USA > Virginia > The generall historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer isles: with the names of the adventurers, planters, and governours, from their first beginning, an. 1584. To this present 1626. With the proceedings of those severall colonies > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
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193
The habitations of the Salvages in particular.
great high clifts of barren Rocks ouergrowne with Wood, but where the Salvages-dwell there the ground is excellent salt, and fertill. Westward of this Riuer is the Country of Au- cocisco. in the bottome of a large deepe Bay, full of many great Iles, which diuides it into many good Harbours. Saw- ocotitel is the next, in the edge of a large Sandy Bay, which hath many Rockes and Iles, but few good Harbours, but for Barkes I yet know; but all this Coast to Pennobscot, and as farre as I could see Eastward of it is nothing, but such high craggy clifty Rockes and stony Iles. that I wonder sach great Trees could grow vpon so hard foundations. It is a Countrey rather to affright then delight one, and how to describe a more plaine spectacle of desolation. or more barren, I know not. yet are those rocky lles so furnished with good Woods, Springs, Fruits, Fish and Fowle, and the Sca the strangest Fish-pond I euer saw, that it makes me thinke, though the coast be rocky and thus affrightable, the Vallies and Plaines and interior parts may well notwithstanding be very fertill. But there is no Country so fertili hath not some part barren, and New England is great enough to make many Kingdomes and Countries, were it all inhabited. As vou passe the coast still westward, A cominticus and Passataquack are two convenient Harbours for small Barkes: and a good Country within their craggy elifts. Augora is the next: this place might content a right curious judgement; but there are many sands at the entrance of the Harbour, and the worst is, it is imbayed too farre from the deepe Sea: here are many rising hils, and on their tops and descents are many corde fields and delightfull grones: On the East an Hle oftiro or three leagues in length, the one halfe plaine marish ground, fit for pasture or salt Ponds, with many faire high groues of Mulbery trees and Gardens: there is also Okes. Pines. Walnuts. and other wood to make this place an excellent habitation. being a good and safe Harbour.
Naiemkeck, though it be more rocky ground, for Angoan is sandy, not much inferiour neither for the harbour, nor any thing I could perceive but the multitude of people: from hence doth stretch into the Sea the faire head land Tragalesanda, now called Cape An, fronted with the three les wee called the three Tarkes heads; to the north of this doth enter a great Bay, where we found some habitations and Corne fields. they report a faire Riner and at least 80. habitations doch
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194
An Indian slaine, another shot.
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posssesse this Country. But because the French had got their trade, I had no leisure to discover it: the Iles of Matta- hunts are on the west side of this Bay, where are many Iles and some Rocks that appare a great height aboue the water like the Pyramides in Egypt, and amongst them many good Harbours, and then the country of the Massachusits, which is the Paradice of all those parts, for here are many Iles plant- ed with Corne, Groues, Mulberies, saluage Gardens and good Harbours, the Coast is for the most part high clayie sandy clifts, the sea Coast as you passe shewes you all a long large Corue fields, and great troupes of well proportioned people: but the French hauing remained here neere six weeks, left nothing for vs to take occasions to examine the Inhabitants relations, viz. if there be three thousand people vpon those lles, and that the River doth pierce many daies journey the entrailes of that Country: we found the people in those parts very kinde, but in their fury no lesse valiant. for vpon a quarrell we fought with forty or fifty of them, till they had spent all their Arrowes, and then we tooke six or seuen of their Canowes, which towards the euening they ransomed for Beuer skinnes, and at Quonahasit falling out there but with one of them, he with three others crossed the Harbour in a Canow to certaine rockes whereby we must passe, and there let flie their Arrowes for our shot, till we were out of danger, yet one of them was slaine, and another shot through his thigh.
