USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 23
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2 London.
287
LETTER OF JOHN PORY
1619]
man of warre. If he come to your lordship, as he hathe promised, he wilbe the fittest messenger. All possible happi- nes I wishe to your lordship and to my most honoured lady, and though remote in place, yet neare in affection, doe reste
Your lordships ever most humbly at your commande JO. PORY. James Citty in Virginia, Sept. 30, 1619.
THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF VIRGINIA BY CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH, 1624; THE FOURTH BOOKE
INTRODUCTION
THE Generall Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles, compiled by Captain John Smith, was first printed . at London for Michael Sparkes in 1624, with an engraved title-page, profusely decorated, which is reproduced in this book. It was projected by Smith as early as April 12, 1621, when he attempted to interest the Virginia Company in the publication. In 1626, 1627, and 1632 what purported to be new editions were issued, but they had the same text with fresh title-pages only. In 1812 J. Pinkerton included the Generall Historie in his General Collection of Voyages. In 1819 it was reprinted at Richmond, Virginia, by Rev. John Holt Rice, along with the True Travels of 1630. In 1884 the Generall Historie was included in the complete Works of Captain John Smith, published at London by Edward Arber. In 1907 it was again reprinted, in Glasgow. It is divided into six books. The first book tells of the early voyages to, and at- tempts at, English settlement in America ; the second is a re- print, with variations, of the first part of the Map of Virginia (1612) ; the third is a reprint, with variations, of the second part of the Map of Virginia; the fourth takes up the history of the Virginia colony from the departure for England of Cap- tain Smith about October 4, 1609, to the dissolution of the Virginia Company in May, 1624; the fifth book gives the his- tory of the Bermuda Islands from 1593 to 1624; and the sixth book gives a history of New England, which consists of a reprint of his A Description of New England (1616) and New England's Trials (1620), with some additional matter. Though Smith
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had proposed to the Virginia Company in 1621 the publica- tion of such a work as the Generall Historie, it was never adopted or authorized by them.
The fourth book may be described as a compilation of ex- tracts from the narratives of other men interspersed with the comments of Smith. It cannot be called history in the true sense for two reasons: first, because the journals of the Vir- ginia Company - the most important source of information during the last five years - were never consulted; and second, because of the extreme partisan character of the writers. The "narratives" are written from the standpoint of that faction in the Virginia Company which was in favor of martial law, and Smith's comments are chiefly directed to his own glorification. Nevertheless, the errors that exist are to be found mainly in the coloring given to events and the preju- diced estimates placed upon men and conditions. Cautiously taken, therefore, the book is a valuable statement of events which occurred after Smith's departure from the colony. The fault is not so much that Smith misstates, as that he errs in his reasoning. A marked instance is his account of the "Starving Time." Thus, he claims credit for the condition of the colony at the time of his departure to England, in Oc- tober, 1609, and enthusiastically tells of the great number of settlers and supplies which he left behind, contrasting this state of affairs with the desolation at the end of the "Starv- ing Time." Now as a matter of fact, Smith's right to credit expired with the coming of the Third Supply in August, at which time the colony was reduced to a very low state, being billeted out in small companies among the savages. The numbers and supplies on hand in October were chiefly brought by the newcomers, whose presence was very objectionable to Smith. After all, the supplies were wholly insufficient for the support of such a multitude of men as were unloaded at Jamestown from the fleet of Sir Thomas Gates.
REGI
Virginie
OBVS
ORO
Non Planted!
ABE
A
VI
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New
Grotand
COHenry
enoids
C.Chaos B.la Mare
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Lames & Pichmond"
THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF Virginia, New England,and the Summer Ifle's with the names of the Adventurers, Planters, and Governours from their firft beginning An 15 : 4 to this preient 1624.
WISTHE THE PROCEDINES of THOSE SEVERAL CasoNses and the Accidents that betell them in an their Journyes En Difformeries .
FAMMINSS
Alfo the Maps and Defcriptions of all thole Countryes, their Commodities, people, Goverment, Cuftomes, and Religion yet knowne .
TOGNITA MU
VIRGINIA
DIVIDED INTO SIXE BOOKES . By Captains JOHN SMITH fometymes Goverour' in the Countryes & Admirar ofNew England .
