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EXTRACT
FROM
CASTEEL'S “ DISCOVERS” OF AMERICA,
1644.
BEPRINTED PROM THE ORIGINAL IN THE POSSESSION OP THE
REV. FRANCIS L. HAWKS, D. D.
*INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
The following extract is taken from a small quarto pamphlet, in
two books, containing 102 pages, printed in London in the year 1644,
entitled “ A Short Discoverie of the Coasts and Continent of America
from the Equinoetiall Northward, and of the adjacent Isles. By Wil-
liam Castell, Minister of the Gospell at Courtenhall, in Northampton-
shire. Whereunto is prefixed the Author’s Petition to this present
Parliament for the propagation of the Gospell in America, attested by
many eminent English and Scottish Divines. And a late ordinance
of Parliament for that purpose, and for the better government of the
English Plantations there. Together with Sir Benjamin Rudyer’s
speech in Parliament, 21 Jac. concerning America.” The first book
contains a general introduction, and separate descriptions of New-
foundland, Nova Francia, New England, New Netberland, Virginia,
Florida, Cu£>a, Hispaniola, and the West India Islands. The second
book relates to South America and Mexico.
The author of this little work was a clergyman in the Diocese of
Peterborough, whose chief motive appears to have been a desire to
convert the savages of America to Christianity. For this purpose,
he drew up a petition to Parliament, setting forth the importance of
propagating the Gospel in the New World, and the necessity of en-
couraging the English colonies already planted there, which, with the
attestation of several eminent clergymen in London and the Provinces,
is prefixed to the pamphlet.
In this petition, Castell, among other arguments, urges that “ al-
though some of the Reformed Religion—English, Scotch, French, and
Dutch—have already taken up their habitations in those parts, yet
hath their going thither (as yet) beene to small purpose, for the con-
verting of those nations, either for that they have placed themselves234
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
but in the skirts of America, where there are but few natives, (as
those of New England,) or else for want of able and conscionable
ministers, (as in Virginia,) they themselves are become exceedingly
rude, more likely to turn heathen, than to turn others to the Christian
faith.” A copy of this Petition is contained in the eighth volume of
Churchill’s Voyages, pp. 772-775, and another in the first volume of
Hazard’s Historical Collection of State Papers, pp. 527-532. The
extract of the work itself, now reprinted, is also to be found in
Churchill’s Voyages, volume viii., pp. 739, 740.
Castell’s account of “ New Netherland,” as he styles it, is chiefly
interesting by reason of the circumstances under which it was pub-
lished. Charles I. and the Parliament of England were at that time
in open war; and although the English Government had questioned
the title of the Dutch to their American province, no steps had been
taken in opposition to the Hollanders’ settlements, excepting by pri-
vate enterprise of British subjects in the valley of the Connecticut
and its neighborhood. Sir William Boswell, the English Minister at
the Hague, suggested, in 1642, that the House of Commons should
make some open declaration on the subject, and urged that the
English in Connecticut should “not forbear to put forward their
plantations, and crowd on—crowding the Dutch out of those places
where they have occupied.” It was some years, however, before
Boswell’s advice was fully carried out; aad, in the mean time, the
House of Commons appears to have taken no exception to Castell’s
description of New Netherland, as “the Dutch Plantation,” nor to
his calling in his Petition presented to Parliament, the people whose
colonists were settling themselves there, “ our best friends the Nether-
landers.”NEW NETHERLAND.
As the bounds of New England westward, and by the south
endeth with the Promontory Malebare: so the Dutch plan-
tation beginneth there, and extendeth itself more westward,
and more southward toward Virginia. Yet was first found
out in the yeare 1609 by Master Henry Hudson an English-
man., imployed by the States of the Low Countries, for a dis-
covery in those parts. After which discovery returning to
Amsterdam, he was next yeare by the Merchants thereof
sent forth againe* with a ship furnished with such commodi-
ties as were fittest to truck with the Natives, for number
far exceeding those of New England. The continent upon
the Sea-coast from the aforesaid Malehar bending a good
space to the South-west. And then a little to the North-
west hath adjoyning foure Islands Petakonoeke, Kotget,
Christian and Block ; whereof the third, Christian, is of
good note for store of timber, aboundant fowle and fish.
Within the Continent lyeth the great Eiver of Nassaw, whose
first enterance is two miles wide, and for eight miles it con-
tinueth very Navigable, but after becommeth shallow. The
country adjoyning on either side is very pleasant and fruitfull,
inhabited by the Wapavockes and Nalucantos.
Then followeth River Siccanamos, the country where-
unto adjoyning is possessed by the Pequets, professed en-
emies to the English. Then the River Virresche on the
* This is an erroneous statement, so far as Hudson is concerned. A
vessel was, indeed dispatched from Amsterdam to the “ River of the Moun-
tains,” or the North River, in 1610, and she was probably navigated by
some of the mariners who had accompanied Hudson in the Half Moon the
year before. But Hudson himself never revisited Holland, nor the American
territories he had discovered for the Dutch. He sailed from London in the
spring of 1610, on his last voyage to the north, and discovered Hudson’s Bay,
where ;he perished in the summer of 1611. See Brodheads History of New
York, L p. 42.236
NEW NETHERLAND.
West-side whereof bending to the north, lye the Sequini
and Novasis. Between these Nations, and the Matawaces,
who live by fishing ; there lieth an Archipellagus, wherein
are many islands. On the North side of the Dutch Planta-
tion springeth River Machicham, called the great North
River, which running thorow one of the widest parts of that
part of the Continent, as yet discovered affordeth convenient
habitation for the Aquamachites, and the Manahots on the
Bast side. For the Sanachans and Tappans on the westside
Neare of this great River, the Dutch have built a Castle of
great use to them, not only for the keeping under of the
Natives adjoyning, but likewise for their more free trading
with many of Florida who usually come down the river
Canida and so by land to them. A plaine proofe Canida is
not far remote.
There is yet another River, not fully discovered, bigger
than the former, called the South River ; It lyeth westerly
by South toward Virginia ; The enterance into it is very
wide, having Cape May to the East, and Cape Hinlopen to
the West, lying about the degrees of 41., and from thence
the Sea-coast inclineth by little and little somewhat more
than two degrees to the South. A point necessarily to be
observed by those who saile into those Seas for avoiding of
shelves and sands. The chiefe inhabitance lying on the East
side of this River to the East are the Sicones and the Nava-
ticonse. On the West are the Minquaans and Senenquaans,
and many more.
And now concerning New Netherlands convenient tem-
perature, the goodnesse of the soile, or commodities which
either Sea or land afford. I need say no more, but that in all
these respects it differeth not much from New England only I
must in these foure things give it the precedency, that the land
in general is richer, the fields more fragrant with flowers, the
timber longer and therefore more fit for building and ship-
ping, the woods fuller of Bevors, and the Waters of Salmon
and Sturgeon.