After doubling Cape Cod and sailing to the southward
Gosnold lands on a small island about six miles from Gay Head and, as the top scene shows he names it Martha’s Vineyard because of the abundance of the grapevines he discovers there and ‘Martha’ because it’s a favourite family
name.
The
next day he lands on a nearby larger island. After exploring it and finding it so large, well-wooded and with even more luxuriant
grapevines, many beautiful lakes and springs of the purist water, he changed his mind about the smaller island and renamed
it ‘No man’s Land’ and dubbed this ‘Martha’s Vineyard’. Note the fresh water
stream in the picture.
The general area today is known as Maine.
Soon afterwards Gosnold explores the group of islands to the northwest of the Vineyard
naming them Elizabeth Islands in honour of the Queen who is still reigning. It turns out that there are eight in all: Naushon, Nonamesset, Uncaten, Wepecket,
Nashawens, Pasque, Cuttyhunk, and Penikese.
On 28 May he founds a colony for the 32 settlers on Cuttyhunk and there, as
the main picture shows he discusses plans with one of the soldiers then builds the first house and fort in New England.
The man named at the bottom
of the scene here and his coat-of-arms shown is Thomas Walker Mayor of Exeter this year, 1602. As is shown in the next scene
Gosnold will be returning to Exmouth in Devon at the end of his voyage. Exmouth at this time was only a few fishermens’s
huts and a harbour. All the wealthy merchants in the area, including Walker live in Exeter, a few miles up the river Exe from
its mouth. This is why the Mayor if Exeter is named here, for the merchants were all very interested in the colonisation of
America at this time and some would back the Plymouth Adventurers Company which will get its Charter from James I in four years’ time.
Walker was three times Mayor of Exeter. As a merchant he gave considerable
support to the New World settlements and to such worthy causes as Exeter charities that included the foundation of the free
Grammar School. His memorial is in St Mary Arches Church, Exeter.
