Virginia Impartially examined, and left to publick view, to be considered by all Judicious and honest men. Virginia Impartially examined, and left to publick view, to be considered by all Judicious and honest men.

VIRGINIAImpartially examined, and left to publick view, to be considered by all Judicious, and honest men. Under which Title, is comprehended the Degrees from 34 to 39, wherein lyes the rich and healthfull Countries of Roanock, the now Plantations of Virginia and Mary-land. Looke not upon this BOOKE, as those that are set out by private men, for private ends; for being read, you'l find, the publick good is the Authors onely aime. For this Piece is no other then the Adventurers or Planters faithfull Steward, disposing the Adventure for the best advantage, advising people of all degrees, from the highest Master, to the meanest Servant, how suddenly to raise their fortunes. Peruse the Table, and you shall finde the way plainely layd downe. By WILLIAM BULLOCK, Gent.

19 April, 1649. Imprimatur, Hen: Whaley. LONDON: Printed by John Hammond and are to be sold at his house over-against S. Andrews Church in Holborne. 1649.

To the Right Honourable, the Earle of Arundel and Surrey, and the Lord Baltamore.

HAD those worthy Gentlemen been so happie, to have laboured for the setling a just & equall Government, and designing the best advantages, as in discovering the Countrey, this labour had beene spared; Wherefore he humbly prayes, that you'l looke on this Piece as through a Prospective, by which you have these places rendred at a neerer distance, & you may easily find the impediments of their happinesse; which, with as much ease as turning of the Glasse, you may remove farre off, or out of sight: I must confesse, 'tis some boldnesse for a private person to deale with Governments; but when you shall finde I speake your thoughts, for having Justice impartially dealt, and this from a smarting sence of injustice done, I am confident you'l excuse me, and the rather, for that I have shortened your Lordships studies, which as I have often heard, are for settling such a Government in these places, as might keep the Ballance even: and if your Lordships, upon perusall, shall find me onely to aime at the Generall good, I am confident you'l owne me to be,

TO THE GOVERNOUR AND Councell of Virginia, Health and Prosperity.

What your rules of Government or Justice now are I know not, but what they were you'll find in the ensuing discourse, wherein I struck at no mans person, but at the generall abuse. I can speak knowingly of some of your indeavours in former times for Reformation; to which you'll find the way laid down, which may be done without eclipsing any power above you: it is proposed for absolute Freemen, or a people under a higher power; 'tis a becomming garment, and strongly put together: if you shall put it on, it will beautifie the body of your little Common-Wealth, and make all men in love to dwell with you. When you have read this over, you'll find my love hath swallowed up my losse, and that there is nothing more desired, then the flourishing prosperity of unparalelled Virginia, by

To his much esteemed Friends, M. Samuel Vassell, Captaine Richard Cranley, Captaine Thomas Davis, Captaine Benjamin Cranley, Captaine William Ryder, Captaine Peter Andrews, and the rest of the Gentlemen Adventurers to the English Plantations beyond Sea.

Divers of you having been pleased, to think me able to advise in Cases of this nature, (when in truth, I have been more inabled by your questions put, then you could by my resolves) I determined to joyn my own experience with such Collections I had made from you, to compose a Tract, which might be usefull; wherein I intended to shew, how Love, Profit, and Pleasure might be raised, and after maintained by a sweet and orderly Government; and this is that which I present yee: sure I am, if you weigh it well, 'twill be like a pleasant Garden, where you may gather simples for many speciall uses: and although the Scene be laid in Virginia, yet it may be applied to divers other places. Pray believe, I have not done this for the advantage of telling you in Print, I am your Servant; but the necessity of a Work of this nature, at this time, there never being any before, spur'd me on: And since in this, I do but trace your Worships, in labouring for the publick good, I doubt not but you'll entertain it kindly, and give the Author leave to style himselfe,

To his much honored Friends, the Knights and Gentlemen that importuned this Worke.

HAD you given me more time, I should have been larger in your satisfaction, but this is what six nights could produce, which time you know is all I had; and of this, the recollecting and reading my ancient studies took up much: but what is done (upon examination) you'l find is clear and true: and having finished the work, feare (lest some materiall thing should be omitted) would not let me sleep, when at last I found I had forgot to tell you that I am,

This small Worke is undertaken for the generall good, as well of the Inhabitants, as the Adventurers, and therefore requires a familiar pen, and plain matter, more then height of style: the Author had rather do good, then be commended; therefore refused to let the Work be ushered in by the commendation of others: he is not ignorant, what a slight esteem this place hath amongst the generality of the people, and knowes a good name is sooner lost then recovered, and that when men joyn with common fame to destroy a good work, the Devill hath got a victory; wherein 'tis extreamly considerable, how great an enemy he hath alwayes been to the Planting of the Gospell, especially in places where (as here) the Natives own him for their God. Therefore let no man wonder, the good of this place hath been so much obstructed, since now they know by whom. I have in this place lost some thousands of pounds, yet cannot harbour an ill opinion, since I am fully satisfied, the fault was onely in the men I trusted, and this hath been every losers condition: wherefore let the Countrey suffer no longer under our hard censures; Good Laws duly executed, will make good men, and quickly change the aspect of these places, there wanting nothing else under God to make them flourish. Ambition, amongst other things, hath been none of the least hindrence. Therefore he doth advise all such as intend to be labourers in this Harvest, to study meeknesse, and the generall good: for if it be well considered, 'tis much better to be equall to, then a Justice of Peace, in which sense he speakes himself; and if thou beest such, then he's thine,

The principall Motive, that drew the Author to this Worke, was,

That finding many Gentlemen have unsetled themselves, with a desire to better their fortunes in remote places, and in this condition, inquisitive after the severall Plantations abroad, to the end they might make choice of the best, in which they are much troubled with the various relations both by books and men, whose onely aime is to draw all men to themselves; and to further that Work, are liberall to abuse all other places but their own: by which means men are disperst abroad in severall small numbers, at great distances from each other, which is very uncomfortable and disconsolate, whereas if they had been all directed to any one good place, they might have been in this time a great and flourishing people: and finding also (without disparaging of other places) that this Countrey of Virginia is abundantly stored with what is by all men aimed at, viz. Health and Wealth, so that there wants nothing to their happinesse that go over, but good Instructions, which were never yet endeavoured, more then to shew the place; I thought that man that should kindly take the stranger by the hand, and lead him to it, shewing him not onely the richest Mines, but also how to dig them, would deserve much thanks.

I cannot omit, by way of Caution to my deere Countrey-men, to admonish them,

That at this time there is much strugling to draw men to new Plantations, never yet seated; and if they will peruse the books that have been set forth in the Infancy of the most of our English Plantations abroad, they shall see with what losse and dangers they have beene setled; viz. by having their ships cast away, for want of knowledge of the place; by want of food, till supplies; by strange diseases, never before heard of; by Divisions and Factions amongst themselves, and an innumerable of other Incidents happening to them, whereby the places have beene severall times deserted, and again Planted, before ever we could keep our footing.

Wherefore, I shall advise all men to make use of other mens wofull experience, and to dispose themselves to such places as are already Planted, where all difficulties are now overcome.

THe Lands and Bounds-- The temperature of the Ayre-- in 1. Roanock. 2. Virginia. 3. Maryland. page 2.

What this Countrey affords, of Beasts, Fowles, Birds, and Fish, for foode, and commoditie.-- viz. 1. Beasts for foode. p. 4. 2. Beasts of prey. 5. 3. Fowles and Birds for foode. ibid. 4. Birds for delight. 6. 5. Birds of prey. ibid. 6. Fish, for foode and commoditie. ibid. 7. For present use, and spending. ibid.

The true reason, how this Countries prosperitie hath been hindered, which is tearmed the Countries Disease, which hath beene-- viz. 1. By the Government. p. 10 2. By the Commoditie that they have alwayes made their Staple. 11 3. By not raysing Commodities, to drive a Trade for Ships. ibid. 4. By miscarriage of good designes for Staple Commodities. 12 5. By the Indians. ibid. 6. By malitious slanders. 13 7. By the unfitnesse of the people transported. 14

How the Countrey may be recovered.-- viz. 1. By an equall Government; and that Government proposed. p. 18 2. By raysing Commodities, for the constant imployment of Shipping; which hath made New-England and Barbados flourish, and will quickly doe this, there being much more advantage in the place. 30 3. By fixing upon Corne, Rice, Rape-seed, and Flax; and all the rest of the rich Commodities examined, & how and when to be falne upon, bt for the present layd by, with the reasons. 33

A Scale, whereby, after the proportion of 10. li. stock, all men may know how to lay out their money for advantage.-- viz. 1. How they shall lay it out in England. p. 35 2. How they shall dispose of themselves when they come over into the Countrey. 36 3. What & how much ground they shal plough and sowe, and with what. 38 4. What their first years Crop may produce in the Countrey. 40 5. If they will send it for England, what it shall produce there, and how to insure it. 6. What they may be worth the third yeare. ibid.

How Passengers may be best transported, for Health, and Charge.-- viz. 1. By the old way, with the convenience and inconvenience. p. 46 2. How to goe in the old way, and yet save a third part of the Charge. 48 3. A Victualling proposed for the Planter, in his Voyage thither. 49 4. To goe by New-England Ships. 50 5. The best, and the neerest way, to goe by New-found-land Ships, in March, April, or May, where you may goe at halfe the old Charges. ibid.

When the Gentlemen are over in the Countrey, how they shal dispose of themselves till they be setled. 51

A great Incouragement both for Masters and Servants.-- Shewing, How Masters shall imploy their Servants to their best profit, without their oversight, or trouble. 53 How Servants shall worke for their Masters, and themselves, without hard labour. 54

How to reclaime the Indians.-- viz. 1. Wherein is first considered Love. p. 54 2. Force 55 It being not to be done either of these two wayes, 3. A third way is proposed. ibid.

The Authors offer to all men; by which they'l finde he's unbyast, and in this Worke hath no private ends.

He freely offereth to all that shall be desirous to be further satisfied, concerning any particular mentioned in this Booke, or shall meet with any Objections to any thing therein propounded, to repaire to the Author, who will cleare all Doubts, and shew them the best and newest Draught, or Plot, of the Countrey.

Reade this first, the Worke next.

Before you cast your eye upon the Worke it self, look stedfastly upon the Author (and as thou likest him give him credit) whilst he tells thee that he was never in this Place himself he writes of with such confidence; and therefore before he began, he had many strugling thoughts within him, perswading and disswading. But when he considered, it is no new thing, out of collections to make up the Historie of a Kingdom; And that the work is not so much to set out the Country (it having been already done by many experienced men) as to take off that Odium, that malitious tongues have thrown upon it; By discovering the true grounds and reason why the prosperitie thereof hath beene so long obstructed, and to apply a perfect cure to it: As also having warrant, that the Places are what he sets them forth, from the discoveries of M. Heriot, M. Laine, and Captaine Smith, Printed neer forty yeares since, and divers severall Bookes lately Printed; and also, having discoursed severally, and at severall times, with Captaine Mathewes, Captaine Peirce, Captaine Willoughby, Captaine Clabourne, and divers others the principall men of that Country, here in England, about nine yeares since, and his own father living there above twelve years, besides Captaine Andrewes, Captaine Douglas, Captaine Pryn, Captaine Russell, and divers other Captaines and Masters of Ships, that have constantly used that Trade; and lastly, 20 yeares experience of his own, bought with 5000. li. he hopes all cause of doubt will be layed aside.

There having beene already so many Bookes publisht of Gods blessings upon these Places both for Health and Riches, I shall not need to trouble the Reader therewith; the rather, for that the principall end of this Worke is, Man-Midwife like, to preserve the Mother already in Travell, and bring the Child lively into the World, advising how to cherish it in the growth, untill it have strength to provide itselfe, wherefore I shall but give a short touch of them: And first,

Of the Lands and Bounds.

The Continent is upon the East bounded with the North and East Sea, garnished with many delicate Islands of severall Magnitudes, and to the West it hath no bounds, untill you come to the West and South Sea, which is many miles over: on the South side is many thousand miles of Land, on the North is Land to New-England, and many thousand miles further: the distance betweene Mary-land and New-England, is not above 200 miles by Land, and in this distance there are many English planted, insomuch, that there are Posts which go by Land betweene Virginia and New-England.

