Part 2
The Countrie it is called by the name of Cape Briton, now _New Galloway_: new, not in respect of the discoverie thereof, which to the judgment of men of knowledge and vnderstanding is not new, but old; for the much hath been written thereof, yet new, not olde, because of our new vndertaking of that plantation. It is situated betwixt the degrees of 45. and 57. an Yland within the Sea, but vpon the maine, severed by the distance of foure leagues in some parts, of two or three at other parts: and at others, lesse.
The Yland is in length some 120. myles, and in breadth 80. myles or thereby: standing South-east, and North-west to _New Scotland_; vvhere the great river _Canada_ ingorgeth her selfe in the maine Ocean. Harbours there bee exceeding good on all sides, in most part vvhereof are ancorage for shippes of all burthen. Yles there be about over-grovvn vvith good timber of diverse sorts of vvood; all as yet not discovered except the Yle _Sablon_, vvhich is full of vvoodes and vvilde beastes, but vvithout any people. The Land is vvatered by foure maine rivers, full of Salmond, and diverse other sortes of fishes. It hath plentie of springes of svveete vvaters. Tovvards the North-east, _Mountanous_: and tovvard the South-west _Caimpainge_: promising as rich entralles as anie other Kingdome to whom the Sunne is no nearer neighbour. The ground in it self so fertile and good as may equalize any of the Kingdomes that lyeth in the hight of 45. 46. 47. Onlie this advantage I find in nature, that they haue above this: they are bewtified by the long labour & diligence of industrious people & airt: & this is only as God made it, when he created the world, vncultured, planted & manured by men of industry, judgment & experience.
The commodities which we shal reape from thence shall be great, for the Sea shall sweeten our labours with her benefites, as the Land, and the Land aswell as the Sea. The Sea shall reach vs vp her Whale, her turbot, her sturgion, cod, haddocke, small ling, makkerell, herring, mullet, pearch, Eele, crab, lobster, muskle, wilk, oyster, and infinite others. Fish is the maine Staple, from whence is to be extracted, a present commoditie to produce the rest: which howsoever it may seeme meane and base, yet it is the Myne, and the Sea is the source of these silvered streames of all these vertues, which hath made the _Hollanders_, the miracle of industrie, & patterne of perfection for these affaires: and the benefite of fishing, is that _Primum mobile_ that turneth all their Spheare to this hight of plentie, strength, honour, and admiration.
The ground it will yeeld vs an admired varietie; some wee shall haue that are merchantable, which, by the serving for ordinarie necessars of the planters & inhabitantes, may yeeld a superplus sufficient, by way of traffick and exchange with other nations, to enriche our selves the provyders; such as flaxe, hempe, which the Soyle doth yeeld of it self not planted. For pitch, tarre, rozen and turpentine, there bee these kind of trees there, which yeeld them aboundantlie. Sassafras, called by the natives, winauk, a kind of wood of sweet smell, and of rare vertues in Physick. The Vine, it groweth there wild. Oyle there may be there of two sortes: one of walnuts; and another of berries, like the ackornes which the natives vse. Furres of manie and diverse kinds; such as the marterne, the otter, the black foxe, the luzernes, Deere skins, bevers, wildcat, and manie others. Sweet gummes of diverse kinds, and many other Apothecarie drugges. Dyes of diverse sortes: such as shoemake, for blacke: the seede of an hearbe called vasebur, and a litle small roote called chappacor, for red: & for blew, the herbe woad, a thing of great vent and vse at home for Dyers, and many other commodities merchantable, which by planting may be raised.
