Adjoining to this country aforesaid, called Secotan, begins a country called Pomouik, belonging to another king whom they call Piamacum, and this king is in league with the next king adjoining towards the setting of the sun, and the country Newsiok, situate upon a goodly river called Neus; these kings have mortal war with Wingina, king of Wingandacoa; but about two years past there was a peace made between the king Piamacum and the lord of Secotan, as these men which we have brought with us to England, have given us to understand; but there remained a mortal malice in the Secotans, for many injuries and slaughters done upon them by this Piamacum. They invited divers men, and thirty women of the best of his country to their town to a feast, and when they were altogether merry, and praying before their idol, (which is nothing else but a mere illusion of the devil,) the captain and lord of the town came suddenly upon them and slew them every one, reserving the women and children; and these two have oftentimes since persuaded us to surprise Piamacum, his town, having promised and assured us that there will be found in it a great store of commodities. But whether their persuasion be to the end they may be revenged of their enemies, or for the love they bear to us, we leave that to the trial hereafter. Beyond this island called Roanoak, are main islands, very plentiful of fruits and other natural increases, together with many towns, and villages, along the side of the continent, some bounding upon the islands, and some stretching up further into the land. When we first had sight of this country, some thought the first land we saw to be the continent, but after we entered into the haven, we saw before us another mighty long sea; for there lieth along the coast a tract of islands, two hundred miles in length, adjoining to the ocean sea, and between the islands, two or three entrances; when you are entered between them (these islands being very narrow for the most part, as in most places six miles broad, in some places less, in few more) then there appeared another great sea, containing in breadth, in some places, forty, and in some fifty, in some twenty miles over, before you come unto the continent, and in this enclosed sea there are above a hundred islands of divers bignesses, whereof one is sixteen miles long, at which we were, finding it a most pleasant and fertile ground, replenished with goodly cedars and divers other sweet woods, full of currants, of flax, and many other notable commodities, which we at that time had no leisure to view. Besides this island, there are many, as I have said, some of two, of three, of four, of five miles, some more, some less, most beautiful and pleasant to behold, replenished with deer, conies, horses, and divers beasts, and also at them the goodliest and best fish in the world, and in great abundance. Thus, sir, we have acquainted you with the particulars of our discovery made this present voyage, as far forth as the shortness of the time we there continued would afford us to take view of; and so contenting ourselves with this service at this time, which we hope hereafter to enlarge, as occasion and assistance shall be given, we resolved to leave the country and to apply ourselves to return for England, which we did accordingly, and arrived safely in the west of England about the middle of September. And whereas we have above certified you of the country taken in possession by us, to her majesty's use, and so to yours by her majesty's grant, we thought good for the better assurance thereof, to record some of the particular gentlemen and men of account, who then were present as witnesses of the same, that thereby all occasion of cavil to the title of the country, in her majesty's behalf may be prevented, which otherwise, such as like not the action may use and pretend, whose names are― Master PHILIP AMADAS, } Captains. 66 ARTHUR BARLOW, WM. GREENEVILE, JOHN WOOD, Of the Company. SIMON FERDINANDO, NICHOLAS PETMAN, We brought home also two of the savages, being lusty men, whose names were Wanchese and Manteo. [The whole period of the stay of this expedition in our waters was but about two months]. |