same Person who how they were surpris'd and destroy'd by the Natives was discover'd at large to the Supply that was sent over in the Year 1587. by Mr. White A Party of those that went over with Captain Bartholomew Gosnol Captain John Smith c. were by the Indians set upon as they were raising a Fort near Cape Henry where they Landed seventeen Men hurt one slain and all in danger to have been utterly destroy'd had not a Shot happily made from the Ships by chance frighted away the Salvages Another small Party under Captain Smith going down the River to Keconghean were very fiercely assaulted by sixty or seventy Indians but their Musquet-shot did such Execution amongst them that they fled into the Woods and left behind them the Image of their God which had been carried before them as their Standard and not long after sent one of their Queiongcasocks to offer Peace and to redeem their Okee which Smith granting on condition six onely of them would come unarm'd and load his Boat with Provisions and promising moreover to become their Friend and furnish them with Beads Copper and Hatchets They accepted the Condition and brought him Venison Turkies wild Fowl Bread and what else they had Singing and Dancing in sign of Friendship till they departed In his Return he discover'd the Town and Countrey of Warraskayock and the People of Chickahamania In his next Voyage for the discovery of the Head of Chickamahania River he was through neglect of his Sea-men who were sent to watch the Booty taken Prisoner in which condition he was kept a whole Moneth then being released he got Provisions for the People in James-Town which had they not timely receiv'd they had all abandon'd the Place and return'd to England While Affairs stood thus in a mean condition Captain Newport arriving there with a Ship and sixty Men to strengthen the Plantations he went to Weromocomoco where King Powhatan kept his Court King Powhatan and found him sitting on a Bed of Mats and an Embroider'd Leather Cushion Cloth'd in Deer-skins at his Feet fat a young Maiden and on each side of the House twenty Concubines his Head and Shoulders were painted red and a Chain of white Beads hung about his Neck Newport to oblige him gave him an English Youth in requital whereof he receiv'd Powhatan's bosom Friend Mamontak with whom returning he found a sad Accident for the Fire had not onely burnt the Houses of the new Planters but also the Pallisado's about James-Town made for a Defence against the Enemies Assaults James-Town burnt and most of their Store which was so much the worse because it hapned in the Winter and indeed had prov'd very fatal had not a Ship which was suppos'd to be lost happily arriv'd there with a considerable quantity of Provisions Smith's Voyage Whilst the Town was rebuilding Smith set Sail in an open Barque with fourteen Men and discover'd two Isles before Point Charles to which he gave his Name then ran into the Inlet Chesapeack in the midst of which lay several Islands His remarkable Exploits by the Sea-men call'd Russels Before the River Wighcomoco they found a disturbed Sea and more Northerly a Bay with fresh and hot Water and at last he met with two Virginians which conducted the English along a Creek to Onawmoment where some hundreds of them lay in Ambuscade according to Powhatan's appointment to cut off Smith who leaping forth on a Hidden appear'd like Devils all painted but the Bullets flying about made them all run away Smith whose Design was onely to discover the Countrey and the Silver Mine of Patawomeck ten Leagues up into the Countrey found the Metal to be of little value so that he return'd with little Success being newly cur'd of a poysonous Wound in the Arm which was given him by a Fish not unlike a Shark whilst he lay aground near Toppahanock A while after being inform'd of Powhatan's Design to destroy the English though he had been lately Presented by Newport with a Silver Basin a rich Chair Bed and Furniture belonging to it with other things of value he to prevent him chose forty eight out of two hundred Men which were Garrison'd in James-Town then going to Werowocomoco Landed with much trouble the River being frozen above half a Mile from the Shore A German Soldier amongst Smith's Company giving private notice to Powhatan of the Design of the English made his Escape by flight But Smith going on to Pamaunke found King Opechancangough with seven hundred Men in Arms threatning a fierce Battel but Smith making directly up to him set his Pistol on his Breast and forc'd him to lay down his Arms. Powhatan by this time provided with Swords and Musquets by two Dutch-men also began to bestir himself afresh but his Intentions being too soon known he was again quieted and forc'd a second time to send Smith a String of Pearl after which a Peace was concluded between all the Natives and the English Many other Quarrels and Encounters there were in the Infancy of the Plantation between the Indians and the English wherein it would be endless to recount all the Treacheries and Ambuscades of the Salvages some of which had prov'd very pernicious to the Planters had they not been betray'd to Captain Smith by Pocahonta King Powhatan's Daughter who upon all occasions shew'd her self a great Friend to the English having sav'd the Captain 's Life when being her Father's Prisoner he was just brought to Execution This Lady was afterwards brought into England Christned by the Name of Rebekah and Married to one Mr. Rolf and died at Gravesend in an intended Voyage back to her own Countrey Nor did their Cruelties and Treacheries end when the Plantation came to be more setled for on the two and twentieth of March about the Year 1621. in the time of Sir Francis Wyat's Government they generally combin'd to destroy all the English there and carried on this devilish Design with such dissimulation and dexterity that in one day they cut off seven hundred Men Women and Children there being at that time not above fifteen hundred in the Countrey Since which time in the Year of our Lord 1643. there hapned another bloody Massacre wherein near five hundred English were in one Night miserably butcher'd by those barbarous and perfidious Salvages whose Blood the present Governor Sir William Berkley nobly and justly reveng'd the Year following utterly destroying most of them and taking Prisoner their chief Emperor Opichancono who died not long after in Prison Having given but a small hint in its proper place of the Story of Captain Smith's Imprisonment by Powhatan and his deliverance from Death by Pocahonta we have thought not improper to reserve the Story of it being very remarkable for a particular Relation before we conclude our Description of Virginia since otherwise we should have interrupted the Series of our former Discourse The Relation of Captain Smith's being taken Prisoner by Powhatan
Grotius thus argues If America joyns to Tartary then the Horses which run wild at Grass might easily have found America themselves seeking to improve their Pasture and have gone from one Countrey into the other as it appears that since the Spaniards transported Horses to America they are dispers'd over the highest Mountains out of one Province into the other Or if the Straights of Anian run between both the Tartars never were Navigators and suppose they had been they would not have cross'd without Horses without which they knew not how to subsist To which we only say thus That although Tartary now and in former times abounded in Horse yet must we grant that it hath been always so or that the ancient Scythians who we avouch first planted America had such frequent use of them as the Tartars now This may be controverted for that these Scythians planting there in the Non-age of Time presently after the Flood the use of Horses was unknown which the Ancient Poets testifie by their Fiction of Centaurs who when first seen the Horse and Rider were taken for one Creature The like mistake the Mexicans had when they saw the mounted Spaniards a thousand running away from one Cavalier CHRISTOFEL COLONUS As to their coming thither of themselves it may easily be confuted Who knows not that there is no Countrey a continu'd Pasture but luxurious Vales separated with inaccessible Mountains Lakes and vast Wildernesses But David Ingram relates That he saw some Horses in the Northern America which the Mexicans and other Conquests of the Spaniards never heard of Whereupon we may conclude and we suppose without all peradventure That the Americans have absolutely their Original from Tartary which bordering Armenia where Noah's Ark first rested hath a convenient way though beyond the Artick Circle through a temperate Climate betwixt Heat and Cold to Cathay in the same Parallel with the neighboring America CHAP. III. First Discoverers of America Christopher Colonus his Expedition Christopher Colonus generally though by mistake call'd Columbus Pet Bizari Res Genoiâ—s lib. 6. was born in Arbizolo a Village in the Dominion of Genoa near Sovona his Father liv'd by Fishing in the Midland-Sea So that Sebastian Schroter Lib. 11. Hist Georg. and others besides him are mistaken saying Colonus was born in the City Cucureum and descended of the Noble Family Pilistrelli For Peter Bezarus Colunus his Countrey-man gives unquestionable Proofs of his mean Extract Christoph Colonus 's Birth and amongst other things That the Common-wealth of Genoa refus'd to receive the great Legacy which Colonus left them in his Will because they fondly thought it a derogation to their Honor being so great a Republick to take any thing of Bequest from a Fishers Son Yet his Majesty of Castile thought otherwise not onely enriching him with Wealth and a fair Revenue for his Discovery of the West-Indies but also though of a low derivation rais'd him to great Honor Ennobling him the first of his Family with Dignities Titles and Escutcheon which rank'd him in place among his Prime Nobility Colonus whom we shall henceforth call Columbus His Life spent his Youth neat the Sea where he was busie exploring the Winds considering their Natures and the Quarters whence the rose especially with the setting of the Current from the Atlantick to the Mediterrane The Wescern Winds which often as well as the Levant blow several days together from the great Ocean much amusing him hinted at last some Notions that there might be another World and hew Places to be discover'd beyond the setting of the Sun and that the Ne plus ultra should not be if he could help it the commanding Terminary of the Earth that way He also spent much time being of a solid Judgment in the Emendations of Charts and Maps then very much improvable And the Portuguese who at that time had got the start in Navigation from all other People being the busie to find a way by the South of Africa to the East-Indies not contented to go by hear-say he went himself in Person a Voyage with them Soon after Columbus settled himself in the Island Madera where an Accident hapned Strange Accident Hst Peru. which Francis Lopez de Gomesa relates thus The Master of a Ship whose Name and Countrey lies buried in Oblivion though some would have him to be of Spain some an Andalusian or Biscayner and other a Portuguese Trading to the Canaries and Flemmish-Isles was surpris'd by a hideous Tempest from the East which hurried him nolens volens through dreadful Waves where at last he found himself ingag'd upon a Western Coast altogether unknown The Storm ceasing without making further Discoveries he pick'd his way homeward at last Landing in the Haven of Madera All his Crew but three and himself with hardship want and the long Voyage having perish'd himself dangerously sick was carried into Columbus his House where lying on his Death-Bed he bequeath'd to Columbus his Maps Journals and other Observations of this his unfortunate Voyage Columbus being by these Papers more confirm'd than ever in his Opinion of a New World in the West declar'd what he verily believ'd Makes his Address at Genoa to the States of Genoa but they look'd upon him as a vain and idle Fellow yet Columbus full of his great Project thus slighted and scornfully rejected sate not so down but address'd himself to the King of Portugal To the Portuguese where they wearied him spending long time with dilatory Answers to ho effect the Opinion of a whole Court of expert Navigators having cast his Declaration out as a Chimera or meer Fancy Soon after Columbus sending his Brother into England English to move the Business to King Henry the Seventh he being taken Prisoner by the way and lying long er'e his Release came too late to the English Court prevented by the News of Christophe's return with Success from his intended Voyage For mean while Ferdinando and Isabella King of Castile And Castilian King concerning a New World having finish'd his Wars with the Moors had furnish'd him out for the Expedition which he effected by the favor of Alfonso Mendotio and Alfonso Quintavilia both great Ministers of State under Ferdinand and Isabel and obtain'd so much at last that he was sent with a hundred and twenty Souldiers besides Sea-men in two Ships and one Pinnace Thus supplied Sails from Cadiae to discover New Countreys he set Sail from Cadiz upon the Kings account the fourth of August Anno 1492 and first reach'd the Canary-Islands and from thence steering South-West the Wind in thirty three days scarce varying one Point But though the Weather blew so constant yet the Sea-men chang'd their Minds and Storm'd quite contrary crying His People rebel That Columbus was guilty of all their Deaths For said they after they had lost sight of the Canaries so many days nothing appearing but Sea and Sky Who can hope for any Success