The Country is full of Hills and Dales, and fine Prospects, and towards the Sea in Virginia very levell, yet not without pleasant ascendings, and descendings, but not of height to be called Hills: the body of the Country from the River is generally woody, but not like ours in England, for they are so cleare from Under-woods, that one may be seen above a mile and a half in the Wood, and the Trees stands at that distance, that you may drive Carts or Coaches between the thickest of them, being clear from boughs a great height, yet in the Summer they agree that the Sun shall injure none that puts himself under their protection, whilst he refresheth himself with Strawberries & Grapes of a most delicious taste, which grow there in abundance. There be many fair Navigable Rivers, Rivelets and Springs, imbrodered with fresh Marshes and Medows, very delightfull to the prospect, sending forth exceeding sweet and pleasant favours that perfume the Ayre, from the Sasafras, Strawberrie, & naturall Flowers; all which well considered, this place may well deserve the name of the New-Paradice.

Whosever desire to see the Draught of this Country, may looke into Smiths Travells, or into Mercators Atlas, and there he shall see the whole Continent.

The soyle is a rich black Mould, for two foot deep, and under it a Loame, of which they make a fine Brick, and with it plaister their Houses within, & cover it over with Lime made of Oyster-shells, which is much harder and more durable then our Lime in England, made of Chaulke, and of which there is plenty: the out-side of their Houses they commonly cover with Board, or case them with Brick.

The next in consideration, is the temperature of the Ayre.

TO speak first of the most Southerly Climat, viz. from the degree of 34 to 36, the Aire is extream pleasant & wholsome, as it was found by M. Ralph Laine, M. Heriot and others, who with their Company sat down upon the Island of Roanock, which is a little to the Southward of that place in Virginia, where now the English are planted, in the year 1585, and continued there one year: the Winter is very little, but 'tis to be observed, that as you passe from one degree to th'other Northerly, the Winter growes stronger and longer; this place is but now upon Planting.

In that part of Virginia, where now the English inhabite, which is under the degree of 37, and part of 38, the Ayre is pleasant and wholsome, especially to those that are seated above the flowing of the Salt water.

But for such as are set downe within the flowing of the Salt water, it is much like in health as here in England upon the Salt Marshes, which are subject to Agues and Fevers: the Winter is not much above six weekes, which begins in December, and ends about the first of February.

Mary-land is also very pleasant and wholsome, and is further Northerly, viz. part of 38, and 39, and therefore more cold; the Winter longer then in Virginia, but nothing like our Winter in England: whence it is, that some men, in the Months of June, July, and August, finding their constitution of body not so well agreeing with heat, retyre themselves in those Months to Mary-land, which is but twelve houres passage by Boat from Virginia, and there enjoy perfect health, although sick when they left Virginia.

What is in this place found, of Beasts, Fowles, Birds, Fish, Trees, Fruits, both for Food and Commoditie.

Beasts of Prey, yet some of their Skinnes are valuable.

Fowles and Birds for Food.

Birds for delight, some for singing, others for sight.

And that you may not want Bread to all this good Cheare, there is plentie of Indian Wheat, Beanes, and Pease.

Trees above twentie kindes, many no English names.

Two sorts of Okes, Ashes, Walnut two sorts, Elmes, Cedar, Cipres, Mulberry trees, Chesnut trees, Plumme trees, Puchamine trees, Laurell, Cherries, Crabes, Vines, Sasafras.

Grapes, Plummes, Strawberries, Raspices, Maracokes; Puchamines, Muskmelons, Pumpions, Apples, Peares, Quinces, Apricocks, Peaches, &c.

There is all sorts of English Fruit trees, insomuch, that out of one Orchard hath beene made in one yeare fiftie Butts of Perry, and out of another thirtie Butts of Cyder.

For Roots, there is,

Potatoes, Parsnips, Onyons, Sparragras, Carrots, Turneps, Hartichokes, all sorts of Herbes for Physick or Pot; all which grow without any such trouble as is taken for them England, and for delicacie farre exceeding the best Gardens here in England.

For English Provisions.

There is above thirtie thousand Head of Cattell, and an infinite number of Hogges, in such plentie, that you may buy Beefe and Porke under sixteene pence a Stone: Wheat and Barley is very cheape; most of them brew their owne Beere, and have divers publique Brew-houses, that brew excellent Beere and Ale: Goats flesh, and Mutton, but not yet so plentifull, by reason they have not beene suffered to encrease, till of late yeares: There is all sorts of tame English Fowle.

There is above two hundred Horses and Mares, and above seventie Asses; these came thither but of late yeares.

Naturall Commodities of the Countrey are,

To which you may adde, they being now there, and which yields wonderfull increase, English Corne of all sorts, Rice, Flax, and Hempe, Pot-ashes, Rape-seed; and to say no more, you shall not find the Earth ungratefull for any thing you trust her with.

And to encourage Gentlemen, that are desirous of winning honour, by making Discoveries of such places, as may bring the greatest Wealth and Riches to their own Countries, in which they shall not onely very much enrich themselves, but eternize their Names; let them peruse M. Henry Brigges (that famous Mathematician) his Book, Printed about 28 yeares since, wherein he makes it plaine, that a Trade from Virginia may be easily driven into the South and West Sea, lying on the backside of Virginia, not far distant from thence, and so consequently to the East Indies, and this by Rivers that have their Rise in the same place, with the great Rivers of Virginia; but as the Virginia Rivers empty themselves into the East or North Sea, so the other Rivers empty themselves into the West or South Sea.

In the degrees of 34, and 35, they receive three Harvests in five Moneths of Indian corn from the selfsame ground, viz. they sowe in Aprill, and reap in June; sowe in June, and reap in July; sowe in July, and reap in August.

Virginia yeelds two Harvests in one yeare, viz. they reap their Wheat in July, and then sowe Barley, and reap in October.

English fruits that have been transported bear wonderfully, and twice as fair as in England, and in deliciousnesse far exceeding what they were be fore; their Apricocks and Peaches grow all on standing Trees, and not against Walls: Let this suffice for the Countrey.

That so faire a Mother should be so diseased, as all the aforesaid gallant and lively hopes of a plentifull and Rich Off-spring should so long be smothered, cannot but grieve every honest man: therefore let him that undertakes the Cure be well received, although, by discovering the Disease, she in her members feel some smart; since by his advice, shee'll after find her self in perfect health.

The Countries Disease.

The1 Governours being strangers, and to last but 3 years, cannot in so short a time do their own and Countries businesse, by which means the Councel-doore hath bin too oft set open for the2 Adventurers, Trustees, and great Debtors, to the perverting of justice, and great discouragement of honest Gentlemen in the Councell; which is the very reason, why the greatest Adventures and Debts have bin the surest lost.

I could by name particularise the men that in times past, by their unworthy actions, have so much impaired this Countries health: but since there is now much time stoln by, and that 'tis dangerous to make incision amongst the Arteries; especially, when there is no great necessity, and the grief may well be healed without it: I shall onely tell you, how it was in Sir John Harvies time, wherein I shall not side with one or other party.

In Sir John Harvies time, when he was Governour, what a perplext condition were both he, and the Gentlemen of the Countrey in, when upon his complaint, they were sent for from Virginia, to answer here in England, at the Councell-Table, and again upon their complaint, he and his friends must come to London, to answer at the place aforesaid; and this iterated, besides continuall heavings and shovings betweene two Parties in the Councell there, and the many particular appeals of private persons from thence to the Councel-Table here, and this not onely in his time, but in severall Governours times before; how mischievous this was to the prosperity of the Countrey, let all men, masters of reason, judge.

In all times there hath been too many Adventurers, Trustees, and great Debtors stoln into their Assemblies.3

Next, the Disease growes by the Commoditie they have and doe make their Staple; which,

First, from the very infancy of the Plantation, they have made Tobacco their Staple, which hath beene sent for England in such quantities, as many yeares there hath beene some hundred thousand pounds weight, not worth the fraught and custome, and by this meanes many a poore Planter hath beene destroyed.

Secondly, Tobacco being once in the ground, is never out of hand till in the Hogs-head; and, which is the misery of it, the Moneths of June, July, and August, being the very height of their Summer, the poore Servant goes daily through the rowes of Tobacco, stooping to worme it, and being over-heated he is struck with a Calenture or Feaver, and so perisheth: This hath been the losse of divers men.

Thirdly, the Tobacco is ripe but once in the year, and Ships goe for Virginia at that time when they may have the Tobacco for their home-ward fraught, there being nothing else to lade them, which makes many here in England thinke, that it is a yeares Voyage to Virginia, whereas if there were other Commodities to lade Shipping, they might goe and returne in foure or five Moneths at the most, by which meanes many a man that would willingly have gone away in March, had there beene Shipping to transport him, is of another minde, or hath otherwise settled himselfe before September comes, which is the usuall time of going.

Fourthly, that by Ships going in this manner, they are pestered with people, who thereby are very much indangered in their healths, and the Passenger is at as much more charge in his transportation as otherwise he should be, for he payes 5 l. 10 s. for a mans passage, and keeping his men at charge in the Cookes Shops in Saint Katherines five or six weekes, stands him neare in 3 li. a man more, whereas if Ships were constantly going, it would not stand him in above 4 li. 10 s. a man.

The Indians Treachery, like a malignant disease, hath hindred many friends from visiting it, for the massacre in 1622, wherein was slain 350, hath scared many people from comming to it, which if truly understood would not fright the meanest spirit, since the English by reposing trust and confidence in the Indian, gave the opportunity, for it was not the strength of millions could injure them. And whosoever shall reade the relation of the massacre, set out 1622, will find there is no danger in them, except you give them Weapons, and stand still whilst they destroy you.

And next, the miscarriage of good designes for Staple Commodities hath added much, wherein I could instance in particular, by whom the designes of making Pot-ashes, Rape, and Walnut Oyle, and other Staples, as also setting up Saw-Mills, were set on foot, and the particular reasons how they came to faile; which was not for want of the Countries being plentifully stored with materialls, but by other casualties: the particulars would take up too much roome in this place; My desire being to make this so short as the very essence of the matter will beare, that it may not tire but delight and fully satisfie the Reader: wherefore I will give you some few generalls, whereby such may be admonished, as shall come after, how to avoid the mischiefes they fell under.

1. The first is, that this Countrey being in it selfe so full as is before set forth, many men ayming from small stocks to be suddenly rich, have spent themselves in courting their designs, and when all parties were agreed, not so much money left, as would procure the Licence to marrie.

2. Next, having built their designes upon some one Artificers life, his death, hath brought destruction to the Worke.

3. Or the Worke being here formed and sent over, some principall part hath been lost, or broken, and none in that Countrey able to repaire the losse, the Worke hath suffered.

4. Or else having fully outed themselves at the first, what they intended to adventure, and upon that expecting a suddaine and certaine returne, when in stead thereof, they have beene saluted with a Bill of Exchange to pay, or a particular to provide a second supply; and being put by their confident expectation, they fall into despaire, and since it will not come at the first pull; give it over.

5. They goe in partnership, and upon some pettie difference draw severall wayes, and let the designe to the ground.

6. A sixt is, that when men come fresh over, their Credits are sound, and so soone forget wherefore they came, idling out their time, till their new-contracted Debts over-take them, and they and their designes are lost: This I have knowne to be the losse of many a good designe.

Malitious tongues ha's impaired it much: For it hath beene a constant report amongst the ordinarie sort of people, That all those servants who are sent to Virginia, are sold as slaves; whereas the truth is, that the Merchants who send servants, and have no Plantations of their owne, doe onely transferre their Time over to others, but the servants serve no longer then the time they themselves agreed for in England: and this is an ordinarie course in England, and no prejudice or hurt to the servant.

And lastly, the unfitnesse of the people transported for the Work, or being fit, not well ordered, hath hindred the Countries recoverie very much.

The usuall way of getting servants, hath been by a sort of men nick-named Spirits, who take up all the idle, lazie, simple people they can intice, such as have professed idlenesse, and will rather beg then work; who are perswaded by these Spirits, they shall goe into a place where food shall drop into their mouthes: and being thus deluded, they take courage, and are transported. But not finding what was promised, their courage abates, & their minds being dejected, their work is according: nor doth the Master studie any way how to encourage them, but with sowre looks, for which they care not; and being tyred with chafing himselfe, growes carelesse, and so all comes to nothing. More might be said upon this subject, were it fit: 'tis most certaine, that one honest labouring husbandman shall doe more then five of these.

