Travels of Captaine John Smith Volume II - Pages 154-181



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Chapter XVI.
How he levieth an Armie; their Armes and Provision; how he divideth the 
spoile; and his service to the Great Turke.

How he levieth an Armie.

WHen he intends any warres, he must first have leave of the Great Turke, 
whom hee is bound to assist when hee commandeth, receiving daily for 
himselfe and chiefe of his Nobilitie, pensions from the Turke, that holds 
all Kings but slaves that pay tribute or are subject to any: signifying 
his intent to all his subjects, within a moneth commonly he raiseth his 
Armie, and everie man is to furnish himselfe for three moneths victuals, 
which is parched Millit, or grownd to meale, which they ordinarily mingle 
with water (as is said), hard cheese or cruds dried and beaten to powder, 
a little will make much water like milke, and dried flesh, this they put 
also up in sackes: The Chan and his Nobles have some bread and Aquavitaæ, 
and quicke cattell to kill when they please, wherewith verie sparingly 
they are contented. Being provided with expert Guides, and got into the 
Countrey he intends to

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invade, he sends forth his Scouts to bring in what prisoners they can, 
from whom he will wrest the utmost of their knowledge fit for his purpose: 
having advised with his Councell, what is most fit to be done, the 
Nobilitie, according to their antiquitie, doth march; then moves he with 
his whole Armie. If hee finde there is no enemie to oppose him, he 
adviseth how farre they shall invade: commanding everie man (upon paine of 
his life) to kill all the obvious Rusticks; but not to hurt any women, or 
children.

The manner of his warres.

Ten, or fifteene thousand, he commonly placeth, where hee findeth most 
convenient for his standing Campe; the rest of his Armie hee divides in 
several troops, bearing ten or twelve miles square before them, and ever 
within three or foure dayes returne to their Campe, putting all to fire 
and sword, but that they carrie with them backe to their Campe; and in 
this scattering manner he will invade a Countrey, and be gone with his 
prey, with an incredible expedition. But if he understand of an enemie, he 
will either fight in Ambuscado, or flie; for he will never fight any 
battel if he can chuse, but upon treble advantage; yet by his innumerable 
flights of arrowes, I have seene flie from his flying troopes, we could 
not well judge, whether his fighting or flying was most dangerous, so good 
is his horse, and so expert his bow-men; but if they be so intangled they 
must fight, there is none can bee more hardy, or resolute in their 
defences.

How he divides the spoile.

Regaining his owne borders, he takes the tenth of the principall captives, 
man, woman, childe, or beast (but his captaines that take them, will 
accept of some particular person they best like for themselves) the rest 
are divided amongst the whole Armie, according to every roans desert, and 
quality; that they keepe them, or sell them to who will give most; but 
they will not forget to use all the meanes they can, to know their 
estates, friends, and quality, and the better they finde you, the worse 
they will use you, till you doe agree to pay such a ransome,

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as they will impose upon you; therefore many great persons have endured 
much misery to conceale themselves, because their ransomes are so 
intolerable: their best hope is of some Christian Agent, that many times 
commeth to redeeme slaves, either with mony, or man for man: those Agents 
knowing so well the extreme covetousnesse of the Tartars, doe use to bribe 
some Jew or Merchant, that feigning they will sell them againe to some 
other nation, are oft redeemed for a very small ransome.

How the Chan doth serve the great Turke.

But to this Tartarian Armie, when the Turke commands, he goeth with some 
small artillery; and the Nagagians, Perecopens, Crimes, Osovens, and 
Cersessians, are his tributaries; but the Petigorves, Oczaconians, 
Byalogordens, and Dobrueen Tartars, the Turke by covenant commands to 
follow him; so that from all those Tartars he hath had an Army of an 
hundred and twenty thousand excellent, swift, stomackfull Tartarian horse, 
for foot they have none. Now the Chan, his Sultaines and nobility, use 
Turkish, Caramanian, Arabian, Parthian, and other strange Tartarian 
horses; the swiftest they esteeme the best; seldome they feede any more at 
home, than they have present use for; but upon their plaines is a short 
wodde like heath, in some countries like gaile, full of berries, farre 
much better than any grasse.

Their Armes.

Their Armes are such as they have surprised or got from the Christians or 
Persians, both brest-plates, swords, semiteres, and helmets; bowes and 
arrowes they make most themselves, also their bridles and saddles are 
indifferent, but the nobility are very handsome, and well armed like the 
Turkes, in whom consisteth their greatest glory; the ordinary sort have 
little armor, some a plaine young pole unshaven, headed with a peece of 
iron for a lance; some an old Christian pike, or a Turks cavatine: yet 
those tattertimallions will have two or three horses, some foure, or five, 
as well for service, as for to eat; which makes their Armies seem thrice 
so many as there are souldiers. The Chan himselfe hath about his person 
ten thousand chosen Tartars and Janizaries, some small

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Ordnance: and a white mares taile with a peece of greene taffity on a 
great Pike, is carried before him for a standard; because they hold no 
beast so precious as a white mare, whose milke is onely for the King & 
nobility, and to sacrifice to their Idolls; but the rest have ensignes of 
divers colours.

For all this miserable knowledge, furniture, and equipage, the mischiefe 
they doe in Christendome is wonderfull, by reason of their hardnesse of 
life and constitution, obedience, agilitie, and their Emperours bountie, 
honours, grace, and dignities he ever bestoweth upon those that have done 
him any memorable service in the face of his enemies.

A description of the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Sea, most men agree that have passed it, to be in length about 
200. leagues, and in breadth an hundred & fifty, environed to the East, 
with the great desarts of the Tartars of Turkamane; to the West, by the 
Circasses, and the mountaine Caucasus; to the North, by the river Volga, 
and the land of Nagay; and to the South, by Media, and Persia: this sea is 
fresh water in many places, in others as salt as the great Ocean; it hath 
many great rivers which fall into it, as the mighty river of Volga, which 
is like a sea, running neere two thousand miles, through many great and 
large Countries, that send into it many other great rivers; also out of 
Saberya, Yaick, and Yem, out of the great mountaine Caucasus, the river 
Sirus, Arash, and divers others, yet no Sea neerer it than the blacke Sea, 
which is at least an hundred leagues distant; in which Country live the 
Georgians, now part Armenians, part Nestorians; it is neither found to 
increase or diminish, or empty it selfe any way, except it be under 
ground, and in some places they can finde no ground at two hundred fadome.

