Qass. Book_ NEW ENGLISH CANAAN; OR, ^"^ 7 JVew Canaan^ CONTAINING AN ABSTRACT OF NEfV ENGLAND. COMPOSED IN THREE BOOKES. The first setting forth the Originall of the Natives, their Manners and Customs. Together with their tractable Na- ture and Love towards the English. II. The Natural Indowments of the Countrie, and what Sta- ple Commodities it yecldeth. III. What People are planted there, their Prosperity, what remarkable Accidents have happened since the first plant- ing of it; together with their Tenents and Practise of their Church. WRITTEN BY THOMAS MORTON, of Cliffords Inn, Gent. Upon ten Yeers Knowledge and Experiment of the Country. Printed by Charles Greeu. 1632. p. FORCE, WASHINGTON, 1838. i.;;^§i ^!^.-^~;^-,j^^^ To the right honorable, the Lords and others of his Majesties most honorable privy Councell, Commissioners, for the Government of all his Majesties forraigne Provinces. Right honorable, iHe zeale which I beare to the advance- ment of the glory of God, the honor of his Majesty, and tlie good of the weale publike, hath incouraged mee to compose this abstract, being the modell of a Rich hopefuU and very beautiful! Country, worthy the Title of JVa- tures Masterpeece, and may be lost by too much suflerance. It is but a widowes mite, yet all tliat wrong and rapine hath left mee to bring from thence, where I have indeavoured my best, bound by my allegeance, to doe his Majes- ty service. This in all humility I present as an offering wherewith 1 prostrate my selfe at your honorable footstoole. If you please to vouch- safe, itmayreceave a blessing, from the Luster of your gracious Beames , you shall make your vassaile happy , in that bee yet doth live, to 4 shew how ready hee is and alwayes hath hm, to sacrifice his dearest blood, as becometh a lojall subject, for the honor of his native Coun- try. Being your honors humble vassaile Thomas M o ii t o n . The Epistle to the Beader. GENTLE READER, Present to the publike view an abstract of new England ; which I have undertaken to compose by the incouragement of such genious spirits as have been studious of the inlargment of his Majesties Territories , being not formerly satisfied, by the relations of such as through haste , have taken but a superficial! survey thereof, whicli thing time hath enabled mee to performe more punctually to the life, and to give a more exact accompt of what hath been required; I have therefore beene willing to doe my indevoure to communicat the know- ledge, which I have gained and collected toge- ther, by mine OAvne observation, in the time of my many yeares residence in those parts , to my loving Country men : For the better infor- mation of all such as are desirous to be made partakers of the blessings of God in that fertile Soyle, as well as those that, out of Curiosity onely have bin inquisitive after novelties. And the rather for tliat I have observed, how divers persons (not so well aftected to the weale pub- like in mine opinion) out of respect to their owne private ends j have laboured to keepe both the practise of the people there, and the lleall worth of that eminent Country concealed 6 from publike knowledge, both which I have abundantly in this discourse layd open , yet if it be well accepted, I shall esteeme my selfe sufficiently rewardded for my undertaking, and rest» Your Wellwislier. Thomas Morton. In laudetn Authoris. T' Excuse the Author ere the worke be shewne Is accusation in it selfe alone, And to commend him might seeme oversight, So divers are th' opinions of this age, So quick and apt, to taxe the moderne stage. That hard his taske, is that must please in all Example have wee from great Caesars fall, But is the sonne to be dislik'd and blam'd. Because the mole is of his face asham'd, The fault is in the beast not in the sonne Give sicke mouthes sweete raeates fy they relish none, But to the sound in censure he commends, His love unto his Country his true ends, To modell out a Land of so much worth, As untill now noe traveller seth forth, Faire Canaans second selfe, second to none. Natures rich Magazine till now unknowne. Then here survay, what nature hath in store, And graunt him love for this, he craves no more. R, O. Gen. Sir Christoffer Gardiner, Knighl. In laudem Authoris. THis ivorlce a matchles mirror is that shelves, The Humors of the scperatiste, and those So tnicly personated by thy pen, I was amazed to seeH, herein all men, May plainly see as in an inter-lude, Each actor, figure and the sccene weV viewed, In Connick TragicTc and in a pastorall siife, For tyth of muit and Cummin shewes their life, Nothing but opposition, gainst the right, Of sacred Majestic men, full of spight, Goodnes abuseing, turning vertue out Of Dores, to whipping stocking andfidl bent, To j)lotting mischeife, gainst the innocent. Burning their houses, as if ordained by fate, In spight of Laioe, to be made ruinate. This taske is well performed and patience be, Thy present comfort and thy constancy, Thine honor, and this glasse where it shall come, Shall sing thy praises till the day of doome. Sir. G. C. In laudcm Authoris. BVt that I rather pitty I confesse, The practise of their Church, I could expresse MyseJfe a Satyrist ; whose smarting fanges, Should strike it with a palsy, and the panges, Beget a fear e, to tempt the Majesty, Of those, or mortall Gods, will they defie The Thundering Jove, like children they desire, Such is their zeale, to sport themselves with fire. So have I seene an angry Fly, presume. To strike a burning taper, and consume His feeble wings, tvhy in an aire so milde. Are they so monstrous growne up, and so vilde, That Salvages can of themselves espy Their errors, brand their names with infamy, What is their zeale for blood, like Cyrus thirst, Will they be over head and eares, a airst A cruell way to found a Church on, noe, THs not their zeale, but fury blinds them soe And pricks their malice on like fier to joyne, And offer up the sacrifice of Kain ; Jonas, thou hast done well, to call those men Home to repentance, with thy painefull pen. F. C. A rmi ger. 10 NEW ENGLISH CANAAN, OR NEW CANAAN. The Authors Prologue. IF art &L industry should doe as much As Nature hath for Canaan, not such Another place, for benefit and rest, In all the universe can be possest. The more we proove it by discovery, The more delight each object to the eye Procures, as if the elements had here Bin reconcil'd, and pleas'd it should appeare, Like a faire virgin, longing to be sped, And meete her lover in a Nuptiall bed, Deck'd in rich ornaments t' advaunce her state And excellence, being most fortunate, When most enjoy'd, so would our Canaan be If well employ'd by art and industry Whose offspring, now shewes that her fruitfull wombe Not being enjoy'd, is like a glorious tombe, Admired things producing which there dye, And ly fast bound in darck obscurity, The worth of which in each particuler, Who list to know, this abstract will declare. u «]» am gjB orig mc oRw w OCP 2DS a^ 3!K ilB ^ SEc ^ w^ oh ^ uo^ IB aH ^}> w NEW ENGLISH CANAAN, OR NEW CANAAN. The first Booke. Containing the originall of the Na- tives, their manners, & Customes, with their tractable nature and love towards the English. Chap I. Prooving Neiv England the principall part of all America, and most commodious and fitt for habitation. THe wise Creator of the universall Globe, hath placed a golden meane betwixt two extreames : I meane the temperate Zones, betwixt the bote and cold ; and every Creature, that participates of Hea- vens blessings, with in the Compasse of that golden meane, is made most apt and fit, for man to use, who likewise by that wisedome is ordained to be the Lord of all. This globe may be his glasse, to teach him how to use moderation, and discre- tion, both in his actions and intentions. The wise man sayes, give mee neither riches nor poverty ; why ? Riches might make him proud like Nebuchadnezar, and poverty despaire, 12 Ntw English Canaan. vieofvegeta- like lobs wife, but a meane betwcene both. So it '""'■ is likewise in the use of Vegetatives, that which hath too much Heate or too much Colde, is said to be venenum, so in the use of sensitives, all those Animals, of what genus or species soever they be, if they participate of heate or cold, in the superlative, are said to be Inimica naturcB, as about tiic Isle of in some Fishes about the Isle of Sail, and those Ilandes adjoyninge, betweene the Tropickes, their participatinge of heate and cold, in the superlative is made most manifest, one of which, poysoned a whole Ships company that eate of it. And so it is in Vipers, Toades, and Snakes, that have heate or cold in the superlative degree. Therefore the Creatures that participate of heate and cold in a meane, are best and holsomest : And so it is in the choyse of love, the middell Zone betweene the two extreames is best, and Zona temberatn, '^ is therefore Called Zona temperata, and is in the theGoidenmeane. goldcu meaue ; and all those Lands lying under that Zone, most requisite and fitt for habitation. In Cosmography, the two extreames are called, the one Torrida Zona, lying be- tweene the Tropickes, the other Frigida Zona, lying neare the Poles : all the landes lying under, either of these Zones, by reason, they doe participate too much of heate or cold, are very inconvenient, and are accompanied with many evils. And allthough I am not of opinion with Aristotle, that the landes under Torrida Zona, are alltogether uninhabited, I my selfe having beene so neare the equinoctiall line, that I have had the Sunn for my Zenith, and seene proofe to the contrary, yet cannot I deny, but that it is accompanied with many inconve- niences, as that Fish and Flesh both will taint in those partes, notwithstandin ' . .' ,11 Crocne Land too the role Articke, tlie place is too cold, by reason coia for hubita- of the Sunns absence almost six monthes, and the land under the continuall power of the frost ; which thinge many more Navigators have prooved with pittifull experience of their wintringe there, as appeareth by the history, I thinke, they will not venture to winter there againe for an India mine. And as it is found by our Nation under the Pole Articke, so it is likewise to be found under the Antarlicke Pole, yet what hazard will not an industrious minde, and couragious spirit un- dergoe, according to that of the Poet. Impigcr extremos currit Mercator ad Indos per mare paupericm fugiens, per saxa, per ignes. And all to gett and hord up like the Ant and the Bee, and yet as Salomon saith, he cannot tell whether a foole or a wise man shall enjoy it. Therefore let us leave these two extreames, with their inconveniences, and indeavour to finde out this golden meane, so free from any one of them. Behold the secret wisedome of Allmighty God, and love unto, our Salomon to raise a man of a lardge hart, full of worthy abilities to be the Index or Loadstarre, that doth point out unto the English Na- tion, with ease and comfort how to finde it out. And this the noble minded Gentleman, Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight, zealous for the glory of God, the honor of corgff'tlTl'rfgi. liis Majesty, and the benefit'of the weale publicke, J-^f^T^f £'-?- hath done a great worke for the good of his Coun- '"'"'• try. And herein this, the wondrous wisedome and love of God, is shewne, by sending to the place his Minister, to y^^ salvages sweepe away by heapes the Salvages, and also ' directions you may proove it thus : Counting the space be- tweene the Line and either of the Poles, in true proportion, you shall finde it to be 90. Degrees : then must we finde the meane, to be neare unto the Center of 90. and that is about 45. Degrees, and then incline unto the Sotherne side of that Center, properly for the benefit of heate, remembringe that Sol ^ Homo general hominem ; and then keepe us on that same side, and see what Land is to be found there, and we shall easily discerne that new England is on the South side of that Center. For that Country doth beginne her boundes at 40. Degrees of Northerne latitude, and ends at 45. Degrees of New England u , i • i i i i • • r i_ ^ placed in the gold- the sauic latitude, and doth participate oi neate an mcane. ^^ ^ ^^jj indifferently, but is oppressed with nei- ther : and therefore may be truly sayd to be within the com- passe of that golden meane, most apt and fit for habitation and generation, being placed by AUmighty God the great Creator, under that Zone, called Zona temperata, and is therefore most fitt for the generation and habitation of our English nation, of all other, who are more neere neighbours to the Northerne Pole, whose Land lyeth betweene 50. and 54 Degrees of the selfesame latitude : now this new England though it be nearer to the line, then that old England by 10. Degrees Dcgrfe7neere]^' of latitude, yct doth uot this cxcecde that other in f/ic i!n,- then old jugate or cold, by reason of the cituation of it ; for England. ' j • i i tvt i i as the Coast lyeth, being circularly Northeast and Southwest, opposite towards the Sunnes risinge, which makes his course over the Ocean, it can have lide or no reflecting, heat of the Sunbeames, by reason of the continuall motion of the waters, makinge the aire there the cooler and the constant- er; so that for the temperature of the Climent, svveetnesse of the aire, fertility of the Soile, and small number of the Salva- ges (which might seeme a rubb in the way of an effeminate niinde,) this Country of new England is by all judicious men, accounted the principall part of all America, for habitation and the comniodiousnesse of the Sea, Ships there not being subject to wormes, as in Virginea and other places, and not to be paraleld in all Christendome. The Massachussets tettin th^'middci being the middell part thereof, is a very beautiful! 0/ ifeiD England. ^^^ ^^^^ mouutany, nor inclininge to mountany, lyeth in 42. Degrees, and 30. minutes, and has as yet the greatest number of inhabitants, and hath a very large bay to it, divided by Islands into 4 great bayes, where shippinge may safely ride The ivindc, not all wiudes and weathers in those partes being not so ti^iand. '"^'"' violent as in England by many Degrees, for there New English Canaan. 16 ••5 are no shrubbs scene, to leane from llie windes as by the Sea Coast of England, I have seene them leane, and the groundage is a sandy sleech free from rocks to gaule Cables, but is good for anchorage, the rest of the Planters are disperst among the Coasts betweene 41. and 44. Degrees of Latitude, and as yet, have very little way into the iland, the riches of which Coun- try I have set forth in this abstract as in a Landskipp, for the better information of the Travellers, which hee may peruse and plainely perceave by the demonstration of it, that it is nothing inferior to Canaan of Israel, but a kind of paralell to it, in all points. Chap. II. Of the originall of the Natives. IN the yeare since the incarnation of Christ, 1622. it was my chance to be landed in the parts of New England, where 1 found two sortes of people, the one Christians, the other Infidels, these I found most full of humanity, and more friendly then the other : as shall hereafter be made apparant in Dew- Course, by their severall actions from time to time, whilest 1 lived among them After my arrivall in those partes, I endea- voured by all the wayes and meanes that I cpuld to find out from what people or nation, the Natives of New England might be conjectured originally to proceede, ^ by continuance St con- versation amongst them, 1 attaned to so much of their language, as by all probable conjecture may make the same manifest, for it hath been found by divers, and those of good judgement that the Natives of this Country, doe use very many ^^ „ . ^ . „ , 1 r • 1 ^^ NfUwes have wordes both oi (jreeke and Liatme, to tlie same q mijrcu tan- signification that the Latins and Greekes have done, '^"°'^^* as en animia, when an Indian expresseth, that hee doth any thing with a good will ; and Fascopan signifieth pasco pan greedy gredy gut, this being the name of an Indian that ^""• was so called of a Child, through the greedinesse of his minde, and much eating, for Pasco in Latine signifieth to feede, and Pan in Greeke signifieth all, and Pasco nantum, quasi pasco nondurn^ halfe starved, or not eating, as yet; Equa coge, set it upright, Mojia is an Island in their language, quasi „ , , , Jm f • 1 r T 1 , .° ® ^ Mono an Itland. Monon, that is alone, lor an Island is a peece or plott of ground standing alone, and devided from the mane Land by force of water. 16 New English Canaan. Co, a mietstoiic. ^'^^ '^ ^ VVhctstone with them. Hame an instru- ment to take Fish, many places doe retaine the name of Fan, as Pantneket and Matta pan, so that it may be thought tliat these people heretofore, iiave had the name of Pan the shep- -^^'^ '" great Tevcrence and estimation, and it may hear(U Cod. |r,gg havo Worshipped Pan the great God of the Heathens : Howsoever they doe use no manner of worship at all now : and it is most likely that the Natives of this Country, are descended from people bred upon that part of the world, which is towardes the Tropicke of Cancer, for they doe still retaine the memory of some of the Starres one that part of thea Ccelestiall Globe, as the North-starre, which with them is called Maske, for Maske in their Language signifieth a Beare, and they doe divide the windes into eight partes, and it seemes originally, have had some literature amongst them, which time hath Cancelled and worne out of use, and where as it hath beene the opinion of some men, which shall be nameles, that the Natives of New-England may proceede from the race of the Tartars, and come from Tartaria into those partes, over the frozen Sea. Nor to proceede I §66 no probality for any such Conjecture, for from the Tartars, ^g much, as 3 people oncc sctlcd, must be remooved by compulsion, or else tempted thereunto in hope of better for- tunes, upon commendations of the place, unto which they should be drawne to remoove, and if it may be thought, that these people came oirer the frozen Sea, then would it be by compul- sion, if so, then by whome, or when ? or what part of this mane continent may be thought to border upon the No part of Ame- rim •• i i- rica kno7une to be Louutry oi tiic 1 artars, It is yet unknowne, and it neareTartaiy. .