(*3) of the course of the Virginia Company towards its planters, whose "purses and lives were subject to some few here in London who were never there, that consumed all in Arguments, Projects, and their owne conceits, every yeere trying new conclusions, altering every thing yearely as they altered opinions." Winthrop notes that the Handmaid, John Grant, master, arrived at Plymouth, October 29, 1630, having been twelve weeks at sea, and spent all her masts. She had about sixty passengers, "who came all well," but of twenty-eight heifers she landed only seventeen alive. On November II the vessel came to the Bay with Captain * Standish and two gentlemen passengers, "who came to plant here, but having no testimony, we would not receive them." History, 1. *37, 38. Dudley tells us that Morton of Mare-Mount was sent home to England in the Handmaid, and in December of this year. Some beaver was also sent home in her, but whether on Plymouth or on Bay account Morton does not state; but he does give a relation of the unseaworthiness of the ship and the hardships of the passage. New English Canaan (Prince Society), 337, 342. A SHLEY being thus by the hand of God taken away, and Mr. Allerton discharged of his imploymente for them,1 their bussines began againe to rune in one chanell, and them selves better able to guide the same, Penobscote being wholy now at their disposing. And though Mr. William Peirce had a parte ther as is before noted, yet now, as things stood, he was glad to have his money repayed him, and stand out. Mr. Winslow, whom they had sent over, sent them over some supply as soone as he could; and afterwards when he came, which was something longe by reason of bussines, he brought a large supply of suitable goods with him, by which ther trading was well carried on." But by no means either he, or the letters they write, could take off Mr. Sherley and the rest from putting both the Friendship and WhitAngell on the generall accounte; which caused continuall contention betweene them, as will more appeare. I shall inserte a leter of Mr. Winslow's about these things, being as foloweth. SIR: It fell out by Gods providence, that I received and brought your leters per Mr. Allerton from Bristoll, to London; and doe much 1 In August, 1631. PRINCE in Bradford мs. See p. 110, supra. 2 This trading settlement was on a peninsula later known as Matchebiguatus, or by contraction, Bagaduce Point, at the mouth of the Penobscot. On the name see I Maine Hist. Soc. Coll., VI. 107. See p. 81, supra. • Arriving at Boston on June 5, 1632. — PRINCE in Bradford Ms. Winslow came on the William and Francis. 5 Winslow's purchases supplied a model for some purchasing for Governor Winthrop: "The cloth was provided by my brother Downeinge and Mr. Smith the tayler, and it is such as Master Winslow did buy heer to trucke with the natives." Francis Kirby to John Winthrop, Jr., June 22, 1632. 3 Mass. Hist. Collections, Ix. 247. feare what will be the event of things. Mr. Allerton intended to prepare the ship againe, to set forth upon fishing. Mr. Sherley, Mr. Beachamp, and Mr. Andrews, they renounce all' perticulers, protesting but for us they would never have adventured one penie into those parts; Mr. Hatherley stands inclinable to either. And wheras you write that he and Mr. Allerton have taken the Whit-Angell upon them, for their partners here, they professe they neiver gave any shuch order, nor will make it good; 1 if them selves will cleare the accounte and doe it, all shall be well. What the evente of these things will be, I know not. The Lord so directe and assiste us, as he may not be dishonoured by our divissions. I hear (per a freind) that I was much blamed for speaking with [what] I heard in the spring of the year, concerning the buying and setting forth of that ship; 2 sure, if I should not have tould you what I heard so peremptor[i]ly reported (which report I offered now to prove at Bristoll), I should have been unworthy my imploymente. And concerning the commission so long since given to Mr. Allerton, the truth is, the thing we feared is come upon us; for Mr. Sherley and the rest have it, and will not deliver it, that being the ground of our agents credite to procure shuch great sumes. But I looke for bitter words, hard thoughts, and sower looks, from sundrie, as well for writing this, as reporting the former. I would I had a more thankfull imploymente; but I hope a good conscience shall make it comefortable, etc. Thus farr he. Dated November] 16. 