GENS
LONDON . Printed byID. and L.H.for Michael Sparkees: 1627.
CAROLVS
PRINCEPS
TITLE PAGE OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S GENERALL HISTORIE OF VIRGINIA
293
INTRODUCTION
Another instance of Smith's false reasoning may be found in his comments on the revocation of the charter of the Virginia Company. He states that the company in carrying out "their owne conceits consumed more than £200,000 and neere eight thousand men's lives," and, referring to the administration of Sir Edwin Sandys and the Earl of Southampton, attributes the result to want of "good order and government." The simple facts are that the misfortunes of the colony, under these two eminent statesmen, were due to climatic diseases and an Indian . massacre, for neither of which they were responsible.
L. G. T.
THE GENERALL HISTORIE OF VIRGINIA BY CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH, 1624; THE FOURTH BOOKE
To make plaine the True Proceedings of the Historie for 1609. we must follow the examinations of Doctor Simons, and two learned Orations published by the Companie; 1 with the re- lation of the Right Honourable the Lord De la Ware.
What happened in the first government after the alteration, in the time of Captaine George Piercie their Governor.
THE day before Captaine Smith returned2 for England with the ships, Captaine Davis arrived in a small Pinace, with some sixteene proper men more: To these were added a company from James towne, under the command of Captaine John Sickelmore alias Ratliffe, to inhabit Point Comfort. Captaine Martin and Captaine West, having lost their boats and neere halfe their men among the Salvages, were returned to James towne; for the Salvages no sooner understood Smith was gone, but they all revolted, and did spoile and murther all they incountered.
Now wee were all constrained to live onely on that Smith had onely for his owne Companie,3 for the rest had consumed their proportions. And now they had twentie Presidents with all their appurtenances: Master Piercie, our new Presi- dent, was so sicke hee could neither goe nor stand. But ere all was consumed, Captaine West and Captaine Sickel-
1 "The examinations of Doctor Simons" (or Simmonds) may mean the por- tions of Book III. immediately preceding. "Two learned Orations published by the Companie " most probably refers to Nova Britannia (London, 1609) and A True and Sincere Declaration (London, 1610).
2 About October 4, 1609.
3 I.e., the portion of the settlers retained at Jamestown.
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1609]
SMITH'S GENERALL HISTORIE, BOOK IV.
more, each with a small ship and thirtie or fortie men well appointed, sought abroad to trade. Sickelmore upon the confidence of Powhatan, with about thirtie others as care- lesse as himselfe, were all slaine; onely Jeffrey Shortridge escaped; and Pokahontas the Kings daughter saved a boy called Henry Spilman, that lived many yeeres after, by her meanes, 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 provision and contribution from the Salvages, we had nothing but mortall wounds, with clubs. and arrowes; as for our Hogs, Hens, Goats, Sheepe, Horse, or what lived, our commanders, officers and Salvages daily con- sumed them, some small proportions sometimes we tasted, till all was devoured; then swords, armes, pieces, or any thing, wee traded with the Salvages, whose cruell fingers were so oft imbrewed in our blouds, that what by their crueltie, our Governours 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 preserved for the most part, by roots, herbes, acornes, walnuts, berries, now and then a little fish: they that had startch in these ex- tremities, made no small use of it; yea, even the very skinnes of our horses. Nay, so great was our famine, that a Salvage we slew and buried, the poorer sort tooke him up againe and eat him; and so did divers one another boyled and stewed with roots and herbs: And one amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered 1 her, and had eaten part of her before it was knowne; for which hee was executed, as hee well deserved: now whether shee was better roasted, boyled or carbonado'd, I know not; but of such a dish as powdered wife I never heard of. This was that time, which still to this day 2 we called the starving time; it were too vile to say, and scarce to be beleeved,
1 Salted. 2 1624.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
[1610
what we endured : but the occasion was our owne, for want of providence industrie and government, and not the barren- nesse and defect of the Countrie, as is generally supposed; for till then in three yeeres, for the numbers were landed us, we had never from England provision sufficient for six moneths, though it seemed by the bils of loading sufficient was sent us, such a glutton is the Sea, and such good fellowes the Mariners ; we as little tasted of the great proportion sent us, as they of our want and miseries, yet notwithstanding they ever over- swayed and ruled the businesse, though we endured all that is said, and chiefly lived on what this good Countrie naturally afforded. Yet had wee beene even in Paradice it selfe with these Governours, it would not have beene much better withe us; yet there was amongst us, who had they had the govern- ment as Captaine Smith appointed, but that they could not maintaine it, would surely have kept us from those extremi- ties of miseries. This in ten daies more, would have supplanted us all with death.
