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 ' . « 5 
 
 
AMERICAN 
 
 Colonial Tracts 
 
 MONTHLY 
 
 Number Six October 1897 
 
 NOVA BRITANNIA: OFFERING MOST EX- 
 CELLENT FRUITS BY PLANTING IN 
 VIRGINIA; EXCITING ALL SUCH AS BE 
 WELL AFFECTED TO FURTHER THE SAME. 
 LONDON: PRINTED FOR SAMUEL MACHAM, 
 AND ARE TO BE SOLD AT HIS SHOP IN 
 PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, AT THE SIGN OF 
 THE BUL-HEAD, 1609. 
 
 Price 2^ Cents ^3.00 a Year 
 
 Published by 
 
 GEORGE P HUMPHREY 
 
 ROCHESTER 
 Foreign Agents GAY & BIRD London England 
 
COLONIAL TRACTS, issued monthly, is designed to 
 offer in convenient form and at a reasonable price 
 some of the more valuable pamphlets relating to the early 
 history of America which have hitherto been inaccessible to 
 the general public, although of so much importance to the 
 historical student. Single numbers at 25 cents each, or 
 1^3.00 by the year, in advance, may be ordered through 
 any bookseller, from the publisher, George P. Humphrey, 
 25 Exchange Street, Rochester, N. Y., or Gay & Bird, 22 
 Bedford Street, Strand, London, W. C., England, agents for 
 Europe and the Colonies. The number for November will 
 contain "The New Life of Virginia: Declaring the former 
 success and present estate of that plantation, being the second 
 part of Nova Britannia. Published by authority of his Majesty's 
 Council of Virginia. London : Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, 
 for William Welby, dwelling at the sign of the Swan, in Paul's 
 Church-yard, 1612." 
 
 Recently Published. 
 
 A GUIDE IN THE WILDERNESS ; or the History of the 
 First Settlement in the Western Counties of New York, 
 with Useful Instructions to Future Settlers. In a series of 
 letters addressed by JUDGE COOPER, of COOPERS-TOWN, to 
 William Sampson, Barrister, of New York. Dublin : Printed 
 by Gilbert & Hodges, 37 Dame Street; 1810. 
 
 Three hundred copies only of this very rare book have 
 been printed, 1897, with an Introduction especially written for 
 this new edition by James Fenimore Cooper, of Albany, a 
 great-grandson of Judge Cooper. Sent postpaid on receipt of 
 the price, $1.25, by the publisher, George P. Humphrey, 
 Rochester, N. Y. 
 
 TRAVELS in the Years 1791 and 1792 in Pennsylvania, 
 New York, and Vermont. Journals of John Lincklaen, 
 agent of the Holland Land Company. With a biographical 
 sketch and notes. 
 
 8 vo. ;^2.oo. 
 
 Five hundred copies, only, printed. 
 
 Entered at the Rochester Post-Office as Second Class Matter. 
 
Nova Britannia 
 
 OFFERING MOST 
 
 EXCELLENT FRUITS BY PLANTING 
 
 IN 
 
 VIRGINIA 
 
 Exciting all Such as be well Affected to 
 Further the Same. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for SAMUEL MACHAM, and are to be sold at his shop 
 in Paul's Churchyard, at the Sign of the Bul-head. 
 1609. 
 
■1/^'^ 
 '5^^ 
 
 V 
 
 TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR THOMAS SMITH OF LONDON, 
 KNIGHT OF ONE OF HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL OF VIRGI- 
 NIA, AND TREASURER FOR THE COLONY AND GOVERNOR 
 OF THE COMPANIES OF THE MUSCOVIA AND EAST INDIA 
 MERCHANTS, PEACE, HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS IN CHRIST. 
 
 Right Worshipful Sir: 
 
 ■pORASMUCH as I have always observed your honest zeal 
 ^ to God, accompanied with so excellent carriage and res- 
 olution in actions of best consequence, I cannot but discover 
 unto you for your further encouragement, the sum of a private 
 speech or discourse, touching our plantation in Virginia, uttered 
 not long since in London, where some few adventurers (well 
 affecting the enterprise) being met together touching their 
 intended project, one among the rest stood up and began to 
 relate, in effect, as follows : 
 
 R. 1. 
 
 NO 6 OCTOBER 1897 
 
 COLONIAL TRACTS 
 
 Published by GEORGE P HUMPHREY 
 
 ROCHESTER N Y 
 
vot... COLONIAL TRACTSno.6- 
 
 NOVA BRITANNIA. 
 
 OFFERING MOST EXCELLENT FRUITS BY 
 
 PLANTING IN VIRGINIA 
 
 All/HEREAS, in our last meeting and conference the other 
 day, observing your sufficient reasons, answering all 
 objections, and your constant resolution to go on in our planta- 
 tion, they gave me so good content and satisfaction that I am 
 driven against myself to confess my own error in standing 
 out so long, whereby many of you, my friends, were engaged 
 in the business before me, at whose often instigations I was but 
 little moved, and lightly esteemed of it till being in place, 
 where observing the wise and prudent speech of a worthy 
 gentleman, well known to you all, a most painful manager of 
 such public affairs within this city, which moved so effectually, 
 touching the public utility of this noble enterprise, that with- 
 holding no longer, I yielded my money and endeavors as others 
 did to advance the same, and now, upon more advised consid- 
 eration, I must needs say I never accounted my poor means 
 employed to better purpose ; then by God's help the success 
 of this may be, and therefore I cannot but deliver (if you please 
 to hear), what 1 rudely conceive of a sudden. 
 
 There are divers monuments already published in print to 
 the world, manifesting and showing that the coast and parts 
 of Virginia have been long since discovered, peopled, and pos- 
 sessed by many English, both men, women, and children, the 
 natural subjects of our late Queen Elizabeth, of famous 
 memory, conducted and left there at sundry times. And that 
 the same footing and possession is there kept and possessed by 
 the same English, or by their seed and offspring, without any 
 interruption or invasion, either of the savages, the natives of 
 the country, or of any other prince or people, for ought we 
 hear or know to this day, which argues sufficiently to us, and 
 it is true, that over those English and Indian people no christian 
 king or prince other than James, our soverign lord and king, 
 
ought to have rule or dominion, or can by possession, conquest, 
 or inheritance, truly claim or make just titles to those territo- 
 ries, or to any part thereof, except it be, as we hear of late, 
 that a challenge is laid to all, by virtue of a donation from 
 Alexander, the first Pope of Rome, wherein, they say, is given 
 all the West Indies, including Florida and Virginia, with all 
 America, and whatsoever islands adjacent. 
 
 But what is this to us ? they are blind indeed that stumble 
 here ; it is much like that great donation of Constantine where- 
 by the Pope himself does hold and claim the City of Rome, 
 and all the Western Empire, a thing that so crosseth all histo- 
 ries of truth, and sound antiquity, that by the apt resemblance 
 of those two donations — the whole West Empire from a tem- 
 porary prince to the Pope, and the whole West Indies from the 
 Pope to a temporary prince. 1 do verily guess they be near of 
 kin, they are so like each other; the one an old tale, vain and 
 fabulous, the other a new toy most idle and ridiculous. 
 
 When the flatterers of Cambises, King of Persia, could 
 find no law to warrant his immoderate lust and incestuous 
 marriage with his own daughter, yet they told him of another 
 law which they had found, whereby the kings of Persia might 
 do what they listed ; if in these cases likewise there be a law 
 that the Pope may do what he list, let them that list obey him, 
 for we believe not in him. 
 
