Letting passe our Voyage by Sea, we will now begin our discourse on
the shore of _New-England_. And because the life and wel-fare of
euerie Creature here below, and the commodiousnesse of the Countrey
whereas such Creatures liue, doth by the most wise ordering of Gods
prouidence, depend next vnto himselfe, vpon the temperature and
disposition of the foure Elements, Earth, Water, Aire and Fire (For
as of the mixture of all these, all sublunarie things are composed;
so by the more or lesse inioyment of the wholesome temper and
conuenient vse of these, consisteth the onely well-being both of Man
and Beast in a more or lesse comfortable measure in all Countreys
vnder the Heanens) Therefore I will endeauour to shew you what
_New-England_ is by the consideration of each of these apart, and
truly endeauour by Gods helpe to report nothing but the naked truth
and that both to tell you of the discommodities as well as of the
commodities, though as the idle Prouerbe is, _Trauellers may lye by
authoritie_, and so may take too much sinfull libertie that way. Yet
I may say of my selfe as once _Nehemiah_ did in another case: _Shall
such a Man as I lye?_ No verily: It becommeth not a Preacher of Truth
to be a Writer of Falshood in any degree: and therefore I haue beene
carefull to report nothing of _New-England_ but what I haue partly
seene with mine owne Eyes, and partly heard and enquired from the
Mouthes of verie honest and religious person, who by liuing in the
Countrey a good space of time haue had experience and knowledge of
the state thereof, & whose testimonies I doe beleeue as my selfe.
First therefore of the Earth of _New-England_ and all the
appurtenances thereof: It is a Land of diuers and sundry sorts all
about _Masathulets_ Bay, and at _Charles_ Riuer is as fat blacke
Earth as can be seene any where: and in other places you haue a clay
soyle, in other grauell, in other sandy, as it is all about our
Plantation at _Salem_, for so our Towne is now named, _Psal._ 76.2.
The forme of the Earth here in the superficies of it is neither
too flat in the plainnesse, nor too high in Hils, but partakes of
both in a mediocritie, and fit for Pasture, or for Plow or Meddow
ground, as Men please to employ it: though all the Countrey be as
it were a thicke Wood for the generall, yet in diuers places there
is much ground cleared by the _Indians_, and especially about the
Plantation: and I am told that about three miles from vs a Man may
stand on a little hilly place and see diuers thousands of acres of
ground as good as need to be, and not a Tree in the same. It is
thought here is good Clay to make Bricke and Tyles and Earthen-Pots
as needs to be. At this instant we are setting a Bricke-Kill on
worke to make Brickes and Tyles for the building of our Houses. For
Stone, here is plentie of Slates at the Ile of Slate _Masathulets_
Bay, and Lime-stone, Free-stone, and Smooth-stone, and Iron-stone,
and Marble-stone also in such store, that we haue great Rockes of
it, and a Harbour hard by. Our Plantation is from thence called
Marble-harbour.
Of Minerals there hath yet beene but little triall made, yet we are
not without great hope of being furnished in that Soyle.
The fertilitie of the Soyle is to be admired at, as appeareth in the
aboundance of Grasse that groweth euerie where both verie thicke,
verie long, and verie high in diuers places: but it groweth very
wildly with a great stalke and a broad and ranker blade, because it
neuer had been eaten with Cattle, nor mowed with a Sythe, and seldome
trampled on by foot. It is scarce to be beleeued how our Kine and
Goats, Horses and Hogges doe thriue and prosper here and like well of
this Countrey.
In our Plantation we haue already a quart of Milke for a penny:
but the aboundant encrease of Corne proues this Countrey to be a
wonderment. Thirtie, fortie, fiftie, sixtie are ordinarie here:
yea _Iosephs_ encrease in _Ægypt_ is out-stript here with vs. Our
Planters hope to haue more then a hundred fould this yere: and all
this while I am within compasse; what will you say of two hundred
fould and vpwards? It is almost incredible what great gaine some of
our English Planters haue had by our Indian Corne. Credible persons
haue assured me, and the partie himselfe auouched the truth of
it to me, that of the setting of 13 Gallons of Corne he hath had
encrease of it 52 Hogsheads, euerie Hogshead holding seuen Bushels of
_London_ measure, and euerie Bushell was by him sold and trusted to
the _Indians_ for so much Beauer as was worth 18 shillings; and so
of this 13 Gallons of Corne which was worth 6 shillings 8 pence, he
made about 327 pounds of it the yeere following, as by reckoning will
appeare: where you may see how God blesseth husbandry in this Land.