Then come you to Accomacke an excellent good Harbour, good land, and no want of any thing but industrious people: after much kindnesse, wee fought also with them, though soine were hurt, some slaine, yet within an houre after they became friends. Cape Cod is the next presents it selfe, which is onely a headland of high hils, ouer-growne with shrubby Pines, hurts and such trash, but an excellent har- bour for all weathers. This Cape is made by the maine Sea on the one side, and a great Bay on the other in forme of a Sickell, on it doth inhabit the people of Paiemet, and in the bottome of the Bay them of Chawum: towards the South and South-west of this Cape, is found a long and dan- gerous shoule of rocks and sand, but so farre as I incereled it, I found thirty fathome water and a strong currant, which makes mee thinke there is a chanell about this Shoule, where is the best and greatest fish to be bad winter and summer in all
195
The land markes and other notes.
the Country: but the Saluages say there is no Chanell, but that the Shoales beginne from the maine at Pmwemet to the He of Nawset, and so extends beyond their knowledge into the Sea. The next to this is Caparucke, and those abound- ing Countries of Copper, Corne, People and Minerals, which I went to discouer this last yeere, but because I miscarried by the way I will leave them till God please I haue better acquaintance with them.
The Massachusets they report sometimes hane warres with the Bashabes of Pennobscot, and are not alwaies friends with them of Charum and their alliance; but now they are all friends, and haue each trade with other so farre as they baue society on each others frontiers, for they make no such voy- ages as from Pennobscot to Cape Cod, seldome to Massach'set. In the North as I have said they have begun to plant Corne, whereof the south part hath such plenty as they haue what they will from them of the North, and in the Winter much more plenty of fish and fowle, but both Winter and Summer hath it in one part or other all the yeere, being the meane and most indifferent temper betwixt heat and cold, of all the Regions betwixt the Line and the pole, but the Furs North- ward are much better, and in much more plenty then South- ward.
The remarkablest Iles and Mountaines for land Markes are these: the highest Ile is Sorico in the Bay of Pennobscot, but the three lles, and the lles of Matinack are much further in the Sea: Metynacus is also three plaine les, but many great Rocks: Monghigan is a round high He, and close by it Moranis, betwist which is a small Harbour where we rid: in Damerils Iles is such ano her, Sagadahocke is knowne by Satquin, and foure or fiue Iles in their mouth. Smiths les are a heape together, none neere them against Accomintycus: the three Turkes heads, are three Iles. seene farre to Sea- ward in regard of the Head-land. The chiefe Head-lands, are onely Cape Tragebigconda, and Cape Cod, now called Cape James, and Cape Anne.
The chiefe Mountaines, them of Pennobscot. the twinkling Mountaine of Acocisco, the great Mountaine of Sassanor, and the high Mountaine of Massachuset. Each of which you shall finde in the Map, their places, forme. and altitudes. The waters are most pure, procceding from the intrailes of rocky Mountaines: the Herbs and Fruits are of many sorts
196
The land markes and other notes.
and kinds. as Alkermes, Currans, Mulberies, Vines, Respi- ses, Gooseberies. Plums, Wall-nuts, Chesse-nuts, Small-nuts, Pimpions, Gourds, Strawberies, Beanes. Pease, and Maize; a kinde or two of Flax, wherewith they make Nets, Lines, and Ropes, both small and great, very strong for their quantities.
Oake is the chiefe wood, of which there is great differ. ence, in regard of the solle where it groweth, Firre, Pine, Wall-nut. Chesse-mu. Birteh. Ash, Elme, Cipris, Cedar. Mulbery, Plum tree, Hazel!, Saxefras, and many other sorts.
Eagles, Grips, diuers sorts of Hawkes, Craines, Geese. Bramis, Cormorants. Ducks, Cranes, Swaanes, Sheldrakes, Teale, Meawes, Gulls, Turkies, Diue-doppers, and many other sorts whose names I know not.
Whales. Gromnus, Porkpisces, Terbut, Sturgion, Cod, Hake, Haddocke. Cole, Cuske or small Ling, Sharke, Mack? arell, Herring, Mullit, Base, Pinnacks, Cunners, Pearch, Eeles, Crabs, Lobsters, Mustels, Wilks, Oisters, Clamps. Periwinkels, and diuers others, &c.
