IT is to be seene by the Cosmogra­phers Maps; and well approued, that the New-found-land is an Iland, bordering vpon the Con­tinent of America, from which it is diuided by the Sea: so farre distant,The situation of the Countrey. as England is from the neerest part of France, & lieth betweene 46 and 53 degrees North-latitude: It is neere as spacious as Ireland, and lyes neere the course that ships vsually hold in their returne from the West-Indies, and neere halfe the way betweene Ireland and Virginea.

I shall not much neede to commend the whole­some temperature of that Countrey, seeing the greatest part thereof lieth aboue 3 degrees neerer to the South, then any part of England doth.

And it hath bin wel approued by some of our Na­tion, who haue liued there these many yeeres,The tempera­ture of the ayre. that [Page 2] euen in the winter it is as pleasant and healthfull, as England is.

And although the example of one Summer be no certaine rule for other yeeres; yet thus much al­so can I truly affirme, that in the yeere 1615, of the many thousands of English, French, Portugals, and o­thers, that were then vpon that Coast, (amongst whom I sailed to and fro more then one hundred leagues) I neither saw nor heard in all that trauell, of any man or boy of either of these Nations, that dyed there during the whole voyage; neither was so much as any one of them sicke.

The Inhabi­tants, with their nature and customes.The naturall Inhabitants of the Countrey, as they are but few in number; so are they something rude and sauage people; hauing neither knowledge of God, nor liuing vnder any kinde of ciuill gouern­ment. In their habits, customes & manners, they re­semble the Indians of the Continent, from whence (I suppose) they come; they liue altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey, which is sel­dome frequented by the English: But the French and Biscaines (who resort thither yeerely for the Whale-fishing, and also for the Cod-fish) report them to be an ingenuous and tractable people (be­ing well vsed:) they are ready to assist them with great labour and patience, in the killing, cutting, and boyling of Whales; and making the Traine­oyle, without expectation of other reward, then a little bread, or some such small hire.

The conuenien­cie of the Bayes in that Coun­trey.All along the coast of this Countrey, there are many spacious and excellent Bayes, some of them stretching into the land, one towards another, more then twenty leagues.

[Page 3]On the East side of the land, are the Bayes of Tri­nity and Conception; which stretch themselues to­wards the South-west; Tor Bay, and Capelin Bay, ly­ing also on the East, stretch toward the West: The Bayes of Trepassey, S. Mary, Borrell, and Plaisance, on the South part of the land, extend their armes to­ward the North: The great Bay of S. Peters, lying on the Southwest side of the land, and East, Southerly from the great Riuer of Canady, being about twenty leagues distant, the same stretcheth toward the East.

And here I pray you note, y^t the bottoms of these Bayes doe meete together within the compasse of a small circuit: by meanes whereof our men passing ouer land from Bay to Bay, may with much facilitie discouer the whole Countrey.

From the Bay of S. Peter round about the West­side of the land, till you come to the grand Bay, which lyeth on the North-side of the Countrey; and so from thence, till you come round, backe to Trinity Bay, are abundance of large and excellent Bayes; which are the lesse knowne, because not fre­quented by the English, who seldome fish to the Northward of Trinity Bay.

And it is to be obserued,Commodious Ilands and wor­thy Harbours. that round about the Coast and in the Bayes, there are many small Ilands, (none of them further off then a league from the land) both faire and fruitfull: neither doth any one part of the world affoord greater store of good Harbors, more free from dangers, or more commo­dious, then are there built by the admirable work­manship of God; I will only instance two or three of the chiefest, for some speciall reasons.

[Page 4] Trinity Harbour affoording di­uers good com­modities. Trinity Harbour lyes neere in 49 degrees North-latitude, being very commodiously seated to re­ceiue shipping in reasonable weather, both to an­chor in, and from thence to saile towards either the East, West, or South: It hath three Armes or Ri­uers, long and large enough for many hundred saile of Ships, to moare fast at Anchor neere a mile from the Harbours mouth; close adioyning to the Riuers side, and within the Harbour is much open land, well stored with grasse sufficient, Winter and Sum­mer, to maintaine great store of ordinary cattell, besides Hogs and Goates, if such beasts were carried thither; and it standeth North, most of any Harbor in the land, where our Nation practiseth fishing; It is neere vnto a great Bay lying on the North-side of it, called the Bay of Flowers; to which place no Shippes repaire to fish; partly in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying euen with the water, and full of danger; but chiefly (as I coniecture) because the Sauage people of that Countrey doe there in­habite:Sauages liuing neere to Trinitie Harbour. many of them secretly euery yeere, come in­to Trinity Bay and Harbour, in the night time, pur­posely to steale Sailes, Lines, Hatchets, Hookes, Kniues, and such like. And this Bay is not three En­glish miles ouer land from Trinity Bay in many places; which people, if they might be reduced to the knowledge of the true Trinity indeed, no doubt but it would be a most sweet and acceptable sacri­fice to God, an euerlasting honour to your Maie­sty, and the heauenliest blessing to those poore Crea­tures, who are buried in their owne superstitious ignorance. The taske thereof would proue easie, if it were but well begun, and constantly seconded by [Page 5] industrious spirits: and no doubt but God himselfe would set his hand to reare vp and aduance so no­ble, so pious, and so Christian a building.

The bottome of the Bay of Trinity lyeth within foure leagues through the land Southwest,The bottoms of di [...] bayes meeting neere together. Souther­ly from Trinity, as by experience is found, and it comes neere vnto the Bay of Trepassey, and the bot­tome of some other Bayes, as I haue already touch­ed before.

And what commodities may thereby redound, if some of your Maiesties Subiects were also once setled to plant neere vnto Trepassey, being the South part of New-found-land, where some ships vse yeere­ly to fish? If therefore neere the Harbour of Trinity it were inhabited by some of your Maiesties Sub­iects, I see no reason to the contrary, but that a spee­dy and more certaine knowledge might be had of the Countrey, by reason those sauage people are so neere; who being politikely and gently handled, much good might be wrought vpon them: for I haue had apparant proofes of their ingenuous and subtile dispositions, and that they are a people full of quicke and liuely apprehensions.

Trepassey in like manner is as commodious a Har­bour, lying in a more temperate climate, almost in 46 degrees the like Latitude,The Harbour of Trepassey ly­ing commo­diously. and is both faire and pleasant, and a wholesome Coast free from Rockes and Shelues: so that of all other Harbours, it lies the South-most of any Harbour in the land, and most conueniently to receiue our shipping passing to and from Virginea, and the Bermuda Ilands; and also any other shipping that shall passe to and from the Ri­uer of Canady and the coast thereof; because they [Page 6] vsually passe, and so returne in the sight of the land of Trepassey; and also for some other purposes, as shall be partly declared in the following discourse.

But I will not insist vpon further particulars of Harbours in this place, seeing our men that yeerely trade to that Coast, know them to be as good and commodious Harbours, as any other whatsoeuer.

The fertilitie of the soyle.The soyle of this Countrey in the valleys and sides of the mountaines, is so fruitfull, as that in di­uers places, there the Summer naturally produceth out of the fruitfull wombe of the earth, without the labour of mans hand, great plenty of greene Pease and Fitches, faire, round, full and wholesome as our Fitches are in England: of which I haue there fed on many times: the hawmes of them are good fodder for cattel and other beasts in the winter, with the helpe of Hay; of which there may be made great store with little labour in diuers places of the Coun­trey.

Seuerall sorts of fruites there growing.Then haue you there faire Strawberries red and white, and as faire Raspasse berries, and Goose ber­ries, as there be in England; as also multitudes of Bilberries, which are called by some, Whortes, and many other delicate Berries (which I cannot name) in great abundance.

There are also many other fruits, as small Peares, sowre Cherries, Filberds, &c. And of these Berries and fruits the store is there so great, that the mari­ners of my Ship and Barkes company, haue often gathered at once, more then halfe an hogshead would hold; of which diuers times eating their fill, I neuer heard of any man, whose health was thereby any way impaired.

[Page 7]There are also herbes for Sallets and Broth;Herbes and flowers both pleasant and medicinable. as Parsley, Alexander, Sorrell, &c. And also flowers, as the red and white Damaske Rose, with other kinds; which are most beautifull and delightfull, both to the sight and smell.

And questionles the Countrey is stored with ma­ny Physicall herbs and roots, albeit their vertues are not knowne, because not sought after; yet within these few yeeres, many of our Nation finding them­selues ill, haue brused some of the herbes and strai­ned the iuyce into Beere, Wine or Aqua-vitae; and so by Gods assistance, after a few drinkings, it hath restored them to their former health.

The like vertue it hath to cure a wound, or any swelling, either by washing the grieued places with some of the herbes boyled, or by applying them so thereunto (plaister-wise) which I haue seene by of­ten experience.

This being the naturall fruitfulnes of the earth, producing such varietie of things, fit for food, with­out the labour of man; I might in reason hence in­ferre, that if the same were manured, and husbanded in some places, as our grounds are, it would be apt to beare Corne, and no lesse fertill then the English soyle.

But I need not confine my selfe to probabilities;Corne growing there, yeelding good increase. seeing our men that haue wintred there diuers yeeres, did for a triall and experiment thereof sowe some small quantitie of Corne, which I saw grow­ing very faire; and they found the increase to be great, and the graine very good; and it is well knowne to me, and diuers that trade there yeerely, [Page 8] how that Cabbage, Carrets, Turneps, Lettice, and such like, proue well there.

Store of Deere and other beasts.In diuers parts of the Countrey, there is great store of Deere, and some Hares, many Foxes, Squir­rels, Beuers, Wolues, and Beares, with other sorts of beasts, seruing as well for necessitie, as for profit and delight.

Neither let me seeme ridiculous, to annex a mat­ter of nouelty, rather then waight, to this discourse.

A rare example of the gentle na­ture of the beasts of that Countrey.In the yeere 1615. it was well knowne to 48 per­sons of my company, and diuers other men, that three seuerall times, the Wolues and beasts of the Countrey came downe neere them to the Sea-side, where they were labouring about their Fish, how­ling and making a noise: so that at each time my Mastiffe-dogge went vnto them (as the like in that Countrey hath not been seene:) the one began to fawne and play with the other, and so went toge­ther into the Woods, and continued with them, euery of these times, nine or ten dayes, and did re­turne vnto vs without any hurt. Hereof I am no way superstitious, yet it is something strange to me, that the wilde beasts, being followed by a sterne Mastiffe-dogge, should grow to a familiaritie with him, see­ing their natures are repugnant: surely much rather the people, by our discreet and gentle vsage, may be brought to societie, being already naturally incli­ned thereunto.

But to returne to our purpose, and to speake some­thing of the great plenty of Fowle in that Coun­trey,Plenty of Land-fowle. as well Land-fowle, as Water-fowle; the varie­ty of both kinds is infinite.

[Page 9]The Land-fowle (besides great number of small birds flying vp and downe, some without name,Great store of Land-fowle. that liue by scraping their food from the earth in the hardest winter that is) there are also Hawkes, great and small, Partridges, Thrush, and Thrussels abun­dance, very fat. As also Filladies, Nightingales and such like, that sing most pleasantly.

There are also birds that liue by prey, as Rauens, Gripes, Crowes, &c. For Water-fowle,Water-fowle. there is cer­tainly so good, and as much varietie, as in any part of the world; as Geese, Ducks, Pigeons, Gulls, Pen­guins, and many other sorts.

These Penguins are as bigge as Geese, and flye not, for they haue but a little short wing, and they multiply so infinitly, vpon a certaine flat Iland, that men driue them from thence vpon a boord, into their boates by hundreds at a time; as if God had made the innocency of so poore a creature, to be­come such an admirable instrument for the susten­tation of man.

