Chapter III: Part 3

Being thus satisfied with _Europe_ and _Asia,_ understanding of the Wars in _Barbary,_ he went from _Gibralter_ to _Ceuta_ and _Tangier,_ thence to _Saffee,_ where growing into Acquaintance with a French Man of War, the Captain and some twelve more went to _Morocco,_ to see the ancient Monuments of that large renowned City: It was once the principal City in _Barbary,_ situated in a goodly plain Country, 14 Miles from the great Mount _Atlas,_ and sixty Miles from the _Atlantick_ Sea; but now little remaining, but the King's Palace, which is like a City of it self; and the Christian Church, on whose flat, {MN-1} square Steeple is a great broach of Iron, whereon is placed the three Golden Balls of Africa: The first is near three Ells in Circumference, the next above it somewhat less, the uppermost the least over them, as it were an half Ball, and over all a pretty gilded Pyramid. Against those Golden Balls hath been shot many a shot, their Weight is recorded 700 weight of pure Gold, hollow within, yet no shot did ever hit them, nor could ever any Conspirator attain that Honour as to get them down. They report, the Prince of _Morocco_ betrothed himself to the King's Daughter of _AEthiopia,_ he dying before their Marriage, she caused those three Golden Balls to be set up for his Monument, and vowed Virginity all her Life. {MN-2} The _Alfantica_ is also a place of note, because it is invironed with a great Wall, wherein lie the Goods of all the Merchants securely guarded. The _Inderea_ is also (as it were) a City of it self, where dwell the Jews: The rest for the most part is defaced; but by the many Pinnacles and Towers, with Balls on their tops, hath much appearance of much sumptuousness and curiosity. There have been many famous Universities, which are now but Stables for Fowls, and Beasts, and the Houses in most parts lie tumbled one above another; the Walls of Earth are with the great fresh Floods washed to the ground; nor is there any Village in it, but Tents for Strangers, _Larbes_ and _Moors._ Strange Tales they will tell of a great Garden, wherein were all sorts of Birds, Fishes, Beasts, Fruits, and Fountains, which for Beauty, Art and Pleasure, exceeded any place known in the World, though now nothing but Dung-hills, Pigeon-Houses, Shrubs and Bushes. There are yet many excellent Fountains, adorned with Marble, and many Arches, Pillars, Towers, Ports, and Temples; but most only reliques of lamentable Ruins and sad Desolation.

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{MN-1} _The three Golden Balls of_ Africa.

{MN-2} _The description of_ Morocco.

{MN} When _Muly Hamet_ Reigned in _Barbary,_ he had three Sons, _Muly Sheck, Muly Sidan,_ and _Muly Bufferres,_ he a most good and noble King, that governed well with Peace and Plenty, till his Empress, more cruel than any Beast in Africa, poisoned him, her own Daughter, _Muly Sheck,_ his eldest Son, born of a Portugal Lady, and his Daughter, to bring _Muly Sidan,_ to the Crown now reigning, which was the cause of all those brawls, and Wars that followed betwixt those Brothers, their Children, and a Saint that started up, but he played the Devil.

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{MN} _A bloody Empress._

{MN-1} King _Muly Hamet_ was not black, as many suppose, but _Molara,_ or tawny, as are the most of his Subjects; every way noble, kind and friendly, very rich and pompous in State and Majesty, though he sitteth not upon a Throne nor Chair of state, but cross Leg'd upon a rich Carpet, as doth the _Turk,_ whose Religion of _Mahomet,_ with an incredible miserable Curiosity they observe. His ordinary Guard is at least 5000, but in Progress, he goeth not with less than 20000 Horse-men, himself as rich in all his Equipage, as any Prince in Christendom, and yet a Contributor to the _Turk._ {MN-2} In all his Kingdom were so few good Artificers, that he entertained from _England,_ Gold-smiths, Plummers, Carvers, and Polishers of Stone, and Watch-makers, so much he delighted in the Reformation of Workmanship, he allowed each of them ten Shillings a day standing Fee, Linen, Woollen, Silks, and what they would for Diet and Apparel, and Custom-free to transport, or import what they would; for there were scarce any of those qualities in his Kingdom, but those, of which there are divers of them, living at this present in _London._ Amongst the rest, one Mr. _Henry Archer,_ a Watch-maker, walking in _Morocco,_ from the _Alfantica_ to the _Juderea,_ the way being very foul, met a great Priest, or a _Sante_ (as they call all great Clergy-men) who would have thrust him into the dirt for the way; but Archer not knowing what he was, gave him a box on the Ear, presently he was apprehended, and condemned to have his Tongue cut out, and his Hand cut off: But no sooner it was known at the King's Court, but 300 of his Guard came, and broke open the Prison, and delivered him although the Fact was next degree to Treason.

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{MN-1} _King_ Muly Hamet _or the Great_ Zeriff _of_ Barbary.

{MN-2} _His great love to English Men._

{MN} Concerning this _Archer,_ there is one thing more worth noting: Not far from Mount _Atlas,_ a great Lioness in the heat of the day, did use to bathe her self, and teach her young Puppies to swim in the River _Cauzef,_ of a good breadth; yet she would carry, which some _Moors_ perceiving, watched there them one after another over the River; opportunity, and when the River was between her and them, stole four of her Whelps, which she perceiving, with all the speed she could passed the River, and coming near them, they let fall a Whelp (and fled with the rest) which she took in her mouth, and so returned to the rest: A Male and a Female of those they gave Mr. _Archer,_ who kept them in the King's Garden, till the Male killed the Female, then he brought it up as a Puppy-dog lying upon his Bed, till it grew so great as a Mastiff, and no dog more tame or gentle to them he knew: But being to return for _England,_ at _Saffee_ he gave him to a Merchant of _Marseillses,_ that presented him to the French King, who sent him to King James, where it was kept in the Tower seven Years: After one Mr. _John Bull,_ then Servant to Mr. _Archer,_ with divers of his Friends, went to see the Lions, not knowing any thing at all of him; yet this rare Beast smelled him before he saw him, whining, groaning, and tumbling, with such an expression of acquaintance, that being informed by the Keepers how he came thither; Mr. _Bull_ so prevailed, the Keeper opened the Grate, and _Bull_ went in: But no Dog could fawn more on his Master, than the Lion on him, licking his Feet, Hands, and Face, skipping and tumbling to and fro, to the wonder of all the beholders; being satisfied with his acquaintance, he made shift to get out of the Grate: But when the Lion saw his Friend gone, no Beast by bellowing, roaring, scratching, and howling, could express more rage and sorrow, nor in four days after would he either eat or drink.