Moos, a beast bigger then a Stag, Deare red and fallow, Beuers, Wolues, Foxes both blacke and other, Aroughounds. wilde Cats, Beares, Otters. Martins, Fitches, Musquassus, and diuers other sorts of Vermin whose names I know not: all these and digers other good things doe here for want of vse still increase and decrease with little diminution. where- by they grow to that abundance, you shall scarce finde any bay, shallow shore or Coue of sand, where you may not take many clamps or Lobsters, or both at your pleasure, and in many places load your Boat if you please, nor lles where you finde not Fruits, Birds, Crabs, and Mustels, or all of them; for taking at a low water Cod, Cuske, Hollibut, Scate. Turbut. Mackarell, or such like are taken plentifully in divers sandy Bayes, store of Mullit, Bases, and diuers other sorts of such excellent fish as many as their Net can hold: no Ri .. uer where there is not plenty of Sturgion, or Salmon, or both, all which are to be had in abundance observing but their seasons: but if a man will goe at Christmas to gather Cherries in Kent, though there be plenty in Summer, ho mar be deceived: so here these plenties haute each their seasons. as I have expressed: we for the most part bad little but bread and Vinegar, and though the most part of laly when the fishing decaved; they wrought all day, lay abroad in the fles all night, and Hued on - what they found, vet were not
197
Generall Observations.
sicke: But I would wish none long to put himselfe to such planges, except necessitie constraine it: yet worthy is that person to starue that here cannot live if he haue sense, strength and health, for there is no such penury of these bles- sings in any place but that one hundred men may in two or three houres make their prouisions for a day, and he that hath experience to manage these affaires, with forty .or thir- ty honest industrious men, might well vndertake (if they dwell in these parts) to subiect the Saluages, and feed daily two or three hundred men, with as good Corne, Fish, and Flesh as the earth hath of those kinds, and vet make that la- bour but their pleasure: prouided that they haue Engines that be proper for their purposes. Who can desire more content that hath small meanes, or but onely his merit to ad- uance his fortunes, then to tread and plant that ground he hath purchased by the hazard of his life; if hee baue but the taste of vertue and magnanimity, what to such a minde can bee more pleasant then planting and building a foande- tion for his posterity, got from the rude earth by Gods bles- sing and his owne industry without prejudice to any, if hce haue any graine of faith or zeale in Religion, what can he doe lesse hurdfull to any, or more agreeable to God, then to seeke to conuert those poore Saluages to know Christ and humanity, whose labours with discretion will triple requite thy charge and paine; what so truly sutes with honour and honesty, as the discouering things vnknowne, erecting Townes, peopling Countries, informing the ignorant, reform- ing things vniust, teaching vertue and gaine to our natiue mother Country; a Kingdome to attend her, finde imploi- ment for those that are idle, because they know not what to doe: so farre from wronging any, as to cause posterity to remember thee, and remembering thee, euer honour that re- membrance with praise. Consider what were the beginnings and endings of the Blonarchies of the Chaldeans, the Syri- ans, the Grecians and Romans, but this one rule; what was it they would not doe for the good of their commen weale, or their mother City? For example: Rome, what made her such a Monarchesse, but onely the adventures of her youth, not in riots at home, but in dangers abroad, and the justice and judgement out of their experiences when they grow aged; what was their ruine and hurt lait this, the excesse of idlenesse. the fondne se of parents, the want of experience
198
Generall Observations.
in Maiestrates, the admiration of their vndescrued honours: the contempt of true merit, their vniust jealouses, their poli- the incredulities, their hypocriticall seeming goodnesse and their deeds of secret lewdnesse; finally in fine, growing one- ly formall temporists, all that their Predecessors got in many yeeres they lost in a few daies: those by their paines and ver- tues became Lords of the world, they by their ease and vices became slaues to their seruants; this is the difference be- twixt the vse of armes in the field, and on the monuments of stones, the golden age and the leaden age, prosperity and mi- serv, justice and corruption, substance and shadowes, words and deeds, experience and imagination, making common weales, and marring common weales, the fruits of vertue, and the conclusions of vice.
