Canada which if the English had again in their possession as they had in the Years 1628. and 1632. they might give a Law to all foreign Kings and People interested in any of the parts of America and a Protection to all the English Plantations upon that Continent whereby great security comfort and profit would arise to the Nation and People of it whereas on the contrary if the French Spanish or Dutch should possess themselves of the said Plantation they would not onely deprive this Nation of all the Advantages aforesaid but would also derive to themselves so great a Power to prejudice all the Plantations of the Coasts of America belonging to this Nation that the Inconveniences thereof are scarce to be imagin'd or express'd â—â—ppa AESTIVARVM Insularum â—â—â—s BARMVDAS dictarum ad Ostia Mexiâ—â—i astuarij jacentium in latitudine Graduum 32 Minutorum 25. Ab Anglia Londino Scilicet versus Libonotum 3300 Miliaribus Anglicanis et a Roanoack qui locus est in Virginia versus Euronotum 500 Mill. accurate descripta Nomina fortunae bona submittentium in quaestus Virginiani alea A. j622 quam fieri potuit accuratissims expressa numeris corum portiones quam proxime in agrorum divisione referentibus quae portiones illic Separatim distinguntur in regione ipsa quemadmodum hic lineis ob oculos ponuntur Hammilton alias Har rington Tribe 1 To Lord Marq. Hammilton Shares 6 1 Si. Edward Harwood Shares 4 2 M. Iohn Delbridge Shares 3 3 M. Iohn Dike Shares 3 4 M. El. Robert Shares 2 5 M Rob. Phipps Shares 2 6 M Ralph King Shares 2 7 M Quicks heires or assignes Shares 2 8 M â—illiam Canning Shares 4 8 M. Will. Canning Shares 1 8 M. Will. Webbâ— Shares â— 9 M. Iohn Barnard Shares 2 10 Si. Tho. Huggia Shares 2 11 M. Iohn Gearing Shares 2 12 M. Cleoph Smith Shares 2 13 Robert Earle of Warwick Shares 4 14 M. Tho. Cowell Shares 3 15 M. Greenwels heires or assig Shares 1 16 M. Cley Shares 1 17 M. Poulson Shares 2 18 M. Iohn Dike Shares 1½ 19 Common ground Shares 13 acres 20 M Iohn Dike Shares 1½ 21 M. Geo. Thorpe Esquire Shares 1 Smiths Tribe 1 Si. Dudley Digge Since M. Geo. Sandys or his assig Shares 2 2 M. Rich. Edwards Shares 2 3 M. Will. Payne Shares 4 4 M. Rob. Smith Shares 2 5 M. Geo. Berkleys assignes Shares 5 6 Si. Sam. Sandys Shares 7 7 M. Autho. Pennistone Shares 4 8 Si. Edwin Sandys Shares 1 9 Si Tho. Smith Shares 5 10 M. Rich. Morer Shares 4 11 M. Henry Timberly Shares 4 12 Rob Iohnson Alderman Shares 5 13 M. Iohn Wroth Shares 3 14 M. George Smith Shares 4 Devonshire Tribe 1 M. Antho. Pennystone Shares 2 2 M. Iohn Dike Shares 1 3 M. Iohn Dike Shares 1 4 M. Iohn Barnard Shares 2 5 Robert Earle of Warwick Shares 2 6 M. Francis West Shares 2 7 Will. Lord Cavendish Shares 3 8 The said W. Lord Cavandish Shares 2 8 Will. Earle of Devonshire Shares 5 9 M. Edw. Lukin Shares 5 9 M. Edward Ditchfield Shares 1 10 M. Edw. Ditchfield Shares 4 11 M. Will. Nichols Shares 2 12 M. Edw. Ditchfield Shares 1 13 M. Iohn Fletcher Shares 2 14 M. Gideon Dolawne Shares 2 15 M. Anthon. Pennistone Shares 3 16 M. Best Shares 2 17 M. Edw. Lukin Shares 2 18 M. Rich. Rogers Shares 2 19 M. Will. Shares 4 Pembroke Tribe 1 M. George Smith Shares 4 2 Gleabland Shares 2 3 M. Nicholas Hide Esquire Shares 1 4 Si. Laurence Hide Shares 2 5 M. Thomas Ladwin Shares 2 6 William Earle of Pembroke Shares 10 7 M. Richard Edwards Shares 1 8 M. Harding Shares 1 9 M. Richard Edwards Shares 1 10 M. Ward Shares 1 11 M. Richard Edwards Shares 2 12 M. Iacobson or his assign Shares 1 13 M. Iohn Farrar Shares 1 14 M. Iohn Farrar Shares 1 15 M. Nichol. Farrar Shares 1 16 M. William Canning Shares 2 17 M. Richard Martine Esq Shares 2 18 M. Morris Abbot Shares 2 19 M. Rich. Caswell Shares 1 20 M. Rich. Caswell Shares 2 21 M. Rich. Caswell Shares 1 22 M. Rich. Edwards Shares 2 23 M. Rich. Edwards Shares 2 24 M. Rich. Caswell Shares 2 25 M. Rich. Edwards Shares 2 26 M. Geo. Sandys or his Assig Shares 2 27 M. William Payne Shares 2 Pagets Tribe 1 M. Iohn Chamberlaine Esq Shares 5 2 M. Thomas Ayres and Shares 4 2 M. Rich. Wiseman Shares 4 3 Rich. Wiseman Shares 1 4 William Lord Paget Shares 10 5 M. William Palmar Shares 4 6 M. Bagwell Shares 5 7 Iohn Ball Shares 1 8 M. Thomas Wheatley Shares 1 9 M. Christopher Barron Shares 4 10 M. Iohn Woodall Shares 1 11 M. Iohn Woodall Shares 1 12 M. Lewes Shares 2 13 M. Geo. Etheridg Shares 4 14 Incognira Shares 2 15 Si. William Wade Shares 1 16 M. Iohn Bernard Shares 1 Warwick Tribe 1 Captains Daniel Tucker Shares 1 2.3.4.5.6 M. Ioseph Man Shares 5 7 M. Step. Sparrow Shares 1 8 M. Francis Meuerell Shares 1 9.10 M. Sam. Tickier Shares 2 11.12.13 M. George Smith Shares 5 14.15 M. George Smith Shares 5 16.17.18 Robert Earle of Warwicke Shares 5 19.20 Robert Earle of Warwicke Shares 5 21 M. William Felgate Shares 1 22.23 Capt. Daniel Tucker Shares 2 24.25 M. Rich. Wheatly Shares 2 26 Capt. Daniel Tucker Shares 2 27 Iohn Faucet Shares 1 28 Doct. Anth. Hun. ton or his Assign Shares 2 29 Doct. Anth. Hun. ton or his Assign Shares 2 30 M. Francis Meuerell Shares 1 31 M. Rich. Poulson Shares 1 32 M. Mathew Shepheard Shares 1 to 42 M. Geo Tucker Shares 10 43 M. Christ Cletheros Shares 1 44 M. George Swinhow Shares 2 45 M. George Swinhow Shares 2 46 M. Richard Tomlins Esq Shares 1 47 M. Francis Meuerell Shares 1 48.49 Sir Iohn Walter Shares 2 50 M. Martin Bond Shares 1 Southampton Tribe 1 Capt. Tucker Shares 1 2 Capt. Tucker Shares 1 3 Capt. Tucker Shares 2 4 M. Iohn Britton Shares 1 5 M. Rich. Chamberlaine Shares 3 6 M. Leo. Harwood or his assig Shares 1 7 M. Iohn Bankes Shares 1 8 Sir Nathaniell Rich. Shares 12 9 Robert Earle of Warwich Shares 3 10 M. Rich. Morer Shares 6 11 M. George Scot Shares 6 11 M. Edmund Scot Shares 6 11 M. Antho. Abdy Shares 6 12 Heary Earle of Southamton Shares 4 12 M. Arch. Bromefield Shares 2 13 M. Henry Timberly Shares 2 14 S. Thomas Hewet Shares Shares 2 15 M. Peirces Shares 1 16 S. Ralgh Winwood Shares 2 Refiduum Quid hoc Refiduum sit et cor hic apposition apparet libro Geodesae Societati exhibito 1 Captaine Tucker Parts 3 2 Gleabe-land Parts 2 1 Sandys Tribe Parts 2 Sandys Tribe 3 M. Geor Barkley or his heires Shares 5 4 S. Edwards Sandys Shares 5 5 M. Ierom Heydon Shares 10 6 M. Tho. Melling et M. Iohn Cusse Shares 2 7 M. Rich. Chamberlaine Shares 2 8 M. Abraham Chamberlaine Shares 2 9 M. George Smith Shares 2 10 M.
