where wee dwelt, there are no kind of stones to bee found (except a
fewe small pebbles about foure miles off) but such as haue bene brought
from farther out of the maine. In some of our voiages wee haue seene
diuers hard raggie stones, great pebbles, and a kinde of grey stone
like vnto marble, of which the inhabitants make their hatchets to
cleeue wood. Vpon inquirie wee heard that a little further vp into the
Countrey were all sortes verie many, although of Quarries they are
ignorant, neither haue they vse of any store whereupon they should haue
occasion to seeke any. For if euerie housholde haue one or two to
cracke Nuttes, grinde shelles, whet copper, and sometimes other stones
for hatchets, they haue enough: neither vse they any digging, but onely
for graues about three foote deepe: and therefore no maruaile that they
know neither Quarries, nor lime stones, which both may bee in places
neerer than they wot of.
In the meane time vntill there bee discouerie of sufficient store in
some place or other conuenient, the want of you which are and shalbe
the planters therein may be as well supplied by Bricke: for the making
whereof in diuers places of the countrey there is clay both excellent
good, and plentie; and also by lime made of Oister shels, and of others
burnt, after the maner as they vse in the Iles of Tenet and Shepy, and
also in diuers other places of England: Which kinde of lime is well
knowne to bee as good as any other. And of Oister shels there is
plentie enough: for besides diuers other particular places where are
abundance, there is one shallowe sounde along the coast, where for the
space of many miles together in length, and two or three miles in
breadth, the grounde is nothing els beeing but halfe a foote or a foote
vnder water for the most part.
This much can I say further more of stones, that about 120. miles from
our fort neere the water in the side of a hill was founde by a
Gentleman of our company, a great veine of hard ragge stones, which I
thought good to remember vnto you.
_Of the nature and manners of the people._
It resteth I speake a word or two of the naturall inhabitants, their
natures and maners, leauing large discourse thereof vntill time more
conuenient hereafter: nowe onely so farre foorth, as that you may know,
how that they in respect of troubling our inhabiting and planting, are
not to be feared; but that they shall haue cause both to feare and loue
vs, that shall inhabite with them.
They are a people clothed with loose mantles made of Deere skins, &
aprons of the same rounde about their middles; all els naked; of such a
difference of statures only as wee in England; hauing no edge tooles or
weapons of yron or steele to offend vs withall, neither know they how
to make any: those weapons that they haue, are onlie bowes made of
Witch hazle, & arrowes of reeds; flat edged truncheons also of wood
about a yard long, neither haue they any thing to defend themselues but
targets made of barcks; and some armours made of stickes wickered
together with thread.
Their townes are but small, & neere the sea coast but few, some
containing but 10. or 12. houses: some 20. the greatest that we haue
seene haue bene but of 30. houses: if they be walled it is only done
with barks of trees made fast to stakes, or els with poles onely fixed
vpright and close one by another.
Their houses are made of small poles made fast at the tops in rounde
forme after the maner as is vsed in many arbories in our gardens of
England, in most townes couered with barkes, and in some with
artificiall mattes made of long rushes; from the tops of the houses
downe to the ground. The length of them is commonly double to the
breadth, in some places they are but 12. and 16. yardes long, and in
other some wee haue seene of foure and twentie.
In some places of the countrey one onely towne belongeth to the
gouernment of a _Wiróans_ or chiefe Lorde; in other some two or three,
in some sixe, eight, & more; the greatest _Wiróans_ that yet we had
dealing with had but eighteene townes in his gouernment, and able to
make not aboue seuen or eight hundred fighting men at the most: The
language of euery gouernment is different from any other, and the
farther they are distant the greater is the difference.
Their maner of warres amongst themselues is either by sudden surprising
one an other most commonly about the dawning of the day, or moone
light; or els by ambushes, or some suttle deuises: Set battels are very
rare, except if fall out where there are many trees, where eyther part
may haue some hope of defence, after the deliuerie of euery arrow, in
leaping behind some or other.
If there fall out any warres between vs & them; what their fight is
likely to bee, we hauing aduantages against them so many maner of
waies, as by our discipline, our strange weapons and deuises els;
especially by ordinance great and small, it may be easily imagined; by
the experience we haue had in some places, the turning vp of their
heeles against vs in running away was their best defence.
