Chapter XIII: Part 13

We purpose to keep y^e Freindship and y^e Whit Angell, for y^e last
year viages, on the generall accounte, hoping togeither they will
rather produse profite then loss, and breed less confution in our
accounts, and less disturbance in our affections. As for y^e White
Angell, though we layed out y^e money, and tooke bills of salle in our
owne names, yet none of us had so much as a thought (I dare say) of
deviding from you in any thing this year, because we would not have
y^e world (I may say Bristoll) take notice of any breach betwixte M^r.
Allerton and you, and he and us; and so disgrace him in his
proceedings on[CX] in his intended viage. We have now let him y^e ship
at 30^li. p^r month, by charter-partie, and bound him in a bond of a
1000^li. to performe covenants, and bring her to London (if God
please). And what he brings in her for you, shall be marked w^th your
marke, and bils of laden taken, & sent in M^r. Winslows letter, who is
this day riding to Bristoll about it. So in this viage, we deale & are
with him as strangers. He hath brought in 3. books of accounts, one
for y^e company, an other for Ashley's bussines, and y^e third for y^e
Whit-Angell and Freindship. The books, or coppies, we purpose to send
you, for you may discover y^e errours in them better then we. We can
make it appear how much money he hath had of us, and you can charg him
with all y^e beaver he hath had of you. The totall sume, as he hath
put it, is 7103. 17. 1. Of this he hath expended, and given to Mr.
Vines & others, aboute 543^li. ode money, and then by your books you
will find whether you had such, & so much goods, as he chargeth you
with all; and this is all that I can say at presente concerning these
accounts. He thought to dispatch them in a few howers, but he and
Straton & Fogge were above a month aboute them; but he could not stay
till we had examined them, for losing his fishing viage, which I fear
he hath allready done, &c.

We blese God, who put both you & us in mind to send each to other, for
verily had he rune on in that desperate & chargable course one year
more, we had not been able to suport him; nay, both he and we must
have lyen in y^e ditch, and sunck under y^e burthen, &c. Had ther been
an orderly course taken, and your bussines better managed, assuredly
(by y^e blessing of God) you had been y^e ablest plantation that, as
we think, or know, hath been undertaken by Englishmen, &c.

Thus farr of these letters of M^r. Sherley's.[CY]

[185] A few observations from y^e former letters, and then I shall set downe the simple truth of y^e things (thus in controversie betweene them), at least as farr as by any good evidence it could be made to appeare; and so laboure to be breefe in so tedious and intricate a bussines, which hunge in expostulation betweene them many years before y^e same was ended. That though ther will be often occasion to touch these things about other passages, yet I shall not neede to be large therin; doing it hear once for all.

First, it seemes to appere clearly that Ashley's bussines, and y^e buying of this ship, and y^e courses framed ther upon, were first contrived and proposed by M^r. Allerton, as also y^t the pleaes and pretences which he made, of y^e inablitie of y^e plantation to repaye their moneys, &c., and y^e hops he gave them of doing it with profile, was more beleeved & rested on by them (at least some of them) then any thing y^e plantation did or said.

2. It is like, though M^r. Allerton might thinke not to wrong y^e plantation in y^e maine, yet his owne gaine and private ends led him a side in these things: for it came to be knowne, and I have it in a letter under M^r. Sherley's hand, that in y^e first 2. or 3. years of his imploymente, he had cleared up 400^li. and put it into a brew-house of M^r. Colliers in London, at first under M^r. Sherley's name, &c.; besids what he might have other wise. Againe, M^r. Sherley and he had perticuler dealings in some things; for he bought up y^e beaver that sea-men & other passengers brought over to Bristoll, and at other places, and charged y^e bills to London, which M^r. Sherley payed; and they got some time 50^li. a peece in a bargen, as was made knowne by M^r. Hatherley & others, besids what might be other wise; which might make M^r. Sherley harken unto him in many things; and yet I beleeve, as he in his forementioned leter write, he never would side in any perticuler trade w^ch he conceived would wrong y^e plantation, and eate up & destroy y^e generall.

3^ly. It may be perceived that, seeing they had done so much for y^e plantation, both in former adventures and late disbursements, and allso that M^r. Allerton was y^e first occasioner of bringing them upon these new designes, which at first seemed faire & profitable unto them, and unto which they agreed; but now, seeing them to turne to loss, and decline to greater intanglments, they thought it more meete for y^e plantation to bear them, then them selves, who had borne much in other things allready, and so tooke advantage of such comission & power as M^r. Allerton had formerly had as their agente, to devolve these things upon them.

4^ly. With pitie and compassion (touching M^r. Allerton) I may say with y^e apostle to Timothy, 1. Tim. 6. 9. _They that will be rich fall into many temtations and snares, &c., and pearce them selves throw with many sorrows, &c.; for the love of money is y^e roote of all evill_, v. 10. God give him to see y^e evill in his failings, that he may find mercie by repentance for y^e wrongs he hath done to any, and this pore plantation in spetiall. They that doe such things doe not only bring them selves into snares, and sorrows, but many with them, (though in an other kind,) as lamentable experience shows; and is too manifest in this bussines.

