1650-51.] ENDICOTT. 327 



in his character of their agent. Here, again, he 

 was received with courtesy and kindness. Gov- 

 ernor Bradford invited him to dine, and, as it was 

 Friday, considerately gave him a dinner of fish. 

 Druilletes conceived great hope that the colony 

 could be wrought upon to give the desired assist- 

 ance ; for some of the chief inhabitants had an 

 interest in the trade with the Abenaquis.^ He 

 came back by land to Boston, stopping again at 

 Eoxbury on the way. It was night when he ar- 

 rived ; and, after the usual custom, he took lodg- 

 ing with the minister. Here were several young 

 Indians, pupils of his host: for he was no other 

 than the celebrated Eliot, who, during the past 

 summer, had established his mission at Natick,^ 

 and was now laboring, in the fulness of his zeal, in 

 the work of civilization and conversion. There was 

 great sympathy between the two missionaries ; and 

 Eliot prayed his guest to spend the winter with him. 

 At Salem, which Druilletes also visited, in com- 

 pany with the minister of Marblehead, he had an 

 interview with the stern, but manly, Endicott, who, 

 he says, spoke French, and expressed both interest 

 and good-will towards the objects of the expedition. 

 As the envoy had no money left, Endicott paid his 

 charges, and asked him to dine with the magis- 

 trates.^ 



1 The Record of the Colony of Plymouth, June 5, 1651, contains, however, 

 the entry, " The Court declare themselves not to be willing to aid them 

 {the French) in their design, or to grant them liberty to go through their 

 jurisdiction for the aforesaid purpose" {to attack the Mohawks). 



2 See Palfrey, New England, II. 336. 



3 On Druilletes's visit to New England, see his journal, entitled iVarr^ 



