Travels of Captaine John Smith Volume II - Pages 181-210



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Chapter XXIII.
The proceedings and present estate of New England, since 1624. to this 
present 1629.

WHen I went first to the North part of Virginia, where the Westerly Colony 
had beene planted, it had dissolved it selfe within a yeare, and there was 
not one Christian in all the land. I was set forth at the sole charge of 
foure Merchants of London; the Country being then reputed by your 
westerlings, a most rockie, barren, desolate desart; but the good returne 
I brought from thence, with the maps and relations I made of the Country, 
which I made so manifest, some of them did beleeve me, and they were well 
embraced, both by the Londoners, and Westerlings, for whom I had promised 
to undertake it, thinking to have joined them all together, but that might 
well have beene a worke for Hercules. Betwixt them long there was much 
contention; the Londoners indeed went bravely forward; but in three or 
foure yeares, I and my friends consumed many hundred pounds amongst the 
Plimothians, who only fed me with delayes, promises, and excuses, but no 
performance of any thing to any purpose. In the interim, many particular 
ships went thither, and finding my relations true, and that I had not 
taken that I brought home from the French men, as had beene reported; yet 
further for my

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paines to discredit me, and my calling it New England, they obscured it, 
and shadowed it, with the title of Canada, till at my humble suit, it 
pleased our most Royall King Charles, whom God long keepe, blesse, and 
preserve, then Prince of Wales, to confirme it with my map and booke, by 
the title of New England; the gaine thence returning did make the fame 
thereof so increase, that thirty, forty, or fifty saile went yearly only 
to trade and fish; but nothing would bee done for a plantation, till about 
some hundred of your Brownists of England, Amsterdam, and Leyden, went to 
New Plimouth, whose humorous ignorances, caused them for more than a 
yeare, to endure a wonderfull deale of misery, with an infinite patience; 
saying my books and maps were much better cheape to teach them, than my 
selfe; many other have used the like good husbandry, that have payed 
soundly in trying their selfe-willed conclusions; but those in time doing 
well, divers others have in small handfulls under taken to goe there, to 
be severall Lords and Kings of themselves, but most vanished to nothing; 
notwithstanding the fishing ships, made such good returnes, at last it was 
ingrossed by twenty Pattenties, that divided my map into twenty parts, and 
cast lots for their shares; but money not comming in as they expected, 
procured a Proclamation, none should goe thither without their licences to 
fish; but for every thirty tunnes of shipping, to pay them five pounds; 
besides, upon great penalties, neither to trade with the natives, cut 
downe wood for their stages, without giving satisfaction, though all the 
Country is nothing but wood, and none to make use of it, with many such 
other pretences, for to make this Country plant it selfe, by its owne 
wealth: hereupon most men grew so discontented, that few or none would 
goe; so that the Pattenties, who never one of them had beene there, seeing 
those projects would not prevaile, have since not hindred any to goe that 
would, that within these few last yeares, more have gone thither than ever.

A new plantation. 1629.

Now this yeare 1629. a great company of people of

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good ranke, zeale, meanes, and quality, have made a great stocke, and with 
six good ships in the moneths of Aprill and May, they set saile from 
Thames, for the Bay of the Massachusetts, otherwise called Charles River; 
viz. the George Bonaventure, of twenty peeces of Ordnance, the Talbot 
nineteene, the Lions-whelpe eight, the Mayflower fourteene, the Foure 
Sisters, foureteene, the Pilgrim foure, with three hundred and fifty, men, 
women, and children; also an hundred and fifteene head of Cattell, as 
horse, mares, and neat beast; one and forty goats, some Conies, with all 
provision for houshold, and apparell; six peeces of great Ordnance for a 
Fort, with Muskets, Pikes, Corselets, Drums, Colours, with all provisions 
necessary for a plantation, for the good of man; other particulars I 
understand of no more, than is writ in the generall historie of those 
Countries.

But you are to understand, that the noble Lord chiefe Justice Popham, 
Judge Doderege; the Right Honourable Earles of Pembroke, Southampton, 
Salesbury, and the rest, as I take it, they did all thinke, as I and them 
went with me did; That had those two Countries beene planted, as it was 
intended, that no other nation should come plant betwixt us. If ever the 
King of Spaine and we should fall foule, those Countries being so capable 
of all materialls for shipping, by this might have beene owners of a good 
Fleet of ships, and to have releeved a whole Navy from England upon 
occasion; yea, and to have furnished England with the most Easterly 
commodities; and now since, seeing how conveniently the Summer Iles fell 
to our shares, so neere the West Indies, wee might with much more facility 
than the Dutchmen have invaded the West Indies, that doth now put in 
practice, what so long hath beene advised on, by many an honest English 
States-man.

Notes of inconveniencie.

