of groves, gardens and corne fields a league in the Sea from the
Mayne. Then Totant, Massachuset, Pocapawmet, Quonahassit, Sagoquas,
Nahapassumkeck, Topeent, Seccasaw, Totheet, Nasnocomacak, Accomack,
Chawum; Then Cape Cod by which is Pawmet and the Ile Nawset of the
language, and alliance of them of Chawum: The others are called
Massachusets; of another language, humor and condition: For their
trade and marchandize; to each of their habitations they have diverse
Townes and people belonging; and by their relations and descriptions,
more than 20 severall Habitations and Rivers that stretch themselves
farre up into the Countrey, even to the borders of diverse great
Lakes, where they kill and take most of their Bevers and Otters. From
Pennobscot to Sagadahock this Coast is all Mountainous and Iles of
huge Rocks, but overgrowen with all sorts of excellent good woodes
for building houses, boats, barks or shippes; with an incredible
abundance of most sorts of fish, much fowle, and sundry sorts of good
fruites for mans use.
Betwixt Sagadahock and Sowocatuck there is but two or three sandy
Bayes, but betwixt that and Cape Cod very many: especially the Coast
of the Massachusets is so indifferently mixed with high clayie or
sandy cliffes in one place, and then tracts of large long ledges of
divers sorts, and quarries of stones in other places so strangely
divided with tinctured veines of divers colours: as, Free stone for
building, Slate for tiling, smooth stone to make Fornaces and Forges
for glasse or iron, and iron ore sufficient, conveniently to melt
in them: but the most part so resembleth the Coast of Devonshire,
I thinke most of the cliffes would make such limestone: If they be
not of these qualities, they are so like, they may deceive a better
iudgement then mine; all which are so neere adioyning to those other
advantages I observed in these parts, that if the Ore prove as good
iron and steele in those parts, as I know it is within the bounds
of the Countrey, I dare engage my head (having but men skilfull to
worke the simples there growing) to have all things belonging to
the building the rigging of shippes of any proportion, and good
marchandize for the fraught, ♦_Freight_♦ within a square of 10 or 14
leagues: and were it for a good rewarde, I would not feare to prooue
it in a lesse limitation.
And surely by reason of those sandy cliffes and cliffes of rocks,
both which we saw so planted with Gardens and Corne fields, and so
well inhabited with a goodly, strong and well proportioned people,
besides the greatnesse of the Timber growing on them, the greatnesse
of the fish and moderate temper of the ayre (for of twentie five,
not any was sicke, but two that were many yeares diseased before
they went, notwithstanding our bad lodging and accidentall diet) who
can but approoue this is a most excellent place, both for health and
fertility? And of all the foure parts of the world that I have yet
seene not inhabited, could I have but meanes to transport a Colonie,
I would rather live here than any where: and if it did not maintaine
it selfe, were wee but once indifferently well fitted, let us starve.
The maine Staple, from hence to bee extracted for the present to
produce the rest, is fish; which however it may seeme a mean and a
base commoditie: yet who will but truely take the pains and consider
the sequell, I thinke will allow it well worth the labour. It is
strange to see what great adventures the hopes of setting forth men
of war to rob the industrious innocent, would procure: or such massie
promises in grosse: though more are choked then well fedde with
such hastie hopes. But who doth not know that the poore Hollanders,
chiefly by fishing, at a great charge and labour in all weathers in
the open Sea, are made a people so hardy, and industrious? and by
the venting this poore commodity to the Easterlings for as meane,
which is Wood, Flax, Pitch, Tarre, Rosin, Cordage, and such like
(which they exchange againe, to the French, Spaniards, Portugales,
and English, &c. for what they want) are made so mighty, strong
and rich, as no State but Venice, of twice their magnitude, is so
well furnished with so many faire Cities, goodly Townes, strong
Fortresses, and that aboundance of shipping and all sorts of
marchandize, as well of Golde, Silver, Pearles, Diamonds, Pretious
Stones, Silkes, Velvets, and Cloth of golde; as Fish, Pitch, Wood, or
such grosse commodities? What Voyages and Discoveries, East and West,
North and South, yea about the world, make they? What an Army by Sea
and Land, have they long maintained in despite of one of the greatest
Princes of the world? And never could the Spaniard with all his Mynes
of golde and Silver, pay his debts, his friends, and army, halfe so
truly, as the Hollanders stil have done by this contemptible trade
of fish. Divers (I know) may alledge, many other assistances: But
this is their Myne; and the Sea the source of those silvered streams
of all their vertue; which hath made them now the very miracle of
industrie, the pattern of perfection for these affaires: and the
benefit of fishing is that Primum mobile that turns all their Spheres
to this height of plentie, strength, honour and admiration.
