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PUBLICATIONS OF
THE ESSEX BOOK AND PRINT CLUB
No. I
NEW-ENGLANDS
PLANTATION
&c.
PLANTATION
WITH
The Sea Journal and
Other Writings
By REV. FRANCIS HIGGINSON
i *
First Minister of the Plantation at SALEM
in the MASSACHUSETTS BAY Colony
THE ESSEX BOOK AND PRINT CLUB
SALEM MASSACHUSETTS
1908
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE COPIES
PRINTED AT THE RIVERSIDE PRESS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE ESSEX BOOK
AND PRINT
CLUB
Introduction
EW-ENGLANDS
PLANTATION,"
a tract published in
London early in 1630,
contains the earliest
printed account of the
colony established by
Endecott in 1628, at Neihum-kek, now
Salem. A description of the natural con-
ditions surrounding the new settlement is
also preserved, the narrative presenting,
in the quaint phrase of the original, "a
short and true description of the com-
modities and discommodities of that
countrey." The tract was written by the
Reverend Francis Higginson, who came
in the emigration following Endecott,
and who was eminently fitted, both by
education and profession, to prepare for
the friends in England a faithful account
of the life in the new country, not only to
gratify a natural curiosity, but also to at-
tract a further emigration.
[ 5 ] Francis
M187277
Introduction
Francis Higginson probably was born
in Claybrooke Parish, Leicester, Eng-
land, in 1587-88. He received his degree
of M.A. in 1 6 1 3 at Jesus College, Cam-
bridge, and two years later he was set-
tled over Claybrooke Parish, where he
preached with distinction until at last his
nonconformity brought him into danger
of imprisonment. About that time " The
Governor and Company of the Massa-
chusetts-Bay in New England " obtained
a charter from Charles I, and Higginson
was invited to join the party which was
being organized to make the first settle-
ment in the new country. As minister he
was to have equal political authority with
the members of the governing council.
He accepted the invitation, and with his
family landed safely at Neihum-kek, now
Salem, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1629,
and on the 6th of August following, was
ordained teacher of the church, with Sam-
uel Skelton as pastor. By virtue of his office
he became not only a spiritual guide but
a leader among his people, more espe-
cially during the trying winter and spring
following the arrival of the ships. The ex-
posure and the privations endured during
that time proved too severe, and consump-
tion laid hold upon him. He died August
6, 1630, "in the prime of his life and on
[ 6 ] the
Introduction
the threshold of a great career," leaving
a widow and eight children, one of whom
also became a minister and served the Sa-
lem church for nearly fifty years.
The manuscript of "New-Englands
Plantation " probably was sent home to
England upon the return of one of the
vessels that had brought over the planters.
It was received in London before Novem-
ber 20, 1 629 (see Young's " Chronicles of
the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay /'pp.
107, 242). Higginson had not expected
that it would be printed, as it was written
for "the satisfaction of loving friends"
who had requested a letter upon his ar-
rival, giving some account of the voyage
across the Atlantic and of the newly settled
country. Only the latter part of this letter
was printed, the earlier portion, describ-
ing the voyage, not being deemed of suf-
ficient importance to be thus preserved.
Three editions were published, all bearing
date of 1630. The author's name appears
on the title-pages of the second and third
editions. In 1634 was published William
WoodV'NewEnglands Prospect," which
gave much detailed information regard-
ing the country and the settlements in the
Massachusetts Bay. This superseded the
earlier account by Higginson, and the
latter dropped out of sight and in time
[ 7 ] became
Introduction
became very rare. In 1792 it was re-
printed in the Massachusetts Historical
Collections. In 1836 it was included in
Force's " Tracts/' and in 1 846 in Young's
" Chronicles of the Colony of the Massa-
chusetts Bay."
The several editions may be described
as follows :
FIRST EDITION
New-Englands | Plantation. | or, | A Short
and Trve | Description of the Commodities
and | Discommodities | of thatCountrey. | Writ-
ten by a reuerend Diuinenow | there resident. |
[Printer's ornament] | London, | Printed by
T.C. and R.C. for Michael Sparke, | dwelling
at the Signe of the Blew Bible in | Greene Ar-
bor in the little Old Bailey. | 1630. |
Small 4to. 1 1 unnumbered pages. Collation :
Title ( i ), reverse blank; To the Reader, signed
M. S. ( i ), reverse blank ; New-Englands Plan-
tation (17); ends "Finis." Signatures, B- (D
on last page).
SECOND EDITION
New-Englands | Plantation. Or, | A Short
and Trve | Description of the Commodities
and | Discommodities | ofthatCountrey. | Writ-
ten by Mr. Higgeson, a reuerend Diuine | now
there resident. | Whereunto is added a Let-
ter, sent by Mr. Graues | an Enginere, out of
New-England, | The second Edition enlarged. |
[Printer's ornament] | London, | Printed by
[ 8 ] T.
Introduction
T. & R. Cotes, for Michael Sparke, | dwelling
at the Signeof the Blew Bible in | Greene Ar-
bor in the little Old Bailey. | 1630. |
Small 4to. 27 unnumbered pages. Collation :
Title ( i ) , reverse blank ; To the Reader, signed
M. S. (i ), reverse blank ; New-Englands Plan-
tajon(23); ends"Fjnjs." Signatures, B (begin-
ning with" New-Englands Plantajon ")-D [4]
THIRD EDITON
New-Englands | Plantation, or, | A Short
and True | Description of the | Commodities
and | Discommodities | of that Countrey. | Writ-
ten by Mr. Higgeson, a reuerendDiuine | now
there resident. | Whereunto is added a Let-
ter, sent by Mr. Graues | an enginere, out of
New England, | The Third Edition, enlarged. |
[Printer's ornament] | London. | Printed by
T. and R. Cotes, for Michael Sparke, dwell-
ing | at the Signe of the Blue Bible in Greene-
Arbor, 1630. |
Small 4to. 23 numbered pages. Collation:
Title ( i ), reverse, To the Reader, signed M. S.
(2); New-Englands Plantation (3-1 7); [Or-
nament] A Letter sent from New-England,
by Master Graues, engynere now there resi-
dent (18-19); A Catalogue of such needfull
things as euery Planter doth or ought to Pro-
uide to go to N ew-England, etc. (202 1 ) ; The
names of the most remarkable places in New-
England (22-23); en ds "Fjnjs." Signatures,
A7 ; i leaf, B-D in 43.
[ 9 ] Copies
Introduction
Copies of the several editions are pre-
served in the following libraries :
First Edition.
Harvard University Library.
Essex Institute Library, Salem, Mass. (This
copy has title-page and last leaf in fac-
simile.)
John Carter Brown Library, Providence, R. I.
New York Public Library (Lenox Library).
New York State Library, Albany, N. Y.
Library of Congress.
Library of E. D. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Library of a Collector, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Library of Frederick R. Halsey, New York
City.
Library of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago, 111.
Second Edition.
Boston Public Library.
New York Public Library (Lenox Library).
Library of E. D. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Library of a Collector, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Library of Henry Huth, London, Eng.
Third Edition.
Boston Public Library.
Massachusetts Historical Society Library.
John Carter Brown Library, Providence, R. I.
New York Public Library (Lenox Library).
Philadelphia Library Company. (This copy
has title-page of the first edition bound with
text of the third edition.)
British Museum Library.
Library of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago, 111.
[ 10 ] In
Introduction
In the following pages the first edition
of " New-Englands Plantation " is repro-
duced in fac-simile from a copy in the
John Carter Brown Library, at Provi-
dence, R. I., through the courtesy of the
Librarian, Mr. George Parker Winship.
The third edition also has been reprinted
from a copy in the library of the Mass-
achusetts Historical Society for purposes
of comparison and to preserve the addi-
tional matter that it contains. The ac-
count of the voyage to Neihum-kek and
other writings of Higginson are from the
manuscript formerly in the possession of
Governor Hutchinsonand now preserved
by the Massachusetts Historical Society.
CONTENTS
PAGE
" NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION/' by
Rev. Francis Higginson, London,
1630. Fac-simile of the first edition 15
" GENERALL CONSIDERACONS" for the
planting of New England 39
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MR. HIG-
GINSON AND THE NEW ENGLAND
COMPANY 49
A TRUE RELATION OF THE LAST VOYAGE
TO NEW ENGLAND IN 1629 by Mr.
Higginson 55
"NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION," Lon-
don, 1630. The third edition 85
A LETTER THAT MR. HlGQINSON SENT
TO HIS FRIENDS AT LEICESTER 115
NOTES 123
INDEX 127
NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION
NEW-ENGLANDS
PLANTATION.
OR,
A SHORT AND TRVE
DESCRIPTION OF THE
COMMODITIES AND
DISCOMMODITIES
of that Countrey.
Written by a reuerend Diuine now
there refident.
LONDON,
Printed by T.Cand 1{.C for Wt
dwelling at the Signe of the ?/w titbit in
1630
To the Reader.
)Eader y doe not difdaine to read this
Illation $ and looke not here to
haue a large Gate and no building
within . a full-Jluffcd Title with no matter
in the Booke \ But here reade the truth, and
that thou fcalt find without any frothy bum*
bafted ^ords^or any quaint new*dcuifed ad*
dltlons y onely as it Tbas Written (not intended
for the PreJJe *) by a reuerend Ttiuine now
there liwngjbho onely Jent it tofome Friends
here^hich 'frere defirott* of his Delations $
'tohicbisan Efitomy of t\mr proceedings in
the Plantation, find for thy fart If thou
meanejl to be no Planter nor Venturer y doe
but lend thy good Prayers for thefurthrance
of It. And fo J reft a -ftetttwifier to all the
good defignes both oftbemy>fricharegone y
and of them that are to got.
M S.
NEWENGLANDS
Etting paffe our Voyage
by Sea,we wrll now begin
our difeourfe on the fhore
of Nevr-EngUnA. And be-
caufe the life and wel-fare
of -faerie Creature here
below 5 and the commodi-
oufhefie of the Countrey
whereas fuch Creatures Iiue 3 doth by-themoft
wife ordering of Gods prouidence 5 depend
next vnto himfelfe, vpon the temperature and
difpofition of the foure Elements., Earth,
Water 5 Aire and Fire ( For as of the mixture
of all thefe, all fiiblunarie things are compo-
fed 5 fo by the more .or leffe inioyment of the
wholefome temper and convenient vie of
thejfej confifteth the onely well-being both of
Man and Beaft in a more or leffe comfortable
meafure in all Countrey s vnder the Heanens)
Therefore I will endeauoUf tofliewyouwhat
3(cw-EngUKdis by the consideration of .each
of thefe apart^and truly endeauour by Gods
helpe to report nothing but the naked truth
and that both to tell you of the dilcoinmodi-
ties as well as of the commodities^ though a$
B the
*.
the idle Prouerbe is, TratteSers may lye ly au-
tboritie, and fo may take too much finfull, li-
bertie that way. Yet I may fay of my felfe as
once Nehemiah did in another cafe : shall fuch
*Man at l lye? No verily : It becommeth
not a Preacher of Truth to be a Writer of
Falfhood in any degree : and therefore I haue
beene-carefull to report nothing of Afc#-
Evglwd but what I haue partly feene with
mine owne Eyes, and partly heard and enqui-
red from the Mouthes of verie honeft and
religious perfon, who by liuing in the Coun-
trey a good fpace of time haue had experience
and knowledge of the ftate thereof, & whofe
teftimonies 1 doe beleeue as my felfe.
Firft therefore of the Earth of New-England
and all the appurtenances thereof :It is a Land
of diuers and fundry forts all about Mafattw-
lets Bay, and at Charles Riuer is as fat blacke
Earth as can be feene any where : and in other
places you haue a clay foyle, in other grauel],
in other fandy^as it is all about our Plantation
at 4/^0, for fo our Towne is now named,
Pfal. 76.1.
The forme of the Earth here in the fuper-
ficies of it is neither too flat in the plainneffe,
nor too high in Hils, but partakes of both in
a mediocritk, and fit for Pafture^or for Plow
or Meddowground 5 as Menpleafe to employ
it: though all the Countrey be as it were a
thicke Wood for the generall, yet in diuers
places there is much ground cleared by the
efpecially about the Plantation:
and
New-ZtfgtanJs Plavtatiw.
and I am told that about three miles from vs a
Man may ftand on a little hilly place and fee
diuers thoufands of acres of ground as good
as need to be,and not a Tree in the lame. It is
thought here is good Clay to make Bricke
and Tyles and Earthen-Pots as needs to be*
At this inftant we are fetting a Bricke-Kill on
worke to make Brickes and Tyles for the
building of our Houfes. For Stone, here is
plentie of Slates at the He of Slate in M^/S-
t/wtets Bay, and Liine-ftone, Free-ftone, and
Smootlvftone, and Iron-done, and Marble-
done alfo in fuch ftore, that we haue great
Rockes of it, and a Harbour hard by. Our
Plantation is from thence called Marble-har-
bour.
Of Minerals there hath yet beene but little
triall made,yet we are not without great hope
of being furniflied in that Soyle,
The tertilitie of the Soyle is to be admired
at, as appeareth in the aboundahce of Graffe
that groweth euerie where both verie thicke,
verie longhand verie high in diuers places:
but it groweth very wildly with a greatitalke
and a broad and ranker blade^becaufe it neuer
had been eaten with Cattle, nor mowed with
aSythe > and feldome trampled on by foot.
It is Icarce to be beleeued how our Kine and
Goats, Horfes and Hogges doe thriue and
profper here and like well of this Countrey.
In our Plantation we haue already a quart
of Milke for a penny : but the aboundant en-
creafe of Come proues this Countrey to be
B 2 a
a wonderment. Thirtie/ortie^fiftie^fixtieare
ordinarie heie : yea lofephs encreafe in vfgyft
Is out-ftript here with v$. Our Planters hope
to haue more then a luindf ed fould this yere ;
and all this while I am within compafTe^what
will you fay of two hundred fould and vp-
wards ? It is almoft incredible what great
gainc fome of our Englifli Planters haue had
by our Indian Corne. Credible perfons haue
allured me, and the partie himfelfe auouched
rhe truth of it to me 3 tliat of the letting of 13
Gallons of Corne he hath had encreafe of it
5 2 Ho.gfheads,euerie Hoglhead holding feuen
Bufliels of London meafure^and enerieBufliell
was by him ibid and trufted to the tndi&m for
fo much Bcaucr as was worth 1 8 (hillings^ and
fo of this 13 Gallons of Corne which was
worth 6 fhillings 8 pence, he made about 327
pounds of it the y eere folio wing 5 as by recko-
ning will appeare : where you may fee .how
God bleflfeth husbandry in this Land. There
is notfuch great and beautifull eares of Corne
Ifuppofe any where elfe to be found but in
this Countrey : being alfo of varieue of co-
Iours 3 as red^blev/ and yellow^&c. and of one
Corne there fpdngeth ibure or fiue hundred.
I haue fent you many Eares of diuers colours
chat you might fee the tmth of it.
Little Children here by fetting of Corne
may earne much more then their owne main-
tenance.
They haue tryed our Evg/fjk Corne at new
Plirnouth Plantation., fo that all otir feueral!
ti Graines
aon.
Graines will grow here verie well, and haue a
fitting Soyle for their nature.