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{MN} _The strange love of a Lion._

{MN} In _Morocco,_ the King's Lions are altogether in a Court, invironed with a great high Wall; to those they put a young Puppy-dog: The greatest Lion had a sore upon his neck, which this Dog so licked, that he was healed: The Lion defended him from the fury of all the rest, nor durst they eat till the Dog and he had fed; this Dog grew great, and lived amongst them many years after.

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{MN} _Another kind Lion in_ Morocco.

{MN-1} _Fez_ also is a most large and plentiful Country, the chief City is called _Fez,_ divided into two parts; old _Fez_, containing about 80 thousand Households, the other 4000 pleasantly situated upon a River in the heart of _Barbary,_ part upon Hills, part upon Plains, full of people, and all sorts of Merchandize. The great Temple is called _Carucen_, in breadth seventeen Arches, in length 120, born up with 2500 white Marble Pillars: under the chief Arch, where the Tribunal is kept, hangeth a most huge Lamp, compassed with 110 lesser, under the other also hang great Lamps, and about some, are burning fifteen hundred lights, They say, they were all made of the Bells the _Arabians_ brought from _Spain._ It hath three Gates of notable heighth, Priests and Officers so many, that the Circuit of the Church, the Yard, and other Houses, is little less than a Mile and half in compass, there are in this City 200 Schools, 200 Inns, 400 Water-Mills, 600 Water-Conduits, 700 Temples and Oratories; but 50 of them most stately and richly furnished. Their _Alcazer_ or _Burse_ is Walled about, it hath twelve Gates, and fifteen Walks covered with Tents, to keep the Sun from the Merchants, and them that come there. The King's Palace, both for strength and beauty is excellent, and the Citizens have many great Privileges. Those two Countries of _Fez_ and _Morocco,_ are the best part of all _Barbary,_ abounding with People, Cattel, and all good Necessaries for Man's use. For the rest, as the _Larbs,_ or Mountainers, the Kingdoms of _Cocow, Algier, Tripoli, Tunis,_ and _AEgypt;_ there are many large Histories of them in divers Languages, especially that writ by that most excellent Statesman, _John de Leo,_ who afterwards turned Christian. {MN-2} The unknown Countries of _Guine_ and _Binn,_ this six and twenty years have been frequented with a few English Ships only to Trade, especially the River of _Senega,_ by Captain _Brimstead,_ Captain _Brockit,_ Mr. _Crump,_ and divers others. Also the great River of _Gambia,_ by Captain _Johnson,_ who is returned in thither again, in the Year 1626, with Mr. _William Grent,_ and thirteen or fourteen others, to stay in the Country, to discover some way to those rich Mines of _Gago_ or _Tumbatu,_ from whence is supposed the _Moors_ of _Barbary_ have their Gold, and the certainty of those supposed Descriptions and Relations of those interiour parts, which daily the more they are sought into, the more they are corrected: For surely, those interiour Parts of Africa, are little known to either _English, French,_ or _Dutch,_ though they use much the Coast; therefore we will make a little bold with the Observations of the _Portugals._

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{MN-1} _The description of_ Fez.

{MN-2} _A brief description of the most unknown parts of_ Africa.

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CHAP. XIX.

_The strange Discoveries and Observations of the_ Portugals _in_ Africa.

{MN} The _Portugals_ on those Parts have the glory, who first coasting along this Western Shoar of _Africa,_ to find passage to the _East-Indies,_ within this hundred and fifty years, even from the Streights of _Gibraltar,_ about the Cape of _Bone Esperance_ to the _Persian_ Gulf, and thence all along the _African_ Coast to the _Moluccas,_ have subjected many great Kingdoms, erected many Common-wealths, built many great and strong Cities; and where is it they have not been by Trade or Force? No not so much as _Cape de Verd,_ and _Sermleone;_ but most Bays or Rivers, where there is any Trade to be had, especially Gold, or conveniency for Refreshment, but they are scattered; living so amongst those Blacks, by time and cunning, they seem to be naturalized amongst them. As for the Isles of the _Canaries,_ they have fair Towns, many Villages, and many thousands of People rich in Commodities.

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{MN}_How the_ Portugals _coasted to the_ East Indies.

{MN} _Ordoardo Lopez,_ a noble _Portuguse, Anno Dom._ 1578, imbarking himself for _Congo_ to Trade, where he found such Entertainment, finding the King much oppressed with Enemies, he found means to bring in the _Portugals_ to assist him, whereby he planted there Christian Religion, and spent most of his life to bring those Countries to the Crown of _Portugal,_ which he describeth in this manner.

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{MN} _Or_ Edward.

{MN} The Kingdom of _Congo_ is about 600 Miles Diameter any way, the chief City called St. _Savadore,_ seated upon an exceeding high Mountain, 150 Miles from the Sea, very fertile, and Inhabited with more than 100000 Persons, where is an excellent Prospect over all the plain Countries about it, well watered, lying (as it were) in the Center of this Kingdom, over all which the _Portugals_ now command, though but an handful in comparison of _Negroes._ They have Flesh and Fruits very plentiful of divers sorts.

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{MN} _The Kingdom of_ Congo.

