a sort of Ceder-trees Trees which differ from all other in the World in several respects the Wood whereof is very sweet and well sented The English who settled themselves upon this Isle in the Year 1612 are the only Proprietors Proprietors thereof having now established a powerful Colony there wherein are about five thousand Inhabitants The Island is exceeding strong and defended as it were with a kind of natural Fortification being so fenced about with Rocks that without knowledge of the Passages a Boat of ten Tun cannot be brought into the Haven although by the assistance of a skilful Pilot there is entrance for Ships of the greatest burden And besides the natural strength of those Islands the English have since their settling there added such artificial helps and so strongly fortified the approaches by Block-houses and Forts as renders it impregnable In the Year 1616 which is four Years after the first settling there Captain Tucker is sent over with a new Supply whereupon they applied themselves the more earnestly to the planting of Corn Tobacco and other Commodities so that in about three Years those Isles began to gain so much repute in England that the improving them became a publick business many great Lords and Persons of Quality interesting themselves therein as Adventurers whereupon Captain Buttler was dispatched thither with a new Supply of 500 Men about which time the Isle was divided into Tribes or Counties and the whole reduced to a settled Government both in Church and State after which things succeeded so well that it has been ever since growing to greater perfection A DESCRIPTION OF CAROLINA CAROLINA so called from his late Majesty King Charles the Second of eternal Memory is a new Colony not long since settled by the English in that part of Florida adjoyning to Virginia which makes its Northern bounds in the Latitude of thirty six Degrees Situation and extends its self to the Latitude of 29 Degrees which terminates its extream Southern bounds It is on the East washed with the Atlantick Ocean and is bounced on the West by Mare Pacificum of the South-Sea A New Map of CAROLINA By Robt. Morden This Province of Carolina saith he was in the Year 1663. granted by Letters Patents from his late Majesty in propriety to Edward Earl of Clarendon George Duke of Albemarl William Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashly since Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret and Sir John Coleton Knights and Baronets and Sir William Berkley Knight By which Letters Patents the Laws of England are always to be in force in Carolina only the Lords Proprietors have power with the consent of the Inhabitants to make such By-laws as may be thought necessary for the better government of the Province So that no Money can be raised or Law made without the consent of the Inhabitants or their Representatives They are likewise thereby indued with a right to appoint and impower Governours and other Magistrates to grant Liberty of Conscience make Constitutions with many other great Priviledges c. as will sufficiently appear by the Letters Patents And the said Lords Proprietors have there settled a Constitution of Government whereby is granted Liberty of Conscience and wherein all possible care is taken for the equal administration of Justice and for the lasting security of the Inhabitants both in their Bodies and Estates And by their Care and Endeavours and at their very great charge two Colonies are likewise settled in that Province one at Albemarl in the most Notherly part and the other at Ashly-River which is in the Latitude of thirty two Degrees and some odd Minutes Albemarl Albemarl which borders upon Virginia only exceeds it in Health Fertility and Mildness of Winter being in the Growths Productions and other things much of the same nature with it and therefore I shall not trouble my self nor the Reader with a particular Description of that part but apply my self principally to discourse of the Colony settled at Ashly-River This Colony was first settled in the Month of April 1670. by the Lords Proprietors who did at their sole charge furnish out three Ships with a considerable number of able Men and eighteen Months Provision together with Cloth Tools Ammunition and whatsoever else was thought necessary for this new Settlement and continued for several years after to supply the place with all things necessary until the Inhabitants were by their own industry able to live of themselves in which condition they have now been for divers years past and are arrived to a very great degree of plenty so that most sorts of Provisions are cheaper there than in any other of the English Colonies Ashly-River Ashly-River about seven Miles from the Sea divides itself into two branches the Southermost still retains the name of Ashly but the North branch is called Cooper-River Upon the Point of Land which divides those two Rivers the Proprietors in the Year 1680. ordered the Port-Town that should serve for them both to be built calling it Charles-Town which is since considerably advanced to the number of near two hundred Houses more being daily raising by persons of all sorts that repair thither from the more Northern English Colonies in the Sugar-Islands besides those that go from England and Ireland many persons who likewise went thither Servants having since their times were out gotten good stocks of Cattel and Servants of their own built themselves