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

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

A True, and Faithful ACCOUNT OF THE FOUR CHIEFEST PLANTATIONS OF THE English in America. TO WIT, Of

VIRGINIA.

NEW-ENGLAND.

BERMVDVS.

BARBADOS.

With the temperature of the Air: The nature of the Soil: The Rivers, Mountains, Beasts, Fowls, Birds, Fishes, Trees, Plants, Fruits, &c. AS ALSO, Of the Natives of Virginia, and New-England, their Religion, Customs, Fishing, Huntings, &c.

COLLECTED By Samuel Clarke, sometimes Pastor in Saint Bennet-Fink, London.

LONDON, Printed for Robert Clavel, Thomas Passenger, William Cadman, William Whitwood, Thomas Sawbridge, and William Birch. 1670.

p. 3THE DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA, AND THE PLANTATION OF THE ENGLISH.

The temperature of the Air; the nature of the Soile, the Rivers, Mountains, Beasts, Fowls, Birds, Fishes, Trees, Plants, Fruits, &c. As also of the Natives, their Religion, Customs, Fishings, Huntings, Treachery, &c.

ANNO Christi, 1584. Sr. Walter Rawleigh obtained of Queen Elizabeth of glorious memory, a Patent for discovering, and Peopling of unknown Countries, not actually possessed by any Christian Prince, Dated March 25. and in the 26th. year of her Reign: In prosecution whereof April 27th. he set forth two Barks under the Command of Mr. Philip Amadas, and Mr. Arther Barlow, which arrived on that part of America, which that Virgin Queen named Virginia: and thereof in p. 4her Majesties name there took possession July 13. And having taken a view of, and liking the Country; and having had conference, and some trading with the Savages, observing about fourteen sorts of sweet smelling timber Trees, and many other commodities; bringing with them two of the Savages, they returned home in September following.

Anno Christi, 1585. Sr. Richard Greenvile was sent by Sr. Walter Rawleigh with a Fleet of seven Sail, which Landed in the Isle of St. John de Porto Rico. May 12. and there fortified themselves, and built a Pinace. The Spaniards promised to furnish them with Victuals, but did not: whereupon, they took two Spanish Frigots. In Hispaniola they had friendly greetings, and some trade with the Spaniards; from whence they came to an Anchor at Wokocon, whereby the unskilfullness of the Master, their Admiral strook on ground and sunk: July 25. They returned for England, and by the way they took a Spanish Ship of Three hundred Tun, richly laden. In Virginia they left a Colony under the Goverment of Mr. Ralph Lane and others, besides an hundred men. The Governour wrote from his new Fort in Virginia, that if they had Kine, and Horses in a reasonable proportion, no Country in Christendom was to be compared to it. They discovered from Roanoack to the Chesipians above one hundred and thirty miles, and to Chawanock North-West, as far. In the beginning of June 1586. the Natives conspired against the English, for which, the chiefest of them lost his head: and Sr. Francis Drake coming thither after he had Sacked diverse of the Spanish Towns, took the Colony with … his Victorious Fleet, and brought them into England.

The same year Sr. Walter Rawleigh … sent a Ship of an hundred Tun with Provisions for the Colony, which arrived at Hatorask presently after they were come away wherefore having sought them in vain, she returned with her provisions … England: About a fortnight after her departure, Sr. Kichard Greenvile, General of Virginia, with three Ships arrived there, and neither hearing of the Ship, nor the Colony which he had left there the year before; after long search in vain, he left fifteen men to keep possession of the Country in the Isle of Roanoack, furnished for two years, and so returned, by the way spoiling some Towns of the Azores, and taking diverse Spaniards.

Anno Christi, 1587. Sr. Walter Rawleigh (notwithstanding former discouragements) sent another Colony of One hundred and fifty Persons under the Government of Mr. John White, with twelve Assistants, to which he gave a Charter, and incorporated them by the name of Governors and Assistance of the City of Rawleigh in Virginia. These arrived July 22. at Hatorask, where they went ashore to seek the fifteen men left there the year before, intending to plant at Chesopiok: But they were informed by a Native called Manteo, that the Savages had secretly slain some of them, and the other were fled they knew not whither. This Manteo was afterwards Baptized, and by Sr. Walter Rawleigh was made Lieutenant of Roanock. Here also Mrs. Dare the Governours Daughter was delivered of a Daughter, that was Baptized by the name of Virginia. Aug. the 27. they departed and returned into England.

p. 5The Commodities that are in Virginia.

Oak of an excellent grain;Trees, straight, tall, and long, Elme, Beech, Birch, very tall and great, of whose Bark the Natives make their Canows; Nut-Hasil, Hasil, Alder, Cherry-Tree, Maple, Eive, Spruce, Aspe, Fir in great abundance and many other Fruits, Trees which the English knew not. From the Firrs issues much Turpentine, and Tar, and Pitch.