 Letting go, therefore, these legendary fables, which, how- 
 soever, some men hold authentic as their creed, yet are they in 
 the judgment of wise men, things of no value, nor do import to 
 us any cause of doubt or fear, but that we go on in our honest 
 enterprise and lawful purpose now in hand, that, as we hope, 
 his majesty mindeth not the relinquishing his estate and interest, 
 derived to him by right of succession from his immediate pre- 
 decessor, but for the further planting and succoring our old 
 colony hath given us leave to make new supplies, which we 
 lately sent thither under the conduct of Christopher Newport, 
 captain ; "and hath granted many gracious privileges, under 
 the great seal, to us and to our heirs forever, that will adven- 
 ture or plant in the said plantation. So 1 wish and entreat all 
 well affected subjects, some in their persons, others in their 
 purses, cheerfully to adventure, and jointly to take in hand 
 this high and acceptable work, tending to advance and spread 
 
the kingdom of God, and the knowledge of the truth among so 
 many millions of men and women, savage and blind, that never 
 yet saw the true light shine before their eyes, to enlighten 
 their minds and comfort their souls, as also for the honor of our 
 king, and enlarging of his kingdom, and for preservation and 
 defence of that small number our friends and countrymen 
 already planted, least for want of more supplies we become a 
 scorn to the world, subjecting our former adventures to apparent 
 spoil and hazard, and our people, as we pray, to be sacked and 
 pulled out of possession, as were the French out of Nova 
 Francia not many years ago, and which is the least and last 
 respect, yet usually preferred, for the singular good and bene- 
 fit that will undoubtedly arise to this whole nation, and to 
 every one of us in particular that will adventure therein, as 
 by true relation, God willing, I shall make it manifestly appear 
 to all. 
 
 It is known to the world, and cannot be forgotten, that the 
 days and reign of Queen Elizabeth brought forth the highest 
 degree of wealth, happiness and honor that ever England had 
 before her time, whereof to let pass the particular praises as 
 impertinent to my purpose, 1 do only call to mind our royal 
 fleets and merchant ships (the jewels of our land) ; our ex- 
 cellent navigators and admirable voyages, as into all parts 
 and round about the globe with good success ; to the high fame 
 and glory of our nation, so especially their aim and course was 
 most directed to the new found world ; to the mainland and 
 infinite islands of the West Indies ; intending to discover with 
 what convenience to plant and settle English colonies in places 
 not already possessed and inhabited by subjects of other 
 christian princes, wherein after many tedious and perilous ad- 
 ventures, howsoever strange seas and miserable famine had 
 devoured and distressed ships and men of inestimable value, 
 yet were not the remnant escaping, swallowed up of despair, 
 nor their heart and spirits daunted with fear; but daily armed 
 afresh with invincible courage and greater resolution, scorning 
 to sit down by their losses, made new attempts, not enduring 
 to look on while so huge and spacious countries, the fourth 
 part of the world, and the greatest and wealthiest part of all 
 the rest, should remain a wilderness, subject, for the most 
 part, but to wild beasts and fowls of the air, and to savage 
 
people which have no christian nor civil use of anything; and 
 that the subjects only of one Prince Christian, which but 
 within the memory of man began first to creep upon the face 
 of those territories, and now by means of their remnants set- 
 tled here and there, do therefore imagine the world to be 
 theirs, shouldering out all other nations, accounting themselves 
 kings and commanders, not only in towns and places where 
 they have planted, but over all other parts of America which 
 contain sundry vast and barbarous regions, many of which, to 
 this day, they never knew, nor did ever settle foot therein ; 
 which, notwithstanding, if it were yielded to them as due, yet 
 their strength and means far inferior to their aspires, will 
 never stretch to compass or replenish the hundredth part 
 thereof. And this we proved true not many years ago, our 
 prince and theirs being then at open hostilities, their best and 
 chiefest residences were scattered with so poor and slender 
 troops that with handfuls of men, at sundry times, we ran 
 through all, surprising and sacking their strongest forts and 
 towns in those parts, and might long since with ease, following 
 and seconding our forces, have set them to their stint. 
 
 But seeing we so passed by their dwellings, that in seating 
 ourselves we sought not to unsettle them, but by God's mercy, 
 after many storms, were brought to the coast of another 
 country far distant and remote from their habitations ; why 
 should any frown or envy at it, or if they do, why should we, 
 neglecting so fair an opportunity, faint or fear to enlarge our- 
 selves. Where is our force and ancient vigor ? Does our late 
 reputation sleep in the dust ? No, no, let not the world de- 
 ceive itself ! We still remain the same, and upon just occasion 
 given, we shall quickly show it, too, having now by God's 
 blessing more means than ever heretofore, being strongly fenced 
 where we wonted to lie open. Our plant, we trust, is firmly 
 rooted, our arms and limbs are strong, our branches fair and 
 much desire to spread themselves abroad. 
 
 But before I come to describe this earthly paradise, or to 
 prove the points of my proposition mentioned before, you shall 
 know that the first discovery and actual possession taken 
 thereof was in the reign and by the subjects of Henry the 
 Seventh of England, at which time did Spain also discover, 
 and by that right of discovery doth retain and hold their Nova 
 
Hispania and all other their limits upon that coast. But that we 
 now intend to ground upon is a more late discovery and actual 
 possession, taken in the name and right of Queen Elizabeth, 
 in Anno 1584, the 13th of July, as it is truly set down in the 
 Book of English Voyages by sundry English captains and 
 gentlemen in that voyage, whose names are recorded in that 
 discourse (and many of whom are yet living), whereof when 
 her majesty had true information she named the country Vir- 
 ginia, and did assign to Walter Raleigh, then a gentlemen of 
 worth, power, and authority, to plant forces and colonies there 
 at his pleasure, who transported thither in Anno 1587, by the 
 conduct of John White, chief leader, above an hundred men, 
 women, and children at one time, and left them there to inhabit 
 to this day. Notwithstanding, it is true indeed, as some may 
 object. It is now above twenty years ago since these things 
 were done, and yet ever since in all this time, we never saw 
 or heard of any good that hath come from thence, nor of any 
 hope that might encourage us anew to engage ourselves 
 therein. 
 
 But let us rightly weigh the reasons of it and then judge. 
 Those hundred and upward conducted thither by John White 
 and whose particular names you may see recorded in the same 
 Book of Voyages, were left there with intent and promise to 
 be supplied from England with more companies and all neces- 
 saries the next year following ; in the meantime they were to 
 plant and fortify themselves in best manner they could, and to 
 make a discovery of such minerals and other merchandise as 
 the country should yield by nature. But as all good actions 
 have their crosses and their bane attending on them, so had 
 this ; for that those which had the managing of a new supply 
 being the next year sufficiently furnished to sea for that end, 
 yet most unnaturally being tainted with that common corrup- 
 tion of time, turned their heads another way, and with greedy 
 minds betook themselves wholly to hunt after pillage upon the 
 Spanish coast, where spending their men, their time and pro- 
 visions, they were not able (being come and arrived at the 
 port) to make up into the land to visit and relieve their friends, 
 but were forced to retire for England again, whereby the edge 
 of those adventurers that set them forth was so abated that 
 this most honorable enterprise, so happily begun, was by this 
 
last occasion most unhappily ended ; neither had our poor 
 countrymen left there any means from thence to visit us, nor 
 in all this time to give us any light of their own estate ; 
 whereas then, if those beginnings had been followed as they 
 ought, and as by God's help we now intend, that country had 
 long since become a most royal addition to the crown of Eng- 
 land, and a very nursery and fountain of much wealth and 
 strength to this kingdom. 
 
