A DISCOURSE AND DISCOVERY OF NEWFOUNDLAND, WITH many reasons to prove how worthy and beneficial a Plantation may there be made, after a far better manner than now it is. TOGETHER WITH THE LAYING OPEN OF CERTAIN ENORmities and abuses committed by some that trade to that Country, and the means laid down for reformation thereof.  
Written by Captain Richard Whitbourne of Exmouth, in the County of Devon, and published by Authority.  
Imprinted at London by Felix Kyngston, for William Barret. 1620.   

  

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE, JAMES, BY THE GRACE OF God, King of great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc.  
Most Dread Sovereign,  
IT hath always been my chiefest study and practice, to serve your Majesty and my Country: the intent of my best labours that way, I have put into the following Discovery, and, upon good approbation thereof by diverse of your Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, have been encouraged to offer up the same work unto your Majesty. I confess my weakness such, that I cannot put so fit a Garment upon it, either of style or method, as I conceive the matter itself deserveth. The substance of the work, I submit to your Majesty's wisdom and judgement; the errors and things needless, to your Highness' pardon. The purpose thereof, is, with your Gracious allowance, to beget a disposition in all your Majesty's Subjects, for a Plantation in the Newfoundland, grounded upon reason of industry, both generally and particularly profitable to the Undertakers and Posterities, as well in matters of wealth, as also the means for increase of Defence and Power; which will the better go forward, when your Majesty's Subjects are made acquainted, with what facility it may be undertaken; and so to work the more effectual impression in them, when they shall understand, that it is an Island, near as spacious as Ireland, and lieth so far distant from the Continent of America, as England is from the nearest part of France, and near half the way between Ireland and Virginia, and the most part of it above three degrees nearer the South, than England, and hath been already well approved by such of your Majesty's Subjects as have lived there above ten years, that the Country is very healthful and pleasant in the Winter. How commodious and beneficially that Land may be peopled with small charge, and prove profitable to the Undertakers, and not hurtful to any of your Majesty's Subjects, the following Discourse will make it plainly appear, the which was presented unto your Majesty at Huntingdon in October last; since which time, it hath pleased such of the Lords of your Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, at Whitehall, the 24. of july last then present, to give me encouragement with their good approbation thereunto; and ordered, that the book should be printed, with this further addition of their Honour's favour, to be recommended to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the Lords Bishops, to be distributed to the several Parishes of your Majesty's Kingdom, for the better encouragement of such as shall be willing to assist that Plantation, either in their persons or otherwise. And if your Majesty's Subjects put it in trial to undertake; I trust, God will give a blessing to the success, whereof I have only made a true and plain Relation of the truth: if I should write other than the truth, there are many in your Majesty's Kingdoms that have often traded to that Country, whom I suppose will be ready to disprove me.  
Thus being loath to be too tedious, I most humbly recommend to God, and to your Majesty, my endeavours, the success thereof, and my poor self.  
Your Majesty's most humble and faithful Subject, RICHARD WHITBOURNE.   

To his Majesty's good Subjects.  
Having had my breeding for many years together in the courses of Marchandizing and Navigation, I have, through the expense of my time in that calling, set this down to myself, for my duty therein, to observe and collect, wherein my labours might become profitable to my Country; and the rather, because I could not be ignorant, how much the maintenance, and increase of Shipping and Mariners concerns us, who may fitly be styled, The nation of the Sea; which general reasons were more and more commended to me, by more particular considerations offered me, in the notice I took of the disposition and affairs of other States, to which ours hath relation; some points whereof cannot now seasonably be mentioned; some others proper to what I discourse of, will present themselves in their places, as I shall go along in giving account of my endeavours.  
Among my undertake & employments in Seafaring, the most part have been to an Island, called Newfoundland, in part heretofore outwardly discovered, but never looked into by those discoverers as it deserved; from the beginning I found it promise well, in respect of the purpose, I had to gather some thing for the bettering of the Common wealth; and the more I made trial of it, the more satisfaction it gave me: Therefore I affected that course better than any other I fell unto; insomuch as I did so fix my industry upon it, that for the qualifying of my travels, I obtained Commission from the State to proceed in it, and am now come to propound to my Countrymen, the benefit they may make of an orderly Plantation and Traffic there: the following Discourse will satisfy them, if they will forgive the unhansomenes of the form it is put into, and look into the matter itself only.  

The description of newfound land, and the commodities thereof.  The Island of Newfoundland is large, temperate and fruitful, the fruitfulness of it consisting not only in things of sustenance for those that shall inhabit it, but in many sorts of Commodities likewise, of good use and value to be transported. The Natives in it are ingenuous, and apt by discreet and moderate governments to be brought to obedience. The seat is fit for Harbour and relief, upon the way between us and Virginia, and consequently of advantage to us in any action that may engage us, either by way of offence or attempt, in regard of those parts of the World. The Seas are so rich, as they are able to advance a great Trade of Fishing; which, with God's blessing, will become very serviceable to the Navy; and the increase of fishing there, cannot despair of finding Ports enough to vent the commodity at profitable rates.  
Now if you would understand what motives we have at home with us to carry us thither; do but look upon the populousness of our Country, to what a surfeit of multitude it is subject; consider how charitable for those that go, and how much ease it will be for those that stay, to put forth some of our numbers, to such an employment of living. Compare the English nature with others; and find whether we have not as much courage as they, both to undertake and maintain; only we lose it, in having less industry. Turn then towards the Low Countries; behold how they have won upon us, by taking advantage of our sitting still; (and most remarkable in this point of fishing) which if their Audit were published, would be found (I believe) one of the best Agents they have, both for their strength and wealth.  
There is another motive also, which amongst our Ancestors was wont to find good respect, namely, the honour of the action, by the enlarging so Dominions; and that which will crown the work, will be the advancement of the honour of God, in bringing poor Infidels (the Natives of that Country) to his Worship, and their own salvation.  
I commend the design to the entertainment of his Majesty and his Kingdoms: because I esteem it such a one as deserves, not only to be undertaken, but to be gone thorough withal.  
And as it is a Project of no fantasy in me, but a truth grounded upon a well-weighed experience; so have I not presumed to publish it, but upon good approbation, as hath already appeared.  
If these considerations, with many others here omitted, but contained in the ensuing Discourse, may work an impression in the affections of his Majesty's Subjects, for the advancement of God's glory, their own and their Country's prosperity, it shall be some content toward the great pains, losses of time, and expense of my means that I have sustained in the prosecuting thereof, for which I trust you will at least return your thankful acceptance; and so I remain  
Your loving friend, R. W.   

THE PREFACE, BEING AN INDUCTION TO the following Discourse.  
ALthough I well know, that it is an hard matter to persuade people to adventure into strange Countries; especially to remain and settle themselves there, though the conditions thereof be never so beneficial and advantageous for them: yet I cannot be out of all hope, that when it shall be taken into consideration, what infinite riches and advantages other Nations (and in particular the Spaniards and Portugals) have gotten to themselves by their many Plantations, not only in America, but also in Barbary, Guinnie, Binnie, and other places: And when it shall plainly appear, by the following Discourse, that the Country of Newfoundland (as it is here truly described) is little inferior to any other for the Commodities thereof; and lies, as it were with open arms towards England, offering itself to be embraced, and inhabited by us; I cannot be out of hope (I say) but that my Countrymen will be induced, either by the thriving examples of others, or by the strength of reason, to hearken, and put to their helping hands to that, which will in all likelihood yield them a plentiful reward of their labours. But before I enter into discourse of the Country itself, I hold it fit to make known partly the means and degrees, whereby I attained unto the experience and knowledge I have thereof.  
And first, for mine own poor estate and condition, it is well known, that my breeding and course of life hath been such, as that I have long time set many people on work, and spent most of my days in travel, specially in Merchandizing, and Sea-Voyages. I have been often in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Savoy, Denmark, Norway, Spruceland, the Canaries, and Soris Lands: and for the Newfoundland, it is almost so familiarly known to me as my own Country.  
In the year 1588. I served under the then Lord Admiral, as Captain in a ship of my own, set forth at my charge against the Spanish Armada: and after such time as that service was ended, taking my leave of his Honour, I had his favourable Letters to one Sir Robert Dennis, in the County of Devon, Knight; whereby there might be some course taken, that the charge as well of my own ship, as also of two other, and a Pinnace, with the victuals, and men therein employed, should not be any way burdensome to me. Wherein there was such order given by the then right Honourable Lords of the privy Council, that the same was well satisfied; which service is to be seen recorded in the Book at White-Hall.  
Now, to express some of my Voyages to the Newfoundland, which make most for the present purpose:  
My first Voyage thither, was about 40. years since, in a worthy ship of the burden of 300. Tun, set forth by one Master Cotton of South-hampton; we were bound to the grand Bay (which lieth on the Northside of that Land,) purposing there to trade then with the Savage people, (for whom we carried sundry commodities) and to kill Whales, and to make Train oil, as the Biscayne's do there yearly in great abundance. But this our intended Voyage was overthrown, by the indiscretion of our Captain, and faintheartedness of some Gentlemen of our Company: whereupon we set sail from thence, and bare with Trinity Harbour in Newfound-land: where we killed great store of Fish, Deer, Bears, Beavers, Seales, Otters, and such like, with abundance of Sea-fowle: and so returning for England, we arrived safe at South-hampton.  
In a Voyage to that Country about 36. years since, I had then the command of a worthy Ship of 220. Tun, set forth by one Master Crook of South-hampton: At that time Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a Devonshire Knight, came thither with two good Ships and a Pinnace, and brought with him a large Patent, from the late most renowned Queen Elizabeth, and in her name took possession of that Country, in the Harbour of S. john's, whereof I was an eyewitness. He sailed from thence towards Virginia; and by reason of some unhappy direction in his course, the greatest Ship he had, struck upon Shelves, on the Coast of Canadie, and was there lost, with most part of the company in her: And he himself being then in a small Pinnace of 20. Tun, in the company of his Vice-Admiral, (one Captain Hayes) returning towards England, in a great storm, was overwhelmed with the Seas, and so perished.  
In another Voyage I made thither, about 34. years past, wherein I had the command of a good Ship partly mine own; at that time one Sir Bernard Drake of Devonshire, Knight, came thither with a Commission, and having diverse good Ships under his command, he there took many Portugal Ships laden with fish, and brought them into England as Prizes.  
Omitting to speak of other Voyages I made thither, during the late Queen's Reign, I will descend to later times.  
In the year 1611. being in Newfoundland, at which time that famous Archpirate, Peter Easton, came there, and had with him ten sail of good Ships well furnished and very rich, I was kept eleven weeks under his command, and had from him many golden promises, and much wealth offered to be put into my hands, as it is well known: I did persuade him much to desist from his evil course; his entreaties then to me, being, that I would come for England, to some friends of his, and solicit them to become humble petitioners to your Majesty for his pardon: but having no warrant to touch such goods, I gave him thanks for his offer; only I requested him to release a Ship that he had taken upon the Coast of Guinnie, belonging to one Captain Rashly of Foy in Cornwall; a man whom I knew but only by report: which he accordingly released. Whereupon I provided men, victuals, and a fraught for the said Ship, and so sent her home to Dartmouth in Devon, though I never had so much as thanks for my kindness therein. And so leaving Easton, I came for England, and gave notice of his intention, letting pass my Voyage that I intended for Naples, and lost both my labour and charges: for before my arrival, there was a Pardon granted, and sent him from Ireland. But Easton hover with those Ships and riches upon the Coast of Barbary, as he promised, with a longing desire, and full expectation to be called home, lost that hope, by a too much delaying of time by him who carried the Pardon. too much delaying of time by him who carried the Pardon. Whereupon he sailed to the straits of Gibraltar, and was afterwards entertained by the Duke of Savoy, under whom he lived rich.  
I was there also in the year 1614 when Sir Henry Manwaring was upon that Coast, with five good Ships strongly provided; he caused me to spend much time in his company, and from him I returned into England; although I was bound from thence to Marseilles, to make sale of such goods as I then had, and other employments, etc.  
In the year 1615. I returned again to Newfoundland, carrying with me a Commission out of the high Court of Admiralty, under the great Seal thereof, authorising me to empanel juries, and to make inquiry upon oath, of sundry abuses and disorders committed amongst Fishermen yearly upon that Coast, and of the fittest means to redress the same, with some other points, having a more particular relation to the Office of the Lord Admiral.  
What was then there done, by virtue of that Commission, which was wholly executed at my own charge, hath been at large by me already certified into the high Court of Admiralty. Nevertheless, seeing the same hath been overslipped ever since, and not produced these good effects which were expected, I will, in some convenient place of this Discourse, set down a brief collection of some part of my endeavours spent in that service; not doubting but it will be as available for the furtherance of our intended design, as any other reason I shall deliver.  
In the year 1616. I had a Ship at Newfoundland of 100 Tun, which returning laden from thence, being bound for Lisbon, was met with by a French Pirate of Rochel, one Daniel Tibolo, who rifted her, to the overthrow and loss of my Voyage, in more than the sum of 860. pounds, and cruelly handled the Master and the Company that were in her: and although I made good proof thereof at Lisbon, and represented the same also to this Kingdom, as appertained, after my return from thence; yet for all this great loss, I could never have any recompense.  
Shortly after my return from Lisbon, I was sent for by a Gentleman, who about a year before, by a grant from the Patentees, had undertaken to settle people in Newfoundland; he acquainted me with his designs, and after some conference touching the same, we so concluded, that he gave me a conveyance under his hand and seal for the term of my life, with full power to govern within his circuit upon that Coast; whereupon (being desirous to advance that work) in Anno 1618. I sailed thither in a Ship of my own, which was victualled by that Gentleman, myself and some others. We likewise then did set forth another Ship, for a fishing Voyage, which also carried some victuals for those people which had been formerly sent to inhabit there: but this Ship was intercepted by an English erring Captain (that went forth with Sir Walter Raleigh) who took the Master of her, the Boatswain and two other of the best men, with much of her victuals (the rest of the Company for fear running into the woods) and so left the Ship as a Prize, whereby our intended Fishing Voyages of both our Ships were overthrown, and the Plantation hindered.  
Now seeing it pleased your Majesty many years since, to take good notice of the said Newfoundland, and granted a Patent for a Plantation there, wherein many Honourable and worthy men's endeavours, and great charge therein, have deserved good commendations (as is well known) the which I desire to further with all my best endeavours: and not to disgrace or disable the foundation and Projects of others, knowing they have been greatly hindered by Pirates and some erring Subjects that have arrived upon that Coast; it being indifferent to me, whether there be a new foundation laid, or whether it be builded on that which hath already been begun; so that the Plantation go forward. Yet I may truly say, that hitherto little hath been performed to any purpose, by such as therein were employed, worthy the name of a Plantation, or answerable to the expectation and desert of the Undertakers; neither have such good effects followed, as may be expected from a thorough performance hereafter. And seeing that no man hath yet published any fit motives or inducements, whereby to persuade men to adventure, or plant there; I have presumed plainly to lay down these following reasons, which is the principal end I aim at, whereby to further that work so worthily intended, by prescribing fit means how a Plantation might be settled there; and have therefore undertaken it, as well to discharge my conscience, which hath often prompted me thereunto, as hoping thereby to stir up many of your Majesty's good and religious Subjects, duly to weigh the piety, honour and benefit that will arise from such a work, considering how your Majesty's Kingdoms do abound and overflow with people. And although I have often suffered great losses by Pirates and Sea-rovers, and other casualties of the Sea, yet in this point, I have tasted of Gods exceeding great mercy, that never any Ship, wherein I myself was present, miscarried, or came then to any mischance, or any casualty of the Sea, whereunto all Ships are subject: so as I may well say, that my life hath been a mixture of crosses and comforts, wherein nevertheless they have not been so equally balanced, but that the one hath overweighed the other: for now, after more than forty years spent in the foresaid courses, there remains little other fruit unto me, saving the peace of a good conscience, which gives me this testimony, that I have ever been a loyal Subject to my Prince, and a true lover of my Country, and was never as yet in all my time beholding to any Doctor's counsel, or Apothecary's drugs, for the preservation of my health; and it will be to me a contentment, if I may be so happy, as to become the instrument of any public good herein: And so I descend to the particular Relation of the Country, etc.   

