MOTIVE I.

motive 1 AS the chiefe and primarie end of mans cre­ation is the Worshippe of GOD; so shall the first, and speciall motive of my procee­ding be the advancement of his Glorie, and that by the propagation of the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST amongst an Heathen people, where Christianitie hath not beene knowne, nor the worshippe of the true GOD. Where can bee se­lected a more excellent subject, than to cast downe the Al­tars of Devills, and to raise vp the Altar of CHRIST: to forbidde the Sacrifice of men, that they may offer vp the Sacrifices of contrite Spirites.

Is it not a determined Trueth, that the Gospell of Ie­sus Christ should bee preached to all the Worlde ( Heaven and Earth shall passe away, but GODS Worde shall not passe a­way). And is it not as certaine a Conclusion amongst all the Divines, that these are the latter Dayes, wherein we live, well knowne by the signes that were to come before, sette downe by God himselfe in his sacred Worde, and for the most part alreadie manifested? And hath not Gods [Page] all-seeing Providence begunne as first by discoverie, and next by plantation of so hudge and so waste a tract, more commonlie, than properlie called the New Worlde; vn­knowne but within this 60. yeeres, except by a glimpse, to make appeare the progresse of his divine Providence, how hee will haue the seede of his worke to bee sowne a­mongst them; Then doth it not belonge vnto vs to pro­secute his worke; and as by merchandizing and trade wee buy at them the pearles of the Earth; wee ought to com­municate vnto them the pearles of Heaven.

The time hath never beene so apparent as now, vnder our most gratious and Soveraigne Lord, King CHARLES, whose generous and gratious goodwill by encouragement to the same, hath manifested the same since hee receaved the Crowne, to bee the selected instrument to atchieue it.

Then should not that Heroicke, and illustrious dispo­sition in Him, whom wee see so prompt to bee still in a­ction, both incite, and invite to so noble designes all such as would shunne the imputation of idlenesse to imitate His foot-steppes.

Is it vnlawfull for vs to come to them? No; it is the duetie of Christianitie in vs, to behold the imprinted foot­steppes of GODS glorie in everie Region vnder Heaven; and to them, against the Law of Nations, to violate a peace­able Stranger, or to deny vs harbour.

Is it vnlawfull for vs to trade with them? No, vnlesse Salomon should bee condemned of sending for Golde to Ophir; Abraham for making a league with Abimelech, and all Christendome for having commerce with Turkes, and miscreants.

Nor neither is it vnlawfull that wee possesse part of their Lands, and dwell with them, and defend our selves from them, because there is no other moderate, and mixt course, to bring them to conversion, but by daylie con­versation, where wee may see the Life, and learne the Lan­guages [Page] each of others: and because there is towne suf­ficient in the Land, (as Sichem said) for them, and vs; the extent of an 100. myles beeing scarce peopled with 500 inhabitants: and chieflie because (as Pharaoh gaue Goshen, to Israel, ere Ephron sold his caue to Abraham) they have solde to our people their Lands for copper (which they more esteme of, than money) to inherite and inhabite:, as Paspehay and Powhatan, two our there greatest Kinges to these our Colonies in Virginia; and chieflie (as it is writ­ten by Captaine Iohn Smith, a worthie actour in the busi­nesse) when Captaine Newport was desired by Powhatan at Worowacomaco, to come from Iames towne in Virginia, where hee was, as a place vnwholesome, and to take possession of another whole Kingdome, which hee gave vnto him.

If any scrupulous conscience will impute, that yet wee can possesse no further limites, than was alloted by com­position, and that fortitude without justice, is but the firebrand of iniquitie. Let him know that Plato defineth it to bee no injustice, to take a sword out of the hand of a madde man. And Saint Augustine hath allowed, for a lawfull offensiue warre that revengeth injuries, and where­in the whole Divines in Europe, although contraverting farre in other things, yet in this they all agree, that it is lawfull. That the Church of Rome allowe it. The Spa­niard, and Portugalles large and ample territories and king­domes in the 15. Provinces of Mexico, Nueua Hispanna, Nueua Gallicia, &c. beare witnesse. And for the Church of England, their Bermudes, Virginian, and New England con­quesse and colonies affirme it. And the Church of Gene­va in the yeere 1555. determined in a Synode (where Calvin was president) to sende Peter Rochier, and William Quadrigarius, vnder a French Captaine to Brasilia, althogh they were supplanted by the Cardinall of Loraine, and the treacherie of their false Captaine.

