JAMES ROSIER. 1605. [NEW-FOUNDLAND]
James Rosier. A True Relation of the Most Prosperous Voyage made the present Yeere 1605, by Captain George Waymouth, in the Discovery of the Land of Virginia: Where he discovered 60 Miles up a most excellent river; together with a most fertile land. Written by James Rosier, a Gentleman employed in the Voyage. Londoni: Geor. Bishop. 1605 [In C.H. Levermore (Ed.), Forerunners and Competitors of the Pilgrims and Puritans…, Vol. 1, pp. 313-357.]
Most of the plants covered in his text, along with some additions, are noted on pp. 350-351:
“A Brief Note of what Profits we saw the Country yeeld in the small time of our stay there.”
“Oke of an exellent graine, strait, and great timber”
Elme
Beech
Birch
Wich-Hazell
Hazell
Alder
Cherry-tree
Ash
Maple
Yew
Spruce
Aspe
Firre
“Many fruit trees, which we knew not”
Fruits, Plants and Herbs
“Tobacco, excellent sweet and strong”
Wild-Vines
Strawberries
Raspberries
Gooseberries
Hurtleberries
Currant trees
Rose-bushes
Peaze
Ground-nuts
“Angelica, a most soveraigne herbe”
“An hearbe that spreadeth the ground and smelleth like Sweet Marjoram, great plenty.”
“Very good Dies, which appeare by their painting; which they carried with them in bladders”
Profits and fruits natural to the islands [Fri May 24, 1607?] (p. 322):
Noted as growing along shores:
Rasberries
Gooseberries
Strawberries
Roses
Currants
Wild Vines
Angelica
Noted as growing within the Islands in large groves:
Birch
Beech
Ash
Maple
Spruce
Chery-tree
Yew
“Oke very great and good.”
“Firre-tree out of which issueth Turpentine in so marvellous planty, and so sweet, as our Chirurgeon and others affirmed they never saw so good in England. We pulled off much Gumme congealed on the outside of the barks which smelled like Frankincense.” Also noted its use for making tar and pitch.
[St. George’s Island.] Firre, Birch, Oke, Beech, Gooseberries, Strawberries, Wild Peas, Wild Rose bushes, p. 319.
Brian Altonen, MPH, MS 