Our Gouernour hath ftore of greene Peafe
growing in his Garden as good as etierleac
in EflgUnA*
This Coimtrcy abonndeth naturally with
ftore of Roots of great varietie and good to
eat* Our Turnips, Parfnips and Carrots arc
here both bigger and fweeterthenis ordina-
rily to be found in England. Here arealfo ftore
of PumpioiiSjCovvcumbers^and other things
of that nature which 1 know not. AIfo,diuers
excellent Pot-herbs grow abundantly among
the GrafTe, as Strawberrie leaues in all places
of the Countrey 3 and plentie of Strawberries
in their time, and Peny royall, Winterfauerie 3
Sorrell^Brookelime^Liuerwort, Caruell and
Watercjrefles^alfo Leekes and Onions are or-
dinarie 5 and diuers Phyficall Herbes. Here are
alfo aboundance of other fweet Herbes de-
lightfull to the fmell, whofc names we know
liofj&c. and plentie of fingle Damaske Rofes
verie fweet; and two kinds of Herbes that
beare two kind of flowers very fweet, which
they fay, are as good to make Cordage of
Clbath as any Hempe or Flaxe we haue,
Excellent Vines are here vp and downe in
the Woods* Our Gouernour hath already
planted a Vineyard with great hope of en-
creafe.
Alfo,Mulberies, Plums > Rafpberies, Cor-
^.^y
Hurtleberies & Hawes of Whitethorne neere
B 3 as
Ntw-Evghnd$ Plawatfan.
as good as our Cherries in EngUndfosy grow
in plentie here.
For Wood there is no better in the World
I thinke, here being foure forts of Oke diffe-
ring both in the Leafe, Timber, and Colour,
all excellent good. There is alfo good Afb,
Elme,Willow,Biixh,Beech,Saxafras,Iuniper
Cipres,Cedar,Spruce,Pines & Firre that will
yeeld abundance of Turpentine,Pitch,Tarre,
Mafts and other materials for building both
of Ships and Houfes. Alfo here are ftorc of
Sumacke Trees, they are good for dying and
tanning of Leather,likewife fuch Trees yeeld
a precious Gum called White Bcniamen, that
they fay is excellent for perfumes. Alfo here
be diucrs. Roots and Berries wherewith the
Indians dye excellent holy day colours that no
raine nor wafliing can alter. Alfo, wee haue
materials to make Sope-Afhes and Salt-Peter
in aboundance.
For Beafts there are fome Beares^ and they
fay fome Lyons alfo 5 for they haue been feen
at Cape Anne. Alfo here are feuerall forts of
Deere, fome whereof bring three or foure
young ones at once, which is not ordinarie in
EngUnd. Alfo Wolues, Foxes, Beauers,Ot-
ters,Martins 3 great wild Cats, & a great Beaft
called a Molke as bigge as an Oxe J haue feen
the Skins of all thcfe Beafts fince I came to
this Plantation excepting Lyons* Alfo here
are great ftore of Squerrels,fome greater,and
fome fmaller and leifer : there are fome of the
Idfer fort^they tell me ? thatby a certaine Skin
will
will fly from Tree to Tree though they (land
farrediftant.
Oftfa mtm *f New-England with the thing*
belonging t$ the feme.
Zw-Eglmd hath Water enough both
fait and frefli, the greateft Sea in the
World, the Athntickt Sea runs all along the
Coaft thereof.Thereare abundance of Hands
along the Shore,fomefull of Wood and Maft
to feed Swine* and others cleere of Wood,
and fruitfull to beare Corne. Alfowehaue
ftore of excellent harbours for Ships, as at
Cape Ame, and at Mafathitlets Bay, and at
Salem, and at many other places rand they are
the better becaufe for Strangers there is a ve-
rie difficuk and dangerous paffage into them,
but vnto fuch as are well acquainted with
them, they are eafie and fafe enough. The
aboundance of Sea-Fifli are almofl beyond
beleeuing,and fure I fhould fcarce haue belee-
ued it except I had feene it with mine owne
Eyes* I faw great ftore of Whales, and
CrampuiTe, and fuch aboundance of Make-
rils that it would aftonifh one to bchoid 5 like-
wife Cod-Fifli aboundance on the Coaft,and
in their feafon are plentifully taken.Thereis a
Fi/h called a BaflTe,a moft fv/eet & wholelbrne
Fiflias euer I did eat, it is altogether as good
as our frefh Sammon, and the feafon of their
comming was begun when we came f?ift to
lane* and fo continued about
three
three months fpace. Of this Fifh our Fifliers
take, many hundreds together, which I haue
feene lying on the fliore to my admiration 5
yea, their Nets ordinarily take more then
they are able to hale to Land,and for want of
Boats and Men they are conftrained to let a
many goe after they haue taken them,and yet
fometimes they fill two Boats at a time with
them. And befides Bafle we take plentie of
Scate and Thornbacke, and aboundance of
Lobfters, that the leaft Boy in the Plantation
may both catch and eat what he wil of them,
For my owne part I was foone cloyed with
them,they were fo greaf,and fat, and luffious.
I haue feenc fomemy felfe that haue weighed
1 6 pound, but others haue had diuers time fb
great Lobfters as haue weighed 25 pound^s
they aflured me. Alfo here is aboundance of
Herring,Turbut,Sturgion,Cuskes,Hadocks,
Mullets, Eeles, Crabs^ Muskles and Oyfters.
Befide there is probabilitie that the Countrey
is of an excellent temper for the making of
Salt: for fince our comming our Filhcrmen
haue brought home verie good Salt which
they found candied by the {landing of the Sea
water and the heat of the Sunne,vpon a Rock
by the Sea ihore : and in diuers Salt MariHies
that fome haue gone through,they haue found
feme Salt in fome places crufhing vnder their
Feet and cleauing to their Shoes.
And as for frefli Water the Countrey is full
of daintie Springs,and fome great Riuers,and
fome kfler Brookes s and atMafithfttetsftay
they
they digged Wels and found Water 2t three
Foot dcepe in moft places : and neere Saltnt
they haueas fiae cleare Water as we can de-
fire, and we may digge Wels and find Water
where we lift.
Thus we fee both Land and Sea abound
with ftore of bleffings for the comfortable
fuftenance of Mans life in New-Ettgland.
Of the Aire ^New-England with the T&xper
an A Creatures in it.
THe Temper of the Aire
is one fpeciall thing that commends this
place. Experience doth manifeft that there is
hardly amore healthfull place to be found in
the World that agreeth better with our En-
glifliBodyes. Many that haue beene weake
and fickly in old EngUndty comming hither
hane beene thoroughly healed and growne
healthfull and ftrong. For here is an extraor-
dinarie cleere and dry Aire that is of a moft
healing nature to all fuch as are of a Cold,
Melancholy 5 Flegmatick, Reumaticke temper
of Body. None can more truly fpeake hereof
by their owne experience then my felfe. My
Friends that knew me can well teU how verie
fickly I haue been and continually in Phyfick,
being much troubled with a tormenting paine
through an extraordinarie weakneffe of my
Stomacke 5 and aboundance of Melancholicke
humorsjbut fince I came hither on this Voy-
age, I thanke God I haue had perfeft health^
C and
and freed from paitie and vomitings, hauing a
Stomacke to digeft the hardeft and courfeft
fare who before could not cat fineft meat^and
whereas my Stomacke could onely digeft and
did require fuch drinke as was both ftrong
and ftale, now I can and doe oftentimes drink
New -England, water verie well- and I that hauc
not gone without a Cap for many yeeres to-
gether, neither durft leaue off the fame, haue
now caft away my Cap, and doe weare none
at all in the day time : and whereas before-
time I cloathed my felfe with double cloathcs
and thicke Waftcoats to keepe me warme,
euen in the Summer time., I doe now goe as
thin clad as any, onely wearing a light Stuffe
Catfbcke vpon my Shirt and Stuffe Breeches
of one thicknefle without Linings. Befides,
I hauc one of my Children that was formerly
moft lamentably handled with fore breaking
out of both his hands and feet of the Kings
Euill, but fince he came hither he is verie well
oner hce was, and there is hope of perfeft re-
couerie fhortly, euen by the verie wholefonv
nefle of the Aire, altering^ digcfiing and dry-
ing vp the cold and crude humors of the Bo-
dy: and therefore I thinke it is a wife courfe
for all cold completions to come to' take
Phyficke in New Englind ; for a fup of 8ew-
Enlands Aireis better then a whole draft of
In the Summertime in the midft of/ufy
and Avgufl it is a good deale hotter then in old
: and in Winter, lamary and February
are
are much colder as they fay: but the Spring
and Autumne are of a middle temper.
Fowles of the Aire are plentiful! here, and
of all forts as we haue in #g/* Was far re as
I can learne, and a great many of ftrange
Fowles which we know not. Whilft I was
writing thefethings,one of our Men brought
home an Eagle which he had killed in the
Wood : they fay they are good meat. Alfo
here are many kinds of excellent Hawkes,
both Sea Hawkes and Land Hawkes : and my
{elfe walking in the Woods with another ,in
company, fprung a Partridge fo bigge that
through the heauinetfe of his Body could fly
but a little way : they that haue killed them,
fay they are as bigge as our Hens , Here are
liicewifeaboundance of Turkies often killed
in the Woods, farre greater then our Engli/h
Turkies, nnd exceeding fat, fweet arid flelhy,
for here they haue aboundance of feeding all
the ycere Iong 5 as Strawberries,in Summer all
places are full of them,and all manner of Ber-
ries and Fruits'. In the Winter time I haue
fcene Flockes of Pidgcons, and haue eaten of
them: they doe flye from Tree to Tree as
other Birds doe, which our Pidgeons will not
doe in #g/!W: they are of all colours as ours
are, but their wings and tayles are farr longer,
and therefore it is likely they fly (witter to
efcape the terrible Hawkes in this Countrey.
In Winter time this Countrey doth abound
with wild Geeie, wild Duckes, and other Sea
Fowlc,that a great part of winter the Planters
C a haue
haue eaten nothing but roailmeat of diners
Fowles which they haue killed.
Thus you haue heard of the Earth, Water
and Aire of New-Efiglwd> now it may be you
expedlfomethingtobefaid of the Fire pro-
portionable to the reft of the Elements.
Indeed I thinke New EnglAnd, may boaft of
this Element more then of all the reft : for
though it be here fomthing cold in the winter,
yet here we haue plentie of Fire to warme vs,
and that a great deale cheaper then they fell
.Billets and Faggots in London : nay, all Europe
is not able to afford to make fo great Fires as
Ncw.England. A poore Seruant here that is to
pofleffcbut 50 Acres of Land,may afford to
giue more wood for Timber and Fire as good
as the world yeelds,then many Noble Men in
England, can afford to doe.Here is good liuing
for thofe that IQUC good Fires. And although
New-Englwd haue no Tallow to make Can-
dles of, yet by the aboundance of the Fifli
thereof, it can afford Oyle for Lampes. Yea
our Pine-Trees that are the moft plentiful! of
all wood, doth allow vs plentie of Candles,
which are verie vfefull in aHoufe.-andthey
are fuch Candles as the indiws commonly
vfe,hauing no other,and they are nothing elie
but the wood of the Pine Tree clouen in two
little flices fomething thin, which are fo full
of the moyfture of Turpentine and Pitch,
that they burnc as cleere as a Torch* I haue
fentyoufome of them that you miy fee the
experience of them.
Thus
Thus of Neyp-Englands commoditie$ 3 fiow
I will tell you of fome. difcommodities rfiat
are here to be found.
Firfl, In the Summer feafon for thefe three
months June, luly and Augnft^ we are troubled
much with little Fly es called Musketoes,. be-
ing the fame they are troubled with in I/*.
colnfiicrt and the Fens: and they are nothing
but Gnats, which except they be fmoked out
of their Howies are troublefome in the night
feafon.
Secondly, In the Winter feafon for two
months fpace the Earth is commonly couered
with Snow, which is accompanied with/harp
biting Hrofls, fomething more fharpe then is
in old ;sg/W,and therefore are forced to
make great Fires.
Thirdly,This Countrey being verie full of
Woods and Wilderneffes, doth alfo much
abound with Snakes and Serpents of flrange
colours and huge greatneffe : yea there are
fome Serpents called Rattle Snakes,that haue
Rattles in their Tayles that will not flye from
a Man as others will, but will flye vpon him
and fling him fo mortally, that he -will dye
within a quarter of an houre after, except the
partie ftinged haue about him fome of the
root of an He arbe called Snake weed to bite
on, and then he {hall rcceiue no harmc: but
yet feldome falles it out that any hurt is done
by thefe. About three y ceres liuce an In Jinn
was flung to death by one of them, but we
heard of none fince that time.
C 3 Fourthly,
wls PbtiMfat.
Fourthly and laftly, Here -wants as yet the
good company of honeft Chriftians to bring
with them Horfes, Kine and Sheepe to make
vfe of this fruitfull Land .-great pittieitisto
fee To much good ground for Come and for
Grafle as any is vnder the Heauehs, to lye al -
together vnoccupied, when fo many honeft
Men & their Families in old England through
the populoufncfTe thereof 3 do make very hard
ihift to Hue one by the Other.
Now> thus you know what New-EnghnA
is, as alfo with the commodities and difcom-
modities thereof: now I will fliew you a little
of the Inhabitants thereof and their gouern-
ment.
For their Gouernours they haue Kings,
which they call Sa,ggamore$ % (ome greater,and
fome lefler j according to the number of their
The greateft SaggAmorcs about vs can not
make aboue three hundred Men, and other
lefle Saggamorcs haue not aboue fifceene Sub-
iects 5 and others neere about vs but two.
Their Subiecls about twelue yeeres fince
were fwept away by a great and grieuous
Plague that was amongft thcm^fo that there
are verie few left to inhabite the Countrey.
The indies are not able to make vfe of the
one fourth part of the Land^ncither haue they
any fetled places^ as Townes to. dwell in, nor
any ground as they challenge for their owne
poffeiHon, but change their habitation from
place to place.
For
Ntw-Engt Ancts Plantation.
For their Statures,theyareatall and ftroflg
limmed People,their colours are tawny,they
goe naked, faue onely they are in part coue-
red with Beafts Skins on one of their Shoul-
ders, and weare fomething before their Pri-
uitics: their Haire is generally bkcke,and cut
before like our Gentlewomen, 'and one locke
longer then the reft, much like to our Gentle-
men,which fafliion I thinke came from hence
into England.
For their weapons, they haue Bowes and
Arrowes 3 fome of them headed with Bone,
and forae with Braffe : I haue fent you fome
of them for an example,
The Men for the moft part Hue idlely,they
doe nothing but hunt and fifh: their wiues fet
their Corne and doe all their other worke.
They haue little Hbufliold ftuffc, as a Kettle,
and feme other Veflels like Trayes, Spoone^
Diflies and Baskets.
Their Houf es are verie little and homely,
being made with fmall Poles pricked into
the ground, and fo bended and farfncd at the
tops, and on the /ides they are matted with
Boughes,& couered on the Roofe with Sedge
and old Mats^and for their beds that they take
their reft on, they haue a Mat.
They doe generally profeffe to like well of
our cormxung and planting here^ partly be-
caufe there is abundance of ground that they
cannot poffefle nor make vfe of, and partly
becaufe our being here will be a meanes both
of reliefe to them when they want, and alfo a
defence
defence from their Enemies, wherewith (I
fey ) before this Plantation begun, they were
often indangered.
