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Dodd, Mead & Company's
Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books
Historical Series, No. I
Hariot's "Virginia," 1588

this Edition is limited to Five Hundred and twenty
Copies, of which twenty are on Japan paper

A Briefe and True Report of
the New Found Land

OF

VIRGINIA By
Thomas Hariot

Reproduced in Facsimile from the First
Edition of 1588
With an Introductory Note by
Luther S. Livingston

NEW YORK
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
1903

Introductory Note
THE earliest printed original book in the English
language relating to the region now comprised
within the limits of the United States is Thomas
Hariot's Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of
Virginia, which is reproduced in facsimile on the succeed
ing pages, from the original quarto edition of 1588. It is
not (as it has been called) the history of the first settle
ment, but is instead the report of the skilled surveyor and
mathematician sent out with the colonists by the owners
of the grant for the express purpose of studying the country
and its capabilities for settlement. It was written and
printed with the view of inducing men of capital to become
stockholders in the corporation, and for persuading settlers
to emigrate to the regions described, and is one of the
earliest examples of a statistical survey on a large scale.
Being the account of the resources of the country, and of
its Indian inhabitants, its text is more interesting than the
more narrative-like report of the President of the Colony
which is printed in Hakluyt's Voyages and which, with this
book, comprises about all that is known from first hands
of that " First Colonie." The actual narrative of the
Expedition prepared by Hariot himself, and which he said
was " ready in a discourse by it self in maner of a Chronicle
according to the course of times, and when time shall bee
thought convenient shall be also published " is, unfortunately,
lost. Only seven copies of the book can be traced, and of
these four are in public libraries. One is in the Grenville
collection, in the British Museum, one in the Bodleian
[v]

Introductory Note
Library at Oxford, and one in the University of Leyden.
A fourth is in the collection formed by the late Henry
Huth, and a fifth is, or was, in the collection of the late
Lord Taunton. Two copies are in America, one in the
New York Public Library, Lenox Collection, and the
other, the copy from which this reprint is made, in
private hands. This copy may, with some probability, be
called Sir Francis Drake's. It was sold at auction in 1883
with other books from a library said to have been brought
together by him. It is possible, however, that the collec
tion, as such, dates no farther back than the time of his
nephew, who published Sir Francis Drake Revived, in 1626.
It was bought by the late Mr. Cjuaritch for £300. He
catalogued it at ^335 and sold it, probably at that price, to
the late Mr. Charles H. Kalbfleisch. Since the death of
the latter it passed into the collection of Mr. Marshall C.
Lefferts and, recently, through the hands of two book
sellers, into the library of Mr. E. D. Church, of New
York. Few of the older bibliographers seem to have known of
the book and the earliest bibliographical record we can find
of it is as Number 1345 of Part IX of the Catalogue of the
Heber Collection. This ninth part was sold on April 11,
and thirteen following days, Sundays excepted, 1836.
The book is described as " Fine copy, in russia." In
addition to the transcription of the title, the catalogue
contains this note :
*„* Excessively rare. It is not to be traced in any Catalogue,
and does not appear to be mentioned by any Bibliographer. It con
tains 24 leaves, including the Title and Dedication by Rafe Lane.
The volume sold for ^35 10s.
Ternaux in 1837 entered the title in his Bibliotheque
Americaine, but does not say where he obtained his informa
tion regarding it.
Payne and Foss, who prepared the catalogue of the
Grenville Collection in the British Museum printed in
1842, enter it, curiously enough, under De Bry, instead of
C vi ]

Introductory Note
under the author's name. They add also the following
note :
"This forms the first part of the Voyages to the West Indies or
Grands Voyages. Previously to its being added to the Collection it
was separately printed in French, and verbatim from this 4to in Eng
lish, in Latin, and German by De Bry at Frankfort in 1590, as here
after described."
They give the collation as " Signatures A to F in fours,
twenty-four leaves."
Bohn, in his revision of Lowndes' Bibliographer's Manual,
follows the Grenville Catalogue exactly, and enters it under
De Bry, and gives the same collation. These authors knew
of only two copies, the British Museum and the Bodleian.
Graesse enters it properly under Hariot, gives the collation
as twenty-four leaves, and quotes the Heber Catalogue.
He does not record any other copy. None of these authors
points out the fact that the last leaf is blank.
Sabin in his Bibliotheca Americana, gives the collation
simply as " 23 leaves." He knew of three copies, the
British Museum, Bodleian, and Lenox. He mentions
another copy, however, as having been sold in Dublin in
1873 " with five other rare pieces relating to America, for
less than .£25." If this is true and the copy is still in
existence it must make an eighth copy, unless it chance that
the Dublin copy may be the one now in the Huth collection,
which, however, we think is the Heber copy. Brunet cites
the book properly, taking his title from the Heber catalogue.
Henry Stevens, in his Recollections of James Lenox, gives
the following anecdote about the Lenox copy :
" Mr. Lenox was principled against raffles, wagers,
lotteries, and games of chance generally, but I once led him
into a sort of bet in this way, by which I won from him
£\. I had acquired a fair copy of that gem of rare books,
the quarto edition of Hariot's Briefe and true report of the
new found land of Virginia, London, Feb. 1588, wanting
four leaves in the body of the book. These I had very
skilfully traced by Harris, transferred to stone, printed off
[ vii 1

Introductory Note
on old paper of a perfect match, the book and these leaves
sized and coloured alike, and bound in morocco by Bedford.
The volume was then sent to Mr. Lenox to be examined
by him de visu, the price to be .£25 ; but if he could detect
the four facsimile leaves, and would point them out to me
without error, the price was to be reduced to £2 1 . By the
first post after the book was received he remitted me the
twenty guineas, with a list of the facsimiles. But on my
informing him that two of his facsimiles were originals, he
immediately remitted the four pounds and acknowledged
his defeat."
About 16 1 8 William Strachey, first secretary of the
Jamestown Colony, prepared a Historie of Travaile into
Virginia Britannia, which existed only in manuscript until it
was printed by the Hakluyt Society in 1849. I* contains
this reference to Hariot and, being by a contemporary of
his, is worthy of insertion here.
" Our country of Virginia hath no want of many
marchandize (which we in England accomplish in Den
mark, Norway, Prusia, Poland, etc ; fetch far, and buy
deare) which advaunce much, and assured increase, with
lesse exchaung of our owne, with as few hazardes by sea,
and which would maintaine as frequent and goodly a navie
as what runs the Levant stage ; and those by divers treaties,
both in Lattin and English, private and publique, have ben,
in their particuler names and values oftentymes expressed,
especyally that which hath bene published by that true lover
of vertue and great learned professor of all arts and knowl
edges, Mr. Hariots, who lyved there in the tyme of the first
colony, spake the Indian language, searcht the country, and
made many proufes of the richness of the soyle, and
comoditie there of."
The first effort toward actual English colonization in
America was the colony planned by Sir Humphrey Gilbert,
under the Patent granted by Queen Elizabeth on June nth,
1578. This grant was for six years only, unless a colony
should be meanwhile founded, in which case it was to be
[ v»> ]

Introductory Note
perpetual. Two expeditions were sent out, and possession
was taken of a portion of the island of Newfoundland, but
no settlement was established. Gilbert having gone down
with his ship on the return voyage in 1583, his patent was
regranted to his half-brother Walter Raleigh. This new
patent was dated March 25th, 1584 (the first day of the
new year), and was also limited to six years. It gave him
license " to discover, search, find out, and view such
remote, heathen and barbarous lands, countries, and terri
tories, not actually possessed of any Christian prince, nor
inhabited by Christian people, as to him, his heires and
assignes, and to every or any of them shall seeme good,"
etc. Two ships were at once fitted out and the expedition,
under the command of Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlow,
sailed on April 27th, 1584. They reached the coast of
Carolina in July, made some superficial examinations and
returned to England in September. They " brought home
also two of the Savages being lustie men, whose names
were Wanchese and Manteo."
The report of this first tentative expedition being favor
able, Raleigh made preparations to found a Colony in the
newly discovered region. On April 9th, 1585, seven
vessels sailed from Plymouth under the command of Sir
Richard Grenville. They arrived safely at the island of
Roanoke, at the north end of Pamlico Sound, where
Amadas and Barlow had been the year before, on June
26th. The two Indians, who had learned the white
man's language, during their stay in England, were very
helpful to the English in treating with the natives. Gren
ville himself stayed just two months and then returned to
England, leaving a colony of one hundred and eight men,
all of whose names are set down by Hakluyt, under the
governorship of Ralph Lane.
This expedition was well fitted out, and among the
colonists were included several specialists. Thomas Hariot,
who had already acquired fame as a mathematician, was
[«]

Introductory Note
surveyor and historiographer. John White, whose name is
apparently corrupted in Hakluyt's list, into John Twit, was
the artist of the expedition, and his portfolio of drawings is
now in the British Museum. There was also a " mineral-
man," or geologist, though he seems to be unidentified.
This " first colonie " remained on the island of Roanoke
and in the vicinity for almost an entire year, hearing mean
while nothing from home. On the 7th of June, 1586,
a fleet of twenty-three sail was sighted off the coast. At
first it was feared that they were Spaniards, but happily it
turned out the next day that it was the fleet of Sir Francis
Drake, returning victorious from the sacking of rich cities
of the Spanish colonies. He had run up to see how the
Virginian Colony of his friend Raleigh was prospering. He
offered to supply them with provisions, take home their
sick, and leave " oare-men, artificers and others " in their
place, as well as leaving them a ship with sailing masters
competent to navigate her home, also " a supply of calievers,
hand weapons, match and lead, tooles, apparell, and such
like." While these arrangements were being made a Cape
Hatteras storm came on and continued four days, doing
more damage to Drake's fleet "than all his former most
honourable actions against the Spaniards." The colonists
considered this storm as the judgment of God that they
should return at once to England, and it was so decided.
The weather was still rough and in transferring their goods
to the ships of the fleet the boats ran aground and the
sailors cast overboard " all their Cards, Books and writ
ings." Notwithstanding this statement Hariot's diary must
have been preserved, and John White's drawings are still in
existence. The one hundred and four members of the
colony, for Hariot says that only four " died all the yeere,"
were distributed among the ships of the fleet which set sail
on the 19th of June (being just a year, lacking one week,
since their arrival), and reached England the latter part of
July, 1585.
The account of Raleigh's subsequent efforts to found a

