A direction for adventurers with small stock to get two for one, and good land freely and for gentlemen and all servants, labourers, and artificers to live plentifully : and the true description of the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest plantation of new Albion in North Virginia proved by thirteen witnesses : together with a letter from Master Robert Evelin, that lived there many yeares, shewing the particularities and excellency thereof ... Evelyn, Robert, 17th cent. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A38817 of text R3540 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing E3524). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 19 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A38817 Wing E3524 ESTC R3540 12498813 ocm 12498813 62621 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A38817) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 62621) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 210:31) A direction for adventurers with small stock to get two for one, and good land freely and for gentlemen and all servants, labourers, and artificers to live plentifully : and the true description of the healthiest, pleasantest, and richest plantation of new Albion in North Virginia proved by thirteen witnesses : together with a letter from Master Robert Evelin, that lived there many yeares, shewing the particularities and excellency thereof ... Evelyn, Robert, 17th cent. [8] p. : coat of arms s.n.], [London : 1641. Coat of arms of Great Britain on p. [2]. Place of publication from Wing. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. eng Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775. New Jersey -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775. A38817 R3540 (Wing E3524). civilwar no A direction for adventurers vvith small stock to get two for one, and good land freely: and for gentlemen, and all servants, labourers, and Evelyn, Robert 1641 3599 7 0 0 0 0 0 19 C The rate of 19 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-01 Celeste Ng Sampled and proofread 2007-01 Celeste Ng Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A DIRECTION FOR ADVENTVRERS VVith small stock to get two for one , and good land freely : And for Gentlemen , and all Servants , Labourers , and Artificers to live plentifully . And the true Description of the healthiest , pleasantest , and richest plantation of new Albion , in North Virginia , proved by thirteen witnesses . TOGETHER WITH , A Letter from Master Robert Evelin , that lived there many yeares , shewing the particularities , and excellency thereof . With a briefe of the charge of victuall , and necessaries , to transport and buy stocke for each Planter , or Labourer , there to get his Master 50 l. per Annum , or more in twelvetrades , and at 10. l. charges onely a man . Printed in the yeare , 1641. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE The true description of the healthiest , pleasantest , and richest plantation of new Albion in North Virginia , proved by 13 Witnesses . WHereas that part of America , or North Virginia , lying about 39 degrees at Delaware Bay called the Province of new Albion , is scituate in the best , and same temper , and as Italy , betweene too cold Germany , and too hot Barbary , so this lying just midway betweene new England 200 miles North , and Virginia 150 miles South , where now are setled 100000 English and 140 ships in trade , is freed from the extreame cold and barrennesse of the one , and heat and aguish Marshes of the other , and is like Lumbardy , and a rich fat soyle plaine , and having 18 Rivers on the maine land , 17 great Isles , and partaketh of the healthiest ayre and most excellent commodities of Europe , and replenished with the goodliest woods of Oakes and all Timber for ships and Masts , Mulberries for silke , sweet Cypres , Cedars , Pines and Perres , 4 sorts of Grapes for wine , and Raisins and with the greatest variety of choyce fruits , Fish and Fowle , stored with all sorts of Corne yeelding 5. 7. and 10. quarters an Acre : Silkegras , salt , good Mines and ●iers ware , 5 sorts of Deere , Buffes and huge Elkes to plow and worke , all bringing 3 young at once : The Vplands covered many moneths with berries , rootes Chestnuts , Walnuts , Beach and Oake Mast to feed them Hogs and Turkeys , 500 in a Flock , and having neere the Colony of Manteses 400000 Acres of plaine mead land and meere levell to be flowed and fludded by that river for Corne , Rice , Rapes , flax , and hemp . After 11 yeares trading and discovery there and tryall made , is begunne to be planted and stored by the Governour and Company of new Albion consisting of 25 Lords , Barronets , Knights and Marchants , who for the true informing of themselves , their friends , Adventurers , and Partners by