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.

The benefit of fishing, as Master Dee reporteth in his Brittish Monarchie. [ 40]

HE saith that it is more then foure and fortie yeeres agoe, and it is more then fortie yeeres since he writ it, that the Herring Busses out of the Low-countries, vnder the King of Spaine, were siue hundred, besides one hundred Frenchmen, and three or foure hundred Sayle of Flemmings.

The Coasts of Wales and Lancashire was vsed by three hundred Sayle of strangers. Ireland and Baltemore fraugted yeerly three hundred Sayle of Spaniards, where King Edward the Sixt intended to haue made a strong Castle, because of the Strait, to haue Tri∣bute for fishing.

Blacke Rocke was yeerely fished by three or foure hundred Sayle of Spaniards, Portugals, and Biskiners. [ 50]

Master Gentleman, and many Fisher-men and Fish-mongers, with whom I haue conferred, report, The Hollanders raise yeerely by Herring, Cod, and Ling, 3000000. pounds.

English and French by Salt-fish, Poore Iohn, Salmons, and Pilchards, 300000. pounds.

Hamborough and the Sound, for Sturgion, Lobsters and Eeles, 100000. pounds.

Cape Blacke for Tunny and Mullit, by the Biskiners and Spaniards, 30000. pounds.

But diuers other learned experienced Obseruers say, though it may seeme incredible, That the Duke of Medina receiueth yeerely tribute of the Fishers for Tunny, Mullit and Purgos, more then 10000. pounds.

Lubeck hath seuen hundred Ships: Hamborough six hundred: Embden lately a Fisher Towne, [ 60] one thousand foure hundred, whose Customes by the profit of fishing hath made them so power∣full as they bee.

Holland and Zealand, not much greater then Yorkeshire, hath thirtie walled Townes, foure

hundred Villages, 20000. saile of Ships and Hoyes; thirtie sixe thousand are Fisher-men, where∣of one hundred are Doggers, seuen hundred Pinkes and Wel-boates, seuen hundred Frand Boates, Britters and Tode-boats, with one thousand three hundred Busses, besides three hundred that yeerely fish about Yarmouth, where they sell their Fish for Gold; and fifteene yeeres ago they had more then 116000. Sea-faring men.

The fishing shippes doe take yeerely two hundred thousand Last of fish, twelue barrels to a Last, which amounted to 3000000. pounds by the Fishermens price, that fourteene yeeres agoe did pay for their Tenths 300000. pound; which venting in Pumerland, Sprussia, Denmarke, Lef∣land, Russia, Swethland, Germany, Netherlands, England, or else-where, &c. make their returnes in a yeere about 7000000. pounds; and yet in Holland they haue neither matter to build ships, [ 10] nor Merchandize to set them forth; yet by their industrie they as much increase, as other Na∣tions decay. But leauing these vncertainties as they are, of this I am certaine:

That the Coast of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the North Sea, with Ireland and the Sound, New-found-land, and Cape Blanke, doe serue all Europe, as well the Land Townes as Ports, and all the Christian shipping, with these sorts of Staple fish which is transported, from whence it is taken, many a thousand mile, viz. Herring, Salt-fish, Poore-Iohn, Sturgion, Mullit, Tunny, Porgos, Cauiare, Buttargo.

Now seeing all these sorts of fish, or the most part of them, may be had in a Land more fer∣tile, temperate, and plentifull of all necessaries for the building of ships, Boates, and houses, and the nourishment of man; the Seasons are so proper, and the fishings so neere the habitations, we [ 20] may there make, that New England hath much aduantage of the most of those parts, to serue all Europe far cheaper then they can, who at home haue neither Wood, Salt, nor Food, but at great rates; at Sea nothing but what they carrie in their ships, an hundred or two hundred leagues from their habitation.

But New Englands fishings is neere land, where is helpe of Wood, Water, Fruites, Fowles, Corne, or other refreshings needfull; and the Terceras, Mederas, Canaries, Spaine, Portugall, Pro∣uance, Sauoy, Sicilia, and all Italy, as conuenient Markets for our dry fish, greene fish, Sturgion, Mullit, Cauiare, and Buttargo, as Norway, Swethland, Litt••ania, or Germany, for their Herring, which is here also in abundance for taking; they returning but Wood, Pitch, Tarre, Sope-ashes, Cordage, Flaxe, Waxe, and such like Commodities: we, Wines, Oyles, Sugars, Silkes, and such [ 30] Merchandize as the Straits affoord, whereby our profit may equalize theirs; besides the increase of shipping and Mariners. And for proofe hereof:

With two ships sent out at the charge of Captaine Marmaduke Roydon, Captaine George La••∣gam, Master Iohn Buley and W. Skelton, I went from the Downes the third of March, and arriued in New England the last of April, where I was to haue stayed but with ten men to keepe posses∣sion of those large Territories, Had the Whales proued, as curious information had assured mee and my Aduentures, (but those things failed.) So hauing but fortie fiue men and boyes, we built seuen Boates, thirtie seuen did fish; my selfe with eight others ranging the Coast, I tooke a plot of what I could see, got acquaintance of the Inhabitants; 1100. Beuer skinnes, a hundred Martines, and as many Otters. Fortie thousand of dry fish wee sent for Spaine, with the Salt-fish, [ 40] traine Oyle and Furres, I returned for England the eighteenth of Iuly, and arriued safe with my Company the latter end of August. Thus in sixe moneths I made my Voyage out and home; and by the labour of fiue and fortie, got neere the value of fifteene hundred pounds in those grosse Commodities. This yeere also one went from Plimmouth, set out by diuers of the Ile of Wight, and the West Countrie, by the directions and instructions of Sir Ferdinando Gorge, spent their victuals, and returned with nothing.

The Virginia Company vpon this sent foure good ships; and because I would not vndertake it for them, hauing ingaged my selfe to them of the West, the Londoners entertained the men that came home with me. They set sayle in Ianuary, and arriued there in March; they found fish e∣nough vntill halfe Iune, fraughted a ship of three hundred tunnes, went for Spaine, which was [ 50] taken by the Turkes; one went to Uirginia to relieue that Colonie, and two came for England with the greene fish, traine Oyle and Furres within six moneths.

In Ianuary with two hundred pounds in cash for aduenture, and six Gentlemen well furnished, I went from London to the foure Ships was promised, prepared for mee in the West Countrey, but I found no such matter; notwithstanding at the last, with a labyrinth of trouble I went from Plimoth, with a Ship of two hundred Tunnes, and one of fiftie: when the fishing was done onely with fifteene I was to stay in the Countrey; but ill weather breaking all my Masts, I was forced to returne to Plimoth, where rather then lose all, reimbarking my selfe in a Barke of sixtie Tuns, how I escaped the English Pyrats and the French, and was betrayed by foure Frenchmen of War, I refer you to the description of New England: but my Vice-Admirall, notwithstanding the late∣nesse [ 60] of the yeere, setting forth with me in March, the Londoners in Ianuary, shee arriued in May, they in March, yet came home well fraught in August, and all her men well, within fiue mo∣neths, odde dayes.

The Londoners ere I returned from France, for all their losse by the Turkes, which was valued a∣bout

foure thousand pounds sent two more in Iuly; but such courses they tooke hy the Canaries to the West Indies, it was ten moneths ere they arriued in New England, wasting in that time their seasons, victuall, and health, yet there they found meanes to refresh themselues, and the one returned, neere fraught with Fish and Traine, within two moneths after.

From Plimoth went foure Ships, onely to Fish and Trade, some in February, some in March, one of two hundred Tuns got thither in a moneth, and went full fraught for Spaine, the rest retur∣ned to Plimoth well fraught, and their men well, within fiue moneths, odde dayes.

From London went two more, one of two hundred Tuns, got thither in sixe weekes, and within sixe weekes after, with fortie foure men and boyes was full fraught, and returned againe into England within fiue moneths and a few dayes; the other went to the Canaries with dry fish, which they sold at a great rate, for Rials of eight, and as I heard turned Pyrats. [ 10]

I being at Plimoth prouided with three good Ships, yet but fifteene men to stay with me in the Countrey, was Wind-bound three moneths, as was many a hundred saile more, so that the sea∣son being past, the Ships went for New-found-land, whereby my designe was frustrate, which was to me and my friends no small losse, in regard whereof here the Westerne Commissioners, in the behalfe of themselues and the rest of the Company, contracted with me by Articles inden∣ted vnder our hands, to be Admirall of that Country during my life, and in the renewing of their Letters Patents so to be nominated, halfe the fruites of our endeuours theirs, the rest our owne; being thus ingaged; now the businesse doth prosper, some of them would willingly forget mee; but I am not the first they haue deceiued. [ 20]

There was foure good Ships prepared at Plimoth, but by reason of their disagreement, the sea∣son so wasted, as onely two went forward, the one being of two hundred Tunnes, returned well fraught for Plimoth, and her men in health, within fiue moneths; the other of eightie Tuns, went for Bilbow with dry fish, and made a good returne. In this voyage Edward Rowcroft, alias Stallings, a valiant Souldier, that had beene with mee in Virginia, and seuen yeeres after went with mee from Plimoth towardes New England, with Thomas Darmer, an vnderstanding and ••n industrious Gentleman to inhabite it; all whose names, with our proceedings, you may read at large in my description of New England, vpon triall before the Iudge of the Admiraltie, how when wee had past the worst, for pure cowardise the Master and Sailer ran away with the Ship and all I had, and left mee alone among eight or nine Frenchmen of War, in the yeere 1615. This Stallings went [ 30] now againe in those Ships, and hauing some wrong offered him in New England by a Frenchman, he tooke him, and as he writ to mee, he went with her to Virginia with fish, to trade with them for such commodities as they might spare; hee knew both these Countries well, yet hee pro∣mised mee the next Spring to meete mee in New England; but the Ship and he perished in Uirginia.

