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 PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
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 Kare Dooks 
 
 CoU.ZcM.on..Qi. Utopian. 
 
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 I 
 
THE PARLAMENT OF LADIES. 
 
 Or divers remarkable Orders, of the Ladies, 
 at Spring Garden, in Parlament alTembled. 
 Together with certain Votes, of the unlaw- 
 ful Aflembly, at Kate's, in Covent Garden. 
 Both fent abroad to prevent mifinformation* 
 
 [BY HENRY NEVILLE] 
 
 LONDON 
 
 PRINTED PvTDCXXXXVII 
 
 REPRINTED FOR T. CADELL 
 
 MDCCLXVIII 
 
Vefpere Diet Veneris Martii 26, 1647 
 
 Ordered by the Ladies ajjcmhled in Parliment^ 
 that their Orders and Fates be forthwith printed 
 and publijhed, to prevent all fuch mi [reports and 
 Scandals^ as either malice cr want of wit ^ height" 
 ned ivith fnt^jf of ale or Jlaiii d claret^ may raifcy 
 to the d'ljljonor of their f aid Votes and Proceedings^ 
 
 B, Kingfmilly Cler, Parlanuntorum^ 
 
 A 2 
 
s 
 
 The Rattle headed Ladles being aflembled at 
 Kate's in Covcnt-Gardcn, and having fpent 
 ibme time in chocfing their Speaker, [it hav- 
 ino- been objedled againfl: the Lady Duchefs, 
 that flie had ufed beating up of Qiiarters, and 
 other Youthful Sports, too frequently with 
 Prince Rupert,] they at lad refolved upon the 
 Lady Ifahclla T- — tie, hoping thereby their 
 A6ls might have great influence on the King's 
 Majeftie. Firft therefore, they took into con- 
 fideration their own Bufinefs, and voted. That 
 no Round- head {hould dare to come into any 
 of their Quarters ; ilnd on the contrary, none 
 of their Mcmlers, ^''^'/z.] Cavaleers, do co- 
 habit in any of the Round-head's Qiiarters, 
 or pav any Contribution to them by way of 
 benevolence, loan, or otherwife. 
 
 That Thanks be given to the Lady A:/— 
 fa^ue, T — hariiy C — vcn^ i^c, for their Cour- 
 tifies and Favors to the diftrefled Cavaleers 
 beyond the Seas. Ordered thereupon, That 
 their faid Ladyfliips, together with the Lady 
 S — nhop, have leave to fell, give away, or 
 otherwife difpofc of their /"rr^/c/; Commodities, 
 without paying Excife or Cuftom. 
 
 A 3 That 
 
That Mrs. Phillips be forthwith fent into 
 France^ from the Houfe, to the Lord A/— i 
 iagucy to let him know his Lady hath nego» 
 tiated with the Members of both Houfcs. 
 
 It was thought fit by the whole Houfe, 
 
 That a Troop of trycd Able Men (hould be 
 
 ralfed, that fo, they might be the more fecure 
 
 againft all their Adverfaries ; but it was long 
 
 in Debate, who fhould be Commander in 
 
 chief of it : For my Lady A^ — port the Coun- 
 
 tefs, moved for my Lord D — hy^ who fhe 
 
 confefs'd was not the Ableft Man fhe had 
 
 conversed with by many, yet in polling they 
 
 ought not to defpife him, confidering how the 
 
 King favors him^ and that if need be, [though 
 
 he have the Title,] yet they may conftitute 
 
 another under him to go through with their 
 
 Bufinefs. But there was another Lady which 
 
 jnuch oppofed her, and was very defirous that 
 
 my Lord G — ring's Experience might be con- 
 
 fidered ; which perhaps the Houfe had done, 
 
 had not Mrs. Kirke urged his Debauchery, 
 
 and put them in mind of Prince Maurice his 
 
 Deferts and Abilities, though he did not feem 
 
 a Courtier. But then the Duchefs of i<:— 
 
 ?nG7id alTurcd them, That none was to be 
 
 compared to Prince Rupert^ againft whom 
 
 nothing 
 
nothing could be urged, but that his ill For- 
 tune, that his Labor wanted the dcfigncd 
 and expected Fruit ; but being cleared of that 
 Imputation by Mrs. Legge, [who afTured her, 
 that that did altogether depend on his Com- 
 panions in Arms, and not on him,] it was 
 ordered, that my Lady Aub'igny fhould be fent 
 into France to defire him to receive the Com- 
 mand. That Mrs. Canihlin for the Proteftants, 
 and Mrs. Wiharne for the Paplfts, be appoint- 
 ed MeiTengers to attend the Houfe, and that 
 they have the Title given them of MelTengers 
 of the Chamber. 
 
 The faid Ladies in Parlament afTembled, 
 did declare, That by their firft Vote of this 
 Day, they did not in any wife intend to ex* 
 elude from their Quarters, the Party of the 
 Koufe of Peers which voted the Bill of Main- 
 tenance of the Army out of their Houfe, in 
 that their faid Ladyfhips are underflood to be 
 well afFecSled, not Round- heads. Whilft 
 thefe things were in agitation, in comes a 
 Serjeant from the Houfe of Ladies at Mrs. 
 Chipp Aflemblcd, in the Name of which he 
 pronounced this an unlawful Afiembly, a 
 Junclo, a Mungrel Parlament, commanding 
 them to confine their Votes and Themfelves 
 
 A 4 to 
 
to their own Houfcs, there to continue dur- 
 ing plcafure, Hide-Park, St. Jamcis Park, 
 Sjn'rjff Garden, and Kate's notwithftanding. 
 
 This put their Ladyfliips into great Dif- 
 order, and more Confufion, than if they had 
 been taken with their Gallants by all and 
 each of their refpedive flufbands, which is 
 the caufe we have no more of this Parlament. 
 
