Pietas in patriam the life of His Excellency Sir William Phips, Knt. late Captain…

Hence, albeit I have read that complaint, made by a worthy Man, I have often observed, and this not without some Blushing, that even good People have had a kind of shame upon them, to acknowledge their low beginning, and used all Arts to hide it. I could never observe the least of that Fault in this worthy Man; but he would speak of his own low beginning with as much Freedom and Frequency, as if he had been afraid of having it forgotten.

It was counted an Humility in King Agathocles, the Son of a Potter, to be served therefore in Earthen Vessels, as Plutarch hath informed us: It was counted an Humility in Arch-Bishop Willigis, the Son of a Wheel-wright, therefore to have Wheels hung about his Bed-Chamber, with this Inscription, Recole undè Veneris, i. e. Remember thy Original. But such was the Humility and Lowliness of this Rising Man! Not only did he after his return to his Country in his Greatness, one Day, make a splendid Feast for the Ship Carpenters of Boston, among whom he was willing at his Table, to Commemorate, the Mercy of God unto him, who had once been a Ship Carpenter himself, but he would on all occasions permit, yea, Study to have his Meannesses remembered.

It was counted an Humility in King Agathocles, the Son of a Potter, to be served therefore in Earthen Vessels, as Plutarch hath informed us: It was counted an Humility in Arch-Bishop Willigis, the Son of a Wheel-wright, therefore to have Wheels hung about his Bed-Chamber, with this Inscription, Recole undè Veneris, i. e. Remember thy Original. But such was the Humility and Lowliness of this Rising Man! Not only did he after his return to his Country in his Greatness, one Day, make a splendid Feast for the Ship Carpenters of Boston, among whom he was willing at his Table, to Commemorate, the Mercy of God unto him, who had once been a Ship Carpenter himself, but he would on all occasions permit, yea, Study to have his Meannesses remembred.