THE PLANTERS PLEA.  
OR THE GROUNDS OF PLANTATIONS EXAMINED, And usual Objections answered.  
Together with a manifestation of the causes moving such as have lately undertaken a Plantation in NEW-ENGLAND:  
For the satisfaction of those that question the lawfulness of the Action.  
2 THES. 5. 21. Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.  
LONDON, Printed by WILLIAM JONES. 1630.   

TO THE READER.  
Courteous Reader:  
IT will appear to any man of common sense at first sight, that this rude draught, that sets forth certain considerable grounds in planting Colonies, being wrested out of the Authors hand, hardly overlooked, much less field and smoothed for the Press, was never intended to be presented to public view, especially in this attire: wherefore the Reader is entreated to observe, that the particulars of this small Pamphlet, being all ranged under these two heads, matters of Fact or of Opinion: In the former the Author sets down his knowledge, and consequently what he resolves to justify; In the latter what he conceives to be most probable, not what he dares warrant as certain and infallible. Wherefore if in the declaring of his own opinion, either concerning Colonies in general, or this in particular, he propose anything that to men of better and more solid judgement upon mature advice shall seem either not sound, or not evident, or not well fortified by strength of reason; he desires rather advertisement thereof by some private intimation, than by public opposition, as not conceiving an argument of this nature, wherein neither God's glory nor man's salvation have any necessary interest, (though the work be directed to, and doth in a good measure further both,) worth the contending for in a time when so many weighty controversies in the fundamentals of religion are in agitation: and withal professing himself willing to receive back any light gold that hath passed from him unweighed, and to exchange it for that which will be weight, as being conscious to himself, that he desires not willingly to beguile any man. Besides, the Reader may be pleased further to observe, that seeing the arguments produced in this Treatise are rather proposed than handled, they cannot carry with them that appearant and clear evidence of truth at the first view, as they might and would do, if they were more largely deduced, and more fully fortified. Wherefore he is entreated not to reject them too easily, as carrying more weight than they seem to do at the first appearance. Howsoever the Author's intention and opinion be construed & approved; if it may be believed that the Gentlemen that are lately issued out from us, to lay the foundation of a Colony in New-England, have not been thrust forward by unadvised precipitation, but led on by such probable grounds of reason and religion, as might be likely to prevail with men that desire to keep a good conscience in all things: I trust these will hold themselves reasonably satisfied; howsoever both they, and such as wish the furtherance of your design, have (I assure myself) a testimony from God and your own consciences, that they have endeavoured to take there footing upon warrantable grounds, and to direct themselves to a right scope, as will be further manifested in this ensuing Treatise.   

A BRIEF SURVIEW OF COLONIES: And first, Of their Ground and Warrant.  

CHAP. I. By a Colony we mean a society of men drawn out of one state or people, and transplanted into another Country.  
COLONIES (as other conditions 
1. That Colonies have their warrant from God.  and states in humane society) have their warrant from God's direction and command; who 
1. Argument from God's Commandment.  as soon as men were, set them their task, to replenish the earth, and to subdue it, Gen. 1. 28. Those words, I grant, express a promise, as the title of a benediction prefixed unto them here, & in the repetition of them to Noah, implies. Gen. 9 1. But that withal they include a direction or command was never, as I conceive, doubted by any. junius upon them: Prout vim intus indiderat, sic palam mandatum dedit eurandae propagationis & dominationis exercendae. And Paraeus, jubet igitur replere terram, non solum generatione & habitatione, sed cum primis potestate eultu & usu: Etsi vero nonnullae orbis partes manent inhabitabiles; habemus nihilominus totius dominium iure Divino, lic et non habeamus totius orbis usum culpâ & defectu nostro. And before them, Calvin; jubet eos crescere & simul benedictionem suam destinat, etc. and diverse other's.  
It will be granted then that the words include and have the force of a Precept, which perhaps some may conceive was to continue during the world's Infancy, and no longer; but such a limitation wants ground. It is true that some commandments founded upon, and having respect unto some present state and condition of men, received end or alteration when the condition was ended, or changed. But Precepts given to the body of mankind, as these to Adam & Noah, receive neither alteration in the substantials, nor determination while men, and any void places of the earth continue, so that allowing this Commandment to bind Adam, it must bind his posterity, and consequently ourselves in this age, and our issue after us, as long as the earth yields empty places to be replenished.  
Besides, the gift of the earth to the sons of 
2. Argument from God's gift of the earth to men.  men, Psal. 115. 16. necessarily enforceth their duty to people it: It were a great wrong to God to conceive that he doth aught in vain, or tenders a gift that he never meant should be enjoyed: now how men should make benefit of the earth, but by habitation and culture cannot be imagined.  
Neither is this sufficient to conceive that God's intention is satisfied if some part of the earth be replenished, and used, though the rest be waste; because the same difficulty urgeth us still, that the rest of which we receive no fruit, was never intended to us, because it was never God's mind we should possess it. If it were then the mind of God, that man should possess all parts of the earth, it must be enforced that we neglect our duty, and cross his will, if we do it not, when we have occasion and opportunity: and withal do little less than despise his blessing.  
Withal, that order that God annexed to marriage 
3. Argument from the Law of marriage.  in his first institution, viz. that married persons should leave father and mother, and cleave each to other, is a good warrant of this practice. For sometime there will be a necessity, that young married persons should remove out of their father's house, and live apart by themselves, and so erect new families. Now what are new families, but petty Colonies: and so at last removing further and further they overflow the whole earth. Therefore, so long as there shall be use of marriage, the warrant of deducing Colonies will continue. 
4. Argument from the benefit that comes to men's outward estates.   
It is true, that all God's directions have a double scope, man's good, and God's honour. Now that this commandment of God is directed unto man's good temporal and spiritual, is as clear as the light. It cannot be denied but the life of man is every way made more comfortable, and afforded a more plentiful supply in a large scope of ground, which moves men to be so insatiable in their desires to join house to house, and land to land, till there be no more place; exceeding, I grant, therein the measure and bounds of justice; and yet building upon a principle that nature suggests, that a large place best assures sufficiency: as we see; by nature, trees flourish fair, and prosper well, and wax fruitful in a large Orchard, which would otherwise wither and decay, if they were penned up in a little nursery: either all, or at best, a few that are stronger plants and better rooted, would increase and overtop, and at last, starve the weaker: which falls out in our civil State; where a few men flourish that are best grounded in their estates, or best furnished with abilities, or best fitted with opportunities, and the rest wax weak and languish, as wanting room and means to nourish them.  
Now, that the spirits and hearts of men are kept in better temper by spreading wide, and by 
5. Argument is from the furthering of godliness and honesty.  pouring, as it were, from vessel to vessel (the want whereof is alleged by the Prophet jeremy as the cause that Moab settled upon his lees, and got so harsh a relish jer. 48. 11.) will be evident to any man, that shall consider, that the husbanding of unmanured grounds, and shifting into empty Lands, enforceth men to frugality, and quickeneth invention: and the settling of new States requireth justice and affection to the common good: and the taking in of large Country's presents a natural remedy against covetousness, fraud, and violence; when every man may enjoy enough without wrong or injury to his neighbour. Whence it was, that the first ages, by these helps, were renowned for golden times, wherein men, being newly entered into their possessions, and entertained into a naked soil, and enforced thereby to labour, frugality, simplicity, and justice, had neither leisure, nor occasion, to decline to idleness, riot, wantonness, fraud, and violence, the fruits of well-peopled Countries, and of the abundance and superfluities of long settled States.  
But that which should most sway our hearts, 
6. Argument from the advancement of God's glory.  is the respect unto God's honour, which is much advanced by this work of replenishing the earth. First, when the largeness of his bounty is tasted by settling of men in all parts of the world, whereby the extent of his munificence to the sons of men is discovered; The Psalmist tells us that God is much magnified by this, that the whole earth is full of his riches, yea and the wide sea too, Psal. 104. 24. 25. And God, when he would have Abraham know what he had bestowed on him when he gave him Canaan, wills him to walk through it in the length of it, and in the breadth of it, Gen. 13. 17.  
Secondly, God's honour must needs be much advanced, when, together with men's persons, religion is conveyed into the several parts of the world, and all quarters of the earth sound with his praise; and Christ jesus takes in the Nations for his inhenitance, and the ends of the earth for his possession, according to God's decree and promise. Psal. 2. 8.  
Besides all that hath been said, seeing God's command, and abilities to perform it, usually 
7. Argument from the abilities wherewith God furnisheth men for this work.  go together, we may guess at his intention and will, to have the earth replenished, by the extraordinary fruitfulness that he gave to mankind in those first times, when men manifested their greatest forwardness for the undertaking of this task; which seems to be denied to the latter ages, and peradventure for this reason among others, because the love of ease and pleasure fixing men to the places and Countries which they find ready furnished to their hand, by their predecessors labours and industry, takes from them a desire and will of undertaking such a laborious and unpleasant task as is the subduing of unmanured Countries.  

