AsCanadais by some accounted a general Province, containingNew France,L’Accadie,Norumbega, and other places, so underVirginialargely taken, are comprehendedNew England,New Netherlands, andVirginiaproperly so call’d; however, since that part which vulgarly goes under the Name ofVirginiaandNew Englandwere possess’d, if not discover’d, at several times, and their Plantations promoted and propagated upon several occasions, and by distinct Interests, and sinceNew Englandhath been look’d upon as a place considerable enough for Persons of very eminent quality to concern themselves in it, we rather are induc’d to consider this Countrey as a principal part, than as any way depending on, or being any Branch or Portion ofVirginia.
Situation ofNew England.
It lies betweenNorumbega, which it hath Northward, andNew NetherlandsSouthward, from forty one to forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude, in the midst of the temperate Zone, and paralell toFranceand some part ofItalyin the Western Hemisphere, so that one would think it should enjoy the same temperature of Air; but the contrary is found, for that part which borders upon the Sea is colder, partly by reason that the Sea-waves break the reflexion of the Sun-beams, partly by reason of the abundance of Vapors, which mounting upward, abate the ardor of them; but the more Inland parts of the Countrey are indifferently warm: Moreover it hath been found by certain experience, that those Countreys which look towards the East, or Sun-rising, are colder than those which lie towards the West, or Sun-setting, and those that have the Evening Winds on them, warmer than those which have the Morning Winds; which being so, it should follow, that the temperature of the Air in those Regions is peculiar to the Bodies of those of our Nation, who being accustom’d to a Climate somewhat temperate, are neither able to endure extremity of Cold, nor immoderate Heat: Yet there are who affirm, thatNew England, though situate in the midst of the temperate Zone, nevertheless feels both extremities of the two opposite Zones, in the Summer the heat of the Torrid, and in the Winter the cold of the Frigid.
First discovery.
As for the first discovery of this Countrey, it is not to be expected otherwisethan that of the discovery of those other Countreys hitherto discours’d of, that is to say very uncertain; but because theFrenchboast ofJoannes Verrazanus(who though anItalian, was employ’d by the French KingFrancisthe First) as the first Discoverer, not onely ofNova Francia, as hath been already intimated, but also of this Countrey and the adjoyning Coast and Regions, we shall not think it impertinent to give from their own Relations, a brief view of his Voyage, and afterwards a particular Description of theEnglishPlantations there, and of their Transactions, both one with another, and between them and the Nations. The Narration ofVerrazanus’s Voyage is as followeth:
Remarkable Voyage ofVerrazanus.
“On command of theFrenchKingFrancisthe First,John Verrazanus,Anno 1524.setting Sail Westward from theCanaryIsles, discover’d a lowAmericanCoast, in thirty four Degrees North Latitude, inhabited by naked People, which behind the sandy Hills facing the Sea, Manur’d many fruitful Plains. Then Sailing a hundred Leagues along the Shore Northerly, he view’d a Countrey full of Vines, which grew up amongst the Boughs of high Trees; and Sailing up a pleasant River, Landed on the IslandClandia, full of woody Mountains: thence he stood for the main Continent; where after having visited a King, Clad in wrought Deer-skin, he Sail’d by a Bay, at whose Mouth appear’d a Rock in an Inlet, twenty Leagues; where appear’d five small Isles, all of them exceeding fruitful. After this (being got a hundred and fifty Leagues to the Northward) he found very salvage People, whose Heads appear’d through Bear-skins and Sea-Calves. By this time havingTerreneufon his Starboard, he return’d back toDiepe.”
Thus farVerrazanusmade some discovery of the Coast, which hath since not onely been farther inspected by theEnglish, but also by them Planted and call’dNew England.
The setling of Plantations.
This Countrey, whether first discover’d by the saidVerrazanus, or together with the rest of largely-takenVirginia, by SirWalter Raleigh, or, as some say, by CaptainGosnald, in the Year 1602. was so well known to theEnglishin the beginning of KingJames’s Reign here, that the setling and carrying on of Plantations in this part ofAmerica, was vigorously promoted by many of the most eminent Persons inEngland: whereupon it was about the Year 1606. being the fourth Year of the said King, granted by Patent to several Lords, Knights, Gentlemen and Merchants, under the denomination ofThe Plymouth Company, both in favour of those generous Spirits, who studied and endeavor’d the good of the Publick by foreign Plantations, and indulgence to those, who not well satisfi’d with the Government of Church and State, and willingly transporting themselves and Families thither, as to theirAsylum, could more conveniently be spar’d than the better affected part of the People: And although the Colonies at first sent over succeeded not according to expectation, yet in a short time there Plantations were brought to very great perfection. CaptainWeimouth, who had been employ’d there by the LordArundelofWarder, for the discovery of the North-West Passage, falling short of his Course, hapned into a River on the Coast ofAmerica, call’dPemmaquid; from whence he brought five of the Natives forEngland, three of whose Names wereMannida,SkettwarroesandTasquantum, and Landing atPlymouth, presented them to SirFerdinando Gorges, whom he made use of as Instruments for the farther advancement of these Plantations: they were all of one Nation, but of several parts, and several Families; he kept them with him three years, and observing in them an inclination to vertuous Designs, and Spirits above the Vulgar, he gain’d information fromthem what great Rivers ran up into the Land, what Men of note were seated on them, what Power they were of, how Ally’d, what Enemies they had, and the like; and taking some light from thence, sent away a Ship, furnish’d with Men, and all kind of Necessaries convenient for the Service intended, under the Command of CaptainHenry Chaloung, a Gentleman of a good Family, and very capable for Undertakings of this nature; and giving him sufficient Instructions what to do, sent along with him two of the said Natives for his better Conduct and Direction, ordering him by all means to keep the Northerly Gage as high asCape Briton, till they had discover’d the Main, and then to beat it up to the Southward as the Coast tended, till they found by the Natives they were near the place to which they were assign’d. By that time they were about a hundred Leagues off the Island ofCanara, the Captain fell sick of a Feaver, and the Winds being Westerly, his Company shap’d their Course for theIndies, and coming toSt. John de Porto Rico, the Captain went ashore for the recovery of his Health, whilst the Company took in Water, and such other Provisions as they had present need of, and spent some time in Hunting, and other Recreations; after which steering their intended Course, they were met with by theSpanishFleet that came from theHavana, taken Prisoners and carried intoSpain, the Ship and Goods being confiscated, the Voyage overthrown, and the Natives lost.
