Part 1

NEW ENGLANDS PROSPECT.

A true, lively, and experimentall description of that part of _America_, commonly called NEW ENGLAND: discovering the state of that Countrie, both as it stands to our new-come _English_ Planters; and to the old Native Inhabitants.

Laying downe that which may both enrich the knowledge of the mind-travelling Reader, or benefit the future Voyager.

By WILLIAM WOOD.

Printed at _London_ by _Tho. Cotes_, for _Iohn Bellamie_, and are to be sold at his shop, at the three Golden Lyons in _Corne-hill_, neere the _Royall Exchange_. 1634.

To the Right Worshipfull, my much honored Friend, Sir WILLIAM ARMYNE, Knight and Baronet.

Noble Sir.

The good assurance of your native worth, and thrice generous disposition, as also the continuall manifestation of your bounteous favour, and love towards my selfe in particular, hath so bound my thankfull acknowledgement, that I count it the least part of my service to present the first fruites of my farre-fetcht experience, to the kinde acceptance of your charitable hands: well knowing that though this my worke, owne not worth enough to deserve your patronage, yet such is your benigne humanity, that I am confident you will daigne it your protection, under which it willingly shrowdes it selfe. And as it is reported of that man whose name was _Alexander_, being a cowardly milke-sop by nature, yet hearing of the valiant courage of that magnificent _Hero_, _Alexander_ the Great, whose name hee bore, he thenceforth became stout and valorous; and as he was animated by having the very name of puissant _Alexander_; so shall these my weake and feble labours, receive life and courage by the patronage of your much esteemed selfe; whereby they shall bee able to out-face the keenest fanges of a blacke mouth'd _Momus_. For from hence the world may conclude, that either there was some worth in the booke, that caused so wise a person to looke upon it, and to vouchsafe to owne it, or else if they suppose that in charity he fosterd it, as being a poore helpelesse brat, they may thence learne to do so likewise. If here I should take upon me the usuall straine of a soothing Epistolizer, I should (though upon better grounds than many) sound forth a full mouth'd encomiasticke of your incomparable worth: but though your deserts may justly challenge it, yet I know your vertuous modesty would not thanke me for it; and indeed your owne actions are the best _Heralds_ of your owne praise, which in spite of envy it selfe must speake you Wise, and truly Noble: and I for my part, if I may but present any thing, which either for its profit or delight may obtaine your favourable approbation, I have already reaped the harvest of my expectation; onely I must desire you to pardon my bold presumption, as thus to make your well deserving name, the frontispeece to so rude and ill deserving frame. Thus wishing a confluence of all blessings both of the throne, and foot-stoole, to be multiplied upon your selfe, and your vertuous Consort, my very good Lady, together with all the Stemmes of your Noble family, I take my leave and rest,

_Your Worships to serve and be commanded_, W. W.

To the Reader.

Courteous Reader,

_Though I will promise thee no such voluminous discourse, as many have made upon a scanter subject, (though they have travailed no further than the smoake of their owne native chimnies) yet dare I presume to present thee with the true, and faithfull relation of some few yeares travels and experience, wherein I would be loath to broach any thing which may puzzle thy beleefe, and so justly draw upon my selfe, that unjust aspersion commonly laid on travailers; of whom many say, They may lye by authority, because none can controule them; which Proverbe had surely his originall from the sleepy beleefe of many a home-bred Dormouse, who comprehends not either the raritie or possibility of those things he sees not, to whom the most classicke relations seeme riddles, and paradoxes: of whom it may be said as once of _Diogenes_, that because he circled himselfe in the circumference of a tubbe, he therefore contemned the Port and Pallace of _Alexander_, which he knew not. So there is many a tub-brain'd Cynicke, who because any thing stranger than ordinary, is too large for the straite hoopes of his apprehension, he peremptorily concludes it is a lye: But I decline this sort of thicke-witted readers, and dedicate the mite of my endeavours to my more credulous, ingenious, and lesse censorious Country-men, for whose sake I undertooke this worke; and I did it the rather, because there hath some relations heretofore past the Presse, which have beene very imperfect; as also because there hath beene many scandalous and false reports past upon the Country, even from the sulphurious breath of every base ballad-monger: wherefore to perfect the one, and take off the other, I have laid downe the nature of the Country, without any partiall respect unto it, as being my dwelling place where I have lived these foure yeares, and intend God willing to returne shortly againe; but my conscience is to me a thousand witnesses, that what I speake is the very truth, and this will informe thee almost as fully concerning it, as if thou wentest over to see it. Now whereas I have written the latter part of this relation concerning the _Indians_, in a more light and facetious stile, than the former; because their carriage and behaviour hath afforded more matter of mirth, and laughter, than gravity and wisedome; and therefore I have inserted many passages of mirth concerning them, to spice the rest of my more serious discourse, and to make it more pleasant. Thus thou mayest in two or three houres travaile over a few leaves, see and know that, which cost him that writ it, yeares and travaile, over Sea and Land before he knew it; and therefore I hope thou wilt accept it; which shall be my full reward, as it was my whole ambition, and so I rest,_