 The Ladies well-afFe6led, being [as you 
 have hi-ard] aircmbled at their Houfe in 
 Spring Garden, fpent fometime in choofing 
 their Speaker, and the major part pitching 
 upon the Lady H — !and, fhe defircd to excufe 
 herfelf, alledging her Hufband's Difcretion, 
 and further intreated, that all her Right might 
 be conferred on my Lady C — lijie : But the 
 faid Lady not being fit to be trufled, being 
 too open, the Lady L—Jter was named ; but 
 it was objc6lcd by the Lady Hippcjlcy^ that 
 the faid Countefs was a Delinquent, and had 
 formerly carried Supplies to the King, pre- 
 tending likewife that her Hufband, vi%. Sir 
 ^John Hippcjlcy was much damnified in his 
 Eftate and Office by the faid Supplies. But^ 
 the Lady S—Jbury coming in, the Difpute 
 was foon ended, and the Chair conferred 
 upon her [nemine coniradiccnte,'] who immedi- 
 ately 
 
lately named Mrs. Peel Mefienger, to attend 
 the Houfe ; and the Lady N — ton and the 
 Lady S—leton to be Door-keepers, with order 
 to keep all out but Members. All this was 
 aflented unto, notwithfianding fome Excep- 
 tions were taken to the flownefs of Mrs. 
 Peeles Pace ; it being aggravated by one, 
 that file went flower than the Maflcrs of 
 Chancery when they go on MefTages. 
 
 Then their LadyQiips taking into confide^ 
 ration the difficult Cafes which might fall out 
 in the bufmefs of their Houfes, ordered. 
 That Mr. Dodor IVetherborne be fent for 
 from Holdenbyy and Dodor Davifon from 
 Paris, to be Affiflants to the Houfe. Or- 
 dered farther. That Dr. // — ton and Dr. 
 C—berlain be alfo AfTiftants to the Houfe, 
 that To with greater Eafe and Security their 
 Ladyfliips may be helped out with their molt 
 troublefom and preffing Affairs. 
 
 The Houfe then adjourned to the Day fol- 
 lowing; and being met accordingly, the firft 
 bufmefs was, to fend the aforefaid MefTageto 
 the unlawful Afiembly at Katis y Next, fall- 
 ing upon their Votes, in particular, that part 
 of the Order to be an abfolute Breach of their 
 Privilege, which forbids the Cavaleer's En- 
 
 A 5 tranca 
 
Id 
 
 trance into the Round-head's Quarters ; anJ 
 accordingly ordered, That the faid Cavaleers 
 fhall within two Days depart this City, and 
 not come within twenty Miles of the Lines 
 of Communication ; and further voted, That 
 no malignant Lady prefume to walk in the 
 Spring-Garden after Twelve of the Clock at 
 Ni':ht, upon any pretence whatfoever. 
 
 Next, their Ladyfhips took into confide- 
 ration the great Number of Delinquents, and 
 ordered that there be a Committee for Corn- 
 pofitions, to meet at the Lady K — nts for the 
 Proteftants, and for the Papifts at the Lady 
 JLahs, 
 
 This day a Complaint was brought againft 
 Sir Henry Blunt^ for publifhing an heretical 
 and dangerous Do6h*ine, viz. That it is bet- 
 icr to converfe withy and refort to Common Wo^ 
 mcn^ than Ladies of Honor : Upon mature 
 deliberation whereof, the Ladies with much 
 indignation fent for him ; who being come, 
 and hearing his Accufation read, was com- 
 manded to withdraw. During the Debate, 
 up ftarts the Lady Fojler^ and offers to the 
 Confideration of the Houfe, the dangerous 
 tfFe6ls that this Opinion might produce, if 
 it were fuffered to be fowed among the People, 
 
II 
 
 to the utter decay of Trade, as alfo of the 
 particular Commerce of Rhenifli Wine in the 
 Mull, Tarts, Cheefe-cakes, Sullibubs, ^c* 
 whereby the profit of the Houfe will greatly 
 be diminifhed. This Speech was receiv'd by 
 a marvellous Applaufc of the whole Houfe,.. 
 and the faid Sir Henry Blunt was called in the 
 fecond time, who commanded to kneel, re- 
 fufed, alledging. The Houfe was no lawful 
 Judicature, but appeal'd to the Commons of 
 England and Wales, which fufpended all Pro- 
 ceedings therein for that time. 
 
 The Houfe confidered in the next place. 
 That divers weak Perfons have crept into 
 Places beyond their Abilities 5 and to the End 
 that Men of greater Parts may be put into 
 their rooms, appointed the Lady Middlefex^ 
 Mrs. Dunchf the Lady Fojler^ and the Lady 
 ^nn Waller^ by reafon of their great l!xpe- 
 rience in the Soldiery of this Kingdom, to be 
 a Committee forTryers in this Kingdom. 
 
 The Houfe being ready to adjourn, there 
 was News of a Quarrel between two noto- 
 rious Members of the faid Ploufe, Mrs. Har^ 
 ris and Mrs. Diinch^ and good Council was 
 given them to unite againft their Common 
 Enemy, their Hufbands j and it was at length 
 A 6 ordered. 
 
%1 
 
 ordered, That they fhould be reconciled, ancf 
 ^o?n Tet?iple fliould be defired to put up his 
 Blade. 
 
 The Morning following, they took into 
 confideration the many Garifons of the King- 
 dom that were to be kept, and which not. 
 Ordered, That Northampton be continued irk 
 Garif.)n, and that the Lady S — land be re- 
 cjuefted to take the Commaiid thereof upon 
 her, notwithftanding the Self-denying Ordi- 
 nance. 
 
 That an EngUJh Garifon be put into Car^ 
 lifie^ to prevent Foreign Nations getting in 
 pofTefTion thereof, as is to be feared, by rea- 
 fon of fome fecret Intelligence had by the 
 French AmbafTador in that place. 
 
 That Leicejler^ Newport^ Marleboroughy 
 and all which, are either old or ufelefs For- 
 tifications, be forthwith flighted. 
 
 After this, they took into confideration the 
 Standing Forces of this Kingdom, and then 
 feveral Entertainments ; and ordered the Lord 
 F-^ces, Mr. S—by, Mr. R -a:J^ and Mr. 
 ^ — ion^ have Pay allowed them, condition- 
 ally, that they be provided to draw forth 
 upon Service at the Icafl Warning. 
 
 . That 
 
^3 
 
 That Collonel C--ke^ Mr. Henry H—arl^ 
 and Mr. N — Uh^ have free Quarter only. 
 
 That the Prince EleSior^ iMr. G—fcocke^ 
 and Prince Griffiih^ henceforth pay their 
 Quarters. 
 
 Ordered by Addition of the Firfl Vote, 
 That Sir John M — ley be forthwith paid for 
 his Service to this Houfe, notwithftanding his 
 Delinquency, but io^ that if he fhall break 
 out any more, he fliall be irrecoverably put 
 into the Exception. 
 
 Ordered, That all fuch Forces as fhall be 
 difbanded, fliall be fent for Ireland^ or oiher- 
 wife difpofed of out of this Kingdom. 
 
 Their Ladyfhips were then informed, that 
 a Meflage waited at the Door from the Houfe 
 of Commons, and Sir Peter TV— worthy and 
 Mr. B — 7iton, who brought it, being let in, 
 they found it was for the Relief of maimed 
 Soldiers. Their Ladyfhips referr'd it to the 
 Lady P rough to be confidered, what re- 
 lief was fit to l^e given them ; to whom was 
 joined Mrs. H—a.d^ [fometlme Maid of 
 Honor,] (lie having purged her Malig- 
 nancy. 
 
 This Day the Houfe received divers Re- 
 ports from the Committee of Complaints \ 
 
 and 
 
and firft, againft the Prince EleSlor^ who 
 was accufed, that he was not fecret to the 
 Truft of this Houfe, but bewraid them in 
 their Service, and inftcad of doing their Bu- 
 finefs, did his own. The confideration of 
 this Bufinefs was put off till another time ; 
 as alfo another Accufation aQ-ainft the faid 
 Prince, viz. That he hath deferted his Em- 
 ployment. Both brought in by the Lady 
 B — rington. 
 
 The next was of fome Articles brought in 
 by Briiannicus againft Mrs. JV — Jer's holding 
 Intelligence with the Enemy ; which being 
 found to be true, fhe was voted to be Laun- 
 drefs to the Prince Eleilors Highnefs. 
 
 The Third was an Accufation againft the 
 Lord R — ch^ by the Lady Mary C—kaynCy 
 alias C — lien, who pretended, fhe had been 
 plundered of Jewels, and other Commodities, 
 by the faid Lord R — ch, to the value of 200/. 
 but it being alledged by the Lady IV- — ivicky 
 that it was done to one that had been a Com- 
 mander againft the Parlament; the Accufa- 
 tion was caft out. Then the Houfe adjourned 
 till next Day. 
 
 The Bufinefs this Day was the Report 
 from the Committee ofTrycrs, who named in 
 
 the 
 
is 
 
 the firft place, the Right Honorable the Ear! 
 of Z) — gh to be a Man of extraordinary Parts 
 and Abilities ; whereupon it was ordered, 
 that his Lordfliip be Commander in chief of 
 all the Standing Forces of this Kingdom, and 
 that his Head Quarters be in Jtidover^ until 
 the Houfe have further need of his Service, 
 
 Ordered, That the Lord C — den in regard 
 of his great Talent, have a favorable Com- 
 pofition at the Lady K — is. 
 
 Ordered, That Signor Ambrofto^ a politic 
 Italian^ be had in remembrance, for his ex- 
 traordinary Pains to content this Houfe; and 
 that when the Affairs of this Kingdom fhall 
 be fettled, he be put into the Duchy-Office : 
 and in the mean time, becaufe what he had 
 before did not content him, he be fatisfied 
 out of Mrs. H — //'s Arrears, which are for- 
 feited to the State for fome petty Larcenies 
 of hers. 
 
 This Bufmefs being over, up ftarts the 
 zealous and and well-affe(Sted Lady, the Lady 
 ][i — jnay^ and moved. That a public Faft be 
 appointed, for imploring a BlefTing upon Mens 
 conftant AfFe6lions to this Houfe; as alfo to 
 Hop the contagious lafedion and itching 
 
 Humours 
 
i6 
 
 Humours now crept m among us, and likery' 
 to overfpread us all, if not timely (lopped. 
 
 The Motion was embraced, and Mr, 
 O — fi/ion [fometime Prehend of Peter's^ TFeft- 
 minjier^'] together with Do6ior S — alcVs^ 
 Paftor of Jamis Chrkenwell^ mentioned to 
 preach before the Houfe ; but one Cornelius 
 brought an Accufation againft the Docior 
 ^forefaid, for one iil-afteded to the prefent 
 Government, he having pi cached lately in 
 his houfe in a Tub : Whereupon he was re- 
 jedled, and the Lady K—fmgion deHred, that 
 Mr. S—marff) might be fubftituted in his 
 Turn, of whofe great Parts and able Per- 
 formances (lie had long Experience, which 
 was afTented to accordingly. 
 
 Their Lad) (hips in the next place, taking 
 into confideration the great Decay of Cattle, 
 and other Beafts in this Kingdom during thele 
 unnatural V/ars ; thought the fittcft Means 
 for a Remedy, to be their Ladyfliips fending 
 [as they did! to the Houfe of Commons, to 
 intreat them, that fome of their Members 
 might join with their Ladyfhips to confider of 
 the faid Bufinefs. They forthwith named 
 the Lady G — y^ and the Houfe of Commons 
 the Lord G — y her Hufband^ to be a Com^ 
 
 mlttee 
 
17 
 
 mlttee to debate, and confider the fitted 
 Means to multiply and recruit the faid 
 Beads, to whom they gave thefe following 
 Inflrudions. 
 
 That they fliall intreat all, or moft of the 
 AI — lys in England^ and all other Men of 
 that Shape, to marry. That all fuch Men 
 as have vowed [whether Prifoners, or Free- 
 men,] never to cut their lieards till his Ma- 
 jeftie comes to London to be encouraged 
 therein. 
 
 That Monfieur Sabran be intreated, and 
 the Name of the Houfe be ufed therein, to 
 return to his Concubine here, notwithftand- 
 ing his Wife be at Geneva^ for that Geneva 
 hath not the fame urgent neceflity of multi- 
 plying Beads as this Ifland hath. 
 
 The Houfe then took into confideration 
 the Sale of Delinquents Eftates ; and order- 
 ed, That Mr. H—ington for his faithful 
 Service done the Houfe, have the Earl of 
 N—afth's Baggage, as alfo the Lady D--h'ire 
 have Worccfter-houfe^ [notwithftanding the 
 Vote of the Houfes at JVeJlmlnJler in favor 
 of the Earl of S — z^•;>•,] that fo her Ladyfhip 
 may be prefent with lefs Trouble at her 
 
 mati.y 
 
li 
 
 many and ferlous Negotiations wiih the Scctcf/ 
 CommifTioners, 
 
 This Day was prefcntcd a Petition from 
 the I^ady S'~hcp^ humbly defiring, That 
 fhe might be received into this Houfe, pre- 
 tending, fhe was well-afFe<Si:ed, was true ; 
 but that a Scotih Aftc£ticn mix'd with a 
 French^ could never make a well-ait'e6}ed 
 Lady. It was further urged, that the faid 
 Lady had been in Arms under Colonel S — 
 ifiy-i who Wc.s ordered to be kept up by this^ 
 Houfe. The Debate was put off till another 
 time. 
 
 A Motion was made for the putting down 
 of Plays ; whereupon the Lady M—rnouih 
 flood up, and dtfired, that it might be ex- 
 plained what Plays ; forafmuch as if they 
 fhould put down Inn and ///«, it might prove 
 much to the prejudice of the Houfe, as alfo 
 t© Mr. T—ng^ who had defervcd well of her 
 Lady!hip : But Anfwer being made, Stage- 
 plays were only underflood, She declared, 
 fhe would concur with the Houfe now Sir 
 ^ohn S — lif/g was dead -, but truly flie lik'd 
 his PJa)s well. 
 
 It was then moved by the Lady C — mpton^ 
 that a Thankfgiving Day might be appointed 
 
 for 
 
S9 
 
 for the Recovery of the Earl of P oJke^ 
 
 which was confentcd to ; and Mr. C — decofi 
 defired to Preach, and to fing the Pfalm in 
 Engli/Jj, and not in Hchreiv. 
 
 Ordered, That Thanks be given to Mr. 
 K—infon for his zealous and devout Prayer, 
 that the faid Lord might once more climb up 
 May -hill 
 
 The Houfe then appointed Commiffioners 
 to go to his Majcftie, ^/z. The Ladies of 
 O — rd^ and S—ford^ together with the Lady 
 JH — ■>', to move his Majeftie's hafte, and gain 
 the Royal AfTcnt, that fo Happy a Union 
 may follow. 
 
 This Day alfo, they pafs'd an ASi ofOhli- 
 vion to the Lady D — keith^ the Lady Kathe^ 
 vine S — ity the Lady J- h'lgny^ and Mrs. 
 R — per for their Delinquency in the Enemy's 
 Quarters. 
 
 Soon after, the Lady A^ — ton^ Door-keeper 
 of this Houfe, complained of Sir Robert i/— 
 IcWi a Member of the Houfe of Commons, 
 for attempting to deface her, which hap- 
 pened thus ; the faid Lady being a zealous 
 Independent^ and fo one of the Saints, and Sir 
 Robert having found out that fhe v^as like-wife 
 Painted, he pretended that ihe came wiihin 
 
 his 
 
2if 
 
 his Ordinance of Idolatry, Saints painted, 
 Cioflts, w5'f. But Tome P'riends of the faid 
 Door-keeper's urging on her behalf, that 
 none did ever yet attempt to adore or wor- 
 ship her, {lie was juftifiecl : And the Ladies 
 hereupon declared, That if any Perfon, by 
 virtue of any Power whatfoever, pretended to 
 be derived from the Houfe of Commons, or 
 any other Court, fhall go abc ut to impeach, 
 hinder, or difhnb any Lady from Painting,. 
 Wafliing, or Adorning herfelf to her beft 
 advantage, as alfo from Painting of Hair,, 
 and Invedini: of Teeth, that Adt is a oreat 
 Breach of the Privilege of the Houfe, and 
 that the Offenders fliall be proceeded againll 
 accordingly. 
 
 In the laft place, their Lndyfliips being to 
 adjourn for fome Weeks, defired, That firft 
 a main Point of Divinity might be decided : 
 What is meant by the words Due benevolence 
 
 in the A'^ — w'T 7it\ and in order thereto, 
 
 they fent unto the Miniflers of the Aflembly,, 
 intreating to make fome Declaration concern- 
 ing the fame. The Meflengcrs found the 
 AH'embly bufie about their Affairs, endea- 
 vouring to bring the Text, Kifs the Son leji 
 he be angry ^ to prove Pre/by tery 3 yet under- 
 
 ftandint^ 
 
it 
 
 llnncilng their LaJyfhips Requefl, they ]ttt 
 it prefeiuly, und fell upon the Debate of the 
 faid Dae Benevo'nue^ wliich I do not in; end 
 to i ; down particularly, it beini{ \^^>l lO be 
 fouiid in the Ladii^s Jourr^al : O; ly I hear, 
 that Mr. Cbrtdiah S v^ick's Opinion was. 
 That if a Man iiad been ableiit fiom his 
 Houfe any tiir.e- that then .he C< njugal Duty 
 obliged hun to folace her now, and anon too, 
 that is to fav, twice within thecompafs of a 
 natural Day. But it being adjudg'd, that no 
 Rule can be obferved, for that depended upon 
 Mens natural Conftitutions, and Health ; it 
 was declared by them. That all, and every 
 Man coupltd in Bond of Matrimony and 
 Wedlock, is engaged to comfort his Mate 
 and Fellow- feeler, as often as his Strength 
 and Conftitution of Body will podibly per- 
 mit. 
 
 Their Ladyfliips having received the De- 
 finition, defired them to make it ^z/r^ Divim 
 and to publifh it, for that fo, no Hufband in 
 the Country may pretend ignorance : Where- 
 upon their HoliiiefTes made this enfuing Ca- 
 tion. 
 
 DU 
 
^i 
 
 Die Jovls 25 MartU, 1647. 
 
 // is hy thefe Prefenis declared and decreed to all 
 the IVorldy hy the Council calltd and met at 
 Weftminfter, /;; the Kingdom of Gr^zt Britain, 
 ^at all Meny ivho have, or JJ?aIl take upon 
 them the State of MairhnGny, are by their Vows 
 
 ana Senfe of H y W /, obliged to comfort^ 
 
 vifit^ and comply with JViveSy as often as their 
 Kjtrength of Body will permit and give them 
 leave j and though they Jhould pretend It Jlands 
 not with their Bifinefs, that they he thereunto 
 obliged notwithjiandlng. This lue enjoin and 
 command, under Penalty of being debarred the 
 
 S ty of which we hope to have the mono* 
 
 poly. 
 
 The Day following, in the Evening, this 
 Do6lrine being brought to their Ladyfhips, 
 they ordered. That the Speaker of their 
 Houfe fhould give Thanks to the (iiid Mini- 
 llers of the A — biy of D — vines, for their 
 great Care and Pains in Reforming this 
 
 Kingdom, 
 
23 
 
 Kingdom, and in particuiar for this prefent 
 Declararion. After which, they ordered 
 thefc their Votes to be printed ; and fo Ad- 
 journed till further time. 
 
THE ISLE OF PINES. 
 
 Or a late difcovery of a fourth IHand, ia 
 Terra Auftralis Incognita, 
 
 Being a true Relation of certain Englifh Per- 
 fons, who, in ihe days of Q. Elizabeth, 
 making a Voyage to the Eaft India, were caft 
 away, and wrecked upon that liland, and all 
 drowned, except one Man and four Women, y 
 whereof one was a Negro. And now lately, 
 A. D. 1667, a Dutch (hip driven by foul 
 weather there, by chance have found their 
 Pofterlty, freaking good Englilli, to amount 
 to 10 or 12,000 perfons, as they fuppofe. 
 The whole relation follows, written by the 
 Man himfclf a little before his death, and 
 declared to the Dutch by his grandchild. 
 
 [BY HENRY NEVILLE] 
 
 LONDON 
 
 PRINT no MDCLXVIIi 
 
 RCPRINTED FOR T. CAOKLL 
 
 MDCCLXViH 
 
A way to the Eaft Indies being lately difco- 
 vered by fea, to the fouth of AfFric, by cer- 
 tain Portugals, far more fafe and profitable 
 than had been heretofore; certain Englifh 
 Merchants were encouraged by the great ad- 
 vantages arifing from the Eaftern commodi- 
 ties, to fettle a fa£lory there for the advantage 
 of trade. And having to that purpofe obtained 
 ihe * Queen's Royal Licence, Anno Dom. 
 
 1589, 
 
 • Queen's Royal Licence] Qaeen Elizabeth 
 would not admit the Ea(l India Company, at her 
 £ift granting them to be a Corporation, to tranf- 
 port the King of Spain's filver coins into the Eaft. 
 Indies, though the Merchants preffed it often, tel- 
 ling her, that her coin and {lamp were not known 
 in the Eafl Indies, they thinking to get licence to 
 fend thither what filver they pleafed. 
 
 This MoJ} prudent Qufcn and her ^ife privy 
 Council replied, th .t lor the very rcafon alieJged, 
 to tranfport the King of Sixain's fi'ver to the Eaft 
 Jndiejs, it was her unalitrahle relblution, not to 
 grant the Eaft India Company leave to fend the 
 King of Spain's, or any foreign Prince's c in into 
 India; but fuch filver, as was coined with her: 
 effigies on the one fide, and the Portcullis on the 
 
 other. 
 
I589, II or l2Eliz. furnlflit out for thofe 
 parts four fhlps. My mafler being fent as a 
 FatS^or to deal and negociate for them, and 
 10 fettle there, took with him his -whole fa- 
 
 orher, of the jult weight and firmnefs of iheSparift^ 
 pieces of ei^ht [Specimens of which fort of mo- 
 re y, the half, quarter, eighth of it, may be feeii 
 ifi the Colle6licns of our Antiquaiie.^] : declaring, 
 that, all the world over, where (he gave her mer- 
 chants leave to trade, /he would be known to be 
 As great a Prince as the King of Spain, and that 
 none fhculd piefume to fend a greater quantity of 
 filver to the Eall Indies, than flie, in her wifdom, 
 /hould fee fit, et(?. etc, etc. T, Violet's piece?, 
 
 Mr. Locks in his Tavo Treatifes of Gcrjnv.ment'] 
 with uo' ted ji-d^mcnf find clearnefs, declare?^ 
 that Trercgall've is nolhir.g hut the Pon/jer of doing 
 gozcl nvithi ut a ruli^ 
 
 7'his Power of doing good without a rule apart, 
 the rnof! fplendi'l prerogative then, with which the 
 ]V]:.jerty of rhe Rritifii People hath adorned their 
 Kings, is that of diredling, llriking the Public 
 Mr.nics, and (lamping thereon their own Effigies, 
 Titles, A<flion<:, for al! aj;es. 
 
