Part 2

The hard Winters are commonly the fore-runners of pleasant Spring-times, and fertile Summers, being iudged likewise to make much for the health of our _English_ bodies: It is found to be more healthfull for such as shall adventure thither, to come towards Winter, than the hot Summer; the Climate in Winter is commonly cold and dry, the Snow lies long, which is thought to be no small nourishing to the ground. For the _Indians_ burning it to suppresse the under-wood, which else would grow all over the Countrey, the Snow falling not long after, keepes the ground warme, and with his melting conveighs the ashes into the pores of the earth, which doth fatten it. It hath beene observed, that _English_ Wheate and Rye proves better, which is Winter sowne, and is kept warme by the Snow, than that which is sowne in the Spring. The Summers be hotter than in _England_; because of their more Southerne latitude, yet are they tollerable; being often cooled with fresh blowing windes, it seldome being so hot as men are driven from their labours, especially such whose imployments are within doores, or under the coole shade: servants have hitherto beene priviledged to rest from their labours in extreame hot weather, from ten of the clocke till two, which they regaine by their early rising in the morning, and double diligence in coole weather. The Summers are commonly hot and dry, there being seldome any raines; I have knowne it sixe or seaven weekes, before one shower hath moystened the Plowmans labour, yet the Harvest hath beene very good, the _Indian_ Corne requiring more heate than wet; for the _English_ Corne, it is refresht with the nightly dewes, till it grow vp to shade his roots with his owne substance from the parching Sunne. In former times the Raine came seldome, but very violently, continuing his drops, (which were great and many) sometimes foure and twenty houres together; sometimes eight and fourty, which watered the ground for a long time after; but of late the Seasons be much altered, the raine comming oftner, but more moderately, with lesse thunder and lightnings, and suddaine gusts of winde. I dare be bold to affirme it, that I saw not so much raine, raw colds, and misty fogges in foure yeares in those parts, as was in _England_ in the space of foure Moneths the last Winter; yet no man at the yeares end, complained of too much drought, or too little raine. The times of most Raine, are in the beginning of _Aprill_, and at _Michaelmas_. The early Springs and long Summers make but short Autumnes and Winters. In the Spring when the Grasse beginnes to put forth, it growes apace, so that where it was all blacke by reason of Winters burnings, in a fortnight there will be Grasse a foote high.

CHAP. III.

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

The Countrey being nearer the Equinoctiall than _England_, the dayes and nights be more equally divided. In Summer the dayes be two houres shorter, and likewise in Winter two houres longer than in _England_. In a word, both Summer and Winter is more commended of the _English_ there, than the Summer Winters, and Winter Summers of _England_; and who is there that could not wish, that _Englands_ Climate were as it hath beene in quondam times, colder in Winter, and hotter in Summer? or who will condemne that which is as _England_ hath beene? _Virginia_ having no Winter to speake of, but extreame hot Summers, hath dried up much _English_ blood, and by pestiferous diseases swept away many lusty bodies, changing their complexion not into swarthinesse, but into Palenesse; so that when as they come for trading into our parts, wee can know many of them by their faces. This alteration certainely comes not from any want of victuals or necessary foode, for their soyle is very fertile and pleasant, yeelding both Corne and Cattle plenty, but rather from the Climate, which indeede is found to be hotter than is suiteable to an ordinary _English_ constitution.

In _New England_ both men and women keepe their naturall complexions, in so much as Sea men wonder when they arrive in those parts, to see their Countrey-men so fresh and ruddy: If the Sunne doth tanne any, yet the Winters cold restores them to their former complexion; and as it is for the outward complexion, so it is for the inward constitution; not very many being troubled with inflammations, or such diseases as are encreased by too much heate: and whereas I say, not very many, yet dare I not exclude any; for death being certaine to all, in all Nations there must be something tending to death of like certainty. The soundest bodies are mortall and subject to change, therefore fall into diseases, and from diseases to death. Now the two chiefe messengers of mortality, be _Feavers_ and _Callentures_; but they be easily helpt, if taken in time, and as easily prevented of any that will not prove a meere foole to his body. For the common diseases of _England_, they be strangers to the _English_ now in that strange Land. To my knowledge I never knew any that had the Poxe, Measels, Greene-sicknesse, Head-aches, Stone, or Consumptions, &c. Many that have come infirme out of _England_, retaine their old grievances still, and some that were long troubled with lingering diseases, as Coughs of the lungs, Consumptions, &c. have beene restored by that medicineable Climate to their former strength and health. God hath beene pleased so to blesse men in the health of their bodies, that I dare confidently say it, out of that Towne from whence I came, in three yeares and a halfe, there dyed but three, one of which was crazed before he came into the Land; the other were two Children borne at one birth before their time, the Mother being accidentally hurt. To make good which losses, I have seene foure Children Baptized at a time, which wipes away that common aspersion, that women have no Children, being a meere falsity, there being as sweete lusty Children as in any other Nation, and reckoning so many for so many, more double births than in _England_; the women likewise having a more speedy recovery, and gathering of strength after their delivery than in _England_.