Many other most strange and wonderfull things are in the land of Cathay 
towards the North-east, and Chyna towards the South-east, where are many 
of the most famous Kingdomes in the world; where most arts, plenty, and 
curiosities are in such abundance, as might seeme

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incredible, which hereafter I will relate, as I have briefly gathered from 
such authors as have lived there.



Chapter XVII.
How captaine Smith escaped his captivity; slew the Bashaw of Nalbrits in 
Cambia; his passage to Russia, Transilvania, and the middest of Europe to 
Affrica.

How Smith escaped his captivity.

ALl the hope he had ever to be delivered from this thraldome was only the 
love of Tragabigzanda, who surely was ignorant of his bad usage; for 
although he had often debated the matter with some Christians, that had 
beene there a long time slaves, they could not finde how to make an 
escape, by any reason or possibility; but God beyond mans expectation or 
imagination helpeth his servants, when they least thinke of helpe, as it 
hapned to him.

So long he lived in this miserable estate, as he became a thresher at a 
grange in a great field, more than a league from the Tymors house; the 
Bashaw as he oft used to visit his granges, visited him; and tooke 
occasion so to beat, spurne, and revile him, that forgetting all reason, 
he beat out the Tymors braines with his threshing bat, for they have no 
flailes; and seeing his estate could be no worse than it was, clothed 
himselfe in his clothes, hid his body under the straw, filled his 
knapsacke with corne, shut the doores, mounted his horse, and ranne into 
the desart at all adventure; two or three dayes thus fearfully wandring he 
knew not whither, and well it was he met not any to aske the way; being 
even as taking leave of this miserable world, God did direct him to the 
great way or Castragan, as they call it, which doth crosse these large 
territories, and generally knowne among them by these markes.

Their guides in those Countries.

In every crossing of this great way is planted a post,

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and in it so many bobs with broad ends, as there be wayes, and every bob 
the figure painted on it, that demonstrateth to what part that way 
leadeth; as that which pointeth towards the Cryms Country, is marked with 
a halfe Moone, if towards the Georgians and Persia, a blacke man, full of 
white spots, if towards China, the picture of the Sunne, if towards 
Muscovia, the signe of a Crosse, if towards the habitation of any other 
Prince, the figure whereby his standard is knowne. To his dying spirits, 
thus God added some comfort in this melancholy journey: wherein if he had 
met any of that vilde generation, they had made him their slave, or 
knowing the figure engraven in the iron about his necke, (as all slaves 
have) he had beene sent backe againe to his master; sixteene dayes he 
travelled in this feare and torment, after the Crosse, till he arrived at 
Ecopolis, upon the river Don, a garrison of the Muscovites. The governour 
after due examination of those his hard events, tooke off his irons, and 
so kindly used him, he thought himselfe new risen from death, and the good 
Lady Callamata, largely supplied all his wants.

The description of Cambia and his passage to Russia.

This is as much as he could learne of those wilde Countries, that the 
Country of Cambia is two dayes journy from the head of the great river 
Bruapo, which springeth from many places of the mountaines of Innagachi, 
that joyne themselves together in the Poole Kerkas; which they account for 
the head, and falleth into the Sea Dissabacca, called by some the lake 
Meotis, which receiveth also the river Tanais, and all the rivers that 
fall from the great Countries of the Circassi, the Cartaches, and many 
from the Tauricaes, Precopes, Cummani, Cossunka, and the Cryme; through 
which Sea he sailed, and up the river Bruapo to Nalbrits, and thence 
through the desarts of Circassi to Ecoplis, as is related; where he stayed 
with the Governour, till the Convoy went to Coragnaw; then with his 
certificate how hee found him, and had examined, with his friendly letters 
sent him by Zumalacke to Caragnaw, whose Governour in like manner

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so kindly use him, that by this meanes he went with a safe conduct to 
Letch, and Donka, in Cologoske, and thence to Berniske, and Newgrod in 
Seberia, by Rezechica, upon the river Niper in the confines of Littuania. 
From whence with as much kindnesse he was convoyed in like manner by 
Coroski, Duberesko, Duzihell, Drohobus, and Ostroge in Volonia; Saslaw and 
Lasco in Podolia; Halico and Collonia in Polonia; and so to Hermonstat in 
Transilvania. In all his life he seldome met with more respect, mirth, 
content, and entertainment; and not any Governour where he came, but gave 
him somewhat as a present, besides his charges; seeing themselves as 
subject to the like calamity. Through those poore continually forraged 
Countries there is no passage, but with the Carravans or Convoyes; for 
they are Countries rather to be pitied, than envied; and it is a wonder 
any should make warres for them. The Villages are onely here and there a 
few houses of straight Firre trees, laid heads and points above one 
another, made fast by notches at the ends more than a mans height, and 
with broad split boards, pinned together with woodden pinnes, as thatched 
for coverture. In ten Villages you shall scarce finde ten iron nailes, 
except it be in some extraordinary mans house. For their Townes, Ecopolis, 
Letch, and Donko, have rampiers made of that woodden walled fashion, 
double, and betwixt them earth and stones, but so latched with crosse 
timber, they are very strong against any thing but fire; and about them a 
deepe ditch, and a Palizado of young Firre trees: but most of the rest 
have only a great ditch, cast about them, and the ditches earth is all 
their rampier; but round well environed with Palizadoes. Some have some 
few small peeces of small Ordnance, and slings, calievers, and muskets; 
but their generallest weapons are the Russe bowes and arrowes; you shall 
find pavements over bogges, onely of young Firre trees laid crosse one 
over another, for two or three houres journey, or as the passage requires: 
and yet in two dayes travell you shall scarce see six habitations. 
Notwithstanding,

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to see how their Lords, Governours, and Captaines are civilized, well 
attired and acoutred with Jewells, Sables, and Horses, and after their 
manner with curious furniture, it is wonderfull: but they are all Lords or 
slaves, which makes them so subject to every invasion.

