THe Warres in Europe , Asia , and Affrica , taught me how to subdue the wilde Salvages in Virginia and New-England , in America ; which now after many a stormy blast of ignorant contradictors , projectors , and undertakers , both they and I have beene so tossed and tortured into so many extremities , as despaire was the next wee both expected , till it pleased God now at last to stirre up some good mindes , that I hope will produce glory to God , honour to his Majesty , and profit to his Kingdomes , although all our Plantations have beene so foyled and abused , their best good willers have beene for the most part discouraged , and their good intents disgraced , as the generall History of them will at large truly relate you .

Pardon me if I offend in loving that I have cherished truly , No Browaist nor Separatist admitted . by the losse of my prime fortunes , meanes , and youth : If it over-glad me to see Industry her selfe adventure now to make use of my aged endevours , not by such ( I hope ) as rumour doth report , a many of discontented Brownists , Anabaptists , Papists , Puritans , Separatists , and such factions Humorists , for no such they will suffer among them , if knowne , as many of the chiefe of them have assured mee , and the much conferences I have had with many of them , doth considently perswade me to writethus much in their behalfe .

I meane not the Brownists of Leyden and Amsterdam at New-Plimoth , who although by accident , ignorance , and wilfulnesse , have indured with a wonderfull patience , many losses and extremities ; yet they subsist and prosper so well , not any of them will abandon the Country , but to the utmost of their powers increase their numbers : But of those which are gone within this eighteene moneths for Cape Anne , and the Bay of the Massachusets : those which are their chiefe what they are that biginne this Plantation . Vndertakers are Gentlemen of good estate , some of 500 , some a thousand pound land a yeere , all which they say they will sell for the advancing this harmlesse and pious worke ; men of good credit and well-beloved in their Country , not such as flye for debt , or any scandall at home , and are good Catholike Protestants according to the reformed Church of England , if not , it is well they are gone : the rest of them men of good meanes , or Arts , Occupations , and Qualities , much more fit for such a businesse , and better furnished of all necessaries if they arrive well , than was ever any Plantation went out of England : I will not say but some of them may be more precise than needs , nor that they all be so good as they should be , for Christ had but twelue Apostles , and one was a traitor ; and if there be no dissemblers among them , it is more than a wonder : therefore doe not condemne all for some ; but however they have as good authority from his Majesty as they could desire , if they doe ill , the losse is but their owne ; if well , a great glory and exceeding good to this Kingdome , to make good at last what all our former conclusions have disgraced . Now they take not that course the Virginia company did The bine of Virginia . for the Planters there , their purses and lives were subject to some few here in London who were never there , that consumed all in Arguments , Projects , and their owne conceits , every yeere trying new conclusions , altering every thing yearely as they altered opinions , till they had consumed more than two hundred thousand pounds , and neere eight thousand mens lives .

It is true , in the yeere of our Lord 1622. they were about seven or eight thousand English indifferently well furnished with most necessaries , and many of them grew to that height of bravery , living in that plenty and excesse , that went thither not worth any thing , made the Company here thinke all the world was Oatmeale there , and all this proceeded by surviving those that died , nor were they ignorant to use as curious tricks there as here , and out of the juice of Tabacco , which at first they sold at such good rates , they regarded nothing but Tabacco ; a commodity then so vendable , it provided them all things : and the loving Salvages their kinde friends , they trained so well up to shoot in a Peece , to hunt and kill them fowle , they became more expert than our owne Country-men , whose labours were more profitable to their Masters in planting Tabacco , and other businesse .