Having thus considered the Disease, and how contracted, I shall prescribe a plaine and easie way for Recoverie, which shall be, first, by a wholsome and equall Government, that may incourage, delight, and secure all men.

Before you enter into the Government, observe the Proposer; whom you shall find more imployed about the Foundation then the Building; since 'tis found, that the first failing, the second cannot stand: And that he may not appeare altogether ignorant of what he undertakes, 'tis fit you should understand, that amongst other things he lookt into the Fabrick of Englands Lawes, and finding Reason the Key, he endeavoured to enter, where at the very first, his Reason quarrelled with that part of the Building wherein the dissent of fee-simple estates was lodged, since the doore onely opened to let in the brothers of the whole bloud, but was shut against the brothers of the half, although they were the children of one father; and that rather then let them in, though so neer, the estate must look an heire of the whole bloud, though he can but call Cousin at never so great a distance, who as it were shal snatch the estate away, as if the half brothers were all Bastards. And prying further into this part, he found many mischiefs depending on it; to instance one for all: A man in poverty marries as poorly, & hath a Son; the Wife dyes, he after marries richly, & hath many children, purchaseth a fee simple estate, then dyes: the Son by the first venture, enters and dyes; his Cousin, it matters not in what degrees distant, shall wipe the rest of the children of the estate which was brought by their owne Mother. My reason told me, that the fathers owne children should be successively let in before the Cousin of the whole bloud: but being satisfied in knowing the harsh reason of this Law, which was only to preserve the estate in the whole bloud in a right line; he ventured further, desiring to understand the uniformitie, but met such contrarieties of Judgements and Opinions, both in Law and Equitie, upon the selfe-same Cases, occasioned by the strength of Reason, more prevailing with one Judge then another, & Rules in Pleading, accompanied with various Circumstances and Niceties, full of Intricacies, and multitudes of Officers and Offices, (to know which severally, requires an Age) had swell'd these Buildings to that vastnesse, that he plainly saw, it was not one mans whole lives studie could make him Master thereof; all which proceeded from the mixture of the Laws of other Nations, who in several times had power over this kingdom: all which consider'd, made him retire, and to content himself in seeking upon what foundation this strange and Labyrinth-like building was erected, which he discovered to be politick reason, and then he thought, whether (since the ground-work in the generall was so good, and they who had the Government thereto minded) those parts of the foundation that were so harsh & rugged, might not be altered and made more smooth and equall, and the building made to answer: but he found it could not be, without apparant danger to the whole, since so many with severall titles had built their estates upon it.

Next, he apprehended, to take the whole building down and to new-lay the foundation from the best of the materialls, and then, whether men might not in the mean time, and untill the fabrick should be again erected, lodge their estates in some safe hand, to be delivered them back, after the structure finisht, by some generall and free title: he was presently answered, That happily many in possession would willingly consent; but those interessed in estates Tayl, the heirs of the whole bloud, and of the half, the heirs according to severall Customse, the Lords of Manours, and their Customary Tenants, and many more of like nature, would never agree about their redeliverie. By which he perceived, twas impossible to alter any of Englands Lawes, with Justice to all Interests: onely something might be done, to prevent the mischiefe that lay upon the Subject in the course and proceedings of the Lawes, and this no better way, then having in all times faithfull and able Lawyers, and that there might be some better way found out to make such as intend to professe the Law, to spend more time in their studies, before they undertake to advise men how, to lose their estates.

All which being weighed, he was resolved, that no structure could be so commodious and delightfull, as when it is carried up intire, with consideration, that in case the Family increase, there might be additions without defacing.

Wherfore having by the means aforesaid a little knowledge of the foundation of Englands Laws, & having by experience found many mischiefs and inconveniencies to grow from severall parts thereof, he considered, whether he might not venture from thence to design a pleasant and intire building, wherewith all men (not otherwise clog'd and fettered with estates, held by Ancient and intricate titles & Customes) might be taken, and chearfully contribute to the work: & upon enquiry after a place to set his Frame upon, he found the forraigne Plantations were already hard at work about it; but having surveyed their Draught, he clearly saw they had left too many doors for inconveniences, & which was worse, the foundation was mistaken, and so the higher they built, the more dangerous. All which was easy to be rectified, since in respect they were as yet but pin'd together with their interest under a common title, and slightly fastned with personall ties: being glad of this advantage, that possibly he might be the Author of so good a work, he chearfully undertooke the Modelling the same. And finding that Government is no other then the extraction of power into the hand of one or more, to the end it may be dispenced upon all occasions for the peoples good & safety, he considered, that those in whom the power rested, ought to be for wisdome, justice, and integrity, drawn from the very quintessence of the people, which must be done by a through knowledge of each other, whereby they would be able from amongst themselves, to set the best, the first step towards the Government, and they presently to have power over those that chose them, but not to be in the Chusers power to call back; the highest power, after, shall by steps raise them according to their abilities, which you'l find more plain in the following Government.

The Modell of Government proposed.

First, Before the going over of the Companie, they together with the Adventurers, to chuse thirteene able and fit men to be of the Councell.

Secondly, That these shall from amongst themselves make choise of an able man to be Governour; and this to be done by a Balletting Box, that it may never be knowne who was for, or against the Election.4

5Thirdly, That the Governour shall be elected in manner following; viz. the eldest of the Councell to stand first singly for Election, but he to have no hand in it; and in case the Election goe on the Negative, then the next of the Councell in senioritie to stand, and so every man of the Councell shall stand, untill the Governour be fixed. And in case the Electors shall be even, viz. six to six, it shall be taken in the Negative: But if through Faction the Negative shall goe round, so that no man be elected, then the eldest of the Councell, that first stood for the Election, shall be Governour;6 And he at the yeares end shall surrender up the Government, and sit at the Table as eldest of the Councell:7 And then the Councell shall proceed to a new Election of the Governour for the ensuing yeare; which shall be done in manner aforesaid, beginning first with him that was the late Governour.

Fourthly, The Governour and Councell to agree upon some knowing man of the Law to be Secretarie.

That the People may be satisfied of the equalitie of the Government, and that all men may be encouraged to studie the good of the Countrey, they shall finde steps raysing them to the Governement.

Wherefore I propose, That untill the Countrey shall be in a condition to be divided into Shires, Hundreds, and Parishes, the People shall be numbred by Free-holders; and every fortie or fiftie Free-holders, more or lesse, according to the number that are neerest neighbours, shall be called a Division, by the name of the chiefest man inhabiting amongst them, or by some other name, as shall by the Councell be thought fit: And these to have power at a certaine day and place in every yeare, to meet within their owne Division, and then to make choice from amongst themselves of six able and fit men;8 and their names being presented to the Governour, he by himselfe, in the presence of the Councell, shall appoint three out of the said six, who for the yeare following shall be stiled the Superintendents of that Division, and shall have such power as is hereafter provided:9 And at the yeares end the people of every Division shall in like manner meet, and shall make choice of three more from amongst themselves, whose names, together with the last Superintendents, shall be presented to the Governour, and he shall out of them, in manner aforesaid, appoint three that shall be Superintendents for the following yeare:10 By this, the three first Superintendents, if found honest, may still continue.

11The Generall or Great Assembly shall consist of the said Superintendents, who at a certain day and place, every yeare, as shall be most convenient, without futher Summons, shall meet in the Assembly, and in this Assembly, the Governour shall have the chief place, and the Councell to have places there according to their degrees.

12The Secretarie of State shall have a place under the Governour, and shall be Speaker in these Assemblies: the Governour, for that he is the Head, and hath a power above them all, shall not Vote; but hearing the Debates, and making Objections, he will be the better inabled to use his power in his Negative voice.

13But when the Countrey shall be so well peopled, that there may be 50 of the Division aforesaid, then all the Superintendents shall not come to the Assemblies in manner aforesaid, but the people shall chuse one of their three Superintendents, in every Division, to come to the Assembly.

14Before the rising of the Assembly, the Governour shall appoint twelve men of the Assembly to be Assistants to the Councell, for the yeare following.

It must be agreed, when the number of Assembly men be knowne, what number of Assembly men, and what of the Councell shall make a Court.

All Lawes shall be made in manner following.

15They shall be proposed and debated in the Great Assembly: And if the Vote of the Assembly be for the Law, then the Governour and Councell by themselves shall debate it; and if it be agreed by them, then the Governour (who is also not to Vote with the Councell) shall consider of it; and if he assent to it, then to be a Law, otherwise not.

The Power of the Great Assembly.

16Besides their consents to the Lawes, they shall have Cognizance of Appeales from the Governour and Councell, and shall examine and punish all Briberie that any of the Councell or Secretarie shall be found guiltie of; and the Governour shall also be answerable to them for Briberie or injustice done by him: But the Governour shall not be questioned, untill the Charge, if it be Briberie, shall be proved by Oath; and none of the Councell shall be questioned for any the matters aforesaid, unlesse the Plaintife make Oath of the truth of the Charge: And then the Charge being upon debate thought fit to be taken into consideration, the partie charged shall not be admitted to sit in the Assembly till he be cleared, nor have any Vote upon the debate of his Charge. No single Oath shall charge any more then one man of the Councell, but there shal be two mens Oathes to charge two, and three men to charge three, and so for more. The fame of the parties swearing the Charge, either against the Governour or Councell, shall be first considered, if desired by the partie charged; and upon that, the Charge to be accepted, or throwne out.

17The Secretarie, Treasurer, and Surveyor, shal not be displaced, but by the Assembly.

18None of the Assembly, except he be of the Councell, shall begin any Motion in the Assembly against any Law already made, upon paine of being dismist the Assembly, and his other places of trust in the Colonie.

All Assembly or Councell-men that shall presume to move any thing tending to the subversion of the Government, or the apparent disturbance thereof, shall be punished according to the merit of the offence, as the Assembly shall thinke fit.

The Power of the Governour.

Besides his Negative voyce in making of Lawes, he shall have power to command the due execution of the establisht Lawes.

19He shall on a certaine day every yeare, in the presence of the Councell, chuse out of the six presented to him by every Division, the three Superintendents, and in case any of them dye, or upon complant be discharged, then out of the three that shall be presented to him by the Division, whereof he was a Superintendent that was discharged, he shall chuse one to supply the place of the dead or discharged Superintendent.

The people shall not present one man twice in one year to be a Superintendent; all Warrants shall issue out in his name.

He, by the assent of the major part of the Councell, shall give such titles to men of desert, as shall be warranted by the Law.

He shall have an Arbitrary power in all matters concerning the peace, not otherwise provided for by the Lawes.

He shall have such allowance, and in such manner for the defraying of his charge, as shall be agreed on by the Assembly.

He shall have power upon complaint, to discharge any Superintendents, and to send a Warrant to the Division to elect new men, but the partie discharged may appeale to the Councell, by delivering his Petition to the Secretarie.

If any Division cannot agree about the chusing men to be Superintendents, then he at the time and in manner aforesaid shall appoint three of that Division, as he shall thinke fit to be Superintendents.

He shall treat with all Agents and Messengers from other Colonies, and after advice had with the Councell shall give answers.

20He shall on a certaine day, in manner aforesaid, appoint out of the Assembly twelve to be Assistants to the Councell for the ensuing yeare.

He shall in manner aforesaid, nominate every forty or fifty Free-holders of the neerest neighbourhood, that shall chuse men to make Superintendents.

He shall take care of the Adventurers estates in such manner as is hereafter provided.

He shall, with the advice and consent of the major part of the Councell, call Assemblies so often as shalbe thought fit.

Upon complant of the Superintendents, he shall examine the Trustees of the Adventurers Plantations, and shall prescribe such rules for the prevention of the abuse of the Adventurers, as shall be thought fit, and shall referre the punishment of the Trustees to the Councell.

21Upon the complaint of the Adventurers, he (without notice first given to the Trustees) shall appoint three of the Assistants to audite and examine the Trustees Accompts, and report it to the Councell, who shall see Justice done betweene the Adventurers and Trustees.

The Secretarie shall be assisting to him in all the matters aforesaid, to informe the Governour what the Law is at all times, as occasion shall require.

No Appeale from the Governour, but to the Generall Assembly, except in case of turning out a Superintendent, who shall appeale to the Councell.

He shall determine all differences concerning place either in the Councell or elsewhere.

