In 1602, the forty-third and last year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, deviating from the usual oblique route by the Canaries and the West Indies, made a direct voyage in a small bark across the Atlantic, and in seven weeks reached Massachusetts Bay. It was on this occasion that Englishmen, for the first time, landed on the soil of New England. Gosnold returned to England in a short passage of five weeks. In these early voyages the heroism of the navigators is the more admirable when we advert to the extremely diminutive size of their vessels and the comparative imperfection of nautical science at that day. Encouraged by Gosnold's success, the mayor, aldermen, and merchants of Bristol sent out an expedition under Captain Pring, in the same direction, in 1603, the year of the accession of James I. to the throne. During the same year a bark was dispatched from London under Captain Bartholomew Gilbert, who fell in with the coast in latitude 37°, and, as some authors say, ran up into the Chesapeake Bay, where the captain and four of his men were slain by the Indians. In 1605 Captain Weymouth came over under the auspices of Henry, Earl of Southampton, and Lord Thomas Arundel. FOOTNOTES: [18:A] Memoir on the first discovery of the Chesapeake Bay. Communicated by Robert Greenhow, Esq., to the Virginia Historical Society, May, 1848, in Early Voyages to America, (edited by Conway Robinson, Esq., and published by the Society,) p. 486. Mr. Greenhow cites for authority the Ensayo Chronologico Para la Historia de la Florida of Barcia, (Cardenas.) [18:B] MS. letter of John Gilmary Shea, Esq., author of "History of the Catholic Missions among the Indian Tribes of the United States," citing Barcia and Alegambe. [19:A] "A 37 grados y medio." Alegambe says: "Axaca ab æquatore in Boream erecta 37°." [19:B] In a map found in a rare work, in French, dated 1676, entitled "Tourbe Ardante," shown me by Townsend Ward, Esq., Librarian of Pennsylvania Hist. Society, the Chesapeake is called St. Mary's Bay. [22:A] Wingan signifies "good." [22:B] Smith's History of Virginia, i. 79. Stith's History of Virginia, 11. [25:A] De Bry. CHAPTER II. 1579-1604. Early Life and Adventures of Captain John Smith--Born at Willoughby--At Thirteen Years of Age undertakes to go to Sea-- At Fifteen Apprentice to a Merchant--Visits France--Studies the Military Art--Serves in the Low Countries--Repairs to Scotland--Returns to Willoughby--Studies and Exercises-- Adventures in France--Embarks for Italy--Thrown into the Sea-- His Escape--Joins the Austrians in the Wars with the Turks--His Gallantry--Combat with Three Turks--Made Prisoner at Rottenton--His Sufferings and Escape--Voyages and Travels-- Returns to England.