For their Religion, they doe worfliip two
Gods, a good God and an euill God : the
good God they call Taxtum* and their euill
God whom they feare will doe them hurt,
they call Squtntum.
For their dealing with vs, we neither feare
them nor truft them, for fourtie of our Muf-
keteeres will driuc fiue hundred of them out
of the Field. We vfe them kindly, they will,
come into our Houfes Ibmetimes by halfe a
douzen or halfe a fcore at a time when we are
at vi&uals, but will aske or take nothing but
what we giue them.
We purpofe to learne their Language as
foone as we can,which will be a tneanes to do
them good.
Of the prtfettt cwditiitt of the Plant at iw,
WHen we came firft toNeibum ktk> we
found about halfe a fcore Houfes,and
a faire Houfe newly built for the Gouernpur,
we found alfo aboundance of Corne planted
by them,verie good and well likeing. And we
brought with vs about two hundred Paflen-
gers and Planters more, which by common
confenr of the old Planters were all combi-
ned together into one Body Politicke, vnder
the fame Gouernour.
There
Stew-EngUnds Pk&Mfa*.
There are in all of vs both old and new
Planters about three hundred, whereof two
<called fii&: and the reft haue Planted thera-
felues at lAtf&tbuUts Bay, beginning to build
a Towne there which we doe call chert 9^ or
ChAfla Towne.
We that are fe tied at Salem make what had
we can to build Houfes, fo that within a fliort
time we fhall haue a faire Towne.
We haue great Ordnance, wherewith we
doubt not but we fhall fortifie our felues in
a fhort time to keepe out a potent Aduerfarie.
But that which is our greateft comfort, and
meanes of defence aboue all other,is,that we
haue here the true Religion and holy Ordi*
nances of Almightie God taught amongft vs:
Thankes be to God,we haue here plentie of
Preaching, and diligent Catechizing, with
ftrickt and carefull exercife, and good and
commendable orders to bring our People in-
to a Chriftian conuerfation with whom we
hauetodoewithali. And thus we doubt
not but God will be with vs,and
if Qod.be with vs, who CM
FINIS.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Generall Consideracons
for y e plantacon in New
England^ w th an aunswere
to seuerall objections '
I RST it will be a service
to ye Church of great
consequence, to carry
ye gospell into those
parts of ye world, & to
raise a bulwarke agt ye
kingdos of Antichrist
W ch ye Jesuits labour to reare vp in all
places of y e world.
Secondly all other churches of Europe
are brought to desolacon, & it may be
justly feared y* ye like judgmt is coming
vpon vs : & who knowes but yt God hath
provided this place to be a refuge for
many whom hee meanes to saue out of
ye generall destruction.
Thirdly the land growes weary of her
inhabitants, so that man w ch is ye most
precious of all creatures is here more vyle
4 i j &
General Considerations 9 &c.
& base then y e earth they tread upon ; so
as children neighbours & friends especially
of y e poore, are counted ye greatest bur-
dens, w ch if things were right would be ye
highest earthly blessings.
Wee are gro wen to y* excesse & intem-
peraunce in all excesse of riot as no meane
estate almost will suffice to keepe saile w th
his equalls & hee y* fayles in it must [live]
in scorne & contempt. Hence it comes
to passe y* all arts & trades are carried in
yt deceitfull maner & vnrighteous course,
as it is almost impossible for a good up-
right man to maintayne his chardge &
Hue cofortably in any of y m .
Fiftly ye Schooles of learning & relig-
ion are so corrupted, as (besides ye unsup-
portable chardge of this educacon) most
children, (euen ye best wittiest & of fayr-
est hopes) are perverted, corrupted & ut-
terly ouerpowered by y e multitude of
evill examples & licentious governors of
those seminaries.
Sixtly ye whole earth is ye Lords gar-
den & hee hath giuen it to ye sons of
Adam to bee tilled & improoued by ym
why then should we stand starving here
for places of habitacon (many men spend-
ing as much labour & cost to recouer or
keepe soetymes an acre or two of lands,
as would procure him many hundreths of
[ 42 ] acres,
General Considerations &c.
acres, as good or better in another place)
& in ye meane tyme suffer whole coun-
treyes as profitable for ye use of man, to
lye wast wthout any improouement.
Seaventhly, what can bee a better
worke and more noble & worthy a Chris-
tian, then to helpe to raise & support a
particular church while it is in it infancy,
& to [join] or forces w*h such a copany of
faithfull people, as by a tymely assistaunce
may grow stronger & prosper, & for want
of it may be put to great hazzard if not
wholly ruinated ?
Eightly if any such as are knowne to
bee godly & Hue in wealth & prosperity
here, shall forsake all this to joyne
ymselves w'h this church, & runne in
hazard w th y m of hard & meane condi-
con, it will be an example of great vse
both for y e remooving of Scandall & sin-
ister & worldly respects, to giue more lyfe
to y e faith of Gods people in their prayers
for ye plantacon, & also to encourage
others to joyne y e more willingly in it.
Objections:
OBj. i. It will bee a great wrong to
o r owne church & countrey to take
away the best people; & we still lay it
more open to ye judges feared.
[ 43 ] Aunsw. i.
General Considerations &c.
Aunsw. i. The number will be no-
thing in respect of those yt are left. 2ly
many yt Hue to no vse here, more then
for their owne priuate familyes may bee
employed to a more como good in another
place. 3^ fuch as are of good vse here
may yett be so employed as y e church
shall receiue no loile. and since Christs
coming ye church is to be conceiued as
universall wthout distinctio of countryes,
so as hee yt doth good in any one place
serves ye church in all places, in regard of
ye vnitye. 4thly it is ye revealed will of God
yt ye gospell should be preached to all
nations, and though we know not whether
ye Indians will receiue it or not, yet it is a
good worke to observe Gods will in offer-
ing it to y m , for God shall haue glory by
it though yy refuse it.
Object. 2. wee haue feared a judge mt
along tyme,but yet we are safe; therefore
it were better to stay till it come, & either
we may flie then, or if we be ouertaken
in it wee may well bee content to suffer
wth such a church as ours is.
Aunsw. It is likely yt this confideracon
made ye churches beyond y e seas as ye Pal-
atinate & Rochel &c to sit still at home,
& not looke out for shelter while yy might
haue found it. but y e wofull spectacle of
their ruine may teach us more wisdome
44 to
General Considerations &c.
to avoid y e plague while it is foreseene, &
not to tarry as yy did till it ouertooke y m .
If they were now at their former liberty,
wee may be sure yy would take other
courses for their safety. And though most
of y m had miscarried in their escape, yet
it had not bene halfe so miserable to
th m selves, or scandalous to religion, as this
desperate backsliding and abjuring y e
truth, w ch many of ye auntient profes-
sours among y m , & ye whole posterity that
remayne are plunged into.
Object. 3. wee haue here a fruitfull
Land w^ peace & plenty of all things.
Aunsw : wee are like to haue as good
condicons there in tyme; but yet we
must leaue all this abundance, if it beenot
taken fro vs. When we are in or graues,
it will bee all one whether we haue liued
in plenty or in penury, whether we haue
dyed in a bed of downe or lockes of straw.
Onely this is y e advantage of y e meane
condicon, y* it is a more freedoe to dye.
And ye lesse cofort any haue in ye things
of this world, ye more liberty yy haue to
lay vp treasure in heauen.
Obj. 4. wee may perish by y e way or
when we coe there, having hunger or y e
sword &c and how vncofortable will it
bee to see or wives & children & friends
come to such miserie by o r occasion ?
[ 45 ] Aunsw.
General Considerations &c.
Aunsw. Such objections savour too
much of ye flesh. Who can secure him-
selfe or his fro ye like calamities here? If
this course bee warrantable, we may trust
Gods providence for these things. Either
hee will keepe those evills fro vs, or will
dispose ym for or good & enable vs to
beare y.
Obj. 5. But what warrant haue we to
take yt land, wch is & hath bene of long
tyme possessed of others y e sons of Adam ?
Aunsw. That w c h is como to all is proper
to none. This Savage people ruleth ouer
many lands wthout title or property : for yy
inclofe no ground, neither haue yy cattell
to maintayne it, but remooue their dwell-
ings as yy haue occafion, or asyy canpre-
vaile agt their neighbours. And why may
not Chriftians haue liberty to go & dwell
amongst y m in their wast lands & woodds
(leaving ym such places as yy haue man-
ured for their corne) as lawfully, as Abra-
ham did amongst ye Sodomites? For
God hath giuen to ye sons of men a 2
fould right to ye earth: there is anaturall
right & a civill right. The first right was
naturallwhen men held ye earth incofno,
every man sowing & seeding where hee
pleased: then, as men and cattell in-
creased, yy appropriated someparcells of
ground by enclosing & peculiar manur-
[ 46 ] ance,
General Considerations &c.
ance, & this in tyme got y a civill
right. Such was ye right wch Ephron ye
Hittite had in ye field of Machpelah,
wherein Abraham could not bury a dead
corps w th out leaue, though for ye outparts
of ye countrey wch lay cofnon, hee dwelt
vpo y m & tooke ye fruit of y at his pleas-
ure. This appeares also in Jacob & his
sons who fedd their flocks as bouldly in ye
Canaanites Land for hee is said to bee Lord
of y e countrey ; & at Dotham and all other
places men accounted nothing their owne,
but y* w c h yy had appropriated by their
owne industry, as appeares plainly by
Abimelechs servaunts, who in their owne
countrey did often contend w*h Isaacks
servaunts about wells w<* yy had digged ;
but neuer about ye lands w^ yy occupied.
Solikewife betweene Jacob &Laban: hee
would not take a kidd of Labans w th out
speciall contract; but hee makes no bar-
gaine wth him for ye land where yy fedd.
And it is probable yt if ye countrey had not
bene as free for Jacob as for Laban, yt cov-
etous wretch would haue made his advant-
age of him, & haue vpbraided Jacob w*h
it as hee didwth ye rest. 2% there is more
then enough for ym & vs. 3*% God hath
confumed ye natives w th a miraculous
plague, whereby ye greater part of ye
countrey is left void of inhabitants. 4^7, we
[ 47 ] shall
General Considerations &c.
shall cob in w*h good leaue of ye natiues.
Obj. 6. we shall send o r young ones &
such as may best bee spared, & not of ye
best of or ministers & magistrates.
Aunsw. It is a great worke & requires
more skilfull Artisans to lay ye foundacon
of a new building, then to uphoald &
repayre one yt is already built. If great
things bee attempted by weake instru m *s,
ye effects will bee aunswerable.
Obj. 7. Wee see yt those plantacons yt
haue bene formerly made, succeeded ill.
Aunsw. i The fruit of any publique
designe is not to bee discerned by ye ifne-
diat successe : it may appeare in tyme, yt
yy were all to good vse. 2<Hy, there were
great fundamentall errours in others wch
are like to bee avoided in this : for i their
mayne end & purpose was carnall & not
religious. 2 yy aymed chiefely at profitt
& not at ye propagacon of religion. 3 yy
vsed too vnfitt instru m ts, a multitude of
rude vngoverned persons, ye very scums
of ye Land. 4 yy did not stablish a right
fourme of gouernmt.
THE AGREEMENT WITH
MR. HIGGINSON
THE AGREE MT
w
M R . HIGGINSON
A true note of y e allowance y t y e new
England Copany haue by como consent
& order of their Court & Counsell
grauntedvnto M r . Francis Higginson
minister, for his maintenaunce in new
England April 8, 1629.
MPRIMIS yt 3 oH in
money shall be forth-
wth paid him by ye
Copanyes treasurer to-
wards y e chardges of
fitting himselfe wth
Apparell & other nec-
essaryes for his voyage.
2 Item yt ioli more shall be payed
ouer by ye said treasurer to wards ye pro-
vyding of bookes for present vse.
3 Item yt hee shall haue 30^ yearly
paid him for 3 yeares to beginne fro ye
ty me of his first arrivall in new England
[51 ] &
The Agreement with Mr. Higginson
& so to be accounted & paid paid him at ye
End of eury yeare.
4 Item yt during ye said tyme ye
Company shall provide for him & his
family necessaryes of diett housing &
firewood; and shall be at chardges of trans-
porting him into new England: and at
ye end of y e said 3 yeares, if hee shall not
like to continue there any longer, to be at
ye chardge of transporting him backe for
England.
5. Item yt in convenient tyme an
house shall be built, & certayne lands
allotted thereunto; w ch during his stay in
ye countrey & continuance in ye minis-
trey shall bee for his vse; & after his death
or remoovall ye same to be for Succeeding
ministers.
6. Item at ye expiracon of ye said 3
yeares an i oo acres of land shall be assign-
ed to him & his heires for euer.
7. Item yt in case hee shall depart
this lyfe in yt countrey, ye said Company
shall take care for his widdow during her
widdowhood & aboade in yt country and
plantacon: & y e like for his children
whilst yy remayne vpon ye said plan-
tacon.
8. Item yt ye milke of 2 kyne shall
bee appointed towards y e chardges of
diett for him & his family e as aforesaid, &
[ 52 ] halfe
The Agreement with Mr. Higginson
halfe ye increase of calves during ye said 3
yeares : but ye said 2 kyne, and ye other
halfe of ye increase to returne to ye Com-
pany at ye end of ye said 3 yeares.
9. Item y* he shall haue liberty of car-
rying ouer bedding, linnen, brasse, iron,
pewter, of his owne for his necessary vse
during ye said tyme.
10 Item yt if he continue 7 yeares upon
ye said plantacon, yt then 100 acres of
land more shall be allotted him for him
and his for ever.
Messrs. Higginsori s and Skeltorf s Contract*
T He 8th of Aprill, 1629. Mr Francis
Higgeson and M r Samuel Skelton
intended ministers of this plantacon, and it
being thought meete to consider of their
intertaynement, who expressing their
willingnesse, together, also with Mr Fran-
cis Bright, being now present to doe their
endevourin their places of the ministery
as well in preaching, catechizing, as also
in teaching, or causing to be taught, the
Companyes servants & their children, as
also the salvages and their children, where-
by to their uttermost to further the maine
end of this plantation, being, by the as-
sistance of Allmighty God, the conversion
* Records of the Governor and Company of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England. Boston, 1853.
[ 53 ] of
The Agreement with Mr. Higginson
of the salvages, the proposicons concluded
on wth Mr Francis Bright, the 2 of Feb-
ruary last, were reciprocally accepted of
by M r Francis Higgison and M r Samuel
Skelton, who are in every respect to have
the like condicons as Mr Bright hath, one-
ly whereas Mr Higgeson hath 8 children
it is intended that I oK more yearely shall
be allowed him towards their chardge.
And it is agreed that the increase of the
improvement of all their grounds during
the first 3 yeares shall be at the Companies
disposing, who are to fynde them dyett
during that time, and tenne pounds more
to Mr Higgeson towards his present fit-
ting him and his for the voyage.
FRANCIS HIGGISON.
SAMUEL SKELTON.
A TRUE RELATION OF THE
LAST VOYAGE TO
NEW ENGLAND
A TRVE RELACON
of y e last voyage to new
England, declaring all cir-
custances w th y e maner of
y e passage wee had by sea,
and what maner of coun-
trey & inhabitants we
found when we came to
land : & what is y e pres-
ent state & condicon of
y e English people y t are
there already.
