A Despised Virgin Beautified, OR, VIRGINIA Benefited.

Setting forth, though concisely, yet perspicuously, the State of that and the Neighbouring Plantations, both as they have their Blemishes, with the Causes thereof, and as they may be cured, with the Consequents thereof.

I am black but comely, &c.

Cant. 1. 5.

By O. Ll. Gent. sometimes an Inhabitant of Virginia.

London, Printed by Henry Hills, for Edward Dod, and are to be sold at the Gun in Ivy Lane, 1653.

To the Christian, and to the Judicious Rea­der, that is wel-affected to the Common salvati on purchased by Christ, or to the Common good of this Republique.

REader, which of the two soever you are, I have a double word to offer to your considera­tion; First that the undertaking of this work to express this accomodation for the benefit of the American plantations, in both Spirituals and Temporals, is not a thing that I under­took in my own strength, or for any base ends of my own: But (as the Lord can bear me witness that I ly not) upon the hearing the minister in publique the last Lords day stir up every one to indeavor the exaltation of Christ in his proper place, internally and externally, I conceiv'd it a duty incumbent upon me to offer my two mites to the Lords treasury, if it might be acceptable to him, having nothing else wherewith to honour him at present; or if it might be profitable for my longed-for friends in Virginia, who have been often, in my weak measure and manner (though an unworthy wretch) presented at the Throne of Grace by me, That God of his infinite riches and glory by Christ would sup­ply all their needs; and being by so many years experience ac­quainted what was that necessary thing that conduceth to their eternal well-being and yet there wanting, I have here presented you (as the Lord inabled me) with what I humbly conceive (ever submitting to better Judgements) may be the best expe­dient to accomplish the happiness of that place. Secondly, I must answer the unsatisfyed Reader, who knew my former con­versation, both there, and here; and how unsuitable it hath been to what I here present; That though he might say, Physici­an heal thy self, or, Hypocrite first pull the beam out of thine own eye, &c. I confess what was my sin; which as it hath been my shame, so it is (through grace) and will be the subject of my sorrow. that I have walked so disorderly; But I hope (through great grace) by Christ Iesus, I have and shall obtain mercy, and [Page] enjoy favor with the Father, and fellowship in the Spirit with the Son, and Saints; and that henceforth he will shew me (for my self) the comming in and the going out, and fashion of his Temple; that henceforth he will sanctifie me, and preserve me blameless to the comming of his Son, to the praise of the glory of his grace; and therefore I beseech you my friends, both of Virginia, and of my Native Countrey, who have seen my out­goings, not to be grieved in spirit at my undertaking of this.

For as I conceive my self bound by duty to undertake this task, so I conceived there was a great deal of equity in it, both toward the Lord, and towards you of Virginia, and also you of my Native Countrey; that as I have been notoriously e­vil to the dishonor of God, and the discredit of the Gospel before you, so I might be notably instrumental (if the Lord please) to promote his praises in Virginia in the first place; and afterward (it lyeth upon my thoughts, and I do believe it will be accom­plished) that I shall do the like in my own Native Countrey; so that both places shall see the glory of his free grace to me, and learn to love and fear, believe and close with the Lord of Love and Life. I beseech you then without prejudice reeeive these weak exhibitions of my duty and love to my God, my Countrey, and my Friends, and pardon what is amiss, and pray for him that would fain be found walking in the truth, whilest he is,

O. Ll.

A Despised VIRGIN beautified, OR VIRGINIA benefited.

AS a skilfull Architector that would erect a lofty edifice, and build beautifully for the benefit of the Owner, digs deeply to lay the founda­tion of his Structure; or as a wise Physician will not prescribe physick to his Patient, till he have seen sure symptoms to know the disease by; the first, left his building fall, and his labour and charge be lost; the second, left his Patient fail, and his reputation be ble­mished.

So in this businesse that lierh so strongly upon my spirit, to be doing service for the Publick, that thereby my God may be ho­noured, the Gospel propagated, and the Kingdome of the Lords Christ enlarged; I would willingly take the wisest, the safest, the profitablest, and honourablest (as to the Publick) way the Lord shall lead me to do, in doing this work; and therefore as concisely as I can, I shall endeavour to repre­sent my experiences, what I have (though of weakest judgment) observed to be the disease of that distressed member of this Com­mon-wealth, both as to Church, & Sate.

And that what are and have been the thoughts of my heart [Page 2] (I hope suggested by the Spirit of God, for the good of that Countrey) for neer these fourteen years as concerning what ex­pedient may be fourd to remedy the distresse of the disconsolate Virgin Countrey Virginia, and render her sound and in perfect health; therein shewing the beauty that may be expected to be seen in her, when she is prepared for, and presented a spotlesse Spouse to the Lord Jesus her husband, and also the benefit of having such a member annexed to this Common-wealth.

In the discovery of her disease, give me leave to remind you of her Primo-genitors, or first Masters of Europoean ex­tract, and what have been the successours for the generality; thereby we shall get a little light into the originals of her disease, and be the better able to give judgement on her, and so to pre­scribe the remedy as the Lord shall in able a poor creature.

Virginia so stiled, and taking her name from the late Virgin Queen, (Queen Elizabeth of happy memcry, as a glorious instrument in the hand of God, for doing the work of the Lord in her time) which title was given her by the first Adventurers (as considered to landing, and living there) in Queen Elizabeths days. But the Emergencies of the publick affairs of those times, took up the spirits of men from thinking much of that Colony, during the reign of the said Queen, and the businesse lay dor­mant till about the years 1607 or 1608. when divers Noble­men, Gentlemen and Citizens, imbodied themselves in this Ci­ty of London, and made a Virginia Company, under the specious pretences of propagating the Gospell, and preparing a way to the setting up the Kingdom of Christ Jesus in those American parts, and I believe many godly men really meant so; and much trea­sure was advanced by the Adventurers, and by publick authori­ty; which businesse being then managed (as it is to be feared, because now heavily felt) by self-ended men, was carried on, as disorderly, so unsuccessefully.

Disorderly, in that they began not to send over men sound in the faith, pious in their lives, and sincere in their ends; But the major part of them, poor spirited, self-ended, and broken fortu­ned men to manage the work: and with them as subservient to their self-ends; they sent (the greatest part of such as were sent) [Page 3] under their command, to do the work by their derection; why? they were such (in general) as were dissolute, wild, debauched, idle, and nonfortuned men and women; and many of these being ra­ked out of the sinks of the Commonwealth, which being drawn out of several prisons, were immediatly married to such as they never saw before, and so sent to plant the Countrey.

Year after year this practice continued, and multitudes through disorder and want of accommodations died; till at last the com­pany was dissolved, and the Countrey infranchised, and then the reigns being laid on the necks of these new libertines they became more licentious.

Here by the way I crave all sober minded gentlemen, and Planters of Virginia, to clear me in this, that I tax not all; for I know, and did know many more, and have heard of more than I knew, of gallant gentlemen of quality, and others in that Countrey who have been almost from the beginning there, that I have observed, and heard of, to be good members of that Com­mon-wealth, and to have lived soberly and honestly, free from all open vice.

And such as were the people, such were the Priests; for the lowest of the people here that would consecrate himself might be made a Priest, and then over there will they go when England spueth them out for their incivilities; and truely I fear it is too true that I hear thence, that the most of them are so still.

Now such Priests and such people as before mentioned, so principled, and so ended, surely could lay but a sorry foundati­on, for the Gospels Propagation, in those Plantations; the major part being such, as those few that were good, could do no good with, either for Church or State.

And truely I find that there is too much of that stock remain­ing there still; for now my own experiences of sixteen or seventeen years standing, conferred with the present times, holds poor Viginia forth in my apprehension as a disconsolate Virgin, subject to the rape of the strongest ravisher of her beauty and bravery. For since the late Court-faction came in, and poor Pensioners came over to be Governours, and other chief Officers, to make up their broken fortunes, she hath been much macerated, her [Page 4] beauty marred, and the antient Common-wealths men, who had begun to set forth the beauty and vertue of that Virgin, were not only disheartned, but many of them destroyed in their estates, for their fidelity to the grand interest of the well-being of the Plantation. Witnesse the difference begun by those of the Court-Faction, as Sir John Harvy and Secretary Kemp, (both crea­tures of the Lord Finch, and Sir Francis Windebank) between them, and the honest Gentlemen, and antient Planters of the Countrey, who had saved the Countrey with the hazard of their lives and fortunes; this division descended to the next Governor Sir Francis Wiat, who removing Sir John Harvy, was himself afterwards dislocated by the endeavours of an Anti-party, who brought in Sir William Berkley, who, what he was, and is, is too manifest by wofull experience of his twice revolting from this Common-wealth, and in them injuring the best affected to this Common-weolth,

Yea, and the hand of the Priests is in this also.