The Pories The Mountains along the Ocean which inclose much Gold are inhabited by the Pories a peaceable People molesting none of their Neighbors they sleep in Nets of Flags and have no other Houses than three Poles plac'd triangular and cover'd with Palm-Leaves they feed on Pine-Nuts and Eyrires Apples that have Shells like a Walnut and have also the precious Balsam-Oyl in great abundance The Molopaques Along the River Paradiva inhabit the Molopaques the Men strong and well timber'd have Beards long enough to cover their Privities The Women also fair modest prudent and never laughing tie their Hair painted with several colours round about their Middle with a Cord so that it serves in stead of an Apron They observe a set-hour for Dinner and Supper which is not us'd by any other Brasilians The Mountains in these Parts consisting of a black Mold have plenty of Gold but it is of no esteem or regard amongst them onely that which is wash'd down by the Rain they gather up but put to no other use than to make Hooks to hang their Nets on The Motayas The Motayas being of a low Stature and brown Complexion shave off the Hair of their Heads or else pluck it up by the Roots they are eaters of Man's-flesh Not far from whose Dominions appear the Mountains Pinos up in the Countrey which abounding with Gold and Precious Stones are inhabited by the Biheros otherwise call'd Lopos which live under the Trees like Beasts The Waianawasons The Waianawasons have little Villages built along a nameless River they are a Gigantick People but very ignorant Thirteen Portuguese undertaking some years ago to travel through this Countrey to the South Sea found on some Mountains abundance of Gold and Precious Stones and amongst many strange things they saw a Crystal Mountain ten days before they came near it over which they could not travel because of its steepness at the foot thereof sprung a broad Stream making a great noise From thence travelling forward The Tamoyes they came to the Tamoyes Countrey the Men whereof being well proportion'd wore great Bunches of Feathers on their Heads The Women exceeding fair had carv'd Breasts The said Portuguese being taken here were put into Prison and all slain and eaten excepting one who escap'd after this manner Thirty thousand Tamoyes falling into the Countrey of the Amazons by the Americans call'd Mandiocuysyams made a great Feast with three hundred of them whilest the rest fled to the River La Plata where they got help from the Portuguese who kill'd ten thousand of the Tamoyes made the rest Slaves and releas'd their imprison'd Countreyman The Tocomans Caryogs and Maraquites The Tocomans a little People dwell between La Plata and St. Vincent The Caryogs possess much Gold and Precious Stones The Maraquites by the Western Indians sur-named Tapuiyers that is Wild People are divided into seventy six sorts all differing in their Languages amongst which the chiefest are the Arodera Cajau Maquaru and Poyme which all live without Law Religion setled Abodes or Friendship with any Neighbors and the Women Fight as well as the Men. Jacob Rabbi who dwelt a considerable time and convers'd amongst these People describes their Customs thus Their Customs describ'd Their King Jandui sir-named Otshicayayna from the River which flows through the Countrey of the Tapuyans causes if he thinks fit to be publish'd through the the whole Camp of the Enemy whither he will go the next Morning and what he will do ill the Day following having first consulted with his Council of Sorcerers Before they march they wash their Bodies in the River rub themselves all over with Sand and afterwards wash it off again then stretch themselves till all their Joynts crack run to the Fire and when throughly warm scratch their Bodies with certain Fish-Teeth insomuch that the Blood gushes out of several places all which they judge to be good against wearisomness About a Stones-cast from the King's Tent lie two thick Logs a large Stride one from the other against which the whole Multitude stand divided into two Parties each of whom chuse the strongest Man accounted amongst them to carry the Log for a Wager and when these two are tir'd they are releas'd by others and he that comes last to the appointed place with the Log is laugh'd at by the Party to which he belong'd that was there first where they all stay for the Youths that bring their Arms which when they have deliver'd they all fall to work cutting down Trees breaking off the Boughs sticking them in the Ground and tying them together on the top for Tents which are built in rows one against another leaving a broad Path between Mean while the Women and Children coming with their Baggage the Men run to Fish and Hunt or to seek Honey The old Women dig up Roots which stamp'd serve them for Bread whilest the young Women help one another to prepare the Meat in the Huts Moreover the Men spend their time in several Exercises as Wrestling and Running of which two Women appointed for that purpose are the Judges When the Evening draws on upon them then the Youths dividing themselves into Companies go Singing from one Tent to another and are follow'd by the Maids Dancing and Leaping every one standing behind him whom she loves best and this is look'd upon as a singular sign of affection When a young Man is inclin'd to Marry he carries Honey and Venison to his Mistresses Father who if he hath more than one Daughter acquaints the Soothsayers with it who inform the King concerning it he then causes all the young Men and Maids to be call'd together out of the Camp sends them into the Woods to Hunt out a wild Beast which they no sooner see but they return and acquaint the Multitude therewith who immediately surrounding the Place soon catch the Beast whose Entrails they pull out and throw to the Dogs and give the Flesh to the Women to roast which when ready they make merry with Singing and Dancing after they have eaten then if the Youth hath behav'd himself well in pursuing of the wild Beast the King grants him the Maid which he desires for his Wife Four days before the Wedding they bore a Hole through each of the Bridegrooms Cheeks with a sharp piece of Wood which done they solemnize the Marriage at which the King himself distributes the Meat to every Guest as he thinks fit after Dinner they extol the Mothers Care in preserving her Daughters Virginity for the Bridegroom in strange Songs If a Maid be Marriageable and no Suitor comes to her then the Mother draws red Strokes under her Eyes and conducts her to the King who sets the Maid down by him on a Mat warms his Hands against the Fire then stroaks himself and the Maid and also blows Tobacco-Smoak on her and himself which done he performs the part of a Husband with her But their making Holes
such a bustle amongst the Learned that several tired themselves about the explanation of the suppos'd Sibylline Prediction CHAP. II. Of the Original of the Americans whence they came when how and from what People Planted The original of the Americans much disputed on ABout the Original of the Americans the Learned Dispute so much that they find nothing more difficult in Story than to clear that Point for whether inquiry be made after the time when the Americans first settled themselves where they now inhabit or after what manner they came thither either by Shipping or by Land on purpose or accidentally driven by Storm or else forc'd by a more powerful People to remove from their old Plantations and seek for new or if any one should be yet more curious asking the way that directed them out of another Countrey to this New World or else enquire for those People from whom the Americans deriv'd themselves He will find several Opinions and the Learned still Jangling The first Doubt is concerning the time Voyagel l. 1. c. 8. Mr. Purchas where-ever he had the Hint endeavors to prove that America hath been but lately Planted for which he thus argues That if Asia or Europe furnish'd America with People in Abraham's time or at least before the Birth of our Saviour then it must upon necessity by the Expiration of so many Ages have been much more Populous then the Spaniards found when first they discover'd it The time when America was first Peopled Besides the vast Territories yet unhabited says he are sufficient testimonies that this New World hath been Planted but scatteringly and not many Ages since else the Countrey would have more abounded with Inhabitants because the fertility of the Soyl was able plentifully to maintain Millions more then were there when first discover'd And what Marks are better to know a new People by in any Countrey than a rude Life and unsettled Government just like a Family removing to another House which takes no short time to settle their Goods and Houshold-stuff in a handsome and convenient Order The condition