 When Christopher Columbus, the first bewrayer of this 
 new world, was to make his proffer where he liked best, he 
 chose Henry the Seventh of England, as in those days the 
 most worthy and best furnished for navigations of all the kings 
 in Christendom, offering to invest his majesty with the most 
 precious and richest vines of the whole earth, never known 
 before, as he did also the like to the kings of Portugal and 
 Spain, who, as the story saith, for his poor apparel and simple 
 looks, and for the novelty of his proposition, was of most men 
 accounted a vain fool and utterly rejected, save that the Span- 
 ish better conceiving than some others, began to entertain and 
 make use of his skill, which within these hundred years hath 
 brought forth those apparent fruits to the world as cannot be 
 hid. Their territories enlarged, their navigations increased, 
 their subjects enriched and their superfluity of coin over- 
 spreading all parts of the world, procures their crown to flour- 
 ish and highly commendeth the wisdom of Spain, whose quick 
 apprehension and speedy address prevented all other princes : 
 albeit, as you know, their greatness of mind arising together 
 with their money and means, hath turmoiled all Christendom 
 these forty years and more. 
 
 And this 1 but mention to note tlie blind diffidence of our 
 English natures, which laugh to scorn the name of Virginia, 
 and all other new projects, be they never so probable, and 
 will not believe till we see the effects ; as also to show how 
 capable men ought to be in things of great importance, ad- 
 visedly to take the first occasions. We read of Hannibal when 
 chasing home the Romans to the gates of Rome, and neglect- 
 ing then to scale the walls, could never after, with all his 
 strength and policies, come near the like advantage ; yet I 
 must briefly tell you now, what 1 conceive with joy, that how- 
 soever the business of this plantation hath been formerly mis- 
 
carried, yet it is now going on in better way, not enterprised 
 by one or two private subjects, who, in their greatness of 
 mind, sought to compass that which rather beseemed a mighty 
 prince such as ours, or the whole state to take in hand ; for it 
 is not unknown to you all how many noble men of honorable 
 minds, how many worthy knights, merchants and others of the 
 best disposition, are now joined together in one charter, to re- 
 ceive equal privileges, according to their several adventures ; 
 every man engaging his purse, and some noblemen, knights, 
 and gentlemen intending to go in their own persons, which I 
 did hear to protest and vow against any people whomsoever 
 shall anyway seek to entrap or impeach our proceedings, an 
 utter revenge upon their bodies or goods if they be to be found 
 upon sea or land, whereby we have assured hope (God as- 
 sisting us), to be effectually able to make good against all, and 
 in short time to bring to a most happy event the thing we take 
 in hand. 
 
 And now in describing the natural seat and disposition of 
 the country itself, if 1 should say no more but with Caleb 
 and Joshua: "The land which we have searched out is a 
 very good land. If the Lord love us he will bring our people 
 to it and will give it us for a possession," this were enough 
 to you that are willing, but yet a little more in particular ob- 
 served by the best maps and printed discourses, and by con- 
 ference of such as have been lately there and seen it, I think 
 good to deliver to satisfy others : First, the voyage is not long 
 or tedious ; six weeks at ease will send us thither, whereas 
 six months suffice not to some other places where we trade. 
 Our course and passage is through the great ocean, where is 
 no fear of rocks or flats, nor subject to the straights and re- 
 straint of foreign princes ; most winds that blow are apt and 
 fit for us, and none can hinder us. When we come to the 
 coast there is continual depth enough, with good bottom for 
 anchor hold, and the land is fair to fall withal, full of excellent 
 good harbors ; the world affords no better for ships of all bur- 
 dens, many pleasant islands, great and small, affronting the 
 coast. Two goodly rivers are discovered winding far into the 
 main, the one in the north part of the land by our western 
 colony, knights and gentlemen of Excester, Plymouth and 
 others. The other in the south part thereof by our colony of 
 
10 
 
 London. Upon which river, being both broad, deep and pleas- 
 ant, abounding with store of fish, our colony have begun to 
 fortify themselves, and have built a town and named it, in 
 honor of our king, Jamestown, four-score miles within land, 
 upon the north side of the river, as is London upon the river 
 of Thames, from whence we have discovered the same river 
 one hundred miles further into the mainland, in the searching 
 whereof they were so ravished with the admirable sweetness 
 of the stream, and with the pleasant land trending along on 
 either side, that their joy exceeded and with great admiration 
 they praised God. 
 
 The country itself is large and great assuredly, though as 
 yet, no exact discovery can be made of all. It is also com- 
 mendable and hopeful every way ; the air and climate most 
 sweet and wholesome, much warmer than England and very 
 agreeable to our natures. It is inhabited with wild and savage 
 people, that live and lay up and down in troups like heards of 
 deer in a forest. They have no law but nature ; their apparel, 
 skins of beasts, but most go naked. The better sort have 
 houses, but poor ones. They have no arts nor science, yet they 
 live under superior command, such as it is ; they are generally 
 very loving and gentle, and do entertain and relieve our 
 people with great kindness. They are easy to be brought to 
 good, and would fain embrace a better condition. The land 
 yieldeth naturally for the sustenance of man, abundance of fish, 
 both scale and shell ; of land and water fowls, infinite store ; 
 of deer, kain, and fallow, stags, coneys, and hares, with many 
 fruits and roots good for meat. 
 
 There are valleys and plains streaming with sweet springs, 
 like veins in a natural body ; there are hills and mountains 
 making a sensible proffer of hidden treasure, never yet 
 searched. The land is full of minerals, plenty of woods (the 
 wants of England) ; there are growing goodly oak and elms, 
 beech and birch, spruce, walnut, cedar, and fir trees in great 
 abundance ; the soil is strong and lusty of its own nature, and 
 sendeth out naturally fruitful vines running upon trees and 
 shrubs. It yields also resin, turpentine, pitch, and tar, sas- 
 afras, mulberry trees, and silkworms ; many skins and rich 
 furs, many sweet woods and dye woods, and other costly dyes; 
 plenty of sturgeon, timber for shipping, mast, plank, and deal. 
 
11 
 
 soap ashes, caviare, and what else we know not yet, because 
 our days are young. But of this that 1 have said, if bare 
 nature be so amiable in its naked kind, what may we hope 
 when art and nature both shall join and strive together to give 
 best content to man and beast ? As now in handling the 
 several parts propounded, I shall show in order as they lie. 
 
 For the first (if 1 forget not myself), how it may tend to 
 advance the kingdom of God by reducing savage people from 
 their blind superstition to the light of religion, when some 
 object, we seek nothing less than the cause of God, being led 
 on by our own private ends ; and secondly how we can war- 
 rant a supplantation of those Indians, or an invasion into their 
 right and possessions. 
 
 To the first we say, as many actions both good in them- 
 selves and in their success, have been performed with bad 
 intents, so in this case, howsoever our naughtiness of mind 
 may sway very much, yet God may have the honor, and his 
 kingdom advanced in the action done. But yet, by the way, 
 methinks this objection comes in due time, and doth well 
 admonish us how to rectify our hearts and ground our medita- 
 tions before we begin. We do generally applauad and highly 
 commend the goodness of the cause, and that it is such a profit- 
 able plough as every honest man ought to set his hand unto, 
 both in respect of God and the public good. This is our general 
 voice, and we say truth, for so it is. 
 