There are also Godwits, Curlewes, and a certaine kinde of fowle that are called Oxen and Kine, with such like; which fowle doe not only steed those that trade thither greatly for foode, but also they are a great furthering to diuers Ships voyages, because the abundance of them is such, that the Fishermen doe bait their hookes with the quarters of Sea-fowle on them: and therewith some ships do yeere­ly take a great part of their fishing voyages, with such bait, before they can get others.

The fresh waters and Springs of that Coun­trey, are many in number,Fresh water and Springs. and withall very plea­sant, delightfull and wholesome, that no Countrey [Page 10] in the world hath better. And Fewell for fire is so plentifull, that there is neuer like to be want of that commoditie.

Many sorts of Timber there growing.In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be imployed in other seruiceable vses: There are Firre and Spruce trees, sound, good, and fit to mast Ships withall; and as commodious for boords and buildings as the Spruce and Firre trees of Nor­way; and out of these came abundance of Turpen­tine. No Countrey can shew Pyne and Birch trees, of such height and greatnes as those are there: and doubtlesse, if some store of your Maiesties subiects do once settle there to liue, & would be industrious to search further, and more throughly into the Countrey, then as yet it hath been, there might be found many other commodities of good worth. A­mongst the which I may not omit,Good hope of Mines, and ma­king of Iron and Pitch. that there is much probabilitie of finding Mines, and making of Iron and Pitch.

The Riuers also and Harbours are generally sto­red with delicate Fish, as Salmons, Peales, Eeles, Herring,Fish in great abundance. Mackerell, Flounders, Launce, Capelin, Cod, and Troutes the fairest, fattest and sweetest, that I haue seene in any part of the world. The like for Lobsters, Crafish, Muskles, Hens; and other va­rietie of Shell-fish great store.

And also obserue here, that in these places there is vsually store of the spawne and frie of seuerall sorts of fishes: whereby the Sea-fowle liue so fat, as they are there in the winter: And likewise the Be­uers, Otters and such like, that seeke their food in the Ponds and fresh Riuers.

The Seas likewise all along the Coast, doe plen­tifully [Page 11] abound in other sorts of fish, as Whales, Spa­nish Mackerell, Dorrell, Pales, Herring, Hogs, Por­poses, Seales, and such like royall fish, &c.

But the chiefe commodity of New-found-land yet knowne, and which is growne to be a settled trade, and that may be much bettered by an orderly Plan­tation there, (if the Traders thither will take some better course, then formerly they haue done, as shall be declared) is the Cod-fishing vpon that Coast,Cod-fishing a great hope of be­nefit there from. by which our Nation and many other Countries are enricht.

And if I should here set downe a valuation of that fish, which the French, Biscaines, The benefit ari­sing to France, Spaine, and Ita­ly, from fishing vpon those coasts. and Portugals fetch yeerely from this Coast of New-found-land, and the Banke, which lieth within 25 leagues from the South-cape of that Countrey, where the French vse to fish Winter and Summer, vsually making two voyages euery yeere thither: (To which places, and to the Coast of Canady, which lieth neere vnto it, are yeere­ly sent from those Countries, more then 400. saile of ships:)

It would seeme incredible, yea some men are of opinion, that the people of France, Spaine, and Italy, could not so well liue, if the benefit of the fishing vpon this Coast, and your Maiesties other Domi­nions, were taken from them.

But I trust it will be sufficient, that I giue an esti­mate of our owne trading thither, and partly of the wealth and commodities we reape thereby, with­out any curious search into other mens profits.

In the yeere 1615. when I was at New-found-land with the Commission before-mentioned,250. Saile of ships lying vpon that Coast, Anno 1615. which was an occasion of my taking the more particular [Page 12] obseruations of that Countrey, there were then on that Coast, of your Maiesties subiects, 250. saile of Ships great and small. The burthens and Tunnage of them all one with another, so neere as I could take notice, allowing euery ship to be at least threescore tunne (for as some of them contained lesse, so many of them held more) amounted to more then 15000. tunnes. Now for euery threescore tunne burthen, according to the vsuall manning of Ships in those voyages, agreeing with the note I then tooke, there are to be set down twenty men and boyes: by which computation in these 250. saile, there were no lesse then fiue thousand persons. Now euery one of these ships, so neere as I could guesse, had about 120000. fish, and fiue tunne of Traine oyle one with ano­ther.

What the valew of the fish con­tained in most ships did amount vnto.So that the totall of the fish in these 250. saile, when it was brought into England, France or Spaine, (being sold after the rate of foure pound, for euery thousand of fish, sixe score fishes to the hundred, which is not a penny a fish, and if it yeeld lesse, it was ill sold) amounted in money to 120000. pound.

Now, as I haue said before, allowing to euery ship of 60. tunne, at least fiue tunne of Traine oyle, the totall of that ariseth to 1250. tunne; each tunne, whether it be sold in England, or elsewhere, being vnder-valued at twelue pound. So as the whole va­lue thereof in money, amounteth to the summe of 15000. pound, which added to the fish, it will ap­peare that the totall value of the fish, and Traine oyle of those 250. saile of ships that yeere, might yeeld to your Maiesties subiects better then the summe of 135000. pound, omitting to reckon the [Page 13] ouer-prices which were made and gotten by the sale thereof in forraine Countreys, being much more then what is vsually made at home, and so the like in other yeeres.

And this certainly, in my vnderstanding, is a poynt worthy of consideration, that so great wealth should yeerely be raised, by one sole commoditie of that Countrey, yea by one only sort of fish, and not vpon any other trade thither, which must needes yeeld, with the imployments thereof, great riches to your Maiesties subiects: And this also to be ga­thered and brought home by the sole labour and in­dustrie of men, without exchange or exportation of our Coine, and natiue commodities, or other ad­uenture (then of necessary prouisions for the fishing) as Salt, Nets, Leads, Hookes, Lines, and the like; and of victuals, as Bread, Beere, Beefe, and Porke, in com­petent measure, according to the number and pro­portion of men imployed in those voyages.

The conuerting of these commodities (gotten by fishing) into money, cannot chuse but be a great benefit to all your Maiesties Kingdomes in many respects.

What the charge in setting foorth of these 250. saile might amount vnto (being only for victuals, which our Countrey yeeldeth) I hold it not fit here to set downe, lest I should bee accused by some therein.

And withall it is to be considered,The reliefe that the trading there will affoord to seuerall sorts of people. that the trade thither (as now it is) doth yeerely set on worke, and relieue many numbers of people, as Bakers, Brewers, Coopers, Ship-Carpenters, Smiths, Net-makers, Rope-makers, Line-makers, Hooke-makers, Pully-makers, [Page 14] and many other trades, which with their fa­milies haue their best meanes of maintenance, from these New-found-land voyages. Adde vnto them the families or seruants of diuers Owners and Masters of such ships as goe thither, and mariners with their families, hereby employed and maintained.

By this little which hath been thus briefly spoken of the situation, temperature, safenes of the Coast, naturall fertility, commodities and riches of New-found-land, it doth plainly appeare, that it is a Coun­trey not only habitable and lying open, ready to re­ceiue the first commers; but also for the goodnesse thereof, worthy to be embraced, and made the ha­bitation of Christians.

Reasons indu­cing for a Plan­tation there.What the reasons, motiues and inducements are, either of honour, profit or aduantage, which may iustly inuite your Maiestie, and all your good sub­iects, to take some speedy and reall course, for plan­ting there, I will endeuour hereafter to shew.

First reason, hope of conuer­ting the Inha­bitants to Chri­stianitie.For it is most certaine, that by a Plantation there, and by that meanes only, the poore misbeleeuing Inhabitants of that Countrey may be reduced, from Barbarisme, to the knowledge of God, and the light of his truth, and to a ciuill and regular kinde of life and gouernment.

This is a thing so apparant, that I neede not en­force it any further, or labour to stirre vp the charity of Christians therein, to giue their furtherance to­wards a worke so pious, euery man knowing, that euen we our selues were once as blind as they in the knowledge and worship of our Creator, and as rude and sauage in our liues and manners.

Only thus much will I adde, that it is not a thing [Page 15] impossible, but that by meanes of those slender be­ginnings which may be made in New-found-land, all the regions neere adioyning thereunto, may in time be conuerted to the true worship of God.

Secondly, the vniting of a Countrey so beneficiall already,Second reason, the temporall be­nefits that may iustly and easily arise from hence. and so promising vnto your Maiesties King­domes, without either bloudshed, charge, or vsur­pation, must needes be a perpetuall honour to your Maiestie in all succeeding ages: and not so onely, but also a great benefit and aduantage to the State, by a new accesse of Dominion. And what Prince or State can inlarge their territories, by a more easie, and more iust meanes then this?

The English are reputed for the first Discouerers of this Countrey: and a Subiect of this State, one Sir Humfrey Gilbert (as is touched before) hath long since taken possession thereof,Sir Hum. Gil­bert long since tooke possession thereof to the vse of this Crowne. to the vse of your Ma­iesties royall Crowne; and that possession hath bin continued by seuerall Patents and Commissions: so that of right, I doe conceiue, it appertaineth to your Maiestie, although it be not yet peopled with your Maiesties subiects, notwithstanding the said Patents.

Neither seemes it impossible to me, but that your Maiestie, and your royall Progenie, may in time an­nexe vnto your Crowne, a great part of the Conti­nent of America, bordring vpon New-found-land, Hope of ioyning America, or some parts ther­of to New-found-land. the same lying neerer to your Maiesties kingdoms, then to any other Countrey of these our knowne parts of the World: and for the most part of it vnder the same Eleuation of the Pole with vs; and but little aboue sixe hundred leagues distance from hence.

At least I cannot see, but that from hence further [Page 16] Discoueries may be made, and new trades found out, yea peraduenture the supposed Northwest pas­sage: For if it can be proued, or if there be any pos­sibilitie or probabilitie, that there is such a passage, on the Northside of America towards Iapan and Chi­na, which in the opinion of some men, is to lie neere the height of 64 degrees: the fittest place from whence to proceed to that Discouerie, is (in my opi­nion) the New-found-land. And for those that hence­foorth attempt to search that straight or passage, to set foorth sooner and more early, then heretofore they haue done, and to saile directly to some conue­nient Harbour in New-found-land, there to refresh themselues with such prouision as shall be needfull; and so put out from thence about the twentieth day of May (if it be once set in a faire Westerly winde,) and to saile along the North part of New-found-land, and that Coast which is called Cambaleu, continu­ing that Northerly course vnto 64, which is but 15 degrees from Trinity Harbour; and it may be sailed in lesse then sixe dayes, with a faire Westerly winde, which commonly maketh a cleere coast all along to the North, both from fogges and Ice also; both which are violent hinderers to men that haue vn­dertaken these voyages. For comming to feeke out those straights or passages, with a large Easterly, Southerly, or Northerly winde, which commonly bring on that Coast the fogges and Ice, and com­ming so late in the Summer, they haue thereby lost the aduantage and benefit of time for finding out so happy a businesse.

But if this designe of a Plantation should not be entertained, and throughly prosecuted, it may be [Page 17] iustly doubted, that some other Prince will step in, and vndertake the same: which if it so fall out, your Maiestie shall not onely lose all those aduantages and benefits, which your Maiestie, and your subiects might reape by this Plantation, but also the actuall possession; and then those that should vsurpe your Maiesties right there, will be an hindrance to your Maiestie either to remoue them, or to plant by them, without hazarding a breach of peace.

And it may be feared, that such a Plantation, growing to haue strength, your subiects shall be (if not prohibited) yet at least hindred of their free tra­ding and fishing there, or constrained to take their fish of the Planters, and at their prices; which may fall out to be a notable disseruice to your Maiestie, and the vtter ouerthrow of your subiects trade thi­ther.

But in setting downe the aduantages wee shall haue by a settled Plantation there, I haue sufficient­ly discouered, what our losses will be, if wee suffer our selues to be preuented by others.

