To the Adventurers, Favourers, and Welwillers of the
enterprise for the inhabiting and planting in Virginia
.
SINCE the first undertaking by Sir Walter Ralegh to
deale in the action of discovering of that countrey which
is now called and knowen by the name of Virginia
, many
voyages having beene thither made at sundry times to
his great charge; as first in the yere 1584, and afterwards
in the yeres 1585, 1586, and now of late this last yeere
1587: there have bene divers and variable reports, with
some slanderous and shamefull speeches bruted abroad
by many that returned from thence: especially of that
discovery which was made by the Colony transported by
Sir Richard Grinvile in the yere 1585, being of all others
the most principall, and as yet of most effect, the time
of their abode in the countrey being a whole yere, when
as in the other voyage before they stayed but sixe weeks,
and the others after were onely for supply and transportation, nothing more being discovered then had bene
before. Which reports have not done a little wrong to
many that otherwise would have also favoured and
adventured in the action, to the honour and benefit of
our nation, besides the particular profit and credit which
would redound to themselves the dealers therein, as I
hope by the sequel of events, to the shame of those that
have avouched the contrary, shall be manifest, if you
the adventurers, favourers and welwillers doe but either
increase in number, or in opinion continue, or having
beene doubtfull, renew your good liking and furtherance
to deale therein according to the woorthinesse thereof
already found, and as you shall understand hereafter to
be requisit. Touching which woorthinesse through cause
of the diversity of relations and reports, many of your
opinions could not be firme, nor the minds of some that
are well disposed be setled in any certaintie.
I have therefore thought it good, being one that have
beene in the discoverie, and in dealing with the naturall
inhabitants specially imployed : and having therefore seene
and knowen more then the ordinary, to impart so much
unto you of the fruits of our labours, as that you may
know how injuriously the enterprise is slandered, and
that in publique maner at this present, chiefly for two
respects.
First, that some of you which are yet ignorant or
doubtfull of the state thereof, may see that there is
sufficient cause why the chiefe enterpriser with the favour
of her Majesty, notwithstanding such reports, hath not
onely since continued the action by sending into the
countrey againe, and replanting this last yeere a new
Colony, but is also ready, according as the times and
meanes will affoord, to follow and prosecute the same.
Secondly, that you seeing and knowing the continuance
of the action, by the view hereof you may generally
know and learne what the countrey is, and thereupon
consider how your dealing therein, if it proceed, may
returne you profit and gaine, be it either by inhabiting
and planting, or otherwise in furthering thereof.
And least that the substance of my relation should
be doubtfull unto you, as of others by reason of their
diversitie, I will first open the cause in a few words,
wherefore they are so different, referring my selfe to
your favourable constructions, and to be adjudged of, as
by good consideration you shall finde cause.
Of our company that returned, some for their misdemeanour and ill dealing in the countrey have bene
there worthily punished, who by reason of their bad
natures, have maliciously not onely spoken ill of their
Governours, but for their sakes slandered the countrey
it selfe. The like also have those done which were of
their consort.
Some being ignorant of the state thereof, notwithstanding since their returne amongst their friends &
acquaintance, and also others, especially if they were in
company where they might not be gainsayd, would seeme
to know so much as no men more, and make no men
so great travellers as themselves. They stood so much,
as it may seeme, upon their credit and reputation, that
having bene a twelvemoneth in the countrey, it would
have bene a great disgrace unto them, as they thought,
if they could not have sayd much, whether it were true
or false. Of which some have spoken of more then ever
they saw, or otherwise knew to be there. Other some
have not bene ashamed to make absolute deniall of that,
which although not by them, yet by others is most
certainly and there plentifully knowen, & other some
make difficulties of those things they have no skill of.
The cause of their ignorance was, in that they were
of that many that were never out of the Island where
we were seated, or not farre, or at the least wise in
few places els, during the time of our abode in the
country: or of that many, that after gold & silver was
not so soone found, as it was by them looked for, had
litle or no care of any other thing but to pamper their
bellies: or of that many which had litle understanding,
lesse discretion, and more tongue then was needfull or
requisite.
Some also were of a nice bringing up, only in cities
or townes, or such as never (as I may say) had scene
the world before. Because there were not to be found
any English cities, nor such faire houses, nor at their
owne wish any of their old accustomed dainty food, nor
any soft beds of downe or feathers, the countrey was to
them miserable, and their reports thereof according.
Because my purpose was but in briefe to open the
cause of the variety of such speeches, the particularities
of them, and of many envious, malicious, and slanderous
reports and devices els, by our owne countreymen besides,
as trifles that are not worthy of wise men to be thought
upon, I meane not to trouble you withall, but will passe
to the commodities, the substance of that which I have
to make relation of unto you.
The Treatise whereof, for your more ready view and
easier understanding, I will divide into three speciall
parts. In the first I will make declaration of such commodities there already found or to be raised, which will
not onely serve the ordinary turnes of you which are
and shall be the planters and inhabitants, but such an
overplus sufficiently to be yeelded, or by men of skill to
be provided, as by way of traffique and exchange with
our owne nation of England
, will inrich your selves the
providers: those that shall deale with you, the enter
prisers in generall, and greatly profit our owne countreymen, to supply them with most things which heretofore
they have bene faine to provide either of strangers or
of our enemies, which commodities, for distinction sake,
I call Merchantable.
In the second I will set downe all the commodities
which we know the countrey by our experience doth yeeld
of it selfe for victuall and sustenance of mans life, such
as are usually fed upon by the inhabitants of the countrey,
as also by us during the time we were there.
In the last part I will make mention generally of such
other commodities besides, as I am able to remember,
and as I shall thinke behoovefull for those that shall
inhabit, and plant there, to know of, which specially
concerne building, as also some other necessary uses:
with a briefe description of the nature and maners of
the people of the countrey.
