USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Germantown > The settlement of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and the beginning of German emigration to North America > Part 5
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Slavery.
Hincce Dei Jesu mei invoco clementiam,
Ut is Sursum, cordis cursum ducat ad essentiam, Trinitatis, quae beatis summam dat laetitiam.
The following letter is characteristic : " Dear Children, John, Samuel and Henry Pastorius: Though you are ( Germano sanguine nati) of high Dutch Parents, yet re- member that your father was Naturalized, and ye born in an English Colony, Consequently each of you Anglus Natus an Englishman by Birth. Therefore, it would be a shame for you if you should be ignorant of the English Tongue, the Tongue of your Countrymen ; but that you may learn the better I have left a Book for you both, and commend the same to your reiterated perusal. If you should not get much of the Latin, nevertheless read ye the English part oftentimes OVER AND OVER AND OVER. And I assure you that Semper aliquid haerebit. For the Drip- pings of the house-eaves in time make a hole in a hard stone. Non vi sed saepe cadendo, and it is very bad Cloath that by often dipping will take no Colour.
Lectio lecta placet, decies repetita placebit
Quod Natura negat vobis Industria praestet .- F. P. D."
The institution of slavery, which he saw in existence around him, called forth his earnest opposition, and at a time when in Massachusetts they were selling Indians, and white people of other creeds, to be sent to Barbados, and when even the Quakers had not yet given their testi- mony against the traffic in negroes, he wrote the famous protest of 1688. In German and English verse, not so well known, he said ;
Allermassen ungebührlich
Ist der Handel dieser Zeit,
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The Settlement of Germantown.
Dass ein Mensch so unnatürlich Andre drückt mit Dienstbarkeit. Ich möcht einen solchen Fragen Ob er wohl ein Sklav möcht sein, Ohne Zweifel wird er sagen : Ach, bewahr' mich Gott; nein, nein !
And also in English :
If in Christ's doctrine we abide, Then God is surely on our side, But if we Christ's precepts transgress, Negroes by slavery oppress And white ones grieve by usury, Two evils which to Heaven cry, We've neither God nor Christ His Son, But straightway travel hellwards on.
He was fond of his garden and of flowers and took de- light in the raising of bees, saying in his punning way that " Honey is money," and apparently found some re- laxation in the pursuit of Walton. Sometimes the loneli- ness of the woods oppressed him, and with the disappoint- ing sense that those who were to have been his companions had failed him, came the longing to see once more the familiar objects along the Rhine and his old home, but to a certain extent the presence of Lloyd was a recompense.
"'Twas he and William Penn that caused me to stay In this then uncouth land and howling wilderness Wherein I saw that I but little should possess ; And if I would return home to my father's house Perhaps great riches and preferments would espouse."
In Germantown he looked after the affairs of the Frank- fort Land Company until 1700, and not only did he never receive any compensation, but he finally, along with the
School. 63
rest, lost his lands. He kept the records of the Court, compiled the laws and ordinances, was bailiff of the borough when organized, a justice of the peace and County Judge, and a member of the Assembly in 1687 and 1691. As a means of gaining a livelihood he acted as a conveyancer and notary and wrote leases, mortgages, deeds, articles of agreement, wills, marriage certificates and other legal docu- ments and sometimes letters and translations. For a lease, bond or will he charged from two to three shillings ; for a deed on parchment from seven to nine shillings, and for a letter four pence. He wrote a plain flowing script and was very painstaking and careful about all of his work. Every- thing that he did, even the most prosy of labors, was en- livened with a certain quaint and learned humor. In open- ing an account with the Friends in his account book he solemnly credits them " in the first place with love." For the last twenty years of his life he also taught a school, and his Primer, of which but a single copy seems to be extant, was the first original school book printed in Pennsylvania.
In a letter still preserved acknowledging a note from Phineas Pemberton excusing the lateness of his daughters he commends " the good disposition of the two little ones " and says : " The very shadow of the rod will do more with them than the spur with others." The instruction cost from four to six pence per week. Among those who sent children to him to be taught were Lenert Arets, Benjamin Armitage, W. Baumann, Joseph Coulson, James De la Plaine, Wilhelm Dewees, Cornelius Dewees, Jan Doeden, Jan De Wilderness, Paul Engle, Jacob Gottschalk, Hans Graeff, Wilhelm Hosters, Richard Huggin, Dirck Jansen, Howell James, Conrad Jansen, Jurgen Jacobs, Tunes Kunders, Aret Klincken, Paul Kastner, Paul Kuster, Peter Keyser, Aret Kuster, Henrich Kassel, Peter Keurlis,
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The Settlement of Germantown.
