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THE NEW LIFE OF VIRGINIA: Declaring the former success and present estate of
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Partially edited for readability by Amy AN102 THE NEW LIFE OF VIRGINIA: Declaring the former success and present estate of that plantation, Being the Second part of Nova Britannia. Published by Authority of his MAJESTYS COUNCIL of Virginia. LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for William Welby, dwelling at the Sign of the Swan, in Pauls Churchyard. 1612. P. Force, Washington, 1835. EPISTILE DEDICATORIE. To the Right Worshipful and worthy Knight Sir Thomas Smith, of London, Governor of the Moscovia and East India Companies, one of his Majesty’s Counsel for Virginia, and Treasurer for the Colony: Peace and health in Christ. Virginia is experiencing the woes that God bestows on all great works It came to pass (right Worshipful) with the business and plantation of Virginia, as is commonly seen in the attempt and progress of all excellent things, which is to be accompanied with manifold difficulties, crosses and disasters, being such as are appointed by the highest providence as an exercise of patience and other virtues, and to make more wise thereby the managers thereof: by which occasion not only the ignorant and simple minded are much discouraged, Malicious fools are scorning Virginia’s woes but the malicious and looser sort (being accompanied with the licentious vain of stage Poets) have whet their tongues with scornful taunts against the action itself, insomuch as there is no common speech nor public name of anything this day, (except it be the name of God) which is more vildly depraved, traduced and derided by such unhallowed lips, then the name of Virginia. Therefore, I want to defend Virginia’s good name For which cause (right noble Knight) I have set myself to publish this brief apology to the sight and view of all men, not to answer any such in their particular folly, but to free the name itself from the injurious scoffer, and this commendable enterprise from the scorn and derision of any such, as by ignorance or malice have sought the way to wrong it. Which albeit I am well assured will no way avail to admonish or amend the incorrigible looseness of such untamed tongues, yet shall I hold my endeavors well acquitted if I may but free you and so many right noble, and well affected gentlemen (touching the former ill success) from wrongful imputation, as also satisfy the despairing thoughts, and quicken the zeal of such friends and lovers to this business, as in their remote and foreign residence, by the spreading of rumors and false reports rest unsatisfied. I’m breaking this into three parts I hope to not exceed the bounds of modesty and truth, so for order’s sake I have set it down in a brief method of three parts. The first is nothing else but a brief relating of things already done and past: The second of the present estate of the business: And the third serves as a premonition to the planters and adventurers for the time to come. I offer this in hopes to soothe your mind on your investment And this I offer to the patronage of your Worship alone, being the chiefest patron of this and of many more worthy services: wherein I presume not any way to counsel or direct your wisdom in your further proceedings, whom long experience in Common-wealth affaires (besides that ability and wisdom of mind infused by God) hath made most able and sufficient of yourself to direct many others, but as wishing hereby (if I might in some measure) to ease the burthen of your mind, under the wise and painful managing of your many public actions: for which I pray that God will please, to continue still your health and strength of body with answerable success to your honest, wise, and most approved desires. THE NEW LIFE OF VIRGINIA. God scrambled the world with multiple races and tongues, yet still calls home the lost In that most sacred historie penned by the Prophet Moses, (the first historian that ever 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 Celestial throne; it so highly provoked the Majesty of God, that consulting with the Deitie, and coming downe by his word and almightie power, he subverted their devices and proud attempt, infatuating their understanding by confounding their tongues, and leaving each one to his severall waies, to follow the pronesse and follie of his owne heart, so that from this scattering and casting them out like unprofitable seed upon the dust of the earth, did spring up (as weeds in solitarie places) such a barbarous and unfruitful race of mankinde, that even to this day (as is very probable many huge and spatious Countries and corners of the world unknowne, doe still swarme and abound with the innumerable languages of this dispersed crue, with their inhumane behaviour and brutish conditions, and howsoever God laying this heavie curse and punishment upon them, that for the space of three thousand yeares and more, did never vouchsafe the hand of the weeder, to clense and give 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 selves and our forefathers (the first fruites of the Gentiles, who were all guilty of that great conspiracie) which were strangers from the Commonwealth of Israel, and lived 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 8 Levit. 