London:Printed by W. Stansby, for W. Welby.1613.
TO THE TRULY HONORABLE AND RIGHT WORTHY KNIGHT SIR THOMAS SMITH, TREASURER for the Colonies and Companies of VIRGINIA: and Governour of Muscovia, East-India, North-west Passage, and SOMMER Islands Companies.
HONORABLE SIR, the wisest of Men, or rather the wisdom of God tells us, that there is a time for all things (Eccles. 3.1): and that the great God, who at his owne will beganne Time it selfe, doth at his owne time beginne all things else: the foolishnesse of men may aske and muse why this so soone, and that so late? but the wisedome of God knowes what is fit for every time: And surely amongst the sensible signes, and evident demonstrations of Gods all-governing providence, this is the not the least, that he brings not forth his mightie works altogether, but makes every thing beautifull in his time (Eccl. 3.11). And as in his creation he made not al at once, but produced them in their severall daies: so in his gubernation, he reveileth not the knowledge of all things in one Age, but discovers them in the severall ages of the World. And if man aske why God doth thus, holy David gives the answere; The Lord hath so done his marvailous works, that they should be had in remembrance (Psal.111.4); for were they all in one age (such is our corruption) they would bee lesse observed and sooner forgotten, but being declared in their severall times, every Age finds matter to magnifie God: And therefore He whose glorious name is to be praised for ever (Psal. 72.19), reveils some mervailous thing in every generation, that so his name may be prasied from Generation to Generation.
Mans works are for the most part (as Christ saith of the Wine that is served in at feasts) best at first, and afterwards worse: but with God it is cotrarie; for as in the Creation, though every daies worke was good, yet each daies was better then the former, and the last best of all (Gen. 1): So in his dispensation and government of the world, all knowledge was not reveiled, nor all good things made knowne at the first, but day unto day uttereth, and night by night (and why not also, age unto age) teacheth knowledge (Psal. 19.2). And hence is it that as great secrets in nature, and as admirable perfections in art, and as rare inventions, and profitable experiments (every way) are daily discovered in these latter ages, as were in the former. There be not yet two hundred yeares past since the admirable art of Printing was found out (It began about the yeare 1450), an invention so excellent and so usefull, so much tending to the honour of God, the manifestation of the truth, propagation of the Gospell, restoration of learning, diffusion of knowledge, and consequently the discoverie and destruction of Poperie, that the Pope and Popish Politicians wish it had never beene, and have bestowed many a secret curse upon him that first reveiled it; and no mervaile, for it hastens and helps forward his confusion more then all the Mechanicke mysteries in the World. Nor is yet foure hundred yeares agoe, since the superadmirable use of the Loadstone was found out. The attraction of yron unto it was seen by Aristotle, and the Ancients, and it amazed them: But the correspondencie it hath with the Pole-starre, and consequently the excellent use of it for Navigation (being one of the greatest wonders of the world) was not knowne to them: nay, (which is more strange) not the Apostles themselves; for had it beene, surely Saint Paul and his companie had not beene almost halfe a yeare in his voyage betwixt Judaea and Italie, and that through so many difficulties, and at last shipwrack (Acts 27); Nor would it have beene said, that when neither Sunne nor Starre appeared for many dayes, all hope of being saved was taken away (Vers. 20). For when neither Sunne nor Starre appeares; yet by the helpe of this poore dead Creature, the Pilot can tell where he is, and knowes his course, more certainely now in the wide and unmeasurable Ocean, then they could in the narrow Mediterran Sea; and more easily now will an ordinarie Sea-man goe to the West Indies, then S. Paul with all the knowledge God had then reveiled, from Jerusalem to Rome: For howsoever the Lord was miraculously powerfull in the Apostles, and glorious and wonderfull in the Primitive Church, in giving knowledge of tongues, and other learning, and power of miracles, yet he did bound and limit it at his owne pleasure, and reserved this and other of his wonderfull works to be made knowne in the later times, that so all men in all ages may know, that though all things perish, yet God endures; and though all creatures waxe old as a garment, yet He is the same still and for ever (Psa.102.26).
