Mr. Winslow in England about the White Angel and Friendship
accounts—The White Angel let out to Allerton—Allerton’s extravagance
as agent—Josias Winslow sent from England as accountant—Penobscot
robbed by the French—Sir Christopher Gardiner in New England—The
Order of the Privy Council about New England: 1631.
Ashley being taken away by the hand of God, and Mr. Allerton
discharged from his employment, their business began to run smoothly
again, since they were better able to guide it, Penobscot being now
wholly in their control; for though Mr. William Pierce had a share
in it, as things stood he was glad to have his money repaid him and
resign. Mr. Winslow sent them over some supplies from England as soon
as he could, and when he arrived some time later he brought a large
supply of suitable goods with him, by means of which their trading
could be carried on successfully. Neither his representations nor the
letters they wrote succeeded in preventing Mr. Sherley and the rest
from charging both the Friendship and the White Angel to the general
account, which was the cause of continual contention thereafter.
I will now insert a letter of Mr. Winslow’s on the subject.
_Edward Winslow in England to Governor Bradford at New Plymouth_:
Sir,
It chanced by God’s providence that I received and brought your
letters per Mr. Allerton from Bristol to London; and I fear what
the outcome will be. Mr. Allerton intended to fit out the ship
again for fishing. Mr. Sherley, Mr. Beauchamp, and Mr. Andrews
disclaim responsibility, protesting that but for us they would
never have risked one penny; Mr. Hatherley takes no decided stand
on either side. As to what you write about him and Mr. Allerton
taking the White Angel upon themselves on behalf of the partners
here, the others insist that they never gave any such orders, nor
will they make it good; if those two like to be responsible for the
account, well and good. What the upshot will be, I do not know.
The Lord so direct and assist us that He may not be dishonoured
by our dissensions. I hear from a friend that I was much blamed
for telling what I heard in the spring about the plans for selling
the ship in Spain; but if I had not told you what I heard so
peremptorily reported,—and which I offered to prove at Bristol,—I
should certainly have been unworthy of my employment. As to the
power of attorney, given so long ago to Mr. Allerton, what we
feared has happened: Mr. Sherley and the others have got it and
will not surrender it, that being the instrument of our agents’
credit to procure such sums. I expect bitter words, hard thoughts,
and sour looks from several for writing this, as for reporting the
former information. I would I had a more thankful task, but I hope
a good conscience will make it comfortable, etc.
_Nov. 16th, 1631._
Thus far he.
The deed mentioned above was given under their hand and seal when Mr.
Allerton was first employed by them, and its return was requested
when they first began to suspect him. He told them it was among his
papers, but he would find it and give it them before he went. When
he was ready to go it was demanded again. He said he had not found
it, but it was among his papers which he was taking with him, and he
would send it by the boat coming from the eastward; and then again
it could not be found, but he would look it up at sea. Whether Mr.
Sherley had it before or after this is not certain; but having it, he
would not let it go, and keeps it to this day. So even among friends
men need to be careful whom they trust, and not let things of this
nature lie long unrecalled.
_James Sherley in England to Governor Bradford at New Plymouth_:
Sir,
I have received your letter through our friends Mr. Allerton
and Mr. Hatherley, who, blessed be God, have arrived safely at
Bristol. Mr. Hatherley has come to London, but Mr. Allerton I
have not yet seen. We thank you, and are very glad you dissuaded
him from the Spanish voyage, and that he did not fulfill his
intentions; for we all utterly disliked the project, as well as the
fishing of the Friendship. We wished him to sell the salt, and were
unwilling to have him undertake so much business, partly because
of previous failure, and partly because we were loth to disburse
so much money. But he assured us this would repay us, and that the
colony would be long in doing so; nay, I remember that he even
doubted if by your trading there you could meet your expenses and
pay us, and for this very reason he induced us to undertake that
business with Ashley, though he was a stranger to us....
As to the cost of the fishing ship we are sorry it proves so heavy,
and are willing to take our share of it. What Mr. Hatherley and Mr.
Allerton have proposed no doubt they themselves will make good; we
gave them no authority to make any composition to separate you from
us in this or any other scheme. Furthermore, I think you have no
cause to forsake us, for we involved you in nothing but what your
agent advocated and you in your letters desired. If he exceeded
your authority I hope you will not blame us, much less leave us in
the lurch, now that our money is expended.... But I fear neither
you nor we have been properly dealt with; for, as you write, surely
one half of £4000—nay a quarter—in commodities, despatched in
seasonable time, would have provided you more effectively. Yet,
in spite of all this and much more that I might write, I cannot
but think him honest, and that his intentions were good; but the
wisest may fail. Well, now that it has pleased God to give us hope
of agreeing, doubt not but we shall all endeavour to adjust these
accounts fairly, as soon as we possibly can. I suppose you sent
over Mr. Winslow and we Mr. Hatherley to certify each other how the
state of things stood. We have received some satisfaction upon Mr.
