The true travels, adventures, and observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America, from anno Domini 1593. to 1629 His accidents and sea-fights in the straights; his service and stratagems of warre in Hungaria, Transilvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, against the Turks, and Tartars ... After how he was taken prisoner by the Turks, sold for a slave ... and escaped ... Together with a continuation of his generall History of Virginia, Summer-Iles, New England, and their proceedings, since 1624. to this present 1629; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the Amazons, the iles of St. Christopher, Mevis, and Barbados in the West Indies. All written by actuall authours, whose names you shall finde along the history.

CHAP. XXI. (Book 21)

The continuation of the generall Historie of Virginia; the Sum∣mer Iles; and New England; with their present estate from 1624. to this present 1629.

COncerning these Countreyes, I would be sorrie to trouble you with repeating one thing twice, as with their Maps, Commodi∣ties, People, Government & Religion yet knowen, the beginning of those plantations, their numbers and names, with the names of the Adventurers, the yeerely proceedings of everie Governour both here and there. As for them misprisions, neglect, grievances, and the causes of all those rumours, losses and crosses that have happened; I referre you to the Generall Historie, where you shall finde all this at large; espe∣cially to those pages, where you may read my letter of advice to the Councell and Company, what of necessitie must be done, or lose all and leave the Countrey, 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. my seven answers to his Majesties Commissioners: seven questions what hath hindered Virginia, and the remedie, pag. 165. How those noble Gentlemen spent neere two yeares in perusing all letters came from thence; and the differences betwixt many factions, both here and there, with their complaints; especially about the Sallerie, which should have beene a new office in London, for the well ordering the sale of To∣bacco, that 2500. pounds should yearely have beene raised out of it, to pay foure or five hundred pounds yearly to the Governor of that Com∣panie; two or three hundred to his Deputie; the rest into stipends of thirtie or fiftie pounds yearely for their Clerks and under 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 Adventurers in England, except the undertakers for the Lotteries, Setters out of ships, Adven∣turers of commodities, also their Factors and many other Officers, there imployed only by friendship to raise their fortunes out of the la∣bours of the true industrious planters by the title of their office, who

under the colour of sinceritie, did pillage and deceive all the rest most cunningly: For more than 150000. pounds have beene spent out of the common stocke, besides many thousands have beene there consu∣med, and neere 7000. people that there died, only for want of good or∣der and government, otherwise long ere this there would have beene more than 20000. people, wh••re after twentie yeeres spent onely in complement, and trying new conclusions, was remaining scarce 1500. with some few cattell.

Then the Company dissolved, but no account of any thing; so that his Majestie appointed Commissioners to oversee, and give order for their proceedings. Being thus in a manner left to themselves, since then within these foure yeeres, you shall see how wonderfully they have increased beyond expectation; but so exactly as I desired, I cannot re∣late unto you: For although I have tired my selfe in seeking and dis∣coursing with those returned thence, more than would a voyage to Vir∣ginia; few can tell me any thing, but of that place or places they have in∣habited, and he is a great traveller that hath gone up & downe the river of Iames Towne, been at Pamaunke, Smiths Iles, or Accomack; wherein for the most part they keepe one tune of their now particular abundance, and their former wants, having beene there, some sixteene yeeres, some twelve, some six, some neere twentie, &c. But of their generall estate, or any thing of worth, the most of them doth know verie little to any purpose.

Now the most I could understand in generall,* 1.1 was from the relation of M^r. Nathaniel Cawsey, that lived there with mee, and returned Anno Dom. 1627. and some others affirme; Sir George Yerley was Governour, Captaine Francis West, Doctor Iohn Poot, Captain Roger Smith, Captaine Matthewes, Captaine Tucker, M^r. Clabourne, and M^r. Farrer of the Coun∣cell: their habitations many. The Governour, with two or three of the Councell, are for most part at Iames Towne, the rest repaire thither as there is occasion; but everie three moneths they have a generall mee∣ting, to consider of their publike affaires.

Their numbers then were about 1500.* 1.2 some say rather 2000. divided into seventeene or eighteene severall Plantations; the greatest part thereof towards the falls, are so inclosed with Pallizadoes they regard not the Salvages; and amongst those Plantations above Iames Towne, they have now found meanes to take plentie of fish, as well with lines, as nets, and where the waters are the largest, having meanes, they need not want.* 1.3

Upon this River they seldome see any Salvages, but in the woods, many times their fires: yet some few there are, that upon their oppor∣tunitie have slaine some few stragglers, which have beene revenged with the death of so many of themselves; but no other attempt hath beene made upon them this two or three yeares.

Their Cattle,* 1.4 namely Oxen, Kine, Buls, they imagine to be about 2000. Goats great store and great increase; the wilde Hogs, which were in∣finite, are destroyed and eaten by the Salvages: but no family is so poore, that hath not tame Swine sufficient; and for Poultrie, he is a verie

bad husband breedeth not an hundred in a yeere, and the richer sort doth daily feed on them.

For bread they have plentie, and so good,* 1.5 that those that make it well, better cannot be: divers have much English corne, especially M^r. Abraham Perce, which prepared this yeere to sow two hundred acres of English wheat, and as much with barley, feeding daily about the num∣ber of sixtie persons at his owne charges.

For drinke, some malt the Indian corne, others barley,* 1.6 of which they make good Ale, both strong and small, and such plentie thereof, few of the upper Planters drinke any water: but the better sort are well furni∣shed with Sacke, Aquavitae, and good English Beere.

