Of Plymouth Plantation · William Bradford
M^r. Winslow was very wellcome to them in England, and y^e more in regard of y^e large returne he brought with him, which came all safe to their hands, and was well sould. And he was borne in hand, (at least he so apprehended,) that all accounts should be cleared before his returne, and all former differences ther aboute well setled. And so he writ over to them hear, that he hoped to cleare y^e accounts, and bring them over with him; and y^t the accounte of y^e White Angele would be taken of, and all things fairly ended. But it came to pass that, being occasioned to answer some complaints made against the countrie at Counsell bord, more cheefly concerning their neigbours in y^e Bay then them selves hear, the which he did to good effecte, and further prosecuting such things as might tend to y^e good of y^e whole, as well them selves as others, aboute y^e wrongs and incroachments that the French & other strangers both had and were like further to doe unto them, if not prevented, he prefered this petition following to their Hon^rs that were deputed Comissioners for y^e Plantations.
To y^e right honorable y^e Lords Comissioners for y^e Plantations in America.
The humble petition of Edw: Winslow, on y^e behalfe of y^e plantations in New-England,
Humbly sheweth unto your Lordships, y^t wheras your petitioners have planted them selves in New England under his Ma^tis most gratious protection; now so it is, right Hon^bl, that y^e French & Dutch doe indeaouer to devide y^e land betweene them; for which purpose y^e French have, on y^e east side, entered and seased upon one of our houses, and carried away the goods, slew 2. of y^e men in another place, and tooke y^e rest prisoners with their goods. And y^e Dutch, on y^e west, have also made entrie upon Conigtecute River, within y^e limits of his Maj^ts lrs patent, where they have raised a forte, and threaten to expell your petitioners thence, who are also planted upon y^e same river, maintaining possession for his Ma^tie to their great charge, & hazard both of lives & goods.
In tender consideration hereof your petitioners humbly pray that your Lo^pps will either procure their peace w^th those foraine states, or else to give spetiall warrante unto your petitioners and y^e English Collonies, to right and defend them selves against all foraigne enimies. And your petitioners shall pray, &c.
This petition found good acceptation with most of them, and Mr. Winslow was heard sundry times by them, and appointed further to attend for an answer from their Lo^pps, espetially, having upon conferance with them laid downe a way how this might be doone without any either charge or trouble to y^e state; only by furnishing some of y^e cheefe of y^e cuntry hear with authoritie, who would undertake it at their owne charge, and in such a way as should be without any publick disturbance. But this crossed both S^r Ferdinandos Gorges' & Cap: Masons designe, and y^e arch-bishop of Counterberies by them; for S^r Ferd: Gorges (by y^e arch-pps favore) was to have been sent over generall Gov^r into y^e countrie, and to have had means from y^e state for y^t end, and was now upon dispatch and conclude of y^e bussines. And y^e arch-bishops purposs & intente was, by his means, & some he should send with him, (to be furnished with Episcopall power,) to disturbe y^e peace of y^e churches here, and to overthrow their proceedings and further growth, which was y^e thing he aimed at. But it so fell out (by Gods providence) that though he in y^e end crost this petition from taking any further effecte in this kind, yet by this as a cheefe means the plotte and whole bussines of his & S^r Ferdinandos fell to y^e ground, and came to nothing. When M^r. Winslow should have had his suit granted, (as indeed upon y^e pointe it was,) and should have been confirmed, the arch-bishop put a stop upon it, and M^r. Winslow, thinking to gett it freed, went to y^e bord againe; but y^e bishop, S^r Ferd: and Captine Masson, had, as it seemes, procured Morton (of whom mention is made before, & his base carriage) to complaine; to whose complaints M^r. Winslow made answer to y^e good satisfaction of y^e borde, who checked Morton and rebuked him sharply, & allso blamed S^r Fer^d Gorges, & Masson, for countenancing him. But y^e bish: had a further end & use of his presence, for he now begane to question M^r. Winslow of many things; as of teaching in y^e church publickly, of which Morton accused him, and gave evidence that he had seen and heard him doe it; to which M^r. Winslow answered, that some time (wanting a minster) he did exercise his gifte to help y^e edification of his breethren, when they wanted better means, w^ch was not often. Then aboute mariage, the which he also confessed, that, haveing been called to place of magistracie, he had sometimes maried some. And further tould their lord^ps y^t mariage was a civille thinge, & he found no wher in y^e word of God y^t it was tyed to ministrie. Again, they were necessitated so to doe, having for a long time togeather at first no minister; besids, it was no new-thing, for he had been so maried him selfe in Holand, by y^e magistrats in their Statt-house. But in y^e end (to be short), for these things, y^e bishop, by vemente importunity, gott y^e bord at last to consente to his comittemente; so he was comited to y^e Fleete, and lay ther 17. weeks, or ther aboute, before he could gett to be released. And this was y^e end of this petition, and this bussines; only y^e others designe was also frustrated hereby, with other things concurring, which was no smalle blessing to y^e people here.
But y^e charge fell heavie on them hear, not only in M^r. Winslows expences, (which could not be smale,) but by y^e hinderance of their bussines both ther and hear, by his personall imploymente. For though this was as much or more for others then for them hear, and by them cheefly he was put on this bussines, (for the plantation keewe nothing of it till they heard of his imprisonmente,) yet y^e whole charge lay on them.
Now for their owne bussines; whatsoever M^r. Sherleys mind was before, (or M^r. Winslow apprehension of y^e same,) he now declared him selfe plainly, that he would neither take of y^e White-Angell from y^e accounte, nor give any further accounte, till he had received more into his hands; only a prety good supply of goods were sent over, but of y^e most, no note of their prises, or so orderly an invoyce as formerly; which M^r. Winslow said he could not help, because of his restrainte. Only now M^r. Sherley & M^r. Beachamp & M^r. Andrews sent over a letter of atturney under their hands & seals, to recovere what they could of M^r. Allerton for y^e Angells accounte; but sent them neither y^e bonds, nor covenants, or such other evidence or accounts, as they had aboute these matters. I shall here inserte a few passages out of M^r. Sherleys letters aboute these things.
Your leter of y^e 22. of July, 1634, by your trustie and our loving friend M^r. Winslow, I have received, and your larg parcell of beaver and otter skines. Blessed be our God, both he and it came safly to us, and we have sould it in tow parcells; y^e skin at 14^s. li. & some at 16.; y^e coate at 20^s. y^e pound. The accounts I have not sent you them this year, I will referr you to M^r. Winslow to tell you y^e reason of it; yet be assured y^t none of you shall suffer by y^e not having of them, if God spare me life. And wheras you say y^e 6. years are expired y^t y^e peopl put y^e trad into your & our hands for, for y^e discharge of y^t great debte w^ch M^r. Allerton needlesly & unadvisedly ran you & us into; yet it was promised it should continue till our disbursments & ingagements were satisfied. You conceive it is done; we feele & know other wise, &c. I doubt not but we shall lovingly agree, notwithstanding all y^t hath been writen, on boath sids, aboute y^e Whit-Angell. We have now sent you a letter of atturney, therby giving you power in our names (and to shadow it y^e more we say for our uses) to obtaine what may be of M^r. Allerton towards y^e satisfing of that great charge of y^e White Angell. And sure he hath bound him selfe, (though at present I cannot find it,) but he hath often affirmed, with great protestations, y^t neither you nor we should lose a peny by him, and I hope you shall find enough to discharg it, so as we shall have no more contesting aboute it. Yet, notwithstanding his unnaturall & unkind dealing with you, in y^e midest of justice remember mercie, and doe not all you may doe, &c. Set us out of debte, and then let us recone & reason togeither, &c. M^r. Winslow hath undergone an unkind imprisonment, but I am perswaded it will turne much to all your good. I leave him to relate perticuleres, &c.
Your loving freind, JAMES SHERLEY.
London, Sep: 7. 1635.
This year they sustained an other great loss from y^e French. Monsier de Aulnay coming into y^e harbore of Penobscote, and having before gott some of y^e cheefe y^t belonged to y^e house abord his vessell, by sutlty coming upon them in their shalop, he gott them to pilote him in; and after getting y^e rest into his power, he tooke possession of y^e house in y^e name of y^e king of France; and partly by threatening, & other wise, made Mr. Willett (their agente ther) to approve of y^e sale of y^e goods their unto him, of which he sett y^e price him selfe in effecte, and made an inventory therof, (yett leaving out sundry things,) but made no paymente for them; but tould them in convenient time he would doe it if they came for it. For y^e house & fortification, &c. he would not alow, nor accounte any thing, saing that they which build on another mans ground doe forfite y^e same. So thus turning them out of all, (with a great deale of complemente, and many fine words,) he let them have their shalop and some victualls to bring them home. Coming home and relating all the passages, they here were much troubled at it, & haveing had this house robbed by y^e French once before, and lost then above 500^li. (as is before remembred), and now to loose house & all, did much move them. So as they resolved to consulte with their freinds in y^e Bay, and if y^ey approved of it, (ther being now many ships ther,) they intended to hire a ship of force, and seeke to beat out y^e Frenche, and recover it againe. Ther course was well approved on, if them selves could bear y^e charge; so they hired a fair ship of above 300. tune, well fitted with ordnance, and agreed with y^e m^r. (one Girling) to this effect: that he and his company should deliver them y^e house, (after they had driven out, or surprised y^e French,) and give them peacable possession therof, and of all such trading comodities as should ther be found; and give y^e French fair quarter & usage, if they would