The last Argument to confirme the healthfulnesse of the Countrey, shall be from mine owne experience, who although in _England_ I was brought up tenderly under the carefull hatching of my dearest friends, yet scarce could I be acquainted with health, having beene let blood sixe times for the _Pleurisie_ before I went; likewise being assailed with other weakning diseases; but being planted in that new Soyle and healthfull Ayre, which was more correspondent to my nature, (I speake it with praise to the mercifull God) though my occasions have beene to passe thorow heate and cold, wet, and dry, by Sea and Land, in Winter and Summer, day by day, for foure yeares together, yet scarse did I know what belonged to a dayes sicknesse.

CHAP. IIII.

_Of the nature of the Soyle._

The Soyle is for the generall a warme kinde of earth, there being little cold-spewing land, no Morish Fennes, no Quagmires, the lowest grounds be the Marshes, over which every full and change the Sea flowes: these Marshes be rich ground, and bring plenty of Hay, of which the Cattle feed and like, as if they were fed with the best up-land Hay in _New England_; of which likewise there is great store which growes commonly betweene the Marshes and the Woods. This Medow ground lies higher than the Marshes, whereby it is freed from the over-flowing of the Seas; and besides this, in many places where the Trees grow thinne, there is good fodder to be got amongst the Woods. There be likewise in divers places neare the plantations great broad Medowes wherein grow neither shrub nor Tree, lying low, in which Plaines growes as much grasse, as may be throwne out with a Sithe, thicke and long, as high as a mans middle; some as high as the shoulders, so that a good mower may cut three loads in a day. But many object, this is but a course fodder: True it is, that it is not so fine to the eye as _English_ grasse, but it is not sowre, though it grow thus ranke; but being made into Hay, the Cattle eate it as well as it were Lea-hay and like as well with it; I doe not thinke _England_ can shew fairer Cattle either in Winter, or Summer, than is in those parts both Winter and Summer; being generally larger and better of milch, and bring forth young as ordinarily as Cattle doe in _England_, and have hitherto beene free from many diseases that are incident to Cattle in _England_.

To returne to the Subject in hand, there is so much hay-ground in the Countrey, as the richest voyagers that shall venture thither, neede not feare want of fodder, though his Heard increase into thousands, there being thousands of Acres that yet was never medled with. And whereas it hath beene reported, that some hath mowne a day for halfe of a loade of Hay: I doe not say, but it may be true, a man may doe as much, and get as little in _England_, on _Salisbury_ Plaine, or in other places where Grasse cannot be expected: So Hay-ground is not in all places in _New England_: Wherefore it shall behoue every man according to his calling, and estate, to looke for a fit situation at the first, and if hee be one that intends to live on his stocke, to choose the grassie Vallies before the woody Mountaines. Furthermore, whereas it hath beene generally reported in many places of _England_, that the Grasse growes not in those places where it was cut the fore-going yeares, it is a meere falshood; for it growes as well the ensuing Spring as it did before, and is more spiery and thicke, like our _English_ Grasse: and in such places where the Cattle use to graze, the ground is much improved in the Woods, growing more grassie, and lesse weedy. The worst that can be sayd against the meddow grounds, is because there is little edish, or after-pasture, which may proceede from the late mowing, more than from any thing else; but though the edish be not worth much, yet is there such plenty of other Grasse and seeding, that there is no want of Winter-fodder till _December_, at which time men beginne to house their milch-cattle and Calves: Some, notwithstanding the cold of the Winter, have their Young Cattle without doores, giving them meate at morning and evening. For the more upland grounds, there be different kinds, in some places clay, some gravell, some a red sand; all which are covered with a black mould, in some places above a foote deepe, in other places not so deepe. There be very few that have the experience of the ground, that can condemne it of barrennesse; although many deeme it barren, because the _English_ use to manure their land with fish, which they doe not because the land could not bring corne without it, but because it brings more with it; the land likewise being kept in hart the longer: besides, the plenty of fish which they have for little or nothing, is better so used, than cast away; but to argue the goodnesse of the ground, the _Indians_ who are too lazie to catch fish, plant corne eight or ten yeares in one place without it, having very good crops. Such is the rankenesse of the ground that it must bee sowne the first yeare with _Indian_ Corne, which is a soaking graine, before it will be fit for to receive _English_ seede. In a word, as there is no ground so purely good, as the long forced and improoved grounds of _England_, so is there none so extreamely bad as in many places of _England_, that as yet have not beene manured and improved; the woods of _New England_ being accounted better ground than the Forrests of _England_ or woodland ground, or heathy plaines.

For the naturall soyle, I preferre it before the countrey of Surry, or Middlesex, which if they were not inriched with continuall manurings, would be lesse fertile than the meanest ground in _New England_; wherefore it is neyther impossible, nor much improbable, that upon improvements the soile may be as good in time as _England_. And whereas some gather the ground to be naught, and soone out of hart, because _Plimouth_ men remove from their old habitations, I answer, they do no more remove from their habitation, than the Citizen which hath one house in the Citty & another in the Countrey, for his pleasure, health, & profit. For although they have taken new plots of ground, and built houses upon them, yet doe they retaine their old houses still, and repaire to them, every Sabbath day; neyther doe they esteeme their old lots worse than when they first tooke them: what if they doe not plant on them every yeare? I hope it is no ill husbandry to rest the land, nor is alwayes that the worst that lies sometimes fallow. If any man doubt of the goodnesse of the ground, let him comfort himselfe with the cheapenesse of it; such bad land in _England_ I am sure wil bring in store of good monie. This ground is in some places of a soft mould, and easie to plow; in other places so tough and hard, that I have seene ten Oxen toyled, their Iron chaines broken, and their Shares and Coulters much strained: but after the first breaking up it is so easie, that two Oxen and a Horse may plow it; there hath as good _English_ Corne growne there, as could be desired; especially Rie and Oates, and Barly: there hath beene no great tryall as yet of Wheate, and Beanes; onely thus much I affirme, that these two graines grow well in Gardens, therefore it is not improbable, but when they can gather seede of that which is sowne in the countrey, it may grow as well as any other Graine: but commonly the seede that commeth out of _England_ is heated at Sea, and therefore cannot thrive at land.

CHAP. V.

_Of the Hearbes, Fruites, Woods, Waters and Mineralls._

The ground affoards very good kitchin Gardens, for Turneps, Parsnips, Carrots, Radishes, and Pumpions, Muskmillions, Isquoutersquashes, Coucumbers, Onyons, and whatsoever growes well in _England_, growes as well there, many things being better and larger: there is likewise growing all manner of Hearbes for meate, and medicine, and that not onely in planted Gardens, but in the Woods, without eyther the art or the helpe of man, as sweet Marjoram, Purselane, Sorrell, Peneriall, Yarrow, Mirtle, Saxifarilla, Bayes, &c. There is likewise Strawberries in abundance, very large ones, some being two inches about; one may gather halfe a bushell in a forenoone: In other seasons there bee Gooseberries, Bilberies, Resberies, Treackleberies, Hurtleberries, Currants; which being dryed in the Sunne are little inferiour to those that our Grocers sell in _England_: This land likewise affoards Hempe and Flax, some naturally, and some planted by the _English_, with Rapes if they bee well managed. For such commodities as lie underground, I cannot out of mine owne experience or knowledge say much, having taken no great notice of such things; but it is certainely reported that there is Iron stone; and the _Indians_ informe us that they can leade us to the mountaines of blacke Lead, and have showne us lead ore, if our small judgement in such things doe not deceive us: and though no body dare confidently conclude, yet dare they not utterly deny, but that the _Spaniards_ blisse may lye hid in the barren Mountaines; such as have coasted the countrey affirme that they know where to fetch Seacole if wood were scant; there is plenty of stone both rough and smooth, usefull for many things, with quarries of Slate, out of which they get covering for houses, with good clay, whereof they make Tiles and Brickes, and pavements for their necessary uses.