But now it will be supposed that this disease is cured by the conquering of the Anti-party; I conceive it not cured, neither will it be, while there is either root or branch, in power, in or near that Colony (as it is too near) for I conceive, whilst that Mary-Land in the North, and Carolina in the South, remain in the possession of them it doth, though the Court-Faction be now in the embers, thence will be brought upon any convenient opportunity, bellows of sedition sufficient to set all our Plantati­ons on fire, they being both of the same Stock, Simeon and Levi like, brethren in iniquity.

There is yet another inconvenience, which concurring with the former, make up another malady to make our Virgin the more miserable; and that is the propinquity of the Dutch, and Swedish Plantations, who much blemish the beauties of both the elder and younger daughters of Englands Common-wealth, and prejudice their estate, by receiving and detaining our fugi­tives, both debtors and servants, and fiding with Indians.

Now as without she is damnified and indangered, so within she suffers too much detriment by the adherents of the former faction in the Common-wealth; and so likewise by the iguorance, [Page 5] and pride of the Priests, the Countrey suffereth much more in the losse of their spiritual advantages, as shall appear by and by.

But which is more, the main (pretended) end of planting the Countrey, is altogether omitted, if not prejudiced; as I shall shew anon,

But I love not to rake in the dung nor to cast dirt about, but would willingly be (if possible, and that the Lord were so plea­sed) instrumental to do all the good I could to the Colony; for next the place of my native soyl, I love it above any Countrey wheresoever I have travelled; and therefore though I be the worst of sinners, yet I blesse God I abound in love to that Coun­trey, and do wish from my very heart, (if I can discern it) to indeavour by all means, and to improve all interests to advantage the place; and therefore let me crave pardon if I mentioned any thing that is offensive to any; I cannot hold, love constraineth me, I must discover what I know amisse; it is the work of the Lord, and I would not be found negligent in it.

The successelesnesse of the Plantation is (to my sorrow) seen by comparing her deformity and barrennesse (as to spirituals) with her younger Sisters beauty and fruitfulnesse; who though placed in a far more barren soyl, (in relation to terrestialls) is by ingenuity and industry made far more fruitful and profitable to her inhabitants, but which is better, she abounds in the work of the Lord, and in the injoyment of the manifestation of the abundant love of God, not onely to the English themselves, but the glory of his grace is much seen in demolishing much of the Kingdom of Satan, and exalting the Scepter of Christ among the Natives,

A thing which the primary Planters pretended, but by them of new England intended, and with good successe (blessed be God) happily effected in part, which will more and more increase to the perfect day, I believe and hope.

This being the root of her disease, which makes poor Virginia deformed, and so consequently despicable, with mourning of Spirit I bemoan her, and wish all that know her with me to be­wail her, and to set to their helping hands and hearts, (and to implore some means from the great and good God of heaven, who [Page 6] is both able and willing to help) for her recovery and establish­ment in her perfections, which is I conceive, first to set up the kingdom of God there, and then all other things: shall be mini­stred.

First, therefore I humbly conceive, that if the Lord would put it upon the hearts of his people here in old England, and in new England also, to intercede and plead with the Lord for her, that he would be pleased to set up his name there, and be glorified in his appearances for his people there; for I verily believe that the Lord hath a precious people there, that have not, nor will bow the knee to Baal; though now they be under the clouds, and in the clefts of the rocks; as I shall shew you by and by.

Secondly, I would humbly desire that the people of God here, con­ferring with their friends of new England, would join together, and make it their joynt desire to the Supreme Authority, that they would unite the English Plantations which are on the continent, from Cape Florida in the South, to Cape Saint George in the North, viz. Carolina, Virginia, Mary-Land, Albion, New England, New Plimouth, and the Plantations to the eastward of Merimack river, and Nova Scotia, into one Pattent with New England; it would be of great consequence conducing to the common good of all those Plantations, and a great profit to this Common wealth of England.