Introductory Note
colony on the coast of North Carolina, of the fifteen men
left by Sir Richard Grenville in 1586, when he arrived with
supplies and found the colonists gone, and of the " second
colonie" of one hundred and nineteen, left in 1587 and all
lost, may be found in Hakluyt, and, copied from him, in
many more recent books.
Raleigh's original Charter would have expired by limi
tation on the 24th of March, 1590. He had, however,
been obliged to raise money to fit out White's expedition
of 1589 by selling stock in his company. That "Assign
ment of Rights" is dated March 7, 1589. We may there
fore suppose, with reason, that this Report of Hariot's was
written and printed for Raleigh to distribute among the
friends from whom he sought aid in carrying out his schemes
of western planting. The book was evidently privately
printed, as it bears no name of printer or publisher, and
was not entered at Stationers' Hall. It is, as will be seen,
dated "February, 1588," at the end. This, according to
our present reckoning, would be 1589, and, as the new
year then began on March 25th, and as the title is also
dated 1588, we may presume that the book was printed and
ready for distribution in the early part of 1589, perhaps as
early as the first of March.
A word as to Hariot, the author of the book, himself.
He was born at Oxford in 1560, and was thus only 25
years of age when he came to Virginia. He graduated from
Oxford February 12, 1580, and was almost immediately
employed by Raieigh as a tutor, having been recommended
on account of his expert knowledge of mathematics. He
continued to be Raleigh's best friend until Raleigh's death
on the scaffold in 1618. He made the "last great dis
covery in the pure science of algebra " by arriving at a
theory of the genesis of equations, and he shares with
Galileo the honor of inventing the telescope (called by
Hariot the " perspective truncke "), and of making impor
tant discoveries with that instrument.
He died July 2, 1621, of cancer of the nose, the case,
[xi]

Introductory Note
an important one, being described in the records, and was
buried in the churchyard of St. Christopher, in London.
A marble monument was erected over his grave by his
friend, the Earl of Northumberland, the inscription on
which has been preserved in Stow's Survey of London.
Church and monument were destroyed in the Great Fire in
1666. The church was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren,
but the monument was not restored. The old churchyard
of St. Christopher is now the " Garden of the Bank of
England," and there, in " the lovliest spot in all London,"
repose the bones of Virginia's first historian.
A second edition of the Brief Report, published in 1590,
by Theodore De Bry, of Frankfort-on-the-Main, forms
the first part of that eminent publisher's great series of voy
ages. It was printed in four languages, English, French,
German, and Latin, and was illustrated with a map and a series
of 22 plates engraved by De Bry, " the most diligentlye
and well that wear in my possible to doe," he says, after
the original water-colors made in Virginia by Hariot's com
panion, John White, afore-mentioned. This magnificent
folio was dedicated to Raleigh and contains, in addition to
Hariot's Report and White's illustrations, descriptions of
the plates, apparently by White himself, but " translated out
of Latin into English by Richard Hackluit." By whom
the book was translated into German does not appear.
Perhaps it was done by De Bry himself. He says that he
" caused yt to bee Reduced into verye Good Frenche and
Latin by the aid of verye worshipfull frend of myne."
From the fact that the Dedication of the edition, with
French text is dated March 24, 1590, while that in the
English and Latin editions is April 1, and of the German
edition April 3, it is possible that the French edition was
first issued.
Another German translation forms the second part of a
volume prepared for the press by Dr. Matthew Dresser, and
published in Leipzig in 1598, with the title :
" Historien vnd Bericht,/ Von dem Newlicher/ Zeit
[ ™ ]

Introductory Note
erfundenen Konigriech China,/ wie es nach vmbsienden,
so zu einer rechtmessigen / Beschreibung gohoren, darumb/
beschaffen. / Item, Von dem auch new erfundenen/ Lande
Virginia./ " Etc.
The only adequate account of Hariot, especially of his
lifelong connection with Raleigh, is the Life by the late
Henry Stevens, printed in 1885, but not published until
1900. A great quantity of his manuscript, mostly mathe
matical in character, is preserved in the British Museum.
L. S. L.

[ xiii ]

$3 A briefe and true re-
port of the new foundjand of Virginia: of
the commodities there found anAto horayfed^as wellmar-
cfiantablejas.others ibrviduaDjbiiildingand" otRer nccefla-
riavferfor thofe that are and {balhe the planters there', and cft.be na~>
cure and manners ofthe natural! inhabitants : DifcouerecT by the
Engh^fColejy there fmed h Sir- Richard-Greinuite J&igbi iHthe
yeere i j8y. whrchreTiialncdwuferthegouernmentofRafi: tanq Eiqui-
tr, ont of her MutftUTjZ.ijetkttj, dieting iloefpace ofttpeliiemnetbei :«*
the ijieciall charge and direction oflneTfonWniMfr SIR
WALTER RAEElGHKhight.IordWardenof
the (tanneries j who therein hadi beene fauoit.
redandauthoriiecTby her MaTefhc and
iierlctcers patents)
Directed to the Aduenturers.Fauourers,
andWelwillers ofthe aBion ^fif the tnhabt-
tmgand planting there:
By Thomas Hariot^ fer uant to the aboucnamed
Sir fVaUer^oMember of the Colanjj,<w$
there implojedm dfjc&teang*

Imprinted at London 1588.

G$ Rafc Lane one of her Maiefties
Bquieres and Gouernour ofthe folonym Vir-
giniaaboue mentioned for the time there
rejtdent. To the gentle Readerypifheth aH
hap fines itt the Lord,

Lbeit (Gentle Reader) the
credite ofthe reports in this
treaiife contained, canlittk
be furthered by the tefttmo-
meofone as myfelfe9 through
ajfUion fudged partial! ,
though without defert:Ne-
tisrthelejfeforfomuch as lhaue beene requeued by form
my particular fiends, who conceiue more rightly of
mejo deltuer freely my knowledge ofthe fame$ not onely
forthejatisfyingofthem^butaljbfor the true enforma-
tion of ante other whofoeuer, that comes not with apre-
iudicate minde to the reading thereof: Thus much vpon
my credit Jamto affirme: that things vniuerfally are
fotruelyfet downe in this treatije by the author therof
anABorinthe Qolony t£a,manno lejpfor his honejly
eA % then

thmhavnmgcommendahfaas that I dareboldely a-
uouohitmayverywellfaffe with the credit of truth e-
uen amongflthemofitruerelattosofthisageWhiehds
fir mine own part 1 amreadie any way with my word
to acknowledge,fbalfb (ofthe certaintie thereof affund
by mine owne experience) with this my pub"
hkg offer tton9 1 doe affirme the fame.
Farewell in the Lord?,

q To the Aduenturers, Fauourers,
andWdwdlers ofthe enterpr if for the inha
biting and planting in Virginia.
Ince the firft vndertaklng by
Sir Walter Raleigh to deale
in the a£tion of difcouering
of that Countrey which is
now called and known by the
name of Virginia} many voy
aged hailing bin thither made
atfundrie times to his greac
... ._ —  charge; as firft in the yeere
X.584, and afterwardes in the yeeres 1585, J5865and
now oflare this laft yeare of 1587: There haue bin di
ners and variable reporteswith fomc flaundefous and
fhamefuIHpeechcs bruited abroade by many that returi
tied from thence. Especially of that difcouery which
was made by the Colony tranfported by Sir' Richard
Gremuile inthe yeare 1585, being of all the others the
moft principal and as yet of mo'ft effe&jthe time of their
abode in the countrey beeing a whole yeare, when as in
the other voyage before they ft'aied but fixe weekes; and
the others after were onelieforfupply and transporta
tion, nothingmore being difcoucredthen had been be
fore, Whichreports hauenor donealiilewro'ngtoma,- A.3. " oy

gA brief and true report
tiy that otherwifc would haue alio fauoured & aduenra-
rcd in the action, to the honour and benefice of our na
tion, befides the particular profice and credite which
would redound to themfelues the dealers therein; as I
hope by the fequele of euents to the fhame ofthofe that
haue auouched the contrary fhalbe manifeft .• ify ou the
aduenturers,fauourers,andwelwillersdo but either en-
creafe in number ,or in opinion continue, or hauingbin
doubtfull renewe your good liking and furtherance to
deale therein according to the worthinefle thereof al-
readye found and as you fhall vnderftand hereafter to
be requifice. Touching whic h woorthines through
caufe ofthe diuerfitie of relations and rcportcs,ma-
nye of your opinions coulde notbee firme, nor the
mindcs of fome that arewell difpofed,bee faledina-
nycertaintie. I haue therefore thought it good beeing one
that haue beene in the dhcouerie and in dealing with
thenaturall inhabitantes fpecially imploied j and ha
iling therefore feene and knowne more then the or-
dinaric: to imparte fo much vnto you ofthe fruites
of our labours , as that you may knowe howe iniuri-
oufly the enterprife is (laundered . And that in pub
like manner at this prefentchicfelie for two refpedtes.
Firft that fome of you which are yet ignorant or
doubtfull of the ftare thereof, may fee that there is
fufficient caufe why the cheefe enterprifer with the
fauour of her Maieftie , norwithftahding fuche re-
porcesj hath not onelic fince continued the action by
fending into the countrey againe, and replanting this
Iaft yeere a new Colony; but is alfo readie, according as
the times and meanes will affoorde, to follow and pro-
fecute the fame. Second-

ofthe new found land of Virginia.
Secondly, that you feeing and knowingthe continu
ance of the action by the view hereof you may generally
know & learne what the countrey is, &thervpon confi-
der how your dealing therein ifit proceede, may returne
you profit and gaine; bee it cither by inhabiting & plan
ting or otherwife in furthering thereof,
And leaft that the fubftance of my relation fhould be
doubtful vnto you,as of others by reafon of their diuerfi-
tie : I will firft open the caufe in a few wordes wherefore
they are fo different; referring my felfe to your fauoura-
ble c0nftru6tions,and to be adiudged of as by good con-i
fideration you fhall finde caufe.
Of our companie that returned fome for their mifde-
menour and ill dealing in the countrey , haue beene
ihere worthily punifhed; who by reafon of their badde
natures', haue malicioufly not onelie fpoken ill of
their Gouernours; but for their fakes (laundered the
countrie it felfe. The like alfb haue thofe done which
were of their conforc.
Somebceing ignorant of the ftare thereof3notwith-
ftanding fince their returne amongeft their friendes and
acquaintance and alfoothers,efpecially if they were in
companie where they might not be gainefaide ; woulde
feeme to knowe (o much as no men more; and make
no men fo great trauailers as themfelues . They flood
fbmuch as it maie feeme vppon their credite and re
putation that hauing been a twelue moneth in the coun
trey , it wouldehauebeene a great difgrace vnto them as
they thought, if they coulde not haue faide much whe-
therit were true or falfe. Of which fome haue fpoken of
more then euer they faw or otherwife knew to bee there j
otherfbme haue not bin afhamedto make abfolute deni
al! of that which although not by them, yet by Others
A 4 is