Eagles,Fowles Hearn, Shaws, Cranes, large Ducks and Mallard, Geese, Swans, Wigeon, Sharks, Crows, Ravens, Kites, Sea-Mews, Pidgeons, Turtle-Doves, Turkies, and many other Fowles and Birds unknown; Hawks of diverse kinds.

Deer Red and Follow,Beasts Bears, Wolves, Beavers, Otters, Hares, Conies, Martens, Sables, Hogs, Porcupins, Polecats, Cats wild and great, Dogs, whereof some like Foxes, Elks, and some Lyons, Squirrils of three sorts, some flying Squirils, Hares, &c.

Whales,Fishes Porpoises, Seales, Cod very large, Haddocks, Herring, Plaise, Thornback, Rack-Fish, Lobsters, Crabs, Mussels, Wilks, Cony-Fish, Lump-Fish, Whitings, Salmonds in great plenty.

Tobacco,Plants, Fruits, and Herbs, Vines, Strawberries, Rasberries, Goosberries, Hartleberries, Corants, Roses, Pease, Angellica, Ground-nuts.

The Wood that is most common is Oak, and Walnut, many of their Oak are so tall and strait, that they will bear Thirty inches square of good Timber for Twenty yards long: there are two or three several kinds of them: There are, also two or three kinds of Walnuts, there are Cyprus Trees, some of which are neer three fathom about the Root, very strait and fifty, sixty, yea eighty foot without a branch. There are also some Mulberry Trees, and Chesnut Trees, whose fruit equalizeth the best in France, or Italy; they have Plums of three sorts, Cherries, Vines, Gassafras Trees.

Virginia lies in the Latitude of 43. Degrees and 20. Minutes,Virginia's Situation. North. Anno Christ, 1606. King James (of happy memory) granted a Pattent to sundry Persons to Plant along the Coast of Virginia, where they pleased between 34. Degrees and 45. of Northerly Latitude, in the main Land, and the Islands thereunto adjoyning within a hundred miles of the Coast thereof. In pursuance whereof, there were some Ships sent the same year to begin a Plantation in the more Southerly part of Virginia.

Virginia is a Country in America that lies between the Degrees of 34. and 44. of North Latitude.Their Summers and Winters. On the East its bounded with the grear Ocean. On the South with Florida. On the North with Nova Francia. But for the West the limits are unknown. The Plantation which was begun in the year 1606. was under the Degree of 37. 38. and 39. where the tempreture of the air, after they were well seasoned, agreed well with the constitutions of the English. They sound the Summer as hot as in Spain: the Winter as cold as in France or England: The heat of Summer is in June, July, and August, but commonly a cool Briefs asswages the vehemency of the heat: The chiefest Winter is in half-December, January, February, and half March.

p. 6The Winds are variable, which yet purifie the air, as doth the Thunder and Lightning, which sometimes is very terrible. Sometimes there are great droughts, and othersometimes great raines, yet the European Fruits planted there prospered well. There is but one entrance by Sea into the Country, and that is at the mouth of a very goodly Bay, which is about eighteen or twenty miles wide. The Cape of the South side is called Cape Henry: the Land there is white sand, and along the shore are great plenty of Pines, and Firrs

The North Cape is called Cape-Charles: The Isles before it are called Smiths Isles. The Country is full of large and pleasant navigable Rivers. In it are Mountains, Hills, Plains, Valleys, Rivers, and Brooks; this Bay lieth North and South, in which the water flowes near two hundred miles, and hath a Channel for One hundred and forty miles, of depth between seven and fifteen fathom: the breadth makes ten or fourteen miles. Northward from the Bay the Land is Mountanous, from which fall some Brooks, which after make five Navigable Rivers: the entrance of these Rivers into the Bay being within twenty or fifteen miles one of another.

The Mountains are of divers natures, some of Stone for Millstones, some of Marble, &c. and many pieces of Chrystal are brought down from them by the raines. The Soil generally is lusty and rich, being generally of a black sandy mould: In some places a fat slimy clay: In other places gravel. The Countrey generally hath such pleasant plain Hills, and fertile Valleys, one prettily crossing another, and watered so conveniently with sweet Brooks, and chrystal Streams as if Artists had devised them. By the Rivers are many Marshes, some of 20, 30, 100. yea 200 Acres, some more, some less. On the West side of the Bay, and neerest to its mouth, is the River called Powhatan, according to the name of a principal Countrey that lies upon it: the mouth of it is near three miles in breadth: Its Navigable One hundred and fifty miles as the Channel goes: In the farthest place which the English discovered, are Falls, Rocks, and Shoales which hinder any farther Navigation. In a Peninsula on the North side of this River, the English first planted, in a place which they called James Town.

