The "True Travels" close with a discourse upon the bad life, qualities, and conditions of pirates.The most ancient of these was one Collis, "who most refreshed himself upon the coast of Wales, and Clinton and Pursser, his companions, who grew famous till Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory hanged them at Wapping.The misery of a Pirate (although many are as sufficient seamen as any) yet in regard of his superfluity, you shall find it such, that any wise man would rather live amongst wild beasts, than them; therefore let all unadvised persons take heed how they entertain that quality; and Icould wish merchants, gentlemen, and all setters-forth of ships not to be sparing of a competent pay, nor true payment; for neither soldiers nor seamen can live without means; but necessity will force them to steal, and when they are once entered into that trade they are hardly reclaimed."Smith complains that the play-writers had appropriated his adventures, but does not say that his own character had been put upon the stage.In Ben Jonson's "Staple of News," played in 1625, there is a reference to Pocahontas in the dialogue that occurs between Pick-lock and Pennyboy Canter:
Pick.--A tavern's unfit too for a princess.
P.Cant.--No, I have known a Princess and a great one, Come forth of a tavern.
Pick.--Not go in Sir, though.
A Cant.--She must go in, if she came forth.The blessed Pocahontas, as the historian calls her, And great King's daughter of Virginia, Hath been in womb of tavern.
The last work of our author was published in 1631, the year of his death.Its full title very well describes the contents:
"Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, or anywhere.Or, the Pathway to Experience to erect a Plantation.With the yearly proceedings of this country in fishing and planting since the year 1614 to the year 1630, and their present estate.Also, how to prevent the greatest inconvenience by their proceedings in Virginia, and other plantations by approved examples.With the countries armes, a description of the coast, harbours, habitations, landmarks, latitude and longitude: with the map allowed by our Royall King Charles."Smith had become a trifle cynical in regard to the newsmongers of the day, and quaintly remarks in his address to the reader: "Apelles by the proportion of a foot could make the whole proportion of a man:
were he now living, he might go to school, for now thousands can by opinion proportion kingdoms, cities and lordships that never durst adventure to see them.Malignancy I expect from these, have lived 10or 12 years in those actions, and return as wise as they went, claiming time and experience for their tutor that can neither shift Sun nor moon, nor say their compass, yet will tell you of more than all the world betwixt the Exchange, Paul's and Westminster....and tell as well what all England is by seeing but Mitford Haven as what Apelles was by the picture of his great toe."This is one of Smith's most characteristic productions.Its material is ill-arranged, and much of it is obscurely written; it runs backward and forward along his life, refers constantly to his former works and repeats them, complains of the want of appreciation of his services, and makes himself the centre of all the colonizing exploits of the age.Yet it is interspersed with strokes of humor and observations full of good sense.
It opens with the airy remark: "The wars in Europe, Asia and Africa, taught me how to subdue the wild savages in Virginia and New England." He never did subdue the wild savages in New England, and he never was in any war in Africa, nor in Asia, unless we call his piratical cruising in the Mediterranean "wars in Asia."As a Church of England man, Smith is not well pleased with the occupation of New England by the Puritans, Brownists, and such "factious humorists" as settled at New Plymouth, although he acknowledges the wonderful patience with which, in their ignorance and willfulness, they have endured losses and extremities; but he hopes better things of the gentlemen who went in 1629 to supply Endicott at Salem, and were followed the next year by Winthrop.All these adventurers have, he says, made use of his "aged endeavors."It seems presumptuous in them to try to get on with his maps and descriptions and without him.They probably had never heard, except in the title-pages of his works, that he was "Admiral of New England."Even as late as this time many supposed New England to be an island, but Smith again asserts, what he had always maintained--that it was a part of the continent.The expedition of Winthrop was scattered by a storm, and reached Salem with the loss of threescore dead and many sick, to find as many of the colony dead, and all disconsolate.Of the discouraged among them who returned to England Smith says: "Some could not endure the name of a bishop, others not the sight of a cross or surplice, others by no means the book of common prayer.
This absolute crew, only of the Elect, holding all (but such as themselves) reprobates and castaways, now made more haste to return to Babel, as they termed England, than stay to enjoy the land they called Canaan." Somewhat they must say to excuse themselves.
Therefore, "some say they could see no timbers of ten foot diameter, some the country is all wood; others they drained all the springs and ponds dry, yet like to famish for want of fresh water; some of the danger of the ratell-snake." To compel all the Indians to furnish them corn without using them cruelly they say is impossible.Yet this "impossible," Smith says, he accomplished in Virginia, and offers to undertake in New England, with one hundred and fifty men, to get corn, fortify the country, and "discover them more land than they all yet know."This homily ends--and it is the last published sentence of the "great Smith"--with this good advice to the New England colonists: