NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION. OR, A SHORT AND TRUE DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMODITIES AND DISCOMMODITIES of that Country. Written by Mr. Higgeson, a reverend Divine now there resident. Whereunto is added a Letter, sent by Mr. Graves an Engineer, out of New-England, The second Edition enlarged. LONDON, Printed by T. & R. Cotes, for Michael Spark, dwelling at the Sign of the Blue Bible in Green Arbour in the little Old Bailey. 1630. To the Reader. REader, do not disdain to read this Relation; and look not here to have a large Gate and no building within; a full-stuffed Title with no matter in the Book: But here read the truth, and that thou shalt find without any frothy bombasted words, or any acquaint new-devised additions, only as it was written (not intended for the Press) by a reverend Divine now there living, who only sent it to some Friends here, who were desirous of his Relations; which is an Epitome of their proceedings in the Plantation. And for thy part if thou meanest to be no Planter nor Venturer, do but lend thy good Prayers for the furtherance of it. And so I rest a wellwisher to all the good designs both of them which are gone, and of them that are to go. M. S. NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION. LEtting pass our Voyage by Sea, we will now begin our discourse on the shore of New-England. And because the life and welfare of every Creature here below, and the commodiousness of the Country whereas such Creatures live, doth by the most wise ordering of God's providence, depend next unto himself, upon the temperature and disposition of the four Elements, Earth, Water, Aire and Fire (For as of the mixture of all these, all sublunary thin●● are composed; so by the more or less enjoyment of the wholesome temper and convenient use of these, consisteth the only well-being both of Man and Beast in a more or less comfortable measure in all Countries under the Heavens) Therefore I will endeavour to show you what New-England is by the consideration of each of these apart, and truly endeavour by God's help to report nothing but the naked truth, and that both to tell you of the discommodities as well as of the commodities, though as the idle Proverb is● Traveller's may lie by authority, and so may take too much sinful liberty that way. Yet I may say of myself as once Nehemiah did in another case: Shall such a Man as I lie? No verily: It becometh not a Preacher of Truth to be a Writer of Falsehood in any degree: and therefore I have been careful to report nothing of New-England but what I have partly seen with mine own Eyes, and partly heard and inquired from the mouths of very honest and religious persons, who by living in the Country a good space of time have had experience and knowledge of the state thereof, & whose testimonies I do believe as myself. First therefore of the Earth of New-England and all the appertenances thereof: It is a Land of diverse and sundry sorts all about Masathulets Bay, and at Charles River is as fat black Earth as can be seen any where: and in other places you have a clay soil, in other gravel, in other sand●●●s it is all about our Plantation at Salem, for so our Town is now named, Psal. 76.2. The form of the Earth here in the superficies of it is neither too flat in the plainness; nor too high in Hills, but partakes of both in a mediocrity, and fit for Pasture, or for Blow or Meadow ground, as Men please to employ it: though all the Country be as it were a thick Wood for the general, yet in diverse places there is much ground cleared by the Indians, and especially about the Plantation: and I am told that about three miles from us a Man may stand on a little hilly place and see diverse thousands of acres of ground as good as need to be, and not a Tree in the same. It is thought here is good Clay to make Brick and Tiles and Earthen-Pots as needs to be. At this instant we are setting a Bricke-Kill on work to make Bricks and Tiles for the building of our Houses. For Stone, here is plenty of Slates at the I'll of Slate in Masathulets Bay, and Limestone, Freestone, and Smooth-stone, and Ironstone, and Marblestone also in such store, that we have great Rocks of it, and a Harbour hard by. Our Plantation is from thence called Marble-harbour. Of Minerals there hath yet been but little trial made, yet we are not without great hope of being furnished in that Soil. The fertility of the Soil is to be admired at, as appear in the abundance of Grass that groweth every where both very thick, very long, and very high in diverse places: but it groweth very wildly with a great stalk and a broad and ranker blade, because it never had been eaten with Cattle, nor mowed with a Sith, and seldom trampled on by foot. It is scarce to be believed how our Kine and Goats, Horses and Hogs do thrive and prosper here and like well of this Country. In our Plantation we have already a quart of Milk for a penny: but the abundant increase of Corn proves this Country to be a wonderment. Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty are ordinary here: yea Joseph's increase in Egypt is outstripped here with us. Our planters hope to have more than a hundred fouled this year: and all this while I am within compass; what will you say of two hundred fouled and upwards? It is almost incredible what great gain some of our English Planters have had by our Indian Corne. Credible persons have assured me, and the party himself avouched the truth of it to me, that of the setting of 13 Gallons of Corn he hath had increase of it 52 Hogsheads, every Hogshead holding seven Bushels of London measure, and every Bushel was by him sold and trusted to the Indians for so much Beaver as was worth 18 shillings; and so of this 13 Gallons of Corn which was worth 6 shillings & pence, he made about 327 pounds of it the year following, as by reckoning will appear: where you may see how God blessed husbandry in this Land. There is not such great and plentiful ears of Corn I suppose any where else to be found but in this Country: being also of variety of colours, as red, blue and yellow, etc. and of one Corn there springeth four or five hundred. I have sent you many Ears of diverse colours that you might see the truth of it. Little Children here by setting of Corn may earn much more than their own maintenance. They have tried our English Corn at new Plymouth Plantation, so that all our several Grains will grow here very well, and have a fitting Soil for their nature. Our Governor hath store of green Pease growing in his Garden as good as ever I eat in England▪ This Country aboundeth naturally with store of Roots of great variety and good to eat. Our Turnips, Parsnips and Carrots are here both bigger and sweeter then is ordinarily to be found in England. Here are also store of Pumpions, Cowcombers, and other things of that nature which I know not. Also, diverse excellent Potherbs grow abundantly among the Grass, as Strawberrie leaves in all places of the Country, and plenty of Strawberries in their time, and pennyroyal, Wintersaverie, Sorrell, Brookelime, Liverwort, Carvel and Watereresses, also Leeks and Onions are ordinary, and diverse Physical Herbs. Here are also abundance of other sweet Herbs delightful to the smell, whose names we know not, etc. and plenty of single Damask Roses very sweet; and two kinds of Herbs that bear two kinds of Flowers very sweet, which they say, are as good to make Cordage or Cloth as any Hemp or Flax we have. Excellent Vines are here up and down in the Woods. Our Governor hath already planted a Vineyard with great hope of increase. Also, Mulberries, Plums, Raspherries, Corrance, Chestnuts, filberts, Walnuts, Smalnuts, Hurtleberies & Haws of Whitethorne near as good as our Cherries in England, they grow in plenty here. For Wood there is no better in the World I think, here being four sorts of Oak differing both in the Lease, Timber, and Colour, all excellent good. There is also good Ash, Elm, Willow, Birch, Beech, Saxafras, juniper Cyprus, Cedar, Spruce, Pines & Fir that will yield abundance of Turpentine, Pitch, Tarry, Masts and other materials for building both of Ships and Houses. Also here are store of Sumacke Trees, they are good for dying and tanning of Leather, likewise such Trees yield a precious Gum called White Beniamen, that they say is excellent for perfumes. Also here be diverse Roots and Berries wherewith the Indians die excellent holding colours that no rain nor washing can alter. Also, we have materials to make Soap-ashes and Salt-Peter in abundance. For Beasts there are some Beare●, and they say some Lions also; for they have been seen at Cape A●●e. Also here are several sorts of Deer, some whereof bring three or four young ones at once, which is not ordinary in England▪ Also Wolves, Foxes, Beavers, Otters, martin's, great wild Cats, & a great Beast called a Molke as big as an Ox. I have seen the Skins of all these Beasts since I came to this Plantation excepting Lions. Also here are great store of Squerrels', some greater, and some smaller and lesser: there are some of the lesser sort, they tell me, that by a certain Skin will fly from Tree to Tree though they stand far distant. Of the waters of New-England with the things belonging to the same. NEw-England hath Water enough both salt and fresh, the greatest Sea in the World, the Atlantic Sea runs all along the Coast