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 25
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It lyeth seventeene degrees Northward of the line, about an hundred and twenty leagues from the Cape de tres Pun- tas, the neerest maine land in America, it is about eight leagues in length, and foure io bredth; an Iland amongst 100. Iles in the West Indies, called the Caribes, where ordinarily all them that frequent the West Indies, refresh themselves; those most of them are rocky, little, and mountainous, vet frequented with the Canibals: many of them inhabited, as Saint Domingo, Saint Mattalin, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Granada, and Margarita, to the Southward; Northward, none but Saint Christophers, and it but lately, yet they will be ranging Marigalanta, Guardalupo, Deceado, Monserat, Antigua, Meris, Bernardo, Saint Martin, and Saint Bartho- lomew, but the worst of the foure Hes possessed by the Span- yard, as Portorico or Iamica, is better than them all; as for Hispaniola, and Cuba, they are worthy the title of two rich Kingdomes, the rest not respected by the Spanyards, for want of harbors, and their better choice of good land, and profit in the maine. But Captaine Warner, having beene very familiar with Captaine Painton, in the Amazon, hearing his information of this St. Christophers; and having made a yeares trvall, as it is said, returned for England, ioyning with Master Merifield, and his friends, got Letters Patients. from King James, to plant and possesse it. Since then, the Right Honourable the Earle of Carlile, hath got Letters Pattents also, not only of that, but all the Caribes fles about it, who is now chiefe Lord of them, and the English his ten- ants, that doe possesse them; over whom he appointeth such Governours and Officers; as their affaires require; and al- though there be a great custome imposed upon them, consi- dering their other charges, both to feed and maintaine them- selves; yet there is there, and now a going, neere upon the number of three thousand people; where by reason of the rockinesse and thicknesse of the woods in the lle, it is difii- cult to passe, and such a snuffe of the Sea goeth on the shore, ten may better defend, than fifty assault. In this Hle are many springs, but yet water is scarce againe in many places; the valleves and sides of the hills very fertile, but the moun- taines harsh, and of a sulphurous composition; all overgrowne with Pulmetus, Cotten wees; Lignum cita, and divers other sorts, but none ike any in Christendome, except those car- ried thither; the aire very pleasant and healthfull, but
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exceeding hot, yet so tempered with coole breaths, it seemes very temperate to them, that are a little used to it; the trees being alwaies greene, the daies and nights al wayes very neere equall in length, alwayes Summer; only they have in their seasons great gusts and raines, aud sometimes a Hericano, which is an overgrowne, and, a most violent storme.
In some of those Iles, are cattell, goats, and hogges, but here none but what they must carry; Gwanes they have, which is a little harmelesse beast, like a Crokadell, or Aliga- tor, very fat and good meat, she layes egges in the sand, as doth the land Crabs, which live here in abundance, like Co- nies in Boroughs, unlesse about May, when they come downe to the Sea side, to lay in the sand, as the other; and all their egges are hatched by the heat of the Sunne.
From May to September they have good store of Tortas- ses, that come out of the Sea to lay their egges in the sand, and are hatched as the other; they will lay halfe a pecke at a time, and neere a bushell ere they have done; and are round like Tenis-balls: this fish is like veale in taste, the fat of a brownish colour, very good and wholsome. We seeke them in the nights, where we finde them on shore, we turne them upon their backs, till the next day we fetch them home, for they can never returne themselves, being so hard a cart may goe over them; and so bigge, one will suffice forty or fifty men to dinner. Divers sorts of other fish they have in abun- dance, and Prawnes most great and excellent, but none will keepe sweet scarce twelve houres.
Birds .- The best and greatest is a Passer Flaminga, which walking at her length is as tall as a man; Pigeons and Turtle Doves in abundance; some Parrots, wilde Hawkes, but di- vers other sorts of good Sea fowle, whose names we know not.
Cassado is a root planted in the ground, of a wonderfull increase, and will make very good white bread, but the luyce ranke poyson, yet boyled, better than winc; Fotatos, Cab- bages and Radish plenty.