This superfluity caused my poore beginnings scorned , or The differences betwixt my beginning in Virginia and the proceedings of my successors . to be spoken of but with much derision , that never sent Ship from thence fraught , but onely some small quantities of Wainscot , Clap-board , Pitch , Tar , Rosin , Sope-ashes , Glasse , Cedar , Cypresse , Blacke Walnut , Knees for Ships , Ash for Pikes , Iron Ore none better , some Silver Ore , but so poore it was not regarded ; better there may be , for I was no Mineralist , some Sturgion , but it was too tart of the Vinegar , which was of my owne store , for little came from them which was good ; and Wine of the Countries wilde Grapes , but it was too sowre , yet better than they sent us any : in two or three yeeres but one Hogshead of Claret . Onely speading my time to revenge my imprisonment upon the harmlesse innocent Salvages , who by my cruelty I forced to feed me with their contribution , and to send any offended my idle humour to Iames towne to punish at mine owne discretion ; or keepe their Kings and subjects in chaines , and make them worke . Things cleane contrary to my Commission ; whilest I and my company tooke our needlesse pleasures in discovering the Countries about us , building of Forts , and such unnecessary fooleries , where an Egge-shell ( as they writ ) had beene sufficient against such enemies ; neglecting to answer the Merchants expectations with profit , feeding the Company onely with Letters and tastes of such commodities as we writ the Country would afford in time by industry , as Silke , Wines , Oyles of Olives , Rape , and Linsed , Rasons , Prunes , Flax , Hempe , and Iron , as for Tabacco , wee never then dreamt of it .

Now because I sent not their ships full fraught home with those commodities , they kindly writ to me , if we failed the next returne , they would leave us there as banished men , as if houses and all those commodities did grow naturally , only for us to take at our pleasure , with such tedious Letters , directions , and instructions , and most contrary to that was fitting , we did admire how it was possible such wise men could A strange mistake is wise men . so torment themselves and us with such strange absurdities and impossibilities , making Religion their colour , when all their aime was nothing but present profit , as most plainly appeared , by sending us so many Refiners , Gold-smiths , Iewellers , Lapidarics , Stone-cutters , Tabacco-pipe-makers , Imbroderers , Perfumers , Silkemen , with all their appurtenances , but materialls , and all those had great summes out of the common stocke : and so many spies and super-intendents over us , as if they supposed we would turne Rebels , all striving to suppresse and advance they knew not what : at last got a Commission in their owne names , promising the King custome within seven yeares , where we were free for one and twenty , appointing the Lord De-la-ware for Governour , with as many great and stately officers , and offices under him , as doth belong to a great Kingdome , with good summes for their extraordinary expences ; also privileges for Cities , Charters , for Corporations , Universities , Free-schooles , and Glebe-land , putting all those in practice before there were either people , students , or schollers to build or use them , or provision and victuall to feed them were then there : and to amend this , most of the Tradesmen in London that would adventure but twelue pounds ten shillings , had the furnishing the Company of all such things as belonged to his trade , such jugling there was betwixt them , and such intruding Committies their associats , that all the trash they could get in London was sent us to Uirginia , they being well payed for that was good . Much they blamed us for not converting the Salvages , when those they sent us were little better , if nor worse , nor did they all convert any of those we sent them to England for that purpose . So doating of Mines of gold , and the South Sea , that all the world could not have devised better courses to bring us to ruine than they did themselves , with many more such like strange concoits ; by this you may avoid the like inconveniences , and take heed by those examples , you have not too many irons in the fire at once , neither such change of Governours , nor such a multitude of Officers , neither more Masters , Gentlemen , Gentlewomen , and children , than you have men to worke , which idle charge you will finde very troublesome , and the effects dangerous , and one hundred good labourers better than a thousand such Gallants as were sent me , that could doe nothing but complaine , curse , and despaire , when they saw our miseries , and all things so cleane contrary to the report in England , yet must I provide as well for them as for my selfe .

