ted, I made my addresses to the Lord Governour of Albion, and having obtained under the Province Seal my grant of my Manor of Belvill containing 10000 acres, on a navigable river, having in it and neer, Alablaster, Terras for plaister of Paris, Pudding and Slatstone, store of Timber, clear Fields, Meads and Woods, and no Indians neer, and Vines, I resolved to return to Holland, and to transport my friends, where most happily the second time meeting his Lordship, and perusing by his noble favour, all his Lordships Cards, and Seamens draughts, 17 journall books of discoveries, voiages, huntings, tradings, and severall depositions under seal of the great Bever, and fur trade, rich mines, and many secrets and rarities. In fourteen days having with the two former books printed of Albion 1637, and 1642. made a full abstract and collection, agreing with my own view and in the Depositions, and M. Evelins, and other the voiagers of Virginia and New England, I thought it most necessary for the good of all the Company, and many Voluntiers in Holland, distressed in England, and noble Knights, Gentlemen, that with a little stock may gain fair and rich possessions, and live in peace and quiet, to print and publish this my labor under all your Lordships Protections, most humbly craving your Lordships gentle acceptance.

And because it conduceth much for a General and a Leader, to be known to his Commanders and Soldiers, his abilities and vertues, and excellent parts, drawing more men of honour and valour to follow him; it contenting many men of honour and dignity to be led and commanded by a better and more honourable, and more sufficient then themselves, and not their inferiour: the meaner and poorer sort expecting all encouragement, justice, and protection; and all the Company, the Adventurers, and strangers to us all, may more freely and chearfully goe on, and set out their men, and expect the more and better returns and contentment, under his government, in whom Pietie, Religion, Honor, Justice, Learning, Valor, Judgment, Temperance, and Policie shineth; hope without offence or imputation of flattery, to affirm his virtues more then the gems of the Coronet of this our Earl Palatine, doe adorn his noble part.

Since to me conscientia mea mille testes, I have had the honour to be admitted as his familiar, have marched, lodged, and cabbined together, among the Indians and in Holland, have seen so many of his Manuscript Books, and most excellent Rules and Observations of Law, Justice, Policy, I found his conversation as sweet and winning, as grave and sober, adorned with much Learning, enriched with six Languages, most grounded and experienced in formal matters of State policy, and govern

ment, trade and sea voiages by 4 years travell in Germany, France, Italy and Belgium, by 5 years living an Officer in Ireland, and this last 7 years in America, his studie and suits at home and abroad enabling his impartiall and infallible judgement of Judicature, and certainly his perfect knowledge of his 23 Indian Kings, under the command of this our Lord Royall, as of his good and bad neighbours, their power, wealth and weaknesse, English Aliens and Indians appears by his notes and books where none of their treacheries, plots, conspiracies, haltings and villanies, their Antagonists, their numbers and abilities, the advantage of our arms and fights, and stratagems are as Greek phalanges, and they as Romane Maniples and enemies to side with; and how to quiet and regain, kill, or surprise them is not expressed. What Port, Bay and soundings, Creek, river, road, quarries of stone, slat, Iron mines, Gum-Dragoon, Lead, Gold, and Silver, Alablaster, Terras, Bolarmack, red soap earth, Terralemnia, Diers ware, Hearbs and Plants, and their use, Ocar, Rudle, Cinnaber for quicksilver and Vermillion, is not in particular, Cards by compasse, and scale in books, with all trials and witnesses recorded.

What land and sea profit, fishing, place for salt, Potas, Dies, Fruits, Hearbs and Plants, clear Fields, great Plains, fine and thick Grasse, Marshes, necks of land, rich black, moulded countries for Tobacco, Flaxe, Rice, choice Trees, and Timber for Shipping, and Pipestaves, Masts, Yards, Pitch, Tar, sheltred places for Grapes and Fruits; Cotten in Cotten river, invincible places by nature, others by a little charge and fort to be made impregnable, is not in this huge and waste Province, being 1000 mile compasse delineated; and what Law or Policy, and summary Justice, Courts of Law, Equity, Appeals, Awards, or references, sit to compose differences, reconcile debates, to unite hearts, to settle the factious and seditious in any other English Colonies or Countries, and fit for our Justice, is not explained.

Therefore my good Lords and Adventurers, since I speak of knowledge or view, and certain reports of wise and knowing men, I shall joy and congratulate with you all, in so able, sufficient, and honourable a Governour, happily to rule, to defend, and doe us justice; a tried and seasoned man, and excellent Pilot in all this Land and Seas, not afeared in person as a true Captain Generall by Land and Sea, to leade and settle us by Boat, Horse or Foot, as able and willing as any of the meanest; and therefore I think at first as most materiall to expresse the Law, Statutes, and Judgments, and Acts of Parliament, of Counts, and Count Palatines, and County Palatines, and of our Province and County Palantine, Liberties, and the ancient fami

ly 1200 years from the Saxons in England, of our Earl Palatine, his pedegree and alliance.

And since according as other Palatines, as he of Chester and Duresme, made their Barons and Knights, as therein many are yet living, you my Lord have begun to honour first your own children, I tender my best respects unto your own sonne and heir apparant Francis Lord Ployden, Baron of Mount Royall, and Governour, and to Thomas, Lord Ployden, Baron of Roymont, High Admirall and to the Lady Winefrid Baronesse of Vvedale, the pattern of mildnesse and modesty; and to the Lady Barbara, Baronesse of Ritchneck, the mirrour of wit and beauty, and to the Lady Katherine, Baronesse of Prince***t, that pretty babe of grace, whose fair hands I kisse, hoping on your Lordships invitation C. C. T. and your two Baronets L. and M. to get them as they promised to goe with us. I hope to get your Knights and 200 Planters on this side ready. And thus with tender of my service to your Lordships, and all the Company,

I rest

Middleboro this 5 of
Decemb. 1648.

Your humblest servant,

BEAUCHAMP PLANTAGENET.

THE CONTENTS OF THE

Chap. 1.

several Chapters.

作業

F Counts or Earls created, and County Palatines, and of our Province and County Palatine, Liberties, and the ancient Family 1200 years of our Earle Palatine from the Saxons in England, his pedegree and alliance.

Ch. 2. His Majesty, and his Auncestors just title, and actuall possession of these Countries, of some Aliens and Pirats in landing and disinheriting the English Crown, and of bad English and Fugitives to them adhering; the just cause and excuse to expel them.

Ch. 3. The Description of Master Robert Evelin and 13 witnesses, printed 7 years since, and now re-printed.

Ch. 4. The more large and exact Description and Declaration of many things these last seven years, the bounds of all to it adjoyning of Virginia, Maryland, New England; and Answer to Objections of bounds. The number of the present Inhabitants, and their Cattell in this Province, 1000 miles compasse; the number of Indians.

Ch. 5. What Cargason is necessary to transport for the Lord of a Manor, or to trade or truck with the Indians.

Ch. 6. Our present staple commodities, how oft a man transported and stockt to make of his 100 acres 50 or 70 per

annum.

F

CHAP. I.

Or the first creation of Earls in the Saxons time, and since by the Norman Kings in England, I refer you to that learned Antiquary Master Selden, his Book who writeth at large in his Book of Titles and Honours, as well of this as of

forain Nations. But there you shall finde Records cited, and Earls made both by Privy Signet and Privy Seal, without the Great Seal. And they were not then meerly titulary, and nominall, without Interest, Power and Judicature, as now they are commonly all, except the Earle of Arundell, who still is a locall feodall Earl, by possession of the Castle, and of some Rapes or Liberties; for the Lord Lumley, not long since for some yeares being possessed thereof, was for such time Earle of Arundell, and that Earledome is confirmed, and so adjudged with his honour and precedency, by the House of Peers entred both in the Parliament, and Court of Honour Rols and the Royall Grant was, Do tibi. Comitatum & tertiam partem proficuorum, unde Comes est. And he made the Sheriffe, or his Vicount, or Deputy: And the County Court was his, and it was an honour and office, both with the County and assignable, the assignee enjoying the County, honour and office, as in Master Seldens Booke is cited in their Patents, and was not so many large words for his Title and Peerage as is now used.

Sir Io. Davie

fol. 59.

Fol. 60.

But in the Reports 9 lacobi of Sir John Davis in the case of the County Palatine, and in the Fourth Part of the Institutes of Sir Edward Coke, of jurisdiction of Courts, of the three County Palatines, yet in England, you may see Acts of Parliament, Judgements and full matter, shewing, That there were Comites Palatini of the first and higher ranke, which had in their Territories absolute command in Martiall, civill and criminal matters, with all Royalties and Regalities which the second order of titulary or nominall Earls had not, both in the Saxons and Normans time, long before the title of Duke, Marquesse, or Vicount were there granted. Secondly, Comes Palatinus was Comes Palatii, being a chief Councell and Companion to the Emperour or King, Comes Curarum Par extans Curis, solo diademate dispar. That in Chester, Durham, Lancaster and Pembroke, were made Earl Palatines, and County Palatines: and in Ireland in Lemster, Earl Strongbow, Sir Hugh de Lacy in Meth, to Sir Hugh de Lacy the younger in Vlster. That William Marshall marrying Earl Strongbows daughter, had by her five daughters: So as the Province of Lemster descending to them, it was divided into five Counties, to each of them one County Palatine. That Bracton the ancientest of Lawyers, averres Earl Palatines have regall power in all things saving Liegance to the King; Hugh Lupus by the Conquerour was made Earl Palatine of the County of Chester, as free to the sword, as the King to the Crown, and the Palatine of Chester made Barons, the Baron of Haulton, the Baron of

Fol. 62.