Part 2
The Temper of the Aire of _New-England_ is one speciall thing that commends this place. Experience doth manifest that there is hardly a more healthfull place to be found in the World that agreeth better with our English Bodyes. Many that haue beene weake and sickly in old _England_, by comming hither hane beene thoroughly healed and growne healthfull and strong. For here is an extraordinarie cleere and dry Aire that is of a most healing nature to all such as are of a Cold, Melancholy, Flegmatick, Reumaticke temper of Body. None can more truly speake hereof by their owne experience then my selfe. My Friends that knew me can well tell how verie sickly I haue been and continually in Physick, being much troubled with a tormenting paine through an extraordinarie weaknesse of my Stomacke, and aboundance of Melancholicke humors; but since I came hither on this Voyage, I thanke God I haue had perfect health, and freed from paine and vomitings, hauing a Stomacke to digest the hardest and coursest fare who before could not eat finest meat; and whereas my Stomacke could onely digest and did require such drinke as was both strong and stale, now I can and doe oftentimes drink _New-England_ water verie well; and I that haue not gone without a Cap for many yeeres together, neither durst leaue off the same, haue now cast away my Cap, and doe weare none at all in the day time: and whereas beforetime I cloathed my selfe with double cloathes and thicke Wastcoats to keepe me warme, euen in the Summer time, I doe now goe as thin clad as any, onely wearing a light Stuffe Cassocke vpon my Shirt and Stuffe Breeches of one thicknesse without Linings. Besides, I haue one of my Children that was formerly most lamentably handled with sore breaking out of both his hands and feet of the Kings Euill, but since he came hither he is verie well ouer hee was, and there is hope of perfect recouerie shortly, euen by the verie wholesomnesse of the Aire, altering, digesting and drying vp the cold and crude humors of the Body: and therefore I thinke it is a wise course for all cold complections to come to take Physicke in _New England_; for a sup of _New-Englands_ Aire is better then a whole draft of old _Englands_ Ale.
In the Summer time in the midst of _Iuly_ and _August_ it is a good deale hotter then in old _England_: and in Winter, _Ianuary_ and _February_ are much colder as they say: but the Spring and Autumne are of a middle temper.
Fowles of the Aire are plentifull here, and of all sorts as we haue in _England_ as farre as I can learne, and a great many of strange Fowles which we know not. Whilst I was writing these things, one of our Men brought home an Eagle which he had killed in the Wood: they say they are good meat. Also here are many kinds of excellent Hawkes, both Sea Hawkes and Land Hawkes: and my selfe walking in the Woods with another in company, sprung a Partridge so bigge that through the heauinesse of his Body could fly but a little way: they that haue killed them, say they are as bigge as our Hens. Here are likewise aboundance of Turkies often killed in the Woods, farre greater then our English Turkies, and exceeding fat, sweet and fleshy, for here they haue aboundance of feeding all the yeere long, as Strawberries, in Summer all places are full of them, and all manner of Berries and Fruits. In the Winter time I haue seene Flockes of Pidgeons, and haue eaten of them: they doe flye from Tree to Tree as other Birds doe, which our Pidgeons will not doe in _England_: they are of all colours as ours are, but their wings and tayles are farr longer, and therefore it is likely they fly swifter to escape the terrible Hawkes in this Countrey. In Winter time this Countrey doth abound with wild Geese, wild Duckes, and other Sea Fowle, that a great part of winter the Planters haue eaten nothing but roastmeat of diuers Fowles which they haue killed.
Thus you haue heard of the Earth, Water and Aire of _New-England_, now it may be you expect something to be said of the Fire proportionable to the rest of the Elements.
Indeed I thinke _New England_ may boast of this Element more then of all the rest: for though it be here somthing cold in the winter, yet here we haue plentie of Fire to warme vs, and that a great deale cheaper then they sell Billets and Faggots in _London_: nay, all _Europe_ is not able to afford to make so great Fires as _New-England_. A poore Seruant here that is to possesse but 50 Acres of Land, may afford to giue more wood for Timber and Fire as good as the world yeelds, then many Noble Men in _England_ can afford to doe. Here is good liuing for those that loue good Fires. And although _New-England_ haue no Tallow to make Candles of, yet by the aboundance of the Fish thereof, it can afford Oyle for Lampes. Yea our Pine-Trees that are the most plentifull of all wood, doth allow vs plentie of Candles, which are verie vsefull in a House: and they are such Candles as the _Indians_ commonly vse, hauing no other, and they are nothing else but the wood of the Pine Tree clouen in two little slices something thin, which are so full of the moysture of Turpentine and Pitch, that they burne as cleere as a Torch. I haue sent you some of them that you may see the experience of them.
