Newes from Virginia. The lost Flocke Triumphant.
With the happy Arrivall of that famous and worthy Knight Sr Thomas Gates: and the well reputed & valiant Captaine Mr. Christopher Newporte, and others, into England.
With the maner of their distresse in the Iland of Denils (otherwise called Bermoothawes) where they remayned 42. weekes, & builded two Pynaces, in which they returned into Virginia.
By R. Rich, Gent. one of the Voyage.
— page 2 —
To the Reader.
REader, how to stile thee I knowe not, perhaps Learned, perhaps unlearned: happily captious, happily envious; indeed what or how to tearme thee I know not, only as I began I will proceede.
Reader, thou dost peradventure imagine that I am mercenarie in this busines, and write for money (as your modern Poets use) hyred by some of those ever to be admired Adventurers, to flatter the world: No, I disclaime it, I have knowne the Voyage, past the danger, seene that honorable work of Virginia, & I thanke God am arrivd here to tell thee what I have seene, don, & past: if thou wilt believe me so, if not so to: for I cannot force thee but to thy owne liking: I am a Soldier, blunt and plaine, and so is the
phrase of my newes: and I protest it is true. If thou aske why I put it in Verse? I prethee knowe, it was onely to feede mine owne humour: I must confesse, that had I not debard my selfe of that large scope to which to the writing of prose is allowed, I should have much easd my selfe, and given thee better content. But I intreat thee to take this as it is; and before many daies expire, I will promise thee the same worke more at large.
I did feare prevention by some of your writers, if they should have gotten but some part of the newes by the tayle, and therefore though it be rude, let it passe with thy liking, and in so doing I shall like well of thee: but how ever, I have no long to stay: if thou wilt be unnaturall to thy country-man, thou maist, I must not loose my patrymonie; I am for Virginia againe, and so I will bid thee hartily farewell, with an honest verse:
As I came hether to see my native land,
towarst me backe lend me thy gentle hand.
Thy loving Country-man.
RR.
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Newes from Virginia OF THE HAPPY Arivall of that famous & worthy knight Sir Thomas Gates and well reputed and valiant Captaine Newport into England.
IT is no idle fabulous tale,
nor is it fayned newes:
For Truth herself is heere arriv’d,
because you should not muse.
With her, both Gates and Newport come,
to tell her Report doth lye:
Which did devulge unto the world,
that they at Sea did dye.
Tis true that Eleaven monthes and more,
these gallant worthy wights:
Was in the Shippe (Sea-venture nam’d)
depriv’d Virginia’s sight.
And bravely did they glyde the maine,
till Neptune gan to frowne:
As if a Courser prowdly backt,
would throw his ryder downe.
The Seas did rage, the windes did blowe,
distressed were they then:
Their Ship did leake, her tacklings breake,
in daunger were her men.
But heaven was Pylotte in this storme,
and to an Iland nere:
Bermoothawes call’d, conducted then,
which did abate their feare.
But yet these Worthies forced were,
opprest with weather againe:
To runne their Ship betweene two Rockes,
where she doth still remaine.
And then on shoare the Iland came,
Inhabited by Hogges:
Some Foule and Tortoyses there were
they onely had one Dogge
To kill these swyne, to yeild them food
that little had to eate:
Their store was spent, and all things scant,
alas they wanted meate.
A thousand hogges that dogge did kill,
their hunger to sustaine:
And with such foode, did in that Ile
two and forty weekes remaine.
And there two gallant Pynases,
did build, of Seader-tree:
The brave Deliverance one was call’d,
of seaventy Tonne was shee.
The other Patience had to name,
her burthen thirty Tonne:
Two only of their men which there,
pale death did overcome.
And for the losse of those two soules,
which were accounted deere:
A Sonne and Daughter then was borne
and were Baptized there.
The two and forty weekes being past,
they hoyst Sayle and away:
Their Ships with hogs well freighted were,
their harts with mickle joy.
And so unto Virginia came,
where these brave Souldiers finde
The English-men opprest with greife
and discontent in minde.
They seem’d distracted and forlorne,
for those two worthyes losse:
Yet at their home returne they joyd,
among’st them some were crosse.
And in the mid’st of discontent,
came noble Delaware:
He heard the greifes on either part,
and sett them free from care.
He comforts them and cheeres their hearts,
that they abound with joy:
He feedes them full and feedes their soules,
with Gods word every day.
A discreet counsell he creates,
of men of worthy fame:
That noble Gates leiftenant was
the Admirall had to name.
The worthy Sir George Somers knight,
And others of commaund:
Maister Georg Pearcy which is brother,
unto Northumberland.
Sir Fardinando Wayneman knight
and others of goodfame:
That noble Lord, his company,
which to Virginia came
And landed there, his number was
One hundred and Seaventy: then
Ad to the rest and they make full,
foure hundred able men.
Where they unto their labour fall,
as men that meane to thrive:
Let’s pray that heaven may blesse them all
and keep them long alive.
Those men that Vagrants liv’d with us,
have there deserved well:
Their Governour writes in their praise,
as divers Letters tel.
And to th’Adventurers thus he writes,
be not dismayd at all:
For scandall cannot doe us wrong
God will not let us fall.
Let England knowe our willingnesse,
for that our worke is good,
Wee hope to plant a Nation,
where none before hath stood.
To glorifie the Lord tis done,
and to no other end:
He that would crosse so good a worke,
to God can be no friend.
There is no feare of hunger here,
for Corne much store here growes,
Much fish the gallant Rivers yeild,
Tis truth, without suppose.
Great store of Fowle, of Venison,
of Grapes, and Mulberries,
Of Chesnuts, Walnuts, and such like,
of fruits and Strawberries,
There is indeed no want at all:
but some condiciond ill,
That wish the worke should not goe on,
with words doe seeme to kill.
And for an instance of their store,
the noble Delaware,
Hath for a present hither sent,
to testifie his care,
In mannaging so good a worke,
two gallant ships: by name
The Blessing and the Hercules,
well fraught, and in the same
Two ships, are these commodities:
Furres, Sturgeon, Caviare,
Blacke-walnut-tree, and some deale-boords,
with such they laden are:
Some Pearle, some Wainscot and clapbords,
with some Sassafras wood:
And Iron promist, for tis true,
their Mynes are very good.
Then maugre scandal, false report,
or any opposition
Th’adventurers doe thus devulge:
to men of good condition:
That he that wants shall have reliefe,
be he of honest minde:
Apparell, coyne, or any thing,
to such they will be kinde.
To such as to Virginia,
do purpose to repaire:
And when that they shall thither come,
each man shall have his share.
Day wages for the Laborer,
and for his more content,
A house and garden plot shall have,
besides, t’is further ment
That every man shall have a part,
and not there of denaid:
Of generall profit, as if that he
Twelve pounds ten shillings paid,
And he that in Virginia,
shall copper coyne receive,
For hyer or commodities,
and will the country leave,
Upon delivery of such coyne,
Unto the Governour:
Shall by exchange at his returne,
be by their Treasurer
Paid him in London at first sight,
no man shall cause to grieve:
For ’tis their generall will and wish
that every man should live.
The number of Adventurers,
that are for this Plantation:
Are full eight hundred worthy men,
some Noble, all of fashion.
Good, discreete, their worke is good,
and as they have begun:
May Heaven assist them in their worke,
and thus our newes is done.
FINIS.