It is yet but a hundreth yeares agoe, that (after the world had scarce dreamed of any other habitable place of the earth, more then Asia, Africke, and Europe) God discovered to vulgar knowledge another, and as it were the new world of America, which if it had beene foretold in the elder ages, millions of men would never have beleeved it. And that we in this present and perverse age may also knowe, that Times and Seasons are in Gods hand (Acts 1), He hath vouchsafed amongst the many excellent inventions and wonderfull discoveries of these times, to make knowne to us of the poore Virginian plantation, and by us to the world, the hidden and long concealed truth, touching the state of the Barmuda Ilands. Who did not thinke till within these foure yeares, but that those Ilands had beene rather a habitation of Divells, then fit for men to dwell in? who did not hate the name when hee was on Land, and shunne the place when he was on the Seas? But behold the misprision and misconceits of the world! For true and large experience hath now told us, it is one of the sweetest Paradises that be upon the earth. Let them hearken to this and make use of it, that mislike all new inventions, and suspect all new discoveries, and hold it for a rule, That whatsoever is new is nought. If any had said seven yeares agoe, the Barmuda Ilands are not only accessible and habitable, but also fertile, fruitfull, plentifull, and a safe, secure, temperate, rich, sweet, and healthfull habitation for Man, and especially for English bodies; oh how loudly would he have beene laught at, and hist out of most mens companies! And yet no more then He would have beene, who foure hundred yeares agoe should have told the world, that by the use and helpe of a stone a man should more safely saile upon the Ocean, round about the earth, then formerly in the narrow Seas: Or then He who two hundred yeares agoe should have said, there was an Art by which all writing of bookes should be saved, and that two men should Print more in a day, then two hundred can write: Or then He who 100. yeares agoe did tell us, there was another world, as it were under our feete, wherein men lived like us, and a richer part of the world then ours. And yet all these are now proved true before our eyes, and all the world can witnesse it, and who is he that feeles not the benefit of these three blessings? Now therefore let the jealous and suspitious world cease his due reproofe, and let God have his due glorie and praise who brings to light things that lie hidde in darknesse, and reveals his mervailous works in his due time. And let the Planters and Patrons of the Virginia Colonies take heart and comfort themselves; for that God, who by discovering these Ilands to them hath delivered the world from that old inveterate errour, and given them the rightfull possession (under God and his Majestie) of so rich so wholesome, and healthfull Ilands, which may be as nurseries to Virginia, hath hereby let the world see that he will uphold that Christian plantation, if men should be so base and beastly to forsake it. But (worthy Sir) if other men were like you, I needed not to make that (If) if all as able as you were willing, and forward as you, wee should soone see a flourishing Christian Church, and Common-wealth in Virginia; But let this be your comfort, there is one that is more able, is also more willing then you, even the God of heaven and earth: it is his worke you manage, and his cause you have in hand; he may worke with comfort that works with God and for God; he that works with God is sure to prevaile; he that works for God is sure to be rewarded. You know good Sir (and you better then many) that He is well kept whom God keepes, and know also that hee shall bee roially rewarded whom God rewards. And know further for your comfort, that though the burden lye upon you and a few more, yet are there many honorable & worthy men of all sorts, who will never shrinke from you: Goe on therefore with courage and constancie, and be assured that though by your Honorable Embassages, and imploiments, and by your charitable & vertouous courses, you have gained a worthy reputation in the world, yet nothing that you ever did or suffred more honours you in the eyes of all that are godly-wise, then your faithfull and unwearied prosecution, your continuall and comfortable assistance of these foraine Plantations. A worke so honorable to God, our Religion, our King, and our Countrie; so comfortable to the Soules of the poor Salvages, and so profitable to the Adventurers (that of Virginia for our Posterities, but this of the Barmudas for the present) as the like (for all these put together) hath not been attempted in the Christian world these many Ages. And because it is the glorie of God to declare his works: I cannot but commend your wisdomes in publishing those strange and welcome newes from the Barmudas: the stile is base and broken, I confesse, but it better beseemes the bare and naked truth. Now then let the Christian world rejoyce to see, that God is worshipped in the Devills Ilands, and that English men live safelie and sweetly there where never any lived before them. It is almost foure yeares agoe since our valorous Commanders Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Sommers, with a hundred and fiftie Persons more, were in a terrible tempest cast away upon these Ilands, and so found it, when they sought it not: and though they suffered shipwrack upon the Rocks that compasse these Ilands (as all other did that ever pitcht upon them) yet were they preserved every man; which never befell any but themselves, such was the favour of God unto them; And there they lived in health and safetie almost a yeare, when all the world held them dead, and had lived there till this day, and for ought we know, for ever, had they not made themselves two little ships of Cedar, in which they went to Virginia, yet leaving two men in the Ilands, whom Sir George Sommers comming back againe from Virginia the same yeare, and our Colonie sent thither the last yeare, found in health and good liking: Our Colonie, consisting of some threescore men, hath now been there almost a yeare, from whom we receive this plaine and simple, but comfortable Narration, and to whom we now send a supply, not of victualls, or such provisions, for they neede none such, but of men and women, for habitation and plantation, which by the blessing of God now goes away this present moneth, there to plant a Christian Church, to endure to the worlds end, where never man dwelt before, since the worlds beginning: Oh happie men who there find God & his Angels, where the world thought had beene nothing, but the Devill and his Swine into which he entered (Math 8;31.32). The God that led them to it, saved them upon it, fed them in it and sends us so comfortable newes from it, still blesse it and defend it, and all his children in it, and all that now or hereafter goe to it, and all that love it, and assist the plantation of Gods Church in it: Peace bee upon them and Mercie, and upon the Israel of God, Amen. And to you my Bretheren that be there and have the honour to lay the first foundation of Gods Church there, and to you much honored Knight, and the rest, who by your care and charge doe beare the burthen, and maintaine the life of such glorious actions which lie neglected in this base and unworthy world; for this your holy and heroiciall resolutions, and your love therein appearing to the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Gospell, to our King and Countrie, I professe and devote my selfe in all offices and duties of a Christian
Your Servant in Christ Jesus.
