by the month; who departing from Weymouth in March last, 1602, fell forty leagues to the south-westward of Hatteras, in thirty-four degrees or thereabout; and having there spent a month; when they came along the coast to seek the people, they did it not, pretending that the extremity of weather and loss of some principal ground-tackle, forced and feared them from searching the port of Hatteras, to which they were sent. From that place where they abode, they brought sassafras, radix chinæ, or the china root, Benjamin, cassia, lignea, and a rind of a tree more strong than any spice as yet known, with divers other commodities, which hereafter in a larger discourse may come to light.

A Treatise, containing important Inducements for the planting in these Parts, and finding a Passage that way to the South Sea and China.

The voyage which we intend is to plant Christian people and religion upon the North-west countries of America, in places temperate and well agreeing with our constitution, which though the same do lie between 40 and 44 degrees of latitude, under the parallels of Italy and France, yet are not they so hot; by reason that the sun's heat is qualified in his course over the ocean, before he arriveth upon the coasts of America, attracting much vapor from the sea, which mitigation of his heat, we take for a benefit to us that intend to inhabit there; because under the climate of 40 degrees, the same would be too vehement else for our bodies to endure.

These lands were never yet actually possessed by any Christian prince or people, yet often intended to be by the French nation, which long since had inhabited there, if domestic wars had not withheld them: notwithstanding the same are the rightful inheritance of her Majesty, being first discovered by our nation in the time of King Henry the seventh, under the conduct of John Cabot and his sons: by which title of first discovery, the kings of Portugal and Spain do hold and enjoy their ample and rich kingdoms in their Indies East and West; and also lately planted in part by the colonies sent thither by the honorable knight Sir Walter Raleigh.

The course unto these countries, is through the ocean, altogether free from all restraint by foreign princes to be made; whereunto other our accustomed trades are subject; apt for most winds that can blow, to be performed commonly in thirty or thirty-five days. The coast fair, with safe roads and harbors for ships: many rivers.

These lands be fair and pleasant, resembling France, intermeddled with mountains, valleys, meadows, woodlands, and champaigns. The soil is exceeding strong, by reason it was never manured: and will be therefore most fit to bear at first, rape seeds, hemp, flax, and whatsoever else requireth such strong soil. Rape oils, and all sorts of oils, will be very commodious for England, which spendeth oils abundantly about clothing and leather-dressing. In like sort, hemp and flax are profitable, whether the same be sent into England, or wrought there by our people. Oad also will grow there as well ́or better than in Terçera.

The savages, wear fair colors in some of their attire, whereby we hope to find rich dies and colors for painting.

The trees are for the most part cedars, pines, spruce, fir, and oaks to the northward. Of these trees will be drawn tar and pitch, rosin, turpentine, and soap ashes. They will make masts for the greatest ships of the world: excellent timbers of cedar, and boards for curious building.

The cliffs upon the coasts and mountains everywhere show great likelihood of minerals. A very rich mine of copper is found, whereof I have seen proof; and the place described, not far from which there is great hope also of a silver mine. There be fair quarries of stone, of beautiful colors, for buildings.

The ground bringeth forth, without industry, pease, roses, grapes, hemp, besides other plants, fruits, herbs, and flowers, whose pleasant view and delectable smells, do demonstrate sufficiently the fertility and sweetness of that soil and air.

Beasts of many kinds; some of the bigness of an ox, whose hides make good buff; deer, both red and of other sorts in abundance; luzerns, martens, sables, beavers, bears, otters, wolves, foxes, and squirrels, which to the northward are black, and accounted very rich furs.

Fowls both of the water and land, infinite store and variety; hawks both short and long winged. Partridges in

abundance, which are very great, and easily taken. Birds great and small, some like unto our black birds, others like canary birds; and many (as well birds as other creatures) strange and differing from ours of Europe.

Fish, namely, cods, which as we incline more unto the south, are more large and vendible for England and France, than the Newland fish. Whales and seals in great abundances. Oils of them are rich commodities for England, whereof we now make soap, besides many other uses. Item. Tunneys, anchoves, bonits, salmons, lobsters, oysters having pearl, and infinite other sorts of fish, which are more plentiful upon those north-west coasts of America, than in any parts of the known world. Salt is reported to be found there, which else may be made there, to serve sufficiently for all fishing.