 In what manner it has been conduced fince the 
 reifrn of Queen Elizabeth, efpecially of late Tiaies, 
 wi.h what, utility, decorum, elegancy, magnani- 
 mity, or oiherwife, may, it is pofiible, on fomq 
 future occafion, be confidcred. '.^ 
 
 mily. 
 
ttiily, that Is to fay, his wife, one Ton of 
 about twelve years of age, one daughter of 
 about fourteen years, two maid fervants, one 
 Negro female Have, and myfelF, who went 
 lincjcr him as his Book-keeper. With this 
 company, on Monday the' third of April 
 Dpxt f llowing, having all necefTaries for 
 houfe-keeping when we fliould come there, 
 We embarqued ourfelves in the good fhip cal- 
 led the India Merchant, of about four hun- 
 dred and fifty tuns burthen; and having a 
 good v/ind, we on the fourteenth of May had 
 fight of the Canaries, and not long after of 
 the lilcs of Cape Vert or Verd, where taking 
 in fuch things as were iietefTary for our 
 Voyage, nnd fo;ne frcfh provifions, we fleer- 
 ing our courfe South, and a point Eafl, about 
 the fird: of Au^ruft came within fight of the 
 Ifland of St. Hellen, where we took in frefii 
 water. We then fet our faces for the Cape 
 of Good Hope, where by God's bleiHng we 
 arrived, after fome ficknefs, va hereof fome 
 of our Company died, though none of our 
 family. Hitherto we had met with none but 
 calm weather. Yet fo it pleafed God, when 
 we were almofl: in fight of St. Laurence, an 
 Ifland fo called, one of the greatcft in the 
 
 world. 
 
worlJ, as Mariners fay, we were overtaken 
 anJ difperfcd by a ftorm of wind, which con- 
 t'aued with fuch violence many dayes, that 
 iofing all hopes of fafety, being out of our 
 own knovv'ledge, and whether we fhould fall 
 on flats or rocks, uncertain in the night, not 
 havin?: the leaft benefit of the light, wc 
 feared nioft, always wifhing for day, and 
 then for land : but it came too foon for our 
 good. For, about the firfl of OtStober, our 
 fears havino; made us for'2;et how the time 
 
 o o 
 
 pafild to a certainty, wc, about the break of 
 day, difcerned land, but what we knew not. 
 The land feemed high and rockey, and the 
 fea continued ftill very ftormy and tempeftu- 
 ous. As we grew near it, perceiving no fafety 
 in the fhip, which we looked would fuddenly 
 be beat in pieces, the Captain, my Mafter, 
 and fome others got into the long boat, think- 
 ing by that means to fave their lives, and 
 prcfently afier, all the Seamen caft ihemfelvcs 
 overboard, thinking to fave their lives by 
 fwimming, only myfelf, my Mafter*s daugh- 
 ter, the two maids, and the Negro were left 
 f n board, for we could not fwim ; but thofe 
 t -at left us, might as well have tarried with 
 f:';^ for we faw them, or mofl of them perlfti, 
 
 our 
 
our felves now ready after to follow their for-- 
 tune. But God was plcafed to fpare our 
 lives, as it were by miracle, though to fur- 
 ther forrow. For when we came againft the 
 rocks, our fnip having endured two or three 
 blow s, bein^ now broken and quite foundred 
 in the waters, we having with much ado 
 gotten cur felves on the bovvfpri^^ht, which 
 being broken off, was driven by the waters 
 into a fmall creek, wherein fell a little river,, 
 which being encompalTed by the rocks, was 
 (heltei'd from the wind, fo that we had op- 
 portunity to land ourfclves, though almoft 
 drown'd, in all four perfons, befide the Ne- 
 gro. When we were got upon the rocks, 
 we could perceive the mife.able wreck to our 
 great terror. 1 had in my pc^cket a little 
 linder-box, and flecl, and flint to (Irike fire 
 upon occafion, whicl^ lerved now to good 
 putpofe, for its being fo clo^e, ptefervtd the 
 tinder dry. With this, and the htlp of fome 
 old rotten wood which we g(jt toii,ether, wc 
 kindled a fire, and dryed ourfclves ; which 
 done, I left my fem.ale company, and went 
 to fee, if I could find any of our Diips com- 
 pany, that were cfcaped, but could hear of 
 none, though I hooted, and made all flie 
 
 noife 
 
8 
 
 iioiTe I could ; neither could I perceive the 
 footfteps of any living creature, fave a few 
 birds and other fowls. At length it drawing 
 
 to o 
 
 towards the evening, I went back to my 
 company, who v/ere \Qry much troubled for 
 wnnt of me, I being now all their flay in this 
 Joft condition. We were at firft afraid that 
 the wild people of the countrey might find us 
 out, although we faw no foot Heps of any, 
 no not fo much ?,s a path, the woods round 
 about being full of briers and bramibles. We 
 alfo flood 7n fear of v/ild beafts. Of fuch 
 jflfo we faw none, nor i'l^^n oP any. But 
 above all, that we had greatefc reafon to fear, 
 was (o be flarvcd to death for want ot focd. 
 I^ut God had otherwife provided for u , as 
 ybiiffhall knoV hereafter. This done, we 
 fp' nt our time in getting fome broken pieces 
 of boards, and planks, and fome cf the fails 
 and rigging on flioar for ilieltcr.. I fet up 
 two or three poles, and drew two or three of 
 the cords and lines from tree to tree, over 
 which throwing fome fai'-clothes, and leaving 
 gotten wood by us, and three or four fca- 
 gowns, which we had dryed, we took up our 
 lodging for that night together. The Black- 
 niore being Ids fcnfible than the reft, we* 
 
 made 
 
mactc our centry. We flept foundly tha| 
 night, as having not. flept in three or four 
 nights before, our fears of what happened 
 preventinguis, neither could our hard lodg- 
 ing, fear, and danger hinder us, we were fo 
 overwatch^. 
 
 On the morrow, lung well refreflit with 
 fleep, the wind ceafed, nnd the v/eather was 
 very warm. We went down the rocks on 
 the fands at low water, where we found great 
 part of our lading, either on {liore or floating 
 near it. By the help of my company, I 
 dragged mofl: of it on ihore j what was too 
 heavy for us we broke, and unbound the 
 Ga(ks and chefls, and, taking out the goods, 
 fecured all; fo that we wanted no clothes, 
 nor any other provifions neceflnry for houfe- 
 kecping, to furnifh a better houfe than any 
 v/e were like to have; but no victuals, the 
 fait water having fpoiled all, onely one caftC 
 of biflcet being lighter than the reft was dry; 
 this fervcd for bread a v/hile, and v/e found 
 on land a fort of fowl about the bignefl^e of a 
 fvvan, very heavy and fat, that by reafon of 
 their wciciht could n(^t flv, of thcfe we found 
 little diiHculty to kill, fo that they were our 
 prefcnt food. Yve carried ijut of England 
 ♦ • certain 
 
10 
 
 certain hens and cocks to cat by the way. 
 Some of thefc when the (hip was broken, by 
 feme means got to land, and bred exceed- 
 ingly ; (o that in the future they were a great 
 help unto us. We found alfo, by a little 
 ri\'cr, in the flags, flore of eggs, of a fort of 
 fowl much like our ducks, which were very 
 good meat, fo that we wanted nothing to 
 keep us alive. 
 
