INTRODUCTION. 23 consequences. Gosnald had found a healthy chap, i. climate, a rich soil, good harbours, and a route 1602. which greatly shortened the distance to the continent of North America. He had seen many of the fruits known and prized in Europe, blooming in the woods ; and he had planted European grain, which he found to grow ra- pidly. Encouraged by the experiment which he had made, and delighted with the country he had visited, he quickly formed the resolution of transporting thither a colony, and of uniting with himself, in the execution of this design, others by whom it might be supported. So unfortunate, however, had been former attempts of this sort, that men of wealth and rank, al- though the report of Gosnald made considerable impression on them, were slow in giving full faith to his representations, and in entering completely into his plans. One vessel was fitted out by the merchants of Bristol, and another by the earl of Southampton, and lord Arundel of Warder ; in order to learn whether Gosnald's account of the country was to be considered as a just representation of its state, or as the ex- aggerated description of a person fond of mag- nifying his own discoveries. Both returned with a full confirmation of his veracity, and with the addition of so many new circumstances, in favour of the country, acquired by a more ex- tensive view of it, as greatly increased the desire of planting it. The merchants of London
