1690.] MARTIAL PREPARATION. 245 



of arms and ammunition, of which they were in 

 great need. 1 The request was refused, and no aid 

 of any kind came from the English government, 

 whose resources were engrossed by the Irish war. 

 While waiting for the reply, the colonial authori- 

 ties urged on their preparations, in the hope that 

 the plunder of Quebec would pay the expenses of 

 its conquest. Humility was not among the New 

 England virtues, and it w r as thought a sin to doubt 

 that God would give his chosen people the victory 

 over papists and idolaters ; yet no pains were spared 

 to ensure the divine favor. A proclamation was 

 issued, calling the people to repentance ; a day of 

 fasting was ordained ; and, as Mather expresses 

 it, " the wheel of prayer was kept in continual 

 motion." 2 The chief difficulty was to provide 

 funds. An attempt was made to collect a part of 

 the money by private subscription ; 3 but, as this 

 plan failed, the provisional government, already in 

 debt, strained its credit yet farther, and borrowed 

 the needful sums. Thirty-two trading and fishing 

 vessels, great and small, were impressed for the 

 service. The largest was a ship called the " Six 

 Friends," engaged in the dangerous West India 

 trade, and carrying forty-four guns. A call was 

 made for volunteers, and many enrolled themselves ; 

 but, as more were wanted, a press was ordered to 

 complete the number. So rigorously was it applied 



1 Bradstreet and Council to the Earl of Shrewsbury, 29 Mar., 1690 ; Dan- 

 forth to Sir H. Ashurst, 1 April, 1690. 



2 Mass. Colonial Records, 12 Mar., 1690 ; Mather, Life of Phips. 



3 Proposals for an Expedition against Canada, in 3 Mass. Hist. Coll., 

 X. 119. 