A RELATION OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND, with a more ample discovery of that Country, than ever was yet set forth to the open view; together with the Briefs of such presentments, as were there taken to the use of your Majesty, by virtue of a Commission under the Broad Seal of the Admiralty, directed to me RICHARD WHITBOURNE.  
IT is to be seen by the Cosmographers Maps; and well approved, that the Newfoundland is an Island, bordering upon the Continent of America, from which it is divided by the Sea: so far distant, 
The situation of the Country.  as England is from the nearest part of France, & lieth between 46 and 53 degrees North-latitude: It is near as spacious as Ireland, and lies near the course that ships usually hold in their return from the West-Indies, and near half the way between Ireland and Virginea.  
I shall not much need to commend the wholesome temperature of that Country, seeing the greatest part thereof lieth above 3 degrees nearer to the South, than any part of England doth.  
And it hath been well approved by some of our Nation, who have lived there these many years, 
The temperature of the air.  that even in the winter it is as pleasant and healthful, as England is.  
And although the example of one Summer be no certain rule for other years; yet thus much also can I truly affirm, that in the year 1615, of the many thousands of English, French, Portugals, and others, that were then upon that Coast, (amongst whom I sailed to and fro more than one hundred leagues) I neither saw nor heard in all that travel, of any man or boy of either of these Nations, that died there during the whole voyage; neither was so much as any one of them sick.  

The Inhabitants, with their nature and customs.  The natural Inhabitants of the Country, as they are but few in number; so are they something rude and savage people; having neither knowledge of God, nor living under any kind of civil government. In their habits, customs & manners, they resemble the Indians of the Continent, from whence (I suppose) they come; they live altogether in the North and West part of the Country, which is seldom frequented by the English: But the French and Biscayne's (who resort thither yearly for the Whalefishing, and also for the Codfish) report them to be an ingenuous and tractable people (being well used:) they are ready to assist them with great labour and patience, in the kill, cutting, and boiling of Whales; and making the train-oil, without expectation of other reward, than a little bread, or some such small hire.  

The conveniency of the Bays in that Country.  All along the coast of this Country, there are many spacious and excellent Bays, some of them stretching into the land, one towards another, more than twenty leagues.  
On the East side of the land, are the Bays of Trinity and Conception; which stretch themselves towards the South-west; Tor Bay, and Capelin Bay, lying also on the East, stretch toward the West: The Bays of Trepassey, S. Marry, Borrell, and Plaisance, on the South part of the land, extend their arms toward the North: The great Bay of S. Peter's, lying on the South-west side of the land, and East, Southerly from the great River of Canady, being about twenty leagues distant, the same stretcheth toward the East.  
And here I pray you note, that the bottoms of these Bays do meet together within the compass of a small circuit: by means whereof our men passing over land from Bay to Bay, may with much facility discover the whole Country.  
From the Bay of S. Peter round about the Westside of the land, till you come to the grand Bay, which lieth on the North-side of the Country; and so from thence, till you come round, back to Trinity Bay, are abundance of large and excellent Bays; which are the less known, because not frequented by the English, who seldom fish to the Northward of Trinity Bay.  
And it is to be observed, 
Commodious Lands and worthy Harbours.  that round about the Coast and in the Bays, there are many small Lands, (none of them further off then a league from the land) both fair and fruitful: neither doth any one part of the world afford greater store of good Harbours, more free from dangers, or more commodious, then are there built by the admirable workmanship of God; I will only instance two or three of the chiefest, for some special reasons.  

Trinity Harbour affording diverse good commodities.  Trinity Harbour lies near in 49 degrees North-latitude, being very commodiously seated to receive shipping in reasonable weather, both to anchor in, and from thence to sail towards either the East, West, or South: It hath three Arms or Rivers, long and large enough for many hundred sail of Ships, to more fast at Anchor near a mile from the Harbour's mouth; close adjoining to the River's side, and within the Harbour is much open land, well stored with grass sufficient, Winter and Summer, to maintain great store of ordinary cattle, besides Hogs and Goats, if such beasts were carried thither; and it standeth North, most of any Harbour in the land, where our Nation practiseth fishing; It is near unto a great Bay lying on the North-side of it, called the Bay of Flowers; to which place no Ships repair to fish; partly in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying even with the water, and full of danger; but chiefly (as I conjecture) because the Savage people of that Country do there inhabit: 
Savages living near to Trinity Harbour.  many of them secretly every year, come into Trinity Bay and Harbour, in the night time, purposely to steal Sails, Lines, Hatchets, Hooks, Knives, and such like. And this Bay is not three English miles over land from Trinity Bay in many places; which people, if they might be reduced to the knowledge of the true Trinity indeed, no doubt but it would be a most sweet and acceptable sacrifice to God, an everlasting honour to your Majesty, and the heavenliest blessing to those poor Creatures, who are buried in their own superstitious ignorance. The task thereof would prove easy, if it were but well begun, and constantly seconded by industrious spirits: and no doubt but God himself would set his hand to rear up and advance so noble, so pious, and so Christian a building.  
The bottom of the Bay of Trinity lieth within four leagues through the land Southwest, 
The bottoms of di●●●● bays meeting near together.  Southerly from Trinity, as by experience is found, and it comes near unto the Bay of Trepassey, and the bottom of some other Bays, as I have already touched before.  
And what commodities may thereby redound, if some of your Majesty's Subjects were also once settled to plant near unto Trepassey, being the South part of Newfoundland, where some ships use yearly to fish? If therefore near the Harbour of Trinity it were inhabited by some of your Majesty's Subjects, I see no reason to the contrary, but that a speedy and more certain knowledge might be had of the Country, by reason those savage people are so near; who being politicly and gently handled, much good might be wrought upon them: for I have had apparent proofs of their ingenuous and subtle dispositions, and that they are a people full of quick and lively apprehensions.  
Trepassey in like manner is as commodious a Harbour, lying in a more temperate climate, almost in 46 degrees the like Latitude, 
The Harbour of Trepassey lying commodiously.  and is both fair and pleasant, and a wholesome Coast free from Rocks and Shelves: so that of all other Harbours, it lies the South-most of any Harbour in the land, and most conveniently to receive our shipping passing to and from Virginea, and the Bermuda Lands; and also any other shipping that shall pass to and from the River of Canady and the coast thereof; because they usually pass, and so return in the sight of the land of Trepassey; and also for some other purposes, as shall be partly declared in the following discourse.  
But I will not insist upon further particulars of Harbours in this place, seeing our men that yearly trade to that Coast, know them to be as good and commodious Harbours, as any other whatsoever.  

The fertility of the soil.  The soil of this Country in the valleys and sides of the mountains, is so fruitful, as that in diverse places, there the Summer naturally produceth out of the fruitful womb of the earth, without the labour of man's hand, great plenty of green Pease and Fitches, fair, round, full and wholesome as our Fitches are in England: of which I have there fed on many times: the hawmes of them are good fodder for cattle and other beasts in the winter, with the help of Hay; of which there may be made great store with little labour in diverse places of the Country.  

Several sorts of fruits there growing.  Then have you there fair Strawberries red and white, and as fair Raspasse berries, and Goose berries, as there be in England; as also multitudes of Bilberries, which are called by some, Whortes, and many other delicate Berries (which I cannot name) in great abundance.  
There are also many other fruits, as small Pears, sour Cherries, filberts, etc. And of these Berries and fruits the store is there so great, that the mariners of my Ship and Barks company, have often gathered at once, more than half an hogshead would hold; of which diverse times eating their fill, I never heard of any man, whose health was thereby any way impaired.  
There are also herbs for Salads and Broth; 
Herbs and flowers both pleasant and medicinable.  as Parsley, Alexander, Sorrell, etc. And also flowers, as the red and white Damask Rose, with other kinds; which are most beautiful and delightful, both to the sight and smell.  
And questionless the Country is stored with many Physical herbs and roots, albeit their virtues are not known, because not sought after; yet within these few years, many of our Nation finding themselves ill, have bruised some of the herbs and strained the juice into Beer, Wine or Aquavitae; and so by God's assistance, after a few drink, it hath restored them to their former health.  
The like virtue it hath to cure a wound, or any swelling, either by washing the grieved places with some of the herbs boiled, or by applying them so thereunto (plasterwise) which I have seen by often experience.  
This being the natural fruitfulness of the earth, producing such variety of things, fit for food, without the labour of man; I might in reason hence infer, that if the same were manured, and husbanded in some places, as our grounds are, it would be apt to bear Corn, and no less fertile than the English soil.  
But I need not confine myself to probabilities; 
Corn growing there, yielding good increase.  seeing our men that have wintered there diverse years, did for a trial and experiment thereof sow some small quantity of Corn, which I saw growing very fair; and they found the increase to be great, and the grain very good; and it is well known to me, and diverse that trade there yearly, how that Cabbage, Carrots, Turnips, Lettuce, and such like, prove well there.  

Store of Deer and other beasts.  In diverse parts of the Country, there is great store of Deer, and some Hares, many Foxes, Squirrels, Bevers, Wolves, and Bears, with other sorts of beasts, serving as well for necessity, as for profit and delight.  
Neither let me seem ridiculous, to annex a matter of novelty, rather than weight, to this discourse.  

