This is a reprint of the same book published in 1608 under the title A Trve 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. It is the earliest published work relating to the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, which was the first permanent English settlement in North America. The author, Captain John Smith (d. 1631), was one of the leaders in establishing Jamestown. The account in this volume covers from 26 April 1607 to 2 June 1608, when Captain Francis Nelson returned to England, with whom Smith sent the manuscript of this book to England.
The main part of this book seems to preserve the language, including spelling and punctuation, used in the original 1608 edition, so in comparison with the introduction by Deane in a 'modern' English, the main text looks quite archaic.
It is known that Captain John Smith, in this book, was the first to use the word corn to mean 'maize, Indian corn', rather than referring to its traditional referents such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, etc., as in the following passage:
Kendall about this time, for diuers reaſons, depoſed from being of the Councell: and ſhortly after it pleaſed God (in our extremity) to moue the Indians to bring vs Corne, ere it was halfe ripe, to refreſh vs, when we rather expected when they would detſroy vs: ... (pp. 12-13).
Since 'traditional' corns or grains turned out to be unavailable in North America, and Indian corns substituted for them, the referent of the word changed. Thus Americanisms already began to develop in the same year as the permanent settlement was established in 1607.
Before going to North America, Captain John Smith lived in central London, near St Mary-le-Bow Church, and his statue is placed in the forum in front of the church, with the following inscription:
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
CITIZEN AND CORDWAINER
1580-1631
FIRST AMONG THE LEADERS OF THE SETTLEMENT
AT JAMESTOWN VIRGINIA
FROM WHICH BEGAN THE OVERSEAS
EXPANSION
OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES