The Land of America

From the time we left St. Christopher, until the twenty-fourth day of February, there was nothing happened which need be set down here. Each day was much like another in that the winter's sun shone gratefully warm upon us, and all the winds were favoring.

Then were we come in sight of that headland in Virginia which is called Point Comfort, and the voyage was much the same as at an end.

We had crossed the mighty ocean where one might well expect to meet dangers of every kind, and yet had come safely to the land of America where were to be made our new homes.

Anchored close under the fort, we waited anxiously to learn how we might be received by those Englishmen who had, under command of one Captain John Smith, built what could well be called the first real town in the New World, although it was by no means the first settlement.

Governor Calvert and Father White were of the mind that these men of Virginia would not give us a hearty welcome, because it had been said in London that they were much opposed to the king's giving Lord Baltimore land which they believed belonged to themselves.

However, none could have been more kind than were these same Englishmen, and Governor Sir John Harvey himself came on board to greet our Governor Calvert, looking upon him as the one who stood in the place of Lord Baltimore. Before we weighed anchor again, these people had promised to furnish us with such of provisions as might be needed, together with what of cattle and hogs, poultry and corn we should want.

They also agreed to send, as a free gift, bricks and tiles for Lord Baltimore's own dwelling, and otherwise acted in such very friendly fashion as caused us to have a certain feeling of homesickness when the time was come to continue on up that vast inland sea, which is called the bay of Chesapeake, in search of our Province of Maryland.