Objection.  
But, it may be objected, if God intended now the issuing out of Colonies, as in former ages, he would withal quicken men with the same heroical spirits which were found in those times: Which we find to be far otherwise. Although the strong impression upon men's spirits that have been and are stirred up in this age to this and other Plantations, might be a sufficient answer to this objection, yet we answer further.   

Answer.  
It's one thing to guess what God will bring to pass, and another thing to conclude what he requires us to undertake. Shall we say that because God gives not men the zeal of Moses and Phineas, therefore he hath discharged men of the duty of executing judgement. It is true indeed, that God hath hitherto suffered the neglect of many parts of the world, and hidden them from the eyes of former ages; for ends best known to himself: but that disproves not that the duty of peopling void places lies upon us still, especially since they are discovered and made known to us. And, although I dare not enter so far into God's secrets, as to affirm, that he avengeth the neglect of this duty by Wars, Pestilences and Famines, which unless they had wasted the people of these parts of the world, we should ere this, have devoured one another; Yet it cannot be denied, but the near thronging of people together in these full Countries, have often occasioned amongst us civil Wars, Famines, and Plagues. And it is as true that God hath made advantage of some of these Wars, especially which have laid many fruitful Country's waist, to exercise men in these very labours which employ new Planters; by which he hath reduced them to some degrees of that frugality, industry, and justice,  
full states of unnecessary multitudes, or of replenishing waist and void Countries; they have a clear and sufficient warrant from the mouth of God, as immediately concurring with one special end that God aimed at in the first institution thereof.  
But, seeing God's honour, and glory; and next men's Salvation, is his own principal scope in this and all his ways; it must withal be necessarily acknowledged that the desire & respect unto the publishing of his name where it is not known, and reducing men, that live without God in this present world, unto a form of Piety and godliness, by how much the more immediately it suits with the mind of God, and is furthest carried from private respects, by so much the more it advanceth this work of planting Colonies above all civil and humane ends, and deserves honour, and approbation, above the most glorious Conquests, or successful erterprises that ever were undertaken by the most renowned men that the Sun hath seen, and that by how much the subduing of Satan is a more glorious act, than a victory over men: and the enlargement of Christ's Kingdom, than the adding unto men's dominions: and the saving of men's souls, than the provision for their lives and bodies.  
It seems, this end, in plantation, hath been specially reserved for this later end of the world: seeing; before Christ, the Decree of God, that suffered all Nations to walk in their own ways, Acts 14. 16. shut up the Church within the narrow bounds of the Promised Land, and so excluded men from the propagation of Religion to other Countries. And in the Apostles time, God afforded an easier and more speedy course of converting men to the truth by the gift of tongues, seconded by the power of Miracles, to win the greater credit to their doctrine, which most especially, and first prevailed upon Country's civilised, as the History of the Apostles Acts makes manifest. As for the rest, I make no question, but God used the same way to other barbarous Nations, which he held with us, whom he first Civilised by the Roman Conquests, and mixture of their Colonies with us, that he might bring in Religion afterwards: seeing no man can imagine how Religion should prevail upon those, who are not subdued to the rule of Nature and Reason.  
Nay, I conceive, God especially directs this work of erecting Colonies unto the planting and propagating of Religion in the West Indies, (although I will not confine it to those alone) and that for diverse Reasons, which ought to be taken into serious consideration, as affording the strongest Motives that can be proposed to draw on the hearts and affections of men to this work now in hand, for this purpose; which gives occasion unto the publishing of this Treatise.  
men in the times appointed by the Law of Moses, counting them and all they touch unclean during that time appointed by the Law: whether upon any other ground, or by a tradition received from the jews, it is uncertain. Some conceive, their Predecessors might have had some commerce with the jews in times past, by what means I know not: Howsoever it be, it falls out that the name of the place, which our late Colony hath chosen for their seat, proves to be perfect Hebrew, being called Nahum Keike, by interpretation, The bosom of consolation: which it were pity that those which observed it not, should change into the name of Salem, though upon a fair ground, in remembrance of a peace settled upon a conference at a general meeting between them and their neighbours, after expectance of some dangerous jar. Now then, if all nations must have Christ tendered unto them, and the Indies have never yet heard of his name, it must follow, that that work of conveying that knowledge to them, remains to be undertaken and performed by this last age.  
Again, what shall we conceive of that almost 
3. Reason from the miraculous opening of the passage to these parts of the world.  miraculous opening the passage unto, and discovery of these formerly unknown nations, which must needs have proved impossible unto former ages for want of the knowledge of the use of the Loadstone, as wonderfully found out as these unknown Countries by it. It were little less than impiety to conceive that GOD, (whose Will concurres with the lighting of a Sparrow upon the ground) had no hand in directing one of the most difficult and observable works of this age; and as great folly to imagine, that he who made all things, and consequently orders and directs them to his own glory, had no other scope but the satisfying of men's greedy appetites, that thirsted after the riches of that new found world, and to tender unto them the objects of such barbarous cruelties as the world never heard of. We cannot then probably conceive that GOD, in that strange discovery, aimed at any other thing but this, that, after he had punished the Atheism, and Idolatry of those heathen and brutish Nations, by the Conqueror's cruelty, and acquainted them, by mixture of some other people, with civility, to cause at length the glorious Gospel of jesus Christ to shine out unto them, as it did to our forefathers, after those sharp times of the bitter desolations of our Nation, between the Romans and the Picts.  
A fourth reason, to prove that God hath left 
4. Reason from the nearness of the Jews conversion.  this great, and glorious work to this age of the world, is the nearness of the jews conversion; before which, it is conceived by the most, that the fullness of the Gentiles must come in, according to the Apostles prophesy, Rom. 11. 25. That this day cannot be far off appears by the fulfilling of the prophecies, precedent to that great and glorious work, and the general expectation thereof by all men, such as was found among the jews both in judea and in some other parts of the world before the coming of Christ in the flesh, now then let it be granted that the jews conversion is near, and that the Gentiles, and consequently the Indians must needs be gathered in before that day; and any man may make the conclusion, that this is the hour for the work, and consequently of our duty to endeavour the effecting that which God hath determined; the opening of the eyes of those poor ignorant souls, and discovering unto them the glorious mystery of jesus Christ.    

CHAP. III. The English Nation is fit to undertake this task.  
THat this Nation is able and fit to send out Colonies into Foreign parts will evidently appear by the consideration of of our overflowing multitudes: this being admitted for a received principle, that Countries superabound in people when they have more than they can well nourish, or well employ, seeing we know, men are not ordained to live only, but, withal and especially, to serve one another through love, in some profitable and useful calling. Granting therefore that this Land by God's ordinary blessing, yields sufficiency of corn and eattell for more than the present Inhabitants, yet, that we have more people, than we do, or can profitably employ, will, I conceive, appear to any man of understanding, willing to acknowledge the truth, and to consider these four particulars.  
1. Many among us live without employment, either wholly, or in the greatest part (especially if there happen any interruption of trade, as of late was manifested not only in Essex, but in most  
Now what a disease this must needs be in a State, where men's necessities enforce them to inventions of all ways and means of expense upon the instruments of pride, and wantonness; and of as many subtleties and frauds in deceitful handling all works that pass through their fingers, that by the speedy wasting of what is made, they may be the sooner called upon for new; I leave it to any wise man to judge. It is a fearful condition, whereby men are in a sort enforced to perish, or to become means and instruments of evil. So that the conclusion must stand firm, we have more men than we can employ to any profitable or useful labour.  

Objection.  
But the idleness or unprofitable labours of our people arise not from our numbers, but from our ill government, inferior Magistrates being too remiss in their offices; and therefore may more easily be reform by establishing better order, or executing those good laws already made at home, then by transporting some of them into foreign Countries.   

