I Have received yours, wherein you desire me to give you a Brief Account of the past and present State of New Eng­land, which in as few words as I can, and as straits of time will permit me, I shall endeavour your Satisfacti­on in.

New England contains that Tract of Land which is between forty and forty five Degrees of Northern Latitude; It was for some time known by the name of the Northern Plantation; but King Charles the First (then Prince of Wales) gave it the name of New England.

The first settlement of the English there, was in the year 1620, viz. at New Plymouth.

New England differs from other Foreign Plantations, in respect of the Grounds and Motives, inducing the First Planters to remove [Page 4]into that American Desert; other Plantations were built upon Worldly Interests, New England upon that which is purely Reli­gious; for although they did, and do agree (as is evident from their Printed Confession of Faith) with all other Protestant Re­formed Churches; and more especially with England, in Matters of Doctrin, and in all Fundamental Points of Faith; yet as to the Liturgy, Ceremonies, and Church-Government by Bishops, they were, and are Non-conformists: It was grievous to them to think of living in continual difference with their Protestant Brethren in England; upon which account they resolved on a peaceable SECESSION into a corner of the World; and being desirous to be under the Protection of England, about twenty worthy Gentle­men obtained a Charter from King Charles the First, bearing date from the year 1628. which giveth them Right to the Soil, for they hold their Titles of Lands, as of the Mannor of East-Greenwich in Kent, and in Common SOCAGE, which, notwithstanding, they purchased their Lands of the Indians, who were the Native Pro­prietors: By their mentioned Charter, they are Empower'd to Elect yearly their own Governor, and Deputy-Governor, and Magistrates, as here in London, and in other Towns Corpo­rate, the Freemen chuse their Lord Mayors, Mayors, Aldermen, &c.

They have also Power to make such Laws, as shall be most pro­per and suitable for the Plantation: Nevertheless, as an acknow­ledgment of their dependance on England, by their Charters, they are obliged not to make any Laws, which shall be repugnant to the Laws in England.

Also, the fifth part of all Oar, of Gold or Silver, found in that Territory, belongs to the Crown of England.

The Report of this Charter, did encourage many very de­serving persons to Transplant themselves, and their Families, in­to New England; Gentlemen of Ancient and Worshipful Families, and Ministers of the Gospel, then of great fame here in England, Tradesmen, Artificers, and Planters, to the Number of about four thousand did in twelve years time go thither.

The hazards they run, and the difficulties which they en­countred with, in subduing a Wilderness, cannot be easily ex­prest in a large Tract: But the Almighty God, by a wonder­ful Providence, carried them through all.

[Page 5]In the year 1637, they were in imminent danger of being cut off by the barbarous Heathen; but when it came to a War, mighty numbers of the Indians were slain, by a few of the Eng­lish, which caused a terror of God to fall upon the Heathen round about; so that after the Pequod Indians were subdued, there was peace in the Land for forty eight years together; and being setled under a good and easie Government, the Plantation in­creased, and prospered wonderfully; yea, so as cannot be pa­rallelled in any History: never was place brought to such a Con­siderableness in so short a time; that which was, not long since, a howling Wilderness, in few years time, became a pleasant Land, wherein was abundance of all things meet for Soul and Body, which can be imputed to nothing else, but to their Religion, the Gospel bringing a fulness of Blessings along with it: Some have observed, that since the year 1640, more Persons have re­moved out of New England, than have gone thither. Never­theless, the four thousand, who did, between that and the year 1620, transplant themselves into New England, are so mar­velously increased, as that, if the Computation fail not, they are now become more than Two hundred thousand Souls.

There are Towns and Villages, on the Sea-Coasts, from Long Island to Boston, which is Three hundred English Miles, and the like from Boston to Pemmaquid, which is Two hundred Miles more.

In the year 1662, Conecticot Colony, as also Read Island, with the Plantations thereunto belonging, had Charters granted to them by King Charles the Second, being much of the same Te­nor with the Patent of the Massachusets, whereby these Co­lonies were made distinct Government.

In the year 1675, the Indians began a second War with the English; the Issue of which was, that whole Nations of them were destroy'd.

Never did men shew greater Courage and Bravery in their En­counters with the Barbarous Heathen, than they did. Although it must be acknowledged that the Indians advantages were such, as they could not have been overcome, if God had not fought a­gainst them, by sending the Evil Arrows of Famine, and Mortal Diseases among them. I have often thought of an Expression of[Page 6]an Indian there: We could easily be too hard for the English, but (said he? striking on his Breast) The Englishmens God makes us afraid here.

As long as they enjoyed their first Government, no Enemies could stand before them; but since that they have not been able to subdue an hundred Indians, who did the last year commit some outrages among them, having been (as I am credibly insormed) de­signedly provoked thereunto by some Injuries done unto them by those then in Power, who intended the Ruine of the Eng­lish, and Advancement of the French Interest in that Terri­tory.

As for your Enquiry, By what means they came to be deprived of their Charters, Rights and Liberties; please to understand, that in the year 1683, a Quo Warranto was issued out against them, and with the Notification thereof by the then King's Order there was a Declaration published, enjoyning those few particular Persons men­tioned in the Quo Warranto, to make their defence at their own per­ticular Charge, without any help by a publick Stock: By this it was easie to see that some Persons were resolv'd to have the Charters condemned, quo jure quaque injuria: Nevertheless, the Governor and Company appointed an Attorney to appear, and answer to the Quo Warranto, in the Court of King's Bench.

The Prosecutors not being able to make any thing of it there, a new Suit was Commenced by a Scire facias, in the High Court of Chancery.

But tho they had not sufficient time given them to make their Defence, yet Judgment was entred against them for Default in not appearing; when it was impossible, considering the remote distance of New England from Westminster-hall, that they should appear in the time allowed.

Thus illegally was the Charter of the Massachusets Colony wrested from them: as for the Colonies of Plymouth, Conecticot, and Road Island, there was never any Judgment against them, nor any Surrender; but by a mere Rape, in the year 1686, their Charters and Priviledges were violently taken from them.

Since that time the Country hath mightily declined, and gone to ruin daily, not being now like the place it was Five Years ago, which is not much to be wondred at, considering the Intol­lerable[Page 7]Oppressions they have been Labouring under, since their Charters were Ravished from them.

In the Year 1686. Sir Edmond Andros, was sent by the late King James to New England; with a Commission absolutely de­structive to the fundamentals of the English Government, Impow­ering him with Four more (none of them chosen by the People) to Levy Money, and make Laws, nay, and in case of War in the Plantations to send as many of the Inhabitants as he would, two Thousand Miles out of the Country: This Commission being Illegal and so in it self void, the People not being able to Conti­nue longer under those Oppressions, did this last Spring assert their English Liberties, Rights and Priviledges, and Unanimously Declare for the Prince of Orange, and the Parliament of England.

And it is greatly to be observed, that as long as New England enjoyed their Charters for more than Fifty Years together, they never put the Crown of England to a Penny Charge; which is more than can be said of any other Forreign Plantations depen­dant on England.

But since they have been under a Government not by Charters, but by Commission, the Country hath been Chargeable, and less Beneficial to the Kings Revenue than in former times.

It hath indeed been objected, that in New England they did many Years a go Transgress the Act of Navigation. But the Trasgressi­on of some few particular Persons ought not to be charged as the fault of the Government there, who did in the Year 1663, make a Law that the Act of Navigation should be Strictly observed, and their Governours are Sworn to see that Law Executed, and have to the uttermost of their power been careful therein.

Many other Things have been suggested against New England, he most of which having no footsteps of Truth in them, but be­ing the Malicious Inventions of the Tobijahs and Sanballats of the Age, are not worth mentioning.