[186] Now about these ships & their setting forth, the truth, as farr as could be learned, is this. The motion aboute setting forth y^e fishing ship (caled y^e Frindship) came first from y^e plantation, and y^e reasons of it, as is before remembered; but wholy left to them selves to doe or not to doe, as they saw cause. But when it fell into consideration, and y^e designe was held to be profitable and hopefull, it was propounded by some of them, why might not they doe it of them selves, seeing they must disburse all y^e money, and what need they have any refferance to y^e plantation in y^t; they might take y^e profile them selves, towards other losses, & need not let y^e plantation share therin; and if their ends were other wise answered for their supplyes to come too them in time, it would be well enough. So they hired her, & set her out, and fraighted her as full as she could carry with passengers goods y^t belonged to y^e Massachussets, which rise to a good sume of money; intending to send y^e plantations supply in y^e other ship. The effecte of this M^r. Hatherley not only declared afterward upon occasion, but affirmed upon othe, taken before y^e Gov^r & Dep: Gov^r of the Massachusets, M^r. Winthrop & M^r. Dudley: That this ship-Frindship was not sett out nor intended for y^e joynt partnership of y^e plantation, but for y^e perticuler accounte of M^r. James Sherley, M^r. Beachampe, M^r. Andrews, M^r. Allerton, & him selfe. This deposition was taken at Boston y^e 29. of Aug: 1639. as is to be seen under their hands; besids some other concurente testimonies declared at severall times to sundrie of them.

About y^e Whit-Angell, though she was first bought, or at least the price beaten, by M^r. Allerton (at Bristoll), yet that had been nothing if M^r. Sherley had not liked it, and disbursed y^e money. And that she was not intended for y^e plantation appears by sundrie evidences;[CZ] as, first, y^e bills of sale, or charter-parties, were taken in their owne names, without any mention or refferance to y^e plantation at all; viz. M^r. Sherley, M^r. Beachampe, M^r. Andrews, M^r. Denison, and M^r. Allerton; for M^r. Hatherley fell off, and would not joyne with them in this. That she was not bought for their accounte, M^r. Hatherley tooke his oath before y^e parties afforesaid, y^e day and year above writen.

M^r. Allerton tooke his oath to like effecte concerning this ship, the Whit-Angell, before y^e Gov^r & Deputie, the 7. of Sep: 1639. and likewise deposed, y^e same time, that M^r. Hatherley and him selfe did, in the behalfe of them selves and y^e said M^r. Sherley, M^r. Andrews, & M^r. Beachamp, agree and undertake to discharge, and save harmless, all y^e rest of y^e partners & purchasers, of and from y^e said losses of Freindship for 200^li., which was to be discounted therupon; as by ther depossitions (which are in writing) may appeare more at large, and some other depositions & other testemonies by M^r. Winslow,[DA] &c. But I suppose these may be sufficente to evince the truth in these things, against all pretences to y^e contrary. And yet the burthen lay still upon y^e plantation; or, to speake more truly and rightly, upon those few that were ingaged for all, for they were faine to wade through these things without any help from any.

[187] Concerning M^r. Allerton's accounts, they were so larg and intrecate, as they could not well understand them, much less examine & correcte them, without a great deale of time & help, and his owne presence, which was now hard to gett amongst them; and it was 2. or 3. years before they could bring them to any good pass, but never make them perfecte. I know not how it came to pass, or what misterie was in it, for he tooke upon him to make up all accounts till this time, though M^r. Sherley was their agente to buy & sell their goods, and did more then he therin; yet he past in accounts in a maner for all disbursments, both concerning goods bought, which he never saw, but were done when he was hear in y^e cuntrie or at sea; and all y^e expences of y^e Leyden people, done by others in his absence; the charges aboute y^e patente, &c. In all which he made them debtore to him above 300^li. and demanded paimente of it. But when things came to scaning, he was found above 2000^li. debtore to them, (this wherin M^r. Hatherley & he being joyntly ingaged, which he only had, being included,) besids I know not how much y^t could never be cleared; and interest moneys which ate them up, which he never accounted. Also they were faine to alow such large bills of charges as were intolerable; the charges of y^e patent came to above 500^li. and yet nothing done in it but what was done at first without any confirmation; 30^li. given at a clape, and 50^li. spent in a journey. No marvell therfore if M^r. Sherley said in his leter, if their bussines had been better managed, they might have been y^e richest plantation of any English at y^t time. Yea, he scrued up his poore old father in law's accounte to above 200^li. and brought it on y^e generall accounte, and to befreind him made most of it to arise out of those goods taken up by him at Bristoll, at 50. per cent., because he knew they would never let it lye on y^e old man, when, alass! he, poore man, never dreamte of any such thing, nor y^t what he had could arise nere y^t valew; but thought that many of them had been freely bestowed on him & his children by M^r. Allerton. Nither in truth did they come nere y^t valew in worth, but y^t sume was blowne up by interest & high prises, which y^e company did for y^e most parte bear, (he deserving farr more,) being most sory that he should have a name to have much, when he had in effecte litle.

