SIGILVM REGIS MAGNAE BRITANIAE FRANCIAE HIBERNIAE  
PRO CONSILIO SVO VIRGINIAE 
I R   
THE NEW LIFE of Virginea: DECLARING THE FORMER SVCCESSE AND PREsent estate of that plantation, being the second part of Noua Britannia.  
Published by the authority of his majesties counsel of Virginea.  
LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for William Welby, dwelling at the sign of the Swan in Pauls Churchyard. 1612.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND worthy KNIGHT SIR THOMAS SMITH of London, governor of the Moscouia and East indy Companies, one of his majesties counsel for Virginea, and Treasurer for the Colony: Peace and health in Christ.  
IT is come to pass( right worshipful) with the business and plantation of Virginea, as it is commonly seen in the attempt and progress of all other most excellent things,( which is) to be accompanied with manifold difficulties, crosses and disasters, being such as are appointed by the highest providence, as an exercise of patience and other virtues, and to make more wise thereby the managers thereof: by which occasion not only the ignorant and simplo minded are much discouraged, but the malicious and loser sort( being accompanied with the licentious vain of stage Poets) haue whet their tongues with scornful taunts against the action itself, in so much as there is no common speech nor public name of any thing this day,( except it be the name of God) which is more vildly depraved, traduced and derided by such unhallowed lips, then the name of Virginea. For which cause( right noble Knight) J haue set myself to publish this brief apollogie to the sight and view of all men, not to answer any such in their particular folly, but to free the name itself from the injurious scoffer, and this commendable enterprise from the scorn and derision of any such, as by ignorance or malice haue sought the way to wrong it. Which albeit J am well assured will no way avail to admonish or amend the incorrigible looseness of such untamed tongues, yet shall I hold mine endeavours well acquitted, if J may but free yourself, and so many right noble, and well affencted gentlemen( touching the former ill success) from wrongful imputation, as also satisfy the despairing thoughts, and quicken the zeal of such friends and louers to this business, as in their remote and foreign residence, by the spreading of rumours and false reports, do rest unsatisfied. Wherein( as J hope) not to exceed the bounds of modesty and truth, so for orders sake J haue set it down in a brief method of three parts. The first is nothing else but a brief relating of things already done and past: The second, of the present estate of the business: And the third doth tend as a premonition to the planters and adventurers for the time to come.  
And this J offer to the patronage of your Worship alone, being the chiefest patron of this and of many more worthy services: wherein J presume not any way to counsel or direct your wisdom in your further proceedings, whom long experience in Common-wealth affairs( besides that ability and wisdom of mind infused by God) hath made most able and sufficient of yourself to direct many others, but as wishing hereby( if J might in some measure) to ease the burden of your mind, under the wise and painful managing of your many public actions: for which J pray that God will please, to continue still your health and strength of body, with answerable success, to your honest, wise, and most approved desires.  
R. I.   

THE NEW LIFE OF VIRGINEA.  
IN that most sacred history penned by the Prophet Moses,( the first historian that ever wrote, and left his writings to posterity) it is recorded, that when the pride of earthly men, in the race and progeny of Noah, began to aspire and sought to climb the celestial throne; it so highly provoked the majesty of God, that consulting with the deity, and coming down by his word and almighty power, he subverted their devices and proud attempt, infatuating their understanding by confounding their tongues, and leaving each one to his several ways, to follow the proneness and folly of his own heart, so that from this scattering and casting them out like unprofitable seed vpon the dust of the earth, did spring up( as weeds in solitary places) such a barbarous and unfruitful race of mankind, that even to this day( as is very probable) many huge and spacious Countries and corners of the world unknown, do still swarm and abound with the innumerable languages of this dispersed crew, with their inhuman behaviour and brutish conditions, and howsoever God laying this heavy curse and punishment vpon them, that for the space of three thousand yeares and more, did never vouchsafe the hand of the weeder, to cleanse and give redress to so desolate and outgrowne wilderness of humane nature, yet such is his eternal purpose, who in his own appointed time, doth rescue the brand from burning, and the prey from the Lions teeth, that like as we ourselves and our forefathers( the first fruits of the Gentiles, who were all guilty of that great conspiracy) which were strangers from the Common wealth of Israel, and lived long time without God in the world, were yet at length reduced home to that family of saints and sons of God, so now appeareth the same grace, which God out of his secret counsel begins to extend and give to the remnants of those scattered Gentiles, our kinsmen and younger brethren( as I may say) the sundry nations of America: which as they consist of infinite confused tongues and people, that sacrifice their children to serve the devil, 
Leuit. 20.2.  as those heathens did their sons and daughters to Molech: yet who can doubt or say, but even amongst these, God may haue his special numbers, from whose necks he will now remove that heavy yoke of bondage; and to that end it is to be observed, when after that great apostasy foretold by the spirit of God, and which for many hundred yeares had almost drowned the christian world in superstition and idolatry; God that raised up her majesty, our late sovereign, and put into her heart, by wholesome laws to wipe away that mist of popish dimnes from our eyes, whereby we saw the light more clear, did likewise move her Princely mind to proffer that light to this blind and miserable people, in giuing the first encouragement by our English Colonies to make plantation there, and according to herself, and the condition of her sex, she name the country Virginea: which me thinks should enforce from them that love the monuments of her never dying memory, a fervent bond of zeal to that name and work of God, the ground whereof was laid by her, the happiness of whose reign was our unspeakable ioy, and will be derived to our posterity.  