He advising with the Councell, shall pardon death, but the Judge before whom the matter was tryed shall first certifie.

He shall appoint two or three of the Assistants to audite any Accompts that shall be in difference.

The Power of the Governour and Councell Joynt.

No Appeales from them to the Generall Assembly shalbe admitted, untill obedience be first given to their Decree.

These, in all cases that concerne the good of the Colonie, except raising men and money, shall have an Arbitrarie power, except in such cases as are provided for by the Law.

22These, together with the major part of the Assistants, shall have power for the raising and levying of men and money for defence of the Colonie, and an accompt thereof shall be given at the next Generall Assembly, which shall be reported there by the Secretary.

23These to have power over their Members, without the consent of the Governour, and put out and take in by the former manner of elections, whom they please of the Assistants, but shall not exceed their number, & they shall refer the punishment of a Councellor to the Great Assembly, except imprisonment, which they shall have power to doe.

They, together with the Governour, shall have power to elect Judges, and remove them, as they shall see cause.

The Power of a Judge.

He shall keepe his Courts upon such dayes, and in such places as shalbe appointed him by the Councell.

He shall issue out his Warrants to the Superintendents, to impannell Juries to attend the Court, and in case the difference happen to be betweene two men of two severall Divisions, then a Jurie to be made up equally out of both the Divisions.

He shall sit in Court in the fore-noones, and try all Causes properly tryable by Juries, and in case any matter of equitie that he shall thinke fit be offered, he shall after Verdict respite Judgement, and in the after-noone of the same day, shall sit Judge in equitie, where the Witnesses being all ready, as may be presumed because of the tryall at Law, he shall determine the equity of the Cause: but if it shall appeare to him that Witnesses, or papers were wanting, and not by default of the partie; Then he shall leave the Cause to the Governour, if under 50. li. if above, to the Councell.

He shall for discoverie of the truth, examine the parties upon their Oaths if desired, but in this case the parties Oath shall conclude the Cause.

If any capitall Offender be tryed before him, and he shall thinke the Prisoner capable of mercie, then he shall certifie the Governour thereof, and for the present reprieve the Prisoner.

He shall refer all accompts to be audited by such men as the Governour shall appoint.

The Power of the Superintendents.

They or any two of them shall finally determine all Causes arising within their Divisions, not exceeding 10. li. in which cases no Appeale shalbe but for apparent Injustice.

They shall call the parties before them in all other Causes, and end the businesse if they can, but without coercive power.

None shall be admitted to sue or petition, unlesse he alleadge that the Superindentents have had the hearing of the Cause, and could not end it, and in case the Suggestion be false, then the Petitioner shall pay costs, and be dismissed back to the Superintendents.

They shall appoint a fit Officer to attend them, who shalbe as a Constable, to execute all Warrants.

They shall have power joyntly and severally in all Cases of the Peace, as a Justice of Peace.

They shall command before them any Trustee of an Adventurers Plantation within their Division, and examine him concerning frauds, or other indirect courses taken, whereby the Adventurers may be in danger to suffer and reprehend him, or certifie the Governour, as occasion shall require.

They shall immediately take care of any Adventurers estate, upon the death of a Trustee, and secure it untill the Governour can be certified thereof, and he take further order in it.

They shall cause all such Warrants to be executed, as shalbe directed from the Assembly, Governour, Councell, and Judges to them.

No Appeale from any Court, but for Injustice, which must be made good in some one particular, otherwise the partie appealing, to make reparation to the parties from whom he did appeale, as shalbe thought fit by the Court appealed to.

Concerning Adventurers,

All Adventurers that send any Adventure, may direct a Coppy of his Adveuture to the Governour and Councell, together with the names of the Trustee; who shall before the Governour acknowledge himself to be trusted with the estate, & from this time the whole Colonie shal take no care of the estate.

No Bond or Bill shall bind any Trustee, unlesse the same be acknowledg'd before the Superintendents and entred by them into a Book, to whom such Trustee shall give satisfaction for his so running into debt.

None shall buy or take any Servants, Cattle, Cart, Plough, or Utensills belonging to the Plantation of any Trustees to pawne, unlesse it be in manner as aforesaid.

No Trustee shalbe compted a Free-holder, unlesse he have 100 Acres of his owne Land stock't and manned, and a Plough going in it.

All debts to be paid by any Planter in the yeare to come, shalbe acknowledged before the Superintendents of the Division wherein the Planter lives, otherwise not to be recoverable which acknowledgement shall have the force of a Judgement.

If a Merchant complaine of his Factour, the Governour in presence of the Councel, shall appoint either two Assistants or any Superintendencie to take the accompt and certifie the Councel that Justice may be done.

If any Planter or Merchant dye the Superintendents of the place shall at the perills of their Divisions, immediately seize upon the estate, and shall inventorie and appraise it, & if the Executor or he that hath right to the [Administration] be not in the Countrey to receive the same, then they shall send a Duplicate subscribed by them, of the Inventorie and Appraizment to the Governour, that the same may be entred into the Register.

The Superintendents may put in such persons to manage the estate and take such security from them, as they shall thinke fit for the whole Division shall be answerable for the estate to the Governour, and the whole Colonie shalbe answerable to the partie interested.

But if the Governour, upon perusall of the Inventorie, shall find the estate too weake to beare the charge of management, or that there is any deade Commoditie therein; then he shall direct his Warrants to the Superintendents, to make sale of both, or of the Commoditie onely, as he shall thinke fit, who shall appoint a day in the ensuing weeke for the selling thereof, But on the Sunday before the day of sale, the said day, together with the particulars to be sold, shalbe published in their owne Church, and three more of the neerest neighbouring Churches, and the same at the day aforesaid shalbe sold to the fairest bidder, and a Duplicate of their doings herein subscribed, they shall send to the Governour, which shall be also entred as aforesaid.

The Superintendents (for that the Division is to be charged) shall have power to command all debts due to the defunct, to be levied or wel secured, so that nothing be lost by their negligence, otherwise the Division to be answerable for it.

All money that shalbe received, shalbe paid to the Treasurer for the use of the interessed, who shall not deliver it but upon the Governours Warrant.

By this meanes, the whole Colonie is chargeable to make good the estates that shall fall in manner aforesaid.

Oathes to be drawne for Governour, Councell, Assembly, Judge, Superintendents, Overseers, and other Officers.

This Modell will serve, either for a free people that shall sit downe of themselves, without any Superintendent Power over them for their protection, or it may well agree with Superintendent Power in any Plantation alreadie setled (unlesse the Owner of that Power intend to rule by Will) if the Election of the Governour be onely altered in this manner; viz. That those who have the Power, shall nominate the first Governour, and he not to be displaced but by the Great Assembly; and after the Councell, in manner as is set downe before, to chuse three from amongst themselves, out of which, such as have the Power may appoint one to succeed, and till his or their pleasure be knowne therein, the Councell out of themselves to elect a man to supply the Governours place.

The mischiefe, by sending strangers to governe this Countrey, who neither knowes the people nor their customes, neither they him, must be prevented, if ever the Countrey prosper.

Studie this Modell of Government, and compare it with any other that hath been, or is now being, and you shall finde prevented those mischiefes, that like so many degrees of poyson make some giddy, others deadly sick, swelling them to bursting. In it you may, see every man harmoniously working, according to his severall indowments of minde and body: first, to preserve it in health, by stifling in the infancie all contentions and love-breaking strifes; next, to feede, clothe, and enrich it, resolving with speed to make their Commonwealth flourish; which cannot be doubted, since in it all are so much pleased and delighted: the common people sitting and chusing the stones for this strong and sumptuous Building, the Governour and Councell laying and setting these stones (so provided) for the best advantages, whilst the Adventurer is searching for, and sending materialls from all places.

Another good meanes to the Recovery must be by raising Commodities for the constant imployment of Shipping; and although this speake ifself, yet examples will doe well.

And first let us look upon New England, a Plantation begun thirteen yeares since Virginia, viz. in the yeare 1620, the ground no more comparable to Virginia, then the North of Scotland, is to the South of England, they have no Sugar, Indigo, Ginger, or any other of the rich Commodities before spoken of, neither will they grow there; yet in this little time of 28 years they are become a flourishing people, and with many gallant Ships built, and every way fitted with materialls raised out of their own Countrey; and also ladden with their own Native Commodities, drive a Trade with all the world, insomuch as men shall seldome misse passage for New England from London, once in two Monethes; and by this means, have many fine Towns, and are full of people.

Next look upon that little Island of Barbado's not much bigger then the Isle of Wight, which lay languishing of the disease Virginia now grones under, (till within this five or six years past,) you may see how by the strength of an indifferent Staple Commodity, viz Sugar, Indigo, Cotton Wool, & Ginger, it is strangely recovered, that there's whole Fleets of Ships constantly going & coming between it and England, so that Passengers are going, thither constantly, and they are grown to that height of Trade, that it hath been affirmed to me from very good hands inhabiting in that place, that the last yeare there was from all places imployed thither above onehundred Sail of Ships, and they are seldome without twenty, or thirty Sail in their harbour.

Yet I can well remember the time, when their fame was much worse, then Virginia's now is.

By this means, they have great numbers of men transport themselves of all degrees.

And all this is forst, by the commodity; for their Government is not so good that any wise man should be in love with, nor is this Island so extraordinary pleasant to intice men above other places, also the Adventurers have had as indifferent measure there.

And this well and wisely considered, how much more shall that place flourish, whereby a sweet and harmonious Government all men shall have faire and honest dealing, in a land full of pleasure and delight, yielding abundance of the best Staple commodities in the whole world.

The next help to Recovery, must be by the commodity, we are to fix upon, wherefore, we will examine all, and make choice of the best.

There is without question in this Countrey, store of Gold, and Silver Mynes, which I could clearly demonstate, but the discovery will bring ruine to the place, for all Princes, and Potentates clayme an interest in Gold and Silver, which they will reach with their swords: I shall say no more of them.

The next is Sugar, Indigo, Cotton Wool, and Ginger, the very Commodities of the said Island; all which will grow on the Southermost part of Virginia, but yet they will not do the work, for first the Sugar Canes and Indigo seeds to plant, must be brought from the Barbado's or some other place, and then they are two or three yeares before perfect; and experienced men will also be wanting, and will be a work in respect of the charge, that but a few can compasse: and which is worst of all, the said Islands having gotten the start, will make those commodities drugges, before our Harvest; for in this little time, Indigo is fallen from nine shillings per pound, to three shillings six pence, and I have heard some of the Gentlemen themselves say, that Indigo in a very little time will not quit cost.

These are fine commodities for wise men to be doing with, indifferent quantities, but not to be the Staples that must do the work.

The next in consideration, will be Wine, Reisons, Dyes, and Drugges; truly great quantities of these, will make them Drugges indeed: besides, the time and money spent before they can be brought to perfection, may happily make the poore Planter, with the horse starve, whilst the grasse grows.

Yet I confesse all these are very good to be brought on by degrees, without prejudice to the main Designe.

The next that offer themselves, are Mynes of Copper, Tinne, Iron, and Lead, of all which, there is plenty in Virginia. These are clearly of the best sort of Staples, but they require a great deale of charge and time to bring them to perfection, and there is much of casualty happens in the working raised.

Therefore, if we run greedily upon them, they may chance to be too heavy for us, either in lifting, or carrying.

Wherefore my advice is, that these things may be stoln upon, at most leasure time, and when we have built a sure fouudation upon Staple Commodities of a quicker production. And now will I think of Silk, Pot-ashes, Rape, and Walnut oyle: and these are very good Staples. But yet when I consider, we are not all Pot-ashes, nor Oylemakers, nor Masters of the Silk-worme mystery, nor can presently be at the charge, these are not such as must be built upon for the present Staples.

I will not say, but a single, double, or treble purse, so as they be strong, may easily with great advantage effect any of the aforesaid Staples; and by degrees, the rest may follow.

Then we find in the Countrey Masts for Ships, Pitch, Tarre, Rossine, Turpentine, Clapboard, and Pipestaves: These are good Staples, but grosse Commodities, and most of them fitter to be made use of in the Countrey for building ships, and will do well when there are no other Fraughts.

These in their proportions are sure Commodities, and will helpe exceedingly, after better Staples are set upon.

I will now present you with Englands Staples, amongst which I find Corn, Hemp, Flax, Rape-seed, Cattle, Wool, to which I will adde one more, that cannot be had in England, and that is Rice, I am sure we can all be masters of the Plough, and shall soon be Masters of the rest.

