A declaration of the state of the colony and affaires in Virginia With a relation of the barbarous massacre in the time of peace and league, treacherously executed by the natiue infidels vpon the English, the 22 of March last. Together with the names of those that were then massacred; that their lawfull heyres, by this notice giuen, may take order for the inheriting of their lands and estates in Virginia. And a treatise annexed, written by that learned mathematician Mr. Henry Briggs, of the Northwest passage to the South Sea through the continent of Virginia, and by Fretum Hudson. Also a commemoration of such worthy benefactors as haue contributed their Christian charitie towards the aduancement of the colony. And a note of the charges of necessary prouisions fit for euery man that intends to goe to Virginia. Published by authoritie.

A TREATISE OF THE NORTHWEST Passage to the South Sea, through the Continent of VIRGINIA and by Fretum Hudson.

THe noble Plantation of VIRGINIA hath some very excellent Prerogatiues aboue many other famous Kingdomes, namely, the temperature of the ayre, the fruitful∣nesse of the soile, and the commodious∣nesse of situation.

The ayre is healthfull and free both from immode∣rate heate, and from extreame cold; so that both the inhabitants and their cattell doe prosper exceedingly in stature and strength, and all Plants brought from any other remote climate, doe there grow and fructi∣fie in as good or better manner, then in the soyle from whence they came. Which though it doe manifestly proue the fruitfulnesse of the soile, yeelding all kinds of graine or plants committed vnto it, wi••h a rich and plentifull encrease, yet cannot the fatnesse of the earth alone produce such excellent effects, vnlesse the tem∣perature of the Ayre bee likewise so fauourable, that

those tender sprouts which the earth doth abundantly bring forth, may bee cherished with moderate heate and seasonable moisture, and freed both from scorch∣ing drought, and nipping frost.

These blessings are so much the more to bee estee∣med, because they are bestowed vpon a place situated so conueniently, and at so good a distance both from Europe, and the West Indies, that for the mutuall com∣merce betwixt these great and most rich parts of the habitable world, there cannot bee deuised any place more conuenient for the succour and refreshing of those that trade from hence thither: whether they be of our owne nation, or of our neighbours and friends; the multitude of great and nauigable Riuers, and of safe and spacious harbours, as it were inuiting all Na∣tions to entertaine mutuall friendship, and to partici∣pate of those blessings which God out of the abun∣dance of his rich Treasures, hath so gratiously bestow∣ed some vpon these parts of Europe, and others no lesse desired vpon those poore people: which might still haue remained in their old barbarous ignorance, with∣out knowledge of their owne misery, or of Gods in∣finite goodnesse and mercy; if it had not pleased God thus gratiously both to draw vs thither with desire of such wealth as those fruitfull Countries afford, and also to grant vs so easie, certaine, and safe a meanes to goe vnto them: which passage is in mine opinion made much more secure and easie by the commodious harbours and refreshing which VIRGINIA doth reach out vnto vs. The coasts of Florida to the West, being not so harborous; and of New England to the East, somewhat more out of the way, amongst so many

Flats and small Ilands not so safe. Neither is the com∣modiousnesse of VIRGINIAS situation onely in re∣spect of this west Atlanticke Ocean, but also in respect of the Indian Ocean, which wee commonly call the South Sea, which lyeth on the West and North west side of VIRGINIA, on the other side of the Mountains beyond our Fals, and openeth a free and faire passage, not onely to China, Iapan, and the Moluccaes; but al∣so to New Spaine, Peru, Chila, and those rich Coun∣tries of Terra Australis, not as yet fully discouered. For the Sea wherein Master Hudson did winter, which was first discouered by him, and is therefore now called Fretum Hudson, doth stretch so farre towards the west, that it lieth as farre westward as the Cape of Florida: So that from the Fals aboue Henrico City, if we shape our iourney towards the Northwest following the Riuers towards the head, we shall vndoubtedly come to the Mountaines, which as they send diuers great Riuers Southward into our Bay of Chesepiock, so like∣wise doe they send others from their further side Northwestward into that Bay where Hudson did win∣ter. For so wee see in our owne Country, from the ridge of Mountaines continued from Derbishire into Scotland, doe issue many great Riuers on both sides into the East Germane Ocean, and into the Westerne Irish Seas: in like sort from the Alpes of Switzerland and the Grizons, do runne the Danubie Eastward into Pontus Euxinus, the Rhene into the North Germane Ocean, the Rhosne west into the Mediterrane Sea, and the Po South into the Adriatike Sea. This Bay where Hudson did winter, strecheth it selfe Southward into 49. degrees, and cannot be in probability so farre di∣stant

