The fift chapter sheweth, that the trading and planting
in those countreis is likely to prove to the particular
profit of all adventurers.
I MUST now according to my promise shew foorth some
probable reasons that the adventurers in this journey are
to take particular profit by the same. It is therefore
convenient that I doe divide the adventurers into two
sorts: the noblemen and gentlemen by themselves, and
the Merchants by themselves. For, as I doe heare, it is
meant that there shall be one societie of the Noblemen
and Gentlemen, and another societie of the merchants.
And yet not so divided, but that eche society may freely
and frankely trade and traffique one with the other.
And first to bend my speech to the noblemen and
gentlemen, who doe chiefly seeke a temperate climate,
wholesome ayre, fertile soile, and a strong place by nature
whereupon they may fortifie, and there either plant themselves, or such other persons as they shall thinke good to
send to bee lords of that place and countrey: to them I
say, that all these things are very easie to be found within
the degrees of 30 and 60 aforesaid, either by South or
North, both in the Continent, and in Islands thereunto
adjoyning at their choise: but the degree certaine of the
elevation of the pole, and the very climate where these
places of force and fertility are to be found, I omit to
make publike, for such regard as the wiser sort can easily
conjecture: the rather because I doe certainly understand,
that some of those which have the managing of this
matter, knowe it as well or better then I my selfe, and
do meane to reveale the same, when cause shall require,
to such persons whom it shall concerne, and to no other:
so that they may seat & settle themselves in such climate
as shall best agree with their owne nature, disposition,
and good liking : and in the whole tract of that land, by
the description of as many as have bene there, great
plentie of minerall matter of all sorts, and in very many
places, both stones of price, pearle and christall, and great
store of beasts, birds, and fowles both for pleasure and
necessary use of man are to be found.
And for such as take delight in hunting, there are
Stagges, Wilde bores, Foxes, Hares, Cunnies, Badgers,
Otters, and divers other such like for pleasure. Also for
such as have delight in hauking, there are haukes of
sundry kinds, and great store of game, both for land and
river, as Fezants, Partridges, Cranes, Heronshawes,
Ducks, Mallards, and such like. There is also a kinde
of beast much bigger then an Oxe, whose hide is more
then eighteene foote long, of which sort a countreyman of
ours, one Walker a sea man, who was upon that coast,
did for a trueth report in the presence of divers honourable and worshipfull persons, that he and his company
did finde in one cottage above two hundred and fortie
hides, which they brought away and solde in France for
fortie shillings an hide; and with this agreeth David
Ingram, and describeth that beast at large, supposing it
to be a certaine kinde of Buffe; there are likewise beasts
and fowles of divers kinds, which I omit for brevities
sake, great store of fish both in the salt water and in
the fresh, plentie of grapes as bigge as a mans thumbe,
and the most delicate wine of the Palme tree, of which
wine there be divers of good credit in this realme that
have tasted: and there is also a kind of graine called
Maiz, Potato rootes, and sundry other fruits naturally
growing there: so that after such time as they are once
setled, they shall neede to take no great care for victuall.
And now for the better contentation and satisfaction
of such worshipfull, honest minded, and well disposed
Merchants, as have a desire to the furtherance of every
good and commendable action, I will first say unto them,
as I have done before to the Noblemen and Gentlemen,
that within the degrees abovesayde, is doubtlesse to bee
found the most wholesome and best temperature of ayre,
fertilitie of soyle, and every other commoditie or merchandize, for the which, with no small perill we doe travell
into Barbary, Spaine, Portugall, France, Italie
, Moscovie
and Eastland. All which may be either presently had,
or at the least wise in very short time procured from
thence with lesse danger then now we have them. And
yet to the ende my argument shall not altogether stand
upon likelihoods and presumptions, I say that such
persons as have discovered and travelled those partes, doe
testifie that they have found in those countryes all these
things following, namely:
Of beasts for furres.
- Marterns.
- Beavers.
- Foxes, black and white.
- Leopards.
Of wormes.
- Silke wormes great & large.
Of Birds.
- Hawkes.
- Bitters.
- Curlewes.
- Herons.
- Partridges.
- Cranes.
- Mallards.
- Wilde geese.
- Stocke dooves.
- Margaus.
- Blacke birds.
- Parrots.
- Pengwins.
Of Fishes.
- Codde.
- Salmon.
- Seales.
- Herrings.
Of Trees.
- Palme trees yeelding sweet wines.
- Cedars.
- Firres.
- Sasafras.
- Oake.
- Elme.
- Popler.
- And sundry other strange Trees to us unknowen.
Of fruites.
- Grapes very large.
- Muskemellons.
- Limons.
- Dates great.
- Orrenges.
- Figges.
- Prunes.
- Raisins great and small.
- Pepper.