In respect of vs they are a people poore, and for want of skill and
iudgement in the knowledge and vse of our things, doe esteeme our
trifles before thinges of greater value: Notwithstanding in their
proper manner considering the want of such meanes as we haue, they
seeme very ingenious; For although they haue no such tooles, nor any
such craftes, sciences and artes as wee; yet in those thinges they doe,
they shewe excellencie of wit. And by howe much they vpon due
consideration shall finde our manner of knowledges and craftes to
exceede theirs in perfection, and speed for doing or execution, by so
much the more is it probable that they shoulde desire our friendships &
loue, and haue the greater respect for pleasing and obeying vs. Whereby
may bee hoped if meanes of good gouernment bee vsed, that they may in
short time be brought to ciuilitie, and the imbracing of true religion.
Some religion they haue alreadie, which although it be farre from the
truth, yet beyng as it is, there is hope it may bee the easier and
sooner reformed.
They beleeue that there are many Gods which they call _Montóac_, but of
different sortes and degrees; one onely chiefe and great God, which
hath bene from all eternitie. Who as they affirme when hee purposed to
make the worlde, made first other goddes of a principall order to bee
as meanes and instruments to bee vsed in the creation and gouernment to
follow; and after the Sunne, Moone, and Starres, as pettie goddes and
the instruments of the other order more principall. First they say were
made waters, out of which by the gods was made all diuersitie of
creatures that are visible or inuisible.
For mankind they say a woman was made first, which by the woorking of
one of the goddes, conceiued and brought foorth children: And in such
sort they say they had their beginning.
But how manie yeeres or ages haue passed since, they say they can make
no relation, hauing no letters nor other such meanes as we to keepe
recordes of the particularities of times past, but onelie tradition
from father to sonne.
They thinke that all the gods are of humane shape, & therfore they
represent them by images in the formes of men, which they call
_Kewasówok_ one alone is called _Kewás;_ Them they place in houses
appropriate or temples which they call _Machicómuck;_ Where they
woorship, praie, sing, and make manie times offerings vnto them. In
some _Machicómuck_ we haue seene but on _Kewas_, in some two, and in
other some three; The common sort thinke them to be also gods.
They beleeue also the immortalitie of the soule, that after this life
as soone as the soule is departed from the bodie according to the
workes it hath done, it is eyther carried to heauen the habitacle of
gods, there to enioy perpetuall blisse and happiness, or els to a great
pitte or hole, which they thinke to bee in the furthest partes of their
part of the worlde towarde the sunne set, there to burne continually:
the place they call _Popogusso_.
For the confirmation of this opinion, they tolde mee two stories of two
men that had been lately dead and reuiued againe, the one happened but
few yeres before our comming in the countrey of a wicked man which
hauing beene dead and buried, the next day the earth of the graue
beeing seene to moue, was taken vp againe; Who made declaration where
his soule had beene, that is to saie very neere entring into
_Popogusso_, had not one of the gods saued him & gaue him leaue to
returne againe, and teach his friends what they should doe to auiod
that terrible place of torment.
The other happened in the same yeere wee were there, but in a towne
that was threescore miles from vs, and it was tolde mee for straunge
newes that one beeing dead, buried and taken vp againe as the first,
shewed that although his bodie had lien dead in the graue, yet his
soule was aliue, and had trauailed farre in a long broade waie, on both
sides whereof grewe most delicate and pleasaunt trees, bearing more
rare and excellent fruites then euer hee had seene before or was able
to expresse, and at length came to most braue and faire houses, neere
which hee met his father, that had beene dead before, who gaue him
great charge to goe backe againe and shew his friendes what good they
were to doe to enioy the pleasures of that place, which when he had
done he should after come againe.
What subtilty soeuer be in the _Wiroances_ and Priestes, this opinion
worketh so much in manie of the common and simple sort of people that
it maketh them haue great respect to their Gouernours, and also great
care what they do, to auoid torment after death, and to enjoy blisse;
although nothwithstanding there is punishment ordained for
malefactours, as stealers, whoremoongers, and other sortes of wicked
doers; some punished with death, some with forfeitures, some with
beating, according to the greatnes of the factes.