thereof. There are abundance of Lands along the Shore, some full of Wood and Mast to feed Swine; and others clear of Wood, and fruitful to bear Corne. Also we have store of excellent harbours for Ships, as at Cape Anne, and at Masathulets Bay, and at Salem, and at many other places: and they are the better because for Strangers there is a very difficult and dangerous passage into them, but unto such as are well acquainted with them, they are easy and safe enough. The abundance of Sea. Fish are almost beyond believing, and sure I should scarce have believed it except I had seen it with mine own Eyes. I saw great store of Whales, and Crampusse, and such abundance of Makerils that it would astonish one to behold, likewise Codfish abundance on the Coast, and in their season are plentifully taken. There is a Fish called a Basse, a most sweet & wholesome Fish as ever I did eat, it is altogether as good as our fresh Salmon; and the season of their coming was begun when we came first to New-England in june, and so continued about three 〈◊〉 space. Of this Fish our Fishers take many hundreds together, which I have seen lying on the shore to my admiration; yea their N●ts ordinarily take more than they are able to ●ale to Land, and for want of Boats and Men they are constrained to let a many go after they have taken them, and yet sometimes they fill two Boats at a time with them. And besides Basse we take plenty of Sca●e and Thornbacke, and abundance of Lobsters, and the least Boy in the Plantation may both catch and eat what he will of them. For my own part I was soon cloyed with them, they were so great, and far, and luscious. I have seen some myself that have weighed 16 pound, but others have had diverse times so great Lobsters as have weighed 25 pound, as they assure me. Also here is abundance of Herring, Turbut, Sturgeon, Cuskes, Haddocks, Mullets, Eels, Crabs, Muskles and Oysters. Beside there is probability that the Country is of an excellent temper for the making of Sa●●● for since our coming our Fishermen have brought home very good Salt which they found candied by the standing of the Sea water and the heat of the Sun, upon a Rock by the Sea shore: and in diverse Salt Marshes that some have gone through, they have found some Salt in some places crushing under their Feet and cleaving to their Shoes. And as for fresh Water the Country is full of dainty Springs, and some great Rivers, and some lesser Brooks; and at Masathulets Bay they digged Wells and found Water at three Foot deep in most places: and near Salem they have as fine clear Water as we can desire, and we may dig Wells and find Water where we list. Thus we see both Land and Sea abound with store of blessings for the comfortable sustenance of Man's life in New-England. Of the Air of New-England with the Temper and Creatures in it. THe Temper of the Air of New-England is one special thing that commends this place. Experience doth manifest that there is hardly a more healthful place to be found in the World that agreeth better with our English Bodies. Many that have been weak and sickly in old England, by coming hither have been thoroughly healed and grown healthful and strong. For here is an extraordinary clear and dry Air that is of a most healing nature to all such as are of a Cold, Melancholy, Phlegmatic, Reumaticke temper of body. None can more truly speak hereof by their own experience then myself. My Friends that knew me can well tell how very sickly I have been and continually in Physic, being much troubled with a tormenting pain through an extraordinary weakness of my Stomach, and abundance of Melancholic humours; but since I came hither on this Voyage, I thank God I have had perfect health, and freed from pain and vomitings, having a Stomach to digest the hardest and coursest far, who before could not eat finest meat; and whereas my Stomach could only digest and did require such drink as was both strong and stale, now I can and do often times drink New-England water very well, and I that have not gone without a Cap for many years together, neither durst leave off the same, have now cast away my Cap, and do wear none at all in the day time: and whereas beforetime I clothed myself with double clothes and thick Waistcoats to keep me warm, even in the Summer time, I do now go as thin clad as any, only wearing a light Stuffe Cassock upon my Shirt and Stuff Breeches of one thickness without Linings. Besides, I have one of my Children that was formerly most lamentably handled with sore breaking out of both his hands and feet of the Kings-Euill, but since he came hither he is very well over he was, and there is hope of perfect recovery shortly, even by the very wholesomeness of the