—  Neew Atlaniws 
Jand in the end concluded, that we might do weli to think with our 
| felves what time of ftay we would demand of the State ; and bad us | 
‘| not to fcant our felves, for he would procure fucn time as we defired. | 
Whereupon we all rofe up anid prefented our {elves to skifs the skirt of | 
‘| -his Tippet 5 but he would not fuffer us, and{o tookbisleave. But when | 
| it came once amongft our people, that the State ufed to offer conditions to 
| ftrangets that would ftay; we had work enough to get any of our men to | 
| look to our Ships ‘andto keep them from going prelently to the Governot 
| tocraveconditions; but with muchado; we refrained themtill we might 
Jagreewhat courfétotake. ste | 
We took our felves riow for Fieemeti, feeing there was tio danger of | 
ouf utter pérdition, and lived moft joyfully, going abroad; amd {feeing 
what was to befcen inthe City and places adjacent within our Tedder, and 
obtaining acquaintance with many of the City, not of the meancft qua- 
| lity, at whofe hands we found fuch humanity ; and fucha freedom and | 
defire to take ftrangers ; as it were into their bofom, as was enough to 
make us forget al] chat was dear to us in our own Countreys, and con- 
tintally we met wich many things right worthy of obfervation and rela- 
tion: As indeed, if taere be a Mirror in the World; worthy to hold mens 
eyes, it is that Countrey. One day there were two of out company | 
bidden to a Feaft of the Family, as they call it; amoft natural,, pious and 
| réverendcuftom itis, thewing that Nation tobe compounded of all good- | 
joefs. This is the manner of it. It isgranted to any man that fhall live to | 
fee thirty perforis defcended of his body alivetogether, andall above three | 
years old, to make this Feaft, which is done at, the coft of the State: 
The Father of the Family, whom they call the Tirfas, two days before the. 
Feaft taketh to him three of fuch Friends as He Jiketh to chufe, and is | 
aflitted alfo by the Governor of the City or place where the Feaft is cele- | 
brated; and allthe Perfons of the Family of both Sexes arcfummoned to 
attend him. Thefe two days the Zirfan fittech in confulcation concern- 
ing the goodefiite of the Family ; there, if there be any Difcord of Suits | 
Between any of the Family; they ate compounded and appealed; there, 
if any of the Family be diftreffed or decayed ; order is taken fortheir re- | 
{lief and comiperent means to live; there, if any be. fubje& to vice or take 
jill courfes, they are reproved and cenfured. So likewile ; dire@ion is | 
even touching Marriages, and the courfes of life which any, of them 
\fbould take, with diverts other the like orders and advices. The Gov{ 
verner aflitetli to the end, to put in execution by his publick Autho- | 
rity, the Deerees and Orders of the Zirfan; if they fhould be difobeyed, | 
though that feldom needeth 3 fuch reverence and obedience they give 
to the order of Mature. The Tirfan doth alfo then ever chufe one man | 
from among{t his Sons to live in Houfe with him, who is called ever } 
after the Son of the Vines the teafon will hereafter appear. - Onthe Featt- | 
day, the Tather or Tirfan cometh forth after Divine Service into a large 
Room where the Feaft is celebrated ; which Room hath, an Half. 
{pace at the upper end. Againft the Wall, in the middle of the Half 
“| pace , is a Chair. placed for him; with a Table and Carpet before it : 
Over the Chair is a State made round or oval, and itis of Ivy; anIvy 
fom<what whitet then ours, like the Leaf of a Silver Alp; bur more fhi- | 
ning, for itisGreen all Winter: And the State is curioufly wrought with 
| Siver and Silk of divers colouts, broiding ‘or binding inthe Ivy; and is 
ever of the work of fomie of the Daughters of the Family, and veiled | 
Ee Bj over fees 
