in the new Plantations for a contracted Sum of Money After this they receiv'd all sorts of Arms and Ammunition with several Brass Guns of the then King Lewis the XIII and other gifts Collected and gather'd out of their several Societies for two new Accadian Apostles Gilbert du Thet a subtile man of the same Order transported their Necessaries At this time all things going favorably with the Jesuits they made themselves Masters of Port Royal and began to raise a Fort on the River Pemtagovet but there their happy Proceedings were stop'd for Captain Argal before-mention'd Sailing thither in vindication of the English was encounter'd by du Thet who firing the first Gun on Argal was by him taken off with Chain-shot and taking Biard and Masse carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia and dismantled the Fort built at Port Royal after which it was by King James given by Patent to Sir William Alexander as hath been already related together with what of most remarkable hath happen'd since SECT VI. Norumbegua NOrumbegua Whence denominated lying between Nova Scotia Northward and New England Southward is so utterly not taken notice of by many as a distinct Province that it might seem to be swallow'd up and lost in the two Countreys between which it lies or at least to be thought a part of Virginia or New England for Virginia largely taken is said to contain New England Novum Belgium and Virginia especially so call'd and that so much the rather because the Bessabees accounted by Sanson d' Abbeville an ancient People of New England are written to have liv'd near the River Penobscot which is reckon'd to be the same with Pemtegovet or as some will have it Norumbegua from which or from a certain great City of that Name the Country for fancy's sake must needs be denominated but since most commonly we find it nam'd and treated of apart it will not be improper to follow that method carrying the Bounds of New England no farther Northward than the River Quinnebequi or Sagadahoc and so determining the main part of this Countrey to that space between the aforesaid River and Pemtegovet excepting a small Southerly portion upon the Banks of the River Chovacovet so that it appears chiefly situate under the forty third Degree of Northern Latitude Towns and Cities not certainly known As for the Towns or Cities of this Province there is but a very uncertain account to be given forasmuch as the pretended great City Norumbegua from whence the Province should take its Appellation is not acknowledg'd by any of the most authentick modern Writers nor in any late Voyage or Discovery any mention made either of that or any other considerable Town or City Dr. Heylin supposeth it to be no other than Agguncia a poor little Village that seems compos'd of a company of Hutts or Sheaves cover'd with the Skins of Beasts or the Barks of Trees But the most favourable conjecture is that it might haply be the Ruines of an ancient Town which the Natives call'd Arambeck and had probably deserted it long before the arrival of the Europeans in those parts however it is not very probable that the Name of the Countrey should be deriv'd from this City if ever there were any such or from the River which appears to have been term'd Norumbegua on purpose to make way for this derivation whereas Pomtegovet is the ancient Appellation that properly belongs to it nor hath any modern one been apply'd to it but that of Rio Grande by Buno in his Comment upon Philip Cluverius upon what ground is hard to tell since it is observ'd by Heylin and others to be neither large nor otherwise much to be commended being Navigable not above twenty or thirty Miles in respect of its many great Cataracts and Falls of Water an Inconvenience with which many other Rivers of America are prejudic'd and rendred impassable Before and about the Mouth of this River which is judg'd to be about eight or nine Miles broad lie many small Islands or rather Hills inviron'd with Water the chiefest of which is by the French call'd La Haute Isle from the high and Mountainous appearance of it to those that see it from afar off at Sea The aforemention'd Buno though he names as belonging to Norumbega these several places viz. Porto del Refugio Porto Reale Paradiso Flora and Angolema from some obscure French testimonies without particularising any Author yet he afterwards confesses that the Names given by the French and those apply'd by the Spaniards are so various and disagreeing and breed such a confusion that no Charts or Descriptions had concluded upon either As for those who will have Norumbega deriv'd from Norwegia in respect of a Colony brought thither from Norwey if the Etymologie be not a little too much forc'd the Invention may pass well enough till a better be found out The temperature and nature of its Soil In this Countrey the temperature of the Air is not bad nor the Soil unfruitful if it were well cultivated chiefly towards the Rivers and where it is not either overgrown with Woods or craggy with Hills and mountainous Rocks neither are the Woods unprofitable for they afford good Timber and all kind of necessary and useful Wood especially Beeches Fir-trees Wallnut-trees and other Nuts The Plains are very pleasant and yield good Pasturage onely the Maritime Coasts are so shallow and full of Sands that the Sailing near them is accounted somewhat dangerous and this may be imagin'd to be the reason that no Authors have yet met with any Ports or Havens belonging to this Countrey which they have thought worthy their notice CHAP. II. New England AS Canada is by some accounted a general Province containing New France L' Accadie Norumbega and other places so under Virginia largely taken are comprehended New England New Netherlands and Virginia properly so call'd however since that part which vulgarly goes under the Name of Virginia and New England were possess'd if not discover'd at several times and their Plantations promoted and propagated upon several occasions and by distinct Interests and since New England hath been look'd upon as a place considerable enough for Persons of very eminent quality to concern themselves in it we rather are induc'd to consider this Countrey as a principal part than as any way depending on or being any Branch or Portion of Virginia Situation of New England It lies between Norumbega which it hath Northward and New Netherlands Southward from forty one to forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude in the midst of the temperate Zone and paralell to France and some part of Italy in the Western Hemisphere so that one would think it should enjoy the same temperature of Air but the contrary is found for that part which borders upon the Sea is colder partly by reason that the Sea-waves break the reflexion of the Sun-beams partly by reason of the abundance of Vapors which mounting upward abate the ardor of them
his Majesties Commissioners IN the Year of our Lord 1665. his Majesties Commissioners for the Affairs of New England being in the Province of Mayne the People being much unsetled in Point of Government by reason the Mattachusets Colony or Boston Government did usurp compulsively a Power over them contrary to their wills and the right of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Heir who had his Commission then in the place did unanimously Petition to his Majesties Commissioners to settle the Government upon which the said Commissioners examin'd the Bounds and Right of Mr. Gorges Patent with all the Allegations and Pretensions on both sides and so according to their Instruction from his Majesty did settle a temporary Government under his Majesty's immediate Authority until such time as his Majesty should give his final determination thereof and for that end did Institute Justices of the Peace to Govern the Province according to the true Laws of England Also his Majesty was pleas'd by his Mandamus in April 1666 to the Governors of Boston to signifie that it was his will and pleasure That the Province of Main should stand good as his Commissioners had setled it until he had more leisure to determine it yet notwithstanding after three years quiet possession and exercising of Government by the Kings Justices according to their Commission granted by his Majesty's Commissioners the Bostoners without any Conference with the said Justices did in a hostile manner oppose the King's Power July 1668. which was as followeth The General Court of Boston sent their Warrants to keep Court at York under their Authority and for that purpose Commissionated Magistrates by their own Authority namely Major General John Leveret Mr. Edward Ting Captain Richard Walden and Captain Robert Pike Whereupon the King's Justices did oppose their Warrants and sent Post to New York with an Address to General Nicholas for Advice what to do therein who forthwith dispatch'd away to the Governors of Boston informing them of the danger of their Proceeding it being an open breach of Duty to subvert the Government establish'd by his Majesty's Power also sent the King 's Mandamus April 1666. that will'd to the contrary Notwithstanding the Boston Magistrates in July 1668. in order to their Boston Commission came to York Town in the said Province with several Armed Men Horse and Foot to keep Court under their Authority Opposition was made by the King's Justices and his Majesty's Power was urg'd but little regard thereunto shewn his Majesties Mandamus was likewise much insisted upon and produced by the Justices who ask'd the Bostoners what they thought of it and how they durst act so contrary to the King's Will and Pleasure Major General Leveret told them That he believ'd it might be the King's Hand but he had a Commission from the general Court at Boston which he would follow and observe by the help of God The same day in the Afternoon the said Major General Leveret with the rest of the Boston Magistrates seiz'd and imprison'd the Province Marshal in doing his Office and then forthwith went in warlike posture to the Court-house where the King's Justices sat in Judicature and putting them from their Seats sat down themselves in their Places and Executed their Boston Commission The King's Justices drew a Protest against their Proceedings and so left the Decision to God's Providence and his Majesty's good Pleasure Then they turn'd out all Officers both Military and Civil and Swore others in their Places under their Authority they forc'd the whole Record of the Province out of the Recorders House contrary to his Will by vertue of a Special Warrant from that Court They imprison'd the Mayor of the said Province about three weeks forcing him to give in five hundred Pound Bonds not to act according to his Commission which with some Reservations he was forc'd to deny for the security of his Estate These riotous Proceedings thus acted with such a precipitate fury so incens'd his Majesty that speedy care had been taken to reduce them to reason had they not upon mature consideration bethought themselves afterwards to yield Obedience to his Majesties Orders Having treated at