The Voyages and Navigations of the English nation to
Virginia
, and the severall discoveries therof chiefly at
the charges of the honourable Sir Walter Ralegh
knight, from 33 to 40 degrees of latitude: together
with the successe of the English colonies there planted:
as likewise a description of the Countrey, with the
Inhabitants, and the manifold commodities. Whereunto are annexed the patents, letters, discourses, &c. to
this part belonging.
The letters patents, granted by the Queenes Majestie to
M. Walter Ralegh, now Knight, for the discovering
and planting of new lands and Countries, to continue
the space of 6. yeeres and no more.
ELIZABETH by the grace of God of England
, France and
Ireland Queene, defender of the faith, &c. To all people
to whom these presents shal come, greeting. Know ye
that of our especial grace, certaine science, & meere
motion, we have given and granted, and by these presents for us, our heires and successors doe give and grant
to our trusty and welbeloved servant Walter Ralegh
Esquire, and to his heires and assignes for ever, free
liberty & licence from time to time, and at all times for
ever hereafter, to discover, search, finde out, and view
such remote, heathen and barbarous lands, countreis, and
territories, not actually possessed of any Christian prince,
nor inhabited by Christian people, as to him, his heires
and assignes, and to every or any of them shall seeme
good, and the same to have, holde, occupy & enjoy to
him, his heires and assignes for ever, with all prerogatives, commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, priviledges,
franchises and pre-eminences, thereto or thereabouts both
by sea and land, whatsoever we by our letters patents
may grant, and as we or any of our noble progenitors
have heretofore granted to any person or persons, bodies
politique or corporate: and the saide Walter Ralegh, his
heires and assignes, and all such as from time to time,
by licence of us, our heires and successors, shal goe or
travaile thither to inhabite or remaine, there to build and
fortifie, at the discretion of the said Walter Ralegh, his
heires & assignes, the statutes or act of Parliament made
against fugitives, or against such as shall depart, remaine
or continue out of our
Realme of England without licence,
or any other statute, act, law, or any ordinance whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
And we do likewise by these presents, of our especial
grace, meere motion, and certaine knowledge, for us, our
heires and successors, give and graunt full authoritie,
libertie and power to the said Walter Ralegh, his heires
and assignes, and every of them, that he and they, and
every or any of them, shall and may at all and every time
and times hereafter, have, take, and leade in the sayde
voyage, and travaile thitherward, or to inhabite there with
him or them, and every or any of them, such, and so
many of our subjects as shall willingly accompany him or
them, and every or any of them: and to whom also we
doe by these presents, give full libertie and authoritie in
that behalfe, and also to have, take and employ, and use
sufficient shipping and furniture for the transportations,
and Navigations in that behalfe, so that none of the same
persons or any of them be such as hereafter shall be
restrained by us, our heires or successors.
And further that the said Walter Ralegh his heires and
assignes, and every of them, shall have, holde, occupie
and enjoy to him, his heires and assignes, and every of
them for ever, all the soyle of all such landes, territories,
and Countreis, so to be discovered and possessed as aforesayd, and of all such Cities, Castles, Townes, Villages,
and places in the same, with the right, royalties, franchises, and jurisdictions, as well marine as other within
the sayd landes; or Countreis, or the seas thereunto
adjoyning, to be had, or used, with full power to dispose
thereof, and of every part in fee simple or otherwise,
according to the order of the lawes of England
, as neere
as the same conveniently may be, at his, and their wil and
pleasure, to any persons then being, or that shall remaine
within the allegiance of us, our heires and successors:
reserving alwayes to us, our heires and successors, for all
services, dueties, and demaunds, the fift part of all the
oare of golde and silver, that from time to time, and at all
times after such discoverie, subduing and possessing, shall
be there gotten and obteined: All which lands, Countries,
and territories shall for ever be holden of the sayd Walter
Ralegh, his heires and assignes, of us, our heires and
successors, by homage, and by the sayd payment of the
sayd fift part, reserved onely for all services.
