Purchas his pilgrimes. part 4 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

To the R. and my most esteemed friend, M. D. M. at his house at F. Ch. in London.

RIght Reuerend Sir, by Sir Thomas Gates I wrote vnto you, of such occasions as then presented themselues, and now againe by this worthy Gentleman Captaine Argall I sa∣lute you: for such is the reuerend regard I haue of you, as I cannot omit any occasion to expresse the sincere affection I beare you. You haue euer giuen mee encouragements to perseuere in this Religious Warfare, vntill your last Letters; not for that you are now lesse well affected thereunto: but because you see the Action to be in danger of their non∣performances [ 50] who vndertooke the businesse. I haue vndertaken, and haue as faithfully, and with all my might indeauoured the prosecution with all alacritie, as God that knoweth the heart can beare me record, what recompence, or what rewards, by whom, or when I know not where to expect; but from him in whose Vineward I labour, whose Church with greedy appetite I desire to erect. My glorious Master is gone, * 1.1 that would haue ennamelled with his fauours the labors I vndertake, for Gods cause, and his immortall honour. Hee was the Great Captaine of our Israel, the hope to haue builded vp this heauenly new Ie∣rufalem he interred (I thinke) the whole frame of this businesse, fell into his graue: for most mens for∣ward (at least seeming so) desires are quenched, and Virginia stands in desperate hazard. You there doo your duties, I will no way omit mine, the time I promised to labour, is expired: it is not a yoke of Oxen hath drawne mee from this feast: it is not the marriage of a wife makes me hast home, though that sallat [ 60] giue mee an appetite to cause me returne. But I haue more care of the Stock, then to set vpon a Dye, and rather put my 〈…〉〈…〉fe to the curtesie of noble and worthy censures, then ruine this Worke; and haue a Iury (nay a million) of foule m••utbed detractors, scan vpon my endeauours, the ends whereof they can∣not diue into. You shall briefly vnderstand what hath betide since my last, and how we now stand, and are

likely to grow to perfection, if wee be not altogether neglected, my stay grounded vpon such reason, as had I now returned, it would haue hazarded the ruine of all.

Sir Thomas Gates hauing imbarked himselfe for England, I put my selfe into Captaine Argalls ship, with a hundred and fiftie men in my frigot, and other boats went vnto Pamaunkie Riuer, where Powha∣tan * 1.2 hath his residence, and can in two or three dayes, draw a thousand men together; with me I carried his daughter, who had beene long prisoner with vs, it was a day or two before wee heard of them: At length they demanded why wee came; I gaue for answere, that I came to bring him his daughter, condi∣tionally he would (as hath beene agreed vpon for her ransome) render all the Armes, Tooles, Swords, and men that had run away, and to giue me a ship full of Corne, for the wrong hee had done vnto vs: if they would doe this, wee would be friends, if not burne all. They demanded time to send to their King; I assen∣ted, [ 10] I taking, they receiuing two pledges, to carry my message to Powhatan. All night my two men lay not farre from the water side, about noone the next day they told them the great King was three daies iour∣ney off, that Opochankano was hard by to whom they would haue had them deliuer their message, saying, That what hee agreed vpon and did, the great King would confirme. This Opocankano is brother to Powhatan, and is his and their chiefe Captaine: and one that can as soone (if not sooner) as Powha∣tan command the men. But my men refused to doe my message vnto any saue Powhatan, so they were brought backe, and I sent theirs to them; they told me that they would fetch Simons to me, who had thrice plaid the runnagate, whose lyes and villany much hindred our trade for Corne: But they delayed vs, so as we went ashore they shot at vs, we were not behinde hand with them, killed some, hurt others, marched into the Land, burnt their houses, tooke their Corne, and quartered all night ashoare. [ 20]