For the Countrey it is as well watered as any land under the Sunne, every family, or every two families having a spring of sweet waters betwixt them, which is farre different from the waters of _England_, being not so sharpe, but of a fatter substance, and of a more jetty colour; it is thought there can be no better water in the world, yet dare I not preferre it before good Beere, as some have done, but any man will choose it before bad Beere, Wheay, or Buttermilke. Those that drinke it be as healthfull, fresh, and lustie, as they that drinke beere; These springs be not onely within land, but likewise bordering upon the Sea coasts, so that some times the tides overflow some of them, which is accounted rare in the most parts of _England_. No man hitherto hath beene constrained to digge deepe for his water, or to fetch it farre, or to fetch of severall waters for severall uses; one kind of water serving for washing, and brewing and other things. Now besides these springs, there be divers spacious ponds in many places of the Countrey, out of which runne many sweet streames, which are constant in their course both winter and summer, whereat the Cattle quench their thirst, and upon which may be built water mills, as the plantation encreases.

The next commoditie the land affords, is good store of Woods, & that not onely such as may be needfull for fewell, but likewise for the building of Ships, and houses, & Mils, and all manner of water-worke about which Wood is needefull. The Timber of the Countrey growes straight, and tall, some trees being twenty, some thirty foot high, before they spread forth their branches; generally the Trees be not very thicke, though there be many that will serve for Mill posts, some beeing three foote and a halfe o're. And whereas it is generally conceived, that the woods grow so thicke, that there is no more cleare ground than is hewed out by labour of man; it is nothing so; in many places, divers Acres being cleare, so that one may ride a hunting in most places of the land, if he will venture himselfe for being lost: there is no underwood saving in swamps, and low grounds that are wet, in which the _English_ get Osiers, and Hasles, and such small wood as is for their use. Of these swamps, some be ten, some twenty, some thirty miles long, being preserved by the wetnesse of the soile wherein they grow; for it being the custome of the _Indians_ to burne the wood in _November_, when the grasse is withered, and leaves dryed, it consumes all the underwood, and rubbish, which otherwise would over grow the Country, making it unpassable, and spoile their much affected hunting: so that by this meanes in those places where the _Indians_ inhabit, there is scarce a bush or bramble, or any combersome underwood to bee seene in the more champion ground. Small wood growing in these places where the fire could not come, is preserved. In some places where the _Indians_ dyed of the Plague some foureteene yeares agoe, is much underwood, as in the mid way betwixt _Wessaguscus_ and _Plimouth_, because it hath not beene burned; certaine Rivers stopping the fire from comming to cleare that place of the countrey, hath made it unusefull and troublesome to travell thorow, in so much that it is called ragged plaine, because it teares and rents the cloathes of them that passe. Now because it may be necessary for mechanicall artificers to know what Timber, and wood of use is in the Countrey, I will recite the most usefull as followeth.

_Trees both in hills and plaines, in plenty be, The long liv'd Oake, and mournfull Cypris tree, Skie towring pines, and Chesnuts coated rough, The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough: The rozin dropping Firre for masts in use, The boatmen seeke for Oares light, neate growne sprewse, The brittle Ash, the ever trembling Aspes, The broad-spread Elme, whose concave harbours waspes, The water spungie Alder good for nought, Small Elderne by th' _Indian_ Fletchers sought, The knottie Maple, pallid Birtch, Hawthornes, The Horne bound tree that to be cloven scornes; Which from the tender Vine oft takes his spouse, Who twinds imbracing armes about his boughes. Within this _Indian_ Orchard fruites be some, The ruddie Cherrie, and the jettie Plumbe, Snake murthering Hazell, with sweet Saxaphrage, Whose spurnes in beere allayes hot fevers rage. The Diars Shumach, with more trees there be, That are both good to use, and rare to see._