An Account of Two Voyages to New-England, Made During the Years 1638, 1663

Transcriber’S Note

This book was published in 1865. It was, as the Preface notes, a “literal” and “exact” copy of the original book published in 1674, and so retained the spelling, the punctuation and the copious italicizing of the original. (The errata in the 1674 book were applied.)

This etext maintains this careful reproduction of the 1674 text, with some exceptions that are noted at the end of the book.

The page numbers of the 1674 book are embedded in the text and etext in [] brackets; for example [p. 75.]

The 1865 publisher inserted two corrections in [] brackets; they have been retained in this etext without change: page 9: “the Ships trine [trim?] a foot by the stern” page 157: “20 English miles, [leagues?] or 60 miles”.

The dates in the book of course accord with the Julian calendar. Dual dating was (sometimes) used for events between January 1st and March 25th (the end of a Julian year), for example on page 204: “the 24 of _January_ 1659/60 landed at”.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

The tables in this book are best viewed using a monospace font.

[Illustration: (Decorative banner.)]

Two Voyages

To

New-England.

[Illustration: (Decorative icon.)]

_An Account_

Of

Two Voyages

To

_New-England_,

Made during the years 1638, 1663.

_By JOHN JOSSELYN, Gent._

[Illustration: (Publisher colophon.)]

Boston:

William Veazie.

MDCCCLXV.

Two Hundred and Fifty Copies printed, Small Quarto.

_Riverside, Cambridge_: Printed by H. O. HOUGHTON & CO.

[Illustration: (Decorative banner.)]

Publisher’S Preface.

The work published by Josselyn in 1672, entitled “New England’s Rarities discovered,” which has been reprinted in a similar form, and as a companion volume to the present, contains a full and detailed account of the family of the author, with many curious facts relating to the personal history of this early explorer of New England; but it has been thought expedient to prefix to his narrative a genealogical chart of the family, copied from a paper among the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, the substance of which has been printed in the “New England Historical and Genealogical Register,” and which is now kindly furnished for publication by Samuel G. Drake, Esq. The table now published will be found generally to confirm the information given in the account of the family already published.

The first of the “Two Voyages” of Josselyn, of which he gives an account in the present work, was undertaken in the year 1638, only eight years after the settlement of Boston, and when, to use his own words, “it was rather a village than a town, there being not above twenty or thirty houses;” while the second visit of the author to New England took place in 1663, after an absence of twenty-five years, and when the town had assumed the proportions of a flourishing seaport. On this occasion he appears to have remained in New England for eight years, the principal part of which was spent on the plantation of his brother, Henry Josselyn, at Black Point.

This work is the latest of the author’s productions, and was not given to the public until 1674. It was reprinted by the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1833, and may be found in the third volume of the third series of their collections. Josselyn’s observations on the natural history of the country, his descriptions of the various plants and notices of their medicinal effects, are more full and exact in the present work than in the “New England’s Rarities,” printed two years earlier, and must be considered as among the most valuable of those given by the early botanists of New England.

The political and theological opinions of Josselyn were not in accordance with those generally received in the Colonies, particularly in the later years of his life. On this subject, Prof. Tuckerman, in his Introduction to the work last mentioned, remarks that, “In the account of his first voyage, there is no appearance of that dislike to the Massachusetts government and people which is observable in the narrative of the second; and may there not unfairly be connected with his brother’s political and religious differences with Massachusetts.” There is sufficient evidence in this work to show that the sympathies of the author were enlisted in the royal cause, and there appears to be little ground for admitting his supposed complicity in the fruitless insurrection in the north of England in 1663, or his identity with the “Capt. John Jossline” mentioned by the late Rev. Joseph Hunter in his account of the family.

The chronological table appended to his “New-England’s Rarities” is greatly enlarged in the present work, and continued to the year 1674.

In reprinting this rare and curious volume, great care has been taken to make it a _literal_ and _exact copy_ of the original, the proofs having been carefully collated with a copy of the work belonging to the Library of Harvard College.

BOSTON, _June 15, 1865_.

An

Account

Of Two

Voyages

To

New-England.

Wherein you have the setting out of a Ship, With the charges; The prices of all necessaries for furnishing a Planter & his Family at his first coming; A Description of the Country, Natives and Creatures; The Government of the Countrey as it is now possessed by the _English_, &c. A large Chronological Table of the most remarkable passages from the first discovering of the Continent of _America_, to the year 1673.

By _John Josselyn_ Gent.

The Second Addition.

Memner. distich rendred English by Dr. _Heylin_.

_Heart, take thine ease, Men hard to please Thou haply might’st offend, Though one speak ill Of thee, some will Say better; there’s an end._

_London_ Printed for _G. Widdowes_ at the _Green Dragon_ in St. _Pauls_ Church-yard, 1675.

_Licensed_

By

Roger L’estrange,

_Novemb._ the 28. 1673.

To The

Right Honourable,

And

Most Illustrious

The

President & Fellows

Of The

Royal Society:

The following Account of Two

Voyages

To

New-England,

Is Most Humbly presented

By the Authour

_John Josselyn_.

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A

Relation

Of Two

Voyages

To

New-England.

_The first Voyage._

_Anno Dom._ 1638. _April_ the 26th being _Thursday_, I came to _Gravesend_ and went aboard the _New Supply_, _alias_, the _Nicholas of London_, a Ship of good force, of 300 Tuns burden, carrying 20 Sacre and Minion, man’d with 48 Sailers, the Master _Robert Taylor_, the Merchant or undertaker Mr. _Edward Tinge_, with 164 Passengers men, women and children.

[p. 2.] At _Gravesend_ I began my Journal, from whence we departed on the 26. of _April_, about Six of the clock at night, and went down into the _Hope_.

The 27. being _Fryday_, we set sail out of the _Hope_, and about Nine of the clock at night we came to an Anchor in _Margaret_-Road in three fathom and a half water: by the way we past a States man of war, of 500 Tun, cast away a month before upon the _Goodwin_, nothing remaining visible above water but her main mast top, 16 of her men were drowned, the rest saved by Fishermen.

The 28. we twined into the Downs, where Captain _Clark_ one of His Majesties Captains in the Navy, came aboard of us in the afternoon, and prest two of our Trumpeters. Here we had good store of Flounders from the Fishermen, new taken out of the Sea and living, which being readily gutted, were fry’d while they were warm; me thoughts I never tasted of a delicater Fish in all my life before.

The Third of _May_ being _Ascension_ day, in the afternoon we weighed out of the _Downs_, the wind at _E._ and ran down into _Dover_ Road, and lay by the lee, whilst they sent the Skiffe ashore for one of the Masters mates: by the way we past _Sandwich_ in the [p. 3.] _Hope_, _Sandown-Castle_, _Deal_; So we steered away for _Doniesse_, from thence we steered _S. W. ½S._ for the _Beachie_, about one of the clock at night the wind took us a stayes with a gust, rain, thunder and lightning, and now a Servant of one of the passengers sickned of the small pox.

The Fifth day in the afternoon we Anchored, the _Isle_ of _Wight_ _W. N. W._ 10 leagues off, _Beachie_ _E. N. E._ 8 leagues off, rode in 32 fathom water at low water, at 8 of the clock at night the land over the Needles bore _N. W._ 4 leagues off, we steered _W._ afore the Start, at noon the Boult was _N. W._ by _W._ about 3½ leagues off, we were becalmed from 7 of the clock in the morning, till 12 of the clock at noon, where we took good store of _Whitings_, and half a score _Gurnets_, this afternoon an infinite number of _Porpisces_ shewed themselves above water round about the Ship, as far as we could kenn, the night proved tempestuous with much lightning and thunder.

The Sixth day being _Sunday_, at five of the clock at night the _Lizard_ was _N. W._ by _W._ 6 leagues off, and the _Blackhead_ which is to the westward of _Falmouth_ was _N. W._ about 5 leagues off.

The Seventh day the uttermost part of _Silly_ was _N. E._ 12 leagues off, and now we began to sail by the logg.

[p. 4.] The Eighth day, one _Boremans_ man a passenger was duck’d at the main yards arm (for being drunk with his Masters strong waters which he stole) thrice, and fire given to two whole Sacree, at that instant. Two mighty Whales we now saw, the one spouted water through two great holes in her head into the Air a great height, and making a great noise with puffing and blowing, the Seamen called her a Soufler; the other was further off, about a league from the Ship, fighting with the Sword-fish, and the Flail-fish, whose stroakes with a fin that growes upon her back like a flail, upon the back of the Whale, we heard with amazement: when presently some more than half as far again we spied a spout from above, it came pouring down like a River of water; So that if they should light in any Ship, she were in danger to presently sunk down into the Sea, and falleth with such an extream violence all whole together as one drop, or as water out of a Vessel, and dured a quarter of an hour, making the Sea to boyle like a pot, and if any Vessel be near, it sucks it in. I saw many of these spouts afterwards at nearer distance. In the afternoon the Mariners struck a Porpisce, called also a _Marsovius_ or Sea-hogg, with an harping Iron, and hoisted her aboard, [p. 5.] they cut some of it into thin pieces, and fryed, it tasts like rusty Bacon, or hung Beef, if not worse; but the Liver boiled and soused sometime in Vinegar is more grateful to the pallat. About 8 of the clock at night, a flame settled upon the main mast, it was about the bigness of a great Candle, and is called by our Seamen St. _Elmes_ fire, it comes before a storm, and is commonly thought to be a Spirit; if two appear they prognosticate safety: These are known to the learned by the names of _Castor_ and _Pollux_, to the _Italians_ by St. _Nicholas_ and St. _Hermes_, by the _Spaniards_ called _Corpos Santos_.

The Ninth day, about two of the clock in the afternoon, we found the head of our main mast close to the cap twisted and shivered, and we presently after found the fore-top-mast crackt a little above the cap; So they wolled them both, and about two of the clock in the morning 7 new long Boat oars brake away from our Starboard quarter with a horrid crack.

The Eleventh day, they observed and made the Ship to be in latitude 48 degrees 46 minuts, having a great Sea all night; about 6 of the clock in the morning we spake with Mr. _Rupe_ in a Ship of _Dartmouth_, which came from _Marcelloes_; and now is _Silly_ _N. E._ by _E._ 34 leagues off; [p. 6.] about 9 of the clock at night we sounded, and had 85 fathom water, small brownish pepperie sand, with a small piece of _Hakes_ Tooth, and now we are 45 leagues off the _Lizard_, great Seas all night, and now we see to the _S. W._ six tall Ships, the wind being _S. W._

The Twelfth day being _Whitsunday_, at prayer-time we found the Ships trine [trim?] a foot by the stern, and also the partie that was sick of the small pox now dyed, whom we buried in the Sea, tying a bullet (as the manner is) to his neck, and another to his leggs, turned him out at a Port-hole, giving fire to a great Gun. In the afternoon one _Martin Ivy_ a stripling, servant to Captain _Thomas Cammock_ was whipt naked at the Cap-stern, with a Cat with Nine tails, for filching 9 great Lemmons out of the _Chirurgeons_ Cabbin, which he eat rinds and all in less than an hours time.

The Thirteenth day we took a Sharke, a great one, and hoisted him aboard with his two Companions (for there is never a Sharke, but hath a mate or two) that is the Pilot-fish or Pilgrim, which lay upon his back close to a long finn; the other fish (somewhat bigger than the Pilot) about two foot long, called a _Remora_, it hath no scales and sticks close to the Sharkes belly. [p. 7.] So the Whale hath the Sea-gudgeon, a small fish for his mate, marching before him, and guiding him; which I have seen likewise. The Seamen divided the Sharke into quarters, and made more quarter about it than the Purser, when he makes five quarters of an Oxe, and after they had cooked him, he proved very rough Grain’d not worthy of wholesome preferment; but in the afternoon we took store of _Bonitoes_, or Spanish _Dolphins_, a fish about the size of a large Mackarel, beautified with admirable varietie of glittering colours in the water, and was excellent food.

The Fourteenth day we spake with a _Plimouth_ man (about dinner time) bound for _New-found-land_, who having gone up west-ward sprang a leak, and now bore back for _Plimouth_. Now was _Silly_ 50 leagues off, and now many of the passengers fall sick of the small Pox and Calenture.

The Sixteenth Mr. _Clarke_, who came out of the _Downs_ with us, and was bound for the Isle of _Providence_, one of the summer Islands; the _Spaniards_ having taken it a little before, though unknown to _Clarke_, and to Captain _Nathaniel Butler_ going Governour, they departed from us the Wind _N. W._ great Seas and stormie winds all night.

[p. 8.] The Seventeenth day, the wind at _N. W._ about 8 of the clock we saw 5 great Ships bound for the _Channel_, which was to the Westward of us, about two leagues off, we thought them to be _Flemmings_; here we expected to have met with Pirates, but were happily deceived.

The One and twentieth day, the wind _S._ by _W._ great Seas and Wind, in’d our courses, and tryed from 5 of the clock afternoon, till 4 in the morning, the night being very stormie and dark; we lost Mr. _Goodlad_ and his Ship, who came out with us, and bound for _Boston_ in _New-England_.

The Eight and twentieth day, all this while a very great grown Sea and mighty winds.

_June_ the first day in the afternoon, very thick foggie weather, we sailed by an inchanted Island, saw a great deal of filth and rubbish floating by the Ship, heard _Cawdimawdies_, _Sea-gulls_ and _Crowes_, (Birds that always frequent the shoar) but could see nothing by reason of the mist: towards Sunset, when we were past the Island, it cleared up.

The Fourteenth day of _June_, very foggie weather, we sailed by an Island of Ice (which lay on the Star-board side) three leagues in length mountain high, in form of [p. 9.] land, with Bayes and Capes like high clift land, and a River pouring off it into the Sea. We saw likewise two or three Foxes, or Devils skipping upon it. These Islands of Ice are congealed in the North, and brought down in the spring-time with the Current to the banks on this side _New-found-land_, and there stopt, where they dissolve at last to water; by that time we had sailed half way by it, we met with a _French_ Pickeroon. Here it was as cold as in the middle of _January_ in _England_, and so continued till we were some leagues beyond it.

The Sixteenth day we sounded, and found 35 fathom water, upon the bank of _New-found-land_, we cast out our hooks for Cod-fish, thick foggie weather, the Codd being taken on a Sunday morning, the Sectaries aboard threw those their servants took into the Sea again, although they wanted fresh victuals, but the Sailers were not so nice, amongst many that were taken, we had some that were wasted Fish, & it is observable and very strange, that fishes bodies do grow slender with age, their Tails and Heads retaining their former bigness; Fish of all Creatures have generally the biggest heads, and the first part that begins to taint in a fish is the head.

The Nineteenth day, Captain _Thomas Cammock_ [p. 10.] (a near kinsman of the Earl of _Warwicks_) now had another lad _Thomas Jones_, that dyed of the small pox at eight of the clock at night.

The Twentieth day, we saw a great number of Sea-bats, or Owles, called also flying fish, they are about the bigness of a Whiting, with four tinsel wings, with which they fly as long as they are wet, when pursued by other fishes. Here likewise we saw many Grandpisces or Herring-hogs, hunting the scholes of Herrings, in the afternoon we saw a great fish called the _vehuella_ or Sword fish, having a long, strong and sharp finn like a Sword-blade on the top of his head, with which he pierced our Ship, and broke it off with striving to get loose, one of our Sailers dived and brought it aboard.

The One and twentieth day, we met with two _Bristow_ men bound for _New-England_, and now we are 100 and 75 leagues off _Cape-Sable_, the sandy _Cape_, for so _Sable_ in French signifieth, off of which lyeth the Isle of _Sable_, which is beyond _New-found-land_, where they take the _Amphibious_ Creature, the _Walrus_, _Mors_, or _Sea-Horse_.

The Two and twentieth, another passenger dyed of a Consumption. Now we passed by the Southern part of _New-found-land_, [p. 11.] within sight of it; the Southern part of _New-found-land_ is said to be not above 600 leagues from _England_.

The Six and twentieth day, Capt. _Thomas Cammock_ went aboard of a Barke of 300 Tuns, laden with Island Wine, and but 7 men in her, and never a Gun, bound for _Richmonds_ Island, set out by Mr. _Trelaney_, of _Plimouth_, exceeding hot weather now.

The Eight and twentieth, one of Mr. _Edward Ting’s_ the undertakers men now dyed of the Phthisick.

The Nine and twentieth day, sounded at night, and found 120 fathome water, the head of the Ship struck against a rock; At 4 of the clock we descryed two sail bound for _New-found-land_, and so for the _Streights_, they told us of a general Earth-quake in _New-England_, of the Birth of a Monster at _Boston_, in the _Massachusets-Bay_ a mortality, and now we are two leagues off _Cape Ann_.

