of America which together with Virginia Mary land and Nova-scotia were by the Indians called by one name Wingadacoa after the discovery by Sir Walter Rawleigh they were named Virginia and so remained untiil King James divided the Countrey into Provinces New-England then is all that tract of land that lyes between the Northerly latitudes of 40 and 46 that is from De-la-ware-Bay to New-found-land some will have it to be in latitude from 41 to 45. in King Jame's Letters Patents to the Council of Plimouth in Devonshire from 40 to 48 of the same latitude it is judged to be an Island surrounded on the North with the spacious River of Canada on the South with Mahegan or Hudsons River having their rise as it is thought from two great lakes not far off one another the Sea lyes East and South from the land and is very deep some say that the depth of the Sea being measured with line and plummet seldom exceeds two or three miles excâ—pt in some places near the Swevian-shores and about Pontus observed by Pliny Sir Francis Drake threw out 7 Hogsheads of line near Porto-bello and sound no bottom but whether this be true or no or that they were deceived by the Currants carrying away their lead and line this is certainly true that there is more Sea in the Western than the Eastern Hemisphere on the shore in more places than one at spring-tides that is at the full or new of the moon the Sea riseth 18 foot perpendicular the reaâ—on of this great flow of waters I refer to the â—earned onely by the way I shall acquaint you â—ith two reasons for the ebbing and flowâ—ng of the Sea the one delivered in Common conference the other in a Sermon at Boston in the Massachusets-Bay by an eminent man The first was that God and his spirit â—oving upon the waters caused the motion â—he other that the spirit of the waters gathered â—he waters together as the spirit of Christ gathered Souls The shore is Rockie with high cliffs â—aving a multitude of considerable Harâ—ours many of which are capacious â—nough for a Navy of 500 sail one of a â—housand the Countrie within Rockie and mountanious full of tall wood onâ— stately mountain there is surmounting the 〈◊〉 about four score mile from the Sea The description of it you have in my rarities of New-England between the mountains are many ample rich and pregnant valleys as â—ver eye beheld besâ—t on each side with variety of goodly Trees the grass man-high unmowed uneaten and uselâ—sly withering within these valleys are spacious lakes or ponds well stored with Fish and Beavers the original of all the great Rivers in the Countrie of which there are many with lesser streams wherein are an infinite of fish manifesting the goodness of the soil which is black red-clay gravel sand loom and very deep in some places as in the valleys and swamps which are low grounds and bottoms infinitely thick set with Trees and Bushes of all sorts for the most part others having no other shrub or Tree growing but spruse under the shades whereof you may freely walk two or three mile together being goodly large Trees and convenient for masts and sail-yards The whole Countrie produceth springs in abundance replenished with excellent waters having all the properties ascribed to the best in the world Swift is' t in pace light poiz'd to look in clear And quick in bâ—iling which esteemed were Such qualities as rightly understood Withouten these no water could be good One Spring there is at Black-point in the Province of Main coming out of muddy-clay that will colour a spade as if hatcht with silver it is purgative and cures scabs and Itch c. The Mountains and Rocky Hills are richly surnished with mines of Lead Sâ—lver Copper Tin and divers sorts of minerals â—ranching out even to their summits where â—n small Crannies you may meet with threds of perfect silver yet have the English no â—naw to open any of them whether out of â—gnorance or fear of bringing a forraign Enemy upon them or like the dog in the manger to keep their Soveraign from parâ—aking of the benefits who certainly may claim an interest in them as his due being eminently a gift proceeding from divine bounty to him PLACE = marg Isa 45.3 no person can pretend interest in Gold Silver or Copper by the law of Nations but the Soveraign Prince but the subjects of our King have a right to mines discovered in their own Lands and inheritances So as that every tenth Tun of such Oar is to be paid to the proprieters of such lands and not to the state if it be not a mine-Royal if it prove to be a mine-Royal every fifth Tun of all such Oar as shall hold Gold or Silver worth refining is to be rendered to the King The learned Judges of our Kingdom have long since concluded that alihough the Gold or Silver conteined in the base mettals of a mine in the land of a Subjâ—ct be of less value than the baser mettal yet if the Gold or Silver do countervail the charge of refining it or be more worth than the base mettal spent in refining it that then it is a mine-Royal and as well the base mettal as the Gold anâ— Silver in it belongs by prerogative to thâ— Crown The stones in the Countrey are for thâ— most mettle-stone free-stone pebble slate none that will run to lime of which they have great want of the slate you may make Tables easie to be split to the thickness of an inch or thicker if you please and long enough for a dozen men to sit at Pretious stones there are too but if you desire to know further of them see the Rarities of New-England onely let me add this observation by the way that Crystal set in the Sun taketh fire and setteth dry Tow or brown Paper on fire held to it There is likewise a sort of glittering sand which is altogether as good as the glassie powder brought from the Indies to dry up Ink on paper newly written The climate is reasonably temperate hotter in Summer and colder in Winter than with us agrees with our Constitutions better than hotter Climates these are limbecks to our bodies forraign heat will extract the inward and adventitions beat consume the natural so much more heat any man receives outwardly from the heat of the Sun so much more wants he the same inwardly which is one reason why they are able to receive more and larger draughts of Brandy the like strong spirits than in England without offence Cold is less tolerable than heat this a friend to nature that an enemy Many are of opinion that the greatest enemies of life consisting of heat and moisture is cold and dryness the extremity of cold is more easie to be endured than extremity of heat the violent sharpness of winter than the fiery raging of Summer To conclude they are both bad too much heat brings a hot
