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 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
111
112
The description of the Summer Iles
it is very vneuen, distributed into hills and dales; the mold is of diuers colours, neither clay nor sand, but a meane be- tweene; the red which resembleth clay is the worst, the whitest resembling sand and the blackest is good, but the browne betwixt them both which they call white, because there is mingled with it a white meale is the best: vnder the mould two or three foot deep, and sometimes lesse, is a kinde of white hard substance which they call the Rocke: the trees vsually fasten their roots in it; neither is it indeed rocke or stone, or so hard, though for most part more harder then Chalke; ner so white, but pumish-like and spungy, easily receiving and containing much water. In some pla- ces Clay is found under it, it seemes to be ingendred with raine water, draining through the earth, and drawing with it of his substance vnto a certaine depth where it congeales; the hardest kinde of it lies vader the red ground like quar- ries, as it were thicke slates one vpon another, through which the water hath his passage, so that in such places there is scarce found any fresh water, for all or the most part of the fresh water commeth out of the Sea draining through the sand, or that substance called the Rocke, leaning the salt behinde, it becomes fresh: sometimes we digged wells of fresh water which we finde in most places, and but three or foure paces from the Sea side, some further, the miost part of them would ebbe and flow as the Sea did, and be le- uell or little higher then the superficies of the sea, and in some places very strange, darke and cumbersome Caues.
The aire is most commonly cleere, very temperate, moist. with a moderate heat, very healthfull and apt for the gene- ratina and nourishing of all things, so as many things trans- ported from hence yeeld a farre greater increase, and if it be any living thing it becomes fatter and better: by this meanes the country is so replenished with Hens and Turkies, within the space of three or foure yeers, that many of them being neglected, forsake the houses and become wilde, and so live in great abundance: the like increase there is in Hogs, tame Conies, and other Cattle according to their kindes. There seemes to be a continuall Spring, which is the cause some things come not to that maturity and perfection as were le- quisite; and though the trees shed their leaues, yet they are alwais, fall of greens the Segue is the same they han in Virginia, and the West-Indies: of this and many other thing ?
:
*
118
and their natural Commodities.
without plowing or much labour, they bane two Harvests cuery yeere, for they set about March, which they gather in luly: and againe in August, which they reape in December; and little slips of Fig trees and Vines doe ssaally beare fruit within the veere, and sometimes in lesse: but we finde not the grapes as yet come to any perfection; the like fertility it hath in Oranges and Limons, Pomgranates, and other things. Concerning the serenity and beauty of the skie, it may as truly be said of those Hands as euer it was said of the Rhodes, that there is no one day throughout the 12. moneths, but that in some houre thereof, the sun lookes singularly and cleere vpon them: for the temperature it is bevond all others most admirable; no cold there is beyond an English Aprill, nor heat mich greater then an ordinary luly in France, so that frost and snow is never seene bere, nor stinking and in- fectious mists very seldome; by reason of the maine Ocean, there is some wind stirring that cooles the aire: the winter they haue obserues the tube with ours, but the longest daies and nights are shorter then ours almost by two houres.
We found it at first all ouergrowne with weeds, and plants of senerall kinds, as many tall and goodly Cedars, infinite store of Palmetoes, numbers of Mulberies, wild Oliue-trees store, with diuers others vnknowne both by name and nature, so that as yet they become lost to mars vsefull imployments. which time and industry no doubt will one day discouer, and cuen already certaine of the most notorious of them haue gotten them appellations from their apparent effects, as the Prickel !- peare which growes like a shrab by the ground, with; broad thick leaues, all ouer armed with long and sharpe dan- gerons thornes, the fruit being in forme not much valike a small greene Peare, and on the outside of the same colour, but within bloud red, and exceeding full of iuice; with graines not much vnlike the Pomgranat, and colouring after its na- ture. The poysoned weed is much in shape like our Eng. lish Tuv, but being but touched, causeth rednesse, io ling: and lastly blisters, the which howsoeuer after a while passe away of themselues without further harme, yet because for the time they are somewhat painfull, it hath got itselfe an ill name, although questionlesse of no ill nature. Here is also frequently growing a certaine tall Plant, whose stalke being all ouer covered with a red rinde, is thereupon termed the red weed. the root where of being soked in any liquor, or but a
Vol. 2 --- Q
114
The description of the Summer Iles
small quantity of the Juice drunke alone, procures a very forcible vomit, and yet is generally vsed by the people, and found very effectuall against the paines and distempers of the stomacke.
