Works 1608-1631 / Capt. John Smith ; edited by Edward Arber.

  • John Smith
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Works 1608-1631 / Capt. John Smith ; edited by Edward Arber. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1077/1144 (page 927)
    J. Smith.”! : Oct. 1630.J or the Path-way to erect a Plantatioti. 927 I for Christ had but twelve apostles, and one was a traitor : [1622-30] 1 and if there be no dissemblers among them, it is more than :a wonder ; therefore doe not condemne all for some. But I however they have as good authority from his Majesty as ithey could desire: if they doe ill, the losse is but their towne; if well, a great glory and exceeding good to this ■ Kingdome, to make good at last what all our former con- ,elusions have disgraced. Now they take not that course the Virginia company tdid for the Planters there, their purses and lives were ‘subject to some few here in London who were never there, that consumed all in Arguments, Projects, and their owne conceits: every yeare trying new conclusions, altering every i thing 3^earely as they altered opinions, till they had iconsumed more than two hundred thousand pounds, and The hane oj Virginia, neere eight thousand mens lives. It is true, in the yeere of our Lord 1622. they were, the “Company in England say 7. or 8. thousand : the Counsell rin Virginia say but 2200. or thereabouts, English in- -differently well furnished with most necessaries, and many I of them grew to that height of bravery, living in that plenty mnd excesse, that went thither not worth any thing, [that] made the Company here thinke all the world was Oatmeale [there; and all this proceeded by surviving those that died : :nor were they ignorant to use as curious tricks there as |liere, and out of the juice of Tabacco, which at first they ksold at such good rates, they regarded nothing but Tabacco; ja commodity then so vendable, it provided them all things. fAnd the loving Salvages their kinde friends, they trained teo well up to shoot in a Peece, to hunt and kill them fowle, ithey became more expert than our owne Country-men ; Iwhose labours were more profitable to their Masters in [planting Tabacco and other businesse. I This superfluity caused my poore beginnings[to be] scorned, [■or to be spoken of but with much derision, that never sent [Ship from thence fraught, but onely some small quantities ,of Wainscot, Clap-board, Pitch, Tar, Rosin, Sope-ashes, iGlasse, Cedar, Cypresse, Blacke Walnut, Knees for Ships, rAsh for Pikes, Iron Ore none better, some Silver Ore but so poore it was not regarded ; better there may be, for I The differences betwixt my beginning inVirgintay and the proceedings of my successors. (A 932-1