large of all that concerns New England in general both in reference to the Natives and the English Planters we shall conclude with a brief view of the Provinces of Laconia and Main as they are truly Describ'd among other ingenuous Collections and Observations of the Affairs of America and especially these Parts by Ferdinando Gorges Esq Heir to the above-mention'd Sir Ferdinando and thereby sole Lord of the said Provinces onely contracting what hath been by him deliver'd more at large A brief Description of Laconia a Province in New England Among divers Plantations of the English happily Founded in New England is a Province to the Landward nam'd Laconia so call'd by reason of the great Lakes therein but by the ancient Inhabitants thereof it is call'd The Countrey of the Troquois It lies between the Latitude of forty four and forty five Degrees having the Rivers of Sagadehock and Merrimeck on the Sea-Coast of New England Southerly from it into each of which Rivers there is a short Passage frequented by the Salvages inhabiting near the Lakes Also it hath the great Lakes which tend towards California in the South Sea on the West thereof On the North thereof is the great River of Canada into which the said River disgorgeth it self by a fair large River well replenish'd with many fruitful Islands The Air thereof is pure and wholesom the Countrey pleasant having some high Hills full of goodly Forrests and fair Valleys and Plains fruitful in Corn Vines Chesnuts Wallnuts and infinite sorts of other Fruits large Rivers well stor'd with Fish and inviron'd with goodly Meadows full of Timber-trees One of the great Lakes is call'd The Lake of Troquois which together with a River of the same Name running into the River of Canada is sixty or seventy Leagues in length In the Lake are four fair Islands which are low and full of goodly Woods and Meadows having store of Game for Hunting as Stags Fallow-Deer Elks Roe-Bucks Beavers and other sorts of Beasts which come from the Main Land to the said Islands The Rivers which fall into the Lakes have in them good store of Beavers of which Beasts as also of the Elks the Salvages make their chiefest Traffick The said Islands have been inhabited heretofore by the Salvages but are now abandon'd by reason of their late Wars one with another They contain twelve or fifteen Leagues in length and are seated commodiously for Habitation in the midst of the Lake which abounds with divers kinds of wholesom Fish From this Lake run two Rivers Southward which fall into the Eastern and Southern Sea-Coast of New England Into this Lake there went many years since certain French of Quebeck who sided with the Algovinquins with the help of their Canoos which they carried the space of five Miles over the Impossible Falls to Fight a
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
Degrees and some odd Seconds where they easily went on Shore In the Year 1608. the Commander of the Colony deceasing and not long after him the Lord Chief Justice who had been the chief that had furnish'd them with fresh Supplies they return'd for England in those Ships that had been sent them with Succours At which unexpected return the Patrons of the Design were so offended that for a certain time they desisted from their Enterprizes In the mean while the French making use of this occasion Planted Colonies in divers places when Sir Samuel Argal from Virginia disturb'd their Designs and brought away Prisoners all he could lay hold on Suddenly after Captain Hobson and divers others were set out with very great Preparations and with them two of the Natives which had been detain'd for some time in England whom they thought to have made use of the better to draw the rest of the Natives to their Commerce but because a little before twenty four of them had been treacherously dealt with by one Hunt they contracted from thence so great an animosity towards the English that Captain Hobson was constrain'd to return without effecting any thing In the Year 1614. Captain John Smith being sent to Fish for Whales and seek after Mines of Gold and Silver Landed upon the Island of Monahiggan where he found some store of Whales but not such as those by whose Oyl they use to make so much profit About the same time two of the Natives being recover'd Erpenow of Capawick that had escap'd from Captain Hobson and Assacumet of Pemmaquid one of those that had been taken Prisoners with Chaloung Captain Harly with Necessaries convenient for such a Voyage was dispatch'd away by Sir Ferdinando Gorges the Earl of Southampton favouring the Design and furnishing him with some Land-Soldiers under the Command of Captain Hobson who not discourag'd with his former ill Success resolv'd upon a second Adventure In the Year 1615. Sir Richard Hakings undertook a Voyage into those Parts by authority of the Council of the second Colony but by reason of the great Wars among the Natives his Observations could not be such as might give any farther light than what had been already receiv'd Soon after which Captain Dormer coming for England from New-found-Land and Landing at Plymouth apply'd himself to the Governor by whom he was dispatch'd away with Direction to meet Captain Rocroft sent away a little before but Rocroft being dead by that time Dormer could come after him to Virginia where he heard he was he returning to Capawick was there set upon by Erpenow the foremention'd Salvage and other Indians that were Conspirators with him and within a short while after at Virginia whither he went to be cur'd of the Wounds he receiv'd in that Assassination he fell sick and died About the Year 1623. Captain Robert Gorges newly come out of the Venetian War was employ'd by the Council of New Englands Affairs as the Lieutenant-General to regulate the Abuses of divers Fisher-men and other Interlopers who without License frequented those Coasts for which Service he had assign'd to him all that part of the main Land situate upon the North-East side of the Bay of the Messachasets By these several Colonies sent so thick one after another both a full Discovery of the Countrey came to be made and a large gap open'd to the free possession thereof yet in regard of the many disappointments and misfortunes the several Companies sent over met with and counting the vast Charges their setting forth cost the Undertakers which would have been still increas'd by the need of continu'd Supplies in all probability New England would have been but thinly peopled to this day had not a great Tide of People possess'd with an aversion to the Church-Government of England and fled into Holland for Liberty of Conscience eagerly taken hold of this opportunity to make themselves Masters of their own Opinions and of a Place where they might erect a Government suitable thereunto and though at first there were some Exceptions taken as if this Countrey was to be made a Receptacle of Sectaries and such as condemn'd the Ecclesiastical Government of the Nation insomuch that Sir Ferdinando Gorges to whom they apply'd themselves desiring him to mediate for them to the Council of New Englands Affairs when they perceiv'd the Authority they had from the Virginia Company could not warrant their abode there had enough to do notwithstanding his Apology That these things hapned contrary to his expectation to wipe away the jealousie which was entertain'd of him it being Order'd that no more should be suffer'd to pass into New England but such as should take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy yet at last there was little notice taken who went perhaps upon consideration that the vast resort of People thither would be of greater advantage to the Plantations than their different Opinions at so remote a distance could be prejudicial so long as they acknowledg'd Obedience to the King and Civil Power However Sir Ferdinando to clear himself the better mov'd those Lords that were the chief Actors in the Business to resign their Grand Patent to the King and pass particular Patents to themselves of such part of the Countrey along the Sea-Coast as might be sufficient for them To this Motion there being a general Assent given by the Lords and a Day appointed for the conclusion thereof an Act was made for the Resignation of the Patent alloting to each Man their several Bounds From the uttermost parts began the Limits of the Lord Mougrave and ended at Hudson's River To the Eastward of which River for the space of sixty Miles in length was plac'd the Duke of Richmond's Assignment Next to him was setled the Earl of Carlile Next him the Lord Edward Gorges Next the Marquess of Hamilton Then Captain John Mason And lastly his own which extended to the great River Sagadehoc being sixty Miles and so up into the Main Land a hundred and twenty Miles which he was pleas'd to call by the Name of The Province of Main The Landing of the English in Plymouth Plantation was very much facilitated by the great Mortality that hapned amongst the Indians about that time amongst the Pecods Narragansets Nianticks Tarantines Wippanaps and those of Abargini Agissawang and Pockanekie their Powwows or Doctors seeing with amazement their Wigwams or Streets lie full of dead Bodies and in vain expecting help from Squantam their good or Abbamoch their bad God Not long before that blazing Comet so much talk'd of in Europe apppear'd after Sun-setting in their Horizon South-West for the space of thirty Sleeps for so they reckon their Days They Landed at first with little or no resistance a handful of Men onely being sent before to keep possession for their Companions who arriv'd eight days after when the Natives appearing with their Bowes and Arrows let flie their long Shafts amongst them whereupon one Captain Miles Standish with his Fowling-piece
Miantonemo and Uncas was too hot to be appeas'd though the English were not wanting to interpose unless by the Blood of one of them as will appear by the Consequence Uncas was a Prince of For whose Life Miantonemo though a much more potent Prince sought to take away by treachery hiring a young Man of the Pequod Nation to murther him as the following Story renders suspected for one dark Evening this Sachem passing from one Wigwam to another was Shot through the Arm with an Arrow but recovering the Palace had the Arrow pull'd out and his Arm cur'd the young Man that was suspected being examin'd how he came by that great store of Wampompeage which was found about him and being able to give no good account it increas'd the suspicion and induc'd Uncas to complain to the English at a General Court held at Boston Whereupon the young Man was Examin'd in the presence of Miantonemo who came thither with his Attendants but the young Man tutor'd as suppos'd by Miantonemo pretended that Uncas had enjoyn'd him to feign that he was hir'd by Miantonemo to kill him To which Tale of his little belief being given it was concluded upon farther Examination of him in private that he had done the Fact nevertheless they let him depart with Miantonemo advising him to send him home to Uncas but he in stead of returning him cut off his Head and forthwith gather'd an Army of a thousand Men to fight with Uncas who met him with half the Men the Battel being joyn'd the Narragansets though the far greater multitude were beaten by the Wawhiggins through the Valour of Uncas their Prince who perfected his Victory by possessing himself of the Person of Miantonemo whom having put his Life-guard to flight he carried away with him in triumph to the Town of Hartford desiring to have the advice of the United Colonies what to do with his Prisoner Whereupon the Commissioners having had sufficient proof of Miantonemo's treachery towards this Prince advis'd Uncas to put him to death but not to exercise that barbarous kind of cruelty which is usual amongst them in these Cases The Sachem upon this advice not long after pretended to remove him to a safer place but by the Way caus'd him to be Executed His Subjects and Kindred were troubled at his Death but the little Princes his Neighbors over whom he had tyranniz'd rather rejoyc'd In the Year 1645. the Sons of old Canonnicus their Father being dead began to fall into hot Contentions with their Neighbors and being forbidden by the United Colonies they did not stick to threaten Wars to the English also Whereupon the Commissioners rais'd an Army of Horse and Foot and made Major General Edward Gibbons Commander in Chief over them But the Indians hearing of this Preparation sent some of their chief Nobility to the Commissioners of the United Colonies who were assembled at Boston to Treat about Peace to which the Commissioners agreed upon condition they should pay a part of the Charges of the War and that they should send four of their Sons for Hostages till the Sum was paid and the Hostages being sent back before the Wapom was all paid the two Princes Pesicus and Mexanimo upon the sending a Company of Armed Men to demand it sent the remainder of the Money In the Year 1647. divers Persons of Quality ventur'd their Estates upon an Iron Mill which they began at Braintree but it profited the Owners little rather wasting their Stock the price of Labor in matters of that nature being double or treble to what it is in England These are the most material Transactions we find deliver'd by any one which hapned from the first discovery till the Year before mention'd what hath hapned from that time to this chiefly relates to the several Revolutions that have been in England and shall be therefore taken notice of when we come to speak of the Government of these Plantations The Commodities of this Countrey together with the Trees and other sorts of Plants Though there are who having remain'd some time and been concern'd in those Parts affirm the Soil of New England to be nothing so fruitful as it is believ'd and commonly deliver'd to be yet we think it not improper to give a brief account of the Trees and other Plants also the Beasts Birds Fishes and other Commodities which most Writers will have to be the production of this Countrey especially since we find them compactly summ'd up by an unknown Writer in the Language of the Muses The recital of the Plants and Trees which excepting the Cedar Sassafras and Dyers Sumach are all of the same kind with those that grow in Europe onely differing in nature according as the Epithets of many of them declare is as follows Trees both in Hills and Plains in plenty be The long-liv'd Oak and mournful Cypress Tree Skie-towring Pines and Chesnuts coated rough The lasting Cedar with the Walnut tough The Rozen-dropping Fir for Mast in use The Boat-men seek for Oars light neat grown Sprewse The brittle Ash the ever-trembling Asps The broad-spread Elm whose Concave harbors Wasps The Water-spungy Alder good for nought Small Eldern by the Indian Fletchers sought The knotty Maple pallid Birch Hawthorns The Horn-bound Tree that to be cloven scorns Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse Who twines embracing Arms about his Boughs Within this Indian Orchard Fruits be some The ruddy Cherry and the jetty Plumb Snake-murthering Hazle with sweet Saxafrage Whose Leaves in Beer allay hot Feavers rage The Dyers Shumach with more Trees there be That are both good to use and rare to see The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are the Moose Beasts the Rackoon and the Musquash the two first Land-Animals the last Amphibious which with others common to them with us are thus versifi'd by the abovesaid Author The Kingly Lyon and the strong-arm'd Bear The large limb'd Mooses with the tripping Deer Quill-darting Porcupines that Rackoons be Castled i th' hollow of an aged Tree The skipping Squirrel Rabbet purblind Hare Immured in the self-same Castle are Lest red-ey'd Ferrets wily Foxes should Them undermine if Ramper'd but with Mold The grim-fac'd Ounce and rav'nous howling Wolf Whose meagre Paunch sucks like a swallowing Gulph Black glittering Otters and rich Coated Beaver The Civet-scented Musquash smelling ever Of such of these as are altogether unknown to us take these brief Descriptions The Beast call'd a Moose The Moose is not much unlike red Deer and is as big as an Ox slow of Foot Headed like a Buck with a broad Beam some being two Yards wide in the Head their flesh is as good as Beef their Hides good for Clothing if these were kept tame and accustom'd to the Yoke they would be a great Commodity First because they are so fruitful bringing forth three at a time being likewise very uberous Secondly because they will live in Winter without any Fodder There are not many of these in
return to the Sea till they have cast their Spawn Clamms or Clamps Clamms or Clamps are a Shell-fish not much unlike a Cockle they lie under the Sand and have every one of them a round hole to take Air and receive Water at When the Tide ebbs and flows a Man running over these Clamm banks will presently be made all wet by their spouting of Water out of those small holes These Fishes are in great plenty in most places of the Countrey which is a great Commodity for the feeding of Swine both in Winter and Summer for being once us'd to those places they will repair to them as duly every Ebb as if they were driven to them by Keepers In some places of the Countrey there be Clamms as big as a Peny white Loaf which are great Dainties amongst the Natives and would be in great esteem amongst the English were it not for better Fish Other Commodities which this Countrey is said to yield are in down-right Prose Furrs Flax Linnen Iron Pitch Masts Cables and some quantity of Amber so that if what many Authors have consented to assert concerning New England be not a meer Fiction what e're hath been affirm'd of the unfruitfulness of the Country will demonstrably be found invalid There are also to be found here some hurtful Creatures Noxious Creatures of which that which is most injurious to the Person and Life of a Man is the Rattle-Snake which is generally a yard and a half long as thick in the middle as the small of a Mans Leg she hath a yellow Belly her Back being spotted with black russet yellow and green colours plac'd like Scales at her Tail is a Rattle with which she makes a noise when she is molested or when she seeth any approach near her her Neck seems to be no thicker than a Mans Thumb yet she can swallow a Squirril having a great wide Mouth with Teeth as sharp as Needles wherewith she biteth such as tread upon her her Poyson lyeth in her Teeth for she hath no Sting When any Man is bitten by any of these Creatures the Poyson spreads so suddenly through the Veins and so runs to the Heart that in one hour it causeth Death unless he hath the Antidote to expel the Poyson which is a Root call'd Snake-weed which must be champ'd the Spittle swallow'd and the Root apply'd to the Sore this is present Cure against that which would be present death without it This Weed is rank Poyson if it be taken by any man that is not bitten whosoever is bitten by these Snakes his flesh becomes as spotted as a Leopard until he be perfectly cur'd It is reported that if the Party live that is bitten the Snake will die and if the Party die the Snake will live This is a most Poysonous and dangerous Animal yet nothing so bad as the report goes of it in England for whereas it is said to kill a Man with its breath and that it can flie there is no such matter for it is naturally the most sleepy and unnimble Creature that lives never offering to leap or bite any Man if it be not trodden on first and it is their desire in hot weather to lie in Paths where the Sun may shine on them where they will sleep so soundly that I have known four Men stride over one of them and never awake it five or six Men have been bitten by them which by using of Snake-weed were all cur'd never any yet losing his life by them Cows have been bitten but being cut in divers places and this Weed thrust into their flesh were cur'd A small Switch will easily kill one of these Snakes In many places of the Country there be none of them as at Plymouth New-town Igowamme Nahant c. In some places they will live on one side of the River and swimming but over the Water as soon as they are come into the Woods they turn up their yellow Bellies and die Up into the Countrey Westward from the Plantations is a high Hill which is call'd Rattle-Snake-Hill where there are great store of these Poysonous Creatures There are likewise troublesome Flies First there is a wild Bee or Wasp which commonly guards the Grape building by Cobweb habitation amongst the Leaves Secondly a great green Flie not much unlike our Horse-Flies in England they will nipp so sore that they will fetch Blood either of Man or Beast and are most troublesome where most Cattel are which brings them from out of the Woods to the Houses this Flie continues but for the Moneth of June The third is Gurnipper which is a small black Flie no bigger than a Flea her biting causeth an itching upon the Hands or Face which provoketh scratching which is troublesome to some this Flie is busie but in close Mornings or Evenings and continues not above three Weeks the least Wind or heat expels them The fourth is a Musketor which is not unlike to our Gnats in England in places where there is no thick Woods or Swamps there are none or very few In the new Plantations they are troublesome for the first year but the Wood decaying they vanish These Flies cannot endure Wind heat or cold so that these are only troublesome in close thick Weather and against Rain many that are bitten will fall a scratching whereupon their Faces and Hands swell The nature of the ancient Inhabitants As touching the Nature of the ancient Inhabitants they are to be consider'd according to their several Shires or Divisions those that inhabit to the East and North-East bore the name of Churchers and Tarrenteens these in the Southern parts were call'd Pequods and Narragansets those Westward Connectacuts and Mowhacks to the North-West of whom were the Aberginians The nature of the Mowhacks The Mowhacks were ever accounted a cruel bloudy People which were wont to come down upon their poor Neighbors with more than bruitish Savageness spoiling their Corn burning their Houses slaying Men ravishing Women yea very Canibals they were sometimes eating on a Man one part after another before his Face and while yet living insomuch that the very Name of a Mowhack would strike the Heart of a poor Aberginian dead till they had the English on their sides to succor them for these inhumane Homicides confess that they dare not meddle with a white Fac'd Man accompany'd with his hot-mouth'd Weapon These Indians are a People of tall Stature long grim Visages slender Wasted and having exceeding great Arms and Thighs wherein they say their strength lieth which is such that one of them hath been known to kill a Dog with a fillip of his Finger and afterwards to have flead and sod him and eat him to his Dinner They are so hardy that they can eat such things as would make other Indians sick to look upon being destitute of Fish and Flesh they suffice Hunger and maintain Nature with the use of Vegetatives but that which they most hunt after is the
