IN that most sacred historie penned by the Prophet Moses , ( the first historian that euer wrote , and left his writings to posteritie ) it is recorded , that when the pride of earthlie men , in the race and progenie of Noah , began to aspire and sought to clime the Celestiall throne ; it so highly prouoked the Maiestie of God , that consulting with the Deitie , and comming downe by his word and almightie power , he subuerted their deuices and proud attempt , infatuating their vnderstanding by confounding their tongues , and leauing each one to his seuerall waies , to follow the pronesse and follie of his owne heart , so that from this scattering and casting them out like vnprofitable seed vpon the dust of the earth , did spring vp ( as weeds in solitarie places ) such a barbarous and vnfruitfull race of mankinde , that euen to this day ( as is very probable ) many huge and spatious Countries and corners of the world vnknowne , doe still swarme and abound with the innumerable languages of this dispersed crue , with their inhumane behauiour and brutish conditions , and howsoeuer God laying this heauie curse and punishment vpon them , that for the space of three thousand yeares and more , did neuer vouchsafe the hand of the weeder , to clense and giue redresse to so desolate and outgrowne wildernesse of humaine nature , yet such is his eternall purpose , who in his owne appointed time , doth reskue the brand from burning , and the prey from the Lions teeth , that like as we our selues and our forefathers ( the first fruites of the Gentiles , who were all guilty of that great conspiracie ) which were strangers from the Common wealth of Israel , and liued long time without God in the world , were yet at length reduced home to that familie of saints and sonnes of God , so now appeareth the same grace , which God out of his secret counsell begins to extend and giue to the remnants of those scattered Gentiles , our kinsmen and younger brethren ( as I may say ) the sundrie nations of America : which as they consist of infinite confused tongues and people , that sacrifice their children to serue the diuel , Leuit. 20.2 . as those heathens did their sonnes and daughters to Molech : yet who can doubt or say , but euen amongst these , God may haue his speciall numbers , from whose neckes hee will now remoue that heauie yoake of bondage ; and to that end it is to be obserued , when after that great apostacie foretold by the spirit of God , and which for many hundred yeares had almost drowned the christian world in superstition and Idolatrie ; God that raised vp her Maiestie , our late Soueraigne , and put into her heart , by wholesome lawes to wipe away that mist of popish dimnes from our eyes , whereby we saw the light more cleare , did likewise moue her Princely mind to proffer that light to this blinde and miserable people , in giuing the first incouragement by our English Colonies to make plantation there , and according to her selfe , and the condition of her sexe , she named the Countrey Virginea : which mee thinkes should enforce from them that loue the monuments of her neuer dying memorie , a feruent bond of zeale to that name and worke of God , the ground whereof was laid by her , the happinesse of whose raigne was our vnspeakable ioy , and will be deriued to our posteritie .

And howsoeuer God pleased not to suffer the performance of that excellent worke in her daies ( as hee likewise denied King Dauid , whose purpose and preparation was to haue built a Temple for the Lord ) yet hee raised vp ( like Salomon ) the best and wisest among the sonnes of men to be our King , and hath bent his royall disposition , by many gratious priuileges , and giuing his customes freely , to build this Temple for the Lord , yea many liuing temples for the honour of his name .

What shall wee then say , when thus the powers of heauen and earth encouraged the enterprize , and stirred vp the spirits of worthie men , not the basest , but of the best and most honorable minded in the kingdome , to engage themselues to solicite their friends to assemble and consult aduisedly how to replant this vnnatural vine to make it fruitfull , when they looked to heauen they saw a promise , and looking to earthward they saw a blessing . And albeit in that infancie their numbers were but small , yet their willing resolution supplying that want , they made out 3. shippes with Captaine Newport , for a discouerie , who within few monethes returned with relation of a countrie discouered and seated like that pleasant land described by Moses , the stones whereof were brasse and iron , whose mountaines , vallies & streams did all attend some good employment , that they saw a poore people liuing there in the shadow of death , without light or sense of their own miserie , and that there wanted nothing but industrie and art to adde to nature .