Not long after the setting out ofChaloung,Thomas Hamanwas sent by SirJohn Popham, Lord Chief Justice ofEngland, towards the River ofSagadehoc, to the succour ofChaloung, if need were; but not finding him, after he had scowr’d the Coast all about, he return’d back intoEngland.
CaptainPrinnewas likewise sent fromBristol, who arriving happily in those Parts, brought back with him at his return the most exact Discovery of that Coast that ever had been gain’d till then.
A while after, at the Charge of the said SirJohn Popham, a hundred Men were sent to settle a Colony atSagadehoc, under the Command ofGeorge Popham,Raleigh Gilbert, Master of the Ship, who seated themselves in aPeninsula, at the Mouth of this River; which attempting to discover, they met with a Wood near to an Island, distant from the Line about forty five Degrees, and some odd Seconds, where they easily went on Shore. In the Year 1608. the Commander of the Colony deceasing, and not long after him the Lord Chief Justice, who had been the chief that had furnish’d them with fresh Supplies, they return’d forEnglandin those Ships that had been sent them with Succours: At which unexpected return, the Patrons of the Design were so offended, that for a certain time they desisted from their Enterprizes. In the mean while theFrenchmaking use of this occasion, Planted Colonies in divers places, when SirSamuel ArgalfromVirginiadisturb’d their Designs, and brought away Prisoners all he could lay hold on.
Suddenly after CaptainHobsonand divers others were set out with very great Preparations, and with them two of the Natives which had been detain’d for some time inEngland, whom they thought to have made use of, the better to draw the rest of the Natives to their Commerce; but because a little before twenty four of them had been treacherously dealt with by oneHunt, they contracted from thence so great an animosity towards theEnglish, that CaptainHobsonwas constrain’d to return without effecting any thing.
In the Year 1614. CaptainJohn Smithbeing sent to Fish for Whales, and seek after Mines of Gold and Silver, Landed upon the Island ofMonahiggan, where he found some store of Whales, but not such as those by whose Oyl they use to make so much profit.
About the same time (two of the Natives being recover’d,ErpenowofCapawick, that had escap’d from CaptainHobson, andAssacumetofPemmaquid, one of those that had been taken Prisoners withChaloung) CaptainHarly, with Necessaries convenient for such a Voyage, was dispatch’d away by SirFerdinando Gorges, the Earl ofSouthamptonfavouring the Design, and furnishing him with some Land-Soldiers under the Command of CaptainHobson, who not discourag’d with his former ill Success, resolv’d upon a second Adventure.
In the Year 1615. SirRichard Hakingsundertook a Voyage into those Parts by authority of the Council of the second Colony, but by reason of the great Wars among the Natives, his Observations could not be such as might give any farther light than what had been already receiv’d.
Soon after which CaptainDormercoming forEnglandfromNew-found-Land, and Landing atPlymouth, apply’d himself to the Governor, by whom he was dispatch’d away, with Direction to meet CaptainRocroft, sent away a little before; butRocroftbeing dead by that timeDormercould come after him toVirginia, where he heard he was, he returning toCapawick, was there set upon byErpenow, the foremention’d Salvage, and otherIndiansthat were Conspirators with him; and within a short while after atVirginia, whither he went to be cur’d of the Wounds he receiv’d in that Assassination, he fell sick and died.
About the Year 1623. CaptainRobert Gorges, newly come out of theVenetianWar, was employ’d by the Council ofNew EnglandsAffairs as the Lieutenant-General, to regulate the Abuses of divers Fisher-men and other Interlopers, who without License frequented those Coasts: for which Service he had assign’d to him all that part of the main Land situate upon the North-East side of the Bay of theMessachasets.
By these several Colonies sent so thick one after another, both a full Discovery of the Countrey came to be made, and a large gap open’d to the free possession thereof; yet in regard of the many disappointments and misfortunes the several Companies sent over met with, and counting the vast Charges their setting forth cost the Undertakers, which would have been still increas’d by the need of continu’d Supplies, in all probabilityNew Englandwould have been but thinly peopled to this day, had not a great Tide of People, possess’d with an aversion to the Church-Government ofEngland, and fled intoHollandforLiberty of Conscience, eagerly taken hold of this opportunity to make themselves Masters of their own Opinions, and of a Place where they might erect a Government suitable thereunto: and though at first there were some Exceptions taken, as if this Countrey was to be made a Receptacle of Sectaries, and such as condemn’d the Ecclesiastical Government of the Nation, insomuch that SirFerdinando Gorges, to whom they apply’d themselves, desiring him to mediate for them to the Council ofNew EnglandsAffairs, when they perceiv’d the Authority they had from theVirginiaCompany, could not warrant their abode there, had enough to do (notwithstanding his Apology,That these things hapned contrary to his expectation) to wipe away the jealousie which was entertain’d of him, it being Order’d, that no more should be suffer’d to pass intoNew England, but such as should take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy: yet at last there was little notice taken who went, perhaps upon consideration, that the vast resort of People thither would be of greater advantage to the Plantations, than their different Opinions, at so remote a distance, could be prejudicial, so long as they acknowledg’d Obedience to the King and Civil Power: However, SirFerdinando, to clear himself the better, mov’d those Lords that were the chief Actors in the Business, to resign their Grand Patent to the King, and passparticular Patents to themselves of such part of the Countrey along the Sea-Coast, as might be sufficient for them: To this Motion there being a general Assent given by the Lords, and a Day appointed for the conclusion thereof, an Act was made for the Resignation of the Patent, alloting to each Man their several Bounds. From the uttermost parts began the Limits of the LordMougrave, and ended atHudson’sRiver. To the Eastward of which River, for the space of sixty Miles in length, was placed the Duke ofRichmond’s Assignment: Next to him was setled the Earl ofCarlile: Next him the LordEdward Gorges: Next the Marquess ofHamilton: Then CaptainJohn Mason: And lastly his own, which extended to the great RiverSagadehoc, being sixty Miles, and so up into the Main Land a hundred and twenty Miles, which he was pleas’d to call by the Name ofThe Province of Main.
The Landing of theEnglishinPlymouthPlantation was very much facilitated by the great Mortality that hapned amongst theIndiansabout that time, amongst thePecods,Narragansets,Nianticks,Tarantines,Wippanaps, and those ofAbargini,Agissawang, andPockanekie, theirPowwows, or Doctors, seeing with amazement theirWigwams, or Streets, lie full of dead Bodies, and in vain expecting help fromSquantamtheir good, orAbbamochtheir bad God. Not long before, that blazing Comet, so much talk’d of inEurope, apppear’d after Sun-setting in their Horizon South-West for the space of thirty Sleeps, (for so they reckon their Days). They Landed at first with little or no resistance, a handful of Men onely being sent before to keep possession for their Companions, who arriv’d eight days after; when the Natives appearing with their Bowes and Arrows, let flie their long Shafts amongst them; whereupon one CaptainMiles Standishwith his Fowling-piece shot the stoutestSachemamongst theIndians, as he was reaching an Arrow from his Quiver; which the rest seeing, fled into the Woods and Thickets.
The same Year theMerchant-AdventurersinEnglandsent forth store of Servants to provide against the Wants of that place; amongst whom came over a mix’d Multitude, who setled themselves in the Bosom of the Cape now call’dGloucester.
About the Year 1631. there fled to theEnglishatWater-towntheIndiansthat dwelt thereabouts, for protection against theTarratines, a sort of cruel and salvage Cannibals, by whom near the Town ofSaugust, in the very dead time of the Night, one LieutenantWalkerbeing on a sudden alarm’d, was shot through his Coat and Buff Jacket with two Indian Arrows. That Night theEnglishstood upon their Guard, and the next Morning sent word to other parts; who gather’d together, and taking counsel how to quit themselves of theseIndians, agreed to discharge their great Guns; whose redoubled noise, ratling in the Rocks, struck terror into theIndians, and caus’d them to betake themselves to flight. The Autumn following, others of theIndians, who till then had held a good correspondence with the Planters, began to quarrel about the Bounds of their Land; but a great Mortality, by the raging of the Small-Pox, breaking out amongst them, put an end to that Controversie: There died amongst the rest one of the chief of theSagamoresof theMattachusets, call’dSagamore John, who before his Death had been instructed in theChristianFaith, and took care that his two Sons should be nurtured therein.
In the Year 1635. there arrived several Ships with great plenty of Provisions, and many Persons of good Quality, and amongst the rest SirHenry Vane.
The same Year the People ofCambridge, otherwise call’dNew-town, hearing of a fertile place upon the RiverCanectico, remov’d thither, and erected a new Corporation by the Name ofBanectico, being encourag’d thereunto by the LordSayand the LordBrooks, and planting a Forrest at the mouth of the River, call’d itSaybrook Forrest.
About the Year 1638. thePequods, a stout and Warlike Nation, lying to theSouth-West of theMattachusets, were discover’d upon their March within some few Miles ofHartford: Their coming very much terrifi’d all that inhabited thereabouts; but they took onely three Women and return’d; one of whom making a violent resistance, had her Brains beaten out; the other two they carried away with them, without abusing their Persons, as it was suppos’d they would, for they esteem’d their ownShaws, being black, beyond our Women. Their chief Design was to learn to make Gunpowder; which seeing they could not effect, they look’d upon their Prize as nothing so precious as they imagin’d.
A little after anotherIndianWar threatning theEnglish, they resolv’d together to send an Ambassador toCannonicus, chiefSachemof theNaragansits, endeavoring to prevent him from confederating with thePequods, who (as they had Intelligence) were about sending to him to joyn with them:Cannonicusbeing grown old, had resign’d the Government to his NephewMantinemo, a stern Man, and of a cruel Nature. The Ambassadors arriving at his Court, which was about eighty Miles fromBoston, theIndianPrince assembled his chief Councellors, and having Entertain’d the Ambassadors Magnificently, and Feasted them Royally, gave them Audience in his State-house; where theSachem, to manifest his greater State, lay along upon the Ground, with all his Nobility sitting about him, with their Legs doubled up, and their Knees touching their Chin: TheEnglishInterpreter having made his Speech in the Name of the rest, bothCannonicusand the young King gave discreet Answers, signifying their Resolutions to keep a fair Correspondence with theEnglish, and yet not to fall out with thePequods: Who a little after making also their Addresses to the same King, he disswaded them by many Reasons from making War with theEnglish, and to deliver into their hands those Persons that had murther’d any of them. ThePequodsnevertheless, though they seem’d inclinable to his Counsel, yet they acted as Enemies; for when theEnglishsent a Company of Soldiers into their Countrey to treat with them about delivering up the Murtherers, they made shew of willingness, but spying their advantage, betook themselves to their Heels; and whomsoever they took stragling by surprise, they revil’d and insulted over in a most cruel manner, vilifying theChristianReligion, and uttering all the Blasphemies they could invent. Whereupon they rais’d fresh Souldiers for the War, to the number of fourscore, out of the several Towns in theMattachusets, and with someIndianGuides came to their Fort, within which they had pitch’d theirWigwams, the Entrance being on two sides, with intricate Meanders to enter; at which were plac’dIndianBowe-men, who shot the foremost of theEnglish; yet they had little to boast of in the end, for theEnglishrushing in through the winding Ways, and placing themselves round theWigwams, made a very prosperous Shot, by directing the Muzzles of their Musquets against theIndianswhich lay sleeping on the Ground: In the midst of which rouzing terror and confusion they were defeated with little ado, most of them being either wounded, kill’d, or taken. TheEnglishthus animated with the first Victory, send their Prisoners to the Pinnaces, and prosecute the War in Hand, marching against the next Body of theIndians, which lay Encamp’d on a Hill about two Miles distant, where they gave them a second Overthrow, slaying many more than in the first Engagement; the rest flying to a very thick inaccessible Swamp or Bog, were there besieg’d by theEnglish; and skulking up and down, as they saw their opportunity they would Shoot at them with their Arrows, and then suddenly fall flat along in the Water; at last theEnglishfinding out a Passage into the Swamp, utterly defeated them, and put an end to the War with the loss of few Mens Lives, and not many wounded.
