SIR:

TO THE HIGH HOPEFUL

CHARLES, Prince of Great Britain.

*

O favorable was your most renowned and memorable brother, Prince Henry, to all generous designs, that in my discovery of Virginia, I presumed to call two nameless headlands after my sovereign's heirs, Cape Henry and Cape Charles. Since then, it being my chance to range some other parts of America, whereof I here present your Highness the description in a map, my humble suit is, you would please to change their barbarous names for such English, as posterity may say, Prince Charles was their godfather. What here in this relation I promise my country, let me live or die the slave of scorn and infamy, if (having means) I make it not apparent, please God to bless me but from such accidents as are beyond my power and reason to prevent. For my labors, I desire but such conditions as were promised me out of the gains, and that your Highness would deign to grace this work by your princely and favorable respect unto it, and know me to be

Your Highness's true and faithful servant,

JOHN SMITH.

[* This Map is in the third volume of our Collections, third series.

Pub. Com.]

To the Right Honorable and worthy Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen of his Majesty's Council for all the Plantations and Discoveries, especially of NewEngland.

S

EEING the deeds of the most just, and the writings of the most wise, not only of men but of God himself, have been diversely traduced by variable judgments of the time's opinionists, what shall such an ignorant as I expect? Yet reposing myself on your favors, I present this rude discourse to the world's construction, though I am persuaded that few do think there may be had from New-England staple commodities well worth three or four hundred thousand pounds a year, with so small charge and such facility, as this discourse will acquaint you. But lest your Honors, that know me not, should think I go by hearsay and affection, I entreat your pardons to say thus much of myself, Near twice nine years, I have been taught by lamentable experience, as well in Europe and Asia, as Africk and America, such honest adventures as the chance of war doth cast upon poor soldiers. So that if I be not able to judge of what I have seen, contrived and done, it is not the fault either of my eyes or four quarters. And these nine years I have bent my endeavors to find a sure foundation to begin these ensuing projects; which though I never so plainly and seriously propound, yet it resteth in God and you still to dispose of, not doubting but your goodness will pardon my rudeness, and ponder errors in the balance of good will. No more but sacring all my best abilities to the good of my prince and country, and submitting myself to the exquisite judgments of your renowned virtue, I ever rest,

Your Honors, in all honest service,

J. S.

To the Right Worshipful Adventurers for the country of New-England, in the cities of London, Bristow, Exceter, Plimouth, Dartmouth, Bastable, Totneys, &c., and in all other cities and ports in the Kingdom of England.

F the little ant and the silly bee seek by their diligence the good of their commonwealth, much more ought man. If they punish the drones and sting them that steals their labor, then blame not man. Little honey hath that hive, where there are more drones than bees; and miserable is that land where more are idle than well employed. If the endeavors of those vermin be acceptable, I hope mine may be excusable; though I confess it were more proper for me to be doing what I say than writing what I know. Had I returned rich, I could not have erred; now having only such fish as came to my net, I must be taxed. But I would my taxers were as ready to adventure their purses, as I purse, life and all I have; or as diligent to furnish the charge, as I know they are vigilant to crop the fruits of my labors. Then would I not doubt (did God please I might safely arrive in New-England, and safely return) but to perform somewhat more than I have promised, and approve my words by deeds, according to proportion.

I am not the first hath been betrayed by pirates; and four men of war, provided as they were, had been sufficient to have taken Samson, Hercules, and Alexander the Great, no other way furnished than I was. I know not what assurance any have do pass the seas, not to be subject to casualty as well as myself. But lest this disaster may hinder my proceedings, or ill will (by rumor) the behooffull work I pretend, I have writ this little; which I did think to have concealed from any public use, till I had made my returns speak as much as my pen now doth.

But, because I speak so much of fishing, if any take me for such a devout fisher as I dream of naught else, they

mistake me. I know a ring of gold from a grain of barley as well as a goldsmith; and nothing is there to be had which fishing doth hinder, but further us to obtain. Now for that I have made known unto you a fit place for plantation, limited within the bounds of your patent and commission; having also received means, power, and authority by your directions, to plant there a colony, and make further search and discovery in those parts there yet unknown; considering, withal, first those of his Majesty's Council, then those cities above-named, and divers others that have been moved to lend their assistance to so great a work, do expect (especially the adventurers) the true relation or event of my proceedings, which I hear are so abused; I am enforced, for all these respects, rather to expose my imbecility to contempt, by the testimony of these rude lines, than all should condemn me for so bad a factor as could neither give reason nor account of my actions and designs.

Yours to command,

JOHN SMITH.

A DESCRIPTION OF NEW-ENGLAND,

BY CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.

N the month of April, 1614, with two ships from London, of a few merchants, I chanced to arrive in NewEngland, a part of America, at the isle of Monahiggan, in forty-three and a half of northerly latitude. Our plot was there to take whales, and make trials of a mine of gold and copper. If those failed, fish and furs was then our refuge, to make ourselves savers howsoever. We found this whalefishing a costly conclusion. We saw many, and spent much time in chasing them; but could not kill any, they being a kind of jubartes, and not the whale that yields fins and oil, as we expected. For our gold, it was rather the master's device to get a voyage that projected it than any knowledge he had at all of any such matter. Fish and furs was now our guard; and by our late arrival and long lingering about the whale, the prime of both those seasons were past ere we perceived it; we thinking that their seasons served at all times, but we found it otherwise; for, by the midst of June the fishing failed. Yet in July and August some was taken, but not sufficient to defray so great a charge as our stay required. Of dry fish we made about 40,000, of cor fish about 7000. Whilst the sailors fished, myself, with eight or nine others of them might best be spared, ranging the coast in a small boat, we got for trifles near 1100 beaver skins, 100 martens, and near as many otters; and the most of them within the distance of twenty leagues. We ranged the coast both east and west much. further; but eastwards our commodities were not esteemed, they were so near the French who affords them better; and right against us in the main was a ship of Sir Francis Popham's, that had there