of the Shallop, the maids which had
been washing at the land were almost drowned, beside the losse of much
linnen, and amongst the rest, I lost the best of mine which is a very
maine losse in these parts. The ground is couered thicke with
pokickeries (which is a wild Wall-nut very hard and thick of shell;
but the meate (though little) is passing sweete,) with black
Wall-nuts, and acorns bigger than Ours. It abounds with Vines and
Salletts, hearbs and flowers, full of Cedar and Sassafras. It is but
400 acres bigg, & therefore too little for vs to settle vpon.

Heere we went to a place, where a large tree was made into a Crosse;
and taking it on our shoulders, wee carried it to the place appointed
for it. The Gouernour and Commissioners putting their hands first vnto
it, then the rest of the chiefest adventurers. At the place prepared
wee all kneeled downe, & said certain Prayers; taking possession of
the Countrey for our Saviour, and for our soueraigne Lord the King of
England... The Gouernour being returned, wee Came some nine leagues
lower to a river on the North Side of that land, as bigg as the
Thames: which wee called Saint Gregorie's river.[2] It runs vp to the
North about 20 miles before it comes to the fresh. This river makes
two excellent Bayes, for 300 sayle of Shippes of 1000. tunne, to
harbour in with great safety. The one Bay we named Saint George's; the
other (and more inward) Saint Marie's. The King of Yaocomico, dwells
on the left-hand or side thereof: & we tooke vp our Seate on the
right, one mile within the land. It is as braue a piece of ground to
set down on as most is in the Countrey, & I suppose as good, (if not
much better) than the primest parcel of English ground.

Our Town we call Saint Marie's; and to auoid all iust occasion of
offence, & collour of wrong, wee bought of the King for Hatchets,
Axes, Howes, and Cloathes, a quantitie of some 30 miles of Land, which
wee call Augusta Carolina; And that which made them the more willing
to sell it, was the warres they had with the Sasqusa-han-oughs,[3] a
mighty bordering nation, who came often into their Countrey, to waste
& destroy; & forced many of them to leaue their Countrey, and passe
ouer Patoemeck to free themselues from perill before wee came. God no
doubt disposing all this for them, who were to bring his law and light
among the Infidells. Yet, seeing wee came soe well prepared with
armes, their feare was much lesse, & they could be content