June 10, 1625.
Loving brother,
In regard of that near bond wherewith I am tied to you, I cannot but
seek all opportunities to inform you how it fareth with me—and at this
time the more, in regard I am so far separated from you in the remotest
parts of the west. And at this time I desire to be the more large,
knowing your expectations will be frustrated by me, by not coming into
England, the cause of which hath happened accidentally. For considering
with myself of the many troubles and crosses and losses, with much
hindrance of my time, which happened unto me at my last being there,
upon serious consideration with myself, I durst not put myself so soon
upon the same so rawly again. For first, thinking with myself how ill I
was dealt withal by Mr. Pemberton and his associates, for whose good I
was up early and late, and whose ship I furnished with all manner of
provisions, ready to take her voyage to sea;[119] yet, because there was
a jar between him and the Adventurers I formerly served (whom I found
always loving unto me and in whose service I being, I employed my body
and mind for their good), he thought I had concealed some things from
him, whereby he took himself prejudiced. Whereas, I, meaning well, stood
as neuter; which, if I had sticked to one side, I had done better—but if
to him, not with a good conscience. For as heretofore I have related, he
sought the overthrow of a whole colony of people, which since hath
appeared more apparent. For at the arrival of Mr. Pemberton’s ship and
ours in this country, we both lighted upon one harbor,[120] where the
New Plymouth Colony kept a stage for their fishing. Which stage they of
Pemberton’s ship, by order from him, seized upon by a wile; but in the
interim were glad to compound, or else it had cost them the loss of
their lives and ship. For the plantation sent twenty men in arms to
regain it by land, and our ship[121] lay by theirs to fight with them if
any onset were given. But they, loving to sleep in a whole skin, laid
down their arms and abandoned the plantation’s right; otherwise it had
cost them some blood, if not their lives. Since which time, their agents
here[122] do trouble this poor people, and have set factions among them,
which I fear, in time, will be their overthrow, if God prevent it not in
time. After which falling off with the one side in London, the other
promised me more if I would serve them than I had demanded of the other;
but they, as foolishly as the other side knavishly,[123] admitted so
many of the Company for adventuring—and upon such terms which are too
large to write, disheartened me from them likewise. For they would have
had me to adventure £50 with them in ready money, whereas others
adventuring the like sum had a receipt for ten or twenty pounds more
being upon old accounts. So in conclusion, I had cause to refuse both,
or else to adventure my money I knew not how. After all which, it being
left to my choice till the last, I made choice of this course: to expend
some money in provisions for myself, and to live in the country here a
little, that so I might not be censured for leaving off my voyage so
fully intended. And although I went not in that nature I made account
of, yet since my arrival here, which was upon the 4th of March, and
seeing how things have been carried, I repent no whit, but rejoice in
that I dealt with neither.
For my being here a while and marking the carriages of these fishing
affairs, I doubt not but in time to manage them without the direction of
others, which thing is the chiefest cause of my stay. For it is my
resolution to adventure this ways again, but never to have any other but
myself to be the chief manager of it, for a honest man had better deal
with savages than with seamen, whose god is all manner of wickedness.
And although the expense of my time will be much, yet as I shall not be
any great gainer, so shall I be no great spender; yet I doubt not to be
a safer, if God bless me in those courses that I will take. For I intend
not to sit idle, but to use all means to help myself; and the next year,
I hope to be settled in some certain course of plantation. It may be
your acquaintance with Sir Samuel Argall[124] (if it be any) may do me
some good, for I hear he intends to adventure for a plantation in this
country the next year; in which business I doubt not but I could do him
some good by reason of my acquaintance here with the natives. To which
purpose I have writ to a merchant in London named Mr. Cross in
Bartholomew Lane, who is of my acquaintance and the principal agent in
that adventure. If you see it convenient, I pray speak to Sir Samuel,
who I know to be judicious and discreet and a lover to all plantations.
But for all this, I am not so wedded to my own desires as to reject your
good advice. For if you think it better for me to leave this country
than to tarry in it, showing your reasons, I will come home to my own
country the next year. But if I be not advised by you to that purpose,
my resolutions are settled here for some longer time if I see any good
to come of it. And in the mean time, I pray excuse me to my friends who
have expected me this year, and according to your own discretion, frame
them answer. However, I desire you, if Mr. Bland and William Watson
enquire of me, I pray pay them their monies for their adventure, if they
do in any sort suspect it or desire it; as also goodman Stracy and Wells
who, I know, long look for it, and from whose censures I desire to be
freed, although of right they should stand to the hazard of profit and
loss. But seeing it was adventured by my means, I desire to repay them
again, for I think that by reason of Mr. Pemberton and his factions, a
£10 share will never yield twenty shillings. For he by his falsities
made the Company in England leave from supplying this people here, and
now they here will not join again with the Adventurers, but will live of
themselves.[125] I am right sorry that I have adventured so much
myself—much more that I persuaded you and some other friends to
adventure your monies in a business so strange to us all. But it is too
late; only I shall be more cautelous[126] while I live, and look to my
own better, for although that by these many mishaps I have been a loser,
yet I hope that my stock at home in your hands will increase—if I be
dealt honestly by, by them who had it when I came this way, which I hope
you will take to your care. And for the more security of it, I desire
you to take £400 of mine into your hands and to allow me an yearly
annuity for it, such as in reason shall be thought fit by my brother
Hawtry, my cousin Banks[127] and yourself. The other part of my means I
will reserve to adventure when I see an opportunity, as being
sufficient; which money, likewise, I refer to the care of you and my
brother Hawtry to dispose of it as you think most for my good. But I
pray you that those things I have sent for—which things are specified in
a note here enclosed, let them all be bought for me, and let your man
help Mr. Sherley to put them up for me in very good cask, for fear of
wet. All which things are not for my private spending, but are to barter
away to others to my most advantage. And to that end, let Mr. Sherley be
furnished with monies, so that I may not fail of my expectations by the
next shipping. I have also given Mr. Sherley order to receive £20 for me
of one William Peirce, master of that ship I went over in the last year,
being called the _Hopewell_. The said Peirce his bond I left with one
Mr. Richard Tapper, grocer at Plymouth[128] by the town hall, who is my
friend and did promise me to deliver it, it being enclosed in a letter
directed to Mr. Sherley, if he were living, or to Mr. Nathaniel Hawes at
the Three Cocks. Which bond, I hope, is come long before this time; but
if it should not, I have given order to Mr. Sherley to send to him for
it at the first receipt of my letter. And to Mr. Sherley hath Peirce
promised me to deliver the money at his first coming into England, which
will be about the 1st of September, 1625. In the mean time, pray solicit
Mr. Sherley to do his best for me. Also to this Mr. Richard Tapper,
grocer at Plymouth, and to one goodman Cheire, a throwster, who are both
known to Mr. Sherley and are my friends. To them I have written to send
me two hogsheads of white pease, two hogsheads of meal, four bushels of
oatmeal, five hundredweight of biscuit, three or four she-goats, and
four pair of leather buskins (to keep one free from the mosquitoes which
are here infinite).
I pray, sir, do your best that these commodities be bought for me,
which, if they come safe to me, I hope to make a good voyage of it. For
all these things in the note are for the most part to trade with the
Indians, which will make a good return, if God give me life and
health—especially those knives and beads, of all which I have sent Mr.
Sherley patterns of, with notes of their quantities, that I might have
such as I have wrote for. I could have at this time sent home £20 worth
of beaver, but I keep it by me for my more necessary occasions in
trading. And if I can do nothing worthy my stay, I intend, if possibly,
to see Virginia, and in my way homewards, to see Spain and France, that
so I may be complete in travel, which will be worth my time.
Thus remembering my true love unto you with thankful acknowledgment of
your continual care and love towards me, I desire you to remember my
love to your wife, my sister, my aunt Wolley, Mr. Denn, and the rest of
my friends whose names want of time makes me not mention. Especially, as
I am most bound, pray forget me not, but remember my love and service to
the right worshipful Sir John Leventhorpe and his Lady, and to all my
brothers and sisters there.
Farewell!