Chap. X. <>J M E ^ I C A. ? o 7 



The Rivers alfoand Harbours are generally ftor'd wich delicate Fifli ,as Salmons, 

 Peals, Eels, Herrings, Mackrel, Flounders, Launce, Capclin, Cod, and Trours^ 

 the faireft, fatted and fweeteft, that ever were fecn in thefe Parts. The like for 

 Lobfters, Cra-fifli, Mufsles, and other variety of Shelkfifh. 



The Seas likewife all along the Coaft, do plentifully abound in other forts of 

 Fifli, as Whales, Spanijh Mackrel, Dorrel, Pales, Herrings, Hogs, Porpofes, Seals, 

 and fuch like Royal Fifli, <src. 



But the chief Commodity of New found Land yet known, and which is grown to 

 be a fetled Trade, and that it may be much better'd by an ordinary Plantation there, 

 (if the Traders thither will take fome better courfe than formerly they have done, 

 as (hall be declared) is the Cod*fifliing upon that Coaft, by, which our Nation and 

 many other Countreys are enrich'd. 



Almoft incredible is the benefit of the Fifli, which the French, Bifcainers, and 

 fortuguefe fetch yearly from this Coaft of 2>{ew- found Land, and the Bank, which 

 lieth within twenty five Leagues from the South Cape of that Countrey, where the 

 French ufe to Fifli Winter and Summer, ufually making two Voyages every year 

 thither. To which Places, and to the Coaft of Canada, which lieth near unto it, 

 are yearly fent from thofe Countreys, more than four hundred Sail of Ships. 



This Ifland of Terra 2\fyv* belongs properly and juftly to the Crown of England, 

 having been under the fole Jurifdidion of the Engltjh from the firft Difcovcry there- 

 of, which was by Sir Sebaflian Cabot, Employ'd by King Henry the Seventh, to find 

 out fome other part of America, than what had been difcover'd by Columbia, as hath 

 been above declar'd in feveral places. 



Afterwards King Henry the Eighth continued the Englijh Intereft there, and 

 Employ'd one <%utt into that Ifland, in order to the Plantation thereof. 



Queen Elizabeth no lefs careful to preferve that Plantation, fent Sir Humphrey 

 Gilbert, a QevonJIrire Knight, to plant a Colony there, the better to fecure the fame, 

 and to increafe Trading there- and accordingly the faid Sir Humphrey with two 

 good Ships and a Pinnace in her Name, took pofieflion of that Countrey, in the 

 Harbour of St. Johns. He Sail'd from thence towards Virginia, and by reafon of 

 fome unhappy direction in his Courfe, the greateft Ship he had ftruck upon Shelves 

 on the Coaft of Canada, and was there loft, with moft part of the Company in her l 

 and he himfelf, being then in a fmall Pinnace of twenty Tun, in the company of 

 his Vice- Admiral (Captain Hays) returning towards England, in a great Storm, was 

 overwhelmed in the Sea, and fo perifh'd. 



In the Year 1608. it was undertaken anew by John Guy, a Merchant of Srijiol, 

 and with fo good fuccefs, that the Colony in a ftiort time were well furnifli'd with 

 Wheat, Rye, Barley, and other Grain of their own Sowing, with Turnips, Cole- 

 worts, and abundance of other neceflary things, not without fome probable hopes 

 of Metals, a certain and plentiful Trade of Sables, Musk, and other rich Com- 

 modities. 



In the Year 1620. Sir George Calvert Knight, then principal Secretary of State, TheI> '™ 

 and a Privy Councellor to King James the Firft of England, See. purchased a part of f};P ni 

 Newfound Land, which was afterwards in the Year 1613. granted to him and his 

 Heirs by Patent from the faid King, under the Great Seal of Englan d, bearing Date 

 the feventh oijpnl, in the One and twentieth Year of his Reign s by which means 

 the faid Traft of Land was crefted into a Province, and at the Inftance of the laid 

 Sir George Cahert, call'd Avalon, from Avalon in Sommerfet-jhire, where Chrijltanity was 

 firft Planted in England. 



This Province lies in the forty feventh Degree of Northern Latitude, and is thus 



bounded 



1 nee 

 in 



• 