Vpon which encouragement new supplies were made ; with expedition some few hundreds of our men were left there by Captaine Newport , with al kind of prouisions and directions for the ground and foundation of a Common-wealth . Their barbarous king Powhatan entertained them louingly , and admitted them a large countrie to inhabit , the poore Sauages brought them such reliefe as they had ; our owne people wrote letters home in praise of the countrie , and labored their friends to come thither , they began to fortifie where they saw conuenient , they built a Church and many houses together , which they named James Towne , they nourished their swine , hens , and other prouisions they caried out of England , which plentifully encreased : they cut downe wood for wanscot , blacke walnut tree , Spruce , Cedar & Deale , they got rich furs , dying stuffe , minerals and iron ore ( which made excellent good iron ) they planted orange trees , corne , and sundrie kindes of seeds , they made Sope ashes and Tar , with some Sturgeon and Caueare , and of each of these they sent vs small quantities , with store of Sassafrasse , and some wine of those countrie grapes for a triall : all which being the worke but of a small number , not fully settled , gaue sufficient testimony what might bee effected there by settling good gouernment , and sending more supplies of men , and meanes to plant the soile and make discoueries .

This happy proceeding caused the action to be accounted as wonne , and caused so many willing minds to aduenture their monies , that there wanted not sufficient meanes , to furnish out a fleet of 9. good ships , with the better part of fiue hundred men to inhabit there . Sir Thomas Gates being Lieutenant generall , and Sir George Sommers Admirall of Virginea , both of them appointed by commission to reside in the countrie to gouerne the Colonie , which together set saile and departed the coast of England with a faire wind the first of Iune 1609.

But who can withstand the counsell of God that sits in the stearne of all actions , and so directed this present fleet , that before they came neere the coast of Virginea , the ship named the Sea Venture , being also Admiral of the fleet , wherin were shipped the two Knights before named , and Captaine Newport with an hundred and fiftie persons , was violently taken and carried with the rage of tempestuous stormes , without hope or likelihood of life at least an hundred leagues to the sowthward , till they arriued vpon the desperate shore of the Ilands of Bermudus , where betweene two rockes the ship split in peeces , and yet by the miraculous hand of God and industrie of the Captaines , all the people escaped safe to land and not a man perished ,

Of whose long abode and preseruation in these broken deserts , & of their strange and wonderfull deliuerie thence , it is already related and published by Sir Thomas Gates , and so I returne to the other eight ships which escaping the danger of seas ariued at the port , and landed their men in Virginea .

By which meanes the body of the plantation , was now augmented with such numbers of irregular persons , that it soone became as so many members without a head , who as they were bad and euill affected for the most part before they went hence ; so now being landed , and wanting restraint , they displaied their condition in al kind of loosenes , those chiefe and wisest guides among them ( whereof there were not many ) did nothing but bitterly contend who should be first to command the rest , the common sort , as is euer seene in such cases , grew factious and disordered out of measure , in so much as the poore Colonie seemed ( like the Colledge of English fugitiues in Rome ) as a hostile Campe within it selfe : Parsons letter in the Quodlibets . in which distemper that enuious man stept in , sowing plentifull tares in the hearts of all , which grew to such speedie confusion , that in few moneths , Ambition , sloth and idlenes had deuoured the fruits of former labours , planting and sowing were cleane giuen ouer , the houses decaied , the Church fell to ruine , the store was spent , the cattell consumed , our people starued , and the poore Indians by wrongs & iniuries were made our enemies , two of the ships returning home perished vpon the point of Ushant , the rest of the fleet came ship after ship , laden with nothing but bad reports and letters of discouragement : and which added the more to our crosse , they brought vs newes that the Admirall ship , with the two Knights and Captaine Newport were missing , seuered in a mightie storme outward , and could not be heard of , which we therfore yeelded as lost for many moneths together , and so that Virgine voyage ( as I may tearme it ) which went out smiling on her louers with pleasant lookes , after her wearie trauailes , did thus returne with a rent and disfigured face : for which how iustly her friends tooke occasion of sorrow , and others to insult and scoffe , let men of reason iudge . And as for those wicked Impes that put themselues a shipboord , not knowing otherwise how to liue in England ; or those vngratious sons that dailie vexed their fathers hearts at home , and were therefore thrust vpon the voyage , which either writing thence , or being returned back , to couer their owne leaudnes doe fill mens eares with false reports of their miserable and perilous life in Virginea , let the imputation of miserie be to their idlenes , and the blood that was spilt vpon their owne heads that caused it .