Faithfully recorded according to y e very truth
fory* satisfaction of very many of my lov-
ing friends, who haue earnestly requested
to be truly certified in these t hinges.
Written from new England July 24, 1629.
//. any Curious Criticke y l lookes for exactnes of
phrases or expert seaman yt regard propriety of
sea-termes &c
[57]
.
A TRVE RELACON
of y e last voyage to new
England made y e last
Sufner, begun y e 25 th of
April being Saturday,
Anno doi 1629.
HE copany of New
England consisting of
many worthy gentle-
men in yecitty of Lon-
don, Dorcester & other
places, ayming at y e
glory of God, y e pro-
pagacon of y e gospell of Christ, y e con-
versio of y e Indians, & ye enlarge* of y e
Kings ma*'' 68 dominions in America, & be-
ing authorised by hisroyall letters patents
for yt end, at their very great costs &
chardgs furnished 5 Ships to go to new
England, for ye further setling of ye Eng-
lish plantacon yt yy had already begun
there.
[ 59 ] The
A True Relation of the
The names of ye 5 Shipps were as fol-
loweth. The first is called ye Talbot,
a good & strong shipp of 300 tunnes, &
19 pieces of ordinance & served wth 30
mariners. This ship carried about an i oo
planters, 6 goates, 5 great pieces of ordi-
naunce, wth meale, oatemeale pease, & all
maner of munitioandprovisio foryeplan-
tacon for a twelve month. The second ye
George, another strong ship also, about
300 tunnes, 2 o pieces of ordinance, served
wth about 3 o mariners ; her chiefe carriage
were cattell, 1 2 mares, 30 kyne, & some
goates: also ther gad in her 5 2 planters &
other provision. The 3 d is called ye Lyons
whelpe, a neate & nimble ship of 1 20
tunnes, 8 pieces of ordinaunce, carrying in
her many mariners & about 40 planters,
specially fro dorcester & other places
thereabouts, wth provision, and 4 goates.
The 4th is called y e 4 sisters, as I heare
of about 300 tuns, w ch fayre ship carried
many cattell wth passengers & provision.
The 5 f h is called y e Mayflower, carry-
ing passengers & provision.
Now amongst these 5 ships, y e George
hauing the speciall & urgent cause of has-
tening her passage sett sayle before ye rest
about ye midst of April. And ye 4 Sisters
& ye Mayflower being not throughly fur-
nished, intended as we heard to sett forth
[ 60 ] about
Last Voyage to New England
about 3 weeks after vs : But we yt were in
ye Talbot & ye Lions whelpe being ready
for or voyage by ye good hand of Gods
providence hoysed or sayle froGrauesend
-i on Saturday ye 2 5th of April
5 J about 7 a clocke in ye morn-
ing. Having but a faynt wynd we could
notgofarre yt day, but at night wee ancred
against Lie wch is 12 milesfrograuesend,
[x -i & there we rested yt night & kept
J Sabbath ye next day.
-i On monday we sat forward & came
' J to ye flats, a passage soewhat diffi-
cult by reason of ye narrownes of y e chan-
nell & shallownes of ye water : & going
ouer this wee were in soe daunger : for o r
ship being heavy laden & drawing deepe
water was sensibly felt of vs all to strike 3
or 4 tymes on y e ground: but ye wynd
blowing soewhat strong we were carried
Swiftly on, & at last by Gods blessing came
safe to ancre at Gorin roade.
g-j Tewsday we went a little further,
J & ancred ouer agt MargretTowne,
staying for a wind for ye downes.
r -i Wednesday we came safely though
L ' J \yth much turning & tacking thor-
ow y e gullies into y e downes, & stayed
yt night.
' *J Saturday ye wind blew
[ 61 ] hard
[
A "True Relation of the
hard fro south west & caused or ship to
daunce, & diuers of or passengers & my
wiffe specially were sea sicke. Here ye
Kings ship called ye Assurance pressed
2 of or mariners. Here we saw many
Porpuses playing in ye sea wch yy say is a
signe of fowle weather.
TlVfav ?! Sabbath day a windy e day &
L y * J could : we kept Sabbath stay-
ing still at ye downes.
r -I Monday God sent vs a fayre gale of
L*" J wind north : n : East, whereby we
came merily fro y e downes: & passing
Dover we saw 6 or 7 saile of dunkirkes,
wafting after vs : but it seemed yy saw o r
copany was too strong for y, for then
wee had w*h vs 3 or 4 ships yt went for y e
Straits: so yy returned backe fro pursu-
ing vs any longer. But sayling w th a good
wind wee went speedily, & at night came
neere ye He of Wight but being darke
wee durst not put into ye channell, but
put backe for sea roome 4 houres, & then
other 4 houres sayled backe agayne ye
same way.
r -i Tewsday early in ye morning we en-
L^ J tredye channell y e wind being weake
& calme, & passed by Portsmouth very
slowly; but in ye afternoone ye wind
quickened, & wee were forced to ancre a
little on this side Cowcastle but y e wind
[ 62 ] growing
Last Voyage to New England
growing more favourable wee weighed
& came to ancre again right against Cow-
castle thinking to stay yt night, ye wind
being very calme. Here I & my wiffe &
TlVf a 1 mv daughter Mary & 2 maids &
L ' J soe others w th vs obtained of ye
m r of y e shipp to go a shoare to refresh
vs & to wash o r linnens, & so we lay at
Cowes yt night. But y e wind turning
when wee were absent, yy hoysed sayle &
left vs there, & ancred 8 miles further
ouer agt Yarmouth about 8 of y e clocke
at night.
[s~\ Wednesday betyme in ye morning
J ye shalope was sent fr5 ye shipp to
fetch vs to Yarmouth; but ye water
prooued rough & o r weomen desired to
bee sett on shoare 3 miles short of Yar-
mouth, & so went on foote by land &
lodged in Yarmouth yt night.
r o -i On Thursday & fryday there M r
LA" *J Beecher allowed by ye copany
gaue mee 40* to make or provisio of what
things we would for the voyage.
W Saturday we went to board agayne:
& this day wee had 2 other men
pressed to serve ye Kings Shippe; but we
got one agayne by intreaty.
[-| The Sabbath next day we kept ye
J shipp where I preached in ye morn-
ing ; & in ye afternoon was intreated to
[ 63 ] preach
A True Relation of the
preach at Yarmouth, where Mr Meare &
cap tayneB or ley enter tainedvs very kynd-
ly, & earnestly desyred to bee certified of
or safe arrivall in new England, & of ye
state of ye countrey
r -i Monday morning blew a fayre
L J wind fro East S : E : And ye lions
whelpe having taken in all her provisio
for passengers, about 3 of y e clocke in y e
afternoone wee hoysed sayle for ye Nee-
dles, & by Gods guidance safely passed y*
narrow passage a little after 4 a clocke in
ye afternoone. And being entred into ye
sea, fro y e top of ye mast we discerned 4
sayle of shipps lying southward fro vs.
But night coming on wee tooke in o r long
r "i boate & shalope. Andy 6 next day
L J we had a fayre gale of Easterly
wind y* brought vs towards night as farre
as y e Lizzard.
r -i Wednesday ye wind still houlding
L ^J Easterly, wee came as farre as y e
lands end, in y e vtmost part of Corne-
wall, & so left o r deare natiue soile of
England behind vs ; & sayling about i o
leagues further we passed y e Isles of Sillie
& launched y e same day a great way into
ye maine ocean. And now my wiffe &
other passengers began to feeleye tossing
waues of ye westerne sea, & so were very
sea-sicke.
[ 64 ] And
[
Last Voyage to New England
And this is to be noted, y* all this while
or passage hath bene vpo ye coast of Eng-
land, & so ought truly to be accounted
ye first day of or parting w*h ould Eng-
land.
-i Thursday ye same Easterly wind
J blew all day & night ; & ye next
day ; so y* soe of ye seamen thought
we were coe by this tyme 100
leagues fro England, but toward
night ye wind was calme.
[, -i Saturday we were becalmed all day.
J This day met vs a little shipp of
Bristoll y* came fro Christopher Hands.
[-1 Sabath being ye first Lords day we
' "J held at sea was very calme, es-
pecially in the morning, but we were
disturbed in or morning Service by ye
approach of a Biskaniers shippe, a man
of warre, y* made towards vs, & manned
out his boate to viewe vs : But fynding vs
too strong for him he durst not venture
to assault vs, but made off.
This day my 2 children Samuel & Mary
began to be sicke of ye small-pockes &
purples together, wch was brought into
ye ship by one Mr Browne w<& was sicke
of ye same at Graues End, who it pleased
God to make ye first occasio of bringing
y* contagious sicknes among vs, wherew th
many were after afflicted.
[ 65 ] Monday
[May]
A True Relation of the
ft -| Monday calme still, ye wind being
"J no: w: blowing a little towards
euening, but contrary to o r course.
[-1 Tewsday wind so: w: as little
"*J helpfull as ye former & blowing
uery weake. This day ye mr of or ship,
my selfe & another went aboard the
Lions whelpe, where Mr Gibs made vs
welcoe w th bountifull entertaynemt. And
this day towards night my daughter grew
sicker & many blew Spots were scene vpo
her breast, wch affrighted vs. At ye first
wee thought yy had bene y e plague
tokens; but we found afterwards y* it
was onely an high measure of y e infectio
of ye pockes, wch were strucke agayne
into ye child, & so it was Gods will ye
child dyed about 5 of y e clocke at night,
being y e first in o r shipp y* was buried in
the bowells of y e great Atlanticke Sea ;
w c h as it was a griefe to vs her parents, &
a sorrow to all ye rest as being y e begin-
ning of a contagious disease & mortality:
so in ye same judge mt it pleased God to
remember mercy in y e child, in freeing
it fro a world of misery wherein other-
wise shee had liued all her daies. For
being about 4 yeares ould a yeare since,
wee know not by what meanes, sweyed in
y e backe, so yt it was broken & grew
crooked, & ye joynts of her hipps were
[ 66 ] loosed
Last Voyage to New England
loosed & her knees went crooked pittifull
to see. Since wch tyme shee hath had a
most lamentable payne in her belly, &
would oft times cry out in ye day & in her
sleep also my belly, w ch declared soe ex-
traordinary distemper. So y* in respect of
her wee had cause to take her death as a
blessing fro ye Lord to shorten her mis-
erie.
r-*r -i Wednesday a wett morning,
[_May20J yew indwasW:S:W: & in
ye afternoone N: W: & by W: both
being contrary to or course, w ch was to
saile W: & by S: Thus it pleased god
to lay his hand vpo vs by sicknes &
death & contrary winds; & stirred vp
soe of vs to make ye moton of hum-
bling o r selves vnder ye hand of God
by keeping a solemne day of fasting &
prayer unto God, to beseech him to re-
mooue ye continuance & further in-
crease of these evills fro vs. w ch was will-
ingly condescended vnto as a duty very
fitting & needfull for o r present state and
condicon.
r -i Thursday, there being 2 ministers
L * J in ye ship, Mr Smith & my selfe,
we endevoured together wth others to
consecrate ye day as a solemne fasting &
humiliacbn to almighty God,asafurther-
aunce oforpresentworke. And it pleased
[ 67 ] God
A True Relation of the
God ye ship was becalmed all day, so yt
we were freed fro any encumbraunce:
And as soone as we had done prayers,
see & behould ye goodnes of god, about
7 a clocke at night ye wind turned to
n : e: & we had a fayre gale yt night as a
manifest evidence of ye Lords hearing
or prayers. I heard soe of ye mariners say,
yy thought this was ye first sea-fast yt euer
was kept, & yt yy neuer heard of ye like
perfourmed at sea before.
[-j Fry day ye wind fayre, & east north-
j erly, & for o r purpose for new
p, . -i England, it did blow strongly &
L J J carried vs on amayne w th tossing
waues, wch did affright y yt were not
wonted to such sights.
[-i Saturday ye same wind blowing
3*J but more gently. Now we were
coforted wth hope of my sonne Samuels
recovery of ye pockes.
p -i The 2 Lords day, a fayre day, an
L ^"J orderly wind & prosperous.
On Monday a fayre frummegale,
ye wind South S : W :
Tewsday about 10 of y e clocke in
ye morning, whilest we were at
prayers a strong and sudden blast came
fro ye north, yt hoysed vp y e waues &
tossed vs more then euer before & held vs
all yt day till towards night & then abated
[ 68 ] by
r 1 Ol
[s]
Last Voyage to New England
by little & little till it was calme. This
day Mr Goffes great dogg fell ouer board
& could not be recouered.
[ 9 - "] Wednesday, ye wind still no : &
' *J calme in ye morning, but about
noone there arose a So: wind, w c h en-
creased more & more, so yt it seemed to vs
yt are land men a sore & terrible storme ;
for y e wind blew mightily, y e rayne fell
vehemently, ye sea roared & ye waues
tossed vs horribly ; besides it was fearfull
darke & ye mariners maid was afraid;
& noyse on the other side w th their run-
ning here & there, lowd crying one to
another to pull at this & yt rope. The
fM 1 waues powred ymselues ouer
L ' ' J ye shippe yt ye 2 boates were
filled w^ water, yt yy were fayne to
strike holes in ye midst of y to let ye
water out. Yea by ye violence of ye waues
ye long boate coard wch held it was bro-
ken, & it had like to haue bene washed
ouerboard, had not ye mariners wth much
payne & daunger recouered ye same. But
this lasted not many houres; after which
it became a calmish day. All w c h while
I lay close & warme in my cabine, but
farre fro hauing list to sleepe wth Jonah;
my thoughts were otherwise employed
as ye tyme & place required. Then I saw
ye truth of y e Scripture Psal. 1 07, fro ye
[ 69 ] 23
A 'True Relation of the
23 to ye 32. And my feare at this tymc
was ye lesse, when I rememberd what a
loving friend of myne, a minister accus-
tomed to sea stormes said to mee yt I
might not be dismayed at such stormes,
for yy were ordinary at seas, & it seeldome
falls out yt a shipp perisheth at storms if
it haue sea-roome, wch I ye rather wryte
yt others as well as my selfe by ye know-
ledge hereof may be encouraged & pre-
pared agt these ordinary sea-stormes.
[g -i Thursday So: wind: calme at
9J night: On fryday a boistrous
wind blowing crosse, but was allayed to-
wards night w*h a showre of rayne. Sat-
[-1 urday So : w : wind, but faire &
3Jquiett.
TlUav ~ T 1 Sabbath da 7 bein S T 3
L 1V a y 3 J J Lords day, fayre & calme;
wee saw abundance of grampas fishes, 2
or 3 yards long, & a body as bigg as an
oxe.
U-i Monday ye wind westerly &
U J calme: but besides or being
stayed by contrary winds we began to
fynd ye temperature of y e ayre to alter
& to become more soletry & subject to
vnwholsome foggs. For coming now to
y e height of y e westerne Islands, soe of
o r men fell sicke of y e scuruie & others
of the small pockes, w ch more & more
[ 70 ] increased:
Last Voyage to New England
increased: yet thankes be to God none
dyed of it but my owne child mencohd.
And therefore, according to or great need
we appointed another fast for the next
day.
