Chap. III. of the ENGLISH in AMERICA. 
his Notions on that Subjeft in Holland^ and had converfed 
much with Perfons of Quality and Charafter, who had 
found it neceffary to feek Shelter from their Enemies in 
thofe Parts of the World. We need not wonder there- 
fore, that foon after the Reftoration various Schemes were 
fet on foot for enlarging, and effedlually peopling, the 
Colonies already planted in America^ as well as for fettling 
new Colonies, in fuch Places as were not already occupi- 
ed by our own, or any other European^ Nation. The King 
was advifed by fome, and follicited by others, to grant 
Charters to new Colonies, from various Motives. Prince 
Robert^ or as we ufually call him. Prince Rupert^ Duke 
of Cumberland^ who had fpent fome Years in America^ had 
great Notions of raifing a naval Strength there, capable 
of diftrelTing the Spaniards^ and of obtaining a Share of 
the Gold and Silver they bring from thence. He was 
likewife perfuaded, that there were very rich Mines in 
Florida^ and was therefore for pomoting, at any Rate, 
Difcoveries and Settlements in that Country ; the Earl of 
Clarendon^ Lord AJhley^ and feveral others of his firft Mini- 
ftry, confidered- Things in a very different Light: They 
thought that Plantations might be made ufeful Drains for 
carrying off warm , and turbulent Spirits •, and that by 
granting Liberty of Confcience there to all the different 
Seds who were reftained at Home, they might fecure 
Peace in Britain^ and at the fame time procure vaft Profit 
from America j for it was a fettled Maxim with them, 
That Indujiry was the beji Cure for Enthujiafm which Ex- 
perience fhewed was extremely well founded. 
There were fome other Reafons that contributed not a 
little to render Projedls of this Nature acceptable to the 
King •, for at that time there were Numbers of People 
that wanted fome Eftablifhment of this kind for their 
Support, and whom it was much eafier to difpofe of in 
this manner, than to find Means of rendering them eafy 
and content at home. As, for Inftance, Multitudes of 
Royalifts who were undone by the War, and who feeing 
the Succefs that had attended the Planters in Virginia 
and Barbadoes^ were better pleafed to feek new For- 
tunes in the JVeft Indies^ than to continue in a State of In- 
digence and Neceflity in England. Many likewife of the 
Army that had been lately difbanded, weft alfo inclined 
to take the fame Method for obtaining a comfortable 
Subfiftance •, and were not afraid of Danger and Fatigues 
abroad, to which they had been long inured at home. 
There were a third fort of People who, either from a Dif- 
affeftion to the Government then newly re-eftablifhed, or 
for fear of being called to an Account for what they had 
done in former Times, were very willing to tranfport 
themfelves into thefe diftant Parts of the King’s Domi- 
nions, that they might have a Chance of raifing Eflates 
there, and at the fame time be fecure from any After- 
reckonings for what, during our long Scene of public 
Confufions they had been doing here : We need not won- 
der therefore, that as foon as the Government was a little 
fettled, many Propofals fhould be made for gratifying 
the Friends to the Government, who had very high Pre- 
tenlions to the royal Favour, with Grants invf^izmV^, which 
coft the Crown nothing, and which afforded, probable 
Means of inriching particular Perfons at the fame Time 
that it opened a fure and certain Means of extend- 
ing the Power, increafing the Trade, and augment- 
ing the Wealth of the Nation. We may add, that be- 
fides all thefe Reafons, Expedients, and Advantages, 
there were likewife fome of Neceffity ; for it was 
evident, even to fuch as were no great Politicians, that if 
fome Meafures were not taken to prevent it, the Dutch 
and other Foreigners, would infallibly fix themfelves in 
thofe Countries which belonged of Right to this Crown, 
and which had been hitherto negledled *, and therefore it 
was very wifely judged, that the Plantations firft fettled, 
Ihould be in thofe Parts of the Continent that were in moft 
Danger of falling into the Elands of other Nations. 
