Observations gathered out of a Discourse of the Plantation of the Southerne Colonie in Virginia by the English, 1606. Written by the Honorable Gentleman, Master George Percy.
The eighteenth day we launched our Shallop. The Captaine and some Gentlemen went in her and discovered up the Bay. We found a River on the Southside running into the Maine; we entered it and found it very shoald (shallow) water, not for any Boats to swim. Wee went further into the Bay, and saw a plaine plot of ground where we went on Land, and found the place five mile in compasse, without either Bush or Tree....Upon this plot of ground we got good store of Mussels and Oysters, which lay on the ground as thicke as stones. Wee opened some, and found in many of them Pearles....We past through excellent ground full of Flowers of divers (diverse) kinds and colours, and as goodly trees as I have seene, as Cedar, Cipresse, and other kindes (kinds). Going a little further we came into a little plat of ground full of fine and beautifull Strawberies, foure times bigger and better then ours in England....
...The twelfth day we went backe to our ships, and discovered a point of Lande, called Archers Hope, which was sufficient with a little labour to defend our selves against any Enemy. The soile was good and fruitfull, with excellent good Timber. There are also great store of Vines in bignesse of (as big as) a mans thigh, running up to the tops of the Trees in great abundance. We also did see many Squirels, Conies, Black Birds with crimson wings, and divers other Fowles and Birds of divers and sundrie collours of crimson, Watchet, Yellow, Greene, Murry, and of divers other hewes naturally without any art using. We found store of Turkie nests and many Egges....
...The nineteenth day, my selfe and three or foure more walking into the Woods by chance wee espied (saw) a pathway like to an Irish pace: wee were desirous to knowe whither (where) it would bring us. Wee traced alonge some foure miles, all the way as wee went, having the pleasantest Suckles, the ground all flowing over with faire (fair) flowers of sundry colours and kindes, as though it had been in any Garden or Orchard in England. There be many Strawberries, and other fruits unknowne. Wee saw the Woods full of Cedar and Cypresse trees, with other trees, which issues out sweet Gummes like to Balsam. Wee kept on our way in this Paradise....
...This river which wee have discovered is one of the famousest Rivers that ever was found by any Christian. It ebbs and flowes a hundred and threescore miles, where ships of great burthen may harbour in safetie. Wheresoever we landed upon this Rive r , wee saw the goodliest Woods as Beech, Oke, Cedar, Cypresse, Wal-nuts, Sassafras, and Vines in great abundance, which hang in great clusters on many Trees, and other Trees unknowne; and all the grounds bespred (covered) with many sweet and delicate flowres of divers colours and kindes. There are many brances of this River, which runne flowing through the Woods with great plentie of fish of all kindes; as for Sturgeon, all the World cannot be compared to it. In this Countrey I have seene many great and large Medows having excellent good pasture for any Cattle. There is also great store of Deere both Red and Fallow. There are Beares, Foxes, Otters, Bevers, Muskats, and wild beasts unknowne....
"Observations by Master George Percy, 1607" in Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, ed. Narratives of Early Virginia, 1606 - 1625. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907.