xchequer; but instead
thereof, the wonted benefit of customs, exported and imported into
England from hence, will be diminished by discouragement and diminution
of men's endeavours in their several occupations; or if the aim should
be to gratify some particular by livings and revenues here that will
also fail, where nothing is to be had, the King himself will be loser,
and so will the case be formed here; for such is the poverty and
meanness of the people (by reason of the length and coldness of the
winters, the difficulty of subduing a wilderness, defect of staple
commodity, the want of money, etc.), that if with hard labour men get a
subsistence for their families, 'tis as much as the generality are able
to do, paying but very small rates towards the public charges; and yet
if all the country hath ordinarily raised by the year for all the
charges of the whole government were put together and then doubled or
trebled, it would not be counted, for one of these gentlemen, a
considerable accommodation.[143]

"It is true, that the estates men have in conjunction with hard labour
and vigorous endeavours in their several places do bring in a
comfortable subsistence for such a mean people (we do not diminish our
thankfulness to God, that he provides for us in a wilderness as he
doth), yet neither will the former stand or the latter be discouraged,
nor will both ever answer the ends of those that seek great things.

"We perceive there have been great expectations of what is to be had
here raised by some men's informations. But those informations will
prove fallacious, disappointing them that have relied upon them; and if
the taking of this course should drive the people out of the country
(for to a coalition therein they will never come), it will be hard to
find another people that will stay long or stand under any considerable
burden in it, seeing it is not a country where men can subsist without
hard labour and great frugality.

"There have also been high representations of great divisions and
discontents among us, and of a necessity of sending commissioners to
relieve the aggrieved, etc.; whereas it plainly appears that the body of
this colony are unanimously satisfied in the present government, and
abhorrent from change, and that what is now offered will, instead of
relieving, raise up such grievances as are intolerable. We suppose there
is no government under heaven wherein some discontented persons may not
be found; an