USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 11
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1 The Sarah Constant, the Goodspeed, and the Discovery.
2 Nevis. 3 An iguana, a kind of large lizard.
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discomforted, seeing the Marriners had three daies passed their reckoning, and found no land, so that Captaine Ratcliffe (Captaine of the Pinnace) rather desired to beare up the helme to returne for England, then make further search. But God, the guider of all good actions, forcing them by an extream storme to hul all night, did drive them by his providence to their desired port, beyond all their expectations, for never any of them had seene that coast. The first land they made, they called Cape Henry; where anchoring, Mr Wingfield, Gosnoll, and Newport, with 30 others, recreating themselves on shore, were assalted by 5 Salvages, who hurt 2 of the English very dan- gerously. That night 1 was the box opened, and the orders read, in which Bartholomew Gosnoll, Edward Wingfield, Chris- topher Newport, John Smith, John Ratliffe, John Martin, and George Kendall, were named to bee the Councell, and to choose a President amongst them for a yeare, who with the Councell should governe. Matters of moment were to be examined by a Jurie, but determined by the major part of the Councell in which the Precedent 2 had 2 voices. Untill the 13 of May, they sought a place to plant in, then the Councell was sworne, M. Wingfield was chosen Precident, and an oration made, whie Captaine Smith was not admitted of the Councell as the rest.
Now falleth every man to worke, the Councell contrive the Fort, the rest cut downe trees to make place to pitch their Tents; some provide clapbord to relade the ships, some make gardens, some nets, &c. The Salvages often visited us kindly. The Precidents overweening jealousie would admit no exercise at armes, or fortification but the boughs of trees cast together in the forme of a halfe moone by the extraordinary paines and diligence of Captaine Kendall. Newport, with Smith, and 20 others, were sent to discover the head of the river: by divers smal habitations they passed, in 6 daies they arrived at a towne called Powhatan, consisting of some 12 houses pleasantly seated on a hill; before it, 3 fertil Iles,
1 April 26, 1607.
2 President.
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about it many of their cornefields. The place is very pleasant, and strong by nature. Of this place the Prince is called Pow- hatan, and his people Powhatans. To this place, the river is navigable, but higher within a mile, by reason of the Rockes and Iles, there is not passage for a smal boate: this they call the Falles. The people in al parts kindly intreated them, til being returned within 20 miles of James towne, they gave just cause of jealousie. But had God not blessed the discoverers otherwise then those at the fort, there had then beene an end of that plantation. For at the fort, where they arived the next day, they found 17 men hurt, and a boy slaine by the Salvages. And had it not chanced a crosse barre shot from the ships strooke down a bough from a tree amongst them, that caused them to retire, our men had all been slaine, being securely all at worke, and their armes in drie fats.
Hereupon the President was contented the Fort should be pallisadoed, the ordinance mounted, his men armed and exercised, for many were the assaults and Ambuscadoes of the Salvages, and our men by their disorderly stragling were often hurt, when the Salvages by the nimblenesse of their heeles well escaped. What toile wee had, with so smal a power to guard our workmen adaies, watch al night, resist our enimies and effect our businesse, to relade the ships, cut downe trees, and prepare the ground to plant our corne, &c., I referre to the readers consideration.
Six weekes being spent in this manner, Captaine Newport (who was hired only for our transportation) was to return with the ships. Now Captaine Smith, who all this time from their departure from the Canaries, was restrained 1 as a prisoner, upon the scandalous suggestions of some of the chiefe (envying his repute), who fained he intended to usurpe the governement, murder the Councell, and make himselfe king, that his confed- erats were dispearsed in all the three ships, and that divers of his confederats that revealed it, would affirme it: for this he
1 Smith was under arrest from about March 24, 1607, when they reached Dominica, to June 20, when he was admitted to the council.
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was committed. 13 weekes he remained thus suspected, and by that time the ships should returne, they pretended, out of their commisserations, to referre him to the Councell in Eng- land, to receave a check, rather then by particulating his designes, make him so odious to the world, as to touch his life, or utterly overthrowe his reputation. But he much scorned their charitie, and publikely defied the uttermost of their crueltie. Hee wisely prevented their pollicies, though he could not suppresse their envies; yet so wel he demeaned him- selfe in this busines, as all the company did see his innocencie, and his adversaries malice, and those suborned to accuse him, accused his accusers of subornation. Many untruthes were alleaged against him, but being so apparently disproved begat a generall hatred in the harts of the company against such unjust commanders. Many were the mischiefes that daily sprong from their ignorant (yet ambitious) spirits; but the good doctrine and exhortation of our preacher Mr Hunt recon- ciled them, and caused Captaine Smith to be admitted of the Councell. The next day all receaved the Communion: the day following the Salvages voluntarily desired peace, and Cap- taine Newport returned for England with newes; leaving in Virginia, 100. the 15 of June 1607.1
The names of them that were the first planters, were these following.