Upon thefe Confiderations therefore, the Adminiftration 
liftened very willingly to a Propofal that was made within 
two Years after the King Was reftored, for planting the 
Country now known by the Name of Carolina ; which 
feemed the more worthy of being fecilred, as lying indif- 
^ putably in the fineft Climate in the World ; and thereby 
promifmg the higheft Advantages to that European Na- 
tion which fhould fettle and cultivate it. Neither was it 
at all improbable; that when the Property of this Country 
was once fixed by a Charter from the Crown; and large 
Privileges offered to fuch as would go thither and fettle; 
it might be very foon peopled ; fmee amongft the many 
• Things for which that Country Was undoubtedly fit, they 
were likely to fall upon fomewhat that might fupport and 
maintain them ; it is true, that many Things were given 
out of the Country at that time, which have not hitherto 
been verified by Experience ; but then, as v/e fhall ftiew 
hereafter at large, it feems to be rather imputable to the 
Want of Induftry and Application in the Inhabitants^ than 
to any Defedl in the Soil or Climate ; But to have juft 
Notions of this, and from thence to form a right Idea of 
the Value of this noble Country, than which the Globe 
affords not a better, it is neceffary that we fhould entet 
into a few Particulars, that we may thorougly apprehend 
by what Right we poffefs it ; how it came to be aban- 
doned by another Nation that feized it while unoccupied 
by us ; after what Manner our firft Plantations were 
made ; what great Changes have happened in the Confti- 
tution of the Colony ; the State it is in at prefent ; the 
Benefits which Great Britain reaps from it, and what 
reafonable Hopes there are, that it may yet turn m.ore to 
our Advantage. Of all which Heads we fhall treat as 
clearly and as concifely as it is pofffble. 
2. The Country of Carolina is Part of that vaft Region 
of North America which was formerly comprehended un- 
der the NaiTiC of Florida.^ a Name beftowed by John 
Ponce de Leon^ in the Year 1512 *, of whofe Adventures 
and Difcoveries we have already fpoken largely : He ad- 
vanced, however, no farther Northwards than the Ri- 
ver of St. Matheo., and therefore it is plain, that the 
Spaniards never had any juft Title to Carolina : But it is; 
however, very true that they flattered themfelves, that 
his having touched upon this Continent, gave them a 
Right to it which Notion, if well founded, would give 
us a better Right, fmee Sebafiian Cabot had been feveral 
Years before on the Northern Coaft of this very Country, 
though it is doubtful whether he advanced fo far 
South as St. Matheo. The Spaniards^ who deftred to 
fecure it to themfelves eight Years afterwards, fent Vafquez 
de Ayllon to make a farther Difeovery of it i He came 
upon the North Coaft, and called the North-north-weft 
River by the Name of Jordon. He did nothing except 
inviting many of the Natives on board his Ships, where, 
when he had got them, he hoifted Sail, and carried them 
into miferable Bondage. In the Year 1526, Charles Y. 
Emperor of Germany and King of Spain., fent Patnphilio 
Narvaez to Florida., who ftaid fo long in the South- weft 
Part of this Country, which is the moft barren, that his 
People eat one another, his Crew having fpent their Pro- 
vifions. Ten Years afterwards, Ferdinando Soto came 
hither in Search of Gold and Silver Mines, having a 
little Army of nine hundred Foot and five hundred Horfe* 
Himfelf and three Parts of his Soldiers died through 
Want, by Sicknefs, and the Indians., and the reft, were led 
back by Lewis Mofeos to New Spain., though not without 
great Difficulty, the Natives fetting upon them feveral 
times in their March, and killing all that fell into their 
Hands. This unfortunate and expenfive Expedition fo 
difeouraged the Spaniards, that for feveral Years they 
made no more Attempts in thofe Parts, and indeed they 
fearched no farther than that Part of the Continent which 
lies oppofite to the Gulph of Nezv Spain, and not within, 
and beyond the Streights of Bahama, which is the moft 
fertile and rich, abounding in many valuable Commodities. 
The French perceiving the Spaniards negledled this long 
Trad of Land, Admiral Coligny, in the Reign of 
Charles IX. procured two of the King’s Ships to be fent 
thither ; the Command of which he gave to Jean Ribaut, 
who, after a Voyage of two Months, arrived at the River, 
Dolphin, between that of St: Matheo and that of May j 
lying about the gothDegree. The next River to that of 
he called the Seine, the next to that, the Somme, th.tn Loire, 
then the Charente zndi Garonne, at the Mouth o^ Albemarle 
River, then called the Great River. The Port being fafe 
and commodious, he built a Fort, which he called 
Fort„ 
