l rll' /lrrrl'rll'llrl

rn'llril

l. America

l)tnr t tr

as 0pportuni.t11

,rrr,rr11

Cu,rntruJaruru Smrrn

llrt' ('ltt tslrttt olItccts ttr

ol'Virginia (1612); A Description of

New England (1616); New England's

lu r.,lr:ur clrarnPiort, hc

killcd three

I rrr L rrlr

t'luurrpirrns in suceessive
r,,ur niuncllts. For this extraordinary

Trials (1620, rev. ed. 1622);The

General History of Virginia, New

awarded three Turks'

of arms and
,r , ,r rrotrtl to major of a regiment.
\\'lrr'rr lhc Christian armies were
,1, lr'.rtt'rl in Transylvania in 1602,
',rrrrtlr was severely wounded and left
I.r rlt';rtl on the field. Taken captive
l,\ ',( irvcngers, he was sold into
l.rvcry in the Middle East. There he
rrrr.rlly k illed his master, made his
',.rv lo ltussia, and so back to Eastern
I rrr.1rc, where he was rewarded by
lrr'. lor rncr patron and general, Prince

England, and the Summer Isles

(1624), a grand folio chronicling
all the major English settlements
in America; An Accidence for all
Young Seamen(1626; rev. asA

r, .rt. lrc was

lr, .rrlr, ;rs his coat

1

i'.'.:.:::'

;:.,:. ..

/,i

:_:.:- .,:::::.:..,. ..:. '&

*/y'
*=-,.:.=.'..r=..

;r-,..:,t:...::r,

:::.=1:.

:.,::aa- .:::.-.::

f d';
::.::.iir::-,..::.ia:..:.d,

a:::::::..j:::.=-,:j:i-,..

.-a:an::ai,::i:-t::::.-::r:. rrd

r"

=.=!r::=;=
==.:.:i;:,=:-.l

"r/

l;,rsrttund" Wlrcn
Smith returned to England
rrr l(r05, he was probably the most
, .1,r'r ie:nced and famous English

\.!

WW;
"WY
$,,Y,'

b,'

littt
Captain John $mei8&. Emgraving by $irnom van de Fasse. {Jpper left c.om,er of {iae umap in Smrithrs
A Descriptiam cf .tr/ew EmgJord, ndl6. Sec haclc *:over t'or estire nn*p" Smai6h clrose Ea* have Eris
portrait show [r[m weanimg an cllf]cen's *x'ru{}n, thenehy fidemtiffvinag him ms a smRdier, With ome
hand sln his sword axld *rme om [nipo [ae seexms ready So ch*ilerege the *hserver" T'he;aur'r*frt gives
the {itl.,: he trleid inr X616, ,Admairal of Now Emg$an'ad, na{lrer tleam t&le one we r*mnemher him f'rin,
presidemt of the Counci[ in Vinginia" ( I-ibrary af C ongress. ]

.,,l,lrr'r of his tirre. But the life of

1,rll.r1'c disgusted him. He turned now
t,, , ,rlonization. He sailed with the
lrr'.t r'olonists to Virginia in 1607,
,. ,r., t ;rptured by allies of the great
, lrr, l l\rwhatan in 1608, saved by
l',,, .rlrontas, and that fall was elected
l,r, :,rrlcnt of the council in Virginia.
\ yt';rr latr, returning from an
, r plor ing expedition, he was
, rtlcntally burned nearly to death
rrr,l rcturned to England for medical aid
r,

Altcr other adventures, he explored

tJ, w lrngland (which he named)
rrr l(r l-5 and 1617, volunteered to
wrtlr the Pilgrims in 1619, and
1, rrr the rest of his life writing
rl'rlut scamanship, colonizing, and
\ r rrt'r'ica. His major works are A True
tt r Ir t tit tn of . . .V irginia ( 1608), the
l rr ',t published report of the first

1,,,

Soldier, sailor, slave, mapineker,

explorer, and adventurer, Captain
.krhn Smith (15u0-1631) was bom im
Wil loughby, tr-incolnshire, Englarad,
thc son ol a conrparatively well-off
ycornan f arrner. Alier his father's
,i

riI

k"

death, the hoy journeyed ttl the

{.,cw il*unh'ies tc} serve as a soldier.
ln [60 l" he.ioincd the ,4rrstrian
forces tightimg the Turks. When a
T\rrkish champion challenged the

Christian army, Smith won a loX.tery

pcn)rancnl English colony; A Map

lr1'lrt llrt' t'lrullcrrgcr- As thc

t,

i."..; i.r"-..,1 '.

,\

Sea Grammar, 1627)', The True

Travels

(I

630), his autobiography;

and Advertisements

for

the

Unexperienced Planters (163 l),

his last words of advice to future

colonists.
The extract that follows from A
Description of New England (1616)
contains his best-known statement
(the passage beginning "Who
can desire more

content. .")

urging possible colonists to corne to

America. The extract is distinguished
by Smith's unique blend of realisrn
and idealism and by his faith in
the possibilities of extraordinary
achievement by the common man.
No other promoter so forthrightly
says the colonist must "hazard"
his life, and no other promoter
makes the man of "great spirits" so
dissatisfied with his "small means."
But then, no other explorer had
risen from being a Turkish slave to
president of the council in Virginia
and admiral of New England.
Source: A Description of New
England (1616) inTravels andWorks
of CaptainJohnSmith, vol.

l,

ed.

Edward Arber and A. G. tsradley

(Edinburgh: .Iohn Grant, 1910),
pp. 207-1 1.

siMt't'il

tr"\L

E.rcerpted fiorn

,/r'rrrr,llrt',!yrirrt.r', thc(in'r'irur,s, '.rntlllt,mrtncs, butthisonerule; Whatwasitthey

rrrrrrlrl rrol rkrc, lirr the good of the commonwealth, or their Mother-citie? For
, \,nnl)l('. I?r,,arr, What rnade her such a Monarchesse, but onely the aduentures of

A Description of New England

Ir,

Il these and diuerse other good things do heere, for want of vse, still increase, and decrease with little diminution; whereby they growe to that
abundance [that] you shall scarce finde any Baye, shallow shore, or Coue

of sand, where you may not take many clampes, or Lobsters, or both at your
pleasure; and in many places lode your boat if you please: nor Iles where you finde

not fruits, birds, crabs, and muskles, or all of them for [the] taking, it u lo*"
water. And in the harbors we frequented, a little boye might take of Cunners and

Pinacks and such delicate fish, at the ships srerne, more then sixe or tenne can eate
in a daie; but with a casting net, thousands when wee pleased: and scarce any
place, but Cod, Cuske, Holybut, Mackerell, Scate, or such like, a man may takL
with a hooke or line what he will. And in diuers sandy Baies, a man may draw with
a net great store of Mullets, Ba[s]ses, and diuers other sorts of such excellent fish,
as many as his Net can drawe on shore. [There is] no Riuer where there is not

