CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH’S MAP OF NEW ENGLAND
The Pilgrims were familiar with Capt. John Smith’s account of a voyage in which he had surveyed the coast from Cape Cod to Penobscot Bay in 1614. He had even offered his services as guide and military captain, but Myles Standish got the job. Undoubtedly they did bring with them his Description of New England (London, 1616), in which the following map was published.
Capt. Smith, who had already gained some fame and fortune in Virginia, dedicated to Prince Charles this effort in which the term “New England” first appeared: “... it being my chance to range some other parts of America, whereof I here present your highness the description in a map, my humble suit [in original, “sure”] is you would please to change their barbarous names for such English, as posterity may say Prince Charles was their godfather.” Several English place-names were incorporated in the map, but posterity disregarded most of them, a noteworthy exception being “Plimouth.” Smith notes that the Indians called the site “... Accomack, an excellent good harbor, good land, and no want of any thing but industrious people,” recalling that “After much kindness, upon a small occasion we fought also with 40 or 50 of those [Indians]; though some were hurt and some slain, yet within an hour after, they became friends.”
The map was subsequently reissued in several other works by Smith, additions being made on the engraved copper plate from time to time, to indicate more recent discoveries and settlements. The copy reproduced here is from a first edition, now in possession of the John Carter Brown Library; obviously the representations of European-style buildings were as inappropriate as were the illustrations of monsters, introduced by imaginatively artistic cartographers. (The note concerning Smith’s death was written in ink by a previous owner of this copy.)
A
RELATION OR
Journal of the beginning and proceedings
of the English Plantation settled at Plymouth in New England, by certain English adventurers both merchants and others.
With their difficult passage, their safe arrival, their joyful building of, and comfortable planting themselves in the now well defended town of New Plymouth
AS ALSO A RELATION OF FOUR
several discoveries since made by some of the same English Planters there resident.
I. In a journey to Pokanoket, the habitation of the Indians’ greatest King Massasoit: as also their message, the answer and entertainment they had of him.
II. In a voyage made by ten of them to the Kingdom of Nauset, to seek a boy that had lost himself in the wood: with such accidents as befell them in that voyage.
III. In their journey to the Kingdom of Nemasket, in defense of their greatest King Massasoit, against the Narragansets, and to revenge the supposed death of their Interpreter Squanto.
IIII. Their voyage to the Massachusets, and their entertainment there.
With an answer to all such objections as are any way made against the lawfulness of English plantations in those parts.
LONDON,
Printed for John Bellamie, and are to be sold at his shop at the Two Greyhounds in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange. 1622.
TO HIS MUCH
respected friend, Mr. I. P.[7]
Good Friend:
As we cannot but account it an extraordinary blessing of God in directing our course for these parts, after we came out of our native country, for that we had the happiness to be possessed of the comforts we receive by the benefit of one of the most pleasant, most healthful, and most fruitful parts of the world; so must we acknowledge the same blessing to be multiplied upon our whole company, for that we obtained the honor to receive allowance and approbation of our free possession and enjoying thereof, under the authority of those thrice honored persons, the President and Council for the Affairs of New England, by whose bounty and grace, in that behalf, all of us are tied to dedicate our best service unto them,[8] as those under his Majesty, that we owe it unto, whose noble endeavors in these their actions the God of heaven and earth multiply to his glory and their own eternal comforts.
As for this poor relation, I pray you to accept it, as being writ by the several actors themselves, after their plain and rude manner; therefore doubt nothing of the truth thereof. If it be defective in any thing, it is their ignorance, that are better acquainted with planting than writing. If it satisfy those that are well affected to the business, it is all I care for. Sure I am the place we are in, and the hopes that are apparent, cannot but suffice any that will not desire more than enough. Neither is there want of aught among us but company to enjoy the blessings so plentifully bestowed upon the inhabitants that are here. While I was a-writing this, I had almost forgot that I had but the recommendation of the relation itself to your further consideration, and therefore I will end without saying more, save that I shall always rest
Yours in the way of friendship,
R. G.[9]
From Plymouth, in New England.
