depiction of ship  
A   

The lost Flock Triumphant.  
With the happy Arrival of that famous and worthy Knight S r. Thomas Gates: and the well reputed & valiant Captain M r. Christopher Newporte, and others, into England.  
¶ With the manner of their distress in the Island of Devils (otherwise called Bermoothawes) where they remained 42. weeks, & 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 sold by john Wright at Christ-Church door. 1610.   

To the Reader.  
REader,  
how to style thee I know not, perhaps Learned, perhaps unlearned: happily captious, happily envious: indeed what or how to term thee I know not, only as I began I will proceed.  
Reader, thou dost peradventure imagine that I am mercenary in this business, and write for money (as your modern Poets use) hired by some of those ever to be admired Adventurers, to flatter the world: No, I disclaim it, I have known the Voyage, past the danger, seen that honourable work of Virginia, & I thank God am arrived here to tell thee what I have seen, done, & past: if thou wilt be lief me so, if not so to: for I cannot force thee but to thy own liking: I am a Soldier, blunt and plain, and so is the phrase of my news: and I protest it is true. If thou ask why I put it in Verse? I prithee know, it was only to feed mine own humour: I must confess, that had I not debarred myself of that large scope which to the writing of prose is allowed, I should have much eased myself, and given thee better content. But I entreat thee to take this as it is; and before many days expire, I will promise thee the same work more at large.  
I did fear prevention by some of your writers, if they should have gotten but some part of the news by the tail, and therefore though it be rude, let it pass with thy liking, and in so doing I shall like well of thee: but how ever, I have not long to stay: if thou wilt be unnatural to thy countryman, thou mayst, I must not lose my patrimony; I am for Virginia again, and so I will bid thee heartily farewell, with an honest verse:  
As I came hither to see my native land,  
to waft me back lend me thy gentle hand.  
Thy loving Countryman. R R.   

News from Virginia OF THE HAPPY Arrival of that famous & worthy knight Sir Thomas Gates and well reputed and valiant Captain Newport into England.  

IT is no idle fabulous tale,  
nor is it feigned news:  
For Truth herself is here arrived,  
because you should not muse.  
With her, both Gates and Newport come,  
to tell Report doth lie:  
Which did dewlge unto the world,  
that they at Sea did die.   

'tis true that Eleven months and more,  
these gallant worthy wights:  
Was in the Ship (Sea-venture named)  
deprived Virginia's sight.  
And bravely did they glide the main,  
till Neptune 'gan to frown:  
As if a Courser proudly backed,  
would throw his rider down.   

The Seas did rage, the winds did blow,  
distressed were they then:  
Their Ship did leak, her tackle break,  
in danger were her men.  
But heaven was Pylotte in this storm,  
and to an Island near:  
Bermoothawes called, conducted then,  
which did abate their fear.   

But yet these Worthies forced were,  
oppressed with weather again:  
To run their Ship between two Rocks,  
where she doth still remain.  
And then on shore the Island came,  
Inhabited by Hogs:  
Some Fowl and Tortoises there were  
they only had one Dog   

To kill these swine, to yield them food  
that little had to eat:  
Their store was spent, and all things scant,  
alas they wanted meat.  
A thousand hogs that dog did kill,  
their hunger to sustain:  
And with such food, did in that I'll  
two and forty weeks remain.   

And there two gallant Pynases,  
did build, of Seader-tree:  
The brave Deliverance one was called,  
of seventy Ton was she.  
The other Patience had to name,  
her burden thirty Ton:  
Two only of their men which there,  
pale death did overcome.   

And for the loss of those two souls,  
which were accounted dear:  
A Son and Daughter than was borne  
and were baptized there.  
The two and forty weeks being past,  
they hoist Sail and away:  
Their Ships with hogs well freighted were,  
their hearts with much joy.   

And so unto Virginia came,  
where these brave Soldiers find  
The Englishmen oppressed with grief  
and discontent in mind.  
They seemed distracted and forlorn,  
for those two worthies loss:  
Yet at their home return they joyed,  
amongst them some were cross.   

And in the midst of discontent,  
came noble Delaware:  
He heard the griefs on either part,  
and set them free from care.  
He comforts them and cheers their hearts,  
that they abound with joy:  
He feeds them full and feeds their souls,  
with God's word every day.   

A discreet counsel he creates,  
of men of worthy fame:  
That noble Gates lieutenant was  
the Admiral had to name.  
The worthy Sir George Somers knight,  
and others of command:  
Master Georg Percy which is brother,  
unto Northumberland.   

Sir Ferdinando Wayneman knight  
and others of good fame:  
That noble Lord, his company,  
which to Virginia came  
And landed there: his number was  
One hundred seventy: then  
Add to the rest and they make full,  
four hundred able men.   

Where they unto their labour fall,  
as men that mean to thrive:  
Let's pray that heaven may bless them all  
and keep them long alive.  
Those men that Vagrants lived with us,  
have there deserved well:  
Their Governor writes in their praise,  
as divers Letters tell.   

And to th' Adventurers thus he writes,  
be not dismayed at all:  
For scandal cannot do us wrong  
God will not let us fall.  
Let England know our willingness,  
for that our work is good,  
We hope to plant a Nation,  
where none before hath stood.   

To glorify the Lord 'tis done,  
and to no other end:  
He that would cross so good a work,  
to God can be no friend.  
There is no fear of hunger here,  
for Corn much store here grows,  
Much fish the gallant Rivers yield,  
'tis truth, without suppose.   

Great store of Fowl, of Venison,  
of Grapes, and Mulberries,  
Of Chestnuts, Walnuts, and such like,  
of fruits and Strawberries,  
There is indeed no want at all:  
but some conditioned ill,  
That wish the work should not go on,  
with words do seem to kill.   

And for an instance of their store,  
the noble Delaware,  
Hath for a present hither sent,  
to testific his care,  
In managing so good a work,  
two gallant ships: by name  
The Blessing and the Hercules,  
well fraught, and in the same   

Two ships, are these commodities:  
Furs, Sturgeon, Caviar,  
Blacke-walnut-tree, and some deale-boords,  
with such they laden are:  
Some Pearl, some Wainscot and clapbords,  
with some Sassafras wood:  
And Iron promised, for 'tis true,  
their Ours are very good.   

Then maugre scandal, false report,  
or any opposition  
Th' adventurers do thus dewlge:  
to men of good condition:  
That he that wants shall have relief,  
be he ofhonest mind:  
Apparel, coin, or any thing,  
to such they will be kind.   

To such as to Virginia,  
do purpose to repair:  
And when that they shall thither come,  
each man shall have his share.  
Day wages for the labourer,  
and for his more content,  
A house and garden plot shall have,  
beside, 'tis further meant   

That every man shall have a part,  
and not thereof denayed:  
Of general profit, as if that he  
twelve pounds ten shillings paid,  
And he that in Virginia,  
shall copper coin receive,  
For higher or commodities,  
and will the country leave,   

Upon delivery of such coin,  
Unto the Governor:  
Shall by exchange at his return,  
be by their Treasurer  
Paid him in London at first sight,  
no man shall cause to grieve:  
For 'tis their general will and wish  
that every man should live.   

The number of Adventurers,  
that are for this Plantation:  
Are full eight hundred worthy men,  
some Noble, all offashion.  
Good, discreet, their work is good,  
and as they have begun:  
May Heaven assist them in their work,  
and thus our news is done.   
FINIS.