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in Transylvania against the Turks。 He had known sea…fights and shipwrecks
and had journeyed； with adventures galore； in Italy。 Before Regal； in
Transylvania； he had challenged three Turks in succession； unhorsed them；
and cut off their heads； for which doughty deed Sigismund； a Prince of
Transylvania； had given him a coat of arms showing three Turks' heads in a
shield。 Later he had been taken in battle and sold into slavery； whereupon
a Turkish lady； his master's sister； had looked upon him with favor。 But at
last he slew the Turk and escaped； and after wandering many days in misery
came into Russia。 〃Here； too； I found； as I have always done when in
misfortune； kindly help from a woman。〃 He wandered on into Germany and thence
into France and Spain。 Hearing of wars in Barbary； he crossed from Gibraltar。
Here he met the captain of a French man…of…war。 One day while he was with this
man there arose a great storm which drove the ship out to sea。 They went
before the wind to the Canaries； and there put themselves to rights and began
to chase Spanish barks。 Presently they had a great fight with two Spanish men…
of…war； in which the French ship and Smith came off victors。 Returning to
Morocco； Smith bade the French captain good…bye and took ship for England； and
so reached home in 1604。 Here he sought the company of like…minded men； and so
came upon those who had been to the New World〃and all their talk was of its
wonders。〃 So Smith joined the Virginia undertaking； and so we find him headed
toward new adventures in the western world。
On sailed the three shipslittle shipssailing…ships with a long way to go。
〃The twelfth day of February at night we saw a blazing starre and presently
a storme 。 。 。 。 The three and twentieth day ＇of March＇ we fell with the
Iland of Mattanenio in the West Indies。 The foure and twentieth day we
anchored at Dominico； within fourteene degrees of the Line； a very faire
Iland； full of sweet and good smells； inhabited by many Savage Indians 。。。。
The six and twentieth day we had sight of Marigalanta； and the next day wee
sailed with a slacke sail alongst the Ile of Guadalupa 。 。 。 。 We sailed by
many Ilands； as Mounserot and an Iland called Saint Christopher； both
uninhabited； about two a clocke in the afternoone wee anchored at the Ile
of Mevis。 There the Captaine landed all his men 。 。 。 。 We incamped
ourselves on this Ile six days 。 。 。 。 The tenth day ＇April＇ we set saile
and disimboged out of the West Indies and bare our course Northerly 。。。。
The six and twentieth day of Aprill； about foure a clocke in the morning；
wee descried the Land of Virginia。〃*
* Percy's 〃Discourse in Purchas； His Pilgrims； vol。 IV； p。 1684。
Also given in Brown's 〃Genesis of the United States〃； vol。 I； p。 152。
During the long months of this voyage； cramped in the three ships； these
men； most of them young and of the hot…blooded； physically adventurous
sort； had time to develop strong likings and dislikings。 The hundred and
twenty split into opposed camps。 The several groups nursed all manner of
jealousies。 Accusations flew between like shuttlecocks。 The sealed box that
they carried proved a manner of Ate's apple。 All knew that seven on board
were councilors and rulers； with one of the number President； but they knew
not which were the seven。 Smith says that this uncertainty wrought much
mischief； each man of note suggesting to himself； 〃I shall be
Presidentor； at least； Councilor！〃 The ships became cursed with a pest of
factions。 A prime quarrel arose between John Smith and Edward…Maria
Wingfield； two whose temperaments seem to have been poles apart。 There
arose a 〃scandalous report； that Smith meant to reach Virginia only to
usurp the Government； murder the Council； and proclaim himself King。 The
bickering deepened into forthright quarrel； with at last the expected
explosion。 Smith was arrested； was put in irons； and first saw Virginia as
a prisoner。
On the twenty…sixth day of April； 1607； the Susan Constant； the Goodspeed；
and the Discovery entered Chesapeake Bay。 They came in between two capes；
and one they named Cape Henry after the then Prince of Wales； and the other
Cape Charles for that brother of short…lived Henry who was to become
Charles the First。 By Cape Henry they anchored； and numbers from the ships
went ashore。 〃But；〃 says George Percy's Discourse； 〃we could find nothing
worth the speaking of； but faire meadows and goodly tall Trees； with such
Fresh…waters running through the woods as I was almost ravished at the
first sight thereof。 At night； when wee were going aboard； there came the
Savages creeping upon all foure from the Hills like Beares； with their
Bowes in their mouths； charged us very desperately in the faces； hurt
Captaine Gabriel Archer in both his hands； and a sayler in two places of
the body very dangerous。 After they had spent their Arrowes and felt the
sharpnesse of our shot； they retired into the Woods with a great noise； and
so left us。〃
That very night； by the ships' lanterns； Newport； Gosnold； and Ratcliffe
opened the sealed box。 The names of the councilors were found to be
Christopher Newport； Bartholomew Gosnold； John Ratcliffe； Edward…Maria
Wingfield； John Martin； John Smith； and George Kendall； with Gabriel Archer
for recorder。 From its own number； at the first convenient time； this
Council was to choose its President。 All this was now declared and
published to all the company upon the ships。 John Smith was given his
freedom but was not yet allowed place in the Council。 So closed an exciting
day。 In the morning they pressed in parties yet further into the land； but
met no Indiansonly came to a place where these savages had been roasting
oysters。 The next day saw further exploring。 〃We marched some three or
foure miles further into the Woods where we saw great smoakes of fire。 Wee
marched to those smoakes and found that the Savages had beene there burning
downe the grasse 。 。 。 。We passed through excellent ground full of Flowers
of divers kinds and colours； anal as goodly trees as I have seene； as
cedar； cipresse and other kindes； going a little further we came into a
little plat of ground full of fine and beautifull strawberries； foure times
bigger and better than ours in England。 All this march we could neither see
Savage nor Towne。〃*
* Percy's 〃Discourse。〃
The ships now stood into those waters which we call Hampton Roads。 Finding
a good channel and taking heart therefrom； they named a horn of land Point
Comfort。 Now we call it Old Point Comfort。 Presently they began to go up a
great river which they christened the James。 To English eyes it was a river
hugely wide。 They went slowly； with pauses and waitings and adventures。
They consulted their paper of instructions； they scanned the shore for good
places for their fort； for their town。 It was May； and all the rich banks
were in bloom。 It seemed a sweet…scented world of promise。 They saw
Indians； but had with these no untoward encounters。 Upon the twelfth of May
they came to a point of land which they named Archer's Hope。 Landing here；
they saw 〃many squirels； conies； Black Birds with crimson wings； and divers
other Fowles and Bir