of our Admirall I bare vp vnder his lee: who when I hayled him, told
me that he would tack it vp no longer, because hee was not able
to keepe the sea any longer, for lacke of a road and water: but
that hee would presently steere away North North-west, to see if
he could fetch Cape Cod. Which without delay he put in execution.
His directions I followed: so from the sixteenth day at noone, to
the seuenteenth at noone I had sailed thirtie eight leagues North
North-west: then I found my ship to be in thirtie foure degrees,
ten minutes. The seuenteenth and eighteenth dayes were very wet
and stormy, and the winds shifting all points of the Compasse. The
nineteenth day, about foure of the clocke in the morning it began
to cleere vp, and then we had a very stiffe gale betweene East and
North-east. From the seuenteenth at noone, to the nineteenth at
noone, I had sayled fiftie fiue leagues North North-west, then I
found the ship to be thirtie sixe degrees, thirty minutes. From the
nineteenth at noone, to the twentieth at noone, thirty fiue leagues
North-west: then I was in thirty seuen degrees, fifty two minutes,
the weather now was fairer and the wind all easterly. From the
twentieth at noone, to the twentie one at noone, we sayled twenty
leagues North by West, the wind betweene East and South-east, and
the weather very faire. At the sunne setting I obserued, and found
thirteene degrees, and an halfe of westerly variation, and vntill
midnight we had a reasonable fresh gale of wind all southerly, and
then it fell calme and rained, and so continued very little wind
vntill the two and twentieth at noone, and shifting all the points of
the Compasse: yet by mine obseruation that I made then, I found that
the ship had run twentie fiue leagues North, for I found her to be in
forty degrees, one minute, which maketh me thinke that there was some
tide or current that did set Northward. Againe, those that had the
second watch did say, That in their watch they did see a race, and
that ship did driue apace to the Northward, when she had not a breath
of wind.
From the two and twentieth at noone, vntill ten of the clocke at
night, we had a fresh gale of wind, betweene East and South-east,
and then it shifted all westerly, and so continued vntill two of
the clocke the twenty three in the morning: and then it began to
be very foggy and but little wind, yet shifting all the points of
the Compasse, and so continued vntill ten of the clocke and then it
began to cleere vp. At twelue of the clocke I obserued, and then I
found the ship to be in fortie degrees fiftie minutes: so from the
twenty two at noone, to the twenty three at noone I had sayled twenty
leagues Northward. From the twenty three at noone, to the twenty
foure, at three of the clocke in the morning it was calme, and then
we had a reasonable fresh gale of wind all southerly, and so it
continued vntill noon southerly, in which time I had sailed twelue
leagues North. And about foure of the clocke in the afternoone, we
had forty seuen fathoms of water, ♦_Fishing Banks_♦ which water we
did find to be changed into a grasse green in the morning, yet we
would not heaue a lead, because our Admirall was so farre on head of
vs: who about three of the clocke in the afternoone lay by the lee,
and fished till I came vp to him: and then I fitted my selfe and my
boat, and fished vntill sixe of the clocke. And then the Admirall
fitted his sailes, and stirred away North, whom I followed with all
the speed I could. But before seuen of the clocke there fell such a
myst, that I was faine to shoot off a Peece, which he answered with a
Cornet that he had aboord. So with hallowing and making a noyse one
to another all the night we kept company. About two of the clocke,
the twenty fiue day in the morning we tooke in all our sailes, and
lay at Hull vntill fiue of the clocke: and then finding but small
store of fish, we set saile and stirred away North-west, to fetch the
mayne land to relieue our selues with wood and water, which we stood
in great need of. About two of the clocke in the afternoone we tooke
in all our sailes and lay at Hull, at which time I heaued the lead
three times together, and had three sundry kindes of soundings. The
first a blacke peppery sand, full of peble stones. The second blacke
peppery, and no stones: The third, blacke peppery, and two or three
stones.