A rare example of the gentle nature of the beasts of that Country.  In the year 1615. it was well known to 48 persons of my company, and diverse other men, that three several times, the Wolves and beasts of the Country came down near them to the Seaside, where they were labouring about their Fish, howling and making a noise: so that at each time my Mastiffe-dogge went unto them (as the like in that Country hath not been seen:) the one began to fawn and play with the other, and so went together into the Woods, and continued with them, every of these times, nine or ten days, and did return unto us without any hurt. Hereof I am no way superstitious, yet it is something strange to me, that the wild beasts, being followed by a stern Mastiffe-dogge, should grow to a familiarity with him, seeing their natures are repugnant: surely much rather the people, by our discreet and gentle usage, may be brought to society, being already naturally inclined thereunto.  
But to return to our purpose, and to speak something of the great plenty of Fowl in that Country, 
Plenty of Land-fowle.  as well Land-fowle, as Waterfowl; the variety of both kinds is infinite.  
The Land-fowle (besides great number of small birds flying up and down, some without name, 
Great store of Land-fowle.  that live by scraping their food from the earth in the hardest winter that is) there are also Hawks, great and small, Partridges, Thrush, and Thrussels abundance, very fat. As also Filladies, Nightingales and such like, that sing most pleasantly.  
There are also birds that live by prey, as Ravens, Gripes, Crows, etc. For Waterfowl, 
Waterfowl.  there is certainly so good, and as much variety, as in any part of the world; as Geese, Ducks, Pigeons, Gulls, Penguins, and many other sorts.  
These Penguins are as big as Geese, and fly not, for they have but a little short wing, and they multiply so infinitely, upon a certain flat Island, that men drive them from thence upon a board, into their boats by hundreds at a time; as if God had made the innocency of so poor a creature, to become such an admirable instrument for the sustentation of man.  
There are also Godwits, Curlewes, and a certain kind of fowl that are called Oxen and Kine, with such like; which fowl do not only steed those that trade thither greatly for food, but also they are a great furthering to diverse Ships voyages, because the abundance of them is such, that the Fishermen do bait their hooks with the quarters of Sea-fowle on them: and therewith some ships do yearly take a great part of their fishing voyages, with such bait, before they can get others.  
The fresh waters and Springs of that Country, are many in number, 
Fresh water and Springs.  and withal very pleasant, delightful and wholesome, that no Country in the world hath better. And Fewell for fire is so plentiful, that there is never like to be want of that commodity.  

Many sorts of Timber there growing.  In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be employed in other serviceable uses: There are Fir and Spruce trees, sound, good, and fit to mast Ships withal; and as commodious for boards and buildings as the Spruce and Fir trees of Norway; and out of these came abundance of Turpentine. No Country can show Pine and Birch trees, of such height and greatness as those are there: and doubtless, if some store of your Majesty's subjects do once settle there to live, & would be industrious to search further, and more throughly into the Country, then as yet it hath been, there might be found many other commodities of good worth. Amongst the which I may not omit, 
Good hope of Mines, and making of Iron and Pitch.  that there is much probability of finding Mines, and making of Iron and Pitch.  
The Rivers also and Harbours are generally stored with delicate Fish, as Salmon, Peals, Eels, Herring, 
Fish in great abundance.  Mackerel, Flounder, Lance, Capelin, Cod, and Trout the fairest, fattest and sweetest, that I have seen in any part of the world. The like for Lobsters, Crayfish, Muskles, Hens; and other variety of Shellfish great store.  
And also observe here, that in these places there is usually store of the spawn and fry of several sorts of fishes: whereby the Sea-fowle live so fat, as they are there in the winter: And likewise the Bevers, Otters and such like, that seek their food in the Ponds and fresh Rivers.  
The Seas likewise all along the Coast, do plentifully abound in other sorts of fish, as Whales, Spanish Mackerel, Dorrell, pale, Herring, Hogs, Porpoises, Seals, and such like royal fish, etc.  
But the chief commodity of Newfoundland yet known, and which is grown to be a settled trade, and that may be much bettered by an orderly Plantation there, (if the Traders thither will take some better course, then formerly they have done, as shall be declared) is the Codfishing upon that Coast, 
Codfishing a great hope of benefit there from.  by which our Nation and many other Countries are enriched.  
And if I should here set down a valuation of that fish, which the French, Biscayne's, 
The benefit arising to France, Spain, and Italy, from fishing upon those coasts.  and Portugals fetch yearly from this Coast of Newfoundland, and the Bank, which lieth within 25 leagues from the Southcape of that Country, where the French use to fish Winter and Summer, usually making two voyages every year thither: (To which places, and to the Coast of Canady, which lieth near unto it, are yearly sent from those Countries, more than 400. sail of ships:)  
It would seem incredible, yea some men are of opinion, that the people of France, Spain, and Italy, could not so well live, if the benefit of the fishing upon this Coast, and your Majesties other Dominions, were taken from them.  
But I trust it will be sufficient, that I give an estimate of our own trading thither, and partly of the wealth and commodities we reap thereby, without any curious search into other men's profits.  
In the year 1615. when I was at Newfoundland with the Commission beforementioned, 
250. Sail of ships lying upon that Coast, Anno 1615.  which was an occasion of my taking the more particular observations of that Country, there were then on that Coast, of your Majesty's subjects, 250. sail of Ships great and small. The burdens and Tonnage of them all one with another, so near as I could take notice, allowing every ship to be at least threescore ton (for as some of them contained less, so many of them held more) amounted to more than 15000. tons. Now for every threescore ton burden, according to the usual manning of Ships in those voyages, agreeing with the note I then took, there are to be set down twenty men and boys: by which computation in these 250. sail, there were no less than five thousand persons. Now every one of these ships, so near as I could guess, had about 120000. fish, and five ton of Train oil one with another.  

What the value of the fish contained in most ships did amount unto.  So that the total of the fish in these 250. sail, when it was brought into England, France or Spain, (being sold after the rate of four pound, for every thousand of fish, six score fishes to the hundred, which is not a penny a fish, and if it yield less, it was ill sold) amounted in money to 120000. pound.  
Now, as I have said before, allowing to every ship of 60. ton, at least five ton of Train oil, the total of that ariseth to 1250. ton; each ton, whether it be sold in England, or elsewhere, being undervalved at twelve pound. So as the whole value thereof in money, amounteth to the sum of 15000. pound, which added to the fish, it will appear that the total value of the fish, and Train oil of those 250. sail of ships that year, might yield to your Majesty's subjects better than the sum of 135000. pound, omitting to reckon the overprices which were made and gotten by the sale thereof in foreign Countries, being much more than what is usually made at home, and so the like in other years.  
And this certainly, in my understanding, is a point worthy of consideration, that so great wealth should yearly be raised, by one sole commodity of that Country, yea by one only sort of fish, and not upon any other trade thither, which must needs yield, with the employments thereof, great riches to your Majesty's subjects: And this also to be gathered and brought home by the sole labour and industry of men, without exchange or exportation of our Coin, and native commodities, or other adventure (than of necessary provisions for the fishing) as Salt, Nets, Leads, Hooks, Lines, and the like; and of victuals, as Bread, Beer, Beef, and Pork, in competent measure, according to the number and proportion of men employed in those voyages.  
The converting of these commodities (gotten by fishing) into money, cannot choose but be a great benefit to all your Majesty's Kingdoms in many respects.  
What the charge in setting forth of these 250. sail might amount unto (being only for victuals, which our Country yieldeth) I hold it not fit here to set down, lest I should be accused by some therein.  
And withal it is to be considered, 
The relief that the trading there will afford to several sorts of people.  that the trade thither (as now it is) doth yearly set on work, and relieve many numbers of people, as Bakers, Brewers, Cooper's, Ship-Carpenters, Smiths, Net-makers, Rope-makers, Line-makers, Hookemakers, Pullymakers, and many other trades, which with their families have their best means of maintenance, from these Newfoundland voyages. Add unto them the families or servants of diverse Owners and Masters of such ships as go thither, and mariners with their families, hereby employed and maintained.  
By this little which hath been thus briefly spoken of the situation, temperature, safeness of the Coast, natural fertility, commodities and riches of Newfoundland, it doth plainly appear, that it is a Country not only habitable and lying open, ready to receive the first comers; but also for the goodness thereof, worthy to be embraced, and made the habitation of Christians.  

Reason's inducing for a Plantation there.  What the reasons, motives and inducements are, either of honour, profit or advantage, which may justly invite your Majesty, and all your good subjects, to take some speedy and real course, for planting there, I will endeavour hereafter to show.  

