OF LANCASTER COUXTY, 69 



were few, before tlie people concerned with me came among tliem. I 

 must needs commend their respect to authority, and kind behaviour to 

 \h.Q English : they do not degenerate from the old friendship between 

 both kingdoms. As they are people proper and strong of body, so they 

 have tine children, and almost every house full ; rare to find one of them 

 without three or four boys and as many girls; some, six, seven and 

 eight sons. And I must do them that right ; I see few young men more 

 sober and laborious. 



XXIX. "The Butch have a meeting-place for religious worship at 

 Xeiu-castle ; and the Swedes^ three; one at Christina, one at Tenecum, and 

 one at Wicoco, within half a mile of this toAvn. 



XXX. "There rests that I speak of the condition we are in, and what 

 settlement we have made : in which I will be as short as I can, for I fear, 

 and not without reason, that I have tried your patience with this long- 

 story. The country lieth, bounded on the east by the river and bay of 

 Delaicare and Eastern sea; it hath the advantage of many creeks, or rivers 

 rather, that run into the main river or bay ; some navigable for great 

 ships, some for small craft. Those of most eminency are, Christina, 

 Brandyioine, Skilpot, and Sculhil; any one of which have room to lay 

 up the royal navy of England, there being from four to eight fathom 

 water. 



XXXI. " The lesser creeks, or rivers, yet convenient for sloops and 

 ketches of good burden, are Lewis, Mespilion, Cedar, Dover, Cranbrook, 

 Feversham and Georges, below; and Chichester, Chester, Toaccaony, Parn- 

 niapecha, Portquessin, Neshirnench and Pennherry, in the freshes; many 

 lesser, that admit boats and shallops. Our people are mostly settled 

 upon the upper rivers; w^hich are pleasant and sweet, and generally 

 bounded with good land. The planted part of the province and terri- 

 tories is cast into six counties, Philadelphia, BucJcingham, Chester, Nciv- 

 castle, Kent and Sussex, containing about four thousand souls. Two 

 General Assemblies have been held, and with such concord and dispatch 

 that they sat but three weeks ; and at least seventy laws were passed 

 without one dissent in any material thing. But of this, more hereafter, 

 being yet raw and new in our gear. However, I cannot forget their sin- 

 gular respect to me in this infancy of things ; Avho, by their own private 

 expenses, so early considered mine, for the public, as to present me with 

 an impost upon certain goods imported and exported — which, after my 

 acknowledgment of their affection, I did as freely remit to the province, 

 and the traders to it. And for the well government of the said counties, 

 courts of justice are established in every count}', with proper officers, as 

 justices, sheriffs, clerks, constables, &c., which courts are held every two 

 months. But, to prevent law suits, there are three peacemakers chosen 

 by every county court, in the nature of common arbitrators, to hear and 



