A True and Faithful Account of the Four Chiefest Plantations in America, New England

A True and Faithful Account of the Four Chiefest Plantations in America · New England

p. 27Nevv-England Described, AND THE PLANTATION THEREOF BY THE ENGLISH

Of the Beasts, Fowles, Birds, Fishes, Trees, Plants, Fruits, &c.

Of the Natives, of their Religion, Customs, Fishings, Huntings, &c.

THE place whereon the English have setled their Colonies is judged either to be an Island surrounded on the North with the great River Canada, and on the South with Hudsons River, or a Peninsula, these two Rivers over lapping one another, having their rise from two great Lakes which are not far distant each from other.

Massechusets Bay lyeth under the Degree of 42. and 43. bearing South-West from the Lands-end of Old England; at the bottom of which Bay are scituated most of the English Plantations. The Bay is both safe, spacious, and deep; free from such cockling Seas as run upon the Coasts of Ireland, and in the Channels of England: without stiff running Currents, Rocks, Shelves, Bars, or Quicksands.

p. 28When you have sailed two or three Leagues towards the bottom, you may see the two Capes bidding you welcome. These Capes thrust themselves out into the Sea in form of a Crescent, or half Moon, the surrounding Shoar being high, and shewing many white Cliffs, with diverse intermixtures of low-sand, out of which, diverse Rivers empty themselves into the Sea, with many openings, wherein is good Harbouring for Ships of any burthen: The Harbours are New-Plimouth, Cape Anu, Salem, and Marvil-Head, all which afford good ground for Anchorage, being Land-lockt from Wind, and Seas.

The chief and usual Harbour is the still Bay of Massechusets, which is also aboard the Plantations: its a safe and pleasant Harbour within, having but one secure entrance, and that no broader than for three Ships to enter abreast, but within there is Anchorage for five hundred Ships.

This Harbour is made by many Islands, whose high Clifts shoulder out the boisterous Seas, yet may easily deceive the unskilful Pilot, presenting many fair openings, and broad sownds, whose Waters are too shallow for ships, though Navigable for Boats, and small Pinnases. The entrance into the great Haven is called Nant…scot, which is two Leagues from Boston. From hence they may sail to the River of Wessaguscus, Naponset, Charles River, and Mistick River, on all which are seated many towns. Here also they may have fresh supplies of Wood and water from the adjacent Islands, with good Timber to repair their Weather-beaten Ships: As also Masts, or Yards, there being store of such Trees as are useful for the purpose.

The places which are inhabited by the English, are the best ground, and sweetest Climate in all those parts, bearing the name of New England, the Air agreeing well with our English bodies, being High Land and a sharp Air, and though they border upon the Sea-Coast, yet are they seldom obscured with Mists, or unwholesome Foggs, or cold Weather from the Sea, which lies East, and South from the Land. And in the extremity of Winter, the North-East, and South-winds comming from the Sea, produce warm weather, and bringing in the Seas, loosen the frozen Bayes, carrying away the Ice with their Tides: Melting the Snow, and thawing the ground: Only the North-west Winds coming over the Land, cause extream cold weather, accompanied with deep Snows, and bitter Frosts, so that in two or three dayes the Rivers will bear Man or Horse. But these Winds seldom blow above three dayes together, after which the Weather is more tollerable. And though the cold be sometimes great, yet is there good store of wood for housing and fires, which makes the Winter less tedious: And this very cold Weather lasts but eight or ten weeks, beginning with December, and ending about the tenth of February. Neither doth the piercing colds of Winter produce so many ill effects, as the raw Winters here with us in England.

But these hard Winters are commonly the forerunners of a pleasant Spring, and fertile Summer, being judged also to make much for the health of our English bodies. The Summers are hotter than here with us, because of their more Southerly Latitude, yet are they tollerable, p. 29being oft cooled with fresh Winds. The Summers are commonly hot and dry, there being seldom any Rain, yet are the Harvests good, the Indian Corn requiring more heat than wet to ripen it: And for the English corn, the nightly Dews refresh it, till it grows up to shade its Roots with its own substance from the parching Sun.

The times of most Rain are in April, and about Michaelmas. The early Spring and long Summers make the Autumns and Winters to be but short. In the Springs when the Grass begins to put forth, it grows apace, so that, whereas it was black by reason of Winters blasts, in a fortnights space there will be grass a foot high.

New England being nearer the Aequinoctial than Old England; the days and nights be more equally divided. In Summer the dayes be two hours shorter, and in Winter two hours longer than with us. Virginia having no Winter to speak of, but extream hot Summers, hath dried up much English blood; and by the pestiferous Diseases, hath swept away many lusty persons, changing their complexions, not into swarthiness, but into Paleness; which comes not from any want of food, the Soil being fertile, and pleasant, and they having plenty of Corn, and Cattel, but rather from the Climate, which indeed is found to be too Hot for our English Constitutions, which New England is not.

In New England Men and Women keep their natural Complexions, in so much as Seamen wonder when they arive in those parts, to see their Countrey men look so Fresh and Ruddy; neither are they much troubled with Inflammations, or such Diseases as are increased by too much heat. The two chief Messengers of Death, are Feavours, and Callentures; but they are easily cured if taken in time, and as easily prevented, if men take care of their bodies. As for our common Diseases they be Strangers in New England. Few ever have the small Pox, Measels, Green-sickness, Headach, Stone, Consumption, &c. yea many that have carried Coughs and Consumptions thither, have been perfectly cured of them. There are as sweet, lusty Children born there, as in any other Nation, and more double births than with us here: The Women likewise recover more speedily, and gather strength after child-birth sooner than in Old England.

The Soil for the general is a warm kind of Earth, there being little cold spewing Land, no Moorish Fens, nor Quagmires: The lowest Grounds be the Marshes, which are ovrflown by the Spring-Tides: They are Rich Ground, and yield plenty of Hay, which feeds their Cattel as well as the best Upland Hay with us: And yet they have plenty of Upland Hay also, which grows commonly between the Marshes and the Woods: And in many places where the Trees grow thin, they get good Hay also. And near the Plantations there are many Meddows never overflowed, and free from all Wood, where they have as much Grass as can be turned over with a Sithe, and as high as a mans middle, and some higher, so that a good Workman will Mow three Loads in a day. Indeed this Grass is courser than with us, yet is it not sower, but the Cattel eat, and thrive very well with it: and are generally larger, and give more Milk than with us, and bring forth young as well, and are freer from diseases than the Cattel here.

p. 30There is so much Hay Ground in the Country, that none need fear want, though their Cattel should encrease to thousands, there being some thousands of Acres that were yet never medled with; and the more their Grass is Mowed, the thicker it grows; and where Cattel use to graze, in the Woods, the Ground is much improved, growing more grassy, and less full of Weeds; and there is such plenty of Grass in the Woods, that the Beasts need not Fodder till December; at which time men begin to house their milch beasts and Calves. In the Upland Grounds the Soil varies, in some places Clay, in others Gravel, and some are of a Red Sand, all which are covered with a black Mould, usually a foot or little less deep.

The English Manure their ground with Fish, whereof they have such plenty, that they know not how otherwise to dispose of them, yet the Indians being too lazy to catch Fish, plant Corn eight or ten years in one place, without any such help, where they have yet a good Crop. Such is the rankness of the ground, that it must be Planted the first year with Indian Corn, before it will be fit for English Seed. The ground in some places is of a soft mould, in others so tough and hard, that five Yoke of Oxen can scarce plow it, but after the first breaking up, it is so easie, that one Yoak of Oxen and an Horse may plow it. Our English Corn prospers well, especially Rye, Oats, and Barly.

The ground affords very good Kitchin Gardens, for Turnips, Parsnips, Carrots, Radishes, Pumpions, Muskmellons, Squashes, Cucumbers, Onions, and all other English Roots and Hearbs prospers as well there as with us, and usually are larger and fairer. There are store of Herbs both for Meat and Medicine, not only in Gardens, but in Woods, as sweet Marjoram, Purslane, Sorrel, Penniroyal, Saxifrage, Bayes, &c. Also Strawberries in abundance, very large, some being two inches about. There be also Goosberries, Bilberries, Rasberries, Treackleberries, Hurtleberries, Currants, which being dried in the Sun, are not much inferiour to those we have from Zant. There is also Hemp and Flax, some that grows naturally, and some that is Planted by the English, and Rape-seed. There is Iron, Stone, and plenty of other stones both rough and smooth, plenty of Slate to cover houses, and Clay whereof they make Tiles and Bricks, and probably other Minerals.

The Country is excellently watered, and there are store of Springs which yield sweet water that is fatter than ours, and of a more jetty colour and they that drink it, are as healthy, and lusty as those that drink Beer. None hitherto have been constrained to digg deep for this Water, or to fetch it far, or to fetch it from several places; the same water serving for washing, brewing, and all other uses. There be also several spacious Ponds in many places, out of which run many pleasant and sweet streams both Winter and Summer, at which the Cattel quench their thirst, and upon which may be built Water-Mills for necessary uses.

There is also great store of Wood, not only for Fewel, but for the building of Ships, Houses, and Mills. The Timber grows strait and tall, some Trees being twenty, and others thirty foot high before they spread forth their branches. They are not very thick, yet many of them are p. 31are sufficient to make Mill-posts; some being three foot and a half in the Diameter. Neither do they grow so close, but that in many places a man man may ride a hunting amongst them. There is no underwood but in swamps, and wet low grounds, in which are Osiers, Hazels, and such like. Of these Swamps, some are ten, some twenty, some thirty miles. For the Indians use to burn the under-wood in other places in November, when the Grass and Leaves are withered and dry, which otherwise would marr their beloved sport of Hunting: But where the Indians died of the plague, not many years ago, there is much underwood between Wessaguscus, and Plimouth, because it hath not thus been burned. The several sorts of Timber are thus expressed.

Trees both on Hills and Plains in plenty be,

The long-liv' Oake, and mournful Cypress Tree,

Sky-towring Pines, and Chesnuts coated rough,

The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough;

The Rosin-dropping Fir for Masts in use,

The Boatmen seek for Oars, light, neat grown Spruse;

The brittle Ash, the ever trembling Aspes,

The broad spread Elme, whose concave harbours Wasps;

The watry spungy Alder good for nought,

Small Elder by th' Indian Fletchers sought,

The knotty Maple, pallid Birch, Haw thorns,

The Horn-bound Tree that to be cloven scorns;

Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse,

Who twines imbracing arms abut his Boughs;

Within this Indian Orchard Fruitr be some,

The ruddy Cherry and the jetty Plumb,

Snake murthering Hasel with sweet Saxafrage,

Whose spouts in Beer allayes hot Feavers rage,

The Diars Shumack, with more Trees there be,

That are both good for use, and and rare to see.

The chief and common Timber for ordinary use is Oake, and Walnut. Of Oakes there be three kinds, Red, White, and Black, whereof one kind is fittest for Clap-board, others for sawn-board, others for shipping, and others for houses. They yield also much Mast for Hoggs, especially every third year, the Acron being bigger than our English: The Walnut-trees are tougher than ours, and last time out of mind: The hut is smaller than ours, but not inferiour in sweetness and goodness, having no bitter Pill. In some places there is a Tree that bears a Nut as bigg as a small Pear. The Cedars are not very big, not being above eighteen inches in Diameter, neither is it very high, and its fitter for ornament than substance, being of colour White and Red like Yew, & smells like Juniper, they use it commonly for sieling of Houses, for making of Chests, Boxes, and Staves. The Fir, and Pine-trees grow in many places, shooting up exceeding high, especially the Pine: They afford good Masts, Boards, Rozin, and Turpentine, they grow in some places for ten miles p. 32together, close by the Rivers sides, where by ships they may easily be transported to any desired Ports. Their Ash is blittle, and therefore good for little, so that the Walnut is used for it. The Horn-bound tree is exceeding tough, which makes it very difficult to be cleft, yet its very good for Bowls and Dishes, not being subject to crack: It grows with broad-spread Arms, the Vines winding their curling branches about them, which afford great store of Grapes, very bigg, both Grapes and Clusters, sweet and good. They are of two sorts, Red and white: there is also a smaller Grape growing in the Islands, which is sooner ripe, and more delicious; doubtless as good wine might be made of them as at Burdeaux in France, it lying under the same degree: The Cherry Trees yield great store of Cherries, which grow on Clusters like Grapes; they are smaller than ours and not so good, if not very ripe: The Plumbs are somewhat better, being black and yellow, as big as Damasens, and indifferently well tasted. The White Thorn yields Hawes as big as our Cherries, which are pleasant to the tast, better than their Cherries.

The Beasts be as followeth.

The Kingly Lion, and the strong-arm'd Bear,

The large-limb'd Moosis, with the tripping …ear;

Quil-darting Porcupines, and Rackcames be,

Castled in the hollow of an aged Tree:

The skipping Squirrel, Cony, Purblind Hare,

Immured in the self same Castle are,

Lest red-eyed Ferrets, wildly Foxes should

Them undermine, if Rampir'd but with mould,

The grim-fac't Ounce, and ravenous howling Woolf,

Whose meager pauch, sucks like a swallowing gulph,

Black-grittering Otters, and rich coated Bever,

The Civet-sented Muscat smelling ever.

Lions there be some, but seen very rarely. Bears are common, which be most fierce in Strawberry time, when they have young ones; they will go upright iike a man, climb trees, and swim to the Islands: At which time if an Indian see him, he will swim after him, and overtaking him, they go to Water-cuffs for bloody noses, and scratched sides; at last the man prevails, gets on his back, and so rides him on those watry Plains, till the Bear can bear him no longer.

In the Winter they retire to Cliffs of Rocks, and thick Swamps to shelter them from the cold, where they live by sleeping and sucking their Paws, and with that will be as fat as they are in Sommer: Yet the Woolves will devour them: A kennel of them setting upon a single Bear, will tear him in pieces. They are good meat, and seldom prey upon the English Cattel, or offer to assault any man, except they be vexed with a shot.

The Moose is somewhat like our Red Deer as big as an Ox, slow of foot, headed like a Buck, some being two yards wide in the head; his p. 35flesh is as good as Beef, his Hide is good for clothing; they bring forth three young ones at a time; fourty miles to the North-East of Massechusets Bay, there be great store of them; they are oft devoured by the Woolves. The Fallow Dear are much bigger than ours, of a brighter colour, more inclining to Red, with spotted bellies; They keep near to the Sea, that that they may swim to the Islands when they are chased by the Woolves They have commonly three young ones at a time, which they hide a mile from each other, giving them suck by turns, and this they do, that if the Woolf should find one, they may save the other; their horns grow strait, over-hanging their heads, so that they cannot feed on things that grow low, till they have mused their heads.

The Porcupine is small, not much unlike to an Hedghog, only somewhat bigger: He stands upon his Guard against man or beast, darting his quills into their Leggs or Hides, if they approach too near him. The Rackoon is a deep furred Beast, not much unlike a Badger, having a Tail like a Fox, and is as good meat as a Lamb. In the day time they sleep in hollow Trees, in the light nights they feed on Clams by the Sea side, where they are taken with Doggs.

The Squirrels be of three sorts, the great gray Squirrel, almost as big as our Conies. Another almost like our English Squirrels; the third is a flying Squirrel, which is not very big, with a great deal of loose skin, which she spreads square when she flies, which with the help of the Wind, wafts her Batlike body from place to place. The Conies are much like ours in England. The Hares are some of them white, and a yard long; both these creatures harbour themselves from the Foxes in hollow Trees, having a hole at the entrance no bigger than they can creep into. The hurtful Creatures are Squncks, Ferrets, Foxes, whereof some be black, and their Furrs of great esteem.

The Ounce, or wild Cat is as big as a Mungrel. Its by nature fierce and dangerous, fearing neither Dogg nor Man: He kills Deer, which he effects thus: Knowing the Deers tracts, he lies lurking in long weeds, and the Deer passing by, he suddenly leaps upon his back, from thence he gets to his neck, and scratches out his throat. He kills Geese also; for being much of the same colour, he places himself close by the water, holding up his bob tail, which is like a Gooses neck, which the Geese approaching nigh to visit, with a sudden jerk he apprehends his desired prey. The English kill many of them, and account them good meat. Their Skins have a deep Fur, Spotted White and Black on the belly.

The Woolves differ something from those in other Countries; they never yet set upon any man or woman, neither do they hurt Horses or Cows; But Swine, Goats, and red Calves (which they take for Deer) are oft killed by them. In Autumn and the Spring they most frequent our English Plantations, following the Deer which at those times come down to those parts: They are made like a Mongrel, big-boned, thin paunched, deep breasted, having a thick neck and head, prick ears, and a long snout, with dangerous teeth, long stairing hair, and a great bush tail. Many good Mastiffs have been spoiled by them. Once a fair p. 34Grayhound, ran at them, and was torn in pieces before he could be rescued; they have no Joynts from the Head to the Tail. Some of them are black, and one of their skins is worth five or six pound.

Of Beasts living in the Water.

Their Otters are most of them black, and their skins are almost as good as Bevers; Their Oyl is of rare use for many things. Martins also have a good Fur for their bigness. Musquashes are almost like Beavers, but not so big, the Males stones smells as sweet as Musk, and being killed in Winter or the Spring they never loose their sweetness: they are no bigger than Cony-skins, and yet are sold for five shillings a piece. One good Skin will perfume a whole house full of Clothes. The Bevers wisdom and understanding makes him come nigh to a reasonable creature. His body is thick and short, with short leggs, feet like a Mole before, and behind like a Goose, a broad tail like a shoo-sole, very tough and strong: His head is something like an Otters, saving that his foreteeth be like Conies, two above and two beneath, sharp and broad, with which he cuts down Trees as big as a mans thigh, or bigger, which afterwards he divides into lengths according to the uses they are appointed for. If one Beaver be too weak to carry the Log, than another helps him: If two be too weak, three or four will assist, being placed three to three, which set their teeth in one anothers tough tails, and laying the load on the hindermost, they draw the Logg to the desired place, they tow it in the water, the youngest getting under it, bearing it up that it may swim the lighter. They build their houses of Wood and Clay, close by a Ponds side, and knowing their seasons, they build their houses answerably, three stories high, that when the Land Floods come they may shift higher, and when the waters fall, they remove lower. These houses are so strong that no Creature, save an industrious man with his penetrating tools can pierce them, their ingress and egress being under water. They make very good Ponds; for knowing where a stream runs from between two rising Hills, they will pitch down Piles of Wood placing smaller Rubbish before it, with clay and sods, not leaving till by their Art and Industry they have made a firm and curious Dam-head, which may cause admiration in wise men. They keep themselves to their own Families, never parting so long as they are able to keep house together. Their wisdom secures them from the English, who seldom kill any of them, wanting time and patience to lay a long siege, or to be often deceived by their cunning evasions. So that all our Beavers come from the Indians, whose time and experience fits them for that imployment.

p. 31Of the Birds, and Fowls both of Land and Water. They are expressed in these Verses.

The princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawks,

Within their unknown wayes ther's none can chawk:

The Hum-Bird for some Queens rich Cage more fit

Than in the vacant wilderness to sit.

The swift-wing'd Swallow sweeping to and fro,

As swift as arrow from Tartarian bow.

When as Aurora's infant day new Springs,

There th' morning mounting Lark her sweet layes sings.

The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle Dove

Who to her Mate doth ever constant prove.

The Turkey, Pheasant, Heathcock, Partridge rare,

The Carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare;

The long-liv'd Raven, th' ominous Screach-Owl,

Who tell (as old wives say) disasters foul.

The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov'd nest

To fly abroad when day-birds are at rest:

The Eele murthering Hern, and greedy Cormorant,

That neer the Creeks in Moorish Marshes haunt.

The bellowing Bittern, with the long legg'd Crane.

Presaging Winters hard, and dearth of Graine.

The Silver-Swan that tunes her mournful breath

To sing the Dirg of her approaching death:

The tatling Oldwives, and the cackling Geese,

The fearful Gull that shuns the murdering piece:

The strong wing'd Mallard, with the nimble Teal,

And ill-shap't Loon, who his harsh notes doth sweal;

There Widgins, Shildrakes, and Humilitee,

Snites, Dropps, Sea-Larks in whole millions flee.

The Eagles be of two sorts, one like ours in England, the other somewhat bigger, with a great white head, and white tail, commonly called Gripes, they prey upon Ducks, and Geese, and such Fish as are cast upon the Sea-shore; yet is there a certain black Hawk that will beat this Eagle, so that he is constrained to soar so high, that his enemy cannot reach him: The Hawk is much prized by the Indians, who account him a Sagamores ransom.

There are diverse kinds of Hens, Partridges, Heathcocks, and Ducks. The Hum-bird is no bigger than an Hornet, having Spider-like legs, small claws, a very small Bill; in colour she represents the glorious Rainbow: As she flies she makes a noise like a Humble-Bee.

The Pidgeons are more like Turtles than ours, and of the same colour, and have long tailes like a Mag Pie, their Feathers are fewer, but their Bodies as big as our House-Doves, they come into the Country to go home-ward in the beginning of their Spring: at which time (saith p. 36my Author) I have seen innumerable; so that I could neither discern beginning nor ending, the length nor breadth of these Millions of Millions: neither could the shouting of People, the report of Guns, nor the pelting of Hail-shot turn them out of their course, but thus they have continued for four or five hours together: and at Michaelmas they return Southward: yet some there are all the year long, which are often killed. They build some thirty miles Northward; from the English Plantation in Pine-Trees, joyning nest to nest, and Tree to Tree by their nests, so that the Sun never sees the ground in that place, from whence the Indians fetch whole Loads of them.

The Turkey is a long Fowl, of a black colour, yet is his flesh white, he is much bigger than our English Turkey; He hath long Leggs wherewith he can run as fast as a Dog, and can fly as fast as a Goose: Of these are forty, fifty, sixty, and sometimes an hundred in a flock: They feed on Acorns, Haws, and Berries, and some will frequent the English Corn. When the ground is covered with Snow, they go to the Sea-side and feed on Shrimps, and Fishes: If you watch them where they Pearch at night, about ten or eleven a clock at night you may shoot as oft as you will, for they stir not except they be wounded: they continue all the year long, and weigh forty pounds and more apeice. Pheasants are rare; but Heath-Cocks, and Partridges are common, whereof our English kill many.

Ravens and Crows, are much like those in other Countries. There are no Magpies, Jayes, Cockcooes, Jackdaws, Sparrows, &c. The Stares are bigger than ours, and are as black as Crows, which do much hurt among the young Corn, and they are so bold that they fear not Guns. Owles are of two sorts, the one is small speckled like a Partridg with eares: The other is almost as big as an Eagle and is very good meat.

Cormorants are as common as other Fowles, they devour much Fish. A tame Cormorant, and two or three good Dogs in the water make excellent sport: Cranes are as tall as a man, their bodies not much unlike the Turkies, they are rarely fat. Also many Swans frequent the Rivers and Ponds, which are very good meat.

There be three sorts of Geese; The Brant Goose like one of our wild Geese. A white Goose about the bigness of ours: Of these there will be sometimes two or three thousand in a flock. The third is a grey Goose with a black neck, and a black and white head much bigger than our English: They are killed both flying and sitting. The Ducks are very large, and in great abundance; and so is their Teale. Their Oldwives never leave tatling day nor night, they are somewhat bigger than a Duck. The Loon is ill-shaped like a Cormorant, but he can neither go nor fly; He makes a noise somestime like a Sowgelders Horn. The Humilites, or Simplicites rather, be of two sorts; The one as big as green Plover, the other is less; they are so simple that one may drive them on heaps, and then shoot at them, and the living will settle themselves on the same place again where the dead are, while you shoot again, so that sometimes above twelve score have been killed at two shoots.

p. 37OF FISH.

There are great store, and much variety of Fishes thus enumerated.

The King of the Waters, the Sea-shouldering Whale;

The snuffing Grampus, with the oylie Seal,

The storm-presaging Porpus, Herring-Hogg,

Line-shearing Shark, the Cat-fish and the Sea-dogg;

The scale-fenc'd Sturgeon, wry-mouth'd Hollibut;

The flouncing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut;

Cole, Haddock, Haike, the Thornback and Scate,

Whose slimy outside makes him seld in date;

The stately Bass, old Neptunes fleeting Post,

That tides it out and in from Sea to Coast;

Consorting Herrings, and the bony Shad.

Big-bellied Alewives, Macrils richly clad

With Rain-bow colours, the Frost-fish and the Smelt,

As good as ever Lady Gustus felt.

The spotted Lamprons, Eeles, the Lamperies,

That seek fresh water-Brooks with Argu's-eyes.

These watry Villages, with thousands more

Do pass and repass neer the Verdant shore.

Shell-fish of all sorts.

The luscious Lobster with the Crabfish raw,

The Brittish Oyster, Muscle, Periwig

And the Tortoise sought by the Indian Squaw;

Which to the flats dance many a Winters Jigg:

To dive for Cockles, and to dig for clams,

Whereby her lazy husbands guts she crams.

The Seal, called also the Sea-Calf, whose Skin is good for divers uses, and his body between Fish and Flesh, neither delectable to the Pallat, nor well agreeing with the Stomack. His Oyl is used in Lamps.

The Shark is as big as a man, some as big as a Horse, with three rows of teeth in his mouth, with which he Snaps in two the Fishers Lines; he will bite off a mans Armor Legg at a bit, they are oft taken, and serve for nothing but to manure the Ground.

There are many Sturgious, but the most are caught at Cape Cod, and in the River of Meramack, whence they are brought to England, they are twelve, fourteen, and some eighteen foot long.

The Salmon is as good as ours, and in great plenty in some places: The Hollibut is like our Plaice or Turbut, some being two yards long, and one broad, and a food thick. Thornback and Scate is given to the Doggs, being so common in many places. The Bass is one of the best Fishes, being a Delicate and fat Fish: He hath a bone in his head that p. 27contain a Saucerful of Marrow sweet and good, pleasant and wholesome; they are three or four foot long, they take them with a Hook and Line, and in three hours a man may catch a dozen or twenty of them. The Herrings are much like ours. Alewives are much like Herrings, which in the end of April come into the fresh Rivers to spawn, in such multitudes as is incredible, pressing up in such shallow waters where they can scarce swim, and they are so eager, that no beating with poles can keep them back till they have spawned.

Their Shads are far bigger than ours: The Makarels be of two sorts; In the beginning of the year the great ones are upon the Coast, some 18. inches long: In Sommer come the smaller kind, they are taken with Hooks and Lines baited with a piece of Red Cloth. There be many Eels in the salt water, especially where grass grows, they are caught in Weels baited with pieces of Lobsters: Sometimes a man thus takes a busnel in a night, they are wholesome and pleasant meat.

Lamprons and Lampries are little esteemed. Lobsters are in plenty in most places, very large, and some being twenty pound weight, they are taken at low water amongst the Rocks; the smaller are the better; but because of their plenty they are little esteemed.

The Oysters be great, in form of a shoo-horn, some of a foot long, they breed in certain banks, which are bare after every Spring-tide; each makes two good mouthfuls.

The Periwig lies in the Oase like a head of hair, which being touched, draws back it self leaving nothing to be seen but a small round hole, Muscles are in such plenty that they give them their Hoggs. Clams are not much unlike to Cockles, lying under the Sand, every six or seven of them having a round hole at which they take in Air and Water, they are in great plenty, and help much to feed their Swine both Winter and Sommer; for the Swine being used to them, will constantly repair every ebb to the places, where they root them up and eat them. Some are as big as a Penny Loaf, which the Indians count great dainties.

A Description of the Plantations in New-England as they were Anno Christi, 1633.

The outmost Plantation to the Southward, which by the Indians is called Wichaguscusset, is but a small Village, yet pleasant and healthful, having good ground, store of good Timber, and of Meddow ground; there is a spacious Harbor for shipping before the Town; they have store of Fish of all sorts, and of Swine, which they feed with Acrons and Clams, and an Alewife River.

Three miles to the North is Mount Wolleston, a fertile soil, very convenient for Farmers houses, there being great store of plain ground without Trees. Near this place are Maschusets Fields, where the greatest Sagamore in the Country lived before the Plague cleared all: Their greatest inconvenience is that there are not so many Springs as in other places; nor can Boats come in at low water, nor Ships ride near the Shore.

p. 39Six miles further to the North lieth Dorchester, the greatest Town in New-England, well Wooded and Watered with good Arrable and Hay ground, fair comfortable Fields and pleasant Gardens: Here are many Cattel, as Kine, Goats, and Swine. It hath a good Harbor for ships; there is begun the fishing in the Bay, which proved so profitable, that many since have followed them there.

