heretofore called _Laconia_ or _New-Summersetshire_, is a Colony
belonging to the Grandson of Sir _Ferdinando Gorges_ of _Ashton
Phillips_ in the County of _Sommerset_, the said Sir _Ferdinando
Gorges_ did expend in planting several parts of _New-England_ above
Twenty thousand pounds _sterling_; and when he was between three
and four score years of age did personally engage in our Royal
Martyrs service; and particularly in the Seige of _Bristow_, and
was plundered and imprisoned several times, by reason whereof he
was discountenanced by the pretended Commissioners for forraign
plantations, and his Province incroached upon by the _Massachusets_
Colony, who assumed the Government thereof. His Majestie that now
Reigneth sent over his [p. 198.] Commissioners to reduce them
within their bounds, and to put Mr. _Gorges_ again into possession.
But there falling out a contest about it, the Commissioners settled
it in the Kings name (until the business should be determined
before his Majestie) and gave Commissions to the Judge of their
Courts, and the Justices to Govern and Act according to the Laws
of _England_, & by such Laws of their own as were not repugnant to
them: But as soon as the Commissioners were returned for _England_,
the _Massachusets_ enter the province in a hostile manner with a
Troop of Horse and Foot and turn’d the Judge and his Assistants
off the Bench, Imprisoned the Major or Commander of the Militia,
threatned the Judge, and some others that were faithful to Mr.
_Gorges_ interests. I could discover many other foul proceedings,
but for some reasons which might be given, I conceive it not
convenient to make report thereof to vulgar ears; _& quæ supra nos
nihil ad nos_. Onely this I could wish, that there might be some
consideration of the great losses, charge and labour which hath
been sustained by the Judge, and some others for above thirty years
in upholding the rights of Mr. _Gorge_ and his Sacred Majesties
Dominion against a many stubborn and elusive people.
[p. 199.] _Anno Dom._ 1623. Mr. _Robert Gorge_, Sir _Ferdinando
Gorges_ brother had for his good service granted him by Patent
from the Council of _Plimouth_ all that part of the Land commonly
called _Massachusiack_, situated on the North-side of the Bay of
_Massachusets_.
Not long after this Sir _Ferdinando Gorges_ had granted to him by
Patent from the middest of _Merrimack_-River to the great River
_Sagadehock_, then called _Laconia_.
In 1635. Capt. _William Gorge_, Sir _Ferdinando’s_ Nephew, was
sent over Governour of the Province of _Main_, then called
_New-Summersetshire_.
Sir _Ferdinando Gorge_ received a Charter-Royal from King _Charles_
the first the third of _April_ in the Fifteenth of his Raign,
granting to him all that part and portion of _New-England_, lying
and being between the River of _Pascataway_, that is, beginning at
the entrance of _Pascataway-harbour_, and so to pass up the same
into the River of _Newichawanoe_ or _Neqhechewanck_, and through
the same unto the farthest head thereof aforesaid, North-eastward
along the Sea-coasts, for Sixty miles to _Sagadehoc_-River to
_Kenebeck_, even as far as the head thereof, and up into the main
land North-westward for the space of one hundred and twenty [p.
200.] miles. To these Territories are adjoyned the North half-Isle
of _Sholes_, with several other Islands, it lyeth between 44
degrees and 45 of Northerly latitude. The River _Canada_ on the
North-east the Sea coast South, amongst many large Royalties,
Jurisdictions and Immunities was also granted to the said Sir
_Ferdinando Gorge_, the same Royalties, priviledges and franchises
as are, or of right ought to be enjoyed by the Bishop of _Durham_
in the County Palatine of _Durham_; the planters to pay for every
hundred Acres of land yearly, two shillings six pence, that is such
land as is given to them and their Heirs for ever.
The Officers by Patent are a Deputy Governour, a Chancellor, a
Treasurer, a Marshal for Souldiers, an Admiraltie for Sea affairs,
and a Judge of the Admiraltie, a Master of Ordinance, a Secretary,
_&c._
Towns there are not many in this province. _Kittery_ situated not
far from _Pascataway_ is the most populous.