There is not such great and beautifull eares of Corne I suppose any
where else to be found but in this Countrey: being also of varietie
of colours, as red, blew and yellow, &c. and of one Corne there
springeth foure or fiue hundred. I haue sent you many Eares of diuers
colours that you might see the truth of it.
Little Children here by setting of Corne may earne much more then
their owne maintenance.
They haue tryed our _English_ Corne at new _Plimouth_ Plantation, so
that all our seuerall Graines will grow here verie well, and haue a
fitting Soyle for their nature.
Our Gouernour hath store of greene Pease growing in his Garden as
good as euer I eat in _England_.
This Countrey aboundeth naturally with store of Roots of great
varietie and good to eat. Our Turnips, Parsnips and Carrots are here
both bigger and sweeter then is ordinarily to be found in _England_.
Here are also store of Pumpions, Cowcumbers, and other things of
that nature which I know not. Also, diuers excellent Pot-herbs grow
abundantly among the Grasse, as Strawberrie leaues in all places
of the Countrey, and plentie of Strawberries in their time, and
Penyroyall, Wintersauerie, Sorrell, Brookelime, Liuerwort, Caruell
and Watercresses, also Leekes and Onions are ordinarie, and diuers
Physicall Herbes. Here are also aboundance of other sweet Herbes
delightfull to the smell, whose names we know not, &c. and plentie of
single Damaske Roses verie sweet; and two kinds of Herbes that beare
two kind of Flowers very sweet, which they say, are as good to make
Cordage or Cloath as any Hempe or Flaxe we haue.
Excellent Vines are here vp and downe in the Woods. Our Gouernour
hath already planted a Vineyard with great hope of encrease.
Also, Mulberies, Plums, Raspberies, Corrance, Chesnuts, Filberds,
Walnuts, Smalnuts, Hurtleberies & Hawes of Whitethorne neere as good
as our Cherries in _England_, they grow in plentie here.
For Wood there is no better in the World I thinke, here being foure
sorts of Oke differing both in the Leafe, Timber, and Colour,
all excellent good. There is also good Ash, Elme, Willow, Birch,
Beech, Saxafras, Iuniper Cipres, Cedar, Spruce, Pines & Firre that
will yeeld abundance of Turpentine, Pitch, Tarre, Masts and other
materials for building both of Ships and Houses. Also here are store
of Sumacke Trees, they are good for dying and tanning of Leather,
likewise such Trees yeeld a precious Gum called White Beniamen, that
they say is excellent for perfumes. Also here be diuers Roots and
Berries wherewith the _Indians_ dye excellent holy day colours that
no raine nor washing can alter. Also, wee haue materials to make
Sope-Ashes and Salt-Peter in aboundance.
For Beasts there are some Beares, and they say some Lyons also; for
they haue been seen at Cape _Anne_. Also here are seuerall sorts of
Deere, some whereof bring three or foure young ones at once, which
is not ordinarie in _England_. Also Wolues, Foxes, Beauers, Otters,
Martins, great wild Cats, & a great Beast called a Molke as bigge
as an Oxe. I haue seen the Skins of all these Beasts since I came
to this Plantation excepting Lyons. Also here are great store of
Squerrels, some greater, and some smaller and lesser: there are some
of the lesser sort, they tell me, that by a certaine Skin will fly
from Tree to Tree though they stand farre distant.
_Of the waters of_ New-England _with the things belonging to the
same_.
_New-England_ hath Water enough both salt and fresh, the greatest Sea
in the World, the _Atlanticke_ Sea runs all along the Coast thereof.
There are abundance of Ilands along the Shore, some full of Wood and
Mast to feed Swine; and others cleere of Wood, and fruitful to beare
Corne. Also we haue store of excellent harbours for Ships, as at
Cape _Anne_, and at _Masathulets_ Bay, and at _Salem_, and at many
other places: and they are the better because for Strangers there
is a verie difficult and dangerous passage into them, but vnto such
as are well acquainted with them, they are easie and safe enough.