But God that would not this Countrie should be unplanted, sent Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Sommers with one hun- dred and fiftie people most happily preserved by the Bermudas to preserve us: strange it is to say how miraculously they were preserved in a leaking ship, as at large you may reade in the insuing Historie of those Ilands.1
The government resigned to Sir Thomas Gates 1610.
When these two Noble Knights did see our miseries, being but strangers in that Countrie, and could understand no more of the cause, but by conjecture of our clamours and complaints, of accusing and excusing one another: They embarked us with themselves, with the best meanes they could, and aban- doning James towne,2 set saile for England : whereby you may see the event of the government of the former Commanders 3
1 The history of the Bermudas or Somers Islands to 1624 is contained in the fifth book of the Generall Historie. Gates and Somers arrived May 23, 1610.
2 June 7, 1610. 3 Ratcliffe, Martin, and Archer.
1610]
SMITH'S GENERALL HISTORIE, BOOK IV.
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left to themselves; although they had lived there many yeeres, as formerly hath beene spoken (who hindred now their pro- ceedings, Captaine Smith being gone).
At noone they fell to the Ile of Hogs, and the next morn- ing to Mulberypoint, at what time they descried the Long-boat of the Lord la Ware; for God would not have it so abandoned. For this honourable Lord, then Governour of the Countrie, met them with three ships exceedingly well furnished with all necessaries fitting; who againe returned them to the aban- doned James towne.1
Out of the observations of WILLIAM SIMMONS Doctor of Divinitie.2
The government devolved to the Lord la Ware.
His Lordship arrived the ninth of June 1610. accompanied with Sir Ferdinando Waynman, Captaine Houlcroft, Captaine Lawson, and divers other Gentlemen of sort; the tenth he came up with his fleet, went on shore, heard a Sermon, read his Commission, and entred into consultation for the good of the Colonie: in which secret counsell we will a little leave them, that we may duly observe the revealed counsell of God. Hee that shall but turne up his eie, and behold the spangled canopie of heaven, or shall but cast downe his eie, and con- sider the embroydered carpet of the earth, and withall shall marke how the heavens heare the earth, and the earth the Corne and Oile, and they relieve the necessities of man, that man will acknowledge Gods infinite providence. But hee that shall further observe, how God inclineth all casuall events to worke the necessary helpe of his Saints, must needs adore the Lords infinite goodnesse. Never had any people more just cause, to cast themselves at the very foot-stoole of God, and
1 An account of these transactions, by Delaware and his council, in the form of a letter, dated July 7, 1610, is printed in Brown's Genesis, pp. 404- 413, and in Neill's Virginia Company of London, pp. 36-49.
2 I.e., what precedes is derived from The Proceedings of the English Col- ony in Virginia, by W. S. Its text is followed closely; see pp. 198-204, above.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA [1610
to reverence his mercie, than this distressed Colonie; for if 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 save the Fort from fiering at their shipping,1 for many were very im- portunate to have burnt it, they had beene destitute of a present harbour and succour : if they had abandoned the Fort any longer time, and had not so soone returned, questionlesse the Indians would have 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 have promised they should have incountered the Fleet of the Lord la Ware: especially when they made for Newfound land, as they intended; a course contrarie to our Navie approaching. If the Lord la Ware had not brought with him a yeeres provision, what comfort would those poore soules have received, to have beene relanded to a second dis- truction ? This was the arme of the Lord of Hosts, who would have his people passe the red Sea and Wildernesse, and then to possesse the land of Canaan: It was divinely spoken of Heathen Socrates, If God for man be carefull, why should man bee over-distrustfull? for he hath so tempered the contrary qualities of the Elements,
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 even all this whatsoever.