[-1 Te wsday we solemnely celebrate an-
2 'J other fast. The Lord yt day heard
vs before wee prayed & gaue vs aunswere
before we called ; for early in ye morning
ye wind turned full East, being as fitt a
wind as could blowe. And sitting at my
study on ye shipps poope I saw many
bonny fishes & porpuses pursuing one an-
other, and leaping soe of y m a yard aboue
ye water. Also as we were at prayer, vnder
ye hatch, soe yt were aboue saw a whale
puffing vp water not farre fro ye shippe,
Nowmywiffe was prettily well recouered
of her sea sicknesse.
[-1 Wednesday a fayre day & fyne gale
3*J of full East wind. This day my selfe
& others saw a large round fish sayling
U-i by ye ships side about a yard in
J length & roundnes euery way.
The mariners cald it a sunne fish; it
spreadeth out y e finnes like beames on
euery side 4, or 5.
[-1 Thursday & fryday y e wind full
T^ J *J E : we were carried w th admira-
con on o r journey. By this wee were more
then halfe way to new England. This day
[71 ] i
A True Relation of the
I saw a fish very straunge to mee, yy call
it a caruell ; w ch came by ye ship side waft-
ing along ye top of ye water, it appeared
at ye first like a bubble aboue the water
as bigg as a mans fist, but ye fish it selfe
is about ye bignes of a mans thum, so y*
ye fish it selfe & ye bubble resembleth a
shipp w* h sailes, w ch therefore is called a
caruell.
[/- -i Saturday wind direct E : still. The
' J 4 Sabb: we kept at sea the wind
full full Easterly till noone, & then
r-g-i it came full So:E: a strong gale y*
L J night & ye next day till night.
[-1 Tewsday ye same wind held till 9
'J a clock in y e morning: & then a
great showre w ch lasted till about 7 at
night, & then it was a very calme. There
we sounded w th a dipled lyne aboue
i ooth fadome & found no bottome. This
day we saw a fish called a turkle, a great
& large shell fish swiming aboue ye water
neere ye shippe.
r -i Wednesday wind northerly a fyne
L * J gale but calmish in ye afternoone.
[ T -i Thursday ye wind at no : an
I junej easve g a j e g fayre morning
we saw a mountayne of Ice shyning as
white as snow like to a great rocke or
clift on ye shoare. it stood still & there-
fore we thought it to be on ground & to
[ 72 ] reach
Last Voyage to New England
reach ye bottome of ye sea. For though
there came a mighty streame fro ye no :
yet it mooued not, wch made vs sound,
&we found a banke of 40 fathom deepe
whereupo we judged it to rest: & ye
height aboue was as much. Wee also
saw 6 or 7 pieces of Ice, floating on ye
sea, w ch was broken off fro y e former
mountayne, we also saw great store of
water fowle swiming by ye shipp w*hin
musket shott, of a pyde colour & about
ye bignes of a wild ducke, about 40 in a
copany, the mariners call ym hag birds.
Toward night came a fogge, yt ye lions
whelp was lost till morning. And now
we saw many bony toes porpuses and
grampases every day more & more.
-i Fryday foggie & calmish, ye wind
L 1 2 J northerly in ye morning, but about
noone it came S : E : a dainty loome gale
w ch carried vs 6 leagues a watch.
[-1 Saturday y e same wind till night,
3 J & we saw great store of porpuses &
grampases.
[-1 The 5*h Sabbath, ye same wind,
4"J towards noone it began to be fog-
gie, & then it rained till night we went
4 or 5 leagues a watch.
U-i Monday a fayre day but
J foggie, ye same wind blow-
ing but w th fresh gale carry ed vs 7 leagues
[ 73 '
A True Relation of the
a watch. In ye afternoone it blew harder,
so ye sea was rough, & we lost ye sight of
ye lions whelpe: it being foggie we
drumed for ym& yy shot off a great piece
of ordinance but we feared not one an-
other.
[x--i Tewsday wind So: & by E: fog-
J gie till about i o a clocke while we
were at prayers it cleared vp about an
houre, & then we saw y e lions whelpe dis-
tant about 2 leagues southward, wee pre-
sently tackt about to meet her& sheedid
ye same to meete vs, but before we could
get together a thick fogge came, yt we
were long in fynding each other. This
day we sounded divers tymes,& found o r -
selves on another banke, at first 40 fathom,
after 36. after 33. after 24. wee thought
it to haue bene ye banke ouer ag* chap
Sable, but we were deceiued, for we knew
not certainly where we were because of ye
fogge. After 3 or 4 houres copany we lost
y e lions whelpe agayne: &beate o r drume
& shot off a great piece of ordinaunce &
yet heard not of y m . But perceiuing ye
banke to grow still y* shallower we found
it 27 & 24 fathoms. Therefore being a
fogg & fearing wee were too neere land
we tackt about for sea roome for 2 or 3
watches, & steered Southeast.
[ 74 ] Wednesday
Last Voyage to New England
r -] Wednesday very foggie still & wind
L ' J S: and by w: & sounding found
no bottome yt we could reach,
r g-i Thursday wind full w: & contra-
L J ry to vs. This day a notorious wick-
ed fellow yt was giuen to swearing &
boasting of his former wickednes bragged
yt hee had got a wench wth child before
hee came this voyage & mocked at o r daies
of fast railing & jesting agt puritans, this
fellow fell sicke of ye pockes & dyed. Wee
sounded and found 38 fathom, & stayed
for a little to take soe codfish & feasted
o r selves merily.
[-1 Fry day wind west still, a very fayre
9J cleareday. About 4 a clock in ye af-
ternoone soe went vp to ye top of ye mast,
& affirmed to or great cofort yy saw land
to ye north eastward.
[-] Saturday wind So : w : a fayre gale :
J we sounded & found 40, 30, 22, &
a little after no ground.
[-1 Sabb: being ye 6th Lords day;
J wind westerly but fayre & calme.
[-] Monday wind Easterly a fayre gale.
J This day wee saw a great deale of
froth not farre fro vs : wee feared it might
bee soe breach of water agt some new
qvote. 2 Therefore ye m* of o r shipp hoised
out ye shalop & went wth soe of ye men to see
what it was ; but found it onely to bee a
[ 75 ] froath
A True Relation of the
froath carried by ye streame.
Uune 2 ^-] Tewsda yy ewindn:E:a % re
^ J gale. This day we examined
5 beastly Sodomiticall boyes, wch con-
fessed their wickednes not to bee named.
The fact was so fowle wee referred y to
bee punished by ye governor when we
came to new England, who afterward sent
ym backe to ye copany to bee punished in
ould England as ye crime deserued.
r -i Wednesday wind no: E: a fayre
L 4"J day & cleare: about 9 a clocke in
y e morning we espied a shipp about 4
leagues behind vs; wch prooued ye lions
whelpe, w ch had bene a weeke separated
fro vs. we stayed for [blot (her)] copany.
This day a child of goodman Blacke wch
had a cosumpcon before it came to shipp,
dyed. This day we had all a cleare & co-
fortable sight of America, & of ye Chap
Sable yt was ouer ag* vs 7 or 8 leagues
northward. Here we saw yellow gilliflow-
ers on ye sea.
r -i Thursday wind still no: Ea : a full
L 5 J & fresh gale. In ye after noone wee
had a cleare sight of many Islands &
hills by ye sea shoare. Now we saw abund-
aunce of makrill, a great store of great
whales puffing vp water as yy goe, soe of
ym came neere or shipp: their greatnes did
astonish vs yt saw y m not before : their
[ 76 ] backs
Last Voyage to New England
backs appeared like a little Island. At 5
a clock at 3 night the wind turned S. E. a
fayre gale. This day we caught mackrill.
[x- -] Fryday a foggie morning, but after
J cleare and wind calme. We saw
many scools of mackrill, infinite multi-
tudes on every side our ship. The sea was
abundantly stored with rockweed and yel-
low flowers like gilly-flowers. By noon
we were within 3 leagues of Capan, and
as we sayled along the coasts we saw every
hill and dale and every island full of gay
woods and high trees. The nearer we came
to the shoare the more flowers in abund-
ance, sometymes scattered abroad, some-
tymes joyned in sheets 9 or i o yards long,
which we supposed to be brought from
the low meadowes by the tyde. Now what
with fine woods and greene trees by land,
and these yellow flowers paynting the sea,
made us all desirous to see our new para-
dise of New England, whence we saw such
forerunning signals of fertilitie afarre off".
Coming neare the harbour towards night
we takt about for sea-roome.
r -i Saturday a foggie morning; but af-
L ' J ter 8 o'clocke in the morning very
cleare, the wind being somewhat contrary
at So. and by West, wetackt to and againe
with getting little ; but with much adoe,
about 4 o'clock in the afternoone, having
[ 77 ] with
A True Relation of the
with much pay ne compassed the harbour,
and being ready to enter the same, see
how things may suddenly change! there
came a fearfull gust of wind and rayne and
thunder and lightning, whereby we were
borne with no little terrour and trouble
to our mariners, having very much adoe
to loose downe the sayles when the fury
of the storme held up. But God be praised
it lasted but a while and soone abated
agayne. And hereby the Lord shewed us
what he could have done with us, if it had
pleased him. But blessed be God, he soone
removed this storme and it was a fay re and
sweet evening.
We had a westerly wind which brought
us between 5 and 6 o'clock to a fyne and
sweet harbour, 4 7 miles from the head
point of Capan. This harbour 20 ships
may easily ryde therein, where there was
an island whither four of our men with
a boate went, and brought backe agayne
ripe strawberries and gooseberries, and
sweet single roses. Thus God was merci-
ful to us in giving us a tast and smell of
the sweet fruit as an earnest of his bounti-
ful goodnes to welcome us at our first
arrivall. This harbour was two leagues
and something more from the harbour at
Naimkecke, where our ships were to rest,
and the plantation is already begun. But
[ 78 ] because
Last Voyage to New England
because the passage is difficult and night
drew on, we put into Capan harbour,
r o-i The Sabbath, being the first we
L J kept in America, and the 7th Lord's
day after we parted with England,
r -i Monday we came from Capan, to go
L ' J to Naimkecke, the wind northerly.
I should have tould you before that the
planters spying our English colours the
Governour sent a shalop with 2 men on
Saturday to pilot us. These rested the
Sabbath with us at Capan ; and this day,
by God's blessing and their directions, we
passed the curious and difficult entrance
into the large spacious harbour of Naim-
kecke. And as we passed along it was
wonderful to behould so many islands
replenished with thicke wood and high
trees, and many fayre greene pastures.
And being come into the harbour we saw
the George to our great comfort then
being come on Tuesday which was 7
dales before us. We rested that night
with glad and thankful hearts that God
had put an end to our long and tedious
journey through the greatest sea in the
world.
r -i The next morning the governour
L^ J came aboard to our ship, and bade
us kindly welcome, and invited me and
my wiffe to come on shoare, and take our
[ 79 ] lodging
A True Relation of the
lodging in his house, which we did ac-
cordingly.
Thus you have a faithful report col-
lected from day to day of all the partic-
ulars that were worth noting in our
passage.
Now in our passage divers things are
remarkeable.
First, through God's blessing our pas-
sage was short and speedy, for whereas
we had 1000 leagues, that is 3000 miles
English, to saile from Ould to New Eng-
land, we performed the same in 6 weeks
and 3 dayes.
Secondly, our passage was comfort-
able and easie for the most part, having
ordinarily fayre and moderate wind, and
being freed for the most part from
stormie and rough seas, saving one night
only, which we that were not used
thought to be more terrible than indeed
it was, and this was Wednesday at night
May a/th.
Thirdly, our passage was also health-
full to our passengers, being freed from
the great contagion of the scurvie and
other maledictions, which in other pass-
ages to other places had taken away the
[ 80 ] lives
Last Voyage to New England
lives of many. And yet we were in all
reason in wonderful danger all the way,
our ship being greatly crowded with pas-
sengers ; but through God's great good-
ness we had none that died of the pockes
but that wicked fellow that scorned at
fasting and prayer. There were indeed
2 little children, one of my owne and
another beside ; but I do not impute it
meerely to the passage; for they were
both very sickly children, and not likely
to have lived long, if they had not gone
to sea. And take this for a rule, if child-
ren be healthfull when they come to sea,
the younger they are the better they will
endure the sea, and are not troubled with
sea-sicknes as older people are, as we
had experience in many children that
went this voyage. My wiffe indeed, in
tossing weather, was something ill by
vomiting, but in calme weather she re-
covered agayne, and is now much better
for the sea sicknes. And for my owne
part, whereas I have for divers yeares past
been very sickly and ready to cast up what-
soever I have eaten, and was very sicke
at London and Gravesend, yet from the
tyme I came on shipboard to this day,
I have been straungely healthfull. And
now I can digest our ship diett very well,
which I could not when I was at land.
[ 81 ] And
A True Relation of the
And indeed in this regard I have great
cause to give God praise, that he hath
made my coming to be a method to cure
me of a wonderful weake stomacke and
continual payne of melancholly wynd
from the splene: Also divers children
were sicke of the small pockes, but are
safely recovered agayne, and 2 or 3 pas-
sengers towards the latter end of the voy-
age fell sicke of the scurvie, but coming
to land recovered in a short tyme.
Fourthly, our passage was both pleas-
urable and profitable. For we received
instruction and delight in behoulding the
wonders of the Lord in the deepe waters,
and sometimes seeing the sea round us
appearing with a terrible countenance,
and as it were full of high hills and deepe
vallyes; and sometimes it appeared as a
most plain and even meadow. And ever
and anon we saw divers kynds of fishes
sporting in the great waters, great gram-
puses and huge whales going by compan-
ies and puffing up water-streames. Those
that love their owne chimney corner, and
dare not go farre beyond their owne townes
end shall neever have the honour to see
these wonderfull workes of Almighty
God.
Fifthly, we had a pious and christian-
like passage; for I suppose passengers shall
[ 82 ] seldom
Last Voyage to New England
seldom find a company of more religious,
honest and kynd seamen than we had.
We constantly served God morning and
evening by reading and expounding a
chapter, singing, and prayer. And the
Sabbath was solemnely kept by adding to
the former, preaching twise and catechis-
ing. And in our great need we kept 2 sol-
emne fasts, and found a gracious effect.
Let all that love and use fasting and pray-
ing take notise that it is as prevaileable
by sea as by land, wheresoever it is faith-
fully performed. Besides the ship master
and his company used every night to sett
their 8 and 1 2 a clocke watches with
singing a psalm e and prayer that was not
read out of a booke. This I wryte not for
boasting and flattery; but for the benefit
of those that have a mynd to come to
New England hereafter, that if they looke
for and desyre to have as prosperous a
voyage as we had, they may use the same
meanes to attayne the same. So letting
passe our passage by sea, we will now bring
our discourse to land on the shoare of New
England, and I shall by God's assistance
endeavour to speake nothing but the
naked truth, and both acquaint you with
the commodities and discommodities of
the country.
NEW-ENGLANDS PLANTATION
&c.
NEW-ENGLANDS
PLANTATION
OR,
A SHORT AND TRVE
DESCRIPTION OF THE
COMMODITIES AND
DISCOMMODITIES
of that Countrey.
Written by M r Higgeson, a reuerend
Diuine now there resident.
Whereunto is added a Letter, sent by
M r Graues an Enginere, out of New England.
T'he third Edition^ enlarged.
LONDON.
Printed by C T. and R. Cotes for Micbae I Sparke,
dwelling at the Signe of the Blue Bible in
Greene- Arbor, 1630.