But which is most of all, it would much inlarge the kingdom of Christ, and propagate the Gospel to the Natves all along the Continent, as immediately I shall (through grace, and your pa­tience) shew.

But before I hold forth the benefit that may come by this uni­on, give me leave to answer the coverous Patentee, or Planter of each Pattent.

I say Corolina, Virginia, Mary Land and Nova Sootia, are planted for the major part with such kind of Planters as former­ly I spoke of; who onely (especially in the Southern-Plantations) eat the bread of idlenesse, viz. by following such commodities as come with the easiest labour; and not improving all advanta­ges that might be taken for the advancing of their own interest, in gaining what fruits the ground with a little more pains would abundantly afford them.

Now if New England men were among them, the example of their industry, with the sight of the advantages gotten thereby, would excite al ingenious men (as there is abundance) to indeavor to attain the gaining of the like accommodations for them­selves, which would in the end much inrich the Common-wealth.

Object. Sir, saith the covetous Patentee or Planter of Caro­lina, or Mary-Land, and Albion, we are peculiar Patents belonging to Noblemen in England, who have purchased their Patents at a dear rate, and expended much money by them­selves and friends to plant these Plantations, and shall we admit of Strangers, especially of such as are of so different a judgement from us? there is neither Piety nor equity in this.

Answ. Truth it is, their Patents were granted from the grand Governours of this Common wealth for the time then being; whose grant I conceive was good, as to the enjoyment of their tenures to the end pretended; which appeareth by their grants, to be to the glory of God and the good of this Common-wealth. But now being the Common-wealth is under the power of an other administration, (who I hope truly fear God) which power finding the pretended ends to be falsified, and instead of setting up the Kingdom of Christ in their Plantations, the domi­nion of Antichrist is exalted under the protection of those Noble­men and their grants, therefore I conceive it to be both just and pi­ous, and for the profit of this Common wealth, to call in those patents & make them nul, as to the dominion and legislative pow­er given to those Lords; yet in equity, for the reward of the Adventurers service in gaining such Countreys, I conceive it is as just they should enjoy the chief rents for what they let out to Tenants; and what they keep in their own hands and improve, to have it free, reserving the Common-wealth's interest of pro­fits as at first agreed upon.

And as for inconvenience of their being of other judgements as I conceive the Laws of Christ inforce none to conform to one anothers judgement (by any coercive power in mans hand) but as it pleaseth the Lord by his own Spirit to act in such as belong unto him; or permit the spirit of Errour to perswade others to that which is evill; and therefore I conceive their cohabitation [Page 8] not to be any wayes disadvantagious to the Common-wealth (for so I hold the Plantations to be now in the hands of the Common-wealth) and if the Liberty of the Law be equally alike to all, and the benefit of the Gospell offered to all, to me it appeareth in my slender judgement equitable and just, that freedom be given to all that are members of this Common-wealth equally to cohabite in any of the Plantations, they con­forming to the power of the civill Magistrate,

Now as for new Albion, Sir Edmund Ployden (the pretended Earl of Albion) took his Patent from the Lord Strafford in Ireland, who made it an Irish Province, which he should have planted within three years; and yet for some 14, or 15. years he hath done nothing as to purpose of Planting the Countrey; and therefore I conceive his Patent void; and liberty might well be given to any, either of old or new England, to come into that part of the Continent and plant it.

Object. But Sir saith the Virginian, we and our predecessors have born the heat of the day, and have planted much of the Colony, and cleared much land; and now would you have the New England men to enjoy the fruits of our labours? surely this were a piece of injustice and uncharitablenesse.

Answ. Gentlemen and Countrey-men, If I prove it both justice and charity, yea, and a benefit to Virginia, (which is a subject I chiefly aim at in this discourse, next to the salvation (yee shall I say in order to the salvation) of your souls, and the glory of our Saviour) to admit the people of New England to dwell with you, I hope it will be offensive to never a godly or ra­tional man in Virginia, that loveth God, the Countrey, or his own, and relations souls.

Therefore now give me leave to speak freely, yea and through grace I will speak freely; for I speak for God, for the Common-wealth, and for your good I hope.

Is it not justice for this Common-wealth to call in your Pa­tent, who have no wayes performed the trust reposed in you, for the advancing of the glory of God in your Countrey, but on the contrary have (by power and authority) acted against the Lord and his interest? You'l say this is a heavy charge! I must prove it, and that I do thus.