Their servants commonly feed upon Milke Homini,* 1.7 which is bruized Indian corne pounded, and boiled thicke, and milke for the sauce; but boiled with milke, the best of all will oft feed on it, and leave their fl••sh; with milke, butter and cheese; with fish, Bulls flesh, for they seldome kill any other, &c. And everie one is so applyed to his labour about Tobacco and Corne, which doth yeeld them them such profit, they never re∣gard any food from the Salvages, nor have they any trade or conference with them, but upon meere accidents and defiances: and now the Mer∣chants have left it, there have gone so many voluntarie ships within this two yeeres, as have furnished them with Apparell, Sacke, Aquavitae, and all necessaries, much better than ever before.

For Armes, there is scarce any man but he is furnished with a Peece,* 1.8 a Iacke, a Coat of Maile, a Sword, or Rapier; and euerie Holy-day, e∣verie Plantation doth exercise their men in Armes, by which meanes, hunting and fowling, the most part of them are most excellent mark∣men.

For Discoveries they have made none,* 1.9 nor any other commoditie than Tobacco doe they apply themselves unto, though never any was planted at first. And whereas the Countrey was heretofore held most intemperate and contagious by many, now they have houses, lodgings and victuall, and the Sunne hath power to exhale up the moyst vapours of the earth, where they have cut downe the wood, which before it could not, being covered with spreading tops of high trees; they finde it much more healthfull than before; nor for their numbers, few Coun∣treyes are lesse troubled with death, sicknesse, or any other disease, nor where overgrowne women become more fruitfull.

Since this, Sir George Yerley died 1628. Captaine West succeeded him;* 1.10 but about a yeere after returned for England: Now Doctor Poot is Go∣vernour, and the rest of the Councell as before: Iames Towne is yet their chiefe seat, most of the wood destroyed, little corne there planted, but all converted into pasture and gardens, wherein doth grow all man∣ner of herbs and roots we have in England in abundance, and as good grasse as can be. Here most of their Cattle doe feed, their Owners be∣ing most some one way, some another, about their plantations, and re∣turne againe when they please, or any shipping comes in to trade. Here in winter they have hay for their Cattell, but in other places they browze upon wood, and the great huskes of their corne, with some corne in

them,* 1.11 doth keepe them well M^r. Hutchins sa••th, the•• h••ve 2000.C••••••le, and about 5000. people; but Master Flond, Iohn Davis, William Emer∣son, and divers others,* 1.12 say, about five thousand people, and five t••ou∣sand kine,* 1.13 calves, ox••n, and bull••; for goa••s, hogs, a••d poult••y; corne, fish, deere, and many sorts of other wilde be••sts; and fowle in their sea∣son, they have so much more than they spend,* 1.14 they are able to feed thr••e or foure hundred men more than they have; and doe oft much releeve many ships, both there, and for their returne; and this last yeare was there at least two or th••ee and twenty saile. They have oft much salt fi••h from New England, but fresh fish enough, when they will take it; Peaches in abundance at Kecoughtan; Apples, Peares, Apricocks, Vines, figges, and other fruits some have planted, that prosper••d ••xceedin••ly, but their diligence about Tobacco, left them to be spoiled by the c••ttell, yet now they beginne to revive; Mistresse Pearce, an honest indus••rious woman, hath beene there neere twentie yeares, and now returned, sait••, shee hath a Garden at Iames towne,* 1.15 containing three ••r s••me a••••e••, where in one yeare shee hath gathered neere an hundred b••shels of ••x••ellent figges; and that of her owne provision she can keepe a b••t∣ter house in Virginia, than here in London for 3. or 400. pounds a yeare, yet went thither with little or nothing. They have some tame geese, ducks, and turkies. The masters now do so traine up their servants and youth in shooting deere, and fowle, that the youths will kill them as well as their Mast••••s. They have two brew-houses, but they finde the Indian corne so much better than ours, they beginne to leave sow••••g it. Their Cities and Townes are onely scattered houses, they call plantati∣ons, as are our Country Villages, but no Ordnance mounted. The Forts Captaine Smith left a building, so ruined, there is scarce mention where they were; no discoveries of any thing more, than the curing of To∣bacco, by which hitherto, being so present a commodity of gaine, it hath brought them to this abundance; but that they are so disjoynted, and every one commander of himselfe, to plant what he will: they are now so well provided, that they are able to subsist; and if they would joyne together,* 1.16 now to worke upon Sope-ashes, Iron, R••pe-oile, Ma∣der, Pitch and Tarre, Flax and Hempe; as for their Tobacco, there comes from many places such abundance, and the charge so great, it is not worth the bringing home.

There is gone, and now a going, divers Ships, as Captaine Perse, Captaine Prine, with Sir Iohn Harvy to be their governour, with two or three hundred people; there is also some Bristow, and other parts of the West Country a preparing, which I heartily pray to God to blesse, and send them a happy and prosperous, voyage.

Nathaniel Causie, Master Hutchins, Master Floud, Iohn Davis, William Emerson, Master William Barnet, Master Cooper, and others,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Their estate 1••27.
• * 1.2

  Their numbers.
• * 1.3

  Their condition with the Salva∣ges.
• * 1.4

  Their increase of Cattle and Poul∣trie.
• * 1.5

  Plenty of Corne.
• * 1.6

  Their drinke.
• * 1.7

  Their servants diet.
• * 1.8

  Their Armes and exercise.
• * 1.9

  Their health and discoveries.
• * 1.10

  The present e∣state of Virginia, 1629.
• * 1.11

  Mas••••r Hat••hins.
• * 1.12

  Five ••ho••s••nd p••••••le.
• * 1.13

  ••ive thou••••nd ca••e••••.
• * 1.14

  G••a••s, Ho••••and Poult••y ••is••••ce.
• * 1.15

  Good Hospita∣lity.
• * 1.16

  Commod••ties worth making, Bla••ke Walnut Ash for P••••es, Oke for planks, knees for Ships, Cip••esse for Chests, &c.