L
'.,*"' i'

plentie of Sturgion, or Salmon, or both: all which are to be had in abundance

obseruingbuttheirseasons. Butif amanwillgoeatChristmassetogatherCherries
in Kent, he may be deceiued, though there be plentie in Summer: so heere, these
plenties haue each their seasons, as I haue expressed.
We for the most part had little but bread and vinegar: and though the most part of
Iuly when the fishing decaied, they wrought all day, laie abroade in the Iles all
night, and liued on what they found, yet were [they] not sicke. But I would wish
none [to] put himself long to such plunges, except necessitie constraine it. Yet
il"orthyisthatpersonlostaruethatheerecannotlive:iIhehauesense,strength.and
health: for, there is no such penury of these blessings in any place, bu-t that a
hundred men may, in one houre or two, make their prouisions for a day; and hee

that hath experience to mannage well these affaires, with fortie or thirtie honest industrious men, might well vndertake (if they dwell in these parts) to subiect the
''
r ,.1-'," Saluages, and feed daily two or thiee hundred men, with as good;orne;iilt1,
^ria
prouided that they haue engin[e]s that be proper for their purposes.
Who can desire more content, that hath smal meanes; or but only his merit to
aduance his fortune, then to tread, and plant that ground hee hath purglg.g{!y_1!e
hazard of his life? If he haue but the taste of viriue and-- magAruteformenthar nlininiitG;what to such a minde can bee more pleasant, thJn
2X1",i;i*":{;;!:' ptanring and buitding a foundation for his posreritie, gofte from
the rude earth, by Gods blessing and his owne industrie, without preiudice to any? If hee haue any grdine offffior zealein-Retfffi what can
hee doe lesse hurtfull to any: or more agreeable to God, then to seeke to conuert
.Jqu
.\.
:.- tllqs_9-pssre-saluacas to know Christ, anl humanitie, whose
| ?'\ +y11"',will triple requite thy charge and paines? what so truely su[i]tes with honour and
j ), 'honestie, as the djqg-ouer"i3g-lb.r-ng!-ygklawne? erecting Townes, peopling coun..1,i,{
' i ' ,. tries. inlorming lh-e ignqfen(, r.forming things vniust. teaihing virrue: and gaine ro
,,
' tr , i|' . our Natrue molher-countrie a kingdom lo qtlerd lrer: finde imployment lor those
that are idle, because they know not whrit to doe: so f,arre lrom wronging any. as to
i. -:. i cause
Posteritie to remember thee; and iemembring thee, euer honour tf,at rbmemrl,u,

r"u";r-dii-ffi,i""

Consider: What were the beginnings and endings of the Monarkies of the Chal-

l0

t
irr''r
,l':"

,it,' ,
I

',',,,',,

r yorrtlr, not in riots at home; but in dangers abroade? and the iustice and iudgeol'their experience, when they grewe aged. What was their ruine and

nrr'rrt orrl

lrrrt,lrrrlthis; The"i""sseofidlelesse,itrefqalqg_s-qgofParents,thewantslsx- rt;''iuu!

r ",
t,('r r('n('(: in Magistrates, the admiration of their yldejgggqlonours, the contempt . L
,.
,,t rruc ,nerit, iheir vniust iealg[.u]s-ies, their p6iltictreini-ffiffis, their trypo- ./irL( r/
, rrrrr';rll sccming goodnesse. ina tfreir deeds of leqret levldne-sse? l"inally. in fine. ',, ., *(
),r()wurg onely formall temporists, ali that their predecessors got in many years.

.': "

"-

rlrrylostinfewdaies.ThosebytheirpainandvertuesbecameLordsoftheworld;'-'1't'rr
tlrr'y lry their ease and vices became slaues to their seruants. This is the difference
lrr'twixt lhe vse of Arnies j*n the field, and on the monuments of stones: the golden
,rlrt^ rrnd the leaden age, prosperity and miserie, iustice and com-rption, substance
,rrrrl slradowes, words and deeds. experience and irnagination, making Commonrvr':rltlrs and marring Commonwealths, the fruits of vertue and the conclusions

oI

vic:c.

'l'lrcn, who would liue at home idly (or thinke in himselfe any worth to liue)
orrt'ly to eate, drink, and sleepe, and so die? Or by consuming that carelesly, his
lut'rrrls got worthily? Or by vsing that miserably, that maintained vertue honestly?
)r lirr being descended nobly, pine with the vaine vaunt of great kindred, in
1,t'rrurie? Or (to maintaine a silly shewe of brauery) toyle out thy heart, soule, and
trrrc, basely; by shifts, tricks, cards, and dice? Or by relating newes of others
;rt'lions, sharke here or there for a ciinner, or supper; deceiue thy friends, by faire
lrnrrrrises and dissimulation, in borrowing where thou neuer intendest to pay;
ollcnd the lawes, surfeit with excesse, burden thy Country, abuse thy selfe, desprrire in want, and then couzen thy kindred, yea euen thine owne brother, and
wish thy parents death (I will not say damnation) to t ulr" their estates? though thou
sccst what honours, and rewards, the world yet hath for them [who] will seeke
tlrcrn and worthily deserue them.
I would be sor[r]y to offend, or that any should mistake my honest meaning: for
I wish good to all, hurt to none. But rich men for the most part are growne to that
rhrtage, through their pride in their wealth, as though there were no accident could
,'rrd it, or their life.
And what hellish care do such take to make it their owne miserie, and their
('ountries spoile, especially when there is most neede of their imployment? drawing by all manner of inuentions, from the Prince and his honest subiects, euen the
vitall spirits of their powers and estates: as if their Bagges, or Bragges, were so
;xrwerfull a defence, the malicious could not assault them; when they are the onely
baite, to cause vs not to be onely assaulted; but betrayed and murdered in our owne
sccurity. ere we well perceiuc it.

May not the miserable ruine of Constantinople, their impregnable walles,

riches, and pleasures [at] last taken by the Turke (which are but a bit, in

Artoampte
t,l .securi

sono[theirnowmighiines)rememhervsoftheeffectsofpriuate(,..

himselfe

coueteousness? at which time the good Emperour held

to haue such rich subiects, so formall in all excesse
trf' vanity, all kinde of delicacie and prodigalitie. His pouertie when the Turke besieged, the citizens (whose marchandizing thoughts were onely to get wealth, little
conceiuing the desperate resolution of a valiant expert enemy) left the Emp[erour]
so long to his conclusions, hauing spent all he had to pay his young, raw, discon-

t'()ueteousness rich enough,

lt-,,'L-"''

compari- ( I

tented Souldiers; that sodainly he, they, and their citie were all a prey to the

ll

l'1.^.-1,,
i

'l'he American l)rcant

deuouring Turke. And what they would not spare for the maintenance of them who
aduentured their liues to defend them, did serue onely their [35] enemies to torment them, their friends, and countrey, and all Christendome to this present day.
Let this lamentable example remember you that are rich (seeing there are such
great theeues in the world to robbe you) not [to] grudge to lend some proportion, to
breed them that haue little, yet [are] willing to learne how to defend you: for, it is
too late when the deede is a-doing.
The Romanes estate hath beene worse then this: for, the meere coueteousnesse
and extortion of a few of them, so mooued the rest, that not hauing any imployment
but contemplation; their great iudgements grew to so great malice, as themselues
were sufficient to destroy themselues by faction: Let this mooue you to embrace

imployment_for _t!9-s_g..yhose educations, spjr!!g- &-igdgCrr19A9*g1n1_p_ylyour

purse5; nol onely to pr-euenf such accusiomed dangers. but also io gaiile more
thereby then you haue.
And you fathers, that are either so foolishly fond, or so miserably coueteous, or
so wilffiIlf ig-norant, or so negligently carelesse. as tfuat you willrather maintaine
your children in idle wantonness, till they grow your masters; or become so basely
vnkinde, ts tliey *-fSF-nommg but your deaths; so that both sorts grow dissolute:
and although you would wish them any where to escape the gallowes, and ease
your cares; though they spend you here one, two, or three hundred pound[s] a yeer;
you would grudge to giue halfe so much in aduenture with thenr, to obtaine an estate, which in a small time, but with a little assistance of yourprouidence, might be
better then your owne. But if an Angell should tell you, [that] any place yet vnknowne can afford such fortunes; you would not beleeue him, no more then
i{",-\;rColumbus was beleeued there was any such I-and as is now the well knowne

in America, as in Affiica, and Asia, and Terra incognita; where were courses for
(and them that would be so reputed) more suiting their qualities, then
begging from their Princes generous disposition, the labours of his subiects, and
the very marrow of his maintenance.

/f gentlemen

\*

ai^l

1 \ \'e

-i

r-1r

2. America uE a Model
.IonNWINTHROP
An English country squire , lawyer,
irnd lord of the manor at Groton,

Suttolk. England. John Winthrop

1588-164E) became a Puritan while
studying at Cambridge University.
lle helped organize the Massachusetts
Itay Company in 1629 and was
chosen its first governor. He wrote
and preached "A Modell of Christian
Charity" on board the Arabella,
the flagship of the great Puritan
cmigration to Massachusetts in
1630. Winthrop kept a journal of
()ccurences primarily as notes for an
intended history of New England.
l{is journal is the most informative
single document of the Bay Colony's
carly years. Thejournal reveals a
rnan of great compassion who stoutly
helieves in the pervasive aristocratic
social system but who is constantly
Iorced [o change by what he clearly
(

regards as foolish leveling principles.

At the same time, Winthrop attempts

will of God in every action,

even the most insignificant natural
event.
to read the

His "Modell of Christian Charity"

classically expresses the hope that
America will be "a beacon upon a
hill" for other peoples. Winthrop

primarily meant that the New England

Puritans would be the model for other
colonists and other Puritans. The New
England Puritans would establish a
religious way of life and lead the
world into the millennium. That
strain of solipsistic idealism
(which naturally developed into a

nationalistic political mission)

characterizes many later American
attitudes. Winthrop said that the
Puritans had "entered into furtgg["
with God for the work, and if God
"ratified this Covenant" by bringing
them safely to America, then God
"will expect a strict perlormance
of the Articles contained in it."
Winthrop claimed that New England
would be a community oflove, where
everyone would "delight in each
other," identify with one another,
"rejoyce together, mourn together,
labor and suffer together," and pray
together. The sermon also reveals

Winthrop's fundamental belief in the

great chain qf being as a model for

/,,..';//

-. ar'''.1

..

The Boston Lighthouse. Mezzotint by

William Burgis ,1729. (Courtesy of the
Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia.)

the hierarchic system that underlay

his aristocratic social beliefs.
Source: John Winthrop, A Modell
of Christian Charity, ed. Samuel Eliot
Morison, Old South Leaflets No. 207
(Boston: Old South Association,
l9l6). I have adopted several notes
and a few textual details from the
standard scholarly edition: The
Winthrop Papers, 5 vols., ed. Stewart
Mitchell, Allyn Bailey Forbes, et al.
(Boston: Massachusetts Historical

Society, 192947), 2:282-95.

12

l3

, ttt'

iluIuil

ltilu till, I, t-l)riltt,r-

l.

Mgthi,r:

Itr

ncounlers

,, t,rrrllV lrit'tl to ect ltxrls:ttltl

r1,!n\ lr'()rlt thc

Ir,rIT II JT.ITI N SMITIT

,r!,

;'Peaceable

r,r

down withthekid: andthecitll,rrr,l

the ygung lion and the fatli,li
togcther; and a little child shirll lr ,r,l

thern."

In the cor-rtext of Snrith's lrr:rt,,r i

however, what One primarily st r.., tl
the early Virginia exploratiorrs r,, rr,rt
'fhe whites c.lrsl,rrr!lr
Pcace but wur.
tried trl gct fi)od ancl informatiolr

two star-crossccl lovcrs, their story is

thc love and thc unity
ol'the raccs ol'nran. It thcrelirre l'ras
ovcrtoncs ol'the Gardcn ol'Eden

I'rom the Inclians, ancl the Intli:rtr:,

1%

,z\
ffix

whitcs into a helpless

, 1',rtti'rr{S. Just as

where "the wolf also shall tlwt'll u rtl,

thc lamb, ancl the leopartl slrirll lr,

a parable aboul

Im
q

Kingdorn" (ls. I I

(lu.:

, rlr()n \vllcrc the lndians could

,, .,tr rc tllcrn with impunity Srnith
" l l '( 'wlllttiln wcre well-matched

rnyth and so suggests arr itlyllr,

personal, literary versi.lr .l l lr,

The story of Captain John Sn'rith

heing slved hy Pottrhonlus is
nrythic. It suggests a story ollbrbidden love-a version of Rorneo
and Juliet being played on the stagc
ol'the Arnerican wildernerss. But
instcacl o1'enerny larnilics ol
Montagucs and Clapulcts, this hclo
and heroinc bclong t() cncnly
lan'rilics of rn;rnkincl. Captain John
Srrrith:rntl Pot:rlronlns welc not .jrrsl

uv('l

whitcs atttl ttr

,r,,

Powhatan hoped

Srrrith as his lieutenant in thc

,1, .t,rrrl ilttertribal warfare, srl the
(lonrpanyol'l'onclon had

"'

""rrriit

,rrrrllrt'r'owl] Powhatan, hoping to

t lrtttt ils an instrument ol- Linglish
"1, r irt Virginia' Ptlwhatan died in
,,lli l)llt one susPects that his
t r, rllrr'r'ti attcrlpt at genocide in thC
Il,ililil lnassacrc Of l(r22 woulCl
,l ,, lr;tve been Pgwhatlln's answer to
,t,, rrrt tcasing numbers ol'white
"r' rr
I

lll the early clays, howevcr' the

:';,ffi ::

:,:';I

l'Jff ll, : : l,'lli: Ll,,

lrr lact, therc is ntl cvidcncc thal

,rr, lrrtlian princcss Pocahontas loved
, ,l't.rnr Johrr Srrtilh. and it,.'vt'tt

#1>\'.

' , rrrs

.Y

iA
/v

unlikcly that Pocahontas rca[[y

,', rlSmith liom dcath. Instead,

l',,rvlurtatl probably chosc hcr to
t,,,rrsor Srnith lbr adoption into thc
,,,1,,'. She actcd as his rnother in the
,

F {\
-

r i

l',1)tion

,1,,r

tr ]

kd

- I
r'..'l
PI
, ./

.;l

'1 I
4l
ry,\,
r:YF"
,

(,\ /

ccremony. But Smith did

,,,,t" .rPcak
']r'vsN the Indian language
, ,ltlrough he was learning) and

did

Irrow the custtlrns. He had

,,, ived somereassurance.that

intended to liee hirn' But
t r,xrkcd to.him as if

l ,,1q'l1i11nn

i!: T-9':l:
', rt' lattening him up to eat hirn
llrr'tt citrte thc ceremony' At the
lrrrtltctic moment: "two great st()nes
.,, l-.^,rcht ]^o{,tre Pnuthntnn' ther
', ,(' brousht o7f9.te.lywnyld'" then
,

rrritti! as could laid hands on hirn

, dragged him to them lthe

stottcsl, atttl thcrelrn laitl his heacl,

and being ready with tireir clubs, to
beat out his brains, P ocahontas the

King's dearest daughter, when no

intreaty could prevail, got his head in
hcr anrrs, and laid her own uPon his
to save hirn frorr.r death."
What else could Smith think bLrt
that Pocahonttrs saved hirn?
SubsequentlY, Powhatan narled
Smith "Nantaquouci" and gave hirn
"the CountrY of CaPuhttwttsick,"
asking in rcturn that Srnith send him
a grinclstonc and two cannons. (One
suspects thirt Clapahowosick was a
placc wherc thc Iroqr-rois traditionally
crulc to attack Powhatan.) Sorne

New England scholars (rcvealing

post-Clivil War, anti-Southern
projudice) have dtluhted that thc

Pocahontas episocle happenecl at all'

Ilut ii Pocahontas did not save
Srnith. lhr'n he is a gre:tlcr wt'iltr
than anyttne has thought. Likc any
lhtnous ancl succcssl'ttl person of
strong convictions, Smith created

nrany cnemies. Scvcral pcople who

were with him in Virginia criticized
hirrt in prirrt. Nulncrous
contemporaries (like John Rolf'e,
who marricd Pocahontas) rnust have
known the truth of the Pocahontas
story. But ntr ()ne ill the limc eve r
cast doubt upon Srnith's basic lacts'
Evidently he told the truth.
'l"lre
Source: CaPtain John Smith,
Gtn(ral HistorY tl Virginiu' as
printecl inTravels andWorks oJ'
Captain John Smith, ed. Edward
Arber and A. G. BradleY
(Edinburgh: John Grant, 1910),
pp. 391 403, 529-34.