That Countrey may be made a place of great vse and aduantage, for this State in any action, that may ingage vs by way of attempt or defence, in re­gard of those parts of the world.

For the first, this Countrey lyeth so neere the course which the Spanish ships, that come from Mexico, Hauona, and other places of the West-Indies, hold in their returne from thence, that they of­ten saile within 150. leagues from the South part thereof.

In the yeere 1615. whilest I was in that Coun­trey, three ships returning from the West-Indies, did [Page 18] arriue there, purposely to refresh themselues with water, wood, fish, and fowle, and so haue diuers o­thers done at other times.

Sundry Portugall ships haue come thither pur­posely to loade fish from the English, and haue gi­uen them a good price for the same, and sailed from thence with it to Brasile, where that kinde of fish is in great request, and they haue made great profit thereby.

And diuers Dutch and French ships haue also of­tentimes come thither, purposely to loade fish from the English, which they afterwards transport into I­taly, Spaine, and other parts, whereby they imploy both their shipping, and mariners, making good profit thereof.

We haue already spoken of the great numbers of French and Portugall shipping, that vsually trade euery yeere to this Coast, and the places neere ad­ioyning in fishing voyages: so that what in all like­lihood may be the euent of a Plantation to be made there, if either Spaine or France should break league with your Maiestie, or your royall Progeny; I leaue to the consideration of your Maiestie.

And certainly as your Maiesties subiects sailing to and from Virginia, & the Bermuda Ilands, might in any extremity (hauing spent a mast or yard, or when any leake is sprung) be relieued, and at other times refresh themselues in their voyages, if a Plan­tation were settled neere about Trepassey: So vpon occasion of any attempt, or other iniuries which might be offered those more remote Plantations, they might from thence receiue succour in shorter time then from England.

[Page 19]Besides all this, it would be a great ease to all the rest of your Maiesties subiects, if some part of our superabounding multitudes were transplanted into New-found-land; for besides the great number of idle persons that liue here, spending their time in drinking, and other excesse, among which many of your New-found-land men may be reckoned, during the winter season, whilest they are at home: There are many thousands of poore people of both sexes, which might be spared out of all your Maiesties Dominions, who liuing penuriously, and in great want, would be perswaded to remoue their dwel­ling into New-found-land, where they might not onely free themselues of their present miseries, but also by their industrie, in time inrich themselues, and deserue well of the State by their imploiments: for there is yeerely great abundance of good fish lost for want of labourers, and other good things also.

Neither are the people of those your Maiesties Kingdomes, any way inferiour to other Nations in courage, either to vndertake, or maintaine, but they are often lesse industrious and diligent. And (with griefe it is to be spoken) by our sluggishnes, some of our neere neighbours haue wonne from vs the ancient honour, and that reputation, by which we were held the Masters of Nauigation, and Com­manders of the Seas.

And I am verily of opinion, if their Audit were truly published to the world, that their trade of fishing vpon your Maiesties Sea-coasts, hath been the best meanes of their present strength, hauing thereby increased their shipping and wealth, and [Page 20] inabled their men for Nauigation. For it is well knowne, that the French and also the Dutch, by their fishing on your Maiesties Sea-coasts, doe vse a pet­tie kind of picking away of infinite summes of mo­ney yeerely from your Maiesties Kingdomes; not only from North-Yarmouth, & other places there­by, all the time that the Herring fishing lasteth: but also for Mackerell, Soles, Whitings, and other sorts of fish which they take, in sight of your Maiesties Kingdome, and bring it here to land daily, and sell it for ready mony; such daily gathering away of coyne, may well be remedied, if your Maiesties sub­iects would forbeare to buy any fresh fish of other Nations, which me thinks they should: then Stran­gers should be constrained to bring coyne into your Maiesties Kingdomes with their fish, to set poore people a worke to salt and preserue their Herrings, and other fish withall, when they bring it here a land; whereby some Customes and other duties will also grow: or otherwise they will leaue their daily fishing so neere your Maiesties King­domes (as now they doe) and then such fish will be the more plentifull for your Highnesse subiects to take, and thereby greatly encourage them to set foorth and employ many a poore man the more in fishing, then now there is: and it will then not only preserue great summes of mony yeerely from car­rying away from your Maiesties Kingdoms, but al­so there will be more gotten, than now there is, and great numbers of mariners increased, to be ve­ry seruiceable for the Nauy, when there may bee cause.

Now that which is like to be the present benefit, [Page 21] and which (in my opinion) will weigh most toward the furtherance of this Plantation in New-found-land, by reason of the many consequences thereof; is the bettering of our trade there, which will fall out exceeding beneficiall in diuers respects, if those who aduenture thither, will follow some better course then formerly they haue vsed: And in so do­ing, ships may then faile in much more safetie thi­ther, and returne yeerely from thence much more richer then now they doe. For many disorderly courses are committed by some traders and aduen­turers thither, in setting foorth to that Countrey, and practised by some of them when they arriue there: If these disorders were reformed, the great benefit expected will soone follow.

It is well knowne, that they which aduenture to New-found-land a fishing, begin to dresse and pro­uide their ships ready commonly in the moneths of December, Ianuary, and February, and are ready to set foorth at Sea in those voyages neere the end of February, being commonly the foulest time in the yeere. And thus they doe, striuing to be there first in a Harbour, to obtaine the name of Admirall that yeere: and so, to haue the chiefest place to make their fish on, where they may doe it with the grea­test ease, and haue the choice of diuers other ne­cessaries in the Harbors, which do them little stead: but the taking of them wrongs many others of your Maiesties subiects, which arriue there after the first.

And thus by their hasting thither, oftentimes there comes not only danger to themselues, but also great mischiefe, and losses to many others which [Page 22] arriue there after the first; as it may by that which followes truly appeare.

For by the hasting foorth as now they vse, they greatly endanger themselues, being many times beaten with rough and stormy windes; and often­times they are thereby forced to returne backe with great losse both of mens liues and goods, as it is well knowne: So that to get the superioritie to ar­riue there first in an Harbour, they will beare such an ouer-prest saile, and in so desperate a manner, as there are no true vnderstanding Sea-men that vse the like to any other part of the world. For albeit when the fogges are thicke, and the nights darke, that sometimes they cannot discerne the length of three ships in the way before them, and the Ice often threatning much perill to them: yet on runnes the ship amaine, so fast as possibly she may, when commonly most part of the company are fast a­sleep, euen with extreme hazard of their liues. Thus many times both ships and men haue been suddenly cast away, to the vtter vndoing of many Aduentu­rers, and families. So had I my selfe a ship lost sai­ling to that Countrey, and diuers others the like.

And also this vntimely setting foorth, consu­meth a great quantitie of victuals, that might bee saued to better purpose, and it forceth them to car­ry and recarry many more men in euery ship, euery voyage, then they neede, if they once take a fitter course.

Such Stages and Houses, that the first arriuers into an Harbour finde standing, wherein men set diuers necessaries, and also salt their fish, some men haue vsed to pull downe, or taken their pleasures of [Page 23] them: by which vnfit disorders of some first arri­uers there yeerely, those which arriue after them, are sometimes twenty dayes and more to prouide boords and timber, to fit their boates for fishing; and other necessary roomes to salt and dry their fish on: whereby much time is lost, and victuals consumed to no good purpose; and thereby also the voyages of the after-commers, are often great­ly hindred and prolonged, to the great hurt of your Maiestie, and many a good subiect: and the mari­ners themselues which trade to that Countrey, and commit those great abuses, are thereby also much wronged, as they haue acknowledge, by their owne disorderly behauiours.

Wherefore if such which hence-foorth aduen­ture to that Countrey, take some better course in that trade of fishing, then heretofore they haue vsed, they shall finde the greater safety of their aduen­tures, and much good thereby. For whereas here­tofore they haue vsed to make ready their ships to saile in those voyages, in such vnseasonable time of the yeere, whereby they often receiue great hinde­rances and losses; they need not then goe foorth in the said voyage, vntill the 25. day of March, which is a fit time of the yeere to put to Sea from our Coast to that Countrey; the winter stormes beginning then to cease. And then any such ship which carries in her thirtie men in euery voyage, may well leaue sixe men there behinde them, or more, all the win­ter season, vntill the ships returne to them againe. And these sixe mens victuals wil be saued, and serue to better vse, and thereby also likewise cut off that moneths setting foorth in those voyages so soone in [Page 24] the yeere, as now men vse to doe, and then the vi­ctuals for that moneth which is so vainly and with such great danger consumed, may well maintaine those men, which are left in the Countrey all the winter season, till the ships returne to them againe, with a very small addition to it.

And if it may so please your Maiestie, that any subiect which will vndertake to settle people in the New-found-land, shall haue this priuiledge, that in case he leaue there a fifth person of such which hee carries thither in his fishing voyage to inhabit; wherby those mē so left, might keep a certain place continually for their fishing, and drying thereof, whensoeuer their ship arriueth thither: then would all such which leaue people there, build strong and fitting necessary roomes for all purposes; and then in some of those necessary houses or roomes they may put their fish when it is dried, which fish now standeth after such time it is dried, vntill it is ship­ped, which is commonly aboue two moneths, in great heapes packt vp vncouered, in all the heate and raine that falleth, whereby great abundance of good fish is there yeerely spoyled, and cast away for want of such necessarie roomes: And for the want of such fit houses, some mens voyages (to my knowledge) haue been greatly ouerthrowne; and then a meane place to make fish on, will be made more commodious then the best place is now, that men so dangerously and desperatly runne for euery yeere. And thus euery mans fishing Pinnaces may be preserued in such perfect readinesse, against his ship shall yeerely arriue there againe, which Pinna­ces are now often lost, and sometimes torne in pie­ces [Page 25] by the first arriuers there very disorderly.

And if such Pinnaces and such Stages and Hou­ses may be maintained and kept in such readinesse yeerely, it would be the most pleasant, profitable, and commodious trade of fishing, that is at this time in any part of the world.

For then euery ships company might fall to fish­ing, the very next or second day after their arriuall; whereas now, it is twenty dayes vntill they are fit­ted: and then such ships should not need so soone to haste away from England by one moneth at least; mens liues might be thereby much the better sa­ued, lesse victuals wasted, and many dangers pre­uented. And so euery ship in euery such voyage, may gaine quickly one hundred pound, that vsually carry in her but twenty men, more then now they doe, by leauing of foure men there of twenty. And as the proportion (before named) holds for leauing sixe men in New-found-land of thirty, so the allowing of men to be made proportionably from euery ship, wil soone raise many people to be settled in euery Harbour where our Nation vseth to fish, and in other Harbours there also in little time.

Some ships by this course may then quickly gain two hundred pound, & some three hundred pound and more, according to their greatnesse, more then they do yeerely now. And those men so left, will ma­nure land for come, saw boords, and fit Timber to be transported from thence, and search out for diuers commodities in the Countrey, which as yet lye vndiscouered: and by such meanes the Land will be in little time fitly peopled with diuers poore han­dy-crafts men, that may be so commodiously car­ried [Page 26] thither to liue with their wiues.

And that no man else should appropriate to himselfe any such certaine place, and commoditie for his fishing voyage, except he will in such man­ner settle a fifth part of his company there to liue. And then such Aduenturers thither will carefully prouide yeerely for such as they leaue there, not on­ly for bread and victuals, but likewise for all necessa­rie tooles, fit for any kind of husbandry. The charge thereof will yeerely repay it selfe, with the benefit of their labours that shall be so left there, with great aduantage.

And for others which yeerely aduenture thither, and wil not settle people there in such manner, they may hold on such vnfit courses in setting on to that Countrey, and take their places, as it falleth out, as formerly they haue done: wherein I am perswaded they will soone grow weary, when they shall see the great commoditie and benefit that other men will gaine by settling of people there.

By this meanes will the burthens and numbers of your Maiesties subiects shipping be greatly in­creased, and strengthned, and great numbers of ma­riners yeerely augmented, and then our shipping may well trade thither two voyages in euery yeere, and more, whereas now they goe but once.

If you will know what victuals might be saued by those sixe men of thirtie so to be left there, and so proportionably for greater numbers; this is the estimate:

The allowance of victuall to maintaine euery sixe men, to carry and recarry them outwards bound and homewards, is sixe hogsheads of beere, and sixe [Page 27] hundred waight of bread, besides beefe and other prouision; which men, when they saile to and fro (as now they vse) doe little good or any seruice at all, but pester the ship in which they are, with their bread, beere, water, wood, victuall, fish, chests, and diuers other trumperies, that euery such sixe men doe cumber the ship withall yeerely from thence: which men, when the voyage is made, may be ac­counted vnnecessary persons returning yeerly from thence.

But being left in the Countrey in such manner, as aforesaid, those parts of these ships that leaue those men there, that are so pestered now yeerely with such vnprofitable things, may bee filled vp yeerely with good fish, and many beneficiall commodities, for the good of those Aduenturers that wil so settle people there to plant.

These men that may be so fitly left in the Coun­trey, will not onely be free from the perils of the Sea, by not returning yeerely, as now they vse to doe, but will liue there very pleasantly; and (if they be industrious people) gaine twice as much in the absence of the ships that leaue them there, more then twelue men shall be able to benefit their Ma­sters, that are kept vpon most Farmes in England in a whole yeere.

For certainly I haue already seene and knowne by experience, that the desired Plantation can ne­uer bee made beneficiall by such idle persons, as I found there the yeere 1618. when I was there with power, by vertue of a graunt from the Patentees, which people had remained there a whole yeere, before I came neere, or knew any of them; and ne­uer [Page 28] applied themselues to any commendable thing, no not so much as to make themselues an house to lodge in, but lay in such cold and simple roomes all the winter, as the Fishermen had formerly built there for their necessary occasions, the yeere before those men arriued there.

Such persons are not fit to aduance your Maie­sties intended worke, but rather disgrace and hinder the same.

Therefore seeing those people that were so for­merly sent to plant in the South part of the Coun­trey, to bee so vnfit for that seruice, as it is well knowne, I grew out of heart to behold such abuse to be vsed by those that were so sent to plant.

Yet entring into consideration, how iniurious I should be to God, and (as I did conceiue in my con­science) trecherous to your Maiesty, and my Coun­trey, hauing once as it were laid hold on y^e plough, I should take it off and looke backe: I did then in­courage my retiring spirits; notwithstanding all my former wrongs then sustained. And although I found those people that were so formerly sent to plant, so vnfit for that seruice, I did not only consider of the fittest course whereby to aduance that work, which was formerly so worthily intended; but also truly and plainly to write this Discouery, as now I haue, how commodiously and beneficially it may be proceeded on; and so shipped some of them to returne home againe, and gaue others leaue to de­part, all, excepting sixe only; to whom I gaue dire­ctions for building an house, and imploying them­selues, otherwise then formerly they had done, vn­till they heard from the Gentleman that sent them [Page 29] thither: And so they liued there pleasantly all the next winter.

Now hauing laid open a commodious and be­neficiall course how that Land may be peopled; yet I suppose it may be questioned, that if a fifth man of some ships, or euery ship were so left in the Coun­trey; that it will rather lessen the number of mari­ners, that may be ready here at home to doe your Maiestie seruice, then to increase them: and so by misconceiuing therein, your Maiesties intended Plantation may be hindred. To which I answere, that most ships which trade thither yeerely a fish­ing, doe commonly carry in them euery fifth person that was neuer at Sea before, or such as haue but little vnderstanding in their Compasse; neither knowledge of Sea termes, or what to doe in a ship: and those men are yeerely hired by the Owners, and Victuallers foorth of ships in those voyages, and by the Master of the ship, and the better sort of men for small wages, who haue the benefit of their shares; and those men doe serue euen so fitly for some purposes in those New-land voyages the first yeere, as some of those men doe that haue bin there often: So that by carrying thither yeerely euery fifth man, such as were neuer there before, there will be aboue 1000. Sea-men increased euery yeere by that trade; and they being left there the winter, will at times kill Deere and other beasts, and also take store of fish and fowle for their prouision; and it will harden them well to the Sea, and at other times they may imploy themselues beneficially in Husbandry vpon the land, as seruants ought to do. So that whereas there goes now yeerely, as the [Page 30] trade is, aboue two hundred and fifty Saile of your Maiesties subiects ships, with aboue fiue thousand men in them; and being yeerely carried thither the fifth person that was neuer at Sea before, there will be by that course increased aboue fiue thou­sand Sea-men in euery fiue yeeres: and whereas now there is yeerely trading thither aboue two hundred and fifty Saile of ships, there will be then in little time (God blessing that trade) aboue foure hundred Saile of your Maiesties subiects ships there imploy­ed; which may be a greater increase of wealth, strength and power to your Maiestie and King­domes, than now it is.

And although it be well knowne, that the New-found-land yeeldeth yeerly such great blessings from God, to maintain Christians; yet many of our Eng­lish Nation, who in great fulnesse taste them, doe there as it were tread them vnder their feete; as may partly appeare by the following discourse. For our Nation, vpon their arriuall yeerly to that Coun­trey, doe cut downe many of the best trees they can finde, to build their stages and roomes withall for their necessary occasions; hewing, rinding, and de­stroying many others that grow within a mile of the Sea, where they vse to fish.

The rindes of these trees serue to couer their Stages, and necessary roomes, vvith turfes on them; so that in fevv yeeres, I feare, that most of the good timber trees neere the Sea-side, vvhere men vse to fish, vvill be either felled, spoyled or burned: yet at our peoples departure from such roomes & stages, they vvill suffer but little thereof to stand, vvhereby to doe any man seruice the yeere ensuing.

[Page 31]These are things lamentable to be suffered, and great pitty that it is not redressed: for no Nation else doth the like, neither doe the Sauage people, after such time as our Country-men come from thence, either hurt or burne any thing of theirs, thatz they leaue behinde them; so that those trees, and that timber might be conuerted to many seruice­able vses for the good of your Maiestie, and your subiects.

Now I thinke good to make knowne partly what abuses be also offered to the Harbours and Rodes in New-found-land, that are so beautifull and excel­lent, ordained by God for ships to ride safe in at anchor, as there are not better in any part of the world: yet for all this beauty of theirs, and the com­modity that wee receiue by them; these disorders diuers men doe there commit, viz.

All ships, for euery voyage they make there, take in many exceeding great stones, therewith to presse their drie fish in their ships; which worke being done, they cast many of these stones into y^e Harbors where they ride at Anchor, which are to be seene lying in great heaps in some places, within three fa­dome of water, to the great indangering of ships and cables; to the perill also both of mens liues, and their goods, and likely in time to choake vp or spoyle many excellent Harbours in that Countrey, if prouision be not by your Maiesties high autho­ritie made to the contrary.

All these abuses are confessed in the briefe of the presentments, that follow in the latter part of this booke, the which being made knowne to the sub­iects that aduenture thither, I am confident (in my [Page 32] opinion) that they should all desire your Maiestie, that there may be some better gouernment esta­blished there, than now it is: and that such which plant there, may not abuse or hinder any such which yeerely come thither a fishing, whereby they should haue any iust cause to complaine the one against the other, as now they doe.

And because my desire is, that not onely Mer­chants, or such as liue neere the Sea-side, but also all others that shal giue their furtherance to this Plan­tation, either by aduenturing their moneyes, or sending men thither (because it is to be vndertaken by men of good ability) and in such manner, as the wealthy men doe in other Countries, ioyning their purses to further any such good worke: I thinke it fit to shew how such persons may aduenture to that Countrey, though they dwell farre from the Sea-coast; and others likewise that dwell neere, may do it with little trouble, but only by a trusty seruant to giue account yeerely of his disbursings, and like­wise of his receits; which (I trust) will be very be­neficiall to all such as will aduenture therein.

Some, who dwell farre from the Sea-coast, may say, they are so farre off, that they should be but lit­tle the better for a Plantation to be made in New-found-land, and so may hold it a needlesse thing for them to know how beneficiall that Countrey hath long time bin to these your Maiesties Kingdomes; and how it may in little time be worth double to your Maiesties subiects, in respect of what now it is, euen in the only trade of fishing, besides the good that may come by other commodities.

To such therefore that should here obiect, that [Page 33] those that liue farre from the Sea, whether Gentle­men or others, and are not experienced in affaires of this nature, cannot so conueniently aduenture thither: I answere, that none of your Maiesties Sub­iects dwell further then 100. miles from the Sea­side, which is no great iourney; By the same reason that Commodities brought from Forraine parts, and landed on our coasts and Hauen townes, dis­persed thorow all places of your Maiesties King­domes, and so vented (our men liuing thus in any of these places) may with as little difficulty aduenture into other Countries. For as wee haue the example of diuers, both Gentlemen and others of Italy, Spaine, Germany, Sauoy, the Low Countries, and o­ther places that come yeerely more then 200. miles to the City of Siuill, purposely to saile to the West Indies, and doe returne rich; So it may be also well vnderstood by the following discourse, how com­modiously there may bee sent many people from any part of your Maiesties Kingdomes to bee there imployed, that haue but small meanes to liue, and be very beneficiall to themselues, & will imploy thē there. The first thing therefore that I will aduise any subiect that is but little acquainted with Sea-af­faires, and such as is willing to aduenture in the de­sired Plantation, is, to acquaint himselfe with an ap­proued vnderstanding man in Sea-affaires, and al­so with a second; and then with both their opinions and his owne iudgement, he may set forward there­in, with great hope of the better successe; for to my knowledge, diuers worthy gentlemen that haue aduentured to the Seas; partly through their owne conceit, seeming to know that which they did not, [Page 34] haue also oftentimes been animated on by some turbulent spirits that haue outrun themselues, and so brought men in such mindes, that on the coast of Guinnie there, they might gather vp gold along the Sea-shore, washed vp with the Sea in great abun­dance; and likewise if they would aduenture to the West Indies, there they should load their ships with gold-oare, and drawe it aboord their ships with Wheele-barrowes, and then share it by the pound; and such like proiects.

Thus by such meanes diuers men haue runne so farre at Sea, in some such vnfit voyages, that they haue brought land to water, and knew not how to shape a course to recouer vnto land againe. God send all those that will henceforth aduenture to the Seas in any Plantation, good Pilots, and it will be the greater hope of good successe.

Now for those that will put their hands to the furthering of a Plantation in New-found-land, my opinion is, they are best either to buy a Ship of 100. Tun, and a Pinnace of 40. Tun, or neere such bur­thens, or else to hire the like Ship to serue for the passing of people, victuals, and prouisions, in the Spring of the yeere, fit for such a purpose, and for the returning of such fish, and other commodities from thence, as those men so sent and imployed, may procure with their labours; and those Ships and men so sent, may be so fitted and prouided with Salt, Nets, Hooks, Lines and such like prouisions, as those Ships and men are, which yeerely faile thither a fishing.

The best course of the two, as I conceiue, is for a­ny such, to buy a Ship and a Pinnace to serue for that [Page 35] purpose, and then the Pinnace may be sent thither before the bigger Ship, whereby to settle and begin to such a conuenient place for habitation, as God shall direct them whither the greater ship may re­paire: and they may imploy themselues all the time that there is good to be done in fishing in that trade onely, and betweene the faile of the Shoales of fish, they may build houses and other necessarie things in perfect readinesse to be transported into Spaine, Por­tugall and other places beyond the Seas, much chea­per then the Hollanders doe, seeing it is to bee had there easily with mans labour onely. And therefore more commodiously from thence for vs from those parts, then the Hollanders are able to serue them, as now they doe, who buy such commodities with their money in Spruce-land, Norway and other places, and yet thereby gaine much, and increase a number of Shipping and Mariners, and set them a worke continually.