First reason, hope of converting the Inhabitants to Christianity.  For it is most certain, that by a Plantation there, and by that means only, the poor misbelieving Inhabitants of that Country may be reduced, from Barbarism, to the knowledge of God, and the light of his truth, and to a civil and regular kind of life and government.  
This is a thing so apparent, that I need not enforce it any further, or labour to stir up the charity of Christians therein, to give their furtherance towards a work so pious, every man knowing, that even we ourselves were once as blind as they in the knowledge and worship of our Creator, and as rude and savage in our lives and manners.  
Only thus much will I add, that it is not a thing impossible, but that by means of those slender beginnings which may be made in Newfoundland, all the regions near adjoining thereunto, may in time be converted to the true worship of God.  
Secondly, the uniting of a Country so beneficial already, 
Second reason, the temporal benefits that may justly and easily arise from hence.  and so promising unto your Majesty's Kingdoms, without either bloodshed, charge, or usurpation, must needs be a perpetual honour to your Majesty in all succeeding ages: and not so only, but also a great benefit and advantage to the State, by a new access of Dominion. And what Prince or State can enlarge their territories, by a more easy, and more just means then this?  
The English are reputed for the first Discoverers of this Country: and a Subject of this State, one Sir Humphrey Gilbert (as is touched before) hath long since taken possession thereof, 
Sir Hum. Gilbert long since took possession thereof to the use of this Crown.  to the use of your Majesty's royal Crown; and that possession hath been continued by several Patents and Commissions: so that of right, I do conceive, it appertaineth to your Majesty, although it be not yet peopled with your Majesty's subjects, notwithstanding the said Patents.  
Neither seems it impossible to me, but that your Majesty, and your royal Progeny, may in time annex unto your Crown, a great part of the Continent of America, bordering upon Newfoundland, 
Hope of joining America, or some parts thereof to Newfoundland.  the same lying nearer to your Majesty's kingdoms, then to any other Country of these our known parts of the World: and for the most part of it under the same Elevation of the Pole with us; and but little above six hundred leagues distance from hence.  
At least I cannot see, but that from hence further Discoveries may be made, and new trades found out, yea peradventure the supposed Northwest passage: For if it can be proved, or if there be any possibility or probability, that there is such a passage, on the Northside of America towards japan and China, which in the opinion of some men, is to lie near the height of 64 degrees: the fittest place from whence to proceed to that Discovery, is (in my opinion) the Newfoundland. And for those that henceforth attempt to search that strait or passage, to set forth sooner and more early, then heretofore they have done, and to sail directly to some convenient Harbour in Newfoundland, there to refresh themselves with such provision as shall be needful; and so put out from thence about the twentieth day of May (if it be once set in a fair Westerly wind,) and to sail along the North part of Newfoundland, and that Coast which is called Cambaleu, continuing that Northerly course unto 64, which is but 15 degrees from Trinity Harbour; and it may be sailed in less than six days, with a fair Westerly wind, which commonly maketh a clear coast all along to the North, both from fogs and Ice also; both which are violent hinderers to men that have undertaken these voyages. For coming to feeke out those straits or passages, with a large Easterly, Southerly, or Northerly wind, which commonly bring on that Coast the fogs and Ice, and coming so late in the Summer, they have thereby lost the advantage and benefit of time for finding out so happy a business.  
But if this design of a Plantation should not be entertained, and throughly prosecuted, it may be justly doubted, that some other Prince will step in, and undertake the same: which if it so fall out, your Majesty shall not only lose all those advantages and benefits, which your Majesty, and your subjects might reap by this Plantation, but also the actual possession; and then those that should usurp your Majesty's right there, will be an hindrance to your Majesty either to remove them, or to plant by them, without hazarding a breach of peace.  
And it may be feared, that such a Plantation, growing to have strength, your subjects shall be (if not prohibited) yet at least hindered of their free trading and fishing there, or constrained to take their fish of the Planters, and at their prices; which may fall out to be a notable disservice to your Majesty, and the utter overthrow of your subject's trade thither.  
But in setting down the advantages we shall have by a settled Plantation there, I have sufficiently discovered, what our losses will be, if we suffer ourselves to be prevented by others.  
That Country may be made a place of great use and advantage, for this State in any action, that may engage us by way of attempt or defence, in regard of those parts of the world.  
For the first, this Country lieth so near the course which the Spanish ships, that come from Mexico, Havona, and other places of the West-Indies, hold in their return from thence, that they often sail within 150. leagues from the South part thereof.  
In the year 1615. whilst I was in that Country, three ships returning from the West-Indies, did arrive there, purposely to refresh themselves with water, wood, fish, and fowl, and so have diverse others done at other times.  
Sundry Portugal ships have come thither purposely to load fish from the English, and have given them a good price for the same, and sailed from thence with it to Brasile, where that kind of fish is in great request, and they have made great profit thereby.  
And diverse Dutch and French ships have also oftentimes come thither, purposely to load fish from the English, which they afterwards transport into Italy, Spain, and other parts, whereby they employ both their shipping, and mariners, making good profit thereof.  
We have already spoken of the great numbers of French and Portugal shipping, that usually trade every year to this Coast, and the places near adjoining in fishing voyages: so that what in all likelihood may be the event of a Plantation to be made there, if either Spain or France should break league with your Majesty, or your royal Progeny; I leave to the consideration of your Majesty.  
And certainly as your Majesty's subjects sailing to and from Virginia, & the Bermuda Lands, might in any extremity (having spent a mast or yard, or when any leak is sprung) be relieved, and at other times refresh themselves in their voyages, if a Plantation were settled near about Trepassey: So upon occasion of any attempt, or other injuries which might be offered those more remote Plantations, they might from thence receive succour in shorter time then from England.  
Besides all this, it would be a great ease to all the rest of your Majesty's subjects, if some part of our superabounding multitudes were transplanted into Newfoundland; for besides the great number of idle persons that live here, spending their time in drinking, and other excess, among which many of your Newfoundland men may be reckoned, during the winter season, whilst they are at home: There are many thousands of poor people of both sexes, which might be spared out of all your Majesty's Dominions, who living penuriously, and in great want, would be persuaded to remove their dwelling into Newfoundland, where they might not only free themselves of their present miseries, but also by their industry, in time enrich themselves, and deserve well of the State by their employments: for there is yearly great abundance of good fish lost for want of labourers, and other good things also.  
Neither are the people of those your Majesty's Kingdoms, any way inferior to other Nations in courage, either to undertake, or maintain, but they are often less industrious and diligent. And (with grief it is to be spoken) by our sluggishness, some of our near neighbours have won from us the ancient honour, and that reputation, by which we were held the Masters of Navigation, and Commanders of the Seas.  
And I am verily of opinion, if their Audit were truly published to the world, that their trade of fishing upon your Majesty's Seacoasts, hath been the best means of their present strength, having thereby increased their shipping and wealth, and enabled their men for Navigation. For it is well known, that the French and also the Dutch, by their fishing on your Majesty's Seacoasts, do use a petty kind of picking away of infinite sums of money yearly from your Majesty's Kingdoms; not only from North-Yarmouth, & other places thereby, all the time that the Herring fishing lasteth: but also for Mackerel, Soles, Whiting, and other sorts of fish which they take, in sight of your Majesty's Kingdom, and bring it here to land daily, and sell it for ready money; such daily gathering away of coin, may well be remedied, if your Majesty's subjects would forbear to buy any fresh fish of other Nations, which me thinks they should: then Strangers should be constrained to bring coin into your Majesty's Kingdoms with their fish, to set poor people a work to salt and preserve their Herrings, and other fish withal, when they bring it here a land; whereby some Customs and other duties will also grow: or otherwise they will leave their daily fishing so near your Majesty's Kingdoms (as now they do) and then such fish will be the more plentiful for your Highness' subjects to take, and thereby greatly encourage them to set forth and employ many a poor man the more in fishing, then now there is: and it will then not only preserve great sums of money yearly from carrying away from your Majesty's Kingdoms, but also there will be more gotten, than now there is, and great numbers of mariners increased, to be very serviceable for the Navy, when there may be cause.  
Now that which is like to be the present benefit, and which (in my opinion) will weigh most toward the furtherance of this Plantation in Newfoundland, by reason of the many consequences thereof; is the bettering of our trade there, which will fall out exceeding beneficial in diverse respects, if those who adventure thither, will follow some better course then formerly they have used: And in so doing, ships may then fail in much more safety thither, and return yearly from thence much more richer than now they do. For many disorderly courses are committed by some traders and adventurers thither, in setting forth to that Country, and practised by some of them when they arrive there: If these disorders were reform, the great benefit expected will soon follow.  
It is well known, that they which adventure to Newfoundland a fishing, begin to dress and provide their ships ready commonly in the months of December, january, and February, and are ready to set forth at Sea in those voyages near the end of February, being commonly the foulest time in the year. And thus they do, striving to be there first in a Harbour, to obtain the name of Admiral that year: and so, to have the chiefest place to make their fish on, where they may do it with the greatest ease, and have the choice of diverse other necessaries in the Harbours, which do them little stead: but the taking of them wrongs many others of your Majesty's subjects, which arrive there after the first.  
And thus by their hasting thither, oftentimes there comes not only danger to themselves, but also great mischief, and losses to many others which arrive there after the first; as it may by that which follows truly appear.  
For by the hasting forth as now they use, they greatly endanger themselves, being many times beaten with rough and stormy winds; and oftentimes they are thereby forced to return back with great loss both of men's lives and goods, as it is well known: So that to get the superiority to arrive there first in an Harbour, they will bear such an overpress sail, and in so desperate a manner, as there are no true understanding Seamen that use the like to any other part of the world. For albeit when the fogs are thick, and the nights dark, that sometimes they cannot discern the length of three ships in the way before them, and the Ice often threatening much peril to them: yet on runs the ship amain, so fast as possibly she may, when commonly most part of the company are fast asleep, even with extreme hazard of their lives. Thus many times both ships and men have been suddenly cast away, to the utter undoing of many Adventurers, and families. So had I myself a ship lost sailing to that Country, and diverse others the like.  
And also this untimely setting forth, consumeth a great quantity of victuals, that might be saved to better purpose, and it forceth them to carry and recarry many more men in every ship, every voyage, than they need, if they once take a fitter course.  
Such Stages and Houses, that the first arrivers into an Harbour find standing, wherein men set diverse necessaries, and also salt their fish, some men have used to pull down, or taken their pleasures of them: by which unfit disorders of some first arrivers there yearly, those which arrive after them, are sometimes twenty days and more to provide boards and timber, to fit their boats for fishing; and other necessary rooms to salt and dry their fish on: whereby much time is lost, and victuals consumed to no good purpose; and thereby also the voyages of the aftercommers, are often greatly hindered and prolonged, to the great hurt of your Majesty, and many a good subject: and the mariners themselves which trade to that Country, and commit those great abuses, are thereby also much wronged, as they have acknowledge, by their own disorderly behaviours.  
Wherefore if such which henceforth adventure to that Country, take some better course in that trade of fishing, then heretofore they have used, they shall find the greater safety of their adventures, and much good thereby. For whereas heretofore they have used to make ready their ships to sail in those voyages, in such unseasonable time of the year, whereby they often receive great hindrances and losses; they need not then go forth in the said voyage, until the 25. day of March, which is a fit time of the year to put to Sea from our Coast to that Country; the winter storms beginning then to cease. And then any such ship which carries in her thirty men in every voyage, may well leave six men there behind them, or more, all the winter season, until the ships return to them again. And these six men's victuals will be saved, and serve to better use, and thereby also likewise cut off that months setting forth in those voyages so soon in the year, as now men use to do, and then the victuals for that month which is so vainly and with such great danger consumed, may well maintain those men, which are left in the Country all the winter season, till the ships return to them again, with a very small addition to it.  
And if it may so please your Majesty, that any subject which will undertake to settle people in the Newfoundland, shall have this privilege, that in case he leave there a fifth person of such which he carries thither in his fishing voyage to inhabit; whereby those men so left, might keep a certain place continually for their fishing, and drying thereof, whensoever their ship arriveth thither: then would all such which leave people there, build strong and fitting necessary rooms for all purposes; and then in some of those necessary houses or rooms they may put their fish when it is dried, which fish now standeth after such time it is dried, until it is shipped, which is commonly above two months, in great heaps packed up uncovered, in all the heat and rain that falleth, whereby great abundance of good fish is there yearly spoilt, and cast away for want of such necessary rooms: And for the want of such fit houses, some men's voyages (to my knowledge) have been greatly overthrown; and then a mean place to make fish on, will be made more commodious than the best place is now, that men so dangerously and desperately run for every year. And thus every man's fishing Pinnaces may be preserved in such perfect readiness, against his ship shall yearly arrive there again, which Pinnaces are now often lost, and sometimes torn in pieces by the first arrivers there very disorderly.  
And if such Pinnaces and such Stages and Houses may be maintained and kept in such readiness yearly, it would be the most pleasant, profitable, and commodious trade of fishing, that is at this time in any part of the world.  
For then every ships company might fall to fishing, the very next or second day after their arrival; whereas now, it is twenty days until they are fitted: and then such ships should not need so soon to haste away from England by one month at least; men's lives might be thereby much the better saved, less victuals wasted, and many dangers prevented. And so every ship in every such voyage, may gain quickly one hundred pound, that usually carry in her but twenty men, more than now they do, by leaving of four men there of twenty. And as the proportion (before named) holds for leaving six men in Newfoundland of thirty, so the allowing of men to be made proportionably from every ship, will soon raise many people to be settled in every Harbour where our Nation useth to fish, and in other Harbours there also in little time.  
Some ships by this course may then quickly gain two hundred pound, & some three hundred pound and more, according to their greatness, more than they do yearly now. And those men so left, will manure land for come, saw boards, and fit Timber to be transported from thence, and search out for diverse commodities in the Country, which as yet lie undiscovered: and by such means the Land will be in little time fitly peopled with diverse poor handicraft's men, that may be so commodiously carried thither to live with their wives.  
And that no man else should appropriate to himself any such certain place, and commodity for his fishing voyage, except he will in such manner settle a fifth part of his company there to live. And then such Adventurers thither will carefully provide yearly for such as they leave there, not only for bread and victuals, but likewise for all necessary tools, fit for any kind of husbandry. The charge thereof will yearly repay itself, with the benefit of their labours that shall be so left there, with great advantage.  
And for others which yearly adventure thither, and will not settle people there in such manner, they may hold on such unfit courses in setting on to that Country, and take their places, as it falleth out, as formerly they have done: wherein I am persuaded they will soon grow weary, when they shall see the great commodity and benefit that other men will gain by settling of people there.  
By this means will the burdens and numbers of your Majesty's subjects shipping be greatly increased, and strengthened, and great numbers of mariners yearly augmented, and then our shipping may well trade thither two voyages in every year, and more, whereas now they go but once.  
If you will know what victuals might be saved by those six men of thirty so to be left there, and so proportionably for greater numbers; this is the estimate:  
The allowance of victual to maintain every six men, to carry and recarry them outwards bound and homewards, is six hogsheads of beer, and six hundred weight of bread, besides beef and other provision; which men, when they sail to and fro (as now they use) do little good or any service at all, but pester the ship in which they are, with their bread, beer, water, wood, victual, fish, chests, and diverse other trumperies, that every such six men do cumber the ship withal yearly from thence: which men, when the voyage is made, may be accounted unnecessary persons returning yearly from thence.  
But being left in the Country in such manner, as aforesaid, those parts of these ships that leave those men there, that are so pestered now yearly with such unprofitable things, may be filled up yearly with good fish, and many beneficial commodities, for the good of those Adventurers that will so settle people there to plant.  
These men that may be so fitly left in the Country, will not only be free from the perils of the Sea, by not returning yearly, as now they use to do, but will live there very pleasantly; and (if they be industrious people) gain twice as much in the absence of the ships that leave them there, more than twelve men shall be able to benefit their Masters, that are kept upon most Farms in England in a whole year.  
For certainly I have already seen and known by experience, that the desired Plantation can never be made beneficial by such idle persons, as I found there the year 1618. when I was there with power, by virtue of a grant from the Patentees, which people had remained there a whole year, before I came near, or knew any of them; and never applied themselves to any commendable thing, no not so much as to make themselves an house to lodge in, but lay in such cold and simple rooms all the winter, as the Fishermen had formerly built there for their necessary occasions, the year before those men arrived there.  
Such persons are not fit to advance your Majesty's intended work, but rather disgrace and hinder the same.  
Therefore seeing those people that were so formerly sent to plant in the South part of the Country, to be so unfit for that service, as it is well known, I grew out of heart to behold such abuse to be used by those that were so sent to plant.  
Yet entering into consideration, how injurious I should be to God, and (as I did conceive in my conscience) treacherous to your Majesty, and my Country, having once as it were laid hold on the plough, I should take it off and look back: I did then encourage my retiring spirits; notwithstanding all my former wrongs then sustained. And although I found those people that were so formerly sent to plant, so unfit for that service, I did not only consider of the fittest course whereby to advance that work, which was formerly so worthily intended; but also truly and plainly to write this Discovery, as now I have, how commodiously and beneficially it may be proceeded on; and so shipped some of them to return home again, and gave others leave to depart, all, excepting six only; to whom I gave directions for building an house, and employing themselves, otherwise then formerly they had done, until they heard from the Gentleman that sent them thither: And so they lived there pleasantly all the next winter.  