NOtwithstanding since they have beene left in a manner , as it were , to themselves , they have increased The abundance of victuals now in Virginia . their numbers to foure or five thousand , and neere as many cattell , with plenty of Goats , abundance of Swine , Poultry and Come , that as they report , they have sufficient and to spare , to entertaine three or foure hundred people , which is much better than to have many people more than provision . Now having glutted the world with their too much over-abounding Tabacco : Reason , or necessity , or both , will cause them , I hope , learne in time better to fortifie themselves , and make better use of the trials of their grosse commodities that I have propounded , and at the first sent over : and were it not a lamentable dishonour so goodly a Countrey after so much cost , losse , and trouble , should now in this estate not bee regarded and supplied . And to those of New-England may it not be a great comfort to have so neare A great comfort for New England by Virginia . a neighbour of their owne Nation , that may furnish them with their spare cattell , swine , poultry , and other roots and fruits , much better than from England . But I feare the seed of envy , and the rust of covetousnesse doth grow too fast , for some would have all men advance Virginia to the ruine of New-England ; and others the losse of Virginia to sustaine New-England , which God of his mercy forbid : for at first it was intended by that most memorable Judge Sir Iohn Popham , then Lord chiefe Justice of England , and the Lords of his Majesties Privy Councel , with divers others , that two Colonies should be planted , as now they be , for the better strengthening each other against all occurrences ; the which to performe , shal ever be in my hearty prayers to Almighty God , to increase and continue that mutuall love betwixt them for ever .

By this you may perceive somewhat , what unexpected inconveniences are incident to a plantation , especially in such The differences betwixt the beginning of Virginia , and them of Salem . a multitude of voluntary contributers , superfluity of officers , and unexperienced Commissioners . But it is not so , as yet , with those for New-England ; for they will neither beleeve nor use such officers , in that they are overseers of their owne estates , and so well bred in labour and good husbandry as any in England , where as few as I say was sent me to Virginia , but these were naught here and worse there .

Now when these shall have laid the foundations , and provided meanes beforehand , they may entertain all the poore A necessary consideration . artificers and laborers in England , and their families which are burthensome to their Parishes and Countries where they live upon almes and benevolence for want of worke , which if they would but pay for their transportation , they should never be troubled with them more ; for there is vast land enough for all the people in England , Scotland , and Ireland : and it seemes God hath provided this Country New-England is no Iland but the maine continent . for our Nation , destroying the natives by the plague , it not touching one Englishman , though many traded and were conversant amongst them ; for they had three plagues in three yeares successively neere two hundred miles along the Sea coast , that in some places there scarce remained five of a hundred , and as they report thus it began :

A fishing ship being cast away upon the coast , two of the men escaped on shore ; one of them died , the other lived among the natives till he had learned their language : then he perswaded them to become Christians , shewing them a Testament , some parts thereof expounding so well as he could , but they so much derided him , that he told them hee feared his God would destroy them : whereat the King assembled A strange plague among the Salvages . all his people about a hill , himselfe with the Christian standing on the top , demanded if his God had so many people and able to kill all those ? He answered yes , and surely would , and bring in strangers to possesse their land : but so long they mocked him and his God , that not long after such a sicknesse came , that of five or six hundred about the Massachusets there remained but thirty , on whom their neighbours fell and slew twenty eight : the two remaining fled the Country till the English came , then they returned and surrendred their Countrey and title to the English : if this be not true in every particular , excuse me , I pray you , for I am not the Author : but it is most certaine there was an exceeding great plague amongst them ; for where I have seene two or three hundred , within three yeares after remained scarce thirty , but what disease it was the Salvages knew not till the English told them , never having seene , nor heard of the like before .

TO begin with the originals of the voyages to those My first voyage to Notumbega now called New-England . 1614. coasts , I referre you to my generall history ; for New-England by the most of them was esteemed a most barren rocky desart : Notwithstanding at the sole charge of some Merchants of London and my selfe , 1614. within eight weekes sayling I arrived at Mo●ahigan an I le in America in 43. degrees 39. minutes of Northerly latitude . Had the fishing for Whale proved as we expected , I had stayed in the Country ; but we found the plots wee had , so false , and the seasons for fishing and trade by the unskilfulnesse of our Pylot so much mistaken , I was contented , having taken by hookes and lines with fifteene or eighteene men at most , more than 60000. Cod in lesse than a moneth : whilest my selfe with eight others of them might best be spared , by an houre glasse of three moneths , ranging the coast in a small boat , got for trifles eleven hundred Bever skins beside Otters and Martins ; all amounting to the value of fifteene hundred We got 1500. pound in six moneths . pound , and arrived in England with all my men in health in six or seven moneths : But Northward the French returned this yeare to France five and twenty thousand bevers and good furres , whilest we were contending about Patents and Commissions , with such fearefull incredulity that more dazeled our eyes than opened them . In this voyage I tooke the description of the coast as well by map as writing , and called 25000. Bevers sent to France . it New-England : but malicious mindes amongst Sailers and others , drowned that name with the eccho of Nusconcus , Canaday , and Penaquid ; till at my humble sute , our most gracious King Charles , then Prince of Wales , was pleased to confirme it by that title , and did change the barbarous names of their principall Harbours and habitations for such English , that posterity may say , King Charles was their Godfather ; and in my opinion it should seeme an unmannerly presumption in any that doth alter them without his leave .