A mile from thence lies Roxberry, a fair and handsome Country Town; the Inhabitants are rich: It lies in the Mains, and yet is well Wooded and watered, having a clear Brook running through the Town, where are great store of Smelts, whence its called Smelt-River. A quarter of a mile on the North of it is another River, called Stony River, upon which is built a water Mill. Here is good store of Corn and Meddow Ground. Westward from the Town its somewhat Rocky, whence its called Roxberry; the Inhabitants have fair houses,, store of Cattel, Come-fields paled in, and fruitful Gardens. Their goods are brought in Boats from Boston, which is the nearest Harbor.

Boston is two miles North-East from Roxberry. Its Situation is very pleasant, being a Peninsula hemmed on the South with the Bay of Roxberry. On the North with Charles River, the Marshes on the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over, so that a little fencing secures their cattel from the Wolves. Their greatest want is of Wood and Meddow ground, which they supply from the adjacent Islands, both for Timber, Fire-wood, and Hay; they are not troubled with Wolves, Rattlesnakes nor Musketoes, being bare of Wood to shelter them. Its the chief place for shipping and Merchandize. This neck of Land is about four miles in compass, almost square: Having on the South at one corner a great broad Hill, whereon is built a Fort, which commands all Ships in any Harbour in the Hill Bay.

On the North side is another Hill of the same bigness, whereon stands a Windmil. To the North-West is an high Mountain, with three little Hills on the top, whence it is called Tremount. From hence you may see all the Islands that lie before the Bay, and such Ships as are upon the Sea Coast. Here are rich Corn Fields, and fruitful Gardens: The Inhabitants grow rich; they have sweet and pleasant Springs; and for their enlargement, they have taken to themselves Farm-Houses in a place called Muddy River, two miles off, where is good Timber, Ground, Marsh-Land, and Meddows, and there they keep their Swine or other Cattel in the Summer, and bring them to Boston in the Winter.

On the North side of Charles River is Charles Town, which is another neck of Land, on whose Northern side runs Mistick River. This Town may well be paralled with Boston, being upon a bare neck, and therefore forced to borrow conveniencies from the Main, and to get Farmes in the Country. Here is a Ferry-boat to carry Passengers over Charles River, which is a deep Channel, and a quarter of a mile over. Here may ride fourty ships at a time. Up higher is a broad Bay that is two miles over, into which run Stony River, and Muddy River. In the middle of this Bay is an Oyster bank.

p. 40Medfod Village is scituated towards the North-West of this Bay, in a Creek: A very fertile and pleasant place: Its a mile and a half from Charles Town. At the bottom of this Bay the River is very narrow.

By the side of this River stands New-Town, three miles from Charles Town. Its a neat and well compacted Town, having many fair buildings, and at first was intended for a City; The Inhabitants are mostly rich, and have many Cattel of all sorts, and many hundred Acres of Ground paled in. On the other side of the River lies their Meddow and Marsh Ground for Hay

Half a mile thence is Water Town, nothing inferiour for Land, Wood, Meddows and Water: Within half a mile of it is a great Pond, which is divided between those two Towns; And a mile and a half from this Town is a fall of fresh waters, which through Charles River fall into the Ocean: A little below this fall they have made weires, where they catch great store of Shads, and Alewives, an hundred thousand of them in two Tides.

Mastick is three miles from Charles Town; seated pleasantly by the waters side. At the head of this River are very spacious Ponds to which the Alewives press to cast their Spawn, where multitudes are taken. On the West side of this River the Governour hath a Farm where he keeps most of his Cattel. On the East side is Mr. Craddocks Plantation, who impailed in a Park for Deer, and some ships have been built there.

Winnisimet is a very pleasant place for situation, and stands commodiously. Its but a mile from Charles Town, the River only parting them. Its the lasts Town in the Bay.

The chief Islands that secure the Harbor from Winds and Waves, are first Deere Island, within a flight shot from Bullin Point. Its so called, because the Deer often swim thither to escape the Woolves, where sixteen of them have been killed in a day.

The next is Long Island, so called from its length. Other Islands are Nodless Isle, Round Isle; the Governours Garden, having in it an Orchard, Garden, and other conveniencies: Also Slate Island, Glass Island, Bird Island, &c. they all abound with Wood, Water, and Meddows: In these they put their Cattel for safety, whil'st their Corn is on the Ground. The Towns without the Bay are nearer the Main, and reap a greater benefit from the Sea, in regard of the plenty of Fish and Fowl, and so live more plentifully than those that are more remoat from the Sea in the Island Plantations.

Six miles North-East from Winnisimet is Sagus, is pleasant for situation, seated at the bottom of a Bay, which is made on the one side with a surrounding Shore, and on the other side with a long Sandy Beach: Its in the circumference six miles, well Woodded with Oakes, Pines, and Cedars; Its also well watered with fresh Springs, and a great Pond in the middle, before which is a spacious Marsh.

One Black William an Indian Duke, out of his generosity, gave this place to the Plantation of Sagus, so that none else can claim it; when a p. 41storm hath been, or is like to be, there will be a roaring like thunder which may be heard six miles off. On the North side of this Bay are two great Marshes, divided by a pleasant River that runs between them. The Marsh is crossed with divers Creeks where are store of Geese and Ducks, and convenient Ponds wherein to make Decoys. There are also fruitful Meddows, and four great Ponds like little Lakes wherein is store of fresh Fish; out of which, within a mile of the Town runs a curious fresh Brook which is rarely frozen by reason of its warmness: and upon it is built a Water Mill. For Wood there is store, as Oake, Walnut, Cedar, Elme, and Aspe: Here was sown much English Corn.

Here the Bass continues from the midst of April till Michaelmas, and not above half that time in the Bay. There is also much Rock-Cod, and Macharil, so that shoals of Bass have driven shoals of Macharil to the end of the sandy bank, which the Inhabitants have gathered up in Wheel barrows. Here are many Muscle banks, and Clam-banks, and Lobsters amongst the Rocks, and grassy holes.

Four miles from Saugus stands Salem, on the middle of a neck of Land very pleasantly, between two Rivers on the North and South. The place is but barren sandy Land, yet for seven years together it brought forth excellent Corn, being manured with Fish every third year: Yet there is good ground, and good Timber by the Sea side, and divers fresh Springs.

Beyond the River is a very good soil, where they have Farms. Here also they have store of Fish, as Basses, Eels, Lobsters, Clams, &c. They cross the River in Canows made of whole Pine Trees, two foot and an half wide, and twenty foot long, in which also they go a Fowling, sometimes two Leagues into the Sea. It hath two good Harbours, which lie within Derbins Fort.

Marvil Head lies four miles South from Salem, a very good place for a Plantation, especially for such as will set up a Trade of Fishing: There are good Harbours for Boats, and good riding for ships.

Agowomen is nine miles to the North from Salem near the Sea, and another good place for a Plantation. It abounds with Fish and Flesh, of Fowls, and Beasts, hath great Meddows and Marshes, and Arable grounds, many good Rivers and Harbours, and no Rattle Snakes.

Merrimack lies eight miles beyond that, where is a River Navigable for twenty miles, and all along the side of it fresh Marshes, in some places three miles broad. In the River is Sturgion, Salmon, Bass, and divers other kinds of Fish.

Three miles beyond this River is the out side of Massecusets Patent; wherein these are the Towns that were begun in the year, 1633.

Of the Evils, and Hurtful things in the Plantation.

Those that bring the greatest prejudice to the Planters, are the ravenous Woolves, which destroy the weaker Cattel, of which we heard before. Then the Rattle Snake which is usually a yard and a half long, as p. 42thick in the middle as the small of a mans Legg, with a yellow belly: Her back is spotted with black, russet, and green, placed like scales. At her taile is a rattle with which she makes a noise when she is molested, or when any come near to her: Her neck seems no bigger than a mans thumb, yet can she swallow a Squirrel, having a wide mouth with teeth as sharp as needles, wherein her poyson lies, for she hath no sting: when a man is bitten by her, the poyson spreads so suddenly through the veins to the heart that in an hour it causes death, unless he hath the Antidote to expel the poyson, which is a Root called Snake-weed, which must be champed, the spittle swallowed, and the Root applyed to the sore; this is a certain cure.

This Weed is rank poyson if it be taken by any man that is not bitten, unless it be Phisically compounded with other things. He that is bitten by these Snakes, his fresh becomes as spotted as a Lepers, till he be perfectly cured. She is naturally the most sleepy and unnimble Creature that is, never offering to leap at, or bite any man, if he tread not upon her: In hot weather they desire to lie in paths in the Sun, where they sleep soundly; A small switch will easily kill them. If a Beast be bitten, they cut his flesh in divers places, and thrust in this Weed, which is a sure Cure.

In many places of the Country there be none of them; As at Plimouth, New-Town, &c. In some places they live on one side the River, and if they swim over, as soon as they come into the Woods, they turn up their yellow bellies and die. Other Snakes there be, which yet never hurt eitheir man or Beast.

There be also store of Froggs, which in the Spring time chirp, and whistle like Birds, and in the end of Sommer croake like other Frogs. There are also Toads that will creep to the top of Trees, and sit croaking there to the wonderment of strangers. There be also Pismires, and Spiders, but neither Fleshworms, nor Moles.

There be wild Bees or Wasps that guard the Grapes, making her Cobweb nest amongst the Leaves: Also a great Fly, like to our Horse flies, which bite and fetch blood from man or beast, and are most troublesome where most Cattel be.

There is also a Gurnipper, which is a Fly as small as a Flea, and where it bites it causes much itching, and scratching. Also the Muskito like to our Gnats: Such as are bitten by them fall a scratching, which makes their hands and faces swell; but this is only the first year, for they never swell the second year. Here also are Flies called Cantharides, so much used by Chirurgions; and divers sorts of Butterflies.

Of the Natives inhabiting those parts of New-England.

The Country is divided (as it were) into Shires, every several Shire under a several King. On the East, and North-East are the Churchers, and Tarenteens. In the Southern parts are the Pequants, and Naragansets. On the West are the Connectacuts, and Mowhacks. Those on the North of them are called Aberginians, who before the sweeping Plague scorned p. 34the confrontments of such as now count themselves but the scum of the Country, and that would soon root them out, were it not for the English.

The Churchers are a cruel bloody people, which were wont to come down upon their poor neighbours, bruitishly spoyling their Corn, burning their houses, slaying their men, ravishing the Women, yea sometimes eating a man, one part after another before his face whil'st he was alive: But they say, they dare not meddle with a white faced man, accompanied with his hotmouthed weapon. They are tall of stature, have long grim Visages, slender wasted, and exceeding great arms and thighs, wherein their strength lies; with a Fillip of their finger they will kill a Dogg: They live upon Fruits, Herbs, and Roots, but that which they most desire is Mans flesh.

If they catch a stranger they keep him in as good plight as they can, giving him their best fare, and daily pipe to him, paint him, and dance about him, till at last they begin to eat him piece-meal: They are desperate in Wars, securing their bodies with Sea-horse Skins, and Barks of Trees made impenitrable, wearing Head-pieces of the same: Their Weapons are Tamahauks, which are Staves of two foot and a half long, and a knob at the end as big as a Foot-ball; these they carry in their right hand, and in their left a Javelin, or short spear headed with a sharp Sea-horse Tooth; they are both deadly Weapons.

The Tarenteens are little less savage, only they eat not mans flesh: They are enemies to the Indians amongst the English, and kill as many of them as they can meet with. They are the more insolent because they have Guns, which they trade for with the French, who will sell his eyes, they say, for Beaver. So soon as a Boat comes to an Anchor, they enquire for Sack and strong Liquors, which they much affect ever since the English traded it with them, so that they will scarce exchange their Beaver for any thing else. These are wise, high spirited, constant in friendship one to another, true in their promises, and more industrious than most others.

The Pequants are a stately Warlike People, just in their Dealings; requiters of Courtesies, and affable to the English.

The Narragansetz are the most numerous people in those parts, the richest and most industrious: They are also the most curious Minters of their Wampamprag and Mowhacks, which they make of the most inmost wreaths of Perriwinckles shells; the Northern, Eastern, and Western Indies fetch all their Coin from them: As also they make curious Pendants and Blacelets, and stone Pipes which hold a quarter of an ounce of Tobacco; these they make with Steel Drills, and other Instruments, and so ingenuous they are, that they will imitate the English Mold so exactly that were it not for matter and Colour you, could not distinguish them; they make these Pipes of green or black stone; they made also Pots, wherein they dressed their Victuals before they knew the use of our Brass: They seek rather to grow rich by Industry, than famous by deeds of chivalry.

p. 44The Aberginians are mostly between five and six foot high, straight bodied, strong lim'd, smooth skin'd, merry countenanced, of complexion something more swarthy than a Spaniard; black haired, high foreheaded, black eyed, out-nosed, having broad shoulders, brawny Arms, long and slender hands, out-breasts, small wasts, lank bellies, handsome legs, thighs, flat knees, and small feet.

Its beyond belief to conceive how such lusty bodies should be supported by such slender foot: Their houses are mean, their lodging as homely, their commons scant, their drink Water, and Nature their best cloathing: You shall never see any monstrous person amongst them, or one whom sickness hath deformed, or casualty made decrepit; most are fifty years old before a wrinkled brow, or Gray Hairs bewrayes their age: their smooth Skins proceeds from the oft anointing their bodies with Oyl of Fishes, and fat of Eagles, and Rackoones, which secures them also against Muskitoes: Their black hair is Natural, but made more jetty by oyling, dying, and daily dressing: Sometimes they wear long hair like women, sometimes they tie it up short like a horse tail: their boyes must not wear their hair long, till they be sixteen year old, and then also but by degrees, some leave a foretop, others a long lock on the crown, or one on each side the head, as best pleases their fancy: They will not endure any Hair on their Chins, but scrub it up by the roots: And if they see one with the appearance of a Beard, they say he is an English mans Bastard.

Their cloathing is a piece of cloth of a yard and a half long put between their Groyns tied with Snake-skins about their middle, with a flap before, and hanging like a tail behind. The more Aged in the Winter wear Leather Drawers like Irish Trowzes; their shooes are of their own making, cut out of a Mooses Hide; have and some skins which they cast about them like Irish Mantles, being either Bear, Mooses, or Beaver-skins sewed together, &c. and in the Winter deep Fur'd Catskins, which they wear upon that Arm that is most exposed to the weather. When they are disposed to Trade, they choose a good course Blanket, or piece of Broad Cloth, which they make a Coat of by Day, and a covering by Night: They love not to be imprisoned in Cloaths after our Mode. Though they be poor, yet are they proud, which discovers it self by their affecting Ornaments, as Pendants in their Ears, forms of Birds, Beasts, and Fishes carved out of Bones, Shels, and Stones, with long Bracelets of their curiously wrought Wampompeag, and Mowhacks, which they wear about their loins.

Many of their better sort bear upon their cheeks the Pourtaictures of Beasts, and Fowls, which they make by rasing of their skin with a small sharp Instrument, under which they convey a kind of black unchageable Ink which makes them apparent and permanent: Others have impressions down the out side of their Arms and Breasts like Stars, which they imprint by searing Irons. A Sagamore with a Hum-bird in his Ear for a Pendant, a black Hawke on his Head for a Plume, Mawhack instead of a Gold Chain, store of Wampompeag about his Loins, his Bow in his Hand, his Quiver at his back, and six naked Indians for his Guard, thinks p. 45himself nothing inferiour to the great Cham, and will say that he is all one with King Charles.

Of their Diet, Cookery, Meal-times and Hospitality.

In the Winter time they have all sorts of Fowls, Beasts, and Pond-fish, with some Roots, Indian Beans, and Clams. In the Sommer they have all manner of Sea Fish, with all sorts of Berries. These they roast or boil in great Kettles, which they gat by trading with the French, and now of the English: Before, they had good earthen Pots of their own making; their Spits are cloven sticks sharpned at one end and thrust into the ground, a dozen of them with Flesh and Fish about a fire, turning them as they see occasion. This they present to their Guests, dishing it in a rude manner, and set on the ground, without Linnen, Trenchers, or Knives; to this they presently fall aboard without Bread, Salt, or Beer, lolling after the Turkish fashion, not ceasing till their full bellies leave empty platters. Their Indian Corn they seeth whole, like Beans, eating three or four corns with a mouthful of Fish or Flesh, filling up thinks with their Broth.

In Sommer when their Corn is spent Isquoterquashes is their best Bread, like our young Pumpions. When our English invite them to meat, they eat very moderately, though at home without measure. They all meet friends at a Kettle, save their Wives, who attend at their backs for their bony fragments. They keep no set meals, but when their store is spent, they bite on the bit, till they meet with fresh supplies, their Wives trudging to the Clam-banks when other Provision fails. Its the greatest discourtesie you can shew them, not to eat of their Delicates, of which they are as free as Emperors, and not to sup of their Broth made thick with Fish, Fowl and Beasts, all boiled together.

Of their Dispositions, good Qualities, as Friendship, Constancy, Truth, and Affability.

These Indians are of an Affable, Courteous, and well-disposed Nature, ready to communicate the best of their wealth to the mutual good one of another, and the less abundance they have, the more conspicuous is their love, in that they are as willing to part with their mite in poverty, as their Treasure in Plenty. He that kills a Deer sends for his friends and eats it merrily. He that receives but a piece of Bread from an English hand, gives part of it to his Comrades, and they eat it together lovingly. Yea, a friend can command a friends house, and whatsoever is his (saving his Wife) and have it freely: and nothing sooner disjoyns them than ingratitude, accounting an ungrateful person, a double Robber, not only of a mans curtesie, but of his thanks, which he might have from another for the same profered and received kindness. They so love each other, that they cannot endure to see one of their Countrymen wronged, but will defend them stiffly, plead for them strongly, and justifie their integrity in any warrantableaction.

p. 46They are true, and faithful to the English, and have been the disclosers of all such treacheries as have been designed by other Indians against them. If any roaving ship be upon the Coast, and chance to harbour in any unusual Port, they will give the English notice of it, which hath been no small advantage. When the English have travelled far into the Couutry, they readily entertain them into their houses, quarter them in their Rooms, and provide for them the best victuals they can, and give them kind entertainment, if it be for two or three weeks together. They are also ready to guide them through the unbeaten Wildernesses, and if any loose their way, they will not leave them till they have brought them to their desired place.

They are very careful to keep good correspondence with our English Magistrates, being ready to execute any service which they require of them. If any Malefactor withdraw himself from condigne punishment, they will hunt him out, and not rest till they have delivered him up to Justice. They are kind and affable, very wary with whom they enter into friendship; nothing is more hateful to them than a churlish disposition, or dissimulation: They speak seldom, and then utter not many words, and those they do, they deliver very gravely. They never fall out amongst themselves, nor abuse each other in language. Yea, though in Gaming they lose all their little all, yet is the Loser as merry as the Winner, and they part good friends.

Of their Hardness.

Their hardness is to be admired, no ordinary pains causing them so much to alter their Countenance: Beat them, whip them, pinch them, punch them, if they resolve otherwise, they will not winch for it: and though naturally they fear death, yet the unexpected approach of a mortal wound by Sword, Bullet, &c. strike no more terrour, causes no more exclamation, no more complaint, than if it were a shot into the Trunk of a Tree.

Some have been shot in at the Mouth, and out under the Ear, others into the Breast; others run through the flanks with Darts, others received desperate wounds, and yet, either by their rare skill in simples, or by Charms have been cured in a short time. In the night they dare not stir out of their houses, for fear of their Abamaco [the Devil] they will rather lie by an English fire all night, than go a quarter of mile in the dark to their own houses.

Of their wondering at their first sight of any new Invention.

They being strangers to Arts, are ravished at the first view of any new Invention: They took the first Ship they saw for a mourning Island, the Masts to be Trees, the Sails, white Clouds, and the discharging of great Guns, to be Thunder and Lightning: But this moving Island being stopped by its Anchor, they manned out their Canows to go and pick strabones in it; but by the way, being saluted with a broad side, they cryed p. 47out, with much hoggery, so big walk, and so big speak, and by and by kill; this made them to turn back, and approach no more till they were sent for. They wondred much at the first Wind Mill which the English erected, for its strange whirking motion, and the sharp teeth, biting the Corn so small, and its long Arms, neither durst they stay in so tottering a Tabernacle. The first Plowman they saw was accounted a Jugler, the Plow tearing up more ground in a day, then their Clamshels could scrape up in a monethmonth. yet are they so ingenious, and dexterous in using the Ax or Hatchet, that probably they would soon learn any Trade, were they not so much wedded to idleness; so that they had rather starve than work. In brief, they be wise in their carriage, subtile in their Trading, true in their promise, just in paying their Debts: Though their poverty may make them slow, yet are they sure: Some having died in the English debt, have by Will left Beaver for their satisfaction: They be constant in friendship, merrily conceited in Discourse, not Luxurious, in Youth, nor froward in Old Age.

Of their Kings Government, and Subjects obedience.

Their Kings inherit, the Son alwayes succeeding his Father. If there be no Son, the Queen Rules, if no Queen, the next of the blood Royal; If any other intrude, he is counted a Usurper; and if his fair carriage win not their love, they will soon unking him.

The Kings have not many Laws to Rule by, nor have they any yearly Revenews, yet are they so feared, or beloved, that half their Subjects estates are at their service, and their persons at his command. Though he hath no Kingly Rules to make him glorious, no guard to secure him, no Courtlike attendance, nor sumptuous Pallaces, yet they account him their Soveraign, and yield chearful subjection to him, going and coming at his beck without questioning a reason, though the matter thwart their wills. Such as commit Treason, or lay violent hands on their lawful Soveraign, die without mercy. Once a year he takes his progress, attended with a dozen of his best Subjects, to view his Countrey, to recreate himself, and to establish good Order. When he comes into any house, without any other Complements, they desire him to sit down on the ground (having neither Stools nor Cushions) and after a while all that are present sit down by him, one of his Seniors making an Oration gratulatory to his Majesty for his love, and the many good things they enjoy under his Government.

A King of large Dominions hath his Vice-Royes under him to mannage his State Affairs, and to keep his Subjects in good Decorum. For their Laws, as their evil manners come short of other Nations, so they need not so many Laws, yet some they have, which they inflict upon notorious Malefactors, as Traytors, Murtherers, &c. He that deserves death, being apprehended, is brought before the King; and some of his wisest men, and if upon trial he be found guilty, the Executioner comes in, blindfolds him, and sets him in the publick, and brains him with a Club; they have no other punishment save Admonitions, or reproofs for smaller offences.

p. 48Of their Marriages.

The Kings and great Pawwoos, or Connirers may have two or three Wives, yet seldom use it; others have but one. When a man desires to marry, he first gets the good will of the Maid or Widdow, then the consent of her friends, then, if the King like, the match is made, her Dowry of Wamponpeag paid, and so the King joyns their hands never to part till Death, unless she prove a Whore, for which they may put them away.

Of their Worship, Invocations, and Conjurations.

As its natural to all Mortals to worship something, so do these. They acknowledge specially two, Ketar, who is their God, to Whom they sacrifice when they have a good Crop. Him they Invocate for fair weather, for Rain, for recovery of their sick, &c. But if they prevail not, their Powwows betake themselves to their Conjurations, and Charmes, by which they effect very strange things, and many times work great Cures. But since the English came amongst them, they are much reformed, and most of them have left these Diabolical practices.

Of their Wars.

For places of retreat in times of danger they make Forts of fourty or fifty foot square, of young Timber Trees ten or twelve foot high rammed into the ground, the Earth being cast up within for their shelter, and with loop holes through which they shoot their Arrows. In war their only Weapons are Bows and Arrows, only their Captains have long Spears, on which, if they return Conquerors, they carry the chiefest of their enemies heads; for they use to cut off their heads, hands, and feet to carry home to their Wives and Children as Trophies of their renowned Victories: They also at such times paint their Faces with diversities of colours to make them the more terrible to their foes; They put on also their rich Jewels, Pendants, Wampompeag, &c. to mind them that they fight, not only for their Lives, Wives and Children, but for their Goods, Lands, and Liberties; they fight without all order, and when they have spent their Arrows, they run away. They are trained up to their Bows from their childhood, and are excellent Marks-men: They run swiftly, and swim almost naturally.

Of their Huntings.

They have neither Beagles, Hounds, nor Grayhounds, but supply all themselves: In the season of the year they have Hunting Houses in the places to which the Deer resort, in which they keep their Rendesvouze, with their Snares, and all the Accoutrements for that imployment. When they see a Deer Moose, or bear, they labour to get the wind of him, and coming neer they shoot him quite through, if the bones hinder p. 697not. They hunt also Wolves, wild Cats, Rackoones, Otters, Beavers, and Musquashes, trading both their Skins and flesh to the English: They have also other devises wherewith to kill their game.

Of their Fishings.

They are very expert in fishing, knowing all kinds of baits fit for each several sorts of fish, and for all seasons of the year. They know also when to fish in the Rivers, when at the Rocks, when in the Bayes, and when at the Seas: Before the English furnished them with Hooks and Lines, they made Lines of their own Hemp, curiously wrought, stronger than ours, and used bone-hooks; They make also strong Nets, wherewith they, catch Sturgion; and in the night they go forth in their canooes with a blazing Torch, which they wave up and down, with which the Sturgion being delighted, playes about it, turning up her white belly, into which they thrust a bearded Dart, her back being impenetrable, and so hale her to the shoar. They look out also for sleeping Seals, whose Oyl they much esteem, using it for divers things.

Of their Arts and Manufactures.

They dress all manner of Skins, by scraping and rubbing, and curiously paint them with unchangable colours, and sometimes take off the hair, especially if they be not in season. They make handsome Bows, which they string with Mooses sinews: Their Arrows they make of young Eldern, which they feather with Eagles feathers, and head them with Brass in shape of a Triangle. Their Cordage is so even, smooth, and soft, that its liker Silk than Hemp. Their Canows are either made of Pine-trees, which, before they had English Tools, they burned hollow scraping them smooth with the shels of Clams, and Oysters, cutting their out-sides with Hatchets of Stone: Others they make of Birch rinds, which are so light that a man may carry one of them on his back. In these tottering Boats they will go to Sea, scudding over the waves, rowing with a Paddle: If a Wave turn her over, by swimming they turn her up, and get into her again.

Of their Death, Burials, and mournings.

Though these Indians have lusty and healthful bodies, not knowing many diseases incident to others Countries, as Feavers, Plurisies, Callentures, Agues, Obstructions, Consumptions, Convulsions, Apoplexies, Dropsies, Gout, Stone, Toothach, Pox, Meazles, &c. so that some of them live to sixty, seventy, eighty, yea, one hundred years before death summons them hence; yet when death approaches, and all hope of recovery is past, then to see and hear their heavy sobbs, and deep fetched sighs, their grieved hearts, and brinish tears, and doleful cryes, would fetch tears from an heart of stone.

Their grief being asswaged, they commit the bodies of their friends p. 58to the Earth, over whose grave for a long time they weep, groan, and howl, continuing annual mournings, with a stiff black paint on their faces: They mourn without hope, and yet hold the immortality of the Soul, that it shall pass to the South-West Elysium, a kind of Paradise, wherein they shall for ever abide, solacing themselves in Odoriferous Gardens, fruitful Corn-fields, green Meddows, Bathing in cool streams of pleasant Rivers, and shelter themselves from heat and cold in state-Pallaces framed by Dame Nature; at the Portal of this Elisium they say there lies a great Dogg, whose currish snarlings excludes unworthy intruders: wherefore they bury them with Bows and Arrows, and store of Wampompeag, and Mouhak…, either to affright the affronting Cerberus, or to purchase greater prerogatives in that in Paradise. But evil livers they go to the infernal dwellings of Abamacho, there to be tormented.

Of their Women, their Dispositions, Imployments, Vsage by their Husbands, their Apparel, and Modesty.

These Indians scorn the tutorings of their Wives, or to admit them as their equals, though their qualities, and industry may justly claim the preheminence, and command better usage, and more conjugal esteem, their persons and features being every way correspondent, their qualifications more excellent, being more loving, pitiful, and modest, mild, provident, and laborious than their lazy husbands. Their imployments are many, for they build their houses in fashion like our Garden Arbors, but rounder, very strong and handsome, covered with close wrought Mats of their own weaving, which deny entrance to a drop of Rain, though it be fierce and long, neither can the North winds find a crany whereat to enter; they be warmer then ours: At the top is a square hole for the smoake to pass out, which is close covered in rainy weather: Yet when they have a good fire, they are so smoky, that they are fain to lie down under the smoake.

Their Sommer houses when Families are dispersed upon divers occasions, are less: their winter houses are fifty or sixty foot long; fourty or fifty men lodging in one of them; and when their husbands require it, the Wives are fain to carry their houses on their backs to Fishing and Hunting places; or to a planting place, where it abides the longest. The Wives also plant their corn, which they keep so clear from weeds, with their Clam-shell Hooes, as if it were a Garden rather than a Cornfield; neither suffering Weeds nor Worms to hurt it.

Their Corn being ripe, they dry it in the Sun, and convey it into their Barns, which be great holes digged in the ground like brass Pots, lining them with Rinds of Trees, into which they put their Corn, covering it from their Gurmundizing Husbands, who else would eat up all their allowed portion, and reserved Seed if they knew where to find it. But our English Hoggs having found a way to open their Barn-doors, and to rob their Garners; they are fain to make use of their Husbands help to rowl the bodies of Trees over them, to secure them against p. 51these Swine, whose thievery they hate as much as they do to eat their flesh.

Another of their imployments is, in their Sommer processions to get Lobsters for their husbands, wherewith they bait their hooks when they go a fishing for Bass & Codfish. This is their every days walk be the weather cold or hot, the Waters rough or calm, they must dive sometimes over head and ears for a Lobster, which often shakes them by the hands, with a churlish nip, and so bids them adieu. The Tide being spent they trudg home two or three miles with an hundred weight of Lobsters on their backs, but if they meet with none, they have a hundred scouls from their churlish Hsbands, and an hungry belly for two dayes after.

When their Husbands have caught any fish they bring it in their Canows as far as they can by Water, and there they leave it, sending their Wives to fetch it home, or they must fast, which done, they must dress it, cook it, dish it, and present it, and see it eaten before their faces, and their Loggerships having filled their paunches, their poor Wives must scramble for their scraps. In the Sommer when Lobsters be in their plenty and prime, these Indian women dry them to keep for Winter, erecting Scaffolds in the hot Sun, and making fires underneath them, by the Smoake whereof the flies are driven away, till the fish remain hard & dry: Thus also they dry Bass, and other Fishes without salt, cutting them very thin that they may dry the sooner before the Flies spoil them, or the Rain wet them, having a great care to hang them in their smoaky houses in the night, and dankish weather.

In Sommer also they gather Flags, of which they make Mats for Houses; also Hemp and Rushes with dying stuff, of which they make curious Baskets with intermingled colours, and Pourtraictures of Antique Imagery. These Baskets are of all sizes, from a Quart to a Quarter, in which they carry their Luggage.

In Winter they are their Husbands Caterers, trugging to the Clam-banks for their belly-timber: they are also their porters to lug home their Venison, which their laziness exposeth to the Wolves, till their Wives impose it upon their shoulders. They also sew thir husbands shooes, and weave Turkey Feathers for them, besides all their housholds drudgery which daily goes through their hands, and a big belly hinders no business, nor doth their childbirth hinder much time, but the young child being greased and sooted, wrapped up in a Beavers Skin, bound to his good behaviour, with his feet up to his Bum, upon a board two foot long, and one foot broad, his face being exposed to the most nipping weather, this little Pappouse travels about with his barefooted Mother, to paddle in the Icy Clamb-banks, being not above three or four dayes old.

The womens carriage is very Civil, smiles being the greatest grace of their mirth. Their Musick is Lullabies to quiet their Children, who yet are generally as quiet as if they had neither Spleen nor Lungs. To hear one of these Indian Women unseen, a good ear might easily mistake their untaught voice for the warbling of a well tuned Instrument. p. 54Their modesty suggest them to wear more cloathes than their Husbands, having alwayes a short Coat of cloth, or Skin wrapped like a Blanket about their loins reaching to their hams, which they never put off in company.

If a husband sels his Wives Beaver Petticote, as sometimes he doth, she will not put it off, till she hath another to put on. Their mild carriage and obedience to their husbands is very commendable; notwithstanding all their churlishness, and salvage inhumanity towards them, yet will they not frown, nor offer to word it with their Lords, nor presume to proclaim their superiority to the usurping of the least tittle of their Husbands charter, but are contentedly quiet with their helpless condition, esteeming it to be the Womans portion.

Since the arrival of the English comparison hath made their yoake more miserable: For seeing the kind usage of the English men towards their wives, they cannot but as much condemn their own husbands unkindness, as they commend the English mens love. But in the mean time, their husbands commend themselves for their wit in keeping their wives in subjection, and to labour as much as they condemn the English husbands for their indulgence and folly in spoiling such good working creatures.

These Indian women do oft resort to the houses of the English wherewith those of their own Sex, they do somewhat ease their misery by complaining of their thraldom, and seldom part without some relief; and if their husbands come to seek for their Spaws(for so they call all women) and do begin to bluster for their idleness, the English woman betakes her to her Arms, which are the warlike Ladle, and the scalding Liquor, threatning blistering to the naked Runaway, who is soon driven back by such hot comminations. In a word, the love of these women to the English, deserves no small esteem, whom they are ever presenting with something that is rare or desired, as Strawberries, Hurtleberries, Rasberries, Gooseberries, Cherries, Plums, Fish, and such other gifts as their poor Treasury affords.

New Englands Prospect. Of their Religion.

The Natives of New-England conceive of many Divine powers:The good God, but one whom they call Keihtan(they say) is the principal, and maker of all the rest, and himself is made by none. He created the Heavens, Earth, Sea, and all Creatures contained therein. He also made one man and one Woman, of whom oll mankind came. But how they came to be so far dispersed, they know not. At first (they say) there was no Sachem or King, but Keihtan, who dwells above the Heavens, whither all good men go when they die to see their friends, and have their fill p. 55of all thins. Thither bad men go also, and knock at his door, but he bids them walk abroad, for there is no piace for such, so that they wander in restless want, and penury. Never man saw this Kiehtan; only old men tell them of him, and bid them tell their children; yea, to charge them to tell it to their posterities, and to lay the like charge upon them. This power they acknowledge to be good; and when they would obtain any great matter, they meet together, and cry unto him; and when they have plenty and victory, &c. they sing, dance, give thanks, and hang up Garlands in memory thereof.

Another power they worship called Hobbamock, which is the Devil; Him they call upon to cure their wounds, and Diseases. And when they are curable, he perswades them that he sends the same for some conceived anger against them; but upon their calling upon him, he can, and doth help them. But when they are mortal and incurable, he tells them that Kiehtan is angry, and sends them, whom none can cure, which makes them doubt whether he be simply good, and therefore in sickness they never call upon him. This Hobbamock appears in sundry forms unto them; As in the shape of a Man, a Deer, a Fawn, an Eagle, &c. But most ordinarily like a snake. He appears not to all, but to the chiefest, and most judicious amongst them, though all of them strive to attain that Hellish honor. He chiefly appears to three sorts of persons: Of the first Rank they are few, and they are highly esteemed of, and they think that no weapon can kill them: The second sort are called Powahs: and the third Priests.

The Powahs chief Office is to call upon the Devil, and to cure the sick and wounded. The common people joyn with him in his Invocations, by saying Amen to what he saith. The Powah is eager and free in speech, fierce in countenance, and joyneth many Antick and laborious gestures with the same over the party diseased. If the party be wounded, they suck his wounds; but if they be curable, the Snake or Eagle sits on his shoulders and licks the same. Him none sees but the Powah. If the party be otherwise diseased, its sufficient if in any shape he but comes into the house, and it is an undoubted sign of recovery.

The Powahs in their speech promise to sacrifice many Skins of Beasts, Kettles, Hatchets, Beads, Knives, and the best things they have to the Fiend, if he help the diseased party. When women are in desperate and extraordinary hard travel in in Child-birth, they send for the Powahs to help them. Many sacrifices they use, and sometimes kill their Children. The Nanohiggansets exceed in their blind Devotion, and have great spacious houses, into which their Priests only come. Thither at certain times most of the People resort and sacrifice almost all their riches to their gods, as Kettles, Skins, Hatchets, Beads, Knives, &c. all which the Priest casts into a great fire made in the midst of that house, where they are consumed. To this Offering every man brings freely, and he that brings most, is best esteemed.

The Priests are men of great courage and wisdom, and to these the Devil also appears more familiarly than to others, and covenants with p. 54them to preserve them from death by wounds of Arrows, Knives, Hatchets, &c. One of these will chase almost an hundred of their enemies: They are highly esteemed of all, and are of the Sachems Councel, without whom he will neither make War, nor undertake any great matter. In War the Sachems for their more safety, go in the midst of them. They are usually men of the greatest stature and strength, and such as will endure most hardness, and yet are discreet, and courteous in their carriages, How they increase the Priests.scorning theft, lying, and base dealing, and stand as much upon their Reputation as any men. And to encrease the number of these, they train up the likeliest Boyes from their Childhood unto great hardness, and cause them to abstain from dainty meat, and to observe divers other Rules, to the end that the Devil may appear to them when they are of age. They also cause them to drink the Juice of Centuary, and other bitter Herbs, till they vomit it into a platter, which they must drink again, till at length, through extraordinary pressing of Nature, it looke like blood: And this the Boyes will do at first eagerly, and so continue, till by reason of faintness they can scarce stand on their leggs, and then they must go forth into the cold. Also they beat their shins with sticks, and cause them to run through Bushes, Stumps, and Brambles to make them hardy and acceptable to the Devil, that so in time he may appear unto them.