In Transilvania he found so many good friends, that but to see and rejoyce 
himselfe (after all those encounters) in his native Country, he would ever 
hardly have left them; though the mirrour of vertue, their Prince, was 
absent. Being thus glutted with content, and neere drowned with joy, he 
passed high Hungaria by Fileck, Tocka, Cassovia, and Underoroway, by 
Ulmicht, in Moravia, to Prague in Bohemia: at last he found the most 
gracious Prince Sigismundus, with his Colonell, at Lipswick in Misenland: 
who gave him big Passe, intimating the service he had done, and the 
honours he had received, with fifteene hundred ducats of gold to repaire 
his losses: with this, he spent some time to visit the faire Cities and 
Countries of Drasdon in Saxonie, Magdaburg and Brunswicke; Cassell in 
Hessen; Wittenberg, Ullum, and Minikin in Bavaria; Aughsbrough, and her 
Universities; Hama, Franckford, Mentz, the Palatinate; Wormes, Speyre, and 
Strausborough; passing Nancie in Loraine, and France by Paris to Orleans, 
hee went down the river of Loyer, to Angiers, and imbarked himselfe at 
Nantz in Britanny, for Bilbao in Biskay, to see Bergs, Valiadolid, the 
admired monoester of the Escuriall, Madrill, Toledo, Cordua, Cuedyriall, 
Civill, Cheryes, Cales, and Saint Lucas in Spaine.



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Chapter XVIII.
The observations of Captaine Smith, Mr. Henrie Archer and others in 
Barbarie.

BEing thus satisfied with Europe and Asia; understanding of the warres in 
Barbarie, hee went from Gibralter to Guta and Tanger, thence to Saffee, 
where growing into acquaintance with a French man of warre, the Captaine 
and some twelve more went to Morocco, to see the ancient monuments of that 
large renowned Citie: it was once the principall Citie in Barbarie, 
situated in a goodly plaine Countrey, 14 miles from the great Mount Atlas, 
and sixtie miles from the Atlanticke Sea; but now little remaining, but 
the Kings Palace, which is like a Citie of it selfe, and the Christian 
Church, on whose flat square steeple is a great brouch of iron, whereon is 
placed the three golden Bals of Affrica: the first is neere three Ells in 
circumference, the next above it somewhat lesse, the uppermost the least 
over them, as it were an halfe Ball, and over all a prettie guilded 
Pyramides. Against those golden Bals hath been shot many a shot. Their 
weight is recorded 700. weight of pure gold, hollow within, yet no shot 
did ever hit them, nor could ever any Conspirator attaine that honor as to 
get them downe. They report the Prince of Morocco betrothed himselfe to 
the Kings Daughter of Ethiopia, he dying before their marriage, she caused 
those three golden Balls to be set up for his Monument, and vowed 
virginitie all her life. The Alfantica is also a place of note, because it 
is invironed with a great wall, wherein lye the goods of all the Merchants 
securely guarded. The Juderea is also (as it were) a Citie of it selfe, 
where dwell the Jewes: the rest for the most part is defaced: but by the 
many pinnacles and towers, with Balls on their tops, hath much appearance 
of much sumptuousnesse and curiositie.

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There have been many famous Universities, which are now but stables for 
Fowles & Beasts, & the houses in most parts lye tumbled one above another; 
the walls of Earth are with the great fresh flouds washed to the ground; 
nor is there any village in it, but tents for Strangers, Larbes & Moores. 
Strange tales they will tell of a great Garden, wherein were all sorts of 
Birds, Fishes, Beasts, Fruits & Fountaines, which for beautie, Art, and 
pleasure, exceeded any place knowne in the world, though now nothing but 
dung-hils, Pigeon-houses, shrubs and bushes. There are yet many excellent 
fountaines adorned with marble, and many arches, pillers, towers, ports 
and Temples; but most only reliques of lamentable ruines and sad 
desolation.

A bloudie Empresse.

When Mully Hamet reigned in Barbarie, he had three sonnes, Mully Shecke, 
Mully Sidan, and Mully Befferres. He was a most good and noble King, that 
governed well with peace and plentie, till his Empresse, more cruell than 
any beast in Affrica, poysoned him, her owne daughter, Mully Shecke his 
eldest sonne borne of a Portugall Ladie, and his daughter, to bring Mully 
Sidan to the Crowne now reigning, which was the cause of all those brawles 
and warres that followed betwixt those Brothers, their children, and a 
Saint that start up but he played the Devill.

King Mully Hamet, or the Great Barbarie.

King Mully Hamet was not blacke, as many suppose, but Molata, or tawnie, 
as are the most of his subjects; everie way noble, kinde and friendly, 
verie rich and pompous in State and Majestie, though hee sitteth not upon 
a Throne nor Chaire of Estate, but crosse legged upon a rich Carpet, as 
doth the Turke, whose Religion of Mahomet, with an incredible miserable 
curiositie they observe. His Ordinarie Guard is at least 5000 but in 
progresse he goeth not with lesse than 20000. horsemen, himselfe as rich 
in all his Equipage, as any Prince in Christendome, and yet a Contributor 
to the Turke. In all his Kingdome were so few good Artificers, that hee 
entertained from England, Gold-smiths, Plummers,

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Carvers, and Polishers of stone, and Watch-makers, so much hee delighted 
in the reformation of workmanship, hee allowed each of them ten shillings 
a day standing fee, linnen, woollen, silkes, and what they would for diet 
and apparell, and custome-free to transport, or import what they would; 
for there were scarce any of those qualities in his Kingdomes but those, 
of which there are divers of them living at this present in London. 
Amongst the rest, one Mr. Henry Archer, a Watch-maker, walking in Morocco, 
from the Alfantica to the Juderea, the way being verie foule, met a great 
Priest, or a Sante (as they call all great Clergy-men) who would have 
thrust him into the durt for the way; but Archer, not knowing what he was, 
gave him a box on the eare, presently he was apprehended, and condemned to 
have his tongue cut out, and his hand cut off; but no sooner it was knowen 
at the Kings Court, but 300. of his Guard came, and broke open the Prison, 
and delivered him, although the fact was next degree to Treason.

