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 16
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167 What hapned in the gouerament of M. John Harrison.
such complaints betwist the Planters and the Company. they by command the Lords appointed Sir Thomas Smith againe Treasurer, that since then according to their order of Court he is also elected, where now we must leave them all to their good fortime and successe, till we heare further of their fet- tunate proceedings
169
COMMENDATORY ADDRESSES.
TO HIS FRIEND
CAPTAINE SMITH,
VPON HIS DESCRIPTION OF NEW-ENGLAND.
SIR; your Relations I have read. which shew, Ther's reason I should honour them and you: And if their meaning I haue understood, I dare to censure thus. Your Proiect's good; And may (if follow'd) doubtlesse quit the paine; With honour, pleasure and a trebble gaine;
Beside the benefit that shall arise To make more happy our Posterities.
For would we daigne to spare, though 'twere no more. Then what ore-fils, and surfets vs in store, To order Nature's fruitfulnesse a while In that rude Garden, you New England stile; With present good, ther's hope in after daies
Thence to repaire what Time and Pride decaies In this rich Kingdome. And the spacious West Being still more with English bloud possest, The proud Iberians shall not rule those Seas,
To check our ships from sailing where they please; Nor future times make any forraine power Become so great to force a bound to Our.
Much good my minde foretels would follow hence
With little labour and with lesse expence. Thriue therefore thy Designe, who ere enuy:
England may ioy in England's Colony, Virginia seeke her Virgin sisters good. Be blessed in such happy neighbourhood. Or, whatsoere Fate pleaseth to permit, Be thou still honour'd for first mouing it.
George Wither, e societate Lincol;
Vol. 2-X
170
COMMENDATORY ADDRESSES.
To that worthy and generous Gentleman, my very good friend. CAPTAINE SMITH.
MAY Fate thy Proiect prosper, that thy name May be eternized with liuing fame: Though foule Detraction Honour would peruert, And Enuie euer waits vpon desert: In spight of Pelias when his hate lies cold, Returne as Jason with a fleece of gold. Then after ages shall record thy praise, That a New- England to this lle didst raise. And when thou di'st (as all that liue must die) Thy fame liue here; thou, with Eternity.
R. Gunne2.
TO HIS WORTHY CAPTAINE,
THE AUTHOR.
Orr thou hast led, when I brought vp the Rere In bloudy wars, where thousands have beene slaine Then giue me leaue in this some part to beare; Aud as thy seruant here to reade my name. T'is true, long time thou hast my Captaine beene In the fierce warres of Traneiluania: Long ere that thou America hadst seene, Or led wast captiu'd in Virginia;
Thou that to passe the worlds foure parts dost deewe No more, then t'were to goe to bed, or drinke, And all thou yet hast done, thou dost esteeme As nothing. This doth cause me thinke That thou l'aue seene so oft approu'd in dangers, (And thrice captiu'd, thy valour still hath freed" Art yet preserued, to convert those strangers: By God thy guide I trust it is decreed. For me: I not commend but much admire Thy England yet vnknowne to passers by-hier. : For it will praise it selfe in spi; ht of me; Thou it, it thou, to all posterity.
Your true friend and souldier, Ed. Robinet.
1
COMMENDATORY ADDRESSES. 171-72
TO MY HONEST CAPTAINE.
THE AUTHOR.
MALIGNANT Times! What can be said or done, But shall be censur'd and traduc'd by some! This worthy Worke, which thou hast bought so deare, Ne thou, nor it, Detractors need to feare. Thy words by deeds so long thou hast approu'd, Of thousands know thee not thou art belou'd.
And this great Plot will make thee ten times more
Knowne and belou'd, than ere thou wert before.
I neuer knew a Warrier yet, but thee, From wine, Tobacco, debts, dice, oaths, so free. I call thee Harrier: and I make the bolder; For, many a Captaine now, was neuer Souldier. Some such may swell at this, but (to their praise) When they have done like thee, my Muse shall raise Their due deserts to Worthies yet to come, To live like thine (admir'd) till day of Doome.
Your true friend, sometimes your souldier, T'ho. Carlton.
THE SIXTH BOOKE.
THE
GENERALL HISTORIE
OF
NEW-ENGLAND.
