SEeing it hath pleased the Kings most ex­cellent Maiesty, long since, to grant a Pa­tent vnto some right Honourable and right worshipfull persons, and others, for a Plantation in the New-found-land: my often trauels to that Countrey, and many wrongs which I receiued there, gaue me cause to take some no­tice, and obserue the vnfitnesse of the place where the said Plantation was first begun; as also how in seuerall yeeres, Pirates, and erring Subiects were there entertai­ned; which as I conceiued, was a dishonour to his Maiesty, an abuse to the Vndertakers of that worthy purpose; as also a generall wrong to all his Maiesties subiects which aduenture thither. And likewise often seeing great abuses committed there yeerely by the tra­ders thither, I was thereby imboldened to compile my former discouery of that Countrey as now it is. The which when I had so done, I did not trust onely to my owne iudgement, that the same was fit to be presented vnto his Maiesty, vntill I had the approbation of some iudiciall Lords, and other right worshipfull Knights, that it was a businesse of worth to bee so presented, as it [Page 2] hath been. Since which time, I have not seene any rea­son to the contrary in my selfe, neither haue I hitherto found any iudiciall contradiction in others, but that to inhabite and plant seuerall Colonies of his Maiesties subiects in that Countrey, will be both honourable and profitable to them all in generall. Whereunto seeing your Honor is led by your own proper vertues and ge­nerosity: as also the right Honorable Sir George Caluert Knight (one of the principall Secretaries to his Maie­sty) and diuers others right worshipfull Knights and Esquires in some other seuerall parts there, whereby it appears that your Honours, nor any of the other Vn­dertakers are dis-heartened therein, by reason the same hath not been as yet so orderly proceeded on as yee both intend. For there is no doubt, but that other mens errours will make you and yours the more curi­ous in the conduction thereof; like expert Pilots, who by the discouery of rockes and shelues, know how to a­uoyd them, and by sight of other mens shipwracks, perfectly know how to preuent their owne. Of which Countrey, considering his Maiesty, out of his Princely care and vnderstanding, hath taken such deepe and singular notice; by which both yee, and diuers others are, as also partly by my discoueries, incouraged there­unto to make it famous vnto all posterities; And sith Plantations as well as reformations begin by degrees: so you haue all the pregnant reasons of the world to rest assured; that when you have begun to settle your directions and designes well therein, you have halfe ended: and because the attempt and enterprize heereof is as full of assurances, as hopes, the issue thereof will vndoubtedly proue fortunate, and the successe glorious. And although your iudgements & reasons haue alrea­dy [Page 3] made you, not onely credulous, but confident here­of, yet to informe and prepare the knowledge of those who shall be willing to assist the same with you both, in the honours and profits which will accrue thereby, I haue aduentured to compile and divulge this ensuing Treatise, which tends and leads that way; although I know well, that the worke deserues a more curious pen to make it passe currant with the iudicious Reader: Yet my sincerity and integrity in penning it, will, I trust, supply the defects, or at least the truth thereof; which is indeed the only proper foundation, structure, and ornament herein. And thus fearing, lest I should make this my introduction ouer tedious: I will pro­ceed and lay open the matter and reasons for the per­formance thereof, to the sight and censure of whomsoe­uer hath seene that Countrey, or shall be willing to as­sist your so noble and worthy designes.

The two seuerall circuits of land in that Countrey, which is so granted vnto your Lordship, & your heires in fee for euer, I haue heere plainly expressed in what a temperate Climate it lyeth; As also in what manner the bounds thereof extend: Likewise the commodious lying of some good Harbours, Bayes, and Roades with­in the same; where great store of Shipping hath long time vsed to ride at Anchor, for making of their fish­ing Voyages: As also partly the pleasantnesse of some parts of the said seuerall Circuits: And what the parti­cular charge may amount vnto, for victualing forth a Ship of one hundred Tun burthen to that Countrey with forty persons, prouided with all necessaries for the fishing voyage, and for the good of the said Plantati­on: As also what yeerely benefit may accrue vnto the Aduenturers thereby: And withall, by Gods assistance, [Page 4] the said Plantation to be proceeded on with much fa­cility: As also in what liberall manner you will be plea­sed to entertaine such as shall be willing to aduenture with you therein. The reasons which I shall deliuer, to performe what I haue written herein, I humbly sub­mit vnto your fauour and iudgement: the defects and things needlesse, to your honourable censure and pardon. So shall I not feare, any who hath seene that Countrey, shall bee able iustly to disproue the same.

The Southmost part of your Circuit in that Land, which is now called by the name of South-Fawlkland, lyeth neere in forty sixe degrees and a halfe of Nor­therly latitude, beginning on the East side of that I­land, at a certaine Harbour called Renowze: And from thence West vnto a certaine Bay in that Iland, called by the name of Pleasaunce: And from the foresaid har­bour of Renowze towards the North, so farre as halfe the way betweene another certaine Harbour there, called Agafort, and another Harbour called Formosa: And from thence towards the West, so far as the fore­said Bay of Pleasaunce: And so from the said West line towards the South, vnto the abouesaid West line, which commeth there from the aforesaid Harbour of Renowze: And all that which is inclusiuely within the said Circuit.

From the said Harbour of Renowze, vnto the middle way betweene the said Agafort and Formosa: it is in breadth South and North, aboue 6. English miles: And in length no lesse then 50. East and West.

Formosa is a Harbour fit for any Ship, of what bur­then soeuer, there to ride well at Anchor, and stretch­eth towards the West from the entrance thereof, neere [Page 5] foure miles; into which Harbour there yeerely comes aboue 20. saile of English Ships, which haue commo­dious places to salt and dry fish on: and also diuers Portugall Ships; It is a Harbour that with small charge may be well defended, so as no Pirats might come in there, but by leaue. The Land on the North side of the said Harbour, neere a mile in length by the Harbours side, is fit for drying of fish, and other purposes; the rest of the North side of the said Harbour, to the inner­most part thereof, by the Harbours side, is something rocky, where grow store of Firre and Spruise trees, and other fruits. There are diuers commodious places on the South side of the said Harbour, for salting and dry­ing of fish, and building of houses, and many more such conuenient places may very fitly be made there, when people begin to inhabite that place. For the fertility of the soyle, in diuers places betwene Formosa and Re­nowze, I thinke it to be so good as any other Land in all that Countrey, not onely for the pleasantnesse ef the Climate it lyes in; but also for the goodnesse, com­modious and leuell lying of many hundred acres in large valleyes of good deepe earth, open and cleane, without rocks and trees, which (questionlesse) is fit for Wheat, Rye, Barley, and other graine: As also for Flax, Hempe, Woad, Tobacco, and many other purposes. How the goodnesse of that Circuit is towards the West, from the innermost parts of these two harbours, I cannot directly write of; more then fiue miles. The which Land further into the Countrey, as I did often obserue it, standing on the hils, it seemed to me, so far as I could descry, to be very pleasant, and promise well. There are large ponds, and a faire, broad, and long ri­uer of deepe fresh waters vpon the hils, betweene the [Page 6] said two harbours; wherein are store of good Trowts taken some times; And the Firre and Spruise trees growing round about the said Ponds and Riuer fresh and greene, Winter and Summer, with such flagrant shewes, as no trees in such a Clymate can make a more delightfull sight of greennesse, then those doe there; wheron the Thrush, Thrussels, Nightingales, and other birds doe often sit and sing so pleasantly, as if they were neuer pincht with cold, or want of food, as such birds are in England diuers winters.

