CHAP. I.

HIs most Excellent Majestie Having by His Letters Pa­tents, under the Great Seale of England, granted a certaine Countrey in Ame­rica (now called Maryland, in honour of our gratious Queene) unto the Lord Bal­temore, with divers Priviledges, and encou­ragements to all those that should aduenture with his Lordship in the planting of that Cōn­trey: the benefit and honour of such an action was readily apprehended by divers Gentlemen, of good birth and qualitie, who thereupon re­solued to aduenture their persons, and a good [Page 2] part of their fortunes with his Lordship, in the pursuite of so noble and (in all likelihood) so aduantagious an enterprize. His Lordship was at first resolued to goe in person; but the more important reasons perswading his stay at home, hee appointed his brother, Mr. Leonard Caluert to goe Governour in his stead, with whom he joyned in Commission, Mr. Ierome Hawley, and Mr. Thomas Cornwallis (two worthy and able Gentlemen.) These with the other Gentlemen aduenturers, and their seruants, to the number of neere 200. people, imbarked thēselues for the voyage, in the good ship called the Arke, of 300. tunne & upward, which was attended by his Lordships Pinnace, called the Dove, of about 50. tunne. And so on Friday, the 22. of November, 1633. a small gale of winde comming gently from the North-West, they weighed from the Cowes in the Isle of Wight, about ten in the morning; And having stayed by the way Twenty dayes at the Barbada's, and Fourteene dayes at Saint Christophers (upon some necessary occasions) they arrived at Point Comfort in Virginia, on the foure & twentyeth of February following. They had Letters from his Majesty, in favor of them, to the Governour of Virginia, in obedience whereunto, he used them with much courtesie and humanitie. At this time, one Captaine Cleyborne (one of the Councel of Virginia) com­ming [Page 3] from the parts whether they intended to goe, told them that all the Natives were in preparation of defence by reason of a rumor some had raised amongst them, that 6. shippes were to come with many people, who would drive all the inhabitants out of the Countrey.

On the 3. of March, they left Point Comfort, Patowmeck, is a great River of the Pro­vince of Ma­ryland▪ on which they intend [...]d, to seate the first Colony. & 2. dayes after, they came to Patowmeck river, which is about 24. leagues distant, there they began to give names to places, and called the Southerne point of that River, Saint Gregories; and the Northerne point, Saint Michaels.

They sayled up the River, till they came to Heron Iland, which is about 14. leagues, and So called from the a­boundance of that Fowle there. there came to an Anchor under an Island neere unto it, which they called S. Clements. Where they set up a Crosse, and tooke possession of this Countrey for our Saviour, and for our So­veraigne Lord the King of England.

Heere the Governor thought fit for the ship to stay, vntill hee had discovered more of the Countrey: and so hee tooke two Pinnaces, and The Dove, and one hyred in Virgin [...]a. went up the River some 4. leagues, and landed on the South side, where he found the Indians fled for feare, from thence hee sayled some 9. leagues higher to Patowmeck Towne where the Werowance being a child, Archibau his vnckle So they call their Princes. (who governed him and his Countrey for him) gave all the company good wellcome, and one of the company having entered into a little dis­course [Page 4] with him, touching the errours of their religion, hee seemed well pleased there­with; and at his going away, desired him to re­turne thither againe, saying he should live with him, his men should hunt for him, and hee would divide all with him.

From hence the Governor went to Pasehatoway, about 20. leagues higher, where he found many Indians assembled, and heere he met with one Captaine Henry Fleete an English-man, who had lived many yeeres among the Indians, and by that meanes spake the Countrey language very well, and was much esteemed of by the natives. Him our Governour sent a shore to invite the Werowance to a parley, who thereupon came with him aboard privatly, where he was courte­ously entertained, and after some parley being demanded by the Governour, whether hee would be content that he and his people should set downe in his Countrey, in case he should find a place conuenient for him, his answere was, ‘ that he would not bid him goe, neither would & hee bid him stay, but that he might use his owne discretion.’

While this Werowance was aboard, many of his people came to the water side, fearing that he might be surprised, whereupon the Wero­wance commanded two Indians that came with him, to goe on shore, to quit them of this feare, but they answered, they feared they wou'd kill [Page 5] them; The Werowance therefore shewed him­selfe upon the decke, and told them hee was in safety, wherewith they were satisfied.

