Quotes from Smith’s Writings

Government

[One hopes the Plymouth Company will] take not that course the Virginia company did for the planters there [in Virginia where] their purses and lives were subject to some few here in London who were never there, that consumed all in arguments, projects, and their own conceits, every year trying new conclusions, altering everything yearly as they altered opinions, till they had consumed more than two hundred thousand pounds and near eight thousand men’s lives. (Advertisements, p. 3)

To send seventy more [from England] without victuals … was not so well advised … as it should have been, yet this could not have hurt us had they been two hundred … for we had the savages in that decorum … that we feared not to get victuals for 500. Now was there no way to make us miserable but to neglect that time to make provision whilst it was to be had, the which was done by the direction from England to perform this strange discovery [of Monacan] but more strange coronation to lose that time. (The Generall Historie, 3, p. 66)

Although Smith was president, yet the major part of the council had the authority and ruled it as they listed. (The Generall Historie, 3, p. 67)

Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, and Captain Newport with nine ships and five hundred people, who had each of them a commission, who first arrived to call in the old without the knowledge or consent of them that had endured all those former dangers to beat the path, not any regard had at all of them. (The Generall Historie, 3, p. 89)

To a thousand mischiefs those lewd captains led this lewd company wherein were many unruly gallants packed thither by their friends to escape ill destinies; and those would dispose and determine of the government, sometimes one, the next day another, today the old commission, tomorrow the new, the next day by neither. In fine, they would rule all or ruin all. Yet in charity we must endure them thus to destroy us or by correcting their follies have brought the world’s censure upon us to have been guilty of their bloods. (Proceedings, p. 94, The Generall Historie, 3, p. 90) 

Happy had we been had they [the third supply] never arrived and we forever abandoned and as we were left to our fortunes, for on earth for the number was never more confusion or misery than their factions occasioned. (The Generall Historie, 3, p. 90)

Lord la Ware … most forward in this business for his country’s good, yet this tender state of Virginia was not grown to that maturity to maintain such state and pleasure as was fit for such a personage with so brave and so great attendance. (The Generall Historie, 4, p. 124)