Anno Dom: 1627. T the usuall season of the coming of ships Mr. Allerton returned, and brought some usfull goods with him, according A to the order given him. For upon his commission he tooke up 200li. which he now gott at 30. per cent.1 The which goods they gott safly home, and well conditioned, which was much to the comfort and contente of the plantation. He declared unto them, allso, how, with much adoe and no small trouble, he had made a composition with the adventurers, by the help of sundrie of their faithfull freinds ther, who had allso taken much pains their about. The 1 The uncertain political conditions in England accounted in a measure for the difficulties experienced by Allerton in obtaining what he desired. The Parliament dissolved June 15, 1626, after a session largely devoted to charges against the Duke of Buckingham and the defence of the privileges of members. The succeeding months saw the efforts of the King to obtain money with which to maintain a fleet of ships for the defence of the kingdom and to send another against Spanish treasure ships and transports. Charles was obliged to pay usurious rates for ready money, and to sell large quantities of the royal plate, for the grants by Parliament had been meagre, and the measures resorted to by the king did not produce sufficient to meet the demands of the long unpaid and now clamorous soldiers and sailors. Relations with France continued to be strained, as the English seized French vessels on suspicion of having Spanish cargoes, and the French sequestered English goods in France by way of reprisal. On November 24, nine days after Allerton had completed his agreement with the London Adventurers, it was known by some in England that the English and Scottish fleet of wine ships, some two hundred in number, had been seized by the Governor of Guienne, the Duke of Epernon. Reprisals and other causes of difference followed, and war between the two countries appeared inevitable. • Allerton probably left New England early in July and returned "at the usual season of the coming of ships." The task of making an arrangement with the Adventurers could not have been easy, in spite of the preparations made for it by Standish; or Allerton's increasing influence with the English creditors and his desire to increase his own gains, may have accounted for a good part of the difficulties alleged to have arisen. This mission of Allerton proved in the event exceptionally costly. "Besides the obtaining of this money, he with much ado made a composition agreement or bargen he had brought a draught of, with a list of ther names ther too annexed, drawne by the best counsell of law they could get, to make it firme. The heads wherof I shall here inserte. TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, GREETING, etc. Wheras at a meeting the 26. of October last past, diverse and sundrie persons, whose names to the one part of these presents are subscribed in a schedule hereunto annexed, Adventurers to New-Plimoth in New-England in America, were contented and agreed, in consideration of the sume of one thousand and eight hundred pounds sterling to be paid, (in maner and forme foll[ow]ing,) to sell, and make sale of all and every the stocks, shares, lands, marchandise, and chatles, what soever, to the said adventurers, and other ther fellow adventurers to New Plimoth aforesaid, any way accruing, or belonging to the generalitie of the said adventurers afforesaid; as well by reason of any sume or sumes of money, or marchandise, at any times heretofore adventured or disbursed by them, or other wise howsoever; for the better expression and setting forth of which said agreemente, the parties to these presents subscribing, doe for [144] them selves severally, and as much as in them is, grant, bargain, alien, sell, and transfere all and every the said shares, goods, lands, marchandice, and chatles to them belonging as afforesaid, unto Isaack Alerton, one of the planters resident at Plimoth afforesaid, assigned, and sent over as agente for the rest of the planters ther, and to shuch other planters at Plimoth afforesaid as the said Isack, his heirs, or assignes, at his or ther arrivall, shall by writing or otherwise thinke fitte to joyne or partake in the premisses, their heirs, and assignes, in as large, ample, and beneficiall maner and forme, to all intents and purposes, as the said subscribing adventurers here could or may doe, or performe. All which stocks, shares, lands, etc. to the said adven[turers] in severallitie alloted, apportioned, or any way belonging, the said adven[turers] doe warrant and defend unto the said Isaack Allerton, his heirs and assignes, against them, their heirs and assignes, by these presents. And therfore and agreement with the body of the adventurers, Mr. Allden (something now softened by my letter before mentioned) who was one of our powerfulest opposers, did not only yield thereunto, but was a furtherer of the same.' Bradford Letter Book, 46. Probably the Robert Allden mentioned on p. 6, infra. |