A DIRECTION FOR adventurers with small stock to get two for one, and good land freely: And for Gentlemen, and all Servants, Labourers, and Artificers to live plentifully. And the true Description of the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest plantation of new Albion, in North Virginia, proved by thirteen witnesses. TOGETHER WITH, A Letter from Master Robert Evelin, that lived there many years, showing the particularities, and excellency thereof. With a brief of the charge of victual, and necessaries, to transport and buy stock for each Planter, or Labourer, there to get his Master 50 l. per Annum, or more in twelvetrades, and at 10. l. charges only a man. Printed in the year, 1641. HONI SOIT x MAL Y pennies The true description of the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest plantation of new Albion in North Virginia, proved by 13 Witnesses. WHereas that part of America, or North Virginia, lying about 39 degrees at Delaware Bay called the Province of new Albion, is situate in the best, and same temper, and as Italy, between too cold Germany, and too hot Barbary, so this lying just midway between new England 200 miles North, and Virginia 150 miles South, where now are settled 100000 English and 140 ships in trade, is freed from the extreme cold and barrenness of the one, and heat and aguish Marshes of the other, and is like Lombary, and a rich fat soil plain, and having 18 Rivers on the main land, 17 great Isles, and partaketh of the healthiest air and most excellent commodities of Europe, and replenished with the goodliest woods of oaks and all Timber for ships and Masts, Mulberries for silk, sweet cypress, Cedars, Pines and Perres, 4 sorts of Grapes for wine, and Raisins and with the greatest variety of choice fruits, Fish and fowl, stored with all sorts of corn yielding 5. 7. and 10. quarters an Acre: Silkegras, salt, good Mines and ●iers ware, 5 sorts of dear, buffs and huge Elkes to plow and work, all bringing 3 young at once: The uplands covered many months with berries, roots Chestnuts, Walnuts, Beach and oak Mast to feed them Hogs and Turkeys, 500 in a Flock, and having near the Colony of Manteses 400000 Acres of plain mead land and mere level to be flowed and fludded by that river for corn, Rice, Rapes, flax, and hemp. After 11 years trading and discovery there and trial made, is begun to be planted and stored by the governor and Company of new Albion consisting of 25 Lords, Barronets, Knights and merchants, who for the true informing of themselves, their friends, Adventurers, and Partners by Residents and Traders there four several years out of their journal books, namely by captain Browne a ship Master, and Master Stafford his Mate, and by captain Clayborn 14 years there trading, and Constantine his Indian there born and bred, and by Master Robert Evelin 4 years there; yet by eight of their hands subscribed and enroled do testify this to be the true state of the Country, of the Land, and Delaware Bay or Charles River, which is further witnessed by captain Smith and other books of Virginia and by new England's Prospect, New Canaan, captain Powells map, and other description of new England. Captain Browne. Captain Clayborne. Robert Evelin. Stafford. Constantine. Stratton. Thomas White. Richard Buckham. Christof: Thomas. Edward Monmouth. Tennis Palee. Edward Rhodes. Peter Rixford. Master Evelins letter. Good Madam: SIr Edmund persisting still in his noble purpose to go on with his plantation in Delaware or Charles River▪ just midway between New England & Virginia, wherewith my uncle Young, and I several years resided, hath often informed himself, both of me, and Master Stratton, as I perceive by the hands subscribed of Eward Monmouth, tennis Pale and as Master Buckham, Master White, and other Ship masters, and sailors, whose hands I know and it to be true that there lived and traded with me, is sufficiently instructed of the state of the Country, and people there, and I should very gladly according to his desire have waited on you into Hampshire to have informed your Ladyship in person, had not I next week been passing to Virginia, But nevertheless to satisfy you of the truth, I thought good to write unto you my knowledge, and first to describe you from the North side of Delaware unto Hudson's River, in Sir Edmund's Patent, called new Albion, which lieth just between New England and Maryland, and that Ocean Sea I take it to be about 160 miles, I find some broken land, Isles and Inlets, and many small Isles at Egbay: But going to Delaware Bay by Cape May which is 24 miles at most, and is as I understand very well set out, and printed in captain Powell's map of new England, done as is told me by a draught I gave to M. Daniel the plotmaker, which Sir Edmund saith you have at home on that North side about five miles within a Port, or Rode for any Ships called the Nook, and within it lieth the King of Kechemeches, having as I suppose, about 50 men: and 12 leagues higher a little above the Bay and Bar is the River of Manteses which hath 20 miles on Charles River and 30 miles running up a fair navigable deep River all a flat level of rich fresh and fat black Marsh mould, which I think to be 300000 acres, In this Sir Edmund intendeth as he saith to settle, and there the King of Manteses hath about 100 Bow men, next above about 6 leagues higher is a fair deep river 12 miles navigable, where is freestone, and there over against is the King of Sikonesses, and next