of the first World after the Floud When Noah went out of the Ark on Mount Ararat and not long after saw his Seed spread over Armenia and Assyria the new Generation of People consisted in Shepherds and Husbandmen that setled themselves near Lakes and Rivers Villages Cities and much less whole Kingdoms were scarce found on the Face of the Earth and as little of Trade or Commerce Riches Division of Lands costly Garments and Furniture for Houses were not then in use but the works of long settlements in happy Peace To curb growing-Wickedness and the Pride of Libertines who incroach'd upon their weaker Neighbors Laws were invented by which Bridle the unbroke or wild World grew tamer And first the Assyrians were brought to endure the Bit and answer the Reins of Government then Egypt next Greece and after that the Romans who spreading their Power by Arms and Martial Discipline first civiliz'd the Gauls Spain Brittain and lastly Germany But because a Countrey or Pastoral Life knowing no Commerce but mean Hovels and to dwell in Huts priding in poor and no Habits despising all greatness unlimited by Laws and all things else which the People observ'd presently after the Flood is now found among the Americans who will take them for ought else but new Comers to that Land as themselves acknowledge For the Mexicans boast that they are the eldest there and that from them Peru Chili Chika and other Countreys towards the South had their Colonies and yet the oldest Chronicles of Mexico reckon not above a thousand Years Thus far Mr. Purchas But certainly all this Muster of appearing Reasons is not able to vanquish single Truth For grant that America was not very Populous when the Spaniards first arrived there America was Peopled many Ages ago must this needs prove that it was never well inhabited before Perhaps the Civil Wars which have been always destructive to this Nation have much hindred the increase of People and the more because their Salvage Nature is such that in several places they account Man's Flesh Broil'd a very great Dainty Purchas contradicted And suppose such Prodigal Excess of their Humane Bankets were not us'd in America as indeed they are Is it wonder that such a great part of the World not onely exceeding Europe in bigness but Asia also should here and there have a Tract of Land uninhabited These might by reason of their Barrenness be useless as many such places are found in the midst of the most Populous and fertile Countreys But above all this it is certain that America to this day notwithstanding almost innumerable thousands of Indians formerly Slain arid Massacred by the Spaniards is so well inhabited that it may stand in Competition with either Asia or Europe And how could such vast multitudes Plant the far-spreading Countrey of America without the help of many Ages Moreover This truth is not without sufficient Testimonies when any one looks on the Islands with which America lies incompass'd he may suppose they did not willingly go from the Main Continent to the Isles but were driven thither by Wars among themselves or as most times it happens because of the vast increase of the Natives the Countrey must discharge its burden Hereto is added the several Languages us'd in America as in Europe or any other part of the known World whereby we may easily guess that America was Peopled presently after the Confusion of Tongues at Babel Furthermore If the Americans live a Rude Life go meanly Habited be without stately Houses such Customs are even among us observ'd by several People as the Tartars Numidians and others which made their Antiquity be call'd in question He also must needs have no knowledge of the Arts and Mechanick Sciences us'd by the Americans who concludes that they setled but lately in America One Argument at present will be sufficient to contradict them all and in the further Description the contrary will be more manifest American Gold-Smiths Hieronimus Benso relates That he stood amaz'd at the Gold and Silver Smiths in the Territory of Chito who without any Iron Tools made Images and all manner of Vessels Which work they performed thus First they made an Oval Crucible of a good Look round about Pasted with Earth embody'd with the Powder of Wood Coals which Crucible being Bak'd very hard in the Sun they fill with Pieces of Gold or Silver and put in the Fire about which standing with five six or more Pipes made of Canes they blow the Fire so long till the Mettal melts which others sitting on the ground run it into Moulds of black Stone and so with little trouble Cast into what shape they please Lastly Though Mexico can reckon but a thousand years must it therefore follow that the Inhabitants are no older How many famous places even among our selves have no longer Registers and
since found by credible Navigators and therefore we cannot depend on Zeno's Discovery The Ameriecan Tongue is nothing like the Norwegian John de Laet accounts it a great mistake in Grotius that as a testimony of the Americans original out of Norway he compares their Languages He reckons up some Places to be Northward of Panama which end their words with the syllable Lan in stead of Land because the Spaniards have left out the Letter D at the end thereof It is certain that in the Northern America lie Cimatlan Coatlan Guescolan Artlan Quaxutatlan Icatlan Tapatlan Cinacatlan Tenuchitlan Comitlan Metzitlan Guatitlan Necotitlan Curcatatlan Besides that most of these Names are not of Countreys but of Towns and Villages and therefore no ways fitting to have the termination of Land and it is well known that many ny American words end with Lan which signifie nothing less than Land for the Mexicans say Puertatitlan which signifies At the Gate below Ochachitlantzitlan Yet lower Tenoxtitlan this City is also call'd from her Founder Mexis Mexico that is Rests on a Rock Moreover it may not without reason seem strange to any that the Northern Americans have remembred but three Cities out of all the Teutonick Tongue viz. Lan in stead Land Groenland when discovered Concerning Groenland through which the Norwegians are thought to have travell'd to America Lysander witnesseth Serm. 3. Antiq. Daâ—â—â— That it was accidentally discover'd by one Eric Rauder Anno 987. and planted thirteen years after Olaus King of Norway plac'd two Bishops over the new Inhabitants as Substitutes to the Archbishop of Dronthen For four Ages they Sail'd frequently to Groenland but since their King was impoverish'd by War they left off that Trade We find not in any Author that the Norwegians which liv'd along the Sea-shore ever went to seek a Way over the inaccessible Snowy Mountains of Groenland to this our New World Besides Grotius stands for the Norwegians as Planters upon testimony of the Mexicans themselves who told the Spaniards That their Ancestors which planted there came from the North first setling themselves on Estotiland where to this day there are not improbable proofs by several remarks that they were a Norwegian Colony The opinion conceâ—â—â—â— the City Norumbega 〈◊〉 America In the American City Norumbega live a People that speak the same Language and observe the same Customs with the Mexicans In this by-Corner are found also some Alavards or Longobards or Lombards as they say Now the Spaniards call that New Mexico because last discover'd though indeed the old cramm'd with People eight hundred years since for the Mexicans of New Mexico do not lie so far Northerly as to the North-west for this Mexico lies in sight of California which is believ'd to border on Tartary or at least separated from it by a narrow Channel But Norumbega if ever such a Place was must according to the West-Indian Records have been situate where a part of New France lies now planted by the English between which and New Mexico lies an almost unmeasurable vast Tract of Land Mean while here is not the least sign of this City Norumbega to be found neither do the Inhabitants dwell in Cities but live in Tents or moveable Villages which change their Names as oft as their Governors Moreover the Norwegians could not get to this Norumbega by Land through Ysland and Groenland to Estotiland because of the vast Bays and great Midland-Sea discover'd by the English in their North-western Discoveries so that leaving Estotiland it was altogether impossible for them to come to Norumbega Hereto may be added what the Mexicans say of themselves who acknowledge That travelling from the North they did not find an un-inhabited Countrey before them but were forc'd to make their Way by a long and bloody War with the Chichimecen a salvage People Chichimecen that knew neither Laws or Religion The People also dwelling opposite to California differ from the Customs of the Mexicans being divided into several People of contrary Constitutions and as different