^ ^^^ jjj^^^ ^j^^^^ ^ people Well CUOUgll at CaSC, will of their one accord undertake to travayle over a Sea of lee, considering how many difficulties they shall encounter with, as first whether there be any Land at the end of their unknowne way, no Land beinge in view, then want of Food to sustane life in the meane time upon that Sea of Ice, or how should ihey doe for Fuell, to keepe them at night from freezing to death, which will not bee had in such a place, but it may per- haps be granted that the Natives of this Country might origi- nally come of the scattered Trojans : For after that Brutus, who was the forth from Aneas, left Latium upon the conflict a/-A o. ,... i^a had with the Latines, (where although hee gave tvny atuiut teji i i oi i r i • Latium. them a great overthrow, to the Slaughter oI their grand Captaine and many other of the Heroes of Latium, yet hee held it more safely to depart unto some other place, and people, then by staying to runne the hazard of an unquiet life New English Canaan. 17 or doubtful! Conquest, which as history maketh mention hec performed ;) this peojile were dispersed there is no question, but the people that lived with him, by reason of their conversa- tion with the Graecians and Latines, had a mixed language that participated of both, whatsoever was that which was proper to their owne nation at first ; I know not for this is commonly seene where 2. nations traffique together, the one indevour'ng to understand the others meaning makes the both many times speak a mixed language, as is approoved by the Natives of New England, through the coveteous T^« nation, ■meet- desire they have, to commerce with our nation, and ""■»''' 'onguage. wee with them. And when Brutus did depart from Latium, we doe not finde that his whole number went with him at once, or arrived at one place ; and being put to Sea might encounter with a storme, that would carry them out of sight of Land, and then they might sayle God knoweth whether, and so might be jiut upon this Coast, as well as any other ; Compasse I beleeve they had none in those dayes; Sayles they might have (which uwdaiu^thefrst Daedalus the first invenior thereof) left to after ages, '^«' "*"' sayies. having taught his Sonne Icarus the use of it, who icarm the second to his Cost found how dangerous it is, for a Sonne '^"^ «*-" ^'J/'^- not to observe the precepts of a wise Father, so that the Icarian Sea, now retaines the memory of it to this day, and Victuals they might have good store, and many other things fittinge, oares without all question, they would store themselves with, in such a case, but for the use of Compasse there is no men- -^yny destroyed tion made of it at that time (which was much about "'"'"tsauu time. Sauls time the first that was made King of Israeli.) Yet it is thought (and that not without good reason for it) the use of the Loadstone, and Compasse was knowne in Salo- The undstone in mons time, for as much as bee sent Shippesto fetch sahmomtivu: of the gould of Ophir, to adorne and bewtify that magnificent Temple of Hierusalem, by him built for the glory of Almighty God, and by his speciall appointment : and it is held by Cos- mographers to be 3. yeares voyage from Hierusalem to Ophir, and it is conceaved that such a voyage could not have beene performed, without the helpe of the Loadstone and Compasse. And why should any man thinke, the Natives of New Eng- land, to be the gleanings of all Nations, onely because by the pronunciation and termination their words seeme to trench upon severall languages, when time hath not furnished him with the interpretation thereof, the thinge that must induce a man of reasonable capacity to any manner of conjecture, of their origi- nall, must by the sence and signification of the words, princi- 3 18 Nrw Eiii^Vish Canaan. pally to frame this argiinipnt by, vviien bee sball clrawe to any conclusion tliereupon, otberwise bee sball but runne rounde about a maze (as some of tbe fantasticall tribe use to do about the tythe of muit and coniin.) Therefore since I have had the approbation of Sir Christopher gardiner Knight an able gentl. that lived amongst them &, of David Tompson a Scottish gentl. that likewise was conversant with those people both Scollers and Travellei-s that were diligent in taking notice of these things as men of good judgement. And that have bin in those parts any time ; besides others of lesse, now I am bold to conclude that the originall of the Natives of New England may be well conjectured to be from the scattered Trojans, after such time as Brutus departed from Latium. Chap. III. Of a great wortality that happened ainoiigfit the Na- tives of New England neere about the time, that the English came there to plant, IT fortuned some few yeares, before the English came to in- habit at new Plimmouth in New England ; that upon some distast given in the Massachusetts bay, by Frenchmen, then trading there with the Natives for beaver, they set upon the men, at such advantage, that they killed manie of them burned their shipp then riding at Anchor by an Island there, now call- ed Peddocks Island in memory of Leonard Peddock that land- ed there (where many wilde Anckies haunted that time which hee thought had bin tame, distributing them unto 5. Sachems which were Lords of the several! territories adjoyninge, ihey did keepe them so longe as they lived, onely to sport them- selves at them, and made these five Frenchmen Five Frenchmen ,. .. ,, ^ • x • y ii keptbythesaiva- tetch them wood and water, which is the generall ^'^''' worke that they require of a servant, one of these five men out livinge the rest had learned so much of their language, as to rebuke them for their bloudy deede, saying that Cn)d would be angry with them for it ; and that hee would in his displeasure destroy them ; but the Salvages (it seemes boasting of their strenght,) replyed and sayd, that they were so many, that God could not kill them. The Plague fell on But Contrary wise in short time after, the hand the imuans. ^^ Qq^} Cg|j heavily upon them, with such a mor- tall stroake, that they died on heapes, as they lay in their New English Canaan. 19 ■i> houses and the living ; that were able to shift for themselves would runne away, & let them dy, and let there Carkases ly above the ground without buriall. For in a place where niany iidiabited, there hath been but one left a live, to tell what be- came of the rest, the livinge being (as it seemes) ^,^^ ,.^,.^^^^ ^^^ not able to burv the dead, they were left for Crowes, "'>ie to bury the Kites, and vermm to pray upon. And the bones and skulls upon the severall places of their habitations, made such a spectacle after my comming into those partes, that as 1 travailed in that Forrest, nere the Massachussets, it seemed to mee a new found Golgatha. But otherwise it is the custome of those Indian people, to bury their dead ceremoniously, and carefully, and then to aban- don that place, because they have no desire the place should put them in minde of mortality : and this mortality was not ended, when the Brownists of new Plimmouth were setled at Patuxet in New England, and by all likelyhood the sicknesse that these Indians died of, was the Plague, as by conference with them since my arrivall, and habitation in those partes, I have learned. And by this meanes there is as yet but a small number of Salvages in New England to that, which hath beene in former time, and die place is made so much the more fitt, for the English Nation to inhabit in, and erect in it Temples to the Glory of God. Chap. IV. Of their Houses and Habitations. THe Natives of New England are accustomed to build them houses, much like the wild Irish, they gather Poles in the woodes and put the great end of them in the ground, placinge them in forme of a circle or circumference, and bendinge the topps of them in forme of an Arch, they bind them together with the Barke of Walnut trees, which is won- drous tufFe, so that they make the same round on the Topp. For the smooke of their fire, to assend and passe through ? these they cover with matts, some made of reeds, and some longe flagges, or sedge finely sowed together with needles made of the splinter bones of a Cranes legge, with threeds, made of their Indian hempe, which their groueth naturally, leaving severall places for dores, which are covered with mats, which may be rowled up, and let downe againe at their pleasures, 20 NfAD Enfj;lUh Caiman, o makino; use, of the severall dores, according as the winde sltls, the fire is alwayes made in tlie middest of the house, with winde fals commonly : yet some times they fell a tree, that groweth neere the house and by drawing in the end thereof maintaine the fire on both sids, burning the tree by Degrees shorter and shorter, untill it be all consumed ; for it burneth night and day, their lodging is made in three places of the house about the fire they lye upon plankes commonly about a foote or 18. inches above the ground raised upon railes that are borne up upon forks they lay mats under them, and Coates of Deares skinnes otters beavers Racownes and of Beares hides, all which they have dressed and converted into good lether with the haire on for their coverings and in this manner they lye as warme as they desire in the night they take their rest, in the day time, either the kettle is on with fish or flesh, by no allowance : or else, the fire is imployed in roasting of fishes, which they delight in, the aire doeth beget good stomacks, and they feede continually, and are no niggards of their vittels, for they are willing, that any one shall eate with them. Nay if any one, that shall come into their houses, and there fall a sleepe, when they see him disposed to lye downe, they will spreade a matt for him, of their owne accord, and lay a roule of skinnes for a boulster, and let him lye? if hee sleepe untill their meate be dished up, they will set a wooden boule of meate by him that sleepeth, &; wake him saying Cart up keene Meckin : That is, if you be hungry, there is meat for you, where if you will eate you may, such is their Humanity. Likewise when they are minded to remoove, they carry away the mats with them, other materiales the place adjoyning will yeald, they use not to winter and summer in one place, for that would be a reason to make fuell scarse, but after the man- ner of the gentry of Civilized natives, remoove for their plea- sures, some times to their hunting places where they remaine keeping good hospitality, for that season ; and sometimes to their fishing places, where they abide for that season likewise : and at the spring, when fish comes in plentifully, they have meetinges from severall places, where they exercise themselves in gaminge, and playing of juglinge trickes, and all manner of Revelles, which they are delighted in, that it is admirable to behould, what pastime they use, of severall kindes, every one striving to surpasse each other, after this manner they spend their time. jNew Erioii^k Canaan. 21 to Chap. V . Of their Religion. IT has bin a common receaved opinion from Cicero, that there is no people so barbarous, but have some worshipp, or other in this particular, 1 am not of opinion therein with TuUy; and surely. If hee liad bin amongst those people so longe as I have bin, and conversed so much with them, touch- ing this matter of Religion, hee would have changed his opin- ion, neither should we have found this error, amongst the rest, by the helpe of that wodden prospect, if it had not been so unadvisedly built upon such highe land as that Coast, (all mens judgements in generall,) doth not yeeld, had hee but taken the judiciall councell of Sir William Alexander, that setts this thing forth in an exact and conclusive sentence ; if hee be not too obstinate ? hee would graunt that worthy writer, that these people are sine fide, sine lege, ^ sine rcge, and hee hath ex- emplified tills thinge by a familiar demonstration, which I have by longe experience observed to be true. And me thinks, it is absurd to say they have a kinde of worship, and not able to demonstrate whome or what it is they are accustomed to worship. For my part I am more willing to beleeve that the Elephants (which are reported to be the most intelligible of all beasts) doe worship the moone, for the rea- sons given by the author of this report as M'". Thomas May, the minion of the Muses dos recite it in his contimation, of Lucas historicall poem, rather then this man, to that I must bee constrained, to conclude against him, and Cicero ; that the Na- tives of New England have no worship nor religion at all, rntl 1 am sure it has been so observed by those that neede not the helpe of a wodden prospect for the matter. Chap. VI. Of the Indians apparrelt. THe Indians in these partes do njake their apparrell, of the skinncs of severall sortcs of beastes, and commonly of those, that doe frequent those partes where they doe live, yet some of them for variety, will have the skinnes of such 2'2 New English Cainian, beasts tliat frequent the partes of their neighbors, \vhich they purchase of them, by Commerce and Trade. nci,.na,un>nke Thcsc skinncs they convert into very good le- goud let her. thcr, making the same pUime and soft. Some of these skinnes they dresse with the haire on, and some with the haire off; the hairy side in winter time they weare next their bodies, and in warme weather, they weare the haire outwardes : they make hkewise some Coates of the Feathers of Turkies, which they weave together with twine of their owne makinge, very pritily : these garments they weare like mantels knit over their shoulders, and put under their arme : they have likewise another sort of mantels, made of Mose skinnes, which beast is a great large Deere, so bigge as a horse, these skinnes they com- monly dresse bare, and make them wondrous white and stripe them with size, round about the borders, in forme like lace set , _,. . on by a Taylor, and some they stripe with size, in Indians ingenious ■' J nri- • i- ■ivorkeiwn for workcs oi scvcrall fashious very curious, accordmg to the severall fantasies of the workemen, wherein they strive to excell one another : And Mantels made of Beares skinnes is an usuall wearinge, among the Natives, that live where the Beares doe haunt : they make shooes of Mose skinnes, which is the prlncipall leather used to that purpose ; and for want of such lether (which is the strongest) they make shooes of Deeres skinnes, very handsomly and commodious, and of such deeres skinnes as they dresse bare, they make stockinges, tliat comes within their shooes, like a stirrop stockinge,and is fastned above at their belt which is about their middell; Every male after hee attaines unto the age, which they call Pubes, wereth a belt about his middell, and a broad peece of lelher that goeth be- tweene his leggs, and is tuckt up both before and behinde under The modesty of ^hat belt, and this they weare to hide their secreats the Indian men. q^ naturc ; which by no meanes they will suffer to be scene, so much modesty they use in that particular, those garments they allwayes put on, when they goe a huntinge to keepe their skinnes from the brush of the Shrubbs, and when they have their Apparrell one, they looke like Irish in their trouses, the Stockinges joyne so to their breeches. A good well growne deere skin is of great account with them, and it must iiave the tale on, or else they account it defaced, the tale being three times as long as the tales of our English Deere, yea foure times so longe, this when they travell is raped round about their body, and with a girdle of their making, bound round about their middles, to which girdle is fastned a bagg, in which his instruments be, with which hee can strike fire upon any occasion. New English Canaan. 23 •ft Thus with their bow in their left hand, and tlicir Indians travaue quiver ol Arrowes at tlieir back, lianging one their strike jirc at au left shoulder with the lower end of it, in their right hand, they will runne away a dogg trot, untill they come to their journey end, and in this kinde of ornament, (tliey doe seenie to me) to be hansomer. then when they are in English apparrell, their gesture being answerable to their one habit and not unto ours. Their women have shooes and stockinges to weare likewise when they please, such as the men have, but the mantle they use to cover their nakednesse with, is much longer then that, which the men use; for as the men have one Deeres skinn, the women have two soed together at the full lenght, and it is so lardge that it trailes after them, like a great Ladies trane, and in time I thinke they may have their Pages to beare them up : and where the men use but one Beares skinn for a Mantle, the women have two soed together ; and if any of their women would at any time shift one, they take tiiat which they intend to make use of, and cast it over them round, before they shifte away the other, for modesty, being unwilling to be scene to discover their nakednesse, and the one being so cast „, , ,. ' o Tlie Indians over they slip the other from under them in a decent ashamed if their manner, which is to be noted in people uncivilized, therein they seeme to have as much modesty as civilized peo- ple, and deserve to be applauded for it. Chap. VII. Of their Child -braring, arid delivery, and what man- ner of persons they are. THe women of this Country, are not suffered to be used for procreation, untill the ripenesse of their age, at which time they weare a redd cap made of lether in forme like to our flat caps, and this they weare for the space of 12 moneths : for all men to take notice of them that have any ininde to a wife ; and then it is the custome of some of their Sachems or Lords of the territories, to have the first say or maidenhead of the females ? (very apt they are) to be with childe, and very laborious when they beare chil- 1 \ \ I , The wnmen big dren, yea when tliey are as great as they can be, win chud ven, yet in that case they neither forbeare laboure, nor travaile, 1 have seene them in that plight with burthens at their 24 N(iv English Canaan. backs enough to load a horse, yet doe they not miscarry, but liave a fane dehvery, and a quick, their women are very good midwifes, and the women very kisty after dehvery and in a day or two will travell or trudge about. Their infants are borne with haire on their heads ; and are of complexion white as our a Id ci bathed '^^'^'O"' ^"t ^'^^''^" "^others in their infancy make a to ttain the bath of VValluut leaves, huskes of Walnuts, and ' """^' such things as will staine their skinne for ever, wherein they dip and waslie them to make them tawny, the coloure of their haire is black, and their eyes black, these infants are carried at their mothers backs, by the help of a cradle made of a board forket at both ends, whereon the childe is fast bound, and wrapped in furres : his knees thrust up towards his bellie, because they may be the more usefull for them when he sitteth, which is as a dogge does on his bumme, and this cradle surely preserves them better then the cradles of our nation ; for as much, as we finde them well proportioned not any of them, crooked backed or wry legged, and to give their charracter in a worde, they are as proper men and women for feature and limbes as can be found, for flesh and bloud as active : longe handed they are, (I never sawe a clunchfisted Salvadg amongst them all in my time.) The colour of their eies being so gen- erally black, made a Salvage (that had a younge infant whose eies were gray,) shewed him to us and said they were Enghsh mens eies, I tould tiie Father, that his sonne was nan weeteo, which is a bastard, hee replied tkta Chesheiiie sqtioa, which is bee could not tell ; liis wife might play the whore and this child the father desired might have an English name, because of the likenesse of his eies which his father had in admiration, because of novelty amongst their Nation. C II A p . Y 1 1 . Of their Rererence, and respect to age. IT is a tiling to be admired, and indeede made a president, that a Nation yet uncivilizied, should more respect age then some nations civilized ; since there are so many precepts Age honoured ^^^^^ °^ diviuc aud humanc writers extant : to in- ^Tan^ ""''"' ^^'"^^ ™o''6 Civill Nations in that particular where- in they excell, the younger are allwayes obedient unto the elder people, and at their commaunds in every respect without grummbling, in all councels (as therein they are cir- New English Canaan. 