And this is the summe of their religion, which I learned by hauing
special familiarity with some of their priestes. Wherein they were not
so sure grounded, nor gaue such credite to their traditions and stories
but through conuersing with vs they were brought into great doubts of
their owne, and no small admiration of ours, with earnest desire in
many, to learne more than we had meanes for want of perfect vtterance
in their language to expresse.
Most thinges they sawe with vs, as Mathematicall instruments, sea
compasses, the vertue of the loadstone in drawing yron, a perspectiue
glasse whereby was shewed manie strange sightes, burning glasses,
wildefire woorkes, gunnes, bookes, writing and reading, spring clocks
that seeme to goe of themselues, and manie other thinges that wee had,
were so straunge vnto them, and so farre exceeded their capacities to
comprehend the reason and meanes how they should be made and done, that
they thought they were rather the works of gods then of men, or at the
leastwise they had bin giuen and taught vs of the gods. Which made
manie of them to haue such opinions of vs, as that if they knew not the
trueth of god and religion already, it was rather to be had from vs,
whom God so specially loued then from a people that were so simple, as
they found themselues to be in comparison of vs. Whereupon greater
credite was giuen vnto that we spake of concerning such matters.
Manie times and in euery towne where I came, according as I was able, I
made declaration of the contentes of the Bible; that therein was set
foorth the true and onelie GOD, and his mightie woorkes, that therein
was contayned the true doctrine of saluation through Christ, which
manie particularities of Miracles and chiefe poyntes of religion, as I
was able then to vtter, and thought fitte for the time. And although I
told them the booke materially & of itself was not of anie such vertue,
as I thought they did conceiue, but onely the doctrine therein
contained; yet would many be glad to touch it, to embrace it, to kisse
it, to hold it to their brests and heades, and stroke ouer all their
bodie with it; to shew their hungrie desire of that knowledge which was
spoken of.
The _Wiroans_ with whom we dwelt called _Wingina_, and many of his
people would be glad many times to be with vs at our praiers, and many
times call vpon vs both in his owne towne, as also in others whither he
sometimes accompanied vs, to pray and sing Psalmes; hoping thereby to
bee partaker in the same effectes which wee by that meanes also
expected.
Twise this _Wiroans_ was so greiuously sicke that he was like to die,
and as hee laie languishing, doubting of anie helpe by his owne
priestes, and thinking he was in such daunger for offending vs and
thereby our god, sent for some of vs to praie and bee a meanes to our
God that it would please him either that he might liue or after death
dwell with him in blisse; so likewise were the requestes of manie
others in the like case.
On a time also when their corne began to wither by reason of a drouth
which happened extraordinarily, fearing that it had come to passe by
reason that in some thing they had displeased vs, many woulde come to
vs & desire vs to praie to our God of England, that he would perserue
their corne, promising that when it was ripe we also should be
partakers of the fruite.
There could at no time happen any strange sicknesse, losses, hurtes, or
any other crosse vnto them, but that they would impute to vs the cause
or meanes therof for offending or not pleasing vs.
One other rare and strange accident, leauing others, will I mention
before I ende, which mooued the whole countrey that either knew or
hearde of vs, to haue vs in wonderfull admiration.
There was no towne where we had any subtile deuise practised against
vs, we leauing it vnpunished or not reuenged (because wee sought by all
meanes possible to win them by gentlenesse) but that within a few dayes
after our departure from euerie such towne, the people began to die
very fast, and many in short space; in some townes about twentie, in
some fourtie, in some sixtie, & in one sixe score, which in trueth was
very manie in respect of their numbers. This happened in no place that
wee could learne but where wee had bene, where they vsed some practise
against vs, and after such time; The disease also so strange, that they
neither knew what it was, nor how to cure it; the like by the report of
the oldest men in the countrey neuer happened before, time out of
minde. A thing specially obserued by vs as also by the naturall
inhabitants themselues.
Insomuch that when some of the inhabitantes which were our friends &
especially the _Wiroans Wingina_ had obserued such effects in foure or
fiue towns to follow their wicked practises, they were preswaded that
it was the worke of our God through our meanes, and that wee by him
might kil and slai whom we would without weapons and not come neere
them.
