A discourse containing a louing inuitation both honourable, and profitable to all such as shall be aduenturers, either in person, or purse, for the aduancement of his Maiesties most hopeful plantation in the Nevv-found-land, lately vndertaken. Written by Captaine Richard Whitbourne of Exmouth, in the county of Deuon

TO THE READER.

GOod Reader, I haue, in my former printed Dis∣course, laid open a discouery of the New-found-land, and purpose (in this my second labours, to acquaint all Vndertakers of that Plantation, what particular profit may re∣downd to themselues and posterities, and what honours (through their industry) will accrew to the English Nation; Beare therefore, I beseech thee, with my rough stile, and plain meaning, in which I striue rather to shew truth in her owne brightnesse, then to heape applause or glory to my selfe. To crowne that Countrey of New-found-land with due praises, that she may (by the approbation and fauour of his Maiesty) be iustly called a Sister-land to this great Iland of Britannia, Ireland, Virginia, New-England, and Noua-Scotia: And that she may claime her selfe this bold and honourable Title, the world, I thinke, will bee on her side, especially be∣cause she, from her owne mouth, doth shew what infinite and vnspeakable benefits for many yeeres together, the negotiati∣on of our Kingdome with her, hath brought to all our people, not onely by the increrse of Mariners and shipping, but by inriching of many a subiect, and so consequently by the re∣lieuing of many thousands of families, which else had liued in miserable wants for lacke of honest imployments; Our English Nation, hauing more then fourescore yeeres together, made thriuing and profitable Voyages to that Countrey, the possession whereof began in our late Soueraigne of happy me∣mory, Queene Elizabeth, and so continues more strongly

now in his Maiesty, without the claime, interest, or authori∣ty of any other Prince.

Touching the Iland it selfe: It lyeth a great part thereof more to the South then 47. degrees of North-latitude, which is fiue degrees neerer the Equinoctiall line, then the City of London: the distance of it on this side from the Continent of America, bearing the same proportion that England doth to the neerest part of France, and lyeth neere the course, and halfe the way betweene Ireland and Virginia.

This proper and commodious situation of the place, toge∣ther with the correspondency of benefits, which not only Eng∣land, but Scotland, and Ireland may, and doe receiue from the same, filles me more with an ardent desire, so to haue her stiled, a Sister-land. And worthily may that Royalty be be∣stowed vpon her: For as great Brittaine hath euer been a cherishing nurse and mother to other forraigne sonnes and daughters, feeding them with the milke of her plenty, and fatting them at her brests, when they haue been euen starued at their owne: Euen so hath this worthy Countrey of New-found-land from time to time giuen free and liberall enter∣tainment to all that desired her blessings: and chiefly (aboue all other Nations) to the English. What receiue wee from the hands of our owne Countrey, which in most bountious man∣ner, we haue not had, or may haue at hers? Nay, what can the world yeeld, to the sustentation of man, which is not in her to be gotten? Desire you wholesome ayre (the very food of life?) It is there: shall any Land powre in abundant heapes of nourishments & necessaries before you? There you haue them: What seas so abounding in fish, what shores so replenished with fresh and sweet waters? The wants of other Kingdomes are not felt heere, and those prouisions which many Countryes want, are from thence supplied. How much is Spaine, France, Portugall, Italy, and other places beholding to this noble part

of the world for fish and other commodities, it is to be admi∣red. Let the Dutch report what sweetnesse they haue suckt from her by trade thither, in buying of fish from our Nation. And (albeit all the rest should be dumbe) the voyces of them are as Trumpets lowd enough, to make England fall more and more in loue with such a sister-land. I will not wearie thee (good Reader) with leading thee to those famous, faire, and profitable riuers, nor to those delightfull, large and inestima∣ble woods, neither ouer all those fruitfull and inticing hils, and delightfull vallies, there to hawke and hunt, where there is neither Clowne, nor sauage people to hinder thy sports. They are such, that in so small a piece of paper, as now my loue salutes thee with, I cannot fully set them downe as they de∣serue: and therefore intreat thee, with iudgement, with pati∣ence, and with desire, for the benefit of they Countrey, to reade ouer this Discourse, which I trust may incourage thee to fur∣ther so hopefull a Plantation, as it appeareth to bee, and also giue thee ample satisfaction, and iust cause to answere op∣posers, if any out of ignorance, or other sinister respect, shall seeke to hinder so honourable and worthy designes. So wishing thee all happinesse, I rest

Euer thine, for my Countries good, RICHARD WHITBOVRNE.