USA > Virginia > The generall historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer isles: with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours, from their first beginning, an. 1584. To this present 1626. With the proceedings of those severall colonies > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02390 3799
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/generallhistorie02smit
THE
GENERALL HISTORIE
OF
Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Iles.
WITH
THE NAMES OF THE ADVENTURERS, PLANTERS, AND GOVERNOURS FROM THEIR FIRST BEGINNING, AN. 1584. TO THIS PRESENT 1626.
WITH
THE PROCEEDINGS
OF THOSE SEVERALL COLONIES AND THE ACCIDENTS THAT BEFELL THEM IN ALL THEIR IOURNYES AND DISCOVERIES.
ALSO
THE MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS
OF THOSE COUNTRYES, THEIR COMMODITIES, PEOPLE, GOVERNMENT, CUSTOMES, AND RELIGION YET KNOWNE.
DIVIDED INTO SIXE BOOKES.
BY CAPTAINE JOHN SMITH,
SOMETIMES GOVERNOUR OF THOSE COUNTRYES AND ADMIRALL OF NEW ENGLAND. V. 2 VOL. II.
FROM THE LONDON EDITION OF 1629.
RICHMOND : Hepublished at the Franklin Press. Willtam W. Gray, Printer. 1819.
840
80210
SOBL ANAME G UITEM COM MD THE UNATIC AIBEVER
1744324
Vincere est Wiuere
(Accordamus
ASEANSI
THE
CONTENTS
OF THE
ENERALL HISTORY, DIVIDED INTO SIX ROOKS.
THE FOURTH BOOKE.
With their Proceedings after the alteration of the Government.
Page.
How the mutiners proceeded; the Salvages re- volt; the planting point Comfort. Them at Nand- samund, and the Fals, defeated by the Salvages. Captaine Ratliff, with thirtie slaine by Powhatan. The fruits of improvidence. The arrivall of Sir 1610 Thomas Gates. James Towne abandoned. The arrivall of the Lord La Warre; their actions and both their returnes.
1
1611 The government left to Captaine Percie; and his proceedings.
8
The arrivall of Sir Thomas Dule, and his actions.
9
1612 The second arrivall of Sir Thomas Gates; the building Henrico, and the Bermudas; how Cap- taine Argall tooke Pocahontas prisoner. Dales 1613 voyage to Pamarnkee. The marriage of Poca- hontas to Master Rolfe. Articles of Peace with the Sulrages.
11
1614 The goverr ment left to Sir Thomas Dale. Cap- taine Argals voyage to port Royall. Master Hamers to Powhatan; and their Accidents. 18
1
iv
The Contents.
Page.
1615 The manner of the Lottery. A Spanish Shippe in Virginia. Dule with Pocahontas comes for England. 23
1616 Capt. Yerley left Deputy Governour; his warres and peace with the Chickahamanians, and pro- ceedings. 26
A relation of Queene Anne of the quality and condition of Pocahontas; how the Queen enter- tained her. 30
1617 Capt. Argall sent gouernour. 33
1618 The death of Powhatan; ten English slaine; Ar- gals accidents and proceedings. The Lord de la Warre sent againe governour; his death. A re- lation of their present estates. Haile-stones 8. inches about. 36
1619 Sir George Yerley sent governor; Waraskoyack planted. A parliament in Virginia: foure Cor- porations appointed; the adventures of Captaine Ward; the number of ships and men sent this yeare; gifts given; Patents granted. 37
1620 A desperate Sea-fight by Captaine Chester with two Spanish men of warre. 41
The names of the adventurers. 45
1621 Notes and observations. A relation of their es- tates by Master Stockam. , 56
The arrival of Sir Francis Wyat with nine ships. Master Gockings plantation; and their accidents; the number of ships and men sent this yeare; gifts given, Patents granted. 59
Master Pories Fourneves to Porturunt, and other places, with his accidents. 61
. ..
----
:
1. - ...
The Contents.
V
Page. 64
1622 Capt. Euch sent to build Forts and Barks.
The cause and manner of the Massacre; the num- bers slaine; the providence of Cap. Nuse; Cap. Chroshaw his voyage to Patawomek.
65
Cap. Smiths offer to the Company to suppresse the Salvages. Their answer; the manner of the Sallery; Chroshaw stayes at Patawomek; the es- cape of Waters and his wife. Cap. Hamar goes to Patawomek; Chroshaus plot for all their pre- servations. Capt. Madison sent to Patawomek. Cap. Powell kills three Salvages. Sir George Yerleyes journey to Accomack. The misery of Captaine Nuse. The kindnesse of the King of Patawomek; a vile policy of a Salvage: Madisons mischiefe vnto the Patawomeks. It was not well don to make Opechankanough drinke healths .- 300. surpriseth Nandsamund and Pamaunkce .- 1623 The opinion of Cap. Smith how to subiect the Salvages. The arriuall of Cap. Butler in Virgi- nia, and other Accidents. The losse of Cap. Spil- man and 26 men.
7.9
A particular of such necessaries as are fit for pri- 1624 vate persons or families. A briefe relation by Cap. Smith to his Maiesties Commissioners, for the reformation of Virginia.
99
The 7 questions the right Worthie Commissioners demanded, and his answers; how the King hath pleased to take it into his consideration. At this present two ships are going; more a preparing; new Commissions sent. A proclamation, no To- bacco be vsed in England, but what shall come from Virginia, or the Somer Isles; quere the Pro- clamation.
103
.2 .
vi
The Contents. THE FIFT BOOKE.
Page;
The description of the Somer Iles, the fruits, fish- es, soyle, ayre, beasts, birds. 111
1593 The relation of the shipwrack of Henry May. 117
1609 The shipwrack of Sir Tho: Gates, and Sir George 1610 Somers; their accidents, deliverance and arrivall in Virginia. Somers returne to the Isles; his 1611 death, and Epitaph, the accidents hapned: three men lived there alone two yeares. 119
1619 Master More sent to make a plantation. A peece of Amber Greece found of 80. pound weight; much dissension; Mores industrie in fortifying and waighing Ordnance out of the wracks. Their 1618 first supply; a strange increase of Potatoes, The attempt of 2 Spanish ships; a great mortality; a 1614 strange being of Ravens; a new supply, with their Accidents, and Moores returne. 125
1615 The rule of the six governours; a wonderfull acci- dent of Hilliard, not much lesse then a miracle. 132
1616 The government of Ca. Tuckar; Assises; the strange adventure of 5 men in a boat; plants from the West Indies; the endevours of Cap. Powell; Assises. The Country neer devoured with rats; their strange confusion. 136
1617 The divisions of the Iles into Tribes, and Tribes into shares; by Mr. Norwood. 143
1618 The names of the adventurers and their shares. The first Magazin; two exployts of desperate fugi- tides. The returne of Cap. Tuckar. 144
Cap. Kendall left deputy-governor, and their Ac- cidents. 148
1
vii
The Contents.
Pagt.
1619 The government of Cap. Butler; A plat-forme burnt, and much hurt by a Hericano. The refor- tifying the Kings Castle. The arrivall of two Dutch Frigots. The rebuilding the Mount, and a Tombe for Sir George Somers. The reforma- tion of their lawes and officers. Their Assises. A Parliament. Their Acts; their opinion of the Magazin. The building three Bridges. The ge- 1620 nerall Assises; A strange deliverance of a Spa- nish wracke. * A strange Sodomy; many Ord- 1621 nances got from wracks. Their estates present. 150
1622 Master Barnard sent to be governour; his arrivall, death, and funerall. 165
1623 The proceedings of Mr. Harrison his successor, and Cap. Woodhouse their governor. Ib.
THE SIXT BOOKE?