Betweene the harbours of Formosa and Renowze, it is three English miles, where wayes may be commo­diously and easily made both for man and beast, to tra­uell from one of the said harbours to the other: And in my opinion (which I submit to better censures) the fittest place within that Circuit, first to settle a Colony, is neere vnto the harbour of Renowze, which lyeth fiue degrees more towards the South, then the City of London; which is is no lesse then 280. English miles: It is a very pleasant place for that purpose, hauing seue­rall large valleyes, which are more then three hundred acres of good open land, deepe earth, cleane without rockes and trees, lying vnder the hils on the Northside of them very commodiously; which are fit to bee im­ployed (with little labour) for corne, meddowes, pa­sture, or whatsoeuer. And there are seuerall brookes of fresh water which fall into the said harbour, where comes yeerely great store of good Salmons, Salmon-peales, Trowts, and other fish, of which kinds there are taken great store.

Looke into the woods, and open lands neere vnto Renowze; there comes often great store of Deere, and other beasts, which are fit for profit and delight: As al­so [Page 7] in and neere thereunto infinite numbers of land-fowle, and sea-fowle: and in Summer time, there are abundance of fruites, as there are not better of such kinds else-where: As also herbes, and pleasant flowers which grow there naturally very plentifully. And di­uers Fishermen haue carried thither seeds, and sowed them in conuenient places; whereby they haue often had good Cabbage, Lettice, Beetes, Carrets, and such like, very faire and good: and for Turneps, I neuer saw better then there, both for greatnesse, rellish, and goodnesse; I esteeme them to be equall with any Po­tato roots which are growing else-where. There is also store of Spruise, Firre, Pine, and Birch trees fit for many seruiceable purposes: And many long rushes which are fit to couer houses withall, as the reed of wheat or rye, wherewith diuers mens houses of good ability are co­uered: And I am also of opinion, vpon some proofe which I made, that there are lime stones, which is a speciall necessary to begin a Plantation withall.

There come yeerely to that harbour of Renowze a­boue twenty saile of English Ships, to fish, besides other Nations, and there are commodious places for them all to salt and dry fish on; and much better, in time, may those places bee made for that purpose: And there come also into those two harbours, Ships and Barkes yeerely from England, and other places, to load fish, and traine oyle, from the Fishermen: In which Ships great store of people and prouisions; as also beasts may be cheaply carryed thither.

There is a small Iland of stones and Beach, at the in­nermost part of the harbour of Renowze, whereon a ship of sixty tunne burden may well labour to make his fishing voyage on; which is neere the circuit of two [Page 8] acres of ground, and it doth ebbe and flow in and out by both sides of the said Iland, sixe foot of water vp­right euery tide, and that tide runnes halfe a mile aboue the said Iland, where it is very deepe water, and of a good breadth: diuers Ships doe yeerely salt, and dry their fish, aboue the said Iland on both sides of that Ri­uer; although there is not water for any Boate to passe in or out by the said Iland at euery low water, for the space of more then an houre. And there may be com­modiously a Bridge made on either side, in lesse then halfe a day, fit to passe at al times, both for man & beast, from one side of the harbour to the other, vpon any oc­casion, which is a greater commodity, for that purpose, then any other harbour in that land, which I know that hath the like. And from thence to the harbours mouth, a peece of Ordnance will shoote a Bullet leuell; and so the like aboue, to euery place where men vse to salt and dry fish: so that if a sortification be made in that Iland, where the fresh Riuers are so pleasant, it will not only offend any enemie, from comming into that harbour; but also defend such Ships and men which come yeere­ly there a fishing, or to trade.

And if any enemies should at any time come thither by land from any other place, to pretend hurt to any man there; he cannot be at any place on either side of the said harbour, where men vse to labour about their fish; but that a peece of Ordnance, being placed on that Iland, will shoote a Bullet to any such; so that by such a fortification, euery man which comes there, may in more security reape the benefit of their labours, then some men haue done in that Countrey in former times. And then there may fitly be some shel­ters builded, whereby to succour such Beasts as are car­ried [Page 9] thither at the first, so as no deuouring beast of that Countrey may spoile them by night: and in the day time, they may feede in the pleasant valleys, and vpon the hils, euen close by the said Iland, on both sides of the said harbour, where a peece of Ordnance will shoote a Bullet vnto them if there be cause.

There vsually come euery yeere in the fishing trade, vnto the harbours of Formosa, and Renowze, aboue eight hundred English men; which men may, to assist one another vpon any occasion, come together in lesse time then two houres warning, either by Sea or Land. And there is yeerely all the Summer time, great fishing neere vnto both the said harbours mouthes, where men may, when they thinke good, stand vpon the land, and call vnto the Fishermen to come into the said harbors vnto them; which is also such a good commoditie for securitie, as few harbours in that land haue the like.

In both which harbours, there is store of Lobsters, Crabbes, Muscles, and other Shell-fish; And aboue the foresaid Iland, it is the most commodious place for Geese, Ducks, and other Water-fowle, winter and sum­mer, as there is not the like in any other harbour on the East side of that Land, to the Southward of the Bay of Conception; whereof those men, which I left there all the winter season, in Anno 1618. made good proofe, and so likewise the winter before that time, and sithence.

THus hauing expressed a part of the commodi­ousnesse of the Land and Sea, neere vnto the harbours of Formosa and Renowze; I will also relate a part of the commodiousnesse, and great hope of good, which may come vnto such as will be Aduentu­rers [Page 10] with your Lordship, in your other circuit of Lands in that Countrey, now called by the name of Trinity Land, which beginneth at the middle way of the entrance into the Bay of Trinity in 48. degrees, and two terces of Northerly latitude; and from thence towards the West, vnto the inmost part of the said Tri­nity Bay, and from the inmost part of Trinity Bay, vnto the bounds of the Sea, on the West side of that Land. And from the foresaid latitude, at the entrance into the said Trinity Bay, directly from thence to­wards the North, so farre as the Northmost part of a certaine small Iland, lying neere the latitude of 51. de­grees, called by the name of Penguin Iland; And from thence to the Westermost part of the New-found-land, in that latitude; And from that latitude on the West side of the sayd Trinity Land, so farre to the South, as the foresaid West line, which commeth from the in­most part of the foresaide Trinity Bay; And all the Lands, Harbours, Bayes, Roades, Ilands, and what­soeuer, which is inclusiuely within the said circuit.

The Cape Bona vista, is the head land on the North side of the entrance into Trinity Bay, and there is a reasonable good harbour, where Ships doe yeerely vse to fish, called the harbour of Bona vista, and diuers small Ilands are neere thereunto; where yeerely breed great aboundance of diuers sorts of Sea-fowles, of which birds and their egges, men may take so many of them as they list; and from the harbour of Bona vista, vnto a little harbour called S. Catalina, on the North side of Trinity Bay, where fisher Boates doe often harbour, vpon some occasions; it is neere sixe leagues West South-west in, towards the said Bay; And from thence vnto a Roade for Ships, called English Harbour, towards [Page 11] the North-west, it is two leagues, where some yeeres 6. or 7. saile of good Ships haue made their fishing voyages; And from thence to the North-west, halfe a league, lieth a harbour, called Salmon Coue, wheresome yeeres 10. saile of good Ships haue made their voyages; And from thence to the West a league, lieth a good Roade, called Robin Hoods Bay, where some yeeres 6. good Ships haue made their voyages; From thence vn­to the West, halfe a league, lye the best harbours in that Land, called by the name of Trinity Harbour, where some yeeres, aboue 20. saile of good Ships haue made their fishing voyages; And from Trinity harbour to­wards the West two leagues, lieth the harbour of Bona­uenter, where some yeeres, 5. or 6. good Ships make their voyages; And from thence to the West neere two leagues, lyeth a Riuer or Inlet nauigable, fit for any ship to saile in, stretching towards the North, which I may well call the Riuer of Bonauenter, because it is supposed to runne into the Bay of Flowers, which lyeth on the North side of Trinity harbour; At the entrance of of which Riuer, some yeeres, diuers Ships hau [...] rid there at anchor, to make their voyages; And from thence West 4. leagues, lieth a harbour called Hartsease, where diuers good Ships haue made their voyages; And be­tweene the foresaid Riuer of Bonauenter, and the said harbour of Hartsease; there is a very good harbour, stretching towards the North, aboue 6. leagues, called Hayleford Hauen, where Ships doe not vse to fish, by rea­son there are no conuenient places to dry their fish on, neere the entrance into the said harbour. And aboue the said harbour of Hartsease, to the Westermost part of Trinitie Bay, it is no lesse then twelue leagues: And there is also good fishing farre into the Bay, within [Page 12] the said harbour of Hartsease, as by good proofe hath beene often made.