This year also M^r. Sherley sent over an accounte, which was in a maner but a cash accounte what M^r. Allerton had had of them, and disbursed, for which he referd to his accounts; besids an account of beaver sould, which M^r. Winslow & some others had carried over, and a large supply of goods which M^r. Winslow had sent & brought over, all which was comprised in that accounte, and all y^e disbursments aboute y^e Freindship, & Whit-Angell, and what concerned their accounts from first to last; or any thing else he could charg y^e partners with. So they were made debtor in y^e foote of that accounte 4770^li 19. 2.[DB] besids 1000^li. still due for y^e purchase yet unpayed; notwithstanding all y^e beaver, and returnes that both Ashley & they had made, which were not small.

[188] In these accounts of M^r. Sherley's some things were obscure, and some things twise charged, as a 100. of Bastable ruggs which came in y^e Freindship, & cost 75^li., charged before by M^r. Allerton, and now by him againe, with other perticulers of like nature doubtfull, to be twise or thrise charged; as also a sume of 600^li. which M^r. Allerton deneyed, and they could never understand for what it was. They sent a note of these & such like things afterward to M^r. Sherley by M^r. Winslow; but (I know not how it came to pass) could never have them explained.

Into these deepe sumes had M^r. Allerton rune them in tow years, for in y^e later end of y^e year 1628. all their debts did not amounte to much above 400^li., as was then noted; and now come to so many thousands. And wheras in y^e year 1629. M^r. Sherley & M^r. Hatherley being at Bristoll, and write a large letter from thence, in which they had given an account of y^e debts, and what sumes were then disbursed, M^r. Allerton never left begging & intreating of them till they had put it out. So they bloted out 2. lines in y^t leter in which y^e sumes were contained, and write upon it so as not a word could be perceived; as since by them was confessed, and by y^e leters may be seene. And thus were they kept hoodwinckte, till now they were so deeply ingaged. And wheras M^r. Sherley did so ernestly press y^t M^r. Allerton might be sent over to finish y^e great bussines aboute y^e patente, as may be seen in his leter write 1629. as is before recorded, and y^t they should be ernest w^th his wife to suffer him to goe, &c., he hath since confessed by a letter under my hands, that it was M^r. Allerton's owne doings, and not his, and he made him write his words, & not his owne. The patent was but a pretence, and not y^e thing. Thus were they abused in their simplicitie, and no beter then bought & sould, as it may seeme.

And to mend y^e matter, M^r. Allerton doth in a sorte wholy now deserte them; having brought them into y^e briers, he leaves them to gett out as they can. But God crost him mightily, for he having hired y^e ship of M^r. Sherly at 30^li., a month, he set forth againe with a most wicked and drunken crue, and for covetousnes sake did so over lade her, not only filling her hould, but so stufed her betweene decks, as she was walte, and could not bear sayle, and they had like to have been cast away at sea, and were forced to put for Millford Havene, and new-stow her, & put some of ther ordnance & more heavie goods in y^e botome; which lost them time, and made them come late into y^e countrie, lose ther season, and made a worse viage then y^e year before. But being come into y^e countrie, he sells trading comodities to any y^t will buy, to y^e great prejudice of y^e plantation here; but that which is worse, what he could not sell, he trustes; and sets up a company of base felows and maks them traders, to rune into every hole, & into y^e river of Kenebeck, to gleane away y^e trade from y^e house ther, aboute y^e patente & priviledge wherof he had dasht away so much money of theirs here; [189] and now what in him lay went aboute to take away y^e benefite therof, and to overthrow them. Yea, not only this, but he furnishes a company, and joyns with some consorts, (being now deprived of Ashley at Penobscote,) and sets up a trading house beyoned Penobscote, to cute of y^e trade from thence also. But y^e French perceiving that that would be greatly to their damage allso, they came in their begining before they were well setled, and displanted them, slue 2. of their men, and tooke all their goods to a good valew, y^e loss being most, if not all, M^r. Allerton's; for though some of them should have been his partners, yet he trusted them for their partes; the rest of y^e men were sent into France, and this was the end of y^t projecte. The rest of those he trusted, being lose and drunken fellows, did for y^e most parte but coussen & cheate him of all they got into their hands; that howsoever he did his friends some hurte hereby for y^e presente, yet he gate litle good, but wente by y^e loss by Gods just hand. After in time, when he came to Pli[=m]oth, y^e church caled him to accounte for these, and other his grosse miscarrages; he confessed his faulte, and promised better walking, and that he would wind him selfe out of these courses as soone as he could, &c.

This year also Mr. Sherley would needs send them over a new-acountante; he had made mention of such a thing y^e year before, but they write him word, that their charge was great allready, and they neede not increase it, as this would; but if they were well delte with, and had their goods well sent over, they could keep their accounts hear them selves. Yet he now sente one, which they did not refuse, being a yonger brother of M^r. Winslows, whom they had been at charge to instructe at London before he came. He came over in the White Angell with M^r. Allerton, and ther begane his first imploymente; for though M^r. Sherley had so farr befreinded Mr. Allerton, as to cause[DC] M^r. Winslow to ship y^e supply sente to y^e partners here in this ship, and give him 4^li. [p=]er tune, wheras others carried for 3. and he made them pay their fraight ready downe, before y^e ship wente out of y^e harbore, wheras others payed upon certificate of y^e goods being delivered, and their fraight came to upward of 6. score pounds, yet they had much adoe to have their goods delivered, for some of them were chainged, as bread & pease; they were forced to take worse for better, neither could they ever gett all. And if Josias Winslow had not been ther, it had been worse; for he had y^e invoyce, and order to send them to y^e trading houses.

