That the coast of England , Scotland , and Ireland , the north Sea , with Island , and the Sound , New-foundland , and Cape Blancke , doe serue all Europe , as well the land Townes as Portes , 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 . Caviare . Buttargo .

Now seeing all these sorts of fish , or the most part of them , may be had in a land more fertile , 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 neare the habitations wee may there make , that New England hath much aduantage of the most of those parts , to serue all Europe farre cheaper then they can , who at home haue neither wood , salt , nor food , but at great rates ; at Sea , nothing but what they carry in their shippes , an hundred or two hundred leagues from their habitation .

But New Englands fishings neare land , where is helpe of wood , water , fruites , fowles , corne , or other refreshings needefull ; and the Terceras , Mederas , Canaries , Spaine , Portugall , Prouance , Sauoy , Sicilia , and ali Italy , as conuensent markets for our dry Fish , greene Fish , Sturgion , Mullit , Caviare , and Buttargo , as Norway , Swethland , Littuania , or Germany , for their Herring , ( which is here also in aboundance , for taking ; ) They returning but wood , pitch , tarre , soape-ashes , cordage , flaxe , waxe and such like commodities : We , wines , oyles , sugars , silkes , and such merchandizes as the Straites affoord , whereby our profites may equalize theirs ; besides the increase of Shipping and Mariners . And for proofe hereof :

With two shippes I went from the Downes , Proofe 1. 1614. the third of March , and arriued in New England , the last of Aprill . I had but fortie fiue men and boyes , we built seuen boates , 37. did fish ; my selfe with eight Bthers ranging the coast , I tooke a plot of what I could see , got acquaintance of the inhabitants , eleuen hundred beuer skinnes , one hundred Martins , and as many Otters : fortie thousand of dry fish we sent for Spaine , with the salt-fish , treine oyle and furres , I returned for England the 18. 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 45. got neare the valew of fifteene hundred pounds in those grosse commodities . This yeare also one went from Plimmouth , spent his victuall , and returned with nothing .

The Londoners , Proofe 2. 1615. vpon this , sent foure good shippes , and because I would not vndertake it for them , hauing ingaged my selfe to them of the West , the L●ndoners entertained the men that came home with me ; They set sayle in Ianuary , and arriued there in March : they found fish enough vntill halfe Iune , fraughted a shippe of three hundred Tunnes ; went for Spaine with drie fish , which was taken by the Turkes ; one went to Virginia , to relieue that Collony ; and two came for Eng●and , with the greene fish , treine oyle , and f●rres , within sixe moneths .

With a labyrinth of trouble I went from Plimmouth with a shippe of two hundred Tunnes , Proofe 3. 1615. and one of fiftie ; but ill weather breaking all my mastes , I was forced to returne to Plimmouth , where re-imbarking my selfe in a ship of three score tunnes , how I escaped the English 〈◊〉 , and the French , and was betrayed by foure Frenchmen of warre , I referre you to the Description of New England ; but my Vice-admirall , notwithstanding the latenesse of the yeare , setting forth with me in March , the Londoners in Ianuary , she arriued in May , they in March , yet came home well fraught in August , and all her men well , within fiue moneths odde dayes .

The Londoners , Proofe . 4. 1616. ere I returned from France , for all their losse by the Turkes , which was valewed about foure thousand pounds , sent two more in Iuly : but such courses they tooke by the Canaries to the west Indies ; it was ten months ere they arriued in New England : wasting in that time , their seasons , victuall , and healths ; yet there they found meanes to refresh themselues , and the one returned , neere fraught with fish and traine , within two moneths after .

From Plimmouth went foure ships , Proofe 5. 1616. onely to fish and trade , some in February , some in March ; one of two hundred tunnes , got thith●r in a moneth , and went full fraught for Spaine , the rest returnd to Plimouth well fraught , & their men well , within 5 months odde daies .

From London went two more , Proofe 6. 1616. one of 220. tunnes , 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 months and a few dayes ; the other went to the Canaries with dry fish , which they solde at a great rate , for royalls of eight , and ( as I heard ) turned Pirates .

I being at Plimouth , Proofe 7. 1617 prouided with three good ships , was wind-bound three months , as was many a hundred sayle more ; so that the season being past , the shippes went for New-found-land , whereby my desseigne was frustrate , which was to me and my friends , no small losse .

There was foure good shippes prepared at Plimouth ; Proofe 8. 1618. but by reason of their disagreement , the season so wasted , as onely two went forward , the one being of two hundred tunnes , returned well fraught to Plimouth , and her men in health , within fiue moneths ; the other of foure score , went for Bilbow with dry fish , and made a good returne .

This yeare againe , Proofe 9. 1619. diuers shippes intending to go from Plimmouth , so disagreed , as there went but one of 200. tuns , who stayed in the Countrey about sixe weekes , with thirty eight men & boyes , had her fraght , which she sold at the first penny for 2100. pounds , besides the furres ; so that euery poore Sayler , that had but a single share , had his charges and sixteene pound ten shiltings for his seuen moneths worke : but some of the company say , for sixe months in the Hercules , they receeued seuenteene pound two shillings a share .