Betweene the said harbour of Hartsease, and the foresaid English harbour, there are many delightfull and fruitfull Ilands, none of them aboue a mile from the Land; And the Bay of Trinitie is in breadth, at the neerest place, which is right ouer against the harbour of Hartsease, aboue 5. leagues; And those that fish on the South side of the said Bay, doe yeerely send their Boates to the North side, for baite to take their fish withall; because such baite is there in great aboun­dance; And on those foresayd Ilands, there yeerely breed innumerable store of Geese, Ducks, Gulls, and other Sea-fowle, to which places the natiues of the Countrey doe often come from the North, and fetch those Fowles and their egges, as they haue beene often seene so to doe.

There haue diuers yeeres been aboue sixty saile of good Ships fishing in the foresaid Trinity harbour, and those foresaid Bayes, Roades, and harbours, and they haue all made as great thriuing voyages there, as any other Ships haue made at any other place in that Countrey; all that North side of Trinity Bay lyeth pleasantly against the South, being neere in the latitude of 49. degrees, by which it may be well conceiued, the Climate of it selfe should be very pleasant, considering that the City of London is more then three degrees to the North, then that place, which is no lesse then 180. English miles; and there is all such fruits in great a­bundance, as are formerly recited in my discouery of that Countrey, and all such sorts of fish of what kind soeuer, so plentifull, as in any other part to the South­ward on that Coast; and the Firre, Spruise, Pine, and [Page 13] Birch trees are there much greater, and longer, and the Countrey fuller of woods, then it is to the South­ward; and if some people doe once begin to inhabite there, questionlesse, there is great hope in doing much good, not onely in fishing, and manuring of land, but also in sawing of boords, and squaring of Timber, fit to be transported from thence into other Countries; as also for making of Iron, Salt, Sope, Pitch and Tarre; whereby good profit may be gotten; considering what commodities in all Europe do more decay then wood, whereof there is no likelihood (in the opinion of man) euer to be any want thereof in that Countrey. So that it may be well conceiued, it is a good neighbor Coun­trey to lay hold on, seeing it may be possessed so fitly.

Thus according to my certaine knowledge, I haue partly shewed how your seuerall Circuits lye in that Countrey; and partly the great hope whereby it may incourage diuers worthy men to become suiters vnto your Honour, to bee Aduenturers to further the same, when they shall also bee made acquainted with such bountifull conditions, as you will bee pleased to grant vnto euery such Aduenturer.

Which conditions, are as it hath pleased your Lord­ship something to acquaint me withall, That any who will aduenture 100. pounds to settle a Colony neere vnto the foresaid harbour of Renowze, and towards the setting forth of such shipping thither yeerely in the fi­shing trade, as it may please you; and such as shall ad­uenture therein to thinke good, wherby to aduance the said Plantation, and also to defray the charge in setting forth such shipping with good profit.

So that such shipping so imployed, shall carry peo­ple yeerely, and prouisions, for all such as shall continue [Page 14] there, and such beasts, and all other necessaries as may be thought fit, and not to hire any other Ship for that purpose onely: And that any Aduenturer shall not onely haue his equall part, proportionably of the bene­fit which may bee yeerly gotten there, by the fishing; but also such part of the benefit as may be gotten by the labours and industry of those which shall yeerely bee sent to remaine there, as seruants to you and the Ad­uenturers, who are to prouide for them.

And also any such shall likewise haue (which ad­uentures 100. pounds to be imployed as aforesaid) the one halfe part and preogatiue of one of the foresaid Harbours, Bay, or Road on the Northside of Trinity Bay, and the circuit of two thousand acres of such land and woods as is next adioyning thereunto, in fee for e­uer to be holden of your Lordship, by the rent of a pen­ny by the yeere for euery such hundred acres of land and woods, which is twenty pence by the yeere for two thousand acres.

And also he shall haue in fee for euer, to him and his assignes, a conuenient place to build a Stage, and neces­sary roomes to salt fish on, and to build a dwelling house, and other conuenient houses, neere vnto the har­bours of Formosa and Renowze, with a sufficient cir­cuit of ground to dry fish on, and for some other purpo­ses, fit for a Ship of fouresore Tun burthen.

So that any such vndertaker doe within a fit time li­mited, settle and maintaine there to inhabite eight per­sons at least: and so many more as he shall think good; and take the benefit of their labours to his owne par­ticular account, which may bee worth yeerly a great profit to any such Aduenturer, and to pay for the same as a rent by the yere 10.s. And for default of not conti­nuing [Page 15] there yeerely, after a fit time limited, eight per­sons; or for non payment of the foresaid rents of ten shillings by the yeere; and the abouesaid rent of twen­ty pence by the yeere: then any such vndertaker shall forfeit his right, title and interest in all such land and woods; and likewise in the said place for salting and drying of fish (but not the benefit of such a summe as he shall so aduenture.) And if any such aduenturer, or any of his seruants or assignes, shall at any time finde within your said lands there, any mines of gold, siluer, or what metall soeuer, hee shall yeeld vnto your Lord­ship or assignes an indifferent part thereof.

And whosoeuer will aduenture 200. pounds, may not onely haue a whole Harbour, Bay, or Road to him­selfe in fee for euer, and foure thousand acres of land, and woods thereunto adioyning on the North side of Trinity Bay; but also a conuenient place, and ground to build Stages and houses, and for drying of fish fit for a Ships fishing voyage of 160. tunne burthen, neere vnto the harbors of Formosa and Renowze; so that any such Vndertaker, or his assignes doe, within such a con­uenient time as shall bee set downe in his grant, main­taine there sixteene persons, as his seruants or tenants, and to pay double so much rent by the yeere, as whoso­euer aduentures but 100. pounds as aforesaid: And likewise he shall receiue double so much of the benefit and good, which may come by the aduenture of any such summe, in setting forth of such shipping as are to be imployed as aforesaid; and also the like by the la­bours of those which shall be imployed in the intended Plantation.

And whosoeuer shall aduenture lesse then 100. li. be it 80. li. 60. li. 50. li. 30. li. or 20. li. shall haue lesse pro­portionably [Page 16] in euery respect, what hee shall haue that aduentures 100. pounds: And whosoeuer shall aduen­ture 200. pounds or a greater sum, or but 100. pounds or a lesse summe, should disburse the one moity or halfe part thereof this first yeere, whereby to make pro­uisions for the fishing voyage, and shipping to bee in perfect readinesse in fit time.