The Thirtieth day proved stormie, and having lost the sight of the Land, we saw none untill the morning; doubtfully discovering the Coast, fearing the Lee-shore all night we bore out to Sea.

_July_ the first day, we sounded at 8 of the clock at night, and found 93 fathome water, descried land.

The Third day, we Anchored in the _Bay_ of [p. 12.] _Massachusets_ before _Boston_. Mr. _Tinges_ other man now dyed of the small pox.

The Tenth day, I went a shore upon _Noddles Island_ to Mr. _Samuel Maverick_ (for my passage) the only hospitable man in all the Countrey, giving entertainment to all Comers _gratis_.

Now before I proceed any further, it will not be Impertinent to give the intending planter some Instructions for the furnishing of himself with things necessary, and for undertaking the Transport of his Family, or any others.

To which end observe, that a Ship of 150 Tuns, with 2 Decks and a half, and 26 men, with 12 pieces of Ordnance, the charge will amount _per_ moneth, with the Mariners, to 120 pound _per_ moneth. It is better to let the Owners undertake for the Victualling of the Mariners, and their pay for Wages, and the Transporter only to take care of the passengers.

_The common proportion of Victuals for the Sea to a Mess, being 4 men, is as followeth_;

Two pieces of Beef, of 3 pound and ¼ _per_ piece.

Four pound of _Bread_.

One pint ½ of _Pease_.

[p. 13.] Four Gallons of _Bear_, with _Mustard_ and _Vinegar_ for three flesh dayes in the week.

For four fish dayes, to each mess _per_ day.

Two pieces of _Codd_ or _Habberdine_, making three pieces of a fish.

One quarter of a pound of _Butter_.

Four pound of _Bread_.

Three quarters of a pound of _Cheese_.

_Bear_ as before.

_Oatmeal per_ day, for 50 men, Gallon 1. and so proportionable for more or fewer.

Thus you see the Ships provision, is _Beef_ or _Porke_, _Fish_, _Butter_, _Cheese_, _Pease_, _Pottage_, _Water-gruel_, _Bisket_, and six shilling _Bear_.

For private fresh provision, you may carry with you (in case you, or any of yours should be sick at Sea) Conserves of _Roses_, _Clove-Gilliflowers_, _Wormwood_, _Green-Ginger_, _Burnt-Wine_, English _Spirits_, _Prunes_ to stew, _Raisons_ of the _Sun_, _Currence_, _Sugar_, _Nutmeg_, _Mace_, _Cinnamon_, _Pepper_ and _Ginger_, White _Bisket_, or _Spanish rusk_, _Eggs_, _Rice_, _juice of Lemmons_ well put up to cure, or prevent the Scurvy. Small _Skillets_, _Pipkins_, _Porrengers_, and small _Frying pans_.

To prevent or take away Sea sickness, Conserve of _Wormwood_ is very proper, but these following Troches I prefer before it.

First make paste of _Sugar_ and _Gum-Dragagant_ mixed together, then mix therewith [p. 14.] a reasonable quantitie of the powder of _Cinnamon_ and _Ginger_, and if you please a little _Musk_ also, and make it up into Roules of several fashions, which you may gild, of this when you are troubled in your Stomach, take and eat a quantity according to discretion.

_Apparel for one man, and after the rate for more._

_l._ _s._ _d._ One Hatt 0 3 0 One _Monmouth_ Cap 0 1 10 Three falling bands 0 1 3 Three Shirts 0 7 6 One Wastcoat 0 2 6 One suit of Frize 0 19 0 One suit of Cloth 0 15 0 One suit of Canvas 0 7 6 Three pair of _Irish_ Stockins 0 5 0 Four pair of Shoos 0 8 0 One pair of Canvas Sheets 0 8 0 Seven ells of course Canvas to make a bed at } Sea for two men, to be filled with straw } 0 5 0 One course Rug at Sea for two men 0 6 0 -------------- _Sum Total._ 4 0 0 --------------

[p. 15] _Victuals for a whole year to be carried out of_ England _for one man, and so for more after the rate_.

_l_. _s_. _d_. Eight bushels of _Meal_ 2 0 0 Two bushels of _Pease_ at three shillings a bushel 0 6 0 Two bushels of _Oatmeal_, at four and six pence } the bushel } 0 9 0 One Gallon of _Aqua vitæ_ 0 2 6 One Gallon of _Oyl_ 0 3 6 Two Gallons of _Vinegar_ 0 2 0

Note.

Of _Sugar_ and _Spice_, 8 pound make the stone, 13 stone and an half, _i. e._ 100 pound maketh the hundred, but your best way is to buy your _Sugar_ there, for it is cheapest, but for Spice you must carry it over with you.

_l_. _s_. _d_. A Hogshead of _English_ Beef will cost 5 0 0 A Hogshead of _Irish_ Beef will cost 2 10 0 A Barrel of _Oatmeal_ 0 13 0 A Hogshead of _Aqua vitæ_ will cost 4 0 0 A Hogshead of _Vinegar_ 1 0 0 A bushel of _Mustard-seed_ 0 6 0

[p. 16.] A _Kental_ of fish, Cod or Habberdine is 112 pound, will cost if it be merchantable fish, Two or three and thirty Rials a _Kental_, if it be refuse you may have it for 10 or 11 shillings a _Kental_.

_Wooden Ware._

_l_. _s_. _d_. A pair of Bellowes 0 2 0 A Skoope 0 0 9 A pair of Wheels for a Cart, if you buy them } in the Countrey, they will cost 3 or 4 pound } 0 14 0 Wheelbarrow you may have there, in } _England_ they cost } 0 6 0 A great pail in _England_ will cost 0 0 10 A Boat called a Canow, will cost in the Countrey } (with a pair of Paddles) if it be a good one } 3 0 0 A short Oake ladder in _England_ will cost but 0 0 10 A Plough 0 3 9 An Axletree 0 0 8 A Cart 0 10 0 For a casting shovel 0 0 10 For a shovel 0 0 6 For a Sack 0 2 4 For a Lanthorn 0 1 3

_For Tobacco pipes short steels, and great bouls_ 14 _pence and_ 16 _pence the grose._

[p. 17.] For clipping an hundred sheep in } _England_ } 0 4 6 For winding the Wool 0 0 8 For washing them 0 2 0 For one Garnish of Peuter 2 0 0

_Prizes of Iron Ware_.

_Arms for one man, but if half of your men have Armour it is sufficient so that all have pieces and swords._

_l_. _s_. _d_. One Armour compleat, light 0 17 0 One long piece five foot, or five and a half } near Musket bore } 1 2 0 One Sword 0 5 0 One Bandaleer 0 1 6 One Belt 0 1 0 Twenty pound of powder 0 18 0 Sixty pound of shot or lead, pistol and Goose } shot } 0 5 0

_Tools for a Family of Six persons, and so after the rate for more._

Five broad howes at two shillings a piece 0 10 0 Five narrow howes at 16 pence a piece 0 6 8 [p. 18.] Five felling Axes at 18 pence a piece 0 7 6 Two steel hand-sawes at 16 pence the piece 0 2 8 Two hand-sawes at 5 shillings a piece 0 10 0 One whip saw, set and filed with box 0 10 0 A file and wrest 0 0 10 Two Hammers 12 pence a piece 0 2 0 Three shovels 18 pence a piece shod 0 4 6 Two spades 18 pence a piece 0 3 0 Two Augars 0 1 0 Two broad Axes at 3 shillings 8 pence a piece 0 7 4 Six Chissels 0 3 0 Three Gimblets 0 0 6 Two Hatchets One and twenty pence a piece 0 3 6 Two froues to cleave pail at 18 pence a piece 0 3 0 Two hand-bills at 20 pence a piece 0 3 4 Nails of all sorts to be valued 2 0 0 Two pick-Axes 0 3 0 Three Locks, and 3 pair of Fetters 0 5 10 Two Currie Combs 0 0 11 For a Brand to brand Beasts with 0 0 6 For a Chain and lock for a Boat 0 2 2 For a Coulter weighing 10 pound 0 3 4 For a Hand-vise 0 2 6 [p. 19.] For a Pitch-fork 0 1 4 For one hundred weight of Spikes 2 5 0 Nails and pins 120, to the hundred For a share 0 2 11

_Houshould Implements for a Family of six persons, and so for more or less after the rate._

One Iron Pot 0 7 0 For one great Copper Kettle 2 0 0 For a small Kettle 0 10 0 For a lesser Kettle 0 6 0 For one large Frying-pan 0 2 6 For a small Frying-pan 0 1 8 For a brass Morter 0 3 0 For a Spit 0 2 0 For one Grid-Iron 0 10 0 For two Skillets 0 5 0 Platters, dishes, & spoons of wood 0 4 0 For Sugar, Spice, and fruits at Sea for six men 0 12 10 _The fraught will be for one man half a Tun._

Having refreshed my self for a day or two upon _Noddles-Island_, I crossed the Bay in a small Boat to _Boston_, which then was rather a Village, than a Town, there being not [p. 20.] above Twenty or thirty houses; and presenting my respects to Mr. _Winthorpe_ the Governour, and to Mr. _Cotton_ the Teacher of _Boston_ Church, to whom I delivered from Mr. _Francis Quarles_ the poet, the Translation of the 16, 25, 51, 88, 113, and 137. Psalms into _English_ Meeter, for his approbation, being civilly treated by all I had occasion to converse with, I returned in the Evening to my lodging.

The Twelfth day of _July_, after I had taken my leave of Mr. _Maverick_, and some other Gentlemen, I took Boat for the Eastern parts of the Countrie, and arrived at _Black point_ in the Province of _Main_, which is 150 miles from _Boston_, the Fourteenth day, which makes my voyage 11 weeks and odd dayes.

The Countrey all along as I sailed, being no other than a meer Wilderness, here and there by the Sea-side a few scattered plantations, with as few houses.

About the Tenth of _August_, I hapned to walk into the Woods, not far from the Sea-side, and falling upon a piece of ground over-grown with bushes, called there black Currence, but differing from our Garden Currence, they being ripe and hanging in lovely bunches; I set up my piece against a stately Oake, with a resolution to fill my [p. 21.] belly, being near half a mile from the house; of a sudden I heard a hollow thumping noise upon the Rocks approaching towards me, which made me presently to recover my piece, which I had no sooner cock’d, than a great and grim over-grown she-Wolf appears, at whom I shot, and finding her Gor-belly stuft with flesh newly taken in, I began presently to suspect that she had fallen foul upon our Goats, which were then valued (our she Goats) at Five pound a Goat; Therefore to make further discovery, I descended (it being low water) upon the Sea sands, with an intent to walk round about a neck of land where the Goats usually kept. I had not gone far before I found the footing of two Wolves, and one Goat betwixt them, whom they had driven into a hollow, betwixt two Rocks, hither I followed their footing, and perceiving by the Crowes, that there was the place of slaughter, I hung my piece upon my back, and upon all four clambered up to the top of the Rock, where I made ready my piece and shot at the dog Wolf, who was feeding upon the remainder of the Goat, which was only the fore shoulders, head and horns, the rest being devoured by the she-Wolf, even to the very hair of the Goat: and it is very observable, that when [p. 22.] the Wolves have kill’d a Beast, or a Hog, not a Dog-Wolf amongst them offers to eat any of it, till the she-Wolves have filled their paunches.

The Twenty fourth of _September_, being Munday about 4 of the clock in the afternoon, a fearful storm of wind began to rage, called a _Hurricane_. _It is an impetuous wind that goes commonly about the Compass in the space of_ 24 _hours, it began from the_ W. N. W. and continued till next morning, the greatest mischief it did us, was the wracking of our Shallop, and the blowing down of many tall Trees, in some places a mile together.

_December_ the Tenth, happened an Eclipse of the Moon at 8 of the clock at night, it continued till after 11, as near as we could guess; in old _England_ it began after midnight, and continued till 4 of _the clock in the morning; if Seamen would make observation of the time, either of the beginning or ending of the Eclipse, or total darkness of Sun and Moon in all places where they shall happen to be, and confer their observations to some Artist, hereby the longitude of all places might be certainly known, which are now very uncertainly reported to us_.

1639. _May_, which fell out to be extream hot and foggie, about the middle of _May_, I [p. 23.] kill’d within a stones throw of our house, above four score Snakes, some of them as big as the small of my leg, black of colour, and three yards long, with a sharp horn on the tip of their tail two inches in length.

_June_ the Six and twentieth day, very stormie, Lightning and Thunder. I heard now two of the greatest and fearfullest thunder-claps that ever were heard, I am confident. At this time we had some neighbouring Gentlemen in our house, who came to welcome me into the Countrey; where amongst variety of discourse they told me of a young Lyon (not long before) kill’d at _Piscataway_ by an _Indian_; of a Sea-_Serpent_ or _Snake_, that lay quoiled up like a Cable upon a Rock at _Cape-Ann_: a Boat passing by with _English_ aboard, and two _Indians_, they would have shot the _Serpent_ but the _Indians_ disswaded them, saying, that if he were not kill’d out-right, they would be all in danger of their lives.

One Mr. _Mittin_ related of a _Triton_ or _Mereman_ which he saw in _Cascobay_, the Gentleman was a great Fouler, and used to goe out with a small Boat or Canow, and fetching a compass about a small Island, (there being many small Islands in the Bay) for the advantage of a shot, was encountred [p. 24.] with a _Triton_, who laying his hands upon the side of the Canow, had one of them chopt off with a Hatchet by Mr. _Mittin_, which was in all respects like the hand of a man, the _Triton_ presently sunk, dying the water with his purple blood, and was no more seen. The next story was told by Mr. _Foxwell_, now living in the province of _Main_, who having been to the Eastward in a Shallop, as far as _Cape-Ann_ a Waggon in his return was overtaken by the night, and fearing to land upon the barbarous shore, he put off a little further to Sea; about midnight they were wakened with a loud voice from the shore, calling upon _Foxwell_, _Foxwell_ come a shore, two or three times: upon the Sands they saw a great fire, and Men and Women hand in hand dancing round about it in a ring, after an hour or two they vanished, and as soon as the day appeared, _Foxwell_ puts into a small _Cove_, it being about three quarters floud, and traces along the shore, where he found the footing of Men, Women and Children shod with shoes; and an infinite number of brands-ends thrown up by the water, but neither _Indian_ nor _English_ could he meet with on the shore, nor in the woods; these with many other stories they told me, the credit whereof I will neither impeach nor inforce, but shall [p. 25.] satisfie my self, and I hope the Reader hereof, with the saying of a wise, learned and honourable Knight, _that there are many Stranger things in the world, than are to be seen between_ London _and_ Stanes.

_September_ the Sixth day, one Mr. _John Hickford_ the Son of Mr. _Hickford_ a Linnen-Draper in _Cheapside_, having been some time in the province of _Main_, and now determined to return for _England_, sold and kill’d his stock of Cattle and Hoggs, one great Sow he had which he made great account of, but being very fat, and not suspecting that she was with pig, he caused her to be kill’d, and they found 25 pigs within her belly; verifying the old proverb, As fruitful as a white sow. And now we were told of a sow in _Virginia_ that brought forth six pigs; their fore-parts Lyons, their hinder-parts hogs. _I have read that at_ Bruxels, Anno 1564. _a sow brought forth six pigs, the first whereof (for the last in generating is always in bruit beasts the first brought forth) had the head, face, arms and legs of a man, but the whole trunck of the body from the neck, was of a swine, a sodomitical monster is more like the mother than the father in the organs of the vegetative soul._

The Three and twentieth, I left _Black-point_, and came to _Richmonds_ Island about [p. 26.] three leagues to the Eastward, where Mr. _Tralanie_ kept a fishing, Mr. _John Winter_ a grave and discreet man was his Agent, and imployer of 60 men upon that design.

The Four and twentieth day being _Munday_, I went aboard the _Fellowship_ of 100 and 70 Tuns a Flemish bottom, the Master _George Luxon_ of _Bittiford_ in _Devonshire_, several of my friends came to bid me farewell, among the rest Captain _Thomas Wannerton_ who drank to me a pint of kill-devil _alias_ Rhum at a draught, at 6 of the clock in the morning we weighed Anchor, and set sail for the _Massachusets-bay_.

