hem in bondage
was frequent among owners in the seventeenth century, and
operated to deter them from permitting the Christianizing of
their slaves. "I may not forget a resolution which his Maty
[James II.] made, and had a little before enter'd upon it at
the Council Board, at Windsor or Whitehall, that the Negroes
in the Plantations should all be baptiz'd, exceedingly
declaiming against that impiety of their masters prohibiting
it, out of a mistaken opinion that they would be ipso facto
free; but his Maty persists in his resolution to have them
chisten'd, wch piety the Bishop [Ken] blessed him for."
Evelyn, _Diary_, II. 479 (1685).

Meanwhile, the stipulated number of years, pledged to the West India
Company, is diminishing; although the obligation we owe to them who
recommend us(1) naturally continues. Also, on account of their old
age, we would love to see again our parents, and therefore we desire to
return home. On revolving the matter in my mind, and not to be lacking
in filial duty, I felt it to be proper to refer the subject to God and
my greatly beloved parents who call for me, whether I should remain or
return home at the expiration of my contract.

(1) The classis.

As we understand, they are, next to myself, most anxious for my return,
and have received my discharge from the Hon. Directors, and have
notified the Deputies ad Causas Indicas thereof, which has pleased us.
We trust that we shall receive also from your Reverences a favorable
reply, relying upon your usual kindness. Yet it is far from us to
seem to pass by your Reverences, and give the least cause for
dissatisfaction. I have endeavored to deserve the favor of the Rev.
Classis by the most arduous services for the welfare of Christ's church,
and am always ready to serve your Reverences.

It is my purpose when I return home, when my stipulated time is
fulfilled, to give a verbal account of my ministry here, and the state
of the church, that you may be assured that any omissions in duty have
been through ignorance.

Domine Samuel Megapolensis(1) has safely arrived, but Domine Warnerus
Hadson,(2) whom you had sent as preacher to the South River, died on
the passage over. It is very necessary to supply his place, partly on
account of the children who have not been baptized since the death of
Domine Wely,(3) and partly on account of the abominable sentiments
of various persons there, who