And howsoeuer it is true , that vpon these euents many aduenturers which had formerly well affected the businesse , when they saw such vnexpected tragedies , withdrew themselues and their monies from aduenture . Notwithstanding it lessened much the preparation , yet it hindred not the resolution of that honourable Lord ( appointed Lord Gouernour ) to goe in his owne person , The Lord la Warre . who together with the rest of the aduenturers assisting his setting forth , hauing in their wisedomes rightlie weighed , that to the desired end of all good actions in this life , the way doth lie as well , with rough and craggie steps as smooth and easie paths , did presently set on with three good ships , wherin the Lord Gouernour , attended with Sir Ferdinando Wainman & sundry others , set saile from the coast of England , in the beginning of Aprill 1610 , and on the 9. of Iune arriued safely at the disfortified fort in Virginea , where his Lordship finding their desperate condition so poore and meane , and so cleere a consumption of all former emploiments , that scarsely appeared the steps or print of twenty hundred groats disbursed , which had truly cost the Aduenturers here aboue twentie thousand pounds .

And thus wee stood in state of Marchants that had aduentured much and lost all : in which case we might now make answere with King Alexander ( hauing giuen away al to his Captaines ) we had nothing left but hope , and this hope of ours wee fixed much ( if not too much ) vpon that honourable Lord Gouernour , then landed in Virginea , who as the world & our selues knew right well to be religious and wise , of a strong bodie and valerous minde , and vnder his wings so confidently reposed the shield of our businesse , that God minding to make vs know that our arme was yet but flesh , euen in the front of his enterprize ouerthrew the Nobleman by laying such a heauie hand of sicknesse and diseases vpon him , that vnable to weld and support the state of his owne bodie , much lesse the affaires of the Colonie , he was forced with griefe of heart , through the anguish and dolor of his maladie , and for remedie to saue his life , after eight moneths sicknesse to returne for England againe : which when the Aduenturers saw that the expectance of such a preparation came to nothing , how great a dampe of coldnesse it wrought in the hearts of all , may easily be deemed .