Answer.  
Good government though it do reform many, yet it cannot reform all the evils of this kind; because it will be a great difficulty to find out profitable employments for all that will want; which way we should help ourselves by tillage I know not: we can hardly depasture sewer Rother beasts then we do, seeing we spend already their flesh and hides: and as for sheep, the ground depastured with them, doth or might set on work as many hands as tillage can do. If we adventure the making of linen cloth, other soils are so much fitter to produce the materials for that work, their labour is so much cheaper, the hindering of Commerce in trade likely to be so great, that the undertakers of this work would in all probability be soon discouraged. Nay the multiplying of new Draperies, which perhaps might effect more than all the rest, yet were in no proportion sufficient to employ the supernumeraries which this Land would yield if we could be confined within the bounds of sobriety and modesty, seeing it may be demonstrated, that near a third part of these that inhabit our Towns and Cities (besides such spare men as the Country yields) would by good order established, be left to take up new employments.  
We have as much opportunity as any Nation 
2. Argument from the opportunity of the Sea.  to transport our men and provisions by Sea into those Countries, without which advantage they cannot possibly be peopled from any part of the world; not from this Christian part at least, as all men know: And how useful a neighbour the sea is to the furthering of such a work; the examples of the Grecians and the Phaenicians, who filled all the bordering coasts with their Colonies do sufficiently prove unto all the world: Neither can it be doubted, but the first Planters wanting this help (as Abraham in his removing to Charran first, and to Canaan afterwards) must needs spend much time and endure much labour in passing their famlies and provisions by Land, over rivers and through Woods and Thickets by unbeaten paths.  
But what need Arguments to us that have already determined this truth? How many several 
3. Argument from our own practice already.  Colonies have we drawn out and passed over into several parts of the West Indies? And this we have done with the allowance, encouragement, & high commendation of State, perhaps not always with the best success, who knows whether by erring from the right scope? Questionless for want of fit men for that employment, and experience to direct a work, which being carried in an untrodden path, must needs be subject to miscarriage into many errors.  
Now whereas it hath been manifested that 
4. Argument from our fitness to the main end of Colonies, the planting of true Religion.  the most eminent and desirable end of planting Colonies, is the propagation of Religion; It may be conceived this Nation is in a sort singled out unto that work; being of all the States that enjoy the liberty of the Religion Reform; and are able to spare people for such an employment, the most Orthodox in our profession, and behind none in sincerity in embracing it; as will appear to any indifferent man, that shall duly weigh and recount the number and condition of those few States of Europe, that continue in the profession of that truth which we embrace.    

CHAP. FOUR That New-England is a fit Country for the seating of an English Colony, for the propagation of Religion.  
NOT only our acquaintance with 
1. Argument or occasion, trade into the country.  the soil and Natives there, but more especially our opportunity of trading thither for Furs and fish, persuade this truth, if other things be answerable. It is well known, before our breach with Spain, we usually sent out to New-England, yearly forty or fifty sail of ships of reasonable good burden for fishing only. And howsoever it falls out that our Newfoundland voyages prove more beneficial to the Merchants; yet it is as true, these to New-England are found far more profitable to poor Fishermen; so that by that time all reckonings are cast up, these voyages come not far behind the other in advantage to the State. 
2. The fitness of the country for our health and maintenance.   
No Country yields a more propitious air for our tempor, than New-England, as experience hath made manifest, by all relations: many of our people that have sound themselves always weak and sickly at home, have become strong, and healthy there: perhaps by the dryness of the air and constant temper of it, which seldom varies suddenly from cold to heat, as it doth with us: So that Rheums are very rare among our English there; Neither are the Natives at any time troubled with pain of teeth, soreness of eyes, or ache in their limbs. It may be the nature of the water conduceth somewhat this way; which all affirm to keep the body always temperately soluble, and consequently helps much to the preventing, and curing of the Gout, and Stone, as some have found by experience. As for provisions for life: The Come of the Country (which it produceth in good proportion with reasonable labour) is apt for nourishment, & agrees, although not so well with our taste at first; yet very well with our health; nay, is held by some Physicians, to be restorative. If we like not that, we may make use of our own Grains, which agree well with that soil, and so do our Cattle: nay, they grow unto a greater bulk of body there, then with us in England. Unto which if we add the fish, fowl, and Venison, which that Country yields in great abundance, it cannot be questioned but that soil may assure sufficient provision for food. And being naturally apt for Hemp and Flax especially, may promise us Linen sufficient with our labour, and woollen too if it may be thought fit to store it with sheep.  
The Land affords void ground enough to receive more people than this State can spare, and 
3. Argument from the emptinesle of the Land.  that not only woodgrounds, and others, which are unfit for present use: but, in many places, much cleared ground for tillage, and large marshes for hay and feeding of cattle, which comes to pass by the desolation happening through a three years' Plague, about twleve or sixteen years past, which swept away most of the Inhabitants all along the Sea-coast, and in some places utterly consumed man, woman & child, so that there is no person left to lay claim to the soil which they possessed; In most of the rest, the Contagion hath scarce left alive one person of an hundred. And which is remarkable, such a Plague hath not been known, or remembered in any age past; nor then raged above twenty or thirty miles up into the Land, nor seized upon any other but the Natives, the English in the heat of the Sickness commercing with them without hurt or danger. Besides, the Natives invite us to sit down by them, and offer us what ground we will: so that either want of possession by others, or the possessors gift, and sale, may assure our right: we need not fear a clear title to the soil.  
In all Colonies it is to be desired that the daughter may answer something back by way of 
4. Argument from the usefulness of that Colony to this State.  retribution to the mother that gave her being. Nature hath as much force, and found'st as strong a relation between people and people, as between person and person: So that a Colony denying due respect to the State from whose bowels it issued, is as great a monster, as an unnatural child. Now, a Colony planted in New-England may be many ways useful to this State.  
As first, in furthering our Fishing-voyages (one 
1. In our fishing voyages.  of the most honest, and every way profitable employment that the Nation undertakes) It must needs be a great advantage unto our men after so long a voyage to be furnished with fresh victual there; and that supplied out of that Land, without spending the provisions of our own country. But there is hope beside, that the Colony shall not only furnish our Fishermen with Victual, but with Salt too, unless men's expectation and conjectures much deceive them: and so quit unto them a great part of the charge of their voyage, beside the hazard of adventure.  
Next, how serviceable this Country must needs be for provisions for shipping, is sufficiently known already: At present it may yield Planks, Masts, Oars, Pitch, Tar, and Iron; and hereafter (by the aptness of the Soil for Hemp) if the Colony increase, Sails and Cordage. What other commodities it may afford beside for trade, time will discover. Of Wines among the rest, there can be no doubt; the ground yeel ding natural Vines in great abundance and variety; and of these, some as good as any are foundin France by humane culture. But in the possibility of the serviceableness of the Colony to this State, the judgement of the Dutch may somewhat confirm us, who have planted in the same soil, and make great account of their Colony there.  
But the greatest advantage must needs come 
5. Argument the benefit of such a Colony to the Natives.  unto the Natives themselves, whom we shall teach providence and industry, for want whereof they perish oftentimes, while they make short provisions for the present, by reason of their idleness, & that they have, they spend and waste unnecessarily, without having respect to times to come. Withal, commerce and example of our course of living, cannot but in time breed civility among them, and that by God's blessing may make way for religion consequently, and for the saving of their souls. Unto all which may be added, the safety and protection of the persons of the Natives, which are secured by our Colonies. In times past the Tarentines (who dwell from those of Mattachusets' bay, near which our men are seated; about fifty or sixty leagues to the North-East) inhabiting a soil unfit to produce that Country grain, being the more hardy people, were accustomed yearly at harvest to come down in their Canoes, and reap their fields, and carry away their Corn, and destroy their people, which wonderfully weakened, and kept them low in times past: from this evil our neighbourhood hath wholly freed them, and consequently secured their persons and estates; which makes the Natives there so glad of our company.  

Objection 1.  
But if we have any spare people, Ireland is a fitter place to receive them then New-England. Being 1, Nearer. 2, Our own. 3, Void in some parts. 4, Fruitful. 5, Of importance for the securing of our own Land. 6, Needing our help for their recovery out of blindness and superstition.   

Answer.  
Ireland is well-nigh sufficiently peopled already, or will be in the next age. Besides, this work needs not hinder that, no more than the plantation in Virginia, Bermudas, S. Christopher's, Barbados, etc. which are all of them approved, and encouraged as this is. As for religion, it hath reasonable footing in Ireland already, and may easily be propagated further, if we be not wanting to ourselves. This Country of New-England is destitute of all helps, and means, by which the people might come out of the snare of Satan. Now although it be true, that I should regard my son more than my servant; yet I must rather provide a Coat for my servant that goes naked, then give my son another, who hath reasonable clothing already.   

Objection 2.  
But New-England hath diverse discommodities, the Snow, and coldness of the winter, which our English bodies can hardly brook: and the annoyance of men by Muskitoes, and Serpents: and of Cattle, and Corn, by wild beasts.   

Answer.  
The cold of Winter is tolerable, as experience hath, and doth manifest, and is remedied by the abundance of fuel. The Snow lies indeed about a foot thick for ten weeks or there about; but where it lies thicker, and a month longer, as in many parts of Germany, men find a very comfortable dwelling. As for the Serpents, it is true, there are some, and these larger than our Adders; but in ten years' experience no man was ever endangered by them; and as the country is better stored with people, they will be found fewer, and as rare as among us here. As for the wild beasts, they are no more, nor so much dangerous or hurtful here, as in germany and other parts of the world. The Muskitoes indeed infest the planters, about four months in the heat of Summer; but after one years' acquaintance, men make light account of them; some fleight defence for the hands and face, smoke, and a close house may keep them off. Neither are they much more noisome then in Spain, Germany, and other parts; nay, than the fennish parts of Essex, and Lincolnshire. Besides it is credibly reported, that twenty miles inward into the Country they are not found: but this is certain, and tried by experience, after four or five years' habitation they wax very thin: It may be the hollowness of the ground  
pected in New-England but competency to live on at the best, and that must be purchased with hard labour, whereas diverse other parts of the West-Indies offer a richer soil, which easily allures Inhabitants, by the tender of a better condition than they live in at present.   

Answer.  
An unanswerable argument, to such as make the advancement of their estates, the scope of their undertaking; but no way a discouragement to such as aim at the propagation of the Gospel, which can never be advanced but by the preservation of Piety in those that carry it to strangers; Now we know nothing sorts better with Piety them Competency; a truth which Agur hath determined long ago, Prov. 30. 8. Nay, Heathen men by the light of Nature were directed so far as to discover the overflowing of riches to be enemy to labour, sobriety, justice, love and magnanimity: and the nurse of pride, wantonness, and contention; and therefore laboured by all means to keep out the love and desire of them from their well-ordered States, and observed and professed the coming in and admiration of them to have been the foundation of their ruin. If men desire to have a people degenerate speedily, and to corrupt their minds and bodies too, and beside to tole-in thiefs and spoilers from abroad; let them seek a rich soil, that brings in much with little labour; but if they desire that Piety and godliness should prosper; accompanied with sobriety, justice and love, let them choose a Country such as this is; even like France, or England, which may yield sufficiency with hard labour and industry: the truth is, there is more cause to fear wealth then poverty in that soil.    

CHAP. 5. What persons may be fit to be employed in this work of planting a Colony.  
IT seems to be a common and gross error that Colonies ought to be Emunctories or sinks of States; to drain away their filth: whence arise often murmurings at the removal of any men of State or worth, with some wonder and admiration, that men of sufficiency and discretion should prefer any thing before a quiet life at home. An opinion that favours strongly of self-love, always opposite and enemy to any public good. This fundamental error hath been the occasion of the miscarriage of most of our Colonies, and the chargeable destruction of many of our Countrymen, whom when we have once issued out from us we cast off as we say to the wide world, leaving them to themselves either to sink or swim.  
Contrary to this common custom, a State that intends to draw out a Colony for the inhabiting of another Country, must look at the mother and the daughter with an equal and indifferent eye; remembering that a Colony is a part and member of her own body; and such in whose good herself hath a peculiar interest, which therefore she should labour to further and cherish by all fit and convenient means; and consequently must allow to her such a proportion of able men as may be sufficient to make the frame of that new form body: As good Governors, able Ministers, Physicians, Soldiers, Schoolmasters, Mariners, and Mechanics of all sorts; who had therefore need to be of the more sufficiency, because the first fashioning of a politic body is a harder task than the ordering of that which is already framed; as the first erecting of a house is ever more difficult than the future keeping of it in repair; or as the breaking of a Colt requires more skill than the riding of a managed horse. When the frame of the body is thus form and furnished with vital parts, and knit together with firm bands & sinews, the bulk may be filled up with flesh, that is with persons of less use and activity, so they be pliable and apt to be kept in life.  
The disposition of these persons must be respected as much or more than their abilities; men nourished up in idleness, unconstant, and affecting novelties, unwilling, stubborn, inclined to faction, covetous, luxurious, prodigal, and generally men habituated to any gross evil, are no fit members of a Colony. Ill humours soon overthrow a weak body; and false stones in a foundation ruin the whole building: the persons therefore chosen out for this employment, aught to be willing, constant, industrious, obedient, frugal, lovers of the common good, or at least such as may be easily wrought to this temper; considering that works of this nature try the undertakers with many difficulties, and easily discourage minds of base and weak temper. It cannot, I confess, be hoped that all should be such; care must be had that the principals be so inclined, and as many of the Vulgar as may be, at least that they be willing to submit to authority; mutinies, which many times are kindled by one person, are well nigh as dangerous in a Colony, as in an Army.  
These are rules concerning electing of fit persons for Colonies in general, unto which must be adjoined the consideration of the principal scope whereat the Colony aims; which must be Religion, whether it be directed to the good of others for their conversion; or of the Planters themselves for their preservation and continuance in a good condition, in which they cannot long subsist without Religion. To this purpose must be allotted to every Colony, for Governors and Ministers especially, men of piety and blameless life, especially in such a Plantation as this in New-England, where their lives must be the patterns to the Heathen, and the especial, effectual means of winning them to the love of the truth. Nay it would beè endeavoured, that all Governors offamilies, either may be men truly Godly or at least such as consent and agree to a form of moral honesty and sobriety. As for other ends less principal, which are especially Merchandise & defence, common sense teacheth every man that the Colony must be furnished with the greatest store of such persons as are most serviceable to the main end at which it aims.  

Objection.  
But able and godly persons being in some degree supporters of the State that sends them out, by sparing them she seems to pluck away her own props, and so to weaken her own standing, which is against the rule of charity, that allows and persuades every man to have the first care of his own good and preservation.   

Answer.  
The first, indeed but not the only care: so I must provide for mine own family, but not for that alone; But to answer this objection more fully, which troubles many, and distracts their thoughts, and strikes indeed at the foundation of this work (for either we must allow some able men for Civil and Ecclesiastical affairs for peace and war, or no Colony at all:) First I deny that such as are gone out from the State, are cut off from the State; the roots that issue out from the Trunk of the Tree, though they be dispersed, yet they are not severed, but do good offices, by drawing nourishment to the main body, and the tree is not weakened but strengthened the more they spread, of which we have a clear instance in the Roman State: that City by the second Punic war had erected thirty Colonies in several parts of Italy; and by their strength especially supported herself against her most potent enemies. I confess that in places so far distances New-England from this Land, the case is somewhat different; the intercourse is not so speedy, but it must needs be granted yet, that even those so far remote may be of use and service to this State still, as hath been showed.  
vels, improved not so much by sight as experience, after the affairs of the Colony were settled; what loss were it in lieu of so great a gain?  
Lastly, if we spare men for the advancing of God's honour, men that do us service that they may attend God's service, we have as much reason to expect the supply of our loss, as the repairing of our estates, out of which we spare a portion for our brethren's necessities, or the advancing of God's worship; by the blessing of God according to his promise.    

CHAP. VI What warrant particular men-may have to engage their persons, and estates in this employment of planting Colonies.  
TO give a clear Resolution to this Proposition, is a matter of no small difficulty: I shall declare mine own opinion, and leave it to the censure of the godly wise. It is the conceit of some men, that no man may undertake this task without an extraordinary warrant, such as Abraham had from God, to call him out of Mesopotamia to Canaan; their opinion seems to rest upon a ground that will hardly be made good, sc. That the planting of Colonies is an extraordinary work. Which if it be granted, than the argument hath a strong, and for aught I know, a necessary inference: That therefore those that undertake it, must have an extraordinary Call. But that Proposition, That planting of Colonies is an extraordinary work, will not easily be granted. This Argument lies strongly against it.  
That Duty that is commanded by a perpetual Law, cannot be accounted extraordinary. But the sending out of Colonies is commanded by a perpetual Law.  
Therefore it is no extraordinary duty.  
Now that the commandment is perpetual, hath been proved. First, because it was given to mankind; and secondly, because it hath a ground which is perpetual, sc. the emptiness of the earth, which either is so, or may be so while the world endures; for even those places which are full, may be emptied by wars, or sickness; and then an argument presseth as strongly the contrary way. The undertaking of an ordinary duty needs no other than an ordinary warrant; but such is planting of a Colony, as being undertaken by virtue of a perpetual law; therefore the undertaking to plant a Colony, needs no extraordinary warrant. Indeed Abraham's undertaking was extraordinary in many things, and therefore needed an immediate direction from God.  
1, He was to go alone with his family and brethren.  
2, To such a certain place far distant.  
3, Possessed already by the Canaanites.  
4, To receive it wholly appropriated to himself, and his Issue.  
5, Not to plant it at present, but only sojourn in it, and walk through it for a time.  
Now none of these circumstances fit our ordinary Colonies; and consequently Abraham's example is nothing to this purpose, because the case is different, though in some other things alike.  
Others conceive, that though men may adventure upon the work upon an ordinary warrant, yet none can give that but the State; therefore they require a command from the highest authority unto such as engage themselves in this affair. Indeed that the State hath power over all her members, to command and dispose of them within the bounds of justice, is more evident, then can be denied: but this power she executes diversely; sometime by command, sometimes by permission: as in preparations to war, sometimes men are compelled to serve, sometimes they are permitted to go voluntaries that will.  
Again, sometimes the Supreme power takes care of the whole business; sometimes (as in Musters) commits it to delegates. If the power of State then proclaim liberty to such as will, to gather and unite into the body of a Colony, and commit the care to some persons that offer themselves, to associate to them whom they think fit, and to order them according to discretion; no man can deny but that the State hath given a sufficient warrant. Neither doth it appear, that ever any State did more; The Romans use was to proclaim that they intended to plant a Colony of such a number in such a place, and as many as would give in their names should receive so many acres of Ground, and enjoy such other privileges as they thought fit to grant them, which they then expressed: Those which gave in their names were enrolled till the number was full, and then had they certain Commissioners appointed by the State of see all things ordered and directed accordingly, and to put every man into possession of his inheritance; neither did the State interpose their authority in assigning, and choosing out the men, but left it free and voluntary to every man to take or leave.  
Seeing nothing can bear out the hazards, and inconveniences of such toilsome and difficult undertake, as is the planting of Colonies, but a willing mind: Men can digest any thing that themselves choose or desire; but a commandment makes pleasant things harsh, how much more harsh things intolerable?  
But to come somewhat nearer unto the grounds of this resolution. In undertaking an new inployment two things must be taken into consideration, upon which a man's warrant must be grounded.  
1, His engagement unto his present condition in which he is settled.  
2, The tender and offer of the new service unto which he is called.  
In both it must be first granted, that Callings are employments in which we serve one another through love, Gal. 5. 13. in something that is good, Ephes. 4. 28. not seeking our own, but other men's profit, 1 Cor. 10. 24.  
In furthering other men's good our engagements are,  
1, To the Church in general.  
2, To that particular State of which we are members, either wholly, or any branch of it.  
3, To our friends.  
And these as they have interest in our labours of love in that order that is set down, so they have power to require them in the same order, and that two ways, either by their express; command, or by the manifestation of their necessity, or special good proposed. The Church in general rarely lays any command but mostly challengeth our service by the discovery of her need, and use of our labours for her good. The particular State, besides the pleading of her necessity; interposeth her authority; and that either immediately, as in deputing men to public offices; or mediately by our parents, or other governor's whom she authorizeth to direct and settle us in such particular callings and employments as may be for her use and service. The State then by any public intimation, proclaiming free liberty to men to remove and plant themselves elsewhere, dischargeth these persons of the obligation wherein by her power and authority they stand bound to their particular calling wherein they are placed, and aught otherwise to continue. So that now particular persons stand no longer bound by the State's authority, but by the manifestation of her necessities, which crave their aid and service for their public good and safety.  
The next thing then to be taken into consideration, is the advantages or benefits, which may be gained by our service either to the Church, State, or friends to whom we have relation by private interest. In all these the first respect must be had to necessity, and the next to conveniency. How much is to be yielded to necessity, it hath pleased God to manifest; by dispensing with his own worship and service, in cases of necessity, not only upon our own persons: but upon our goods or cattle. It must therefore be duly weighed whether we may be more serviceable to the Church in the State where we live, or in that we desire to erect: and again, whether service is of more necessity: and whether appears to be greater, that must carry us, unless some pressing wants of private friends challenge our service from them both, which in matters of moment & importance, to them must be conceived to be cast in by God, as a discharge from any other employment. As for example, The furthering of the Gospel in New-England, seems to be of more pressing necessity, and consequently by a stronger band to call me on to that work, than the State at home to my continuance here; for here though I may do something for the advancing of Religion, yet my labours that way are not so needful in the land, because many others may put too their hands to the same work. In New-England there are none to undergo the task: but in this case if the preservation of my father's life or estate required my stay, that is a discharge unto me from this call to New-England; not because his life or estate is of greater weight than the Churches good, but because his necessity is greater; for no body can procure my father's safety but myself, other men besides myself may do the Church this service. Thus men that are free from engagement may see what weights are allowed to be cast into the balance to determine their stay or removal.  
All the difficulty that remains, is, who shall cast the scales (that is) who shall determine which benefit or necessity is the greater? No question that which conscience well informed, assures me to be so: but who shall inform my conscience, or by what rule shall my conscience judge? It is out of peradventure that God must inform the conscience. But how shall I discover what God adviseth? It is as certain that if the word, by scanning the grounds which it proposeth, can give a Seer resolution, it must be followed. The things that are revealed belong unto us and our children that we may do them, Deut. 29. 29. But many rules of Scripture though clear in themselves, yet are doubtful and ambiguous in the application, because they cannot determine particulars. In this case than we must have recourse to Christian wisdom; assisted: First, By the advice and counsel of godly wise friends. Secondly, By the observation of the concurrence of opportunities, Occasiones sunt Dei nutus. Thirdly, By and consideration of the inclination of the heart proposing a right end scope after frequent and earnest prayer. A resolution taken after all these means used, as in God's presence, without prejudice, with a sincere desire to know and be informed of God's will, and obey it, may be taken for the voice of God at present, and aught to direct the practice, though it bind not the conscience to embrace the things resolved for an infallible and only the most probable direction. And the truth is, that unless this advice and resolution by Christian wisdom, applying the general rules of God's word to our own particular case after we have sought counsel of God, and our Christian friends may be admitted for a rule to direct our practice, I know not what rule to prescribe to be followed. Suppose I would marry a wife, nothing but Christian wisdom so assisted, as is expressed before, can show me which is the woman.   

CAP. 7. Answering Objections against the main body of the work.  

OBJECTION 1.  
ALl experience is against the hope and good 
1. Objection, from experience of the ill success of Colonies.  success of Colonies; much money, and many men's lives have been spent upon Virginia, St. Christopher's, Newfoundland, etc. with no proportionable success, and what reason have we to expect other event of this?   

ANSWER.  
To speak nothing of particulars, which perhaps might occasion some distaste, I deny not but the ends which they proposed may be good and warrantable; men may set before themselves civil respects, as advancement of the Nation, and hope and expectation of gain, which perhaps hath either wholly set on, or strongly swayed these lately undertaken Colonies: But I conceive where the service of the Church, and respect unto the advancement of the Gospel is predominant, we may with greater assurance depend upon God's engagement in the work, and consequently expect a prosperous success from his hand. Besides, why may not English Plantations thrive as well as Dutch? Where and when have their Colonies failed? To speak nothing of the East-Indies, even this which they have settled in New-England upon hudson's River with no  
would be no question of a flourishing State there in convenient time by the concurrence of God's ordinary blessing. In this duty if we be wanting unto them, there will be great cause to suspect, that the exception against the work, for the insupportable butthen of the charge, is but a fair pretext to colour our fear of our own purses, which many are more faithful unto, than unto the service of God and of his Church.   

OBJECTION 2.  
But the pretended end of winning the Heathen to the knowledge of God and embracing of the faith of Christ, is a mere fantasy, and a work not only of uncertain but unlikely success, as appears by our fruitless endeavours that way, both in Virginia and New-England, where New-Plimmouth men inhabiting now these ten years, are not able to give account of any one man converted to Christianity.   

ANSWER.  
And no marvel, unless God should work by miracle; neither can it be expected that work should take effect until we may be more perfectly acquainted with their language, and they with ours. Indeed it is true, both the Natives and English understand so much of one another's language, as may enable them to trade one with another, and fit them for conference about things that are subject to outward sense; and so they understand our use in keeping the Sabbath day, observe our reverence in the worship of God, are somewhat acquainted with the moral precepts; know that adultery, theft, murder and lying are forbidden, which nature teacheth, because these things are outward, and may be understood almost by sense: But how shall a man express unto them things merely spiritual, which have no affinity with sense, unless we were throughly acquainted with their language, and they with ours? neither can we in theirs, or they in our tongue utter any continued speech, because neither we nor they understand the moods, tenses, cases, numbers, praepositions, adverbes, etc. which make coherence in words, and express a perfect sense. Besides, it hath been intimated that we hardly have found a brutish people won before they had been taught civility. So we must endeavour and expect to work that in them first, and Religion afterwards. Amongst such as have been brought over into England from Virginia there was one Nanawack, a youth sent over by the Lo. De Laware, when he was Governor there, who coming over and living here a year or two in houses where he heard not much of Religion, but saw and heard many times examples of drinking, swearing, and like evils, remained as he was a mere Pagan; but after removed into a godly family, he was strangely altered, grew to understand the principles of Religion, learned to read, delighted in the Scriptures, Sermons, Prayers, and other Christian duties, wonderfully bewailed the state of his Countrymen, especially his brethren, and gave such testimonies of his love to the truth, that he was thought fit to be baptised: but being prevented by death, left behind such testimonies of his desire of God's favour, that it moved such godly Christians as knew him, to conceive well of his condition; neither is there any cause to doubt but time may bring on in others, as well as it did in him, that which we expect upon a sudden in vain.   

REPLY.  
But some conceive the Inhabitants of New-England to be Cham's posterity, and consequently shut out from grace by Noah's curse, till the conversion of the jews be passed at least.   

ANSWER.  
How do they appear to be Cham's posterity? whose sons by the agreement of Writers, took up their dwellings together in Canaan, Palestina, and the parts adjoining in Arabia, Egypt, Mauritania, Lybia, and other bordering parts of Africa, and consequently for any footsteps of their descents appearing unto us, might be as far from peopling the West Indies, as any other part of the posterity of Noah's sons. Neither do men's conjectures agree, (for we have no certainties to build on) whence these Countries of the parts of America towards New-England might most probably be peopled. But admit the Inhabitants to be Cham's posterity doth not the Prophet Esay foretell the conversion of Cham's posterity in Egypt, performed in the Primitive times, all histories witnessing that the Egyptians had amongst them a Church of eminent note, governed by diverse Bishops under the Patharen of Alexandria? And who knows not the numerous Churches of Africa, wherein were above 160 Bishops in St. Augustine's time, governing sundry Nations, all of them of Cham's posterity? But what testimony of Scripture, or ground of reason from Scripture, lays such a fearful curse upon all Cham's posterity? Noah's curse reacheth but to one branch, to Canaan, and as Interpreters conceive, with especial relation to the extirpation of that part of his issue which inhabited judea, by the children of Israel. It is too much boldness then to curse where God hath not cursed, and shut out those from the means of grace, whom God hath not excluded.   

OBJECTION 3.  
But admit the English might be thought fit to plant a Colony in New-England, yet this time is unfit, in this troubled condition of the Church; it were more convenient for men to keep close together, than to scatter abroad, that so they might be the more able to resist the common enemy. This withdrawing of ourselves in time of so great hazard betrays weakness of heart, and proclaims our despair of the cause of Religion, which the godly entertain with sad hearts, and the Jesuits with smiling countenances.   

ANSWER  
It is reported that when Annshal lay before Rome, it discouraged him much in his hopes of taking the City, that at the same instant there marched out of the City at contrary gates under their colours an Army of soldiers towards the sea, to be shipped & sent over for a supply into Spain; for it argued the Romans feared him not, that durst spare a supply of men to a Country so far distant when the enemy lay at the gates: And it seems to argue courage rather than fear, when in the weakest condition of the Church men testify their hope and expectation of the enlargement of that Kingdom of Christ which wicked men and his enemy's glory that they have as good as conquered and subdued. I conceive those that engage themselves in this adventure are not so void of Religion as to conceive the scourge of God cannot reach them in New-England; or of reason, as to think New-England safer than old. But they scatter and withdraw themselves in a time of need? Suppose the State were in such needed as is pretended in this objection, yet in such a popular Land, such a number as is employed in this work is not very considerable; for I think no man conceives a thousand or two thousand men are of any great weight to sway the balance, when so many great stones lie in the scales. Again, that wherein they seem to be most useful to us is their prayers, which (according to their profession and promise) they will perform in absence, as if they, were present with us. And if any other way their service be required, as they hold themselves bound, so will they at all times do their uttermost for the discharge of their duty to this their native Country. And lastly, by that time all the particulars of this Treatise are well weighed, it will be found that their employment there for the present is not inconvenient, and for the future may prove beneficial to this State.   

OBJECTION 4.  
It may be, passing over of two thousand or three thousand persons will be of no great moment, and so many might be spared; but some men's examples drawing on others, and there being no stint or limits set unto men's itching humours after this new work, we know not where to expect any end; and what consequents may follow the issuing out of great multitudes, especially on a sudden, it is easy to conjecture.   

ANSWER.  
If that should be a true and real fear, and not a pretence, I should much wonder that any man should have so little insight into the disposition of his own Countrymen. Howsoever some men are content to remove from their dwellings, and to leave their beloved Country and friends, let no man conceive we shall find overmany of that humour: We are known too well to the world to love the smoke of our own chimneys so well, that hopes of great advantages are not likely to draw many of us from home: And that evidently appears by the different habits and affections of the minds of men unto this voyage. Some pity the exposing of their friends, or such unto whom for the report of their honesty and religion they wish well, unto so many dangers and inconveniences; others and the most part scoff at their folly; a third sort murmur and grudge that they are abandoned and forsaken by them: and good men dispute the warrant of their undertaking this work, and will not be convinced. It may be, private interests may prevail with some; One brother may draw over another, a son the father, and perhaps some man his inward acquaintance; but let no man fear the overhasty removal of multitudes of any of estate or ability. As for the poorer sort it is true, many of them that want means to maintain them at home, would be glad to pass over into New-England to find a better condition there; but by what means will they be transported, or provided of necessaries for so chargeable a journey? and without such provisions they will be found very unwelcome to such as are already planted there. Besides, it cannot be doubted but the State will be so watchful as not to suffer any prejudice unto itself, if the numbers of those that leave her should increase too fast. If the State should be slack, even those that now allow the passing over of some good and useful men, when the number is grown to an indifferent proportion will of themselves be careful to restrain the rest as far as their counsel and advice can prevail. The truth is when some 800 or 1000 families are seated there, the Colony will be best filled up with youths and girls, which must be continually drawn over to supply the rooms of man-servants and maidservants, which will marry away daily, and leave their Masters destitute. But it may be justly admired, what the cause should be that men of contrary minds should so strangely concur in the jealousies and dislikes of this work, neither opposing any of the former Colonies, whereof the least (I mean Virginia, Bermuda, and St. Christopher's) drew away two for one of those which are yet passed over to New-England; unless it be that the best works find commonly worst entertainment amongst men.   

OBJECTION 5.  
It is objected by some, that religion indeed and the colour thereof is the cloak of this work, but under it is secretly harboured faction and separation from the Church. Men of ill affected minds (they conceive) unwilling to join any longer with our assemblies, mean to draw themselves apart, and to unite into a body of their own, and to make that place a nursery of faction and rebellion, disclaiming and renouncing our Church as a limb of Antichrist.   

ANSWER.  
A man might justly hope that the letter sub-  
I conceive we do and aught to put a great difference between Separation, and Nonconformity; the first we judge as evil in itself, so that whosoever shall deny us to be a Church, either of our own men, or strangers of another Nation, we cannot be are it: but other Churches that conform not to our orders and ceremonies we dislike not, only we suffer it not in our own; not that we adjudge the disusing of ceremonies simply evil, but only evil in our own men, because we conceive it is joined with some contempt of our authority, and may tend to a rent in the Church: But yet neither can this imputation be charged justly on our New-England Colony; If the men were well scanned, I conceive it may be with good assurance maintained, that at least three parts of four of the men there planted, are able to justify themselves to have lived in a constant course of conformity unto our Church government and orders. Yea but they are weary of them now, and go over with an intention to cast them off? Intentions are secret, who can discover them; but what have they done to manifest such an intention? What intelligence have they held one with another to such purpose? There passed away about 140 persons out of the western parts from Plymouth, of which I conceive there were not six known either by face or fame to any of the rest. What subscription or solemn agreement have they made before hand to bind themselves unto such a resolution? If that were forborn for fear of discovery, yet it concerned those who had such an intention to be well assured of a Governor that might effectually further their purposes: Mr. 10. Winthrop, whom they have all chosen, (and that not the multitude, but all the men of best account amongst them) is sufficiently known in the place where he long lived, a public person, and consequently of the more observation to have been every way regular and conformable in the whole course of his practice. Yea but they have taken Ministers with them that are known to be unconformable, and they are the men that will sway in the orders of the Church? Neither all nor the greatest part of the Ministers are unconformable. But how shall they prevent it? What Minister among us well seated in a good living, or in fair expectance of one, will be content to leave a certain maintenance, to expose himself to the manifold hazards of so long a journey, to rest upon the providence of God, when all is done, for provision for himself and his family? Pardon them if they take such Ministers as they may have, rather than none at all. Hath any conformable Minister of worth, and fit for that employment, tendered his service, whom they have rejected? No man can affirm they have taken such out of choice rather than necessity, unless it be manifested where they have refused others whom they might have had. But there are some unconformable men amongst them, yea and men of worse condition too? And if there were no drunkards nor covetous persons nor vicious any way, it would and might justly move all the world to admiration. But there is great odds between peaceable men, who out of tenderness of heart forbear the use of some ceremonies of the Church, (whom this State in some things thinks fit to wink at, and it may be would doc more if it were assured of their temper) and men of fiery and turbulent spirits, that walk in a cross way out of distemper of mind. Now suppose some of those men that (knowing the disposition of their own minds, how unable they are to bring their hearts to answer the course of our Churches practise in all things) consider that their contrary practice gives distaste to government, and occasions some disturbance unto the Church's peace, upon that ground withdraw themselves for quietness sake: Would not such dispositions be cherished with great tenderness? And surely, as far as guess by circumstances may lead us, we have more cause to think that they are so minded than otherwise; because this will certainly be the consequent of their going out from amongst us, which they cannot but foresee: and if they had meant otherwise, their way had been to remain in the midst of us as thorns in our eyes, and pricks in our sides, and not to depart from us: seeing we know it is the remaining of the thorn in the midst of the flesh which torments; the plucking it out, and casting it away breeds ease and quietness.  
I should be very unwilling to hide any thing I think might be fit to discover the uttermost of the intentions of our Planters in their voyage to New-England, and therefore shall make bold to manifest not only what I know, but what I guess concerning their purpose. As it were absurd to conceive they have all one mind, so were it more ridiculous to imagine they have all one scope. Necessity may press some; Novelty draw on others; hopes of gain in time to come may prevail with a third sort: but that the most and most sincere and godly part have the advancement of the Gospil for their main scope I am confident. That of them, some may entertain hope and expectation of enjoying greater liberty there than here in the use of some orders and Ceremonies of our Church it seems very probable. Nay more than that, it is not improbable, that partly for their sakes, and partly for respect to some Germans that are gone over with them, and more that intent to follow after, even those which otherwise would not much desire innovation of themselves, yet for the maintaining of peace and unity, (the only 〈◊〉 of a weak unsettled body will) be won to consent to some variation from the forms & customs of our Church. Nay I see not how we can expect from them a correspondence in all things to our State civil or Ecclesiastical: Wants and necessities cannot but cause many changes. The Churches in the Apostles & in the settled times of peace afterwards were much different in many outward forms. In the main of their carriage two things may move them to vary much from us: Respect to the Heathen, before whom it concerns them to show much piety, sobriety, and austerity; and the consideration of their own necessities will certainly enforce them to take away many things that we admit, and to introduce many things that we reject, which perhaps will minister much matter of sport and scorn unto such as have Relations of these things, and that represented unto them with such additions as same usually weaves into all reports at the second and third hands. The like by this their varying in civil Conversation, we may expect of the alteration of some things in Church affairs. It were bootless to expect that all things will or can be at the first forming of a rude and incohaerent body, as they may be found in time to come; and it were strange and a thing that never yet happened, if we should hear a true report of all things as they are. But that men are far enough from projecting the erecting of this Colony for a Nursery of schismatics, will appear by the ensuing faithful and unpartial Narration of the first occasions, beginning, and progress of the whole work, laid before the eyes of all that desire to receive satisfaction, by such as have been privy to the very first conceiving and contriving of this project of planting this Colony, and to the several passages that have happened since, who also in that they relate, consider they have the searcher of all hearts and observer of all men's ways witness of the truth and falsehood that they deliver.  
About ten years since a company of English, part out of the Low-Countryes, and some out of London, and other parts, associating themselves into one body, with an intention to plant in Virginia: in their passage thither being taken short by the wind, in the depth of Winter the whole ground being under Snow, were forced with their provisions to land themselves in New-England upon a small Bay beyond Mattachusets', in the place which they now inhabit and call by the name of New-Plinmouth. The ground being covered a foot thick with snow, and they being without shelter, and having amongst them diverse Women and Children, no marvel if, they lost some of their company, it may be wondered how they saved the rest. But notwithstanding this sharp encounter at the first, and some miscarriages afterward, yet, (conceiving GOD'S providence had directed them unto that place, and finding great charge and difficulty in removing) they resolved to fix themselves there; and being assisted by some of their friends in LONDON, having passed over most of the greatest difficulties that usually encounter new Planters, they began to subsist at length in a reasonable comfortable manner: being notwithstanding men but of mean and weak estates of themselves. And after a years experience or two of the Soil and Inhabitants, sent home tidings of both, and of their well-being there, which occasioned other men to take knowledge of the place, and to take it into consideration.  
About the year 1623. some Western Merchants (who had continued a trade of fishing for Cod and bartering for Furs in those parts for diverse years before) conceiving that a Colony planted on the Coast might further them in those employments, bethought themselves how they might bring that project to effect, and communicated their purpose to others, alleging the conveniency of compassing their project with a small charge, by the opportunity of their fishing trade, in which they accustomed to double-man their Ships, that (by the help of many hands) they might dispatch their Voyage, and lad their Ship with Fish while the fishing season lasted, which could not be done with a bare sailing company. Now it was conceived, that the fishing being ended the spare men that were above their necessary sailors, might be left behind with provisions for a year; and when that Ship returned the next year, they might assist them in fishing, as they had done the former year; and, in the mean time, might employ themselves in building, and planting Corn, which with the provisions of Fish, Foule, and Venison, that the Land yielded, would afford them the chief of their food. This Proposition of theirs took so well, that it drew on diverse persons, to join with them in this project, the rather because it was conceived that not only their own Fishermen, but the rest of our Nation that went thither on the same errand, might be much advantaged, not only by fresh victual, which that Colony might spare them in time, but withal, and more, by the benefit of their Ministers labours, which they might enjoy during the fishing season; whereas otherwise being usually upon those Voyages nine or ten months in the year, they were left all the while without any means of instruction at all. Compassion towards the Fishermen, and partly some expectation of gain, prevailed so far that for the planting of a Colony in New-England there was raised a Stock of more than three thousand pounds, intended to be paid in in five years, but afterwards disbursed in a shorter time.  
How this Stock was employed, and by what errors and oversights it was wasted, is I confess not much pertinent to this subject in hand: Notwithstanding, because the knowledge thereof may be of use for other men's direction, let me crave leave in a short Digression to present unto the Readers view, the whole order of the managing of such moneys as were collected, with the success and issue of the business undertaken.    

CHAP. VIII. A digression manifesting the success of the Plantation intended by the Western men.  
THE first employment then of this new raised Stock, was in buying a small Ship of fifty tons, which was with as much speed as might be dispatched towards New-England upon a Fishing Voyag:  
The third year 1625. both Ships with a small Vessel of forty tuns which carried Kine with other provisions, were again set to Sea upon the same Voyage with the charge of two thousand pounds, of which sum the Company borrowed, & became indebted for one thousand pounds and upwards. The great Ship being commanded by a very able Master, having passed on about two hundred leagues in her Voyage, found herself so leak by the Carpenter's fault, (that looked not well to her Calking) that she bore up the Helm and returned for Waymouth, & having unladen her provisions and mended her leak, set herself to Sea again; resolving to take advice of the Winds whether to pass on her former. Voyage or to turn into Newfoundland, which she did, by reason that the time was so far spent, that the Master and Company dispaired of doing any good in New-England: where the Fish falls in two or three mounths' sooner than at New found land. There she took Fish good store and much more than she could lad home: the overplus should have been sold and delivered to some sack or other sent to take it in there, if the Voyage had been well managed.  
But that couldnot be done by reason that the Ship before she went was not certain where to make her Fish; by this accident it fell out that a good quantity of the Fish she took was cast away, and some other part was brought home in another Ship. At the return of the Ships that year, Fish by reason of our wars with Spain falling to a very low rate; the Company endeavoured to send the greater Ship for France: but she being taken short with a contrary Wind in the West-Country, and intelligence given in the mean time that those Markets were over-laid, they were en-Forced to bring her back again, and to sell her Fish at home as they might. Which they did, and with it the Fish of the smaller Ship, the New-England Fish about ten shillings the hundred by tale or there about; the Newfoundland Fish at six shillings four pence the hundred, of which was well nigh eight pence the hundred charge raised upon it after the Ships return: by this reason the Fish which at a Market in all likelihood might have yielded well nigh two thousand pounds, amounted not with all the Provenue of the Voyage to above eleven hundred pounds.  
Unto these losses by Fishing were added two other no small disadvantages, the one in the Country by our Land-Men, who being ill chosen and ill commanded, fell into many disorders and did the Company little service: The other by the fall of the price of Shipping, which was now abated to more than the one half, by which means it came to pass, that our Ships which stood us in little less than twelve hundred pounds, were sold for four hundred and eighty pounds.  
The occasions and means then of wasting this stock are apparently these. First, the ill choice of the place for fishing; the next, the ill carriage of our men at Land, who having stood us in two years and a half in well nigh one thousand pound charge, never yielded one hundred pound profit. The last the ill sales of Fish and Shipping. By all which the Adventurers were so far discouraged, that they abandoned the further prosecution of this Design, and took order for the dissolving of the Company on Land, and sold away their Shipping and other Provisions.  
Two things withal may be intimated by the way, the first, that the very project itself of planting by the help of a fishing Voyage, can never answer the success that it seems to promise (which experienced Fishermen easily have foreseen before hand, and by that means have prevented diverse ensuing errors) whereof amongst diverse other reasons these may serve for two. First that no sure fishing place in the Land is fit for planting, nor any good place for planting found fit for fishing, at least near the Shore. And secondly, rarely any Fishermen will work at Land, neither are Husbandmen fit for Fishermen but with long use & experience. The second thing to be observed is, that nothing new fell out in the managing of this stock seeing experience hath taught us that as in building houses the first stones of the foundation are buried under ground, and are not seen, so in planting Colonies, the first stocks employed that way are consumed, although they serve for a foundation to the work.   

CHAP. IX. The undertaking and prosecution of the Colony by the Londoners.  
BUT to return to our former subject from which we digressed. Upon the manifestation of the Western Adventurers resolution to give off their work, most part of the Land-men being sent for, returned; but a few of the most honest and industrious resolved to stay behind and to take charge of the cattle sent over the year before; which they performed accordingly: and not liking their seat at Cape Anne chosen especially for the supposed commodity of fishing, they transported themselves to Nahum, keike, about four or five leagues distant to the South-West from Cape Anne.  
Some then of the Adventurers that still continued their desire to set forwards the Plantation of a Colony there; conceiving that if some more cattle were sent over to those few Men left behind; they might not only be a means of the comfortable subsisting of such as were already in the Country; but of inviting some other of their Friends and Acquaintance to come over to them: adventured to send over twelve Kine and Bulls more. And conferring casually with some Gentlemen of London, moved them to add unto them as many more. By which occasion the business came to agitation afresh in London, and being at  
ration) are nothing else but the fruits of jealousy of some distempered mind, or which is worse, perhaps, savour of a desperate malicious plot of men ill affected to Religion, endeavouring by casting the undertakers into the jealousy of State, to shut them out of those advantages which otherwise they do and might expect from the Countenance of Authority. Such men would be entreated to forbear that base and unchristian course of traducing innocent persons, under these odious names of Separatists and enemies to the Church and State, for fear lest their own tongues fall upon themselves by the justice of his hand who will not fail to clear the innocency of the just, and to cast back into the bosom of every slanderer the filth that he rakes up to throw in other men's faces. As for men of more indifferent and better tempered minds, they would be seriously advised to beware of entertaining and admitting, much more countenancing and crediting such uncharitable persons as discover themselves by their carriage, and that in this particular, to be men ill affected towards the work itself, if not to Religion (at which it aims) and consequently unlikely to report any truth of such as undertake it.   

CHAP. X. The Conclusion of the whole Treatise.  
NOw for the better preventing of such suspicions and jealousies, and the ill affections to this Work, that may arise thereupon; two things are earnestly requested of such as pass their Censures upon it, or the persons that undertake it. The first is, that although in this barien and corrupt age wherein we live, all our actions are generally swayed and carried on by private interests; in so much as sincere intentions of furthering the common good; (grounded upon that love through which we are commanded to serve one another) be the wonders of men; notwithstanding men would not think it impossible, that the love which waxeth cold and dyeth in the most part, yet may revive and kindle in some men's hearts: and that there may be found some that may neglect their case and profit to do the Church good and God service, out of a sincere love and affection to God's honour and the Churches good. Why may not we conceive that God may prevail upon the hearts of his servants, to set them on as effectually to seek the enlargement of his kingdom; as a blind zeal fomented by the art and subtlety of Satan may thrust on Priests and Jesuits, and their partisans, to engage their persons and estates for the advancing of the Devil's Kingdom? Or if in the World's infancy, men out of an ambitious humour, or at present for private advantages and expectation of gain, thrust themselves out from their own dwellings into parts far remote from their native soil; why should not we conceive, that if they do this for a corruptible crown; that the desire and expectation of an incorruptible (the reward of such as deny themselves for the service of God and his Church) may as strongly allure such as by patient continuance in well-doing, seek immortality & life? And yet the favourable conceits that men entertain of such as follow in all their actions the ways of their private gain, and the jealousies that they are apt to entertain of such as pretend only the advancement of the Gospel, manifestly argue that the general opinion of the world is that some may be true to themselves and the advancement of their own private estates, but hardly any to God and his Church. I should be very unwilling to think, they cherish this suspicion upon that ground that moved that sensual Emperor to believe that no man was clean or chaste in any part of his body, because himself was defiled and unclean in all. This is then the first favour that is desired, of such as consider this action, to believe that it is neither impossible nor unlikely that these men's intentions are truly and really such as they pretend, and not colours and cloaks for secret dangerous purposes, which they closely harbour in their breasts, especially when all apparent circumstances concur to justify the contrary.  
The next request that is presented to all indifrerent minded men is; that they would be pleased to set before their eyes that which hath been already mentioned, that as there followed the children of Israel a mixed multitude out of Egypt, so it is probable there may do these men out of England, and that of diverse tempers: some perhaps men of hot and fiery spirits, making change and innovation their scope, may conceive that (when they see that for the desire and care of preserving unity and love, and taking away occasions of offence to tender consciences, some changes and alterations are yielded unto) they have gained what they expect, and may as fond triumph in their supposed Victory, as if they had overthrown all order and discipline; as they do absurdly mistake the grounds and ends which the course of Government proposeth and aimeth at: and thereupon in their Relations to their friends, represent things not as they are really done and intended, but as they apprehend them in their fantasies. Others there will be that proving refractory to Government, expecting all liberty in an unsettled body; and finding the restraint of Authority, contrary to expectation, in their discontented humours, meeting with no other way of revenge, may be ready to blemish the Government with such scandalous reports as their malicious spirits can devise and utter.  
Now although some say, that malice is a good informer, notwithstanding no wise or good man admits it for a fit judge; if therefore men will be pleased to forbear the overhasty belief of such reports, as shall be sent over or given out, either by men of foolish and weak minds or distempered humours, until they receive more assured satisfaction from such as understand and are acquainted with the grounds and secret passages of the affairs of Government, they shall keep their own hearts upon the even-ballance of a right judgement, and provide for the innocency of those upon whom they pass their censure.  
If by these means jealousies and suspicions may be prevented, I make no question but the relations which this Work hath both to the State and Church, will upon mature advice so far prevail with all wellminded men, as to move them not only to afford their prayers for the prosperous success of this new planted Colony, that from small and contemptible beginnings, it may grow to a settled and well form Church; but with all their best furtherance, Consilio, auxilio, re, by advice, friends, and purses. Which howsoever the principals of this work, out of their modesty, crave not, yet the necessary burdens which so weighty an undertaking chargeth them withal, will certainly enforce them to need, whatsoever men judge to the contrary. Neither is or will the burden be intolerable to this State; A common stock of ten thousand pound may be sufficient to support the weight of general charges of transporting and maintaining Ministers, Schoolmasters, Commanders for Wars; and erecting of such buildings as will be needful for public use for the present; and for time to come it cannot be questioned but the Colony itself having once taken root, when men's labours begin to yield them any fruit, will be found sufficient to bear her own burden. Alas, what were it for a Merchant or a Gentleman of reasonable estate, to disburse twentie-five pound or fifty pound, for the propagating of the Gospel, who casts away in one year much more upon superfluities in apparel, diet, buildings, &c: and let men seriously weigh and consider with themselves, whether a work of so great importance, so nearly concerning God's honour, and the service of the Church calling upon them (as Lazarus upon Dives) for some of the waist of their superfluous expenses; if they lend a deaf ear to the motion, will not assuredly plead strongly against them at the bar of Christ's judgementfeate at the last day? Nay, what a scorn would it be to the Religion we profess, that we should refuse to purchase the propagation of it at so easy a rate, when the Popish party charge themselves with such excessive expenses; for the advancement of idolatry and superstition? It's true, it will be valued at a low rate, that the Colony is able to return you again by way of recompense; perhaps the enjoying of such immunities and privileges, as his Majesty hath been pleased to grant unto them, and an hundred or two hundred acres of Land to every man that shall disburse twentie-five pound, and so for more proportionably, for the raising of the common Stock; yet their posterity (if not themselves) may have cause in time to come, to acknowledge it a good purchase that was made at so low a rate: but if they lend, looking for nothing again, we know the promise Luk. 6. 35. he is no loser, that hath made 
Your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest Luk. 6. 35.  God his debtor.   
FINIS.