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.

CHAP. IX.

The names of diuers honorable persons and others who haue vndertaken to helpe [ 10] aduance his Maiesties ••laviation in the New-found-land: written by the said R. W. with extracts of certaine Letters written from thence.

THe right Honorable, Henry Lord Cary, Viscount of Fanlke-land, Lord Deputie for the Kingdome of Ireland, hath vndertaken to plant a Colonie of his Maiesties Subiects in the New-found-land, and is well pleased to entertaine such as are wil∣ling to be Aduenturers with him therein; vpon such Conditions as may appeare in the latter part of this Booke: And in his Lordships absence, hee hath authorized this Agent, Master Leonard Wellsted, by warrant vnder his hand and Seale, to rati∣fie [ 20] whatsoeuer shall be by him concluded therein. The said Master Wellsteds Chamber is neere one Master Garlands house, at the lower end of Saint Mar〈…〉〈…〉 lane in the fields.

The right Honorable Sir George Cal••ert, Knight; one of the principall Secretaries vnto his Ma∣iestie, hath also vndertaken to planta large Circuit of that Countrie: who hath already sent thi∣ther this yeare and the former yeare, a great number of men and women, with all necessarie pro∣uisions fit for them; where they liue pleasantly, building of Houses; 〈…〉〈…〉sing of Land for Corne, and Meddowes, Cabage, Carrets, Turneps, and such like: as also for Wood and Tobacco Like∣wise they are there preparing to make Salt; for the prel〈…〉〈…〉tion of fish another yeere, and for diuers other seruices. And his Honor is likewise well pl••aled to entertaine such as will aduenture with him therein, vpon very fit conditions.

The Worshipfull Iohn Slany of London Merchant, who is one of the vndertakers of the New-found-land [ 30] Plantation, and is Treasurer vnto the pat〈…〉〈…〉 of that Societie, who haue maintained a Colonie of his Maie••••••es subiects there about twelue yeeres, and they are willing to entertaine such as will further his Maiesties said Plan〈…〉〈…〉, vpon fit conditions.

Diuers Worshipfull Citizens of the Citie of Bristoll, haue vndertaken to plant a large Circuit of that Countrie, & they haue maintained a Colony of his Maiesties subiects there any time these fiue yeeres, who haue builded there many faire Houses, and done many other good seruices, who liue there very pleasantly, and they are well pleased to entertaine vpon fit conditions such as will be Aduenturers with them.

The Worshipfull William Vanghan of Tarratod, in the Countie of Ca〈…〉〈…〉, Doctor of the [ 40] Ciuill Law, hath also vndertaken to plant a Circuit in the New-found-land and hath in two seue∣rall yeeres sent thither diuers men and women, and hee is willing to entertaine such as will be Aduenturers with him vpon fit conditions.

And there are many other worthy persons Aduenturers in the said Plantation, whose names are not herein mentioned. And it is well hoped, that diuers others will also put their helping hand to aduance the same, when they are giuen to vnderstand what honour and benefit may accrue thereby. And if his Maiesties subiects of this Kingdome may be willing to set forth from euerie seuerall Countrie, but one good Ship yearely thither, with people and prouisions fit for them, it will be then not onely a great honour and benefit to his Maiestie, but also a great increase of Ship∣ping and Marriners, and the imploying and inriching of many thousands of poore people which [ 50] now liue chargeably to the Parishioners. The wh••ah may be easily performed by the able Sub∣iects, to set forth the charge at first, and so euerie Parish to recouer yearely their equall parts of the benefit which may accrue by the said stocke, and thereby not onely disburden yeerely them∣selues of some of those which lie chargeable vnto them within their seuerall Parishes; but also yeerely yeelde a great benefit to euery seuerall Countie, though it lie something remote from the Sea-coast, if they imploy a discreete honest man there, who may yearely be accomptable to eue∣rie Parish of the charge, and likewise the benefit. The which will not be anie way burdensome or hurtfull vnto any: as the following discourse which I haue written will plainly informe them. [ 60]

Extracts of a Letter from Captaine EDWARD WINNE, Gouernour of the Colony at Ferryland; within the Prouince of Aualon, in Newfound-Land, vnto the Right Honourable Sir GEORGE CAL∣VERT Knight, his Maisties Principall Secretary; Iuly 28. 1622.