Now having laid open a commodious and beneficial course how that Land may be peopled; yet I suppose it may be questioned, that if a fifth man of some ships, or every ship were so left in the Country; that it will rather lessen the number of mariners, that may be ready here at home to do your Majesty service, then to increase them: and so by misconceiving therein, your Majesty's intended Plantation may be hindered. To which I answer, that most ships which trade thither yearly a fishing, do commonly carry in them every fifth person that was never at Sea before, or such as have but little understanding in their Compass; neither knowledge of Sea terms, or what to do in a ship: and those men are yearly hired by the Owners, and Victuallers forth of ships in those voyages, and by the Master of the ship, and the better sort of men for small wages, who have the benefit of their shares; and those men do serve even so fitly for some purposes in those New-land voyages the first year, as some of those men do that have been there often: So that by carrying thither yearly every fifth man, such as were never there before, there will be above 1000 Seamen increased every year by that trade; and they being left there the winter, will at times kill Dear and other beasts, and also take store of fish and fowl for their provision; and it will harden them well to the Sea, and at other times they may employ themselves beneficially in Husbandry upon the land, as servants ought to do. So that whereas there goes now yearly, as the trade is, above two hundred and fifty Sail of your Majesty's subjects ships, with above five thousand men in them; and being yearly carried thither the fifth person that was never at Sea before, there will be by that course increased above five thousand Seamen in every five years: and whereas now there is yearly trading thither above two hundred and fifty Sail of ships, there will be then in little time (God blessing that trade) above four hundred Sail of your Majesty's subjects ships there employed; which may be a greater increase of wealth, strength and power to your Majesty and Kingdoms, than now it is.  
And although it be well known, that the Newfoundland yieldeth yearly such great blessings from God, to maintain Christians; yet many of our English Nation, who in great fullness taste them, do there as it were tread them under their feet; as may partly appear by the following discourse. For our Nation, upon their arrival yearly to that Country, do cut down many of the best trees they can find, to build their stages and rooms withal for their necessary occasions; hewing, rinding, and destroying many others that grow within a mile of the Sea, where they use to fish.  
The rinds of these trees serve to cover their Stages, and necessary rooms, with turfs on them; so that in few years, I fear, that most of the good timber trees near the Seaside, where men use to fish, will be either felled, spoilt or burned: yet at our people's departure from such rooms & stages, they will suffer but little thereof to stand, whereby to do any man service the year ensuing.  
These are things lamentable to be suffered, and great pity that it is not redressed: for no Nation else doth the like, neither do the Savage people, after such time as our Countrymen come from thence, either hurt or burn any thing of theirs, thatz they leave behind them; so that those trees, and that timber might be converted to many serviceable uses for the good of your Majesty, and your subjects.  
Now I think good to make known partly what abuses be also offered to the Harbours and Rhodes in Newfoundland, that are so beautiful and excellent, ordained by God for ships to ride safe in at anchor, as there are not better in any part of the world: yet for all this beauty of theirs, and the commodity that we receive by them; these disorders diverse men do there commit, viz.  
All ships, for every voyage they make there, take in many exceeding great stones, therewith to press their dry fish in their ships; which work being done, they cast many of these stones into the Harbours where they ride at Anchor, which are to be seen lying in great heaps in some places, within three fathom of water, to the great endangering of ships and cables; to the peril also both of men's lives, and their goods, and likely in time to choke up or spoil many excellent Harbours in that Country, if provision be not by your Majesty's high authority made to the contrary.  
All these abuses are confessed in the brief of the presentments, that follow in the latter part of this book, the which being made known to the subjects that adventure thither, I am confident (in my opinion) that they should all desire your Majesty, that there may be some better government established there, than now it is: and that such which plant there, may not abuse or hinder any such which yearly come thither a fishing, whereby they should have any just cause to complain the one against the other, as now they do.  
And because my desire is, that not only Merchants, or such as live near the Seaside, but also all others that shall give their furtherance to this Plantation, either by adventuring their monies, or sending men thither (because it is to be undertaken by men of good ability) and in such manner, as the wealthy men do in other Countries, joining their purses to further any such good work: I think it fit to show how such persons may adventure to that Country, though they dwell far from the Sea-coast; and others likewise that dwell near, may do it with little trouble, but only by a trusty servant to give account yearly of his disbursing, and likewise of his receipts; which (I trust) will be very beneficial to all such as will adventure therein.  
Some, who dwell far from the Sea-coast, may say, they are so far off, that they should be but little the better for a Plantation to be made in Newfoundland, and so may hold it a needless thing for them to know how beneficial that Country hath long time been to these your Majesty's Kingdoms; and how it may in little time be worth double to your Majesty's subjects, in respect of what now it is, even in the only trade of fishing, besides the good that may come by other commodities.  
To such therefore that should here object, that those that live far from the Sea, whether Gentlemen or others, and are not experienced in affairs of this nature, cannot so conveniently adventure thither: I answer, that none of your Majesty's Subjects dwell further than 100 miles from the Seaside, which is no great journey; By the same reason that Commodities brought from Foreign parts, and landed on our coasts and Haven towns, dispersed thorough all places of your Majesty's Kingdoms, and so vented (our men living thus in any of these places) may with as little difficulty adventure into other Countries. For as we have the example of diverse, both Gentlemen and others of Italy, Spain, Germany, Savoy, the Low Countries, and other places that come yearly more than 200. miles to the City of Seville, purposely to sail to the West Indies, and do return rich; So it may be also well understood by the following discourse, how commodiously there may be sent many people from any part of your Majesty's Kingdoms to be there employed, that have but small means to live, and be very beneficial to themselves, & will employ them there. The first thing therefore that I will advise any subject that is but little acquainted with Sea-affaires, and such as is willing to adventure in the desired Plantation, is, to acquaint himself with an approved understanding man in Sea-affaires, and also with a second; and then with both their opinions and his own judgement, he may set forward therein, with great hope of the better success; for to my knowledge, diverse worthy gentlemen that have adventured to the Seas; partly through their own conceit, seeming to know that which they did not, have also oftentimes been animated on by some turbulent spirits that have outrun themselves, and so brought men in such minds, that on the coast of Guinnie there, they might gather up gold along the Seashore, washed up with the Sea in great abundance; and likewise if they would adventure to the West Indies, there they should load their ships with gold-oare, and draw it aboard their ships with Wheelbarrows, and then share it by the pound; and such like projects.  
Thus by such means diverse men have run so far at Sea, in some such unfit voyages, that they have brought land to water, and knew not how to shape a course to recover unto land again. God send all those that will henceforth adventure to the Seas in any Plantation, good Pilots, and it will be the greater hope of good success.  
Now for those that will put their hands to the furthering of a Plantation in Newfoundland, my opinion is, they are best either to buy a Ship of 100 Tun, and a Pinnace of 40. Tun, or near such burdens, or else to hire the like Ship to serve for the passing of people, victuals, and provisions, in the Spring of the year, fit for such a purpose, and for the returning of such fish, and other commodities from thence, as those men so sent and employed, may procure with their labours; and those Ships and men so sent, may be so fitted and provided with Salt, Nets, Hooks, Lines and such like provisions, as those Ships and men are, which yearly fail thither a fishing.  
The best course of the two, as I conceive, is for any such, to buy a Ship and a Pinnace to serve for that purpose, and then the Pinnace may be sent thither before the bigger Ship, whereby to settle and begin to such a convenient place for habitation, as God shall direct them whither the greater ship may repair: and they may employ themselves all the time that there is good to be done in fishing in that trade only, and between the fail of the Shoales of fish, they may build houses and other necessary things in perfect readiness to be transported into Spain, Portugal and other places beyond the Seas, much cheaper than the Hollanders do, seeing it is to be had there easily with man's labour only. And therefore more commodiously from thence for us from those parts, than the Hollanders are able to serve them, as now they do, who buy such commodities with their money in Spruce-land, Norway and other places, and yet thereby gain much, and increase a number of Shipping and Mariners, and set them a work continually.  
Now having showed how men may undertake to further this Plantation, by providing ships for the fishing trade, as is formerly expressed; I suppose that some worthy men, that may be zealous and willing to further so pious, honourable, and beneficial a work, may be unwilling to trouble themselves with the fishing trade, and yet very willing to further the said Plantation after some other manner, that may be less troublesome to them, which they may well perform in this manner:  
They may hire a ship with men, and victualled to sail from any part of your Majesty's Kingdoms, to the Newfoundland, to carry people, victuals, beasts, and other provisions in such competent number, as may be fit to pass in such a ship, as any one shall so hire; and having landed such people and provisions there to plant, the said ship may there load fish from the fishermen; and if any will plant in that manner, they are to bargain for their fish here in England, with such as do set forth ships in the fishing trade, which fish may be bought before hand of them to be delivered there at eight shillings the hundred weight, or near that price, and to pay for the same within forty days, more or less, after such times here in England, that there comes from thence the sight of any Bills of Exchange, from those that receive the fish there in that manner; and the ship so hired, being there loaden, may sail from thence to Portugal, Spain, or any other Port within the straits of Gibraltar, and unto Marseilles or Naples; I suppose the freight of every Tun of fish so to be transported there, will be near four pound the Tun, twenty hundred weight to the Tun; which freight and hire for the ship, men and victuals, in all that time, it may be agreed to be paid there where the fish is sold; so that for the hire of the ship, men and victuals, there will be no occasion to disburse any money before the ship safely arrive to either of the places aforesaid, where, by God's assistance, any one shall so intend to make sales; and there the ship so hired may be set free; and than what more soever the fish may yield, may be to discharge the buying of the fish in the Newfoundland, and what profit may accrue over and above the freight and hire of the ship, men, and victuals being discharged, will redound to the good of any man that will adventure so to plant, and hire his ship in that manner; and such course may any sufficient man take every year to further the said Plantation, and have one ship to make three voyages there in a year, that shall but land people and provisions for them, and presently reloade such Fish, Masts, Deale-bords, Beams, Timber for buildings, and other commodities, such as those people which he had formerly sent, should have provided in readiness: with which commodities, if he return to Spain or Portugal, it will yield ready money: and if he return with it to the City of London and Port of Bristol, or any other place within your Majesty's Kingdoms, it will also not only yield ready money, but it will be a means to employ many the more of your Majesty's Subjects and shipping therein: so that the Hollanders and other Nations should not bring so much of such commodities into your Majesty's Kingdoms as they do now yearly, and carry away much coin for the same.  
And withal it is to be considered, that whereas now there are yearly at Newfoundland of your Majesty's Subjects ships in the fishing trade, at least 15000. ton burden of shipping, as is already expressed, and that these ships yearly carry thither, near half their lading of salt, to save their fish withal, which cannot be less than 7000. ton, the which salt, whether it be bought in Spain, Portugal or France at a cheap rate, it cannot cost less than seven thousand pounds, which is but twenty shillings the ton, adding the freight thereunto for bringing it from those parts, it cannot stand in less than twenty shilling a ton more, which is seven thousand pounds more; so that the salt may stand those that trade thither as the trade is now, with the waste and transportation of it thither, above fourteen thousand pounds, of which sum there is above seven thousand pounds yearly bestowed in other Countries, which I should gladly show some fit means that it may be henceforth saved and brought into your Majesty's Kingdoms in Coin, or some other good commodities. The which may be very fitly, commodiously and beneficially done, if those which yearly adventure thither, will settle people there in such order as aforesaid, in every harbour where they use to fish, and provide pans in every such harbour to boil salt to preserve their fish withal, the which may be performed there very cheap; so in that manner one pan will make above twenty bushels of good salt in every four and twenty hours for that purpose, only with man's labour and the salt water; and not as some do use, to make salt upon salt; and there it will be undertaken to be made with the wood-fire (which may be there had with little labour) without Charcoal or Seacoles; and that salt so made there, shall not stand in threepences the bushel, to those that will provide to make it in that manner: and now salt stands those that adventure there, never less than twenty pence a bushel.  
And it is well approved by all those that yearly fish for Ling, Cod, and Herrings upon all your Majesty's Seacoasts, that salt orderly boiled in such manner, doth much better preserve fish, and keep it more delightfuller in taste, and better for man's body, than that fish which is preserved with any other kind of salt. And I am well assured, that such fish as is salted with the finest white salt, will sell far better in Seville, and other places of Spain and Italy, then that which is preserved with any other kind of muddy salt: and thus by taking such a fit course for making thereof in Newfoundland, it will not only save a great deal of coin yearly in your Majesty's Kingdoms, but also greatly enrich your Majesty's Subjects thereby.  
There is no question to be made, but that those ships which may be so procured to carry people thither, will yearly return from thence deep loaden with good fish to diverse places beyond the Seas, and make good profit with the employments thereof, (if fit provision be made to take fish withal as it ought to be: for every man, the better he doth provide himself for that purpose, shall reap the greater benefit thereby at the first) and not be able to return from thence, Deale-bords, Masts, and such like, until such time as shipping be builded much greater, and fitter for that service then now they are.  
The trade to the Newfoundland being followed in this manner, as it may well be, your Majesty's Subjects may then have there yearly, above 400. sail of good ships from all your Majesty's Kingdoms, ready to be called home from thence, without imbarment of any foreign Prince, upon less than fourteen day's warning, if the wind serve, with above eight thousand lusty, strong and serviceable Seamen in them, upon any occasion of service, when some other ships and Mariners that are then abroad in voyages, to the East, or West Indies, and diverse other places, will not be so speedily called home; neither (when they come) so lusty and strong, as those which use to the Newfoundland are, if your Majesty and Kingdoms have never so great need of their service.  
Which being considered, must needs be also a great terror to any foreign Prince that shall proffer to quarrel with your Majesty, when he shall consider that your Majesty may so speedily be furnished with so many serviceable ships of your Subjects, and so many Sailors, and that but from that only place of trading: So, again it is to be considered, that yearly from the Newfoundland, as the trade is now, the Subjects bring from thence to the value much above the sum of 135000. pounds: what the benefit and employment thereof, and the employments of ships and Mariners are thereby, may be well considered, and that trade carrieth not away any coin out of the Land, as some others do, neither any other commodities, and therefore it may be well understood what a great benefit shall arise to all your Majesty's Kingdoms, if the trade be once orderly settled and increased as aforesaid: and then your Majesty's Subjects ships will be much bigger builded for that trade, and better furnished with good Ordnance, fit for any defence, and likewise then Ordnance will not be sold into other Countries (as it hath been much in my time) which Ordnance so sold (I fear) if occasion should be offered, may shoot their bullets at our own bosoms, as it is already too much seen.  
And whereas my opinion is, that it is better to buy ships for that trade, then to take them to hire (as some do) which yearly send ships thither, to load either fish or Train and transport it into France, Spain and other places; those which hire ships, are bound by conditions under hand and seal, which we call Charter parties; wherein it is expressed, in how many days the owners of the ships are to make them ready, & how many days she must stay there, to attend the Merchant, and such like conditions: And although the place where she arrives be never so much overlaid with the like commodity that she bringeth; yet there must she discharge and also relade; though such commodities, which she is to relade, be there much dearer than at some other place not far from it: which hath been a great loss to many Merchants; yea diverse cavils have risen thereby between them that have taken and let Ships in that manner.  
Therefore I hold, that the buying of Ships to follow that service, is the best and profitablest course that may be taken therein; for than they may send them to Newfoundland, or where they think good at all times of the year, and to any place, or so many places as may please God to direct them, to make their sail and employments, and likewise to vent the same, where they may be best advised.  
Such as will undertake to send people to that land, as aforesaid, I would also advise them to acquaint themselves with a fit man to be Master in each Ship, that understands the order of a fishing voyage to that Country; and he will procure fit fishermen, to go with him for that purpose, and likewise acquaint them with every particular thing that is fit for such a voyage. And withal it is to be observed, that for every such servant that any Master will send thither to plant, and live all the year, he is to have a single share allowed unto every man alike of such fish as is taken, whilst they labour together in the Summer time with the ships company with whom they are, though afterwards they stay in the land, and follow some other service for their masters, whiles the ships are employed abroad in venting their commodities, and until they return to them again, to the Newfoundland: which single share of fish so taken, may well defray all the charge and hire that any man shall have of his master, who doth stay there all the winter, with good advantage.  
Note also I pray, that any ship which shall be so employed to fish only, as now men use to do, if she be 100 Tun, doth commonly carry in her 36. men and boys; and that ship will sail well to the Newfoundland, and from thence to the straits of Gibraltar, or any other part of Christendom, with 20. of the former 36. men: so that 16. of the said company may very well remain there, till the said ships return to them again, and do good service to your Majesty and themselves, but most of all to those who shall send so great a number thither to live all the year; whereas now these 16. men lie still in the ship at great charge every voyage, much pestering the ships with their persons, victuals, chests, and diverse unprofitable things to no good purpose, as is touched before; which places in the ship may be filled with good fish and other profitable things, if those 16. men were left behind in the Country where they may be well employed, which is almost the one half part of such a ships company.  
By this it may plainly be understood, that the victual which those 16. men spend sailing thither, and returning homeward, and a month's victual at least for all those 36. men, will yearly be saved to maintain them there all the winter season, with the help of very little victuals to it, and also it will be a great good ease to the Commonwealth, to leave so many there all the Winter; & after this rate poportionably from diverse ships, great companies may commodiously and beneficially be raised to remain there in little time, from such as will voluntarily and willingly entertain their certain places to make their fish on, and plant: for the most part of those men, who may so well and beneficially remain there to plant, may be, some handycraftsmen with their wives, and some such other people as your Majesty's Kingdoms may very well spare, doing good to themselves, their masters and Commonwealth, learning experience and to be fit for service.  
I am also confident in my opinion (wherein I submit myself to deeper judgements) that if Newfoundland may be thus planted, our Shipping and Mariners will be so increased, 
Mariners to be increased.  that we may hereafter furnish France, Spain, Portugal, and other Countries, with such kind of fish as those Seas do yield; and so by this means the whole fishing trade on that coast, may be drawn into the hands of your Majesty's subjects only: and whether then it will be better for your Majesty's Kingdoms, let each man judge.  
I do not intend that other Nations should be prohibited the free privilege of fishing, 
No Nation to be forbidden Fishing.  which for many years they have enjoyed there with us; or that we should assume it unto ourselves by strong hand, or constrained those that come thither, to take their fish of us at our prices: but this is my only meaning; That whereas at this present, the French, Bilcaines', and Portugals send yearly to that Country many sail of ships, as I have already declared, our men by sailing thither with fewer persons, and in less danger in every ship then now we do, by multiplying their voyages, and spending less time and victuals in the same, and by carrying more and better fish in every ship then now they use to do, may be able not only to furnish France, Spain, and Italy with those commodities, but also to sell far better cheap, than any of these nations can possibly fetch the same from thence with their own shipping and labours. And which of these nations will then adventure thither, when he knows that his return will be a certain loss?  