Thine bound in what I may, _W. W._

To the Author, his singular good Friend, M^r. _William Wood_.

_Thanks to thy travell, and thy selfe, who hast Much knowledge in so small roome, comptly plac't, And thine experience thus a Mount do'st make, From whence we may _New Englands Prospect_ take, Though many thousands distant: wherefore thou Thy selfe shalt sit upon mount _Praise_ her brow. For if the man that shall the short cut find Vnto the _Indies_, shall for that be shrin'd; Sure thou deservest then no small prayse, who, So short cut to _New England_ here dost show; And if then this small thankes, thou getst no more, Of thankes I then will say the world's growne poore._

S. W.

The Table.

Part. 1. _Page._

_Chap._ 1. Of the Situation, Bayes, 1 Havens, and Inlets.

_Chap._ 2. Of the seasons of the yeare, 3 Winter and Summer, together with the heat, cold, snow, raine, and the effects of it.

_Chap._ 3. Of the Climate, length, and 8 shortnesse of day and night, with the suiteablenesse of it to English bodies for health and sicknesse.

_Chap._ 4. Of the nature of the Soyle. 10

_Chap._ 5. Of the Hearbs, Fruits, Woods, 13 Waters, and Minerals.

_Chap._ 6. Of the Beasts that live on 18 the land.

_Chap._ 7. Beasts living in the water. 24

_Chap._ 8. Of the Birds and Fowles both 26 of land and water.

_Chap._ 9. Of Fish. 32

_Chap._ 10. Of the severall plantations 36 in particular.

_Chap._ 11. Of the evils, and such 44 things as are hurtful in the plantation.

_Chap._ 12. What provision is to be made 49 for a Iourney at Sea, and what to carry with us for our use at Land.

Part. 2. _Page._

_Chap._ 1. Of the Connectacuts, 56 Mowhacks, or such Indians as are West- ward.

_Chap._ 2. Of the Tarrenteenes or the 60 Indians inhabiting East-ward.

_Chap._ 3. Of the Pequants and 61 Narragansets, inhabiting South-ward.

_Chap._ 4. Of the Aberginians or Indians 62 North-ward.

_Chap._ 5. Of their Apparell, Ornaments, 64 Paintings, &c.

_Chap._ 6. Of their diet, cookery, &c. 65

_Chap._ 7. Of their dispositions and 69 good qualifications, as friendship, &c.

_Chap._ 8. Of their hardinesse. 75

_Chap._ 9. Of their wondring at the 77 first view of any strange invention.

_Chap._ 10. Of their Kings governement, 79 and Subiects obedience.

_Chap._ 11. Of their Mariages, &c. 81

_Chap._ 12. Of their worship, &c. 82

_Chap._ 13. Of their Warres. 84

_Chap._ 14. Their games, sports, &c. 85

_Chap._ 15. Of their huntings. 88

_Chap._ 16. Of their Fishings. 89

_Chap._ 17. Of their Arts, &c. 90

_Chap._ 18. Of their Language. 91

_Chap._ 19. Of their deaths, &c. 92

_Chap._ 20. Of their women, &c. 94

_FINIS._

_Errata._

_Page. 13. line 25._ _for_ Squonterquashes _reade_ Isquoutersquashes.

_p. 15. l. 10._ hee, they. _l. 11._ his, their. _l. 28._ spoyling, spoile.

_p. 16. l. 10._ mast, masts.

_p. 17. l. 37._ boates, bolles.

_p. 23. l. 12._ us, up.

_p. 24. l. 4._ an, a.

_p. 27. l. 21._ Humiliteers, Humilitees. _l. 22._ million, millions.

_p. 29. l. 7._ tide, tides.

_p. 31. l. 26._ those, their.

_p. 32. l. 26._ Hage, Haicke.

_p. 37. l. 33._ Clarly, Charles.

_p. 41. l. 10._ land, Inland.

_p. 42. l. 8._ stone, stop. _l. 16._ lands, ponds. _l. 36._ brech, Beach.

_p. 45. l. 29._ house, horse.

_p. 46. l. 9._ lyd, lie. _l. 18._ by, her. _l. 24._ a (left out.) _l. 30._ musketor, musketoe.

_p. 47. l. 2._ Fen (left out.)

_p. 50. l. 3._ it (left out.)

_p. 53. l. 20._ handsome, handie. _l. 36._ Centrie, Gentrie.

_p. 54. l. 6._ many, If any. _l. 8._ he, they.

_p. 57. l. 14._ here, there.

_p. 60. l. 1._ placed, placing. _l. 33._ hath (too much.)

_p. 70. l. 24._ Warme, worme.

_p. 82. l. 8._ obiect, subiect.

_p. 83. l. 38._ English ans, English mans.

NEW ENGLANDS PROSPECT.

CHAP. I.

_Of the Situation, Bayes, Havens, and Inlets._

For as much as the Kings most excellent Majesty hath beene graciously pleasd by the grant of his Letters Patents, at first to give life to the plantations of _New England_, and hath dayly likewise by his Favours and Royall protection cherished their growing hopes; whereby many of his Majesties faithfull Subjects haue beene imboldned to venture persons, states, and indeavours, to the inlargement of his Dominions in that Westerne Continent: Wherefore I thought fit (for the further encouragement of those that hereafter, either by Purse, or Person shall helpe forward the Plantation,) to set forth these few observations out of my personall and experimentall knowledge.

The place whereon the _English_ have built their Colonies, is judged by those who have best skill in discovery, either to be an Iland, surrounded on the North side with the spacious River _Cannada_, and on the South with _Hudsons_ River, or else a _Peninsula_, these two Rivers overlapping one another, having their rise from the great Lakes which are not farre off one another, as the _Indians_ doe certainely informe us. But it is not my intent to wander far from our Patent; wherefore I referre you to the thrice memorable discoverer of those parts, Captaine _Smith_, who hath likewise fully described the Southerne and North-east part of _New England_, with the noted head-lands, Capes, Harbours, Rivers, Ponds, and Lakes, with the nature of the Soyle, and commodities both by Sea and Land, &c. within the degrees of fourty one and fourty five.

The Bay of _Massachusets_ lyeth under the degree of fourty two and fourty three, bearing South-west from the Lands end of _England_: at the bottome whereof are situated most of the _English_ plantations: This Bay is both safe, spacious, and deepe, free from such cockling Seas as runne upon the Coast of _Ireland_, and in the Channels of _England_: there be no stiffe running Currents, or Rockes, Shelves, Barres, Quicksands. The Mariners having sayled two or three Leagues towards the bottome, may behold the two Capes embracing their welcome Ships in their Armes, which thrust themselves out into the Sea in forme of a halfe-moone, the surrounding shore being high, and shewing many white Cliffes in a most pleasant prospect with divers places of low land, out of which divers Riuers vent themselves into the Ocean, with many openings, where is good Harbouring for Ships of any burthen; so that if an unexpected storme or crosse winde should barre the Marriner from recovering his desired Port, he may reach other Harbours, as _Plimmouth_, _Cape Ann_, _Salem_, _Marvill Head_; all which afford good ground for Anchorage, being likewise land-lockt from Winde and Seas. The chiefe and usuall Harbour, is the still Bay of _Massachusets_, which is close aboard the plantations, in which most of our ships come to anchor, being the nearest their mart, and usuall place of landing of Passengers; it is a safe and pleasant Harbour within, having but one common and safe entrance, and that not very broad, there scarce being roome for 3. Ships to come in board and board at a time, but being once within, there is roome for the Anchorage of 500. Ships.

This Harbour is made by a great company of Ilands, whose high Cliffes shoulder out the boistrous Seas, yet may easily deceiue any unskilfull Pilote; presenting many faire openings and broad sounds, which afford too shallow waters for any Ships, though navigable for Boates and small pinnaces. The entrance into the great Haven is called _Nantascot_; which is two Leagues from _Boston_; this place of it selfe is a very good Haven, where Ships commonly cast Anchor, untill Winde and Tyde serve them for other places; from hence they may sayle to the River of _Wessaguscus_, _Naponset_, _Charles_ River, and _Misticke_ River, on which Rivers bee seated many Townes. In any of these fore-named harbours, the Sea-men having spent their old store of Wood and Water, may haue fresh supplies from the adjacent Ilands, with good timber to repaire their weather-beaten Ships: Here likewise may be had Masts or Yards, being store of such Trees as are usefull for the same purpose.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Seasons of the yeare, Winter and Summer, together with the Heate, Cold, Snow, Raine, and the effects of it._

For that part of the Countrey wherein most of the _English_ have their habitations: it is for certaine the best ground and sweetest Climate in all those parts, bearing the name of _New England_, agreeing well with the temper of our _English_ bodies, being high land, and sharpe Ayre, and though most of our _English_ Townes border upon the Sea-coast, yet are they not often troubled with Mists, or unwholesome fogges, or cold weather from the Sea, which lies East and South from the Land. And whereas in _England_ most of the cold windes and weathers come from the Sea, and those situations are counted most unwholesome, that are neare the Sea-coast, in that Countrey it is not so, but otherwise; for in the extremity of Winter, the North-east and South winde comming from the Sea, produceth warme weather, and bringing in the warme-working waters of the Sea, loosneth the frozen Bayes, carrying away their Ice with their Tides, melting the Snow, and thawing the ground; onely the North-west winde comming over the Land, is the cause of extreame cold weather, being alwaies accompanied with deepe Snowes and bitter Frost, so that in two or three dayes the Rivers are passable for horse and man. But as it is an Axiome in Nature, _Nullum violentum est perpetuum_, No extreames last long, so this cold winde blowes seldome above three dayes together, after which the weather is more tollerable, the Aire being nothing so sharpe, but peradventure in foure or five dayes after this cold messenger will blow a fresh, commanding every man to his house, forbidding any to out-face him without prejudice to their noses; but it may be objected that it is too cold a Countrey for our _English_ men, who have beene accustomed to a warmer Climate, to which it may be answered, (_Igne levatur hyems_) there is Wood good store, and better cheape to build warme houses, and make good fires, which makes the Winter lesse tedious: and moreover, the extremity of this cold weather lasteth but for two Moneths or ten weekes, beginning in _December_, and breaking up the tenth day of _February_; which hath beene a passage very remarkeable, that for ten or a dozen yeares the weather hath held himselfe to his day, unlocking his ycie Bayes and Rivers, which are never frozen againe the same yeare, except there be some small frost untill the middle of _March_. It is observed by the _Indians_ that every tenth yeare there is little or no Winter, which hath beene twice observed of the _English_; the yeare of new _Plimouth_ mens arrivall was no Winter in comparison; and in the tenth yeare after likewise when the great company settled themselves in _Massachusets Bay_, was a very milde season, little Frost, and lesse Snow, but cleare serene weather, few North-west windes, which was a great mercy to the _English_ comming over so rawly and uncomfortably provided, wanting all utensils and provisions which belonged to the well being of Planters: and whereas many died at the beginning of the plantations, it was not because the Country was unhealthfull, but because their bodies were corrupted with sea-diet, which was naught, their Beefe and Porke being tainted, their Butter and Cheese corrupted, their Fish rotten, & voyage long, by reason of crosse Windes, so that winter approaching before they could get warme houses, and the searching