117 



blame the incredulity of thefe perfons 3 for, if experience had not 

 taught me the contrary, I (hould undoubtedly be of their perfwafion. 

 But left I ftiould, by an overweening opinion, hope, that my experi- 

 ence (which is only to my felf ) (hould miflead any man befides his 

 reafon, which every knowing man ought to be guided and governed 

 by, I will without ftraining or forcing a reafon, deliver a plain and 

 naked truth, in as plain language, as is fitting fuch a fubjed, which I 

 doubt not will periuade much in the bufinefs. 



Tis a known truth there, that no man hath attained to fuch a for- 

 tune as this, upon a fmall beginning, that hath not met with many 

 rubs and obftacles in his way, and fometimes fallings back, let his 

 pains and induftry be what it will : I call thofe fallings back, when 

 either by fire, which often happens there, or death of Cattle, which 

 is as frequent as the other '-, or by loffes at Sea, which fbmtinies will 

 happen, ofvvhichi can bring lively inftances: If either of thefe mis- 

 fortunes fall, it ftands in an equal ballance,whether ever that man re- 

 cover, upon whom thefe misfortunes fall : But, if two of thefe hap- 

 pen together, or one in the neck of another, there is great odds to be 

 laid, that he never lhall be able to redeem himfelf, from an inevitable 

 ruinej For, if fire happen, his ftock is confumcd, and fomtimes his 

 houfe 3 if his Cattle dye, the work ftands ftill,and with either of thefe 

 his credit falls , lb aS, if he be not well friended, he never can enter- 

 tain a hope to rife again. 



Thefe toyles of body and mind, and thelc nlisforturies together, 

 will deprefs and wear put the beftfpirits in the world, and will caule 

 them to think, what a happy thing it is, to fpend the remainder of 

 their Ifves in reft and quiet in their own Countries. And I dd believe, 

 there are few of them, whole minds are not over-ballanc'd with 

 avarice and lucre, that would not be glad to fell good penni-Worths, 

 to fettle thcmfelVes quietly in England, Befides the cafualties which 

 I have named, there is yet one of nearer concern than all the reft, and 

 that is, their own healths, than which nothing is more to be valued 3 

 for, fickneft'es are there more grievous, and mortality greater by far 

 than in England , and thefe difeafes many times contagious : And if 

 a rich man, either by his own ill dyet or diftempef, or by infedion, 

 fall into iuch a ficknefs, he will find there a plentiful want df fiich 

 remedies, as are to be found in England. Other reafbns, and ftrdng 

 ones, they have, that induce them to hanker after their own Coun- 

 try, and thofe arc, to enjoy the company of their old friends, and to 

 raife up Families to themlelves, with a Surtl which they h.1ve sicqui- 

 red by their toyle and induftry, and often hazards of their lives, whofe 

 beginnings Were flight and inconfiderablej and what can be a greater 

 comfort, both to themfelves and their friends, than fuch an enjoy- 

 ment ? But I fpeak not this to difcourage any man, that hath ^ mind 

 to improve his Eftate, by adventuring upon fuch a Purchafe 5 for , 

 though the Planter, by long and tedious pain and induftry, have I 

 worn out his hfe, in the acquift of his fortune, yet the Buyet, by his! 

 purchafe, is fo well and happily feated, as he need endure no fuch I 

 hardfhips, but may go on in the riladaging his bufinefs, with much 



eafe, and fbme pleafure 3 and in a do(^ 



ofen years, return back with a , 



H h ^^^y\ 