Houses and exercise their Trades Many that went thither in that condition being now worth several hundred Pounds living in a very plentiful condition and continually adding to and increasing their Estates so that Land is already become of that value near the Town that it is sold for twenty Shillings per Acre though pillaged of all its valuable Timber and not cleared of the rest And the Land that is cleared and fitted for planting and fenced is let for ten Shillings per Annum the Acre though twenty Miles distance from the Town and six Men will in six Weeks time fell clear fence in and fit it for planting At this Town as soon as its Foundations were well laid there Rode at one time sixteen Sail of Ships some whereof carried above two hundred Tun that came from divers Parts of the King's Dominions to traffick there which great concourse of Shipping will undoubtedly make it a considerable Town of Trade It 's a Country blessed with a temperate and wholsom Air Temperature neither the heat in Summer nor the cold in Winter being the least troublesom or offensive the latter being so exceeding moderate that it doth not so much as check the growth and flourishing of the Trees and Plants which is occasioned either by reason of its having the great Body of the Continent to the Westward of it and by consequence the North-West Wind which always blows contrary to the Sun and is the freezing Wind as the North-East is with us in Europe or else from the
as Brazil Ebony and the like Cassia Cinnamon Cotton Pepper Tobacco Indico Ginger Potatoes Pine-Apples and Sugar-Canes grow likewise there in great plenty and a certain living or sensible Plant esteemed one of the admirablest rarities in the World which as soon as touch'd with the hand falls down and the Leaves run together as if they were suddenly withered but so soon as the hand is removed and the party gone it presently rises up and flourisheth again from whence it is called by some The Chaste Plant in regard it will not endure to be touched without expressing its resentments of its injury There are not many venomous Creatures Venomous Creatures to be found in this Island nor in any of the Caribbees but yet there are many Snakes and Serpents of many colours and forms some whereof are nine or ten foot long and near as big as a Man's thigh one whereof being killed a whole Hen feathers and all were found in her belly besides a dozen Eggs upon which the Hen was sitting when the Serpent seized her which shews them to be very large notwithstanding they are not poysonous but pleasure the inhabitants by freeing their Houses from Rats and other such like Vermine which they kill and devour There is another sort of Serpent above an Ell long and not above an Inch about which feed upon Frogs and Birds and are in colour of so lovely green that they are very delightful to the eye But there are two sorts of Snakes that are very hurtful and dangerous the first is gray on the back and feels soft like Velvet the other is either yellow or red very dreadful to look on their heads being flat and broad and their jaws exceeding wide and armed with eight or ten teeth as sharp as Needles from whence they produce their poyson which lies in little purses near the roots of their teeth they do not chew their Food but swallow it down whole for if they should the inhabitants say they would poyson themselves they are so exceeding venomous that if a man chance to be hurt by them if help be not immediately had the wound in two hours proves incurable nor have they any other vertue that deserves commendation but this they never hurt any man which doth not first molest them A DESCRIPTION OF THE Islands of BERMVDAS OR THE SUMMER-ISLANDS EAst of Virginia and Carolina which is a part of Florida lies the Isles of Bermudas so called from John Bermudas by whom they were first discovered or the Summer-Islands as they are likewise sometimes called from the Shipwreck which Sir George Summers an English-man suffered upon that Coast they are a great multitude of Isles being no less than 400 in number as some affirm that lie distant 1600 Leagues from England from Madera 1000 from Hispaniola 400 and from Carolina which is the nearest part of land about 300 Leagues AESTIVARUM INSULAE â— BARMUDAS Lat. 32 D 25 m 3300 miles from London 500 from Roanoke in Virginia by R. Morden A. Sands Fort B. Warwick Fort C. Davers Fort D. Cavandish F. E. Pagets Fort F. Smiths Fort G. Pembrak F. H. Kings Castle I. Charles F. K. Tuckers Tom. L Smiths I. Circasoltitium aestirum Anno 16â—6 solvere ex his Insulis quinque viri in Schapha superne aperta trium doliorum majorum capacitatis et post septem hebdomadarum navigationuÌ„ omnes incolumes in Hiberniam appulerunt quale ab hominum memoria vix accidiss creditur The biggest of these Isles is called St. Georges St. Georges and is about five or six Leagues long and in the broadest place not a League broad all the rest being much less The whole cluster do together form a body much like a Crescent and inclose several very good Ports the chief whereof are those of the Great Sound Harrington's Inlet South-hampton and Pagets which with their Forts of Dover and Warwick take their names from the several Noblemen that have been concerned as Adventurers The Earth in those Isles is exceeding fertile yielding two Crops every Year Fertility which they generally gather in about the Months July and December They have several sorts of excellent Fruits