{MN} This Kingdom is divided into five Provinces, viz. _Bamba, Sundi, Pango, Batta_ and _Pembo;_ but _Bamba_ is the Principal, and can afford 400000 Men of War. Elephants are bred over all those Provinces, and of wonderful greatness; though some report, they cannot kneel, nor lie down, they can do both, and have their Joynts as other Creatures for use: With their Fore-feet they will leap upon Trees to pull down the Boughs, and are of that strength, they will shake a great _Cocao_ Tree for the Nuts, and pull down a good Tree with their Tusks, to get the Leaves to eat, as well as Sedge and long Grass, _Cocao_ Nuts and Berries, &c. which with their Trunk they put in their Mouth, and chew it with their smaller Teeth; in most of those Provinces, are many rich Mines, but the _Negroes_ opposed the _Portugueses_ for working in them.

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{MN} _Wild Elephants._

{MN} The Kingdom of _Angola_ is wonderful populous, and rich in Mines of Silver, Copper, and most other Metals; fruitfull in all manner of Food, and sundry sorts of Cattel, but Dogs Flesh they love better than any other Meat; they use few Clothes, and no Armour; Bows, Arrows, and Clubs are their Weapons. But the _Portugueses_ are well armed against those Engines, and do buy yearly of those Blacks more than five thousand Slaves, and many are People exceeding well proportioned.

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{MN} _The Kingdom of_ Angola.

{MN-1} The _Anchios_ are a most valiant Nation, but most strange to all about them. Their Arms are Bows; short and small, wrapped about with Serpents Skins, of divers Colours, but so smooth, you would think them all one with the Wood, and it makes them very strong; their Strings little twigs, but exceeding tough and flexible; their Arrows short, which they shoot with an incredible quickness. They have short Axes of Brass and Copper for Swords; wonderful, loyal and faithful, and exceeding simple, yet so active, they skip amongst the Rocks like Goats. {MN-2} They trade with them of _Nubea,_ and _Congo,_ for _Lamach,_ which is a small kind of Shell-fish, of an excellent azure, colour, Male and Female, but the Female they hold most pure; they value them at divers prices, because they are of divers sorts, and those they use for Coin, to buy and sell, as we do Gold and Silver; nor will they have any other Money in all those Countries, for which they give Elephants Teeth; and Slaves for Salt, Silk, Linen Cloth, Glass-beads, and such like _Portugal_ Commodities.

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{MN-1} _The Kingdom of_ Anchios.

{MN-2} _A strange Memr'y._

{MN} They circumcise themselves, and mark their Faces with sundry slashes from their Infancy. They keep a shambles of Man's Flesh, as if it were Beef, or other Victuals; for when they cannot have a good Market for their Slaves; or their Enemies they take, they kill, and sell them in this manner; some are so resolute, in shewing how much they scorn death, they will offer themselves and Slaves, to this Butchery to their Prince and Friends; and though there be many Nations will eat their Enemies, in _America_ and _Asia,_ yet none but those are known to be so mad, as to eat their Slaves and Friends also.

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{MN} _A shambles of Men's Flesh._

Religions and Idols they have as many, as Nations and Humours; but the Devil hath the greatest part of their Devotions, whom all those Blacks do say, is white; for there are no Saints but Blacks.

{MN} But besides those great Kingdoms of _Congo, Angola,_ and _Azichi,_ in those unfrequented Parts are the Kingdoms of _Lango, Matania, Battua, Sofola, Mozambeche, Quivola,_ the Isle of St. _Lawrence, Mombaza, Melinda,_ the Empires of _Monomotapa, Monemugi,_ and _Presbyter John,_ with whom they have a kind of Trade, and their Rites, Customs, Climates, Temperatures, and Commodities by Relation. Also of great Lakes, that deserve the Names of Seas, and huge Mountains of divers sorts, as some scorched with heat, some covered with Snow; the Mountains of the Sun, also of the Moon, some of Chrystal, some of Iron, some of Silver, and Mountains of Gold, with the Original of _Nilus;_ likewise sundry sorts of Cattel, Fishes, Fowls, strange Beasts, and monstrous Serpents; for Africa was always noted to be a fruitful Mother of such terrible Creatures; who meeting at their watering places, which are but Ponds in desart places, in regard of the heat of the Country, and their extremities of Nature, make strange Copulations, and so ingender those extraordinary Monsters. Of all these you may read in the History, of this _Edward Lopez,_ translated into English by _Abraham Hartwel,_ and dedicated to _John_ Lord Arch-bishop of _Canterbury,_ 1597. But because the Particulars are most concerning the conversion of those Pagans, by a good poor Priest, that first converted a Noble Man, to convert the King, and the rest of the Nobility; sent for so many Priests and Ornaments into _Portugal,_ to Solemnize their Baptisms with such Magnificence, which was performed with such strange Curiosities, that those poor _Negro's_ adored them as gods, till the Priests grew to that Wealth, a Bishop was sent to rule over them, which they would not endure, which endangered to spoil all before they could be reconciled. But not to trouble you too long with those Rarities of uncertainties; let us return again to _Barbary,_ where the Wars being ended, and _Befferres_ possessed of _Morocco,_ and his Fathers Treasure, a new bruit arose amongst them, that _Muly Sidan_ was raising an Army against him, who after took his Brother _Befferres_ Prisoner; but by reason of the uncertainty, and the perfidious, treacherous, bloody murthers rather than War, amongst those perfidious, barbarous Moors, _Smith_ returned with _Merham,_ and the rest to _Saffe,_ and so aboard his Ship, to try some other conclusions at Sea.

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{MN} _Divers Nations yet unknown, and the wonders of_ Africa.

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CHAP. XX.

_A brave Sea Fight betwixt to_ Spanish _Men of War, and Captain_ Merham,
_with_ Smith.

_Merham,_ a Captain of a Man of War then in the Road, invited Captain _Smith,_ and two or three more of them aboard with him, where he spared not any thing he had to express his kindness, to bid them welcome, till it was too late to go on Shoar, so that necessity constrained them to stay aboard; a fairer Evening could not be, yet ere Midnight, such a Storm did arise, they were forced to let slip Cable, and Anchor, and put to Sea; spooning before the Wind, till they were driven to the _Canaries;_ in the Calms they accommodated themselves, hoping this strange accident might yet produce some good event; not long it was before they took a small Bark coming from _Tenerif,_ loaded with Wine; three or four more they chased, two they took, but found little in them, save a few Passengers, that told them of five _Dutch_ Men of War, about the Isles, so that they stood for _Boiadora,_ upon the _African_ Shoar, betwixt which and _Cape Noa,_ they descryed two Sail. _Merham_ intending to know what they were, hailed them; very civilly they danced their Top-sails, and desired the Man of War to come aboard them, and take what he would, for they were but two poor distressed _Biskainers._ But _Merham_ the old Fox, seeing himself in the Lions paws, sprung his louf, the other tacked after him, and came close up to his nether Quarter, gave his Broad-side, and so loufed up to Windward; the Vice-Admiral did the like, and at the next bout, the Admiral with a noise of Trumpets, and all his Ordnance, Murtherers, and Muskets, boarded him on his Broad-side, the other in like manner on his ley Quarter, that it was so dark, there was little light, but fire and smoak; long he stayed not, before he, fell off, leaving 4 or 5 of his Men sprawling over the Grating; after they had battered _Merham_ about an hour, they boarded him again as before, and threw four Kedgars or Grapnels in Iron Chains, then shearing off, they thought so to have torn down the Grating; but the Admiral's Yard was so intangled in their Shrouds, _Merham_ had time to discharge two cross barr shot amongst them, and divers Bolts of Iron made for that purpose, against his Bow, that made such a Breach, he feared they both mould have sunk for Company; so that the _Spaniard_ was as yare in slipping his chained Grapnels, as _Merham_ was in cutting the Tackling, kept fast their Yards in his Shrouds; the Vice-Admiral presently cleared himself, but spared neither his Ordnance nor Muskets to keep _Merham_ from getting away, till the Admiral had repaired his Leak; from twelve at noon, till six at night, they thus interchanged one volly for another; then the Vice-Admiral fell on Stern, staying for the Admiral that came up again to him, and all that night stood after _Merham,_ that shaped his course for _Mamora,_ but such small way they made, the next Morning they were not three Leagues off from _Cape Noa._ The two _Spanish_ Men of War, for so they were, and well appointed, taking it in scorn as it seemed, with their Chase, Broad-side, and Stern, the one after the other, within Musket shot, plying their Ordnance; and after an hours Work, commanded _Merham_ amain for the King of Spain upon fair Quarter; _Merham_ drank to them, and so discharged his Quarter Pieces. Which Pride the _Spaniard_ to revenge, boarded him again, and many of them were got to the top to unsling the Main-Sail, which the Master and some others from the Round-House, caused to their cost to come tumbling down; about the Round-House the _Spaniards_ so pestred, that they were forced to the great Cablen and blew it up; the smoak and fire was so vehement, as they thought the Ship on fire; they in the Fore-Castle were no less assaulted, that they blew up a piece of the Grating, with a great many of _Spaniards_ more; then they cleared themselves with all speed, and _Merham_ with as much Expedition to quench the Fire with wet Cloaths and Water, which began to grow too fast. The _Spaniard_ still playing upon him with all the shot they could; the open Places presently they covered with old Sails, and prepared themselves to fight to the last Man. The Angry _Spaniard_ seeing the fire quenched, hung out a Flag of truce to have but a Parley; but that desperate _Merham_ knew there was but one way with him, and would have none, but the report of his Ordnance, which he did know well how to use for his best Advantage. Thus they spent the next Afternoon, and half the Night, when the _Spaniards_ either lost them or left them. Seven and twenty Men _Merham_ had slain and sixteen wounded, and could find they had received 140 great shot. A wounded _Spaniard_ they kept alive confessed, they had lost 100 Men in the Admiral, which they did fear would sink ere she could recover a Port. Thus Re-accommodating their Sails, they failed for _Sancta Cruse, Cape Goa,_ and _Magadore,_ till they came again to _Safee,_ and then he returned into England.

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CHAP. XXI.

_The continuation of the General History of_ Virginia; _the_ Summer
Isles, _and_ New England; _with their present Estate from_ 1624. _to
this present_ 1629.

Concerning these Countries, I would be sorry to trouble you with repeating one thing twice, as with their Mapps, Commodities, People, Government and Religion yet known; the beginning of these Plantations, their Numbers and Names, with the Names of the Adventures, the Yearly proceedings of every Governour both here and there. As for the Misprisions, Neglect, Grievances, and the causes of all these Rumours, losses and crosses that have happened; I refer you to the General History, where you shall find all this at large; especially to those Pages where you may read my Letter of Advice to the Councel and Company, what of necessity must be done, or lose all and leave the Country, Pag. 70. what Commodities I sent home, Pag. 163. my Opinion and offer to the Company, to feed and defend the Colonies, Pag. 150. my Account to them here of my Actions there, Pag. 163. and seven Answers to his Majesty's Commissioners: Seven Questions what hath hindered _Virginia,_ and the remedy, Pag. 165. How those Noble Gentlemen spent near two Years in perusing all Letters came from thence; and the differences betwixt many Factions, both here and there, with their Complaints; especially about the _Sallery_ which should have been a new Office in _London,_ for the well ordering the sale of _Tobacco,_ that 2500 Pounds should Yearly have been raised out of it, to pay four or five Hundred Pounds Yearly to the Governour of that Company, two or three Hundred to his Deputy; the rest into Stipends of forty or fifty Pounds Yearly for their Clerks and other Officers which were never there, Pag. 153. but not one Hundred Pounds for all them in _Virginia,_ nor any thing for the most part of the Adventures in _England,_ except the undertakers for the Lotteries, Setters out of Ships, Adventures of Commodities, also their Factors and many other Officers, there imployed only by friendship to raise their Fortunes out of the Labours of the true Industrious Planters by the Title of their Office, who under the colour of sincerity, did pillage and deceive all the rest most cunningly: For more than 150000 Pounds have been spent out of the Common Stock, besides many thousands have been there Consumed, and near 7000 People that there died, only for want of good Order and Government, otherwise long ere this there would have been more than 20000 People, where after twenty Years spent only in Complement and trying new Conclusions, was remaining scarce 1500, with some few Cattel.

