Source: Alexander S. Salley, Jr., ed, Narratives of Early Carolina:
1650-1708 (New York:
Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911), 25-29. Transcribed by Lynn McCune.
Virginia, Linne-Haven, this 8th May, 1654
Sir,
My brother Argol Yardley hath received many
letters from you, with animadversions and instructions to encourage him
in the prosecution of better designs than that of tobacco, but myself never
any: yet the honour I bear you, for your fervent affections to this my
native country, commands me in some measure to give you an account of what
the Lord hath in short time brought to light, by the means of so weak a
minister as myself; namely, an ample discovery of South Virginia or Carolina,
the which we find a most fertile, gallant, rich soil, flourishing in all
the abundance of nature, especially in the rich mulberry and vine, a serene
air, and temperate clime, and experimentally rich in precious minerals;
and lastly, I may say, parallel with any place for rich land, and stately
timber of all sorts; a place indeed unacquainted with our Virginia’s nipping
frosts, no winter, or very little cold to be found there. Thus much
for the country; the manner and means in discovery follows: In September
last, a young man, a trader for beavers, being bound out to the adjacent
parts to trade, by accident his sloop left him; and he, supposing she had
been gone to Rhoanoke, hired a small boat, and with one of his company
left with him came to crave my licence to go to look after his sloop, and
sought some relief of provisions of me; the which granting, he set forth
with three more in company, one being of my family, the others were my
neighbours. They entered in at Caratoke, ten leagues to the southward
of Cape Henry, and so went to Rhoanoke island; where, or near thereabouts,
they found the great commander of those parts with his Indians a hunting,
who received them civilly, and shewed them the ruins of Sir Walter Ralegh’s
fort, from whence I received a sure token of their being there. After
some days spent to and fro in the country, the young man the interpreter
prevailed with the great man, and his war-captains, and a great man of
another province, and some other Indians, to come in and make their peace
with the English, which they willingly condescended unto; and for the favour
and relief I extended to the interpreter in his necessity, in gratitude
he brought them to me at my house, where they abode a week, and shewed
much civility of behaviour. In the interim of which time, hearing
and seeing the children read and write, of his own free voluntary motion
he asked me, (after a most solid pause, we two being alone), whether I
would take his only son, having but one, and teach him to do as our children,
namely is his terms, to speak out of the book, and to make a writing; which
motion I most heartily embraced; and with expressions of love, and many
presents, crediting with cloaths, dismissed him. At his departure
he expressed himself desirous to serve that God the Englishmen served,
and that his child might be so brought up; promising to bring him in to
me in four moons, in which space my occasions calling me to Maryland, he
came once himself, and sent twice to know, if I was returned, that he might
bring his child; but in my absence, some people, supposing I had great
gains by commerce with him, murmured, and carried themselves uncivilly
towards them, forbidding their coming in any more; and by some over-busy
justices of the place, (my wife having brought him to church in the congregation),
after sermon, threatened to whip him, and send him away. The great
man was very much afraid, and much appalled; but my wife kept him in her
hand by her side, and confidently and constantly on my behalf resisted
their threatenings, till they publickly protested against me for bringing
them in; but she worthily engaged my whole fortunes for any damage should
arise by or from them, till my return; which falling out presently after,
I having by the way taken my brother in with me for the better prosecution
of so noble a design, immediately I dispatched away a boat with six hands,
one being a carpenter, to build the king an English house, my promise at
his coming first, being to comply in that matter. I sent 200 l. sterling
in trust, to purchase and pay for what land they should like, the which
in little time they effected, and purchased, and paid for three great rivers,
and also all such others as they should like of southerly; and in solemn
manner took possession of the country, in the name, and on the behalf,
of the commonwealth of England; and actual possession was solemnly given
them by the great commander, and all the great men of the rest of the provinces,
in delivering them a turf of the earth with an arrow shot into it; and
so the Indians totally left the lands and rivers to us, retiring to a new
habitation, where our people built the great commander a fair house, the
which I am to furnish with English utensils and chattels. In the
interim, whilst the house was building for the great emperor of Rhoanoke,
he undertook with some of his Indians, to bring some of our men to the
emperor of the Tuskarorawes, and to that purpose sent embassadors before,
and with two of our company set forth and travelled within two days journey
of the place, where at a hunting quarter the Tuskarorawes emperor, with
250 of his men, met our company, and received them courteously; and after
some days spent, desired them to go to his chief town, where he told them
was one Spaniard residing, who had been seven years with them, a man very
rich, having about thirty in family, seven whereof are negroes; and he
had one more negro, leiger with a great nation called the Newxes.
