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, etc.  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 well-affected to the Common salvati on purchased by Christ, or to the Common good of this Republic.  
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 accommodation 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 lie not) upon the hearing the minister in public the last Lord's day stir up every one to endeavour the exaltation of Christ in his proper place, internally and externally, I conceived 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 enabled 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 thyself, or, Hypocrite first pull the beam out of thine own eye, etc. 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 jesus, I have and shall obtain mercy, and enjoy favour with the Father, and fellowship in the Spirit with the Son, and Saints; and that henceforth he will show me (for myself) the coming in and the going out, and fashion of his Temple; that henceforth he will sanctify me, and preserve me blameless to the coming 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 Country, who have seen my out-going, not to be grieved in spirit at my undertaking of this.  
For as I conceive myself 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 Country; that as I have been notoriously evil to the dishonour 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 lieth upon my thoughts, and I do believe it will be accomplished) that I shall do the like in my own Native Country; 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 receive these weak exhibitions of my duty and love to my God, my Country, and my Friends, and pardon what is amiss, and pray for him that would fain be found walking in the truth, whilst he is,  
From my Chamber at the Flying-Post in White Friars, London, this 6th. of October, 1653. O. Ll.   

A Despised VIRGIN beautified, OR VIRGINIA benefited.  
AS a skilful 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 physic 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 business that lierh so strongly upon my spirit, to be doing service for the Public, that thereby my God may be honoured, the Gospel propagated, and the Kingdom of the Lords Christ enlarged; I would willingly take the wisest, the safest, the profitablest, and honourablest (as to the Public) 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 judgement) observed to be the disease of that distressed member of this Commonwealth, both as to Church, & Sat.  
And that what are and have been the thoughts of my heart (I hope suggested by the Spirit of God, for the good of that Country) for near these fourteen years as concerning what expedient may be fourd to remedy the distress of the disconsolate Virgin Country Virginia, and render her sound and in perfect health; therein showing the beauty that may be expected to be seen in her, when she is prepared for, and presented a spotless Spouse to the Lord Jesus her husband, and also the benefit of having such a member annexed to this Commonwealth.  
In the discovery of her disease, give me leave to remind you of her Primogenitors, or first Masters of Europoean extract, and what have been the successors 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 styled, 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 Elizabeth's days. But the Emergencies of the public 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 business lay dormant till about the years 1607 or 1608. when divers Noblemen, Gentlemen and Citizens, embodied themselves in this City of London, and made a Virginia Company, under the specious pretences of propagating the Gospel, 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 public authority; which business being then managed (as it is to be feared, because now heavily felt) by selfended 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, selfended, 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) 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 immediately married to such as they never saw before, and so sent to plant the Country.  
Year after year this practice continued, and multitudes through disorder and want of accommodations died; till at last the company was dissolved, and the Country enfranchised, 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 Country who have been almost from the beginning there, that I have observed, and heard of, to be good members of that Commonwealth, 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 truly 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 Gospel's 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 truly 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 Governors, and other chief Officers, to make up their broken fortunes, she hath been much macerated, her beauty marred, and the ancient Commonwealth's men, who had begun to set forth the beauty and virtue of that Virgin, were not only disheartened, but many of them destroyed in their estates, for their fidelity to the grand interest of the well-being of the Plantation. Witness 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 ancient Planters of the Country, who had saved the Country with the hazard of their lives and fortunes; this division descended to the next Governor Sir Francis Wyatt, 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 woeful experience of his twice revolting from this Commonwealth, and in them injuring the best affected to this Commonweolth,  
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 England's Commonwealth, 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 endangered, so within she suffers too much detriment by the adherents of the former faction in the Commonwealth; and so likewise by the iguorance, and pride of the Priests, the Country suffereth much more in the loss of their spiritual advantages, as shall appear by and by.  
But which is more, the main (pretended) end of planting the Country, is altogether omitted, if not prejudiced; as I shall show 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 soil, I love it above any Country wheresoever I have traveled; and therefore though I be the worst of sinners, yet I bless God I abound in love to that Country, and do wish from my very heart, (if I can discern it) to endeavour 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 amiss; 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 barrenness (as to spirituals) with her younger Sisters beauty and fruitfulness; who though placed in a far more barren soil, (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 enjoyment of the manifestation of the abundant love of God, not only to the English themselves, but the glory of his grace is much seen in demolishing much of the Kingdom of Satan, and exalting the Sceptre of Christ among the Natives,  
A thing which the primary Planters pretended, but by them of new England intended, and with good success (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 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 ministered.  
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 show 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 joint 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 Plymouth, and the Plantations to the eastward of Merimack river, and Nova Scotia, into one Patent 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 enlarge the kingdom of Christ, and propagate the Gospel to the Natves all along the Continent, as immediately I shall (through grace, and your patience) show.  
But before I hold forth the benefit that may come by this union, give me leave to answer the covetous Patentee, or Planter of each Patent.  
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 only (especially in the Southern-Plantations) eat the bread of idleness, 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 all ingenious men (as there is abundance) to endeavour to attain the gaining of the like accommodations for themselves, which would in the end much enrich the Commonwealth.  
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 Governors of this Common wealth for the time then being; whose grant I conceive was good, as to the enjoyment of their tenors to the end pretended; which appeareth by their grants, to be to the glory of God and the good of this Commonwealth. But now being the Commonwealth 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 countries', 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 Commonwealth'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 enforce none to conform to one another's judgement (by any coercive power in man's hand) but as it pleaseth the Lord by his own Spirit to act in such as belong unto him; or permit the spirit of Error to persuade others to that which is evil; and therefore I conceive their cohabitation not to be any ways disadvantageous to the Commonwealth (for so I hold the Plantations to be now in the hands of the Commonwealth) and if the Liberty of the Law be equally alike to all, and the benefit of the Gospel 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 Commonwealth equally to cohabite in any of the Plantations, they conforming to the power of the civil 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 Country; 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 uncharitableness.  
Answ. Gentlemen and Countrymen, If I prove it both justice and charity, yea, and a benefit to Virginia, (which is a subject I chief aim at in this discourse, next to the salvation (ye 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 Country, 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 Commonwealth, and for your good I hope.  
Is it not justice for this Commonwealth to call in your Patent, who have no ways performed the trust reposed in you, for the advancing of the glory of God in your Country, but on the contrary have (by power and authority) acted against the Lord and his interest? You'll say this is a heavy charge! I must prove it, and that I do thus.  
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 children's, their servants, and their neighbour's souls were in, sitting in the blackness of darkness, under a blind, dumb, debauched ministry, (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 sweetness of affection, that the people from far parts of the Country came to hear them with joy and cheerfulness while they stayed; so that there was great hopes, that there might have been a glorious work suddenly accomplished, and the main desired end for which your Patent was granted, might be attained; now when the work was in this forwardness, Satan stirred up the hearts of some evil men, to expulse them out of your Country, 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 darkness, and causing its expansion all over your Country, which still continueth (woe is me therefore) and to the pulling down, (I am persuaded in my spirit) of that great judgement upon the land, which was wrapped up in the lives 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 unfaithful to the Commonwealth, as not to preserve the people in peace and safety, much less in godliness 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 men's indispositions) that may expel that thick cloud of darkness that is over you, that so the people that sit in darkness may see the salvation of God. For what a miserable thing is it, that so many thousand souls should be in your Country, and I cannot hear of any godly, sincere, sound, and faithful minister of the Gospel among you, but one; know ye 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 Countrymen 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 Country, with pious Ministers, painful Schoolmasters, and faithful Magistrates, and a holy people whose conversation may be such as may adorn the Gospel, glorify 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 only 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 Country, they might build in Towns, and dwell together, where they might set up the ordinances, advance justice in its due and easy administration, with more advantage to the Commonwealth 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 james-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 Country, and the land improved, in sowing fl●x (an especial commodity) and other improvements, which you let run wild again after cleared?  
How great a commodity would they bring into your Country 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 enjoy, if by these means they might have an introduction into the Kingdom of heaven, in interchange of their sublunary 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 cruelty of which servitude or slavery they grievously groan under.  
Give me leave to give you my reason of this my belief, in the year 1642. (if my memory 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 recreate themselves, and to Vossite Oppachancanough the old Emperor of the Indians in the Bay, who though a Barbarian, shown them no little kindness, assigning them part of his Wigwam (or house) for their lodgings, and causing his Indians to bring them in daily fresh Venison and other accommodations for their provisions, Princelike; where they remained several days, and which is the wonder for which I relate this story as I received it from Mr. Gill his own mouth) every morning & euning the English at an appointed hour went to prayers among themselves, at which time constantly most terrible tempests of wind, and also a great noise, as if it had been the rattling of chains were running round about the house, to the exceeding great terror of the Natives, insomuch that they would run among the English when they were at their prayers for shelter; and this continued constantly for many days while they were at prayer, in that time only and no more, which wrought so effectually upon the old Emperor, that he cried cut to the English when the fear was over, Will none help us to know your and serve your God? with many other words to the like purpose he often used to them; and if any day they did not keep the precise time of prayer 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 company will affirm the same.  
Oh then is there not great hope that a happy 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 happily successful in the conversion of so many Indians in their own Country, that they may do the like for the Natives in your parts?  
Object. You talk of remoteness of place in the Colony of Virginia for the doing and enjoying justice, and if this should be that all the Patents should be joined in one, how should we come to the enjoyment of the benefit of the Law? the distance being so great from the South of Carolina, to the North-east 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 conveniently men may pass from harbour to harbour; And there is a convenient place about hudson's Riter, or De Laware-Bay, whereat a convenient Site might be presently 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 every year or less, if no occasion require, to consult, consider of, and enact wholesome laws for the well being of the whole.  
But if men will not go by sea, it is easy to go in a small time by land, there being horses enough in the Country 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 less 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 centre of the Country, 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 eyes.  
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 endeavours, 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 value, and they being friends with our Commonwealth it is an easy matter to find an accommodation so as that they may be satisfied, and this Commonwealth 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 only to the trade of the River of Canada, and not one ship in an age scarce cometh to the Southward of Cape Saint George to trade; but admit it were their trade there; is it not an easy hang for us, to eject them out of that which they cheated us of by the late Queen's 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 national account or quarrel; By which means the Patent might be enlarged, 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 enriching 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 healthful way of trading.  
And not only 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 straits in a few years, and he encouraged and enabled by the enjoyment of the commodity of those rich furs, to a further work of exalting the glory and sceptre 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 Countrymen 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 to you a compendium of the profits and advantages both spiritual and temporal that might hereby accrue.  
First, as to the glory of God, the Gospel in her pristine purity 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 only all the English, but the Dutch, Swedes, and the remainders of the French, exalting the praises of God, in their several 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 Gospel 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 godliness, the purity of religion, and the manifestation of the Prince of peace & love, coming 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 tyranny; I am exceedingly filled in my spirit with the apprehension of what I see a fare off (as it were) of the sweet embrace 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 Gospel, and how they will come flowingly in and submit to the sceptre of Christ, bemoaning his long absence; would count him the chiefest of ten thousands to their souls, and by this means the Gospel 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 happiness? (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 exceeding honour 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.