●urres of diverse sorts.  Moreover, our men wintring there, might take of the beasts of the Country yielding Furs, when they are in season, and in their perfection; So that in process of time, they may also settle a traffic with the Savages for their Furs of Beaver, Martons, Seale, Otters, and what else is of worth amongst them.  

Shipping maintained.  Shipping also (the walls and Bulwarks of your Majesty's Kingdoms) will be hereby not only maintained; but also greatly increased, both in number and burden, which would be a great advantage to your Majesty, and a notable defence and addition of strength unto your Majesty's Kingdoms.  

Artificers set on work.  Many more poor Artificers and others will be then in great numbers hereby set a work, than now there are, and by the increase and bettering of this Trade, a great augmentation of your Majesty's Revenues in your Customs must of necessity follow.  
And certainly if this Trade and Plantation were once settled in such manner, it would prove more commodious and beneficial than any other Plantation your Majesty hath elsewhere: for, as I have said, it bringeth in great wealth, and carrieth away nothing but a little victuals, 
Wealth brought in, none carried away.  which would be consumed by so many idle persons in less than half the time, which have no employments, and yet the Kingdoms receive no benefit by such Drones neither.  
Much more might be said to this purpose: 
Fishing on the coast of Newfoundland, great security to great Britain.  but I desire not to invent, or enlarge matters beyond my observations; yet thus much also may I truly say, that the fishing on the coast of Newfoundland, is a sure and good trade to great Britain, and therefore deserves to be cherished: for trading thither and returning home thence, we little fear the Turks bondage and circumcision, nor any outlandish Inquisition, nor the Imbarkements of any Prince, nor such contagious heats, as those find that trade near the Line, neither the danger and hurt of Art-wormes, wherewith ships that trade to most parts Southward, are sometimes much hurt, nor many other hazards and inconveniences, to which some of our other trade are subject.  
And as this Plantation will be in all respects so beneficial, as any of those your Majesty holds abroad elsewhere: so may the same be effectually proceeded on in much more safety, and with a great deal less charge.  
For first of all, touching the transportation of men, 
transporting of ●en, victuals ●nd other necessaries from ●ence, at an easy ●ate.  victuals and other necessaries from hence into Newfoundland, it will be by the cheapest and easiest way that can possibly be: for there will be no occasion to hire any ships expressly for that voyage, as is usually done to other of your Majesty's Plantations, from whence having unloaden, ships return sometimes with few commodities.  
But those ships that go yearly empty to the Newfoundland, only to load fish and Train oil, and so to depart from thence, cannot be less in number then 40. sail: Therefore whatsoever shall be thought fit and necessary to be transported from hence, towards the furtherance and setting forward of that Plantation, may be by those Ships and Barks carried thither with a very little charge, and without trouble or hindrance to their voyages; and for the providing and furnishing of the Plantation with victuals and provisions for their livelihood, the chief want at the beginning will be Corn, (the Country itself yielding plenty of beasts, fowl, fish and fruits, as was before spoken of:) yea much good fish is there yearly cast away, which might be made good food for the Planters, if it were preserved. And if need be, ships may sail from thence in five days with a fair wind, to the Lands of Flowers, 
Lands abounding with great store of Beasts for provision of victuals.  and Azores, which Lands abound in Wheat, Beefs, Sheep, Goats, Hogs, Hens, Potatoes, Muske-millions, Onions, and many other fruits which they may have there at cheap rates: and if that should fail, our Country men that stay there, may be supplied with as little inconvenience and prejudice, as to any other Plantations, until the Country shall be by their pains and industry made fit to bear Corne.  
For the settling of people there, I have sufficiently declared, it being that they, who shall either alone or with their families voluntarily go thither, have good conditions, both for allowing them land, and other convenient privileges.  
For the employment of men in the absence of the shipping, it will be very beneficial in many respects; 
Employment for all in the absence of our men.  so that although thousands of your Majesty's people should at once go thither, yet there would be present employment for them all: no man shall need to live idly for want of work.  
And as Newfoundland is nearer to us by more than 400. leagues then Virginia; 
The quick return of our people, a comfort to their Country men.  and far from any of the Plantations of the King of Spain, which peradventure might make this business the more difficult; so those of this Plantation will have a great comfort and encouragement above all others, in that they shall not be left desolate in a remote Country, to shift for themselves, as some have been, but that after five months past, they shall again see great numbers of their country men, and have their company the rest of the year.  
Neither are there in that part of the Country any Savages, to oppose and resist our men's planting, 
No Savages in that part where our Nation trades,  as it falls out in many other places; Those that are there, live in the North and West parts of the Country (as hath been said) where our Nation trades not: But on the East and South side of the Land, where the English do fish, and which is the fittest place for a Plantation, there is not the least sign or appearance, that ever there was any habitation of the Savages, or that they ever came into those parts, to the Southward of Trinity Bay: of which I could also give some reasons, if it were not a thing needless to trouble this discourse withal.  
And as they shall stand in no fear to receive hurt from the Savages, 
Security from ●yrates, ●nd the Savages.  so may they be easily secured against the injury of Pirates, who sometimes come thither, and not only take from the fishermen, victuals and other provision and munitions, and have thereby strengthened themselves, but also have carried away from them many serviceable Mariners into Barbary and other parts, and thereby made many a poor widow and fatherless child: and it is to be feared, that those men so carried from the Newfoundland, who seeing their estates and their families so overthrown, may be provoked to animate the Turks men of war, to sail thither to take the spoil of our Nation, and others that are yearly a fishing on that Coast (which God defend) whereby to hinder that Trade, or the desired Plantation. The which inconvenience that is so to be feared, may be easily prevented by maintaining two good ships of war, of 200. ton a piece, and two Pinnaces of 40. ton a piece well provided, to be there maintained all the Summer time, and that the Commanders of them may have power, that if any great force of the Turks, or any others should at any time come thither, whereby to disturb your Majesty's Subjects in their trade of fishing, or attempt to hinder the Plantation; that then to raise a greater force from the Fishermen and Planters to defend any such attempt.  
The charge of which Ships & Pinnaces of war, so to be yearly maintained there for that service, 
An easy contribution for maintenance of their security from Pirates.  may be easily and commendably defrayed, with your Majesty's allowance therein, if every Ship and Vessel of your Majesty's Subjects, fishing on that Coast, will voluntarily contribute thereunto the value of half a good days fishing in the whole voyage, which will be abundantly recompensed unto them, in regard that they may then fish continually and securely many a days fishing the more in every voyage, which now oftentimes they dare not do. And then these two Ships of war, and two Pinnaces so to be maintained, by such a small contribution to be paid for their service at Newfoundland in dry fish, they will so scour the Seas every year going forth thitherward bound, and likewise in their return, that no Pirate of any Nation durst come near the Southern parts of your Majesty's Kingdoms; neither to lie in wait in the course sailing to and from the Newfoundland, for those that trade thither, as yearly heretofore they have done, and overthrown many a man's voyage.  
For which course, 
Hollanders attended with men of war  we have the example of our neighbours the Hollanders, who generally in all their trades, but most specially in their fishing upon your Majesty's Seacoasts, are attended with men of war, which are defrayed by a certain contribution from those men, in whose defence they are employed. And by this means the Merchants and Traders of Holland, receive far greater assurance and benefit, then if every Merchant's ship should set themselves forth in warlike manner in their own defence. For besides the security they have, and saving the charge which such provisions would require, they have much the more room in their Merchant's ships for their Commodities.  

Many serviceable men and Mariners bred th●●.  And these ships thus sent to guard their Fleets, which are called Wafters, do continually breed many serviceable Seamen, not only Mariners, but also good soldiers, and fit Commanders, that are well experienced how to command in Ships upon all occasions; for without such fit Commanders in good Ships, there is but small hope of good service to be performed by them: and if the Newfoundland men may be thus guarded with two such Ships, and two Pinnaces, it would not only in little time breed many a Gentleman and others in them to be experienced how to command in ships, upon any occasion of service, but also it will make your Majesty's subjects Ships that trade thither, so strong, that they need not fear the greatest force, that any Prince should at any time send thither to disturb or hinder them, neither in returning from thence, upon any occasion to do your Majesty service.  
If after all this, I should be demanded by those which know not the Country, what other places in the Land are also fit to be peopled at first, so well as the Harbours of Trepassey, & Trinity (of which I have already spoken) whereby those which will adventure thither, may not be doubtful to plant in other Habors, although I have first expressed them for some special reasons as it may be well understood, the one of them lying North-most, where our Nation useth to fish, near the Savages, and the other lying on the South-most part of the Land, and near unto the passages of diverse ships that sail yearly to and from other places of the world, as is already plainly showed; yet there are many other excellent good Harbours where our nation useth to fish, lying between them both, which are very good for ships to more fast at anchor, and easily to be defended from enemies, that shall at any time attempt to molest such as shall plant in them: and better for fishing, then either of the foresaid two Harbours are, of which I will particularly express some of their names.  
First, the Harbour of Sant john's: Foriland: 
Good Harbours, Bays and Rhodes for Ships and Fishing.  Formosa: Agafort: Harbour de Grace: Renouze: and diverse other good Harbours, Bays, and Roads, where there is good fishing, and are fit places for ships to ride in the Summer time: & as it is already showed, that the bottoms of diverse Bays, that are expressed to be in this South part of the Land, do even meet together, within the compass of a small circuit, near unto the Bay of Trepassey; So likewise not far from Trepassey, which lieth six leagues to the West, from the South cape of the Land, which is called Cape Derasse, and six leagues to the Northward of the said Cape, lieth the Harbour of Renouze, which is a place easily to be defended, there being at a low ebb not 18. foot water fine sand: yet in danger to be spoiled by the stones and ballast that are thrown into the same, 
Stones and Ballast thrown in the said Rhodes, dangerous for Ships.  which are to be seen in great heaps when the water is clear, as commonly it is in a fair Sunshining day. These stones and ballast, so thrown into the Harbours by Christians (if there be not some better course taken therein) it is to be sorrowed, that the offenders are not severely punished.  