And howsoever God pleased not to suffer the performance of that excellent work in her daies( as he likewise denied King david, whose purpose and preparation was to haue built a Temple for the Lord) yet he raised up( like Salomon) the best and wisest among the sons of men to be our King, and hath bent his royal disposition, by many gracious privileges, and giuing his customs freely, to build this Temple for the Lord, yea many living temples for the honour of his name.  
What shall wee then say, when thus the powers of heaven and earth encouraged the enterprise, and stirred up the spirits of worthy men, not the basest, but of the best and most honourable minded in the kingdom, to engage themselves to solicit their friends to assemble and consult advisedly how to replant this unnatural vine to make it fruitful, when they looked to heaven they saw a promise, and looking to earthward they saw a blessing. And albeit in that infancy their numbers were but small, yet their willing resolution supplying that want, they made out 3. ships with captain Newport, for a discovery, who within few months returned with relation of a country discovered and seated like that pleasant land described by Moses, the stones whereof were brass and iron, whose mountaines, valleys& streams did all attend some good employment, that they saw a poor people living there in the shadow of death, without light or sense of their own misery, and that there wanted nothing but industry and art to add to nature.  
Vpon which encouragement new supplies were made; with expedition some few hundreds of our men were left there by captain Newport, with al kind of provisions and directions for the ground and foundation of a Common-wealth. Their barbarous king Powhatan entertained them lovingly, and admitted them a large country to inhabit, the poor savages brought them such relief as they had; our own people wrote letters home in praise of the country, and laboured their friends to come thither, they began to fortify where they saw convenient, they built a Church and many houses together, which they name James town, they nourished their swine, hens, and other provisions they carried out of England, which plentifully increased: they cut down wood for wanscot, black walnut three, Spruce, Cedar& deal, they got rich furs, dying stuff, minerals and iron ore( which made excellent good iron) they planted orange trees, corn, and sundry kindes of seeds, they made soap ashes and Tar, with some Sturgeon and Caueare, and of each of these they sent us small quantities, with store of Sassafrasse, and some wine of those country grapes for a trial: all which being the work but of a small number, not fully settled, gave sufficient testimony what might bee effected there by settling good government, and sending more supplies of men, and means to plant the soil and make discoveries.  
This happy proceeding caused the action to be accounted as won, and caused so many willing minds to adventure their moneys, that there wanted not sufficient means, to furnish out a fleet of 9. good ships, with the better part of five hundred men to inhabit there. Sir Thomas Gates being Lieutenant general, and Sir George summers admiral of Virginea, both of them appointed by commission to reside in the country to govern the colony, which together set sail and departed the cost of England with a faire wind the first of june 1609.  
But who can withstand the counsel of God that sits in the stern of all actions, and so directed this present fleet, that before they came near the cost of Virginea, the ship name the Sea Venture, being also Admiral of the fleet, wherein were shipped the two Knights before name, and captain Newport with an hundred and fifty persons, was violently taken and carried with the rage of tempestuous storms, without hope or likelihood of life at least an hundred leagues to the sowthward, till they arrived vpon the desperate shore of the islands of Bermudus, where between two rocks the ship split in pieces, and yet by the miraculous hand of God and industry of the Captaines, all the people escaped safe to land and not a man perished,  
Of whose long abode and preservation in these broken deserts,& of their strange and wonderful delivery thence, it is already related and published by Sir Thomas Gates, and so I return to the other eight ships which escaping the danger of seas arrived at the port, and landed their men in Virginea.  
By which means the body of the plantation, was now augmented with such numbers of irregular persons, that it soon became as so many members without a head, who as they were bad and evil affencted for the most part before they went hence; so now being landed, and wanting restraint, they displayed their condition in al kind of looseness, those chief and wisest guides among them( whereof there were not many) did nothing but bitterly contend who should be first to command the rest, the common sort, as is ever seen in such cases, grew factious and disordered out of measure, in so much as the poor colony seemed( like the college of English fugitives in Rome) as a hostile camp within itself: 
Parsons letter in the Quodlibets.  in which distemper that envious man stepped in, sowing plentiful tares in the hearts of all, which grew to such speedy confusion, that in few moneths, Ambition, sloth and idleness had devoured the fruits of former labours, planting and sowing were clean given over, the houses decayed, the Church fell to ruin, the store was spent, the cattle consumed, our people starved, and the poor Indians by wrongs& injuries were made our enemies, two of the ships returning home perished vpon the point of Ushant, the rest of the fleet came ship after ship, laden with nothing but bad reports and letters of discouragement: and which added the more to our cross, they brought us news that the admiral ship, with the two Knights and captain Newport were missing, severed in a mighty storm outward, and could not be heard of, which we therfore yielded as lost for many moneths together, and so that virgin voyage( as I may term it) which went out smiling on her louers with pleasant looks, after her weary travails, did thus return with a rent and disfigured face: for which how justly her friends took occasion of sorrow, and others to insult and scoff, let men of reason judge. And as for those wicked imps that put themselves a shipboard, not knowing otherwise how to live in England; or those ungracious sons that daily vexed their fathers hearts at home, and were therefore thrust vpon the voyage, which either writing thence, or being returned back, to cover their own leaudnes do fill mens ears with false reports of their miserable and perilous life in Virginea, let the imputation of misery be to their idleness, and the blood that was spilled vpon their own heads that caused it.  
And howsoever it is true, that vpon these events many adventurers which had formerly well affencted the business, when they saw such unexpected tragedies, withdrew themselves and their moneys from adventure. Notwithstanding it lessened much the preparation, yet it hindered not the resolution of that honourable Lord( appointed Lord governor) to go in his own person, 
The Lord la war.  who together with the rest of the adventurers assisting his setting forth, having in their wisedoms rightly weighed, that to the desired end of all good actions in this life, the way doth lye as well, with rough and craggy steps as smooth and easy paths, did presently set on with three good ships, wherein the Lord governor, attended with Sir Ferdinando Wainman& sundry others, set sail from the cost of England, in the beginning of april 1610, and on the 9. of june arrived safely at the disfortified fort in Virginea, where his Lordship finding their desperate condition so poor and mean, and so clear a consumption of all former employments, that scarcely appeared the steps or print of twenty hundred groats disbursed, which had truly cost the adventurers here above twenty thousand pounds.  
And thus wee stood in state of Marchants that had adventured much and lost all: in which case we might now make answer with King Alexander( having given away al to his Captaines) we had nothing left but hope, and this hope of ours wee fixed much( if not too much) vpon that honourable Lord governor, then landed in Virginea, who as the world& ourselves knew right well to be religious and wise, of a strong body and valorous mind, and under his wings so confidently reposed the shield of our business, that God minding to make us know that our arm was yet but flesh, even in the front of his enterprise overthrew the Nobleman by laying such a heavy hand of sickness and diseases vpon him, that unable to wield and support the state of his own body, much less the affairs of the colony, he was forced with grief of heart, through the anguish and dolor of his malady, and for remedy to save his life, after eight moneths sickness to return for England again: which when the adventurers saw that the expectance of such a preparation came to nothing, how great a damp of coldness it wrought in the hearts of all, may easily be deemed.  
And yet had we left one spark of hope vnquencht, for before wee knew any such thing of his Lordships weakness, or once imagined his returning home, we had furnished out Sir Thomas Dale with a good supply of three ships, men, cattle, and many provisions: all which arrived safe at the colony the 10. of May 1611. And notwithstanding the Knight at his landing there, found the Lord governor to bee gone, whereof he wrote us home most doleful letters, as also of the fewness, idleness and weak estate wherein he found the Colony; yet deciphered he the country in diuers of his letters with admirable praise, giuing us notice of his proceeding to fortify, to build, to plant, and that the health of our men was now recovered by setting them to labour, assuring the adventurers so long as he remained there, their ships should never return empty; his words are these: 
The words of Sir Thomas Dales letter to the committees.  But if any thing otherwise then well betid me in this business, let me commend unto your carefulness, the pursuit and dignity of this business, then which your purses and endeavours will never open nor travell in a more acceptable and meritorious enterprise, take four of the best kingdoms in christendom, and put them all together, they may no way compare with this country, either for commodities or goodness of soil. And this spark( I say) so kindled in the hearts of those constant adventurers, that in the greatest disasters never fainted, which having past over so many foul and weary steps, and seeing now so faire a way before them, bent all their wits and consultations how to second this good beginning of such a settled government. And after many meetings, when they could resolve vpon no great supply for want of means, the discouragement of many being such by former ill success, yet in fine it was resolved; through the importunate zeal and forwardness of some, against the opinion of many, without delay to furnish our Sir Thomas Gates with six ships, three hundred men and an hundred kine, with other cattle, munition and provisions of all sorts, which notwithstanding it grew so deep an engagement of our purses and credits, that for the present wee knew not how to discharge it, yet assuredly it hath proved( as wee hope) the most fortunate and happy step that ever our business took, 
Lord general cecil, Sir Robert Mansell and some others.  and hath highly approved the wisdom and resolution of those worthy gentlemen that were the causers of it: and so at this period, as with a clear evening to a cloudy day, I will put an end to this my first part of relating things already done and past.  
The second part ensueth of the present estate of the business, vpon which point I know that all mens ears are now most attent, for which I must be sparing to speak so much as might bee said, for surely men will not beleeue( though nature daily show it in other courses) that in this case yet, so great a tide of flowing should suddenly ensue so great an ebb of want, in last December captain Newport in the star, and since that five other ships are arrived here from the colony, by which we know that Sir Thomas Gates with his six ships, men and cattle, safely arrived at James town, about the fine of August last, the sudden approach of such an unlooked for supply, did so amaze our people, when the Fort had first descried the fleet, and gave it out for enemies, that so so one as the news went up the river to Sir Thomas Dale, he being a warlike and resolute captain, prepared him instantly and all the rest for an encounter, which by how much the sudden apprehension perplexed their minds for the present, yet so much the more exceeded their comfort, when they knew them to be friends.  
When they had all things well landed, and given thankes to God, the Knights and Captaines now began to frame the colony to a new conformity, whereof the Lord governor at his being there, most carefully had more then laid the ground before, their first and chiefest care was shewed in settling laws divine and moral, for the honour and service of God, for daily frequenting the Church, the house of prayer, at the toling of the bell, for preaching, catechizing, and the religious observation of the Sabbath day, for due reverence to the Ministers of the Word, and to all superiors, for peace and love among themselves, and enforcing the idle to pains and honest labours, against blasphemy, contempt and dishonour of God, against breach of the Sabbath by game: and otherwise against adultery, sacrilege and felony; and in a word, against all wrongful dealing amongst themselves, or injurious violence against the Indians. Good are these beginnings wherein God is thus before, good are these laws, and long may they stand in their due execution. But what is this( will some object) if wholesome lodging, clothing for the back and bodily food be wanting, the belly pinched with hunger cannot hear, though your charm be otherwise never so sweet. All this was true, we haue already confessed it, when there was nothing but a confused troope that sought their own consumption, tempora mutantur.  
You shall know that our colony consisteth now of seven hundred men at least, of sundry arts and professions, some more or less, they stand in health, and few sick, at the ships coming thence, having left the fort at scape Henry, fortified and kept by captain Dauies, and the keeping of James town to that noble and well deserving Gentleman Master George percy. 
He went thither five yeeres since in the first ship.  The colony is removed up the river fourscore miles further beyond James town to a place of higher ground, strong and defensible by nature, a good air, wholesome and clear( unlike the marish seat at James town) with fresh and plenty of water springs, much faire and open grounds freed from woods, and wood enough at hand.  
Being thus invited, here they pitch, the spade men fell to digging, the brickmen burnt their bricks, the company cut down wood, the Carpenters fell to squaring out, the Sawyers to sawing, the soldier to fortifying, and every man to somewhat. And to answer the first objection for wholesome lodging, here they haue built competent and decent houses, the first story all of bricks, that every man may haue his lodging and dwelling place apart by himself, with a sufficient quantity of ground allotted thereto for his orchard and garden to plant at his pleasure, and for his own use. Here they were building also an hospital with fourscore lodgings( and beds already sent to furnish them) for the sick and lame, with keepers to attend them for their comfort and recovery. And as for their clothing, first of wollen( whereof they haue least need, because the country is very warm) it is and must be always supplied from hence, to the benefit of English clothing: but for linen, which they shall most need, without doubt by small and easy industry there may amount a great increase from thence, to furnish by way of merchandise, for England, not only by planting Hemp and Flax, which that climate maketh far surpassing ours, both in growth and goodness, but by a new found stuff of a certain sedge or waterflagge( revealed unto them by an Indian) which groweth there naturally in endless abundance, and with little pains of boiling, it being gathered, yeeldeth great quantity of sundry sorts of skeines of good strength and length, some like silk, and some like flax, and some a courser sort, as hemp: whereof the last ships brought hither for a trial about two hundred pound weight; which being put to trial here( as many can witness which haue seen it) will make cordage, linen, and fine stuffs both for strength and beauty, such as no use nor service can find the like of any other kind.  
And for the last and main objection of food, it cannot be denied by any one of reason, but with their now diligent planting and sowing of corn( whereof they haue two harvests in a summer) the plentiful fishing there, the store of fowles and fruits of the earth, their present provision sent from hence at every shipping, together with the speedy increase of those sundry sorts of tame Poultry, Conies, Goats, Swine and Kine landed there above a year ago with Sir Thomas Dale, and since again by Sir Thomas Gates, that this objection too, this main objection of wanting food is utterly removed: so that I cannot see, nor any man else can judge in truth, but that ill and odious wound of Virginea, which settled so deep a scar in the mindes of many, is so sufficiently recovered, as it may now encourage not such alone( as heretofore) which cannot live at home, nor lay their bones to labour, but those of honest minds and better sort, which get their bread but meanly here, may seek to mend it there. captain Samuel Argoll, a Gentleman of good service, is ready with two ships.  
The Lord governor himself is now preparing to go in his own person, and sundry other Knights and Gentlemen, with ships and men, so far as our means will extend to furnish: and for preventing that wrong, 
Sir W. S. Sir R. W.  which some Masters and Stewards haue formerly done to their passengers at sea, in shortening their allowance, for their own private lucre, it is ordered that every ship vpon her mast shall haue it written, what ought to be every daies allowance, that every one may see it, and no man be defrauded. And thus much briefly for the present condition of this plantation.  