', rr r ithl

t*o* ,"u ,t,.,tr,r{b,

iiri#Y

Pocahontas. Engraving by Simon van de Passe, 1616. (Print

Room, British Library, London.)

390
t.-i

ilS

'ffi

39t

. trv ,rttuortra uruu ang r ronngr

SMITH

Excerpted.frorL

!
{br
l,.f

The Genenal History of Virginia

To the rnost high and vertuous princesse,
Anne of Great Brittanie.

lyeene

Most admired eueene,

I beare my God, my King and Countrie, hath so oft emboldt
[-th. meeloue
ln the worst of extreme dangers, that now honestie doth constr
r mee presume
-rthus farre beyond my selfe, to present your Maiestie
[toj
short discourse:.if ingratitude be a deadly poyuon to all honest
vertues, I must
guiltie of that crime if I should omit any-meines to bee thankfull.
So it is,

That some ten yeeres agoe fi.e., Jan. 160gl being in Virginia,
and taken
oner by the power of powhatan their chiefe King, I rece"iued'from
tLis
Saluage exceeding great courtesie, especially from his ,onr"
-&o,
A retarion to
taq.uaus, the
tul_uuur,
trrE ,rrurl
most manliest,
lIl.lllllcst, comellest,
comeliest, boldest
g"i"rf
DOldeSt spirit,
Splflt, Ii eUgf
Anne.
euer SaW
iiw
itra
in
Queene i":"",
a/pocahontas. saluage. and his sister pocahontas, rhe Kings most deare and w6l-

beloued daugh1e1,
!9ing but a childe of twelu"e o. tt irt""n" y;*r;f
^_^ _-.1age
whose- compassionate pitifull
heart, of my desperate estate, gau;-me
being the. first Christian this pioud King and*his grim
:i:::l:::ryo,h.:,.,I
dants
euer saw: and thus inthralled in their barbarous power, I"cannot
siy I felt
least occasion of want that was in the power of those my mortalr
foes to preut

notwithstanding al their threats. After some six weeks fattin!

;.rd;
Saluage Courtiers, at the minute of my execution, she hazarded
iir. u"rii'ng
her owne braines to saue mine; ancr noi onery that. but so preuailed

;;;;

ort or

*itt, t

that I was safely conducted,to lames towne: where I found about

"r"rii"i,
eilhi and
thirtie

miserable poore and sicke creatures, to keepe possession .f

tho;; i;;; r;Jii6:
ries of virginia; such was the weakness" or tnir poore commonwealth,
"lr
as had the
Saluages not fed vs, we directly had starued. And this
reriefe most:;.*?pJi;
Queene. was commonly brought vs bv this Lady pocahontas.
Notwithstanding alr these passages, .neffinstant Fortune turned
our peace
to warre, this tender virgin would still not spare to dare to visit
ur, unJuy

aue.beene olt pReased. and our wants stiu suppty"o; *er"'i,

ito
f
her father thus ro imploy her, or (he ordinance or coo trris
,L
r,..

iarre;.f

her our

,ori.i.

or

,"J. ti;i;r*:
ment, or her extraordinarie affection to'oui Nation, I i<no*,ot,;;;f
this I am
sure; when her father with the vtmost of his poticie and power,
*"r!t ii" ,rrprir"
mee, hauing but eighteene with mee, the darke night could no,
urriiltirr".i*
comming through the irkesome woods, and wittiwatered eies;;;;"
intelligence, with her best aduice to escape his furie; which
had nee tiowne, h*iiid
surely slaine her.
'Iames towne with her wild traine
she as freely frequented, as her fathers habitation; and during the time of two or three yeeres
ireoa-st, she next vnder God, was
still the_
preserue this colonie from aeattr, famine and vtter confuIn_s.llment to
sion; which if in those times, [it] had once beene dissolu ed, virginiamight
haue
line $ain) as it was at our first arriuall to this dav.
Since then, this businessg
beene
-rooe]: turnld and varied by many accidents
i1
4 \auinq
oct. Lvv,t. tL
it rD
fon
is most
ururr utrlLalllltr, allgr a ,sne
tq--qg.
3:.T,:li._1tl]
"?pd
troublesome warre ":
after my departure. betwixt her father ,ra orl C.,i.,ni"
Colonie; all
which time shee was not heard of.

"";;,;,;f* i

392

About two yeeres alter lApril 1613) shee her selfe was taken prisoner, being so
tletained neere two yeeres longer, the Colonie by that meanes was relieued, peace
c:rrncluded; and at last reiecting her barbarous condition, [she] was maried l1 Apr-il
l(r l4l to an English Gentleman. with whom at this present she is in England; the
(irst Christian euer of that Nation, the first Virginian euer spake English, or had a
c:hilde in marriage by atEnglishman: a matter surely, if my meaning bee truly considered and well vnderstood, worthy a Princes vnderstanding.
Thus, mosJ gracioug Lady, I haue related to your Maiestie, what at your best
lcasure our dLpfroued Histories will account you at large, and done in the time of
your Maiestiei life; and howeuer this might bee presented you from a more worthy
pen, it cannot from a more honest heart, as yet I neuer begged any thing of the
state, or any: and it is my want of abilitie and her exceeding deserl; your birth,
rneanes and authoritie;hir birth, vertue, want and simplicitie, doth make mee thus
bold, humbly to beseech your Maiestie to take this knowledge of her, though it be
liom one so vnworthy to be the reporter, as my selfe, her husbands estate not being
able to make her fit to attend your Maiestie. The most and least I can doe, is to tell
you this, because none so ofi hattr tried it as my selfe, and the rather being of so
great a spirit, how euer her stature fPocahontas was therefore not a tall woman]: if
she should not be well receiued, seeing this Kingdome may rightly haue a Kingdome by her meanes; her present loue to vs and Christianitie might tutne to such
scorne and furie, as to diuert all this good to the worst of euill: where[as] finding so
great a Queene should doe her some honour more than she can imagine, for being
so kinde to your seruants an subjects, would so rauish her with content, as endeare
her dearest bloud to effect that, your Maiestie and all the Kings honest subiects
most earnestly desire.
And so I humbly kisse your gracious hands.
Being about this time preparing to set saile for New-England,I could not stay to
doe her that seruice I desired, and she well deserued; but hearing shee
was at Bradord with diuers of my friends, I went to see her.
l::*::::
mccrtn9 tn
Engtaidwith After a modest salutation, without any word, she turned about,
cap.taine obscured her face, as not seeming well contented; and in that humour
smith' her husband, with diuers others, we all left her two or three houres,
repenting my selfe to haue writ she could speake English. But not long after, she
began to talke, and remembred mee well what courtesies shee had done: saying,
You did promise Powhatan what was yours should bee his, and he the
like to you; you called him father being in his land a stranger, and by the same reason so must I doe you:
which though I would haue excused, I durst not allow of that title, because she was
a Kings daJghter; with a well set countenance she said,
Were you not afraid to come into my fathers Countrie, and caused feare in him
and all his people (but mee), and feare you here I should call you
YIt-1Ti':T-i"k' father; I tell you then I will, and you shall call mee childe, and so I
Z?';,|T':;Z!: *ru u.""'ioieuer and "u"i yori countrieman' Tlrey aio tett ys
alwaies you were dead, and I knew no other tilll came to Plimoth,
yet Powhatan did command Vttamatomakkln to seeke you, and know the truth, because your Countriemen will lie much.
ThiS Saluage , one of Powhatans Councell, being amongst them held an vnderstanding fellow; the King purposely sent him, as they say, to number the people
here, and informe him well what wee were and our state. Arriuing at Plimoth, according to his directions, he got a long sticke, whereon by notches hee did thinke to
haue kept the number of all the men hee could see, but he was quickly wearie of
393

that taske.

comming to London, where by chance I met him, hauing renewed our ac(r1i11
tance, where many were desirous to heare and see his behauiour, hee toltl rrrc
Powhatan did bid him to finde me out, to shew him our God, the Kirrp,
Queene, and prince, I so much had told them of.
Concerning God, I tord him the best I could, the King I heard he had seene, :rrrtr
the rest hee should see when he would; he denied euer to haue seene the King,
rrll
by circurnstances he was satisfied he had: Then he replyed very sadly,
You gaue powhatan a white Dog, which piwhatanfLd as irimself'c; rrrrt
your King gaue.me nothing, and I am better than your white Dog.
The small tirne I staid in Londctn, diuers Llourti.rc ond others, my aiquairrt
ances, hath gone with mee to see her, that generally conciurrctr,
they did thinke God had a great hanct in he. i,rnuersion, and rhcy
i::,11,;:j:. haue seene many English
[_adies worse fauoured, proportioncrl,
r,tiniiir *itn
rhe eueene. and behaui.ured: and as since I haue hcard, it pleased
both the Kirrp
and Queenes Maiestie honourabry to estee,re her, accompanicir
with that honourable Lady thc Lady De lu wure, and that honourable Lord her
hus
band. and diuers otherpersons of goocl qualities, both publikcly at the maskes
arrrl
otherwise, to her great satisfaction and content, whichdoubtleise she would harrc
deserued, had she liued to arriue in Virginia.
CHAPTITR

II-What

happened

till the first supply.

Being thus lefi to our lbrtunes,

l ht d r tt-tittrr
,,1

,i,

kn,:rr,:

it lbrtunecl that within ten <Jayes scarce rcl

amongst vs could either goe, .r well stand, such extreme weaknt:l
--.
and slcknes oppressed vs. And thereat none need rnarvaile, if tht:y
consider the cause and reason, which was this.

whilest the ships staycd, our all.wance was somewhat bettered, by a daily

rh..suit,:r.s

;i;;,;.'

proportion of Bisket, which the sailers would pilfer to sell, giue, tx

exchange with vs, for money, Saxefras, furres, .r loue. But whcn

they departed, there remained neither taverne, beere house, n.r

place of reliefe, but the common Kettell. Had we beene as tiee fiom all sinner
as gluttony, and drunkennesse, we might haue beene canonized for Saints;
But out
President [winglield) would never haue beene adrnitted, for ingrossing to his
private li.e., his own wsef , Oatmeale, Sacke, Oyle, Aquavitae, Bleefe,Egges,.r
what not, but the Kettell; that indeed he allowed equally to be distributed, and that
was halfe a pint of wheat, and as much barley boyled with water for a man a
day,
and this having fryed some 26. weekes in the ships hold, contained as many
wormes as grdines; so that we might truely call it rather so much bran then cornc,
our drinke was water, our lodgings Castles in the ayre.
with this lodging and dyet, our extreame toile in bearing and planting pallisa,
does, so strained and bruised vs, and our continuall labour in the extemitie of thc
heat had so weakned vs, as were cause sufficient to haue made vs as miserable
irr
our natiue Countrey, or any other place in the world.
From May, to September tl6}7), those that escaped, liued vpon Sturgeon, antl
Sea-crabs. fiftie in this time we buried, the rest seeing the Fresidenrs
A bart
prolects
to escape these miseries in our pinnace by flight (who all this
ii^ia"n,.
time had neither felt want nor sicknes) so movedouidead spirits, as
we deposed him [l0 sept. 1607]; and established Ratctiffe in his place, (Gosnoll
being dead) Kendall deposed [? sept. 1607). smith n"*iy .""or"ied, Martin and
Ratclffi was by his care preserved and relieued, and the most of the souldiers
394

[
,,, (,\r('rc(l with thc skilltrll tlrlrge:rrcc

ol Masl.or'l'lrcmtts Wotton our

,, il( l:lll

Chirurgian

llul n()w was all our provision spent, the Sturgeon gone, all helps

abandoned,
each houre expecting the fury of the Salvages; when God the patron

'

,,,.',",',',.,,., of all good indevours, in that desperate extremitie so changed

the

hearts of the Salvages, that they brought such plenty of their fruits,
,rr,l lrnrvision, as no man wanted.
,\rrtl now where some aflimed it was ill done of the Councell to send forth men
,, lr:rdly provided, this incontradictable reason will shew them plainely they are
r,,rr rll ndvissd to nourish such ill conceits; first, the fault of our going was oul
,
'\\'nc, what could be thought fitting or necessary we had; but what we should find,
,r !viu1t, or where we should be, we were all ignorant, and supposing to make our
t,.r.,sirge in two moneths, with victuall to liue, and the advantage of the spring to
u.r [ig; 1rys were at Sea fiue moneths, where we both spent our victuall and lost the
,,lrlxrrtunitie of the time and scason to plant, by the vnskiltul presurnption of our
rl,rrorant transporters, that vndersttlod not at all, what they vndertooke.
Srrch actions haue ever since the worlds beginning beene subiect to such acci,l,.nls, and every thing of worth is found lullof difticulties: but nothing so difTicult
,r', to establish a Common wealth so farre remote from men and meanes, and where
rrrt'rrs mindes are so vntoward as neither doc well themselues, nor suff'er others.
llill to proceed.
'I'he new President
lRatcliJJ'el, and Martin, bcing little beloved, of weake iudgcment in dangers, and lesse industrie in peace, committed the manrrrrrruilding aging of all things abroad to Captaine Smith: who by his owne
,t l,trnes
t,,r'nel. example, good words, and faire promises, set some to mow, others
to binde thatch, some to build houses, others to thatch them, him'., llb alwayes bearing the greatest taske lor his owne share, so that in short time, he
l,rovided most of them lodgings, neglecting any lor himself'e.
'l'his done, seeing the Salvages superlluitie beginne to decrease
[hel (with some
,rl his workemen) shipped himselfe 19 Nov. 16071 in the Shallop to search the
( '()untry for trade. The want of the language, knowledge to mannage his boat withorr( sailes, thewantof asufficientpower(knowingthemultitudeof
theSalvages),
.rlrparell for his men,'and other necessaries, were infinite impediments; yet no
, iscouragement.
Being but six or seauen in company he went downe the river to Kecoughtan'.
where at lirst they scorned him, as a famished man; and would in
il;,t:?:t[t. derison offer him a handfull of Corne, a peece of brea<l, for their
swords and muskets, and such like proportions also for their apBut
seeing
by trade and courtesie there was nothing to be had, he made bold
lrrrrell.
to try such conclusions as necessitie inforced, though contrary to his Commission:
fled into the woods.
I lrcl Let fly his muskets, ran his boat on shore; whereat they all
So marching towards their houses, they might see great heapes of come: much
:uloe he had to restraine his hungry souldiers from [the] present taking of it, expectrrrg as it hapned that the Salvages would assault them, as not long after they did
rvith a most hydeous noyse. Sixtie or seaventie of them, some blacke, some red,
rome white, some party-coloured, carne in a square order, singing and dauncing
rrrrt of the woods, with their Okee (which was an Idoll made of skinnes, stuffed
with mosse, all painted and hung with chaines and copper) borne before them: and
rrr this manner, being well armed with Clubs, Targets, Bowes and Arrowes, they
, lrarged the English, that so kindly receiued them with their muskets loaden with
l'istoll shot, that downe fell their God, and divers lay sprauling on the ground; the
I

395

ttrata

arav

,. ,1rraa.lal

rest fled againe to the woods, and ere long sent onc ol'lhcir
Quiyttulqlrktt3ettt.k,t ll
offer peace, and redeeme thetr Okee.
Smithtoldthem, if onely six of them would come vnarmed and loade his boirl.
lrr,
would not only be their friend, but restore them their okee , and,giue them llcirrlr,
copper, and Hatchets besides: which on both sides was to ttiir contents
1x.r
formed: and then they brought him venison, Turkies, wild foule, breacl, and whll
they had; singing and dauncing in signe offriendship tilr they departed.
In his returne he discovered the Towne and Country of wirraskoyack.
Thus God vnboundlesse by his power,
Made them thus kind, woul.d vs deuour
Smith perceiving (notwithstanding their late miserie) not any regarded but li6rrr

hand.to mouth: (the company being well recovered) causcrl

u Salvrce
r,...rl,ic,i.t--- thc Pinnace t, bc.p.,,r16.d with things fitting to get provisi.[
slairrctirrr.ving for the yeare following; but in the interim he made 3. or 4,
iourniei and discoverJd the pe.pte of Chickahamanir:
#..1},"##l;jv
!*l
,4m,r.r
ht,

what he carefully provided the rcst carelesly spent.

