A TRUE DECLARATION OF THE estate of the Colony in VIRGINIA, With a confutation of such scandalous reports as have tended to the disgrace of so worthy an enterprise.  
Published by advise and direction of the Council of VIRGINIA.   printer's or publisher's device 
LONDON, Printed for William Barret, and are to be sold at the black Bear in Paul's Churchyard. 1610.   

A true declaration of the estate in VIRGINIA.  
THERE is a great distance, betwixt the vulgar opinion of men, and the judicious apprehension of wise men. Opinion is as blind Oedipus, who could see nothing, but would hear all things, Hinc aucupari verba rumoris vagi, to hawk after the winged report of a vagabond rumour. But judgement, is as Solomon in his throne, able by the spirit of wisdom, to discern betwixt contesting truth, and falsehood: neither depending on the popular breath of fame, which is ever partial, nor upon the event of good designs, which are ever casual. These two commanders of our affections, have divided the universal spirits of our land, whilst (in the honourable enterprise for plantation in Virginia) some, are carried away with the tide of vulgar opinion, and others, are encouraged, by the principles of religion, and reason. But because, it is for hawks and not for men, to build their nests in airs, and because the honour and prosperity of this so noble an action, is eclipsed by the interposition of clamorous & tragical narrations: the compiler of this relation endeavoureth to wash away those spots, which foul mouths (to justify their own disloyalty) have cast upon so fruitful, 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 judicial council of Virginia, from the letters of the Lord La Ware, from the mouth of Sir Thomas Gates, whose wisdoms (he conceiveth) are not so shallow, as easily to be deceived of others, nor consciences so wretched, as by pretences to deceive others.  
But when a matter of such consequence, is not to be shuffled over with supine negligence, and when no man raiseth a fair building, that layeth not a firm foundation, it will not be impertinent, to dig a little deeper, that we may build a great deal higher: and from the universal policy of all civil states (in replenishing the world with colonies of domestical subjects) to derive this wisdom to our populous state and country.  

Colonies.  That which Origen said of Christ's actions in virtues moral, holdeth proportion with God's actions in government political, Dei facta, sunt nostra praecepta, God's actions, are our instructions: who (in the eleventh of Genesis) turned the greatest cursing, into the greatest blessing, and by confusion of tongues, kept them from confusion of states; scattering those cloven people, into as many colonies over the face of the earth, as there are diversities of languages in the earth. Now if Tertullians' rule be true, Omne genus ab origine censendum that every action is most beautiful in the original. Can there be a better beginning then from God, whose wisdom is not questioned, and whose footsteps in all succeeding ages have been followed. Search the records of divine truth, and human monuments of state, you shall find, Salmanasar transporting the Babylonians, and other Gentiles, to Samaria: and replenishing with the captives of Israel, the dispeopled confines of Media.  
You shall find that 140. years 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 Egyptians, planted Babylon, Argos, and Athens. The Phoenicians first inhabiting Carthage, Utica, and Thebes. That Timolcon and the city of Corinth, at one time repeopled Sicily, with 10000 souls. That the Romans deduced 53. colonies out of the City of Rome into the womb of Italy. That Bremius an Englishman by birth, but son in law to the King of France, with an equal third part of the kingdom, entered into the heart of Italy, gave the prime sack to the City of Rome, and diverted from thence to Gallograecia, whose offspring possess that land unto this day.  
That the Admiral of France, among all the fears and discouragements of civil wars, never gave over the project of plantation in Florida.  
Which heroical actions, have not been undertaken by so mighty states and Princes, upon trivial and vulgar motives, when by these courses that first blessing (of crescite and multiplicamini, increase and multiply) hath been sanctified: the meaner sort have been provided: the matter of plagues, famine and sedition, hath been exhausted: the fens of a state politic were drained: the enemies of their peace were bridled: the revenues of their treasury were augmented: and the limits of their dominions were enlarged.  
Which divine, human, external, and domestical, examples, do shine before us, as a Pharaoes' tower, that we should not make shipwreck of our intentions, concerning Virginia.  
Black envy, and pale fear, being not able to produce any arguments, why that should be lawful for France, which is (in us) unlawful: that which to Rome was possible, (to us) is impossible: that which to others is honourable, and profitable, (in us) should be traduced, as incommodious, base, and contemptible: 
Three Heads. Lawful, Possible, Profitable.  wherefore under these three heads of lawfulness, possibility, and commodity, will I marshal all those reasons, which may resolve the religious, encourage the personal, confirm the noble, and satisfy the timorous adventurer.  
First, if it be unlawful: it must be so, either in respect of the law of God, or in regard of the law of man. If in respect of God's law, (considering our primary end is to plant religion, our secondary and subalternate ends are for the honour and profit of our nation) I demand a resolution of this plain question: whether it be not a determinated truth, that the Gospel should be preached, to all the world, before the end of the world? If, it must be preached, (as heaven and earth must pass away, but God's word shall not pass away) then must it be preached, one of these three ways: Either merely Apostolically, without the help of man, (without so much as a staff (or merely imperially, when a Prince, hath conquered their bodies, that the Preachers may feed their souls; Or mixedly, by discovery, and trade of merchants; where all temporal means are used for defence, and security, but none for offence, or cruelty. For the first (to preach Apostolicallie) it is simply impossible: except we had the gift of tongues, that every nation might hear the word of God in their own language; or the gift of miracles, that it might be confirmed, with wonders from heaven; which two being ceased, questionless the identical commission of the Apostles is expired: Or if yet the matter be urged, that God by fishers did convert Emperors and therefore that we must adventure our lives without human help; yet must it be remembered, that there is no Apostolical preaching, but where we may expect either their conversion, or our martyrdom. But we can expect neither, not their conversion who cannot understand us, nor our martyrdom, when the people of Florida, did devour 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, we cannot be said to be martyrs, when we are not killed because we are christians. And therefore the jesuit Acosta confesseth (notwithstanding Bellarmine's relation of Indian miracles) that they have no tongues, they have no signs from heaven, and they can have no martyrdom, and by consequent there is no means left of Apostolical preaching.  
For the second, to preach the Gospel to a nation conquered, and to set their souls at liberty, when we have brought their bodies to slavery; It may be a matter sacred in the Preachers, but I know not how justifiable in the rulers. Who for their mere ambition, do set upon it, the gloss of religion. Let the divines of Salamanca, discuss that question, how the possessor of the west Indies, first destroyed, and then instructed.  
The third, belongs to us, who by way of merchandising and trade, do buy of them the pearls of earth, and sell to them the pearls of heaven; which action, if it be unlawful, it must proceed from one of these three grounds, either because we come to them, or trade with them, or tarry and dwell and possess part of their country amongst them.  
Is it unlawful because we come to them? why is it not a duty of christianity, to behold the imprinted footsteps of God's glory, in every region under heaven? Is it not against the law of nations, to violate a peaceable stranger, or to deny him harbour. The Ethiopians, Egyptians, and men of China, are branded with a foul mark of sanguinary and barbarous inhumanity, for blessing their Idols, with the blood of strangers. It is not unlawful to trade with them, except Solomon shall be condemned for sending for gold to Ophir, Abraham for making a league with Abimelech, and all christendom shall be traduced, for having commerce with Turks and miscreants.  
Finally, it is not unlawful, that we possess part of their land, and dwell with them, and defend ourselves from them. Partly because there is no other, moderate, and mixed course, to bring them to conversion, but by daily conversation, where they may see the life, and learn the language each of other.  
Partly, because there is no trust to the fidelity of human beasts, except a man will make a league, with Lions, Bears, and Crocodiles.  
Partly because there is room sufficient in the land (as Sichem sometime said) for them, and us: the extent of an hundred miles, being scarce peopled with 2000 inhabitants.  
Partly, because they have violated the law of nations, and used our Ambassadors as Ammon did the servants of David: If in him it were a just cause to war against the Ammonites, it is lawful, in us, to secure ourselves, against the infidels.  
But chiefly because Paspehay, one of their Kings, sold unto us for copper, land to inherit and inhabit. Powhatan, their chief King, received voluntarily a crown and a sceptre, with a full acknowledgement of duty and submission.  
Principally when Captain Newport was with Powhatan at Warow a comaco he desired him to come from james town as a place unwholesome, and to take possession of an other whole kingdom which he gave unto him. If any man allege, that this was done in subtlety, not that they ever meant we should possess them, but that they might first gain by us, and then destroy us. This makes our cause, much the juster, when God turned their subtlety, to our utility: giving unto us a lawful possession, (as Pharaoe gave Goshen to Israel; or Ephron sold his cave to Abraham) and freeing us, from all impious and sinister construction. If any man allege, that yet we can possess no farther limits, than was allotted by composition, and that fortitudo sine justitia, est iniquitatis Materia, fortitude without justice, is but the firebrand of iniquity. Let him know that Plato defineth it, to be no injustice, to take a sword out of the hand of a mad man; That Austen hath allowed it, for a lawful offensive war, quod ulciscitur iniurias that revengeth bloody injuries. So that if just offences fhall arise, it can be no more injustice to war against infidels, than it is when upon just occasions we war against Christians. And therefore I cannot see, but that these truths, will fan away all those chaffy imputations, which any Romish boasters (that challenge a monopoly of all conversions) will cast upon it, or any scrupulous conscience can impute unto it. Certainly the Church of Geneva in the year 1555. determined in a Synod, whereof (Caluine) was precedent, to send Peter Richier, and William Quadrigarius, under a French Captain to Brasilia, who although they were supplanted, by the coming of the Cardinal of Lorraine, and the treachery of their double hearted leader, yet would not the Church of Geneva, (after a Synodical consultation) have sent their ministers to such an adventure, had not all scruples, (in their judgement) been cleared by the light of Scripture.  
When therefore, it is a sweet smelling sacrifice, to propagate the name of jesus Christ, when the Babylonish Enchantress (if her own Calendars, are to be credited) hath compassed sea, and land, to make, six, eight, or ten millions, of Romish proselytes. When there is no other, mixed, moderate, course, to transport the Virginian souls to heaven. When there hath been a real concession from their rural Emperor, that hath licenced us to negotiate among them, and to possess their country with them. When there is more unpeopled continent of earth, than we and they (before the dissolution of the pillars of heaven) can overburden with multitude. When we never intent to play the Rehoboams', and to scourge them with scorpions. It is not good, to create more sins, than God ever censured: nor to brand that action with impiety, which God hath begun for promulgating of his glory Nunquid ideo deform est, quia figura mentitur? is the action therefore deformed, because a false glass doth slander it?  
Concerning the other branch of this discourse, wherein some sly whisperers would seem to cast an aspersion of injustice upon the action, supposing some foreign Prince to have a former interest.  
Certainly he is but a rotten subject that quarrels the actions of his country, descrying a serpentine sting under the fair leaves of piety. And though it be not for a theoretical Scholar, to circumscribe the dominions of Princes, yet a few proofs from antiquity, shall suffice to control ignorant or presumptuous folly.  
In the year 1170. Madocke the son of Owen Guyneth Prince of North-wales (leaving the land in contention betwixt his two brethren Howell and David) sailed into the West Indies, and after a second, and a third return, and supply, settled himself in those dominions.  
In the year 1495. john Cabot a Venetian, but the indenized subject of King Henry the seventh discovered the North parts of America, to Meta incognita, and so it was annexed to the Crown of England.  
As for the donation of Alexander the sixth; it is but a reciprocal clawing, when Emperors create their servants Bishops universal, and shavelings create their Lords, Emperor's general.  
If the donation of Constantine were not more virtual for Saint Peter's patrimony, we should have need of more purgatories, to maintain fuel in the Pope's kitchen: for if the kingdom of Christ was not on earth, what a transubstantiated power, doth the pretended Vicar of Christ claim, to dispose all the kingdoms of the earth. Petrarch recordeth a memorable history, of Sautius' brother to the King of Spain, who was elected general against the Saracens of Egypt, and coming to Rome for that purpose, the Bishop of Rome, made it to be proclaimed in the Consistory that he bestowed the kingdom of Egypt upon Sautius. Sautius' understanding this favour, (by his interpreter) commanded to proclaim the Pope, great Caleph of Baldacho: perfuming the son of pride, with his own smoke.  
The Pope having no more power, to make Sautius a King, than Sautius had power to make the Pope a Caleph. Let such retailers of Crowns remember, who it was that sometime said, all these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down, and worship me, And yet with this item that the devil pretended to give no more than he saw.  
These points being thus defined, I come to the possibility. Against which three main impediments are objected. First the dangerous passage by sea, secondly the barrenness of the country, thirdly the unholesomnesse of the climate: the storm that separated the admiral from the fleet proving the first, the famine amongst our men importing the second, the sickness of our men arguing the third. All which discouragements do astonish our men with fear, as though our expenses were unprofitable, when our ends are impossible.  
But before I shall enter into this discourse I must crave leave to make a necessary digression, and to justify his reputation whose worth is of special regard in this plantation.  
Sir Thomas Gates supposeth himself accused publicly and in print of a treeble defect.  
First that he ran so far southerly and into the Tropic, that the heat caused the infection in the ships.  
secondly that he gave a sealed direction, that if they were separated by any storm, that they should make for the Baruada in the West Indies, which direction himself following, it caused his shipwreck, but the other ships, (upon better judgement) declining these instructions, arrived safely in Virginia.  
thirdly that he carried in one bottom all the principal Commissioners who should successively have governed the Colony. Against all which imputations, he maketh this just Apology.  
First he confesseth that a little before they came unto the Canaries, that he entered into consultation with Sir George Summer, Captain Newport, and the other of chief regard in the fleet, wherein it was resolved by an uniformity of consent, to run southerly into the Tropic, which they did, till they came to the height of four and twenty, but he denieth that this course was any cause of infection. For in the Falcon, the Blessing, the Lion, (and in the Admiral wherein were one hundred and fifty souls) there was not one sick of the pestilence nor other disease; In the other two ships the infection was somewhat hot, but they shipped the same from London; To the second he affirmeth, that he first gave them sealed instructions (not to be opened till a time of storm) which directed them to the Baruada, But after when they came to the height of four and twenty, he countermanded those directions by word of mouth, and assigned them, (that if they were scattered) that they should make with all speed for Virginia. Which himself (esteeming the price of time unvaluable) would have executed, had not the violent leak of the ship hindered him, So that the other ships safe arrival in Virginia, proceeded originally from his advise and authority.  
To the third, he briefly signifieth, that no other Commissioners were in his Ship, but such, (as for especial reasons) were precisely and peremptorily appointed, by the Council of Virginia. And thus you see, that Tacitus wisely observed two great enemies of great actions, Ignorantiam veri, & invidiam, the ignorance of Truth, and the emulation of Virtue.  
To return therefore unto the main channel of this discourse, and to dispel the clouds of fear, that threaten shipwrecks, and seadangers: For we are not to extenuate the seas tempestuous violence, nor yet therefore to despair of Gods assisting providence. For true it is, that when Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Summer, and Captain Newport, were in the height of 27. and the 24. of july 1609. there arose such a storm, as if jonas had been flying unto Tarshish: the heavens were obscured, and made an Egyptian night of three days perpetual horror; the women lamented; the hearts of the passengers failed; the experience of the sea Captains was amazed: the skill of the mariners was confounded: the Ship most violently leaked, and though two thousand tun of water by pumping from Tuesday noon till Friday noon was discharged, notwithstanding the Ship was half filled with water, and those which laboured to keep others from drowning were half drowned themselves in labouring. But God that heard jonas crying out of the belly of hell, he pitied the distresses of his servants: For behold, in the last period of necessity, Sir George Summer descried land, which was by so much the more joyful, by how much their danger was despairful. The Islands on which they ●ell were the Bermudos, a place hardly accessable, through the environing rocks and dangers: notwithstanding they were forced to run their Ship on shore, which through God's providence fell betwixt two rocks, that caused her to stand firm and not immediately to be broken, God continuing his mercy unto 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 fifty, they carried to shore all the provision of unspent and unspoyled victuals, all their furniture and tackling of the Ship, leaving nothing but bared ribs, as a pray unto the Ocean.  
These Islands of the Bermudos, have ever been accounted as an enchanted pile of rocks, and a desert inhabitation for Devils; but all the Fairies of the rocks were but flocks of birds, and all the Devils that haunted the woods, were but herds of swine. Yea and when Acosta in his first book of the histories of the Indies, averreth, that though in the continent there were diverse beasts, and cattle, yet in the Islands of Hispaniola, jamaica, Marguarita, and Dominica, there was not one hoof, it increaseth the wonder, how our people in the Bermudos found such abundance of Hogs, that for nine months space they plentifully sufficed: and yet the number seemed not much diminished. Again, as in the great famine of Israel, God commanded Elias to fly to the brook Cedron, and there fed him by Ravens; so God provided for our disconsolate people in the midst of the Sea by fowls: but with an admirable difference: unto Elias the Ravens brought meat, unto our men the fowls brought (themselves) for meat: for when they whistled, or made any strange noise, the fowls would come and sit on their shoulders, they would suffer themselves to be taken and weighed by our men, who would make choice of the fattest and fairest, and let fly the lean and lightest. An accident, I take it, that cannot be paralleled by any History, except when God sent abundance of quails to feed his Israel in the barren wilderness. Lastly they found the berries of Cedar, the Palmeto tree, the prickle pear, sufficient fish, plenty of Tortoises, and divers others kinds, which sufficed to sustain nature. They found diversity of woods, which ministered materials for the building of two Pinnaces, according to the direction of the three provident Governors.  
Consider all these things together. At the instant of need, they descried land, half an hour more, had buried their memorial in the Sea. If they had fell by night, what expectation of light, from an uninhabited desert? They fell betwixt a labyrinth of rocks, which they conceive are mouldered into the Sea, by thunder and lightning. This was not Ariadne's thread, but the direct line of God's providence. If it had not been so near land, their company or provision had perished by water: if they had not found Hogs, and foul, and fish, they had perished by famine: if there had not been fuel, they had perished by want of fire: if there had not been timber they could not have transported themselves to Virginia, but must have been forgotten forever. Nimium timet qui Deo non credit, he is too impiously fearful, that will not trust in God so powerful.  
What is there in all this tragical Comedy that should discourage us with impossibility of the enterprise? when of all the Fleet, one only Ship, by a secret leak was endangered, and yet in the gulf of despair, was so graciously preserved. Quae videtur poena, est medicina, that which we account a punishment of evil, is but a medicine against evil.  
After nine months abode in these Islands, on the tenth of May 1610. they embarked themselves in their two new built Pinnaces, and after some eleven days sail, they arrived near point Comfort upon the coast of Virginia: where they had intelligence of so woeful misery, as if God had only preserved them, to communicate in an new extremity.  
From which calamity, the other arguments of impossibility are framed; For if the Country be barren, or the situation contagious; as famine, and sickness, destroy our Nation: we strive against the stream of reason, and make ourselves the subjects of scorn and derision. Therefore in this main point of consequence, I will propound this plain and simple Method; First to demonstrate that there is, and may be in Virginia a sufficient means (in all abundance) to sustain 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 accidental and not inherent evils. Lastly, I will delineate the state of the the Colony, as Sir Thomas Gates left it under the government of the honourable L. Laware: whereby it shall appear, that all difficulties are amended, and that the State of that Country is sufficiently managed.  
To begin, with the staff of bread. It is avowed unto me, in writing, in the words of the Author, that hath been there, as followeth. They use to put their wheat into 
Corne.  the ground, five corns in one spit of earth, and two beans with them: which wheat corns multiplying into divers stalks, grow up twelve, or fourteen foot high: yielding some four, five, or six ears, on every stalk; and in every ear, some five hundred, some six hundred, some seven hundred corns: the two beans, run upon the stalks of the wheat, as our garden pease upon sticks, which multiply to a wondrous increase. I cannot let slip a great secret, (saith the Author) whereof I will avouch no more, then with my hands and eyes I have handled and seen, and whereof to my great comfort, I have often tasted: The wheat being sown thick, some stalks bear ears of corn, and some (like sciences in trees) bear none: but in those barren stalks, there is as much juice as in some sugar cane, of so delicate a taste, as no fruit in England, is comparable to it; out of which Sir Ralph Lane conceived, that we may extract sugar, in great quantity. But Sir Thomas Gates affirmeth that our men do make cordial drink thereof, to their great comfort.  

Pease.  Besides, the natural Pease of the Country 
Fruits.  return an increase innumerable, our 
Herbs.  garden fruits, both roots, herbs, and flowers, do spring up speedily, all things committed to the earth, do multiply with an incredible usury.  

Beasts.  The Beasts of the Country, as Dear, red, and fallow, do answer in multitude (people for people considered) to our proportion of Oxen, which appeareth by these experiences. First the people of the Country are appareled in the skins of these beasts; Next, hard by the fort, two hundred in one heard have been usually observed: Further, our men have seen 4000 of these skins piled up in one wardroabe of Powhaton; Lastly, infinite store have been presented to Captain Newport upon sundry occurrents: such a plenty of cattle, as all the Spaniards found not in the whole kingdom of Mexico, when all their presents were but hens, and ginycocks, and the bread of Maize, and Cently.  
There are Arocouns, and Apossouns, in shape like to pigs, shrouded in hollow roots of trees; There are Hares and Coneys, and other beasts proper to the Country in plentiful manner.  
Our transported cattle, as Horses, Kine, Hogs, and Goats, do thrive most happily: which is confirmed by a double experiment; one, of Sir Ralph Lane, who brought Kine from the West Indian Island; the other of our Colony, who need take no other care of them, but lest they should stray too far, or be stolen from them. The Turkeys of that Country are great, and fat, and exceeding in plenty. The rivers from August, or September, till February, are covered with flocks of 
Wlidfoule  Wildfowl: as swans, geese, duck, mallard, teal, wigeons, hearons, bitters, curlewes, godwights, plovers, snights, dotterels, cormerants, (to use the words of Sir Thomas Gates) in such abundance, as are not in all the world to be equalled.  

Fruits.  The Fruits: as apples, running on the ground, in bigness and shape of a small lemon, in colour and taste like to a preserved Apricock: grapes and walnuts innumerable; the vines being as common as brambles, the walnut trees as the elms in England. What should I speak of cucumbers, musk melons, pompions, potatoes, parsnip, carrots, turnips, which our gardens yielded with little art and labour. God in this place is ever concurring with his gracious influence, if man strangle not his blessings, with careless negligence. It shall suffice to conclude in the words and phrase of that noble Governor, the Lo. Laware, as it is warranted to me by the copy of his Letters sent to the Virginian Council.  
Howsoever, men have belied both it and themselves, heretofore, yet let no rumour of the Country (as if in the womb thereof lay not these elemental seeds of plenty and increase) wave any man's fair purposes, or wrest them to a declining and falling off from the business.  

Temperature.  For the healthiness and temperateness of the Climate, agreeing to our constitutions, much need not be related, since in all the former written Treatises, it is expressly observed.  
No man ought to judge of any Country by the fens and marshes (such as is the place where James town standeth) except we will condemn all England, for the wild's and Hundreds of Kent and Essex. In our particular, we have an infallible proof of the temper of the Country: for of an hundred and odd, which were seated at the Falls, under the government of Captain Francis West, and of an hundred to the Seaward on the South side of the river, (in the Country of the Nansamunds') under the charge of Captain john Martin; of all these two hundred, there did not so much as one man miscarry: when in james Town, at the same time, and in the same months, 100 sickened, and half the number died.  
The like experiment was long since in the regiment of Sir Ralph Lane, where, in the space of one whole year, not two of one hundred perished. Add unto this the discourse of philosophy, when in that Country flesh will receive salt, and continue unputrified (which it will not in the West Indies) when the most delicate of all flowers, grow there as familiarly, as in the fields of Portugal, where the woods are replenished with more sweet barks, and odours, than they are in the plesantest places of Florida. How is it possible that such a virgin and temperate air, should work such contrary effects, but because our fort (that lieth as a semy-Iland) is most part environed with an ebbing and flowing salt water, the owze of which sendeth forth an unwholesome & contagious vapour? To close up this part with Sir Thomas Gates his experiment: he professeth, that in a fortnight's space he recovered the health of most of them by moderate labour, whose sickness was bred in them by intemperate idleness.  
If any man shall accuse these reports of partial falsehood, supposing them to be but Utopian, and legendary fables, because he cannot conceive, that plenty and famine, a temperate climate, and distempered bodies, felicities, and miseries can be reconciled together, let him now read with judgement, but let him not judge before he hath read.  
