VOYAGES OF INQUIRY 257 



But when it came once amongst our people, that the 

 State used to offer conditions to strangers that would 

 stay, we had work enough to get any of our men to look 

 to our ship, and to keep them from going presently to 

 the Governor, to crave conditions ; but with much ado 

 we restrained them, till we mought agree what course to 

 take. 



We took ourselves now for free men, seeing there was 

 no danger of our utter perdition, and lived most joyfully, 

 going abroad and seeing what was to be seen in the city 

 and places adjacent, within our tedder ; and obtaining 

 acquaintance with many of the city, not of the meanest 

 quality, at whose hands we found such humanity, and 

 such a freedom and desire to take strangers, as it were, 

 into their bosom, as was enough to make us forget all 

 that was dear to us in our own countries ; and con- 

 tinually we met with many things, right worthy of 

 observation and relation ; as indeed, if there be a mirror 

 in the world, worthy to hold men's eyes, it is that 

 country. 



One day there were two of our company bidden to 

 a feast of the family, as they call it ; a most natural, 

 pious, and reverend custom it is, showing that nation 

 to be compounded of all goodness. This is the manner 

 of it. It is granted to any man that shall live to see 

 thirty persons descended of his body, alive together, 

 and all above three years old, to make this feast, which 

 is done at the cost of the State. The father of the family, 

 whom they call the Tirsan, two days before the feast, 

 taketh to him three of such friends as he liketh to 

 choose, and is assisted also by the Governor of the city 

 or place where the feast is celebrated, and all the per- 

 sons of the family, of both sexes, are summoned to 

 attend him. These two days the Tirsan sitteth in con- 

 sultation, concerning the good estate of the family. 

 There, if there be any discord or suits between any of 

 the family, they are compounded and appeased. There, 

 if any of the family be distressed or decayed, order is 

 taken for their relief, and competent means to live. 

 There, if any be subject to vice, or take ill courses, they 

 s 