Next to that Eastward is seated by a River near the Sea _Gorgiana_,
a Majoraltie, and the Metropolitan of the province.
Further to the Eastward is the Town of _Wells_.
_Cape-Porpus_ Eastward of that, where there is a Town by the Sea
side of the same name, [p. 201.] the houses scatteringly built, all
these Towns have store of salt and fresh marsh with arable land,
and are well stockt with Cattle.
About eight or nine mile to the East-ward of _Cape-Porpus_, is
_Winter harbour_, a noted place for Fishers, here they have many
stages.
_Saco_ adjoyns to this, and both make one scattering Town of large
extent, well stored with Cattle, arable land and marshes, and a
Saw-mill.
Six mile to the Eastward of _Saco_ & forty mile from _Gorgiana_
is seated the Town of _Black point_, consisting of about fifty
dwelling houses, and a Magazine or _Doganne_, scatteringly built,
they have store of neat and horses, of sheep near upon Seven
or Eight hundred, much arable and marsh salt and fresh, and a
Corn-mill.
To the Southward of the _point_ (upon which are stages for
fishermen) lye two small Islands beyond the point, North-eastward
runs the River _Spurwinch_.
Four miles from _Black-point_, one mile from _Spurwinch_-River
Eastward lyeth _Richmans-Island_, whose longitude is 317 degrees 30
seconds, and latitude 43 degrees and 34 minutes, it is three mile
in circumference, and hath a passable and gravelly ford on the [p.
202.] North-side, between the main and the Sea at low-water: here
are found excellent Whetstones, and here likewise are stages for
fishermen.
Nine mile Eastward of _Black-point_ lyeth scatteringly the Town
of _Casco_ upon a large Bay, stored with Cattle, Sheep, Swine,
abundance of marsh and Arable land, a Corn-mill or two, with stages
for fishermen.
Further East-ward is the Town of _Kenebeck_ seated upon the River.
Further yet East-ward is _Sagadehock_, where there are many houses
scattering, and all along stages for fishermen, these too are
stored with Cattle and Corn lands.
The mountains and hills that are to be taken notice of, are first
_Acomenticus_ hills, between _Kettery_ and _Gorgiana_, the high
hills of _Ossapey_ to the West-ward of _Saco_ River, where the
princely _Pilhanaw_ Ayries, the white mountains, to the North-ward
of _Black-point_, the highest _Terrasse_ in _New-England_, you
have the description of it in my Treatise of the rarities of
_New-England_.
A Neighbour of mine rashly wandering out after some stray’d Cattle,
lost his way, and coming as we conceived by his Relation near to
the head spring of some of the branches of _Black-point_ River
or _Saco_-River, [p. 203.] light into a Tract of land for God
knowes how many miles full of delfes and dingles, and dangerous
precipices, Rocks and inextricable difficulties which did justly
daunt, yea quite deter him from endeavouring to pass any further:
many such like places are to be met with in _New-England_.
The ponds or lakes in this province are very large and many, out
of which the great Rivers have their original; we read of the lake
_Balsena_ that is thirty miles about, here are that come very near
to it, stored with all sorts of fresh water fish; and if you will
believe report, in one of them huge fishes like Whales are to be
seen, and some of them have fair Islands in them. Twelve mile from
_Casco-bay_, and passable for men and horses, is a lake called
by the _Indians_ _Sebug_, on the brink thereof at one end is the
famous Rock shap’d like a _Moose-Deere_ or _Helk_, Diaphanous, and
called the _Moose-Rock_. Here are found stones like Crystal, and
_Lapis Specularis_ or _Muscovia_ glass both white and purple.
On the East-side of _Black-point_ River, upon a plain, close to
the Sea-bank is a pond two mile in compass, fish it produceth,
but those very small and black, and a number of Frogs and Snakes,
and much [p. 204.] frequented by wild-fowl, _Ducks_, _Teal_, and
wild-_Swins_, and _Geese_, especially spring and fall when they
pass along to the South-ward, and return again to the North-ward
where they breed.
The principal Rivers in the province of _Main_, are
_Pascataway_-River, _York_-River, _Kenibunck_-River, near to this
River clay bullets were cast up by a mineral vapour, this River
is by the Town of _Wells_. Then _Saco_-River on the East-side of
the Town, the shore Rockie all along on both sides, where musick
echoes from several places: seven miles up the River is a great
fall where abundance of _Salmon_ and _Lamprons_ are taken at the
fall; a great way up, the River runs upon the Rock, _in rupibus
defendendo efficit rivos_, he cutteth out Rivers among the Rocks,
saith _Job_, of the Almighty, _Job_ 28. 10. A little above the
fall is a saw-mill. Then _Black-point_-River divided into many
branches; this as most of the Rivers in _New-England_, is bar’d
with a bank of Sand, where the _Indians_ take _Sturgeon_ and
_Basse_. _Spur-winck_-River is next, which by his near approach
to _Black-point_-River maketh that neck of land almost an Island.
Further East-ward is _Kenebeck_-river fifty leagues off of
_New-Plimouth_ East-ward, and _Pechipscut_ famous [p. 205.] for
multitudes of mighty large _Sturgeon_. The last river of the
province East-ward is the great river _Sagadehock_ where Sir _John
Pophams_ Colony seated themselves.
The chief harbours are _Cape-porpus_, _Winter harbour_, in
which are some small Islands, _Black-point_, _Richmans-Island_,
_Casco-bay_ the largest in the province full of Islands.
From _Sagadehock_ to _Nova-Scotia_ is called the Duke of _Yorkes_
province, here _Pemmaquid_, _Montinicus_, _Mohegan, apeanawhagen_,
where Capt. _Smith_ fisht for _Whales_; _Muscataquid_, all fill’d
with dwelling houses and stages for fishermen, and have plenty of
Cattle, arable land and marshes.
_Nova Scotia_ was sold by the Lord _Starling_ to the _French_, and
is now wholly in their possession.
Now we are come to _New-found-land_, which is over against the gulf
of St. _Lawrence_, an Island near as spacious as _Ireland_, and
lyeth distant from the Continent as far as _England_ is from the
nearest part of _France_, and near half the way between _Ireland_
and _Virginia_, its longitude is 334 degrees 20 seconds, and North
latitude 46 degrees 30 minutes, or as others will 53 minutes. _The
longitude of places are uncertainly reported, but in latitudes most
agree._ [p. 206.] _Longitude is the distance of the meridian of any
place from the meridian which passeth over the Isles of_ Azores,
_where the beginning of longitude is said to be. The meridian is
a great circle dividing the Equinoctial at right Angles into two
equal parts, passing also through both the Poles, and the Zenith,
to which circle the Sun coming twice every 24 hours, maketh the
middle of the day, and the middle of the night. Every place hath
a several meridian, but they all meet in the poles of the world.
Latitude is counted from the Equinoctial to the end of 30 degrees
on each side thereof. The Equinoctial is a great circle imagined
in the Heavens, also dividing the heavens into two equal parts,
and lying just in the middle betwixt the two poles, being in
compass from West to East, 360 degrees, every degree thereof on the
terrestrial Globe valuing 20 English miles, [leagues?] or 60 miles._
Into the Bay of St. _Lawrence_ the River of St. _Lawrence_ or
_Canada_ disimbogues it self, a River far exceeding any River in
the elder world, thirty or forty mile over at the mouth, and in
the Channel one hundred fathom deep; it runs on the back-side
of _New-England_ and _Virginia_: the _French_ (it is said) have
gone up six weeks voyage in it, and have not yet discovered the
spring-head: the longitude is 334 degrees [p. 207.] 11 seconds, in
50 degrees 21 minutes of North latitude. This may satisfie a modest
Reader, and I hope yield no offence to any. I shall onely speak a
word or two of the people in the province of _Main_ and the Dukes
province, and so conclude.
The people in the province of _Main_ may be divided into
Magistrates, Husbandmen, or Planters, and fishermen; of the
Magistrates some be Royalists, the rest perverse Spirits, the like
are the planters and fishers, of which some be planters and fishers
both, others meer fishers.