eAbriefi and true report
is moft certainely and there plentifully knowne. And o-
therf ome make difficulties of thofe things they haue no
(kill of.
The caufe of their ignorance was ,in that they were of
that many that were neuer out of the Hand where wee
werefeated,ornotfarre,oratthe leaftwifein few places
els, during the time of ouraboadcin the countrey; or of
that many that after golde and filuer was not fo fbone
found, as it was by them looked for, had little or no care
of any other thing but to pamper their bellies; or of that
many which had little vnderftanding, leffe difcretion,
and more tongue then was needfull or requifite.
Some alfo were of a nice bringing vp,onIy in cities ot
townes, or fiich as neuer fas I mayfay) had feenethc
world before. Becaufe there were not to bee found any
Englifh cities, nor fuch faire houfes,nor at their owne
wifh any of their olde accuftomed daintie food, norany
foft beds of downe or fethers; the countrey was to them
miferable,& their reports thereof according.
Becaufe my purpofe was but in briefe to open the
caufe ofthe varietie of fuch fpeechesjthe particularities
of them,andof many enuious, malicious, and ftaunde-
rous reports and deuifes els , by our owne countrey meri
befides; as trifles that are not worthy of wife men to bee
thought vpon, I meane not to trouble youwithall : but
willpafTe to the commodities , the fubftance of that
which I haue to make relation of vnto you.
The treatife whereof for your more readie view & ear
ner vnderftanding I will diuide into three fpeciall parrs.
In the firft I will make declaration of fuch commodities
there alreadie found or to be raifed, which will not onely
ferue the ordinary turnes of you which are and fhall bee
the planters and inhabitants, butfuchanouerplus fuffi-
ciently

ofthe new found land of Virginia,
ciently to bee yelded, or by men of skill to bee prouided *
as by way of trafficke and exchaunge with our owne na
tion of England, will enrich your lelues the prouiders;
thofe that fnal deal with you; the enterprifers in general;
and greatly profit our owne countrey men,to fiipply the
with mod things which heretofore they haue bene faine
to prouidceitherofftrangers or of our enemies : which
commodities for diftindhonfakc, I call Merchantable.
In the fecond,Iwill fet downe all the commodities
which wee know the countrey by our experience doeth
yeldof it felfe for viduall,andfuftenancc of mans life;
fuch as is vfually fed vpo by the inhabitants ofthe coun
trey, as alfb by vs during the time we were there.
In the laft part I will make mention generally of fiich
other commodities befides,as I am able to remember,
and as I fhall thinke behoofull for thofe that fhall inha-
bite,and plant there to knowe of, which fpecially con-
cerne building, as alfb fome other neceflary vfes : with a
briefedefcription ofthe nature and maners ofthe peo
ple of the countrey.
The firft part of Marchantable
commodities.
I Hke ofgraffe orgraffe Silke. There is a kind of
graffe in the countrey vppon the blades
whereof there groweth very good (like in
forme of a thin glittering fkin to bee ftript
of It groweth two foote and a halfe high or
better : the blades are about two foot in length, and half
inch broad. The like groweth in Pcrfia, which is in the
felfe fame climate as Virginia j$ which very many of the
6 B Hike

A brief and true report
filkc workes that come from thence into Europe are
made. Hereof if it be planted and ordered as inPerfi%it
cannot in reafon be otherwife, but that there will rife in
fhorte time great profite to the dealers therein; feeing
there is fb great vfe and vent thereof as wellin our coun
trey as els where. And by the meanes of (owing & plan
ting it in good ground,it will be farre greater ,better,and
more plentifull then it is. Although notwithftanding
there is great (lore thereof in many places of the coun
trey growing naturally and wilde. Which alfo by proof
here in England,in making a piece of filkc Grogran, we
found to be excellent good.
worme Silke : In manie of our iourneyes we found filke
wormes fayre and great; as biggeas our ordinary wal-
nuttes. Although it hath not beene our happe to haue
found fuch plentie as elfewhere to be in the countrey we
haue heard of) yet feeing that the countrey doth natural
ly breede and nourifh thcm.there is no doubt but if art be
added in planting of mulbery trees and others fittefor
them in commodious places,for their feeding and non-
rifhing; and fome of them carefully gathered and buf.
banded in that fort as by men of skill is knowne to be ne-
cefTarie : there will rife as great profite in time to the Fir-
ginians, as thereof doth now to the Perfians,Turkes3Ita-
lians and Spaniards.
Vlaxeand Hempe.- The trueth is that of Hempe and
Flaxe there isno great ftore in any one place together,
by reafon it is not planted but as the foile doth yeeld it of
itfeIfe;andhowfoeuer the ieafe,and ftemme or ftalke
doe differ from ours; the ftuffe by theiudgeroet of men
ot skill is altogether as good as ours. And if not,as fur
ther proofefhould finde otherwife; we haue that expe
rience ofthe foile, as that there cannot bee fhewcd anie
reafon

ofthe newfound land ofVirginia.
reafon to die contrary ,but that it will grow there excel
lent well; and by planting will be yeelded plentifully :fee-
ing there is fb. much ground whereof fome may well be
applyedtofuchpurpofes. What benefite heercof may
growe in cordage and linnens who can not eafily vn-
derftand? Mum: There is aveincof earth along the fea coaft
for the fpace of fourtie or fiftie miles, whereof by the
iudgement of fome that haue made triall heere in En
gland, is made good Alhm,o$ that kinde which is called
Roche Ahm, The richnefleof fuch a commoditie is fb
well knowne that I needenottofayeany thing thereof.
The fame earth doth alfbyeelde white Coprefe, Nitrum^
and Alumenplameua!> but nothing fo plentifully as the
common Allum\ which be alfb of price and profitable.
mipeib3a kinde of earth fo called by the naturall in
habitants; very like to terra Sigillata: and hauing beene
refined, it hath beene found by fome of our Phifitions
and Chirurgeons to bee of the fame kinde of vertue and
more effec^ualhThe inhabitants vfe it very much for the
cure of fores and woundes: there is in diuers places great
plentie, and in fome places of a blewe jbrt.
Pitch, Tarre, Rox,en, arid Turpentine .- There are thofe
kindes of trees which yeelde them abundantly and great
ftore. In the very fame Hand where wee were feated, be
ing fifteene miles of length, and fiue or fixe miles in
breadth, there are fewe trees els but ofthe famekind; the
whole Hand being full,
^^^/jcalledbytheinhabitantes^^, a kinde of
woodof moft pleafant and fweete fmel; and of moft rare
vertuesiiiphifickfor the cure of many difeafes.lt is fo ud
by experience to bee farre better and of more vfes then
the wood which is called Gttaiaaw, or Ugntm vit&t For,
B 2. the

A brie/e and true report
the defcription, the manner of vfingandthe manifolds
vertues thereof, I referreyou to the booke of Movar*
4»a, tranflated and entituied in Englifh, The koyfnll newes
from the fVefi Indies.
Cedar, ^stty fweet wood &; fine timber; wherof if nefts
of chefts be there made,or timber therof fitted for fweet
& fine bedfteads,tables,deskes,lutes, virginalles & ma
ny things elfe,(of which there hath beene proofe made
already ,Jto make vp fraite with other principal commo
dities will yeeld profite.
Wwe .-There are two lands ofgrapes that the foile doth
yeeld naturally: the one is ftnall and fowre ofthe ordina-
rie bignefle as ours in England.- the other farre greater &
ofbimfelfe lufhious fweet. When they are planted and
husbanded as they ought, aprincipall commoditie of
wines by them may be raifed.
Oy le • There are two fortes of fValnuttes both holding
oyle, but the one farre more plentifull then the other.
When there are milles & other deuifes for the purpofe,
a commodity of them may be raifed becaufe there are
infinite ftore. There are alfo three feuerall kindes of
Berries in the forme of Oke akornes , which alfo by
the experience and vfe ofthe inhabitantes, wee finde to
yeelde very good and fweete oyle. Furthermore the
Beares of the countrey are commonly very fatte, and in
fome places there are many: their fatnefle becaufe it is fo
liquid, may well be termed oyle, and hath many fpeciall
vies. Furres : All along the Sea coaft there are great ftore
of Otters , which beey ng taken by weares and otheren-
gines made for the purpofe , will yeelde good profite.
Wee hope alfo of Mart e me furres, and make no doubt
by the relation of the people but that in fome places of

ofthe newfound LtndofVirginia.
of the countrey there are ftore : although there were
but two (kinnes that came to our handes » LuzMmes
alfo we haue vnderftanding of^ilthough for thetime w c
(aw none.
T> eare f kinnes drefled after the manner dichamoes or
vndrefled aretobehadofthenaturall inhabitants thou-
fands yeerely by way oftrafficke for trifles: and no more
waft or fpoyle of Deare then is and hath beene ordinari
ly in time before.
duet cattes : In our trauailes, there was founde one to
haue beene killed by a faluage or inhabitant: and in an o-
ther place the fmell where one or more had lately beene
before : whereby we gather befides then by the relation
ofthe people that there are fome in the countrey: good
profite will rife by them .
Iron .- In two places of the countrey fpecially, one
about fourefcore and the. other fixe fcpre miles from
the Fort orplace where wee dwelt : wee founde neere
the water fide the ground to be rockie,which by the tri-
all of ja minerall man , was founde to holde yron
richly. It is founde in manie places ofthe countrey
elfe . I knowe nothing to the contrarie, but that it
maie bee allowed.for a good marchantable commo-
ditie , confidering there the fmall charge for the la
bour and feeding of men : the infinite ftpre of wood:
the want of wood and deereneile thereof in England : &
the neceffity of ballaftingof fhippes.
Copper: A hundred and fiftie miles into the maine in
two townes wee founde with the inhabitaunts diuerfe
fmall plates of copper, that had beene made as wee vn-
derftood, by the inhabitantes that dwell farther into
the countrey : where as they fay are mountains and
B'3'. riuers

Abriefeandtrue report
Riuers that yeelde alfb whyte graynes of Mettall ,
which is to bee deemed Slitter. For confirmation where
of at die time of 6Ur firft arriuall in the Countrey, I
fawe with fome others with mee, two fmall peeces of
filuer grofly beaten about the weight of a Teftrone,
hangyng in the eares of a mroans or chiefe Lorde that
dwelt about fourefcore myles from vs; of whom tho-
rowc enquiry, by the number of dayes and the way, I
learned that it had come to his handes from the fame
place or neere, where I after vnderftood the copper was
made and the white graynes of mettall founde. The
aforefaide copper wee alfb founde by triallto holde fil-
ner. V earle : Sometimes in feeding on mufcles wee founde
fome pearle; but it was our hap to meete with ragges,
or of a pide colour; not hauing yet difcouered thofe
places where wee hearde of better and more plentie.
One of our companie; a man of skill in fuch "matters,
had gathered together from among the fauage peo
ple aboutesfiue thoufande: of which number he cho/ie
(b many as made a fayre chaine, which for their like-
neffe and vniformitie in roundnefle, oricntnefTe , and
pideneffeof many excellent colours, with equalitie irt
greatnefle , were verie fayre and rare ; and had there
fore beene prefented to her Maieftie, had wee not by
cafualde and through extremity ofaftorme, loft them
with many things els in comming away from the coun
trey. Sweete Gummes of diuers kindes and many other A-
pothecary drugges of which wee will make fpeciall
mention , when wee fhall receiue it from fuch men
of skill in that kynd, that in taking reafonable paines1 fhall

ofthe new found land of "Virginia.
fhall difcouer them more particularly then wee haue
done; and than now I can make relation of, for want
ofthe examples I had prouided and gathered, and are
nowe loft, with other thinges by cauiualtic before men
tioned. Dyes of diners kindes : There is Shoemake well kno-
wen, and vfed in England for blacke; thefcede of an
hearbe called tVasewowr, little fmall rootes called Chap*
¦paeor ; and the barke of the tree called by the inhabi-
taunts Tangojnockomindge. .• which Dies are for diners
(ones of red : their goodnefle for our Englifh clothes
remayne yet to be proued. The inhabitants vfethera
onely for the dying of hayre ; and colouring of their
faces , and Mantles made of Deare skinnes ; and alfo
for the dying of Rufhes to make artificiall workes with-
all in their Mattes and Baskettes; hauing no other
thing befldes that they account of, apt to vfe them
for. If they will not proue merchantable there is no
doubt but the Planters there fhall finde apte vfes for
them, as alfo for other colours which wee knowe to be
there. Oadei a thing of fo great vent and vfe araongft Eng
lifh Diers, which cannot bee yeelded fufficiently in our
owne countrey for fpare of ground; may bee planted in
Virginia, there being ground enough. The grouth therof
need not to be doubted ,when as in the Handes ofthe A-
fdres it groweth plentifully ,which is in the fame climate.
So likewifeof Madder.
We carried thither Suger canes to plant which beeing
not fb well preferued as was requifit, & befides the time
ofthe yere being paft for their letting when we arriued,
wee could not maie that proof? of them as wee defired. Not-