Those Countries Captaine Smith oft times used to call his children that 
never had mother; & well he might, for few fathers ever payed dearer for 
so little content; and for those that would truly understand, how many

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strange accidents hath befallen them and him; how oft up, how oft downe, 
sometimes neere desperate, and ere long flourishing, cannot but conceive 
Gods infinite mercies and favours towards them. Had his designes beene to 
have perswaded men to a mine of gold, though few doth conceive either the 
charge or paines in refining it, nor the power nor care to defend it; or 
some new Invention to passe to the South Sea; or some strange plot to 
invade some strange Monastery: or some portable Countrie; or some 
chargeable Fleet to take some rich Carocks in the East Indies; or Letters 
of Mart to rob some poore Merchants; what multitudes of both people and 
mony, would contend to be first imployed: but in those noble endevours 
(now) how few of quality, unlesse it be to beg some Monopolie; and those 
seldome seeke the common good, but the commons goods; as you may reade at 
large in his generall history, page 217, 218, 219. his generall 
observations and reasons for this plantation; For yet those Countries are 
not so forward but they may become as miserable as ever, if better courses 
be not taken than is; as this Smith will plainly demonstrate to his 
Majesty; or any other noble person of ability, liable generously to 
undertake it; how within a short time to make Virginia able to resist any 
enemy, that as yet lieth open to-all; and yeeld the King more custome 
within these few yeares, in certaine staple commodities, than ever it did 
in Tobacco; which now not being worth bringing home, the custome will bee 
as uncertaine to the King, as dangerous to the plantations.



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Chapter XXIIII.
A briefe discourse of divers voyages made unto the goodly Countrey of 
Guiana, and the great River of the Amazons; relating also the present 
Plantation there.

IT is not unknowen how that most industrious & honourable Knight Sir 
Walter Rauleigh, in the yeare of our Lord 1595. taking the Ile of 
Trinidado, fell with the Coast of Guiana Northward of the Line ten 
degrees, and coasted the Coast; and searched up the River Oranoca; where 
understanding that twentie severall voyages had beene made by the 
Spanyards, in discovering this Coast and River; to finde a passage to the 
great Citie of Mano, called by them the Eldorado, or the Golden Citie: he 
did his utmost to have found some better satisfaction than relations: But 
meanes failing him, hee left his trustie servant Francis Sparrow to seeke 
it, who wandring up and downe those Countreyes, some foureteene or 
fifteene yeares unexpectedly returned: I have heard him say, he was led 
blinded into this Citie by Indians; but little discourse of any purpose 
touching the largenesse of the report of it; his body seeming as a man of 
an uncurable consumption, shortly dyed hereafter in England. There are 
above thirtie faire rivers that fall into the Sea, betweene the River of 
Amazons and Oranoca, which are some nine degrees asunder.

Sparrow left to seeke the great Citie of Mano. Captaine Charles Ley.

In the yeare 1605. Captaine Ley, brother to that noble Knight Sir Oliver 
Ley, with divers others, planted himself in the River Weapoco, wherein I 
should have beene a partie; but hee dyed, and there lyes buried, and the 
supply miscarrying, the rest escaped as they could.

Sir Thomas Roe.

Sir Thomas Roe, well knowen to be a most noble Gentlemen, before he went 
Lord Ambassadour to the Great Mogoll, or the great Turke, spent a yeare or 
two

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upon this Coast, and about the River of the Amazones, wherein he most 
imployed Captaine Matthew Morton, an expert Sea-man in the discoverie of 
this famous River, a Gentleman that was the first shot and mortally 
supposed wounded to death with me, in Virginia, yet since hath beene twice 
with command in the East Indies; Also Captaine William White, and divers 
others worthy and industrious Gentlemen, both before and since, hath spent 
much time and charge to discover it more perfitly; but nothing more 
effected for a Plantation, till it was undertaken by Captaine Robert 
Harcote, 1609.

Captaine White. Captain Harcote.

This worthy Gentleman, after he had by Commission made a discoverie to his 
minde, left his brother Michael Harcote, with some fiftie or sixtie men in 
the River Weapoco, and so presently returned to England, where he obtained 
by the favour of Prince Henrie, a large Patent for all that Coast called 
Guiana, together with the famous River of Amazones, to him and his heires: 
but so many troubles here surprized him, though he did his best to supply 
them, he was not able, only some few hee sent over as passengers with 
certaine Dutch-men, but to small purpose. Thus this businesse lay dead for 
divers yeeres, till Sir Walter Rauleigh, accompanied with many valiant 
Souldiers and brave Gentlemen, went his last voyage to Guiana, amongst the 
which was Captaine Roger North, brother to the Right Honourable the Lord 
Dudley North, who upon this voyage having stayed and seene divers Rivers 
upon this Coast, tooke such a liking to those Countreyes, having had 
before this voyage more perfect and particular information of the 
excellencie of the great River of the Amazones, above any of the rest, by 
certaine Englishmen returned so rich from thence in good commodities, they 
would not goe with Sir Walter Rauleigh in search of gold; that after his 
returne for England, he endevoured by his best abilities to interest his 
Countrey and state in those faire Regions, which by the way of Letters 
Patents unto divers Noblemen and Gentlemen of qualitie, erected into a 
company and perpetuitie for trade

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and plantation, not knowing of the Interest of Captaine Harcote.

Captaine Roger North.

Whereupon accompanied with 120. Gentlemen and others, with a ship, a 
pinnace, and two shallops, to remaine in the Countrey, hee set saile from 
Plimouth the last of April 1620; and within seven weekes after hee arrived 
well in the Amazones, only with the losse of one old man: some hundred 
leagues they ran up the River to settle his men, where the sight of the 
Countrey and people so contented them, that never men thought themselves 
more happie: Some English and Irish that had lived there some eight 
yeeres, only supplyed by the Dutch, hee reduced to his company and to 
leave the Dutch: having made a good voyage, to the value of more than the 
charge, he returned to England with divers good commodities, besides 
Tobacco: So that it may well be conceived, that if this action had not 
beene thus crossed, the Generalitie of England had by this time beene 
wonne and encouraged therein. But the time was not yet come, that God 
would have this great businesse effected, by reason of the great power the 
Lord Gundamore, Ambassadour for the King of Spaine, had in England, to 
crosse and ruine those proceedings, and so unfortunate Captaine North was 
in this businesse, hee was twice committed prisoner to the Tower, and the 
goods detained, till they were spoiled, who beyond all others was by much 
the greatest Adventurer and Loser.

Nota bene.

Notwithstanding all this, those that he had left in the Amazons would not 
abandon the Countrey. Captaine Thomas Painton, a worthy Gentleman, his 
Lieutenant, dead: Captaine Charles Parker, brother to the Right Honourable 
the Lord Morley, lived there six yeares after: Mr. John Christmas, five 
yeares, so well, they would not returne, although they might, with divers 
other Gentlemen of qualitie and others: all thus destitute of any supplyes 
from England. But all authoritie being dissolved, want of government did 
more wrong their proceedings, than all other crosses whatsoever. Some

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releefe they had sometime from the Dutch, who knowing their estates, gave 
what they pleased and tooke what they list. Two brothers Gentlemen, Thomas 
and William Hixon, who stayed three yeares there, are now gone to stay in 
the Amazons, in the ships lately sent thither.

The businesse thus remaining in this sort, three private men left of that 
Company, named Mr. Thomas Warriner, John Rhodes, and Robert Bims, having 
lived there about two yeares, came for England, and to be free from the 
disorders that did grow in the Amazons for want of Government amongst 
their Countrey-men, and to be quiet amongst themselves, made meanes to set 
themselves out for St. Christophers; their whole number being but fifteene 
persons, that payed for their passage in a ship going for Virginia, where 
they remained a yeare before they were supplyed, and then that was but 
foure or five men.

Thus this Ile, by this small beginning, having no interruption by their 
owne Countrey, hath now got the start of the Continent and maine Land of 
Guiana, which hath beene layd apart and let alone untill that Captaine 
North, ever watching his best opportunitie and advantage of time in the 
state, hath now againe pursued and set on foot his former designe. 
Captaine Harcote being now willing to surrender his grant, and to joyne 
with Captaine North in passing a new Patent, and to erect a company for 
trade and plantation in the Amazons, and all the Coast and Countrey of 
Guiana for ever.

Whereupon they have sent this present yeare in Januarie, and since 1628. 
route ships with neere two hundred persons; the first ship with 112 men, 
not one miscarried; the rest went since, not yet heard of, and are 
preparing another with their best expedition: and since Januarie is gone 
from Holland, 100. English and Irish, conducted by the old Planters.

This great River lieth under the Line, the two chiefe head lands North and 
South, are about three degrees asunder, the mouth of it is so full of many 
great and

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small Iles, it is an easie matter for an unexperienced Pilot to lose his 
way. It is held one of the greatest rivers in America, and as most men 
thinke, in the world: and commeth downe with such a fresh, it maketh the 
Sea fresh more than thirtie miles from the shore. Captaine North having 
seated his men about an hundred leagues in the Maine, sent Captaine 
William White, with thirtie Gentlemen and others, in a pinnace of thirtie 
tun, to discover further; which they did some two hundred leagues, where 
they found the River to divide it selfe in two parts, till then all full 
of Ilands, and a Countrey most healthfull, pleasant and fruitful; for they 
found food enough, and all returned safe & in good health: In this 
discoverie, they saw many Townes well inhabited, some with three hundred 
people, some with five, six, or seven hundred; and of some they understood 
to be of so many thousands, most differing verie much, especially in their 
languages: whereof they suppose by those Indians, they understand are many 
hundreds more, unfrequented till then by any Christian, most of them 
starke naked, both men, women and children, but they saw not any such 
giant-like women as the Rivers name importeth. But for those where 
Captaine North hath seated his company, it is not knowen where Indians 
were ever so kinde to any Nation, not sparing any paines, danger or 
labour, to feed and maintaine them. The English following their buildings, 
fortifications and sugar-workes; for which they have sent most expert men, 
and with them all things necessarie for that purpose; to effect which, 
they want not the helpe of those kinde Indians to produce; and many other 
good commodities, which (God willing) will ere long make plaine and 
apparent to this Kingdome, and all the Adventurers and Well-willers to 
this Plantation, to bee well worthy the cherishing and following with all 
alacritie.



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Chapter XXV. The beginning and proceedings of the new plantation of St. 
Christopher by Captaine Warner.

1623.

MAster Ralfe Merifield and others, having furnished this worthy 
industrious Gentleman, hee arrived at St. Christophers, as is said, with 
fifteene men, the 28. of Januarie, 1623. viz. William Tested, John Rhodes, 
Robert Bims, Mr. Benifield, Sergeant Jones, Mr. Ware, William Royle, 
Rowland Grascocke, Mr. Bond, Mr. Langley, Mr. Weaver, Edward Warner their 
Captaines sonne (and now Deputy-Governour till his fathers returne), 
Sergeant Aplon, one Sailor and a Cooke: At their arrivall they found three 
French-men, who sought to oppose Captaine Warner, and to set the Indians 
upon us; but at last we all became friends, and lived with the Indians a 
moneth. Then we built a Fort, and a house: and planting fruits, by 
September we made a crop of Tobacco; but upon the nineteenth of September 
came a Hericano and blew it away: all this while wee lived upon Cassada 
bread, Potatoes, Plantines, Pines, Turtels, Guanes, and fish plentie; for 
drinke wee had Nicnobbie.

