BEing now by accident returned from my Charge at Virginea , contrary either to my owne desire , or other mens expectations , who spare not to censure me , in point of duty , and to discourse and question the reason , though they apprehend not the true cause of my returne , I am forced , ( out of willingnesse to satisfie euery man ) to deliuer vnto your Lordships , and the rest of this Assembly , briefely , ( but truely ) in what state I haue liued , euer since my arriuall to the Colonie ; what hath beene the iust occasion of my sudden departure thence ; and in what termes I haue left the same : The rather because I perceiue , that since my comming into England , such a coldnesse and irresolution is bred , in many of the Aduenturers , that some of them seeke to withdraw those paiments , which they haue subscribed towards the Charge of the Plantation , and by which that Action must bee supported and maintained ; making this my returne , the colour of their needlesse backwardnes and vniust protraction . Which , that you may the better vnderstand , I must informe your Lordships , that presently after my arriual in Iames Towne , I was welcommed by a hote and violent Ague , which held mee a time , till by the aduice of my Physition , Doctor Laurence Bohun , ( by blood letting ) I was recouered , as in my first Letters by Sir Thomas Gates I haue informed you . That disease had not long left me , til ( within three weekes after I had gotten a little strength ) I began to be distempered with other greeuous sicknesses , which successiuely & seuerally assailed me : for besides a relapse into the former disease , which with much more violence held me more then a moneth , and brought me to great weakenesse , the Flux surprised me , and kept me many daies ; then the Crampe assaulted my weak body , with strong paines ; & afterwards the Gout ( with which I had heeretofore beene sometime troubled ) afflicted mee in such sort , that making my body through weakenesse vnable to stirre , or to vse any maner of exercise , drew vpon me the disease called the Scuruy ; which though in others it be a sicknesse of slothfulnesse , yet was in me an effect of weaknesse , which neuer left me , till I was vpon the point to leaue the world .

These seuerall maladies and calamities , I am the more desirous to particularise vnto your Lordships ( although they were too notorious to the whole Colonie ) lest any man should misdeeme that vnder the general name and common excuse of sicknes , I went about to cloke either sloth , or feare , or anie other base apprehension , vnworthy the high and Honourable charge , which you had entrusted to my Fidelitie .

In these extremities I resolued to consult my friends , who ( finding Nature spent in mee , and my body almost consumed , my paines likewise daily encreasing ) gaue me aduise to preferre a hopefull recouery , before an assured ruine , which must necessarily haue ensued , had I liued , but twenty dayes longer , in Virginia : wanting at that instant , both food and Physicke , fit to remedy such extraordinary diseases , and restore that strength so desperately decayed .

Whereupon , after a long consultation held , I resolued by generall consent and perswasion , to shippe my selfe for Meuis , an Island in the West Indies , famous for wholesome Bathes , there to try what help the Heauenly Prouidence would afford mee , by the benefit of the hot Bath : But GOD , who guideth all things , according to his good will and pleasure , so prouided , that after wee had sailed an hundred Leagues , wee met with Southerly windes which forced mee to change my purpose , ( my body being altogether vnable to endure the tediousnesse of a long voyage ) and so sterne my course for the Western Islands , which I no sooner recouered , then I found help for my health , and my sickenesse asswaged , by meanes of fresh diet , and especially of Orenges and Lemonds , an vndoubted remedy and medicine for that disease , which lastly , and so long , had afflicted mee : which ease as soone as I found , I resolued ( although my body remained still feeble and weake , to returne backe to my charge in Virginia againe , but I was aduised not to hazard my selfe before I had perfectly recouered my strength , which by counsell I was perswaded to seeke in the naturall Ayre of my Countrey , and so I came for England . In which Accident , I doubt not but men of reason , and of iudgement will imagine , there would more danger and preiudice haue hapned by my death there , then I hope can doe by my returne

In the next place , I am to giue accompt in what estate I left the Collony for gouernment in my absence . It may please your Lordships therefore to vnderstand , that vpon my departure thence , I made choise of Captaine George Pearcie , ( a Gentleman of honour and resolution , and of no small experience in that place , to remaine Deputie Gouernour , vntill the comming of the Marshall Sir Thomas Dale , whose Commission was likewise to be determined , vpon the arriuall of Sir Thomas Gates , according to the intent and order of your Lordships , and the Councill here .