And yet had we left one sparke of hope vnquencht , for before wee knew any such thing of his Lordships weaknesse , or once imagined his returning home , we had furnisht out Sir Thomas Dale with a good supplie of three ships , men , cattell , and many prouisions : all which ariued safe at the Colonie the 10. of May 1611. And notwithstanding the Knight at his landing there , found the Lord Gouernour to bee gone , whereof he wrote vs home most dolefull letters , as also of the fewnesse , idlenesse and weake estate wherein hee found the Colony ; yet decyphered he the country in diuers of his letters with admirable praise , giuing vs notice of his proceeding to fortifie , to build , to plant , and that the health of our men was now recouered by setting them to labour , assuring the aduenturers so long as he remained there , their ships should neuer returne emptie ; his words are these : The words of Sir Thomas Dales letter to the Committies . But if any thing otherwise then well betide me in this businesse , let me commend vnto your carefulnesse , the pursuite and dignitie of this businesse , then which your purses and endeuours will neuer open nor trauell in a more acceptable and meritorious enterprize , take foure of the best kingdomes in Christendome , and put them all together , they may no way compare with this countrie , either for commodities or goodnesse of soile . And this sparke ( I say ) so kindled in the hearts of those constant aduenturers , that in the greatest disasters neuer fainted , which hauing past ouer so many foule and wearie steps , and seeing now so faire a way before them , bent all their wits and consultations how to second this good beginning of such a setled gouernment . And after many meetings , when they could resolue vpon no great supplie for want of meanes , the discouragement of many being such by former ill successe , yet in fine it was resolued ; through the importunate zeale and forwardnesse of some , against the opinion of many , without delay to furnish our Sir Thomas Gates with sixe shippes , three hundred men and an hundred kine , with other cattell , munition and prouisions of all sorts , which notwithstanding it grew so deepe an engagement of our purses and credits , that for the present wee knew not how to discharge it , yet assuredly it hath proued ( as wee hope ) the most fortunate and happie steppe that euer our businesse tooke , Lord Generall Cecill , Sir Robert Mansell and some others . and hath highly approued the wisdome and resolution of those worthy gentlemen that were the causers of it : and so at this period , as with a cleare euening to a cloudie day , I will put an end to this my first part of relating things already done and past .

The second part ensueth of the present estate of the businesse , vpon which point I know that all mens eares are now most attent , for which I must be sparing to speake so much as might bee said , for surely men will not beleeue ( though nature daily shew it in other courses ) that in this case yet , so great a tide of flowing should suddenly ensue so great an ebbe of want , in last December Captaine Newport in the Starre , and since that fiue other shippes are ariued heere from the Colonie , by which we know that Sir Thomas Gates with his sixe shippes , men and cattell , safelie ariued at James Towne , about the fine of August last , the suddaine approach of such an vnlooked for supplie , did so amaze our people , when the Fort had first descried the Fleete , and gaue it out for enemies , that so so one as the newes went vp the riuer to Sir Thomas Dale , he being a warlike and resolute Captaine , prepared him instantly and all the rest for an encounter , which by how much the suddaine apprehension perplexed their minds for the present , yet so much the more exceeded their comfort , when they knew them to be friends .

When they had all things well landed , and giuen thankes to God , the Knights and Captaines now began to frame the Colonie to a new conformitie , whereof the Lord Gouernour at his being there , most carefullie had more then laide the ground before , their first and chiefest care was shewed in setling Lawes diuine and morall , for the honour and seruice of God , for daily frequenting the Church , the house of prayer , at the toling of the bell , for preaching , catechizing , and the religious obseruation of the Sabbath day , for due reuerence to the Ministers of the Word , and to all superiours , for peace and loue among themselues , and enforcing the idle to paines and honest labours , against blasphemie , contempt and dishonour of God , against breach of the Sabbath by gaming : and otherwise against adulterie , sacriledge and felonie ; and in a word , against all wrongfull dealing amongst themselues , or iniurious violence against the Indians . Good are these beginnings wherein God is thus before , good are these lawes , and long may they stand in their due execution . But what is this ( will some obiect ) if wholesome lodging , cloathing for the backe and bodilie foode be wanting , the bellie pincht with hunger cannot heare , though your charme be otherwise neuer so sweet . All this was true , we haue alreadie confest it , when there was nothing but a confused troope that sought their owne consumption , tempora mutantur .

You shall know that our Colonie consisteth now of seuen hundred men at least , of sundrie arts and professions , some more or lesse , they stand in health , and few sicke , at the ships comming thence , hauing left the fort at Cape Henry , fortified and kept by Captaine Dauies , and the keeping of James towne to that noble and well deseruing Gentleman Master George Percie . He went thither fiue yeeres since in the first ship . The Colonie is remoued vp the riuer fourescore miles further beyond James towne to a place of higher ground , strong and defencible by nature , a good aire , wholesome and cleere ( vnlike the marish seate at James towne ) with fresh and plentie of water springs , much faire and open grounds freed from woods , and wood enough at hand .