or fifty pounds a year and is a quarter of a mile over The River Mistick runs through the right side of the Town and by its near approach to Charles-River in one place makes a very narrow neck where stands most part of the Town the market place not far from the waterside is surrounded with houses forth of which issue two streets orderly built and beautified with Orchards and Gardens their meeting-house stands on the North-side of the market having a little hill behind it there belongs to this Town one thousand and two hundred Acres of arable four hundred head of Cattle and as many Sheep these also provide themselves Farms in the Country Up higher in Charles-River west-ward is a broad Bay two miles over into which runs Stony River and Maddy-River Towards the South-west in the middle of the Bay is a great Oyster bank towards the North-west is a Creek upon the shore is situated the village of Medford it is a mile and half from Charles-town Aâ— the bottom of the Bay the River begins to be narrower half a quarter of a mile broad by the North-side of the Râ—ver is New town three miles from Charles-town a league and half by water it was first intended for a City the neatest and best compacted Town having many fair structures and handsom contrived streets the Inhabitants rich they have many hundred Acres of land paled with one common fence a mile and half long and store of Cattle it is now called Cambridge where is a Colledg for Students of late it stretcheth from Charles-River to the Southern part of Merrimach-River Half a mile thence on the same side of the Rvier is Water-town built upon one of the branches of Charles-River very fruitful and of large extent watered with many pleasant springs and small Rivulets the Inhabitants live scatteringly Within half a mile is a great pond divided between the two Towns a mile and half from the Town is a fall of fresh waters which conveigh themselves into the Ocean through Charles-River a little below the fall of waters they have a wair to catch fish wherein they take store of Basse Shades Alwives Frost fish and Smelts in two tides they have gotten one hundred thousand of these fishes They have store of Cattle and Sheep and near upon two thousand Acres of arable land Ships of small burden may come up to these Towns We will now return to Charles-town again where the River Mistick runs on the North-side of the Town that is the right side as before said where on the Northwest-side of the River is the Town of Mistick three miles from Charles-town a league and half by water a scattered village at the head of this River are great and spacious ponds full of Alewives in the spring-time the notedst place for this sort of fish On the West of this River is Mâ—rchant Craddock's plantation where he impaled a park Upon the same River and on the North-side is the Town of Malden The next Town is Winnisimet a mile from Charles-town the River only parting them this is the last Town in the still bay of Massachusets Without Pullin-point six miles North-cast from Winnisimet is Cawgust or Sagust or Sangut now called Linn situated at the bottom of a Bay near a River which upon the breaking up of winter with a furious Torrent vents it self into the Sea the Town consists of more than one hundred dwelling-houses their Church being built on a level undefended from the North-west wind is made with steps descending into the Earth their streets are straight and but thin of houses the people most husbandmen At the end of the Sandy beach is a neck of land called Nahant it is six miles in circumference Black William an Indian Duke out of his generosity gave this to the English At the mouth of the River runs a great Creek into a great marsh called Rumney-marsh which is four miles long and a mile broad this Town hath the benefit of minerals of divers kinds Iron Lead one Iron mill store of Cattle Arable land and meadow To the North-ward of Linn is Marvil or Marble-head a small Harbour the shore rockie upon which the Town is built consisting of a few scattered houses here they have stages for fishermen Orchards and Gardens half a mile within land good pastures and Arable land Four miles North of Marble-head is situated New-Salem whose longitude is 315 degrees and latitude 42 degrees 35 minutes upon a plain having a River on the South and another on the North it hath two Harbours Winter Harbour and Summer Harbour which lyeth within Darbie's sort they have store of Meadow and Arable in this Town are some very rich Merchants Upon the Northern Cape of the Massachusets that is Cape-Aun a place of fishing is situated the Town of Glocester where the Massachusets Colony first set down but Salem was the first Town built in that Colony here is a Harbour for Ships To the North-ward of Cape-Aun is Wonasquam a dangerous place to sail by in stormie weather by reason of the many Rocks and soaming breakers The next Town that presents it self to view is Ipswich situated by a fair River whose first rise is from a Lake or Pond twenty mile up betaking its course through a hideous Swamp for many miles a Harbour for Bears it issueth forth into a large Bay where they fish for Whales due East over against the Islands