The aboundance of Sea-Fish are almost beyond beleeuing, and sure I
should scarce haue beleeued it except I had seene it with mine owne
Eyes. I saw great store of Whales, and Crampusse, and such aboundance
of Makerils that it would astonish one to behold, likewise Cod-Fish
aboundance on the Coast, and in their season are plentifully taken.
There is a Fish called a Basse, a most sweet & wholesome Fish as euer
I did eat, it is altogether as good as our fresh Sammon, and the
season of their comming was begun when we came first to _New-England_
in _Iune_, and so continued about three months space. Of this Fish
our Fishers take many hundreds together, which I haue seene lying on
the shore to my admiration; yea, their Nets ordinarily take more then
they are able to hale to Land, and for want of Boats and Men they are
constrained to let a many goe after they haue taken them, and yet
sometimes they fill two Boats at a time with them. And besides Basse
we take plentie of Scate and Thornbacke, and aboundance of Lobsters,
that the least Boy in the Plantation may both catch and eat what he
wil of them. For my owne part I was soone cloyed with them, they were
so great, and fat, and lussious. I haue seene some my selfe that haue
weighed 16 pound, but others haue had diuers time so great Lobsters
as haue weighed 25 pound, as they assured me. Also here is aboundance
of Herring, Turbut, Sturgion, Cuskes, Hadocks, Mullets, Eeles, Crabs,
Muskles and Oysters. Beside there is probabilitie that the Countrey
is of an excellent temper for the making of Salt: for since our
comming our Fishermen haue brought home verie good Salt which they
found candied by the standing of the Sea water and the heat of the
Sunne, vpon a Rock by the Sea shore: and in diuers Salt Marishes that
some haue gone through, they haue found some Salt in some places
crushing vnder their Feet and cleauing to their Shoes.
And as for fresh Water the Countrey is full of daintie Springs, and
some great Riuers, and some lesser Brookes; and at _Masathulets_ Bay
they digged Wels and found Water at three Foot deepe in most places:
and neere _Salem_ they haue as fine cleare Water as we can desire,
and we may digge Wels and find Water where we list.
Thus we see both Land and Sea abound with store of blessings for the
comfortable sustenance of Mans life in _New-England_.
_Of the Aire of_ New-England _with the Temper and Creatures in it_.
The Temper of the Aire of _New-England_ is one speciall thing that
commends this place. Experience doth manifest that there is hardly a
more healthfull place to be found in the World that agreeth better
with our English Bodyes. Many that haue beene weake and sickly in
old _England_, by comming hither hane beene thoroughly healed and
growne healthfull and strong. For here is an extraordinarie cleere
and dry Aire that is of a most healing nature to all such as are of
a Cold, Melancholy, Flegmatick, Reumaticke temper of Body. None can
more truly speake hereof by their owne experience then my selfe. My
Friends that knew me can well tell how verie sickly I haue been and
continually in Physick, being much troubled with a tormenting paine
through an extraordinarie weaknesse of my Stomacke, and aboundance
of Melancholicke humors; but since I came hither on this Voyage,
I thanke God I haue had perfect health, and freed from paine and
vomitings, hauing a Stomacke to digest the hardest and coursest
fare who before could not eat finest meat; and whereas my Stomacke
could onely digest and did require such drinke as was both strong
and stale, now I can and doe oftentimes drink _New-England_ water
verie well; and I that haue not gone without a Cap for many yeeres
together, neither durst leaue off the same, haue now cast away
my Cap, and doe weare none at all in the day time: and whereas
beforetime I cloathed my selfe with double cloathes and thicke
Wastcoats to keepe me warme, euen in the Summer time, I doe now goe
as thin clad as any, onely wearing a light Stuffe Cassocke vpon my
Shirt and Stuffe Breeches of one thicknesse without Linings. Besides,
I haue one of my Children that was formerly most lamentably handled
with sore breaking out of both his hands and feet of the Kings Euill,
but since he came hither he is verie well ouer hee was, and there is
hope of perfect recouerie shortly, euen by the verie wholesomnesse of
the Aire, altering, digesting and drying vp the cold and crude humors
of the Body: and therefore I thinke it is a wise course for all cold
complections to come to take Physicke in _New England_; for a sup of
_New-Englands_ Aire is better then a whole draft of old _Englands_
Ale.
