This Countrey, whether first discover’d by the said Verrazanus, or together with the rest of largely-taken Virginia, by Sir Walter Raleigh, or, as some say, by Captain Gosnald, in the Year 1602. was so well known to the English in the beginning of King James’s Reign here, that the setling and carrying on of Plantations in this part of America, was vigorously promoted by many of the most eminent Persons in England: whereupon it was about the Year 1606. being the fourth Year of the said King, granted by Patent to several Lords, Knights, Gentlemen and Merchants, under the denomination of The Plymouth Company, both in favour of those generous Spirits, who studied and endeavor’d the good of the Publick by foreign Plantations, and indulgence to those, who not well satisfi’d with the Government of Church and State, and willingly transporting themselves and Families thither, as to their Asylum, could more conveniently be spar’d than the better affected part of the People: And although the Colonies at first sent over succeeded not according to expectation, yet in a short time there Plantations were brought to very great perfection. Captain Weimouth, who had been employ’d there by the Lord Arundel of Warder, for the discovery of the North-West Passage, falling short of his Course, hapned into a River on the Coast of America, call’d Pemmaquid; from whence he brought five of the Natives for England, three of whose Names were Mannida, Skettwarroes and Tasquantum, and Landing at Plymouth, presented them to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, whom he made use of as Instruments for the farther advancement of these Plantations: they were all of one Nation, but of several parts, and several Families; he kept them with him three years, and observing in them an inclination to vertuous Designs, and Spirits above the Vulgar, he gain’d information from them what great Rivers ran up into the Land, what Men of note were seated on them, what Power they were of, how Ally’d, what Enemies they had, and the like; and taking some light from thence, sent away a Ship, furnish’d with Men, and all kind of Necessaries convenient for the Service intended, under the Command of Captain Henry Chaloung, a Gentleman of a good Family, and very capable for Undertakings of this nature; and giving him sufficient Instructions what to do, sent along with him two of the said Natives for his better Conduct and Direction, ordering him by all means to keep the Northerly Gage as high as Cape Briton, till they had discover’d the Main, and then to beat it up to the Southward as the Coast tended, till they found by the Natives they were near the place to which they were assign’d. By that time they were about a hundred Leagues off the Island of Canara, the Captain fell sick of a Feaver, and the Winds being Westerly, his Company shap’d their Course for the Indies, and coming to St. John de Porto Rico, the Captain went ashore for the recovery of his Health, whilst the Company took in Water, and such other Provisions as they had present need of, and spent some time in Hunting, and other Recreations; after which steering their intended Course, they were met with by the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana, taken Prisoners and carried into Spain, the Ship and Goods being confiscated, the Voyage overthrown, and the Natives lost.
Not long after the setting out of Chaloung, Thomas Haman was sent by Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of England, towards the River of Sagadehoc, to the succour of Chaloung, if need were; but not finding him, after he had scowr’d the Coast all about, he return’d back into England.
Captain Prinne was likewise sent from Bristol, who arriving happily in those Parts, brought back with him at his return the most exact Discovery of that Coast that ever had been gain’d till then.
A while after, at the Charge of the said Sir John Popham, a hundred Men were sent to settle a Colony at Sagadehoc, under the Command of George Popham, Raleigh Gilbert, Master of the Ship, who seated themselves in a Peninsula, at the Mouth of this River; which attempting to discover, they met with a Wood near to an Island, distant from the Line about forty five Degrees, and some odd Seconds, where they easily went on Shore. In the Year 1608. the Commander of the Colony deceasing, and not long after him the Lord Chief Justice, who had been the chief that had furnish’d them with fresh Supplies, they return’d for England in those Ships that had been sent them with Succours: At which unexpected return, the Patrons of the Design were so offended, that for a certain time they desisted from their Enterprizes. In the mean while the French making use of this occasion, Planted Colonies in divers places, when Sir Samuel Argal from Virginia disturb’d their Designs, and brought away Prisoners all he could lay hold on.
Suddenly after Captain Hobson and divers others were set out with very great Preparations, and with them two of the Natives which had been detain’d for some time in England, whom they thought to have made use of, the better to draw the rest of the Natives to their Commerce; but because a little before twenty four of them had been treacherously dealt with by one Hunt, they contracted from thence so great an animosity towards the English, that Captain Hobson was constrain’d to return without effecting any thing.
In the Year 1614. Captain John Smith being sent to Fish for Whales, and seek after Mines of Gold and Silver, Landed upon the Island of Monahiggan, where he found some store of Whales, but not such as those by whose Oyl they use to make so much profit.
About the same time (two of the Natives being recover’d, Erpenow of Capawick, that had escap’d from Captain Hobson, and Assacumet of Pemmaquid, one of those that had been taken Prisoners with Chaloung) Captain Harly, with Necessaries convenient for such a Voyage, was dispatch’d away by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the Earl of Southampton favouring the Design, and furnishing him with some Land-Soldiers under the Command of Captain Hobson, who not discourag’d with his former ill Success, resolv’d upon a second Adventure.
In the Year 1615. Sir Richard Hakings undertook a Voyage into those Parts by authority of the Council of the second Colony, but by reason of the great Wars among the Natives, his Observations could not be such as might give any farther light than what had been already receiv’d.
Soon after which Captain Dormer coming for England from New-found-Land, and Landing at Plymouth, apply’d himself to the Governor, by whom he was dispatch’d away, with Direction to meet Captain Rocroft, sent away a little before; but Rocroft being dead by that time Dormer could come after him to Virginia, where he heard he was, he returning to Capawick, was there set upon by Erpenow, the foremention’d Salvage, and other Indians that were Conspirators with him; and within a short while after at Virginia, whither he went to be cur’d of the Wounds he receiv’d in that Assassination, he fell sick and died.
About the Year 1623. Captain Robert Gorges, newly come out of the Venetian War, was employ’d by the Council of New Englands Affairs as the Lieutenant-General, to regulate the Abuses of divers Fisher-men and other Interlopers, who without License frequented those Coasts: for which Service he had assign’d to him all that part of the main Land situate upon the North-East side of the Bay of the Messachasets.