And moreover, we do by these presents, for us, our
heires and successors, give and grant licence to the said
Walter Ralegh, his heires, and assignes, and every of
them, that he, and they, and every or any of them, shall
and may from time to time, and at all times for ever hereafter, for his and their defence, encounter and expulse,
repell and resist aswell by sea as by lande, and by all other
wayes whatsoever, all and every such person and persons
whatsoever, as without the especiall liking and licence of
the sayd Walter Ralegh, and of his heires and assignes,
shall attempt to inhabite within the sayde Countryes, or
any of them, or within the space of two hundreth leagues
neere to the place or places within such Countryes as
aforesayde (if they shall not bee before planted or inhabited within the limits as aforesayd with the subjects of
any Christian Prince being in amitie with us) where the
sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires, or assignes, or any of
them, or his, or their, or any of their associats or company, shall within sixe yeeres (next ensuing) make their
dwellings or abidings, or that shall enterprise or attempt
at any time hereafter unlawfully to annoy, eyther by
Sea or Lande the sayde Walter Ralegh, his heires or
assignes, or any of them, or his or their, or any of his or
their companies: giving, and graunting by these presents
further power and authoritie to the sayd Walter Ralegh,
his heires and assignes, and every of them from time to
time, and at all times for ever hereafter, to take and
surprise by all maner of meanes whatsoever, all and every
those person or persons, with their Shippes, Vessels, and
other goods and furniture, which without the licence of
the sayde Walter Ralegh, or his heires, or assignes, as
aforesayd, shalbe found traffiquing into any Harbour, or
Harbours, Creeke, or Creekes, within the limits aforesayd,
(the subjects of our Realmes and Dominions, and all other
persons in amitie with us, trading to the Newfound lands
for fishing as heretofore they have commonly used, or
being driven by force of a tempest, or shipwracke onely
excepted :) and those persons, and every of them, with
their shippes, vessels, goods, and furniture to deteine and
possesse as of good and lawfull prize, according to the
discretion of him the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires, and
assignes, and every, or any of them. And for uniting in
more perfect league and amitie, of such Countryes, landes,
and territories so to be possessed and inhabited as aforesayd with our
Realmes of England and Ireland
, and the
better incouragement of men to these enterprises: we doe
by these presents, graunt and declare that all such Countries, so hereafter to be possessed and inhabited as is
aforesayd, from thencefoorth shall be of the allegiance to
us, our heires and successours. And wee doe graunt to
the sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires, and assignes, and
to all, and every of them, and to all, and every other
person and persons, being of our allegiance, whose names
shall be noted or entred in some of our Courts of recorde
within our
Realme of England, that with the assent of the
sayd Walter Ralegh, his heires or assignes, shall in his
journeis for discoverie, or in the journeis for conquest
hereafter travaile to such lands, countreis and territories,
as aforesayd, and to their, and to every of their heires,
and they, and every or any of them, being eyther borne
within our sayde
Realmes of England or Irelande, or in
any other place within our allegiance, and which hereafter shall be inhabiting within any the Lands, Countryes,
and Territories, with such licence, (as aforesayd) shall and
may have all the priviledges of free Denizens, and persons
native of England
, and within our allegiance in such like
ample maner and forme, as if they were borne and personally resident within our said
Realme of England, any
law, custome, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.
