In the time of Cromwell's Government, Mr. John Elliot, with some Assistant in New-England, having learnt the Natives Language, and Converted many Souls among them (not to be baptized and forget their Names as well as Creed, as it is among the Spaniards Converts at Mexico, Peru, &c. but to serious Godliness); it was found that the great hinderance of the progress of that Work was the Poverty and Barbarousness of the People, which made many to live dispersed like wild Beasts in Wildernesses, so that having neither Towns, nor Food, nor Entertainment fit for English Bodies, few of them could be got together to be spoken to, nor could the English go far, or stay long among them. Wherefore to build them Houses, and draw them together, and maintain the Preachers that went among them, and pay School-masters to teach their Children, and keep their Children at School, &c. Cromwell caused a Collection to be made in England in every Parish; and People did contribute very largely: And with the Money (beside some left in stock) was bought 7 or 800l. per Annum of Lands, and a Corporation chosen to dispose of the Rents for the furthering of the Works among the Indians. This Land was almost all bought for the worth of it of one Colonel Beddingfield, a Papist, an Officer in the King's Army: When the King came in, Beddingfield seizeth on the Lands again; and keepeth them, and refuseth either to surrender them, or to repay the Money; because all that was done in Cromwell's time being now judged void, as being without Law, that Corporation was now null, and so could have no right to Money or Lands: And he pretended that he sold it under the worth, in expectation of the recovery of it, upon the King's return. The President of the Corporation was the Lord Steele, a Judge (a worthy Man): The Treasurer was Mr. Henry Ashurst, and the Members were such sober godly Men, as were best affected to New-Englands Work: Mr. Ashurst (being the most exemplary Person for eminent Sobriety, Self-denial, Piety, and Charity, that London could glory of, as far as public Observation, and Fame, and his most intimate Friends Reports could testify) did make this (and all other Public Good which he could do) his Business: He called the Old Corporation together, and desired me to meet them:
In the time of Cromwell's Government, Mr. Iohn Elliot, with some Assistant in New-England, having learnt the Natives Language, and Converted many Souls among them (not to be baptized and forget their Names as well as Creed, as it is among the Spaniards Converts at Mexico, Peru, &c. but to serious Godliness); it was found that the great hinderance of the progress of that Work was the Poverty and Barbarousness of the People, which made many to live dispersed like wild Beasts in Wildernesses, so that having neither Towns, nor Food, nor Entertainment fit for English Bodies, few of them could be got together to be spoken to, nor could the English go far, or stay long among them. Wherefore to build them Houses, and draw them together, and maintain the Preachers that went among them, and pay School-masters to teach their Children, and keep their Children at School, &c. Cromwell caused a Collection to be made in England in every Parish; and People did contribute very largely: And with the Money (beside some left in stock) was bought 7 or 800l. per Annum of Lands, and a Corporation chosen to dispose of the Rents for the furthering of the Works among the Indians. This Land was almost all bought for the worth of it of one Colonel Beddingfield, a Papist, an Officer in the King's Army: When the King came in, Beddingfield seizeth on the Lands again; and keepeth them, and refuseth either to surrender them, or to repay the Money; because all that was done in Cromwell's time being now judged void, as being without Law, that Corporation was now null, and so could have no right to Money or Lands: And he pretended that he sold it under the worth, in expectation of the recovery of it, upon the King's return. The President of the Corporation was the Lord Steele, a Judge (a worthy Man): The Treasurer was Mr. Henry Ashurst, and the Members were such sober godly Men, as were best affected to New-Englands Work: Mr. Ashurst (being the most exemplary Person for eminent Sóbriety, Self-denial, Piety, and Charity, that London could glory of, as far as publick Observation, and Fame, and his most intimate Friends Reports could testifie) did make this (and all other Publick Good which he could do) his Business: He called the Old Corporation together, and desired me to meet them:
