many great subjects; such as were auxiliary with them to the war, some thousand, some fifteen hundred bowmen, some more, others less; these they called sagamores. This Bashaba had many enemies, especially those to the east and northeast, whom they called Tarentines; those to the west and southwest were called Sockhigones. But the Tarentines were counted a more warlike and hardy people, and had indeed the best opportunity to make their attempts upon them, by reason of the conveniency and opportunity of the rivers and sea, which afforded a speedy passage into the Bashaba's country, which was called Moasham; and that part of the country which lay between the Sockhigones' country and Moasham was called Apistama. The Massachisans and Bashabas were sometimes friends and sometimes enemies, as it fell out; but the Bashaba and his people seemed to be of some eminence above the rest in all that part of the continent; his own chief abode was not far from Pemaquid. But the war growing more and more violent between the Bashaba and the Tarentines, who (as it seemed) presumed upon the hopes they had to be favored of the French that were seated in Canada, their next neighbors, the Tarentines surprised the Bashaba, and slew him and all his people near about him, carrying away his women and such other matters as they thought of value. After his death, the public business running to confusion for want of a head, the rest of his great sagamores fell at variance among themselves, spoiled and destroyed each other's people and provision, and famine took hold of many; which was seconded by a great and general plague, which so violently reigned for three years together, that in a manner the greater part of that land was left desert, without any to disturb or oppose our free and peaceable possession thereof; from whence we may justly conclude that God made the way to effect his work according to the time he had assigned for laying the foundation thereof. In all which there is to be noted, the next of the Plantations, before spoken of, were not performed but by war and slaughter, and some of them with murther of so many millions of the natives as it is horror to be spoken of, especially being done by the hands of Christians, who alone of all people in the world profess the gaining of all souls to God only by preaching the Gospel of Christ Jesus, our sole Redeemer; and all this done, as being

presented persecuted, not persecuting. But let us be silent and confess that that is best done that God doth himself; and next, we must know that what he suffers to be done is not for us rashly to censure, but to give him the glory for all, whose will we desire may be done here on as, &c.

Yet I trust we may be humbly bold to believe that when God manifesteth his assistance unto his people, he gives them cause to believe he will not leave them till they leave him.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Benefits already received, and what time and industry may produce.

As for the benefit which may arise by such Plantations, especially those our nation is in travail with at present, first we find by daily experience what numbers of shipping and mariners are employed thereby. Next, how many thousands of the subjects are transported into those parts, that otherwise might have settled themselves under foreign states, to the prejudice and hindrance of our own manufacturers and overthrow of that kind of trade; whereas by planting where they do, that is not only prevented, but new trades impossible to be raised. Further, it prevents our neighbors from occupying those territories that so diligently (according to their powers) sought to possess themselves thereof, who by that means might easily (as it were) besiege us on all sides, that we should neither be southward, nor follow our fishing craft in New-found-land, or upon those coasts, but by their permission.

But the same advantage, by means of those Plantations, lies now in our power, if the King shall have occasion to make use thereof; besides so large a continent abounding with so many excellent lakes, of so mighty extent, from whence issue so many rivers, such variable kinds of soil rich in fructification of all manner of seeds or grain, so likely to abound in minerals of all sorts, and other rich gain of commodities not yet to be known, besides furs of several kinds, both useful and merchantable, proper for foreign markets.

CHAPTER IX.

Showing more particularly the honor, content and profit of those undertakings.

To descend from those generals to more particulars. What can be more pleasing to a generous nature than to be exercised in doing public good? especially when his labor and industry tends to the private good and reputation of himself and posterity; and what monument so durable, as erecting of houses, villages and towns ? and what more pious than advancing of Christian religion amongst people who have not known the excellency thereof? But, seeing works of piety and public good are in this age rather commended by all than acted by any, let us come a little nearer to that which all hearken unto, and that forsooth is profit.

Be it so. Art thou a laborer, that desirest to take pains for the maintenance of thyself?-the employments in plantations gives thee not only extraordinary wages, but opportunity to build some house or cottage, and a proportion of land agreeable to thy fortunes to set thyself when either lameness or other infirmities seize on thee. Hast thou a wife and a family-by plantation thou buildest, enclosest, and dost labor to live and enjoy the fruits thereof with plenty, multiplying thy little means for thy children's good when thou

art no more.

But art thou of a greater fortune and more gloriously spirited?—I have told thee before what thou mayst be assured of, whereby it may appear thou shalt not want means nor opportunity to exercise the excellency of thine own justice, and ingenuity to govern and act the best things, whether it be for thyself or such as live under thee, or have their dependency or hopes of happiness upon thy worth and virtue as their chief. Neither are these parts of the world void of opportunity to make a further discovery into the vast territories, that promiseth so much hopes of honor and profits (formerly spoken of) to be raised to posterity by the means and opportunity of those great and goodly lakes and rivers, which invite all that are of brave spirits to seek the extent of them,-especially since it is already known that some of these lakes contain fifty or sixty leagues in length,

some one hundred, some two hundred, others four or five hundred; the greatest abounding in multitude of islands fit for habitation; the land on both sides, especially to the southward, fertile and pleasant, being between the degrees of forty-four and forty-five of latitude; and to the west of these lakes that are now known, they pass by a main river to another sea or lake, which is conceived to disembogue into the South Seas; where the savages report that they have a trade with a nation, that comes once a year unto them with great ships, and brings shoes and buskins, kettles and hatchets, and the like, which they barter for skins and furs of all kinds,-the people being clothed with long robes, their heads bald or shaven, so as it is conceived they must be Catayons or Chinawaies. Whatsoever they be, were the strength of my body and means answerable to my heart, I would undertake the discovery of the uttermost extent thereof; and whosoever shall effect the same, shall both eternize his virtues and make happy such as will endeavor to partake thereof.

But I end, and leave all to Him who is the only author of all goodness, and knows best his own time to bring his will to be made manifest, and appoints his instruments for the accomplishing thereof; to whose pleasure it becomes every one of us to submit ourselves, as to that mighty God and great and gracious Lord, to whom all glory doth belong.

FINIS.

[The reader must have perceived that the preceding Tract abounds with grammatical errors, unfinished sentences, and passages which convey

no meaning whatever. These we conceive are not to be ascribed to the author, but to the negligence of his printer, who does not appear to have understood the author's manuscript. In one or two instances, where the blunder was palpable, we have ventured to correct it, and restore the author's meaning; but in general we have been obliged to follow the defective copy. Publishing Committee.]