CONCERNING this History you are to understand the Let- ters Patents granted by his Majesty in 1606. for the limita- tion of Virginia, did extend from 34. to 44. which was diui- ded in two parts: namely, the Erst Colony and the second: the first was to the honourable City of London, and such as would aduenture with them to discouer and take their choice where they would, betwixt the degrees of 34. and 41. The second was appropriated to the Cities of Bristol, Exeter and Plimoth, &c. and the West parts of England, and all those that would aduenture and ioine with them, and they might make their choise any where betwixt the degrees of 38. and 44. prouided there should bee at least 100. miles distance betwixt these 2. Colonies. each of which had lawes, privil- eges and authoritie, for the goueroment and aduancing their seuerall Plantations alike. Now this part of America hath formerly beene called Norumbega, Virginia, Nuskoncus. Penaquida, Cannada, and such other names as those that ranged the Coast pleased. But because it was so moun- tainous, rocky and full of Iles, few haue aduentured much to trouble it, but as is formerly related: notwithstanding. that honourable Patron of vertue, Sir John Peyhem, Lord chiefe Justice of England, in the veere 1606. procured meanes and men to possesse it, and seat Captaine George Poplage for President, Captaine Radley Gilbert for Admiral !.
173
174 Captaine Smith his first volage to Norumbega,
Cantaine E brard Hurlow master of the Ordnance, Captaine Robert Duuis Sargeant-Maior, Captaine Elis Best Marshall. Master Seaman Secretary, Captaine Lames Davis to be Cap- taine of the Fort, Master Gome Carew chiefe Scarcher: all those were of the Councell, who with some hundred more were to stay in the Country: they set saile from Plimoth the last of Mas, and fell with Monthigan the eleventh of Au- gust. At Sugadahock 9. or 10. Icagues southward, they planted themselves at the mouth of a faire nanigable River, but the coast all thereabouts most extreme stony and rocky: that extreme frozen Winter was so cold they could not range nor scarch the Country, and their prouision so small, they were glad to send all but 45. of their company backe againe: their noble President Captaine Popham died, and not long after arrived two ships well prouided of all necessaries to supply them, and some small time after another, by whom understanding of the death of the Lord chiefe Justice, and also of Sir John Gilbert, whose lands there the President Rowley Gilbert was to possesse according to the adnenturers directions, finding nothing but extreme extremities, they all returned for England in the veere 1608. and thus this Plan- tation was begunne and ended in one veere, and the Coin- try esteemed as a cold, barren, mountainous, rocky Desart.
Notwithstanding, the right Honourable Henry Earle of South-Hampton and those of the Ile of Wight, imploied Cap- taine Edward Harlow to discouer an lle supposed about Cape Cod, but they found their plots had mach abused them, for falling with Monahigan, they found onely Cape Cod no Ile but the maine, there they detained three Saluages aboord them. called Peckmo, Monopet and Pekenimme, but Pechmo leapt ouer board, and got away; and not long after with his consorts out their Boat from their sterne, got her on shore. and so filled her with sand, and guarded her with Bowes and Arrowves the English lost her: not farre from thence they had three men sorck wounded with Arrowes. Anchoting at the Hle of Nohono, the Saluages in their Canowes assaulted the Ship till the English Guns made them retire, yet here they tooke Sakuweston, that after he had lived many veres in England went a Souldier to the warres of Bohemia. At Capace they tooke Coneconam and Enenow, but the people at Aguicom vsed them kindly, so with five Saluages they returned for England, yet Sir Francis Popham sent
.. -..
Captaine Smith his first coiage to Norumbega, 175
diuers times one Captaine Williams to Monahigan onely to trade and make core fish, but for any Plantations there was no more speeches. . For all this, as I liked Virginia well, though not their proceedings, so I desired also to see this country, and spend some time in trying what I could finde for all those ill rumors and disasters.
From the relations of Captaine Edward Harlow and divers others.
In the month of Aprill 1614. at the charge of Capt. Mar- maduke Roydon. Capt. George Langum, Mr. John Buley and Willbon Skelton, with two ships from London, I chanc- · ed to arrive at Monuhigan an Ile of America, in 43. 4 of Northerly latitude: our plot was there to take Whales, for which we had one Samuel Crampton and divers others expert in that faculty, and also to make trialls of a Mine of gold and copper; if those failed, Fish and Furs were then our refuge to make our selues sauers howsoeuer: we found this Whale- fishing a costly conclusion, we saw many and spent much time in chasing them, but could not kill any. They being a kinde of lubartes, and not the whale that yeclds Fins and Oile as we expected; for our gold it was rather the Masters deuice to get a voyage that proiected it, then any knowledge he had at all of any such matter: Fish and Furs were now our guard, and by our late arrivall and long linering about the Whale, the prime of both those seasons were past efe wee peceiued it, wee thinking that their seasons semed at all times, but we found it otherwise, for by the middest of lune the fishing failed, yet in July and August some were taken. but not sufficient to defray so great a charge as our stay re- quired: of dry fish we made abont forty thousand, of Cor- fish about seuen thousand. Whilest the Sailers fished, my selfe with eight others of them might best be spared, rang- ing the Coast in a small Boat, we got for trifles nepre eleuen thousand Beuer skinnes, one hundred Martins, as many Ot- ters, and the most of them within the distance of twenty leagues: we ranged the Coast both East and West much further, but Eastward our commodities were not estermed, they were so neere the French who afforded them better, with whom the Saluages had such commerce that only by trade they made exceeding great voyages, though they were
176
and how it was first called New England.