- Almonds.
- Citrons.
Of Mettals.
- Golde.
- Silver.
- Copper.
- Lead.
- Tinne.
Of Stones.
- Turkeis.
- Rubies.
- Pearls great & faire.
- Marble, of divers kindes.
- Jasper.
- Christall.
Sundry other commodities of all sorts.
- Rosen.
- Pitch.
- Tarre.
- Turpentine.
- Frankincense.
- Honny.
- Waxe.
- Rubarbe.
- Oyle Olive.
- Traine oyle.
- Muske codde.
- Salt.
- Tallow.
- Hides.
- Hempe.
- Flaxe.
- Cochenello & dies of divers
sorts.
- Feathers of sundrie sorts,
as for pleasure and filling of Feather-beds.
And seeing that for small costs, the trueth of these
things may be understood (whereof this intended supply
will give us more certaine assurance) I doe finde no cause
to the contrary, but that all well minded persons should
be willing to adventure some competent portion for the
furtherance of so good an enterprise.
Now for the triall hereof, considering that in the articles
of the societie of the adventurers in this voyage, there is
provision made, that no adventurer shall be bound to
any further charge then his first adventure: and yet
notwithstanding keepe still to himselfe his children, his
apprentises and servants, his and their freedome for trade
and traffique, which is a priviledge that adventurers in
other voyages have not: and in the said articles it is
likewise provided, that none other then such as have
adventured in the first voyage, or shal become adventurers in this supply, at any time hereafter are to be
admitted in the said society, but as redemptionaries,
which will be very chargeable: therefore generally I
say unto all such according to the olde proverbe, Nothing
venture, nothing have. For if it do so fall out, according
to the great hope and expectation had, (as by Gods grace
it will) the gaine which now they reape by traffique into
other farre countries, shal by this trade returne with
lesse charge, greater gaine, and more safety: Lesse
charge, I say, by reason of the ample and large deepe
rivers at the very banke, whereof there are many, whereby
both easily and quietly they may transport from the
innermost parts of the main land, all kind of merchandize,
yea in vessels of great burden, and that three times, or
twise in the yere at the least. But let us omit all presumptions how vehement soever, and dwel upon the
certainty of such commodities as were discovered by S.
Humfrey Gilbert, & his assistants in Newfound land in
August last. For there may be very easily made Pitch,
Tarre, Rosen, Sope ashes in great plenty, yea, as it is
thought, inough to serve the whole realme of every of
these kindes: And of Traine oyle such quantity, as if I
should set downe the value that they doe esteeme it at,
which have bene there, it would seeme incredible.
It is hereby intended, that these commodities in this
abundant maner, are not to be gathered from thence,
without planting and setling there. And as for other
things of more value, and that of more sorts and kindes
then one or two (which were likewise discovered there)
I doe holde them for some respects, more meete for a
time to be concealed then uttered.
Of the fishing I doe speake nothing, because it is
generally knowen: and it is not to be forgotten, what
trifles they be that the Savages doe require in exchange
of these commodities: yea, for pearle, golde, silver, and
precious stones. All which are matters in trade and
traffique of great moment. But admit that it should so
fall out, that the above specified commodities shall not
happily be found out within this first yeere: Yet it is
very cleere that such and so many may be found out as
shall minister just occasion to thinke all cost and labour
well bestowed. For it is very certaine, that there is one
seat fit for fortification, of great safety, wherein these
commodities following, especially are to be had, that is
to say, Grapes for wine, Whales for oyle, Hempe for
cordage, and other necessary things, and fish of farre
greater sise and plenty, then that of Newfound land, and
of all these so great store, as may suffice to serve our
whole realme.
Besides all this, if credit may be given to the inhabitants of the same soile, a certaine river doth thereunto
adjoyne, which leadeth to a place abounding with rich
substance: I doe not hereby meane the passage to the
Moluccaes, whereof before I made mention.
And it is not to be omitted, how that about two yeeres
past, certaine merchants of S. Malo in France, did hyre
a ship out of the
Island of Jersey, to the ende that they
would keepe that trade secret from their Countreymen,
and they would admit no mariner, other then the ship
boy belonging to the sayd ship, to goe with them, which
shippe was about 70. tunne. I doe know the shippe and
the boy very well, and am familiarly acquainted with the
owner, which voyage prooved very beneficiall.
To conclude, this which is already sayd, may suffice
any man of reasonable disposition to serve for a taste,
untill such time as it shall please almighty God through
our owne industrie, to send us better tydings. In the
meane season, if any man well affected to this journey,
shall stand in doubt of any matter of importance touching the same, he may satisfie himselfe with the judgement
and liking of such of good calling and credite, as are
principall dealers herein. For it is not necessary in this
treatise, publikely to set forth the whole secrets of the
voyage.