The Seven and twentieth day being _Fryday_, we Anchored in the afternoon in the _Massachusets-bay_ before _Boston_. Next day I went aboard of _Mr. Hinderson_, Master of a ship of 500 Tuns, and Captain _Jackson_ in the Queen of _Bohemia_ a privateer, and from thence I went ashore to _Boston_, where I refreshed my self at an Ordinary. Next morning I was invited to a fisherman’s house somewhat lower within the _Bay_, and was there by his Wife presented with a handful of small Pearl, but none of them bored nor orient. From thence I crost the Bay to _Charles-town_, where at one _Longs_ Ordinary I met with Captain _Jackson_ and others, walking on the back side we spied a rattle [p. 27.] Snake a yard and half long, and as thick in the middle as the small of a mans leg, on the belly yellow, her back spotted with black, russet, yellow and green, placed like scales, at her tail she had a rattle which is nothing but a hollow shelly buffiness joynted, look how many years old she is, so many rattles she hath in her tail, her neck seemed to be no bigger than ones Thumb; yet she swallowed a live Chicken, as big as one they give 4 pence for in _England_, presently as we were looking on. In the afternoon I returned to our Ship, being no sooner aboard but we had the sight of an _Indian_-Pinnace sailing by us made of _Birch-bark_, sewed together with the roots of spruse and white _Cedar_ (drawn out into threads) with a deck, and trimmed with sails top and top gallant very sumptuously.

The Thirtieth day of _September_, I went ashore upon _Noddles_-Island, where when I was come to Mr. _Mavericks_ he would not let me go aboard no more, until the Ship was ready to set sail; the next day a grave and sober person described the Monster to me, that was born at _Boston_ of one Mrs. _Dyer_ a great Sectarie, _the Nine and twentieth of_ June, _it was (it should seem) without a head, but having horns like a Beast, and ears, scales on a rough skin like a fish_ [p. 28.] _called a_ Thornback, _legs and claws like a_ Hawke, _and in other respects as a Woman-child_.

The Second of _October_, about 9 of the clock in the morning, Mr. _Mavericks_ Negro woman came to my chamber window, and in her own Countrey language and tune sang very loud and shril, going out to her, she used a great deal of respect towards me, and willingly would have expressed her grief in _English_; but I apprehended it by her countenance and deportment, whereupon I repaired to my host, to learn of him the cause, and resolved to intreat him in her behalf, for that I understood before, that she had been a Queen in her own Countrey, and observed a very humble and dutiful garb used towards her by another Negro who was her maid. Mr. _Maverick_ was desirous to have a breed of Negroes, and therefore seeing she would not yield by perswasions to company with a Negro young man he had in his house; he commanded him will’d she nill’d she to go to bed to her, which was no sooner done but she kickt him out again, this she took in high disdain beyond her slavery, and this was the cause of her grief. In the afternoon I walked into the Woods on the back side of the house, and happening into a [p. 29.] fine broad walk (which was a sledgway) I wandered till I chanc’t to spye a fruit as I thought like a pine Apple plated with scales, it was as big as the crown of a Womans hat; I made bold to step unto it, with an intent to have gathered it, no sooner had I toucht it, but hundreds of Wasps were about me; at last I cleared my self from them, being stung only by one upon the upper lip, glad I was that I scaped so well; But by that time I was come into the house my lip was swell’d so extreamly, that they hardly knew me but by my Garments.

The Tenth of _October_, I went aboard and we fell down to _Nantascot_, here Mr. _Davies_ (Mr. _Hicks_ the Apothecarie in _Fleet-streets_ Son-in-law) dyed of the Phthisick aboard on a Sunday in the afternoon. The next day Mr. _Luxon_ our Master having been ashore upon the Governours Island gave me half a score very fair Pippins which he brought from thence, there being not one Apple-tree, nor Pear planted yet in no part of the Countrey, but upon that Island.

The Fifteenth day, we set sail from _Nantascot_.

The Sixteenth day Mr. _Robert Foster_, one of our passengers Preached aboard upon [p. 30.] the 113 Psalm; _The Lord shall preserve thy going out, & thy coming in_; The Sectaries began to quarrel with him, especially Mr. _Vincent Potter_, he who was afterwards questioned for a Regicide.

The Seventeenth day, towards Sun-set a Lanner settled upon our main Mast-top, when it was dark I hired one of the Sailers to fetch her down, and I brought her into _England_ with much ado, being fain to feed her with hard Eggs. After this day, we had very cold weather at Sea, our deck in a morning ore-spread with hoarie frost, and dangling Isickles hung upon the Ropes. _Some say the Sea is hotter in winter, than in summer; but I did not find it so._

_November_ the Fifth day, about three of the clock in the afternoon, the Mariners observed the rising of a little black cloud in the _N. W._ which increasing apace, made them prepare against a coming storm, the wind in short time grew to boisterous, bringing after us a huge grown Sea, at 5 of the clock it was pitchie dark.

_And the bitter storm augments; the wild winds wage_

_War from all parts; and joyn with the Seas rage._

[p. 31.] _The sad clouds sink in showers; you would have thought,_

_That high-swoln-seas even unto Heaven had wrought;_

_And Heaven to Seas defended: no star shown;_

_Blind night in darkness, tempests, and her own_

_Dread terrours lost; yet this dire lightning turns_

_To more fear’d light; the Sea with lightning Burns._

_The Pilot knew not what to chuse or fly,_

_Art stood amaz’d in Ambiguity._

The storm augmenting still, the next day about 4 of the clock afternoon we lost our Rudder, and with that our hopes, so necessary a part it is, that a ship without it, is like a wild horse without a bridle; yet _Aristotle_ that _Eagle_-ey’d _Philosopher could not give a reason, why so small a thing as a Helm should rule the ship_.

[p. 32.] The Seventh day at night, the wind began to dye away, the next day we had leasure to repair our breaches; it continued calm till the 13 day, and all the while we saw many dead bodies of men and women floating by us.

The Four and twentieth, we arrived before _Bittiford_, having past before under _Lundee_-Island.

The Second

Voyage.

I have heard of a certain Merchant in the west of _England_, who after many great losses, walking upon the Sea-bank in a calm Sun-shining day; observing the smoothness of the Sea, coming in with a chequered or dimpled wave: Ah (quoth he) thou flattering Element, many a time hast thou inticed me to throw my self and my fortunes into thy Arms; but thou hast hitherto proved treacherous; thinking to find thee a Mother of encrease, I have found thee to be the Mother of mischief and wickedness; yea the Father of prodigies; therefore, being now secure, I will trust thee no more: But mark this mans resolution a while after, _periculum maris spes lucri superat_. So fared it with me, that having escaped the dangers of one Voyage, must needs put on a resolution for a second, wherein I plowed many a churlish billow [p. 34.] with little or no advantage, but rather to my loss and detriment. In the setting down, whereof I purpose not to insist in a methodical way, but according to my quality, in a plain and brief relation as I have done already; for I perceive, if I used all the Art that possibly I could, it would be difficult to please all, for all mens eyes, ears, faith, judgement, are not of a size. There be a sort of stagnant stinking spirits, who, like flyes, lye sucking at the botches of carnal pleasures, and never travelled so much Sea, as is between _Heth-ferry_, and _Lyon-Key_; yet notwithstanding, (sitting in the Chair of the scornful over their whists and draughts of intoxication) will desperately censure the relations of the greatest Travellers. It was a good _proviso_ of a learned man, never to report wonders, for in so doing, of the greatest he will be sure not to be believed, but laughed at, which certainly bewraies their ignorance and want of discretion. Of Fools and Madmen then I shall take no care, I will not invite these in the least to honour me with a glance from their supercilious eyes; but rather advise them to keep their inspection for their fine-tongu’d Romances, and playes. This homely piece, I protest ingenuously, is prepared for such only who well know how to make use of their [p. 35.] charitable constructions towards works of this nature, to whom I submit my self in all my faculties, and proceed in my second voyage.

_Anno 1663._ _May_ the Three and twentieth, I went down to _Gravesend_, it being _Saturday_ I lay ashore till _Monday_ the fifth, about 11 a clock at night, I went aboard the _Society_ belonging to _Boston_ in the _Massachusets_ a Colony of _English_ in _New-England_, of 200 and 20 Tun, carrying 16 Iron Guns most unserviceable, man’d with 33 sailers, and 77 passengers, men, women and children.

The Six and twentieth day, about 6 of the clock in the morning we weighed Anchor, and fell down with the tide three or four miles below _Gravesend_.

The Seven and twentieth in the afternoon, we weighed Anchor and came into the _Hope_ before _Deal-Castle_, here we were wind bound till

The 30 day, we set sail out of the _Downs_, being _Saturday_ about 9 of the clock in the morning, about 4 of the clock in the afternoon we came up with _Beachy_ by _W._ at _Nore_.

The One and thirtieth at 4 of the clock in the morning we came up with the Isle of _Wight_, at 4 of the clock in the afternoon [p. 36.] we had _Portland_ N. N. W. of us, 6 leagues off, the wind being then at _N. W. by N._ at 5 of the clock we came to _Dartmouth_, the wind _W. S. W._

_June_ the first day, being _Monday_ about 4 of the clock _Plimouth_ was about 9 leagues off, our course _W. S. W._ the Start bore North distant about 6 leagues from whence our reckonings began; the wind now _E. N. E._ a fair gale.

The second day the _Lizard_ bore _N. N. W._ in the latitude 51. 300 leagues from _Cape-Cod_ in _New England_, our course _W._ and by _S._ One of our passengers now dyed of a Consumption.

The Fifth day we steered _S. W._ observed and found the ship in latitude 47 degrees, and 44 minutes.

The Tenth day observed and found the ship in latitude 49 degrees, and 24 minutes.

The Five and twentieth day, about 3 of the clock in the morning we discovered land, about 6 of the clock _Flowers_, so called from abundance of flowers, and _Corvo_ from a multitude of _Crowes_; two of the _Azores_ or western Islands, in the _Atlantique Ocean_ not above 250 leagues from _Lisbon_ bore _N. W._ of us some 3 leagues off, we steered away _W._ by _W._ observed and found _Flowers_ to be in the Southern part in latitude 39 [p. 37.] degrees 13 minuts, we descryed a Village and a small Church or Chappel seated in a pleasant valley to the Easter-side of the Island, the whole Island is rockie and mountanious about 8 miles in compass, stored with Corn, Wine and Goats, and inhabited by outlaw’d _Portingals_, the Town they call _Santa Cruz_. _Corvo_ is not far from this, I supposed two or three leagues, a meer mountain, and very high and steep on all sides, cloathed with tall wood on the very top, uninhabited, but the _Flowreans_ here keep some number of Goats.

The Seven and twentieth day, 30 leagues to the westward of these Islands we met with a small Vessel stoln from _Jamaico_, but 10 men in her, and those of several nations, _English_, _French_, _Scotch_, _Dutch_ almost famish’d, having been out as they told us, by reason of calms, three moneths, bound for _Holland_.

_July_ the sixth, calm now for two or three dayes, our men went out to swim, some hoisted the _Shallop_ out and took divers Turtles, there being an infinite number of them all over the Sea as far as we could ken, and a man may ken at Sea in a clear Air 20 miles, they floated upon the top of the water being a sleep, and driving gently upon them with the _Shallop_, of a sudden [p. 38.] they took hold of their hinder legs and lifted them into the boat, if they be not very nimble they awake and presently dive under water; when they were brought aboard they sob’d and wept exceedingly, continuing to do so till the next day that we killed them, by chopping off their heads, and having taken off their shells (that on their back being fairest, is called a Gally patch) we opened the body and took out three hearts in one case, and (which was more strange) we perceived motion in the hearts ten hours after they were taken out. I have observed in _England_ in my youthful dayes the like in the heart of a _Pike_, and the heart of a _Frog_, which will leap and skip as nimbly as the _Frog_ used to do when it was alive from whom it was taken. Likewise the heart of a _Pig_ will stir after it is exenterated. Being at a friends house in _Cambridg-shire_, the Cook-maid making ready to slaughter a _Pig_, she put the hinder parts between her legs as the usual manner is, and taking the snout in her left hand with a long knife she stuck the _Pig_ and cut the small end of the heart almost in two, letting it bleed as long as any bloud came forth, then throwing of it into a Kettle of boyling water, the _Pig_ swom twice round about the kettle, when taking of it out to [p. 39.] the dresser she rub’d it with powdered _Rozen_ and stript off the hair, and as she was cutting off the hinder pettito, the _Pig_ lifts up his head with open mouth, as if it would have bitten: well, the belly was cut up, and the entrails drawn out, and the heart laid upon the board, which notwithstanding the wound it received had motion in it, above four hours after; there were several of the Family by, with my self, and we could not otherwayes conclude but that the _Pig_ was bewitched; but this by the way. Of the Sea Turtles there be five sorts, first the Trunck-turtle which is biggest, Secondly, the Loggerhead-turtle. Thirdly, the Hawkbill-turtle, which with its bill will bite horribly. Fourthly, the Green-turtle which is best for food, it is affirmed that the feeding upon this Turtle for a twelve moneth, forbearing all other kind of food will cure absolutely Consumptions, and the great pox; They are a very delicate food, and their Eggs are very wholesome and restorative, it is an _Amphibious_ Creature going ashore, the male throws the female on her back when he couples with her, which is termed cooting, their Eggs grown to perfection the female goes ashore again and making a hole in the Sand, there layes her Eggs which are numerous, I have seen a peck [p. 40.] of Eggs taken out of one Turtle; when they have laid they cover the hole again with sand, and return to the Sea never looking after her Eggs, which hatching in the sand and coming to some strength break out and repair to the Sea. Having fill’d our bellies with Turtles and Bonito’s, called _Spanish_ Dolphins excellently well cooked both of them, the wind blowing fair,

The Eighth day we spread our sails and went on our voyage, after a while we met with abundance of Sea-weeds called Gulf-weed coming out of the Bay of _Mexico_, and firr-trees floating on the Sea, observed and found the Ship to be in 39 degrees and 49 minuts.

The Fifteenth day we took a young Sharke about three foot long, which being drest and dished by a young Merchant a passenger happened to be very good fish, having very white flesh in flakes like Codd but delicately curl’d, the back-bone which is perfectly round, joynted with short joynts, the space between not above a quarter of an inch thick, separated they make fine Table-men, being wrought on both sides with curious works.

The One and twentieth thick hasie weather.

The Five and twentieth we met with a [p. 41.] _Plimouth_ man come from St. _Malloes_ in _France_, 10 weeks out, laden with cloath, fruit, and honey, bound for _Boston_ in _New-England_.

The Six and twentieth we had sight of land.

The Seven and twentieth we Anchored at _Nantascot_, in the afternoon I went aboard of a _Ketch_, with some other of our passengers, in hope to get to _Boston_ that night; but the Master of the _Ketch_ would not consent.

The Eight and twentieth being _Tuesday_, in the morning about 5 of the clock he lent us his _Shallop_ and three of his men, who brought us to the western end of the town where we landed, and having gratified the men, we repaired to an Ordinary (for so they call their Taverns there) where we were provided with a liberal cup of burnt Madera-wine, and store of plum-cake, about ten of the clock I went about my Affairs.

Before I pursue my Voyage to an end, I shall give you to understand what Countrie _New-England_ is. _New-England_ is that part of _America_, which together with _Virginia_, _Mary land_, and _Nova-scotia_ were by the _Indians_ called (by one name) _Wingadacoa_, after the discovery by Sir _Walter_ [p. 42.] _Rawleigh_ they were named _Virginia_, and so remained untill King _James_ divided the Countrey into Provinces. _New-England_ then is all that tract of land that lyes between the Northerly latitudes of 40 and 46, that is from _De-la-ware-Bay_ to _New-found-land_, some will have it to be in latitude from 41 to 45. in King _Jame’s_ Letters Patents to the Council of _Plimouth_ in _Devonshire_ from 40 to 48 of the same latitude, it is judged to be an Island, surrounded on the North with the spacious River of _Canada_, on the South with _Mahegan_ or _Hudsons_ River, having their rise, as it is thought, from two great lakes not far off one another, the Sea lyes East and South from the land, and is very deep, some say that the depth of the Sea being measured with line and plummet, seldom exceeds two or three miles, except in some places near the _Swevian_-shores, and about _Pontus_, observed by _Pliny_. Sir _Francis Drake_ threw out 7 Hogsheads of line near _Porto-bello_ and found no bottom, but whether this be true or no, or that they were deceived by the Currants carrying away their lead and line, this is certainly true, that there is more Sea in the Western than the Eastern _Hemisphere_, on the shore in more places than one at spring-tides, that is at the full or new of the moon, [p. 43.] the Sea riseth 18 foot perpendicular, the reason of this great flow of waters I refer to the learned, onely by the way I shall acquaint you with two reasons for the ebbing and flowing of the Sea; the one delivered in Common conference, the other in a Sermon at _Boston_ in the _Massachusets-Bay_ by an eminent man; The first was, _that God and his spirit moving upon the waters caused the motion_; the other, _that the spirit of the waters gathered the waters together; as the spirit of Christ gathered souls_.