Mayes, like the Virginia wheat; we have Pine-apples, neere so bigge as an Hartichoeke, but the most daintiest taste of any fruit; Plantaires, an excellent and a most increasing fruit; Apples, Prickel: Peares, and Pease, but differing all from ours. There is Pepper that groweth in a little red Vol. 2-L L.
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huske, as bigge as a Walnut, about foure inches in length, but the long cods are small, and much stronger, and better for use, than that from the East Indies. There is two sorts of Cotten, the Silke Cotten as in the East Indies, groweth upon a small stalke, as good for beds as downe; the other upon a shrub and beareth a cod bigger than a Walnut, full of Cotten wooll: Anotto also groweth upon a shrub, with a cod like the other, and nine or ten on a bunch, full of Anot- to, very good for Dyers, though wilde; Sugar Canes, not tame, 4. or 5. foot high; also Masticke, and Locus trees; great and hard timber, Gourds, Muske Melons, Water Me- lons, Lettice, Parsly; all places naturally beare purslaine of it selfe; Sope-berries like a Musket bullet, that wash- eth as white as Sope; in the middle of the root is a thing like a sedge, a very good fruit, we call Pengromes; a Pap- paw is as great as an apple, coloured like an Orange, and good to cat; a small hard nut, like a hazell nut, growes close to the ground, and like this growes on the Palmetas, which we call a Mucca nut; Mustard-seed will grow. to a great tree, but beares no seed, yet the leeves will make good mustard; the Mancinell tree the fruit is povson; good figs in abundance; but the Palmeta serveth to build Forts and hou- ses, the leaves to cover them, and many other uses; the inyce we draw from them, till we sucke them to death, (is held restorative) and the top for meat doth serve us as Cab- bage; but oft we want poudered Beefe, and Bacon, and ma- ny other needfull necessaries.
By Thomas Simons, Rowland Grascocke, Nicholas Burgh, and others,
CHAP. XXVI.
The first planting of the Barbados.
THE Barbados lies South-west and by South, an hundred leagues from Saint Christophers, threescore leagues West and South from 'I' midado, and some fourescore leagues
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from Cape de Salinos, the next part of the maine. The first planters brought thither by Captaine Henry Powel, were forty English, with seven or eight Negros; then he went to Disecuba in the maine, where he got thirty Indians, men, women, and children, of the Arawacos, enemies both to the Caribes, and the Spaniards. The lle is most like a triangle, each side forty or fifty miles square, some exceeding great rocks, but the most part exceeding good ground; abounding with an infinite number of Swine, some Turtles, and many sorts of excellent fish; many great ponds wherein is Ducke and. Mallard; excellent clay for pots, wood and stone for buil- ding, and a spring neere the middest of the lle of Bitume, which is a liquid mixture like Tarre, that by the great raines falls from the tous of the mountaines, it floats upon the wa- - ter in such abondance, that drying up, it remaines like great rocks of pitch, and as good as pitch for any use.
The Mancinell apple, is of a most pleasant sweet smell, of the bignesse of a Crab, but ranke poyson, yet the Swine and Birds have wit to shun it; great store of exceeding great Locus trees, two or three fadome about, of a great height, that beareth a cod full of meale, will make bread in time of necessity. A tree like a Pine, beareth a fruit so great as a Muske Melon, which hath alwayes ripe fruit, flowers or greene fruit, which will refresh two or three men, and very comfortable; Plumb trees many, the fruit great and yellow, which but strained into water in foure and twenty houres will be very good drinke; wilde figge trees there are many; all those fruits doe fat the hogges, yet at some times of the yeare they are so leane, as carrion; Gwane trees beare a fruit so bigge as a Peare, good and wholsome; Palmetaes of three soverall sorts: Papawes, Prickle Peares good to eat or make drinke; Cedar trees very tall and great; Fusticke trees are very great and the wood yellow, good for dying; sope ber- ries, the kernell so bigge as a sloe, and good to eat; Pampeons in abundance; Goads [gourds] so great as will make good great bottles, and cut in two peeces good dishes and platters; many small brooks of very good water: Ginni wheat, Cas- sado, Pines and Plantaines; all things we there plant doe grow exceedingly, so well as Tobacco; the corve, pease, and beanes, cut bat away the stalke, young sprigs will grow, and so beare fruit for many yeeres together, without any more planting: the Ile is overgrowne with wod or great
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reeds, those wods which are soft are exceeding light and full of pitch, and those that are hard, are so hard and great, they are as hard to cut as stone.