Certaine commendatorie addresses. 169
How New England hath bin accounted but a mi- 1614 serable Desert. Captaine Smiths first voyage; what peace and warres he had with the Salvages, and within 6. moneths returned with £ 1500 worth of commodities; got Prince Charles to call it New-England. A Table of the old names and the new. Cap. Hobsons voyage to Capan; the Londoners apprehend it. The situation: notes for ignorant vndertakers. 174
The description of the Country. Staple Com- modities; present proofe of the healthfulnesse of
-
* This brief but filthy tale is omitted, -
.
viii
The Contents.
Page.
the clime. Observations of the Hollanders chiefe trade. Examples of the altitude comparatiuely; the reasons why to plant it. An example of the gaines every yeare; a description of 15. severall Countries in particular. Of their woods, birds, fishes, beasts, &c. and how as well Gentlemen, as mecanicks, may be imployed, and get much wealth, with the reasons and causes of the defayle- ments. 182
1615 Cap. Smiths second voyage; his ship neere foun- dered in the Sea: He reimbarketh himselfe. 205
1616 Incountereth the English Pyrats; fought with the French Pyrats; is betrayed by 4. French men of warre; how he was released; his men ran from him with ship and all; how he lived with the French men; what fights they had, what prizes they tooke: the French mens ingratitude. 1S sayle cast away: how he escaped, proceeded in France, returned for England, and pushed them ran from him. 208
1617 The yearely trialls of New England; the benefit of fishing, as Mr. Dee, and divers report, and ap- 1618 prooved by the Hollanders Records; how it be- 1619 comes so well apprehended, that more then 150. haue gone thither to fish, with an estimate of their gaines, with many observations and Acci- dents. 216
1620 A Plantation in New-England; their first landing; divers journeys and accidents; the description of the harbors, bayes, lakes, and that place they in- habit, called Ner-Plumnoutli; conference with the Salvages; and Kinde vsage of the King of the Massasots; a strange policie of Tusquantuni. 2:21
1621 The Salvages make warres for their friend-ships; the English revenge their friends iniuries. Notes
ix
The Contents:
Page
1622 and observations. They lived two yeares with- ont Supplyes; the death of Tusquantum; they con- triue to murther the English; how the English did cure a King sicke to death; two most despe- rate Salvages; the courage of Cap. Standish; the Salvages sue for peace. 221
1623 A most remarkable observation of Gods loue. 40 sayle fished there this yeare; the religion of the Salvages; the government; an answer to obiec- tions; considerations; the charge; the order of the Western men. 229
The effects of shipping; the Popes order for the East and West Indies. How to build a little na- vy royall; contention for New-England. The necessitie of martiall power. 243
The charge to set forth a ship of a 100. tuns, both to make a fishing. voyage, and increase the plan- tation. The facilitie of the fishing lately observ- ed. 247
1624 Their present estate at New-Plimouth, and order of government. 251
Its not his part that is the best Translator, To render werd for word to every Author.
x
The Contents.
Contents of the additional purt from Capt. Smiths Travels.
CHAP. XXI.
Page.
The continuation of the generall History of Vir- ginia. 255
CHAP. XXII.
The proceedings and present estate of the Sum- mer lles, from An. Dom. 1624 to this present 1629. 260
CHAP. XXIII.
The proceedings and present estate of New En- gland, since 1624. to this present 1629. 262
٠٬٠٠
CHAP. XXIIII.
A briefe discourse of divers voyages made unto the goodly Countrey of Guiana, and the great Ri- ver of the Amacons; relating also the present Plan- tation there. 265
CHAP. XXV.
The beginning and proceedings of the new plan- tation of St. Christopher by Captaine Warner. 269
CHAP. XXVI.
The first plauting of the Barbados. 274
CHAP. XXVII.
The first plantation of the Ile of Mevis. 276
-
4
xi
The Contents.
CHAP. XXVIII.
Pages The bad life, qualities and conditions of Pyrats; and how they taught the Turks and Moores to be- come men of warre. 279
NOTE.
THE numbers of reference on page 257 are to the folio copy. In this edition they refer to the following pages, 70- 200 Vol. I. 150-79 Vol. II. 163-99 do. 165 100 do.