This yeere againe, diuers Ships intending to goe from Plimoth, so disagreed, as there went but one of two hundred Tunnes, who stayed in the Countrey about six weekes, with thirtie eight men and boyes, had her fraught, which shee sold at the first peny, for two thousand one hundred pounds, besides the Furs: so that euery poore Sayler, that had but a single share, had his charges, and sixteene pound ten shillings, for his seuen moneths worke. M. Thomas Darmer, hauing liued [ 40] about a yeere in New-found-land, returning to Plimoth, went for New England in this Ship, and not onely confirmes what I haue writ, but so much more approued of it, that he stayed there with fiue or six men in a little Boat; finding two or three Frenchmen among the Sauages, who had lost their Ship, augmented his company, with whom hee ranged the Coast to Virginia, where he was kindly welcommed and well refreshed; thence returned to New England againe, where ha∣uing beene a yeere, in his backe returne to Uirginia, he was so wounded by the Sauages, hee dyed vpon it, them escaped were relieued at Virginia. Let not men attribute their great aduentures and vntimely deaths to vnfortunatenesse, but rather wonder how God did so long preserue them, with so small meanes to doe so much, leauing the fruites of their labours, to bee an encouragement to those our poore vndertakings; and this for aduantage as they writ vnto mee, that God had laid [ 50] this Countrey open for vs, and slaine the most part of the Inhabitants by cruell Wars and a mor∣tall disease; for where I had seene one hundred or two hundred people, there is scarce ten to bee found. From Pembrocks Bay, to Harrintons Bay, there is not twentie; from thence to Cape Anne, some thirtie; from Taulbuts Bay to the Riuer Charles, about fortie, and not any of them touched with any sicknesse, but one poore Frenchman that dyed.

For to make triall this yeere, there is gone sixe or seuen sayle from the West Countrey, onely to fish, three of whom are returned, and as I was certainly informed, made so good a voyage, that euery Sayler for a single share had twentie pounds for his seuen moneths worke, which is more then in twentie months hee should haue gotten, had he gone for wages any where. Now, though all the former Ships haue not made such good voyages, as they expected, by sending opinionated [ 60] vnskilfull men, that had not experienced diligence to saue that they tooke, nor take that there was; which now patience and practise hath brought to a reasonable kinde of perfection: in de∣spite of all detractors and calumniations, the Country yet hath satisfied all, the defect hath bin in their vsing or abusing it, not in it selfe nor mee.

VPon these inducements, some few well disposed Gentlemen and Merchants of London and other places prouided two Ships, the one of one hundred and sixtie Tuns, the other of seuen∣tie; they left the Coast of England the three and twentieth of August, with about one hundred and twentie persons, but the next day the lesser Ship sprung a leake, that forced their returne to Plimouth, where discharging her and twentie Passengers, with the great Ship, and a hundred persons besides Sailers, they set saile againe the sixth of September, and the ninth of Nouember fell with Cape Iames; but being pestred nine weekes in this leaking vnwholsome Ship, lying wet in their Cabbins, most of them grew very weake and weary of the Sea, then for want of experi∣ence ranging to and againe sixe weekes before they found a place they liked to dwell on, forced to lie on the bare ground without couerture in the extremitie of Winter, fortie of them dyed, [ 10] and sixtie were left in very weake estate at the Ships comming away, about the fifth of April fol∣lowing, and arriued in England the sixth of May.

Immediately after her arriuall from London, they sent another of fiftie fiue Tuns to supply them, with thirtie seuen persons, they set saile in the beginning of Iuly, but being crossed by Westerly winds, it was the end of August ere they could passe Plimouth, and arriued at New Pli∣mouth in New England the eleuenth of Nouember, where they found all the people they left in April, as is said, lusty and in good health, except six that dyed. Within a moneth they returned here for England, laded with Clapboord, Wainscot, and Walnut, with about three Hogsheads of Beauer skins, and some Saxefras, the thirteenth of December, and drawing neere our Coast, was taken by a Frenchman, set out by the Marquis of Cera Gouernour of Ile Deu, on the Coast of [ 20] Poytou, where they kept the Ship, imprisoned the Master and Companie, tooke from them to the value of about fiue hundred pounds; and after fourteene dayes sent them home with a poore sup∣ply of Victuall, their owne being deuoured by the Marquis and his hungry seruants; they arriued at London the fourteenth of Februarie, leauing all them they found and carried to New England, well and in health, with victuall and Corne sufficient till the next Haruest.

Notes

• Proofe 1. 1614.
• Proofe 2. 1615.
• Proofe 3. 1615.
• Proofe 4. 1616.
• Proofe 5. 1616.
• Proofe 6. 1616.
• Proofe 7. 1617.
• Proofe 8. 1618.
• Proofe 9. 1619.
• Proofe 10. 1620
• A Plantation in New Eng∣land. Proofe 11. 1620
• Proofe 12. 1620