And any man which shall thus aduenture 200. pounds or a greater or lesse summe, hee should bring in the o­ther halfe part of such a summe as he doth promise, and subscribe to aduenture the second yeere at conuenient time, wherby to make fit prouisions in readinesse of all necessaries, as shall be then thought fitting for the yeere following, and then by Gods assistance, there is great hope of gaine to bee made, and good proceedings in the said Plantation.

Some of those which will be Aduenturers in this manner, may bee as Committees, to giue their best opinions, what they should conceiue to be most fitting in euery respect; whereby there may bee the more or­derly proceedings therein, and whatsoeuer any 4, 5, 6, or a more number of them may think fit: one, or more of them may at conuenient times acquaint your Ho­nour withall, whereby it may the more speedily bee put in action, and you so little troubled withall, from your other waighty occasions as possible may bee: And so one of the said Committees to be as Treasurer, who may keepe the bookes of accounts, of whatsoeuer may be so aduentured, and likewise to bee receiued, which will giue a good content to euery Aduenturer.

And as concerning the manner how Ships and men should bee imployed in this intended Plantation, I shall as followeth acquaint you; whereby there may be [Page 17] hired some industrious men, which are most pliable for the fishing voyage, agreed withall in time to faile in such shipping, and with such men some others may goe to be as Seruants in the voyage, which may be Trades­men, and their wiues; who will labour fitly in the fish­ing, whiles it lasteth, and afterwards continue there to plant.

It is to be vnderstood, that a Ship which vsually car­rieth there in an ordinary fishing voyage 30. men and boyes, and returnes yeerely with them, should not, that is thus imployed, carry aboue 34. men, women and some Youths of 13. or 14. yeeres of age, whose victuall and wages, for more then three quarters of the yeere, will be euen defrayed vpon the ordinary charge of the fishing voyage; for any such Ship may well be sailed thither, and home againe, with lesse then twenty men; So that those other fourteene may be accounted vnprofitable passengers to be carryed, and so recarryed from thence as vsually is done.

And therefore it is requisite, that such as shall re­maine there to inhabite, should bee agreed withall in time, whereby to prepare themselues for that purpose, and not to seeke after such in haste, for then should you not onely haue those which are not so fit as I doe wish, for that purpose; but also they will be much more dea­rer (as I haue often proued what they will be) if they be taken when they proffer their seruice.

And he that is either a fit house-Carpenter, Mason, Smith, Brick-maker, Lime-burner, Turner, Tyler, Hus­bandman, Gardener, or what trade soeuer, and will car­ry his wife with him, should be so agreed withall at first; so that notwithstanding their trades, they should help to fish, and labour diligently about the same, when time [Page 18] serues for all building of houses, which is a thing will fitly bee done at all times, very commodiously, with little labour and lesse charge, when the fish faileth.

And if any Aduenturer will send thither a kinsman, friend, or seruant, to be imployed in the said Plantati­on, which will take paines, hee may haue a fit hire al­lowed him by the yeere, as the Treasurer, and one, or more of the Aduenturers may thinke fit: And any such so imployed, may see such lands and woods allotted out for his said Master or friend, and yeerely certifie him from thence what fit proceedings there are in the said Plantation.

And also any that shall serue their 5. yeeres industri­ously, may not only be well paid, as hee shall be agreed withall, but you will then also giue him 100. acres of land and woods in the South part of that Countrey in fee for euer to him, his heires and assignes, if he will continue there to liue, or any other man for him; which is to be holden of your Honour, paying at the sealing of his Deed, 8. shillings, and euer after but a pen­ny rent by the yeere for the said hundred acres: which will be a good incouragement to such as will go there to liue; and be also a fit meanes to people the Coun­trey, with such as may be well spared from all his Maie­sties Kingdomes. And thus in time they may finde out diuers good commodities there, which as yet lye vn­discouered, wherof there is great hope in some speciall thing, which I omit to write of.

By this it may be partly vnderstood, what great hope of good there may come vnto his Maiesty, and all his Maiesties Kingdomes, by settling people to inhabite there, seeing it is a Countrey already so well approo­ued, to be so healthy and warme in winter as England, [Page 19] and yeelds yeerly, as the trade is now in fishing onely aboue 150000.li. into this Kingdome, besides the great maintenance and increase of shipping, and Mariners; and the relieuing of many families, the which trade onely may well, in little time, be worth double so much yeerely to his Maiesties subiects, then now it is, besides the great hope of gaine which is there to be gotten o­therwaies.

In the yeere of our Lord God 1615. being there with a Commission directed vnto me out of his Maie­sties high Court of Admiralty, for the reformation of abuses, and settling of fit orders amongst such as yere­ly trade to that Countrey, wherein I did spend much time, and was at great charge; and then sailing from harbour to harbour; I found the masters of English Ships then there, willing to haue such abuses reformed, and thereunto aboue 170. of them being impanelled in seuerall inquests for that seruice, they did deliuer vn­to me their seuerall presentments vnder their hands & seales, to the vse of the Kings Maiesty; which were the first Iuries that euer were impanelled there, to the vse of any Christian Prince; In which presentments are contained diuers orders, which vpon my returne from thence, I did present into the high Court of Ad­miraltie; in which seruice I tooke notice there was on that Coast aboue 250. saile of Ships great and small of our Nation, with aboue 6000. Subiects in them.

Now if it may please his Maiestie, and that but 200. of such Ships which yeerely saile thither a Fishing, will leaue there in the end of the yeere, when their voyages are made, but foure persons from euery of them, there to inhabite with fit prouision for them, vntill the next Summer that the said Owners Ships repaire thither [Page 20] againe, and take the benefit of their labour in that time: then after that proportion there will be aboue 800. per­sons fitly and cheapely left there, and maintained the first yeere: and so euery yeere some people so left, both men and women, will not onely bee a great ease to this Kingdome, but also saue a great charge in carrying thither, and in returning yeerely from thence so many persons, and they will be also worth vnto such Aduen­turers, as will so leaue them there, in diuers labours, whiles the Ships are wanting from thence, a great be­nefit, and also the greater security vnto euery such Ship and company, that haue people so left in the Countrey, to prouide against their comming; whereby they need not then saile thitherward bound so timely in the yere, and in such casuall and so desperate a manner, as yeere­ly now they vse to doe. And if such a beneficiall course be taken for peopling of that Land, how may there be a fitter Plantation settled there, or elsewhere, let any man iudge; and so fit to be vnited vnto his Maiesties other Kingdomes, without charge, bloodshed, or vsurpation. Any man that will thus aduenture, shall not only haue a great quantity of land there to him & his heires, with many other priuiledges, vpon fit conditions; but also he shall haue the yeerely benefit of such a summe as he shall so disburse, for the setting foorth of any such ship­ping, and the labours of such as shall be so imployed; so that your Lordship intends not to haue the bene­fit of any such summe, as shal be thus aduentured there­in by any other man, but only your equall part, of such a great summe as you pretend, by Gods assistance, to aduenture therein likewise.

Then who will not be willing to imploy a part of his estate, or to goe himselfe, or send a friend to inhabite [Page 21] that Countrey, though he haue but small meanes; or but onely his merit to aduance his fortune, there to tread and plant that Land, he shall so purchase by his good indeuours, if hee haue the taste of vertue and magnanimity? What to such a mind can be more plea­sant, then building a foundation for his posteritie, so to bee gotten without preiudice to any, if hee haue any zeale in Religion? What can he doe lesse hurtfull to any, or more agreeable to God, then to seeke to conuert the poore Sauages (which liue in the North part of that Country) to know their Creator and Redeemer? What so truely suites with honour and honestie, as by infor­ming the ignorant, and reforming things vniust, tea­ching vertue, and gaine to our natiue mother Country, another Kingdome, neere as spacious as Ireland to at­tend her, where there may bee found imployments for those that now liue idlely? Which is so far from wrong­ing any, as to cause posterity to remember them, and remembring them, euer to honour that remembrance with prayse.

