ABSTRACT
Being employed in this Voyage by the right honourable Thomas Arundell Baron of Warder ,'6 to take due notice, and make true report of the discouery therein performed: I became very diligent to obserue (as much as I could) whatsoeuer was materiall or of consequence in the businesse, which I collected into this briefe summe, intending vpon our returne to publish the same. But he soone changed the course of
his intendments; and long before our arriuall in England had so farre engaged himselfe with the Archduke, that he was constrained to relinquish this action. 1 But the commodities and profits of the countrey, together with the fitnesse of plantation, being by some honourable Gentlemen of good woorth and qualitie, and Merchants of good sufficiency and iudgement duly considered, haue at their owne charge (intending both their priuate and the common benefit of their countrey) vndertaken the transporting of a Colony for the plantation thereof; 2 being much encouraged thereunto by the gracious fauour of the Kings Maiesty himselfe, and diuers Lords of his Highnesse most Honourable Priuie Councell. 3 After these purposed designes were concluded, I was animated to publish this briefe Relation, and not before; 4 because some forrein Nation (being fully assured of the fruitfulnesse of the countrie) haue hoped hereby to gaine some knowledge bf the place, seeing they could not allure our Captaine or any speciall man of our Company to combine with them for their direction, nor obtaine their purpose, in conueying away our Saluages, which was busily in practise.'5 And this is the cause that I haue neither written of the latitude or variation most exactly obserued by our
' ROSIER S A TRUE RELATION Captaine with sundrie instruments, 1 which together with his perfect Geographicall Map of the countrey, he entendeth hereafter to set forth. 2 I haue likewise purposedly omitted here to adde a collection of many words in their language to the number of foure or fiue hundred, as also the names of diuers of their gouernours, aswell their friends as their enemies; being reserued to be made knowen for the benefit of those that shal goe in the next Voyage. 3 But our particular proceedings in the whole Discouerie, the commodious situation of the Riuer, the fertilitie of the land, with the profits there to be had, and here reported, I refer to be verified by the whole Corn pany, as being eye-witnesses of my words, and most of them neere inhabitants vpon the Thames. 4 So with my prayers to God for the conuersion of so ingenious and well disposed people, and for the prosperous successiue euents of the noble intenders the prosecution thereof, I rest. 5
V pon Tuesday the 5 day of March, about ten a clocke afore noone, we set saile from Ratcliffe, 1 and came to an anker that tide about two a clocke before Grauesend. 2
From thence the 10 of March being Sunday at night we ankered in the Downes: 3 and there rode til the next day about three a clocke after noone, when with a scant winde we set saile; and by reason the winde continued Southwardly, we were beaten vp and downe: but on Saturday the 16 day about foure a clocke after noon we put into Dartmouth Hauen, where the continuance of the winde at South & South-west constrained vs to ride till the last of this moneth. There we shipped some of our men, and supplied necessaries for our Ship and Voyage. 4
Vpon Easter Vpon Easter day, being the last of March, the winde comming at day we put to North-North-East, about fiue a clocke after noone we wayed anker, sea. and put to sea, In the name of God, being well victualled and furnished Our with munition and all necessaries: Our whole Company being but 29 Companie 29 persons; of whom I may boldly say, few voyages haue beene manned persons.
