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.

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. p̲^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.

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 plūged 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 com̅odities 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^thin 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 accom̅odation, 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.

Anno Dom: 1633.

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.

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.

M^r. Roger Williams (a man godly & zealous, having many precious parts, but very unsettled in judgmente) came over first to y^e Massachusets, but upon some discontente left y^t place, and came hither, (wher he was friēdly entertained, according to their poore abilitie,) and exercised his gifts amongst them, & after some time was admitted a member of y^e church; and his teaching well approoved, for y^e benefite wherof I still blese God, and am thankfull to him, even for his sharpest admonitions & reproufs, so farr as they agreed with truth. He this year begane to fall into some strang oppiīons, and from opinion to practise; which caused some controversie betweene y^e church & him, and in y^e end some discontente on his parte, by occasion wherof he left them some thing abruptly. Yet after wards sued for his dismission to y^e church of Salem, which was granted, with some caution to them concerning him, and what care they ought to have of him. But he soone fell into more things ther, both to their and y^e governments troble and [196] disturbance. I shall not need to name perticulers, they are too well knowen now to all, though for a time y^e church here wente under some hard censure by his occasion, from some that afterwards smarted them selves. But he is to be pitied, and prayed for, and so I shall leave y^e matter, and desire y^e Lord to shew him his errors, and reduse him into y^e way of truth, and give him a setled judgment and constancie in y^e same; for I hope he belongs to y^e Lord, and y^t he will shew him mercie.

Having had formerly converse and famliarity with y^e Dutch, (as is before remembred,) they, seeing them seated here in a barren quarter, tould them of a river called by them y^e Fresh River, but now is known by y^e name of Conightecute-River, which they often com̅ended unto them for a fine place both for plantation and trade, and wished them to make use of it. But their hands being full otherwise, they let it pass. But afterwards ther coming a company of banishte Indeans into these parts, that were drivene out from thence by the potencie of y^e Pequents, which usurped upon them, and drive them from thence, they often sollisited them to goe thither, and they should have much trad, espetially if they would keep a house ther. And having now good store of comodities, and allso need to looke out wher they could advantage them selves to help them out of their great ingagments, they now begane to send that way to discover y^e same, and trade with y^e natives. They found it to be a fine place, but had no great store of trade; but y^e Indeans excused y^e same in regard of y^e season, and the fear y^e Indans were in of their enemise. So they tried diverce times, not with out profite, but saw y^e most certainty would be by keeping a house ther, to receive y^e trad when it came down out of y^e inland. These Indeans, not seeing them very forward to build ther, solisited them of y^e Massachusets in like sorte (for their end was to be restored to their countrie againe); but they in y^e Bay being but latly come, were not fitte for y^e same; but some of their cheefe made a motion to joyne w^th the partners here, to trad joyntly with them in y^t river, the which they were willing to imbrace, and so they should have builte, and put in equall stock togeather. A time of meeting was appointed at y^e Massachusets, and some of y^e cheefe here was appointed to treat with them, and went accordingly; but they cast many fears of deanger & loss and the like, which was perceived to be the maine obstacles, though they alledged they were not provided of trading goods. But those hear offered at presente to put in sufficiente for both, provided they would become ingaged for y^e halfe, and prepare against y^e nexte year. They conffessed more could not be offered, but thanked them, and tould them they had no mind to it. They then answered, they hoped it would be no offence unto [197] them, if them sellves wente on without them, if they saw it meete. They said ther was no reason they should; and thus this treaty broake of, and those here tooke conveniente time to made a begining ther; and were y^e first English that both discovered that place, and built in y^e same, though they were litle better then thrust out of it afterward as may appeare.

But y^e Dutch begane now to repente, and hearing of their purpose & preparation, indēoured to prevente them, and gott in a litle before them, and made a slight forte, and planted 2. peeces of ordnance, thretening to stopp their passage. But they having made a smale frame of a house ready, and haveing a great new-barke, they stowed their frame in her hold, & bords to cover & finishe it, having nayles & all other provisions fitting for their use. This they did y^e rather that they might have a presente defence against y^e Indeans, who weare much offended that they brought home & restored y^e right Sachem of y^e place (called Natawanute); so as they were to incounter with a duble danger in this attempte, both y^e Dutch and y^e Indeans. When they came up y^e river, the Dutch demanded what they intended, and whither they would goe; they answered, up y^e river to trade (now their order was to goe and seat above them). They bid them strike, & stay, or els they would shoote them; & stood by ther ordnance ready fitted. They answered they had com̅ission from y^e Gov^r of Plimoth to goe up y^e river to such a place, and if they did shoote, they must obey their order and proceede; they would not molest them, but would goe one. So they passed along, and though the Dutch threatened them hard, yet they shoot not. Com̅ing to their place, they clapt up their house quickly, and landed their provissions, and left y^e companie appoynted, and sent the barke home; and afterwards palisadoed their house aboute, and fortified them selves better. The Dutch sent word home to y^e Monhatas what was done: and in proces of time, they sent a band of aboute 70. men, in warrlike maner, with collours displayed, to assaulte them; but seeing them strengtened, & that it would cost blood, they came to parley, and returned in peace. And this was their enterance ther, who deserved to have held it, and not by freinds to have been thrust out, as in a sorte they were, as will after appere. They did y^e Dutch no wrong, for they took not a foote of any land they bought, but went to y^e place above them, and bought that tracte of land which belonged to these Indeans which they carried with them, and their friends, with whom y^e Dutch had nothing to doe. But of these matters more in another place.

It pleased y^e Lord to visite them this year with an infectious fevoure, of which many fell very sicke, and upward of 20. persons dyed, men and women, besids children, and sundry of them of their anciente friends which had lived in Holand; as Thomas Blossome, Richard Masterson, with sundry [198] others, and in y^e end (after he had much helped others) Samuell Fuller, who was their surgeon & phisition, and had been a great help and comforte unto them; as in his facultie, so otherwise, being a deacon of y^e church, a man godly, and forward to doe good, being much missed after his death; and he and y^e rest of their brethren much lamented by them, and caused much sadnes & mourning amongst them; which caused them to humble them selves, & seeke y^e Lord; and towards winter it pleased the Lord y^e sicknes ceased. This disease allso swept away many of y^e Indeans from all y^e places near adjoyning; and y^e spring before, espetially all y^e month of May, ther was such a quantitie of a great sorte of flies, like (for bignes) to wasps, or bumble-bees, which came out of holes in y^e ground, and replenished all y^e woods, and eate y^e green-things, and made such a constante yelling noyes, as made all y^e woods ring of them, and ready to deafe y^e hearers. They have not by y^e English been heard or seen before or since. But y^e Indeans tould them y^t sicknes would follow, and so it did in June, July, August, and y^e cheefe heat of som̅er.

It pleased y^e Lord to inable them this year to send home a great quantity of beaver, besids paing all their charges, & debts at home, which good returne did much incourage their freinds in England. They sent in beaver 3366^li. waight, and much of it coat beaver, which yeeled 20^s. p̲^r pound, & some of it above; and of otter-skines[DJ] 346. sould also at a good prise. And thus much of y^e affairs of this year.

Anno Dom: 1634.

M^r. Sherleys letters were very breefe in answer of theirs this year. I will forbear to coppy any part therof, only name a head or 2. therm. First, he desirs they will take nothing ill in what he formerly write, professing his good affection towards them as before, &c. 2^ly. For M^r. Allertons accounts, he is perswaded they must suffer, and y^t in no small sum̅es; and that they have cause enough to complaine, but it was now too late. And that he had failed them ther, those here, and him selfe in his owne aimes. And that now, having thus left them here, he feared God had or would leave him, and it would not be strang, but a wonder if he fell not into worse things, &c. 3^ly. He blesseth God and is thankfull to them for y^e good returne made this year. This is y^e effecte of his letters, other things being of more private nature.

I am now to enter upon one of y^e sadest things that befell them since they came; but before I begine, it will be needfull to premise such parte of their patente as gives them right and priviledge at Kenebeck; as followeth:

Now it so fell out, that one Hocking, belonging to y^e plantation of Pascataway, wente with a barke and com̅odities to trade in that river, and would needs press into their limites; and not only so, but would needs goe up y^e river above their house, (towards y^e falls of y^e river,) and intercept the trade that should come to them. He that was cheefe of y^e place forbad them, and prayed him that he would not offer them that injurie, nor goe aboute to infring their liberties, which had cost them so dear. But he answered he would goe up and trade ther in dispite of them, and lye ther as longe as he pleased. The other tould him he must then be forced to remove him from thence, or make seasure of him if he could. He bid him doe his worste, and so wente up, and anchored ther. The other tooke a boat & some men & went up to him, when he saw his time, and againe entreated him to departe by what perswasion he could. But all in vaine: he could gett nothing of him but ill words. So he considred that now was y^e season for trade to come downe, and if he should suffer him to lye, & take it from them, all ther former charge would be lost, and they had better throw up all. So, consulting with his men, (who were willing thertoe,) he resolved to put him from his anchores, and let him drive downe y^e river with y^e streame; but com̅anded y^e men y^t none should shoote a shote upon any occasion, except he com̅anded them. He spoake to him againe, but all in vaine; then he sente a cuple in a canow to cutt his cable, the which one of them performes; but Hocking taks up a pece which he had layed ready, and as y^e barke shered by y^e canow, he shote [200] him close under her side, in y^e head, (as I take it,) so he fell downe dead instantly. One of his fellows (that loved him well) could not hold, but with a muskett shot Hocking, who fell downe dead and never speake word. This was y^e truth of y^e thing. The rest of y^e men carried home the vessell and y^e sad tidings of these things. Now y^e Lord Saye & y^e Lord Brooks, with some other great persons, had a hand in this plantation; they write home to them, as much as they could to exasperate them in y^e matter, leaveing out all y^e circomstances, as if he had been kild without any offenc of his parte, conceling y^t he had kild another first, and y^e just occasion that he had given in offering such wrong; at w^ch their Lords^ps were much offended, till they were truly informed of y^e mater.

The bruite of this was quickly carried all aboute, (and y^t in y^e worst maner,) and came into y^e Bay to their neighbours their. Their owne barke com̅ing home, and bringing a true relation of y^e matter, sundry were sadly affected with y^e thing, as they had cause. It was not long before they had occasion to send their vessell into y^e Bay of y^e Massachusetts; but they were so prepossest with this matter, and affected with y^e same, as they com̅ited M^r. Alden to prison, who was in y^e bark, and had been at Kenebeck, but was no actore in y^e bussines, but wente to carie them supply. They dismist y^e barke aboute her bussines, but kept him for some time. This was thought strang here, and they sente Capten Standish to give them true information, (togeather with their letters,) and y^e best satisfaction they could, and to procure M^r. Alden's release. I shall recite a letter or 2. which will show the passages of these things, as folloeth.