLED THE SUMMER islands.  
I Being in ship called the sea-venture, with Sir Thomas Gates our Governor, Sir George summers, & Captain Newport, three most worthy honoured Gentlemen, (whose balour and fortitude the world must needs take notice of, and that in most Honourable designs) bound for Virginia, in the height of thirty degrees of northerly Latitude, or there about: we were taken with a most sharp and cruel storm upon the five and twentieth day of july, Anno 1609. which did not only separate us from the residue of our fleet, (which were eight in number) but with the violent working of the Seas our ship became so shaken, torn, and leaked, that she received so much water as covered two tire of hogsheads above the ballast; that our men stood up to the middles, with buckets, baritos, and kettles, to bail out the water, and continually pumped for three days and three nights together, without any intermission; and yet the water seemed rather to increase, then to diminish: in so much that all our men, being utterly spent, tired, and disabled for longer labour, were even resolved, without any hope of their lives, to shut up the hatches, and to have committed themselves to the mercy of the sea, (which is said to be merciless) or rather to the mercy of their mighty God and Redeemer, (whose mercies exceed all his works) seeing no help, nor hope, in the apprehension of man's reason, that any mother's child could escape that inevitable danger, which every man had proposed and digested to himself of present sinking. So that some of them having some good and comfortable waters in the ship, fetched them, and drunk one to the other, taking their last leave one of the other, until their more joyful and happy meeting in a more blessed world; when it pleased God out of his most gracious and merciful providence so to direct and guide our ship, (being left to the mercy of the sea) for her most advantage; that Sir George summers sitting upon the poop of the ship, (where he sat three days and three nights together, without meals meat, and little or no sleep) couning the ship to keep her as upright as he could (for otherwise she must needs instantly have foundered) most wishedly and happily descried land; whereupon he most comfortably encouraged the company to follow their pumping, and by no means to cease bailing out of the water, with their buckets, baricos, and kettles; whereby they were so overwearied, and their spirits so spent with long fasting, and continuance of their labour, that for the most part they were fallen asleep in corners, and wheresoever they chanced first to fit or lie: but hearing news of land, wherewith they grew to be somewhat revived, being carried with will and desire beyond their strength, every man bustled up, and gathered his strength and feeble spirits together, to perform as much as their weak force would permit them: through which weak means, it pleased God to work so strongly as the water was stayed for that little time, (which as we all much feared, was the last period of our breathing) and the ship kept from present sinking, when it pleased God to send her within half an English mile of that land that Sir George summers had not long before descried: which were the islands of the Bermudas. And there neither did our ship sink, but more fortunately in so great a misfortune fell in between two rocks, where she was fast lodged and locked, for further budging: whereby we gained not only sufficient time, with the present help of our Boat, and Skiffe, safely to set and convey our men ashore, (which were one hundred and fifty in number) but after wards had time and leisure to save some good part of our goods and provision, which the water had not spoiled, with all the tackling of the ship, and much of the iron about her, which were necessaries not a little avail able for the building and furnishing of a new ship and pinnace, which we made there, for the transporting and carrying of us to Virginia. But our delivery was not more strange in falling so opportunely and happily upon the land, as our feeding & preservation was beyond our hopes, & all men's expectations, most admirable. For the islands of the Bermudas, as every man knoweth that hath heard or read of them, were never inhabited by any Christian or Heathen people, but ever esteemed, and reputed, a most prodigious and enchanted place, affording nothing but gusts, storms, and foul weather; which made every Navigator and Mariner to avoid them, as Scylla and Charybdis; or as they would shun the Devil himself; and no man was ever heard to make for the place, but as against their wills, they have by storms and dangerousness of the rocks, lying seven leagues into the Sea, suffered shipwreck; yet did we find there the air so temperate, and the Country so abundantly fruitful of all fit necessaries for the sustentation and preservation of man's life, that most in a manner of all our provisions of bread, beer, and victual, being quite spoiled, in lying long drowned in salt water; notwithstanding, we were there for the space of nine months (few days over) not only well refreshed, comforted, and with good satiety contented, but out of the abundance thereof, provided us some reasonable quantity and proportion of provision, to carry us for Virginia, and to maintain ourselves, and that company we found there, to the great relief of them, as it fell out in their so great extremities, and in respect of the shortness of time, until it pleased God, that by my Lord de la Wars coming thither, their store was better supplied. And greater, & better provision we might have made, if we had had better means for the storing and transportation thereof. Wherefore my opinion sincerely of this Island is, that whereas it hath been, and is still accounted, the most dangerous, infortunate, and most forlorn place of the world, it is in truth the richest, healthfullest, and pleasing land, (the quantity and bigness thereof considered) and merely natural, as ever man set foot upon: the particular profits and benefits whereof, shall be more especially inserted, and hereunto annexed, which every man to his own private knowledge, that was there, can avouch and justify for a truth. Upon the eight and twentieth day of july 1609. (after the extremity of the storm was something qualified) we fell upon the shore at the Bermudas; where after our General Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George summers, and Captain New port, had by their provident carefulness Landed all their men, and so much of the goods and provisions out of the ship, as was not utterly spoiled, every man disposed and applied himself to search for, and to seek out such relief and sustentation, as the Country afforded: and Sir George summers, a man mu●ed to extremities, (and knowing what thereunto belonged) was in this service neither idle nor backward, but presently by his careful industry went, and found out sufficient of many kind of fishes, and so plentiful thereof, that in half an hour he took so many great fishes with hooks, as did suffice the whole company one day. And fish is there so abundant, that if a man step into the water, they will come round about him; so that men were feign to get out for fear of biting. These fishes are very fat and sweet, and of that proportion and bigness, that three of them will conveniently lad two men: those we called rock-fish. Besides there are such abundance of Mullets, that with a scene might be taken at one draft one thousand at the least, and infinite store of pilchards, with divers kinds of great fishes, the names of them unknown to me: of crayfish very great ones, and so great store, as that there hath been taken in one night with making lights, even sufficient to feed the whole company a day. The Country affordeth great abundance of Hogs, as that there hath been taken by Sir George summers, who was the first that hunted for them, to the number of two and thirty at one time, which he brought to the company in a boat, built by his own hands. There is Fowl in great number upon the islands, where they breed, that there hath been taken in two or three hours, a thousand at the least; the bird being of the bigness of a good Pigeon, and layeth eggs as big as Hen eggs upon the sand, where they come and lay them daily, although men sit down amongst them; that there hath been taken up in one morning by Sir Thomas Gates men, one thousand of eggs: and Sir George summers men, coming a little distance of time after them, have stayed there whilst they came and laid their eggs amongst them, that they brought away as many more with them; with many young birds very fat and sweet. Another Sea fowl there is that lieth in little holes in the ground, like unto a cony-hole; and are in great numbers, exceeding good meat, very fat and sweet (those we had in the winter) and their eggs are white, and of that bigness, that they are not to be known from Hen eggs. The other bird's eggs are speckled, and of a different colour: there are also great store and plenty of Herons, and those so familiar and tame, that we beat them down from the trees with stones and staves; but such were young Herons: besides many white Herons, without so much as a black or grey feather on them, with other small birds so tame and gentle, that a man walking in the woods with a stick, and whistling to them, they will come and gaze on you, so near that you may strike and kill many of them with your stick; and with singing and hollowing you may do the like. There are also great store of Tortoses, (which some call Turtles) and those so great, that I have seen a bushel of eggs in one of their bellies, which are sweeter than any Hen egg: and the Tortose itself is all very good meat, and yieldeth great store of oil, which is as sweet as any butter; and one of them will suffice fifty men a meal, at the least: and of these hath been taken great store, with two boats, at the least forty in one day. The Country yieldeth divers fruits, as prickled pears, great abundance, which continue green upon the trees all the year; also great plenty of Mulberries, white and red: and on the same are great store of Silkworms, which yield cod of silk, both white and yellow, being some course, and some fine. And there is a tree called a Palmito tree, which hath a very sweet berry, upon which the hogs do most seed; but our men finding the sweetness of them, did willingly share with the hogs for them, they being very pleasant and wholesome, which made them careless almost of any bread with their meat; which occasioned us to carry in a manner all that store of flower and meal we did or could save, for Virginia. The head of the Palmito tree is very good meat, either raw or sodden, it yieldeth a head which weigheth about twenty pound, and is far better meat, than any cabbage. There are an infite number of Cedar trees, (the fairest I think in the world) and those bring forth a very sweet berry, and wholesome to eat. The Country (for as much as I could find myself, or hear by others) affords no venomous creature, or so much as a Rat or Mouse, or any other thing unwholesome. There is great store of Pearl, and some of them very fair, round, and Oriental; and you shall find at least one hundred seed of Pearl in one Oyster; there hath been likewise found some good quantity of Amber Greece, and that of the best sort. There are also great plenty of whales, which I conceive are very easy to be killed, for they come so usually, and ordinarily to the shore, that we heard them oftentimes in the night a bed; and have seen many of them near the shore, in the day time. There was borne upon the Bermudas, at the time of our being there, two children, the one a man child, there baptized by the name of Bermuda: and a woman child, baptized by the name of Barmuda: as also there was a marriage between two English people upon that Island. This Island, I mean the main Island, with all the broken islands adjacent, are made in the form of a half Moon, but a little more rounder, and divided into many broken islands and there are many good harbours in it, but we could find but one especial. place to go in, or rather to go out from it, which was not altogether free from some Danger, where there is three Fathoms water at the entrance thereof, but within, six, seven, or eight Fathoms at the least, where you may safely lie Land-locked, from the danger of all Winds and Weathers, and moor to the Trees. The coming into it is so narrow & strait between the Rocks, as that it will with small store of Munition be fortified, and easily defended, against the forces of the Potentest King of Europe, such advantage the place affords. There are also plenty of Hawks, and very good Tobacco, as I think, which through forgetfulness, I had almost omitted. Now having finished and rigged our ship, and Pinnace, the one called the Deliverance, the Pinnace which we built there, the Patience, we prepared and made ourselves ready, to ship for Virginia, having powdered some store of Hogs flesh for provision thither, and the company thereof, for some reasonable time: but were compelled to make salt there for the same purpose, for all our salt was spent and spoiled, before we recovered the shore. We carried with us also a good portion of Tortoise-oyle, which either for frying or baking did us very great pleasure, it being very sweet, nourishing, and wholesome: the greatest defects we found there, was tar and pitch for our ship and pinnace, in stead whereof we were forced to make lime there of a hard kind of stone, and use it: which for the present occasion and necessity, with some war we found cast up by the Sea, from some ship wrack, served the turn to pay the seams of the pinnace Sir George summers built, for which he had neither pitch nor tar: so that God in the supplying of all our wants, beyond all measure, showed himself still merciful unto us, that me might accomplish our intended voy age to Virginia, for which I confidently hope, he doth yet reserve a blessing in store, and to the which I presume every honest and religious heart will readily give their Amen. when all things were made ready, and commodiously fitted, the wind coming fair, we set sail and put off from the Bermudas, the tenth day of May, in the year 1610. and arrived at james town in Virginia, the four and twentieth day of the same month: where me found some threescore persons living. And being then some three weeks or there about passed, and not hearing of any supply, it was thought fitting by a general consent, to use the best means for the preservation of all those people that were living, being all in number two hundred persons. And so upon the eight of june one thousand six hundred and ten, we embarked at james Town, not having above fourteen days virtual, and so were determined to direct our course for Newfoundland, there to refresh us, and supply ourselves with victual, to bring us home; but it pleased God to dispose otherwise of us, and to give us better means. For being all of us shipped in four pinnaces, and departed from the town, almost down half the River, we met my Lord de la War coming up with three ships, wet furnished with victual, which revived all the company, and gave them great content. And after some few days, my Lord understanding of the great plenty of Hogs and Fish was at the Bermudas, and the necessity of them in Virginia, was desirous to send thither, to supply himself with those things, for the better comforting of his men, and the plantation of the Country. Whereupon Sir George summers being a man best acquainted with the place, and being willing to do service unto his Prince and Country, without any respect of his own private gain, and being of threescore years of age at the least, out of his worthy and valiant mind, offered himself to undertake to perform with Gods help that dangerous voyage for the Bermudas, for the better relief and comfort of the people in Virginia, and for the better plantation of it, which offer my Lord de la War very willingly and thankfully accepted: and so upon the nineteenth of june, Sir George summers embarked himself at james town in a small Barge of thirty ton, or thereabout, that he built at the Bermudas: wherein he laboured from morning until night, as duly as any workman doth labour for wages, and built her all with Cedar, with little or no iron work at all: having in her but one boult, which was in the kilson: notwithstanding thanks be to God, she brought us in safety to Virginia, and so I trust he will protect him, and send him well back again, to his heart's desire, and the great comfort of all the company there.  

AN ADDITION SENT HOME BY THE LAST SHIPS from our Colony in the Bermudas  
BEing bound for the Summer islands, in the ship called the Plough, we embarked the 28. of April 1612. So passing down to Gravesend, we anchored at Tilbery hope until the fifth of May. The wind coming fair, we put forth and came to the Downs the sixth of May, where we stayed till the ninth. And then setting forward, we had a fair and comfortable passage, and by God's blessing found so direct a course, that on the eleventh of july in the morning betwixt nine and ten of the clock we descried our hoped and desired islands, and in the afternoon of the same day about three a clock we arrived in a very safe harbour near S. George's Island, there we landed all our men and women, and had been at an anchor abdue an hour before we could hear of our three men which had been left there. As soon as we had landed all our company, we went all to prayer, and gave thanks unto the Lord for our safe arrival; and whilst we were at prayer, we saw our three men come rowing down to us, the sight of whom did much rejoice us: so they welcoming us, and we the like to them again, we sung a Psalm and praised the Lord for our safe meeting, and went to supper.  
The next day being the Sabbath day, which we dedicated to God in the best manner we could, we abode still in the foresaid Island with all the rest of our company till monday morning, being the thirteenth of july: then we went up with our ship and company higher into the harbour, to the place where these three men had planted themselves. And whereas many English men would have thought that we should have found these three men either dead, or more like savage then civil, I assure you all my friends and acquaintance (and so generally to all my country men in England) we found them civil, honest and religious, and making conscience of their ways: you shall not hear an oath proceed out of their mouths; vain and idle talk they used not: and it seemed apparently unto our eyes that they have not been idly given. For howsoever to be but three of them left in such a desolate place not inhabited, nor assured of any to come to them: would have made most men fainted in any thing they should have took in hand; yet was it not so with these men: nay they showed unto us a good example, who are now come to them. For they have planted corn, great store of wheat, beans Tobacco and Melons, with many other good things for the use of man: beside they have wrought upon timber, in squaring & sawing of Cedar trees, for they intended to build a small Pinnace to carry them into Virginia, being almost out of hope and comfort of our coming; because Captain Davies his time was to have been with them long before we came. And thus they spent their time in labour, employing themselves in one good action or other.  
Now to certify you the truth of the state of the Country, I am loath to write that which I have seen, by reason you would condemn my writing (as I fear) and think it to be but false reports come from us to draw more company hither, for I perceive the world is given too much to such surmises. But why should I fear to write that which I know to be true, when as all the ships company will or may approve it, but cannot reprove it? As first the Captain, the Master and his Mate, and all the rest of the Sailors: first I will begin with the Fish and Fowls which the Country doth yield.  