Master John Powell came thither the fourth of August 1627. with forty five men, where we stayed three weeks, and then returning, left behind us about an hundred people, and his sonne lohnt Powell for his Deputy, as Governour; but there have beene so many factions amongst them, I can- not from so many variable relations give you any certainty for their orderly Government: for all those plenties, much misery they have endured, in regard of their weaknesse at their landing, and long stay without supplies; therefore those that goe thither, it were good they carrie good provision with them; but the He is most healthfull, and all things planted doe increase abundantly: and by this time there is, and now a going, about the number of fifteene or sixteene hundred people.
Sir William Curtine, and Captainc John Powell, were the first and chiefe adventurers to the planting this fortunate Ile; which had beene oft frequented by men of Warre to refresh themselves, and set vp their shallops: being so farre remote from the rest of the Iles, they never were troubled with any of the Indies. Harbours they have none, but ex- ceeding good Rodes, which with a small charge might bee very well fortified; it doth ebbe and flow foure or five foot, and they cannot perceive there hath ever beene any Herica- no in that Ile.
From the relations of Captaine John White, and Captaine Wolverstone.
CHAP. XXVII.
The first plantation of the Ile of Mevis.
BECAUSE I have ranged and lived amongst those Ilands, what muy authcars cannot tell me, I thinke it no great errour in helping them to tell it my selfe. In this little of Mleris,
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Capt. John Smith.
more than twenty yeares agoe, I have remained a good time together, to wod, and water and refresh my men; it is all woddy, but by the Sea side Southward there are sands like downes, where a thousand men may quarter themselves con- veniently; but in most places the wod groweth close to the water side, at a high water marke, and in some places so thicke of a soft spungy wood like a wilde figge tree, you cannot get through it, but by making your way with hatch- ets, or fauchions: whether it was the dew of those trees, or of some others, I am not certaine, but many of our men be- came so tormented with a burning swelling all over their bodies, they seemed like scalded men, and neere mad with paine; here we found a great Poole, wherein bathing them- selves, they found much ease; and finding it fed with a plea- sant small streame that came out of the woods, we found the head halfe a mile within the land, distilling from a many of rocks, by which they were well cured in two or three dayes. Such factions here we had, as commonly attend such voyages, that a paire of gallowes was made, but Captaine Smith, for whom they were intended, could not be perswaded to vse them; but not any one of the inuenters, but their lives by justice fell into his power, to determine of at his pleasure, whom with much mercy he favoured, that most basely and unjustly would have betrayed him.
The last yeare, 1628. Master Littleton, with some others got a Pattent of the Earle of Carlile, to plant the fle called the Barbados, thirty leagues Northward of Saint Christo- phers; which by report of their informers, and undertakers, for the excellencie, and pleasantnesse thereof, they called Dulcina, but when they came there, they found it such a barren rocke, they left it; although they were told as much before, they would not beleeve it, perswading themselves, those contradicters would get it for themselves, was thus by their cunning opinion, the deceiver of themselves; for seeing it lie conveniently for their purpose in a map, they had not patience to know the goodnesse or badnesse, the inconveni- ence nor probabilities of the quality, nor quantity; which er- rour doth predominate in both of our home-bred adventurers, that will have all things as they conceit and would have it; and the more they are contradicted, the more hot they are; but you may see by many examples in the generall history. how difficult a matter it is, to gather the truth from amongst
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so many forren and severall relations, except you have ex- ceeding good experience both of the Countries, people and their conditions: and those ignorant undertakings, have beene the greatest hinderance of all those plantations.