yeeld. In consideration wherof he was to have 700^li. of beaver, to be delivered him ther, when he had done y^e thing; but if he did not accomplish it, he was to loose his labour, and have nothing. With him they also sent their owne bark, and about 20. men, with Captaine Standish, to aide him (if neede weer), and to order things, if the house was regained; and then to pay him y^e beaver, which they keept abord their owne barke. So they with their bark piloted him thither, and brought him safe into y^e harbor. But he was so rash & heady as he would take no advice, nor would suffer Captaine Standish to have time to summone them, (who had commission & order so to doe,) neither would doe it him selfe; the which, it was like, if it had been done, & they come to affaire parley, seeing their force, they would have yeelded. Neither would he have patience to bring his ship wher she might doe execution, but begane to shoot at distance like a madd man, and did them no hurte at all; the which when those of y^e plantation saw, they were much greeved, and went to him & tould him he would doe no good if he did not lay his ship beter to pass (for she might lye within pistoll shott of y^e house). At last, when he saw his owne folly, he was perswaded, and layed her well, and bestowed a few shott to good purposs. But now, when he was in a way to doe some good, his powder was goone; for though he had ... peece of ordnance, it did now appeare he had but a barrell of powder, and a peece; so he could doe no good, but was faine to draw of againe; by which means y^e enterprise was made frustrate, and y^e French incouraged; for all y^e while that he shot so unadvisedly, they lay close under a worke of earth, & let him consume him selfe. He advised with y^e Captaine how he might be supplyed with powder, for he had not to carie him home; so he tould him he would goe to y^e next plantation, and doe his indeour to procure him some, and so did; but understanding, by intelligence, that he intended to ceiase on y^e barke, & surprise y^e beaver, he sent him the powder, and brought y^e barke & beaver home. But Girling never assualted y^e place more, (seeing him selfe disapoyented,) but went his way; and this was y^e end of this bussines.
Upon y^e ill success of this bussines, the Gov^r and Assistants here by their leters certified their freinds in y^e Bay, how by this ship they had been abused and disapoynted, and y^t the French partly had, and were now likly to fortifie them selves more strongly, and likly to become ill neigbours to y^e English. Upon this they thus writ to them as folloeth:--
Worthy S^rs: Upon y^e reading of your leters, & consideration of y^e waightines of y^e cause therin mentioned, the courte hath joyntly expressed their willingnes to assist you with men & munition, for y^e accomplishing of your desires upon y^e French. But because here are none of yours y^t have authority to conclude of any thing herein, nothing can be done by us for y^e presente. We desire, therfore, that you would with all conveniente speed send some man of trust, furnished with instructions from your selves, to make such agreemente with us about this bussines as may be usefull for you, and equall for us. So in hast we commite you to God, and remaine
Your assured loving freinds,
JOHN HAYNES, Gov^r. RI: BELLINGHAM, Dep. JO: WINTHROP. THO: DUDLEY. JO: HUMFRAY. W^M: CODDINGTON. W^M: PINCHON. ATHERTON HOUGHE. INCREAS NOWELL. RIC: DUMER. SIMON BRADSTRETE.
New-towne, Octo^r 9. 1635.
Upon the receite of y^e above mentioned, they presently deputed 2. of theirs to treate with them, giving them full power to conclude, according to the instructions they gave them, being to this purposs: that if they would afford such assistance as, togeather with their owne, was like to effecte the thing, and allso bear a considerable parte of y^e charge, they would goe on; if not, they (having lost so much allready) should not be able, but must desiste, and waite further opportunitie as God should give, to help them selves. But this came to nothing, for when it came to y^e issue, they would be at no charge, but sente them this letter, and referd them more at large to their owne messengers.
S^r: Having, upon y^e consideration of your letter, with y^e message you sente, had some serious consultations aboute y^e great importance of your bussines with y^e French, we gave our answer to those whom you deputed to conferr w^th us aboute y^e viage to Penobscote. We shewed our willingnes to help, but withall we declared our presente condition, & in what state we were, for our abilitie to help; which we for our parts shall be willing to improve, to procure you sufficiente supply of men & munition. But for matter of moneys we have no authority at all to promise, and if we should, we should rather disapoynte you, then incourage you by y^t help, which we are not able to performe. We likewise thought it fitt to take y^e help of other Esterne plantations; but those things we leave to your owne wisdomes. And for other things we refer you to your owne committies, who are able to relate all y^e passages more at large. We salute you, & wish you all good success in y^e Lord.
Your faithfull & loving friend, RI: BELLINGHAM, Dep: In y^e name of the rest of the Comities.
Boston, Octob^r 16. 1635.
This thing did not only thus breake of, but some of their merchants shortly after sent to trad with them, and furnished them both with provissions, & poweder & shott; and so have continued to doe till this day, as they have seen opportunitie for their profite. So as in truth y^e English them selves have been the cheefest supporters of these French; for besids these, the plantation at Pemaquid (which lyes near unto them) doth not only supply them with what y^ey wante, but gives them continuall intelligence of all things that passes among y^e English, (espetially some of them,) so as it is no marvell though they still grow, & incroach more & more upon y^e English, and fill y^e Indeans with gunes & munishtion, to y^e great deanger of y^e English, who lye open & unfortified, living upon husbandrie; and y^e other closed up in their forts, well fortified, and live upon trade, in good securitie. If these things be not looked too, and remeady provided in time, it may easily be conjectured what they may come toe; but I leave them.
This year, y^e 14. or 15. of August (being Saturday) was such a mighty storme of wind & raine, as none living in these parts, either English or Indeans, ever saw. Being like (for y^e time it continued) to those Hauricanes and Tuffons that writers make mention of in y^e Indeas. It began in y^e morning, a litle before day, and grue not by degrees, but came with violence in y^e begining, to y^e great amasmente of many. It blew downe sundry houses, & uncovered others; diverce vessells were lost at sea, and many more in extreme danger. It caused y^e sea to swell (to y^e southward of this place) above 20. foote, right up & downe, and made many of the Indeans to clime into trees for their saftie; it tooke of y^e borded roofe of a house which belonged to the plantation at Manamet, and floted it to another place, the posts still standing in y^e ground; and if it had continued long without y^e shifting of y^e wind, it is like it would have drouned some parte of y^e cuntrie. It blew downe many hundered thowsands of trees, turning up the stronger by the roots, and breaking the hiegher pine trees of in the midle, and y^e tall yonge oaks & walnut trees of good biggnes were wound like a withe, very strang & fearfull to behould. It begane in y^e southeast, and parted toward y^e south & east, and vered sundry ways; but y^e greatest force of it here was from y^e former quarters. It continued not (in y^e extremitie) above 5. or 6. houers, but y^e violence begane to abate. The signes and marks of it will remaine this 100. years in these parts wher it was sorest. The moone suffered a great eclips the 2. night after it.
Some of their neighbours in y^e Bay, hereing of y^e fame of Conightecute River, had a hankering mind after it, (as was before noted,) and now understanding that y^e Indeans were swepte away with y^e late great mortalitie, the fear of whom was an obstacle unto them before, which being now taken away, they begane now to prosecute it with great egernes. The greatest differances fell betweene those of Dorchester plantation and them hear; for they set their minde on that place, which they had not only purchased of y^e Indeans, but wher they had builte; intending only (if they could not remove them) that they should have but a smale moyety left to y^e house, as to a single family; whose doings and proceedings were conceived to be very injurious, to attempte not only to intrude them selves into y^e rights & possessions of others, but in effect to thrust them out of all. Many were y^e leters & passages that went betweene them hear aboute, which would be to long here to relate.
I shall here first inserte a few lines that was write by their own agente from thence.
S^r: &c. Y^e Masschuset men are coming almost dayly, some by water, & some by land, who are not yet determined wher to setle, though some have a great mind to y^e place we are upon, and which was last bought. Many of them look at that which this river will not afford, excepte it be at this place which we have, namly, to be a great towne, and have comodious dwellings for many togeather. So as what they will doe I cannot yet resolve you; for this place ther is none of them say any thing to me, but what I hear from their servants (by whom I perceive their minds). I shall doe what I can to withstand them. I hope they will hear reason; as that we were here first, and entred with much difficulty and danger, both in regard of y^e Dutch & Indeans, and bought y^e land, (to your great charge, allready disbursed,) and have since held here a chargable possession, and kept y^e Dutch from further incroaching, which would els long before this day have possessed all, and kept out all others, &c. I hope these & such like arguments will stoppe them. It was your will we should use their persons & messengers kindly, & so we have done, and doe dayly, to your great charge; for y^e first company had well nie starved had it not been for this house, for want of victuals; I being forced to supply 12. men for 9. days togeather; and those which came last, I entertained the best we could, helping both them (& y^e other) with canows, & guids. They gott me to goe with them to y^e Dutch, to see if I could procure some of them to have quiet setling nere them; but they did peremtorily withstand them. But this later company did not once speak therof, &c. Also I gave their goods house roome according to their ernest request, and M^r. Pinchons letter in their behalfe (which I thought good to send you, here inclosed). And what trouble & charge I shall be further at I know not; for they are comming dayly, and I expecte these back againe from below, whither they are gone to veiw y^e countrie. All which trouble & charg we under goe for their occasion, may give us just cause (in y^e judgmente of all wise & understanding men) to hold and keep that we are setled upon. Thus with my duty remembred, &c. I rest
Yours to be comanded JOHNNATH[=A] BREWSTER.