Then the Company dissolved, but no Account of any thing; so that his Majesty appointed Commissioners to oversee, and give Order for their Proceedings. Being thus in a manner left to themselves, since then within these four Years, you shall see how wonderfully they have increased beyond expectation; but so exactly as I desired, I cannot relate unto you: For altho' I have tired my self in seeking and discoursing with those returned thence, more than would a Voyage to _Virginia;_ few can tell me any thing, but of that Place or Places they have Inhabited, and he is a great Traveller that hath gone up and down the River of _James_ Town, been at _Pamaunk, Smith's_ Isles, or _Accomack;_ wherein for the most part, they keep one tune of their now particular abundance, and their former wants having been there, some sixteen Years, some twelve, some six, some near twenty, &c. But of their general Estate, or any thing of worth, the most of them doth know very little to any purpose.

{MN} Now the most I could understand in general, was from the Relation of Mr. _Nathaniel Cawsey,_ that lived there with me, and returned _Anno Dom._ 1627. and some others affirm; Sir _George Yerely_ was Governour, Captain _Francis West,_ Doctor _John Pott,_ Captain _Roger Smith,_ Captain _Matthews,_ Captain _Tucker,_ Mr. _Clabourn,_ and Mr. _Farrer,_ of the Council: their Habitations many. The Governour, with two or three of the Council, are for most part at _James_ Town, the rest repair thither as there is occasion; but every three Months they have a general Meeting, to consider of their Publick Affairs.

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{MN} _Their estate_ 1627.

{MN} Their Numbers then were about 1500, some say rather 2000, divided into seventeen or eighteen several Plantations; the greatest part thereof towards the falls, are so inclosed with Pallisadoes they regard not the _Salvages._ and amongst those Plantations above _James_ Town, they have now found means to take plenty of Fish, as well with Lines as Nets, and where the Waters are the largest, having Means they need not want.

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{MN} _Their numbers._

{MN} Upon this River they seldom see any _Salvages,_ but in the Woods, many times their Fires: yet some few there are, that upon their opportunity, have slain some few straglers, which have been revenged with the Death of so many of themselves; but no other Attempt hath been made upon them this two or three Years.

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{MN} _Their condition with the Salvages._

{MN} Their Cattel, Namely, Oxen, Kine, Bulls, they imagine to be about 2000; Goats great store and great increase; the wild Hoggs, which were infinite, are destroyed and eaten by the _Salvages:_ but no Family is so poor that hath not tame Swine sufficient; and for Poultry, he is a very bad Husband, breedeth not an Hundred in a Year, and the Richer sort doth daily feed on them.

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{MN} _Their increase of Cattel and Poultry._

{MN} For Bread they have plenty, and so good, that those that make it well, better cannot be: Divers have much _English_ Corn, especially Mr. _Abraham Perce,_ which prepared this Year to sow two Hundred Acres of _English_ Wheat, and as much with Barly, feeding daily about the number of sixty Persons at his own Charges.

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{MN} _Plenty of Corn._

{MN} For Drink, Some Malt the _Indian_ Corn, others Barly, of which they make good Ale, both strong and small, and such plenty thereof, few of the Upper Planters drink any Water: but the better sort are well furnished with Sack, _Aquavitae,_ and good _English_ Beer.

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{MN} _Their Drink._

{MN} The Servants commonly feed upon Milk Homili, which is bruised _Indian_ Corn pounded, and boiled thick, and Milk for the sawce; but boiled with Milk, the best of all will feed oft on it, and leave their Flesh; with Milk, Butter and Cheese; with Fish, Bulls-flesh, for they seldom kill any other, &c. And every one is so applied to his labour about Tobacco and Corn, which doth yield them such Profit, they never regard any food from the _Salvages,_ nor have they any Trade or Conference with them, but upon meer Accidents and Defiances: And now the Merchants have left it, there having gone so many voluntary Ships within these two Years, as have furnished them with Apparel, Sack, _Aquavitae,_ and all necessaries, much better than any before.

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{MN} _Their Servants diet._

{MN} For Arms, There is scarce any Man but he is furnished with a Piece, a Jack, a Coat of Male, a Sword or Rapier; and every Holy-day, every Plantation doth Exercise their Men in Arms, by which means Hunting and Fowling, the most part of them are most Excellent Marks-men.

* * * * *

{MN} _Their Arms and Exercise._

{MN} For Discoveries they have made none, nor any other Commodity than Tobacco do they apply themselves unto, tho' never any was Planted at first. And whereas the Countrey was heretofore held most intemperate and contagious by many, now they have Houses, Lodgings, Victuals, and the Sun hath Power to Exhale up the moist Vapours of the Earth, where they have cut down the Wood, which before it could not, being covered with spreading tops of high Trees; they find it much more healthful than before; nor for their Numbers, few Countries are less troubled with Death, Sickness, or any other Disease, nor where overgrown Women become more fruitful.