Mr Edward Maria Wingfield.
Mr Robert Hunt Preacher. Mr George Percie. Anthony Gosnoll.
Captaine Bartholo- mew Gosnoll.
Coun- cell.
Cap. Gabriell Archer. Robert Ford. William Bruster.
Gent.
Cap. John Smyth. Cap. John Rat[c]liffe. Cap. John Martin.
Cap. George Kendall.J
Dru Pickhouse. John Brookes.
1 Smith here missed the time by a week. Newport left Virginia June 22, 1607.
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Thomas Sands. John Robinson. Ustis Clovill. Kellam Throgmorton. Nathaniel Powell. Robert Behethland. Jeremy Alicock. Thomas Studley. Richard Crofts. Nicholas Houlgrave. Thomas Webbe.
James Read, Blacksmith Jonas Profit, Sailor Tho. Couper, Barber. John Herd, Bricklayer. William Garret, Bricklayer. Edward Brinto, Mason. William Love, Taylor. Nic. Skot, Drum.1
Gent.
John Laydon. William Cassen. George Cassen. Tho. Cassen. William Rods.
Labourers.
John Martin.
George Martin.
Anthony Gosnold.
Thomas Wotton, Sierg.
Thomas Gore. Francis Midwinter.
Will. Wilkinson, Surgeon.
William Laxon. Edward Pising. Tho. Emry. Rob. Small.
Carpenters.
Samuell Collier. Nat. Pecock. 1 Boyes.
James Brumfield. Rich. Mutton.
Anas Todkill John Capper
with diverse others to the number of 105.2
1 Drummer.
2 A longer list, 82 names against 67 given here, is printed in Smith's Generall Historie, pp. 43, 44.
John Waler. William Tankard.
Francis Snarsbrough. Edward Brookes. Richard Dixon.
William White. Ould Edward. Henry Tavin. George Golding. John Dods. William Johnson. Will. Unger.
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CHAPTER II
What happened till the first supply.
Being thus left to our fortunes, it fortuned that, within tenne daies, scarse ten amongst us coulde either goe, or well stand, such extreame weaknes and sicknes oppressed us. And thereat none need mervaile, if they consider the cause and reason, which was this; whilest the ships staied, our allowance was somewhat bettered by a daily proportion of bisket which the sailers would pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us, for mony, saxefras, furres, or love. But when they departed, there remained neither taverne, beere-house, nor place of relife but the common kettell. Had we beene as free from all sinnes as gluttony and drunkeness, we might have bin canonized for Saints. But our President would never have bin admitted, for ingrossing to his privat1 Otemeale, sacke, oile, aquavitæ, beefe, egs, or what not, but the kettel; that indeede he allowed equally to be distributed, and that was halfe a pinte of wheat, and as much barly, boyled with water, for a man a day, and this having fryed some 26. weeks in the ships hold, contained as many wormes as graines, so that we might truely call it rather so much bran than corne. Our drinke was water, our lodgings, castles in the aire. With this lodging and diet, our extreame toile in bearing and plant- ing pallisadoes, so strained and bruised us, and our continuall labour in the extremity of the heate had so weakned us, as were cause sufficient to have made us as miserable in our native country, or any other place in the world. From May to Sep- tember, those that escaped lived upon Sturgion and sea-Crabs. 50. in this time we buried. The rest seeing the Presidents projects to escape these miseries in our Pinnas by flight (who all this time, had neither felt want nor sicknes), so moved our
1 I.e., to his own use. This charge President Wingfield indignantly denied.
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dead spirits, as we deposed him;1 and established Ratcliffe in his place : Gosnoll being dead,2 Kendall deposed, Smith newly recovered; Martin and Ratliffe was, by his care, pre- served and relieved. But now was all our provision spent, the Sturgeon gone, all helps abandoned, each houre expecting the fury of the Salvages; when God, the patron of all good indeavours, in that desperate extreamity, so changed the harts of the Salvages, that they brought such plenty of their fruits and provision, as no man wanted.