The ground of all those miseries, was the permissive providence of God, who, in the forementioned violent storm, separated the head from the body, all the vital powers of regiment being exiled with Sir Thomas Gates in those infortunate (yet fortunate) islands. The broken remainder of those supplies made a greater shipwreck in the continent of Virginia, by the tempest of dissension: every man overvaluing his own worth, would be a Commander: every man underprizing an others value, denied to be commanded. The emulation of Caesar and Pompey, watered the plains of Pharsaly with blood, and distracted the sinews of the Roman Monarchy. The dissensions of the three besieged Captains betrayed the City of Jerusalem to Vespasian. how much more easily might ambitious discord tear in pieces an infant Colony, where no eminent and respected magistrates had authority to punish presumptuous disobedience. Tacitus hath observed, that when Nero sent his old trained soldiers to Tarantum and Autium, (but without their Captains and Centurians) that they rather made a number, than a Colony: every soldier secretly glided into some neighbour Province, and forsook their appointed places: which hatched this consequent mischief; the Cities were uninhabited, and the emperor was frustrated: when therefore licence, sedition, and fury, are the fruits of a heady, daring, and unruly multitude, it is no wonder that so many in our colony perished: it is a wonder, that all were not devoured. Omnis inordinatus animus sibi ipsi fit poena, every inordinate soul becomes his own punishment.  
The next fountain of woes was secure negligence, and improvidence, when every man sharked for his present booty but was altogether careless of succeeding penury. Now, I demand whether Sicilia, or Sardinia, (sometimes the barns of Rome) could hope for increase without manuring? A Colony is therefore denominated, because they should be Coloni, the tilers of the earth, and stewards of fertility: our mutinous loiterers would not sow with providence, and therefore they reaped the fruits of too dear-bought repentance. An incredible example of their idleness, is the report of Sir Thomas Gates, who affirmeth, that after his first coming thither, he hath seen some of them eat their fish raw, rather than they would go a stones cast to fetch wood and dress it. Dij laboribus omnia vendunt, God sells us all things for our labour, when Adam himself might not live in paradise without dressing the garden.  
Unto idleness, you may join treasons, wrought by those unhallowed creatures that forsook the Colony, and exposed their desolate brethren to extreme misery. You shall know that 28. or 30. of the company, were appointed (in the Ship called the Swallow) to truck for Corn with the Indians, and having obtained a great quantity by trading, the most seditious of them, conspired together, persuaded some, & enforced others, to this barbarous project. They stole away the Ship, they made a league amongst themselves to be professed pirates, with dreams of mountains of gold, and happy robberies: thus at one instant, they wronged the hopes, and subverted the cares of the Colony, who depending upon their return, fore-slowed to look out for further provision: they created the Indians our implacable enemies by some violence they had offered: they carried away the best Ship (which should have been a refuge, in extremities:) they weakened our forces, by substraction of their arms, and succours. These are that scum of men that failing in their piracy, that being pinched with famine and penury, after their wild roving upon the Sea, when all their lawless hopes failed, some remained with other pirates, they men upon the Sea, the others resolved to return for England, bound themselves by mutual oath, to agree all in one report, to discredit the land, to deplore the famine, and to protest that this their coming away, proceeded from desperate necessity: These are they, that roared out the tragical history of the man eating of his dead wife in Virginia; when the master of this Ship willingly confessed before 40 witnesses, that at their coming away, they left three months victuals, and all the cattle living in the Fort: sometimes they reported that they saw this horrible action, sometimes that Captain Davies said so, sometimes that one Beadle the Lieutenant of Captain Davies did relate it, varying this report into diversity of false colours, which hold no likeness and proportion: But to clear all doubts, Sir Thomas Gates thus relateth the tragedy.  
There was one of the company who mortally hated his wife, and therefore secretly killed her, then cut her in pieces and hid her in divers parts of his house: when the woman was missing, the man suspected, his house searched, and parts of her mangled body were discovered, to excuse himself he said that his wife died, that he hid her to satisfy his hunger, and that he fed daily upon her. Upon this, his house was again searched, where they found a good quantity of meal, oatmeal, beans and pease. He thereupon was arraigned, confessed the murder, and was burned for his horrible villainy.  
Now shall the scandalous reports of a viperous generation, preponderate the testimonies of so worthy leaders? shall their venomous tongues, blast the reputation of an ancient & worthy Peer, who upon the ocular certainty of future blessings, hath protested in his Letters, that he will sacrifice himself for his Country in this service, if he may be seconded; and if the company do give it over he will yet lay all his fortunes upon the prosecution of the plantation? shall sworn lies, and combined oaths, so far privilege treachery, and piracy as to rob us of our hopes, & to quell our noble resolutions? God forbid: Qui in mendacio confidit, cito diffidit, a liars confidence, is but a blazing diffidence.  
Unto Treasons, you may join covetousness in the Mariners, who for their private lucre partly embezzled the provisions, partly prevented our trade with the Indians, making the matches in the night, and forestall our market in the day: whereby the Virginians were glutted with our trifles, and enhanced the prices of their Corn and Victual. That Copper which before would have provided a bushel, would not now obtain so much as a pottle: Non habet eventus sordida praeda bonos, the consequent of sordid gain is untimely wretchedness.  
join unto these an other evil: there is great store of Fish in the river, especially of Sturgeon; but our men provided no more of them, then for present necessity, not barrelling up any store against that season the Sturgeon returned to the sea. And not to dissemble their folly, they suffered fourteen nets (which was all they had) to rot and spoil, which by orderly drying and mending might have been preserved: but being lost, all help of fishing perished. Quanto maiora timentur dispendia, tanto promptior debet esse cautela, fundamental losses that cannot be repealed, ought with the greatest caution to be prevented.  
The state of the Colony, by these accidents began to find a sensible declining: which Powhatan (as a greedy Vulture) observing, and boiling with desire of revenge, he invited Captain Ratclife, and about thirty others to trade for Corn, and under the colour of fairest friendship, he brought them within the compass of his ambush, whereby they were cruelly murdered, and massacred. For upon confidence of his fidelity, they went one and one into several houses, which caused their several destructions, when if but any six had remained together, they would have been a bulwark for the general preservation. After this, Powhatan in the night cut off some of our boats, he drove away all the Dear into the farther part of the Country, he and his people destroyed our Hogs, (to the number of about six hundred) he sent none of his Indians to trade with us, but laid secret ambushes in the woods, that if one or two dropped out of the fort alone, they were endangered.  