 But we must beware that under this pretence that bitter 
 root of greedy gain be not so settled in our hearts, that being in 
 a golden dream, if it fall not out presently to our expectation, 
 we slink away with discontent and draw our purses from the 
 charge. If any show this affection, I would wish his baseness 
 of mind to be noted. What must be our direction then — no 
 more but this : If thou to once approve the work, lay thy hand 
 to it cheerfully, and withdraw it not till thy task be done at all 
 assayes and new supplies of money be not lag, nor like a dull 
 horse that 's always in the lash, for here lies the poison of all 
 good attempts, when as men without hauling and pulling, will 
 not be drawn to performance, for by this others are discourag- 
 ed, the action lies undone and the first expense is lost. But 
 are we to look for no gain in the lieu of all adventures ? Yes, 
 undoubtedly there is assured hope of gain, as I will show anon 
 
12 
 
 in due place, but look it be not chief in your thoughts, God 
 that hath said by Solomon : " Cast thy bread upon the waters 
 * and after many days thou shalt find it;" he will give the 
 blessing. And as for supplanting the savages, we have no 
 such intent. Our intrusion into their possessions shall tend to 
 their great good, and no way to their hurt, unless as unbridled 
 beasts, they procure it to themselves. We purpose to pro- 
 claim and make it known to them all by some public interpreta- 
 tion, that our coming thither is to plant ourselves in their 
 country, yet not to supplant and root them out, but to bring 
 them from their base condition to a far better. First, in regard to 
 God the Creator, and of Jesus Christ their Redeemer, if they 
 will believe in him. And secondly, in respect of earthly bless- 
 ings, whereof they have now no comfortable use, but in beastly, 
 brutish manner, with promise to defend them against all 
 public and private enemies. We can remember since Don Jon 
 Daquila with his forces invading Ireland, a noble, civil king- 
 dom where all except a few runagates were settled in the 
 truth of religion, and lived by wholesome laws, under the 
 mild government of christian kings and princes, long before 
 his grandsier's cradle. Yet he thought it no robbery to pro- 
 claim and publish to the world that his coming thither was to 
 none other end but to free their nation from their bondage and 
 tyranous subjection, and to bring the blind souls to Catholic 
 religion — a plausible pretence, the least end of his thought. 
 
 But if this were coined in these days by the printers 
 themselves, to pass for current through the world, howsoever 
 base it was indeed, we hope they will be as favorable to our 
 case, and give as free passage and allowance to our invasion, 
 much more current and so far different as not to bring a 
 people (according to our proverb) out of the frying pan into 
 the fire, but to make their condition truly more happy by a 
 mutual interchange and commerce in this sort. That as to our 
 great expense and charge, we make adventures to impart our 
 divine riches, to their inestimable gain, and to cover their 
 naked misery with civil use of food and clothing, and to train 
 them by gentle means to those manual arts and skill which 
 they so much affect and do admire to see in us. So in lieu of 
 this we require nothing at their hands but a quiet residence to 
 us and ours, that by our own labor and toil we may work this 
 
13 
 
 good unto them and recompence our own adventures, costs, 
 and travels in the end. Wherein they shall be most friendly 
 welcome to conjoin their labors with ours, and shall enjoy 
 equal privileges with us in whatsoever good success time or 
 means may bring to pass. To which purpose we may verily 
 believe that God has reserved in this last age of the world an 
 infinite number of those lost and scattered sheep, to be won 
 and recovered by our means, of whom so many as obstinately 
 refused to unite themselves unto us, or shall maligne or disturb 
 our plantation, our chattel, or whatsover belonging to us, they 
 shall be held and reputed, recusant, withstanding their own 
 good, and shall be dealt with as enemies of the commonwealth 
 of their country, whereby how much good we shall perform to 
 those that be good, and how little injury to any, will easily 
 appear by comparing our present happiness with our former 
 ancient miseries, wherein we had continued brutish, poor, and 
 naked Britains to this day if Julius C^sar, with his Roman 
 legions (or some other) had not laid the ground to make us 
 tame and civil. 
 
 But for my second point propounded (the honor of our king 
 by enlarging his kingdom) to prove how this may tend to that, 
 no argument of mine can make it so manifest, as the same is 
 clear in itself. Divine testimony shows that the honor of a 
 king consists in the multitude of subjects, and certainly the 
 Jews were far more glorious by the conquests of David, and 
 under the ample reign of Solomon, than ever before or after. 
 The twelve tribes were then all subject ; the bordering nations 
 tributary, no doubt a happy subjection to many of them, 
 whereby they had the better means to believe and know God 
 the creator of heaven and earth. Honorable, I grant, is just 
 conquest by sword, and Hercules is fained to have had all his 
 felicity in subduing and rooting out the tyrants of the world ; 
 but unfeignedly it is most honorable indeed to subdue the 
 tyrany of the roaring lion that devours those poor souls in their 
 ignorance and leads them to hell for want of light when our 
 dominions shall be enlarged and the subjects multiplied of a 
 people so bought and ransomed, not by storms of raging 
 cruelties (as West India was converted) with rapier's point and 
 musket shot, murdering so many millions of naked Indians, as 
 their stories do relate, but by fair and loving means suiting to 
 
14 
 
 our English natures, like that soft and gentle voice wherein 
 the Lord appeared to Elias, How honorable will this be in the 
 sight of men, and of ages to come ? But much more glorious 
 in the sight of God, when our King shall come to make his 
 triumph in heaven. The prophet Daniel doth assure that for 
 this conquest of turning many unto righteousness he shall shine 
 as the stars for ever and ever. 
 
 And yet this is not all that may be said : the ancient law, 
 the law of Moses, sets it down as a blessed thing when the 
 prince and people of God shall be able to lend to all, and need 
 to borrow of none ; and it added very much to the fame and 
 wisdom of King Solomon, which the world came far and near 
 to wonder at, in that his kingdoms were replenished with gold 
 and silver in abundance, and with riches brought in by ships 
 sent yearly forth in ample trade of merchandise, whereof we 
 read not the like among all the kings of Israel. And upon 
 good warrant I speak it here in private, what by these new 
 discoveries into the western parts, and our hopeful settling in 
 chiefest places of the East, with our former known trades in 
 other parts of the world, I do not doubt, by the help of God, 
 but 1 may live to see the days, if merchants have their due 
 encouragement, that the wisdom, majesty, and honor of our 
 king shall be spread and enlarged to the ends of the world, our 
 navigations mightily increased, and his majesty's customs 
 more than trebled. 
 
 And as for the third part — the relieving of our men already 
 planted, to preserve both them and our former adventures, 1 
 shall not need to say much ; the necessity is so apparent that 
 I hope no adventurer will be wanting therein. 
 
 Our Saviour, Christ, resembles them that give over in their 
 best duties, to foolish builders that, having laid the foundation, 
 do grovel themselves in the middle way, and so become 
 ridiculous. It had been extreme madness in the Jews, when, 
 having sent to spy the land that flowed with milk and honey, 
 and ten for two returned back with tidings of impossibility to 
 enter and prevail, if then they had retired and lost the land of 
 promise. No doubt the devil that envied then that enterprise 
 doth now the like in ours, and we must make account, and look 
 to be encountered with many discouragements, partly by our 
 friends and neighbors, such as (we use to say) will neither go 
 
15 
 
 to church nor tarry at home, as also (which is no new thing) 
 even by such as have been sent to spy the land, one while 
 objecting the charge will be great, the business long, and the 
 gains nothing, and, besides, the Anakim that dwell in the 
 mountains will come and pull us out by the ears, with such 
 like fooleries, I know not what. 
 