* * * * *

{MN} _Their Health and Discoveries._

{MN-1} Since this, Sir _George Yerely_ died 1628, Captain _West_ Succeeded him; but about a Year after, returned for _England._ Now Doctor _Poor_ is Governour, and the rest of the Council as before: _James_ Town is yet their chief Seat, most of the Wood destroyed, little Corn there Planted, but all Converted into Pasture and Gardens, wherein doth grow all manner of Herbs and Roots we have in _England,_ in abundance, and as good Grass as can be. Here most of their Cattle do feed, their Owners being most some one way, some another, about their Plantations, and return again when they please, or any Shipping comes in to Trade. Here in the Winter they have Hay for their Cattel, but in other Places they Browze upon Wood, and the great husks of their Corn, with some Corn in them, doth keep them well. {MN-2} Mr. _Hutchins_ saith, they have 2000 Cattle, and about 5000 People, but _Master Floud, John Davis, William Emerson,_ and divers others say, about 5000 People, and 5000 Kine, Calves, Oxen and Bulls; for Goats, Hoggs and Poultry, Corn, Fish, Dear, and many sorts of other wild Beasts; and Fowl in their Season, they have so much more than they spend, they are able to feed three or four Hundred more than they have; and do oft much relieve many Ships, both there, and for their Return; and this last Year was there at least two or three and Twenty Sale. They have oft much Salt-fish from _New England,_ but fresh Fish enough, when they will take it; Peaches in abundance at _Kecoughtan;_ Apples, Pears, Apricocks, Vines, Figgs, and other Fruits some have Planted that prospered exceedingly, but their Diligence about Tobacco, left them to be spoiled by the Cattel, yet now they begin to Revive; {MN-3} Mrs. _Pearce,_ an Honest Industrious Woman, hath been there near twenty Years, and now returned, saith, she hath a Garden at _James_ Town, containing three or four Acres, where in one Year she hath gathered near an Hundred Bushels of excellent Figgs; and that of her own Provision she can keep a better House in _Virginia,_ than here in _London_ for 3 or 400 Pounds a Year, yet went thither with little or nothing. They have some tame Geese, Ducks and Turkies. The Masters now do so train up their Servants and Youth in shooting Deer and Fowl, that the Youths will kill them as well as their Masters. They have two Brew-houses, but they find the _Indian_ Corn so much better than ours, they begin to leave sowing it. Their Cities and Towns are only scattered Houses, they call Plantations, as are our Country Villages; but no Ordnance Mounted. The Forts Captain _Smith_ left a Building, so ruined, there is scarce Mention where they were; no Discoveries of any thing more, than the curing of Tobacco, by which hitherto, being so present a Commodity of Gain, it hath brought them to this abundance; but that they are so disjointed, and every one Commander of himself to Plant what he will: {MN-4} they are now so well provided, that they are able to subsist; and if they would join together, now to work upon Soap, Ashes, Iron, Rape-Oil, Mader, Pitch and Tarr, Flax and Hemp; as for their Tobacco, there comes from many Places such abundance, and the charge so great, it is not worth the bringing home.

* * * * *

{MN-1} _The present estate of_ Virginia 1629.

{MN-2} _Mr._ Hutchins. _Five thousand people. Five thousand Cattel. Goats, Hogs, and Poultry infinite._

{MN-3} _Good Hospitality._

{MN-4} _Commodities worth making, Black Wallnut, Also for Pikes, Oak for Planks, knees for ships, Cypress, for Chests, &c._

There is gone, and now a going, divers Ships, as Captain _Perse,_ Captain _Prine,_ with Sir _John Harvey_ to be their Governour, with two or three Hundred People; there is also some from _Bristow,_ and other Parts of the West Country a preparing, which I heartily pray to God to Bless, and send them a Happy and Prosperous Voyage.

_Nathaniel Causie,_ Master _Hutchins,_
Master _Floud, John Davis, William
Emerson,_ Master _William
Barnet,_ Master _Cooper,_ and others.

* * * * *

CHAP. XXII.

_The proceedings and present estate of the_ Summer Isles, _from_ Anno
Dom. 1624, _to this present_ 1629.

From the _Summer Isles,_ Mr. _Ireland,_ and divers others report, their Forts, Ordnance and Proceedings, are much as they were in the Year 1622. as you may read in the General History, Pag. 199. Captain _Woodhouse_ Governour. There are few sorts of any Fruits in the West Indies, but they grow there in abundance; yet the fertility of the Soil in many Places decayeth, being Planted every Year, for their Plantains, which is a most delicate Fruit, they have lately found a way by Pickling or Drying them, to bring them over into _England,_ there being no such Fruit in _Europe,_ and wonderful for increase. For Fish, Flesh, Figgs, Wine, and all sorts of most excellent Herbs, Fruits and Roots they have in abundance. In this Governour's time, a kind of Whale, or rather a Jubarta, was driven on Shoar in _Southampton_ Tribe from the West, over an Infinite Number of Rocks so bruised, that the Water in the Bay where she lay, was all Oily, and the Rocks about it all Bedasht with Parmacitty, congealed like Ice, a good quantity we gathered, with which we commonly cured any Boil, Hurt or Bruise; some burnt it in their Lamps, which blowing out, the very snuff will burn so long as there is any of the Oil remaining, for two or three days together. {MN}

* * * * *

{MN} _The present Estate of the_ Summer Isles.

The next Governour was Captain _Philip Bell,_ whose time being expired, Captain _Roger Wood_ possess'd his Place, a worthy Gentleman of good desert, and hath lived a long time in the Country; their Numbers are about 2 or 3000 Men, Women and Children, who increase there exceedingly; their greatest Complaint is want of Apparel, and too much Custom, and too many Officers; the Pity is, there are no more Men than Women, yet no great Mischief, because there is so much less Pride: the Cattle they have increase exceedingly; their Forts are well maintain'd by the Merchants here, and Planters there; to be brief, this Isle is an excellent Bit to Rule a great Horse.

All the Cohow Birds and Egbirds are gone; seldom any wild Catts seen; no Rats to speak off; but the Worms are yet very troublesome; the People very healthful, and the Ravens gone; Fish enough, but not so near the shoar as it used, by the much beating it; it is an Isle that hath such a Rampire and a Ditch, and for the quantity so manned, Victualled, and Fortified, as few in the World do exceed it, or is like it.

{MN} The 22d of March, two Ships came from thence; the _Peter-Bonaventure,_ near 200 Tunns, and sixteen Pieces of Ordnance; the Captain, _Thomas Sherwin;_ the Master, Mr. _Edward Some,_ like him in Condition, a Goodly, Lusty, Proper, Valiant Man: The _Lydia,_ wherein was Mr. _Anthony Thorne,_ a smaller Ship, were chased by eleven Ships of _Dunkirk;_ being thus over-match'd, Captain _Sherwin_ was taken by them in _Torbay,_ only his Valiant Master was slain; the Ship with about seventy _English_ Men they carried betwixt _Dover_ and _Callais_ to _Dunkirk;_ but the _Lydia_ safely recovered _Dartmouth._

* * * * *

{MN} _An Evil Mischance._

These Noble Adventures for all thole losses patiently do bear them; but they hope the King and State will understand it is worth keeping, tho' it afford nothing but Tobacco, and that now worth little or nothing, Custom and Fraught pay'd, yet it is worth keeping, and not supplanting; tho' great Men feel not those losses, yet Gardiners, Carpenters and Smiths, do pay for it.