A Hericano. 1624.

The 18. of March 1624. arrived Captaine Jefferson with three men 
passengers in the Hope-well of London, with some trade for the Indians, 
and then we had another crop of Tobacco, in the meane time the French had 
planted themselves in the other end of the Ile; with this crop Captaine 
Warner returned for England in September, 1625.

1625.

In his absence came in a French pinnace, under the command of Monsieur de 
Nombe, that told us the Indians had slaine some French-men in other of the 
Charybes Iles, and that there were six Peryagoes, which are huge

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great trees formed as your Canowes, but so laid out on the sides with 
boords, they will seeme like a little Gally: six of those, with about 
foure or five hundred strange Indians, came unto us, we bade them be gone, 
but they would not; whereupon we and the French joyned together, and upon 
the fifth of November set upon them, and put them to flight: upon New-
yeares Even they came againe, found three English going about the Ile, 
whom they slue. Untill the fourth of August, we stood upon our guard, 
living upon the spoile and did nothing. But now Captaine Warner arriving 
againe with neere an hundred people, then we fell to worke and planting as 
before; but upon the fourth of September, came such a Hericano, as blewe 
downe all our houses, Tobacco, and two Drums into the aire we know not 
whither, drove two ships on shore that were both split; all our provision 
thus lost, we were very miserable, living onely on what we could get in 
the wilde woods, we made a small party of French and English to goe aboord 
for provision, but in their returning home, eight French men were slaine 
in the harbour.

A Hericano. Eight French slaine. 1627.

Thus wee continued till neere June that the Tortels came in, 1627. but the 
French being like to starve, sought to surprize us, and all the Cassado, 
Potatos, and Tobacco we had planted, but we did prevent them. The 26. of 
October, came in Captaine William Smith, in the Hopewell, with some 
Ordnance, shot and powder, from the Earle of Carlile; with Captaine Pelham 
and thirty men, about that time also came the Plow; also a small ship of 
Bristow, with Captaine Warners wife, and six or seven women more.

Three Indians slaine.

Upon the 25. of November, the Indians set upon the French, for some injury 
about their women, and slew six and twentie French men, five English, and 
three Indians. Their weapons are bowes and arrowes; their bowes are never 
bent, but the string lies flat to the bow; their arrowes a small reed, 
route or five foot long, headed some with the poysoned sting of the taile 
of a Stingray,

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some with iron, some with wood, but all so poysoned, that if they draw but 
bloud, the hurt is incurable.

The arrivall of many English ships.

The next day came in Captaine Charles Saltonstall, a young Gentleman, son 
of Sir Samuell Saltonstall, who brought with him good store of all 
commodities to releeve the plantation; but by reason some Hollanders, and 
others, had bin there lately before him, who carried away with them all 
the Tobacco, he was forced to put away all his commodities upon trust till 
the next crop; in the meane time hee resolved there to stay, and imploy 
himselfe & his company in planting Tobacco, hoping thereby to make a 
voyage, but before he could be ready to returne for England, a Hericano 
hapning, his ship was split, to his great losse, being sole Merchant and 
owner himselfe, notwithstanding forced to pay to the Governour, the fift 
part of his Tobacco, and for fraught to England, three pence a pound, and 
nine pence a pound custome, which amounts together to more than threescore 
pound in the hundred pound, to the great discouragement of him and many 
others, that intended well to those plantations. Neverthelesse he is gone 
againe this present yeare 1629. with a ship of about three hundred tunnes, 
and very neere two hundred people, with Sir William Tuffton Governour for 
the Barbados, and divers gentlemen, and all manner of commodities fit for 
a plantation.

Captaine Prinne, Captaine Stone, and divers others, came in about 
Christmas; so that this last yeare there hath beene about thirtie saile of 
English, French, and Dutch ships, and all the Indians forced out of the 
Ile, for they had done much mischiefe amongst the French in cutting their 
throats, burning their houses, and spoyling their Tobacco; Amongst the 
rest Tegramund, a little childe the Kings sonne, his parents being slaine 
or fled, was by great chance saved, and carefully brought to England by 
Master Merifield, who brought him from thence, and bringeth him up as his 
owne children.

The description of the Ile.

It lyeth seventeene degrees Northward of the line, about an hundred and 
twenty leagues from the Cape de

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tres Puntas, the neerest maine land in America. It is about eight leagues 
in length, and foure in bredth; an Iland amongst 100. Iles in the West 
Indies, called the Caribes, where ordinarily all them that frequent the 
West Indies, refresh themselves; those most of them are rocky, little, and 
mountainous, yet frequented with the Canibals; many of them inhabited, as 
Saint Domingo, Saint Mattalin, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Granada and 
Margarita, to the Southward; Northward, none but Saint Christophers, and 
it but lately, yet they will be ranging Marigalanta, Guardalupo, Deceado, 
Monserat, Antigua, Mevis, Bernardo, Saint Martin, Saint Bartholomew, but 
the worst of the foure Iles possessed by the Spanyard, as Portorico, or 
Jamica, is better than them all; as for Hispaniola, and Cuba, they are 
worthy the title of two rich Kingdomes, the rest not respected by the 
Spanyards, for want of harbors, and their better choice of good land, and 
profit in the maine. But Captaine Warner, having beene very familiar with 
Captain Painton, in the Amazon, hearing his information of this St. 
Christophers; and having made a yeares tryall, as it is said, returned for 
England, joyning with Master Merifield, and his friends, got Letters 
Pattents, from King James, to plant and possesse it. Since then, the Right 
Honourable the Earle of Carlile, hath got Letters Pattents also, not only 
of that, but all the Caribes Iles about it, who is now chiefe Lord of 
them, and the English his tenants, that doe possesse them; over whom he 
appointeth such Governours and Officers, as their affaires require; and 
although there be a great custome imposed upon them, considering their 
other charges, both to feed and maintaine themselves; yet there is there, 
and now a going, neere upon the number of three thousand people; where by 
reason of the rockinesse and thicknesse of the woods in the Ile, it is 
difficult to passe, and such a snuffe of the Sea goeth on the shore, ten 
may better defend than fifty assault. In this Ile are many springs, but 
yet water is scarce againe in many places; the valleyes and

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sides of the hills very fertile, but the mountaines harsh, and of a 
sulphurous composition; all overgrowne with Palmetas, Cotten trees, Lignum 
vitæ, and divers other sorts, but none like any in Christendome, except 
those carried thither; the aire very pleasant and healthfull, but 
exceeding hot, yet so tempered with coole breaths, it seemes very 
temperate to them that are a little used to it; the trees being alwaies 
greene, the daies and nights alwayes very neere equall in length, alwayes 
Summer; only they have in their seasons great gusts and raines, and 
sometimes a Hericano, which is an overgrowne, and a most violent storme.

A strange hatching of egges for beasts.

In some of those Iles, are cattell, goats, and hogges, but here none but 
what they must carry; Gwanes they have, which is a little harmlesse beast, 
like a Crokadell, or Aligator, very fat and good meat, she layes egges in 
the sand, as doth the land Crabs, which live here in abundance, like 
Conies in Boroughs, unlesse about May, when they come downe to the Sea 
side, to lay in the sand, as the other; and all their egges are hatched by 
the heat of the Sunne.

From May to September they have good store of Tortasses, that come out of 
the Sea to lay their egges in the sand, and are hatched as the other; they 
will lay halfe a pecke at a time, and neere a bushell ere they have done; 
and are round like Tenis-balls: this fish is like veale in taste, the fat 
of a brownish colour very good and wholsome. We seeke them in the nights, 
where we finde them on shore, we turne them upon their backs, till the 
next day we fetch them home. For they can never returne themselves, being 
so hard a cart may goe over them; and so bigge, one will suffice forty or 
fifty men to dinner. Divers sorts of other fish they have in abundance, 
and Prawnes most great and excellent, but none will keepe sweet scarce 
twelve houres.

Birds.

The best and greatest is a Passer Flaminga, which walking at her length is 
as tall as a man; Pigeons and Turtle Doves in abundance; some Parrots, 
wilde Hawkes,

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but divers other sorts of good Sea fowle, whose names we know not.

Roots.

Cassado is a root planted in the ground, of a wonderfull increase, and 
will make very good white bread, but the Juyce ranke poyson, yet boyled, 
better than wine; Potatos, Cabbages, and Radish plenty.

Fruits.

Mayes, like the Virginia wheat; we have Pine-apples, neere so bigge as an 
Hartichocke, but the most daintiest taste of any fruit; Plantains, an 
excellent, and a most increasing fruit; Apples, Prickell Peares, and Pease 
but differing all from ours. There is Pepper that groweth in a little red 
huske, as bigge as a Walnut, about foure inches in length, but the long 
cods are small, and much stronger, and better for use, than that from the 
East Indies.

There is two sorts of Cotten, the silke Cotten as in the East Indies, 
groweth upon a small stalke, as good for beds as downe; the other upon a 
shrub, and beareth a cod bigger than a Walnut, full of Cotten wooll: 
Anotto also groweth upon a shrub, with a cod like the other, and nine or 
ten on a bunch, full of Anotto, very good for Dyers, through wilde; Sugar 
Canes, not tame, 4. or 5. foot high; also Masticke, and Locus trees; great 
and hard timber, Gourds, Muske Melons, Water Melons, Lettice, Parsly; all 
places naturally beare purslaine of it selfe; Sope-berries like a Musket-
bullet, that washeth as white as Sope; in the middle of the root is a 
thing like a sedge, a very good fruit, we call Pengromes; a Pappaw is as 
great as an apple, coloured like an Orange, and good to eat; a small hard 
nut, like a hazell nut, growes close to the ground, and like this growes 
on the Palmetas, which we call a Mucca nut; Mustard-seed will grow to a 
great tree, but beares no seed, yet the leaves will make good mustard; the 
Mancinell tree the fruit is poyson; good figs in abundance; but the 
Palmeta serveth to build Forts and houses, the leaves to cover them, and 
many other uses; the juyce we draw from them till we sucke them to death 
(is held restorative), and the top for meat doth

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serve us as Cabbage; but oft we want poudered Beefe, and Bacon, and many 
other needfull necessaries.