And forasmuch as upon the finding out, discovering, or
inhabiting of such remote lands, countries, and territories
as aforesaid, it shalbe necessary for the safety of all men,
that shall adventure themselves in those journeyes or
voyages, to determine to live together in Christian peace,
and civill quietnesse eche with other, whereby every one
may with more pleasure and profit enjoy that whereunto
they shall atteine with great paine and perill, wee for us,
our heires and successors, are likewise pleased and contented, and by these presents doe give & grant to the
said Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes for ever, that
he and they, and every or any of them, shall and may
from time to time for ever hereafter, within the said
mentioned remote lands and countries, in the way by the
seas thither, and from thence, have full and meere power
and authoritie to correct, punish, pardon, governe, and
rule by their and every or any of their good discretions
and policies, aswell in causes capitall, or criminall, as
civil, both marine and other, all such our subjects, as shal
from time to time adventure themselves in the said
journeis or voyages, or that shall at any time hereafter
inhabite any such lands, countreis, or territories as aforesayd, or that shall abide within 200. leagues of any of the
sayde place or places, where the sayde Walter Ralegh, his
heires or assignes, or any of them, or any of his or their
associats or companies, shall inhabite within 6. yeeres
next ensuing the date hereof, according to such statutes,
lawes and ordinances as shall be by him the sayd Walter
Ralegh, his heires and assignes, and every or any of them
devised, or established, for the better government of the
said people as aforesaid. So alwayes as the said statutes,
lawes, and ordinances may be, as nere as conveniently
may bee, agreeable to the forme of the lawes, statutes,
governement, or pollicie of England
, and also so as they
be not against the true Christian faith, nowe professed in
the Church of England, nor in any wise to withdrawe any
of the subjects or people of those lands or places from the
alleagance of us, our heires and successours, as their
immediate Soveraigne under God.
And further, we doe by these presents for us, our heires
and successors, give and grant ful power and authoritie
to our trustie and welbeloved Counsailour Sir William
Cecill knight, Lorde Burghley, or high Treasourer of
England, and to the Lorde Treasourer of England for us,
our heires and successors for the time being, and to the
privie Counsaile of us, our heires and successors, or any
foure or more of them for the time being, that he, they,
or any foure or more of them, shall and may from time
to time, and at all times hereafter, under his or their
handes or Seales by vertue of these presents, authorise
and licence the saide Walter Ralegh, his heires and
assignes, and every or any of them by him, & by themselves, or by their, or any of their sufficient Atturneis,
Deputies, Officers, Ministers, Factors, and servants, to
imbarke & transport out of our
Realme of England and
Ireland
, and the Dominions thereof, all or any of his
or their goods, and all or any the goods of his and their
associats and companies, and every or any of them, with
such other necessaries and commodities of any our
Realmes, as to the sayde Lorde Treasurer, or foure or
more of the privie Counsaile, of us our heires and successors for the time being (as aforesaid) shalbe from
time to time by his or their wisedomes, or discretions
thought meete and convenient, for the better reliefe and
supportation of him the sayde Walter Ralegh, his heires,
and assignes, and every or any of them, and of his or
their or any of their associats and companies, any act,
statute, law, or any thing to the contrary in any wise
notwithstanding.
Provided alwayes, and our wil and pleasure is, and we
do hereby declare to all Christian kings, princes, and
states, that if the sayde Walter Ralegh, his heires or
assignes, or any of them, or any other by their licence
or appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter
robbe or spoile by sea or by land, or doe any acte of
unjust or unlawfull hostilitie, to any of the subjects of
us, our heires or successors, or to any of the subjects
of any the kings, princes, rulers, Governours, or estates,
being then in perfect league and amitie with us, our heires
and successours, and that upon such injurie, or upon just
complaint of any such Prince, Ruler, Governour or estate,
or their subjects, wee, our heires and successors, shall
make open Proclamation within any the portes of our
Realme of England, that the saide Walter Ralegh, his
heires and assignes, and adherents, or any to whom these
our Letters patents may extende, shall within the termes
to bee limited, by such Proclamation, make full restitution, and satisfaction of all such injuries done: so as
both we and the said Princes, or other so complaining,
may hold us and themselves fully contented: And that if
the said Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes, shall not
make or cause to be made satisfaction accordingly within
such time so to be limitted, that then it shall be lawful to
us, our heires and successors, to put the sayde Walter
Ralegh, his heires and assignes, and adherents, and all
the inhabitants of the saide places to be discovered (as
is aforesaid) or any of them out of our allegeance and
protection, and that from and after such time of putting
out of protection of the saide Walter Ralegh, his heires,
assignes and adherents, and others so to be put out,
and the said places within their habitation, possession and
rule, shall be out of our allegeance and protection, and
free for all Princes and others to pursue with hostilitie, as
being not our subjects, nor by us any way to be avouched,
maintained, or defended, nor to be holden as any of ours,
nor to our protection, or dominion, or allegeance any
way belonging: for that expresse mention of the cleere
yeerely value of the certaintie of the premisses, or any
part thereof, or of any other gift, or grant by us, or any
our progenitors, or predecessors to the said Walter
Ralegh, before this time made in these presents, bee not
expressed, or any other grant, ordinance, provision, proclamation, or restraint to the contrary thereof, before this
time, given, ordained, or provided, or any other thing,
cause, or matter whatsoever, in any wise notwithstanding.