May it please your Honour:

VPon the seuenteenth day of May, I receiued here yo〈…〉〈…〉. Letters of the nineteenth of February, from the ••a••ds of Robert Stoning. Vpon the six and twentieth of the same; a Ship of Master Iennins, with your people and prouision arriued here in safetie: and from the hands of Captaine Powell I receiued [ 10] then your Honours Letters of the fourteenth of March. And vpon the last of Iune Master Iames came hither from Renouse, and the Saltamaker Master Iohn Hickson; from whose hands I receiued two Letters more, that by Master Iames, being of the fourth of May, and the other by Hickson of the tenth of the same, &c.

It may please your Honour, that as soone as I had deliuered my last Letters of the fifth of Septem∣ber, * 1.1 I immediately addressed my selfe onely to our businesse. Notwithstanding our diligent labour and extraordinary paines-taking, it was Alha••••entide before our first range of building was fitted for an habitable being, &c.

After Christ••asse, wee imployed our selues in the Woods, especially in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weather, whence wee got [ 20] home as many Boord-stockes as afforded vs 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hundred Boords; and about two hundred Timber-trees besides. Wee got home as much or as many Trees, as serued vs to p••lizade into the Plantation about foure Acr•••• of ground, for the keeping off of both man and ••east, with Post and Rayle seuen foot high, sha••pened in the ••••p the Trees being p••••ched vpright and fastened with Spikes and Nayles. Wee get also together as much fire-wood as will serue vs yet these two months. We also f••••••ed much Garden ground for Seed I meane Barley, Oates, Rease, and Beanes.

For addition of building, we haue at this present a Parlour of fourteene f••ot besides the Chinney, and twelue foot br••••d, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bright, and a lodging Chamber ouer it; to each a Chimney of Stone-work with Staires, and a S〈…〉〈…〉 besides a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of two 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or a story and a halfe, which serues for a Store-house till wee are otherwise prouided. The Forge hath beene finished these fine weekes: the Salt∣worke [ 30] is now almost ready. Notwithstanding this great t••••ke for so fe•• 〈…〉〈…〉ds, we haue both Wheat, Bar∣ley, * 1.2 Oates, Pease and B••••nes about the quant••tie of two A••res. Of Garden roome about halfe a•• Acre: Corne, though late sowne is now in earings the B••••nes and the good••••st Pease that I euer saw, haue flou∣rished in their bloomes this twentie dayes. Wee haue a plentifull Kitchin Garden of Le••tic••, Rad∣dish, Carrets, Coleworts, Turneps, and many other things. Wee haue also at this present, a flou∣rishing Meadow, &c.

For the Countrey and Clymate: It is better, and not so cold 〈◊〉〈◊〉 England hitherto. My comfort is, that the Lord is with your Honour, and your designes: for we haue prospered, to the admiration of all the behol∣ders in what is done. And thus with my humble duty remembred, I rest, &c.

Another Letter to Master Secretary CALVERT, from Captaine WINNE, [ 40] of the seuenteenth of August, 1622.

May it please your Honour;

VVE haue Wheat, Barley, Oates, and Beanes both eared and codded, and though the late sowing and setting of them might occasion the contrary, yet it ripens now so fast, that it carries the like∣lihood of an approaching Haruest. Wee haue also a plentifull Kitchen-Garden of many things, and so ranke, that I haue not seene the like in England. Our Beanes are exceeding good: our Pease shall goe wothout compare: for they are in some places as high as a man of an extraordinary stature, Raddish as [ 50] big as mine arme, Lettice, Cale or Cabbage, Turneps, Carrets, and all the rest is of like goodnesse. We haue a Meadow of about three Acres: it flourished lately with many cockets of good Hay, and now it is made vp for a Winter feeding. Wee hope to bee well fitted with many Acres of Meadow against another yeere: of Pasture-land, wee baute already to serue at least three hundred heads of Cattell: and to all this, if it please God, a good quantitie of Seed-ground shall be fitted, and such buildings as wee shall be able to accomplish.

