An excerpt from A True Relation by Captain John Smith, 1608.

This book includes John Smith’s first account of being captured and released by Powhatan. The English used in this account is typical of the early seventeenth century, and uses spellings different from those used today. As you read, try taking the ‘e’ off the end of a word to see if it makes more sense without it.

Citation Information
Smith, John, excerpt from “A True Relation by Captain John Smith, 1608,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/f07a58ffe4d9248221c9430d1a2768db.
Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.
Courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society via Recollection Wisconsin.

Tips for Students

For this source, consider:

  • the author's point of view
  • the author's purpose
  • historical context
  • audience