1614. lading, with orders to Thomas Hunt, the master, to sail with the fish that he should procure on the coast, directly for Malaga. Hunt, however, under pretence of trade, having enticed 27 of the natives on board his ship, put them under hatches, and carried them to Malaga, where he sold them to the Spaniards. Indians dis- This flagrant outrage disposed the natives in that part of the country where it was committed, to revenge the injury on the countrymen of the offender; and the English were hence constrained to suspend their trade, and their projected settlement in New England.1 posed to revenge the injury. Hobson's voyage; frustrated by the Indians. An opportunity was soon offered to the Indians, to show resentment, if not to inflict revenge. In the course of the year the English adventured to despatch to the same coast another vessel, commanded by captain Hobson, for the purpose of erecting a plantation, and establishing a trade with the natives; but it was found next to impracticable to settle any where within their territories. Two Indians, Epenow and Manowet, who had been carried by Hunt to England, were brought back in Hobson's vessel, to be serviceable toward the design of a plantation; but they united with their countrymen, in contriving means by which they might be revenged on the English. Manowet died soon after their arrival. Epenow, not allowed to go on shore, engaged his old friends who visited the vessel, to come again, under pretext of trade. On their approach at the appointed time with 20 canoes, he leaped overboard, and instantly a shower of arrows was sent into the ship, The Indians, with desperate courage, drew nigh, and, in spite of the English muskets, carried off their countrymen. Several Indians were killed in the skirmish. The master of the ship and several of the company were wounded. Discouraged by this occurrence, they returned to England.3 1 Smith's Description of New England, 47. Virg. & N. England, b. 6. Purchas, v. 1849. b. 10. c. 4. Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. viii. 227. Hubbard, N. Eng. c. 8. I. Mather, N. Eng. 2. Belknap, Biog. i. 306. Brit. Emp. i. 256. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 271. Harris' Voy. lib. 5. c. 28. Hunt took 20 Indians from Patuxet [now Plymouth], and 7 from Nauset [Eastham]. "Like a wicked varlet," says Hubbard, he decoyed them. Mourt, in Purchas (ut supra), says, he "sold them for slaves like a wretched man (for twentie pound a man) that care not what mischiefe he doth for his profit." I. Mather says, he sold as many of them as he could, until it was known from whence they came; "for then the friars in those parts took away the rest of them, that so they might nurture them in the Christian religion." Smith's own account is this: "Notwithstanding after my departure, hee [Hunt] abused the salvages where hee came, and betrayed twenty seaven of these poore innocent soules, which he sould in Spaine for slaves, to moove their hate against our nation, as well as to cause my proceedings to be so much the more difficult." "This barbarous fact," says I. Mather," was the unhappy occasion of the loss of many a man's estate, and life, which the barbarians did from thence seek to destroy." 2 I. Mather [N. Eng. 2, 3.] expressly says, it was because Hunt's scandalous conduct had excited" such a mortal hatred of all men of the English nation." 3 I. Mather, N. Eng. 3. Hubbard, N. Eng. c. 8. Brit. Emp. i. 257. Belknap, Art. GORGES. of Virginia company to The treasurer and company of Virginia, having expended im- 1614. mense sums of money in attempting the settlement of a colony, without any adequate profit, applied to the commons of England Application for assistance in the prosecution of that enterprise. The attention to their petition is said to have been "solemn and unusual," but parliament nothing appears to have been resolved on. Thus early were for aid. the affairs of the colonies brought before the parliament; and it is observed by an English historian, as "extremely remarkable, that before the colonists had acquired property, or a participation in a provincial legislature, the commons exercised jurisdiction." 1615. ed property LANDED property was now introduced into Virginia; and for Introducthis important privilege the colony was indebted to governor tion of landDale. Not only the lands generally, that had been granted by into Virthe Virginia company for the encouragement of adventurers, but ginia. the farms, that had been allotted to the settlers, were holden by an unstable claim. The farmers did not possess them by a tenure of common soccage; but enjoyed them as tenants at will. To every adventurer into the colony, and to his heirs, were now granted 50 acres of land; and the same quantity for every person, imported by others. An humiliating tenure, unworthy of freemen, was thus changed into that of common soccage; and "with this advantageous alteration, freedom first rooted in colonial soil."3 Smith, since his last voyage, had become intent on settling a plantation in New England. The Plymouth company, though 1 Chalmers, b. 1. c. 2. It was objected in parliament, that, were this enterprise undertaken by the house and king, it might prove the cause of a war. Lord Delaware answered, that this were no just ground of offence: for, said his lordship, the country was named by the queen: the Spaniards defend the West Indies; the Portuguese, the East; the French, the river St. Lawrence; the Hollanders, the Moluccas. 