Retreat for the Protestants at that time cruelly persecuted and Durande sensible of the Admirals thoughts privately inform'd him That in his American Design he chiefly aim'd to plant a True Church of God in America where the Professors might enjoy themselves peaceably This Report being spread amongst those that call'd themselves Protestants fled from Switzerland in great numbers to France made many of them venture upon the Design who having fitted themselves and setting sail with three Ships after some time arriv'd on the Coast of Brasile and landed on the Rock-Island in the Haven Januario Here Durande built several Watch-houses and the Fort Coligni which he fortified with a considerable number of Guns Not long after he writ to John Calvin That he would please to furnish this new Plantation in Brasile with good and able Teachers of the Gospel which Request being immediately taken into serious consideration by the Classes one Philip Corguileray a Gentleman near Geneva set Sail out of the Haven Honfleurs with three Ships freighted with some Provisions several Persons of divers Trades and two Ministers Peter Richer and William Chartier But he had scarce made Africa Dissention in the new Colony when they began to have a scarcity of Victuals wherefore they turn'd their Design of setling the Gospel in America to Pyracy where they made small scruple or difference whether Friends or Foes but made Prize of all they could light upon though indeed their Ministers both preach'd and perswaded the contrary amongst whom a Controversie happening put other Business into their Heads for one John Cointak formerly a Parisian Sorbonist was also amongst those that remov'd from Geneva who pretended that Coligni had promis'd him a Ministers place so soon as he landed at Brasile but Richer and Chartier not satisfied that there was any such Promise and consequently thinking themselves not obliged by his bare Assertion told him That themselves being able under God to perform the Work they needed no such Coadjutor This bred so great a Rancor between them that Cointak accus'd them for teaching false Doctrine Wickedness of Cointak against the Ministers and chiefly that they did not mix the Wine at their Sacraments with Water which Father Clemens had strictly commanded Durande being prevail'd on by the Cardinal of Lorein joyn'd with Cointak and thereupon so sharply persecuted the Protestants that he starv'd several of them which others to escape fled to the Brasilians Nay he took John Du Bordell Matthias Vermeil and Peter Bourdon out of their Sick-Beds Durande drowns three Religious Men. and tying their Hands and Feet threw them headlong from a Rock into the Sea Soon after which the bloody Persecutor return'd with ill success to France where he wrote a Book against the Reform'd Religion but all the Honor which he gain'd was that all Parties on both sides accounted him a distracted Person SECT XIII The Expeditions of John Ribald Renatus Laudonier and Gurgie Florida unhappily discover'd FLorida being upon the Continent of America and so call'd by John Pontaeus who landed there upon Palm-Sunday though Sebastian Gaboto a Venetian imploy'd by Henry the Seventh King of England landed there before may well be term'd the Europeans Bloody Stage Pontaeus being slain here But Ferdinand Sotto exercis'd against the Inhabitants inhumane Cruelty five years together yet at last died of a deep discontent because he could not reach his Aims having condemn'd so many Floridans fruitlesly to dig for Gold in the Mines However since that Julian Sumanus and Peter Ahumada undertook the Work anew but with the like bad Success Auno 1545 one Lodowick Cancello a Dominican thought to effect great things with four of his Associates but landing on Florida was destroy'd by the Natives But Gasper Coligni the Marshal neither discourag'd by these miserable Proceedings nor the former Treachery of Durande prepar'd for a new Expedition thither Ribald's Voyage and accordingly John Ribald was fitted with two Ships from Diep at the Charge of Charles the Ninth King of France wherewith having sail'd thirty Degrees Northern Latitude he came before the Promontory of Francisco where he ran up into the Mouth of a wide River to which he gave the denomination of Dolphin upon whose Banks were whole Mulberry-Woods which nourish'd Silk-Worms in strange abundance From hence he sail'd by the Wolves Head a Point so call'd because great numbers of Wolves breed there and leaving the Cedar-Island landed on Florida where he built a Triangular Fort and having furnish'd it with Men Guns and Provisions sail'd back for more Supplies to France but coming thither found all things in disorder occasion'd by a War amongst themselves so that the French which guarded and dwelt in the Fort The Garrison in Florida in great want waited in vain for Relief and their Provisions growing scant thought it fittest and their best way to build a Vessel and sail from thence which having effected and being gone about the third part of their Voyage there hapned such a Calm for twenty Days that they made not the least way which drove them to so great extremity their Provisions being spent that they drank their own Urine and fed upon their old Shoes which also in a short time failing they agreed amongst themselves to kill and eat one of their Sea-men call'd Henry Lacher Unheard-of Hunger on whose Flesh they liv'd some days but being again driven to the greatest want imaginable in this extremity of Desparation their Condition being altogether hopeless an English Frigat discovering them and observing by their manner of Sailing that they were in some great want drawing near sent their Long-boat aboard and found them so weak that they were not able to handle their Tack whereupon generously taking pity of them they reliev'd them and conducted them to the Coast of England and then brought them to Queen Elizabeth who had formerly design'd to rig a Fleet for Florida Mean while no News having been heard of the foremention'd French Plantation in Brasile and Coligni's Difference with the King being decided he prevail'd so much Laudonier's Voyage that Renatus Laudonier should with three Ships sail to relieve the Garrison in the late deserted Fort. Laudonier landing in Nova Francia found a Stone with a French Inscription plac'd on the Shore by Ribald and hung full of Laurel Garlands Then he visited the King Saturiona whose Son Atorcus had several Children by his own Mother according to a Salvage Custom observ'd in that Countrey Whilst they stay'd here a Fiery Meteor appear'd in the Sky with such fervor that some Rivers boyl'd with the heat of it and the Fish parboyl'd died nay more it scorch'd all the Plants far and near The Natives ascrib'd this Plague to the French Cannons by which means they stood in great fear of the French who might have done great things had not they differ'd amongst themselves Remarkable difference in the French Fleet. For a Sea-man nam'd Rubel Patracon pretending to have
aptness for Cultivation or Tillage that is because by the painful Hand of the Labourer or Husband-man it may be rendred so fertile as to yield all sorts of Grain and Fruits haply in allusion to that fruitful Countrey of Campania in Italy vulgarly known by the Name of Terradi Lavoro As for the Appellation of Terra Corterealis it need not be question'd but that it derives it self from Gaspar Corterealis a Portuguese Gentleman who about the Year of our Lord 1500. is thought by some to have made the first discovery of these Parts though Sir Sebastian Cabot a Venetian is more generally believ'd to have been the Man that under the favour and countenance of Henry the Seventh King of England first discover'd them at least the adjoyning Island Terra Nova or New-found Land but just onely discover'd being hinder'd the farther prosecution of that Design by the important Affairs in which the said King was about that time involv'd neither did Corterealis whether he was the first or came after do any more for returning within a year after his first setting out he was never heard of nor as Osorius a Portuguese Historian writes any of his Company being all suppos'd to have been drown'd by Shipwrack and in like manner Michael Corterealis who the year following set forth with two Ships in quest of his Brother Gaspar Upon which series of Misfortunes the Portuguese being wholly discourag'd and giving over this Design the French of Armorica or Bretany succeed them in it with somewhat better success about the Year 1504. whereupon it came to be term'd Nova Britannia or New Britain The ancient Inhabitants of this place were formerly of a Nature like the generality of the American People somewhat bruitish and salvage but by long conversation with the French are said to have cast off their original wildness and become more civilly manner'd they are very jealous of their Wives by report much addicted to Soothsaying though otherwise having little of Religion or of any other kind of Learning they dwell for the most part in Caves under Ground feed chiefly upon Fish and are accounted most expert Archers Whatever places the French have built here besides those of chiefest note are St. Maries Cabo Marzo and Brest SECT IV. Canada or New France CAnada as it is taken for one and the same Province with New France contains New France properly so call'd Nova Scotia Norumbega and some adjoyning Islands as the Canada of Cluverius lying more North-Westerly comprehends as we have already intimated Estotiland Laboratoris and Corterealis and according to the most modern Division for that of Cluverius neither consents with the latest Authors nor agrees with exact Survey it being nam'd Canada in respect the River Canada runs through it hath on the North Terra Corterealis on the South New England and on the East the Ocean and hath between forty five and fifty two or fifty three Degrees of Northern Latitude Situation The River Canada is judg'd to be the largest of all the Rivers of America as those Rivers generally the largest of all in the World besides it rises in the Western parts of this Province which remain yet undiscover'd and in some places spreads it self into huge Lakes some of them a hundred Miles in compass with many little Islands dispersed up and down in them and so running from the West about a hundred Leagues falls at last into the North part of St. Lawrence Bay being that wide Emboucheure of thirty five Miles breadth already mention'd This River is extraordinary full of Fish among which there is one sort more remarkable than the rest call'd by the Inhabitants Cadhothuis having Heads resembling the Heads of Hares and Bodies as white as Snow they are taken for the most part before the Isle de Lievres The Countrey on both sides of the River is pleasant and indifferently fertile especially towards the South-West where upwards from the River the Ground rises into many little Hills invested most of them with Vines with which and several other sorts of Trees this Countrey abounds being well water'd with a great many lesser Streams all of them falling into the River Canada That this Countrey is term'd New France First discovery from having been discover'd by the French at least more fully than before there needs no question to be made but whether Joannes Verrazanus under Francis the First of France or Sebastian Cabot before spoken of were the first in this Discovery may admit of some dispute the Cabots indeed for John the Father is by some mention'd to have accompanied his Son who by all are own'd the first Discoverers of New-found-Land and Terra de Baccalaos are also commonly reputed to have first found out the Province of New France together with some parts adjacent though perhaps it might be upon this Ground that Terra de Nova or New-found-Land not being known at first to be an Island New France and that might be taken for one continu'd Province and it appears so much the more probable because Canada or Nova Francia is by some call'd Terra Nova however it be or whoever were the first Adventurers Quarteri and Champlain are the two French-men that have gain'd so much fame by making a more ample and particular search into these parts that this Province may seem from thence to have sufficient claim to the Title of New France whereof that part more especially so call'd lies on the North-side of the River Canada and Southward to Terra Corterealis The Winter is here very long and so much the more severe by reason of a cold North-West Wind which blows most part of the Winter Season and brings with it so thick a Snow that it continues upon the Ground most commonly till after May. The Countrey is for the most part wooddy but in the Champain parts thereof very fruitful of Corn and all sorts of Grain especially Pulse It hath also Fish Fowl wild Deer Bears Marterns and Foxes in abundance and of Hares such plenty that one of the little Islands belonging to this Province is by the French nam'd L' Isle des Lievres or The Island of Hares But the most peculiar Commodity belonging to this Countrey is the Esurgnuy a kind of Shell-Fish extraordinary white and approv'd of singular vertue for the stanching of Blood to which purpose they make Bracelets of them not onely for their own use but also to vend them to others but John de Laet and others have observ'd no other than a superstitious use of them amongst the Salvages in their Funeral Rites for the Dead the manner of their taking it is very remarkable for when any one is condemn'd to die or taken Prisoner they cut off all his fleshy parts in long slices and then throw him into the River where they let him lie twelve hours and at last pulling him out again find his Wounds full of Esurgnui Quadus and Maginus make mention of three ancient Towns namely