In the Year 1640. there came over a fresh Supply of People intoNew England, andfinding no place to settle in within any of the former erected Colonies, they repair’d to a place call’dLong Island, sever’d from the Continent ofNew-Haven, about sixty Miles off the Sea.
The Year following the four Colonies, namely theMassachusets,Plymouth,Canectico, andNew-Haven, taking into consideration the many Nations that were on all sides of them, as theFrench,Dutch,Jews, and nativeIndians; as also how the three first went to lay claim to Lands they never had any right to, and the last to be continually quarrelling and contending, where they saw any hopes of prevailing, by Commissioners chosen from the respective Colonies, concluded a firm Confederation to assist each other in all just and lawful Wars; upon which there came in certainIndian Sachems, asPomham,Miantonemo,Soccanocoh, andUncas, who not onely submitted to theEnglishGovernment, but also, if occasion were, in matters of Controversie submitted to their Arbitration: But the Contest betweenMiantonemoandUncaswas too hot to be appeas’d, (though theEnglishwere not wanting to interpose) unless by the Blood of one of them, as will appear by the Consequence:Uncaswas a Prince ofFor, whose LifeMiantonemo, though a much more potent Prince, sought to take away by treachery, hiring a young Man of thePequodNation to murther him, as the following Story renders suspected; for one dark Evening thisSachempassing from oneWigwamto another, was Shot through the Arm with an Arrow; but recovering the Palace, had the Arrow pull’d out, and his Arm cur’d: the young Man that was suspected being examin’d, how he came by that great store ofWampompeagewhich was found about him, and being able to give no good account, it increas’d the suspicion, and induc’dUncasto complain to theEnglishat a General Court held atBoston: Whereupon the young Man was Examin’d in the presence ofMiantonemo, who came thither with his Attendants; but the young Man tutor’d, as suppos’d, byMiantonemo, pretended thatUncashad enjoyn’d him to feign that he was hir’d byMiantonemoto kill him: To which Tale of his little belief being given, it was concluded upon farther Examination of him in private that he had done the Fact: nevertheless they let him depart withMiantonemo, advising him to send him home toUncas; but he in stead of returning him cut off his Head, and forthwith gather’d an Army of a thousand Men to fight withUncas; who met him with half the Men: the Battel being joyn’d, theNarragansets, though the far greater multitude, were beaten by theWawhiggins, through the Valour ofUncastheir Prince; who perfected his Victory by possessing himself of the Person ofMiantonemo, whom, having put his Life-guard to flight, he carried away with him in triumph to the Town ofHartford, desiring to have the advice of the United Colonies what to do with his Prisoner: Whereupon the Commissioners having had sufficient proof ofMiantonemo’s treachery towards this Prince, advis’dUncasto put him to death, but not to exercise that barbarous kind of cruelty which is usual amongst them in these Cases. TheSachem, upon this advice, not long after pretended to remove him to a safer place, but by the Way caus’d him to be Executed: His Subjects and Kindred were troubled at his Death, but the little Princes his Neighbors, over whom he had tyranniz’d, rather rejoyc’d.
In the Year 1645, the Sons of oldCanonnicus, their Father being dead, began to fall into hot Contentions with their Neighbors, and being forbidden by the United Colonies, they did not stick to threaten Wars to theEnglishalso. Whereupon the Commissioners rais’d an Army of Horse and Foot, and made Major GeneralEdward GibbonsCommander in Chief over them. But theIndianshearing of this Preparation, sent some of their chief Nobility to the Commissioners of the United Colonies, who were assembled atBoston, to Treat about Peace; to which theCommissioners agreed, upon condition they should pay a part of the Charges of the War; and that they should send four of their Sons for Hostages till the Sum was paid; and the Hostages being sent back before theWapomwas all paid, the two Princes,PesicusandMexanimo, upon the sending a Company of Armed Men to demand it, sent the remainder of the Money.
In the Year 1647. divers Persons of Quality ventur’d their Estates upon an Iron Mill, which they began atBraintree, but it profited the Owners little, rather wasting their Stock, the price of Labor in matters of that nature, being double or treble to what it is inEngland.
These are the most material Transactions we find deliver’d by any one which hapned from the first discovery till the Year before mention’d: what hath hapned from that time to this, chiefly relates to the several Revolutions that have been inEngland, and shall be therefore taken notice of when we come to speak of the Government of these Plantations.
The Commodities of this Countrey, together with the Trees and other sorts of Plants.
Though there are, who having remain’d some time, and been concern’d in those Parts, affirm the Soil ofNew Englandto be nothing so fruitful as it is believ’d and commonly deliver’d to be, yet we think it not improper to give a brief account of the Trees and other Plants; also the Beasts, Birds, Fishes, and other Commodities which most Writers will have to be the production of this Countrey, especially since we find them compactly summ’d up by an unknown Writer in the Language of theMuses. The recital of the Plants and Trees, which (excepting the Cedar,Sassafras, and DyersSumach) are all of the same kind with those that grow inEurope, onely differing in nature, according as the Epithets of many of them declare, is as follows:
Trees both in Hills and Plains in plenty be;The long-liv’d Oak, and mournful Cypress Tree;Skie-towring Pines, and Chesnuts coated rough;The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough;The Rozen-dropping Fir, for Mast in use;The Boat-men seek for Oars light, neat grown Sprewse;The brittle Ash, the ever-trembling Asps;The broad-spread Elm, whose Concave harbors Wasps;The Water-spungy Alder, good for nought;Small Eldern by theIndianFletchers sought;The knotty Maple, pallid Birch, Hawthorns;The Horn-bound Tree, that to be cloven scorns;Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse,Who twines embracing Arms about his Boughs.Within thisIndianOrchard Fruits be some;The ruddy Cherry, and the jetty Plumb;Snake-murthering Hazle, with sweet Saxafrage,Whose Leaves in Beer allay hot Feavers rage;The Dyers Shumach, with more Trees there be,That are both good to use, and rare to see.
