IN the Moneth when the Celestiall Ram famous for the Grecians Golden Fleece had renewed the last Spring 1626. with an equall Proportion of Dayes and Nights ; the one presiguring Ioy for the Second Yeeres Raigne of our Rising Sunne , and the other Sorrow for our crying and presumptuous sinnes ; while I attended at Court to know his Royall Pleasure about our Fishing Fleets and Plantations of the Iland commonly called the Newfoundland , in the latter whereof , I haue for these ten yeeres together , engaged both my selfe and a great part of my fortunes : it was my good hap among other Noble Courtiers , to become acquainted with Sir William Alexander Master of the Requests , and Secretarie for Scotland . After some formall Complements , it pleased him and my ancient Friend Master William Elueston , sometimes Secretary to the most Excellent Princesse Elizabeth , and now Cupbearer to his Maiestie , to appoint a Meeting at the Chamber of Sir William Alexander ; where all three of vs being met together , this learned Knight with a ioyfull countenance and alacrity of mind , taking me by the hand thus began : I haue oftentimes wisht to conferre with you , but vntill this present , I could not find the opportunitie . It is necessary , and this necessitie iumps with the sympathy of our constellations ( for I thinke wee were borne both vnder the same Horoscope ) that wee aduise and deuise some Proiect for the proceedings and successefull managing of our Plantations . As you obtayned a Patent of the Southermost part of Newfoundland , and transplanted thither some of your countrimen of Wales , baptizing the same by the name of Cambrioll : so haue I got a Patent of the neighbouring Country vnto yours West ward beyond Cape Briton , Christning it New Scotland . You haue spent much , and so haue I in aduancing these hopefull Aduentures . But as yet neither of vs arriued at the Hauen of our expectations . Onely , like a wary Politician , you suspend your breath for a time , vntill you can repaire your losses sustained by some of Sir Walter Raleighs company in their returne from Guiana , while your Neighbours the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Falkland , and my Lord Baltimore , to whom you assigned the Northerly part of your Grant , doe vndergoe the whole burthen , supporting it with a brane resolution , and a great deale of expence , which otherwise you were obliged to performe . The like inconueniences I haue felt , euen in the insancie of my Attempt , whether the defects proceeded through the late season of the yeare , when wee set out the Colony , or by the slownesse of our People , who wearied in their passage at Sea , by reason of contrarie winds rested themselues too long at Saint Iohns Harbour , and at my Lord of Baltimores Plantation , I know not ; but sure I am , it cost me and my friends very deare , and brought vs into much decrements ; and hath wel-nigh disheartned my poore countrymen , if at my humble Suit , our most Noble and Generous King Charles had not out of his Royall magnificence and respectiue care to vs and our Posterities restored and reuiued our courages by conferring such monies as might arise by the creation of Knight Baronets in Scotland , towards the erecting of this new fabricke and heroicall Action . And yet I feare all this will not suffice and defray the charge . In such abundance doth my natiue Countrie of Scotland , ouerswarme with people , that if new habitations bee not suddenly prouided for them , as Hiues for Bees , they must either miscarie of want , or turne Droanes vnprofitable to the Owner , as you well remembred in your Poeticall workes , which you termed Cambrensium Caroleia .

Wee need not complaine with our Sauiour in the Gospell , that the Haruest is great , and the Labourers few ; for we haue many Labourers , which would willingly manure this maiden Soile , and with the painfull sweate of their browes reape what they sow . But the charge of transporting them with such implements and domesticall cattell , as must be had now at the first , cannot but grow to an excessiue cost . To expect more helpes then it pleased our most bountifull King already to bestow vpon vs will bee in vaine , I doubt , considering the scarcity of mony in these dayes , which not only Scotland , but likewise all his Maiesties Dominions doe affirme to be true . The natiue and genuine salt of the earth , which fructified our Corne fields with so many infinite ploughings of our Ancestors and ours is spent ; nor will Lime or Marle euer recouer them to the pristine and ancient vigour and fertilitie . English Cloth , which heretofore was dignified with the Title of the Golden Fleece , growes out of request , yea ( and with inward griefe I speake it ) in contempt also among the Owners and Inhabitants themselues . Our Tinne , Lead , and Coale-mines begin to faile . Our Woods , which Nature produced , and our Fathers left vs for firing , for reparations of decayed Houses , Ploughes , and Shipping , is lately wasted by the Couetousnesse of a few Ironmasters . What then remaines in this famous Ile ? Except we relieue our wants by Nauigation , and these must bee by Fishing , by hooke or by crooke , by Letters of Mart , by way of reprizals or reuenge , or else by Traffique and Commerce with other Nations besides Spaniards . I would we could inuent and hit vpon some profitable meanes for the setling of these glorious workes , whereto it seemes the diuine Prouidence hath elected vs as instruments vnder our Earthly Soueraigne .