Then who would liue at home idlely, that may bee there imployed, or thinke himselfe worthy to liue, only to eate, drinke, and sleepe, and so die; hauing consumed that carelesly, his friends got worthily, or by vsing that talent miserably, which may thus maintaine ver­tue honestly?

Now my hope is, that gaine will make some to affect that, which Religion, charity, and the common good cannot: I hauing for my owne part no other purpose herein, but for the generall good of all his Maiesties Subiects, and not any desire to perswade any man to aduenture thither, but for honour and profit: neither is my purpose by these perswasions, to draw children [Page 22] from their parents, men from their wiues, nor seruants from their masters; but onely such as with a free con­sent will goe, or may bee spared from such Cities and Parishes, that will but apparell some of their father­lesse children of foureteene or fifteene yeeres of age; and some such yong married people, as haue but small meanes, to set themselues forth; who by their good in­dustry, may liue there pleasantly, and grow rich in little time; And if any man, which shall be willing to aduen­ture thither, desire to be further satisfied, they may reade my discouery of that Countrey, & what defect is found in either, they shall find supplied in me to further their good desire therin, that haue thus freely thrown myself, with my mite, into the treasury of my Countrys good, which I esteeme worth much more then Columbus could certainly giue the Spaniards at his first enterprise of any such certainties of great wealth, by his designes in the West Indies, as since hath bin there found: and al­though I cannot now at first promise to haue such Mines of gold in New-found-land, yet let vs in that Plan­tation something imitate our neere neighbors the Hol­landers, whose wealth and strength gotten in few yeeres only by fishing, are good testimonies, wherby they haue in little time gotten their wealth & strength; and if the Plantation at New-found-land, be orderly proceeded on, the trades thither, & at other of his Maiesties Westerne Plantations, would questionlesse in time afford yeerly a greater quantity of gold and siluer into all his Maiesties Kingdomes, then all the Mines of the West Indies doe now yeerly yeeld to the King of Spaine, and with lesse ha­zard, & more certainty & felicity. And thus I descend to the charge of victualling forth a Ship of 100. Tun, with 40. persons, to bee imployed for the more orderly pro­ceeding in the said Plantation.

[Page 27]ALL these former prouisions, the Master of the Ship, or the Purser are to bee accountable vnto your Honour and the other Aduenturers in euery voyage, what is spent thereof, and what is left of the same, with those which shall continue there to plant; of which number, if but ten persons remaine there, they may wel haue reserued for thē of the former victuals & prouisions, these particulars following, viz.

Fiue hundred waight of the Bisket bread, fiue hogs-heads of beere, or sider, half a hogs-head of beefe, foure whole sides of dry bacon, foure bushels of pease, halfe a firkin of butter, halfe a hundred waight of cheeses, a pecke of mustard-seed, a barrell of vineger, twelue pound waight of candles, two pecks of oat­meale, halfe a hogs-head of aqua vitae, two copper ket­tles, one brasse crock, one frying pan, a grinding stone, and all the axes, hatchets, wood-hookes, augers, sawes, crowes of iron, sledges, hammers, mattocks, pick-axes, shoouels, drawing irons, splitting kniues, haire-cloth, pynnaces sailes, pynnaces anchor ropes, a sayne, some nets; and keepe all the eight fishing boats, and the iron workes appertaining to them, in perfect readinesse there, from yeere to yeere; and many of the other small necessaries, when the fishing voyage is made, as pikes, nayles, and such like, which may serue to helpe build houses, cleanse land, and such like serui­ces fitly for the Inhabitants to labour withal in the win­ter time, whiles the Ships are wanting from them.

Now to make an estimate what fish all the 40. per­sons fit for such a voyage, may well take, and keepe eight [Page 28] fishing boats all the Summer time there at Sea, with three good Fishermen in euery of the said boats; and so many men doe vsually kill aboue twenty fiue thousand fish for euery boat, which may amount vnto two hun­dred thousand, sixe score fishes to euery hundred: and diuers Ships being so well prouided, haue yeerly taken there aboue thirty fiue thousand, for euery boat: so as they not onely load their Ship, but also sell great quan­tities, besides their loadings yeerly to Merchants; and if such Ships which are so well manned for that pur­pose, cannot make sale of such fish as they take ouer and aboue their loading; then they giue ouer taking of any more in diuers yeeres, when there is great abundance easily to be taken, because there are no fit houses to lay vp the same in safety for another yeere.

Now to make an estimation but of twenty fiue thou­sand of fish, for euery of the eight boats, it will amount vnto two hundred thousand; which may bee a fit quan­tity to fill and load a Ship of an hundred Tun burthen, if the fish be not very small; if it be large, a Ship of that burthen will not load so much, besides the water, wood; victuall, and other prouisions, fit for so many men as shal saile in the said Ship from thence, to make sale and imployments of the said fish, which, as I conceiue, will be a fit course so to doe, and thereby great charge, and some aduenture will be saued in carrying the same di­rectly to a market, in regard what it would bee, if it should be returned home into England, and then after­wards relade the same againe and send it to a market.

Wherein my opinion is, that the said Ship, hauing her voyage at New-found-land, should saile from thence directly to Marseiles or Talloon, which places lying with­in the Straits of Gibraltar in the French Kings domini­ons, [Page 29] where the customes vpon Fish are but little, and the Kentall lesse then ninety English pounds waight; and the price of such Fish there I haue not knowne, to be sold for lesse at any time, then twelue shillings of currant English payment for euery Kentall, and com­monly a farre greater price; and there speedy sales are vsually made of such Fish, and good returnes had: and if any man will returne his money from thence, he may haue sure bills of exchange, for payment thereof here in London, vpon sight of any such bills.

The foresaid two hundred thousand of Fish, loa­ding the said Ship, it wil then make at Marseiles aboue two and twenty hundred Kentalls of that waight; which being sold but at twelue shillings the Kentall, amounts to thirteene hundred and twenty pound ster­ling, and is—1320. pounds.

A Ship of that burthen to serue the voyage, being hired by the moneth, when she is there vnloaded, may be then there paid for her hire, and so discharged; or being hired for a longer time, may returne from thence vnto some other place in Spaine, to be reloaded home with some Marchandize, which may bee well perfor­med, & the said Ship returne in fit time to saile againe vnto New-found-land the yeere following, with lesse charge then the first yeere; and then greater hope of benefit it wil be to the Aduenturers then the first yeere, when people are there before-hand, and all things in fit readinesse against their comming.

There may well bee of the foresaid two hundred thousand of Fish, twelue Tun of traine Oyle, or a grea­ter quantity, the which being sold and deliuered in New-found-land at ten pounds the Tun, as commonly it is the price there, it will amount to the summe of six [Page 30] score pounds, and is—120. pounds.

And also there may bee well made ouer and aboue the foresaid quantity of two hundred thousand dry fish, ten thousand of large greene fish; which being solde in New-found-land, but at fiue pounds the thousand, it will amount to the summe of fifty pounds; I say, 050. l. which greene fish being brought into England, it may yeeld aboue tenne pounds the thousand; and the twelue Tunne of traine Oyle, being likewise brought home, is vsually solde at some places in this King­dome, for aboue eighteene pounds the Tunne, and sometimes at twenty; which ouer-prices of the said Oyle and greene fish, I doe here omit to sum the same, what it may be more.

Now if the foresaid two hundred thousand of Fish may be solde at Marseiles, at sixteene shillings the Kentall, as often such Fish is, and much dearer; the two thousand two hundred Kentals, will then amount to the summe of seuenteene hundred and threescore pounds.—1760. pounds.

And it is very likely that the foresaid eight fishing boates being well manned, and stay continually fishing in the Country, vntill the 15. day of October, as they may wel, they may then take aboue thirty fiue thousand of Fish for euery boat, as diuers yeeres many men haue done: which will then amount to fourescore thousand more then the former two hundred thousand.

The which fourescore thousand so gotten ouer and aboue the Ships loading, may be otherwise disposed of at New-found-land; be it more or lesse, it may yeeld there foure pounds the thousand, allowing to that price all the traine Oyle and greene Fish which may come thereof: so that there may be well gotten ouer [Page 31] and aboue the Ships loading, fourescore thousand of Fish, and much more; the which at foure pounds the thousand, will amount to the summe of-0320.li.-s.-d.

Adding thereunto the former sum of-1320.-0.-0.-0.

And also for the aforesaid Oyle.—-0120.-0.-0.-0.

And also for the 10000. greene Fish.-0050.-0.-0-0.

And also for the ouer-price at Marseiles, being solde at sixteene shillings the Kentall, it will bee some —0440.-0.-0.-0.

Totall Summe—2250.-0.-0.-0.

OF which summe, be it more or lesse, whatso­euer is gotten in the voyage; if victuals, Salt, and the other former prouisions, be prouided at reasonable cheape prices: Then the Master and Company haue a third part thereof, allowing some smal matter from the same, towards the victualing; and there is another third part likewise to be allowed, to­wards the Ships trauell and charge, deducting some­thing likewise thereof towards the Master of the Ship, for taking the charge, and for some other of the better sort of men, which they vsually haue ouer and aboue their shares of the former third: and the other third remaines vnto the Victualers forth of the Ship.

So that the voyage amounting as aforesaid, to the summe of two thousand, two hundred & fifty pounds: A third will bee the summe of seuen hundred and fifty pounds for the victualling part; from which deducting the former charge of 420.li.—01.s.—04.d. which is to be for the victualling forth of a Ship with forty per­sons; there may remaine to the Aduenturers for the bearing the Aduenture, and all Charges discharged, the summe of—331.li.—11.s. And in some yeeres, [Page 32] when salt, bread and beere is deare bought; the victu­alling part is allowed the one moity or halfe part of what is gotten in the voyage, and the Company and Ship the other halfe part.

Now omitting to write of any greater price, which may be gotten vpon the sales of the two hundred thou­sand of Fish at Marseiles, or the benefit which may be made vpon the returnes of the money for the same from thence, or what may be gotten by the imploy­ments of the foresaid summe, at the place where the sales are made:

Likewise what may be more gotten vpon the traine Oyle and greene Fish, if it be not sold in New-found-land, but brought home, and sold heere at the best hand:

And if a Ship be hired by the moneth to performe this voyage, which may be ended in lesse then nine moneths, the Ship to be free at Marseiles, when the Fish is vnloaden there; and being hired at forty pound a moneth or much cheaper; it may then be esteemed what may be gotten by hiring of a Ship in that man­ner, if the Fish and traine Oyle amount vnto the prices, as it is valued: if it yeeld more, then the greater be­nefit will come by hiring of a Ship; if lesse, after the rate accordingly.

And if Pans be prouided for the making of Salt in the New-found-land, as fitly and cheapely it may be, then will the charge in setting forth of any Ship by the Aduenturers, be much lesse, and the benefit much the greater.

Now whereas there are but twenty foure men of the forty nominated to fish; the other are to labour the Fish at land, (of which sixteene) seuen are to be skilfull [Page 33] headders, and splitters of fish; two boyes to lay the fish on a table, and three to salt the fish, which labour, three women may fitly doe; three men may fetch a-land salt, and tend to wash fish, and dry the same; which may be two house Carpenters and a Mason, the other may bee a woman, which makes vp sixteene to bee a-land, who may be fit to prouide meate, and to wash, and dry fish so well as men, and other labours also.

And those persons which remaine there, should be hired by the yeere, whose yeerely wages will not bee aboue 8. or 9. pounds a couple one with the other, and apparell themselues; which apparell the aduenturers are to prouide; and those which are thus hired, to allow for the same againe out of their yeerely wages. The which yeerely wages, for euery couple of those which should continue there, will bee borne yeerely on that part of the fish and oyle, which may come to the Companies part, as aforesaid, if the businesse be order­ly carried; So that the victuals of those persons which should remaine there to plant, from the 20. day of March, vnto the 20. day of Nouember; and their whole yeeres pay should euery yeere be, as it were charged and raised out of the Companies third part, from yeere to yere; Neither should the aduenturers be any other way charged for them, but onely for some fit quantitie of Meale, Mault, Beefe, Porke, Butter, Cheese, Aqua vitae, and some other fit things to serue them in winter, vn­till the Ships returne to them againe, in the beginning of euery Summer; and then they are to be againe as of the Ships company.

In which time of winter, their labours vpon the land, in building of houses, sawing of boords, squaring of timber, manuring of land, and doing other seruices, [Page 34] may well defray the said charge, with good benefit ouer and aboue the same.

And then the second yeere, euery of those persons, which so shall remaine there, may haue their equall shares with the Fishermen, which may well pay their wages and charge that the Aduenturers should bee at for them.

This is the order and course, which I haue long time had an opinion, that an orderly and beneficiall Planta­tion in the New-found-land, is to be at first proceeded on, and not by carriage of beasts thither to till the land, before such time as prouisions bee made for them to liue in winter, which will require some time to fit Med­dowes at first for hay, and fit houses for them.

A Ship of a hundred Tun burthen, being thus im­ployed, may also well carry in her the first yeere for in­crease, Hogs, Goates, and Poultry, which will not bee chargeable, nor pester much roome in the Ship, and they will prooue and increase exceeding well there, as I haue often prooued, and be at very little or no charge in keeping of them there; And after the first yeere, the said Ship sailing thither with a lesse number of people, prouision being made there in readinesse, she may carry in her great store of Beasts and prouision for them.

And for the better proceeding in this Plantation, it will bee good for the Aduenturers to hire two small Barks, neere the burthen of 30. Tun apiece by the mo­neth, to bee victualled and manned by them, which should serue as in a fishing voyage, with ten persons in each Barke, and they should haue in euery of them, all prouisions fit to keepe two Fisher boates at Sea, either of them all the summer, and then those Barks may also well carry some beasts for increase; and they should de­part [Page 35] hence before the Ship of a hundred Tun burden, for some speciall seruices, and then the Ship of a hun­dred Tun, with 40. persons, neede not depart out of England, before towards the end of March, which Barks being there timely in the yeere, may be in many respects worth much more, for the good of the fishing voyage, and the said Plantation, then their hire by the moneth will amount vnto, as for many reasons which I can deliuer.

And then taking that course, there may be some sales made before-hand of a hundred thousand of fish or a greater quantity to some Merchants, to be deliuered in New-found-land, and to receiue mony for the same here in London, vpon Bills of Exchange; All which, by Gods assistance, may be well performed, and the bigger Ship also, well loden, to saile from thence to some good mar­ket, to make sales of the same.

And then one of those Barks may loade all such traine oyle as may be gotten in the voyage, and returne with the same, where it may be thought best to make sale thereof; And the other Barke may then load all such greene fish as may be made, and returne home to Eng­land or elsewhere to dispose thereof.

Thus it may be all well performed, and store of fish left for the prouision of those which are to stay in the Countrey to inhabite: and also for the hogs and water­fowle to feed on in winter when there is cause.