Languages They are so much inclin'd to Gaming that they venture their Liberty at it Every one is satisfi'd with one Wife except some of the Nobility which oftentimes have more They throw up high Banks in several places to damm out the Sea believe the Immortality of the Soul every one eats at a peculiar Table most of them go naked onely caver their Pudenda with a Cloth some Sacrifice and eat Mans-flesh all which according to Tacitus Pliny Lucan and other Roman Writers was observ'd by the antient Germans from whom those that inhabit between the Norwegian Mountains were extracted These Allegations to make the Norwegians to be the Parents of the Northern Americans John de Laet thus contradicts It no ways follows that one People take original from the other because here and there are several words found that have the same signification and sound in divers Countreys much less when they must either add change or diminish several Letters Moreover there is no small mistake in the compar'd words for Pagod is not us'd all over America the East-Indians about the River Indus call their Idol-Temples Pagod or Pagode the word Guaira is no where us'd in America but by the Peruvians and with them not signifying a Fan but a little Oven neither is Ilama a Lamb for before the coming of the Spaniards thither neither Sheep nor Lambs were ever seen in Peru but a Wool-bearing Beast thus describ'd by Joseph de Acosta A description of the strange Beast Ilama in Peru. Ilama says he a four-footed Creature furnishes its Master with Meat and Clothing and supplies the office of a Beast for Burthens and at no charge for Hay nor Provender well satisfi'd with what he finds in the Ways or Mountains But the Ilama's are of two sorts either woolly or short-hair'd the first go by the Name Pacos the other Moromoro being not much less than a Calf with a long Neck like a Camel but of several colours for some are white some black and others speckled having an odd Look especially when they are ty'd and stand still without any motion staring with goggle-eyes on their Owners Sometimes in a moody humor upon a sudden taking a freak they run up to the top of almost inaccessible Mountains where both the frantick Beast and his Burthen are loft The Pacos sometimes likewise takes sudden Pets and fustian Fits often doing the forward Supersalt tumbling over and over with their Goods and will not be rais'd their moodiness continuing with beating nay though they cut them to pieces but the best way is to sit down by them and wait some hours till their humor being spent they rise again of their own accords These Beasts are much inclin'd to a Disease call'd Carashe or the Mange of which they generally die and because the Disease is very catching they straight bury the infected alive so the better to preserve the rest Grotius also mistakes when
the Straights of Magellan and Le-Mayr Relatie de Terra Australe Peter Fernandes de Quir relates That he and a Commander Lodowick Paes le Torres saw a part of the South Countrey and in it innumerable Inhabitants Whites The Description of the unknown South Blacks Sallows with long black curl'd Woolly and yellow Hair They know no Walls or Fortresses for Defence Laws or Kings but are divided into Tribes They use indeed Bows Arrows Clubs and a kind of Spears Their Houses are cover'd with Palm-Tree-Leaves their Housholdstuff consists onely of a few Earthen Pots and such Trinkets yet they have some little skill in Weaving and though they gonaked pride themselves in Neck-Laces and Bracelets made of Mother of Pearl But these for their Complexions and Constitution of Body Customs and manners are rather deriv'd from the Americans than they from them and therefore we must seek for their Original from the North from which are but two ways one from Ysland and Groenland which Grotius endeavors to prove but contradicted the other out of Tartary which certainly was the first Nursery from whence the Americans were Transplanted Description of Tartary Tartary or Tattary so call'd from the River Tatter which runs thorow the Countrey Mongul into the Northern Ocean covers a great part of the Terrestrial Globe the lesser Tartary makes out a considerable part of Europe the greater is Asia This great Tartary which is a thousand Leagues long and six hundred broad reckons five chief Provinces viz. the wild Tartary inhabited by Herdsmen Sagatai of which the Metropolis is Samarcand famous for the mighty Tamerlane next Turkestan then Kitai which the great Cham Commands and lastly Old Tartary according to Andreas Caesariensis the habitation of Gog and Magog Now we must enquire from what Tartars the Americans are Extracted Mornaeus Postellus Genebrardus Poterus and others are of opinion Thrian l. 67. That the Tartars which about the year 1228. under the Command of Zingis Cham overspread the Earth like a deluge were the Successors of the ten Tribes of Israel which were carry'd into captivity to Assyria by Salmanazar If the Israelites were Tartars The name Tartary or rather Tattaria seems to be some testimony thereof because it signifies in the Syrian or Hebrew Tongue Remnants or Remainders as seemingly because these Tartarians were remainders of the foremention'd Tribes nay the Northern Tartary Herdsmen preserve to this day the Names Dan Zabulon and Naphthali Wherefore we need not to admire why so many Jews are found in Russia Sarmatia and Liefland nay the nearer to Tartary the mote Jews there are Circumcision hath a long time been observ'd among them before Mahomet brought in his new Law it seems that Mahomet order'd the Circumcision and other Laws according to Moses to be observ'd by the Northern people because that in his time they began to Rebel that so they might the better be kept in awe by their new Religion Joannes Leonclavius relates That in Liefland near Riga Pand. Hist Turtica he heard the wilde Natives call'd Letti not without great admiration go crying along the High-Ways and Fields with a doleful voice Jeru Jeru Masco lou It is believ'd that they mourn for Jerusalem and Damascus but by their long continuance in the vast Wildernesses they have forgot their Religion and Laws and what else might enable to tell us who they were Several learned Authors question this removal of the Israelites out of Assyria to Tartary though to our Judgement their Arguments are too weak to take from them of the footing they have gotten there yet nevertheless the Israelites are not to be taken for the Planters of America for why else is not Judaisme as well found in America as in Tartary But it is already shewn that America was inhabited long before the dispersion of the Israelites Americans are not deriv'd from Africa nor Europe Now to shut up all it is evident that the first Planters of America were not Europeans from the dissimilitude of the People both in their Complexions Language and Persons nor Africans because that in all the far spreading Countrey of America not one Negro is to be found except a few near the River Martha in the little Territory Quarequa which must by Storm be drove thither from the Guinny Coast But Asia and chiesly out of Tartary So that Asia the Mother of all People onely remains to be Implanter of our America whose Western Coast opposite to Asia is more inhabited than to the East where it respects Europe Tartary is not parted from America by the Straights of Anian Moreover Armenia out of which by Noah's Progeny the whole Earth was re-peopled borders on Scythia now call'd Tartary and Tartary faces America separated onely by the Straights of Anian though some are of opinion that out of the South into the Frozen Sea there is no passage thorow these Straights else as we have already prov'd the contrary how came all those Voracious and Poysonous Beasts into America if it be clearly separated from Asia by Sea It deserves here to be related what happen'd to Henry Cornelison Schaep and William Byleveld Sailing from Batavia to discover the Tartarick River Polysange but were taken and carry'd Prisoners to the Japan Court at Jedo being Commanded there by Order of the Councel to give an account of a Japan Map or Card which was laid before them and contain'd the Provinces of Japan Amboina the Molucca Islands Manilha the South-Sea Borneo Celebes Malacca Tartary Formosa Corea and the vast and Mountainous Countrey or Desart of Jesso separated from Japan by the Straights of Sungar though toward the North it joyns to Japan in the Province of Ochio and beginning in forty seven degrees run North-East towards America but they could not possible find the Straights of Anian but on the contrary the Promontory of Tartary viz. the Province Kataya or Katui lay in the same parallel with the Northern America Hereto may be added that Asia hath no Territory any where which may more easily with numerous Colonies supply America than this part of Tartary as well for the vastness of the Countrey to which no other can compare as for the increasing of the Inhabitants Who doth not admire that according to Michalon Lithouwer Ennead 9. l. 6. Testimonies that the Americans are Tartars there is scarce a City in Tartary that boasted less than a thousand Temples and to see Canguista first King of Tartary about the Year 1200. in Arms and his Successor Hoccata following his Fathers bloody Footsteps whilst he prepar'd his Sons with three vast Armies The eldest Son Jachis March'd Westward with thirty thousand Horse Batho drew with as great an Army towards the North Tagladais being the youngest fell into the Moores Countrey above Egypt Hoccata himself March'd victoriously into the North America subdu'd great part of the Persian Kingdom and beat the Turks led by the General Goniata with a great Army Anno