Residents and Traders there foure severall yeares out of their Iournall bookes , namely by Captaine Browne a ship Master , and Master Stafford his Mate , and by Captaine Clayborn 14 years there trading , and Constantine his Indian there born and bred , and by Master Robert Evelin 4 yeares there ; yet by eight of their hands subscribed and enrolled doe testifie this to bee the true state of the Country , of the Land , and Delaware Bay or Charles River , which is further witnessed by Captaine Smith and other bookes of Virginia and by new Englands Prospect , New Canaan , Captaine Powells map , and other description of new England . Captaine Browne . Captaine Clayborne . Robert Evelin . Stafford . Constantine . Stratton . Thomas White . Richard Buckham . Christof : Thomas . Edward Monmouth . Tenis Palee . Edward Rhodes . Peter Rixford . Master Evelins letter . Good Madam : SIr Edmund persisting still in his noble purpose to goe on with his plantation in Delaware or Charles River ▪ just midway between New England & Virginia , wherewith my Vncle Young , and I severall yeares resided , hath often informed himselfe , both of mee , and Master Stratton , as I perceive by the hands subscribed of Eward Monmouth , Tenis Pale and as Master Buckham , Master White , and other Ship masters , and Saylors , whose hands I know and it to be true that there lived and traded with mee , is sufficiently instructed of the state of the Country , and people there , and I should very gladly according to his desire have waited on you into Hampshire to have informed your Ladyship in person , had not I next weeke beene passing to Virginia , But neverthelesse to satisfie you of the truth , I thought good to write unto you my knowledge , and first to describe you from the North side of Delaware unto Hudsons River , in Sir Edmunds Patent , called new Albion , which lyeth just betweene New England and Maryland , and that Ocean Sea I take it to bee about 160 miles , I find some broken land , Isles and Inlets , and many small Isles at Egbay : But going to Delaware Bay by Cape May which is 24 miles at most , and is as I understand very well set out , and printed in Captaine Powels Mappe of new England , done as is told me by a draught I gave to M. Daniell the plotmaker , which Sir Edmund saith you have at home on that North side about five miles within a Port , or Rode for any Ships called the Nook , and within it lyeth the King of Kechemeches , having as I suppose , about 50 men : and 12 leagues higher a little above the Bay and Bar is the River of Manteses which hath 20 miles on Charles River and 30 miles running up a faire navigable deepe River all a flat levell of rich fresh and fat Blacke Marsh mould , which I thinke to bee 300000 acres , In this Sir Edmund intendeth as he saith to settle , and there the King of Manteses hath about 100 Bow men , next above about 6 leagues higher is a faire deepe river 12 miles navigable , where is Free-stone , and there over against is the King of Sikonesses , and next is a Asomocches river & King with 100 men , and next is Eriwoneck a King of 40 men where we sate down , and 5 miles above is the King of Ramcocke with a 100 men , and 4 miles higher the King of Axion with 200 men , and next to him 1● . leagues overland an Inland King of Calcefar with 150. men , and then there is in the middle of Charles-river two faire wooddy Isles , very pleasant , and fit for Parks ▪ the one of a thousand acres , the other of fowerteen hundred , or thereabout . And six leagues higher , neare a Creek called Mosilian , the King having two hundred men . And then wee come to the Fals , made by a Rocke of Lime-stone , as I suppose it is about sixty and five leagues from the Sea , neare to which is an Isle fit for a Citie , all materialls there to build : & above , the River faire and navigable , as the Indians informe me , for I went but ten miles higher . I doe account all the Indians to be eight hundred , and are in severall factions , and warre against the Sasque Hanocks , and are all extreame fearfull of a Gun , naked and unarmed against our shot , swords , and pikes I had some bickering with some of hem , and they are of so little esteeme , as I durst with fifteene men sit downe , or trade in despight of them , and since my return 18 Swedes are setled there , and so sometime six Dutch doe in a boat trade without feare of them . I saw there an infinite quantitie of Bustards , Swans , Geese ; and Fowle covering the shoares , as within the like multitude of Pigeons , and store of Turkies , of which I tryed one to weigh fourty and six pounds . There is much variety and plenty of delicate fresh and sea-fish and shell-fish , and Whales or Grampus : Elkes , Deere that bring three young at a time , and the Woods bestrewed many moneths with Chest-nuts , Wall-nuts , and Mast of