 But we must be prepared, with Caleb and Joshua, so 
 highly commended, to oppose an extraordinary zeal against the 
 detractings of such, to rescue our enterprise from malicious 
 ignorance, and to still their murmurings with reproofs, for 
 though, in ordinary and common occasions, it be our duty to 
 be carried with ordinary patience, meekness, and humility, yet 
 to show an excellent spirit when the cause is worth it, and in 
 such a case as this requiring passing resolution. It is but our 
 weakness to stumble at straws, and a baseness to gnaw upon 
 every bone that is cast in our way, which we may observe by 
 those noble dogs of Albania, presented to King Alexander, 
 whose natures contemned to encounter or prey upon seely 
 beasts of no valor, but with an overflowing courage flying upon 
 the lion and the tiger, did then declare their virtue. 
 
 And now it follows, how it can be good for this common- 
 wealth, which is likewise most apparent many ways. First, 
 if we consider what strength of shipping may be raised and 
 maintained thence, in furnishing our own wants of sundry 
 kinds, and the wants of other nations too, in such needful 
 things arising thence which can hardly now be obtained from 
 any other part of the world, as plank and timber for shipping, 
 with deal and wainscot, pipestaves, and clapboard, with store 
 of soap ashes, whereof there grow the best woods to make 
 them in great abundance, all which we may there have, the 
 wood for the cutting, and the ashes for the burning, which, 
 though they be gross commodities, yet no merchandise is 
 better requested nor will sooner yield gold or silver in any of 
 our bordering nations. England and Holland alone spend in 
 these about three hundred thousand pounds sterling every 
 year. We may transport hither or unto Hamburg, Holland, 
 or other places, fifty per centum better cheap, than from 
 Prussia or Polonia, from whence they are only now to be had, 
 where also the woods are so spent and wasted, that from the 
 place where the wood is cut and the ashes burnt, they are 
 
brought by land at least two hundred miles to ship. And 
 from thence we may have iron and copper also in great 
 quantity, about which the expense and waste of wood, as 
 also for building of ships, will be no hurt, but great service to 
 that country ; the great superfluity whereof, the continual 
 cutting down, in many hundred years, will not be able to 
 overcome, whereby will likewise grow a greater benefit to this 
 land, in preserving our woods and timber at home, so infinitely 
 and without measure upon these occasions cut down and 
 fallen to such a sickness and wasting consumption, as all the 
 physic in England cannot cure. 
 
 We doubt not but to make there in few years store of good 
 wines as any from the Canaries, by replanting and making 
 tame the vines that naturally grow there in great abundance ; 
 only send men of skill to do it, and coopers to make casks, 
 and hoops for that and all other uses, for which there is wood 
 enough at hand. 
 
 There are silkworms and plenty of mulberry trees, whereby 
 ladies, gentlewomen, and little children, being set in the way 
 to do it, may be all employed with pleasure in making silk 
 comparable to that of Persia, Turkey, or any other. We may 
 bring from thence sturgeon, caviare, and new land fish of the 
 best. There grows hemp for cordage, an excellent commodity, 
 and flax for linen cloth, which, being sewn and well manured, 
 in such a climate and fertile soil, will make great benefit and 
 will put down that of other countries. 
 
 And for the making of pitch, tar, turpentine, soap ashes, 
 deal, wainscot, and such like, we have already provided and 
 sent thither skilled workmen from foreign parts, which may 
 teach and set ours in the way, whereby we may set many 
 thousands at work in these such like services. 
 
 For, as I told you before, there must be art and industry 
 with our helps and means extended, with a little patience to 
 bring these things to pass, we must not look to reap with joy 
 except we sow in tears. The abundance of King Solomon's 
 gold and silver did not rain from heaven upon the heads of his 
 subjects, but heavenly providence blessed his navigations and 
 public affairs, the chief means of their wealth. 
 
 Experience has lately taught us by some of our neighbor 
 provinces, how exceedingly it mounts the state of a common- 
 
17 
 
 wealth to put forth navigation, if it were possible, into all 
 parts and corners of the world, to furnish our own wants, and 
 also to supply, from one kingdom to another, such several 
 needful things as for want of shipping and other means they 
 cannot furnish of themselves ; for this will raise experience and 
 men of skill, as also strength at sea and land, with honor, 
 wealth, and riches returning still to the heads and fountains 
 from whence their first occasions grew. 
 
 We may but look a little back and we shall see what a 
 novice our nation was within these six-score years in case of 
 foreign trade, not knowing whence to fetch nor which way to 
 transport, but only to some mart or staple town within two 
 days' sailing, and that was counted so great a matter then that 
 therefore they were called merchant adventurers ; and the 
 great hulks of Italy, which in those days brought spices, 
 currants, and such like, and landed at Southampton (the store- 
 house then for merchandise) are chronicled for wonders in our 
 English stories, for indeed we knew no better then, but were 
 content, as babes, with easterlings on the one hand and Lom- 
 bards on the other, which were continual liegers in London, 
 and fed us as they listed. 
 
 And take this ever as a rule, that domestic merchandising 
 brings forth but poor effects in a commonwealth, whereof I 
 needed not have showed example further than our own doors. 
 
 What was the case of England before the golden days of 
 Queen Elizabeth, at whose coming to the crown the state of 
 merchants was so poor and mean that renting out her customs 
 in wards, but at a very low rate, yet it brought the farmer 
 upon his knees. 
 
 A man that marks the difference, and shall compare those 
 times and these together, shall think it were impossible, unless 
 his knowledge taught him otherwise, that the days and reign 
 of one Elizabeth, whose hand was ever lending to distressed 
 neighbor princes, and her sword unsheathed continually, repuls- 
 ing foreign enemies, yet should relieve and raise the state of 
 her customs, the strength of her navy, and the condition of 
 her people, every way seven-fold to that they were before, 
 only by encouraging the royal trade of merchandise as we see 
 it this day apparent. Let God have the honor, and blessed be 
 her memory, and the memorial of those managers of state in 
 
18 
 
 her days for their worthy counsels, many of which, though 
 they now sleep and rest with their sovereign in peace, yet 
 some do still remain and do succeed in place, where long may 
 they stand and their seed after them, like the pillars and 
 worthies of King David, to shield the head and honor of our 
 Solomon, and still to uphold and enlarge our happiness forever ; 
 and this I am driven to speak and mention by the way, where 
 I meant it not in regard of some which upon a disaster begin 
 to wax weary of all, discouraging themselves and others from 
 this and all other foreign adventures, to let them know that 
 each thing hath increase from whence it had beginning, and to 
 put ourselves in mind that we fail not in furthering those 
 causes that bring forth such effects. 
 
 Another instance might be shown in one particular, which 
 taxeth very much our English nation and all the subjects of 
 our sovereign king, that, enjoying such plenty of woodlands 
 and fruitful soils within England, Scotland, Ireland, and 
 Wales, yet our want of industry is such that Netherlanders, 
 which have not a stick of wood growing, nor any land for 
 sowing, should surpass and go beyond us in continual plenty 
 of corn and shipping. Methinks the reformation hereof should 
 find more favor at our hands, that in such points of civil 
 policy, no people of lesser means should cast us so behind, and 
 each well-minded man should lend his help to heal and cure 
 such stains and scars in the face of our state, as being viewed 
 and weighed well, may very well make us blush. 
 
 And now to our present business in hand, which so many 
 stumble at : in regard of the continual charge, 1 would have 
 them know that it cannot be great nor long, as the business 
 may be handled. Two things are especially required herein: 
 people to make the plantation, and money to furnish our 
 present provisions and shippings now in hand. For the first 
 we need not doubt, our land abounding with swarms of idle 
 persons, which having no means of labor to relieve their 
 misery, do likewise swarm in lewd and naughty practices, so 
 that if we seek not some ways for their foreign employment, 
 we must provide shortly more prisons and corrections for their 
 bad conditions, for it fares with populous common weals, as 
 with plants and trees that be too frolic, which not able to sus- 
 tain and feed their multitude of branches, do admit an engraft- 
 
19 
 
 ing of their buds and scions into some other soil, accounting it 
 a benefit for preservation of their kind, and a disburdening 
 their stocI< of those superfluous twigs that suck away their 
 nourishment. And we shall find that hence it was, the Goths 
 and Vandals with other barbarous nations, seeing an overflow- 
 ing of their multitudes at home, did therefore send their armies 
 out as raging floods, at sundry times, to cover the faces of 
 Spain, Italy, and other provinces, to free their own from pes- 
 tering, so that you see it no new thing, but most profitable for 
 our state, to rid our multitudes of such as lie at home, pestering 
 the land with pestilence and penury, and infecting one another 
 with vice and villainy worse than the plague itself ; whose 
 very miseries drive many of them, by means to be cut off, as 
 bad and wicked members, or else both them and theirs to be 
 relieved at the common charge of others. 
 
 Yet I do not mean that none but such unsound members 
 and such poor as want their bread, are fittest for this employ- 
 ment ; for we intend to have of every trade and profession, 
 both honest, wise, and painful men, whereof our land and 
 city is able to spare, and furnish many, as we had experience 
 in our last sending thither, which will be glad to go and plant 
 themselves so happily, and their children after them, to hold 
 and keep conformity with the laws, language, and religion of 
 England forever. 
 
 Touching which, I do earnestly admonish you to beware and 
 shun three kinds of people : The first, a most vile minded 
 sort, and for the most part bad members of this city, by some 
 means shaken out of their honest courses, and now shifting by 
 their wits, will be always devising some unhappiness to wrong 
 the plantation ; such as daily beat their brains, and seek by 
 lying suggestions, under color of good pretence to the common- 
 wealth to infringe our ancient liberties, and would, if they 
 were not met withal and curbed by authority, make a monoply 
 to themselves of each thing after other, belonging to the 
 freedom of every man's profession, the very wrack of 
 merchandising. 
 
 The second sort are papists, professed or recusant of which 
 I would not one, seasoned with the least taint of that leaven, to 
 be settled in our plantation, nor in any part of that country, 
 but if once perceived, such a one, weed him out, and ship him 
 
20 
 
 home for England, for they will ever be plotting and conspiring 
 to root you out if they can ; howsoever they swear, flatter, 
 and equivocate, believe them not. Keep only these two 
 examples in mind. 
 
 Watson, the seminary priest, in his printed " Quodlibets," 
 he of all other men protesteth the greatest truth and fidelity to 
 his prince and country, objecting all the bloody plots and trea- 
 sons to have come from the combination of Jesuits, and from 
 Parsons, the arch-athiest-in-chief, but as for himself he wished 
 no longer to live and breathe; then the thoughts of his heart 
 should be true and upright to his prince and country. Not- 
 withstanding, this Watson was the very first wretch of all 
 others that had his hand in treason against our king, and 
 reaped his reward according to his wish. 
 
 The other example is a Popish pamphlet, called the "Lay 
 Catholic's Petition," offered to his majesty for toleration of 
 Popery, protesting likewise their fidelity and unfeigned love to 
 his majesty, offering to be bound life for life with good sureties 
 for their loyal behavior ; happy men had we been to have 
 taken their bonds, no doubt, for even at that instant, when 
 this petition was exhibiting, the chief heads of those lay 
 Catholics were then laboring with all their might to undermine 
 the parliament house, to shake the pillars, and the whole frame 
 of the kingdom to shivers. 
 
 And which is more, there is newly dispersed an idle dis- 
 course against an honorable personage of this land, by a papist 
 that terms himself a Catholic divine, defending Garnet, the 
 popish priest, saying there was nothing against him at his 
 arraignment but only his acquaintance with the powder plot ; 
 which, saith he, being revealed unto him in auricular confession 
 he might not therefore by the law and right of Catholic 
 religion disclose or make known. 
 
 How like you these Catholics and this divinity ? If they 
 grow so bold and desperate in a mighty settled state, how 
 much more dangerous in the birth and infancy of yours ? 
 Therefore, if you will live and prosper, harbor not this viperous 
 brood in your bosom, which will eat out and consume the womb 
 of their mother. 
 
 The third sort to avoid are evil affected magistrates, a plague 
 that God himself complains of by the prophet Isaiah — " O my 
 
•21 
 
 people, they that lead thee, cause thee to error." Touching 
 which, I am no way able to speak enough, for herein lies the 
 very life of all. Let no partiality prefer them, unless they be 
 worthy men ; if they be papists or popishly minded ; if profane 
 atheists, contemning God and his word, turning religion to 
 policy, unchaste, idle, ambitious, proud, and tyrannous, for- 
 getting their allegiance to their king, and duty to their country, 
 neglecting their commission of employment, advancing vile and 
 vicious persons like themselves, and basely using those that 
 are virtuous, godly, and well affected, then look for no bless- 
 ing nor assistance of God, but misery, crosses, and confusions 
 in all we take in hand ; but in men of knowledge, and religious 
 education there is ever found true humility, temperance, and 
 justice, joined with confidence, valor, and noble courage, such 
 as was in Moses, the man of God, whose justice exceeded and 
 courage was incomparable, and yet the meekest man that went 
 upon the earth. Ten of such will chase an hundred. No ad- 
 versities can make them dispair. Their provident care will 
 ever be to repulse injuries, repress the insolent, to encourage 
 the painful and best minded, to employ the soul to some honest 
 labors, and to relieve with mercy and commiseration the most 
 feeble, weakest, and meanest member. 
 
 And as for the general sort that shall go to be planters, be 
 they never so poor, so they be honest, and painful, the place 
 will make them rich. All kind of artificers we must first 
 employ are carpenters, shipwrights, masons, sawyers, brick- 
 makers, bricklayers, plowmen, sowers, planters, fishermen, 
 coopers, smiths, mettlemen, tailors, turners, and such like, to 
 make and fit all necessaries for comfort and use of the colony ; 
 and for such as are of no trades, if they be industrious, they 
 shall have there employment enough, for there is a world of 
 means to set many thousands to work, partly in such things as 
 I mentioned before, and many other profitable works, for no 
 man must live idle there. 
 
 And by this employment we may happily stop the course 
 of those irregular youths of no religion, that daily run from us 
 to Rome and Rhemes for exhibition, which after a little ham- 
 mering and training there by Parsons and his imps, they 
 become pliable for the impression of any villainy whatsoever, 
 as appears by their positions and practices at home and abroad. 
 
22 
 
 And hereby our mariners shall not lie idle, nor our owners 
 sell their ships for want of freight. You know how many good 
 ships are daily sold, and made away to foreign nations. How 
 many men for want of employment betake themselves to Tunis, 
 Spain, and Florence, and to serve in courses not warrantable, 
 which would better beseem our own walls and borders to be 
 spread with such branches, that their native country, and not 
 foreign princes, might reap their fruit, as being both exquisite 
 navigators, and resolute men for service, as any the world 
 affords. 
 