without the limits of our precincts; during the time we tried those conclusions, not knowing the coast, nor Saluages habi- tations: with these Furres, the traine Oile and Cor-fish, I returned for England in the Barke, where within six moneths after our departure from the Downes, wee safely arrived backe; the best of this fish was sold for 5. li. the hundred, the rest by ill vsage betwist three pounds and 50. shillings. The other ship stayed to fit herselfe for Spaine with the dry fish which was sold at Maligo at forty Rialls the Quin- tall, each hundred weighing two quintals and a halfe .--- But one Thomas Hint the Master of this ship (when I was gone) thinking to prevent that intent I had to make there a Plantation, thereby to keepe this abounding Countrey still in obscuritie, that onely he and some few Merchants more might enioy wholly the benefit of the Trade, and profit of this Countrey, betraied foure and twenty of those poore Saluages aboord his ship, and most dishonestly and inhumanely for their kinde vsage of me and all our men, caried them with him to Muligo, and there for a little priuate gaine sold those silly Saluages for Rials of eight; but this vilde act kept him euer after from any more imploiment to those parts. Now be- cause at this time I had taken a draught of the Coast, and called it New England, yet so long he and his Consorts drowned that name with the Eccho of Cunnaday, and some other ships from other parts also, that vpon this good returne the next veere went thither, that at last I presented this Dis- coure with the Map, to our most gracious Prince Charles, humbly intreating his Highnesse hee would please to change their barbarous names for such English, as posteritie might say Prince Charles was their God-father, which for your bet- ter vnderstanding both of this Discourse and the Map, peruse this Schedule, which will plainly shew you the corresponden- cy of the old names to the new, as his Highnesse named them.
The old names. The new names.
Cape Cod. The Harbor at Cape Cod.
Cape lames. Milforth hauen.
Barwick.
Chawum. Accomack. Plimoth. Sagoquas. Oxford. Massachusets Mount. Cheuit hills.
177
The old names.
The new names.
Massachusits Riuer. Totan.
A great Bay by Cape Anne.
Cape Tragubigsanda.
Naembeck.
Aggawom. Smiths lles.
Passataquack.
Hull.
Accominticus.
Boston.
Sassanows Mount.
Snowdon hill.
Sowocatuck.
Ipswich.
Bahanna.
Dartmouth.
A good Harbor within that Bay.
Sandwich.
Ancociscos Mount.
Shuters hill.
Ancocisco.
The Base.
Anmoughcawgen.
Cambridge.
Kenebecka.
Edenborow.
Sagadahock.
Leth.
Pemmaquid.
S. lohns towne.
Segocket.
Norwich.
Mecadacut.
Dunbarton.
Pennobscot.
Aberden.
Nusket.
Low mounds.
Those being omitted I named my selfe.
Monaligan. Matinack. Metinacus.
Barties Iles. Willowbies Iles. Haughtons Iles.
The rest of the names in the Map, are places that had no. names we did know.
But to continue the History succeedingly as neere with the day and yeere as may bee. Returning in the Barke as is said; it was my ill chance to put in at Plimoth, where im- parting those my purposes to diuers I thought my friends, whom as I supposed were interested in the dead Patent of this vnregarded Countrey, I was so encouraged and assured to bane the managing their authoritie in those parts during Vol. 2-Y
******
The Description of New-England.
Charles River.
- Famouth. Bristow. . Cape Anne. Bastable. Southampton. Smiths Iles.
