A Voyage of Discovery

Immediately preparations were made for a voyage of discovery, and lest I set down too many words in the telling of the story, for to me those first things which we did, unimportant though they may be to others, were far greater than anything afterward accomplished, I will relate it briefly.

First, it was decided that the Ark  should be left off this island of St. Clements, and to that end all her 'anchors were let drop lest heavy winds should spring up.

The small pinnace, which had been hired at Virginia, was fitted with oars, and a sufficient number of seamen told off to man her.

Governor Calvert and the gentlemen made ready to go on board the Dove, and I, fearing lest I should be left behind, and thus fail of seeing all the wonders of this New World, begged my father's permission to accompany him, the which he unwillingly granted, thinking I might be brought into places of danger.

It was only when I insisted that since we two were the same as alone in the world, it were better both share every danger, than for one to remain in security, possibly to mourn the death of the other, that he finally consented, and thus, boy though I was, I joined the company that was to spy out the land.

All the seamen of the Ark, save those who were aboard the small pinnace, together with the greater number of serving men and maids, were left on the ship, because it was not believed wise to take too large a force, since the brown men might think we were come bent on mischief.

Of the priests, only Father Altham set off with us; and, in silence—for no man could say what lay before us—we left the harbor to meet, as was believed, those dark-skinned men who dwelt in the land the king had given Lord Baltimore.