wingficl.d and Kendall liuing in disgrace, seeing all things atiandome in tlro
absence ctl Srnith, the companies dislike o1-their presidenti weaknes, and
rhclr
srnall loue to Murtins ncver mending sicknes, strengthcned thernselues with tlra
sailers and other conl'eder:rtes, to regaine their firrrner credit and authority, 11r.ul
least such meanes abord the pinnace , (bcing litted to saile as smith had appointr-:tl
for trade) to alter her course and to goe fctr Englund.
Smith vnexpectedly rctttrnittg had the pltrt tliscoverecl to hirn, much trouble 1re
had kr prevcnt it, till with store ol'sakre ancl musket shot he ibrced them stay or
sinke in the riuer: which action cost the lif'e ot'captain e Kcntlall.
fafier trial).
These brawles are so disgustlull, as some will say they were better lbrgotten, ytrl
all men ol-good iudgement will conclude, it were better their trasenes should llc
nlanif'est to the world , then the busines beare the sconre and shame of thcir excusgl

isorders.
'fhe President lRatcli.fle) and captaine Arr:her
not long after intended also ttr
Another proiet-r to
haue abandoned the country, which proiect also was curbetl,
abandon the country. and
suppresse d by Smith.
'lhe spaniarcl never rnore greedily desired gold
then he lsmittrl victuall; nor his
souldiers more to abandon the country, then he to keepe it. But finding
[he.fountll
plentie of Corne in the riuer of chicktthomrnia, where hundreds or saviges iri
diuers places stood with baskets expecting his comming.
And now the winter approaching, the rivers becami so covered with swans,
geese, duckes, and cranes, that we daily f'easted with good bread, Virginia peasc,
pumpions, and putchamins, fish, fowle, and diverse sorts of wild beaits as fat as
we could eate them: so that none of our Tuftafraty humorists desired to goe f<rr
d

England.
But our Comaedies never endured long witho.,t aTragerlie; some idle exce;r.
tions being muttered against captaine smith, for not discovering the head ul'
Chickahamania r.er, and [being] taxed by the councell, to be t6o slow in s,r
worthy an attempt. The next voyage hee proceeded so fame that with much labour.
by cutting of trees insunder he made his passage; but when his Barge could passc
no farther, he left her in a broad bay out of danger of shot, commanding nont,
should goe a shore till his returire: himselfe withlwo English and two Saivagcs
went vp higher in a canowe; but hee was not long absent, but his men went a shorc,
396

;;r,tn'rI
want ol Slovernment gauc both occasion and opportunity to the Salvages to
one Gectrge Cassen, whom they slew, and much failed not to haue cut of
I I I tlrc boat and all the rest.
.\irrilft little dreaming of that accident, being got to the marshes at the rivers head,
twentie myles in the desert, had his +two men slaine (as is
\\ lrosL:

rrr;rr isc

1. lttt litiltirtson ttd

',,,,1,1,,i,',',i'i,i,',ii'ii".
supposed) sleeping

by the Canowe, whilst himselfe by

lowling sought thern victuall: who finding he was beset with
'(x). Salvages, twoof themheeslew, stilldef'endinghimselfewiththeaydof aSal-

'

guid, whom he bound to hrs arme with his garlers, and vsed him as a buck'.r)'c his

I r. yct he was shot in his thigh a little, and hacl many arrowes that stucke in hi\
il i
,l,r:l(hss but no great hurt. till at last they looke him prisoner.
itr,S,' lil
When this newes calne to lames towne, much was their sorrow for his losse, lu''
l.we expecting what ensued.
Sixe or seucn weekes lrather about the three weeks 16 Dec. 16O'/ 8 -raz. 1608]
rlr,,sc Burhariuns kept hinr. prisoncr. many slrang,c triumphes and coniuralions
tlrt'y made of hinr, yet hee so demeaned himsclf'c amongst them, as he not onely
,lrvcrted thern fiom surprising the F-ort, but procr"rred his owne libertie, and got
lurrrselfe and his company such estirnation amongst thern, that those Salvages adrrrrred

him more then thcir owne Quiyoucko.sucks.

'fhe manncr how thcy vsed and deliuered l.rirn, is as lblloweth.

'fhe Salvages hauing drawne from Oeorge Cusscn whether Captaine Smith was
gonc, prosecuting that oportunity they lbllowed him with. 300.
L//,/.fltrr'Srnrllr
""''. """"'
bowmen, conducted by the King of Pumavnker, who in dtutsrons
;'
IttLt tt t)rL\t)ttt r
'
searching the turnings of the riucr, tbund RoDinson and Emry by
tlrc fire side: thosc they shot lull ol'arrowes and slew. 'fhcn finding the Captaine, as
rs said, that vsed the Salvage that was his guide as his shield (three of thern being
';lrine and diuers other so gauld) all the rest would not come necrc him. Thinking
tlrus to haue returned to his boat, regarding them, as he marched, more thcn his
way, Ihel slipped vp to the middle in an oasie creeke and his Salvage with him; yet
rlrrrst they n()t come to him till being neere dead with cold, he threw away his
.rnnes. Then according to their composition they drew him forth and led him to the
lire, where his men were slaine. Diligently they chaf'ed his benummed limbs.
He demanding for their Captaine, they shewed hint Opechankanough. King of
l'ttmavnkee, to whom he gaue a round Ivory double compass Dyall. Much they
rrrarvailed at the playing of the. Fly and_NSS-9|S. whichthey cotilt see so plainely,
rrnd yet not touch it, because of the glassf that \'overed them. But when hc demon:;lrated by that Globe-like Iewell, the ]roundrlesse of the earlh, and skies, the
spheare of the Sunne, Moone. and Starrbs. and\how the Sunne did chase the night
lrund about the world continually: the greatnessf of the Land and Sea, the diversit ic of Nations , varietie of comple xions . and hoq we were to them Antipodes, and
rrrany other such like matters, they all stood as alnazed with admiration.
Notwithstanding, within an houre after they tfed him to a tree, and as many as
t ould stand about hirn prepared to shoot him: but the King holding vp the Compass
rrr his hand, they all laid downe their Bowes arid Arrowes, and in a triumphant
nranner led him to Orapaks, where he was afteritheir manner kindly feasted, and
well vsed.
I

Or"rv,M(i
I

391

Their orclcr in conctucting hirn was thus; l)r.awirrg tlrcrrrselues all irr lylc, llu.
King in the middest had all their Pecccs and Swords bnrnc hcloro
him. Captaine Smith was led aflrer him by three grcar Satvlgt.r,
It'r*iil:;,'l',
thcir rrivmph. holding him last by each arme: and on each side six went in lylt,
with their Arrowes nocked. But arriving at the Towne lOrupuiltl