178
The Description of New-England.
my life, aud soch large promises, that I ingaged my selfe to vndertake it for them. Arriving at London, though some malicious persons suggested there was no such matter to be had in that so bad abandoned Countrey, for if there had, other could have found it so well as 1; therefore it was to be sus- pected I had robbed the French men in New France or Canna- da, and the Merchants set me forth seemed not to regard it yet I found so many promised me such assistance, that I entertained Michael Cooper the Master of the Barke, that returned with me and others of the Company: how he dealt with others, or others with him, I know not; but my publike proceeding gaute such encouragement, that it became so well apprehended by some few of the Virginia Company, as those proiects for fishing onely was so well liked, they furnished Couper with foure good ships to Sea, before they at Plimoth had made any provision at all for me: but onely a small Borke set out by them of the lle of Wight. Some of Plimoth. and divers Gentlemen of the West Countrey, a little before I returned from New England, in search for a Mine of Gold about an He called Capocuck, South-wards from the Shoules of Cape James, as they were informed by a Saluage called Epenew; that having deluded them as it seemes thus to get bome, seeing they kept him as a prisoner in his owne Coun- frey, and before his friends, being a man of so great a state re, he was shewed vp and downe London for money as 2 won- der, and it seemes of no lesse courage and authoritie, then of wit, strength, and proportion: for so well he had contrived his businesse, as many reported he intended to have surprised the ship; but seeing it could not be effected to his liking, be- fore them all he leaped ouer boord. Many shot they made at him, thinking they had slaine him, but so resolute they were to recover his body, the master of the ship was wound- ed, and many of his company; And thus they lost him, and not knowing more what to do, returned againe to England with nothing, which se had discouraged all your West Coun- trey men, they neither regarded much their promises, and as little either me or the Countrev, till they saw the London ships gone and me in Plipoth according to my promise, as hereafter shall be related.
I muste confesse I was byboblen to the setters forth of the foure ship. nat went with Couper, in that they offered inc that implement if I would accept it and I finde still my
179
by Captaine John Smith.
refusall incurred some of their displeasures, whose Joue and fa- uour I exceedingly desired; and though they doe censure me opposite their proceedings, they shall vet still in all my words and deeds finde, it is their error, not my fault that occasions their dislike: for having ingaged my selfe in this businesse to the West Country, I had beene very dishonest to haue broke my promise, nor will I spend more time in discouery or fishing, till I may goe with a Company for a Plantation; for I know my grounds, yot eucry one to whom I tell them. er that reads this Booke, cannot put it in practice, though it may helpe any that hath seene or not seene to know much of those parts: And though they endeuour to worke me out of my owne designes, I will not much enuy their fortunes: but I would be sorry their intruding ignorance should by their defailments bring those certainties to doubtfulnesse .--- So that the businesse prosper I have my desire, be it by whomsoeuer that are true subiects to our King and Country: the good of my Countrey is that I sceke, and there is more then enough for all, if they could be contented.
New England is that part of America, in the Ocean Sea, opposite to Noua Albion in the South Sea, discouered by the most memorable Sir Francis Drake in his Voyage about the world, in regard whereof this is stiled New England, being in the same latitude New France of it is Northwards, Southwards is Virginia and all the adioyning continent with new Grana- do, now Spaine, new Andolosia, and the West-Indies. Now because I haue brene so oft asked such strange questions of the goodnesse and greatnesse of those spatious Tracts of Land, how they can be thus long vaknowne. or not possessed by the Spaniards, and many such like demands: I intreat your pardons if I chance to be too plaine or tedious in rela- ting my knowledge for plaine mens satisfaction.
Florida is the next adioyning to the Indies, which vnpros- peronsly was attempted to be planted by the French, a Coun- trey farre bigger then England, Scotland, France and Ire- land, vet little knowne to any Christian, but by the won- derfull endeuours of Ferdinando de Soto, a valiant Spaniard, whose writings in this age is the best guide know ne to search those parts.
Virginia is no lle as many doe imagine, but part of the Continent adiovning to Floride, whose bounds may be stretched to the magnitude thereof, without offende to any
1
180
The Description of New-England.
·
Christian Inhabitant, for from the degrees of thirtie to forty eight. his Majesty hath now enlarged his Letters Patents .- The Coast extending South-west and North-cast about sixteene or seuenteone hundred miles, but to follow it aboord the shore may well be three thousand miles at the least: of which twenty miles is the most giues entrance into the Bay of Chisupeacke, where is the London Planta- tion, within which is a Countrey, as you may perceive by the Map, of that little I discouered, may well suffice three hundred thousand people to inhabit but of it, and the disco- ueries of Sir Ralph Laine and Master Heriot, Captaine Gos- nold. and Captaine Waymouth, they have writ so largely, that posteritie may be bettered by the fruits of their labours. But for diners others that haue ranged these parts since. es- pecially this Country now called Vor-England, within a kenning sometimes of the shore: some touching in one place. some in another: I must ontreat them pardon nic for omit- ting them, or if I offend in saving, that their true descrip- tions were concealed, or neuer were well observed, or died with the Authors, so that the Coast is vet still but cuen as a Coast vnknowne and vndiscouered. . I baue had six or seuen severall plots of those Northern parts, so vnlike each to other, or resemblance of the Country, as they did me no more good then so much waste paper, though they cost me more, it may bee it was not my chance to see the best; but lest others may be decelued as I was, or through dangerous ignorance hazard themselves as I did, I haue drawne a Map from point to point, lle to Ile, and Harbour to Harbour, with the Sound- ings, Sands, Rocks, and Land-markes, as I passed close aboord the shore in a little Boat; although there bee maus things to bee observed, which the haste of other affaires did cause me to omit: for being sent more to get present Com- modities, then knowledge of any discoueries for any futuro good, I had not power to search as I would; vet it will sorte to direct aty shali ave that wiles to safe Harbours and the Saluages habitation: what Merchandize and Commodities for their labours they may finde. this following discourse shall plainly demonstrate.