Good land for Tillage.  Close adjoining to the Harbour of Renouze, are above 200. Acres of good land, that is clear without Woods or Rocks, and lieth commodiously to be overflown with fresh Rivers in the Summer time, with very little labour, as I have well observed: and within a mile further off from the said Harbours, lie many hundred acres more of very good open land, that are able to receive and relieve many hundreds of cattle, and fit, with little labour, to be manured for Tillage.  

Great store of Deer.  There are yearly near unto the said Harbour of Renouze, great store of Deer seen; and sometimes diverse of them have been taken. There is a man yet living, that was once at Newfoundland in a ship with me; and he in one voyage did there, near unto the Harbour of Renouze, kill 18. very large and fat Deer, as it is well known, yet he went with his Piece but seldom for that purpose, and would then have killed many more, if he might have been spared from other labour to attend thereon: whereby it may be well understood, that there is great store of Deeres flesh in that Country, 
Store of Fish and Fowl, fresh water & wood.  and no want of good fish, good fowl, good fresh water, and store of wood, etc.  
From the said Harbour of Renouze, it is not above ten miles over land to the Harbour of Trepassey, and not far from thence to the bottom of Trinity Bay, and within three leagues unto the Harbour of Renouze, are three very good Harbours, where our Nation useth to fish, which lie to the Northward of it.  
Now whereas there have been reports made of great cold in that Country, by people that have traded thither, who (I suppose) never saw any other Country, but only that, and their own native soil: and such when they have returned from thence one voyage, though they never understood, or felt the nature and temperature of other Climates, neither consider the goodness of Newfoundland, as it is now partly made known, have given a great deal worse report of that Country, then in reason they should: and if such were but a little acquainted, or would understand of the great cold that is at times in Muscovia, Sweidon, Norway, Spruceland, Poland, Denmark, and other Eastern and Northern parts of the world, where the people live well and grow rich; such ill reporters of Newfoundland would alter their opinions. And although the Ice is so great in those other parts the Winter season, commonly four months together, that neither Ship nor Boat can pass in all that time, from one place to another, but lie still fast frozen, yet in that season, where Ships use to sail the Summer time from one place to another, Carts and Coaches do pass upon the Ice.  
Ships also in Holland and in those near places, in some Winters do lie there fast frozen a long time together: and likewise it hath been in some Winters so hard frozen in the River of Thames, above London-bridge near the Court, that the tenderest fair Ladies and Gentlewomen that are in any part of the world, who have beheld it, and great numbers of people, have there sported on the Ice many days together, and have felt it colder there, than men do that live in Newfoundland.  
Now if such men, when they come from thence, that have but little experience of the cold in other Countries, neither take due observation of the cold that is sometimes in England, would listen to men that have traded in the Summer time to Greeneland, for the kill of Whales, and making of that Train oil (which is a good trade found out) and consider well of the abundance of great Lands of Ice, that those Ships and men are there troubled withal at times, they would thereby be persuaded to speak little of the cold in Newfoundland: yet, praised be God, seldom any of those Ships and men that trade to Greeneland, take hurt thereby.  
Wherefore I desire to satisfy any that shall be willing to further this Plantation, and clear those reports and doubts that are feared by some people of the cold there; and also to let them know, that the Savage people of the Country endure it so well, that they live there naked Winter and Summer. And also myself, and most of our Nation, and others that have traded there, endure the greatest cold we have met withal there at any time, in our faces, necks, and ears, as well as any Gentlewomen in England do the cold in their naked bosoms, necks and faces in the Winter time, when they go so uncovered: and therefore I do conceive, that it is but a little needless chary niceness used by some that trade there, that complain any thing of the cold in that Country, by keeping themselves too warm: which cold (I suppose) some that have been there, may feel the more, if they have been much accustomed to drink Tobacco, strong Ale, double Beer, or have been accustomed to sit by a Tavern fire, or touched with the French disease: such, when they come to a little cold, wheresoever they be, feel the cold more extremely than otherwise they would.  
Furthermore they may be also more fully satisfied of the cold in that Country by a Gentleman, one Master john Guy, late Mayor of the City of Bristol, that lived there two years together, with diverse others of sort and quality, many years so pleasantly, and healthful with their wives and families, as if they had lived in England.  
And whereas there come some years upon that Coast great Lands of Ice, which are congealed in the North, far from thence, as it may be well perceived, and that the coast of Newfoundland lieth in longitude from the South Cape thereof to the grand Bay, which is the North-most part of the Country, North, North-East, and South, South-west, above five degrees; and that from thence, any ship being off from that Coast twelve Leagues, and sailing North, North-East, may run on, till they come to the Northward of 70. degrees, and no land to hinder him, neither from thence any land found, in that altitude, directly East unto Greeneland, where the trade is for killing of Whales, which is above 400. leagues distance from that course:  
Therefore it may be well understood, as it hath been approved by diverse men that have attempted to seek out some new Discoveries, in those North parts of the world, that there is always abundance of great Lands of Ice, which the current setting very strongly from thence, by reason (as I conceive of) of some Straight and passage that the Sea hath from the large Seas that lie on the North side of Tartary, and those unknown parts of the world, and sets towards the Coast of Newfoundland, with the said Current and North winds; & do there in little time dissolve, and thereby they make the air and water some thing the colder there. 
Jlands of Ice there speedily melt.  Those Lands of Ice are not dangerous unto Ships being once descried, as by their whiteness they may in a dark night when men look out for them; for they will drive along so fast with the wind, as I have often proved, that if a Ship be under the Lee of an Island of Ice, and there strike down his sails, the Ice will drive faster with the wind, than the ship will drive before it, so that a ship may turn from it when there is cause.  
Thus having showed (as I conceive) the reasons that such Lands of Ice are seen some years on the Coast of Newfoundland; I will also show my opinion partly, why there are such Fogs there also sometimes.  
It is well known unto all those that have seen the Country and observed it, how the Land is overgrown with Woods and Bushes that have grown, & so rotten into the ground again (in my opinion ever since the flood) the rottenness thereof hath so covered the earth, and Rocks in diverse places of the Country in great thickness, and by reason thereof, the open land and woods do a long time in the Summer contain a great moisture under the same, 
The cause of the Fogs.  so that a man may observe, when the heat of the year comes on, a kind of Fog arising continually from it.  
Therefore, in my opinion, 
How to abate the Fogs, and to make the Country hotter.  which I submit to deeper judgements, if those unnecessary bushes, and such unserviceable woods were in some places burned, so as the hot beams of the Sun might pierce into the earth and stones there, so speedily as it doth in some other Countries, that lie under the same elevation of the Pole, it would then there make such a reflection of heat, that it would much lessen these Fogs, and also make the Country much the hotter Winter and Summer, and thereby the earth will bud forth her blossoms and fruits more timely in the year, than now it doth, and so bring the Land more familiar to us, and fitter for Tillage, and for Beasts, and also for Land-fowle, then now it is; and thereby those Lands of Ice that come on that Coast at any time, will the sooner dissolve, which do speedily melt, when they come near the South part of that Land, etc.  
Also, it may be objected by some, that the Country is rocky, and mountainous, and so overgrown with trees & bushes, in such a Wilderness, that it will be an endless trouble to bring it to good perfection: and such like objections are often used, as if they would have such a Land cleansed to them without labour. Yet my hope is, when any such shall read over this Discourse, and consider well of the particular motives herein expressed, whereby a Plantation there should be embraced, they will be well satisfied therein, and I suppose, forbear to say it is such a rocky, and cold Country as is unfit to be planted.  
I have been several times in Norway, where the Country is in most places more rocky, and mountainous than the Newfoundland, and lies above six degrees more to the North, and yet very beneficial to the King of Denmark, where many of his Majesty's Subjects live pleasantly; but the Newfoundland is much more pleasant to live in. I have often seen the Coast of Biskay and Portugal all along the Sea-Coast, how rocky, barren and mountainous these Countries be in most places, although they lie in a pleasant and temperate Climate; if such which should dispraise the Newfoundland, had seen it as I have, they would not only like well, and be in love to further the desired Plantation, but also admire how the people in those other Countries do live by their good industry, and seek out little places amongst the Rocks, and in the sides of Hills and Mountains, 
Rocks and Mountains good for Seeds, Roots and Vines.  to set and sow their seeds for Roots, Cabage, Onions, and such like, whereby they receive great comforts: for all alongst those parts on the Sea-coast, their best means of living is by fishing, and other trades by Sea. The like benefit may all such have, that will plant at Newfoundland, and much better in many other things, as is already sufficiently touched.  
Likewise it is well known to all those that have travailed from thence all along the Coast of Spain, even to Granada, how barren and rocky those parts of Spain are also in most places; and yet the people by their good industry, plant many of their Vines and other fruits, on the sides of some steep Hills amongst the Rocks, where men are fain in diverse places, even to creep on their hands and knees to prune the said Vines, and gather the Grapes of them, to make their strong wines, and sweet Raisins withal, which we so much delight to taste. In those toothsome, and delightful Commodities, our Merchants bestow much money, which the Newfoundland trade and Commodities had from thence, will be able in little time, if it be peopled as aforesaid, to supply all your Majesty's Kingdoms withal, with the sales of such commodities had from thence, to be employed therein.  
Likewise from Granada, to Carthagena, Allegant, Denia, and from thence even to the City of Valencia, which is a large circuit, the most parts all along, as I have traveled by land, are very barren, rocky and mountainous; that very few cattle, Sheep, Goats, or any other beasts are able to live there, & yet do the people in those parts use great industry, to plant their Vines and other fruits, whereby they seek out their best means they have to live: and likewise also in diverse other places near the Mediterranean Sea, from thence to Bassalonia, Marseilles, Savoy, and Genua, and in diverse other places in Italy, these Countries are very Rocky and Mountainous: and yet those places do abound with many other rich blessings, by means of the people's good industry there, and so by reason thereof, the people in all those parts from the Coast of Biskay, unto Italy; and also the most parts of France, Gascoigne, Britain, Normandy and Picardy, are by the Newfoundland fish greatly relieved: which fish is in all those parts in great request, and steeds them greatly, and doth sell very well there most commonly, and so likewise in England great abundance thereof is spent; which being well considered, I know no reason to the contrary, but that the Subjects of all your Majesty's Kingdoms should be most willing to further that Plantation, and show their good industry to cleanse Land there for Corn and woad, and plant diverse kinds of fruits, which questionless will also prove very well there; and then will it be to all your Majesty's Kingdoms such a nursery to get wealth, and increase and maintain Shipping, and beget serviceable Seamen, as great Britain had never the like.  
With these good blessings which are before recited, being followed by industrious spirits, there is a great hope of a plentiful harvest unto your Majesty and Kingdoms thereby. God send good Seeds-men and Planters to set it forward, as I trust in God it will have, seeing it hath already had many right Honourable and worthy Fathers to commend it.  
And although that sithence I presumed to write this Discourse, I have been often dishartened from proceeding herein: Yet, when I did remember Columbus his good endeavours, that first and patient Discoverer of the West Indies, whom, if God had not heartened him on with a worthy mind, and a bosom armed for all the storms of cross fortunes, he had never finished that Honourable attempt for finding such an happy business out, the which Discovery of his, hath ever since filled the Spanish Coffers with gold and silver, and made that Nation Lords of the greatest riches under the Sun: and although that attempt of his, was held at first impossible to to come any good effect, & Columbus laughed at by some: yet ever since, by his attempt I may say, that Spain hath had from thence to help to furnish other Christian Kingdoms with gold, silver, and diverse other great riches; and also now to that Country so discovered, those commodities that great Britain may yearly well spare, and other Countries also, are the better vented: and so likewise, may the Newfoundland and the parts of America, near thereunto, prove beneficial for diverse trades in little time.  
These good motives considered, what great good comes unto Christian Kingdoms, by Foreign Plantations, and what infinite wealth is yearly brought from the West Indies into Spain, as I have there seen landed; do put me in great hope, that if there be an orderly Plantation settled in Newfoundland, the trade to that Country by your Majesty's Subjects, and other places thereby, may yearly be so beneficial to your Majesty and your Highness other Kingdoms, as the West Indies are now yearly worth to the King of Spain.  
Now having thus commended the Country of Newfoundland in my opinion, it ought not to be one of the least motives, whereby to further this Plantation, the setting of some better order and government amongst the Fishermen, and all others of our Nation that yearly trade there, then now there is; so that there may be a reformation of such abuses as are there yearly committed; wherein it is well known, that I have already used my best endeavours in the year 1615. at which time I had a Commission with me for that purpose under the broad Seal of the Admiralty, and did then therewith set forth, to follow that service from the Port of Exeter, in the County of Devon, on the 11. day of May 1615. in a Bark victualled and manned with 11. men and boys at my own charge, and I did then arrive at the Coast of Newfoundland, in the Bay of Trinity, upon Trinity Sunday, being the 4. of june, and anchored the same day in the said Harbour of Trinity; and there, in the name of the holy and individual Trinity, began, to the use of your Majesty, by virtue of that Commission, to send forth a Precept, to call the Masters of those English ships, that were then there riding at Anchor, and also the Masters of some other English ships that were near thereunto, and so began to hold the first Court of Admiralty in your Majesty's name, that ever was (as I believe) holden in that Country, to the use of any Christian Prince, and proceeded therein according to course of Law, as the tenor of my Commission did warrant me therein; and also in other Harbours of the said Coast I did the like. Part of which abuses there committed, I have already touched: so likewise I will briefly insert a part of the several presentments of such injuries, that were then there delivered unto me, as aforesaid, under the hands and seals of those 170. Masters of English Ships, to the use of your Majesty: which presentments were, upon my return from the said voyage, delivered by me into your Majesty's high Court of the Admiralty, and then by those Masters of ships there impanelled, such abuses as follow, they did acknowledge, and order, that henceforth with your Majesty's allowance might be redressed etc.  
First, they did all acknowledge, that there is but little difference of days observed amongst the Fishermen; some men presuming to go to Sea, and to fish with hook and line, upon the Sabbath day, as usually as upon the week days.  
Secondly, that diverse of our Nation do take into their ships very great stones, to press their dry fish withal; which work being done, they cast those stones into the Harbours, where their ships use to ride at anchor; which will utterly spoil the Roads and Harbours in that Country, and be to the endangering of Ships and Cables, yea and men's lives also, if it be not reform in time.  
There are many men yearly, who unlawfully convey away other men's fishing boats, from the Harbour & place where they were left the year before in that Country; & some cut out the marks of them; and some others rip and carry away the pieces of them, to the great prejudice and hindrance of the voyages of such ships that depend on such fishing boats, and also to the true Owners of such boats.  
There are some men, who arriving there first into a Harbour, do rip and pull down Stages, that were left standing for the splitting and salting of fish the year before; and other Stages some men have set on fire: which is a great hindrance to the voyages of such men, as are not there with the first in the Harbour, for that they must then spend 20. days time, for preparing new Stages, and fitting new Pinnaces, and other necessary things, in every voyage before they be settled to fish.  
There are also some, who arriving first in Harbour, take away other men's Salt that they had left there the year before, and also rip and spoil the Fats wherein they make their Train; and some tear down Flakes, whereon men yearly dry their fish, to the great hurt and hindrance of many other that come after them.  
Some men likewise steal away the bait out of other men's Nets by night, and also out of there fishing boats by their ships side, whereby their fishing, from whom it is so taken, is overthrown for the next day.  
They did acknowledge, that some men take up more room than they need, or is fitting to dry their fish on, whereby other men's voyages are oftentimes greatly hindered.  
They also found, that diverse of your Majesty's subjects have come to that Coast, in fishing voyages in ships not appertaining to any of your Majesty's subjects, which they conceived worthy of punishment, and reformation.  
They did acknowledge, that some men rip, and take away Timber and Rails from Stages, and other necessary rooms, that are fastened with nails, Spike or Trey nail; and some men take away the Rinds & Turf wherewith diverse necessary rooms are fitly covered for serviceable uses, and likewise take away Stakes that are fastened in the ground with Rails on them, whereupon men use to dry their fish; and that some set the standing Woods in the Country on fire, which have in little time burned many thousand acres; and that there are some which yearly take away other men's Train there by night; which they conceived worthy of reformation.  
They found, that diverse idle persons, which were hired for those voyages, when they come thither, notwithstanding that they were still in health, would not work, and were so lazy and idle, that their work was to little purpose: which was worthy of punishment.  
Against all these great abuses, and diverse others committed in the said Newfoundland (which they did set down in their several presentments, as by them it may at large appear, they did all condescend, and order from that time thenceforth, that no subject to your Majesty should commit any more such abuses in that Country: which may be very well remedied, seeing they tend to the advancement of the Trade, and quietness amongst the Fishermen, and to the Glory of God, the honour and good of your Majesty, and the general benefit of the Commonwealth.  
They did further present to the use of the Lord Admiral of England, two small Boats, Anchors, and a small Grapple, that were found in the Sea upon that Coast, which were there prized to be worth two shillings sixpences apiece, amounting to seven shillings sixpences.  
Now having laid open how commodious and beneficial it will be to your Majesty and Kingdoms, to settle a Plantation in the Newfoundland, and also made known some unfit courses that are yearly used by some Fishermen that adventure there: and likewise showed a part of some great wrongs that have been committed there by Pirates and some erring subjects; and also touched a little, that there have not been such fit courses taken by some of those that have been employed to that Country in the Plantation already there begun, as they should have done, by reason whereof it is to be feared, that some of those Honourable, and other right Worshipful persons that undertake the same, and that have been at some great charge therein, seeing their good endeavours and charge take no better success, they may wax cold and weary in disbursing more thereunto, and so by their remissness the Plantation might be given over, and the Country left to the spoil and usurpation of some other Prince that may undertake the same, and then reap the harvest of your Majesty's Subjects labours, that shall then trade to that Country, etc. And therefore showing how it may be provided for by your Majesty, and all those wrongs henceforth remedied: now I suppose, that some, who may find themselves a little touched herein, may not only envy me, for laying open that which I have; whereby to prevent such further dangers and inconueniencies in that Country, and to further such a worthy work: and therefore I may be unjustly taxed, as many worthy men have been, for well doing. For although I have by Pirates, and other crosses received great losses, yet do I acknowledge myself much bound to God my Creator, who hath preserved me from many dangers in my time, and safely to return with my ship wherein I was; I do also most humbly give God the praise, that I am now so happily arrived with this my plain and true Discovery, unto the view of your most Sacred Majesty, and the right Honourable Lords of your Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, and my Country, whereby to show what in all likelihood the effect of a Plantation will there produce; using also many arguments, motives and inducements to persuade a general willingness thereunto.  
And these excellent benefits distribute themselves, between your Majesty and your Subjects: your Highness' part will be the Honour of the Action; the access of Territory, increase of strength and power, advantage against other Princes, augmentation of Revenue, and ease of your Majesty's Kingdoms, etc. The Subject's part will be the bettering and securing of their Trade; enriching of themselves; relief of other Trades; and a means of further Discoveries.  
But these two have a relation and dependency, the one on the other, that neither can subsist without the other. I will not therefore divide your Majesty from your Subjects; your Highness' prosperity being their happiness; and their wealth, your Majesty's riches.  
The first thing which is to be hoped for, and which hath ever been your Majesty's principal care, is the propagation of the Christian Faith: and by that means only, the poor unbelieving Inhabitants of that Country may be brought to the knowledge of God, and a civil kind of government: and it is not a thing impossible, but that from those slender beginnings which may be made in Newfoundland, all the Regions adjoining (which between this place, and the Countries actually possessed by the King of Spain, and to the North of Newfoundland, are so spacious as all Europe) may be converted to the true Worship of God.  
The next is, the uniting of a Country so beneficial already, and so promising unto your Majesty's Crown, without bloodshed, charge, or usurpation, which must needs be a perpetual Honour to your Majesty, in all succeeding ages; neither will it be an Honour only to your Highness, but a benefit to the State, by a new access of Dominion. And what Prince can enlarge his Territories by a more easy and more just means then this, seeing that of right it appertaineth to your Majesty, and therefore deserves to be embraced?  
Now if it please your most excellent Majesty, not only to lend your ear to a Project of this nature, but also to approve the matter projected, and vouchsafe the furtherance therein, the which out of my soul's devotion, and zealous affection to do service to your Majesty and your Kingdoms, I tender on my knees; most humbly beseeching your Highness, both to accept of my honest and zealous intent, as also to pardon my boldness and presumption therein; for it is, and so hath ever been my resolution, rather to bear the burden of poverty, then justly to deserve, or give cause of reproach; and to subject all the days of my life, and the manifold dangers thereof, thereby to approve myself a profitable member, both to your Majesty, and to my Country that gave me my first breath; for which only cause I have adventured to publish this my simple and plain Discourse, whereunto my very conscience hath a long time, and still doth not forbear to solicit me.  
The prosecution and perfection of the work, I leave to the pleasure of God, and your Majesty's happy directions; in the discourse and discovery whereof, if I have either been tedious, or any other way offensive, it is to be imputed to my want of learning: and so, though perhaps I do not satisfy some men's curiosities, yet I hope I have sufficiently informed their judgements; and beseech God to incline their affections to the furtherance of so pious, and so profitable a business, as this appeareth to be.  
And so I rest, and ever will remain a faithful and loyal Subject to your Majesty, an hearty and true lover of my Country, and a zealous wellwisher to this intended Plantation.  
Richard Whitbourne.   