This year their house at Penobscott was robed by y^e French, and all their goods of any worth they carried away, to y^e value of 400. or 500^li. as y^e cost first peny worth; in beaver 300^li. waight; and y^e rest in trading goods, as coats, ruggs, blankett, biskett, &c. It was in this maner. The m^r. of y^e house, and parte of y^e company with him, were come with their vessell to y^e westward to fecth a supply of goods which was brought over for them. In y^e mean time comes a smale French ship into y^e harbore (and amongst y^e company was a false Scott); they pretended they were nuly come from y^e sea, and knew not wher they were, and that their vesell was very leake, and desired they might hale her a shore and stop their leaks. And many French complements they used, and congees they made; and in y^e ende, seeing but 3. or 4. simple men, y^t were servants, and by this Scoth-man understanding that y^e maister & ye rest of y^e company were gone from home, they fell of comending their gunes and muskets, that lay upon racks by y^e wall side, and tooke them downe to looke on them, asking if they were charged. And when they were possesst of them, one presents a peece ready charged against y^e servants, and another a pistoll; and bid them not sturr, but quietly deliver them their goods, and carries some of y^e men aborde, & made y^e other help to carry away y^e goods. And when they had tooke what they pleased, they sett them at liberty, and wente their way, with this mocke, biding them tell their m^r. when he came, that some of y^e Ile of Rey gentlemen had been ther.[DD]

[DE] This year, on S^r Christopher Gardener, being, as him selfe said, descended of y^t house y^t the Bishop of Winchester came of (who was so great a persecutor of Gods saincts in Queene Maries days), and being a great traveler, received his first honour of knighthood at Jerusalem, being made Knight of y^e Sepulcher ther. He came into these parts under pretence of forsaking y^e world, and to live a private life, in a godly course, not unwilling to put him selfe upon any meane imployments, and take any paines for his living; and some time offered him selfe to joyne to y^e churchs in sundry places. He brought over with him a servante or 2. and a comly yonge woman, whom be caled his cousin, but it was suspected, she (after y^e Italian maner) was his concubine. Living at y^e Massachusets, for some miscariages which he should have answered, he fled away from authority, and gott amonge y^e Indeans of these parts; they sent after him, but could not gett him, and promissed some reward to those y^t should find him. The Indeans came to y^e Gov^r here, and tould wher he was, and asked if they might kill him; he tould them no, by no means, but if they could take him and bring him hither, they should be payed for their paines. They said he had a gune & a rapier, & he would kill them if y^ey went aboute it; and y^e Massachuset Indeans said they might kille him. But y^e Gov^r tould them no, they should not kill him, but watch their opportunitie, & take him. And so they did, for when they light of him by a river side, he got into a canowe to get from them, & when they came nere him, whilst he presented his peece at them to keep them of, the streame carried y^e canow against a rock, and tumbled both him & his peece & rapier into y^e water; yet he got out, and having a litle dagger by his side, they durst not close with him, but getting longe pols they soone beat his dagger out of his hand, so he was glad to yeeld; and they brought him to y^e Gov^r. But his hands and armes were swolen & very sore with y^e blowes they had given him. So he used him kindly, & sent him to a lodging wher his armes were bathed and anoynted, and he was quickly well againe, and blamed y^e Indeans for beating him so much. They said that they did but a litle whip him with sticks. In his lodging, those y^t made his bed found a litle note booke that by accidente had slipt out of his pockett, or some private place, in which was a memoriall what day he was reconciled to y^e pope & church of Rome, and in what universitie he tooke his scapula, and such & such degrees. It being brought to y^e Gov^r, he kept it, and sent y^e Gov^r of y^e Massachusets word of his taking, who sent for him. So y^e Gov^r sent him and these notes to y^e Gov^r ther, who tooke it very thankfuly; but after he gott for England, he shewed his malice, but God prevented him.

See y^e Gov^r leter on y^e other side.[DF]

S^r: It hath pleased God to bring S^r. Christopher Gardener safe to
us, with thos that came with him. And howsoever I never intended any
hard measure to him, but to respecte and use him according to his
qualitie, yet I let him know your care of him, and y^t he shall speed
y^e better for your mediation. It was a spetiall providence of God to
bring those notes of his to our hands; I desire y^t you will please to
speake to all y^t are privie to them, not to discovere them to any
one, for y^t may frustrate y^e means of any further use to be made of
them. The good Lord our God who hath allways ordered things for y^e
good of his poore churches here, directe us in this arighte, and
dispose it to a good issue. I am sorie we put you to so much trouble
about this gentleman, espetialy at this time of great imploymente, but
I know not how to avoyed it. I must againe intreate you, to let me
know what charge & troble any of your people have been at aboute him,
y^t it may be recompenced. So with the true affection of a frind,
desiring all happines to your selfe & yours, and to all my worthy
friends with you (whom I love in y^e Lord), I comende you to his grace
& good providence, & rest

Your most assured friend,
JOHN WINTHROP.