20.2. and give 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 serve the divel, as those heathens did their sonnes and daughters to Molech: yet who can doubt or say, but even amongst these, God may have his speciall numbers from whose neckes hee will now remove that heavie yoake of bondage: and to that end it is to be observed, 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 raised up Queen Elizabeth to save us and the Indians from Catholicism and heathenism God that raised up her Majesty, our late Soveraigne, 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 move her Princely mind to proffer that light to this blinde and miserable people, in giving the first incouragement by our English Colonies to make plantation there, and according to her self, and the condition of her sexe, she named the Countrey Virginia: which mee thinkes should enforce from them that love the monuments of her never dying memoire, a fervent bond of zeale to that name and worke of God, the ground whereof was laid by her, the happinesse of whose raigne was our unspeakable joy, and will be derived to our posteritie. God decided not to let the Queen see her good work played out among the Indians And howsoever God pleased not to suffer the performance of that excellent worke in her daies (as hee likewise denied King David, whose purpose and preparation was to have built a Temple for the Lord) yet hee raised up (like Salomon) the best and wisest among the sonnes of men to be our King, and hath bent his royall disposition, by many gratious privileges, and giving his customs freely, to build this Temple for the Lord, yea many living temples for the honour of his name. God led us to this promised land What shall wee then say, when thus the powers of heaven and earth encouraged the enterprize, and stirred up the spirits of worthy men, not the basest, but of the best and most honourable minded in the kingdome, to engage themselves to solicite their friends to assemble and consult advisedly how to replant this unnatural vine to make it fruitfull, when they looked to heaven they saw a promise, and looking to earthward they saw a blessing. How the land was discovered 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 discoverie, who within few monthes returned with relation of a countrie discovered and seated like that pleasant land described by Moses, the stones whereof where brasse and iron, whose mountaines, vallies and streams did all attend some good employment, that they saw a poore people living there in the shadow of death, without light or sense of their owne miserie, and that there wanted nothing but industrie and art to adde to nature. How James Towne began Upon which encouragement new supplies were made; with expedition some few hundreds of our men were left there by Captaine Newport, with al kind of provisions and directions for the ground and foundation of a Common-wealth. Their barbarous king Powhatan entertained them lovingly, and admitted them a large countrie to inhabit, the poore Savages brought them such relief 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 convenient, they built a Church and many houses together, which they named James Towne, they nourished their swine, hens, and other provisions they carried out of England, which plentifully encreased: Natural resources they cut downe wood for wanscot, blacke walnut tree, Spruce, Cedar and 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 Caveare, The settlers’s exports brought many more investors and of each of these they sent us small quantities, with store of Sassafrasse, and some wine of those countrie grapes for a triall: all which being the work but of a small number, not fully settled, gave sufficient testimony what might bee effected there by settling good government, and sending more supplies of men, and meanes to plant the soile and make discoveries. This happy proceeding caused the action to be accounted as wonne, and caused so many willing minds to adventure their monies, that there wanted not sufficient meanes, to furnish out a fleet of good ships, with the better part of five hundred men to inhabit there. Sir Thomas Gates being Lieutenant generall, and Sir George Sommers Admirall of Virginia, both of them appointed by commission to reside in the countrie to governe the Colonie, which together set saile and departed the coast of England with a faire wind the first of June 1609. One ship of 150 new settlers was swept by storm to Bermuda enroute to Virginia 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 Virginia, the ship named the Sea Venture, being also Admiral of the fleet, wherein 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 arrived upon 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. Eight other ships arrived in Virginia safe and sound, but the leaders were on the lost ship Of whose long abode and preservation in these broken deserts, and of their strange and wonderfull deliverie 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 arived at the port, and landed their men in Virginia. Parsons letter in the Quodlibets. Masses of new low-lifes ran amuck without leadership By which meanes the bulk of the plantation was now augmented with so many irregular persons that it soone became as so many members without a head, who as they were bad, and evill had mostly affected them before they went there, so now being landed, and lacking restraint, they displayed their condition in al kind of looseness, Potential leaders argued about how to handle the low-life’s 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 ever seen in such cases grow factious and disordered out of measure, in so much as Without leadership, the low-lifes ruined the colony in just a few months the poore Colonie seemed (like the Colledge of English fugitives, in Rome) as a hostile Campe within it self: in which distemper that envious 