(which was but onely thirtie or fortie hunting houses made of Mats, which thcy r
lnoue as they please, as we our tents) all the women and children staring to bcirsll
him, the souldiers first all in fyle performed the forme of a -Bls sone so will as c6rr1l
be; and on each flanke, ofricers as Serieants to see them keepe their orders. A grxxl
tirne they continued this exercise, and then cast themselues in a ring, dauncing irr
such severall Postures, and singing and yelling out such hellish notes arrrl
screeches; being strangely painted, every one his quiver of Arrowes, and at lrrrr
backe a club; on his arme a Fox or an otters skinne, or some such matter for lrir
vambrace; their heads and shoulders painted red, with oyle and pocones minglcrl
together, which Scarlet-like colour made an exceeding handsome shew; his Bow
in his hand, and the skinne of a Bird with her wings abroacl dryed, tyed on his heiul,
a peece of coppcr, a white shell, a long f'eather, with a small rattle growing at tlrc
tayles ol their snak[e]s tyed to ir, or some such like toy. All this while sm ith aruJtlrc
King stood in the middest guarded, as before is said: and afier three dances they rrll
r

departed. S mit h they conducted to a lon g hou se, where th i rtie or fcrrtie tall fellowoi
did guard him; and cre long rnore bread and venison was brought hirn then wouhl
haue served twentie rnen. I thinke his stomacke at that time was not very gorxli
what he left they put in baskets and tyed over his heacl. About midnight iney *ct
the rneate againe behrre him, all this time not onc of thern woultl eate a bit witlr
him, till the next nrorning they brought him as nruch more; and then did they cllc
all the old, and reserved the new as they had done the other, which made hirrr
thinke they would lat him to eat him. Yet in this clesperate estate to defend hirrr
lrom the cold, one Maocassaterbrought him his gowne, in requitall ol'some beatln
and toyes Smithhad given hirn at his first arrivall inVirginia.
Two dayes after a man would haue slaine him (but that the guard prevented it)
for the death ,f his s.nne, to whorn they conducted him to recovct
rhe poore man then breathing his last. Smith told them that rrl
1,.,.wty:t:,,utJ
ntlU. DLLnt
lumes towne he had a water would doe it, il they would let hirrr
"i,ii,,",,i"' I'etch it, but they would not permit that: but made all the preparu
orapacks.
tions they could to assault lames towne, crauing his advice; anrl
fbr recompence he should haue life, libertie, land, and women. In parl of a Tahlo
booke he writ his minde to them at the F'ort, what was intended, how they shoultl
fbllow that direction to affright the messengers, and without fayle send him suelr
things as he writ fbr. And an Inventory with them. The dilficultie and danger, he
told the Salvages, of the Mines, great gunnes, and other Engins exceedingly ll
frighted them, yet according to his request they went to lames towne, in as bittr.r
weather'as could be of frost and snow, and within three dayes returned wirlr
an answer.
But when they came to lame[s] towne, seeing men sally out as he had tokl
them rhey would, they fled; yet in the night they came againe to
How he saued the same place where he had tord
them they sirourd receiue .,
Iames towne
answer, and such things as he had promised rhem: which thcy
;;;"b;;;
.surprised. tbund accordingly, and with which they returned with no snrail
expedition, to the wonder of them all that heard it, that he could
either divine, or the paper could.speake.

398

Smtt'tt
l lrcrr thcy led hirrr

lo llrt Yttrtlhttmuntls,

the Muttapan.ients, the Payankatanks,

the Nrttttuughtacunds, and Onawmanients vpor the rivers of

tl,'r tltt,t,lid
Rapahanock, and Patawomek; over all those rivers, and backe
',,tttrrrtlimat
againe by divers other severall Nations, to the Kings habitation
l',rrr,rvrrkce.
at Pamavnkee: where they entertained him with most strange
,rrr, I li:arefull Coniurations;
As iJ'neare led to hell
Amongst the Devils to dwell.
Not long after, early in a morning a great fire was made in a long house, and a
on the one side, as on the other; on the one they caused him to sit, and
,rll llre guard went out o1'the house, and presently came skipping in a great grim fell.r,,v, xll painted over with coale, mingled with oyle; and many Snakes and Wesels
',1' irrs stuffed with mosse, and all their tayles tyed togcther, so as they met on the
, r()wne of his head in a tassell: and round about the tassell was as a Coronet of
Ir':rthers, the skins hanging round about his head, backe, and shoulders, and in a
nr:urner covered his face; with a hellish voyce , and a rattle in his hand. With most
',trirnge gestures and passions he began his invocation, and environed the tire with
,r r'ircle of meale; which done. three more such like devils'came rushing in with the
lrkrr antique tricks, painted halfe blacke, half-c red: but all their eyes were painted
n,lrite, and sorne red stroakes like Mutchato's, along their cheekes: round about
lrrrrr those fiends daunced a pretty while, and then came in three more as vgly as the
rrst; with red eyes, and white stroakes over their blacke taces, at last they all sat
,krwne right against hinr; three of them on the one hand olthe chiefe Priest, and
rlrrce on the other. Then all with their rattles began a song, which ended, the chiefe
I'r icst layd downe fiue wheat cornes: then strayning his armes and hands with such
vrolence that he sweat, and his veynes swelled, he began a short Oration: at the
, ,rnclusion they all gaue a short groane; and then layd down three graines moreAlter that, began their song againe, and then another Oration, ever laying downe
.,() many cornes as before, till they had twice incirculed the fire; that done, they
trxrke a bunch of little stickes prepared fbr that purpose, continnuing still their devotion, and at the end of every song and Oration, they layd downe a sticke betwixt
tlrc divisions of Corne. Till night, neither he nor they did either eate or drinke; and
tlrcn they feasted merrily, with the best provisions they could make. Three dayes
tlrcy vsed this Ceremony; the meaning whereof they told him, was to know if he inrt.nded them well or no. The circle of meale signified their Country, the circles of
,'orne the bounds of the Sea, and the stickes his Country. They imagined the world
to be flat and round, like a trencher; and they in the middest.
After this they brought him a bagge of gunpowder, which they carefully pretill the next spring, to plant as they did their corne; because they would be
't'rved
;rr'tluainted with the nature of that seede.
Opitchapam the Kings brother invited him to his house, where, with as many
;rlatters of bread, foule, and wild beasts, as did environ him, he bid him wellcome;
l)ut not any of them would eate a bit with him, but put vp all the remainder in
rrr:rl spread

askets.

At his returne to Opechancanoughs, all the Kings woillen, and their children,
lkrcked about him for their parts; as a due by Custome, to be merry with such
Ir

rrgments.

llrrt his waking, mind in hydeous dreames did oft see wondrous shapes,
( )l' bodies strange, and huge in growth, and of stupendious makes.
a0A

At last they brought h intto Merc,rrrcomoco

15 .run. r60t1l, whcre waspt)^,rktttrt
Howpowhatan theirEmperor' Here more than two hun.red of those grirrr (irtrr
,ntrrtoiniiii^. rers stood wondering at him, as he had beene a monstcr; lill
powhatnn and his trayne
had put themserues in their grcurr.rr
braveries. Before a fi re vpon a seat r ike i u"ort"a,
n. sat covered with a great r.h,
made of Rarowczn skinnes, and a[ the tayles
hanging uy. on
hand did sir
young wench of l6 or l8 yeares, anrJ arong on each
"rtt., two rowes,rrr
iia. tn. house,
men, and
,

behind them as many women, wittr ail their heads

and shoulders painrt,tr
red: many of their heads bedecked with the white
downe of Bir<is; Lr,
.,,,,.
with something; and a great chayne of white beads about
their necks.-' "r..y

At his entrance hefore the K.ing, alr the peopre gaue a great
,t ori. in" queene .I
Appamotuck was appointed to bring him water
to wash lrir
H(,w pocahonrrs

t,,r-ij".'"

hands..and another brought him a bunch of l-eathers,

in stead.l rr
f'eastecl hirn after their best brrr
barous lnanner they could, a long consultation
was held, but the concrusion was,
two great stones were brought before powhaton:
rhen^

'n,",t

Tower.to dry them: having

i,rrny as c.ruiJ tuya har,t*

on him, dragged him to thern, and there,n laid
his rr"r,r, *J-u"inf ..ooy *irt,
their clubs, to beate out his braincs, pocah.rrta.s the
Kings a"rr"rt Juigr.,ter, whcrr
no intrcaty could prevaile, got his head in her armes,
and raid her trwne"vpon his r.
saue him from death: rlhTeat the Emperour
was contentcd he sh.urd riue to makr.:
hin'r hatchcts, and hcr beils, bcads, u,id ..rpp".;
rbr they thought him a.swel of ail
.ccupations as thernserucs. For the King hirnsel|c
wirl rnri<e his,wne robcs,
shooes, bowes, arrowes, p.ts; prant, hunf or d.c
any thing so *"iin, ir,,. ."rt.
'l'he.y sa.y lte bore
u plea.tnrtt shev,,
But sure his h.eurt was sad.