is a Asomocches river & King with 100 men, and next is Eriwoneck a King of 40 men where we sat down, and 5 miles above is the King of Ramcocke with a 100 men, and 4 miles higher the King of Axion with 200 men, and next to him 1●. leagues overland an Inland King of Calcefar with 150. men, and then there is in the middle of Charles-river two fair woody Isles, very pleasant, and fit for Parks▪ the one of a thousand acres, the other of fowerteen hundred, or thereabout. And six leagues higher, near a Creek called Mosilian, the King having two hundred men. And then we come to the falls, made by a rock of limestone, as I suppose it is about sixty and five leagues from the Sea, near to which is an Isle fit for a city, all materials there to build: & above, the River fair and navigable, as the Indians inform me, for I went but ten miles higher. I do account all the Indians to be eight hundred, and are in several factions, and war against the Sasque Hanocks, and are all extreme fearful of a Gun, naked and unarmed against our shot, swords, and pikes I had some bickering with some of 'em, and they are of so little esteem, as I durst with fifteen men sit down, or trade in despite of them, and since my return 18 Swedes are settled there, and so sometime six Dutch do in a boat trade without fear of them. I saw there an infinite quantity of Bustards, Swans, Geese; and fowl covering the shores, as within the like multitude of Pigeons, and store of turkeys, of which I tried one to weigh forty and six pounds. There is much variety and plenty of delicate fresh and sea-fish and shellfish, and Whales or Grampus: Elkes, dear that bring three young at a time, and the Woods bestrewed many months with Chest-nuts, walnuts, and Mast of several sorts to feed them and hogs, that would increase exceedingly. There the barren grounds have four kinds of Grapes, and many Mulberries, with Ash, Elms, and the tallest and greatest Pines and Pitch-trees that I have seen. There are Cedars, cypress, and Sassafras, with wild fruits, pears, wild cherries, Pine-apples, and the dainty Parsemenas'. And there is no question but Almonds, and other fruits of Spain will prosper, as in Virginia. And (which is a good comfort) in four & twenty hours you may send or go by sea to New-England or Virginia, with a fair wind, you may have Cattle, and from the Indians 2000 barrels of corn, at twelvepence a bushel in truck, so as Victuals are there cheaper and better, then to be transported: neither do I conceive any great need of a Fort or Charge, where there is no enemy. If Sir Edmund will bring with him three hundred men or more, there is no doubt but he may do very well and grow rich, for it is most pure healthful air, & such pure wholesome Springs, Rivers, and Waters, as are delightful, of a desert, as can be seen, with so many varieties of several flowers, trees, and forests for Swine. So many fair risings and prospects, all green and verdant: and Maryland a good friend and neighbour, in four and twenty hours ready to comfort and supply. And truly I believe, my Lord of Baltamore will be glad of Sir Edmund's Plantation and assistance against any enemy or bad neighbour. And if Sir Edmund employ some men to sow Flax, Hemp and Rapes in those rich Marshes, or build ships, & make pipestaves, and load some ships with these wares, or Fish from the Northward, he may have any money, ware, or Company brought him by his own ships, or the ships of Virginia or New-England all the year. And because you are of the Noble House of the Pawlets, and as I am informed, desire to lead many of your friends and kindred thither, whom as I honour, I desire to serve, I shall entreat you to believe me as a Gentleman and Christian, I write you nothing but the truth, and hope there to take opportunity in due season, to visit you and do all the good offices in Virginia, my place or friends can serve you in. And thus tendering my service, I rest Madam Your ladyship's most humble faithful Servant Rob: Evelm Provisions for each man and the charge from London. 1. Canvas, or linen Clothes, shoes, Hats, &c. costing here four pound for two men to buy cows, Goats, and hogs in Virginia, Tersera Islands, or Ireland, which there yields six pound, and will buy one Cow, two Goats, two sows, which for each man comes to 2. l. 0. 0. 2. Fraight for a Passenger, and his half ton of provisions and tools. 1. l. 10. 0. 3. Victuals till his own stock and crop, maintain him for seven months. 3. l. 10. 0. That is, Pease, oatmeal, and Aquavite, 7. s. five bushels of meal, of which two to be baked into biscuits, and five bushels of malt, some must be ground and brewed for the voyage both 1. l. 10. s. a hundred of beese, and Pork, 1. l. 2. s. two bushels of roots 2. s. salt fish, 2. s Cask to carry provision 5. s. five pound of Butter. 2. s. 4. One hogshead of ears of corn, Garden seeds, Hemp and linseed with cask. 0. 16. 0. 5. Arms (viz.) a sword, Calliver or long pistol, Pike head: six pound of powder, ten pound of shot, half an old slight armour, that is, two to one armour. 0. 19 s. 0. 6. Tools, a spade, Axe, and shovel 5. s. Iron, and steel to make and mend more, and two hundred of nails. 5. s. 0. 10. s. 0. 7. Guns and Powder for the Fort, that is to every, 50. four murderers 8. l. a barrel of powder, 4. l. 10. s. That is to each man, 5. s. Bed and sheets of canvas to be filled with huls each man, 10. s. Summe total. 10. l. 0. 