First, for that we may all fall to these workes so soone as we are landed, and the season come.

Secondly, because Flax, Rice, and Rape-seed will grow all the Countrey over, and Wheat in all places, where the ground hath beene broken up before, of which there is plenty upon every Plantation which is past bearing of Tobacco, yet the best for Wheate; and there be divers other places, where Wheat will prosper exceedingly, that are not over-rich; for in many places, where the ground was never broke up, 'tis too rich for our English Corn, sending up the Stalk so high, that the wind layes it: and Cattle are there already in abundance.

The principallest reason is, that many Ships may be yearely laden by a few hands imployed in Corn, Rice, Rape-seed, and Flax, and if you observe but the following Scale, you shall find three hands to make yearly above twenty two tunnes of Corne, and Flax: and so proportionably a thousand hands imployed in Wheat, Rice, Flax, and Rape-seed, will yearely lade fifty Sail of Ships, of one hundred and fifty Tunne a Ship; by which it is evident that an infinite Trade by Sea might be suddenly driven, there being already in this place above 15000 men, besides women, and children, and such numbers of Ships constantly comming and going, would quickely people the Countrey: and it is not from the purpose to shew the failings of the first Adventurers for want of this foundation, for if you peruse their books Printed 1622, you shall find after they have told you, what the beauties are of the place, that their Commodities they intended, were Cordage, Pot-ashes, Iron, and the like; in all which many hands can make but slow worke, as to the lading of Ships, for the advantage of this place is, to raise the best of rough Commodities to be transported. Where hands are plenty, labour is cheap.

And for the greater incouragement, there is in this Countrey all materialls for the building and compleat finishing Ships, to carry these Commodities to their Markets: Before I go further, let me recollect my selfe, and thinke what a blessed Countrey must this be, where Gods blessings severally distributed upon other Countries meet all in one.

A Scale, whereby after the proportion of 60. li. stock all men may know how to imploy their money upon this worke.

This Scale is made for a Master and his two Servants.

This 20 li. thus invested you may be confident to make 40. li. in the Countrey, since you are to deale with them for Cattle, Corne, and Flax-seed; this Adventure shall provide Cattle for the Plough, Corne, Sow, Pigges, and Poultrie for your House, and to sowe.

For Cloathing the two Servants.

How the Planter shall bestow himself when he first comes over, untill he can settle; and what he shall imploy himselfe upon, with a reasonable proposition what in a yeare, God assisting, may by his labour be produced.

Now having thus fitted our small Family, I shall advise them, when they come over, how to settle, which shall be in this manner, either for the first yeare joyn strength with some Planter there, where he shall find them all willing to receive him, either to diet, or he diet himself, and lodge with them; yet it will be best for him to board; for he may board himself, and his two men for twenty pound a year, and in this I speak much with the most; for my self was offered eight yeares since, by Captain Matthewes, Captain Pierce, and divers others, to board all my Family at five pound a head, and to have better entertainment then any Gentleman in England for thirty pound a year, and now diet is much cheaper, and of this let no man doubt, since in the North of England, Wales, the Isle of Man, and in the West he may diet at the same rate, and cheaper the reason is, where money and Trade is not quicke, diet is cheap, so that if he resolve this course, which is far the best, then much of the abovesaid charge might be saved, insomuch as he might carry over another servant for the same charge, and being thus fitted, I shall advise him, to fall upon some piece of the Planters ground, that is cleared, and left by the Planter, because hee hath wrought it out of heart with Tobacco, and is to him of no use, yet the best for this Designe, of which grounds, there are great quantities, the Planter will give him leave for nothing, or for a very inconsiderable matter, and when his seed is in the ground, then he shall have good time to look out where to fix, and after he hath taken his first years crop, then to remove to that place he intends to settle, where he shall have one hundred, and fifty Acres, for ever; that is to say, fifty Acres for each man he transports; and his Crop by Gods blessing, will then inable him to build a pretty house, and treble his strength in Servants; and next yeare a Gentleman.

Let not our young Planter fear that he shall want any thing, for being new come over, and uningaged in the Countrey, his credit for any thing he shall want, will be as good as the best mans in the Countrey, but let him not be bold with it, lest he forget his errand, and loiter out his time in good fellowship, then which, there can be nothing more dangerous, since he is but now entring into his preferment: This Caveat is good, for it hath lost many a man.

He shall plough but twenty three Acres, twenty whereof he shall sowe with Wheat, and three with Flax, for which work I will allow him eight weekes with two hands, which may with much ease be done, the ground being light: but if the Dutch ploughing comes in use, as I doubt not but this yeare it will, then one man doth the work of ploughing, and the two spare hands shall fall upon the inclosing the ground that is a ploughing, and afer the seed is in the ground, the third hand falls in, there being nothing else to do till Harvest; long before which, I doubt not, but the enclosing 23 Acres will be done, when they may fall to building their new house, or preparing of ground against the next year by inclosing.

The Harvest being come, the Flax is first to be reaped, which I should have told you before, must not be sowne till May, for which worke and the beating out the seed, I allow three weeks; then comes the twenty Acres of Corne to be reaped, for which I allow three weeks; there needs no trouble of carting till it be threshed, for it shalbe threshed or trodden out with Oxen in the Field; I shall allow six dayes in worke for watering of the Flax; for the threshing of the Corne I allow ten weekes, but if it be trod or rubbed out as in the Islands with Oxen, a fortnight and lesse will doe it; I allow twenty five weekes for dressing nine hundred stone of Flax, in which a man shall dresse but two stone a day, in this worke the year is compleatly spent; in England I know it would be done in two thirds of the time, but I had rather value it as I doe, that every man may be satisfied of the truth of the proposition.

Now, notwithstanding what is so confidently reported of the great increase of this Country, of which truth I am satisfied, I shall onely esteeme it equall with the best of our English ground; and then five quarters from an Acre of Wheat, and three hundred stone at 4 li. to the stone of Flax, and sixteene bushells of Flax-seed from an Acre shall well content me; if there be more; it will discourage no man, and it is well known, we have some ground in England, that beares neer six quarters of Wheat, on an Acre: and divers of the Flax-masters about London have confest the Proposition for Flax, to be true. Now let us turne our Commodity into money, and see if our labour be now sweetly recompensed.

What a strange Adventure that man runnes, that puts himself in Print, he is sure to be judged without hearing. Pray Gentlemen, speak out: but not altogether; and I shall endeavour your satisfaction: you object, that the Corne, lying so long in the field, before threshing, must be spoiled, or in great danger; if you will enquire of the honest Gentry of that Countrey; they will tell you the weather at that time is not inconstant, however, with little labour, it might be stackt safe; your second is, who shall buy it?

Truly Sir, since it is for the Advantage of the work, I will admit your objection, and so am driven to seeke a Market, and for want of other Shipping, am forced to send it for England, which in the common opinion, will be sending Sugar to Barbado's.

And I am confident a worse Market cannot be had, I hope having proposed every thing we buy at the highest rate, and every thing we sell at the lowest rate, and in the worst Market; you will be satisfied of the reality of the proposition, and that it is a sure Foundation for a greater building.

I see you have something else, pray what is it? you would know what the poore Planter shall doe to supply him till the returne of his Adventure, and then what shall become of him if his Adventure miscarrie?

Truly you have give me that advantage by your objecting of dangers, that I shall injure the Adventure and the new Planter at the end of the two first yeares, shall insure him selfe to be in a better condition then the Gentleman that in England hath 200. li. per annum, and shall every yeare double his estate at the least, and this with much ease.

Wherefore I must tell you that our Planters credit is strong, either in the Countrey with the Planters, of with the Merchants, for so much is not more then his commoditie is worth; his old stock is still the same, and therefore wants nothing, but to pay for his and his mans diet and their wages for the fore-going yeare, which is 30. l. yet I will allow him to spend the overplus above 100. li. which in the Country was 72. li. or in England will be more, & this 100. l. in goods he shal send by the last Shipping that comes for England, he needs not fear to have his Market forestall'd since his commoditie is so Staple, and his advantage will be, that hee may send his letters of advice to his friends by the first Ships, that they may in England beforehand know, what Ships the Adventure comes in, and cause the 100. l. Adventure to be insured, which hath been usually done for 50. s. and the Adveuture being arrived in England, I propose it to be laid out for the Planters good in manner following.

50. li. for the passage and cloathing of six men, which it will plentifully doe, since they will need nothing but cloathes and to pay their passages.

06. li. In two Guns, powder and shot, Plough, Irons, and Iron-tooles, as he shall appoint.

30. li to be invested in Commodities as he shall direct to buy more Cattle in the Countrey.

11. li allowed for petty charge, and content his friends that shall doe his buisines.

And now is our Planter secure of his estate, and when the Adveuture comes over, he is nine men strong, and by their reasonable endeavours may against the next return, in the following year by the rule aforesaid, have an estate of above 600. li. 00. s. besides his stock, which shews him he is in a happy condition.

And to encourage the new Planter, let him consider with himselfe that it is but two or three yeares care, to bring him to this safe harbour, and what paines and labour is taken by the poore Farmer in England, getting his bread with the sweat of his browes, and after eating it with care and sorrow, & all this but to pay his LandLord's Rent, and to procure some small subssistance; whereas here is no Rent to pay, and yet the Land twice as good as the best in England, food plenty, cost nothing but taking, which is done with much ease.

Rice, and Rape-seed are farre richer Commodities, and done all with the same or lesser care and labour, these grow best upon the richest ground, and therefore most fit for the Countrey, the increase and profit much greater then those I have taken to illustrate the Proposition by, for my desire was, to examine the meanest of the said Staples; and let the best alone to help themselves.

If all this will not make Thomas a Believer, let him then enquire of the principallest straights and Spanish Merchants, walking the Exchange, and they shall tell him, that when they can be satisfied that there is either Corne, Rice, Hemp, or Flax to be had, there shall be no want of ships, and ready money paid for it, at the rate that I propose, they will tell him a hundred pound hath been usually assured from Virginia for 50s.

Thus having brought the Planter to happinesse in this life, I shall with some few admonitions shake hands and leave him to the God of mercies protection.

First, that God be by him and his Family truly served, and before and after work his blessing be duly implored.

Secondly, I shall advise him that he let not his mind rise with his riches, for that is the ready way to forget that God that gave them, and to make them like the sweetest sinnes that delight the body, but poyson the soul.

Thirdly, That he halt not between this and any other designe, let it appeare never so beautifull, but fall close to this, till he hath put himselfe past danger.

For other advise, he shall find them under the title of advise in the end of the book.

And now let me turn back, and look upon my poore Spirited Countreymen in England, and examine first the meanest, that is, the poore ploughman, daylabourer, and poore Artificer, and I shall find them labouring, and sweating all dayes of their lives; some for fourteen pence, others for sixteen, eighten, twenty pence, or two Shillings a day; which is the highest of wages to such kind of people, and the most of them to end their dayes in sorrow, not haviug purchased so much by their lives labour, as will scaace preserve them in their old dayes from beggery: where by adventuring themselves, in a foure, or five weekes voyage (at most) over the Seas; which is nothing; they may with lesse labour, and care, in foure or five yeares see themselves in a condition never again to want; but to live like Gentlemen, and that by their owne Trades they have been bred in, for where a great Merchant-like Trade is driven, as will be suddenly in this place; all Artificers and handicraft labour is dear, which will appeare more plain, if we here in England, consider the difference, betweene the North parts, where you may have a labourer for foure, five, or six pence the day, and London where we pay twelve, fourteen, or sixteen pence the day, the reason is because of the great Trade that's driven at London by Merchants, and the little or Trade in the North.

24Next I shall look upon the poore Yeoman, with ten, fifteen, or twenty pound per annum land, or the value thereof in his purse; which with continuall care helps him to eat bread; yet this Estate weighed by the aforesaid Scale, will truly tell him, that being transported to this place he is a Gentleman of three hundred pound a yeare at least.

Then come I sadly to look upon the poore Gentleman of fiftie, sixtie, or a hundred pound per annum, who was happily the youngest Sonne of some Gentleman, of a great Estate, which was settled upon the eldest son and this to keep up the Familie, onely that the younger Children might be quiet, there is some superfluities thereof, thrown amongst them, which together with their Gentility, and the expectation of an elder Brothers death, holds them up; till Children and Charge sucks them under miserie: Let these men timely bring their estates to this ballance, and they shall make themselves Elder Brothers.

25The Merchant is ready for receiving the Commodity, and to performe his part; but that is to be done without the Scale: yet I must joyne him with the Adventurer; for which I know in time he will give me thankes: and my Advice shall be to him, and the Adventurer to bring foure or five hundred pound to the Scale, and they will finde it profitable without danger: for the Government will make the Scale go true.

The man of money too, if his heart will serve him, may weigh two or three hundred pound at this Scale, and he will finde it in two yeares, more then ballance the yearly use of foure or five thousand pound, and the Government for his security, will assure him, that his money is placed secure.

And lastly, I propose to the Gentlemen or Elder Brothers, (who have had or now have great Estates) that it is good policy to have two strings to their bow, for it hath been a thing taking very much with wise men not to adventure all their estates upon one title, nor in any one Country, and their wisdome never appeared so much as in these distracted times; for when the enemy had possession of their estates, in one Country they have happily been free in another which was enough to support them in the storm during the War,26 but how miserable are the vanquished, it had been happy for them, had their estates been divided in two or three Kingdomes, for there is many a gallant Gentleman, who before these Warres, had some one, others two, and some three thousand pounds per annum;27 and now not able to feed their Families: and others living upon their estates have had their bread taken from them to feed taxes, and in the best condition have been content, to receive the ordinary Revenue of their estates, and being full of Children, have beene glad to set downe under; that their Estates might grow over them, and if they shall bring part of their Estates to this Scale, they shall not onely find a safe harbour to retire to, in the worst of the storme; but till then, that little part will be growing, and in a short time swell bigger then the bulk of all the rest.

THE next thing that I am in order to handle is, that untill Commodities bee raised, for a constant Trade of Shipping, how Passengers may be transported with the best convenience, both for health, and Charge.

And first I will tell you of the ordinary way, with the Conveniences, and inconveniences, both for health, and Charge.

The ordinary time of going, is about September, or October, which times Ships have made choice of, in respect the Crop of Tobacco will be ready for their homeward fraught, which is alwayes in, or about December, and so they lade, and returne in February, March, or Aprill.

The Ships taking of men by the Pole is extreame unhealthy, for by this means to make the greater fraught they take so many, that their Ship is pestured, and subject to diseases, which hath happened very often.

And they being onely bound to land the Passengers in Virginia at large, or else in some particular River; they take no further care, but at the place where they themselves design their Ships to go, they set their Passengers on land, which many times falls out to be distant from the Plantations, to which the most of the Passengers are bound some thirty, forty, or fifty miles and more, and some of the Passengers being sickly at their landing, perish before they arrive at their home. And the latter the Ships come to Virginia the worse, for then they are set a shore in the very strength of Winter, which is about the last of December, and being weake are spoiled with cold, whereas if they had been set down at their Plantations, they would soone recover their healths.

The best and cheapest way for those that intend to go at these time, which for the reasons aforesaid are the worst, as also being longest, in that they go above 200 leagues out of the way, hauling over to the Azoras or Westerne Islands, for the advantage of the wind.

Let them upon the Exchange inquire what Passengers are going, and there make a consortship of those who live nearest together in the Countrey, and having made themselves up a considerable number of thirty or forty, let them then bind the Master to set them downe with his Ship, at or so neer that particular place they designe to go to, as the Ship can come.

But the better way will be, if they can make up so many Passengers a will give a Ship a fraught, then to hire a Ship amongst themselves, to set them downe at their place in Virginia, which will make the Planters stock go further by a third part, then it would doe by transporting himself as aforesaid; which I demonstrate in manner following.

I look out for a Ship of 150 Tuns, which will doe it very well, and hire her either by the Month or the Voyage, which I shall find best cheap; this Ship I can have for 100. li. a Month, but in respect they will not let her for a lesse time then five or six Months, and I having no commodities as yet to relade her home, I will therefore agree for the Voyage outward, and after I am set down, let him make his best advantage of any imployment he shall meet with, and to performe this service I can have him for 300. l. at the most, the Owners victualling their owne Company, and finding all things perteining to the Ship; but you may observe, if you will take upon you a Flemish bottome, she will got cheaper, which in case a Fleet of Ships went together, I would do.

Now for that I have observed salt meates which is the Sea diet, doth not so well agree with Land-men, and besides that manner of victualling is very deare, I shall for the Passengers propose a better and more pleasant diet & far cheaper which will not stand you in at above three fourths of the usuall charge.

And first I propose a meat with which the Dutch victuall very much, and call it Gruts, which like Oatemeale thickens extreamly in boyling, and being buttered is a very pleasing and satisfying dish, which I have experienced in Dutch Ships, or otherwise you may have Rice and a little Spice, with Butter or Bag-Puddings with Plumbs, with a little Flesh, Butter, Cheese, and Fish, which well proportioned will both please and fill the Passenger; in diet if the mind be satisfie, the stomacke soone agrees.

By which it is plaine you may carry your men and goods, at a very little more then half the charge that you give the other way.

And I shall desire you to consider what an advantage 'tis to the poore Planter, to have his stock made twice as good as 'twas.

The next way is upon New Englands Ships, which go and come almost all the yeare, but this will be after the old Charge, except you take her wholly to Freight, or have a very considerable number toward the same, the difference, which is much will be, you may take your own time to go over.

But within one year or two, I doubt not, but the Staples aforesaid, will be there in such quantitites, men shall passe all the year long at the forementioned easie rate.

But the last, and best way, will be in the Moneths of February March, April, by our Shipping that go to New-Found-Land, those that go first, go to Fish: the last go to take in that fish, all these Ships go light to New-Found-Land, except some of the Fishers, who lade salt for the Fisherie.

And I am confident, you may have one of those Ships, (and they are commonly of the best, and most warlike Ships of Merchants) of 300 Tunnes for 400 l., and one of these will carry handsomly 200 Passengers and 200 Tunnes of goods; and let us see our condition now.

By which it is plain all parties very well satisfied, the Planter is not at much above one third part of the usuall charge.

Pray marke it, that whereas our Planter by the old way could carry but five men, he may by this carry thirteene.

Besides which it is extreamly to be considered that the Freight being so cheap, there may be store of good horses carried over in a short time; there being as yet in the Countrey, not much above 250 horses and Mares, and that would quickly make them do, what is not fitting every man should know.

28Besides that, the Passage is so cheap, it is exceeding advantagious; especially, if you get away in March, your Passage will be pleasant, both for fair weather, and shortnesse, since now you go not out of your way to the Azores as in the Winter voyage: But you go the straight way: for these two wayes differ just as the Bow and string, and your voyage, is sometime under a Moneth, seldome above: for in this time of the year the winds hang Easterly from our Coast, which follows you all the way; nor is this all: for you shall come into the Countrey, the pleasantest time of all the yeare, when being in the splendour of her beauty, shee'll ravish you with delight for welcome.

Nor are you come at this time to pleasure without profit, but if the pleasures will let you retire to your businesse, you may fall presently into the ground and before August have a Crop of Flax, Rice, Corne, Beanes, and Pease.

Having now brought the Gentlemen and Yeomen into the Countrey, Ile be their Harbinger, and provide them good quarters till they shall be setled.

I know it is a common opinion received; that such as go to Virginia, come to a wildernesse, and they must lie in the fields, till they can build them a house, such false rumours hath lookt up this paradice of the earth from many a deserving man, bu the truth is let thy titles be what they will, thou art but a Gentleman, and very many such thou shalt find there, who to prevent thy asking will freely and with all sweet respects invite thee to be their Guest, and compt themselves sufficienty rewarded that you'le entertaine their Motion; men of lower condition shall find, the like with as heartie welcome to their Beefe, Bacon, and Bag-pudding, as ever Tom gave Dick, or Winifred gave Parnell in our Countrie; and being thus fitted they will willingly leave you their ground for a crop, or you make looke out to seate your selfe upon your owne, which so soone as you have made choice of, will by the Court be confirmed to you and your Heires for ever.

I should have fitted you with Servants, before your comming into the Countrey, but since it is onely our fancies have beene there to take a view against our persons come, wee'le not goe without Servants.

Therefore Ile not advice the Spiriting way, which sends Drones to the Hive, in stead of Bees, but that you take stout Labourers and good Worke-men, giving them honest wages from 3. li. to 10. li. a yeare according to the quallity of the men, for if we in England can pay 2. or 300. li. per annum rent for a Farme, and give great wages, we may much better give wages where our ground is twice as good, and no rent paid.

Besides it keepes a Servant in heart, and makes him at all times willing to put forth his strength in that Masters service, that gives him meanes to thrive, and taking this course you may pick and chuse your Servants.

Onely this I must advise, that you agree with your Servant for foure yeares at least, and considering that you pay his passage, and are at other charges with him, let the charge be proportioned upon the foure or more yeares wages that he is to serve you, and so deduct it every yeare.

And for Servants encouragement, they shall finde themselves at the very first in the condition of Journymen for foure or five yeares, and before seven yeares end he shall have a faire estate.

I will in the first place helpe the weakest to avoid the trouble of the strongest, whom I suppose may have three pound the first yeare, and presuming for that he went well cloathed out of England, it will be all his owne at the yeares end, with this three pound Ile buy him a Haifer, and send twenty shillings of it into England in some commoditie of the Countrey, as to say three or foure flitches of Bacon or the like, which he may well doe with twenty shillings and more; and for that the Bacon of Virginia surpasseth our English, which I have often experimented here in England, I doubt not but at the least (for I love to value all things of this nature at the least) it will yeeld him eight groates a stone, and supposing his foure flitches way but twenty stone which they'le doe (and ten more) he hath here in England for his Bacon two pounds three shillings foure pence, and this lade out in Pins, Laces, & Combes, for the Maids shall in Virginia be double, and now his Cow hath Calved, and he hath five pound in his purse, besides his yeares wages to receive, which tells him he hath now served his Master two yeares.

And following this course if I find him at the end of his time with lesse then sixty pound in his purse, besides his Stock of Cattle, I shall say he hath either been an extraordinary ill Husband or a negligent simple Fellow which if he have not.

Let him bring his 60. li. to the aforesaid Ballance and then (if he looke up to God) he may see himselfe fit to wooe a good mans Daughter.

Besides this there are better things, for men will plant very little Tobacco, and at leisure time he may without any prejudice to his Master, plant 50. li. in Tobacco a yeare, which as the quantitie faules will rise in price, and may be worth to him 2. s. 6. d. per li. I have knowne it sold at 5. s. and 3. s. 6. d. the worst, so that here is 6. li. 5. s. gotten every year, and the imployment of this mony will rise to a good sum in two or three returnes.

Nor is this all, for he will find in the end of this Book, I shall advise his Master to five him something else.

Truly I would say something to Maid-Servants, but they are impatient and will not take advice but from a Husband, for if they come of an honest stock and have a good repute, they may pick and chuse their Husbands out of the better sort of people, I have sent over many, but never could keepe one at my Plantation three Moneths, except a poore filly Wench, made for a Foile to set of beautie, and yet a proper young Fellow must needs have her, and being but new come out of his time and not strong enough to pay the charges I was at in choathing and transporting her, was content to serve me a twelve Moneth for a Wife.

To conclude this, whereas in England many Daughters makes the Fathers purse leane, the Sonnes here make the leane purses, wherefore to avoid this danger, I shall advise that man that's full of Children to keepe his Sonnes in England, and send his Daughters to Virginia, by which meanes he shall not give but receive portions for all his Children.

The next in order is, how be Gods assistance the Indians may be reclaimed: wherein I shall first begin with love.

ANd when I consider this way hath been attempted but the successe: for by it divers honest men have been lost, I shall let love alone to worke with Christians, for with Indians it cannot, since there must be an acquaintance to procure familiaritie upon which trust and confidence is reposed, which is the common foundation of love, but the Indians being a wild people and of a subtill and treacherous nature, as sad experience tell us we must not acquaint our selves with them to trust.

Next I will consider force and that hath bin fatall to the Indians, there having beene great numbers of them slaine.

And this will not doe till they be wholy vanquished, which is a worke (although a small number of English may, and can deale with great numbers of (Indians not to be effected, but with a vast expence both of money and time, in respect of the largenesse of the Continent, wherein the Countrey is, being much bigger then many Englands, Scotlands, and Irelands together.

