tick Indeans was made and concluded, Benedicte Arnold being interpretour upon his oath; Sergante Callicate1 and an Indean, his man, being presente, and Josias and Cutshamakin, tow Indeans aquainted with the English language, assisting therin; who opened and cleared the whole treaty, and every article, to the sagamores and deputie there [then] presente.

And thus was the warr at this time stayed and prevented. [269] 1 Richard Collicott, of Dorchester.

A

BOUT the midle of May, this year, came in 3 ships into this harbor, in warrlike order; they were found to be men of warr. The captains name was Crumwell, who had taken sundrie prizes from the Spaniards in the West Indies. He had a comission from the Earle of Warwick. He had abord his vessels about.80. lustie men, (but very unruly,) who, after they came ashore, did so distemper them selves with drinke as they became like madd-men; and though some of them were punished and imprisoned, yet could they hardly be restrained; yet in the ende they became more moderate and orderly. They continued here aboute a month or 6. weeks, and then went to the Massachusets; in which time they spente and scattered a great deale of money among the people, and yet more sine (I fear) then money, notwithstanding all the care and watchfullnes that was used towards them, to prevente what might be.'

In which time one sadd accidente fell out. A desperate fellow of the company fell a quar[e]ling with some of his company. His cap

1 Thomas Cromwell, whom Winthrop describes in 1646 as "about ten years since a common seaman in the Massachusetts." During these years he came into relations with a Captain Jackson, who was taking prizes in the West Indies for the Company of Providence Island, to the governorship of which John Humfrey, of New England, had recently been appointed. About 1642, Jackson sailed under a commission from the Earl of Warwick, and as a privateer captain committed acts practically of piracy. Cromwell had a commission from Jackson, and now with three ships, frigates of cedar of about sixty to eighty tons, and eighty men, was going to Boston to dispose of his prizes. "By a strong northwest wind they were forced into Plimouth, (divine providence so directing for the comfort and help of that town, which was now almost deserted,) where they continued about fourteen days or more, and spent liberally and gave freely to many of the poorer sort." Winthrop, History, 11. *263.

tine commanded him to be quiet and surcease his quarelling; but he would not, but reviled his captaine with base language, and in the end halfe drew his rapier, and intended to rune at his captien; but he closed with him, and wrasted his rapier from him, and gave him a boxe on the earr; but he would not give over, but still assaulted his captaine. Wherupon he tooke the same rapier as it was in the scaberd, and gave him a blow with the hilts; but it light on his head, and the smal end of the bar of the rapier hilts peirct his scull, and he dyed a few days after. But the captaine was cleared by a counsell of warr. This fellow was so desperate a quareller as the captaine was faine many times to chaine him under hatches from hurting his fellows, as the company did testifie; and this was his end.

This captaine Thomas Cormuell sett forth another vioage to the Westindeas, from the Bay of the Massachusets, well maned and victuled; and was out 3 years, and tooke sundry prises, and returned rich unto the Massachusets, and ther dyed the same somere, having gott a fall from his horse, in which fall he fell on his rapeir hilts, and so brused his body as he shortly after dyed therof,

1 Winthrop relates the incident, and gives the name of the sailor-Voysye. He died the day after his hurt. "It was then the general court at Plimouth, and a jury being empannelled, they found that he died of the wound received from the captain, whereupon the captain was sent for on shore. He offered to put himself upon trial, so as he might not be imprisoned, and that he might be tried by a council of war, both which were granted him, and one of Plimouth, one of their chief men, but no magistrate, undertook for him, body for body, and some of the magistrates and other military officers were chosen a council of war, who, upon the evidence, and sight of his commission by which he had power of martial law, etc. acquitted him. The trained band accompanied the body to the grave, and the captain gave every one of them an eln of black taffeta for a mourning robe." History, 11. *264. It is not stated whether it was a special council of war or that belonging to the plantation, of which a new appointment was made on June 2, of this year. Plymouth Col. Rec., 11. 100. Cromwell went to Boston June 10. The difference in the time of his stay at New Plymouth as stated by Bradford and Winthrop is not explained. From Aspinwall's Notarial Records (p. 22) it appears that Samuel Harvey, mariner under Cromwell, made Nathaniel Souther, of New Plymouth, attorney to collect a debt owing by Andrew Hallet of Yarmouth. Another of Cromwell's men was Nicholas Batson.

with some other distempers, which brought him into a feavor. Some observed that ther might be somthing of the hand of God herein; that as the forenamed man dyed of the blow he gave him with the rapeir hilts, so his owne death was occationed by a like

means.

This year Mr. Edward Winslow went into England, upon this occation: some discontented persons under the govermente of the Massachusets sought to trouble their peace, and disturbe, if not innovate, their govermente, by laying many [270] scandals upon them; and intended to prosecute against them in England, by petitioning and complaining to the Parlemente. Allso Samuell Gorton and his company made complaints against them; so

1 The question of Samuel Gorton came before the Commissioners for the colonies and Plymouth was indirectly involved. The full account belongs to the Winthrop History. He came to Boston in 1636 from Gorton, in Lancashire, and two years later was a resident of Plymouth, "yeoman," with his wife, who "had bin as tenderly brought up as was any man's wife" in Plymouth. Morton says that, upon his first coming to Plymouth he "gave some hopes that he would have proved an useful Instrument, but soon after, by little and little, discovered himself to be a proud and pestilent Seducer, and deeply leavened with blasphemous and Familistical opinions: and observing such Fictions to be spread by some of his Spirit already in the Country, he takes his opportunity to begin to sowe such seed at Plimouth, whereby some were seduced, in special one John Weeks and his wife, who in some short time became very Atheists, looking for no more happiness then this world affords, not onely in practice such, but also in opinion. But the said Gorton falling into some Controversie with one Mr. Ralph Smith, was summoned to the Court held at Plimouth the fourth of December, 1638, to Answer the said Mr. Smiths Complaint; and there he carried so mutinously and seditiously, as that he was for the same, and for his turbulent carriages towards both Magistrates and Ministers in the presence of the Court, Sentenced to finde Sureties for his good Behaviour, during the time he should stay in the Jurisdiction, which was limited to fourteen dayes, and also Amerced to pay a considerable Fine." New Englands Memoriall, *108. Gorton's fine was twenty pounds, and being unable to find sureties for his good behavior in the two weeks given him, he was committed to ward, and at the expiration of the allotted time doubtless departed from the unfriendly jurisdiction. Winslow says that difference in religion was not the real ground for his banishment, and the Court Records, while mentioning "his misdemeanours in the open Court towards the Elders, the Bench, and stirring up the people to mutynie in the face of the Court," also speak of the offence which

as they made choyse of Mr. Winslow to be their agente, to make their defence, and gave him comission and instructions for that end; in which he so carried him selfe as did well answer their ends,

probably brought him before the magistrates, that of sheltering or abetting a widow named Alderedge. Gorton and Winslow have given the leading facts of the incident which terminated his residence in Plymouth. Winslow says:

"The first complaint that came against him for which hee was brought before authority, was by Mr. Ralph Smith a Minister, who being of Gortons acquaintance received him with his family into his house with much humanity and Christian respect, promising him as free use of it as himselfe, &c. but Mr. Gorton becomming troublesome, (after meanes used to remove the offences taken by Mr. Smith, but to no purpose, growing still more insolent) Mr. Smith desired him to provide elsewhere for himselfe : but Gorton refused, saying, hee had as good interest in the house as Mr. Smith had. And when hee was brought before Authority, stood stoutly to maintaine it to our amasement. But was ordered to depart and provide other wayes by a time appointed. And not long after there comming a woman of his acquaintance to Plimouth, divers came to the Governour [Prence] with complaints against her, being a stranger, so [for] unworthy and offensive speeches and carriages used by her. Whereupon the Governour sent to her to know her businesse, &c. and commanded her departure, and ordered the Seaman that brought her, to returne her to the place from whence shee came, at his next passage thither. But Gorton said shee should not goe, for he had occasion to employ her, &c. Hereupon the Governour (it being in the time of a Court) sent for him, and because hee had hidde her, stood in justification of his practise and refused to obey the command of the Court (who seconded the Governours order). He was committed till hee could procure sureties for his good behaviour till the next Court which was a generall Court, and there to answer to this contempt. The time being come and the Court set, Gorton was called; But the Governour being wearied with speech to other causes, requested one of his Assistants who was present at his commitment and privy to the whole cause to declare the same. This Assistant no sooner stood up to shew the Country the cause of his bonds in the great affront hee had given the Government, but Gorton stretching out his hand towards his face said with a loud voice, If Satan will accuse the brethren, let him come down from Jehoshuahs right hand and stand here, And that done, in a seditious manner turned himselfe to the people and said, with his armes spread abroad; Yee see good people how yee are abused! Stand for your liberty; And let them not bee parties and judges, with many other opprobrious speeches of that kinde. Hereupon divers Elders of Churches being present, desiring leave of the Governour to speake, complaining of his seditious carriage, and requested the Court not to suffer these abuses, but to inflict condigne punishment. And yet notwithstanding all wee did to him was but to take the forfeiture of his aforesaid bonds for his good behaviour. Nay being but low and poore in his estate, wee tooke not above eight or