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

And I must with a like Freedom say, That great was the Fault of New-England, no more to value a Person, whose Opportunities to serve all their Interests, though very Eminent, yet were not so Eminent as his Inclinations. If this whole Continent carry in its very Name of AMERICA, an unaccountable Ingratitude unto that Brave Man, who first led any numbers of Europeans thither, it must not be wondered at, if now and then, a particular Country in that Continent afford some Instances of Ingratitude: But I must believe, that the Ingratitude of many both to God and Man, for such Benefits, as that Country of New-England enjoyed from a Governor of their own, by whom they enjoyed great quietness, with very worthy Deeds done unto that Nation by His Providence, was that which hastened the Removal of such a Benefactor from them.

And I must with a like Freedom say, That great was the Fault of New-England, no more to value a Person, whose Opportunities to serve all their Interests, though very Eminent, yet were not so Eminent as his Inclinations. If this whole Continent carry in its very Name of AMERICA, an unaccountable Ingratitude unto that Brave Man, who first led any numbers of Europeans thither, it must not be wondred at, if now and then, a particular Country in that Continent afford some Instances of Ingratitude: But I must believe, that the Ingratitude of many both to God and Man, for such Benefits, as that Country of New-England enjoy'd from a Governour of their own, by whom they enjoyed great quietness, with very worthy Deeds done unto that Nation by His Providence, was that which hastned the Removal of such a Benefactor from them.

However, as the Cyprians buried their Friends in Honey, to whom they gave Gall when they were Bo•n; thus whatever Gall might be given to this Gentleman while he lived, I hope none will be so base, as to put any thing but Honey into their Language of him now after his Decease. And indeed, since 'tis a frequent thing among Men, to wish for the Presence of our Friends, when they are Dead and gone, whom, while they were present with us, we undervalued; there is no way for us to fetch back our Sir William Phips, and make him yet Living with us, but by setting up a Statue for him, as 'tis done in these Pages, that may out-last an ordinary Monument.