Now in the next place it may please your Honour to vnderstand; That touching this Countrey, the Summer time here is so faire, so warme, and of so good a temperature, that it produceth many Hearbes and Plants very wholsome, medicinable, and delectable, many fruit Trees of sundry kindes, many sorts of Berries wholsome to eate, and in measure most abundant: insomuch as many sorts of Birds and Beasts [ 60] are relieued with them in time of Winter, and whereof with further experience I trust to fi〈…〉〈…〉d some for the turne of D••ers. Our high leuells of Land are adorned with Woods, both fare and seemely to behold, and greene all Winter. Within Land there are Plaines innumerable, many of them containing many thousand Acres, very pleasant to see to, and well furnished with Ponds, Brookes and Riurrs, very plentifull of sun∣dry

sorts of Fish: besides store of Deere and ether Beasts that yeeld both Food and Furre. Touching the soyle, I find it in many places, of goodnesse farre beyond my expectation: the Earth as good as can be: the Grasse both fat and vnctious, and if there were store of Cattle to feed it vp, and with good ordering, it would become a most stedfast nourishment: whereof the large breed of Cattell to our Northerne Planta∣tion, haue lately giuen proofes sufficient, though since, they haue beene most shamefully destroyed. The ayre here is very healthfull, the water both cleer and wholsome, and the Winter short & tolerable, continu∣ing onely in Ianury, February and part of March: the day in Winter longer then in England: the nights both silent and comfortable, producing nothing that can be said, either horrid or hideous. Neither was it so cold here the last Winter as in England the yeere before. I remember but ••eree seuerall dayes of hard * 1.3 weather indeed, and they not extreame neither: for I haue knowne greater Frosts, and farre greater [ 10] Snowes in our owne Countrey.

At the B〈…〉〈…〉 Plantation, there is as goodly Rye now growing, as can bee in any part of England: they are also well furnished with Swine, and a large breed of Goates, fa••••er by far then those that were sent * 1.4 ouer at the first.

The Stones, Kernells, and Seeds that Stoning brought mee, were put into the ground presently after his arriuall, the which are already of a prettie growth, though late set; for they came to my hands but vp∣on the seuenteenth of May. The Uines that came from Plimouth, doe prosper very well: nay, it is to be assured, that any thing that growes in England, will grow and prosper very well here: whereby it plainly appeares vnto your Honour, what manner of Countrey the same is.

It may please your Honour to vnderstand, that our Salt-maker hath performed his part with a great [ 20] deale of sufficiency, by whom I haue sent your Honour a Barrell of the best Salt that euer my eyes beheld, * 1.5 who with better setling doth vndertake to better this, which hee hath made already. I shall humbly also desire you to remember my last yeeres suit, that our delicate Harbours and Woods may not bee altogether destroyed. For there hath beene rinded this yeere not so few as 50000. Trees, and they heaue out ballast * 1.6 into the Harbors, though I looke on. It may likewise please your Honour to giue expresse order; First, that such as be sent thither hereafter, may be such men as shall bee of good strength: whereof wee stand in need of sixe Masons, foure Carpenters, two or three good Quarry-men, a Slater or two, a Lyme-••urner, and Lyme-stones, a good quantitie of hard Laths; a couple of strong Maids, that (besides other worke) can both Brew and Bake, and to furnish vs with Wheeles, He••••••pe, and Flax, and a conuenient number of West∣countrey Labourers to fit the ground for the Plough. Secondly, that no more Boyes or Girles be sent hither, [ 30] I meane, vpon your Honors charge, nor any other persons which haue not beene brought vp to labour: for they are vnfit for these affaires. Thirdly, your Honor of necessitie must needes send some Gunnes, and a Gunner with his necessaries: for the place and time doe require it. It is a durable Chartell; they will com∣mand the Harbour, and secure all, &c.

A Copie of a Letter from N. H. a Gentleman liuing at Ferryland in Newfound-Land, to a worthy Friend W. P. of the 18. of August, 1622.