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 devoured the fruits of former labours, planting and sowing were cleane given over, the houses decaied, the Church fell to ruine, the store was spent, the cattell consumed, our people starved, The low-lifes made enemies of the Indians and the poore Indians by wrongs and injuries were made our enemies, Discouraged settlers returned to England with tons of bad news two of the ships returning home perished upon 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 us newes that the Admirall ship, with the two Knights and Captaine Newport were missing, severed in a mightie storme outward, and could not be heard of which we therefore yeelded as lost for many moneths together, and so that Virgine voyage (as I may tearme it) which went out smilling on her lovers with pleasant lookes, after her wearie travailes, did thus returne with a rent and disfigured face: for which how justly her friends tooke occasion of sorrow, and others to insult and scoffe, let men of reason judge. The low-lifes try to blame Virginia for their own failures And as for those wicked Impes that put themselves a shipboord, not knowing otherwise how to live in England; or those ungratious sons that dailie vexed their fathers hearts at home, and were therefore thrust upon the voyage, which either writing thence, or being returned back to cover their own leudnes doe fill mens eares with false reports of their miserable and perilous life in Virginia, let the imputation of miserie be to their idleness, and the blood that was spilt upon their own heads that caused it. The Lord la Warre. And howsoever it is true, that upon these events many adventurers which had formerly well affected the businesse, when they saw such unexpected tragedies withdrew themselves and their monies from adventure. Notwithstanding it lessened much the preparations, yet it hindered not the resolution of that honourable Lord (appointed Lord Governour) to goe in his owne person, who together with the rest of the adventurers assisting his setting forth, having in their wisdomes 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, wherein the Lord Governour, attended with Sir Ferdinando Wainman and sundry others, set saile from the coast of England, in the beginning of April 1610, and on the 9. of June arrived safely at the disfortified fort in Virginia, where his Lordship finding their desperate condition so poore and meane, and so cleere a consumption of all former emploiments, that scarsely the steps or print of twenty hundred groats disbursed, which had truly cost the Adventurers here above twentie thousand pounds. And thus wee stood in state of Marchants that had adventured much and lost all: in which case we might now make answere with King Alexander (having given away al to his Captaines) we had nothing left but hope, and this hope of ours we fixed much (if not too much) upon that honourable Lord Governour, then landed in Virginia, who as the world and our selves knew right well to be religious and wise, of a strong bodie and valerous minde, and under his wings so confidently reposed the shield of our businesse, that God minding to make us know that our arme was yet but flesh, even in the front of his enterprize overthrew the Nobleman by laying such a heavie hand of sicknesse and diseases upon him, that unable to weld and support the state of his owne body, 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 save his life, after eight moneths sicknesse to returne for England againe; which when the Adventurers 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 easile be deemed. And yet had we left one sparke of hope unquencht, 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 12 The words of Sir Thomas Dales letter to the Committies. Provisions: all which arived safe at the Colonie the 10. of May 1611. And notwithstanding the Knight at his landing there found the Lord Governour to bee gone, whereof he wrote us home most dolefull letters, as also of the fewnesse, idlenesse and weake estate wherein hee found the Colony: yet decyphered he the country in divers of his letters with admirable praise, giving us notice of his proceeding to fortifie, to build, to plant, and that the health of our men was now recovered by setting them to labour, assuring the adventurers so long as he remained there, their ships should never returne emptie; his words are these: But if any thing otherwise then well betide me in this businesse, let me commend unto your carefulnesse, the pursuite and dignitie of this businesse, then which your purses and endevours will never open nor travell 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 adventurers, that in the greatest disasters never fainted, which having past over 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 government. And after many meetings, when they could resolve upon no great supplie for want of meanes, the discouragement of many being such by former ill successe, yet in fine it was resolved; through the importunate zeale and forwardnesse of some, against the opinion of many without delay to furnish out Sir Thomas Gates with sixe shippes, three hundred men and an hundred kine, with other cattell, munition and provisions 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 proved (as wee hope) the most fortunate and happie steppe that ever our businesse tooke, and hath highly approved the wisdome and resolution of those worthy gentlemen that were the causers of it: and so at this period, as with a cleare evening to a cloudie day, I will put an end to this my first part of relating things already