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Other than these, there was never any people apparelled, or white of colour, either seen or heard of among these people, and these aforesaid were seen only of the inhabitants of Secotan, which appeared to be very true, for they wondered marvelously when we were among them at the whiteness of our skins, ever coveting to touch our breasts, and to view the same. Beside, they had our ships in marvellous admiration, and all things else were so strange unto them, as it appeared that none of them had ever seen the like. When we discharged any piece, were it but an harquebus, they would tremble thereat for very fear, and for the strangeness of the same; for the weapons which themselves use are bows and arrows; the arrows are but of small canes, headed with a sharp shell or tooth of a fish, sufficient enough to kill a naked man. Their swords be of wood hardened; likewise they use wooden breast-plates for their defence. They have beside a kind of club, in the end whereof they fasten the sharp horns of a stag, or other beast. When they go to wars they carry about with them their idol, of whom they ask counsel, as the Romans were wont of the oracle of Apollo. They sing songs as they march toward the battle instead of drums and trumpets. Their wars are very cruel and bloody, by reason whereof, and of their civil dissensions, which have happened of late years among them, the people are marvelously wasted, and in some places the country left desolate,

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Adjoining to this country aforesaid, called Secotan, beginneth a country called Pemouik, belonging to another king whom they call Piemacum, and this king is in league with the next king adjoining toward the setting of the sun, and the country Neusiok, 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 Piemacum and the lord of Secotan, as these men which we have brought with us to England have given us to understand; but there remaineth a mortal malice in the Secotans, for many injuries and slaughters done upon them by this Piemacum. They invited divers men, and thirty women of the best of his country, to their town to a feast; and when they were all together merry, and praying before their idol, (which is nothing else but a mere illusion of the devil) the captain or lord of the town came suddenly upon them, and slew them every one, reserving the women and children. And these two have oftentime since persuaded us to surprise Piemacum's town, having promised and assured us, that there will be found in it 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.

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Beyond this island called Roanoke, are many 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 farther 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 200 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 appeareth 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 inclosed sea there are above 100 islands of divers bigness, 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, Beside 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, hares, and divers beasts; and about them the goodliest and best fish in the world, and in greatest abundance.

Thus, Sir, we have acquainted you with the particulars of our discovery made this present voy

age, 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 midst 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;

Mr. Philip Amadas,

Mr. Arthur Barlowe,} captains.

William Greenevile,

John Wood,

James Bromewich,

Henry Greene,

Benjamin Wood,
Simon Ferdinando,

Nicholas Petman,
John Hewes,

of the company.

We brought home also two of the savages, being lusty men, whose names were Wanchese and Manteo,'a

Ralegh laid before her Majesty these reports of the riches and beauty of the country which his ships had visited; and his sovereign, either because this was the first discovery of it, or because it was found in the reign of a virgin queen, was pleased to confer on it the name Virginia. He was also so well supported on the approaching session of parliament, that he was elected one of the knights of the shire for the county of Devon, in company with Sir William Courtenay; and we find him chosen in the committee upon several bills then read. On December 14th 1584 the bill confirming his patent for the discovery of foreign countries was read a first time; and in four days, after many arguments and the addition of a proviso, it passed the house upon the question.

C

The imperfect records of those times do not enable us to fix with precision on what day Ralegh received the honour of knighthood. It was certainly, however, about this time; for, being in a committee for a supply by subsidy to her Majesty on the

a

Hakluyt's Voyages, III, 246.

b Willis' Notitia Parliamentaria, 8, 1716, II, 254.

D'Ewes' Journals, Commons, 1584 and 1585.

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