Captain John Smith

The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles (1624)

Excerpts from Original Electronic Text for Generall Historie, found at Documenting the American South.

N.B. Spelling has been modernized here (as has punctuation and paragraphing to a limited degree). The headings and paragraph numbers provided are not part of the original document. Editorial explanations are in square brackets [ ]. The remaining text is Smith's. (Note that he describes himself in the third person -- i.e. as he rather than I.)


 

[Smith and the Other Colonists Start Their New Lives, Fall 1607]
{1} Being thus left to our fortunes, it fortuned that within ten days scarce ten amongst us could either go, or well stand, such extreme weakness and sickness oppressed us. And thereat none need marvel, if they consider the cause and reason, which was this; whilst the ships stayed, our allowance was somewhat bettered by a daily proportion of Biscuit, which the sailors would pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us, for money, sassafras, furs, or love. But when they departed, there remained neither tavern, beer house, nor place of relief, but the common Kettle. Had we been as free from all sins as gluttony and drunkenness, we might have been canonized for Saints; But our President would never have been admitted, for engrossing to his private [use], Oatmeal, Sack, Oil, Aquavitae, Beef, Eggs, or what not. But the Kettle, that indeed he allowed equally to be distributed, and that was half a pint of wheat, and as much barley boiled with water for a man a day, and this having fried some 26 weeks in the ship's hold, contained as many worms as grains; so that we might truly call it rather so much bran then corn, our drink was water, our lodgings Castles in the air: with this lodging and diet, our extreme toil in bearing and planting Pallisadoes, so strained and bruised us, and our continual labor in the extremity of the heat had so weakened us, as were cause sufficient to have made us as miserable in our native Country, or any other place in the world. From May to September, those that escaped lived upon Sturgeon, and Sea-crabs, fifty in this time we buried. . . .

{2}[Smith and others recovered from their illnesses.] But now was all our provision spent, the Sturgeon gone, all helps abandoned, each hour expecting the fury of the Savages; when God the patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity so changed the hearts of the Savages, that they brought such plenty of their fruits, and provision, as no man wanted. . . .

{3}The new President and Martin, being little beloved, of weak judgement in dangers, and less industry in peace, committed the managing of all things abroad to Captain Smith: who by his own example, good words, and fair promises, set some to mow, others to bind thatch, some to build houses, others to thatch them, himself always bearing the greatest task for his own share, so that in short time, he provided most of them lodgings, neglecting any for himself. This done, seeing the Savages' superfluity begin to decrease (with some of his workmen) shipped himself in the Shallop to search the Country for trade. The want of the language, knowledge to manage his boat without sails, the want of a sufficient power (knowing the multitude of the Savages), apparel for his men, and other necessaries were infinite impediments, yet no discouragement. Being but six or seven in company he went down the river to Kecoughtan, where at first they scorned him, as a famished man, and would in derision offer him a handful of Corn, a piece of bread, for their swords and muskets, and such like proportions also for their apparel. But seeing by trade and courtesy there was nothing to be had, he made bold to try such conclusions as necessity enforced, though contrary to his Commission: Let fly his muskets, ran his boat on shore, whereat they all fled into the woods. So marching towards their houses, they might see great heaps of corn: much ado he had to restrain his hungry soldiers from present taking of it, expecting as it happened that the Savages would assault them, as not long after they did with a most hideous noise. Sixty or seventy of them, some black, some red, some white, some party-colored, came in a square order, singing and dancing out of the woods, with their Okee (which was an Idol made of skins, stuffed with moss, all painted and hung with chains and copper) borne before them: and in this manner being well armed, with Clubs, Targets, Bows and Arrows, they charged the English, that so kindly received them with their muskets loaded with Pistol shot, that down fell their God, and divers lay sprawling on the ground; the rest fled again to the woods, and ere long sent one of their Quiyoughkasoucks to offer peace, and redeem their Okee. Smith told them, if only six of them would come unarmed and load his boat, he would not only be their friend, but restore them their Okee, and give them Beads, Copper, and Hatchets besides: which on both sides was to their contents performed: and then they brought him Venison, Turkeys, wild fowl, bread, and what they had, singing and dancing in sign of friendship till they departed.

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[Smith Becomes President in September 1608]
{4}[In September 1608, Smith became leader of the colonists.] Casting up the Store, and finding sufficient till the next harvest, the fear of starving was abandoned, and the company divided into tens, fifteens, or as the business required; six hours each day was spent in work, the rest in Pastime and merry exercises, but the untowardness of the greatest number caused the [Smith to] advise as followeth.