a Juice out of them which if it did not turn sowre in a short time might well be compar'd with Spanish Wine The Calabashes which grow there made hollow serve for Water-cups Pumpions are also there in great abundance Their Wheat though Set six Foot deep grows very speedily Wheat Kidney-Beans being planted amongst it they will wind about the Stalks thereof Gray Pease grow here so fast that they gather them twice a year Pease In one Field Physical Herbs and Indigo grow wild in great abundance and Barley springs above a Mans heighth Moreover there are divers sorts of sweet-smelling Flowers The Hills are most of a fat and clayie Soil fit to make Pots Tobacco-pipes Soyl of the Mountains or any other sort of Earthen Ware In some places also is Store of Mountain Crystal and that sort of Mineral which we call Muscovia Glass Others afford Marble Serpentine Stone and other sorts of hard Stone And though the Natives did not think it worth their while or were not in a capacity to dig for Minerals themselves yet it remains without contradiction that the Mountains inclose both Gold and Silver Gold and Silver-Mines When Captain William Clieff Anno 1645. us'd the Indian Interpreter Agheroense to decide the Differences which arose between the West-India Company and the wild People call'd Makwaes he observ'd him to paint his Face with a yellow glittering colour which he judg'd to be of some rich Mineral whereupon buying some of the said Agheroense he put it into a Crusible and gain'd two small pieces of Gold out of the same valu'd at six Shillings but keeping it private and purchasing a great quantity of the said Mineral from Agheroense who had show'd him the Mountain which produced the same extracted good store of Gold out of it which possessing Clieff with a belief of having found out a business of great consequence he sent Arent Corsen of New-haven with the fore-mention'd Mineral to Holland but the Ship being never heard of afterwards and the Princess Pink in which Captain Clieff was himself with store of the new-found Mineral being cast away the Business came to nothing Paint after a strange manner The Inhabitants though divided into several Nations yet agree in many things as in painting their Bodies Shields Clubs and other Utensils in their Houses The Colours wherewith they paint themselves they press out of Plants or make them of certain Stones grownd into very fine Powder The chiefest Plant is not unlike the Myrtle onely it hath more Boughs and bears red Berries the Juice of which being dry'd in the Sun is afterwards preserv'd in little Bags The Natives temper their Colours with Water and paint their Bodies with the same It is as good a Purple as can be found They also draw Ships Trees and Beasts after a very rough manner In stead of Feathers they wear pleited Hair which being colour'd red hath an excellent gloss which never fades though it Rain on the same The Horses bred in this Countrey Horses being either brought thither from England or Utrecht far exceed those of English breed but are both of them subject to a strange Disease of which many die in few hours The same Distemper also seizes on Cattel if they go into Forrest Pasture But the onely thing to cure the same is Hay from salt Marshy Grounds The Oaken Woods have store of Hogs Hogs which if taken and fatned with Turkish Wheat are most delicious Meat The Sheep Sheep though they breed well there yet are very scarce because the Planters not being able to spare Men to watch them they are often devour'd by Wolves There are also abundance of Deer all sorts of Fowls Turkies Geese Ducks Pigeons and the like The Lyons Lyons whosc Skins the Indians bring to Market are taken on a high Mountain fifteen days Journey South-West from thence Black Bears There are likewise many black Bears fearful of humane kind but if Hunted they run direct on those that pursue them they sleep all the Winter lying six Weeks Oh one side and six on the other and sucking their Feet all the time They generally lurk among Brambles or in the Concavities of some hollow Mountain Strange Beasts On the Borders of Canada there is seen sometimes a kind of Beast which hath some resemblance with a Horse having cloven Feet shaggy Mayn one Horn just on their Forehead a Tail like that of a wild Hog black Eyes and a Deers Neck it feeds in the nearest Wildernesses the Males never come amongst the Females except at the time when they Couple after which they grow so ravenous that they not onely devour other Beasts but also one another But no Beasts are more plentiful here than Harts and Stags Harts which feed up and down in great Herds when they are Hunted by Wolves or Men they immediately take the next River where they are caught several together by being cross'd in their Swimming and affrighted by the Eccho which comes from the Mountains made by the Hunters hollowing on the other Shore which makes them fearful of Landing whilst the Huntsmen joyning several pieces of Wood together get upon them and Rowing towards these Deer intercept them being tir'd and out of breath Musk-Cats Moreover this Countrey breeds many Musk Cats especially in Marshy Grounds These Beasts are beautiful to the Eye having black speckled Skins their Mouths full of sharp Teeth and their Tails being long trail after them Many of the Learned maintain a Dispute concerning Civet Whether it be the Seed of the Civet-Cat the Affirmative which Cardanus maintain'd is contradicted by Julius Scaliger Matthiolus an Author of no little credit supposes that Civet is the Sweat of the Cat because it is most chiefly taken when these Beasts are exceedingly vex'd and wearied But since the Sweat runs from all parts of the Body which nevertheless do not all produce Civet it is impossible that Sweat should be Civet Others account Civet to be the Dung of the Cats which last seems to come nearest to truth for certainly it is nothing else but an Excrement in the fleshy parts about their Pizzle or near the Fundament The Cats being in pain to be discharg'd of this Civet free themselves from it by rubbing a Tree and also fawn on those which take it from them with a Spoon Besides all other wild Creatures the Countrey according to Adrian Vander Donk produces yearly eighty thousand Beavers Plin. lib. 32. cap. 3. Pliny relates that these Beasts bite off their Pizzles and throw them to the Hunter which are an exceeding good Medicine to help Abortion stop the Monethly Flowers Giddiness in the Head Gout Lameness Belly and Toot-ach Rhumes Poyson and the Evil. But Pliny makes a great mistake herein for the Beavers have a small Pissel fasten'd to their Back bone in such a manner that they cannot loose them but with hazard of their lives They live in the Water and on
in the parts of America between the Ocean on the East and the Bay of Chesapeack on the West and divided from the other part thereof by a right Line drawn from the Promontory or Cape of Land call'd Watkin's-Point situate in the aforesaid Bay near the River of Wigcho on the West unto the main Ocean on the East and between that bound on the South unto that part of Delaware Bay on the North which lies under the fortieth Degree of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial where New England ends and all that Tract of Land between the bounds aforesaid that is to say passing from the aforesaid Bay call'd Delaware Bay in a right Line by the Degree aforesaid unto the true Meridian of the first Fountains of the River of Patomeck and from thence stretching towards the South unto the furthest Bank of the said River and following the West and South side thereof unto a certain place call'd Cinquack near the Mouth of the said River where it falls into the Bay of Chesapeack and from thence by a streight Line unto the aforesaid Promontory or place call'd Watkins-Point which lies in thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude By this Patent his Lordship and his Heirs and Assigns are Created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province Title saving the Allegiance and Soveraign Dominion due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors so that he hath thereby a Soveraignty Granted to him and his Heirs dependant upon the Sovereignty of the Crown of England The first Seating His Lordship in the Year 1633. sent his second Brother Mr. Leonard Calvert and his third Brother Mr. George Calvert with divers other Gentlemen of Quality and Servants to the number of two hundred Persons at least to settle a Plantation there who set Sail from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight in England on Novemb. 22. in the same Year having made some stay by the way at the Barbadoes and St. Christophers in America they arriv'd at Point Comfort in Virginia on February 24. following from whence shortly after they Sail'd up the Bay of Chesapeack and Patomeck River And having review'd the Country and given Names to several places they pitch'd upon a Town of the Indians for their first Seat call'd Yoacomaco now Saint Maries which the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert freely Purchas'd of the Natives there for the Lord Proprietaries use with Commodities brought from England That which facilitated the Treaty and Purchase of the said place from the Indians was a resolution which those Indians had then before taken to remove higher into the Countrey where it was more Populous for fear of the Sansquehanocks another and more Warlike People of the Indians who were their too near Neighbors and inhabit between the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware there being then actual Wars between them insomuch that many of them were gone thither before the English arriv'd And it hath been the general practice of his Lordship and those who were employ'd by him in the Planting of the said Province rather to purchase the Natives Interest who will agree for the same at easie rates than to take from them by force that which they seem to call their Right and Inheritance to the end all Disputes might be remov'd touching the forcible Incroachment upon others against the Laws of Nature or Nations Thus this Province at the vast Charges and by the unweary'd Industry and endeavor of the present Lord Baltemore the now absolute Lord and Proprietary of the same was at first Planted and hath since been supply'd with People and other Necessaries so effectually The number of Inhabitants that in this present Year 1671. the number of English there amounts to fifteen or twenty thousand Inhabitants for whose Encouragement there is a Fundamental Law establish'd there by his Lordship whereby Liberty of Conscience is allow'd to all that Profess to believe in Jesus Christ so that no Man who is a Christian is in danger of being disturb'd for his Religion and all Persons being satisfi'd touching his Lordships Right as Granted by his Superior Soveraign the King of Great Brittain and possess'd by the consent and agreement of the first Indian Owners every Person who repaireth thither intending to become an Inhabitant finds himself secure as well in the quiet enjoyment of his Property as of his Conscience Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships onely Son and Heir was in the Year 1661. sent thither by his Lordship to Govern this Province and People who hath hitherto continu'd that Charge of his Lordships Lieutenant there to the general satisfaction and encouragement of all Persons under his Government or otherwise concern'd in the Province The precedent Discourse having given you a short Description of this Province from its Infancy to this day together with an account of his Lordships Patent and Right by which he holds the same we will here speak something of the Nature of the Countrey in general and of the Commodities that are either naturally afforded there or may be procur'd by Industry The Climate is very healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions but New-comers have most of them heretofore had the first year of their Planting there in July and August a Sickness which is call'd there A Seasoning but is indeed no other than an Ague with cold and hot Fits whereof many heretofore us'd to die for want of good Medicines and accommodations of Diet and Lodging and by drinking too much Wine and Strong-waters though many even in those times who were more temperate and that were better accommodated never had any Seasonings at all but of late years since the Countrey hath been more open'd by the cutting down of the Woods and that there is more plenty of English Diet there are very few die of those Agues and many have no Seasonings at all especially those that live in the higher parts of the Country and not near to the Marshes and Salt-water In Summer the heats are equal to those of Spain but qualifi'd daily about Noon at that time of the Year either with some gentle Breezes or small Showres of Rain In Winter there is Frost and Snow and sometimes it is extremely cold insomuch that the Rivers and the Northerly part of the Bay of Chesapeack are Frozen but it seldom lasts long and some Winters are so warm that People have gone in half Shirts and Drawers only at Christmas But in the Spring and Autumn viz. in March April and May September October and November there is generally most pleasant temperate Weather The Winds there are variable from the South comes Heat Gusts and Thunder from the North or North-West cold Weather and in Winter Frost and Snow from the East and South-East Rain The Soyl is very fertile and furnish'd with many pleasant and commodious Rivers Creeks and Harbors The Country is generally plain and even and yet distinguish'd with some pretty small Hills and Risings with variety
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
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
whose Principles not being corrupted with Learning and Distinction are contented to follow the Dictates of right Reason which Nature has sufficiently taught all Men for the well ordering of their Actions and enjoyment and preservation of humane Society who do not give themselves up to be amus'd and deceiv'd by insignificant Terms and minding what is just and right seek not Evasions in the Niceties and Fallacies of Words Carolina granted by Patent to several Noble Persons by His Majesty The same is to be said of the first discovery of this Countrey as hath been formerly said of Virginia and Florida of both which it partakes but as to the present Interest and Propriety the English besides all Virginia intirely have also so much of Florida as makes up this considerable Province of Carolina which soon after the happy Restauration of His present Majesty King Charles II. from whom it receives Denomination was granted by Patent to Edward Earl of Clarendon L. Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carteret Vice-Chamberlain of His Majesty's Houshold Sir William Berkley Knight and Baronet and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet The Lords-Proprietors of this Countrey for the better Settlement of it according to their Patent granted unto them by His Majesty and for the enlargement of the King's Dominions in those parts of America have been at great Charge to secure this so rich and advantageous a Countrey to the Crown of England to whom of ancient Right by the Discovery of Sir Sebastian Cabott in the time of Henry the Seventh it doth belong and for its Situation Fertility Neighborhood to our other Plantations and several other Conveniences of too valuable consideration to be negligently lost By the Care therefore and Endeavors of those Great Men Their care for Setling and Improving of this Plantation it hath now two considerable Colonies Planted in it the one of Albemarle on the North side bordering on Virginia where are some hundreds of English Families remov'd thither from New England and some of our other Plantations in the West-Indies and another towards the middle of the Countrey at Charles-Town or Ashley-River a Settlement so hopeful for the healthiness of the Land and convenience of access by a large deep Navigable River and so promising in its very Infancy that many of the rich Inhabitants of Barbados and Bermudas who are now crowded up in those flourishing Islands and many in our other American Plantations are turning their Eyes and Thoughts this way and have already remov'd part of their Stock and Servants thither Nor is it to be doubted but that many following the Example of those who went to Albemarle will be drawn to this better Plantation at Ashley-River from New-England where the heat of their Zeal and the coldness of the Air doth not agree with every Man's Constitution and therefore it is to be thought that many well temper'd Men who are not much at ease under such Extreams will be forward to remove hither Fair Terms propos'd to whomsoever shall remove thither The Lords-Proprietors for the comfortable subsistence and future enrichment of all those who shall this Year 1671. Transport themselves and Servants thither allow every Man a hundred Acres per Head for himself his Wife Children and Servants he carries thither to him and his Heirs for ever paying onely one Peny an Acre as a Chief-Rent which Peny an Acre is not to be paid these nineteen years and those Servants who go along thither with their Masters shall each also have a hundred Acres upon the same Terms when he is out of his Time But though these Conditions are very advantageous and the Countrey promises to the Planter Health Plenty and Riches at a cheap Rate yet there is one thing that makes this Plantation more valuable than all these and that is the secure possession of all these things with as great certainty as the state of humane Affairs and the transient things of this Life are capable of in a well continu'd Form of Government wherein it is made every Man's Interest to preserve the Rights of his Neighbor with his own and those who have the greatest Power have it limited to the Service of the Countrey the Good and Welfare whereof whilest they preserve and promote they cannot miss of their own the Lords Proprietors having no other aim than to be the greatest Men in a Countrey where every one may be happy if it be not his own fault it being almost as uncomfortable and much more unsafe to be Lord over than Companion of a miserable unhappy and discontented Society of Men. With this Design the Lords-Proprietors who are at great Charge for carrying on this Plantation have put the framing of a Government into the Hands of one whose Parts and Experience in Affairs of State are universally agreed on and who is by all Men allow'd to know what is convenient for the right ordering Men in Society and setling a Government upon such Foundations as may be equal safe and lasting and to this hath a Soul large enough to wish well to Mankind and to desire that all the People where he hath to do might be happy My Lord Ashley therefore by the consent of his Brethren the rest of the Lords Proprietors hath drawn up to their general satisfaction some fundamental Constitutions which are since by their joynt approbation confirm'd to be the Model and Form of Government in the Province of Carolina the main Design and Ballance thereof according to the best of my memory having had a Copy thereof in short is as followeth The Model drawn up by the Lord Ashley for the Government of Carolina 1. EVery County is to consist of forty square Plots each containing twelve thousand Acres Of these square Plots each of the Proprietors is to have one which is to be call'd a Signiory Eight more of these square Plots are to be divided amongst the three Noble-men of that County viz. a Landgrave who is to have four of them and two Casiques who are to have each of them two apiece and these square Plots belonging to the Nobility are to be call'd Baronies The other twenty four square Plots call'd Colonies are to be the Possession of the People And this Method is to be observ'd in the Planting and Setting out of the whole Countrey so that one Fifth of the Land is to be in the Proprietors one Fifth in the Nobility and three Fifths in the People 2. The Signories and Baronies that is the hereditary Lands belonging to the Proprietors and Nobility are all entirely to descend to their Heirs with the Dignity without power of alienation more than for three Lives or one and twenty years or two Thirds of their Signiories and Baronies and the rest to be Demesne 3. There will be also some Mannors in the Colonies but none less than three thousand Acres in a Piece which like the
rest of the Colony Lands will be alienable onely with this difference that it cannot be parcell'd out but if fold it must be altogether 4. There is to be a Biennial Parliament consisting of the eight Proprietors the Landgraves and Casiques and one out of every Precinct that is the six neighboring Colonies for the People chosen by the Freeholders these are to sit and Vote altogether for the making of Laws which shall be in force no longer than sixty years after their Enacting the great mischief of most Governments by which not onely the People are mightily entangled by multiplicity of Rules and Penalties and thereby laid open to the Malice and Designs of troublesom Men and cunning Projectors but which is far worse the whole frame of the Government in tract of time comes to be remov'd from its original Foundation and thereby becomes more weak and tottering 5. There are eight supream Courts for the dispatch of all publick Affairs the first consists of the Palatine who is the eldest of the Proprietors and hath power to call Parliaments and dispose of publick Offices The other seven supream Courts are 1. The chief Justices for the determining of Controversies of Meunt and Tuum and judging of Criminals 2. The Chancellors for passing of Charters and managing the State Matters of the Province 3. The High-Constables for Military Affairs 4. The Admirals for Maritime Affairs 5. The High-Stewards for Trade 6. The Treasurers for the publick Stock and 7. The Chamberlains for Ceremonies Fashions Marriages Burials c. These are the seven supream Courts to whom lies the ultimate Appeal in all Causes belonging to them Each of these Courts consists of one Proprietor and six other Councellors whereof two are chosen by the Nobility and two by the People All the number of these eight Courts joyn'd together make the Grand Council which are in the nature of a Council of State and are entrusted with the management of Affairs of greatest concernment There is also in every County a Court and in every Precinct another from the Precinct Court there lies an Appeal to the County Court and from the County Court to the Proprietors Court to which the Matter in question belongs and there is the last decision and determination thereof without any farther Appeal And to keep the People from the Charges and vexation of long Suits to the enriching of Men cunning in Words care is taken that no Cause shall be Try'd more than once in any one Court and that profess'd Pleaders for Money shall not be allow'd Liberty of Conscience is here also allow'd in the greatest latitude but yet so that neither Atheists or Men of no Religion are permitted Atheism Irreligion and vicious Lives being condemn'd as disagreeable to humane Nature inconsistent with Government and Societies and destructive to all that is useful to or becoming of Mankind as on the other hand rigorous Imposing of and hot Contentions about the Ceremonies and Circumstances of Religion is an occasion of perpetual Strife Faction and Division keeps Men from sedate and temperate Enquiries after Truth eats out the great Cement of humane Conversation Charity and cannot be found in any one who hath but modesty enough to think himself less than a Pope and short of Infallibility There is also to be a Register of all Grants and Conveyances of Land to prevent even the occasions of Controversies and Law-Suits There are several other less considerable Particulars in this Government all contriv'd and design'd for the good and welfare of the People all which are so well put together and in such equal proportion ballance each other that some judicious Men who have seen it say it is the best and fairest Frame for the well-being of those who shall live under it of any they have seen or read of CHAP. III. Florida Situation and Bounds SOuth-West of Virginia lieth the spacious Countrey of Florida remarkable hitherto rather by the great pains which the Spaniards have taken and the ill Successes they have met with in the discovery and search of this Province than by any thing else they have discover'd in it answerable to their desires On the East it hath the Atlantick Ocean or Mare del Nordt on the South and South-West the Gulph of Mexico and Mare Virginium and full West part of New Gallicia and some other Countreys not yet perfectly known This Countrey is also one of those said to have been first of all discover'd by Sir Sebastian Cabot at the Charges of the King of England about the Year 1497. but afterwards more throughly search'd into by John some de Leon a Spaniard Ponce's Expedition who in the Year 1511. set Sail with three Ships out of the Haven St. German in Porto Rico North-West to the Isles Del Veio Caycos Yaguna Amaguyao Manegua and Guanahani first discover'd by Christopher Colonus and call'd St. Salvador After that Steer'd North-West by a Coast which because of its pleasant prospect was call'd Florida or according to the more common Opinion because it was on Palm-Sunday which the Spaniards call Pascha de Flores or Pascha Florida that he Landed here And to find out a Haven he kept sight of the Shore which appear'd South-West from him Here the Ships met with so strong a Tide that notwithstanding they had a fresh Gale of Wind yet could they not stem it one of the Ships was driven to Sea out of sight the other two casting Anchor which raking drove toward the Shore whither being beckned by the Indians they immediately went when no sooner he Landed but they ran in great Companies to make themselves Masters of the Vessels kill'd one Spaniard wounded two more the Night approaching put an end to the Fight From hence Sailing to the River La Cruix for Wood and Water they were resisted by sixty Natives which they put to flight with their Guns and took one Prisoner after which they erected a Stone Cross The Promontory by which glides the strong Current lies in twenty Degrees North-Latitude and call'd Cabo de Corrientes as the Row of Isles before the Main Land Los Martyres because the Cliffs at a distance appear like Men standing on Poles Lastly after some small Encounters with the Floridans Ponce return'd home Water to make old People look young being onely inform'd falsly by the Indians that in Florida was a River and on the Isle Bimini a Fountain whose Waters made old People young On the King's Command the Spaniards were permitted to make inspection into the Countrey in which they were every where courteously Entertain'd and not without Gold and Silver Presents Treachery of Vasquez Returning Aboard Vasquez invited the. Indians to go with him under pretence of returning them thanks for the Favours which they had bestowed upon him but no sooner had he gotten a considerable number in his Ships but he set Sail and losing one Ship arriv'd with the other safe at Hispaniola with a few Indians Indians misused
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
Seas to Sail to it there being not any Islands Rocks or Sands between the Lands-End in England and New-found Land and for the most part it is not above three or four Weeks Sail thither and less coming back and is the most commodiously situated for the discovering of the North-West Passage and other Inlets into the South Sea whereby the ordinary Voyages to China Japan and the East-Indies are much eas'd in the expence of Time and Charge and the most open to Trade to all Parts of any Island of the West-Indies On the East side of the Land are the Bays of Trinity and Conception which stretch themselves towards the South-West Tor-Bay and Capelin-Bay lying also on the East stretch themselves towards the West The Bays of Trespassey St. Mary Borrel and Plaisance on the South part of the Land extend their Arms towards the North. The great Bay of St. Peters lying on the South-West side of the Land and Southerly from the great River of Canada being about twenty Leagues distant the same stretcheth toward the East Trinity Harbour lies in near forty nine Degrees of North Latitude being very commodiously seated to receive Shipping in seasonable Weather both to Anchor in and from thence to Sail towards either the East West or South It hath three Arms or Rivers long and large enough for many hundred Sail of Ships to moare fast at Anchor near a Mile from the Harbours Mouth Close adjoyning to the Rivers side and within the Harbour is much open Land well stor'd with Grass sufficient Winter and Summer to maintain great store of ordinary Cattel besides Hogs and Goats if such Beasts were carried thither and it standeth North most of any Harbor in the Land where our Nation practiseth Fishing It is near unto a great Bay lying on the North side of it call'd The Bay of Flowers to which Place no Ships repair to Fish in regard of sundry Rocks and Ledges lying even with the Water and full of danger The bottom of the Bay of Trinity lieth within four Leagues through the Land South-West Southerly from Trinity as by experience is found and it comes near unto the Bay of Trespassey and the bottom of some other Bays Trespassey in like manner is as commodious a Harbour lying in a more temperate Climate almost in forty six Degrees of North Latitude and is both fair and pleasant and a wholsom Coast free from Rocks and Shelves so that of all other Harbours it lies the most South of any in the Land and most conveniently to receive our Shipping passing to and from Virginia and the Bermuda Islands and also any other Shipping that shall pass to and from the River of Canada and the Coast thereof because they usually pass and so return in the sight of the Land of Trespassey and also for some other purposes as shall be partly declar'd in the following Discourse The Soil of this Countrey in the Valleys and sides of the Mountains is so fruitful Fruitful Soil as that in divers places the Summer naturally produceth without Tillage great plenty of green Pease and Fitches fair round full and as wholsom as ours in England Berries and Fruits Of Berries and Fruits there grows Strawberries red and white and as fair Raspice-berries and Goose-berries as there be in England as also Bilberries which are call'd by some Whortes and many other delicate Berries peculiar to the Countrey in great abundance Likewise small Pears Cherries Filberds c. Herbs and Flowers There are also Herbs for Sallets and Broth as Parsly Alexander Sorrel c. and also Flowers as the red and white Damask Rose with other kinds which are most beautiful and delightful both to the sight and smell And questionless the Countrey is stor'd with many Physical Herbs though their Vertues are not known When Corn was first Sow'n here it was observ'd to grow very fair the increase was great and the Grain very good and several sorts of Kitchin Plants that have been Set here have prov'd very well In divers parts of the Countrey there is great store of Deer Beasts and some Hares many Foxes Squerrils Beavers Martins and Otters yielding excellent Furrs Wolves and Bears with other sorts of Beasts serving as well for Necessity as for Profit and Delight Variety both of Land and Water-Fowl is in this Countrey infinite Birds The chief Land-Fowl besides a great number of small Birds that live by scraping their Food from the Earth in the hardest Winter are Hawks great and small Partridges Thrush and Thrussels abundance very fat as also Filladies Nightingales and such like which sing most pleasantly There are also Birds that live by prey as Ravens Gripes Crows c. For Water-Fowl there is certainly so good and as much variety as in any part of the World as Geese Ducks Pigeons Gulls Penguins and many other sorts These Penguins are as big as Geese but do not flye for they have but a little short Wing and they multiply so infinitely upon a certain flat Island that men drive them from thence upon a Board into their Boats by hundreds at a time as if God had made the innocency of so poor a Creature to become such an admirable Instrument for the sustentation of Man And also Godwits Curlews and such like which Fowl do not onely serve those that Trade thither for Food but also they are a great furthering to divers Ships Voyages because the abundance of them is such that the Fisher-men do bait their Hooks with the quarters of Sea-Fowl on them and therewith some Ships do yearly take a great part of their Fishing Voyages with such Bait before they can get others The fresh Waters and Springs of that Countrey are many in number Springs and withall so very pleasant delightful and wholsom that no Countrey in the World hath better And Fewel for Fireing no where more plentiful In like manner there is great abundance of Trees fit to be employ'd in other serviceable uses Trees There are Fir and Spruce-Trees sound good and fit to Mast Ships with and as commodious for Boards and Buildings as those of Norway and out of these come abundance of Turpentine Moreover the Pine and Birch-Trees here are scarce to be compar'd for heighth and greatness The Rivers also and Harbours are generally stor'd with delicate Fish as Salmons Peals Eels Herrings Mackrel Flounders Launce Capelin Cod and Trouts the fairest fattest and sweetest that ever were seen in these Parts The like for Lobsters Cra-fish Mussles and other variety of Shell-fish The Seas likewise all along the Coast do plentifully abound in other sorts of Fish as Whales Spanish Mackrel Dorrel Pales Herrings Hogs Porposes Seals and such like Royal Fish c. But the chief Commodity of New found Land yet known and which is grown to be a setled Trade and that it may be much better'd by an ordinary Plantation there if the Traders thither will take some better course than formerly they have
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
besides Brandy and English Spirits but of these latter now no great quantities Imported or spent by reason of the general use of the Spirit of Sugar-Cane call'd Rum which the meaner sort as Servants and Slaves do not onely drink in great abundance but much also is hence Transported into Virginia Bermudas and New-England Here is also Imported great store of Provisions of all sorts viz. Beef Pork Fish c. from Ireland New-England Virginia Bermudas New-found Land c. also Pease Flour Butter Cheese and Bisquet likewise Timber Boards Pipe and Hogshead Staves c. also Negro-Slaves from Guinee and live Cattel as Bulls Cows Asinego 's and Horses from the Cape de Verd Island New-England and from England Servants and all other Commodities for Plantations and for Apparel of all which great quantities are hither brought and sold The Shipping that comes to Trade to this Island belongs generally to England some few Vessels are here built and pass to and fro to the Leeward Islands and some belong to New-England Bermudas c. The number of Vessels which come hither to Trade in one year is found upon search to be about two hundred of all sorts some years more some less as Ketches Sloops Barques c. containing in Burthen fifteen thousand five hundred and five Tun according as they were here Entred which is at the least a third part less than their true Burthen by reason every Ship pays one pound of Powder per Tun the means ordain'd by this Country for storing the Magazine the greatest part of which Ships re-load with Sugars for England and many go for New-England Bermudas Virginia Tangier c. not always full loaden with this Countreys Growth The usual Rate for Tunnage from hence to London is from 4 l. to 5 l. per Tun sometime when Ships are very plentiful it is at 3 l. and less and at other times when scarce from 6 l. to 7 l. in the late War with the Dutch it was at 10. 11. and 12 l. per Tun. The Government is Constituted by the Laws of England and Laws not repugnant to them onely some particular Laws are here made proper for this Place by the Governor or Deputy and his Council which usually are from seven to twelve in number and an Assembly that consists of twenty two Persons chosen by the Free-holders two out of every Parish SECT XXIV St. Vincent Situation of St. Vincent THe Island of St. Vincent South-West from St. Lucia and having sixteen Degrees of North-Latitude was so call'd by the Spaniards as having discover'd it on that Saint's Day being the fifth of April It is accounted eight Leagues long and six broad and rises round about with high Grounds and several Mountains which are seen at a great distance This Island hath a very fruitful Soil and for the bigness of it hath been long since well peopled with Caribbeeans before the arrival of the Spaniards possessing here several Villages to whom they are still sworn Enemies but Truck'd with the Hollanders for Provisions Horns Axes Knives and other Trifles At the West and South sides are convenient Bays to lie at Anchor and take Water in The Fruit Momen The Inhabitants highly esteem the Momen growing to the bigness of an Apple-Tree the Fruit which it bears resembles a green Cucumber and is of a pleasant Juice the Skin always green and prickly the Seed which is in the same about the bigness of a French Bean is generally black and streak'd with Golden-colour'd Veins The Granadilla Here is also that Plant mention'd elsewhere by the Spaniard call'd Granadilla by the Dutch Rhang-Apple and La Fleur de la Passion by the French and it is so call'd as being fancied to represent the thorny Crown of our Saviour together with the Cross Nails Hammer and Pillar the Plant runs along the Ground unless it meet with a Pole by which it runs up SECT XXV Bekia Situation of Bekia NOt far from St. Vincent lies the Island Bekia which reckons twelves Leagues in circumference and lies at twelve Degrees and twelve Scruples of Northern Latitude It hath a secure Harbor against all Winds but because it is without fresh Water is is onely frequented by the Caribbeeans that dwell on St. Vincent who come hither to Fish and visit certain little Gardens which they have there for their pleasure The Soil produces store of Water-melons whose red juicy Pulp yields when squeez'd a great quantity of sweet Liquor which is very refreshing and good to create an Appetite their white Flowers notch'd at the end of the Leaves afford a delightful smell Anno 1633. Captain John Johnson Van Hoorn putting in to Bekia to catch Tortoises found a fine Inlet on the West and Eastward a Ridge of Rocks Cotton growing wild in the Fields and upon the Shore a kind of Snails call'd Burgun under whose first Shell appear'd another of a Silver colour with black Specks SECT XXVI Granada Situation of Granada GRanada lying at twelve Degrees and sixteen Scruples like a Half-moon from the North to the South is full of Woods Towards the South-West runs a fresh River into the Sea The Shore very low affords good Anchorage at twelve Leagues distance The Current grows exceeding strong here and the Water also ebbs and flows in a few hours Dirick Simonszoon Witgeest Sailing from Tobago was amaz'd to see with what force the Current drove him to Granada The French possess it Hither Du Parquet at his own Charge sent three hundred Men from Martinico who scuffled with the Inhabitants six Moneths before they could possess the same in Peace and scarce had they obtain'd it at last but by telling them that the French Assistance would be very advantageous unto them against the Arovages The Duke Seryllac in Paris inform'd of the Fertility of this Island bought it of Du Parquet for a considerable Sum of Money And inded Granada is none of the meanest of the Caribbees the Soil producing very good both Fruit and Timber-Trees amongst which is the Latine-Tree of a tall Body but ordinary thickness and in stead of Boughs hang Leaves like Fans in long Stalks which being ty'd together serve for Roofs of Houses There is also the Tree Cocoa which yet grows not so high here as in other parts of the West-Indies SECT XXVII Tabago Situation of Tabago THe next which comes in view is Tabago so call'd as some think from the quantity of that Drug there Planted eight Leagues long and four broad lying in the eleventh Degree and sixteen Minutes of Northern Latitude and hath many high Mountains full of Wood out of which glide eighteen Streams which watering the Plains fall into the Sea Captain Vitgeest coming to an Anchor here found a convenient Inlet on the East and fresh Water to fill his Casks Half a League from the Shore rise five Rocks through which he Sail'd with his Ships Within the Cliff opens a Bay into which runs a River well stor'd
the Governor thereof is always nam'd by the King of Spain himself and his Place estimated at fifty thousand Ducats per Annum 6. Tiaguanaco at the Estuary or Mouth of the Lake memorable onely for the Ruines of certain great and stupendious Buildings which antiently have stood there some of the Stones whereof are said to have been of thirty Foot length apiece fifteen Foot broad and six or seven Foot thick There were likewise found the Statues of certain Men excellently Carv'd and Wrought of a Gigantick stature or bigness and likewise vested in foreign and strange Habits not at all us'd nor ever known to have been us'd by the Peruvians themselves or by any other of the Natives of America 7. Nuestra Sennora de la Paz or Our Lady of Peace otherwise call'd Pueblo Nuevo It is but a small Town yet pleasantly seated upon the Banks of a River in a fair and fruitful Plain full of Springs Fruit-Trees Savanas and Fields of Maiz having Mountains on either side It lieth almost in the middle of the Province Chuquinabo fourteen Leagues distant from Cusco and as many from Potosi The Province Chuquinabo it self which in the Peruvian Tongue signifies Inheritance of Gold hath many rich Gold-Mines good Salt-pits and a temperate Climate except from the beginning of December till March in which time the continual Rains cause Feavers and Agues The Inhabitants being very poor People us'd to go naked in the Summer Season 8. Copavana two and twenty Leagues beyond Lopoz It is onely inhabited by Peruvians amongst whom an Image of the Virgin Mary long since erected there hath been ever in great veneration especially by reason of a Tradition of a great Miracle there perform'd for the Spaniards affirm That Johannes Anachoreta going a Journey of several Weeks from home plac'd a lighted Candle before the Image which during the time of his absence did not at all diminish A strange Earthquake at Angoanga An Accident which fell out in this Countrey is very remarkable viz. The Ground of an old Village call'd Angoanga then inhabited by eminent Necromancers began on a sudden to swell and the Earth to run like a broken Wave two Leagues overwhelming the Houses in Sand and filling up a neighboring Lake The like in Herefordshire in England Eight years before this terrible Earthquake here there hapned in the County of Hereford in England almost the same kind of prodigious Motion for not far from the Town Ledborough arose Marcely Hill to an exceeding heighth and moving along bury'd all whate're it met with after which manner it continu'd