JACOBUS II ds D. G. Angliae Scotiae Fran et Hiber REX Fidei Defensor etc. DIEU ET MON DROIT F. H. van Hove Sculp THE Present State Of His Majesties Isles and Territories IN AMERICA VIZ. Iamaica Barbadoes S. Christophers Mevis Antego S. Vincent Dominica New-Iersey Pensilvania Monserat Anguilla Bermudas Carolina Virginia New-England Tobago New-Found-Land Mary-Land New-York With New Maps of every Place Together with Astronomical TABLES Which will serve as a constant Diary or Calendar for the use of the English Inhabitants in those Islands from the Year 1686 to 1700. Also a Table by which at any time of the Day or Night here in England you may know what Hour it is in any of those parts And how to make Sun-Dials fitting for all those places Licens'd July 20. 1686. Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed by H. Clark for Dorman Newman at the Kings-Arms in the Poultrey 1687. TO HIS SACRED MAJESTY JAMES II. King of England Scotland France and Ireland c. Dread Sovereign THIS Treatise or Description of Your Majesties Dominions and Territories in America humbly presents itself unto Your Royal Patronage by the hands of Your Majesties most humble and obedient Subject and Servant Richard Blome THE PREFACE TO THE READER THE ensuing Discourse contains an Account of the Present State of His Majesties Dominions on the Coast of America wherein thou wilt find a considerable Discovery of the growing Greatness of those distant Colonies which by the most clement and wise Administration of the Monarchs of Great Britan have already arrived to a Figure so Considerable as may attract the Emulation of the Neighbouring Potentates the Golden Peru hardly affording so great a Treasure to the Catholick Crown as these most Flourishing Plantations produce to the Crown of England The vast Returns which the Merchants of London and other Parts of His Majesties Dominions make from those Parts are a sufficient Encouragement for any one that would study the Improvement of his Fortunes to look into the advantages of that Extensive Traffick which those Regions produce And since our Neighbours have not been wanting in the most Remote Courts to represent their Foreign Plantations as vast and mighty Accessions to their Government and to make their State look the more Considerable in the Eyes of distant Monarchs Why may not an Essay towards the Delineation of the English Territories in Foreign Parts at least in some measure contribute to raise in them an Esteem and Dread of the Mighty Power of the British Crown Little more need be said to recommend the usefulness of the ensuing Discourse but that the natural result of Discoveries is the Promotion of Improvement and the Considerate know how to make their Advantages thereof There was intended to be added to this Volume a Summary of the several Laws in Force in each Plantation but that being a work which will swell to a larger Bulk than this is reserved for a particular Treatise by it self I have one thing more to advertise thee That the Printer hath neglected to fix the Running-Title on the top of every Page therefore thou may'st find that part of the Discourse which relates to them in the following Table Farewel The Contents JAmaica Page 1 Barbadoes Page 30 St. Christophers Page 45 Mevis Page 53 Antego Page 60 St. Vincent Page 65 Dominica Page 73 New-Jersey Page 78 Pensilvania Page 88 Montserat Page 134 Anguilla Page 137 Barbada or Bermuda Page 141 Bermudas or the Summer-Islands Page 146 Carolina Page 150 Virginia Page 182 Mary-Land Page 195 New-York Page 201 New-England Page 210 New-Found-Land Page 239 Tobago Page 247 Directions for the Improvement of the Island of Tobago Page 253 Proposals lately made by Captain John Poyntz for Himself and Company to all such People as are minded to Transport or Concern themselves in the Island of Tobago Page 259 Proposals for further Improvement Page 261 Astronomical Tables shewing the Rising and Setting of the Sun with the Length of the Days and Nights in all the Principal English Plantations in the West-Indies Also Tables of the New and Full Moons in every Month from the Year 1686 to 1700 in the Meridian of London and from thence referred to the Meridians of the Principal Plantations abovesaid The which Tables will serve as a constant Diary or Calendar for the Vse of the English Inhabitants in those Islands Also a Table by which at any time of the Day or Night here in England you may know what Hour it is in any of those Islands And how to make Sun-Dials fitting for all those Remote Parts A New Exact Mapp of ye. Isle of IAMAICA as it was lately Surveyed by order of S. Tho mas Mediford Bar. late Gover r divided into Precincts or Parishes with its Ports Bayes etc. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT Leiutenant 〈◊〉 Doyloy late Oâ—â—â—â—der in Cheife of all the English Army by Land and 〈◊〉 in America first â—ow of the Isle for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thomas Lord Winâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 Shiâ—â—◠〈…〉 Island S. Thomas Modifor â—â—n third Governor of the Isle â—â— Thomas Lynâ—â— knight proâ—â—â— Governour of the Isle The Armes of the Island â—â— LONDON Printed for Richard Blome Aº 1671 The North West Part of AMERICA by Robt. Morden THE Present State OF HIS MAJESTY's Isles and Territories IN AMERICA Of JAMAICA THE Island of JAMAICA is situate between the Tropicks seventeen or eighteen degrees North-Latitude It s Scituation upon the Sea usually known by the Name of Mare del Nort being about an hundred and forty Leagues North of the Main Continent of America fifteen Leagues South from the great Island of Cuba and twenty Leagues Westward from Hispaniola from Porto Bello Northwards an hundred and sixty and from Carthagena an hundred and forty Leagues 'T is somewhat of an Oval Form and hath a continued Ridge of lofty Mountains running from East to West which extend themselves from one end of it to the other and being full of fresh Springs furnisheth the Island with great plenty of pleasant and useful Rivers to the great refreshment of the Inhabitants and accommodation of Trade It is exceeding fruitful being for the most part a rich fat soyl It s Fertility the Earth blackish and mixt with clay except in the South-west parts where it is generally of a more red and loose Earth but every where wonderful fertil and incomparably apt to answer the Cultivator's expectation and recompence his pains and expence in planting for it enjoys a perpetual Spâ—ing and its Plants and Trees are never disrob'd of their Summer Livery but every Month is to them like April or May to us It is in length about 170 Miles and about 70 in breadth It s Form aad Extent containing between four or five Millions of Acres nine hundred thousand whereof were planted in the Year 1675. There are intermixt with the Woods and Mountains many Savanaes or Plains which are supposed to
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
treated and imputed as the Liege faithful People of Us Our Heirs and Successors born within this Our Kingdom or any other of Our Dominions and may inhabit or otherwise purchase and receive take have hold buy and possess any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments within the said places and then may Occupy and Enjoy Give Sell Alien and Bequeath as likewise Liberties Franchises Priviledges of this Our Kingdom of England and of other Our Dominions aforesaid may freely and quietly Have Possess and Enjoy as our Liege People born within the same without the least molestation vexation trouble or grievance of Us Our Heirs and Successors any Statute Act Ordinance or Provision to the contrary notwithstanding And farthermore That Our Subjects of this Our Kingdom of England and other Our Dominions may be rather encoured to undertake this Expedition with ready and chearful minds Know ye that We of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion do Give and Grant by vertue of these Presents as well to the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. and their Heirs as unto all others as shall from time to time repair unto the said Province or Territory with a purpose to Inhabit there and to Trade with the Natives thereof full Liberty and Licence to Lade and Freight in any Ports whatsoever of Us Our Heirs and Successors and into the said Province of Carolina by them their Servants and Assigns to Transport all and singular their Goods Wares and Merchandizes as likewise all sorts of Grain whatsoever and any other things whatsoever necessary for their Food and Cloathing not Prohibited by the Laws and Statutes of Our Kingdoms and Dominions to be carried out of the same without any Lett or Molestation of Us Our Heirs and Successors or of any other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever Saving also to Us Our Heirs and Successors the Customs and other Duties and Payments due for the said Wares and Merchandizes according to the several Rates of the Places from whence the same shall be Transported We will also and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant Licence by this Our Charter unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and to all the Inhabitants or Dwellers in the Province or Territory aforesaid both present and to come full Power and absolute Authority to Import or Unlade by themselves or their Servants Factors or Assigns all Merchandize and Goods whatsoever that shall arise of the Fruits and Commodities of the said Province or Territory either by Land or by Sea into any the Ports of Us Our Heirs and Successors in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland or otherwise to dispose of the said Goods in the said Ports And if need be within one year after the Unlading to Lade the same Merchandize or Goods again into the same or other Ships and to Export the same into any other Countries either of Our Dominions or Foreign being in Amity with Us Our Heirs and Successors so as they pay such Customs Subsidies and other Duties for the same to Us Our Heirs and Successors as the rest of Our Subjects of this Our Kingdom for the time being shall be bound to pay beyond which We will not that the Inhabitants of the said Province or Territory shall be any way charged provided nevertheless And Our Will and Pleasure is and We have farther for the Considerations aforesaid of Our special Grace certain Knowledg meer Motion Given and Granted and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full and free Licence and Liberty and Power and Authority at any time or times from and after the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel which shall be in the Year of our Lord Christ 1667. as well to Import and bring into any of Our Dominions from the said Province of Carolina or any parts thereof of the several Goods and Commodities herein after mentioned that is to say Silks Currans Raisons Capers Wax Almonds Oyl and Olives without paying or answering to Us Our Heirs or Successors any Customs Imposts or other Duty for on in respect thereof for or during the term or space of seven years to come and be accounted or from and after the first Importation of four Tuns of any the said Goods in any one Bottom Ship or Vessel from the said Province or Territory unto any of Our Dominions As also to Export and carry out of any of Our Dominions into the said Province or Territory Custom-free all sorts of Tools which shall be useful and necessary for the Planters there in the accommodation and improvement of the Premises any thing before in these Presents contained or any Law Act Statute Prohibition or other matter or thing heretofore Had Made Enacted or Provided or hereafter to be Had Made Enacted or Provided to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And furthermore of our more ample and especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion We do for Us Our Heirs and Successors Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full and absolute Power and Authority to Make Erect and Constitute within the said Province or Territory and Islet or Islets aforesaid such and so many Sea-Ports Harbours Creeks and other places for Discharge and Unlading of Goods and Merchandizes out of Ships Boats and other Vessels and for Lading of them in such and so many places as with such Jurisdictions Priviledges and Franchises unto the said Ports belonging as to them shall seem most expedient and that all and singular the Ships Boats and other Vessels which shall come for Merchardize and Trade into the same Province or Territory or shall depart out of the same shall be laden and unladen at such Ports only as shall be erected and Constituted by the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and not elsewhere any Use Custom or any thing to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And We do furthermore Will Appoint and Ordain and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns that they the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. and their Heirs and Assigns may from time to time for ever have and enjoy the Customs and Subsidies in the Ports Harbours Creeks and other places within the Province aforesaid payable for Goods Merchandizes and Wares there Laden or Unladen the said Customs to be reasonably Assessed upon any occasion by themselves and by and with the consent of the free People there or the greater part of them as aforesaid to whom we give Power by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors for just Cause and in due Proportion to Assess and Impose the same And furthermore of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion We have Given Granted and Confirmed and by
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
thousand and five hundred Pounds sterling for Ten Months Moreover this Ship of Three hundred Tun seldom carries less than Forty Pieces of Ordnance which with their Provisions c. by modest computation takes up no less room than One hundred and fifty Tun so that the Ship in all probability cannot bring home more than One hundred and fifty Tun of Merchants Goods and the Freight of these Goods comes to Forty Pounds sterling a Tun to pay Ware and Tare of the Ship and Mens Wages so that for the Ship 's Ware and Tare it comes barely but to One hundred and fifty Pounds sterling clear Now admit an English Ship of Three hundred Tun be bound for Jamaica and suppose the Freight of this Ship be at Six Pounds sterling per Tun this Ship shall make her Voyage better in Eight Months time than the Spaniard shall in Ten Months now the Freight of the English Ship comes to One thousand eight hundred Pounds sterling and the Wages and Victuals of the said Ship at Sixty Pounds per Month comes to Four hundred and eighty Pounds sterling so that you see the Ship clears for her Ware and Tare the sum of One thousand three hundred and twenty Pounds sterling See here therefore the great difference The fourth and last reason is this The King of Spain contracts with a body of Merchants to furnish the West-Indies with Four thousand Negroes every Year and the Nigrilloes or Merchants there engage to pay the King one hundred Pieces of Eight Custom for each Negro-slave brought unto them which comes to Four hundred thousand Pieces of Eight by the Year which is paid to the said King the King therefore prohibits all Merchants and others for bringing Negroes to the West-Indies and each Piece of Eight is valued at Five Shillings sterling in Barbadoes but in the Leeward Islands it goes for six The Proposals lately made by Captain John Poyntz for Himself and Company to all such People as are minded to Transport or Concern themselves in the Island of Tobago WHereas his late Majesty Charles the Second King of Great Britain hath given and granted unto James Duke of Courland his Heirs and Successours the said Island of Tobago on condition that none shall inhabit the said Island save only the Subject of the King of England and the Duke of Courland their Heirs and Successours on the said condition I have contracted with the said Duke that my self and Company settle One hundred and twenty thousand Acres of Land in the said Island and to have several great and large Priviledges some of which are here inserted viz. Imprimis That one hundred and twenty thousand Acres of Land in the said Island of Tobago is given and granted to my self and Company and our Heirs for ever and seven Years to be free from the payment of any Rent and after the expiration of seven Years each for himself is to pay Two-pence per Acre every Year to the Duke his lawful Heirs and Successours Secondly That my self and Company and all the Inhabitantâ— shall enjoy Liberty of Conscience without interruption Roman-Catholicks only excepted Thirdly That my self and Company c. are to be governed by a Governour Deputy-Governour and Assembly to be yearly chosen by the majority of Freeholders Votes of the People in the Island to make good and wholsom Laws for the good Government and Defence of the said Island and all Controversies in the Promises to be decided by the majority of Voices Note These are but Breviates and part of the Heads of the Grant from the Duke of Courland and ratified to my self and Company whereby we hold and enjoy our Land for that end I do refer all People to the Grant as more at large as also them that have been on the skirt or body of the said Island to confirm the truth of what is before spoken of the Products of the said Island Proposals for further Encouragement First THose that are desirous to concern themselves in the said Island shall and may have as much Land as they themselves please either by Lease or Purchase only they are to put upon every Fifteen Acres of Land one White Man and so in proportion to the rest and this to be done in three Years time Secondly All Persons that are desirous to transport themselves to the said Island in the quality of Servants shall have better Encouragement from my self and Company than has been yet propounded by any of his Majesties Subjects in any Settlement in the American Plantations Thirdly And for a further encouragement all those Persons and Planters that are any way concerned in the Premises shall have Credit given unto them from Crop to Crop as the Factory is stored for what they shll stand in need of for which the said Company will erect a Bank or Factory of Credit in the said Island the Debtor allowing only two and a half per Cent. Fourthly All Merchants and others that shall import any Negroes or other Merchandize into the said Island shall have their Goods and Debts insured and disposed of for two and a half per Cent. with Factoâ—age Storage Wharfage c. and exported again for two and a half per Cent. more And all Tradesmen and others that contract any Debts against themselves shall have Credit given them out of the Bank or Factory from Crop to Crop for two and a half per Cent. And the Proprietors to engage their whole Interest for the true performance of the foresaid Premises Fifthly All Merchants and others that have Goods fit to accommodate the said Island and have not ready Money to purchase Land nor to pay for their own or servants Passage such may Barter with Goods in lieu of Money Always this implies only such Persons as Contract with the Proprietors or some of them before the first Shipping departs out of the River of Thames to Ship off as above their proportion of Goods or People as is already sufficiently above expressed FINIS ASTRONOMICAL TABLES SHEWING The Rising and Setting of the Sun with the Length of the Days and Nights in all the Principal English Plantations in the West-Indies ALSO Tables of the New and Full Moons in every Month from the Year 1686 to 1700 in the Meridian of London and from thence referred to the Meridians of the Principal Plantations abovesaid The which Tables will serve as a constant Diary or Calendar for the Use of the English Inhabitants in those Ilands ALSO A Table by which at any Time of the Day or Night here in England you may know what Hoar it is in any of those Islands AND How to make Sun-Dials fitting for all those Remote Parts A Table shewing the Prime or Golden Number the Dominical or Sunday Letter and the Moveable Feasts from the Year 1686 to the Year 1700. Years of our Lord. Pr. or Go. Nu. Dom. or Sun Let. Shrove Sunday Easter Day Ascension Day Whit-Sunday Advent Sunday 1686 15 C Feb. 14 Apr. 4 May 13 May
large and capacious that it is capable of entertaining a far greater number of People than any other Island enjoyed by the English in that part of the World 2. It s being so seated in the heart of the Spanish Territories in America that their Ships as they come thither and pass from Port to Port make this Isle or may be easily met with by those Ships that ply upon the Coast for all the Plate-Fleet in their return from Carthagena steer directly from St. Domingo and pass by one of the ends of this Isle to recover Havana which is the common Rendezvouz of the Spanish Armado before they sail home through the Gulph of Florida Nor indeed is there any other way for the Voyage would be too unreasonable long should they turn it to the Windward of Hispaniola by which means besides the great difficulty of its performance they would lose the benefit of uniting the Fleets from Mexicos Nombre de Dios and other places at their common Rendezvouz at Havana wherein their greatest Security lies for from thence they sail all home in company together 3. In regard Jamaica exceeds all the rest of our Plantations in America for the goodness of those Commodities proper to their several Colonies and is besides its being so profitable in furnishing us with excellent Commodities it likewise takes off abundance of our Manufactures both of the product of this Kingdom and such as are brought us from Parts beyond the Seas 4. Because it appears to be a place considerable enough to deserve His Majesties Care for its preservation not only by its subsisting of its self when first taken but likewise by its increasing its Potency and Grandeur so that it will in all probability become in a little time very profitable both to the King and Kingdom and bring into His Majesties Treasury several hundred thousand Pounds per Annum 5. This Island being when setled of its self able to carry on a War against the Spaniards when the Affairs of England shall require it 6. The considerable progress already made in the Settlement of this Isle nor can its distance be any real disadvantage since the greater number of Ships are thereby employed and consequently the more Saylors Ship-wrights and other Tradesmen whose Livelihood depends upon trade at Sea Besides if it lay nearer we could expect no such Commodities as we receive from thence in regard they are appropriated to that Clime And it must certainly be a great advantage to His Majesty to have such Merchandize within His own Dominions as are both valued and needed by His Subjects and Neighbours as the Cacao is though it be at a distance 7. The Coast of Virginia and some of the Caribby-Islands are subject to such Gusts of Wind that Ships are often driven to put to Sea and fly for shelter to some or other of the Spanish Leeward Ports where they were wont to be made Prizes of but Jamaica since it hath fallen into our hands hath proved a convenient Harbour for such Ships or Vessels as are at any time thus distressed which is an Argument sufficient to perswade His Majesty to undertake its Support and Defence A DESCRIPTION OF THE Island of BARBADOS The Island of BARBADOS By Robert Morden It was first discovered in the Reign of King James the First Its first Discovery by Sir William Curteen who returning homewards from Fernambuck in Brazil was driven by a storm upon this Coast and anchoring before the Isle he went with some of his Company ashore to inform himself of the Nature of the Place which he found so exceedingly overgrown with Woods that they could find no plain or champaign ground sit to inhabit nor any ether Beasts but Swine which the Portugals having formerly put on shore here to furnish them with Provisions in case they should be cast on that shoar by foul weather had by this time multiplied abundantly the Fruits and Roots that grew there serving them for food so that the Natives of the adjacent Islands for there were none in this were used to come thither frequently to kill them Having made this Discovery and informed himself as well as he could of the Nature and Condition of the Island he gave notice thereof to his Friends in England from whence divers Ships were with all convenient speed dispatched thither who upon their Arrival applied themselves to the rendering the Island sit for Habitation In order to which they cut down the Woods and planted Potatoes and Maiz which together with the Swine which they found there did but just keep Life and Soul together for having as yet nothing to trade withal Ships from England visited them but slowly so that they were oft-times driven to great extremities But having about the year 1627. increas'd the number of its Inhabitants and Tobacco Indico Cotton-wool Fustick-wood and the like begun to grow there and afford great increase the Island began to gain more repute in England and invited divers Ships in hope of gain to trade with them exchanging divers sorts of working-tools made of Iron and Steel together with Cloth Shirts Drawers Hose Shoes Hats Servants and other things which they needed for Tobacco and other things which the Island produced After which they grew and increased wonderfully both in number and wealth especially when their Sugar-Canes were grown and they had learned the Art of making Sugar This Isle is very hot especially for eight Months It s Temperature and would be more insupportable were it not for the cool Briezes of Wind which rise with the Sun and blow fresher as the Sun mounteth higher And these Briezes blow alway from the North-East except it be in the time of the Turnado and then for an hour or two it chops into the South but after returns to the same Point again And it is observed that although the People do so much sweat yet they find not that faintness as with us in England in the Months of July and August neither are they so thirsty unless over-heated by excess of Labour or drinking of strong Liquors which the People here are too much addicted unto to their great hurt which if moderately taken would be as a great preservative to comfort and refresh their inward parts which are left cold and faint through their sweating Besides our Bodies being accustomed to colder Climates our Spirits are not so vigorous without them in a moderate manner This Isle is not over-plentifully watered with Rivers or fresh Springs Its Waters there being but one that can appropriate to itself that Name or rather a Lake which runs not far into the Land yet notwithstanding the Inhabitants are not destitute thereof for the Country lying low and level there are several Pools or Ponds and besides they are supplied with Rain-water by having Wells and Cisterns in their Houses Here is also a River which the Inhabitants call Tuigh-River from the top of whose water is gathered an Oyl which serveth them to
Carts they are very delicate Fruit and hang almost like our Onions tied upon Ropes They receive forty Bushels of good English Wheat for one Bushel sown Cherries they have in abundance and Fowl and Fish great plenty with several that are unknown in England There are likewise Bears Wolves Foxes Rattle-Snakes and several other Creatures as I imagin saith my Author because the Indians bring such Skins to sell but I have travelled several hundred of Miles to and fro yet never to my knowledge saw one of them except two Rattle-Snakes and killed them both so that the fear of them is more than the hurt neither are we troubled with the Muskâ—to-fly in this place our Land lying generally high and healthy and they being commonly in boggy ground With common and reasonable care there may in a few years be Horses Beef Pork Flour Bisket and Pease to spare yea this Country will produce Honey Wax Silk Hemp Flax Hops Woad Rapeseed Madder Pota-shes Anniseed and Salt Hides raw or tann'd and there is a very large vast Creature called a Moose of whose Skins are made excellent Buff besides the natural product of Pitch Tar Rozin Turpentine c. As for Furs they are Beaver black Fox and Otter with divers other sorts The Tobacco is excellent upon the River Delaware There may be very good fishing for Cod and Cush as several have found by experience who have caught great plenty of well-grown Fish Upon the whole matter this Province affords all that is either for the Necessity Conveniency Profit or Pleasure of Humane Life and it may therefore be reasonably expected that this Country with the rest of America may in a few Ages be throughly peopled with Christianity And this shall suffice for New Jersey A DESCRIPTION OF PENSYLVANIA IT is the Jus Gentium or Law of Nations that whatever waste or uncultivated Country is the discovery of any Prince it is the Right of that Prince who was at the charge of that discovery Now this Province is a Member of that part of America which the King of England's Ancestors have been at the charge of discovering and which they and he have taken care to preserve and improve and his late Majesty of happy Memory upon the Petition of William Penn Esq wherein he set forth his Father's Service his own Sufferings and his Losses in relation to his Father's Estate and lastly his long and costly attendance without success was pleased in right and consideration thereof to make a grant to the said William Pen of all that Tract of Land in America which is expressed in the following Declaration to the Inhabitants and Planters of the Province of Pensylvania CHARLES R. WHereas His Majesty in Consideration of the Great Merit and Faithful Services of Sir William Penn deceased and for divers other good Causes Him thereunto moving hath been graciously pleased by Letters Patents bearing Date the Fourth Day of March last past To give and grant unto William Penn Esq Son and Heir of the said Sir William Penn all that Tract of Land called by the Name of Pensylvania as the same is bounded on the East by Delaware River from Twelve Miles distance Northward of New-Castle Town unto the three and fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude if the said River doth extend so far Northward then by the said River so far as it doth extend And from the Head of the said River the Eastern bounds to be determined by a Meridian-Line to be drawn from the head of the said River unto the said three and fortieth Degree the said Province to extend Westward five Degrees in Longitude to be computed from the said Eastern bounds and to be bounded on the North by the beginning of the three and fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude and on the South by a Circle drawn at Twelve Miles distance from New-Castle Northwards and Westwards unto the beginning of the fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude and then by a strait Line Westward to the Limit of Longitude above-mentioned together with all Powers Preheminences Iurisdictions necessary for the Government of the said Province as by the said Letters Patents reference being thereunto had doth more at large appear His Majesty doth therefore hereby publish and declare His Royal Will and Pleasure That all Persons settled or inhabited within the Limits of the said Province do yield all due Obedience to the said William Penn his Heirs and Assigns as Absolute Proprietors and Governors thereof As also to the Deputy or Deputies Agents or Lieutenants lawfully Commissioned by him or them according to the Powers and Authorities granted by the said Letters Patents Wherewith His Majesty Expects and Requires a ready Compliance from all Persons whom it may concern as they tender His Majesties Displeasure Given at our Court at White-hall the Second Day of April 1681. in the Three and thirtieth Year of Our Reign By His Majesties Command CONWAY The Description of the Province cannot better be given by any than by William Penn himself who sent the following Account from off the place in a Letter dated from Philadelphia Aug. 16. 1683. For this Province the general Condition of it take as followeth THE Country itself in its Soil Air Water Seasons and Product both Natural and Artificial is not to be despised The Land contains divers sorts of Earth as Sand yellow and black It s Soil poor and rich Also Gravel both loomy and dusty and in some places a fast fat Earth like to our best Vales in England especially by Inland-Brooks and Rivers God in his wisdom hath ordered it so that the Advantages of the Country are divided the Back-Lands being generally three to one richer than those that lye by Navigable Waters we have much of another Soil and that is a black Hasle-Mould upon a stony or rocky bottom The Air It s Air. is sweet and cleer the Heavens serene like the South-Parts of France rarely over-cast and as the Woods come by numbers of people to be more cleared that itself will refine The Waters Its Waters are generally good for the Rivers and Brooks have mostly gravel and stony bottoms and in number hardly credible We have also Mineral Waters that operate in the same manner with Barnet and North-hall not two Miles from Philadelphia For the Seasons of the Year having It s Climate by God's goodness now lived over the coldest and hottest that the oldest liver in the Province can remember I can say something to an English understanding First Of the Fall for then I came in I found it from the 24th of October to the beginning of December as we have it usually in September or rather like an English mild Spring From December to the beginning of the Month called March we had sharp frosty weather not foul thick black weather as our North-East Winds bring with them in England but a Sky as clear as in Summer and the Air dry cold piercing and hungry yet I remember not that I wore
born so swarthy as they appear Their Complexion their hair is generally black and flaggy which they wear long few men have Beards because they pluck out the Hairs that would grow their oyntments and smoaky houses do in a great measure cause their Blackness whereby they look like Bacon they are of a ready wit very subtle and treacherous not much addicted to Labour being too great lovers of their ease and much given to hunting They have one Wife many Concubines and are likewise Sodomites the ancient Women are used for Cooks Barbers and other Services the younger for Dalliance they are modest in their Carriage and seldom quarrel in entertaining a Stranger they spread a Mat for him to sit down and then dance before him they wear their Nails long to flea their Deer and put Bows and Arrows into the hands of their Children before they are six years old In each Ear they have generally three great holes wherein they commonly hang Chains Bracelets or Copper some wear a Snake therein coloured green and yellow near half a yard long which crawls about their necks and offers to kiss their Lips others have a dead Rat tied by the Tail The women raze their Bodies Legs and Thighs with an Iron incurious knots and shapes of Fowls Fishes and Beasts and rub a painting therein which will never come out The Queen of Apometica was attired with a Cornet beset with many white bones with Copper in her Ears and a Chain of the same six times encompassing her Neck The Sasquchanocks are a Giant-like People very monstrous in proportion behaviour and attire their Voice sounds as out of a Cave their Garments are Bear-skins hanged with Bears Paws a Wolfes Head and such odd Jewels their Tobacco-pipes three quarters of a yard long with the Head of some Beast at the end so weighty as to beat out the Brains of a Horse The Calf of one of their Legs was measured three quarters of a yard about their other Limbs being proportionable They have several ridiculous Conceits concerning their Original as that a Hare came into their Countrey and made the first men and after preserved them from a great Serpent and two other Hares came thither the first killed a Deer for their entertainment which was then the only Deer in the world and strewing the hairs of that Deer every hair became a Deer In the Reign of King James the First one Tomacona an Indian and Councellor to one of their Kings came into England who landing in the West was much surprized at our plenty of Corn and Trees imagining we ventured into their Countrey to supply those defects he began then to number the Men he met with but his Arithmetick soon failed him He related that Okee their God did often appear to him in his Temple to which purpose four of their Priests go into the House and using certain strange words and gestures eight more are called in to whom he discovers what his Will is upon him they depend in all their Proceedings as in taking Journeys or the like sometimes when they resolve to go a hunting he by some known token will direct where they shall find Game which they with great chearfulness acknowledging follow his Directions and many times succeed therein he appears like an handsom Indian with long black Locks of Hair after he has staid with his twelve Confederates for some time he ascendeth into the Ayr from whence he came The Natives think it a disgrace to fear Death and therefore when they must die they do it resolutely as it happened to one that robbed an Englishman and was by Pawhatan upon complaint made against him fetched sixty miles from the place where he lay concealed and by this Tomocomo executed in the presence of the English his Brains being knockt out without the least shew of fear or terror Their Apparel Their Apparel is but mean only contenting themselves with something to cover their nakedness and for the better defending themselves from the Weather they anoint their bodies with certain Oyles mixt with Bears-Grease Their Houses Their Houses are no better than our English Hogsties being made of Boughs and covered with Barks of Trees and in the midst thereof is placed their Chimney or Fire-place Their Diet Their Diet. in meanness is answerable to their Houses not endeavouring to please their Palats with curious Sauces or pampering their Bodies with provocative Meats A DESCRIPTION OF MARY-LAND THE Province of Mary-Land is situated between the degrees of 37 and 50 min. or thereabouts Situation and 40 deg of Northern Latit It is bounded on the North with Pennsylvania New-England and New-York formerly part of New-England on the East the Atlantick Ocean and Delaware Bay on the South by Virginia from whence it is parted by the River Patowmeck whose Southern Banks divide the Province from Virginia The Bay of Chesopeack giving entrance to Ships both into this Countrey and Virginia passing through the heart of this Province being found near 200 miles in the Land into which falls several considerable River Its Rivers as Patowmeck Patuxent Ann-Arundel alias Severn and Sasquesahanough lying on the West-side of the Bay and to the East of the said Bay those of the Choptanke Nantecoke Pocomocke and several other Rivers and Rivulets to the great improvement of the Soyl and Beauty of the Province The Climate The Climate of late is very agreeable to the English Constitution especially since the felling of the Woods and the People accustoming themselves to English Diet is very healthful and agreeable to the constitution of the English few now dying at their first coming of the Country Disease or seasoning neither is the Heat extream in Summer being much qualified by the cool and gentle Briezes of winds from the Sea and refreshing Showers of Rain and the Cold in Winter being of so little durance that the Inhabitants cannot be said to suffer by either The Countrey is generally plain and even yet rising in some places into small and pleasant Hills which heighten the Beauty of the adjacent Vallies The Soyl is rich and fertil naturally producing all such Commodities as are particularly set down to its neighbouring Colony Virginia as all sorts of Beasts and Fowl both tame and wild Fish Fruits Plants Roots Herbs Gums Trees Balsoms c. as likewise all Commodities produced by Industry are here found in as great plenty and perfection But the chief Trade of Mary-Land depends upon Tobacco which is esteemed better for a foreign Market than that of Virginia finds greater vent abroad which Trade is not inconsiderable since a hundred Sail of Ships have in one year traded thither from England and the neighbouring English Plantations There is a competent stock of ready Money in this Province both of English and Foreign and his Lordships own Coin yet their chief way of Commerce is by way of Barter or Exchange of Commodities The Natives The Natives as to their
Complexion Stature Customs Dispositions Laws Religion Apparel Diet Houses c. are much the same with those of Virginia already treated of being likewise many different Tribes or sorts of People and each governed by their particular King There are many strange Rites and Ceremonies used by the Native Indians Their Religion they believe there are several Gods which they call Mantaac but of different sorts and degrees yet there is but one absolute God from all eternity who when he made the World created other Gods to be as a Means and Instrument used in the Creation and that the Sun Moon and Stars are petty Gods out of the Waters they affirm all the variety of Creatures were made for Mankind that Woman was made first who by the assistance of one of the Gods conceived and brought forth Children but know not how long it was since this was done having no Arithmetick nor Records but only Tradition from Father to Son they make the Images of their Gods in the shape of Men placing one at least in their Houses or Temple where they worship sing pray and make Offerings They believe that after this Life the Soul shall be disposed of according to its Works here either to the habitation of the Gods to enjoy perpetual happiness or to a great Pit or Hole in the furthest part of their Countrey toward Sun-set which they count the furthermost part of the World there to burn continually which place they call Popogusso and relate that one that was buried was the next day seen to move upon his Grave whereupon his Body was taken up again who when he was revived declared that his Soul was near entring into Popogusso had not one of the Gods saved him and suffered him to return and warn his Friends to avoid that terrible place another being taken up related that his Soul was alive while his Body was in the Grave and had been travelling in a long broad way on both sides whereof grew delicate Trees bearing excellent Fruits and at length arrived at most curious houses where he met his Father that was dead before who charged him to go back and shew his Friends what good they were to do to enjoy the pleasures of this Place and then to return to him again Whatever Tricks or Subtilty the Priests use the Vulgar are hereby very respectful to their Governors and careful of their actions though in criminal Causes they inflict punishments according to the quality of the Offence they are great Negromancers and account our Fire-works Guns and Writing to be the works of God rather than Men. When one of their Kings was sick he sent to the English to pray for him Some of them imagine that we are not mortal men nor born of Women but say we are an old Generation revived and believe that there are more of us yet to come to kill their Nation and take their places who are at present invisible in the Air without Bodies and that at their intercession they cause those of their Nation to die who wrong the English Their Idol they place in the innermost Room of the House of whom they relate incredible Stories they carry it with them to the Wars and ask counsel thereof as the Romans did of their Oracles they sing Songs as they march towards Battel instead of Drums and Trumpets their Wars are exceeding bloody and have wasted the people very much Once a year they hold a great Festival meeting together out of several Villages each having a certain Mark or Character on his Back whereby it may be discerned whose Subject he is the place where they meet is spacious and round about are Posts carved on the top like a Nuns Head in the midst are three of the fairest Virgins lovingly embracing and clasping each other about this living Image and artificial Circle they dance in their savage manner Their chief Idol called Kiwasa in made of wood four foot high the Face resembling the Inhabitants of Florida painted with flesh-colour the Breast white the other parts black the Legs only sported with white with Chains and Strings of Beads about his neck This Idol is the Keeper of the dead Bodies of their Kings which are advanced on Scaffolds nine or ten foot high this Kiwasa or Guardian being placed near them and underneath liveth a Priest who there mumbles his Devotions night and day This Province of Mary-Land His Majesty King Charles the First in Anno 1632. granted by a Patent to the Right Honourable Caecilius Calvert Lord Baltemore and to his Heirs and Assigns and by that Patent created him and them the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the same saving the Allegiance and Sovereign Dominion due to His Majesty his Heirs and Successors thereby likewise granting to them all Royal Jurisdictions both military and Civil as Power of enacting Laws martial Laws making of Warand Peace Pardoning Offences conferring of Honours coyning of Money c. and in acknowledgment thereof yielding and paying yearly to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors two Indiâ—n Arrows at Windsor-Castle in the County of Berks on Easter-Tuesday together with the fifth part of all the Gold and Silver-Oar that shall be found there The Lord Baltemore hath his Residence at Mattapany about eight miles distance from St. Maries where he hath a pleasant Seat though the general Assemblies and Provincial Courts are kept at St. Maries and for the better inviting of People to settle here his Lordship by the Advice of the General Assembly of that Province hath long since established a Model of good and wholsom Laws for the ease and benefit of the Inhabitants with toleration of Religion to all sorts that profess the Faith of Christ which hath been a principal motive to many to settle under that Government rather than in another where Liberty of Conscience was denied them NEW ENGLAND And NEW YORK by Rob Morden i Charles Towne k Cambridg l Water town m Naâ—ton n Dabham o Medfeild p Chensford q Ballerica r Sudbury a Roxbury b Deâ—byster c Miltem d â—â—ymouth e Bâ—â—â—bry f Malden g Wiâ—â—sunt h Farmington The Inhabitants being in number about 16000 have begun the building of several Towns which in few years 't is hoped may come to some perfection as Calverton Herrington and Harvey-Town all commodiously seated for the benefit of Trade and conveniency of Shipping but the principal Town is St. Maries seated on St. Georges River being beautified with divers well-built Houses and is the chief Place or Scale of Trade for the Province A DESCRIPTION Of NEW-YORK ADjoyning to Mary-Land Northwards is a Colony called New-York from our present Gracious Sovereign when Duke of York the Proprietor thereof by Grant from His Majesty and is that part of New-England which the Dutch once possessed it was first discovered by Mr. Hudson It s Discovery and sold presently by him to the Dutch without Authority from his Sovereign the King of England in 1608. The Hollanders in 1614. began to
plant there and called it New-Netherland but Sir Samuel Argal Governour of Virginia routed them after which they got leave of King James to put in there for Fresh-Water in their Passage to Brazile and did not offer to plant till a good while after the English were setled in the Countrey In 1664. His late Majesty King Charles the Second sent over four Commissioners to reduce the Colony into bounds that had been encroached upon by each other who marched with three hundred Red-Coats to Manhadees and took from the Dutch the chief Town then called New-Amsterdam now New-York and Aug. 29. turned out their Governour with a Silver Leg and all the rest but those who acknowledged Subjection to the King of England suffering them to enjoy their Houses and Estates as before Thirteen days after Sir Robert Car took the Fort and Town of Aurania now called Albany and twelve days after that the Fort and Town of Arasapha then Delaware-Castle manned with Dutch and Swedes so that now the English are Masters of three handsom Towns three strong Forts and a Castle without the loss of one man The first Governour of these Parts for the King of England was Colonel Nicols one of the Commissioners It is a Countrey of a rich and fertil Soyl It s Fertility well watered with Rivers as in Mary-Land already spoken of and is found to produce the same Beasts Birds Fish Fruits Commodities Trees c. and in as great plenty and it is reported that one Bushel of European Wheat has yielded an hundred in one year The most considerable Town is that of New-York It s Situation being well seated both for Trade Security and Pleasure in a small Isle called Manahatan regarding the Sea made so by Hudson's River which severeth it from Long-Island which said River is very commodious for Shipping being about two Leagues broad The Town is large containing about five hundred well-built Houses built with Dutch-Brick and the meanest not valued under one hundred Pounds to the landward it is encompassed with a Wall of good thickness and fortified at the entrance of the River so as to command any Ship which passeth that way by a Fort called James-Fort and for Civil Government it hath a Mayor Alderman Sheriff and Justices of the Peace for their Magistrates The Inhabitants are most English and Dutch who have a very considerable Trade with the Indians for the Skins of Elks Deer Bears c. also for those of Beaver Otter Racoon-skins with other rich Furs and are supplied with Venison and Fowl in the Winter and Fish in the Summer by the Indians at an easie price This Province formerly contained all that Land which is seated in the North part of America betwixt England and Mary-Land the length toward the North being not fully known the breadth is about 200 Miles The chief Rivers are Hudson-River Raritan River and Delaware-Bay and the principal Islands are the Manahatan-Island Long-Island and Stater-Island Manahatan-Island so called by the Indians lieth within land betwixt forty one and forty two Degrees of North Latitude and is in length about fourteen Miles and two broad New-York is seated on the West-end of this Island having a small Arm of the Sea which divides it from Long-Island on the South Long-Island runs Eastward above a hundred Miles and in some places eight twelve and fourteen Miles broad inhabited from one end to the other having a rich Soil for all English-Grain the Fruits Trees and Herbs very good in May you may see the Woods and Fields so richly bedecked with Roses and variety of other delightful Flowers as equal if not excel many Gardens in England This Country is also possessed with sundry sorts of People Its Inhabitants not much unlike the Indians of Virginia being well-proportioned swarthy black-haired very expert in their Bow and Arrows which are their chief Weapons of War they are very serviceable and courteous to the English being of a ready Wit and very apt to recieve Instruction from them but there are now but few Indians upon the Island being strangely decreased since the English first settled there for not long ago there were six Towns full of them which are now reduced to two Villages the rest being cut off by Wars among themselves or some raging mortal Diseases They live principally by Hunting Fowling and Fishing their Wives tilling the Land and planting the Corn they feed on Fish Fowl and Venison likewise Pol-cats Turtles Racoon and the like they build small moveable Tents which they remove three times a year chiefly quartering where they plant their Corn besides their Hunting and Fishing-Quarters Their principal Recreation are Foot-ball and Cards at which they will play away all they have except a Flap to cover their nakedness they are very great lovers of Strong-drink so that without they have enough to be drunk they care not to drink at all if their company be so great that they have not enough to make them all drunk they usually chuse so many as are proportionable to that quantity and the rest must be spectators if any happen to be drunk before he has taken his share which is ordinarily a quart of Brandy Rum or Strong-waters to shew their Justice they will pour the rest down his Throat in which debauches they often kill one another which the Friends of the dead revenge upon the Murtherer unless he purchase his Life with Money which is made of Periwinkle-shell both black and white strung like Beads They observe several Ceremonies in their Reigious Rites Their Religion and are said to Worship the Devil which usually they perform once or twice a Year unless upon some extraordinary occasion as the making of War or the like when their Corn is ripe which is usually about Michaelmas The day being appointed by their Chief Priest or Pawaw most of them go a Hunting for Venison when they are all assembled if the Priest wants Money he then tells them their God will accept no Offering but Money which the People believing every one gives according to his ability the Priest takes the Money and putting it into some Dishes sets them upon the top of their low flat-roofed Houses and so falls a calling upon their God to come and receive it which with many loud hollows and out-crys striking the ground with sticks and beating themselves is performed by the Priest and seconded by the People After being thus wearied a Devil by his conjuration appears amongst them sometimes in the shape of a Fowl a Beast or a Man which so amazeth the people that they dare not stir the Priest improves the opportunity and stepping out makes sure of the Money and then returns to lay the Spirit who is often gone before he comes back having taken some of the company along with him but if at such times any English come among them it puts a period to their proceedings and they will desire his absence saying Their God will not come till
several of which being capable to harbour five hundred Sail of Ships from the rage of the Sea and Winds by reason of the interposition of several Isles to the number of about 200 which lie about this Coast The Account of the Worship and Ceremonies of the Indians hath been much perfected by the Industry and Voyages of Capt. Gosnold Capt. Hudson Capt. Smith and others the last of which gives a very large Account this Captain being taken Prisoner by the Natives and while he stayed among them observed their Magical Rites three or four days after his being seized seven of their Priests in the House where he lay each with a Rattle making him sit down by them began about Ten in the Morning to sing about a fire which they encompassed with a Circle of Meal at the end of every Song which the Chief Priest begun the rest followed in order they laid down two or three Grains of Wheat then the Priest disguised with a great Skin his Head hung round with little Skins of Weasles and other Vermine and a Cornet of Feathers painted as ugly as the Devil at the end of every Song he used strange and vehement Gestures throwing great Cakes of Deer-Suet and Tobacco into the fire thus these howling Devotions continued till Six a Clock at Night and held so three days This they pretended was to know of their God whether any more English should arrive and what they intended to do in that Country They sed Capt. Smith so high that he much doubted they would have sacrificed him to their Chief Deity the Image of whom is so deformed that nothing can be more monstrous the Women likewise after he was freed and President of the Company made him a very odd Entertainment thirty of them came out of the Woods only covered before and behind with a few green Leaves their Bodies painted of different colours the Commander of these Nymphs had on her Head a large pair of Stag's Horns and a Quiver of Arrows at her Back with Bow and Arrows in her hand the rest followed with Horns and Weapons all alike they rushed through the Streets with hellish shouts and crys dancing about a fire which was there made for that purpose for an hour together then they solemnly invited him to their Lodging where he was no sooner come but they all surrounded him and crying Love you not me after which they feasted him with great variety cook'd after their mad fashion some singing and dancing all the while and at last lighted him home with a Firebrand instead of a Torch to his Lodgings And although this Country is seated in the midst of the Temperate Zone yet is the Clime more uncertain Temperature as to the heat and cold than those European Kingdoms which lie Parallel with it and as to Virginia this may be compared as Scotland is to England The Air The Air. is found very healthful and agreeable to the English which makes them possess many Potent Colonies being very numerous and powerful When they design to make War they first consult with their Priests and Conjurers no People being so Barbarous almost but they have their Gods Their Religion Priests and Religion they adore as it were all things that they think may unavoidably hurt them as Fire Water Lightning Thunder our Great Guns Muskets and Horses yea some of them once seeing an English Boar were struck with some terror because he bristled up his Hairs and gnashed his Teeth believing him to be the God of the Swine who was offended with them The chief God they Worship is the Devil which they call Okee they have conference with him and fashion themselves into his shape In their Temple they have his Image ill-favouredly Carved Painted and Adorned with Chains Copper and Beads and covered with a Skin The Sepulchre of their Kings is commonly near them whose Bodies are first Imbowelled dried on a Hurdle adorned with Chains and Beads and then wrapped in white Skins over which are Matts they are afterwards Intombed orderly in Arches made of Matts their Wealth being placed at their feet But for their common Burials they dig a hole in the Earth with sharp Stakes and the Corps being wrapped in Skins and Matts they lay them in the Ground placing them upon sticks and then cover them with Earth the Burial ended the Women having their Faces painted black with Cole and Oyl sit Mourning in the House twenty four hours together howling and yelling by turns The Natives are cloathed with loose Mantles made of Deers Skins and Aprons of the same round their Middle Their Cloathing all else being naked of Stature like to us in England They Paint themselves and their Children and he is most Gallant who is most deformed The Women Imbroider their Legs Hands and other Parts with several Works as of Serpents and the like making black spots in their Flesh Their Houses are made of small Poles round and fastened at the top in a circle like our Arbours covered with Matts twice as long as broad they are exact Archers and with their Arrows will kill Birds flying or Beasts running full speed One of our Men was with an Arrow shot through the Body and both the Arms at once Another Indian shot an Arrow of an Ell long through a Target that a Pistol Ballet could not pierce their Bows are of tough Hazle and their Strings of Leather their Arrows of Cane or Hazle headed with Stones or Horn and Feathered Artificially They soon grow heartless if they find their Arrows do no execution They say there is Men among them of above two hundred years of Age. Though the Planting of this Country was designed by several of the English yet it lay much neglected 'till a small company of Planters under the Command of Captain George Popham and Captain Gilbert was sent over at the charge of Sir John Popham in 1606. to begin a Colony upon a Tract of Land about Saga de hoch the most Northernly part of New-England but that design within two years expired with its Founder Soon after some Honourable Persons of the West of England commonly called the Council of Plymouth being more certainly informed of several Navigable Rivers and Commodious Havens with other places sit either for Planting or Traffick newly discovered by many skilful Navigators obtained of King James the First a Patent under the Great Seal of all that part of North America called new-New-England from forty to forty eight Degrees of North Latitude This vast Tract of Land was in 1612. Cantoned and divided by Grant into many lesser Parcels according as Adventurers presented which Grants being founded upon uncertain and false Descriptions and reports of some that Travelled thither did much interfere one with another to the great disturbance of the first Planters so that little profit was reaped from thence Nor was any greater Improvement made of those Grand Portions of Land saving the erecting some few Cottages for Fishermen
and a few inconsiderable Buildings for the Planters yea for want of good Conduct they were by degrees in a manner quite destitute of Laws and Government and left to shift for themselves This was the beginning of New-England when in the Year 1610. one Mr. Robinson a Presbyterian or rather Independent Preacher and several other English then at Leyden in Holland though they had been courteously entertained by the Dutch as Strangers yet foreseeing divers inconveniences might follow and that they could not so well provide for the good of their Posterity under the Government of a Foreign Nation they resolve to intreat so much Favour of their Sovereign Prince King James as to grant them Liberty under the Protection of his Royal Authority to place themselves in some place of new-New-England Having therefore obtained a Patent or Grant for some place about Hudsons River they set Sail from Plymouth in September for the Southern Parts of New-England but as they intended their Course thither-ward they were through many dangers at last about November the eleventh cast upon a bosom of the South Cape of the Massachusets Bay called Cape Cod. When Winter approached so fast that they had no opportunity to remove and finding some encouragement from the hopefulness of the Soyl and courtesie of the Heathen they resolved there to make their aboad laying the Foundation of a new Colony which from the last Town they Sailed from in England they called New-Plymouth containing no considerable Tract of Land scarce extending one hundred Mile in length through the whole Cape and not half so much in breadth where broadest From this time to the Year 1636. things were very prosperously and successfully carried on in New-England which was much increased in Buildings and Inhabitants at which time the Naraganset Indians who are the most Warlike and Fierce and much dreaded by all the rest committed divers outrages upon several of them and likewise upon the English and Dutch as they came occasionally to Trade with them barbarously murthering Capt. Stone Capt. Oldham with several others Whereupon the Inhabitants of all the Colonies unanimously falling upon them in 1637. they were easily suppressed about seven hundred of them being destroyed and the rest cut off by their neighbour Indians Upon which Miantonimoh the chief of the Magchins expecting to be sole Lord and Ruler over all the Indians committed many Insolencies upon some others who were in Confederacy with the English as well as himself and he being sent for to the Massacusets Court at Boston endeavoured to clear himself but was clearly convicted by one of his fellows named Vncas In revenge of which after his return home he made War upon Vncas by whom being taken Prisoner by the Advice and Counsel of the English he cut off his Head it being justly feared no firm Peace could be concluded while he was alive This happened in 1643. from whence to 1675. there was always an appearance of Amity and good Correspondence on all sides only in 1671. one Matoonas being vexed that an intended Design against the English did not take effect out of meer malice against them slew an Englishman on the Road the Murtherer was a Nipnet Indian and under the Command of the Sachem of Mount-Hope the Author of all the mischief against the English in 1675. Upon a due inquiry therefore of all the Transactions between the Indians and English from their first setling on these Coasts there will appear no ground of quarrel or provocation given by the English For when Plymouth Colony was first Planted in 1620. within three months after Massasoit the chief Sachem or Commander of all that side of the Country repairs thither to the English and entred solemnly into a League upon the following Articles 1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do any hurt to any of their People 2. If any of his hurt the English he should send them the offender to punish 3. If any thing should be taken away by his he should see it restored and the English to do the like to them 4. If any made War unjustly against him they were to aid him and he likewise them 5. That he should certifie his neighbour Confederates hereof that they might be likewise comprised in the Peace 6. That when his men should come to the English they should leave their Arms behind which were then Bows and Arrows and were then their only Weapons though now they have learn the use of Guns and Swords as well as the Christians This League the same Sachem confirmed a little before his death in 1630. coming with his two Sons Alexander and Philip to Plymouth and renewing the same for Himself his Heirs and Successors yet it is apparent this Massasoit never loved the English and would have ingaged them never to have attempted to draw away any of his People from their old Pagan Superstition and Devilish Idolatry to the Christian Religion But finding they would make no Treaty with him upon such Conditions he urged it no further But this was a bad Omen that whatever kindness he pretended to the Englijh yet he hated them for being Christians which strain was more apparent in his Son that succeeded him and all the People Insomuch that some discerning Persons of that Jurisdiction were afraid that that part of the Indians would be all rooted out as it is since come to pass Neither was Passaconaway the great Sagamore or Sachim of Merimack River insensible of the fatal consequence of opposing the English for a Person of Quality relates that being invited by some Sachims to a great Dance in 1660. Passaconaway intending at that time to make his last and farewel Speech to his Children and People that were then all gathered together He addressing himself to them in this manner I am now going the way of all flesh or ready to die and not like to see you meet together any more I will now leave this word of Counsel with you that you take heed how you quarrel with the English for though you may do them much mischief yet assuredly you will all be destroyed and rooted off the Earth if you do For I was as much an Enemy to them at their first coming into these Parts as any one whatsoever and tryed all ways and means possible to have destroyed them at least to have prevented them sitting down here but could no way effect it therefore I advise you never to contend with the English nor make War with them And accordingly his eldest Son assoon as he perceived the Indians were up in Arms withdrew himself into some remote place that he might not be hurt either by the English or Indians But to proceed after this digression After the death of Massasoit his eldest Son Alexander succeeded about twenty years since who notwithstanding the League he had entred into with the English with his Father in 1639. had no affection to them nor their Religion but was Plotting to Rise against
through O as the line G O H shall be a true Meridian line upon which the Hour line of XII of your Dial must be placed and the Dial so fixed truly Horizontal shall constantly give you the true Hour You may make more Circles than one upon the Plain lest the Sun upon the same day should not be seen exactly at the same time of both parts of the day as the Figure plainly shews Place this at the end of the Astronomicall Tables Books Printed for and Sold by Dorman New-man at the Kings-Arms in the Poultrey Folio POol's English Annotations 2 Vol. Causin's Holy Court. Clelia a Romance Reynolds of Murther and Adultery Bentivoglio's Wars of Flanders Sir Robert Stapleton's Translation of Juvenal Hugh's Exposition on Genesis and Exodus Viguola's Architecture Davis of Uniformity in Churches The Exact Polititian or Compleat Statesman Ambroses his Looking to Jesus War with Devils Communion with Angels Bentevolio and Vrania Bishop Reynold's Works Rea's Flora Cemes and Pomona Sir James Melvil's Memoirs Esq Marvil's Poems The State and Wars of New-England in 3 Parts Bailii Operis Historici Chronologici Twiss de Scientia Media Scotiae Illustrata per Dom. Robert Sibbald Tryal of Henry Baron Delamere Bachanalia or a Discription of a Drunken Club. Lower's Relation of the King's Voyage to Holland Collection of Loyal Addresses Quarto GAles Court of the Gentiles Sir Henry Vanes Meditations Crofton of Infant Baptism Caryl on Job Durham on the Canticles On the Commandments Brook's Golden Key Paradice Opened Case's Mount Pisgah Firmin's Real Christian Leybourn's Penorganon Alexander's Jesuitico-Quakerism Burrough's Gospel Remission Baxter's Apology for the Nonconformists Northern Lass a Comedy Rollo or the Bloody Brothers a Tragedy Scornful Lady a Comedy Elder Brother a Comedy Dutchess of Malfey a Comedy Leslii Historia Scotorum Flavel's Husbandry spiritualiz'd Strangii de Voluntate Dei Mather on the Types Dr. Owen On Justification Baxter's Saints Rest The Man of Sin Light foot in Lucam Dr. Charlton's Enquiry into Human Nature Boy 's Sermons Behn's Remains Manly of Usury Brown against the Quakers Quaker's Spiritual Court Proclaim'd Warning to Souls to beware of Quakerism Answer to Mr. Read's Case Call to the Shepherds of Israel Seven Champions Poor Robin's Perambul from Saffronwalden to Lond. Dr. Beyfields Treatise of Consumptions and Rules for Health Sermons Dr. Meggot before the Artillery Company Mr. Ryther at Mr. Janeway's Funeral Mr. Williams on the Fifth of November On the Late Rebellion Mr. Grey on the Rebellion Mr. Blake at Mr. Sharp's Funeral Mr. Nicholet at Mr. Bernard's Funeral a Sermon Preach'd at Sea Dr. Sudbury before the King Mr. Pearson at Dr. Hatfield's Funeral Mr. Claget's Assize Sermon at Bury Mr. Hollingsworth before the Lord Mayor The Case of Lay-Communion Case of Hearing Scandalous Ministers Roma Mendax Discourse of the East-India Company Trade of England Revived Quakerism Subverted Sea Mirrour Derbishire Damosel Large Octavo BIshop Taylor 's Contemplations Duty of Man 2d Part. Turenne's Life and Actions Smith's Gramatica Quadrilinguis Doctrine of Devils Nalton's twenty Sermons Ferguson's Interest of Reason in Religion Heywood's Life in God's Favour Derridon agninst Atheism Engl. Tesmarii Rhetorica Ryther's Morning Seeker Swinock of Sins of Omissions Esq Polhil against Dr. Sherlock Present State of Russia Basil Valentine of Antimony History of the Treaty at Nimuegen Conold of Schism Homer Burlesque Dr. Manwaring of Health and long Life Synopsis of Vocal Musick Pool's Nullity of the Romish Faith Wilson of right Interpretation of Scripture Durham of Scandal Dr. Trapham's State of Jamaica Sclater of Grace Flavels two Treatises of Fear c. Janeway's Works Dr. Duveile's Explanation on the Acts. Brucher's Rudiments of Latine Grammar Dr. Bates's Sermon on the Sovereignty of God's Grace Marirner's Everlasting Almanack Synopsis of Quakerism Quakers Cannons Robert's Tree of Life Lockier's Sermons Catalines Conspiracy Small Octavo and Twelves COrahs Doom in Answer to the Contempt of the Clergy Janeway's Legacy Guthry's Tryal of a Saving Interest in Christ London Jests Helvicus Colloquies Quintus Curtius Flavel's Saint Indeed Token for Mourners Simpson's Philosophical Dialogue Medela Medicorum Treatise of Feavers Diversity of Salts and Spirits maintained by Matthew Mackaile of Aberdeen Ness his Christian Walk Sherly of the Gout Tachmas Prince of Persia a Novel Adamite or Loves of Father Rock a Novel Amours of the Pallas-Royal Viz. Madam de la Valliere Madam de Ollonne Madam de Chastillion Madam de Savigny c. Madam Lavallier's Devotions Baysied Exercitationes Annatomici Trimmer or Life and Death of Moderation Life and Death of the Queen-Mother Wits or various Poems Dutch Grammar and Dictionary Call to Prayer Smith's Weaned Christian Sir George Downing against the Dutch Dr. Rebotham's Sermons Seven Wise Masters History of St. Patrick History of the Twelve Apostles History of Jewels Roma Restituta Curious Distillatory Manly's History of Jopan and Syam Looking-glass for Children Hugh's Disputationes Grammatica Vertues of Tunbridge-Wells Morland's Doctrine of Interest Miltoni Logica Sydenham's Works Soloman's Remenbrancer Manning's Catholick Religion Golden Chain Du Moulin's Devotions Whip for the Devil Protestant Prayer book Protestants Resolution Shelton's Zeiglography Tachygraphy Present State of Scotland Rapin's Observations on Homer Virgil Plato c. Frambesarius's Art of Physick Engl. Scotch Psalms Starr of the Eastern Sages Bunnian's Holy War Doolittle's Call Dr. Beyfield on the Spaw Waters Mercury-Gallant or French-Mercury Blood for Blood Small Twelves and Twenty-fours JAneway's Token for Children in two Parts Wadsworth's Legacy Crown and Glory of a Christian Milk for Babes Likewise the Pictures of King Charles II. his Statue on the Royal-Exhange Sir Roger L'Estrange Count Staremberg Method of His Majesties Curing the Evil. The Elephant The Spanish Inquisition The late Blazing-Star Where is also to be had in large quantities or small the following Medicines rightly Prepared by the first Authors Viz. Daffey's Elixir Salutis Bateman's Spirit of Scurvy-Grass Golden and Plain Matthew's Pills Dr. Fletcher's Powder Thomson's Pill Spirit of Salt Pearse's Lozenges Natures Familiar Balm An Excellent Balsom for Wounds Balsomum Apoplecticum The Extract of Liquoras FINIS