Other commodities there are, which the ground doth yeeld vs for victuall and sustenance of mans life, and vsuallie fedde vpon by the naturall inhabitants: for it is knowne to bee so fertile, as without question capable of producing of any graine, fruite, or roote, or seede you will sowe, or plant, growing in any other region of the same hight. The graines are maze, which we call Guinie wheat, according to the countrie from whence the like hath beene brought, and this graine is much about the bignesse of our ordinarie pease. There is also beanes, called of the natives Oknigier: and pease called by them, Wickonzour. They haue pompions, millons, and gourds, and an herbe called melden, growing foure, or five foote high, of the seede they make a thicke broth, and potage of a good taste, and of the stalke, by burning it in ashes they make a kinde of salt earth, wherewith they season their brothes, other salt they know not. They haue the hearbe Tobacco, called by the natives Vppowoc, in great plentie. Fruites they haue of sundrie sorts: as ches-nuts, walnutes, grapes, medlars, mulberries, goose-berries, respices, straw-berries, plummes, currans, or a fruite like currans. Rootes they haue of diverse kindes; Openauk, a kinde of roote, of a round forme and bignesse of walnuts, which beeing boyled or sodden, are verie goode meate: Okeepauke, another roote found in drye ground, which they eate with fishe or flesh: Tsinaw, a roote like the china-roote, growing together in clusters, of this roote they make bread. Of beasts; they haue Deere red, and fallow, conies, blacke foxes, and others, bevers, beares, wildecats, otters, marternes, luzernes, allanes, wolves, squirells, and a beast called Moos, bigger than a Stagge. For fowle they haue the turkie, the goose, the ducke, the skeldrake, the cran, the teale, Eagles, Falcons, marlin-hawkes.
And finallie are those other commodities, as are behovefull for those, which shall plant and inhabite to know of: such as oakes, ashe, elme, firre, the pine, and ascopo: which is a kinde of tree like the Laurell, the barke whereof, is hotte in taste, and spycie: hazell, plume-tree, walnut-tree, chesnut-tree, and manie others, which I omitt to rehearse. For to make mention of the severall beastes, birdes, fishes, fruites, flowres, gummes, rootes, sweete woodes, trees, hearbs, and others commodities, wherewith the ground is so naturallie, and so plentifullie enriched, and stored withall; I should fill vp Decads: but referring these to the relations of such as hath fullie collected the varieties of them, I come to the temperature of the climat.
The nature of the Climate wee maye easilie conclude from the hight whereinto it is situated; beeing in the 45. 46. and 47. which is as temperate, and as fruitfull as anie other paralell in the World; and answerable to these fruitfull partes in _France_, which are accompted the garden of _Europe_; _Poictou_, and _Anjou_: and where is that famous river of _Loyre_, adorned with so manie faire, so ancient, and populous Cities: and manie other notable, and famous Kingdomes: as you maye looke in the vniversall Mappe, because I meane not to bee tedious: and so having there such excellent temperature of the aire at all seasons, much warmer than heere, and never so vehementlie hotte as it is vnder, and betwixt the Tropicks, or neere them, wee neede not thinke of vnwholesomenesse.
And now for the Passage: Is not the navigation knowne to bee short, as sufficientlie experimented to have beene performed with an ordinarie winde in eighteene dayes, and in as much backe againe? how manie _Dutch_, _English_ and _French_ goe yeerelie there for fishing on the coaste, and backe againe to their great commodities and profite: and by the waye wee neither shall haue lee shoare, enemies, coast, rocke, nor sands, all which in other voyages and in our coastings at home wee are subject vnto.
And now last, it resteth I speake a worde of the nature of the People, in so farre as you maye knowe, how litle they are to bee feared, in respect of troubling our inhabiting and planting.
They are a people so fewe, so poore, so base, so incivile, and so savage, as wanting both multitude, power, or airte to harme vs. They are cloathed with loose mantles, made of Deere skinnes, casten rounde about their middles, the rest of their bodie all naked, of such stature onelie as wee are heere, having no edge tooles, nor weapons of yron, nor steele to offende vs, neither knowe they how to make anie, nor howe to vse them.
These weapons which they have, are onelie Bowes made of Hazell, and arrowes of reedes: flat edged truncheons also of vvood, about a yarde long: neither haue they anie thing to defende themselves, but targes made of barkes, and some armour made of stickes vvickered together vvith threed. In number they are verie fewe, in twentie myles, scarce threescore people. Townes in the countrie are verie rare, and small: containing fewe inhabitants: and hee is a Viroan, or great Lord, that hath the government of one towne. There houses are litle, made of small poles, and fast at the toppes in round forme, in moste parte covered with barkes. If there shoulde fall out anie Warres betwixt vs and them, what fight coulde there bee, wee having advantages against them, so manie manner of wayes: it maye bee easilie imagined, by our discipline, our strange weapons, especiallie, our Ordinance great, and small. And by the experience that others hath had of them there, in places more populous than this of ours where the taking of them-selves to their heeles, was their best defence against them.