A conclusion to the Reader, containing a particular Description, and relation of some things omitted in the former Discourse.  
GEntle Reader, seeing my former Discovery received such good approbation and allowance before it was printed, it puts me in some hope, it will also receive good acceptance from all his Majesty's well-affected Subjects, now that it is published; the which when I shall understand, by their thankful acceptance, I shall be encouraged the more willingly, to set forth what I have observed touching the Altitude of some headlands of that Coast, on the East side of the Newfoundland, and also the Deeps, and several soundings, that I have taken notice of in my travels to that Country; which I conceive to be necessary for those that shall henceforth trade thither; which as yet no man, to my knowledge, hath undertaken; and also be ready with my life and means whatsoever I have, or may have in this World, to discover other Bays and Harbours round about that land, which are yet undiscovered, whereby to find out some other new Trades with the Natives of the Country; for they have great store of red Oaker, which they use to colour their Bodies, Bows and Arrows, and canoes withal, which canoes are built in shape, like the Wherries on the River of Thames; but that they are much longer, made with the rinds of Birch trees; which they sow very artificially and close together, and overly every seam with Turpentine; and in like manner they sow the rinds of Spruce trees, round and deep, in proportion like a brass kettle, to boil their meat in, which hath been well proved by three Mariners of a Ship, riding at Anchor by me, who being robbed in the night by the Savages, of their apparel and diverse provisions, did the next day seek after them, and came suddenly where they had set up three Tents, and were feasting, having three canoes by them, and had three pots made of such rinds of trees, standing each of them on three stones boiling with twelve Fowls in each of them; every Fowl as big as a Widgeon, and some so big as a Duck: they had also many such pots so sowed, and fashioned like the leather buckets that are used for quenching of fire, and those were full of the yolks of eggs, that they had taken and boiled hard, and so dried small, which the Savages used in their broth, as Sugar is used in some meats: they had great store of the Skins of Deer, beavers, Bears, Seals, Otters, and diverse other fine skins which were well dressed; as also great store of several sorts of flesh dried; and by shooting off a Musket towards them, they all ran away naked without any apparel, but only their hats on their heads, which were made of Seals skins, in fashion like our hats, sowed handsomely with narrow bands about them, set round with fine white shells, such as are carried from Portugal to Braseile; where they pass to the Indians as ready money. All their three canoes, their Flesh, Skins, Yolks of Eggs, Targets, Bows and Arrows, and much fine Okar, and diverse other things, they took and brought away, and shared it amongst those three that took it, and brought to me the best , Bowes and Arrows, and diverse of their Skins, and many other things worth the noting: which may seem to invite us to find out some other trades with them.  
Now also I will not omit to relate some thing of a strange Creature that I first saw there in the year 1610. in a morning early as I was standing by the water side, in the Harbour of Saint john's; which I espied very swiftly to come swimming towards me, looking cheerfully, as it had been a woman, by the Face, Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Chin, Ears, Neck and Forehead: It seemed to be so beautiful, and in those parts so well proportioned, having round about upon the head, all blue strakes, resembling hair, down to the Neck (but certainly it was no hair:) for I beheld it long, and another of my Company also, yet living, that was not then far from me; and seeing the same coming so swiftly towards me, I stepped back, for it was come within the length of a long Pike. Which when this strange Creature saw, that I went from it, it presently thereupon dived a little under water, and did swim towards the place where before I landed; whereby I beheld the shoulders and back down to the middle, to be as square, white and smooth as the back of a man, and from the middle to the hinder part, pointing in proportion like a broad hooked Arrow; how it was proportioned in the forepart, from the neck and shoulders, I know not; but the same came shortly after unto a Boat, wherein one William Hawkridge, than my servant, was, that hath been since a Captain in a ship to the East Indies, and is lately there employed again by Sir Thomas Smith, in the like Voyage; and the same Creature did put both his hands upon the side of the Boat, and did strive to come in to him and others then in the said Boat: whereat they were afraid; and one of them struck it a full blow on the Head; whereby it fell off from them: and afterwards it came to two other Boats in the said Harbour; the men in them, for fear fled to land: This (I suppose) was a Mermaid. Now because diverse have written much of Mermaids, I have presumed to relate, what is most certain of such a strange Creature that was seen at Newfoundland: whether it were a Maremaid or no, I know not; I leave it for others to judge, etc.  
R. W.