by Captain John Smith
It might well be thought, a country so
fair (as Virginia is) and a people so tractable, would long ere
this have been quietly possessed, to the satisfaction of the
adventurers, and the eternizing of the memory of those that
effected it. But because all the world do see a failure; this
following treatise shall give satisfaction to all indifferent
readers, how the business has been carried: where no doubt they
will easily understand and answer to their question, how it came
to pass there was no better speed and success in those
proceedings.
Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, one of the first movers of this
plantation, having many years solicited many of his friends, but
found small assistance; at last prevailed with some gentlemen, as
Captain John Smith, Master Edward-maria Wingfield, Master Robert
Hunt, and divers others, who depended a year upon his projects,
but nothing could be effected, till by their great charge and
industry, it came to be apprehended by certain of the nobility,
gentry, and merchants, so that his Majesty by his letters
patents, gave commission for establishing councils, to direct
here; and to govern, and to execute there. To effect this, was
spent another year, and by that, three ships were provided, one
of 100 tons, another of 40 and a pinnace of 20. The
transportation of the company was committed to Captain
Christopher Newport, a mariner well practiced for the western
parts of America. But their orders for government were put in a
box, not to be opened, nor the governors known until they arrived
in Virginia.
On the 19 of December, 1606, we set sail from Blackwall, but by
unprosperous winds, were kept six weeks in the sight of England;
all which time, Master Hunt our preacher, was so weak and sick,
that few expected his recovery. Yet although he were but twenty
miles from his habitation (the time we were in the Downes) and
notwithstanding the stormy weather, nor the scandalous
imputations (of some few, little better than atheists, of the
greatest rank among us) suggested against him, all this could
never force from him so much as a seeming desire to leave the
business, but preferred the service of God, in so good a voyage,
before any affection to contest with his godless foes whose
disastrous designs (could they have prevailed) had even then
overthrown the business, so many discontents did then arise, had
he not with the water of patience, and his godly exhortations
(but chiefly by his true devoted examples) quenched those flames
of envy, and dissension...
The first land they made they called Cape Henry; where thirty of
them recreating themselves on shore, were assaulted by five
savages, who hurt two of the English very dangerously.
That night was the box opened, and the orders read, in which
Bartholomew Gosnol, John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher
Newport, John Ratliff, John Martin, and George Kendall, were
named to be the council, and to choose a president among them for
a year, who with the council should govern. Matters of moment
were to be examined by a jury, but determined by the major part
of the council, in which the president had two voices.
Until the 13 of May they sought a place to plant in; then the
council was sworn, Master Wingfield was chosen president, and an
oration made, why Captain Smith was not admitted of the council
as the rest.
Now falls every man to work, the council contrive the fort, the
rest cut down trees to make place to pitch their tents; some
provide clapboard to relade the ships, some make gardens, some
nets, etc. The savages often visited us kindly. The president's
overweening jealousy would admit no exercise at arms, or
fortification but the boughs of trees cast together in the form
of a half moon by the extraordinary pains and diligence of
Captain Kendall.
Newport, Smith, and twenty others, were sent to discover the head
of the river: by divers small habitations they passed, in six
days they arrived at a town called Powhatan, consisting of some
twelve houses, pleasantly seated on a hill; before it three
fertile isles, about it many of their cornfields, the place is
very pleasant, and strong by nature, of this place the Prince is
called Powhatan, and his people Powhatans. To this place the
river is navigable: but higher within a mile, by reason of the
rocks and isles, there is not passage for a small boat, this they
call the falls. The people in all parts kindly entreated them,
till being returned within twenty miles of Jamestown, they gave
just cause of jealousy: but had God not blessed the discoverers
otherwise than those at the fort, there had then been an end of
that plantation; for at the fort, where they arrived the next
day, they found 17 men hurt, and a boy slain by the savages, and
had it not chanced a cross bar shot from the ships struck down a
bough from a tree among them, that caused them to retire, our men
had all been slain, being securely all at work, and their arms in
dry fats.
Hereupon the president was contented the fort should be
pallisaded, the ordnance mounted, his men armed and exercised:
for many were the assaults, and ambuscades of the savages, and
our men by their disorderly straggling were often hurt, when the
savages by the nimbleness of their heels well escaped.
What toil we had, with so small a power to guard our workmen by
day, watch all night, resist our enemies, and effect our
business, to relade the ships, cut down trees, and prepare the
ground to plant our corn, etc., I refer to the reader's
consideration.
Six weeks being spent in this manner, Captain Newport (who was
hired only for our transportation) was to return with the ships.
Now Captain Smith, who all this time from their departure from
the Canaries was restrained as a prisoner upon the scandalous
suggestions of some of the chiefs (envying his repute) who fained
he intended to usurp the government, murder the council, and make
himself king, that his confederates were dispersed in all the
three ships, and that divers of his confederates that revealed
it, would affirm it; for this he was committed as a prisoner.