The shore is Rockie, with high cliffs, having a multitude of considerable Harbours; many of which are capacious enough for a Navy of 500 sail, one of a thousand, the Countrie within Rockie and mountanious, full of tall wood, one stately mountain there is surmounting the rest, about four score mile from the Sea: The description of it you have in my rarities of _New-England_, between the mountains are many ample rich and pregnant valleys as ever eye beheld, beset on each side with variety of goodly Trees, the grass man-high unmowed, uneaten and uselesly withering; within these valleys are spacious lakes or ponds well stored with Fish and Beavers; the original of all the great Rivers in the Countrie, of which there are many with lesser [p. 44.] streams (wherein are an infinite of fish) manifesting the goodness of the soil which is black, red-clay, gravel, sand, loom, and very deep in some places, as in the valleys and swamps, which are low grounds and bottoms infinitely thick set with Trees and Bushes of all sorts for the most part, others having no other shrub or Tree growing, but spruse, under the shades whereof you may freely walk two or three mile together; being goodly large Trees, and convenient for masts and sail-yards. The whole Countrie produceth springs in abundance replenished with excellent waters, having all the properties ascribed to the best in the world.

_Swift is’t in pace, light poiz’d, to look in clear, And quick in boiling (which esteemed were) Such qualities, as rightly understood Withouten these no water could be good._

_One Spring there is, at_ Black-point _in the Province of_ Main, _coming out of muddy clay that will colour a spade, as if hatcht with silver, it is purgative and cures scabs and Itch_, &c.

[Sidenote: Isa. 45. 3.]

The mountains and Rocky Hills are richly furnished with mines of Lead, Silver, [p. 45.] Copper, Tin, and divers sorts of minerals, branching out even to their summits, where in small Crannies you may meet with threds of perfect silver; yet have the _English_ no maw to open any of them, whether out of ignorance or fear of bringing a forraign Enemy upon them, or (like the dog in the manger) to keep their Soveraign from partaking of the benefits, who certainly may claim an interest in them as his due, being eminently a gift proceeding from divine bounty to him; no person can pretend interest in Gold, Silver, or Copper by the law of Nations, but the Soveraign Prince; but the subjects of our King have a right to mines discovered in their own Lands and inheritances; So as that every tenth Tun of such Oar is to be paid to the proprietors of such lands, and not to the state, if it be not a mine-Royal: if it prove to be a mine-Royal, every fifth Tun of all such Oar as shall hold Gold or Silver worth refining, is to be rendered to the King. _The learned Judges of our Kingdom have long since concluded, that although the Gold or Silver conteined in the base mettals of a mine in the land of a Subject, be of less value than the baser mettal; yet if the Gold or Silver do countervail the charge of refining it, or be more worth than the base mettal spent_ [p. 46.] _in refining it, that then it is a mine-Royal, and as well the base mettal as the Gold and Silver in it belongs by prerogative to the Crown._

The stones in the Countrey are for the most _mettle_-stone, free-stone, pebble, slate, none that will run to lime, of which they have great want, of the slate you may make Tables easie to be split to the thickness of an inch, or thicker if you please, and long enough for a dozen men to sit at. Pretious stones there are too, but if you desire to know further of them, see the Rarities of _New-England_; onely let me add this observation by the way, that Crystal set in the Sun taketh fire, and setteth dry Tow or brown Paper on fire held to it. There is likewise a sort of glittering sand, which is altogether as good as the glassie powder brought from the _Indies_ to dry up Ink on paper newly written. The climate is reasonably temperate, hotter in Summer, and colder in Winter than with us, agrees with our Constitutions better than _hotter Climates, these are limbecks to our bodies, forraign heat will extract the inward and adventitious heat consume the natural, so much more heat any man receives outwardly from the heat of the Sun, so much more wants he the same inwardly_, which is one reason why [p. 47.] they are able to receive more and larger draughts of Brandy, & the like strong spirits than in _England_ without offence. _Cold is less tolerable than heat, this a friend to nature, that an enemy. Many are of opinion that the greatest enemies of life, consisting of heat and moisture, is cold and dryness; the extremity of cold is more easie to be endured than extremity of heat; the violent sharpness of winter, than the fiery raging of Summer. To conclude, they are both bad, too much heat brings a hot Feaver, too much cold diminisheth the flesh, withers the face, hollowes the eyes, quencheth natural heat, peeleth the hair, and procureth baldness._

Astronomers have taken special knowledge of the number of 1024 of the principal apparent noted Stars of all the rest, besides the 7 Planets, and the 12 Signs, and it is agreed upon that there are more Stars under the Northern-pole, than under the Southern, the number of Stars under both poles are innumerable to us; but not to the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth, who calleth them all by their names. _Isai._ 40. _Levate in excelsum oculos vestros & videte quis creavit hæc? quis educit in numero militiam eorum & omnia suis nominibus vocat?_ In _January_ 1668. two Suns appeared and two Moons. The year before was published the Suns prerogative, vindicated by [p. 48.] _Alexander Nowel_ a young studient at _Harvard-Colledge_ in the _Massachusets_ Colony, which was as followeth.

_Mathematicians have that priviledge, above other Philosophers, that their foundations are so founded upon, and proved by demonstration, that reason_ volens nolens _must approve of them, when they are once viewed by the eye of the intellect_, ipso facto _it grants a_ probatum est; _if upon those foundations he raises famous Architectures, which are inseparably joynted in, and joyned to their ground-works, yet are not their Elements of such vast extensions, as to have their dimensions adequated with the machine of the_ primum mobile, _and so include the Fabrick of created beings; but there are sphears above the sphear of their Activity, and Orbs placed above the reach of their Instruments, which will_ non-plus _the most acute inquisitors, at least in reference to an accurate scrutiny: hence dissentions about Celestial bodies, whether the planets have any natural light, has been a question, proving that they borrow their light from the Sun: he being the primitive, they derivatives; he the_ Augmentum primum, _they_ Orta, _who though they have light in_ se, _yet not_ ex se. _This assertion is not expugned by_ Geocentricks _who produce sense and Antiquity to support their suppositions; nor oppugned by_ Heliocentricks, [p. 49.] _who deduce their_ Hypothesis _from reason, and new observations: for_, quicquid in ambitu alicujus circuli actu diffusum, comprehenditur, id in centro ejusdem continetur potentia collectum. _Should I put the question to the vote, questionless the major part of modern Astronomers would carry it affirmatively; but a testimony being_ Inartificialis Argumentum, _I shall found my position upon a more Artificial_ Basis. _As for the multiplication of Eclipses which some fear, it’s needless, for the extent of the_ Cone _of the earths shaddow_ (à Centro terræ) _being_ 250 Semidiameters, _it cannot reach_ Mars; Venus _and_ Mercury _never oppose the Sun. It has been observed by the help of_ Optick Tubes, _that_ Venus _has divers faces, according to her diverse position to the Sun. Some affirm the same of_ Mercury, _but he’s not so liable to observation, being seldom clear of the radiancy of the Sun. The superior Planets being above the Sun, turn the same side to the Sun, as they do to us._ Venus _and_ Mars _are more lucid in their_ Parhelion, _than in their_ Aphelion. _The_ Telescope _may convince us of this truth_; Evincit enim crassa, opaca & dissimilium plane partium corpora, planctas esse. _Lastly God made the Sun and Moon, the two greater lights (though not the greater lucid bodies) that the Moons light is adventitious, followes from her invisibilitie_ [p. 50.] _in a central Eclipse: hence the other planets are destitute of native light_; nam à majore ad minus valet consequentia negativé.

In the year 1664. a Star or Comet appeared in _New-England_ in _December_ in the _South-East_, rising constantly about one of the clock in the morning, carrying the tail lower and lower till it came into the _West_, and then bare it directly before it; the Star it self was of a duskish red, the tail of the colour of _via lactea_, or the milkie way. A fortnight after it appeared again rising higher near the _Nadir_ or point over our heads, of the same form and colour; of which hear the former Scholar.

_Comets (say Naturalists) proceed from natural causes, but they oft proceed preternatural effects. That they have been Antecedents to strange consequents is an universal truth, and proved by particulars_, viz. _That which hung over_ Hierusalem _before its extirpation by_ Vespatian, _that vertical to_ Germany, _before those bloudy Wars_ &c. _So that experience Attests, and reason Assents, that they have served for sad Prologues to Tragical Epilogues. For the future preludiums to what events they’l prove, may be proved by consequence, if they han’t suffered a privation of their powerful Energie. Dr._ Ward _to salve Contests, distinguishes between Cometæidæ, which are_ [p. 51.] _Sublunary exhalations, and Cometæ, which are heavenly bodies, coevous with the Stars; the cause of the inequality of whose motion, is their Apoge and Periges. Concerning the height of the late Comets Orb, because of the deficiency of Instruments, here’s_ pars deficiens. _As for its motion_ December 10. _’twas about the middle of_ Virgo. Jan. 24. 26 deg. Aries. _Some observe that Comets commonly follow a Conjunction of the superiour planets. Astronomers attribute much to the predominancy of that planet which rules it, which they judge by the Colour; a dull leaden colour, claims_ Saturn _for his Lord; bright_, Jupiter; _Red_, Mars; _Golden_, Sol; _Yellow_, Venus; _variable_, Mercury; _pale_, Luna. _Also to the Aspects it receives from other planets, the sign it is in, and the house of the Heavens in which it first was. Hence some may judge a scheam of the Heavens necessary, but unless Calculated for its certain rise (which is uncertain) it’s adjudged by the judicious, superfluous. Some put much trust or virtue in the tail, terming it the Ignomon_, &c. _But that is probable of all, which has been observed of some, that it’s alwayes opposite to the Sun; hence when the Sun is at the Meridian of the Antipodes it turns_, &c. _Which_ Regiomont _observed of that in_ 1475. _and_ Keckerman _of that in_ 1607. Longomontanus _observes of that in_ 1618. _that its first_ [p. 52.] _appearance was vertical to_ Germany _and went_ Northward, _so its effect began there, and made the like progress: it’s rational, that as a cause, it should operate most powerfully on those in whose Zenith it is, as the meridional Altitude; nor is it irrational, that as a sign, it should presage somewhat to all those, in whose Horizon it appears; for in reason_, Relata se mutuo inferunt, _hence_ signum _infers_ signatum, _and the signifier implies a signified. Diverse desire to be certified of the event; but he is wise that knowes it. Some presume prophetically to specificate from generals truths; others desperately deny generals and all; of all whom it’s a truth_, Incidunt in Scyllam, &c. _Noble_ Ticho _concludes, (with whom I conclude) that it’s not rational particularly to determine the sequel; for should any, it would be only in a contingent Axiom, and proceed from fancie; therefore of no necessary consequence, and would produce only opinion._

A friend of mine shewed me a small Treatise written and printed in the _Massachusets_-Bay by _B. D. Intituled An Astronomical description of the late Comet, or Blazing-Star, as it appeared in_ New-England _in the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and the beginning of the Twelfth moneth_, 1664. _printed at_ Cambridge _by_ Samuel Green 1665. An ingenious piece, but because I could not perswade [p. 53.] my friend to part with it, I took out some short notes being straitned in time, which are as followes.

Comets are distinguished in respect of their figure, according to the divers aspects of the Sun, into _Barbate_, _Caudate_, and _Crinite_. 1. When the stream like a beard goes before the body. 2. When the stream followes the body. 3. When the stream goes right up into the Heavens.

A Comet is said to be Vertical to any people, when the body of the Comet passeth over their heads.

The light of the Comet alters and varies according to the diverse Aspects of the Sun enlightning it.

Some took notice of it in the beginning of _November_.

In _Anno Dom._ 1668. _July_ the Fifteenth happened an Eclipse of the moon from 9 of the clock at night, till after 11, digits 9, and 35 minutes.

In _November_ following appeared a Star between the horns of the Moon in the midst.

In _Anno Dom._ 1669. about the middle of _June_ at 4 of the clock in the afternoon, appeared a Rain-bow reverst, and at night about 10 of the clock we had a _Lunar_ Rain-bow.

[p. 54.] The _Indians_ so far as I could perceive have but little knowledge of the Stars and Planets, observing the Sun and Moon only, the dividers of time into dayes and years: they being nearer to the Equinoctial-line by 10 degrees, have their dayes and nights more equally divided, being in Summer two hours shorter, in Winter two hours longer than they are in _England_. The 11 of _June_ the Sun riseth at 4 and 26 minutes, and setteth at 7 & 34 minutes: in _December_, the 13 the shortest day, the Sun riseth at 7 and 35 minutes, and setteth at 4 and 27 minutes.

Mid-_March_ their Spring begins, in _April_ they have Rain and Thunder; So again at _Michaelmas_, about which season they have either before _Michaelmas_ or after outrageous storms of Wind and Rain. It’s observable that there is no part of the World, which hath not some certain times of out-rageous storms. We have upon our Coast in _England_ a _Michaelmas_ flaw, that seldom fails: in the _West-Indies_ in _August_ and _September_ the forcible _North_-wind, which though some call _Tuffins_ or _Hurricanes_ we must distinguish, for a right _Hurricane_ is (as I have said before) an impetuous wind that goes about the Compass in the space of 24 hours, in such a storm the Lord _Willoughby_ [p. 55.] of _Parham_ Governour of the _Barbadoes_ was cast away, going with a fleet to recover St. _Christophers_ from the _French_, _Anno Dom._ 1666. _July_. Cold weather begins with the middle of _November_, the winter’s perpetually freezing, insomuch that their Rivers and salt-Bayes are frozen over and passable for Men, Horse, Oxen and Carts: _Æquore cum gelido zephyrus fere xenia Cymbo_. The _North-west_ wind is the sharpest wind in the Countrie. In _England_ most of the cold winds and weathers come from the Sea, and those seats that are nearest the Sea-coasts in _England_ are accounted unwholsome, but not so in _New-England_, for in the extremity of winter the _North-East_ and _South_-wind coming from the Sea produceth warm weather, only the _North-West_-wind coming over land from the white mountains (which are alwayes (except in _August_) covered with snow) is the cause of extream cold weather, alwayes accompanied with deep snowes and bitter frosts, the snow for the most part four and six foot deep, which melting on the superficies with the heat of the Sun, (for the most part shining out clearly every day) and freezing again in the night makes a crust upon the snow sufficient to bear a man walking with snow-shoos upon it. And at this [p. 56.] season the _Indians_ go forth on hunting of Dear and Moose, twenty, thirty, forty miles up into the Countrie. Their Summer is hot and dry proper for their _Indian_ Wheat; which thrives best in a hot and dry season, the skie for the most part Summer and Winter very clear and serene; if they see a little black cloud in the _North-West_, no bigger than a man may cover with his Hat, they expect a following storm, the cloud in short time spreading round about the Horizon accompanied with violent gusts of wind, rain, and many times lightning and terrible thunder. In all Countries they have observations how the weather will fall out, and these rules following are observable in _New-England_. If the Moon look bright and fair, look for fair weather, also the appearing of one Rainbow after a storm, is a known sign of fair weather; if mists come down from the Hills, or descend from the Heavens, and settle in the valleys, they promise fair hot weather; mists in the Evening shew a fair hot day on the morrow: the like when mists rise from waters in the Evening. The obscuring of the smaller Stars is a certain sign of Tempests approaching; the oft changing of the wind is also a fore-runner of a storm; the resounding of the Sea from the shore, and murmuring of [p. 57.] the winds in the woods without apparent wind, sheweth wind to follow: shooting of the Stars (as they call it) is an usual sign of wind from that quarter the Star came from. So look whether the resounding of the Sea upon the shore be on the _East_ or _West_ side of the dwelling, out of that quarter will the wind proceed the next day. The redness of the sky in the morning, is a token of winds, or rain or both: if the Circles that appear about the Sun be red and broken, they portend wind; if thick and dark, wind, snow and rain; the like may be said of the Circles about the moon. If two rain-bowes appear, they are a sign of rain; If the Sun or Moon look pale, look for rain: if a dark cloud be at Sun-rising, in which the Sun soon after is hid, it will dissolve it, and rain will follow; _nebula ascendens indicat imbres, nebula descendens serenitatem_. If the Sun seem greater in the _East_, than in the _West_ about Sun-setting, and that there appears a black cloud, you may expect rain that night, or the day following.

_Serò rubens Cælum cras indicat esse serenum, Sed si manè rubet venturos indicat Imbres._

[p. 58.] To conclude; if the white hills look clear and conspicuous, it is a sign of fair weather; if black and cloudy, of rain; if yellow, it is a certain sign of snow shortly to ensue.