Not but the People there being but Men, have had their failings as well as other Men in all places of the World. The only thing (so far as I can learn) which can with any Coluor of Truth be justly reflected on them as a great fault, is that in some matters relating to Conscience and difference of opinion, they have been more rigid and severe than the Primitive Christians or the Gospel doth allow of.

[Page 8]Yet this is to be said in their behalf, that things are reported worse than indeed they were, and that now many Leading Men, and the generality of the People are of a more moderate Tem­per.

I know many that have a great Interest there, do abhor the Spirit of Persecution as much as any Men in the World.

It is certainly for the Interest of England, that New England be incouraged; and preserved in all their Rights, Priviledges and Properties, and those ill Men who have given or shall give contrary advice (notwithstanding all their vain pretences to the contrary) have and will prejudice the Interest of the Crown more than they are, or ever were, or can be able to make amends for: which I evince by the Arguments following.

• I. The Kings Revenue, all things considered, is as much or more augmented by New England, than by any other of the Foreign Plantations. This will seem to some a strange Assertion: But con­sider what I say, and then judge if it be not true.

  The other American Plantations cannot well subsist without New England; which is by a Thousand Leagues nearer to them than either England, or Ireland; so that they are supplied with Provisions, Beef, Pork, Meal, Fish, &c. And also with the Lumber Trade, Deal Boards, Pipe-Staves, &c. chiefly from New England.

  Also the Carribbe Islands have theire Horses from thence. It is then in a greater part by means of New England that the other Plantations are made prosperous and beneficial; they pay Customs in the Plantations for the Goods they Export from thence into New England, and when those Goods are brought into England, they pay the same again the Second time, by which means not a little is contributed to the Crown.

  Some Manufactures there are amongst them, but not a Twenti­eth part of what the Country hath need of, or is consumed there, most of their Cloathing as to Woollen and Linnen, all sorts of Upholstery Wares, Haberdashers and Silk Wares, Stuffs, Silks, &c. they have from England; and make returns in Plate, Pieces of Eight, Beaver, Moose and Deer Skins, Oyl, and Iron, all which, but the Bullion, the Country affords.

  Also by Sugars and Tobacco, Indico, and indeed all the Product[Page 9]of the other Plantations, which with their own Vessels they fetch and transport to England.

• II. I know not whether in the World there be a better place for shipping, nor can I say how many, (but many hundreds there are) hundreds of Vessels of their own building do be­long to the Country, (besides great Numbers built and sold into England,) for they yearly build many good Ships, some of which for London, and other places in England.

  The Country abounds with Pine-Trees, Excellent Cedars, and Oak for building of Ships, and Ship-Masts in abundance; by those that are proper Judges, the best in the World, and come yearly from thence for the Use of the King's Ships.

  And it hath been affirmed by knowing Men in Navigation and Building, that whenever the King of England pleases, he may in New England on such easie Rates as is scarce imaginable, build Navies of Ships: There being no better Timber in the World, and in such quantities as are inexhaustible, and in such convenient Places, as if God and Nature had adapted these vast Timbers for the said use; which is worth conside­ration, for that Timber is generally wanting in England, and in Ireland; what is, is too far from Waters and Places fit for Carriage, and the East-Land Oak is spungy and unfit.

• III. The English born in New England, have the true inhe­rent Spirit of the Old, apt and fit for Martial Employs; and as an addition to their Natural Courage and Sobriety, are well instructed in Martial Discipline.

All the Inhabitants from sixteen to sixty Years in each Town, are by the Law and constant Custom of the Country to bear Arms, if occasion shall require, and that they may be fit so to do,

They have in each Town and Village their Training-days, eight Times every Year, wherein they are exercised in Military Discipline, that so they may be expert in War, on all occa­sions, for their own Defence, and Service of their Prince; who will find whenever he shall please for to command, and commissionate them, that they are able (by the Blessing of God) to secure and enlarge his Dominions, and to bring[Page 10]their French Neighbours into an intire Subjection to the Crown of England.