distance Church-Government among the English Their Church-Government and Discipline is Congregational and Independent yet in some places more rigid than others for in many Towns there yet remains some leaven of Presbytery from which Sects our Independency had its Original insomuch that one of the most remarkable Opposers of Episcopal Government Doctor Bastwick who spoil'd so much Paper in railing at the Church Government of England and crying up Liberty of Conscience finding the Apostacy of his own Brethren of Boston from their first Principles and his generally prevail over them even to the denying that liberty to others which they seem'd only to aim at did write a large and vehement Dehortatory Epistle to them from their New Lights or Paths saying That according to their present Tenents they could not pretend to be better or other than a Christian Synagogue Their. Civil Government and Laws Their Laws and Methods of Government are wholly of their own framing each Colony for themselves makes an Annual choice of Governor Deputy Governor and a certain number of Assistants by the plurality of Suffrages collected from their several Towns the Electors are only Free-men and Church-Members for he that is not a Member of their Church can neither chuse nor be chosen a Magistrate nor have his Children Baptiz'd besides the loss of many other Priviledges and liable moreover to frequent if not constant Mulcts for absenting themselves from Divine Worship so call'd in their Meeting-houses Since the transmitting of the Patent in New England the Election is not by Voices nor erection of Hands as formerly but by Papers thus The general Court-electory sitting where are present in the Church or Meeting-house at Boston the old Governor Deputy and all the Magistrates and two Deputies or Burgesses for every Town or at least one all the Freemen are bid to come in at one Door and bring their Votes in Paper for the new Governor and deliver them down upon the Table before the Court and so pass forth at another Door those that are absent send their Votes by Proxies All being deliver'd in the Votes are counted and according to the major part the old Governor pronounceth That such an one is chosen Governor for the year ensuing Then the Freemen in like manner bring their Votes for the Deputy Governor who being also chosen the Governor propoundeth the Assistants one after another New Assistants are of late put in nomination by an Order of general Court before-hand to be consider'd of If a Freeman give in a Blank that rejects the Man nam'd if the Freeman makes any mark with a Pen upon the Paper which he brings that elects the Man nam'd Then the Blanks and mark'd Papers are number'd and according to the major part of either the Man in Nomination stands elected or rejected and so for all the Assistants And after every new Election which is by their Patent to be upon the last Wednesday in Easter Term the new Governor and Officers are all new Sworn The Governor and Assistants chuse the Secretary And all the Court consisting of Governor Deputy Assistants and Deputies of Towns give their Votes as well as the rest and the Ministers and Elders and all Church-Officers have their Votes also in all these Elections of chief Magistrates Constables and all other inferior Officers are sworn in the general quarter or other Courts or before any Assistant Every Free-man when he is admitted takes a strict Oath to be true to the Society or Jurisdiction There are two general Courts one every half year wherein they make Laws or Ordinances The Ministers advise in making of Laws especially Ecclesiastical and are present in Courts and advise in some special Causes Criminal and in framing of Fundamental Laws There are besides four Quarter-Courts for the whole Jurisdiction besides other petty Courts one every quarter at Boston Salem and Ipswich with their several Jurisdictions besides every Town almost hath a petty Court for small Debts and Trespasses under twenty Shillings Actions and Causes In the general Court or great quarter Courts before the Civil Magistrates are try'd all Actions and Causes Civil and Criminal and also Ecclesiastical especially touching Non-members And they themselves say that in the general and quarter Courts they have the Power of Parliament Kings-Bench Common-Pleas Chancery High-Commission and Star-Chamber and all other Courts of England and in divers Cases have exercis'd that Power upon the Kings Subjects there as is not difficult to prove They have put to death banish'd fin'd Men cut off Mens Ears whip'd imprison'd Men and all these for Ecclesiastical and Civil Offences and without sufficient Record In the lesser quarter Courts are try'd in some Actions under ten Pounds in Boston under twenty and all Criminal Causes not touching Life or Member From the petty quarter Courts or other Courts the parties may appeal to the great quarter Courts from thence to the general Court from which there is no Repeal Twice a year Grand-Juries in the said quarter Courts held before the general Courts are two Grand-Juries sworn for the Jurisdiction one for one Court and the other for the other and they are charg'd to enquire and Present Offences reduc'd by the Governor who gives the Charge Matters of Debt Trials Trespass and upon the Case and Equity yea and of Heresie also are try'd by a Jury The Parties are warn'd to challenge any Jury-man before he be sworn but because there is but one Jury in a Court for trial of Causes and all Parties not present at their Swearing the liberty of challenge is much hinder'd and some inconveniences do happen thereby Jurors are return'd by the Marshal he was at first call'd The Beadle of the Society The Parties in all Causes speak themselves for the most part and some of the Magistrates where they think cause requireth do the part of Advocates without Fee or Reward Though among the several Colonies which were founded here by the confluence of dissenting Zealots this Government is exercis'd differing from that of the Church and State of England yet in those Provinces which are granted by particular Persons the Government is much more conformable to that of England but as the Mattachusets or Bostoners were from the beginning the most Potent and Predominant of all the rest of the Colonies insomuch that Boston may well be accounted the Metropolis of all New England so of late years they have still usurp'd more and more Power and Authority over the rest and especially have not stuck to give Laws to the foresaid Provinces allotted to particular Persons and have gone about wholly to subjugate those places to themselves intrenching upon the rights of the true Proprietors and that even contrary to the Kings express Commands by his Officers there and as it were in open defiance of his Majesty and Government as is evident from this following Narration of their behavior upon a business of this nature Proceedings of the Mattachusets against
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