Fruits as Oranges Dates Mulberries both white and red in the Trees whereof breed abundance of Silk-worms which produce great plenty of that Commodity and Tobacco there has been found some Pearl and Amber-grease They have likewise there plenty of Tortoise their flesh being counted there very delicious they have good store of Hogs and great variety of Fowls and Birds amongst which are Cranes and a sort of Sea-Fowl which breeds in holes like our Rabits and such is the fruitfulness and the delightful verdure wherein these Isles always appear that Summers seemed to take pleasure in his Shipwreck and neglecting his return for England endeavoured with the assistance of Sir Thomas Gates to settle a Plantation there At their first coming ashore they found themselves supplied by a vast variety of Fowl which were taken without difficulty no less than one thousand of one kind somewhat bigger than a Pigeon being caught by them in two or three hours space this sort of Fowl lay speckled Eggs as large as Hens on the Sand and this they do every day without being frighted though Men sit down by them The greatest inconveniency that attends the place is their want of fresh Water there is none for their occasions but what is to be found in Wells Pits there being neither Fountain nor Stream in all these Isles The Sky is almost continually serene and clear and the Air Air. so exceeding temperate and healthy that it is rare to hear of a Man's dying of any other distemper than that of Old Age which has occasioned many to remove from England thither barely for the enjoyment of a long and healthful Life and when they have continued there for any considerable time they are exceeding fearful of removing out of so good an Air lest it should hasten their removal to the grave However when the Sky is at any time darkened with Clouds it Thunders and Lighten and the Weather proves exceeding stormy and tempestuous the Wind sometimes rather thundering than blowing from every quarter for forty eight hours together The North and North-West Winds cause Winter in December January and February which is however so very moderate that young Birds and Fruits and other Concomitants of the Spring are seen there in those Months The Isle of St. Georges which is the biggest and of more fame than all the rest and to which the name of Bermudas is more generally given is situated in thirty two Degrees and thirty Minutes of North-Latitude No venomous Beasts Beasts are to be found in this Island neither will they live if brought thither their Spiders are no way poysonous but are of sundry and various colours and in hot weather make their Webs so exceeding strong that the small Birds are sometimes entangled and caught therein There grows in this Island
West other Mountains prevented their sight and the exceeding Coldness prevented further Discovery and compelled them to a speedy return The same Gentleman at another time when he went to make what Discovery he could of the Countrey met with another sort of Indians who were Enemies to the Christians yet venturing amongst them and presenting them with some small Trifles of Glass and Metals found them very kind to him and would fain have obliged him to have setled amongst them by proposing a Match between him and their King's or some other Great Man's Daughter whom he should best fancy nor could he wave their Courtesie nor obtain leave to depart without a Promise of returning again within six Months And South-west from them he found a Nation differing in Government from all the other Indians that inhabit those Parts being rather Slaves than Subjects to their King who was a very grave Man and courteous to Strangers yet horrid barbarous in his Superstition that whilst this Gentleman was there he sent three Youths to kill as many young Women of their Enemies as they could meet withal to serve his Son who was then newly dead in the other World They were not long before they returned with Skins torn off the Head and Faces of several young Girls which they laid at the Feet of their King who received them as the most acceptable Presents CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Whereas by Our Letters Patents bearing date the Twenty Fourth Day of March in the Five and Twentieth Year of Our Reign We were graciously pleased to give unto our right Trusty and right Well-beloved Couzen and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon Our High Chancellour of England Our right Trusty right entirely Beloved Couzen Counsellour George Duke of Albemarl Master of Our Horse Our right Trusty and Well-beloved William now Earl of Craven Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellour Anthony Lord Chancellour of our Exchequer Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellour Sir George Carteret Knight and Baronet Vice-Chamberlain of Our Houshold Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Sir John Colleton Knight and Barronet and Sir William Berkley Knight all that Territory Province or Tract of Ground called Carolina situate lying and being within our Dominions of America extending from the North end of that Island called Luke-Island which lyeth in the Southern Virginia Seas within six and thirty deg of Northern Latitude and to the West as far as the River of St. Matthias which Bordereth upon the Coast of Florida and within one and thirty deg of Southern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South Seas aforesaid Now know