Being thus inuited , here they pitch , the spade men fell to digging , the brickmen burnt their bricks , the company cut down wood , the Carpenters fell to squaring out , the Sawyers to sawing , the Souldier to fortifying , and euery man to somewhat . And to answer the first obiection for holesome lodging , here they haue built competent and decent houses , the first storie all of bricks , that euery man may haue his lodging and dwelling place apart by himselfe , with a sufficient quantitie of ground alotted thereto for his orchard and garden to plant at his pleasure , and for his own vse . Here they were building also an Hospitall with fourescore lodgings ( and beds alreadie sent to furnish them ) for the sicke and lame , with keepers to attend them for their comfort and recouerie . And as for their clothing , first of wollen ( whereof they haue least need , because the countrie is very warme ) it is and must be alwaies supplied from hence , to the benefit of English clothing : but for linnen , which they shall most need , without doubt by small and easie industrie there may amount a great increase from thence , to furnish by way of merchandise , for England , not only by planting Hemp and Flax , which that climate maketh farre surpassing ours , both in growth and goodnesse , but by a new found stuffe of a certaine sedge or waterflagge ( reuealed vnto them by an Indian ) which groweth there naturally in endlesse abundance , and with little paines of boyling , it being gathered , yeeldeth great quantitie of sundrie sorts of skeines of good strength and length , some like silke , and some like flax , and some a courser sort , as hempe : whereof the last ships brought hither for a triall about two hundred pound waight ; which being put to triall heere ( as many can witnesse which haue seene it ) wil make cordage , linnen , and fine stuffes both for strength and beautie , such as no vse nor seruice can finde the like of any other kinde .

And for the last and maine obiection of food , it cannot be denied by any one of reason , but with their now diligent planting and sowing of corne ( whereof they haue two haruests in a sommer ) the plentifull fishing there , the store of fowles and fruits of the earth , their present prouision sent from hence at euery shipping , together with the speedy increase of those sundrie sorts of tame Poultry , Conies , Goats , Swine and Kine landed there aboue a yere agoe with Sir Thomas Dale , and since againe by Sir Thomas Gates , that this obiection too , this maine obiection of wanting food is vtterly remooued : so that I cannot see , nor any man else can iudge in truth , but that ill and odious wound of Virginea , which setled so deepe a scarre in the mindes of many , is so sufficiently recouered , as it may now encourage not such alone ( as heretofore ) which cannot liue at home , nor lay their bones to labour , but those of honest minds and better sort , which get their bread but meanly heere , may seeke to mend it there . Captaine Samuel Argoll , a Gentleman of good seruice , is readie with two ships .

The Lord Gouernour himselfe is now preparing to goe in his owne person , and sundrie other Knights and Gentlemen , with ships and men , so farre as our meanes will extend to furnish : and for preuenting that wrong , Sir W. S. Sir R. W. which some Masters and Stewards haue formerly done to their passengers at sea , in shortening their allowance , for their owne priuate lucar , it is ordered that euery ship vpon her mast shall haue it written , what ought to be euerie daies allowance , that euery one may see it , and no man be defrauded . And thus much briefly for the present condition of this plantation .