The Lord Governour, after mature deliberation, delivered some few words to the Companie, laying just blame upon them, for their haughtie vanities and sluggish idlenesse, earnestly intreating 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
1 From being set on fire at their embarkation.
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to the shedding of his vitall bloud, to protect them from injuries; heartning them with relation of that store hee had brought with him, constituting officers of all conditions, to rule over them, allotting every man his particular place, to watch vigilantly, 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 multi- tude, by the unitie and authoritie of this government to be substantially cured. Those that knew not the way to good- nesse before, but cherished singularitie and faction, can now chalke out the path of all respective dutie and service : every man endevoureth to outstrip other in diligence: the French preparing to plant the Vines,1 the English labouring in the Woods and grounds; every man knoweth his charge, and dischargeth the same with alacritie. Neither let any man be discouraged, 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 themselves, or as the Adventurers need desire, required no more paines than from six of the clocke in the morning, untill ten, and from two in the afternoone, till foure; at both which times they are pro- vided of spirituall and corporall reliefe. First, they enter into the Church, and make their praiers unto God; next they re- turne to their houses and receive their proportion of food. Nor should it bee conceived that this businesse excludeth Gentlemen, whose breeding never knew what a daies labour meant: for though they cannot digge, use the Spade, nor practice the Axe, yet may the staied spirits of any condition, finde how to imploy the force of knowledge, the exercise of counsell, the operation and power of their best breeding and qualities. The houses which are built, are as warme and defensive against wind and weather, as if they were tiled and slated, being covered above 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 Salvages: Our
1 This was the first attempt at cultivating grapes in Virginia.
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[1610
Forts assure the Inhabitants, and frustrate all assaylants. And to leave no discouragement in the heart of any, who personally shall enter into this great action, I will communicate a double comfort; first, Sir George Sommers, that worthy Admirall hath undertaken a dangerous adventure for the good of the Colonie.
Upon the 15. of June, accompanied with Captaine Samuel Argall, hee returned in two Pinaces unto the Bermudas, promising (if by any meanes God will open a way to that Iland of Rocks) that he would soone returne with six moneths pro- vision 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 River of Patawomeke, to trade for Corne; where finding an English boy, one Henry Spilman,1 a young Gentle- man well descended, by those people preserved from the furie of Powhatan, by his acquaintance had such good usage of those kinde Salvages, that they fraughted his ship with Corne, wherewith he returned to James towne.
The other comfort is, that the Lord la Ware hath built two new Forts, the one called Fort Henry, the other Fort Charles, in honour of our most noble Prince, and his hopefull brother, upon a pleasant plaine, and neare a little Rivilet they call Southampton River; they stand in a wholsome aire, having 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 resolved, that all those that come out of England, shall be at their first landing quartered, that the wearisomnesse of the Sea may bee refreshed in this pleasing part of the Countrie. And Sir Thomas Gates hee sent for England.2 But to correct some injuries of the Paspahegs, he sent Captaine Pearcie, Master Stacy, and fiftie or threescore shot : where the Salvages flying, they burnt their houses, tooke the Queene and her children prisoners, whom not long after they slew.
1 See p. 202, note 4, ante.
2 On July 15, 1610.
1611]
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The fertilitie of the soile, the temperature of the climate, the forme of government, the condition of our people, their daily invocating of the Name of God being thus expressed; why should the successe, by the rules of mortall judgement, bee disparaged? why should not the rich harvest of our hopes be seasonably expected? I dare say, that the resolu- tion of Cæsar in France, the designes of Alexander, the dis- coveries of Hernando Cortes in the West, and of Emanuel King of Portugal in the East, were not encouraged upon so firme grounds of state and possibilitie.
But his Lordship being at the fal[l]es, the Salvages assaulted his troopes and slew three or foure of his men. Not long after, his Honour growing very sicke, he returned for England the 28. of March; in the ship were about five and fiftie men, but ere we arrived at Fyall, fortie of us were neare sicke to death, of the Scurvie, Callenture, and other diseases: the Governour, being an English-man, kindly used us, but small reliefe we could get but Oranges, of which we had plenty; whereby within eight daies wee recovered, and all were well and strong by that 1 they came into England.
Written by WILLIAM Box.