By Thomas Simons, Rowland Grascocke, Nicholas Burgh, and others.



Chapter XXVI.
The first planting of the Barbados.

THe Barbados lies South-west and by South, an hundred leagues from Saint 
Christophers, threescore leagues West and South from Trinidado, and some 
fourescore leagues from Cape de Salinos, the next part of the maine. The 
first planters brought thither by Captaine Henry Powel, were forty English 
with seven or eight Negros; then he went to Disacuba in the maine, where 
he got thirty Indians, men, women, and children, of the Arawacos, enemies 
both to the Caribes, and the Spaniards. The Ile is most like a triangle, 
each side forty or fifty miles square, some exceeding great rocks, but the 
most part exceeding good ground; abounding with an infinite number of 
Swine, some Turtles, and many sorts of excellent fish; many great ponds 
wherein is Ducke and Mallard; excellent clay for pots, wood and stone for 
building, and a spring neere the middest of the Ile, of Bitume, which is a 
liquid mixture like Tarre, that by the great raines falls from the tops of 
the mountaines, it floats upon the water in such abundance, that drying 
up, it remaines like great rocks of pitch, and as good as pitch for any 
use.

A description of the Ile. Fruits and trees.

The Mancinell apple, is of a most pleasant sweet smell, of the bignesse of 
a Crab, but ranke poyson, yet the Swine and Birds have wit to shun it; 
great store of exceeding great Locus trees, two or three fadome about, of 
a great height, that beareth a cod full of meale, will make bread in time 
of necessity. A tree like a Pine,

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beareth a fruit so great as a Muske Melon, which hath alwayes ripe fruit, 
flowers, or greene fruit, which will refresh two or three men, and very 
comfortable; Plumb trees many, the fruit great and yellow, which but 
strained into water in foure and twenty houres will be very good drinke; 
wilde figge trees there are many; all those fruits doe fat the hogges; yet 
at some times of the yeare they are so leane, as carrion; Gwane trees 
beare a fruit so bigge as a Peare, good and wholsome; Palmetaes of three 
several sorts; Papawes, Prickle Peares good to eat or make drinke; Cedar 
trees very tall and great; Fusticke trees are very great and the wood 
yellow, good for dying; sope berries, the kernell so bigge as a sloe, and 
good to eat; Pumpeons in abundance; Goads so great as will make good great 
bottles, and, cut in two peeces, good dishes and platters; many small 
brooks of very good water; Ginni wheat, Cassado, Pines and Plantaines; all 
things we there plant doe grow exceedingly, so well as Tobacco; The Corne, 
pease, and beanes, cut but away the stalke, young sprigs will grow, and so 
beare fruit for many yeares together, without any more planting; the Ile 
is overgrowne with wod or great reeds, those wods which are soft are 
exceeding light and full of pitch, and those that are hard, are so hard 
and great, they are as hard to cut as stone.

Their numbers.

Master John Powell came thither the fourth of August 1627. with forty five 
men, where we stayed three weeks, and then returning, left behind us about 
an hundred people, and his sonne John Powell for his Deputy, as Governour; 
but there have beene so many factions amongst them, I cannot from so many 
variable relations give you any certainty for their orderly Government: 
for all those plenties, much misery they have endured, in regard of their 
weaknesse at their landing, and long stay without supplies; therefore 
those that goe thither, it were good they carry good provision with them; 
but the Ile is most healthfull, and all things planted doe increase 
abundantly: and by this time there is, and now

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a going, about the number of fifteene or sixteene hundred people.

Sir William Curtine, and Captaine John Powell, were the first and chiefe 
adventurers to the planting this fortunate Ile; which had beene oft 
frequented by men of Warre to refresh themselves, and set up their 
shallops; being so farre remote from the rest of the Iles, they never were 
troubled with any of the Indies. Harbours they have none, but exceeding 
good Rodes, which with a small charge might bee very well fortified; It 
doth ebbe and flow foure or five foot, and they cannot perceive there hath 
ever beene any Hericano in that Ile.

From the relations of Captaine John White, and Captaine Wolverstone.



Chapter XXVII.
The first plantation of the Ile of Mevis.

The description of the Ile.

BEcause I have ranged and lived amongst those Ilands, what my authours 
cannot tell me, I think it no great errour in helping them to tell it my 
selfe. In this little Ile of Mevis, more than twenty yeares agoe, I have 
remained a good time together, to wod, and water and refresh my men; it is 
all woddy, but by the Sea side Southward there are sands like downes, 
where a thousand men may quarter themselves conveniently; but in most 
places the wod groweth close to the water side, at a high water marke, and 
in some places so thicke of a soft spungy wood like a wilde figge tree, 
you cannot get through it, but by making your way with hatchets, or 
fauchions: whether it was the dew of those trees, or of some others, I am 
not certaine, but many of our men became so tormented with a burning 
swelling all over their bodies, they seemed like scalded men, and neere 
mad with paine; Here we found a great Poole, wherein bathing themselves, 
they found much ease; and finding it fed with a pleasant

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small streame that came out of the woods, we found the head halfe a mile 
within the land, distilling from a many of rocks, by which they were well 
cured in two or three dayes. Such factions here we had, as commonly attend 
such voyages, that a paire of gallowes was made, but Captaine Smith, for 
whom they were intended, could not be perswaded to use them; but not any 
one of the inventers but their lives by justice fell into his power, to 
determine of at his pleasure, whom with much mercy he favoured, that most 
basely and unjustly would have betrayed him.