Thus of _New-Englands_ commodities, now I will tell you of some discommodities that are here to be found.
First, In the Summer season for these three months _Iune_, _Iuly_ and _August_, we are troubled much with little Flyes called Musketoes, being the same they are troubled with in _Linconshiere_ and the Fens: and they are nothing but Gnats, which except they be smoked out of their Howses are troublesome in the night season.
Secondly, In the Winter season for two months space the Earth is commonly couered with Snow, which is accompanied with sharp biting Frosts, something more sharpe then is in old _England_, and therefore are forced to make great Fires.
Thirdly, This Countrey being verie full of Woods and Wildernesses, doth also much abound with Snakes and Serpents of strange colours and huge greatnesse: yea there are some Serpents called Rattle Snakes, that haue Rattles in their Tayles that will not flye from a Man as others will, but will flye vpon him and sting him so mortally, that he will dye within a quarter of an houre after, except the partie stinged haue about him some of the root of an Hearbe called Snake weed to bite on, and then he shall receiue no harme: but yet seldome falles it out that any hurt is done by these. About three yeeres since an _Indian_ was stung to death by one of them, but we heard of none since that time.
Fourthly and lastly, Here wants as yet the good company of honest Christians to bring with them Horses, Kine and Sheepe to make vse of this fruitfull Land: great pittie it is to see so much good ground for Corne and for Grasse as any is vnder the Heauens, to lye altogether vnoccupied, when so many honest Men & their Families in old _England_ through the populousnesse thereof, do make very hard shift to liue one by the other.
Now, thus you know what _New-England_ is, as also with the commodities and discommodities thereof: now I will shew you a little of the Inhabitants thereof, and their gouernment.
For their Gouernours they haue Kings, which they call _Saggamores_, some greater, and some lesser, according to the number of their Subiects.
The greatest _Saggamores_ about vs can not make aboue three hundred Men, and other lesse _Saggamores_ haue not aboue fifteene Subiects, and others neere about vs but two.
Their Subiects about twelue yeeres since were swept away by a great and grieuous Plague that was amongst them, so that there are verie few left to inhabite the Countrey.
The _Indians_ are not able to make vse of the one fourth part of the Land, neither haue they any setled places, as Townes to dwell in, nor any ground as they challenge for their owne possession, but change their habitation from place to place.
For their Statures, they are a tall and strong limmed People, their colours are tawny, they goe naked, saue onely they are in part couered with Beasts Skins on one of their Shoulders, and weare something before their Priuities: their Haire is generally blacke, and cut before like our Gentlewomen, and one locke longer then the rest, much like to our Gentlemen, which fashion I thinke came from hence into _England_.
For their weapons, they haue Bowes and Arrowes, some of them headed with Bone, and some with Brasse: I haue sent you some of them for an example.
The Men for the most part liue idlely, they doe nothing but hunt and fish: their wiues set their Corne and doe all their other worke. They haue little Houshold stuffe, as a Kettle, and same other Vessels like Trayes, Spoones, Dishes and Baskets.
Their Houses are verie little and homely, being made with small Poles pricked into the ground, and so bended and fastned at the tops, and on the sides they are matted with Boughes, & couered on the Roofe with Sedge and old Mats; and for their beds that they take their rest on, they haue a Mat.
They doe generally professe to like well of our comming and planting here, partly because there is abundance of ground that they cannot possesse nor make vse of, and partly because our being here will be a meanes both of reliefe to them when they want, and also a defence from their Enemies, wherewith (I say) before this Plantation begun, they were often indangered.
For their Religion, they doe worship two Gods, a good God and an euill God: the good God they call _Tantum_, and their euill God whom they feare will doe them hurt, they call _Squantum_.
For their dealing with vs, we neither feare them nor trust them, for fourtie of our Musketeeres will driue fiue hundred of them out of the Field. We vse them kindly, they will come into our Houses sometimes by halfe a douzen or halfe a score at a time when we are at victuals, but will aske or take nothing but what we giue them.
We purpose to learne their Language as soone as we can, which will be a meanes to do them good.
_Of the present condition of the Plantation, and what it is._
When we came first to _Neihum kek_, we found about halfe a score Houses, and a faire House newly built for the Gouernour, we found also aboundance of Corne planted by them, verie good and well likeing. And we brought with vs about two hundred Passengers and Planters more, which by common consent of the old Planters were all combined together into one Body Politicke, vnder the same Gouernour.
There are in all of vs both old and new Planters about three hundred, whereof two hundred of them are setled at _Nehum-kek_, now called _Salem_: and the rest haue Planted themselues at _Masathulets_ Bay, beginning to build a Towne there which we doe call _Cherton_, or _Charles_ Towne.
We that are setled at _Salem_ make what hast we can to build Houses, so that within a short time we shall haue a faire Towne.
We haue great Ordnance, wherewith we doubt not but we shall fortifie our selues in a short time to keepe out a potent Aduersarie. But that which is our greatest comfort, and meanes of defence aboue all other, is, that we haue here the true Religion and holy Ordinances of Almightie God taught amongst vs: Thankes be to God, we haue here plentie of Preaching, and diligent Catechizing, with strickt and carefull exercise, and good and commendable orders to bring our People into a Christian conuersation with whom we haue to doe withall. And thus we doubt not but God will be with vs, and _if God be with vs, who can be against vs_?
_FINIS._
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
_&c._
Generall Considerac̅o̅ns for y^e plantac̅o̅n in _New England_, w^{th} an aunswere to seuerall objections[1]
First it will be a service to y^e Church of great consequence, to carry y^e gospell into those parts of y^e world, & to raise a bulwarke ag^t y^e kingdo̅s̅ of Antichrist w^{ch} y^e Jesuits labour to reare vp in all places of y^e world.
Secondly all other churches of Europe are brought to desolac̅o̅n, & it may be justly feared y^t y^e like judg^{mt} is com̅ing vpon vs: & who knowes but y^t God hath provided this place to be a refuge for many whom hee meanes to saue out of y^e generall destruction.
Thirdly the land growes weary of her inhabitants, so that man w^{ch} is y^e most precious of all creatures is here more vyle & base then y^e earth they tread upon; so as children neighbours & friends especially of y^e poore, are counted y^e greatest burdens, w^{ch} if things were right would be y^e highest earthly blessings.
Wee are growen to y^t excesse & intemperaunce in all excesse of riot as no meane estate almost will suffice to keepe saile w^{th} his equalls & hee y^t fayles in it must [live] in scorne & contempt. Hence it comes to passe y^t all arts & trades are carried in y^t deceitfull man̅er & vnrighteous course, as it is almost impossible for a good upright man to maintayne his chardge & liue co̅fortably in any of y^m.
Fiftly y^e Schooles of learning & religion are so corrupted, as (besides y^e unsupportable chardge of this educac̅o̅n) most children, (euen y^e best wittiest & of fayrest hopes) are perverted, corrupted & utterly ouerpowered by y^e multitude of evill examples & licentious governors of those seminaries.
Sixtly y^e whole earth is y^e Lords garden & hee hath giuen it to y^e sons of Adam to bee tilled & improoued by y^m why then should we stand starving here for places of habitac̅o̅n (many men spending as much labour & cost to recouer or keepe so̅e̅tymes an acre or two of lands, as would procure him many hundreths of acres, as good or better in another place) & in y^e meane tyme suffer whole countreyes as profitable for y^e use of man, to lye wast w^{th}out any improouement.
Seaventhly, what can bee a better worke and more noble & worthy a Christian, then to helpe to raise & support a particular church while it is in it infancy, & to [join] o^r forces w^{th} such a co̅pany of faithfull people, as by a tymely assistaunce may grow stronger & prosper, & for want of it may be put to great hazzard if not wholly ruinated?
Eightly if any such as are knowne to bee godly & liue in wealth & prosperity here, shall forsake all this to joyne y^mselves w^{th} this church, & runne in hazard w^{th} y^m of hard & meane condic̅o̅n, it will be an example of great vse both for y^e remooving of Scandall & sinister & worldly respects, to giue more lyfe to y^e faith of Gods people in their prayers for y^e plantac̅o̅n, & also to encourage others to joyne y^e more willingly in it.
_Objections_:
Obj. 1. It will bee a great wrong to o^r owne church & countrey to take away the best people; & we still lay it more open to y^e judg^{mts} feared.