Thus you may see of these three thousand miles, more then halk is yet unknowne to any purpose. no not so much as the borders of the Sea are yet certainly discouered: as for the goodies, and true substance of the Land. we are for
-
.
-
181
by Captaine John Smith.
most part vet altogether ignorant of them, volesse it be those parts about the Bay of Chisuperck and Sogaduhock, but onely here and there where we haue touched or seene a little. the edges of those large Dominions which doe stretch theni- selues into the maine, God doth know how many thousand miles, whereof we can vet no more indge, then a stranger that saileth betwixt England and France, can describe the har- bours and dangers by landing here or there in some River or Bay, tell thereby the goodnesse and substance of Spaine. Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Hungaria, and the rest; nay. there are many haue liued fortic yeeres in London, and yet haue scarce beene ten miles out of the Citie: so are there many haue beene in Virginia many veeres, and in New Eng- land many times, that doe know little more then the place they doe inhabit, or the Port where they fished. and when they come home, they will vndertake they know all Virginia and New England, as if they were but two Parishes or lit- tle Islands. By this you may perceive how much they erre. that thinke cuery one that hath beene in Virginia or Ner England, vnderstaudeth or knoweth what cither of them are: Or that the Spaniards Know one balfe quarter of those large Territories they possess, no not so much as the true cir- cumference of Terra incognita, whose large Dominions may equalize the goodnesse and greatnesse of America for any thing yet knowne. It is strange with what small power he doth range in the East-Indies, and few will vaderstand the truth of his strength in America: where baning so much to keepe with such a pampered force, they need not greatly fare his fury in Sommer lles, Virginia, or New England, bevond whose bounds Americe doth stretch many thousand miles. Into the frozen parts whereof, one Master Hutson an English Mariner, did make the greatest discouerie of any ( hrisnan I know, where hee vnfortunately was left by his cowardly Company, for his exceeding deserts, to end and die a most miserable death.
For Africa, had not the industrious Portugals ranged her unknown parts, who would haue sought for wealth amongst those fried Regions of blacke brutish negers, where notvith - standing all their wealth and admirable adueatures and ca - deanours more then one hundred and fortie veeres, they know not one third part of those blacke habitations. But it is not a worke for every one to manage such an affaire, as make a.
182
The Description of New-England.
discovery and plant a Colony, it requires all the best parts of art, judgment, courage, honesty, constancy, diligence, and industry, to do but necre well: some are more proper for one thing then another, and therein best to be imploicd: and nothing breeds more confusion then misplacing and mis- imploying men in their undertakings. Columbus, Courtes, Pitcard, Zow, Magilanus, and the rest serued more then a Prentiship, to learne how to begin their most memorable at- tempts in the West Indies, which to the wonder of all ages successfully they effected, when many hundreds of others farre abone them in the worlds opinion, being instructed but by relation, came to shame and confusion in actions of small moment, who doubtlesse in other matters were both wise. discreet. generous and courageous. I say not this to detract any thing from their incomparable merits. but to answer those questionlesse questions, that keepe vs backe from imi- tating the worthinesse of their braue spirits, that adaaneed themselues from poore Souldiers to great Captaines, their pos- terity to great Lords, their King to be one of the greatest Po- tentates on earth, and the fruits of their labours his greatest power, glory, and renowne.
The Description of New England.
THAT part we call New England, is betwist the degrees of fortie one and fortie fiue, the very meane berwixt the North pole and the line; but that part this Discourse speaketh of, stretcheth but from Penobscot to Cape Cod, some seuentie fue leagues by a right line distant each from other: within which bounds I have seene at least fortie senerall habitations vpon the Sea Coast and sounded about five and twentie ex- cellent good Harbours, in many whereof there is anchorage for fitte hundred saile of ships of any burden: in some of them for one thousand, and more then two hundred fles ouer-growne with good Timber of divers sorts of wood, which due arke so mens Harbours, as required a longer time then i had to be well observed.
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