Matianuck, July 6. 1635.
Amongst y^e many agitations that pased betweene them, I shal note a few out of their last letters, & for y^e present omitte y^e rest, except upon other occasion I may have fitter opportunity. After their thorrow veiw of y^e place, they began to pitch them selves upon their land & near their house; which occasioned much expostulation betweene them. Some of which are such as follow.
Brethren, having latly sent 2. of our body unto you, to agitate & bring to an issue some maters in difference betweene us, about some lands at Conightecutt, unto which you lay challeng; upon which God by his providence cast us, and as we conceive in a faire way of providence tendered it to us, as a meete place to receive our body, now upon removall.
We shall not need to answer all y^e passages of your larg letter, &c. But wheras you say God in his providence cast you, &c., we tould you before, and (upon this occasion) must now tell you still, that our mind is other wise, and y^t you cast rather a partiall, if not a covetous eye, upon that w^ch is your neigbours, and not yours; and in so doing, your way could not be faire unto it. Looke y^t you abuse not Gods providence in such allegations.
Theirs.
Now allbeite we at first judged y^e place so free y^t we might with Gods good leave take & use it, without just offence to any man, it being the Lords wast, and for y^e presente altogeather voyd of inhabitants, that indeede minded y^e imploymente therof, to y^e right ends for which land was created, Gen: 1. 28. and for future intentions of any, & uncertaine possibilities of this or that to be done by any, we judging them (in such a case as ours espetialy) not meete to be equalled with presente actions (such as ours was) much less worthy to be prefered before them; and therfore did we make some weake beginings in that good worke, in y^e place afforesaid.
Ans: Their answer was to this effecte. That if it was y^e Lords wast, it was them selves that found it so, & not they; and have since bought it of y^e right oweners, and maintained a chargable possession upon it al this while, as them selves could not but know. And because of present ingagments and other hinderances which lay at presente upon them, must it therfore be lawfull for them to goe and take it from them? It was well known that they are upon a barren place, wher they were by necessitie cast; and neither they nor theirs could longe continue upon y^e same; and why should they (because they were more ready, & more able at presente) goe and deprive them of that which they had w^th charg & hazard provided, & intended to remove to, as soone as they could & were able?
They had another passage in their letter; they had rather have to doe with the lords in England, to whom (as they heard it reported) some of them should say that they had rather give up their right to them, (if they must part with it,) then to y^e church of Dorchester, &c. And that they should be less fearfull to offend y^e lords, then they were them.
Answer: Their answer was, that what soever they had heard, (more then was true,) yet y^e case was not so with them that they had need to give away their rights & adventurs, either to y^e lords, or them; yet, if they might measure their fear of offence by their practise, they had rather (in that poynte) they should deal with y^e lords, who were beter able to bear it, or help them selves, then they were.
But least I should be teadious, I will forbear other things, and come to the conclusion that was made in y^e endd. To make any forcible resistance was farr from their thoughts, (they had enough of y^t about Kenebeck,) and to live in continuall contention with their freinds & brethren would be uncomfortable, and too heavie a burden to bear. Therfore for peace sake (though they conceived they suffered much in this thing) they thought it better to let them have it upon as good termes as they could gett; and so they fell to treaty. The first thing y^t (because they had made so many & long disputs aboute it) they would have them to grante was, y^t they had right too it, or ells they would never treat aboute it. The which being acknowledged, & yeelded unto by them, this was y^e conclusion they came unto in y^e end after much adoe: that they should retaine their house, and have the 16. parte of all they had bought of y^e Indeans; and y^e other should have all y^e rest of y^e land; leaveing such a moyety to those of New-towne, as they reserved for them. This 16. part was to be taken in too places; one towards y^e house, the other towards New-townes proporrtion. Also they were to pay according to proportion, what had been disbursed to y^e Indeans for y^e purchass. Thus was y^e controversie ended, but the unkindnes not so soone forgotten. They of New-towne delt more fairly, desireing only what they could conveniently spare, from a competancie reserved for a plantation, for them selves; which made them the more carfull to procure a moyety for them, in this agreement & distribution.