At last because they would be absolute, they came to Me- vis, a little Ile by Saint Christophers; where they seated themselves, well furnished with all necessaries, being about the number of an hundred, and since increased to an hundred and fifty persons, whereof many were old planters, of Saint Christophers, especially Master Anthony Hinton, and Master Edward Tompson. But because all those Hes for most part are so capable to produce, and in nature like each other. iet this discourse serve for the description of them all. 'Thus much concerning those plantations, which now after all this time, losse, and charge. should they be abandoned, suppres- sed, and dissolved, were most lamentable; and surely seeing they all strive so much about this Tobacco, and that the fraught thereof, and other charges are so great, and so open to any enemie, by that commodity they cannot long subsist,
And it is a wonder to me to see such miracles of mischiefes in men: how greedily they pursue to dispossesse the planters of the Name of Christ lesus, yet say they are Chrisdans, when so much of the world is unpossessed; yea, and better land than they so much strive for, marthering so many Chris- tians, burning and spoiling so many cities, villages, and Countries, and subverting so many kingdomnes, when so much lieth var. or only possessed by a few poore Savages, that more serve the Devill for feare, than God for love; whose ignorance we pretend to reforme, but couetousnesse, hu -. mours, ambition, faction, and pride, hath so many instru- ments, we performe very little to any purpose; nor is there either honour or profit to be got by any that are so vile, to undertake the subversion, or hinderance of any honest in- tended christian plantation.
Now to conclude the travels and adventures of Captaine Smith: how first be planted Virginia, and was sent ashore with about an hundred men in the wilde woods: how he was taken prisoner by the Savages, by the King of Pumaunke tied to a tree to be shot to death, led up and downe their Country to be showed for a wonder; fatted as he thought, for a sacrifice for their Idoll, before whom they conjured him three daves, with strange dances and invocations, then
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Capt. John Smith.
brought him before their Emperor Powhatan, that comman- ded him to be slaine; how his daughter Pocahontas saved his life, returned him to James towne, releeved him and his famished company, which was but eight and thirty to pos- sesse those large dominions; how he discovered all the seve - rall nations, upon the rivers falling into the Bay of Chisu- peucke; stung neere to death with a most poysoned taile of a fish. called Stingray: how Powhatan out of his Country tooke the kings of Pamunnke and Paspahegh prisoners, forc- ed thirty nine of those kings to pay him contribution, sub- . jected all the Savages: how Smith was blowne up with gun -. powder, and returned for England to be cured.
Also how he brought our new England to the subjection of the kingdome of great Britaine; his fights with the Pirats, left alone amongst a many French men of Warre, and his ship ran from him; his Sea-fights for the French against the Spaniards; their bad vsage of him: how in France in a little boat he escaped them; was adrift all such a stormy night at Sea by himselfe, when thirteene French Ships were split, or driven on shore by the lle of Ree, the generall and most of his men drowned, when God to whom be all honour and praise, brought him safe on shore to all their admirations that escaped; you may read at large in his generall history of Virginia, the Summer Mes, and New-England.
CHAP. XXVIII.
The bad life qualities and conditions of Pyrats; and how they taught the Turks and Moores to become men of wurre.
As in all lands where there are many people, there are some theeves, so in all Seas much frequented, there are some pyrats; the most ancient within the memory of threescore yeares was one Callis, who most refreshed himselfe upon the Coast of Wales: Clinton and Pusser his companions, who grew famous, till Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory, hanged them at Wapping: Flemming was as expert and as
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much sought for as they, yet such a friend to his Country, that discovering the Spanish Armado, he voluntarily came to Plimouth, yeelded himselfe freely to my Lord Admirall, and gave him notice of the Spaniards comming: which good warning came so happily and unexpectedly. that he had his pardon, and a good reward; some few Pirats there then re- mained; notwithstanding it is incredible how many great and rich prizes the little barques of the West Country daily brought home, in regard of their small charge; for there are so many difficulties in a great Navy, by wind and weather, victuall, sicknesse, losing and finding one another, they sel- dome defray halfe the charge: but for the grace, state, and defence of the Coast and narrow Seas, a great Navy is most necessary, but not to attempt any farre voyage, except there be such a competent storke, they want not wherewith to furnish and supply all things with expedition; but to the purpose.
After the death of our most gracious Queene Elizabeth, -of blessed memory, our Royall King James, who from his infancy had reigned in peace with all Nations; had no im- ployment for those men of warre, so that those that were rich rested with that they had; those that were poore and had nothing but from hand to mouth, turned Pirats; some, because they became sleighted of those for whom they had got much wealth; some, for that they could not get their due; some, that had lived bravely, would not abase themselves to pover- ty; some vainly, only to get a name; others for revenge, co- vetousnesse, or as ill; and as they found themselves more and more oppressed, their passions increasing with discon- tent, made them turne Pirats.
Now because they grew hatefull to all Christian Princes, they retired to Barbory, where although there be not many good Harbours, but Tunis, Angier, Sally, Memora, and Ti- tiane, there are many convenient Rodes, or the open Sea, which is their chiefe Lordship: For their best harbours Mussalqueber, the townes of Oran, Mellila, Tunger, and Cu- ta, within the Streights, are possessed by the Spaniards; without the Streights they have also Arzella, and Mazagan; Mamora likewise they have lately takea, and fortified .-- Ward a poore English sailer, and Dansker a Dutchman, made first here their starts, when the Moon's Kaew Scarce how to sade a ship: Bishop was Ancient, and oid little hurt:
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but Easton got so much, as made himselfe a Marquesse in Sacoy; and Ward lived like a Bashaw .in Barbary; those were the first that taught the Moores to be men of warre .- Gennings, Harris, Tompson, and divers others, were taken in Ireland, a Coast they much frequented, and died at Wup- ping. Hewes, Bough, Smith, Walsingam, Ellis, Collins, Sawkwell, Wollistone, Barrow, Wilson, Sayres, and divers others, all these were Captaines amongst the Pirats, whom King James mercifully pardoned; and was it not strange, a few of these should command the Seas. Notwithstanding the Malteses, the Pope, Florentines, Genoeses, French, Dutch, and English, Gallies, and Men of Warre, they would rob be- fore their faces, and even at their owne Ports, yet seldome more than three, foure, five or six in a Fleet: many times they had very good ships, and well manned, but commonly in such factions amongst themselves, and so riotous, quarrel- lous, treacherous, blasphemous, and villanous, it is more than a wonder they could so long continue, to doe so much mis- chiefe; and all they got, they basely consumed it amongst Iewes, Turks, Moores, and whores.
The best was, they could seldome goe to Sea, so long as they could possibly live on shore, being compiled of En- glish, French, Dutch, and Moores, (but very few Spanyards, or Italians) commonly running one from another, till they became so disjoynted, disordered, debawched, and miserable. that the Turks and Moores beganne to command them as slaves, and force them to instruct them in their best skill. which many an accursed runnagado, or Christian turned Turke did, till they have made those Sally men, or Moores of Barbary so powerfull as they be, to the terror of all the Straights, and many times they take purchase in the maine Ocean, yea sometimes even in the narrow Seas in England. and those are the most cruel villaines in Turkie, or Barba- rie; whose natives are very noble, and of good natures, in comparison of them.
To conclude, the misery of a Pirate (although many are as sufficient Seamen as any) yet in regard of his superfluity. you shall finde it such, that any wise man would rather live amongst wilde beasts, than them; therefore let all unadvised persons take heed, how they entertaine that quality; and I could wish Merchants, Gentlemen, and all setters forth of ships, not to bee sparing of a competent pay, nor true payment:
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for neither Souldiers nor Sea-men can live without meanes; but necessity will force them to steale; and when they are once entered into that trade, they are hardly reclaimed .-- Those titles of Sea-men and Souldiers, have beene most worthily honoured and esteemed, but now regarded for most part, but as the seumme of the world; regaine there- fore your wonted reputations, and endevour rather to ad- venture to those faire plantations of our English Nation; which however in the beginning were scorned and contemned. yet now you see how many rich and gallant people come from thence, who went thither as poore as any Souldier of Sailer, and gets more in one yeare, than you by Piracie in seven. I intreat you therefore to consider, how many thon- sands yearely goe thither; also how many Ships and Sailers are imployed to transport them, and what custome they yeare- ly pay to our most Royall King Charles, whose prosperity and his Kingdomes good, I humbly bescech the immortal. God ever to preserve and increase. -
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