done and past. Lord Generall Cecill, Sir Robert Mansel and some others. The second part ensueth of the present estate of the businesse, upon 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 beleeve (through nature daily shew it in other courses) that in this case yet, so great a tide of 13 flowing should suddenly ensue so great an ebbe of want, in last December Captaine Newport in the Starre, and since that five other shippes are arived heere from the Colonie, by which we know that Sir Thomas Gates with his sixe shippes, men and cattell, safelie arived at James Towne, about the fine of August last, the suddaine approach of such an unlooked for supplie, did so amaze our people, when the Fort had first described the Fleete, and gave it out for enemies, that so soone as the newes went up the river 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 given thankes to God, the Knights and Captaines now began to frame the Colonie to a new conformitie, whereof the Lord Governour at his being there, most carefullie had more then laide the ground before, their first and chiefest care was shewed in settling Lawes divine and morall, for the honour and service of God, for daily frequenting the Church, the house of prayer, at the tolling of the bell, for preaching, catechizing, and the religious observation of the Sabbath day, for due reverence to the Ministers of the Word, and to all superiours, for peace and love among themselves, 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 themselves, or injurious 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 object) if wholesome lodging, cloathing for the backe and bodilie foode be wanting, the bellie pincht with hunger cannot heare, though your charme be otherwise never so sweet. All this was true, we have already confest it, when there was nothing but a confused troope that sought their owne consumption, tempora mutantur. He went thither five yeeres since in the first ship. You shall know that our Colonie consisteth now of seven hundred men at least, of sundrie arts and professions, some more or lesse, they stand in health, and few sicke, at the ships coming thence, having left the fort at Cape Henry, fortified and kept by Captaine Davies, and the keeping of James towne to that noble and well deserving Gentlemen Master George Percie. The Colonie is removed up the river fourscore miles further beyond James towne to a place of higher ground, strong and defencible 14 by nature, a good aire, wholesome and cleere (unlike 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 invited, here they pitch, the spade men fell to digging, the brick men burnt their bricks, the company cut down wood, the Carpenters fell to squaring out, the Sawyers to sawing, the Souldier to fortifying, and every man to somewhat. And to answer the first objection for holesome lodging, here they have built competent and decent houses, the first storie all of bricks, that every man may have 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 use. 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 recoverie. And as for their clothing, first of wollen (whereof they have 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 water flagge (revealed unto them by an Indian) which groweth there naturally in endlesse abundance, and with little paines of boyling, it being gathered, yeldeth great quantitie of sundrie sorts of skeines of good strength and length, some like silke, 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 have seen it) wil make cordage, linnen, and fine stuffes both for strength and beautie, such as no use nor service can finde the like of any other kinde. And for the last and maine objection of food, it cannot be denied by any one of reason, but with their now diligent planting and sowing of corne whereof they have two harvests in a sommer) the plentifull fishing there, the store of fowles and fruits of the earth, their present provision sent from hence at every shipping, together with the speedy increase of those sundrie sorts of tame Poultry, Conies, Goats, Swine and Kine landed there above a yere agoe with Sir Thomas Dale, and since againe by Sir Thomas Gates, that this objection too, this maine objection of wanting food is utterly remooved: so that I cannot see, nor any man else can judge in truth, but that ill and odious wound 15 of Virginia, which setled so deepe a scarre in the mindes of many, in so sufficiently recovered, as it may now encourage not such alone (as heretofore) which cannot live at home, nor lay their bones to labour, but those of honest minds and better sort, which get their bread but meanly heere, may seak to mend it there. Captaine Samuel Argoll, a Gentleman of good service, is readie with two ships. Sir R. W. Sir W. S. The Lord Governour 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 preventing that wrong, which some Masters and Stewards have formerly done to their passengers at sea, in shortening their allowance, for their owne private lucar, it is ordered that every ship upon her mast shall have it written, what ought to be every daies allowance, that every 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 division directed to the Colonie: And first to you the heads and guides of that plantation, it cannot be doubted, but as you are wise and provident 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 lives. 