I have endeavoured, with great exactness to follow the spelling of the ori- ginal. there seemed to be no uniformity on this subject, the same word being frequently spelled different ways, and often, letters designedly omitted. I have not inserted the marginal notes, because they expressed only the subjects of which the writer was treating; but as to every thing else, the aim has been to exhibit an exact copy of the original; that thus the men who planted this country, their manners and habits might be put as fully as possible before the reader.
www.
THE FOURTH BOOKE.
TO
MAKE PLAINE
THE TRVE PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
HISTORIE FOR 1609.
WE MUST FOLLOW THE EXAMINATIONS OF DOCTOR SIMONS, AND TWO LEARNED ORATIONS PUBLISHED BY THE COMPANIE: WITH THE RELATION OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD DE LA WARE.
What happened in the first gouerament after the alte- ration in the time of Captaine George Piercie their Governour.
THE day before Captaine Smith returned for England with the ships, Captaine Dauis arrived in a small Pinace, with some sixteene proper men more: 'To these were added a company from James towne, vnder the command of Captaine John Sickelmore alias Ratliffe, to inhabit Point Comfort .- Captaine Martin and Captaine West, hauing lost their boats and neere halfe their men among the Saluages, were returned to James towne; for the Saluages no sooner vnderstood Smith was gone, but they all reuolted, and did spoile and murther all they incountered. Now wee were all constrained to liue onely on that Smith had onely for his owne Companie, for the rest had consumed their proportions, and now they , had twentie Presidents with all their appurtenances: Master Piercie our new President, was so sicke hee could neither goe nor stand. But ere all was consumed, Captaine West and Captaine Sirkelmore, each with a small ship and thirtic or fortie men well appointed, sought abroad to trade. Sick- elmore vpon the confidence of Powhatan, with about thirtie others as carelesse as himselfe, were all slaine, onely feffery Shortridge escaped, and Pokahontas the Kings daughter Vol. 2-B
-
2
The government douolued to the Lord la Ware.
saued a boy called Henry Spilman, that lined many yeeres af- ter, by her meancs, amongst the Patawomekes. Powhatan still as he found meanes, cut off their Boats, denied them trade,- so that Captaine West set saile for England. Now we all found the losse of Captaine Smith, yea his greatest maligners could now curse his losse: as for corne, prouision and contribution from the Saluages, we had nothing but mortall wounds, with clubs and arrowes; as for our Hogs, Hens, Goats, Sheepe, Horse, or what liued, our commanders, offi- cers and Saluages daily consumed them, some small propor- tions sometimes we tasted, till all was deuoured; then swords, armes, pieces, or any thing, wee traded with the Saluages, whose cruell fingers were so oft imbrewed in our blouds, that what by their crueltie, our Gouernours indiscretion, and the losse of our ships, of five hundred within six moneths after Captaine Smiths departure, there remained not past sixtie men, women and children, most miserable and poore creatures; and those were preserned for the most part, by roots, herbes, acornes, walnuts, berries, now and then a little fish: they that had starch in these extremities, made no small vse of it; yea, euen the very skinnes of our horses. Nay, so great was our famine, that a Saluage we slew, and buried, the poorer sort tooke him vp againe and eat him, and so did diuers one an- other boyled and stewed with roots and herbs: And one amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered her, and had ea- ten part of her before it was knowne, for which hee was ex- ecuted, as hee well deserued; now whether shee was better roasted, bovled or carbonado'd, I know not, but of such a dish as powdered wife I neuer heard of. This was that time, which still to this day we called the staruing time; it were too vile to say, and scarce to be beleeued, what we endured: but the occasion was our owne, for want of prouidence, industrie and gouernment, and not the barrennesse and defect of the Countrie, as is generally supposed; for till then in three yeeres, for the numbers were landed vs, we had nener from England prouision sufficient for six months, though it seemed by the bils of loading sufficient was sent vs, such a glutton is the Sea, and such good fellowes the Mariners; we as little tasted of the great proportion sent vs, as they of our want and miseries. yet notwithstanding they euer ouer-swayed and ruled the businesse, though we endured all that is said, and chiefly lived on what this good Countrie naturally afforded: yet had wec
3
The government resigned to Sir Thomas Gates.
beene even in Paradice it selfe with these Gonernours, it wuold not have beene much better with vs; yet there was amongst vs, who had they had the gouernment as Captaine Smith appointed, but that they could not maintaine it, would surely haue kept vs from those extremities of miseries. This in ten daies more, would have supplanted vs all with death.