The strange love of a Lyon.

Concerning this Archer, there is one thing more worth noting: Not farre 
from Mount Atlas, a great Lionesse in the heat of the day, did use to 
bathe her selfe, and teach her young Puppies to swimme in the river 
Cauzeff, of a good bredth; yet she would carrie them one after another 
over the river: which some Moores perceiving watched their opportunitie, 
and when the river was betweene her and them, stole foure of her whelps, 
which she perceiving, with all the speed shee could passed the river, and 
comming neere them they let fall a whelpe (and fled with the rest) which 
she tooke in her mouth, and so returned to the rest: A Male and a Female 
of those they gave Mr. Archer, who kept them in the Kings Garden, till the 
Male killed the Female, then he brought it up as a Puppy-dog lying upon 
his bed, till it grew so great as a Mastiffe, and no dog more tame or 
gentle to them hee knew: but being to returne for England, at Saffee he 
gave him to a Merchant of Marsellis, that presented him to the French 
King, who sent him to King

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James, where it was kept in the Tower seven yeeres: After one Mr. John 
Bull, then servant to Mr. Archer, with divers of his friends, went to see 
the Lyons, not knowing any thing at all of him; yet this rare beast 
smelled him before hee saw him, whining, groaning, and tumbling, with such 
an expression of acquaintance, that being informed by the Keepers how hee 
came thither; Mr. Bull so prevailed, the Keeper opened the grate, and Bull 
went in: But no Dogge could fawne more on his Master, than the Lyon on 
him, licking his feet, hands, and face, skipping and tumbling to and fro, 
to the wonder of all the beholders; being satisfied with his acquaintance, 
he made shift to get out of the grate. But when the Lyon saw his friend 
gone, no beast by bellowing, roaring, scratching, and howling, could 
expresse more rage and sorrow, nor in foure dayes after would he either 
eat or drinke.

Another kinde Lyon in Morocco.

In Morocco, the Kings Lyons are all together in a Court, invironed with a 
great high wall; to those they put a young Puppy-dogge: the greatest Lyon 
had a sore upon his necke, which this Dogge so licked that he was healed: 
the Lyon defended him from the furie of all the rest, nor durst they eat 
till the Dogge and he had fed; this Dog grew great, and lived amongst them 
many yeeres after.

The description of Fez.

Fez also is a most large and plentifull Countrey, the chiefe Citie is 
called Fez, divided into two parts; old Fez containing about 80. thousand 
housholds, the other 4000. pleasantly situated upon a River in the heart 
of Barbarie, part upon hils, part upon plaines, full of people, and all 
sorts of Merchandise. The great Temple is called Carucen, in bredth 
seventeene Arches, in length 120. borne up with 2500. white marble 
pillars: under the chiefe Arch, where the Tribunall is kept, hangeth a 
most huge lampe, compassed with 110. lesser, under the other also hang 
great lamps, and about some are burning fifteene hundred lights. They say 
they were all made of the bels the Arabians brought from Spaine. It hath 
three

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gates of notable height, Priests and Officers so many, that the circuit of 
the Church, the Yard, and other houses, is little lesse than a mile and a 
halfe in compasse; there are in this Citie 200. Schooles, 200. Innes, 400. 
watermils, 600. water-Conduits; 700. Temples and Oratories; but fiftie of 
them most stately and richly furnished. Their Alcazar or Burse is walled 
about, it hath twelve gates, and fifteen walks covered with tents to keepe 
the Sun from the Merchants, and them that come there. The Kings Palace, 
both for strength and beautie is excellent, and the citizens have many 
great privileges. Those two Countreyes of Fez and Morocco, are the best 
part of all Barbarie, abounding with people, cattell, and all good 
necessaries for mans use. For the rest, as the Larbes or Mountainers, the 
Kingdomes of Cocow, Algier, Tripoly, Tunis, and Egypt; there are many 
large histories of them in divers languages, especially that writ by that 
most excellent Statesman, John de Leo, who afterward turned Christian. The 
unknowen Countries of Ginny and Binne, this six and twentie yeeres have 
beene frequented with a few English ships only to trade, especially the 
river of Senega, by Captaine Brimstead, Captaine Brockit, Mr. Crump, and 
divers others. Also the great river of Gambra, by Captaine Jobson, who is 
returned in thither againe in the yeere 1626. with Mr. William Grent, and 
thirteene or fourteene others, to stay in the Countrey, to discover some 
way to those rich mines of Gago or Tumbatu, from whence is supposed the 
Moores of Barbarie have their gold, and the certaintie of those supposed 
descriptions and relations of those interiour parts, which daily the more 
they are sought into, the more they are corrected. For surely, those 
interiour parts of Affrica are little knowen to either English, French, or 
Dutch, though they use much the Coast; therefore wee will make a little 
bold with the observations of the Portugalls.



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Chapter XIX.
The strange discoveries and observations of the Portugalls in Affrica.

How the Portugalls coasted to the East Indies.

THe Portugalls on those parts have the glorie, who first coasting along 
this Westerne shore of Affrica, to finde passage to the East Indies, 
within this hundred and fiftie yeeres, even from the Streights of 
Gibralter, about the Cape of Bone Esperance to the Persian Gulfe, and 
thence all along the Asian Coast to the Moluccas, have subjected many 
great Kingdomes, erected many Common-wealths, built many great and strong 
Cities; and where is it they have not beene by trade or force? no not so 
much as Cape de Verd, and Sermleone; but most Bayes or Rivers, where there 
is any trade to bee had, especially gold, or conveniencie for refreshment, 
but they are scattered; living so amongst those Blacks, by time and 
cunning they seeme to bee naturalized amongst them. As for the Isles of 
the Canaries, they have faire Townes, many Villages, and many thousands of 
people rich in commodities.

Or Edward.

Ordoardo Lopez, a noble Portugall, Anno Dom 1578. imbarquing himselfe for 
Congo to trade, where he found such entertainment, finding the King much 
oppressed with enemies, hee found meanes to bring in the Portugalls to 
assist him, whereby he planted there Christian Religion, and spent most of 
his life to bring those Countreyes to the Crowne of Portugall, which he 
describeth in this manner.