Cast up this reckoning together: want of government, store of idleness, their expectations frustrated by the Traitors, their market spoiled by the Mariners, our nets broken, the dear chased, our boats lost, our hogs killed, our trade with the Indians forbidden, some of our men fled, some murdered, and most by drinking of the brackish water of james fort weakened, and endangered, famine and sickness by all these means increased, here at home the moneys came in so slowly, that the Lo. Laware could not be dispatched, till the Colony was worn and spent with difficulties: Above all, having neither Ruler, nor Preacher, they neither feared God nor man, which provoked the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and pulled down his judgements upon them. Discite justitiam moniti. Now, (whether it were that God in mercy to us would weed out these rank hemlocks; or whether in judgement to them he would scourge their impieties; or whether in wisdom he would try our patience, Vt magna magnè desideremus, that we may beg great blessings earnestly) our hope is that our Sun shall not set in a cloud, since this violent storm is dispersed, since all necessary things are provided, an absolute and powerful government is settled, as by this ensuing relation shall be described.  
When Sir Thomas Gates arrived in Virginia, the strange and unexpected condition wherein he found the Colony, gave him to understand, how never was there more need of all the powers of judgement, then at this present; it being now his charge, both to save such as he found so forlorn and wretched, as to redeem himself and his from falling into the like calamities. All which considered, he entered into consultation with Sir George Summer, and Captain Newport, and the Gentlemen and council of the former government. They examined first their store, which after two cakes a day to a man, would hold out but sixteen days, (it being five months betwixt the stealing away of the Swallow, and his landing) the Corn of the Indians but newly sowed, not an eye of Sturgeon, as yet appeared in the river: And therefore at the same consultation it was concluded by a general approbation, That they should abandon the Country, and in the four Pinnaces (which remained in the river) they should make for the New found land, where (it being fishing time) they might meet with many English Ships, into which they hoped to disperse the most of the Company.  
This conclusion taking effect, upon the seventh of june Sir Thomas Gates (having appointed every ship her complement and number, and delivered likewise to each a proportionable weight of provision) caused every man to repair aboard; his company (and of his company himself) remained last on shore, to keep the town from being burned, which some of our own company maliciously threatened. About noon they fell down with the tide to the Island of Hogs, and the next morning to the Mulbury Island: at what time, they discovered the long Boat of the Lord Laware, which his Lordship (hearing of this resolution by the Captain of the Fort, which standeth at the mouth of the river) suddenly dispatched with letters to Sir Thomas Gates, which informed him of his Lordship's arrival. Upon receipt of these letters, Sir Thomas Gates bore up the Helm, and that night with a favourable wind relanded all our men at the Fort. Before which, the tenth of june (being Sunday) his Lordship came with all his Fleet, went ashore in the afternoon, heard a Sermon, read his Commission, and entered into consultation for the good of the Colony.  
In which secret counsel, I will a little leave his Lordship, that we may duly observe the revealed counsel of God. He that shall but turn up his eye, and behold the spangled Canopy of heaven, shall but cast down his eye, and consider the embroidered Carpet of the earth, and withal shall mark, how the heavens hear the earth, the earth hear the corn and oil, and they relieve the necessities of man, that man will acknowledge Gods infinite providence. But he that shall further observe, how God inclineth all casual events, to work the necessary help of his Saints, must needs adore the Lords infinite goodness. Never had any people more just cause to cast themselves at the footstool of God, and to reverence his mercy, than our distressed Colony: for if God had not sent Sir Thomas Gates from the Bermudos within four days, they had all been famished: if God had not directed the heart of that worthy Knight, to save the Fort from fire at their shipping, they had been destitute of a present harbour, and succour; if they had abandoned the Fort any longer time, and had not so soon returned, questionless the Indians would have destroyed the Fort, which had been the means of our safety among them, and a terror unto them. If they had set Sail sooner, and had launched into the vast Ocean, who could have promised, that they should have encountered the Fleet of the Lo. La-ware? especially when they made for the Newfound land, a course contrary to our Navies approaching. If the Lord La-ware had not brought with him a years provision, what comfort could those souls have received, to have been relanded to a second destruction? Brachium Domini, this was thearme of the Lord of Hosts, who would have his people to pass the red Sea and Wilderness, and then to possess the land of Canaan: It was divinely spoken of heathen Socrates, Si Deus sit solicitus prote, cur tu tibi sis solicitus? if God for man be careful, why should man be over distrustful?  
The noble Lord governor, after mature deliberation, delivered some few words to the company, laying just blame upon them for their haughty vanities, and sluggish idleness; earnestly entreating them to amend those desperate follies, lest he should be compelled to draw the sword of justice, and to cut off such delinquents, which he had rather draw (even to the shedding of his vital blood) to protect them from injuries; heartening them with relation of that store he had brought with him; constituting officers of all conditions to rule over them, alloting every man his particular place to watch vigilantly and work painfully. This Oration and direction being received with a general applause, you might shortly behold the idle and resty diseases of a divided multitude, by the unity and authority of this government, to be substantially cured. Those that knew not the way to goodness before, but cherished singularity and faction, can now chalk out the path of all respective duty and service: every man endeavouring to outstrip each other in diligence: the French preparing to plant the Vines, the English labouring in the woods and grounds; every man knoweth his charge, and dischargeth the same with alacrity. Neither let any man be discouraged, by the relation of their daily labour, (as though the sap of their bodies should be spent for other men's profit) the settled times of working (to effect all themselves, or the Adventurers need desire) requiring no more pains then from six of clock in the morning until ten, and from two of the clock in the afternoon till four: at both which times they are provided of spiritual and corporal relieve. First, they enter into the Church, and make their prayers unto God; next, they return to their houses, and receive their proportion of food. Nor should it be conceived, that this business excludeth Gentlemen, whose breeding never knew what a days labour meant; for though they cannot dig, use the square, nor practise the axe and chisel; yet may the stayed spirits of any condition find how to employ the force of knowledge, the exercise of counsel, the operation and power of their best breeding and qualities. The houses which are built are as warm and defensible against wind and weather, as if they were tiled and slated; being covered above with strong boards, 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 Savages: our Forts assure the Inhabitants, and frustrate all assailants. And to leave no discouragement in the heart of any, who personally shall enter into this great action, I will communicate a double comfort: first, Sir George Summer (that worthy Admiral) hath undertaken a dangerous adventure, for the good of the Colony.  