Trees both in Hills and Plains in plenty be;The long-liv’d Oak, and mournful Cypress Tree;Skie-towring Pines, and Chesnuts coated rough;The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough;The Rozen-dropping Fir, for Mast in use;The Boat-men seek for Oars light, neat grown Sprewse;The brittle Ash, the ever-trembling Asps;The broad-spread Elm, whose Concave harbors Wasps;The Water-spungy Alder, good for nought;Small Eldern by theIndianFletchers sought;The knotty Maple, pallid Birch, Hawthorns;The Horn-bound Tree, that to be cloven scorns;Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse,Who twines embracing Arms about his Boughs.Within thisIndianOrchard Fruits be some;The ruddy Cherry, and the jetty Plumb;Snake-murthering Hazle, with sweet Saxafrage,Whose Leaves in Beer allay hot Feavers rage;The Dyers Shumach, with more Trees there be,That are both good to use, and rare to see.
Trees both in Hills and Plains in plenty be;The long-liv’d Oak, and mournful Cypress Tree;Skie-towring Pines, and Chesnuts coated rough;The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough;The Rozen-dropping Fir, for Mast in use;The Boat-men seek for Oars light, neat grown Sprewse;The brittle Ash, the ever-trembling Asps;The broad-spread Elm, whose Concave harbors Wasps;The Water-spungy Alder, good for nought;Small Eldern by theIndianFletchers sought;The knotty Maple, pallid Birch, Hawthorns;The Horn-bound Tree, that to be cloven scorns;Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse,Who twines embracing Arms about his Boughs.Within thisIndianOrchard Fruits be some;The ruddy Cherry, and the jetty Plumb;Snake-murthering Hazle, with sweet Saxafrage,Whose Leaves in Beer allay hot Feavers rage;The Dyers Shumach, with more Trees there be,That are both good to use, and rare to see.
Trees both in Hills and Plains in plenty be;
The long-liv’d Oak, and mournful Cypress Tree;
Skie-towring Pines, and Chesnuts coated rough;
The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough;
The Rozen-dropping Fir, for Mast in use;
The Boat-men seek for Oars light, neat grown Sprewse;
The brittle Ash, the ever-trembling Asps;
The broad-spread Elm, whose Concave harbors Wasps;
The Water-spungy Alder, good for nought;
Small Eldern by theIndianFletchers sought;
The knotty Maple, pallid Birch, Hawthorns;
The Horn-bound Tree, that to be cloven scorns;
Which from the tender Vine oft takes his Spouse,
Who twines embracing Arms about his Boughs.
Within thisIndianOrchard Fruits be some;
The ruddy Cherry, and the jetty Plumb;
Snake-murthering Hazle, with sweet Saxafrage,
Whose Leaves in Beer allay hot Feavers rage;
The Dyers Shumach, with more Trees there be,
That are both good to use, and rare to see.
Beasts.
The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are theMoose, theRackoon, and theMusquash; the two first Land-Animals, the last Amphibious, which with others common to them with us, are thus versifi’d by the abovesaid Author:
The Kingly Lyon, and the strong-arm’d Bear;The large limb’d Mooses, with the tripping Deer;Quill-darting Porcupines, that Rackoons beCastled ith’ hollow of an aged Tree;The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare,Immured in the self-same Castle are,Lest red-ey’d Ferrets, wily Foxes should,Them undermine, if Ramper’d but with Mold;The grim-fac’d Ounce, and rav’nous howling Wolf,Whose meagre Paunch sucks like a swallowing Gulph;Black glittering Otters, and rich Coated Beaver;The Civet-scented Musquash smelling ever.
The Kingly Lyon, and the strong-arm’d Bear;The large limb’d Mooses, with the tripping Deer;Quill-darting Porcupines, that Rackoons beCastled ith’ hollow of an aged Tree;The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare,Immured in the self-same Castle are,Lest red-ey’d Ferrets, wily Foxes should,Them undermine, if Ramper’d but with Mold;The grim-fac’d Ounce, and rav’nous howling Wolf,Whose meagre Paunch sucks like a swallowing Gulph;Black glittering Otters, and rich Coated Beaver;The Civet-scented Musquash smelling ever.
The Kingly Lyon, and the strong-arm’d Bear;The large limb’d Mooses, with the tripping Deer;Quill-darting Porcupines, that Rackoons beCastled ith’ hollow of an aged Tree;The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare,Immured in the self-same Castle are,Lest red-ey’d Ferrets, wily Foxes should,Them undermine, if Ramper’d but with Mold;The grim-fac’d Ounce, and rav’nous howling Wolf,Whose meagre Paunch sucks like a swallowing Gulph;Black glittering Otters, and rich Coated Beaver;The Civet-scented Musquash smelling ever.
The Kingly Lyon, and the strong-arm’d Bear;
The large limb’d Mooses, with the tripping Deer;
Quill-darting Porcupines, that Rackoons be
Castled ith’ hollow of an aged Tree;
The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare,
Immured in the self-same Castle are,
Lest red-ey’d Ferrets, wily Foxes should,
Them undermine, if Ramper’d but with Mold;
The grim-fac’d Ounce, and rav’nous howling Wolf,
Whose meagre Paunch sucks like a swallowing Gulph;
Black glittering Otters, and rich Coated Beaver;
The Civet-scented Musquash smelling ever.
