Chapter 5.
My first voyage to new England, my returne and profit.
TO begin with the originals of the voyages to those coasts, I referre
you to my generall history; for New-England by the most of
them was esteemed a most barren rocky desart: Notwithstanding at
the sole charge of foure Merchants of London and my selfe, 1614.
within eight weekes sayling I arrived at Monahigan an Ile in America
in 43. degrees 39. minutes of Northerly latitude. Had the fishing for
Whale proved as we expected, I had stayed in the Country; but we
found the plots wee had, so false, and the seasons for fishing and trade
by the unskilfulnesse of our Pylot so much mistaken, I was contented,
having taken by hookes and lines with fifteene or eighteene men at
most, more than 60000. Cod in lesse than a moneth: whilest my selfe
with eight others of them might best be spared, by an houre glasse of
three moneths, ranging the coast in a small boat, got for trifles eleven
hundred Bever skins beside Otters and Martins; all amounting to the
value of fifteene hundred pound, and arrived in England with all my
men in health in six or seven moneths: But Northward the French
returned this yeare to France five and twenty thousand bevers and
good furres, whilest we were contending about Patents and Commissions,
with such fearefull incredulity that more dazeled our eyes
than opened them. In this voyage I tooke the description of the coast
as well by map as writing, and called ∥ it New-England; but malicious
mindes amongst Sailers and others, drowned that name with the
eccho of Nusconcus, Canaday, and Penaquid; till at my humble sute,
our most gracious King Charles, then Prince of Wales, was pleased
to confirme it by that title, and did change the barbarous names of
their principall Harbours and habitations for such English, that
posterity may say, King Charles was their Godfather; and in my
opinion it should seeme an unmannerly presumption in any that
doth alter them without his leave.
[_]
My first voyage
to Norumbega
now called
New-England.
1614.
[_]
We got 1500.
pound in six
moneths.
[_]
25000. Bevers
sent to France.
My second voyage was to beginne a Plantation, and to doe what
else I could, but by extreme tempests that bore neare all my Masts
by the boord, being more than two hundred leagues at Sea, was
forced to returne to Plimoth with a Jury-Mast. The third was intercepted
by English and French Pyrats, by my trecherous company
that betrayed me to them, who ran away with my Ship and all that
I had, such enemies the Sailers were to a Plantation, and the greatest
losse being mine, did easily excuse themselves to the Merchants in
England, that still provided to follow the fishing: much difference
there was betwixt the Londoners and the Westerlings to ingrosse it,
who now would adventure thousands, that when I went first would
not adventure a groat; yet there went foure or five good Ships, but
what by their dissention, and the Turkes men of warre that tooke the
best of them in the Straits, they scarce saved themselves this yeare.
At my returne from France I did my best to have united them, but
that had beene more than a worke for Hercules, so violent is the folly
of greedy covetousnesse.
[_]
My second and
third voyage.