Handicrafts-men there are but few, the Tumelor or Cooper, Smiths
and Carpenters are best welcome amongst them, shop-keepers there
are none, being supplied by the _Massachusets_ Merchants with
all things they stand in need of, keeping here and there fair
Magazines stored with _English_ goods, but they set excessive
prices on them, if they do not gain _Cent per Cent_, they cry out
that they are losers, hence _English_ shooes are sold for Eight
and Nine shillings a pair, worsted stockins of Three shillings six
pence a pair, for Seven and Eight shillings a pair, Douglass that
is sold in _England_ for one or two and twenty pence an ell, for
four shillings a yard, Serges of two shillings or three shillings
a yard, for Six and Seven [p. 208.] shillings a yard, and so all
sorts of Commodities both for planters and fishermen, as Cables,
Cordage, Anchors, Lines, Hooks, Nets, Canvas for sails, _&c._
Bisket twenty five shillings a hundred, Salt at an excessive rate,
pickled-herrin for winter bait Four and five pound a barrel (with
which they speed not so well as the waggish lad at _Cape-porpus_,
who baited his hooks with the drown’d _Negro’s_ buttocks) so for
Pork and Beef.
The planters are or should be restless pains takers, providing
for their Cattle, planting and sowing of Corn, fencing their
grounds, cutting and bringing home fuel, cleaving of claw-board
and pipe-staves, fishing for fresh water fish and fowling takes
up most of their time, if not all; the diligent hand maketh rich,
but if they be of a droanish disposition as some are, they become
wretchedly poor and miserable, scarce able to free themselves and
family from importunate famine, especially in the winter for want
of bread.
They have a custom of taking Tobacco, sleeping at noon, sitting
long at meals some-times four times in a day, and now and then
drinking a dram of the bottle extraordinarily: the smoaking of
Tobacco, if moderately used refresheth the weary much, and so doth
sleep.
[p. 209.]
_A Traveller five hours doth crave
To sleep, a Student seven will have,
And nine sleeps every Idle knave._
The Physitian allowes but three draughts at a meal, the first for
need, the second for pleasure, and the third for sleep; but little
observed by them, unless they have no other liquor to drink but
water. In some places where the springs are frozen up, or at least
the way to their springs made unpassable by reason of the snow and
the like, they dress their meat in _Aqua Cælestis_, i. e. melted
snow, at other times it is very well cook’t, and they feed upon
(generally) as good flesh, Beef, Pork, Mutton, Fowl and fish as any
is in the whole world besides.
Their Servants which are for the most part _English_, when they are
out of their time, will not work under half a Crown a day, although
it be for to make hay, and for less I do not see how they can, by
reason of the dearness of clothing. If they hire them by the year,
they pay them Fourteen or Fifteen pound, yea Twenty pound at the
years end in Corn, Cattle and fish: some of these prove excellent
fowlers, bringing in as many as will maintain their masters house;
besides the profit that accrews by their feathers, [p. 210.] They
use (when it is to be had) a great round shot, called _Barstable_
shot, (which is best for fowl) made of a lead blacker than our
common lead, to six pound of shot they allow one pound of powder,
Cannon powder is esteemed best.
The fishermen take yearly upon the coasts many hundred kentals of
Cod, hake, haddock, polluck _&c._ which they split, salt and dry
at their stages, making three voyages in a year. When they share
their fish (which is at the end of every voyage) they separate the
best from the worst, the first they call Merchantable fish, being
sound, full grown fish and well made up, which is known when it is
clear like a Lanthorn horn and without spots; the second sort they
call refuse fish, that is such as is salt burnt, spotted, rotten,
and carelesly ordered: these they put off to the _Massachusets_
Merchants; the merchantable for thirty and two and thirty ryals
a kental, (a kental is an hundred and twelve pound weight) the
refuse for Nine shillings and Ten shillings a kental, the Merchant
sends the merchantable fish to _Lisbonne_, _Bilbo_, _Burdeaux_,
_Marsiles_, _Talloon_, _Rochel_, _Roan_, and other Cities of
_France_, to the _Canaries_ with claw-board and pipe-staves which
is there and at the _Charibs_ a prime Commodity: the refuse fish
they put [p. 211.] off at the _Charib-Islands_, _Barbadoes_,
_Jamaica_, &c. who feed their _Negroes_ with it.