A great misprison.

The last yeare, 1628., Master Littleton, with some others got a Pattent of 
the Earle of Carlile, to plant the Ile called the Barbados, thirty leagues 
Northward of Saint Christophers; which by report of their informers, and 
undertakers, for the excellencie and pleasantnesse thereof, they called 
Dulcina, but when they came there, they found it such a barren rocke, they 
left it; although they were told as much before, they would not beleeve 
it, perswading themselves, those contradicters would get it for 
themselves, was thus by their cunning opinion, the deceiver of themselves; 
for seeing it lie conveniently for their purpose in a map, they had not 
patience to know the goodnesse or badnesse, the inconvenience nor 
probabilities of the quality, nor quantity; which errour doth predominate 
in most of our homebred adventurers, that will have all things as they 
conceit and would have it; and the more they are contradicted, the more 
hot they are; but you may see, by many examples in the generall history, 
how difficult a matter it is, to gather the truth from amongst so many 
forren and severall relations, except you have exceeding good experience 
both of the Countries, people, and their conditions; and those ignorant 
undertakings, have beene the greatest hinderance of all those plantations.

Their numbers.

At last because they would be absolute, they came to Mevis, a little Ile 
by Saint Christophers; where they seated themselves, well furnished with 
all necessaries,

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being about the number of an hundred, and since increased to an hundred 
and fifty persons, whereof many were old planters of Saint Christophers, 
especially Master Anthony Hinton, and Master Edward Thompson. But because 
all those Iles for most part are so capable to produce, and in nature like 
each other, let this discourse serve for the description of them all. Thus 
much concerning those plantations, which now after all this time, losse, 
and charge, should they be abandoned, suppressed, and dissolved, were most 
lamentable; and surely seeing they all strive so much about this Tobacco, 
and that the fraught thereof, and other charges are so great, and so open 
to any enemie, by that commodity they cannot long subsist.

And it is a wonder to me to see such miracles of mischiefes in men; how 
greedily they persue to dispossesse the planters of the Name of Christ 
Jesus, yet say they are Christians, when so much of the world is 
unpossessed; yea, and better land than they so much strive for, murthering 
so many Christians, burning and spoiling so many cities, villages, and 
Countries, and subverting so many kingdomes, when so much lieth vast, or 
only possessed by a few poore Savages, that more serve the Devill for 
feare, than God for love; whose ignorance we pretend to reforme, but 
covetousnesse, humours, ambition, faction, and pride, hath so many 
instruments, we performe very little to any purpose; nor is there either 
honour or profit to be got by any that are so vile, to undertake the 
subversion, or hinderance of any honest intended christian plantation.

Certaine exploits of Captaine Smith.

Now to conclude the travels and adventures of Captaine Smith; how first he 
planted Virginia, and was set ashore with about an hundred men in the 
wilde woods; how he was taken prisoner by the Savages, by the King of 
Pamaunke tied to a tree to be shot to death, led up and downe their 
Country to be shewed for a wonder; fatted as he thought, for a sacrifice 
for their Idoll, before whom they conjured him three dayes, with strange 
dances and invocations, then brought him before their Emperor

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Powhatan, that commanded him to be slaine, how his daughter Pocahontas 
saved his life, returned him to James towne, releeved him and his famished 
company, which was but eight and thirty to possesse those large dominions; 
how he discovered all the severall nations upon the rivers falling into 
the Bay of Chisapeacke; stung neere to death with a most poysoned taile of 
a fish called Stingray: how Powhatan out of his Country, tooke the Kings 
of Pamaunke and Paspahegh prisoners, forced thirty nine of those Kings to 
pay him contribution, subjected all the Savages: how Smith was blowne up 
with gunpowder, and returned for England to be cured:

Also how hee brought our new England to the subjection of the Kingdome of 
great Britaine; his fights with the Pirats, left alone amongst a many 
French men of Warre, and his ship ran from him; his Sea-fights for the 
French against the Spaniards; their bad usage of him; how in France in a 
little boat he escaped them; was adrift all such a stormy night at Sea by 
himselfe, when thirteene French ships were split, or driven on shore by 
the Ile of Ree, the generall and most of his men drowned, when God to whom 
be all honour and praise, brought him safe on shore to all their 
admirations that escaped; you may read at large in his generall history of 
Virginia, the Summer Iles, and New England.



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Chapter XXVIII.
The bad life, qualities and conditions of Pyrats; and how they taught the 
Turks and Moores to become men of warre.

