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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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