The Kingdome of Congo.

The Kingdome of Congo is about 600. miles diameter any way, the chiefe 
Citie called St. Savadore, seated upon an exceeding high mountaine, 150. 
miles from the Sea, verie fertile, and inhabited with more than 100000. 
persons, where is an excellent prospect over all the plaine Countreyes 
about it, well watered, lying (as it were) in

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the Center of this Kingdome, over all which the Portugalls now command, 
though but an handfull in comparison of Negroes. They have flesh and 
fruits verie plentifull of divers sorts.

Wilde Elephants.

This Kingdom is divided into five Provinces, viz. Bamba, Sundi, Pango, 
Bacca, and Pembo; but Bamba is the principall, and can affoord 400000. men 
of warre. Elephants are bred over all those Provinces, and of wonderfull 
greatnesse; though some report they cannot kneele, nor lye downe, they can 
doe both, and have their joynts as other creatures for use: with their 
fore-feet they will leape upon trees to pull downe the boughes, and are of 
that strength, they will shake a great Cocar tree for the nuts, and pull 
downe a good tree with their tuskes, to get the leaves to eat, as well as 
sedge and long grasse, Cocar nuts and berries, &c. which with their trunke 
they put in their mouth, and chew it with their smaller teeth; in most of 
those Provinces, are many rich mines, but the Negars opposed the 
Portugalls for working in them.

The Kingdome of Angola.

The Kingdome of Angola is wonderfull populous, and rich in mines of 
silver, copper, and most other metals; fruitfull in all manner of food, 
and sundry sorts of cattell, but dogies flesh they love better than any 
other meat: they use few clothes, and no Armour; bowes, arrowes, and 
clubs, are their weapons. But the Portugalls are well armed against those 
engines; and doe buy yearely of those Blacks more than five thousand 
slaves, and many are people exceeding well proportioned.

The Kingdome of Anchicos.

The Anchicos are a most valiant nation, but most strange to all about 
them. Their Armes are Bowes, short and small, wrapped about with serpents 
skinnes, of divers colours, but so smooth you would thinke them all one 
with the wood, and it makes them very strong; their strings little twigs, 
but exceeding tough and flexible; their arrowes short, which they shoot 
with an incredible quicknesse. They have short axes of brasse and copper 
for swords; wonderfull loyall and faithfull, and exceeding

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simple, yet so active, they skip amongst the rockes like goats. They trade 
with them of Nubea, and Congo, for Lamache, which is a small kinde of 
shell fish, of an excellent azure colour, male and female, but the female 
they hold most pure; they value them at divers prices, because they are of 
divers sorts, and those they use for coine, to buy and sell, as we doe 
gold and silver; nor will they have any other money in all those 
Countries, for which they give Elephants teeth; and slaves for salt, 
silke, linnen cloth, glasse-beads, and such like Portugall commodities

They circumcise themselves, and marke their faces with sundry slashes from 
their infancie. They keepe a shambles of mans flesh, as if it were beefe 
or other victuall: for when they cannot have a good market for their 
slaves; or their enemies they take, they kill and sell them in this 
manner; some are so resolute in shewing how much they scorne death, they 
will offer themselves and slaves to this butchery to their Prince and 
friends; and though there be many nations will eat their enemies, in 
America and Asia, yet none but those are knowne to be so mad, as to eat 
their slaves and friends also.

A shambles of mans flesh. Their Religions and Idols.

Religions and idolls they have as many, as nations and humours; but the 
devill hath the greatest part of their devotions, whom all those Blacks 
doe say is white; for there are no Saints but Blacks.

Divers nations yet unknowne, and the wonders of Affrica.

But besides those great Kingdomes of Congo, Angola, and Azichi in those 
unfrequented parts are the Kingdomes of Lango, Matania, Buttua, Sofola, 
Mozambeche, Quivola, the Isle of Saint Lawrence, Mombaza, Melinda, the 
Empires of Monomatopa, Monemugi, and Presbiter John, with whom they have a 
kinde of trade; and their rites, customes, climates, temperatures, and 
commodities by relation.

Also of great Lakes, that deserve the names of Seas, and huge mountaines 
of divers sorts, as some scorched with heat, some covered with snow; the 
mountaines of

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the Sunne, also of the Moone, some of crystall, some of iron, some of 
silver, and mountaines of gold, with the originall of Nilus; likewise 
sundry sorts of cattell, fishes, Fowles, strange beasts, and monstrous 
serpents; for Affrica was alwayes noted to be a fruitfull mother of such 
terrible creatures; who meeting at their watering places, which are but 
Ponds in desart places, in regard of the heat of the Country, and their 
extremities of nature, make strange copulations, and so ingender those 
extraordinary monsters. Of all these you may reade in the history of this 
Edward Lopez, translated into English by Abraham Hartwell, and dedicated 
to John Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, 1597. But because the particulars 
are most concerning the conversion of those Pagans, by a good poore Priest 
that first converted a Noble man, to convert the King, and the rest of the 
Nobility; sent for so many Priests and ornaments into Portugall, to 
solemnize their baptismes with such magnificence, which was performed with 
such strange curiosities, that those poore Negros adored them as Gods, 
till the Priests grew to that wealth, a Bishop was sent to rule over them, 
which they would not endure, which endangered to spoile all before they 
could bee reconciled. But not to trouble you too long with those rarities 
of uncertainties; let us returne againe to Barbary, where the warres being 
ended, and Befferres possessed of Morocco, and his fathers treasure; a new 
bruit arose amongst them, that Muly Sidan, was raising an Armie against 
him, who after tooke his brother Befferres prisoner; but by reason of the 
uncertainty, and the perfidious, treacherous, bloudy murthers rather than 
warre, amongst those perfidious, barbarous Moores, Smith returned with 
Merham, and the rest to Saffe, and so aboard his Ship, to try some other 
conclusions at Sea.



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Chapter XX.
A brave Sea fight betwixt two Spanish men of warre, and Captaine Merham 
with Smith.