A kinde of Wood-bind there is likewise by the Sea verv commonly to be found, which runnes vpon trees twining it selfe like a Vine: the fruit somewhat resembles a Beane, but somewhat flatter, the which any way eaten worketh excel- lently in the nature of a purge, and though verv vehemently, yet without all perill: Contrary to this. another small tree there is, which canseth costiuenesse; there is also a certaine Plant like a bramble bush, which bears a long vellow fruit. hauing the shell very hard, and within it a hard berry, that beaten and taken inwardly purgeth gently. There is ano- ther fruit much like our Barberies, which being beaten or brused betweene the teeth, sets all the mouth on an extreme heat very terrible for the time, to avoid which they are swal- lowed downe hole, and found of the same or better operation then the red Pepper, and thence borroweth the name .- In the bottome of the Sea there is growing wpon the Rocks a large kinde of Plant in the forme of a Vine leafe, but far more spread with veines in colour of a pale red. very strangely interlaced and wouen one into another, which we call the Feather, but the vertue thereof is altogether vn- knowne, but only regarded for the rarity. Now besides these naturall productions, prouidences and paines since the Plantation, have offered diuer, other seeds and plants, which the soile bath greedily imbraced and cherished, so that at this present 1028. there are great abundance of white, red and yellow coloured Potatoes, Tobacco, Sugarcanes, Indicos, Parsnips, exceeding large Radishes, the American bread, the Cassado root, the Indian Pumpian, the Water-millon, Musk- millon, and the most delicate Piac-apples, Plantans, and Pa- pawes, also the English Artichoke, Pease, &c. briefly what- soener else may be expected for the satisfaction either of cu- riosity, necessity or delight.
Neither hath the aire for her part been wanting with due supplies of many sorts of Fowles, as the gray and white Hearne, the gray and greene Plouer, some wilde Ducks and Malards, Coots and Red-shankes, Sea-wigions, Grav-bit- serus. Cormorants, numbers of small Birds like Sparrowes and Robins. which hage Inte ty koene destroyed by the wilds
115
and their naturall Commodities.
Cats, Wood -pickars, very many Crowes, which since this Mantation are killed, the rest fled or seldome seene except in the most suinhabited places. from whence they are observed to take their flight about sim-set, directing their course to- wards the North-west, which makes many coniccture there are some more llands not far off that way. Sometimes are also seene Falcons and lar-falcons, Ospraies, a bird like a Hobby, but because they come seldome, they are held but as passengers: but aboue all these, most deseruing obsernation and respect are those two sorts of Birds. the one for the tone of his voice. the other for the effect. called the Cahow, and Egge bird, which on the first of May, a day constantly ob- serued, fall a laying infinite store of Eges neere as big as Hens, vpou certaine small sandie baies especially in Coupers Ile ; and although men sit downe amongst them when hun- dreds hane bin gathered in a morning, vet there is hath stay- ed amongst them till they have gathered as many more : they continue this course till Midsummer, and so tame and feareles, you must thrust them off from their Eggs with your hand ; then they grow so faint with laving, they suffer them to breed and take infinite numbers of their yong to eat, which are very excellent meat.
The Cahow is a bird of the night, for all the day she lies hid in holes in the Rocks, where they and their young are also taken with as much case as may be, but in the night if you but whoop and hollow, they will light vpon you, that with your hands you may chuse the fat and leave the leane ; those they haue only in winter : their Eggs are as big as hens, but they are speckled, the other white. Mr. Norwood hath taken twenty dozen of them in three or foure houres, and since there hath beene such hanocke made of them, they were neere all destroved, till there was a strict inhibition for their preservation. The Tropicke bird is white, as large as a Pul- let, with one onely long Feather in her taile, and is seldome scene far distant from other of the Tropicks : another small bird there is, because she cries Pemblyco they call her so, she is seldome seene in the day but when she sings, as too oft she doth very clamoronsly ; too true a Prophet she proues of huge winds and boysterons weather : there were a kinde of small Owles in great abundance, but they are now ali slaine or fled : some tame Ducks. Geese and Pigeons there are but the two latter prosper not.
-
116
The description of the Summer les, &.c.