severall sorts to feed them and Hoggs , that would increase exceedingly . There the barren grounds have fower kindes of Grapes , and many Mulberries , with Ash , Elms , and the tallest and greatest Pines and Pitch-trees that I have seen . There are Cedars , Cypresse , and Sassafras , with wilde fruits , Peares , wilde Cheries , Pine-apples , and the daintie Parsemenas . And there is no question but Almonds , and other fruits of Spaine will prosper , as in Virginia . And ( which is a good comfort ) in fower & twenty houres you may send or go by sea to New-England or Virginia , with a faire winde , you may have Cattle , and from the Indians 2000. barrels of Corne , at twelve-pence a bushell in truck , so as Victuals are there cheaper and better , then to be transported : Neyther doe I conceive any great need of a Fort or Charge , where there is no enemy . If Sir Edmund will bring with him three hundred men or more , there is no doubt but hee may doe very well and grow rich , for it is most pure healthfull ayre , & such pure wholsome Springs , Rivers , and Waters , as are delightfull , of a Desart , as can bee seene , with so many varieties of severall flowers , trees , and Forrests for Swine . So many faire risings and prospects , all green and verdant : and Mary-land a good friend and neighbour , in foure and twenty howers ready to comfort and supply . And truly I beleeve , my Lord of Baltamore will be glad of Sir Edmunds Plantation and assistance against any enemy or bad neighbour . And if Sir Edmund imploy some men to sow Flax , Hemp and Rapes in those rich Marshes , or build ships , & make Pipe-staves , and load some ships with these wares , or Fish from the Northward , hee may have any money , ware , or Company brought him by his owne ships , or the ships of Virginia or New-England all the yeare . And because you are of the Noble House of the Pawlets , and as I am informed , desire to lead many of your friends and kindred thither , whom as I honour , I desire to serve , I shall intreat you to beleeve me as a Gentleman and Christian , I write you nothing but the truth , and hope there to take opportunity in due season , to visit you and doe all the good offices in Virginia , my place or friends can serve you in . And thus tendring my service , I rest Madam Your Ladiships most humble faithfull Servant Rob : Evelm Provisions for each man and the charge from London . 1. Canvas , or linnen Clothes , Shooes , Hats , &c. costing here foure pound for two men to buy Cowes , Goats , and hogs in Virginia , Tersera Islands , or Ireland , which there yeelds six pound , and will buy one Cow , two Goats , two Sowes , which for each man comes to 2. l. 0. 0. 2. freight for a Passenger , and his halfe Tonne of provisions and Tooles . 1. l. 10. 0. 3. Victualls till his owne stock and Croppe , maintain him for seaven monethes . 3. l. 10. 0. That is , Pease , Oatemeale , and Aquavite , 7. s. five bushells of meale , of which two to be baked into Biskets , and five bushells of Mault , some must be ground and brewed for the voyage both 1. l. 10. s. a hundred of beese , and Pork , 1. l. 2. s. two bushels of roots 2. s. salt fish , 2. s Cask to carry provision 5. s. five pound of Butter . 2. s. 4. One hogshead of eares of Corne , Garden seeds , Hemp and linseed with Caske . 0. 16. 0. 5. Armes ( viz. ) a sword , Calliver or long Pistoll , Pike head : six pound of powder , ten pound of shot , half an old slight armour , that is , two to one Armor . 0. 19. s. 0. 6. Tools , a spade , Axe , and shovell 5. s. Iron , and steele to make and mend more , and two hundred of nailes . 5. s. 0. 10. s. 0. 7. Guns and Powder for the Fort , that is to every , 50. foure Murtherers 8. l. a barrell of powder , 4. l. 10. s. That is to each man , 5. s. Bed and sheets of canvas to be filled with huls each man , 10. s. Summe totall . 10. l. 0. 0. Each Adventurer of twenty or fifty men must provide houshold necessaris , as Irons , and chaines for a draw-bridge , two Mares or horses to breed or ride on , which with hay ▪ oates , and water , will for foure pound a peece , be transported ; Pots , Pans , dishes , Iron for a Cart and Plow , Chaines , Sithes , and Sickels , Nets , lines , and hookes . A Sayle for a fishing Shallop of three tonne , and hemp to imploy his people in making them , as with hayre and Canvas for quilts , aswell on shipboard , as demurring at the Sea port , as with locks , keyes , bolts , and glass Casements for his house . And generally , fit Implements for the worke or trade he intends . 1. Here by bringing good labourers , and tradsemen , the provident planters may doe well by giving shares or double wages when each man may earne his 6 , nay 10 , and 12 shillings a day . 