1631. The comission above said was given by them under their hand and seale, when Mr. Allerton was first imployed by them, and redemanded of him in the year 29. when they begane to suspecte his course. He tould them it was amongst his papers, but he would seeke it out and give it them before he wente. But he being ready to goe, it was demanded againe. He said he could not find it, but it was amongst his papers, which he must take with him, [183] and 1 See p. 102, supra and p. 123, infra. This was about the selling the ship in Spaine. — BRADFORD. he would send it by the boat from the eastward; but ther it could not be had neither, but he would seeke it up at sea. But whether Mr. Sherly had it before or after, it is not certaine; but having it, he would not let it goe, but keeps it to this day. Wherfore, even amongst freinds, men had need be carfull whom they trust, and not lett things of this nature lye long unrecaled. Some parts of Mr. Sherley's letters aboute these things, in which the truth is best manifested. SIR: Yours I have received by our loving friends, Mr. Allerton and Mr. Hatherley, who, blesed be God, after a long and dangerous passage with the ship Angell, are safely come to Bristoll. Mr. Hatherley is come up, but Mr. Allerton I have not yet seen. We thanke you, and are very glad you have disswaded him from his Spanish viage, and that he did not goe on in those designes he intended; for we did all uterly dislick of that course, as allso of the fishing that the Freindship should have performed; for we wished him to sell the salte, and were unwilling to have him undertake so much bussines, partly for the ill success we formerly had in those affairs, and partly being loath to disburse so much money. But he perswaded us this must be one way that must repay us, for the plantation would be long in doing of it; ney, to my rememberance, he doubted you could not be able, with the trade ther, to maintaine your charge and pay us. And for this very cause he brought us on that bussines with Ed. Ashley, for he was a stranger to us, etc.1 For the fishing ship, we are sorie it proves so heavie, and will be willing to bear our parts. What Mr. Hatherley and Mr. Allerton have done, no doubt but them selves will make good; we gave them no order to make any composition, to seperate you and us in this or any other. And I thinke you have no cause to forsake us, for we put you upon no new thing, but what your agent perswaded us to, and you by your 1 As a trading operation the conduct of Sherley is apparently open to criticism. If the ability of the New Plymouth partners to pay their debts was questionable, how was the situation in this respect improved by establishing competition in that branch of trade whence they drew their largest profit? letters desired. If he exceede your order, I hope you will not blame us, much less cast us of, when our moneys be layed out, etc. But I fear neither you nor we have been well delt withall, for sure, as you write, halfe 400oli., nay, a quarter, in fitting comodities, and in seasonable time, would have furnished you beter then you were. And yet for all this, and much more I might write, I dare not but thinke him honest, and that his desire and intente was good; but the wisest may faile. Well, now that it hath pleased God to give us hope of meeting, doubte not but we will all indeavore to perfecte these accounts just and right, as soone as possibly we can. And I supposs you sente over Mr. Winslow, and we Mr. Hatherley, to certifie each other how the state of things stood. We have received some contente upon Mr. Hatherley's returne, and I hope you will receive good contente upon Mr. Winslow's returne. Now I should come to answer more perticulerly your letter, but herin I shall be very breefe. The coming of the White Angele on your accounte could not be more strang to you, then the buying of her was to us; for you gave him commission' that what he did you would stand too; we gave him none, and yet for his credite, and your sakes, payed what bills he charged on us, etc. For that I write she was to acte tow parts, fishing and trade; beleeve me, I never so much as thought of any perticuler trade, nor will side with any that doth, if I conceive it may wrong you; for I ever was against it, useing these words: They will eate up and destroy the generall. Other things I omite as tedious, and not very pertenente. This was dated Nov[embe]r 19. 1631. They were too shorte in resting on Mr. Hatherley's honest word, for his order to discharge them from the Friendship's accounte, when he and Mr. Allerton made the bargane with them, and they delivered them the rest of the goods; and therby gave them oppertunitie also to receive all the fraight of boath viages, without seeing an order (to have shuch power) under their hands in writing, 1 This commission is abused; he never had any for shuch end, as they well knew, nether had they any to pay this money, nor would have paid a peny, if they had not pleased for some other respecte. - BRADFORD. |