Concerning vermine and noisome creatures, there are not many, Unt onely Rats and Cats, there increased since the Plan- tation, but how they agree together you shall beare hereafter. The Sieskeins and Flies are also too busie, with a certainc India Bug. called by the Spaniards a Cacarootch, the which cree ing into {'bests they eat and defile with their ill-sented dung : also the little Ants in summer time are so troublesome, they are forced to dry their figs vpon high frames, and anoint their feet with tar, wherein they sticke, else they would spoile them al' ere they could be drved : Wormes in the earth also there are, but too many, so that to keepe them from destroy- ing their Corne and Tobacco, they are forced to worme them eury morning, which is a great labour, else all would be des- troyed. Lizards there were many and very large, but now none, and it is said they were destroyed by the Cat. Cer- taine spiders also of very large size are found hanging vpon trees, but instead of being any way dangerous as in other pla- ces, they are here of a most pleasing aspect, all oder drest, as it were with Silver, Gold, and Pearle, and their Webs in the Summer wouen from tree to tree, are generally a perfect raw silke, and that as well in regard of substance as colour, and so strong withall, that diuers Birds bigger than Black- birds, being like Snipes, are often taken and snared in them as a Net : then what would the Silke-worme doe were shee there to feede vpon the continuall greene Mulbery ?
But above all the rest of the Elements, the Sea is found most abundantly liberall : hence haue they as much excel- lent Fish, and as much variety as need be desired. The most of which being vnknown to our Northerne parts, got there new names. either for their shapes or conditions; as the large Rocke-fish from his like hew, and haunting amongst the Rocks, the fat Hog-fish from his swine-like shape and snont : for this is not the old knowne Hog-fish with brussels on his backe ; the delicate Amber-fish from his taste and smell, Angell-fish, Conv-fish, the small yellow taile from that naturell painting ; the great Growper from his odde and str /20 grunting, some of them yet knowne to the Americans, as the Furgoose, the Cauallo, the Gar-fish, Flying-fish and Moreraves : the rest are commento other Continents : as the Wh -de in great numbers, the Sharke, the Pilot-nsh, the Sea- Breast. tie Oyster and Lobster, with diuers others; twen- sy Tortoises haue been taken in a day, and some of them
117
A briefe relation of Henrie May.
will affoord halfe a bushell of Egges, and suffice to feede for- tv men at a meale. And thus haue you briefly epitomized Mother Natures benefits to this little, yet dainty spot of earth, neither were it ingenuity to conceale wherein shoe inclineth to the Stepdame, especially since the particulars are so few, as rather requisite Antidotes against idlenesse to rouse vp in- dustry, then any great cause of much distaste, much lesse despaire : and of those to speake troth, there are onely two : ris. the Winds, and the Wormes, especially in the Spring and Autumne ; and thus conditioned as yet we will let rest these small Islands, in the midst of this mightie and maine Ocean, so inuironed on euery side, by infinite numbers of vncertaine scattered Rocks, Iving shallowly bid vnder the surface of the water, a league, two, three, foure, or fiue, to Sea, to the which advantages added by art, as bereafter you shall heare at large, and finde described in the Map. It may well be concluded to be the most impregnable place in the world, and although the Amber Greece, Pearles, nor Tobacco, are of that quantity and certainty to be relied vpon to gaine wealth ; yet by practise and experience they find, by Silke, Saffron, Indico, Madar. Sugar-canes, Wine, Oile, and such like great profit may be expected : yet were those hopelesse in regard of their conuenienes to nourish and maintaine themselues. and releene their shall visit them with wood, water, and other necessaries, besides what an eye-sore they are already becom- med to them that haue them not, and how deare and preci- ous to them that haue them, I thinke none will deny but they are well worth the keeping : and so we will proceed to the accidents that befell the first finders ; also the proceedings of the first Planters and thei . successors, Master Norrod, Tho- mas Spurkes and diners others.
A briefe relation of the shipwracke of Henry May. 1593.
How these Iles came by the name of Bermudas, or the in- finite number of blacke Hogs, or so foarefull to the world, that many called them the Ile of' Douils, that all men did shan as Hell and perdition; I will not expostulate, nor trou- Hle your patiences With those vncertaine antiquities further
118
A briefe relation of Henrie May.
then thus; our men found diuers crosses, peeces of Spanishi monies here and there. Two or three wracks also they found, by certaine inscriptions to bee some Spanish, some Dutch, some French; but the greatest rumour is, that a Span ish ship called Bermudas was there cast away. carrying Hogees to the West Indies that swam a shore, and there lu- Creased: how the Spaniards escaped is vncertaine: but they sav, from that ship those Iles were first called Bermudas, which till then for six thousand yeares had beene namelesse.