Aunsw. 1. The number will be nothing in respect of those y^t are left. 2ly many y^t liue to no vse here, more then for their owne priuate familyes may bee employed to a more com̅o̅ good in another place. 3^{ly} such as are of good vse here may yett be so employed as y^e church shall receiue no losse. and since Christs coming y^e church is to be conceiued as universal w^{th}out distinctio̅ of countryes, so as hee y^t doth good in any one place serves y^e church in all places, in regard of y^e vnitye. 4^{thly} it is y^e revealed will of God y^t y^e gospell should be preached to all nations, and though we know not whether y^e Indians will receiue it or not, yet it is a good worke to observe Gods will in offering it to y^m, for God shall haue glory by it though y^y refuse it.
Object. 2. wee haue feared a judge^{mt} a long tyme, but yet we are safe; therefore it were better to stay till it come, & either we may flie then, or if we be ouertaken in it wee may well bee content to suffer w^{th} such a church as ours is.
Aunsw. It is likely y^t this considerac̅o̅n made y^e churches beyond y^e seas as y^e Palatinate & Rochel &c to sit still at home, & not looke out for shelter while y^y might haue found it. but y^e wofull spectacle of their ruine may teach us more wisdome to avoid y^e plague while it is foreseene, & not to tarry as y^y did till it ouertooke y^m. If they were now at their former liberty, wee may be sure y^y would take other courses for their safety. And though most of y^m had miscarried in their escape, yet it had not bene halfe so miserable to th^mselves, or scandalous to religion, as this desperate backsliding and abjuring y^e truth, w^{ch} many of y^e auntient professours among y^m, & y^e whole posterity that remayne are plunged into.
Object. 3. wee haue here a fruitfull Land w^{th} peace & plenty of all things.
Aunsw: wee are like to haue as good condic̅o̅ns there in tyme; but yet we must leaue all this abundance, if it bee not taken fro̅ vs. When we are in o^r graues, it will bee all one whether we haue liued in plenty or in penury, whether we haue dyed in a bed of downe or lockes of straw. Onely this is y^e advantage of y^e meane condic̅o̅n, y^t it is a more freedo̅e̅ to dye. And y^e lesse co̅fort any haue in y^e things of this world, y^e more liberty y^y haue to lay vp treasure in heauen.
Obj. 4. wee may perish by y^e way or when we co̅e̅ there, having hunger or y^e sword &c and how vnco̅fortable will it bee to see o^r wives & children & friends come to such miserie by o^r occasion?
Aunsw. Such objections savour too much of y^e flesh. Who can secure himselfe or his fro̅ y^e like calamities here? If this course bee warrantable, we may trust Gods providence for these things. Either hee will keepe those evills fro̅ vs, or will dispose y^m for o^r good & enable vs to beare y^m.
Obj. 5. But what warrant haue we to take y^t land, w^{ch} is & hath bene of long tyme possessed of others y^e sons of Adam?
Aunsw. That w^{ch} is com̅o̅ to all is proper to none. This Savage people ruleth ouer many lands w^{th}out title or property: for y^y inclose no ground, neither haue y^y cattell to maintayne it, but remooue their dwellings as y^y haue occasion, or as y^y can prevaile agt their neighbours. And why may not Christians haue liberty to go & dwell amongst y^m in their wast lands & woodds (leaving y^m such places as y^y haue manured for their corne) as lawfully, as Abraham did amongst y^e Sodomites? For God hath giuen to y^e sons of men a 2 fould right to y^e earth: there is a naturall right & a civill right. The first right was naturall when men held y^e earth in com̅o̅, every man sowing & seeding where hee pleased: then, as men and cattell increased, y^y appropriated some parcells of ground by enclosing & peculiar manurance, & this in tyme got y^m a civill right. Such was y^e right w^{ch} Ephron y^e Hittite had _in_ y^e field of Machpelah, wherein Abraham could not bury a dead corps w^{th}out leaue, though for y^e outparts of y^e countrey w^{ch} lay com̅on, hee dwelt vpo̅ y^m & tooke y^e fruit of y^m at his pleasure. This appeares also in Jacob & his sons who fedd their flocks as bouldly in y^e Canaanites Land for hee is said to bee Lord of y^e countrey; & at Dotham and all other places men accounted nothing their owne, but y^t w^{ch} y^y had appropriated by their owne industry, as appeares plainly by Abimelechs servaunts, who in their owne countrey did often contend w^{th} Isaacks servaunts about wells w^{ch} y^y had digged; but neuer about y^e lands w^{ch} y^y occupied. So likewise betweene Jacob & Laban: hee would not take a kidd of Labans w^{th}out speciall contract; but hee makes no bargaine w^{th} him for y^e land where y^y fedd. And it is probable y^t if y^e countrey had not bene as free for Jacob as for Laban, y^t covetous wretch would haue made his advantage of him, & haue vpbraided Jacob w^{th} it as hee did w^{th} y^e rest. 2^{dly} there is more then enough for y^m & vs. 3^{dly} God hath consumed y^e natives w^{th} a miraculous plague, whereby y^e greater part of y^e countrey is left void of inhabitants. 4^{ly}, we shall co̅e in w^{th} good leaue of y^e natiues.