Abriefe andtrue report
Notwithftanding,feeing that they grow in the fame cli
mate, in the South part of Spaine and inBarbary,our
hope in reafon may yet cotinue. So likewife for Orenges,
and Lemmons : there may be planted alfo Qutnfes. Wher-
by may grow in reafbnable time if the actio be diligent
ly profecutcd, no fmall commodities in Sugers,Suckets,
and Marmalades.
Many other commodities by planting may there alfo
bee raifed, which I leaue to your difcret and gentle con-
fiderations : and many alfo bee there which yet we haue
not difcouered. Twojnore commodities.of great value
one of certaintie, and the other in hope, not to be plan-
ted,but there to be raifed & in fhort time to be prouided
and prepared, I might haue fpecified. So likewife of
thofe commodities already fet downe I might haue faid
more; as ofthe particular places where they are founde
and beftto be planted and prepared: by what meanes
and in what reafbnable (pace of time they might be rai
fed to profit and in what proportion; but becaufe others
then welwillers might bee therewithal! acquainted,
not to the good of theaction, I haue wittingly omitted
them : knowing that to thofe that are well difpofed I
haue vttered, according to my promife and purpofe,for
this part fufficient.
The

of thenrnfonndlandof Virginia.
The fecond part of fuche commodities
asFirginiaisfemnetoyeeldeforVicluallandfu- jftenance of mans life, vfually fed vpon by the
uaturall inhabitants : as alfo by vs during the
time ofouraboad. And fa -ft of fuch as are
fowedandhujbanded,
Agattrwr, akinde of graine fb called by
the inhabitants ; the fame in the Welt
! Indies'is called May&e .• Englifh men
..call it-JGmmey -wheate or T/trkie wheate3
according to the names of thecoun-
:. — treys from whence thelike hath beene
brought, The graine is about the bignefle of our ordi
nary Englifh peaze and not much different m forme and
fhape: but of diuers colours: fome white/orne red,fbme
yello'Wjandfomeblew. Allof them yeeldea very white
and.(weete flowre : beeing vfed according to his kinde it
raaketh a very good bread.Weemade of the fame in tho
countrey fome mault, whereof was brued as good ale as-
wa s to bee defired. So likewife by the help of hops ther*
of may bee made as good Beere. It is a graine of maruei-
lous great thcreafe;of a thoufand, fifteene hundred and
fome two thoufand fold. There are-three fortes,of which
two are ripe in an eleuen and twelue weekes at the moft.*
fbmetimes in ten,after the time they are fet,and are then
ofheight in ftalke about fixe or feuen foote. The other
fort is ripe in fourteene, and is about ten foote nigh; of
jhe'ftalkesTome beare foure heads,- fome three, fome
one,and two : euery head containing fiue, fixe, or feuen
hnndred graines within a fewe more or leife. Of thefe
graines befides bread, the inhabitants make viduall ey-
C ther

tAbriefe and true report
ther by parching them; or teething them whole yntill
they be broken; or boyling the (foure with water into a
pappe. Okindgi'er,ca\led by vs Beanes, becaufe in greatnefle &
partly in fhape they are like to the Beanes in Englandjfa-
uingthat they are flatter, of more diuers colours, and
fbmepide. The leafe alfo ofthe ftemme is much diffe
rent. In tafte .they are altogether as good as our Englifh
peaze. fyickonz,6wr,ca\\ed by vs Peaze jn refpect ofthe beanes
for diftinctio fake,becaufe they are much IefIe;although
in forme they little differ; but in goodneffe of taft much,
& are far better then our Englifh peazcBoth the beanes
and peaze are ripe in tenne weekes after they are fet.
They make them victuall either by boyling them all to
pieces into abroth; or boiling them whole vritill they
bee foftand beginne tobreake as is vfed in England, ey-
ther by themfelues ormixtly together : Sometime they
mingle ofthe wheate with them. Sometime alfo beeing
whole fodden,they brufe or pound them in a morter, &
thereof make loaues or lumps of dowifhe bread which
they vfe to eat for varietie.
MacUepvtr, according to their fcuerall formes called
by VSjPompions, Mellions, and Gourdes, becaufe they arc
ofthe like formes as thofe kindes in England. In Virginia,
fuch of feuerall formes are of one tafte and very good,
and do alfo fpringfrom one feed/There are of two forts;
one isripeinthefpaceofamoneth,and theotherintwo
moneths. There is an hearbe which in Dutch is called Melden,
Some of thofethat I defcribe it vnto,take it to be a kinde
of Orage; it groweth about foure or fiue foote high: of
the fcede thereof they make a thicke broth, and pottage ofa

ofthe new found tyndof Virginia.
of a very good tafte : of the ftalke by burning into afhes
they make a kinde of fait earth,wherewithaYl many' vfe
fometimes tofeafon their brothes ; other fake, they
knowe not. Wee pur felues vfed the leaues alfo foc-pot-
Jiearbes. There is alfb another great hearbe in forme of a Ma-
rigolde, about fixe foote in height; the head with the
flotire is a fpanne in breadth. Sometake ittobeeiY<*«>*
Soils: of thefeedes heereof they make both a kinde of
bread and broth.
All the aforefaide commodities for victuall are fet or
lowed, fometimes in groundes a part and feuerally by
thefeluess but for the moft part together in one ground
mixdy : the manner thereofwidi the dreffing and prepa
ring ofthe ground,becaufe I will notevntoyon the fer-i
tilitie ofthe foile; I thinke good briefly to defcrib&
The ground they neuer fatten withmncke,dounge ori
any other thing; neither plow nor digge-it as wein Eng
land, but onely prepare it in fort as foUoweth. A fewe
daies before they fb we or fet, the men with wooden in-
flrnments, madealmoftin forme of .mattockes or hoes
with long handle's? the women with fhort peckers; or par
rers,becaufe they vfe them fittirig,pf a foote long and a
bout fiue inches in breadth : doe onely breake the vpper
part ofthe ground ro rayfe vp the weedes, grafle, & old
ftubbes of corne ftalkes with their robtes.The,which af
ter a day or twoes drying indie Stmne,.beingfcrapte vp
into many fmall heapes,to fane them labour forxarryirig
them away ; they burne into, afhes, ( And whereas'
fome may thinke that they vfe the afhes for to bet
ter the grounde; I fay that then they woulde ey ther
difperfe the afhes abroade; which wee obferuedthey
doe nor, except the heapes bee too great : or els would.
C 2. take

aAJbriefeandtrm report
taltefpeciall care to fet their corne where the afheslfe,
wbichalfo wee finde they arccarelefle of. J; And this is
all the htif Banding of their ground that they vfe*
Then their fetting or fowing is after this maner. Firft
for their .corne, beginning in one corner of the plot»
with a "pecker rivey make a hole,' wherein they puttoure
graines with that care they touch not one another, ( ar
bour an inch afunderjand couer. them with the raoulde
againe : and fo throughout the'whole plot3makirigfuch
hole^ and vfing them after fuch maner : but with this-re-
gard that they bee made in rankes, cuery ranke differing
from other halfe a fadome or a yarde, and the holes alfo
in euery ranke, as much. By this meanes there is ayarde
fpare ground betweneeuery hole : where accprdingto
difcretion here and there^ they fet as many Beanes and
Peaze: in diuers places alfb among. the feedes of Mk~
coccfioer Melden and Plant a foils.
' The ground being thus fet according to the rate by
vs experimented, an Englifh, Acre conteining fourcie
pearchesin length, and foure in breadth , doeth there
yeeld in croppe or ofcome of corne, beanes, and peaze,
at the Ieaft two hundred London bufhelles: befides the
Macotqwer,- Melden, and Plant a fills: Whenas in Eng
land fcurtie blifheJles of our wheate yeclded out of fuch
an acre is thought to be much.
•I thought alfo good to note this vnto you,y" you which
fhall inhabite andplant there, maie know how fpecially
that countrey come is there to beprcfetred before ours:
Befides the manifold waies in applying it to victuall, the
incrcafe is fo much that fmall labour and paines is need*
fulinrefpect thatmuft be vfed for ours. For this I can af-
furcyouthataccprdingto the rate we hauemadeproofe
©fjone man may prepare" and hufband fo much grounde (hauing

ofthe newfound Undof Virginia.
(hauingonce borne corne before) with lefTe then foure
and twentie houres labour,as fhall yeelde him victuall in
Tilarge proportion for a twelue moneth, if hee haueno-
thingelfe, but that which the fame ground will yeelde,
and of that kinde onelie which I haue before fpoken of:
the faide ground being alfo but of fiue and twentie yards
fquare. And if neede require, but that there is ground e-
nough , there might be raifed out of oneand the felffame
aground two harueftes or ofcomes-; for they fo we or fet
and may atanie time when they thinkt good from the
middeft of March vntill the ende of lime: fo that they
alfo fet when they haue eaten of their firft croppe . In
fome places ofthe countrey notwithftandingthey haue
two haruefts.as we haue heard, out of one and the fame
.ground. For Englifh corne neuertheles whether to vfe or not
to vfe.it, you thafinhabite maie do as you fhall haue far-,
ther caufe tpthinke beft. Ofthe grouth you need not to
;doubt:forbarlie, oates and peaze, we haue feene proof
of, not beeing purpofely fowen but fallen cafually in the
worft fort of ground ,and yet to be as faire as any we bane*
euer feene here in England. But of wheat becaufe it was
mufty and had taken fait water wee could makeno triall:
and of rye we had none. Thus much haue I digref-
fedand Ihopenotvnneceflarily : nowe-will I returne a-
. gaine to my courfe and intreate of that which yet remai-
neth appertaining to this Chapter..
There is an herbe whichis fowed a partby it felfe &
is called by >the inhabitants itppomoc: In the Weft Indies
it hath diuers names3 according tothe feuerall places &
countries where it groweth and isvfed : The Spaniardes.
generally rail it Tobacco. Theleattesthereofbeing dried
and brought into powder :they vfe to takethefumeor^
C "3. finokc