sharpnes of that purer Climate, creeping in at the crannies of their crazed bodies, caused death and sicknesse; but their harmes having taught future voyagers more wisedome, in shipping good provision for Sea, and finding warme houses at landing, finde health in both. It hath bin observed, that of five or sixe hundred passengers in one yeare, not above three have died at Sea, having their health likewise at Land. But to returne to the matter in hand, dayly observations makes it apparant, that the peircing cold of that Country produceth not so many noysome effects, as the raw winters of _England_. In publike assemblies it is strange to heare a man sneeze or cough as ordinarily they doe in old _England_; yet not to smother any thing, lest you judge me too partiall in reciting good of the Countrey, and not bad; true it is, that some venturing too nakedly in extreamity of cold, being more foole hardy than wise, have for a time lost the use of their feete, others the use of their fingers; but time and Surgery afterwards recovered them: Some haue had their over-growne beards so frozen together, that they could not get their strong water-bottells into their mouthes; I never heard of any that utterly perished at land with cold, saving one _English_ man and an _Indian_, who going together a Fowling, the morning being faire at their setting out, afterward a terrible storme arising, they intended to returne home; but the storme being in their faces, and they not able to with-stand it, were frozen to death, the _Indian_ having gained three flight-shot more of his journey homeward, was found reared up against a tree with his _Aqua-vitæ_ bottle at his head. A second passage (concerning which many thinke hardly of the Country in regard of his cold) was the miscarriage of a boate at sea; certaine men having intended a voyage to new _Plimouth_, setting sayle towards night, they wanted time to fetch it, being constrained to put into another harbour, where being negligent of the well mooring of their Boate, a strong winde comming from the shore in the night, loosned their killocke, and drove them to Sea, without sight of land, before they had awaked out of sleepe; but seeing the eminent danger, such as were not benummed with cold, shipt out their Oares, shaping their course for _Cape Cod_, where the _Indians_ met them, who buried the dead, and carryed the Boate with the living to _Plimouth_, where some of them died, and some recovered. These things may fright some, but being that there hath beene many passages of the like nature in our _English_ Climate, it cannot dishearten such as seriously consider it, seeing likewise that their owne ruines sprung from their owne negligence.

The Countrey is not so extreamely cold, unlesse it be when the North-west winde is high, at other times it is ordinary for Fishermen to goe to Sea in _Ianuary_ and _February_, in which time they get more Fish, and better than in Summer, onely observing to reach some good Harbours before night, where by good fires they sleepe as well and quietly, (having their mayne sayle tented at their backes, to shelter them from the winde) as if they were at home. To relate how some _English_ bodies have borne out cold, will (it may be) startle beliefe of some, it being so strange, yet not so strange as true. A certaine man being something distracted, broke away from his Keeper, and running into the Wood, could not bee found with much seeking after; but foure dayes being expired, he returned, to appearance as well in body, as at his egresse, and in minde much better: for a mad man to hit home through the unbeaten Woods, was strange, but to liue without meate or drinke in the deepe of Winter, stranger, and yet returne home bettered, was most strange: but if truth may gaine beleefe, you may behold a more superlative strangenesse. A certaine Maide in the extreamity of cold weather, (as it fell out) tooke an uncertaine journey, in her intent short, not above foure miles, yet long in event; for losing her way, she wandred sixe or seaven dayes in most bitter weather, not having one bit of bread to strengthen her, sometimes a fresh Spring quenched her thirst, which was all the refreshment she had; the Snow being upon the ground at first, shee might have trackt her owne foot-steps backe againe, but wanting that understanding, shee wandred, till God by his speciall providence brought her to the place shee went from, where she lives to this day.