Smith, John
, commonly called Capt. John Smith,
or Smyth, was born at Willoughby in the county of Lincoln, but descended from the Smyths of Cuerdley. He
ranks with the greatest travellers and adventurers of his
| age, and was distinguished by his many achievements in
the fpur quarters of the globe. In the wars of Hungary
about 1602, in three single combats he overcame three
Turks, and cut off their heads, for which and other gallant
exploits Sigismund, duke of Transylvania, under whom he
served, gave him his picture set in gold, with a pension of
three hundred ducats: and allowed him to bear three
Turks heads proper as his shield of arms. He afterwards
went to America, where he was taken prisoner by the Indians,
from whom he found means to escape. He often hazarded
his life in naval engagements with pirates, Spanish men of
war, and in other adventures, and had a considerable hand
in reducing New-England to the obedience of Great Britain, and in reclaiming the inhabitants from barbarism. If
the same, which is very probable, who is mentioned in
Stow’s “Survey of London,” under the name of “Capt.
John Smith, some time governor of Virginia and admiral
of New-England,” he died June 21, 1631, and was buried
at St. Sepulchre’s church, London. There is a ms life of
him, by Henry Wharton in the Lambeth library, but his
exploits may be seen in his “History of Virginia, NewEngland, and the Summer Isles,” written by himself, and
published at London in 1624, fol. Wood also attributes
to him, l. “A Map of Virginia, with a description of the
country, the commodities, people, government, and religion,” Oxon. 1612, 4to. 2. “New-England’s Tryals, &c.”
Lond. 1620, 4to. 3. “Travels in Europe, &c.” ibid. 1630,
reprinted in Churchill’s Voyages, vol. II. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names)in the Early English Books Online Collection:
A true relation of such occurrences and accidents of noate as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting of that collony, which is now resident in the south part thereof, till the last returne from thence written by Captaine Smith [Cor]one[ll] of the said collony, to a worshipfull friend of his in England. (1608)
A map of Virginia VVith a description of the countrey, the commodities, people, government and religion. VVritten by Captaine Smith, sometimes governour of the countrey. Whereunto is annexed the proceedings of those colonies, since their first departure from England, with the discourses, orations, and relations of the salvages, and the accidents that befell them in all their iournies and discoveries. Taken faithfully as they were written out of the writings of Doctor Russell. Tho. Studley. Anas Todkill. Ieffra Abot. Richard Wiefin. Will. Phettiplace. Nathaniel Povvell. Richard Pots. And the relations of divers other diligent observers there present then, and now many of them in England. By VV.S. (1612)
A description of New England: or The obseruations, and discoueries, of Captain Iohn Smith (admirall of that country) in the north of America, in the year of our Lord 1614 with the successe of sixe ships, that went the next yeare 1615; and the accidents befell him among the French men of warre: with the proofe of the present benefit this countrey affoords: whither this present yeare, 1616, eight voluntary ships are gone to make further tryall. (1616)
Nevv Englands trials Declaring the successe of 26. ships employed thither within these sixe yeares: with the benefit of that countrey by sea and land: and how to build threescore sayle of good ships, to make a little navie royall. Written by Captaine Iohn Smith. (1620)
The generall historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours from their first beginning. an⁰: 1584. to this present 1624. With the procedings of those severall colonies and the accidents that befell them in all their journyes and discoveries. Also the maps and descriptions of all those countryes, their commodities, people, government, customes, and religion yet knowne. Divided into sixe bookes. By Captaine Iohn Smith sometymes governour in those countryes & admirall of New England. (1624)
An accidence or The path-way to experience Necessary for all young sea-men, or those that are desirous to goe to sea, briefly shewing the phrases, offices, and words of command, belonging to the building, ridging, and sayling, a man of warre; and how to manage a fight at sea. Together with the charge and duty of every officer, and their shares: also the names, vveight, charge, shot, and powder, of all sorts of great ordnance. With the vse of the petty tally. Written by Captaine Iohn Smith sometimes governour of Virginia, and admirall of New England.Sea-mans grammar (1626)
A sea grammar vvith the plaine exposition of Smiths Accidence for young sea-men, enlarged. Diuided into fifteene chapters: what they are you may partly conceiue by the contents. Written by Captaine Iohn Smith, sometimes gouernour of Virginia, and admirall of Nevv-England.Sea-mans grammar (1627)