MErham a captaine of a man of war then in the Road, invited captaine 
Smith, and two or three more of them aboord with him, where he spared not 
any thing he had to expresse his kindnesse, to bid them welcome, till it 
was too late to goe on shore, so that necessitie constrained them to stay 
aboord; a fairer Evening could not bee, yet ere midnight such a storme did 
arise, they were forced to let slip Cable and Anchor, and put to Sea; 
spooning before the wind, till they were driven to the Canaries; in the 
calmes they accommodated themselves, hoping this strange accident might 
yet produce some good event; not long it was before they tooke a small 
Barke comming from Teneryf, loaded with Wine; three or foure more they 
chased, two they tooke, but found little in them, save a few passengers, 
that told them of five Dutch men of warre, about the Isles, so that they 
stood for Boyadora, upon the Affrican shore, betwixt which and Cape Noa, 
they descried to saile. Merham intending to know what they were, hailed 
them; very civilly they dansed their topsailes, and desired the man of 
warre to come aboord them, and take what he would, for they were but two 
poore distressed Biskiners. But Merham, the old fox, seeing himselfe in 
the lions pawes, sprung his loufe, the other tacked after him, and came 
close up to his nether quarter, gave his broad side, and so loufed up to 
windward; the Vice-Admirall did the like; and at the next bout, the 
Admirall with a noise of Trumpets, and all his Ordnance, murtherers, and 
muskets, boorded him on his broad side; the other in like manner on his 
ley quarter, that it was so darke, there was little light, but fire and 
smoake; long he stayed not, before he fell off, leaving

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4. or 5. of his men sprawling over the grating; after they had battered 
Merham about an houre, they boorded him againe as before; and threw foure 
kedgers or grapnalls in iron chaines, then shearing off they thought so to 
have torne downe the grating; but the Admiralls yard was so intangled in 
their shrouds, Merham had time to discharge two crosse barre shot amongst 
them, and divers bolts of iron made for that purpose, against his bow, 
that made such a breach, he feared they both should have sunke for 
company; so that the Spaniard was as yare in slipping his chained 
Grapnalls, as Merham was in cutting the tackling, kept fast their yards in 
his shrouds; the Vice-admirall presently cleared himselfe, but spared 
neither his Ordnance nor Muskets to keepe Merham from getting away, till 
the Admirall had repaired his leake; from twelve at noone, till six at 
night, they thus interchanged one volly for another; then the Vice-
admirall fell on starne, staying for the Admirall that came up againe to 
him, and all that night stood after Merham, that shaped his course for 
Mamora, but such small way they made, the next morning they were not three 
leagues off from Cape Noa. The two Spanish men of warre, for so they were, 
and well appointed, taking it in scorne as it seemed, with their chase, 
broad side, and starne, the one after the other, within Musket shot, 
plying their ordnance; and after an houres worke commanded Merham a maine 
for the King of Spaine upon faire quarter; Merham dranke to them, and so 
discharged his quarter peeces: which pride the Spaniard to revenge, 
boorded him againe, and many of them were got to the top to unsling the 
maine saile, which the Master and some others from the round house, caused 
to their cost to come tumbling downe; about the round house the Spaniards 
so pestered, that they were forced to the great Cabben and blew it up; the 
smoake and fire was so vehement, as they thought the Ship on fire; they in 
the fore castle were no lesse assaulted, that blew up a peece of the 
grating, with a great many of Spaniards more; then they

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cleared themselves with all speed, and Merham with as much expedition to 
quench the fire with wet clothes and water, which beganne to grow too 
fast. The Spaniard still playing upon him with all the shot they could; 
the open places presently they covered with old sailes, and prepared 
themselves to fight to the last man. The angry Spaniard seeing the fire 
quenched, hung out a flagge of truce to have but a parley; but that 
desperate Merham knew there was but one way with him, and would have none, 
but the report of his Ordnance, which hee did know well how to use for his 
best advantage. Thus they spent the next after-noone, and halfe that 
night; when the Spaniards either lost them, or left them. Seven and 
twentie men Merham had slaine, and sixteene wounded, and could finde they 
had received 140. great shot. A wounded Spanyard they kept alive, 
confessed they had lost 100. men in the Admirall, which they did feare 
would sinke, ere she could recover a Port. Thus reaccommodating their 
sailes, they sailed for Sancta Cruse, Cape Goa, and Magadore, till they 
came againe to Saffee; and then he returned into England.



Chapter XXI.
The continuation of the generall Historie of Virginia; the Summer Iles; 
and New England; with their present estate from 1624. to this present 1629.

COncerning these Countreyes, I would be sorrie to trouble you with 
repeating one thing twice, as with their Maps, Commodities, People, 
Government & Religion yet knowen, the beginning of those plantations, 
their numbers and names, with the names of the Adventurers, the yeerely 
proceedings of everie Governour both here and there. As for the 
misprisions, neglect, grievances, and the causes of all those rumours, 
losses and crosses that

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have happened; I referre you to the Generall Historie, where you shall 
finde all this at large; especially to those pages, where you may read my 
letter of advice to the Councell and Company, what of necessitie must be 
done, or lose all and leave the Countrey, pag. 70. what commodities I sent 
home, pag. 163. my opinion and offer to the Company, to feed and defend 
the Colonies, pag. 150. my account to them here of my actions there, pag. 
163. my seven answers to his Majesties Commissioners: seven questions what 
hath hindered Virginia, and the remedie, pag. 165. How those noble 
Gentlemen spent neere two yeares in perusing all letters came from thence; 
and the differences betwixt many factions, both here and there, with their 
complaints; especially about the Sallerie, which should have beene a new 
office in London, for the well ordering the sale of Tobacco, that 2500. 
pounds should yearely have beene raised out of it, to pay foure or five 
hundred pounds yearly to the Governor of that Companie; two or three 
hundred to his Deputie; the rest into stipends of thirtie or fiftie pounds 
yearely for their Clerks and under Officers which were never there, pag. 
153, but not one hundred pounds for all them in Virginia, or any thing for 
the most part of the Adventurers in England, except the undertakers for 
the Lotteries, Setters out of ships, Adventurers of commodities, also 
their Factors and many other Officers, there imployed only by friendship 
to raise their fortunes out of the labours of the true industrious 
planters by the title of their office, who under the colour of sinceritie, 
did pillage and deceive all the rest most cunningly: For more than 150000. 
pounds have beene spent out of the common stocke, besides many thousands 
have beene there consumed, and neere 7000. people that there died, only 
for want of good order and government, otherwise long ere this there would 
have beene more than 20000. people, where after twentie yeeres spent onely 
in complement and trying new conclusions, was remaining scarce 1500. with 
some few cattell.