Then who would liue at home idly, or thinke in himselfe any worth to line, onely to eat, drinke and sleepe, and so die; or by consuming that carelesly, his friends got worthily, or by vsing that miserably that maintained vertue honestly, or for being descended nobly, and pine with the vaine vaunt of great kindred in penury, or to maintaine a silly shew of bra- uerv, toile out thy heart, soule and time basely; by shifts, tricks, Cards and Dice, or by relating newes of other mons actions, sharke here and there for a dinner or supper, deceiue thy friends by faire promises and dissimulation, in borrowing where thou never meanest to pay, offend the Lawes, surfet with excesse, burthen thy Countrie, abuse thy solfe, despaire in want, and then cousen thy Kindred, vea euen thy ownc brother, and wish thy Parents death (I will not say damnati- on) to baue their estates, though thou seest what honours and rewards the world yet hath for them, that will secke them and worthily deserue them.
I would bee sorry to offend, or that any should mistake my honest meaning; for I wish good to all, hurt to none: but rich men for the most part are growne to that dotage through their pride in their wealth, as though there were no accident could end it or their life.
And what hellish care doe such take to make it their owne misery and their Countries spoile, especially when there is most need of their imploimeni, drawing by all manner of inventions from the Prince and his honest Subiects, euen the vitall spirits of their powers and estates: as if their baggs or brags were so powerfull a defence, the malicious could no ..
199
Generall Observations.
assault them when, they are the onely bait to cause vs not onely to bee assaulted, but betrayed and murthered in our owne security ere wee will perceive it.
May not the miserable ruine of Constantinople, their im- pregnable walls, riches and pleasures last taken by the Turke, which were then but a bit in comparison of their mightinesse now, remember vs of the effects of priuate couetousnesse, at which time the good Emperour held himselfe rich enough, to haue such rich subiects, so formall in all excesse of vanity, all kinde of delicacy and prodigality: his ponerty when the Turke besieged the Citizens (whose merchandizing thoughts were onely to get wealth) little conceiuing the desperat re- solution of a valiant expert enemy. left the Emperour so long to his conclusions, having spent all he had to pay his young raw discontented Souldiers, that suddenly he, they, and their City were all a prey to the deuouring Turke, and what they would not spare for the maintenance of them who aduentur- ed their lives to defend them, did serue onely their enemies to torment them, their friends and Country, and all Christen- dome to this present day. Let this lamentable example re- member you that are rich (seeing there are such great theeues in the world to rob you) not grudge to lend some proportion to breed them that haue little, yet willing to learne how to defend you, for it is too late when the deed is doing.
The Romans estate hath beene worse then this, for the meere couetousnesse and extortion of a few of them so mou- ed the rest, that not hauing any imploiment but contempla- tion, their great judgements grew to so great malice as them- selues were sufficient to destroy themselues by faction; let this moue you to imbrace imployment, for those whose edu - cations, spirits and judgements want but your purses, not only to prevent such accustomed dangers, but also to gaine more thereby then you have; and you fathers that are either so foolishly fond, or so miserably couetous, or so wilfully ignorant, or so negligently carelesse, as that you will rather maintaine your children in idle wantonnesse till they grow your masters, or become so basely vnkinde that they wish nothing but your deaths, so that both sorts grow dissolute, and although you would wish them any where to escape the Gallowes and ease your cares, though they spend you here one, two or three hundred pound a yeere, you would grudge fo giue halfe so much in adventure with them to obtaine an
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200
Generall Obseruations.
estate, which in a small time, but with a little assitance of your prouidenice, might be better then your owne; but if an An- gell should tell you any place yet vnknowne can affoord such fortunes, you would not beleeue it, no more then Co- lumbus was beleeued there was any such land, as is now the well knowne abounding America, much lesse such large Re- gions as are yet vnknowne, as well in America, as in Africa and Asia, and Terra incognita.