<&A brief and true report
finoke thereof by fucking it through pipes madeofclaic
into their ftomacke and heade;from whence it Juirgeth
fuperfluoiis flearrie _% other groffe hurriors.o'peneth afi
the p.ores(&paffages ofthe body.by which meanes the
vfe thereo£notonly pf eferueth the body from obftructi-
ons^but alfb if any be,fo that they haue not beene of too
long continuance,in fhort time breakcththem : wherby
their bodies are hotablypreferued in healthy know not
many greeuoiis difeafes wherewithal! wee in England
are oftentimes afflicted.
This^poWis of fo precious eftimationamongeft
the,that they thinke theirgods are marueloufly deligh
ted therwith: Wherupon f ometime they make hallowed
fires & caft fome ofthe ponder therein for a facrifice;be-
ingin a ftorme vppon the waters, to pacifie their gods,
they caft fome vp into the aire and into the water :fp a
weare for fifh beingnewly fetvp,they caft fome therein
and into the aire:alfo after an efcape of danger ,they caft
fome into the aire likewife:but all done with ftrange gc-
ftures,ftamping,fomtime dauncing,clapping of hands^
holding vp of hands, & flaring vp into the heaUes, vttc
ring therewithal and chattering ftrange words 8t noifes.
We our fellies during the time we were there vfedto
luck it after their maner ,as alfb fince oiir returne,& haue
found manie rare and wonderful experiments of the.ver-
tues thereof; of which the relation woulde require avb-
lume by it felfe .-the vfe of it by fo manie of late, men &
women of great calling as elfe, and fome learned Phifiri-
ons alfb,isfufficient witnes.
And thefeare all the commodities for fuftenance of
life that I know and can remember they vfe to husband:
all^Ife that followe are founde growing naturally or
wilde. Of

to

ofthe new found landof Virginia.
Of Rootes.
i PtHaukjLte a kind of roots of round fotme,fome of
^^ 'the bignes ofwalnuts,fomefar greater,which are
found in moift & marifh grounds growing many
geriier one by another in ropes,or as thogh they were.
faftnened with a firing. Being boiled of fbdden they are
very good meate.
Okeepenaukjuce alfb of rofid fhape,found indry grouds:
fome are ofthe bignes of a mans head.They are to be ea
ten as they are taken out ofthe ground,for by reafon of
their drinelfe they will neither rpfte nor feeth. Their taft
is not fo good as of the former rootes, notwithftanding
for want of bread & fomtimes for varietie the inbabitats
vfe to eate them with fifh or; flefh, and .in my judgement
they doe as well as thehoufhold bread made of rie heerc
in England.
Kaifbiicpcnaukji white kind of roots about the bignes of
henegs &nereofthat forme: their taftwasnotfb|ood
to our feeming as ofthe other, and therfore their place
and mannetof growing not fb much caredfor by vs:the
inhabitants notwithftanding vfed to boile 8i eate many.
Tfwaw a kind of roote much like vnto y which in Eng
land is called the Ghhta root brought from the Eaft Indies.
And we know noUnie thing to the contrary but that it
maie be ofthe farhekind.Thefe roots grow manie toge
ther in great clufters and doe bring foorth a brier ftalke,
bur the leafe in fhape far vnlike; which beein g f upported
by the trees it groweth neereft vnto, wil reach or climbe
to the top ofthe higheft.From thefe roots while they be
new or frefh beemg chpptinto fmall pieces & ftampt, is
(brained with water a iuice that maketh bread, & alfo be
ing boiled a very good fpponemcate in maner ofa gelly,
ahd is much better intaft if it bee tempered with oyle.
C-4* '- This-

This TTTw^isnotofthatfbrt which by fome was caufed
to be brought into En gland for the CM»aroote,£ot itw&s.
difcouered fince, and is in vfe as is afore/aide: but thas
whi ch was brought hither is not yet knowne neither by
vs nor by the inhabitants to feruefor any vfe or purpofe;
although therootesin fhape are very like.
Cofcufban), fome of our company tooke to bee that
kinde of roote which theSpaniards in the Weft Indies
call C^^whereupon alfo many called it by that name:
it groweth in very muddie pooles and moift groundes.
Being dreiled according to the countrey maner, it ma-
keth a good bread,and alfb a good fponemeate, and is' v-
fed very much by the inhabitants : The iuice-ofthisjoot
is poifon,and therefore heedemuft be taken before any
thing be made therewithal! iEither the rootes muftnee
firft fliced and dried in the Sunne, or by the fire, and
then beingpounded into floiire wil make good bread;or
els while they are greene they areto bee pared,cut irttb
pieces and ftampt;loues ofthe fame to be laid neere or
ouer the fire vntill it be fpure,and then being.well poun
ded againejbreadjorfpone meate very god in tafte,arid'
holfome may be made thereof.
Habafcon is a roote of hoat tafte almoftof thefbrme
and bignefle of a Parfeneepe, of it felfe it is no victuall,
'but onely a hclpe beeing boiled together with odier
'meates. There are alfo Leekes differing little from ours in Eng
land that, grow in many places ofthe ccutrey,of which,
when wecame in places where they were, wee gathered
and eate many,but thenaturall inhabitants neuer.

of the new found land of Virginia.
Of Fruites.
CUefinttts, there are in diners places great ftore.-fbme
they vfe to eaterawe.fomc they ftampe and boile
to make fpoonemeate, and with fome being foddc
they make fuchamanncr of dowe bread as they vfe of
*heir beanes before mentioned.
' Walnuts : There arc two kindes of Walnuts,and ofthe
infinit ftore:In many places where very great woods for
many miles together the third part of trees are walnut*.
trefis.The one kind is ofthe fame tafteandforme or litle
differing from purs of England, but that they are harder
atidlthicker (helled-: the other is greater and hath a verie
raggedaridbarde (hell : but the kerncll great, verie oy-
lie and fweete -. Befides their eating. of them after
Our ordiiiarie maner, they breake them withftones and
jpound them in morters with water to make a milk which
they vfeto put into fome forts of their fpoonmeate; alfo
among their fodde whe^t,peaze,beanes andpompions
which m aketh them haue a farre more pleafant ta fte.
Medlars a kind of verie good fruit,fo called by vs chief-
lie for theferefpectes? firftin that they are not good vn-
till they be rotten: then in that they open at the head as
our medlars,and are about the fame bigneffe : otherwife
in tafte arjd colour they are farre different: for they are
as red as cheries and very fweet : but whereas the cheric
is fharpe fweet,they arc lufhious fweet.
MstaquefumaukjiMin&e of ¦ pleafaurit'fruite almoftof
the fhape & bignes of Englifh peares, but thattheyare
of a perfect red colour as well within as without. They
grow on a plant whofe le aues are verie Jthicke and full of
prickles as fharpe a* needles/Some that hauebinin the
Indies, where they haue ifecn that kind of red die of great
D price

price which is called Ceehinifet£Q^covt9 doedeicribehis
plant right like vnto this ofMefa^ttefiinnauk. but whether
it be thttnxzcochtnite. orabaftardpr wilde,kind,it cannot
yet be certtfiedjfeeingthat a]fo.zsMie®:d,Cochinile is not
ofihe fmite but founde on the leaties ofthe plant;which
Jeaues for fuch matter we hauenot fo fpeciaUy obferued.
(J^/wthereare of two forts which Imehtionedin the
ntarchantable commodities.
Strabmes there are as good & as great as thofe which
we haue in our Englifh gardens.
Mulberies,Applecrah, Hurts or Hurtleberief £uch&S WCC
naueinEnglan<j. Sacquenummenerz kinde of berries .almoft like vi#p, ca»
presbut fbmewhat greater which grpwtpgtejherinclu^
iters vpon a plant or herb that is. found in fbalow-waters;
being boiled eight or nine hours according to their kind
are very good meate and holefome, otherwife if they be
eaten they will make a mail for thetimc franticke o&ex-
tremely fickc
There is akind of reed which beareth a feed almoft like
vnto our rie or wheat, & being boiled is good meate.
Irt our trattailesin fome places wee founde mlde pnax,e
like vnto our s in England hut that they wcrelefle, which
are alfo good meate.
Of a kinde of fruite or berrie in forme »f
uicorne's.
T Here is akind of berrie or acorne, .of which there
are fiue forts that growonfeueral kinds of treesjthe
one is called Sagate'mener,xh.t fecond Ofai0enerf the
third Pummutkoner. Thefe kind of aeprns they vfe to drie
vpon hurdles made of reeds withfire vnderneathalmoH:
alter the m aner as we dry malt in Englad. Whenthey are t«

'trgtnta.

so be vied they firft water them vnti! they be fbft & then
being fod they make a good vidual,either to.eate fo fim-
ply,or elsbeinga'ifonounded, to njakeloaiaes'or lumpcs
of bread. Thefe be-alfpthe three kinds of which, I (aid
before,the inhabitants vied to make fweet oyle.
An other fords aUk.&Sapiiajmeher which beingboiled
or parcheddoth eate and tafte like vnto cheftnuts. They
ibrnetime alfo make breadpfthisfort.
The fifth fort is called Mangummenau^ and.is riWa-
corne of their kind of oakc, the, which beeing dr'ed. after
the maner ofthe firft fortes, and afterward watered they
boile them,& their feruants or fbmetime the chiefe theV
feliies,eitherfbrvarietyor for want of breads doe eate
them with their fifh or flefh.
OfBcafies,
DEare,in feme places there are great ftoremeere vn
to the fea coaft they are ofthe ordinarie bignes as
oursinEngland,&fomelefle:but furthervp into
she countrey where there is better feed they are greater::
they differ from ours onely in this, theirtailes are Ion ger
and the & a gs of their horneslooke backward.
Conies, Thofe that we haue feen & al that we can heare
©fare of a grey colour like vnto hares: in fome places
there are fuch plentiethat all the people of fome townes
make them mandesofthefurrcorflueof theskinnes of
thole they vfually take.
SaquensickotScMaatdwoci two kindes of fihallbeaftes
greater then conies whichareverygoodmeat. We ne-
ncrfooke anyof them ourielues,butfometime eate of
Hich as theinhabftantshad taken & brought vntbvsi
Squireis which atcof a,gtisfy colbsj^wehauetaks &eate
D- 2 Bearex

