Travels of Captaine John Smith Volume I - Pages 385-End



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1620. The building of three bridges and other works.

With the first of the second yeere were held the Assises, where all the 
Bailiffes were fined for not giving a beginning to the building of the 
bridges; there was also an order to restraine the excessive wages all 
handicrafts men would have: and that the Church-wardens should meet twice 
a yeere, to have all their presentments made perfect against the Assises. 
The Assises done, all the ablest men were trained in their armes, and then 
departed to their owne homes. The towne thus cleered, he made certaine new 
carriages for some demy Culverings, and a large new store-house of Cedar 
for the yeerely Magazines goods; finished Warwicks Fort begun by Master 
More, and made a new platforme at Pagits Fort, also a faire house of lime 
and stone for the Townes-house. The three bridges appointed by the 
generall assembly, was followed with such diligence, though they were more 
then an hundred, or an hundred and twenty foot in length, having the 
foundation and arches in the Sea, were raised and accomplished, so that 
man or beast with facility might passe them.

The generall Assises, and the proceedings.

At Whitsonday was held the fourth generall Assise at Saint Georges, where 
were tryed twenty severall causes; foure or five were whipped or burnt in 
the hand, for breaking of houses: also an order was made, that the party 
cast in the triall of any cause, should pay to every of the Jurours foure 
pence: moreover, that not past ten leaves at the most should grow upon a 
plant of Tobacco, and that also in the making it up, a distinction should 
diligently be observed of two kinds, a better and a worse: then they built 
a strong stone house for the Captaine of the Kings Castle and corps du 
guard; and repaired what defects they could finde in the platformes and 
carriages.

Captaine Powell so oft mentioned, having beene in the West-Indies for the 
States of Holland, came to an anchor within shot of their Ordnance, 
desiring admittance for wood and water, of which hee had great need, but 
the Governor would not permit him, so he weighed and

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departed, whereat the company were so madded, it was not possible to 
constraine them to cease their exclaimations against the Companies 
inhibition, till they were weary with exclaming: But still for their 
better defence, not thinking themselves sufficiently secure, having 
finished two new plat-formes more, arrived the Magazin ship, but her 
Master was dead, and many of the Passengers, the rest for most part very 
sicke; and withall, a strange and wonderfull report of much complaint made 
against the Governor to the Company in England, by some of them returned 
in the last yeeres shipping: but it was eight daies before she could get 
in by reason of ill weather, being forced againe to Sea; so that time, 
they kept every night continually great fires, she might see the Ile as 
well by night as day; but at last she arrived, and he plainly understood, 
he had more cause a great deale to looke for misconstruction of all his 
service then an acknowledgment, much lesse a recompence any better then 
his predecessors; but it is no new thing to requite the best desert with 
the most vildest of ingratitude.

A strange deliverance of a Spanish wracke.

The very next daies night after the arrivall of the Magazins ship, newes 
was brought the Governor by a dismaied Messenger from Sands his Tribe, 
that one hundred Spaniards were landed in that part, and divers ships 
discovered at Sea, whereupon he presently manned the Forts, and instantly 
made thitherward in person with twentie men, determining as he found cause 
to draw together more strength by the way. Being got thither by the breake 
of the next day, in stead of an enemy which he expected, he met onely with 
a company of poore distressed Portugals and Spaniards, who in their 
passage from Carthagena in the West-Indies, in consort with the Spanish 
fleet of Plait; by the same storme that had indangered the Magazin ship, 
lost theirs upon those terrible Rocks, being to the number of seventy 
persons, were strangely preserved; and the manner was thus.

About Sunne-set their ship beating amongst the Rocks, some twenty of the 
Sailers got into the Boat with what