0. Each Adventurer of twenty or fifty men must provide household necessaris, as Irons, and chains for a drawbridge, two Mares or horses to breed or ride on, which with hay▪ oats, and water, will for four pound a piece, be transported; Pots, Pans, dishes, Iron for a Cart and Plow, chains, scythes, and Sickels, Nets, lines, and hooks. A sail for a fishing Shallop of three ton, and hemp to employ his people in making them, as with hair and Canvas for quilts, as well on shipboard, as demurring at the Sea port, as with locks, keys, bolts, and glass Casements for his house. And generally, fit Implements for the work or trade he intends. 1. Here by bringing good labourers, and tradesman, the provident planters may do well by giving shares or double wages when each man may earn his 6, nay 10, and 12 shillings a day. 2. For here the Ship-carpenters ten men a day will build a tun of shipping as in England, which with masts, and yards there taken is here, and there wort 3. l. a tun and yet here, and there is built at 1 l. a tun wages, which is 6 s. a day's work, having the timber without money. 3. Here in 24. days they make a thousand of pipestaves, worth here seven pound, and at the Canaries twenty pound a thousand, and so get seven shillings a day's work. 4. Here in making Iron they save 5 l. a tun in the price of wood, and 3 l. more in digging the Iron mine, and saving land carriage of it, and of the charcoal, for mine is taken on the Sea beach, and wood floated down the Rivers, and so each man earns 5 s. 10 d. a day, Iron valued at ●2 l. per tun. 5. Here the constant trade of 350. ships, and 7000. men a fishing begin to leave cold Newfoundland small fish, and late taken, when this is before theirs two months at the market, 100 fish here yields 4 quintales, there scarce one and here is fish all the year, there but only in the 4 warm months, so as for 9 weeks' work each man above his diet, passage, and return, gets 20 l. and 22 l. a man, and herein dried Base, in Sturgeon, in pressed mackerel. Herrings, and Pilchers, is got, as well as in codfish 6 s. and 8 s. a day. And this returns ready French and Spanish coin. 6. Here the glorious ripening Sun as warm as Italy or Spain brings rare fruits, wines, and such store of aniseed, and liquorice as well as Bay-salt made without boiling only in pans with the sun, that each labourer maketh 6 bushels a day worth in these three 12 s. a day, and this maiden soil, so comforted with the sun's glittering beams, and being digged, and set with the Indian wheat, and their beans, and Pease; with 40 s. charge in 40 days' work with seed, yields 10 quarters an acre, the same Wheat being 10 times as big, and as weighty as ours; beside Potatoes, woad, Madder and Tobacco will yield half a tun of Flax, and a tun of hemp; worth 12 l. an acre: and 6 s. a day's work. 7. Here as in Province in France walnut-milk, or oil ground and pressed will yield the gatherer ten gallons, and 10 s. a day's work. 8. Here the land lieth covered 7 months with Beech, and oak Mast, Walnuts, and Chestnuts and 3 months with Groundnuts; and wild Pease: and Fetches yearly so as sixty Hogs for one; and a hundred turkeys; partridges, Hethpoults; and tame Poultry eating their fill, for one is an ordinary increase. 9 Here the soap, and Potashes, men paying in England 12 d. a bushel; and 4 d. carriage for ashes; and 20 l. a tun for Potashes make them for a quarter and less; and get 8 s. a day's work, by cutting, reeking, and burning whole plains of Ferne; Brambles, and wild Vines being thrice as strong as Woodashes. Here a ship may go; and return in four months laded and comfortably see their friends; making three voyages a year, in a healthy air freed from enemies, and Turks, and get two for on each voyage: that is six for one of that stock and proceed in a year. 11. Here the kind Gentleman that in England doth not live without debts, mortgages, suretyship, Lawsuits, & troubles, may here settle, and avoid bad company and tempting occasions, and live in plenty, and variety of all sports, hunting Deer, hawking foul, fishing, and many more sports, and sorts of game as with dainty fruits; and lay up his spare rents. 12. Here the soldier, and Gentlemen wanting employment, and not bred to labour without going to wars to kill Christians, for 5 s. a week in the mouth of the roaring Canon or in a siege threatened with famine, and pestilence: but with a quilt suit arrow proof, and a light Albion gunspear: and but ten together against a few naked savages may like a devout Apostolic soldier with sword, and the word to civilize, and convert them to be his majesty's lieges, and by trading with them, for Furs get his ten shillings a day and at home intermixing sport, and pleasure, with profit, store his parks with Elkes, and fallow deer, and are fit to ride, milk or draw, the first as big as Oxen, and bringing three a yeete, and with hares a yard long, and with five hundred Turkeys in a flock got by nets, in stalking, and get his five shillings a day at least. All Adventurers of 500 l. to bring 50 men, shall have 5000 Acres and a manor with Royalties at 5. s. Rent, and whosoever is willing so to transport himself or servant at 10. l. a man, shall for each man have 100 Acres freely granted for ever and at 〈…〉 may be instructed how in 3. weeks to pass, and in 20 days to get fit Servants and Artificers for wages, Diet, and clothes, and Apprentices according to the 3. Statutes: 5 Eliz. All which after 5 years' service, are to have 31, Acres of free land and some stock and be freeholders. FINIS.