the Stars had a sick Husband who Dreamt that he should be restor'd to his former health so soon as he could but taste of the Fruits which grew on a Tree whereby the Family of Heaven were kept alive but that the Tree must needs be cut down which Ataensic obeying gave onely two blows when the Tree to her great amazement fell out of Heaven down to the Earth there being by this means nothing more left to eat in Heaven Ataensic follow'd the fallen Tree and being big with Child bare a Daughter which growing up to years was Deliver'd of two Daughters viz. Taoviscaron and Jouskeha the eldest of which slew the youngest By these Fables we may discern their obscure knowledge of Noah's Flood Eve's Fall and Cain's Murder No less ridiculous is that which they believe concerning the Creation viz. That the Waters were inclos'd within a Frog which Jouskeha causing to be cut open all Streams and Rivers issuing out had their Original from thence This done Jouskehâ— open'd a Pit out of which came all sorts of Beasts they ascribe a Bodily shape to the Soul As also of the Creation and Souls of the Deceased as also Immortality but that they live together in a great Village towards the West from which removing sometimes they knock at the Doors of their former Friends in the Night and sow deserted Grounds That the Journey towards the Village in which the Souls reside is very strange the High-way thither beginning at a Rock nam'd Ecaregniendi where they first Paint their Faces which done they go to a Hut inhabited by an old Man nam'd Osotrach who takes the Brains out of the Souls Head after which they walk to a broad River which they cross on a narrow Plank or Bridge on which a Dog encountring forces them to leap into the Water which carries them down to the foremention'd Village They acknowledge one Oki for the Governor of the Sea and seasons of the Year Strange Rock They also Religiously Worship the Rock Tsankchi Arasta which they believe some ages ago was once a Man but afterward Transform'd into a Rock in which a Daemon resides who can make their Journies either successful or dangerous wherefore they offer him Tobacco Thunder Their opinion of Thunder is likewise very ridiculous for they say that the Devil endeavoring to vomit a horrible Serpent by straining to evacuate the same rents the Clouds and occasions Thunder Lastly Thakabech Idol They relate of a Dwarf call'd Thakabech who climb'd on the top of a Tree which by his blowing thereon grew so high that it touch'd the Clouds and Thakabech easily stept into them where he found all sorts of delight and pleasure but having a Sister on Earth descended again along the Tree and fetching his Sister conducted her above the Stars mean while Thakabech going in the Night to see if he had taken any thing in his Net which he had pitch'd found it full of Fire and observing the same very narrowly saw that he had taken the Sun but durst not approach the same by reason of its great heat but making a Mouse sent her to gnaw the Net in pieces and set the Sun at liberty Every twelfth year they keep an extraordinary great Funeral-Feast Funeral-Feast for on the Set-time they flock from all parts to the appointed place every one carrying thither the Bodies or Bones of their Deceas'd Friends wrapt up in Clothes and hang them over their Meat which they eat singing such fond and Superstitious Conceits make up the Religion of these poor deluded People SECT V. Accadia or Nova Scotia NOva Scotia or New Scotland formerly call'd Accadia is commonly accounted a part of New France viz. that part which lying on the South side of the River Canada and shooting South-Easterly into a bosom of the Sea forms it self into a Peninsula between the Gulph of St. Lawrence and the Bay Francoise nevertheless because of the different concernments of this part of the Countrey in regard the right of claim to several places in this district most especially of all Nova Francia besides hath been long in dispute between Us and the French it will be most convenient to Treat of it apart and because the Series of Affairs from its first discovery till of late years appears faithfully represented on the English part in a Remonstrance Address'd to the King and Council by Sir Lewis Kirk and his Brother John Kirk Esquire it will not be amiss onely adding some few things upon occasion to follow exactly the Narration of Affairs deliver'd in the said Remonstrance to this effect 1. THe whole Tract or Space of Land in America lying on either side of the River Canada which a long time since were known by the Names of Nova Francia and Nova Scotia were at first discover'd and found out by the English in the time of Henry the Seventh King of England which Expedition was first undertaken at the Command and Charges of that King afterwards further'd and carry'd on by the favorable Aspect of Queen Elizabeth so that in process of time for many years together the said Tract of Ground with absolute Priviledge of free Commerce fell under the Jurisdiction and Power of the Crown of England Neither was it unto any other Christian Princes or their Subjects more clearly known or discover'd untill about the year 1600. some of the French understanding the benefit arising by Traffique in the River of St. Lawrence having formerly seiz'd upon that Tract of Land situate on the North side of the said Floud or River Canada did afterwards in Anno 1604. under the Conduct of Peter de Gua Lord of Monts who in the year 1606. was follow'd by Monsieur de Pourtrincourt Possess themselves of L' Accadie lying on the South side of the said River naming the whole Nova Francia challenging to themselves for many years at least de facto the Possession thereof with sole liberty of Commerce there 2. In Anno 1621. King James of England looking upon the Possession gotten there by the French as upon an Invasion did by his Letters Patents Grant unto Sir William Alexander a Scotchman Created afterwards Earl of Sterling by King Charles the First L' Accadie by the Name of Nova Scotia who in the year 1622 and 1623. after Sir Samuel Argal had driven out Biard and Masse and demolishing their Fort carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia having obtain'd the Possession thereof they Planted a Colony therein and kept Possession for about two years after until such time as upon the Marriage of his Majesty King Charles the First with the Lady Henrietta Maria the said L' Accadie or Nova Scotia was by Order of the King of England return'd into the Possession of the French 3. Afterwards a War arising between his Majesty King Charles the First and Lewis the XIII Anno 1627 and 1628. Sir David Kirk and his Brethren and Relations of England did by vertue of his Majestie 's Commission send to Sea
but the more Inland parts of the Countrey are indifferently warm Moreover it hath been found by certain experience that those Countreys which look to wards the East or Sun-rising are colder than those which lie towards the West or Sun-setting and those that have the Evening Winds on them warmer than those which have the Morning Winds which being so it should follow that the temperature of the Air in those Regions is peculiar to the Bodies of those of our Nation who being accustom'd to a Climate somewhat temperate are neither able to endure extremity of Cold nor immoderate Heat Yet there are who affirm that New England though situate in the midst of the temperate Zone nevertheless feels both extremities of the two opposite Zones in the Summer the heat of the Torrid and in the Winter the cold of the Frigid As for the first discovery of this Countrey First discovery it is not to be expected otherwise than that of the discovery of those other Countreys hitherto discours'd of that is to say very uncertain but because the French boast of Joannes Verrazanus who though an Italian was employ'd by the French King Francis the First as the first Discoverer not onely of Nova Francia as hath been already intimated but also of this Countrey and the adjoyning Coast and Regions we shall not think it impertinent to give from their own Relations a brief view of his Voyage and afterwards a particular Description of the English Plantations there and of their Transactions both one with another and between them and the Nations The Narration of Verrazanus's Voyage is as followeth Remarkable Voyage of Verrazanus ON command of the French King Francis the First John Verrazanus Anno 1524. setting Sail Westward from the Canary Isles discover'd a low American Coast in thirty four Degrees North Latitude inhabited by naked People which behind the sandy Hills facing the Sea Manur'd many fruitful Plains Then Sailing a hundred Leagues along the Shore Northerly he view'd a Countrey full of Vines which grew up amongst the Boughs of high Trees and Sailing up a pleasant River Landed on the Island Clandia full of woody Mountains thence he stood for the main Continent where after having visited a King Clad in wrought Deer-skin he Sail'd by a Bay at whose Mouth appear'd a Rock in an Inlet twenty Leagues where appear'd five small Isles all of them exceeding fruitful After this being got a hundred and fifty Leagues to the Northward he found very salvage People whose Heads appear'd through Bear-skins and Sea-Calves By this time having Terreneuf on his Starboard he return'd back to Diepe Thus far Verrazanus made some discovery of the Coast which hath since not onely been farther inspected by the English but also by them Planted and call'd New England The setling of Plantations This Countrey whether first discover'd by the said Verrazanus or together with the rest of largely-taken Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh or as some say by Captain Gosnald in the Year 1602. was so well known to the English in the beginning of King James's Reign here that the setling and carrying on of Plantations id this part of America was vigorously promoted by many of the most eminent Persons in England whereupon it was about the Year 1606. being the fourth Year of the said King granted by Patent to several Lords Knights Gentlemen and Merchants under the denomination of The Plymouth Company both in favour of those generous Spirits who studied and endeavor'd the good of the Publick by foreign Plantations and indulgence to those who not well satisfi'd with the Government of Church and State and willingly transporting themselves and Families thither as to their Asylum could more conveniently be spar'd than the better affected part of the People And although the Colonies at first sent over succeeded not according to expectation yet in a short time there Plantations were brought to very great perfection Captain Weimouth who had been employ'd there by the Lord Arundel of Warder for the discovery of the North-West Passage falling short of his Course hapned into a River on the Coast of America call'd Pemmaquid from whence he brought five of the Natives for England three of whose Names were Mannida Skettwarroes and Tasquantum and Landing at Plymouth presented them to Sir Ferdinando Gorges whom he made use of as Instruments for the farther advancement of these Plantations they were all of one Nation but of several parts and several Families he kept them with him three years and observing in them an inclination to vertuous Designs and Spirits above the Vulgar he gain'd information from them what great Rivers ran up into the Land what Men of note were seated on them what Power they were of how Ally'd what Enemies they had and the like and taking some light from thence sent away a Ship furnish'd with Men and all kind of Necessaries convenient for the Service intended under the Command of Captain Henry Chaloung a Gentleman of a good Family and very capable for Undertakings of this nature and giving him sufficient Instructions what to do sent along with him two of the said Natives for his better Conduct and Direction ordering him by all means to keep the Northerly Gage as high as Cape Briton till they had discover'd the Main and then to beat it up to the Southward as the Coast tended till they found by the Natives they were near the place to which they were assign'd By that time they were about a hundred Leagues off the Island of Canara the Captain fell sick of a Feaver and the Winds being Westerly his Company shap'd their Course for the Indies and coming to St. John de Porto Rico the Captain went ashore for the recovery of his Health whilst the Company took in Water and such other Provisions as they had present need of and spent some time in Hunting and other Recreations after which steering their intended Course they were met with by the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana taken Prisoners and carried into Spain the Ship and Goods being confiscated the Voyage overthrown and the Natives lost Not long after the setting out of Chaloung Thomas Haman was sent by Sir John Popham Lord Chief Justice of England towards the River of Sagadehoc to the succour of Chaloung if need were but not finding him after he had scowr'd the Coast all about he return'd back into England Captain Prinne was likewise sent from Bristol who arriving happily in those Parts brought back with him at his return the most exact Discovery of that Coast that ever had been gain'd till then A while after at the Charge of the said Sir John Popham a hundred Men were sent to settle a Colony at Sagadehoc under the Command of George Popham Raleigh Gilbert Master of the Ship who seated themselves in a Peninsula at the Mouth of this River which attempting to discover they met with a Wood near to an Island distant from the Line about forty five
so made are in Force there till His Majesty thinks fit to alter them The Chief Court of Judicature is call'd The Quarter-Court because it is held every quarter of a Year where all Causes Criminal and Civil are heard and determin'd and the Judges of this Court are the Governor and Council The present Governor in this Year 1671. is Sir William Berkley who was made Governor by King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. in the Year 1640. And those of the Council are Sir Henry Chichesly who is one of the greatest and most considerable Planters there and Mr. Edward Diggs before-mention'd Mr. Thomas Ludwel Secretary Major-General Robert Smith and divers other worthy Gentlemen That part of the Countrey where the English are Planted is divided into nineteen Counties viz. Northampton-County in Acomack on the Eastern shore and on the Western shore Corotuck Lower-Norfolk Nansemund Isle of Wight Surry Warwick Henerico James Charles York New-Kent Gloucester Middlesex Lancaster Northumberland Westmoreland Rappahanock and Harford-Counties In every one of these Counties there are inferior County-Courts kept every Moneth these take no Cognizance of Causes relating to Life or Member or exceeding a certain limited Value such being refer'd to the Quarter-Courts only to which likewise there lie Appeals from their Inferior Courts There are Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers in every respective County appointed by the Governor for the Administration of Justice who sit there according to his Order and whereof these County-Courts are chiefly compos'd There are few Towns as yet erected in this Colony the Principal Seat of the English there is at a place call'd James-City in Honor of King James of Great Brittain c. This is situated in a Peninsula on the North side of James-River and has in it many fair Brick and other good Houses In this place are held the Quarter-Courts General Assemblies the Secretary's Office and all other Affairs and greatest Concerns of the Colony are here dispatch'd On the same side nearer the Mouth of this River stands Elizabeth-City containing also several good Houses of Brick and Timber Sir William Berkley the present Governor resides at a place somewhat distant from James-City call'd Green-Spring a fair Brick House which he himself caus'd to be built The other Towns of Note belonging to the English only Henricopolis or Henry's-Town so nam'd from Prince Henry then living built in a very convenient place more within Land about eighty Miles distant from James-City and Dale's-Gift so nam'd and Planted at the Charges of Sir Thomas Dale Deputy-Governor of the Countrey about the Year 1610. Of the Indians of Virginia The Indians of Virginia in Stature Complexion and Disposition differ very little from those of Mary-land Their Laws and Customs their way of Living and Apparel their Religion Money and manner of Burial are the same in both places all which are more particularly express'd in the precedent Description of that Province to which we refer the Reader Yet these Indians far exceed those of Mary-land in Treachery and Cruelty to the English there as will appear by this following Relation of their Proceedings towards them since the first Seating of that Colony wherein nevertheless the Civility of some particular Persons at their first Landing is not to be omitted Transactions between the English and the Natives Upon the first arrival of Captain Amidas and Captain Barlow in Wingandacoa now Virginia they were accosted by Granganimeo the King's Brother of that Countrey who attended with a Train of forty or fifty Men came in a very civil manner to Treat about a Commerce of Trade and Traffick which immediately began between them and several Barters were made Granganimeo who was very just of his Word and always kept his promis'd Day of meeting fancying most a Pewter Dish gave twenty Deer-skins for it and boring a Hole therein hung it about his Neck for a Breast-plate afterwards he with his whole Company and his Wife and Children frequently and familiarly did eat and drink aboard the English Ships the King himself call'd Wingina lying sick at his chief Town six days Journey off of a dangerous Wound which he had receiv'd from a neighboring King his mortal Enemy Some of the English going to Land upon the Isle of Roanoack were met by Granganimeo's Wife who her Husband being absent commanded her Servants some to draw their Boat ashore some to carry them on their Backs to Land others to carry in their Oars into the House for fear of stealing and having caus'd a great Fire to be made to warm them and to dry those that had been wet in their Voyage she afterwards Entertain'd them with a very plentiful Feast or Banquet after that Countrey fashion and when they took alarm at the coming of two or three of her Men with Bowes and Arrows she caus'd the Bowes to be broken and the Men to be beaten out of the House besides several other demonstrations of extraordinary civility and when notwithstanding all this they could not be perswaded to Lodge any where but in their Boat she us'd all means imaginable to make them quit their jealousie and accept of a Lodging in the House In the Year 1585. a Company that went over with Sir Richard Greenvill burnt the Town of Aquascogoc by reason of a Silver Cup that was stoln by some of the Indians took Prisoner Menatonon King of Chawonoc who gave a large Relation of another King about three days Journey off who possess'd an Island wonderfully rich in Pearl which was taken in great abundance in a deep Water that inviron'd it Going towards the Countrey of the Mangoacks among whom in the Province of Chaunis Temoatan they heard of a Mine of strange Copper call'd Wassador with Skiko the King of Chowonock's Son and Manteo a faithful Salvage for their Guide they were treacherously dealt with by Wingina alias Pemissapan for so his Brother Granganimeo being lately dead he had alter'd his Name who endeavor'd to stir up a Confederacy of the Chawonocks Moratocks and Mangoacks against them yet by the urgent perswasions of Ensenore his Father the truest Friend the English had after the death of Granganimeo and seeing them safe return'd from their Journey wherein he thought they had all perish'd and especially upon Menatonon's sending Messengers to them with Pearl and Okisco King of Weopomeock to yield himself Vassal to the Queen of England his Hatred was somewhat cool'd but Ensenore deceasing soon after he return'd to his old treacherous Practises again and in the end while he was contriving mischief against the Planters he himself was shot taken Prisoner and beheaded After the Company left upon Virginia by Sir Richard Greenwill for he himself was return'd tir'd out with hunger hardship and the many extremities they were at last reduc'd to had deserted the Place and obtain'd Passage for England through the civility of Sir Francis Drake pitying their distress fifty Men more were Landed upon Roanoack-Isle by the
himself to Avalon to inspect his Concerns there in Person from whence returning the same year he Embarqu'd himself again together with his Lady and all his Family except his eldest Son for Avalon the year following at which time there being then War between England and France he redeem'd above twenty Sail of English Ships which had been taken there that year by French Men of War whereof one Monsieur De la Rade had the chief Command and shortly after took six French Fishing Ships upon that Coast and sent them the same year with a great many French-men Prisoners into England Coming thence he left a Deputy there and continu'd the Plantation till his Death which was in April 1632. After whose Decease it descended of right to his Son and Heir Cecil now Lord Baltemore who thereupon sent one Captain William Hill as his Deputy thither to take possession thereof and to manage his Interest there for him Captain Hill according to his Commission shortly after repair'd thither and liv'd some years at the Lord Baltemore's House at Ferryland above mention'd In the thirteenth Year of King Charles the First of England c. about the Year of our Lord 1638. Marquess Hamilton Earl of Pembroke Sir David Kirk and others under pretence that the Lord Baltemore had deserted that Plantation obtain'd a Patent of all New-found Land wherein Avalon was included and shortly after dispossess'd the Lord Baltemore of his Mansion House in Ferryland and other Rights there and during the late Rebellion in England kept possession but His now Majesty King Charles the Second immediately after his most happy Restauration in the Year 1660 upon the now Lord Baltemore's Petition thought fit to refer the whole Matter to be Examin'd by Sir Orlando Bridgeman then Lord-Chief Justice now Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal of England and others to report the true state thereof to His Majesty together with their Opinions thereupon The Referrees accordingly upon full hearing of Council on both sides certifi'd That they conceiv'd the said Patent to Sir George Calvert to be a good Patent in force and not avoided by the later to Sir David Kirk and others and that the Title and Interest to the said Province did therefore belong to the Lord Baltemore Whereupon His Majesty on the twentieth of March in the same Year Order'd the Possession thereof to be re-deliver'd to his Lordship which was accordingly executed Since which time his Lordship has peaceably enjoy'd the possession thereof and continues the Plantation to this day by deputing Lieutenants there from time to time for the better Government of that Province the rest of New found Land remaining still to the aforesaid Proprietors claiming by the Patent of 13 Car. 1. The Commodities that are either by Art or Nature produc'd there are the same with those of the remainder of New-found Land The Winter there is extream cold the Summer very hot but withal pleasant and during that Season there is great plenty of Pasture for Cattel The Coast of this Province is very safe and as well furnish'd with variety of bold and pleasant Harbors as any other part of New-found Land where the English likewise Fish for Cod the lesser sort whereof is call'd Poor-John which is there caught in great abundance especially at Ferryland and in the Bay of Bulls Besides these two there are divers other excellent Harbors on the Eastern Shore of Avalon as Capling Bay Cape Broyle Brittus Isle of Spears Barrom Cove Whitburns Bay and Petit Harbour above mention'd On the West are the Bay of Placentia and several other good Harbors There are no Indians in Avalon and but few English by reason of the excessive Cold in Winter though Sir David Kirk and his Lady and also his Family liv'd in the Lord Baltemore's House at Ferryland for the space of ten years and upwards The Soil seems to promise great store of Mines which probably may in time be disover'd The late Lord Baltemore took accidentally a piece of Oar up that lay there upon the surface of the Earth and brought it with him into England which was found upon trial to yield a greater proportion of Silver than the Oar of Potosi in the West-Indies but hitherto no Mine of it hath been discover'd there The Trade of Fishing being of so great concernment to the Nation of England the same if it be well manag'd in this Island of Terra Nova will employ every year above two hundred Sail of English Ships and ten thousand Mariners besides the great benefit which may accrue unto the Nation by Imposition upon Strangers there which would amount to several thousands of Pounds per Annum with which those Coasts may be Guarded and Ships Trading thither secur'd besides the great Customs by the Ships call'd The Sacks being commonly in great numbers every year who carry Fish from New-found Land into the Straights France Portugal and Spain and who bring their Returns into England as Bullion and all other native Commodities of those Countreys If the Island were well fortifi'd we might Command all those of other Nations that come to Fish in New-found Land to pay Contribution in Fish or otherwise for their Priviledge to Fish there the said Island being first Planted by English and pertaining to the Kingdom of England or if occasion should require they might be utterly debarr'd of Fishing there The Trade of Fishing is of so great concernment to France Spain Portugal the Straights and other Parts that they cannot well be without that yearly Supply in Fish which comes from that Island Neither can the Hollanders Spaniards or Portuguese well set any Ships to the West-Indies without New-found Land Fish there being none that will endure to pass the Line sound and untainted but the Fish of that Countrey salted and dry'd there And so long as the Act continues still in force That no Fish be Transported from the said Island but in English Bottoms it will contribute very much to our encrease of Shipping there and by consequence of the employment of Mariners and the Fishing of that part of the Island will be solely appropriated to the English Nation to whom of right it belongs which will prove the greatest Ballance of Trade in that part of the World and that whereas above two hundred Sail do Trade thither yearly to Fish if a thousand Sail come if there be but Fisher-men enow they may all have Fraughtage there The French if once the Island be fortifi'd will be depriv'd of their Nursery of Mariners this being the onely place besides Canada and one or two adjacent Coasts where they come for supply of Fish with which that Nation cannot be furnish'd so well from other Parts By well Planting and Fortifying New-found Land the Trading to Virginia New England and those Parts would be much encourag'd New England having had of late great Traffick with New-found Land where they vend the Growth of their Plantation Besides New-found Land is a Key to the Gulf of
Death but not satisfi'd with that Revenge he over-run all the Countrey of Aromaia took Morequito's Uncle call'd Topiawari Prisoner who bought his Life for a hundred Plates of Gold and some Precious Stones That Listing many Men in Spain for the Gold which he sent thither he Row'd with Barques up the Rivers Barema Pattroma and Dessequebe where he barter'd Trifles for Men Women and Children of whom he made great Sums of Money on the Island Margareta This Information which Sir Walter Raleigh got from his Prisoner Berreo made him desirous to make an Expedition to Guiana to which purpose he sent Captain George Gifford with a Ketch and a Barque to the River Capuri where the Water fell before the Vessels could get beyond the Sands in the Mouth of the River John Douglas had better success being likewise sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh for he with his Boats found that Orinoque had nine Arms to the North Sea and seven to the South which embrace divers Isles of which those on the right side are call'd Pallamos and those on the left Horotomaca The Mouth of the River gapes a hundred Leagues On the fore-mention'd-Isles dwell the Titiriras a modest People who speak a bald Language in the Summer they live under the open Skie upon the bare Earth and in the Winter being there between May and September on the tops of the Trees because during that time the River Orinoque rising thirty Foot higher overflows all the Isles thereabouts which are very high and mountainous But Raleigh himself Rowing up the River Amana endur'd great hardship his Men being most of them sweltred with the Heat and great want of Provisions and had not their Indian Pilot shew'd them another Stream much easier to Navigate he would have been forc'd to return successless but being stor'd with Provision out of a Village built along the Shore he chased four Canoos of which he took one and also an Arwaccas which in fifteen days time brought him into the River Orinoque where he saw the high Mountains of Guiana afterwards Anchoring before a fair sandy Bank which lay near the Mouth of three Rivers he took abundance of Tortoises and was furnish'd with plenty of all sorts of Provisions sent him from the Governor Toparimaca who inhabited the pleasant Village Arowocay built on a little Hill surrounded with delightful Gardens and Fields till'd by the Negro's who accommodating Raleigh with an experienc'd Pilot he set Sail with a fresh Easterly Wind and Westward saw the Isles Assapana twenty five Leagues long and six broad and Iwana of the same bigness The River Orinoque hath here thirty Leagues in breadth and receives the Rivers Arrawopana and Europa He Sail'd next by the Isles Ocaywita and Putayma opposite to which on the Main Land appears the Mountain Oecope whose top reacheth the Clouds on the right side a Plain Countrey discover'd it self a vast way which the Pilot said was call'd The Plain of Sayma extending Northerly a hundred and twenty Leagues to Cumana and Caracas inhabited by four sorts of People viz. the Saymas Assaways Wikeries and Aroras which last being a Coal-black People us'd poyson'd Arrows Raleigh passing between the two Mountains Aroami and Aio came to an Anchor near the Island Murscolima and from thence into the Haven Morequito where the King Topiawari a hundred and ten years of age brought all sorts of Fruit Poultrey Fish and Flesh and gave him an Account of the Condition of Guiana viz. That the whole Countrey from the Mountains Waccarima to Emeria bore the Name of Guiana the Inhabitants calling themselves Orinoque Poni on the other side of the said Mountains lies the spacious Valley Amariocapana where the Guianiatas reside Southerly the Oreiones and Epuremei who coming out of a strange Countrey have destroy'd the ancient Inhabitants leaving onely the Awaaawaqueri and Cassipagoios The Epuremei built the stately City Macurewarai there But Raleigh going on his Journey saw the Island Caiama and came to the Mouth of the River Caroli whose strong Current he was not able to stem wherefore he desir'd Aid from Wanuretona Governor of Canuria who furnish'd him with Provisions and Men to Toe him up the fore-mention'd Stream and inform'd him that the River Caroli which sprung out of the Lake Cassipa was inhabited on one side by the Iwarawakeri and the Lake Cassipa by three powerful People viz. the Cassiapagotos Eparagotos and Arawogotos all mortal Enemies to the Spaniards whereupon Raleigh sent some of his Men thither who return'd with great hopes of finding rich Gold-Mines The fore-mention'd Lake also produces the Rivers Aroi Atoica and Caora near which dwell the Ewaipanoma who have neither Necks nor Chins but their Mouthes just upon their Shoulders Towards the North the River Cari falls into the Orinoque and on the West the Stream Limo between both which the Cannibals reside whose Metropolis call'd Acamacari is very famous for their strange way of Trading for there the Women are brought to Market and bought by the Arwaccas But because great Showers of Rain fell daily and the Stream Caroli glided down wards with extraordinary force Raleigh return'd to Morequito from whence Putima King of Warapana conducted him to a rich Golden Mountain in his Countrey and along the Rivers Mana Oiana and Cumaca to the place where the Orinoque divides it self into three excellent Streams the chiefest whereof call'd Cararoopana washes the Province Emeria out of whose Mountains the Rivers Waracayari Coirama Akaniri and Iparoma glide to the Northern Ocean as also the Araturi Amacura Barima Wana Morooca Paroma and Wyni all Branches of the River Orinoque from whence Raleigh return'd home to England Not long after he sent Laurence Keymes and Thomas Masham back to Guiana Keymes found out all the Rivers between the Amazones and the Orinoque and Masham the Stream Wiapoco from whence both return'd without any farther success Sir Walter Raleigh condemu'd for Treason After this the Business lay still for a while in regard Sir Walter Raleigh being together with Grey Cobham and the Romish Priests Watson and Clark found guilty of High Treason was Condemn'd to die but being Repriev'd by the King was kept a Prisoner in the Tower for the space of fourteen years during which time he wrote a Description of Guiana which the King perusing was so well pleas'd with it especially since he undertook to make out by several Reasons that England might make it self Master of divers Gold-Mines there to which Spain could lay no manner of Claim that he discharg'd him out of Prison He is Repriev'd and sent again to Guiana and permitted him to make a second Expedition Whereupon with ten Ships Anno 1617. he set Sail for Guiana again being toss'd with divers Storms he at last came with five Sail to the River Calliana where he fell dangerously sick and therefore sent Captain Keymes with five Sail to the River Orinoque to conduct the Men to the Gold-Mines each Ship carrying fifty
Grotius thus argues If America joyns to Tartary then the Horses which run wild at Grass might easily have found America themselves seeking to improve their Pasture and have gone from one Countrey into the other as it appears that since the Spaniards transported Horses to America they are dispers'd over the highest Mountains out of one Province into the other Or if the Straights of Anian run between both the Tartars never were Navigators and suppose they had been they would not have cross'd without Horses without which they knew not how to subsist To which we only say thus That although Tartary now and in former times abounded in Horse yet must we grant that it hath been always so or that the ancient Scythians who we avouch first planted America had such frequent use of them as the Tartars now This may be controverted for that these Scythians planting there in the Non-age of Time presently after the Flood the use of Horses was unknown which the Ancient Poets testifie by their Fiction of Centaurs who when first seen the Horse and Rider were taken for one Creature The like mistake the Mexicans had when they saw the mounted Spaniards a thousand running away from one Cavalier CHRISTOFEL COLONUS As to their coming thither of themselves it may easily be confuted Who knows not that there is no Countrey a continu'd Pasture but luxurious Vales separated with inaccessible Mountains Lakes and vast Wildernesses But David Ingram relates That he saw some Horses in the Northern America which the Mexicans and other Conquests of the Spaniards never heard of Whereupon we may conclude and we suppose without all peradventure That the Americans have absolutely their Original from Tartary which bordering Armenia where Noah's Ark first rested hath a convenient way though beyond the Artick Circle through a temperate Climate betwixt Heat and Cold to Cathay in the same Parallel with the neighboring America CHAP. III. First Discoverers of America Christopher Colonus his Expedition Christopher Colonus generally though by mistake call'd Columbus Pet Bizari Res Genoiâ—s lib. 6. was born in Arbizolo a Village in the Dominion of Genoa near Sovona his Father liv'd by Fishing in the Midland-Sea So that Sebastian Schroter Lib. 11. Hist Georg. and others besides him are mistaken saying Colonus was born in the City Cucureum and descended of the Noble Family Pilistrelli For Peter Bezarus Colunus his Countrey-man gives unquestionable Proofs of his mean Extract Christoph Colonus 's Birth and amongst other things That the Common-wealth of Genoa refus'd to receive the great Legacy which Colonus left them in his Will because they fondly thought it a derogation to their Honor being so great a Republick to take any thing of Bequest from a Fishers Son Yet his Majesty of Castile thought otherwise not onely enriching him with Wealth and a fair Revenue for his Discovery of the West-Indies but also though of a low derivation rais'd him to great Honor Ennobling him the first of his Family with Dignities Titles and Escutcheon which rank'd him in place among his Prime Nobility Colonus whom we shall henceforth call Columbus His Life spent his Youth neat the Sea where he was busie exploring the Winds considering their Natures and the Quarters whence the rose especially with the setting of the Current from the Atlantick to the Mediterrane The Wescern Winds which often as well as the Levant blow several days together from the great Ocean much amusing him hinted at last some Notions that there might be another World and hew Places to be discover'd beyond the setting of the Sun and that the Ne plus ultra should not be if he could help it the commanding Terminary of the Earth that way He also spent much time being of a solid Judgment in the Emendations of Charts and Maps then very much improvable And the Portuguese who at that time had got the start in Navigation from all other People being the busie to find a way by the South of Africa to the East-Indies not contented to go by hear-say he went himself in Person a Voyage with them Soon after Columbus settled himself in the Island Madera where an Accident hapned Strange Accident Hst Peru. which Francis Lopez de Gomesa relates thus The Master of a Ship whose Name and Countrey lies buried in Oblivion though some would have him to be of Spain some an Andalusian or Biscayner and other a Portuguese Trading to the Canaries and Flemmish-Isles was surpris'd by a hideous Tempest from the East which hurried him nolens volens through dreadful Waves where at last he found himself ingag'd upon a Western Coast altogether unknown The Storm ceasing without making further Discoveries he pick'd his way homeward at last Landing in the Haven of Madera All his Crew but three and himself with hardship want and the long Voyage having perish'd himself dangerously sick was carried into Columbus his House where lying on his Death-Bed he bequeath'd to Columbus his Maps Journals and other Observations of this his unfortunate Voyage Columbus being by these Papers more confirm'd than ever in his Opinion of a New World in the West declar'd what he verily believ'd Makes his Address at Genoa to the States of Genoa but they look'd upon him as a vain and idle Fellow yet Columbus full of his great Project thus slighted and scornfully rejected sate not so down but address'd himself to the King of Portugal To the Portuguese where they wearied him spending long time with dilatory Answers to ho effect the Opinion of a whole Court of expert Navigators having cast his Declaration out as a Chimera or meer Fancy Soon after Columbus sending his Brother into England English to move the Business to King Henry the Seventh he being taken Prisoner by the way and lying long er'e his Release came too late to the English Court prevented by the News of Christophe's return with Success from his intended Voyage For mean while Ferdinando and Isabella King of Castile And Castilian King concerning a New World having finish'd his Wars with the Moors had furnish'd him out for the Expedition which he effected by the favor of Alfonso Mendotio and Alfonso Quintavilia both great Ministers of State under Ferdinand and Isabel and obtain'd so much at last that he was sent with a hundred and twenty Souldiers besides Sea-men in two Ships and one Pinnace Thus supplied Sails from Cadiae to discover New Countreys he set Sail from Cadiz upon the Kings account the fourth of August Anno 1492 and first reach'd the Canary-Islands and from thence steering South-West the Wind in thirty three days scarce varying one Point But though the Weather blew so constant yet the Sea-men chang'd their Minds and Storm'd quite contrary crying His People rebel That Columbus was guilty of all their Deaths For said they after they had lost sight of the Canaries so many days nothing appearing but Sea and Sky Who can hope for any Success
at their great charge first three afterwards nine Ships with Warlike Preparations for recovering of the Possession of the said Lands lying on either side of the said River Canada and to expel and eject all the French Trading in those Parts wherein they had good Success and in Anno 1627. did there seize upon about eighteen of the French Ships wherein were found a hundred thirty five Pieces of Ordnance design'd for relief of the Royal Fort in L' Accadie and Quebeck in Nova Francia under the Command of Monsieur de Rocmand and Monsieur de la Tour Father of de la Tour Governor of the said Royal Fort whom together with the said Ships and Guns they brought into England and in the year 1628. they Possess'd themselves of the whole Region of Canada or Nova Francia situate on the North side of the River together with the Fort or Castle of Quebeck Sir Lewis Kirk being then constituted Governor of the place the French being then either expell'd or convey'd into England and the Arms of the King of England being publickly there erected and every where plac'd and before the year 1628. it was brought to pass by the said Sir William Alexander assisted both by the advice and charge of the said Kirk that in the parts of L' Accadie or Nova Scotia on the South side of the River Canada the whole place with the Forts thereon built being by him subdu'd presently came under the Power of the King of England that Region on the South side falling into the Possession of the said Sir William Alexander and that on the North side into the Possession of the Kirks 4. On March 29. 1632. a Peace being concluded between King Charles the First and Lewis the XIII it was amongst other things on the part of the King of England agreed That all the Forts as well in L' Accadie as in Nova Francia should be restor'd into the Possession of the Subjects of the French King which was exactly perform'd on the part of the English though to the great damage of the Kirks but on the part of the French although it was agreed as in the fourth and fifth Articles of Peace is set down to which reference is had yet nothing was ever perform'd of their parts so that the Kirks did thereupon suffer loss to the value of five thousand Pounds Sterl which were to be paid them by Monsieur de Cane a French-man but remain unpaid to this day 5. Anno 1633. the King of England taking notice that although the Forts and Castles according to the League were deliver'd up into the Possession of the French especially such as had been erected during their Possession thereof yet that his English Subjects were not to be excluded from Trade or free Commerce in those Regions that were first Discover'd and Possess'd by his Subjects did with the advice of his Council by his Letters Patents Dated May 11. 1633. upon consideration had of the Expences which the said Kirks had laid out upon the reducing of that Countrey with the Fort of Quebeck to the value of 50000lb. and also of their ready obeisance in resigning up the same on his Royal Command Grant unto Sir Lewis Kirk and his Brother John Kirk and his Associates for the term of thirty one years not yet expir'd full Priviledge not only of Trade and Commerce in the River Canada and places on either side adjacent but also to Plant Colonies and build Forts and Bulwarks where they should think fit 6. By vertue of which Commission Sir Lewis Kirk and his Brother John Kirk and his Associates in the Moneth of February next following viz. in 1633. set forth a Ship call'd The Merry Fortune Laden with Goods of a considerable value consign'd to those parts where during her Trading there without any just offence given and in time of Peace she was by the French forceably seiz'd on and carry'd into France and her Lading as if she had been lawful Prize Confiscated whereupon the Kirks suffer'd loss to the value of twelve thousand Pounds And although the Lord Scudamore Ambassador in France by the King of Englands special Command and the said John Kirk being there in Person by the King's Command did often earnestly urge that the Moneys due to the said Kirks and the said Ship with her Lading might be restor'd which for no other cause had been seiz'd upon and sold but only for that by the King's Commission she was found Trading at Canada yet he could obtain nothing but after some years fruitless endeavors return'd into England without accomplishing his desires 7. In the year 1654. Cromwel although an unjust Usurper of the Government yet upon consideration of the Premises taking a just occasion for requiring the Possession of L' Accadie sends forth several Ships under the Command of one Sedgwick who by vertue of the Authority granted him by Cromwel assaulted and subdu'd the aforesaid Forts in Nova Scotia and restor'd them into the Possession of the English And although in the year 1655. a League of firm Peace and Amity being concluded between Cromwel and the French King the French Ambassador did often urge the Restitution to the Possession of the French yet for the same causes aforesaid which had mov'd Cromwel to seize upon them it was thought fit still to retain the Possession of them and although according to the purport of the twenty fifth Article of the Peace Commissioners on both sides were to be appointed for the deciding and determining that Controversie yet nothing was done therein neither did the Commissioners ever meet within three Moneths as in the twenty fourth Article of the Treaty was provided and agreed So that now the case is very clear that the Possession to the English remains firm and just and that the Forts and Bulwarks before specifi'd are without all peradventure under the Power and Jurisdiction of the King of England Since the Restauration of his present Majesty the French Ambassador representing unto the King the Pretensions of the French unto the several Forts and other places in Accadie and urging the non-performance of the Articles of Agreement between Oliver Cromwel and the French King mov'd the King of England As a profess'd Enemy to all Violence for a Restitution of all the Forts and other places which were then in the possession of the English Not long after which whether upon the Ambassadors request or upon other important Affairs intervening or upon what other ground soever it were the French were suffer'd to re-enter on the foresaid places and do yet keep Possession of them till such time as the English claim under the just Title of the Kirks shall meet with some fit occasion of being reviv'd That which we suppose gives the French so much the more confidence in their claim of this Country is their presumption upon the Expedition of James Quartier whom they will have to be the first Discoverer if not Possessor not onely of the Isle of Assumption
Degrees and some odd Seconds where they easily went on Shore In the Year 1608. the Commander of the Colony deceasing and not long after him the Lord Chief Justice who had been the chief that had furnish'd them with fresh Supplies they return'd for England in those Ships that had been sent them with Succours At which unexpected return the Patrons of the Design were so offended that for a certain time they desisted from their Enterprizes In the mean while the French making use of this occasion Planted Colonies in divers places when Sir Samuel Argal from Virginia disturb'd their Designs and brought away Prisoners all he could lay hold on Suddenly after Captain Hobson and divers others were set out with very great Preparations and with them two of the Natives which had been detain'd for some time in England whom they thought to have made use of the better to draw the rest of the Natives to their Commerce but because a little before twenty four of them had been treacherously dealt with by one Hunt they contracted from thence so great an animosity towards the English that Captain Hobson was constrain'd to return without effecting any thing In the Year 1614. Captain John Smith being sent to Fish for Whales and seek after Mines of Gold and Silver Landed upon the Island of Monahiggan where he found some store of Whales but not such as those by whose Oyl they use to make so much profit About the same time two of the Natives being recover'd Erpenow of Capawick that had escap'd from Captain Hobson and Assacumet of Pemmaquid one of those that had been taken Prisoners with Chaloung Captain Harly with Necessaries convenient for such a Voyage was dispatch'd away by Sir Ferdinando Gorges the Earl of Southampton favouring the Design and furnishing him with some Land-Soldiers under the Command of Captain Hobson who not discourag'd with his former ill Success resolv'd upon a second Adventure In the Year 1615. Sir Richard Hakings undertook a Voyage into those Parts by authority of the Council of the second Colony but by reason of the great Wars among the Natives his Observations could not be such as might give any farther light than what had been already receiv'd Soon after which Captain Dormer coming for England from New-found-Land and Landing at Plymouth apply'd himself to the Governor by whom he was dispatch'd away with Direction to meet Captain Rocroft sent away a little before but Rocroft being dead by that time Dormer could come after him to Virginia where he heard he was he returning to Capawick was there set upon by Erpenow the foremention'd Salvage and other Indians that were Conspirators with him and within a short while after at Virginia whither he went to be cur'd of the Wounds he receiv'd in that Assassination he fell sick and died About the Year 1623. Captain Robert Gorges newly come out of the Venetian War was employ'd by the Council of New Englands Affairs as the Lieutenant-General to regulate the Abuses of divers Fisher-men and other Interlopers who without License frequented those Coasts for which Service he had assign'd to him all that part of the main Land situate upon the North-East side of the Bay of the Messachasets By these several Colonies sent so thick one after another both a full Discovery of the Countrey came to be made and a large gap open'd to the free possession thereof yet in regard of the many disappointments and misfortunes the several Companies sent over met with and counting the vast Charges their setting forth cost the Undertakers which would have been still increas'd by the need of continu'd Supplies in all probability New England would have been but thinly peopled to this day had not a great Tide of People possess'd with an aversion to the Church-Government of England and fled into Holland for Liberty of Conscience eagerly taken hold of this opportunity to make themselves Masters of their own Opinions and of a Place where they might erect a Government suitable thereunto and though at first there were some Exceptions taken as if this Countrey was to be made a Receptacle of Sectaries and such as condemn'd the Ecclesiastical Government of the Nation insomuch that Sir Ferdinando Gorges to whom they apply'd themselves desiring him to mediate for them to the Council of New Englands Affairs when they perceiv'd the Authority they had from the Virginia Company could not warrant their abode there had enough to do notwithstanding his Apology That these things hapned contrary to his expectation to wipe away the jealousie which was entertain'd of him it being Order'd that no more should be suffer'd to pass into New England but such as should take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy yet at last there was little notice taken who went perhaps upon consideration that the vast resort of People thither would be of greater advantage to the Plantations than their different Opinions at so remote a distance could be prejudicial so long as they acknowledg'd Obedience to the King and Civil Power However Sir Ferdinando to clear himself the better mov'd those Lords that were the chief Actors in the Business to resign their Grand Patent to the King and pass particular Patents to themselves of such part of the Countrey along the Sea-Coast as might be sufficient for them To this Motion there being a general Assent given by the Lords and a Day appointed for the conclusion thereof an Act was made for the Resignation of the Patent alloting to each Man their several Bounds From the uttermost parts began the Limits of the Lord Mougrave and ended at Hudson's River To the Eastward of which River for the space of sixty Miles in length was plac'd the Duke of Richmond's Assignment Next to him was setled the Earl of Carlile Next him the Lord Edward Gorges Next the Marquess of Hamilton Then Captain John Mason And lastly his own which extended to the great River Sagadehoc being sixty Miles and so up into the Main Land a hundred and twenty Miles which he was pleas'd to call by the Name of The Province of Main The Landing of the English in Plymouth Plantation was very much facilitated by the great Mortality that hapned amongst the Indians about that time amongst the Pecods Narragansets Nianticks Tarantines Wippanaps and those of Abargini Agissawang and Pockanekie their Powwows or Doctors seeing with amazement their Wigwams or Streets lie full of dead Bodies and in vain expecting help from Squantam their good or Abbamoch their bad God Not long before that blazing Comet so much talk'd of in Europe apppear'd after Sun-setting in their Horizon South-West for the space of thirty Sleeps for so they reckon their Days They Landed at first with little or no resistance a handful of Men onely being sent before to keep possession for their Companions who arriv'd eight days after when the Natives appearing with their Bowes and Arrows let flie their long Shafts amongst them whereupon one Captain Miles Standish with his Fowling-piece
intentions for at Mr. Leonard Calverts first arrival there the Werowance of Pascatoway being ask'd by him Whether he would be content that the English should fit down in his Countrey return'd this answer That he would not bid him go neither would he bid him stay but that he might use his own discretion These were their expressions to the Governor at his first entrance into Mary-land whom then they were jealous of whether he might prove a Friend or a Neighbor but by his discreet Demeanor towards them at first and friendly usage of them afterwards they are now become not only civil but serviceable to the English there upon all occasions The Indians of the Eastern shore are most numerous and were formerly very refractory whom Mr. Leonard Calvert some few years after his first settling the Colony was forc'd to reduce and of late the Emperor of Nanticoke and his Men were deservedly defeated by the present Governor Mr. Charles Calvert who reduc'd him about the year 1668. which has since tam'd the ruder sort of the neighboring Indians who now by experience find it better to submit and be protected by the Lord Proprietaries Government than to make any vain attempt against his Power These People live under no Law but that of Nature and Reason which notwithstanding leads them to the acknowledgement of a Deity whom they own to be the Giver of all good things wherewith their Life is maintain'd and to him they Sacrifice the first Fruits of the Earth and of that which they acquire by Hunting and Fishing The Sacrifice is perform'd by their Priests who are commonly ancient Men and profess themselves Conjurers they first make a Speech to their God then burn part and eat and distribute the rest among them that are present until this Ceremony be ended they will not touch one bit thereof they hold the Immortality of the Soul and that there is a place of Joy and another of Torment after Death prepar'd for every one according to their Merits They bury their Dead with strange expressions of Sorrow the better sort upon a Scaffold erected for that end whom they leave cover'd with Mats and return when his flesh is consum'd to Interr his Bones the common sort are committed to the Earth without that Ceremony but they never omit to bury some part of their Wealth Arms and Houshold-stuff with the Corps SECT IV. Virginia NOVA VIRGINIAE TABULA Notarum Explicatio Domus Regum Ordinariae Domus Incubrationes Anglos Milliaria Germanica communia April 9. 1585. Sir Richard Greenvil with seven Sail and several Gentlemen left Plymouth and on May 26. Anchor'd at Wokokon but made their first Seat at Roanoack on August 17. following which lies in thirty six Degrees of Northerly Latitude or thereabouts where they continu'd till June 1586. during which time they made several Discoveries in the Continent and adjacent Islands and being endanger'd by the treachery of the Salvages return'd for England and Landed at Portsmouth on July 27. following Sir Walter Rawleigh and his Associates in the year 1586. sent a Ship to relieve that Colony which had deserted the Countrey some while before and were all return'd for England as is before-mention'd Some few days after they were gone Sir Rirchard Greenvil with three Ships arriv'd at the Plantation at Roanoack which he found deserted and leaving fifty Men there to keep Possession of that Countrey return'd for England The year following Mr. John White with three Ships came to search for the fifty English at Roanoack but found them not they having been set upon by the Natives and dispers'd so as no News could be heard of them and in their room left a hundred and fifty more to continue that Plantation In August 1589. Mr. John White went thither again to search for the last Colony which he had left there but not finding them return'd for England in Septemb. 6. 1590. This ill Success made all further Discoveries to be laid aside till Captain Gosnol on March 26. 1602. set Sail from Dartmouth and on May 11. following made Land at a place where some Biscaners as he guess'd by the Natives information had formerly fish'd being about the Latitude of forty eight Degrees Northerly Latitude from hence putting to Sea he made Discovery of an Island which he call'd Marthas Vineyard and shortly after of Elizabeth's Isle and so return'd for England June 18. following In the Year 1603. the City of Bristol rais'd a Stock and furnish'd out two Barques for Discovery under the Command of Captain Martin Pring who about June 7. fell with the North of Virginia in the three and fortieth Degree found plenty of good Fish nam'd a place Whitson-Bay and so return'd In the Year 1605. the Right Honorable Thomas Arundel the first Baron of Warder and Count of the Roman Empire set out Captain George Waymouth with twenty nine Sea-men and necessary Provisions to make what Discoveries he could who by contrary Winds fell Northward about one and forty Degrees and twenty Minutes of Northerly Latitude where they found plenty of good Fish and Sailing further discover'd an Island where they nam'd a Harbor Pentecost-Harbor and on July 18. following came back for England In the Year 1606. by the sollicitation of Captain Gosnol and several Gentlemen a Commission was granted by King James of Great Brittain c. for establishing a Council to direct those new Discoveries Captain Newport a well practic'd Marriner was intrusted with the Transportation of the Adventurers in two Ships and a Pinace who on Decemb. 19. 1606. set Sail from Black-wall and were by Storm contrary to expectation cast upon the first Land which they call'd Cape Henry at the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeack lying in thirty seven Degrees or thereabouts of Northerly Latitude Here their Orders were open'd and read and eight declar'd of the Council and impower'd to chose a President for a year who with the Council should Govern that Colony Till May 13. they sought a place to Plant in Mr. Winkfield was chose the first President who caus'd a Fort to be rais'd at Powhatan now call'd James-Town In June following Captain Newport return'd for England leaving a hundred Men behind him since which time they have been sufficiently supply'd from England and by the indefatigable Industry and Courage of Captain John Smith one of the Council at that time and afterward President of the Colony they made several Discoveries on the Eastern shore and up to the Head of the Bay of Chesapeack and of the principal Rivers which fall into the said Bay Virginia being thus Discover'd and Planted King James by his Letters Patent bearing Date April 10. in the fourth year of his Reign 1607. Granted Licence to Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers and others to divide themselves into two several Colonies for the more speedy Planting of that Countrey then call'd Virginia between the Degrees of thirty four and forty five of North Latitude that is to say taken in that large
extent mention'd in the beginning The first Colony to be undertaken by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants in and about the City of London The second to be undertaken and advanc'd by certain Knights Gentlemen and Merchants and their Associates in or about the City of Bristol Exon Plymouth and other parts At the first Colonies Request in the seventh year of the same King a second Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen including Sir Thomas Gates and some of his former Fellow-Patentees bearing Date May 23. 1610. whereby they were made a Corporation and Body Politique and stil'd The Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the City of London for the first Colony of Virginia And by this Patent there was Granted to them their Successors and Assigns two hundred Miles to the Southward from a Cape of Land in Virginia call'd Point Comfort and two hundred Miles to the Northward of the said Cape along the Sea-shore and into the Land from Sea to Sea And on March 12. 1612. the said King in the ninth year of his Reign Grants them a third Patent of all Islands lying in the Sea within two hundred Miles of the Shore of that Tract of Land on the Continent granted to them by the said former Patent Jac. 7. In the Year 1615. Captain Smith procur'd by his Interest at Court and the King's Favor a Recommendation from His Majesty and divers of the Nobility to all Cities and Corporations to Adventure in a standing Lottery which was erected for the benefit of this Plantation which was contriv'd in such a manner that of 100000. Pounds which was to be put in 50000. onely or one half was to return to the Adventurers according as the Prizes fell out and the other half to be dispos'd of for the Promotion of the Affairs of Virginia in which though it were three years before it was fully accomplish'd he had in the end no bad Success In the eighteenth Year of the said King's Reign at the Request of the second Colony a Patent was Granted to several Noblemen and Gentlemen of all that Tract of Land lying in the parts of America between the Degrees of forty and forty eight of Northerly Latitude and into the Land from Sea to Sea which was call'd by the Patent New England in America For the better Government whereof one Body-Politick and Corporate was thereby appointed and ordain'd in Plymouth consisting of the said Noblemen Gentlemen and others to the number of forty Persons by the Name of The Council establish'd at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England im America The Patent of Virginia made void The Miscarriages and Misdemeanors of the aforesaid Corporation for the first Colony of Virginia were so many and so great that His said Majesty was forc'd in or about October 1623. to direct a Quo Warranto for the calling in of that former Patent which in Trinity Term following was legally Evinc'd Condemn'd and made Void by Judgment in the Court of the then Kings-Bench as also all other Patents by which the said Corporation claim'd any Interest in Virginia Thus this Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia was dissolv'd and that Plantation hath been since Govern'd and Dispos'd of by Persons Constituted and Impower'd for that purpose from time to time by immediate Commissions from the Kings of England The Patent of Mary-land granted to the Lord Baltem re In the Year of our Lord 1631. the Right Honorable George Lord Baltemore obtain'd a Grant of King Charles the First of Great Britain c. of part of that Land to the Northward which is now call'd Mary-land but this Patent of Mary-land was not perfected till 1632. as you may understand more fully by the precedent Discourse of Mary-land which by express words in the said Patent is separated from and thereby declar'd not to be reputed for the future any part of Virginia The Patent Carolina granted to several Noble Persons And in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second of Great Britain c. on March 24. 1663. Edward Earl of Clarendon then High-Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William now Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carterett Knight and Baronet Sir William Berkley Knight and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet obtain'd a Patent from His Majesty of the Province of Carolina which lies to the Southward of Virginia in which is included some part of that Land which formerly belong'd to the said dissolv'd Company of Virginia So that Virginia at present extendeth it self onely and is situated between thirty six and thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude and is bounded on the North by Mary-land on the South by Carolina on the East by the Ocean and on the West by the South-Seas The Entrance by Sea into this Countrey is the same with that of Mary-land between Cape Henry and Cape Charles plac'd on each side of the Mouth of the Bay of Chesapeak Rivers of Virginia on the West side whereof you first meet with a pleasant and commodious River call'd James-River about three Miles wide at its Entrance and Navigable a hundred and fifty Fourteen Miles from this River Northward lies York-River which is Navigable sixty or seventy Miles but with Ketches and small Barques thirty or forty Miles farther Passing hence to the North you discover a third stately River call'd Rappahanock which is Navigable about a hundred and thirty Miles from whence following the Shore to the North you enter into Patomeck-River which is already describ'd in the precedent Discourse of Mary-land to which Province this River belongs whose Southerly Bank gives Bounds to that part of Virginia and Mary-land To these Rivers many other Inland Branches and Rivulets are reduc'd the chief of which are hereafter specifi'd Nature of the Countrey The Countrey is generally even the Soil fruitful the Climate healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions especially since the increase of Inhabitants and accommodation of good Diet and Lodging which the first Planters found great want of heretofore For many years till of late most New-comerâ— had the first Year in July and August a Disease which is call'd A Seasoning whereof many died like to what is mention'd before in the Description of Mary-land though more mortal and common than in Mary-land because Virgina is a lower Countrey and somewhat hotter insomuch that formerly divers ill of that Distemper have come purposely from Virginia to Mary-land to recover their Health but now since the Countrey is more open and clear from Wood few die of it and many have no Seasonings at all This Countrey affordeth generally all such Roots Herbs Gums and Balsoms as are express'd before in the Relation of Mary-land All sorts of Trees for Building and Husbandry Trees Fruit-Trees Vines c. are found in both Countreys equal in goodness
same Person who how they were surpris'd and destroy'd by the Natives was discover'd at large to the Supply that was sent over in the Year 1587. by Mr. White A Party of those that went over with Captain Bartholomew Gosnol Captain John Smith c. were by the Indians set upon as they were raising a Fort near Cape Henry where they Landed seventeen Men hurt one slain and all in danger to have been utterly destroy'd had not a Shot happily made from the Ships by chance frighted away the Salvages Another small Party under Captain Smith going down the River to Keconghean were very fiercely assaulted by sixty or seventy Indians but their Musquet-shot did such Execution amongst them that they fled into the Woods and left behind them the Image of their God which had been carried before them as their Standard and not long after sent one of their Queiongcasocks to offer Peace and to redeem their Okee which Smith granting on condition six onely of them would come unarm'd and load his Boat with Provisions and promising moreover to become their Friend and furnish them with Beads Copper and Hatchets They accepted the Condition and brought him Venison Turkies wild Fowl Bread and what else they had Singing and Dancing in sign of Friendship till they departed In his Return he discover'd the Town and Countrey of Warraskayock and the People of Chickahamania In his next Voyage for the discovery of the Head of Chickamahania River he was through neglect of his Sea-men who were sent to watch the Booty taken Prisoner in which condition he was kept a whole Moneth then being released he got Provisions for the People in James-Town which had they not timely receiv'd they had all abandon'd the Place and return'd to England While Affairs stood thus in a mean condition Captain Newport arriving there with a Ship and sixty Men to strengthen the Plantations he went to Weromocomoco where King Powhatan kept his Court King Powhatan and found him sitting on a Bed of Mats and an Embroider'd Leather Cushion Cloth'd in Deer-skins at his Feet fat a young Maiden and on each side of the House twenty Concubines his Head and Shoulders were painted red and a Chain of white Beads hung about his Neck Newport to oblige him gave him an English Youth in requital whereof he receiv'd Powhatan's bosom Friend Mamontak with whom returning he found a sad Accident for the Fire had not onely burnt the Houses of the new Planters but also the Pallisado's about James-Town made for a Defence against the Enemies Assaults James-Town burnt and most of their Store which was so much the worse because it hapned in the Winter and indeed had prov'd very fatal had not a Ship which was suppos'd to be lost happily arriv'd there with a considerable quantity of Provisions Smith's Voyage Whilst the Town was rebuilding Smith set Sail in an open Barque with fourteen Men and discover'd two Isles before Point Charles to which he gave his Name then ran into the Inlet Chesapeack in the midst of which lay several Islands His remarkable Exploits by the Sea-men call'd Russels Before the River Wighcomoco they found a disturbed Sea and more Northerly a Bay with fresh and hot Water and at last he met with two Virginians which conducted the English along a Creek to Onawmoment where some hundreds of them lay in Ambuscade according to Powhatan's appointment to cut off Smith who leaping forth on a Hidden appear'd like Devils all painted but the Bullets flying about made them all run away Smith whose Design was onely to discover the Countrey and the Silver Mine of Patawomeck ten Leagues up into the Countrey found the Metal to be of little value so that he return'd with little Success being newly cur'd of a poysonous Wound in the Arm which was given him by a Fish not unlike a Shark whilst he lay aground near Toppahanock A while after being inform'd of Powhatan's Design to destroy the English though he had been lately Presented by Newport with a Silver Basin a rich Chair Bed and Furniture belonging to it with other things of value he to prevent him chose forty eight out of two hundred Men which were Garrison'd in James-Town then going to Werowocomoco Landed with much trouble the River being frozen above half a Mile from the Shore A German Soldier amongst Smith's Company giving private notice to Powhatan of the Design of the English made his Escape by flight But Smith going on to Pamaunke found King Opechancangough with seven hundred Men in Arms threatning a fierce Battel but Smith making directly up to him set his Pistol on his Breast and forc'd him to lay down his Arms. Powhatan by this time provided with Swords and Musquets by two Dutch-men also began to bestir himself afresh but his Intentions being too soon known he was again quieted and forc'd a second time to send Smith a String of Pearl after which a Peace was concluded between all the Natives and the English Many other Quarrels and Encounters there were in the Infancy of the Plantation between the Indians and the English wherein it would be endless to recount all the Treacheries and Ambuscades of the Salvages some of which had prov'd very pernicious to the Planters had they not been betray'd to Captain Smith by Pocahonta King Powhatan's Daughter who upon all occasions shew'd her self a great Friend to the English having sav'd the Captain 's Life when being her Father's Prisoner he was just brought to Execution This Lady was afterwards brought into England Christned by the Name of Rebekah and Married to one Mr. Rolf and died at Gravesend in an intended Voyage back to her own Countrey Nor did their Cruelties and Treacheries end when the Plantation came to be more setled for on the two and twentieth of March about the Year 1621. in the time of Sir Francis Wyat's Government they generally combin'd to destroy all the English there and carried on this devilish Design with such dissimulation and dexterity that in one day they cut off seven hundred Men Women and Children there being at that time not above fifteen hundred in the Countrey Since which time in the Year of our Lord 1643. there hapned another bloody Massacre wherein near five hundred English were in one Night miserably butcher'd by those barbarous and perfidious Salvages whose Blood the present Governor Sir William Berkley nobly and justly reveng'd the Year following utterly destroying most of them and taking Prisoner their chief Emperor Opichancono who died not long after in Prison Having given but a small hint in its proper place of the Story of Captain Smith's Imprisonment by Powhatan and his deliverance from Death by Pocahonta we have thought not improper to reserve the Story of it being very remarkable for a particular Relation before we conclude our Description of Virginia since otherwise we should have interrupted the Series of our former Discourse The Relation of Captain Smith's being taken Prisoner by Powhatan
whose Principles not being corrupted with Learning and Distinction are contented to follow the Dictates of right Reason which Nature has sufficiently taught all Men for the well ordering of their Actions and enjoyment and preservation of humane Society who do not give themselves up to be amus'd and deceiv'd by insignificant Terms and minding what is just and right seek not Evasions in the Niceties and Fallacies of Words Carolina granted by Patent to several Noble Persons by His Majesty The same is to be said of the first discovery of this Countrey as hath been formerly said of Virginia and Florida of both which it partakes but as to the present Interest and Propriety the English besides all Virginia intirely have also so much of Florida as makes up this considerable Province of Carolina which soon after the happy Restauration of His present Majesty King Charles II. from whom it receives Denomination was granted by Patent to Edward Earl of Clarendon L. Chancellor of England George Duke of Albemarle William Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashley Sir George Carteret Vice-Chamberlain of His Majesty's Houshold Sir William Berkley Knight and Baronet and Sir John Colleton Knight and Baronet The Lords-Proprietors of this Countrey for the better Settlement of it according to their Patent granted unto them by His Majesty and for the enlargement of the King's Dominions in those parts of America have been at great Charge to secure this so rich and advantageous a Countrey to the Crown of England to whom of ancient Right by the Discovery of Sir Sebastian Cabott in the time of Henry the Seventh it doth belong and for its Situation Fertility Neighborhood to our other Plantations and several other Conveniences of too valuable consideration to be negligently lost By the Care therefore and Endeavors of those Great Men Their care for Setling and Improving of this Plantation it hath now two considerable Colonies Planted in it the one of Albemarle on the North side bordering on Virginia where are some hundreds of English Families remov'd thither from New England and some of our other Plantations in the West-Indies and another towards the middle of the Countrey at Charles-Town or Ashley-River a Settlement so hopeful for the healthiness of the Land and convenience of access by a large deep Navigable River and so promising in its very Infancy that many of the rich Inhabitants of Barbados and Bermudas who are now crowded up in those flourishing Islands and many in our other American Plantations are turning their Eyes and Thoughts this way and have already remov'd part of their Stock and Servants thither Nor is it to be doubted but that many following the Example of those who went to Albemarle will be drawn to this better Plantation at Ashley-River from New-England where the heat of their Zeal and the coldness of the Air doth not agree with every Man's Constitution and therefore it is to be thought that many well temper'd Men who are not much at ease under such Extreams will be forward to remove hither Fair Terms propos'd to whomsoever shall remove thither The Lords-Proprietors for the comfortable subsistence and future enrichment of all those who shall this Year 1671. Transport themselves and Servants thither allow every Man a hundred Acres per Head for himself his Wife Children and Servants he carries thither to him and his Heirs for ever paying onely one Peny an Acre as a Chief-Rent which Peny an Acre is not to be paid these nineteen years and those Servants who go along thither with their Masters shall each also have a hundred Acres upon the same Terms when he is out of his Time But though these Conditions are very advantageous and the Countrey promises to the Planter Health Plenty and Riches at a cheap Rate yet there is one thing that makes this Plantation more valuable than all these and that is the secure possession of all these things with as great certainty as the state of humane Affairs and the transient things of this Life are capable of in a well continu'd Form of Government wherein it is made every Man's Interest to preserve the Rights of his Neighbor with his own and those who have the greatest Power have it limited to the Service of the Countrey the Good and Welfare whereof whilest they preserve and promote they cannot miss of their own the Lords Proprietors having no other aim than to be the greatest Men in a Countrey where every one may be happy if it be not his own fault it being almost as uncomfortable and much more unsafe to be Lord over than Companion of a miserable unhappy and discontented Society of Men. With this Design the Lords-Proprietors who are at great Charge for carrying on this Plantation have put the framing of a Government into the Hands of one whose Parts and Experience in Affairs of State are universally agreed on and who is by all Men allow'd to know what is convenient for the right ordering Men in Society and setling a Government upon such Foundations as may be equal safe and lasting and to this hath a Soul large enough to wish well to Mankind and to desire that all the People where he hath to do might be happy My Lord Ashley therefore by the consent of his Brethren the rest of the Lords Proprietors hath drawn up to their general satisfaction some fundamental Constitutions which are since by their joynt approbation confirm'd to be the Model and Form of Government in the Province of Carolina the main Design and Ballance thereof according to the best of my memory having had a Copy thereof in short is as followeth The Model drawn up by the Lord Ashley for the Government of Carolina 1. EVery County is to consist of forty square Plots each containing twelve thousand Acres Of these square Plots each of the Proprietors is to have one which is to be call'd a Signiory Eight more of these square Plots are to be divided amongst the three Noble-men of that County viz. a Landgrave who is to have four of them and two Casiques who are to have each of them two apiece and these square Plots belonging to the Nobility are to be call'd Baronies The other twenty four square Plots call'd Colonies are to be the Possession of the People And this Method is to be observ'd in the Planting and Setting out of the whole Countrey so that one Fifth of the Land is to be in the Proprietors one Fifth in the Nobility and three Fifths in the People 2. The Signories and Baronies that is the hereditary Lands belonging to the Proprietors and Nobility are all entirely to descend to their Heirs with the Dignity without power of alienation more than for three Lives or one and twenty years or two Thirds of their Signiories and Baronies and the rest to be Demesne 3. There will be also some Mannors in the Colonies but none less than three thousand Acres in a Piece which like the
done as shall be declared is the Cod-fishing upon that Coast by which our Nation and many other Countreys are enrich'd Almost incredible is the benefit of the Fish which the French Biscainers and Portuguese fetch yearly from this Coast of New-found Land and the Bank which lieth within twenty five Leagues from the South Cape of that Countrey where the French use to Fish Winter and Summer usually making two Voyages every year thither To which Places and to the Coast of Canada which lieth near unto it are yearly sent from those Countreys more than four hundred Sail of Ships This Island of Terra Nova belongs properly and justly to the Crown of England having been under the sole Jurisdiction of the English from the first Discovery thereof which was by Sir Sebastian Cabot Employ'd by King Henry the Seventh to find out some other part of America than what had been discover'd by Columbus as hath been above declar'd in several places Afterwards King Henry the Eighth continu'd the English Interest there and Employ'd one Rutt into that Island in order to the Plantation thereof Queen Elizabeth no less careful to preserve that Plantation sent Sir Humphrey Gilbert a Devonshire Knight to plant a Colony there the better to secure the same and to increase Trading there and accordingly the said Sir Humphrey with two good Ships and a Pinnace in her Name took possession of that Countrey in the Harbour of St. Johns He Sail'd from thence towards Virginia and by reason of some unhappy direction in his Course the greatest Ship he had struck upon Shelves on the Coast of Canada and was there lost with most part of the Company in her and he himself being then in a small Pinnace of twenty Tun in the company of his Vice-Admiral Captain Hays returning towards England in a great Storm was overwhelm'd in the Sea and so perish'd In the Year 1608. it was undertaken anew by John Guy a Merchant of Bristol and with so good success that the Colony in a short time were well furnish'd with Wheat Rye Barley and other Grain of their own Sowing with Turnips Coleworts and abundance of other necessary things not without some probable hopes of Metals a certain and plentiful Trade of Sables Musk and other rich Commodities The Province of Avalon in New-found Lands In the Year 1620. Sir George Calvert Knight then principal Secretary of State and a Privy Councellor to King James the First of England c. purchas'd a part of New-found Land which was afterwards in the Year 1623. granted to him and his Heirs by Patent from the said King under the Great Seal of England bearing Date the seventh of April in the One and twentieth Year of his Reign by which means the said Tract of Land was erected into a Province and at the Instance of the said Sir George Calvert call'd Avalon from Avalon in Sommerset-shire where Christianity was first Planted in England This Province lies in the forty seventh Degree of Northern Latitude and is thus bounded It begins Southerly from the middle part of a certain Neck of Land or Promontory situate between the two Harbours Fermose and Aquafort and from thence following the Shore towards the North unto the middle part or half way over a little Harbour call'd in that regard Petit Port or Petit Harbour which boundeth upon the South part of the Plantation of St. Johns including the one half of a certain fresh River that falleth into the said Port of Petit Harbour and so tending along the South Border of the said Colony of St. Johns extendeth it self to a certain little Bay commonly call'd Salmon Cove lying on the South side of the Bay of Conception including the one half of the River that falleth into the said Cove as also one half of the Cove it self from whence passing along the Shore of the said Bay towards the South and reaching unto the bottom thereof where it meets with the Lands of the fore-mention'd John Guy nam'd Sea Forrest is bounded with a certain River or Brook which there falleth into the Sea and from the Mouth of the said Brook ascendeth unto the farthest Spring or Head thereof from thence passing towards the South for six Miles together along the Borders of the said John Guy's Plantation and there crossing over Westward in a right Line reacheth unto the Bay of Placentia and the space of one League within the said Bay from the Shore thereof whence turning again towards the South passeth along the Harbour of Placentia with the like distance from the Shore and descending unto New Falkland towards the North and West part thereof stretcheth it self in a right Line Eastward continuing the whole Southerly length upon the Bounds of the said New Falkland unto the middle part or Point of the Promontory or Neck of Land before mention'd between the Ports Fermose and Aquafort at which place is describ'd and finish'd the Perambulation of the whole Precinct whose Extent may be thus computed commencing from the Promontory between the Ports Fermose and Aquafort which is fifty or sixty Miles from South to North distant from Petit Harbour from whence crossing Westward to the Bay of Placentia is judg'd to be sixty Miles more or upwards from East to West And thereby was also granted to the said Sir George Calvert and his Heirs all Islands and Islets within ten Leagues of the Eastern Shore of the said Region towards the East together with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish saving unto the English free liberty of Fishing as well in the Seas as in the Ports and Creeks of the Province aforesaid and the Priviledges of salting and drying their Fish upon the Shores of the said Province as heretofore they reasonably us'd and enjoy'd the same so as they do no injury or notable loss or detriment unto the Lord Proprietary his Heirs and Assigns or to the Inhabitants of the said Province in the Ports Creeks and Shores aforesaid and especially in the Woods growing within the said Province And by the said Patent all Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil within the said Province and Islands thereunto belonging were farther granted to the said Sir George Calvert and his Heirs and he and they thereby created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province saving the Allegiance due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors to be held of them in Capite yielding and paying unto them therefore a white Horse when and as often as any of them shall come into the said Province and the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar which should be found there Sir George Calvert before the obtaining of this Patent had caus'd a fair House and Fort to be built in the said Province at a place call'd Ferryland and in the Year 1624. having obtain'd a Dismission from his Employment of Secretary of State and being then created Lord Baltemore of Baltemore in Ireland he did in the Year 1627. Transport
which opens to the West stand great Stone Cisterns into which they receive the Water through Pipes laid under Ground the Chambers 〈…〉 Halls are very lightsom and high and the Walls of them adorn'd with Cedar a flat Terrace on the top yields a pleasant Prospect all over the Countrey the Windows in the Front look open not onely upon the Orange Walk but also upon several delightful Plantations of Sugar-Canes and Ginger Westward appear several Mountains whose high Heads are invested with ever-flourishing Trees and between the Palace and those Mountains a very large and stately Garden full of all manner of Flowers and other delightful Plants as well those commonly known amongst us as those peculiar to that part of the World in the middle thereof stands a Fountain deriving its Source from the Foot of a neighboring Hill The Winds which blow from the Hills and especially those cool Blasts daily coming out of the East so tempers the hot Climate that it becomes very tolerable When any News arrives here of the French Conquests in Europe they sound the Trumpets on the top of the Castle and the Standards and Ensigns formerly taken by the Governor in the Field are hung out of the Windows On one side of the Castle stands a Chappel and somewhat farther on a rising Plain a row of Houses inhabited by certain Retainers to the Governor and is call'd Angola The Offices and Lodgings for the Governor's Servants are built of Brick about the Castle which is fortifi'd with five Sconces whereon are planted several Guns The Governor keeps nine hundred Slaves and a hundred French-men to work in his three Sugar-Mills to till his Ground and for his Houshold-Service Several French Gentlemen have also built many fair Houses here amongst which the chiefest are those on which Poucy Treval Benevent Girand Auber de la Roziere de St. Andant de l' Esperance and de la Loche spent great sums of Money The English also are not much inferior to them in their Counties The English Plantations in this Island Their Churches are five in all first on the Point of the Palm-Tree stands a fair Church a second near the great Road below the English Governor's House a third at the Sandy Point which are all well built and large enough for a considerable Congregation the other two at the Inlet Cayoune are short of the three first The Ministers thereof receiv'd formerly their Benefices from the Bishop of Canterbury in Cromwell's time from the Tryers as they were call'd but of late since the King's Restauration from the Bishop of Canterbury again The best Houses belonging to the English were built by Mr. Warner Mr. Rich Mr. Evrard and Col. Geffreyson all successively Governors of the Place Their success at their first Landing It was in the Year 1625. that the English and French jointly Desnambuc Commanding the French and Thomas Warner the English Landed on this Island of St. Christophers at a certain time when the Caribbeeans perswaded by their Boyez to destroy all Strangers were ready up in Arms but they met with such Entertainment that they soon lost their Courage and yielded possession to the Assailants Not long after which Desnambuc and Warner went the one to Paris and the other to London to inform their Kings of the Condition of St. Christophers and to raise a Company which might promote the Planting of it Both attain'd their Desires and had fresh Assistance given them for both Kings favor'd the Design in regard of the good Conditions that were propos'd to those that should go Undertakers thither And to prevent all Contentions between the English and French they made Boundaries on each side but Hunting Harbors Fishing Mines Trees for Wainscoting and the like were to remain in common and each was to assist the other The English Plantation increased daily more than the French having constant Supplies from the Company in London when as on the contrary the Merchants at Paris grew weary being desirous first to have a Return for what they had already spent though the Countrey was not yet Manur'd wherefore Desnambuc going thither himself made the Company understand that they could not possibly expect to receive a Return unless the Countrey were Planted with Tobacco Indigo Ginger and Sugar which requir'd both Time and People But whilst the Business seem'd to go on prosperously a great Accident hapned which threw down the Work to nothing for the Spanish King set out a Fleet within the fore-mention'd Year of one and thirty Gallions three Galeasses and four Pinnaces with seventy five hundred Men under the Command of Frederick de Toledo Emanuel de Mineses and John Fajardo from Cadiz when before the Island St. Jago there lay at the same time twenty two Portuguese Galleys fourteen Carvils carrying four thousand Men Commanded by Antonio Nunnez Barreio and Francisco de Almeida who joyning with the Spaniards took the City St. Salvador and went about wholly to chase out of the Caribbee Isles all the English and French in which Attempt nine English Ships lying before Nevis were all taken by Toledo who Sail'd within Cannon-shot of St. Christophers Commanded at that time by the French Captain Rossey the Forts cast up by the English and French not being stor'd with Provisions nor Ammunition and consequently no way able to endure a Siege and the less because the Works were not quite finish'd nevertheless Desnambuc immediately drew up his Soldiers to the Low-land where he lay Intrench'd along the Coast to prevent the Enemies Landing but Rossey suffer'd the Spaniards to Land without the least Resistance whereupon young Du Parquet Sallying out of the Sconces fell valiantly upon the first Company but being forsaken by his Men was run down by the Multitude and kill'd In the mean time all their Sloops full of Men Landed insomuch that Rossey fearing to be surrounded left his Trench and went up into the High-lands whereby the Spaniards became Masters of the Fort but did not pursue their Victory as suspecting that the French might lie in Ambuscade in the next Wood and indeed they suspected not in vain for the French having undermin'd their Forts had laid Gun-powder in some of the Cellars which firing blew up very many of the Spaniards whilst Desnambuc Embarquing himself sav'd those which were not slain by the Enemy's Sword Mean while the English relying on the League between the King of England and the Spaniard made no Resistance notwithstanding they were inform'd that Frederick Toledo had quite ruin'd the French Plantation and put them all to the Sword but sent Agents to Toledo to put him in mind of the League between Spain and England which he not taking notice of alledg'd That Pope Alexander the Sixth when a Controversie arose concerning the new Discoveries in the East and West between the Crowns of Castile and Portugal had determin'd that Castile had sole Right to the Western World and therefore that St. Christophers being a part of the Western World
Retreat for the Protestants at that time cruelly persecuted and Durande sensible of the Admirals thoughts privately inform'd him That in his American Design he chiefly aim'd to plant a True Church of God in America where the Professors might enjoy themselves peaceably This Report being spread amongst those that call'd themselves Protestants fled from Switzerland in great numbers to France made many of them venture upon the Design who having fitted themselves and setting sail with three Ships after some time arriv'd on the Coast of Brasile and landed on the Rock-Island in the Haven Januario Here Durande built several Watch-houses and the Fort Coligni which he fortified with a considerable number of Guns Not long after he writ to John Calvin That he would please to furnish this new Plantation in Brasile with good and able Teachers of the Gospel which Request being immediately taken into serious consideration by the Classes one Philip Corguileray a Gentleman near Geneva set Sail out of the Haven Honfleurs with three Ships freighted with some Provisions several Persons of divers Trades and two Ministers Peter Richer and William Chartier But he had scarce made Africa Dissention in the new Colony when they began to have a scarcity of Victuals wherefore they turn'd their Design of setling the Gospel in America to Pyracy where they made small scruple or difference whether Friends or Foes but made Prize of all they could light upon though indeed their Ministers both preach'd and perswaded the contrary amongst whom a Controversie happening put other Business into their Heads for one John Cointak formerly a Parisian Sorbonist was also amongst those that remov'd from Geneva who pretended that Coligni had promis'd him a Ministers place so soon as he landed at Brasile but Richer and Chartier not satisfied that there was any such Promise and consequently thinking themselves not obliged by his bare Assertion told him That themselves being able under God to perform the Work they needed no such Coadjutor This bred so great a Rancor between them that Cointak accus'd them for teaching false Doctrine Wickedness of Cointak against the Ministers and chiefly that they did not mix the Wine at their Sacraments with Water which Father Clemens had strictly commanded Durande being prevail'd on by the Cardinal of Lorein joyn'd with Cointak and thereupon so sharply persecuted the Protestants that he starv'd several of them which others to escape fled to the Brasilians Nay he took John Du Bordell Matthias Vermeil and Peter Bourdon out of their Sick-Beds Durande drowns three Religious Men. and tying their Hands and Feet threw them headlong from a Rock into the Sea Soon after which the bloody Persecutor return'd with ill success to France where he wrote a Book against the Reform'd Religion but all the Honor which he gain'd was that all Parties on both sides accounted him a distracted Person SECT XIII The Expeditions of John Ribald Renatus Laudonier and Gurgie Florida unhappily discover'd FLorida being upon the Continent of America and so call'd by John Pontaeus who landed there upon Palm-Sunday though Sebastian Gaboto a Venetian imploy'd by Henry the Seventh King of England landed there before may well be term'd the Europeans Bloody Stage Pontaeus being slain here But Ferdinand Sotto exercis'd against the Inhabitants inhumane Cruelty five years together yet at last died of a deep discontent because he could not reach his Aims having condemn'd so many Floridans fruitlesly to dig for Gold in the Mines However since that Julian Sumanus and Peter Ahumada undertook the Work anew but with the like bad Success Auno 1545 one Lodowick Cancello a Dominican thought to effect great things with four of his Associates but landing on Florida was destroy'd by the Natives But Gasper Coligni the Marshal neither discourag'd by these miserable Proceedings nor the former Treachery of Durande prepar'd for a new Expedition thither Ribald's Voyage and accordingly John Ribald was fitted with two Ships from Diep at the Charge of Charles the Ninth King of France wherewith having sail'd thirty Degrees Northern Latitude he came before the Promontory of Francisco where he ran up into the Mouth of a wide River to which he gave the denomination of Dolphin upon whose Banks were whole Mulberry-Woods which nourish'd Silk-Worms in strange abundance From hence he sail'd by the Wolves Head a Point so call'd because great numbers of Wolves breed there and leaving the Cedar-Island landed on Florida where he built a Triangular Fort and having furnish'd it with Men Guns and Provisions sail'd back for more Supplies to France but coming thither found all things in disorder occasion'd by a War amongst themselves so that the French which guarded and dwelt in the Fort The Garrison in Florida in great want waited in vain for Relief and their Provisions growing scant thought it fittest and their best way to build a Vessel and sail from thence which having effected and being gone about the third part of their Voyage there hapned such a Calm for twenty Days that they made not the least way which drove them to so great extremity their Provisions being spent that they drank their own Urine and fed upon their old Shoes which also in a short time failing they agreed amongst themselves to kill and eat one of their Sea-men call'd Henry Lacher Unheard-of Hunger on whose Flesh they liv'd some days but being again driven to the greatest want imaginable in this extremity of Desparation their Condition being altogether hopeless an English Frigat discovering them and observing by their manner of Sailing that they were in some great want drawing near sent their Long-boat aboard and found them so weak that they were not able to handle their Tack whereupon generously taking pity of them they reliev'd them and conducted them to the Coast of England and then brought them to Queen Elizabeth who had formerly design'd to rig a Fleet for Florida Mean while no News having been heard of the foremention'd French Plantation in Brasile and Coligni's Difference with the King being decided he prevail'd so much Laudonier's Voyage that Renatus Laudonier should with three Ships sail to relieve the Garrison in the late deserted Fort. Laudonier landing in Nova Francia found a Stone with a French Inscription plac'd on the Shore by Ribald and hung full of Laurel Garlands Then he visited the King Saturiona whose Son Atorcus had several Children by his own Mother according to a Salvage Custom observ'd in that Countrey Whilst they stay'd here a Fiery Meteor appear'd in the Sky with such fervor that some Rivers boyl'd with the heat of it and the Fish parboyl'd died nay more it scorch'd all the Plants far and near The Natives ascrib'd this Plague to the French Cannons by which means they stood in great fear of the French who might have done great things had not they differ'd amongst themselves Remarkable difference in the French Fleet. For a Sea-man nam'd Rubel Patracon pretending to have
aptness for Cultivation or Tillage that is because by the painful Hand of the Labourer or Husband-man it may be rendred so fertile as to yield all sorts of Grain and Fruits haply in allusion to that fruitful Countrey of Campania in Italy vulgarly known by the Name of Terradi Lavoro As for the Appellation of Terra Corterealis it need not be question'd but that it derives it self from Gaspar Corterealis a Portuguese Gentleman who about the Year of our Lord 1500. is thought by some to have made the first discovery of these Parts though Sir Sebastian Cabot a Venetian is more generally believ'd to have been the Man that under the favour and countenance of Henry the Seventh King of England first discover'd them at least the adjoyning Island Terra Nova or New-found Land but just onely discover'd being hinder'd the farther prosecution of that Design by the important Affairs in which the said King was about that time involv'd neither did Corterealis whether he was the first or came after do any more for returning within a year after his first setting out he was never heard of nor as Osorius a Portuguese Historian writes any of his Company being all suppos'd to have been drown'd by Shipwrack and in like manner Michael Corterealis who the year following set forth with two Ships in quest of his Brother Gaspar Upon which series of Misfortunes the Portuguese being wholly discourag'd and giving over this Design the French of Armorica or Bretany succeed them in it with somewhat better success about the Year 1504. whereupon it came to be term'd Nova Britannia or New Britain The ancient Inhabitants of this place were formerly of a Nature like the generality of the American People somewhat bruitish and salvage but by long conversation with the French are said to have cast off their original wildness and become more civilly manner'd they are very jealous of their Wives by report much addicted to Soothsaying though otherwise having little of Religion or of any other kind of Learning they dwell for the most part in Caves under Ground feed chiefly upon Fish and are accounted most expert Archers Whatever places the French have built here besides those of chiefest note are St. Maries Cabo Marzo and Brest SECT IV. Canada or New France CAnada as it is taken for one and the same Province with New France contains New France properly so call'd Nova Scotia Norumbega and some adjoyning Islands as the Canada of Cluverius lying more North-Westerly comprehends as we have already intimated Estotiland Laboratoris and Corterealis and according to the most modern Division for that of Cluverius neither consents with the latest Authors nor agrees with exact Survey it being nam'd Canada in respect the River Canada runs through it hath on the North Terra Corterealis on the South New England and on the East the Ocean and hath between forty five and fifty two or fifty three Degrees of Northern Latitude Situation The River Canada is judg'd to be the largest of all the Rivers of America as those Rivers generally the largest of all in the World besides it rises in the Western parts of this Province which remain yet undiscover'd and in some places spreads it self into huge Lakes some of them a hundred Miles in compass with many little Islands dispersed up and down in them and so running from the West about a hundred Leagues falls at last into the North part of St. Lawrence Bay being that wide Emboucheure of thirty five Miles breadth already mention'd This River is extraordinary full of Fish among which there is one sort more remarkable than the rest call'd by the Inhabitants Cadhothuis having Heads resembling the Heads of Hares and Bodies as white as Snow they are taken for the most part before the Isle de Lievres The Countrey on both sides of the River is pleasant and indifferently fertile especially towards the South-West where upwards from the River the Ground rises into many little Hills invested most of them with Vines with which and several other sorts of Trees this Countrey abounds being well water'd with a great many lesser Streams all of them falling into the River Canada That this Countrey is term'd New France First discovery from having been discover'd by the French at least more fully than before there needs no question to be made but whether Joannes Verrazanus under Francis the First of France or Sebastian Cabot before spoken of were the first in this Discovery may admit of some dispute the Cabots indeed for John the Father is by some mention'd to have accompanied his Son who by all are own'd the first Discoverers of New-found-Land and Terra de Baccalaos are also commonly reputed to have first found out the Province of New France together with some parts adjacent though perhaps it might be upon this Ground that Terra de Nova or New-found-Land not being known at first to be an Island New France and that might be taken for one continu'd Province and it appears so much the more probable because Canada or Nova Francia is by some call'd Terra Nova however it be or whoever were the first Adventurers Quarteri and Champlain are the two French-men that have gain'd so much fame by making a more ample and particular search into these parts that this Province may seem from thence to have sufficient claim to the Title of New France whereof that part more especially so call'd lies on the North-side of the River Canada and Southward to Terra Corterealis The Winter is here very long and so much the more severe by reason of a cold North-West Wind which blows most part of the Winter Season and brings with it so thick a Snow that it continues upon the Ground most commonly till after May. The Countrey is for the most part wooddy but in the Champain parts thereof very fruitful of Corn and all sorts of Grain especially Pulse It hath also Fish Fowl wild Deer Bears Marterns and Foxes in abundance and of Hares such plenty that one of the little Islands belonging to this Province is by the French nam'd L' Isle des Lievres or The Island of Hares But the most peculiar Commodity belonging to this Countrey is the Esurgnuy a kind of Shell-Fish extraordinary white and approv'd of singular vertue for the stanching of Blood to which purpose they make Bracelets of them not onely for their own use but also to vend them to others but John de Laet and others have observ'd no other than a superstitious use of them amongst the Salvages in their Funeral Rites for the Dead the manner of their taking it is very remarkable for when any one is condemn'd to die or taken Prisoner they cut off all his fleshy parts in long slices and then throw him into the River where they let him lie twelve hours and at last pulling him out again find his Wounds full of Esurgnui Quadus and Maginus make mention of three ancient Towns namely
in the new Plantations for a contracted Sum of Money After this they receiv'd all sorts of Arms and Ammunition with several Brass Guns of the then King Lewis the XIII and other gifts Collected and gather'd out of their several Societies for two new Accadian Apostles Gilbert du Thet a subtile man of the same Order transported their Necessaries At this time all things going favorably with the Jesuits they made themselves Masters of Port Royal and began to raise a Fort on the River Pemtagovet but there their happy Proceedings were stop'd for Captain Argal before-mention'd Sailing thither in vindication of the English was encounter'd by du Thet who firing the first Gun on Argal was by him taken off with Chain-shot and taking Biard and Masse carry'd them Prisoners to Virginia and dismantled the Fort built at Port Royal after which it was by King James given by Patent to Sir William Alexander as hath been already related together with what of most remarkable hath happen'd since SECT VI. Norumbegua NOrumbegua Whence denominated lying between Nova Scotia Northward and New England Southward is so utterly not taken notice of by many as a distinct Province that it might seem to be swallow'd up and lost in the two Countreys between which it lies or at least to be thought a part of Virginia or New England for Virginia largely taken is said to contain New England Novum Belgium and Virginia especially so call'd and that so much the rather because the Bessabees accounted by Sanson d' Abbeville an ancient People of New England are written to have liv'd near the River Penobscot which is reckon'd to be the same with Pemtegovet or as some will have it Norumbegua from which or from a certain great City of that Name the Country for fancy's sake must needs be denominated but since most commonly we find it nam'd and treated of apart it will not be improper to follow that method carrying the Bounds of New England no farther Northward than the River Quinnebequi or Sagadahoc and so determining the main part of this Countrey to that space between the aforesaid River and Pemtegovet excepting a small Southerly portion upon the Banks of the River Chovacovet so that it appears chiefly situate under the forty third Degree of Northern Latitude Towns and Cities not certainly known As for the Towns or Cities of this Province there is but a very uncertain account to be given forasmuch as the pretended great City Norumbegua from whence the Province should take its Appellation is not acknowledg'd by any of the most authentick modern Writers nor in any late Voyage or Discovery any mention made either of that or any other considerable Town or City Dr. Heylin supposeth it to be no other than Agguncia a poor little Village that seems compos'd of a company of Hutts or Sheaves cover'd with the Skins of Beasts or the Barks of Trees But the most favourable conjecture is that it might haply be the Ruines of an ancient Town which the Natives call'd Arambeck and had probably deserted it long before the arrival of the Europeans in those parts however it is not very probable that the Name of the Countrey should be deriv'd from this City if ever there were any such or from the River which appears to have been term'd Norumbegua on purpose to make way for this derivation whereas Pomtegovet is the ancient Appellation that properly belongs to it nor hath any modern one been apply'd to it but that of Rio Grande by Buno in his Comment upon Philip Cluverius upon what ground is hard to tell since it is observ'd by Heylin and others to be neither large nor otherwise much to be commended being Navigable not above twenty or thirty Miles in respect of its many great Cataracts and Falls of Water an Inconvenience with which many other Rivers of America are prejudic'd and rendred impassable Before and about the Mouth of this River which is judg'd to be about eight or nine Miles broad lie many small Islands or rather Hills inviron'd with Water the chiefest of which is by the French call'd La Haute Isle from the high and Mountainous appearance of it to those that see it from afar off at Sea The aforemention'd Buno though he names as belonging to Norumbega these several places viz. Porto del Refugio Porto Reale Paradiso Flora and Angolema from some obscure French testimonies without particularising any Author yet he afterwards confesses that the Names given by the French and those apply'd by the Spaniards are so various and disagreeing and breed such a confusion that no Charts or Descriptions had concluded upon either As for those who will have Norumbega deriv'd from Norwegia in respect of a Colony brought thither from Norwey if the Etymologie be not a little too much forc'd the Invention may pass well enough till a better be found out The temperature and nature of its Soil In this Countrey the temperature of the Air is not bad nor the Soil unfruitful if it were well cultivated chiefly towards the Rivers and where it is not either overgrown with Woods or craggy with Hills and mountainous Rocks neither are the Woods unprofitable for they afford good Timber and all kind of necessary and useful Wood especially Beeches Fir-trees Wallnut-trees and other Nuts The Plains are very pleasant and yield good Pasturage onely the Maritime Coasts are so shallow and full of Sands that the Sailing near them is accounted somewhat dangerous and this may be imagin'd to be the reason that no Authors have yet met with any Ports or Havens belonging to this Countrey which they have thought worthy their notice CHAP. II. New England AS Canada is by some accounted a general Province containing New France L' Accadie Norumbega and other places so under Virginia largely taken are comprehended New England New Netherlands and Virginia properly so call'd however since that part which vulgarly goes under the Name of Virginia and New England were possess'd if not discover'd at several times and their Plantations promoted and propagated upon several occasions and by distinct Interests and since New England hath been look'd upon as a place considerable enough for Persons of very eminent quality to concern themselves in it we rather are induc'd to consider this Countrey as a principal part than as any way depending on or being any Branch or Portion of Virginia Situation of New England It lies between Norumbega which it hath Northward and New Netherlands Southward from forty one to forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude in the midst of the temperate Zone and paralell to France and some part of Italy in the Western Hemisphere so that one would think it should enjoy the same temperature of Air but the contrary is found for that part which borders upon the Sea is colder partly by reason that the Sea-waves break the reflexion of the Sun-beams partly by reason of the abundance of Vapors which mounting upward abate the ardor of them
his Majesties Commissioners IN the Year of our Lord 1665. his Majesties Commissioners for the Affairs of New England being in the Province of Mayne the People being much unsetled in Point of Government by reason the Mattachusets Colony or Boston Government did usurp compulsively a Power over them contrary to their wills and the right of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Heir who had his Commission then in the place did unanimously Petition to his Majesties Commissioners to settle the Government upon which the said Commissioners examin'd the Bounds and Right of Mr. Gorges Patent with all the Allegations and Pretensions on both sides and so according to their Instruction from his Majesty did settle a temporary Government under his Majesty's immediate Authority until such time as his Majesty should give his final determination thereof and for that end did Institute Justices of the Peace to Govern the Province according to the true Laws of England Also his Majesty was pleas'd by his Mandamus in April 1666 to the Governors of Boston to signifie that it was his will and pleasure That the Province of Main should stand good as his Commissioners had setled it until he had more leisure to determine it yet notwithstanding after three years quiet possession and exercising of Government by the Kings Justices according to their Commission granted by his Majesty's Commissioners the Bostoners without any Conference with the said Justices did in a hostile manner oppose the King's Power July 1668. which was as followeth The General Court of Boston sent their Warrants to keep Court at York under their Authority and for that purpose Commissionated Magistrates by their own Authority namely Major General John Leveret Mr. Edward Ting Captain Richard Walden and Captain Robert Pike Whereupon the King's Justices did oppose their Warrants and sent Post to New York with an Address to General Nicholas for Advice what to do therein who forthwith dispatch'd away to the Governors of Boston informing them of the danger of their Proceeding it being an open breach of Duty to subvert the Government establish'd by his Majesty's Power also sent the King 's Mandamus April 1666. that will'd to the contrary Notwithstanding the Boston Magistrates in July 1668. in order to their Boston Commission came to York Town in the said Province with several Armed Men Horse and Foot to keep Court under their Authority Opposition was made by the King's Justices and his Majesty's Power was urg'd but little regard thereunto shewn his Majesties Mandamus was likewise much insisted upon and produced by the Justices who ask'd the Bostoners what they thought of it and how they durst act so contrary to the King's Will and Pleasure Major General Leveret told them That he believ'd it might be the King's Hand but he had a Commission from the general Court at Boston which he would follow and observe by the help of God The same day in the Afternoon the said Major General Leveret with the rest of the Boston Magistrates seiz'd and imprison'd the Province Marshal in doing his Office and then forthwith went in warlike posture to the Court-house where the King's Justices sat in Judicature and putting them from their Seats sat down themselves in their Places and Executed their Boston Commission The King's Justices drew a Protest against their Proceedings and so left the Decision to God's Providence and his Majesty's good Pleasure Then they turn'd out all Officers both Military and Civil and Swore others in their Places under their Authority they forc'd the whole Record of the Province out of the Recorders House contrary to his Will by vertue of a Special Warrant from that Court They imprison'd the Mayor of the said Province about three weeks forcing him to give in five hundred Pound Bonds not to act according to his Commission which with some Reservations he was forc'd to deny for the security of his Estate These riotous Proceedings thus acted with such a precipitate fury so incens'd his Majesty that speedy care had been taken to reduce them to reason had they not upon mature consideration bethought themselves afterwards to yield Obedience to his Majesties Orders Having treated at large of all that concerns New England in general both in reference to the Natives and the English Planters we shall conclude with a brief view of the Provinces of Laconia and Main as they are truly Describ'd among other ingenuous Collections and Observations of the Affairs of America and especially these Parts by Ferdinando Gorges Esq Heir to the above-mention'd Sir Ferdinando and thereby sole Lord of the said Provinces onely contracting what hath been by him deliver'd more at large A brief Description of Laconia a Province in New England Among divers Plantations of the English happily Founded in New England is a Province to the Landward nam'd Laconia so call'd by reason of the great Lakes therein but by the ancient Inhabitants thereof it is call'd The Countrey of the Troquois It lies between the Latitude of forty four and forty five Degrees having the Rivers of Sagadehock and Merrimeck on the Sea-Coast of New England Southerly from it into each of which Rivers there is a short Passage frequented by the Salvages inhabiting near the Lakes Also it hath the great Lakes which tend towards California in the South Sea on the West thereof On the North thereof is the great River of Canada into which the said River disgorgeth it self by a fair large River well replenish'd with many fruitful Islands The Air thereof is pure and wholesom the Countrey pleasant having some high Hills full of goodly Forrests and fair Valleys and Plains fruitful in Corn Vines Chesnuts Wallnuts and infinite sorts of other Fruits large Rivers well stor'd with Fish and inviron'd with goodly Meadows full of Timber-trees One of the great Lakes is call'd The Lake of Troquois which together with a River of the same Name running into the River of Canada is sixty or seventy Leagues in length In the Lake are four fair Islands which are low and full of goodly Woods and Meadows having store of Game for Hunting as Stags Fallow-Deer Elks Roe-Bucks Beavers and other sorts of Beasts which come from the Main Land to the said Islands The Rivers which fall into the Lakes have in them good store of Beavers of which Beasts as also of the Elks the Salvages make their chiefest Traffick The said Islands have been inhabited heretofore by the Salvages but are now abandon'd by reason of their late Wars one with another They contain twelve or fifteen Leagues in length and are seated commodiously for Habitation in the midst of the Lake which abounds with divers kinds of wholesom Fish From this Lake run two Rivers Southward which fall into the Eastern and Southern Sea-Coast of New England Into this Lake there went many years since certain French of Quebeck who sided with the Algovinquins with the help of their Canoos which they carried the space of five Miles over the Impossible Falls to Fight a
Battel in revenge of some former Injuries done by the Troquois to the Algovinquins who had the Victory for which cause the French have been so hated ever since by the Nation of the Troquois that none of them durst ever appear in any part of that Lake But their Trade said to be sixteen thousand Beavers yearly is partly sold to the Dutch who Trade with the West-end of the said Lake over Land by Horses from their Plantation upon Hudson's River and another part is conceiv'd to be purchas'd by the Hiroons who being Newters are Friends both to the one and the other and these Hiroons bring down the greatest part of all by the River of Canada The Way over Land to this great Lake from the Plantation of Pascataway hath been attempted by Captain Walter Neale once Governor at the Charges of Sir Ferdinando Gorges Captain Mason and some Merchants of London and the Discovery wanted but one days Journey of finishing because their Victuals was spent which for want of Horses they were enforc'd to carry with their Arms and their Clothes upon their Backs They intended to have made a settlement for Trade by Pinnaces upon the said Lake which they reckon to be about ninety or a hundred Miles from the Plantation over Land The People of the Countrey are given to Hunting of wild Beasts which is their chiefest Food Their Arms are Bowes and Arrows Their Armor is made partly of Wood and partly of a kind of twisted Stuff like Cotton-Wool Their Meat is Flour of Indian Corn of that Countreys growth sodden to Pap which they preserve for times of Necessity when they cannot Hunt This Province of Laconia however known by a distinct Name is included within the Province of Main which offers it self next to our consideration Of the Province of Main All that part of the Continent of New England which was allotted by Patent to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and to his Heirs he thought fit to call by the Name of The Province of Main It takes it beginning at the entrance of Pascatoway Harbor and so passeth up the same into the River of Newichwavoch and through the same unto the farthest Head thereof and from thence North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles and from the Mouth of Pascatoway Harbor aforesaid North-Eastward along the Sea-Coast to Sagadehock and up the River thereof to Kinibequy River even as far as the Head thereof and into the Land North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles To these Territories are also adjoyn'd the North half of the Isles of Sholes together with the Isles of Capawick and Nautican as also all the little Islands lying within five Leagues of the Main all along the Sea-Coast between the aforesaid Rivers of Pascatoway and Sagadehock He no sooner had this Province setled upon him but he gave publick notice That if any one would undertake by himself and his Associates to Transport a competent number of Inhabitants to Plant in any part of his Limits he would assign unto him or them such a proportion of Land as should in reason satisfie them reserving onely to himself some small High-Rent as 2 s. or 2 s. 6 d. for a hundred Acres per Annum and if they went about to build any Town or City he would Endow them with such Liberties and Immunities as should make them capable to Govern themselves within their own Limits according to the Liberties granted to any Town or Corporation within this Realm of England And as for others of the meaner sort who went as Tenants that they should have such quantities of Land assign'd them as they were able to manage at the Rate of 4 d. or 6 d. an Acre according to the nature or situation of the Place they settle in And for the Division of the Province and the Form of Government which he intended to Establish he first divided the Province into several Parts and those again he subdivided into distinct Regiments as East West North and South those again into several Hundreds Parishes and Tythings and these to have their several Officers to Govern according to such Laws as should be agreed upon by publick Assent of the Free-holders with the approbation of himself or Deputy and the principal Officers of the publick State The setled Government for the general State to whom all Appeals were to be made and from whom all Instructions for the welfare of the Publick were to issue were to consist of himself or his Deputy who was to be chosen every three year by himself with the advice of his Council Next a Chancellor for the determination of all Causes A Treasurer to whom the care of the publick Revenue was to be committed A Marshal whose Office was to oversee the Regiments and to provide Men for publick Service An Admiral to take care of all Maritime Affairs to whom a Judge of the Admiralty was to be joyn'd to determine all Maritime Causes A Master of the Ordnance to look to the publick Arms and Ammunition A Secretary to receive Intelligence and to acquaint himself or Deputy therewith To these belong all their several Officers and Ministers for the Execution of all Matters proper to their several Places The chief Town of this Province is call'd Gorgiana which is Govern'd by a Mayor the rest are onely inconsiderable Villages or scatter'd Houses but through Encouragement given to Adventurers and Planters it may prove in time a very flourishing Place and be replenish'd with many fair Towns and Cities it being a Province both fruitful and pleasant SECT II. New Netherland now call'd New York THat Tract of Land formerly call'd The New Netherland doth contain all that Land which lieth in the North parts of America betwixt New England and Mary-Land the length of which Northward into the Countrey as it hath not been fully discover'd so it is not certainly known The breadth of it is about two hundred Miles The principal Rivers within this Tract are Hudson's-River Raritan-River Delaware-Bay-River The chief Islands are the Manhatans-Island Long-Island and Staten-Island The first which discover'd this Countrey was Henry Hudson who being hir'd by the East-India Company to seek a Passage in the Northern America to China set Sail Anno 1609. in the Half-Moon Frigat coming before Terre-neuff he stood about towards the South-West where Sailing up a great River he found two Men Clad in in Ruffelo's Skins and from thence arriv'd safe at Amsterdam New Netherland thus discover'd invited many Merchants to settle a firm Plantation there to which purpose they obtain'd Letters Patents in 1614. granted them by the States in the Hague That they might onely Traffick to New Netherland whereupon they earnestly prosecuting the Design sent out Adrian Block and Godyn who discover'd several Coasts Isles Havens and Rivers NOVI BELâ—â— Quod nune NOVI JORCK vocatur NOVAE que ANGLIAE Partis Virginiae Accuratissima et Novissima Delineatio After His Majesties Restauration His Majesty being truly
inform'd of his just Pretences to all that Usurp'd Territory call'd New Netherland the same having been formerly part of New England and of how great prejudice to the Act of Navigation and how dangerous Intruders the Dutchmen are generally upon other Princes Dominions what mischief might ensue to all our English Plantations in time of War if the Dutch were permitted to strengthen themselves in the very heart of His Majesties Dominions being Masters of one of the most commodious Ports and Rivers in America His Majesty resolv'd to seize upon the same as his undoubted Right and in May 1664. having design'd four Commissioners to the perfecting of Affairs in New England Collonel Richard Nichols Sir Robert Carr George Cartwnight and Samuel Mawrick Esquires with three Ships of War to convey them to Boston The matter was so order'd that the same Ships serv'd for the reducing of the Town and Fort of New Amsterdam upon conditions advantageous to His Majesty and easie to the Dutch Now begins New Netherland to lose the Name for His Majesty having conferr'd by Patent upon his Royal Highness the Duke of York and Albany all the Acquisitions made upon Foraigners together with Long-Island the West end whereof was wholly setled and Peopled by Dutch-men his Royal Highness impower'd by Commission as his Deputy-Governor Colonel Nichols Groom of his Bed-chamber to take the Charge and Direction of Reducing and Governing all those Territories it was by him thought fit to change some principal denominations of Places viz. New Netherland into York-shire New Amsterdam into New York Fort-Amscel into Fort-James Fort-Orange into Fort-Albany and withal to change Burgomasters Schepen and Schout into Mayor Aldermen and Sheriff with Justices of the Peace so that all the Civil Policy is conformable to the Methods and Practise of England whereas New England retains only the name of Constable in their whole Rolls of Civil Officers It is plac'd upon the neck of the Island Manhatans looking towards the Sea encompass'd with Hudson's River which is six Miles broad the Town is compact and oval with very fair Streets and several good Houses the rest are built much after the manner of Holland to the number of about four hundred Houses which in those parts are held considerable Upon one side of the Town is James-Fort capable to lodge three hundred Souldiers and Officers it hath four Bastions forty Pieces of Cannon mounted the Walls of Stone lin'd with a thick Rampart of Earth well accommodated with a Spring of fresh Water always furnish'd with Arms and Ammunition against Accidents Distant from the Sea seven Leagues it affords a safe Entrance even to unskilful Pilots under the Town side Ships of any Burthen may Ride secure against any Storms the Current of the River being broken by the interposition of a small Island which lies a Mile distant from the Town About ten Miles from New York is a Place call'd Hell-Gate which being a narrow Passage there runneth a violent Stream both upon Flood and Ebb and in the middle lie some Rocky Islands which the Current sets so violently upon that it threatens present Shipwrack and upon the Flood is a large Whirlwind which continually sends forth a hideous roaring enough to affright any Stranger from passing farther and to wait for some Charon to conduct him through yet to those that are well acquainted little or no danger It is a place of great Defence against any Enemy coming in that way which a small Forticfiation would absolutely prevent and necessitate them to come in at the West end of Long-Island by Sandy Hook where Nutten Island forces them within the Command of the Fort at New York which is one of the best Pieces of Defence in the North parts of America It is built most of Brick and Stone and cover'd with red and black Tyle and the Land being high it gives at a distance a pleasing prospect to the Spectators The Inhabitants consist most of English and Dutch and have a considerable Trade with Indians for Beaver Otter and Rackoon-Skins with other Furrs as also for Bear Deer and Elke-Skins and are supply'd with Venison and Fowl in the Winter and Fish in the Summer by the Indians which they buy at an easie Rate and having the Countrey round about them they are continually furnish'd with all such Provisions as is needful for the Life of Man not onely by the English and Dutch within their own but likewise by the adjacent Colonies Manhattans River The Manhattans or Great River being the chiefest having with two wide Mouths wash'd the mighty Island Watouwaks falls into the Ocean The Southern Mouth is call'd Port May or Godyns Bay In the middle thereof lies an Island call'd The States Island and a little higher the Manhattans so call'd from the Natives which on the East side of the River dwell on the Main Continent They are a cruel People and Enemies to the Hollanders as also of the Sanhikans which reside on the Western Shore Farther up are the Makwaes and Mahikans which continually War one against another In like manner all the Inhabitants on the West side of the River Manhattan are commonly at Enmity with those that possess the Eastern Shore who also us'd to be at variance with the Hollanders when as the other People Westward kept good Correspondency with them On a small Island near the Shore of the Makwaes lay formerly a Fort provided with two Drakes and eleven Stone Guns yet was at last deserted Wholesom Waters This Countrey hath many removable Water-falls descending from steep Rocks large Creeks and Harbors fresh Lakes and Rivulets pleasant Fountains and Springs some of which boyl in the Winter and are cold and delightful to drink in Summer The Inhabitants never receive any damage by Deluges neither from the Sea because the Water rises not above a Foot nor by the swelling Rivers which sometimes for a few days covering the Plains at their deserting them leave them fat and fruitful The Sea-Coast is Hilly and of a sandy and clayie Soil which produces abundance of Herbs and Trees The Oak grows there generally sixty or seventy Foot high Trees and for the most part free from Knots which makes it the better fit for Shipping The Nut-trees afford good Fuel and a strange Prospect when the Wood is set on fire either to hunt out a Deer or to clear the Ground fit to be Till'd Some Plants brought hither grow better than in Holland it self as Apples Pears Cherries Peaches Apricocks Strawberries and the like Their Vines grow wild in most places and bear abundance of blue white Vines and Muskadine Grapes Sometime since the Inhabitants made a considerable advantage by the Wine of them which is not inferior to either Rhenish or French Water Lemmmons All manner of Plants known in Europe grow in their Gardens The Water-Lemmons no less pleasing to the Palate than healthful when grown ripe they are about the bigness of an indifferent Cabbage the English press
live without the help of any other Countrey for their Clothing for Tradesmen there are none but live happily there as Carpenters Blacksmiths Masons Taylors Weavers Shoemakers Tanners Brickmakers and so any other Trade Them that have no Trade betake themselves to Husbandry get Land of their own and live exceeding well We shall conclude our Discourse of this Countrey with a notable Character given thereof by a late Writer as to the great advantage of happy living in all respects for whosoever shall be pleas'd to betake himself thither to live The Character of a happy Countrey IF there be any terrestrial happiness saith he to be had by any People especially of an inferior rank it must certainly be here Here any one may furnish himself with Land and live Rent-free yea with such a quantity of Land that he may weary himself with walking over his Fields of Corn and all sorts of Grain and let his Stock amount to some hundreds he needs not fear there want of Pasture in the Summer or Fodder in the Winter the Woods affording sufficient supply where you have Grass as high as a Man's Knees nay as high as his Waste interlac'd with Pea-Vines and other Weeds that Cattel much delight in as much as a Man can pass through And these Woods also every Mile or half-Mile are furnish'd with fresh Ponds Brooks or Rivers where all sorts of Cattel during the heat of the day do quench their thirst and cool themselves These Brooks and Rivers being inviron'd of each side with several sorts of Trees and Grape-Vines Arbor-like interchanging places and croding these Rivers do shade and shelter them from the scorching beams of the Sun Such as by their utmost Labors can scarcely get a Living may here procure Inheritances of Lands and Possessions stock themselves with all sorts of Cattel enjoy the benefit of them whilst they live and leave them to their Children when they die Here you need not trouble the Shambles for Meat nor Bakers and Brewers for Beer and Bread nor run to a Linnen-Draper for a supply every one making their own Linnen and a great part of their woollen Cloth for their ordinary wearing And how prodigal if I may so say hath Nature been to furnish this Countrey with all sorts of wild Beasts and Fowl which every one hath an interest in and may Hunt at his pleasure where besides the pleasure in Hunting he may furnish his House with excellent fat Venison Turkies Geese Heath-hens Cranes Swans Ducks Pigeons and the like and wearied with that he may go a Fishing where the Rivers are so furnish'd that he may supply himself with Fish before he can leave off the Recreation Here one may travel by Land upon the same Continent hundreds of Miles and pass through Towns and Villages and never hear the least complaint for want nor hear any ask him for a Farthing Here one may lodge in the Fields and Woods travel from one end of the Countrey to another with as much security as if he were lock'd within his own Chamber And if one chance to meet with an Indian Town they shall give him the best Entertainment they have and upon his desire direct him on his Way But that which adds happiness to all the rest is the healthfulness of the Place where many People in twenty years time never know what Sickness is where they look upon it as a great Mortality if two or three die out of a Town in a years time Besides the sweetness of the Air the Countrey it self sends forth such a fragrant smell that it may be perceiv'd at Sea before they can make the Land No evil Fog or Vapor doth any sooner appear but a North-West or Westerly Wind immediately dissolves it and drives it away Moreover you shall scarce see a House but the South-side is begirt with Hives of Bees which increase after an incredible manner So that if there be any terrestrial Canaan 't is surely here where the Land floweth with Milk and Honey Noua TERRA-MARIAE tabula This Northerne part of Virginia the limitts whereof extend farther Southwards is heere inserted for the better description of the entrance into the Bay of Chesapeack A NEW DESCRIPTION OF MARY-LAND SECT III. BEfore We proceed to the Description of this Countrey it will be first requisite to relate the true occasion and means whereby this part of America came to be erected into a Province and call'd Mary-land In the Year of our Lord 1631. George Lord Baltimore obtain'd of King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. a Grant of that part of America first discover'd by the English which lies between the Degrees of thirty seven and fifty Minutes or thereabouts and forty of Northerly Latitude which is bounded on the South by Virginia on the North by New England and New Jersey The situation part of New York lying on the East side of Delaware Bay on the East by the Ocean and on the West by that part of the Continent which lies in the Longitude of the first Fountains of the River call'd Patomeck In pursuance of this Grant to his said Lordship a Bill was prepar'd and brought to His Majesty to Sign who first ask'd his Lordship what he should call it there being a Blank in the Bill designedly left for the Name which his Lordship intended should have been Crescentia but his Lordship leaving it to His Majesty to give it a Name the King propos'd to have it call'd Terra-Mariae in English Mary-land in honor of his Queen whose Name was Mary which was concluded on and inserted into the Bill which the King then Sign'd and thereby the said Tract of Land was erected into a Province by that Name His Lordship somewhat delaying the speedy passing of it under the Great Seal of England dy'd in the interim before the said Patent was perfected whereupon a Patent of the said Province was shortly afterwards pass'd to his Son and Heir who was Christen'd by the Name of Coecil but afterwards confirm'd by the Name of Coecilius the now Lord Baltemore under the Great Seal of England bearing Date June 20. 1632. in the eighth Year of His said Majesties Reign with all Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil in the said Province as Power to Enact Laws Power of pardoning all manner of Offences Power to confer Honors c. to be held of His said Majesty His Heirs and Successors Kings of England in common Soccage as of His Majesties Honor of Windsor in the County of Berks in England yielding and paying yearly for the same to His Majesty and to His Heirs and Successors for ever two Indian Arrows of those parts at the Castle of Windsor aforesaid on Tuesday in Easter Week and the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar which shall happen to be found in the said Province The Bounds By the said Patent is Granted to his Lorship his Heirs and Assigns all that part of a Peninsula lying
the quality whereof being something corrected by Industry as there have been several trials thereof already made there may no doubt produce good Wine to the great encouragement and advantage of the Undertakers Brave Ships may be built there with little charge Clab-board Wainscot Pipe-staves and Masts for Ships the Woods will afford plentifully some small Vessels have been already built there In fine Beef Furrs Hides Butter Cheese Pork and Bacon to Transport to other Countreys are no small Commodities which by Industry are and may be had there in great plenty the English being already plentifully stock'd with all sorts of Cattel and Horses and were there no other Staple-Commodities to be hop'd for but Silk and Linnen the materials of which apparently will grow there it were sufficient to enrich the Inhabitants But the general Trade of Mary-land at present depends chiefly upon Tobacco it being the Planters greatest concern and study to store himself betimes with that Commodity wherewith he buys and sells and after which Standard all other Commodities receive their Price there they have of late vented such quantities of that and other Commodities that a hundred Sail of Ships from England Barbadoes and other English Plantations have been usually known to Trade thither in one Year insomuch that by Custom and Excize paid in England for Tobacco and other Commodities Imported from thence Mary-land alone at this present hath by his Lordships vast Expence Industry and Hazard for many years without any charge to the Crown improv'd His Majesties the King of Englands Revenues to the value of Forty thousand Pounds Sterl per annum at least The general way of Traffick and Commerce there is chiefly by Barter or Exchange of one Commodity for another yet there wants not besides English and other foraign Coyns some of his Lordships own Coyn as Groats Sixpences and Shillings which his Lordship at his own Charge caus'd to be Coyn'd and dispers'd throughout that Province 't is equal in fineness of Silver to English Sterling being of the same Standard but of somewhat less weight and hath on the one side his Lordships Coat of Arms stamp'd with this Motto circumscrib'd Crescite Maltiplicamini and on the other side his Lordships Effigies circumscrib'd thus Caecilius Dominus Terrae-Mariae c. The Government The Order of Government and settled Laws of this Province is by the Prudence and endeavor of the present Lord Proprietary brought to great Perfection and as his Dominion there is absolute as may appear by the Charter aforementioned so all Patents Warrants Writs Licenses Actions Criminal c. Issue forth there in his Name Wars Peace Courts Offices c. all in his Name made held and appointed Laws are there Enacted by him with the advice and consent of the General Assembly which consists of two Estates namely the first is made up by the Chancellor Secretary and others of his Lordships Privy-Council and such Lords of Mannors and others as shall be call'd by particular Writs for that purpose to be Issu'd by his Lordship The second Estate consists of the Deputies and Delegates of the respective Counties of the said Province elected and chosen by the free voice and approbation of the Free-men of the said respective Counties The Names of the Governor and Council in this present Year 1671. are as followeth Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships Son and Heir Governor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother Chancellor Sir William Talbot Baronet his Lordships Nephew Secretary Mr. William Calvert his Lordships Nephew Muster-Master-General Mr. Jerome White Surveyor-General Mr. Baker Brooke his Lordships Nephew Mr. Edward Lloyd Mr Henry Coursey Mr. Thomas Trueman Major Edward Fits-Herbert Samuel Chen Esq His Lordship or his Lieutenant there for the time being upon due occasion Convenes Prorogues and Dissolves this Assembly but whatsoever is by his Lordships Lieutenant there with the consent of both the said Estates Enacted is there of the same Force and Nature as an Act of Parliament is in England until his Lordship declares his dis-assent but such Laws as his Lordship doth assent unto are not afterwards to be Alter'd or Repeal'd but by his Lordship with the consent of both the said Estates Their chief Court of Judicature is held at St. Maries Quarterly every Year to which all Persons concern'd resort for Justice and is call'd The Provincial Court whereof the Governor and Councilare Judges To the Court there doth belong several sworn Attorneys who constantly are present there and act both as Barristers and Attorneys there are likewise chief Clerks Bayliffs and other Officers which duly attend the Court in their respective places The Province is divided at present so far as it is inhabited by English into Counties whereof there be ten viz. St. Maries Charles Calvert Anne Arandel and Baltemore Counties which first five lie on the West side of the Bay of Chesapeack on the Eastern side whereof commonly call'd The Eastern-Shore lies Sommerset Dorchester Talbot Caecil and Kent Counties which last is an Island lying near the Eastern-shore of the said Bay Besides the Provincial Court aforenam'd there are other inferior Courts appointed to be held in every one of the Counties six times in the year for the dispatch of all Causes not relating to Life or Member and not exceeding the value of three thousand weight of Tobacco the decision of all other Causes being reserv'd to the Provincial or higher Court before-mention'd and there lies Appeals from the County-Courts to the Provincial Court There are Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers appointed by the Lord and Proprietary or his Lordships Lieutenant for the time being in the said respective Counties and without four Justices of which one to be of the Quorum none of the said respective County-Courts can be held any of his Lordships Privy Council may sit as Judge in any of the said County-Courts by vertue of his place These Courts are appointed to be held at convenient Houses in the said Counties which commonly are not far distant from some Inn or other House of Entertainment for accommodation of Strangers one of the said six County Courts in each County is held for settling of Widows and Orphans Estates There are Foundations laid of Towns more or less in each County according to his Lordships Proclamation to that effect Issu'd forth in the year 1668. In Calvert County about the River of Patuxent and the adjacent Cliffs are the Bounds of three Towns laid out one over against Point Patience call'd Harvy Town another in Battel-Creek call'd Calverton and a third upon the Cliffs call'd Herrington and Houses already built in them all uniform and pleasant with Streets and Keys on the Water side In the County of St. Maries on the East side of St. Georges River is the principal and original Seat of this Province where the general Assembly and Provincial Courts are held and is call'd St. Maries being erected into a City by that Name where divers Houses are already
and quantity onely in such things as require more Sun and that may be produc'd by Industry there may be some little difference because Virginia is somewhat more to the Southward of Mary-land as in Vines Oranges Lemmons Olives Silk c. There is a Plant grows naturally in this Countrey Silk-Grass and in Mary-land call'd Silk-Grass which will make a fine Stuff with a silky Gloss and better Cordage than Hemp or Flax both for strength and durance The wild Beasts Birds and Fish are much the same also in this Countrey as are before describ'd in the precedent Description of Mary-land Nevertheless we shall think it proper not to omit some Fruits Plants Beasts c. mention'd by the most authentick Describers of New England Fruits peculiar to Virginia as peculiar to that Countrey The Fruits are their Putchamines which are a kind of Damsons Messamines a kind of Grapes Chechinquamins a sort of Fruit resembling a Chesnut Rawcomens a Fruit resembling a Gooser-berry Macoquer a kind of Apple Mettaquesunnauks a sort of Fruit resembling Inkian Figs Morococks resembling a Straw-berry besides a Berry which they call Ocoughtanamnis somewhat like to Capers Their peculiar Roots are Tockawaugh Roots good to eat Wichsacan of great vertue in healing of Wounds Pocones good to asswage Swellings and Aches Musquaspen wherewith they Paint their Targets and Mats Also they have in great request a Pulse call'd Assentamen and the Plant Mattouna of which they make Bread Their peculiar Beasts are Beasts the Aroughena resembling a Badger the Assapanick or Flying-Squerril Opassum a certain Beast having a Bag under her Belly wherein she carrieth and suckleth her Young Mussascus which smelling strong of Musk resembleth a Water-Rat Utchunquois a kind of wild Cat. Their peculiar Fish are Stingrais On the West side of the Bay of Chesapeak between Cape Henry and the Southerly Bank of the River of Patomeck are three fair Navigable Rivers as is before mention'd into which the other small Rivulets fall Rivulets which here we will give some account of as also of the Indian or antient Names by which these three principal Rivers were formerly known The first whereof is Powhatan now call'd James-River according to the Name of a large and considerable Territory that lieth upon it The Rivers that fall into this Southward are Apamatuck Eastward Quiyonycohanuc Nansamund and Chesopeak and Northward Chickamahania The second Navigable River is Pamaunkee by the English now term'd York-River The Rivulet that falls into this is Poyankatanck The third which is before describ'd and usually known by the Name of Rappahanoc was formerly term'd Toppahanoc This we thought fit here to insert to the end no colour of mistake might remain to after Ages concerning the derivation or original change of such proper Names especially being Places of great advantage to the Colony Several People of the ancient Natives of Virginia The chiefest of those Tribes or Divisions of People among the Indians that were by Name known to the English at their first arrival were upon the River Pouhatan the Kecoughtans the Paspaheghes on whose Land is seated James-Town the Weanocks Arrohatocks the Appametocks the Nandsamunds the Chesapeacks c. On the River Pamaunkee are the Younghtanunds the Mattapaments c. On the River Toppahanoc the Manahoacks the Moraughtacunds and the Cuttatawomens On the River Patawomek the Wighcocomocans the Onawmanients and the Moyanances On the River Pawtuxunt the Acquintacsuacs the Pawtuxunts and the Matapunients On the River Bolus the Sasquesabanoes Southward from the Bay the Chawonocks the Mangoacks the Monacans the Mannahocks the Masawomecks the Atquanahucks and the Kuscarawaocks besides a number not material to be nam'd as having had little of Transaction that we hear of with the Planters Number of Inhabitants The number of English Inhabitants in this Countrey are in this present Year 1671. about thirty or forty thousand who are plentifully stock'd with all sorts of tame Cattel as Cows Sheep Horses Swine c. and all sorts of English Grain great store of brave Orchards for Fruit whereof they make great quantities of Cyder and Perry They have been much oblig'd by that worthy Gentleman Mr. Edward Digges Son of Sir Dudley Digges who was Master of the Rolls and a Privy Councellor to King Charles the First of Great Brittain c. For the said Mr. Digges at his great Charge and Industry hath very much advanc'd the making of Silk in this Countrey for which purpose he hath sent for several Persons out of Armenia to teach them that Art and how to wind it off the Cods of the Silk-Worms and hath made at his own Plantation in this Colony for some years last past considerable quantities of Silk which is found to be as good Silk as any is in the World which hath encourag'd divers others to prosecute that Work The Commodities of Virginia Though this Countrey be capable of producing many other good Commodities yet the Planters have hitherto imploy'd themselves for the most part in Planting of Tobacco as they do in Mary-land whereof there are two sorts one which is call'd Sweet-scented and the other call'd Oranoack or Bright and Large which is much more in quantity but of lesser Price than the former and the Plantations upon York River are esteem'd to produce the best of that sort of Sweet-scented There is so much of this Commodity Planted in Virginia and Imported from thence into England that the Custom and Excize paid in England for it yields the King about fifty or threescore thousand Pounds Sterling per annum With this Commodity the Planter buys of the Ships that come thither for it which are above a hundred Sail yearly from England and other English Plantations all Necessaries of Clothing and other Utensils of Houshold-stuff c. which they want though they make some Shoes and Linnen and Woollen Cloth in some parts of Virginia of the growth and Manufacture of the Countrey and if they would Plant less Tobacco as it is probable they will e're long find it convenient for them to do it being now grown a Drug of very low value by reason of the vast quantities Planted of it they might in a little time provide themselves of all Necessaries of Livelyhood and produce much richer and more Staple-Commodities for their advantage Their usual way of Traffique in buying and selling is by exchange of one Commodity for another and Tobacco is the general Standard by which all other Commodities receive their value but they have some English and foreign Coyns which serve them upon many occasions The Government is by a Governor and Council Appointed and Authoriz'd from time to time by immediate Commission from the King of Great Brittain And Laws are made by the Governor with the consent of a General Assembly which consists of two Houses an Upper and a Lower the first consists of the Council and the latter of the Burgesses chosen by the Freemen of the Countrey and Laws
rest of the Colony Lands will be alienable onely with this difference that it cannot be parcell'd out but if fold it must be altogether 4. There is to be a Biennial Parliament consisting of the eight Proprietors the Landgraves and Casiques and one out of every Precinct that is the six neighboring Colonies for the People chosen by the Freeholders these are to sit and Vote altogether for the making of Laws which shall be in force no longer than sixty years after their Enacting the great mischief of most Governments by which not onely the People are mightily entangled by multiplicity of Rules and Penalties and thereby laid open to the Malice and Designs of troublesom Men and cunning Projectors but which is far worse the whole frame of the Government in tract of time comes to be remov'd from its original Foundation and thereby becomes more weak and tottering 5. There are eight supream Courts for the dispatch of all publick Affairs the first consists of the Palatine who is the eldest of the Proprietors and hath power to call Parliaments and dispose of publick Offices The other seven supream Courts are 1. The chief Justices for the determining of Controversies of Meunt and Tuum and judging of Criminals 2. The Chancellors for passing of Charters and managing the State Matters of the Province 3. The High-Constables for Military Affairs 4. The Admirals for Maritime Affairs 5. The High-Stewards for Trade 6. The Treasurers for the publick Stock and 7. The Chamberlains for Ceremonies Fashions Marriages Burials c. These are the seven supream Courts to whom lies the ultimate Appeal in all Causes belonging to them Each of these Courts consists of one Proprietor and six other Councellors whereof two are chosen by the Nobility and two by the People All the number of these eight Courts joyn'd together make the Grand Council which are in the nature of a Council of State and are entrusted with the management of Affairs of greatest concernment There is also in every County a Court and in every Precinct another from the Precinct Court there lies an Appeal to the County Court and from the County Court to the Proprietors Court to which the Matter in question belongs and there is the last decision and determination thereof without any farther Appeal And to keep the People from the Charges and vexation of long Suits to the enriching of Men cunning in Words care is taken that no Cause shall be Try'd more than once in any one Court and that profess'd Pleaders for Money shall not be allow'd Liberty of Conscience is here also allow'd in the greatest latitude but yet so that neither Atheists or Men of no Religion are permitted Atheism Irreligion and vicious Lives being condemn'd as disagreeable to humane Nature inconsistent with Government and Societies and destructive to all that is useful to or becoming of Mankind as on the other hand rigorous Imposing of and hot Contentions about the Ceremonies and Circumstances of Religion is an occasion of perpetual Strife Faction and Division keeps Men from sedate and temperate Enquiries after Truth eats out the great Cement of humane Conversation Charity and cannot be found in any one who hath but modesty enough to think himself less than a Pope and short of Infallibility There is also to be a Register of all Grants and Conveyances of Land to prevent even the occasions of Controversies and Law-Suits There are several other less considerable Particulars in this Government all contriv'd and design'd for the good and welfare of the People all which are so well put together and in such equal proportion ballance each other that some judicious Men who have seen it say it is the best and fairest Frame for the well-being of those who shall live under it of any they have seen or read of CHAP. III. Florida Situation and Bounds SOuth-West of Virginia lieth the spacious Countrey of Florida remarkable hitherto rather by the great pains which the Spaniards have taken and the ill Successes they have met with in the discovery and search of this Province than by any thing else they have discover'd in it answerable to their desires On the East it hath the Atlantick Ocean or Mare del Nordt on the South and South-West the Gulph of Mexico and Mare Virginium and full West part of New Gallicia and some other Countreys not yet perfectly known This Countrey is also one of those said to have been first of all discover'd by Sir Sebastian Cabot at the Charges of the King of England about the Year 1497. but afterwards more throughly search'd into by John some de Leon a Spaniard Ponce's Expedition who in the Year 1511. set Sail with three Ships out of the Haven St. German in Porto Rico North-West to the Isles Del Veio Caycos Yaguna Amaguyao Manegua and Guanahani first discover'd by Christopher Colonus and call'd St. Salvador After that Steer'd North-West by a Coast which because of its pleasant prospect was call'd Florida or according to the more common Opinion because it was on Palm-Sunday which the Spaniards call Pascha de Flores or Pascha Florida that he Landed here And to find out a Haven he kept sight of the Shore which appear'd South-West from him Here the Ships met with so strong a Tide that notwithstanding they had a fresh Gale of Wind yet could they not stem it one of the Ships was driven to Sea out of sight the other two casting Anchor which raking drove toward the Shore whither being beckned by the Indians they immediately went when no sooner he Landed but they ran in great Companies to make themselves Masters of the Vessels kill'd one Spaniard wounded two more the Night approaching put an end to the Fight From hence Sailing to the River La Cruix for Wood and Water they were resisted by sixty Natives which they put to flight with their Guns and took one Prisoner after which they erected a Stone Cross The Promontory by which glides the strong Current lies in twenty Degrees North-Latitude and call'd Cabo de Corrientes as the Row of Isles before the Main Land Los Martyres because the Cliffs at a distance appear like Men standing on Poles Lastly after some small Encounters with the Floridans Ponce return'd home Water to make old People look young being onely inform'd falsly by the Indians that in Florida was a River and on the Isle Bimini a Fountain whose Waters made old People young On the King's Command the Spaniards were permitted to make inspection into the Countrey in which they were every where courteously Entertain'd and not without Gold and Silver Presents Treachery of Vasquez Returning Aboard Vasquez invited the. Indians to go with him under pretence of returning them thanks for the Favours which they had bestowed upon him but no sooner had he gotten a considerable number in his Ships but he set Sail and losing one Ship arriv'd with the other safe at Hispaniola with a few Indians Indians misused
there Captain Francis Drake set Sail from Plymouth Anno 1577. and after much hardship getting through the Straights of Magellan arriv'd in the Haven Guatulco having before his coming thither taken as many rich Spanish Ships in the Southern Ocean as he could possibly have wish'd for so that his onely care now needed to have been how to get safe home yet he put on a Resolution not to come short of Ferdinandus Magellanus who Saild about the World Which brave Resolution of Drake's was approv'd of by all his Sea-men whereupon he set Sail along the North of California the fifth of June being gotten into forty two Degrees which was the farthest that Cabrillo went he came on a sudden out of a warm Air into so frigid a Climate that the Sea-men were almost kill'd with Cold and the farther they went the colder it grew wherefore falling down three Degrees more Southerly they got into a convenient Haven where the Natives who liv'd along the Shore brought them Presents which Drake left not unrequited by returning them others that were to them more novel and not unuseful Nature and Habit of the People These People are exceeding hardy for notwithstanding the extraordinary coldness of the Climate the Men go naked but the Women wear Garments of pleited Flags or Rushes which being put about their Middle hang down to their Ancles on their Stomachs hang the ends of a hairy Skin ty'd together which hanging also over their Shoulders cover their hinder Parts They shew great Respect and Obedience to their Husbands Each House is surrounded with an Earthen Wall and all the Corners thereof being close stopp'd and Fires made in the midst of them they are very warm Rushes and Flags strow'd thick on the Ground near the Walls serve them in stead of Beds Drake's Entertainment by the King of the Countrey The rumour of these Strangers arrival spreading all over the Countrey made the Inhabitants far and near desirous to see them the King himself sending Ambassadors to Drake to inform him that he was on the Way coming to see him all which the Agents related at large and desir'd some Presents as a testimony that their King should be welcome which he being assur'd of came with a Retinue of above twelve thousand Men before whom walk'd one of a Gygantick size carrying a costly Scepter on which by three long Chains made of Bones hung a great and a small Crown made of Feathers next follow'd the King himself in a Sute of Cony-Skins then came a great confus'd company of People each of them carrying a Present whereupon Drake putting his Men into good order march'd to meet the King at which the Mace-bearer made a long Preamble and when he had done Danc'd to the Tune of a Song which he Sung himself then the King and his whole Retinue also fell a Singing and Dancing so long till being weary the King went to Drake and humbly desir'd of him that he would accept of the Realm assuring him that all the People should be under his Obedience which said he put the fore-mention'd Crown on his Head and hanging three double Chains about his Neck call'd him Hioh whereupon Drake took possession of the Countrey in Queen Elizabeths Name The King staying alone with Drake his Retinue went amongst the English every one looking very earnestly upon them and to those whom they lik'd best being the youngest they falling down and crying proffer'd Offerings as to Gods and held their Cheeks to draw Blood out of them which the English refusing they desisted but shew'd them great Wounds and desir'd some Plaisters of them which they suppli'd them with The English going up into the Countrey found the same well grown with Woods which abounded with Coneys whose Heads differ'd little from the European but having Feet like Moles long Tails like Rats and in their Sides a Bag wherein when they had fill'd their Bellies they put the remainder They also saw numerous Herds of Deer with whose Flesh having been courteously Entertain'd in several Villages they return'd to the Fleet. Drake just before he weighed Anchor caus'd a Pillar to be set in the Ground with a Silver Plate on the same A Monument erected by Drake before his departure with an Inscription mentioning the Day of his Arrival Name and Arms of Queen Elizabeth and free delivering of that Realm to him by the Indians he also nail'd a Sixpence with the Queens Effigies on the Plate under which he caus'd his own Name to be Engraven THE ISLANDS OF Northern America CHAP. XI Terra Nova or New-found Land with the Island of Assumption HAving treated at large of all the several Regions and Provinces of the North part of the Continent of America we come now to those Islands that lie within the same Degrees of Northern Latitude with that part of the Continent The first is Terre Neuve or New-found Land discover'd together with several other Parts upon the Continent before mention'd by Sir Sebastian Cabott by the Countenance and Charge of King Henry the Seventh of England whereupon a rightful Claim thereunto and Interest therein hath been own'd by the succeeding Kings of England as hereafter shall be more particularly related Situation and bound of New-found Land New-found Land is situated betwixt the Degrees of forty six and fifty three of Northern Latitude and is divided from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea in like distance as England is from France The Island is as large as England in length greater in breadth and lies near the Course that Ships usually hold in their Return from the West-Indies and is near the mid-way between Ireland and Virginia INSULAE AMERICANAE IN OCEANO SEPTENTRIONALI cum Terris adiacentibus We shall not much need to commend the wholsom temperature of this Countrey Temperature seeing the greatest part thereof lieth above three Degrees nearer to the South than any part of England doth so that even in the Winter it is pleasant and healthful as England is Nature of the Inhabitants The natural Inhabitants of the Countrey as they are but few in number so are they something a rude and salvage People having neither knowledge of God nor living under any kind of Civil Government In their Habits Customs and Manners they resemble the Indians of the Continent from whence it is to be suppos'd they come they live altogether in the North and West part of the Countrey which is seldom frequented by the English but the French and Biscainers who resort thither yearly for the Whale-fishing and also for the Cod-fish report them to be an ingenuous and tractable People being well us'd and very ready to assist them with great labour and patience in the killing cutting and boyling of Whales and making the Trayn-Oyl without expectation of other Reward than a little Bread or some such small Hire It hath the most commodious Harbours in the World Commodious Harbors and the most safe