From the Relation of _Robert
Chestevan_ and others.

* * * * *

CHAP. XXIII.

_The Proceedings and present Estate of_ New England, _since_ 1624.
_to this present_ 1629.

When I went first to the North part of _Virginia,_ where the Westerly Colony had been planted, it had dissolved it self within a Year, and there was not one _Christian_ in all the Land. I was set forth at the sole Charge of four Merchants of _London;_ the Country being then reputed by your Westerlings, a most Rocky Barren, Desolate Desart; {MN-1} but the good Return brought from thence, with the Maps and Relations I made of the Country, which I made so manifest, some of them did believe me, and they were well embraced both by the _Londoners_ and the _Westerlings,_ for whom I had promised to undertake it, I thinking to have joined them all together, but that might well have been a work of _Hercules._ Betwixt them long there was much contention; the _Londoners_ indeed went bravely forward; but in three or four Years, I and my Friends consumed many hundred Pounds amongst the _Plimothians,_ who only fed me with delays, promises and excuses, but no Performance of any thing to any purpose. In the interim, many particular Ships went thither, and finding my Relations true, and that I had not taken that I brought home from the _French_ Men, as had been reported; yet further, for my Pains to discredit me, and my calling it _New-England,_ they obscured, and shadowed it, with the Title of _Canada,_ till at my humble suit, it pleased our most Royal King _Charles,_ whom God long keep, bless and preserve, then Prince of _Wales,_ to confirm it with my Map and Book, by the Title of _New England;_ the gain thence returning, did make the same thereof so increase, that thirty, forty, or fifty sail went Yearly only to Trade and Fish; but nothing would be done for a Plantation, till about some Hundred of your Brownists of _England, Amsterdam_ and _Leyden,_ went to _New Plimouth,_ whose humorous Ignorances, caused them for more than a Year to endure a wonderful deal of misery, with an infinite patience; saying my Books and Maps were much better cheap to teach them than my self; {MN-2} many other have used the like good Husbandry, that have payed soundly in trying their self-will'd conclusions; but those in time doing well, divers others have in small handfuls undertaken to go there, to be several Lords and Kings of themselves, but most vanished to nothing; notwithstanding the Fishing Ships, made such good returns, at last it was ingrossed by twenty Patentees, that divided my Map into twenty parts, and cast Lots for their shares; but Money not coming in as they expected, procured a Proclamation, none should go thither without their Licences to Fish; but for every thirty Tuns of Shipping, to pay them five Pounds; besides, upon great Penalties, neither to Trade with the Natives, cut down Wood for their Stages, without giving satisfaction, though all the Country is nothing but Wood, and none to make use of it, with many such other pretences, for to make this Country plant it self, by its own Wealth: Hereupon most Men grew so discontented, that few or none would go; so that the Patentees, who never a one of them had been there, seeing those Projects Would not prevail, have since not hindred any to go that would, that within these few last years, more have gone thither than ever.

* * * * *

{MN-1} _Considerations about the loss of time._

{MN-2} _The effect of negardliness._

{MN} Now this Year 1629, a great company of People of good Rank, Zeal, Means, and Quality, have made a great Stock, and with six good Ships in the Months of April and May, they set Sail from _Thames,_ for the Bay of the _Massachusets,_ otherwise called _Charles's_ River; _viz._ the _George Bonaventure,_ of twenty pieces of Ordnance, the _Talbot_ nineteen, the _Lions-whelp_ eight, the _May-flower_ fourteen, the _Four Sisters_ fourteen, the _Pilgrim_ four, with three hundred and fifty Men, Women, and Children; also an hundred and fifteen head of Cattel, as Horse, Mares, and neat Beast; one and forty Goats, some Conies, with all Provision for Houshold and Apparel; six pieces of great Ordnance for a Fort, with Muskets, Pikes, Corselets, Drums, Colours, with all Provision necessary for a Plantation, for the good of Man; other Particulars I understand of no more, than is writ in the general History of those Countries.

* * * * *

{MN} _A new Plantation_ 1629.

But you are to understand, that the noble Lord chief Justice _Popham,_ Judge _Doderege;_ the Right Honourable Earls of _Pembroke, Southampton, Salisbury,_ and the rest, as I take it, they did all think, as I and them went with me, did; That had those two Countries been planted, as it was intended, that no other Nation should complant betwixt us. If ever the King of _Spain_ and we should fall foul, those Countries being so capable of all Materials for shipping, by this might have been Owners of a good Fleet of Ships, and to have relieved a whole Navy from _England_ upon occasion; yea, and to have furnished _England_ with the most Easterly Commodities; and now since, seeing how conveniently the _Summer Isles_ fell to our shares, so near the _West-Indies,_ we might with much more facility than the _Dutch_ Men have invaded the _West-Indies,_ that doth now put in practice, what so long hath been advised on, by many an honest _English_ States-man.