Of such of these as are altogether unknown to us, take these brief Descriptions.
TheMoose.
The Beast call’d aMoose, is not much unlike red Deer, and is as big as an Ox, slow of Foot, Headed like a Buck, with a broad Beam, some being two Yardswide in the Head, their flesh is as good as Beef, their Hides good for Clothing; if these were kept tame, and accustom’d to the Yoke, they would be a great Commodity: First, because they are so fruitful, bringing forth three at a time being likewise very uberous: Secondly, because they will live in Winter without any Fodder. There are not many of these in theMassachusetsBay, but forty Miles to the North-East there are great store of them.
TheRackoon.
TheRackoonis a deep Furr’d Beast, not much unlike a Badger, having a Tail like a Fox, as good Meat as a Lamb: These Beasts in the day time sleep in hollow Trees, in a Moon-shine night they go to feed on Clams at a low Tide, by the Sea side, where theEnglishhunt them with their Dogs.
TheMusquash.
TheMusquashis much like a Beaver for shape, but nothing near so big; the Male hath two Stones, which smell as sweet as Musk, and being kill’d in Winter, never lose their sweet smell: These Skins are no bigger than a Coney-skin, yet are sold for five Shillings apiece, being sent for Tokens intoEngland; one good Skin will perfume a whole house full of Clothes, if it be right and good.
Birds.
The Birds both common and peculiar are thus recited.
The Princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk,Whom in their unknown ways there’s none can chawk:The Humbird 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 fromTartarianBowe.When asAurora’sInfant day new springs,There th’morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings.The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle-dove,Who to her Mate doth ever constant prove:TheTurky-Pheasant, Heath-cock, Partridge rare,The Carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare,The long-liv’d Raven, th’ominous Screech-Owl,Who tells, as old Wives say, disasters foul.The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov’d Nest,And loves to rove, when Day-birds be at rest:Th’Eel-murthering Hearn, and greedy Cormorant,That near the Creeks in morish Marshes haunt.The bellowing Bittern, with the long-leg’d Crane,Presaging Winters hard, and dearth of Grain.The Silver Swan that tunes her mournful breath,To sing the Dirge of her approaching death.The tattering Oldwives, and the cackling Geese,The fearful Gull that shuns the murthering Peece.The strong-wing’d Mallard, with the nimble Teal,And ill-shape’t Loon, who his harsh Notes doth squeal.There Widgins, Sheldrakes and Humilitees,Snites, Doppers, Sea-Larks, in whole million flees.
The Princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk,Whom in their unknown ways there’s none can chawk:The Humbird 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 fromTartarianBowe.When asAurora’sInfant day new springs,There th’morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings.The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle-dove,Who to her Mate doth ever constant prove:TheTurky-Pheasant, Heath-cock, Partridge rare,The Carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare,The long-liv’d Raven, th’ominous Screech-Owl,Who tells, as old Wives say, disasters foul.The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov’d Nest,And loves to rove, when Day-birds be at rest:Th’Eel-murthering Hearn, and greedy Cormorant,That near the Creeks in morish Marshes haunt.The bellowing Bittern, with the long-leg’d Crane,Presaging Winters hard, and dearth of Grain.The Silver Swan that tunes her mournful breath,To sing the Dirge of her approaching death.The tattering Oldwives, and the cackling Geese,The fearful Gull that shuns the murthering Peece.The strong-wing’d Mallard, with the nimble Teal,And ill-shape’t Loon, who his harsh Notes doth squeal.There Widgins, Sheldrakes and Humilitees,Snites, Doppers, Sea-Larks, in whole million flees.
The Princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk,Whom in their unknown ways there’s none can chawk:The Humbird 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 fromTartarianBowe.When asAurora’sInfant day new springs,There th’morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings.The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle-dove,Who to her Mate doth ever constant prove:TheTurky-Pheasant, Heath-cock, Partridge rare,The Carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare,The long-liv’d Raven, th’ominous Screech-Owl,Who tells, as old Wives say, disasters foul.The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov’d Nest,And loves to rove, when Day-birds be at rest:Th’Eel-murthering Hearn, and greedy Cormorant,That near the Creeks in morish Marshes haunt.The bellowing Bittern, with the long-leg’d Crane,Presaging Winters hard, and dearth of Grain.The Silver Swan that tunes her mournful breath,To sing the Dirge of her approaching death.The tattering Oldwives, and the cackling Geese,The fearful Gull that shuns the murthering Peece.The strong-wing’d Mallard, with the nimble Teal,And ill-shape’t Loon, who his harsh Notes doth squeal.There Widgins, Sheldrakes and Humilitees,Snites, Doppers, Sea-Larks, in whole million flees.
The Princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk,
Whom in their unknown ways there’s none can chawk:
The Humbird 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 fromTartarianBowe.
When asAurora’sInfant day new springs,
There th’morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings.
The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle-dove,
Who to her Mate doth ever constant prove:
TheTurky-Pheasant, Heath-cock, Partridge rare,
The Carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare,
The long-liv’d Raven, th’ominous Screech-Owl,
Who tells, as old Wives say, disasters foul.
The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov’d Nest,
And loves to rove, when Day-birds be at rest:
Th’Eel-murthering Hearn, and greedy Cormorant,
That near the Creeks in morish Marshes haunt.
The bellowing Bittern, with the long-leg’d Crane,
Presaging Winters hard, and dearth of Grain.
The Silver Swan that tunes her mournful breath,
To sing the Dirge of her approaching death.
The tattering Oldwives, and the cackling Geese,
The fearful Gull that shuns the murthering Peece.
The strong-wing’d Mallard, with the nimble Teal,
And ill-shape’t Loon, who his harsh Notes doth squeal.
There Widgins, Sheldrakes and Humilitees,
Snites, Doppers, Sea-Larks, in whole million flees.
Of these theHumbird,Loon, andHumilityare not to be pass’d by without particular observation.
TheHumbird.