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 divellish men can cast upon you, arme your selves therefore against all impediments, to effect those honorable ends that were first intended to be put upon our King, upon 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 clare the way to your desired ends with fire and vineger; will not your honour be the greater, and your service more acceptable in the performance of it? Nay, if losse of life befall you by this service (which God forbid) yet in this case too, we doubt not but you are resolved 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 up his little Armie against that great conflict; Be cheered my hearts (said he) and let us fight like English men, all England prayeth for us: if here we dye, let this be our comfort, our cause is good, and wee have fathers, brothers, friends and countrimen that wil revenge our deaths. Your first conflict is from your savage enemies the natives of 16 Their wisdome is such as they will offer you no wrong. The Countrie, who as you know are neither strong nor many; their strongest forces are sleights and trecherie, more to be warily prevented than 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 have 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, and such as your selves can well remember, that in all attempts against our late Soveraigne, God defeated their purposes, and brought them to nothing. But howsoever it fared then, (God in mercy shielding that gratious Queen, 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 give 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 discovered such and so many worthie spirits of all degrees in England to be upholders of it, as for their credits sake and reputation, will never leave you without convenient meanes to make defence, nor your least indignitie by savage foes or civil friends will suffer unrequited. There is laid upon you in this worke a threefold labour to be done upon your selves, upon your English, and upon the poore Indians. And first upon your selves; for all mens eares and eyes are so fixed upon Kings and Rulers, that they keepe a register in minde of what ever they doe or speake, the better sort of love to imitate their goodnes, and the looser sort of flatterie to applaud their wickednes and sooth them in their vices: when your wholesom lawes shall have 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 owne course of life, giving way to ambition, idlenesse, and all unbridled appetite, to your tongues in swearing, to your bodies in unchastity, making your owne Courts and houses cages of proud, uncleane and all disordered persons, enforcing the good to pine away with grief, and advancing men of bad deserts, accounting it happie to doe what you list, when no man dares reprove you; miserie and confusion will be the end of this, and you shal leave 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, 17 and commendable labours shall leade them on to doe the like, especially in that most wholesome, profitable and pleasant work of planting in which it pleased God himself 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 foreign States (nothwithstanding 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 harmonic 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 love doe dailie cure consumptions, melancholies and evil effected mindes, as also make their hearts more honest and upright, and then that worke (though burnt as stubble heretofore) yet being thus grounded shal abide, you shall live in honour and die in peace; the succeeding ages of those converted Infidels shall count you happy, and that precious seed which you have sowne in teares, shal be as blessed sheaves upon your heads for ever. The next is dutie towards your Colonie (the common sort of English) and that in few words, let them live as free English men, under the government of just and equall lawes, and not as slaves after the will and lust of any superiour: discourage them not in growing religious, nor in gathering riches, two especiall bonds (whether severed or conjoined) to keepe them in obedience, the one for conscience sake, the other for feare of losing what they have gotten: without the first they are prophane, without the second desperate, and apt for every factious plot to bee instruments of mischief. Such have alwaies bin the beggarly, ignorant and superstitious sort of Irish, and no better were we our English (and Scottish nation too) ever unquiet, never constant, readie for insurrections and murther, to depose their Kings, and maintaine rebellion, before the daies of that renowned Deborah our late Soveraigne, that shining starre, the splendour of whose brightnesse, darkned the glorie of all other Princes in her time (as even popish historians of sundrie foreign Nations tearme her) who brought us to that light, whereby wee live as men of knowledge in due subjection, enjoying honour, peace and wealth, the handmaids of religion. We must confesse as yet you are but poore, your companie few, and your meanes unable to effect those ends in any great measure. But for the first steppe, you have some Preachers there alreadie, and more wee intend to send you so soone C For which sort of men we wish we had better content to 18 give them, or they were more willing for the service. As they may be provided. And for the second, the land is before you to dispose to every man for his house and ground, wherein to employ himselfe for his owne benefit, that no man may live idle nor unprofitable. And for their better incouragement in doing well, advance 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 and prime of your businesse, whiles you are but young and few those succeeding enormities of briberie, drunk ennesse and disordered life, may sooner be prevented, then having once got habite and footing amongst you they can be redressed: for if in laying now the ground worke of your businesse, you suffer it to be smothered up together with impunitie of vices, (as seeds and roots of noisome weeds) they will soon spring up to such corruption in all degrees as can never bee weded out. Rom. 1. 