Sir Humphrey Gilberts Voyage to Newfoundland | Page 6

begun in the
south countries of America, no less hope may be gathered that it will
also spread into the north.
These considerations may help to suppress all dreads rising of hard
events in attempts made this way by other nations, as also of the heavy
success and issue in the late enterprise made by a worthy gentleman our
countryman, Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Knight, who was the first of our
nations that carried people to erect an habitation and government in
those northerly countries of America. About which albeit he had
consumed much substance, and lost his life at last, his people also
perishing for the most part: yet the mystery thereof we must leave unto
God, and judge charitably both of the cause, which was just in all
pretence, and of the person, who was very zealous in prosecuting the
same, deserving honourable remembrance for his good mind and
expense of life in so virtuous an enterprise. Whereby nevertheless, lest
any man should be dismayed by example of other folks' calamity, and
misdeem that God doth resist all attempts intended that way, I thought
good, so far as myself was an eye- witness, to deliver the circumstance
and manner of our proceedings in that action; in which the gentleman
was so unfortunately encumbered with wants, and worse matched with
many ill-disposed people, that his rare judgment and regiment
premeditated for those affairs was subjected to tolerate abuses, and in
sundry extremities to hold on a course more to uphold credit than likely
in his own conceit happily to succeed.
The issue of such actions, being always miserable, not guided by God,
who abhorreth confusion and disorder, hath left this for admonition,
being the first attempt by our nation to plant, unto such as shall take the
same cause in hand hereafter, not to be discouraged from it; but to

make men well advised how they handle His so high and excellent
matters, as the carriage is of His word into those very mighty and vast
countries. An action doubtless not to be intermeddled with base
purposes, as many have made the same but a colour to shadow actions
otherwise scarce justifiable; which doth excite God's heavy judgments
in the end, to the terrifying of weak minds from the cause, without
pondering His just proceedings; and doth also incense foreign princes
against our attempts, how just soever, who cannot but deem the sequel
very dangerous unto their state (if in those parts we should grow to
strength), seeing the very beginnings are entered with spoil.
And with this admonition denounced upon zeal towards God's cause,
also towards those in whom appeareth disposition honourable unto this
action of planting Christian people and religion in those remote and
barbarous nations of America (unto whom I wish all happiness), I will
now proceed to make relations briefly, yet particularly, of our voyage
undertaken with Sir Humfrey Gilbert, begun, continued, and ended
adversely.
When first Sir Humfrey Gilbert undertook the western discovery of
America, and had procured from her Majesty a very large commission
to inhabit and possess at his choice all remote and heathen lands not in
the actual possession of any Christian prince, the same commission
exemplified with many privileges, such as in his discretion he might
demand, very many gentlemen of good estimation drew unto him, to
associate him in so commendable an enterprise, so that the preparation
was expected to grow unto a puissant fleet, able to encounter a king's
power by sea. Nevertheless, amongst a multitude of voluntary men,
their dispositions were diverse, which bred a jar, and made a division in
the end, to the confusion of that attempt even before the same was
begun. And when the shipping was in a manner prepared, and men
ready upon the coast to go aboard, at that time some brake consort, and
followed courses degenerating from the voyage before pretended.
Others failed of their promises contracted, and the greater number were
dispersed, leaving the General with few of his assured friends, with
whom he adventured to sea; where, having tasted of no less misfortune,
he was shortly driven to retire home with the loss of a tall ship and,
more to his grief, of a valiant gentleman, Miles Morgan.
Having buried, only in a preparation, a great mass of substance,

whereby his estate was impaired, his mind yet not dismayed, he
continued his former designment, and purposed to revive this enterprise,
good occasion serving. Upon which determination standing long
without means to satisfy his desire, at last he granted certain
assignments out of his commission to sundry persons of mean ability,
desiring the privilege of his grant, to plant and fortify in the north parts
of America about the river of Canada; to whom if God gave good
success in the north