It followes now to conclude with the third and last diuision directed to the Colonie : And first to you the heads & guides of that plantation , it cannot be doubted , but as you are wise and prouident men you tooke this worke in hand , forecasting wisely that the price thereof might be no lesse then the care of your mindes , the labour of your bodies , and perill of your liues . And seeing you are sure of nothing more then the extremest lots , which either the barren coldnesse of such a naked action in the infancie thereof , or the malice of diuellish men can cast vpon you , arme your selues therefore against all impediments , to effect those honorable ends that were first intended to be put vpon our King , vpon our nation , and Christian religion , by that plantation . If the work be more hard and difficult then you took it for , and that you must like Hannibal ( piercing the stony Alpes ) make cleare the way to your desired ends with fire and vineger ; will not your honour be the greater , and your seruice more acceptable in the performance of it ? Nay , if losse of life befall you by this seruice ( which God forbid ) yet in this case too , wee doubt not but you are resolued with constant courage , like that noble King Henry the fift , before his triumphant victorie in the fields of Agincourt , where seeing the fewnesse of his own , and multitude of enemies , like a valiant Champion to stir vp his little Armie , against that great conflict ; Be cheered my hearts ( said he ) and let vs fight like English men , all England prayeth for vs : if here we dye , let this be our comfort , our cause is good , and wee haue fathers , brothers , friends and countrimen that wil reuenge our deaths .

Your first conflict is from your sauage enemies the natiues of the Countrie , who as you know are neither strong nor many ; their strongest forces are sleights and trecherie , more to bee warily preuented then much to be feared . But as for those your other friends , which challenge it all as theirs by deed of gift , not from Alexander the Great King of Macedonia , but from Alexander of Rome , Viceroy of that great Prince , which offered at once the whole world to haue himselfe adored , which ( as is said ) doe brute it out in all mens eares to pull you out of possession ; you know they are but men , Their wisdome is such as they will offer you no wrong . and such as your selues can well remember , that in all attempts against our late Soueraigne , God defeated their-purposes , and brought them to nothing . But howsoeuer it fared then , ( God in mercy shielding that gratious Queene , that no attempt could touch her little finger , nor worke her least dishonour ) yet I am no Prophet to warrant now , but God ( for causes knowne to him ) may giue you as a prey into the hands of the weakest , yet herein rest assured , and it cannot possiblie bee otherwise , but that the zeale of this action hath discouered such and so many worthie spirits of all degrees in England to be vpholders of it , as for their credits sake and reputation , will neuer leaue you without conuenient meanes to make defence , not your least indignitie by sauage foes or ciuill friends will suffer vnrequited . There is laid vpon you in this worke a threefold labour to be done vpon your selues , vpon your English , and vpon the poore Indians . And first vpon your selues ; for all mens eares and eyes are so fixed vpon Kings and Rulers , that they keepe a register in minde of what euer they doe or speake , the better sort of loue to imitate their goodnes , & the looser sort of flatterie to applaud their wickednes and sooth them in their vices : when your wholesom lawes shall haue no execution , when you shall publish and pretend for the honour of God , and good of the publike weale , and yet shall care for neither of both , but be loose in your own course of life , giuing way to ambition , idlenesse , and all vnbridled appetite , to your tongues in swearing , to your bodies in vnchastity , making your owne Courts and houses cages of proud , vncleane and all disordered persons , enforcing the good to pine away with grief , and aduancing men of bad deserts , accounting it happie to doe what you list , when no man dares reproue you ; miserie and confusion will be the end of this , and you shal leaue for your monuments shame and dishonour behinde you to all posteritie .

But if , like wise and prudent guides , as we do rightly esteeme you , in rearing this great frame , you shall lay the foundation in your owne steps , and by your owne example shall teach your inferiours the feare of God , and by your modest recreations , and commendable labours shall leade thē on to doe the like , especially in that most wholesome , profitable and pleasant work of planting , in which it pleased God himselfe to set the first man and most excellent creature Adam in his innocencie , to which the best Kings of Israel were most addicted , and by which so many kingdoms are much inriched , and for which the noble King Cirus that great Monarch is so much commended , whose glorie was to all Ambassadors and forraine States ( notwithstanding his being a Souldier and a Conquerour of great employment ) in shewing the comelie order of his owne handie worke . When thus your light shall guide their feete , sweete will that harmonie be betweene the head and members of the bodie , then may sleepe the rigour of your lawes , and you shal resemble the best and wisest sort of Kings , which by the influence of their grace and loue doe dailie cure consumptions , melancholies and euil affected mindes , as also make their hearts more honest and vpright , and then that worke ( though burnt as stubble heretofore ) yet being thus grounded shal abide , you shall liue in honour , and die in peace ; the suceeding ages of those conuerted Infidels shall count you happy , and that pretious seed which you haue sowne in teares , shal be as blessed sheaues vpon your heads for euer .