Air, altering, digesting and drying up the cold and crude humours of the Body: and therefore I think it is a wise course for all cold complexions to come to take Physic in New-England: for a sup of New-englands' Air is better than a whole draught of old England's Ale. In the Summer time in the midst of july and August, it is a good deal hotter than in old England: and in Winter, january and February are much colder as they say: but the Spring and Autumn are of a middle temper. Fowls of the Air are plentiful here, and of all sorts as we have in England as far as I can learn, and a great many of strange Fowls which we know not. Whilst I was writing these things, one of our Men brought home an Eagle which he had killed in the Wood: they say they are good meat. Also here are many kinds of excellent Hawks, both Sea Hawkes and Land Hawks: and myself walking in the Woods with another in company, sprung a Partridge so big that through the heaviness of his Body could fly but a little way: they that have killed them, say they are as big as our Hens. Here are likewise abundance of Turkeys often killed in the Woods, far greater than our English Turkeys, and exceeding fat, sweet and fleshy, for here they have abundance of feeding all the year long, as Strawberries, in Summer all places are full of them, and all manner of Berries and Fruits. In the Winter time I have seen Flocks of Pigeons, and have eaten of them: they do fly from Tree to Tree as other Birds do, which our Pigeons will not do in England: they are of all colours as ours are: but their wings and tails are far longer, and therefore it is likely they fly swifter to escape the terrible Hawks in this Country. In Winter time this Country doth abound with wild Geese, wild Ducks, and other Sea Fowle, that a great part of winter the Planters have eaten nothing but roastmeat of diverse Fowls which they have killed. Thus you have heard of the Earth, Water and Air of New-England, now it may be you expect something to be said of the Fire proportionable to the rest of the Elements. Indeed I think New-England may boast of this Element more than of all the rest: for though it be heresomewhat cold in the winter, yet here we have plenty of Fire to warm us, and that a great deal cheaper than they sell Billets and Faggots in London: nay, all Europe is not able to afford to make so great Fire as New-England. A poor Servant here that is to possess but 50 Acres of Land, may afford to give more wood for Timber & Fire as good as the world yields, than many Noble men in England can afford to do. Here is good living for those that love good Fires. And although New-England have no Tallow to make Candles of, yet by the abundance of the Fish thereof, it can afford Oil for Lamps. Yea our Pine-Trees that are the most plentiful of all wood, doth allow us plenty of Candles, which are very useful in a House: and they are such Candles as the Indians commonly use, having no other, and they are nothing else but the wood of the Pine Tree cloven in two little slices something thin, which are so full of the moisture of Turpentine and Pitch, that they burn as clear as a Torch. I have sent you some of them that you may see the experience of them. Thus of New-englands' commodities, now I will tell you of some discommodities that are here to be found. First, in the Summer season for these three months, june, july, and August, we are troubled much with little Flies called Musketoes, being the same they are troubled with in Lincolneshiere and the Fens: and they are nothing but Gnats, which except they be smoked out of their houses are troublesome in the night season. Secondly, in the Winter season for two months' space, the earth is commonly covered with Snow, which is accompanied with sharp biting Frosts, something more sharp than is in old England, and therefore are forced to make great Fires. Thirdly, this Country being very full of Woods, and Wildernesses, doth also much abound with Snakes and Serpents of strange colours, and huge greatness: yea there are some Serpents called Rattle-snakes, that have Rattles in their Tails, that will not fly from a man as others will, but will fly upon him and sting him so mortally, that he will dye within a quarter of an hour after, except the party stinged have about him some of the root of an Herb called Snake weed to bite on, and then he shall receive no harm: but yet seldom falls it out that any hurt is done by these. About three years since, an Indian was stung to death by one of them, but we heard of none since that time. Fourthly and lastly, Here wants as yet the good company of honest Christians to bring with them Horses, Kine and Sheep to make use of this fruitful Land: great pity it is