Then the Company dissolved, but no account of any

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thing; so that his Majestie appointed Commissioners to oversee, and give 
order for their proceedings. Being thus in a manner left to themselves, 
since then within these foure yeeres, you shall see how wonderfully they 
have increased beyond expectation; but so exactly as I desired, I cannot 
relate unto you. For although I have tired my selfe in seeking and 
discoursing with those returned thence, more than would a voyage to 
Virginia; few can tell me any thing, but of that place or places they have 
inhabited, and he is a great traveller that hath gone up & downe the river 
of James Towne, been at Pamaunke, Smiths Isles, or Accomack; wherein for 
the most part they keepe one tune of their now particular abundance, and 
their former wants, having beene there, some sixteene yeeres, some twelve, 
some six, some neere twentie, &c. But of their generall estate, or any 
thing of worth, the most of them doth know verie little to any purpose.

Their estate. 1627.

Now the most I could understand in generall, was from the relation of Mr. 
Nathaniel Cawsey, that lived there with mee, and returned Anno Dom. 1627. 
and some others affirme; Sir George Yerley was Governour, Captaine Francis 
West, Doctor John Poot, Captaine Roger Smith, Captaine Matthewes, Captaine 
Tucker, Mr. Clabourne and Master Farrer of the Councell: their habitations 
many. The Governour, with two or three of the Councell, are for most part 
at James Towne, the rest repaire thither as there is occasion; but everie 
three moneths they have a generall meeting, to consider of their publike 
affaires.

Their numbers.

Their numbers then were about 1500. some say rather 2000. divided into 
seventeene or eighteene severall Plantations; the greatest part thereof 
towards the falls, are so inclosed with Pallizadoes they regard not the 
Salvages; and amongst those Plantations above James Towne, they have now 
found meanes to take plentie of fish, as well with lines, as nets, and 
where the waters are the largest; having meanes, they need not want.

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Their condition with the Salvages.

Upon this River they seldome see any Salvages; but in the woods, many 
times their fires: yet some few there are, that upon their opportunitie 
have slaine some few stragglers, which have beene revenged with the death 
of so many of themselves; but no other attempt hath beene made upon them 
this two or three yeares.

Their increase of Cattle and Poultrie.

Their Cattle, namely Oxen, Kine, Buls, they imagine to be about 2000. 
Goats great store and great increase; the wilde Hogs, which were infinite, 
are destroyed and eaten by the Salvages: but no family is so poore, that 
hath not tame Swine sufficient; and for Poultrie, he is a verie bad 
husband breedeth not an hundred in a yeere, and the richer sort doth daily 
feed on them.

Plenty of Corne.

For bread they have plentie, and so good, that those that make it well, 
better cannot be: divers have much English corne, especially Mr. Abraham 
Perce, which prepared this yeere to sow two hundred acres of English 
wheat, and as much with barley, feeding daily about the number of sixtie 
persons at his owne charges.

Their drinke.

For drinke, some malt the Indian corne, others barley, of which they make 
good Ale, both strong and small, and such plentie thereof, few of the 
upper Planters drinke any water: but the better sort are well furnished 
with Sacke, Aquavitæ, and good English Beere.

Their servants diet.

Their servants commonly feed upon Milke Homini, which is bruized Indian 
corne pounded, and boiled thicke, and milke for the sauce; but boiled with 
milke the best of all will oft feed on it, and leave their flesh; with 
milke, butter and cheese; with fish, Bulls flesh, for they seldome kill 
any other, &c. And everie one is so applyed to his labour about Tobacco 
and Corne, which doth yeeld them such profit, they never regard any food 
from the Salvages, nor have they any trade or conference with them, but 
upon meere accidents and defiances: and now the Merchants have left it, 
there have gone so many voluntarie ships within this two yeeres, as have 
furnished them with Apparell, Sacke, Aquavitæ, and all necessaries, much 
better than ever before.

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Their Armes and exercise.

For Armes, there is scarce any man but he is furnished with a Peece, a 
Jacke, a Coat of Maile, a Sword, or Rapier; and everie Holy-day, everie 
Plantation doth exercise their men in Armes, by which meanes, hunting and 
fowling, the most part of them are most excellent markmen.

Their health and discoveries.

For Discoveries they have made none, nor any other commoditie than Tobacco 
doe they apply themselves unto, though never any was planted at first. And 
whereas the Countrey was heretofore held most intemperate and contagious 
by many, now they have houses, lodgings and victuall, and the Sunne hath 
power to exhale up the moyst vapours of the earth, where they have cut 
downe the wood, which before it could not, being covered with spreading 
tops of high trees; they finde it much more healthfull than before; nor 
for their numbers, few Countreyes are lesse troubled with death, 
sicknesse, or any other disease, nor where overgrowne women become more 
fruitfull.

The present estate of Virginia, 1629.

Since this, Sir George Yerley died 1628. Captaine West succeeded him; but 
about a yeere after returned for England: Now Doctor Poor is Governour, 
and the rest of the Councell as before: James Towne is yet their chiefe 
seat, most of the wood destroyed, little corne there planted, but all 
converted into pasture and gardens, wherein doth grow all manner of herbs 
and roots we have in England in abundance, and as good grasse as can be. 
Here most of their Cattle doe feed, their Owners being most some one way, 
some another, about their plantations, and returne againe when they 
please, or any shipping comes into trade. Here in winter they have hay for 
their Cattell: but in other places they browze upon wood, and the great 
huskes of their corne, with some corne in them, doth keepe them well. Mr. 
Hutchins saith, they have 2000 Cattle, and about 5000. people; but Master 
Floud, John Davis, William Emerson, and divers others, say, about five 
thousand people, and five thousand kine, calves, oxen, and bulls; for 
goats,

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hogs, and poultry; corne, fish, deere, and many sorts of other wilde 
beasts; and fowle in their season, they have so much more than they spend, 
they are able to feed three or foure hundred men more than they have; and 
doe oft much releeve many ships, both there, and for their returne; and 
this last yeare was there at least two or three and twenty saile. They 
have oft much salt fish from New England; but fresh fish enough, when they 
will take it; Peaches in abundance at Kecoughtan; Apples, Peares, 
Apricocks, Vines, figges, and other fruits some have planted, that 
prospered exceedingly, but their diligence about Tobacco left them to be 
spoiled by the cattell, yet now they beginne to revive; Mistresse Pearce, 
an honest industrious woman, hath beene there neere twentie yeares, and 
now returned, saith, shee hath a Garden at James towne, containing three 
or foure acres, where in one yeare shee hath gathered neere an hundred 
bushels of excellent figges; and that of her owne provision she can keepe 
a better house in Virginia, than here in London for 3. or 400. pounds a 
yeare; yet went thither with little or nothing. They have some tame geese, 
ducks, and turkies. The masters now do so traine up their servants and 
youth in shooting deere, and fowle, that the youths will kill them as well 
as their Masters. They have two brew-houses, but they finde the Indian 
corne so much better than ours, they beginne to leave sowing it. Their 
Cities and Townes are onely scattered houses, they call plantations, as 
are our Country Villages, but no Ordnance mounted. The Forts Captaine 
Smith left a building, so ruined, there is scarce mention where they were; 
no discoveries of any thing more, than the curing of Tobacco, by which 
hitherto, being so present a commodity of gaine, it hath brought them to 
this abundance; but that they are so disjoynted, and every one commander 
of himselfe, to plant What he will: they are now so well provided that 
they are able to subsist; and if they would joine together now to worke 
upon Sope-ashes, Iron, Rape-oile, Mader, Pitch and Tarre,Good 
Hospitality.Commodities worth making, Blacke Walnut, Ash for Pikes, Oke 
for planks, knees for Ships, Cipresse for Chests, &c.

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Flax and Hempe; as for their Tobacco, there comes from many places such 
abundance, and the charge so great, it is not worth the bringing home.

There is gone, and now a going, divers Ships, as Captaine Perse, Captaine 
Prine, and Sir John Harvy to be their governour, with two or three hundred 
people: there is also some from Bristow, and other parts of the West 
Country a preparing, which I heartily pray to God to blesse, and send them 
a happy and prosperous voyage.

Nathaniel Causie, Master Hutchins, Master Floud, John Davis, William 
Emerson, Master William Barnet, Master Cooper, and others.



Chapter XXII.
The proceedings and present estate of the Summer Iles, from An. Dom. 1624 
to this present 1629.

FRom the Summer Iles, Master Ireland, and divers others report, their 
Forts, Ordnance, and proceedings, are much as they were in the yeare 1622. 
as you may read in the generall History, page 199. Captaine Woodhouse 
governour. There are few sorts of any fruits in the West Indies, but they 
grow there in abundance; yet the fertility of the soile in many places 
decayeth, being planted every yeare; for their Plantaines, which is a most 
delicate fruit, they have lately found a way by pickling or drying them, 
to bring them over into England, there being no such fruit in Europe, & 
wonderfull for increase. For fish, flesh, figs, wine, and all sorts of 
most excellent hearbs, fruits, and rootes they have in abundance. In this 
Governours time, a kinde of Whale, or rather a Jubarta, was driven on 
shore in Southampton tribe from the west, over an infinite number of 
rocks, so bruised, that the water in the Bay where she lay, was all oily, 
and the rocks about it all bedasht with Parmacitty, congealed like ice,

Page 180 

a good quantity we gathered, with which we commonly cured any byle, hurt, 
or bruise; some burnt it in their lamps, which blowing out, the very 
snuffe will burne, so long as there is any of the oile remaining, for two 
or three dayes together.

The present estate of the Summer Isles. 1629.

The next Governour, was Captaine Philip Bell, whose time being expired, 
Captaine Roger Wood possessed his place, a worthy Gentleman of good 
desert, and hath lived a long time in the Country; their numbers are about 
two or three thousand, men, women, and children, who increase there 
exceedingly; their greatest complaint, is want of apparell, and too much 
custome, and too many officers; the pity is, there are more men than 
women, yet no great mischiefe, because there is so much lesse pride: the 
cattell they have increase exceedingly; their forts are well maintained by 
the Merchants here, and Planters there; to be briefe, this isle is an 
excellent bit, to rule a great horse.

All the Cohow birds and Egbirds are gone; seldome any wilde cats seene; no 
Rats to speake of; but the wormes are yet very troublesome; the people 
very healthfull; and the Ravens gone; fish enough but not so neere the 
shore as it used, by the much beating it; it is an Ile that hath such a 
rampire and a ditch, and for the quantity so manned, victualled, and 
fortified, as few in the world doe exceed it, or is like it.

An evill mischance.

The 22. of March, two ships came from thence; the Peter Bonaventure, neere 
two hundred tunnes, and sixteene peeces of Ordnance; the Captaine, Thomas 
Sherwin; the Master, Master Edward Some, like him in condition, a goodly, 
lusty, proper, valiant man: the Lydia, wherein was Master Anthony Thorne, 
a smaller ship; were chased by eleven ships of Dunkerk; being thus 
overmatched, Captaine Sherwin was taken by them in Turbay, only his 
valiant Master was shine; the ship with about seventy English men, they 
carried betwixt Dover and Callis, to Dunkerk; but the Lydia safely 
recovered Dartmouth.

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These noble adventurers for all those losses, patiently doe beare them; 
but they hope the King and state will understand it is worth keeping, 
though it afford nothing but Tobacco, and that now worth little or 
nothing, custome and fraught payed, yet it is worth keeping, and not 
supplanting; though great men feele not those losses, yet Gardiners, 
Carpenters, and Smiths doe pay for it.

From the relation of Robert Chesteven, and others.