From the fourth at noone, to the twentie fiue, at two of the clocke
in the afternoone, I sayled thirteene leagues West North-west: and
the weather continuing very foggy, thicke, and rainy, about fiue
of the clocke it began to cease, and then we began to fish, and so
continued vntill seuen of the clocke in betweene thirty and forty
fathoms, and then we could fish no longer. So hauing gotten betweene
twentie and thirty Cods, we left for that night: and at fiue of the
clocke, the twenty sixe in the morning we began to fish againe, and
so continued vntill ten of the clocke, and then it would fish no
longer: in which time we had taken neere one hundred Cods, and a
couple of Hollybuts. All this while wee had betweene thirty and forty
fathoms water: before one of the clocke in the afternoone we found
the ship driuen into one hundred and twenty fathoms, and soft blacke
Ose. Then Sir George Somers sent me word, that he would set saile,
and stand in for the Riuer of Sagadahoc; whose directions I followed.
Before two of the clocke we set saile, and stirred away North-west
by North, the wind South South-west, and the weather continued very
foggy. About eight of the clocke wee tooke in all our sailes, and
lay at Hull at that night. The seuen and twentieth, about seuen of
the clocke in the morning we heaued the lead, and had no ground in
one hundred and twentie fathoms. Then I shot off a Peece, but could
not heare none answere from our Admirall: and the weather was so
thicke, that we could not see a Cables length from our ship. Betweene
nine and ten of the clock we did thinke that we did heare a Peece
of Ordnance to windward: which made me suppose our Admirall had set
saile, and that it was a warning piece from him. So I set sayle and
stood close by the wind, and kept an hollowing and a noise to try
whether I could find him againe: the wind was at South-west, and I
stood away West North-west. From the sixe and twentieth, at two of
the clocke in the afternoone, to eight of the clocke at night I had
sayled nine leagues North-west. The seuen and twentieth at noone
I heaued the Lead, in one hundred and twenty fathoms, and had no
ground. Then I stirred away North-west, till foure of the clocke at
night: then I heaued the Lead againe one hundred and twenty fathoms,
and had no ground. Then I tooke all my sailes and lay at Hull, and
I had sayled seuen leagues North-west. The eight and twentieth, at
seuen of the clocke in the morning I did sound in one hundred and
twenty fathoms, and had no ground. Then I set sayle againe, and
steered away North, and North by West. At noone I heaued in one
hundred and twenty fathoms againe, and had no ground. So I steered
on my course still, the wind shifted betweene South and South-west,
and the fog continued. At foure of the clocke in the afternoone,
I heaued one hundred twenty fathoms againe, and had no ground: so
I stood on vntill eight of the clocke, by which time I had sailed
twelue leagues: then I heaued the Lead againe, and had blacke Ose,
and one hundred thirty fiue fathoms water. Then I tooke in all my
sayles and lay at hull vntill the nine and twentieth, at fiue of
the clocke in the morning. Then I set saile againe, and steered
away North, and North by West. At eight of the clocke I heaued the
Lead againe, and had blacke Ose in one hundred and thirty fathoms
water. Betweene eleuen and twelue of the clocke it began to thunder,
but the fogge continued not still. About two of the clocke in the
afternoone, I went out with my Boat my selfe and heaued the Lead, and
had blacke Ose in ninety fathoms water: by which time I had sailed
six leagues North by West more. Then I tooke in all my sayles sauing
my Fore-course and Bonnet, and stood in with those sailes onely.