I have not beene so ill bred but I hane tasted of plenty and pleasure, as well as want and misery: nor doth necessity yet, or occasion of discontent force inc to these endenours, nor am I ignorant what small thankes I shall haue for my paines, or that many would have the world imagine them to bee of great judgement, that can but blemish these my designes, by their witty obiections and detractions, vet (i hope) my rea- sons with my deeds will so pregaile with some, that I shall not want imploiment in these affaires, to make the most blinde see his owne senselesnesse and incredulity, hoping that gaine will make them affect that which Religion, Cha- rity and the common good cannot. It were but a poore de- uice in mee to deceive my selfe, much more the King and State, my Friends and Country. with these inducements, which seeing his Majesty hath giuen permission, I wish all sorts of worthy honest industrious spirits would vnderstard, and if they desire any further satisfaction, I will doe my best to give it, not to perswade them to gos onely, but goe with them; not leave them there, but line with them there: I will not say but by ill prouiding and vudue managing, such cour- ses may bee taken may make us miserable enough: but if I may have the execution of what I hane proiected, if they want to eat. let theio eat or neuer disgest mee; If I performe what I say, I desire but that reward out of the gaines may sute my paines, quality and condition, and if I abuse you with my tongue, take my head for satisfaction. If any dis- like at the yeeres end, defraving their charge, by my consent they should freely returne; I feare not want of company suf- ficient, were it but knowne what I know of these Countries, , and by the proofe of that wealth I hope yeerely to returne, il God please to blesse me from such accidents as are beyond my power in reason to prevent; for I am not so simple to thinke that ever any other motiue then wealth will euer erect there a common wealth, or draw company from their
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201
The reasons for a Plantation,
ease and humors at home, to stay in New- England to effect my purposes.
And lest any should thinke the toile might be insupportable, though these things may bec had by labour and diligence; I assure my selfe there are who delight extremely in vaine pleasure, that take much more paines in England to enioy it, then I should doe here to gaine wealth sufficient, and yet I thinke they should not haue balfe such sweet content: for our pleasure here is still gaines, in England charges and losse, here nature and liberty affoords ys that freely which in En- gland we want, or it costeth vs doorety. What pleasure can bee more then being tired with any occasion a shore, in" planting Vines, Fruits. or Herbes, in contriuing their owne grounds to the pleasure of their owne minds, their Fields, Gardens, Orchards, Buildings, Ships, and other workes, &c. to recreate themselues before their owne doores in their owne Boats vpon the Sea, where man, woman and childe, with a small hooke and line, by angling may take divers sorts of excellent Fish at their pleasures; and is it not pretty sport to pull vp two pence, six pence, and twolue pence, as fast as you can hale and vere a line; hee is a very bad Fisher cannot kill in one day with his hooke and line one, two, or three hundred Cods, which dresssed and dryed, if they bee sold there for ten shillings a hundred, though in England they will giue more then twenty, may not boch sereant, master and Merchant be well content with this gaine? if a man worke but three daies in seuen, hee may get more then hee can spend vnlesse hee will be exceedingly excessive. Now that Carpenter, Mason, Gardiner, Taller, Smith, Sailer, Forger, or what other, may they not make this a pretty recreation, though they fish but an houre in a day, to take more then they can eat in a weeke, or if they will not eat it, because there is so much better choise, yet sell it or change it with the Fisher-men or Merchants for any thing you want, and what sport doth yeeld a more pleasing content, and lesse hurt and charge then angling with a hooke, and crossing the sweet aire from Ile to lle, ouer the silent streames of a calme Sea, wherein the most curious may finde profit, pleasure and content.
Thus though all men be not fishers, yet all men whatso- euer may in other matters doe as well, for necessity doth in these cases so rule a common wealth, and each in their Vol. 2-B B
202 How New England is more proper for the benefit.
seuerall functions, as their labours in their qualities may be as profitable because there is a necessary mutuall yse of all.