The next day we went further vp the Riuer, they dogged vs and called to know whither we went; wee answered, To burne all, if they would not doe as we demanded, and had beene agreed vpon. They would they said, bring all the next day so we forbare all hostilitie, went ashoare, their men in good numbers com∣ming amongst vs, but we were very cautious, and stood to our Armes. The Kings daughter went ashoare, * 1.3 but would not talke to any of them, scarce to them of the best sort, and to them onely, that if her father had loued her, he would not value her lesse then old Swords, Peeces, or Axes: wherefore shee would still dwell with the English men, who loued her. At last came one from Powhatan, who told vs, that Simons was run away, to Nonsowhaicond, which was a truth, as afterwards appeared, but that the other Eng∣lish man was dead, that proued a lie (for since M. Hamor; whom I employed to Powhatan brought him to mee) our Peeces, Swords, and Tooles within fifteene dayes, should be sent to Iames Towne, with some [ 30] Corne, and that his daughter should be my child, and euer dwell with mee, desiring to be euer friends, and named such of his people, and neighbour Kings, as hee desired to be included, and haue the benefit of the peace, promising if any of our men came to him, without leaue from mee, he would send them backe: and that if any of his men stale from vs, or killed our cattell, hee would send them to vs to bee punished as wee thought fit. With these conditions wee returned, and within the time limitted, part of our Armes were sent, and twentie men with Corne, and promised more, which he hath also sent. Opachankano desired I * 1.4 would call him friend, and that he might call me so, saying, Hee was a great Captaine, and did alwayes fight: that I was also a great Captaine, and therefore he loued mee; and that my friends should bee his friends. So the bargaine was made, and euery eight or ten dayes, I haue messages and presents from him, with many appearances that he much desireth to continue friendship. [ 40]

Now may you iudge Sir, if the God of Battailes had not a helping hand in this, that hauing our Swords drawne, killing their men, burning their houses, and taking their corne: yet they tendred vs peace, and striue with all alacritie to keepe vs in good opinion of them; by which many benefits arise vnto vs. First, part of our Armes, disgracefully lost long agoe (kept by the Sauages as Monuments and Tro∣phies of our shames) redeliuered, some repaire to our Honor. Our catell to increase, without danger of de∣stroying, our men at libertie to hunt freely for Venison, to fish, to doe any thing else, or goe any whither without danger; to follow the husbanding of our corne securely, whereof wee haue aboue fiue hundred Acres set, and God be praised, in more forwardnesse then any of the Indians, that I haue seene or heard of this yeeres, Roots and Hearbs we haue abundance; all doubt of want is by Gods blessing quite vanished, and much plentie expected. And which is not the least materiall, wee may by this peace come to discouer the Countrey better, both by our owne trauells, and by the relation of the Sauages, as we grow in familiari∣tie [ 50] with them.

Powhatans daughter I caused to be carefully instructed in Christian Religion, who after she had made some good progresse therein, renounced publikely her Countrey Idolatry, openly confessed her Christan * 1.5 Faith, was, as shee desired, baptised, and is since married to an English Gentleman of good vnderstan∣ding (as by his Letter vnto me, containing the reasons of his marriage of her you may perceiue) another knot to binde this peace the stronger. Her Father and friends gaue approbation to it, and her Vncle gaue her to him in the Church: shee liues ciuilly and louingly with him, and I trust will increase in goodnesse, as the knowledge of God increaseth in her. Shee will goe into England with mee, and were it but the gaining of this one soule, I will thinke my time, toile, and present stay well spent. [ 60]

Since this accident, the Gouernours and people of Checkahomanies, who are fiue hundred Bow-men, and better, a stout and warlike Nation, haue made meanes to haue vs come vnto them, and conclude a peace, where all the Gouernours would meet me. They hauing thus three or foure times importuned me, I resolued to goe; so hauing Captaine Argall, with fiftie men in my Frigot and Barge I went thither: Cap∣taine

Argall with forty men landed, I kept aboord for some reasons. Vpon the meeting they told Captaine Argall they had longed to be friends, that they had no ••ing, but eight great men, who gouerned them. He told them that we came to be friends, asked them if they would haue King Iames to be their King, and whether they would be his men? They after some conference betweene themselues, seemed willing of both, demanding if we would fight against their enemies; he told them that if any did them iniury, they should send me word, and I would agree them, or if their aduersaries would not, then I would let them haue as many men as they would to helpe them: they liked well of that, and told him that all their men should helpe vs. All this being agreed vpon, Captaine Argall gaue euery Counsellour a Tamahawk, and * 1.6 a peece of Copper, which was kindely taken: they requested further, that if their Boates should hap∣pen to meete with our Boates, and that they said they were the Chikahominy Englishmen, and [ 10] King Iames his men, wee would let them passe: we agreed vnto it, so that they pronounced themselues Englishmen, and King Iames his men, promising within fifteene dayes to come vnto Iames Towne to see me, and conclude these conditions; euery Bowman being to giue me as a Tribute to King Iames two mea∣sures of Corne euery haruest, the two measures containing two bushels and a halfe, and I to giue euery Bow∣man a small Tamahawke, and to euery Counseller a suit of red cloath, which did much please them. This people neuer acknowledged any King before, no nor euer would acknowledge Powhatan for their King; a stout people they be, and a delicate seate they haue.