the Stars had a sick Husband who Dreamt that he should be restor'd to his former health so soon as he could but taste of the Fruits which grew on a Tree whereby the Family of Heaven were kept alive but that the Tree must needs be cut down which Ataensic obeying gave onely two blows when the Tree to her great amazement fell out of Heaven down to the Earth there being by this means nothing more left to eat in Heaven Ataensic follow'd the fallen Tree and being big with Child bare a Daughter which growing up to years was Deliver'd of two Daughters viz. Taoviscaron and Jouskeha the eldest of which slew the youngest By these Fables we may discern their obscure knowledge of Noah's Flood Eve's Fall and Cain's Murder No less ridiculous is that which they believe concerning the Creation viz. That the Waters were inclos'd within a Frog which Jouskeha causing to be cut open all Streams and Rivers issuing out had their Original from thence This done Jouskehâ— open'd a Pit out of which came all sorts of Beasts they ascribe a Bodily shape to the Soul As also of the Creation and Souls of the Deceased as also Immortality but that they live together in a great Village towards the West from which removing sometimes they knock at the Doors of their former Friends in the Night and sow deserted Grounds That the Journey towards the Village in which the Souls reside is very strange the High-way thither beginning at a Rock nam'd Ecaregniendi where they first Paint their Faces which done they go to a Hut inhabited by an old Man nam'd Osotrach who takes the Brains out of the Souls Head after which they walk to a broad River which they cross on a narrow Plank or Bridge on which a Dog encountring forces them to leap into the Water which carries them down to the foremention'd Village They acknowledge one Oki for the Governor of the Sea and seasons of the Year Strange Rock They also Religiously Worship the Rock Tsankchi Arasta which they believe some ages ago was once a Man but afterward Transform'd into a Rock in which a Daemon resides who can make their Journies either successful or dangerous wherefore they offer him Tobacco Thunder Their opinion of Thunder is likewise very ridiculous for they say that the Devil endeavoring to vomit a horrible Serpent by straining to evacuate the same rents the Clouds and occasions Thunder Lastly Thakabech Idol They relate of a Dwarf call'd Thakabech who climb'd on the top of a Tree which by his blowing thereon grew so high that it touch'd the Clouds and Thakabech easily stept into them where he found all sorts of delight and pleasure but having a Sister on Earth descended again along the Tree and fetching his Sister conducted her above the Stars mean while Thakabech going in the Night to see if he had taken any thing in his Net which he had pitch'd found it full of Fire and observing the same very narrowly saw that he had taken the Sun but durst not approach the same by reason of its great heat but making a Mouse sent her to gnaw the Net in pieces and set the Sun at liberty Every twelfth year they keep an extraordinary great Funeral-Feast Funeral-Feast for on the Set-time they flock from all parts to the appointed place every one carrying thither the Bodies or Bones of their Deceas'd Friends wrapt up in Clothes and hang them over their Meat which they eat singing such fond and Superstitious Conceits make up the Religion of these poor deluded People SECT V. Accadia or Nova Scotia NOva Scotia or New Scotland formerly call'd Accadia is commonly accounted a part of New France viz. that part which lying on the South side of the River Canada and shooting South-Easterly into a bosom of the Sea forms it self into a Peninsula between the Gulph of St. Lawrence and the Bay Francoise nevertheless because of the different concernments of this part of the Countrey in regard the right of claim to several places in this district most especially of all Nova Francia besides hath been long in dispute between Us and the French it will be most convenient to Treat of it apart and because the Series of Affairs from its first discovery till of late years appears faithfully represented on the English part in a Remonstrance Address'd to the King and Council by Sir Lewis Kirk and his Brother John Kirk Esquire it will not be amiss onely adding some few things upon occasion to follow exactly the Narration of Affairs deliver'd in the said Remonstrance to this effect 1. THe whole Tract or Space of Land in America lying on either side of the River Canada which a long time since were known by the Names of Nova Francia and Nova Scotia were at first discover'd and found out by the English in the time of Henry the Seventh King of England which Expedition was first undertaken at the Command and Charges of that King afterwards further'd and carry'd on by the favorable Aspect of Queen Elizabeth so that in process of time for many years together the said Tract of Ground with absolute Priviledge of free Commerce fell under the Jurisdiction and Power of the Crown of England Neither was it unto any other Christian Princes or their Subjects more clearly known or discover'd untill about the year 1600. some of the French understanding the benefit arising by Traffique in the River of St. Lawrence having formerly seiz'd upon that Tract of Land situate on the North side of the said Floud or River Canada did afterwards in Anno 1604. under the Conduct of Peter de Gua Lord of Monts who in the year 1606. was follow'd by Monsieur de Pourtrincourt Possess themselves of L' Accadie lying on the South side of the said River naming the whole Nova Francia challenging to themselves for many years at least de facto the Possession thereof with sole liberty of Commerce there 2. In Anno 1621. King James of England looking upon the Possession gotten there by the French as upon an Invasion did by his Letters Patents Grant unto Sir William Alexander a Scotchman Created afterwards Earl of Sterling by King Charles the First L' Accadie by the Name of Nova Scotia who in the year 1622 and 1623. after Sir Samuel Argal had driven out Biard and Masse and demolishing their Fort carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia having obtain'd the Possession thereof they Planted a Colony therein and kept Possession for about two years after until such time as upon the Marriage of his Majesty King Charles the First with the Lady Henrietta Maria the said L' Accadie or Nova Scotia was by Order of the King of England return'd into the Possession of the French 3. Afterwards a War arising between his Majesty King Charles the First and Lewis the XIII Anno 1627 and 1628. Sir David Kirk and his Brethren and Relations of England did by vertue of his Majestie 's Commission send to Sea
at their great charge first three afterwards nine Ships with Warlike Preparations for recovering of the Possession of the said Lands lying on either side of the said River Canada and to expel and eject all the French Trading in those Parts wherein they had good Success and in Anno 1627. did there seize upon about eighteen of the French Ships wherein were found a hundred thirty five Pieces of Ordnance design'd for relief of the Royal Fort in L' Accadie and Quebeck in Nova Francia under the Command of Monsieur de Rocmand and Monsieur de la Tour Father of de la Tour Governor of the said Royal Fort whom together with the said Ships and Guns they brought into England and in the year 1628. they Possess'd themselves of the whole Region of Canada or Nova Francia situate on the North side of the River together with the Fort or Castle of Quebeck Sir Lewis Kirk being then constituted Governor of the place the French being then either expell'd or convey'd into England and the Arms of the King of England being publickly there erected and every where plac'd and before the year 1628. it was brought to pass by the said Sir William Alexander assisted both by the advice and charge of the said Kirk that in the parts of L' Accadie or Nova Scotia on the South side of the River Canada the whole place with the Forts thereon built being by him subdu'd presently came under the Power of the King of England that Region on the South side falling into the Possession of the said Sir William Alexander and that on the North side into the Possession of the Kirks 4. On March 29. 1632. a Peace being concluded between King Charles the First and Lewis the XIII it was amongst other things on the part of the King of England agreed That all the Forts as well in L' Accadie as in Nova Francia should be restor'd into the Possession of the Subjects of the French King which was exactly perform'd on the part of the English though to the great damage of the Kirks but on the part of the French although it was agreed as in the fourth and fifth Articles of Peace is set down to which reference is had yet nothing was ever perform'd of their parts so that the Kirks did thereupon suffer loss to the value of five thousand Pounds Sterl which were to be paid them by Monsieur de Cane a French-man but remain unpaid to this day 5. Anno 1633. the King of England taking notice that although the Forts and Castles according to the League were deliver'd up into the Possession of the French especially such as had been erected during their Possession thereof yet that his English Subjects were not to be excluded from Trade or free Commerce in those Regions that were first Discover'd and Possess'd by his Subjects did with the advice of his Council by his Letters Patents Dated May 11. 1633. upon consideration had of the Expences which the said Kirks had laid out upon the reducing of that Countrey with the Fort of Quebeck to the value of 50000lb. and also of their ready obeisance in resigning up the same on his Royal Command Grant unto Sir Lewis Kirk and his Brother John Kirk and his Associates for the term of thirty one years not yet expir'd full Priviledge not only of Trade and Commerce in the River Canada and places on either side adjacent but also to Plant Colonies and build Forts and Bulwarks where they should think fit 6. By vertue of which Commission Sir Lewis Kirk and his Brother John Kirk and his Associates in the Moneth of February next following viz. in 1633. set forth a Ship call'd The Merry Fortune Laden with Goods of a considerable value consign'd to those parts where during her Trading there without any just offence given and in time of Peace she was by the French forceably seiz'd on and carry'd into France and her Lading as if she had been lawful Prize Confiscated whereupon the Kirks suffer'd loss to the value of twelve thousand Pounds And although the Lord Scudamore Ambassador in France by the King of Englands special Command and the said John Kirk being there in Person by the King's Command did often earnestly urge that the Moneys due to the said Kirks and the said Ship with her Lading might be restor'd which for no other cause had been seiz'd upon and sold but only for that by the King's Commission she was found Trading at Canada yet he could obtain nothing but after some years fruitless endeavors return'd into England without accomplishing his desires 7. In the year 1654. Cromwel although an unjust Usurper of the Government yet upon consideration of the Premises taking a just occasion for requiring the Possession of L' Accadie sends forth several Ships under the Command of one Sedgwick who by vertue of the Authority granted him by Cromwel assaulted and subdu'd the aforesaid Forts in Nova Scotia and restor'd them into the Possession of the English And although in the year 1655. a League of firm Peace and Amity being concluded between Cromwel and the French King the French Ambassador did often urge the Restitution to the Possession of the French yet for the same causes aforesaid which had mov'd Cromwel to seize upon them it was thought fit still to retain the Possession of them and although according to the purport of the twenty fifth Article of the Peace Commissioners on both sides were to be appointed for the deciding and determining that Controversie yet nothing was done therein neither did the Commissioners ever meet within three Moneths as in the twenty fourth Article of the Treaty was provided and agreed So that now the case is very clear that the Possession to the English remains firm and just and that the Forts and Bulwarks before specifi'd are without all peradventure under the Power and Jurisdiction of the King of England Since the Restauration of his present Majesty the French Ambassador representing unto the King the Pretensions of the French unto the several Forts and other places in Accadie and urging the non-performance of the Articles of Agreement between Oliver Cromwel and the French King mov'd the King of England As a profess'd Enemy to all Violence for a Restitution of all the Forts and other places which were then in the possession of the English Not long after which whether upon the Ambassadors request or upon other important Affairs intervening or upon what other ground soever it were the French were suffer'd to re-enter on the foresaid places and do yet keep Possession of them till such time as the English claim under the just Title of the Kirks shall meet with some fit occasion of being reviv'd That which we suppose gives the French so much the more confidence in their claim of this Country is their presumption upon the Expedition of James Quartier whom they will have to be the first Discoverer if not Possessor not onely of the Isle of Assumption
but the more Inland parts of the Countrey are indifferently warm Moreover it hath been found by certain experience that those Countreys which look to wards the East or Sun-rising are colder than those which lie towards the West or Sun-setting and those that have the Evening Winds on them warmer than those which have the Morning Winds which being so it should follow that the temperature of the Air in those Regions is peculiar to the Bodies of those of our Nation who being accustom'd to a Climate somewhat temperate are neither able to endure extremity of Cold nor immoderate Heat Yet there are who affirm that New England though situate in the midst of the temperate Zone nevertheless feels both extremities of the two opposite Zones in the Summer the heat of the Torrid and in the Winter the cold of the Frigid As for the first discovery of this Countrey First discovery it is not to be expected otherwise than that of the discovery of those other Countreys hitherto discours'd of that is to say very uncertain but because the French boast of Joannes Verrazanus who though an Italian was employ'd by the French King Francis the First as the first Discoverer not onely of Nova Francia as hath been already intimated but also of this Countrey and the adjoyning Coast and Regions we shall not think it impertinent to give from their own Relations a brief view of his Voyage and afterwards a particular Description of the English Plantations there and of their Transactions both one with another and between them and the Nations The Narration of Verrazanus's Voyage is as followeth Remarkable Voyage of Verrazanus ON command of the French King Francis the First John Verrazanus Anno 1524. setting Sail Westward from the Canary Isles discover'd a low American Coast in thirty four Degrees North Latitude inhabited by naked People which behind the sandy Hills facing the Sea Manur'd many fruitful Plains Then Sailing a hundred Leagues along the Shore Northerly he view'd a Countrey full of Vines which grew up amongst the Boughs of high Trees and Sailing up a pleasant River Landed on the Island Clandia full of woody Mountains thence he stood for the main Continent where after having visited a King Clad in wrought Deer-skin he Sail'd by a Bay at whose Mouth appear'd a Rock in an Inlet twenty Leagues where appear'd five small Isles all of them exceeding fruitful After this being got a hundred and fifty Leagues to the Northward he found very salvage People whose Heads appear'd through Bear-skins and Sea-Calves By this time having Terreneuf on his Starboard he return'd back to Diepe Thus far Verrazanus made some discovery of the Coast which hath since not onely been farther inspected by the