Their Sachems are not all Kings,Their Government. but only some few of them, to whom the rest resort for protection, and pay them Homage: Neither may they make War without their knowledge and approbation. Every Sachim takes care for the Widdows, Fatherless, Aged, or maimed, if their friends be dead, or not able to provide for them. A Sachim will not marry any but such as are equal in birth to him, lest his Seed prove ignoble; and though they have many other wives, yet are they but Concubines, or servants, and yield obedience to the Queen, who orders the Family, and them in it. The other Subjects do the same, and will adhere to the first during their lives, but put away the other at their pleasure. Their Government is successive, not elective. If the Sachims child be young when his Father dies, he is committed to the Protection, and Tuition of some one amongst them, who rules for him till he be of age.

Every Sachem knows the bounds and limits of his Kingdom,They maintain their Kings. out of which, if any of his men desire Land wherein to set their Corn, he gives them as much as they can use. In these limits, he that Hunts and kills any Venison, gives the Sachim his Fee; if it be killed on the Land, he hath part of the flesh; if in the water, then the Skin only: The great Sachems or Kings know not their bounds so well. All Travellers or Strangers usually lie at the Sachims house, and when they come, they tell them how long they will stay, and whither they are going; during which time they are entertained according to their quality. Once a year the Priests provoke the People to bestow much Corn on the Sachim, and accordingly at a certain time and place, the people bring many Baskets of Corn, and make a great Stack thereof near to the Sachems house. There the Priests stands ready to return them thanks in the p. 63name of the Sachim, who fetches the same, and is no less thankful, bestowing many gifts upon them.

When any are visited with sickness,Their charity. their friends resort to them to comfort them, and oft continue with them till death or recovery; If they dye they stay to mourn for them, which they perform night and morning for many dayes after their Burial: But if they recover, because their sickness was chargeable, they send them Corn and other gifts, whereupon they Feast, and Dance.Their Burials, and mournings When they bury their dead, they sew the Corps up in a Mat, and so bury it. If a Sachim dyes, they cover him with many curious Mats, and bury all his Riches with him, and inclose the Grave with a Pale. If it be a child, the Father will put all his own special Jewels, and Ornaments into the grave with it: Yea, he will cut his Hair, and disfigure himself, in token of his great sorrow. If it be the Master or Dame of the Family, they will pull down the Mats, and leave the Frame of the house standing, and bury them in, or near the same, and either remove their Dwelling, or give over house-keeping.

The younger sort reverence the Elder,Their behaviour. and do all mean Offices for them when they are together, though they be strangers. Boyes and Girls may not wear their hair like men and women, but are distinguished thereby. One is not accounted a man, till he doth some notable act, and shews his Courage and Resolution answerable to his place: The men take much Tobacco, but its counted very odious in a Boy so to do.

All their Names are significant and variable.Their names of their marriages, Their Women. For when they come to be men and women, they alter them according to their deeds, or dispositions. When a Maid is given in Marriage, she first cuts her hair, and then wears a covering on her head till her hair is grown again. Of their Women some are so modest, that they will scarce talk together whilst men are by, and are very chast: Others are light, lascivious, and wanton. If a Woman hath a bad Husband, or affect him not; If there be War between that and any other people, she will run away from him to the contrary party, where she never wants welcome; for where there be most women, there is most plenty.

When a Woman hath her Courses,Their modesty. she retires her self from all other company, and lives in a house apart; After which she washes her self, and all that she hath touched or used, after which she is received into her Husbands Bed or Family. The Husband will beat his Wife, or put her away for Adultery. Yet some common Strumpets there are, but they are such as either were never married, or are Widdows, or that have been put away for Adultery: For no man will take such an one to wife.

In matters of injustice or dishonest dealing, the Sachim examines and punisheth the same.Their Justice Punishments. In cases of theft; For the first offence he is disgracefully rebuked: For the second, he is beaten by the Sachim with a Cudgle on the naked back: For the third, he is beaten with many stripes, and hath his Nose slit, that all men may both know and shun him. If one kill another, he certainly dies for it. The Sachim not only sentenceth the Malefactor, but executeth the same with his own hands, if p. 54the party be present, otherwise he sends his own Knife, if he be sentenced to dye by the hands of another that executes the same. But if the Offender be to receive any other punishment, he will not receive it but from the Sachim himself, before whom being naked, he kneels, and will not offer to run away, though he beat him never so much, it being a greater disparagement for a man to cry when he is corrected, than was his offence and punishment.

They are a very witty and ingenious people:Their integrity. They keep account of the time by the Moon, or by Sommers or Winters; They know divers of the Stars by name: They have also many names for the Winds: They will guess shrewdly at the Wind and Weather before hand, by observations in the Heavens.

Their Language is very copious and large,Their Language. and hard to be learned; And though in an hundred miles distance their Languages differ, yet not so much, but they can understand each other.

Instead of Records and Chonicles,Their Chonicles. where any Remarkable Act is done, in memory of it, either in the very place, or by some Path neer adjoyning, they make a round hole in the Ground a foot deep, and as much over, which, when others passing by, behold, they enquire the cause and occasion of it, which being once known, they carefully acquaint others with it. And lest such holes should be filled, as men pass by, they will oft renew them. So that if a man travels, and can understand his Guide, his Journey will be less tedious, by the many Historical Discourses that will be related to him.

You have heard before of the State of New-England in the year 1633. when she was but in her childhood, but being now grown up to more maturity; Take this account of it, which was written by a Reverend Minister, in January 1668/9, who had lived there 40. years, and therefore hath great reason, and good opportunities to be acquainted with the condition of it.

WHen we came first to New-England in the year 169. there was then but one Town in the Country, viz. that of New-Plimmouth, which had stood alone for nine years. From that time to this year now beginning 1669. is just fourty years; in which time there has been an increase of fourty Churches in this Colony (but many more in the rest.) And Towns in all New-England, 120. which for the most part lie along the Sea Coast for somewhat more than two hundred miles; only upon Connecticut River, there are thirteen Towns lying neer together; and about the Massacusets Bay, here are above thirty Towns within two, three, four, or five miles asunder. And from the Sea, which hath rendred Boston a very considerable place, and the Metropolis of New-England, all the other Towns on the Sea Coast, and those in the Country depending upon it. I have lately heard some Merchants that knew old Boston, say that this is far bigger, and hath ten times more Trade than that, having many Ships and Catches, and they say no less p. 55than an hundred Catches went from the Country this winter to trade in Virginia; besides many others to the West Indies, and to several parts of Europe.

It was doubted for some years, whether there would be a staple Commodity in New-England; but God and time have shewed many, as Furs, Fish, Masts, Pipestaves, and Deal-board, and such plenty of Corn and Cattel, that abundance of Provision has been yearly transported for the supply of English Plantations, the West-Indies, and other parts; in so much as though many Gentlemen of great Estates in the first year spent their Estates, and some of them that were very brave men of publick spirits, were brought very low, both they and theirs: Yet in the latter years, many that have risen out of the dust, by a way of Trading and Merchandising, have grown unto great Estates; some to ten, others to twenty, yea thirty or fourty thousand pound estate.

In the year 1643. began the combination of the united Colonies of New-England, which have much encrersed since then; every one of them having their distinct Pattents, except New-Haven, which for want of a Pattent, was since the coming in of our King, taken into the Colony of Connecticut; And though very many of the first commers are now dead and gone, yet there is grown up such a numerous Posterity here, that it's thought there are twenty times more English people now in the Country, then ever came into it. And it's believed by many observing men, that there are many above ten hundred thousand souls. Most of the first Magistrates are dead, and not above two left in the Massacusets; but one in Plymouth, one at Connecticut, and not one at New-Haven.

There came over from England at several times, chiefly before the year 1640. ninety fore Ministers, of which twenty seven returned to England again, and there are now dead in the Country thirty six; and as yet living in the Country thirty one. The Ministers bred up in New-England, are one hundred thirty two, of which two are dead in the Country, fourty one have removed to England, most of them from our Colledges, besides other Schollars that have in England turned to other Professions, and eighty one that are now living in the Country, employed in the Ministery in several places.

There have been several Synods in New-England; The first at Cambridge, in the year 1637. wherein the Antinomian▪ and Familistical Errors were confuted and condemned by the Word of God. The second at Cambridge in the year 1646. wherein the Magistrates power and Duty in Matters of Religion, and the Nature and Power of Synods was cleared. The third, in the year 1648. where it was declared, that in Point of Doctrine, these Churches consented to the Confession of Faith, put forth by the Assembly at Westminster; and in Point of Discipline, the Platform of the Discipline of these Churches, was then published. The fourth was at Boston in the year 1662. concerning the Subject of Baptism, and Consociation of Churches.

p. 56It hath pleased the Lord to give such a blessing to the Gospel among the Indians, that in divers places there are not only many civilized, but divers that are truly Godly, and shame the English, and are much hated by others of their own Country men, though that Work has met with many Obstructions and Remoraes; chiefly by the Death of some of the Choicest Instruments, and many of the best of the Indians; Yet it may be well believed, that there is such a Seed of the Gospel scattered among them, which will grow unto a further Harvest in God's time.