We were no sooner come within a league of the land, but a company of Fish, as it were, met us, and never left us till we were come to an anchor within the harbour; and as soon as we had passed over our business, and all things safe and in order, with a hook and line we took more than all our whole company was able to eat, so that there was enough to feed many more. The next day after the Sabbath we went with our net and boat, and if we would have loaded two boats we might; and so may you do day by day, Fishes do so abound, and they be of these sorts, Mullets, Breames, Hogge-fish, Rock-fish and Lobster's, with more sorts of other Fish which I cannot name.  
Turkles there be of a mighty bigness; one Turkle will serve or suffice three or four score at a meal, especially if it be a she Turkle, for she will have as many eggs as will suffice fifty or threescore at a meal; this I can assure you, they are very good and wholesome meat none of it bad, no not so much as the very guts and maw of it, for they are exceeding fat, and make as good tripes as your beasts bellies in England. And for Fowl we went the third day of our arrival unto the Bird-Ilands (as we call them) and using neither stick nor stone-bow, nor gun, we took them up with our hands so many as we would, that every one of the company were to have some three, some four a piece; three for a child, boy or girl, for a man four; then reckon what those that served some fourscore people did amount unto. But this is for certain, if we would have brought away twice so many more we might, but our order is not to take Fish or Fowle but for one or two meals, because that by reason of the flies, and heat of the country, they will not keep, especially these two months, june and july, and some part of August.  
Some six days after our coming, we sent out for Hogs, so the company which went out brought home some: for the meat of them, I hold your mutton of England not of so sweet and pleasant a taste.  
Fowls there are of divers sorts, but amongst all there is a bird like unto yours, which you call in England a Crow, which though they talk in the Barmuda language, yet their tongues shall walk as fast as any English women: we cannot go up into the woods, but they will follow after us with such an outcry, that it would fret a man to hear them; they are very good meat, fat, and as white flesh as a Chicken, we many times make some of them leave their talking with stones or cudgels, for they will sit and face you hard at your hand.  
And whereas it is reported that this Land of the Bermudas, with the islands about it (which are many, at the least an hundred) are enchanted and kept with evil and wicked spirits; it is a most idle and false report. God grant that we have brought no wicked spirits with us, or that there comes none after us, for we found none there so ill as ourselves, nor the three men never saw any evil or hurtful thing in the Land all the time since their coming, and we have found the like since our landing: no nor any noisome thing or hurtful, more than a poor fly which tarries not above two or three months.  
For the inclination of the weather, considering in what climate it lies, we have had for the space of some forty days no rain, but very cool and fresh gales of wind, yet in the daytime very hot; but we agree with it very well, and not a man that hath lain sick or diseased, but all likes well, and follows & employs themselves to one business or other.  
For the fruits which the Land yields, they be the Mulberry, great store, and Pears which have in them a red liquor, as the Pomegranate hath, or somewhat redder, but very wholesome: if you eat an hundred at one time, you shall never surfeit of them; if you eat some proportion of them they will bind, but if you exceed in eating of them, then are they of the contrary operation: yet never any that hurt themselves by them, eat they never so many. It is certain that one man eat above a peck of them in some ten hours, and was never the worse. We have a kind of Berrie upon the Cedar tree, very pleasant to eat; and for the Palmito tree, the top of it is a great deal sweeter and wholesomer than any Cabedge.  
In some of our islands there grows Pepper, but not so good as our Indian Pepper: divers sorts of other good things there is, which the several times of the year bring forth one after another; but the top of the Palmito tree is in season and good all the year.  
For the ground, I hold it the richest ground to bear forth fruit, (whatsoever one shall lay into it) that is in the world, and very easy and light for digging; so that if a man will labour, he may turn up a great quantity in a day, for it is a fat sandy ground, & of colour a brownered.  
After the time of our landing many of the company digged certain plaits of ground, and sowed divers sorts of seeds to make trial of the ground, and for certain they were seen above the ground sprung up the fourth day after their sowing: and amongst all the rest of the seeds, the cucumber and the Melon were forward: we have set and sowed fourscore and one sorts of seeds, it was ten days before the ships coming away, and for the most part they are all come up.  