And now where some affirmed it was ill done of the Councel to send forth men so badly provided, this incontradictable reason will shew them plainely they are too ill advised to nour- ish such il conceipts. First, the fault of our going was our owne. What could bee thought fitting or necessary wee had, but what wee should finde, what we should want, where we shoulde bee, we were all ignorant, and supposing to make our passage in two monthes, with victuall to live, and the advan- tage of the spring to worke : we weare at sea 5. monthes, where we both spent our victuall and lost the opportunity of the time and season to plant.
Such actions have ever since the worlds beginning beene subject to such accidents, and every thing of worth is found full of difficulties, but nothing so difficult as to establish a common wealth so farre remote from men and meanes, and where mens mindes are so untoward as neither do well them- selves, nor suffer others. But to proceed.
The new President, and Martin, being little beloved, of weake judgement in dangers and lesse industry in peace, com- mitted the managing of all things abroad to captaine Smith : who, by his owne example, good words, and faire promises, set some to mow, others to binde thatch, some to build houses, others to thatch them, himselfe alwaies bearing the greatest taske for his own share, so that, in short time, he provided most of them lodgings, neglecting any for himselfe. This done, seeing the Salvages superfluity beginne to decrease,3 (with
1 September 10, 1607. 2 August 22, 1607.
3 After "decrease " supply "he."
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some of his workemen) shipped himselfe in the shallop, to search the country for trade. The want of the language, knowledge to mannage his boat without sailers, the want of a sufficient power (knowing the multitude of the Salvages), apparell for his men, and other necessaries, were infinite im- pediments, yet no discouragement. Being but 6 or 7 in com- pany, he went down the river to Kecoughtan, where at first they scorned him, as a starved man, yet he so dealt with them, that the next day they loaded his boat with corne. And in his returne, he discovered and kindly traded with the Weras- koyks.1 In the meane time, those at the fort so glutted the Salvages with their commodities, as they became not regarded.
Smith perceiving (notwithstanding their late miserie) not any regarded but from hand to mouth, the company being well recovered, caused the Pinas to bee provided with things fitting to get provision for the yeare following. But in the interim, he made 3. or 4. journies, and discovered the people of Chickahamine. Yet what he carefully provided, the rest carelesly spent. Wingfield and Kendall living in dis- grace, (seeing al things at randome in the absence of Smith, the companies dislike of their Presidents weaknes, and their small love to Martins never-mending sicknes) strengthened them- selves with the sailers and other confederates, to regaine their former credit and authority, or at least such meanes abord the Pinas (being fitted to saile as Smith had appointed for trade), to alter her course, and to go for England. Smith unexpectedly returning2 had the plot discovered to him. Much trouble he had to prevent it, till with store of fauken3 and musket shot, he forced them stay or sinke in the river. Which action cost the life of captaine Kendall.4 These brawles are so dis- gustfull, as some will say they were better forgotten, yet all men of good judgement will conclude, it were better their basenes should be manifest to the world, then the busines beare the scorne and shame of their excused disorders. The
1 Warascoyacks. 2 November, 1607. 3 Falcon, a small cannon. 4 Who was shot to death about December 1, 1607.
K
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President and captaine Archer not long after intended also to have abandoned the country, which project also was curbed and suppressed by Smith. The Spanyard never more greedily desired gold then he victuall, which he found so plentiful in the river of Chickahamine, where hundreds of Salvages, in divers places, stood with baskets expecting his coming. And now the winter approaching, the rivers became so covered with swans, geese, duckes, and cranes, that we daily feasted with good bread, Virginia pease, pumpions, and putchamins, fish, fowle, and diverse sorts of wild beasts as fat as we could eat them: so that none of our Tuftaffaty 1 humorists desired to goe for England. But our comædies never endured long without a Tragedie. Some idle exceptions being muttered against Captaine Smith, for not discovering the head of Chick- ahamine river, and taxed by the Councell, to bee too slow in so worthie an attempt: the next voyage, hee proceeded so farre that with much labour, by cutting of trees in sunder, he made his passage. But when his Barge could passe no farther, he left her in a broad bay, out of danger of shot, commanding none should goe ashore till his returne ; himselfe, with 2 Eng- lish and two Salvages, went up higher in a Canowe. But hee was not long absent, but his men went ashore, whose want of government gave both occasion and opportunity to the Sal- vages, to surprise one George Casson, and much failed not to have cut of[f] the boat and all the rest. Smith little dreaming of that accident, being got to the marshes at the rivers head, 20 myles in the desert, had his 2 men slaine (as is supposed) sleeping by the Canowe, whilst himselfe by fowling sought them victuall. Who finding he was beset with 200 Salvages, 2 of them hee slew, stil defending himselfe with the aid of a Salvage his guid, whome hee bounde to his arme and used as his buckler, till at last slipping into a bogmire, they tooke him prisoner. When this newes came to the fort, much was their sorrow for his losse, fewe expecting what ensued. A month 2
