Sentence:  For to be kind to the former is traffic ; and in these times men present, just as they <WSD>soil</WSD> their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop : and for the latter, the politician well approves of the Indian's religion, in worshiping the devil, that he may do him no hurt ; how much soever he hates him, and is hated by him. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.