About sixe of the clocke I sounded againe, and then I had sixty fiue
fathoms water. As soone as I came aboord it cleered vp, and then I
saw a small Iland, which bare North about two leagues off; whereupon
I stood in vntill eight of the clocke: And then I stood off againe
vntill two of the clocke in the morning the thirtieth day. Then I
stood in againe, and about eight of the clocke I was faire aboord the
Iland. Then I manned my Boat and went on shoare, where I found great
store of Seales: And I killed three Seales with my hanger. This Iland
is not halfe a mile about, nothing but a Rocke, which seemed to be
very rich Marble stone. And a South South-west Moon maketh a full
Sea. About ten of the clocke I came aboord againe, with some Wood
that I had found vpon the Iland, for there had beene some folkes that
had made fiers there. ♦_Seal Rock and Matinicus outside Penobscot
Bay_♦ Then I stood ouer to another Iland that did beare North off me
about three leagues; this small rockie Iland lyeth in forty foure
degrees. About seuen of the clocke that night I came to an anchor
among many Ilands in eight fathoms water: and vpon one of these
Ilands I fitted my selfe with Wood and Water, and Balast.
The third day of August, ♦_August_♦ being fitted to put to Sea
againe, I caused the Master of the ship to open the boxe wherein my
Commission was, to see what directions I had, and for what place I
was bound to shape my course. Then I tried whether there were any
fish there or not, and I found reasonable good store there; so I
stayed there fishing till the twelfth of August: and then finding
that the fishing did faile, I thought good to returne to the Iland
where I had killed the Seales, to see whether I could get any store
of them or not; for I did find that they were very nourishing meate,
and a great reliefe to my men, and that they would be very well
saued with salt to keepe a long time. But when I came thither I
could not by any meanes catch any. The fourteenth day at noone I
obserued the Sun, and found the Iland to lie in forty three degrees,
forty minutes. Then I shaped my course for Cape Cod, to see whether
I could get any fish there or not: so by the fifteenth at noone, I
had sailed thirty two leagues South-west, the wind for the most part
was betweene North-west and North. From the fifteenth at noone, to
the sixteenth at noone I ran twenty leagues South, the wind shifting
betweene West and South-west. And then I sounded and had ground in
eighteene fathoms water, full of shels and peble stones of diuers
colours, some greene, and some blewish, some like diamants, and some
speckled. Then I tooke in all my sayles, and set all my company to
fishing, and fished till eight of the clocke that night: and finding
but little fish there, I set sayle againe, and by the seuenteenth
at noone I had sayled ten leagues West by North, the wind shifting
betweene South and South-west. From noone, till sixe of the clocke
at night, foure leagues North-west, the wind shifting betweene West
and South-west. Then it did blow so hard that I tooke in all my
sayles, and lay at hull all that night, vntill fiue of the clock the
eighteenth day in the morning: and then I set saile againe, and by
noone I had sailed foure leagues North-west, the wind betweene West
and South-west. From the eighteenth at noone, to the nineteenth at
noone ten leagues West by West, the wind shifting betweene South and
South-west, and the weather very thick and foggy.
About seuen of the clocke at night the fogge began to breake away,
and the wind did shift westerly, and by midnight it was shifted to
the North, and there it did blow very hard vntill the twenty at
noone: but the weather was very cleere, and then by my obseruation
I found the ship to bee in the latitude of forty one degrees, forty
foure minutes, and I had sailed twenty leagues South-west by West.
From the nineteenth at noone, to the twentieth at noone: about two
of the clocke in the afternoone I did see an Hed-land, ♦_Cape Cod_♦
which did beare off me South-west, about foure leagues: so I steered
with it, taking it to bee Cape Cod; and by foure of the clocke I was
fallen among so many shoales, that it was fiue of the clocke the next
day in the morning before I could get cleere of them, it is a very
dangerous place to fall withall: for the shoales lie at the least
ten leagues off from the Land; and I had vpon one of them but one
fathom and an halfe water, and my Barke did draw seuen foot. This
Land lyeth South-west, and North-east, and the shoales lie off from
it South and South by West, and so along toward the North. At the
North-west by West Guards I obserued the North-starre, and found the
ship to be in the latitude of fortie one degrees, fiftie minutes,
being then in the middle of the Sholdes: and I did finde thirteene
degrees westerly variation then likewise. Thus finding the place
not to be for my turne, as soon as I was cleere of these dangers, I
thought it fit to returne to Iames Towne in Virginia, to the Lord
De-lawarre, my Lord Gouernour, and there to attend his command: so I
shaped my course for that place.