ye that We at the humble Request of the said Grantees in the aforesaid Letters Patents named and as a farther mark of Our particular Favour towards them We are graciously pleased to enlarge Our said Grant unto them according to the Bounds and Limits hereafter specified and in Favour to the Pious and Noble purpose of the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have Given Granted and Confirmed and by this Our present Charter for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give Grant and Confirm unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns at that Province Territories or Tract of Land situate lying and being within Our Dominions of America aforesaid extending North and Eastward as far as the North end of Carah-Tuck River or Inlett upon a straight Westerly Line to Wianoacke Creek which lyeth within or about thirty six deg thirty min. of Northern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South-Seas and South and Westward as far as thirty nine deg inclusive Northern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South Seas together with all and singular Ports Harbours Bays Rivers and Islets belonging unto the Province and Territory aforesaid and also all the Soil Lands Fields Woods Mountains Fenns Lakes Rivers Bays Islets situated or being within the Bounds or Limits last before mentioned with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish Whales Sturgeons and all the Royal Fishes in the Seas Bays Islets and Rivers within the Premises and the Fish therein taken together the Royalty of the Sea upon the Coast within the Limits aforesaid And moreover all Veins Mines and Quarries as well discovered as not discovered of Gold Silver Gems and Precious Stones and all other whatsoever be it of Stones Marble or any other thing whatsoever found or to be found within the Province Territory Isles and Limits aforesaid And furthermore the Patronage and Advowsons of all the Churches and Chappels which as Christian Religion shall encrease within the Province Territory Isles Islets and Limits aforesaid shall happen hereaf-to be Erected together with Licence and Power to Build and Found Churches and Chappels and Oratories in convenient and fit places within the said Bounds and Limits and to cause them to be dedicated and consecrated according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of our Kingdom of England together with all and singular the like and as ample right Jurisdictions Priviledges Prerogatives Royalties Liberties Immunities and Franchises of what kind soever within the Territories Isles Islets and Limits aforesaid to have Use Exercise and enjoy the same as amply and fully and in as ample manner as any Bishop of Durham in our Kingdom of England ever heretofore had held used or enjoyed or of right ought or could have use or enjoy and them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns we do by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors make create and constitute the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the said Province or Territory and of all other the Premisses saving always the Faith Allegiance and Sovereign Dominions due to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the same to have hold possess and enjoy the said Province Territories Isles Islets and all and singular of them the Premisses unto them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns for ever to be holden of Us Our Heirs and Successors as of our Manor of Eastgreen within Our County of Kent in free and common Soccage and not in Capite nor by by Knight-Service yielding and paying a parly to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the same a fourth part of all Gold and Silver Oâ—r which within the Limits hereby granted shall from time to time happen to be found over and beside the yearly Rent of twenty Marks and the fourth part of the Gold and Silver Oar in and by the said recited Letter Patents reserved and payable And that the Province or Territory hereby granted and described may be dignified with as large Titles and Priviledges as any other Part of our Dominions and Territories in that Region Know ye that We of our further Grace certain Knowledge and meer
these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Grant and Confirm unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full and absolute Licence Power and Authority that they the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns from time to time hereafter for ever at his and their Will and Pleasure may Alien Grant Demise or Enfeoff the Premises or any part or parcel thereof to him or them that shall be willing to Purchase the same and to such Person or Persons as they shall think fit To have and to hold to them the said Person or Persons their Heirs of Assigns in the Fee-simple or Fee-tail or for term of Life or Lives or Years to be held of them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and not immediately of Us Our Heirs and Successors And to the same Person or Persons and to all and every of them We do Give and Grant by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors Licence and Authority and Power that such Person or Persons may have and take the Premises or any parcel thereof of the said Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and the same to hold to themselves their Heirs or Assigns in what estate of Inheritance soever in Fee-simple or in Fee-tail or otherwise