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

It was but a few Months ago, that a considerable Fleet, under Sir Francis Wheeler, which had been sent into the West-Indies, to subdue Martineco, was ordered then to call at New-England, that being recruited there, they might make a further Descent upon Canada; but Heaven frowned upon that Expedition, especially by a terrible Sickness, the most like the Plague of any thing that has been ever seen in America, whereof there Died, ere they could reach to Boston, as I was told by Sir Francis himself, no less than Thirteen Hundred Sailors out of Twenty One, and no less than Eighteen Hundred Soldiers out of Twenty four.

It was but a few Months ago, that a considerable Fleet, under Sir Francis Wheeler, which had been sent into the West-Indies, to subdue Martineco, was ordered then to call at New-England, that being recruited there, they might make a further Descent upon Canada; but Heaven frowned upon that Expedition, especially by a terrible Sickness, the most like the Plague of any thing that has been ever seen in America, whereof there Died, e're they could reach to Boston, as I was told by Sir Francis himself, no less than Thirteen Hundred Sailers out of Twenty One, and no less than Eighteen Hundred Souldiers out of Twenty four.

It was now therefore his desire to have satisfied the King, that his whole Interest in America lay at Stake, while Canada was in French Hands: And therewithal to have laid before several Noblemen, and Gentlemen, how beneficial an Undertaking it would have been for them to have pursued the Canadien-Business, for which the New-Englanders were now grown too Feeble; their Country being too far now, as Bede says England once was, Omni Milite & floridae Juventutis Alacritate spoliata.

Besides these two Designs in the Thoughts of Sir William, there was a Third, which he had Hopes that ⟨p. 104⟩