Wherefore and for that this course agrees not with the profession of Christianity, I shall not think of it.

I will therefore consider of a third way, in which (not leaving our dependence upon God for his assistance,) I shall look upon nature.

And I will examine the ordinary course of taming wild and fierce beasts, these differing from them in nothing, but that they are endued with naturall reason.

It must be observed the more you thwart nature, the fiercer you make it: And therefore we are first to study, what they are most enclined to: and having found it, then to fit them with those things they naturally are delighted in, and so by degrees you take from them all feare; which is the principall abstacle, and at last reclaime them: this is enough for the Generall.

Now to come to our wilde people, who being endued with naturall reason, I doubt not, but they may more easily reclamed.

First, therefore I will inquire what most predomminates in nature, and I find ambition to be to the principall marke that nature aymes at.

For all men are naturally ambitious either of knowledge, honour, or of wealth, to attaine which the greatest dangers harshest studies and the hardest labours are made pleasures.

Therefore we must make use of ambition being the universall net of nature to take these men.

Now let us looke what it is that drawes us to this net and we shall find it to be a sence of our own nakednesse, and it was the case of Adam and Evah our first Parents, wherefore I shall say, that if the Devill could by this meanes worke upon them, to so bad an end, God will assist us by the same meanes (since it is to a better end) to work upon these it being to his glory.

First, that they are ignorantly naked in the knowledge of all things, but what they are prompt to by nature for selfe preservation.

Secondly, that the Countrey affording plenty of provisions to sustaine nature, they take little care for the future.

Fourthly, that for the reasons aforesaid they are independent upon any other people, and care not to converce with any but themselves.

Secondly, By taking them off from their confidence upon nature, whereby they may take care for the future.

And for that they cannot be talkt into a sight of themselves, I shall propose that we gently steal through their nature, till we can come to pull off the scale from their eyes, that they may see their owne nakednesse; which must be done in manner following.

Either by making them ambitious of Honour, or by making them ambitious of Riches.

In the first we must take their Werowances or great men: they already being at that lock of being one better then another.

In the second, let us not doubt but we shall take them all, for there is but a very few men in the World either Christian or Heathen, that are not taken with it.

First, I shall advise that slight Jewells be made at the publique charge of thirty or forty shillings price, and one better then the rest of some such toyes as they shall most affect, which fitted with Ribands to weare about their necks or their heads, as their custome amongst them is; shalbe sent from the Governour of the Plantation in his own, and also in the name of the People and the Governour to distinguish them by some pretty titles, which should be alwaies after observed; as also to make some of them favourites, and to sollicite their preferment with their King, & this by degrees will kindle the fire of Ambition, which once in a flame must be fed, and then is the time to worke.

For the second I shill advise, that their nature be observed what way it most poynts at, and then fit them with what they most desire, and if by degrees you can bring some of them to weare slight loose Garments in Summer, or to keep them warme in the Winter; which if you can effect, the worke is halfe done, and this I am confident is very easie: for a little to the Northward of the place I write of, they are fallen into a way of cloathing themselves withour course Welch cloath of Blew and Red colours, and the better sort of the Indians in this place do weare Coats of Skinnes, with the Furre side next to their bodyes in the Winter, and the Skin side in the Summer: and that you may perceive them already comming, they have for the most part altered their old Fashion, of making their Coats, and now in imitation, make them like English Cloakes; but this must be at the publick charge, they having few valuable Commodities to purchase them, yet the charge will not be great, for I shall advise that this be not practised upon the generallity, but upon some one King and his People that are most tractable, and of the nearest neighbourhood, and they are commonly about two hundred or two hundred and fifty Indians, and five or six shillings a man will do it; besides, there will be something to retribute the charge, viz. Beaver, Otter, and other Skinnes, Indian Corne, Beanes, and Pease, with other things, so that it is possible the charge may be defrayed, and having won these, you need not fear the comming in of the rest.

The poore Indian being cloathed, his sight is cleared, he sees himselfe naked, and you'le finde him in the snare.

For now they begin to vye who is the better man, which must be determined by their Cloathes, and to purchase them, they'le be at their wits end, since they having nothing valuable, and if you draw the net wisely they are sure.

But it must be considered, that although their minds be fetter'd, yet their nature is not tamd, wherefore you must thinke of proposing some things to them, that may inable them to be Masters of Cloathes, which must in no wayes trench upon their liberties.

Therefore in the first place you may propose easie workes, and draw them on by degrees, and you shall finde, that for themselves they will worke, but not for you.

You shall likewise propose to their King, that if hee'l send thirty or forty men to helpe in your Harvest, hee shall have a Cloake, or Breeches and Doublet, or the like, and his men should have every one something.

Or otherwise, set them to peeling of Hempe, or braking of Flax in Winter, where they should for the present, to incourage them, have more then they earned, and then bring them to drive the Plough, or thresh Corne, or the like, but in no wise let them continue at any one worke to a dislike, but play with them, you still fitting varietie of workes to their fancies; thus by degrees (God assisting) you shall make them conquer themselves: by this meanes in two or three yeares you will draw them to a confidence in you, to trust their Children to be brought up by you, and they'l learne English, which will be a good step to bring them to Christianitie. Having brought them thus farre, you need not be directed how to leade them further, your owne reason and profit will doe it; never feare their falling back, for their owne ends shall keepe them to you, because their minds will prompt them to pride, and they'l covet to be finer then their fellowes.

And now have you opened their eyes, made them care for the future, drawn them to commerce, and made them depend.

Thus have I done with the Indians: onely this take notice of, I do not advise that at any hand you suffer them to come into your house, or any further then your field or out-working houses, neither admit more of them to come then you can master, and that they alwayes come without their armes, untill you see them so sensible of their poverty, that they come necesitated to worke.

I Am now to advise the Adventurer, Planter, and Servant, of such things as are proper to them.

Having before advised of the mischiefe of procuring of Servants, and of the convenience and inconvenience of the usuall passgage to Virginia, and how to prevent the inconveniency, as also of a better way of passage, and likewise to dispose of your selfe in the Countrey when you come first there, and what commodities to fall presently upon, I shall now advise.

First to the Adventurer.

First, that whatsoever his designe be, not to depend upon the life of any one man for the perfecting the worke, but to send two at the least of equall abilitie, and one to succeed the other in case of death.

Secondly, that for whatsoever belongeth to Art, that it be here made in England, least when the worke comes over, none be found there able to do it, and so it perish, or if there be any principall in it, that may be indangered to be lost or broken, that he send two of the same for feare of failing.

Thirdly, that if there be Parteners in the busines, they so Article that the sayler to supply his part, shall forfeit it to the rest.

Lastly, whatsoever the designe be, yet send over a Plough or two, for this if their designe faile, or untill the designe be perfected, will turne to accompt, and make them great gainers.

Secondly to the Planter.

First, that they take the Planters leave where for the present they shall reside, and doe not neglect the opportunitie of falling into the ground with the Plough so soone as the seasons come.

29Secondly, that when the Corne is in the ground, then is the time to looke out for the place, they shall after settle themselves upon, in which they must take care not to settle on the places neer the ebbing and flowing of the salt water, for they are there, as here in England all aguish, next that they make choice of some place neer a navigable River, where they may have the conveniency of fresh Marshes, Meadows, and Fish, and if they can where some pleasant rising Hills be, but at no rate doe not strugle too farre from Neighbours, for that's disconsolate.

30Thirdly, let them build their Houses of Brick, or otherwise with Timber, let it be done with substantiall compleat lengths (since they have Timber enough) which will save halfe charges in Carpenters worke, line it on the inside thick with Loame, and cover it with Lime, for that will make it warme in Winter, make your modell or plate-forme such that when your family shall increase you may adde to your buildings without defacing or inconveniencing any roomes.

31Fourthly, examine the ground and sowe proper seed in the proper parts, sowe not Wheat in the richest, for that will be too rich, and will not turne to accompt, but in your richest sowe Rape, Rice, or Flax-seed, and two or three crops of this, will bring the ground to beare Wheat your life after.

32In England chuse good Servants, able Worke-men, and give them good wages, fear not the wages: of every ten Servants let foure be Boyes, and ever after send for good lusty Youths, for they will serve eight or nine yeares, whereas men will hardly be gotten to serve above four or five, and taking this course the Boyes wil be Men when the Mens times expire, and being trayned up in the service under good men, they will prove excellent Servants.

33Fifthly, That the servants may do their work without trouble in over-seeing, or without fretting or vexing their Masters patience, I shall advise such a way, as they may worke for themselves, and their Masters together for be well assured, the best of them; will work more to get themselves a Shilling, then to get you ten, and that they may with much content, and profit to themselves, make their Servants shew the best of their abilities, it were good to consider what or how much of any worke to be done by a Servant in a day would be satisfactory, and then that being done, he should have an allowance for what he should do more. As for Example; two stone, or two stone and a half of Flax to be drest in a day is indifferent, I would then give him foure pence a stone, for what he should do more: this will extreamly incourage the Servant, and very good use may be made of it, or let him have the remainder of the day to plant a little Tobacco for himselfe, or for any other thing; I have tried all wayes, but never found the like.

Sixthly, That for such Servants as are above the age of twenty yeares, who can deserve wages in England, give them wages in manner following, viz. three pound the first yeare, and so increase the wages twenty shillings a year to the end of their time.

Seventhly, and for youths, when they shall attain to the age of twenty one years, to give wages, and increasing to the end of their time, in manner aforesaid.

Eighthly, and to undertake to give the Servants 30 acres of land, at the end of their time, to them and their heirs for ever: which land shall be given the Master, by the Court, for them.

Tenthly, that they enquire after all advantagious Commodities that are produced from the Earth, and learn how to bring them to perfection.

Eleventhly, that they enquire after all manner of slight Engines, that will save hand-labour, there being nothing dear in the Countrey but labour.

Twelfthly, and for that the Masters will be at charge of transporting and cloathing them; let that charge be deducted proportionably every year out of their wages.

Thirteenthly, they must be carefull to Covenant with their Servants, to forfeit for every dayes work they shall neglect, double the value of their dayes labour: but for neglect in harvest, ten times the value.

Fourteenthly, the difference that may arise between the Master and Servant, upon their Covenants, to be determined by the Superintendents.

Lastly, They must shew their Servants Indentures to the Court, and then they shall have 50 Acres of land for every servant setled upon them, and their heirs for ever, which fifty Acres, is over and above what the Servants shall have.

First, they to Covenant with their Masters, not to plant above two hundred weight of Tobacco per annum: whereas heretofore a Servant planted 1500.

Secondly, this will take off all mens depending on Tobacco, which hath been the fatall commodity of that Countrey, and Masters will find a better way to employ their Servants.

Thirdly, that they looke their Masters Covenant, to give them thirty Acres of land, and pay them the wages they shall agree for in money, or the Commodity of the Countrey, money worth.

Fourthly, let the Servant agree with his Master upon the sum laid out for him before his transportation, that he be not abused therein when he comes into the Countrey, and let the same be set down in the Indentures.

Fifthly, this carefully observed, with the rules before prescribed in this book, will assure the Servant, that at the end of his time, he shall be in a flourishing condition, never more to serve any man.

A single man that can but pay his passage, may have ten pound a yeare for his service, and be found meat and drink.

Lastly, if any Gentlemen or others with their Families, and also Artificers in any Trade, Labourers or Servants shall be desirous to transport themselves for the bettering of their fortunes, either to this place, or any other of the English Plantations abroad, let them repair to the Authour, who for the love he bears his Countrey, will freely advise them how to dispose of themselves for their greatest advantage, which shall inable them to do much more with one hundred pounds then they could heretofore do for one hundred and fifty pound, of which benefit the Planters shall also have the Advantage, and Servants shall be upon sure termes knowing their work, and their conditions, and they shall see plainly that in a little time, they shall by Gods blessing, become men of good estates, he will also advise how they may transport themselves with the best safety in these times, from any danger of being taken.