The Counsell of Virginia finding the smalnesse of that re- turne which they hoped should have defrayed the charge of a new supply, entred into a deep consultation, whether it were fit to enter into a new Contribution, or in time to send for them home and give over the action, and therefore they adjured Sir Thomas Gates to deale plainly with them, who with a solemne and a sacred oath replyed, That all things before reported were true: and that all men know that wee stand at the devotion of politicke Princes and States, who for their proper utilitie, devise all courses to grind our Merchants, and by all pretences to confiscate their goods, and to draw from us all manner of gaine by their inquisitive inven- tions; when in Virginia, a few yeeres labour by planting
1 By the time.
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[1611
and husbandry, will furnish all our defects with honour and securitie.
Out of a Declaration published by the COUNSELL, 1610.1
The government surrendered to Sir Thomas Dale, who arrived in Virginia the tenth of May, 1611, out of Master Hamors 2 Booke.
Before the Lord la Ware arrived in England, the Councell and Companie had dispatched away Sir Thomas Dale with three ships, men, and cattell, and all other provisions neces- sarie for a yeere ; all which arrived well the tenth of May 1611 : where he found them growing againe to their former estate of penurie, being so improvident as not to put Corne in the ground for their bread; but trusted to the store, then fur- nished but with three moneths provision.3 His first care there- fore was to imploy all hands about setting of Corne, at the two Forts at Kecoughtan, Henry and Charles; whereby, the season then not fully past, though about the end of May, wee had an indifferent crop of good Corne.
This businesse taken order for, and the care and trust of it committed to his under-Officers, to James towne he hastened, where most of the companie were at their daily and usuall works, bowling in the streets: 4 these hee imployed
1 A True Declaration of the Estate of the Colony of Virginia (London, 1610), pp. 21-23. That tract is reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts, Vol. III. Next, Smith prints an abridgment of Delaware's Relation (1611). It is here omitted, that tract having been printed entire on p. 205-214, above.
2 Ralph Hamor was recorder or secretary of state 1611 to 1614, and his narrative, A True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia (London, 1615), praises the administration of which he was part, at the expense of the colony. The abstract of it continues from this point to p. 316, except for the two in- terpolations noted in subsequent foot-notes. But the order followed is not precisely Hamor's. It is: pp. 26-33, 4-18, 37-46 of Hamor's tract.
3 More than half the emigrants died during Delaware's stay in the colony, and the rest were probably too weak to do anything.
+ Dale arrived at Jamestown, Sunday, May 19, and found some who were well enough bowling in the street - one of the usual pastimes thought in England proper for the day. His report on the state of affairs he found in
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about necessarie workes, as felling of Timber, repayring their houses ready to fall on their heads, and providing pales, posts and railes, to impale his purposed new towne, which by reason of his ignorance, being but newly arrived, hee had not resolved where to seat. Therefore to better his knowledge, with one hundred men he spent some time in viewing the River of Nansamund, in despight of the Indians then our enemies; then our owne River to the Fal[l]es, where upon a high land, environed with the maine River, some twelve miles from the Fal[l]es, by Arsahattock, he resolved to plant his new towne."
It was no small trouble to reduce his people so timely to good order, being of so ill a condition, as may well witnesse his severitie and strict imprinted booke of Articles, then need- full with all extremitie to be executed; now much mitigated : so as if his Lawes had not beene so strictly executed, I see not how the utter subversion of the Colonie should have beene prevented, witnesse Webbes and Prices designe the first yeere, since that of Abbots and others, more dangerous than the former.1 Here I entreat your patience for an Apologie, though not a pardon. This Jeffrey Abbots, how ever this Author censures him, and the Governor executes him; I know he had long served both in Ireland and Netherlands. Here hee was a Sargeant of my Companie, and I never saw in Virginia a more sufficient Souldier, lesse turbulent, a better wit, more hardy or industrious, nor any more forward to cut off them that sought to abandon the Countrie, or wrong the Colonie; how ingratefully those deserts might bee rewarded, envied or neglected, or his farre inferiors preferred to over-top him, I know not: but such occasions might move a Saint, much more a man, to an unadvised passionate impatience, but how ever, it seemes he hath beene punished for his offences, that was never rewarded for his deserts. And even this Sum- Virginia at his arrival, written May 26, may be seen in Brown's Genesis of the United States, pp. 488-494.
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