SIR,

MY humble seruice remembred; accounting my selfe bound vnto you in a double bond, namely, loue [ 40] and dutie: I could not be vnmindfull to shew the same vnto you in these rude lines, thereby to ac∣quaeint you with our health, the temperature of the Countrey, and the commodities and blessings therein. And first, for the first: Concerning our health, there is not any man amongst our company, that hath beene sicke scarcely one day since he came, but hath beene able to follow his worke. The Climate differs but little from England, and I my selfe felt lesse cold here this Winter, then I did in England the Winter before by much. The a••••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sweeter: for I neuer s〈…〉〈…〉elt any euill sauor in the Countrey, nor saw any ve∣nemous creature to burt mee. Gods blessings vpon this Land are manifold: As for wood and water, it passeth England: the one most sweet in growing and burning, the other most pleasant to taste, and good to drinke. For in Whitson-holidayes (I taking with me Master Stoning) did coast some ten miles in∣to [ 50] the Countrey Westward from our Plantation, to make some discouery of the Countrey, and to kill a Deere; and being some fiue miles into the Land, where wee lodged that night in a Wood, we found much Champion ground, and good leuels of one, two, three or foure hundred Acres together, and at the foot of each Mountaine and small Hill, wee alwayes met with a faire fresh Riuer, or a sweet Brooke of running water, whereof wee freely dranke, and it did quench my thirst as well as any Beere, and much refresh vs both, and neuer offended our stomackes at all. Wee trauelled three dayes, but found no Deere saue their footings, which came to passe by meanes of a great fire that had burned the Woods a little before ten miles compasse. It began betweene Formouse and Aquafort: it burned a weeke, and then was quen∣ched by a great raine.

I know not how or what hee was that gaue sire to it, but I thinke hee was a seruant hired by the Deuill [ 60] to doe that wicked deed, who (I doe not doubt) will pay him for his worke. In the night the Wolues being neere, did something affright vs with howlings, but did not hurt vs: for wee had Dogs, Fire, and Sword to welcome them. As for the Beares, although there bee many; they beare vs no ill will, I thinke, for I haue eaten my part of two or three, and taken no hurt by them. Foxes heere are many, and as subtill as a

Foxe, yet haue wee coozned many of them of their rich coats, which our worthy Gouernour keepes care∣fully, as also of Cattagena's and Otters, whose couerings wee preserue as fitting presents for greater per∣sons. The Fowles and Birds of the Land are Partridges, Curlues, Fillidayes, Black-birds, Bulfinches, Larkes, Sparrowes, and such like. Those of the Sea, are Goose, Ducks of foure sorts, Capderace, Teale, Snipes, Penguyns, Murres, Hounds, Sanderlings, Redshanks and others, all very fat, sweete and whol∣some. The Fowles of prey, are Tercells, Goshawkes, Falcons, Laners, Sparhawkes, Gripes, Ospreis, Owles great and small, Rauens, Gulls, Pu••erils, and some others; and of most of these sorts I haue killed ma∣ny. As for the plentie of Codfish it is well knowne vnto you. Salmons, Eeles, Mackarell, Herrings; Lance, Caplin, Dog fish, Hollibuts, Flowkes, Lobsters, Crabs and Muskles: All and more then all these are here in great plentie, very good and sweet meat. The wild fruit and berries, are small Peares, Cher∣ries, Nuts, Resberries, Strawberries, Barberries, Dewberrics, Hurtleberries, with others, all good to eate. [ 10] Many faire Flowers I haue seene here, which I cannot name, although I had learned Gerrards Herball by heart: But wild Roses are here both red and damaske, as fragrant and faire as in England. All our Corne and Seedes haue prospered well, and are already growne almost to perfect maturitie, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This was the last Letter sent into England the yeere be∣fore, 1621.
• * 1.2

  They were but twelue men all the last Win∣ter, vnti〈…〉〈…〉 the new supply came in the Spring follow∣ing.
• * 1.3

  Temperate Winter.
• * 1.4

  Bristow Planta∣tion.
• * 1.5

  Salt made there.
• * 1.6

  Abuses of Fi∣shermen.