Of necessity I must needs mention the palm-tree once again, I have found it so good; take a hatchet and cut him, or an augar and bore him, and it yields a very pleasant liquor, much like unto your sweet wines; it bears likewise a berry in bigness of a prune, and in taste much like.  
Also we have Olives grow with us, but no great store: many other good excellent things we have grow with us, which this short time will not permit me to write of so largely as I might; but this is of truth, that Hogs, Turkles, Fish and Fowl do abound as dust of the earth: for Ambergris and Pearl we have not had leisure in so few days since our arrival to go look out for the one, or to fish for the other, but the three men which were left there, have found of them both. Also they have made a great deal of Tobacco, and if some would come that have skill in making it, it would be very commodious both to the Merchant, and to the maker of it. And for the silk-worm, if any were brought over, and some of skill to use them, there would be very much good done with them, for the very Spider in these our islands doth weave perfect fine Silk, both yellow and white.  
The Timber of the Country consisteth of three sorts, the one is the Cedar, very fine Timber to work upon, of colour red, and very sweet: the other sorts we have no name for, for there is none in the company hath seen the like in other Countries, before we came, some did think it to be Lignum vitae, but it is not so, it is very fine wood, of colour yellow, and it bears a leaf like unto a Walnut, and the rind or bark is much like a Malnut tree, and the bark, if one taste of it, will bite one's tongue, as if it were Guinea Pepper, that would also is very sweet; the other is much like unto the second, but only it is white; the palm-tree is no timber, but it grows up of a great height, and no tree grows like unto it; for other trees as they grow up in length, so they grow in bigness, but the palm-tree the higher it grows, so the smaller it grows: there is another kind of wood, which some also think is Lignum vitae, and some of it is come over for example.  
Other kind of trees there be, but no timber trees they are; but amongst all the rest there grows a kind of tree called. Mangrowes, they grow very strangely, & would make a man wonder to see the man's of their growing, whereof you shall hear at more leisure.  
Also amongst all the fores of Fish, there is one very strange Fish, and beautiful to behold, we call it an Angell-fish (as well it may be) for as you see the picture of an Angel made, so is this, and it shows of many colours both in the water swimming, and out of the water, and as dainty a fish of meat as a Salmon, or rather better.  
The plentiful time of our fruits is in your Winter, from October till it be May, or about the latter end of May is the plentifullest time of our fruits but some we have all the year of one fruit or other.  
The Climate I hold to be very good, and agreeable with our constitutions of England, and for the virtual very wholesome and good: for the three men which were left there are very fat and fair, not tanned or burned in the Sun so much as we which came last, & they say themselves they never were sick all the time of their being there, and one of them hath been there three years and upwards, (one Christopher Carter by name, a Buckingham-shire man, borne in wickham or thereabouts.)  
And for such extraordinary weather, for thunder and lightning, as it is reported of these islands, I can see no such matter, but more temperate and better weather than you have in England: we have gone a hunting, and lain out night by night for Hogs: and if we had been wet by weather or by wading, we may lay us down so wet to sleep with a palm-tree leaf or two under us, and one above us, and we sleep sound without any taking cold or being disturbed with any thing else: your airs in England are far more subject to diseases then these islands are.  
Whales there are great store at that time of the year, when they come in, which time of their coming is in February, and tarry till june. Likewise there cometh in two other Fishes with them, but such, as the whale had rather be without their company; one is called a Swordfish, the other a Threasher; the Swordfish swims under the whale, and pricketh him upward; the Threasher keepeth above him, and with a mighty great thing like unto a flail, he so bangeth the Whale, that he will roar as though it thundered, and doth give him such blows, with his weapon, that you would think it to be a crack of great shot.  
Hasty occasion of business doth make me write somewhat hastily, and leave out many things which were fit to be spoken of, wherefore against my will I am forced to leave my work, which I have begunue, before I come into the midst of it, but I hope it will suffice you that are my friends to pass it over in the best manner you can, for there is much broken English of it, & badly penned: regard I pray you the matter, not the manner, the truth of the story, and not the style.  