AS in all lands where there are many people, there are some theeves, so in 
all Seas much frequented, there are some pyrats; the most ancient within 
the memory of threescore yeares was one Callis, who most refreshed 
himselfe upon the Coast of Wales; Clinton and Pursser his companions, who 
grew famous, till Queene Elizabeth of blessed memory, hanged them at 
Wapping; Flemming was as expert and as much sought for as they, yet such a 
friend to his Country, that discovering the Spanish Armado, he voluntarily 
came to Plimouth, yeelded himselfe freely to my Lord Admirall, and gave 
him notice of the Spaniards comming; which good warning came so happily 
and unexpectedly, that he had his pardon, & a good reward; some few Pirats 
there then remained; notwithstanding it is incredible how many great and 
rich prizes the little barques of the West Country daily brought home, in 
regard of their small charge; for there are so many difficulties in a 
great Navy, by wind and weather, victuall, sicknesse, losing and finding 
one another, they seldome defray halfe the charge: but for the grace, 
state, and defence of the Coast and narrow Seas, a great Navy is most 
necessary, but not to attempt any farre voyage, except there be such a 
competent stocke, the want not wherewith to furnish and supply all things 
with expedition; But to the purpose.

The difficulties of a great Navie. What occasioneth Pirats.

After the death of our most gracious Queene Elizabeth, of blessed memory, 
our Royall King James, who from his infancie had reigned in peace with all 
Nations; had no imployment for those men of warre, so that those that were 
rich rested with that they had; those that were

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poore and had nothing but from hand to mouth, turned Pirats; some, because 
they became sleighted of those for whom they had got much wealth; some, 
for that they could not get their due; some, that had lived bravely, would 
not abase themselves to poverty; some vainly, only to get a name; others 
for revenge, covetousnesse, or as ill; and as they found themselves more 
and more oppressed, their passions increasing with discontent, made them 
turne Pirats.

Their chiefe randevouz.

Now because they grew hatefull to all Christian Princes, they retired to 
Barbary, where although there be not many good Harbours but Tunis, Argier, 
Sally, Mamora, and Tituane, there are many convenient Rodes, or the open 
Sea, which is theire chiefe Lordship: For their best harbours 
Massalqueber, the townes of Oran, Mellila, Tanger, and Cuta, within the 
Streights, are possessed by the Spaniards; without the Streights they have 
also Arzella, and Mazagan; Mamora likewise they have lately taken, and 
fortified. Ward, a poore English sailer, and Dansker a Dutchman, made 
first here their Marts, when the Moores knew scarce how to saile a ship; 
Bishop was Ancient, and did little hurt; but Easton got so much, as made 
himselfe a Marquesse in Savoy; and Ward lived like a Bashaw in Barbary; 
those were the first that taught the Moores to be men of warre. Gennings, 
Harris, Tompson, and divers others, were taken in Ireland, a Coast they 
much frequented, and died at Wapping. Hewes, Bough, Smith, Walsingam, 
Ellis, Collins, Sawkwell, Wollistone, Barrow, Wilson, Sayres, and divers 
others, all these were Captaines amongst the Pirats, whom King James 
mercifully pardoned; and was it not strange, a few of these should command 
the Seas. Notwithstanding the Malteses, the Pope, Florentines, Genoeses, 
Dutch, and English, Gallies, and Men of Warre, they would rob before their 
faces, and even at their owne Ports, yet seldome more than three, foure, 
five or six in a Fleet: many times they had very good ships, and well 
manned, but commonly in such factions amongst

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themselves, and so riotous, quarrellous, treacherous, blasphemous, and 
villanous, it is more than a wonder they could so long continue, to doe so 
much mischiefe; and all they got, they basely consumed it amongst Jewes, 
Turks, Moores, and whores.

Runnagados.

The best was, they would seldome goe to Sea, so long as they could 
possibly live on shore, being compiled of English, French, Dutch, and 
Moores, (but very few Spanyards, or Italians) commonly running one from 
another, till they became so disjoynted, disordered, debawched, and 
miserable, that the Turks and Moores beganne to command them as slaves, 
and force them to instruct them in their best skill, which many an 
accursed runnagado or Christian turned Turke, did, till they have made 
those Sally men, or Moores of Barbary so powerfull as they be, to the 
terror of all the Straights, and many times they take purchase in the 
maine Ocean, yea sometimes even in the narrow Seas in England, and those 
are the most cruell villaines in Turkie, or Barbarie; whose natives are 
very noble, and of good natures, in comparison of them.

Advertisements for wilde heads.

To conclude, the misery of a Pirate (although many are as sufficient Sea-
men as any) yet in regard of his superfluity, you shall finde it such, 
that any wise man would rather live amongst wilde beasts than them; 
therefore let all unadvised persons take heed, how they entertaine that 
quality; and I could wish Merchants, Gentlemen, and all setters forth of 
ships, not to bee sparing of a competent pay, nor true payment; for 
neither Souldiers nor Sea-men can live without meanes, but necessity will 
force them to steale; and when they are once entered into that trade, they 
are hardly reclaimed. Those titles of Sea-men and Souldiers, have beene 
most worthily honoured and esteemed, but now regarded for most part, but 
as the scumme of the world; regaine therefore your wonted reputations, and 
endevour rather to adventure to those faire plantations of our English 
Nation; which however in the beginning were scorned and contemned, yet now 
you see how many rich and gallant people come from thence, who went 
thither as poore as any Souldier or Sailer, and gets more in one yeare, 
than you by Piracie in seven. I intreat you therefore to consider, how 
many thousands yearely goe thither; also how many Ships and Sailers are 
imployed to transport them, and what custome they yearely pay to our most 
Royall King Charles, whose prosperity and his Kingdomes good, I humbly 
beseech the immortall God ever to preserve and increase.

FINIS.