as to them and the said Earl of Clarendon their Heirs and Assigns shall seem expedient The Statute of the Parliament of Edward Son of King Henry heretofore King of England Our Predecessor commonly called the Statute of Quia Emptores Terrarum or any other Statutes Act Ordinance Use Law Customs or any other Matter Cause or Thing heretofore Published or Provided to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding and because many Persons born or Inhabiting in the said Province for their Deserts and Services may expect to be capable of marks of Honour and Favour which in respect of the great distance cannot be conferred by Us Our Will and Pleasure therefore is and We do by these Presents Give and Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full Power and Authority to give and confer unto and upon such of the Inhabitants of the said Province or Territory as they shall think do or shall merit the same such Marks of Favour and Titles of Honour as they shall think fit so as those Titles of Honour be not the same as are enjoyed by and conferred upon any of the Subjects of this Our Kingdom of England And further also We do by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors Give and Grant by these to them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full Power Liberty and Licence to Erect Raise and Build within the said Province and Places aforesaid or any other part or parts thereof such and so many Forts Fortresses Castles Cities Boroughs Towns Villages and other Fortifications whatsoever and the same or any of them to fortifie and furnish with Ordnance Powder Shot and Arms and all other Weapons Ammunition and Habiliments of War offensive and defensive as shall be thought fit and convenient for the welfare and safety of the said Province or places of any parts thereof and the same or any of them from time to time as occasion shall require dismantle disfurnish demolish and put down and also to place constitute and appoint in or over all or any of the said Castles Forts Fortifications Cities Towns or Places aforesaid Governours Deputy-Governours Magistrates Sheriffs and other Officers Civil and Military as to them shall seem meet and to the said Cities Towns Boroughs Villages or any other place or places within the said Province or Territory to grant Letters or Charters of Incorporation with all Liberties Franchises and Priviledges requisite and usual or to be within any Corporation within this Our King of England granted or belonging And in the same Cities Boroughs Towns and other places to constitute erect and appoint such and so many Markets Marts and Fairs as shall in that behalf be thought fit and necessary And further also to make and erect in the Province or Territory aforesaid or any parts thereof so many Mannors with such Seignories as to them shall seem meet and convenient and every of the said Mannors to hold and to have a Court-Baron with all things whatsoever which to a Court-Baron doth belong and to have and to hold Views of Frank-pledge and Courts-Leet for the conservation of the peace and better government of those Parts with such Limits Jurisdictions Precincts as by the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c or their Heirs shall be appointed for that purpose with all things whatsoever which to a Court-Leet or a View of Frank-pledge belong the same Courts to be holden by Stewards to be deputed and authorized by the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. or their Heirs or by the Lords other Mannors and Leets for the time being when the same shall be erected and because that in so remote a Country and situate among so many Barbarous Nations the Invasion as well of Savages as other Enemies Pirates and Robbers may probably be seared Therefore we have as for Us our Heirs and Successours given power by these presents unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns by themselves or their Captains or other Officers to Levy Muster and Train all sorts of Men of what condition soever born whether in the said Province or elsewhere for the time being and to make War and to pursue the Enemies aforesaid as well by Sea as by Land yea even without the Limits of the said Province and by God's assistance to vanquish and take them and being taken to put them to death by the Laws of War and to save them at their pleasure and to do all and every thing which to the Charge and Office of a Captain-General of any Army belongs or hath accustomed to belong as fully and freely as any Captain-General of an Army hath ever had the same Also Our Will and Pleasure is and by this Our Charter We do give unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full Power and Authority in cause of Rebellion Tumults or Sedition if any should happen which God forbid either upon the Land within in the Province aforesaid or upon the main Sea in making a Voyage thither or returning from thence by him and themselves their Captains Deputies or Officers to be authorized under his or their Seals for that purpose to whom also for Us Our Heirs and Successours We do give and grant by these presents full power and authority to exercise Martial Laws against mutinous and seditious persons of these parts such as shall refuse to submit themselves to their Government or shall refuse to serve in the Wars or shall flie to the Enemy or shall forsake their Colours or Ensigns to be loyterers or straglers otherwise howsoever offending