And if any Gentlemen that shall not go themselves, but are desirous to adventure, he will direct them how they may best dispose thereof for their advantage, and that in eighteen Moneths they shall be reimbursed their principall money, and after shall, constantly receive much above fifty pound for every hundred pound they adventured at first, and owners of Ships shall have good imployment, for their Ships not letting them lie rotting by the Walls, as both now and heretofore they have done. The Authour is sensible that these offers are something large, yet let no man doubt of the truth thereof, he being inabled thereto by his deare bought experience, and all men may be satisfied, that it hath been rarely found, that any one particular good work hath been faln upon, but some one man hath originally been the Authour, or the originall motion hath proceeded from one mans breast. Those rich Mines of the West Indies were first offered by one man to Henry the seventh: but he not having faith enough to believe, or not willing to venture a little money to be satisfied of the truth, refused it: and after, it was offered by the same man to the then King of Spain, who hearkened to him; and all the world knowes, that from this one mans motion, the Kings of Spain have within this 150 yeares received from thence many thousand millions of pounds: besides, it hath extreamly inriched the Gentlemen, and Merchants of that Kingdom. Many of the like examples might be shewed, but they are so generally known at all men, that Ile say no more, onely that there was some time spent, after the King of Spain had set footing in the West Indies, before he could come by travell to the Mynes; and these places the English have inhabited much more time then the King of Spains Subjects had done in the West Indies, before they discovered that Countries wealth. But God, that is the Authour of all good things, hath not in all this time beene pleased to let any man looke further then Tobacco; and no man can say, but that he is now pleased freely to offer his blessings bestowed upon these Countries, in the riches thereof, to us, since all this time, there was never any man that had the heart to labour for the Generall good in this nature before.

Reader, I cannot let thee goe till I have againe put thee in mind of my Epistle to thee, in which I discovered the great Obstructor of this Countries prosperitie; who I know being now againe alarm'd, will fiercly send his Spirits abroad with lyes and calumnies to abate the peoples courage, since his Kingdom will be so much indangered, by the through planting of this place with Christians; and I am confident he shall no longer prevaile: for my Spirit would not let me rest, till I had by this, bid defiance to him and all his subtill practices.

Therefore be not led by any false reports, for thou shalt find me ready with all freenesse to give thee full satisfaction in the truths that any way concernes this Place, or is conteined in this Book, and this I freely offer to men of all conditions, whether Masters of Servants. You have my name in the Title Page, and you shall be directed to my Chamber in the Middle-Temple, either by M. Collinson, an Iron-monger in Cornehill, M. Pollington a Haberdasher in Lumbard-Street, or M. Beadle, Stationer in Fleet-Street, next to the Middle-Temple Gate, or the Shops under the said Gate.

My time would not permit such care of the Presse, in Correcting, as was fitting; but since it is right in the matter, I shall desire the Reader to excuse the Printers slips in the manner.

Pag. 40. the Summe of 72 l. next under 12 l. and 60 l. is onely the totall of the Fraught, and not the value of a particular, as by the placing you may suppose it.

1. The Governours have been alwayes sent from England, & most times strangers to the Country.

3. By this means, when they were bound to pay money debts, they made an Act to pay their debts in Tobacco, at 12 d. per pound, which in England would not yield at that time 2 d. per pound cleare, by which I know who lost above 1500 pound.

5. This election being simple, gives way, that if there be one man in all the Councell, although the youngest in degree, fitter then the rest, he may as soon arive at the Government as any of his Seniors, by which 'tis possible that this Commonwealth may be Governed by the wisest and justest men in the Country, which cannot be, when two stand in competition for it, then the one must have it: and this will draw every man to be ambitious to studie the good of the Countrey.

6. This is a tie upon the Governour, to walk equally and justly before the people.

7. By this the Governour, if just, able, and good, may continue his life in the Government.

8. By this 'tis possible, that the ablest and honestest of the people shall alwayes be in Authority: for this is the first step to the Government.

9. The people will be carefull to chuse good, and able men, since those they chuse shall immediately exercise a power over them.

11. By this means the people shall have an Accompt of the Governours and Councels carriage for the generall good.

12. By this a good understanding will be had between the Governour and the people, and nothing in probabilitie may be presumed shall be moved, whereby the Common-wealth shall be in danger.

13. This provides, there may be a good Councel of the wisest & honestest of the people, and by it a confusion of Councell and Councellours is avoided.

14. These 12 are next in degree for Councellors, and in the Interim serve for excellent uses, as you shall see hereafter.

15. By this course there can be no surprisalls in making Lawes, but all Lawes will be truly understood & weyed, before confirmed.

16. By this, the people have a tie upon the Governour and Councel, and yet they be not indangered by the people, but upon just & cleare grounds.

17. By this they are Servants immediatly to the Common-wealth, and not so easily drawne to serve ends.

18. If Lawes established may upon some fond conceit of a self-wise man be struck at, the Lawes will be alwayes tottering: but if there be any Law inconvenient, let it be shewed to the Governour, and Councell, who should best understand the Lawes, and they being made sensible of it, let them move it.

19. This may be either by himself, or with the Councell, as shall be thought fit.

20. Out of these 12 shall be alwayes chosen men to represent the Adventurers, in examining the Trustees accompts.

21. By this the Trustees shall not prevail with the Governour, to get his friends nominated to take the accompts.

22. By this, the danger of laying continuall burthens upon the people is taken away.

23. This prevents the Governour for making a Councell of his favourites, which if admitted, might be destruction.

24. For if 60. li. aforesaid shall produce above 170 l. per annum, 200 li. which is the Estate I here value, may produce much more then 300 l. per annum, and the Master live plentifully.

25. Adventurer is in the sense of the book him that sends to plant. The Government wil preserve this estate with the increase.

26. Examine how many Gentlemen have run themselves in debt beyonde their estates to supply them in the Warres.

28. And if you will look into the books Printed by the Virginia Company, in 1621, or 1622 you shall find that of 900 men transported in one Fleet, in the time aforesaid there died but one.

Elkes,	bigger then Oxen, excellent good meat, and the Hide good to make Buffe.
Deere,	in abundance, excellent Venizon, and the Skinnes good Cloathing.
Racoones,	very good meat.
Hares}	very good meat.
Coneys}
Beaver,	excellent meat, and the Furre Rich.
Squirrells	two sorts, good meat.

Lyons,}	But these and the Elkes are but seldome seene neer our English Plantation, their range being up in the Mountaines.
Beares,}
Leopards,}
Foxes,}	Warm Furres.
Wild Cats,}
Otters,}
Martens,}	Rich Furres.
Minkes,}
Wolves,	but very few.
Poulcats.
Weasells.
Musk-Rats,	so called, for that their Codds are stronger sented then Musk-Codds from East India, and never to be worne out.
There are other sorts of Beasts, but their names are not knowne to the English.

Turkeys	wild innumerable, weighing above 50 li. weight.
Heath Cocks,}	Abundance, and exellent meat.
Pigeons,}
Partridges,}
Black Birds,}
Thrushes,}
Dottrells,}
Cranes,>
Hernes,}
Swans,}
Geese,}
Brants,}
Ducks,}
Widgeons,}
Oxeyes,}

Silke Grasse.	{Of which, I have seene here in England drest, exceeding strong, and pure, fine like Silke, which without question would make strong Stuffes. A piece of Grogram was made of this Silk-grasse, and presented to Queene Elizabeth.
Silke.	{In Roanock they found Silk-wormes bigger then Walnuts, and were informed by the Indians, that higher in the Countrey there were abundance, and bigger.
Flax, and Hempe.	{ Which differs something from ours in the Leafe and Stalke, but thought to be every way as good.
Allum, Nitrum, Alumem plumeum.	{Are all to be had from a mightie Veine of Earth, that runnes all alongst the Sea Coast, on the Southermost part of Virginia.
Wapock,	Of the same value with Terra Sigelata.
Pitch, Tarre, Rosin, Turpentine; many Drugs; Wine from three sorts of Grapes; Oyle from Walnuts, and excellent sweet Oyle from three sorts of Berries, about the bignesse of Acrons; divers sorts of Firre, Sivet Cats up Roanock River; where is Pearle also to be had, Iron, Copper, Tynne, Lead, divers kinds of sweet Gummes, severall sorts of Dyes, Woad, and Sugar Canes, in Roanock.

	li.	s.	d.
A Plough every way fitted	02	00	00
Three Spades, three Shovells, three Mattocks, two Felling-Axes, two Hatches, one two Hand-Saw, and 1 one Hand-Saw.	01	08	00
Three gallons of Strong Water, and a Case.	01	00	00
One Fowling-peece, powder & shot	01	15	00
A Casting Net	01	00	00
Hookes and Lines to fish.	00	05	00
One Iron Pot, one Frying Pan, one Spit, woodden Platters, Dishes and Porringers.	01	00	00
To be invested in Linnen or Woollen Clothes, Shoes, Iron-worke, or Stuffes, to be carried over.	20	00	00
	28	08	00

Two Cloath Suites	01	10	00
Two Canvas Suites	00	14	00
Two woollen Drawers & two Wast-coats	00	14	00
Six Shirts	01	00	00
Foure paire of Stockings	00	07	00
Foure paire of Shoes	00	12	00
Two Monmouth Caps	00	04	08
Six Neck Handkerchiefes	00	04	00
Eight ells of strong Canvas to make Bed and Boulster.	00	10	00
One Rug and two Blanckets	01	00	00
The abovesaid charge of Servants is	06	15	08
The passage of three will be	16	10	00
Head money to the Chyrurgion of the Ship.	00	07	06
The fraught of a Hogs-head in tonnage	00	15	00
	24	08	02
brought from the other side	28	08	00
the totall is	52	16	02
Remaining of the 60. li. to be disposed of as he shall thinke fit, or he may carry another Servant.	07	03	10

	li.	s.	d
The 20 Acres produceth me at 5 quarters an Acre, 100 quarters, which I value at 2. s. 6. d. per bushell, which is 20. s. per quarter, and is in toto }	100	00	00
The 3 Acres of Flax at 300 stone per Acre is 900 stone, which I value at 1. s. 4. d. per stone, and is }	60	00	00
48 Bushells of Flax-seed at 5. s. per bushell. }	172	00	00
By which it is plaine, selling of the Commoditie in the Countrey, his yeares labour produceth }	172	00	00

But we are bound to see it, and now I lade 100 quarters of Wheat shot in Hold, which is 20 Tunnes, and pay 3. l. per Tunne fraught, which is }	60	00
Nine hundred stone of Flax, for which I allow three Tunne, at 4. l. per Tunne, which is }	12
The Flax-seed I keep in the Country, for that will sell there. }	72	00
It is ten to one you have not lesse then 4. s. 6. d. a bushell for it in London which is 36. s. per quarter, and is in all }	180	00
The 900 stone of Flax of Virginia, being far beyond other Flax in colour and strength, I doubt not but it may yield 22. d. per stone. }	082	10
the totall is	262	10
Fraught deducted	72	00
the ramainder is	190	10
The price I would have taken in Virginia for the Wheat and Flax was, }	160	00
Cleared by this bad Market to petty charges and profit over and above the mony I would have sold it for in Virginia, }	030	10

The Servants are taken up by such men as we here call Spirits, and by them put into Cookes houses about Saint Katherines, where being once entred, are kept as Prisoners untill a Master fetches them off; and they lye at charges in these places a moneth or more, before they are taken away. when the Ship is ready, the Spirits charges and the Cooke for dieting paid, they are Shipped, and this charge is commonly }	03	00	00
The Passage Money for a man is	05	10	00
Head Money to the Chyrurgion	00	02	06
So that a Servant stands them commonly in }	08	12	06
They pay for a Tun of goods fraught	03	00	00

Victuall for 120 men for two Months at 16. s. a man per Moneth is }	192	00	00
For freight of the Ship	300	00	00
So that the charge of transporting 120 men and 100 Tunnes of goods is }	492	00	00
The former way it will cost you viz. 5. li. 10. s. per man for 120. men is }	660	00	00
For freight of 100 Tunnes of goods at 3. l. per Tunne is }	300	00	00
The totall of the charge of 120 men and 100 Tnuns of goods by this course is }	960	00	00

The diet of the 200 Passengers for the time in manner aforewith fresh meat is}	320	00	00
The Fraught of the ship is,	400	00	00
The totall Charge of transporting 200 Passengers, and 250 Tunnes of goods is, }	720	00	00
Should you carry them by the old course, the Passage of 200 men at 5. li. 10. s. per man is }	1100	00	00
The Fraught of 200 Tunnes of goods, at 3 l. per Tunne is }	600	00	00
The charge in the old way of 200 men, and 200 Tunne of goods is }	1700	00	00

First Hand Accounts