A BRIEFE NARRATION OF THE Originall Undertakings OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF PLANTATIONS Into the parts of AMERICA. Especially, Shewing the begining, progress and continuance of that of New-England. Written by the right Worshipfull, Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight and Governour of the Fort and Island of Plymouth In DEVONSHIRE.

Gorges, Sir Ferdinando [and Ferdinando Gorges, grandson].

Published by Printed by E. Brudenell, for Nath. Brook at the Angell in Corn hill [sic], London, 1658

About this Item

London: Printed by E. Brudenell, for Nath. Brook at the Angell in Corn hill [sic], 1658. [Title page + blank] + [4pp ?To the Judicious Reader?], 57pp + [1] blank. Small 4to. Late 19th or early twentieth century flat back. Panelled and sprinkled calf, expertly rebacked and respined with period style elaborate tooling and contrasting label by the workshop of Courtland Benson. According to a pencilled note, the book was offered in a Maggs catalogue in December 1977. A few isolated small spots, yet overall fine. Rare. The book, sometimes referred to as part of the Gorges Tracts, has a curious bibliographic history. It was originally issued as the second of a four-part work entitled AMERICA PAINTED TO THE LIFE, The true history of The Spaniards Proceedings in the Conquests of the Indians which consists of four individual works printed between 1658-59, each with a divisional title page and separate pagination. After Sir Ferdinando Gorges died in 1647, his grandson edited his grandfather's manuscript into what was to be published by Nathaniel Brook as part of a standalone work. Without authorization, Nathaniel Brook inserted unsold sheets of his separately published A History of New England? by Edward Johnson (originally published by Brook in 1654). This became the third part of the book, thereby implying that all works were written by Ferdinando Gorges. The grandson--who shared the name Ferdinando Gorges and who wrote the preface 'To the Judicious Reader'---protested in print later. Worst of all, Edward Johnson was a Puritan. Gorges strongly opposed the Puritan migration of 1630, which wanted to establish a colony for their own sectarian ends. Although Gorges had never set foot in America, he attempted to establish permanent English settlements in northern New England starting with the ill-fated Popham Colony at Sagadahoc (modern Phippsburg, Maine) between 1607-08. Gorges was a leading figure of the Plymouth Company and the Council for New England (1620-1635). Under the Great Patent of 1620, issued by the King, Gorges effectively became its driving force. Sir Ferdinando Gorges was granted ownership of the Province of Maine in 1639.as Lord and Chiefe Governour when King Charles I gave him a royal charter for the territory. This grant officially made him the lord-proprietary. The charter named the area the "Province or County of Main." In the book, Gorges describes the historical background of his interest in establishing a colony (especially after interviewing several indigenous men from the region who had been brought to England), the benefits thereof, and the many legal and parliamentary challenges he faced. --Gorges is generally considered the father of English colonization in America [and] was one of the earliest and most powerful New England land speculators-- --Kenneth Nebenzahl.

Seller Inventory # 010305

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A BRIEFE NARRATION OF THE Originall Undertakings OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF PLANTATIONS Into the parts of AMERICA. Especially, Shewing the begining, progress and continuance of that of New-England. Written by the right Worshipfull, Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight and Governour of the Fort and Island of Plymouth In DEVONSHIRE.
• Publisher: Printed by E. Brudenell, for Nath. Brook at the Angell in Corn hill [sic], London
• Publication Date: 1658
• Language: Ewe
• Binding: Leather
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Antiquarian