America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld / Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Besides Several Other Considerable Additions, a Brief Survey of What Hath Been Discover'd of the Unknown South-land and the Arctick Region.

by John Ogilby

Of the Province of Main.

All that part of the Continent of New England, which was allotted by Patent to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and to his Heirs, he thought fit to call by the Name of The Province of Main. It takes it beginning at the entrance of Pascatoway Harbor, and so passeth up the same into the River of Newichwavoch; and through the same unto the farthest Head thereof; and from thence North-Westwards for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles; and from the Mouth of Pascatoway Harbor aforesaid, North-Eastward along the Sea-Coast, to Sagadehock; and up the River thereof to Kinibequy River, even as far as the Head thereof; and into the Land North-Westwards, for the space of a hundred and twenty Miles.

To these Territories are also adjoyn’d the North half of the Isles of Sholes, together with the Isles of Capawick and Nautican, as also all the little Islands lying within five Leagues of the Main, all along the Sea-Coast, between the aforesaid Rivers of Pascatoway and Sagadehock.

He no sooner had this Province setled upon him, but he gave publick notice, That if anyone would undertake by himself and his Associates, to Transport a competent number of Inhabitants, to Plant in any part of his Limits, he would assign unto him or them such a proportion of Land, as should in reason satisfie them, reserving onely to himself some small High-Rent, as 2 s. or 2 s. 6 d. for a hundred Acres per Annum: and if they went about to build any Town or City, he would Endow them with such Liberties and Immunities, as should make them capable to Govern themselves within their own Limits, according to the Liberties granted to any Town or Corporation within this Realm of England. And as for others of the meaner sort who went as Tenants, that they should have such quantities of Land assign’d them as they were able to manage, at the Rate of 4 d. or 6 d. an Acre, according to the nature or situation of the Place they settle in.

And for the Division of the Province, and the Form of Government which he intended to Establish, he first divided the Province into several Parts; and those again he subdivided into distinct Regiments, as East, West, North, and South; those again into several Hundreds, Parishes and Tythings, and these to have their several Officers to Govern, according to such Laws as should be agreed upon by publick Assent of the Free-holders, with the approbation of himself or Deputy, and the principal Officers of the publick State.

The setled Government for the general State, to whom all Appeals were to be made, and from whom all Instructions for the welfare of the Publick were to issue, were to consist of himself or his Deputy, who was to be chosen every three year by himself, with the advice of his Council: Next a Chancellor for the determination of all Causes; A Treasurer, to whom the care of the publick Revenue was to be committed; A Marshal, whose Office was to oversee the Regiments, and to provide Men for publick Service; An Admiral, to take care of all Maritime Affairs, to whom a Judge of the Admiralty was to be joyn’d to determine all Maritime Causes; A Master of the Ordnance, to look to the publick Arms and Ammunition; A Secretary, to receive Intelligence, and to acquaint himself or Deputy therewith. To these belong all their several Officers and Ministers for the Execution of all Matters proper to their several Places.

The chief Town of this Province is call’d Gorgiana, which is Govern’d by a Mayor, the rest are onely inconsiderable Villages or scatter’d Houses; but through Encouragement given to Adventurers and Planters, it may prove in time a very flourishing Place, and be replenish’d with many fair Towns and Cities, it being a Province both fruitful and pleasant.

Sect. II.
New Netherland, now call’d New York.

That Tract of Land formerly call’d The New Netherland, doth contain all that Land which lieth in the North parts of America, betwixt New England and Mary-Land; the length of which Northward into the Countrey, as it hath not been fully discover’d, so it is not certainly known: The breadth of it is about two hundred Miles. The principal Rivers within this Tract, are Hudson’s-River, Raritan-River, Delaware-Bay-River. The chief Islands are the Manhatans-Island, Long-Island, and Staten-Island.

The first which discover’d this Countrey was Henry Hudson, who being hir’d by the East-India Company to seek a Passage in the Northern America to China, set Sail Anno 1609. in the Half-Moon Frigat; coming before Terre-neuff, he stood about towards the South-West, where Sailing up a great River, he found two Men Clad in Ruffelo’s Skins; and from thence arriv’d safe at Amsterdam.