My second voyage was to beginne a Plantation , and to My second and third voyage . 1615. 1616. doe what else I could , but by extreme tempests that bore neare all my Masts by the boord , being more than two hundred leagues at Sea , was forced to returne to Plimoth with a Jury-Mast . The third was intercepted by English and French Pyrats , by my trecherous company that betrayed me to them , who ran away with my Ship and all that I had , such enemies the Sailers were to a Plantation , and the greatest losse being mine , did easily excuse themselves to the Merchants in England , that still provided to follow the fishing : much difference there was betwixt the Londoners and the Westerlings to ingrosse it , who now would adventure thousands , that when I went first would not adventure a groat ; yet there went foure or five good Ships , but what by their dissention , and the Turkes men of warre that tooke the best of them in the Straits , they scarce saved themselves this yeare . At my returne from France I did my best to have united them , but that had beene more than a worke for Hercules , so violent is the folly of greedy covetousnesse .

THis Country wee now speake of , lyeth betwixt 41. A description of the Country . and 44½ the very meane for heat and cold betwixt the Equinoctiall and 〈◊〉 North Pole , in which I have founded about five and twenty very good Harbors ; in many whereof is Ancorage for five hundred good ships of any burthen , in some of them for a thousand , and more than three hundred Iles overgrowne with good timber , or divers sorts of other woods ; in most of them ( in their seasons ) plenty of wilde fruits , Fish , and Fowle , and pure springs of most excellent water pleasantly distilling from their rockie foundations . The principall habitations I was at North-ward , was Pennobscot , who are in warres with the Terentines , their next Northerly neighbours . Southerly up the Rivers , and along the Coast , wee found Mecadacut , Segocket , Pemmaquid , Nusconcus , Sagadahock , Satquin , Aumughcawgen , and Kenabeca : to those belong the Countries and people of Segot igo , Pauhuntanuck , Pocopassum , Taughtanakagnet , Wabigganus , Nassaque , Masherosqueck , Wawrtgwick , Moshoquen , Waccogo , Pasharanack , &c. To those are alied in confederacy , the Countries of Aucocisco , Accominticus , Passataquak , Augawoam and Naemkeck , all these for any thing I could perceive differ little in language or any thing , though most of them be Sagamos , and Lords of themselves , yet they hold the Bashabes of Pennobscot the chiefe and greatest amongst them . The next is Mattahunt , Totant , Massachuset , Paconekick , then Cape Cod , by which is Pawmet , the Iles Nawset and Capawuck , neere which are the shoules of Rocks and sands that stretch themselves into the maine Sea twenty leagues , and very dangerous betwixt the degrees of 40. and 41.

Now beyond Cape Cod , the land extendeth it selfe Southward to Virginia , Florida , the West-Indies , the Amazons , and Brasele , to the straits of Magelanus , two and fifty degrees Southward beyond the Line ; all those great Countries , differing as they are in distance North or South from the Equinoctiall , in temper , heat , cold , Woods , Fruits , Fishes , Beasts , Birds , the increase and decrease of the night and day , to six Vnder the Equinoctiall , twelve houres day , and twelve night . moneths day and six moneths night . Some say , many of those Nations are so brute they have no Religion , wherein surely they may be deceived , for myself I never saw nor heard of any Nation in the world which had not Religion , Deare , Bowes , and Arrowes . Those in New-England , I take it , beleeve much alike as those in Virginia , of many divine Powers , yet of one above all the rest ; as the Southerly Virginians call their chiefe God Kewassa , and that we now inhabit , Okae , but Their Religion . all their Kings Werowances . The M●ssichusots call their great God Kichtan , and their Kings Sachemes ; and that we suppose their Devill , they call Habamouk . The Pennobscots , their God , Tantum , their Kings , Sagamos . About those Countries are abundance of severall Nations and languages , but much alike in their simple curiosities , living and workemanship , except the wilde estate of their chiefe Kings , &c.

