William and Mary Dyer's 17th-century bookshelf

1655-Woman Writing a Letter,
by Gerard Terborche
© Christy K. Robinson The first settlers of New Englandwere avid readers. On long winter evenings, or rainy summer days, books weretreasured for intellectual stimulation and entertainment value.
William and Mary Dyer were very well-educated for their timeand social class. In an era when only some people could read, and fewer peoplecould write, their penmanship is strong and clean, without scratch-outs,indicating that they thought carefully and focused on what they were writing.They make reference to the Bible and history. William was well-versed ongeography and animal and marine species. Mary was highly-regarded for herintellect.


While we don't know precisely which books the Dyers read intheir youth or adulthood, I've listed books that were very likely on theirreading list, published before or during their lifetimes (just arepresentation of hundreds or thousands of books which would have beenavailable at the time). The hyperlinks take you to the online versions—searchable—manyof them free downloads.

Bookof Martyrs—John Foxe The Holy Bible,Geneva versionThefirst blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of women—JohnKnox TheBook of Sports—King James Daemonologie—KingJames TheAdvancement of Learning—Francis Bacon TheEnglish Housewife—Gervase MarkhamAnew booke of Cookerie—John MurrellTheQueen's Closet Opened—Queen Henrietta Maria Wonderworking providence of Sions Saviour in New England—EdwardJohnson Religiomedici—Sir Thomas Browne  Newesfrom America—Captain John UnderhillNewEngland's Prospect—William WoodGoodNewes from New England—Edward WinslowThe First Planters of New England—JohnWinthropShortStory of the Rise, Reign and Ruin of the Antinomians, Familists and Libertines—JohnWinthrop ThePathway to Health—Peter LevensAHealing Question—Henry Vane TheCompleat Angler—Izaak Walton