Chap, II. AMERICA. 



bors, and inhabit between the Bays of Qxfapeack and Delaware) there being then 

 a&ual Wars between them, infomuch, that many of them were gone thither before 

 the English arriv'd : And it hath been the general practice of his Lordfhip, and 

 thofe who were employ'd by him in the Planting of the faid Province, rather to 

 purchafe the Natives Intereft, (who will agree for the fame at eafie rates) than to 

 take from them by force,that which they feem to call their Right and Inheritance^ 

 to the end all Difputes might be remov'd touching the forcible Incroachment upon 

 others, againft the Laws of Nature or Nations. 



Thus this Province at the vaft Charges, and by the unweary'd Induftry and en- 

 deavor oftheprefent Lord Baltemore, the now abfolute Lord and Proprietary of 

 the fame was at firft Planted , and hath fince been fupply'd with People and other 

 Ncceflaries , fo effectually , that in this prefent Year i6>i. the number of English 

 there amounts to fifteen or twenty thoufand Inhabitants, for whofe Encourage- 

 ment there is a Fundamental Law eftablifh'd there by his Lordfhip, whereby Li- 

 berty ofConfcience is allow'd to all that Profefs to believe in JeJ us Chrijl j fo that no 

 Man who is a Chrifiian is in danger of being difturb'd for his Religion ; and all 

 Perfons being fatisfi'd touching his Lordfhips Right, as Granted by his Superior So* 

 veraign, the King of Great fBrittain, and poffefs'd by the confent and agreement of 

 the firft Indian Owners, every Perfon who repaireth thither, intending to become 

 an Inhabitant, finds himfelf fecure, as well in the quiet enjoyment of his Property, 

 as of his Confcience. 



Mr. Charles Cahert, his Lordfhips onely Son and Heir, was in the Year io'o'i. 

 fent thither by his Lordfhip to Govern this Province and People, who hath hi- 

 therto continu'd that Charge of his Lordfhips Lieutenant there, to the general fa- 

 tisfaction and encouragement of all Perfons under his Government, or otherwifc 

 concern'd in the Province* 



The precedent Difcourfe having given you a fliort Dcfcription of this Province 

 from its Infancy to this day, together with an account of his Lordfhips Patent and 

 Right, by which he holds the fame; we will here fpeak fomething of the Nature of 

 the Countrcy in general, and of the Commodities that are either naturally afforded 

 there, or may be procured by Induftry. 



The Climate is very healthful, and agreeable with English Conftitutions $ but 

 New-comers have moft of them heretofore had the firft year of their Planting there 

 in July and Augujl, a Sickncfs, which is call'd there A Seafoning, but is indeed no 

 other than an Ague, with cold and hot Fits, whereof many heretofore us'd to die 

 for Want of good Medicines , and accommodations of Diet and Lodging , and by 

 drinking too much Wine and Strong-waters • though many, even in thofe times, 

 who were more temperate, and that were better accommodated , never had any 

 Seafoni?igs at all ^ but of late years, fince the Countrey hath been more open'd by 

 the cutting down of the Woods, and that there is more plenty of English Diet, 

 there are very few die of thofe Agues, and many have no Seafonings at all, efpecially 

 thofe that live in the higher parts of the Country, and not near to the Marfhcs and 

 Salt-water. 



In Summer, the heats are equal to thofe o( Spain, but qualified daily about Noon, 

 at that time of the Year, either with fome gentle Breezes, or fmall Showrcsof 

 Rain : In Winter there is Froft and Snow, and fometimes it is extremely cold, 

 infomuch, that the Rivers and the Northerly part of the Bay of Chefapeack are Fro- 

 zen, but it feldom lafts long ; and fome Winters are fo warm, that People have 

 gone in half Shirts and Drawers only at Chrijlmas : But in the Spring and Autumn, 

 (Vi^.) in March, April, and May, September, October, and November, there is generally 



V } moft 



*3£ 



I 



The number 

 of Inhabi- 

 tants. 





\ 