TheHumbirdis one of the wonders of the Countrey, being no bigger than a Hornet, yet hath all the Dimensions of a Bird, as Bill, and Wings with Quills, Spider-like Legs, small Claws: for Colour, she is as glorious as the Rain-bow; as she flies, she makes a little humming noise like a Humble-bee, wherefore she is call’d theHumbird.
TheLoon.
TheHumility, orSimplicity.
TheLoonis an ill-shap’d thing like a Cormorant, but that he can neither go nor flie; he maketh a noise sometimes like Sowgelders Horn. TheHumilitiesorSimplicities(as we may rather call them) are of two sorts, the biggest being as large as a green Plover; the other as big as Birds we callKnotsinEngland. Such is the simplicity of the smaller sorts of these Birds, that one may drive them on a heap like so many Sheep, and seeing a fit time shoot them; the living seeing the dead, settle themselves on the same place again, amongst which the Fowler discharges again: These Birds are to be had upon Sandy Brakes, at the latter end of Summer before the Geese come in.
Fishes.
No less Poetical a Bill of Fare is brought of the Fish on the Sea-Coasts, and in the Rivers ofNew Englandin these subsequent Verses.
The King of Waters, the Sea shouldering Whale,The snuffing Grampus, with the Oily Seale,The storm presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog,Line-shearing Shark, the Catfish and Sea Dog,The Scale-fenc’d Sturgeon, wry-mouth’d Hollibut,The flounsing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut:Cole, Haddock, Hage, the Thornback, and the Scate,Whose slimy outside makes him seld in date,The stately Bass, oldNeptune’sfleeting Post,That Tides it out and in from Sea to Coast.Consorting Herrings, and the bonny Shad,Big-belly’d Alewives, Mackrills richly cladWith Rainbow colours, Frostfish and the Smelt,As good as ever LadyGustusfelt.The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies,That seek fresh Water-Brooks withArgusEyes,These watery Villagers, with thousands more,Do pass and repass near the Verdant Shore.Kinds of Shell-fish.The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw,The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Periwigge,And Tortoise sought for by theIndianSqaw,Which to the Flats dance many a Winters Jigge,To dive for Cocles, and to dig for Clams,Whereby her lazie Husbands guts she crams.
The King of Waters, the Sea shouldering Whale,The snuffing Grampus, with the Oily Seale,The storm presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog,Line-shearing Shark, the Catfish and Sea Dog,The Scale-fenc’d Sturgeon, wry-mouth’d Hollibut,The flounsing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut:Cole, Haddock, Hage, the Thornback, and the Scate,Whose slimy outside makes him seld in date,The stately Bass, oldNeptune’sfleeting Post,That Tides it out and in from Sea to Coast.Consorting Herrings, and the bonny Shad,Big-belly’d Alewives, Mackrills richly cladWith Rainbow colours, Frostfish and the Smelt,As good as ever LadyGustusfelt.The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies,That seek fresh Water-Brooks withArgusEyes,These watery Villagers, with thousands more,Do pass and repass near the Verdant Shore.Kinds of Shell-fish.The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw,The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Periwigge,And Tortoise sought for by theIndianSqaw,Which to the Flats dance many a Winters Jigge,To dive for Cocles, and to dig for Clams,Whereby her lazie Husbands guts she crams.
The King of Waters, the Sea shouldering Whale,The snuffing Grampus, with the Oily Seale,The storm presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog,Line-shearing Shark, the Catfish and Sea Dog,The Scale-fenc’d Sturgeon, wry-mouth’d Hollibut,The flounsing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut:Cole, Haddock, Hage, the Thornback, and the Scate,Whose slimy outside makes him seld in date,The stately Bass, oldNeptune’sfleeting Post,That Tides it out and in from Sea to Coast.Consorting Herrings, and the bonny Shad,Big-belly’d Alewives, Mackrills richly cladWith Rainbow colours, Frostfish and the Smelt,As good as ever LadyGustusfelt.The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies,That seek fresh Water-Brooks withArgusEyes,These watery Villagers, with thousands more,Do pass and repass near the Verdant Shore.
The King of Waters, the Sea shouldering Whale,
The snuffing Grampus, with the Oily Seale,
The storm presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog,
Line-shearing Shark, the Catfish and Sea Dog,
The Scale-fenc’d Sturgeon, wry-mouth’d Hollibut,
The flounsing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut:
Cole, Haddock, Hage, the Thornback, and the Scate,
Whose slimy outside makes him seld in date,
The stately Bass, oldNeptune’sfleeting Post,
That Tides it out and in from Sea to Coast.
Consorting Herrings, and the bonny Shad,
Big-belly’d Alewives, Mackrills richly clad
With Rainbow colours, Frostfish and the Smelt,
As good as ever LadyGustusfelt.
The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies,
That seek fresh Water-Brooks withArgusEyes,
These watery Villagers, with thousands more,
Do pass and repass near the Verdant Shore.
Kinds of Shell-fish.
Kinds of Shell-fish.
The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw,The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Periwigge,And Tortoise sought for by theIndianSqaw,Which to the Flats dance many a Winters Jigge,To dive for Cocles, and to dig for Clams,Whereby her lazie Husbands guts she crams.
The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw,
The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Periwigge,
And Tortoise sought for by theIndianSqaw,
Which to the Flats dance many a Winters Jigge,
To dive for Cocles, and to dig for Clams,
Whereby her lazie Husbands guts she crams.
TheSeal.
To speak of the most unusual of these sorts of Fish; First theSeal, which is call’d theSea-Calf, his Skin is good for divers uses, his Body being between Flesh and Fish, it is not very delectable to the Palate, or congruent with the Stomack; his Oil is very good to burn in Lamps, of which he affords a great deal.
TheShark.
TheSharkis a kind of Fish as big as a Man, some as big as a Horse, with three rows of Teeth within his Mouth, with which he snaps asunder the Fishermans Lines, if he be not very circumspect: This Fish will leap at a Mans hand if it be over board, and with his Teeth snap off a Mans Leg or Hand if he be Swimming; these are often taken, being good for nothing but Manuring of Land.