A brief and true report
'Beares which are all of black colour .The beares of this
Countrey are good meat;the inhabitants in rime of win-
cer'do vie to take & eate manie jfo alfo forntimedidwee.
Tbe'y are taken common-lie in'tbis fort.In fome Hands or
places-where they are,being hunted fbr,as fooneas they
hauefpiall of a man they pfefendyftm awaie,& then be
ing chafedthey clime and get vpthe next tree they can,
from, whence with arrowes they arefhot downe ftarke
dead, or with thofe wounds that they may after eafity be
killed; we fometime fhotte them downe withour calee-
uers. 'Ihaue the names of eight & twenty feueraJI fortes of
beafts which I haue heard of to be here and there difper^
fed in the coutrie.efpecially in the maincof which, there
are only twelue kinds that we haue yet difcouered, & of
thofe'thatbe good meat we know only them before me-
tioncd.The inhabitants fomtime kil the Lyon & eat him:
& we "fomtime as they came to our hands of their mohes
or wohttfb Dogges , which I haue not fet downe for good)
meatjleaft that fome woulde vnderftand my iudgement
therin to be more (implethan needeth,althoiighl.could
alleage the difference in tafte of thofe kindes*. from ours,
which by fome of our company haue beene experimen*
ted in both.
Of Pottle,
TVrkje cockes and Turkje henries;: Stockdottes .- Partrldgest
Cranes: Hemes: & ill winter great ftore of Swames &
G^yp.Ofalfortesbf foulelhaue^the names in the
mitftrie language offonrefcore and fixe ofwhichnum-
ber befides thofe that be named,we haue takenyeateny&
fiaue the pictures as they were there, drawne with the
names ofthe inhabitaunts.of feucrall llrange fortes of
water

ofthe new foundlandof Virginia.
water fou!eeight,andfeu€teene kinds more of land foul,
although wee haue feen and eaten of many more, which
forwantofleafurethere for thepurpofe couldenotbee
pictured: and after wee are better furnifhedand ftored
vpon further difcouery,with their ftrange beaftes, fifhe,
trees, plants, and hearbes, they fhall bee alfo publifhed.
There are alfo Parats,Faulcons,& Mafltn haukes, which
although with vs they bee not vfed for meate, yet for o-
ther caufes I thought good to mention.
OfPifbe.
FOr foure moncthes of the yeere, February,March,
Aprill and May, there are plentie of Sturgeons .- And
alfo in the famemonethes of Herrings, fome of the
ordinary bigneffe as ours in England, but the moft part
farfegreater,ofeighteene,twentie inches,and fome two
foote ihlength and better; both thefe kindes of fifhe in
thofe monethes are moft plentifull, andinbeftfeafon,
which wee founde to bee moft delicate andpleafaunt
meate, There are alfb Troutes : Porpoifes : Ray est Oldwiues:Mul-
lettr Plaice: and very many other fortes of excellent good
fifhjwhich we haue taken & eaten,whofe names 1 know
not butin the countrey language; Wee haue of twcluc
forts more the pictures as they were drawn in the coun
trey with their names.
The inhabitants vfe to take the two maner or wayes,
the one is by a kind of wear made of recdes which in that
countrey are very ftrong. The other, way which is more
ftrange^s with poles made fharpe at one ende, by fhoo-
ting them into the fifh after the maner as Irifhmen caft
dartes; either as they are rowing in their boates or els as
D % they

Abriefhandtruerepm
shey are wading in the fhailowes for thepMrpofe.
There are alfb in many places plentie of thefe kindes
which follow.
Sea4rabbes,{\xch.^s we haue in England.
Oyftersfomc very great,and fome fmall; fome rounde
and fome of a long (hape : They are founde both in fait
water and brackifh,and thofe th at we had out of fait wa
ter are far better than the other as in our owne countrey1.
Alfb Mufcles : Sealopes i Periwinkles ,-'and Cremfes,
Seek*nauk\ a kinde of cruftie fhell fifhe which is good
meate,about a foote in breadth, hauing a cruftie tayle,
many legges like a crab; and her eyes in her backe. They
arefoundcin fhallowes-of fait waters; andfomerimeon
thefhOare. There are many T^rttyfes both of lande and fea kinds,
sheir bapkes & bellies are fhelled very thicke; their headj
feete, and taile, which are in appearance,feeme ougly as
though they were members of a ferpent or venemoust
butnotwithftandingthey are very good meate, as alfb
their egges. Some haue bene founde of ayardin bredth,
and better.
Andthus haue I maderelation of all fortes of victual!
that wefedvponforthe timewewerein Virginals dfo
die inhabitants thcmfelues,as farre foorth as I knowe
and can remember or that are fperially worthy to bee re-
raembrcd.
The

ofthe newfound landofVirginia.
^"The third and laft part of fuch other
thinges as is behoofutlfor thofe which fhall
plant and inhabit to know of; with a defcrip-,
tion of the nature and manners of the
people ofthe countrey.
Of commodities for building and
other neceffary vfes.
Hofe other things which I am more to
make rehearfall of,arefuch as concerne
building, and other mechanicall nece£
farie vfes ; as diuers fortes of trees for
houfe & fhip timber,and other vfes els:
i Alfo lime,ftone,and brick,leaft that be
ing not mentioned fome might haue bene doubted of,or
by fome that are malicious reported the contrary,
Okes, there are as faire,ftraight,tall, and as good tim
ber as any can be,and alfo great ftorc3and in fome places
very great.
Walnut trees, us Ihauc faide before very many, fome
haue bene feen excellent faire timber of foure & fiue fa-
dome,& aboue fourefcore foot (height without bough.
Fine trees fit for mafts of fhips,fbme very tall & great.
KakJockfiZ kind of trees fb called that are fweet wood of
which the inhabitans that were neere vnto vs doecom-
moly make their boats or Canoes ofthe form of tr owes;
only with the helpe of fire,hatchets of ftones,and fhels;
we haue known fome fo great being madein that fort of
one tree thatt hey haue carried well xx. men at once,be-
fides much baggage:the timber being great,tal,ftreighti
foft,light,& yec tough enough I thinkef befides other v-
fes)to be fit alfb for mafts of (hips.
C^/-,afweetwoodgoodforfeelings,Chefts,Boxes, Bed-

A brief and true report
Bedfteedes, Lutes, Virginals, and many things els, as I
haue alfo faid before.Some of our company which haue
wandered in fome places where I haue not bene, haue
madecertaine affirmation of Cyprus which for fuch and
other excellent vfes, is alfo a wood of price and no fmall
eftimation. Maple,znd alfb wtcb-haz,le\whsxo£ the inhabitants vfe
to make their bowes.
Holly a neceffary thing for the making of birdlime.
wilhwes good for the making of weares and weeles to
take fifh after the Englifh manner, although the inhabi
tants vfe only reedes, which becaufe they arefo ftrong
as alfb flexible, do ferue for thatturne very welland fu£
ficiently. Beech and Afhe , good for cafkeyhoopes : and if neede
require,p!ow workers alfo for many things els,
Elme. Saffafras trees.
Afcopo a kinde of tree very like vnto Lawrell, the barke
is hoat in taft and fpicie,it is very like to that tree which
Monardus defcribethto heeCafsia Lignea ofthe Weft
Indies. There are many other fbrange trees whole names!
knowe not but in the Virginian language, of which lam
not nowe able, neither is itfoconuenientforthepfe-
fent to trouble you with particular relation : feeing that
for timber and other neceffary v fes I haue named fuffici-
ent: And of many ofthe reft butthatthey may be appli
ed to good vfe, I know no caufe to doubt.
Now for Stpne,Bricke and Lime,thusit is.Neere vn
to the Sea coaft where wee dwelt, there are no kinde of
(tones to bee found (except a fewe fmall pebbles about
foure miles off; but fuch as haue bene brought from far
ther

ofthe fiew found land of 'Virginia.
farther out of the maine. In fome of our yoiages wee
jjiaue feene diuers hard raggie ftones, great pebbles, and
a kinde of grey ftone like vnto marble, of which the in
habitants make their hatchets to cleeue wood. Vpon in-
quiriewec heard that a little further vp into the Coun
trey were of all fortes verie many , although of Quarries
they are ignorant, neither haue they vfe of any ftore
whereupon they fhould haue occafion to feeke any. For
if eueriehoufholdebaueoneortwo to cracke Nuttes,
grinde fhelles,whet coppcr,and fometimes other ftones
lor hatchets, they haue enough : neither vfe they any
digging, but onely for graues about three foote dcepe:
and therefore no maruaile that they know neither Quaf-
ries,norlime ftones,which both may bee in places nce-
rer than they wot of.
In the meane time vntill there bee difcouerie of fiiffi-
cientftorein fome place or other conuenient, the want
of you which are and fhalbe the planters therein may be
as well fupplied by Brickc : for the making whereof in di
uers places ofthe countrey there is clay both excellent
good,and plentie; and alfo by limemade of Oifterfhels,
and of others burnt, after the maner as they vfe in the
lies of Tenet and Shepyj and alfo in diuers other places
of England : Which kinde of lime is wellknowne to bee
as good as any other. And of Oifter fhels there is plentie
enough : for befides diuers other particular places where
are abundance, there is one fhallowe founde along the
coaft, where for the fpace of many miles together in
Iength,and two or three miles in breadth, the grounde
is nothing els beeing but halfe a foote or a foote vndet
water for the moft part.
This much can I fay further more of ftones, that a-
bout 1 2 o.miles from our fort neere the water in the fide
E of

tA brief and true report
ofahiH wasfoundebya Gendeman of our company , a
greatveineof hard ragge ftones , which I thought good.
tpr^emembervntoyou. Of the nature and manners of
thepeople.
T rcftethl fpeakea word orrwoof thena-
turall inhabitants jtheir natures and maners,
leauing large difcourfe thereof vntill time
more coriuenient hereafter: nowepnelyfb
farre foorth,as that you may khow,how that they in re-
fpect of troubling our inhabiting and planting, are riot
to be feared; but that they fhall haue caufe bothtO feare
and louevsjthatfhallinhabite with them.
They area people clothed with loofe mantles made
of Deere skins ,& aprons of the fame rounde abputtheh?
middles; all els naked;offuch a difference of ftatures on
ly as weein England;'hauingno edgetooles or weapons
of yron or fteele to offend vs withalLjieither know they
how to make any uhofe weapons y they haiis, are onlie
bowes made of W^b hazle,& anrowes ofreedssflat ed
ged truncheons alfo of wood about a yard long , neither
haue they any thing to defed thefelues but targets made
of barks; and fome armours made of ftickes wickered to
gether with thread.
Thdrtowpesarebutfmall, & neeredje feaeoaftbut
rewjfbmecontainir^but zo.br. 1 2.houfes:fomeao.the
greatest that, we haue feehe haue bcnebut of 30. houfes:
if they bewailed it is only done with barks of trees made
faft to flakes, or els withpoles onely/ fixed vprfghtand
clofe one by another. Their

