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TO THE WORSHIPFULL
the Master Wardens and Societie
of the Cordwayners of the
Cittie of London.
Worthie Gentlemen
Not only in regard of your Courtisie and Love, Butt also of the
Continuall use I have had of your Labours, and the hope you may
make some use of mine, I salute yow with this Cronologicall discourse,
whereof yow may understand with what infinite Difficulties
and Dangers these Plantations first began, with ther yearlie proceedings,
and the plaine description and Condition of those Countries;
How many of your Companie have bin Adventurers, whose Names
are omitted or not nominated
I intreate yow better to informe me, that I may hereafter
imprint yow amongst the Rest, Butt of this I am sure for want of
Shooes among the Oyster Bankes wee tore our hatts and Clothes and
those being worne, wee tied Barkes of trees about our Feete to keepe
them from being Cutt by the shelles amongst which wee must goe or
starve, yett how many thousand of Shooes hath bin transported to
these plantations, how many soldiers Marriners and Saylers have bin
and are likely to be encreased thereby, what vent your Commodities
have had and still have, and how many Shipps and men of all
Faculties have bin and are yearlie imployed I leave to your owne
Judgments, and yett by reason of ill manadging, the Returnes have
neither answered the generall Expectation, nor my desire; the Causes
thereof yow may reade at Large in this Booke for your better Satisfaction,
and I pray yow take it not in ill part that I present the same
to yow in this manuscript Epistle soe late, for both it and I my self
have bin soe overtired by attendances that this work of mine doth
seeme to be Superannuated before it's Birth, notwithstanding Lett
me intreat yow to give it Lodging in your Hall freelie to be perused
for ever, in memorie of your Noblenesse towards mee, and my Love
to God, my Countrie, your Societie, and those Plantations, Ever
resting
Your's to use
John Smith
John Smith
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