In the Summer time in the midst of _Iuly_ and _August_ it is a good
deale hotter then in old _England_: and in Winter, _Ianuary_ and
_February_ are much colder as they say: but the Spring and Autumne
are of a middle temper.
Fowles of the Aire are plentifull here, and of all sorts as we haue
in _England_ as farre as I can learne, and a great many of strange
Fowles which we know not. Whilst I was writing these things, one of
our Men brought home an Eagle which he had killed in the Wood: they
say they are good meat. Also here are many kinds of excellent Hawkes,
both Sea Hawkes and Land Hawkes: and my selfe walking in the Woods
with another in company, sprung a Partridge so bigge that through the
heauinesse of his Body could fly but a little way: they that haue
killed them, say they are as bigge as our Hens. Here are likewise
aboundance of Turkies often killed in the Woods, farre greater then
our English Turkies, and exceeding fat, sweet and fleshy, for here
they haue aboundance of feeding all the yeere long, as Strawberries,
in Summer all places are full of them, and all manner of Berries and
Fruits. In the Winter time I haue seene Flockes of Pidgeons, and
haue eaten of them: they doe flye from Tree to Tree as other Birds
doe, which our Pidgeons will not doe in _England_: they are of all
colours as ours are, but their wings and tayles are farr longer, and
therefore it is likely they fly swifter to escape the terrible Hawkes
in this Countrey. In Winter time this Countrey doth abound with wild
Geese, wild Duckes, and other Sea Fowle, that a great part of winter
the Planters haue eaten nothing but roastmeat of diuers Fowles which
they haue killed.
Thus you haue heard of the Earth, Water and Aire of _New-England_,
now it may be you expect something to be said of the Fire
proportionable to the rest of the Elements.
Indeed I thinke _New England_ may boast of this Element more then
of all the rest: for though it be here somthing cold in the winter,
yet here we haue plentie of Fire to warme vs, and that a great
deale cheaper then they sell Billets and Faggots in _London_:
nay, all _Europe_ is not able to afford to make so great Fires as
_New-England_. A poore Seruant here that is to possesse but 50 Acres
of Land, may afford to giue more wood for Timber and Fire as good
as the world yeelds, then many Noble Men in _England_ can afford
to doe. Here is good liuing for those that loue good Fires. And
although _New-England_ haue no Tallow to make Candles of, yet by the
aboundance of the Fish thereof, it can afford Oyle for Lampes. Yea
our Pine-Trees that are the most plentifull of all wood, doth allow
vs plentie of Candles, which are verie vsefull in a House: and they
are such Candles as the _Indians_ commonly vse, hauing no other, and
they are nothing else but the wood of the Pine Tree clouen in two
little slices something thin, which are so full of the moysture of
Turpentine and Pitch, that they burne as cleere as a Torch. I haue
sent you some of them that you may see the experience of them.
Thus of _New-Englands_ commodities, now I will tell you of some
discommodities that are here to be found.
First, In the Summer season for these three months _Iune_, _Iuly_ and
_August_, we are troubled much with little Flyes called Musketoes,
being the same they are troubled with in _Linconshiere_ and the Fens:
and they are nothing but Gnats, which except they be smoked out of
their Howses are troublesome in the night season.
Secondly, In the Winter season for two months space the Earth is
commonly couered with Snow, which is accompanied with sharp biting
Frosts, something more sharpe then is in old _England_, and therefore
are forced to make great Fires.
Thirdly, This Countrey being verie full of Woods and Wildernesses,
doth also much abound with Snakes and Serpents of strange colours and
huge greatnesse: yea there are some Serpents called Rattle Snakes,
that haue Rattles in their Tayles that will not flye from a Man as
others will, but will flye vpon him and sting him so mortally, that
he will dye within a quarter of an houre after, except the partie
stinged haue about him some of the root of an Hearbe called Snake
weed to bite on, and then he shall receiue no harme: but yet seldome
falles it out that any hurt is done by these. About three yeeres
since an _Indian_ was stung to death by one of them, but we heard of
none since that time.