1 Silken dressed.
2 The exact period seems to have been from December 10 to January 2, a little more than three weeks.
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those Barbarians kept him prisoner. Many strange triumphes and conjurations they made of him: yet hee so demeaned him- selfe amongst them, as he not only diverted them from sur- prising the Fort, but procure his owne liberty, and got him- selfe and his company such estimation amongst them, that those Salvages admired him as a demi-God. So returning safe to the Fort1 once more staied the Pinnas her flight for Eng- land, which, til his returne, could not set saile, so extreame was the weather, and so great the frost
His relation of the plentie he had seene, especially at Wero- wocomoco, where inhabited Powhatan (that till that time was unknowne) 2 so revived againe their dead spirits as all mens feare was abandoned. Powhatan having sent with this Cap- taine, divers of his men loaded with provision, he had condi- tioned, and so appointed his trustie messengers to bring but 2 or 3 of our great ordenances ; but the messengers being satis- fied with the sight of one of them discharged, ran away amazed with feare, till meanes was used with guifts to assure them our loves. Thus you may see what difficulties stil crossed any good indeavour, and the good successe of the businesse, and being thus oft brought to the very period of destruction, yet you see by what strange meanes God hath still delivered it. As for the insufficiencie of them admitted in commission, that errour could not be prevented by their electors, there being no other choice, and all were strangers each to others educa- tion, quallities, or disposition. And if any deeme it a shame to our nation, to have any mention made of these enormities, let them peruse the histories of the Spanish discoveries and plantations, where they may see how many mutinies, dis- cords, and dissentions have accompanied them and crossed their attempts; which being knowne to be particular mens offences, doth take away the generall scorne and contempt, mallice 3 and ignorance might else produce to the scandall and reproach of those whose actions and valiant resolution deserve
1 January 2, 1608; "he once more staid," etc.
2 I.e., personally.
3 Which malice, etc.
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a worthie respect. Now whether it had beene better for Cap- taine Smith to have concluded with any of their severall proj- ects to have abandoned the Countrie with some 10 or 12 of them [that] we cal the better sort; to have left Mr Hunt our preacher, Mr Anthony Gosnoll (a most honest worthy and in- dustrious gentleman) with some 30 or 40 others, his countrie men, to the furie of the Salvages, famin, and all manner of mis- chiefes and inconveniences, or starved himselfe with them for company, for want of lodging, or but adventuring abroad to make them provision, or by his opposition, to preserve the action, and save all their lives, I leave to the censure of others to consider.
THOMAS STUDLEY.1
CHAPTER III
The arrivall of the first supply with their proceedings and returne.
All this time, our cares were not so much to abandon the Countrie, but the Treasurer and Councell in England were as diligent and carefull to supplie us. Two tall ships they sent us, with neere 100 men, well furnished with all things could be imagined necessarie, both for them and us. The one com- manded by Captaine Newport : the other, by Captaine Nelson, an honest man and an expert marriner, but such was the lee- wardnesse of his ship, that (though he were within sight of Cape Henry), by stormy contrarie windes, was forced so farre to sea as the West Indies was the next land,2 for the repaire of his Masts, and reliefe of wood and water. But Captaine Newport got in, and arived at James towne 3 not long after the redemption of Captaine Smith; to whome the Salvages, every other day, brought such plentie of bread, fish, turkies, squirrels, deare, and other wild beasts: part they gave him
1 As Studley died August 28, 1607, he could have been the authority for only the first page of the narrative. The rest was probably by Anas Todkill. 2 After "land" supply "he made." The margin names the Phenix as Nelson's ship.
3 January 2, 1608.
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as presents from the king; the rest, hee as their market clarke, set the price how they should sell.