Upon the fifteenth of june (accompanied with Captain Samuel Argoll) he returned in two Pinnaces unto the Bermudos; promising (if by any means God will open a way to that Island of Rocks) that he would soon return with six months provision of flesh, and with live Hogs to store again Virginia. It is but eleven days sail, and we hope that God will send a pillar of fire to direct his journey. The other comfort is, that the Lord governor hath built two new Forts (the one called Fort Henry, and the other Fort Charles, in honour of our most noble Prince and his hopeful brother) upon a pleasant hill, and near a little rivulet, which we call South▪ hampton river. They stand in a wholesome air, having plenty of springs of sweet water; they command a great circuit of ground, containing wood, pasture and meadow; with apt places for vines, corn and gardens. In which Forts it is resolved, that all those that come out of England shall be at their first landing quartered; that the wearisomeness of the sea may be refreshed in this pleasing part of the country.  
The fertility of the soil, the temperature of the climate, the form of government, the condition of our people, their daily invocating of the name of God, being thus expressed; Why should the success (by the rules of mortal judgement) be despaired? Why should not the rich harvest of our hopes be seasonably expected? I dare say, that the resolution of Caesar in France, the designs of Alexander in Greece, the discoveries of Hernando Cortes in the West, and of Emanuel, King of Portugal in the East, were not encouraged upon so firm grounds of state and possibility. All which I could demonstrate out of their own Records, were I not prevented with haste, to satisfy their longings, who with an open care, hearken after the commodities of the country: whose appetites I will no longer frustrate, than their eyes can run over this succinct Narration.  
I called it a succinct Narration, because the commodities in former Treatises have been largely described, which I will only here epitomise, lest any man should change his resolution, when the same grounds remain, which were the cause of his former adventure.  
The Council of Virginia (finding the smallness of that return, which they hoped should have defrayed the charge of a new supply) entered into a deep consultation, and propounded amongst themselves, 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 resolved to send for sir Thomas Gates, who being come, they adjured him to deal plainly 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 solemn and sacred oath replied, that all things before reported were true: that the country yieldeth abundance of wood, as Oak, Wainscot, Walnut tres, Bay trees, ash, Sarsafrase, live Oak, green all the year, Cedar and Fir; which are the materials, of foape ashes, and pot ashes, of oils of walnuts, and bays, of pitch and tar, of Clap boards, Pipe▪ staves, Masts and excellent boards of forty, fifty and sixty length, and three foot breadth, when one Fir tree is able to make the main Mast of the greatest ship in England. He avouched, that there are incredible variety of sweet woods, especially of the Balsamum tree, which distilleth a precious gum; that there are innumerable white Mulberry trees, which in so warm a climate may cherish and feed millions of silk worms, and return us in a very short time, as great a plenty of silk as is vented into the whole world from all the parts of Italy: that there are divers sorts of Minerals, especially of Iron oar, lying upon the ground for ten miles' circuit; of which we have made trial at home, that it maketh as good Iron as any is in Europe:) that a kind of hemp or flax, and silk grass do grow there naturally, which will afford stuff for all manner of excellent Cordage: that the river swarmeth with Sturgeon; the land aboundeth with Vines, the woods do harbour exceeding store of Beavers, Foxes and Squirrels, the waters do nourish a great increase of Otters; all which are covered with precious furs: that there are in present discovered dies and drugs of sundry qualities; that the Oranges which have been planted, did prosper in the winter, which is an infallible argument, that Lemons, sugar Canes, Almonds, Rice, aniseed, and all other commodities which we have from the Staights, may be supplied to us in our own country, and by our own industry: that the corn yieldeth a treble increase more than ours; and lastly, that it is one of the goodliest countries under the sun; enterueined with five main Rivers, and promising as rich entrails as any Kingdom of the earth, to whom the sun is no nearer a neighbour.  
What these things will yield, the Merchant best knoweth, who findeth by experience, that many hundredth of thousands of pounds are yearly spent in Christendom in these commodities. The Merchant knoweth, that Caviar and Train which come from Russia, can be brought hither but once in the year, in regard of the Ice: and that Sturgeon which is brought from the East countries, can come but twice a year; and that not before the end of April, or the beginning of May; which many times in regard of the heat of those months, is tainted in the transportation: when from Virginia they may be brought to us in four and twenty days, and in all the cold seasons of the year. The Merchants know, that the commodity of soap and pot ashes are very scant in Prussia; that they are brought three hundred miles by land, and three hundred miles by rivers, before they come to the Sea; that they pay a custom there, and another in Denmark, which enhanceth the prices exceedingly: But in Virginia they may have them without carriage by land or custom (because five Navigable Rivers do lead up five several ways into the bowels of the whole country.) As therefore the like Rivers, are the cause of the riches of Holland, so will these be to us a wondrous cause of saving of expenses. The merchant knoweth, that through the troubles in Poland & Muscovy, (whose eternal wars are like the Antipathy of the Dragon & Elephants) all their traffic for Masts, Deals, Pitch, Tar, Flax, Hemp, and Cordage, are every day more and more endangered, and the woods of those countries are almost exhausted. All which are to be had in Virginia with far less charge, and far more safety. Lastly, the Merchant knoweth, that for our commodities in the Staights, as sweet wines, oranges, lemmonds, aniseeds, etc. that we stand at the devotion of politic Princes and States, who for their proper utility, devise all courses to grind our merchants, all pretences to confiscate their goods, and to draw from us all marrow of gain by their inquisitive inventions: when in Virginia, a few years labour by planting and husbandry, will furnish all our defects, with honour and security; especially since the Frenchmen (who are with the Lord Governor) do confidently promise, that within two years we may expect a plentiful Vintage.  