For to make triall this yeare there is gone six or seuen sayle from the west Country , Proofe 10. 1620. onely to fish , three of which are returned ; and ( as I am certainely informed ) haue made so good a voyage , that euery Sayler for a single share had twenty pounds for his seuen moneths worke , which is more then in twenty moneths he should haue gotten , had he gone for wages any where . Now though all the former ships haue not made such good vyages as they expected , by sending opinionated vnskilfull men , that had not experienced diligence , to saue that they tooke ; nor take that there was ; which now patience and pract●se hath brought to a reasonable kinde of perfection in d●sp●te of all D●tractors , For this next yeare 1621. it is reported 12. or 20. saile is a preparing . and Calumniations , the Countrey yet hath satisfied all , the defect hath beene in their vs●ng or abusing it , not in it selfe , nor me .

Heere I entreate your Honourable leaues to answer some obiections . Many do thinke it strange , if this be true , I haue made no more vse of it , and rest so long without employment . And I thinke it more strange they should tax me before they haue tried what I haue done , both by Sea and Land , as well in Asia , and Affrica , as Europe and America . These fourteene yeres I haue spared neither pains , nor money , according to my abilitie , in the discouery of Norumbega , where with some thirty seauen men and boyes , the remainder of an hundred and fiue , against the fury of the Saluages , I began that plantation now in Virginia ; which beginning ( here and there ) cost mee neare fiue yeares worke , and more then fiue hundred pound of my owne estate ; beside all the dangers , miseries and incomberances , and losse of other imployments I endured gratìs . From which blessed Virgin , where I stayed till I left fiue hundred English , better prouided then euer I was ( ere I returned ) sprung the fortunate habitation of Somer Iles. Burmudos .

This Virgins sister ( called New-England , An. 1616 at my humble suite , by our most gracious Prince Charles ) hath bene neare as chargeable to mee and my friends ; from all which , although I neuer got shilling , but it cost mee a pound , yet I thinke my selfe happy to see their prosperities .

If it yet trouble a multitude to proceede vppon these certainties , what thinke you I vndertooke , when nothing was knowne , but that there was a vast Land ? I neuer had power and meanes to do any thing ( though more hath beene spent in formall delayes then would haue done the businesse ) but in such a penurious and miserable maner , as if I had gone a begging to builde an Vniuersity ; where , had men bin as forward to aduenture their purses , as to crop the fruites of my Labours , thousands ere this , had been bettered by these designes . Thus betwixt the spurte of Desire , and the bridle of Reason , I am neare ridden to death in a ring of Despaire ; the reines are in your hands , therefore I entreate you to ease mee : and those blame mee ( beleeue ) this little may haue taught me , not to be so forward againe at euery motion , vnlesse I intended nothing but to carry newes . For now they dare aduenture a shippe , that , when I went first , would not aduenture a groat , so they may be at home againe by Michaelmasse ; but to the purpose .

By this all men may perceiue the ordinary performance of this voyage in fiue or sixe moneths , the plenty of fish is most certainely approoued ; and it is certaine from Cannada and New England hath come neare twenty thousand Beuer skinnes , within these fiue yeares . Now , had each of those shippes transported but sixe , or three pigs , as many goates and hens , fruits , plants and seeds as I proiected ▪ by this time there might haue beene victuall for a thousand men . But the desire of present gaine ( in many ) is so violent , and the indeuours of many vndertakers so negligent , euery one so regarding his priuate , that it is hard to effect any publique good , and impossible to bring them into a body , rule , or order , vnlesse both Authoritie and Mony assist experiences : it is not a worke for euery one to plant a Colonie ( but when a house is built , it is no hard matter to dwell in it . ) This requireth all the best pars of art , iudgement , courage , honestie , constancy , diligence and experience to doe but neare well : and there is a great difference betwixt Saying and Doing . But to conclude , the fishing will go forward if you plant it or no ; whereby you may transport a colony for no great charge , that in a short time , might prouide such fraughts , to buy of vs their dwelling , as I would hope no ship could goe or come emptie from New England .

The charge of this is onely salt , nettes , hookes , lines , kniues , Irish rugges , course cloth , beads , hatchets , glasse and such trash , onely for fishing and trade with the Saluages , besides our owne necessarie prouisions , whose indeuours will quickely desray all this charge ; and the Saluages haue intreated me to inhabit where I will . Now all those ships haue bin fished within a square of two leagues , & not one ship of all these , would yet aduenture further , where questionlesse 500. saile may haue their fraught , better then in Island , Newfoundland , or elsewhere , and be in their markets before the other can haue their fish in their ships . Because New Englands fishing beginneth in mid-February , the other not till mid-Maie , the progression heereof tends much to the aduancement of Virginia , and the Burmudas : and will be a good friend in time of need to the Inhabitants in New-found-land .

The returnes made by the Westerne shippes are commonly divided into 3. parts ; one for the owners of the shippe , another for the maister and his company , the third for the victulers ; which course being still permitted , will be no hinderance to the plantation , goe there neuer so many , but a meanes of transporting that yearely for little or nothing , which otherwise will cost many a hundred of pounds .