W.C.
To the Reader.
Good Reader, this is the first Booke published to the world touching Sommer Ilands: but who shall live to see the last? A more full and exact description of the Countrie, and Narration of the nature, site, and commodities, together with a true Historie of the great deliverance of Sir Thomas Gates and his Companie upon them, which was the first discoverie of them; thou maiest surely expect, if God will, to come into thy hands. This short Narration, in the meane time, shall rather prepare thee for it, then prevent thee of it.
Being in ship called the sea-venture, with Sir Thomas Gates our Governour, Sir George Sommers, & Captain Newport, three most worthy honoured Gentlemen, (whose valour and fortitude the world must needes take notice of, and that in most Honourable designes) bound for Virginia, in the height of thirty degrees of northerly Latitude, or thereabouts: we were taken with a most sharpe and cruell storme upon the five and twentieth day of July, Anno 1609. which did not onely separate us from the residue of our fleet, (which were eight in number) but with the violent working of the Seas our ship became so shaken, torne, and leaked, that shee received so much water as covered two tire of hogsheads above the ballast; that our men stood up to the middles, with buckets, baricos, and kettles, to baile out the water, and continually pumped for three dayes and three nights together, without any intermission; and yet the water seemed rather to encrease, then to diminish: in so much that all our men, being utterly spent, tyred, and disabled for longer labour, were even resolved, without any hope of their lives, to shut up the hatches, and to have committed themselves to the mercie of the sea, (which is said to be mercilesse) or rather to the mercie of their mightie God and Redeemer, (whose mercies exceed al his works) seeing no helpe, nor hope, in the apprehension of mans reason, that any mothers childe could escape that inevitable dager, which every man had proposed and digested to himselfe of present sinking. So that some of the having some good and comfortable waters in the ship, fetcht them, and drunke one to the other, taking their last leave one of the other, untill their more joyfull and happy meeting in a more blessed world; when it pleased God out of his most gracious and mercifull providence so to direct and guide our ship, (being left to the mercy of the sea) for her most advantage; that Sir George Sommers sitting upon the poope of the ship, (where he sate three dayes and three nights together, without meales meat, and little or no sleep) couning the ship to keep her as upright as he could (for otherwise shee must needes instantly have foundred) most wishedly and happily descried land; whereupon he most comfortably encouraged the company to follow their pumping, and by no meanes cease bayling out of the water, with their buckets, baricos, and kettles; whereby they were so over-wearied, and their spirits so spent with long fasting, and continuance of their labour, that for the most part they were fallen asleepe in corners, and wheresoever they chanced first to sit or lie; but hearing newes of land, wherewith they grew to be somewhat revived, being caried with will and desire beyond their strength, every man busled up, and gathered his strength and feeble spirits together, to performe as much as their weake force would permitte them: through which weake meanes, it pleased God to worke so strongly as the water was staid for that little time, (which as wee all much feared, was the last period of our breathing) and the ship kept from present sinking, when it pleased God to send her within halfe an English mile of that land that Sir George Sommers had not long before descried: Which were the Ilands of the Barmudas. And there neither did our shippe sincke, but more fortunately in so great a misfortune fell in betweene two rockes, where shee was fast lodged and locked, without further budging: whereby wee gained not only sufficient time, with the present help of our Boate, and skiffe, safelye to set and convey our men ashore, (which were one hundred and fifty in number) but afterwards had time and leasure to save some good part of our goods and provision, which the water had not spoyled, with all the tackling of the ship, and much of the yron about her, which were necessaries not a little availeable for the building and furnishing of a new shippe and pinnace, which we made there, for the transporting and carrying of us to Virginia. But our delivery was not more strange in falling so opportunely and happily upon the land, as our feeding & preservation was beyond our hopes, & all mens expectations, most admirable. For the Ilands of the Barmudas, as every man knoweth that hath heard or read of them, were never inhabited by any Christian or Heathen people, but ever esteemed, and reputed, a most prodigious and inchanted place, affoording nothing but gusts, stormes, and foule weather; which made every Navigator and Mariner to avoide them, as Scylla and Charibdis; or as they would shun the Divell himselfe; and no man was ever heard to make for the place, but as against their willes, they have by stormes and dangerousnesse of the rockes, lying seven leagues into the Sea, suffered shipwracke; yet did we finde there the ayre so temperat, and the Country so abundantly fruitfull of all fit necessaries for the sustentation and preservation of mans life, that most in a manner of all our provisions of bread, beere, and victuall, being quite spoyled, in lying long drowned in salt water; notwithstanding, wee were there for the space of nine moneths (few dayes over) not onely well refreshed, comforted, and with good satietie contented, but out of the abundance thereof, provided some reasonable quantitie