Through our meanes, and that wee by him might
kil and slai whom we would without weapons and not come neere them.
And thereupon when it had happened that they had vnderstanding that any
of their enemies had abused vs in our iourneyes, hearing that wee had
wrought no reuenge with our weapons, & fearing vpon some cause the
matter should so rest: did come and intreate vs that we woulde bee a
meanes to our God that they as others that had dealt ill with vs might
in like sort die; alleaging howe much it would be for our credite and
profite, as also theirs; and hoping furthermore that we would do so much
at their requests in respect of the friendship we professe them.
Whose entreaties although wee shewed that they were vngodlie, affirming
that our God would not subiect him selfe to anie such praiers and
requestes of me: that in deede all thinges haue beene and were to be
done according to his good pleasure as he had ordained: ad that we to
shew ourselues his true seruats ought rather to make petition for the
contrarie, that they with them might liue together with vs, bee made
partakers of his truth & serue him in righteousnes; but notwitstanding
in such sort, that wee referre that as all other thinges, to bee done
according to his diuine will & pleasure, ad as by his wisedome he had
ordained to be best. [Yet]
Yet because the effect fell out so sodainly and shortly after according
to their desires, they thought neuertheless it came to passe by our
meanes, and that we in vsing such speeches vnto them did but dissemble
in the matter, and therefore came vnto vs to giue vs thankes in their
manner that although wee satisfied them not in promise, yet in deedes
and effect we had fulfilled their desires.
This maruelous accident in all the countrie wrought so strange opinions
of vs, that some people could not tel whether to think vs gods or men,
and the rather because that all the space of their sicknesse, there was
no man of ours knowne to die, or that was specially sicke: they noted
also that we had no women amongst vs, neither that we did care for any
of theirs.
Some therefore were of opinion that wee were not borne of women, and
therefore not mortall, but that wee were men of an old generation many
yeeres past then risen againe to immortalitie.
Some woulde likewise seeme to prophesie that there were more of our
generation yet to come, to kill theirs and take their places, as some
thought the purpose was by that which was already done.
Those that were immediatly to come after vs they imagined to be in the
aire, yet inuisible & without bodies, & that they by our intreaty & for
the loue of vs did make the people to die in that sort as they did by
shooting inuisible bullets into them.
To confirme this opinion their phisitions to excuse their ignorance in
curing the disease, would not be ashemed to say, but earnestly make the
simple people beleue, that the strings of blood that they sucked out of
the sicke bodies, were the strings wherewithal the inuisible bullets
were tied and cast.
Some also thought that we shot them ourselues out of our pieces from the
place where we dwelt, and killed the people in any such towne that had
offended vs as we listed, how farre distant from vs soeuer it were.
And other some saide that it was the speciall woorke of God for our
sakes, as wee our selues haue cause in some sorte to thinke no lesse,
whatsoeuer some doe or maie imagine to the contrarie, specially some
Astrologers knowing of the Eclipse of the Sunne which wee saw the same
yeere before in our voyage thytherward, which vnto them appeared very
terrible. And also of a Comet which beganne to appeare but a few daies
before the beginning of the said sicknesse. But to exclude them from
being the speciall an accident, there are farther reasons then I thinke
fit at this present to bee alleadged.
These their opinions I haue set downe the more at large that it may
appeare vnto you that there is good hope they may be brought through
discreet dealing and gouernement to the imbracing of the trueth, and
consequently to honour, obey, feare and loue vs. [d]
And although some of our companie towardes the ende of the yeare, shewed
themselues too fierce, in slaying some of the people, in some towns,
vpon causes that on our part, might easily enough haue been borne
withall: yet notwithstanding because it was on their part iustly
deserued, the alteration of their opinions generally & for the most part
concerning vs is the lesse to bee doubted. And whatsoeuer els they may
be, by carefulnesse of our selues neede nothing at all to be feared.
The best neuerthelesse in this as in all actions besides is to be
endeuoured and hoped, & of the worst that may happen notice to bee taken
with consideration, and as much as may be eschewed. ['The']
'The Conclusion.'
NOW I haue as I hope made relation not of so fewe and smal things but
that the countrey of men that are indifferent & wel disposed maie be
sufficiently liked: If there were no more knowen then I haue mentioned,
which doubtlesse and in great reason is nothing to that which remaineth
to bee discouered, neither the soile, nor commodities. As we haue reason
so to gather by the difference we found in our trauails: for although
all which I haue before spoken of, haue bin discouered & experiemented
not far from the sea coast where was our abode & most of our trauailing:
yet somtimes as we made our iourneies farther into the maine and
countrey; we found the soyle to bee fatter; the trees greater and to
growe thinner; the grounde more firme and deeper mould; more and larger
champions; finer grasse and as good as euer we saw any in England; in
some places rockie and farre more high and hillie ground; more plentie
of their fruites; more abondance of beastes; the more inhabited with
people, and of greater pollicie & larger dominions, with greater townes
and houses.