John Smith
1614
MONHEGAN
JOHN SMITH, _in the autumn of 1609, returned to England from
Virginia, to answer charges against his administration, and
thereafter he had no official connection with that colony. Two
years later he was sent to New England by some London merchants who
had engaged in a trading and fishing venture. While his companions
were occupied with the business of securing a return cargo,
Smith made an exploring trip along the coast. His observations,
supplemented by charts and information secured from other
navigators, enabled him to prepare the first published map which
gives an accurate contour of the coast. In 1615 Smith made two
unsuccessful attempts to revisit New England, and in 1617 he again
planned to take part in an expedition which never left port. His
“Description of New-England,” printed in 1616, was followed in 1620
by his “New-Englands Trials,” which contains a brief summary of the
voyages and attempts at colonization northward of Virginia._
[Illustration: _Earliest Book in which the Name “New England” occurs_
A
DESCRIPTION
of _New England_:
_OR_
THE OBSERVATIONS, AND
discoueries, of Captain _Iohn Smith_ (Admirall
of that Country) in the North of _America_, in the year
_of our Lord 1614: with the successe of sixe Ships,
that went the next yeare 1615; and the_
accidents befell him among the
_French men of warre_:
With the proofe of the present benefit this
Countrey affoords: whither this present yeare,
_1616, eight voluntary Ships are gone
to make further tryall_.
_At LONDON_
Printed by _Humfrey Lownes_, for _Robert Clerke_; and
are to be sould at his house called the Lodge,
in Chancery lane, ouer against Lincolnes
Inne, 1616.]
[Illustration: (Decorative banner)]
A DESCRIPTION of _New England_, by _Captaine_ JOHN SMITH.
IN the moneth of Aprill, 1614, with two Ships from London, ♦_April
1614_♦ of a few Marchants, I chanced to arrive in New-England, a
parte of Ameryca, at the Ile of Monahiggan, in 43½ of Northerly
latitude: ♦_Monhegan_♦ our plot was there to take Whales and make
tryalls of a Myne of Gold and Copper. If those failed, Fish and
Furres was then our refuge, to make our selves 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 beeing a
kinde of Iubartes, and not the Whale that yeeldes Finnes and Oyle
as wee expected. For our Golde, it was rather the Masters device to
get a voyage that proiected it, then any knowledge hee had at all
of any such matter. Fish and Furres was now our guard: and by our
late arrival, and long lingring about the Whale, the prime of both
those seasons were past ere wee perceived it; we thinking that their
seasons served at all times: but wee found it otherwise; for by the
midst of Iune, the fishing failed. Yet in Iuly and August some was
taken, but not sufficient to defray so great a charge as our stay
required. Of dry fish we made about 40000. of Cor-fish about 7000.
Whilest the sailers fished, my selfe with eight or nine others of
them might best bee spared; Ranging the coast in a small boat, wee
got for trifles neer 1100 Bever skinnes, 100 Martins, and neer as
many Otters; and the most of them within the distance of twenty
leagues. We ranged the Coast both East and West much furder; but
Eastwards our commodities were not esteemed, they were so neare the
French who affords them better: and right against us in the Main was
a Ship of Sir Frances Popphames, that had there such acquaintance,
having many yeares used onely that porte, ♦_Sagadahock Colony_♦ that
the most parte there was had by him. And 40 leagues westwards were
two French Ships, that had made there a great voyage by trade, during
the time wee tryed those conclusions, not knowing the Coast, nor
Salvages habitation. With these Furres, the Traine, and Cor-fish I
returned for England in the Bark: where within six monthes after our
departure from the Downes, we safe arrived back. The best of this
fish was solde for five pound the hundreth, the rest by ill usage
betwixt three pound and fifty shillings. The other Ship staied to
fit herselfe for Spaine with the dry fish which was sould, by the
Sailers reporte that returned, at forty ryalls the quintall, each
hundred weighing two quintalls and a halfe.