The true travels, adventures, and observations of Captaine Iohn Smith, in Europe, Asia, Affrica, and America, from anno Domini 1593. to 1629 His accidents and sea-fights in the straights; his service and stratagems of warre in Hungaria, Transilvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia, against the Turks, and Tartars ... After how he was taken prisoner by the Turks, sold for a slave ... and escaped ... Together with a continuation of his generall History of Virginia, Summer-Iles, New England, and their proceedings, since 1624. to this present 1629; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the Amazons, the iles of St. Christopher, Mevis, and Barbados in the West Indies. All written by actuall authours, whose names you shall finde along the history. (1630)
Advertisements for the unexperienced planters of New-England, or any where. Or, The path-way to experience to erect a plantation With the yearely proceedings of this country in fishing and planting, since the yeare 1614. to the yeare 1630. and their present estate. Also how to prevent the greatest inconveniences, by their proceedings in Virginia, and other plantations, by approved examples. With the countries armes, a description of the coast, harbours, habitations, land-markes, latitude and longitude: with the map, allowed by our royall King Charles. By Captaine Iohn Smith, sometimes governour of Virginia, and admirall of Nevv-England. (1631)
The sea-mans grammar and dictionary explaining all the difficult terms in navigation : and the practical navigator and gunner : in two parts / by Captain John Smith, sometimes governour of Virginia, and admiral of New England. (1691)
The doctrine of praier in generall for all men, that is, vniuersally for all mankind: Proued 1. By the true sence of the words if the Apostle 1. Tim 2. 2. By the reasons, why all men in that since should be praid for. 3. By the doctrine establishing such praier. 4. By the practises of churches, concerning that kind of praier. 5. By the obiections, ansuered. Against the position of those that say and preach, that all men are not to be praid for. By I. Smith, minister of Gods word at Reading. (1595)
Essex doue, presenting the vvorld vvith a fevv of her oliue branches: or, A taste of the workes of that reuerend, faithfull, iudicious, learned, and holy minister of the Word, Mr. Iohn Smith, late preacher of the Word at Clauering in Essex Deliuered in three seuerall treatises, viz. 1 His grounds of religion. 2 An exposition on the Lords Prayer. 3 A treatise of repentance. (1629)
An exposition of the Creed: or, An explanation of the articles of our Christian faith. Delivered in many afternoone sermons, by that reverend and worthy divine, Master Iohn Smith, late preacher of the Word at Clavering in Essex, and sometime fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Oxford. Now published for the benefit and behoofe of all good Christians, together with an exact table of all the chiefest doctrines and vses throughout the whole booke (1632)
The curiosities of common water; or The advantages thereof in preventing and curing many distempers. Gather'd from the writings of several eminent physicians, and also from more than forty years experience. / By John Smith, C.M. ; To which is added, some rules for preserving health by diet. ; [Two lines of verse]
The curiosities of common water: or the advantages thereof in preventing and curing many distempers. Gather'd from the writings of several eminent physicians, and also from more than forty years experience. By John Smith, C.M. To which are added, some rules for preserving health by diet.
Horological dialogves in three parts shewing the nature, use, and right managing of clocks and watches : with an appendix containing Mr. Ovghtred's method for calculating of numbers : the whole being a work very necessary for all that make use of these kind of movements / by J. S. ... (1675)
A short introduction to the art of painting and varnishing (1685)
Of the unequality of natural time, with its reason and cavses. together with a table of the true æquation of natvral dayes : drawn up chiefly for the use of the gentry, in order to their more true adjusting, and right managing of pendulum clocks, and watches / by John Smith ... (1686)
A compleat discourse of the nature, use, and right managing of that wonderful instrument, the baroscope, or, Quick-silver weather-glass in IV parts / by John Smith ... ; to which is added, the true equation of natural days, drawn up for the use of the gentry, in order to their more true adjusting, and right managing of pendulum clocks and watches. (1688)
Horological disquisitions concerning the nature of time, and the reasons why all days, from noon to noon, are not alike twenty four hours long in which appears the impossibility of a clock's being always kept exactly true to the sun : with tables of equation, and newer and better rules ... how thereby precisely to adjust royal pendulums ... : with a table of pendulums, shewing the beats that any length makes in an hour ... / by John Smith ... ; to which is added The best rules for the ordering and use both of the quick-silver and spirit weather-glasses, and Mr. S. Watson's rules for adjusting a clock by the fixed stars. (1694)
The designed end to the Socinian controversy, or, A rational and plain discourse to prove, that no other person but the Father of Christ is God most high by John Smith. (1695)