 We intend to plant there, God willing, great plenty of sugar 
 canes, for which the soil and climate is very apt and fit ; also 
 linseed and rape seed to make oils, which, because the soil is 
 strong and cheap, may there be sowed and the oil made to great 
 benefit. We must plant also oranges, lemons, almonds, anise 
 seeds, rice, cumin, cotton wool, caraway seed, ginger, 
 madder, olives, oris, sumach, and many such like, which I 
 cannot now name, all very good merchandise, and will there 
 grow and increase as well as in Italy or any other part of the 
 straits, whence we fetch them now. And in searching the land 
 there is undoubted hope of finding cochineal, the plant of rich 
 indigo, grainberries, beaver hides, pearls, and rich treasure, 
 and the south sea, leading to China, with many other benefits 
 which our daylight will discover. 
 
 But of all other thing that God hath denied that country, 
 there is want of sheep to make woolen cloth, and this want of 
 cloth must always be supplied from England, whereby when 
 the colony is thoroughly increased, and the Indians brought to 
 our civility, as they will in a short time, it will cause a mighty 
 vent of English clothes, a great benefit to our nation, and 
 raising again of that ancient trade of clothing, so much decayed 
 in England, whose lifting up again, methinks I see apparently 
 approaching, by the good dispositions of our best sort of citizens, 
 who willingly engage themeslves to undertake all new dis- 
 coveries, as into this of the West, and by the Northwest to 
 find out China. And unto the East, beyond the cape, into the 
 Red sea and the Gulf of Persia, the Straits of Sunda, and 
 among all the kings of India, for the good and honor of our 
 nation, which calls to mind a blind prophesy in one of the 
 sibyl, that before the end of the world there would be a dis- 
 
23 
 
 covery of all nations, which shall come to be known and 
 acquainted together as one neighbor with another, which since 
 confusion of tongues have lain obscure and hid. 
 
 But, however that be, yet these good minds and resolutions 
 do serve for imitation to others, and do deserve assuredly the 
 best encouragement, whereby we shall not still betake our- 
 selves to small and little shipping, as we daily do begin, but 
 shall rear again such merchant ships, both tall and stout, as 
 no foreign sail that swims shall make them vail or stoop, 
 whereby to make this little northern corner of the world to be 
 in short time the richest storehouse and staple for merchandise 
 in all Europe. 
 
 The second thing to make this plantation is money, to be 
 raised among the adventurers, wherein the sooner and more 
 deeply men engage themselves, their charge will be the shorter 
 and their gain the greater, as in this last point which I have to 
 speak for the good of each particular adventurer, 1 will make 
 it plain. 
 
 First, you shall understand that his majesty has granted us 
 an enlargement of our charter with many ample privileges, 
 wherein we have knights and gentlemen of good place, named 
 for the king's council of Virginia to govern us ; as also every 
 planter and adventurer shall be inserted in the patent by 
 name. This ground being laid, we purpose presently to make 
 supply of men, women, and children (so many as we can), to 
 make the plantation. We call those "planters " that go in their 
 persons to dwell there, and those " adventurers " that adventure 
 their money and go not in person, and both do make the men- 
 bers of one colony. We do account twelve pounds ten shillings 
 to be a single share adventured. Every ordinary man or 
 woman, if they will go and dwell there, and every child above 
 ten years that shall be carried thither to remain, shall be allowed 
 for each of their persons a single share, as if they had advent- 
 ured twelve pound ten shillings in money. Every extraordi- 
 nary man, as divines, governors, ministers of state and justice, 
 knights, gentlemen, physicians, and such as be men of worth 
 for special services, are all to go as planters, and to execute 
 their several functions in the colony, and are to be maintained 
 at the common charge, and are to receive their dividend (as 
 others do) at seven years' end, and they are to be agreed with 
 
24 
 
 all before they go, and to be rated by the council according to 
 the value of their persons, which shall be set down and 
 registered in a book that it may always appear what people 
 have gone to the plantation, at what time they went, and how 
 their persons were valued ; and likewise, if any that go to he 
 planters will lay down money to the treasurer, it shall be also 
 registered and their shares enlarged accordingly, be it for more 
 or less. 
 
 All charges of settling and maintaining the plantation, 
 and of making supplies, shall be borne in joint stock of the 
 adventurers of seven years after the date of our new enlarge- 
 ment, during which time there shall be no adventure, nor goods 
 returned in private from thence, neither by master, mariner, 
 planter, nor passenger, they shall be restrained by bond and 
 search, that as we supply from hence to the planters at our 
 charge all necessaries for food and apparel for fortifying and 
 building of houses in a joint stock, so they are also to return 
 from thence the increase and fruits of their labors for the use 
 and advancement of the same joint stock, till the end of 
 seven years, at which time we purpose (God willing) to make 
 a division by commissioners appointed, of all the lands granted 
 unto us by his majesty to every of the colony according to each 
 man's several adventure agreeing with our register book, 
 which we doubt not will be for every share of twelve pound 
 ten shilling, five hundred acres at least. Now, if any think 
 that we shall be tied to a continual charge of making new sup- 
 plies for seven years, let them concieve thus much, that if we 
 do it thoroughly at the first, by engaging ourselves at once in 
 furnishing many men and other means, assuredly after the 
 second year the returns from thence will be able with an over- 
 plus to make supplies at large, so that our purses shall be 
 freed, and the over-plus of stock will also grow to greatness, 
 which stock is also (as the land) to be divided equally at seven 
 years' end or sooner, or so often as the company shall think 
 fit for the greatness of it to make a dividend. 
 
 And as by this we shall be soon freed from charge and 
 expense, so there grows a greater benefit to the planters (by 
 bestowing their labors cheerfully), to make return of stock, for 
 hereby the sooner they freeing us from disbursements, the 
 more our shares and portions will be lessened in the dividend 
 
25 
 
 of stock and land at seven years' end, whereby the less coming 
 to us, the more will be to them, so that here is no discourage- 
 ment any way if men will be capable to do themselves good. 
 But if we will be so wise to linger, and to lie in the wind, to 
 hear what news, to bring in our stock next year, and when we 
 are behind for four or five adventures, we come dropping in 
 with one or two and still run in arrearages for twice so much. 
 (For I know many that would bring in stock amongst us, but 
 they lie out to see what success first, and upon such like 
 terms.) Is this gentlemanlike, or merchantlike ? In truth it is 
 paltry, and such as would bring all to naught, if we should be 
 so minded too, and 1 tell you true, our single, shares will make 
 but a hungry plantation if we do not at the least double them 
 now, and therefore I urge it the more, for that the very life of 
 all is now in the beginning by making our supplies thoroughly, 
 and thence will our gains arise both sooner and certain. Yet I 
 grant that others may come in hereafter at any time, either to 
 adventure his person or money, or both, but if there be spent 
 one year of the seven before he comes in, or he that comes in 
 with the first shall notwithstanding be a. year behind in sup- 
 plies, they shall be both alike shortened in a seventh part of 
 the dividend both of stock and lands, and if two years behind, 
 then shortened two sevenths, and if but six months, yet a 
 fourteenth part, for every man is registered according to the 
 time his money or person began to adventure, or made supply, 
 so that they which come late get not the start of those that 
 bore the first brunt of the business, and this will neither ad- 
 vantage him that withholds, or hinder him that is forward, for 
 whatsoever falls from him that is slack, will be found of him 
 that supplies in due time. But every man that comes in now 
 in the first of these seven years, and shall afterwards upon all 
 occasions perform in due time every twelve pound ten shillings 
 so brought in shall be accounted an entire single share, and 
 shall receive accordingly without abridgment, as it had been 
 brought in when the enterprise first began and not otherwise. 
 And as for the division of lands at seven years' end, which, 
 some may object will be little worth and unequally divided, 
 let them understand that no man shall have his lot entirely in 
 one place, to be all of the best or all of the worst, but each 
 man shall have proportionately to his adventures, in three or 
 
26 
 
 four distinct differences, that may be made in the goodness or 
 badness of the grounds by commissioners equally chosen by 
 the adventurers here and the planters there ; and as for the 
 value and little worth now of those grounds in Virginia, we 
 know that in England, within these thirty or forty years, the 
 yearly rent of those grounds, in many places, was not worth 
 five shillings, that now do go for forty or more. 
 
 And howsoever those grounds in Virginia are now but little 
 worth indeed, yet time and means will make them better, con- 
 sidering how they pass our grounds in England, both in regard 
 of the soil and climate, fit for many precious uses ; and also in 
 how many several places we purpose to plant our colony, and 
 not to bestow our costs upon Jamestown only, and upon the 
 grounds lying thereabout, and let all the rest lie barren. For, 
 seeing his majesty hath granted to our colony as much circuit 
 of ground as all England almost, we purpose, God willing, if 
 we may be supplied with sufficient means, to settle out of hand 
 six or seven plantations more, all upon or near our main river, 
 as capital towns, twenty miles each from other, and every 
 plantation shall manure and husband the lands and grounds 
 lying near unto it and allotted for the circuit thereof, and shall 
 all endeavor for a joint stock, and shall be still supplied from 
 hence with more money and provisions, and against any public 
 injury shall be ready to unite and join themselves together. 
 And by this means we shall come to have our dividend in lands 
 of worth and well manured, which will be either bought or 
 rented of us at a good value by the planters or by such as 
 intend hereafter to inhabit there, as also by these several 
 plantations, which happily one place better fitting than another, 
 we shall bring forth more several sorts of merchandise, and be 
 also better fortified ; and besides, the planters will be in such 
 hope to have their own shares and habitations in those lands, 
 which they have so husbanded, that it will cause contending 
 and emulation among them, which shall bring forth the most 
 profitable and beneficial fruits for the joint stock. 
 
 Whereby, undoubtedly, we shall be soon freed from further 
 expense, our gains will grow, and our stock increase, we shall 
 fell our timber, saw our plank, and quickly make good shipping 
 there, and shall return from thence with good employment, an 
 hundred sail of good ships yearly, all which good, and much 
 
27 
 
 more, we shall withstand and bring ourselves into a labyrinth, 
 if we pinch and spare our purses now. Therefore, not to hold 
 you longer with many words (being near exchange time, as I 
 take it), remember what I have said in proving my proposition, 
 and take my conclusion in a word or two. 
 
 Seeing our provocations are so many, our cause and title 
 good, avaunt all idle oracles that seek to bar us. The wisdom 
 of the wisest saith in these cases, "Whatsoever thy hand 
 fmdeth to do, do it with all thy might." 
 
 Our forefathers, not looking out in time, lost the prime and 
 fairest proffer of the greatest wealth in the world, and we tax 
 their omission for it, yet now it falls out that we, their children, 
 are tried in the like, there being yet an excellent portion left, 
 and by divine providence offered to our choice, which, seeing 
 we have arms to embrace, let it not be accounted hereafter as 
 "a prize in the hands of fools, that have no heart to use it." 
 
 The honor of our nation is now very great by his majesty's 
 means, and we his subjects cannot enlarge and uphold it by 
 gazing on and talking what hath been done, but by doing that 
 good which may be commended hereafter. If we sit still and 
 let slip occasions, we shall gather rust, and do unfeather our 
 own wings, committing the folly of the wise Romans herein, 
 that in time of their glory, flowing with the conquests and 
 spoils of the world, and having gotten the goddess Victoria to 
 Rome, they clipped her wings and set her up among the gods, 
 that she might take her flight no more, as she had formerly 
 done from the Grecians and others, and so effeminating their 
 valor with idleness and security, it brought confusion and ruin 
 to their state. 
 
 Let not such a prize of hopeful events, so lately purchased 
 by the hazard of our valient men in the deep seas of foreign 
 dangers, now perish in the haven by our neglect. The lives 
 of our friends already planted, and of those noble knights and 
 gentlemen that intend to go shortly, must lie at our mercy 
 to be relieved and supplied by us or to be made a prey unto 
 others, though we fear not the subjects of any prince in amity 
 that they will offer wrong unto us. And howsoever we hear 
 tales and rumors of this and that, yet be not dismayed, for I 
 tell you, if we find that any miscreants have wronged or go 
 about to hurt our few hundreds there, we shall be ready to 
 
 3477-250 
 
 lot 29 
 
28 
 
 right it again with many thousands, like the giant Anteus, 
 whose often foils renewed his strength the more. 
 
 And consider well that great work of freeing the poor 
 Indians from the devourer, a compassion that every good man, 
 but passing by, would show unto a beast. Their children, 
 when they come to be saved, will bless the day when first 
 their fathers saw your faces. 
 
 If those undaunted English and Scotch captains, that so 
 often ventured their lives and spilt their blood to reconquer 
 Palestine from the Turks and Saracens, had seen the gap so 
 open in their days, and the way leading to so many goodly 
 purchases, certainly it had not now been left for us to do. 
 How strange a thing is this, that all the states in Europe have 
 been asleep so long! That for an hundred years and more 
 the wealth and riches of the East and West should run no 
 other current but into one coffer, so long till the running over 
 spread itself abundantly among a factious crew of new-created 
 friars, and that to no more special end than with instigating 
 bloody plots to pierce the heart of a christian state and true 
 religion. 
 
 It is long since I read in a little treatise made by Frith, an 
 English martyr, an excellent foretelling touching the happiness 
 of these northern islands, and of great wonders that should be 
 wrought by Scots and English before the coming of Christ, 
 but 1 have almost forgotten and cannot readily call it to mind 
 as I would, and therefore I omit it now, protesting unto you, 
 it would be my grief and sorrow to be exempted from the 
 company of so many honorable-minded men, and from this 
 enterprise, tending to so many good ends, and than which, I 
 truly think this day, there is not a work of more excellent 
 hope under the sun, and far excelling, all circumstances 
 weighed, those noble deeds of Alexander, Hercules, and those 
 heathen monarchs, for which they were deemed gods among 
 their posterity. 
 
 And so 1 leave it to your consideration, with a memorable 
 note of Thomas Lord Howard, Earl of Surrey, when King 
 Henry the Eighth, with his nobles at Dover, took shipping at 
 Turin or Turney, and bidding the said earl farewell, whom 
 he made governor in his absence. The story says the noble- 
 man wept and took his leave with tears, an admirable good 
 nature in a valient mind, grieving to be left behind his prince 
 and peers in such ah honorable service. 
 
HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS DURING THE 
 LATE WAR, under the Command of COLONELS 
 FENTON and CAMPBELL, giving an account of the crossing of 
 the lake from Erie to Long Point ; also the crossing of Niagara 
 by the troops under Generals Gaines, Brown, Scott, and 
 Porter. The taking of Fort Erie, the Battle of Chippewa, 
 the imprisonment of Colonel Bull, Major Galloway, and the 
 author (then a captain) and their treatment ; together with an 
 historical account of the Canadas, by SAMUEL WHITE, of 
 Adams County, Pennsylvania. Baltimore : Published by the 
 Author. B. Edes, Printer ; 1830. 
 
 Three hundred signed and numbered copies only of this 
 scarce little book on the WAR OF 18 12, printed from type, 
 1896. A copy will be mailed postpaid on receipt of price, 
 i^i.oo, by the publisher, George P. Humphrey, 25 Exchange 
 Street, Rochester, N. Y. 
 

 
 
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