[Page] When therefore it is so sweete a smelling Sacrifice to propagate the name of Iesus Christ: if wee haue any graine of faith or zeale in Religion, let vs seeke to convert these poore Savages to knowe Christ, and humanitie. Let Re­ligion bee the first aime of our hopes, and other thinges shall bee cast vnto vs. Our Names shall bee registred to posteritie with a glorious Title; These are the men whom GOD hath raised to augment the state of their Coun­trie, and to propagate the Gospell of Iesus Christ.

The same GOD that hath ordained three Kingdomes vnder the Scepter of our gratious King CHARLES, will not bee wanting to adde a fourth, if wee would dis­solve that frostie ycienesse which chilleth our zeale, and maketh vs cold in the action.

MOTIVE II.

motive 2 AND next to the Worshippe of my GOD, is the service of my Prince, and native Countrie: which is the second end that I haue propounded vnto my selfe, by inlarging these Dominions whereof I am a Subject: a duetie moste proper to all the true and loyall Lieges, whensoever by so lawfull and easie meanes it may bee at­chieved.

What is so truelie sutable with honour and honestie, as to gaine to our native Mother-Countrie a Kingdome to attend her? Wherein can the taste of true vertue, and magnanimitie bee more sweete and pleasant, than in plan­ting, and building a foundation for thy posteritie; gotte from the rude earth by Gods blessing, and thine owne in­dustrie, without prejudice to any? What more condu­cing [Page] to that mysticall bodie politicke, whereof thou art a member, than for to finde imployment for those that are idle, because they knowe not what to doe? Posteritie shall remember thee for it, and remembring, ever ho­nour that remembrance with praise.

Consider what was the beginninges, and endinges of the Monarchies of the Chaldeans, the Persians, the Graecians and the Romans, but this one rule: what was it they would not doe for the Common-wealth or there mother Citie? for example: Rome, what made her such a Monarchesse, but on­ly the adventures of her youthe, not in ryots at home, but in dangers abroad? and their justice, and judgment, out of their own experience when they grewe aged. What was their ruine and hurt, but this: their excesse of idlenesse, want of experience, hypocriticall seeming goodnesse, & growing onlie formall Temporists; so that what their Pre­decessours gotte in many yeeres, they lost in few dayes: these by their paines and laboures became Lordes of the Worlde, they by their ease and vyces became slaves to their servants.

Then, who would live at home idle (or think in him selfe any worth to live) onlie to eate, drinke, and sleepe, and so to die? or by consuming that careleslie, which their predecessours hath got worthilie? or by vsing that miserablie, that maintained vertue honestlie? or, for bee­ing descended noblie, pyne with the vaine vaunt of Kin­red in penurie? or (to maintaine a sillie show of braverie) toyle out the heart, soule, and time baselie, by shiftes, trickes, cardes, or dyce? or by relating newes of others actions, sharke heere or there for a Dinner or Supper? deceiving his friends by faire promises and dissimulation, in borrowing where hee never intendeth to pay? offen­ding the Lawes, surfeting with excesse, burthening his Countrie, abusing himselfe, despairing in want, and then cousening his kinred? although it is seene what honoures [Page] the World hath yet, and what affluence of all things; for such as will seeke, and worthilie deserue them. Heere were courses for Gentle-men, (and such as would bee so reputed) more suting their qualities, than begging from their Princes generous disposition the labours of his other subjects.