English but also by them Planted and call'd New England The setling of Plantations This Countrey whether first discover'd by the said Verrazanus or together with the rest of largely-taken Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh or as some say by Captain Gosnald in the Year 1602. was so well known to the English in the beginning of King James's Reign here that the setling and carrying on of Plantations id this part of America was vigorously promoted by many of the most eminent Persons in England whereupon it was about the Year 1606. being the fourth Year of the said King granted by Patent to several Lords Knights Gentlemen and Merchants under the denomination of The Plymouth Company both in favour of those generous Spirits who studied and endeavor'd the good of the Publick by foreign Plantations and indulgence to those who not well satisfi'd with the Government of Church and State and willingly transporting themselves and Families thither as to their Asylum could more conveniently be spar'd than the better affected part of the People And although the Colonies at first sent over succeeded not according to expectation yet in a short time there Plantations were brought to very great perfection Captain Weimouth who had been employ'd there by the Lord Arundel of Warder for the discovery of the North-West Passage falling short of his Course hapned into a River on the Coast of America call'd Pemmaquid from whence he brought five of the Natives for England three of whose Names were Mannida Skettwarroes and Tasquantum and Landing at Plymouth presented them to Sir Ferdinando Gorges whom he made use of as Instruments for the farther advancement of these Plantations they were all of one Nation but of several parts and several Families he kept them with him three years and observing in them an inclination to vertuous Designs and Spirits above the Vulgar he gain'd information from them what great Rivers ran up into the Land what Men of note were seated on them what Power they were of how Ally'd what Enemies they had and the like and taking some light from thence sent away a Ship furnish'd with Men and all kind of Necessaries convenient for the Service intended under the Command of Captain Henry Chaloung a Gentleman of a good Family and very capable for Undertakings of this nature and giving him sufficient Instructions what to do sent along with him two of the said Natives for his better Conduct and Direction ordering him by all means to keep the Northerly Gage as high as Cape Briton till they had discover'd the Main and then to beat it up to the Southward as the Coast tended till they found by the Natives they were near the place to which they were assign'd By that time they were about a hundred Leagues off the Island of Canara the Captain fell sick of a Feaver and the Winds being Westerly his Company shap'd their Course for the Indies and coming to St. John de Porto Rico the Captain went ashore for the recovery of his Health whilst the Company took in Water and such other Provisions as they had present need of and spent some time in Hunting and other Recreations after which steering their intended Course they were met with by the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana taken Prisoners and carried into Spain the Ship and Goods being confiscated the Voyage overthrown and the Natives lost Not long after the setting out of Chaloung Thomas Haman was sent by Sir John Popham Lord Chief Justice of England towards the River of Sagadehoc to the succour of Chaloung if need were but not finding him after he had scowr'd the Coast all about he return'd back into England Captain Prinne was likewise sent from Bristol who arriving happily in those Parts brought back with him at his return the most exact Discovery of that Coast that ever had been gain'd till then A while after at the Charge of the said Sir John Popham a hundred Men were sent to settle a Colony at Sagadehoc under the Command of George Popham Raleigh Gilbert Master of the Ship who seated themselves in a Peninsula at the Mouth of this River which attempting to discover they met with a Wood near to an Island distant from the Line about forty five
the Massachusets Bay but forty Miles to the North-East there are great store of them The Rackoone is a deep Furr'd Beast not much unlike a Badger The Rackoon having a Tail like a Fox as good Meat as a Lamb These Beasts in the day time sleep in hollow Trees in a Moon-shine night they go to feed on Clams at a low Tide by the Sea side where the English hunt them with their Dogs The Musquash is much like a Beaver for shape but nothing near so big The Masquash the Male hath two Stones which smell as sweet as Musk and being kill'd in Winter never lose their sweet smell These Skins are no bigger than a Coney-skin yet are sold for five Shillings apiece being sent for Tokens into England one good Skin will perfume a whole house full of Clothes if it be right and good The Birds both common and peculiar are thus recited Birds The Princely Eagle and the soaring Hawk Whom in their unknown ways there 's none can chawk The Humbird for some Queens rich Cage more fit Than in the vacant Wilderness to sit The swift-wing'd Swallow sweeping to and fro As swift as Arrow from Tartarian Bowe When as Aurora's Infant day new springs There th' morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings The harmonious Thrush swift Pigeon Turtle-dove Who to her Mate doth ever constant prove The Turky-Pheasant Heath-cock Partridge rare The Carrion-tearing Crow and hurtful Stare The long-liv'd Raven th' ominous Screech-Owl Who tells as old Wives say disasters foul The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov'd Nest And loves to rove when Day-birds be at rest Th'Eel-murthering Hearn and greedy Cormorant That near the Creeks in morish Marshes haunt The bellowing Bittern with the long-leg'd Crane Presaging Winters hard and dearth of Grain The Silver Swan that tunes her mournful breath To sing the Dirge of her approaching death The tattering Oldwives and the cackling Geese The fearful Gull that shuns the murthering Peece The strong-wing'd Mallard with the nimble Teal And ill-shape't Loon who his harsh Notes doth squeal There Widgins Sheldrakes and Humilitees Snites Doppers Sea-Larks in whole million flees Of these the Humbird Loon and Humility are not to be pass'd by without particular observation The Humbird is one of the wonders of the Countrey The Humbird being no bigger than a Hornet yet hath all the Dimensions of a Bird as Bill and Wings with Quills Spider-like Legs small Claws for Colour she is as glorious as the Rain-bow as she flies she makes a little humming noise like a Humble-bee wherefore she is call'd the Humbird The Loon is an ill-shap'd thing like a Cormorant The Loon. The Huntility or Simplicity but that he can neither go nor flie he maketh a noise sometimes like Sowgelders Horn. The Humilities or Simplicities as we may rather call them are of two sorts the biggest being as large as a green Plover the other as big as Birds we call Knots in England Such is the simplicity of the smaller sorts of these Birds that one may drive them on a heap like so many Sheep and seeing a fit time shoot them the living seeing the dead settle themselves on the same place again amongst which the Fowler discharges again These Birds are to be had upon Sandy Brakes at the latter end of Summer before the Geese come in No less Poetical a Bill of Fare is brought of the Fish on the Sea-Coasts Fishes and in the Rivers of New England in these subsequent Verses The King of Waters the Sea shouldering Whale The snuffing Grampus with the Oily Seale The-storm presaging Porpus Herring-Hog Line-shearing Shark the Catfish and Sea Dog The Scale-fenc'd Sturgeon wry-mouth'd Hollibut The flounsing Salmon Codfish Greedigut Cole Haddock Hage the Thornback and the Scate Whose slimy outside makes him'seld in date The stately Bass old Neptune's fleeting Post That Tides it out and in from Sea to Coast Consorting Herrings and the bonny Shad Big-belly'd Alewives Mackrills richly-clad With Rainbow colours Frostfish and the Smelt As good as ever Lady Gustus felt The spotted Lamprons Eels the Lamperies That seek fresh Water-Brooks with Argus Eyes These watery Villagers with thousands more Do pass and repass near the verdant Shore Kinds of Shell-fish The luscious Lobster with the Crabfish raw The brinish Oyster Muscle Periwigge And Tortoise sought for by the Indian Sqaw Which to the Flats dance many a Winters Jigge To dive for Cocles and to dig for Clams Whereby her lazie Husbands guts she crams To speak of the most unusual of these sorts of Fish The Seal First the Seal which is call'd the Sea-Calf his Skin is good for divers uses his Body being between Flesh and Fish it is not very delectable to the Palate or congruent with the Stomack his Oil is very good to burn in Lamps of which he affords a great deal The Shark is a kind of Fish as big as a Man The Shark some as big as a Horse with three rows of Teeth within his Mouth with which he snaps asunder the Fishermans Lines if he be not very circumspect This Fish will leap at a Mans hand if it be over board and with his Teeth snap off a Mans Leg or Hand if he be Swimming these are often taken being good for nothing but Manuring of Land The Hollibut is not much unlike a Pleace or Turbut The Hollibut some being two yards long and one wide a Foot thick the plenty of better Fish makes these of little esteem except the Head and Finns which Stew'd or Bak'd is very good these Hollibuts be little set by while Basse is in season The Basse is one of the best Fishes in the Countrey The Basse and though Men are soon weary'd with other Fish yet are they never with Basse it is a delicate fine fat fast Fish having a Bone in his Head which contains a Sawcerful of Marrow sweet and good pleasant to the Palate and wholsom to the Stomack When there be great store of them we only eat the Heads and Salt up the Bodies for Winter which exceeds Ling or Haberdine Of these Fishes some are three and some four Foot long some bigger some lesser at some Tides a Man may catch a dozen or twenty of these in three hours the way to catch them is with Hook and Line The Fisherman taking a great Cod-line to which he fasteneth a piece of Lobster throws it into the Sea the Fish biting at it he pulls her to him and knocks her on the head with a Stick Alewives are a kind of Fish which is much like a Herring Alewives which in the later end of April come up to the fresh Rivers to Spawn in such multitudes as is almost incredible pressing up in such shallow Waters as will scarce permit them to Swim having likewise such longing desire after the fresh Water Ponds that no beatings with Poles or forcive agitations by other devices will cause them to
distance Church-Government among the English Their Church-Government and Discipline is Congregational and Independent yet in some places more rigid than others for in many Towns there yet remains some leaven of Presbytery from which Sects our Independency had its Original insomuch that one of the most remarkable Opposers of Episcopal Government Doctor Bastwick who spoil'd so much Paper in railing at the Church Government of England and crying up Liberty of Conscience finding the Apostacy of his own Brethren of Boston from their first Principles and his generally prevail over them even to the denying that liberty to others which they seem'd only to aim at did write a large and vehement Dehortatory Epistle to them from their New Lights or Paths saying That according to their present Tenents they could not pretend to be better or other than a Christian Synagogue Their. Civil Government and Laws Their Laws and Methods of Government are wholly of their own framing each Colony for themselves makes an Annual choice of Governor Deputy Governor and a certain number of Assistants by the plurality of Suffrages collected from their several Towns the Electors are only Free-men and Church-Members for he that is not a Member of their Church can neither chuse nor be chosen a Magistrate nor have his Children Baptiz'd besides the loss of many other Priviledges and liable moreover to frequent if not constant Mulcts for absenting themselves from Divine Worship so call'd in their Meeting-houses Since the transmitting of the Patent in New England the Election is not by Voices nor erection of Hands as formerly but by Papers thus The general Court-electory sitting where are present in the Church or Meeting-house at Boston the old Governor Deputy and all the Magistrates and two Deputies or Burgesses for every Town or at least one all the Freemen are bid to come in at one Door and bring their Votes in Paper for the new Governor and deliver them down upon the Table before the Court and so pass forth at another Door those that are absent send their Votes by Proxies All being deliver'd in the Votes are counted and according to the major part the old Governor pronounceth That such an one is chosen Governor for the year ensuing Then the Freemen in like manner bring their Votes for the Deputy Governor who being also chosen the Governor propoundeth the Assistants one after another New Assistants are of late put in nomination by an Order of general Court before-hand to be consider'd of If a Freeman give in a Blank that rejects the Man nam'd if the Freeman makes any mark with a Pen upon the Paper which he brings that elects the Man nam'd Then the Blanks and mark'd Papers are number'd and according to the major part of either the Man in Nomination stands elected or rejected and so for all the Assistants And after every new Election which is by their Patent to be upon the last Wednesday in Easter Term the new Governor and Officers are all new Sworn The Governor and Assistants chuse the Secretary And all the Court consisting of Governor Deputy Assistants and Deputies of Towns give their Votes as well as the rest and the Ministers and Elders and all Church-Officers have their Votes also in all these Elections of chief Magistrates Constables and all other inferior Officers are sworn in the general quarter or other Courts or before any Assistant Every Free-man when he is admitted takes a strict Oath to be true to the Society or Jurisdiction There are two general Courts one every half year wherein they make Laws or Ordinances The Ministers advise in making of Laws especially Ecclesiastical and are present in Courts and advise in some special Causes Criminal and in framing of Fundamental Laws There are besides four Quarter-Courts for the whole Jurisdiction besides other petty Courts one every quarter at Boston Salem and Ipswich with their several Jurisdictions besides every Town almost hath a petty Court for small Debts and Trespasses under twenty Shillings Actions and Causes In the general Court or great quarter Courts before the Civil Magistrates are try'd all Actions and Causes Civil and Criminal and also Ecclesiastical especially touching Non-members And they themselves say that in the general and quarter Courts they have the Power of Parliament Kings-Bench Common-Pleas Chancery High-Commission and Star-Chamber and all other Courts of England and in divers Cases have exercis'd that Power upon the Kings Subjects there as is not difficult to prove They have put to death banish'd fin'd Men cut off Mens Ears whip'd imprison'd Men and all these for Ecclesiastical and Civil Offences and without sufficient Record In the lesser quarter Courts are try'd in some Actions under ten Pounds in Boston under twenty and all Criminal Causes not touching Life or Member From the petty quarter Courts or other Courts the parties may appeal to the great quarter Courts from thence to the general Court from which there is no Repeal Twice a year Grand-Juries in the said quarter Courts held before the general Courts are two Grand-Juries sworn for the Jurisdiction one for one Court and the other for the other and they are charg'd to enquire and Present Offences reduc'd by the Governor who gives the Charge Matters of Debt Trials Trespass and upon the Case and Equity yea and of Heresie also are try'd by a Jury The Parties are warn'd to challenge any Jury-man before he be sworn but because there is but one Jury in a Court for trial of Causes and all Parties not present at their Swearing the liberty of challenge is much hinder'd and some inconveniences do happen thereby Jurors are return'd by the Marshal he was at first call'd The Beadle of the Society The Parties in all Causes speak themselves for the most part and some of the Magistrates where they think cause requireth do the part of Advocates without Fee or Reward Though among the several Colonies which were founded here by the confluence of dissenting Zealots this Government is exercis'd differing from that of the Church and State of England yet in those Provinces which are granted by particular Persons the Government is much more conformable to that of England but as the Mattachusets or Bostoners were from the beginning the most Potent and Predominant of all the rest of the Colonies insomuch that Boston may well be accounted the Metropolis of all New England so of late years they have still usurp'd more and more Power and Authority over the rest and especially have not stuck to give Laws to the foresaid Provinces allotted to particular Persons and have gone about wholly to subjugate those places to themselves intrenching upon the rights of the true Proprietors and that even contrary to the Kings express Commands by his Officers there and as it were in open defiance of his Majesty and Government as is evident from this following Narration of their behavior upon a business of this nature Proceedings of the Mattachusets against
the quality whereof being something corrected by Industry as there have been several trials thereof already made there may no doubt produce good Wine to the great encouragement and advantage of the Undertakers Brave Ships may be built there with little charge Clab-board Wainscot Pipe-staves and Masts for Ships the Woods will afford plentifully some small Vessels have been already built there In fine Beef Furrs Hides Butter Cheese Pork and Bacon to Transport to other Countreys are no small Commodities which by Industry are and may be had there in great plenty the English being already plentifully stock'd with all sorts of Cattel and Horses and were there no other Staple-Commodities to be hop'd for but Silk and Linnen the materials of which apparently will grow there it were sufficient to enrich the Inhabitants But the general Trade of Mary-land at present depends chiefly upon Tobacco it being the Planters greatest concern and study to store himself betimes with that Commodity wherewith he buys and sells and after which Standard all other Commodities receive their Price there they have of late vented such quantities of that and other Commodities that a hundred Sail of Ships from England Barbadoes and other English Plantations have been usually known to Trade thither in one Year insomuch that by Custom and Excize paid in England for Tobacco and other Commodities Imported from thence Mary-land alone at this present hath by his Lordships vast Expence Industry and Hazard for many years without any charge to the Crown improv'd His Majesties the King of Englands Revenues to the value of Forty thousand Pounds Sterl per annum at least The general way of Traffick and Commerce there is chiefly by Barter or Exchange of one Commodity for another yet there wants not besides English and other foraign Coyns some of his Lordships own Coyn as Groats Sixpences and Shillings which his Lordship at his own Charge caus'd to be Coyn'd and dispers'd throughout that Province 't is equal in fineness of Silver to English Sterling being of the same Standard but of somewhat less weight and hath on the one side his Lordships Coat of Arms stamp'd with this Motto circumscrib'd Crescite Maltiplicamini and on the other side his Lordships Effigies circumscrib'd thus Caecilius Dominus Terrae-Mariae c. The Government The Order of Government and settled Laws of this Province is by the Prudence and endeavor of the present Lord Proprietary brought to great Perfection and as his Dominion there is absolute as may appear by the Charter aforementioned so all Patents Warrants Writs Licenses Actions Criminal c. Issue forth there in his Name Wars Peace Courts Offices c. all in his Name made held and appointed Laws are there Enacted by him with the advice and consent of the General Assembly which consists of two Estates namely the first is made up by the Chancellor Secretary and others of his Lordships Privy-Council and such Lords of Mannors and others as shall be call'd by particular Writs for that purpose to be Issu'd by his Lordship The second Estate consists of the Deputies and Delegates of the respective Counties of the said Province elected and chosen by the free voice and approbation of the Free-men of the said respective Counties The Names of the Governor and Council in this present Year 1671. are as followeth Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships Son and Heir Governor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother Chancellor Sir William Talbot Baronet his Lordships Nephew Secretary Mr. William Calvert his Lordships Nephew Muster-Master-General Mr. Jerome White Surveyor-General Mr. Baker Brooke his Lordships Nephew Mr. Edward Lloyd Mr Henry Coursey Mr. Thomas Trueman Major Edward Fits-Herbert Samuel Chen Esq His Lordship or his Lieutenant there for the time being upon due occasion Convenes Prorogues and Dissolves this Assembly but whatsoever is by his Lordships Lieutenant there with the consent of both the said Estates Enacted is there of the same Force and Nature as an Act of Parliament is in England until his Lordship declares his dis-assent but such Laws as his Lordship doth assent unto are not afterwards to be Alter'd or Repeal'd but by his Lordship with the consent of both the said Estates Their chief Court of Judicature is held at St. Maries Quarterly every Year to which all Persons concern'd resort for Justice and is call'd The Provincial Court whereof the Governor and Councilare Judges To the Court there doth belong several sworn Attorneys who constantly are present there and act both as Barristers and Attorneys there are likewise chief Clerks Bayliffs and other Officers which duly attend the Court in their respective places The Province is divided at present so far as it is inhabited by English into Counties whereof there be ten viz. St. Maries Charles Calvert Anne Arandel and Baltemore Counties which first five lie on the West side of the Bay of Chesapeack on the Eastern side whereof commonly call'd The Eastern-Shore lies Sommerset Dorchester Talbot Caecil and Kent Counties which last is an Island lying near the Eastern-shore of the said Bay Besides the Provincial Court aforenam'd there are other inferior Courts appointed to be held in every one of the Counties six times in the year for the dispatch of all Causes not relating to Life or Member and not exceeding the value of three thousand weight of Tobacco the decision of all other Causes being reserv'd to the Provincial or higher Court before-mention'd and there lies Appeals from the County-Courts to the Provincial Court There are Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers appointed by the Lord and Proprietary or his Lordships Lieutenant for the time being in the said respective Counties and without four Justices of which one to be of the Quorum none of the said respective County-Courts can be held any of his Lordships Privy Council may sit as Judge in any of the said County-Courts by vertue of his place These Courts are appointed to be held at convenient Houses in the said Counties which commonly are not far distant from some Inn or other House of Entertainment for accommodation of Strangers one of the said six County Courts in each County is held for settling of Widows and Orphans Estates There are Foundations laid of Towns more or less in each County according to his Lordships Proclamation to that effect Issu'd forth in the year 1668. In Calvert County about the River of Patuxent and the adjacent Cliffs are the Bounds of three Towns laid out one over against Point Patience call'd Harvy Town another in Battel-Creek call'd Calverton and a third upon the Cliffs call'd Herrington and Houses already built in them all uniform and pleasant with Streets and Keys on the Water side In the County of St. Maries on the East side of St. Georges River is the principal and original Seat of this Province where the general Assembly and Provincial Courts are held and is call'd St. Maries being erected into a City by that Name where divers Houses are already
built The Governor hath a House there call'd St. John's the Chancellor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother hath another and in this place is built and kept the Secretaries Office where all the Records are kept all Process Grants for Lands Probates of Wills Letters of Administration are issu'd out the Plat of a Fort and Prison is lately laid there upon a point of Land term'd Windmil-Point from a Windmil which formerly stood there the situation is proper for that it commands the breadth of the said River of Saint Georges so that when it is finish'd all Shipping may safely Ride before the Town without the least fear of any sudden Assault or Attempt of Pirats or other Enemy whatsoever This City has formerly been the usual place of abode for his Lordships Lieutenants and their Retinue but of late years the present Governor Mr. Charles Calvert hath built himself a fair House of Brick and Timber with all Out-houses and other Offices thereto belonging at a place call'd Mattapany near the River of Patuxent before-mention'd where he and his Family reside being a pleasant healthful and commodious Seat about eight Miles by Land distant from St. Maries Of the Indians in Maryland The Indians in Mary-land ate a People generally of streight able and well proportion'd Bodies something exceeding the ordinary pitch of the English their Complexion Swarthy their Hair naturally long and black without Curle which generally they cut after some strange Fantastical Mode nay sometimes they Dye it with red and other preposterous Colours They Liquor their Skins with Bears Grease and other Oyls which renders them more tawny and less apt to receive injury from the Weather They are subtile from their Infancy and prone to learn any thing their Fancy inclines them to in other things slothful There are as many distinct Nations among them as there are Indian Towns which are like Countrey-Villages in England but not so good Houses dispers'd throughout the Province Each Town hath its King by them term'd Werowance and every forty or fifty Miles distance differs much from its Neighbors in Speech and Disposition The Sasquahanocks though but few in number yet much exceed the rest in Valor and Fidelity to the English the rest being generally of a more Treacherous Spirit and not so stout and the number of the English do already exceed all the Indians in the Province The Werowance is assisted by Councellors call'd Wisoes who are commonly of the same Family and are chosen at the pleasure of the Werowance They have Captains in time of War which they term Cockorooses Most of their Governments are Monarchical except the Sasquabanocks which is a Re-publick but for succession they have a peculiar Custom that the Issue of the Males never succeed but the Issue-Male of the Female succeed in Government as the surer side They all submit to and are protected by the Lord Proprietaries Government and in case of any Assault or Murder committed on any English the Party offending is try'd by the Laws of the Province and in case of any new Election of King or Emperor among them they present the Person so Elected to the Governor for the time being who as he sees cause either alters or confirms their Choice In the Year 1663. at the Indians Request the present Governor Mr. Charles Calvert and some others of his Lordships Privy-Council there went to Pascatoway in this Province to be present at the Election of a new Emperor for that Nation They presented a Youth nam'd Nattawasso and humbly Requested to have him confirm'd Emperor of Pascatoway by the Name of Wahocasso which after some charge given them in general to be good and faithful Subjects to him the Governor accordingly did and receiv'd him into his Protection They pay great Respect and Obedience to their Kings and Superiors whose Commands they immediately Execute though with an apparent hazard of their Lives The Mens chief employment is Hunting and the Wars in both which they commonly use Bowes and Arrows some of late have Guns and other Weapons by a private Trade with some English Neighboring Plantations They are excellent Marks-men it being the onely thing they breed their Youth to The Women Plant and look after the Corn make their Bread and dress what Provisions their Husbands bring home Their way of Marriage is by agreement with the Womens Parents or Friends who for a certain Sum of their Money or other Goods deliver her to the Man at a day appointed which is commonly spent in jollity Their Money There are two sorts of Indian Money Wampompeage and Roanoack these serve among them as Gold and Silver do in Europe both are made of Fish-shells which they string like Beads Wampompeage is the largest Bead sixty whereof countervails an Arms length of Roanoack which is valued at six Pence Sterling with this they purchase Commodities of the English as Trading-Cloth c. of which they make themselves Mantles which is something shaggy and is call'd Dutch Duffels this is their Winter Habit in Summer they onely wear a narrow slip of the same to cover those parts which natural modesty teaches them to conceal the better sort have Stockings made thereof and pieces of Deer-Skin stitch'd together about their Feet in stead of Shooes The Womens Apparel is the same but those of the best Quality among them bedeck themselves with Wampompeage or Roanoack or some other toy Manner of habitation Their Houses are rais'd about the height of a large Arbor and cover'd with Barks of Trees very tite in the middle whereof is the Fire-place they lie generally upon Mats of their own making plac'd round the Fire a Woodden-bowl or two an Earthen Pot and a Mortar and Pestle is their chiefest Houshold-stuff he that hath his Bowe and Arrows or Gun a Hatchet and a Canoo a term they use for Boats is in their minds rarely well provided for each House contains a distinct Family each Family hath its peculiar Field about the Town where they Plant their Corn and other sorts of Grain afore-mention'd Civility to the English They are courteous to the English if they chance to see any of them coming towards their Houses they immediately meet him half-way conduct him in and bid him welcome with the best Cates they have The English giving them in like manner civil Entertainment according to their Quality The Werowance of Patuxent having been Treated for some days at St. Maries by the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert his Lordships Brother at his first coming thither to settle that Colony took his leave of him with this Expression I love the English so well that if they should go about to kill me if I had so much breath as to speak I would Command my People not to revenge my death for I know they would not do such a thing except it were through my own default In Affairs of concern they are very considerate and use few words in declaring their
intentions for at Mr. Leonard Calverts first arrival there the Werowance of Pascatoway being ask'd by him Whether he would be content that the English should fit down in his Countrey return'd this answer That he would not bid him go neither would he bid him stay but that he might use his own discretion These were their expressions to the Governor at his first entrance into Mary-land whom then they were jealous of whether he might prove a Friend or a Neighbor but by his discreet Demeanor towards them at first and friendly usage of them afterwards they are now become not only civil but serviceable to the English there upon all occasions The Indians of the Eastern shore are most numerous and were formerly very refractory whom Mr. Leonard Calvert some few years after his first settling the Colony was forc'd to reduce and of late the Emperor of Nanticoke and his Men were deservedly defeated by the present Governor Mr. Charles Calvert who reduc'd him about the year 1668. which has since tam'd the ruder sort of the neighboring Indians who now by experience find it better to submit and be protected by the Lord Proprietaries Government than to make any vain attempt against his Power These People live under no Law but that of Nature and Reason which notwithstanding leads them to the acknowledgement of a Deity whom they own to be the Giver of all good things wherewith their Life is maintain'd and to him they Sacrifice the first Fruits of the Earth and of that which they acquire by Hunting and Fishing The Sacrifice is perform'd by their Priests who are commonly ancient Men and profess themselves Conjurers they first make a Speech to their God then burn part and eat and distribute the rest among them that are present until this Ceremony be ended they will not touch one bit thereof they hold the Immortality of the Soul and that there is a place of Joy and another of Torment after Death prepar'd for every one according to their Merits They bury their Dead with strange expressions of Sorrow the better sort upon a Scaffold erected for that end whom they leave cover'd with Mats and return when his flesh is consum'd to Interr his Bones the common sort are committed to the Earth without that Ceremony but they never omit to bury some part of their Wealth Arms and Houshold-stuff with the Corps SECT IV. Virginia NOVA VIRGINIAE TABULA Notarum Explicatio Domus Regum Ordinariae Domus Incubrationes Anglos Milliaria Germanica communia April 9. 1585. Sir Richard Greenvil with seven Sail and several Gentlemen left Plymouth and on May 26. Anchor'd at Wokokon but made their first Seat at Roanoack on August 17. following which lies in thirty six Degrees of Northerly Latitude or thereabouts where they continu'd till June 1586. during which time they made several Discoveries in the Continent and adjacent Islands and being endanger'd by the treachery of the Salvages return'd for England and Landed at Portsmouth on July 27. following Sir Walter Rawleigh and his Associates in the year 1586. sent a Ship to relieve that Colony which had deserted the Countrey some while before and were all return'd for England as is before-mention'd Some few days after they were gone Sir Rirchard Greenvil with three Ships arriv'd at the Plantation at Roanoack which he found deserted and leaving fifty Men there to keep Possession of that Countrey return'd for England The year following Mr. John White with three Ships came to search for the fifty English at Roanoack but found them not they having been set upon by the Natives and dispers'd so as no News could be heard of them and in their room left a hundred and fifty more to continue that Plantation In August 1589. Mr. John White went thither again to search for the last Colony which he had left there but not finding them return'd for England in Septemb. 6. 1590. This ill Success made all further Discoveries to be laid aside till Captain Gosnol on March 26. 1602. set Sail from Dartmouth and on May 11. following made Land at a place where some Biscaners as he guess'd by the Natives information had formerly fish'd being about the Latitude of forty eight Degrees Northerly Latitude from hence putting to Sea he made Discovery of an Island which he call'd Marthas Vineyard and shortly after of Elizabeth's Isle and so return'd for England June 18. following In the Year 1603. the City of Bristol rais'd a Stock and furnish'd out two Barques for Discovery under the Command of Captain Martin Pring who about June 7. fell with the North of Virginia in the three and fortieth Degree found plenty of good Fish nam'd a place Whitson-Bay and so return'd In the Year 1605. the Right Honorable Thomas Arundel the first Baron of Warder and Count of the Roman Empire set out Captain George Waymouth with twenty nine Sea-men and necessary Provisions to make what Discoveries he could who by contrary Winds fell Northward about one and forty Degrees and twenty Minutes of Northerly Latitude where they found plenty of good Fish and Sailing further discover'd an Island where they nam'd a Harbor Pentecost-Harbor and on July 18. following came back for England In the Year 1606. by the sollicitation of Captain Gosnol and several Gentlemen a Commission was granted by King James of Great Brittain c. for establishing a Council to direct those new Discoveries Captain Newport a well practic'd Marriner was intrusted with the Transportation of the Adventurers in two Ships and a Pinace who on Decemb. 19. 1606. set Sail from Black-wall and were by Storm contrary to expectation cast upon the first Land which they call'd Cape Henry at the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeack lying in thirty seven Degrees or thereabouts of Northerly Latitude Here their Orders were open'd and read and eight declar'd of the Council and impower'd to chose a President for a year who with the Council should Govern that Colony Till May 13. they sought a place to Plant in Mr. Winkfield was chose the first President who caus'd a Fort to be rais'd at Powhatan now call'd James-Town In June following Captain Newport return'd for England leaving a hundred Men behind him since which time they have been sufficiently supply'd from England and by the indefatigable Industry and Courage of Captain John Smith one of the Council at that time and afterward President of the Colony they made several Discoveries on the Eastern shore and up to the Head of the Bay of Chesapeack and of the principal Rivers which fall into the said Bay Virginia being thus Discover'd and Planted King James by his Letters Patent bearing Date April 10. in the fourth year of his Reign 1607. Granted Licence to Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers and others to divide themselves into two several Colonies for the more speedy Planting of that Countrey then call'd Virginia between the Degrees of thirty four and forty five of North Latitude that is to say taken in that large
extent mention'd in the beginning The first Colony to be undertaken by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants in and about the City of London The second to be undertaken and advanc'd by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants and their Associates in or about the City of Bristol Exon Plymouth and other parts At the first Colonies Request in the seventh year of the same King a second Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen including Sir Thomas Gates and some of his former Fellow-Patentees bearing Date May 23. 1610. whereby they were made a Corporation and Body Politique and stil'd The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London for the first Colony of Virginia And by this Patent there was Granted to them their Successors and Assigns two hundred Miles to the Southward from a Cape of Land in Virginia call'd Point Comfort and two hundred Miles to the Northward of the said Cape along the Sea-shore and into the Land from Sea to Sea And on March 12. 1612. the said King in the ninth year of his Reign Grants them a third Patent of all Islands lying in the Sea within two hundred Miles of the Shore of that Tract of Land on the Continent granted to them by the said former Patent Jac. 7. In the Year 1615. Captain Smith procur'd by his Interest at Court and the King's Favor a Recommendation from His Majesty and divers of the Nobility to all Cities and Corporations to Adventure in a standing Lottery which was erected for the benefit of this Plantation which was contriv'd in such a manner that of 100000. Pounds which was to be put in 50000. onely or one half was to return to the Adventurers according as the Prizes fell out and the other half to be dispos'd of for the Promotion of the Affairs of Virginia in which though it were three years before it was fully accomplish'd he had in the end no bad Success In the eighteenth Year of the said King's Reign at the Request of the second Colony a Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen of all that Tract of Land lying in the parts of America between the Degrees of forty and forty eight of Northerly Latitude and into the Land from Sea to Sea which was call'd by the Patent New England in America For the better Government whereof one Body-Politick and Corporate was thereby appointed and ordain'd in Plymouth consisting of the said Noblemen Gentlemen and others to the number of forty Persons by the Name of The Council establish'd at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England im America The Patent of Virginia made void The Miscarriages and Misdemeanors of the aforesaid Corporation for the first Colony of Virginia were so many and so great that His said Majesty was forc'd in or about October 1623. to direct a Quo Warranto for the calling in of that former Patent which in Trinity Term following was legally Evinc'd Condemn'd and made Void by Judgment in the Court of the then Kings-Bench as also all other Patents by which the said Corporation claim'd any Interest in Virginia Thus this Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia was dissolv'd and that Plantation hath been since Govern'd and Dispos'd of by Persons Constituted and Impower'd for that purpose from time to time by immediate Commissions from the Kings of England The Patent of Mary-land granted to the Lord Baltem re In the Year of our Lord 1631. the Right Honorable George Lord Baltemore obtain'd a Grant of King Charles the First of Great Britain c. of part of that Land to the Northward which is now call'd Mary-land but this Patent of Mary-land was not perfected till 1632. as you may understand more fully by the precedent Discourse of Mary-land which by express words in the said Patent is separated from and thereby declar'd not to be reputed for the future any part of Virginia The Patent Carolina granted to several Noble Persons And in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second of Great Britain c. on March 24. 1663. Edward Earl of Clarendon then High-Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William now Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carterett Knight and Baronet Sir William Berkley Knight and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet obtain'd a Patent from His Majesty of the Province of Carolina which lies to the Southward of Virginia in which is included some part of that Land which formerly belong'd to the said dissolv'd Company of Virginia So that Virginia at present extendeth it self onely and is situated between thirty six and thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude and is bounded on the North by Mary-land on the South by Carolina on the East by the Ocean and on the West by the South-Seas The Entrance by Sea into this Countrey is the same with that of Mary-land between Cape Henry and Cape Charles plac'd on each side of the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak Rivers of Virginia on the West side whereof you first meet with a pleasant and commodious River call'd James-River about three Miles wide at its Entrance and Navigable a hundred and fifty Fourteen Miles from this River Northward lies York-River which is Navigable sixty or seventy Miles but with Ketches and small Barques thirty or forty Miles farther Passing hence to the North you discover a third stately River call'd Rappahanock which is Navigable about a hundred and thirty Miles from whence following the Shore to the North you enter into Patomeck-River which is already describ'd in the precedent Discourse of Mary-land to which Province this River belongs whose Southerly Bank gives Bounds to that part of Virginia and Mary-land To these Rivers many other Inland Branches and Rivulets are reduc'd the chief of which are hereafter specifi'd Nature of the Countrey The Countrey is generally even the Soil fruitful the Climate healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions especially since the increase of Inhabitants and accommodation of good Diet and Lodging which the first Planters found great want of heretofore For many years till of late most New-comerâ— had the first Year in July and August a Disease which is call'd A Seasoning whereof many died like to what is mention'd before in the Description of Mary-land though more mortal and common than in Mary-land because Virgina is a lower Countrey and somewhat hotter insomuch that formerly divers ill of that Distemper have come purposely from Virginia to Mary-land to recover their Health but now since the Countrey is more open and clear from Wood few die of it and many have no Seasonings at all This Countrey affordeth generally all such Roots Herbs Gums and Balsoms as are express'd before in the Relation of Mary-land All sorts of Trees for Building and Husbandry Trees Fruit-Trees Vines c. are found in both Countreys equal in goodness
and quantity onely in such things as require more Sun and that may be produc'd by Industry there may be some little difference because Virginia is somewhat more to the Southward of Mary-land as in Vines Oranges Lemmons Olives Silk c. There is a Plant grows naturally in this Countrey Silk-Grass and in Mary-land call'd Silk-Grass which will make a fine Stuff with a silky Gloss and better Cordage than Hemp or Flax both for strength and durance The wild Beasts Birds and Fish are much the same also in this Countrey as are before describ'd in the precedent Description of Mary-land Nevertheless we shall think it proper not to omit some Fruits Plants Beasts c. mention'd by the most authentick Describers of New England Fruits peculiar to Virginia as peculiar to that Countrey The Fruits are their Putchamines which are a kind of Damsons Messamines a kind of Grapes Chechinquamins a sort of Fruit resembling a Chesnut Rawcomens a Fruit resembling a Gooser-berry Macoquer a kind of Apple Mettaquesunnauks a sort of Fruit resembling Inkian Figs Morococks resembling a Straw-berry besides a Berry which they call Ocoughtanamnis somewhat like to Capers Their peculiar Roots are Tockawaugh Roots good to eat Wichsacan of great vertue in healing of Wounds Pocones good to asswage Swellings and Aches Musquaspen wherewith they Paint their Targets and Mats Also they have in great request a Pulse call'd Assentamen and the Plant Mattouna of which they make Bread Their peculiar Beasts are Beasts the Aroughena resembling a Badger the Assapanick or Flying-Squerril Opassum a certain Beast having a Bag under her Belly wherein she carrieth and suckleth her Young Mussascus which smelling strong of Musk resembleth a Water-Rat Utchunquois a kind of wild Cat. Their peculiar Fish are Stingrais On the West side of the Bay of Chesapeak between Cape Henry and the Southerly Bank of the River of Patomeck are three fair Navigable Rivers as is before mention'd into which the other small Rivulets fall Rivulets which here we will give some account of as also of the Indian or antient Names by which these three principal Rivers were formerly known The first whereof is Powhatan now call'd James-River according to the Name of a large and considerable Territory that lieth upon it The Rivers that fall into this Southward are Apamatuck Eastward Quiyonycohanuc Nansamund and Chesopeak and Northward Chickamahania The second Navigable River is Pamaunkee by the English now term'd York-River The Rivulet that falls into this is Poyankatanck The third which is before describ'd and usually known by the Name of Rappahanoc was formerly term'd Toppahanoc This we thought fit here to insert to the end no colour of mistake might remain to after Ages concerning the derivation or original change of such proper Names especially being Places of great advantage to the Colony Several People of the ancient Natives of Virginia The chiefest of those Tribes or Divisions of People among the Indians that were by Name known to the English at their first arrival were upon the River Pouhatan the Kecoughtans the Paspaheghes on whose Land is seated James-Town the Weanocks Arrohatocks the Appametocks the Nandsamunds the Chesapeacks c. On the River Pamaunkee are the Younghtanunds the Mattapaments c. On the River Toppahanoc the Manahoacks the Moraughtacunds and the Cuttatawomens On the River Patawomek the Wighcocomocans the Onawmanients and the Moyanances On the River Pawtuxunt the Acquintacsuacs the Pawtuxunts and the Matapunients On the River Bolus the Sasquesabanoes Southward from the Bay the Chawonocks the Mangoacks the Monacans the Mannahocks the Masawomecks the Atquanahucks and the Kuscarawaocks besides a number not material to be nam'd as having had little of Transaction that we hear of with the Planters Number of Inhabitants The number of English Inhabitants in this Countrey are in this present Year 1671. about thirty or forty thousand who are plentifully stock'd with all sorts of tame Cattel as Cows Sheep Horses Swine c. and all sorts of English Grain great store of brave Orchards for Fruit whereof they make great quantities of Cyder and Perry They have been much oblig'd by that worthy Gentleman Mr. Edward Digges Son of Sir Dudley Digges who was Master of the Rolls and a Privy Councellor to King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. For the said Mr. Digges at his great Charge and Industry hath very much advanc'd the making of Silk in this Countrey for which purpose he hath sent for several Persons out of Armenia to teach them that Art and how to wind it off the Cods of the Silk-Worms and hath made at his own Plantation in this Colony for some years last past considerable quantities of Silk which is found to be as good Silk as any is in the World which hath encourag'd divers others to prosecute that Work The Commodities of Virginia Though this Countrey be capable of producing many other good Commodities yet the Planters have hitherto imploy'd themselves for the most part in Planting of Tobacco as they do in Mary-land whereof there are two sorts one which is call'd Sweet-scented and the other call'd Oranoack or Bright and Large which is much more in quantity but of lesser Price than the former and the Plantations upon York River are esteem'd to produce the best of that sort of Sweet-scented There is so much of this Commodity Planted in Virginia and Imported from thence into England that the Custom and Excize paid in England for it yields the King about fifty or threescore thousand Pounds Sterling per annum With this Commodity the Planter buys of the Ships that come thither for it which are above a hundred Sail yearly from England and other English Plantations all Necessaries of Clothing and other Utensils of Houshold-stuff c. which they want though they make some Shoes and Linnen and Woollen Cloth in some parts of Virginia of the growth and Manufacture of the Countrey and if they would Plant less Tobacco as it is probable they will e're long find it convenient for them to do it being now grown a Drug of very low value by reason of the vast quantities Planted of it they might in a little time provide themselves of all Necessaries of Livelyhood and produce much richer and more Staple-Commodities for their advantage Their usual way of Traffique in buying and selling is by exchange of one Commodity for another and Tobacco is the general Standard by which all other Commodities receive their value but they have some English and foreign Coyns which serve them upon many occasions The Government is by a Governor and Council Appointed and Authoriz'd from time to time by immediate Commission from the King of Great Brittain And Laws are made by the Governor with the consent of a General Assembly which consists of two Houses an Upper and a Lower the first consists of the Council and the latter of the Burgesses chosen by the Freemen of the Countrey and Laws
there Captain Francis Drake set Sail from Plymouth Anno 1577. and after much hardship getting through the Straights of Magellan arriv'd in the Haven Guatulco having before his coming thither taken as many rich Spanish Ships in the Southern Ocean as he could possibly have wish'd for so that his onely care now needed to have been how to get safe home yet he put on a Resolution not to come short of Ferdinandus Magellanus who Saild about the World Which brave Resolution of Drake's was approv'd of by all his Sea-men whereupon he set Sail along the North of California the fifth of June being gotten into forty two Degrees which was the farthest that Cabrillo went he came on a sudden out of a warm Air into so frigid a Climate that the Sea-men were almost kill'd with Cold and the farther they went the colder it grew wherefore falling down three Degrees more Southerly they got into a convenient Haven where the Natives who liv'd along the Shore brought them Presents which Drake left not unrequited by returning them others that were to them more novel and not unuseful Nature and Habit of the People These People are exceeding hardy for notwithstanding the extraordinary coldness of the Climate the Men go naked but the Women wear Garments of pleited Flags or Rushes which being put about their Middle hang down to their Ancles on their Stomachs hang the ends of a hairy Skin ty'd together which hanging also over their Shoulders cover their hinder Parts They shew great Respect and Obedience to their Husbands Each House is surrounded with an Earthen Wall and all the Corners thereof being close stopp'd and Fires made in the midst of them they are very warm Rushes and Flags strow'd thick on the Ground near the Walls serve them in stead of Beds Drake's Entertainment by the King of the Countrey The rumour of these Strangers arrival spreading all over the Countrey made the Inhabitants far and near desirous to see them the King himself sending Ambassadors to Drake to inform him that he was on the Way coming to see him all which the Agents related at large and desir'd some Presents as a testimony that their King should be welcome which he being assur'd of came with a Retinue of above twelve thousand Men before whom walk'd one of a Gygantick size carrying a costly Scepter on which by three long Chains made of Bones hung a great and a small Crown made of Feathers next follow'd the King himself in a Sute of Cony-Skins then came a great confus'd company of People each of them carrying a Present whereupon Drake putting his Men into good order march'd to meet the King at which the Mace-bearer made a long Preamble and when he had done Danc'd to the Tune of a Song which he Sung himself then the King and his whole Retinue also fell a Singing and Dancing so long till being weary the King went to Drake and humbly desir'd of him that he would accept of the Realm assuring him that all the People should be under his Obedience which said he put the fore-mention'd Crown on his Head and hanging three double Chains about his Neck call'd him Hioh whereupon Drake took possession of the Countrey in Queen Elizabeths Name The King staying alone with Drake his Retinue went amongst the English every one looking very earnestly upon them and to those whom they lik'd best being the youngest they falling down and crying proffer'd Offerings as to Gods and held their Cheeks to draw Blood out of them which the English refusing they desisted but shew'd them great Wounds and desir'd some Plaisters of them which they suppli'd them with The English going up into the Countrey found the same well grown with Woods which abounded with Coneys whose Heads differ'd little from the European but having Feet like Moles long Tails like Rats and in their Sides a Bag wherein when they had fill'd their Bellies they put the remainder They also saw numerous Herds of Deer with whose Flesh having been courteously Entertain'd in several Villages they return'd to the Fleet. Drake just before he weighed Anchor caus'd a Pillar to be set in the Ground with a Silver Plate on the same A Monument erected by Drake before his departure with an Inscription mentioning the Day of his Arrival Name and Arms of Queen Elizabeth and free delivering of that Realm to him by the Indians he also nail'd a Sixpence with the Queens Effigies on the Plate under which he caus'd his own Name to be Engraven THE ISLANDS OF Northern America CHAP. XI Terra Nova or New-found Land with the Island of Assumption HAving treated at large of all the several Regions and Provinces of the North part of the Continent of America we come now to those Islands that lie within the same Degrees of Northern Latitude with that part of the Continent The first is Terre Neuve or New-found Land discover'd together with several other Parts upon the Continent before mention'd by Sir Sebastian Cabott by the Countenance and Charge of King Henry the Seventh of England whereupon a rightful Claim thereunto and Interest therein hath been own'd by the succeeding Kings of England as hereafter shall be more particularly related Situation and bound of New-found Land New-found Land is situated betwixt the Degrees of forty six and fifty three of Northern Latitude and is divided from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea in like distance as England is from France The Island is as large as England in length greater in breadth and lies near the Course that Ships usually hold in their Return from the West-Indies and is near the mid-way between Ireland and Virginia INSULAE AMERICANAE IN OCEANO SEPTENTRIONALI cum Terris adiacentibus We shall not much need to commend the wholsom temperature of this Countrey Temperature seeing the greatest part thereof lieth above three Degrees nearer to the South than any part of England doth so that even in the Winter it is pleasant and healthful as England is Nature of the Inhabitants The natural Inhabitants of the Countrey as they are but few in number so are they something a rude and salvage People having neither knowledge of God nor living under any kind of Civil Government In their Habits Customs and Manners they resemble the Indians of the Continent from whence it is to be suppos'd they come they live altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey which is seldom frequented by the English but the French and Biscainers who resort thither yearly for the Whale-fishing and also for the Cod-fish report them to be an ingenuous and tractable People being well us'd and very ready to assist them with great labour and patience in the killing cutting and boyling of Whales and making the Trayn-Oyl without expectation of other Reward than a little Bread or some such small Hire It hath the most commodious Harbours in the World Commodious Harbors and the most safe
done as shall be declared is the Cod-fishing upon that Coast by which our Nation and many other Countreys are enrich'd Almost incredible is the benefit of the Fish which the French Biscainers and Portuguese fetch yearly from this Coast of New-found Land and the Bank which lieth within twenty five Leagues from the South Cape of that Countrey where the French use to Fish Winter and Summer usually making two Voyages every year thither To which Places and to the Coast of Canada which lieth near unto it are yearly sent from those Countreys more than four hundred Sail of Ships This Island of Terra Nova belongs properly and justly to the Crown of England having been under the sole Jurisdiction of the English from the first Discovery thereof which was by Sir Sebastian Cabot Employ'd by King Henry the Seventh to find out some other part of America than what had been discover'd by Columbus as hath been above declar'd in several places Afterwards King Henry the Eighth continu'd the English Interest there and Employ'd one Rutt into that Island in order to the Plantation thereof Queen Elizabeth no less careful to preserve that Plantation sent Sir Humphrey Gilbert a Devonshire Knight to plant a Colony there the better to secure the same and to increase Trading there and accordingly the said Sir Humphrey with two good Ships and a Pinnace in her Name took possession of that Countrey in the Harbour of St. Johns He Sail'd from thence towards Virginia and by reason of some unhappy direction in his Course the greatest Ship he had struck upon Shelves on the Coast of Canada and was there lost with most part of the Company in her and he himself being then in a small Pinnace of twenty Tun in the company of his Vice-Admiral Captain Hays returning towards England in a great Storm was overwhelm'd in the Sea and so perish'd In the Year 1608. it was undertaken anew by John Guy a Merchant of Bristol and with so good success that the Colony in a short time were well furnish'd with Wheat Rye Barley and other Grain of their own Sowing with Turnips Coleworts and abundance of other necessary things not without some probable hopes of Metals a certain and plentiful Trade of Sables Musk and other rich Commodities The Province of Avalon in New-found Lands In the Year 1620. Sir George Calvert Knight then principal Secretary of State and a Privy Councellor to King James the First of England c. purchas'd a part of New-found Land which was afterwards in the Year 1623. granted to him and his Heirs by Patent from the said King under the Great Seal of England bearing Date the seventh of April in the One and twentieth Year of his Reign by which means the said Tract of Land was erected into a Province and at the Instance of the said Sir George Calvert call'd Avalon from Avalon in Sommerset-shire where Christianity was first Planted in England This Province lies in the forty seventh Degree of Northern Latitude and is thus bounded It begins Southerly from the middle part of a certain Neck of Land or Promontory situate between the two Harbours Fermose and Aquafort and from thence following the Shore towards the North unto the middle part or half way over a little Harbour call'd in that regard Petit Port or Petit Harbour which boundeth upon the South part of the Plantation of St. Johns including the one half of a certain fresh River that falleth into the said Port of Petit Harbour and so tending along the South Border of the said Colony of St. Johns extendeth it self to a certain little Bay commonly call'd Salmon Cove lying on the South side of the Bay of Conception including the one half of the River that falleth into the said Cove as also one half of the Cove it self from whence passing along the Shore of the said Bay towards the South and reaching unto the bottom thereof where it meets with the Lands of the fore-mention'd John Guy nam'd Sea Forrest is bounded with a certain River or Brook which there falleth into the Sea and from the Mouth of the said Brook ascendeth unto the farthest Spring or Head thereof from thence passing towards the South for six Miles together along the Borders of the said John Guy's Plantation and there crossing over Westward in a right Line reacheth unto the Bay of Placentia and the space of one League within the said Bay from the Shore thereof whence turning again towards the South passeth along the Harbour of Placentia with the like distance from the Shore and descending unto New Falkland towards the North and West part thereof stretcheth it self in a right Line Eastward continuing the whole Southerly length upon the Bounds of the said New Falkland unto the middle part or Point of the Promontory or Neck of Land before mention'd between the Ports Fermose and Aquafort at which place is describ'd and finish'd the Perambulation of the whole Precinct whose Extent may be thus computed commencing from the Promontory between the Ports Fermose and Aquafort which is fifty or sixty Miles from South to North distant from Petit Harbour from whence crossing Westward to the Bay of Placentia is judg'd to be sixty Miles more or upwards from East to West And thereby was also granted to the said Sir George Calvert and his Heirs all Islands and Islets within ten Leagues of the Eastern Shore of the said Region towards the East together with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish saving unto the English free liberty of Fishing as well in the Seas as in the Ports and Creeks of the Province aforesaid and the Priviledges of salting and drying their Fish upon the Shores of the said Province as heretofore they reasonably us'd and enjoy'd the same so as they do no injury or notable loss or detriment unto the Lord Proprietary his Heirs and Assigns or to the Inhabitants of the said Province in the Ports Creeks and Shores aforesaid and especially in the Woods growing within the said Province And by the said Patent all Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil within the said Province and Islands thereunto belonging were farther granted to the said Sir George Calvert and his Heirs and he and they thereby created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province saving the Allegiance due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors to be held of them in Capite yielding and paying unto them therefore a white Horse when and as often as any of them shall come into the said Province and the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar which should be found there Sir George Calvert before the obtaining of this Patent had caus'd a fair House and Fort to be built in the said Province at a place call'd Ferryland and in the Year 1624. having obtain'd a Dismission from his Employment of Secretary of State and being then created Lord Baltemore of Baltemore in Ireland he did in the Year 1627. Transport
himself to Avalon to inspect his Concerns there in Person from whence returning the same year he Embarqu'd himself again together with his Lady and all his Family except his eldest Son for Avalon the year following at which time there being then War between England and France he redeem'd above twenty Sail of English Ships which had been taken there that year by French Men of War whereof one Monsieur De la Rade had the chief Command and shortly after took six French Fishing Ships upon that Coast and sent them the same year with a great many French-men Prisoners into England Coming thence he left a Deputy there and continu'd the Plantation till his Death which was in April 1632. After whose Decease it descended of right to his Son and Heir Cecil now Lord Baltemore who thereupon sent one Captain William Hill as his Deputy thither to take possession thereof and to manage his Interest there for him Captain Hill according to his Commission shortly after repair'd thither and liv'd some years at the Lord Baltemore's House at Ferryland above mention'd In the thirteenth Year of King Charles the First of England c. about the Year of our Lord 1638. Marquess Hamilton Earl of Pembroke Sir David Kirk and others under pretence that the Lord Baltemore had deserted that Plantation obtain'd a Patent of all New-found Land wherein Avalon was included and shortly after dispossess'd the Lord Baltemore of his Mansion House in Ferryland and other Rights there and during the late Rebellion in England kept possession but His now Majesty King Charles the Second immediately after his most happy Restauration in the Year 1660 upon the now Lord Baltemore's Petition thought fit to refer the whole Matter to be Examin'd by Sir Orlando Bridgeman then Lord-Chief Justice now Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England and others to report the true state thereof to His Majesty together with their Opinions thereupon The Referrees accordingly upon full hearing of Council on both sides certifi'd That they conceiv'd the said Patent to Sir George Calvert to be a good Patent in force and not avoided by the later to Sir David Kirk and others and that the Title and Interest to the said Province did therefore belong to the Lord Baltemore Whereupon His Majesty on the twentieth of March in the same Year Order'd the Possession thereof to be re-deliver'd to his Lordship which was accordingly executed Since which time his Lordship has peaceably enjoy'd the possession thereof and continues the Plantation to this day by deputing Lieutenants there from time to time for the better Government of that Province the rest of New found Land remaining still to the aforesaid Proprietors claiming by the Patent of 13 Car. 1. The Commodities that are either by Art or Nature produc'd there are the same with those of the remainder of New-found Land The Winter there is extream cold the Summer very hot but withal pleasant and during that Season there is great plenty of Pasture for Cattel The Coast of this Province is very safe and as well furnish'd with variety of bold and pleasant Harbors as any other part of New-found Land where the English likewise Fish for Cod the lesser sort whereof is call'd Poor-John which is there caught in great abundance especially at Ferryland and in the Bay of Bulls Besides these two there are divers other excellent Harbors on the Eastern Shore of Avalon as Capling Bay Cape Broyle Brittus Isle of Spears Barrom Cove Whitburns Bay and Petit Harbour above mention'd On the West are the Bay of Placentia and several other good Harbors There are no Indians in Avalon and but few English by reason of the excessive Cold in Winter though Sir David Kirk and his Lady and also his Family liv'd in the Lord Baltemore's House at Ferryland for the space of ten years and upwards The Soil seems to promise great store of Mines which probably may in time be disover'd The late Lord Baltemore took accidentally a piece of Oar up that lay there upon the surface of the Earth and brought it with him into England which was found upon trial to yield a greater proportion of Silver than the Oar of Potosi in the West-Indies but hitherto no Mine of it hath been discover'd there The Trade of Fishing being of so great concernment to the Nation of England the same if it be well manag'd in this Island of Terra Nova will employ every year above two hundred Sail of English Ships and ten thousand Mariners besides the great benefit which may accrue unto the Nation by Imposition upon Strangers there which would amount to several thousands of Pounds per Annum with which those Coasts may be Guarded and Ships Trading thither secur'd besides the great Customs by the Ships call'd The Sacks being commonly in great numbers every year who carry Fish from New-found Land into the Straights France Portugal and Spain and who bring their Returns into England as Bullion and all other native Commodities of those Countreys If the Island were well fortifi'd we might Command all those of other Nations that come to Fish in New-found Land to pay Contribution in Fish or otherwise for their Priviledge to Fish there the said Island being first Planted by English and pertaining to the Kingdom of England or if occasion should require they might be utterly debarr'd of Fishing there The Trade of Fishing is of so great concernment to France Spain Portugal the Straights and other Parts that they cannot well be without that yearly Supply in Fish which comes from that Island Neither can the Hollanders Spaniards or Portuguese well set any Ships to the West-Indies without New-found Land Fish there being none that will endure to pass the Line sound and untainted but the Fish of that Countrey salted and dry'd there And so long as the Act continues still in force That no Fish be Transported from the said Island but in English Bottoms it will contribute very much to our encrease of Shipping there and by consequence of the employment of Mariners and the Fishing of that part of the Island will be solely appropriated to the English Nation to whom of right it belongs which will prove the greatest Ballance of Trade in that part of the World and that whereas above two hundred Sail do Trade thither yearly to Fish if a thousand Sail come if there be but Fisher-men enow they may all have Fraughtage there The French if once the Island be fortifi'd will be depriv'd of their Nursery of Mariners this being the onely place besides Canada and one or two adjacent Coasts where they come for supply of Fish with which that Nation cannot be furnish'd so well from other Parts By well Planting and Fortifying New-found Land the Trading to Virginia New England and those Parts would be much encourag'd New England having had of late great Traffick with New-found Land where they vend the Growth of their Plantation Besides New-found Land is a Key to the Gulf of