in the parts of America between the Ocean on the East and the Bay of Chesapeack on the West and divided from the other part thereof by a right Line drawn from the Promontory or Cape of Land call'd Watkin's-Point situate in the aforesaid Bay near the River of Wigcho on the West unto the main Ocean on the East and between that bound on the South unto that part of Delaware Bay on the North which lies under the fortieth Degree of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial where New England ends and all that Tract of Land between the bounds aforesaid that is to say passing from the aforesaid Bay call'd Delaware Bay in a right Line by the Degree aforesaid unto the true Meridian of the first Fountains of the River of Patomeck and from thence stretching towards the South unto the furthest Bank of the said River and following the West and South side thereof unto a certain place call'd Cinquack near the Mouth of the said River where it falls into the Bay of Chesapeack and from thence by a streight Line unto the aforesaid Promontory or place call'd Watkins-Point which lies in thirty seven Degrees and fifty Minutes or thereabouts of Northern Latitude By this Patent his Lordship and his Heirs and Assigns are Created the true and absolute Lords and Proprietaries of the said Province Title saving the Allegiance and Soveraign Dominion due to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors so that he hath thereby a Soveraignty Granted to him and his Heirs dependant upon the Sovereignty of the Crown of England The first Seating His Lordship in the Year 1633. sent his second Brother Mr. Leonard Calvert and his third Brother Mr. George Calvert with divers other Gentlemen of Quality and Servants to the number of two hundred Persons at least to settle a Plantation there who set Sail from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight in England on Novemb. 22. in the same Year having made some stay by the way at the Barbadoes and St. Christophers in America they arriv'd at Point Comfort in Virginia on February 24. following from whence shortly after they Sail'd up the Bay of Chesapeack and Patomeck River And having review'd the Country and given Names to several places they pitch'd upon a Town of the Indians for their first Seat call'd Yoacomaco now Saint Maries which the then Governor Mr. Leonard Calvert freely Purchas'd of the Natives there for the Lord Proprietaries use with Commodities brought from England That which facilitated the Treaty and Purchase of the said place from the Indians was a resolution which those Indians had then before taken to remove higher into the Countrey where it was more Populous for fear of the Sansquehanocks another and more Warlike People of the Indians who were their too near Neighbors and inhabit between the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware there being then actual Wars between them insomuch that many of them were gone thither before the English arriv'd And it hath been the general practice of his Lordship and those who were employ'd by him in the Planting of the said Province rather to purchase the Natives Interest who will agree for the same at easie rates than to take from them by force that which they seem to call their Right and Inheritance to the end all Disputes might be remov'd touching the forcible Incroachment upon others against the Laws of Nature or Nations Thus this Province at the vast Charges and by the unweary'd Industry and endeavor of the present Lord Baltemore the now absolute Lord and Proprietary of the same was at first Planted and hath since been supply'd with People and other Necessaries so effectually The number of Inhabitants that in this present Year 1671. the number of English there amounts to fifteen or twenty thousand Inhabitants for whose Encouragement there is a Fundamental Law establish'd there by his Lordship whereby Liberty of Conscience is allow'd to all that Profess to believe in Jesus Christ so that no Man who is a Christian is in danger of being disturb'd for his Religion and all Persons being satisfi'd touching his Lordships Right as Granted by his Superior Soveraign the King of Great Brittain and possess'd by the consent and agreement of the first Indian Owners every Person who repaireth thither intending to become an Inhabitant finds himself secure as well in the quiet enjoyment of his Property as of his Conscience Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships onely Son and Heir was in the Year 1661. sent thither by his Lordship to Govern this Province and People who hath hitherto continu'd that Charge of his Lordships Lieutenant there to the general satisfaction and encouragement of all Persons under his Government or otherwise concern'd in the Province The precedent Discourse having given you a short Description of this Province from its Infancy to this day together with an account of his Lordships Patent and Right by which he holds the same we will here speak something of the Nature of the Countrey in general and of the Commodities that are either naturally afforded there or may be procur'd by Industry The Climate is very healthful and agreeable with English Constitutions but New-comers have most of them heretofore had the first year of their Planting there in July and August a Sickness which is call'd there A Seasoning but is indeed no other than an Ague with cold and hot Fits whereof many heretofore us'd to die for want of good Medicines and accommodations of Diet and Lodging and by drinking too much Wine and Strong-waters though many even in those times who were more temperate and that were better accommodated never had any Seasonings at all but of late years since the Countrey hath been more open'd by the cutting down of the Woods and that there is more plenty of English Diet there are very few die of those Agues and many have no Seasonings at all especially those that live in the higher parts of the Country and not near to the Marshes and Salt-water In Summer the heats are equal to those of Spain but qualifi'd daily about Noon at that time of the Year either with some gentle Breezes or small Showres of Rain In Winter there is Frost and Snow and sometimes it is extremely cold insomuch that the Rivers and the Northerly part of the Bay of Chesapeack are Frozen but it seldom lasts long and some Winters are so warm that People have gone in half Shirts and Drawers only at Christmas But in the Spring and Autumn viz. in March April and May September October and November there is generally most pleasant temperate Weather The Winds there are variable from the South comes Heat Gusts and Thunder from the North or North-West cold Weather and in Winter Frost and Snow from the East and South-East Rain The Soyl is very fertile and furnish'd with many pleasant and commodious Rivers Creeks and Harbors The Country is generally plain and even and yet distinguish'd with some pretty small Hills and Risings with variety
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
Shoulders and sucking in their Breath and if he be a great Man whom they Salute they stroak his Thighs too as civil an Address as those Patterns of good Breeding the Hero's us'd to their Princes who in their greatest Courtships we are told embrac'd their Knees After their Salutation they sit down and it is usual with them to sit still almost a quarter of an hour before they speak which is not an effect of stupidity or sullenness but the accustom'd Gravity of their Countrey for they are in their Tempers a merry frollick gay People and so given to Jollity that they will Dance whole Nights together the Women sitting by and Singing whilest the Men Dance to their Ayrs which though not like ours are not harsh or unpleasing but are something like the Tunes of the Irish So that if we will not let our selves too fondly admire onely the Customs we have been bred up in nor think Men are to be valu'd for making Legs after our Mode or the Clothes they wear which the finer and gayer they are always the more to be suspected of Luxury and Effeminateness if we will allow but these Men to follow the Garbs of their own Countrey and think them fine enough in a shape onely to hide their Nakedness before or a Deer-skin hanging loosely on their Shoulders and their Women not ill Dress'd in Garments of Moss and Necklaces of Beads whilest the Fashion of their Courts require no other Ornaments if I say a long and pleasant Life without Distemper or Care be to be valu'd without the incumbrance of unnecessary Trinkets if Men are to be esteem'd for Valor Honesty Friendship Humanity and good Nature though Strangers to the ceremonious Troubles we are accustom'd to the Natives of Carolina will as little or perhaps less deserve the Name of Miserable or Salvage as those that give it them 'T is true the French and Spaniards who have Planted amongst them or with little Armies travell'd their Countrey have been ill handled by them but yet the Indians never did them any harm or treated them otherwise than Friends till those Europeans by their breach of Faith and several Outrages had provok'd their just Revenge and they did nothing but what most vertuous and generous sort of Men are apt to do to revenge those Affronts which did not agree with their Tempers tamely to endure That this did not proceed from treachery and inconstancy in their Natures is apparent in the contrary Correspondence they have had with the English Setled amongst them to whom they have been all along very kind as they were at first very covetous of their Company for after that some of their King's Relation had been at Barbados and had seen and admir'd the Temper Fashions and Strength of the English there and had been very civilly Treated in that Island they were so well satisfi'd with them that