In witnesse whereof, wee have caused these our letters
to be made Patents. Witnesse our selves, at Westminster
the five and twentie day of March, in the sixe and twentith
yeere of our Raigne.
The first voyage made to the coasts of America
, with two
barks, where in were Captaines M. Philip Amadas, and
M. Arthur Barlowe, who discovered part of the Countrey now called Virginia
, Anno 1584. Written by one
of the said Captaines, and sent to sir Walter Ralegh
knight, at whose charge and direction, the said voyage
was set forth.
THE 27 day of Aprill, in the yeere of our redemption,
1584 we departed the West of England, with two barkes
well furnished with men and victuals, having received our
last and perfect directions by your letters, confirming the
former instructions, and commandements delivered by
your selfe at our leaving the river of Thames
. And I
thinke it a matter both unnecessary, for the manifest
discoverie of the Countrey, as also for tediousnesse sake,
to remember unto you the diurnall of our course, sayling
thither and returning: onely I have presumed to present
unto you this briefe discourse, by which you may judge
how profitable this land is likely to succeede, as well to
your selfe, (by whose direction and charge, and by whose
servantes this our discoverie hath beene performed) as also
to her Highnesse, and the Common wealth, in which we
hope your wisedome wilbe satisfied, considering that as
much by us hath bene brought to light, as by those smal
meanes, and number of men we had, could any way have
bene expected, or hoped for.
The tenth of May we arrived at the Canaries, and the
tenth of June in this present yeere, we were fallen with
the
Islands of the West Indies, keeping a more Southeasterly course then was needefull, because wee doubted
that the current of the Bay of Mexico, disbogging
betweene the
Cape of Florida and Havana
, had bene of
greater force then afterwardes we found it to bee. At
which Islands we found the ayre very unwholsome, and
our men grew for the most part ill disposed: so that
having refreshed our selves with sweet water, & fresh
victuall, we departed the twelfth day of our arrivall there.
These Islands, with the rest adjoyning, are so well knowen
to your selfe, and to many others, as I will not trouble
you with the remembrance of them.
The second of July, we found shole water, wher we
smelt so sweet, and so strong a smel, as if we had bene
in the midst of some delicate garden abounding with all
kinde of odoriferous flowers, by which we were assured,
that the land could not be farre distant: and keeping good
watch, and bearing but slacke saile, the fourth of the same
moneth we arrived upon the coast, which we supposed to
be a continent and firme lande, and we sayled along the
same a hundred and twentie English miles before we
could finde any entrance, or river issuing into the Sea.
The first that appeared unto us, we entred, though not
without some difficultie, & cast anker about three harquebuz-shot within the havens mouth, on the left hand of
the same: and after thankes given to God for our safe
arrivall thither, we manned our boats, and went to view
the land next adjoyning, and "to take possession of the
same, in the right of the Queenes most excellent Majestie,
as rightfull Queene, and Princesse of the same, and after
delivered the same over to your use, according to her
Majesties grant, and letters patents, under her Highnesse
great Seale. Which being performed, according to the
ceremonies used in such enterprises, we viewed the land
about us, being, whereas we first landed, very sandie and
low towards the waters side, but so full of grapes, as the
very beating and surge of the Sea overflowed them, of
which we found such plentie, as well there as in all places
else, both on the sand and on the greene soile on the hils,
as in the plaines, as well on every little shrubbe, as also
climing towardes the tops of high Cedars, that I thinke in
all the world the like abundance is not to be found: and
my selfe having seene those parts of Europe
that most
abound, find such difference as were incredible to be
written.