2 Stith (139) says, a greater number of acres had been previously given to each adventurer; but this reduction was made on account of the prosperous condtion of the colony. 3 Chalmers, b. 1. 34, 36. Anderson, ii. 266. The author of a Tract, entitled, The Trade's Increase, published in 1615, remarks: "As for the Bermudas, we know not yet what they will do; and for Virginia, we know not what to do with it: The present profit of those two colonies not employing any store of shipping. The great expense that the nobility and gentry have been at in planting Virginia is no way recompensed by the poor returns from thence." 4 Hist. Virg. N. England, b. 6. 209, 210, 215. Smith says: "Of all the foure parts of the world I have yet seen, not inhabited, could I have but means to transport a colony, I would rather live here than any where, and if it did not maintaine itselfe, were we but once indifferently well fitted, let us starve." This very intelligent and penetrating observer thus early formed a just estimate of the healthfulness and fertility of this portion of the country. He had the highest expectations from the fishery of this coast; and time has proved the exactness of his judgment. Before settlements were formed here, he made this remarkable discrimination: "The country of the Massachusits is the paradice of all those parts." March. Smith sails for N. Eng land; but is obliged to return. 1615. much discouraged by the ill success of Hobson's voyage the last year, was incited by Smith's account of the country, and by the spirit of emulation with the London company, to attempt a settlement. Sir Ferdinando Gorges, in concert with Dr. Sutliffe, dean of Exeter, and several others, equipped two vessels, one of 200 tons, the other of 50, on board of which, beside seamen, were 16 men, who were to begin a colony in New England. The command was given to Smith; but, before he had sailed 120 leagues, he lost the masts of his largest ship, and was obliged to return under jury masts to Plymouth. He soon after sailed again in a bark of 60 tons with 30 men, 16 of whom were the same who had accompanied him in the last voyage as settlers; tured by the but he was taken by four French men of war, and carried into Rochelle. The vessel of 50 tons, that had been separated from him in the first of these voyages, was commanded by Thomas Dermer, who pursued his voyage, and returned with a good freight in August; but the main design of the enterprise was frustrated.1 June 24. Sails again; but is cap French. Newfoundland. October. Captain Richard Whitbourn, who with other Englishmen had made several voyages to Newfoundland, now arrived at that island, with a commission from the admiralty to empannel juries, and correct abuses and disorders, committed among the fishermen on the coast. On his arrival, he immediately held a court of admiralty, and received complaints from 170 masters of English vessels, of injuries done in trade and navigation; a fact, which shows the flourishing state of the English cod fishery at that early period. Many thousands of English, French, Portuguese, and others, were on the coast of Newfoundland.2 Sir Richard Hawkins, by commission from the Plymouth company, of which he was this year the president, made a voyage to New England, to search the country and its commodities; but, finding the natives at war among themselves, he passed along to Virginia, and returned home, without making any new observations.3 The French erected a chapel at Quebec.4 1 Smith, Virg. N. England, b. 6. 223. Purchas, v. 1838. Harris' Voy. i. 851. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 271. Belknap, Biog. i. 311, 312, 359, 360. The London company, in January, sent out four ships for New England. The voyagers, arriving off the coast in March, fished until the middle of June, and then freighted a ship of 300 tons for Spain. That ship was taken by the Turks; "one went to Virginia to relieve that colonie, and two came for England with the greene fish, traine oyle and furres, within six moneths." Purchas. 2 Whitbourn's Newfoundland, P. 1. 2, 11 ; & p. 2. 19. Univ. Hist. xxxix. 249. Prince, 1615. Anderson, 1615. An English author, quoted by Anderson, says, "our Newfoundland fishery [1615.] employs 150 small ships. Whitbourn, who was at Newfoundland that year, says, "there were then on that coast, of your majesties subjects, 250 saile of ships great and small." 3 Gorges, N. Eng. 22. Prince, 1615. Belknap, Biog. i. 360. 1616. SIR THOMAS DALE, returning to England this year, took with Pocahontas him Mr. Rolfe and his wife Pocahontas. Captain Smith was at in England. this time in London, expecting to embark iminediately for New England. Hearing of the arrival of Pocahontas at Portsmouth, and fearing he might sail before she should reach London, he addressed a petition to the queen in her behalf, in which he ascribes the preservation of the colony of Virginia, under God, to her.1 Sir George Yeardley, to whom the government of the Virginia Virginia. colony was now committed, having sent to the Chickahominies for the tribute corn, and received an insolent answer, proceeded with 100 men to their principal town, where he was received with contempt and scorn. Perceiving the Indians to be in a hostile and menacing posture, he