The principal nauigations, voyages, traffiques and discoueries of the English nation. [vols. 1-3] made by sea or ouer-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600. yeres: deuided into three seuerall volumes, according to the positions of the regions, whereunto they were directed. The first volume containeth the worthy discoueries, &c. of the English ... The second volume comprehendeth the principall nauigations ... to the south and south-east parts of the world ... By Richard Hakluyt preacher, and sometime student of Christ-Church in Oxford.

To the Aduenturers, Fauourers, and Welwillers of the enter∣prise for the inhabiting and planting in Virginia.

SInce the first vnde••taking by Sir Walter Ralegh to deale in the action of dis∣couering of that countrey which is now called and knowen by the name of Vir∣ginia, many voyages hauing beene thither made at sundry times to his great charge; as first in the yere 1584, and afterwards in the yeres 1585, 1586, and now of late this l••st yeere 1587: there haue bene diuers and variable reports with some slanderous and shamefull speeches bruted abroad by many that re∣turned from thence: especially of that discouery which was made by the Colony transported by Sir Richard Grinuile in the yere 1585, being of all others the most principall, and as yet of most effect, the time of their abode in the countrey being a whole yere, when as in the other voyage be∣fore they stayed but sixe weeks, and the others after were onely for supply and transportation, no∣thing more being discouered then had been before. Which reports haue not done a little wrong to many that otherwise would haue also fauoured and aduentured in the action, to the honour and benefit of our nation, besides the particular profit and credit which would redound to themselues the dealers therein, as I hope by the sequel of euents, to the shame of those that haue auouch••d the contrary, shall be manifest, if you the aduenturers, fauourers and welwillers doe but either in∣crease in number, or in opinion continue, or hauing beene doubtfull, renew your good liking and furtherance to deale therein according to the woorthinesse thereof already found, and as you shall vnderstand hereafter to be requisit. Touching which woorthinesse through cause of the diuersity of relations and reports, many of your opinions could not be firme, nor the minds of some that are well disposed be seeled in any certainty.

I haue therefore thought it good, being one that haue beene in the discouerie, and in dealing with the naturall inhabitants specially imployed: and hauing therefore seene and knowen more then the ordinary, to impart so much vnto you of the fruits of our labours, as that you may know how iniutiously the enterprise is slandered, and that in publique maner at this present, chiefly for two respects.

First, that some of you which are yet ignorant or doubtfull of the state thereof, may see that there is sufficient cause why the thiefe enterpriser with the fauour of her Maiesty, notwithstand∣ing such reports, hath not onely since continued the action by sending into the countrey againe, and replanting this last yeere a new Colony, but is also ready, according as the times and meanes will afford, to follow and prosecute the same.

Secondly, that you seeing and knowing the continuance of the action, by the view hereof you

may generally know and learne what the countrey is, and thereupon consider how your dealing therein, if it proceed, may returne you profit and gaine, be it either by inhabiting and planting, or other wise in furthering thereof.

And least that the substance of my relation should be doubtfull vnto you, as of others by reason of their diuersitie, I will first open the cause in a few words, wherefore they are so different, refer∣ring my selfe to your fauourable constructions, and to be adiudg••d of, as by good consideration you shall finde cause.

Of our company that returned, some for their mi••demeanour and ill dealing in the countrey haue bene there worthily punished, who by reason of their bad natures, haue maliciously not onely spoken ill of their Gouernours, but for their sakes slandered the countrey it selfe. The like also haue those done which were of their consort.

Some being ignorant of the state thereof, notwithstanding since their returne amongst their friends & acquaintance, and also others, especially if they were in company where they might not be gainsayd, would seeme to knew so much as no men more, and make no men so great trauellers as themselues. They stood so much, as it may seeme, vpon their credit and reputation, that ha∣uing bene a twelue moneth in the countrey, it would haue bene a great disgrace vnto them, as they thought, if they could not haue sayd much, whether it were true or false. Of which some haue spo∣ken of more then euer they saw, or otherwise knew to be there. Other some haue not bene asha∣med to make absolute deniall of that, which although not by them, yet by others is most certainly and there plentifully knowen, & other some make difficulties of those things they haue no skill of.

The cause of their ignorance was, in that they were of that many that were neuer out of the Island where we were seated, or not sarre, or at the least wise in few places els, during the time of our aboue in the country: or of that many, tha•• after gold & siluer was not so soone found, as it was by them looked for, had litle or no care of any other thing but to pamper their bellies: or of that ma∣ny which had litle vnderstanding, lesse discretion, and more tongue then was needfu••l or requisi••e.

Some also were of a nice bringing vp, only in cities or townes, or such as neuer (as I may say) had seene the world before. Because there w••re not to be found any English cities, nor such faire houses, nor at their owne with any of their old accustomed dain••y food, nor any soft beds of downe or feathers, the countrey was to them miserable, and their reports thereof according.

Because my purpose was but in briefe to open the cause of the variety of such speeches, the particularities of them, and of many enuious, malicious, and slanderous reports and deuices els, by our owne countreymen besides, as trifles that are not worthy of wise men to be thought vpon, I meane not to trouble you withall, but will passe to the commodities, the substance of that which I haue to make relation of vnto you.

The Treatise whereof, for your more ready vi••w and easier vnderstanding, I will diuide into three speciall parts. In the first I will make declar••tion of such commodities there already found or to be raised, which will not onely serue the ordinary turnes of you which are and ••••all be the planters and inhabitants, bu•• such an ouerplus sufficiently to be yeelded, or by men of skill to be prouided, as by way of traffique and exchange with our owne nation of England, will inrich your selues the prouiders: those that shall deale with you, the enterprisers in generall, and greatly pro∣fit our owne countreymen, to supply them with most things which heretofore they haue bene fa••ne to prouide either of strangers or of our enemies, which commodities, for distinction sake, I call Merchantable.

In the second I will set downe all the commodities which we know the countrey by our ex∣perience doth yeeld of it selfe for victuall and sustenan••e of mans life, such as are vsually fed vpon by the inhabitants of the countrey, as also by vs during the time we were there.

In the last part I will make mention generally of such other commodities besides, as I am a∣ble to remember, and as I shall thinke behoouefull for those that s••all inhabit, and plant there, to know of, which specially concerne building, as also some other necessary vses: with a briefe de∣scription of the nature and maners of the people of the countrey.