_The first Plantations of the Isle of_ Mevis.
{MN-1} Because I have ranged and lived amongst those Islands, what my
Authors cannot tell me, I think it no great error in helping them to tell
it my self. In this little Isle of _Mevis,_ more than twenty Years ago, I
have remained a great time together, to Wood and Water and refresh my Men;
it is all Woody, but by the Sea-side Southward, there are Sands like
Downs, where a Thousand Men may quarter themselves Conveniently; but in
most places the Wood groweth close to the Water side, at a high Water
mark, and in some places so thick of a soft spungy Wood like a wild
Fig-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 certain, but many of our Men became so tormented with a burning
swelling all over their Bodies, they seemed like scalded Men, and near Mad
with Pain; {MN-2} here we found a great Pool wherein bathing themselves
they found much ease; and finding it fed with a Pleasant small stream that
came out of the Woods, we found the head half a Mile within the Land
distilling from many Rocks, by which they were well cured in two or three
days. Such factions here we had, as commonly attend such Voyages, that a
pair of Gallows were made, but Captain _Smith_ for whom they were
intended, could not be perswaded to use them; but not any one of the
inventors, 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 have betrayed him.
* * * * *
{MN-1} _The Description of the Isle._
{MN-2} _The Bath._
{MN} The last Year 1628. Mr. _Littleton_ with some others, got a Patent of
the Earl of _Carlisle_ to Plant the Isle called the _Barbadoes,_ thirty
Leagues Northward of St. _Christophers;_ which by report of their
Informers, and Undertakers, for the excellency of the Pleasantness
thereof, they called _Dulcina,_ but when they came there, they found it
such a Barren Rock they left it; altho they were told as much before, they
would not believe it, perswading themselves those contradicters would get
it for themselves, was thus by their cunning Opinion, the deceivers of
themselves; for seeing it lie conveniently for their purpose in a Map,
they had not Patience to know the goodness or badness, the inconvenience
nor probability of the Quantity nor Quality; which error 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 general History, how
difficult a matter it is, to gather the Truth from amongst so many Foreign
and several Relations, except you have exceeding good experience both of
the Countries People, and their Conditions; and those ignorant
undertakings, have been the greatest hindrance of all those Plantations.
* * * * *
{MN} _A great misfortune._
{MN} At last because they would be absolute, they came to _Mevis,_ a
little Isle by St. _Christophers;_ where they seated themselves, well
furnished with all necessaries, being about the Number of an Hundred, and
since increased to an Hundred and fifty Persons, whereof many were old
Planters of St. _Christophers;_ especially Mr. _Anthony Hinton,_ and Mr.
_Edward Tompson._ But because all those Isles for the 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, loss and charge, should they
be abandon'd, 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 Enemy by that
Commodity they cannot long subsist.
* * * * *
{MN} _Their Numbers._
And it is a wonder to me to see such Miracles and Mischiefs in Men; how
greedily they pursue to dispossess 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 Kingdoms, when so much lieth wait, or
only possessed by a few poor Savages, that more serve the Devil for fear,
than God for love; whose Ignorance we pretend to reform, but Covetousness,
Humours, Ambition, Faction, and Pride hath so many Instruments, we perform
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.
{MN} Now to conclude the Travels and Adventures of Captain _Smith;_ how
first he Planted _Virginia_ and was let ashoar with about an Hundred Men
in the wild 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 down their
Country to be shewed for a wonder; fatted as he thought, for a Sacrifice
for their Idol, before whom they conjured him three days, with strange
Dances and Invocations, then brought him before their Emperor _Powhatan,_
that commanded him to be slain; how his Daughter _Pocahontas_ saves his
life, returned him to _James_ Town, relieved him and his famished Company,
which was but eight and thirty to possess those large Dominions; how he
discovered all the several Nations, upon the Rivers falling into the Bay
of _Chisapeacke;_ flung near to death with a most Poisoned taile of a Fish
called Stingray: how _Powhatan_ out of his Country took the Kings of
_Pamaunke_ and _Paspahegh_ Prisoners, forced thirty nine of those Kings to
pay him contribution, subjected all the Savages: how _Smith_ was blown up
with Gun-powder, and returned for _England_ to be cured.
* * * * *
{MN} _Certain exploits of Captain_ Smith.
Also how he brought our New _England_ to the subjection of the Kingdom of
Great _Britain;_ his fights with the Pirats, left alone amongst a many
_French_ men of Warr, 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 himself, when thirteen _French_ Ships were split, or driven on
shoar by the Isle of _Ree,_ the General and most of his Men drowned, when
God, to whom be all Honour and Praise, brought him safe on shoar to all
their Admirations that escaped; you may read at large in his General
History of _Virginia,_ the _Summer Isles,_ and _New England._
* * * * *