F'or who cctn Jtleasant ha, antl. rest.

Tfutt liuc.s ittJcare urul dread:
And huving lif e .ruspected, rktth

It

.stil.l .suspected l.ead.

Two dayes after l7 Jan. r6ogl, ptwfutr,, having disguised

himserfe in the most
feurefullest rlanner he coulcl, cauied Captain Smith tobe
brought
I/,,r, puwharan
Iorth to a great housc in the woods, and there vpon a mat
stttr hin r,,
by ihc
't
Iattcs owne .
fire to be left alone. Not long atier fronr behinde a mat
that dividerl
the house, was macle the rnost dolefullest noyse he ever
heartl:
then Powh.tuz more like a devilr then a man, with
some two hundred more as
blacke as himself'e, came vnto him and tord him now
they were fiiends, and pres_
ently he should goe to lames towne, to send him tw. great gunnes,
and a gryntrstone, for which he would giue him the Country of cttpahtlwo.sick,
ancr ro"rLr",
esteeme him as his sonne Nantaquoud.
so to lames towne with l2 guides powrtatan sent him. T'hat
night [7 Jan. r6ogl
they quarterd in the woods, he still expecting (as he
h,d done ar"itris long time.r.
his imprisonment) every houre to be put to ori" a"rth or
other: for all their feasting.
But almightie God (by his divine providence) had mollifie<I
the hearls of th.se
steme Barbarians with compassion. The next morning
[g Jan.lbetimes they canrc
to the Fort, where smith having vsed the Sarvages wiih
what kindr.... he coultr,
he shewed Rawhunt, powhatans trusty servantltwo <lerni-curverings
and a miil
stone to carry Powhettan: they found them somewhat
too heavie; u"ut *nen tncy
did see him discharge them, being roaded with stones, among
the boughs of agrc.r
tree loaded with Isickres, the yce and branches came
so tr.,-,.-btirg doine,
that thc

400

f;Nt't'il
I',x)r'(:slrlvagcsrunlwlylrlrlle tlcrdwithl'eiu'c. tsutatlastwcregainedsonlccon-

with thenr, and gauc them such toyes; and sentto Powhcttan, his women,
children such presents, as gaue them in generall full content.
Now in lamesTowne they were all in combustion, the strongest preparing once
more to run away with the Pinnace; which with the hazzard of his
I lr, third proiect
lit-e, with Sakre falcon and musket shot, Smlrft forced now the
t1t ltl)(ndon
third tirne to stay or sinke.
tltr ('rruntrey.
Some no better then they should be, had plotted with the Prest,lt'nt lRatcliJfel, the next tlay 19 Jan.l to haue put him to death by the Leviticall
l,rw, for the liues of Robinson and Emry; pretending the fault was his that had led
tlrcm to their cncls: but he quickly tooke such order with such Lawyers, that he layd
rlrcnl by thc heeles till he sent some olthern prisoners for Engl.and.
Now ever once in firure or liue dayes, ['ttt'ahonlas with her attendants, brought
lrirn so rnuch provision, that saved many ol'their liues, that cls lbr all this had

t( r('ncc
,rrrl

:,llrrved with hunger.

Thus.l'ntm numba death ttur grxtd Gtttl sent

Thc sv,aete usstroger ol'ull othcr grie.lc.

reli(e,

His rclation of the plcnty l'rc had sccne, espccially tttWcra.wocorzoco, and of the
state and bountie <tl'I'owhutun, (which till thattirne was vnknowne)
\,trtt lttru'f 7
so rcvivc-d thcir dead spirits (espccially thc l<>ue <tf Pocahontos) a
,,,,n"r',i,|,i,,,,), ull rncns l'carc was ahrndoncd.

'l'hus you may see what difliculties still crossed any good inilcvour; and thc gtxrd successe of thc businessc being thus ofl brought to the very
pcriocl ol'dcstruction; yetyou see by what strangc nreans God hath stiltdelivered it.
As lbr thc insul'l'iciency ol them adnritted in Cornmission, that error could not be
lrreventcd by thc Electors; tlrcre being no other choise, and all strtrngers Io each
others education, qualitics, or disposition.
Ancl il'any dceme it a sharne to our Nation to haue any rnentiort rnade ol'those
inonnities, lct hin'r pervsc the Histories of thc Spanyards Discoveries and Plantations, wherc they may scc how many mutinics, disorders, and dissensions haue
rrccompanied them, and crossed their attempts: which being knowne to bc particrrlar mens of1'ences; doth take away the generall scorne and conternpt, which
rrralicc, presumption, covct()usnessc, or ignorance rniglrt produce; to thc scandall
lnd reproach of those, whose actions and valiant resolutions deserue a more
worthy respect.
Now whe ther it had becne better fbr Captaine Smith , to haue concluded with any
ofthose severall proiects, to haue abandoned the Countrey, with
).l two evils, the
somc tcn or twelue of them, who were called the better sort, and
Itssa was chosen
haue left Master Hunt our Preacher, Master Anthony Gosnc.tll,
ir most honest, worlhy, and industrious Gentleman, Master Thomas Wotton, a'nd
some 27 others of his Countrymen to the fury of the Salvages, famine, and all manner of mischiefes, and inconveniences, (for they were but lbrtie in all to keepe possession of this large Country;) or starue himselfe with them lbr company, lbr want
ollodging: orbut adventuring abroad to make them provision, or by his opposition
to preserve the action, and saue all their liues; I leaue to the censure ofall honest
rnen to consider. But
(

lolitie,
That'tis all one, or good or bad to be
We men imagine in our

40t

But then anone wee alter this againe,

If happily wee feele the sence of paine;
For then we're turn' d into a mourning vaine
Written by Thomas Studley the first Cape
Merchant hVirginia, Robert Fenton, Edward

Harrington, and 1. S.

2.
.

The Indian as Epic Hero

(:ADWALLADDRCOIOAN

0f Scotch parents, Cadwallader

('rrlden (1688-1"176) was born in
Ircland and studied medicine at the
t Iniversity of Edinburgh, where he
lrrceived an A.B. in 1705. He
rrnigrated to America in 1710,
scttling f,rst in Philadelphia and
rrroving to New York in 1718. Active
irr New York politics from 1720 until
lris death, Colden became lieutenantgovernor of the colony in 1761. He
ir(tempted to enforce the Stamp Act
in 1765 and became increasingly
unpopular with the patriots as the
A merican Revolution approached.
An intellectual with wide-ranging
interests, Colden wrote on medicine,
rratural history, philosophy, and
rnorals, and even attempted to
t,xplain lhe cause of gravitation.
His History of the Five Indian
Nations (1727; enlarged, 1747) was
rr standard document for the
linlightenment's knowledge of the

American Indian. John Locke had

said that "in the beginning, all the
world was America." According to
the stage theory of the development
of mankind, the Indian was living in
a state of culture comparable to that
of early Western man. So Colden
thought that, since he knew the
Mohawks and other members of the
Five (later Six) Nations, he knew
better than any European philosopher
what the culture of early Western
man must have been like. He also
thought, with many European
literary theorists, that, since the epic
tales of Homer and the Bible were
written when mankind was living in
a "state of nature," Indian life and
Indian oratory were a natural subject
for a modern epic. Although Colden
had political purposes as well when

writing The History of the Five

Indian Nations, he evidently hoped
that at least parts of the work (such
Gustavus Hesselius,
Tishcohan. 1735. Oil on
canvas;33" x25". (The

Historical Sociery of
P e nnsy lvania, P hi lade lphia. )

402

403