And thereupon when it had happened that they had vnderstanding that any
of their enemies had abused vs in our iourneyes, hearing that wee had
wrought no reuenge with our weapons, & fearing vpon some cause the
matter should so rest: did come and intreate vs that we woulde bee a
meanes to our God that they as others that had dealt ill with vs might
in like sort die; alleaging howe much it would be for our credite and
profite, as also theirs; and hoping furthermore that we would do so
much at their requests in respect of the friendship we professe them.
Whose entreaties although wee shewed that they were vngodlie, affirming
that our God would not subiect him selfe to anie such praiers and
requestes of men: that in deede all thinges haue beene and were to be
done according to his good pleasure as he had ordained: and that we to
shew ourselues his true seruants ought rather to make petition for the
contrarie, that they with them might liue together with vs, bee made
partakers of his truth & serue him in righteousnes; but notwitstanding
in such sort, that wee referre that as all other thinges, to bee done
according to his diuine will & pleasure, and as by his wisedome he had
ordained to be best.
Yet because the effect fell out so sodainly and shortly after according
to their desires, they thought neuertheless it came to passe by our
meanes, and that we in vsing such speeches vnto them did but dissemble
in the matter, and therefore came vnto vs to giue vs thankes in their
manner that although wee satisfied them not in promise, yet in deedes
and effect we had fulfilled their desires.
This maruelous accident in all the countrie wrought so strange opinions
of vs, that some people could not tel whether to think vs gods or men,
and the rather because that all the space of their sicknesse, there was
no man of ours knowne to die, or that was specially sicke: they noted
also that we had no women amongst vs, neither that we did care for any
of theirs.
Some therefore were of opinion that wee were not borne of women, and
therefore not mortall, but that wee were men of an old generation many
yeeres past then risen againe to immortalitie.
Some woulde likewise seeme to prophesie that there were more of our
generation yet to come, to kill theirs and take their places, as some
thought the purpose was by that which was already done.
Those that were immediatly to come after vs they imagined to be in the
aire, yet inuisible & without bodies, & that they by our intreaty & for
the loue of vs did make the people to die in that sort as they did by
shooting inuisible bullets into them.
To confirme this opinion their phisitions to excuse their ignorance in
curing the disease, would not be ashemed to say, but earnestly make the
simple people beleue, that the strings of blood that they sucked out of
the sicke bodies, were the strings wherewithal the inuisible bullets
were tied and cast.
Some also thought that we shot them ourselues out of our pieces from
the place where we dwelt, and killed the people in any such towne that
had offended vs as we listed, how farre distant from vs soeuer it were.
And other some saide that it was the speciall woorke of God for our
sakes, as wee our selues haue cause in some sorte to thinke no lesse,
whatsoeuer some doe or maie imagine to the contrarie, specially some
Astrologers knowing of the Eclipse of the Sunne which wee saw the same
yeere before in our voyage thytherward, which vnto them appeared very
terrible. And also of a Comet which beganne to appeare but a few daies
before the beginning of the said sicknesse. But to conclude them from
being the speciall an accident, there are farther reasons then I thinke
fit at this present to bee alleadged.
These their opinions I haue set downe the more at large that it may
appeare vnto you that there is good hope they may be brought through
discreet dealing and gouernement to the imbracing of the trueth, and
consequently to honour, obey, feare and loue vs.
And although some of our companie towardes the ende of the yeare,
shewed themselues too fierce, in slaying some of the people, in some
towns, vpon causes that on our part, might easily enough haue been
borne withall: yet notwithstanding because it was on their part iustly
deserued, the alteration of their opinions generally & for the most
part concerning vs is the lesse to bee doubted. And whatsoeuer els they
may be, by carefulnesse of our selues neede nothing at all to be
feared.
The best neuerthelesse in this as in all actions besides is to be
endeuoured and hoped, & of the worst that may happen notice to bee
taken with consideration, and as much as may be eschewed.
_The Conclusion._
Now I haue as I hope made relation not of so fewe and smal things but
that the countrey of men that are indifferent & wel disposed maie be
sufficiently liked. If there were no more knowen then I haue mentioned,
which doubtlesse and in great reason is nothing to that which remaineth
to bee discouered, neither the soile, nor commodities. As we haue
reason so to gather by the difference we found in our trauails: for
although all which I haue before spoken of, haue bin discouered &
experiemented not far from the sea coast where was our abode & most of
our trauailing: yet somtimes as we made our iourneies farther into the
maine and countrey; we found the soyle to bee fatter; the trees greater
and to growe thinner; the grounde more firme and deeper mould; more and
larger champions; finer grasse and as good as euer we saw any in
England; in some places rockie and farre more high and hillie ground;
more plentie of their fruites; more abondance of beastes; the more
inhabited with people, and of greater pollicie & larger dominions, with
greater townes and houses.
Why may wee not then looke for in good hope from the inner parts of
more and greater plentie, as well of other things, as of those which
wee haue alreadie discouered? Vnto the Spaniardes happened the like in
discouering the maine of the West Indies. The maine also of this
countrey of _Virginia_, extending some wayes so many hundreds of
leagues, as otherwise then by the relation of the inhabitants wee haue
most certaine knowledge of, where yet no Christian Prince hath any
possession or dealing, cannot but yeeld many kinds of excellent
commodities, which we in our discouerie haue not yet seene.
What hope there is els to be gathered of the nature of the climate,
being answerable to the Iland of _Iapan_, the land of _China, Persia,
Jury_, the Ilandes of _Cyprus_ and _Candy_, the South parts of _Greece,
Italy_, and _Spaine_, and of many other notable and famous countreis,
because I meane not to be tedious, I leaue to your owne consideration.
Whereby also the excellent temperature of the ayre there at all
seasons, much warmer then in England, and neuer so violently hot, as
sometimes is vnder & between the Tropikes, or nere them; cannot bee
vnknowne vnto you without farther relation.
For the holsomnesse thereof I neede to say but thus much: that for all
the want of prouision, as first of English victuall; excepting for
twentie daies, wee liued only by drinking water and by the victuall of
the countrey, of which some sorts were very straunge vnto vs, and might
haue bene thought to haue altered our temperatures in such sort as to
haue brought vs into some greeuous and dangerous diseases: secondly the
want of English meanes, for the taking of beastes, fishe, and foule,
which by the helpe only of the inhabitants and their meanes, coulde not
bee so suddenly and easily prouided for vs, nor in so great numbers &
quantities, nor of that choise as otherwise might haue bene to our
better satisfaction and contentment. Some want also wee had of clothes.
Furthermore, in all our trauailes which were most speciall and often in
the time of winter, our lodging was in the open aire vpon the grounde.
And yet I say for all this, there were but foure of our whole company
(being one hundred and eight) that died all the yeere and that but at
the latter ende thereof and vpon none of the aforesaide causes. For all
foure especially three were feeble, weake, and sickly persons before
euer they came thither, and those that knewe them much marueyled that
they liued so long beeing in that case, or had aduentured to trauaile.
Seing therefore the ayre there is so temperate and holsome, the soyle
so fertile and yeelding such commodities as I haue before mentioned,
the voyage also thither to and fro beeing sufficiently experimented, to
bee perfourmed thrise a yeere with ease and at any season thereof: And
the dealing of _Sir Walter Raleigh_ so liberall in large giuing and
graunting lande there, as is alreadie knowen, with many helpes and
furtherances els: (The least that hee hath graunted hath beene fiue
hundred acres to a man onely for the aduenture of his person): I hope
there remaine no cause whereby the action should be misliked.
If that those which shall thither trauaile to inhabite and plant bee
but reasonably prouided for the first yere as those are which were
transported the last, and beeing there doe vse but that diligence and
care as is requisite, and as they may with ease: There is no doubt but
for the time following they may haue victuals that is excellent good
and plentie enough; some more Englishe sortes of cattaile also
hereafter, as some haue bene before, and are there yet remaining, may
and shall bee God willing thiter transported: So likewise our kinde of
fruites, rootes, and hearbes may bee there planted and sowed, as some
haue bene alreadie, and proue wel: And in short time also they may
raise of those sortes of commodities which I haue spoken of as shall
both enrich themselues, as also others that shall deale with them.