Historical Collections of the Indians in New England, Postscript – Table of contents
A POSTCRIPT.
THERE are some passages in the foregoing discourse, unto which this mark ☞ hath reference: as in Chap. II. §. 2. it is said, We shall have occasion to speak more particularly in the sequel of this our history. And in Chap. IX. §. 1. speaking of Martha's Vineyard, called by the Indians Nope, which we have in the former book described. These two passages, with some others of like nature, do refer to something going before and something following after, and yet no mention of it.
Concerning this matter, the reader may please to understand that when I first drew up these Collections, it was intended for a second book of the History of New England. But that being not yet above half finished, and this concerning the Indians being distinct from the other, which treateth principally of the Indians in New England, although it was no great incongruity, had it accompanied the rest▪ But for some reasons at this conjuncture, I have thought it not unseasonable to emit this of the Indians first. The scope and design of the author in that intended history, you may see in what follows, setting forth the number and subjects of each book.
THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND, ESPECIALLY OF THE COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS, IN EIGHT BOOKS, FAITHFULLY COLLECTED BY DANIEL GOOKIN, ONE OF THE MAGISTRATES THEREOF.
BOOK I. Describeth the country of New England in general: the extent thereof: the division of it into four colonies: the situation of the several harbours and islands: the nature of the land and soil: the commodities and product both of the earth and sea, before it was inhabited by the English nation: and divers other things relating thereunto: with a map of the country, to be placed at the end of this first book.
BOOK II. Treateth of the Indians, natives of the country: their customs, manners, and government, before the English settled there: also their present state in matters of religion and government; and in especial of the praying Indians, who have visibly received the gospel; mentioning the means and instruments that God hath used for their civilizing and conversion, and the success thereof through the blessing of God: the present state of these praying Indians: the number and situation of their towns, and their churches and people, both in the colony of Massachusetts, and elsewhere in the country: with divers other matters referring to that affair.
BOOK III. Setteth forth the first discovery, planting, and settling New England by the English: as the time when it was undertaken; the occasion inducing them to transplant themselves and families; the condition and quality of the first undertakes; especially those of Massachusetts colony; and the grounds and motives for their removal from their native country unto New England: with divers other matters concerning the same: and in the close of this book, a brief account of the author's life, and the reasons inducing him to remove himself and family unto New England.
BOOK IV. Discourseth of the civil government of New England; particularly of the colony of Massachusetts, which is founded upon the royal charter of king Charles the first, of famous memory: with a recital of the chief heads of the said charter or patent: with the several gradations of the courts, both executive and legislative: together with a brief mention of the state of the confederacy between the united colonies of New England, viz. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Plymouth, with the publick benefit and safety occurring to the whole country thereby.
BOOK V. Of the present condition and state of the country: as the number and names of the counties and towns: a conjecture of the number of people in the country: the military forces of horse and foot: their fortifications upon their principal harbours: their navigation and number of ships and other vessels: their money, and commodities raised in the country, for use at home, or commerce abroad: of foreign commodities most suitable for the country's use, to be imported: of their manufactures; with the opportunities and advantages to increase the same, which hitherto hath been obstructed, and the reason thereof: with some arguments to excite the people unto more intenseness and diligence in improving the manufacture of the country.
BOOK VI. Giveth an account of the worthies in New England; and especially the magistrates and ministers in all the colonies: their names, and the characters of some of the most eminent of them that are deceased: with the names of the governours of Massachusetts, from the beginning until this present, and the times of their death: and sundry other matters appertaining thereto.
BOOK VII. Mentioneth some of the most eminent and remarkable mercies, providences, and doings of God for this people in New England, from the first beginning of this plantation unto this day; wherein many wonderful salvations of the almighty and our most gracious God hath showed and extended towards them, which they should declare unto their children and children's children, that so the great name of Jehovah may be magnified and only exalted.
BOOK VIII. Declareth their religion and the order of their church government in New England: with a rehearsal of their faith and platform of church discipline, drawn out of the word of God: with a vindication of this people from the unjust imputations of separatism, anabaptism, and other heterodoxes: also a brief mention of the college at Cambridge in New England: the present state thereof: the care and faithful endeavours used, that it may be upheld and encouraged for the education of learned and able men, to supply both orders of church and state in future times: also a brief commemoration of the names of the presidents and fellows, that have been of that society; with other learned men, dead and living, that have been graduates there from its first foundation.
You may here see my design, which I earnestly desired might have been drawn by a more able pen: and I have often earnestly moved able persons to undertake it: but not knowing of any, and being unwilling that a matter of so great concernment for the honour of God and the good of men, should be buried in oblivion, I have adventured in my old age, and in a plain style, to draw some rude delineaments of God's beautiful work in this land. I have, through grace, travelled half way in this work, as is said before: but in truth I find myself clogged with so many avocations; as my publick employ among the English and Indians, and my own personal and family exercises, which by reason of my low estate in the world are the more obstructive and perplexing: so that I cannot proceed in this work so vigorously as I desire. Yet I shall endeavour, by God's assistance, if he please to spare me life and ability, to make what speedy progress I can. If this tract concerning the Indians find acceptance, I shall be the more encouraged to finish and send forth the other: which although it should prove very imperfect, by reason of the weakness and unworthiness of the author; yet I shall endeavour that it be drawn according to truth; and then, if it be of no other use, it may serve to inform my children, or possibly contribute some little help to a more able pen, to set forth the same thing, more exactly and exquisitely garnished, in after times.
THE END OF THE POSTCRIPT.
CORRECTIONS.
PAGE 9, line 6, read people. L. 8, from bot. r. prepare. P. 12, I. 9. r. blankets. P. 13, l. 35, r. night after night. P. 15, l. 17, r. relief. P. 20, l. 7, r. Pokomtakukes. P. 23, l. 26, r. stayed. P. 50, I. 6, from bot. r. four miles. P. 58, l. 10, r. Coluktikut.
The CONTENTS
CHAP. I. Several conjectures of the original of the Indians. Page 4
CHAP. II. Of the principal nations of Indians that inhabit in New-England. Page 7
CHAP. III. Of the language, customs, manners, and religion of the Indians. Page 9
CHAP. IV. Of the inland Indians, particularly of the Maw-hawks, or Maquas. Page 16
CHAP. V. Of the instruments that God hath used for civilizing and converting the Indians. Page 28
CHAP. VI. Of the other means used for civilizing the Indians. Page 37
CHAP. VII. Of the number, names, and situation of the Indian praying towns within the colony of Massachusetts; with the churches gathered in some of them; the quantities of land belonging to their villages; a conjecture of the number of the families and people that inhabit in them; their manner and solemnity in the worship of God; and divers other matters of moment. Page 40
CHAP. VIII. Of the progress of the gospel among the Indians in the colony of New Plymouth; and the instruments God hath raised up there to promote the same. Page 56
CHAP. IX. Of the progress of the gospel among the Indians at Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket; and of the instruments that God hath raised up, to preach the gospel to the Indians of those islands. Page 61
CHAP. X. Giveth an account of what is done with respect to the propagating of the gospel in the jurisdictions of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Page 67
CHAP. XI. Of the corporation for propagating the gospel among the Indians in New England, residing at London; and of the commissioners of the united colonies in New England, intrusted with that affair. Page 71
CHAP. XII. Containeth proposals, as an expedient for civilizing the Indians more and more, and propagating the gospel among them. Page 79
A POSTSCRIPT. Declareth the author's purpose to send forth a larger history of the English in New England, mentioning the heads thereof, which is already in part prepared. Page 84