Thirteen weeks he remained thus suspected, and by that time the
ships should return they pretended out of their commiserations,
to refer him to the council in England to receive a check, rather
than by particulating his designs make him so odious to the
world, as to touch his life, or utterly overthrow his reputation.
But he so much scorned their charity, and publicly defied the
uttermost of their cruelty; he wisely prevented their policies,
though he could not suppress their envy; yet so well he demeaned
himself in this business, as all the company did see his
innocency, and his adversaries' malice, and those suborned to
accuse him, accused his accusers of subornation; many untruths
were alleged against him; but being so apparently disproved,
begat a general hatred in the hearts of the company against such
unjust commanders, that the president was adjudged to give him
2001; so that all he had was seized upon, in part of
satisfaction, which Smith presently returned to the store for the
general use of the colony.
Many were the mischiefs that daily sprung from their ignorant
(yet ambitious) spirits; but the good doctrine and exhortation of
our preacher Master Hunt reconciled them, and caused Captain
Smith to be admitted of the council.
The next day all received the communion, the day following the
savages voluntarily desired peace, and Captain Newport returned
for England with news; leaving in Virginia 100 the 15 of June
1607.
Being thus left to our fortunes, it fortuned that within ten days
scarce ten among us could either go, or well stand, such extreme
weakness and sickness oppressed us. And thereat none need marvel,
if they consider the cause and reason, which was this.
While the ships stayed, our allowance was somewhat bettered, by a
daily proportion of biscuit, which the sailors would pilfer to
sell, give, or exchange with us, for money, sassafras, furs, or
love. But when they departed, there remained neither tavern, beer
house, nor place of relief, but the common kettle. Had we been as
free from all sins as gluttony, and drunkenness, we might have
been canonized for Saints; but our president would never have
been admitted, for ingrossing to his private, oatmeal, sack, oil,
aquavitse, beef, eggs, or what not, but the kettle; that indeed
he allowed equally to be distributed, and that was half a pint of
wheat, and as much barley boiled with water for a man a day, and
this having fried some 26 weeks in the ship's hold, contained as
many worms as grains; so that we might truly call it rather so
much bran than corn, our drink was water, our lodgings castles in
the air.
With this lodging and diet, our extreme toil in bearing and
planting pallisades, so strained and bruised us, and our
continual labor in the extremity of the heat had so weakened us,
as were cause sufficient to have made us as miserable in our
native country, or any other place in the world.
From May, to September, those that escaped, lived upon sturgeon,
and sea-crabs, fifty in this time we buried, the rest seeing the
president's projects to escape these miseries in our pinnace by
flight (who all this time had neither felt want nor sickness) so
moved our dead spirits, as we deposed him; and established
Ratcliff in his place, (Gosnol being dead) Kendall deposed. Smith
newly recovered, Martin and Ratcliff was by his care preserved
and relieved, and the most of the soldiers recovered with the
skillful diligence of Master Thomas Wotton our surgeon general.
But now was all our provision spent, the sturgeon gone, all helps
abandoned, each hour expecting the fury of the savages; when God
the patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity so
changed the hearts of the savages, that they brought such plenty
of their fruits, and provision, as no man wanted...
But our comedies never endured long without a tragedy; some idle
exceptions being muttered against Captain Smith, for not
discovering the head of Chickahamania river, and taxed by the
council, to be too slow in so worthy an attempt. The next voyage
he proceeded so far that with much labor by cutting of trees
insunder he made his passage; but when his barge could pass no
farther, he left her in a broad bay out of danger of shot,
commanding none should go ashore till his return: himself with
two English and two savages went up higher in a canoe; but he was
not long absent, but his men went ashore, whose want of
government gave both occasion and opportunity to the savages to
surprise one George Cassen, whom they slew, and much failed not
to have cut off the boat and all the rest.
Smith little dreaming of that accident, being got to the marshes
at the river's head, twenty miles in the desert, had his two men
slain (as is supposed) sleeping by the canoe, while himself by
fowling sought them victual: who finding he was beset with 200
savages, two of them he slew, still defending himself with the
aid of a savage his guide whom he bound to his arm with his
garters, and used him as a buckler, yet he was shot in his thigh
a little, and had many arrows that stuck in his clothes but no
great hurt, till at last they took him prisoner.
When this news came to Jamestown, much was their sorrow for his
loss, few expecting what ensued.
Six or seven weeks those Barbarians kept him prisoner, many
strange triumphs and conjurations they made of him, yet he so
demeaned himself among them, as he not only diverted them from
surprising the fort, but procured his own liberty, and got
himself and his company such estimation among them, that those
savages admired him more than their own Quiyouckosucks...
At last they brought him to Meronocomoco, where was Powhatan
their emperor. Here more than two hundred of those grim courtiers
stood wondering at him, as he had been a monster; till Powhatan
and his train had put themselves in their greatest braveries.
