University of Virginia Library

Chapter 9.
Notes worth observation: miserablenesse no good
husbandry.

NOW if you but truly consider how many strange accidents have
befallen those plantations and my selfe, how oft up, how oft
downe, sometimes neere despaire, and erelong flourishing; how
many scandals and Spanolized English have sought to disgrace them,
bring them to ruine, or at least hinder them all they could; how many
have shaven and couzened

both them and me, and their most
honourable supporters and well-willers, cannot but conceive Gods
infinite mercy both to them and me. Having beene a slave to the
Turks, prisoner amongst the most barbarous salvages, after my
deliverance commonly discovering and ranging those large rivers
and unknowne Nations with such a handfull of ignorant companions,
that the wiser sort often gave mee for lost, alwayes in mutinies, wants
and miseries, blowne up with gunpowder; A long time prisoner
among the French Pyrats, from whom escaping in a little boat by my
selfe, and adrift, all such a stormy winter night when their ships were
split, more than an hundred thousand pound lost, wee had taken at
sea, and most of them drownd upon the Ile of Ree, not farre from
whence I was driven on shore in my little boat, etc. And many a
score of the worst of winter moneths lived in the fields, yet to have
lived neere 37. yeares in the midst of wars, pestilence and famine; by
which, many an hundred thousand have died about mee, and scarce
five living of them went first with me to Virginia, and see the fruits
of my labours thus well begin to prosper: Though I have but my
labour for my paines, have I not much reason both privately and
publikely to acknowledge it and give God thankes, whose omnipotent
power onely delivered me ∥ to doe the utmost of my best to make
his name knowne in those remote parts of the world, and his loving
mercy to such a miserable sinner.

Had my designes beene to have perswaded men to a mine of
gold, as I know many have done that knew no such matter; though
few doe conceive either the charge or paines in refining it, nor the
power nor care to defend it; or some new invention to passe to the
South sea, or some strange plot to invade some strange Monastery;
or some chargeable Fleet to take some rich Charaques, or letters of
mart,

to rob some poore Merchant or honest fisher men; what multitudes
of both people and money would contend to be first imployed.
But in those noble indevours now how few, unlesse it bee to begge
them as Monopolies, and those seldome seeke the common good, but
the commons goods, as the 217. the 218. and the 219. pages in the
generall history will shew. But only those noble Gentlemen and their
associates, for whose better incouragements I have recollected those
experienced memorandums, as an Apologie against all calumniating
detracters, as well for my selfe as them.

Now since them called Brownists went, some few before them
also having my bookes and maps, presumed they knew as much as
they desired, many other directers they had as wise as themselves,

but that was best that liked their owne conceits; for indeed they
would not be knowne to have any knowledge of any but themselves,
pretending onely Religion their governour, and frugality their counsell,
when indeed it was onely their pride, and singularity, and contempt
of authority; because they could not be equals, they would
have no superiours: in this fooles Paradise, they so long used that
good husbandry, they have payed soundly in trying their owne follies,
who undertaking in small handfuls to make many plantations, and
to bee severall Lords and Kings of themselves, most vanished to nothing,
to the great disparagement of the generall businesse, therefore
let them take heed that doe follow their example.