Master Thomas Dirmir having lived about a yeare in New-found-land returning to Plimmoth, went for New England in this ship, and not only confirmes what I haue writ, but so much more approved of it, that he stayed there with five or six men in a little boate; finding 2 or 3 Frenchmen among the savages, who had lost their ship, [they] augmented his companie, with whom he ranged the coast to Virginia, where he was kindly welcomed, and well refreshed [Nov. 1619]; thence returned to New England again, where having bin a yeare, in his back-returne to Virginia, he was so wounded by the savages, he died upon it, them [who] escaped where relieved at Virginia.

Let not men attribute their great adventures and untimely deaths to unfortunatenesse, but rather wonder how God did so long preserue them, with so small meanes to do so much, leaving the fruits of their labours to be an encouragement to those our poore undertakings; and this for advantage as they writ unto me, that God had laid this Country open for us, and slaine the most part of the inhabitants by cruell uuarres, and a mortall disease; for where I had seene 100 or 200 people [in 1614], there is scarce ten to be found. From Pembrocks bay to Harrintons bay there is not 20; from thence to Cape An, some 30; from Taulbuts bay to the Riuer Charles, about 40, and not any of them touched with any sicknes but one poore Frenchman that died.

For to make triall this yeare, there is gone 6 or 7 saile from the West country, onely to fish: three of whom are returned, and as I was certainly informed, made so good a voyage, that euery sailer for a single share had 20 pounds for his 7 moneths work, which is more then in 20 moneths he should have gotten had he gone for wages any where.

Now though all the former ships haue not made such good voyages as they expected, by sending opinionated unskilfull men, that had not experienced diligence to saue that they tooke, nor take that there was; which now patience and practise hath brought to a reasonable kind of perfection: in despite of all detractors and calumniations, the Country yet hath satisfied all, the defect hath bin in their vsing or abusing it, not in it selfe nor me.

A plantation in New England.

Vpon these inducements some few well disposed Gentlemen and Merchants of London and other places prouided two ships, the one of 160 Tunnes, the other of 70; they left the coast of England the 23 of August, with about 120 persons: but the next day the lesser ship sprung a leake, that forced their returne to Plimmoth: where discharging her and 20 passengers, with the great ship and a hundred persons besides sailers, they set saile againe the sixt of September, and the ninth of Nouember [1620] fell with Cape Iames; but being pestred nine weeks in this leaking vnwholsome ship, lying wet in their cabbins, most of them grew very weake, and weary of the sea; then for want of experience ranging to and again, six weeks before they found a place they liked to dwell on, forced to lie on the bare ground without couerture in the extremitie of Winter; fortie of the died: and 60 were left in very weake estate at the ships coming away, about the fift of April [1621] following, and ariued in England the sixt of May [1621].

Immediately after her ariuall, from London they sent another of 55 Tunnes to supply them, with 37 persons. They set saile in the beginning of Iuly [1621], but being crossed by Westerly winds, it was the end of August ere they could passe Plimmoth, and ariued at New Plimmoth, in New England the eleuenth of Nouember [1621], where they found all the people they left in April, as is said, lustie and in good health, except six that died.

Within a moneth they returned here for England, laded with clapboord, wainscot and walnut; with about three hogsheads of Beuer skins and some Saxefras, the 13 of December [1621]; and drawing neare our coast, was taken by a Frenchman, set out by the Marquis of Cera Gouernour of Ile D[i]eu on the coast of Poytou: where they kept the ship, imprisoned the Master and companie, took from them to the value of about 500 pounds; and after 14 days sent them home with a poore supply of victuall, their owne being deuoured by the Marquis and his hungry seruants. They ariued at London the 14 of Februarie [1622],