of Sholes a great place of fishing the mouth of that River is barr'd it is a good haven-town their meeting-house or Church is beautifully built store of Orchards and Gardens land for husbandry and Cattle Wenham is an inland Town very well watered lying between Salem and Ipswich consisteth most of men of judgment and experience in re rustica well stored with Cattle At the first rise of Ipswich-River in the highest part of the land near the head springs of many considerable Rivers Shashin one of the most considerable branches of Merrimach River and also at the rise of Mistick River and ponds full of pleasant springs is situated Wooburn an inland-Town four miles square beginning at the end of Charles-town bounds Six miles from Ipswich North-east is Rowley most of the Inhabitants have been Clothiers Nine miles from Salem to the North is Agowamine the best and spaciousest place for a plantation being twenty leagues to the Northward of New-Plimouth Beyond Agowamin is situated Hampton near the Sea-coasts not far from Merrimach-River this Town is like a Flower-deluce having two streets of houses wheeling off from the main body thereof they have great store of salt Marshes and Cattle the land is fertil but full of Swamps and Rocks Eight miles beyond Agowamin runneth the delightful River Merrimach or Monumach it is navigable for twenty miles and well stored with fish upon the banks grow stately Oaks excellent Ship timber not interiour to our English On the South-side of Merrimach-River twelve miles from Ipswich and near upon the wide venting streams
thereof is situated Newherrie the houses are scattering well stored with meadow upland and â—rable and about four hundred head of Cattle Over against Newberrie lyes the Town of Salisbury where a constant Ferry is kept the River being here half a mile broad the Town scatteringly built Hâ—rd upon the River of Shashin where Merrimach receives this and the other branch into its body is seated Andover stored with land and Cattle Beyond this Town by the branch of Merrimach-River called Shashin lyeth Haverhill a Town of large extent about ten miles in length the inhabitants Husbandmen this Town is not far from Salisbury Over against Haverhill lyeth the Town of Malden which I have already mentioned In a low level upon a fresh River a branch of Merrimach is seated Concord the first inland Town in Massachusets patent well stored with fish Salmon Dace Alewive Shade c. abundance of fresh maish and Cattle this place is subject to bitter â—â—orms The next Town is Sudbury built upon the same River where Concord is but further up to this Town likewise belongs great store of fresh marshes and Arable land and they have many Cattle it lyeth low by reason whereof it is much indammaged with flouds In the Centre of the Countrey by a great pond side and not far from Woeburn is situated Reading it hath two mills a saw-mill and a Corn-mill and is well stockt with Cattle The Colony is divided into four Counties the first is Suffolk to which belongs Dorchester Roxbury Waymouth Hingham Dedham Braintre Sittuate Hull Nantascot Wisagusset The second County is Middlesex to this belongs Charles-town Watertown Cambridge Concord Sudbury Woeburn Reading Malden Mistick Medford Winnisimet and Marble-head To the third County which is Essex belongs New-Salem Linn Ipswich New-Berry Rowley Glocester Wenham and Andover The fourth County is Northfolk to this belongs Salisbury Hampton and Haverhill In the year of our Lord 1628 Mr. John Endicot with a number of English people set down by Capt-Aun at that place called afterwards Gloster but their abiding-place was at Salem where they built a Town in 1639. and there they gathered their first Church consisting but of Seventy persons but afterwards increased to forty three Churches in joynt Communion with one another and in those Churches were about Seven thousand seven hundred and fifty Souls Mr. Endicot was chosen their first Governour The Twelfth of July Anno Dom. 1630. John Wenthorp Esq and the assistants arrived with the Patent for the Massachusets the passage of the people that came along with him in ten Vessels came to 95000 pound the Swine Goats Sheep Neat Horses cost to transport 12000 pound bâ—sides the price they cost them getting food for the people till they could clear the ground of wood amounted to 45000 pound Nails Glass and other Iron work for their meeting and dwelling houses 13000 pound Arms Powder Bullet and March together with their Artillery 22000 pound the whole sum amounts unto One hundred ninety two thousand pounds They set down first upon Nâ—ddle-Island afterwards they began to build upon the main In 1637. there were not many houses in the Town of Boston amongst which were two houses of entertainment called Ordinaries into which if a stranger went he was presently followed by one appointed to that Office who would thrust himself into his company uninvited and if he called for more drink than the Officer thought in his judgment he could soberly bear away he would presently countermand it and appoint the proportion beyond which he could not get one drop The Patent was granted to Sir Henry Rosewell Sir John Young Knight Thomas Southcoat John Humphrey John Endicot and Simon Whitecomb and to their Heirs Assigns and Associats for ever These took to them other Associats as Sir Richard Saltonstall Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey Jo. Ven Matth Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Rich. Perry Rich. Bellingham Nathaniel Wright Samuel Vasell Theophilus Eaton Thomas Goffe Thomas Adams Jo. Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins Will Vasell Will. Pinchon and George Foxcroft Matth. Craddock was ordained and constituted Governour by Patent and Thomas Goffe Deputy Governour of the said Company the rest Assistants That part of New-England granted to these fore-mentioned Gentlemen lyeth and extendeth between a great River called Monumach alias Merrimach and the often frequented Charles-River being in the bottom of a Bay called Massachusets alias Mattachusets alias Massatusets-bay and also those lands within the space of three English miles on the South part of the said Charles-River or any or every part and all the lands within three miles to the South-ward part of the Massachusets-bay and all those lands which lye within the space of three English miles to the North-ward of the River Merrimach or to the North-ward of any and every part thereof and all lands whatsoever within the limits aforesaid North and South in latitude and in breadth and length and longitude of and within all the main land there from the Atlantick and Western-Sea and Ocean on the East-part to the South-Sea on the West-part and all lands and grounds place and places soils woods and wood-groves Havens Ports Rivers Waters fishings and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the aforesaid lands and limits and every part and parcel thereof and also all Islands lying in America aforesaid in the said Seas or either of them on the Western or Eastern Coasts or parts of the said tracts of lands Also all mines and minerals as well Royal of Gold Silver as others c. With power to rule and govern both Sea and land holden of the East manner of Greenwich in Com. Kent in free and common soccage yielding and paying to the King the fifth part of the Oar of Gold and Silver which shall be found at any time This Colony is a body Corporated and Politick in fact by the name of the Governour and Company of the Mattachusets-bay in New-England That there shall be one Governour and Deputy-Governour and Eighteen Assistants of the same Company from time to time That the Governour and Deputy-Governour Assistants and all other Officers to be chosen from amongst the freemen the last Wednesday in Easter-term yearly in the general Court The Governour to take his Corporal Oath to be true and faithful to the Government and to give the same Oath to the other Officers To hold a Court once a month and any seven to be a sufficient Court And that there shall be four general Courts kept in Term time and one great general and solemn Assembly to make Laws and Ordinances So they be not contrary and repugnant to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm of England Their form of Government and what their Laws concern you may see in the ensuing Table Their Laws Concern 1 their-person 1 Magistrates Governour Assistants 1 Counfellers 2 Judges 1 of the whole Countrey 2 of each Town 2 People 1 of the whole Countrey 1 for their prorection 2 for their provision 2 of each Town concerning
drawn our she put in her hand again and felt a lump in his body as big as a half-peny loaf strongly fastned to his back and much ado she had to pull it out I found it to be a tuff bag containing stuff like liver and very heavie at one end of the bag another little bag filled with a fatty matter his gizard liver and heart wasted The Pipe or Roupe is a common disease amongst their poultry infecting one another with it I conceive it cometh of a cold moisture of the brain they will be very sleepie with it the best cure for it is Garlick and smoaking of them with dryed Hysope In September following my Arrivage in the Massachusets about the twelfth hour of the eight day I shipt my self and goods in a Bark bound to the East-ward meeting as we sailed out the Dutch Governour of New-Netherlands who was received and entertained at Boston by the Governour and Magistrates with great solemnity About nine of the clock at night we came to Salem and lay aboard all night The Ninth day we went ashore to view the Town which is a mile long and lay that night at a Merchants house The Tenth day we came from Salem about twelve of the clock back to Marble-head here we went ashore and recreated our selves with Musick and a cup of Sack and saw the Town about ten at night we returned to our Bark and lay aboard The Eleventh being Saturday and the wind contrary we came to Charles-town again about twelve of the clock we took store of Mackarel The Thirteenth being Monday we went aboard again about nine of the clock in the morning and out to Sea about Sun going down we took store of Mackarel The wind was scanty all along and in the night time we durst not bear much sail because of the Rocks and foaming breakers that lay in our way The Fourteenth day we came up with Pascataway or Pascatique where there is a large River and a fair harbour within here is seated a Colony properly belonging to the Heirs of Captain Mason sometime since of London but taken into the Colony of Massachusets by what right I will not here discuss The chiefest places of note are the Bay or Harbour North from Boston on the West-side of the Harbour are built many fair houses and so in another part called Strawberry-bank By the Harbour is an Island which of late days is filled with buildings besides there are two Towns more seated up higher upon the River the one called Dâ—ver the River-banks are clothed with stately Timber and here are two miles meadow land and arable enough the other town is called Excester At the River Pascataway begins the Province of Main having pleased our selves with the sight of Pascataway at a distance we sailed on and came to Black-point The Fifteenth day about eight of the clock at night where the next day I was shrewdly pinched with a great frost but having two or three bottles of excellent Passada and good cheer bestowed upon me I made a shift to bear it out and now we are in the Province of Main The Province of Main or the Countrey of the Troquoes heretofore called Laconia or New-Summersetshire is a Colony belonging to the Grandson of Sir Ferdinando Gorges of Ashton Phillips in the County of Sommerset the said Sir Ferdinando Gorges did expend in planting several parts of New-England above Twenty thousand