Page:A Description of New England - Smith (1616).djvu/79

 suffer the French trade in the West-Indies) any goods from thence, thogh they take them vpon the Coast of Spaine, are lawfull prize; or from any of his territories out of the limits of Europe.

Leauing thus my businesse in France, I returned to Plimouth, to find them that had thus buried me amongst the French: and not onely buried mee, but with so much infamy, as such trecherous cowards could suggest to excuse their villanies: But my clothes, bookes, instruments, Armes, and what I had, they shared amongst them, and what they liked; fayning, the French had all was wanting; and had throwne them into the Sea, taken their ship, and all, had they not runne away & left me as they did. The cheeftaines of this mutinie that I could finde, I laied by the heeles; the rest, like themselues, confessed the truth as you haue heard. Now how I haue or could preuent these accidents, I rest at your censures. But to the matter.

Newfound-land at the first, I haue heard, was held as desperate a fishing, as this I proiect in New England. Placentia, & the Banke, were also as doubtfull to the French: But, for all the disasters happened mee, the businesse is the same it was: and the fiue ships (whereof one was reported more then three hundred tunnes) went forward; & found fish so much, that neither Izeland-man, nor Newfoundland-man, I could heare of hath beene there, will goe any more to either place, if they may goe thither. So, that vpon the returne of my Vice admirall that proceeded on her voyage when I spent my