To every Shallop belong four fishermen, a Master or Steersman, a
Midship-man, and a Foremast-man, and a shore man who washes it out
of the salt, and dries it upon hurdles pitcht upon stakes breast
high and tends their Cookery; these often get in one voyage Eight
or Nine pound a man for their shares, but it doth some of them
little good, for the Merchant to increase his gains by putting off
his Commodity in the midst of their voyages, and at the end thereof
comes in with a walking Tavern, a Bark laden with the Legitimate
bloud of the rich grape, which they bring from _Phial_, _Madera_,
_Canaries_, with _Brandy_, _Rhum_, the _Barbadoes strong-water_,
and _Tobacco_, coming ashore he gives them a taster or two, which
so charms them, that for no perswasions that their imployers can
use will they go out to Sea, although fair and seasonable weather,
for two or three days, nay sometimes a whole week till they are
wearied with drinking, taking ashore two or three Hogsheads of
_Wine_ and _Rhum_ to drink off when the Merchant is gone. If a man
of quality chance to come where they are roystering and gulling in
_Wine_ with a dear felicity, he must be sociable and _Roly-poly_
with them, taking off [p. 212] their liberal cups as freely, or
else be gone, which is best for him, for when _Wine_ in their guts
is at full Tide, they quarrel, fight and do one another mischief,
which is the conclusion of their drunken compotations. When the
day of payment comes, they may justly complain of their costly
sin of drunkenness, for their shares will do no more than pay the
reckoning; if they save a Kental or two to buy shooes and stockins,
shirts and wastcoats with, ’tis well, other-wayes they must enter
into the Merchants books for such things as they stand in need off,
becoming thereby the Merchants slaves, & when it riseth to a big
sum are constrained to mortgage their plantation if they have any,
the Merchant when the time is expired is sure to seize upon their
plantation and stock of Cattle, turning them out of house and home,
poor Creatures, to look out for a new habitation in some remote
place where they begin the world again. The lavish planters have
the same fate, partaking with them in the like bad husbandry, of
these the Merchant buys Beef, Pork, Pease, Wheat and _Indian_ Corn,
and sells it again many times to the fishermen. Of the same nature
are the people in the Dukes province, who not long before I left
the Countrey petitioned the Governour and Magistrates in [p. 213.]
the _Massachusets_ to take them into their Government, Birds of a
feather will ralley together.
_Anno Dom._ 1671. The year being now well spent, and the Government
of the province turned topsiturvy, being heartily weary and
expecting the approach of winter, I took my leave of my friends
at _Black-point_. And on the 28 of _August_ being Monday I shipt
my self and my goods aboard of a shallop bound for _Boston_:
towards Sun-set, the wind being contrary, we put into _Gibbons_ his
Island, a small Island in _Winter-harbour_ about two leagues from
_Black-point_ West-ward, here we stayed till the 30. day being
Wednesday, about nine of the clock we set sail, and towards Sun-set
came up with _Gorgiana_, the 31 day being Thursday we put into
_Cape-Ann_-harbour about Sun-set. _September_ the 1 being Saturday
in the morning before day we set sail and came to _Boston_ about
three of the clock in the afternoon, where I found the Inhabitants
exceedingly afflicted with griping of the guts, and Feaver, and
Ague, and bloudy Flux.
The Eight day of _October_ being Wednesday, I boarded the
new-Supply of _Boston_ 120 Tun, a ship of better sail than defence,
her Guns being small, and for salutation only, the Master Capt.
_Fairweather_, her [p. 214.] sailers 16. and as many passengers.
Towards night I returned to _Boston_ again, the next day being
Thanksgiving day, on Fryday the Tenth day we weighed Anchor and
fell down to _Hull_.
The 12 and 13 day about 20 leagues from _Cape-Sable_ a bitter storm
took us, beginning at seven of the clock at night, which put us in
terrible fear of being driven upon the _Cape_, or the Island of
_Sables_ where many a tall ship hath been wrackt.