Boston, May 5. 1631.

By occation wherof I will take a litle libertie to declare what fell out by this mans means & malice, complying with others. And though I doubt not but it will be more fully done by my honourd friends, whom it did more directly concerne, and have more perticuler knowledg of y^e matter, yet I will here give a hinte of y^e same, and Gods providence in preventing y^e hurte that might have come by y^e same. The intelligence I had by a letter from my much hon^d and beloved friend, Mr. John Winthrop, Gov^r of y^e Massachusets.

S^r: Upon a petition exhibited by S^r. Christo: Gardner, S^r. Ferd:
Gorges, Captaine Masson, &c., against you and us, the cause was heard
before y^e lords of y^e Privie Counsell, and after reported to y^e
king, the sucsess wherof maks it evident to all, that y^e Lord hath
care of his people hear. The passages are admirable, and too long to
write. I hartily wish an opportunitie to imparte them unto you, being
m[=a]y sheets of paper. But y^e conclusion was (against all mens
expectation) an order for our incouragmente, and much blame and
disgrace upon y^e adversaries, w^ch calls for much thankfullnes from
us all, which we purpose (y^e Lord willing) to express in a day of
thanks-giving to our mercifull God, (I doubt not but you will
consider, if it be not fitt for you to joyne in it,) who, as he hath
humbled us by his late correction, so he hath lifted us up, by an
abundante rejoysing, in our deliverance out of so desperate a danger;
so as that w^ch our enemies builte their hopes upon to ruine us by, He
hath mercifully disposed to our great advantage, as I shall further
aquainte you, when occasion shall serve.

The coppy of y^e order follows.

At y^e courte at Whit-hall y^e 19. Jan: 1632.

Present

_Sigillum_ Lord Privie Seale
Ea: of Dorsett
Lo: Vi: Falkland
Lo: Bp: of London
Lord Cottinton
M^r. Tre^r
M^r. Vic Chamb^r
M^r. Sec: Cooke
Maister Sec: Windebanck

Wheras his Ma^tie hath latly been informed of great distraction and
much disorder in y^t plantation in y^e parts of America called
New-England, which, if they be true, & suffered to rune on, would
tende to y^e great dishonour of this kingdome, and utter ruine of that
plantation. For prevention wherof, and for y^e orderly settling of
goverment, according to y^e intention of those patents which have been
granted by his Ma^tie and from his late royall father king James, it
hath pleased his Ma^tie that y^e lords & others of his most honourable
Privie Counsell, should take y^e same into consideration. Their
lordships in y^e first place thought fitt to make a comitie of this
bord, to take examination of y^e matters informed; which comitties
having called diverse of y^e principall adventurers in y^t plantation,
and heard those that are complanants against them, most of the things
informed being deneyed, and resting to be proved by parties that must
be called from y^t place, which required a long expence of time; and
at presente their lordships finding the adventurers were upon dispatch
of men, victles, and marchandice for y^t place, all which would be at
a stand, if y^e adventurers should have discouragmente, or take
suspition that the state hear had no good opinion of y^t plantation;
their lordships, not laying the faulte or fancies (if any be) of some
perticuler men upon the generall govermente, or principall
adventurers, (which in due time is further to be inquired into,) have
thought fitt in y^e meane time to declare, that the appearences were
so faire, and hopes so greate, y^t the countrie would prove both
beneficiall to this kingdom, and profitable to the perticuler
adventurers, as y^t the adventurers had cause to goe on cherfully with
their undertakings, and rest assured, if things were carried as was
pretended when y^e patents were granted, and accordingly as by the
patentes it is appointed, his Majestie would not only maintaine the
liberties & privileges heretofore granted, but supply any thing
further that might tend to the good govermente, prosperitie, and
comforte of his people ther of that place, &c.

WILLIAM TRUMBALL.

_Anno Dom_: 1632.

M^r. Allerton, returning for England, litle regarded his bound of a 1000^li. to performe covenants; for wheras he was bound by y^e same to bring y^e ship to [190] London, and to pay 30^li. per month for her hire, he did neither of boath, for he carried her to Bristoll againe, from whence he intended to sett her out againe, and so did y^e 3. time, into these parts (as after will appear); and though she had been 10. months upon y^e former viage, at 30^li. [p=]^r month, yet he never payed peney for hire. It should seeme he knew well enough how to deale with M^r. Sherley. And M^r. Sherley, though he would needs tye her & her accounte upon y^e generall, yet he would dispose of her as him selfe pleased; for though M^r. Winslow had in their names protested against y^e receiving her on y^t accounte, or if ever they should hope to preveile in shuch a thing, yet never to suffer M^r. Allerton to have any more to doe in her, yet he y^e last year let her wholy unto him, and injoyned them to send all their supplye in her to their prejudice, as is before noted. And now, though he broke his bonds, kepte no covenante, paid no hire, nor was ever like to keep covenants, yet now he goes and sells him all, both ship, & all her accounts, from first to last (and in effecte he might as well have given him y^e same); and not only this, but he doth as good as provide a sanctuary for him, for he gives him one years time to prepare his accounte, and then to give up y^e same to them here; and then another year for him to make paymente of what should be due upon y^t accounte. And in y^e mean time writs ernestly to them not to interupte or hinder him from his bussines, or stay him aboute clearing accounts, &c.; so as he in y^e mean time gathers up all monies due for fraighte, and any other debtes belonging either to her, or y^e Frindship's accounts, as his owne perticuler; and after, sells ship, & ordnans, fish, & what he had raised, in Spaine, according to y^e first designe, in effecte; and who had, or what became of y^e money, he best knows. In y^e mean time their hands were bound, and could doe nothing but looke on, till he had made all away into other mens hands (save a few catle & a litle land & some small maters he had here at Plimoth), and so in y^e end removed, as he had allready his person, so all his from hence. This will better appere by M^r. Sherley's leter.

S^r: These few lines are further to give you to understand, that
seeing you & we, that never differed yet but aboute y^e White-Angell,
which somewhat troubleth us, as I perceive it doth you. And now M^r.
Allerton beeing here, we have had some confferance with him about her,
and find him very willing to give you & us all contente y^t possiblie
he can, though he burthen him selfe. He is contente to take y^e
White-Angell wholy on him selfe, notwithstanding he mett with pirates
nere y^e coast of Ierland, which tooke away his best sayles & other
provissions from her; so as verily if we should now sell her, she
would yeeld but a small price, besids her ordnance. And to set her
forth againe with fresh money we would not, she being now at Bristoll.
Wherfore we thought it best, both for you & us, M^r. Allerton being
willing to take her, to accepte of his bond of tow thousand pounds, to
give [191] you a true & perfecte accounte, and take y^e whole charge
of y^e Whit-Angell wholy to him selfe, from y^e first to y^e last. The
accounte he is to make and perfecte within 12. months from y^e date of
this letter, and then to pay you at 6. and 6. months after, what
soever shall be due unto you and us upon the foote of y^t accounte.
And verily, notwithstanding all y^e disasters he hath had, I am
perswaded he hath enough to pay all men here and ther. Only they must
have patience till he can gather in what is due to him ther. I doe not
write this slightly, but upon some ground of what I have seen (and
perhaps you know not of) under y^e hands & seals of some, &c. I rest

Your assured friend,
JAMES SHERLEY.

Des: 6. 1632.

But heres not a word of y^e breach of former bonds & covenants, or paimente of y^e ships hire; this is passt by as if no such thing had been; besids what bonds or obligments so ever they had of him, ther never came any into y^e hands or sight of y^e partners here. And for this y^t M^r. Sherley seems to intimate (as a secrete) of his abilitie, under y^e hands & seals of some, it was but a trick, having gathered up an accounte of what was owing form such base fellows as he had made traders for him, and other debts; and then got M^r. Mahue, & some others, to affirme under their hand & seale, that they had seen shuch accounts y^t were due to him.

Mr. Hatherley came over againe this year, but upon his owne occasions, and begane to make preparation to plant & dwell in y^e countrie. He with his former dealings had wound in what money he had in y^e patnership into his owne hands, and so gave off all partnership (excepte in name), as was found in y^e issue of things; neither did he medle, or take any care aboute y^e same; only he was troubled about his ingagmente aboute y^e Friendship, as will after appeare. And now partly aboute y^t accounte, in some reconings betweene M^r. Allerton and him, and some debts y^t M^r. Allerton otherwise owed him upon dealing between them in perticuler, he drue up an accounte of above 2000^li., and would faine have ingaged y^e partners here with it, because M^r. Allerton had been their agent. But they tould him they had been fool'd longe enough with such things, and shewed him y^t it no way belonged to them; but tould him he must looke to make good his ingagment for y^e Freindship, which caused some trouble betweene M^r. Allerton and him.

M^r. William Peirce did y^e like, M^r. Allerton being wound into his debte also upon particuler dealings; as if they had been bound to make good all mens debts. But they easily shooke off these things. But M^r. Allerton herby rane into much trouble & vexation, as well as he had troubled others, for M^r. Denison sued him for y^e money he had disbursed for y^e 6. part of y^e Whit-Angell, & recovered y^e same with damages.

