If Smith had not been an author, his exploits would have occupied asmall space in the literature of his times. But by his unweariednarrations he impressed his image in gigantic features on our plasticcontinent. If he had been silent, he would have had something lessthan justice; as it is, he has been permitted to greatly exaggeratehis relations to the New World. It is only by noting the comparativesilence of his contemporaries and by winnowing his own statementsthat we can appreciate his true position.
For twenty years he was a voluminous writer, working off hissuperfluous energy in setting forth his adventures in new forms.
Most of his writings are repetitions and recastings of the oldmaterial, with such reflections as occur to him from time to time.
He seldom writes a book, or a tract, without beginning it or workinginto it a resume of his life. The only exception to this is his "SeaGrammar." In 1626 he published "An Accidence or the Pathway toExperience, necessary to all Young Seamen," and in 1627 "A SeaGrammar, with the plain Exposition of Smith's Accidence for YoungSeamen, enlarged." This is a technical work, and strictly confinedto the building, rigging, and managing of a ship. He was alsoengaged at the time of his death upon a "History of the Sea," whichnever saw the light. He was evidently fond of the sea, and we maysay the title of Admiral came naturally to him, since he used it inthe title-page to his "Description of New England," published in1616, although it was not till 1617 that the commissioners atPlymouth agreed to bestow upon him the title of "Admiral of thatcountry."In 1630 he published "The True Travels, Adventures and Observationsof Captain John Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica and America, from1593 to 1629. Together with a Continuation of his General History ofVirginia, Summer Isles, New England, and their proceedings since 1624to this present 1629: as also of the new Plantations of the greatRiver of the Amazons, the Isles of St. Christopher, Mevis andBarbadoes in the West Indies." In the dedication to William, Earl ofPembroke, and Robert, Earl of Lindsay, he says it was written at therequest of Sir Robert Cotton, the learned antiquarian, and he themore willingly satisfies this noble desire because, as he says, "theyhave acted my fatal tragedies on the stage, and racked my relationsat their pleasure. To prevent, therefore, all future misprisions, Ihave compiled this true discourse. Envy hath taxed me to have writtoo much, and done too little; but that such should know how little,I esteem them, I have writ this more for the satisfaction of myfriends, and all generous and well-disposed readers: To speak only ofmyself were intolerable ingratitude: because, having had many co-partners with me, I cannot make a Monument for myself, and leave themunburied in the fields, whose lives begot me the title of Soldier,for as they were companions with me in my dangers, so shall they bepartakers with me in this Tombe." In the same dedication he spoke ofhis "Sea Grammar" caused to be printed by his worthy friend SirSamuel Saltonstall.
This volume, like all others Smith published, is accompanied by agreat number of swollen panegyrics in verse, showing that the writershad been favored with the perusal of the volume before it waspublished. Valor, piety, virtue, learning, wit, are by them ascribedto the "great Smith," who is easily the wonder and paragon of his.
age. All of them are stuffed with the affected conceits fashionableat the time. One of the most pedantic of these was addressed to himby Samuel Purchas when the "General Historie" was written.
The portrait of Smith which occupies a corner in the Map of Virginiahas in the oval the date, "AEta 37, A. 16l6," and round the rim theinscription: "Portraictuer of Captaine John Smith, Admirall of NewEngland," and under it these lines engraved:
"These are the Lines that show thy face: but thoseThat show thy Grace and Glory brighter bee:
Thy Faire Discoveries and Fowle-OverthrowesOf Salvages, much Civilized by theeBest shew thy Spirit; and to it Glory Wyn;So, thou art Brasse without, but Golde within,If so, in Brasse (too soft smiths Acts to beare)I fix thy Fame to make Brasse steele outweare.
"Thine as thou art Virtues"JOHN DAVIES, Heref."In this engraving Smith is clad in armor, with a high starchedcollar, and full beard and mustache formally cut. His right handrests on his hip, and his left grasps the handle of his sword. Theface is open and pleasing and full of decision.
This "true discourse" contains the wild romance with which thisvolume opens, and is pieced out with recapitulations of his formerwritings and exploits, compilations from others' relations, andgeneral comments. We have given from it the story of his early life,because there is absolutely no other account of that part of hiscareer. We may assume that up to his going to Virginia he did lead alife of reckless adventure and hardship, often in want of a decentsuit of clothes and of "regular meals." That he took some part inthe wars in Hungary is probable, notwithstanding his romancingnarrative, and he may have been captured by the Turks. But hisaccount of the wars there, and of the political complications, wesuspect are cribbed from the old chronicles, probably from theItalian, while his vague descriptions of the lands and people inTurkey and "Tartaria" are evidently taken from the narratives ofother travelers. It seems to me that the whole of his story of hisoriental captivity lacks the note of personal experience. If it werenot for the "patent" of Sigismund (which is only produced andcertified twenty years after it is dated), the whole Transylvanialegend would appear entirely apocryphal.
The "True Travels" close with a discourse upon the bad life,qualities, and conditions of pirates. The most ancient of these wasone Collis, "who most refreshed himself upon the coast of Wales, andClinton and Pursser, his companions, who grew famous till QueenElizabeth of blessed memory hanged them at Wapping. The misery of aPirate (although many are as sufficient seamen as any) yet in regardof his superfluity, you shall find it such, that any wise man wouldrather live amongst wild beasts, than them; therefore let allunadvised persons take heed how they entertain that quality; and Icould wish merchants, gentlemen, and all setters-forth of ships notto be sparing of a competent pay, nor true payment; for neithersoldiers nor seamen can live without means; but necessity will forcethem to steal, and when they are once entered into that trade theyare hardly reclaimed."Smith complains that the play-writers had appropriated hisadventures, but does not say that his own character had been put uponthe stage. In Ben Jonson's "Staple of News," played in 1625, thereis a reference to Pocahontas in the dialogue that occurs betweenPick-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 forthof 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 hisdeath. Its full title very well describes the contents:
"Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, oranywhere. Or, the Pathway to Experience to erect a Plantation. Withthe yearly proceedings of this country in fishing and planting sincethe year 1614 to the year 1630, and their present estate. Also, howto prevent the greatest inconvenience by their proceedings inVirginia, and other plantations by approved examples. With thecountries armes, a description of the coast, harbours, habitations,landmarks, latitude and longitude: with the map allowed by our RoyallKing Charles."Smith had become a trifle cynical in regard to the newsmongers of theday, and quaintly remarks in his address to the reader: "Apelles bythe 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 byopinion proportion kingdoms, cities and lordships that never durstadventure 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 shiftSun nor moon, nor say their compass, yet will tell you of more thanall the world betwixt the Exchange, Paul's and Westminster.... andtell as well what all England is by seeing but Mitford Haven as whatApelles was by the picture of his great toe."This is one of Smith's most characteristic productions. Its materialis ill-arranged, and much of it is obscurely written; it runsbackward and forward alon............