It follows now to conclude with the third and last division directed to the colony: And first to you the heads& guides of that plantation, it cannot be doubted, but as you are wise and provident men you took this work in hand, forecasting wisely that the price thereof might be no less then the care of your mindes, the labour of your bodies, and peril of your lives. And seeing you are sure of nothing more then the extremest lots, which either the barren coldness of such a naked action in the infancy thereof, or the malice of devilish men can cast vpon you, arm yourselves therefore against all impediments, to effect those honourable ends that were first intended to be put vpon our King, vpon our nation, and Christian religion, by that plantation. If the work be more hard and difficult then you took it for, and that you must like Hannibal( piercing the stony Alpes) make clear the way to your desired ends with fire and vinegar; will not your honour be the greater, and your service more acceptable in the performance of it? Nay, if loss of life befall you by this service( which God forbid) yet in this case too, wee doubt not but you are resolved with constant courage, like that noble King Henry the fift, before his triumphant victory in the fields of Agincourt, where seeing the fewness of his own, and multitude of enemies, like a valiant Champion to stir up his little army, against that great conflict; Be cheered my hearts( said he) and let us fight like English men, all England prayeth for us: if here we die, let this be our comfort, our cause is good, and wee haue fathers, brothers, friends and countrymen that will reuenge our deaths.  
Your first conflict is from your savage enemies the natives of the country, who as you know are neither strong nor many; their strongest forces are sleights and treachery, more to bee warily prevented then much to be feared. But as for those your other friends, which challenge it all as theirs by dead of gift, not from Alexander the Great King of Macedonia, but from Alexander of Rome, Viceroy of that great Prince, which offered at once the whole world to haue himself adored, which( as is said) do brute it out in all mens ears to pull you out of possession; you know they are but men, 
Their wisdom is such as they will offer you no wrong.  and such as yourselves can well remember, that in all attempts against our late sovereign, God defeated their-purposes, and brought them to nothing. But howsoever it fared then,( God in mercy shielding that gracious queen, that no attempt could touch her little finger, nor work her least dishonour) yet I am no Prophet to warrant now, but God( for causes known to him) may give you as a prey into the hands of the weakest, yet herein rest assured, and it cannot possibly bee otherwise, but that the zeal of this action hath discovered such and so many worthy spirits of all degrees in England to be upholders of it, as for their credits sake and reputation, will never leave you without convenient means to make defence, not your least indignity by savage foes or civil friends will suffer vnrequited. There is laid vpon you in this work a threefold labour to be done vpon yourselves, vpon your English, and vpon the poor Indians. And first vpon yourselves; for all mens ears and eyes are so fixed vpon Kings and Rulers, that they keep a register in mind of what ever they do or speak, the better sort of love to imitate their goodness,& the loser sort of flattery to applaud their wickedness and soothe them in their vices: when your wholesome laws shall haue no execution, when you shall publish and pretend for the honour of God, and good of the public weal, and yet shall care for neither of both, but be loose in your own course of life, giuing way to ambition, idleness, and all unbridled appetite, to your tongues in swearing, to your bodies in vnchastity, making your own Courts and houses cages of proud, unclean and all disordered persons, enforcing the good to pine away with grief, and advancing men of bad deserts, accounting it happy to do what you list, when no man dares reprove you; misery and confusion will be the end of this, and you shal leave for your monuments shane and dishonour behind you to all posterity.  
But if, like wise and prudent guides, as we do rightly esteem you, in rearing this great frame, you shall lay the foundation in your own steps, and by your own example shall teach your inferiors the fear of God, and by your modest recreations, and commendable labours shall lead thē on to do the like, especially in that most wholesome, profitable and pleasant work of planting, in which it pleased God himself to set the first man and most excellent creature Adam in his innocency, to which the best Kings of Israel were most addicted, and by which so many kingdoms are much enriched, and for which the noble King cyrus that great Monarch is so much commended, whose glory was to all Ambassadors and foreign States( notwithstanding his being a soldier and a conqueror of great employment) in showing the comely order of his own handy work. When thus your light shall guide their feet, sweet will that harmony be between the head and members of the body, then may sleep the rigour of your laws, and you shal resemble the best and wisest sort of Kings, which by the influence of their grace and love do daily cure consumptions, melancholies and evil affencted mindes, as also make their hearts more honest and upright, and then that work( though burnt as stubble heretofore) yet being thus grounded shal abide, you shall live in honour, and die in peace; the succeeding ages of those converted Infidels shall count you happy, and that precious seed which you haue sown in tears, shalbe as blessed sheaves vpon your heads for ever.  
The next is duty towards your colony( the common sort of English) and that in few words, let them live as free English men, under the government of just and equal laws, and not as slaves after the will and lust of any superior: discourage them not in growing religious, nor in gathering riches, two especial bonds( whether severed or conjoined) to keep them in obedience, the one for conscience sake, the other for fear of losing what they haue gotten: without the first they are profane, without the second desperate, and apt for every factious plot to bee instruments of mischief. Such haue always been the beggarly, ignorant and superstitious sort of Irish,& no better were we our English( and Scottish nation too) ever unquiet, never constant, ready for insurrections and murder, to depose their Kings, and maintain rebellion, before the daies of that renowned Deborah our late sovereign, that shining star, the splendour of whose brightness, darkened the glory of all other Princes in her time( as even popish historians of sundry foreign Nations term her) who brought us to that light, whereby wee live as men of knowledge in due subiection, enjoying honour, peace and wealth, the handmaids of religion. We must confess as yet you are but poor, your company few, and your means unable to effect those ends in any great measure. 
For which sort of men we wish we had better content to give them, or they were more willing for the service.  But for the first step, you haue some Preachers there already, and more wee intend to sand you so soon as they may be provided. And for the second, the land is before you to dispose to every man for his house and ground, wherein to employ himself for his own benefit, that no man may live idle nor unprofitable. And for their better encouragement in doing well, advance all such of best disposed life, and none but such: and though your preferments be not great, nor your Common-wealth settled, yet now is most need of these admonitions: for in the beginning& prime of your business, whiles you are but young and few, those succeeding enormities of bribery, drunkenness and disordered life, may sooner be prevented, then having once got habit and footing amongst you they can be redressed: for if in laying now the ground work of your business, you suffer it to be smothered up together with impunity of vices,( as feeds and roots of noisome weeds) they will soon spring up to such corruption in all degrees as can never bee weeded out.  
And for the poor Indians what shall I say, but God that hath many ways shewed mercy to you, make you show mercy to them and theirs. And howsoever they may seem unto you so intolerable wicked and rooted in mischief, that they cannot be moved, yet consider rightly and be not discouraged, they are no worse then the nature of Gentiles, and even of those Gentiles so hainouslie deciphered by S. Paul to bee full of wickedness, 
Rom. 1.  haters of God, doers of wrong, such as could never be appeased, and yet himself did live to see, that by the fruits of his own labours, many thousands even of them became true believing Christians, and of whose race and offspring consisteth( well near) the whole Church of God at this day. This is the work that wee first intended, and haue published to the world to be chief in our thoughts, to bring those infidel people from the worship of divels to the service of God. And this is the knot that you must untie, or cut asunder, before you can conquer those sundry impediments, that will surely hinder all other proceedings, if this be not first preferred.  
Take their children and train them up with gentleness, teach them our English tongue, and the principles of religion; win the elder sort by wisdom and discretion, make them equal with your English in case of protection wealth and habitation, doing iustice on such as shall do them wrong. Weapons of war are needful, I grant, but for defence only, and not in this case. If you seek to gain this victory vpon them by stratagems of war, you shall utterly lose it, and never come near it, but shall make your names odious to all their posterity. In stead of Iron and steel you must haue patience and humanity to manage their crooked nature to your form of civility: for as our proverb is, look how you win them, so you must we are them: if by way of peace and gentleness, then shall you always range them in love to you wards, and in peace with your English people; and by proceeding in that way, shall open the springs of earthly benefits to them both, and of safety to yourselves.  
Imitating the steps of your wise and prudent. sovereign, and preparing the way of peace( so much as lies in you) before the second coming of that King of peace, at whose first coming into this earthly region the world was all in peace, under the peaceable regiment of Augustus Caesar, who though an vnbeleeuing Heathen, yet of such excellent moral virtues, as might set to school many Christian Kings and Rulers, whose care and study for the safety, peace and Common-wealth of his Empire, got him such honour in his life, and love of all his subiects, that being dead, his loss was so lamented with excess of grief and sorrow, but most amongst the romans, that they wished to God he had never been born, or being born, he might never haue died.  
And so I come to you that be the adventurers here in England: with which I will conclude, it is not much above an hundred yeeres ago, that these adventures for discoveries were first undertaken by the southern parts of christendom, but especially so seconded and followed by the Spanish nation both to the East and West Indies, that Mendoza( their countryman) in his treatise of war, extolleth King Philip and the Spanish nation above the skies, for seeking in such fort to enlarge their bounds by sea and land, seeming( as it were) with a secret scorn to set out the baseneste of our English and other nations in this, that they never intend any such attempts, but with a kind of sluggish contentment, do account it their happiness to keep that poor little which they possess. Indeed wee must aclowledge it, with praise to God, that when some of theirs had cast an evil eye vpon our possessions, 
Ireland.  it was our happiness to prevent their longing, and to sand them empty home. But for that other part of enlarging their bounds, in truth their praise is duly given, and well deserved: and it may justly serve to stir us up by all our means to put off such reproachful censures; and seeing when time did offer it, our nation lost the first opportunity of having all, yet now to make good that common speech, that English men are best at imitation, and do soon excel their teachers.  
It is known well enough to you, what need we haue in this case, to stir up( if it were possible) our whole nation: for notwithstanding wee haue in our Letters Patents, the names of many Lords and Knights, Gentlemen, Marchants and others, able in truth to perform a greater matter then this, if we were al of one mind; but as they are many, so I may divide them as thus into three equal parts: The one third part are such, as took liking of the plantation, and brought in one adventure, expecting a while till they saw some disasters to accompany the business, whereas they looked for present gain, and so they gave it over, bidding it adieu, and never looked after it more. Another third part are such as came in, and with their own hands did vnderwrite to furnish three adventures in three yeeres: whereof some few of them haue paid the first payment, but refuse to pay the rest; yet most of them, notwithstanding they are tied by their own handwriting,( whereby a very great charge was undertaken by the company) do utterly refuse to make any payment at all: which if it proceeded out of their poverty it were not so much to bee blamed; for wee press no man out of his inability to wrong himself: but these are of the greater sort, such as would scorn to haue it said they offer wrong in hazarding the loss of all, and the lives of many men. I doubt not but some reasonable course will be taken by your honourable wisedoms to make them see their error: in the mean time, I know not how to call this kind of dealing. But I remember of one that takes vpon him to describe King Richard usurper, and coming to his visage, he saith it was stern, such as in Kings wee call warlike, but in meaner men crabbed. Surely if this kind of fast and loose were played by men of meaner sort, I could soon tell how to term it: but if you will needs haue it warlike, in respect of their stern refusal, yet let it be crabbed too, because of their sour looks when they see the Collectors come for money.  
So that of all our adventurers, I may well say there is but one third part, which( to their praise) from the first undertaking to this day, haue not ceased to give their counsels, spend their times, and lay down their moneys, omitting no occasion to express their zeal for effecting( if it may be possible) so great a work for their King and Countries honour, as our nation never took the like in hand. And for this cause, the burden being heavier then may well be born by the shoulders of so few willing mindes, wee do still provoke our private friends, and haue now obtained the help of public Lotteries to maintain the same. Which though it bee no usual course in England, yet very common in diuers neighbour countries, for the public service of most commendable actions, wherein no man being compelled to adventure lots further then his own liking, and being assured of direct and currant dealing, though all his lots come blank; yet if his mind be upright, he rests content in this, that his money goeth to a public work, wherein he hath his part of benefit, though he, never so mean and remote in his dwelling.  
And if any man ask, what benefit can this plantation be to them that be no adventurers therein, but only in the Lottery? First, we say,( setting aside their possibility of prise) what man so simplo that doth not see the necessity of employment for our multitude of people? which though they be our flourishing fruits of peace& health, yet be they no longer good and wholesome in themselves, then either our domestic or foreign actions can make them profitable, or not hurtful to the Commonwealth.  
And as it is unpossible without this course of sending out the offspring of our families, in so great a body of many millions, which yearly do increase amongst us, to prevent their manifold diseases of poverty, corruption of mind, and pestilent infection, so the burden thereof in some proportion is felt by every man in his private calling, either in the tax of their maintenance and daily relief, or in the taint of their vices and bodily plagues. And by this means only it may soon be eased, to the sensible good of every man, as in the greater safety and freedom from infection, so in the price and plenty of all outward and necessary things.  
And besides the example of our neighbour countries,( that having laid their arms aside, and dwelling now in peace, to shun the harms of idleness at home, do sand out fleets and hosts of men to seek abroad) experience teacheth us, what need we haue to feeke some world of new employment, for so great a part of our strength, which not otherwise knowing how to live, do daily run out to robberies at home, and piracies abroad, arming and serving with Turkes and Infidels against Christians, to the general damage and spoil of Merchants, the scandal of our nation, and reproach of Christian name. As also for the wits of England, whereof so many of unsettled brains betake themselves to plots& stratagems at home, or else to wander from cost to cost, from England to spain, to italy, to Rome, and to wheresoever they may learn and practise any thing else but goodness, pulling a world of temptations vpon their bad dispositions, sorting so far with that enchanting sorts of serpents, and yielding to their lure, till getting the mark and stamp in their forehead, they become desperate and despiteful fugitives abroad, or else returning neutrals in religion, are never good for Church nor Commonwealth.  
Let the words of that learned Master Ascham witness in this case, who above twenty yeeres ago, having far less cause of complaint then wee haue now, did publish his censure of those English Italionate travelers in these words: 
24. page. of teaching the bringing up of youth.  For religion, they get papistry, or worse: for learning, less commonly then they carried out: for policy, a factious heart, a discoursing head, a mind to meddle in all mens matters: for experience, plenty of new mischiefs, never known in England before: for manners, variety of vanities, and change of filthy living. These be the enchantments of Circes, brought out of italy to mar English mens manners, much by example of ill life, but more by precepts of fond books of late translated out of Italian into English, sold in every shop in London, commended by honest titles, the sooner to corrupt honest manners, dedicated over boldly to virtuous and bonor able personages, the easier to beguile simplo and innocent wits. ten Sermons at Pauls cross do not so much good for moving men to true doctrine, as one of those books do harm with enticing men to ill living: yea, I say further, those books tend not so much to corrupt honest living, as they do to subvert true religion; more Papists made by the merry books of italy, then by the earnest books of louvain.  
These and many more are the flowing evils of those noisome streams, that may bee stopped, or turned from us( though not altogether( which is unpossible) yet in some proportion, for the common good of every man) by these new discoveries, into so great a world, never yet known, nor inhabited by Christian men: and though that part of Virginea, wherein we seat, be nothing to the rest, not yet discovered, yet it is enough to men of sense rightly considering, to make them confess so much as I haue said.  
If any shall object, want of means, or inability for the subiects of our King, to undertake so great a work in those remote and desert countries, it were too injurious: For first it hath been done by others, to whom wee are no way inferior for multitude, strength and means to do the like: and secondly, our provocations are now more then ever they were. For touching our multitude of men, as I remember, and I assure myself I did see the note, and am not mistaken, in that great year of 88, here was billed for the first, second and third service of the queen( if need had required) of able persons, thirty hundred thousand of English, Welsh, and Cornish men; since which time it cannot otherwise be thought, and the great enlargement of towns and buildings show that we haue much increased; besides that happy addition since of an entire kingdom, being a warlike, wise, and a stout nation, that were then no members of vs. And for strength of shipping, skilful men and means to furnish greater attempts then this, the world can witness( to the grief of some) that England hath no want at all. And for our provocations, what can bee greater then from the highest? from God that hath given us the light of his word, that wee might enlighten this blind people: that did provide( when we despaired greatly and feared who should wield the sceptre) a King( with peerless branches) to sit over us in peace, whom the world cannot match, that hath bent his royal mind, and of his princely offspring, to forward and advance the best and most approved actions, 
In Scotland and England too.  at home and abroad, that hath given him to set his feet vpon his enemies necks, and hath made the poison of their infected 
The powder men.  hearts to work their own confusion, and the most bitter hearted adversary to die for sorrow to see his prosperity: 
Parsons, &c.  by which we are assured, that God doth reserve him to many excellent ends, and by whose wisdom we are daily invited under the shadow of our own vine, to repose ourselves in peace and rest.  
How are they thus dejected then in their honourable thoughts, so many both English men and Scottish, which seem not like themselves, that to so infinite good ends, and notwithstanding the forcible enticements and powerful means to effect the same, will yet sit still, and neither help on this, nor any like public action, with their persons, purse nor counsel? How far is this unlike their ancient guise in former times, when for the name of Christ, and honour of their nations, they adventured thorough the world to win it with the sword? Well, if they will needs so much forget themselves, let this suffice to conclude them as unprofitable members, emptying and keeping dry the fountain at home, when with others they might seek to fill it from abroad: suffering the wealth of the world, of this new world, which is known to abound in treasure, if not to sleep in the dust, yet to slide away, and there to settle; where it reviveth the spirit of that viprous brood, 
The English jesuits, and others.  which seek to heal again that wounded head of Rome, by instigating therewith, and anointing the horns of such, as when time shall serve, will seek to pierce our hearts.  
And if it be asked, what benefit shall any man reap, in lieu of his disbursements, by that barren country, which hath so consumed all our employments? It hath been already declared to the world in sundry discourses, containing sufficient encouragement to men of understanding, and therefore not needful here to lay out again, the undoubted certainty of minerals, the rich and commodious means for shipping, and other materials of great use, which if they were not already published, wee would utterly forbear to name, till( after the plantation settled) the effects and fruits should show themselves. And besides al which things, that Nature hath already seated there, the soil and climate is so apt and fit for industrious mindes, to make plantation of so many precious plants( as hath been likewise shewed in particular) for the use of mankind and trade of merchandise, as to the sense and reason of such as haue seen it, no country under heaven can go beyond it.  
And so to end with this that hath been said, which if it may suffice to satisfy the ignorant, to stop the mouths of cavillers, and to stir up more assistance to this enterprise, it is enough: if not, I do not doubt, but God who effecteth oft the greatest ends by smallest means, and hath so far blessed those few hands as to procure this birth, will likewise still assist the same to bring it up with honour. Proceed therefore you noble Lords, and you wise religious gentlemen, in your constant resolution, and in your daily prayers remember it, for this work is of such consequence, as for many important reasons it must never be forsaken.  
And as you haue not shrunk away,( with many such of worse condition, which before they see it effected by others, will never adventure any thing) but( like that worthy roman Scipio, preserver of his country, which when all the romans in that sudden fear of Hannibals approach, threw off their arms to take themselves to flight, drew out his sword, and stayed their running out, and ruin of the city) haue in your own persons with exceeding pains, adventured in the most desperate condition thereof, to keep the work from ruin, and haue set it in that hopeful way to subsist of itself, as whether you live or no, to see the fruits thereof on earth, yet your reward shall be with God: and for example to posterity, in being the first props and pillars of the work, the records of time shall publish your praise; not stained with lies as the Legends of Saints, but as those renowned deeds of your noble ancestors, truly set out in our English stories, still living( as it were) and reaching out the hand, speaking to them that follow after, and telling to such as shall succeed, This is the way for the honour of your King, and your Countries good.  
FINIS.