{5}Countrymen, the long experience of our late miseries, I hope is sufficient to persuade everyone to a present correction of himself, and think not that either my pains, nor the Adventurers' purses, will ever maintain you in idleness and sloth. I speak not this to you all, for diverse of you I know deserve both honor and reward, better than is yet here to be had; but the greater part must be more industrious, or starve. However you have been heretofore tolerated by the authority of the Council, from that I have often commanded you. You see now that power resteth wholly in myself: you must obey this now for a Law, that he that will not work shall not eat (except by sickness he be disabled). For the labors of thirty or forty honest and industrious men shall not be consumed to maintain an hundred and fifty idle loiterers. And though you presume the authority here is but a shadow, and that I dare not touch the lives of any but my own must answer it: the Letters patents shall each week be read to you, whose Contents will tell you the contrary. I would wish you therefore without contempt seek to observe these orders set down, for there are now no more Councilors to protect you, nor curb my endeavors. Therefore he that offendeth, let him assuredly expect his due punishment. . . .

{6}In searching our casked corn, we found it half rotten, and the rest so consumed with so many thousands of Rats that increased so fast, but their original was from the ships, as we knew not how to keep that little we had. This did drive us all to our wits end, for there was nothing in the country but what nature afforded. . . .

{7}To express their loves for 16 days continuance, the Country people brought us (when least) 100 a day, of Squirrels, Turkeys, Deere and other wilde beasts. But this want of come occasioned the end of all our works, it being work sufficient to provide victual. Sixty or eighty with Ensign Laxon was sent down the river to live upon Oysters, and 20 with Lieutenant Percy to try for fishing at Point Comfort. But in six weeks they would not agree once to cast out the net, he being sick and burnt sore with Gunpowder. Master West with as many went up to the falls, but nothing could be found but a few Acorns; of that in store every man had their equal proportion. Till this present, by the hazard and endeavors of some thirty or forty, this whole Colony had ever been fed. We had more Sturgeon, then could be devoured by Dog and Man, of which the industrious by drying and pounding, mingled with Caviar, Sorel and other wholesome herbs would make bread and good meat: others would gather as much Tockwhogh roots, in a day as would make them bread a week, so that of those wild fruits, and what we caught, we lived very well in regard of such a diet. But such was the strange condition of some 150, that had they not been forced nolens, volens, perforce to gather and prepare their victual they would all have starved or have eaten one another.

{8}Of those wild fruits the Savages often brought us, and for that, the President would not fulfill the unreasonable desire, of those distracted Gluttonous Loiterers, to sell not only our kettles, hoes, tools, and Iron, nay swords, pieces, and the very Ordnance and howses, might they have prevailed to have been but Idle. For those Savage fruits, they would have . . . imparted all to the Savages, especially for one basket of Corn they heard of to be at Powhatan's, fifty miles from our Fort. Though he bought near half of it to satisfy their humors, yet to have had the other half, they would have sold their souls, though not sufficient to have kept them a week. Thousands were their exclamations, suggestions and devises, to force him to those base inventions to have made it an occasion to abandon the Country. . . . He argued the case in this manner.

{9}Fellow soldiers, I did little think any so false to report, or so many to be so simple to be persuaded, that I either intend to starve you, or that Powhatan at this present hath corn for himself, much less for you; or that I would not have it, if I knew where it were to be had. Neither did I think any so malicious as now I see a great many; yet it shall not so passionate me, but I will do my best for my most maligner. But dream no longer of this vain hope from Powhatan, [nor] that I will longer forbear to force you, from your Idleness, and punish you if you rail. But if I find any more runners for Newfoundland with the Pinnace, let him assuredly look to arrive at the Gallows. You cannot deny but that by the hazard of my life many a time I have saved yours, when (might your own wills have prevailed) you would have starved; and will do still whether I will or no; But I protest by that God that made me, since necessity hath not power to force you to gather for yourselves those fruits the earth doth yield, you shall not only gather for yourselves, but those that are sick. As yet I never had more from the store then the worst of you: and all my English extraordinary provision that I have, you shall see me divide it amongst the sick. And this Savage trash you so scornfully repine at; being put in your mouths your stomachs can digest, if you would have better you should have brought it; and therefore I will take a course you shall provide what is to be had. The sick shall not starve, but equally share of all our labors; and he that gathereth not every day as much as I do, the next day shall be set beyond the river, and be banished from the Fort as a drone, till he amend his conditions or starve. . . .

{10}This order many murmured was very cruel, but it caused the most part so well bestir themselves, that of 200 (except they were drowned) there died not past seven . . . [who] dyed not for want of such as preserved the rest.