So as the commodities there to be raised both of the sea and land (after that we have planted our people skilful and industrious) will be fish, whale and seal oils, soap ashes and soap, tar and pitch, rosin and turpentine, masts, timber and boards of cedars, firs and pines, hemp, flax, cables and ropes, sail cloths, grapes, and raisins, and wines, corn, rapeseeds and oils, hides, skins, furs, dyes, and colors for painting. Pearls, metals, and other minerals.

These commodities before rehearsed, albeit for the most part they be gross, yet are the same profitable for the state of England, especially, as well in regard of the use of such commodities, as for the employment also of our people and ships; the want whereof, doth decay our towns and ports of England, and causeth the realm to swarm full with poor and idle people.

These commodities in like sort are of great use and estimation in all the south and western countries of Europe, namely, Italy, France, and Spain; for the which all nations that have been accustomed to repair unto the Newfoundland for the commodity of fish and oils alone, will henceforward forsake the Newfoundland, and trade with us, when once we have planted people in those parts; by whose industry shall be provided for all commerce, both fish and oils, and many commodities besides, of good importance and value. Then will the Spaniards and Portugals bring unto us in exchange of such commodities before mentioned, wines, sweet oils, fruits, spices, sugars, silks, gold and silver, or

whatsoever that Europe yieldeth, to supply our necessities and to increase our delights.

For which Spanish commodities and other sorts likewise, our merchants of England will bring unto us again, cloth, cattle, for our store and breed, and everything else that we shall need, or that England shall haply exchange for such commodities.

By this intercourse, our habitations will be made a staple of all vendible commodities of the world, and a means to vent a very great quantity of our English cloth into all the cold regions of America extending very far.

This intercourse also will be soon drawn together by this reason that near adjoining upon the same coasts of Newfoundland, is the greatest fishing of the world; whither do yearly repair about four hundred sails of ships, for no other commodity than fish and whale oils. Then forasmuch as merchants are diligent inquisitors after gains, they will soon remove their trade from Newfoundland unto us near at hand, for so great increase of gain as they shall make by trading with us. For whereas the voyage into the Newfoundland is into a more cold and intemperate place, not to be traded nor frequented at all times, nor fortified for security of the ships and goods: oft spoiled by pirates or men-of-war: the charges great for salt, double manning and double victualling their ships, in regard that the labor is great and the time long, before their lading can be ready; they carry outwards no commodities for freight; and after six months' voyage, their return is made but of fish and oils, contrariwise, by trading with us at our intended place, the course shall be in a manner as short; into a more temperate and healthful climate; at all times of the year to be traded; harbors fortified to secure ships and goods: charges abridged of salt, victualling and manning ships double; because lading shall be provided unto their hands at a more easy rate than themselves could make it. They shall carry freight also outward, to make exchange with us; and so get profit both ways; and then every four months they may make a voyage and return, of both fish and oils, and many other commodities of good worth.

These reasons advisedly weighed shall make our enterprise appear easy, and the most profitable of the world, for

our nation to undertake. The reasons we chiefly rely upon are these, namely :

1. Those lands which we intend to inhabit, shall minister unto our people, the subject and matter of many notable commodities.

2. England shall afford us people, both men, women and children, above ten thousand, which may very happily be spared from hence to work those commodities there.

3. Newfoundland shall minister shipping to carry away all our commodities, and to bring others unto us again for our supply.

Now two of these reasons are already effected unto our hands; that is to say: the place where we shall find rich commodities, and ships to vent them. It remaineth only for our parts to carry and transport people with their provisions from England, where the misery and necessity of many cry out for such help and relief.

This considered, no nation of christendom is so fit for this action as England, by reason of our superfluous people (as I may term them) and of our long domestical peace, and after that we be once two hundred men strong, victualled and fortified, we cannot be removed by as many thousands.

For besides, that we have seen both in France and the low countries, where two hundred men well fortified and victualled, have kept out the forces both of the French and Spanish kings, even within their own kingdoms: it shall be also a matter of great difficulty, to transport an army over the ocean with victuals and munition, and afterwards to abide long siege abroad, against us fortified within, where the very elements and famine shall fight for us, though we should lie still and defend only.

The savages neither in this attempt shall hurt us, they being simple, naked and unarmed, destitute of edge tools or weapons; whereby they are unable either to defend themselves or to offend us: neither is it our intent to provoke, but to cherish and win them into Christianity by fair means; yet not to hurt them too far, but to provide against all accidents.

Then to conclude, as we of all other nations are most fit for a discovery and planting in remote places: even so, under the heavens there is no place to be found so conven