25 cumspect to do their acciones by advise and councell and not raslily or inconsiderately, the younger mens opinion shall be heard, but the old mens opinion and councell imbraccd and fol- lowed, besides as the elder ieei\e and provide for the younger in infancy : so doe the younger after being growne to yeares of manhood, provide for those that be aged, and in distribution of Acctes the elder men are first served, by their dispensator and their counsels (especially if they be povvahs) are esteemed as oracles amongst the younger Natives. The consideration of these things, mee thinkes should reduce some of our irregular young people of civilized Nations : when this story shall come to their knowledge, to better manners, and make them ashamed of their former error in this kinde, and to become hereafter more duetyfull, which I as a friend (by ob- servation having found) have herein recorded for that purpose. C II A P . I X . Of their pretty conjuring tricks. IF we doe not judge amisse of these Salvages in accounting them witches, yet out of all question, we may be bould to conclude them to be but weake witches, such of them as wee call by the names of Powahs some correspondency they liave with the Devil, out of al doubts as by some of their accions, in which they glory, is manifested Papasiquineo ; that Sachem or Sagamore is a Powah of greate estimation amongst all kinde of Salvages, there hee is at their Revels (which is the time when a great company of Salvages meete, from severall parts of the Country, in amity with their neighbours) hath advaunced his honor in his feats or jugling tricks (as 1 may right tearme them) to the admiration of the spectators whome hee endevoured to perswade, that he would goe under water to the further side of a river to broade for any man to undertake with a breath, which thing hee performed by swimming over &, de- luding the company with casting a mist before their eies that see him enter in and come out, but no part of the way hee has bin scene, likewise by our English in the heat of all summer to make Ice appeare in a bowle of faire water, first having the water set before him hee hath begunne his incantation accordin"" to their usuall accustome and before the same has bin ended a thick Clowde has darkned the aire and on a sodane a thunder clap liath bin heard that has amazed the natives, in an instant 4 26 New English Canaan. hee hath shewed a firnie peece of Ice to flote in the middest of the bowle in the presence of tlie vulgar people, which doubt- les was done by the agility of Satan his consort. And by meanes of these sleights and such like trivial things, as these they gain such estimation amongst the rest of the Sal- vages ; that it is thought a very impious matter for any man to derogate from the words of these Povvahs. In so much as hee that should slight them, is thought to commit a crime no lesse hainous amongst them, as sacriledge is with us, as may appeare by this one passage, which I wil set forth for an instance. A neighbour of mine that had entertain'd a Sal- a salvage enter- vage into his service, to be his factor for the beaver """^<^ °-/°'^""'- trade amongst his countrymen, delivered unto him divers par- cells of commodities, fit for them to trade with ; amongst the rest there was one coate of more esteeme then any of the other, and with this his new entertained marchant man travels amongst his countrymen to truck them away for beaver : as our custome hath bin, the Salvage went up into the Country amongst his neighbours for beaver & returned with some, but not enough answerable to his Masters expectation, but being called to an accompt and especially for that one Cote of speciall note; made answer that he had given that coate to Tantoquineo, a Powah : to which his master in a rage cryed what have I to doe with Tantoquineo? The Salvage very angry at the matter cryed, what you speake ; you are not a very good man, wil you not give Tantoq. a coat ? whats this ? as if he had offered Tantoquineo, the greatest indignity that could be devised : so great is the estimation and reverence that these people have of these Ingling Powahs, who are usually sent for (when any per- son is sicke and ill at ease) to recover them, for which they receive rewards as doe our Chirgeons and Phisitions, and they doe make a trade of it, and boast of their skill where they come : One amongst the rest did undertake to cure . ,, ,. . an Englishman of a swelhng of his hand for a par- '•""''' >>Ja *«"^'- cell of biskett, which being delivered him, hee tooke the party greived into the woods aside from company, and with the helpe of the devill (as may be conjectured,) quickly reco- vered him of that swelling, and sent him about his worke asaine. NciD English Canaan. 27 Chap. X. Of their duels and the honourable estimation of vic- tory obtained thereby. THcse Salvages are not apt to quarrel! one with another : yet such hath hin the occasion that a difference hath happened, which hath growne to that height, that it has not bin reconciled otherwise then by combat, which liath bin performed in this manner, the two chain- t'^oriiictia-b^e" pions prepared the fight, with their bowes in hand, and a quiver full of arrowes at their backs, they have entered into the field, the Cliallenger and challenged have chosen two trees, standing within a little distance of each other ; they have cast lotts for the cheife of the trees, tben either champion set- ting himselfe behinde his tree watches an advantage, to let fly his shafts, and to gall his enemy, there they continue shooting at each other, if by chaunce they espie any part open, they en- deavour to gall the combatant in that part ; and use much agility in the performance of the taske they have in hand. Re- solute they are in the execution of their vengeance, when once they have begunne, and will in no wise be daunted, or seeme to shrinck though they doe catch a clap with an arrow, but fight it out in this manner untill one or both be slaine. I have bin shewed the places, where such duels have bin performed, and have found the trees marked for a niemoriall of the Combat, where that champion -ivhcre they per- hath stood, that had the hap to be slaine in the •^'"'"" "''"'"• duell ? and they count it the greatest honor that can be, to the serviving Cumbatant to shew the scares of the wounds, re- ceived in this kinde of Conflict, and if it happen to be on the arme as those parts are most in danger in these cases, they will alwayes were a bracelet upon that place of the arme, as a trophy of honor to their dying day. C B AP. XI. Of the maintaining of their Reputation, REputation is such a thing, that it keepes many men in awe, even amongst Civilized nations, and is very much stood upon it is (as one hath very well noted) the awe of great men and of Kings, and since I have observed it, to be 23 New English Canaan. maintained amongst Salvage people, I cannot chuse but give an instance tliereof in this treatise, to confirme the common re- ceaved opinion thereof. The Sachem or Sagamore of Sagus made choise, (when hee came to mans estate) of a Lady of noble discent, Daughter to Papasiquineo : the Sachem or Sagamore of the territories neare Merrimack River a man of the best note and esti- A marriage. ••hi / i /-i mation m all those parts (and as my Countryman Mr. Wood declares in his prospect) a great Nigromancer, this Lady the younge Sachem with the consent &. good liking of her father marries, and takes for his wife. Great entertaine- ment, hee and his receaved in those parts at her fathers hands, where they weare fested in the best manner that might be ex- pected, according to the Custome of their nation, with reveling, & such other solemnities as is usuall amongst them. The so- lemnity being ended, Papasiquineo causes a selected number of liis men to waite upon his Daughter home : into those parts that did properly belong to her Lord, and husband, where the attendants had entertainment by the Sachem of Sagus and his Countrymen : the solemnity being ended, the attendants were gratified. Not long after the new married Lady had a great desire to see her father, and her native country, from whence shee came, lier Lord willing to pleasure her, & not deny her request (amongst them) thought to be reasonable commanded a selected number of his ovvne men to conduct his Lady to her Father ; wherewith great respect they brought her : and having feasted there a while, returned to their owne country againe, leaving tiie Lady to continue there at her owne pleasure, amongst her friends, and old acquaintance : where shee passed away the time for a while; and in the end desired to returne to her Lord againe. Her father the old Papasiquineo having notice of her intent, sent some of his men on ambassage to the An. ajoliassnge o i i • • i i i • J 4eut from pnpan- youugc bachcm, his sounc m law, to let him under- Vniaw,'as^kem. staud that liis daughter was not willing, to absent her selfe from his company any longer ; &i there- fore (as the messengers had in charge) desired the younge Lord to send a convoy for her : but hee standing upon tearmes of honor, St the maintaining of his reputatio, returned to his father in law this answere that when she departed from him, hee caused his men to waite upon her to her fathers territories, as it did become him : but now shee had an intent to returne, it did become her father, to send her back with a convoy of his own people : &i that it stood not with his reputation to make him- self or his men so servile, to fetch her againe. The old Sachem New Eiiglhh C 071 nan. . 29 Papasiquineo having this message returned, was inraged ? to think thai his young son in law did not esteeme liim at a higher rate, then to capitulate with him ahout the matter, &, returne him this sharpe reply; that his daughters hloud, and birth de- served no more respect ; then to be so slighted, &, therefore if he would have her company, hee were best to send or come for her. The younge Sachem not willing to under value himselfe, and being a man of a stout spirit, did not stick to say, that he should either send her, by his ovvne Convey, or keepe her ; for hee was not determined to stoope so lowe. So much these two Sachems stood upon tearmes of reputa- tion with each other, the one would not send her, & the other would not send for her, leest it should be any diminishing of honor on his part, that should seeme to comply, that the Lady (when I came out of the Country) remained still with her father; which is a thinge worth the noting, that Salvage people should seeke to maintaine their reputation so much as they doe. Chap. XII. Of their irafficke and trade one with another. ALthough these people have not the use of navigation, whereby they may traffickc as other nations, that are civilized, use to doe, yet doe they barter for such com- modities as they have, &, have a kinde of beads Bmds instead «/ in steede of money, to buy wilhall such things as ^^""'J'- they want, which they call Wampampeak : and it is of two sorts, the one is white, the other is of a violet coloure. These are made of the shells of fishe ; the white with them is as silver with us; the other as our gould, and for these beads they buy, and sell, not onely amongst themselves, but even with us. We have used to sell them any of our commo- _., J The name of their dities lor this Wampampeak, because we know, we i>ends mmpan- can have beaver again of them for it : and these beads are currant in all the j)arts of New England, from one end of the Coast to the other. And although some have indevoured by example to have the like made, of the same kinde of shels, yet none hath ever, as yet, attained to any perfection in the composure of them, but that the Salvages have found a great difference to be in the 30 New Fjjiglish Canaan. one and the other ; and have knowne the counterfeit beads from those of their owne making ; and have, and doe shght them. The skinnes of beasts are sould and bartered to such people, as have none of the same kinde in the parts where they live. Likewise they have earthen potts of divers sizes, from a quarte to a gallon, 2. or 3. to boyle their vitels in ; very stronge, though they be thin like our Iron potts. They have dainty wooden bovvles of maples, of highe price amongst them, and these are dispersed by bartering one with the other, and are but in certaine parts of the Country made, where the severall trades are appropriated to the inhabitants of those parts onely. So likewise (at the season of the yeare) the Salvages that live by the Sea side for trade with the inlanders for fresh water, reles curious silver reles, which are bought up of such as have them not frequent in other places, chestnuts, and such like use- full things as one place afFordeth, are sould to the inhabitants of another: where they are a novelty accompted amongst the natives of the land ; and there is no such thing to barter withall, as is their Whampampeake. Chap. XIII. Of thfir Magazines or Storehoivses. THese people are not without providence, though they be uncivilized, but are carefull to preserve foede in store against winter, which is the corne that they laboure and mat care tfwy ^'''G'^se in the summer, And although they eate take to la,, up freclv of it, whilcs it is growin^e, vet have thev a come far winter. •' , . •; , ^ care to keepe a convenient portion thereof; to releeve them in the dead of winter, (like to the Ant and the Bee) which they put under ground. Their Barnes are holes made in the earth, that will hold a Hogshead of corne a peece in them. In these (when their corne is out of the huske and well dried) they lay their store in greate baskets (which they make of Sparke) with matts under about the sides and on the top : and putting it into the place made for it, they cover it with earth : and in this manner it is preserved from destruction or putrifaction ; to be used in case of necessity, and not else. And I am persvvaded, that if they knew the benefit of Salte JS'^ew English Can ami. 81 (as they may in time,) and the meanes to make salte meate fresh againe, they would endeaver to preserve fishe for winter, as well as come ; and that if any thinge bring them to civility, it will be the use of Salte, to have foode in store, which is a cheife benefit in a civilized Commonwealth. These people have begunne already to incline to the use of Salte. Many of them would begge Salte of mee t/,cv brgg sai/e for to carry home with them, that had frequented «/"'''£"i'''V<. our howses and had been acquainted with our Salte meats : and Salte I willingly gave them ; although I sould them all things else : onely because they should be delighted with the use there of; and thinke it a commodity of no value in it selfe, ail- though the benefit was great, that might be had by the use of it. Chap. XIV. Of theirc Subtilety. THese people are not (as some have thought a dull, or slender witted people ; but very ingenious and very subtile. I could give maine instances to maintaine mine opinion of them in this : But I will onely relate one, which is a passage worthy to be observed. In the Massachusetts bay lived Cheecatawback the Sachem or Sagamore of those territories, who had large dominions, which hee did appropriate to himselfe. Into those parts cameagreate company of Salvages, from the territories of Narohiganset, to the number of 100. persons; and in this Sachems Dominions they intended to winter. When they went a hunting for turkies : they spreade over such a greate scope of ground, that a Turkie could hardly escape them : Deare they killed up in greate abundance, and feasted their bodies very plentifully : Beavers they ^, . , ,.,,,, •'1 -' - •' Theij trade awny killed by no allowance : the skmnes oi those they beaver skinnes/or traded away at wassaguscus with my neighboures for come, and such other commodities as they had neede of; and my neighboures had a wonderfull great benefit by their being in those parts. Yea sometimes (like genious fellowes) they would present their Marchant vvith a fatt hea- ver skinne, alwayes the tayle was not diminished, iJ^htT tayi"7n but presented full and whole : although the tayle is "/ s'-<:at e,tima- a present for a Sachem, and is of such masculaine vertue, that if some of our Ladies knew the benefit thereof 32 J^ew English Canaan. they would desire to have ships sent of purpose, to trade for the tayle alone, it is such a rarity, as is not more esteemed of then reason doth require. But the Sachem Cheecatawbak (on whose possessions they usurped, and converted the commodities thereof to their owne use, contrary to his likeing) not being of power to resist them^ practised to doe it by a subtile stratagem. And to that end A subtle plot of a g^^^ it out amongst us, that the cause why these Sachem. Other Salvages of the Narohigansets, came into these parts, was to see what strength we were of, and to watch an opportunity to cut us off, and take that which they found in our custody usefull for them; And added further, they would burne our bowses, and that they had caught one of his men, named Meshebro, and compelled him to discover to ihem where their barnes. Magazines, or storehowses were, and had taken away his corne, and seemed to be in a pittifuU perplexity about the matter. And the more to adde reputation to this tale, desires that his wifes and children might be harbored in one of our bowses. This was rrraunted, and my neighbours put on corslets, head- peeces, and weapons defensive and offensive. This thing being knowne to Cheecatawback, bee caused some of his men to bring the Narohigansets to trade, that they might see the preparation. The Salvage that was a stranger to the plott, simply com- ming to trade, and finding his merchants, lookes like lobsters^ all cladd in harnesse, was in a maze to thinke what would be the end of it. Haste bee made to trade away his furres, and tooke any thing for them, wishing himselfe well rid of them^ and of the company in the bowse. But (as the manner has bin) bee must eate some avngescai . f^^^^^^^^y bcforc hcc goc : dowuc bee sits, and eats, and withall had an eie on every side; and now and then saw a sword, or a dagger layd a thwart a headpeece, which bee won- dered at, and asked his guide whether the company were not angry. The guide, (that was privy to his Lords plot) answered in his language, that hee could not tell. But the harmelesse Salvage before hee had halfe filled his belly, started up on a so- dayne, and ranne out of the bowse in such hast, that hee left his furmety there, and stayed not to looke behinde him who came after : Glad hee was that he had escaped so. The subtle Sachem hee playd the tragedian ; and fained a feare of being surprised ; and sent to see whether the enemies (as the Messenger termed them) were not in the bowse ; and comes in a by way with his wifes and children ; and stopps the New English Canaan, 33 chinkes of the out howse, for feaie the fire mighi be seene in the night, and be a meanes to direct his enemies where to finde them. And in the meane time, hee prepared for his Ambassador to his enemies a Salvage, that had hved ly. moneths in England, to the end it might adde reputation to his ambas- , „ , mi • 1 1 ^r • 1- i*T -^ Salvage that sage, ihis man nee sends to those mtruding i\aro- had iivetiu. higansets, to tell them that they did very great in- hntifJentfor"an jury, to his Lord, to trench upon his prerogatives : '^'"'""""''"^■ and advised them to put up their pipes, and begon in time: if they would not, that his Lord would come upon them, and in his ayd his freinds the English, who were up in armes already to take his part, and compell them by force to be gone, if they refused to depart by faire meanes. This message coraming on the neck of that which doubtlesse the fearefuU Salvage had before related of his es- cape, and what hee had observed ; caused all those fyl/tr^Thit hundred Narohigansets (that meant us no hurt) to i^'Jachem.''^'^^ "-^ be gone with bagg, and baggage, And my neigh- boures were gulled by the subtilety of this Sachem, and lost the best trade of beaver that ever they had for the time, and in the end found theire error in this kinde of credulity when it wa» too late. Chap. XV, Of their admiruble perfection, in the use of the sences. THis is a thinge not onely observed by mee, and diverse of the Salvages of New England, but also, by the French men in Nova Francia, and therefore I am the more incouraged to publish in this Treatice my observation of them, in the use of theire sences: which is a thinge that I should not easily have bin induced, to beleeve, if I my selfe, had not bin an eie witnesse, of what I shall relate. I have observed, that the Salvages have the E""/?/*""" , _ ' o nave the sence of sence of seeing so farre beyond any of our Na- ^fnge better then I 1 1 11 II . 1 1 • 1 the EngUsh. tion, that one would allmost beleeve they had mtel- ligence of the Devill, sometimes : when they have tould us of a shipp at Sea, which they have seene, soener by one hower, yea two bowers sayle, then any English man that stood by ; of purpose to looke out, their sight is so excellent. Their eies indeede are black as iett ; and that coler is ac- 5 34 New English Canaan, counted the strongest for sight. And as they excell us in this particular so much noted, so I thinke they excell us in all the rest. This I am sure, I have well observed, that in the sence of smelling, they have very great perfection which is confirmed by the opinion of the French, that are planted about Canada, who have made relation, Thai they are so perfect in the use of that sence, that they will distinguish between a Spaniard and a Frenchman by the sent of the hand onely. And Salvages that ivHi I am pcrswaded, that the Author of this' Relation "spanmrd /om a has scenc verj probable reasons, that liave induced ■^J'^iuf"he^/Vnd. him, to be of that opinion ; and \ am the more willing to give credit thereunto, because 1 have observed in them so much, as that comes to. I have seene a Deare passe by me upon a neck of Land, and a Salvage that has pursued him by the view. I have accompanied him in this pursuite ; and the Salvage, pricking the Deare, comes where hee findes the view of two deares together, leading several wayes. One hee was sure, was fresh, but which (by the sence of seeing) hee could not judge, therefore, with his knife, hee diggs up the f.f^he'vk^lf/he earth of one ; and by smelling, sayes, that was not "fumdanVkMed. ^^ ^^^^ frcsh Dearc : then diggs hee up the other; and viewing and smelling to that, concludes it to be the view of the fresh Deare, which hee had pursued, and thereby followes the chase and killes that Deare, and I did eate part of it with him : such is their perfection in these tvvosences. Chap. XVI. Of their acknowledgment of the Crtation^ and im- mortality of the Soule, ALthough these Salvages are found to be without Reh- gion, Law, and King (as Sir Wilham Alexander hath well observed,) yet are they not altogether without the knowledge of God (historically) for they have it amongst them by tradition, that God made one man and one woman, and bad them live together, and get children, kill deare, beasts, birds, fish, and fowle, and what they would at their pleasure ; and that their posterity was full of evill, and made God so angry : that New English Canaan. S6 hee let in the Sea upon them, &; drowned the greatest part of them, that were naughty men, (the Lord destroyed so.) And ihey went to Sanaconquam who feeds upon them, pointing to the Center of tlie Earth: where saL^agef "-^'^ they imagine is the habitation of the Devill :) the other, (which were not destroyed,) increased the world ; and when they died (because they were good) went to the howse of Kytan, pointing to the setting of the sonne ; where they eate all manner of dainties, and never take paines (as now) to provide it. Kytan makes provision (they say) and saves them that laboure and there they shall live with him ll'tat""^ """'''' forever voyd of care. And they are perswaded that Kytan is hee that makes corne growe, trees growe, and all manner of fruits. And that wee that use the booke of Common prayer, doo it to declare to them, that cannot reade, what Kytan has com- manded us, and that wee doe pray to him with the helpe of that booke ; and doe make so much accompt of it, that a Sal- vage (who had lived in my howse before hee had taken a wife, by vvhome hee had children) made this request to mee (know- ing that I allwayes used him with much more respect than others.) That I would let his sonne be brought up in my howse, that hee might be taught to reade fo^hil"^''J^^'^omi in that booke : which request of his I granted ; and *J„°j[fj",^f ll„^g hee was a very joyfuU man to thinke, that his sonne of common should thereby (as hee said) become an English- man ; and then hee would be a good man. I asked him who was a good man ; his answere was, hee that would not lye, nor steale. These, with them, are all the capitall crimes, that can be 'frnagined ; all other are nothing in respect of those; and hee that is free from these, must live with Kytan for ever, in all manner of pleasure. Chap. XVII. Of their Annals and funerals. THese people, that have by tradition some touch of the immortality of the soule, have likewise a custorae to make some monuments, over the place , I , . . 1 r» 1 Their custom m where the corps is mterred : But they put a greate turryinge. 36 JSew Enslish Canaan. difference belweene persons of noble, and of ignoble, or obscure, or inferior discent. For indeed in the grave of the more noble, they put II planck in the bottom for the corps to be 'iayed upon and on each side a piancke, and a plancke upon the top in forme of a chest, before they cover the place with earth. This done, they erect some thing over the grave in forme Their manner of ^^( g hearse clouth, as was that of Cheekatawbacks Monuments. i • i i rtf mother, which the rlimouth planters defaced, be- cause they accounted it an act of superstition. Which did breede a brawle as hath bin before related : for they bold im- pious, and inhumane : to deface the monuments of the dead. They themselves esteeme of it as piaculum, and have a custome amongst them, to keepe their annals : &c come at certaine times to lament, & bewaile the losse of their freind ; &t tiack7heir}are7. "^6 to black their faces, which they so weare in stead of a mourning ornament for a lonijer or a shorter time, according to the dignity of the person : so is their annals kept and observed with their accustomed solemnity. Af- terwards they absolutely abandon the place, because they sup- pose the sight thereof, will but renew their sorrow. It was a thing very offensive to them, at our first comming into those parts, to aske of them for any one that had bin dead ; but of later times it is not so offensively taken, to renew the memory of any deseased person, because by our example (which they are apt to followe) it is made more familiare unto them ; and they marvell to see no monuments over our dead, and therefore thinke no great Sachem is yet come into those parts : or not as yet deade, because they see the graves all alike. C n A p . X V ill. Of their Custome. in binnivg the Covntry, and the reason thereof, THe Salvages are accustomed, to set fire of the Country in all places where they come : and to burne it, twize a yeare, vixe at the Spring, and the fall of the leafe. The reason that mooves them to doe so, is because it would other wise be so overgrowne with underweedes, theCounti^yPwia that it would be all a copice wood, and the peo- ayeare. pj^ ^yQ^]^ p^j j^jg g{j|g jj^ ^^y ^^jgg j^ pasSC thrOUgh the Country out of a beaten path. New Evslish Canaan. 37 The meanes that they do it with, is with certaiue rainerall stones, that they cairy about them : in baggs made for that pur- pose of the skinnes of little beastes which they convert into good lelher; carrying in the same a peace of touch wood (very excellent for that purpose of their owne making. These min- nerall stones they have from the Piquenteeiies (wlilch is to the Southward of all the plantations in New England) by trade and trailicke with those people. The burning of the grasse destroyes the underwoods, and so scorcheth the elder trees, that it shrinkes them, and hinders their grouth very much ; So that hee that will looke to findo large trees, and good tymber, must not depend upon the help, of a woodden prospect to finde them on the upland ground ; but must seeke for them, (as I and others have done) in the lower grounds where the grounds are wett when the Country is fired : by reason of the snow water that remaines there for a time, untill the Sunne by continuance of that hath exhaled the vapoures of the earth, and dried up those places, where the fire (by reason of the moisture) can have no power to doe them any hurt : and if he would endevoure to finde out any goodly Cedars, hee must not seeke for them on the higher grounds, but make his inquest for them in the vallies, for the Salvages by this Custome of theirs, have spoiled all the rest : for this cus- tome hath bin continued from the beginninge. And least their firing of the Country in this manner; should be an occasion of damnifying us, and indaingering our habita- tions ; wee our selves have used carefully about the same times ; to observe the winds and fire the grounds about our owne habi- tations, to prevent the Dammage that might happen by any neglect thereof, if the fire should come neere those bowses in our absence. For when the fire is once kindled, iv dilates and spreads it selfe as well against, as with the winde ; burning continually night and day, untill a shower of raine falls to quench it. And this custome of firing the Country is the meanes to make it passable, and by that meanes the trees growe here, and iheie as in our parks : and makes the Country very beautifull, and commodious. 38 New English Canaan. Chap. XIX. Of their inclination to Drunkenesse. ALthough Drunkennesse be justly termed a vice, which the Salvages are ignorant of, yet the benefit is very great that comes to the planters by the sale of strong liquor to the Salvages, who are much taken with the delight of it, for they will j3a\vne their wits, to purchase the acquaintance of it, yet in al the comerce that I had with them, I never proffered them any such thing ; nay 1 would hardly let any of them have a drame unless hee were a Sachem, or a Winnaytue, that is a rich man, or a man of estimation, next in degree to a Sachem, or Sagamore : I alwayes tould them it was amongst us the Sa- chem^s drinke. But they say if 1 come to the Northerne parts of the Country, I shall have no trade, if I will not supply the with lusty liquors, it is the life of the trade, in all those parts, for it so happened, that thus a Salvage desperately killed him- selfe, when hee was drunke, a gunne being charged and the cock up, hee sets the mouth to his brest, and putting back the tricker with his foote, shot himselfe dead. Chap. XX. That the Salvages live a contended life, A Gentleman and a traveller, that had bin in the parts of New England for a time, when hee retorned againe in his discourse of the Country, wondered (as hee said,) that the natives of the land lived so poorely, in so rich a Coun- try, like to our Beggers in England : Surely that Gentleman had not time or leasure whiles hee was there, truely to informe himselfe of the state of that Country, and the happy life the Salvages would leade weare they once brought to Christianity. I must confesse they want the use and benefit of The Salvages Navigation (which is the very sinnus of a flourish- Tfnavigati'oii. ing CommoDwealth,) yet are they supplied with all manner of needfull things, for the maintenance of life and lifelyhood, Foode and ray men t are the cheife of all that we make true use of ; and of these they finde no want, but have, them in a most plentifull manner. New English Canaan. 39 •ft If our beggers of England should with so much ease (as they,) furnish themselves with foode, at all seasons, there would not be so many starved in the streets, neither would so many gaoles be stuffed, or gallouses furnished with poore wretches, as V have seene them. But they of this sort of our owiie nation, that are fitt to goe to this Canaan are not able to transport themselves, and most of them unwilling to goe from the good ale tap ; which is the very loadstone of the lande by which our English beggers steere theire Course: it is the Northpole to which the flowre-deluce of their compasse points ; the more is the pitty that the Com- monalty of oure Land are of such leaden capacities, as to neglect so brave a Country, that doth so plentifully feede Maine lusty and a brave, able men, women, and children that have not the meanes that a Civilized Nation hath to purchase foode and ray- ment : which that Country with a little industry will yeeld a man in a very comfortable measure ; without overmuch carking. 1 cannot deny but a civilized Nation, hath the preheminence of an uncivilized, by meanes of those instruments that are found to be common amongst civile people, and the uncivile want the use of, to make themselves masters of those ornaments, that make such a glorious shew, that will give a man occasion to cry, sic transit gloria Mundi. Now since it is but foode and rayment that men that live needeth (though not all alike,) why should not the Natives of New England be sayd to live richly having no want of either: Cloaths are the badge of sinne, and the more variety of fash- ions is but the greater abuse of the Creature, the beasts of the forrest there doe serve to furnish them at any time, when they please : fish and flesh they have in greate abundance which they both roast and boyle. They are indeed not served in dishes of plate with variety of Sauces to procure appetite, that needs not there. The rarity of the aire begot by the medicinable quality of the sweete herbes of the Country, alwayes procures good stomakes to the inhabitants. I must needs commend them in this particular, that though they buy many commodities of our Nation, yet they keepe but fewe, and those of speciall use. They love not to bee cumbered with many utensilles, and although every proprietor knowes his owne, yet all things (so long as they will last,) are used in common amongst them : A bisket cake given to one ; that one breakes it equally into so many parts, as there be persons in his company, and distributes it. Platoes Commonwealth is so much practised by these people. 