 The third day, as foon as It was morning, 
 feeing nothing to diflurb us, I lookt out a 
 convenient place to dwell in, that we migbt 
 build us a hut to fheltcr us from the weather, 
 and from any ether danger of annoyance from 
 wild beads, if any fhould find us out. So, 
 clofe by a large fpring which rofe out of a 
 high hill overlooking the fea, on the fide of a 
 wood, (by the help of an ax and fome other 
 implements, for we had all ncceflaries, the 
 working of the fea having caft up moft of 
 our goods) I cut down all the (Irelghtcft 
 poles I could find, and which were enough 
 for rny purpofe, by the help of my company, 
 jiecefRty being our mafter, I digged holes in 
 the earth, fetting my poles at an equal dif- 
 tance, and nailing the broken boards of the 
 cafks, cherts, and cabins, and fuch like to 
 
 them. 
 
II> 
 
 them, making my door to the fea-ward, and 
 having covered the top^ with fail- clothes- 
 ftrain'd, and nailed j I in the fpace of a week 
 had made a large cabbin big enough to hold 
 all our goods and ourfelves in it, 1 alfo 
 placed our hamocks for lodging, purpofing 
 if it pleafed God to fend any fliip that way, 
 we might be tranfported home. But it ne- 
 ver came to pafs, the place, \\ herein we 
 were, as I conceived, being much out of the 
 way. 
 
 We having lived in this m.anner full four 
 moncths, and not fo much as feeing or hear- 
 ing of any wild people or of any of our own 
 company, more than our felves, they being 
 found now by experience to be all drowned, 
 and the place as we after found, being a 
 large ifland, and disjoyned and out of fight 
 of any other land, was wholly uninhabited 
 by any people, neither was there any hurtful 
 bead to annoy us. But on the contrary, the 
 countrey fo very plcafant, being always cloth- 
 ed in green, and full of pleafant fruits, and 
 variety of birds, ever warm, and never colder 
 than in England in September ; fa that this 
 place, had it the culture that fkilful people 
 might beftow on it, would prove a Paradifc. 
 
 The 
 
The woods afforded us a fort of nuts, as 
 bi"- as a large apple, whofe kernil being plea- 
 Pant and dry, we made ufe of Infte^d of bread ; 
 that fowl before mentioned, and- a fort of 
 waier-fowl like ducks, and their eggs, ^nd Jt 
 btafl: about the fize of a goat, and almoft 
 fuch a like creature, which brought two 
 younc; ones at a tim.e, and that twice a year, 
 of which the low lands and woods were very 
 full, being a very h arm lefs creature and tame, 
 fo that we could eafily take and kill them ; 
 fifh a!fo, efpecially fliell-fifh, which we 
 could befl come by, we had great ftore of; 
 fo ibat in efFe6f, as to food we wanted no- 
 thing. And thus, and by ftich 'like helps,' 
 we continued fix: moneths, without any dif- 
 tuibance or want, 
 
 Idlcnefs and fuhiefs of every thing begot • 
 in me a defire of enjoying the women. He- 
 giniung now to grow more famihar, I had 
 perfuaded the two maids to let me lie with 
 them, which 1 did at firft in private; but 
 after, cuftom taking av/ay fliamiC, there be- 
 ing none but us, wc did it more openly, as 
 4t)ur luft gave us liberty. My mailer's daiigh- 
 , ter was alfo content to do as we did. The 
 truth rs, they werfe all- hartdfomc women, 
 
 when 
 
when they had clothes, and well fhaped, 
 feeding well. For we wanted no food, and 
 living idly, and feeing us at liberty to do ouf 
 wills, without hope of ever returning home, 
 made us thus bold. One of my conforts, 
 with w^ m I firft accompanied, the talleflr 
 and handfomeri:, proved prefently with child.. 
 The fecond was my Mafter's daughter. And 
 the other alfo not long after fell into the 
 fame conditipn. None now remaining but 
 my Negro, who feeing what we did, longed 
 alfo for her fhare. One night, I being aHeep, 
 my Negro, 'with the confont of the others, 
 got clofe to me, thinking it being dark to 
 beguile me, but I awaking and feeling her, 
 perceiving who it was, yet willing to try the 
 difference, fatisfied myfelf with her, as well 
 as with one of the reft. That nighr, although 
 the firft time, (lie proved alfo with child, fo 
 that in the year of our being here, all my 
 v/omen were with child by me ; and. they 
 all coming at different feafons, were a grea^ 
 help to.one another. 
 
 The firft brought me a brave, boy. My 
 Mader's daughter was the youngcft. She 
 brought me a girJ. So did the other maid, 
 who, being foraejv^hat i^y fped vyorfe at hef 
 
 labour* 
 
14* 
 
 kbour. The Negro had no pain at all, and 
 brought me a fine white girl. So I had one 
 boy, and three girls. The women were foon 
 well again, and the two firft with child 
 again, before the two laft were brought to- 
 bed : My cuftom being not to lie with any- 
 of them after they were with child till others 
 were fo likcwife; and not with the Black at 
 all after (he was with child, which commonly 
 was the firft tirtie I lay with her, which was 
 in the night and not elfe ; my ftomach would 
 not fcrve me, although Hie was one of the. 
 handfomeft Blacks 1 had feen, and her chil- 
 dren as comely as any of the reft. We had- 
 BO clothes for them, and therefore, when ihey 
 had fuckt, we laid them in mofs to fleep, and 
 took no further care of them ; for we knew, 
 when they were gone more would come ; 
 the women never failing once a year at leaf}, 
 and none of the children, for all the hardfhip 
 we put them to, were ever fick ; fo that 
 wanting now nothing but clothes, nor them 
 much neither, other than for decency, the 
 warmth of the country and cuftom fupjlying 
 that iitic^f-, we wtrc now well fatisficd v/ith 
 our condilion. Our family beginning to 
 grow large, and there being nothing to hurt 
 
 us* 
 
IS 
 
 us, we many times lay abroad on mofTy 
 banks, under the flicker of fome trees, or 
 fuch like, for having nothing elfe to do, I 
 had made me feveral arbors to fleep in with 
 my women in the heat of the day, in thefe 
 I and my women pafied the time away, they 
 being never willing to be out of my com- 
 pany. 
 
