PLANTATIONS are amongst ancient, primitive, and heroical works. When the world was young, it begat more children; but now it is old, it begets fewer: for I may justly account new plantations, to be the children of former kingdoms. I like a plantation in a pure soil; that is, where people are not displanted, to the end, to plant in others. For else it is rather an extirpation, than a plantation. Planting of countries, is like planting of woods; for you must make account to leese almost twenty years' profit, and expect your recompense in the end. For the principal thing, that hath been the destruction of most plantations, hath been the base and hasty drawing of profit, in the first years. It is true, speedy profit is not to be neglected, as far as may stand with the good of the plantation, but no further. It is a shameful and unblessed thing, to take the scum of people, and wicked condemned men, to be the people with whom you plant; and not only so, but it spoileth the plantation; for they will ever live like rogues, and not fall to work, but be lazy, and do mischief, and spend victuals, and be quickly weary, and then certify over to their country, to the discredit of the plantation. The people wherewith you plant ought to be gardeners, ploughmen, laborers, smiths, carpenters, joiners, fishermen, fowlers, with some few apothecaries, surgeons, cooks, and bakers. In a country of plantation, first look about, what kind of victual the country yields of itself to hand; as chestnuts, walnuts, pineapples, olives, dates, plums, cherries, wild honey, and the like; and make use of them. Then consider what victual or esculent things there are, which grow speedily, and within the year; as parsnips, carrots, turnips, onions, radish, artichokes of Hierusalem, maize, and the like. For wheat, barley, and oats, they ask too much labor; but with pease and beans you may begin, both because they ask less labor, and because they serve for meat, as well as for bread. And of rice, likewise cometh a great increase, and it is a kind of meat. Above all, there ought to be brought store of biscuit, oat-meal, flour, meal, and the like, in the beginning, till bread may be had. For beasts, or birds, take chiefly such as are least subject to diseases, and multiply fastest; as swine, goats, cocks, hens, turkeys, geese, house-doves, and the like. The victual in plantations, ought to be expended almost as in a besieged town; that is, with certain allowance. And let the main part of the ground, employed to gardens or corn, be to a common stock; and to be laid in, and stored up, and then delivered out in proportion; besides some spots of ground, that any particular person will manure for his own private. Consider likewise what commodities, the soil where the plantation is, doth naturally yield, that they may some way help to defray the charge of the plantation (so it be not, as was said, to the untimely prejudice of the main business), as it hath fared with tobacco in Virginia. Wood commonly aboundeth but too much; and therefore timber is fit to be one. If there be iron ore, and streams whereupon to set the mills, iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth. Making of bay-salt, if the climate be proper for it, would be put in experience. Growing silk likewise, if any be, is a likely commodity. Pitch and tar, where store of firs and pines are, will not fail. So drugs and sweet woods, where they are, cannot but yield great profit. Soap-ashes likewise, and other things that may be thought of. But moil not too much under ground; for the hope of mines is very uncertain, and useth to make the planters lazy, in other things. For government; let it be in the hands of one, assisted with some counsel; and let them have commission to exercise martial laws, with some limitation. And above all, let men make that profit, of being in the wilderness, as they have God always, and his service, before their eyes. Let not the government of the plantation, depend upon too many counsellors, and undertakers, in the country that planteth, but upon a temperate number; and let those be rather noblemen and gentlemen, than merchants; for they look ever to the present gain. Let there be freedom from custom, till the plantation be of strength; and not only freedom from custom, but freedom to carry their commodities, where they may make their best of them, except there be some special cause of caution. Cram not in people, by sending too fast company after company; but rather harken how they waste, and send supplies proportionably; but so, as the number may live well in the plantation, and not by surcharge be in penury. It hath been a great endangering to the health of some plantations, that they have built along the sea and rivers, in marish and unwholesome grounds. Therefore, though you begin there, to avoid carriage and like discommodities, yet build still rather upwards from the streams, than along. It concerneth likewise the health of the plantation, that they have good store of salt with them, that they may use it in their victuals, when it shall be necessary. If you plant where savages are, do not only entertain them, with trifles and gingles, but use them justly and graciously, with sufficient guard nevertheless; and do not win their favor, by helping them to invade their enemies, but for their defence it is not amiss; and send oft of them, over to the country that plants, that they may see a better condition than their own, and commend it when they return. When the plantation grows to strength, then it is time to plant with women, as well as with men; that the plantation may spread into generations, and not be ever pieced from without. It is the sinfullest thing in the world, to forsake or destitute a plantation once in forwardness; for besides the dishonor, it is the guiltiness of blood of many commiserable persons.