and proportion of provision, to carry us for Virginia, and to maintaine our selves, and that companie wee found there, to the great releefe of them, as it fell out in their so great extremities, and in respect of the shortnes of time, untill it pleased God, that by my Lord de la Wars comming thither, their store was better supplied. And greater; & better provision wee might have made, if we had had better meanes for the storing and transportation thereof. Wherefore my opinion sincerely of this Iland is, that whereas it hath beene, and is still accounted, the most dangerous, infortunate, and most forlorne place of the world, it is in truth the richest, healthfullest, and pleasing land, (the quantitie and bignesse thereof considered) and meerely naturall, as ever man set foote upon: the particular profits and benefits whereof, shall be more especially inserted, and hereunto annexed, which everie man to his owne private knowledge, that was there, can avouch and justifie for a truth. Upon the eight and twentieth day of July 1609. (after the extremity of the storme was something qualified) we fell upon the shore at the Barmudas; where after our Generall Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sommers, and Captaine Newport, had by their provident carefulnesse Landed all their men, and so much of the goods and provisions out of the ship, as was not utterly spoyled, everie man disposed and applyed himselfe to search for, and seeke out such releefe and sustentation, as the Countrie afforded: and Sir George Sommers, a man inured to extremities, (and knowing what thereunto belonged) was in this service neither idle nor backward, but presently by his carefull industry went, and found out sufficient of many kind of fishes, and so plentifull thereof, that in half an houre he tooke so many fishes with hookes, as did suffice the whole company one day. And fish is there so abundant, that if a man steppe into the water, they will come round about him; so that men were faine to get out for feare of byting. These fishes are very fat and sweete, and of that proportion and bignesse, that three of them will conveniently lade two men: those we called rock-fish. Besides there are such abundance of Mullets, that with a seane might be taken at one draught one thousand at the least, and infinite store of pilchards, with divers kinds of great fishes, the names of them unknowne to me: of tray fishes very great ones, and so great store, as that there hath beene taken in one night with making lights, even sufficient to feed the whole company a day. The Countrie affordeth great abundance of Hogges, as that there hath beene taken by Sir George Sommers, who was the first that hunted for them, to the number of two and thirty at one time, which he brought to the company in a boate, built by his own hads. There is Fowle in great number upon the Ilands, where they breed, that there hath beene taken in two or three houres, a thousand at the least; the bird being of the bignes of a good Pidgeon, and layeth egges as big as Hen egges upon the sand, where they come and lay them dayly, although men sit downe amongst them; that there hath beene taken up in one morning by Sir Thomas Gates men, one thousand of egges: and Sir George Sommers men, comming a little distance of time after them, have stayed there whilst they came and layed their eggs amongst them, that they brought away as many more with them; with many young birds very fat and sweet. Another Sea fowle there is that lyeth in little holes in the ground, like unto a cony-hole, and are in great numbers, exceeding good meate, very fat and sweet (those we had in the winter) and their eggs are white, and of that bignesse, that they are not to be knowne from Hens egges. The other birds egges are speckled, and of a different colour: there are also great store and plenty of Herons, and those so familiar and tame, that wee beate them downe from the trees with stones and staves; but such were young Herons: besides many white Herons, without so much as a blacke or gray feather on them; with other small birds so tame and gentle, that a man walking in the woods with a sticke, and whistling to them, they wil come and gaze on you, so, so neare that you may strike and kill many of them with your sticke; and with singing and hollowing you may doe the like. There are also great store of Tortoses, (which some call Turtles) and those so great, that I have seene a bushell of egges in one of their bellies, which are sweeter then any Henne egge: and the Tortose it selfe is all very good meate, and yeeldeth great store of oyle, which is as sweete as any butter; and one of them will suffice fifty men a meale, at the least: and of these hath beene taken great store, with two boates, at the least forty in one day. The Country yeeldeth divers fruits, as prickled peares, great aboundance, which continue greene upon the trees all the yeare; also great plenty of Mulberries, white and red: and on the same are great store of Silke-wormes, which yeeld cods of silke, both white and yellow, being some course, and some fine. And there is a tree called a Palmito tree, which hath a very sweet berry, upon which the hogs doe most feede; but our men finding the sweetnesse of them, did willingly share with the hogs for them, they being very pleasant and wholesome, which made them carelesse almost of any bread with their meate; which occasioned us to carry in a manner all that store of flower and meale wee did or could save, for Virginia. The head of the Palmito tree is verie good meate, either raw or sodden, it yeeldeth a head which weigheth about twentie pound, and is farre better meate, then any cabbidge. There are an infite number of Cedar trees, (the fairest I thinke in the world) and those bring forth a verie sweet berrie, and