Smith, John
, a traveller and ambassador, was the son of sir Clement Smith, of Little Baddow
in Essex, by a sister of Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset, and consequently sister to Jane Seymour, the third
queen of Henry VIII. He was educated at Oxford, but
in what college is not known. Wood informs us that he
| travelled into foreign countries, and became very accomplished both as a soldier and a gentleman. He was in
France in the reign of his cousin Edward VI. and from the
introduction to his book of “Instructions,” it appears that
he had been in the service of several foreign princes. In
1576, when the states of the Netherlands took up arms in
defence of their liberty against the encroachments of the
Spanish government, they solicited queen Elizabeth for
a loan; but, this being inconvenient, she sent Smith to intercede with the Spanish monarch in their behalf. For this
purpose she conferred the honour of knighthood upon him.
Wood imputes his mission to his “being a person of a
Spanish port and demeanour, and well known to the
Spaniards, who held him, as their king did, in high value,
and especially for this reason that he was first cousin to
king Edward VI.” Carnden, in his “History of Elizabeth,” says that he was graciously received by the king of
Spain, and that “he retorted with such discretion the disgraceful injuries of Caspar Quiroga, archbishop of Toledo,
against the queen, in hatred of her religion, and of the
inquisitors of Sevil, who would not allow the attribute of
Defender of the Faith in the queen’s title, that the king
gave him thanks for it, and was displeased with the archbishop, desiring the ambassador to conceal the matter from
the queen, and expressly commanded the said attribute to
be allowed her.” We have no further account of his history, except that he was living in 1595, irv great esteem
by learned and military men. He wrote, 1. A “Discourse
concerning the forms and effects of divers Weapons, and
other very important matters military; greatly mistaken
by divers men of war in their days, and chiefly of the rnusquet, calyver, and long-bow, &c.” Lond. 1589, reprinted
1590, 4to. 2. “Certain instructions, observations, and
orders military, requisite for all chieftains, captains, higher
and lower officers,” ibid. 1594, 1595, 4to. To this are
added “Instructions for enrolling and mustering.” There
are two Mss. relative to his transactions in Spain in the
Cotton library, and one in the Lambeth library. 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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1580-1631.
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) by Smith, John, 1563-1616.
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) by Smith, John, 1563-1616.
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) by Smith, John, 1563-1616.
The last speech, confession and execution of John Smith alias Ashburnh am [sic] a notorious highway-man who was hang'd at Stampford-Hill, where he is to be hung up in chains: and Edward Jackson, who was drawn, and hang'd, at Tyburn, for high-treason, on Monday the 26th. of this instant May, 1684 (1684) by Smith, John, d. 1684.
The experienc'd fowler: or, The gentleman, citizen, and country-man's pleasant and profitable recreation Containing, I. The true art of taking water and land fowl, with divers kinds of nets, lime-twigs lime-bushes, and how to make the best bird-lime. II. Directions for bat-fowling, lowbelling, tramelling, and driving fowl, how to find their haunts, and take them with springes, snares, &c. III. An exact method for using the fowling-piece at a true level, to shoot at the water, ground, bush or flying. ... By J. S Gent. (1697) by Smith, John, d. 1684.
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] by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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. by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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) by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
A short introduction to the art of painting and varnishing (1685) by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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) by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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) by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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) by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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) by Smith, John, fl. 1673-1680.
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