Though y^e partners were thus pl[=u]ged into great ingagments, & oppresed with unjust debts, yet y^e Lord prospered their trading, that they made yearly large returnes, and had soone wound them selves out of all, if yet they had otherwise been well delt with all; as will more appear here after. [192] Also y^e people of y^e plantation begane to grow in their owtward estats, by reason[DG] of y^e flowing of many people into y^e cuntrie, espetially into y^e Bay of y^e Massachusets; by which means corne & catle rose to a great prise, by w^ch many were much inriched, and co[=m]odities grue plentifull; and yet in other regards this benefite turned to their hurte, and this accession of strength to their weaknes. For now as their stocks increased, and y^e increse vendible, ther was no longer any holding them togeather, but now they must of necessitie goe to their great lots; they could not other wise keep their katle; and having oxen growne, they must have land for plowing & tillage. And no man now thought he could live, except he had catle and a great deale of ground to keep them; all striving to increase their stocks. By which means they were scatered all over y^e bay, quickly, and y^e towne, in which they lived compactly till now, was left very thine, and in a short time allmost desolate. And if this had been all, it had been less, thoug to much; but y^e church must also be devided, and those y^t had lived so long togeather in Christian & comfortable fellowship must now part and suffer many divissions. First, those that lived on their lots on y^e other side of the bay (called Duxberie) they could not long bring their wives & children to y^e publick worship & church meetings here, but with such burthen, as, growing to some competente number, they sued to be dismissed and become a body of them selves; and so they were dismiste (about this time), though very unwillingly. But to touch this sadd matter, and handle things together that fell out afterward. To prevent any further scatering from this place, and weakning of y^e same, it was thought best to give out some good farms to spetiall persons, y^t would promise to live at Plimoth, and lickly to be helpfull to y^e church or comonewelth, and so tye y^e lands to Plimoth as farmes for the same; and ther they might keepe their catle & tillage by some servants, and retaine their dwellings here. And so some spetiall lands were granted at a place generall, called Greens Harbor, wher no allotments had been in y^e former divission, a plase very weell meadowed, and fitt to keep & rear catle, good store. But alass! this remedy proved worse then y^e disease; for w^{th}in a few years those that had thus gott footing ther rente them selves away, partly by force, and partly wearing y^e rest with importunitie and pleas of necessitie, so as they must either suffer them to goe, or live in continuall opposition and contention. And others still, as y^ey conceived them selves straitened, or to want acco[=m]odation, break away under one pretence or other, thinking their owne conceived necessitie, and the example of others, a warrente sufficente for them. And this, I fear, will be y^e ruine of New-England, at least of y^e churches of God ther, & will provock y^e Lords displeasure against them.

[193] This year, M^r. William Perce came into y^e cuntry, & brought goods and passengers, in a ship caled y^e Lyon, which belonged cheefly to M^r. Sherley, and y^e rest of y^e London partners, but these hear had nothing to doe with her. In this ship (besides beaver which they had sent home before) they sent upwards of 800^li. in her, and some otter skines; and also y^e coppies of M^r. Allertons accounts, desiring that they would also peruse & examene them, and rectifie shuch things as they should find amise in them; and rather because they were better acquaynted with y^e goods bought ther, and y^e disbursments made, then they could bee here; yea, a great part were done by them selves, though M^r. Allerton brougt in y^e accounte, and sundry things seemed to them obscure and had need of clearing. Also they sente a booke of exceptions against his accounts, in such things as they could manifest, and doubted not but they might adde more therunto. And also shewed them how much M^r. Allerton was debtor to y^e accounte; and desired, seeing they had now put y^e ship White-Angell, and all, wholy into his power, and tyed their hands here, that they could not call him to accounte for any thinge, till y^e time was expired which they had given him, and by that time other men would get their debts of him, (as sume had done already by suing him,) and he would make all away here quickly out of their reach; and therfore prayed them to looke to things, and gett paymente of him ther, as it was all y^e reason they should, seeing they keept all y^e bonds & covenants they made with him in their owne hands; and here they could doe nothing by y^e course they had taken, nor had any thing to show if they should goe aboute it. But it pleased God, this ship, being first to goe to Verginia before she wente home, was cast away on y^t coast, not farr from Virginia, and their beaver was all lost (which was y^e first loss they sustained in that kind); but M^r. Peirce & y^e men saved their lives, and also their leters, and gott into Virginia, and so safly home. Y^e accounts were now sent from hence againe to them. And thus much of y^e passages of this year.

_A part of M^r. Peirce his leter[DH] from Virginia._

It was dated in Des: 25. 1632. and came to their hand y^e 7. of Aprill, before they heard any thing from England.

Dear freinds, &c. Y^e bruit of this fatall stroke that y^e Lord hath
brought both on me and you all will come to your ears before this
co[=m]eth to your hands, (it is like,) and therfore I shall not need
to inlarg in perticulers, &c. My whole estate (for y^e most parte) is
taken away; and so yours, in a great measure, by this and your former
losses [he means by y^e French & M^r. Allerton]. It is time to looke
aboute us, before y^e wrath of y^e Lord breake forth to utter
destruction. The good Lord give us all grace to search our harts and
trie our ways, and turne unto y^e Lord, and humble our selves under
his mightie hand, and seeke atonemente, &c. Dear freinds, you may know
y^t all your beaver, and y^e books of your accounts, are swallowed up
in y^e sea; your letters remaine with me, and shall be delivered, if
God bring me home. But what should I more say? Have we lost our
outward estates? yet a hapy loss if our soules may gaine; ther is yet
more in y^e Lord Jehova than ever we had yet in y^e world. Oh that our
foolish harts could yet be wained from y^e things here below, which
are vanity and vexation of spirite; and yet we fooles catch after
shadows, y^t flye away, & are gone in a momente, &c. Thus with my
continuall remembrance of you in my poore desires to y^e throne of
grace, beseeching God to renew his love & favoure towards you all, in
& through y^e Lord Jesus Christ, both in spirituall & temporall good
things, as may be most to the glory & praise of his name, and your
everlasting good. So I rest,

Your afflicted brother in Christ,
WILLIAM PEIRCE.

Virginia, Des: 25. 1632.

_Anno Dom: 1633._

This year M^r. Ed: Winslow was chosen Governor.