wholesome to eate. The Countrey (for as much as I could finde my self, or heare by others) affords no venimous creature, or so much as a Rat or Mouse, or any other thing unwholesome. There is a greate store of Pearle, and some of them very faire, round, and Orientall; and you shall finde at least one hundred seede of Pearle in one Oyster; there hath beene likewise found some good quantitie of Amber Greece, and that of the best sort. There are also great plentie of Whales, which I conceave are very easie to bee killed, for they come so usually, and ordinarilie to the shore, that wee heard them oftentimes in the night a bed; and have seene many of them neare the shoare, in the day time. There was borne upon the Barmudas, as the time of our being there, two children, the one a man child, there baptised by the name of Barmudas: and a woman childe, baptised by the name of Barmuda: as also there was a marriage between two Englsh people upon that Iland. This Iland, I meane the maine Iland, with all the broken Ilands adjacent, are made in the forme of a halfe Moone, but a little more rounder, and divided into many broken Ilands, and there are many good harbours in it, but we could find but one especiall place to goe in, or rather to goe out from it, which was not altogether free from some Danger, where there is three Fathoms water at the entrance thereof, but within, sixe, seaven, or eight Fathoms at the least, where you may safely lie Land-locked, from the daunger of all Winds and Weathers, and moore to the Trees. The comming into it is so narrow & straight betweene the Rockes, as that it will with small store of Munition bee fortified, and easily defended, against the forces of the Potentest King of Europe, such advantage the place affoords. There are also plentie of Hawkes, and verie good Tobacco, as I thinke, which through forgetfulnesse, I had almost omitted. Now having finished and rigged our ship, and Pinnesse, the one called the Deliverance, the Pinnace which wee built there, the Patience, wee prepared and made our selves readie, to ship for Virginia, having powdred some store of Hogges flesh for provision thither, and the company thereof, for some reasonable time: but were compelled to make salt for the same purpose, for all our salt was spent and spoiled, before wee recovered the shore. We carried with us also a good portion of Tortoise-oyle, which either for frying or baking did us very great pleasure, it being very sweete, nourishing, and wholesome: the greatest defects we found there, was tarre and pitch for our ship and pinnace, in stead whereof wee were forced to make lime there of a hard kinde of stone, and use it: which for the present occasion and necessitie, with some wax wee found cast up by the Sea, from some shipwracke, served the turne to pay the seames of the pinnace Sir George Sommer built, for which hee had neither pitch nor tarre: so that God in supplying of all our wants, beyond all measure, shewed himselfe still mercifull unto us, that we might accomplish our intended voyage to Virginia, for which I confidently hope, hee doth yet reserve a blessing in store, and to the which I presume every honest and religious hart will readily give their Amen. When all thinges were made ready, and commodiously fitted, the winde comming faire, wee set saile and put off from the Barmudas, the tenth day of May, in the yeare 1610. and arrived at James towne in Virginia, the foure and twentieth day of the same Moneth: where we found some threescore people living. And being then some three weekes or there abouts passed, and not hearing of any supply, it was thought fitting by a generall cosent, to use the best means for the preservation of all those people that were living, being al in number two hundred persons. And so upon the eight of June one thousand six hundred and ten, wee imbarked at James Towne, not having above fourteene dayes victuall, and so were determined to direct our course for New-found-land, there to refresh us, and supply our selves with victuall, to bring us home; but it pleased God to dispose otherwise of us, and to give us better meanes. For being all of us shipped in foure pinnaces, and departed from the towne, almost downe halfe the River, we met my Lord de la Warre comming up the with three ships, wel furnished with victuall, which revived all the company, and gave them great content. And after some few dayes, my Lord understanding of the great plentie of Hogges and Fish was at the Barmudas, and the necessitie of them in Virginia, was desirous to send thither, to supply himselfe with those things, for the better comforting of his men, and the plantation of the Countrey. Whereupon Sir George Sommers being a man best acquainted with the place, and being willing to do service unto his Prince and Countrey, without any respect of his own private gaine, and being of threescore yeares of age at the least, our of his worthy and valiant minde, offered himselfe to undertake to performe with Gods helpe that dangerous voyage for the Barmudas, for the better releefe and comfort of the people of Virginia, and for the better plantation of it, which offer my Lord de la Warre very willingly and thankfully accepted: and so upon the nineteenth of June, Sir George Sommers imbarked himselfe at James towne in a small Barge of thirtie tonne, or thereabout, that he built at the Barmudas: wherein hee laboured from morning untill night, as duelie as any workeman doth labour for wages, and built her all with Cedar, with little or no yron worke at all: having in her but one boult, which was in the kilson: notwithstanding thankes be to God, shee brought us in safety to Virginia, and so I trust he will protect him, and send him wel back againe, to his harts desire, and the great comfort of all the company there.
Being bound for the Sommer Ilands, in the shippe called the Plough, wee imbarked the 28. of Aprill 1612. So passing downe to Gravesend, wee anchored at Tilbery-hope untill the fifth of May. The winde comming faire, wee put foorth and came to the Downes the sixth of May, where we stayed till the ninth. And then setting forward, wee had a faire and comfortable passage, and by Gods blessing found so direct a course, that on the eleventh of July in the morning betwixt nine and ten of the clocke wee discried our hoped and desired Ilands, and in the afternoone of the same day about three a clocke we arrived in a very safe harbour neare S. Georges Iland, there we landed all our men and women, and had beene at an anchor above an houre before wee could heare of our three men which had been left there. As soone as we had landed all our company, we went all to prayer, and gave thankes unto the Lord for our safe arrivall; and whilest we were at prayer, wee saw our three men come rowing downe to us, the sight of whom did much rejoyce us: so they welcoming us, and we the like to them againe, we sung a Psalme and praised the Lord for our safe meeting, and went to supper.
The next day being the Sabbath day, which wee dedicated to God in the best manner we could, wee abode still in the foresaid Iland with all the rest of our company till munday morning, being the thirteenth of July: then we went up with our ship and company higher into the harbour, to the place where these three men had planted themselves. And wheras many English men would have thought that wee should have found these three men either dead, or more like savage then civill, I assure you al my friends and acquaintance, (and so generally to all my country men in England) we found them civill, honest and religious, and making conscience of their waies: you shall not heare an oath proceed out of their mouths; vaine and idle talke they used not: and it seemed apparantly unto our eyes that they have not beene idly given. For howsoever to be but three of them left in such a desolate place not inhabited, nor assured of any to come to them: would have made most men fainted in any thing they should have took in had: yet was it not so with these me: nay they shewed unto us a good example, who are now come to them. For they have planted corne, great store of Wheate, Beanes Tobacco and Mellons, with many other good things for the use of man: besides they have wrought upon timber, in squaring and sawing of Cedar trees, for they intended to build a small Pinnace to carry them into Virginia, being almost out of hope and comfort of our comming; because Captaine Davies his time was to have beene with them long before we came. And thus they spent their time in labor, imploying themselves in one good action or other.
Now to certifie you the truth of the state of the Country, I am loath to write that which I have seene, by reason you would condemne my writing (as I feare) and thinke it to be but false reports come from us to draw more company hither, for I perceive the world is give too much to such surmises. But why should I feare to write that which I know to be true, when as all the shippes company will or may approve it, but cannot reprove it: As first the Captaine, the Master and his Mate, and all the rest of the Saylors: first I will begin with the Fish and Fowle which the Countrey doth yeeld.
We were not sooner come within a league of the land, but a company of Fish, as it were, met us, and never left us til we were come to an ankor within the harbour; and as soone as we had passed over our busines, and all things safe and in order, with a hooke and line wee tooke more then all our whole company was able to eate, so that there was enough to feed many more. The next day after the Sabbath wee went with our net and boat, and if we would have loaded two boats we might; and so may you doe day by day, Fishes doe so abound, and they be of these sorts, Mullets, Breames, Hogge-fish, Rock-fish and Lobstars, with more sorts of other Fish which I cannot name.
Turkles there bee of a mightie bignesse; one Turkle will serve or suffice three or foure score at a meale, especially if it be a shee Turkle, for she will have as many egges as will suffice fiftie or threescore at a meale; this I can assure you, they are very good and wholesome meate, none of it bad, no not so much as the very good guts and maw of it, for they are exceeding fat, and make as good tripes as your beastes bellies in England. And for Fowle wee went the third day of our arrivall unto the Bird-Ilands (as we call them) and using neither sticke nor stone-bow, nor gunne, wee tooke them up with our hands so many as we would that every one of the company were to have some three, some foure a peece; three for a childe, boy or girle, for a man foure; then reckon what those that served some fourescore people did amount unto. But this is for certaine, if we would have brought away twice so many more wee might, but our order is not to take Fish or Fowle but for one or two meales, because that by reason of the flies, and heate of the countrey, they will not keepe, especially these two monthes, June and July, and some part of August.
Some sixe dayes after our comming, we sent out for Hogges, so the company which went out brought home some: for the meate of them, I hould your mutton of England not of so sweet and pleasant a taste.
Fowles there are of divers sorts, but amongst all there is a bird like unto yours, which you call in England a Crow, which though they talke in the Barmuda language, yet their tongues shall walke as fast as any English womans: wee cannot goe up into the woods, but they will follow after us with such an outcry, that it would fret a man to heare them; they are very good meate, fat, and as white flesh as a Chicken, we many times make some of them leave their talking with stones or cudgels, for they will sit and face you hard at your hand.
And whereas it is reported that this Land of the Barmudas, with the Ilands about it (which are many, at the least an hundred) are inchanted and kept with evill and wicked spirits; it is a most idle and false report. God grant that we have brought no wicked spirits with us, or that there comes none after us, for we found none there so ill as our selves, nor the three men never saw any evill or hurtfull thing in the Land all the time since their comming, and wee have found the like since our landing: no nor any noysome thing or hurtfull, more then a poore flie which tarries not above two or three moneths.