at the coming of the English to Settle there the several little Kingdoms strove with all the Arts and Arguments they could use each of them to draw the English to Plant in their Dominions by commending the richness of their Soil conveniency of their Rivers the healthiness of their Countrey the disparagement of their Neighbors and whatever else they judg'd might allure the English to their Neighborhood Nor was this onely the first heat of Men fond of Novelties and as soon weary of them again but ever since the English first Planted at Albemarle Point on Ashley River they have continu'd to do them all manner of friendly Offices ready on all occasions to supply them with any thing they have observ'd them to want not making use of our Mens Necessities as an opportunity to enhance the Price of their Commodities a sort of fair Dealing we could scarce have promis'd them amongst civiliz'd well bred and religious Inhabitants of any part of Europe and though they are much frighted with our Guns both small and great yet like innocent and well-meaning People they do not at all distrust our Power but freely without suspicion trust themselves both Men and Women even their Kings themselves in our Town Lodging and Dancing there frequently whole Nights together upon no other Pledges but the bare confidence of our mutual Friendship nor do our Men use any greater caution in Conversing with them stragling up and down and travelling singly and unarm'd through their Woods for many Miles about and are so far from receiving any injury or ill treatment from them that on the contrary they are kindly us'd and Entertain'd and guided by them in their Way whenever they desire it and when any of our Men meet them in their Walks the Indians all stand still till they are gone by civilly Saluting them as they pass Nor doth this Assurance of theirs bound it self within their own Homes they of their own accords venturing themselves aboard our Ships have gone voluntarily with our Men to Virginia and Barbados Nor have the English been wanting on their parts in any thing that may preserve this Amity being very cautious of doing them any injury bartering with them for those things they receive of them and buying of them even the waste Land they make no use of Besides the simplicity of the Indians Diet it is very remarkable that they have a general aversion to those two things which are most acceptable to our Palates and without which few of us either eat or drink with any delight for in their Meats they cannot endure the least mixture or rellish of Salt and for their Drink they utterly abominate all manner of strong Liquor to the latter whereof their large Growth and constant Health is perhaps not a little owing Their manner of Government Every little Town is a distinct Principality Govern'd by an Hereditary King who in some places is not Son but Sisters Son to the precedent King the Succession of the Blood-Royal being continu'd by the safer side The great Business of those Princes is to lead their Men out against their Enemies in War or against the Beasts in Hunting for unless it be to appoint them where to Hunt or else to Consult about making some Attempt upon their Enemy he hath but small trouble in the Government of his Subjects who either through their own Honesty or the few occasions they have for Controversies in their extempore way of Living need few Laws and little Severity to keep them in order but yet they Govern their People without Contract and fail not of a ready Obedience to their Commands so that when some of them have bought things of such of the English who by the Orders made amongst our selves were not to Traffick with the Indians they have upon Complaint made to their Casiques been restor'd again though in strict Rules of Law they were neither bound by nor oblig'd to take notice of the Rules which were made onely to Govern our own People and had at just Prices bought what they carry'd away such is the Honesty of Men
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
besides Brandy and English Spirits but of these latter now no great quantities Imported or spent by reason of the general use of the Spirit of Sugar-Cane call'd Rum which the meaner sort as Servants and Slaves do not onely drink in great abundance but much also is hence Transported into Virginia Bermudas and New-England Here is also Imported great store of Provisions of all sorts viz. Beef Pork Fish c. from Ireland New-England Virginia Bermudas New-found Land c. also Pease Flour Butter Cheese and Bisquet likewise Timber Boards Pipe and Hogshead Staves c. also Negro-Slaves from Guinee and live Cattel as Bulls Cows Asinego 's and Horses from the Cape de Verd Island New-England and from England Servants and all other Commodities for Plantations and for Apparel of all which great quantities are hither brought and sold The Shipping that comes to Trade to this Island belongs generally to England some few Vessels are here built and pass to and fro to the Leeward Islands and some belong to New-England Bermudas c. The number of Vessels which come hither to Trade in one year is found upon search to be about two hundred of all sorts some years more some less as Ketches Sloops Barques c. containing in Burthen fifteen thousand five hundred and five Tun according as they were here Entred which is at the least a third part less than their true Burthen by reason every Ship pays one pound of Powder per Tun the means ordain'd by this Country for storing the Magazine the greatest part of which Ships re-load with Sugars for England and many go for New-England Bermudas Virginia Tangier c. not always full loaden with this Countreys Growth The usual Rate for Tunnage from hence to London is from 4 l. to 5 l. per Tun sometime when Ships are very plentiful it is at 3 l. and less and at other times when scarce from 6 l. to 7 l. in the late War with the Dutch it was at 10. 11. and 12 l. per Tun. The Government is Constituted by the Laws of England and Laws not repugnant to them onely some particular Laws are here made proper for this Place by the Governor or Deputy and his Council which usually are from seven to twelve in number and an Assembly that consists of twenty two Persons chosen by the Free-holders two out of every Parish SECT XXIV St. Vincent Situation of St. Vincent THe Island of St. Vincent South-West from St. Lucia and having sixteen Degrees of North-Latitude was so call'd by the Spaniards as having discover'd it on that Saint's Day being the fifth of April It is accounted eight Leagues long and six broad and rises round about with high Grounds and several Mountains which are seen at a great distance This Island hath a very fruitful Soil and for the bigness of it hath been long since well peopled with Caribbeeans before the arrival of the Spaniards possessing here several Villages to whom they are still sworn Enemies but Truck'd with the Hollanders for Provisions Horns Axes Knives and other Trifles At the West and South sides are convenient Bays to lie at Anchor and take Water in The Fruit Momen The Inhabitants highly esteem the Momen growing to the bigness of an Apple-Tree the Fruit which it bears resembles a green Cucumber and is of a pleasant Juice the Skin always green and prickly the Seed which is in the same about the bigness of a French Bean is generally black and streak'd with Golden-colour'd Veins The Granadilla Here is also that Plant mention'd elsewhere by the Spaniard call'd Granadilla by the Dutch Rhang-Apple and La Fleur de la Passion by the French and it is so call'd as being fancied to represent the thorny Crown of our Saviour together with the Cross Nails Hammer and Pillar the Plant runs along the Ground unless it meet with a Pole by which it runs up SECT XXV Bekia Situation of Bekia NOt far from St. Vincent lies the Island Bekia which reckons twelves Leagues in circumference and lies at twelve Degrees and twelve Scruples of Northern Latitude It hath a secure Harbor against all Winds but because it is without fresh Water is is onely frequented by the Caribbeeans that dwell on St. Vincent who come hither to Fish and visit certain little Gardens which they have there for their pleasure The Soil produces store of Water-melons whose red juicy Pulp yields when squeez'd a great quantity of sweet Liquor which is very refreshing and good to create an Appetite their white Flowers notch'd at the end of the Leaves afford a delightful smell Anno 1633. Captain John Johnson Van Hoorn putting in to Bekia to catch Tortoises found a fine Inlet on the West and Eastward a Ridge of Rocks Cotton growing wild in the Fields and upon the Shore a kind of Snails call'd Burgun under whose first Shell appear'd another of a Silver colour with black Specks SECT XXVI Granada Situation of Granada GRanada lying at twelve Degrees and sixteen Scruples