Anthony Klincken, Jan Lucken, Jan Lensen, Anton Loof, Matthias Milan, Benjamin Morgan, Hans Heinrich Mehls, Jan Neus, Hans Neus, Thomas Potts, Jonas Potts, Samuel Richardson, Cunrad Rutter, Claus Rittinghuysen, Hen- drick Sellen, Wilhelm Strepers, Walter Simons, Peter Schumacher, George Schumacher, Isaac Schumacher, Richard Townsend, Abraham Tunes, Cornelius Tisen, Herman Tunes, Arnold Van Vossen, Isaac Van Sintern, Paul Wulff, Christian Warner and Christopher Witt.
After William Bradford, the printer, had quarreled with his Quaker friends and gone away to New York, in 1692, Pastorius thought seriously of starting a press and re- gretted his lack of knowledge of the art. His younger brother, Augustin Adam, had at that time in consideration the question of coming to Pennsylvania, and Pastorius wrote to him telling him before doing so to spend three months in a printing office.
When Dr. Griffith Owen died he wrote the following epitaph :
" What here of Griffith Owen lies Is only what of all men dies. His soul and spirit live above With God in pure and perfect love."
On the Ist of December, 1688, he wrote to his good friend, George Leonard Modeln, Rector of the School at Windsheim, upon the subject of the education of youth, and saying that each boy, according to his capacity, in addition to his instruction in letters, should be taught ligh? hand work, so that in case of need he could follow it in distant provinces and help himself in any part of the world without dissipating his patrimony, to the sorrow of his elders. " I myself would give one hundred rix dollars if the time I wasted upon learning the Sperling physic and metaphysics
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Would be a Printer.
Umftåndige Beogtar phifde Beffreibung Der su allerleft etulnochen Brovink PENSYLVA. NIÆ, In Denen End : Grången AMERICÆE In Der QBeft, QBelt gelegen] Durch FRANCISCUM DANIELEM PASTORIUM, J. V. Lic. und Friedens, Richtern Dafelbften. Borben angebendet find eini ge notable Begebenheiten / und Bericht Schreiben an defen Deren Battern MELCHIOREM ADAMUM PASTO- RIUM, Und andere gute Freunde.
Grandfurt und Leipzig! Bufinden ben Andreas Otto. 1700
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The Settlement of Germantown.
and other unnecessary sophistical argumentationes and ar- guitiones, I had devoted to engineer work or to book printing, which would have been useful and valuable to me and to my fellow Christians, rather than to Physics, Metaphysics and Aristotelian Elenchi and Sylochismi, by which no savage or heathen can be brought to God, much less a piece of bread can be made." This, however, was the ordinary quarrel of a man with his life and occupation. In the woods as he was, he could not desist from the writing of books. Seven of them were printed at the time.
I. His inaugural dissertation " De rasura documen- torum." Altdorff, 1676.
2. Zwey Stücke aus Philadelphia, 1684.
3. A work in German dedicated to Tobias Schumberg upon four subjects of ecclesiastical history : The lives of the Saints ; The Statutes of the Pontiffs ; The decisions of the Councils of the Church ; and the Bishops and Patriarchs of Constantinople ; with the pseudo imprint Germanopolis, 1690.
4. A circumstantial geographical description of the lately founded province of Pennsylvania. Frankfort, 1700.
5. A new Primmer or Methodical Direction to attain the True Spelling, Reading and Writing of English. New York, 1698.
6. Ein Send Brieff Offenhertziger Liebsbezeugung an die sogenannte Pietisten in Hoch Teutschland. Amster- dam, 1697.
7. Henry Bernhard Koster, William Davis, Thomas Rutter and Thomas Bowyer, four Boasting Disputers of this world Rebuked and Answered according to their folly, which they themselves have manifested in a late pamphlet entitled Advice for all Professors and Writers. New York, 1697.
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Pastorius as an Author.
FRANCISCI DANIELIS PASTORII Sommerhufano- Franci. Rurge Geographifche Befchreibung ber legtmahls erfundenen Americanifchen Sandfchafft
PENSYLVANIA,
Mit angehenatten einigen notablen Beges benheiten und Bericht: Schreiben an Defensorn. Battern / Patrioten und gute freunde.
Dorrede.
Gift denen Meinigen insgesamt gut Gnige befandt/ auf was Weife ich/ von meinen Rindesbeinen an / auf dem Wige diefer Seitlichteit meinen LebensLauff gegen die trobe Ewigteit zu/eins gerichtet/und in allem meinem Chun dabin ge: tradicet habe/ tore ich Sen allein guten Willen BØttesertennen / feine hohe 2lumache furdi): en / und feine unergrundliche Gute lieben ley's nen mochte. lind obmoblen ich · nebft andern gemeinen Wifenfchafften det freyen Runftel Das Studium Juris feliciter abfolviret / Sie jtas Hanifchy und frangofifche Sprachen exfunda- mento begriffen / auch den fo genannten grof fen Tour durch die Landfcbaffren getban / fo habe ich jedoch an allen Orten und Enden meus nen groffeften fleiß und Bemühung an anders nichts gewendet/als eigentlich) zuerfahren/ivo 24 doch
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The Settlement of Germantown.
timftåndige Geographische gef reibung
Der tu allerlent erfundenen iscobink PENSYLVA- NIÆ, In Denen End: Grånten AMERICÆ In der Beft . Belt gelegen Durch FRANCISCUM DANIELEM PASTORIUM, J. V. Lic. and Briebens : Miditeen Dafelbften. Worben angebendet find einige no- table Begebenheiten/ und Bericht: Schreiben an Deffen herrn Battern MELCHIOREM ADAMUM PASTORIUM, Und andere gute Freunde.
Srandfire und Leipzig/ Bufinden ben Andreas Otto. 1704.
69
Pastorius as an Author.
Sofer Fleine Doch ungememe Und febr nunliche ractatlein
De omnium Sanctorum Vitis I. Deomnium Pontificum Statutis Il. De Conciliorum Decifionibus V. De Epifcopis & Patriarchis Conftane tinopolitanis. Dns ift : 1. Don Zuler Seiligen Lebens übung
.. Don Eller DEpfte Gefen : Einführung
3. Don der Concilien Stritt:Sopirung.
1. Don denen Bifcboffen und Patriarchen su Conftantinopel. Bum Grunde Der funfftighin noch ferner Darauf su bauen Borhabender Warheit præmittiret, Durch FRANCISCUM DANIELEM. PASTORIUN. J. U. L. Mus der In Penfolvania neulichft von mir in Grund angelegten /, und nun mit gutem Succefs aufgehenben Ctabt: GERMANOPOLI Anno Cbrifi M. DC. XC.
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The Settlement of Germantown.
Surge Sefihreibung Des S. A. Reid's Stadt indsBeim/ Samt Dero vielfältigen Ungludes fallen! und wahrhaftigen Urfachen ihrer fo grofs fen Decaden; und Erbarmungs: four's Digen Buftandes / Mus Miten glaubtoutdigen Documentis und Briefflichen Urfunden ( Der ino lebenden lieben Burgerfchaft / und Dero Rachtommen / zu gutes nachricht) alfo fufammen getragen / und in Den Drud gegeben
Melchiorem Adamum Paftorium, altern Burgemeiftern und Dbet: Rich tern in befagter Stadt.
Bebrudt zu nurnberg ben Chriftian Sigmund Broberg. Im Jahr Chrifti 1692.
71
Pastorius as an Author.
Fin
en-Brieff
Dffenbergiger Liebsbezeugung an die fo genannte Pietilten in Socha Seutfchland.
Bekrudt vor Jacob Elaus Burphandler / 1697.
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The Settlement of Germantown.
Henry Bernhard Koffer, William Davis, Thomas Rutter & Thomas Borger, FOUR Boalting Difputers Of this World briefly REBUKED,
And Answered according to their Folly, which they themselves have manifelted in a late Pamphlet, entiteled, Advice for all Pro- fefors and Writers.
Francis Daniel Poflorius.
Printed and Sold by William Bradford at the Bible in New.York, 1697,
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Pastorius Manuscripts.
In addition to these he left forty-three works in manu- script, two of which, supposed to have been lost, are now printed in this volume. Many, no doubt, will never be re- covered, but we have a catalogue of their titles.
I. Alvearium or Bee Hive, a large encyclopaedia of such matters as he thought necessary for the information of his children. 2. Academische Spar Stunden. 3. Mis- cellanica Theologica et Moralia. 4. Formulae Solennes, or several forms of such writings as are vulgarly in use. 5. Confusanea Geometria, oder einfältiger Unterricht vom Landmessen. 6. A breviary of Arithmetic. 7. Lingua . Anglicana or some Miscellaneous Remarks concerning the English Language. 8. Lingua Latina or Grammatical Rudiments. 9. Emblematical Recreations. 10. Semel insanivimus omnes oder Poetische Einfalle. II. A col- lection of some English Manuscripts. 12. A collection of English Hymns alphabetically digested. 13. The Young Country Clerk. 14. Pennsylvanische Gesetze and Ger- mantown Statutes. 15. Deliciae hortenses et voluptates apianae. 16. Itinerarium oder Reisebeschreibung. 17. Liber Epitaphiorum. 18. Phraseologia Teutonica. Krafft und Safft der Teutschen Helden-Sprach. 19. Miscellanea Prima oder Academischer Spar Stunden Vorläufer. 20. Medicus Dilectus oder Artzney Büchlein. 21. Oeconomia oder Haushaltungs reguln. 22. Theologica Anglicana, in grunem Pergament eingebunden. 23. Melligo Sententia Latine. 24. Calendarium Calendariorum or a perpetual Almanack. 25. Onomastical Considerations. 26. Vade- mecum, or the Christian Scholars pocket book. 27. Nec tutus piscis ab Anglo; or a few observations concerning angling with several tracts on husbandry. 28. Mecum liber ibis etc or Exemplified Rules of Arithmetic and Rhythmical and Proverbial Copies. 29. The Good Order
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The Settlement of Germantown.
and Discipline of the Church of Christ. 30. The Monthly Monitor, or my first born son of Husbanderia. 31. Bernh. P .- Catechism, Englished by me. 32. Aviarium oder Bienenbüchlein, 33. Wm. Penn's Fruchte der Einsamkeit von mir verteutscht. 34. English Rhymes. 35. Alvear- ialia. 36. Private Annotations. 37. A Fascicle of Sev- eral Manuscripts. 38. Additamenta ad Fennés Gram- maticam Gallicam. 39. Additamenta ad Caffae Gram. Italicam. 40. Additamenta to the Writing Scholar's Com- panion. 41. Latinae primordia Linguae. 42. Law terms added to the Compleat Justice. 43. Anhang zu Tim Koll's. Gartenbüchlein.
In 1713, while confined to bed with a serious illness, he wrote a lively description of his difficulties with Sprogell and Falkner over the lands of the Frankfort Land Com- pany, which he evidently intended to print, and which first appeared, after the lapse of two hundred years, in my Penn- sylvania Colonial Cases. It is here reproduced as a part of the history of Germantown and as an illustration of his. style in English composition.
EXEMPLUM SINE EXEMPLO; Or
(to borrow the Discription of one of John Wilson's Plays) The CHEATS and the PROJECTORS.
I, Francis Daniel Pastorius, having formerly (towit these 28 years past) by Doctor Schutz & other honest men in high Germany, (Purchasers of 25000 acres of land in this Province of Pennsylvania, and known by the name of the Francfort Company) been made & Constituted their At- torney, and still being concerned as Copartner with them,. to clear my Conscience (as touching the administration of their sd estate) before all People to whom the reading
THE SETTLEMENT OF GERMANTOWN.