Now whether it may be best to buy a Ship of 100. Tun burden, or bigger, to serue for the said voyage, or to hire such a one by the moneth, for that purpose; I leaue it to the consideration of your Lordship, and the other Aduenturers.

[Page 36] THus I haue shewed in what a temperate cli­mate your seuerall circuits of land doe lie in that Countrey, as also how the bounds thereof extend; and also partly what good Harbours, Bayes, and Roads for shipping to ride safe at Anchor, are with­in the same; as also such conditions as you will be plea­sed to grant vnto any that will bee an Aduenturer with you therein; and also partly the great hope, both of honour and profit to all those that shall bee wil­ling to bee Aduenturers with you, to further the same.

Whereby it may be well vnderstood, that by an or­derly settling of the said Plantation, it will be for the generall good of all his Maiesties Subiects, and not hurtfull to any; And it will be also a most speciall bene­fit, and good for all those which yeerely trade there in fishing, what now it is, though they settle no people there to plant, whereby to keepe and maintaine their certaine places, there to salt and dry their fish on: by reason that those vvhich shall inhabite there, vvill vpon request, and some small gratuity, preserue their fishing Boates yeerely from spoiling, so as they may haue them and their Stages, and all commodious and necessary roomes in such perfect readinesse, yeerely against their comming thither, which may vndoubtedly bee worth vnto them in their fishing voyages, many thousands of pounds more yeerely then now it is, as it cannot be de­nied by any that knowes the manner and order of these New-found-land voyages.

Now hauing thus plainly expressed with what faci­lity this Plantation may bee orderly proceeded on; I will also make knowne my opinion and certaine know­ledge, how some such Aduenturers to that Countrey, [Page 37] of his Maiesties subiects may yeerely make much grea­ter benefit of trade, in returning from thence, then any man that I haue euer heard of, or knowne, which hath as yet put in practice, leauing it to those that will make triall thereof.

IT is well knowne, that from the foresaid harbour of Renowze, vnto a place called the Banke, which lyeth East from thence towards England, neer 25. leagues in the like altitude as the said harbour of Renowze is, which Banke is a sand, in most places neere twelue leagues broad; and in length Northeast, and South­west, aboue 100. leagues; on which Banke, there is no lesse then 20. fadome of water at any place: & there fish aboue 100. saile of French Ships, Winter and Summer, some of them making two voyages there in a yeere, and another voyage to some other place also in the same yeere.

I haue often (sailing towards the New-found-land) met with some French Ships, comming from thence, deepe loden with fish, in the first of Aprill, who haue taken the same there, in Ianuary, February, and March, which are the sharpest moneths in the yeere for stormes and cruell weather.

To which Banke our Nation may doe great good in fishing, such as will saile from the New-found-land in the later part of the Summer, when the fish begins to draw from that coast, as commonly it doth when the Winter comes on; I meane, such shipping as are to be imploy­ed by whomsoeuer may vndertake to plant there, and likewise any other Ships that saile thither a fishing, as now they vse to doe, who hauing disposed away such fish and traine oyle as they take there in the Summer [Page 38] time vnto Merchants, as vsually euery yeere some haue done, they may then (salt being made there) as it may be fitly and cheaply, take in thereof a fit quantity, and fresh-water, wood, fresh fowles great store, and other victuall, and likewise a sufficient quantity of Herrings, Mackerell, Capeling, and Lawnce, to bait their hookes withall for taking of fish; because such bait the French­men are not able to haue, that saile purposely to fish at the said Banke, but are constrained to bait their hookes with a part of the same Codfish they take there, where­with they load their Ships.

The which fish so taken there, are larger, thick­er, and sweeter, then the same kind of fishes that are taken on the coast of New-found-land. Whereby it may be well vnderstood to be more necessary, for such as wil saile there to fish, to carry such kinde of bait as afore­said, with them, and then they shall more speedily load their Ships then the Frenchmen doe, who haue there no such bait to take fish withall, neither any other fresh victuall of flesh kinde, wood, or fresh water to dresse their meate withall, but onely such as they carry with them from France.

Whereby it may be well conceiued, that the fishing which the Frenchmen haue there, is a very profitable trade; seeing they not onely saile thither in the hardest time of Winter, which is aboue 650. leagues distance from the neerest part of France; and in all which time to liue vpon the Sea in a cold place, with but little wood, wherewith to make sometimes a good fire to dresse their meate, and to sit by to warme themselues.

All which hardnesse of liuing so on the said Banke, the gaine which they make by the said fishing trade, doth make them delight therein: whereby it may be [Page 39] well vnderstood, to be a farre better trade for our Na­tion: such as fish the Summer time at New-found-land, and do prouide for that purpose, they may there reload their Ships againe with good fish, in twenty dayes, comming thither, so well prouided as aforesaid: and so they may then at times sit by a good fire, when they haue laboured hard all day; whereby they will be the better able to take more fish in a day, then so many Frenchmen shall be able to take in two.

And thus may any performe the said voyage home­ward bound in fit order, & be at no charge about trim­ming of any Ship, which shall serue in such a voyage, but onely as is vsed euery yeere for the New-found-land voyage onely, and with a small addition of bread and beere to be allowed more thereunto.

Neither neede the Masters and Saylers of any Ships that will vndertake the said voyage, prepare themselues with any other apparrell or necessary prouisions, then they yeerely vse to doe for the New-found-land voyage onely.

Which voyage, I am of opinion, diuers men will gladly vndertake, when those Plantations, now lately intended, are orderly settled; which is likely to proue very profitable, for any that will prepare themselues for that purpose, seeing it will be vnto such, as a double voyage, and all vnder one charge.

And whosoeuer will so imploy Ships, they may saile with their loading so gotten there, vnto Fraunce, Por­tugall, or Spaine, where that kinde of fish doth vsually sell at a great price; and returne loaden from thence (by Gods assistance) yeerely against Christmasse, with some Salt, Oyle, Wine, Fruit, and some Royalls of Plate; and so make foure voyages in three quarters of [Page 40] a yeere, and all vnder one setting forth.

And then such may afterwards spend the time at their homes, vntill it be towards Aprill in euery yeere, which is timely enough to set forth againe in the said voyages.

And if any Ship so imployed, doe returne from thence directly home to England, that kinde of fish will sell so well here, and is so good as any powdered Cod which is taken in the North Seas, or vpon the coast of England or Ireland.

Thus briefely and plainely, but not curiously, I haue runne thorow my intended taske of my second mo­tiues and reasons, which leades to the aduancement of his Maiesties most hopefull Plantation in the New-found-land; not that my resolution is any way to insi­nuate with the capacity, either of the highest, or mea­ner sort of people, thereby to inuite them to the setting forth of this great and happy enterprize, further then the sollidity of the truth, and well grounded probabili­ties, shall direct and leade them; but rather to informe their iudgements of the naturall state, condition, be­nefits, and trade to that Countrey, which promiseth so many hopes; and these hopes so much assurance of a most flourishing and succesfull issue, that indeede, to vse but few words for all, wee neede onely desire to know the New-found-land, and to loue it as wee should.

But as the smallest terrestriall action cannot possibly prosper, without Gods diuine assistance, to perfect and finish it: so this great worke, so pious and noble of it selfe, as tending to the propagation of so many Chri­stian soules to God, will (by his eternall prouidence and great mercy) be both furthered and blessed in the [Page 41] attempt, preseruation, and establishing thereof.

