148 their neighbours had an implicite faith in all their dictates and actions, insomuch that Sr. Thomas Hutchinson's single authority sway'd with many, more then all the greater names of the country. Bnt he at his death having devided, all things consider'd, his estate betwecnc the children of his two wives, though it be true the latter deserv'd more then they had, yett it is as true the first deserv;d not to be so much lessen'd as they were, and Mr. Hutehinson having bene knowne to be the most pious and obedient sonne, from his childhood, that ever any father was blest in, when it came to be knowne that his father had given away all that was in his power to ' give from him, those that had a greate reverence and esteeme for Sr. Thomas would not believe him so defective in iustice, to doe this without some secret cause, and therefore it was given out that he was displeas'd with his son's engagement, and for that cause clispos't! away so much of his estate from them, but that was not soc. Indeed at the t ime of his death the parliament's interest was so low that he might well looke upon them as lost persons, and so what he gave away to the unengaged infant he might well looke upon as all that could be preserv'd. Mr. I-Iutchinson had only an allowance from his father, while he lived, which was duely pay'd him, but assoone as he died all his estate was seiz'd b.f the enemie; who had so much desire not to iniure publickly a person so popular, that they• disturb'd not Sr. Thomas his tenants while he lived, though he continued with the parliament, and faithfull to their interest, because he was moderate, and one that applied all his endeavours to peace, which he did not out of pollicie, bnt out of conscience to his country, and a wise foresight of the sad consequences of a conquest by either side; for he hath often exprest, that accommodation was fiure more desireab le then warr, and he dreaded that the spiritts of those men would become most insolent after conquest who were so violently bent to prosecute a warre; that some of them, whom we have since kuown to he vile apostates, then profcst they abhorr'd
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