So seeing you maye perceive, what the Countrie is, and how situated: the aire how temperate, and wholesome? the Soyle how fertile, and what affluence it doeth yeelde of commoditie? the natives how both so fewe, and so harmelesse? and the passage, howe so easie, and so frequentlie experimented? I hope there remaineth no cause whereby the action should bee misliked.
Thus referring my relation to your favourable con- structions: the successe of the action to Him, who is to bee acknowledged the Author and Governour, not onlie of this, but of all thinges else: and these my subsequent Offers, which I have freelie, and willinglie granted, as helpes, and furtherances for your encouragement to so good a Worke; yee maye pervse, and onelie imbrace as you shall thinke your selves disposed. * * *
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[Illustration: A family crest with two figures around a knight’s head, with the motto Dread God and the date 1625.]
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THE OFFERS to bee granted to the Adventurers in the new plantation of _CAPE BRITON_, now _called_ by the name of _New Galloway_ in AMERICA,
_BY_
LOCHINVAR.
ARTICLE I.
For Ministers.
That the blessing of GOD may accompanie vs in our indevoures; without whose gratious, and mercifull assistance, wee can not have happie, nor prosperous successe in our affaires. For the Ministers of the Worde of God; such as shall bee the factours of _CHRIST_ for the gaine of Soules: and to propagate his Trueth: and enlighten those that are captivate in Ethnicke darknesse: and for the vse, and exercise of true Religion amongest our selves; I doe willinglie, and freelie graunt and offer as followeth,
1. Their passage from _Scotland_ vnto the said Land of _New Galloway_ shall be free vnto them, without payment of any fraught, either for themselves, their wiues, and children, if they anie haue, and their necessare houshold stuffe: which all shall bee transported thither vnto them, into mine owne Shippes, and vpon mine owne charges.
2. They shall haue their entertainment of mee, their wiues, and children as saide is, in their whole passage on the waye thither.
3. For their maintenance, and their foresaids beeing there: I shall giue them entertainment for the space of the first three yeeres, induring the infancie of our Church there: and howe soone it shall please GOD that our number bee increased, that our Companies maye bee divided in Paroches, that then a competent meanes shall be alloted vnto each Minister in his severall charge, as shall bee found expedient for their places.
4. For their assistance in such things as belongeth vnto them in their callings: I shall haue a speciall care to see, that such reverence, and respect be had vnto them, as appertaineth vnto their place and calling: and shall see such goode order, as by them shall bee sette downe for reformation of life, and manners, duelie obeyed and performed, by causing the transgressours, and contemners of the same bee severelie punished.
ARTICLE II.
That everie one of such as shall be vndertakers, shall giue his oath of alledgeance: and shall all conforme themselves in Religion, according to his Majesties Lawes, and manner professed within the Kingdome of _Scotland_.
ARTICLE III.
For Gentlemen, and others vndertakers: what I _shall bee obliged to performe vnto them_.
Item, for the helpes, and furtherances of so generous, and well-disposed vndertakers as shall willinglie vnder-goe the hazard, and imbrace the enterpryse: I shall performe the particulars in everie point vnto them, as followeth,
1. For their passages: everie vnder-taker shall bee transported, himselfe, his wife, children, & servants, his whole houshold stuffe, and their provision of victualles for their intertainment, such as meale, malt, beefe, &c. and such as they shall please to provide to sustaine them for a whole yeere: Together with as much cornes, as they shall bee able to sowe vpon their Lands, the first yeere: and that all, and together passage free, into mine Shippes, from _Scotland_ vnto the said countrie of _New Galloway_.
2. Beeing thither by _GODS_ mercifull assistance, and providence transported, to bee established and placed in the Land: each man according to his qualitie, as followeth: The landed Gentleman vndertaker, shall haue his Landes granted vnto him in fee, and heritage to himselfe, and his successours for ever, to bee holden of mee, my heires, and successoures in _New Galloway_, in manner as they holde their Lands in _Scotland_ of our Soveraigne Lord, the King his Majestie, either by feaw, wairde, or blansh, and shall grant the same vnto them in quantitie, according to everie one of their qualities and meanes. And for tennants, and farmorers, their landes shall bee granted vnto them in Lace, everie one of them to have three Life-rents, and a nyneteene yeere Tacke thereafter, conforme to their power, and meanes, and performance of the conditions of the rent after mentioned.
3. And further more that their helpes, and furtherances maye haue a competent time to establishe them-selves in their estates, and that their meanes may the better increase: each vndertaker of the plantation of _New Galloway_ shall bee free from the payment of any duetie for his Landes, for all and whole the space of the first three yeeres.
4. For their assurance of a securitie, and peaceable quietnesse in the possession of their Landes in _New Galloway_, whereof they bee vndertakers: I shall finde sufficient caution, and suretie vnto each one of them within the Shyre where hee dwelleth in _Scotland_, that whatsoever his goods or geare thither transported, and placed vpon the ground of the saids Landes, shall bee taken from him by violence, of the natives, or forraine Nations, that the double thereof shall bee payed and refounded againe vnto him in _Scotland_, or to his heires, executours, or assignayes.
5. And for artisanes and craftes-men, such as Taylors, Shoe-makers, Smyths, Wrights, Websters, Wakers, Millers, &c. their passages shall bee made free vnto them without the payment of anie fraught; and likewise the rents of their lands shall bee free vnto them, induring their owne lifetimes: and for their successours, they shall bee kept in the case, and estate of tenants and farmorers, and shall haue their Laces of their Lands granted vnto them, as is set downe in the Article for Tennants.
ARTICLE IIII.
What the Vnder-takers shall performe vnto mee.
For the whole duetie of my Landes, charges, and expensses to [be] bestowed by mee in my shipping and other provision: I shall bee contented to receive from everie one of the said vndertakers, the thirteenth parte of that increase, and commoditie, which their Lands shall bee made worthie vnto them in the said plantation: And that I shall not require to bee payed vnto mee in moneyes, but only in such commodities, as the Soyle shall affoord: such as cornes, fishes, furres, &c.
And last, I desire that all such, as shall imbrace the foresaids offers, may come vnto mee before the first day of December next, and give vp their names, and a note of such things as they desire to bee carried with them, whereby I may provide for them, conforme to my preceeding offers, and they received everie one, and placed according to the order as they first come: so that all thinges may bee duelie provyded, and had in readinesse against the due time and season of setting out.
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CONCLVSION.
And thus (_Right Noble, and worthie Countrie-men_) have I vnfolded the reasons of my resolution to vndertake this enterpryse, which if I hadde not thought to be both Christian, honorable, honest, easie, and profitable; I should never have attempted. And I have further for the encouragement of all such as are well-willers vnto the Worke, made offer of such helps, and furtherances as may testifie my willingnesse to prosecute the same. Desiring yet againe all noble and generouslie well-disposed Gentlemen, to consider with mee, onelie our estates in these dayes, and how wee stand in our families, from the greatest, to the smallest: and compare them with our Predecessours, who did keepe great honour, credite, and estimation; which in so great a measure is decayed, and diminished in vs. Now let vs compare our selves with Citizens now, whose credite wee see doeth surpasse ours, although wee bee above them, both in qualitie and richesse. Whence is this woorth of theirs, but from their industrie, and trueth; which beareth them out both to this credite, and respect, aswell at home, as abroad?
Were it not (then) better in these our dayes for vs to imitate the foot-steppes of vertue in the _Italians_, that thinketh it neither dishonourable, nor disparagement vnto their greatest Princes, their Dukes, Marquesses, and Countes, to make themselves great, and get their patrimonies inlarged by their hazards at Sea? It is their glorie to bee vertuous; and may condemne our dissolutions and idlenesse, that may as easilie bee great, by such honest and honourable endevoures.
