Life of William Phips, Table of contents – Approbation
THE CONTENTS OF THE SECTIONS.
SEct. 1. The Introduction. The Authors Ends in Writing this Remarkable Hiſtory, Page 1.
Sect. 2. Some great Men with whom Sir William Phips might be parallel'd. An Account of his Birth in New-England, and his Parentage, 3.
Sect. 3. He was early inſpired with great Hopes. Yet puts himſelf Apprentice to a Shipwright. He Marries a Merchants Widow. Builds a Ship. Saves his Neighbours from the cruelty of the Indians, 5.
Sect. 4. He ſtrangely foretels his future Advancement. An Account of his Genius and Diſpoſition. He goes to Sea in queſt of a Spaniſh Wreck. Sails to England for Aſſiſtance. Is made Captain of one of the Kings Frigats, 6.
Sect. 5. His Conduct and Courage when his Men Mutiny'd. He gets Intelligence of the Place where the Spaniſh Wreck lay. Sails to England again for farther help, 7.
Sect. 6. His admirable Patience, Diligence, &c. in proſecuting his Buſineſs. Returns to Port de la Plata in America. Happily finds out the Wreck which had been caſt away Fifty Years before. An Account how he fiſhed and brought up two and thirty Tuns of Silver, beſides Gold and Jewels. His Seamen Mutiny. He quiets them. Brings his Treaſure, being about 300000 l. Sterling to London. His Honeſty both to his Employers, and to his Seamen. He is Rewarded, and Knighted, Page 10.
Sect. 7. His generous Temper, and great Love to his Native Country. Some Account of the ſad State of New-England, by the loſs of its Charter, and by an ill Governour. Sir William Phips his endeavours at Court to ſerve New-England. He is made High Sheriff of that Country. Sails a ſecond time to the Wreck, with Sir John Narborough, 15.
Sect. 8. A large Account of New-Englands Sufferings and Oppreſſions under their bad Governour. For redreſs whereof Sir William Phips makes a Voyage to England. King James offers him the Government of New-England on Terms which He could not accept. He returns to New-England. Finds his Country in new troubles from the Indians. News is brought thither of the Prince of Orange's Succeſs in England. An Account how the Revolution was brought about in New-England, their Governour impriſoned, &c. 19.
Sect. 9. Sir William Phips joyns himſelf to a Church in New-England. His own Account of his Converſion to God, Page 26.
Sect. 10. His great Zeal to ſerve his Country. His Expedition againſt the French at L'Acady, and Nova Scotia. He recovers that Country from them, Anno 1690. 30.
Sect. 11. A large Account of his Expedition againſt the French at Canada with a Fleet of 32 Ships, in the ſame Year. The Story out of Bradwardine of an Angel and Hermite, that travelled together, 32.
Sect. 12. Bills of Credit paſſed a little while in New-England inſtead of Money. Some farther Matters relating to the Canada Expedition. A wonderful Relation of a Shipwrack, and how ſome of the Men were ſtrangely preſerved: With the great hardſhips and difficulties they underwent for ſix or ſeven Months, 43.
Sect. 13. Sir William Phips makes a Voyage to England, to obtain help for another Expedition againſt Canada. His Reaſons preſented to the King, 52.
Sect. 14. Some Account of Mr. Increaſe Mather's Negotiations at White-Hall on the behalf of New-England. Sir William Phips joyns with him. A new Charter is obtained. Sir William is made Captain General and Governour of New-England. He and Mr. Mather return home, 54.
Sect. 15. How wiſely and uprightly Sir William governed New-England, Page 62.
Sect. 16. A remarkable Hiſtory of the ſtrange Witchcrafts and Poſſeſſions in New-England, 66.
Sect. 17. Governour Phips raiſeth an Army, and marcheth againſt the Indians. Builds a Fort to bridle them. They ſue for Peace, and own Subjection to the Crown of England. His laborious endeavours for his Country. His Care to ſend a Preacher to the Indians. He diſpatches a Frigat to St. John's againſt the French. The Indians aſſiſted by the French make a new War, 82.
Sect. 18. A Deſcription and Character of Governour Phips, 88.
Sect. 19. The Predictions of an Aſtrologer concerning Sir William. And the Event, 96.
Sect. 20. Governour Phips, as good as he was, yet met with ſome Enemies. They Article againſt Him at White-Hall. The King ſends for Him. He Sails to England where he meets with Favour, and was like to have ſoon returned Governour of New-England. But Dies at London, and is there Buried, and with Him, Great Hopes and Deſigns for the good of both Englands; ſome of which are recounted, 99.
Sect. 21. Some farther Things by way of Character and Elogy. A Poem upon his Death, 105.
THE Author of the following Narrative, is a Perſon of ſuch well known Integrity, Prudence and Veracity, that there is not any cauſe to Queſtion the Truth of what he here Relates. And moreover, this Writing of his is adorned with a very grateful Variety of Learning, and doth contain ſuch ſurprizing workings of Providence, as do well deſerve due Notice and Obſervation. On all which accounts, it is with juſt Confidence recommended to the Publick by
April 27. 1697.
Nath. Mather,
John Howe,
Matth. Mead.