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 howsoever they may seeme unto you so intollerable wicked and rooted in mischiefe, that they cannot be moved, yet consider rightly and be not discouraged, they are no worse than the nature of Gentiles, and even of those Gentiles so hainouslie decyphered by S. Paul to bee full of wickednesse, haters of God, doers of wrong, such as could never be appeased, and yet himselfe did live to see, that by the fruits of his owne labours, many thousands even of them became true beleeving Christians, and of whose race and offspring consisteth (well neere) the whole Church of God at this day. This is the worke that we first intended, and have publisht to the world to be chiefe in our thoughts to bring those infidell people from the worship of Divels to the service of God. And this is the knot that you must unite, 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 up with gentlenesse, teach them our English tongue, and the principles of religion; winne the elder sort by wisdome and discretion, make them equal with your English in case of protection, wealth and habitation, doing justice 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 upon them by stratagems of warre, you shall utterly lose it, and never come neere it, but shall make your names odious to all their posteritie. In steed of Iron 19 and steele you must have patience and humanitie to manage their crooked nature to your form of civilitie: for as our proverbe is, Looke how you winne them, so you must weare them: if by way of peace and gentlenesse, then shall you alwaies range them in love 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 selves. Imitating the steppes of your wise and prudent Soveraigne, and preparing the way of peace (so much as lies in you) before the second coming of that King of peace, at whose first coming into this earthly region the world was all in peace, under the peaceable regiment of Augustus Cæsar, who though an unbeleeving 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 love of all his subjects, that being dead, his losse was so lamented with excese of griefe and sorrow, but most amongst the Romanes, that they wisht to God bee had never been borne, or being borne, he might never have died. And so I come to you that be the Adventurers here in England: with which I will conclude, it is not much above an hundred yeeres agoe, that these Adventures for discoveries were first undertaken 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 above the skies, for seeking in such sort to inlarge their bounds by sea and land, seeming (as it were) with a secret scorn to set out the basenesse of our English and other nations in this, that they never 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 evill eye upon our possessions, it was our happiness to prevent their longing, and to send them emptie home. But for that other part of inlarging their bounds, in truth their praise is duly given, and well deserved; and it may justly serve to stirre us up by all our means to put off such reproachfull censures; and seeing when time did offer it, our nation lost the first opportunity of having all, yet now to make good that common speech, that English men are best at imitation, and doe soone excell their teachers. Ireland. It is knowne well enough to you, what need we have in this case to stirre up (if it were possible) our whole nation: for notwithstanding 20 wee have in our Letters Patents, the names of many Lords and Knights, Gentlemen, Marchants and others, able in truth to performe a greater matter than this, if we were al of one mind; but as they are many, so I may divide them as thus into three equall parts: The one third part are such as tooke liking of the plantation, and brought in one adventure, expecting a while till they saw some disasters to accompanie the businesse, they looked for present gaine, and so they gave it over, bidding it adiew, and never lookt after it more. Another third part are such as came in, and with their own hands did underwrite to furnish three adventures in three yeeres: whereof some few of them have paid the first paiment, but refuse to pay the rest; yet most of them, notwithstanding they are tied by their owne hand writing (whereby a very great charge was undertaken by the Companie) doe utterly refuse to make any paiment at all: which if it proceeded out of their povertie it were not so much to be blamed; for wee presse no man out of his inability to wrong himselfe: but these are of the greater sort, such as would scorn to have it said they offer wrong in hazarding the losse of all, and the lives of many men. I doubt not but some reasonable course will be taken by your honourable wisdoms to make them see their error: in the meant time, I know not how to call this kinde of dealing. But I remember of one that takes upon him to describe king Richard usurper, and coming to his visage, he saith it was sterne, such as in Kings we call warlike, but in meaner men crabbed. Surely if this kind of fast and loose were plaid by men of meaner sort, I could soone tell how to tearme it: but if you will needes have 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. So that of all our Adventurers, I may well say there is but one third part, which (to their praise) from the first undertaking to this day have not ceased to give their counsels, spend their times, and