Roger Williams. A key into the language of America. London, 1643.

Title page

Williams made the first extensive vocabulary and study of an Indian language printed in English. He not only dove into the Indian language but by a contemporary account we find that he lived with the tribe "in their filthy smoke holes to gain their tongue... and could debate with them in a great measure in their own Language." It is perhaps the first sympathetic presentation of Indian customs. Williams was a preacher and initially approached the natives as a missionary, undertaking what the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonists had professed as a goal but not put into practice: the conversion of the native population to Christianity. He became impressed with the Indians' conduct, which seemed to put the Christians to shame.

Some of his observations were political, as well as moral and spiritual.
"The Natives are very exact and punctuall in the bounds of their Lands... And I have knowne them make bargaine and sale amongst themselves for a small piece, or quantity of Ground: notwithstanding a sinfull opinion among many that Christians have right to Heathens Lands: but of the delusion of that phrase, I have spoke in a discourse... (A Key, Chapter XVI)

In July 1635, Roger Williams was formally tried for his political heresies by the Massachusetts General Court and, when he did not recant, banished from Massachusetts for 300 years. An attempt was made to deport him to England, but he was forewarned and fled to an Indian settlement where he bought land from the Indians and founded the settlement he called Providence, "in grateful remembrance of God's merciful providence to him in his distress." He lived by farming and trade with the Indians.

Williams's book has been reprinted many times, but usually without the poems and passages critical of the New English.

Author: Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683.
Title: A key into the language of America, by Roger Williams. London, Printed by Gregory Dexter, 1643. Reprint : With an introd. by Howard M. Chapin. 5th ed. Reprinted at Providence for the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Tercentenary Committee, inc., 1936. Description: 14 p. ., 205 p. 20cm.
Notes: Includes reproduction of original t.p. "This reprint has followed the first edition page for page and also line for line except in those few cases where technical differences ... make this impossible."--Verso of 5th prelim. leaf.
Subjects: Narraganset Indians. Narraganset language.
Other entries: Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Tercentenary Committee, inc.
Call numbers: UCB Main 720.W726