for the space of three days to the great terror of all that beheld it 9. Chilane 10. Acos 11. Pomata and some others all of them good Towns but not so considerable as those other Roads and High-ways made by the Ingas Concerning the Roads or High-ways it may well be said That none of the seven Wonders of the World can compare with any one of them neither was the Way that Appius Claudius made from Rome to Brundusium upon the repairing of which the Emperors Julius and Augustus spent great sums of Money fit to stand in competition with the Roads made by the Ingas in Peru for who cannot but admire at the consideration of so many Valleys fill'd with Mountains the hardest Rocks cut asunder Moors damm'd up great Stone Bridges laid over swift gliding Streams and through vast Wildernesses a Way made of twenty Foot broad inclos'd in high Walls extending from Quito to Chilo a thousand Leagues and at the end of every ten Leagues brave Houses or Magazines stor'd with Bowes Arrows Halberds Axes Clubs Clothes and Provision for twenty or thirty thousand Men. Some relate that Guainacava when he return'd Victor from the conquer'd Countrey Quito suffer'd great Inconveniences on the pathless Mountains and thereupon commanded his Subjects to make the fore-mention'd Way But it is more probable that this Master-piece was not the work of one Inga especially since besides the Way from Chili to Quito there leads another through the Mountains over the Plains from Cusco to Quito forty Foot broad and five hundred Leagues long inclos'd within two Walls The manner of the Peruvian Registers The Peruvians relate from the testimony of the Quipos much more concerning these High-Ways and other Buildings on them made by Guainacava These Quipos are Rowls of divers colour'd Strings full of all manner of Knots which serve in stead of Characters to keep their Chronicles in which were employ'd the Quipo-Camayos who being in the nature of our Secretaries Registred all Transactions performing the same with the several Strings and Buttons with which they gave Obligations Discharges and the like but besides the Quipos they also us'd Rings full of little Stones for the same purpose and knew with Maiz-Seed how to cast up an Account as well as the best Arithmetician with Figures Their Account of Time hung on the twelve Pillars Succanga erected on a Mountain beyond Cusco by the Inga Pachacuma that is The Regulator of the Year to shew the Course of the Sun and according to that their appointed Feast-days times of Sowing and Harvest Their Year begins in December The present State of Peru under the Spanish Government The Spanish Government in the Kingdom of Peru is setled at present in great tranquility and splendor The Vice-Roy who keeps a splendid Court in Lima otherwise call'd Los Reyos Commands over Chili and Terra Firma and never comes abroad without a Guard of forty Halberdeers when he travels by Land he is accompanied by the Arch-bishop and guarded by his forty Halberdeers a hundred Pike-men and fifty Musquetteers His Reign is generally not above six or eight years during which time he receives forty thousand Ducats per Annum out of the King's Exchequer The present flourishing Condition of the City Los Reyos The City Los Reyos hath been of late years very much enlarg'd and brought to a most flourishing Condition being exceeding populous and extending four Miles in length and half as much in breadth In the biggest Market-place is the City Hall and the Exchange where all things are brought to be sold Of the other three Markets two have their Denominations from St. Anne and St. Jacob the fourth is call'd El Santo de los Cavallos because nothing but Mules Asses and Horses are sold there The chief Church is Consecrated to St. John the Evangelist the other Three to Marcellus Sebastian and Anna. The Franciscans inhabit three Cloysters the Dominicans Augustines and Monks De la Merced each of them two besides two costly Structures for the Jesuits Other Orders have also five Cloysters here viz. the Creation Conception the Holy Trinity St. Joseph and St. Clara the three first have each of them a Church built hard by the several Cloysters Dedicated to the Santas Virgines del Montserratto Del Prado and De Loretto Each Cloyster contains above two hundred and fifty either Monks or Nuns Here are also
white Bears with red Patches on their Heads also white Hawks and all sorts of Fish There are moreover in the Countrey divers Rivers frozen up for the most part of the Year and cover'd with Ice yet it is generally affirm'd that it is not so cold there as in Norway or Iseland On the Hills are said to grow Acorns and Nuts very well tasted and as big as Apples also as good Wheat as is commonly produc'd in other Parts An Account of Groenland from Dithmar Blefkens his Journal In the Journal of Dithmar Blefkens's Voyage mention is made of a certain blind Monk brought up in the Monastery of St. Thomas who reported several memorable things concerning this Countrey as that it was call'd Groenland antiphrastically or by contrariety of Speech as appearing seldom or never green and that it abounded with Bears and white Foxes and was not without Pygmies and Unicorns which never appear'd till after the Sun was entred into Aries that in the said Monastery of St. Thomas there was a Fountain of scalding Water which was convey'd through Pipes of Stones to the Monks several Cells and serv'd them not onely for Stoves but for the dressing of their Meat which was as well boyl'd by means of this Water as if it had been over a real Fire and that the Walls of the Monastery were made of a kind of Pumice-stone upon which if Water were pour'd it would produce a slimy Matter commonly us'd in stead of Lime for Mortar like the Stone of Mount Hecla in Iseland that two of these Pygmies a Male and a Female were kept by the Abbot and were both endu'd with perfect humane Shape and overgrown with Hair even to the outermost Joynts of their Fingers the Male especially who had a Beard reaching down to his Knees but that they seem'd wholly devoid of Reason and Understanding nor had any distinct use of Speech onely made a semblance of Hissing of the manner of Geese lastly he reported the duration of the Lives of these Creatures to be answerable to the shortness of their Stature but that concerning their Wars with the Cranes he had no other knowledge than by Tradition From Mr. James Hall's Description The Description of Groenland left by Mr. James Hall renders it a high mountainous and craggy Region sufficiently water'd with Rivers and provided with good Harbors of a Soil not unfertile in all places where he came having between the Mountains fruitful Valleys and pleasant Plains abounding with several sorts of Fowl as Partridges Pheasants Sea-mews Gulls Crows c. but of Beasts chiefly black Foxes and as was conjectur'd by the plenty of Harts-horns found about their Tents Rein-Deer yet not destitute of other Beasts the Vestigium of one whereof was found to be not less than eight Inches over As for the Manners and Customs of the Natives they are by the said Description represented to be a kind of Samoid or wandring People still moving from place to place warlike and active using Slings and Darts with marvellous dexterity of a brown Complexion for the most part and of an indifferent Stature eating their Meat either quite raw or onely a little parboyl'd Clothing themselves with the Skins of such Beasts or other Creatures as they kill especially Seals or some of the largest size of Fowls which they Dress very smooth and soft turning the Feather or Hair side outwards in Summer and inward in Winter Their Weapons Bowes Slings and Bone or Iron-headed Darts their Religion Idolatrous but chiefly Sun-Worship as was gather'd from their manner of Accost when any of the English first approach'd them for they us'd to point up to the Sun as chief Author of their felicity and then beat their Breasts crying Iliont which seem'd to signifie as much as I mean no harm and would not come near till those that met them did the like Their Houses built of Whales Bones and the Baulks thereof with Whales Ribs and cover'd with Earth but the best sort with Seal-Skins having Vaults or Rooms under Ground four-square and two Yards deep in the Earth Their manner of Burial a Pile of Stones thrown over the Corps being first wrapt up in Seal-Skins First Discovery of Spilbergia or Greenland Spilbergia so call'd by the Hollanders from Spilbergen whom probably they reckon to have been the first Discoverer of it is the same that we vulgarly call Greenland and which Sir Hugh Willoughby if not the first of all yet at least the first of the English that discover'd any thing of these Parts nam'd King James's New-Land The said Sir Hugh Willoughby set forth Anno 1553. in the Bona Esperanza accompany'd with two Ships more viz. the Bonaventure Richard Challoner Captain and the Bona Confidentia and after some time of Coasting up and down those Northern Seas he Landed with his Company upon the Place where staying a few days he sent three Men three days Journey into the Countrey South-West and three more as far full West who all after much hardship in their Travelling return'd without having met any People by the Way or seen the least appearance of any Habitation Sailing hence back for Lapland they were all frozen to death in the Haven Arzina Fotherby's Description of Greenland A Description of Greenland by one Mr. Robert Fotherby represents the Nature of this Place contradictory to its Name as before was observ'd of Groenland For certainly saith he no part of the World yet known and discover'd is less Green than this both the Mountains and Low-lands being cover'd with Snow till the beginning of June The Countrey which is for the most part mountainous bearing neither Grass nor Tree save onely Heath or Ling as it is call'd in the North parts of England which grows upon the Moors or Heathy Grounds when the Snow begins to melt and on which in Summer the Deer feed themselves fat in one Moneth but how they live in the Winter is a thing beyond any Man's skill to comprehend especially during the Sun's absence under the Horizon which in the Latitude of seventy seven Degrees continues from the eighteenth of October to the fourth of February This Countrey is by many suppos'd never to have been inhabited by Men yet not altogether uncapable of affording Habitation to such as would bring with them sufficient defensive Weapons against Hunger and Cold For other Animals it is found by the testimony of those that have been upon the Place not to be destitute for besides Deer before mention'd there have been seen Bears and Foxes and of wild Fowl Cuthbert Ducks Willocks Stints Sea-Pigeons Sea-Parrots Gulls Noddies c. The Southermost part of Greenland call'd Point Look-out stands in seventy six Degrees and thirty Minutes The West side of the Land was discover'd by the first Voyagers Northward as far as eighty Degrees and odd Minutes and in that compass six or eight good Harbors for the Whale-fishing the East side as far as seventy eight Degrees with divers Islands