New England is that part of America in the Ocean Sea opposite to
Nova Albyon ♦_California_♦ in the South Sea; discovered by the
most memorable Sir Francis Drake in his voyage about the worlde.
In regarde whereto this is stiled New England, beeing in the same
latitude. New France, off it, is Northward: Southwardes is Virginia,
and all the adioyning Continent, with New Granado, New Spain, New
Andolosia and the West Indies. Now because I have beene so oft asked
such strange questions, of the goodnesse and greatnesse of those
spatious Tracts of land, how they can bee thus long unknown, or not
possessed by the Spaniard, and many such like demands; I intreat your
pardons, if I chance to be too plaine, or tedious in relating my
knowledge for plaine mens satisfaction.
Florida is the next adioyning to the Indies, which unprosperously
was attempted to bee planted by the French. ♦_Ribault Colony 1565_♦
A Country farre bigger then England, Scotland, France and Ireland,
yet little knowne to any Christian, but by the wonderful endevours of
Ferdinando de Soto a valiant Spaniard: whose writings in this age is
the best guide knowne to search those parts.
Virginia is no Ile (as many doe imagine) but part of the Continent
adioyning to Florida; whose bounds may be stretched to the magnitude
thereof without offence to any Christian inhabitant. For from the
degrees of 30. to 45. his Maiestie hath granted his Letters patents,
the Coast extending South-west and North-east aboute 1500 miles;
but to follow it aboard, the shore may well be 2000. at the least:
of which, 20. miles is the most gives entrance into the Bay of
Chisapeak, where is the London plantation: within which is a Country
(as you may perceive by the description in a Booke and Map printed in
my name of that little I there discovered) may well suffice 300000
people to inhabit. And Southward adioyneth that part discovered at
the charge of Sir Walter Rawley, by Sir Ralph Lane, and that learned
Mathematician Mr. Thomas Heryot. Northward six or seaven degrees is
the River Sadagahock, where was planted the Westerne Colony, by that
Honourable Patrone of vertue Sir Iohn Poppham Lord chief Iustice of
England. Ther is also a relation printed by Captaine Bartholomew
Gosnould, of Elizabeths Iles: and an other by Captaine Waymoth,
of Pemmaquid. From all these diligent observers, posterity may be
bettered by the fruits of their labours. But for divers others that
long before and since have ranged those parts, within a kenning
sometimes of the shore, some touching in one place some in another,
I must entreat them pardon me for omitting them; or if I offend in
saying that their true descriptions are concealed, or never well
observed, or died with the Authors: so that the Coast is yet still
but even as a Coast unknowne and undiscovered. I have had six or
seaven severall plots of those Northren parts, so unlike each to
other, and most so differing from any true proportion, or resemblance
of the Countrey, as they did mee no more good, then so much waste
paper, though they cost me more. It may be it was not my chance to
see the best; but least others may be deceived as I was, or throgh
dangerous ignorance hazard themselves as I did, I have drawen a Map
from Point to Point, Ile to Ile, and Harbour to Harbour, with the
Soundings, Sands, Rocks, and Landmarks as I passed close aboard the
Shore in a little Boat; although there be many things to bee observed
which the haste of other affaires did cause me omit: for, being sent
more to get present commodities, then knowledge by discoveries for
any future good, I had not power to search as I would: yet it will
serve to direct any shall goe that waies, to safe Harbours and the
Salvages habitations: What marchandize and commodities for their
labour they may finde, this following discourse shall plainely
demonstrate.
Thus you may see, of this 2000. miles more than halfe is yet unknowne
to any purpose: no not so much as the borders of the Sea are yet
certainly discovered. As for the goodnes and true substances of the
Land, wee are for most part yet altogether ignorant of them, unlesse
it be those parts about the Bay of Chisapeack and Sagadahock: but
onely here and there wee touched or have seene a little the edges of
those large dominions, which doe stretch themselves into the Maine,
God doth know how many thousand miles; whereof we can yet no more
iudge, then a stranger that saileth betwixt England and France can
describe the Harbors and dangers by landing here or there in some
River or Bay, tell thereby the goodnesse and substances of Spaine,
Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Hungaria and the rest. By this you may
perceive how much they erre, that think every one which hath been
at Virginia understandeth or knowes what Virginia is: Or that the
Spaniards know one halfe quarter of those Territories they possesse;
no, not so much as the true circumference of Terra Incognita, whose
large dominions may equalize the greatnesse and goodnes of America,
for any thing yet known. It is strange with what small power hee
hath raigned in the East Indies; and few will understand the truth
of his strength in America: where he having so much to keepe with
such a pampered force, they neede not greatly feare his furie, in the
Bermudas, Virginia, New France, or New England; beyond whose bounds
America doth stretch many thousand miles: into the frozen partes
whereof one Master Hutson an English Mariner did make the greatest
discoverie of any Christian I knowe of, ♦_Hudson’s Bay_♦ where he
unfortunately died. For Affrica, had not the industrious Portugales
ranged her unknowne parts, who would have sought for wealth among
those fryed Regions of blacke brutish Negers, where notwithstanding
all the wealth and admirable adventures and endeavours more than
140 yeares, they knowe not one third of those blacke habitations.
But it is not a worke for every one, to manage such an affaire as
makes a discoverie, and plants a Colony: It requires all the best
parts of Art, Iudgement, Courage, Honesty, Constancy, Diligence
and Industrie, to doe but neere well. Some are more proper for one
thing then another; and therein are to be imployed: and nothing
breedes more confusion than misplacing and mis-imploying men in
their undertakings. Columbus, Cortez, Pitzara, Soto, Magellanes, and
the rest served more than a prentiship to learne how to begin their
most memorable attempts in the West Indies; which to the wonder of
all ages successfully they effected, when many hundreds of others
farre above them in the worlds opinion, beeing instructed but by
relation, came to shame and confusion in actions of small moment, who
doubtlesse in other matters, were both wise, discreet, generous,
and couragious. I say not this to detract any thing from their
incomparable merits, but to answer those questionlesse questions that
keep us back from imitating the worthinesse of their brave spirits
that advanced themselves from poore Souldiers to great Captaines,
their posterity to great Lords, their King to be one of the greatest
Potentates on earth, end the fruites of their labours, his greatest
glory, power and renowne.
That part wee call New England is betwixt the degrees of 41. and
45: but that parte this discourse speaketh of, stretcheth but from
Pennobscot to Cape Cod, some 75 leagues by a right line distant each
from other: within which bounds I have seene at least 40. severall
habitations upon the Sea Coast, and sounded about 25 excellent good
Harbours; In many whereof there is ancorage for 500. sayle of ships
of any burthen; in some of them for 5000: And more than 200 Iles
overgrowne with good timber, of divers sorts of wood, which doe make
so many harbours as requireth a longer time than I had, to be well
discovered.
The principall habitation Northward we were at was Penobscot:
Southward along the Coast and up the Rivers we found Mecadacut,
Segocket, Pemmaquid, Nusconcus, Kenebeck, Sagadahock, and
Aumoughcawgen; And to those Countries belong the people of Segotago,
Paghhuntanuck, Pocopassum, Taughtanakagnet, Warbigganus, Nassaque,
Masherosqueck, Wawrigweck, Moshoquen, Wakcogo, Pasharanack, &c.
To these are allied the Countries of Aucocisco, Accominticus,
Passataquack, Aggawom and Naemkeck: all these, I could perceive,
differ little in language, fashion, or government: though most be
Lords of themselves, yet they hold the Bashabes of Pennobscot, the
chiefe and greatest amongst them.