Ill News from New England

A brief discourse touching New England, as to the matter in hand, and to that part of it, sci. Rode Iland, where my residence is, together with the occasion of my going out with others from the Mathatusets Bay, and the many providentiall occurrences that directed us thereto, and pitched us thereon.

As also the Contents of the whole Treatise.

NEw England is a name (as is generally known) that was, and still is, call'd upon that place in reference to Old; yet not so much because it is peopled, and planted from thence, for so are many other Plantations of the English in those Western parts; but because it resembles the same, as the daughter the mother. It resembles it in the climate, in the times and seasons of the year, in the fruits which the land naturally produceth, in the fouls, and the fish that are there in abundance. It resembles it in their politicall affairs; for their governments, laws, Courts, Officers, are in a great measure the same, and so are the names of their towns, & Counties; and in point of good husbandry, that wch is raised and produced in New England, more substantiall, and whether it be for food or raiment it is the same with that which is here produced in Old. It is a place (in the largest acceptation) that contains in it all the Plantations of the English upon that coast of America that lie between the Dutch Plantation on the West, and the French on the East, and extends it self upon the Sea coast above one hundred leagues. In it is contained the four Colonies, which call themselves the united Colonies. The Colony called by the name of the Province of Providence Plantations, lying on the South & South-East thereof, and two or three more lving on the Easter North-East, in Agamenticus, Saco, Casco-Bay, & Pema juid, where is that treasure of Masts for Ships. The names of the united Colonies are these, in point of precedency first Mathatusets, &c. but in point of antiquity first Plymouth, then the Mathatusets, then Conectecot, and last Quinipiuck. The chief Towns of these Colonies, and seats of their Government are these, Boston of the Mathatusets, Plymouth of Plymouth, Hereford of Conectecot, and of Quinipiuck New-Haven.

Now as the name New England in the largest and truest acceptation extends to all the Plantations of the English between the French and the Dutch, so in a scanty and improper acceptance of the word (especially when it makes for advantage) it is taken for these four united Colonies, by reason of the precedency they have of others, and for the same cause, and upon the point as well, it may be taken for the Mathatusets and the Town of Boston therein. When I speak of New England, understand it of that part which hath got the precedency (by reason of shipping) and start of the rest, sci. the Mathatusets, as both in my Epistle and Narrative is plain to be seen, which I have here also inserted for fear of mistake.

In the Colony of Providence Plantations in point of antiquity the Town of Providence is chief, but in point of precedency Rode-Iland excels. This Iland lieth in the Narraganset Bay, being 14 or 15 miles long, and in breadth between 4 and 5 miles at the broadest; It began to be planted by the English in the beginning of the year 39. and by this hand of providence. In the year 37 I left my native land, and in the ninth moneth of the same, I (through mercy) arived at Boston, I was no sooner on shore, but there appeared to me differences among them touching the Covenants, and in point of evidencing a mans good estate, some prest hard for the Covenant of works, and for sanctification to be the first and chief evidence, others prest as hard for the Covenant of grace that was established upon better promises, and for the evidence of the Spirit, as that which is a more certain, constant, and satisfactory witness. I thought it not strange to see men differ about matters of Heaven, for I expect no less upon Earth: But to see that they were not able so to bear each with other in their different understandings and consciences, as in those utmost parts of the World to live peaceably together, whereupon I moved the latter, for as much as the land was before us and wide enough, with the profer of Abraham to Lot, and for peace sake, to turn aside to the right hand, or to the left: The motion was readily accepted, and I was requested wth some others to seek out a place, which accordingly I was ready to do; and thereupon by reason of the suffocating heat of the Summer before, I went to the North to be somewhat cooler, but the Winter following proved so cold, that we were forced in the Spring to make towards the South; so having sought the Lord for direction, we all agreed that while our vessell was passing about alarge and dangerous Cape, we would cross over by laad, having Long Iland and Delaware-Bay in our eie for the place of our residence; so to a town called Providence we came, which was begun by one M.

Roger Williams (who for matter of conscience had not long before been exiled from the former jurisdiction) by whom we were courteously and lovingly received, and with whom we advised about our design; he readily presented two places before us in the same Naragansets Bay, the one upon the main called Sow-wames, the other called then Acquedneck, now Rode-Iland; we enquired whether they would fall in any other Patent, for our resolution was to go out of them all; he told us (to be brief) that the way to know that, was to have recourse unto▪ Plymouth …