the complete writings-3-第83章
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prizes； 〃to manage their fight against the Spaniards； and be in a prison when they took any English。〃 One of their prizes was a sugar caraval from Brazil； another was a West Indian worth two hundred thousand crowns； which had on board fourteen coffers of wedges of silver； eight thousand royals of eight； and six coffers of the King of Spain's treasure； besides the pillage and rich coffers of many rich passengers。 The French captain； breaking his promise to put Smith ashore at Fayal； at length sent him towards France on the sugar caravel。 When near the coast； in a night of terrible storm； Smith seized a boat and escaped。 It was a tempest that wrecked all the vessels on the coast； and for twelve hours Smith was drifting about in his open boat； in momentary expectation of sinking； until he was cast upon the oozy isle of 〃Charowne；〃 where the fowlers picked him up half dead with water； cold； and hunger； and he got to Rochelle； where he made complaint to the Judge of Admiralty。 Here he learned that the rich prize had been wrecked in the storm and the captain and half the crew drowned。 But from the wreck of this great prize thirty…six thousand crowns' worth of jewels came ashore。 For his share in this Smith put in his claim with the English ambassador at Bordeaux。 The Captain was hospitably treated by the Frenchmen。 He met there his old friend Master Crampton； and he says： 〃I was more beholden to the Frenchmen that escaped drowning in the man…of…war； Madam Chanoyes of Rotchell； and the lawyers of Burdeaux； than all the rest of my countrymen I met in France。〃 While he was waiting there to get justice； he saw the 〃arrival of the King's great marriage brought from Spain。〃 This is all his reference to the arrival of Anne of Austria； eldest daughter of Philip III。； who had been betrothed to Louis XIII。 in 1612； one of the double Spanish marriages which made such a commotion in France。
Leaving his business in France unsettled （forever）； Smith returned to Plymouth； to find his reputation covered with infamy and his clothes； books； and arms divided among the mutineers of his boat。 The chiefest of these he 〃laid by the heels；〃 as usual； and the others confessed and told the singular tale we have outlined。 It needs no comment； except that Smith had a facility for unlucky adventures unequaled among the uneasy spirits of his age。 Yet he was as buoyant as a cork； and emerged from every disaster with more enthusiasm for himself and for new ventures。 Among the many glowing tributes to himself in verse that Smith prints with this description is one signed by a soldier； Edw。 Robinson； which begins：
Oft thou hast led； when I brought up the Rere； In bloody wars where thousands have been slaine。〃
This common soldier； who cannot help breaking out in poetry when he thinks of Smith； is made to say that Smith was his captain 〃in the fierce wars of Transylvania；〃 and he apostrophizes him：
Thou that to passe the worlds foure parts dost deeme No more； than ewere to goe to bed or drinke； And all thou yet hast done thou dost esteeme As nothing。
For mee： I not commend but much admire Thy England yet unknown to passers by…her； For it will praise itselfe in spight of me： Thou； it； it； thou； to all posteritie。〃
XVIII
NEW ENGLAND'S TRIALS
Smith was not cast down by his reverses。 No sooner had he laid his latest betrayers by the heels than he set himself resolutely to obtain money and means for establishing a colony in New England； and to this project and the cultivation in England of interest in New England he devoted the rest of his life。
His Map and Description of New England was published in 1616； and he became a colporteur of this； beseeching everywhere a hearing for his noble scheme。 It might have been in 1617； while Pocahontas was about to sail for Virginia； or perhaps after her death； that he was again in Plymouth； provided with three good ships； but windbound for three months； so that the season being past； his design was frustrated； and his vessels； without him； made a fishing expedition to Newfoundland。
It must have been in the summer of this year that he was at Plymouth with divers of his personal friends； and only a hundred pounds among them all。 He had acquainted the nobility with his projects； and was afraid to see the Prince Royal before he had accomplished anything； 〃but their great promises were nothing but air to prepare the voyage against the next year。〃 He spent that summer in the west of England； visiting 〃Bristol； Exeter； Bastable？ Bodman； Perin； Foy； Milborow； Saltash； Dartmouth； Absom； Pattnesse； and the most of the gentry in Cornwall and Devonshire； giving them books and maps；〃 and inciting them to help his enterprise。
So well did he succeed； he says； that they promised him twenty sail of ships to go with him the next year； and to pay him for his pains and former losses。 The western commissioners； in behalf of the company； contracted with him； under indented articles； 〃to be admiral of that country during my life； and in the renewing of the letters… patent so to be nominated〃； half the profits of the enterprise to be theirs； and half to go to Smith and his companions。
Nothing seems to have come out of this promising induction except the title of 〃Admiral of New England；〃 which Smith straightway assumed and wore all his life； styling himself on the title…page of everything he printed； 〃Sometime Governor of Virginia and Admiral of New England。〃 As the generous Captain had before this time assumed this title； the failure of the contract could not much annoy him。 He had about as good right to take the sounding name of Admiral as merchants of the west of England had to propose to give it to him。
The years wore away； and Smith was beseeching aid； republishing his works； which grew into new forms with each issue； and no doubt making himself a bore wherever he was known。 The first edition of 〃New England's Trials〃by which he meant the various trials and attempts to settle New England was published in 1620。 It was to some extent a repetition of his 〃Description〃 of 1616。 In it he made no reference to Pocahontas。 But in the edition of 1622； which is dedicated to Charles； Prince of Wales； and considerably enlarged； he drops into this remark about his experience at Jamestown： 〃It Is true in our greatest extremitie they shot me； slue three of my men； and by the folly of them that fled tooke me prisoner； yet God made Pocahontas the king's daughter the meanes to deliver me： and thereby taught me to know their treacheries to preserve the rest。 ＇This is evidently an allusion to the warning Pocahontas gave him at Werowocomoco。＇ It was also my chance in single combat to take the king of Paspahegh prisoner； and by keeping him； forced his subjects to work in chains till I made all the country pay contribution having little else whereon to live。〃
This was written after he had heard of the horrible massacre of 1622 at Jamestown； and he cannot resist the temptation to draw a contrast between the present and his own management。 He explains that the Indians did not kill the English because they were Christians； but to get their weapons and commodities。 How different it was when he was in Virginia。 〃I kept that country with but 38； and had not to eat but what we had from the savages。 When I had ten men able to go abroad； our commonwealth was very strong： with such a number I ranged that unknown country 14 weeks： I had but 18 to subdue them all。〃 This is better than Sir John Falstaff。 But he goes on： 〃When I first went to those desperate designes it cost me many a forgotten pound to hire men to go； and procrastination caused more run away than went。〃 〃Twise in that time I was President。〃 ＇It will be remembered that about the close of his first year he gave up the command； for form's sake； to Capt。 Martin； for three hours； and then took it again。＇ 〃To range this country of New England in like manner； I had but eight； as is said； and amongst their bruite conditions I met many of their silly encounters； and without any hurt； God be thanked。〃 The valiant Captain had come by this time to regard himself as the inventor and discovere