 And having now no thought of ever return- 
 ing home, as having refolved and fworn never 
 to part or leave cne another, or the place ; 
 having by my feveral wives, forty- feven chil- 
 dren, boys and girls, but moft girls, and 
 growing up apace j we were all of us very 
 flefliy, the country fo well agreeing with us, 
 that we never ailed any thing. My Negro- 
 having had twelve, was the firft that left 
 bearing, fo I never meddled with her more. 
 My mafter's daughter, by v;hom I had moft 
 children, being the youngeft and handfomeft, 
 was moft fond of me, and I of her. Thus 
 v/e lived for fixteen years. Till perceiving 
 my eldeft boy to mind the ordinary work of 
 nature, by feeing what we did, I gave him a 
 mate j and Co I did to all the reft, as faft as 
 they grew up, and were capable. My wives 
 having left bearing, my children began tx> 
 
 breed 
 
i6 
 
 breed apace, fo wc were like to be a multi- 
 tude. My firil: wife brought me thinecn 
 children, my fec< ii i feven, my maftcr's 
 daughter fifteen, and the Negro twelve, in 
 all forty- fcven. 
 
 After we had lived there twenty-two years,r 
 my Negro died fuddenly, but I could not per-; 
 ceive any thing that ailed' her. f^oftofmys, 
 children bein^g grown-, as faft as we married 
 them, I fent and placed them over the river 
 by themfelves feverally, becaufe we would 
 not pefler one another. And now, they be- 
 ing all grown up. and gone, and married 
 after our itanner, fome two or three of the 
 youngeft excepted, for, .growing inyfdf into" 
 years, I liked not iHc vvantcii annoyances of' 
 young company, 
 
 Thus having lived to the fixticth year of 
 my age, and the fortieth of my coming thi* 
 ther, at which time I fent for all of them tO' 
 bring their children, .and there were in num- 
 ber defccnded from me by thefe four women,- 
 of my children, grand-children, and grca«' 
 grand children, five hundred fixty-fi^vc of" 
 both forts ; I took off the males of one fa- 
 mily, and married them to the females of' 
 another, not letting any to marry their fiCf 
 
 ters. 
 
17: 
 
 tersy as we did formerly out of neceflity, fo- 
 blefiing God for his providence and g9odnefs, 
 I difmifs'd them. Having taught (orrieof Qiy 
 children to read formerly, for 1 had left (lilfc 
 the bible, I charged it fhould be read once a- 
 month at a general meeting. At laft one 06 
 my wives died, being fixty-eight years of 
 dge, which I buried in a place fet out on pur- 
 pofe i and within a year after another : So 1 
 had none now left but my maker's daughter, 
 and we Hvtd together twelve years longer. 
 At length fhe died alfo. So I buried her alfa 
 next the place 'Where I purpofed to be buried 
 myfelf, and the tall niaid^, my fifft wife, n^xt 
 me on the other fide, the Negro ne>£t whhon^ 
 her, and the other maid next my mafter*8- 
 daugh:er; I had now nothing to mind, but 
 the place whither I' was 't6 go, being very* 
 old, almoft eighty years, I gave my cabin* 
 and furniture that was left, to my eldeft fon, 
 after my deceafe, who had married my eldefl^ 
 daughter by my beloved wife ; whom I made' 
 king and governor of all tht reft. I iiiformcd" 
 them of the manners of Europe, and charged 
 them to remember the Chriftlan religion, 
 after the manner of them that foake the fame 
 
 Ian- 
 
rS' 
 
 language, and to admit no other, if herear- 
 ter any fhould come and find them out. 
 
 And now, once for afl, I fummoned them 
 to come to me, that I might number them,, 
 which I did, and found the eftimate to con- 
 tain, in or about the eightieth year of my 
 age, and the fifty-ninth of my coming there, 
 in all of all forts, one thoufand feven hundred 
 eighty and nine. Thus praying God to- 
 multiply them, and fend them the true light 
 of the gofpel, I laft: of all difmift them; for,, 
 being now very old, and my fight decayed, 
 I could not expert to live long. I gave this 
 narration, written with my own hand, to 
 my eldeft fon, who now lived with me, com- 
 manding him to keep it, and if any ftrangers. 
 fhould come hither by chance, to let them 
 fee it, and take a copy of it if they would, 
 that our name be not loft from ofF the earth, 
 1 gave this people, defcended from me, the 
 name of the English pines, George Pins 
 being my name, and my mafter's daughter's 
 name Sarah Englijh. My two other wives 
 were Mary Sparkes^ and Elizabeth Trevor. So 
 their feveral defcendants are called the Eng- 
 lish, the SPARKS, the trevors, and the 
 PHILS, from the chriftian name of the Ne- 
 gro,- 
 
19 
 
 gro^ which was Philippa^ fhe having no 
 furname ; and the general name of the whole 
 the ENGLISH pines; whom God blefs with 
 the dew of heaven, and the fat of the earth, 
 ^men ! 
 
odyiO'^ 1^"^ ^' 
 
 
Ij<? 
 
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 :^ii 
 
 ''%^ 
 
 
 - ■?/-. 
 
 3,1 
 
 M^-} 
 
 
 
 
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