Now hauing shewed how men may vndertake to further this Plantation, by prouiding ships for the fishing trade, as is formerly expressed; I suppose that some worthy men, that may be zealous and willing to further so pious, honourable, and beneficiall a worke, may be vnwilling to trouble themselues with the fishing trade, and yet very willing to further the said Plantation after some other manner, that may be lesse troublesome to them, which they may well performe in this manner:

They may hire a ship with men, and victualled to saile from any part of your Maiesties Kingdomes, to the New-found-land, to carrie people, victuals, beasts, and other prouisions in such competent number, as [Page 36] may be fit to passe in such a shippe, as any one shall so hire; and hauing landed such people and prouisi­ons there to plant, the said shippe may there loade fish from the fishermen; and if any will plant in that manner, they are to bargaine for their fish here in England, with such as do set forth ships in the fishing trade, which fish may be bought before hand of them to be deliuered there at eyght shillings the hundred waight, or neere that price, and to pay for the same within fortie daies, more or lesse, after such times here in England, that there comes from thence the sight of any Bills of Exchange, from those that re­ceiue the fish there in that manner; and the shippe so hired, being there loaden, may sayle from thence to Portugall, Spaine, or any other Port within the straights of Gibraltar, and vnto Marsellis or Naples; I suppose the fraight of euery Tunne of fish so to be transported there, will be neere foure pound the Tunne, twentie hundred waight to the Tunne; which fraight and hire for the shippe, men and vi­ctuals, in all that time, it may be agreed to be paide there where the fish is solde; so that for the hire of the shippe, men and victuals, there will be no occa­sion to disburse any money before the shippe safely arriue to either of the places aforesaid, where, by Gods assistance, any one shal so intend to make sales; and there the shippe so hired may be set free; and then what more so-euer the fish may yeeld, may be to discharge the buying of the fish in the New-found-land, and what profit may accrew ouer and aboue the fraight and hire of the shippe, men, and victuals being discharged, will redound to the good of any man that will aduenture so to plant, and hire his [Page 37] shippe in that manner; and such course may any suf­ficient man take euery yeere to further the said Plan­tation, and haue one shippe to make three voyages there in a yeere, that shall but land people and pro­uisions for them, and presently reloade such Fish, Masts, Deale-bords, Beames, Timber for buildings, and other commodities, such as those people which he had formerly sent, should haue prouided in readi­nesse: with which commodities, if he returne to Spaine or Portugall, it will yeeld ready money: and if hee returne with it to the Citie of London and Port of Bristoll, or any other place within your Maiesties Kingdomes, it will also not onely yeelde ready mo­ney, but it will be a meanes to imploy many the more of your Maiesties Subiects and shipping therein: so that the Hollanders and other Nations should not bring so much of such commodities into your Ma­iesties Kingdomes as they doe now yeerely, and car­rie away much coyne for the same.

And withall it is to be considered, that whereas now there are yeerely at New-found-land of your Ma­iesties Subiects ships in the fishing trade, at least 15000. tunne burthen of shipping, as is already ex­pressed, and that these shippes yeerely carrie thither, neere halfe their lading of salt, to saue their fish withall, which cannot be lesse then 7000. tunne, the which salt, whether it bee bought in Spaine, Portugall or France at a cheape rate, it cannot cost lesse then seuen thousand pounds, which is but twentie shil­lings the tunne, adding the fraight thereunto for bringing it from those parts, it cannot stand in lesse then twentie shilling a tunne more, which is seuen thousand pounds more; so that the salt may stand [Page 38] those that trade thither as the trade is now, with the waste and transportation of it thither, aboue foure­teene thousand pounds, of which summe there is a­boue seuen thousand pounds yeerely bestowed in other Countries, which I should gladly shew some fit meanes that it may bee henceforth saued and brought into your Maiesties Kingdomes in Coyne, or some other good commodities. The which may be very fitly, commodiously and beneficially done, if those which yeerely aduenture thither, will settle people there in such order as aforesaid, in euery har­bor where they vse to fish, and prouide pannes in e­uery such harbor to boyle salt to preserue their fish withall, the which may be performed there very cheape; so in that manner one panne will make a­boue twentie bushels of good salt in euery foure and twentie houres for that purpose, onely with mans la­bour and the salt water; and not as some doe vse, to make salt vpon salt; and there it will bee vndertaken to be made with the wood-fire (which may be there had with little labour) without Charcole or Sea-coles; and that salt so made there, shall not stand in threepence the bushell, to those that will prouide to make it in that manner: and now salt stands those that aduenture there, neuer lesse then twentie pence a bushell.

And it is well approued by all those that yeerely fish for Ling, Codde, and Herrings vpon all your Maiesties Sea-coasts, that salt orderly boyled in such manner, doth much better preserue fish, and keepe it more delightfuller in taste, and better for mans bo­die, then that fish which is preserued with any other kinde of salt. And I am well assured, that such fish [Page 39] as is salted with the finest white salt, will sell farre bet­ter in Siuill, and other places of Spaine and Italie, then that which is preserued with any other kinde of mud­die salt: and thus by taking such a fit course for ma­king thereof in New-found-land, it will not onely saue a great deale of coyne yeerely in your Maiesties Kingdomes, but also greatly inrich your Maiesties Subiects thereby.

There is no question to bee made, but that those ships which may be so procured to carrie people thi­ther, will yeerely returne from thence deepe loaden with good fish to diuers places beyond the Seas, and make good profit with the imployments thereof, (if fit prouision bee made to take fish withall as it ought to be: for euery man, the better he doth pro­uide himselfe for that purpose, shall reape the greater benefit thereby at the first) and not be able to returne from thence, Deale-bords, Masts, and such like, vntill such time as shipping be builded much greater, and fitter for that seruice then now they are.

The trade to the New-found-land being followed in this manner, as it may well be, your Maiesties Sub­iects may then haue there yeerely, aboue 400. saile of good ships from all your Maiesties Kingdomes, rea­die to be called home from thence, without imbar­ment of any forraine Prince, vpon lesse then foure­teene daies warning, if the winde serue, with aboue eyght thousand lustie, strong and seruiceable Sea­men in them, vpon any occasion of seruice, when some other ships and Mariners that are then abroad in voyages, to the East, or West Indies, and diuers o­ther places, will not be so speedily called home; nei­ther (when they come) so lustie and strong, as those [Page 40] which vse to the New-found-land are, if your Maiestie and Kingdomes haue neuer so great neede of their seruice.

Which being considered, must needs bee also a great terror to any forraine Prince that shall proffer to quarrell with your Maiestie, when he shall consi­der that your Maiestie may so speedily be furnished with so many seruiceable ships of your Subiects, and so many Saylors, and that but from that onely place of trading: So, againe it is to bee considered, that yeerely from the New-found-land, as the trade is now, the Subiects bring from thence to the value much a­boue the summe of 135000. pounds: what the be­nefit and imployment thereof, and the imployments of ships and Mariners are thereby, may be well con­sidered, and that trade carrieth not away any coyne out of the Land, as some others doe, neither any o­ther commodities, and therefore it may be well vn­derstood what a great benefit shall arise to all your Maiesties Kingdomes, if the trade be once orderly settled and increased as aforesaid: and then your Ma­iesties Subiects ships will be much bigger builded for that trade, and better furnished with good Ord­nance, fit for any defence, and likewise then Ord­nance will not bee sold into other Countries (as it hath been much in my time) which Ordnance so sold (I feare) if occasion should bee offered, may shoot their bullets at our owne bosomes, as it is al­ready too much seene.

And whereas my opinion is, that it is better to buy ships for that trade, then to take them to hyre (as some doe) which yeerely send ships thither, to loade either fish or Trayne and transport it into [Page 41] France, Spaine and other places; those which hire ships, are bound by conditions vnder hand and seale, which we call Charter parties; wherein it is ex­pressed, in how many daies the owners of the ships are to make them ready, & how many daies she must stay there, to attend the Marchant, and such like conditions: And although the place where she a­riues be neuer so much ouerlaid with the like com­moditie that she bringeth; yet there must shee dis­charge and also relade; though such commodities, which she is to relade, be there much dearer then at some other place not farre from it: which hath bin a great losse to many Marchants; yea diuers cauils haue risen thereby betweene them that haue taken and letten Ships in that manner.

Therefore I hold, that the buying of Ships to follow that seruice, is the best and profitablest course that may be taken therein; for then they may send them to New-found-land, or where they thinke good at all times of the yeere, and to any place, or so ma­ny places as may please God to direct them, to make their saile and imployments, and likewise to vent the same, where they may be best aduised.

Such as will vndertake to send people to that land, as aforesaid, I would also aduise them to ac­quaint themselues with a fit man to be Master in each Ship, that vnderstands the order of a fishing voyage to that Country; and hee will procure fit fishermen, to goe with him for that purpose, and likewise acquaint them with euery particular thing that is fit for such a voyage. And withall it is to be obserued, that for euery such seruant that any Master will send thither to plant, and liue all the [Page 42] yeere, hee is to haue a single share allowed vnto e­uery man alike of such fish as is taken, whilest they labour together in the Summer time with the ships company with whom they are, though afterwards they stay in the land, and follow some o­ther seruice for their masters, whiles the ships are imployed abroad in venting their commodities, and vntill they returne to them againe, to the New-found-land: which single share of fish so taken, may well defray all the charge and hire that any man shall haue of his master, who doth stay there all the winter, with good aduantage.

Note also I pray', that any ship which shall be so imployed to fish only, as now men vse to doe, if she be 100. Tun, doth commonly carry in her 36. men and boyes; and that ship will saile well to the New-found-land, and from thence to the Straites of Gibral­tar, or any other part of Christendome, with 20. of the former 36. men: so that 16. of the said companie may very well remaine there, till the said ships re­turne to them againe, and doe good seruice to your Maiestie and themselues, but most of all to those who shall send so great a number thither to liue all the yeere; whereas now these 16. men lye still in the ship at great charge euery voyage, much peste­ring the ships with their persons, victuals, chests, and diuers vnprofitable things to no good purpose, as is touched before; which places in the ship may be filled with good fish and other profitable things, if those 16. men were left behinde in the Country where they may be well imployed, which is almost the one halfe part of such a ships company.

By this it may plainely be vnderstood, that the [Page 43] victuall which those 16. men spend sayling thither, and returning homeward, and a moneths victu­all at least for all those 36. men, will yeerly be saued to maintaine them there all the winter season, with the helpe of very little victuals to it, and also it will be a great good ease to the Common-wealth, to leaue so many there all the Winter; & after this rate poportionably from diuers ships, great companyes may commodiously and beneficially be raysed to remaine there in little time, from such as will vo­luntarily and willingly entertaine their certaine places to make their fish on, and plant: for the most part of those men, who may so well and beneficially remaine there to plant, may be, some handycrafts-men with their wiues, and some such other people as your Maiesties Kingdoms may very wel spare, do­ing good to themselues, their masters and Com­mon-wealth, learning experience and to be fit for seruice.

I am also confident in my opinion (wherein I sub­mit my selfe to deeper iudgements) that if New-found-land may be thus planted, our Shipping and Mariners will be so increased,Marriners to be increased. that wee may here­after furnish France, Spaine, Portugall, and other Countries, with such kinde of fish as those Seas doe yeeld; and so by this meanes the whole fishing trade on that coast, may be drawne into the hands of your Maiesties subiects only: and whether then it will be better for your Maiesties Kingdomes, let each man iudge.

I do not intend that other Nations should be pro­hibited the free priuiledge of fishing,No Nation to be forbidden Fishing. which for ma­ny yeeres they haue inioyed there with vs; or that [Page 44] wee should assume it vnto our selues by strong hand, or constrayne those that come thither, to take their fish of vs at our prices: but this is my only meaning; That whereas at this present, the French, Bilcaines, and Portugals send yeerely to that Countrey many sayle of ships, as I haue already declared, our men by sayling thither with fewer persons, and in lesse danger in euery ship then now we doe, by multiply­ing their voyages, and spending lesse time and victu­als in the same, and by carrying more and better fish in euery ship then now they vse to doe, may be able not only to furnish France, Spaine, and Italy with those commodities, but also to sell farre better cheape, then any of these nations can possibly fetch the same from thence with their owne shipping and labors. And which of these nations will then aduen­ture thither, when he knowes that his returne will be a certaine losse?

[...]urres of diuers sorts.Moreouer, our men wintring there, might take of the beasts of the Countrey yeelding Furres, when they are in season, and in their perfection; So that in processe of time, they may also settle a traffike with the Sauages for their Furres of Beuer, Mar­tons, Seale, Otters, and what else is of worth a­mongst them.

Shipping main­tayned.Shipping also (the walls and Bulwarkes of your Maiesties Kingdomes) will bee heereby not only maintayned; but also greatly increased, both in number and burthen, which would bee a great aduantage to your Maiestie, and a notable defence and addition of strength vnto your Maiesties King­domes.

Artificers set on worke.Many more poore Artificers and others will be [Page 45] then in great numbers heereby set a worke, then nowe there are, and by the increase and bettering of this Trade, a great augmentation of your Maiesties Reuenues in your Customes must of necessity fol­low.

And certainely if this Trade and Plantation were once settled in such manner, it would proue more commodious and beneficiall then any other Planta­tion your Maiestie hath elsewhere: for, as I haue said, it bringeth in great wealth, and carrieth away no­thing but a little victuals,Wealth brought in, none carryed away. which would be consu­med by so many idle persons in lesse then halfe the time, which haue no imployments, and yet the Kingdomes receiue no benefit by such Drones nei­ther.

Much more might be said to this purpose:Fishing on the coast of New-found-land, great security to great Brittaine. but I desire not to inuent, or enlarge matters beyond my obseruations; yet thus much also may I truly say, that the fishing on the coast of New-found-land, is a sure and good trade to great Brittaine, and there­fore deserues to be cherished: for trading thither and returning home thence, wee little feare the Turkes bondage and circumcision, nor any out­landish Inquisition, nor the Imbarkements of any Prince, nor such contagious heates, as those finde that trade neere the Lyne, neither the danger and hurt of Art-wormes, wherewith ships that trade to most parts Southward, are sometimes much hurt, nor many other hazards and inconueniences, to which some of our other tradings are subiect.

And as this Plantation will be in all respects so beneficiall, as any of those your Maiestie holds a­broad elsewhere: so may the same be effectually pro­ceeded [Page 46] on in much more safety, and with a great deale lesse charge.

For first of all, touching the transportation of men, [...]ransporting of [...]en, victuals [...]nd other neces­ [...]aries from [...]ence, at an easy [...]ate. victuals and other necessaries from hence into New-found-land, it will be by the cheapest and easiest way that can possibly be: for there will be no occasi­on to hire any ships expresly for that voyage, as is v­sually done to other of your Maiesties Plantations, from whence hauing vnloden, ships returne som­times with few commodities.

But those ships that goe yeerely empty to the New-found-land, only to loade fish and Trayne oyle, and so to depart from thence, cannot be lesse in num­ber then 40. sayle: Therfore whatsoeuer shall be thought fit and necessary to be transported from hence, towards the furtherance and setting forward of that Plantation, may be by those Ships and Barkes carried thither with a very little charge, and without trouble or hinderance to their voyages; and for the prouiding and furnishing of the Planta­tion with victuals and prouisions for their liuely­hood, the chiefe want at the beginning will be Corne, (the Country it selfe yeelding plenty of beasts, fowle, fish and fruites, as was before spoken of:) yea much good fish is there yeerely cast away, which might be made good food for the Planters, if it were preserued. And if need be, ships may saile from thence in fiue dayes with a faire winde, to the Ilands of Flowers, Ilands aboun­ding with great store of Beasts for prouision of victuals. and Azores, which Ilands a­bound in Wheat, Beeues, Sheepe, Goates, Hogs, Hennes, Potatoes, Muske-millions, Onyons, and many other fruites which they may haue there at cheape rates: and if that should faile, our Country [Page 47] men that stay there, may be supplied with as little inconuenience and preiudice, as to any other Plan­tations, vntill the Countrey shall be by their paynes and industry made fit to beare Corne.

For the settling of people there, I haue sufficiently declared, it being that they, who shall either alone or with their families voluntarily goe thither, haue good conditions, both for allowing them land, and other conuenient priuiledges.

For the imployment of men in the absence of the shipping, it will be very beneficiall in many respects;Imployment for all in the ab­sence of our men. so that although thousands of your Maiesties peo­ple should at once goe thither, yet there would be present imployment for them all: no man shall need to liue idlely for want of worke.

And as New-found-land is neerer to vs by more then 400. leagues then Virginia;The quicke re­turne of our peo­ple, a comfort to their Countrey men. and farre from any of the Plantations of the King of Spaine, which peraduenture might make this businesse the more difficult; so those of this Plantation will haue a great comfort and encouragement aboue all others, in that they shall not be left desolate in a remote Country, to shift for themselues, as some haue been, but that after fiue moneths past, they shall againe see great numbers of their country men, and haue their company the rest of the yeere.

Neither are there in that part of the Countrey a­ny Sauages, to oppose and resist our mens planting,No Sauages in that part where our Nation trades, as it falls out in many other places; Those that are there, liue in the North and West parts of the Countrey (as hath bin said) where our Nation trades not: But on the East and South side of the Land, where the English doe fish, and which is the [Page 48] fittest place for a Plantation, there is not the least signe or appearance, that euer there was any habita­tion of the Sauages, or that they euer came into those parts, to the Southward of Trinity Bay: of which I could also giue some reasons, if it were not a thing needlesse to trouble this discourse withall.

And as they shall stand in no feare to receiue hurt from the Sauages,Security from [...]yrates, [...]nd the Sauages. so may they be easily secu­red against the iniury of Pyrats, who sometimes come thither, and not onely take from the fisher­men, victuals and other prouision and munitions, and haue thereby strengthened themselues, but also haue carried away from them many seruiceable Ma­riners into Barbary and other parts, and thereby made many a poore widow and fatherlesse childe: and it is to be feared, that those men so carried from the New-found-land, who seeing their estates and their families so ouerthrowne, may be prouoked to animate the Turkes men of warre, to saile thither to take the spoyle of our Nation, and others that are yeerely a fishing on that Coast (which God defend) whereby to hinder that Trade, or the desired Plan­tation. The which inconuenience that is so to be feared, may be easily preuented by maintaining two good ships of warre, of 200. tunne a piece, and two Pinnaces of 40. tunne a piece well prouided, to be there maintained all the Summer time, and that the Commanders of them may haue power, that if any great force of the Turkes, or any others should at any time come thither, whereby to di­sturbe your Maiesties Subiects in their trade of fishing, or attempt to hinder the Plantation; that then to raise a greater force from the Fishermen [Page 49] and Planters to defend any such attempt.

The charge of which Ships & Pinnaces of warre, so to be yeerely maintained there for that seruice,An easie contri­bution for main­tenance of their security from Pyrates. may be easily and commendably defraied, with your Maiesties allowance therein, if euery Ship and Vessell of your Maiesties Subiects, fishing on that Coast, will voluntarily contribute thereunto the va­lue of halfe a good daies fishing in the whole voy­age, which will be abundantly recompenced vnto them, in regard that they may then fish continually and securely many a daies fishing the more in euery voyage, which now oftentimes they dare not doe. And then these two Ships of warre, and two Pinna­ces so to be maintained, by such a small contributi­on to be paid for their seruice at New-found-land in dry fish, they will so scoure the Seas euery yeere go­ing forth thitherward bound, and likewise in their returne, that no Pirate of any Nation durst come neere the Southerne parts of your Maiesties King­domes; neither to lie in waite in the course sayling to and from the New-found-land, for those that trade thither, as yeerely heretofore they haue done, and ouerthrowne many a mans voyage.

For which course,Hollanders at­tended with men of warre wee haue the example of our neighbours the Hollanders, who generally in all their trades, but most specially in their fishing vp­on your Maiesties Sea-coasts, are attended with men of warre, which are defrayed by a certaine contribution from those men, in whose defence they are imployed. And by this meanes the Marchants and Traders of Holland, receiue farre greater assu­rance and benefit, then if euery Marchants shippe should set themselues forth in warlike manner in [Page 50] their owne defence. For besides the security they haue, and sauing the charge which such prouisions would require, they haue much the more roome in their Marchants ships for their Commodities.

Many seruicea­ble men and Mariners bred th [...].And these ships thus sent to guard their Fleets, which are called Wafters, doe continually breede many seruiceable Sea-men, not only Mariners, but also good souldiers, and fit Commanders, that are well experienced how to command in Ships vpon all occasions; for without such fit Commanders in good Ships, there is but small hope of good seruice to be performed by them: and if the New-found-land men may be thus guarded with two such Ships, and two Pinnaces, it would not only in little time breed many a Gentleman and others in them to be expe­rienced how to command in ships, vpon any occasi­on of seruice, but also it will make your Maiesties subiects Ships that trade thither, so strong, that they neede not feare the greatest force, that any Prince should at any time send thither to disturbe or hinder them, neither in returning from thence, vpon any occasion to doe your Maiestie seruice.

If after all this, I should be demanded by those which know not the Countrey, what other places in the Land are also fit to be peopled at first, so well as the Harbors of Trepassey, & Trinity (of which I haue already spoken) wherby those which will ad­uenture thither, may not be doubtfull to plant in other Habors, although I haue first expressed thē for some speciall reasons as it may be well vnderstood, the one of them lying North-most, where our Nati­on vseth to fish, neere the Sauages, and the other ly­ing on the South-most part of the Land, and neere [Page 51] vnto the passages of diuers ships that saile yeerly to and from other places of the world, as is already plainely shewed; yet there are many other excellent good Harbors where our nation vseth to fish, lying betweene them both, which are very good for ships to moore fast at anchor, and easily to be defended from enemies, that shall at any time attempt to mo­lest such as shall plant in them: and better for fish­ing, then either of the foresaid two Harbors are, of which I will particularly expresse some of their names.

First, the Harbor of Sant Iohns: Foriland:Good Harbors, Bayes and Rodes for Ships and Fishing. Formo­sa: Agafort: Harbor de Grace: Renouze: and diuers other good Harbors, Bayes, and Roades, where there is good fishing, and are fit places for ships to ride in the Summer time: & as it is already shewed, that the bottomes of diuers Bayes, that are expressed to be in this South part of the Land, doe euen meete to­gether, within the compasse of a small circuit, neere vnto the Bay of Trepassey; So likewise not far from Trepassey, which lyeth six leagues to the West, from the South cape of the Land, which is called Cape Derasse, and sixe leagues to the North-ward of the said Cape, lyeth the Harbor of Renouze, which is a place easily to be defended, there being at a low ebbe not 18. foot water fine sand: yet in danger to be spoiled by the stones and ballast that are throwne into the same,Stones and Ballast throwne in the said Rodes, dangerous for Ships. which are to be seene in great heapes when the water is cleare, as commonly it is in a faire Sun-shining day. These stones and ballast, so throwne into the Harbors by Christians (if there be not some better course taken therein) it is to be sor­rowed, that the offenders are not seuerely punished.

[Page 52] Good land for Tillage.Close adioyning to the Harbour of Renouze, are aboue 200. Acres of good land, that is cleere without Woods or Rocks, and lieth commodious­ly to be ouerflowne with fresh Riuers in the Sum­mer time, with very little labour, as I haue well ob­serued: and within a mile further off from the said Harbours, lye many hundred acres more of very good open land, that are able to receiue and relieue many hundreds of Cattell, and fit, with little labour, to be manured for Tillage.