So he had inchanted those pore soules (being their pris- oner) in demonstrating unto them the roundnesse of the world, the course of the moone and starres, the cause of the day and night, the largenes of the seas, the quallities of our ships shot and powder, the devision of the world, with the diversity of the people, their complexions customes and conditions. All which hee fained to be under the command of Captaine New- port, whom he tearmed to them his father; of whose arrival it chanced he so directly prophecied, as they esteemed him an oracle. By these fictions he not only saved his owne life, and obtained his liberty ; but had them at that command, [that] he might command them what his listed. That God that created al these things, they knew he adored for his God; whom they would also tearme in their discourses, the God of captaine Smith. The President and Councel so much envied his esti- mation amongst the Salvages (though wee all in generall equally participated with him of the good therof) that they wrought it into their understandings, by their great bounty in giving 4. times more for their commodities then he appointed, that their greatnesse and authority as much exceed [ed] his, as their bounty and liberality. Now the arrivall of [t]his first supply so overjoyed us, that we could not devise too much to please the mariners. We gave them liberty to track 1 or trade at their pleasures. But in a short time, it followed that could not be had for a pound of copper, which before was sold for an ounce. Thus ambition and sufferance cut the throat of our trade, but confirmed their opinion of Newports greatnes ; wherewith Smith had possessed Powhatan : especially by the great presents Newport often sent him, before he could prepare the Pinas to go and visit him. So that this Salvage also desired to see him. A great bruit there was to set him forwarde. When he went, he was accompanied with captaine Smith and Mr Scrivener (a very wise understanding gentleman newly ar-
1 Truck.
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rived, and admitted of the Councell), and 30. or 40. chosen men for that guarde. Arriving at Werowocomo[co], New- ports conceipt of this great Salvage bred many doubts and sus- pitions of treacheries. Which Smith, to make appeare was needlesse, with 20. men well appointed, undertooke to encoun- ter (with that number) the worst that could happen. There names were
Nathaniell Powell.
John Taverner.
Robert Beheathland.
William Dier.
William Phettiplace.
Thomas Coe.
Richard Wyffin. Anthony Gosnoll.
Thomas Hope. Anas Todkell.
with 10. others whose names I' have forgotten. These being kindly received a shore ; with 2. or 300. Salvages were conducted to their towne. Powhatan strained himselfe to the uttermost of his greatnes, to entertain us, with great shouts of Joy, ora- tions of protestations, and the most plenty of victuall hee could provide to feast us. Sitting upon his bed of mats, his pillow of leather imbroydred (after their rude manner) with pearle and white beades, his attire a faire Robe of skins as large as an Irish mantle, at his head and feet a handsome young woman : on each side his house sate 20. of his concubines, their heads and shoulders painted red, with a great chaine of white beades about their necks; before those sate his chiefest men, in like order, in his arbor-like house. With many pretty dis- courses to renue their olde acquaintaunce; the great kinge and our captaine spent the time till the ebbe left our Barge a ground, then renuing their feasts and mirth, we quartred that night with Powhatan: The next day Newport came a shore, and received as much content as those people could give him. A boy named Thomas Savage was then given unto Powhatan, who Newport called his son, for whom Powhatan gave him Namontacke his trusty servant, and one of a shrewd subtill capacity. 3. or 4. daies were spent in feasting, dancing, and trading, wherin Powhatan carried himselfe so prowdly, yet
1 Evidently Anas Todkill.
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discreetly (in his Salvage manner), as made us all admire his natural gifts, considering his education. As scorning to trade as his subjects did, he bespake Newport in this manner.
Captain Newport it is not agreable with my greatnes in this pedling manner to trade for trifles; and I esteeme you a great werowans. Therefore lay me down all your commodities togither, what I like I will take, and in recompence give you that I thinke fitting their value.
Captaine Smith being our interpreter, regarding Newport as his father, knowing best the disposition of Powhatan, told us his intent was but to cheat us; yet captaine Newport thought to out-brave this Salvage in ostentation of greatnes, and so to bewitch him with his bounty, as to have what he listed : but so it chanced, Powhatan having his desire, valued his corne at such a rate, as I thinke it better cheape in Spaine, for we had not 4. bushels for that we expected 20. hogsheads [for]. This bred some unkindnes betweene our two captaines, Newport seeking to please the humor of the unsatiable Salvage, Smith to cause the Salvage to please him, but smothering his distast to avoide the Salvages suspition, glaunced in the eies of Powhatan many Trifles; who fixed his humour upon a few blew beads. A long time he importunatly desired them, but Smith seemed so much the more to affect them: so that ere we departed, for a pound or two of blew beads, he brought over my king for 2 or 300 bushels of corne, yet parted good friends. The like entertainement we found of Opechanchynough, king of Pamaunke, whom also he in like manner fitted (at the like rates) with blew beads : and so we returned to the fort.1 Where this New Supply being lodged with the rest, [had] accidently fired the quarters, and so the Towne, which being but thatched with reeds, the fire was so fierce as it burnt their pallizadoes (though 10. to 12 yardes distant), with their armes, bedding, apparell, and much private provision. Good Mr Hunt our preacher, lost
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