ABSTRACT
This Countrey was first discovered as well as the other Northern Coasts of America by Sebastian Cabot aforementioned in 1497. And in 1584. Mr. Philip Amadas, and Mr. Arthur Barlow were the first of a [illeg.] Christians who took possession thereof for Q. Elizabeth. The next year Sir Richard Greenvile conveyed an English Colony thither under the Government of Mr. Ralph Lane, who continued there till the next year, and the upon some urgent occasions returned with Sir Francis Drake into England, who is by some accounted the first discoverer thereof It hath New France on the North and Virginia on the South, lying between 40. and 48 degrees of North Latitude; His Travels were first much perfected by the Industry and Voyages of Certain Gosnold, Captain Hudson, Captain Smith, and others the last of whom gives a very large account of the worship and Ceremonies of the Indians: This Captain was taken Prisoner by the Natives, and whiile he stayed among them observed their Magical Rites. Three or four days after his being seized, seven of their Priests in the House where he lay, each with a Rattle, (making him sit down by them) began about 10 in the morning to sing about a Fire, which they incompassed with a circle of Meal, at the end of every Song (which the chief Priest begun, the rest following in order they layd down 2 or 3 grains of wheat. Then the / Priest disguised with a great Skin, his head hung round with little Skins of Weasels and other Vermine, and a Coronet of Feathers, painted as ugly as the Devil, at the end of every song he used strange and vehement gestures throwing great Cakes of Deer suet and Tobacco into the Fire, thus these howling Devotions continued till 6 a clock at night, and held so 3 days. This they pretended was to know of their God whether any more English should arrive, and what they intended to do in that Countrey. They fed Captain Smith so high, that he much doubted they would have sacrificed him to their chief Deity, the Image of whom is so deformed that nothing can be more monstrous, the Women likewise after he was freed and President of 69the Company made him a very odd entertainment; Thirty of them came out of the Woods only covered before and behind with a few green leaves, their bodies painted of different colours, the Commander of these Nymphs had on her head a large pair of Staggs Horns, and a Quiver of Arrows at her back with Bow and Arrows in her hand; The rest followed with Horns and Weapons all alike, they rushed through the Trees with hellish shouts and cryes, dancing about a Fire, which was there made to that purpose, for an hour together. Then they solemnly invited him to their Lodging, where he was no sooner come but they all surrounded him, declaring great kindness to him, and crying, Love you not me? after which they feasted him with great variety cook’d after their mad fashion, some singing and dancing all the while, and at last lighted him home with a Firebrand instead of a Torch to his Lodgings.