For Gentlemen, what exercise should more delight them then ranging daily these suknowne parts, vsing fowling and fishing for hunting and hawking, and yet you shall see the wilde Hawkes gine you some pleasure in seeing them stoupe six or seuen times after one another an houre or two together, at the skults of Fish in the faire Harbours, as those 'a shore at a fowle, and neuer trouble nor torment your selues with watching, mewing, feeding, and attending them, nor kill horse and man with running and crying, See you not a Hawke; for hunting also, the Woods, Lakes and Riuers af- foord not onely chase sufficient for any that delights in that kinde of toile or pleasure, but such beasts to hunt, that be- sides the delicacie of their bodies for food, their skinnes are so rich, as they will recompence thy daily labour with a Cap- taines pay.
For Labourers, it those that sow Hempe, Rape, Turnups, Parsnips, Carrats, Cabidge, and such like; giue twenty, thir- ty, forty, fiftie shillings yeerely for an Acre of Land, and meat, drinke, and wages to vse it, and vet grow rich: when better, or at least as good ground may bee had and cost no- thing but labour; it seemes strange to me any such should grow poore.
My purpose is not to perswade children from their parents, men from their wiues, nor seruants from their masters; onely such as with free consent may bee spared: but that each Pa- rish, or Village. in Citie, or Countrey, that will but apparell their fatherlesse children of thirteene or fourteene yeeres of age, or young maried people that haue small wealth to liue on, here by their labour may liue exceeding well. Prouided alwaies, that first there be a sufficient power to command them, houses to roveine them, meines to defend them, and meet provisions le them, for any place may be over-laine: and it is most necessary to haue a fortresse (ere this grow to pract sc ) and sufficient masters, of all necessarie, mecanicaNi qualities, to take the or twelve of them for Apprentises: the Master by this may quickly grow rich, these may learne their travies themselves in t' the like, to a generall and incredi- ble benefit for King 60A Countrey, Master and Seruant.
It would be a l'story of a large volume, to recite the ad- futures of the Spaniards and Portugals, their afronts and
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of England, then any other nation.
defeats, their dangers and miseries; which with such incom- parable honor, and constant resolution, so farre bevond be- lonfo, they have attempted and indured in their discouerics and plantations, as may well condemne vs of too much im- becitlitie, sloth, and negligence: vet the Authors of these new inuentions were held as ridiculous for a long time, as now are others that doe but secke to imitate their- vnparalleld vertues, and though we see daily their mountaines of wealth (sprung from the Plants of their generous indeuours) yet is our sensualisie and vntowardnesse such, and so great, that we either ignorantly beleeno nothing, or so curiously contest, to . preuent we know not what future euents; that we either so neglect, or oppresse and discourage the present, as wee spoile all in the making, crop all in the blooming; and building vp- on faire Sand rather then ypon rough Rocks, judge that we know not, gouerne that wre haue not, feare that which is not; and for feare some should doe too well, force such against their wils to be idle, or as ill. And who is he hath iud rement, courage, and any industry or quality with vnderstanding, will leaue his Country, his hopes at home, his certaine estate, his friends, pleasures, libertie, and the preferment sweet Eng- Tand doth afoord to all degrees, were it not to aduanes his fortunes by enioving his deserts, whose prosperitie once ap- pearing. will encourage others: but it must be cherished as a childe, till it be able to goe and understand it selfe, and not corrected nor oppressed aboue its strength. ere it know where- fore. A childe can neither performe the office nor deeds of a man of strength, nor endure that affliction he is able: nor can an Apprentise at the first performe the part of a Master, and if twentie yeeres be required to make a childe a man, seuen yeeres limited au Apprentise for his trade: if scarce an age be sufficient to make a wise man a States-man, and commonly a man dies ere he hath learned to be discreet; if per - fection be so hard to be obtained, as of necessitie there must be Practice as well as Theoricke: Let no man then con- demne this paradox opinion, to say that halfe seuen yeres is scarce sufficient for a good capacitie to leaine in these af- faires how to carrie himselfe. And who cuer shall try in these remote places the erecting of a Colony, shall ande at the end of souen yeeres occasion enough to vse all his discre- tion: and in the Taterim, all the coment, rewards, gaines. and hopes, will be necessarily required, to be giventothe beginning,
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