For the inclination of the weather, considering in what climate it lies, wee have had for the space of some fortie dayes no raine, but very coole and fresh gales of winde, yet in the day-time very hotte; but wee agree with it very wel, and not a man that hath lien sicke or diseased, but all likes well, and followes & imployes themselves to one businesse or other.
For the fruits which the Land yeelds, they bee the Mulberie, great store, and Peares which have in them a red liquor, as the Pomgranat hath, or somewhat redder, but very wholesome: if you eat an hundred at one time, you shall never surfet of them; if you eat som proportion of them they will bind, but if you exceed in eating of them, then are they of the contrary operation: yet never any that hurt themselves by them, eat they never so many. It is certaine that one man eat above a peck of them in some ten houres and was never the worse. We have a kinde of Berrie upon the Cedar tree, verie pleasant to eat; and for the Palmito tree, the top of it is a great deale sweeter and wholesomer then any Cabadge.
In some of our Ilands there growes Pepper, but not so good as our Indian Pepper: divers sorts of other good things there is, which the severall times of the yeare bring forth one after another; but the top of the Palmito tree is in season and good all the yeare.
For the ground; I hold it the richest ground to beare forth fruit, (whatsoever one shall lay into it) that is in the world, and very easie and light for digging; so that if a man wil labour, he may turne up a great quantitie in a day, for it is a fat sandy ground, & of colour a browne red.
After the time of our landing many of the company digged certaine plats of ground, and sowed divers sortes of seedes to make triall of the ground, and for certaine they were seen above the ground sprung up the fourth day after their sowing: and amongst all the rest of the seeds, the Cowcumber and the Mellon were forward: we have set and sowed fourscore and one sorts of seeds, it was ten dayes before the shippes comming away, and for the most part they are all come up.
Of necessitie I must needs mention the Palme-tree once againe, I have found it so good; take a hatchet and cut him, or an augur and bore him, and it yeelds a very pleasant liquour, much like unto your sweete wines; it beares likewise a berry in bignes of a prune, and in taste much like.
Also we have Olives grow with us, but no great store: many other good excellent things we have grow with us, which this short time will not permit me to write of so largely as I might; but this is of truth, that Hogges, Turkles, Fish and Fowle doe abound as dust of the earth: for Amber-greece and Pearle wee have not had leasure in so few dayes since our arrivall to goe looke out for the one, or to fish for the other, but the three men which were left there, have found of them both. Also they have made a great deale of Tobacco, and if some would come that have skill in making it, it would bee very commodious both to the Merchant, and to the maker of it. And for the Silke-worme, if any were brought over, and some skill to use them, there would be very much good done with them, for the verie Spider in these our Ilands doth weave perfect fine Silke, both yellow and white.
The timber of the Countrey consisteth of three sorts, the one is the Cedar, verie fine Timber to worke upon, of colour redde, and verie sweete: the other sorts wee have no name for, for there is none in the company hath seene the like in other Countries, before we came, some did thinke it to be Lignum vitae, but it is not so, it is verie fine wood, of colour yellow, and it beares a leafe like unto a Walnut, and the rine or barke is much like a Walnut tree, and the barke, if one taste of it, will bite ones tongue, as if it were Ginney Pepper, that wood also is very sweet; the other is much like unto the second, but onely it is white; the palme-tree is not timber, but it growes up of a great height, and no tree growes like unto it; for other trees as they grow up in length, so they grow in bignesse, but the Palme-tree the higher it growes, so the smaller it growes: there is another kinde of wood, which some also thinke is Lignum vitae, and some of it is come over for example.
Other kinde of trees there be, but no timber trees they are; but amongst all the rest there growes a kinde of tree called Mangrowes, they grow very strangely, & would make a man wonder to see the manner of their growing, whereof you shall heare at more leasure.
Also amongst al the sorts of Fish, there is one very strange Fish, and bewtifull to behold, wee call it an Angell-fish (as well it may be) for as you see the picture of an Angell make, so is this, and it shewes of many colours both in the water swimming, and out of the water, and as daintie a fish of meat as a Salmon, or rather better.
The plentifull time of our fruits is in your Winter, from October till it be May, or about the latter end of May is the plentifullest time of our fruits, but some we have al the yeare of one fruit or other.
The Climate I hold to be verie good, and agreeable with our constitutions of England, and for the victuall very wholesome and good: for the three men which were left there are very fat and faire, not tanned or burned in the Sun so much as we which came last, & they say theselves they never were sicke all the time of their being there, and one of them hath beene there three yeares and upwards, (one Christopher Carter by name, a Buckingham-shire man, borne in Wickham or thereabouts.)
And for such extraordinarie weather, for thunder and lightning, as it is reported of these Ilands, I can see no such matter, but more temperate and better weather then you have in England: we have gone a hunting, and lien out night by night for Hogges: and if wee had beene wette by weather or by wading, wee may lay us downe so wette to sleepe with a Palme-tree leafe or two under us, and one above us, and we sleepe soundly without any taking cold or being disturbed with any thing else: your aires in England are far more subject to diseases then these Ilands are.