Now Sir you see our conditions, you, and all worthy men may iudge, whether it would not be a griefe to see these faire hopes frostbitten, and these fresh budding plants to wither? which had I returned, had assu∣redly [ 20] followed: for here is no one that the people would haue gouerne them, but my selfe: for, I had now come away, had I not found a generall desire in the best sort to returne for England: Letter vpon Letter, request vpon request from their friends to returne, so as I knew not vpon whom to conferre the care of this busi∣nesse in my absence: whom I thought sit was generally distasted, so as seeing the eminent ensuing danger, should I haue left this multitude, not yet fully refined, I am resolued to stay till haruest be got in, and then settle things according to my poore vnderstanding, and returne: if in the interim there come no authori∣sed Gouernour from England.

Consider I pray you, since things be brought to this passe, as you see, and that I should haue come away, if then through their factions, humors, mutinies, or indiscretion of the Chiefes I had left behinde, this * 1.7 should fall to ruine: I then should receiue the imputation, and incurre the blame, for quitting the Planta∣tion, although I might do•• it, both with my honour, my promised stay of time being expired, and hauing [ 30] warrant from my Soueraigne, the Kings Maiesty: but the precedent reasons moued mee and that this astion of such price, such excellency and assured profit to mine owne knowledge should not dye to the scorne of our Nation, and to giue cause of laughter to the Papists, that desire our ruine. I can assure you, no Country of the world affords more assured hopes of infinite riches, which both by mine owne peoples disco∣uery, and the relation of such Sauages, whose fidelity we haue often found, assureth me. Oh why should so many Princes and Noblemen ingage themselues, and thereby intermedling herein, haue caused a num∣ber of soules transport themselues, and be transported hither? Why should they (I say) relinquish this so glorious an Action: for if their ends be to build God a Church, they ought to perseuere: if otherwise, yet their honour ingageth them to be constant. Howsoeuer they stand affected, here is enough to content them, [ 40] let their ends be either for God, or Mammon.

These things hauing animated me to stay for a little season, to leaue those, I am tied in conscience to re∣turne vnto, to leaue the assured benefits of my other fortunes, the sweete society of my friends and acquain∣tance, with all mundall delights, and reside here with much turmoile, which I will constantly doe, rather then see Gods glory diminished, my King and Countrey dishonored, and these poore people, I haue the charge of, ruined. And so I beseech you to answer for me, if you heare me taxed for my staying, as some may iustly * 1.8 doe, and that these are my chiefe motiues God I take to witnesse. Remember me, and the cause I haue in hand, in your daily meditations, and reckon me in the number of those that doe sincerely loue you and yours, and will euer rest in all offices of a friend, to doe you seruice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prince Henry.
• * 1.2

  Sir T. Dales iourny to Pow∣hatans Coun∣try. This is more at large deliuered, with the particular circumstances (which I for breuiti•• haue omitted) by M. Hamor.
• * 1.3

  Pocahuntas be∣hauiour and report.
• * 1.4

  Opachankan•• now their king, & worker of the massa••r••
• * 1.5

  Pocahunta•• baptised: & of Mato•• (so I haue heard she was properly named) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 first called Rebecca,
• * 1.6

  They called the English Tos∣santessas, and so would them∣selues be cal∣led. The parti∣culars and ar∣ticles of agree∣m••nt are in M. H••amors Booke; here omitted.
• * 1.7

  Sir T. Dales re∣port of Virgi∣nia. In another letter to the Committees he writeth that foure of the best Kingdoms of Christendome put all toge∣ther, may no way compare with this coun∣try, either for commodities, or goodnesse of soile.
• * 1.8

  Master Alexan∣der Whitaker was son to that worthy of Po∣lemicall Di∣uine Doctor Whitaker Ma∣ster of S. Iohns Col. in Cam∣bridge. Whatshadowes of men are the most in this age, that the best deseruing should neede apologies in∣stead of pane∣gyrik••s? They which for do∣ing suffer ill, cry whore first, and by depra∣uing iustice seek to be iust.