Amongst these Brothers, Madok, a Prince of a milder disposition, weary of such unnatural Dissentions, threw up his share, better contented to seek new Fortunes abroad; whereupon there were many soon perswaded to venture their lives with him, where ever he would please to Transport: So Rigging a small Fleet, he Sail’d Westward, far beyond Ireland, where at last he discover’d an unknown and un-inhabited Countrey, but wondrous pleasant, the Air being temperate, and the Soyl most fertile: Glad of this good success (as the Story says) he returning, spreading the Fame of this his New-Found-Land, which they might exchange for a barren Soyl, hatter’d and harass’d with an endless Civil-War.
No small number flock’d to these Summons, as a most acceptable Undertaking; so that soon after he was able to send forth ten good Ships, Freighted only with Men, Women, and Children, and all other Materials fit for a new Plantation; which not long after Landed in Acuzamil, a Countrey in the North of America, as Francis Lopez de Gomara believes, because there he onely found some remaining Tracks of Christianity, a People that worshipp’d the Cross, but knew no reason why or wherefore they ador’d that sign of our Redemption. Now, some will say, that this Worship of the Cross is no argument to prove, that the Brittish Christians first Planted in the North of America; but what will not time and change of place do, where Transplanted People keep no Records, so they forget not onely Religion, Laws, and Customs, but who they were, and from whence they came, Oblivion first mutilating, and at last swallowing up all; of which, take this one late president.
Strange occasion of De la Roche.
Anno 1598. The Duke De La Roche obtain’d leave of the French King, to transport a Colony of Volunteers to New France; in his way he Landed fifty Men on the Island De Sable, to rest his Passengers, and that he might the better, and with more ease explore the Countrey, and when resolv’d where to settle, then to fetch them off; who accordingly, as design’d, soon after, returning thither, was met with so violent a Storm, that not being able to Weather the Isle of Sable, where he left his People, he lost his whole Expedition, and was driven back to a French Harbor, where no sooner arriv’d, he was so highly charg’d, that he was cast into Prison, when those he had left neglected upon the Isle, were not once so much as thought of; in this interim, they never expecting to hear more of their Captain, liv’d in a wild and miserable condition, feeding upon Fish, and sometimes wild Swine, without Bread, Drink, or Salt.
When the Baron of Leri went with Letters Patents, to be Governor of Nova Francia, and by stress of Weather in his Voyage, was forc’d to put in at Sable, where he found the remainder of La Roches People, who being from fifty reduced to twelve, having clad themselves in Sea-Wolves Skins, they had not onely lost their former French Civilities, but forgot in a manner their Religion, much of their Language, and what they were, being as if Metamorphos’d into bestial Salvages.
If some did not come accidentally to America.
And although we have already controverted the improbability of Peopling America, either by accident of Storm, or set purpose; yet it may be possible that so it might happen, for as the several vertues of Plants, Herbs, Precious-Stones, and Minerals, though strangely occult, and so altogether unknown, that what could never be found by Art, meer chance hath brought to light, and their wondrous qualities, some casual accident hath made apparent; so strange and remote Countreys never to be found in our Charts, or Maps, nor Registred in any Story, Seamen bound to their intended Harbors, have stumbled on by chance, either Hood-wink’d by blind Mists, or forc’d upon by pertinatious Weather; of which America may be her own witness, for how was Columbus stirr’d up, but by incitations of the Journals of a Sea-Captain, dying in his House, driven on the American Islands by foul Weather.
America was Peopled presently after the Flood.
Giants in America.
Conjurati fratres, Virg. Georg.