The next is dutie towards your Colonie ( the common sort of English ) and that in few words , let them liue as free English men , vnder the gouernment of iust and equall lawes , and not as slaues after the will and lust of any superiour : discourage them not in growing religious , nor in gathering riches , two especiall bonds ( whether seuered or conioyned ) to keepe them in obedience , the one for conscience sake , the other for feare of losing what they haue gotten : without the first they are prophane , without the second desperate , and apt for euery factious plot to bee instruments of mischiefe . Such haue alwaies bin the beggarly , ignorant and superstitious sort of Irish , & no better were we our English ( and Scottish nation too ) euer vnquiet , neuer constant , readie for insurrections and murther , to depose their Kings , and maintaine rebellion , before the daies of that renowned Deborah our late Soueraigne , that shining starre , the splendour of whose brightnesse , darkned the glorie of all other Princes in her time ( as euen popish historians of sundrie forraine Nations tearme her ) who brought vs to that light , whereby wee liue as men of knowledge in due subiection , enioying honour , peace and wealth , the handmaids of religion . We must confesse as yet you are but poore , your companie few , and your meanes vnable to effect those ends in any great measure . For which sort of men we wish we had better content to giue them , or they were more willing for the seruice . But for the first steppe , you haue some Preachers there alreadie , and more wee intend to send you so soone as they may be prouided . And for the second , the land is before you to dispose to euerie man for his house and ground , wherein to employ himselfe for his owne benefit , that no man may liue idle nor vnprofitable . And for their better incouragement in doing well , aduance all such of best disposed life , and none but such : and though your preferments be not great , nor your Common-wealth setled , yet now is most need of these admonitions : for in the beginning & prime of your businesse , whiles you are but young and few , those succeeding enormities of briberie , drunkennesse and disordered life , may sooner be preuented , then hauing once got habite and footing amongst you they can be redressed : for if in laying now the ground work of your businesse , you suffer it to be smothered vp together with impunitie of vices , ( as feeds and roots of noisome weeds ) they will soone spring vp to such corruption in all degrees as can neuer bee weeded out .

And for the poore Indians what shall I say , but God that hath many waies shewed mercie to you , make you shew mercie to them and theirs . And howsoeuer they may seeme vnto you so intollerable wicked and rooted in mischiefe , that they cannot be moued , yet consider rightly and be not discouraged , they are no worse then the nature of Gentiles , and euen of those Gentiles so hainouslie decyphered by S. Paul to bee full of wickednesse , Rom. 1. haters of God , doers of wrong , such as could neuer be appeased , and yet himselfe did liue to see , that by the fruits of his owne labours , many thousands euen of them became true beleeuing Christians , and of whose race and ofspring consisteth ( well neere ) the whole Church of God at this day . This is the worke that wee first intended , and haue publisht to the world to be chiefe in our thoughts , to bring those infidell people from the worship of Diuels to the seruice of God . And this is the knot that you must vntie , or cut asunder , before you can conquer those sundrie impediments , that will surely hinder all other proceedings , if this be not first preferred .

Take their children and traine them vp with gentlenesse , teach them our English tongue , and the principles of religion ; winne the elder sort by wisedome and discretion , make them equal with your English in case of protection wealth and habitation , doing iustice on such as shall doe them wrong . Weapons of warre are needfull , I grant , but for defence only , and not in this case . If you seeke to gaine this victorie vpon them by stratagems of warre , you shall vtterly lose it , and neuer come neere it , but shall make your names odious to all their posteritie . In steed of Iron and steele you must haue patience and humanitie to manage their crooked nature to your forme of ciuilitie : for as our prouerbe is , Looke how you winne them , so you must we are them : if by way of peace and gentlenesse , then shall you alwaies range them in loue to you wards , and in peace with your English people ; and by proceeding in that way , shall open the springs of earthly benefits to them both , and of safetie to your selues .