TheHollibut.
TheHollibutis not much unlike a Pleace or Turbut, some being two yards long, and one wide, a Foot thick; the plenty of better Fish makes these of little esteem, except the Head and Finns, which Stew’d or Bak’d is very good; theseHollibutsbe little set by whileBasseis in season.
TheBasse.
TheBasseis one of the best Fishes in the Countrey, and though Men are soon weary’d with other Fish, yet are they never withBasse; it is a delicate, fine, fat, fast Fish, having a Bone in his Head which contains a Sawcerful of Marrow, sweet and good, pleasant to the Palate, and wholsom to the Stomack: When there be great store of them, we only eat the Heads, and Salt up the Bodies for Winter, which exceeds Ling or Haberdine: Of these Fishes some are three, and some four Foot long, some bigger, some lesser; at some Tides a Man may catch a dozen or twenty of these in three hours; the way to catch them is with Hook and Line: The Fisherman taking a great Cod-line, to which he fasteneth a piece of Lobster, throws it into the Sea, the Fish biting at it, he pulls her to him, and knocks her on the head with a Stick.
Alewives.
Alewivesare a kind of Fish which is much like a Herring, which in the later end ofAprilcome up to the fresh Rivers to Spawn, in such multitudes as is almost incredible, pressing up in such shallow Waters as will scarce permit them to Swim, having likewise such longing desire after the fresh Water Ponds, that no beatings with Poles, or forcive agitations by other devices, will cause them to return to the Sea, till they have cast their Spawn.
ClammsorClamps.
ClammsorClamps, are a Shell-fish not much unlike a Cockle, they lie under the Sand and have every one of them a round hole to take Air, and receive Water at. When the Tide ebbs and flows, a Man running over theseClammbanks will presently be made all wet, by their spouting of Water out of those small holes: These Fishes are in great plenty in most places of the Countrey, which is a great Commodity for the feeding of Swine, both in Winter and Summer; for beingonce us’d to those places, they will repair to them as duly every Ebb, as if they were driven to them by Keepers: In some places of the Countrey there beClammsas big as a Peny white Loaf, which are great Dainties amongst the Natives, and would be in great esteem amongst theEnglish, were it not for better Fish.
Other Commodities which this Countrey is said to yield, are, in down-right Prose, Furrs, Flax, Linnen, Iron, Pitch, Masts, Cables, and some quantity of Amber; so that if what many Authors have consented to assert concerningNew Englandbe not a meer Fiction, what e’re hath been affirm’d of the unfruitfulness of the Country will demonstrably be found invalid.
Noxious Creatures.
There are also to be found here some hurtful Creatures, of which, that which is most injurious to the Person and Life of a Man is theRattle-Snake, which is generally a yard and a half long, as thick in the middle as the small of a Mans Leg; she hath a yellow Belly, her Back being spotted with black, russet, yellow, and green colours, plac’d like Scales; at her Tail is a Rattle, with which she makes a noise when she is molested, or when she seeth any approach near her; her Neck seems to be no thicker than a Mans Thumb, yet she can swallow a Squirril, having a great wide Mouth, with Teeth as sharp as Needles, wherewith she biteth such as tread upon her, her Poyson lyeth in her Teeth, for she hath no Sting. When any Man is bitten by any of these Creatures, the Poyson spreads so suddenly through the Veins, and so runs to the Heart, that in one hour it causeth Death, unless he hath the Antidote to expel the Poyson, which is a Root call’dSnake-weed, which must be champ’d, the Spittle swallow’d, and the Root apply’d to the Sore; this is present Cure against that which would be present death without it: This Weed is rank Poyson, if it be taken by any man that is not bitten; whosoever is bitten by these Snakes, his flesh becomes as spotted as a Leopard, until he be perfectly cur’d. It is reported, that if the Party live that is bitten, the Snake will die, and if the Party die, the Snake will live. This is a most Poysonous and dangerous Animal, yet nothing so bad as the report goes of it inEngland; for whereas it is said to kill a Man with its breath, and that it can flie, there is no such matter, for it is naturally the most sleepy and unnimble Creature that lives, never offering to leap or bite any Man, if it be not trodden on first; and it is their desire in hot weather to lie in Paths, where the Sun may shine on them, where they will sleep so soundly, that I have known four Men stride over one of them, and never awake it; five or six Men have been bitten by them, which by using ofSnake-weedwere all cur’d, never any yet losing his life by them. Cows have been bitten, but being cut in divers places, and this Weed thrust into their flesh, were cur’d; A small Switch will easily kill one of these Snakes. In many places of the Country there be none of them, as atPlymouth, New-town, Igowamme, Nahant, &c.In some places they will live on one side of the River, and swimming but over the Water, as soon as they are come into the Woods, they turn up their yellow Bellies and die. Up into the Countrey, Westward from the Plantations, is a high Hill, which is call’dRattle-Snake-Hill, where there are great store of these Poysonous Creatures.
There are likewise troublesome Flies.
First there is a wild Bee or Wasp, which commonly guards the Grape, building by Cobweb habitation amongst the Leaves: Secondly a great green Flie, not much unlike our Horse-Flies inEngland; they will nipp so sore, that they will fetch Blood either of Man or Beast, and are most troublesome where most Cattel are, which brings them from out of the Woods to the Houses; this Flie continues but for the Moneth ofJune. The third isGurnipper, which is a small black Flie, no bigger than a Flea; her biting causeth an itching upon the Hands or Face, whichprovoketh scratching, which is troublesome to some; this Flie is busie but in close Mornings or Evenings, and continues not above three Weeks; the least Wind or heat expels them. The fourth is aMusketor, which is not unlike to our Gnats inEngland; in places where there is no thick Woods orSwamps, there are none or very few. In the new Plantations they are troublesome for the first year, but the Wood decaying they vanish: These Flies cannot endure Wind, heat or cold, so that these are only troublesome in close thick Weather, and against Rain, many that are bitten will fall a scratching, whereupon their Faces and Hands swell.