er with little sticks, all the while muttering
some ympious thing unto themselves, oftentymes looking upon Captain
Smyth. In this manner they contynued ten or twelve howers without any
other ceremonies or intermission, with such violent stretching of their
armes, and various passions, jestures, and simptoms, as might well seeme
stang to him before whom they so conjured, and who every hower expected
to be the hoast and one of their sacrifice. Not any meat did they eat
untill yt was very late, and the night far spent. About the rising of the
morning starr they seemed to have finished their work of darknes, and
then drew forth such provision as was in the said howse, and feasted
themselves and him with much mirth."

Some part of this narrative reminds us of the conjurations of the
Scandinavian prophetess--before she poured forth "the Runic rhyme," as
related by Bartolinus; we wish the writer had mentioned whether they
moved eastward or westward. The prophetess we have just alluded to,
grasped her staff carved with Runic characters, all the time, and singing
a low monotonous chant, she proceeded, _contrary_ to the course of the
sun, round and round the charmed fire. The coincidence is, however,
striking.

The first book ends with a high eulogy on the capabilities of the
country; the probability of its containing great mineral wealth, as well
as the certainty of its yielding abundant produce, "for yt hath (even
beside necessary helpes, and commodities for life) apparent proufs of
many naturall riches." The second book gives a very interesting account
of the various attempts to colonize this portion of America, from the
time of the discovery to the expedition of Lord Delawarr,--of which Mr.
Major has given an excellent epitome in his introduction.

Looking at the period when this work was probably written, and especially
at the arguments used by the earnest writer, we cannot but think it
likely that it may have aided the Pilgrim Fathers in their determination
to seek on the farther shores of the Atlantic that freedom which was
denied them here. Although in manuscript, it may have been well known;
for we have several instances of copies being made of works not intended
for the press. In this instance, two copies are still extant; and the
circumstance of that in the Ashmolean Collection being dedicated to Sir
Allen Apsley, Lucy Hutchinson's father, affords strong probability that
it would soon become known to the Puritans, si