But God that would not this Countrie should be vnplanted, sent Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Sommers with one hundred and fiftie people most happily preserued by the Ber- mudas to preserue vs: strange it is to say how miraculously they were preserued in a leaking ship, as at large you may reade in the insuing Historie of those Ilands.
The government resigned to Sir Thomas Gates, 1610.
WHEN these two Noble Knights did see our miscries, being but strangers in that Countrie, and could vnderstand no more of the cause, but by coniecture of our clamours and com- plaints, of accusing and excusing one another: They embark- ed vs with themselues, with the best meanes they could, and abandoning James towne, set saile for England, whereby you may see the cuent of the gouernment of the former Com- manders left to themselues; although they had lived there many yeeres as formerly hath beene spoken (who hindred now their proceedings, Captaine Smith being gone.)
At noone they fell to the Ile of Hogs, and the next morn- ing to Mulbery point, at what time they descried the Long- boat of the Lord la Warre, for God would not haue it so abandoned. For this honourable Lord, then Gouernour of the Countrie, met them three ships exceedingly well furnish - ed with all necessaries fitting, who againe returned them to to the abandoned lames towne. Out of the observations of William Simmons Doctor of Diuinitie.
4
The meeting of the Lord la Ware at Sea.
The government deuolued to the Lord la Warre.
His Lordship arrined the ninth of June 1610. accompanied with Sir Ferdinando Woyaman, Captaine Houlecroft, Capraine Lawson and diners other Gentlemen of sort; the tenth he came vp with his fleet, went on shore, heard a Sermon, read his Commission, and entred in consultation for the good of the Colonie, in which secret counsell we will a little leaue them, that we may duly observe the reucaled counsell of God. Hee that shall bat turne vp his cie, and behold the spangled canopie of heaven, or shall but cast downe his eie, and con- sider the embrovdered carpet of the earth, and withall shall marke how the heavens heare the earth, and the earth Corue and Oile, and they relique the necessities of man. that man will acknowledge Gods infinite providence: But hee that shall further obserue, how God inclineth all casuall euents to worke the necessary heine of his Saints, must needs adore the Lords infinite goodnesse: neuer had any people more iust cause, to cast themselves at the very foot-stoole of God, and to reuerence his mercie, than this distressed Colonie: for it God had not sent Sir Thomas Gates from the Bermudas, within foure daies they had almost beene famished; if God had not directed the heart of that noble Knight to saue the Fort from fiering at their shipping, for many were very im- portunate to hatte burnt it, they had beene destitute of a present harbour and succoor; if they had abandoned the Fort any longer time, and had not so soone returned, questionlesse the Indians would hane destroied the Fort, which had beene the meanes of our safeties amongst them and a terror. If they had set saile sooner, and had lanched into the vast Ocean, who would hane promised they should haue incountered the Fleet of the Lord la Ware, especially when they made for New found land, as they intended, a course contrarie to our Nauie approaching. If the Lord le Ware had not brought. with him a veeres prouision, what comfort would those poore soules haue received, to baue beene relanded to a second distruction? This was the arme of the Lord of Hosts, who would haue his people passe the red Sea and Wilderness?, and then to possesse the land of Canaan: It was diuinely spoken of Heathen Socrates, If God for man be carefull, why should man bee over-distrustfull? for he hath so tem- pered the contrary qualities of the Elements,
5
The meceting of the Lord la Ware at Sea. .
That neither cold things want heat, nor moist things dry, Nor sad things spirits, to quicken them thereby,
Yet make they music all content of contrarietie,
Which conquer'd, knits them in such links together; They doe produce euen all this whatsocuer.