ordered his men to fire on thein; and 12 were killed on the spot. Twelve also were taken prisoners, two of whom were senators, or elders; but they paid 100 bushels of corn for their ransom, and, as the price of peace, loaded three English boats with corn.2 Tobacco was about this time first cultivated by the English in Tobacco. Virginia.3 Four ships sailed from London, and four from Plymouth, to Eight ships New England, whence they carried great quantities of fish and sent to N. oil, which were sold advantageously in Spain and the Canary islands.4 England. A description of New England, published this year at Lon- Publication don, shows the progressive attention of the English to the north- N. Engern parts of this country.5 land. The Edwin, a vessel sent by the governor of Bermudas to the Bermudas. West Indies to trade with the natives for cattle, corn, plants, and other commodities, returned to that island with figs, pines, 1 Smith, Beverly. "During the time of two or three years, she next, under God, was still the instrument to preserve this colony from death, famine, and utter confusion, which if, in these times, had once been dissolved, Virginia might have lain, as it was at our first arrival, till this day. . . . . She was the first Christian ever of that nation; the first Virginian ever spake English, or had a child in marriage by an Englishman." .... 2 Stith, 141. Governor Dale sailed for England early this year. 3 Chalmers, b. 1. p. 36. Robertson, b. 9. 4 Smith, Virg. N. England, b. 6. 228. Purchas, v. 1839. Harris' Voy. i. 851. Anderson, ii. 269. 5 Its title, taken from the original copy, is: "A Description of New England: Or the Observations, and Discoveries, of Captain John Smith (Admirall of that Countrey) in the North of America, in the year of our Lord 1614: with the successe of sixe ships, that went the next yeare 1615, and the accidents befell him among the French men of warre: With the proofe of the present benefit this Countrey affoords: whither this present yeare, 1616, eight voluntary Ships are gone to make further tryall." 1616. Voyages of Discoveries sugar canes, plantanes, papanes, and various other plants, which were immediately replanted there, and cultivated with success.1 Sir Thomas Smith and other gentlemen in England sent out the ship Discovery the fifth time, on a voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage to China. Robert Bylot, whom they chose for the captain, and William Baffin, whom they chose for the pilot, sailed from Gravesend on the 26th of March. After passing Davis's straits, they came to some islands, in 72° 45', where they found women only, whom they treated with kindness, of islands making them presents of iron. These islands Bylot called and sounds. Womens Isles. Proceeding one degree farther north, he put into a harbour, where he was visited by the inhabitants, who brought him seal skins and horns, in exchange for iron; and he named it Horn Sound. On this voyage he discovered and named Cape Dudley Digges, Wolstenholme's Sound, Whale Sound, Hakluyt's Island, Cary's Islands, Alderman Jones's Sound, and James Lancaster's Sound. In the 78th degree, the voyagers discovered a bay which the pilot called by his own name, Baffin's Bay; but they returned without finding the desired passage.2 Baffin's Voyage of The States General of Holland having, in favour of their Schouten. East India company, prohibited all others from going to India, either by the Cape of Good Hope eastward, or through the Straits of Magellan westward; the discovery of a new western passage into the South Sea, southward of those straits, was projected. Jacob le Maire, a merchant of Amsterdam, the first projector of the design, and William Cornelitz Schouten, a merchant of Hoorn, fitted out two ships, on this enterprise, of which Schouten took the command. Having sailed from the Texel in June the preceding year, he in January, three degrees to the southward of the Magellanic Straits, discovered land, the east part of which he named States Land, and the west, Maurice Le Maire's Land, between which he found a new strait, which he named after his partner, Le Maire. Passing through this strait, he Jan. 25. Strait. 1 Smith, Virg. Bermudas, b. 5. The governor (Tuckar) sent the Edwin " by directions from England." 2 Forster, Voy. 352-357. Brit. Emp. i. 3. Anderson, 1616. Rees, Cyclopæd. Art. BAFFIN'S BAY. Baffin, in a letter to J. Wolstenholme, Esq. writes: "In Sir Thomas Smith's Sound in 78 deg. by divers good observations I found the compass varied above 5 points, or 56 degrees to the westward; so that a N. E. by E. is true north, a thing incredible, and matchless in all the world besides." Harris' Voy. i. 593, 634. After this voyage, the English made no attempts to discover the Northwest passage until the year 1631. Baffin is pronounced "the ablest and most scientific navigator of his day;" and "the first on record who practically deduced the longitude from observations compared with the moon's place in the heavens at a given time and place." It is hence inferred, that he was not only a good mariner, but a good mathematician; "and it appears from a briefe discourse of Master Brigges,' that he died in the practice of his favourite pursuit, at the siege of Ormuz, being slaine in fight with a shot, as he was trying his mathematicall projects and conclusions."" Quarterly Review (Eng.) 1821. |
