Sound Bites -- Provocative excerpts from primary and secondary sources (some with audio commentary)
311-320 of 333 Sound Bites. [show all]
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311) And if these objectors had any braines in their head, but those which are sicke, they could easily find a difference betweene a bloudy inuasion, and the planting of a peaceable Colony, in a waste country, where the people do liue but like Deere in heards, and (no not in this stouping age, of the gray headed world, ful of yeres and experience) haue not as yet attained vnto the first modestie that was in Adam, that knew he was naked, where they know no God but the divell, nor sacrifice, but to offer their men and children vnto Moloch. (William Symonds, Virginia: a sermon preached at Whitechapel in the presence of . . . the Adventurers and Planters for Virginia. London, 1609.)
312) But that happinesse, which I mentioned, is an happie and glorious worke indeed, of planting among those poor and sauage, and to be pittied Virginians, not onely humanitie, instead of brutish inciuility, but Religion also, Piety, the true knowledge and sincere worship of God, where his name is not heard off: and reducing those to Faith and salvation by Christ, who as yet in the blindnesse of their Infidelity and superstition, doe offer Sacrifice, yes, euen themselves vnto the Diuell. (Richard Crakanthorpe, A Sermon at the Solemnizing of the Happie Inauguration of our most gracious and religious Soveraigne . . . London, 1609.)
313) This being the Religious and honourable intendment of this enterprise, what glory shall heereby redound vnto God? What Honour to our Soueraigne? What comfort to those his Subjects, who shall be the meanes of furtherers of so happy a worke, not onely to see a new BRITAINE in another world, but to heare also those, as yet Heathen, Barbarous, and Brutish people, together with our English, to learne the speech and language of Canaan. (Richard Crakanthorpe, A Sermon at the Solemnizing of the Happie Inauguration of our most gracious and religious Soveraigne . . . London, 1609.)
314) Witnesse abroad the planting intended, or rather already happily begun of our English Colonie in Virginia . . . and the reducing vnto a civill societie (as hope may iustly conceiue) of so many thousands of those sillie, brutish, and ignorant soules, now fast bound with the chaines or error and ignorance vnder the bondage and slauery of the Deuill. Which being the principall scope of this businesse, wee may with Gods blessing assuredly expect the fruites which usually accompany such godly enterprises; as are the honour of his Maiestie, whose name shall by this meanes be glorious vnto the ends of the world, the enlarging and further strengthning of his Realmes and Dominions, the easing of this Land, which euen groaneth vnder the burden and number of her inhabitants, the plentifull enriching of our selues and our Country with such commodities as she now laboureth with the penury of them. (Robert Tynley, Two learned sermons. The one, of the mischieuous subtiltie, and barbarous crueltie, the other of the false doctrines, and refined haeresis of the romish synagogue. London, 1609. )
315) And consider well that great worke of freeing the poore Indians from the devourer, a compassion that every good man (but passing by) would shew unto a beast: their children when they come to be saved, will blesse the day when first their fathers saw your faces (Robert Johnson, Nova Britannia. Offering most excellent fruits by planting in Virginia. Exciting such as be well affected to the same. London, 1609.)
316) I may not stay . . . to mention . . . the great and manifold benefits which may redound to this our so populous a Nation, by planting an English Colony in a Territory as large and spacious almost as is England, and in a soyle so rich, fertill, and fruitefull, as that besides the sufficiencyes it naturally yealds for it selfe, may with best conuenience, supply some of the greatest wantes and necessities of these Kingdomes. (Richard Crakanthorpe, A Sermon at the Solemnizing of the Happie Inauguration of our most gracious and religious Soveraigne . . . London, 1609.)
317) The country it selfe is large and great assuredly, though as yet, no exact discovery can bee made of all. It is also commendable and hopefull every way, the ayre and clymate most sweete and wholsome, much warmer then England, and very agreeable to our Natures: It is inhabited with wild and savage people, that live and lie up and downe in troupes like heards of Deare in a Forrest: they have no law but nature, their apparell skinnes of beasts, but most goe naked: the better sort have houses, but poore ones, they have no Arts nor Science, yet they live under superior command such as it is, they are generally very loving and gentle, and doe entertaine and relieve our people with great kindnesse: they are easy to be brought to good, and would fayne embrace a better condition. (Robert Johnson, Nova Britannia. Offering most excellent fruits by planting in Virginia. Exciting such as be well affected to the same. London, 1609.)
318) And as for supplanting the savages, we have no such intent: Our intrusion into their possessions shall tend to their great good, and no way to their hurt, unlesse as unbridled beastes, they procure it to themselves: Wee purpose to proclaime and make it knowne to them all, by some publike interpretation that our comming thither is to plant our selves in their countrie: yet not to supplant and roote them out, but to bring them from their base condition to a farre better: First, in regard of God the Creator, and of Jesus Christ their Redeemer, if they will beleeve in him. And secondly, in respect of earthly blessings, whereof they have now no comfortable use, but in beastly brutish manner, with promise to defend them against all publike and private enemies. (Robert Johnson, Nova Britannia. Offering most excellent fruits by planting in Virginia. Exciting such as be well affected to the same. London, 1609.)
319) So I wish and intreat all well affected subjects, some in their persons, others in their purses, cheerfully to adventure, and joyntly take in hand this high and acceptable worke, tending to advance and spread the kingdom of God, and the knowledge of the truth, among so many millions of men and women, Savage and blind, that never yet saw the true light shine before their eyes, to enlighten their minds and comfort their soules, as also for the honor of our King, and enlarging of his kingdome, and for preservation and defence of that small number our friends and countrimen already planted, least for want of more supplies we become a scorne to the world subjecting our former adventurers to apparent spoile and hazard, and our people (as a prey) to be sackt and puld out of possession. (Robert Johnson, Nova Britannia. Offering most excellent fruits by planting in Virginia. Exciting such as be well affected to the same. London, 1609.)
320) I can say nothing more then is here written, only what I have learned and gathered from the generall consent of all (that I have conversed withall) as-well marriners as others, which have had imployment that way; is that the Country is excellent & pleasant, the clime temperate and health full, the ground fertill and good, the commodities to be expected (if well followed) many, for our people, the worst being already past, these former having indured the heate of the day, whereby those that shall succeede, may at ease labour for their profit, in the most sweete, cool, and temperate shade: the action most honorable, and the end to the high glory of God, to the erecting of true religion among Infidells, to the overthrow of superstition and idolatrie, to the winning of many thousands of wandring sheepe, unto Christs fold, who now, and till now, have strayed in the unknowne paths of Paganisme, Idolatrie, and superstition. (From the preface by J.H. to John Smith, A True Relation of such occurences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting of that Collony which is now resident in the South part thereof. London, 1608. )