He is sometimes, they say, gone from thence a pretty while. Our people
had gone, but that the interpreter with overtravelling himself fell sick;
yet the Tuskarorawe proffered him, if he would go, he would in three days
journey bring him to a great salt sea, and to places where they had copper
out of the ground, the art of refining which they have perfectly; for our
people saw much amongst them, and some plates of a foot square. There
was one Indian had two beads of gold in his ears, big as rounceval peas;
and they said, there was much of that not far off. These allurements
had drawn them thither, but for the interpreter’s weakness, and the war,
that was between a great nation called the Cacores, a very little people
in stature, not exceeding youths of thirteen or fourteen years, but extremely
valiant and fierce in fight, and above belief swift in retirement and flight,
whereby they resist the puissance of this potent, rich, and numerous people.
There is another great nation by these, called the Haynokes, who valiantly
resist the Spaniards further northern attempts. The Tuskarorawe told
them, the way to the sea was a plain road, much travelled for salt and
copper; the salt is made by the sea itself, and some of it brought in to
me. After the Tuskarorawe could not prevail, but our people would
return, he sent his only son with a great man his tutor, and another great
man, and some other attendance with them; and when they came to the rest
of our company, the house being done and finished, the Rowanoke with the
Tuskororawe [sic] prince, and sundry other kings of the provinces, in all
some forty-five in company, together with our six men, on May-day last
arrived at my house. The Rowanoke brought his wife with him, and
his son, to be baptized. It fell out happily, that my brother and
many other friends were met at my house. The only present brought
us was the turf of earth with the arrow shot into it, which was again solemnly
delivered unto me, and received by me, in the name, and on the behalf,
of the commonwealth of England, to whom we really tender the sure possession
of this rich and flourishing place; hoping only, that our own properties
and our pains will not be forgotten. There is no man hath been at
a penny charge but myself, and it hath already cost me 300 l. and upwards;
and were my estate able, I should hope to give a better account of my well-wishes
to a general good. My hopes are, I shall not want assistance from
good patriots, either by their good words or purses. Tuesday the
third of May, the Rowanoke presented his child to the minister before the
congregation to be baptized, which was solemnly performed in presence of
all the Indians, and the child left with me to be bred up a Christian,
which God grant him to become! At their departure, we appointed a
further discovery by sea and land, to begin the first of July next.
God guide us to his glory, and England’s and Virginia’s honour!
Sir, if you think good to acquaint the states
with what is done by two Virginians born, you will honour our country.
I have at this instant no present worthy your acceptance, but an arrow
that came from the Indians inhabiting on the South-sea, the which we purpose,
God willing, to see this summer, non obstante periculo. I am lastly,
Sir, a suitor to you, for some silk-worms eggs, and materials for the making
of silk, and what other good fruits, or roots, or plants, may be proper
for such a country. Above all, my desire is to the olive, some trees
of which could we procure, would rejoice me; for wine we cannot want with
industry. Thus desiring to kiss your hands, with the fair hands of
my virtuous country-woman, the worthily be honoured Mrs. Virginia Farrar,
I humbly take leave, and ever remain, Sir,
Your true honourer , and affectionate
Servant to be commanded,
Francis Yardley
For the worshipfull John Farrar, Esq; at his mannor of Little Gidding
in
Huntingdonshire.