lay downe their monies, omitting no occasion to expresse their zeale for effecting (if it may be possible) so great a worke for their King and Countries honour, as our nation never tooke the like in hand. And for this cause, the burthen being heavier than may well be borne by the shoulders of so few willing mindes, wee do still provoke our private friends, and have now obtained the helpe of publike Lotteries to maintaine the same. Which though it bee no usuall course in England, yet very common in divers neighbour countries, for the publike service of most commendable actions, wherein no man being compelled to adventure lots further than his owne liking, and being assured of direct and currant dealing, though all his lots come blanke; yet if his minde 21 be upright, he rests content in this, that his money goeth to a publike worke, wherein he hath his part of benefit, though he, never so meane and remote in his dwelling. And if any man aske, what benefit can this plantation be to them that be no Adventurers therein, but only in the Lottery? First, we say, (setting aside their possibilitie of prize) what man so simple that doth not see the necessitie of employment for our multitude of people? Which though they be our florishing fruits of peace and health, yet be they no longer good and holesome in themselves, then either our domesticke or foreign actions can make them profitable, or not hurtfull to the Common-wealth. And as it is unpossible without this course of sending out the ofspring of our families, in so great a bodie of many millions, which yeerely doe increase amongst us, to prevent their manifold diseases of povertie, corruption of minde, and pestilent infection, so the burthen thereof in some proportion is felt by every man in his private calling, either in the taxe of their maintenance and daily reliefe, or in the taint of their vices and bodily plagues. And by this meanes only it may soone be eased, to the sensible good of every man, as in the greater safetie and freedom from infection, so in the price and plentie of all outward and necessarie things. And besides the example of our neighbour countries, (that having laid their armes aside, and dwelling now in peace, to shunne the harmes of idlenesse at home, doe send out fleetes and hosts of men to seeke abroad) experience teacheth us, what need we have to seeke some world of new employment, for so great a part of our strength, which not otherwise knowing how to live, doe daily runne out to robberies at home, and piracies abroad, arming and serving with Turkes and Infidels against Christians, to the generall damage and spoile of Merchants, the scandall of our nation and reproch of Christian name. As also for the wits of England, whereof so many of unsettled braines betake themselves to plots and stratagems at home, or else to wander from coast to coast, from England to Spaine, to Italy, to Rome, and to wheresoever they may learne and practise any thing else but goodnesse, pulling a world of temptations upon their bad dispositions, sorting so farre with that inchanting sorts of serpents, and yeelding to their lure, till getting the marke and stampe in their forehead, they become desperate and despiteful fugitives abroad, or else returning neutrals in religion, are never good for Church nor Commonwealth. Let the words of that learned Master Ascham witnesse in this case, who above twentie yeeres agone, having farre lesse cause of complaint then we have now, did publish his censure of those 22 24 page of teaching the bringing up of youth. English Italionate travellers in these words: For religion, they get Papistrie, or worse: for learning, lesse commonly then they carried out: for policie, a factious heart, a discoursing head, a minde to meddle in all mens matters: for experience, plenty of new mischiefes, never knowne in England before: for manners, varietie of vanities, and change of filthy living. These be the inchantments of Circes, brought out of Italie to marre English mens manners, much by example of ill life, but more by precepts of fond bookes of late translated out of Italian into English, sold in every shop in London, commended by honest titles, the sooner to corrupt honest manners, dedicated over boldly to vertuous and honourable personages, the easier to beguile simple and innocent wits. Tenne Sermons at Pauls crosse doe not so much good for moving men to true doctrine, as one of those bookes do harme with inticing men to ill living: yea, I say further, those bookes tend not so much to corrupt honest living, as they do to subvert true religion; more Papists made by the merrie bookes of Italie, then by the earnest bookes of Lovaine. These and many more are the flowing evils of those noisome streames, that may be stopped, or turned from us (though not altogether (which is unpossible) yet in some proportion, for the common good of every man) by these new discoveries, into so great a world, never yet knowne, nor inhabited by Christian men: and though that part of Virginia, wherein we seate, be nothing to the rest, not yet discovered, yet it is enough to men of sense rightly considering, to make them confesse so much as I have said. If any shall object, want of meanes, or inabilitie for the subjects of our King, to undertake so great a worke in those remote and desert countries, it were too injurious: For first it hath been done by others, to whom wee are no way inferiour for multitude, strength and means to doe the like: and secondly, our provocations are now more than ever they were. For touching our multitude of men, as I remember, and I assure myself I did see the