Herring, Cod, and Ling, is that triplicitie that makes their wealth
and shippings multiplicities, such as it is, and from which (few
would thinke it) they yearly draw at least one million and a halfe of
pounds starling; yet it is most certaine (if records be true:) and in
this faculty they are so naturalized, and of their vents so certainly
acquainted, as there is no likelihood they will ever bee paralleld,
having 2 or 3000 Busses, Flat bottomes, Sword pinks, Todes, and such
like, that breedes them Saylers, Mariners, Souldiers and Marchants,
never to be wrought out of that trade, and fit for any other. I
will not deny but others may gaine as well as they, that will use
it, though not so certainely, nor so much in quantity; for want of
experience. And this Herring they take upon the Coast of Scotland and
England; their Cod and Ling, upon the Coast of Izeland and in the
North Seas.
Hamborough, and the East Countries, for Sturgion and Caviare, gets
many thousands of pounds from England, and the Straites: Portugale,
the Biskaines, and the Spaniards, make 40 or 50 Saile yearely to
Cape-blank, to hooke for Porgos, Mullet, and make Puttardo: and New
found Land, doth yearely fraught neere 800 sayle of Ships with a
sillie leane skinny Poore-Iohn, and Cor-fish, which at least yearely
amounts to 3 or 400000 pound. If from all those parts such paines
is taken for this poore gaines of fish, and by them hath neither
meate, drinke, nor clothes, wood, iron, nor steele, pitch, tarre,
nets, leades, salt, hookes, nor lines, for shipping, fishing, nor
provision, but at the second, third, fourth, or fift hand, drawne
from so many severall parts of the world ere they come together to
be used in this voyage: If these I say can gaine, and the Saylers
live going for shares, lesse then the third part of their labours,
and yet spend as much time in going and comming as in staying there,
so short is the season of fishing; why should wee more doubt, then
Holland, Portugale, Spaniard, French, or other, but to doe much
better then they, where there is victuall to feede us, wood of all
sorts, to build Boats, Ships, or Barks; the fish at our doores,
pitch, tarre, masts, yards, and most of other necessaries onely for
making? And here are no hard Landlords to racke us with high rents,
or extorted fines to consume us, no tedious pleas in law to consume
us with their many years disputations for Iustice: no multitudes to
occasion such impediments to good orders, as in popular States. So
freely hath God and his Maiesty bestowed those blessings on them
that will attempt to obtaine them, as here every man may be master
and owner of his owne labour and land; or the greatest part in a
small time. If hee have nothing but his hands, he may set up this
trade: and by industrie quickly grow rich; spending but halfe that
time wel, which in England we abuse in idlenes, worse or as ill.
Here is ground also as good as any lyeth in the height of forty one,
forty two, forty three, &c. which is as temperate and as fruitfule
as any other paralell in the world. As for example, on this side the
line West of it in the South Sea, is Nova Albion, discovered as is
said, by Sir Francis Drake. East from it, is the most temperate part
of Portugale, the ancient kingdomes of Galazia, Biskey, Navarre,
Arragon, Catalonia, Castilia the olde and the most moderatest of
Castilia the new, and Valentia, which is the greatest part of Spain:
which if the Spanish Histories bee true, in the Romanes time abounded
no lesse with golde and silver Mines, then now the West Indies; The
Romanes then using the Spaniards to work in those Mines, as now the
Spaniard doth the Indians.