The Lord Gouernour, after mature deliberation, delivered some few words to the Companie, laving iust blame vpon them, for their haughtie vanities and sluggish idlenesse, car- nestly entreating them to amend those desperate follies, lest hee should be compelled to draw the sword of Justice, and to cut off such delinquents, which he had rather draw, to the shedding of his vitall bloud, to protect them from iniuries; heartning them with the relation of that store hee had brought with him, constituting officers and conditions, to rule ouer them, allotting euery man his particular place, to watch vi- gilantly, and worke painfully: This Oration and direction being received with a generall applause, you might shortly behold the idle and restie diseases of a divided multitude, by the unitie and authoritie of this gouernment to be substanti- ally cured. Those that knew not the way to goodnesse be- fore, but cherished singularitie and faction, can now chalke out the path of all respective dutie and seruice: eucry man endeavoureth to outstrip other in diligence: the French pre- paring to plant the Vines, the English labouring in the Woods and grounds; euery man knoweth his charge, and discharg- eth the same with alacritie. Neither let any man be dis- couraged, by the relation of their daily labour (as though the sap of their bodies should bee spent for other mens profit) the setled times of working, to effect all themselues, or as the Aduenturcrs need desire, required no more paines than from six of the clocke in the morning, vntil ten, and from two in the afternoone, till foure, at both which times they are prouided of spirituall and corporall reliefe. First, they enter into the Church, and make their praiers vnto God, next they returne to their houses and receive their proportion of food. Nor should it bee conceiued that this businesse excludeth Gentlemen, whose breeding neuer knew what a daies labour meant, for though they cannot digge, vse the Spade, nor prac- tice the Axe, yet may the stayed spirits of any condition, finde how to imploy the force of knowledge, the excuse of counsell, the operation and power of their best breeding and qualities. The houses which are built, are as warme and defensiue against wind and weather, as if they were tiled and
1
6
Sir George Sommers returne to the Bermudas.
slated, being couered aboue with strong boards, and some matted round with Indian mats. Our forces are now such as are able to tame the furie and trecherie of the Saluages: Our Forts assure the Inhabitants, and frustrate all assaylants. And to leaue no discouragemect in the heart of any, who per- sonally shall enter into this great action, I will communicate a double comfort; first, Sir George Sommmers, that worthy Admirall hath vndertaken a dangerous aduenture for the good of the Colonie.
Vpon the 15. of Iune, accompanied with Captaine Samvel Argall hee returned in two Pinnaces vuto the Bermudas, promising (if by any meanes God will open a way to that land of Rocks) that he would soone returne with six moneths provision of flesh; with much crosse weather at last hee there safely arrived, but Captaine Argall was forced backe againe to James towne, whom the Lord De la Ware not long after sent to the Riuer of Patawomeke, to trade for Corne; where finding an English boy, one Henry Spilnen; a young Gen- Tleman well descended, by those people preserued from the furie of Porkutan, by his acquaintance had such good vsage of those kinde Saluages, that they fraughted his ship with Corne, wherewith he returned to James towne.
The other comfort is, that the Lord la Ware bath built two hew Forts, the one called Fort Henry, the other Fort Charles, in honour of our most noble Prince, and his hopedil brother, vpon a pleasant plaine, and neare a little Riuilet they call Southampton Riuer; they stand in a wholsome aire, hauing plentie of Springs of sweet water, they command a great circuit of ground, containing Wood, Pasture and Marsh, with apt places for Vines, Corne and Gardens; in which Forts it is resolued, that all those that come out of England, shall be at their first landing quartered, that the wearisom- nesse of the Sea, may bee refreshed in this pleasing part of the Countrie, and Sir Thomas Gates hee sent for England. But to correct some iniuries of the Paspaheghs he sent Cap- taine Pearcie, Master Stacy, and fiftie or threescore shot, where the Saluages flying, they burnt their houses, tooke the Queene and her children prisoners, whom not long after they slew.
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