note, and am not mistaken, in that great yeere of 88, here was billed for the first, second and third service of the Queene (if need had required) of able persons, thirtie hundred thousand of English, Welsh, and Cornish men; since which time it cannot otherwise be thought, and the great inlargement of townes and buildings shew that we have much increased, besides that happie addition since of an entire kingdome, being a warlike, wise, and a stout nation, that were then no members of us. And for strength of shipping, skilfull men and meanes to furnish greater 23 In Scotland and England too. Attempts then this, the world can witnesse (to the grief of some) that England hath no want at all. And for our provocations, what can be greater then from the highest? From God that hath given us the light of his word, that wee might enlighten this blind people: that did provide (when we despaired greatly and feared who should weld the Scepter) a King (with peerlesse branches) to sit over us in peace, whom the world cannot match, that hath bent his royall minde, and of his princely ofspring, to forward and advance the best and most approoved actions, at home and abroad, that hath given him to set his feete upon his enemies necks, and hath made the poyson of their infected* hearts to work their owne confusion, and the most bitter hearted adversarie to die for sorrow to see his prosperity: by which we are assured, that God doth reserve him to many excellent ends, and by whose wisdom we are daily invited under the shadow of our own vine, to repose ourselves in peace and rest. * The powder men, Parsons, &c. How are they thus dejected then in their honourable thoughts, so many both English men and Scottish, which seeme not like themselves, that to so infinit good ends, and notwithstanding the forcible inticements and powerfull meanes to effect the same, will yet sit still, and neither helpe on this, nor any like publike action, with their persons, purse nor counsell? How far is this unlike their ancient guise in former times, when for the name of Christ, and honour of their nations, they adventured thorow the world to winne it with the sword? Well, if they will needs so much forget themselves, let this suffice to conclude them as unprofitable members, emptying and keeping drie the fountaine at home, when with others they might seek to fill it from abroad; suffering the wealth of the world, of this new world, which is knowne to abound in treasure, if not to sleepe in the dust, yet to slide away, and there to settle; where it reviveth the spirit of that viprous brood, which seek to heale againe that wounded head of Rome, by instigating therewith and anointing the hornes of such, as when time shall serve, will seeke to pearce our hearts. The English Jesuits, and others. And if it be asked, what benefit shall any man reape, in liew of his disbursements, by that barren countrie, which hath so consumed all our employments? It hath been alreadie declared to the world in sundrie discourses, containing sufficient encouragement to men of understanding, and therefore not needfull heere to lay out againe, the undoubted certaintie of minerals, the rich and commodious meanes for shipping, and other materials of great use, which if they were not alreadie publisht, wee would 24 utterly forbeare to name, till (after the plantation setled) the effects and fruits should shew themselves. And besides al which things, that Nature hath already seated there, the soile and climate in so apt and fit for industrious mindes, to make plantation of so many pretious plants (as hath been likewise shewed in particular) for the use of mankind and trade of merchandise, as to the sense and reason of such as have seen it, no Countrie under heaven can goe beyond it. And so to end with this that has been said, which if it may suffice to satisfie the ignorant, to stop the mouthes of cavillers, and to stirre up more assistance to this enterprise, it is enough: if not, I doe not doubt, but God who effecteth oft the greatest ends by smallest meanes, and hath so farre blest those few hands as to procure this birth, will likewise still assist the same to bring it up with honour. Proceed therefore you noble Lords, and you wise religious gentlemen, in your constant resolution, and in your dailie prayers remember it, for this worke is of such consequence, as for many important reasons it must never be forsaken. And as you have not shrunke away, (with many such of worse condition, which before they see it effected by others will never adventure any thing) but (like that worthie Ramane Scipio, preserver of his Countrie, which when all the Romanes in that sudden feare of Hannibals approach threw off their armes to take themselves to flight, drew out his sword, and staied their running out, and ruine of the citie) have in your owne persons with exceeding paines, adventured in the most desperate condition thereof, to keep the work from ruine, and have set it in that hopefull way to subsist of it self, as whether you live or no, to see the fruits thereof on earth, yet your reward shall be with God: and for example to posteritie, in being the first props and pillars of the work, the records of time shall publish your praise; not stained with lies as the Legends of Saints, but as those renowned deeds of your noble ancestors, truly set out in our English stories, still living (as it were) and reaching out the hand, speaking to them that follow after, and telling to such as shall succeed, This is the way for the honour of your King and your Countries good. FINIS.
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