In France, the Provinces of Gasconie, Langadock, Avignon, Province,
Dolphine, Pyamont, and Turyne, are in the same paralel: which are the
best and richest parts of France. In Italy, the provinces of Genua,
Lumbardy, and Verona, with a great part of the most famous State of
Venice, the Dukedoms of Bononia, Mantua, Ferrara, Ravenna, Bolognia,
Florence, Pisa, Sienna, Urbine, Ancona, and the ancient Citie and
Countrey of Rome, with a great part of the great Kingdome of Naples.
In Slavonia, Istrya, and Dalmatia, with the Kingdomes of Albania.
In Grecia, that famous Kingdome of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Thessalia,
Thracia, or Romania, where is seated the most pleasant and plentifull
Citie in Europe, Constantinople. In Asia also, in the same latitude,
are the temperatest parts of Natolia, Armenia, Persia, and China,
besides divers other large Countries and Kingdomes in these most
milde and temperate Regions of Asia. Southward, in the same height,
is the richest of golde Mynes, Chily and Baldivia, and the mouth of
the great River of Plate, &c: for all the rest of the world in that
height is yet unknowne. Besides these reasons, mine owne eyes that
have seene a great part of those Cities and their Kingdomes, as well
as it, can finde no advantage they have in nature, but this. They
are beautified by the long labor and diligence of industrious people
and Art. This is onely as God made it, when he created the worlde.
Therefore I conclude, if the heart and intralls of those Regions
were sought: if their Land were cultured, planted and manured by men
of industrie, iudgement, and experience; what hope is there, or
what neede they doubt, having those advantages of the Sea, but it
might equalize any of those famous Kingdomes, in all commodities,
pleasures, and conditions? seeing even the very edges doe naturally
afford us such plenty, as no ship need returne away empty; and onely
use but the season of the Sea, fish will returne an honest gaine,
beside all other advantages; her treasures having yet never beene
opened, nor her originalls wasted, consumed, nor abused.
And whereas it is said, the Hollanders serve the Easterlings
themselves, and other parts that want with Herring, Ling, and wet
Cod; the Easterlings, a great part of Europe, with Sturgion and
Caviare; Cape-blanke, Spain, Portugale, and the Levant, with Mullet,
and Puttargo; New found Land, all Europe, with a thin Poore Iohn;
yet all is so overlade with fishers, as the fishing decayeth, and
many are constrained to returne with a small fraught. Norway, and
Polonia, Pitch, Tar, Masts, and Yardes; Sweathland, and Russia, Iron,
and Ropes; France, and Spaine, Canvas, Wine, Steele, Iron, and Oyle;
Italy and Greece, Silks, and Fruites. I dare boldly say, because I
have seen naturally growing, or breeding in those parts the same
materialls that all those are made of, they may as well be had here,
or the most part of them, within the distance of 70 leagues for some
few ages, as from all those parts; using but the same meanes to have
them that they doe, and with all those advantages.
First, the ground is so fertill, that questionless it is capable of
producing any Grain, Fruits, or Seeds you will sow or plant, growing
in the Regions afore named: But it may be, not every kinde to that
perfection of delicacy; or some tender plants may miscarie, because
the Summer is not so hot, and the winter is more colde in those parts
wee have yet tryed neere the Sea side, then we finde in the same
height in Europe or Asia; ♦_Monhegan_♦ Yet I made a Garden upon the
top of a Rockie Ile in 43½, 4 leagues from the Main, in May, that
grew so well, as it served us for sallets in Iune and Iuly. All sorts
of cattell may here be bred and fed in the Iles, or Peninsulaes,
securely for nothing. In the Interim till they encrease if need be
(observing the seasons) I durst undertake to have corne enough from
the Salvages for 300 men, for a few trifles; and if they should bee
untoward (as it is most certaine they are) thirty or forty good men
will be sufficient to bring them all in subiection, and make this
provision; if they understand what they doe: 200 whereof may nine
monethes in the yeare be imployed in making marchandable fish, till
the rest provide other necessaries, fit to furnish us with other
commodities.