Amongst y^e other bussinesses that M^r. Winslow had to doe in England, he had order from y^e church to provid & bring over some able & fitt man for to be their minister. And accordingly he had procured a godly and a worthy man, one M^r. Glover; but it pleased God when he was prepared for the viage, he fell sick of a feaver and dyed. Afterwards, when he was ready to come away, he became acquainted with M^r. Norton, who was willing to come over, but would not ingage him selfe to this place, otherwise then he should see occasion when he came hear; and if he liked better else wher, to repay y^e charge laid out for him, (which came to aboute 70^li.) and to be at his liberty. He stayed aboute a year with them, after he came over, and was well liked of them, & much desired by them; but he was invited to Ipswich, wher were many rich & able men, and sundry of his aquaintance; so he wente to them, & is their minister. Aboute half of y^e charg was repayed, y^e rest he had for y^e pains he tooke amongst them.
M^R. ED: WINSLOW was chosen Gov^r this year.
In y^e former year, because they perceived by M^r. Winslows later letters that no accounts would be sente, they resolved to keep y^e beaver, and send no more, till they had them, or came to some further agreemente. At least they would forbear till M^r. Winslow came over, that by more full conferance with him they might better understand what was meete to be done. But when he came, though he brought no accounts, yet he perswaded them to send y^e beaver, & was confident upon y^e receite of y^t beaver, & his letters, they should have accounts y^e nexte year; and though they thought his grounds but weake, that gave him this hope, & made him so confidente, yet by his importunitie they yeelded, & sente y^e same, ther being a ship at y^e latter end of year, by whom they sente 1150^li. waight of beaver, and 200. otter skins, besids sundrie small furrs, as 55. minks, 2. black foxe skins, &c. And this year, in the spring, came in a Dutch man, who thought to have traded at y^e Dutch-forte; but they would not suffer him. He, having good store of trading goods, came to this place, & tendred them to sell; of whom they bought a good quantitie, they being very good & fitte for their turne, as Dutch roll, ketles, &c., which goods amounted to y^e valew of 500^li., for y^e paymente of which they passed bills to M^r. Sherley in England, having before sente y^e forementioned parcell of beaver. And now this year (by another ship) sente an other good round parcell that might come to his hands, & be sould before any of these bills should be due. The quantity of beaver now sent was 1809^li. waight, and of otters 10. skins, and shortly after (y^e same year) was sent by another ship (Mr. Langrume maister), in beaver 0719^li. waight, and of otter skins 199. concerning which M^r. Sherley thus writs.
Your leters I have received, with 8. hoggsheads of beaver by Ed: Wilkinson, master of y^e Falcon. Blessed be God for y^e safe coming of it. I have also seen & acceped 3. bills of exchainge, &c. But I must now acquainte you how the Lords heavie hand is upon this kingdom in many places, but cheefly in this cittie, with his judgmente of y^e plague. The last weeks bill was 1200. & odd, I fear this will be more; and it is much feared it will be a winter sicknes. By reason wherof it is incredible y^e number of people y^t are gone into y^e cuntry & left y^e citie. I am perswaded many more then went out y^e last sicknes; so as here is no trading, carriers from most places put downe; nor no receiving of any money, though long due. M^r. Hall ows us more then would pay these bills, but he, his wife, and all, are in y^e cuntrie, 60. miles from London. I write to him, he came up, but could not pay us. I am perswaded if I should offer to sell y^e beaver at 8s. p^r pound, it would not yeeld money; but when y^e Lord shall please to cease his hand, I hope we shall have better & quicker markets; so it shall lye by. Before I accepted y^e bills, I acquainted M^r. Beachamp & M^r. Andrews with them, & how ther could be no money made nor received; and that it would be a great discredite to you, which never yet had any turned back, and a shame to us, haveing 1800^li. of beaver lying by us, and more oweing then y^e bills come too, &c. But all was nothing; neither of them both will put too their finger to help. I offered to supply my 3. parte, but they gave me their answer they neither would nor could, &c. How ever, your bils shall be satisfied to y^e parties good contente; but I would not have thought they would have left either you or me at this time, &c. You will and may expect I should write more, & answer your leters, but I am not a day in y^e weeke at home at towne, but carry my books & all to Clapham; for here is y^e miserablest time y^t I thinke hath been known in many ages. I have knoww 3. great sickneses, but none like this. And that which should be a means to pacifie y^e Lord, & help us, that is taken away, preaching put downe in many places, not a sermone in Westminster on y^e saboth, nor in many townes aboute us; y^e Lord in mercie looke uppon us. In the begining of y^e year was a great drought, & no raine for many weeks togeather, so as all was burnte up, haye, at 5^li. a load; and now all raine, so as much sommer come & later haye is spoyled. Thus y^e Lord sends judgmente after judgmente, and yet we cannot see, nor humble our selves; and therfore may justly fear heavier judgments, unless we speedyly repente, & returne unto him, which y^e Lord give us grace to doe, if it be his blessed will. Thus desiring you to remember us in your prayers, I ever rest
Your loving friend, JAMES SHERLEY.
