Part 26
S^r: etc. The sadd news here is, that many are sicke, and many are dead; y^e Lord in mercie looke upon them. Some are here entered into church covenante; the first were 4. namly, y^e Gov^r, M^r. John Winthrop, M^r. Johnson, M^r. Dudley, and M^r. Willson; since that 5. more are joyned unto them, and others, it is like, will adde them selves to them dayly; the Lord increase them, both in number and in holines for his mercie sake. Here is a gentleman, one M^r. Cottington, (a Boston man,) who tould me, that M^r. Cottons charge at Hamton was, that they should take advise of them at Plimoth, and should doe nothing to offend them. Here are diverce honest Christians that are desirous to see us, some out of love which they bear to us, and y^e good perswasion they have of us; others to see whether we be so ill as they have heard of us. We have a name of holines, and love to God and his saincts; the Lord make us more and more answerable, and that it may be more then a name, or els it will doe us no good. Be you lovingly saluted, and all the rest of our friends. The Lord Jesus blese us, and y^e whole Israll of God. Amen.
Your loving brother, &c.
Charles-towne, Aug. 2. 1630.
Thus out of smalle beginings greater things have been prodused by his hand y^t made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so y^e light here kindled hath shone to many, yea in some sorte to our whole nation; let y^e glorious name of Jehova have all y^e praise.
[182] _Anno Dom_: 1631.
Ashley being thus by y^e hand of God taken away, and M^r. Allerton discharged of his imploymente for them, 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 M^r. 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. M^r. 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 y^e letters y^ey write, could take off M^r. Sherley & y^e rest from putting both y^e Friendship and Whit-Angell on y^e generall accounte; which caused continuall contention betweene them, as will more appeare.
I shall inserte a leter of M^r. Winslow's about these things, being as foloweth.
S^r: It fell out by Gods providence, y^t I received and brought your leters p^r M^r. Allerton from Bristoll, to London; and doe much feare what will be y^e event of things. M^r. Allerton intended to prepare y^e ship againe, to set forth upon fishing. M^r. Sherley, M^r. Beachamp, & M^r. Andrews, they renounce all perticulers, protesting but for us they would never have adventured one penie into those parts; M^r. Hatherley stands inclinable to either. And wheras you write that he and M^r. Allerton have taken y^e Whit-Angell upon them, for their partners here, they professe they neiver gave any such order, nor will make it good; if them selves will cleare y^e accounte & doe it, all shall be well. What y^e 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 (p^r a friend) that I was much blamed for speaking w^t[CT] I heard in y^e spring of y^e year, concerning y^e buying & setting forth of y^t ship;[CU] sure, if I should not have tould you what I heard so peremtorly reported (which report I offered now to prove at Bristoll), I should have been unworthy my imploymente. And concerning y^e commission so long since given to M^r. Allerton, the truth is, the thing we feared is come upon us; for M^r. Sherley & y^e rest have it, and will not deliver it, that being y^e 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 y^e former. I would I had a more thankfull imploymente; but I hope a good conscience shall make it comefortable, &c.
Thus farr he. Dated Nov: 16. 1631.
The comission above said was given by them under their hand and seale, when M^r. Allerton was first imployed by them, and redemanded of him in y^e year 29. when they begane to suspecte his course. He tould them it was amongst his papers, but he would seeke it out & 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 w^th him, [183] and he would send it by y^e boat from y^e eastward; but ther it could not be had neither, but he would seeke it up at sea. But whether M^r. Sherley 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 M^r. Sherley's letters aboute these things, in which y^e truth is best manifested._
Sir: Yours I have received by our loving friends, M^r. Allerton & M^r. Hatherley, who, blesed be God, after a long & dangerous passage with y^e ship Angell, are safely come to Bristoll. M^r. Hatherley is come up, but M^r. Allerton I have not yet seen. We thanke you, and are very glad you have disswaded him from his Spanish viage, and y^t he did not goe on in these designes he intended; for we did all uterly dislick of that course, as allso of y^e fishing y^t y^e Freindship should have performed; for we wished him to sell y^e salte, and were unwilling to have him undertake so much bussines, partly for y^e 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 y^t must repay us, for y^e plantation would be long in doing of it; ney, to my rememberance, he doubted you could not be able, with y^e trade ther, to maintaine your charge & pay us. And for this very cause he brought us on y^t bussines with Ed: Ashley, for he was a stranger to us, &c.
For y^e fishing ship, we are sorie it proves so heavie, and will be willing to bear our parts. What M^r. Hatherley & M^r. Allerton have done, no doubt but them selves will make good;[CV] 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, & you by your 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, &c. But I fear neither you nor we have been well delte withall, for sure, as you write, halfe 4000^li.?, 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 y^e wisest may faile. Well, now y^t it hath pleased God to give us hope of meeting, doubte not but we will all indeavore to perfecte these accounts just & right, as soone as possibly we can. And I supposs you sente over M^r. Winslow, and we M^r. Hatherley, to certifie each other how y^e state of things stood. We have received some contente upon M^r. Hatherley's returne, and I hope you will receive good contente upon M^r. Winslow's returne. Now I should come to answer more perticulerly your letter, but herin I shall be very breefe. The coming of y^e White Angele on your accounte could not be more strang to you, then y^e buying of her was to us; for you gave him commission[CW] that what he did you would stand too; we gave him none, and yet for his credite, and your saks, payed what bills he charged on us, &c. For y^t I write she was to acte tow parts, fishing & trade; beleeve me, I never so much as thought of any perticuler trade, nor will side with any y^t doth, if I conceive it may wrong you; for I ever was against it, useing these words: They will eate up and destroy y^e generall.
Other things I omite as tedious, and not very pertenente. This was dated Nov^r. 19. 1631.
In an other leter bearing date y^e 24. of this month, being an answer to y^e generall order, he hath these words:--
[184] For y^e White Angell, against which you write so ernestly, and say we thrust her upon you, contrary to y^e intente of y^e buyer, herin we say you forgett your selves, and doe us wrong. We will not take uppon us to devine what y^e thougts or intents of y^e buyer was, but what he spack we heard, and that we will affirme, and make good against any y^t oppose it; which is, y^t unles shee were bought, and shuch a course taken, Ashley could not be supplyed; and againe, if he weer not supplyed, we could not be satisfied what we were out for you. And further, you were not able to doe it; and he gave some reasons which we spare to relate, unless by your unreasonable refusall you will force us, and so, hasten y^t fire which is a kindling too fast allready, &c.
_Out of another of his, bearing date Jan. 2. 1631._
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.