To the Reader.
Reader ', doe not disdaine to reade this
Relation : and looke not here to haue
a large Gate and no building 'within: a
full-stuffed Tittle with no matter in the
Eooke : But here reade the truth, and that
thou shalt find without any frothy bumbasting
words, or any quaint new-deuised additions,
onely as it was written (not intended for the
Presse} by a reuerend Diuine now there liu-
ing, who onely sent it to some Friends here,
which were desirous of his Relations; which
is an Rpitomy of their proceedings in the
Plantation. And for thy part if thou mean-
est to be no Planter nor Venturer doe but
lend thy good Prayers for the furtherance of
it. And so I rest a Well-Wisher to all the
good designes both of them which are gone,
and of them that are to goe.
M. S.
NEW-ENGLANDS
PLANTATION.
Etting passe our Voyage
by Sea, we will now be-
gin our discourse on the
shore of New-England.
And because the life
and wel-fare of euery
Creature heere below,
and the commodiousnesse of the Coun-
trey whereas such Creatures Hue, doth by
the most wise ordering of Gods prouid-
ence, depend next vnto himselfe, vpon
the temperature and disposition of the
foure Elements, Earth, Water, Aire, and
Fire (For as of the mixture of all these,
all sublunary things are composed; so by
the more or lesseinjoyment of the whole-
some temper and conuenient vse of these,
consisteth the onely well-being both of
Man and Beast in a more or lesse com-
fortable measure in all Countreys vnder
the Heauens) Therefore I will indeauour
to shew you what New-England is by the
consideration of each of these apart, and
[ 89 ] truly
New-Englands Plantation
truly indeauour by Gods helpe to report
nothing but the naked truth, and that
both to tell you of the discommodities
as well as of the commodities, though as
the idle Prouerbe is, Trauellers may lye by
autoritie, and so may take too much sin-
full libertie that way. Yet I may say of
my selfe as once Nehemiah did in another
case : Shall such a Man as I lye ? No ver-
ily: It becommeth not a Preacher of
Truth to be a Writer of Falshod in any
degree: and therefore I haue beene care-
full to report nothing of new England but
what I haue partly scene with mine owne
Eyes, and partly heard and inquired from
the mouths of verie honest and religious
persons, who by liuing in the Countrey a
good space of time haue had experience
and knowledge of the state thereof, &
whose testimonies I doe beleeue as my
selfe.
First therefore of the Earth of New-
England and all the appertenances there-
of: It is a Land of diuers and sundry sorts
all about Masathulets Bay, and at Charles
Riuer is as fat blacke Earth as can be scene
any where : and in other places you haue
a clay soyle, in other grauell, in other
sandy, as it is all about our Plantation at
Salem, for so our Towne is now named,
Psal. 76. 2.
[ 90 ] The
New-Englands Plantation
The forme of the Earth here in the
superficies of it is neither too flat in
the plainnesse, nor too high in Hils,
but partakes of both in a mediocritie, and
fit for Pasture, or for Plow or meddow
ground, as Men please to employ it:
though all the Countrey bee as it were a
thicke Wood for the generall,yet in diuers
places there is much ground cleared by
the Indians, and especially about the Plan-
tation: and I am told that about three
miles from vs a Man may stand on a little
hilly place and see diuers thousands of
acres of ground as good as need to be, and
not a Tree in the same. It is thought here
is good Clay to make Bricke and Tyles
and Earthen-Pot as need to be. At this
instant we are setting a Bricke-Kill on
worke to make Brickes and Tyles for the
building of our Houses. For Stone, here
is plentie of Slates at the He of Slate in
Masatbulets Bay, and Lime-stone, Free-
stone, and Smooth-stone, and Iron-stone,
and Marble-stone also in such store, that
we haue great Rocks of it, and a Harbour
hard by. Our Plantation is from thence
called Marble-harbour.
Of Minerals there hath yet beene but
little triall made, yet we are not without
great hope of being furnished in that
Soyle.
[ 91 ] The
New-Englands Plantation
The fertilitie of the Soyle is to be ad-
mired at, as appeareth in the aboundance
of Grasse that groweth euerie where both
verie thicke, verie long, and verie high
in diuers places: but it groweth verie
wildly with a great stalke and a broad and
ranker blade, because it neuer had been
eaten with Cattle, nor mowed with a
Sythe, and seldome trampled on by foot.
It is scarce to be beleeued how our Kine
and Goats, Horses and Hogges doe thriue
and prosper here and like well of this
Countrey.
In our Plantation we haue already a
quartof Milkefor a penny: but the abound-
ant encrease of Corne proues this Coun-
trey to bee a wonderment. Thirtie, fortie,
fiftie, sixtie are ordinarie here: yea Jo-
seph's encrease in JEgyt is out-stript here
with vs. Our planters hope to haue more
then a hundred fould this yere: and all
this while I am within compasse; what
will you say of two hundred fould and vp-
wards? It is almost incredible what great
gaine some of our English Planters haue
had by our Indian Corne. Credible per-
sons haue assured me, and the partie him-
selfe auouched the truth of it to me, that
of the setting of 1 3 gallons of Corne hee
hath had encrease of it 52 Hogsheads,
euery Hogshead holding seuen Bushels
[ 92 ] of
New-England Plantation
of London measure, and eueryBushellwas
by him sold and trusted to the Indians for
so much Beauer as was worth 1 8 shillings ;
and so of this 1 3 Gallons of Corne which
was worth 6 shillings 8 pence, he made
about 327 pounds of it in the yeere fol-
lowing, as by reckoning will appeare:
where you may see how God blessed hus-
bandry in this Land. There is not such
greate and plentifull eares of Corne I sup-
pose any where else to bee found but in this
Country : because also of varietie of col-
ours, as red, blew, and yellow, &c. and of
one Corne there springeth foure or fiue
hundred. I haue sent you many Eares of
diuers colours that you might see the truth
of it.
Little Children here by setting of
Corne may earne much more then their
owne maintenance.
They haue tryed our English Corne at
new Plimmouth Plantation, so that all our
seuerall Graineswill grow here verie well,
and haue a fitting Soyle for their nature.
Our Gouernor hath store of greene
pease growing in his garden as good as
euer I eat in England.
This Countrey aboundeth naturally
with store of rootes of great varietie and
good to eat. Our Turnips, Parsnips and
Carrots are here both bigger and sweeter
[ 93 ] then
New-Englands Plantation
then is ordinarily to bee found in England.
Here are store of Pumpions, Cowcombers,
and other things of that nature which I
know not. Also diuers excellent Pot-
herbs grow abundantly among the Grasse,
as Strawberrie leaues in all places of the
Countrey, and plentie of strawberries in
their time, and Penyroyall,Wintersauerie,
Sorrell, Brookelime, Liuerwort, Caruell
and Watercresses, also Leekesand Onions
are ordinarie, and diuers Physicall Herbs.
Here are also aboundance of other sweet
Hearbs delightfull to the smell, whose
names we know not, &c. and plentie of
single Damaske Roses verie sweete ; and
two kinds of Herbes that beare two kinds
of Flowers very sweet, which they say,
are as good to make Cordage or Cloath as
any Hempe or Flaxe we haue.
Excellent Vines are here vp and downe
in the Woodes. Our Gouernour hath al-
ready planted a Vineyard with great hope
of encrease.
Also, Mulberries, Plums, Raspberries,
Corrance, Chesnuts, Filberds, Walnuts,
Smalnuts, Hurtleberies, & Hawes of
Whitethorne neere as good as our Cher-
ries in England^ they grow in plentie
here.
For Wood there is no better in the
World I thinke, here being foure sorts
[ 94 ] of
New-Englands Plantation
of Oke differing both in the Leafe, Tim-
ber, and Colour, all excellent good. There
is also good Ash, Elme, Willow, Birch,
Beech, Saxafras, Juniper, Cipres, Cedar,
Spruce, Pines, & Firre that will yeeld
abundance of Turpentine, Pitch, Tarre,
Masts and other materials for building
both of Ships and Houses. Also here are
store of Sumacke Trees, they are good
for dying and tanning of Leather, like-
wise such trees yeeld a precious Gem
called Wine Benjamen, that they say is
excellent for perfumes. Also here be
diuers Roots and Berries wherewith the
Indians dye excellent holding colours that
no raine nor washing can alter. Also, wee
haue materials to make Sope-Ashes and
Salt-Peter in aboundance.
For Beasts there are some Beares, and
they say some Lyons also ; for they haue
been seen at Cape Anne. Also here are
seuerall sorts of Deere, some whereof
bring three or foure young ones at once,
which is not ordinarie in England. Also
Wolues, Foxes, Beauers, Otters, Martins,
great wild Cats, & a great Beast called a
Molke as bigge as an Oxe. I haue seen
the Skins of all these Beasts since I came
to this Plantation excepting Lyons. Also
here are great store of squerrels, some
greater, and some smaller and lesser:
[ 95 ] there
New-Englands Plantation
there are some of the lesser sort, they
tell me, that by a certaine Skill will fly
from Tree to Tree though they stand farre
distant.
Of the Waters ^ New-England, with the
things belonging to the same.
New-England hath Water enough both
salt and fresh, the greatest Sea in the
World, the Atlanticke Sea runs all along
the Coast thereof. There are abundance
of Hands along the Shore, some full of
Wood and Mast to feed Swine; and
others cleere of Wood, and fruitfull to
beare Corne. Also wee haue store of ex-
cellent harbours for Ships, as at Cape
Anne, and at Masathulets Bay, and at
Salem, and at many other places: and
they are the better because for Strangers
there is a verie difficult and dangerous
passage into them, but vnto such as are
well acquainted with them, they are easie
and safe enough. The aboundance of Sea-
Fish are almost beyond beleeuing, and
sure I should scarce haue beleeued it,
except I had scene it with mine owne
Eyes. I saw great store of Whales, and
Crampusse, and such aboundance of
Mackerils that it would astonish one to
behold, likewise Cod-Fish in aboundance
[ 96 ] on
New-Englands Plantation
on the Coast, and in their season are plen-
tifully taken. There is a Fish called a
Basse, a most sweet & wholesome Fish as
euer I did eate, it is altogether as good as
our fresh Sammon, and the season of
their comming was begun when wee
came first to New-England in June, and
so continued about three months space.
Of this Fish our Fishers take many hun-
dreds together, which I haue scene lying
on the shore to my admiration; yea their
Nets ordinarily take more then they are
able to hale to Land, and for want of
Boats and Men they are constrained to
let a many goe after they haue taken
them, and yet sometimes they fill two
Boates at a time with them. And besides
Basse wee take plentie of Scate and
Thornbacks, and abundance of Lobsters,
and the least Boy in the Plantation may
both catch and eat what he will of them.
For my owne part I was soone cloyed with
them, they were so great, and fat, and lus-
sious. I haue scene some my selfe that
haue weighed 1 6 pound, but others haue
had diuers times so great Lobsters as haue
weighed 25 pound, as they assure mee.
Also heere is abundance of Herring, Tur-
but,Sturgion, Cuskes, Hadocks, Mullets,
Eeles, Crabbes, Muskles and Oysters.
Besides there is probability that the
[ 97 ] Countrey
New-England* Plantation
Countreyisof an excellent temper for the
making of Salt : for since our comming
our Fishermen haue brought home very
good Salt which they found candied by
the standing of the Sea water and the
heat of the Sunne, vpon a Rocke by the
Sea shore: and in diuers salt Marishes
that some haue gone through, they haue
found some Salt in some places crushing
vnder their Feete and cleauing to their
Shooes.
And as for fresh Water the Countrey
is full of dainty Springs, and some great
Riuers, and some lesser Brookes ; and at
Masatbulets Bay they digged Wels and
found Water at three Foot deepe in most
places : and neere Salem they haue as fine
cleare Water as we can desire, and we
may digge Wels and find Water where
we list.
Thus wee see both Land and Sea
abound with store of blessings for the
comfortable sustenance of Man's life in
New- England.
Of the Aire of New-England 'with the
temper and Creatures in it.
The Temper of the Aire of New-Eng-
land is one speciall thing that commends
this place. Experience doth manifest
[ 98 ] that
New-Englands Plantation
that there is hardly a more healthfull
place to be found in the World that
agreeth better with our English bodyes.
Many that haue beene weake and sickly
in old England, by comming hither haue
beene thoroughly healed and growne
healthfull strong. For here is an extra-
ordinarie cleere and dry Aire that is of
a most healing nature to all such as are
of a Cold, Melancholy, Flegmatick,
Rheumatick temper of Body. None can
more truly speake hereof by their owne
experience then my selfe. My Friends
that knew me can well tell how verie
sickly I haue bin and continually in
Physick, being much troubled with a
tormenting paine through an extraordi-
narie weaknesse of my Stomacke, and
aboundance of Melancholicke humors ;
but since I came hither on this Voyage,
I thanke God, I haue had perfect health,
and freed from paine and vomiting, hau-
ing a Stomacke to digest the hardest and
coursest fare, who before could not eat
finest meat; and whereas my Stomacke
could onely digest and did require such
drinke as was both strong and stale, now
I can and doe often times drink New-
England water verie well ; and I that
haue not gone without a Cap for many
yeeres together, neither durst leaue off
[ 99 ] the
New-Englands Plantation
the same, haue now cast away my Cap,
and doe weare none at all in the day
time: and whereas beforetime I cloathed
my selfe with double cloathes and thicke
Wastcoates to keepe me warme, euen in
the Summer time, I doe now goe as thin
clad as any, onely wearing a light Stuffe
Cassocke vpon my Shirt, and Stuffe
Breeches of one thicknesse without Lin-
ings. Besides I haue one of my Children
that was formerly most lamentably han-
dled with sore breaking out of both his
hands and feet of the King's-euill, but
since he came hither hee is very well ouer
he was, and there is hope of perfect re-
couerie shortly euen by the very whole-
somnesse of the Aire, altering, digesting
and drying vp the cold and crude hum-
ours of the Body : and therefore I thinke
it is a wise course for al cold complec-
tions to come to take Physick in New
England: for a sup of New- England's Aire
is better then a whole draught of old
England's Ale. In the Summer time in
the midst ofjuty and August, it is a good
deale hotter then in old England: and in
Winter January and February are much
colder as they say: but the Spring and
Autumne are of a middle temper.
Fowles of the Aire are plentifull here,
and of all sorts as we haue in England as
[ 100 ] farre
New-Englands Plantation
farre as I can learne, and a great many of
strange Fowles which wee know not.
Whilst I was writing these things, one of
our Men brought home an Eagle which
hee had killed in the Wood : they say
they are good meate. Also here are many
kinds of excellent Hawkes, both Sea
Hawkes & Land Hawkes: and myselfe
walking in the Woods with another in
company, sprung a Partridge so bigge
that through the heauinesse of his Body
could fly but a little way : they that haue
killed them, say they are as bigge as our
Hens. Here are likewise aboundance of
Turkies often killed in the Woods, farre
greater then our English Turkies, and ex-
ceeding fat, sweet and fleshy, for here they
haue aboundance of feeding all theyeere
long, as Strawberries, in Summer all places
are full of them, and all manner of Berries
and Fruits. In the Winter time I haue
scene Flockes of Pidgeons,and haue eaten
of them: they doe fly from Tree to Tree
as other Birds doe, which our Pidgeons
will not doe in England: they are of all
colours as ours are, but their wings and
tayles are far longer, and therefore it is
likely they fly swifter to escape the terri-
ble Hawkes in this Country. In Winter
time this Country doth abound with wild
Geese, wild Duckes, and other Sea Fowle,
[ 1 01 ] that
New-Englands Plantation
that a great part of winter the Planters
haue eaten nothing but roast rneate of
diuers Fowles which they haue killed.
Thus you haue heard of the Earth,
Water and Aire of New-England, now it
may bee you expect something to bee said
of the Fire proportionable to the rest of
the Elements. Indeede I thinke New-
England, may boast of this Element more
then of all the rest: for though it bee here
somewhat cold in the winter, yet here we
haue plenty of Fire to warme vs, and that
a great deale cheaper then they sel Billets
and Faggots in London: nay, all Europe is
not able to afford to make so great Fires
as New-England. A poore seruant here
that is to possesse but 50 Acres of Land,
may afford to giue more wood for Timber
& Fire as good as the world yeelds, then
many Noble men in England can afford
to do. Here is good liuing for those that
loue good Fires. And although New-
Eng/andhaue no Tallow to make Candles
of, yet by the aboundance of the Fish
thereof, it can afford Oyle for Lampes.
Yea our Pine-Trees that are the most
plentifull of all wood, doth allow vs plenty
of Candles which are very vsefull in a
House: and they are such Candles as the
Indians commonly vse, hauing no other,
and they are nothing else but the wood of
[ 102 ] the
New-Englands Plantation
the Pine Tree clouen in two little slices
something thin, which are so full of the
moysture of Turpentine and Pitch, that
they burne as cleere as a Torch. I haue
sent you some of them that you may see
the experience of them.
Thus of New- England' s commodities,
now I will tell you of some discommodi-
ties that are here to be found.
First, in the Summer season for these
three months, June, Jufy,znd August, we
are troubled much with little Flyes called
Musketoes, being the same they are
troubled with in Lincolneshiere and the
Fens: and they are nothing but Gnats,
which except they bee smoked out of
their houses are troublesome in the night
season.
Secondly, in the Winter season for two
months space, the earth is commonly cou-
ered with Snow, which is accompanied
with sharp biting Frosts, something more
sharpe then is in old England, and there-
fore are forced to make great Fires.
Thirdly, the countrey being very full
of Woods, and Wildernesses, doth also
much abound with Snakes and Serpents
of strange colours, and huge greatnesse:
yea there are some Serpents called Rattle-
snakes that haue Rattles in their Tailes,
that will not fly from a man as others will,
f 103 ] but
New-Englands Plantation
but will flye vpon him and sting him so
mortally, that hee will dye within a quar-
ter of an houre after, except the partie
stinged haue about him some of the root
of an Hearbe called Snake- weed to bite
on, and then hee shall receiue no harme:
but yet seldomefalles it out that any hurt
is done by these. About three yeares since,
an Indian was stung to death by one of
them, but wee heard of none since that
time.
Fourthly and lastly, Here wants as it
were good company of honest Christians
to bring with them Horses, Kine and
Sheepe to make vseofthis fruitfull Land :
great pitty it is to see so much good ground
for Corne & for Grasse as any is vnder the
Heauens, to ly altogether vnoccupied,
when so many honest Men and their Fam-
ilies in old England through the populous-
nesse thereof, do make very hard shift to
Hue one by the other.
Now, thus you know what New-Eng-
land is, as also with the commodities and
discommodities thereof: now I will shew
you a little of the Inhabitants thereof, and
their gouernment.
For their Gouernors they haue Kings,
which they call Saggamores, some greater,
and some lesser, according to the number
[ i 04 ] of
New-Englands Plantation
of their Subjects.
The greatest Saggamores about vs can
not make aboue three hundred Men, and
other lesse Saggamores haue not aboue fif-
teene Subjects, and others neere about vs
but two.
Their Subjects aboue twelue yeares
since were swept away by a great & grieu-
ous Plague that was amongst them, so that
there are verie few left to inhabite the
Country.
The Indians are not able to make vse
of the one fourth part of the Land, neither
haue they any setled places, as Townes to
dwell in, nor any ground as they challenge
for their o wne possession, but change their
habitation from place to place.
For their Statures, they are a tall and
strong limmed People, their colours are
tawny, they goe naked, saue onely they
are in part couered with Beasts Skins on
one of their shoulders, and weare some-
thing before their priuities : their Haire
is generally blacke, and cut before like
our Gentelewomen, and one locke longer
then the rest, much like to our Gentel-
men, which fashion I thinke came from
hence into England.
For their weapons, they haue Bows
and Arrowes, some of them headed with
Bone, and some with Brasse : I haue sent
[ 105 ] you
New-Englands Plantation
you some of them for an example.
The Men for the most part Hue idely,
they doe nothing but hunt and fish : their
wiues set their Corne and doe all their
other worke. They haue little Houshold
stufFe, as a kettle, and some other Ves-
sels like Trayes, Spoones, Dishes and Bas-
kets.
Their Houses are verie little and
homely, being made with small Poles
pricked into the ground, and so bended
and fastned at the tops, and on the sides
they are matted with Boughes and cou-
ered on the Roofe with Sedge and old
Mats, and for their beds that they take
their rest on, they haue a Mat.
They doe generally professe to like
well of our comming and planting here ;
partly because there is abundance of
ground that they cannot possesse nor make
vse of, and partly because our being heere
will bee a meanes both of reliefe to them
when they want, and also a defence from
their Enemies, wherewith (I say) before
this Plantation began, they were often
indangered.
For their religion, they doe worship
two Gods, a good God and an euill God :
the good God they call Tantum, and their
euill God whom they feare will doe them
hurt, they call Squantum.
[ 106 ] For
New-Englands Plantation
For their dealing with vs, we neither
feare them nor trust them, for fourtie of
our Musketeer es will driue fiue hundred
of them out of the Field. We vse them
kindly, they will come into our Houses
sometimes by halfe a douzen or halfe a
score at a time when we are at victuals,
but will aske or take nothing but what we
giue them.
We purpose to learne their language
assoone as we can, which will beameanes
to do them good.
Of the present condition of the Plant ation 9
and what it is.
When we came first to Nehumkek, we
found about halfe a score Houses, and a
faire House newly built for the Gou-
ernor, we found also aboundance of
Corne planted by them, very good and
well liking. And we brought with vs
about two hundred Passengers and Plant-
ers more, which by common consent of
the old Planters were all combined to-
gether into one Body Politicke, vnder the
same Gouernor.
There are in all of vs both old and new
Planters about three hundred, whereof
two hundred of them are setled ztNehum-
kek 9 now called Salem: And the rest haue
[ 107 ] planted
New-Englands Plantation
planted themselues at Masathulets Bay,
beginning to build a Towne there which
wee doe call Cberton, or Charles Towne.
We that are setled at Salem make what
haste we can to build Houses, so that
within a short time we shall haue a faire
Towne.
We haue great Ordnance, wherewith
wee doubt not but wee shall fortifie our
selues in a short time to keepe out a potent
Aduersary. But that which is our great-
est comfort, and meanes of defence aboue
all other, is, that we haue here the true
Religion and holy Ordinances of Al-
mightie God taught amongst vs : Thankes
be to God, wee haue here plenty of
Preaching, and diligent Catechizing,
with strickt and carefull exercise, and
good and commendable orders to bring
our People into a Christian conuersation
with whom wee haue to doe withall.
And thus wee doubt not but God will be
with vs, and if God be with us, who can be
against us ?
Here ends Master Higgesons Relation of
New-England.
[ 108 ]
A Letter sent from New-England,
by Master Graues, Engynere
now there resident.
Hus much I can affirme in
generall, that I neuer came in a
more goodly Country in all my
life, all things considered : if
it hath not at any time beene manured and
husbanded, yet it is very beautifull in
open Lands, mixed with goodly woods,
and againe open plaines, in some places
five hundred Acres, some places more,
some lesse, not much troublesome for to
cleere for the Plough to goe in, no place
barren, but on the tops of the Hils ; the
grasse & weedes grow vp to a man's face,
in the Lowlands Stbyfresh Riuers abound-
ance of grasse and large Meddowes with-
out any Tree or shrubbe to hinder the Sith.
I neuer saw except in Hungaria, vnto
which I alwayes paralell this countrie, in
all our most respects, foreuery thing that
is heere eyther sowne or planted prosper-
eth far better then in old England: the
increase of Corne is here farre beyond ex-
pectation, as I haue scene hereby experi-
ence in Early, the which because it is so
much aboue your conception I will not
mention. And Cattle doe prosper very
[ 109 ] well
New-Englands Plantation
well, and those that are bredd here farr
greater then those with you in England.
Vines doe grow here plentifully laden
with the biggest Grapes that euer I saw,
some I haue scene foure inches about, so
that I am bold to say of this countrie, as
it is commonly said in Germany of Hun-
garia, that for Cattel, Corne, and Wine it
excelleth. We haue many more hopefull
commodities here in this countrie, the
which time will teach to make good vse
of: In the meane time wee abound with
such things which next vnder God doe
make vs subsist, as Fish, Foule, Deere,
and sundrie sorts of fruits, as musk-mil-
lions water-millions, India-Pompions, In-
dian-Pease Beanes, & many other odde
fruits that I cannot name ; all which are
made good and pleasant through this
maine blessing of God, the healthfulnesse
of the countrie which far exceedeth all
parts that euer I haue beene in : It is ob-
serued that few or none doe here fal sicke,
vnless of the Scuruy that they bring from
aboard the Ship with them, whereof I
haue cured some of my companie onely
by labour. [Thus making an end of an
imperfect Description, and committing
you to God, &c.
A Catalogue of such needefull
things as euery Planter doth or
ought to prouide to go to New-
England
as namely for one man, which being
doubled, may serue for as many as
you please, viz.
Victuals for a whole yeere for a man,
and so after the rate for more.
8 Bvshels of meale. i Gallon of Oyle.
2 Bushels of pease. 2 Gallons of Vinegar.
1 Bushels of Otemeale. i Firkin of Butter.
i Gallon of Aquavit*.
Apparell.
i Monmoth Cap. 4 Paire of Sbooes.
3 Falling bands. 2 Paire of Sheets.
3 Shirts. 7 Ells of Canuas to
i Wast-coat. make a bed and boul-
i Suit of Canuase. ster.
i Suit of Prize. i Paire of Blankets.
i Suit of Cloth. i Course Rug.
3 Paire of Stockings.
Armes.
i Armor compleat. i Bandilier.
i Long peece. 20 Pound of Powder.
i Sword. 60 Pound of Lead.
i Belt. i Pistoll and Goose shot.
Tooles.
i Broad Howe. i Broad Axe.
i Narrow Howe. i Felling Axe.
New-Englands Plantation
Steele Handsawe. i Gimblet.
Whipsawe. i Hatchet.
Hammer. 2 Frowes.
Shouell i Hand-Bill.
Spade. i Grindstone.
1 Augres. i Pickaxe.
4 Chissels. Nayles of all sorts.
2 Percers stocked.
Houshold implements.
i Iron pot. i Spit.
i Kettel. Wooden Platters.
i Frying pan. Dishes.
1 Gridiron. Spoons.
2 Skellets. Trenchers.
Spices.
Sugar. Cinnamon.
Pepper. Nutmegs.
Clones. Fruit.
Mace.
Also there are diuers other things neces-
sary to bee taken ouer to this Plantation,
as Bookes, Nets, Hookes and Lines,
Cheese, Bacon, Kine, Goats, &c.
The names of the most remark-
able places in New-England.
The old names.
Cape Cod.
The Harbor of Cape
Cod.
Cbawum.
Accomack.
Sagoquas.
Massacbusets Mount.
Massacbusets Riuer.
Totan.
A great Bay by Cape
Anne.
Cape Tragabig sanda.
Naembeck.
Aggawom.
Smiths lies.
Passasaquack.
Accominticus.
Sassanows Mount.
Sowocatuck.
Bahanna.
A good Harbor with-
in that Bay.
Ancociscos Mount.
Ancocisco.
Anmougbcawgen.
Kenebecka.
Sagadabock.
The new names.
Cape lames.
Milford Hauen.
Barwick.
Plimoutb.
Oxford.
Cbeuit Hils.
Cbarles River.
Famoutb.
Bristow.
Cape Anne.
Bast able ^ so named by
King Charles: But
by the new Planters
now called Salem.
Southampton.
Smiths lies.
Hull.
Boston.
Snow don hill.
Ipswich.
Dartmouth.
Sandwich.
Shuters hill.
The Base.
Cambridge.
Edenborow.
Leth.
3 J
Neiv-Englands Plantation
Pemmayquid.
Segocket.
Mecadacut.
Pennobscot.
Nusket.
Monahigan.
Matinack.
Metinacus.
S. Johns towne.
Norwich.
Dunbarton.
Aberden.
Low mounds.
Ear ties lies.
Willowbies lies.
H aught ons lies.
But whosoeuer desireth to know as much
as yet can be discouered, I aduise them
to buy Captaine John Smiths booke of
the description of New-England m Folio ;
and reade from Fol. 203. to the end; and
there let the Reader expect to haue full
content.
Finis.
SOME BRIEF COLLECTIONS
&c.
SOME BRIEF COL-
lections out of a letter that
Mr. Higginson sent to his
friends at Leicester.
HERE are certainly
expected here the next
spring the coming of
60 familyes out Dor-
cettershire, 5 who have
by letters signified so
much to the Gov-
erour to desyre him to appoint them
places of habitations they bringing their
ministers with them. Also many fami-
lies are expected out of Lincolnshire 6
and a minister with them, and a great
company of godly Christians out of Lon-
don. Such of you as come from Leister,
I would counsell you to come quickly
and that for two reasons, ist, if you lin-
ger too long, the passages of Jordan
through the malice of Sathan, may be
stopped, that you can not come if you
[ 117 ] would.
New- England* Plantation
would. 2dly, Those that come first speed
best here,and have the priviledge of choos-
ing choice places of habitations. Little
children of 5 years ould may by setting
corne one month be able to get their owne
maintenance abundantly. Oh what a
good worke might you that are rich do
for your poore brethren, to helpe them
with your purses onely to convey them
hither with their children and families,
where they may live as well both for soule
and body as any where in the world. Be-
sides they will recompense the cost by
helping to build houses and plant your
ground for a tyme ; which shall be diffi-
cult worke at the first, exceptyou have the
helpe of many hands. Mr. Johnson out
of Lincolnshire and many others, have
helped our godly christians hither to be
employed in their worke, for a while, and
then to live of themselves. We have here
about 40 goats that give milke, and as many
milch kyne ; we have 6 or 7 mares and an
horse, and do every day expect the com-
ing of half a score mares more, and3oKyne
by two shipps that are to follow us. 7 They
that come let them bring mares, kyne,
and sheepe as many as they can : Ireland
is the best place to provide sheepe, and lyes
in the way. Bring none that are in lambe,
nor mares in foale; for they are in more
[ 118 ] danger
New-Englands Plantation
danger to perish at sea. Of all trades car-
penters are most needful, therefore bring
as many as you can. It were a wise course
for those of ability es to joyne together and
buy a shipp for the voyage and other mer-
chandize. For the governour would that
any man may employ his stocke in what
merchandises he please, excepting only
beaver skins, which the company of mer-
chants reserve to themselves, and the man-
aging of the publique stocke. If any be
of the mynde to buy a shipp my cousin
Nowell's 8 counsell would be good. Also
one Mr. [Beecher] a very godly man and
the master of the ship we went in, and
likewise one Mr. Graves the master's
maite dwelling in Wapping may herein
staund you in stead. The payment of the
transportation of things is wondrous deare,
as 5/ a man and i o/ a horse and commonly
3/ for every tunne of goodes : so that a lit-
tle more than will pay for the passage will
purchase the possession of a ship for all
together.
No man hath or can have a house
built for him here unlesse he comes him-
selfe, or else send servants before to do it
for him. It was an errour that I now per-
ceive both in myselfe, and others did con-
ceive by not rightly understanding the
merchaunts meaning. For we thought
[119] that
New-Englands Plantation
that all that put in their money into the
common stocke; should have a house
built for them, besides such a portion of
the land; but it was not so. They shall
indeed have so much land allotted to
them when they come to take possession
of it and make use of it, but if they will
have houses they must build them. In-
deed we that are ministers, and all the
rest that were entertained and sent over
and maintained by the rest of the com-
pany, as their servants, for such a tyme
in such employments, all such are to
have houses built them of the comyan-
ies charge and no others nor otherwise.
They that put money into the stocke,
as they do a good worke to helpe for-
wards so worthy a plantation, so all the
gayne they are likely to have, is accord-
ing to the increase of the stocke at 3
years end, by the trade of beaver, besides
the lands which they shall enjoy when
they will.
All that come must have victualls with
them for a twelve month, I meane they
must have meale, oatmeale and such like
sustenaunce of food, till they can gett
increase of corne by their owne labour.
For, otherwise, so many may come with-
out provision at the first, as that our small
beginnings may not be sufficient to main-
[ 120 ] tayne
New-England* Plantation
tayne them.
Before you come be carefull to be
strongly instructed what things are fittest
to bring with you for your more comfort-
able passage at sea, as also for your hus-
bandrey occasions when you come to the
land. For when you are once parted with
England you shall meete neither with
taverns nor alehouse, nor butchers, nor
grosers, nor apothecaries shops to helpp
what things you need, in the midst of the
great ocean, nor when you are come to
land here are yet neither markets nor
fayres to buy what you want. Therefore
be sure to furnish yourselves with things
fitting to be had before you come ; as
meale for bread, malt for drinke, woolen
and linnen cloath, and leather for shoes,
and all manner of carpenters tools, and a
good deale of iron and steele to make
nails, and lockes, for houses, and furni-
ture for ploughs and carts, and glasse for
windowes, and many other things which
were better for you to think of them
than to want them here.
Whilst I was writing this letter my
wiffe brought me word that the fishers
had caught 1600 basse at one draught,
which if they were in England were
worth many a pound.
NOTES
NOTES.
1. Thomas Hutchinson, the historian of
Massachusetts, attributed this document to
Francis Higginson, but Alexander Young
and Robert C. Winthrop have shown that
another draft of these " Considerations,"
in the handwriting of Forth Winthrop, and
now preserved in the Winthrop Papers,
was probably inspired by John Winthrop.
Another copy in the English State Paper
Office is endorsed "White of Dorchester
his instructions for the plantation of New
England."
2. Quote, i. e. quost, an obsolete spelling of
coast.
3. The manuscript now in the library of the
Massachusetts Historical Society, ends at
this point, the following pages having been
lost since it was in the possession of Hutchin-
son. The remainder of the journal of the
voyage is reprinted from Hutchinson's
"Collection of Original Papers relative to
the History of the Colony of M assachusetts
Bay," Boston, 1769.
4. Gloucester harbor.
5. These were the settlers who came with
Maverick.
6. The emigrants from Boston, England.
7. The "Four Sisters "and the "Mayflower."
8. I ncrease Norwell, afterward Secretary of the
Colony.
INDEX
INDEX
Aberden, 114.
Accomack, 113.
Accomintus, 113.
Aggawom, 113.
Air of New England, 29,98
Ancocisco, 113.
Ancociscos Mount, 113.
Anmoughcawgen, 113.
Ash trees, 26, 95.
Assurance (ship), 62.
Bahanna, 113.
Barley, 109.
Barties Isles, 1 14.
Bar wick, 113.
Bass, 27, 97.
Bastable, 113.
Beans, 1 10.
Bears, 26, 95.
Beavers, 26, 95, 119.
Beech trees, 26, 95.
Beecher, Mr., 63, 119.
Berries, 25, 94.
Birch trees, 26, 95.
Birds, 31, loo.
Biscay ship, 65.
Black, Goodman, 76.
Boats, Fishing, 28, 97.
Borley, Capt., 64.
Boston, 113.
Boston (Eng. ), 125.
Bows and arrows, 35, 105.
Brass, 35, 105.
Bricks, 23, 91.
Bright, Francis, 53, 54.
Bristow Bay, 113.
Brookelime, 25, 94.
Browne, Mr., 65.
Butter, in.
Cambridge, 113.
Candles, 32, 102.
Cannon, 37, 60, 1 08.
Cape Ann, 26, 77, 78, 79,
95> US-
Cape Cod, 113.
Cape James, 113.
Cape Tragabig sanda, 113.
Carrots, 25, 93.
Carvel, 25, 94.
Cattle, 23,34, 60,92, 104,
109, 118.
Cedar trees, 26, 95.
Charles I, 6.
Charles River, 22, 90, 113.
Charlestown, 37, 108.
Chawum, 113.
Cherries, 26, 94.
Cherton, 37, 108.
Chestnuts, 25, 94.
Chevit hills, 113.
Christopher Islands, 65.
Churches of Europe, 4 1 .
Claybrook Parish (Eng. ), 6.
Cloth, 25, 94.
Clothing for New England,
30, 100, in.
Codfish, 27, 96.
Cordage, 25, 94.
Corn, 23, 35, 36, 92, 107,
109, 1 1 8, 1 20.
Cornwall (Eng.), 64.
2 9
INDEX
Cowcastle (Eng. ), 62.
Cowes (Eng.), 63.
Crabs, 28, 97.
Cucumbers, 25, 94.
Currants, 25, 94.
Cush, 28, 97.
Cypress trees, 26, 95.
Dartmouth (Eng. ), 113.
Goats, 23, 60, 92, 1 1 8.
Gods, Indian, 36, 106.
Goffe, Mr., 69.
Gooseberries, 78.
Governor's house, 36, 107.
Grain, 25, 93.
Grampus, 27, 96.
Grapes, 25, 94, no.
Grass, 23, 92.
Death of child, 66, 76 ; of Graves, Mr., 109, 119.
sailor, 75.
Deer, 26, 27, 95, 96.
Dog fell overboard, 69.
Dorchester (Eng.), 59, 60,
117.
Ducks, 31, 101.
Dunbarton, 114.
Dye stuffs, 26, 95.
Eagle, 31, 101.
Edenborow, 113.
Education, 41.
Eels, 28, 97.
Endecott, Gov., 5, 79.
Falmouth, 113.
Fast kept, 67, 71.
Filberts, 25, 94.
Files, 23, 91.
Fir trees, 26, 95.
Fires in New England, 32,
IO2.
Fish, 27, 96, I2i.
Fishing nets, 28, 97.
Force, Peter, 8.
Four Sisters (ship), 60, 125.
Foxes, 26, 95.
Geese, 31, 101.
George (ship), 60, 79.
Gibs, Mr., 66.
Gloucester, 125.
Gnats, 33, 103.
Gravesend (Eng.), 6l.
Gum, 26, 95.
Haddock, 28, 97.
Harbors, 27, 96.
Haughton's Isles, 114.
Hawkes, 31, 101.
Health in New England, 29,
99-
Herbs, 25, 94.
Herring, 28, 97.
Higginson, Rev. Francis, 5-
n, 54, 117, 125; fam-
ily of, 7 ; health of, 29,
8 1, 99; sickness of child,
30, 65, 100 ; agreement
with, 51; sea journal of,
57 ; sails from England,
59 ; death of child, 66 ;
lands at Neihumkek, 79 ;
seasickness of wife, 8 1 ;
letter to friends at Leices-
ter, 117.
Higginson, Mary, 63, 65.
Higginson, Samuel, 65,
68.
Hogs, 23, 27, 92, 96.
Horses, 23, 34, 60, 92,
104, 1 1 8, 119.
Household implements, 112.
Houses, 119.
Houses of Indians, 35, 106.
Hull, 113.
[ 130]
INDEX
Hungaria, 109, 1 10.
Hutchinson, Gov. Thomas,
n, 125.
Iceberg, 72.
Indians, purchase corn, 24,
93; dyes used by, 26,
95 ; lights used by, 32,
1 02 ; killed by a rattle-
snake, 33, 104; Saga-
mores of, 34, 1 04; num-
ber of, 34, 195 ; de-
stroyed by the plague, 34,
47, 105 ; unable to use
all the land, 34, 105;
have no settled places, 34,
105; personal appearance,
35, 105; clothing, 35,
105 ; weapons, 35, 105;
utensils, 35, 106 ; houses,
35, 1 06; approve coming
of Englishmen, 35, 106;
religion, 36, 106; lan-
guage, 36, 107; title to
land, 46 ; place names,
113-
Ipswich, 113.
Isle of Wight, 62.
Johnson, Mr., 1 18.
Juniper trees, 26, 95.
Kenebecka, 113.
Land, abundance of, 34, 35,
104, 106.
Leather, 26, 95.
Leeks, 25, 94.
Leicester (Eng.), 6, 117.
Leith, 113.
Lincoln shire ( Eng . ) , 117,
118.
Lions, 26, 95.
[ *
Lion's Whelp (ship), 60,
61, 66, 73, 74, 76.
Liverwort, 25, 94.
Lobsters, 28, 97.
London (Eng. ), 59.
Mackerell, 27, 96.
Marble, 23, 91.
Marble-harbour, 23, 91.
Margate (Eng.), 61.
Martins, 26, 95.
Massachusetts, 113.
Massachusetts Bay, 22, 90.
Massachusetts Bay, settle-
ment at, 37, 107.
Massachusetts Bay Com-
pany, 6.
Masts, 26, 95.
Matinack, 1 14.
Maverick, John, 125,
Mayflower (ship), 60, 125.
Mecadacut, 1 14.
Meere, Mr., 64.
Melons, 1 10.
Metinacus, 114.
Milk, 23, 92.
Minerals, 23, 91.
Molke, 26, 95.
Monahigan, 1 14.
Moose, 26, 95.
Mosquitoes, 33, 103.
Mulberries, 25, 94.
Mullet, 28, 97.
Mussels, 28, 97.
Names of places, 113.
Neihumkek, 78, 79, 113;
see also Salem.
New England, 21, 89; soil,
22, 90, 1 09; minerals, 23,
9 1 ; growth of vegetables,
25, 93; woods, 26, 95;
wild beasts, 26, 95; fish,
INDEX
27, 9 6 > air* 2 9 9 8 > sea -
sons, 30, 100; birds, 31,
I o I ; discomforts, 33,103;
winters, 33, 103; unoc-
cupied land in, 34, 104;
condition of plantation in,
36, 107; reasons for set-
tling in, 41; journal of
voyage to, 57; healthful-
ness, 82, no; clothing
for, ill; arms for, 1 1 1 ;
tools for, 111,121; house-
hold implements for, 112,
1 2 1 ; places in, 113; fur-
ther emigration to, 117;
cost of transportation to,
119; food for, 1 20.
' New-England' s Planta-
tion," manuscript sent to
England, 7 ; editions print-
ed, 7 ; reprinted, 8 ; biblio-
graphical description, 8 ;
census of known copies,
10; facsimile of first edi-
tion, 17; reprint of third
edition, 87.
Norwich, 114.
Nowell, Increase, 1 19, 1 25.
Nusket, 1 1 4.
Oak trees, 26, 95.
Oatmeal, 1 1 1 .
Oil, 32, 102, i ii.
Onions, 25, 94.
Otters, 26, 95.
Oxford, 113.
Oysters, 28, 97.
Parsnips, 25, 93.
Partridges, 31, 101.
Passasaquack, 113.
Pease, 25, 93, no, ill.
Pennobscot, 1 1 4.
Pennyroyal, 25, 94.
Pemmayquid, 1 14.
Pigeons, 31, 101.
Pine trees, 26, 32, 95, 102.
Pitch, 26, 95.
Plague destroyed Indians,
Planters at Neihumkek, 36,
107.
Plymouth, 24, 93, 113.
Portsmouth (Eng.), 62.
Pumpkins, 25, 94, no.
Raspberries, 25, 94.
Rattlesnakes, 33, 103.
Roses, 25, 78, 94.
Sagadahock, 113.
Sagoquas, 113.
St. Johns towne, 1 1 4.
Salem, Landing at, 6; name,
22, 37, 90, 107, 113;
harbor, 27, 96; wells, 29,
98; houses, 36, 37, 107,
1 08; number of settlers,
36, 107; harbor, 79.
Salmon, 27, 97.
Salt, 28, 98.
Saltpeter, 26, 95.
Sandwich, 113.
Sassafras, 26, 95.
Sassanows Mount, 113.
Schools of Europe, 4 1 .
Seasickness, 62, 64,
Segocket, 1 1 4.
Sheep, 1 1 8.
Ships, 60.
Shuter's hill, 113.
Sickness, 29, 62, 64, 99.
Skate, 28, 97.
Skelton, Rev. Samuel, 6, 53,
54-
Smallpox, 65, 66, 70, 75.
INDEX
Smith, Rev., 67.
Smith, Capt. John, 114.
Smith's Isles, 113.
Snake weed, 33, 104.
Snakes, 33, 103.
Snowdon hill, 113.
Soap ashes, 26, 95.
Soil of New England, 22,90.
Soldiers, 36, 107.
Sorrel, 25, 94.
Southampton, 113.
Sowocatuck, 113.
Sparke, Michael, 17, 87.
Spices, 112.
Spruce trees, 26, 95.
Squirrels, 26, 95.
Stone, Building, 23, 95.
Storm at sea, 69.
Strawberries, 25, 31, 78,
94, 101.
Sturgeon, 28, 97.
Sumach, 26, 95.
Talbot (ship), 60, 61.
Tar, 26, 95.
Thornback, 28, 97.
Tools for New England, 1 1 1 .
Torches, 32, 103.
Totan, 113.
Trees, 26, 95.
Turbot, 28, 97.
Turkeys, 31, 101.
Turnips, 25, 93.
Turpentine, 26, 95.
Vegetables, 25, 93.
Vinegar, 1 1 1 .
Voyage to New England, 59.
Walnuts, 25, 94.
Wapping (Eng.), 119.
Watercress, 25, 94.
Weapons of Indians, 35,
105.
Wells, 29, 98.
Whales, 27, 96.
White, John, 125.
White benjamin gum, 26,
95-
Whitethorn, 25, 94.
Wild cats, 26, 95.
Willow trees, 26, 95.
Willowbies Isles, 114.
Winship, George Parker, 1 1 .
Wintersavory, 25, 94.
Winter season, 33, 103.
Winthrop, Forth, 125.
Winthrop, Robert C., 125.
Wolves, 26, 95.
Wood, William, 7.
Woods, 26, 94.
Yarmouth (Eng.), 63.
Young, Alexander, 8, 125.
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