Great store of Deere.There are yeerely neere vnto the said Harbour of Renouze, great store of Deere seene; and sometimes diuers of them haue been taken. There is a man yet liuing, that was once at New-found-land in a ship with me; and he in one voyage did there, neere vnto the Harbour of Renouze, kill 18. very large and fat Deere, as it is well knowne, yet he went with his Peece but seldome for that purpose, and would then haue killed many more, if he might haue been spa­red from other labour to attend thereon: whereby it may be well vnderstood, that there is great store of Deeres flesh in that Countrey,Store of Fish and Fowle, fresh water & wood. and no want of good fish, good fowle, good fresh water, and store of wood, &c.

From the said Harbour of Renouze, it is not a­boue ten miles ouer land to the Harbour of Tre­passey, and not farre from thence to the bottome of Trinity Bay, and within three leagues vnto the Harbour of Renouze, are three very good Har­bours, where our Nation vseth to fish, which lie to the Northward of it.

Now whereas there haue been reports made of great cold in that Countrey, by people that haue [Page 53] traded thither, who (I suppose) neuer saw any other Countrey, but onely that, and their owne natiue soyle: and such when they haue returned from thence one voyage, though they neuer vnderstood, or felt the nature and temperature of other Cly­mates, neither consider the goodnesse of New-found-land, as it is now partly made knowne, haue giuen a great deale worse report of that Countrey, then in reason they should: and if such were but a little acquainted, or would vnderstand of the great colde that is at times in Muscouia, Sweidon, Norway, Spruceland, Poland, Denmarke, and other Easterne and Northerne parts of the world, where the peo­ple liue well and grow rich; such ill reporters of New-found-land would alter their opinions. And al­though the Ice is so great in those other parts the Winter season, commonly foure moneths toge­ther, that neither Ship nor Boat can passe in all that time, from one place to another, but lye still fast frozen, yet in that season, where Ships vse to saile the Summer time from one place to another, Carts and Coaches doe passe vpon the Ice.

Ships also in Holland and in those neere places, in some Winters doe lie there fast frozen a long time together: and likewise it hath beene in some Win­ters so hard frozen in the Riuer of Thames, aboue London-bridge neere the Court, that the tenderest faire Ladies and Gentlewomen that are in any part of the world, who haue beheld it, and great num­bers of people, haue there sported on the Ice many dayes together, and haue felt it colder there, then men doe that liue in New-found-land.

Now if such men, when they come from thence, [Page 54] that haue but little experience of the colde in other Countries, neither take due obseruation of the colde that is sometimes in England, would listen to men that haue traded in the Summer time to Greeneland, for the killing of Whales, and making of that Traine oyle (which is a good trade found out) and consider well of the abundance of great Ilands of Ice, that those Ships and men are there troubled withall at times, they would thereby be perswaded to speake little of the colde in New-found-land: yet, praised be God, seldome any of those Ships and men that trade to Greeneland, take hurt thereby.

Wherefore I desire to satisfie any that shall be willing to further this Plantation, and cleare those reports and doubts that are feared by some people of the colde there; and also to let them know, that the Sauage people of the Country endure it so well, that they liue there naked Winter and Summer. And also my selfe, and most of our Nation, and others that haue traded there, endure the grea­test colde wee haue met withall there at any time, in our faces, neckes, and eares, as well as any Gentlewomen in England doe the colde in their naked bosomes, neckes and faces in the Winter time, when they goe so vncouered: and there­fore I doe conceiue, that it is but a little needlesse charie nicenesse vsed by some that trade there, that complaine any thing of the cold in that Countrey, by keeping themselues too warme: which colde (I suppose) some that haue beene there, may feele the more, if they haue been much accustomed to drinke Tobacco, strong Ale, double Beere, or haue beene [Page 55] accustomed to sit by a Tauerne fire, or touched with the French disease: such, when they come to a little cold, wheresoeuer they bee, feele the cold more extremely then otherwise they would.

Furthermore they may be also more fully satisfi­ed of the cold in that Countrey by a Gentleman, one Master Iohn Guy, late Maior of the Citie of Bris­toll, that liued there two yeeres together, with di­uers others of sort and qualitie, many yeeres so plea­santly, and healthfull with their wiues and families, as if they had liued in England.

And whereas there come some yeeres vpon that Coast great Ilands of Ice, which are congealed in the North, farre from thence, as it may be well per­ceiued, and that the coast of New-found-land lieth in longitude from the South Cape thereof to the graund Bay, which is the North-most part of the Countrie, North, North-East, and South, South-west, aboue fiue degrees; and that from thence, any ship being off from that Coast twelue Leagues, and sailing North, North-East, may run on, till they come to the North-ward of 70. degrees, and no land to hinder him, neither from thence any land found, in that altitude, directly East vnto Greene­land, where the trade is for killing of Whales, which is aboue 400. leagues distance from that course:

Therefore it may be well vnderstood, as it hath bin approued by diuers mē that haue attempted to seeke out some new Discoueries, in those North parts of the world, that there is alwayes abundance of great Ilands of Ice, which the current setting ve­ry strongly from thence, by reason (as I conceiue of) [Page 56] of some Straite and passage that the Sea hath from the large Seas that lie on the North side of Tar­taria, and those vnknowne parts of the world, and sets towards the Coast of New-found-land, with the said Current and North winds; & do there in little tyme dissolue, and thereby they make the ayre and water some thing the colder there.Jlands of Ice there speedily melt. Those Ilands of Ice are not dangerous vnto Ships being once de­scried, as by their whitenes they may in a dark night when men looke out for them; for they wil driue a­long so fast with the wind, as I haue often prooued, that if a Ship bee vnder the Lee of an Iland of Ice, and there strike downe his sayles, the Ice will driue faster with the winde, then the ship will driue be­fore it, so that a ship may turne from it when there is cause.

Thus hauing shewed (as I conceiue) the reasons that such Ilands of Ice are seene some yeeres on the Coast of New-found-land; I will also shew my opini­on partly, why there are such Fogs there also some­times.

It is well knowne vnto all those that haue seene the Country and obserued it, how the Land is ouer­growne with Woods and Bushes that haue growne, & so rotted into the ground againe (in my opinion euer since the floud) the rottennes therof hath so co­uered the earth, and Rocks in diuers places of the Countrey in great thicknes, and by reason thereof, the open land and woods doe a long time in the Summer containe a great moisture vnder the same,The cause of the Fogges. so that a man may obserue, when the heate of the yeere comes on, a kinde of Fogge arising continu­ally from it.

[Page 57]Therefore, in my opinion,How to abate the Fogs, and to make the Coun­trey hotter. which I submit to dee­per Iudgements, if those vnnecessary bushes, and such vnseruiceable woods were in some places bur­ned, so as the hot beames of the Sunne might pearce into the earth and stones there, so speedily as it doth in some other Countreys, that lye vnder the same eleuation of the Pole, it would then there make such a reflection of heate, that it would much lessen these Fogs, and also make the Countrey much the hotter Winter and Summer, and there­by the earth will bud forth her blossoms and fruites more timely in the yeere, then now it doth, and so bring the Land more familiar to vs, and fitter for Tillage, and for Beasts, and also for Land-fowle, then now it is; and thereby those Ilands of Ice that come on that Coast at any time, will the sooner dissolue, which doe speedily melt, when they come neere the South part of that Land, &c.

Also, it may be obiected by some, that the Coun­trey is rockie, and mountainous, and so ouergrowne with trees & bushes, in such a Wildernes, that it wil be an endles trouble to bring it to good perfection: and such like obiections are often vsed, as if they would haue such a Land cleansed to them without labour. Yet my hope is, when any such shall reade ouer this Discourse, and consider well of the particular motiues herein expressed, whereby a Plantation there should bee imbraced, they will be well satisfied therein, and I suppose, forbeare to say it is such a rockie, and cold Countrey as is vnfit to be planted.

I haue been seuerall times in Norway, where the Countrey is in most places more rockie, and moun­tainous [Page 58] then the New-found-land, and lies aboue sixe degrees more to the North, and yet very beneficiall to the King of Denmarke, where many of his Ma­iesties Subiects liue pleasantly; but the New-found-land is much more pleasant to liue in. I haue of­ten seene the Coast of Biskay and Portugall all along the Sea-Coast, how rocky, barren and mountainous these Countries be in most places, although they lie in a pleasant and temperate Climate; if such which should dispraise the New-found-land, had seene it as I haue, they would not onely like well, and be in loue to further the desired Plantation, but also admire how the people in those other Coun­tries doe liue by their good industrie, and seeke out little places amongst the Rocks, and in the sides of Hils and Mountaines,Rocks and Mountaines good for Seeds, Roots and Vines. to set and sowe their seeds for Rootes, Cabage, Onions, and such like, whereby they receiue great comforts: for all alongst those parts on the Sea-coast, their best meanes of liuing is by fishing, and other trades by Sea. The like be­nefit may all such haue, that will plant at New-found-land, and much better in many other things, as is al­ready sufficiently touched.

Likewise it is well knowne to all those that haue trauailed from thence all along the Coast of Spaine, euen to Granada, how barren and rockie those parts of Spaine are also in most places; and yet the people by their good industry, plant many of their Vines and other fruits, on the sides of some steepe Hils a­mongst the Rocks, where men are faine in diuers places, euen to creepe on their hands and knees to prune the said Vines, and gather the Grapes of them, to make their strong wines, and sweete Ray­sins [Page 59] withall, which we so much delight to taste. In those toothsome, and delightfull Commodities, our Marchants bestow much money, which the New-found-land trade and Commodities had from thence, will be able in little time, if it be peopled as aforesaid, to supply all your Maiesties Kingdomes withall, with the sales of such commodities had from thence, to be imployed therein.

Likewise from Granada, to Carthagena, Allegant, Denia, and from thence euen to the Citie of Valen­cia, which is a large circuit, the most parts all along, as I haue trauelled by land, are very barren, rockie and mountainous; that very few Cattell, Sheepe, Goates, or any other beasts are able to liue there, & yet doe the people in those parts vse great industry, to plant their Vines and other fruits, whereby they seeke out their best meanes they haue to liue: and likewise also in diuers other places neere the Me­diterranean Sea, from thence to Bassalonia, Marsellis, Sauoy, and Genoway, and in diuers other places in Italy, these Countries are very Rocky and Mountai­nous: and yet those places doe abound with many other rich blessings, by meanes of the peoples good industrie there, and so by reason thereof, the people in all those parts from the Coast of Biskay, vnto Italy; and also the most parts of France, Gascoyne, Brittaine, Normandy and Picardy, are by the New-found-land fish greatly relieued: which fish is in all those parts in great request, and steeds them greatly, and doth sell very well there most commonly, and so likewise in England great abundance thereof is spent; which being well considered, I know no reason to the con­trary, but that the Subiects of all your Maiesties [Page 60] Kingdomes should be most willing to further that Plantation, and shew their good industry to clense Land there for Corne and Woade, and plant di­uers kindes of fruites, which questionlesse will also proue very well there; and then will it be to all your Maiesties Kingdomes such a nurcery to get wealth, and increase and maintaine Shipping, and beget seruiceable Sea-men, as great Brittaine had neuer the like.

With these good blessings which are before re­cited, being followed by industrious spirits, there is a great hope of a plentifull haruest vnto your Maie­stie and Kingdomes thereby. God send good Seeds­men and Planters to set it forward, as I trust in God it will haue, seeing it hath already had many right Honourable and worthy Fathers to commend it.