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treasure they could, leaving the Captaine, the Master, and all the rest to 
the mercy of the Sea. But a Boy not past foureteene yeares of age that 
leaped after to have got into the Boat, missing that hope, it pleased God 
he got upon a Chest a drift by him, whereon they report he continued two 
daies, and was driven neere to the cleane contrary part of the Ile, where 
he was taken up neere dead, yet well recovered. All this night the ship 
sticking fast, the poore distressed in her the next day spying land, made 
a raft, and were those gave the alarum first a shore about three of the 
clocke in the afternoone. The morning after, about seven of the clocke 
came in the Boat to a place called Mangrove Bay; and the same day their 
Carpenter was driven a shore upon a Planke neere Hog-Bay. There was a 
Gentlewoman that had stood wet up to the middle upon the raft from the 
ship to the shore, being big with childe; and although this was upon the 
thirteenth of September, she tooke no hurt, and was safely delivered of a 
Boy within three daies after. The best comfort could be given them in 
those extremities they had, although some of the baser sort had beene 
rifling some of them before the Governors arrivall; Also the Spanish 
Captaine and the chiefe with him, much complained of the treachery of his 
men to leave him in that manner, yet had conveyed with them the most of 
the money they could come by, which he easily missed; whereupon hee 
suddenly caused all them he accused, to be searched, and recovered to the 
value of one hundred and fortie pounds starling, which he delivered into 
the Captaines hands, to be imploied in a generall purse towards their 
generall charge: during their stay in the Iles, some of the better sort, 
nine or ten weeks dieted at his owne table, the rest were billited amongst 
the Inhabitants at foure shillings the weeke, till they found shipping for 
their passage, for which they paied no more then the English paied 
themselves; and for the passage of divers of them, the Governor was glad 
to stand bound to the Master; some others that were not able to procure 
such friendship, were

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so constrained to stay in the Iles, till by their labours they had got so 
much as would transport them; and thus they were preserved, releeved, and 
delivered.

How they solemnized the powder treason, and the arrivall of two ships.

In the moneth insuing arrived the second ship, and she also had lost her 
Master, and divers of her Passengers; in her came two Virginian Women to 
be married to some would have them, that after they were converted and had 
children, they might be sent to their Countrey and kindred to civilize 
them. Towards the end of this moneth came in the third ship with a small 
Magazin, having sold what she could, caried the rest to Virginia, and 
never did any of those Passengers complaine either of their good diet, or 
too good usage at sea; but the cleane contrary still occasioned many of 
those extremities. The fift of November the damnable plot of the powder 
treason was solemnized, with Praiers, Sermons, and a great Feast, whereto 
the Governor invited the chiefe of the Spaniards, where drinking the Kings 
health, it was honored with a quicke volly of small shot, which was 
answered from the Forts with the great Ordnance, and then againe concluded 
with a second volley of small shot; neither was the afternoone without 
musicke and dancing, and at night many huge bone-fires of sweet wood.

The Spaniards returne, and in danger againe. 1621.

The Spaniards to expresse their thankfulnesse at their departure, made a 
deed of gift to the Governor of whatsoever he could recover of the wracked 
ship, but the ships as they went out came so dangerously upon a Rock, that 
the poore Spaniards were so dismaied, swearing this place was ominous unto 
them, especially the women, that desired rather to goe a shore and die 
howsoever, than adventure any further in such a labyrinth of dangers, but 
at last she got cleere without danger, and well to England; the other went 
to Virginia, wherein the Governor sent two great Chests filled with all 
such kinds and sorts of Fruits and Plants as their lands had; as Figs, 
Pomgranats, Oranges, Lemons, Sugar-canes, Plantanes, Potatoes, Papawes, 
Cassado roots, red Pepper, the Prickell Peare, and the like. The ships 
thus dispatched, hee goeth into [missing words]

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Three English Murderers found in the Spanish wracke the maine, and so out 
to sea to the Spanish wracke. He had beene there before presently after 
her ruine, for never had ship a more sudden death, being now split in 
peeces all under water. He found small hope to recover any thing, save a 
Cable and an Anchor, and two good Sacars; but the wind was so high hee was 
forced to returne, being ten miles from the shore, onely with three 
Murderers, which were knowne to be the same Captaine Kendall had sold to 
Captaine Kerby, whose ship was taken by two men of warre of Carthagena, 
the most of his men slaine or hanged, and he being wounded, died in the 
woods. Now their Pilot being at this service, got thus those three 
Murderers to their ship, and their ship thus to the Bermudas, as the 
Spaniards remaining related to the Governor and others.

Their Assises, and other passages.