2. For here the Ship-carpenters ten men a day will build a tun of shipping as in England , which with masts , and yeardes there taken is here , and there wort 3. l. a tun and yet here , and there is built at 1 l. a tun wages , which is 6 s. a dayes worke , having the timber without money . 3. Here in 24. dayes they make a thousand of Pipe-staves , worth here seven pound , and at the Canaries twenty pound a thousand , and so get seven shillings a dayes work . 4. Here in making Iron they save 5 l. a tun in the price of wood , and 3 l. more in digging the Iron mine , and saving land carriage of it , and of the Charcole , for mine is taken on the Sea beach , and wood floated downe the Rivers , and so each man earnes 5 s. 10 d. a day , Iron valued at ●2 l. per tun . 5. Here the constant trade of 350. ships , and 7000. men a fishing begin to leave cold Newfoundland small fish , and late taken , when this is before theirs two moneths at the market , 100. fish here yeelds 4 quintales , there scarce one and here is fish all the year , there but only in the 4 warm months , so as for 9 weekes worke each man above his diet , passage , and returne , gets 20 l. and 22 l. a man , and herein dried Base , in Sturgeon , in pressed Mackrell . Herings , and Pilchers , is got , as well as in Cod-fish 6 s. and 8 s. a day . And this returns ready French and Spanish coyne . 6. Here the glorious ripening Sun as warme as Italy or Spaine brings rare fruits , wines , and such store of Anniseed , and Licoras as well as Bay-salt made without boyling onely in pannes with the Sunne , that each labourer maketh 6 bushels a day worth in these three 12 s. a day , and this mayden soyle , so comforted with the Suns glittering beams , and being digged , and set with the Indian Wheate , and their Beanes , and Pease ; with 40 s. charge in 40 daies worke with seede , yeelds 10 quarters an acre , the same Wheat being 10 times as big , and as weighty as ours ; beside Potatoes , woad , Madder and Tobacco will yeeld halfe a tun of Flax , and a tun of Hempe ; worth 12 l. an acre : and 6 s. a daies worke . 7. Here as in Province in France Walnut-Milke , or Oyle ground and pressed will yeeld the gatherer ten gallons , and 10 s. a daies worke . 8. Here the land lyeth covered 7 months with Beech , and Oke Mast , Walnuts , and Chestnuts and 3 moneths with Groundnuts ; and wild Pease : and Fetches yeerely so as sixty Hogs for one ; and a hundred Turkeyes ; Partriges , Hethpoults ; and tame Poultry eating their fill , for one is an ordinary increase . 9. Here the Sope , and Potashes , men paying in England 12 d. a bushell ; and 4 d. carriage for ashes ; and 20 l. a tun for Potashes make them for a quarter and lesse ; and get 8 s. a dayes worke , by cutting , reeking , and burning whole plaines of Ferne ; Brambles , and wild Vines being thrice as strong as Woodashes . Here a ship may go ; and returne in four moneths laded and comfortably see their freinds ; making three voyages a yeer , in a healthy ayre freed from enemies , and Turks , and get two for on each voyage : that is six for one of that stocke and proceed in a yeer . 11. Here the kind Gentleman that in England doth not live without debts , mortgages , suretiship , Lawsuits , & troubles , may here settle , and avoyd bad company and tempting occasions , and live in plenty , and variety of all sports , hunting Deer , hauking Foule , fishing , and many more sports , and sorts of game as with dainty fruits ; and lay up his spare rents . 12. Here the souldier , and Gentlemen wanting imployment , and not bred to labour without going to wars to kill Christians , for 5 s. a weeke in the mouth of the roaring Canon or in a seige threatned with famine , and pestilence : but with a quilt sute arrow proofe , and a light Albion gunspear : and but ten together against a few naked salvages may like a devout Apostolique souldier with sword , and the word to civilize , and convert them to be his Majesties lieges , and by trading with them , for Furs get his ten shillings a day and at home intermixing sport , and pleasure , with profit , store his Parkes with Elkes , and fallow Deere , and are fit to ride , milke or draw , the first as big as Oxen , and bringing three a yeete , and with hares a yard long , and with five hundred Turkeys in a flock got by nets , in stalking , and get his five shillings a day at least . All Adventurers of 500 l. to bring 50 men , shall have 5000 Acres and a Mannor with Royalties at 5. s. Rent , and whosoever is willing so to transport himselfe or servant at 10. l. a man , shall for each man have 100 Acres freely granted for ever and at 〈…〉 may be instructed how in 3. weekes to passe , and in 20 dayes to get fit Servants and Artificers for wages , Diet , and clothes , and Apprentices according to the 3. Statutes : 5 Eliz. All which after 5 yeeres service , are to have 31 , Acres of free land and some stocke and bee freeholders . FINIS .