40 Neio English Canaan. Theyitadeaimp. Accofding to humanc reason guided onely by ^vo%%^^cave. the light of natufB, thcsc people leades the more happy and freer life, being voyde of care, which torments the mindes of so many Christians : Theyare not de- lighted in baubles, but in usefull things. Their naturall drinke is of the Christall fountaine, and this they take up in their hands, by joyning them close together. They take up a great quantity at a time, and drinke at the wrists, It was the sight of such a feate, which made Diogenes hurle away his dishe, and like one that would have this prinoi- pall confirmed. Natura paucis contentat, used a dish no more. 1 have observed that they will not be troubled with super- fluous commodities. Such things as they finde, they are taught by necessity to make use of they will make choise of; and seeke to purchase with industry so that in respect, that their life is so voyd of care, and they are so loving also that they make use of those things they enjoy (the wife 'oTdi'nZl'"oiingi, ouely excepted) afe common goods, and are therein, Tomrnvn'^'"^'^ '^* ^^ compassiouatc that rather than one should starve through want, they would starve all, thus doe they passe away the time merrily, not regarding our pompe (which they see dayly before their faces) but are better content with their owne, which some men esteeme so meanely of. They may be rather accompted to live richly wanting nothing that is needefull: and to be commended for leading a contented life, the younger being ruled by the Elder, and the Elder ruled by the Powahs, and the Powahs are ruled by the Devill, and then you may imagin what good rule is like to be amongst them. F I N 1 >S'. 4( 3^ i^''J^ II '^i^ .^ ^ ^ |S^ :^ '^'^' Iti ^^ NEW ENGLISH CANAAN, OR NEW CANAAN. The Second Booke. Containing a description of the bewtj of the Country with her naturall indowements, both in the Land and Sea, with the great Lake of Erocoise. C H A p . 1 The generaU Survey of the Coimtry. N the MoiiCth of luue, Anno S^lutis : 1622. It was my chaunce to arrive in the parts of New England with 30. Servants, and provision of all sorts fit for a plantation : And whiles our howses were building, I did endeavour to take a survey of the Country : The more I looked, the more I liked it. And when I had more seriously considered of the bewty of the place, with all her faire indow- ^r/"'"'"' '^""*' ments, I did not thinke that in all the knowne world it could be paralel'd. For so many goodly groues of trees ; dainty fine round rising hillucks : delicate faire large plaines, 6 42 N(W English Canaan. Their fountnines swccte cristall foLintaines, and cleare running "chihtJlr"^ *" streanies, that twine in fine meanders through the meads, making so sweete a murmering noise to heare, as would even lull the sences with delight a sleepe, so pleasantly doe, they glide upon the pebble stones, jetting most jocundly where they doe meete ; and hand in hand runne downe to Neptunes Court, to pay the yearely tribute, which they owe to him as soveraigne Lord of all the springs. Con- tained within the volume of the Land, Fowles in crente ttore of abuudance, Fish in multitude, and discovered be- e'urtkdovts. sides; Millions of Turtledoves one the greene boughes : which sate pecking, of the full ripe plea- sant grapes, that were supported by the lusty trees, whose fruitfull loade did cause the armes to bend, which here and there dispersed (you might see) Lillies and of the Daphnean- tree, which made the Land to mee seeme paradice, for in mine eie, t'was Natures Master-peece : Her cheifest Magazine of, all where lives her store: if this Land be not rich, then is the whole world poore. What I had resolved on, I have really performed, and I have endeavoured, to use this abstract as an instrument, to bee the meanes, to cominunicate the knowledge which I have gathered, by my many yeares residence in those parts, unto my Coun- trymen, to the end, that they may the better perceive their error, who cannot imagine, that there is any Country in the universall world, which may be compared unto our native soyle, I will now discover unto them a Country whose indowments are bv learned men allowed to stand in a paralell with the Israelites Canaan, which none will deny, to be a land farre more excellent then Old England in her proper nature. This I consider I am bound in duety (as becommeth a Chris- tian man) to performe, for the glory of God, in the first place ; next (according to Cicero,) to acknowledge that. Non nobis solum nati sumus, sed partim patria, partim parentes, partim amid vindicant. For which cause I must approove of the indeavoures of my Country men, that have bin studious to inlarge the territories of his Majesties empire by planting Colonies in America. And of all other I must applaude the judgement of those that have made choise of this part (whereof 1 now treat) being of all other most absolute, as I will make it appeare, hereafter by way of paralell, among those that have setled themselves in new England, some have gone for their conscience sake, (as they professe,) & 1 wish that they may plant the Gospel of lesus Christ: as becommeth them, sincerely and without satisme New English Canaan. 43 or faction, whatsoever their former or present practises are (which I intend not to justifie, howsoever they have deserved (in mine opinion) some commendationes, in that they have fur- nished the Country, so commodiously in so short a time, al- though it hath bin but for their ovvne profit, yet posterity will taste the sweetnes of it and that very sodainly. And since my taske in this part of mine abstract, is to intreat of the naturall indowments, of the Country, I will make a breife demonstration of them in order, severally, according to their seveiall qualities : and shew you what they are, and what profitable use may ba made of them by industry. Chap. II. What tr"cs are there and how commodious. Akes are there of two sorts, white and redd, j ^^^^.^ excellent tymber for the building, both of bowses, and shipping : and they are found to be a tym- ber, that is more tough then the oak of England. They are excellent for pipe-staves and such like vessels ; and pipe-staves at the Canary Hands are a prime commodity, 1 have knowne them there at 35. p. the 1000, and will purchase a fraight of wines there before any commodity in England, their onely wood being pine, of which they are enforced, also to build shippino-e; of oackes there is great abundance in the parts of New Eng- land, and they may have a prime place in the Catalogue of commodities. Ashe there is store and very good for staves, oares or pipes, and may have a place in the same Catalogue. Elme : of this sort of trees, there are some ; but there hath not as yet bin found any quantity to speake of. Beech there is of two sorts, redd and white ^ ^^^j^ very excellent for trenchers, or chaires and also for oares and may be accompted for a commodity. Wallnutt, of this sorte of wood there is infinite j wainutt store and there are 4 sorts, it is an excellent wood, for many uses approoved, the younger trees are imployed for hoopes, and are the best for that imployement of all other stuffe whatsoever, the Nutts serve when they fall to feede our swine, 44 New English Canaan. which make them the delicatest bacon of all other foode, and is therein a cheife commodity. Chestnutt, of this sorte there is very greate pleiuy ; the tymber whereof is excellent for build- ding and is a very good commodity, especially in respect of the fruit, both for man and beast. Pine, of this sorte there is infinite store in some parts of the Country. I have travelled 10. miles too-ether, where is little, or no other wood growing. And of these may be made rosin, pitch, and tarre, which are such use- full commodities, that if wee had them not from other Coun- tries in Amity with England, our Navigation w^ould decline. Tlien liow great the commodity of it will be to our Nation, to have it of our owne, let any man judge. Cedar, of this sorte there is abundaunce ; and this wood was such as Salomon used for the build- ing of that glorious Temple at Hierusalem, and there are of these Cedars, firre trees, and other materialls necessary for the building of many fliire Temples, if there were any Salomons to be at the Cost of them, and if any man be desirous to fmde out in what part of the Country the best Cedars are, he must get into the bottom grounds, and in vallies that are wet at the spring of the yeare, u-here the moisture preserves them from the fire in spring time and not in a wooden prospect, This wood cutts red, and is good for bedsteads tables and chests, and may be placed in the Catalogue of Commodities. Cypres, of this there is great plenty, and vul- garly this tree hath bin taken, for another sort of Cedar; but workemen put a difference betweene this Cypres, and the Cedar, especially in the colour; for this is white and that redd white and likewise in the finenes of the leafe and the smoothnes of the barque. This wood is also sweeter then Cedar and (as it is in Garrets herball) a more bewtifull tree ; it is of all other to my minde, most bewtifull, and cannot be denied to passe for a commodity. Spruce, of these there are infinite store, espe- 10. spruce. ^j^jjy -j^ ^j^g Northerne parts of the Country ; and they have bin approoved by workemen in England, to be more tough, then those that they have out of the east country : from whence wee have them for masts and yards of shippes. The Spruce of this country are found to be 3. "country arf^^'* and 4. fadum about : and are reputed able single, ■£dllm a4ouiy* *" ^^ Hjake masts for the biggest ship, that sayles on the maine Ocean, without peesing, which is more than the East country can affords And seeing that Navigation JWjy English Can ami. 4/5 is the very sinneus of a flourishing Commonwealtli, it is fitting, to allow the Spruce tree a principall place, in the Cataloiriie of commodities. Alder, of this sorte there is plenty by rivers sides ^^ ^^^^^^ good for turners. Birch, of this there is plenty in divers parts of ^^ £„.,/, the Country. Of the barck of these the Salvages of the Northerne parts make them delicate Canovves, so light, that two men will transport one of them over Land whether they list, and one of them will transporte tenne or twelve Sal- vages by water at a time. Mayple, of those trees there is greate abundance ^^ ^^ and these are very excellent, for bowles. The In- dians use of it to that purpose, and is to be accompted a good commodity. Elderne, there is plenty in that Country, of this ^^ EUemf The Salvages make their Arrowes, and it hath no strong unsavery sent like our Eldern in England. Hawthorne, of this there is two sorts, one of ^^ Ha,vthoruf which heares a well tasting berry, as bigg as ones thumbe, and lookes like little Queene apples. Vines, of this kinde of trees, there are that ,. ^ beare grapes of three colours, that is to say : white black, and red. The Country is so apt for vines, that (but for the fire at the spring of the yeare) the vines would so over spreade the land, that one should not be able to passe for them, the fruit is as bigg of some ; as a musket bullet, and is excellent in taste. Plumtrees, of this kinde there are many : some „ „. that beare fruit as bigg as our ordinary bullis : others there be, that doe beare fruite much bigger than peare plummes, their colour redd, and their stones flat, very deiitious in taste. Cheritrees, there are abundance, hut the fruit is ^^ cherrtet as small as our sloes, but if any of them were re- planted, &i grafted, in an orchard they would soone be raised by meanes of such and the like fruits. There is greate abundance of Muske Roses in ^^ ^^^^^ divers places: the water distilled excelleth our Rosewater of England. There is abundance of Sassafras and Sarsaperilla, growing in divers places of the land ; whose budds 2°; ''sartupn-i'lut. at the spring doe perfume the aire. Other trees there are not greatly maleriall to be recited in this abstract, as goose berries, rasberies, and other beries. 46 J^ew English Canaan. There is Hempe that naturally growelh, finer then onr Hempe of Entjland. Chap. III. Poitheaihes and other herhes for Sallets. THe Country there naturally afFordeth very good pot- herbes and sallet herbes and those of a more maskuline vertue then any of the same species in England ; as Potmarioram, Tyme, Alexander, Angellica, Purs- potmnrioyam, land, Violets, and Anniseeds, in very great abun- Tyme^Altwander, ' i /• i t i i • Angellica, Furs- dauco : and ior the pott 1 gathered m summer, land, Viulcta and j • i i i i i • i r Anniteed^. dried and crumbled mto a bagg to preserve lor winter store. Hunnisuckles, balme, and divers other good and"Baime^' hcrbes are there, that grow without the industry of man, that are used when occasion serveth very commodiously. Chap. IV. Of Birds, and fcthei ed fowles. N^Ow that 1 have breifly shewed the Commodity of the trees, herbes, and fruits, I will shew you a description of the fowles of the aire, as most proper in ordinary course. And first of the Swanne, because she is the big- gest of all the fowles of that Country. There are of them in Merrimack River, and in other parts of the coun- try, greate store at the seasons of the yeare. The flesh is not much desired of the inhabitants, but the skinnes may be accompted a commodity, fitt for divers uses, both for felhers, and quiles. There are Gesse of three sorts vize brant Geese, whiu^wdgray. vvhich are pide, and white Geese which are bigger, and gray Geese which are as bigg and bigger then the tame Geese of England, with black legges, black bills, heads, and necks black ; the flesh farre more excellent, then the Nciv EnoJlsh Canaan. 47 \~5 Geese of England, wild or lame, yet the purity of the aire is such, that the biggest is accompted but an indifferent meale for a couple of men. There is of them great abundance. I have had often 1000. before the mouth of my gunne, 1 never saw any in England for my part so fatt, as 1 have killed there in those parts, the feihers of them makes a bedd, softer then any down bed that I have lyen on : and is there a very good com- modity, the fethers of the Geese that 1 have killed in a short time, have paid for all the powther and fJ^aierwuiJZ shott, I have spent in a yeare, and I have fed my doggs with as fatt Geese there, as I have euer fed upon my selfe in England. Ducks, there are of three kindes, pide Ducks, gray Ducks, and black Ducks in greate abundance : a/^ul'iack^'^'^''^* the most about my habitation were black Ducks : and it was a noted Custome at my howse, to have every mans Duck upon a trencher, and then you will thinke a man was not hardly used, they are bigger boddied, then the tame Ducks of England : very fatt and dainty flesh. The common doggs fees were the gibletts, unlesse they were boy led now and than for to make broath. Teales, there are of two sorts greene winged, and blew winged: but a dainty bird, 1 have bin much Jn^'binfr^ delighted with a rost of these for a second course, I had plenty in the rivers and ponds about my howse. Widggens there are, and abundance of other water foule, some such as 1 have seene, and such as I have not seene else where, before I came into those parts, which are little regarded. Simpes, there are like our Simpes in all respects, with very litle difference. I have shot at them onely, to see what difference I could finde betweene them and those of my native Country, and more I did not regard them. Sanderlings are dainty bird, more full bodied c„wr/; than a Snipe, and I was much delighted to feede on them, because they were fait, and easie to come by, because I went but a slepp or to for them : and 1 have killed betweene foure and five dozen at a shoot which would loade me home. Their foode is at ebbing water on the sands, of small seeds, that grows on weeds there, and are very good pastime in August. Cranes, there are greate store, that ever more ^^^^^ came there at S. Davids day, and not before : that day they never would misse. 48 New English Canaan. These soinelinies eate our corne, and doe pay for their pre- sumption well enough ; and serveth there in powther, with tur- nips to supply the place of powthered beefe, and is a goodly bird in a dishe, and no discommodity. Turkies there are, which divers times in great flocks have sallied by our doores ; and then a gunne (being commonly in a redinesse,) salutes them with such a courtesie, as makes them take a turne in the Cooke roome. They daunce by the doore so well. Of these there hath bin killed, that have weighed forty eight pound a peece. They are by mainy degrees sweeter then the tame Turkies of England, feede them how you can. 1 had a Salvage who hath taken out his boy in a mornings and they have brought home their loades about noone. I have asked them what number they found in the wood tome to irequent those places, r lowers nee cannot feed upon by reason of his sharp bill, which is like the poynt of a Spanish needle, but shorte. His fethers have a glasse like silke, and as hee stirres, they show to be of a chaingable coloure : and has bin, and is admired for shape coloure, and size. Chap. V . Of the Beasts, of the f arrest. NOw that 1 have made a rehearsall of the birds, and fe- thered Fowles, which participate most of aire, I will give you a description of the beasts, and shew you, what beasts are bred in those parts, and what my experience hath gathered, by observation of their kinde, and nature, I begin with the most usefull and most beneficiall beast, which is bredd in those parts, which is the Deare. New Englisk Canaan. 51 'rt Tliere are in this Country, three kindes of Deares Dean 0/3. kimh. of which there are greate plenty, and those ^re very usefuil. First, therefore I will speake of the Elke, which Mo^e or ,ed the Salvages call a Mose : it is a very large Deare, with a very faire head, and a hroade palme, like the palme of a fallow Deares home, but much bigger, and is 6. footewide be- tweene tlie tipps, which grow curbing downwards : Hee is of the bignesse of a great horse. There have bin of them, seene that has bin 18. Moscortieare handfuUs highe : hee hath a bunch of haire under a«w, tht hdght hi . ^ . /. 1 11 of thtm 18. Uaiifi is jawes : bee is not swiite, but stronge and large juiu-s. in body, and longe legged ; in somuch that hee doth use to kneele, when hee feedeth on grasse. Hee brinireth forth three faunes, or youn^e one?. They brmge forth ° , , . , 111 J "^'■«' t'ouiun at at a time; and being made tame, would be good onetime. for draught, and more usefuil (by reason of their strength) then the Elke of Raushea. These are found very frequent, in the noriherne parts of New England, their flesh is very good foode, and much better then our redd Deare of England. Their bids are by the Salvages converted into J'll^/'of'the-ne» very good lether, and dressed as white as milke. "/Deare. Of this lether, the Salvages make the best shooes, and use to barter away the skinnes to other Salvages, that have none of that kinde of bests in the parts where they live. Very good buffe may be made of the bids, I have seene a hide as large as any horse hide tiiat can be found. There is such abundance of them that the Salvages, at hunting time, have killed of them so many, that they have bestowed six or seaven at a time, upon one English man whome they have borne affection to. There is a second sort of Deare (lesse then the Tkemuiung redd Deare of Endand, but much bigger then the Deare or jaiiow English fallow Deare) swift of foote, but of a more darke coloure ; with some griseld heares. When his coate is full grovvne in the summer season, his homes grow curving, with a croked beame, resembling our redd Deare, not with a palme like the fallow Deare. These bringe 3. fawnes at a time, spotted like our fallow Deares fawnes ; the Salvages say, foure, I speake of what I know to be true ; for I have killed, in February a doe with three fawnes i;i her belly, all beared, and ready to fall ; for these Deare fall their fawnes, 2. moneths sooner; tlien the fallow Deare of England. There is such abundance of them, that an hundred have bin found at the spring of the yeare, within the compasse of a iniie. 52 New Engli^li Co.naiui. Trappcs to catcu Tlic Sulvagcs take these in trappcs made, of tic Dcuie. iiieii- naturall Hempe, which they place in the earth ; where they fell a tree for browse, and when hee rounds the tree for the browse, if hee tread on the trapp, hee is horsed up by the legg, by meanes of a pole that starts up and catcheth him. Their hides the Saluages use for cloathing, and will give for one hide killed in season 2. 3. or 4. beaver skinnes, which will yeild pounds a peece in that Country : so much is the Deares hide prised with them above the beaver. I have made good merchandize of these, the fiesh is farre sweeter then the veni- son of England : and hee feedeth fatt and leane together as a swine, or mutton, where as our Deare of England feede fatt on the out side, they doe not croake at rutting time, nor spendle shafte, nor is their flesh discoloured at rutting. Hee tliat will im- pale ground fitting, may be brought once in the yeare, wherewith bats and men hee may take so many to put into that parke, as the hides will pay the cliardge of impaleinge, If all these things be well considered, the Deare, as well as the Mose, may have a principall place in the catalogue of commodities. I for my part may be bould to tell you, that my bowse, was not without the flesh of this sort of Deare win- Th^(he^%^.^'"'^ '■^'^" "°^' summer, the humbles was ever my dogges fee, which by the wesell, was hanged on the barre in the chimney, for his diet only : for hee has brought to my stand a brace in a morning, one after the other before sunne rising, which I have killed. There is likewise a third sorte of deare, lesse Rmne'^Dtarr. ^'^^*^ ^^^^ Other, (wliich are a kinde of rayne deare) to the southward of all the English plantations, they are excellent good flesh. And these also bring three fawnes at a time, and in this particular the Deare of those parts, excell all the knowne Deare of the whole world. On all these the Wolfes doe pray continually the o'nDem-e"^"^' ^^^^ meaucs they have (to escape the wolfes is by swimming to Islands, or necks of land, whereby they escape : for the wolfe will not presume to follow them, until! they see them over a river; then being landed, (they wayting on the shore) undertake the water, and so follow with fresh suite. The next in mine opinion fit to be spoken of, is the Beaver; which is a Beast ordained, for land and water both, and Jiath fore feete like a cunny, her hinder feete like a goese, mouthed like a cunny, but short eared like a Serat, fishe in summer, and wood in winter, which hee con- A'^ew English Canaan. 53 veyes to his hovvse built on the water, wlierein hec silts with his tayle hanging in the water, which else would over heate and rot off. Hee cuts the bodies of trees downe with the fore- t/w Beavers cut teeth, which are so long as a boares tuskes, &i uith Au/ifrcuct/t^''' the help of other beavers (which held by each others tayles like a teeme of horses) the hind most with the legg on his shoulder stayed by one of his fore feete against his liead) they draw the logg to the habitation appoynted, placing the loggs in a square, and so by pyling one uppon another, they build up a howse, which with boghes is covered very strongly, and jilaced in some pond to which they make a damme of brush wood like a hedge : so stronge, that 1 have gone on the top of it crosse the current of that pond. The flesh of this beast is excellent foode. The fleece is a very choise furre, which (before the Salvages had commerce with Christians) they burned of the tayle, this beast is of a masculine vertue for the advancement of Priapus : and is preserved for a dish for the Sachems, or Sagamores : who are the princes of the people but not Kings (as is fondly supposed.) The skinnes are the best marchantable commo- Beaven at lo. dity, that can be found, to cause ready money to ^"■"J""""'- be brought into the land, now that they are raised to 10. shil- lings a pound. A servant of mine in 5. yeares, was thought I'Kfiveyearesone !o have a 1000. p. in ready gold gotten by 1000//I 'iirgol'd beaver when hee dyed ; wdiatsoever became of it. ^" ' And this beast may challenge preheminence in the Cata- logue. The Otter of those parts, in winter season, hath The otter in -win- a furre so black as jett, and is a furre of very highe black as letW'^' })rice : a good black skinne is worth 3. or 4. Angels of gold. The Flesh is eaten by the Salvages: but hoAV good it is I cannot shew, because it is not eaten by our Nation. Yet is this a beast, that ought to be placed in the number amongst the Commodities of the Country. The Luseran, or Luseret, is a beast like a Catt : but ti'e Lmeran as so bigg as a great hound : with a tayle shorter then '^'■^'^'^ a Catt. His clawes are like a Catts, Hee will make a pray of the Deare. His Flesh is dainty meat, like a lambe : his hide is a choise furre, and accompted a good commodity. The Martin is a beast about the bignes, of a Foxe. The Martin is His furre is chestnutt coloure, and of those there ew i^a- „f sfw canaan. naan, both for pleasure and proffit. 9 6ij Neiv English Canaan. Here may very many bra\ e Tovvnes unci Cilties he erecied which may have intercourse one wilh anclher by water, very comniodiously : ar.d it is of many men of good judgement, ac- counted the prime seate for the Metropolis of New Canaan, From this L>ake Northwards is derived the famous River of Canada, (so named of Monsier de Cane a French So mimeri of M;n. Lqi-jI thut first i)lanted a Colony of French in siei lie Cant. ', ii j i\t -i-' • c America, there called Nova r rancia, irom whence Captaine Kerke of, late, by taking that plantation, brought home in one shipp (as a Seaman of his Company, reported in my liearing) 25000. Beaver skinnes. And from tliis Lake Southwards, trends that goodly River called of the Natives Patomack, wliich dischardg- eth herselle m the parts oi V ngmea, irom whence it is navigable by shi]>ping of great Burthen up to the Falls (which lieth in 41. Degrees, and a halfe of North latitude :) and from the Lake downe to the Falls by a faire current. This River is navigable for vessels of good Buithen ; and thus much hath often bin related by the Natives, and is of late found to be certaine. They have also made description of great beards Great heards of of wcll grownc beasts, that live about the parts of coZel!^^ '^^"^ this Lake, such as the Christian world (untill this discovery) hath not bin acquainted with. These beasts are of the bignesse of a Cowe, their Flesh being very good foode, their hides good lether, their fleeces very useful!, being a kinde of vvoUe, as fine almost as the wolle of the Bea- ver, and the Salvages doe make garments thereof. It is tenne yeares since first the relation of these things came to the eares of the English : at which time wee were but slen- der proficients in the language of the Natives, and they, (which now have attained to more perfection of English, could not then make us rightly apprehend their meaninge. Wee supposed, when they spake of Beasts thereabouts as high as men, they have made report of men all over hairy like Beavers, in so much as we questioned them, whether they eate of the Beavers, to which they replyed Matta, (noe) saying they were almost Beavers Brothers. This relation at lliat time wee concluded to be fruitles, which since, time hath made more apparent. About the parts of this Lake may be made a very greate C/ommodity by the trade of furres, to inrich those that shall plant there; a more compleat discovery of those parts: is (to my knowleadge) undertaken by Henry Joseline Esquier sonne of Sir Thomas loseline of Kent Knight, by the approbation and New English Canaan. 67 appointement of that Heroick and very good Common wealths man Captaine lohn Mason Esquier, a true foster Father and lover of vertue, (who at his owne ^y"-y leseiine chardge) hath fitted Master loseline and imployed co've"^.'' him to that purpose, who no doubt will performe as much as is expected, if the Dutch (by gettinge into those parts before him, doe not frustrate his so hopefull and laudable desigues. It is well knowne, they aime at that place, and have a possi- bility to attaine unto the end of their desires therein, by meanes, if the River of Mohegan, which of the English is named Hud- sons River (where the Dutch have setled : to well fortified plantations already. If that River be derived from the Lake a.- our Country man in his prospect affirmes it to be, and if they get and fortifie this place also, they will gleane away the best of the Beaver both from the French and the English, who have hitherto lived wholely by it, and very many old planters have gained good estates out of small beginnings by meanes thereof. And it is well knowne to some of our Nation TheCntrhhnve that have lived in the Dutch plantation: that the YeZn-Vnul Dutch have gained by Beaver 20000. pound a *»"* -K'^'^'- yea re. Tiie Salvages make report of 3. great Rivers that issue out of this Lake 2. of which are to us knowne, the one to be Pato- mack, the other Canada, and why may not the third be found there likewise, which they describe to trend westward, which is conceaved to discharge herselfe into the South Sea. The Sal- vages affirme that they have scene shipps in this Lake with 4. Masts which have taken from thence for their ladinge earth, that is conjectured to be some minerall stufFe. There is probability enough for this, and it may well be thought, that so great a confluxe of waters as are there gathered together, must be vented by some great Rivers : and that if the third River (which they have made mention of) proove to be true as the other two have done: EZundk-I.'" there is no doubt but that the passage to the East India, may be obtained, without any such daingerous and fruit- lesse inquest by the Norwest, as hetherto hath bin endeavoured : And there is no Traveller of any resonable capacity, but will graunt, that about this Lake must be innumerable springes, and by that meanes many fruitfull, and pleasant pastures all about it. It hath bin observed that the inland part (witnes Neepnet) are more pleasant and fertile then the borders of the Sea coaste. And the Country about Erocoise is (not without TUtCouuiryot good causo) compared to Delta the most fertile parte e/'tcm n,jr,i,Jc 68 New UngUsh Canaan. as Delta in M- in all iEgypt, tli'dt aboundeth with Rivers and ^^^'' Rivalets derived from Nilus fruilfull channell, like vaines from the hver, so in each respect is this famous Lake of Erocoise. Ad therefore it would be adjudged an irreparable oversight to protract time, and sufier the Dutch (who are but intruders upon his Majesties most hopefull Country of New England) to pos- sesse themselves of that so plesant and commodious Country of Erocoise before us : being (as appeareth) the principall part of all New Canaan for plantation, and not elsewhere to be par- alelld in all the knowne world. JVew English Canaan. 69 NEW CANAANS GENIYS EPILOGVS. T Hou that art by Fates degree, Or Providence ordahi'd to see, Natures wonder, her rich store, Ne'-r discovered before, Th' admired Lake of Erocoise, And fertile Borders now rejoyce, See what multitudes of Fish, Shee presents to fitt thy dish. If rich furres thou dost adore, And of Beaver Fleeces store, See the Lake where they abound. And ivhat pleasures els are found, There chast Leda free from fire, Does enjoy her hearts desire, Mongst the fiowry bancks at ease. Live the sporting Najades, Bigglim'd Druides whose browes, Bewtified with greenebowes, See the Nimphes how they doe make, Fine Meanders from the Lake, Twining in and out as they, Through the pleasant groves make way, Weaving by the shady trees. Curious Anastomases, Where the harmeles Turtles breede. And such usefull Beasts doe feede, As no Traveller can tell, Els where how to paralell, Colcos golden Fleece reject, This deserveth best respect. In sweete Peans let thy voyce, Sing the praise of Erocoise, Peans to advance her name. New Canaans everlasting fame. 70 0*0 63© 6So oXu oAo j^Ksufot^KiC'-MojS raS^Dx^T i;, o^cjuj oaSSIm utoioAC* t Jo oH© o!JSSl© NEW ENGLISH CANAAN, OR ^ E W CANAAN. The Third Booke. Containing a description of the People that are planted there, what re- markable Accidents have happen- ed there, since they were setled, what Tenants they hould, toge- ther with the practise of their Church. Chap. I . Of a great League made ivilh the Plimmouth Plant- ers after their arriisall, by the Sachem of those Territories. THe Sachem of the Territories, where the Planters of New England are setled, that are the first of the now Inhabitants of New Canaan, not knowing what they were, or whether they would be freindes or foes, and being desirous to purchase their freindship, that hee might have the better Assurance of quiet tradinge with New En£[lisk Canaan. 71 'i) them (wfiich hee conceived would be very advantagious to him) was desirous to prepare an Ambassador, with com- mission to treat on his behalfe, to that purpose ; 'i ""Hvagc ncvt an ,, . , III •niii Anibdj/iddur tu and having one that had beene m Ji-ngland taken the Eri^ri/s/i at by) a worthlesse man) out of other partes, and after iningj!'"'^ left there by accident, this Salvage hee instructed, how to be have himselfe, in the treaty of peace, and the more, to give him incouragement to adventure his person, amongst these new come inhabitants, which was a thinge, hee durst not himselfe attempt, without security or hostage, promised that Salvage freedome, ivho had beene detained theie as theire Cap- tive : which offer hee accepted, and accordinglv came to the Planters, salutinge them vi^ith wellcome, in the English phrase, which was of thein admired, to heare a Salvage there speake in their owne language, and used him great courtesie : to whome hee declared the cause of his comminge, and contrived the busi- nesse so, that hee brought the Sachem and the English toge- ther, betweene whome was a firme league concluded, which yet continueth. After which league the Sachem being in company with the other whome hee had freed, and suffered to live with the English, espijnge a place where a hole bad been made in the grounde, where was their store of powder layed to be pre- served from danger of tire (under ground) demand- ed of the Salvage what the English had hid there Ja'thefhJ^ue"'' under ground, who answered the plague, at which hee starteled, because of the great mortality lately happened, by meanes of the plague, (as it is conceaved) and the Salvage the more to encrease his feare told the Sachem if he should give offence to the English party, they would let out the plague to destroy the all, which kept him in great awe. Not longe after being at varience with another Sachem borderinge upon his Territories, he came in solemne manner and intreated the Gov- ernour, that he would let out the plague to destroy the Sachem, and his men who were his enemies, promising that he himselfe, and all his posterity would be their everlasting freindes, so great an opinion he had of the English. Chap. II. Of the entertainment of Mr. Westons people sent to settle a plantation there. Aster Thomas weston a Merchant of London that had been at some cost, to further the Brethren of new Plimniouth, in their designes for these partes, shipped M 72 J^ew English Canaan. a company of Servants, fitted with provition of all sorts ; for the undertaking of a Plantation to be setled there, with an intent to follow after them in parson. These servants at first arived at new Plimmouth where they were enter- court holy bread taincd witli court holy bread, by the Brethren, they at Plimmouth. •' ' •' ' •' were made very wellcome, in shew at least : -there these servants goodes were landed, with promises to be assisted in the choise of a convenient place, and still the good cheare went forward, and the strong liquors walked. In the meane time the Brethren were in consultation, what was best for their advan- tage singing the songe, Frusira sapit, qui sibi non sojnt. This plantation would hinder the present practice, and future profit, &; Master Weston an able man would want for no sup- plies, upon the returne of Beaver, and so might be a plantation that might keepe them under, who had a Hope to be the great- est, besides his people were no chosen Seperatists, but men made choice of at all adventures, fit to have served for the fur- therance of Master Westons undertakinges : and that was as much as bee neede to care lor : ayminge at Beaver principally, for the better effecting of his purpose. Now when the Plim- mouth men began to finde, that Master Westons mens store of provition grew short with feasting, then they hasted them to a place called Wessaguscus, in a weake case, and there left them fasting. c: II A p . III. Of a Bntlle fought at the, Jlassctchussct.s, betwetne the English and the French, I He Planters of Plimmouth, at their last being in those parts, having defaced the monument of the ded at Pa- sonayessit (by taking away the herse Cloath which w^as two greate Beares skinnes sowed together at full length, and propped up over the grave of Chuatawbacks mother,) the Sa- chem of those territories, being inraged at the same, stirred up his men in his bee halfe, to take revenge : and having gathered his men together, hee begins to make an oration in The Sachems ^his manner. When last the glorious liLdit of all the Oration, . ° " . skey was underneath this globe, and Birds grew silent, I began to settle as my (custome is) to take repose ; be- fore mine eies were fast closed, mee thought I saw a vision, (at New English Canaan. 73 which my) spirit was much troubled, &i trembling -^ */"'" mooving at that dolefuU sight, a spirit cried aloude (behold ivarre,"'" my Sonne) whom 1 liave cherisht, see the papps that gave thee suck, the hands that lappd thee warme and fed thee oft, canst thou forget to take revenge of those uild peo- ple, that hath my monument defaced in despitefull manner, dis- daining our ancient antiquities, and honourable Customes : See now the Sachems grave lies like unto the conmion people, of ignoble race defaced; thy mother doth complaine, implores thy aide against this theevish people, new come hether if this be suffered, 1 shall not rest in quiet within my everlasting habita- tion. This said, the spirit vanished, and 1 all in a sweat, not able scarce to speake, began to gett some strength, and recollect my spirits that were fied, all which I thought to let you under- stand, to have your Councell, and your aide likewise ; this being spoken, straight way arose the grand Captaine, and cried aloud come, let us to Armes, it doth concerne tac gi-avfi cap- us all, let us bid them Battaile ; so to Armes they s/jcec/!'." went, and laid weight for the Plimmouth boate, and forceinge them to forsake their landinge place, they seeke ano- ther best for their convenience, thither the Salvages repaire in hope to have the like successe, but all in vaine, for the English Captaine warily foresaw, (and perceav- "^'if^ """'"^ ^'''• inge their plot) knew the better how to order his men fit for Battaile in that place, bee bouldly leading his men on, rainged about the feild to and fro, and taking his best advan- tage, lets fly, and makes the Salvages give ground, the English followed them fiercely on and made them take trees for their shelter, (as their custome is) from whence their Captaine let flie a maine, yet no man was hurt, at last lifting up his right arm to draw a fatall shaft (as hee then thought) to end this difference, received a shott upon his elbow.) P^./'"'!'' r"?"^ ' ' '/ uy the English. and straight way ned, by whose example, all the army followed the same way ; and yealded up the honor of the day, to the English party ; who were such a terror to them after, that the Salvages durst never make to a head against them any more. 10 74 Nf'w fCno/isli Canaan o C u A p . IT. Of a Parliament held at Wessagvscus, and the Actc.s. Some lazy people. M Aster Westons Plantation beinge setled at Wessaguscus. his Servants, many of them lazy persons, that would use no endeavour to take the benefit of the Country, some of them fell sicke and died. One amongst the rest an able bodied man, that A lusty fellow. i i i i • i i Vv i ranged the woodes, to see wiiat it would aiiord, lighted by accident on an Indian barne, and from thence did take a capp full of come ; the Salvage owner of it, finding by the foote some English had bin there came to the Plantation, and mad complaint after this manner. The cheife Commander of the Company one this occation called a Parliament of all his people but those that were sicke, and ill at ease. And wisely now they must consult, upon this huge complaint, that a privy knife, or strinse of A poore complaint. , , , , ,, i i " i-r- i j t-'J Edward lohnson beadcs would wcil cuough have quahned, and L.d- "Maidi^Jhatnous Ward loliuson was a spetiall judge of this businesse ; •f'"^^' the fact was there in repetition, construction made, that it was fellony, and by the Lawes of England punished with death, and this in execution must be put, for an example, and likewise to appease the Salvage, when straight wayes one arose, mooved as it were with some compassion, and said hee could not well gaine say the former sentence, yet bee had conceaved within the compasse of his braine a Embrion, that was of spetiall consequence to be delivered, and cherished hee said, that it would most aptly serve to pacific the Salvages com;jlaint, and save the life of one that might (if neede should be) stand them in some good steede, being younge and stronge, fit for resistance against an enemy, which might come unexpected for any thinge they knew, The Oration made was liked of every one, and hee intreated to proceede to shew the meanes how this may be performed : sayes hee, you all A fne device. agree that one must die, and one shall die, this A -wUe sentence, youuge maus cloathcs WO will take of, and put upon To hange a sick- onc, that is old and impotent, a sickly person that Tfeerfe? '^""'^*'^* cauuot cscapc death, such is the disease one him confirmed, that die hee must, put the younge mans cloathes on this man, and let the sick person be hanged in the others steede : Amen sayes one, and so sayes many more. Neio English Canaan. 75 And this had like to have prooved their fmall sentence, and being there confirmed by Act of ParHament, to after ages for a President : But that one with a ravenus voyce, begunne to croake and bellow for revenge, and put by that conclusive mo- tion, alledging such deceipts might be a meanes here after to exasperate the mindes of the complaininge Salvages and that by his death, the Salvages should see their zeale to lustice, and therefore hee should die : this was conclu- ded ; yet neverthelesse a scruple was made ; now to counter- maund this act, did represent itselfe unto their mindes, which was how they should doe to get the mans good wil : this was indeede a spetiall obstacle : for without (that they all agreed) it would be dangerous, for any man to attempt the execution of it, lest mischeife should befall them /^„l"r^''""'"^ '"" every man ; hee was a person, that in his v,rath, did seeme to be a second Sampson, able to beate out their branes with the jawbone of an Asse : therefore they called the man and by perswation got him fast bound in jest, and then hanged him up hard by in good earnest, who with larZ^t!"^^^'^ '" a weapon, and at liberty, would have put all those wise judges of this Parliament to a pitifull non plus, (as it hath been credibly reported) and niac'e the cheil'e ludge of them all buckell to him. C H \ P . V. Of a Massacre made upon the Salvages at Wcssa- guscus. Fter the end of that Parliament, some of the plantation there, about three persons Avent to live with Checataw- back k, his company, and had very good quarter, for all the former quarrell, with the Plim- ^^^"tiesaZlT/s mouth planters : they are not like will sommers, to take one for another. There they purposed to stay untill Mas- ter Westons arrivall : but the Plimmouth men intendinge no good to him (as appered by the consequence) came in the meane time to Wessaguscus, and there pretended to feast the Salvages of those partes, bringing with c/f/""-^',"/" them Porke, and thinges for the purpose, which they sett before the Salvages. They eate thereof without sus- pition of any mischeife, who were taken upon a watchword 76 New English Canaan. sahogts killed given, and with their owne knives (hanging about Z'tapon"^ "'"^ their neckes) were by the Pliinmouth planters stabcl and slaine : one of which were hanged up there, after the slaughter. In the meane time the Sachem had knowledge eivacarne . ^^ ^j^.^ accidenl, bj One that ranne to his Country- men, at the Massachussets, and gave them intelligence of the nevves ; after which time the Salvages there consullinge of the matter, in the night (when the other English feareles leveiige. ^^ danger were a sleepe,) knockt them all in the head, in revenge of the death of their Countrymen : but if the Plimmouth Planters had really intended good to Master Weston, or those men, why had they not kept the Salvages alive in Cus- tody, untill they had secured the other English? Who by meanes of this evill mannaginge of the businesse lost their lives and the whole plantation was dissolved thereupon, as was likely for feare of a revenge to follow, as a relatione to this cruell antecedent ; and when Master Weston came over ; bee found thinges at an evill exigent, by means thereof: But could not tell, how it was brought about : The Salvages of the Massachussets that could not imagine, from whence these men should come, or to what end, seeing them performe such unexpected actions ; neither could tell by what name, properly to distinguish them, did from that time af- terwards, call the English Planters Wotawquenange, which in their language signifieth stabbers or Cutthroates, The Salvages call and tliis name was received by those that came *thrfat'l '" ""* there after for good, being then unacquainted with the signification of it, for many yeares following, untill from a Southerly Indian, that understood English well, I was by demonstration, made to conceave the interpretation of it, and rebucked these other, that it was not forborne : The other callinge us by the name of Wotoquansawge, what that doth signifie, hee said bee was not able by any demonstration to ex- presse and my neighbours durst no more in my hearinge, call us by the name formerly used, for feare of my displeasure. Neiv English Cannon. 77 Chap. VI. Of the svrprizivge of a Merchants Shipp in Plim- mouth haibour. THis Merchant a man of worth, arrivinge in the parts of ]New Canaan, and findinge that his Plantation was dis- solved, some of his men slaine, some dead with sicknes, and the rest at Plimmouth ; hee was ^^S?' perplexed in his minde about the matter, comminge as hee did with supply, and means to have rased their fortunes and his one exceedingly and seeinge what had happened resolved to make some stay in the Plimmouth harbour, and this suted to their purpose, wherefore the Brethren did congratulate with him at his safe arrivall, and their best of entertainement for a swet- nlng cast, deploring the disaster of his Plantation, and glozing upon the text, alledging the mischeiv- f^f/aUeu^" ous intent of the Salvages there, which by freindly intelligence of their neighbours, was discovered before it came to be full summed : so that they lost not all, allthough they saved not all : and this they pretended to proceede from the Fountaine of love & zeale to him ; and Christianity, and to chastise the insolency of the Salvages, of which that part had some dangerous persons. And this as an article of the new creede of Canaan, would they have received of every new commer there to inhabit ; that the Salvages are a dangerous people, subtill, secreat, and mischeivous, and that it is danger- ous to live separated, but rather together, and so be under their Lee, that none might trade for Beaver, but their pleasure, as none doe or shall doe there : nay they will not be reduced to any other song yet, of the Salvages to the southward of Plim- mouth, because they would have none come there, sayinge that hee that will sit downe there must come stronge : but I have found the Massachussets Indian more full of humanity, then the Christians, &; haue had much better quarter with them ; yet 1 observed not their humors, but they mine, although my great number that I landed were dissolved, and my Company as few as might be : for I know that this falls out infallibly where two Nations meete, one must rule, and the ffmZ'm^J "^ other be ruled, before a peace can be hoped for: "X',- mu'st't' and for a Christian to submit to the rule of a Sal- ™'^;'„/,?; "" vage you will say, is both shame and dishonor: (at least) it is my opinion, and my practise was accordingly, and I 78 " Npao English Canaan. have the better quarter by the nieanes thereof. The more Sal- vages the better quarter, the more Christians tlie vvorser quarter I found, as all the indifferent minded Planters can testifie. Now whiles the Merchant was riiminatinge on this mishapp, the Plimmouth Planters perceivinge that hee had fur- nished himselfe with excellent Commodities, fit for the Merchandise of the Country, (and holding it good to fish in trobled waters, and so get a snatch unseene) in-actised in secret with some other in the land, whom they thought apt to iinbrace the benefit of such a cheat, and it was concluded The Vatle, and resolved upon, that all this shipp and goodes should be confiscated, for businesse done by him, the Lord knowes when, or where a letter must be framed to them, and haiides unto it, to be there warrant, this should sliadow them ; That is the firnt practise they will insane a man, and then pre- tend that Justice must be done: They cause the Merchant (secure) to come a shore, and then take him in hold, shewing they are compelled unto it legally, and enter strait abord peruse the Cargazowne, and then deliver up the Charge shiftp nndgoodes ^f her to their Confederates : and how much lesse cuiijmcaica. _ _ this is then Piraty, let any practise in the Admir- ralty be judge. The Merchant, his shipp and goodes confisca- ted, himselfe a prisoner, and thieatned so to be sent and con- veyed to England, there to receave the somme of all that did belonge to him a malefactor (and a great one to) this hee good man, indured with patience, longe time, untill the best of all his goodes were quire dispersed, and every his propor- whrneveru Con- ^j jj Merchant was inlarged, his shipp a bur- i-piratur hnd Ins ' '^ . ' ' . snare the shi,p thcu to the owner now, his undertakinges in these delivered ngnine. . . - i i- i partes beinge quite overthrowne, was redelivered, Bonds tnken not and bondcs of him were taken not to prosecute, hee being greived hereat, betakes him to drive a Report of Mr. trade, betweene that and Virginea many yeares. i"-tkwltugiand. The brethren (sharpe witted) had it spread by and by amongst his freinds in England, that the man was mad. So thought his wife so thought his other freindes, that had it from a Planter of the Towne. So was it thought of those, that did not know, the Brethren could dissemble : why tlius they are all of them honest men in their par- parcTJaj"'" ticuUir, and every man beinge bound to seeke ano- thers good, shall in the gencrall doe the best hee can to effect it, and so they may be excused, 1 thinke. New Eviflish Canaan. 79 o Chap. V 1 1 . Of Thomas Mortons enteriainemenl at Plimmouth and castinge away upon an Island. THis man arrived In those parts, and hearing newes of a Tovvne that was much praised, he was desirous to goe thither, and see how thinges stood, where his entertaine- ment was there best, I dare be bould to say : for although they had but 3. Cowes in all, yet had they fresh butter and a sallet of egcres in daintv wise, a dish not Bmve ent-rtame- .-, , , ', , 1 ment in the xvd- common jn a wildernes, there hee bestowed some iitmes time in the survey of this plantation. His new come servants in the meane time, were tane to taske, to have their zeale appeare, and questioned what preacher was among their company ; and finding none, did seeme to condole their estate as if undone, because no man among; them ^, had the guift, to be in lonas steade, nor they the meanes, to keepe them in that path so hard to keepe. Our Master say they reades the Bible and the word of God, and useth the booke of common prayer, but this is not the meanes ; the ansvvere is : the meanes, they crie : alas poore Soules where is the meanes, you seeme as if betrayed to be without the meanes : how can you be stayed from fallinge liead- longe to perdition ? Facilis descensus avcrni : the booke of common prayer sayd they what poore thinge is that, for a man to reade in a booke ? No, no, good sirs I would you were neere us, you might receave comfort by fpuU^"'"'"^ '''' instruction : give me a man hath the fruiftes of the spirit, not a booke in hand. I doe professe sayes one, to live without the meanes, is dangerous, the Lord doth know. By these insinuations, like the Serpent tliey did creepe and winde into the good opinion of the illiterate multitude, that were desirous to be freed and gone (to them no doubt, which some of them after confessed) and little good was to be done one them after this charme was used, now plotts and factions, how they might get loose, and here was some 35. stout knaves, &; some plotted how to steale Master ™aZl"' ^'"'^ '-^ Westons barque, others exasperated knavishly to worke, would practise how to gett theire Master to an Island ; and there leave him, which hee had notice of, and fitted him to try what would be done, and steps aborde his shallop bound for 80 Neio English Canaan. Cape Anne to the Massacbussets, with an Hogshead of Wine, Sugar liee tooke along, the Sailes hoist up and one of the Con- spiiators aboard to steere, who in the mid way pretended foule weather at the harboure mouth, and therefore for a time, hee would put in to an Island neere, and make some stay where hee thought to tempt his Master to walke the woods, and so be gone but their Master to prevent them, caused the sales a^tYou'/'^'"'^'^"^ and oares to be brought a shore, to make a tilt if neede should be, and kindled fire, broched that Hogshed, and caused them fill the can with lusty liqour. Claret sparklinge neate which was not suffered to grow fnliriTkT''''^ pale and flatt, but tipled of with quick dexterity, the Master makes a shew of keepinge round, but with close lippsdid seeme to make longe draughts, knowinge the wine would make them Protestants, and so the plot was then at large disclosed and discovered, &i they made drowsie, and the inconstant windes shiftinge at night did force TJ'fJ'"""^^''' the kellecke home, and billedge the boat, that they were forced to leave her so, and cut downe trees TmnpanyfJt"' that grcw by the shore, to make CafTes : tw^o of time vJJn trees. ^^^^"^ weut ovcr by helpc of 3 forc saile almost a mile to the maine the other two stayed five dayes after, till the windes would serve to fill the sailes. The first two went to cape Ann by land, and had fowle enough, and fowle wether by the way, the Islanders had fish enough, shel-fish and fire to roast, k, they could not perish for lacke of foode, and wine they had to be sure ; and by this you see they were not then in any want ; the wine and goodes brought tlience, the boat left there so billedgd that it was not worth the labor to be mended. Chap. \}J\ . ()/ the Banislimcnt <>f .Master Johu Lai/furd, and Juhn 0/dtim from Plhmnoiith. A Minister re- T^ /W" Aster Layford was at the Mcrchants chardgc yuhed to '•"- 1^ /■ •L^ "-J, M nuuuce his cai- ^/ 1 ^cut to Plimmouth plantation to be their '"',?e XVX. Pastor: But the Brethren, before they would allow of it, would have him first renounce his cal- ling, to the office of the Ministery, received in England, as hereticall and Papisticall, (so hee confest) and then to receive a ncwcallinife from them, after their fantasticall invention which Neic Enslish Canaan. 81 'ft hee refused, alledging and maintaining, that his calling as it stood was lawfull, and that hee would not renounce it ; and so lohn Oldam liis opinion was one the affirmative, and both together did maintaine the Church of England, to be a true Church, although in some particulars (they said) defective concludinge so against the Tenents there, and by this meanes cancelled theire good opinion, amongst the number of the Seperatists, that stay they must not, lest they should be spies, and to fall fowle on this occation, the Brethren thought it would betray their cause, and make it fall under censure, therefore against Master Layford they had found out some scandall ; to be laid on his former corse of life, to blemish that, and so to conclude hee was a spotted beast, and not to be allowed, where they ordained to have the Passover kept so zealously : as for lohn Oldam, they could see hee would be passionate, and moody ; and proove hiraselfe a mad lack in his mood, and as soone mooved to be moody, and this impatience would Minister advantage to them to be ridd of him. Hanniball when hee had to doe with Fabius, was impatience conju- , . » 1 . r I ^ ted by example. kept m awe more by the patience oi that one enemy, then by the resolution of the whole army : A weH tempered enemy is a terrible enemy to incounter. They in- joyne him to come to their needeles watch bowse in person, and for refusinge give him a cracked ^""./J.'o"]"'/"'''' Crowne for presse money, and make the blood run downe about his eares, a poore trick, yet a good vaile though Luscus may see thorough it ; and for his further behaviour in the Case, proceed to sentence him w'ith banish- ment, which was performed after a solemne inven- Jnf,i^t',t!^"t'!^ "-^ tion in this manner: A. lane of Musketiers was made, and hee compelled in scorne to passe along betweene, &; to receave a bob upon the bumme be every musketier, and then a board a shallop, and so convayed to Wessaguscus shoare, k, staid at Massachussets, to whome lohn Layford and some few more did resort, where Master Layford freely executed his office and preached every Lords day, and yet maintained his wife k, children foure or five, upon his industry there, with the blessing of God, and the plenty of the Land, without the helpe of his auditory, in an honest and laudable manner, till hee was wearied and made to leave the Country. 11 82 Ne2D Ens[Ush Canaan. Chap. IX. Of a barren doe of l^ir^inea growrif- fnihhfullin New Canaan. CHildren and the fruit of the Wonibe, are said in holy writt, to be an inheritance that commeth of the Lord ; then they must be coupled in Gods name first, and not as this and some other have done. They are as arrowes in the hand of a Gyant ; A great hnppines and happv saith David, is the man, that hath his comes by propa- . r ii c i i i i i i • i ^ gation. quiver lull ol them, and by that rule, happy js that Land and blessed to that is apt and fit for increase of children. I have shewed you before in the second part, of the dis- course, how apt it is for the increase of Minerals, Vegetables, and sensible Creatures. Now I will shew you, how apt New Canaan is like wise for the increase of the reasonable Creatures, Children, of all riches being the principall : and 1 give you this for an instance. This Country of New Canaan in seaven yeares N»'?aiflanfn timo couM show more Children Hvinge, that have vi^'ineainTr!'' bccne bome there, then in 27. yeares could be shewen in Virginea ; yet here are but a handful of weomen landed, to that of Virginea. The Country doth afford such plenty of Lobsters, and other delicate shellfish, and Venus is said to be bome of the Sea, or else it was some sallet herbe proper to the Climate or the foun- taine at Weenaseemute made her become teeming here, that had tried a campe royall in other partes, where shee had been &£ yet never the neere, till shee came in to New Canaan. Shee was delivered (in a voyage to Virginea) Bulsardfbay''^ ^^^^^ Bussardcs bay, to west of Cape Cod, where Dead and buried, shce had a Sonno borne, but died without baptisme and was buried ; and being a thinge remarkable, had this Epitaph following made of purpose to memorize the worth of the persons. EPITAPH Time that brings all thinges to light, Doth hide th uthinge out of sight, Yet fame hath left behinde a story y A hopefiill race to shew the glory : New English Canaan. 83 '^o For underneath this heape of stones, Lieth a percell of small bones, JVhat hope at last can such impes have, That from the wombe goes to the grave. Chap. X. Of a man indued with many spetiall guifts sent over to be Master of the Ceremonies, THis was a man approoved of the Brethren, both for his zeale and guiftes, yet but a Bubble, &; at the pubhke Chardge conveyed to New England, I thinke to be Mas- ter of the Ceremonies, betweene the Natives, and the Planters : for bee applied himselfe cheifly to pen the language downe in Stenography : But there for want of use, sf^"°.?^''pf>y »»«■ which bee rightly understood not, all was losse of labor, somethinge it was when next it came to view, but what bee could not tell. This man Master Bubble was in the time of lohn Oldams absence made the bowse Chaplaine there, and every night bee made use of his guifts, whose oratory luld his audi- tory fast a sleepe, as Mercuries pipes did Argus gu^"/^ anooie,- eies : for when bee was in ; they sayd hee could not tell how to get out : nay hee would hardly out, till hee were fired out, his zeale was such : (one fire they say drives out ano- ther,) hee would become a great Merchant, and by any thinge that was to be sold so as hee might have atMrd^^J'n'""^' day and be trusted never so litle time : the price it seemed hee stood not much upon, but the day : for to his freind hee shewed commodities so priced, as caused him to blame the buyer, till the man this Bubble did declare, that it was tane up at day, and did rejoyce in the bargaine, insistinge on the day, the day, yea marry quoth his friend if you have doomesday for payment you are then well to passe. But if he had not, it were as good hee had, they were payed all alike. And now, this Bubbles day is become a common hu day made a 11 1.x • J 1 X Ti common prouerb. proverbe, nee obtamed iiowse roome at rasson- agessit, and remooved ihether, because it stood convenient, for the Beaver trade, and the rather because the owner of Pas- sonagessit had no Corne left : and this man seemed a bigg boned man, and therefore thought to be a good laborer, and 84 New Ens[lish Canaan. to have store of come, but contrary wise hee had none at all, and hoped upon this freind liis liost : thithere were brought the trophies of this Master Bubbles honor : his water Trophies of honor. \ . i i ■ i-» 11 . tankard and his rorters basket, but no provision, so that one gunne did serve to helpe them both to meat ; and now the time for fowle was almost past. This man and his host at dinner : Bubble begins to say grace yea and a long one to, till all the raeate was cold ; ma,ie't%^7n"a^t ^^^ would uot givo his host leave to say grace, <•»'''- belike hee thought mine host past grace, and fur- ther learned as many other Schollers are : but in the usage and custome of this blinde oratory, his host tooke himselfe abused, and the whiles fell to and had halfe done, be- fore this man Bubble would open his eies, to see what stood afore him, which made him more cautius, and learned, that brevis or alio pcnetrat Ccelutn. Together Bubbles and hee goes in the Canaw to Nut Island for brants, and there his host makes a shotte &£ breakes the winges of many, Bubble in hast and single handed, paddels out like a Cow in a cage : his host cals back to rowe two handed like to a pare of oares, and before this could be performed, khe fowles had time to swimme to other flockes, and so to escape : the best part of the pray being lost, mayd his host to mutter at him, and so to parte for that time discontended. Chap. XI. Of a Composition made by the Sachem, for a Theft committed by some qf his men shelving their honest meaninge. THe owner of Passonagessit to have the benefit of com- pany, left his habitation in the Winter and reposed at Wessaguscus, (to his cost) meane time in the Depth of Winter, the neighbour Salvages accustomed to buy foode, came to the bowse (for that intent perhaps) k, peepinge The Salvages be. in all tlic windowes, (then unglased) espied corne. take the hozvse & t-> ^ 1 j ^ n ^i j 1 • take the Corne. But no body to scll the same, and having company and helpe at hand, did make a shift to get into the howse, and take out corne to serve but for the present, left enough behinde the Sachem having knowledge of the facte, and being advertised likewise, of the displeasure that had ben New Englisk Canaan. 83 coceaved, by tlie Proprietor thereof, at tliis offence prepares a Messenger, the Salvage that had hved in England, and sends him with comoiission, for the trespasse of his men who had tenne skinnes perposed for it, to bee payd by a day certaine ; The Sachem at the time appointed, bringes the Beaver to Wes- saguscus; where the owner hved, but just then was gone abroade, meane time the skinnes were by the Wessaguscus men gelded, & the better halfe by them iugeled away : , ,. ^ before the owner came, and hee by the Actors per- swaded, to bee contended with the rest, who not so pleased did draw the Sachem then to make a new agreement, and so to pay his remnant left in hand, and tenne skinnes more by a new day asigned, and then to bringe them to passonagessit, but the wes- saguscus men went the day before to the Salvages with this say- inge, that they were sent to call upon him there for payement, and received tenne skinnes, and tooke a Salvage there to justifie that at their bowse ; the owner stayed the while, hee verified this, because hee saw the man, before at Wessaguscus : the Sachem did beleive the tale, and at that time delivered up tenne skinnes : On that behalfe, in full dischardge of all demandes, against the trespasse, and the trespassers to them, who consented to him, and them, to the owner, and kept view to themselves, and made the Salvage take the tenth, tricked "'^* and give the owner all that yet was to bee had, The Heathen themselves confessinge their demaunds for him, and more just, then , , , ° , 'the Christtans. that there was but onely one as yet prepared, so that by this you may easily perceive the uncivilized people, are more just then the civihzed. Chap. XII. Of a voyadge made by the Master of the Ceremonies of JsTew Canaan to JVeepenett, from whence hee came away, and of the manifold dangers hee escaped. THis woorthy member Master Bubble, a new Master of the Ceremonies, having a conceipt in his head, that hee had hatched a new device for the purchase of Beaver, beyond Imagination, packes up a sacke gVdesfJnduct full of odde implements, and without any company, nJ'nahi^'^^ but a couple of Indians for guides, (and therefore you may, if you please) beeleive they are so dangerous as the 86 New English Canaan. Brethren of Plimmouth give it out, hee betakes him to his pro- £;resse into the Inlande for Beaver, with his carriadge on his shoulders like INIilo, his guides and hee in processe of time, come to the place appointed, which was about Neepenett, thereabouts being more Beavers to be had then this Milo could carry : And both his journey men, glad hee was good man, and his guides were willing to pleasure him, there the Salvages stay : night came on, but before they were inclined to sleepe, this good man Master Bubble had an evation crept into his head, by mis- applying the Salvages actions, that hee must needs be gone in all hast, yea and without his errand, hee purposed to doe it so cunningly that his flight should not be suspected, hee leaves his shooes in the howse, with all his other implements, and flies, as hee was on his way, to increase his feare, suggestinge himselfe that hee was present by a company of Indians, &i that there shafts were let fly as thick as haile at him, hee puts of his breeches, and puts them on his head, for to save him from the shafts, that flew after him so thick, that no man could perceave them : and cryinge out avoyd Satan, what have yee to doe with mee. thus running one his way without his breeches, hee was pittifully scratched, with the brush of the underwoods, as hee wandred up and downe in unknowne wayes : The Salvages in the meane time put up all his implements in the sack hee left behinde, and brought them to Wessaguscus, where they thought to have found him ; but understanding hee was not returned, were ferefull what to doe : and what would be conceaved of the English was become of this mazed man, the Master of the Cer- emonies; and were in consultation of the matter. One of the Salvages was of opinion the English would suppose him to be made away, fearefuU hee was to come in sight. The other better acquainted with the English having lived some time in England,) was more confident, and hee perswaded his fellow that the English would be satisfied with relation of the truth, as having had testimony of his fidelity. So they boldly adven- tured, to shew what they had brougt, and how the matter stood. The English (when the sack was opened) They take a note Jid take a uotc in writiuo; of all the particulers that ofxjhat -was iii . i o i i i 1101 tftesack. wcro m the sack; 61 heard what was by the Sal- vages related of the accidents : but when his shoes were showne, it was thought hee would not have departed with- out his shoes ; and therefore they did conceave that Master Bubble was made away : by some sinister practise of the Salva- ges, who unadvisedly had bin culpable of a crime which now they sought to excuse ; and straightly chardged the Salvages to finde him out againe, and bring him dead, or alive ; else their New English Canaan. 87 wifes and children should be destroyed. The poore m,-. Bubble mun Salvages being in a pitifull perplexity, caused their er eUe'they^thau Countrymen to seeke out for this maz'd man ; who "^ '^'"^^ ' being in short time found, was brought to Wessaguscus ; where hee made a discourse of his travels, and of the perrillous pas- sages : which did seeme to be no lesse dangerous, then these of that worthy Knight Errant, Don Quixote, and how mir- aculously hee had bin preserved ; and in conclusion, lamented the greate losse of his goods, whereby hee thought himselfe undone. The perticuler whereof being demaunded, it ap- Nor amy thing di- peared, that the Salvages had not diminished any part of them ; no not so much as one bit of bread : the number being knowne, and the fragments laid together, it ap- peared all the bisket was preserved, and not any diminished at all : whereby the Master of the Ceremonies was overjoyed, and the whole Company made themselves merry at his discourse of all his perrillous adventures. And by this you may observe whether the Salvage people are not full of humanity, or whether they are a dangerous people as Master Bubble and the rest of his tribe would perswadeyou. Chap. XIII. Of a lamentable Jit of MellancoUy, that the Barren doe fell into (after the death of her infant, seeing herselfe despised of her Sweete hart,) whereof shee was cured. WHether this goodly creature of incontinency went to worke upon even termes like Phillis or noe it does not appeare by any Indenture of covenants then extant, whereby shee might legally challenge the performance of any compleate Marriage at his hands, that had bin tradeing with her as Demopheon here to fore had bin with his ostis. Neverthelesse (for his future advantage) shee indeavoured (like PhiUis,) to gaine this Demopheon all to herselfe, who (as it seemes) did meane nothing lesse, by leaving her for the next comer, that had any minde to coole his courage by that meanes ; the whipping post (as it seemes) at that time not being in pub- like use, for such kinde of Cony katchers, but seeing herselfe rejected, shee grew into such a passion of Mellancolly, on a 88 New English Canaan. sodaine, that it was thought, shee would exhibit a petition for redresse to grim Pluto who had set her a worke, ^heVodai'ni ^e-' ^"d ktiowing that the howse of fate has many en- To^lefn'^att''"^ trances, shee was pusseld to finde the neerest way. Shee could not resolve on a sodaine : which doore woidd soonest bring her to his presence handsomely. If shee should make way with a knife, shee thought shee might spoyle her drinking in after ages, if by poyson, shee thought it might prolonge her passage thether : if by drowning, shee thought Caron might come the while with his boate, and waft her out of sight : if shee should tie up her complaint in a halter, shee thought the Ropmakers would take exceptions against her good speede. And in this manner shee debated with herselfe, and demurred upon the matter : So that shee did appeare willing enough ; but a woman of small resolution. Which thing when it was publickely knowne, made many <;ome to comfort her. One amongst the rest was by hir request- ed, on her behalfe, to write to her late unkinde Demopheon. The Gentleman being merrily disposed, in steed of writing an heroi- call Epistle, composed this Elegi for a memoriall of some mirth upon the Circumstance of the matter, to be sent unto hir, as followeth : CARMEN ELEGIACVM. MElyomene (at whose mischeifous tovc, The screech oivles voyce is heard ; the mandraks grove) Commands my pen in an lamhick vaine, To tell a dismall tale, that may constrainc, The heart of him to bleede that shall discerne, Moiv much this foule amisse does him concerne, Alecto (grim Alecto) light thy torch, To thy beloved, sister next the 'porch, That leads unto the mansion hoiuse of fate, Whose farewell makes her freind more fortunate, A great Squa Sachem can shee poynt to goe, Before grim Minos, and yet no man know. That knives, and halters, ponds, and poysonons things^ Are alwayes ready when the Divell once brings, Such deadly sinners : to a deepe remorse, Of conscience selfe accusing that will force. Them to dispaire like wicked Kain, ivhiles death. Stands ready ivith all these to stopp their breadth. The beare comes by ; that oft hath bay ted ben, By many a Satyres whclpe unlcsse you can. New English Canaan. 89 Commaund your eies to drop huge milstones forth, In lamentation of this losse on earth, Of her, of whome, so much prayse wee may find e, Ooe when shee will, sheeH leave none like behindc, Shee was too good for earth, too bad for heaven. fVhy then for hell the match is somewhat even. After this, the water of the fountaine at Ma-re Mount, was thoui^ht fit to 1)0 applyed unto her for a remedy, shee willingly used according to the quality thereof. And when this Elegy came to be divulged, shee was so con- scious of her crime, that shee put up her pipes, and with the •next shipp shee packt away to Virginea, (her former habitation)