Having raised three small Bulwarkes at Southhamptons Fort, with two 
Curtaines, and two Ravilings, which indeed is onely the true absolute 
peece of fortification in the Iles; Christmas being come, and the prefixed 
day of the Assise; divers were whipped and burnt in the hand, onely three 
young boyes for stealing were condemned, and at the very point of hanging 
reprived. The Governour then sent his Lieutenant all over the maine to 
distribute Armes, to those were found most fit to use them, & to give 
order for their randezvous, which were hanged up in the Church. About this 
time it chanced a pretty secret to be discovered to preserve their corne 
from the fly, or weavell, which did in a manner as much hurt as the rats. 
For the yeere before having made a Proclamation that all Corne should be 
gathered by a certaine day, because many lazy persons ranne so after the 
ships to get Beere and Aquavitæ, for which they will give any thing they 
have, much had beene lost for want of gathering. This yeare having a very 
faire crop, some of the Inhabitants, none of the best husbands, hastily 
gathered it for feare of the penaltie, threw it in great heaps into their 
houses unhusked, and so let it lie foure or five moneths, which was 
thought would have spoiled it: where the good husbands husked it, and with 
much labour hung

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it up, where the Flies did so blow on it, they increased to so many 
Weavels, they generally complained of great losse; but those good fellowes 
that never cared but from hand to mouth, made their boasts, that not a 
graine of theirs had beene touched nor hurt, there being no better way to 
preserve it then by letting it lie in its huske, and spare an infinite 
labour formerly had beene used. There were also very luckily about this 
time found out divers places of fresh water, of which many of the Forts 
were very destitute, and the Church-wardens and Side-men were very busie 
in correcting the prophaners of the Sabbath, Drunkards, Gamesters, and 
such like. There came also from Virginia a small Barke with many thanks 
for the presents sent them; much Aquavitæ, Oile, Sacke and Bricks they 
brought in exchange of more Fruits and Plants, Ducks, Turkies and 
Limestone, of which she had plenty, and so returned. During the aboad of 
the stay of this ship, the mariage of one of the Virginia maides was 
consummated with a husband fit for her, attended with more then one 
hundred guests, and all the dainties for their dinner could be provided; 
they made also another triall to fish for Whales, but it tooke no more 
effect then the former: this was done by the Master of the Virginia ship 
that professed much skill that way, but having fraughted his ship with 
Lime-stone, with 20000. weight of Potatoes, and such things as he desired, 
returned for Virginia.

A strange Sodomy.

Aprill and May were spent in building a strong new Prison, and perfecting 
some of the Fortifications, and by the labour of twenty men in fourteene 
daies was got from the Spanish wracke foure excellent good Sacres, and 
mounted them at the Forts. Then began the generall Assize, where not fewer 
then fifty civill, or rather uncivill actions were handled, and twenty 
criminall prisoners brought to the bar; such a multitude of such vild 
people were sent to this Plantation, that he thought himselfe happy his 
time was so neere expired: three of the foulest acts were these: the first 
for the rape of a married woman,

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which was acquitted by a senselesse Jury; the second for buggering a Sow, 
and the third for Sodomy with a boy, for which they were hanged; during 
the time of the imprisonment of this Buggerer of the Sow, a Dung-hill 
Cocke belonging to the same man did continually haunt a Pigge of his also, 
and to the wonder of all them that saw it who were many, did so frequently 
tread the Pigge as if it had beene one of his Hens, that the Pigge 
languished and died within a while after, and then the Cocke resorted to 
the very same Sow (that this fellow was accused for) in the very same 
manner; and as an addition to all this, about the same time two Chickens 
were hatched, the one whereof had two heads, the other crowed very loud 
and lustily within twelve houres after it was out of the shell. A 
desperate fellow being to bee arraigned for stealing a Turky, rather then 
he would endure his triall, secretly conveighed himselfe to Sea in a 
little Boat, and never since was ever heard of, nor is he ever like to be, 
without an exceeding wonder, little lesse then a miracle. In June they 
made another triall about the Spanish wracke, and recovered another Sacre 
and a Murderer, also he caused to be hewed out of the maine Rocke a paire 
of large staires for the convenient landing of goods and passengers, a 
worke much to the beauty and benefit of the towne. With twenty chosen men, 
and two excellent Divers, the Governour went himselfe to the wracke 
Warwick, but they could recover but one Murderer, from thence he went to 
the Sea-adventure, the wracke of Sir George Summers, the hull though two 
or three fathomes in the water, they found unperished and with much a doe 
weighed a Sacre, her sheat Anchor, divers barres of Iron and pigs of Lead, 
which stood the Plantation in very great stead. Towards the end of July he 
went to seeke for a wracke they reported lay under water with her hatches 
spiked up, but they could not finde her, but from the Spanish wracke lay 
there by they weighed three faire Sacres more, and so returned through the 
Tribes to Saint Georges: some were also imployed

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to seeke out beds of Oisters for Pearle, some they found, some seed Pearle 
they got, but out of one little shell above all the rest they got about 
120. small Pearle, but somewhat defective in their colour.