In _Anno Dom._ 1667. _March_, appeared a sign in the Heavens in the form of a Sphear, pointing directly to the _West_: and in the year following on the third day of _April_ being _Friday_, there was a terrible Earthquake, before that a very great one in 1638. and another in 58 and in 1662/3. _January_ 26, 27, & 28. (which was the year before I came thither) there were Earthquakes 6 or 7 times in the space of three dayes. Earthquakes are frequent in the Countrie; some suppose that the white mountains were first raised by Earthquakes, they are hollow as may be guessed by the resounding of the rain upon the level on the top. The _Indians_ told us of a River whose course was not only stopt by an Earthquake in 1668. (as near as I can remember) but the whole River swallowed up. And I have heard it reported from credible persons, that (whilst I was there in the Countrie) there happened a terrible Earthquake amongst the _French_, rending a huge Rock asunder even to the center, wherein was a vast hollow of an immeasurable depth, out of which came many infernal Spirits. I shall [p. 59.] conclude this discourse of Earthquakes, with that which came from the Pen of our Royal Martyr King _Charles_ the First; _A storm at Sea wants not its terrour, but an Earthquake, shaking the very foundation of all, the World hath nothing more of horrour._ And now I come to the plants of the Countrie.

The plants in _New-England_ for the variety, number, beauty, and vertues, may stand in Competition with the plants of any Countrey in Europe. _Johnson_ hath added to _Gerard’s_ Herbal 300. and _Parkinson_ mentioneth many more; had they been in _New-England_ they might have found 1000 at least never heard of nor seen by any _Englishman_ before: ’Tis true, the Countrie hath no _Bonerets_, or _Tartarlambs_, no glittering coloured _Tuleps_; but here you have the _American Mary-Gold_, the _Earth-nut_ bearing a princely Flower, the beautiful leaved _Pirola_, the honied _Colibry_, &c. They are generally of (somewhat) a more masculine vertue, than any of the same species in _England_, but not in so terrible a degree, as to be mischievous or ineffectual to our _English_ bodies. _It is affirmed by some that no forraign Drugg or Simple can be so proper to Englishmen as their own, for the quantity of_ Opium _which Turks do safely take will kill four Englishmen, and that which will_ [p. 60.] _salve their wounds within a day, will not recure an Englishman in three._ To which I answer that it is custom that brings the _Turks_ to the familiar use of _Opium_. You may have heard of a _Taylor_ in _Kent_, who being afflicted with want of sleep ventured upon _Opium_, taking at first a grain, and increasing of it till it came to an ounce, which quantitie he took as familiarly as a _Turk_, without any harm, more than that he could not sleep without it. The _English_ in _New-England_ take white _Hellebore_, which operates as fairly with them, as with the _Indians_, who steeping of it in water sometime, give it to young lads gathered together a purpose to drink, if it come up they force them to drink again their vomit, (which they save in a Birchen-dish) till it stayes with them, & he that gets the victory of it is made Captain of the other lads for that year. There is a plant likewise, called for want of a name _Clownes wound wort_ by the _English_, though it be not the same, that will heal a green wound in 24 hours, if a wise man have the ordering of it. Thus much for the general, I shall now begin to discover unto you the plants more particularly, and I shall first begin with Trees, and of them, first with such as are called in Scripture Trees of God, that is great [p. 61.] Trees, that grow of themselves without planting. Psal. 104. 16, 17. _Satiantur arbores Jehovæ_, _cedri Libani quas plantavit_; (_ubi aviculæ nidificent_) _abietes domicilia ciconiæ_. The Herons take great delight to sit basking upon the tops of these Trees. And I shall not be over large in any, having written of them in my Treatise of the rarities of _New-England_, to which I refer you.

The _Oake_ I have given you an account of, and the kinds; I shall add the ordering of Red _Oake_ for Wainscot. When they have cut it down and clear’d it from the branches, they pitch the body of the Tree in a muddy place in a River, with the head downward for some time, afterwards they draw it out, and when it is seasoned sufficiently, they saw it into boards for Wainscot, and it will branch out into curious works.

There is an admirable rare Creature in shape like a _Buck_, with Horns, of a gummy substance, which I have often found in the fall of the leaf upon the ground amongst the withered leaves; a living Creature I cannot call it; having only the sign of a mouth and eyes: seldom or never shall you meet with any of them whole, but the head and horns, or the hinder parts, broken off from the rest; the _Indians_ call them Tree _Bucks_, and have a superstitious saying (for I believe [p. 62.] they never see any of them living) that if they can see a Tree-_Buck_ walking upon the branches of an _Oake_ when they go out in a morning to hunt, they shall have good luck that day. What they are good for I know not, but certainly there is some more than ordinary vertue in them. It is true that nothing in nature is superfluous, and we have the Scripture to back it, that God created nothing in vain. The like Creatures they _have at the_ Barbadoes _which they call_ Negroes _heads, found in the Sands, about two inches long, with forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, and part of the neck, they are alwayes found loose in the Sands without any root, it is as black as Jet, but whence it comes they know not. I have read likewise, that in the_ Canaries _or_ Fortunate-Islands, _there is found a certain Creature, which Boys bring home from the mountains as oft as they would, and named them_ Tudesquels, _or little_ Germans: _for they were dry’d dead Carcases, almost three footed, which any boy did easily carry in one of the palms of his hand, and they were of an humane shape; but the whole dead Carcase was clearly like unto Parchment, and their bones were flexible, as it were gristles: against the Sun, also, their bowels and intestines were seen. Surely (saith my Authour) the destroyed race of the_ Pigmies _was there_. There is [p. 63.] also many times found upon the leaves of the _Oake_ a Creature like a _Frog_, being as thin as a leaf, and transparent, as yellow as Gold, with little fiery red eyes, the _English_ call them Tree-frogs or Tree-toads (but of Tree-toads I shall have occasion to speak in another place) they are said to be venemous, but may be safely used, being admirable to stop womens over-flowing courses hung about their necks in a Taffetie bag.

_Captain_ Smith _writes that in_ New-England _there growes a certain berry called_ Kermes, _worth_ 10 _shillings a pound, and had been formerly sold for_ 30 _or_ 40 _shillings a pound, which may yearly be gathered in good quantity._ I have sought for this berry, he speaks of, as a man should seek for a needle in a bottle of Hay, but could never light upon it; unless that kind of _Solomon-seal_ called by the _English_ Treacle-berry be it. _Gerard_ our famous Herbalist _writes that they grow upon a little Tree called_ Scarlet-Oake, _the leaves have one sharp prickle at the end of it; it beareth small_ Acorns: _But the grain or berry growes out of the woody branches, like an excrescence of the substance of the_ Oake-Apple, _and of the bigness of Pease, at first white, when ripe of an_ Ash-colour, _which ingenders little Maggots, which when it begins_ [p. 64.] _to have wings are put into a bag and boulted up and down till dead, and then made up into lumps, the Maggot as most do deem is_ Cutchenele; _So that_ Chermes _is_ Cutchenele: _the berries dye scarlet. Mr._ George Sands _in his Travels saith (much to the same purpose) that scarlet dye growes like a blister on the leaf of the Holy_ Oake, _a little shrub, yet producing_ Acorns, _being gathered they rub out of it a certain red dust, that converteth after a while into worms, which they kill with Wine, when they begin to quicken. See farther concerning Treacle-berries and_ Cutchinele _in the rarities of_ New-England.

The Pine-Tree challengeth the next place, and that sort which is called Board-pine is the principal, it is a stately large Tree, very tall, and sometimes two or three fadom about: of the body the _English_ make large _Canows_ of 20 foot long, and two foot and a half over, hollowing of them with an Adds, and shaping of the outside like a Boat. Some conceive that the wood called _Gopher_ in Scripture, of which _Noah_ made the Ark, was no other than Pine, _Gen._ 6. 14. The bark thereof is good for Ulcers in tender persons that refuse sharp medicines. The inner bark of young board-pine cut small and stampt and boiled in a Gallon of water is a very soveraign medicine for burn [p. 65.] or scald, washing the sore with some of the decoction, and then laying on the bark stampt very soft: or for frozen limbs, to take out the fire and to heal them, take the bark of Board-pine-Tree, cut it small and stamp it and boil it in a gallon of water to Gelly, wash the sore with the liquor, stamp the bark again till it be very soft and bind it on. The Turpentine is excellent to heal wounds and cuts, and hath all the properties of _Venice_ Turpentine, the Rosen is as good as Frankincense, and the powder of the dryed leaves generateth flesh; the distilled water of the green Cones taketh away wrinkles in the face being laid on with Cloths.

The Firr-tree is a large Tree too, but seldom so big as the Pine, the bark is smooth, with knobs or blisters, in which lyeth clear liquid Turpentine very good to be put into salves and oyntments, the leaves or Cones boiled in Beer are good for the Scurvie, the young buds are excellent to put into Epithemes for Warts and Corns, the Rosen is altogether as good as Frankincense; out of this Tree the Poleakers draw Pitch and Tarr; the manner I shall give you, for that it may (with many other things contained in this Treatise) be beneficial to my Countrymen, either there already seated, or that [p. 66.] may happen to go thither hereafter. Out of the fattest wood changed into Torch-wood, which is a disease in that Tree, they draw Tarr, first a place must be paved with stone or the like, a little higher in the middle, about which there must be made gutters, into which the liquor falls, then out from them other gutters are to be drawn, by which it may be received, then is it put into barrels. The place thus prepared, the cloven wood must be set upright, then must it be covered with a great number of firr and pitch bowes; and on every part all about with much lome and sods of earth, and great heed must be taken, lest there be any cleft or chink remaining, only a hole left in the top of the furnace, through which the fire may be put in, and the flame and smoak to pass out: when the fire burneth, the Pitch or Tarr runneth forth first thin and then thicker; of which when it is boiled is made Pitch: the powder of dried Pitch is used to generate flesh in wounds and sores. The knots of this Tree and fat-pine are used by the _English_ instead of Candles, and it will burn a long time, but it makes the people pale.

The Spruce-tree I have given you an account of in my _New-England_ rarities. In the North-east of _Scotland_ upon the banks [p. 67.] of _Lough-argick_, there hath been formerly of these Trees 28 handful about at the Root, and their bodies mounted to 90 foot of height, bearing at the length 20 inches diameter. At _Pascataway_ there is now a Spruce-tree brought down to the water-side by our Mass-men of an incredible bigness, and so long that no Skipper durst ever yet adventure to ship it, but there it lyes and Rots.

The Hemlock-tree is a kind of spruce or pine; the bark boiled and stampt till it be very soft is excellent for to heal wounds, and so is the Turpentine thereof, and the Turpentine that issueth from the Cones of the Larch-tree, (which comes nearest of any to the right Turpentine) is singularly good to heal wounds, and to draw out the malice (or Thorn, as _Helmont_ phrases it) of any Ach, rubbing the place therewith, and strowing upon it the powder of _Sage_-leaves.

The white Cedar is a stately Tree, and is taken by some to be _Tamarisk_, this Tree the _English_ saw into boards to floor their Rooms, for which purpose it is excellent, long lasting, and wears very smooth and white; likewise they make shingles to cover their houses with instead of tyle, it will never warp. This Tree, the Oak and the [p. 68.] Larch-tree are best for building. Groundsels made of Larch-tree will never rot, and the longer it lyes the harder it growes, that you may almost drive a nail into a bar of Iron as easily as into that. Oh, that my Countreymen might obtain that blessing with their buildings, which _Esay_ prophesied to the _Jewes_ in the 65 Chapter and 22 verse. _Non ædificabunt & alius inhabitabit, non plantabunt & alius comedet: sed ut sunt dies Arboris, dies erunt populi mei, & opus manuum suarum deterent electi mei._

The Sassafras-tree is no great Tree, I have met with some as big as my middle, the rind is tawny and upon that a thin colour of Ashes, the inner part is white, of an excellent smell like Fennel, of a sweet tast with some bitterness; the leaves are like Fig-leaves of a dark green. A decoction of the Roots and bark thereof sweetned with Sugar, and drunk in the morning fasting will open the body and procure a stool or two, it is good for the Scurvie taken some time together, and laying upon the legs the green leaves of white _Hellebore_. They give it to Cows that have newly calved to make them cast their Cleanings. This Tree growes not beyond _Black-point_ Eastward: it is observed, that there is no province but produces Trees and plants not growing in other Regions.

[p. 69.] _Non omnis fert omnia tellus._

The Walnut which is divers, some bearing square nuts, others like ours, but smaller: there is likewise black Walnut of precious use for Tables, Cabinets and the like. The Walnut-tree is the toughest wood in the Countrie, and therefore made use of for Hoops and Bowes, there being no Yew there growing; In _England_ they made their Bowes usually of Witch Hasel, Ash, Yew, the best of outlandish Elm, but the _Indians_ make theirs of Walnut.

The Line-tree with long nuts, the other kind I could never find: the wood of this Tree, Laurel, Rhamnus, Holly and Ivy are accounted for woods that cause fire by attrition; Laurel and Ivy are not growing in _New-England_: the _Indians_ will rub two sear’d sticks of any sort of wood, and kindle a fire with them presently.

The Maple-tree, on the boughs of this Tree I have often found a jellied substance like _Jewes-Ears_, which I found upon tryal to be as good for sore throats _&c._

The Birch-tree is of two kinds, ordinary Birch, and black Birch, many of these Trees are stript of their bark by the _Indians_, who make of it their Canows, Kettles, [p. 70.] and Birchen-dishes: there is an excrescence growing out of the body of the Tree called spunck, or dead mens Caps, it growes at the Roots of Ash, or Beech, or Elm; but the best is that which growes upon the black Birch, this boiled and beaten, and then dried in an Oven maketh excellent Touch-wood, and Balls to play with.

Alder, of which wood there is abundance in the wet swamps: the bark thereof with the yolke of an Egg is good for a strain; an _Indian_ bruising of his knee, chew’d the bark of Alder fasting and laid it to, which quickly helped him. The wives of our West-Countrey English make a drink with the seeds of Alder, giving it to their Children troubled with the _Alloes_. I have talk’d with many of them, but could never apprehend what disease it should be they so name, these Trees are called by some Sullinges.

The _Indians_ tell of a Tree that growes far up in the land, that is as big as an Oake, that will cure the falling-sickness infallibly, what part thereof they use, Bark, Wood, leaves or fruit, I could never learn; they promised often to bring of it to me, but did not. I have seen a stately Tree growing here and there in valleys, not like to any Trees in Europe, having a smooth bark of [p. 71.] a dark brown colour, the leaves like great Maple, in _England_ called Sycamor, but larger, it may be this is the Tree they brag of.

Thus much concerning Trees, now I shall present to your view the Shrubs; and first of the Sumach Shrub, which as I have told you in _New-Englands_ rarities, differeth from all the kinds set down in our _English_ Herbals; the root dyeth wool or cloth reddish, the decoction of the leaves in wine drunk, is good for all Fluxes of the belly in man or woman, the whites, _&c._ For galled places stamp the leaves with honey, and apply it, nothing so soon healeth a wound in the head as Sumach stampt and applyed once in three dayes, the powder strewed in stayeth the bleeding of wounds: The seed of Sumach pounded and mixt with honey, healeth the Hemorrhoids, the gum put into a hollow tooth asswageth the pain, the bark or berries in the fall of the leaf, is as good as galls to make Ink of.

Elder in _New-England_ is shrubbie, & dies once in two years: there is a sort of dwarf-Elder that growes by the Sea-side that hath a red pith, the berries of both are smaller than _English_-Elder, not round but corner’d, neither of them smell so strong as ours.

Juniper growes for the most part by the Sea-side, it bears abundance of skie-coloured [p. 72.] berries fed upon by Partridges, and hath a woodie root, which induceth me to believe that the plant mention’d in Job 30. 4. _Qui decerpebant herbas é salsilagine cum stirpibus: etiam radices Juniperorum cibo erant illis_, was our _Indian_ plant _Cassava_. They write that _Juniper_-coals preserve fire longest of any, keeping fire a whole year without supply, yet the _Indian_ never burns of it.

Sweet fern, see the rarities of _New England_, the tops and nucaments of sweet fern boiled in water or milk and drunk helpeth all manner of Fluxes, being boiled in water it makes an excellent liquor for Inck.

Current-bushes are of two kinds red and black, the black currents which are larger than the red smell like cats piss, yet are reasonable pleasant in eating.

The Gooseberry-bush, the berry of which is called Grosers or thorn Grapes, grow all over the Countrie, the berry is but small, of a red or purple colour when ripe.

There is a small shrub which is very common, growing sometimes to the height of Elder, bearing a berry like in shape to the fruit of the white thorn, of a pale yellow colour at first, then red, when it is ripe of a deep purple, of a delicate Aromatical tast, somewhat stiptick: to conclude, [p. 73.] alwayes observe this rule in taking or refusing unknown fruit: if you find them eaten of the fowl or beast, you may boldly venture to eat of them, otherwise do not touch them.