Fourthly and lastly, Here wants as yet the good company of honest
Christians to bring with them Horses, Kine and Sheepe to make vse
of this fruitfull Land: great pittie it is to see so much good
ground for Corne and for Grasse as any is vnder the Heauens, to lye
altogether vnoccupied, when so many honest Men & their Families in
old _England_ through the populousnesse thereof, do make very hard
shift to liue one by the other.
Now, thus you know what _New-England_ is, as also with the
commodities and discommodities thereof: now I will shew you a little
of the Inhabitants thereof, and their gouernment.
For their Gouernours they haue Kings, which they call _Saggamores_,
some greater, and some lesser, according to the number of their
Subiects.
The greatest _Saggamores_ about vs can not make aboue three hundred
Men, and other lesse _Saggamores_ haue not aboue fifteene Subiects,
and others neere about vs but two.
Their Subiects about twelue yeeres since were swept away by a great
and grieuous Plague that was amongst them, so that there are verie
few left to inhabite the Countrey.
The _Indians_ are not able to make vse of the one fourth part of the
Land, neither haue they any setled places, as Townes to dwell in, nor
any ground as they challenge for their owne possession, but change
their habitation from place to place.
For their Statures, they are a tall and strong limmed People, their
colours are tawny, they goe naked, saue onely they are in part
couered with Beasts Skins on one of their Shoulders, and weare
something before their Priuities: their Haire is generally blacke,
and cut before like our Gentlewomen, and one locke longer then the
rest, much like to our Gentlemen, which fashion I thinke came from
hence into _England_.
For their weapons, they haue Bowes and Arrowes, some of them headed
with Bone, and some with Brasse: I haue sent you some of them for an
example.
The Men for the most part liue idlely, they doe nothing but hunt and
fish: their wiues set their Corne and doe all their other worke. They
haue little Houshold stuffe, as a Kettle, and same other Vessels like
Trayes, Spoones, Dishes and Baskets.
Their Houses are verie little and homely, being made with small Poles
pricked into the ground, and so bended and fastned at the tops, and
on the sides they are matted with Boughes, & couered on the Roofe
with Sedge and old Mats; and for their beds that they take their rest
on, they haue a Mat.
They doe generally professe to like well of our comming and planting
here, partly because there is abundance of ground that they cannot
possesse nor make vse of, and partly because our being here will be
a meanes both of reliefe to them when they want, and also a defence
from their Enemies, wherewith (I say) before this Plantation begun,
they were often indangered.
For their Religion, they doe worship two Gods, a good God and an
euill God: the good God they call _Tantum_, and their euill God whom
they feare will doe them hurt, they call _Squantum_.
For their dealing with vs, we neither feare them nor trust them, for
fourtie of our Musketeeres will driue fiue hundred of them out of the
Field. We vse them kindly, they will come into our Houses sometimes
by halfe a douzen or halfe a score at a time when we are at victuals,
but will aske or take nothing but what we giue them.
We purpose to learne their Language as soone as we can, which will be
a meanes to do them good.
_Of the present condition of the Plantation, and what it is._
When we came first to _Neihum kek_, we found about halfe a score
Houses, and a faire House newly built for the Gouernour, we found
also aboundance of Corne planted by them, verie good and well
likeing. And we brought with vs about two hundred Passengers and
Planters more, which by common consent of the old Planters were all
combined together into one Body Politicke, vnder the same Gouernour.
There are in all of vs both old and new Planters about three hundred,
whereof two hundred of them are setled at _Nehum-kek_, now called
_Salem_: and the rest haue Planted themselues at _Masathulets_ Bay,
beginning to build a Towne there which we doe call _Cherton_, or
_Charles_ Towne.
We that are setled at _Salem_ make what hast we can to build Houses,
so that within a short time we shall haue a faire Towne.
We haue great Ordnance, wherewith we doubt not but we shall fortifie
our selues in a short time to keepe out a potent Aduersarie. But
that which is our greatest comfort, and meanes of defence aboue all
other, is, that we haue here the true Religion and holy Ordinances
of Almightie God taught amongst vs: Thankes be to God, we haue
here plentie of Preaching, and diligent Catechizing, with strickt
and carefull exercise, and good and commendable orders to bring
our People into a Christian conuersation with whom we haue to doe
withall. And thus we doubt not but God will be with vs, and _if God
be with vs, who can be against vs_?
_FINIS._