The Planters complaints.

The time of Captain Butlers government drawing neere an end, the Colony 
presented unto him divers grievances, to intreat him to remember to the 
Lords and Company in England at his returne: also they appointed two to be 
joyned with him, with letters of credence to solicit in their behalfe 
those grievances following: First, they were defrauded of the food of 
their soules: for being not fewer then one thousand and five hundred 
people, dispersed in length twenty miles, they had at that present but one 
Minister, nor never had but two, and they so shortned of their promises, 
that but onely for meere pity they would have forsaken them. Secondly, 
neglected in the safety of their lives by wants of all sorts of munition. 
Thirdly, they had beene censured contrary to his Majesties Lawes, and not 
allowed them the benefit of their booke as they are in England, but by 
Captaine Butler. Fourthly, they were frustrated of many of their 
covenants, and most extremely pinched and undone by the extortion of the 
Magazine, for although their Tobacco was stinted but at two shillings 
sixpence the pound, yet they pitched their commodities at what rate they 
pleased. Fifthly, their fatherlesse children are left in little better 
condition then slaves, for if their Parents die in debt, their children 
are made as bondmen till the debt be discharged: these things being 
perfected, there grew a great question of one Heriot for plotting of 
factions and abusing the Governour, for which he was condemned to lose his 
eares, yet he was used so favourably he lost but the part of one in all.

The returne of Captaine Butler.

By this time it being growne past the wonted season of the comming in of 
ships from England, after a generall longing and expectation, especially 
of the Governour, whose Commission being neere upon expiration, gave him 
cause to wish for a meane of deliverance from so troublesome and 
thanklesse an imploiment as he had hitherto

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found it; a saile is discovered, and long it was not before shee arrived 
in the Kings Castle-Harbour: this Barke was set out by two or three 
private men of the Company, and having landed her supplies, was to goe for 
Virginia; by her the Governour received certaine advertisements of the 
carriage and behaviour of the Spaniards, which he had relieved as you have 
heard the yeere before; that quite contrary both to his merit, their vow, 
and his owne expectation, they made clamours against him, the which being 
seconded by the Spanish Ambassadour, caused the State to fall in 
examination about it; whereupon having fully cleared their ingratefulnesse 
and impudency, and being assured of the choice of a successor that was to 
be expected within five or six weekes; hee was desirous to take the 
opportunity of this Barke, and to visit the Colony in Virginia in his 
returne for England: leaving the government to Captaine Felgat, Captaine 
Stokes, Master Lewis Hewes, Master Nedom and Master Ginner, but now his 
time being fully expired, and the fortifications finished, viz. The Kings 
Castle wherein were mounted upon sufficient Platformes sixteene peece of 
Ordnances: In Charles Fort two; In Southampton Fort five, betwixt which 
and the Castle passeth the Chanell into the Harbour, secured by three and 
twenty peeces of good artillery to play upon it. In Cowpers Ile is 
Pembrocks Fort, where is two Peeces. The Chanell of Saint George is 
guarded by Smiths Fort, and Pagits Fort, in which is eleven peece of 
Ordnance. Saint George towne is halfe a league within the Harbour, 
commanded by Warwicks Fort, where are three great Peeces, and on the 
Wharfe before the Governours house eight more, besides the warning Peece 
by the mount, and three in Saint Katharines; so that in all there are ten 
Fortresses and two and fifty peeces of Ordnance sufficient and 
serviceable: their formes and situations you may see more plainlier 
described in the Map; and to defend those, he left one thousand five 
hundred persons with neere a hundred boats, and the Ile well replenished 
with store of such fruits, provisions and

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Poultry, as is formerly related; yet for so departing and other occasions, 
much difference hath beene betwixt him and some of the Company, as any of 
his Predecessors, which I rather wish were reconciled, then to be a 
reporter of such unprofitable dissentions.