_Maze_, otherwise called _Turkie_-wheat, or rather _Indian_-wheat, because it came first from thence; the leaves boiled and drunk helpeth pain in the back; of the stalks when they are green you may make _Beverage_, as they do with _Calamels_, or Sugar-canes. The raw Corn chewed ripens felons or Cats hairs, or you may lay Samp to it: The _Indians_ before it be thorow ripe eat of it parched. Certainly the parched corn that _Abigail_ brought to _David_ was of this kind of grain, 1 Sam. 25. 18. _The Jewes manner was (as it is delivered to us by a learned Divine) first to parch their Corn, then they fryed it, and lastly they boiled it to a paste, and then tempered it with water, Cheese-Curds, Honey and Eggs, this they carried drye with them to the Camp, and so wet the Cakes in Wine or milk; such was the pulse too of_ Africa.

_French_-beans, or rather _American_-beans, the Herbalists call them kidney-beans from their shape and effects, for they strengthen the kidneys; they are variegated much, some being bigger a great deal than others; some [p. 74.] white, black, red, yellow, blew, spotted; besides your _Bonivis_ and _Calavances_ and the kidney-bean, that is proper to _Ronoake_, but these are brought into the Countrie, the other are natural to the climate. So the _Mexico_ pompion which is flat and deeply camphered, the flesh laid to, asswageth pain of the eyes. The water-mellon is proper to the Countrie, the flesh of it is of a flesh colour, a rare cooler of Feavers, and excellent against the stone. _Pomum spinosum_ and _palma-Christi_ too growes not here, unless planted, brought from _Peru_; the later is thought to be the plant, that shaded Jonah _the Prophet_, Jonas 4. 6. _Paraverat enim_ Jehova _Deus ricinum qui ascenderet supra_ Jonam, _ut esset umbra super caput ejus ereptura eum à malo ipsius; lætabaturque_ Jonas _de ricino illo lætitia magna_. _Ricinum_, that is _palma Christi_, called also _cucurbita_, and therefore translated a Gourd.

Tobacco, or _Tabacca_ so called from _Tabaco_ or _Tabago_, one of the _Caribbe_-Islands about 50 _English_ miles from _Trinidad_. The right name, according to _Monardus_, is _picielte_, as others will _petum_, _nicotian_ from _Nicot_, a Portingal, to whom it was presented for a raritie in _Anno Dom._ 1559. by one that brought it from _Florida_. Great contest there is about the time when it was first [p. 75.] brought into _England_, some will have Sir _John Hawkins_ the first, others Sir _Francis Drake’s_ Mariners; others again say that one Mr. _Lane_ imployed by Sir _Walter Rawleigh_ brought it first into England; all conclude that Sir _Walter Rawleigh_ brought it first in use. _It is observed that no one kind of forraign Commodity yieldeth greater advantage to the publick than Tobacco, it is generally made the complement of our entertainment, and hath made more slaves than_ Mahomet. There is three sorts of it Marchantable, the first horse Tobacco, having a broad long leaf piked at the end; the second round pointed Tobacco; third sweet scented Tobacco. These are made up into Cane, leaf or ball; there is little of it planted in _New-England_, neither have they learned the right way of curing of it. It is sowen in _April_ upon a bed of rich mould sifted, they make a bed about three yards long, or more according to the ground they intend to plant, and a yard and a half over; this they tread down hard, then they sow their seed upon it as thick as may be, and sift fine earth upon it, then tread it down again as hard as possible they can, when it hath gotten four or six leaves, they remove it into the planting ground; when it begins to bud towards flowring, they crop off the [p. 76.] top, for the Flower drawes away the strength of the leaf. For the rest I refer you to the Planter, being not willing to discover their mysteries. The _Indians_ in _New-England_ use a small round leafed Tobacco, called by them, or the Fishermen Poke. _It is odious to the_ English. _The vertues of Tobacco are these, it helps digestion, the Gout, the Tooth-ach, prevents infection by scents, it heats the cold, and cools them that sweat, feedeth the hungry, spent spirits restoreth, purgeth the stomach, killeth nits and lice; the juice of the green leaf healeth green wounds, although poysoned; the Syrup for many diseases, the smoak for the Phthisick, cough of the lungs, distillations of Rheume, and all diseases of a cold and moist cause, good for all bodies cold and moist taken upon an emptie stomach, taken upon a full stomach it precipitates digestion, immoderately taken it dryeth the body, enflameth the bloud, hurteth the brain, weakens the eyes and the sinews._

White _Hellebore_ is used for the Scurvie by the _English_. A friend of mine gave them first a purge, then conserve of Bear-berries, then fumed their leggs with vinegar, sprinkled upon a piece of mill-stone made hot, and applied to the sores white _Hellebore_ leaves; drink made of _Orpine_ and _sorrel_ were given likewise with it, and [p. 77.] Sea-scurvie-grass. To kill lice, boil the roots of _Hellebore_ in milk, and anoint the hair of the head therewith or other places.

_Mandrake_, is a very rare plant, the _Indians_ know it not, it is found in the woods about _Pascataway_, they do in plain terms stink, therefore _Reubens_ Flowers that he brought home were not _Mandrakes_, Gen. 30. 14, 15, 16. _They are rendered in the Latine_ Amabiles flores, _the same word say our Divines is used in_ Canticles, 7. 4. Amabiles istos flores edentes odorem, & secundum ostia nostra omnes pretiosos fructus, recentes simulac veteres, dilecte mi, repono tibi. _So that the right translation is_, Reuben _brought home amiable and sweet smelling Flowers; this in the_ Canticles (_say they_) _expounding the other_.

_Calamus Aromaticus_, or the sweet smelling reed, it Flowers in _July_; see _New-Englands_ rarities.

_Sarsaparilla_ or roughbind-weed (as some describe it) the leaves and whole bind set with thorns, of this there is store growing upon the banks of Ponds. See the rarities of _New-England_. The leaves of the _Sarsaparilla_ there described pounded with Hogs grease and boiled to an unguent, is excellent in the curing of wounds.

Live for ever, it is a kind of _Cud-weed_, [p. 78.] flourisheth all summer long till cold weather comes in, it growes now plentifully in our _English_ Gardens, it is good for cough of the lungs, and to cleanse the breast taken as you do Tobacco; and for pain in the head the decoction, or the juice strained and drunk in Bear, Wine, or Aqua vitæ, killeth worms. The Fishermen when they want Tobacco take this herb being cut and dryed.

_Lysimachus_ or Loose-strife: there are several kinds, but the most noted is the yellow _Lysimachus_ of _Virginia_, the root is longish and white, as thick as ones thumb, the stalkes of an overworn colour, and a little hairie, the middle vein of the leaf whitish, the Flower yellow and like Primroses, and therefore called Tree-primrose, growes upon seedie vessels, _&c._ The first year it growes not up to a stalke, but sends up many large leaves handsomely lying one upon another, Rose fashion, Flowers in _June_, the seed is ripe in _August_, this as I have said is taken by the _English_ for Scabious.

St. _John’s_ wort, it preserveth Cheese made up in it, at Sea.

Spurge or Wolfes milch there are several sorts.

_Avens_, or herb-bennet; you have an account of it in _New-Englands_ rarities, but one [p. 79.] thing more I shall add, that you may plainly perceive a more masculine quality in the plants growing in _New-England_. A neighbour of mine in Hay-time, having overheat himself, and melted his grease, with striving to outmowe another man, fell dangerously sick, not being able to turn himself in his bed, his stomach gon, and his heart fainting ever and anon; to whom I administered the decoction of _Avens_-Roots and leaves in water and wine, sweetning it with Syrup of Clove-Gilliflowers, in one weeks time it recovered him, so that he was able to perform his daily work, being a poor planter or husbandman as we call them.

Red-Lilly growes all over the Countrey amongst the bushes. Mr. _Johnson_ upon _Gerard_ takes the Tulip to be the Lilly of the field mentioned by our Saviour, Matth. 6. 28, 29. _Ac de vestitu quid soliciti estis? discite quomodo lilia agrorum augescant: non fatigantur, neque nent, sed dico vobis, ne Solomonem quidem cum universa gloria sic amictum fuisse ut unum ex istis._ Solomon _in all his Royalty was not like one of them. His reasons are, first from the shape, like a lilly; The second, because those places where our Saviour was conversant they grow wild in the fields. Third, the infinite variety of the_ [p. 80.] _colours. The fourth and last reason, the wondrous beautie and mixture of these Flowers._

Water-lillys; the black roots dryed and pulverized, are wondrous effectual in the stopping of all manner of fluxes of the belly, drunk with wine or water.

_Herba-paris_, one berry, herb true love, or four-leaved night-shade, the leaves are good to be laid upon hot tumours.

_Umbilicus veneris_, or _New-England_ daisie, it is good for hot humours, _Erisipelas_, St. _Anthonie’s_ fire, all inflammations.

_Glass-wort_, a little quantity of this plant you may take for the Dropsie, but be very careful that you take not too much, for it worketh impetuously.

Water-plantane, called in _New-England_ water Suck-leaves, and Scurvie-leaves, you must lay them whole to the leggs to draw out water between the skin and the flesh.

_Rosa-solis_, Sun-dew, moor-grass, this plant I have seen more of, than ever I saw in my whole life before in _England_, a man may gather upon some marish-grounds an incredible quantity in a short time; towards the middle of _June_ it is in its season, for then its spear is shot out to its length, of which they take hold and pull the whole plant up by the roots from the moss with ease.

[p. 81.] _Amber_-greese I take to be a Mushroom, see the rarities of _New-England_. Monardus _writeth that_ Amber_-greese riseth out of a certain clammy and bituminous earth under the Seas, and by the Sea-side, the billows casting up part of it a land, and fish devour the rest; Some say it is the seed of a Whale, others, that it springeth from fountains as pitch doth, which fishes swallow down; the air congealeth it._ And sometimes it is found in the crevises and corners of Rocks.

_Fuss-balls_, _Mullipuffes_ called by the Fishermen Wolves-farts, are to be found plentifully, and those bigger by much than any I have seen in _England_.

_Coraline_ there is infinite store of it cast upon the shore, and another plant that is more spinie, of a Red colour, and as hard as Corral. _Coraline_ laid to the gout easeth the pain.

Sea-Oake or wreach, or Sea-weed, the black pouches of Oar-weed dryed and pulverized, and drunk with White-wine, is an excellent remedy for the stone.

I will finish this part of my relation concerning plants, with an admirable plant for the curing and taking away of Corns, which many times sore troubleth the Traveller: it is not above a handful high; the little branches are woodie, the leaves like [p. 82.] the leaves of Box, but broader and much thicker, hard and of a deep grass-green colour; this bruised or champt in the mouth and laid upon the Corn will take it away clean in one night. And observe all _Indian_ Trees and plants, their Roots are but of small depth, and so they must be set.

Of Beasts of the earth there be scarce 120 several kinds, and not much more of the Fowls of the Air, is the opinion of some Naturalists; there are not many kinds of Beasts in _New-England_, they may be divided into Beasts of the Chase of the stinking foot, as _Roes_, _Foxes_, _Jaccals_, _Wolves_, _Wild-cats_, _Raccons_, _Porcupines_, _Squncks_, _Musquashes_, _Squirrels_, _Sables_, and _Mattrises_; and Beasts of the Chase of the sweet foot, _Buck_, Red _Dear_, Rain-_Dear_, _Elke_, _Marouse_, _Maccarib_, _Bear_, _Beaver_, _Otter_, _Marten_, _Hare_.

The _Roe_ a kind of Deer, and the fleetest Beast upon earth is here to be found, and is good venison, but not over fat.

The _Fox_, the male is called a dog-fox, the female a bitch-fox, they go a clicketing the beginning of the spring, and bring forth their Cubs in _May_ and _June_. There are two or three kinds of them; one a great yellow _Fox_, another grey, who will climb up into Trees; the black _Fox_ is of much esteem. _Foxes_ and _Wolves_ are usually hunted [p. 83.] in _England_ from _Holy-Rood_ day, till the _Annunciation_. In _New-England_ they make best sport in the depth of winter; they lay a sledg-load of Cods-heads on the other side of a paled fence when the moon shines, and about nine or ten of the clock the _Foxes_ come to it, sometimes two or three, or half a dozen, and more; these they shoot, and by that time they have cased them, there will be as many; So they continue shooting and killing of _Foxes_ as long as the moon shineth; I have known half a score kill’d in one night. Their pisles are bonie like a doggs, their fat liquified and put into the ears easeth the pain, their tails or bushes are very fair ones and of good use, but their skins are so thin (yet thick set with deep furr) that they will hardly hold the dressing.

_Jaccals_ there be abundance, which is a Creature much like a _Fox_, but smaller, they are very frequent in _Palæstina_, or the _Holy-land_.

The _Wolf_ seeketh his mate and goes a clicketing at the same season with _Foxes_, and bring forth their whelps as they do, but their kennels are under thick bushes by great Trees in remote places by the swamps, he is to be hunted as the _Fox_ from _Holy-rood_ day till the _Annunciation_. But there [p. 84.] they have a quicker way to destroy them. See _New-Englands_ rarities. They commonly go in routs, a rout of _Wolves_ is 12 or more, sometimes by couples. In 1664. we found a _Wolf_ asleep in a small dry swamp under an Oake, a great mastiff which we had with us seized upon him, and held him till we had put a rope about his neck, by which we brought him home, and tying of him to a stake we bated him with smaller Doggs, and had excellent sport; but his hinder legg being broken, they knockt out his brains. Sometime before this we had an excellent course after a single _Wolf_ upon the hard sands by the Sea-side at low water for a mile or two, at last we lost our doggs, it being (as the _Lancashire_ people phrase it) twi-light, that is almost dark, and went beyond them, for a mastiff-bitch had seized upon the _Wolf_ being gotten into the Sea, and there held him, till one went in and led him out, the bitch keeping her hold till they had tyed his leggs, and so carried him home like a Calf upon a staff between two men; being brought into the house they unbound him and set him upon his leggs, he not offering in the least to bite, or so much as to shew his teeth, but clapping his stern betwixt his leggs, and leering towards the door would willingly have had his liberty, [p. 85.] but they served him as they did the other, knockt his brains out, for our doggs were not then in a condition to bate him; their eyes shine by night as a Lanthorn: the Fangs of a _Wolf_ hung about childrens necks keep them from frighting, and are very good to rub their gums with when they are breeding of Teeth, the gall of a _Wolf_ is Soveraign for swelling of the sinews; the fiants or dung of a _Wolf_ drunk with white-wine helpeth the _Collick_.

The _Wild-cat_, _Lusern_ or _luceret_, or Ounce as some call it, is not inferiour to Lamb, their grease is very soveraign for lameness upon taking cold.

The _Racoon_ or _Rattoon_ is of two sorts, gray _Rattoons_, and black _Rattoons_, their grease is soveraign for wounds with bruises, aches, streins, bruises; and to anoint after broken bones and dislocations.

The _Squnck_ is almost as big as a _Racoon_, perfect black and white or pye-bald, with a bush-tail like a _Fox_, an offensive Carion; the Urine of this Creature is of so strong a scent, that if it light upon any thing, there is no abiding of it, it will make a man smell, though he were of _Alexanders_ complexion; and so sharp that if he do but whisk his bush which he pisseth upon in the face of a dogg hunting of him, and that [p. 86.] any of it light in his eyes it will make him almost mad with the smart thereof.

The _Musquashes_ is a small Beast that lives in shallow ponds, where they build them houses of earth and sticks in shape like mole-hills, and feed upon _Calamus Aromaticus_: in _May_ they scent very strong of Muske; their furr is of no great esteem; their stones wrapt up in Cotten-wool will continue a long time, and are good to lay amongst cloths to give them a grateful smell.

The _Squirril_, of which there are three sorts, the mouse-squirril, the gray squirril, and the flying squirril, called by the _Indian_ _Assapanick_. The mouse-squirril is hardly so big as a Rat, streak’d on both sides with black and red streaks, they are mischievous vermine destroying abundance of Corn both in the field and in the house, where they will gnaw holes into Chests, and tear clothes both linnen and wollen, and are notable nut-gathers in _August_; when hasel and filbert nuts are ripe you may see upon every Nut-tree as many mouse-squirrils as leaves; So that the nuts are gone in a trice, which they convey to their Drays or Nests. The gray squirril is pretty large, almost as big as a Conie, and are very good meat: in some parts of the Countrie there are many of them. The flying squirril is so called, [p. 87.] because (his skin being loose and large) he spreads it on both sides like wings when he passeth from one Tree to another at great distance. I cannot call it flying nor leaping, for it is both.

The _Mattrise_ is a Creature whose head and fore-parts is shaped somewhat like a Lyons, not altogether so big as a house-cat, they are innumerable up in the Countrey, and are esteemed good furr.

The _Sable_ is much of the size of a _Mattrise_ perfect black, but what store there is of them I cannot tell, I never saw but two of them in Eight years space.

The _Martin_ is as ours are in _England_, but blacker, they breed in holes which they make in the earth like Conies, and are innumerable, their skins or furr are in much request.