from the Fals as 200. Leagues; part of the way lying by the Riuers side towards the mountaines from whence it springeth: and the other part on the other side cannot want Riuers likewise, which will conduct vs all the way, and I hope carry vs and our prouisions a good part of it. Besides that Bay, it is not vnlikely that the Westerne Sea in some other Creeke or Riuer commeth much neerer then that place: For the place where Sir Thomas Button did winter, lying more We∣sterly then Master Hudsons Bay by 190. Leagues in the same Sea, doth extend it selfe very neere as farre to∣wards the west as the Cape of California, which is now found to be an Iland stretching it selfe from 22. de∣grees to 42. and lying almost directly North & South; as may appeare in a Map of that Iland which I haue seene here in London, brought out of Holland; where the Sea vpon the Northwest part may very probably come much nearer then some do imagine: who giuing too much credit to our vsuall Globes and Maps, doe dreame of a large Continent extending it selfe farre Westward to the imagined Straight of Anian, where are seated (as they fable) the large Kingdomes of Ce∣bola and Quiuira, hauing great and populous Cities of ciuill people; whose houses are said to bee fiue sto∣ries high, and to haue some pillars of Turguesses. Which relations are cunningly set downe by some vpon set purpose to put vs out of the right way, and to discourage such as otherwise might bee desirous to search a passage by the way aforesaid into those Seas.

Gerardus Mercator, a very industrious and excel∣lent Geographer, was abused by a Map sent vnto him, of foure Euripi meeting about the North Pole; which

now are found to be all turned into a maine icie Sea. One demonstration of the crafty falshood of these v∣suall Maps is this, that Cape Mendocino is set in them West Northwest, distant from the South Cape of Ca∣lifornia, about seuenteene hundred Leagues, whereas Francis Gaule that was imployed in those discoueries by the Viseroy of New Spaine; doth in Hugo Linscotten his booke set downe their distance to bee onely fiue hundred Leagues.

Besides this, in the place where Sir Thomas Button did winter in 57. degrees of latitude, the constant great tides euery twelue houres, and the increase of those tides whensoeuer any strong westerne wind did blow, doe strongly perswade vs that the maine Westerne Ocean is not farre from thence; which was much con∣firmed vnto them the Summer following; when say∣ling directly North from that place where they win∣tered, about the Latitude of 60. degrees, they were crossed by a strong Currant running sometimes East∣ward, sometimes Westward: So that if wee finde ei∣ther Hudsons Bay, or any Sea more neere vnto the West, wee may assure our selues that from thence wee may with great ease passe to any part of the East In∣dies: And that as the world is very much beholding to that famous Columbus for that hee first discouered vnto vs the West Indies; and to the Portingall for the finding out the ordinary and as yet the best way that is knowne to the East Indies, by Cape Bona-Speranza. So may they and all the world be in this beholding to vs in opening a new and large passage, both much nea∣rer, safer, and farre more wholesome and tempe∣rate through the Continent of VIRGINIA, and by

Fretum Hudson, to all those rich Countries bordering vpon the South Sea, in the East and West Indies. And this hope that the South Sea may easily from VIRGI∣NIA be discouered ouer Land, is much confirmed by the constant report of the Sauages, not onely of VIR∣GINIA, but also of Florida and Canada; which dwel∣ling so remote one from another, and all agreeing in the report of a large Sea to the Westwards, where they describe great Ships not vnlike to ours, with other circumstances, doe giue vs very great probabi∣lity (if not full assurance) that our endeuours this way shall by Gods blessing haue a prosperous and happy successe, to the encrease of his Kingdome and glory amongst these poore ignorant Heathen people, the publique good of all the Christian world, the neuer∣dying honour of our most gracious Soueraigne, the inestimable benefit of our Nation, and the admirable and speedy increase and aduancement of that most noble and hopefull Plantation of VIRGINIA; for the good successe whereof all good men with me, I doubt not, will poure out their prayers to Almighty GOD.

H. B.