Of whose particular miserable magnificence , yet most happy in this , that they never trouble themselves with such variety of Apparell , Drinkes , Viands , Sawses , Perfumes , Preservatives , and nicities as we ; yet live as long , and much more healthfull and hardy : also the deities of their chiefest Gods , Priests , Conjurers , Religion , Temples , Triumphs , Physicke , and Chirurgeric , their births , educations , duty of their women , exercise for their men ; how they make all their Instruments and Engines to cut downe Trees , make their Cloaths , Boats , Lines , Nets , Fish-hooks , Weres , and Traps , Mats , Houses , Pots , Platters , Morters , Bowes , Arrowes , Targets , Swords , Clubs , Jewels , and Hatchets . Their severall sorts of Woods , Serpents , Beasts , Fish , Fowle , Roots , Berries , Fruits , Stones , and Clay . Their best trade , what is most fit to trade with them . With the particulars of the charge of a fishing voyage , and all the necessaries belonging to it , their best countries to vent it for their best returnes ; also the particulars for every private man or family that goeth to plant , and the best seasons to goe or returne thence , with the particular description of the Salvages , Habitations , Harbours , and Land markes , their Latitude , Longitude , or severall distance , with their old names and the new by the Map augmented . Lastly , the power of their Kings , obedience of their subjects , Lawes , executions , planting their Fields , Huntings , Fishings , the manner of their warres and treacheries yet knowne ; and in generall , their lives and conversation , and how to bridle their brute , barbarous , and salvage dispositions : of all these particulars you may reade at large in the generall History of Virginia , New-England , and the Summer Iles , with many more such strange actions and accidents , that to an ordinary capacity might rather seeme miracles than wonders possibly to bee effected , which though they are but wound up as bottoms of fine silke , which with a good needle might be flourished into a far larger worke , yet the Images of great things are best discerned , contracted into smaller glasses .

FOr all those differences there went eight tall ships before I arived in England , from France , so that I spent 1617. Eight ships to fish . that yeare in the West Country , to perswade the Cities , Townes , and Gentrie for a Plantation , which the Merchants very little liked , because they would have the coast free only for themselves , and the Gentlemen were doubtfull of their true accounts ; oft and much it was so disputed , that at last they promised me the next yeere twenty saile well furnished , made me Admirall of the Country for my life under their hands , and the Colonels Seale for New-England ; and in renewing their Letters Patents , to be a Patentee for my paines , yet nothing but a voluntary fishing was effected for all this aire .

At last , upon those inducements , some well disposed Brownists , as they are tearmed , with some Gentlemen and Merchants of Layden and Amsterdam , to save charges , would try their owne conclusions , though with great losse and much miserie , till time had taught them to see their owne error ; for such humorists will never beleeve well , till they bee beaten with their owne rod .

They were supplied with a small Ship with seven and thirty 1621. passengers , who found all them were left after they were seated , well , all but six that died , for all their poverties : in this ship they returned the value of five hundred pounds , which was taken by a French-man upon the coast of England .

There is gone from the West to fish five and thirty saile , 1622. Seven and thirty saile to fish . two from London with sixty passengers for them at New-Plimoth , and all made good voyages . Now you are to understand , the seven and thirty passengers miscarrying twice upon the coast of England , came so ill provided , they onely relyed upon that poore company they found , that had lived two yeares by their naked industry , and what the Country naturally afforded ; it is true , at first there hath beene taken a thousand Bayses at a draught , and more than twelve hogsheads of Herrings in a night , of other fish when and what they would , when they had meanes ; but wanting most necessaries for fishing and fowling , it is a wonder how they could subsist , fortifie themselves , resist their enemies , and plant their plants .