SEAL OF PASTORIUS. ENLARGED. FROM A CONTEMPORARY DEED IN THE COLLECTION OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
75
The Cheats and the Projectors.
hereof may come, as I always endeavoured to keep the same void of offence towards the all seeing Eyes of God, am, if it were, constrained to publish their short relation for as much as the aforesd Francfort Company is at present ejected out of their 25000 acres of land, summo jure, i, e, summa Injuria, by extreme right, extreme wrong. Now Intending Brevity, I shall let my Reader know that the sd Company being all persons of approved Integrity & learn- ing became, at least some of them, personally acquainted with our Worthy Proprietary & Governr. William Penn, and purchased of him at a full rate the abovementioned 25000 acres, & in the very infancy of this Province dis- bursed large sums of money for the transporting of Ser- vants Tenants and others; and that I, according to the best of my poor ability, (as many of the primitive Inhabitants & settlers yet surviving Swedes Dutch and English may testify) administered their affairs 17 years and a half. But conscious of my weakness, have often requested them to disburden me of this Load of theirs I took on my Shoulders by their frequent assurance to be behind my heels into this Countrey as soon as the Ice was broken. Whereupon the heirs of the sd first purchasers did appoint in my room Daniel Falkner, John Kelpius, & John Jawert, N B to act JOINTLY and not SEVERALLY. However when the sd John Kelpius had a forecast in what channel things would run he with all speed in a certain Instrument (of George Lowther's device who was the first Lawyer that unhappily got an hand into the Companies business) de- clared his Unwillingness to be any further concerned therein, and therefore termed Civiliter Mortuus. Then Daniel Falkner & John Jawert acted in the dual number as the sd Companies Attornies for some few years.
For the sd Jawert being married and settled in Marie- land, Falkner turned into such a spendthrift and Ever- drunk-Ever-dry that he made Bonefires of the Companies flax in open street at Germantown, giving a bit of silver money to one Lad for lighting his Tobacco-pipe, and a piece of eight to another for showing him a house in Phila- delphia, which in his sober fits he knew as well as his own.
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The Settlement of Germantown.
Hereupon his Joint-Attorney John Jawert affixed an ADVER- TISEMENT at the Meeting house of Germantown aforesd, dated the 9th of November 1705, wherein he forewarned all persons who had any Rent or other Debt to pay unto the sd Company to forbear the paying thereof &c. And all was asleep, as Dormice do in winter, till about two years agoe, one John Henry Sprogel arrived in this Prov- ince, who being HE, that by the Collusion and treachery of the sd Daniel Falkner, by the wicked assistance of the Pro- jectors to be hereafter to be spoken of, has through I know not what Fiction of the Law Ejected the sd Company out of their real estate of 25000 acres, I think it not amiss to give some little account of him. His parents I hear are of a good report and to be pittied for such a Scandal to their Family. This Degenerate and Prodigal Child came for the first time into this Province in anno 1700, and quickly owing more than he was worth, went over to his native land in order to procure some cash of his Father whom he said to be a rich Bishop on that side. In his return he was taken by the French & carried to Dunkerk, whence he escaped with an empty Brigantine into Holland, and by the (now repented of) Recommendation of Benjamin Furly & his Bookkeeper, H. L., found so much Credit with John Van der Gaegh, Merchant at Rotterdam & others as to bee Intrusted with a deal of goods. After he departed out of harms way in that country, and could not be found when search'd for, in England, he came at last to Philada and there took his oath (as I am credibly in- formed) that all the said goods were his own directly or indirectly. Some of the Germantown people then visiting this their great Countryman and inquiring for letters were looked upon as Slaves, he being the only Anglified in all the Province of Pennsilvania. Howbeit none of us all (I beleeve) will ever have such a base and disloyal heart towards our Soveraign Lady the Queen of Great Britain as to get his Naturalization by the like disingenuous knack as he did, viz. :- to borrow a key & wear another man's coat as though it were his own &c.
But to return to the Francfort Companies Concern, he
77
The Cheats and the Projectors.
the aforesd John Henry Sprogel having along with him a Letter of Attorney from the sd Benjamin Furly ( after- wards though post festum revoked ) sold 1000 acres of land, part of the sd Furly's purchase in this Province, unto David Lloyd at a reasonable price so as to have his Irrea- sonable advice in Law for the most unjust Entry upon the Companies land. For he the sd Sprogel, finding no means to satisfy his Old and Just Debts, was forced to find a new and untrodden way of Clearing his Scores, and to play the Gentleman sprung out of a Grocer's Shop. Therefore among a Swarm of tedious lies (wherewith I dare not trouble the Reader) he also spread this, that he stroke a bargain for the Companies land with Doctor Gerhard van Mastricht, one of Copartners, of whom I but newly re- ceived an extreme kind Letter to the clean Contrary thereof. Moreover the sd Sprogel to pacify the above- mentioned John Jawert, who likewise had a share in the sd Company, proffered unto him 700 Pounds Pennsilvania Silver money for the land, and 100 Pounds besides as a Gratuity to himself &c. But he the sd Jawert being too honest for an Imposture and Bribe of this black stamp, Sprogel was driven to that Extremity (hap what may and let Frost & Fraud have hereafter as foul ends as they will) that he must now obtain the 25000 Acres & Arrears of Quitrents due to the Francfort Company solely & alone of Daniel Falkner, who plunged in needlessly contracted debts over head & ears, could expect no gladder tidings (as he said himself ) than the same Proffer made unto him.
Here David Lloyd (whom to name again I am almost ashamed) comes in very gingerly to play his Roll FIC- TIONEM JURIS AD REIPSA DETRUDENDOS VEROS POSSESSORES, the which nevertheless it seems he was not bold-faced enough to do in his proper Clothes, but one Tho : Macknamara a Lawyer, if it were, started up for the purpose out of Marieland, (for a couple of Peri- wigs which he himself told me was all the Fee he had of this his brave Client for blushing in this Case) must be Nominally inserted in the Ejectment, lending like once the Cat her Paws to a more Crafty Creature for the drawing
78.
The Settlement of Germantown.
of the rosted Chestnuts from off the glowing coals. If any demand how this D-L163 and Macknamara could possibly in so horrible a manner Circumvent the County Court, I suppose the fittest Answer I can Give to this Question is what Judge Grouden declared before our honourable Lieu- tenant Governor sitting in Council, viz : that at the tail of the Court Daniel Falkner and John Henry Sprogel did ap- pear and the aforenamed d-ll and M. laid the matter before the Court, and none there to object anything &c (For this cheating trick was managed so Clandestinely that I and John Jawert were altogether ignorant thereof and when Tho : Clark the Queen's Attorney then present in Court did but rise, the others suspecting he might say somewhat in Obstruction of their hainous design, was gently pull'd down by the Sleeve and promised 40 shillings to be quiet, when he had nothing to offer) Thus they Surprised the Court and ob-et-subreptitie compassed the ejectment. Three days after the breaking up of the afresd Court I heard of this unhandsom Juggle and gave Intelli- gence thereof to John Jawert, who forthwith came up and putt in his Humble Bequest to our well respected Lieuten- ant Govrnr and his honble Council, we had the sd Tho : Clark assigned to pleade our Cause and so Jawert paid him a Fee of ten Pounds, but to this day the sd Sprogel still stirs his stumps in the Companies lands & Rents with- out the least controlment. Since all this there arrived divers letters from beyond the Sea, deciphering pretty fully abundance of the detestable gulleries whereby the sd Sprogel ensnared & trepan'd the Simplicity of upright & Plaindealing people in Holland, admonishing him not to persist in his Evildoings but to Confess and make repara- tion to the defrauded, if not fourfold as penitent Zaccheus did, yet so far as his ill gotten griff-graff gains would reach &c &c. And further there came also fresh Letters of Attorney from all the Partners of the Francfort Com- pany, Living in Germany, Impowering some very able Men in Philada to redress their so horribly distressed Es-
63 To ensure its not being overlooked, I call attention to this pun upon the names of David Lloyd and the Devil.
79
Death of Pastorius.
tate in this Province by one worse than the worst Land- Pirate in the world could have done, the which I hope they will undertake and heartily wish, that the LORD (who is called a Father to the Fatherless and a Judge of the Widows, whereof there are at this instant several in the abovesd Company) may prosper their just Proceedings, and all, who reverence Righteousness and Equity counte- nance them therein, and not be partakers of the Spoil, nor of the Curse entailed thereon with the aforesd John Henry Sprogel, for whom notwithstanding the foreign discovery of his unheard of Villanies I retain that sincere Love as to pray God Almighty to Convict & Convert him of & from his Perverseness, that he may foresake his diabolical lies, pride, bragging and boasting, and not longer continue the Vassal of Satan and heir of Hell, but become a child of Heaven and a follower of Christ, our ever-blessed Saviour, who as he is truth itself so likewise meek and lowly in heart, leading out of all cozening Practices into the way of holiness and eternal Felicity.
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