Before a fire upon a seat like a bedstead, he sat covered with a
great robe, made of Rarowcun (raccoon?) skins, and all the tails
hanging by. On either hand did sit a young wench of 16 or 18
years, and along on each side the house, two rows of men, and
behind them as many women, with all their heads and shoulders
painted red: many of their heads bedecked with the white down of
birds; but every one with something: and a great chain of white
beads about their necks.
At his entrance before the king, all the people gave a great
shout. The queen of Appamatuck was appointed to bring him water
to wash his hands, and another brought him a bunch of feathers,
instead of a towel to dry them: having feasted him after their
best barbarous manner they could, a long consultation was held,
but the conclusion was, two great stones were brought before
Powhatan: then as many as could laid hands on him, dragged him to
them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their
clubs, to beat out his brains, Pocahontas the king's dearest
daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her
arms, and laid her own upon his to save him from death: whereat
the Emperor was contented he should live to make him hatchets,
and her bells, beads, and copper; for they thought him as well of
all occupations as themselves. For the king himself will make his
own robes, shoes, bowes, arrows, pots; plant, hunt, or do
anything so well as the rest.
They say he bore a pleasant show,
But sure his heart was sad.
For who can pleasant be, and rest,
That lives in fear and dread:
And having life suspected, doth
It still suspected lead.
Two days after, Powhatan having disguised himself in the most
fearful manner he could, caused Captain Smith to be brought forth
to a great house in the woods, and thereupon a mat by the fire to
be left alone. Not long after from behind a mat that divided the
house, was made the most doleful noise he ever heard; then
Powhatan more like a devil than a man, with some two hundred more
as black as himself, came unto him and told him now they were
friends, and presently he should go to Jamestown, to send him two
great guns, and a grindstone, for which he would give him the
country of Capahowosick, and forever esteem him as his son
Nantaquoud.
So to Jamestown with 12 guides Powhatan sent him. That night they
quartered in the woods, he still expecting (as he had done all
this long time of his imprisonment) every hour to be put to one
death or other: for all their feasting. But almighty God (by his
divine providence) had mollified the hearts of those stern
barbarians with compassion. The next morning betimes they came to
the fort, where Smith having used the savages with what kindness
he could, he showed Rawhunt, Powhatan's trusty servant, two
demi-culverins and a millstone to carry Powhatan: they found them
somewhat too heavy; but when they did see him discharge them,
being loaded with stones, among the boughs of a great tree loaded
with icicles the ice and branches came so tumbling down, that the
poor savages ran away half dead with fear. But at last we
regained some conference with them, and gave them such toys; and
sent to Powhatan, his women, and children such presents, as gave
them in general full content.
Now in Jamestown they were all in combustion, the strongest
preparing once more to run away with the pinnace; which with the
hazard of his life, with Sakre falcon and musket shot, Smith
forced now the third time to stay or sink.
Some no better than they should be, had plotted with the
president, the next day to have put him to death by the Levitical
law, for the lives of Robinson and Emry; pretending the fault was
his that had led them to their ends: but he quickly took such
order with such lawyers, that he laid them by the heels till he
sent some of them prisoners for England.
Now every once in four or five days, Pocahontas with her
attendants, brought him so much provision, that saved many of
their lives, that else for all this had starved with hunger.
Thus from numb death our good God sent relief,
The sweet assuager of all other grief.
His relation of the plenty he had seen, especially at
Werawocomoco, and of the state and bounty of Powhatan, (which
till that time was unknown) so revived their dead spirits
(especially the love of Pocahontas) as all men's fear was
abandoned.
Thus you may see what difficulties still crossed any good
endeavor; and the good success of the business being thus often
brought to the very period of destruction; yet you see by what
strange means God has still delivered it.
As for the insufficiency of them admitted in commission, that
error could not be prevented by the electors; there being no
other choice, and all strangers to each other's education,
qualities, or disposition.
And if any deem it a shame to our Nation to have any mention made
of those enormities, let him peruse the Histories of the
Spaniard's Discoveries and Plantations, where they may see how
many mutinies, disorders, and dissensions have accompanied them,
and crossed their attempts: which being known to be particular
men's offenses; does take away the general scorn and contempt,
which malice, presumption, coveteousness, or ignorance might
produce; to the scandal and reproach of those, whose actions and
valiant resolutions deserve a more worthy respect.
Now whether it had been better for Captain Smith, to have
concluded with any of those several projects, to have abandoned
the country, with some ten or twelve of them, who were called the
better sort, and have left Master Hunt our preacher, Master
Anthony Gosnol, a most honest, worthy, and industrious gentleman,
Master Thomas Wotton, and some 27 others of his countrymen to the
fury of the savages, famine, and all manner of mischiefs, and
inconveniences, (for they were but forty in all to keep
possession of this large country;) or starve himself with them
for company, for want of lodging: or but adventuring abroad to
make them provision, or by his opposition to preserve the action,
and save all their lives; I leave to the censure of all honest
men to consider...
This page last updated August 9, 2000.