Heere Sir William Alexander stopt . To whom I returned this answere : Much honoured Sir , I grant the setting forwards of Plantations , with all needfull appurtenances , requires the purse of rich Spencer , or of wealthy Sutton , in regard of the many difficulties and disturbances , which either Malice , Enuie , causelesse distruct , casualties vnlookt for , or the carelesnesse of vnexpert Agents may procure now at the beginning to blast our hopes in the blossome . Neuerthelesse , inuitâ Inuidiâ , in despite of Enuie , and of all malicious Angels , which by their inuisible wheeling about the brains of Castawayes , doe vse to seduce their phantasies to crosse the very best Designes , whereof no man liuing hath more cause then my selfe to complaine : wee ought to perseuere in constancie , and to out-dare Fortune vnder the Almighties Banner . What incumbrances did the Israelites feele , before they conquered the Land of Canaan ? How many Persecutions did the Church endure , before the true Christian Faith was planted ? None enters into Heauen without Crosses and fierie tryals composed of briers and brambles , which the Romanes termed the vnluckie Woods . Therefore let vs lay aside all scrupulous doubts . Let vs cut our Coats according to the cloath , taking care thriftily to husband the meanes allotted to our Plantations ; which we shall the more easily accomplish , if we haue not passionate Superiours to controll vs , nor Coadintors in counsell to condemne vs . Commonly where many Directors are , the Directions prooue confused : which is the cause , that priuate houses be better built , & with lesser charge then publicke edifices of the like proportion . Yea and we shall doe more in these places , where we haue eleuated our cogitations , and leuelled our ends for a thousand pounds , then others haue in Virginia or the Summer Ilands for forty thousand , so that wee transport for the space of the first two or three yeeres none but Fishermen and Labourers . By these we shall performe miracles , and returne yeerely into Great Brittaine a surer Gaine , then Iasons Golden Fleece from Colchos ; euen with sixe moneths prouision and Nets , three men in one Boat shall reape a Golden Haruest , and get worth ten pound a weeke in Fish being brought into Europe or exchanged there in the Countrey ; which besides the increase of Shipping and Mariners will propagate our Plantations in a short time . Only heere lyes the Gordian knot to vndoe , a Rich man will not forgoe his natiue smoke , nor are poore men of abilitie now at first to get thither . For although we haue his Maiesties countenance propitious vnto these profitable Enterprizes , specially you of New-Scotland , yet all our wits cannot worke that impression in Misers heads to lend their helping hands to this goodly Proiect. We sue for no Lottries , wee beg for no Bene●olences , as others in the like cases haue done . And if we should , men are now-adaies so Penny-wise and Pound foolish , they will sooner bestow fortie pounds vpon a glorious suit of apparell , then fortie shillings to better their brethren . Although these Golden hopes doe shine as cleere as the noonetide Sunne , yet will not they enlighten muddie apprehensions , nor quicken earth-creeping wits , vnlesse we could more firmely build vp and restore the Office of Assurance , which the Moorish Pirats haue lately endamaged . After I had ended my Answer , Master Elueston thus addressed his speech vnto vs : In my iudgement you are both too suspicious and distrustfull of our noble Countrymen . For some particulars you must not taxe the generall . Although some rake to themselues , neglecting the fruits of their Christian Faith : yet many loue their Neighbours as themselues , and will straine the vttermost of their powers to succour the poore members of Christ . There bee Heauenly bodies aswell as Earthly Bodies . Me thinkes , you beeing both iudicious and Publishers of Bookes might so combine and contriue your studies together , that the World , were it as blind as Beetles , might see with Lynceus eyes the certaintie of the Commodities , the conueniencie of the Trade , and the infinite benefits which may arise by these heroicall enterprizes , which you Sir William Alexander for your part haue alreadie chalked out , and delineated in Print . And I doubt not but this Gentleman euen by a vertuous emulation , may if he please , second you with some pleasing Motiues of substance and spirit able to insinuate into the minds of the dullest Creatures , the sweete fruition of the Golden Fleece , and like another Iason with a braue Companie of Argonauticks , stirre vp the most stonie-hearted to relent and relieue their distressed Brethren , which now grone , and in a manner saint vnder their penurious state . What will not patheticall perswasions worke ? Orpheus , as Poets faigned , with his harmonious Harpe , drew a farre more hard-hearted Nation to follow his tune , and to dance after his motions .