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Page 18
[1] From a letter to his father, dated September 1, 1602.
THE FOUNDING OF JAMESTOWN
(1607)
I
BY CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH[1]
Captaine Bartholomew Gosnoll, one of the first movers of this
plantation, having many yeares solicited many of his friends, but
found small assistants; at last prevailed with some Gentlemen, as
Captaine Iohn Smith, Master Edward-maria Wingfield, Master Robert
Hunt, and divers others, who depended a yeare vpon his proiects, but
nothing could be effected, till by their great charge and industrie,
it came to be apprehended by certaine of the Nobilitie, Gentry, and
Marchants, so that his Maiestie by his letters patents, gaue
commission for establishing Councels, to direct here; and to governe,
and to execute there. To effect this, was spent another yeare, and by
that, three ships were provided, one of 100 Tuns, another of 40, and a
Pinnace of 20. The transportation of the company was committed to
Captaine Christopher Newport, a Marriner well practised for the
Westerne parts of America. But their orders for government were put in
a box, not to be opened, nor the governours knowne vntill they arrived
in Virginia.... On the 19 of December, 1606, we set sayle from
Blackwell, but by vnprosperous winds, were kept six weekes in the
sight of England; all which time, Master Hunt our Preacher, was so
weake and sicke, that few expected his recovery.
We watered at the Canaries, we traded with the Salvages at Dominica;
three weekes we spent in refreshing our selues amongst these
west-India Isles; in Gwardalupa we found a bath so hot, as in it we
boyled Porck as well as over the fire. And a little Isle called
Monica, we tooke from the bushes with our hands, neare two hogsheads
full of Birds in three or foure houres. In Mevis, Mona, and the Virgin
Isles, we spent some time; where, with a lothsome beast like a
Crocodil, called a Gwayn, Tortoises, Pellicans, Parrots, and fishes,
we daily feasted.
Gone from thence in search of Virginia, the company was not a little
discomforted, seeing the Marrinershad 3 dayes passed their reckoning
and found no land; so that Captaine Ratliffe (Captaine of the Pinnace)
rather desired to beare vp the helms to returns for England, then make
further search. But God the guider of all good actions, forcing them
by an extreame storme to hull all night, did driue them by his
providence to their desired Port, beyond all their expectations; for
never any of them had seene that coast.
The first land they made they called Cape Henry; where thirtie of them
recreating themselues on shore, were assaulted by fiue Salvages, who
hurt two of the English very dangerously.
That night was the box opened, and the orders read, in which
Bartholomew Gosnoll, Iohn Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher
Newport, Iohn Ratliffe, Iohn Martin, and George Kendall, were named to
be the Councell, and to choose a President amongst them for a year,
who with the Councell should governs. Matters of moment were to be
examined by a Iury, but determined by the maior part of the Councell,
in which the President had two voyces.
Untill the 13 of May they sought a place to plant in; then the
Councell was sworne, Master Wingfield was chosen President, and an
Oration made, why Captain Smith was not admitted of the Councell as
the rest.
Now falleth every man to works, the Councell contriue the Fort, the
rest cut downe trees to make place to pitch their Tents; some provide
clapbord to relade the ships, some make gardens, some nets, &c. The
Salvages often visited vs kindly. The Presidents overweening iealousie
would admit no exercise at armes, or fortification but the boughs of
trees cast together in the forms of a halfe moons by the extraordinary
paines and diligence of Captaine Kendall.
Newport, Smith, and twentie others, were sent to discover the head of
the river: by divers small habitations they passed, in six dayes they
arrived at a Towns called Powhatan, consisting of some twelue houses,
pleasantly seated on a hill; before it three fertile Iles, about it
many of their cornefields, 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
myle, by reason of the Rocks and Isles, there is not passage for a
small Boat, this they call the Falles[2]. The people in all parts
kindly intreated them, till being returned within twentie myles of
Iames towns, they gaue iust cause of iealousie: but had God not
blessed the discoverers otherwise than those at the Fort, there had
then beene an end of that plantation; for at the Fort, where they
arrived the next day, they found 17 men hurt, and a boy slaine by the
Salvages, and had it not chanced a crosse barre shot from the Ships
strooke downe a bough from a tree amongst them, that caused them to
retire, our men had all beene slams, being securely all at works, and
their armes in dry fats.
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