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TO THE COURTEOUS READER.
Courteous, Kind and indifferent
Readers, whose willingnesseto reade and heare this following discourse, doth explaine to the
world your hearty affection, to the prosecuting and furtherance of so
worthy an action: so it is, that like to an unskilfull actor, who having
by misconstruction of his right Cue, over-slipt himselfe, in beginning
of a contrary part, and fearing the hatefull hisse of the captious
multitude, with a modest blush retires himselfe in private; as doubting
the reprehension of his whole audience in publicke, and yet
againe upon further deliberation, thinking it better to know their
censures at the first, and upon submission to reape pardon, then by
seeking to smother it, to incurre the danger of a secret scandall: Imboldening
himselfe upon the curteous kindnesse of the best, and not
greatly respecting the worst, comes fourth againe, makes an Apollogie
for himselfe, shewes the cause of his error, craves pardon for his
rashnes, and in fine, receives a generall applauditie of the whole
assemblie: so I gentle Readers, happening upon this relation by
chance (as I take it, at the second or third hand) induced thereunto
by divers well willers of the action, and none wishing better towards
it then my selfe, so farre foorth as my poore abilitie can or may stretch
too, I thought good to publish it: but the Author being absent from
the presse, it cannot be doubted but that some faults have escaped
in the printing, especially in the names of Countries, || Townes, and
People, which are somewhat strange unto us: but most of all, and
which is the chiefe error, (for want of knowledge of the Writer) some
of the bookes were printed under the name of Thomas Watson, by
whose occasion I know not, unlesse it were the over rashnesse, or
mistaking of the workemen, but since having learned that the saide
discourse was written by Captaine Smith, who is one of the Counsell
there in Virginia: I thought good to make the like Apollogie, by shewing
the true Author so farre as my selfe could learne, not doubting,
but that the wise noting it as an error of ignorance, will passe it over
with patience, and if worthy an applauditie, to reserve it to the
Author, whose paines in my judgement deserveth commendations;
somewhat more was by him written, which being as I thought (fit to
be private) I would not adventure to make it publicke. What more
may be expected concerning the scituation of the Country, the nature
of the clime, number of our people there resident, the manner of
their government, and living, the commodities to be produced, and
the end and effect it may come too, I can say nothing more then is
here written, only what I have learned and gathered from the
generall consent of all (that I have conversed withall) aswell marriners
as others, which have had imployment that way; is that the
Country is excellent and pleasant, the clime temperate and healthfull,
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well followed) many, for our people, the worst being already past,
these former having indured the heate of the day, whereby those that
shall succeede, may at ease labour for their profit, in the most sweete,
coole, and temperate shade: the action most honorable, and the end
to the high glory of God, to the erecting of true religion among
Infidells, to the overthrow of superstition and idolatrie, to the winning
of || many thousands of wandring sheepe, unto Christs fold, who
now, and till now, have strayed in the unknowne paths of Paganisme,
Idolatrie, and superstition: yea, I say the Action being well followed,
as by the grave Senators, and worthy adventurors, it hath beene
worthily begunne: will tend to the everlasting renowne of our Nation,
and to the exceeding good and benefit of our Weale publicke in
generall: whose Counsells, labours, godly and industrious endevours,
I beseech the mightie Jehovah to blesse, prosper, and
further, with his heavenly ayde, and holy assistance.
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