We passed from the Sea side towardes the toppes of
those hilles next adjoyning, being but of meane higth,
and from thence wee behelde the Sea on both sides to
the North, and to the South, finding no ende any of both
wayes. This lande lay stretching it selfe to the West,
which after wee found to bee but an Island of twentie
miles long, and not above sixe miles broade. Under the
banke or hill whereon we stoode, we behelde the vallyes
replenished with goodly Cedar trees, and having discharged our harquebuz-shot, such a flocke of Cranes (the
most part white) arose under us, with such a cry redoubled
by many ecchoes, as if an armie of men had showted all
together.
This Island had many goodly woodes full of Deere,
Conies, Hares, and Fowle, even in the middest of Summer
in incredible abundance. The woodes are not such as you
finde in Bohemia
, Moscovia, or Hercynia, barren and
fruitles, but the highest and reddest Cedars of the world,
farre bettering the Ceders of the Acores, of the Indies, or
Lybanus, Pynes, Cypres, Sassaphras, the Lentisk, or the
tree that beareth the Masticke, the tree that beareth the
rine of blacke Sinamon, of which Master Winter brought
from the streights of Magellan, and many other of excellent smell and qualitie. We remained by the side of this
Island two whole dayes before we saw any people of the
Countrey: the third day we espied one small boate rowing
towardes us having in it three persons: this boat came to
the Island side, foure harquebuz-shot from our shippes,
and there two of the people remaining, the third came
along the shoreside towards us, and wee being then all
within boord, he walked up and downe upon the point of
the land next unto us: then the Master and the Pilot
of the Admirall, Simon Ferdinando, and the Captaine
Philip Amadas, my selfe, and others rowed to the land,
whose comming this fellow attended, never making any
shewe of feare or doubt. And after he had spoken of
many things not understood by us, we brought him
with his owne good liking, aboord the ships, and gave
him a shirt, a hat & some other things, and made him
taste of our wine, and our meat, which he liked very
wel: and after having viewed both barks, he departed,
and went to his owne boat againe, which hee had left
in a little Cove or Creeke adjoyning: assoone as hee
was two bow shoot into the water, he fell to fishing,
and in lesse then halfe an houre, he had laden his boate
as deepe, as it could swimme, with which hee came againe
to the point of the lande, and there he devided his fish into
two parts, pointing one part to the ship, and the other
to the pinnesse: which, after he had (as much as he
might) requited the former benefites received, departed
out of our sight.
The next day there came unto us divers boates, and
in one of them the Kings brother, accompanied with
fortie or fiftie men, very handsome and goodly people,
and in their behaviour as mannerly and civill as any of
Europe
. His name was Granganimeo, and the king is
called Wingina, the countrey Wingandacoa, and now by
her Majestie Virginia. The maner of his comming was
in this sort: hee left his boates altogether as the first man
did a little from the shippes by the shore, and came along
to the place over against the ships, followed with fortie
men. When he came to the place, his servants spread a
long matte upon the ground, on which he sate downe,
and at the other ende of the matte foure others of his
companie did the like, the rest of his men stood round
about him, somewhat a farre off: when we came to the
shore to him with our weapons, hee never mooved from
his place, nor any of the other foure, nor never mistrusted any harme to be offred from us, but sitting still
he beckoned us to come and sit by him, which we performed: and being set hee made all signes of joy and
welcome, striking on his head and his breast and afterwardes on ours, to shewe wee were all one, smiling and
making shewe the best he could of all love, and
familiaritie. After hee had made a long speech unto us,
wee presented him with divers things, which hee received
very joyfully, and thankefully. None of the company
durst speake one worde all the time: onely the foure
which were at the other ende, spake one in the others
eare very softly.