The _Buck_, _Stag_, and _Rain-Dear_ are Creatures that will live in the coldest climates, here they are innumerable, bringing forth three _Fawns_ or _Calves_ at a time, which they hide a mile asunder to prevent their destruction by the _Wolves_, wild-_Cats_, _Bears_, and _Mequans_: when they are in season they will be very fat; there are but few slain by the _English_. The _Indians_ who shoot them, and take of them with toyls, bring them in [p. 88.] with their suet, and the bones that grow upon _Stags-Hearts_.

The _Moose_ or _Elke_ is a Creature, or rather if you will a Monster of superfluity; a full grown _Moose_ is many times bigger than an _English_ Oxe, their horns as I have said elsewhere, very big (and brancht out into palms) the tips whereof are sometimes found to be two fathom asunder, (a fathom [p. 89.] is six feet from the tip of one finger to the tip of the other, that is four cubits,) and in height from the toe of the fore-foot, to the pitch of the shoulder twelve foot, both which hath been taken by some of my _sceptique_ Readers to be monstrous lyes. If you consider the breadth that the beast carrieth, and the magnitude of the horns, you will be easily induced to contribute your belief.

What would you say, if I should tell you that in _Greenland_ there are _Does_ that have as large horns as _Bucks_, their brow Antlers growing downwards beyond their _Musles_, and broad at the end wherewith they scrape away the snow to the grass, it being impossible for them other-wayes to live in those cold Countries; the head of one of these _Does_ was sometime since nailed upon a sign-post in _Charter-house-lane_, and these following verses written upon a board underneath it.

_Like a_ Bucks_-head I stand in open view, And yet am none; nay, wonder not, ’tis true; The living Beast that these fair horns did owe Well known to many, was a_ Green-land Doe _The proverb old is here fulfill’d in me, That every like is not the same you see._

And for their height since I came into _England_ I have read Dr. _Scroderns_ his Chymical dispensatory translated into _English_ by Dr. _Rowland_, where he writes _that when he lived in_ Finland _under_ Gustavus Horn, _he saw an_ Elke _that was killed and presented to_ Gustavus _his Mother, seventeen spans high_. Law you now Sirs of the Gibing crue, if you have any skill in mensuration, tell me what difference there is between Seventeen spans and twelve foot. There are certain transcendentia in every Creature, which are the indelible Characters of God, and which discover God; There’s a prudential for you, as _John Rhodes_ the Fisherman used to say to his mate, _Kitt Lux_. But to go on with the _Moose_; they are accounted a kind of Deer, and have three _Calves_ at a time, which they hide a mile asunder too, as other Deer do, their skins make excellent Coats for Martial men, their sinews which are as [p. 90.] big as a mans finger are of perdurable toughness and much used by the _Indians_, the bone that growes upon their heart is an excellent Cordial, their bloud is as thick as an _Asses_ or _Bulls_ who have the thickest bloud of all others, a man the thinnest. To what age they live I know not, certainly a long time in their proper climate. _Some particular living Creatures cannot live in every particular place or region, especially with the same joy and felicity as it did where it was first bred, for the certain agreement of nature that is between the place and the thing bred in that place: As appeareth by_ Elephants_, which being translated and brought out of the Second or Third Climate, though they may live, yet will they never ingender or bring forth young._ So for plants, Birds, _&c._ Of both these Creatures, some few there have been brought into _England_, but did not long continue. Sir _R. Baker_ in his Chronicle tells us of an _Elephant_ in _Henry_ the Thirds Raign, which he saith was the first that was ever seen there, which as it seems is an error, unless he restrain it to the _Norman’s_ time. For Mr. _Speed_ writeth that _Claudius Drusius_ Emperour of _Rome_ brought in the first in his Army; the bones of which digg’d up since are taken for Gyants bones. As for the _Moose_ the first that was seen in _England_, [p. 91.] was in King _Charles_ the First Raign; thus much for these magnals amongst the Creatures of God to be wondered at, the next beast to be mentioned is

The _Maurouse_, which is somewhat like a _Moose_, but his horns are but small, and himself about the size of a _Stag_, these are the Deer that the flat-footed _Wolves_ hunt after.

The _Maccarib_ is a Creature not found that ever I heard yet, but upon _Cape-Sable_ near to the _French_ plantations.

The _Bear_ when he goes to mate is a terrible Creature, they bring forth their Cubs in _March_, hunted with doggs they take a Tree where they shoot them, when he is fat he is excellent Venison, which is in _Acorn_ time, and in winter, but then there is none dares to attempt to kill him but the _Indian_. He makes his Denn amongst thick Bushes, thrusting in here and there store of _Moss_, which being covered with snow and melting in the day time with heat of the Sun, in the night is frozen into a thick coat of Ice; the mouth of his Den is very narrow, here they lye single, never two in a Den all winter. The _Indian_ as soon as he finds them, creeps in upon all four, seizes with his left hand upon the neck of the sleeping _Bear_, drags him to the mouth of [p. 92.] the Den, where with a club or small hatchet in his right hand he knocks out his brains before he can open his eyes to see his enemy. But sometimes they are too quick for the _Indians_, as one amongst them called black Robin lighting upon a male _Bear_ had a piece of his buttock torn off before he could fetch his blow: their grease is very soveraign. One Mr. _Purchase_ cured himself of the _Sciatica_ with _Bears_-greefe, keeping some of it continually in his groine. It is good too for swell’d Cheeks upon cold, for Rupture of the hands in winter, for limbs taken suddenly with _Sciatica_, _Gout_, or other diseases that cannot stand upright nor go, bed-rid; it must be well chaft in, and the same cloth laid on still; it prevents the shedding of the hair occasioned by the coldness of winters weather; and the yard of a _Bear_ which as a Doggs or Foxes is bonie, is good for to expell Gravel out of the kidneys and bladder, as I was there told by one Mr. _Abraham Philater_ a _Jersey-man_.

The _Beaver_ or Pound-dog is an Amphibious Creature, lives upon the land as well as in the water. I suppose they feed upon fish, but am sure that the Bark of Trees is also their food; there is an old proverbial saying, _sic me jubes quotidie, ut fiber salicem_: you love me as the _Beaver_ doth the willow; [p. 93.] who eateth the Bark and killeth the Tree. They will be tame, witness the _Beaver_ that not long since was kept at _Boston_ in the _Massachusets-Bay_, and would run up and down the streets, returning home without a call. Their skins are highly valued, and their stones are good for the palsie, trembling, and numbness of the hands, boiling of them in Oyl of _Spike_, and anointing the sinews in the neck. If you take of _Castorium_ two drams, of womans hair one dram, and with a little Rozen of the _Pine_-Tree, make it up into pills as big as Filberts and perfume a woman in a fit of the mother with one at a time laid upon coals under her nostrils, it will recover her out of her fit. The grease of a _Beaver_ is good for the Nerves, Convulsions, Epilepsies, Apoplexies _&c._ The tail as I have said in another Treatise, is very fat and of a masculine vertue, as good as _Eringo’s_ or _Satyrion_-Roots.

The _Otter_ or River-_Dog_ is Amphibious too, he hunteth for his kind in the spring, and bringeth forth his whelps as the _Beaver_ doth, they are generally black, and very numerous, they are hunted in _England_ from _Shrovetide_ untill _Midsummer_, but in _New-England_ they take them when they can. The skin of an _Otter_ is worth Ten Shillings, [p. 94.] and the Gloves made thereof are the best fortification for the hands against wet weather that can be thought of, the furr is excellent for muffs, and is almost as dear as _Beaver_, the grease of an _Otter_ will make fish turn up their bellies, and is of rare use for many things.

The _Hare_, I have no more to write of them than that they kindle in hollow Trees. What else concerns him, or any of the fore-mentioned Creatures you have in my _New-Englands_ rarities, to which I refer you.

The _Porcupine_ likewise I have treated of, only this I forgot to acquaint you with, that they lay Eggs, and are good meat.

The last kind of Beasts are they that are begot by equivocal generation, as _Mules_ and several others, that when the Beasts were brought by the Almighty Creator to _Adam_, who gave them names, were not then in _rerum natura_. Of these there are not many known in _New-England_. I know but of one, and that is the _Indian_ dog begotten betwixt a _Wolf_ and a _Fox_, or between a _Fox_ and a _Wolf_, which they made use of, taming of them, and bringing of them up to hunt with, but since the _English_ came amongst them they have gotten store of our dogs, which they bring up and keep in as much subjection as they do their webbs.

[p. 95.] Of birds there are not many more than 120 kinds as our Naturalists have conjectured, but I think they are deceived; they are divided into land-birds and water-birds, the land-birds again into birds of prey, birds for meat, singing-birds and others.

The _Pilhannaw_ is the King of Birds of prey in _New-England_, some take him to be a kind of _Eagle_, others for the _Indian-Ruck_ the biggest Bird that is, except the _Ostrich_. One Mr. _Hilton_ living at _Pascataway_, had the hap to kill one of them: being by the Sea-side he perceived a great shadow over his head, the Sun shining out clear, calling up his eyes he saw a monstrous Bird soaring aloft in the air, and of a sudden all the _Ducks_ and _Geese_, (there being then a great many) dived under water, nothing of them appearing but their heads. Mr. _Hilton_ having made readie his piece, shot and brought her down to the ground, how he disposed of her I know not, but had he taken her alive & sent her over into _England_, neither _Bartholomew_ nor _Sturbridge_-Fair could have produced such another sight.

_Hawkes_ there are of several kinds, as _Goshawkes_, _Falcons_, _Laniers_, _Sparrow-hawkes_, and a little black _hawke_ highly prized by the _Indians_ who wear them on their [p. 96.] heads, and is accounted of worth sufficient to ransome a _Sagamour_: they are so strangely couragious and hardie, that nothing flyeth in the Air that they will not bind with. I have seen them tower so high, that they have been so small that scarcely could they be taken by the eye. _Hawkes_ grease is very good for sore eyes.

The _Osprey_ I have treated of. There is a small Ash-colour Bird that is shaped like a _Hawke_ with talons and beak that falleth upon _Crowes_, mounting up into the Air after them, and will beat them till they make them cry.

The _Vulture_ or _Geire_, which is spoken of in _Levit._ 11. 14. and called a _Gripe_, their skins are good to line doublets with, and the bones of their head hung about the neck helpeth the head-ach.

The _Gripe_; see _New Englands_ rarities, and for the _Turkie_-buzzard.

The _Owl_ the most flagging Bird that is, of which there are three sorts, a great grey _Owl_ with ears, a little grey _Owl_, and a white _Owl_, which is no bigger than a _Thrush_. _Plinie_ writes that the brains of an _Owl_ asswageth the pain & inflammation in the lap of the ear. And that Eggs of an _Owl_ put into the liquour that a tospot useth to be drunk with, will make him loath drunkenness [p. 97.] ever after. But now peradventure some will say, what doth this man mean to bring _Owls_ to _Athens_? verily Sirs I presume to say, had I brought over of the little white _Owls_ they would have been acceptable, they are good mousers, and pretty Birds to look upon; the _Athenians_, no question are better imployed than to take notice of my _Owls_, poor ragged Birds they are and want those glittering golden feathers that _Draiton’s Owl_ is adorned with, yet they are somewhat of that nature; if an _Athenian_ chance in this season of divertisement to cast an eye upon them I shall be glad, but more glad if he vouchsafe to prune and correct their feathers, which I confess are discomposed for want of Art; plain Birds they are, and fit for none but plain men to manage. Sirs do not mistake me, there’s no man living honours an _Athenian_ more than I do, especially where I perceive great abilities concomiting with goodness of nature: A good nature (saith Mr. _Perkins_) is the Character of God, and God is the father of learning, knowledge, and every good gift, and hath condescended to become a School-master to us poor mortals, furnishing of us with Philosophy, Historie, Divinity by his holy Scriptures, which if we diligently learn and practise, we shall in [p. 98.] time be brought into his Heavenly Academy, where we shall have fulness and perfection of knowledge eternally. But there are a Generation of men and women in this prophane age that despise Gods learning and his Ushers to the _Athenians_, choosing to wallow in the pleasures of sin for a season. I shall conclude this excursion, with that which a Poet writ sometime since, and then return to the trimming of my _Owl_.

_Say thou pour’st them Wheat, And they would_ Acorns _eat; ’Twere simple fury in thee still to wast Thy self, on them that have no tast; No, give them draff their fill, Husks, Grains and swill; They that love Lees and leave the lustie Wine, Envy them not, their palats with the Swine._

The _Raven_ is here numerous and Crowes, but _Rooks_, _Danes_, _Popinjaes_, _Megpies_ there be none. It is observed that the female of all Birds of prey and Ravin is ever bigger than the male, more venturous, hardy, and watchful: but such Birds as do not live by prey and Ravin, the male is more large than the female. So much for Birds of prey, the next are Birds for the dish, and the first of these is,

[p. 99.] The _Turkie_, which is in _New-England_ a very large Bird, they breed twice or thrice in a year, if you would preserve the young Chickens alive, you must give them no water, for if they come to have their fill of water they will drop away strangely, and you will never be able to rear any of them: they are excellent meat, especially a _Turkie-Capon_ beyond that, for which Eight shillings was given, their Eggs are very wholesome and restore decayed nature exceedingly. But the _French_ say they breed the Leprosie; the Indesses make Coats of _Turkie_-feathers woven for their Children.

The _Partridge_ is larger than ours, white flesht, but very dry, they are indeed a sort of _Partridges_ called _Grooses_.

The _Pidgeon_, of which there are millions of millions, I have seen a flight of _Pidgeons_ in the spring, and at _Michaelmas_ when they return back to the Southward for four or five miles, that to my thinking had neither beginning nor ending, length nor breadth, and so thick that I could see no Sun, they joyn Nest to Nest, and Tree to Tree by their Nests many miles together in _Pine_-Trees. But of late they are much diminished, the _English_ taking them with Nets. I have bought at _Boston_ a dozen of _Pidgeons_ ready pull’d and garbidgd for three pence, [p. 100.] Ring-_Doves_ they say are there too, but I could never see any.

The _Snow_-Bird is like a _Chaf-Finch_, go in flocks and are good meat.

The singing Birds are _Thrushes_ with red breasts, which will be very fat and are good meat, so are the _Thressels_, _Filladies_ are small singing Birds, _Ninmurders_ little yellow Birds. _New-England_ Nightingales painted with orient colours, black, white, blew, yellow, green and scarlet, and sing sweetly, _Wood-larks_, _Wrens_, _Swallows_, who will sit upon Trees, and _Starlings_ black as _Ravens_ with scarlet pinions; other sorts of Birds there are, as the _Troculus_, _Wag-tail_, or _Dish-water_, which is here of a brown colour, _Titmouse_ two or three sorts, the Dunneck or hedge-_Sparrow_ who is starke naked in his winter nest. The golden or yellow hammer, a Bird about the bigness of a _Thrush_ that is all over as red as bloud, Wood-_Peckers_ of two or three sorts, gloriously set out with variety of glittering colours. The _Colibry_, _Viemalin_, or rising or waking Bird, an Emblem of the Resurrection, and the wonder of little Birds.

The water-fowl are these that follow, _Hookers_ or wild-_Swans_, _Cranes_, _Geese_ of three sorts, grey, white, and the brant _Goose_, the first and last are best meat, the white are [p. 101.] lean and tough and live a long time; whereupon the proverb, Older than a white _Goose_; of the skins of the necks of grey _Geese_ with their Bills the _Indians_ makes Mantles and Coverlets sowing them together and they shew prettily. There be four sorts of _Ducks_, a black _Duck_, a brown _Duck_ like our wild _Ducks_, a grey _Duck_, and a great black and white _Duck_, these frequent Rivers and Ponds; but of _Ducks_ there be many more sorts, as _Hounds_, old _Wives_, _Murres_, _Doies_, _Shell-drakes_, _Shoulers_ or _Shoflers_, _Widgeons_, _Simps_, _Teal_, Blew wing’d, and green wing’d, Divers or _Didapers_, or _Dip-chicks_, _Fenduck_, _Duckers_ or _Moorhens_, _Coots_, _Pochards_, a water-fowl like a _Duck_, _Plungeons_, a kind of water-fowl with a long reddish Bill, _Puets_, _Plovers_, _Smethes_, _Wilmotes_, a kind of _Teal_, _Godwits_, _Humilities_, _Knotes_, _Red-Shankes_, _Wobbles_, _Loones_, _Gulls_, white _Gulls_, or Sea-_Cobbs_, _Caudemandies_, _Herons_, grey _Bitterns_, _Ox-eyes_, _Birds_ called _Oxen_ and _Keen_, _Petterels_, _Kings fishers_, which breed in the spring in holes in the Sea-banks, being unapt to propagate in Summer, by reason of the driness of their bodies, which becomes more moist when their pores are closed by cold. Most of these Fowls and Birds are eatable. There are little Birds that frequent the Sea-shore in flocks called _Sanderlins_, [p. 102.] they are about the bigness of a _Sparrow_, and in the fall of the leaf will be all fat; when I was first in the Countrie the _English_ cut them into small pieces to put into their Puddings instead of suet, I have known twelve score and above kill’d at two shots. I have not done yet, we must not forget the _Cormorant_, _Shape_ or _Sharke_; though I cannot commend them to our curious palats, the _Indians_ will eat them when they are fley’d, they take them prettily, they roost in the night upon some Rock that lyes out in the Sea, thither the _Indian_ goes in his Birch-_Canow_ when the Moon shines clear, and when he is come almost to it, he lets his _Canow_ drive on of it self, when he is come under the Rock he shoves his Boat along till he come just under the _Cormorants_ watchman, the rest being asleep, and so soundly do sleep that they will snore like so many Piggs; the _Indian_ thrusts up his hand of a sudden, grasping the watchman so hard round about his neck that he cannot cry out; as soon as he hath him in his _Canow_ he wrings off his head, and making his _Canow_ fast, he clambreth to the top of the Rock, where walking softly he takes them up as he pleaseth, still wringing off their heads; when he hath slain as many as his _Canow_ can carry, he gives a shout [p. 103.] which awakens the surviving _Cormorants_, who are gone in an instant.

