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A BRIEFE AND TRUE REPORT OF THE NEW FOUND LAND OF VIRGINIA
A BRIEFE AND TRUE REPORT OF THE NEW FOUND LAND OF VIRGINIA THOMAS HARIOT CVM GRATIA ET PRIVILEGIO CAES.MATIS SPECIALD
FRANCOFORTI AD MOENVM
TYPIS IOANNIS WECHELI SVMTIBVS VERO THEODORI
DE BRY ANNO CD D XC.
VENALES REPERIVNTVR IN OFFICINA SIGISMVNDI FEIRABENDII
TO THE RIGHT
WORTHIE AND HONOV-
RABLE SIR VVALTER RALEGH
KNIGHT SENESCHAL OF THE DVCHIES OF
Cornewall and Exeter and L. Warden of the stannaries in Deuon
and Cornewall T.B. wisheth true felicitie.
'SIR seeing that the parte of the Worlde which is betwene the FLORIDA
and the Cap BRETON nowe nammed VIRGINIA to the honneur of yours most
souueraine Layde and Queene ELIZABETZ hath ben descouuerd by yours
meanes. And great chardges. And that your Collonye hath been theer
established to your great honnor and prayse and noelesser proffit vnto
the common welth: Yt ys good raison that euery man euertwe
him selfe for to showe the benefit which they haue receue of yt.
Theerfore for my parte I haue been allwayes Desirous for to make yow
knowe the good will that I haue to remayne still your most humble
saruant. I haue thincke that I cold faynde noe better occasion to
declare yt then takinge the paines to cott in copper (the most diligent
ye and well that wear in my possible to doe) the Figures which doe
leuelye represent the forme aud maner of the Inhabitants of the sane
countrye with theirs ceremonies sollemne feastes and the manner and
situation of their Townes of Villages. Addinge vnto euery figure a brief
declaration of the same to that ende that cuerye man cold the better
vnderstand that which is in liuely represented. Moreouer I haue thincke
that the aforesaid figures wear of greater commendation If somme
Histoire which traitinge of the commodites and fertillitye of the
rapport which Thomas Hariot hath lattely sett foorth and haue causse
them booth togither to be printed for to dedicated vnto you as a thiuge
which by reigtte dooth allreadye apparteyne vnto you. Therfore doe I
creaue that you will accept this little Booke and take yt In goode
partte. And desiring that fauor that you will receue me in the nomber of
one of your most humble seruantz besechinge the lord to blese and
further you in all yours good doinges and actions and allso to
preserue and keepe you allwayes in good helthe. And so I comitt you
unto the almyhttie from Franckfort the first of Apprill 1590.'
'Your most humble seruant'
THEODORVS de BRY.
TO THE ADVEN-
TVRERS FAVORERS AND
VVELVVILLERS OF THE EN-
TERPRISE FOR THE INHABITTING
and planting in VIRGINIA.
SINCE the first vndertaking by Sir Walter Ralegh to deale in the action
of discouering of that Countrey which is now called and known by the
name of VIRGINIA; many voyages hauing bin thiter made at sundrie times
to his great charge; as first in the yeere 1584. and afterwardes in the
yeeres 1585. '1586'. and now of late this last yeare of '1587'. There
haue bin diuers and variable reportes with some slaunderous and
shamefull speeches bruited abroade by many that returned from thence.
Especially of that discouery which was made by the Colony transported by
Sir Richard Greinuile in the yeare '1585'. being of all the others the
most principal and as yet of most effect the time of their abode in the
countrey beeing a whole yeare when as in the other voyage before they
staied but sixe weekes; and the others after were onelie for supply and
transportation nothing more being discouered then had been before.
Which reports haue not done a litle wrong to many that otherwise would
have also fauoured & aduentured in the action to the honour and
benefite of our nation besides the particular profite and credite which
would redound to them selues the dealers therein; as I hope by the
sequele of euents to the shame of those that haue auouched the contrary
shalbe manifest: if you the aduenturers fauourers and welwillers do
but either encrease in number or in opinion continue or hauing bin
doubtfull renewe your good liking and furtherance to deale therein
according to the worthinesse thereof alreadye found and as you shall
vnderstand hereafter to be requisite. Touching which woorthines through
cause of the diuersitie of relations and reportes manye of your
opinions coulde not bee firme nor the mindes of some that are well
disposed bee setled in any certaintie.
I haue therefore thought it good beeing one that haue beene in the
discouerie and in dealing with the natuall inhabitantes specially
imploied; and hauing therefore seene and knowne more then the ordinaire:
to imparte so much vnto you of the fruites of our labours as that you
may knowe howe iniuriously the enterprise is slaundered. And that in
publike manner at this present chiefelie for two respectes.
First that some of you which are yet ignorant or doubtfull of the state
thereof may see that there is sufficiet cause why the cheefe
enterpriser with the fauour of her Maiestie notwithstanding suche
reportes; hath not onelie since continued the action by sending into the
countrey againe and replanting this last yeere a new Colony; but is
also readie according as the times and meanes will affoorde to follow
and prosecute the same.
Secondly that you seeing and knowing the continuance of the action by
the view hereof you may generally know & learne what the countrey is; &
therevpon cosider how your dealing therein if it proceede may returne
you profit and gaine; bee it either by inhabitting & planting or
otherwise in furthering thereof.
And least that the substance of my relation should be doubtful vnto you
as of others by reason of their diuersitie: I will first open the cause
in a few wordes wherefore they are [a 3] so different; referring my
selue to your fauourable constructions and to be adiudged of as by good
consideration you shall finde cause.
Of our companie that returned some for their misdemenour and ill dealing
in the countrey haue beene there worthily punished; who by reason of
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