means to draw them to the true service and knowledge of God.”
In the patent for Nova Scotia, in 1621, James I. speaks of the countries “either inhabited or occupied by unbelievers, whom to convert to the Christian faith is a duty of great importance to the glory of God.”
In the charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1628, the colonists are warned to lead such good lives as “may win and invite the natives of the country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind, and the Christian faith, — which in our royal intention and the adventurers' free profession is the principal end of this Plantation.”
In full accord with this royal form of instruction the Governor (Cradock) of the Bay Company, in 1629, writes to Endicott, its first resident officer here: “We trust you will not be unmindful of the main end of our Plantation, by endeavoring to bring the Indians to the knowledge of the Gospel; which, that it may be the speedier and better effected, the earnest desire of our whole Company is, that you have a diligent and watchful eye over our own people, that they live unblamable and without reproof, and demean themselves justly and courteous towards the Indians, thereby to draw them to affect our persons and consequently our religion, — as also to endeavor to get some of their children to train up to reading and consequently to religion, whilst they are young: herein to young or old to omit no good opportunity that may tend to bring them out of that woful state and condition they now are in, — in which case our predecessors in this our land sometimes were, and, but for the mercy and goodness of our God, might have continued to this day.” Endicott was further instructed: “If any of the salvages pretend right of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our patent, endeavor to purchase their tytle, that we may avoid the least scruple of intrusion.”
In the charter given by Charles II., in 1681, to William