of th new fomd^mdof Virginia.
Their honfes are made of fmall poles made faftat the
tops in rounde forme after themaner as is vfed in many
arbories in our gardens of England,in mofttownes co?
uered with barkes,and in fome with artificiall mattes
made of long rufhes; from the tops ofthe houfes downe
to the ground.The length of them is commonly double
to the breadth,in fome places they are but 12. and 16.
yardes Jong, and m other fome wee haue feene of foure
and twentie.
In fome places of thecountrey one onely towne be-
lOngeth to the gouernment of a wirSansm chiefe Lorde ;
in other (bmetwo or three,in fome fixej eigh t>& more$
the,greateft wtroansthazyet we had dealing with had but
cighteenetownes in his gouernment^ancf able to make
notaboue feuen or eight hundred fighting men at the
moft : The language 'of euery gouernment is different
from any other,and the farther they arediftant thegrca-
ter is the difference.
Their maner of warres amongft themfelucs is either
byfudden furprifing one an other moft comonly about
the dawning of the -day, or moone light; orelsbyam-
bufhes5or fome futde deuifes : Set battels ate very rafe,
except it fall out where there are many treesi, where ey -
ther part may haue fome hope of defence, after the deli'
uerie of euery arrow,in leaping behind fome orother.
If there fall out any warres between vs &them . what
their fight is likely to bee,we hauing aduantages againft
them fomany maner of waies,asbyourdifcipline,pur
ftrange weapons and deuifes els; efpecially by ordinan
ce ; great and fmall,it may be eafily imagined; by the ex
perience we haue had inlome places, the turning vp of
their heeles againftvs in runningaway was their beft de
fence. E a, Jn

cAbritfi and trite report
•In refpect ofystheyarea people pocre, and for want
ofskilfand iudgementin the knowledge andvfe of our
things j doe efteemeour trifles before thinges of greater
value: Notwithftanding in their proper manner confi-
dering the want of fuch meanes as we haue, they feeme
very ingenious; For although they haue no fuch tooles,
nor any fuch craftes, (ciences and artes as-wee; yet in
thofe thinges they doe, they fliewe excellericie of wit,
Andbyhowemlich they vpon due confideration fhall
;finde our manner of knowledges and craftes to exceedc
theirs in perfection, and fpeed for doing or executioiiy
by fo much the more is it probable that they fhoulde de.
fire our friendfhips & loue, and haue the greater refpect
for pleafing and obeying vs. Whereby maybee hoped
if meanes of good gouernment bee vfed, that they may
in fhort time be brought to ciuilitie, and the imbracing
of true religion.-
Some religion they haue alreadie, which although it
be farre from the truth,yet beyng asitis,thercis4iope
it may bee theeafier and fooner reformed.
They bdeeue that there are many Gods which they
call Momoac, but of different fortes and degrees* one
onely chiefe and great God, which hath bene from all
etemitic . Who as they affirme when hee purpofed
to make the worlde, made firft other goddes of I prin
cipal! order to.bee as meanes and inftruments to bet v-
fed in the creation and gouernment to follow; and af>
•tcr the Sunne, Moone, and$tarres,as pettie goddes
and the inftruments of the other order more princi
pal!. Frft they fay were made waters, out of which
by thegods was madeaUdiuerfitieof creatures that arc
vifibleonniufible. For

of thepew found landof Virginia.
For mankiad'they fay awoman was made firft,which
by the woorlriog of one ofthe goddes^ concerned and
brought foorth children: And in fuch fort they faydiey
had their beginning.
But how manic yeeres or ages haue pafled fince, they
fay they can make no relati6,haoingno letters nor other
fuch meanes as we to keepe recordes ofthe particulari
ties of times paft, but onelie tradition from father to
fonne. They thinke that all the gods are of humane fhape,
c^therforethey reprefent-themby images in the formes
of men j which they call KewafSwokone alone is called
Kewds; Them they place in houfes appropriate or tern.
pics which they call Machicowuck.', Where they woor-
fhip,praie,fing, and make manie times offerings vnto
them. In fome Machiconfuck\.wehaue feene but on Ke-
toas, in fome two,and in'other fome three;The common
fort thinke them to be alfb gods.
" They beleeue alfo theimmortalitie of the foiile, that
after this lifeas foone'asthefoule is departed from the
bodie according to the workes it hath done, it is eyther
carried to heauen the habitacle of gods,- there to enioy
perpetual! blifle and bappineffe,or els to a great pitte or
hole, which they thinke tobee in the furtheft partes of
their part of the worlde tbwarde the funnefet, thereto
burne continualIy:the place they call Popoguffo.
For the confirmationof this opinion, they tolde mee
twoftOrics of two men that hadbeen lately dead and re
used againe,the one happened but few yeres before o ur
comming into the countrey of a wicked man which ha-
Klffig beene dead and buried, ,the next day the earth of
tihegrauebeeing feene tPmoue, was taken vp againe;
Who made declaration where his foule had beene, that
E 3. *s

&4 Iriefimdtrue report
is to faie very neere enuring into Popoguffo, had not one of
the gods faued him & gaue him leaue to returne againe,
and teach his friends what they fliould doc to auoid that
terribleplaceoftorment. The other happened in the fame yeere wee were
there, butin a towne that was threefcore miles from vs,
and it was tolde meeforftraunge newes that one bee-
ing dead, buried and taken vp againe as the firft, Chewed
that aldiough his bodie had lien dead in the graue,
yethisfoule wasaliue, and had trauailed farre in along
broadewaie, on both fides whereof gre we moft deli
cate and pleafaunttrees,bearing more rare and excel
lent fruites theneuer hee had feene before or was able
to expteffe , and at length came to moft braue and
faire houfes,necre which hee met his father, that had
beene dead before, who gaue him great charge to goe
backe againe and fhew his friendes what good they were
to doe to enioy the pleafures of that place, which when
he had done he fhould after come againe.
What fubtilty foeuer be in the wiroames and Prieftess
this opinion worketh fb much in manie ofthe common
and fimple fort of people that it maketh them hauegreat
refpect to their Gouernours, and alfo great care what
they dOito auoid torment after dcathaand to enioy bliffej
klthoughnotwithftandingtherg is punifhment ordained
for malefactours,as ftealers,whoremoongers,and other
fortes of wicked doers ; fome punifhed with death,fome
with forfeitures, fome with beating, according to the
greatnes of the factes.
And this is the fumme of their re!igio,which I learned
by hauing fpecial familiarity with fome of rheir prieftes.
Wherein they were not fb (lire grounded , nor gaue
Eich credite to their traditions and (tones but through conuer-

of thenew found land of Virginia.
conuerfing with vs they were brought into greatdoubts
of their owne,and no fmall admiration of ours,with ear
ned defire in many^ to learne more than we had meanes
for want of perfect vttcrance in their language to ejf-
prefle. Moft thinges they fawe with vs, as Mathematicall
inftruments,fea compaffes, the vertue ofthe loadftone
in drawing yron, a perfpectiue glaffe whereby was
fhewed manie ftraiigc fightes, burning glafles, wilde-
fire woorkcs, gunnes , bookes , (writing and reading,
(bring clocks thatfeeme to goe of themfelues, and ma
nie other thinges that wee had,werefo ftr&ungevnto
them, and fo fane exceeded their capacities to compre
hend the reafon and meanes how they fhould be made
and done, that they thought they Were rather the works
©fgodsthenofmen,orattheleaftwife they had bin gi-
Men and taught vs ofthe gods. Which ,made manie of
them to haue fiiCh opinion of vs,as'that if they knew not
She truethiofgod and religion already ,it was rather to be
had from vs* whom God fofpeciallyloued then from a
people that were fofimple.as they found themfelues to
be in comparifon of vs .Whereupon greater credite was
giuen vnto that we fpake of concerning fuch matters. -
Manie times and in euery towne where I came, ac
cording as I was able, I made declaration of the con-
tentes ofthe Bible; thatthereinwasfetfoorth the true
and onelic GOD, and his mightie woorkes, that
therein was contained the true doctrine of faluation
through Chrift, with manie particularities of Mira*
ties and chiefe poyntes of religion, as Iwas able then
to vtter, and thought fitte for the rime. And al-
nfeough I told them the booke materially & of it felf was
^to£aniefucjbvemie*aslti»ughttheydidconcei»e3
£4, bus

tA [brief '\andtrue report
but onely the doctrine therein contained; yet would ma
ny be glad to touch it, to embrace it,to kiffe it, to holdit
to their brefts and beades, and ftrokc onerall their bodie
with it;to fhewe their hungrie defirepf that: knowledge
which was fpoken of.
The wiroans with whom we dwelt called wingiua, and
many of his people would be glad many times to be with
vs at our praters,and many times call vpon vs both in hrs
owne towne, as alfb in others whither he fometimes ac
companied vs,to pray and fing Pfalmes; hoping thereby
to bee partaker of the fame enedes which wee by that
meanes alfo expected,
Twife this wiroans was fo grieiioufly* ficke that he was
like to die, andasheelaielanguifliing, doubting of anie
helpe by his owne prieftes, and thinking he was in fueft.
daunger for offending vs and thereby our god, fent for
fome of vs to praie and bee a meanes to our God that it
would pleafe him either that he might line or after death
dwell with him in bliffe ; fo likewife were the requeues of
manie others in the like cafe.
Onatime.alfowhen their corne began to wither by
reafon of a drouth which happened extraordinarily, fea
ring that it had come to pane by reafon that in fome
thing they had difpleafed vs,many Woulde come to vs &:
defire vs to praie to our God of England, that he would
preferue their corne,promifing that when it was ripe we
alfo fhouldhe partakers ofthe fruite..
There could at no rink happen any ftrange fickncfle,
loffes, hurras, or any other crbffe vnto them, but that
they would imputeto vsthe caufe or meanes therof for
offending or not pleafing vs,
One other rare and ftrange accident, leauing others,
will I mention before I ende, which mooued the whole
countrey

ofthe new fmndlandof Virginia.
countrey that either knew or heardeofvs, to haue vs in.
v/onderfull admiration.
There was no towne where we had any fiibtilc deuife
prailifedagainftvsjweleauingitvnpunifhedor not re-
uenged (becaufe wee fought by all meanes poffible to
win them by gendenefle) butthatwithinatewdayesaf-
ter our departure from eucrie fuch towne, the people
began to die very faft, and many in fhort fpace; in fome
townes about twentiedn fomefourtie,in(omefixtie, &
in one fixe fcore, which intrueth was very manie in re-
(pect of their numbers . This happened in ho place
thatweecoulde learne but where wee had bene, where
they vfed fbmepractifeagainftvs, and after fuch time;
The difeafealfo fo ftrange,thatthey neither knew what
itwas, norhow to cure its thelike by report of the oldeft
men in the countrey neuer happened before, time out of
minde. Athingfpeciallyobferuedby vsasalfo bythc
mturallinhabitants themfelues.
Infbmuch that when fome ofthe inhabitantes which
were our friends & efpecially the wiroans wingiua had ob
(crucd filch effects in foure or fiue towns to follow their
wicked practifes , they were perfwaded that it was the
tvorkc of our God through our meanes, and that wee by
him might kil and (laic whom wee would without wea
pons and not comenecrc them.
And thereupon when it had happened that tliey had
Vnderftanding tliatany of their enemies had abufed vs
in our iourneyes, hearing that wee had.wrought no re-
irenge with our weapons,& fearing vpon fome caufethe
matter fhouldfo refbdidcome andintreatevs that w*
ivoulde bee a rneants to our God thatthey as other?
that bad dealt ill with vs- might in Hke fort die;- aliea*
ging howe much it would be for our crediteand profite,
P as