{MN} Those Countries, Captain _Smith_ oft times used to call his Children that never had Mother; and well he might, for few Fathers ever payed dearer for so little content; and for those that would truly understand, how many strange Accidents hath befallen them and him; how oft up, how oft down, sometimes near despair, and ere long flourishing, cannot but conceive Gods infinite Mercies and Favours towards them. Had his Designs been to have perswaded Men to a Mine of Gold, though few doth conceive either the charge or pains in refining it, nor the power nor care to defend it; or some new Invention to pass to the South Sea, or some strange Plot to invade some strange Monastery, or some portable Country, or some chargeable Fleet to take some rich Carocks in the _East-Indies;_ of Letters of Mart to rob some poor Merchants; What multitudes of both People and Money would contend to be first imployed? But in those noble endeavours (now) how few of quality, unless it be to beg some Monopoly; and those seldom seek the common good, but the Commons Goods, as you may read at large in his general History, _pag._ 217, 218, 219, his general Observations and Reasons for this Plantation; for yet those Countries are not so forward, but they may become as miserable as ever, if better courses be not taken than is; as this _Smith_ will plainly demonstrate to his Majesty, or any other noble Person of Ability, liable generously to undertake it; how within a Short time to make _Virginia_ able to resist any Enemy, that as yet lieth open to all, and yield the King more Custom within these few years, in certain staple Commodities, than ever it did in Tobacco; which now not being worth bringing home, the Custom will be as uncertain to the King, as dangerous to the Plantation.

* * * * *

{MN} _Notes of inconveniency._

* * * * *

CHAP. XXIV.

_A brief Discourse of divers Voyages made unto the goodly Country of_
Guinea _and the great River of the_ Amazons; _relating also the
present Plantation there._

It is not unknown how that most Industrious and honourable Knight, Sir _Walter Rawleigh,_ in the Year of Our Lord 1595, taking the Isle of _Trinidado,_ fell with the Coast of _Guiana,_ Northward of the Line 10 degrees, and coasted the Coast, and searched up the River _Oranoco;_ where understanding that twenty several Voyages had been made by the Spaniards; in discovering this Coast and River, to find a passage to the great City of _Mano,_ called by them the _Eldorado,_ or the Golden City: he did his utmost to have found some better Satisfaction than Relations: {MN-1} But means failing him, he left his trusty Servant _Francis Sparrow_ to seek it, who wandring up and down those Countries, some fourteen or fifteen years, unexpectedly returned; I have heard him say, he was led blinded into this City by _Indians;_ but little Discourse of any purpose, touching the largeness of the report of it; his body seeming as a Man of an uncurable Consumption, shortly died here after in _England._ There are above thirty fair Rivers that fall into the Sea, between the River of _Amazons_ and _Oranoco,_ which are some nine degrees asunder. {MN-2} In the year 1605, Captain _Ley_, Brother to that noble Knight, Sir _Oliver Ley,_ with divers others, planted himself in the River _Weapoco,_ wherein I should have been a Party; but he died, and there lies buried, and the supply miscarrying, the rest escaped as they could.

* * * * *

{MN-1} Sparrow _left to seek the great city of_ Mano.

{MN-2} Captain _Charles Ley._

{MN} Sir _Thomas Roe,_ known to be a most Noble Gentleman, before he went Lord Ambassadour to the Great _Mogul,_ or the Great _Turk,_ spent a year or two upon this Coast, and about the River of the _Amazons,_ {MN-2} wherein he most imployed Captain _Matthew Morton,_ an expert Sea-man in the discovery of this famous River, a Gentleman that was the first shot, and mortally supposed wounded to Death, with me in _Virginia,_ yet since hath been twice with command in _East-Indies;_ {MN-3} Also Captain _William White,_ and divers others worthy and industrious Gentlemen, both before and since, hath spent much time and charge to discover it more perfectly, but nothing more effected for a Plantation, till it was undertaken by Captain _Robert Harcote_ 1609.

* * * * *

{MN-1} Sir _Thomas Roe._

{MN-2} Captain _Morton._

{MN-3} Captain _White._

{MN} This worthy Gentleman, after he had by Commission made a discovery to his mind, left his Brother _Michael Harcote,_ with some fifty or sixty Men in the River _Weapoco,_ and so presently returned to _England,_ where he obtained by the favour of Prince _Henry_ a large Patent for all that Coast called _Guiana,_ together with the famous River of _Amazons,_ to him and his Heirs: but so many troubles here surprized him, though he did his best to supply them, he was not able, only some few he sent over as Passengers, with certain _Dutch_ Men, but to small purpose. Thus this business lay dead for divers years, till Sir _Walter Rawleigh,_ accompanied with many valiant Soldiers and brave Gentlemen, went his last Voyage to _Guiana,_ amongst the which, was Captain _Roger North,_ Brother to the Right Honourable the Lord _Dudley North,_ who upon this Voyage, having stayed, and seen divers Rivers upon this Coast, took such a liking to those Countries, having had before this Voyage, more perfect and particular Information of the excellency of the great River of the _Amazons,_ above any of the rest, by certain _English_ Men returned so rich, from thence in good Commodities, they would not go with Sir _Walter Rawleigh_ in search of Gold; that after his return for _England_, he endeavoured by his best Abilities to interest his Country and State in those fair Regions, which by the way of Letters Patents unto divers Noble Men and Gentlemen of Quality, erected into a Company and Perpetuity for Trade and Plantation, not knowing of the Interest of Captain _Harcote._

* * * * *

{MN} Captain _Harcote._

{MN} Whereupon accompanied with 120 Gentlemen and others, with a Ship, a Pinnace and two Shallops, to remain in the Country, he set Sail from _Plimouth_ the last of _April_ 1620, and within seven Weeks after he arrived well in the _Amazons,_ only with the loss of one old Man: Some hundred Leagues they ran up the River to settle his Men, where the sight of the Country and People so contented them, that never Men thought themselves more happy: Some _English_ and _Irish_ that had lived there some eight years, only supplied by the _Dutch,_ he reduced to his Company and to leave the _Dutch:_ having made a good Voyage, to the value of more than the charge, he returned to _England_ with divers good Commodities, besides, Tobacco: So that it may well be conceived, that if this Action had not been thus crossed the Generality of _England_ had by this time been won and encouraged therein. But the time was not yet come, that God would have this great business effected, by reason of the great Power the Lord _Gundamore,_ Ambassadour for the King of _Spain,_ had in _England,_ to cross and ruin those Proceedings, and so unfortunate Captain _North_ was on this business, he was twice committed Prisoner to the Tower, and the Goods detained, till they were spoiled, who beyond all others, was by much the greatest Adventurer and Loser.

* * * * *

{MN} Captain _Roger North._