A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 17 · Part 9
Of the English Plantation in the Indies, that w…re i… King IAMES his time.
AN… now we are come to a time, wherein we may very neare say as much of King Iames, as was said of Agustus Caesar: Super & Garamantus & Indos profert Imperium. In this better, that where Augustus did it by the violent way of Armes, King Iames did it by the civill way of Plantations: for in his dayes began the great plantation of the English in the Indies; and must be acknowledged the proper effect of his peaceable Government. The first Plantation of the English in the Indies, was that which is now called Virginia, in memorie of the Virgin Queen Elizabeth: but called before Wingandacoa. It was first discovered by Sir Walter Rawlegh, in the yeare 1584; to whom the first Letters Patents were granted for making a Plantation there: but yet no Colony was sent thither, till the yeare 1606. It is a Countrie in America, between the degrees of 34, and 45, of the North Latitude: but that part of it which is planted by the English, is under the Degrees of 37, 38, and 39. It is no Island, as many have imagined, but a part of the Continent adjoyning to Florida. The first and chiefe Towne made here by the English, is called Iames Towne, in honour of the Kings most Eexcellent Majesty. It is a Countrie abounding with all sorts of Fish and Fowle; so fruitfull, that it yeelds thirtie and sometimes fortie Bushells of Corne upon an Acre: and that, (which to us is more strange) hath three harvests in a yeare, the Corne being sowed, ripe, and reaped, in little more than two moneths. Many… Plantations had beene attempted here before, but came to nothing: the first to any purpose was in the yeare 1607. under the conduct of Captaine Gosnoll, Iohn Smith, and Mr. Edw. Maria Winkfield, who carried a Colonie thither of a hundred persons; but of these, many dying of sicknesse, or slaine by the Savages, a new supply came in the yeare 1608. of a hundred and twenty persons, under the Conduct of Captaine Nels…n. After which, was sent another supply of threescore and ten persons: and in the yeare 1609. a third supply came of five hundred persons, under a Patent granted to Sir Thomas West, Lord de la Ware, but conducted thither by Sir Thomas Gates, Gates, Sir George Sommers, and others. In the yeare 1611. was a fourth supply of three hundred men under the conduct of Sir Thomas Gates. In the yeare 2612. two other supplies were sent of forty men in each; and now was the Lotterie spoken of before granted by the King, for further supplies of this Plantation. After this Master Samuel Argall being appoynted Governour in in the yeare 16…8. the Lord De la Ware came thither with a supply of two hundred people; but in his stay there, dyed. After this, in the yeare 1620. were sent thither eleven Ships, with twelve hundred and sixteene persons, and now they founded themselves into Corporations. In the yeare 1621. Sir Francis Wiat was sent thither Governour, with thirteene hundred men, women, and children, and now they founded Schooles, and Courts of Iustice; and the Plantation was extended a hundred and forty miles up, on the River of both sides. But now when the English were secure, and thought of nothing but peace, the Savages came suddenly upon them, and slew them, three hundr…d and seven and forty men, women and children. For r…pairing of which losse, the City of London sent presently over a supply of a hundred men. This massacre happened, by reason they had built their Plantations remote from one another, in above thirty severall places, which made them now, upon consultation, to reduce them all to five or six places, whereby they may better assist each other: since which time, they have alwayes lived in good security. And thu… much for Virginia.
Next was the Plantation of the Island called Barmudas, so called of a Spanish ship, called Bermudas, which was there cast away, carrying Hogs to the West Indies, that swam a shoare, and there increased. The first Englishman that entred this Isle, was one Henry May in the yeare 1591: but in the yeare 1610, Sir George S…mers was sent thither, who dying there, in memory of his Name, the Isles have ever since been called Somers Isles. In the yeare 1612. One Mr. Moore landed there with 60 persons, and then builded the chiefe Town there called S. Georges, together with 8 to 9 Forts. The same yeare a supply of 30 more persons was sent thither, and the yeare after 60 more, under one Mr. Bartlet; with a shew to survey the land; but with a purpose indeed to get from thence a great lump of Amber-greece, and no lesse than 80 po…d weight, that had been found & taken up in the Island some yeares before, and was there still reteined. A while after this, came a Ship called the Blessing, with a hundred passengers; and two dayes after came the Star, with a 180 more; and within 14 dayes after that again came thither the Margaret and two Frigates, with 130 passengers: So as now they began to divide the Coun…y into Tribes, and the Tribes into shares. In the yeare 1616, Captain Da…el Tuckard was sent from Virginia to be Governour there, and now it began indeed to be a Plantation; for now they began to build them houses: and now was sent from thence into England, a Ship fraighted with 30000 weight of Tobacco, valued there but at 2 s. 6 d. the pound, though sold here oftentimes for V…rinos at great rates. In the yeare 1619… Captain Nathaniel Butler was sent Governour, with new supplies; in whose time they build them a Church; held Assizes for Criminall Causes, twice a yeare; and began to have Parliaments as in England: and now in the Ship called the Magazin, came diverse Gentlemen of good fashion, with their wives and families: so as now their number, was no fewer then fifteen hundred people: Dispersed twenty miles in length. In the yeare 1622, came Governou… M. Iohn Bernard, bringing with him a supply of a 140 persons; but he and his wife dying presently upon their comming: M. Iohn Harrison in the yeare 1623 was chosen Governour. These Isles of Bermudas are in 32 degrees of Northern latitude: So as they are distant from Virginia, at least 500 leagues, and from Egland above three thousand three hundred. This Country is of a most healthfull Ayre, abounding with all sorts of Fowles, Birds and Fish; and where great pieces of Amber-gr…ce are oftentimes found, which is valued there at no lesse than three pounds an ounce. And thus much concerning the state of Bermudas, till the yeare 1624.
Next comes the Plantation of New England, concerning which, we must first know, that King Iames in the yeare 1606, granted two Letters Patents for Plantations in Virginia, one to the City of London; another to the City of Bristow, Exceter and Plimmouth; with power to plant Colonies any where between the Degrees of 38 and 44, provided there should be at least a 100 miles distance between the two Colonies. So as the first Colony was from the City of London, and is that which is called Virginia. The Second Colony was from Bristow and the other Towns, and is that which is now called New England, and is scituate between the Degrees of 41 and 45: the very meane betwixt the North Pole and the Line. And now to speak a little of the Country, there are on the Sea Coast, 25 excellent good Harbours, in some whereof there is Anchorage for 500 sayle of Ships of any burthen. The Earth as fruitful and the Ayre as healthfull, as any part of the World: abounding with all sorts of Grain, Fowles and Fish: Many of such kinds as a…e to us unknown, yet excellent meat: Many Voyages had been made for the perfect discovery of the Countrey: Many Attempts for setling a Plantation there: Many Miscariages and Disasters in making the attempts: but all at last came to this, that in the yeare 1624 (which is the limit of ou… Narration) there was a Plantation setled; though but a small one: but a few yeares after (by the sending forth of new supplyes) encreased to so many thousands, that if God continue to prosper it, as he hath begun: the New England in a few ages may prove as populous as the Old; and the King of England likely to have as many and greater Crowns in the Indies, than he had in His Realmes of Great Brittaine and Ireland. But seeing of these and all other English Plantations in the Indies, whereof there are many large discourses written by divers Authors; It should be more than supperfluous to speake more of them in this place: It is sufficient to have shewed, that King Iames had the honour, to have them setled in His time, and under the Influence of His peaceable Government.