[Page 9] When there was a godly well-affected party among you, some 12. or 13. years since, who being sensible of the sad condition their own, their childrens, their servants, and their neighbours souls were in, sitting in the blacknesse of darkness, under a blind, dumb, debauch'd ministery, (such as the generality of your Mini­sters in my time) were when I say they sent to the Churches of New England, that they should come over & help them, who as brethren condescending to a compliance with your necessity, and the Call of God, these godly men sent you over three Ministers of the Gospel, whose admission and reception was with such a sweet­nesse of affection, that the people from far parts of the Countrey came to hear them with joy and cheerfulnesse while they staied; so that there was great hopes, that there might have bin a glorious work suddenly accomplish'd, and the main desir'd end for which your Patent was granted, might be attained; now when the work was in this forwardnesse, Satan stirred up the hearts of some evil men, to expulse them out of your Countrey, to the discomfort of the poor souls that were instrumental to bring them in and to the pulling of the veil of ignorance over the eyes of your souls (if any ye have) and drawing down a cloud of dark­nesse, and causing it's expansion all over your Country, which still continueth (wo is me therfore) and to the pulling down, (I am perswaded in my spirit) of that great judgement upon the land, which was wrapt up in the livs of many hundreds of persons that were slain suddenly after their departure by the incursions of the Indians April 17. 1644. which cut off 1500. men, women and children in one day, as I was credibly informed.

Seeing therefore ye have been so unfaithfull to the Common-wealth, as not to preserve the people in peace and safety, much lesse in godlinesse and honesty; I am confident to affirm, it is but just to take away the Vineyard from you, and let it out to other husbandmen, that will yield the fruits thereof.

And as it is Justice, so it is charity to force in the light of the Gos­pel (maugre all evil mens indispositions) that may expel that thick cloud of darknesse that is over you, that so the people that sit in darknesse may see the salvation of God. For what a miserable [Page 10] thing is it, that so many thousand souls should be in your Coun­trey, and I cannot hear of any godly, sincere, sound, and faithfull minister of the Gospel among you, but one; know yee not that text, My people perish for lack of knowledge; and again, Where there is no vision, the people decay; and do not your souls in se­cret mourningly say, this is truth that I say from the word of God? Therefore these things considered, is it not charity to force open all the doors and windows that may be opened, to let in the light of the Gospel among you, even you my Country-men of England? For I will say nothing of the Indians among you in this place, but defer that till anon.

Yea and it is a benefit to your Country that the New England-men should be admitted to live among you, as for your souls, so for the benefit of the education of your youth; yea, and for fur­nishing the Countrie, with pious Ministers, painful School­masters, and faithful Magistrates, and a holy people whose con­versation may be such as may adorn the Gospel, glorifie God be­fore your eyes, to your conversion, or at lest to your conviction.

Object. But say you, all this is truth, but now we have cleared the land, and won it with our bloods from the enemies, shall they now come and enjoy it? this is hard.

Answ. Why Gentlemen? besides what hath been spoken before for the clearing of the justice of permitting the people of new England to come among you; Is it not one of your ownlaws? that if any man take up land, and improve it not within three years; and after he have improved it, if he shall desert it for three years, it is free for any man to take it up; then from this law I shall make it appear, that it is not onelie just, but profita­ble for you, that new England men should come and abide with you.

First, for the justice of the cause, how much ground is there untaken up by you between your lands bounded out, where ma­ny single families might plant and dwell among you in single fa­milies; and how much land is there in the bottom of the Bay in Pottomock, Pottucson, Rhappahanack rivers, and in Carolina, that is untaken up, where after the manner of their own Countrie, they might build in Towns, and dwell together, where they [Page 11] might set up the ordinances, advance justice in its due and easie administration, with more advantage to the Common-wealth than now you have it, who come from Accomack, Pottomock, and the head of James River, for Justice to James-Town, most of these places being above an hundred miles from Iames-Town?

Yea in James River and other places, how much old ground is there which you have deserted, where convenient seats for tra­ding might be built to the great benefit of the Countrie, and the land improved, in sowing fl [...]x (an especial commoditie) and o­ther improvements, which you let run wild again after cleared?

How great a commoditie would they bring into your Coun­trie by bringing in all manner of trading freely to you without being beholding to the London Merchants, as they do for them­selves, there being sufficient materials with you for building all sorts of vessels as they do in new England?

Nay what an advantage will it be to the poor Natives, whose lands you injoy, if by these means they might have an introduc­tion into the Kingdom of heaven, in interchange of their sublu­narie accommodation? A thing I verily believe, (upon good grounds) the poor souls do especially desire, in order to be freed from the service of Satan, the crueltie of which servitude or sla­verie they grievouslie groan under.

Give me leave to give you my reason of this my beliefe, in the year 1642. (if my memorie fail me not) Captain John West, Master Stephen Gill (I know not their titles now, for so they were then called) and their wives, with some other neigh­bours and Servants went up to Pamunk [...]y to recreat themselves, and to Vossite Oppachancanough the old Emperour of the Indi­ans in the Bay, who though a Barbarian, shewed them no little kindnesse, assigning them part of his Wigwam (or house) for their lodgings, and causing his Indians to bring them in dayly fresh Venison and other accommodations for their provisions, Prince-like; where they remained several daies, and which is the won­der for which I relate this storie as I received it from Mr. Gill his own mouth) every morning & evning the English at an appointed hour went to prayers among themselves, at which time constantly [Page 12] most terrible tempests of wind, and also a great noise, as if it had been the ratling of chains were running round about the house, to the exceeding great terrour of the Natives, insomuch that they would run among the English when they were at their praiers for shelter; and this continued constantly for manie daies while they were at praier, in that time onelie and no more, which wrought so effectuallie upon the old Emperour, that he cried cut to the English when the fear was over, Will none help us to know your and serve your God? with manie other words to the like purpose he often used to them; and if anie daie they did not keep the precise time of praier according to his observa­tion, he would send to the English to go to worship their God. This report I had from Master Gill, and I believe Captain West, and the rest of the companie will affirm the same.

Oh then is there not great hope that a happie work might be wrought for God and for those poor souls, if the new England men might come among you in Virginia, who have been so happilie successefull in the conversion of so manie Indians in their own Countrie, that they may do the like for the Natives in your parts?

Object. You talk of remotenesse of place in the Colonie of Virginia for the doing and injoying justice, and if this should be that all the Patents should be joined in one, how should we come to the injoyment of the benefit of the Law? the distance being so great from the South of Carolina, to the Northeast at Cape Saint George.

Answ. Gentlemen, you know the situation of the coast all along from North to South, how full of harbours it is all the coast along, and how convenientlie men may passe from harbor to harbor; And there is a convenient place about Hudsons Ri­ter, or De Laware-Bay, whereat a convenient Site might be pre­sentlie plated, where a seat of residence for the principle Magi­strate might abide, and thither the Patriots of each Province or their deputies might meet once everie year or lesse, if no occasion require, to consult, consider of, and enact wholesom laws for the well being of the whole.

But if men will not go by sea, it is easie to go in a small time by [Page 13] land, there being horses enough in the Countrie from the utmost bounds of the South, or North latitude.

And for matters of Meum and Tuum, or for the trespasses they might be determined in each Province by depuries as before. And I verily believ that if you would once admit of the Regiment of the Prince of Peace over you, and his people cohabite with you, there would be lesse of that litigious spirit, that now is to be seen among you, and a spirit of peace, and love, and joy in the Holy Ghost, would be manifested to you, and magnifyed by you.

Object. But if all this were granted, what could we do for this union, seeing that so near the place you hold forth to be the center of the Countrie, and a place meet for the people from all parts to meet for the making of laws, is a place so near the Dutch Plantation, and the Swedes, that they would be goads in our sides, and thorns in our eies.

Answ. As for the Dutch Plantation, if the war continue, we have an opportunity to make it our own, by the joint-forces of these Plantations by a course of war, and if peace suddenly succeed these indeavours, their ships will be as ours, their people as ours in all Plantations and places; we shall be united in a firm bond of amity, and so theirs indeed will be ours in truth, in the general accommodation, though their particular interest may be preserved unto them.

And as for the Swedes Plantation, it is a thing of so small a valew, and they being friends with our Common-wealth it is an easie matter to find an accommodation so as that they may be sa­tisfied, and this Common-wealth served with their interest.