But the first English-man that was euer in them, was one Henry May, a worthy Mariner that went with Capraine Lancaster to the East-Indies 1591. and in their returne by the West-Indies, being in some distresse, sent this ijenry May for England by one Monsier de be Barbotier, to acquaint the Merchants with their estate. The last of Nouember, saith May, we departed from Laguna in Hispaniola, and the seuenteenth of December following, we were cast away vp- on the North-west of the Bermudas; the Pilots about noone made themsclues Southwards of the Iles twelue leagues, and demanded of the Captaine their Wine of hight [right] as out of all danger, which they had: but it seemes they were either dronke, or carelesse of their charge; for through their neg- ligenees a number of good men were cast away. I being but a stranger amongst fiftie and odde French-men, it pleased God to appoint me to be one of them should be saued. In this extremity we made a raft, which we towed with our Boat, where were but six and twentie of vs saued; and I seeing scarce roome for the one halfe, durst not passe in amongst them till the Captaine called me along with him, leauing the better halfe to the seas mercy: that day we rowed till within two houres of night ere we could land, being neere dead with thirst, euery man tooke his way to seeke fresh water, at length, by searching amongst many weeds, we found some raine water, but in the maine are many faire Baies, where we had enough for digging.
Now it pleased God before our ship split-we saued our Carpenters tooles, some Nailes, Sailes, and Tacklings. wherewith we went roundly to worke. and built a Barke of eighty tunnes: In stead of Pitch, we made Lime, mixed with Tortoise oyle, and as the Carpenters calked her, I and ano- ther paied the seames with this paster, which being in Aprill. became quickl: dry, and as hard as a stone.
مندائه
:
...
+ ++
The first English Ship cast rpon the Bermudas. 113
In Aprill it was so hot, we feared our water would faile, two great Chests wee made, which we calked as our ship; those we stowed on each side our maive Mast, filled them with water and thirtie liue Tortoises: wee found many Hogges, but so leane wee could not eat them; the tops of the Palmeta berries was our bread, and the invce we got out of the trees we cut downe our drinke, and of the leaues, which are more then an Ell long, we couered our Cabens, and made our beds, and found many of those prouisions as is related, but little foule weather. The cleuenth of May it pleased God to set vs cleere of the Ile, after wee had lived there fiue moneths: and the twentieth wee fell with Cape Britton, neere New found Land, where refreshing our selues with wood and water, and such things as we could get of the Saluages, it seemed a good Countrer, but we staied not past foure houres before we set saile for the banke of Veic found land, where wee met many ships, but not any would take in a man of vs, vntill it pleased God we met a Barke of Fawmothe, which receined ys for a little time, and with her we tooke a French ship, wherein I left Captaine de la Bur- botier, my deare friend, and all his company: and P. August arrived at Falmouth in this honest English Barke, 1501.
Written by me Henry May.
The first English ship knowne to have beene cast away vyon the Bermudas 1609. From the rela- tion of Mr. Jordan, Master Tohin Enens. Master Henry Shelly, and diners others,
You have heard, that when Captaine Smith was Governos of Virginia, there were nine ships sent with Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Somers, and Captaine Nuport with five hundred people, to take in the ofil Commission. and ree- tifie a new gouernment: they set saile in Stav, and in the height of thirty degrees of Northedly latitude, they were ta- ken with an extre ne storme, or rather a part of fecicano, vpon the five and t vontieth of fuly, which as they write, did not oner separate their from the fleet, but with the violent