Obj. 6. we shall send o^r young ones & such as may best bee spared, & not of y^e best of o^r ministers & magistrates.
Aunsw. It is a great worke & requires more skilfull Artisans to lay y^e foundac̅o̅n of a new building, then to uphoald & repayre one y^t is already built. If great things bee attempted by weake instru^{mts}, y^e effects will bee aunswerable.
Obj. 7. Wee see y^t those plantac̅o̅ns y^t haue bene formerly made, succeeded ill.
Aunsw. 1 The fruit of any publique designe is not to bee discerned by y^e im̅ediat successe: it may appeare in tyme, y^t y^y were all to good vse. 2^{dly}, there were great fundamentall errours in others w^{ch} are like to bee avoided in this: for 1 their mayne end & purpose was carnall & not religious. 2 y^y aymed chiefely at profitt & not at y^e propagac̅o̅n of religion. 3 y^y vsed too vnfitt instru^{mts}, a multitude of rude vngoverned persons, y^e very scums of y^e Land. 4 y^y did not stablish a right fourme of gouern^{mt}.
THE AGREEMENT WITH MR. HIGGINSON
THE AGREE^{MT} W^{TH} M^R. _HIGGINSON_
_A true note of y^e allowance y^t y^e_ new England _Co̅pany haue by com̅o̅ consent & order of their Court & Counsell graunted vnto M^r._ Francis Higginson _minister, for his maintenaunce in_ new England _April 8, 1629_.
Imprimis y^t 30^{li} in money shall be forthw^{th} paid him by ye Co̅panyes treasurer towards y^e chardges of fitting himselfe w^{th} Apparell & other necessaryes for his voyage.
2 Item y^t 10^{li} more shall be payed ouer by y^e said treasurer towards y^e provyding of bookes for present vse.
3 Item y^t hee shall haue 30^{li} yearly paid him for 3 yeares to beginne fro̅ ye tyme of his first arrivall in new England & so to be accounted & paid paid him at y^e End of eu^ry yeare.
4 Item y^t during y^e said tyme y^e Company shall provide for him & his family necessaryes of diett housing & firewood; and shall be at chardges of transporting him into new England: and at y^e end of y^e said 3 yeares, if hee shall not like to continue there any longer, to be at y^e chardge of transporting him backe for England.
5. Item y^t in convenient tyme an house shall be built, & certayne lands allotted thereunto; w^{ch} during his stay in y^e countrey & continuance in y^e ministrey shall bee for his vse; & after his death or remoovall y^e same to be for Succeeding ministers.
6. Item at y^e expirac̅o̅n of y^e said 3 yeares an 100 acres of land shall be assigned to him & his heires for euer.
7. Item y^t in case hee shall depart this lyfe in y^t countrey, y^e said Company shall take care for his widdow during her widdowhood & aboade in y^t country and plantac̅o̅n: & y^e like for his children whilst y^y remayne vpon y^e said plantac̅o̅n.
8. Item y^t y^e milke of 2 kyne shall bee appointed towards y^e chardges of diett for him & his familye as aforesaid, & halfe y^e increase of calves during y^e said 3 yeares: but y^e said 2 kyne, and y^e other halfe of y^e increase to returne to y^e Company at y^e end of y^e said 3 yeares.
9. Item y^t he shall haue liberty of carrying ouer bedding, linnen, brasse, iron, pewter, of his owne for his necessary vse during y^e said tyme.
10 Item y^t if he continue 7 yeares upon y^e said plantac̅o̅n, y^t then 100 acres of land more shall be allotted him for him and his for ever.
_Messrs. Higginson’s and Skelton’s Contract._[A]