And although that sithence I presumed to write this Discourse, I haue been often dishartened from proceeding herein: Yet, when I did remember Columbus his good indeuours, that first and pati­ent Discouerer of the West Indies, whom, if God had not hartened him on with a worthy minde, and a bosome armed for all the stormes of crosse for­tunes, he had neuer finished that Honourable at­tempt for finding such an happy businesse out, the which Discouery of his, hath euer since filled the Spanish Cofers with gold and siluer, and made that Nation Lords of the greatest riches vnder the Sunne: and although that attempt of his, was held at first impossible to to come any good effect, & Co­lumbus laught at by some: yet euer sithēce, by his at­tempt I may say, that Spaine hath had frō thence to helpe to furnish other Christian Kingdomes with [Page 61] gold, siluer, and diuers other great riches; and also now to that Country so discouered, those commo­dities that great Brittaine may yeerely well spare, and other Countries also, are the better vented: and so likewise, may the New-found-land and the parts of America, neere thereunto, proue benefici­all for diuers trades in little time.

These good motiues considered, what great good comes vnto Christian Kingdomes, by For­raine Plantations, and what infinite wealth is yeere­ly brought from the West Indies into Spaine, as I haue there seene landed; doe put me in great hope, that if there bee an orderly Plantation settled in New-found-land, the trade to that Countrey by your Maiesties Subiects, and other places thereby, may yeerely be so beneficiall to your Maiestie and your Highnes other Kingdomes, as the West Indies are now yeerely worth to the King of Spaine.

Now hauing thus commended the Countrey of New-found-land in my opinion, it ought not to bee one of the least motiues, whereby to further this Plantation, the setting of some better order and gouernement amongst the Fishermen, and all o­thers of our Nation that yeerely trade there, then nowe there is; so that there may be a reformation of such abuses as are there yerely committed; wherein it is well knowne, that I haue already vsed my best endeuors in the yeere 1615. at which time I had a Commission with me for that purpose vnder the broade Seale of the Admiralty, and did then therewith set forth, to follow that seruice from the Port of Exceter, in the County of Deuon, on the 11. day of May 1615. in a Barke victualled and manned [Page 62] with 11. men and boyes at my owne charge, and I did then arriue at the Coast of New-found-land, in the Bay of Trinity, vpon Trinitie Sunday, being the 4. of Iune, and anchored the same day in the saide Harbor of Trinity; and there, in the name of the holy and indiuiduall Trinity, began, to the vse of your Maiestie, by vertue of that Commission, to send forth a Precept, to call the Masters of those English ships, that were then there riding at An­chor, and also the Masters of some other English ships that were neere thereunto, and so began to hold the first Court of Admiralty in your Maiesties name, that euer was (as I beleeue) holden in that Countrey, to the vse of any Christian Prince, and proceeded therein according to course of Lawe, as the tenor of my Commission did warrant me there­in; and also in other Harbors of the said Coast I did the like. Part of which abuses there committed, I haue already touched: so likewise I will briefly in­sert a part of the seuerall presentments of such iniu­ries, that were thē there deliuerd vnto me, as afore­said, vnder the hands and seales of those 170. Masters of English Ships, to the vse of your Maiestie: which presentments were, vpon my returne from the said voyage, deliuered by me into your Maiesties high Court of the Admiralty, and then by those Masters of ships there impannelled, such abuses as follow, they did acknowledge, and order, that henceforth with your Maiesties allowance might be redressed &c.

1 First, they did all acknowledge, that there is but little difference of daies obserued amongst the Fish­ermen; some men presuming to goe to Sea, and to [Page 63] fish with hooke and lyne, vpon the Sabbath day, as vsually as vpon the weeke dayes.

Secondly, that diuers of our Nation doe take in­to 2 their ships very great stones, to presse their dry fish withall; which worke being done, they cast those stones into the Harbors, where their ships vse to ride at anchor; which will vtterly spoile the Roades and Harbors in that Countrey, and be to the endangering of Ships and Cables, yea and mens liues also, if it be not reformed in time.

There are many men yeerly, who vnlawfully con­uey away other mens fishing boates, from the Har­bour 3 & place where they were left y^e yeere before in that Countrey; & some cut out the markes of them; and some others rippe and carry away the pieces of them, to the great preiudice and hinderance of the voyages of such ships that depend on such fishing boates, and also to the true Owners of such boates.

There are some men, who arriuing there first into 4 a Harbor, doe rippe and pull downe Stages, that were left standing for the splitting and salting of fish the yeere before; and other Stages some men haue set on fire: which is a great hinderance to the voiages of such men, as are not there with the first in the Harbor, for that they must then spend 20. dayes time, for preparing new Stages, and fitting new Pinnaces, and other necessary things, in euery voy­age before they be settled to fish.

There are also some, who arriuing first in Harbor,5 take away other mens Salt that they had left there the yeere before, and also rip and spoile the Fats wherein they make their Traine; and some teare downe Flakes, whereon men yeerely dry their fish, [Page 64] to the great hurt and hinderance of many other that come after them.

6 Some men likewise steale away the bait out of other mens Nets by night, and also out of ther fish­ing boates by their ships side, whereby their fishing, from whome it is so taken, is ouerthrowne for the next day.

7 They did acknowledge, that some men take vp more roome then they neede, or is fitting to dry their fish on, whereby other mens voyages are often­times greatly hindered.

8 They also found, that diuers of your Maiesties subiects haue come to that Coast, in fishing voiages in ships not appertayning to any of your Maiesties subiects, which they conceiued worthy of punish­ment, and reformation.

They did acknowledge, that some men rip, and 9 take away Timber and Rayles from Stages, and o­ther necessary roomes, that are fastened with nayles, Spike or Trey naile; and some men take away the Rindes & Turfe wherewith diuers necessary roomes are fitly couered for seruiceable vses, and likewise take away Stakes that are fastened in the ground with Rayles on them, wherevpon men vse to dry their fish; and that some set the standing Woods in the Countrey on fire, which haue in little time burned many thousand acres; and that there are some which yeerely take away other mens Traine there by night; which they conceiued worthy of reformation.

10 They found, that diuers idle persons, which were hired for those voyages, when they come thither, notwithstanding that they were still in health, [Page 65] would not worke, and were so lazy and idle, that their worke was to little purpose: which was worthy of punishment.

Against all these great abuses, and diuers others 11 committed in the said New-found-land (which they did set downe in their seuerall presentments, as by them it may at large appeare, they did all cōdiscend, and order from that time thenceforth, that no sub­iect to your Maiestie should commit any more such abuses in that Countrey: which may be very well remedied, seeing they tend to the aduancement of the Trade, and quietnes amongst the Fishermen, and to the Glory of God, the honour and good of your Maiestie, and the generall benefit of the Com­mon-welth.

They did further present to the vse of the Lord 12 Admirall of England, two small Boats, Anchors, and a small Grapple, that were found in the Sea vpon that Coast, which were there prized to bee worth two shillings sixepence apiece, amounting to seuen shillings sixepence.

Now hauing laid open how commodious and beneficiall it will bee to your Maiestie and King­domes, to settle a Plantation in the New-found-land, and also made knowne some vnfit courses that are yeerely vsed by some Fisher-men that aduenture there: and likewise shewed a part of some great wrongs that haue been committed there by Pyrats and some erring subiects; and also touched a little, that there haue not been such fit courses taken by some of those that haue been imployed to that Countrey in the Plantation already there begunne, as they should haue done, by reason whereof it is [Page 66] to be feared, that some of those Honourable, and other right Worshipfull persons that vndertake the same, and that haue been at some great charge therein, seeing their good indeuours and charge take no better successe, they may waxe colde and weary in disbursing more thereunto, and so by their remissenesse the Plantation might be giuen ouer, and the Countrey left to the spoyle and vsur­pation of some other Prince that may vndertake the same, and then reape the haruest of your Ma­iesties Subiects labours, that shall then trade to that Countrey, &c. And therefore shewing how it may be prouided for by your Maiestie, and all those wrongs henceforth remedied: now I suppose, that some, who may finde themselues a little touched herein, may not onely enuie me, for laying open that which I haue; whereby to preuent such further dangers and inconueniencies in that Countrey, and to further such a worthy worke: and therefore I may be vniustly taxed, as many worthy men haue been, for well doing. For although I haue by Py­rats, and other crosses receiued great losses, yet doe I acknowledge my selfe much bound to God my Creator, who hath preserued me from many dan­gers in my time, and safely to returne with my ship wherein I was; I do also most humbly giue God the praise, that I am now so happily ariued with this my plaine and true Discouery, vnto the view of your most Sacred Maiestie, and the right Honou­rable Lords of your Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Councell, and my Countrey, whereby to shew what in all likelihood the effect of a Planta­tion will there produce; vsing also many argu­ments, [Page 67] motiues and inducements to perswade a ge­nerall willingnesse thereunto.

And these excellent benefits distribute them­selues, betweene your Maiestie and your Subiects: your Highnesse part will bee the Honour of the Action; the accesse of Territory, increase of strength and power, aduantage against other Princes, aug­mentation of Reuenew, and ease of your Maiesties Kingdomes, &c. The Subiects part will be the bet­tering and securing of their Trade; inriching of themselues; reliefe of other Trades; and a meanes of further Discoueries.

But these two haue a relation and dependency, the one on the other, that neither can subsist with­out the other. I will not therefore diuide your Ma­iestie from your Subiects; your Highnesse prospe­ritie being their happinesse; and their wealth, your Maiesties riches.

The first thing which is to bee hoped for, and which hath euer been your Maiesties principall care, is the propagation of the Christian Faith: and by that meanes onely, the poore vnbeleeuing Inha­bitants of that Countrey may be brought to the knowledge of God, and a ciuill kinde of gouerne­ment: and it is not a thing impossible, but that from those slender beginnings which may bee made in New-found-land, all the Regions adioyning (which betweene this place, and the Countries actually possessed by the King of Spaine, and to the North of New-found-land, are so spacious as all Europe) may be conuerted to the true Worship of God.

The next is, the vniting of a Countrey so benefi­ciall already, and so promising vnto your Maiesties [Page 68] Crowne, without bloodshed, charge, or vsurpation, which must needs be a perpetuall Honour to your Maiestie, in all succeeding ages; neither will it be an Honour onely to your Highnesse, but a benefit to the State, by a new accesse of Dominion. And what Prince can inlarge his Territories by a more easie and more iust meanes then this, seeing that of right it appertaineth to your Maiestie, and there­fore deserues to be imbraced?

Now if it please your most excellent Maiestie, not onely to lend your eare to a Proiect of this na­ture, but also to approue the matter proiected, and vouchsafe the furtherance therein, the which out of my soules deuotion, and zealous affection to doe seruice to your Maiestie and your Kingdomes, I tender on my knees; most humbly beseeching your Highnesse, both to accept of my honest and zea­lous intent, as also to pardon my boldnesse and pre­sumption therein; for it is, and so hath euer been my resolution, rather to beare the burden of po­uerty, then iustly to deserue, or giue cause of re­proach; and to subiect all the dayes of my life, and the manifold dangers thereof, thereby to approue my selfe a profitable member, both to your Maie­stie, and to my Countrey that gaue mee my first breath; for which onely cause I haue aduentured to publish this my simple and plaine Discourse, where­unto my very conscience hath a long time, and still doth not forbeare to sollicite me.

The prosecution and perfection of the worke, I leaue to the pleasure of God, and your Maiesties happy directions; in the discourse and discouery whereof, if I haue either been tedious, or any o­ther [Page 69] way offensiue, it is to be imputed to my want of learning: and so, though perhaps I doe not sa­tisfie some mens curiosities, yet I hope I haue suf­ficiently informed their iudgements; and beseech God to incline their affections to the furtherance of so pious, and so profitable a businesse, as this appea­reth to be.

And so I rest, and euer will remaine a faithfull and loyall Subiect to your Maiestie, an hearty and true louer of my Countrey, and a zealous well-wisher to this intended Plantation.