a bath so hot, as in it we
boyled Porck as well as over the fire. And a little Isle called
Monica, we tooke from the bushes with our hands, neare two hogsheads
full of Birds in three or foure houres. In Mevis, Mona, and the Virgin
Isles, we spent some time; where, with a lothsome beast like a
Crocodil, called a Gwayn, Tortoises, Pellicans, Parrots, and fishes,
we daily feasted.
Gone from thence in search of Virginia, the company was not a little
discomforted, seeing the Marrinershad 3 dayes passed their reckoning
and found no land; so that Captaine Ratliffe (Captaine of the Pinnace)
rather desired to beare vp the helms to returns for England, then make
further search. But God the guider of all good actions, forcing them
by an extreame storme to hull all night, did driue them by his
providence to their desired Port, beyond all their expectations; for
never any of them had seene that coast.
The first land they made they called Cape Henry; where thirtie of them
recreating themselues on shore, were assaulted by fiue Salvages, who
hurt two of the English very dangerously.
That night was the box opened, and the orders read, in which
Bartholomew Gosnoll, Iohn Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher
Newport, Iohn Ratliffe, Iohn Martin, and George Kendall, were named to
be the Councell, and to choose a President amongst them for a year,
who with the Councell should governs. Matters of moment were to be
examined by a Iury, but determined by the maior part of the Councell,
in which the President had two voyces.
Untill the 13 of May they sought a place to plant in; then the
Councell was sworne, Master Wingfield was chosen President, and an
Oration made, why Captain Smith was not admitted of the Councell as
the rest.
Now falleth every man to works, the Councell contriue the Fort, the
rest cut downe trees to make place to pitch their Tents; some provide
clapbord to relade the ships, some make gardens, some nets, &c. The
Salvages often visited vs kindly. The Presidents overweening iealousie
would admit no exercise at armes, or fortification but the boughs of
trees cast together in the forms of a halfe moons by the extraordinary
paines and diligence of Captaine Kendall.
Newport, Smith, and twentie others, were sent to discover the head of
the river: by divers small habitations they passed, in six dayes they
arrived at a Towns called Powhatan, consisting of some twelue houses,
pleasantly seated on a hill; before it three fer
|