_November_ the One and twenty about two of the clock afternoon we
saw within kenning before us thick clouds, which put us in hope of
land, the _Boson_ brings out his purse, into which the passengers
put their good will, then presently he nails it to the main-mast,
up go the boyes to the main-mast-top sitting there like so many
_Crowes_, when after a while one of them cryes out land, which was
glad tidings to the wearied passengers, the boyes descend, and the
purse being taken from the mast was distributed amongst them, the
lad that first descryed land having a double share: about three of
the clock _Scilly_ was three leagues off.
The four and twentieth day we came to _Deal_, from thence the 25.
to _Lee_, the 26. being Sunday we steemed the Tide to _Gravesend_,
about two of the clock [p. 215.] afternoon. The 27 we came up with
_Wollich_ where I landed and refresht my self for that night, next
day I footed it four or five miles to _Bexley_ in _Kent_ to visit a
near kinsman, the next day proved rainie, the 30 day being Fryday
my kinsman accommodated me with a Horse and his man to _Greenwich_,
where I took a pair of Oars and went aboard our Ship then lying
before _Radcliff_, here I lay that night. Next day being Saturday,
and the first of _December_ I cleared my goods, shot the bridge and
landed at the _Temple_ about seven of the clock at night, which
makes my voyage homeward 7 weeks and four days, and from my first
setting out from _London_ to my returning to _London_ again Eight
years Six moneths and odd days.
Now by the merciful providence of the Almighty, having perform’d
Two voyages to the North-east parts of the Western-world, I am
safely arrived in my Native Countrey; having in part made good the
_French_ proverb, Travail where thou canst, but dye where thou
oughtest, that is, in thine own Countrey.
_FINIS._
Chronological
OBSERVATIONS
OF
AMERICA,
From the year of the World
to the year of Christ,
1673.
[Illustration: (Decorative icon.)]
_LONDON_:
Printed for _Giles Widdowes_, at the _Green-Dragon_
in St. _Paul’s_-Church-yard, 1674.
[Illustration: (Decorative banner.)]
The Preface.
_The Terrestrial World is by our learned Geographers divided
into four parts_, Europe, Asia, Africa _and_ America _so named
from_ Americus Vespucius _the_ Florentine, _Seven years after_
Columbus; _although_ Columbus _and_ Cabota _deserved rather the
honour of being Godfathers to it: notwithstanding by this name
it is now known to us, but was utterly unknown to the Ancient_
Europeans _before their times, I will not say_ to the _Africans_
and _Asians_, for _Plato_ in his _Timeus_ relateth of a great
Island called _Atlantis_, and _Philo_ the _Jew_ in his book _De
mundo_, that it was over-flowen with water, by reason of a mighty
Earthquake; The like happened to it 600 years before _Plato_: thus
was the _Atlantick_ Ocean, caused to be a Sea, _if you will believe
the same Philosopher, who flourished_ 366 _years before the Birth
of our Saviour_.
America _is bounded on the South with the streight of_ Magellan,
_where there are many Islands distinguished by an interflowing Bay;
the West with the pacifique Sea, or_ mare-del-zur, _which Sea runs
towards the North, separateing it from the East parts of_ Asia;
_on the East with the_ Atlantick, _or our Western Ocean called_
mare-del-Nort; _and on the North with the Sea that separateth it
from_ Groveland, _thorow which Seas the supposed passage to_ China
_lyeth; these North parts, as yet are but barely discovered by our
voyagers._
_The length of this new World between the streights of_ Anian
_and_ Magellan _is_ 2400 German _miles, in breadth between_ Cabo
de fortuna _near the_ Anian _streights is_ 1300 German _miles.
About_ 18 _leagues from_ Nombre de dios, _on the South-Sea lyeth_
Panama (_a City having three fair Monasteries in it_) _where the
narrowest part of the Countrey is, it is much less than_ Asia, _and
far bigger than_ Europe, _and as the rest of the world divided into
Islands and Continent, the Continent supposed to contain about_
1152400000 _Acres._