n of a coat of arms, the distinguishing feature of
which was "three Turks' heads," showed little more originality. It was
a common device before his day: on many coats of arms of the Middle
Ages and later appear "three Saracens' heads," or "three Moors'
heads"--probably most of them had their origin in the Crusades. Smith's
patent to use this charge, which he produced from Sigismund, was dated
1603, but the certificate appended to it by the Garter King at Arms,
certifying that it was recorded in the register and office of the
heralds, is dated 1625. Whether Smith used it before this latter date we
are not told. We do not know why he had not as good right to assume it
as anybody.

[Burke's "Encyclopedia of Heraldry" gives it as granted to Capt. John
Smith, of the Smiths of Cruffley, Co. Lancaster, in 1629, and describes
it: "Vert, a chev. gu. betw. three Turks' heads couped ppr. turbaned or.
Crest-an Ostrich or, holding in the mouth a horseshoe or."]

XVIII. DEATH AND CHARACTER

Hardship and disappointment made our hero prematurely old, but could
not conquer his indomitable spirit. The disastrous voyage of June, 1615,
when he fell into the hands of the French, is spoken of by the Council
for New England in 1622 as "the ruin of that poor gentleman, Captain
Smith, who was detained prisoner by them, and forced to suffer many
extremities before he got free of his troubles;" but he did not know
that he was ruined, and did not for a moment relax his efforts
to promote colonization and obtain a command, nor relinquish his
superintendence of the Western Continent.

His last days were evidently passed in a struggle for existence, which
was not so bitter to him as it might have been to another man, for he
was sustained by ever-elating "great expectations." That he was pinched
for means of living, there is no doubt. In 1623 he issued a prospectus
of his "General Historie," in which he said: "These observations are all
I have for the expenses of a thousand pounds and the loss of eighteen
years' time, besides all the travels, dangers, miseries and incumbrances
for my countries good, I have endured gratis:... this is composed in
less than eighty sheets, besides the three maps, which will stand me
near in a hundred pounds, which sum I cannot disburse: nor shall the
stationers have the copy for nothing. I therefore, humbly entreat your
Honour, either to adventure, or give me what you please towards the
impression, and I will b