Liberty of Conscience is here also allow’d in the greatest latitude, but yet so, that neither Atheists, or Men of no Religion, are permitted; Atheism, Irreligion, and vicious Lives being condemn’d, as disagreeable to humane Nature, inconsistent with Government and Societies, and destructive to all that is useful to, or becoming of Mankind; as on the other hand, rigorous Imposing of, and hot Contentions about the Ceremonies and Circumstances of Religion, is an occasion of perpetual Strife, Faction and Division, keeps Men from sedate and temperate Enquiries after Truth, eats out the great Cement of humane Conversation, Charity, and cannot be found in any one, who hath but modesty enough to think himself less than a Pope, and short of Infallibility.
There is also to be a Register of all Grants and Conveyances of Land, to prevent even the occasions of Controversies and Law-Suits.
There are several other less considerable Particulars in this Government, all contriv’d and design’d for the good and welfare of the People; all which are so well put together, and in such equal proportion ballance each other, that some judicious Men who have seen it, say, it is the best and fairest Frame, for the well-being of those who shall live under it, of any they have seen or read of.
CHAP. III.
Florida.
Situation and Bounds.
South-West of Virginia lieth the spacious Countrey of Florida, remarkable hitherto rather by the great pains which the Spaniards have taken, and the ill Successes they have met with in the discovery and search of this Province, than by any thing else they have discover’d in it answerable to their desires. On the East it hath the Atlantick Ocean, or Mare del Nordt; on the South, and South-West, the Gulph of Mexico and Mare Virginium; and full West, part of New Gallicia, and some other Countreys, not yet perfectly known.
Ponce’s Expedition.
Water to make old People look young.
This Countrey is also one of those, said to have been first of all discover’d by Sir Sebastian Cabot, at the Charges of the King of England, about the Year 1497. but afterwards more throughly search’d into by John Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, who in the Year 1512. set Sail with three Ships out of the Haven St. German in Porto Rico, North-West to the Isles Del Veio, Caycos, Yaguna, Amaguyao, Manegua, and Guanahani, first discover’d by Christopher Colonus, and call’d St. Salvador: After that Steer’d North-West by a Coast, which (because of its pleasant prospect) was call’d Florida or (according to the more common Opinion) because it was on Palm-Sunday, which the Spaniards call Pascha de Flores, (or Pascha Florida) that he Landed here: And to find out a Haven he kept sight of the Shore, which appear’d South-West from him. Here the Ships met with so strong a Tide, that notwithstanding they had a fresh Gale of Wind, yet could they not stem it; one of the Ships was driven to Sea out of sight; the other two casting Anchor, which raking, drove toward the Shore; whither, being beckned by the Indians, they immediately went; when no sooner he Landed, but they ran in great Companies to make themselves Masters of the Vessels, kill’d one Spaniard, and wounded two more: the Night approaching put an end to the Fight. From hence Sailing to the River La Cruix for Wood and Water, they were resisted by sixty Natives, which they put to flight with their Guns, and took one Prisoner; after which they erected a Stone Cross. The Promontory, by which glides the strong Current, lies in twenty Degrees North-Latitude, and call’d Cabo de Corrientes, as the Row of Isles, before the Main Land Los Martyres, because the Cliffs at a distance appear like Men standing on Poles. Lastly, after some small Encounters with the Floridans, Ponce return’d home, being onely inform’d falsly by the Indians, that in Florida was a River, and on the Isle Bimini a Fountain, whose Waters made old People young.