The conclusion.
Now I have (as I hope) made relation not of so few and
small things, but that the Countrey (of men that are
indifferent and well disposed) may bee sufficiently liked:
If there were no more knowen then I have mentioned,
which doubtlesse and in great reason is nothing to that
which remaineth to be discovered, neither the soyle, nor
commodities. As we have reason so to gather by the
difference we found in our travailes, for although al
which I have before spoken of, have bene discovered and
experimented not farre from the Sea coast, where was
our abode and most of our travailing: yet sometimes
as we made our journeys further into the maine and
Countrey; we found the soile to be fatter, the trees
greater and to grow thinner, the ground more firme and
deeper mould, more and larger champions, finer grasse,
and as good as ever we saw any in England
; in some
places rockie and farre more high and hilly ground, more
plentie of their fruites, more abundance of beastes, the
more inhabited with people, and of greater pollicie and
larger dominions, with greater townes and houses.
Why may wee not then looke for in good hope from
the inner parts of more and greater plentie, as well of
other things, as of those which wee have already discovered? Unto the Spaniards happened the like in
discovering the maine of the West Indies. The maine
also of this
Countrey of Virginia, extending some wayes
so many hundreds of leagues, as otherwise then by the
relation of the inhabitants wee have most certaine knowledge of, where yet no Christian prince hath any possession or dealing, cannot but yeelde many kinds of
excellent commodities, which we in our discovery have
not yet seene.
What hope there is els to bee gathered of the nature
of the Climate, being answerable to the
Iland of Japan,
the land of China
, Persia
, Jury, the
Ilands of Cyprus
and Candy, the South parts of Greece
, Italy
and Spaine,
and of many other notable and famous Countreys,
because I meane not to be tedious, I leave to your owne
consideration.
Whereby also the excellent temperature of the aire
there at all seasons, much warmer then in England
,
and never so vehemently hot, as sometimes is under and
betweene the Tropikes, or neere them, cannot be knowen
unto you without further relation.
For the holsomnesse thereof I neede to say but thus
much: that for all the want of provision, as first of
English victuall, excepting for twentie dayes, we lived
onely by drinking water, and by the victuall of the
Countrey, of which some sorts were very strange unto
us, and might have bene thought to have altered our
temperatures in such sort, as to have brought us into
some grievous and dangerous diseases: Secondly the
want of English meanes, for the taking of beastes, fish
and foule, which by the helpe onely of the inhabitants and
their meanes could not bee so suddenly and easily provided for us, nor in so great number and quantities, nor
of that choise as otherwise might have bene to our better
satisfaction and contentment. Some want also we had
of clothes. Furthermore in al our travailes, which were
most specially and often in the time of Winter, our
lodging was in the open aire upon the ground. And
yet I say for all this, there were but foure of our whole
company (being one hundreth and eight) that died all
the yeere, and that but at the latter ende thereof, and
upon none of the aforesaide causes. For all foure,
especially three, were feeble, weake, and sickly persons
before ever they came thither, and those that knew them,
much marveled that they lived so long being in that case,
or had adventured to travaile.
Seeing therefore the aire there is so temperate and
holsome, the soyle so fertile, and yeelding such commodities, as I have before mentioned, the voyage also
thither to and fro being sufficiently experimented to be
perfourmed twise a yeere with ease, and at any season
thereof: And the dealing of Sir Walter Ralegh so liberall
in large giving and granting lande there, as is already
knowen, with many helpes and furtherances else: (The
least that he hath granted hath bene five hundreth acres
to a man onely for the adventure of his person) I hope
there remaines no cause whereby the action should be
misliked.
If that those which shall thither travaile to inhabite
and plant bee but reasonably provided for the first yeere,
as those are which were transported the last, and being
there, doe use but that diligence and care, that is requisit,
and as they may with ease: There is no doubt, but for
the time following, they may have victuals that are excellent good and plentie ynough, some more English sorts
of cattel also hereafter, as some have bene before, and
are there yet remayning, may, and shall be (God willing)
thither transported. So likewise, our kinde of fruites,
rootes, and hearbes, may be there planted and sowed,
as some have bene already, and prove well: And in
short time also they may raise so much of those sorts of
commodities which I have spoken of, as shall both enrich
themselves, as also others that shall deale with them.
And this is all the fruit of our labours, that I have
thought necessary to advertise you of at this present:
What else concerneth the nature and maners of the
inhabitants of Virginia
, the number with the particularities
of the voyages thither made, and of the actions of such
as have bene by Sir Walter Ralegh therein, and there
imployed, many worthy to be remembred, as of the first
discoverers of the Countrey, of our Generall for the time
Sir Richard Grinvil, and after his departure of our
Governour there
Master Ralph Lane, with divers other
directed and imployed under their government: Of the
Captaines and Masters of the voyages made since for
transportation, of the Governour and assistants of those
already transported, as of many persons, accidents, and
things els, I have ready in a discourse by it selfe in
maner of a Chronicle, according to the course of times:
which when time shall be thought convenient, shall be
also published.
Thus referring my relation to your favourable constructions, expecting good successe of the action, from him
which is to be acknowledged the authour and governour,
not onely of this, but of all things els, I take my leave
of you, this moneth of February 1587.