pounds sterling and when he was between three and four score years of age did personally engage in our Royal Martyrs service and particularly in the Seige of Bristow and was plundered and imprisoned several times by reason whereof he was discountenanced by the pretended Commissioners for forraign plantations and his Province incroached upon by the Massachusets Colony who assumed the Government thereof His Majestie that now Reigneth sent over his Commissioners to reduce them within their bounds and to put Mr. Gorges again into possession But there falling out a contest about it the Commissioners settled it in the Kings name until the business should be determined before his Majestie and gave Commissions to the Judge of their Courts and the Justices to Govern and Act according to the Laws of England by such Laws of their own as were not repugnant to them But as soon as the Commissioners were returned for England the Massachusets enter the province in a hostile manner with a Troop of Horse and Poot and turn'd the Judge and his Assistants off the Bench Imprisoned the Major or Commander of the Militia threatned the Judge and some others that were faithful to Mr. Gorges interests I could discover many other foul proceedings but for some reasons which might be given I conceive it not convenient to make report thereof to vulgar ears quae supra nos nihil ad nos Onely this I could wish that there might be some consideration of the great losses charge and labour which hath been sustained by the Judge and some others for above thirty years in upholding the rights of Mr. Gorge and his Sacred Majesties Dominion against a many stubborn and elusive people Anno Dom. 1623. Mr. Robert Gorge Sir Ferdinando Gorges brother had for his good service granted him by Patent from the Council of Plimouth all that part of the Land commonly called Massachusiack situated on the North-side of the Bay of Massachusets Not long after this Sir Ferdinando Gorges had granted to him by Patent from the middest of Merrimack River to the great River Sagadehock then called Laconia In 1635. Capt. William Gorge Sir Ferdinandâ—'s Nephew was sent over Governour of the Province of Main then called New-Summersetshire Sir Ferdinando Gorge received a Charter-Royal from King Charles the first the third of April in the Fifttenth of his Raign granting to him all that part and portion of New-England lying and being between the River of Pascataway that is beginning at the entrance of Pascataway-harbour and so to pass up the same into the River of Newichawanoe or Neqhechewanek and thâ—â—ugh the same unto the farthest head thereof aforesaid North-eastward along the Sea-coasts for Sixty miles to Sagadehac-River to Kencheck even as far as the head thereof and up into the main land North-westward for the space of one hundred and twenty miles To these Territories are adjoyned the North half-Isle of Sholes with several other Islands it lyeth between 44 degrees and 45 of Northerly latitude The River Canada on the North-east the Sea coast South amongst many large Royalties Jurisdictions and Immunities was also granted to the said Sir Ferdinando Gorge the same Royalties priviledges and franchises as are or of right ought to be enjoyed by the Bishop of Durham in the County Palatine of Durham the planters to pay for every hundred Acres of land yearly two shillings six pence that is such land as is given to them and their Heirs for ever The Officers by Patent are a Deputy Governour a Chancellor a Treasurer a Marshal for Souldiers and Admiraltie for Sea
boiled and soused sometime in Vinegar is more grateful to the pallat About 8 of the clock at night a flame settled upon the main mast it was about the bigness of a great Candle and is called by our Seamen St. Elmes fire it comes before a storm and is commonly thought to be a Spirit if two appear they prognosticate safety These are known to the learned by the names of Castor and Pollux to the Italians by St. Nicholas and St. Hermes by the Spaniards called Corpos Santes The Ninth day about two of the clock in the afternoon we found the head of our main mast close to the cap twisted and shivered and we presently after found the fore-top-mast crackt a little above the cap So they wolled them both and about two of the clock in the morning 7 new long Boat oars brake away from our Star-board quarter with a horrid crack The Eleventh day they observed and made the Ship to be in latitude 48 degrees 46 minuts having a great Sea all night about 6 of the clock in the morning we spake with Mr. Rupe in a Ship of Dartmouth which came from Marcelloes and now is Silly N. E. by E. 34 leagues off about 9 of the clock at night we sounded and had 85 fathom water small brownish pepperie sand with a small piece of Hakes Tooth and now we are 45 leagues off the Lizard great Seas all night and now we see to the S. W. six tall Ships the wind being S. W. The Twelfth day being Whitsunday at prayer-time we found the Ships trine a foot by the stern and also the partie that was sick of the small pox now dyed whom we buried in the Sea tying a bullet as the manner is to his neck and another to his leggs turned him out at a Port-hole giving fire to a great Gun In the afternoon one Martin Jvy a stripling servant to Captain Thomas Cammock was whipt naked at the Cap-stern with a Cat with Nine tails for filching 9 great Lemmons out of the Chirurgeons Cabbin which he eat rinds and all in less than an hours time The Thirteenth day we took a Sharke a great one and hoisted him aboard with his two Companions for there is never a Sharke but hath a mate or two that is the Pilot fish or Pilgrim which lay upon his back close to a long finn the other fish some what bigger than the Pilot about two foot long called a Remora it hath no scales and sticks close for the Shâ—â—kes belly So the Whale hath the Sea-gudgeon a small fish for his mate marching before him and guiding him which I have seen likewise The Seamen divided the Sharke into quarters and made more quarter about it than the Purser when he makes five quarters of an Oxe and after they had cooked him he proved very rough Grain'd not worthy of wholesome preferment but in the afternoon we took store of Bonitoes or Spanish Dolphins a fish about the size of a large Mackarel beautified with admirable varietie of glittering colours in the water and was excellent food The Fourteenth day we spake with a Plimouth man about dinner time bound for New-found-land who having gone up west-ward sprang a leak and now bore back for Plimouth Now was Silly 50 leagues off and now many of the passengers fall sick of the small Pox and Calenture The Sixteenth Mr. Clarke who came out of the Downs with us and was bound for the Isle of Providence one of the summer Islands the Spaniards having taken it a little before though unknown to Clarke and to Captain Nathaniel Butler going Governour they now departed from us the Wind N. W. great Seas and stormie winds all night The Seventeenth day the wind at N. W. about 8 of the clock we saw 5 great Ships bound for the Channel which was to the Westward of us about two leagues off we thought them to be Flemmings here we expected to have met with Pirates but were happily deceived The One and twentieth day the wind S. by W. great Seas and Wind fu'd our courses and tryed from 5 of the clock afternoon till 4 in the morning the night being very stormie and dark we lost Mr. Gâ—odlad and his Ship who came out with us and bound for Boston in New-England The Eight and twentieth day all this while a very great grown Sea and mighty winds June the first day in the afternoon very thick foggie weather we sailed by an inchanted Island saw a great deal of filth and rubbish floating by the Ship heard Cawdimawdies Sea-gulls and Crowes Birds that alwayes frequent the shoar but could see nothing by reason of the mist towards Sun-set when we were past the Island it cleared up The Fourteenth day of June very foggie weather we sailed by an Island of Ice which lay on the Star-board side three leagues in length mountain high in form of land with Bayes and Capes like high clift land and a River pouring off it into the Sea We saw likewise two or three Foxes or Devils skipping upon it These Islands of Ice are congealed in the North and brought down in the spring-time with the Current to the banks on this side New-found-land and there stopt where they dissolve at last to water by that time we had sailed half way by it we met with a French Pickeroon Here it was as cold as in the middle of January in England and so continued till we were some leagues beyond it The Sixteenth day we sounded and found 35 fathom water upon the bank of New-found-land we cast our our hooks for Cod-fish thick foggie weather the Codd being taken on a Sanday morning the Sectaries aboard threw those their servants took into the Sea again although they wanted fresh victuals but the Sailers were not so nice amongst many that were taken we had some that were wasted Fish it is observable and very strange that fishes bodies do grow slender with age their Tails and Heads retaining their former bigness Fish of all Creatures have generally the biggest heads and the first part that begins to taint in a fish is the head The Nineteenth day Captain Thomas Cammock a near kinsman of the Earl of Warwicks now had another lad Thomas Jones that dyed of the small pox at eight of the clock at night The Twentieth day we saw a great number of Sea-bats or Owles called also flying fish they are about the bigness of a Whiting with sour tinsel wings with which they fly as long as they are wet when pursued by other fishes Here likewise we saw many Grandpisces or Herring-hogs hunting the scholes of Herrings in the afternoon we saw a great fish called the vehuella or Sword fish having a long strong and sharp finn like a Sword-blade on the top of his head with which he pierced our Ship and broke it off with striving to get loose one of our Sailers dived and brought it aboard The One and twentieth day we met with two Bristow men bound for
affairs and a Judge of the Admiraltie a Mâ—ster of Ordinance a Secretary c. Towns there are not many in this province Kittery situated not far from Pascataway is the most populous Next to that Eastward is seated by a River near the Sea Gorgiana a Majoraltie and the Metropolitan of the province Further to the Eastward is the Town of Wells Cape-Porpus Eastward of that where there is a Town by the Sea side of the same name the houses scatteringly built all these Towns have store of salt and fresh marsh with arable land and are well stockt with Cattle About eight or nine mile to the Eastward of Cape-Porpus is Winter harbour a noted place for Fishers here they have many stages Saco adjoyns to this and both make one scattering Town of large extent well stored with Cattle arable land and marshes and a Saw-mill Six mile to the Eastward of Saco forty mile from Gorgiana is seated the Town of Black-point consisting of about fifty dwelling houses and a Magazine or Dogonne scatteringly built they have store of neat and horses of sheep near upon Seven or Eight hundred much arable and marsh salt and fresh and a Corn-mill To the Southward of the point upon which are stages for fishermen lye two small Islands beyond the point North-eastward runs the River Spurwinch Four miles from Black-point one mile from Spurwinch River Eastward lyeth Richmans-Island whose longitude is 317 degrees 30 seconds and latitude 43 degrees and 34 minutes it is three mile in circumference and hath a passable and gravelly ford on the North-side between the main and the Sea at low-water here are found excellent Whetstones and here likewise are stages for fishermen Nine mile Eastward of Black-point lyeth scatteringly the Town of Casco upon a large Bay stored with Cattle Sheep Swine abundance of marsh and Arable land a Corn-mill or two with stages for fishermen Further East-ward is the Town of Kenebeck scated upon the River Further yet East-ward is Sagadehock where there are many houses scattering and all along stages for fishermen these too are stored with Cattle and Corn lands The mountains and hills that are to be taken notice of are first Acomentiens hills between Kettery and Gorgiana the high hills of Ossapey to the West-ward of Saco River where the princely Pilhanaw Ayries the white mountains to the North-ward of Black point the highest Terrasse in New-England you have the description of it in my Treatise of the rarities of New-England A Neighbour of mine rashly wandering out after some stray'd Cattle lost his way and coming as we conceived by his Relation near to the head spring of some of the branches of Black point River or Saco-River light into a Tract of land for God knowes how many miles full of delfes and dingles and dangerous precipices Rocks and inextricable difficulties which did justly daunt yea quite deter him from endeavouring to pass any further many such like places are to be met with in New-England The ponds or lakes in this province are very large and many out of which the great Rivers have their original we read of the lake Balsena that is thirty miles about here are that come very near to it stored with all sorts of fresh water fish and if you will believe report in one of them huge fishes like Whales are to be seen and some of them have fair Islands in them Twelve mile from Casco-bay and passable for men and horses is a lake called by the Indians Sebug on the brink thereof at one end is the famous Rock shap'd like a Moose-Deere or Helk Diaphanous and called the Moose-Rock Here are found stones like Crystal and Lapis Specularis or Muscovia glass both white and purple On the East-side of Black-point River upon a plain close to the Sea-bank is a pond two mile in compass fish it produceth but those very small and black and a number of Frogs and Snakes and much frequented by wild-fowl Ducks Teal and wild Swins and Geese especially spring and fall when they pass along to the Southward and return again to the North-ward where they breed The principal Rivers in the province of Main are Pascataway-River York-River Kenibunck-River near to this River clay bullets were cast up by a mineral vapour this River is by the Town of Wells Then Saco-River on the East-side of the Town the shore Rockie all along on both sides where musick echoes from several places seven miles up the River is a great fall where abundance of Salmon and Lamprons are taken at the fall a great way up the River runs upon the Rock in rupibus defendendo efficis rivos he cutteth out Rivers among the Rocks saâ—th Job of the Almighty Job 28.10 A littâ—â— above the fall is a saw-mill Then Black-pant River dâ—vided into many branches this as most of the Rivers in New-England is bar'd with a bank of Sand where the Indians take Sturgeon and Basse Spur-winck-River is next which by his near approach to Black-point-river maketh that neck of land almost an Island Further East-ward is Kenebeck-river fifty leagues off of New-Plimouth East-ward and Pechipsent famous for multitudes of mighty large Sturgeon The last river of the province East-ward is the great river Sagadehock where Sir John Pophams Colony seated themselves The chief harbours are Cape-porpus Winter harbour in which are some small Islands Black-point richmans-Richmans-Island Casco-bay the largest in the province full of Islands From Sagadehock to Nova Scotia is called the Duke of Yorkes province here Pemmaquid Montinicus Mobegan Capeanawhagen where Capt Smith fishâ— for Whales Muscataquid all fill'd with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen and have plenty of Cattle arable land and marshes Nova Scotia was sold by the Lord Starling to the French and is now wholly in their possession Now we are come to New-found-land which is over against the gulf of St. Lawrence an Island near as spacious as Ireland and lyeth distant from the Continent as far as England is from the nearest part of France and near half the way between Ireland and Virginia its longitude is 334 degrees 20 seconds and North latitude 46 degrees 30 minutes or as others will 53 minutes The longitude of places are uncertainly reported but in latitudes most agree Longitude is the distance of the meridian of any place from the meridian which passeth over the Isles of Azores where the beginning of longitude is said to be The meridian is a great circle dividing the Equinoctial at right Angles into two equal parts passing also through both the Poles and the Zenith to which circle the Sun coming twice every 24 hours maketh the middle of the day and the middle of the night Every place hath a several meridian but they all meet in the poles of the world Latitude is counted from the Equinoctial to the end of 30 degrees on each side thereof The Equinoctial is a great circle imagined in the Heavens also dividing the heavens into two equal parts and
when Wine in their guts is at full Tide they quarrel fight and do one another mischief which is the conclusion of their drunken compotations When the day of payment comes they may justly complain of their costly sin of drunkenness for their shares will do no more than pay the reckoning if they save a Kental or two to buy shooâ—s and stockins shirts and wastcoats wâ—th 't is well otherwayes they must enter into the Merchants books for such things as they stand in need off becoming thereby the Merchants slaves when it riseth to a big sum are constrained to mortgage their plantation if they have any the Merchant when the time is expired is sure to seize upon their plantation and stock of Cartle turning them out of house and home poor Creatures â—o look out for a new habitation in some remote place where they begin the world again The lavish planters have the same fate partaking with them in the like bad husbandry of these the Merchant buys Beef Pork Pease Wheat and Indian Corn and sâ—lls it again many times to the fishermen Of the same nature are the people in the Dekes province who not long before I left the Countrey petitioned the Governour and Magistrates in the Massachusets to take them into their Government Birds of a feather will ralley together Anno Dom. 1671. The year being now well spent and the Government of the province turned topsiâ—â—vy being heartily weary and expecting the approach of winter I took my leave of my friends at Black-paint And on the 28 of August being Monday I shipt my self and my goods aboard of a shallâ—p bound for Boston towards Sun set â—â—e wind being contrary we put into Gibbâ—ns his Island a small Island in Winner harbour â—bout two leagues from black-point West-ward here we stayed till the 30. day being Wednesday about nine of the clock we set sail and towards Sun-set came up with Gorgiana the 31 day being Thursday we put into Cape-Ann-harbour about Suâ—â—â—t September the 1 being Saturday in the morning before day we seâ— sail and came to Boston about three of the clock in the afternoon where I â—ound the Inhabitants exceedingly â—fflâ—cted with griping of the guts and Heaver and Ague and bloudy Flux The Eight day of October being Wednesday I boarded the new-Supply of Boston 1â—0 Tun a Ship of better saâ—l than defence her Guns being small and for salutation only the Master Capt. Fairweather her sailers 16. and as many passengers Towards night I returned to Boston again the next day being Thanksgiving day on Fryday the Tenth day we weighed Anchor and fell down to Hull The 12 and 13 day about 20 leagues from Cape-Sable a bitter storm took us beginning at seven of the clock at night which put us in terrible fear of being driven upon the Cape or the Island of Sables where many a tall ship hath been wrackt November the One and twenty about two of the clock afternoon we saw within kenning before us thick clouds which put us in hope of land the Boson brings out his purse into which the passengers put their good will then presently he nails it to the main-mast up go the boyes to the mainmast-top sitting there like so many Crowes when after a while one of them cryes out land which was glad tidings to the wearied passengers the boyes descend and the purse being taken from the mast was distributed amongst them the lad that first descryed land having a double share about three of the clock Scilly was three leagues off The Four and twentieth day we came to Deal from thence the 25. to Lee the 26. being Sunday we steemed the Tide to Gravesend about two of the clock afternoon The 27 we came up with Wollich where I landed and refresht my self for that night next day I footed it four or five miles to Bexley in Kent to visit a near kinsman the next day proved rainie the 30 day being Fryday my kinsman accommodated me with a Horse and his man to Greenwich where I took a pair of Oars and went aboard our Ship then lying before Radeliff here I lay that night Next day being Saturday and the first of December I cleared my goods shot the bridge and landed at the Temple about seven of the clock at night which makes my voyage homeward 7 weeks and four days and from my first setting out from London to my returning to London again Eight years Six moneths and odd days Now by the merciful providence of the Almighty having perform'd Two voyages to the North-east parts of the Western-world I am safely arrived in my Native Countrey having in part made good the French proverb Travail where thou canst but dye where thou oughtest that is in thine own Countrey FINIS Chronological OBSERVATIONS OF AMERICA From the year of the World to the year of Christ 1673. LONDON Printed for Giles Widdowes at the Green 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Paul's-Church-yard 1674. The Preface THE Terrestrial World is by our learned Geographers divided into four parts Europe Asia Africa and America so named from Americus Vespucius the Florentine Seven years after Columbus although Columbus and Cabota deserved rather the honour of being Godfathers to it notwithstanding by this name it is now known to us but was utterly unknown to the Ancient Europeans before their times I will not say to the Africans and Asians for Plato in his Timeus relateth of a great Island called Atlantis and Philo the Jew in his book De mundo that it was over-flowen with water by reason of a mighty Earthquake The like happened to it 600 years before Plato thus was the Atlantick Ocean caused to be a Sea if you will believe the same Philosopher who flourished 366 years before the Birth of our Saviour America is bounded on the South with the streight of Magellan where there are many Islands distinguished by an interflowing Bay the West with the pacifique Sea or mare-del-zur which Sea runs towards the North separateing it from the East parts of Asia on the East with the Atlantick or our western Ocean called mare-del-Nort and on the North with the Sea that separateth it from Groveland thorow which Seas the supposed passage to China lyeth these North parts as yet are but barely discovered by our voyagers The length of this new World between the streights of Anian and Magellan is 2400 German miles in breadth between Cabo de fortuna near the Anian streights is 1300 German nâ—tles About 18 leagues from Nombre de dios on the South-Sea lyeth Panama a City having three fair Menasteriâ—s in it where the narrowest part of the Countrey is it is much less than Asia and far bigger than Europe and as the rest of the world divided into Islands and Continent the Continent supposed to contain about 1152400000 Acres The Native people I have spoken of already The discoverers and Planters of Colonies especially in the Northeast parts together with a continuation of the proceedings of the English in