Object. What say you to Nova Scotia and the Plantations to the eastward of Merimach that belong to the French, that being sold to the French by the Kirks (I believe it is not un­known upon what score, after the English, and Scotch Nations had so dearly purchased it) how shall they be joined with this Patent?

Answ. First for the French, they desire and apply themselves onely to the trade of the River of Canada, and not one ship in an age scarse commeth to the Southward of Cape Saint George to trade; but admit it were their trade there; is it not an easie [Page 14] hing for us, to eject them out of that which they cheated us of by the late Queens means? now in such a juncture of time as that we are going to differ nationally upon another score, we having both men and shipping of our own enough in new Eng­land which would quickly cast them out upon a nationall ac­count or quarrel; By which means the Patent might be inlarged, and the Gospel further propagated; and a means in time (through the blessing and providence of God) found to transport the goods of the East India trade, from Japan, and from the Isles of Mare Delzur to some part about Corsina, or some other part, and so overland, to the head of the River of Canada, or some of the great Rivers in Virginia, as formerly it was brought from the head of the red sea, over land by Caravans to A­lexandria in Egypt, and so through the Mediterranean Sea, all Europe over by the Venetian Argocies; Would not this be a great inriching to our Commonwealth? yea, and it would be a great means to facilitate our voyages with speed and safety to Merchants and mariners, who are subject to great hazard both of goods and lives in going twice under the Equinoctial line by the way of Cape de buona Esperanza, both going and returning, and here they have a more speedy and healthfull way of trading.

And not onely so, but it would be a great assurance to our fishing trade, upon the coast of Nova Scotia, and new Found land, whereby in America we might draw a great trade out of Spain and the Streights in a few years, and he incouraged and enabled by the enjoyment of the commodity of those rich furs, to a fur­ther work of exalting the glory and scepter of Christ in those Northern Countries of America, as far as Fretum Davies; for I believe the dwarfeish generation of those Northern Countries, shall speak in time the high praises of our God. And so I sup­pose I have answered all objections of my loving Countrey-men of Virginia, for whose sakes principally (as to men) I was excited in my spirit to set upon this work.

I say, now I have answered all objections that I conceive can rationally be made, according to the small apprehension the Lord hath given me, and the little experiences that I have of things.

I would now (though before in an intermixed discourse) offer [Page 15] to you a compendium of the profits and advantages both spiritual and temporall that might hereby acrew.

First, as to the glorie of God, the Gospell in her pristine pu­ritie would shine so excellently among all the English Plantati­ons, that it would be a glorious thing to behold the change, when we should see in each place and part of this great continent I mean from Cape Florida to Fretum Davies, not onely all the English, but the Dutch, Swedes, and the remainders of the French, exalting the praises of God, in their severall langua­ges, tongues and speeches; yea the poor Indians much advanta­ged, both those that are Southerly and Northerly of new Eng­land as well as those of Massachusets Bay Patent (I put little difference between the Patent of the Buy and the Patent of new Plymouth, they both I hope concurring to the main end as to God-ward, and in their subjection to this Commonwealth) but the beauty of the Gospell would shine among the Spaniards, and the Indians that converse with them, to the Southward and Westward of us, who when they see the power of godlinesse, the purity of religion, and the manifestation of the Prince of peace & love, comming in the beauty of the glory of his grace to them, and compare him with the former representation of him by the Spa­nish inquisition and tyrannie; I am exceedingly filled in my spirit with the apprehension of what I see a farre off (as it were) of the sweet imbracings of Christ, with acclamations of joy that the poor seduced Spanish souls, with their abused slaves, both Ne­groes and Indians, will entertain Christ and the Gospell, and how they will come flowingly in and submit to the scepter of Christ, bemoaning his long absence; would count him the chiefest of ten thousands to their souls, and by this means the Gospell might be communicated to the nations of Mexico, Brasil, Peru, and so over Fretum Magellanicum to the ends of the earth; what joy? what comfort? what happines? (yea, what a great glory would it be not only to our nation in general?) but to those that love Christ Jesus in sincerity in each of their particulars. And what exceding honor would it be to him whose is the kingdom, the power, & the glory; which I wish may be ascribed to him in truth, by all Nations, now and for ever. Amen.

Soli gloria Deo.

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