Imitating the steppes of your wise and prudent . Soueraigne , and preparing the way of peace ( so much as lies in you ) before the second comming of that King of peace , at whose first comming into this earthly region the world was all in peace , vnder the peaceable regiment of Augustus Caesar , who though an vnbeleeuing Heathen , yet of such excellent morall vertues , as might set to schoole many Christian Kings and Rulers , whose care and studie for the safety , peace and Common-wealth of his Empire , gat him such honour in his life , and loue of all his subiects , that being dead , his losse was so lamented with excesse of griefe and sorrow , but most amongst the Romanes , that they wisht to God hee had neuer been borne , or being borne , hee might neuer haue died .

And so I come to you that be the Aduenturers here in England : with which I will conclude , it is not much aboue an hundred yeeres agoe , that these Aduentures for discoueries were first vndertaken by the Southerne parts of Christendome , but especially so seconded and followed by the Spanish nation both to the East and West Indies , that Mendoza ( their countriman ) in his treatise of Warre , extolleth King Philip and the Spanish nation aboue the skies , for seeking in such fort to inlarge their bounds by sea and land , seeming ( as it were ) with a secret scorne to set out the baseneste of our English and other nations in this , that they neuer intend any such attempts , but with a kind of sluggish contentment , doe account it their happinesse to keepe that poore little which they possesse . Indeed wee must acknowledge it , with praise to God , that when some of theirs had cast an euill eye vpon our possessions , Ireland . it was our happinesse to preuent their longing , and to send them emptie home . But for that other part of inlarging their bounds , in truth their praise is duly giuen , and well deserued : and it may iustly serue to stirre vs vp by all our means to put off such reprochfull censures ; and seeing when time did offer it , our nation lost the first opportunity of hauing all , yet now to make good that common speech , that English men are best at imitation , and doe soone excell their teachers .

It is knowne well enough to you , what need we haue in this case , to stirre vp ( if it were possible ) our whole nation : for notwithstanding wee haue in our Letters Patents , the names of many Lords and Knights , Gentlemen , Marchants and others , able in truth to performe a greater matter then this , if we were al of one mind ; but as they are many , so I may diuide them as thus into three equall parts : The one third part are such , as tooke liking of the plantation , and brought in one aduenture , expecting a while till they saw some disasters to accompanie the businesse , whereas they looked for present gaine , and so they gaue it ouer , bidding it adiew , and neuer lookt after it more . Another third part are such as came in , and with their own hands did vnderwrite to furnish three aduentures in three yeeres : whereof some few of them haue paid the first paiment , but refuse to pay the rest ; yet most of them , notwithstanding they are tied by their owne handwriting , ( whereby a very great charge was vndertaken by the Companie ) doe vtterly refuse to make any paiment at all : which if it proceeded out of their pouertie it were not so much to bee blamed ; for wee presse no man out of his inability to wrong himselfe : but these are of the greater sort , such as would scorne to haue it said they offer wrong in hazarding the losse of all , and the liues of many men . I doubt not but some reasonable course will be taken by your honourable wisedomes to make them see their error : in the meane time , I know not how to call this kinde of dealing . But I remember of one that takes vpon him to describe King Richard vsurper , and comming to his visage , he saith it was sterne , such as in Kings wee call warlike , but in meaner men crabbed . Surely if this kinde of fast and loose were plaid by men of meaner sort , I could soone tell how to tearme it : but if you will needes haue it warlike , in respect of their sterne refusall , yet let it be crabbed too , because of their sower lookes when they see the Collectors come for mony .