In March, April, May, and halfe Iune, here is Cod in abundance; in
May, Iune, Iuly, and August Mullet and Sturgion; whose roes doe make
Caviare and Puttargo. Herring, if any desire them, I have taken many
out of the bellies of Cod, some in nets; but the Salvages compare
their store in the Sea, to the haires of their heads: and surely
there are an incredible abundance upon this Coast. In the end of
August, September, October, and November, you have Cod againe to make
Cor-fish, or Poore Iohn: and each hundred is as good as two or three
hundred in the New-found Land. So that halfe the labour in hooking,
splitting, and turning, is saved: and you may have your fish at what
Market you will, before they can have any in New-found Land: where
their fishing is chiefly but in Iune and Iuly: whereas it is heere
in March, April, May, September, October, and November, as is said.
So that by reason of this plantation, the Marchants may have fraught
both out and home: which yeelds an advantage worth consideration.
Your Cor-fish you may in like manner transport as you see cause,
to serve the Ports in Portugale (as Lisbon, Avera, Porta port, and
divers others, or what market you please) before your Ilanders
returne: They being tyed to the season in the open sea; you having a
double season, and fishing before your doors, may every night sleep
quietly a shore with good cheare and what fires you will, or when you
please with your wives and familie: they onely, their ships in the
maine Ocean.
The Mullets heere are in that abundance, you may take them with nets,
sometimes by hundreds, where at Cape blank they hooke them; yet those
but one foot and a halfe in length; these two, three, or foure, as
oft I have measured: much Salmon some have found up the Rivers, as
they have passed: and heer the ayre is so temperate, as all these at
any time may well be preserved.
Now, young boyes and girles Salvages, or any other, be they never
such idlers, may turne, carry, and return fish, without either shame
or any great paine: hee is very idle that is past twelve yeares of
age and cannot doe so much: and she is very olde, that cannot spin a
thred to make engines to catch them.
For their transportation, the ships that go there to fish may
transport the first: who for their passage will spare the charge of
double manning their ships, which they must doe in the New-found
Land, to get their fraught; but one third part of that companie are
onely but proper to serve a stage, carry a barrow, and turne Poor
Iohn: notwithstanding, they must have meate, drinke, clothes, and
pattage, as well as the rest. Now all I desire, is but this; That
those that voluntarily will send shipping, should make here the
best choice they can, or accept such as are presented them, to serve
them at that rate: and their ships returning leave such with me,
with the value of that they should receive comming home, in such
provisions and necessarie tooles, armes, bedding and apparell, salt,
hookes, nets, lines, and such like as they spare of the remainings;
who till the next returne may keepe their boates and doe them many
other profitable offices: provided I have men of ability to teach
them their functions, and a company fit for Souldiers to be Ready
upon an occasion; because of the abuses which have beene offered the
poore Salvages, and the liberty both French or any that will, hath
to deale with them as they please: whose disorders will be hard to
reforme; and the longer the worse. Now such order with facilitie
might be taken, with every port Towne or Citie, to observe but this
order, With free power to convert the benefits of their fraughts to
what advantage they please, and increase their numbers as they see
occasion; who ever as they are able to subsist of themselves, may
beginne the new Townes in New England in memory of their olde: which
freedome being confined but to the necessity of the generall good,
the event (with Gods helpe) might produce an honest, a noble, and a
profitable emulation.
Salt upon salt may assuredly be made; if not at the first in ponds,
yet till they bee provided this may be used: then the Ships may
transport Kine, Horse, Goates, course Cloath, and such commodities
as we want; by whose arrivall may be made that provision of fish to
fraught the Ships that they stay not: and then if the sailers goe
for wages, it matters not. It is hard if this returne defray not the
charge: but care must be had, they arrive in the Spring, or else
provision be made for them against the Winter.