But this I say to them that have adventured in Virginia, especially to such as think they shall lose by that worthy action: let them do the like to us, and I make no doubt but we shall in short time give them satisfaction.  
For our Enchanted islands which is kept, as some say, with spirits, will wrong no friend nor foe, but yield all men their expectations:  
If we can praise God for so great a blessing and labour to make benefit of it to his glory, the honour of our Religion, the strength of our Country, and good of ourselves. And if you in England will do what is fit for you, as we will, by God's help, what is fit for us, we hope shortly to see the day that men shall say, Blessed be God that suffered Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George summers to be cast away upon these islands.    

A Copy of the Articles which Master R. MORE, Governor Deputy of the Summer islands, propounded to the Company that were there with him to be subscribed unto, which both he and they subscribed the second of August, in his house, Anno 1612. which about the same time he sent into England to the worshipful Company of the Adventurers.  
WE who have here under subscribed our names, being by the great goodness of God safely arrived at the Summer islands, with purpose here to inhabit, do hereby promise and bind ourselves to the performance of the several Articles hereafter following, and that in the presence of the most glorious God, who hath in mercy brought us hither.  
First, We do faithfully promise, and by these presents solemnly bind ourselves evermore to worship that aforesaid only true and everliving God, who hath made the Heavens, and the Earth, the Sea, and all that therein is, and that according to those rules that are prescribed in his most holy Word, and ever to continue in that faith into the which we were baptized in the Church of England, and to stand in defence of the same against all Atheists, Papists, Anabaptists, Brownists, and all other Heretics and Sectaries whatsoever, dissenting from the said Word and Faith.  
Secondly, because the keeping of the Sabboth-day holy is that wherein a principal part of God's worship doth consist, and is as it were the Key of all the other parts thereof, we do therefore in the presence aforesaid promise, That we will set apart all our own labours and employments on that day, unless it be those that be of mere necessity, much more vain and unfruitful practices, and apply ourselves to the hearing of God's word, Prayer, and all other exercises of Religion in his word required, to the uttermost of our power.  
Thirdly, Seeing the true worship of God and a holy Life cannot be severed, we do therefore promise in the presence aforesaid, That to the uttermost of our power we will live together in doing that which is just, both towards God and Man, and in particular we will forbear to take the most holy name of God in vain, in ordinary swearing by it, or any other thing, or by scoffing, or vain abusing of his most holy Word, or to use cursing, or filthy speeches, or any other thing forbidden in Gods most holy Word, as also to live together without stealing one from another, or quarreling one with another, or slandering one of another: And to avoid all things that stand not with the good estate of a Christian Church and well governed Commonwealth, as also to embrace the contrary, as justice, and Peace, Love, and all other things that stand with the good and comfort of Society.  
Fourthly, Whereas we are here together far remote from our native soil of England, and yet are indeed the natural Subjects of our most royal and gracious King JAMES of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. We do therefore in the presence aforesaid solemnly promise ever more to continue the loyal Subjects of our said Sovereign King, his Heirs and Successors, and never to revolt from him, or them, unto any other whatsoever, but evermore to acknowledge his Supreme Government.  
Fiftly, Whereas we were sent hither by divers Adventurers of the City of London, and other parts of the Realm of England, we do here in the presence aforesaid promise to use all diligence for the good of the Plantation, and not to purloin or embezzle any of the prohibited Commodities out of the general estate, but to use all faithfulness as it becometh Christians to do, as also to be obedient to all such Governor or Governors, or their Deputy or Deputies, as are, or shall be by them sent to govern us; As also to yield all reverence towards the ministery or Ministers of the Gospel, sent, or to be sent.  
Sixtly and lastly, We do here in presence aforesaid promise, the Lord assisting us, that if at any time hereafter any foreign power shall attempt to put us out of this our lawful possession, not cowardly to yield up the same, but manfully to fight as true English men, for the defence of the Commonwealth we live in, and Gospel we profess, and that whiles we have breath we will not yield to any, that shall invade us upon any conditions whatsoever.  
FINIS.