When therefore this noble enterprise, by the rules of Religion is expressly justified; when the passages by Sea are all open and discovered; when the climate is so fruitfully tempered; when the natural riches of the soil are so powerfully confirmed: will any man so much betray his own inconsiderate ignorance, and bewray his rashness; that when the same Sun shineth, he should not have the same eyes to behold it; when the same hope remains, he should not have the same heart to apprehend it? At the voyage of Sir Thomas Gates, what swarms of people desired to be transported? what alacrity and cheerfulness in the Adventurers by free will offerings, to build up this new Tabernacle? Shall we now be dejected? Shall we cast down our heads like Bull rushes? because one storm at sea hath deferred our joys and comforts! We are too effeminate in our longings, and too impatient of delays. God's al-disposing providence, is not compellable by man's violence. Let any wisdom give a solid reason, why his purpose should be changed, when those grounds which gave life to his first purpose, are not changed. It is but a golden slumber, that dreameth of any human felicity, which is not sauced with some contingent misery. Dolour & voluptas, invicem cedunt, Grief and pleasure are the cross sails of the world's ever-turning-windmill. Let no man therefore be over wise, to cast beyond the moon and to multiply needless doubts and questions. Hannibal by too much wisdom, lost opportunity to have sacked Rome Charles the eighth of France, by temporizing, lost the Kingdom of Naples, and the government of Florence: Henry the seventh by too much over-warines, lost the riches of the golden Indies. Occasion is precious, but when it is occasion. Some of our neighbours would join in the action, if they might be joint inheritors in the Plantation; which is an evident prose, that Virginia shall no sooner be quitted by us, than it will be reinhabited by them. A dishonour 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 wisdom can maintain nothing. It is time to wipe away such an imputation of Barbarism, 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 over blind that doth not see▪ what an inundation of people doth overflow this little Island: Shall we vent this deluge, by indirect and unchristian policies? shall we imitate the bloody and heathenish counsel of the Romans, to lean a Catthage standing, that may exhaust our people by foreign war? or shall we nourish domestical faction, that as in the days of Vitellius and Vespasian, the son may embrew his hands in the blood of the father? Or shall we follow the barbarous footsteps 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, deny to any sort the honourable estate of marriage, and allow abominable stews, that our people may not over increase in multitude? Or shall we take an inhuman example from the Muscovite, in a time of famine to put ten thousand of the poor under the ice as the Mice and Rats of a state politic? If all these be diabolical and hellish projects, what other means remains to us, but by settling so excellent a Plantation, to disembark some millions of people upon a land that floweth with all manner of plenty?  
To wade a little further, who ever saluted the monuments of antiquity, and doth not find, that Carthage aspired to be Empress of the world, by her opportunity of havens and multitude of shipping? What hindereth the great Mahumetane Prince, from seizing upon all the territories of Europe, but only the want of skilful mariners? What created the rich and free states of Holland, but their winged Navy? It was a fit emblem that painted death standing upon the shores of France, Germany and Spain, and looking over into England: intimating unto us, that so long as we are Lords of the narrow seas, death stands on the other shores, and only can look upon us: but if our wooden walls were ruinated, death would soon make a bridge to come over, and devour our Nation. When therefore our mills of Iron, and excess of building, have already turned our greatest woods into pasture and champion, within these few years; neither the scattered Forests of England, nor the diminished Groves of Ireland, will supply the defect of our Navy. When in Virginia there is nothing wanting, but only men's labours, to furnish both Prince, State and merchant, without charge or difficulty. Again, whither shall we transport our cloth, and how shall we sustain our Artisans? Shall we send it into Turkey? Some private and deceitful avarice hath discredited our merchandise. Into Spain? it aboundeth with sheep and wool. Into Poland and Muscovy? the danger doth overbalance the gain in times of contention. Into France and Germany? they are for the most part supplied by their own peace. When if our Colony were peopled in Virginia, mutabit vellera merces, we shall exchange our store of cloth for other merchandise. Let any man resolve why the Council of Virginia, do now most earnestly continue their adventures? why those that were (eye witnesses) of the former supposed miseries, do voluntarily return with joy and comfort? why those noble and worthy personages, do offer to make the action good upon the hazard of their lives & 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 dear to them as to any other of the Adventurers? Have not their hopes the same wings? their fears the same fetters? their estates the same rocks? their lives and souls greater gulfs of peril and despair? And yet neither the embracements of their wives, nor indulgence to their babes, nor the neglect of their domestic fortunes, nor banishment from their natine soil, nor any experimented dangers have broken their noble resolution.  
And therefore, he that desireth to purchase infallible hope of private utility; he that aimeth at the honour & wealth of his native country; he that esteemeth his own repute as dear as his own eyes; he that ende●uo●reth to enlarge the dominions of his Prince, and the Kingdom of his God: let him remember what he hath already spent, which is all buried; let him consider the consequences of state, which are all vanished into smoke; let him conceive what a scorn we shall be made to the maligners of our state abroad, and our ill affected at home; let him meditate, the external riches of other Kingdoms, able to buy and sell the monarch of the west; let him hear the triumphant boasting of the beast of Rome, as though God would not suffer our schismatical and heretical Religion, to be infused into a new converted Region: O all ye worthies, follow the ever-sounding trumpet of a blessed honour; let Religion be the first aim of your hopes, & caetera adijcientur, and other things shall be cast unto you: your names shall be registered to posterity with a glorious title; These are the men, whom God raised to augment the State of their country, and to propagate the Gospel of jesus Christ. Neither ought any man to live under Augustus, as if he lived under Domitian, quibus inertia est pro sapientia; to whom sluggishness & privacy is imputed for wisdom and policy. The same God that hath joined three Kingdoms under one Caesar, will not be wanting to add a fourth, if we would dissolve that frosty joinesse which chilleth our zeal, and maketh us so cold in the action. But it is a mere Idea, speculation and fancy, to sow sparingly, and yet expect for to reap plentifully; when a penurious supply is like the casting on of a little water upon a great fire, that quencheth not the heat, but augments it: when procrastinating delays, and lingering counsels, do lose the opportunity of flying time; whereby we rather bewray our Colony then relieve them: let no man adore his gold as his God, nor his Mammon as his Maker. If God have scattered his blessings upon you as snow, will you return no tributary acknowledgement of his goodness? If you will, can you select a more excellent subject, then to cast down the altars of Devils, that you may raise up the Altar of Christ: to forbid the sacrifice of men, that they may offer up the sacrifice of contrite spirits; to reduce Barbarism and infidelity, to civil government and Christianity? Sifrigido loquor, nihil loquor; If I speak to a man void of piety, I speak but the words of wind and vanity; otherwise how doth that man groan under the world's corruption, that doth not actually or vocally hasten the worlds conversion? Doubtye not but God hath determined, and demonstrated (by the wondrous preservation of those principal persons which fell upon 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 Deuce, & Auspice Christo.  
FINIS.