As our men passed up one of their Rivers, there came to them some called Sasquesahanocks with Skins, Bows, Arrows, Targets, Beads, Swords, and Tobacco-pipes for Presents. They were great and well proportioned men, so to the English they seemed like Giants; with much ado they were restrained from adoring their discoverers. Their Language well seeming their proportion, sounding from them as it were a great voice in a Vault: their attire was the skins of Bears, and Wolves. One had a Wolves-head hanging in a Chain for a Jewel: his Tobacco-pipe was three quarters of a yard long, prettily carved with a Bird, a Bear, a Dear, being at the great end sufficient to beat out a mans brains: their Bows, Arrows, and Clubs are suitable to their proportions. One of the biggest of them had the calf of his Legg measured, which was three quarters of a yard about, and all the rest of his limbs answerable thereto. His Arrows were five quarters long, headed with Flints, formed like a heart, an inch broad, and an inch and an half long, which p. 7he wore in a Wolves Skin at his back:The Natives described. In one hand a Bow, and in the other a Club.

The Natives of Virgina have generally black hair, but few of them have Beards. The men have half their heads shaven, the hair of the other half long: The Women are their Barbers, who with two Shells grate away the hair of what fashion they please. The Womens hair is cut in many fashions according to their eyes, but ever some part of it is long. They are very strong, of able bodies and nimble: they can lie in the Woods under a Tree by the fire in the coldest Weather, and amongst the Grass and Weeds in Summer: They are inconstant, crafty, timerous, quick of apprehension, and very ingenious. They are very covetous of Copper, Beads, and such trash. They are soon angry, and so malicious, that they seldom forget an injury. They seldom steal one from another, lest their Connivers should reveal it. Their Women are careful to avoid suspition of dishonesty without the leave of their Husbands. Each House-keeper knows his own Lands, and Gardens, and most live of their own labour.

They are sometimes covered with the Skins of wild Beasts,Their Apparel. which in Winter are dressed with the Hair inward, but in Summer without. The better sort use large Mantles of Dear-skins, some Embroidered with white Beads, some with Copper, and others are painted. But the common sort have scarce wherewith to cover their nakedness, but with Grass or Leaves. Some have Mantles made of Turkey Feathers, so handsomly wrought, and Woven with Thred, that nothing could be discerned but Feathers. These were exceeding neat and warm. The Women are covered about their middles with a Skin, and much ashamed to be seen bare. They adorn themselves with Copper and Painting; They Have, their Leggs, Hands, Breasts, and Faces cunningly wrought with divers Works, as Beasts, Serpents, &c. artificially wrought in their flesh with spots. In each Ear commonly they have three holes, whereat they hang Chains, Bracelets, or Copper. Some of their men wear in those holes a small green, and yellow coloured Snake, near half a yard long, which crawling and wrapping her self about his neck, oftentimes familiarly kisses his lips: Others wear a dead Rat tied by the tail. Some on their heads wear the wing of a Bird, or some large Feathers with the tail of a Rattle-Snake. Many have the skin of a Hawk, or some strange Fowl, stuffed with the Wings stretched abroad. Others a piece of Copper; And some the hand of an enemy dried. Their heads and shoulders are painted red, with a certain Powder mixed with Oyl, which they hold in Summer to preserve them from heat, and in Winter from cold. He is most gallant that is most monstrous to behold.Habitations and Houses.

Their habitations are mostly by the Rivers, or not far from some fresh Spring. Their houses are built like our Arbours, of small Sprigs bowed and tied together, and so close covered with Mats, or the bark of Trees, that notwithstanding Wind, Rain, or Weather, they are as warm as Stoves, but smoky, though they leave a hole on the top right over the Fire.

p. 8Their Lodging is by the Fire side on little Hurdles made of Reeds,Their Lodging and Beds. and covered with a Mat. On these round about the house they lie, heads and points, one by another, covered with Mats or Skins, and some stark naked: Of these they are from six to twenty in an house. Their houses are in the mid'd of their Fields or Gardens, which are plots of ground: From twenty to one hundred, or two hundred of these houses stand something near together.

Men,Their child-birth and children. Women, and Children have their several names according to the phansie of their Parents. Their Women are easily delivered of child, yet they love their children very dearly; and to make them hardy, in the coldest Mornings they wash them in the Rivers, and by Painting and Ointments they so tan their skins, that after a year or two no Weather will hurt them.

The Men spend their time in Fishing,Women laborious and men idle. Hunting, Wars, and such manly Exercises, scorning to be seen about any Womanly Exercise, which makes the Women very painful, and the men oft very idle; The women and children do all the work; they make Mats, Baskets, Pots, Morters; they pound their Corn, make their Bread, prepare their victuals, plant and gather their Corn, bear all kinds of burdens, &c. Their Fire they kindle by chafing a dry pointed stick in a hole of little square piece of Wood, which taking fire, will kindle Moss, Leaves, and such dry things.

In March and April is their Fishing time,Their several Diets. wherein they live on Fish, Turkies, and Squerrils. In May and June they plant their Fields, and then they live most upon Acrons, Walnuts and Fish: Some upon Crabs, Oisters, land Tortoises, Strawberries, Mulberries, &c. In June, July, and August, they feed upon the roots of Tocknough, Berries, Fish, and green Wheat; and their bodies alter with their Diet, as those of Deer, and wild beasts do: And accordingly they are Fat or Lean, Strong or Weak.

They use much their Bows and Arrows in Fishing,Their Bows and Arrows. Hunting, and the Wars. They bring their Bows to the form of ours, by scraping them with a Shell: Their Arrows are made of strait young Sprigs, which they head with bone, two or three inches long: With these they shoot at Squirils. Other Arrows they have made of Reeds, pieced with Wood, and headed with Christals or Flint, &c. For Knives they have the splinters of a Reed, wherewith they cut the Feathers of their Arrows into form: With these Knives they will joynt a Deer, or any other Beast, shape their Shooes, Buskings, Mantles, &c. To make the notch of their Arrows, they have the Tooth of a Bever set in a stick, with which they grate it by degrees. Their Arrow heads they quickly make with a little bone, which they ever wear at their bracer, of a splint of stone or glass, in form of a Heart which they glew to their Arrows; their Glew they make of the Sinews of Deer, and the tops of Deer Horns which will not dissolve in cold water.

In their Wars they use round Targets made of the Bark of Trees,Their weapons in War. and Swords of Wood, or the Horn of a Deer put through a piece of Wood, in the form of a Pickax.

p. 9Their Fishing is much in Boats,The Fishing Boats, and furniture. which they make of one Tree, by burning, and scraping with Stones and Shels till they have made it in the form of a Trough. Some of them are a Ell deep, and fourty and fifty foot long, and will bear from ten to fourty men, according to their bigness: For Oars they use paddles and sticks, with which they will Row faster than our Barges. The Women use to spin the Bark of Trees, Deer Sinews, or a kind of Grass called Pemmenaud, of which they make a very good thred, which serves for many uses about their houses, Apparel, Fishing-nets, Lines for Angles: Their hooks are either a bone grated in the form of a hooked Pin, or of the splinter of a Bone tied to the cleft of a little stick, and with the end of the Line they tie on the bait. They also use long Arrows tied to a Line, with which they shoot at Fishes in the River, or Darts which they throw at them.

They take extream pains in their Huntings and Fishings,Their Huntings. whereunto they are enured from their Child-hood: And by their continual rangings about, they know all the places and Advantages most frequented with Deer, Beasts, Fishes, Fowls, Rooks, Bemes. At their Huntings they leave their Habitations, and in several companies go to the most Desert places with their Families towards the Mountains, or heads of Rivers where there is plenty of Game. It's a marvel how they can pass these Deserts of three or four dayes journey over, without missing their way. The Women bear their Hunting Houses after them with Corn, Acrons, Mortars, and Bagg and Baggage which they use. When they come to the place of Exercise, every man endeavours to shew his best Dexterity; for hereby they get their Wives. They will shoot level about fourty yards, near the Mark, and one hundred and twenty is their best at Random. When they have found the Deer, they environ them with Fires, and betwixt the Fires they place themselves; and some take their stand in the mid'st. The Deer being frighted with the Fires, and their voices they chase them so long within that Circle, that oftimes they kill six, eight, ten, or fifteen at a hunting. Sometimes also when they find them in a point of Land, they force them into a River, where with their Boats they kill them. When they have shot a Dear by Land, they follow him like Blood-hounds, by the blood and stain, and oftimes so take him. Hares, Partridges, Turkies, or Eggs, fat or lean, young or old, they devour all they can come by.

When they intend Wars,Their Wars. the Werowances Corks, consult with their Priests and Connivers, and Ancient Alleys, and Friend: They have Captains over every Nation, which are lusty young men. They rarely make Wars for Lands or Goods, but for Women and Children, Before the battel they paint and disguise themselves in the fiercest manner they can devise: Either Army hath his General, they take their stands a Musquet shot one from another: Rank themselves fifteen a breast, and so place themselves, that the Rear can shoot as well as the Front. Then from either part a Messenger is sent with these conditions, That whosoever is vanquished, upon their submission within two dayes after, shall live; but their Wives and Children shall be prize for the Conquerors; upon the return of the Messengers, they approach in their Order. On each Flank p. 10is a Serjeant, and in the Reer a Lieutenant, all duly keeping their places; yet leaping and singing as they go. Upon the first flight of their Arrows they give an horrible shout; and when their Arrows are spent, they joyn together, charging and retiring, each rank seconding the former: As they get advantage, they catch their Enemy by the hair of his head, and then down he goes, and with his Wooden Sword he beats out his brains, &c.

Their Musick is a thick Cane on which they Pipe as on a Recorder.Their Musick. For their Wars they have a great deep Platter of Wood, which they cover with a skin, upon which they beat as upon a Drum; of these they have Base, Tenor, Countertenor, Mean, and Trebble. If any great person come to the Habitation of a Werowanee, they spread a Mat for him to sit upon, setting themselves just opposite to him; then all the company with a tunable voice of shouting, bid him welcome. Then some of the chiefest make an Oration to him, which they do with such vehemency that they sweat till they drop again. Such victuals as they have they spend freely upon him; and where his Lodging is prepared, they set a woman finely painted with Red to be his bedfellow.

Their trading with the English is for Copper, Beads, &c. Their trading.for which they give Skins, Fowl, Fish, Flesh, Mais, &c.

They have a Religion amongst them: Their Religion.All things that were able to hurt them beyond their prevention, they adore with Divine Worship: As fire, water, thunder, lightning; The great Guns of the English, Muskets, Horses, &c. But their chief God is the Devil whom they call Oke, and serve him more for fear than love. In their Temples they have his image in an ilfavoured shape, and adorned with Chains, Copper, and Beads, and covered with a skin. By him is commonly the Sepulchres of their Kings: Their bodies are first bowelled, then dried upon Hurdles; About their neck, and most of their joynts they hang Bracelets, Chains of Copper, Pearl, and then they wrap them up in white Skins, and roule them in Mats for their Winding-sheets, laying them orderly in their Tombs, which are Arches made of Mats: the rest of their Wealth they set at their feet in Baskets.

For their ordinary Burials they dig a deep hole in the Earth,Their Sepulchers, and Burials. and the Corps being wrapped in Skins, and Mats, with their Jewels, they lay them upon sticks in the ground; and then covet them with Earth. The Burial being ended,Their mournings: the Women having their faces painted with black, sit twenty four hours in their houses mourning and lamenting by turns, with such yellings and howlings as may express their great sorrow. In the Woods they have some great houses filled with the Images of their Kings and Devils, and Tombs of their predecessors, which they count so holy, that none but their Priests, and Kings dare come into them.

They have a chief Priest,The Priests Attire. differenced from the inferiour by the Ornaments of his head, which are twelve, sixteen, or more Snake-skins stuffed with Moss, the Skins of Weesels and other Vermin; all which they tye by the Tails, so as the Tails meet on the top of their head like a Tassel, about which a Crown of Feathers; the Skins hang down about him, and almost cover his face. The Priests faces are painted as ugly as p. 11they can devise, and they carry Rattles in their hands. Their Devotion is most in Songs, which the chief Priests begins, and the rest follow. Their Solemn Meetings are upon great distress of want, fear of Enemies, times of Triumph, and of gathering their Fruits; at which time all both men, women and children meet together.

The people are very Barbarous,Their Civil Government. yet have they Government amongst them, and their Governours are well obeyed by their subjects.

The form of their Government is Monarchical. One of their Chief Rulers is called Powhatan from the place of his Habitation: Some part of the Countrey came to him by Inheritance, the rest by Conquest. In several parts of his Dominion he hath Houses built like Arbors, some thirty or fourty yards long; and in each house provision for his entertainment according to the times. About the Kings person is ordinarily attending a Guard of fourty or fifty of his tallest men: every night upon the four quarters of his House stand four Sentinels, and every half hour, one from the Corps dugard doth hollow, unto which each of the Sentinels doth answer; If any fail, he is extreamly beaten.

One House he hath wherein he keepeth his treasure of Skins, Copper, Pearl, and Beads, which he stores up against his burial; none comes to this House but the Priest. At the four corners stand as Sentinels four Images of a Dragon, a Bear, a Leopard, and Giant-like man, all ilfavouredly made according to their best workmanship.

Their King hath as many women as he will,The Kings Women and attendants. whereof, when he lies on his bed, one sitteth at his Head, and another at his Feet: But when he sits, one sits on his Right Hand, another on his Left. When he is weary of any of them he bestows them upon those that deserves best at his Hands. When he Dines or Sups, one of his Women, before and after Meat, brings him Water in a Wooden platter to wash his Hands. Another waits with a bunch of Feathers to wipe upon instead of a Towel, and the Feathers were dried again. His Kingdom descends not to his Sons, but first to his brethren, and after their decease to his sisters, and to the heirs of his eldest sister.

They have no letters whereby to write or read;Their Goverment by Customs. the only Law whereby he Rules is Custome; or else his Will is his Law which must be obeyed. His inferiour Kings whom they call Werowances, are tied to Rule by Customes, yet have they power of Life and Death: they all know their several Lands, and Habitations, and Limit, to Fish, Fowl, and Hunt in: but they hold all of their great King, to whom they pay tribute of Skins, Beads, Copper, Pearl, Deer, Turkies, wild Beasts, and Corn; with great fear and adoration they all obey him. At his feet they present whatsoever he commands; at his frown their greatest spirit will tremble: Offenders he causeth to be broyled to death; or their brains to be beaten out; their ordinary correction is to beat them with Cudgels, for which yet they will never cry nor complain.

Anno Christi 1611. the L. de La Ware upon his return from Virginia, Of the Plantation of the English.gave this account of it. That the number of men which he left there was above two hundred, the most in health, and provided of ten moneths victuals in the Store house, besides other quantities of Corn, and shew much friendship.

p. 12For the securing of the Colony he built three Fronts: two of them being seated near Point Comfort, had adjoyning to them a large circuit of ground, open, and fit for Corn. The third Fort was at the Falls, upon an Island environed with Corn ground. The Country is wonderful fertile and rich: The English Cattel were much encreased, and did thrive excellent well. The kine in a hard Winter when the ground was covered with Snow, lived (with one anothers help) upon the Grass which they found, and prospered well; the Swine encreased much.

That year Captain Argoll went with his Ship up Pembroke River, where he met with the King of Pastancy, and procured of him and his Subjects Eleven hundred bushes of Corn, besides three hundred for his own Company, with which he returned to James's Town, and delivered it into the Store. Then did he return and discover Pembroke River to the head of it, which was about Sixty five Leagues within Land, and Navigable for any Ship: then marching into the Country, he found great store of Beasts as big as Kine,Elks of which, they killed two, and found them to be good and wholesom meat, and yet easie to be killed being but heavy, and slow Creatures. He found also a Mine and a strange kind of Earth, which the Indian used for Physick, and it cures the pain of the Belly: He found also a Water issuing out of the Earth which tasted like Allom water; it was good and wholsom: He found an Earth like a Gum, white and clear; and another red, like Terra Sigillata: an other white, and so light, that being cast into water, it swims.

Their Dear have usually three or four Fawns at a time,Fruitfulness of the Deer. none under two: and our English Goates in Virginia oft times bring forth three; and mostly two young ones,Their Beasts and Fowles▪ so fruitful is the Country: they have Beavers, Otters, Foxes, Racoons, (as good meat as a Lamb) Hares, wild Catts with rich Furrs; Musk-Rats, &c. wild Pidgeons in Winter numberless, the flocks of them will be three or four hours together flying over, so thick that they obscure the very Light; Turkies far bigger than ours that will run as fast as a Gray-hound, Buzzards, Snites, Partridges, Owles, Swans, Geese, Brants, Droeis, Shell-Drakes, Teal, Widgeon, Curlews, Puits, Black-birds, Hedg-Sparrows, Oxeies, Wood-peckers, and in Winter flocks of Parakitoes.

Their Rivers are plentifully stored with Fish:Their Fish. as Sturgeon, Porpass, Base, Carp, Shad, Herring, Eele, Cat-Fish, Pearch, Trout, Flat-Fish, Sheeps-head, Drummers, Jarsishes, Craifishes, Crabs, Oisters, &c. At one hale they have caught as much Sturgeon, Base, and other great Fish as hath loaded a Frigot.Their Fruits. They have without Art, Grapes, Mulberries, Maricocks like a Lemmon, whose blossome may admit comparison with our most pleasant and beautiful Flowers, and the fruit is exceeding delightful to the tast. Many goodly Groves of Chincomen-Trees, that have husks like a Chesnut, and are good meat either raw or boiled. Chesnuts great store, and Walnuts plenty of three sorts; Filberts, Crabs smaller but sowrer than ours.

Anno Christi, 1613. Mr. Alex. Whitaker, who was Minister to the Colony, writing to a Friend in London, gives this account of the Natives. They acknowledg (saith he) that there is a great good God, but know p. 13him not, having the eyes of their understandings yet blinded; wherefore they serve the Devil for fear, after a most base manner, sacrificing somtime their own children to him: His Image they paint upon one side of a Toad-stool, much like to a deformed Monster: Their Priests are no other, but such as our English Witches are. They live naked in body, as if the shame of their sin deserved no covering: they esteem it a virtue to lie, deceive, and steal, as their Master the Devil teacheth them.

The Natives are not so simple as some have conceited:The qualities of the Natives. For they are of Body strong, lusty, and very nimble; they are a very understanding Generation, quick of apprehension, sudden in their dispatches, subtile in their dealings, exquisite in their inventions, and industrious in their labour. The World hath no better marks-men with their Bows, and Arrows than they be: they will kill Birds flying, Fishes swimming, and Beasts running: They shoot with marvellous strength, for they shot one of our English, being unarmed, quite through the Body, and nailed both his Armes to his Body with one Arrow. Their service to their God is answerable to their lives, being performed with great fear and attention, and many strange dumb shews are used in it, stretching forth their limbs, and straining their bodies exceedingly.

They stand in great awe of their Priests which are a Generation of Vipers,Their Priests. even of Satans own brood. The manner of their life is much like that of the Popish Hermites: For they live alone in the Woods, in Houses sequestred from the common course of men; neither is any man suffered to come into their House for to speak with them but when the Priest calls them. He takes no care for his Victuals, for all necessaries of bread, water, &c. are brought to a place near to his House, and are there left which he fetches at his pleasure. If they would have Rain, or have lost any thing, they have recourse to him, who Conjures for them, and many times he prevaileth. If they be sick, he is their Physitian: if they be wounded, he sucks them. At his command they make War and Peace neither do they any thing of moment without him.Their Government. They have an evil Government amongst them, a rude kind of Common-wealth, and rough Government, wherein they both honour, and obey their Kings, Parents, and Governours: they observe the limits of their own Possessions. Murther is rarely heard off: Adultery, and other gross offences are severely punished.

The whole Continent of Virginia situated within the Degrees of 34. and 47. is a place beautified by God with all the Ornaments of Nature,The Countrey described. and enriched with his earthly Treasures. That part of it which the English chiefly possess, begins at the Bay of Chesapheac, and stretching it self in Northerly Latitude to the Degrees of 39. 40. and is interlined with seven most goodly Rivers, the least wherof is equal to our Thames: and all these Rivers are so nearly joyned, as that there is not very much distance of ground between either of them, and those several pieces of Land betwixt them are every where watered with many veins, and creeks, which sundry wayes do cross the Land, and make it almost Navigable from one River to another, the commodity whereof is very great to the Planters, in respect of the speedy and easie Transportation p. 14of Goods from one River to another. The River Powhatan ebbs and flowes One hundred and forty miles into the Main; at the mouth whereof are the two Forts of Henry and Charles. Forty two miles upward is the first and Mother Town of the English seated, called James Town: and seventy miles beyond that upward, is the Town of Henerico built. Ten mile beyond this is a place called the Falls, because the River hath there a great descent, falling down between many Mineral Rocks which be there. Twelve miles beyond these Falls is a Chrystal Rock with which the Indians use to head most of their Arrows.

The higher ground in Virginia is much like to the mould of France, being clay and Sand mixed together at the top, but digging any depth, its red Clay full of glistering spangles. As for Iron, Steel, Antimony, and Terra Sigillata, they are very frequent. The air of the Country, especially about Henerico, and upwards, is very temperate, and agrees well with our English bodies. The extremity of Summer is not hot as in Spain, nor the cold in Winter so sharp as ours in England. The Spring and Harvest are the two longest seasons, and very pleasant. The Summer and Winter are both but short. The Winter for the most part is dry and fair; but the Summer ofttimes watered with great and sudden showers of Rain, whereby the cold of Winter is warmed, and the heat of Summer is cooled.

Amongst the Beasts in Virginia, Strange Beasts.there are two kinds most strange. One of them is the Female Possowne, which hath a bag under her belly, out of which she will let forth her young ones, and take them in again at her pleasure. The other is the flying Squerril, which, by the help of certain broad flaps of Skin, growing on each side of her fore-legs, will fly from one Tree to another at twenty or thirty paces distance, and more if she have the benefit of a little puff of Wind. The English Kine, Goats, Hoggs, &c. prosper very well.

They have Hawkes of several sorts,Their Hawks and other Fowl. and amongst them Auspreis, Fishing Hawkes, and Cormorants. In the Winter they have great store of Cranes, Herons, Pidgeons, Patridges, and Black-birds. The Rivers and Creeks are over-spread with Swans, Geese, Brants, Divers, and those other named before. The Woods have many kinds of Rare and delightful Birds.

The Rivers abound with Fish,Birds and Fish. both small and great, as Pike, Carp, Eele, Perches of six several sorts, &c. The Sea-fish come into their Rivers in March, and continue till the end of September. Frst come in great Skuls of Herrings: Then big Shads, and Rock-fish follow them. Then Trouts, Base, Flounders, and other dainty Fishes come in before the other be gone. Then come in multitudes of great Sturgeons, and divers others.

Some five miles about Henerico by land,Bermudas City. but by water fourteen miles. Sr. Tho. Dale, Anno Christi 1611. began to build a City, called the New Bermoodas, situated very commodiously, whereunto he laid out, and annexed to be belonging to that Corporation for ever: many miles of Wood-lands, and Champion, which he divided into several Hundreds. As the Upper and the Nether Hundreds Roch-Dale Hundreds, Wests-Sherley Hundred, and Diggs his Hundred.

p. 15Anno Christi 1614. Pacahuntas,Powhatans Daughter converted baptized and married. the beloved Daughter of the great King Powhatan, having been carefully instructed in the Christian Religion, by the care of Sr. Tho. Dale, and having made some good progress therein, renounced publickly her Countrey Idolatry, and openly confessed her Christian Faith, and desiring it, was baptized by the name of Rebecca, and was afterwards married to one Mr. Rolph an English Gentleman of good repute, her Father and friends giving their approbation to it, and her Vncle gave her to him in the Church.

Anno Christi 1616. Sr. Tho. Dale returning into England, She comes into England.there came over with him Mr. Rolfe, with Rebecca, his Convert and Consort, and Tomocomo, one of Powhatans Counsellors; Mr. Rolfs Wife Rebecca, though she carried her self very civilly and lovingly to her Husband, yet did she behave her self as the Daughter of a King, and was accordingly respected by divers persons of Honour here in England, in their hopeful zeal by her means to advance Christianity in these Countries. As she was with her Husband returning into Virginia, at Gravesend she fell sick, and came to her end and Grave, having given great demonstration of her Christian Faith and Hope.

The English in Virginia Anno Christi 1620. were divided into several Burroughs, Her death.each man having his share of Land duly set out for him, to hold and enjoy to him and his Heirs for ever. The publick Lands also for the Company were set out by themselves; the Governours share by it self; the Colledges by it self, and for each particular Burrough; the Ministers Gleab also was set out and bounded, their being 200. l. per annum allowed to each Minister for each Town. They are all Governed according to the laudable Form of Justice used in England. The Governour is so restrained by a Counsel joyned with him, that he cannot wrong any man, who may not have any speedy remedy.

In the years 1619. and 1620. there were 9. or ten ships sent to Virginia, Vrginia divided.wherein were 1261. persons; most of them being for publick uses, As to plant the Governours Land, 80. persons; Tenants for the Companies Land 130. Tenants for the Colledge Land, 100. Tenants for the Ministers Gleab-Lands 50. Young Maids to make Wives for so many of the Planters 90. Boyes for Apprentices 100. Servants for the publick, 50. Some were imployed to bring up thirty of the Infidels children in true Religion and Civility.

The Commodities which the Planters were directed to apply themselves to,How Governed: were Iron; for the making whereof, 130 men were sent over to set up Iron work; Proof having been made of the excellency of that Iron.

Cordage: Persons sent over.For which (beside Hemp) order was given for the planting of Silk-grass (naturally growing in those Parts) in great abundance, which makes the best Cordage, and Linnen in the World.Commodities, their Iron, Pot, and Sope ashes Pitch and Tar. Of this every Housholder was bound to set 100. Plants; and the Governour himself set five thousand.

Pot-ashes, and Soap-ashes; Pitch and Tar. for the making whereof, divers Polanders were sent over.

Timber of all sorts,Timber. with Masts, Planks, and Boords for provision of p. 16Shipping, &c. there being not so good Timber for all uses in any Countrey whatsoever; and for the help in these works, provision was sent of Men and Materials for the setting up of sundry Saw-mills.

Silk: Silk.For which the Countrey is exceeding proper, having an innumerable of the best Mulberry-trees, and some Silk-worms naturally found upon them, producing excellent Silk, and to further this work, many seeds of the best Silk-worms were sent over.

Vines; Vines.Whereof the Countrey naturally yields great store, and of sundry sorts▪ which by good culture might be brought to excellent perfection: for effecting whereof divers Skilful Vegneroons were sent, with store also from hence of Vine Plants of the best sort.

Salt: Salt.Which work were ordered to be set up in great plenty, not only to serve the Colony, but to promote the great Fishings upon those Coasts.

Divers persons of publick spirits gave much to the furtherance of this Plantation.Gifts to the Plantation. Two unknown persons gave Plate and other necessaries for the furnishing of two Communion Tables. Mis. Mary Robinson gave 200. l. towards the building of a Church in Virginia. An unknown person sent the Treasurer 550. l. in gold for the bringing up of some of the Infidels children in the knowledge of God, and true Religion, and in fit Trades whereby they might live honestly in the World. Mr. Nicholas Ferrar by Will gave 300. l. to the Colledge in Virginia, to be paid when there should be ten of the Infidels children placed in it. And in the mean time 24. l. per annum to be distributed unto three discreet and godly men in the Colony, which should bring up three of the Infidels children in the Christian Religion, and in some good course to live by. An other unknown person gave 10. l. to advance the plantation.

Anno Christi 1620.Persons sent over. the Right honourable Henry E. of Southampton was made Treasurer; from which time to the year 1624. there were 24. Ships sent to Virginia: And there were divers persons set for the making of Beads, wherewith to trade with the Natives, and for making of Glass of all sorts: And 55. young Maids were sent to make Wives for the Planters. Also a Magazine of all necessaries was sent for the Colony, to the value of 2000. l. besides Goods, sent by private persons great store. Twenty five persons were sent to build Boats, Pinnaces, and ships for the use of the Colony in the Fishing Trade, and for further discovery.

The Plants of Cotten Wool Trees prosper well, and so did Indigo Seeds, Oranges, Lemons, Sugar Canes, Cassary, Pines, Plantanes, Potatoes, and sundry other Indian Fruits.

Some of the English East-India Company gave seventy pound,Gifts to promote the Plantation. eight shillings sixpence, towards the building of a Free Schoole in Virginia, to be called the East-India School. Another unknown person added to it the sum of thirty pound. And another sent in Gold twenty five pound. Another unknown person gave thirty pound; for which there was to be allowed fourty shillings a year for ever, for a Sermon Preached before the Virginia Company. Another gave a rich Bible, and a great Church Bible, and other Books to be sent to Virginia, and an exact Map of America. The Books were valued at ten pound. Mr. p. 17Tho. Bargrave, a Minister in Virginia, when he died, left for the use of the Colledge his Library worth one hundred Marks.

… Anno Christi 1621. The treacherous Natives, notwithstanding all the Courtesies and kind Usage by the English to them, most Perfidiously, and Treacherously murthered above three hundred of them, and would have done the like to all the rest, but that God (through his infinite Goodness and Mercy) moved the heart of one of them, who was Converted to Christianity, to Discover the same a few hours before it was put in Execution, the like Massacres have been since.