ARTICLE V.

A LETTER FROM GEORGE POPHAM,

PRESIDENT OF THE

SAGADAHOCK COLONY,

ΤΟ

KING JAMES I.

DATED DECEMBER 13, 1607.

WITH INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR.

POPHAM'S LETTER TO KING JAMES I.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

The Hon. George Bancroft has kindly presented to the Society for publication, an office copy of an original letter in Latin, from George Popham, President of the Sagadahock Colony, to King James, written at the mouth of the Kennebec river, December 13, 1607. A document so unique, relating to a portion of our State, yet going back to a period prior to any permanent settlement within it, must possess a peculiar interest for our people.

An extraordinary excitement prevailed in England in the latter part of the 16th century and the opening of the 17th, in regard to the newly discovered regions lying far off in the western ocean. The early voyagers had carried home marvellous stories of the countries they had visited; their imaginations were greatly moved by the novelty of the scenery, and the strange appearance and manners of the natives. Communicating in an extravagant style, no doubt, their own warm impressions, a spirit of adventure soon pervaded all ranks in England: the highest were not beyond the reach of its fascination, and the masses felt its extraor dinary power. Nor, indeed, was the sober, religious community, passive under the deep current of popular feeling. For while other classes were excited by a love of gain, or a

spirit of adventure, the religious sentiment was aroused by a deep seated conviction, that Providence had wonderfully opened a door for the conversion of the Heathen. These causes united, produced a movement in the public mind, which had not been witnessed since the days of the crusades, and which has been scarcely paralleled in our time by the discovery of the modern Cathay, on the western coast of America.

When such men as Sir Walter Raleigh, the Earl of Arundell, Sir John Popham, Chief Justice of England, and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, among the noblest cavaliers, in an age of chivalry, took the lead in expeditions to the new found world, lesser men may readily be supposed willing to follow in their train. A different class, some years later, moved by the high motive of religious freedom, as well as civil independence, clustered on our shores, and laid the foundation of those elevated and permanent institutions, which have been, and God grant, may ever be, the crowning glory of our country.

The very successful voyage of Waymouth, began and ended in 1605, gave a new impulse to the cause of colonization. Those adventurers came to our coast at the most propitious season of the year, from the latter part of May to the middle of June. The part of the coast visited, is the most beautiful in New England, the region between the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers. Here, these rude sons of the occan, after being tossed in their small bark for many days, found a clear transparent air, a calm sea, safe shelter among numerous islands, covered with verdant forests, and lying like gems on the serene bosom of the occan. They went up a goodly river filled" with gallant coves," and "fit dockes to carine shippes of all burdens, secured from all