Chapter II: Part 2

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

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

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

The One and twentieth thick hasie weather.

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

The Six and twentieth we had sight of land.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Sidenote: Isa. 45. 3.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some took notice of it in the beginning of _November_.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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