The next Creatures that you are to take notice of, are they that live in the Element of water. _Pliny_ reckons them to be of 177 kinds, but certainly if it be true that there is no Beast upon Earth, which hath not his like in the Sea, and which (perhaps) is not in some part parallel’d in the plants of the Earth; we may by a diligent search find out many more: of the same opinion is the Poet, who saith that it is

_Affirm’d by some that what on Earth we find, The Sea can parallell in shape and kind._

Divine _Dubertus_ goes further.

_You Divine wits of elder dayes, from whom The deep invention of rare works hath come, Took you not pattern of our chiefest Tooles Out of the lap of_ Thetis, _Lakes, and Pools? Which partly in the Waves, part on the edges Of craggy Rocks, among their ragged sedges, Bring forth abundance of Pins, Spincers, spokes, Pikes, piercers, needles, mallets, pipes & yoaks, Oars, sails & swords, saws, wedges, razors, rammers, Plumes, cornets, knives, wheels, vices, horns and hammers._

[p. 104.] Psalm 104.25, 26. _In ipso mari magno & spatioso, illic reptilia sunt atque innumera animantia parva cum magnis. Illic navea ambulant; balæna quam formasti ludendo in eo._

And as the females amongst Beasts and Birds of prey for form and beautie surpass the males, so do they especially amongst fishes; and those I intend to treat of, I shall divide into salt-water fish, and fresh-water fish.

The Sea that _Piscina mirabilis_ affords us the greatest number, of which I shall begin first with the Whale a regal fish, as all fishes of extraordinary size are accounted, of these there are (as I have said in another place) seven kinds, the Ambergreese-_Whale_ the chiefest. _Anno Dom._ 1668 the 17 of _July_ there was one of them thrown up on the shore between _Winter-harbour_ and _Cape-porpus_, about eight mile from the place where I lived, that was five and fifty foot long. They are Creatures of a vast magnitude and strength. The Royal Psalmist, in the 148 psalm, and the 7 verse, _makes mention of them_. _Laudate Jehovam terrestria; Cete (Dracones as some translate it) & omnes abyssi. And Moses in his history of_ Job, Job 41. 1. _An extrahas balænam hamo_, &c. [p. 105.] _Whereby the subtlety of the Devil is shewed, as also, the greatness and brutishness of the Devil by the Elephant, in the_ 10 _verse of the foregoing Chapter. In the book of_ Jonas _prophecies we read of a great fish_, Jonah 1. 17. _Pararat autem Jehova piscem magnum, qui obsorberet Jonam. But whether this were a Whale or not is questioned by some. In the head (saith Mr._ Parkinson _the Herbalist) of one only sort of Whale-fish is found that which is called_ sperma Cæti, _it lyes in a hole therein, as it were a Well, taken out and prest that the oyl may come out, the substance is that we use for_ sperma Cæti, _and hath little or no smell, the oyl smells strong. See the rarities of_ New-England.

The _Sea-hare_ is as big as _Grampus_ or _Herrin-hog_, and as white as a sheet; There hath been of them in _Black-point_-Harbour, & some way up the river, but we could never take any of them, several have shot sluggs at them, but lost their labour.

The _Sturgeon_ is a Regal fish too, I have seen of them that have been sixteen foot in length: of their sounds they make _Isinglass_, which melted in the mouth is excellent to seal letters.

_Sharkes_ there are infinite store, who tear the Fishermens nets to their great loss and hinderance; they are of two sorts, one flat [p. 106.] headed, the other long-snouted, the pretious stone in their heads (soveraign for the stone in a man) so much coveted by the travelling Chirurgeon is nought else but the brains of the flat-headed _Sharke_. With these we may joyn the Dog-fish or Thorn-hound, who hath two long sharp prickles on his back.

The _Sea-horse_ or _Morse_ is a kind of monster-fish numerous about the Isle of _Sables_, i. e. The sandy Isle. An Amphibious Creature kill’d for their Teeth and Oyl, never brings forth more than two at a birth; as also doth the Soil and Manate or Cow-fish which is supposed to be the Sea-monster spoken of by _Jeremy_, _Lament._ 4. 3. _Etiam phocæ præbent mammam, lactant catulos suos; So the Latins render it_, phoca _a Sea-Calf or Soil_.

The small _Sword-fish_ is very good meat, the _Sea-bat_ or _Sea-owl_ a kind of flying fish.

_Negroes_ or _Sea-Devils_ a very ugly fish, having a black scale, there are three sorts of them, one a hideous fish, another about two foot long; of these I have seen store in _Black-point_ Harbour in the water, but never attempted to take any of them.

_Squids_ a soft fish somewhat like a cudgel, their horns like a _Snails_, which sometimes are found to be of an incredible length, [p. 107.] this fish is much used for bait to catch a _Cod_, _Hacke_, _Polluck_, and the like Sea-fish.

The _Dolphin_, _Bonito_, or _Dozado_, the ashes of their teeth mixed with honey, is good to asswage the pain of breeding teeth in Children.

The _Sea-bream_, _Dorado_, or _Amber-fish_, they follow ships as doth the _Dolphin_, and are good meat.

The _Mackarel_, of which there is choicefull plenty all summer long, in the spring they are ordinarily 18 inches long, afterwards there is none taken but what are smaller.

The _Liver-fish_ like a _Whiting_.

The _Herrin_ which are numerous, they take of them all summer long. In _Anno Dom._ 1670. they were driven into _Black-point_ Harbour by other great fish that prey upon them so near the shore, that they threw themselves (it being high water) upon dry land in such infinite numbers that we might have gone up half way the leg amongst them for near a quarter of a mile. We used to qualifie a pickled _Herrin_ by boiling of him in milk.

The _Alewife_ is like a _herrin_, but has a bigger bellie therefore called an _Alewife_, they come in the end of _April_ into fresh [p. 108.] Rivers and Ponds; there hath been taken in two hours time by two men without any Weyre at all, saving a few stones to stop the passage of the River, above ten thousand. The _Italian_ hath a proverb, that he that hath seen one miracle will easily believe another; but this relation far from a miracle will peranter meet, instead of a belief with an Adulterate construction from those that are somewhat akin to St. _Peters_ mockers, such as deny the last judgement. I have known in _England_ 9 score and 16 _Pikes_ and _Pickarel_ taken with three Angles between the hours of three and ten in the morning, in the River _Owse_ in the Isle of _Ely_, three quarters of a yard long above half of them; they make red _Alewives_ after the same manner as they do _herrins_ and are as good.

The _Basse_ is a salt water fish too, but most an end taken in Rivers where they spawn, there hath been 3000 _Basse_ taken at a set, one writes that the fat in the bone of a _Basses_ head is his brains which is a lye.

The _Salmon_ likewise is a Sea-fish, but as the _Basse_ comes into Rivers to spawn, a _Salmon_ the first year is a _Salmon-smelt_; The second a _Mort_; The third a _Spraid_; The fourth a _Soar_; The fifth a _Sorrel_; The sixth [p. 109.] a _forket tail_; and the seventh year a _Salmon_. There are another sort of _Salmon_ frequent in those parts called white _Salmons_.

_Capeling_ is a small fish like a smelt.

The _Turtle_ or _Tortoise_ is of two sorts Sea-_Turtles_ and land-_Turtles_: of Sea-_Turtles_ there are five sorts, of land-_Turtles_ three sorts, one of which is a right land-_turtle_ that seldom or never goes into the water, the other two being the River-_Turtle_, and the pond-_Turtle_: there are many of these in the brooke _Chyson_ in the _Holy land_. The ashes of a Sea-_Turtle_ mixt with oyl or _Bears_-grease causeth hair to grow: the shell of a land-_Turtle_ burnt and the ashes dissolved in wine and oyl to an unguent healeth chaps and sores of the feet: the flesh burnt and the ashes mixt with wine and oyl healeth sore legs: the ashes of the burnt shell and the whites of eggs compounded together healeth chaps in womens nipples; and the head pulverized with it prevents the falling of the hair, and will heal the Hemorrhoids, first washing of them with white-wine, and then strewing on the powder.

_Lobster_, which some say is at first a _whelk_, I have seen a _Lobster_ that weighed twenty pound, they cast their shell-coats in the spring, and so do _Crabs_; having underneath a thin red skin which growes thicker and [p. 110.] hard in short time. The _Indians_ feed much upon this fish, some they rost, and some they dry as they do _Lampres_ and _Oysters_ which are delicate breakfast meat so ordered, the _Oysters_ are long shell’d, I have had of them nine inches long from the joynt to the toe, containing an _Oyster_ like those the Latines called _Tridacuan_ that were to be cut into three pieces before they could get them into their mouths, very fat and sweet.

The _Muscle_ is of two sorts, Sea-_muscles_ in which they find Pearl and river-_muscles_. Sea-_muscles_ dryed and pulverized and laid upon the sores of the _Piles_ and _hemorrhoids_ with oyl will perfectly cure them.

The _Whore_ is a shell-fish, the shells are called whores-eggs, being fine round white shells, in shape like a _Mexico_ pompion, but no bigger than a good large Hens-egg; they are wrought down the sides with little knobs and holes very prettily, but are but thin and brittle.

The _Perriwig_ is a shell-fish that lyeth in the Sands flat and round as a shovel-board piece and very little thicker; these at a little hole in the middle of the shell thrust out a cap of hair, but upon the least motion of any danger it drawes it in again.

_Trouts_ there be good store in every brook, ordinarily two and twenty inches [p. 111.] long, their grease is good for the _Piles_ and _clifts_.

The _Eal_ is of two sorts, salt-water _Eals_ and fresh-water _Eals_; these again are distinguished into yellow bellied _Eals_ and silver bellied _Eals_; I never eat better _Eals_ in no part of the world that I have been in, than are here. They that have no mind or leasure to take them, may buy of an _Indian_ half a dozen silver bellied _Eals_ as big as those we usually give 8 pence or 12 pence a piece for at _London_, for three pence or a groat. There is several wayes of cooking them, some love them roasted, others baked, and many will have them fryed; but they please my palate best when they are boiled, a common way it is to boil them in half water, half wine with the bottom of a manchet, a fagot of Parsley, and a little winter savory, when they are boiled they take them out and break the bread in the broth, and put to it three or four spoonfuls of yest, and a piece of sweet butter, this they pour to their _Eals_ laid upon sippets and so serve it up. I fancie my way better which is this, after the _Eals_ are fley’d and washt I fill their bellies with Nutmeg grated and Cloves a little bruised, and sow them up with a needle and thred, then I stick a Clove here and there in their sides about an inch asunder, [p. 112.] making holes for them with a bodkin, this done I wind them up in a wreath and put them into a kettle with half water and half white wine-vinegar, so much as will rise four fingers above the _Eals_, in midst of the _Eals_ I put the bottom of a penny white loaf, and a fagot of these herbs following, Parsley one handful, a little sweet Marjoram, Peniroyal and Savory, a branch of Rosemary, bind them up with a thred, and when they are boiled enough take out the _Eals_ and pull out the threds that their bellies were sowed up with, turn out the Nutmeg and Cloves, put the _Eals_ in a dish with butter and vinegar upon a chafing-dish with coals to keep warm, then put into the broth three or four spoonfuls of good Ale-yeast with the juice of half a Lemmon; but before you put in your yeast beat it in a porringer with some of the broth, then break the crust of bread very small and mingle it well together with the broth, pour it into a deep dish and garnish it with the other half of the Lemmon, and so serve them up to the Table in two dishes.

The _Frost fish_ is little bigger than a _Gudgeon_ and are taken in fresh brooks; when the waters are frozen they make a hole in the Ice about half a yard or yard wide, to which the fish repair in great numbers, where with [p. 113.] small nets bound to a hoop about the bigness of a firkin-hoop with a staff fastned to it they lade them out of the hole. I have not done with the fish yet, being willing to let you know all of them that are to be seen and catch’d in the Sea and fresh waters in _New-England_, and because I will not tire your patience overmuch, having no occasion to enlarge my discourse, I shall only name them and so conclude.

_Aleport_ _Albicore_ _Barracha_ _Barracontha_ _Blew-fish_ _Bull-head_ _Bur-fish_ _Cat-fish_ _Cony-fish_ _Cusk_ _Clam_ _Rock-Cod_ _Sea-Cod_ _divers kinds of Crabs_ _Sea-Cucumber_ _Cunner_ _Sea-Darts or Javelins_ _Flail-fish_ _Flounder or Flowke_ _Flying-fish_ _several kinds Sea-Flea_ _Grandpisse_ _Hake_ _Haddock_ _Horse-foot_ _Hallibut_ _Hen-fish_ _Lampre_ _Limpin_ _Lumpe_ _Maid_ _Monk-fish_ _Sea-mullet_ _Nun-fish_ _Perch_ _Polluck_ _Periwincle_ _Pike_ _Pilat-fish_ _Plaice_ _Porpisse_ _Prawne_ _Purple-fish_ _Porgee_ _Remora_ _Sea-Raven_ _Sail-fish_ _Scallop_ [p. 114.] _Scate_ _Stingray_ _Sculpin_ _Shadd_ _Spurlin_ _Sheath-fish_ _Smelt_ _Shrimps_ _Sprates_ _Star-fish_ _Swordfish_ _Thornback_ _Turbet_ _The Ulatife or saw-fish_ _Sea-Urchin_ _Sea-Unichorn_

The fish are swum by, and the Serpents are creeping on, terrible creatures, carrying stings in their tails. That will smart worse than a _Satyrs_ whip, though it were as big as Mr. _Shepperds_ the mad Gentleman at _Milton-Mowbrayes Constantinus Lasculus_.

The chief or Captain of these is the Rattle-snake described already in my Journal, in some places of the Countrey there are none as at _Plimouth_, _New-town_, _Nahant_ and some other places, they will live on one side of the River, and but swimming over and coming into the woods dye immediately.

The fat of a Rattle-snake is very Soveraign for frozen limbs, bruises, lameness by falls, Aches, Sprains. The heart of a Rattle-snake dried and pulverized and drunk with wine or beer is an approved remedy against the biting and venome of a Rattle-snake. Some body will give me thanks for [p. 115.] discovering these secrets and the rest; _Non omnibus omnia conveniant_.

The _Snake_ of which there are infinite numbers of various colours, some black, others painted with red, yellow and white, some again of a grass-green colour powdered all over as it were with silver dust or _Muscovie_-glass. But there is one sort that exceeds all the rest, and that is the Checkquered snake, having as many colours within the checkquers shaddowing one another, as there are in a Rainbow. There are two sorts of snakes, the land-snake and the water-snake; the water-snake will be as big about the belly as the Calf of a mans leg; I never heard of any mischief that snakes did, they kill them sometimes for their skins and bones to make hatbands off, their skins likewise worn as a Garter is an excellent remedie against the cramp. I have found of the skins that they cast in woods in some quantity, they cast not their very skins, but only the superfluous thin skin that is upon the very skin, for the very skin is basted to the flesh, so Lobsters and Crabs.

The Earth-worm, these are very rare and as small as a horse hair, but there is a Bug that lyes in the earth and eateth the seed, that is somewhat like a Maggot of a white colour with a red head, and is about [p. 116.] the bigness of ones finger and an inch or an inch and half long. There is also a dark dunnish Worm or Bug of the bigness of an Oaten-straw, and an inch long, that in the spring lye at the Root of Corn and Garden plants all day, and in the night creep out and devour them; these in some years destroy abundance of _Indian_ Corn and Garden plants, and they have but one way to be rid of them, which the _English_ have learnt of the