It woulde bee a Historie of a large volume to recite the adventures of the Spaniards and Portugalles, their constant resolutions, with such incomparable honour, so farre be­yond beliefe in their discoveries, and plantations, as may well condemne vs of too much imbecillitie, floth, and ne­gligence. And yet the authours of these new inventions were helde as ridiculous at that time: as now are others that doe but seeke to imitate their vnparalelled vertues.

And though wee see daylie their mountaines of wealth (sprung from the plants of their generous indevoures) yet is our incredulitie, and vntowardnesse such, and so great, that either ignorantlie wee beleeve nothing; or so curiouslie contest, to prevent wee know not what fu­ture events; that so wee either neglect, or oppresse, or discourage both our selves, and others, that might both as easilie and would as willinglie attempt and embrace the like.

Who seeth not, what is the greatest good of the Spani­ard, but these newe conclusions, in searching these vn­knowne partes of this vnknowne Worlde: by which meanes hee diveth even into the verie secreetes of all his Neighboures, and the most part of the Worlde.

And when the Portugalles and Spaniards had found the East and West Indies, how manie did condemne them-selves that did not accept of that honest offer of noble Columbus, who vpon the neglect of England, to whom it was first offered; brought them to it: perswading them-selves the Worlde had no such places, as they had found: and yet ever since wee finde, they still haue found newe [Page] Lands, newe Nations, new trades, and still daylie doe finde; both in Asia, Africa, Terra incognita, and America: so that their is neither Souldiour, nor Mechanicke from the Lord, to the begger, but these parts affoord them all employment, and discharge their native Soyle of so ma­nie thousands of all sorts, that else by their sloath, pryde and imperfections, woulde longe ere this haue troubled their neighboures, or haue eaten the pryde of Spaine it selfe.

And seeing further, for all they have, they cease not still to search for that, which yet they neither haue, nor knowe not [...] it is strange that wee shoulde bee so dull, as not maintaine that which wee haue, and pursue that, which wee knowe.

I am sure that manie would take it in an evill part to be abridged of the titles and honours of their predecessours: when if but truelie they would judge themselves: looke howe inferiour they are to their noble vertues, so much they are vnworthie of their honours, and livings: which never were ordained for showes and shadowes, to main­taine idlenesse and sloath, but to make them more able to abound in honour by heroicall deedes of action, judge­ment, pietie and vertue.

What was it they would not doe both in purse and per­son for the good of the Common-weale? and may not this bee a motive for vs to set out such as may bee spared of our kindred in such generous designes. Religion aboue all things should move (especiallie the Cleargie) if wee were religious, to showe our faith by our workes, in con­verting these poore savages to the knowledge of GOD. Honour might move the Gentrie, valiant and industrious; the hope and assurance of wealth, all: if wee were such, as wee would seeme, and desire to bee accompted.

Or bee wee so farre inferiour to other Nations, or our Spirites so farre dejected from our ancient Predecessoures [Page] or our minds so vpon spoyle, pyracie, or other villanie­as to serve the Portugale, Spaniard, Dutch, French, or Turk, (as to the great hurte of Europe too manie doe) rather than our GOD, our King, our Countrie, and our selves? excusing our idlenesse, and our base complaints by want of imployment? when heere is such choyce of all sortes, and for all degrees in this plantation.

So let these answere such questionlesse questions, that keepe vs backe from imitating the worthinesse of their brave spirits, that advanced themselves from poore Soul­diers, to great Captaines, their posteritie to great Lords, their King to bee one of the greatest Potentates on Earth, and the fruits of their labours, his greatest glorie, power, riches and renowne.

MOTIVE III.

motive 3 AND as I haue spoken of two principall causes that hath induced mee; The third of my ends may hap­pilie bee no lesse forcible to encourage all such, whose e­ducation, spirits and judgments, wants but onlie the purse to prosecute the same with mee, and that is the private and particulare gaine, that may bee got by so lawfull and easie meanes: whereof it is more than admirable, that such should either bee so wilfullie ignorant, or so negligently carelesse as not to bee moved to imbrace, and speciallie, such imployment as may search out commodities, to live happilie, plentifullie, and at ease.

