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.

ELizabeths Iland is full of high timbred Oakes, their leaues thrice so broad as ours; Ce∣dars, straight and tall; Beech, Elme, Hollie, Wal-nut trees in abundance, the fruit as [ 20] bigge as ours, as appeared by those wee found vnder the trees, which had lien all the yeere vngathered; Hasle-nut trees, Cherrie trees, the leafe, barke and bignesse not differing from ours in England, but the stalke beareth the blossomes or fruit at the end thereof, like a cluster of Grapes, fortie or fiftie in a bunch; Sassafras trees great plen∣tie all the Iland ouer, a tree of high price and profit; also diuers other fruit-trees, some of them with strange barkes, of an Orange colour, in feeling soft and smooth like Veluet: in the thickest parts of these Woods, you may see a furlong or more round about.

On the North-west side of this Iland, neere to the Sea-side, is a standing Lake of fresh water, almost three English miles in compasse, in the miast whereof stands a woody ground, an acre in quantitie, or not aboue: this Lake is full of small Tortoises, and exceedingly frequented with all sorts of fowles before re∣hearsed, [ 30] which breed, some lowe on the bankes, and others on lowe trees about this Lake in great abun∣dance, whose young ones of all sorts wee tooke and eate at our pleasure: but all these fowles are much bigger than ours in England. Also, in euery Iland, and almost euery part of euery Iland, are great store of Ground-nuts fortie together on a string, some of them as bigge as Hennes egges; they growe not two inches vnder ground: the which Nuts wee found to bee as good as Potatoes. Also, diuers sorts of shell-fish, as Scalops, Mussels, Cockles, Lobsters, Crabs, Oisters, and Wilkes, exceeding good and very great. But not to cloy you with particular rehearsall of such things as God and Nature hath bestowed on these places, in comparison whereof, the most fertile part of all England is (of it selfe) but barren; wee went in our Light-horsman from this Iland to the Maine, right against this Iland some two miles off, where comming ashoare, wee stood a while like men ranished at the beautie and delicacy of this sweet [ 40] soyle; for besides diuers cleere Lakes of fresh water (whereof wee saw no end) Medowes very large, and full of greene grasse; euen the most wooddy places (I speake onely of such as I saw) doe growe so distinct and apart, one tree from another, vpon greene grassie ground, somewhat higher than the Plaines, as if Nature would shew her selfe aboue her power, artificiall. Hard by, wee espied seuen Indians, and comming vp to them, at first they expressed some feare; but being emboldned by our courteous vsage, and some trifles which we gaue them, they followed vs to a necke of Land, which wee imagined had beene seuered from the Mayne; but finding it otherwise, wee perceiued abroad Harbour or Riuers mouth, which came vp into the Mayne: and because the day was farre spent, we were forced to returne to the I∣land from whence we came, leauing the Discouery of this Harbour, for a time of better leisure. Of the goadnesse of which Harbour, as also of many others thereabouts, there is small doubt, con∣sidering [ 50] that all the Ilands, as also the Maine (where wee were) is all Rockie Grounds and broken Lands.

Now the next day, wee determined to fortifie our selues in a little plot of ground in the middest of the Lake aboue mentioned, where wee built an house, and couered it with sedge, which grew about this Lake in great abundance; in building whereof, wee spent three weekes and more: but the second day after our comming from the Maine, wee espied eleuen Canoas or Boats, with fifty Indians in them, comming toward vs from this part of the Maine, where wee two dayes before landed: and being loath they should discouer our fortification, wee went out into the Sea side to meete them; and comming some∣what neere them, they all sate downe vpon the stones, calling aloud to vs (as wee rightly ghessed) to doe the like, a little distance from them: hauing sate a while in this order, Captaine Gosnold willed mee [ 60] to goe vnto them; to see what countenance they would make; but as soone as I came vp vnto them, one of them, to whom I had giuen a Knife two dayes before in the Maine, knew mee (whom I also very well remembred) and smiling vpon me, spake somewhat vnto their Lord or Captaine, which sate in the midst of them, who presently rose vp and tooke a large Beuer skinne from one that stood about him, and gaue

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it vnto me, which I requited for that time the best I could: but I, pointing towards captaine Gosnold, made signes vnto him, that hee was our Captaine, and desirous to bee his friend, and enter league with him, which (as I perceiued) he vnderstood, and made signes of ioy: whereupon Captaine Gosnold, with the rest of his companie, being twenty in all, came vp vnto them; and after many signes of gratulations (Captaine Gosnold presenting their Lord with certaine trifles which they wondred at, and highly estee∣med) wee became very great friends, and sent for meat aboord our Shalop, and gaue them such meates as wee had then ready dressed, whereof they misliked nothing but our Mustard, whereat they made many a sowre face. While wee were thus merrie, one of them had conueighed a Target of ours into one of their Canoas, which wee suffered, onely to trie whether they were in subiection to this Lord, to whom we made signes (by shewing him another of the same likenesse, and pointing to the Canoa) what one of his com∣panie [ 10] had done: who suddenly expressed some feare, and speaking angerly to one about him (as wee percei∣ued by his countenance) caused it presently to be brought backe againe. So the rest of the day wee spent in trading with them for Furres, which are Beauers, Luzernes, Marterns, Otters, Wilde-cat skinnes, ve∣ry large and deepe Furre, blacke Foxes, Conie skinnes, of the colour of our Hares, but somewhat lesse, Deere skinnes very large, Seale skinnes, and other beasts skinnes, to vs vnknowne.

They haue also great store of Copper, some very red, and some of a paler colour; none of them but haue Chaines, Eare-rings, or Collars of this metall: they head some of their Arrowes herewith much like our broad Arrow heads, very workmanly made. Their Chaines are many hollow pieces semented together, each piece of the bignesse of one of our reeds, a finger in length, ten or twelue of them toge∣ther on a string, which they weare about their neckes: their Collars they weare about their bodies like [ 20] Bandelieres a handfull broad, all hollow pieces, like the other, but somewhat shorter, foure hundred pieces in a Collar, very fine and euenly set together. Besides these, they haue large drinking Cups made like Sculls, and other thinne plates of Copper, made much like our Boare-speare blades, all which they so little esteeme, as they offered their fairest Collars and Chaines for a Knife, or such like triste, but wee seemed little to regard it; yet I was desirous to vnderstand where they had such store of this mettall, and made signes to one of them (with whom I was very familiar) who taking a piece of copper in his hand, made a hole with his finger in the ground, and withall pointed to the Maine from whence they came. They strike fire in this manner; euery one carrieth about him in a Purse oftewd Leather, a Minerall stone (which I take to be their Copper) and with a flat Emerie stone (wherewith Glasiers cut glasse, and Cutlers glase blades) tied fast to the end of alittle sticke, gently hee striketh vpon the Minerall stone, and within a stroke or [ 30] two, a sparke falleth vpon a piece of Touch-wood (much like our Spunge in England) and with the least sparke he maketh a fire presently. Wee had also of their Flaxe, wherewith they make many strings and cords, but it is not so bright of colour as ours in England: I am perswaded they haue store growing vp∣on the Maine, as also Mines, and many other rich commodities, which we, wanting both time and meanes could not possibly discouer.

Thus they continued with vs three dayes, euery night retiring themselues to the furthermost part of our Iland two or three miles from our Fort: but the fourth day they returned to the Maine, pointing fiue or sixe times to the Sunne, and once to the Maine, which we vnderstood, that within fiue or sixe dayes they would come from the Maine to vs againe: but being in their Canoas a little from the shoare, they made huge cries and shouts of ioy vnto vs; and wee with our Trumpet and Cornet, and casting vp our [ 40] caps into the aire, made them the best farewell wee could: yet sixe or seuen of them remayned with vs behinde, bearing vs companie euery day in the Woods, and helped vs to cut and carrie our Sassafras, and some of them lay aboord our ship.