FOUNDING COLONIES is among the ancient, pioneering, and heroic works. When the world was young, it produced more children. Now that it is old, it produces fewer. For I may rightly call new colonies the children of older kingdoms. I favor founding a colony on untouched ground, where people are not driven out to make room for others. Otherwise, it is destruction rather than settlement. Settling countries is like planting forests. You must expect to forgo almost twenty years of profit and receive your reward at the end. The chief cause of most colonies’ ruin has been the greedy rush for profit in their early years. Quick profits should certainly not be neglected, provided they serve the colony’s welfare, but no further. It is shameful and unblessed to populate a colony with society’s dregs and wicked convicted criminals. Beyond that, it ruins the colony. They will always live like rogues and refuse to work. They will be idle, cause trouble, consume supplies, and soon grow tired of the place. Then they will send reports home that damage the colony’s reputation. Your settlers should be gardeners, plowmen, laborers, blacksmiths, carpenters, joiners, fishermen, and bird catchers. Include a few apothecaries, surgeons, cooks, and bakers. In a new colony, first discover what food the country naturally provides, ready to hand. This might include chestnuts, walnuts, pine nuts, olives, dates, plums, cherries, wild honey, and similar foods. Make use of them. Then consider which food plants grow quickly and produce within a year. These include parsnips, carrots, turnips, onions, radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, maize, and similar crops. Wheat, barley, and oats require too much labor. But you may begin with peas and beans. They require less labor and serve both as food in themselves and for making bread. Rice also produces a large yield and serves as food in itself. Above all, bring plentiful supplies of hard biscuit, oatmeal, flour, meal, and similar provisions at the beginning. These must last until bread can be produced. For livestock and birds, choose chiefly those least prone to disease and quickest to multiply. These include pigs, goats, roosters, hens, turkeys, geese, domestic pigeons, and similar animals. Food in colonies should be distributed almost as in a town under siege, with fixed allowances. Most land used for gardens or grain should supply a common store. Gather and store its produce, then distribute it in proper shares. Besides this, allow individuals small plots to cultivate for their own use. Consider also what goods the colony’s land naturally produces that might help cover its costs. But, as already noted, do not pursue these too early at the expense of the main undertaking. This has happened with tobacco in Virginia. Wood is usually only too plentiful, so timber is a suitable product. If there is iron ore and streams to power mills, iron is an excellent product where wood is abundant. Producing salt by evaporating seawater should be tried if the climate is suitable. Silk production, where possible, is another promising source of trade. Pitch and tar will certainly succeed where firs and pines are plentiful. Medicinal substances and fragrant woods, where available, cannot fail to yield great profits. Ashes for soapmaking are another possibility, along with other products that may occur to you. But do not labor too much underground. The hope of finding mines is very uncertain and tends to make settlers neglect other work. Government should be entrusted to one person, assisted by a small council. Give them authority to enforce martial law, within certain limits. Above all, let settlers gain this benefit from living in the wilderness. Let them always keep God and his service before their eyes. The colony’s government should not depend on too many advisers and investors in the founding country. Keep their number moderate. They should preferably be noblemen and gentlemen rather than merchants, who always look to immediate profit. Exempt the colony from customs duties until it is strong. Also allow settlers to sell their goods wherever they can get the best return. Make exceptions only where some special reason calls for caution. Do not overcrowd the colony by sending group after group too quickly. Instead, learn how their numbers are declining and send replacements accordingly. Keep the population at a level that can live comfortably, rather than overcrowding it into poverty. Some colonies have seriously endangered their health by building along coasts and rivers on marshy, unhealthy ground. You may begin there to avoid transporting goods inland and similar difficulties. Even so, continue building uphill from the waterways rather than along them. The colony’s health also requires a good supply of salt, to use in food whenever necessary. If you settle where Indigenous people live, do not merely entertain them with trinkets and jingling ornaments. Treat them fairly and kindly, while still maintaining adequate safeguards. Do not win their favor by helping them invade their enemies. Helping them defend themselves, however, is acceptable. Frequently send some of them to the founding country. There they may see a better way of life than their own and praise it when they return. Once the colony becomes strong, it is time to settle women there as well as men. Then the colony can continue through future generations, rather than constantly needing newcomers from outside. Nothing in the world is more sinful than abandoning or leaving a colony unsupported once it is well underway. Besides the dishonor, this brings responsibility for the deaths of many people deserving compassion.