- Sgz A VOYAGE TO Book IX., 



lodged the Englifn, reducing them within the limits of 

 Virginia, till a peace v/as concluded betvv^ixt thefe two 

 nations on the 19th of February, 1674. 



This was not the only dilgrace attending the Eng- 

 YiPa in thefe parts : for as the Dutch had drove them 

 from New- York, fo they were difpoileffcd of other 

 countries of Florida by the Spaniards, and of Canada, 

 by the French : and tho' they (liil remained makers of a 

 confiderable extent of country, yet their fettlements 

 were not fo fecurc, fo well eilabiiHied, and placed on, 

 fo good a footing as they have been fince. This partly 

 arofe from the difcovery of a tra6b of land betwixt 

 New-York and Virginia ; the foil fo fertile, and the 

 temperature fo mild, that it was thought the peopling 

 of it would be attended with greater advantages than 

 that of any other of their colonies. This difcovery, 

 with the particulars, was fortunately publifhed in Eng- 

 land, at a time v/hen fevere perfecutions were carrying 

 on againft the Quakers, a fed newly fprung up, and 

 which, like primitive chriftianity, increafed the more 

 it was perfecutcd, that now it numbered amongft its 

 members fcvcral perfons of a more elevated rank and 

 greater abilities than its founders. Among thefe was 

 one William Penn, v;ho, both on account of his pa- 

 rents and his perfonal qualities, was univerfally efceem- 

 ed. To him Charles II. made a grant of the province, 

 that he might withdraw thither with all his fed: j as. 

 thi^s it would become totally extinguiHied, and policy 

 hoped to accomplifn that by indulgence, which it had 

 in vain attempted by rigour. . 



This grant vv^as made to William Penn in the year 

 1681 ; tho' others date it from the year 1682. How- 

 ever, he fct out with a numerous and well-provided 

 company ; and began to people the province which 

 had been granted him, caillng it Fennfylvania, from, 

 his own name, and the woodineis of the country. In 

 order to increafe his numbers, and fecure their fiay by*-- 

 the ilrongcil tics, he made one of the fundamental 