These people as they are exceeding curteous, gentle of disposition, and well conditioned, excelling all others that we haue seene; so for shape of body and louely fauour, I thinke they excell all the people of America; of stature much higher than wee; of complexion or colour, much like a darke Oliue; their eye-browes and haire blacke, which they weare long, tyed vp behinde in knots, whereon they pricke fea∣thers of fowles, in fashion of a Crownet: some of them are blacke thinne bearded; they make beards of the haire of beasts: and one of them offered a beard of their making to one of our Saylers, for his that grew on his face, which because it was of a red colour, they iudged to be none of his owne. They are quicke [ 50] eyed, and stedfast in their lookes, fearelesse of others harmes, as intending none themselues; some of the meaner sort giuen to filching, which the very name of Sauages (not weighing their ignorance in good or euill) may easily excuse: their garments are of Deere skinnes, and some of them weare Furres round and close about their neckes. They pronounce our Language with great facilitie; for one of them one day sitting by mee, vpon occasion I spake smiling to him these words: How now, sirrha, are you so sawcy with my Tobacco? which words (without any further repetition) he suddenly spake so plaine and distinctly, as if hee had beene a long Scholer in the Language. Many other such trials wee had, which are here needlesse to repeat. Their women (such as wee saw) which were but three in all, were but lowe of stature, their eye-browes, haire, apparell, and manner of wearing, like to the men, fat, and very well-fauoured, and much delighted in our companie; the men are very dutifull to∣wards [ 60] them. And truly, the wholsomnesse and temperature of this Climate, doth not onely argue this people to be answerable to this description, but also of a perfect constitution of body, actiue strong, health∣full, and very witty, as the sundry toyes of theirs cunningly wrought, may easily witnesse.

For the agreeing of this Climate with vs (I speake of my selfe, and so I may iustly doe for the rest of

our companie) that we found our health and strength all the while we remayned there, so to renew and en∣crease, as notwithstanding our diet and lodging was none of the best, yet not one of our companie (God be thanked) felt the least grudging or inclination to any disease or sicknesse, but were much fatter, and in better health than when we went out of England: but after our Barke had taken in so much Sassafras, Cedar, Furres, Skinnes, and other commodities, as were thought conuenient; some of our companie that had promised Captaine Gosnold to stay, hauing nothing but a sauing voyage in their mindes, made our companie of Inhabitants (which was small enough before) much smaller; so as Cap∣taine Gosnold seeing his whole strength to consist but of twelue men, and they but meanly proui∣ded, determined to returne for England, leauing this Iland (which he called Elizabeths Iland) with as many true sorrowfull eyes, as were before desirous to see it. So the eighteenth of Iune, being Friday, we weighed and with indifferent faire winde and weather came to anchor the three and twentieth [ 10] of Iuly, being also Friday (in all, bare fiue weekes) before Exmouth.

Your Lordships to command. IOHN BRERETON.

Notes

• Oakes. Cedars, Beech. Elme. Hollie. Walnut trees. Cherrie trees.
• Sassafras trees. Diuers other trees.
• A Lake three miles about: Smal Tortoises
• Abundance of fowles, much bigger than ours in Eng∣land. Ground-nuts. Shell fish.
• The exceeding beauty of the maine Land. Great Lakes. Large Medows
• Seuen Indians.
• A broad Riuer.
• A good Har∣bour.
• The English House.
• 11. Canoas with ••0. Indians in them.
• Their Captain.
• Seuerall sorts & Furres.
• Red Copper in abundance.
• Chaines.
• Collars.
• Drinking cups of Copper.
• Mines of Copper.
• Mineral stones
• Emerie stones.
• Flaxe.
• Indians apt for service. Saffafras. A goodly peo∣ple, and of good condi∣tions.
• Their apparell.
• Their women.
• The goodnesse of the Climat.
• Their returne.