Of certaine red berries called Alkermes which is worth ten shillings
a pound, but of these hath been sould for thirty or forty shillings
the pound, may yearely be gathered a good quantitie.
Of the Musk Rat may bee well raised gaines, well worth their labour,
that will endevor to make tryall of their goodnesse.
Of Bevers, Otters, Martins, Blacke Foxes, and Furres of price,
may yearely be had 6 or 7000: and if the trade of the French were
prevented, many more: 25000 this yeare were brought from those
Northren parts into France; of which trade we may have as good part
as the French, if we take good courses.
Of Mynes of Golde and Silver, Copper, and probabilities of Lead,
Christall and Allum, I could say much if relations were good
assurances. It is true indeed, I made many trials according to those
instructions I had, which doe perswade mee I need not despaire, but
there are metalls in the Countrey: but I am no Alchymist, nor will
promise more then I know: which is, Who will undertake the rectifying
of an Iron forge, if those that buy meate, drinke, coals, ore, and
all necessaries at a deer rate gaine; where all these things are to
be had for the taking up, in my opinion cannot lose.
Of woods, seeing there is such plenty of all sorts, if those that
build ships and boates, buy wood at so great a price, as it is
in England, Spaine, France, Italy, and Holland, and all other
provisions for the nourishing of mans life; live well by their trade:
when labour is all required to take those necessaries without any
other tax; what hazard will be here, but doe much better? And what
commoditie in Europe doth more decay then wood? For the goodnesse of
the ground, let us take it fertill, or barren, or as it is: seeing
it is certaine it beares fruites, to nourish and feed man and beast,
as well as England, and the Sea those severall sorts of fish I have
related. Thus seeing all good provisions for mans sustenance, may
with this facility be had, by a little extraordinarie labour, till
that transported be increased; and all necessaries for shipping,
onely for labour: to which may bee added the assistance of the
Salvages, which may easily be had, if they be discreetly handled in
their kindes, towards fishing, planting and destroying woods. What
gaines might be raised if this were followed (when there is but once
men to fill your store houses, dwelling there, you may serve all
Europe better and farre cheaper, then can the Izeland fishers, or the
Hollanders, Cape blank, or New found Land: who must be at as much
more charge than you) may easily be coniectured by this example.
2000. pound will fit out a ship of 200. and 1 of a 100 tuns: If the
dry fish they both make, fraught that of 200. and goe for Spaine,
sell it but at ten shillings a quintall; but commonly it giveth
fifteen, or twentie: especially when it commeth first, which amounts
to 3 or 4000 pound: but say but tenne, which is the lowest, allowing
the rest for waste, it amounts at that rate, to 2000 pound, which
is the whole charge of your two ships, and their equipage: Then the
returne of the money, and the fraught of the ship for the vintage,
or any other voyage, is cleere gaine, with your shippe of a 100 tuns
of Train and oyle, besides the bevers, and other commodities; and
that you may have at home within six monethes, if God please but to
send an ordinarie passage. Then saving halfe this charge by the not
staying of your ships, your victual, overplus of men and wages; with
her fraught thither of things necessarie for the planters, the salt
being there made: as also may the nets and lines, within a short
time: if nothing were to bee expected but this, it might in time
equalize your Hollanders gaines, if not exceed them: they returning
but wood, pitch, tarre, and such grosse commodities; you wines,
oyles, fruits, silkes, and such Straits commodities, as you please to
provide by your Factors, against such times as your shippes arrive
with them. This would so increase our shipping and sailers, and so
employ and encourage a great part of our idlers and others that
want imployments fitting their qualities at home, where they shame
to doe that they would doe abroad; that could they but once taste
the sweet fruites of their owne labours, doubtlesse many thousands
would be advised by good discipline, to take more pleasure in honest
Industrie, then in their humours of dissolute idlenesse.