As for my selfe, who out of mine owne experience, and the integrity of my thoughts, am confident, that the end will crowne the beginning of this most hope­full Plantation, I shall euer, like a true hearted English­man, and his Maiesties humble and faithfull Subiect, religiously desire, and wish to see it in a faire forward­nesse and good proceeding: howsoeuer, as vertue is subiect and incident to be crossed, and maligned by the followers of vice; and that we sometimes see many excellent and noble proiects strangled or made abor­tiue in their birthes: Euen so this great worke may (perhaps) be either blasted by nipping whirle-windes at home, or decay and die, through some fatall and disasterous misfortune, in the miscarrying or vnskilful­nesse of such as may seeke, and be imployed in the ma­naging and conduction thereof, as many worthy at­tempts haue beene, by taking vnfit agents and procee­dings.

And if it should so happen (which God defend) ei­ther in your Lordships good purpose therein, or the right Honourable Master Secretary Caluerts: who ha­uing already (partly by my information) sent some people there to plant; and that shortly yee both intend to send greater numbers thither to your seuerall Co­lonies:

That then, for the better proceeding in both your good resolutions, it cānot be gain-said but that it may doe well, that those people which are to be sent thither at first, are to be directed by such as well vnderstand how to imploy euery seuerall person there at all times; not onely in the fishing trade, when the times serue; which (indeede) is the onely instrument and sinew that [Page 42] is best like at first to giue comfort, and hold life vnto this so pious worke: For euen as it is a speciall good rule, and most fit, in time of Haruest, to be industrious and carefull to reape and gather the sheaues into some places of safety: So is it also requisite, that a prouident course be taken with all those which are to be imployed to that Countrey, that they should be either skilfull in such things as shall be fitting, when time serues, or di­rected by those which are well experienced therein; Because that in the Summer time, when those great Shoales of the Cod-fish draw to that coast to spawne, and take his fill on multitudes of smaller fishes, which they follow there close to the cliffes and sands; com­monly thirty dayes together, before they hale off from the shore againe, and in such manner, there come three seuerall Shoales of the Cod-fishes in the Summer time: The one of them followes on the Herrings: the other followes the Capling, which is a fish like the Smelt: And the third followes the Squid, which is a fish something like the Cuddell.

Now at those times there vsually goe many Boates forth a fishing from that coast, onely with three men in each Boat; And those three being fit Fishermen, will daily take at those times aboue 1200. of those Cod-fishes, six score to the hundred, and euery of those fishes with the Oyle which comes of them, being valued but at a penny for euery such fish, which is a cheape rate, it wil amount to be worth six pound starling, being split­ted, salted, and dried, as the same ought to be; where­in there is good industry, experience, and much iudge­ment to be vsed; otherwise there is but little hope that such fish can be taken and fitly preserued, whereby to defray the charge, and bring profit withall to both [Page 43] your Honours, and all other Aduenturers with you, as I much desire that yee and they all may haue.

By this it may be well vnderstood, it is good angling with the hooke and line there, when a single man may take in that imployment aboue forty shillings worth of fish a day: for I haue often seene there, that those who are most industrious in taking and well handling of such fish, haue certainely been most willing, fittest and readiest to build, and doe any other seruice there, at such times whilest the fish failes; when some others that are vnskilfull in the one, will stand and talke with their hands in their Gloues or Pockets, and doe but little to any purpose in the other; like those that come on the Stage to act their part in a Comedy, but per­forme it not sufficiently: so that they are not onely scoffed and hist at; but also those which are at the charge, and chiefe Actors thereof, receiue some dis­grace and wrong thereby: for I haue often knowne there some proper men, which haue not beene well ac­quainted with those affaires; yet haue had some other good parts in them, and would speake well when they haue come from thence, yet neuer performed any thing there worthy of great commendations.

THus I haue endeuoured with much trauaile, great expence, and losse of time, to make it plainely appeare, that it will be pleasing, honourable, and beneficiall vnto all those that shall be willing to aduance the said Plantation; which, praised be God, is now partly by my seuerall relations, come vnto a faire forwardnes.

And although I haue but little hope to receiue any benefit by the said Plantation to my selfe; or for my [Page 44] endeuours, great expence, and losse of time herein: yet by Gods blessed assistance, I shall, among many other great losses and discontents which I haue had, as it is well knowne, beare this one content to my graue, that I haue euer beene a true louing Subiect to my Prince and Countrey; and in the sollicitation by these my two seuerall Treatises, and otherwise, I haue dealt truly with his Maiesty, carefully and vprightly with either of your Honours, and sincerely with all those which shall be willing to assist either of your good purposes therein.

Now if any which shall not be willing, or is not able to performe a part, for the perfecting of this great and most hopefull worke, should dislike that I haue thus laid open a gap into those grounds, which some doe seeme to challenge, and appropriate, as it were vnto themselues, and so would not haue all others of his Maiesties Subiects made acquainted with the trade and benefit, which is there like to be obtained:

Such (as I conceiue) may be compared to be some­thing like vnto Esops dog, which could eate no Hay, neither would hee suffer the hungry Asse to feede thereon.

Yet my hope is, that such may well vnderstand by what I haue written, that my true desire is, to shew vn­to any of them, that by the said Plantation and trading to that Countrey, being so well followed, as it may or­derly be, that all his Maiesties Kingdomes, which now are beholding vnto other Countreys for some necessa­rie commodities, might not only be furnished with the like from thence, but also in taking of such fish, as those Seas do yeeld at an easier rate then now we vse to haue them: wherby we may serue France, Spain, Portugall, Italy, [Page 45] and other places, much cheaper with that sort of fish, then any of these other nations shall be able to fetch the same from thence, and thereby haue and retaine all the trade of that Countrey, vnto his Maiesties Subiects hands onely.

For whereas there saile yeerely to that Countrey a­boue 250. saile of Ships from England only, with aboue 5000. English men in them; by whose labours, there is yeerely gotten into this Kingdome, aboue the sum of 150000. li. and also thereby many families set on worke and relieued: then it may bee well vnderstood, what a great benefit and strength it will be, when there shall faile thither 500. saile of Ships, & aboue 10000. seruice­able Subiects in them, which will be able to gaine, with the helpe of such numbers of other men, women, and children, as may yeerely bee so commodiously car­ried thither few yeeres, when the Subiects are made acquainted with such an orderly course, as both your Honours haue already taken for the aduancement of the said Plantation.

Whereby there may be thus yeerely gotten, not onely much wealth, but also great strength against such time, as any other Prince should breake league with his Maiestie, that then to haue in such readines 500. saile of his Subiects Ships, so ready to come from thence, with more then 10000. seruiceable Sea-men in them, in lesse time then 15. dayes warning, if the wind serue, which is so short a time, as Saylers may be prest in some part of this Kingdome, and be able to come from thence vnto his Maiesties Nauy Royall at Chattam, vpon any occasion of seruice.

The like strength by Sea, there is not any other Prince in the world able to call home vnto him in so [Page 46] short a time of his owne subiects, from any one place of trading, if he haue neuer so great occasion.

Thus, God blessing the said Trade and Plantation, it will be, not onely a great augmentation to his Maie­stie in his reuenues and customes, but also a generall good vnto all his Highnesse Kingdomes and Subiects, both in inriching of aduenturers in particular, and also in strengthening the wall of defence, which God hath set about our natiue nest, Great Brittaine, namely, Na­uigation, which must needes be much cherished and furnished by this Seminary of Fishers, imployed in such Colonies, and out of that shoale, will be alwayes in readinesse & of ability to be translated higher, from fishing vessels, into fighting Ships Royall; and so are alwayes vsefull for peace or warre, merchandize or de­fence, as the occasions of our estate and welfare shall re­quire.