like a Half-moon from the North to the South is full of Woods Towards the South-West runs a fresh River into the Sea The Shore very low affords good Anchorage at twelve Leagues distance The Current grows exceeding strong here and the Water also ebbs and flows in a few hours Dirick Simonszoon Witgeest Sailing from Tobago was amaz'd to see with what force the Current drove him to Granada The French possess it Hither Du Parquet at his own Charge sent three hundred Men from Martinico who scuffled with the Inhabitants six Moneths before they could possess the same in Peace and scarce had they obtain'd it at last but by telling them that the French Assistance would be very advantageous unto them against the Arovages The Duke Seryllac in Paris inform'd of the Fertility of this Island bought it of Du Parquet for a considerable Sum of Money And inded Granada is none of the meanest of the Caribbees the Soil producing very good both Fruit and Timber-Trees amongst which is the Latine-Tree of a tall Body but ordinary thickness and in stead of Boughs hang Leaves like Fans in long Stalks which being ty'd together serve for Roofs of Houses There is also the Tree Cocoa which yet grows not so high here as in other parts of the West-Indies SECT XXVII Tabago Situation of Tabago THe next which comes in view is Tabago so call'd as some think from the quantity of that Drug there Planted eight Leagues long and four broad lying in the eleventh Degree and sixteen Minutes of Northern Latitude and hath many high Mountains full of Wood out of which glide eighteen Streams which watering the Plains fall into the Sea Captain Vitgeest coming to an Anchor here found a convenient Inlet on the East and fresh Water to fill his Casks Half a League from the Shore rise five Rocks through which he Sail'd with his Ships Within the Cliff opens a Bay into which runs a River well stor'd
thither after him Maurice cross'd to the Shore on which Openeda lay with Boats and got great Booty and the more because the Natives had not secur'd any thing Bagnola assuring them that the Castle Povacon could endure at least a Siege of four Moneths Maurice advising Prince Frederick Henrick of his Transactions desir'd that he would send over Planters thither whether they were banish'd Germans or Vagabonds out of their Houses of Correction for without them the fruitful Countrey of Brasile would render but a slender Account to the West-India Company nor be able to prevent the Invasions of the Spaniards The fruitfulness of this Tract of Land was not inferior to any Countrey in the whole World Cattel grazing up and down in Herds of five six and seven thousand Moreover Maurice advis'd them about the scarcity of Provisions without which they were not able to maintain War Grave Maurice begins his Government with the making of good Laws He also setled the Traders in a good Order dividing all those free People which bore no Offices into four Companies under Captains Ensigns and Lieutenants The Customs and Tributes were Farm'd Marriages were order'd to be perform'd by the Netherland Priests the Jews had leave not to Watch on their Sabbath all manner of Debosheries were strictly forbid from being acted on the Lords-Day and Punishments ordain'd for Drunkards and other Deboshees several Schools were also erected for Youth and for the instruction of the Brasilians in the Christian Religion an lastly it was permitted to any that would to build in the ruin'd City Olinda or else to repair those Houses that were fall'n to ruine About this time there went a Report as if the West-India Company were inclin'd to remove their Seat from Reciffa to the Island Tamarica but Maurice advising them that it would not be so convenient for them they chang'd their Resolution Isleos taken by Lichthart Whilest Lichthart Cruis'd a considerable time before the Haven Todos los Sanctos he Crain'd his Ship in the Bay of Camaniu took the Town Isleos with a hundred and fifty Men. In the Town which is built on a Promontory he took but little Booty and sav'd the Houses which were built most of Stone as also the four Churches and Jesuits Cloyster and return'd to Reciffa About this time the invincible Castle Mina afterwards call'd St. Joris was taken by the Hollanders upon the Advice of Nicholas van Yperen Commander of Guinee who sent word to Grave Maurice that the said Castle might easily be conquer'd if any Forces could be sent him front Reciffa Whereupon Maurice immediately sent sent John Coin thither with nine Ships which set Sail on the twenty fifth of June Anno 1637. who in the Road Commendo joining with Yperen soon after he was set down before it and was preparing to Storm had it surrendred to him upon Terms no less advantageous to the Hollanders than dishonorable to the Besieged yet not without the loss of many Men for in their March thither they were fiercely set upon by the Negro's inhabiting the Village near the Castle in which Conflict Colonel Latan amongst others was slain Colonel Latan slain The Fort might very well have endur'd a longer Siege it being surrounded with double Moats each twenty five Foot deep and high Bulwarks which could not be undermin'd because of the Rocky Ground on which they were built and to make it yet more stronger Coin after he had taken it rais'd a Fort on the Hill from whence he had fir'd on the Castle in which he found thirty Brass Demi-Culverins and leaving Walraeven Malburg as Governor he return'd to Reciffa During these Proceedings of the Dutch in Guinee the Duke of Bagnola ransack'd the Countrey about Seregippa del Rey Maurice not able to go himself having had a Feaver three Moneths sent Schuppe and Gyseling with two thousand three hundred Soldiers four hundred Brasilians and two hundred and fifty Seamen whilest Lichthart Steer'd to Todos los Sanctos that so he naught draw the Enemy down to the Sea-Coast Bagnola flying to Terra Gratia d' Avila Schuppe demolish'd the Town Seregippa the Sugar-Mills and all manner of Fruit-Trees and march'd with incredible speed to the Stream Francisco where Encamping on the Southern Shore he drove three thousand Head of Cattel before him that so he might starve the Enemy The Brasilians offer their assistance to the Dutch for the taking the Fort Siara In the interim the Brasilians in Siara desir'd Aid against the Portuguese offering That if the Hollanders could conquer the Fort there they would soon destroy all the Portuguese that the Charges of the Siege might easily be made good the Countrey producing abundance of Amber-greece Crystal Cotton Pearls Salt and other Merchandise In confirmation of this their Resolution the Brafilians left two eminent Persons Children of Siara in Reciffa Whereupon George Garstman being sent thither was no sooner Landed but he made his Arrival known to the Brasilian Governor Algodoi who came to meet him with two hundred Men bearing white Flags in token of Peace Thus assisted he set upon Siara which is a square Fort built at the foot of a Hill hath within its Walls six Houses two Redoubts full of Port-holes one on the North and the other on the South jutting half way out from the Wall as also two Gates secur'd with large Portcullises without the Fort appears the Governor's House about which were several Huts for Portugueses This Lordship already spoken of is reckon'd amongst the Northern parts of Brasile and hath onely twelve Leagues in circumference The Haven before the Castle which the River Hacu makes is of little consequence The Ground in some places rises with high Mountains in others especially on one side it is overgrown with Wood hath also several brave Pastures especially along the River The Fort taken by Gartsman Garstman approaching the Castle Siara found little resistance so that he took it with small expence of Blood most of the Portuguese being taken Prisoners a few onely escaping by flight After this Grave Maurice took great care of the Civil Affairs building a Guild-Hall at his own Cost and Charge sent all manner of Minerals digg'd out of the Brasilian Mines to the Netherland laid great Penalties on those that stole the Custom of Goods and punish'd with Death Murders Robberies and such like Capital Offences besides several wholsom Laws relating both to the Civil and Ecclesiastical Government and as soon as he was recover'd from his tedious Sickness he march'd up into the Countrey to the Rivers Grande and Parayba to take care to furnish the Forts with Provision and Ammunition Near the Castle Ceulen he was receiv'd by the Tapuyan Agents and Presented by them with Bowes Arrows and brave Ostrich Feathers us'd by them when they go to the Wars in return for which they receiv'd Linnen Shirts Knives Shells Bugles Fishhooks and Nails Maurice caus'd a deeper and wider Moat to be digg'd about the decay'd
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