Ought not everie man to regard, aswell to inlarge his patrimonie, as that hee bee not chargeable to others, so [Page] farre as hee may by his vertue and industrie, in a lawfull and honest manner attaine vnto. Is not a lawfull search for such commodities, to bee preferred to an idle sloath­fulnesse? and an honorable policie in a lawfull plantation abroad, before vnlawfull monopolies, and wrangling suites of Law, by neighbour against neighbour at home, impove­rishing thy selfe, and thy native Countrie, whereof thou oughtest to bee a more profitable member?

May not the fortunate successe of the plantation of Ireland, so fresh and recent to all, whence so great com­modities are brought both to England, and Scotland, and whereby the Countrie it selfe is enriched, and wee so be­nefited, bee inticements to induce vs to the like. The verturous, and generous Spirites of resolute Gentlemen, vnder-takers of this plantation, haue raised their fortunes worthie of honour; and by his Majesties favour, their vertues rewarded with the titles of Earles, Vice-Countes Lords, Barronets, and Knights, according to their qua­lities, and his Majesties pleasure. The meaner sort, such as artisanes, labourers of the ground, the greater part where­of, were knowne to haue scarce a competent meanes to defraye the charges of their passage thither, now pro­moted to bee Gentlemen, and of great meanes. And why may not time produce as great effects to vertue, in others who shall follow her pathes with resolution: where as good occasions are are offered, in a climate more tem­perate, a Soyle more fertile, and farre exceeding in grea­ter commodities?

And last, to shake off the difficulties, and impedi­mentes that may bee objected: as the dangerousnesse of Sea, the bariennesse of the Soyle, and the vnwholesome­nesse of the climate; all which discouragements might a­stonishe some with feare, and to thinke our expensses, and paines vnprofitable; when as our endes shall bee vn­possible. [Page] I haue therefore heere taken a view that you may generallie knowe and learne, what the Countrie is, and her commodities: the temperature of the climate: nature of the natives: and the easinesse of the passage; all which I shall briefly runne over; only to remove from before your feete the stumbling blocks of impossibilitie that may affright vs.

The Countrie it is called by the name of Cape Briton, now New Galloway: new, not in respect of the discoverie thereof, which to the judgment of men of knowledge and vnderstanding is not new, but old; for the much hath been written thereof, yet new, not olde, because of our new vn­dertaking of that plantation. It is situated betwixt the de­grees of 45. and 57. an Yland within the Sea, but vpon the maine, severed by the distance of foure leagues in some parts, of two or three at other parts: and at others, lesse.

The Yland is in length some 120. myles, and in breadth 80. myles or thereby: standing South-east, and North-west to New Scotland; vvhere the great river Canada ingorgeth her selfe in the maine Ocean. Harbours there bee excee­ding good on all sides, in most part vvhereof are ancorage for shippes of all burthen. Yles there be about over-grovvn vvith good timber of diverse sorts of vvood; all as yet not discovered, except the Yle Sablon, vvhich is full of vvoodes and vvilde beastes, but vvithout any people. The Land is vvatered by foure maine rivers, full of Salmond, and di­verse other sortes of fishes. It hath plentie of springes of svveete vvaters. Tovvards the North-east, Mountanous: and tovvard the South-west Caimpainge: promising as rich entralles as anie other Kingdome to whom the Sunne is no nearer neighbour. The ground in it self so fertile and good as may equalize any of the Kingdomes that lyeth in the hight of 45. 46. 47. Onlie this advantage I find in nature, that they haue above this: they are bewtified by the long labour & diligence of industrious people & airt: & this is only as God made it, when he created the world, vncultured, planted & manured by men of industry, judgmēt & experience.