Whales there are great store at that time of the yeare, when they come in, which time of their comming is in Februarie, and tarrie till June. Likewise there commeth in two other Fishes with them, but such, as the Whale had rather bee without their company; one is called a Sword-fish, the other a Threasher: the Sword-fish swimmes under the Whale, and pricketh him upward; the Threasher keepeth above him and with a mightie great thing like unto a flaile, hee so bangeth the Whale, that hee will roare as though it thundered, and doth give him such blowes, with his weapon, that you would thinke it to be a cracke of great shot.
Hastie occasion of businesse doth make mee write somewhat hastilie, and leave out many things which were fitte to bee spoken of, wherefore against my will I am forced to leave my worke, which I have begunne, before I come into the middest of it, but I hope it will suffice you that are my friends to passe it over in the best manner you can, for there is much broken English of it, & badly penned: regard I pray you the matter, not the manner, the truth of the storie, and not the stile.
But this I say to them that have adventured in Virginia, especially to such as thinke they shall lose by that worthy action: let them do the like to us, and I make no doubt but wee shall in short time give them satisfaction.
For our Inchanted Ilands which is kept, as some say, with spirits, will wrong no friend or foe, but yeeld all men their expectations:
If we can praise God for so great a blessing and labour to make benefit of it to his glory, the honour of our Religion, the strength of our Country, and good of our selves. And if you in England will do what is fit for you, as we will, by Gods helpe, what is fit for us, we hope shortly to see the day that men shal say, Blessed bee God that suffered Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Sommers to be cast away upon these Ilands.
We who have here under subscribed our names, being by the great goodnesse of God safely arrived at the Sommer Ilands, with purpose here to inhabit, doe hereby promise and binde our selves to the performance of the severall Articles hereafter following, and that in the presence of the most glorious God, who hath in mercie brought us hither.
First, We doe faithfully promise, and by these presents solemnly binde our selves ever-more to worship that aforesaid only true and ever-living God, who hath made the Heavens, and the Earth, the Sea, and all that therein is, and that according to those rules that are prescribed in his most holy Word, and ever to continue in that faith into the which we were baptised in the Church of England, and to stand in defence of the same against all Atheists, Papists, Anabaptists, Brownists, and all other Heretiques and Sectaries whatsoever, dissenting from the said Word and Faith.
Secondly, because the keeping of the Sabboth-day holy is that wherein a principall of Gods worship doth consist, and is as it were the Key of all the other parts thereof, wee doe therefore in the presence aforesaid promise, That we will set a-part all our owne labours and imploiments on that day, unlesse it be those that be of meere necessitie, much more vaine and unfruitfull practises, and apply our selves to the hearing of Gods word, Prayer, and all other exercises of Religion in his word required, to the uttermost of our power.
Thirdly, Seeing the true worship of God and a holy Life cannot bee severed, wee doe therefore promise in the presence aforesaid, That to the uttermost of our power we will live together in doing that which is just, both towards God and Man, and in particular we will forbeare to take the most holy name of God in vaine, in ordinarie swearing by it, or any other thing, or by scoffing, or vaine abusing of his most holy Word, or to use cursing or filthy speeches, or any other thing forbidden in Gods most holy Word, as also to live together without stealing one from another, or quarrelling one with another, or slandering one of another: And to avoide all things that stand not with the good estate of a Christian Church and well governed Commonwealth, as also to embrace the contrarie, as Justice, and Peace, Love, and all other things that stand with the good and comfort of Societie.
Fourthly, Whereas we are here together farre remote from our native soile of England, and yet are indeed the naturall Subjects of our most royall and gratious King JAMES of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. We doe therefore in the presence aforesaid solemnely promise ever more to continue the loyall Subjects of our said Soveraigne King, his Heires and Successors, and never to revolt from him, or them, unto any other whatsoever, but ever-more to acknowledge his Supreme Government.
Fiftly, Whereas wee were sent hither by divers Adventurers of the Citie of London, and other parts of the Realme of England, we doe here in the presence aforesaid promise to use all diligence for the good of the Plantation, and not to purloine or imbesell any of the prohibited Comodities out of the generall estate, but to use all faithfulnesse as it becommeth Christians to doe, as also to bee obedient to all such Governour or Governours, or their Deputie or Deputies, as are, or shall bee by them sent to governe us; As also to yeeld all reverence towards the Ministerie or Ministers of the Gospell, sent, or to be sent.
Sixtly and lastly, Wee doe here in the presence aforesaid promise, the Lord assisting us, that if at any time hereafter any forraine power shall attempt to put us out of this our lawfull possession, not cowardly to yeeld up the same, but manfully to fight as true English men, for the defence of the Common-wealth we live in, and Gospell wee professe, and that whiles we have breath we will not yeeld to any, that shall invade us upon any conditions whatsoever.
FINIS.