120 The first English ship cast upon the Bermudas.
working of the Seas, their ship became so shaken, torne, and leake, she received so much water as covered two tire of Hogsheads aboue the ballace, that they stood vp to the mid- dles, with Buckets, Baricos, and Kettles, to baile out the water. Thus bailing and pumping three daies and three nights withont intermission, and yet the water seemed ra- ther to increase then diminish, in so much that being all vt- terly spent with labour, were euen resolued without any hope, to shut vp the hatches, and commit themselues to the mercy of the Sea, which is said to be merellesse. or rather to the mercy of Almighty God, whose mercy farre exceeds all his workes; seeing no sense or hope in mans apprehension. but presently to sinke: some haning some good and comfort- able waters, fetched them and dranke one to another, as tak- ing their last leaues vatill a more happy, and a more joyfoll meeting in a more blessed world, when it pleased God out of his most gracious and mercifull providence, so to direct and guide their ship for her most adnantage;
That Sir George Somers all this time sitting vpon the poupe, scarce taking leisure to eat nor sleepe, couing the ship to keepe her as vpright as he could, otherwaies she must long ere that needs haue foundered, most wishedly and hap- pily descried land; wherevpon he most comfortably incou- raged them to follow their worke, many of them being fast asleepe: this valooked for welcome newes. as if it had bin a voice from heaven, hurrieth them all abone hatches, to looke for that they durst scarce beleque, so that improuidently for- saking that taske which imported no lesse then their lines, they gaue so dangerous aduantage to their greedy enemy the salt water, which still entred at the large breaches of their poore wooden castle, as that in gaping after life, they had well-nigh swallowed their death. Surely it is impo silde any should now be vrged to doe his best, and although they knew it that place all men did so shun, yet they spread all the saile they could to attaine them: for not long it was before they strucke vpon a rocke, till a surge of the sea cast he! from thence, and so from one to another, till most luckily at last so vpright betwix. two, as if she had beene in the stocks, till the, they expected but Query blow a death : Dnt now be- hold. suddenly the wind giues place to a calme, and the bil- lows, which each by ouertaking her, would in an instant hane shiuered her in peeces, become peaceable and still. so that
1 -
121
How they with 150 lived there 9 moneths.
with all conveniency and case, they vashipped all their goods, viccall, and persons into their Boats, and with extreme jor, cuen alot to amazednesse, arrived in safetie, though more then a league from the shore, without the losse of a man : vet were they in all one huvudred and Pfir : vet their delle roure was not there strange in tilling so h pily spon the land, as their feeding and presentation was besond then hopes ; for voa hane hoand, it hath boone to the more forfull then an Vtoplan Purgatory, and to all Sca-men no lesse terrible then an inehanted den of Faries and Deuils, the most dangerous, vnfortunate, and forlorne place in the world, and they found it the richest, healthfullest and pica- santest they quer saw, as is formerly said.
Being thus safe on shore, they disposed themselves to search the Isle for food and water ; others to get a shore what they could from the ship ; net long Sir George wan- dred but found such a fishing, that in halfe an houre with a hocke and line, he tooke so many as sudiced the whole com- pany, in some places they were so thicke in the Coures, and so great, they darst not goe in lest they should bite them, and these roche fish are so great two will load a man, and fattur nor better fsb cannot be. 3. Shell; found a Day neere i quarter of a intle over, so full of Mullets, as nout of them before had eur seene or board of the like : the next day seeking to kill them with dis-gies, they stracke so many the water in many places was red with blood, vet caught not one, but with a not they caught so many as they could daw a shore, with infinite number of Pilchards and ditors ofher sorts ; great crow-dishes in a night .by making a fire they haue taken in great quantity. sir George had twice his hooks and line broke out of his hand, but the third thar ho made it so strong he caught the same fish, which had him into the Sca bad not bis men got hold of him, he Had his three Hookes againe were found in her their first hunting for hoes they found sich abmeti killed OD and this at taine Robert Walsingham, and sir. Henry Shot for th pany in general : they report they Killed at leas 500 be Pig. and mosythat . ce kilied by dhorsother. for
in their was the forility to make ir. :
1 i many of them 10
Vol. 2-R
122
This they with 150. lined there 9 months.
But let vs remember how the Knights began to resolue in those desperat affaires : many proiects they had, but at last it was concluded, to decke their long boat with their ship hatches ; which done, with all expedition they sent Master Rauen, a very sufficient Mariner, with eight more in her to Virginia, to haue shipping from thence to fetch them away ; three werkes or a moneth they expected her returne, but to this day she was neuer more heard of; all this time was spent in searching the lles : now although God still fed them with this abundance of plenty, yet such was the malice of enny or ambition, for all this good seruice done by Sommers, such a great difference fell amongst their Commanders, that they lived asunder in this distresse, rather as meere strangers then distressed friends : but necessity so commanded, pati- ence had the victorv.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.