And from this Consideration it was, that the French Mi­nisters, (who all the World knows had a mighty Ascendent over White-Hall, in the Two Late Kings Reigns) ceased not in their Negotiations, until amongst other Articles agreed on; One was, that in Case of a War betwixt England and France, there shall be a Neutrality in the Plantations: They wisely foreseeing, that if the King of England, should arm and com­mission his Subjects in New England, the Frenchmen in those parts could not stand before them.

In the Time of the Late Protector Cromwel, they did by order from England, take several Forts from the French, which by King Charles the Second were restored to them again; no ways to the Honour or Interest of the English Nation.

And it's hoped, His Majesty and the High Court of Parlia­ment, will put that value upon New England, as so vast a Tract of Land and Body of People deserve from a Govern­ment on which they depend, and are so great and useful a Member, as they have manifested themselves to be: And that in so Eminent a manner as calls for Protection, Encourage­ment, and Restauration to all their Rights, Priviledges and Proprieties, and what Additions more, as in His Majesty great Wisdom, shall be thought fit for his Service, the Protestant Religion and the good of that People; who on the 18th. of April, 1689. Unanimously rose in Arms, and after having sei­zed upon their Illegal Governour, and the rest of their Op­pressors; declared for the Prince of Orange, and the Parlia­ment of England, the Protestant Religion and their Ancient Constitution, and to this day do keep the Country for our Present Sovereigns, King William and Queen Mary, against King Lewis, and the Abdicated King James, waiting His Ma­jesties Commands, &c.

Which Declaration is in the words following: ‘WE do therefore seize upon the Persons of those few Ill Men, which have (been next unto our[Page 11]sins) the Grand Authors of our Miseries, resolving to secure them, for what Justice, Orders from his Highness, with the English Parliament shall direct, lest, e're we are aware, we find (what we may fear, being on all sides in danger) our selves to be by them given away to a Foreign Power, before such Orders can reach unto us, for which Orders we now humbly wait; in the mean time firmly be­lieving, that we have endeavoured nothing but what meer Duty to God and our Country calls for at our hands: We commit our Enterprize to the Blessing of him, who hears the Cry of the oppressed, and advise all our Neigh­bours for whom we have thus ventured our selves, to joyn with us in Prayers, and all just Actions for the Defence of the Land.’

The twelfth Article of New England is the Key of the New World America; if the French King had got it into his Possession, he might soon have made himself Master of Ame­rica, and this in all Probability would have been done this Summer, if the New Englanders in and about Boston, pene­trating into the Designs carrying on, had not risen as one Man, and seized Sir E. A. (who is as of a French Extract, so in the French Interests; being sent to New England by the Late King James, with an Illegal and Arbitrary Commission) and those ill Men who joyned with him in his Tyranny.

All men do acknowledge, that those brave Souls whom God hath so wonderfully assisted, and spirited to preserve London-Derry, (and perhaps thereby to save all Ireland) by securing it, and declaring for King William and Queen Mary, deserve great Favour and Protection from the Government.

And the same must be acknowledged due unto the People of New England, and more especially, when it is considered of what Value and Consequence to England, New England is, and that they so early as it were, rescued the Country out of the hands of the French, even before they knew the Prince of Orange was King of England, and that at a Time when they[Page 12]knew no more, than that His Highness was landed in Eng­land, with a design to endeavour the delivering the Kingdom, and the Churches of God from Popery, Slavery and Arbitrary Power, which as they lookt upon as an Heroick and Glorious Undertaking; so they also accounted it their Duty to embark themselves in the same Cause; though they knew not what the Issue of so mighty a Work would be; which hath caused some Persons of no Mean Figure to say, ‘These People deserve His Majesties and the Nations Respect, Countenance, and Speedy Restitution of all their Rights, and to be en­abled by His Majesties Commissions to prosecute the War against France in America, which they are capable to do without any con­siderable Charge to the Government.’