For
Till trechery and faction, and avarice be gone,
Till envy and ambition, and backbiting be none,
Till perjury and idlenesse, and injury be out,
And truly till that villany the worst of all that rout;
Unlesse those vises banisht be, what ever Forts you have,
A hundred walls together put will not have power to save.

Master John Barnard sent to be Governour.

1622. The Lord Cavendish Treasurer. Master Nicholas Farrar Deputy.

To supply this place was sent by the noble adventurers John Bernard, a 
Gentleman both of good meanes and quality, who arrived within eight daies 
after Butlers departure with two ships, and about one hundred and forty 
passengers with armes and all sorts of munition and other provisions 
sufficient. During the time of his life which was but six weekes in 
reforming all things he found defective, he shewed himselfe so judiciall 
and industrious as gave great satisfaction, and did generally promise vice 
was in great danger to be suppressed, and vertue and the Plantation much 
advanced; but so it hapned that both he and his wife died in such short 
time they were both buried in one day and one grave, and Master John 
Harrison chosen Governour till further order came from England.

What hapned in the government of Master John Harrison.

1623 Sir Edward Sackvil Treasurer. Master Gabriel Barber Deputy.

THey are still much troubled with a great short worme that devours their 
Plants in the night, but all the day they lie hid in the ground, and 
though early in the morning they kill so many, they would thinke there 
were no more, yet the next morning you shall finde as many.

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The Caterpillers to their fruits are also as pernicious, and the land 
Crabs in some places are as thicke in their Borowes as Conies in a Warren, 
and doe much hurt; besides all this, there hapned this yeere a very heavy 
disaster, for a ship wherein there had beene much swearing and blaspheming 
used all the voyage, and landed what she had to leave in those Iles, 
jovially froliking in their Cups and Tobacco, by accident fired the 
Powder, that at the very instant blew up the great Cabin, and some one way 
and some another, it is a wonder to thinke how they could bee so blowne 
out of the gun-roome into the Sea, where some were taken up living, so 
pitifully burned, their lives were worse then so many deaths, some died, 
some lived, but eighteene were lost at this fatall blast, the ship also 
immediatly sunke with threescore barrels of meale sent for Virginia, and 
all the other provision in her was thus lost.

Note.

Now to consider how the Spaniards, French, and Dutch, have beene lost and 
preserved in those invincible Iles, yet never regarded them but as 
monuments of miseries, though at this present they all desire them; How 
Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Summers being ready to sinke in the sea 
were saved, what an incredible abundance of victuall they found, how it 
was first planted by the English, the strange increase of Rats, and their 
sudden departure, the five men came from England in a boat, the escape of 
Hilliard, and the rest of those accidents there hapned, a man would thinke 
it a tabernacle of miracles, and the worlds wonder, that from such a 
Paradise of admiration who would thinke should spring such wonders of 
afflictions as are onely fit to be sacrificed upon the highest altars of 
sorrow, thus to be set upon the highest Pinacles of content, and presently 
throwne downe to the lowest degree of extremity, as you see have beene the 
yeerely succeedings of those Plantations; the which to overcome, as it is 
an incomparable honour, so it can be no dishonour if a man doe miscarry by 
unfortunate accidents in such honourable actions, the which renowne and 
vertue to attaine hath caused so many attempts by divers Nations besides 
ours, even to passe through the very amazement of adventures. Upon the 
relation of this newes the Company hath sent one Captaine Woodhouse, a 
Gentleman of good repute and great experience in the warres, and no lesse 
provident then industrious and valiant: then returned report, all goeth 
well there. It is too true, in the absence of the noble Treasurer, Sir 
Edward Sackvill, now Earle of Dorset, there have beene such complaints 
betwixt the Planters and the Company, that by command the Lords appointed 
Sir Thomas Smith againe Treasurer, that since then according to their 
order of Court he is also elected, where now we must leave them all to 
their good fortune and successe, till we heare further of their fortunate 
proceedings.

1624. Sir Thomas Smith Treasurer, and Master Edwards Deputy.

FINIS.

END OF VOLUME I.