Sep^t: 14. 1636.
This was all the answer they had from M^r. Sherley, by which M^r. Winslow saw his hops failed him. So they now resoloved to send no more beaver in y^t way which they had done, till they came to some issue or other aboute these things. But now came over letters from M^r. Andrews & M^r. Beachamp full of complaints, that they marveled y^t nothing was sent over, by which any of their moneys should be payed in; for it did appear by y^e accounte sente in An^o 1631. that they were each of them out, aboute a leven hundered pounds a peece, and all this while had not received one penie towards y^e same. But now M^r. Sherley sought to draw more money from them, and was offended because they deneyed him; and blamed them hear very much that all was sent to M^r. Sherley, & nothing to them. They marvelled much at this, for they conceived that much of their moneis had been paid in, & y^t yearly each of them had received a proportionable quantity out of y^e larg returnes sent home. For they had sente home since y^t accounte was received in An^o 1631. (in which all & more then all their debts, w^th y^t years supply, was charged upon them) these sumes following.
Nov^br 8. An^o 1631. By M^r. Peirce 0400^li. waight of beaver, & otters 20. July 13. An^o 1632. By M^r. Griffin 1348^li. beaver, & otters 147. An^o 1633. By M^r. Graves 3366^li. bever, & otters 346. An^o 1634. By M^r. Andrews 3738^li. beaver, & otters 234. An^o 1635. By M^r. Babb 1150^li. beaver, & otters 200. June 24. An^o 1636. By M^r. Wilkinson 1809^li. beaver, & otters 010. Ibidem. By M^r. Langrume 0719^li. beaver, & otters 199. -------- ----- 12150^li. 1156.
All these sumes were safly rceived & well sould, as appears by leters. The coat beaver usualy at 20^s. p^r pound, and some at 24^s.; the skin at 15. & sometimes 16. I doe not remember any under 14. It may be y^e last year might be something lower, so also ther were some small furrs that are not recconed in this accounte, & some black beaver at higer rates, to make up y^e defects. It was conceived that y^e former parcells of beaver came to litle less then 10000^li. sterling, and y^e otter skins would pay all y^e charge, & they w^th other furrs make up besids if any thing wanted of y^e former sume. When y^e former accounte was passed, all their debts (those of White-Angelle & Frendship included) came but to 4770^li. And they could not estimate that all y^e supplies since sent them, & bills payed for them, could come to above 2000^li. so as they conceived their debts had been payed, with advantage or intrest. But it may be objected, how comes it that they could not as well exactly sett downe their receits, as their returnes, but thus estimate it. I answer, 2. things were y^e cause of it; the first & principall was, that y^e new accountante, which they in England would needs presse upon them, did wholy faile them, & could never give them any accounte; but trusting to his memorie, & lose papers, let things rune into such confusion, that neither he, nor any with him, could bring things to rights. But being often called upon to perfecte his accounts, he desired to have such a time, and such a time of leasure, and he would doe it. In y^e intrime he fell into a great sicknes, and in conclusion it fell out he could make no accounte at all. His books were after a litle good begining left altogeather unperfect; and his papers, some were lost, & others so confused, as he knew not what to make of them him selfe, when they came to be searched & examined. This was not unknowne to M^r. Sherley; and they came to smarte for it to purposs, (though it was not their faulte,) both thus in England, and also here; for they conceived they lost some hundreds of pounds for goods trusted out in y^e place, which were lost for want of clear accounts to call them in. Another reason of this mischeefe was, that after M^r. Winslow was sente into England to demand accounts, and to excepte against y^e Whit-Angell, they never had any price sent with their goods, nor any certaine invoyce of them; but all things stood in confusion, and they were faine to guesse at y^e prises of them.
They write back to M^r. Andrews & M^r. Beachamp, and tould them they marveled they should write they had sent nothing home since y^e last accounts; for they had sente a great deale; and it might rather be marveled how they could be able to send so much, besids defraying all charg at home, and what they had lost by the French, and so much cast away at sea, when M^r. Peirce lost his ship on y^e coast of Virginia. What they had sente was to them all, and to them selves as well as M^r. Sherley, and if they did not looke after it, it was their owne falts; they must referr them to M^r. Sherley, who had received it, to demand it of him. They allso write to M^r. Sherley to y^e same purposs, and what the others complaints were.