[Page] The commodities which we shal reape from thence shall be great, for the Sea shall sweeten our labours with her bene­fites, as the Land, and the Land aswell as the Sea. The Sea shall reach vs vp her Whale, her turbot, her sturgion, cod, haddocke, small ling, makkerell, herring, mullet, pearch, Ecle, crab, lobster, muskle, wilk, oyster, and infinite others. Fish is the maine Staple, from whence is to be extracted, a present commoditie to produce the rest: which howsoever it may seeme meane and base, yet it is the Myne, and the Sea is the source of these silvered streames of all these vertues, which hath made the Hollanders, the miracle of industrie, & patterne of perfection for these affaires: and the benefite of fishing, is that Primum mobile, that turneth all their Spheare to this hight of plentie, strength, honour, and admiration.

The ground it will yeeld vs an admired varietie; some wee shall haue that are merchantable, which, by the serving for ordinarie necessars of the planters & inhabitants, may yeeld a superplus sufficient, by way of traffick and exchange with other nations, to enriche our selves the provyders; such as flaxe, hempe, which the Soyle doth yeeld of it self not plan­ted. For pitch, tarre, rozen and turpentine, there bee these kind of trees there, which yeeld them aboundantlie. Sassa­fras, called by the natives, winauk, a kind of wood of sweet smell, and of rare vertues in Physick. The Vine, it groweth there wild. Oyle there may be there of two sortes: one of walnuts; and another of berries, like the ackornes, which the natives vse. Furres of manie and diverse kinds; such as the matterne, the otter. the black foxe, the luzernes, Deere skins, bevers, wildcat, and manie others. Sweet gummes of di­verse kinds, and many other Apothecarie drugges. Dyes of diverse sortes: such as shoemake, for blacke: the seede of an hearbe called vasebur, and a litle small roote called chap­pacor, for red: & for blew, the her be woad, a thing of great vent and vse at home for Dyers, and many other commodi­ties merchantable, which by planting may bee raised.

and in our coastings at home wee are subject vnto.

And now last, it resteth I speake a worde of the na­ture of the people, in so farre as you maye knowe, how litle they are to bee feared, in respect of troubling our inhabiting and planting.

They are a people so fewe, so poore, so base, so in­civile, and so savage, as wanting both multitude, po­wer, or ai [...] to harme vs. They are cloathed with loose mantles, made of Deere skinnes, casten rounde about their middles, the rest of their bodie all naked, of such stature onelie as wee are heere, having no edge tooles, nor weapons of yron, nor steele to offende vs, neither knowe they how to make anie, nor howe to vse them.

These weapons which they have, are onelie Bowes made of Hazell, and arrowes of reedes: flat edged trun­cheons also of vvood, about a yarde long: neither haue they anie thing to defende themselves, but targes made of barkes, and some armour made of stickes vvickered together vvith threed. In number they are verie fewe, in twentie myles, scarce threescore people. Townes in the countrie are verie rare, and small: containing fewe inhabitants: and hee is a Viroan, or great Lord, that hath the government of one towne. There houses are li­tle, made of small poles, and fast at the toppes in round forme, in moste parte covered with barkes. If there shoulde fall out anie Warres betwixt vs and them, what fight coulde there bee, wee having advantages against them, so manie manner of wayes: it maye bee easilie i­magined, by our discipline, our strange weapons, espe­ciallie, our Ordinance great, and small. And by the experience that others hath had of them there, in pla­ces more populous than this of ours: where the taking of them-selves to their heeles, was their best defence against them.

[Page] So seeing you maye perceive, what the Countrie is, and how situated? the aire how temperate, and whole­some? the Soyle how fertile, and what affluence it doeth yeelde of commoditie? the natives how both so fewe, and so harmelesse? and the passage, howe so easie, and so frequentlie experimented? I hope there remaineth no cause, whereby the action should bee misliked.

Thus referring my relation to your favourable con­structions: the successe of the action to Him, who is to bee acknowledged the Author and Governour, not onlie of this, but of all thinges else: and these my subsequent Offers, which I have freelie, and willinglie granted, as helpes, and furtherances for your encouragement to so good a Worke; yee maye pervse, and onelie imbrace as you shall thinke your selves disposed.