Whilest the Governour was abroad, the neighbouring Indians, where the ship lay, be­gan to cast off feare, and to come to their Court of guard, which they kept night and day upon Saint Clements Ile, partly to defend their barge, which was brought in pieces out of Eng­land, and there made up; and partly to defend their men which were imployed in felling of trees, and cleaving pales for a Palizado, and at last they ventured to come aboard the ship.

The Governour finding it not fit, for many reasons, to seate himselfe as yet so high in the River, resolued to returne backe againe, and to take a more exact view of the lower parts, and so leaving the Ship & Pinnaces there, he tooke his Barge (as most fit to search the Creekes, and small rivers) and was conducted by Cap­taine Fleete (who knew well the Countrey) to a River on the North-side of Patomeck river, within 4. or 5. leagues from the mouth thereof, which they called Saint Georges River. They went up this river about 4. Leagues, and an­chored at the Towne of Yoacomaco: from whence the Indians of that part of the Coun­trey, are called the Yoacomacoes:

At their comming to this place, the Go­vernour went on shoare, and treated friendly [Page 6] with the Werowance there, and acquainted him with the intent of his comming thither, to which hee made little answere (as it is their manner, to any new or suddaine question) but entertained him, and his company that night in his house, and gave him his owne bed to lie on (which is a matt layd on boords) and the next day, went to shew him the country; and that day being spent in viewing the places about that towne, and the fresh waters, which there are ve­ry plentifull, and excellent good (but the maine rivers are salt) the Governor determined to make the first Colony there, and so gave or­der for the Ship and Pinnaces to come thither.

This place he found to be a very commodi­ous situation for a Towne, in regard the land is good▪ the ayre wholsome and pleasant, the Ri­ver affords a safe harbour for ships of any bur­then, and a very bould shoare; fresh water, and wood there is in great plenty, and the place so naturally fortified, as with little difficultie, it will be defended from any enemie.

To make his entry peaceable and safe, hee thought fit to present the Werowance and the Wisoes of the Towne with some English Cloth, So they call the chiefe men of Ac­compt a­mongst them. (such as is used in trade with the Indians) Ax­es, Howes, and Knives, which they accepted very kindly, and freely gave consent that hee and his company should dwell in one part of their Towne, and reserued the other for them­selues: [Page 7] and those Indians that dwelt in that part of the Towne, which was allotted for the English▪ freely left them their houses, and some corne that they had begun to plant: It was also agreed between them, that at the end of haruest they should leave the whole towne; which they did accordingly: And they made mutuall pro­mises to each other, to live friendly and peace­ably together, and if any injury should happen to be done on any part, that satisfaction should be made for the same, and thus upon the 27. day of March, Anno Domini, 1634. the Go­vernour tooke possession of the place, and na­med the Towne Saint Maries.

There was an occasion that much facilita­ted their treaty with these Indians, which was this: The Sasquehanocks (a warlike people that inhabite betweene Chesopeack bay, and Dela­ware bay) did vsually make warres, and incur­sions upon the neighbouring Indians, partly for superiority, partly for to get their Wo­men, and what other purchase they could meet with, which these Indians of Yocomaco fearing, had the yeere before our arivall there, made a resolution, for their safety, to remove them­selues higher into the Countrey where it was more populous, and many of them were gone thither before the English arrived.

Three dayes after their comming to Yoacoma­co the Arke with the two Pinaces arived there. [Page 8] The Indians much wondred to see such ships, and at the thundering of the Ordnance when they came to an Anchor.

The next day they began to prepare for their houses, and first o [...] all a Court of Guard, and a Store-house; in the meane time they lay a­bord the ship: They had not beene there many dayes before Sir Iohn Haruie the governor of V [...]rginea came thither to visit them; Also some Indian Werowances, and many other Indians f [...]om severall parts came to see them, amongst others the Werowance of Patuxent came to visit the Governour, and being brought into the great Cabin of the ship, was placed betweene the Governour of Virginea, and the Governour of Mary-land; and a Patuxent Indian that came with him, comming into the Cabin, and find­ing the Werowance thus sitting betweene the two Governours, started backe, fearing the We­rowance was surprised, and was ready to have leapt overboard, and could not be perswaded to come into the Cabin, untill the Werowance came himselfe unto him; for he remembred how the said Werowance had formerly beene ta­ken prisoner by the English of Virginia.