The number of men I left there , were vpward of two hundred , the most in health , and prouided of at least tenne moneths victuals , in their store-house , ( which is daily issued vnto them ) besides other helps in the Countrey , lately found out by Captaine Argoll by trading with pettie Kings in those parts , who for a small returne of a piece of Iron , Copper , &c. haue consented to trucke great quantities of Corne , and willingly imbrace the intercourse of Traffique , shewing vnto our people certaine signes of amitie and affection .

And for the better strengthening and securing of the Collony , in the time of my weaknesse there , I tooke order for the building of three seuerall Forts , two of which are seated neere Poynt Comfort , to which adioyneth a large Circuit of ground , open , and fit for Corne : the third Fort is at the Falles , vpon an Iland inuironed also with Corne ground . These are not all manned , for I wanted the commoditie of Boates , hauing but two , and one Bardge , in all the Countrey , which hath beene cause that our fishing hath beene ( in some sort ) hindered , for want of those prouisions , which easily will be remedied when wee can gaine sufficient men to be imployed about those businesses , which in Virginia I found not : but since meeting with Sir Thomas Gates at the Cowes neere Portsmouth ( to whom I gaue a perticular accompt of all my proceedings , and of the present estate of the Collony as I left it ) I vnderstood those wants are supplyed in his Fleete .

The Countrey is wonderfull fertile and very rich , and makes good whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene reported of it , the Cattell already there , are much encreased , and thriue exceedingly with the pasture of that Countrey : The Kine all this last Winter , though the ground was couered most with Snow , and the season sharpe , liued without other feeding then the grasse they found , with which they prospered well , and many of them readie to fall with Calue : Milke being a great nourishment and refreshing to our people , seruing also ( in occasion ) as well for Physicke as for food , so that it is no way to be doubted , but when it shall please God that Sir Thomas Dale , and Sir Thomas Gates , shall arriue in Virginia with their extraordinary supply of one hundred Kine , and two hundred Swine , besides store of all manner of other prouisions for the sustenance and maintenance of the Collony , there will appeare that successe in the Action as shall giue no man cause of distrust that hath already aduentured , but encourage euery good minde to further so worthy a worke , as will redound both to the Glory of GOD , to the Credit of our Nation , and to the Comfort of all those that haue beene Instruments in the furthering of it .

The last discouery , during my continuall sicknesse , was by Captaine Argoll , who hath found a trade with Patamack ( a King as great as Powhatan , who still remaines our enemie , though not able to doe vs hurt . ) This is in a goodly Riuer called Patomack , vpon the borders whereof there are growne the goodliest Trees for Masts , that may be found elsewhere in the World : Hempe better then English , growing wilde in aboundance : Mines of Antimonie and Leade ,

There is also found without our Bay to the Northward an excellent fishing Bancke for Codde , and Ling , as good as can be eaten , and of a kinde that will keepe a whole yeare , in Shippes hould , with little care ; a tryall whereof I now haue brought ouer with mee . Other Islands there are vpon our Coasts , that doe promise rich merchandise , and will further exceedingly the establishing of the Plantation , by supply of many helpes , and will speedily afford a returne of many worthie Commodities .

I haue left much ground in part manured to receiue Corne , hauing caused it the last Winter to be sowed for rootes , with which our people were greatly releeued .

There are many Vines planted in diuers places , and doe prosper well , there is no want of any thing , if the action can be vpheld with constancy and resolution .

Lastly , concerning my selfe , and my course , though the World may imagine that this Countrey and Climate , will ( by that which I haue suffered beyond any other of that Plantation ) ill agree , with the state of my body , yet I am so farre from shrinking or giuing ouer this honourable enterprise , as that I am willing and ready to lay all I am worth vpon the aduenture of the Action , rather then so Honourable a worke should faile , and to returne with all the conuenient expedition I may , beseeching your Lordships , and the rest , not onely to excuse my former wants , happened by the Almighty hand : but to second my resolutions with your friendly indeauours : that both the State may receiue Honour , your selues Profit , and I future Comfort , by being imployed ( though but as a weake Instrument ) in so great an Action .

And thus hauing plainely , truely , and briefely , deliuered the cause of my returne , with the state of our affayres , as wee now stand , I hope euery worthy and indifferent hearer , will by comparing my present resolution of returne , with the necessitie of my comming home , rest satisfied with this true and short Declaration .