But yet let vs come a litle nearer vnto our selves; and see the distresses aswell amongst the great, as the small, throughout the whole Kingdome: and what increase there is of debts amongst vs in these dayes, never heard of before amongst our Predecessoures, wee shall finde, that if wee followe not some other industrious manner of waye, to relieve them, then by menaging, in whatsome-ever, and best forme wee can, our revenues, that they shall never bee relieved.
There are three thinges that troubleth our estates that wee cannot live as our Predecessoures did before vs: First, the prodigalitie, both in our selves, our servants, and our houses. Secondlie, wee have not such occasions, and vses at home for the Brethren, and second sonnes of our houses to get them preferment as of old. Thirdlie, that vniversall plague of Cautionarie, throughout the whole Kingdome, whereby their is such a generall intercourse of distresse, each one for another, as all are linked into it: which all in following out such honorable, and honest indevoures abroad might bee remedied. I speake not of the favoured Courteour, nor of the fortunate States-man, for they have their owne blessinges from GOD, and favour of their Master in their severall places: but vnto such, my noble friends, and Countrie-gentlemen, such as my selfe is, and so distressed as I am; and speaking out of mine owne experience; protesting that cautionarie hath beene vnto me; vpon mine honour, and credite, the value of an Hundreth thousand pounds; which any imployment abroad, either in the service of my King, or my Countrie, might haue spared vnto me, and bettered the estate of mine House. Neither doe I speake so farre of my selfe, for want of abilitie to doe mine owne businesse, which I praise GOD is knowne to such, as knowe my selfe: but to giue everie man a sense, and feeling out of mine owne experience, howe I see the estate of the Kingdome.
Then (Worthie Countriemen) let vs lay these two things in the ballance, and judge vpon them: whether it is better for vs to goe there, where we may haue to live in a fruitfull Soyle, and wholesome, in all commodities abounding to our contentments, beeing onlie a litle industrious and painefull: than to live heere at home as Runnagates, vnanswerable to _GOD_, the King, the Lawes, to all reason, and conscience: to bee captivate as slaves, and cast in loathsome Prisons, to satisfie with our persons, when our goods hath failed vs: and especiallie, when wee haue wronged our best and kindest friendes, who out of their loves hath engaged themselves, to be distressed, and imprisoned for vs? which shoulde bee a greater griefe vnto vs, than our owne imprisonments.
And then shall wee disdaine Plantation: which to enterprise is so honourable; to prosecute so possible: to purchase so lawfull, and when attained, so profitable? No, whosoever shall reason against the same, especially such as are in distresse, may well bee reputed, either the Bastard of generositie, or the nursling of simplicitie, or the abject of frugalitie: and shall either become for ever, the prostitute of infamie, or consecrated to perpetuall oblivion: and when hee is dead, his actions, his meanes, his name and all, shall die with himselfe; and if hee shall ever happen to bee remembred, that remembrance shall onelie bee in ignominie, as the Wretch of his Countrie, the Curse of his Kinred: and an vnthrift for himselfe.
But I speake not to such a crew, whose basenesse I knowe cannot climbe to surmount the meanest imagined difficultie, that may arise. I speake to such noble Spirites and generous mindes, in whom doeth shine the light of knowledge to discerne the differences between a base securitie and honourable actions, vice and vertue, stupiditie, and true worth: and who in end shall not misse to rejoyce in the enjoying the fruits of their labours in themselves, and their names to bee honoured with a perpetuall remembrance.
And if wee would studie to bee remembred in our posterities, heere is offered the occasion to insert vs in the bookes of memorie: for if wee would portion our second children in a plantation, and such as in nature wee are bound to helpe, and advance: both shall wee bee remembred in their ever-living successions, throughout all ensueing ages: and they provyded in a competent beeing and meanes for them-selves, and theirs, and to bee thereafter proffitable for their King and Countrie: which is better, than either to be kept at home baselie, & short of that which is beseeming their birth, and qualitie: or to bee sent to the service of the Warres of forraine Princes, and to be cutted away by the sword, and then never more againe remembred: and for so small meanes, as thereby yee can furnish themselves both in rayment, and foode.