If a Ship can gaine , twenty , thirty , fifty in the hundred , nay neare three hundred for 100. in seuen moneths , as you see they haue doone , spending twice so much time in going and coming as in staying there ; were I there planted , seeing the varietie of the fishings in their seasons , serueth the most part of the yeare ; and with a little labour we might make all the salt we neede vse . I can conceiue no reason to distrust , but the doubling and trebling their gaines that are at all the former charge , and can fish but two months in a yeare : and if those do giue twenty , thirty , or forty shillings for an acre of land , or ship Carpenters , Forgers of yron &c. that buy all things at a deare rate , grow rich , when they may haue as good of all needfull necessaries for taking ( in my opinion ) should not grow poore ; and no commoditie in Europe doth more decay then wood .

Maister Dee recordeth in his Brittish Monarchie , that King Edgar had a nauie of foure thousand saile , with which he yearely made his progresse about this famous Monarchy of Great Brittany , largely declaring the benefit thereof : whereupon it seems he protected to our most memorable Queene Elizabeth , the erecting of a Fleete of three score saile , he called a little Nauy Royall ; immitating the admired Pericles prince of Athens , that could neuer secure that tormented estate , vntill he was Lord and Captaine of the Sea .

At this none neede wonder , for who knowes not , her Royall Maiestie during her life , by the incredible aduentures of her Royall Nauy and valiant Souldiers and Sea-men ; notwithstanding all treacheries at home , the protecting and defending France and Holland , and re-conquering Ireland , yet all the world , by Sea or Land , both feared , loued , and admired good Queene Elizabeth .

Both to maintaine and increase that incomparable honour ( God be thanked ) to her incomparable Successour , our most Royall Lord and Soueraigne King Iames , &c. this great Philosopher hath left this to his Maiesty and his kingdomes considerations .

That if the Tenths of the Earth be proper to God , it is also due by Sea , the Kings highwayes are common to passe , but not to digge for mines or anie thing , so Englands coasts are free to passe , but not to fish , but by his Maiesties prerogatiue .

His Maiestie of Spaine , permits none to passe the Popes order for the East and West Indies , but by his permission , or at their perills . If all that world be so iustly theirs , it is no iniustice for England to make as much vse of her owne , as strangers doe , that pay to their owne Lords the tenth , and not to the owners of those Liberties any thing , whose subiects may neither take nor sell any in their territories ; which small tribute , would maintaine his little Nauy Royall , and not cost his Maiesty a penny ; and yet maintaine peace with all forrainers , and allow them more curtesie , then any Nation in the world affords to England .

It were a shame to alledge , that Holland is more worthy to enioy our fishings as Lords thereof , because they haue more skill to handle it then we , as they can our wooll , and vndressed cloth , notwithstanding all their wars and trouble some disorders .

To get mony to build this Nauy he saith , Who would not spare the hundred penny of his Rents , and the 500. penny of his goods ; each seruant that taketh 33. s. 4. d. wages , 4. pence , and euery forrainer seuen yeares of age , 4. pence yearely for 7. yeares 3 ▪ not any of these but yearely they will spend 3. times so much in pride , wantonnesse or some superfluity . And doe any men loue the security of their estates that are true subiects , would not of themselues be humble suters to his Maiestie , to do this of free will as a voluntary beneuolence , so it may be as honestly and truly imployed as it is proiected , the poorest mechanicke in this kingdome will gaine by it .

If this be too much , would the honorable Aduenturers be pleased to moue his Maiestie , that but the 200. penny of Rents , and the thousandth peny of Goodes might bee thus collected , to plant New England , and but the tenth fish there taken , leauing strangers as they are . You might build ships of any burden and numbers you please , fiue times cheaper then you can doe heere , and haue good marchandize for their fraught in this vnknowne Land , to the aduauncement of Gods glorie , his Church and Gospel , and the strengthening and reliefe of a great part of Christendome , without hurt to any : ●o the terror of Pirates , the amazement of enemies , the assistance of friends , the securing merchants , and so much increase of Nauigation , to make Englands Trade and Shipping , as much as any Nation in the world , besides a hundred other benefits , to the generall good of all true subiects , and would cause thousands yet snborne , blesse the time , and all them that first put it in practise .

Now , lest it should be obscured , as it hath bene , to private ends ; or so weakely vndertaken , by our ouer-weening incredulitie , that strangers may possesse it , whilst we contend for New Englands goods , but not Englands good . I present this vnto your Lordship , and to all the Lords in England , hoping ( by your honorable good liking and approbation , ) to moue all the worthy Companies of this noble City , and all the cities and Countries in the whole Land to consider of it , since I can find them wood , and halfe victuall with the aforesaide aduantages , with what facility they may build and maintaine this little Nauy Royall , both with honour , profite and content , and inhabit as good a countrey as any in the world , within that parallell , which with my life , and what I haue , I will indeuour to effect , if God please , and you permit .