And indeed New England, hath upon the best Accounts which can be mentioned, out-done all America.

For there they have erected an Ʋniversity, which began in the year 1642, wherein things are managed, pro more Academia­rum in Anglia: Several Persons of more than ordinary Learn­ing; yea, and many scores of able Ministers, of the Gospel, have there had their Education.

There by the Statutes of the Colledge, none is to be admitted, before he can write Latin in a pure Style, and translate any or­dinary Greek Author.

It is customary with them, every Morning in the Colledge-Hall, to read a Chapter out of the Hebrew Bible, and at Night a Chapter out of the Greek Original.

The Tutors there instruct their Pupils in Logick, Natural and Moral Philosophy, Metaphysicks, Geography, Astronomy, Arith­metick, Geometry, &c. and the Learned Men there have a cor­responding communication with other Learned Men in divers parts of the World, where the Reformed Religion is professed, and by them highly reverenced for their Learning and Sobrie­ty; an Instance of which appears by the following Letter, written by the Eminent Mr. Kick, to the Queen's Majesty that now is, in February last, by way of Supplication for New Eng­land.

Nay, I will be bold to say, that New England hath out-done the whole World; for among the Indians, who a while since were mere Heathens, there are not only many Congregations of them, who are converted to the Christian Faith, and the Protestant (which is the only True) Religion: But no less than Four and twenty of those Heathens, are now not only Christi­ans, but Preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I chal­lenge the whole World to produce me the like Instance, as more fully appears by the following Relation, abstracted out of a Letter written about two years since from Boston, by the Re­verend Mr. Mather, President of the College there, at the re­quest, and unto the famous Dr. John Leusden, Hebrew Profes­sor in the University of Ʋtricht, and since translated into di­vers Languages in New England. The whole Bible hath been translated into the Indian Language, and there also printed: It's above forty five years since, that truly pious and godly Man, Mr. John Elliot, Minister of the Church at Rocksborough (a Mile from Boston) being warm'd with a Compassionate and Holy Zeal for the Conversion of the Americans, set himself to learn the[Page 16]Indian Tongue, that he might the more easily, and successfully open to them the Mysteries of the Gospel; on account of which he hath been (not undeservedly) called the Apostle of the Ame­rican Indians. This Reverend Person was he that, with indefa­tigable Labour and Study, translated the whole Bible into the Indian Tongue, and also several English Treatises of Practi­cal Divinity and Catechisms.

About Twenty eight years since he gathered a Church of Converted Indians, in a Town called Natick. These poor In­dians were brought to such a sense of God and Religion, that they confessed their Sins with Tears, and professed their Faith in Christ; and afterwards they and their Children were Bap­tized, and they were Solemnly joyned together in a Church-Covenant: And Mr. Elliot was the first that Administred the Lords Supper to them. The Minister of that Church is now an Indian named Daniel.

Besides this Church at Natick, among our Inhabitants in the Massachusets Colony, there are Four Indian Assemblies; where the Name of the True God, and Jesus Christ, is solemnly called upon. And these Four Assemblies have American Preach­ers: Mr. Elliot formerly Preached to them once in Fourteen Days; but now being Weakned with his Labours, and in the Eighty Sixth Year of his Age, doth not Preach to them more than once in Two Months.

About Fifty Miles from Boston is another Church consisting only of Converted Indians; in an Indian Town, called Mar­shippang, the first Minister of which was an Englishman, who being skilful in the American Language, Preached the Gospel to them in their own Tongue; but this Minister is lately Dead, and they now have an Indian Preacher.

There are besides that, Five Assemblies of Indians professing the Name of Christ, not far distant from Marshippang, which have Indian Preachers, and also are Preached unto in their own Language once every weak by Mr. John Cotton, Son of the Famous Mr. John Cotton, somtimes Minister of the Church at Boston. In Plymouth Colony of the Inhabitants of Saconet there is a great Congregation of those who for distinctions sake, are called Praying Indians; Because they Pray to God in Christ.

