CHAP. XXII.
The proceedings and present estate of the Summer Isles, from Anno Dom.
1624, to this present 1629.
From the Summer Isles, Mr. Ireland, and divers others report, their Forts, Ordnance and Proceedings, are much as they were in the Year 1622. as you may read in the General History, Pag. 199. Captain Woodhouse Governour. There are few sorts of any Fruits in the West Indies, but they grow there in abundance; yet the fertility of the Soil in many Places decayeth, being Planted every Year, for their Plantains, which is a most delicate Fruit, they have lately found a way by Pickling or Drying them, to bring them over into England, there being no such Fruit in Europe, and wonderful for increase. For Fish, Flesh, Figgs, Wine, and all sorts of most excellent Herbs, Fruits and Roots they have in abundance. In this Governour's time, a kind of Whale, or rather a Jubarta, was driven on Shoar in Southampton Tribe from the West, over an Infinite Number of Rocks so bruised, that the Water in the Bay where she lay, was all Oily, and the Rocks about it all Bedasht with Parmacitty, congealed like Ice, a good quantity we gathered, with which we commonly cured any Boil, Hurt or Bruise; some burnt it in their Lamps, which blowing out, the very snuff will burn so long as there is any of the Oil remaining, for two or three days together. {MN}
{MN} The present Estate of the Summer Isles.
The next Governour was Captain Philip Bell, whose time being expired, Captain Roger Wood possess'd his Place, a worthy Gentleman of good desert, and hath lived a long time in the Country; their Numbers are about 2 or 3000 Men, Women and Children, who increase there exceedingly; their greatest Complaint is want of Apparel, and too much Custom, and too many Officers; the Pity is, there are no more Men than Women, yet no great Mischief, because there is so much less Pride: the Cattle they have increase exceedingly; their Forts are well maintain'd by the Merchants here, and Planters there; to be brief, this Isle is an excellent Bit to Rule a great Horse.
All the Cohow Birds and Egbirds are gone; seldom any wild Catts seen; no Rats to speak off; but the Worms are yet very troublesome; the People very healthful, and the Ravens gone; Fish enough, but not so near the shoar as it used, by the much beating it; it is an Isle that hath such a Rampire and a Ditch, and for the quantity so manned, Victualled, and Fortified, as few in the World do exceed it, or is like it.
{MN} The 22d of March, two Ships came from thence; the Peter-Bonaventure, near 200 Tunns, and sixteen Pieces of Ordnance; the Captain, Thomas Sherwin; the Master, Mr. Edward Some, like him in Condition, a Goodly, Lusty, Proper, Valiant Man: The Lydia, wherein was Mr. Anthony Thorne, a smaller Ship, were chased by eleven Ships of Dunkirk; being thus over-match'd, Captain Sherwin was taken by them in Torbay, only his Valiant Master was slain; the Ship with about seventy English Men they carried betwixt Dover and Callais to Dunkirk; but the Lydia safely recovered Dartmouth.
{MN} An Evil Mischance.
These Noble Adventures for all thole losses patiently do bear them; but they hope the King and State will understand it is worth keeping, tho' it afford nothing but Tobacco, and that now worth little or nothing, Custom and Fraught pay'd, yet it is worth keeping, and not supplanting; tho' great Men feel not those losses, yet Gardiners, Carpenters and Smiths, do pay for it.
From the Relation of Robert Chestevan and others.