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all other wonders of Gods grace done for you and by you, that he hath there also compased you about with his favor as with a sheld, and crowned you with renowned victories over these bloody rebells and enraged enemies of his name and saynts; nor can we doe other then thankfuly acknowledge this as a superadded mercy to all the rest, that by his grace he hath kept it in the frame of your heart amidst all the glorious victories which under God you have gotten, thankfully to ascribe the glory thereof to him alone, who is the King of Glory, the Lord of Hoasts mighty in battel, and your pious care in abaseing men and meanes to exalt the Lord in all your Victoryes, as it hath not a little honoured you in our eyes; soe have we looked at the same, as a speaking pledge that God will yet goe on to perfect his admirable worke by you: now therefore Redoubted Worthy, thinke with yourself · What shall I render to the Lord for all his benyfits to'wards me, what further service hath the Lord to use me in, whoe hath done soe great things for me and by me.' Yea you are studdying (thrice noble Sir) which way to lift up the name of Jesus Christ there where it hath beene most vilely trampled upon, and where you are called to cheife place of rule, there to take effectual care that Jesus Christ alone may reigne, and that desolate Ireland which hath bene drenched and steeped in blood, may be moystened and soaked with the waters of the Sanctuary, for which end your Honour is pleased to cast your eyes, as upon godly people and ministers in England, soe upon such like in America also, whose hearts the Lord may moove to soe blessed a worke, We therefore whose names are underwritten doe, in behalfe of ourselves and some others here in New England humbly returne to your Honour many thanks for your noble offers respecting us also, and since your Honour hath so large a heart given you of the Lord as to desire to build him a Temple amidst the ruinous heaps in Ireland, and so royal a spirit as to be ready soe nobly to befreind the freinds (even in America also) of any such workes, soe farr as to improve your uttermost interest for their furtheraunce in removing thither, and for their safe and comfortable habitation there, together with like care had of their injoying the

Lord in his ordinances there, we know not but we may attend this providence of the Lord soe far also as to observe what further of the minde and counsel of God may appeare to us in your seasonable prosecution of your noble proposals, hopeing that as we came by a call of God to serve him here, soe if the Lords mind shall cleerly appeare to give us a sufficyent call and incouragement to remove into Ireland, to serve the Lord Jesus there, wee shall cheerfully and thankfully imbrace the same. Thus commending your Honours weighty occasions to the Lords guidance and blessing, we humbly take our leaves, resting

Your Honours to serve you in the Lord

New England,

31. 10 Month 1650.

PEETER BULKLEY, min.
SAM. WHITING, min.
JOHN KNOWLEs, min.
THO. COBET, min.
DANYEL DENYSON.
JOHN TUTTELL.

["The Conditions which these Ministers and godly persons proposed, previous to setting out for Ireland, are entered upon another Paper. They were as follow" : -]

"That in mater of Religion we may have like liberty established by favor of the State of England, for the exercise of the worship and government of Christ as here we enjoy in New England.

"That such a proportion of outward encouragements in houses and lands as the State shall thinke fit in favour to bestow upon suche as principally and personally engage in this worke may be set forth by the Parliament or Counsel of State, and after divisions to be made by us with some appointed by the Parliament to our Assocyates. "That some quantity of land may be granted for the advancing of learning, by a Free-Scoole and College.

"That we may have free choyce of the cheife millitary governour to be over the Garrison where we shall sit downe, and such a one as may be of our owne company, if we have any fit person amongst us, or if not, that we

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may have liberty to nominate some other godly man which the state of England may aprove of.

"That in regard we come from a pure Ayre, we may have a place in the more healthfull part of the country.

"That in regard of the meanness and inabillity of sundry godly persons (which doe or may desire to joyne with us) to transport themselves and famelies, the State would be pleased to think of some way of lending them some helpe.

"That we and our company may for some yeares be freed from publique charges.

"That noe Irish may inhabite amongst us, but such as we shall like of.

"That we and our company may have convenyent tyme allowed us for our transportation into Ireland.

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Lastly intimate our sufferings under the tyranny of Episcopacy, which forced us into exile (to our great hazzard and losse) for noe other offence but professing that truth which (through mercy) is now acknowledged."

LETTER FROM WILLIAM BRADFORD TO

JOHN

WINTHROP.

[The following letter was copied from the original in my possession, written in Governor Bradford's clear and beautiful hand. C. D.]

Sr. I am requested to write these few lines vnto you, in the behalfe of some Indeans of Yarmoth; who complaine that Mr. Offley owes them 6 coats of trading cloath, and a pair of small briches, for seruise they did him, in taking of sturgion. Some of them affirme that they were loath to haue leaft their hunting, when he Importuned them to help him, and now not to pay them for their laboure they take it very ill; and take occation therby to scandalice all ye English. I am Informed by Mr. Freeman that many of ye neigbours know these debts to be due, and are yet vnsatisfied. To which this bearer can also say sumething. Haueing not els at presente with my best loue remembrèd vnto you, I take leaue & rest Your affectionate freind

Plim. 11 (10) 45.

WILLIAM BRADFORD

[Superscribed, "To his much honoured freind Mr. John Winthrop Deputie Gou'. of y° Massachussets these be dd."]

LETTER FROM EMANUEL DOWNING TO

JAMES

USHER.

[In the Life of the learned James Usher, Archbishop of Armagh, by Richard Parr, his chaplain, folio, London, 1686, p. 16, is a very striking letter, addressed to Usher at London, the same year that he was made Bishop of Meath, from Emanuel Downing. By the biographer he is called "a worthy divine," and to me it seems highly probable, that he was father of that Emanuel, the lawyer, of London, who married a sister of our Governor Winthrop, and brought her and his family to Salem. That Usher was highly esteemed by the Puritans is clear enough from his being invited to a seat in their famous Assembly of Divines, called by the Long Parliament; and though he could not comply with that request, he was by Cromwell held in veneration to his death.

On account of the rarity of this work, which is not frequently seen in England, and might not easily be found in this country, I have procured from Rev. Joseph Hunter a transcript as here given. .]

REVEREND SIR,

I hope you are not ignorant of the hurt, that has come to the Church by this name, Puritan, and how his Majesties good intent and meaning therein is much abused and wronged; and especially in this poor country where the Pope, and Popery, is so much affected. I being lately in the Country had conference with a worthy, painful preacher, who hath been an instrument of drawing many of the meer Irish there from the blindness of Popery to embrace the Gospel, with much comfort to themselves and heart breaking to the Priests, who perceiving they cannot now prevail with their jugling tricks, have forged a new device. They have now stirred up some crafty Papists, who very boldly rail both at Ministers and people, saying they seeke to sow this damnable heresy of Puritanism among them, which word, tho' not understood,

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