Abriefiandtrue report
as alfo theirs;and hoping furtherrnore that we would do
fomuchattheirrequeftsinrefpectofthefriendfhip we
proJeflethem. Whofe entreaties" although wee (hewed that they
were vngodlie,affirming that our God would not fub-
icct him felfe to anie fuch praiers andrequeftes of men:
thatin deede all thinges haue beene and were to be done
according to his good pleafure as hehad ordained : and
that wetofhew our felues his true feruants ought rather
to make petition for the comrade, that they with them
mightliuetpgedierwithvs, bee made partakers of his
truth & ferue him in righteoufhes;but notwitftanding in
fuch fort,diat weereferre that as all other thinges,to bee
done according tohisdiuine will & pleafure, and as by
his wifedome he had ordained to be beft. ¦
Yet becaufe the effect fell out fo fodainly and fhordy
after according to their defires,they thought neuerthe-
lefle it came to paffe by our meanes,and that wein vfing
fuch fpeeches vnto them did but diflemble the matter,
and therefore came vnto vs to giue vs thankes in theis
manner that although wee fatisfied them, not in pro-
mife,yet in deedes and effect we had fulfilled their de-
fires. This maruelous accident in all the countrie wrought
fo ftrange opinions of vs,that fome people could not tet
whether to think vs gods Or men.i and the rather becaufe
that all the fpace of their fickneffe,there was no man of
ours knowne to die, or that was fpecialjy ficke :. they no
ted alfo that we had no women amongftvs, neither that
we did care for any of theirs.
Some therefore were of opinion that wee were not
borne of women,and therefore not mortal!,-but that wee
were men of an old generation many yeeres pad then ri*

ofthe newfoundlandof Virginia.
fen againe to immortalitie.
Some woulde likewife feeme to propbefie that there
were more of our generation yet to come, to kill theirs
and take their places, as fome thought the purpofe was
by that which was already done.
Thofe that were immediatlyto come after vs they i-
magined to be in the aircyet inuifible & without bodies,
& that they by our intreaty & for the loue ofvs did make
thepeopletodieinthatforrastheydidby (hooting in
uifible bullets into them.
To confirme this opinion their phifitions to excufe
Sfaeir ignorance in curing the difeafe, would not be afha-
med to fay,buteameftly make the fimple people beleue,
that the firings of blood that they fucked out ofthe ficke
bodies,were the firings wherewithall the inuifible bul
lets were tied and caft.
Some alfb thought that we (hot them ourfelues out
of our pieces from the place where we dwelt, and killed
the people iii any (itch towne that had offended vsas we
lifted,how farre diftant from vs foeuer it were.
And other fome faide that it was the fpeciall woorke
Of God for our fakes, as wee our felues haue caufe in
feme forte to thinke no leffe , whatfoeuer fome doe or
wfeimaginetothe cpntrarie, fpecially fome Aftro-
logers knowing of the Eclipfeof the Sunne which wee
law the fame yeere before in our voyage thy therward,
which vnto them appeared very terrible. And alfo of a
Comet which beganne toappearc but a few daies be
fore the beginning ofthe (aid fickneffe. But to conclude
tbemfroinbeihg the fpeciall caufes pf fo fpeciall an ac
cident, there are farther reafons thenltbinke fit at this
prefent to bee alleadged.
Thefe theikOpifjionsT haue fet downe the more at

A briefeandtruereport
large that it may appeare vnto you that there is good
hope they may be brought through difcrect dealing and
gouernement'to theimbracingotthe trueth, and confe-
quendy to honour,obey,feare and loue vs.
And although fome of our companie towardesthe
ende oftheyeare,fhewedthemfelues too fierce, inflay-
ing fome ofthe people,in fome towns, vpon caufes that
on ourpart,might eafily enough haue been borne with
al!: yet notwithftanding becaufe it was on their part iuft-
ly defeated, the alteration of their opinions generally &
for the moft part concerning vs is the lefTe to bee doub
ted. And whatfoeuer els they maybe, by carefulnefle of
our felues neede nothing at all to be feared.
Thebeftneuerthelefleinthhiasiiiall actions befides
is to be endeuoured and hoped,& ofthe worft that may
happen notice to bee taken with confideration, and as
much as may be efchewed. The Conclnjiou,
NOw I haue as Miope made relation not of fbfewe
and final things butthat the countrey of men that
are indifferent & weldifpofed maie be fufficiendy
liked : If there were no more knowen then I haue menti
oned, which doubriefleand in great reafon is nothing
to ihat which remaineth to bee difcouered, neither the
foiIe,nor commodities. As-we haue reafon fo to gather
by the differece we foundrn our trauails;for although all
which I haue before (poke ofhaue bin difcouered ©^.ex
perimented not far fro the fea coaft where was our abode
& moft of our trauailing : yet fbmtimes as wemade our
iourneies farther into the maine and countrey; we found
the foyle to bee fatterj the trees greater and to growe
thinner

ofthe newfoundlandofUirginia.
thinner; the grounde more firme and deeper moulds
more and larger champions; finer graffe and as good as
euer we faw any in England; in fome places rockieand
farremorehighandhillie ground; more plentie of their
fruites; more abundance of beaftes; the more inhabited
with people,and of greater pollicie & larger dominions,
with greater townes and houfes.
"Why may wee not thenlooke for in good hope from
theinner parts of more and greater plentie, as well of ci
ther things, as of thofe which wee haue alreadie difco
uered? Vnto the Spaniardes happened the like indifco-
uCring the maine ofthe Weft Indies. The maine alfb of
this countrey of r«g««',*,extendingfome wayes fb many
hundreds of leagues,as otherwife then by the relation of
the inhabitants wee haue moft certaine knowledge of,
where yet no Chriftian Prince hath any poffeffion or
dealing,cannot but yeeld many kinds of excellent com-
modities,which we in our difcouerie haue notyetfeene.
VVhathopethereiselsto be gathered ofthe nature
ofthe climate,being anfwerable to the Iland of lapaujhc
land ofChma,Perfta,lury, the Handes of 'Cyprus and Candy ,
the South parts of Greece, Italy , and Spaine, and of many
other notable and famous countreis, becaufe I meane
nor to be tedipus,I Ieaue to your owne confideration.
Whereby alfb the excellent temperature of the ayre
there at all feafons, much warmer then in England, and
rieuer fo violently hot,as fometimes is vnder & between
the Tropikes,ornere them; cannot beevnknowne vnto
youwithoutfartherrelation. For the holfomneffe thereof I needetofay butthus
much : thatforallthewant ofprouifion,as firft of Eng-,
lifh victual!* excepting for twentie daies, wee liued only
bv drinking water andby the victuall ofthe countrey, of
* ° £3, which

Abriefe and true report
which fome forts were very ftraunge vnto vs, and might
haue bene thought to haue altered our temperatures in
fuch fort as to haue brought vs into fome greeuous and
dangerous difeafes:fec6dly the want of Englifh meanes,
for the taking of beaftes, fifhe, and foule, which by the
help e only ofthe inhabitants and their meanes, coulde
notbeefofnddenlyandeafilyprouidedfor vs,norin fb
great numbers©: quantities, nor of that choife as other*
wife mighr haue bene to our better fatisfaction and con
tentment. Some want alfo wee had of clothes. Further
more, in all our trauailes which were moft fpecialfand
often in the time of winter, ourlodgingwasintheopen
aire vpon the grounde. And yet I fay for all this, there
werebutfoureofourwhole£ompany(beingonehund-dred and eight ) that died all the yeere and that but at
the latter ende thereof and vpon none ofthe aforefaide
caufes. For all foure efpecially three were feeble.jweake,
and fickly perfons before euer they came thither, and
thofe that knewe them much marueyled that they li«
uedfblong beeing in that cafe, or had aduentured to
trauaile. Seeing therefore the ayre there is fo temperate and
holfome, the fbylefo fertile and yeelding fuch commo
dities as I haue before mentioned, the voyage alfo thi*
ther to and fro beeing fufficienriy experimented, tobee:
perfourmed thrife a yeere with eafe and at any feafon-
thereof: And the dealing of Sir water Ralgtgh fb liberall
in large giuing and graunttng lande there, asisalreadie
knowen,withmanyhelpes and furtherances els : (The
lead that hee hath graumed hath beene fiue hundred
acre3 toaman onely for the aduenture of hisperfon):
1 hope there remaine no caufe wherby the action fhould
bcmifliked. If

ofthe newfund land of Virginia.
If that thofe which fhall thither trauaile to inhabite'
and plant bee but reafonably prouided for the firft yere
as thofe are which were tranfported 'the laft, and bee
ing there doe vfe but that diligence and care as isre-
<juifite,andas they may with eafe : There is no doubt
but for the time following they may haue victuals that
is excellent good and plentie enough; fome more Eng-
Kfhe fortes of cattaile alfo hereafter.asfome haue bene
before, and are there yet remaining, may and fhall bee
God willing thither tranfported : So likewife our kinde
of fruites, rootes , and hearbes may bee/there planted
and fowed,as fome haue bene alreadie, and proue wel.
And in fhorttime alfo they mayraife of thofe fortes of
commodities which I haue fpoken of as fhall both en
rich themfelues , as alfo others that (hall deale with
them. And this is all the fruites of our labours,thatIhaue
thought neceffary to aduertife you of at this prefent:
what els concerneth the nature and manners of the
inhabitants of Virginia tVae number with the particu
larities ofthe vovages thither made; and ofthe acti
ons of fuch that haue bene by Str water Raleigh therein
and there imployed,many worthy to bee remembredj,
as ofthe firft difcouerers ofthe Countrey: of our Ge
nerall for the time Sir Richard Greinuilc, and after his
departure, of our Gouernour there Mafter RafeLane',
with diuers other directed and imployed vnder theyr
gouernement : Of the Captaynes and Matters ofthe
voyages made fince for tranfportation; of the Gouer
nour and affiftants of thofe alredie tranfported,as of ma>-
ny perfons,accidents,ahd thinges els, I haue ready in a
difcourfe by it felf in manexof a Chronicle according to
the

Abriefiatid true report
to the eourfe ofdmes, and when time fhall bee thought
conuenientfhall be alfo publifhed,.
Thusreferringmy relation to your fauourable con*
lrruaions,expectinggood iiiccefleof the action,from
him which is to be acknowledged the authour and go*
uernour not only of this but of all things els, I
take my Ieaue of you jtfiis moneth of
February . 1 588.
FINIS.

Faults ejeaped
Bq.pag. !.//». lo.fortTaHgQmock£mittgtreade£rat>g<m$Qe~
konomindgg. B.^,pagH Jivti0^ar^afjif be; reade^alfo maf fo*
Q,fypag.i~Jiit»Zi.for1)godm taftesrcadegpodm tafte,
TherefiifrnjletheSfmetsReaderniajeafiljaniettdm.

YALE UNIVERSITY

a39002__0(

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

The
Bibliographical Colleclion
of
George Watson Cole

L. H. D.