By the first returne this year, they had leters from M^r. Sherley of M^r. Allertons further ill success, and y^e loss by M^r. Peirce, with many sadd complaints; but litle hope of any thinge to be gott of M^r. Allerton, or how their accounts might be either eased, or any way rectified by them ther; but now saw plainly y^t the burthen of all would be cast on their backs. The spetiall passages of his letters I shall here inserte, as shall be pertinente to these things; for though I am weary of this tedious & uncomfortable subjecte, yet for y^e clearing of y^e truth I am compelled to be more larg in y^e opening of these matters, upon w^ch [194] so much trouble hath insued, and so many hard censures have passed on both sids. I would not be partiall to either, but deliver y^e truth in all, and, as nere as I can, in their owne words and passages, and so leave it to the impartiall judgment of any that shall come to read, or veiw these things. His leters are as folow, dated June 24. 1633.

Loving friends, my last[DI] was sente in y^e Mary & John, by M^r.
William Collier, &c. I then certified you of y^e great, &
uncomfortable, and unseasonable loss you & we had, in y^e loss of M^r.
Peirce his ship, y^e Lyon; but y^e Lords holy name be blessed, who
gives & taks as it pleaseth him; his will be done, Amen. I then
related unto you y^t fearfull accidente, or rather judgmente, y^e Lord
pleased to lay on London Bridge, by fire, and therin gave you a touch
of my great loss; the Lord, I hope, will give me patience to bear it,
and faith to trust in him, & not in these slipery and uncertaine
things of this world.

I hope M^r. Allerton is nere upon sayle with you by this; but he had
many disasters here before he could gett away; yet y^e last was a
heavie one; his ship, going out of y^e harbor at Bristoll, by stormie
weather was so farr driven on y^e shore, as it cost him above 100^li.
before shee could be gott off againe. Verily his case was so
lamentable as I could not but afford him some help therin (and so did
some were strangers to him); besids, your goods were in her, and if he
had not been supported, he must have broke off his viage, and so loss
could not have been avoyded on all sides. When he first bought her, I
thinke he had made a saving match, if he had then sunck her, and never
set her forth. I hope he sees y^e Lords hand against him, and will
leave of these viages. I thinke we did well in parting with her; she
would have been but a clogge to y^e accounte from time to time, and
now though we shall not gett much by way of satisfaction, yet we shall
lose no more. And now, as before I have writte, I pray you finish all
y^e accounts and reconings with him there; for here he hath nothing,
but many debtes that he stands ingaged to many men for. Besids, here
is not a man y^t will spend a day, or scarce an hower, aboute y^e
accounts but my selfe, and y^t bussines will require more time and
help then I can afford. I shall not need to say any more; I hope you
will doe y^t which shall be best & just, to which adde mercie, and
consider his intente, though he failed in many perticulers, which now
cannot be helped, &c.

To morrow, or next day at furthest, we are to pay 300^li. and M^r.
Beachamp is out of y^e towne, yet y^e bussines I must doe. Oh the
greefe & trouble y^t man, M^r. Allerton, hath brought upon you and us!
I cannot forgett it, and to thinke on it draws many a sigh from my
harte, and teares from my eyes. And now y^e Lord hath visited me with
an other great loss, yet I can undergoe it with more patience. But
this I have follishly pulled upon my selfe, &c. [And in another, he
hath this passage:] By M^r. Allertons faire propositions and large
[195] promises, I have over rune my selfe; verily, at this time greefe
hinders me to write, and tears will not suffer me to see; wherfore, as
you love those that ever loved you, and y^t plantation, thinke upon
us. Oh what shall I say of that man, who hath abused your trust and
wronged our loves! but now to complaine is too late, nither can I
complaine of your backwardnes, for I am perswaded it lys as heavie on
your harts, as it doth on our purses or credites. And had y^e Lord
sent M^r. Peirce safe home, we had eased both you and us of some of
those debts; the Lord I hope will give us patience to bear these
crosses; and that great God, whose care & providence is every where,
and spetially over all those that desire truly to fear and serve him,
direct, guid, prosper, & blesse you so, as y^t you may be able (as I
perswade my selfe you are willing) to discharge & take off this great
& heavie burthen which now lyes upon me for your saks; and I hope in
y^e ende for y^e good of you, and many thousands more; for had not
you & we joyned & continued togeather, New-England might yet have been
scarce knowne, I am perswaded, not so replenished & inhabited with
honest English people, as it now is. The Lord increase & blesse them,
&c. So, with my continuall praiers for you all, I rest

Your assured loving friend,
JAMES SHERLEY.

June 24. 1633.

By this it apperes when M^r. Sherly sould him y^e ship & all her accounts, it was more for M^r. Allertons advantage then theirs; and if they could get any there, well & good, for they were like to have nothing here. And what course was held to hinder them there, hath allready beene manifested. And though M^r. Sherley became more sinsible of his owne condition, by these losses, and therby more sadly & plainly to complaine of M^r. Allerton, yet no course was taken to help them here, but all left unto them selves; not so much as to examene & rectifie y^e accounts, by which (it is like) some hundereds of pounds might have been taken off. But very probable it is, the more they saw was taken off, y^e less might come unto them selves. But I leave these maters, & come to other things.