[1603-29] except there be such a competent stocke, [that] the want not wherewith to furnish and supply all things with expedition. But to the purpose.

What occasioneth

Pirats.

Their chiefe rendevouz.

After the death of our most gracious Queene Elizabeth, of blessed memory, our Royall King Iames, who from his infancie had reigned in peace with all Nations, had no imployment for those men of warre, so that those that were rich rested with that they had; those that were poore and had nothing but from hand to mouth, turned Pirats; some, because they became sleighted of those for whom they had got much wealth; some, for that they could not get their due; some, that had lived bravely, would not abase themselves to poverty; some vainly, only to get a name; others for revenge, covetousnesse, or as ill; and as they found themselves more and more oppressed, their passions increasing with discontent, made them turne Pirats.

Now because they grew hatefull to all Christian Princes, they retired to Barbary, where although there be not many good Harbours but Tunis, Argier, Sally, Mamora, and Tituane, there are many convenient Rodes, or the open Sea, which is theire chiefe Lordship. For their best harbours Massalqueber, the townes of Oran, Mellila, Tanger, and Cuta, within the Streights, are possessed by the Spaniards; without the Streights they have also Arzella, and Mazagan; Mamora likewise they [the Spaniards] have lately taken, and fortified.

Ward, a poore English sailer, and Dansker a Dutchman, made first here their Marts, when the Moores knew scarce how to saile a ship; Bishop was Ancient, and did little hurt; but Easton got so much, as made himselfe a Marquesse in Savoy; and Ward lived like a Bashaw in Barbary; those were the first that taught the Moores to be men of warre.

Gennings, Harris, T[h]ompson, and divers others, were taken in Ireland, a Coast they much frequented, and died [i.e., were hanged] at Wapping. Hewes, Bough, Smith, Walsingam, Ellis, Collins, Sawkwell, Wollistone, Barrow, Wilson, Sayres, and divers others, all these were Captaines amongst the Pirats; whom King James mercifully pardoned: and was

.

1629

it not strange, a few of these should command the Seas. [1829] Notwithstanding the Malteses, the Pope, Florentines, Genoeses, Dutch, and English, Gallies and Men of Warre; they would rob before their faces, and even at their owne Ports, yet seldome more than three, foure, five or six in a Fleet: many times they had very good ships, and well manned, but commonly in such factione amongst themselves, and Their so riotous, quarrellous, treacherous, blasphemous, and villanous, [that] it is more than a wonder they could so long continue, to doe so much mischiefe; and all they got, they basely consumed it amongst Jewes, Turks, Moores, and whores.

conditions.

The best was, they would seldome goe to Sea, so long as they could [60] possibly live on shore, being compiled of English, French, Dutch, and Moores, (but very few Spanyards, or Italians) commonly running one from another, till they became so disjoynted, disordered, debawched, and miserable, that the Turks and Moores beganne to command them as slaves, and force them to instruct them in their best skill which many an accursed runnagado or Christian Runna turned Turke, did, till they have made those Sally men, or gados, Moores of Barbary so powerfull as they be, to the terror of all the Straights, and many times they take purchase [prizes] in the maine Ocean, yea sometimes even in the narrow Seas in England, and those are the most cruell villaines in Turkie, or Barbarie; whose natives are very noble, and of good natures, in comparison of them.

ments for

heads.

To conclude, the misery of a Pirate (although many are Advertiseas sufficient Sea-men as any) yet in regard of his super- wilde fluity, you shall finde it such, that any wise man would rather live amongst wilde beasts than them; therefore let all unadvised persons take heed, how they entertaine that quality and I could wish Merchants, Gentlemen, and all setters forth of ships, not to bee sparing of a competent pay, nor true payment; for neither Souldiers nor Sea-men can live without meanes, but necessity will force them to steale; and when they are once entered into that trade, they are hardly reclaimed.

Those titles of Sea-men and Souldiers, have beene most

1629

[1629]

worthily honoured and esteemed, but now regarded for
most part, but as the scumme of the world; regaine
therefore your wonted reputations, and endevour rather
to adventure to those faire plantations of our English
Nation; which however in the beginning were scorned
and contemned, yet now you see how many rich and
gallant people come from thence, who went thither as
poore as any Souldier or Sailer, and gets more in one
yeare, than you by Piracie in seven. I intreat you there-
fore to consider how many thousands yearely goe thither;
also how many Ships and Sailers are imployed to
transport them, and what custome they yearely
pay to our most Royall King Charles; whose
prosperity and his Kingdomes good, I
humbly beseech the immortall

For the unexperienced Planters of
New-England, or any where.

OR

The Path-way to experience to erect a PLANTATION.

With the yearely proceedings of this Country in Fishing and Planting, since the yeare 1614. to the yeare 1630. and their present estate.

Also how to prevent the greatest inconveniences, by their
proceedings in Virginia, and other Plantations,
by approved examples.

With the Countries Armes, a description of the Coast,
Harbours, Habitations, Land-markes, Latitude and
Longitude with the Map, allowed by our Royal
King CHARLES.

By Captaine IOHN SMITH, sometimes Governour of VIRGINIA, and Admirall of NE VV-ENGLAND.

LONDON,

Printed by IO HN HAVILAN D, and are to be sold by ROBERT MILBOVRNE, at the Grey-hound

[This Work, the last one completed by our Author, was evidently written as a mark of good will to the Massachusetts Planters under Governor WINTHROP, who founded Boston in 1630.

It was evidently written in October 1630, as the passage on p. 955 shews; though it bears 1631 on the title page.

We even know where it was written.

"The high grove or tuft of trees upon the high hill by the house of that worthy Knight Sir Humphrey Mildmay, so remarkable in Essex in the Parish of Danbery, where I writ this discourse, but much taller and greater." p. 950.

Though stated on the title page to be for sale, it was not entered for publication at Stationers' Hall, London.

For the bibliography of this Work see p. cxxxii.

"To the prevention whereof, I have not beene more willing, at the request of my friends to print this discourse, than I am ready to live and dye among you, upon conditions_su[i]ting my calling and profession to make good; and [to make] Virginia and New-England, my heires, executors, administrators and assignes." pp. 963-4.]