to see so much good ground for Corn and for Grass as any is under the Heavens, to lie altogether unoccupied, when so many honest Men and their Families in old England through the populousness thereof, do make very hard shift to live one by the other. Now, thus you know what New-England is, as also with the commodities and discommodities thereof: now I will show you a little of the Inhabitants thereof, and their government. For their Governors they have Kings, which they call Saggamores, some greater, and some lesser, according to the number of their Subjects. The greatest Saggamores about us can not make above three hundred Men, and other less Saggamores have not above fifteen Subjects, and others near about us but two. Their Subjects above twelve years since were swept away by a great & grievous Plague that was amongst them, so that there are very few left to inhabit the Country. The Indians are not able to make use of the one fourth part of the Land, neither have they any settled places, as Towns to dwell in, nor any ground as they challenge for their own possession, but change their habitation from place to place. For their Statures, they are a tall and strong limmed People, their colours are tawny, they go naked, save only they are in part covered with Beasts Skins on one of their Shoulders, and wear something before their Privities: their Hair is generally black, and cut before like our Gentlewomen, and one lock longer than the rest, much like to our Gentlemen, which fashion I think came from hence into England. For their weapons, they have Bows and Arrows, some of them headed with Bone, and some with Brass: I have sent you some of them for an example. The Men for the most part live idly, they do nothing but hunt and fish: their wives set their Corn and do all their other work. They have little Household stuff, as a Kettle, and some other Vessels like Trayes, Spoons, Dishes and Baskets. Their Houses are very little and homely, being made with small Poles pricked into the ground, and so bended and fastened at the tops, and on the sides they are matted with Boughs, and covered on the Roof with Sedge and old Mats▪ and for their beds that they take their rest on, they have a Mat. They do generally profess to like well of our coming and planting here; partly because there is abundance of ground that they cannot possess nor make use of, and partly because our being here will be a means both of relief to them when they want, and also a defence from their Enemies, wherewith (I said) before this Plantation begun, they were often endangered. For their Religion, they do worship two Gods, a good God and an evil God: the good God they call Tantum and their evil God whom they fear will do them hurt, they call Squantum. For their dealing with us, we neither fear them nor trust them, for forty of our Musketeers will drive five hundred of them out of the Field. We use them kindly, they will come into our Horses sometimes by half a dozen or half a score at a time when we are at victuals, but will ask or take nothing but what we give them. We purpose to learn their language as soon as we can, which will be a means to do them good. Of the present condition of the Plantation, and what it is. WHen we came first to Nethum kek, we found about half a score Houses, and a fair House newly built for the Governors, we found also abundance of Corn planted by them, very good and well liking. And we brought with us about two hundred Passengers and Planters more, which by common consent of the old Planters were all combined together into one Body Pol●●icke, under the same Governor. There are in all of us both old and new Planters about three hundred, whereof two hundred of them are settled at Nehum-kek, now called Salem: and the rest have Planted themselves at Masathulets Bay, beginning to build a Town there which we do call Cherton, or Charles Town. We that are settled at Salem make what hast we can to build Houses, so that within a short time we shall have a fair Town. We have great Ordnance, wherewith we doubt not but we shall fortify ourselves in a short time to keep out a potent Adversary. But that which is our greatest comfort, and means of defence above all other, is, that we have here the true Religion and holy Ordinances of Almighty God taught amongst us: Thanks be to God, we have here plenty of Preaching, and diligent Catechising, with strict and careful exercise, and good and commendable orders to bring our People into a Christian conversation with whom we have to do withal. And thus we doubt not but God will be with us, and if God be with us, who can be against us? Here ends Master Higgesons' Relation of New-England. A Letter sent from New-England, by Master Graves, Engynere now there Resident. THus much I can affirm in general, that I never came in a more goodly Country in all my life, all things considered: if it hath not at any time been manured and husbanded, yet it is very beautiful in open Lands, mixed with goodly woods, and again open plains, in some places five hundred Acres, some places more, some less, not much troublesome for to clear for the Plough to go in, no place barren, but on the tops of the Hills, the grass & weeds grow up to a man's face, in the Lowlands & by fresh Rivers' abundance of grass and large Meadows without any Tree or shrub to hinder the Sith: I never saw except in Hungaria, unto which I always parallel this country, in all our most respects, for every thing that is here either sown or planted prospereth far better than in Old England: the increase of Corn is here far beyond expectation, as I have seen here by experience in Barley, the which because it is somuch above your conception I will not mention: And cattle do prosper very well, and those that are bred here far greater than those with you in England. Vines do grow here plentifully laden with the biggest Grapes that ever I saw, some I have seen four inches about, so that I ●m bold to say of this country, as it is commonly said in Germany of Hungari●, that for cattle, Corn, and Wine is excelleth. We have many more hopeful commodities here in this country, the which time will teach to make good use of: In the mean time we abound with such things which next under God do make us subsist, as Fish, Foule, Dear, and sundry sorts of fruits, as Muskmelons water-millions, Indian-Pompions, Indian Pease Beanes, & many other odd fruits that I cannot name, all which are made good and pleasant through this main blessing of God, the healthfulness of the country which far exceedeth all parts that ever I have been in▪ It is observed that few or none do here fall sick, unless of the Scurvy that they bring from aboard the Ship with them, whereof I have cured some of my Company only by labour. Thus making an end of an imperfect Description, and committing you to God, etc. A Catalogue of such needful things as every Planter doth or aught to provide to go to New-England; as namely for one man, which being doubled, may serve for as many as you please, viz. Victuals for a whole year for a man, and so after the rate for more. 8 BVshels of meal. 2 Bushels of pease 2 Bushels of Otemeale. 1 Gallon of Aquavitae. 1 Gallon of Oil. 2 Gallons of Vinegar. 1 Firkin of Butter. Apparel. 1 Monmoth Cap. 3 Falling bands. 3 Shirts. 1 Waistcoat. 1 Suit of Canvas. 1 Suit of Freeze. 1 Suit of Cloth. 3 Pair of Stockings. 4 Pair of Shoes. 2 Pair of Sheets. 7 els of Canvas to make a bed and bolster. 1 Pair of Blankets. 1 Course Rug. Arms. 1 Armour complete. 1 Long piece. 1 Sword. 1 Belt. 1 Bandilier. 20 Pound of powder. 60 Pound of Lead. 1 Pistol and Goose shot. Tooleses. 1 Broad How 1 Narrow whither. 1 Broad Axe. 1 Felling Axe. 1 Steel Handsawe. 1 Whipsawe 1 Hammer. 1 Shovell. 1 Spade. 2 Angles. 4 Chissels. 2 Percers stocked. 1 Gimlet. 1 Hatchet. 2 Frowes. 1 Hand-Bill. 1 Grindstone. 1 Pickaxe. Nails of all sorts. Household implements. 1 Iron pot. 1 Kettell. 1 Frying pan. 1 Gridiron. 2 Skellets. 1 Spit. Wooden platters. Dishes. Spoons. Trenchers. Spices. Sugar. Pepper. Cloves. Mace. Cinnamon. Nutmegs. Fruit. Also there are diverse other things necessary to be taken over to this Plantation, as Books, Nets, Hooks and Lines, Cheese, Bacon, Kine, Goats, etc. The names of the most remarkable places in New-England. The old names. The new names. Cape Cod. Cape james. The Harbour of Cape Cod. Milford Haven. Chawum. Barwick. Accomack. Plymouth. Sagoquas. Oxford. Massachusets' Mount. Chevit Hils. Massachusits River. Charles River. Totan. Falmouth. A great Bay by Cape Anne. Bristol. Cape Tragabig sanda. Cape Anne. Naemback. Bastable, so named by King Charles: But by the new Planters now called Salem. Aggawom. Southampton. smith's Iles. smith's Iles. Passataquack. Hull. Accominticus. Boston. Sassanows Mount. Snowdon hill. Sow●catuck. Ipswich. Bahanna. Dartmouth. A good Harbour within that Bay. Sandwich. Ancociscos' Mount. Suitors hill. Ancocisco. The Base. Anmoughcawgen. Cambridge. Kenebecka. Edenborow. Sagadahock. Leth. Pemmayquid. S. john's town. Segocket. Norwich. Mecadacut. Dunbarton. Pennobscot. Aberden. Nusket. Low mounds, Monahigan. Barties Iles. Matinack. Willowbies' Iles. Metinacus. Haughtons' Iles. But whosoever desireth to know as much as yet can be discovered, I advice them to buy Captain john smith's book of the description of New England in Folio; and read from Fol. 203. to the end; and there let the Reader expect to have full content. FINIS.