After they had finished the store-house, and unladed the ship, the Governour thought fit to bring the Colours on shore, which were atten­ded by all the Gentlemen, and the rest of the servants in armes; who received the Colours [Page 9] with a volley of shot, which was answered by the Ordnance from the ships; At this Cere­mony were present, the Werowances of Patuxent, and Yoacomaco, with many other Indians; and the Werowance of Patuxent hereupon tooke oc­casion to advise the Indians of Yoacomaco to be carefull to keepe the league that they had made with the English. He stayed with them divers dayes, and used many Indian Comple­ments, and at his departure hee said to the Go­vernour. ‘I loue the English so well, that if they should goe about to kill me, if I had but so much breath as to speake; I would com­mand the people, not to revenge my death▪ for I know they would not doe such a thing, except it were through mine owne default.’

They brought thither with them some store of Indian Corne, from the Barbado's, which at their first arivall they began to vse (thinking fit to reserve their English provision of Meale and Oatemeale) and the Indian women seeing their servants to bee unacquainted with the manner of dressing it, would make bread there­of for them, and teach them how to doe the like: They found also the countrey well stored with Corne (which they bought with truck, such as there is desired, the Natiues having no knowledge of the use of money) whereof they sold them such plenty, as that they sent 1000. bushells of it to New-England, to provide them [Page 10] some salt-fish, and other commodities which they wanted.

During the time that the Indians stai'd by the English at Yoacomaco, they went dayly to hunt with them for Deere and Turkies, wherof some they gaue them for Presents, and the meaner sort would sell them to them, for knives, beades and the like: Also of Fish, the natives brought them great store, and in all things dealt very friendly with them; their women and children came very frequently amongst them, which was a certaine signe of their confidence of them, it being found by experience, that they never at­tempt any ill, where the women are, or may be in danger.

Their comming thus to seate upon an Indi­an Towne, where they found ground cleered to their hands, gave them opportunity (al­though they came late in the yeere) to plant some Corne, and to make them gardens, which they sowed with English seeds of all sorts, and they prospered exceeding well. They also made what haste they could to finish their houses; but before they could accomplish all these things, one Captaine Cleyborne (who had a desire to appropriate the trade of those parts unto himselfe) began to cast out words amongst the Indians, saying, That those of Yoacomaco were Spaniards and his enemies; and by this meanes endeavoured to alienate the mindes of [Page 11] the Natives from them, so that they did not re­ceive them so friendly as formerly they had done. This caused them to lay aside all other workes, and to finish their Fort, which they did within the space of one moneth; where they mounted some Ordnance, and furnished it with some murtherers, and such other meanes of de­fence as they thought fit for their safeties: which being done, they proceeded with their Houses and finished them, with convenient ac­commodations belonging thereto: And al­though they had thus put themselves in safety, yet they ceased not to procure to put these jea­lousies out of the Natives minds, by treating and vsing them in the most courteous manner they could, and at last prevailed therein, and set­led a very firme peace and friendship with them. They procured from Virginia, Hogges, Poultrey, and some Cowes, and some male cat­tell, which hath given them a foundation for breed and increase; and whoso desires it, may furnish himselfe with store of Cattell from thence, but the hogges and Poultrey are already increased in Maryland, to a great stocke, suffici­ent to serve the Colonie very plentifully. They have also set up a Water-mill for the grinding of Corne, adjoyning to the Towne.

Thus within the space of sixe moneths, was laid the foundation of the Colonie in Mary­land; and whosoever intends now to goe thi­ther, [Page 12] shall finde the way so troden, that hee may proceed with much more ease and confi­dence then these first adventurers could, who were ignorant both of Place, People, and all things else, and could expect to find nothing but what nature produced: besides, they could not in reason but thinke, the Natives would op­pose them; whereas now the Countrey is dis­covered, and friendship with the Natives is as­sured, houses built, and many other accom­modations, as Cattell, Hogges, Poultry, Fruits and the like brought thither from England, Virginea, and other places, which are vsefull, both for profit and Pleasure: and without boa­sting it may be said, that this Colony hath a­rived to more in sixe moneths, then Virginia did in as many yeeres. If any man say, they are beholding to Virginea for so speedy a supply of many of those things which they of Virginia were forced to fetch from England and other remote places, they will confesse it, and ac­knowledge themselves glad that Virginea is so neere a neighbour, and that it is so well stored of all necessaries for to make those parts happy, and the people to live as plentifully as in any o­ther part of the world, only they wish that they would be content their neighbours might live in peace by them, and then no doubt they should find a great comfort each in other.

CHAP. II.

THe precedent discourse gives you to understand, how the first Colony sate downe in Maryland, what progresse they made, and in what estate it is at this present: Now my purpose is to speake of the Countrey in generall, that who so lookes that way, may beforehand know something thereof. It is seated betweene the degrees of 38 and 40 of North-Latitude, Vir­ginia bounds it on the South, New-England on the North, and the Ocean on the East, but the Westerne parts are not yet discovered.

The temper of the Ayre is very good, and a­grees well with the English, as appeared at their first comming thither, when they had no houses to shelter them, and their people were [Page 14] enforced, not onely to labour in the day, but to watch in their turnes at night, yet had their healths exceeding well: In Summer its hot as in Spaine, and in Winter there is frost and snow, but it seldome lasts long▪ this last Win­ter was the coldest that had beene knowne in many yeeres: but the yeere before, there was scarce any signe of Winter, onely that the leaves fell from the trees, in all other things it appeared to be Summer; and yet the last Win­ter, both their Cattell and Hoggs kept them­selves in the woods, without any fodder, or o­ther helpe, and the Hoggs thrived so well, that some of them were killed out of the woods for Porke and Bacon, which was excellent good and fat.

The Windes there are variable; from the South comes Heat, Gusts, and Thunder; from the North, or North-west, cold-weather, and in winter, Frost and Snow; from the East and South-east, Raine.

The ordinary entrance by Sea into this Countrey, is betweene two Capes, which are distant each from other, about 7 or 8 leagves, the South-Cape is called Cape-Henry; the North, Cape-Charles, When you are come within the Capes, you enter into a faire Bay, which is navigable for at least 200 miles, and is called Chesopeack Bay, and runneth Norther­ly: Into this Bay fall many goodly navigable [Page 15] Rivers, the chiefe whereof is Patomack, where the Colony is now seated. It's navigable for 140 miles, it begins to be fresh about 2 leagves above Patomack Towne. The next River North­ward is Patuxent, which at the entrance is di­stant from the other, about 20 miles, and is a very pleasant and commodious River; It's fit for habitation, and easie to be defended, by rea­son of the Ilands, and other places of advantage, that may command it; from thence, untill you come to the head of the Bay, there are no more Rivers that are inhabited: There dwell the Sas­quehanocks▪ upon a River that is not navigable for our Boates, by reason of Sholes and Rockes; but they passe it in A tearme they use for their Boates. Canoos; At the entrance thereof, there is an Iland which will command that River. Vpon the East side of this Bay lie very many Ilands which are not inhabited, where are store of Deere.

On the Easterne shore of the Country, which lieth upon the maine Ocean, are sundry small Creekes, and one likely to proove a very com­modious harbour, called Matsopongue; neere the mouth whereof, lieth an Iland of about 20 miles in length, and thence about 6 leagues more Northerly, another Iland called Chingoto; and about seaven leagues beyond that, to the North, opens another very large faire Bay, cal­led Delaware Bay. This Bay is about 8 leagues wide at the entrance, and into it, there falls a [Page 16] very faire navigable River.

The Countrey is generally plaine and even, and yet hath some pritty small hills and ri­sings; It's full of Rivers and Creekes, and hath store of Springs and small Brookes: The Woods for the most part are free from under­wood, so that a man may travell on horsebacke, almost any-where, or hunt for his recreation.

CHAP. III.

THis Countrey affords naturally, many excellent things for Phy­sicke and Surgery, the perfect use of which, the English can­not yet learne from the Na­tives: They have a roote which is an excellent preseruative against Poyson, called by the English, the Snake roote. Other herbes and rootes they have, wherewith they cure all manner of woundes; also Saxafras, Gummes, and Balsum. An Indian seeing one of the English, much troubled with the tooth-ake, fetched of the roote of a tree, and gave the par­ty some of it to hold in his mouth, and it eased the paine presently. They have other rootes fit for dyes, wherewith they make colours to paint themselues.

[Page 18]The Timber of these parts is very good, and in aboundance, it is usefull for building of hou­ses, and shippes; the white Oake is good for Pipe-staves, the red Oake for wainescot. There is also Walnut, Cedar, Pine, & Cipresse, Ches­nut, Elme, Ashe, and Popler, all which are for Building, and Husbandry. Also there are di­vers sorts of Fruit-trees, as Mulberries, Persi­mons, with severall other kind of Plummes, and Vines, in great aboundance. The Mast and the Chesnuts, and what rootes they find in the woods, doe feede the Swine very fat, and will breede great store, both for their owne pro­vision, or for merchandise, and such as is not in­ferior to the Bacon of Westphalia.

Of Strawberries, there is plenty, which are ripe in Aprill: Mulberries in May; and Raspi­ces in Iune; Maracocks which is somewhat like a Limon, are ripe in August.

In the Spring, there are severall sorts of herbes, as Corn-sallet, Violets, Sorrell, Purslaine, all which are very good and wholsome, and by the English, used for sallets, and in broth.

In the upper parts of the Countrey, there are Bufeloes, Elkes, Lions, Beares, Wolues, and Deare there are great store, in all places that are not too much frequented, as also Beavers, Foxes, Otters, and many other sorts of Beasts.

Of Birds, there is the Eagle, Goshawke, Falcon, Lanner, Sparrow-hawke, and Merlin, [Page 19] also wild Turkeys in great aboundance, where­of many weigh 50. pounds, and upwards; and of Partridge plenty: There are likewise sundry sorts of Birds which sing, whereof some are red, some blew, others blacke and yellow, some like our Black-birds, others like Thrushes, but not of the same kind, with many more, for which wee know no names.

In Winter there is great plenty of Swannes, Cranes, Geese, Herons, Ducke, Teale, Widge­on, Brants, and Pidgeons, with other sorts, whereof there are none in England.

The Sea, the Bayes of Chesopeack, and Dela­ware, and generally all the Rivers, doe abound with Fish of severall sorts; for many of them we have no English names: There are Whales, Sturgeons uery large and good, and in great a­boundance; Grampuses, Porpuses, Mullets, Ttouts, Soules, Place, Mackerell, Perch, Crabs, Oysters, Cockles, and Mussles; But above all these, the fish that have no English names, are the best except the Sturgeons: There is also a fish like the Thornebacke in England, which hath a taile a yard long, wherein are sharpe prickles, with which if it strike a man, it will put him to much paine and torment, but it is very good meate: also the Tode-fish, which will swell till it be ready to burst, if it be taken out of the water.

The Mineralls have not yet beene much [Page 20] searched after, yet there is discovered Iron Oare; and Earth fitt to make Allum, Terra lem­nia, and a red soile like Bolearmonicke, with sundry other sorts of Mineralls, which wee have not yet beene able to make any tryall of.

The soile generally is very rich, like that which is about Cheesweeke neere London, where it is worth 20. shillings an Acre yeerely to Til­lage in the Common-fields, and in very many places, you shall have two foote of blacke rich mould, wherein you shall scarce find a stone, it is like a sifted Garden-mould, and is so rich, that if it be not first planted with Indian corne, Tobacco, Hempe, or some such thing that may take off the ranknesse thereof, it will not be fit for any English graine; and under that, there is found good loame, whereof wee have made as good bricke as any in England; there is great store of Marish ground also, that with good husbandry, will make as rich Medow, as any in the world: There is store of Marle, both blue, and white, and in many places, excellent clay for pots, and tyles; and to conclude, there is nothing that can be reasonably expected in a place lying in the latitude which this doth, but you shall either find it here to grow naturally: or Industry, and good husbandry will pro­duce it.

CHAP. IIII.

HEe that well considers the situa­tion of this Countrey, and findes it placed betweene Virginia and New-England, cannot but, by his owne reason, conclude that it must needs participate of the naturall commo­dities of both places, and be capable of those which industry brings into either, the distan­ces being so small betweene them: you shall find in the Southerne parts of Maryland, all that Virginia hath naturally; and in the Nor­therne parts, what New-England produceth; and he that reades Captaine Iohn Smith shall see at large discoursed what is in Virginia, and in Ma­ster William Wood, who this yeere hath written a [Page 22] treatise of New-England, he may know what is there to be expected.

CHAP. V.

HEE that hath a Curiosity to know all that hath beene obserued of the Customes and manners of the Indians, may find large discourses thereof in Captaine Smiths Booke of Virginia, and Mr. Woods of New-England: but he that is desirous to goe to Maryland, shall heere find enough to informe him of what is necessary for him to know touching them. [Page 25] By Captaine Smith's, and many other Relati­ons you may be informed, that the People are War-licke, and have done much harme to the English; and thereby are made very terrible. Others say that they are a base and cowardly People, and to be contemned: and it is thought by some who would be esteemed States-men, that the only point of pollicie that the English can use, is, to destroy the Indians, or to drive them out of the Countrey, without which, it is not to be hoped that they can be secure. The truth is, if they be injured, they may well be feared, they being People that have able bo­dies, and generally, taller, and bigger limbed then the English, and want not courage; but the oddes wee have of them in our weapons, keepes them in awe, otherwise they would not flie from the English, as they have done in the time of Warres with those of Virginia, and out of that respect▪ a small number of our men being armed, will aduenture upon a great troope of theirs, and for no other reason, for they are re­solute and subtile enough: But from hence to conclude, that there can be no safety to live with them, is a very great errour. Experience hath taught us, that by kind and faire usage, the Natives are not onely become peaceable, but also friendly, and have upon all occasions per­formed as many friendly Offices to the English in Maryland, and New-England, as any neigh­bour [Page 26] or friend uses to doe in the most Civill parts of Christendome: Therefore any wise man will hold it a far more just and reasonable way to treat the People of the Countrey well, thereby to induce them to civility, and to teach them the use of husbandry, and Mechanick trades, whereof they are capable, which may in time be very usefull to the English; and the Planters to keepe themselues strong, and united in Townes, at least for a competent number, and then noe man can reasonably doubt, either sur­prise, or any other ill dealing from them.

But to proceede, hee that sees them, may know how men lived whilest the world was un­der the Law of Nature; and as by nature, so a­mongst them, all men are free, but yet subject to command for the publike defence. Their Government is Monarchicall, he that governes in chiefe, is called the Werowance, and is assisted by some that consult with him of the common affaires, who are called Wisoes: They have no Lawes, but the Law of Nature and discretion, by which all things are ruled, onely Custome hath introduced a law for the Succession of the Government, which is this; when a Werowance dieth▪ his eldest sonne succeeds, and after him the second, and so the rest, each for their▪ liues, and when all the sonnes are dead, then the sons of the Werowances eldest daughter shall suc­ceede, and so if he have more daughters; for [Page 27] they hold, that the issue of the daughters hath more of his blood in them than the issue of his sonnes. The Wisoes are chosen at the pleasure of the Werowance, yet commonly they are cho­sen of the same family, if they be of yeeres ca­pable: The yong men generally beare a very great respect to the elder.

They have also C [...]ck [...]r [...]ses that are their Captains in time of war, to whom they are very obedient; But the Werowance himselfe plants Corne, makes his owne Bow and Arrowes, his Canoo, his Mantle, Shooes, and what ever else belongs unto him, as any other common Indi­an; and commonly the Commanders are the best and most ingenious and active in all those things which are in esteeme amongst them. The women serve their husbands, make their bread, dresse their meate, such as they kill in hunting, or get by fishing; and if they have more wives then one, as some of them have (but that is not generall) then the best beloved wife performes all the offices of the house, and they take great coment therein. The women also (beside the houshold businesse) use to make Matts, which serve to cover their houses, and for beds; also they make baskets, some of Rushes, others of Silke-grasse, which are very handsom.

The Children live with their Parents; the Boyes untill they come to the full growth of men; (for they reckon not by yeeres, as we doe) [Page 28] then they are put into the number of Bow-men, and are called Blacke-boyes (and so continue untill they take them wives) When they are to be made Black-boyes, the ancient men that governe the yonger, tell them, That if they will be valiant and obedient to the Werowance, Wisos and C [...]kc [...]r [...]ses, then their god will love them, all men will esteeme of them, and they shall kill Deere, and Turkies, catch Fish, and all things shall goe well with them; but if other­wise, then shall all goe contrary: which perswa­sion mooves in them an incredible obedience to their commands; If they bid them take fire in their hands or mouthes, they will doe it, or any other desperate thing, although with the appa­rant danger of their lives.

The women remaine with their Parents un­till they have husbands, and if the Parents bee dead, then with some other of their friends. If the husband die, he leaves all that he hath to his wife, except his bow and arrowes, and some Beades (which they usually bury with them) and she is to keepe the children untill the sons come to be men, and then they live where they please, for all mens houses are free unto them; and the daughters untill they have husbands. The manner of their marriages is thus; he that would have a wife, treates with the father, or if he be dead, with the friend that takes care of her whom he desires to have to wife, and agrees [Page 29] with him for a quantity of Beades, or some such other thing which is accepted amongst them; which he is to give for her, and must be payed at the day of their marriage; and then the day be­ing appointed, all the friends of both parts meet at the mans house that is to have the wife, and each one brings a present of meate and the wo­man that is to be married also brings her pre­sent: when the company is all come, the man he sits at the upper end of the house, and the womans friends leade her up, and place her by him, then all the company sit down upon mats, on the ground (as their manner is) and the wo­man riseth and serves dinner, First to her hus­band, then to all the company; the rest of the day they spend in singing and dancing (which is not unpleasant) at night the company leaves thē, and cōmonly they live very peaceably and lovingly together; Yet it falls out sometimes, that a man puts away one wife and takes ano­ther; then she and her children returne to her friends again. They are generally very obedient to their husbands, and you shal seldome heare a woman speake in the presence of her husband, except he aske her some question.

This people live to a great age, which ap­peares, in that although they marry not so yong as we doe in England, yet you may see ma­ny of them great-grandfathers to children of good bignesse; and continue at that age, very [Page 30] able and strong men: The Men and Women have all blacke haire, which is much bigger and harsher then ours, it is rare to see any of them to waxe gray, although they be very old, but never bauld: It is seldome seene that any of the men have beards, but they weare long locks, which reach to their shoulders, and some of them to their wasts: they are of a comely sta­ture, well favoured, and excellently well lim­bed, and seldome any deformed. In their warres, and hunting, they use Bowes and Ar­rowes (but the Arrowes are not poysoned, as in other places.) The Arrow-heads are made of a Flint-stone, the top of a Deares horne, or some Fish-bone, which they fasten with a sort of glew, which they make. They also use in warres, a short club of a cubite long, which they call a Tomahawk.

They live for the most part in Townes, like Countrey Villages in England; Their houses are made like our Arboures, covered some with matts, others with barke of trees, which defend them from the injury of the weather: The fiers are in the midst of the house, and a hole in the top for the smoake to goe out at. In length, some of them are 30. others 40. some a 100. foote; and in breadth about 12. foote. They have some things amongst them which may well become Christians to imitate, as their temperance in eating and drinking, their [Page 31] Iustice each to other, for it is never heard of, that those of a Nation will rob or steale one from another; and the English doe often trust them with truck, to deale for them as factors, and they have performed it very justly: Also they have sent letters by them to Virginia, and into other parts of the Countrey, unto their seruants that have beene trading abroad, and they have delivered them, and brought backe answere thereof unto those that sent them; Al­so their conuersation each with other, is peace­able, and free from all scurrulous words, which may give offence; They are very hospitable to their owne people, and to strangers; they are al­so of a grave comportment: Some of the Ad­uenturers at a time, was at one of their feasts, when Two hundred of them did meet together; they eate of but one dish at a meale, and every man, although there be never so many, is serued in a dish by himselfe; their dishes are made of wood, but handsomely wrought: The dinner lasted two houres; and after dinner, they sung and danced about two houres more, in all which time, not one word or action past amongst them that could give the least disturbance to the company; In the most grave assembly, no man can expect to find so much time past with more silence and gravitie: Some Indians comming on a time to Iames Towne in Virginia, it happe­ned, that there then sate the Councell to heare [Page 32] causes, and the Indians seeing such an assembly, asked what it meant? Answere was made, there was held a Match-c [...]mac [...] (which the Indians call their place of Councell) the Indian reply­ed, that they all talke at once, but wee doe not so in our Match-comac [...].

Their attire is decent and modest; about their wasts, they weare a covering of Deares skinnes, which reacheth to their knees, and up­on their shoulders a large mantle of skinnes, which comes downe to the middle of the legge, and some to the heele; in winter they weare it furred, in summer without; When men hunt they put off their Mantles, so doe the women when they worke, if the weather be hot: The women affect to weare chaines and brace­lets of beades, some of the better sort of them, weare ropes of Pearle about their necks, and some hanging in their eares, which are of a large sort, but spoyled with burning the Oysters in the fire, and the rude boaring of them. And they and the young men use to paint their fa­ces with severall colours, but since the English came thither, those about them have quite left it; and in many things shew a great inclination to conforme themselues to the English manner of living. The werowance of Paschatoway desi­red the Governor to send him a man that could build him a house like the English, and in sun­dry respects, commended our manner of living, [Page 33] as much better then their owne: The Werowance of Patuxent, goes frequently in English Attire, so doth hee of Port [...]back, and many others that have bought Clothes of the English: These Werowances have made request, that some of their children may be brought up amongst the English, and every way, shew great demonstra­tions of friendship, and good affection un­to them.

These People acknowledge a God, who is Their Religi­on. the giver of al the good things, wherewith their life is maintained; and to him they sacrifice of the first fruits of their Corne, and of that which they get by hunting, and fishing: The sacrifice is performed by an Ancient man, who makes a speech unto their God (not without some­thing of Barbarisme) which being ended, hee bu [...]es part of the sacrifice, and then eates of the rest, then the People that are present, eate also, and untill the Ceremony be performed, they will not touch one bit thereof: They hold the Immortalitie of the soule, and that there is a place of Ioy, and another of torment after death, and that those which kill, steale, or lye, shall goe to the place of torment, but those which doe no harme, to the good place; where they shall have all sorts of pleasure.

It happened the last yeere, that some of the Sasquehanocks and the Wicomesses (who are ene­mies) met at the Iland of Monop [...]nson, where [Page 34] Captaine Cleyborne liveth, they all came to trade, and one of the Sasquehanocks did an Inju­ry to a Wicomesse, whereat some of Cleybornes people that saw it, did laugh. The Wicomesses seeing themselues thus injured and despised (as they thought) went away, and lay in ambush for the returne of the Sasquehanocks, and killed five of them, onely two escaped; and then they returned againe, and killed three of Cleybornes People, and some of his Cattle; about two moneths after this was done, the Wicomesses sent a messenger unto his Lordships Governor, to excuse the fact, and to offer satisfaction for the harme that was done to the English: The Wicomesse that came with the message, brought in his company an Indian, of the Towne of Pa­tuxent, which is the next neighbouring Towne unto the English at Saint Maries, with whom they have good correspondence, and hee spake to the Governour in this manner.

The Governour returned answere to the Wi­comesse; since you acknowledge the Injury, and are sorry for it, and onely desire to know what I expect for satisfaction; I tell you I expect that those men, who have done this out-rage, should be delivered unto me, to doe with them as I shall thinke fit, and likewise that you re­store all such things as you then tooke from the English; and withall, charged him with a second Injury attempted upon some of his owne People, since that time, by the Wico­messes.

The Wicomesse after a little pause, replyed; It is the manner amongst us Indians, that if any such like accident happen, wee doe redeeme the life of a man that is so slaine, with a 100. armes length of Roaroke (which is a sort of [Page 36] Beades that they make, and use for money) and since that you are heere strangers, and come in­to our Countrey, you should rather conforme your selues to the Customes of our Countrey, then impose yours upon us; But as for the se­cond matter, I know nothing of it, nor can give any answere thereunto.

The Governour then told him; It seemes you come not sufficiently instructed in the bu­sinesse which wee have with the Wicomesses, therefore tell them what I have said; and that I expect a speedy answere; and so dismist him.

It fell in the way of my discourse, to speake of the Indian money of those parts, It is of two sorts, Wompompeag and Roanoake; both of them are made of a Fish-shell, that they gather by the Sea side, Wompompeag is of the greater sort, and Roanoake of the lesser, and the Wompompeag is three times the value of Roanoake; and these serue as Gold and Siluer doe heere; they barter also one commoditie for another, and are very glad of trafficke and commerce, so farre as to supply their necessities: They shew no great desire of heaping wealth, yet some they will have to be buryed with them; If they were Christians, and would live so free from cove­tousnesse, and many other vices which abound in Christendome, they would be a brave people.

I therefore conclude, that since God Almigh­ty hath made this Countrey so large and fruit­full, [Page 37] and that the people be such as you have heard them described; It is much more Pru­dence and Charity, to Civilize, and make them Christians, then to kill, robbe, and hunt them from place to place, as you would doe a wolfe. By reducing of them, God shall be serued, his Majesties Empire enlarged by the addition of many thousand Subjects, as well as of large Territories, our Nation honoured, and the Planters themselues enriched by the trafficke and commerce which may be had with them; and in many other things, they may be usefull, but prejudiciall they cannot be, if it be not through their owne faults, by negligence of for­tifying themselues, and not conseruing milita­ry discipline.

CHAP. VI.

CHAP. VII.

THis Countrey of Maryland, lieth from England to the Southwest, about 1200 leagues by Sea: the voyage is sometimes performed thither in 5 or 6 weekes, but or­dinarily it is two moneths voy­age, and oftner within that time then beyond it. The returne from thence to England, is or­dinarily made in a moneth, and seldome ex­ceeds sixe weekes.

The best time of the yeere for going thither, is to be there by Michaelmas, or at furthest by Christmas, for he that comes by that time shall have time enough to build him a house, and to prepare ground sufficient to plant in the spring following. But there is conveniency of passage thither in most moneths of the yeere; and any one that will send unto M ^r. Peasleys, or Master Morgans house, may there be informed of the certaine time when any of his Lordships com­pany is to goe away, and so save the charge of unnecessary attendance here in London.