This year 2. shallops going to Coonigtecutt with goods from y^e Massachusetts of such as removed theither to plante, were in an easterly storme cast away in coming into this harbore in y^e night; the boats men were lost, and the goods were driven all alonge the shore, and strowed up & downe at high-water marke. But y^e Gov^r caused them to be gathered up, and drawn togeather, and appointed some to take an inventory of them, and others to wash & drie such things as had neede therof; by which means most of y^e goods were saved, and restored to y^e owners. Afterwards anotheir boate of theirs (going thither likwise) was cast away near unto Manoanscusett, and such goods as came a shore were preserved for them. Such crosses they mette with in their beginings; which some imputed as a correction from God for their intrution (to y^e wrong of others) into y^t place. But I dare not be bould with Gods judgments in this kind.
In y^e year 1634, the Pequents (a stoute and warlike people), who had made warrs with sundry of their neigbours, and puft up with many victories, grue now at varience with y^e Narigansets, a great people bordering upon them. These Narigansets held correspondance and termes of freindship with y^e English of y^e Massachusetts. Now y^e Pequents, being conscious of y^e guilte of Captain-Stones death, whom they knew to be an-English man, as also those y^t were with him, and being fallen out with y^e Dutch, least they should have over many enemies at once, sought to make freindship with y^e English of y^e Massachusetts; and for y^t end sent both messengers & gifts unto them, as appears by some letters sent from y^e Gov^r hither.
Dear & worthy S^r: &c. To let you know somwhat of our affairs, you may understand that y^e Pequents have sent some of theirs to us, to desire our freindship, and offered much wampam & beaver, &c. The first messengers were dismissed without answer; with y^e next we had diverce dayes conferance, and taking y^e advice of some of our ministers, and seeking the Lord in it, we concluded a peace & freindship with them, upon these conditions: that they should deliver up to us those men who were guilty of Stones death, &c. And if we desired to plant in Conightecute, they should give up their right to us, and so we would send to trade with them as our freinds (which was y^e cheefe thing we aimed at, being now in warr with y^e Dutch and y^e rest of their neigbours). To this they readily agreed; and that we should meadiate a peace betweene them and the Narigansetts; for which end they were contente we should give the Narigansets parte of y^t presente, they would bestow on us (for they stood so much on their honour, as they would not be seen to give any thing of them selves). As for Captein Stone, they tould us ther were but 2. left of those who had any hand in his death; and that they killed him in a just quarell, for (say they) he surprised 2. of our men, and bound them, to make them by force to shew him y^e way up y^e river; and he with 2. other coming on shore, 9. Indeans watched him, and when they were a sleepe in y^e night, they kiled them, to deliver their owne men; and some of them going afterwards to y^e pinass, it was suddainly blowne up. We are now preparing to send a pinass unto them, &c.
In an other of his, dated y^e 12. of y^e first month, he hath this.
Our pinass is latly returned from y^e Pequents; they put of but litle comoditie, and found them a very false people, so as they mean to have no more to doe with them. I have diverce other things to write unto you, &c.
Yours ever assured, JO: WINTHROP.
Boston, 12. of y^e 1. month, 1634.
After these things, and, as I take, this year, John Oldom, (of whom much is spoken before,) being now an inhabitant of y^e Massachusetts, went w^th a small vessell, & slenderly mand, a trading into these south parts, and upon a quarell betweene him & y^e Indeans was cutt of by them (as hath been before noted) at an iland called by y^e Indeans Munisses, but since by y^e English Block Iland. This, with y^e former about the death of Stone, and the baffoyling of y^e Pequents with y^e English of y^e Massachusetts, moved them to set out some to take revenge, and require satisfaction for these wrongs; but it was done so superfitially, and without their acquainting of those of Conightecute & other neighbours with y^e same, as they did litle good. But their neigbours had more hurt done, for some of y^e murderers of Oldome fled to y^e Pequents, and though the English went to y^e Pequents, and had some parley with them, yet they did but delude them, & y^e English returned without doing any thing to purpose, being frustrate of their oppertunitie by y^e others deceite. After y^e English were returned, the Pequents tooke their time and oppertunitie to cut of some of y^e English as they passed in boats, and went on fouling, and assaulted them y^e next spring at their habytations, as will appear in its place. I doe but touch these things, because I make no question they wall be more fully & distinctly handled by them selves, who had more exacte knowledg of them, and whom they did more properly concerne.
This year M^r. Smith layed downe his place of ministrie, partly by his owne willingnes, as thinking it too heavie a burthen, and partly at the desire, and by y^e perswasion, of others; and the church sought out for some other, having often been disappointed in their hops and desires heretofore. And it pleased the Lord to send them an able and a godly man, and of a meeke and humble spirite, sound in y^e truth, and every way unreproveable in his life & conversation; whom, after some time of triall, they chose for their teacher, the fruits of whose labours they injoyed many years with much comforte, in peace, & good agreemente.
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End of part 21 of 26
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