[Page 17]Not far from a Promontory called Cape Cod, are Six Assem­blies of Heathens who are to be reckoned as Catechumeni; amongst whom are Six Indian Preachers. Mr. Samuel Treat Minister of a Church at East Ham, Preacheth to these Congre­gations in their own Language.

There are amongst the Islanders of Mantucket, a Church, with a Minister who was lately a Heathen, and several meetings of Catechumeni, who are instructed by the Converted Indians.

In the Island of Martha, which is about Twenty Two Miles long, are two American Churches planted, which are more Famous than the rest, for that over one of them presides an Ancient Indian Minister, called Hiacooms: John Hiacooms, Son of the said Indian Minister, also Preaches the Gospel to his Contrymen in [...] Church: in that place John Tockinosh, a Converted Indian Teaches.

In these Churches Ruling Elders of the Indians are joyned to the Ministers: The Ministers were chosen by the People, and when they had Fasted and Prayed, Mr. Elliott and Mr. Cotton laid their hands on them, so that they were solemnly Ordained.

All the Congregations of the Converted Indians, (the Cate­chumeni and those that are in Church-Order) every Lords Day meet together, the Minister always beginning with Prayer, and without a Form, because from the heart; when the Ruler of the Assembly hath ended his Prayer, the whole Cogregation of Indians, praise God with Singing; in which many of them are excelling. After the Psalm, he that Preaches reads a place of Scripture, and Expounds it, gathers Do­ctrins from it, proves them by Scripture and reasons, and in­fers use from them after the manner of the English, of whom they have been taught: Then another Prayer to God in the Name of Christ concludes the whole Service, in which man­ner they meet twice every Lord's Day; they observe no Holy Days, but the Lord's Day, except upon some extraordinary occa­sion; and then they solemnly set apart whole Days, either in gi­ving thanks, or fasting and praying with great fervor of Mind.

Before the English came into these Parts, these Barbarous Nations were altogether ignorant of the true God; hence it is, that in their Prayers and Sermons, they use English Words and Terms.

[Page 18]He that calls upon the most Holy Name of God, says, Jehovah, or God, or Lord; and also they have Learned, and borrowed many other Theological Phrases from the English.

There are six Churches of Baptized Indians in New England, and eighteen Assemblies of Catechumeni, professing the Name of Christ.

Of the Indians there are four and twenty who are Preach­ers of the Word of God, and there are also four English Mi­nisters who Preach the Gospel in the Indian Tongue, and there are many of the Indians Children, who have learned by heart the Catechism; either of that samous Divine Mr. Will. Perkins, or that put forth by the Assembly of Divines at West­minster, and can in their own Mother-Tongue answer to all the questions in it.

Thus Sir I have endeavoured to gratifie your request with as much Brevity as the Subject will admit, and exceeding the Bounds of a Letter, am forced to be so prolix, and the rather for that most of what I have written is upon my own knowledge, Truth (and the rest undeniable fact) though not the twentieth Part of the Truths might be said of the Almighty's most won­derful blessing and prospering New England, and his Gospel among the Heathen there, which to me looks like the Begin­nings of the fulfilling those many Prophecies in Holy Writ con­cerning them.

And after all this, I cannot but admire there should be (as you say there is) any Man in England, who owns but even the bare name of a Protestant, at such a time as this, when God seems to have begun the Reformation of the whole World, and eminently to appear for the True Reformed Religion, should be an Enemy unto such a People as are in New England, and their Discipline, as to the Religious Worship: When as to all know­ing and unprejudiced persons, its consonant to the practice of the Primitive Church, and of the Reformed Churches through­out the World: Which one would think should not find an Enemy among any sort of Christians, but those called Papists, or else among such, as Papist like can give up their Religion, Rights, Liberties, and Properties, nay, their very Senses to the conduct of their Fellow Creatures.