Hatherley’s return, and I hope you will receive the same upon Mr.
Winslow’s return.
Now to answer your letter more particularly; I shall be very brief.
The charging of the White Angel to your account could not be more
surprising to you than the purchase of her was to us; for you
commissioned[8] that what he did you would stand by; we gave him no
such commission, yet for his credit and your sakes paid the bills
he charged us with.... As to my writing that she was to fulfill
two purposes, fishing and trading, believe me I never so much as
thought of any private trading, nor will I countenance any; for I
was always against it, and used these very words: It will reduce
the profits of the settlement and ruin it.
The rest of the letter I omit as it is not very pertinent. It was
dated Nov. 19th, 1631. In another letter, dated Nov. 24th, in answer
to the general letter on the same subject, there are these words:
As to the White Angel about which you write so earnestly, saying we
thrust her upon you contrary to the intentions of the purchaser,
we say you forget yourselves and do us wrong. We will not take
upon us to divine what the thoughts or intentions of the purchaser
were; but what he spoke we heard, and that we will affirm and make
good against anyone, viz., that unless she were bought Ashley could
not be supplied, and if he were not supplied we could not recoup
ourselves for our losses on your account.
From another of his dated Jan. 2nd, 1631:
We propose to keep the Friendship and the White Angel, as regards
last year’s voyages, on the general account, hoping that together
they will produce profit rather than loss, and cause less confusion
in our accounts and less disturbance in our intercourse. As for the
White Angel, though we laid out the money and took bills of sale in
our own names, none of us had so much as a thought of separating
from you in any way this year, because we did not wish the world (I
may say Bristol) to see any breach between Mr. Allerton and you,
or between him and us, and so disgrace him in his proceedings. We
have now let him the ship at £30 per month, by charter-party and
secured him in a bond of £1000 to perform the contract and bring
her back to London, if God please. What he takes in her for you
shall be marked with your mark, and bills of lading shall be taken
and sent in Mr. Winslow’s letter, who is this day riding to Bristol
about it. So in this voyage we deal with him as strangers, not as
partners. He has turned in three books of accounts, one for the
company, another for Ashley’s business, and the third for the White
Angel and Friendship. The books, or copies of them, we propose to
send you, for you may discover the errors in them more readily than
we could. It can be reckoned how much money he has had from us, and
you can charge him with all the beaver he had from you. The total
sum, as he has it, is £7103-7-1. Of this he has expended, and given
to Mr. Vines and others, about £543. You will know from your books
whether you had the goods he charges to you. This is all I can say
at present concerning the accounts. He expected to complete them in
a few hours; but he and Straton and Fogg were over a month at them;
but he could not wait till we had examined them for fear of losing
his fishing voyage,—which I fear he has already done....
We bless God Who put it into our minds to send to each other; for
had Mr. Allerton gone on in that risky and expensive way one year
more we should not have been able to meet his expenditure; nay,
both he and we must have lain in the ditch and sunk under the
burden.... Had there been an orderly course taken and your business
better managed, by the blessing of God yours would have been the
ablest colony we know of, undertaken by Englishmen....
Thus far of these letters of Mr. Sherley’s.
* * * * *
A few observations about former letters, and then I will give the
simple truth of the things in controversy between them—at least as
far as good evidence can show.
1. It seems clear that Ashley’s business and the buying of the ship
and the resultant plans were first contrived by Mr. Allerton.
2. Though Mr. Allerton may not have intended to wrong the plantation,
his own private ends led him astray; for it became known that in the
first two or three years of his employment as agent, he had made
£400, and put it into a brewery of Mr. Collier’s in London. Again,
Mr. Sherley and he had private dealings; and yet I believe, as he
mentioned above, that Mr. Sherley did not countenance any private
trading which he thought would injure the colony.
3. Considering all they had done for the settlement, in former risks
and recent disbursements, when Mr. Allerton’s proposals turned out
unsuccessful they thought it fair that the colony should bear them,
and so took advantage of such power as Mr. Allerton formerly had as
their agent, to let these losses devolve upon them.
4. As for Mr. Allerton, with pity and compassion I may say with the
apostle Timothy (I Tim. vi, 9, 10): “But they that will be rich fall
into temptation and a snare ... and pierce themselves through with
many sorrows ... for the love of money is the root of all evil.”
God give him to see the evil of his ways, that he may find mercy in
repentance for the wrongs he has done.
As to the two ships, the truth as far as could be learned was this.
The idea of fitting out the fishing ship—the Friendship—came first
from the colony, but was left to them in England to carry out or not,
as they thought best. But when it was fully considered, and the plan
seemed hopeful and profitable, it was suggested: why might they not
do it for themselves to cover their losses, and without letting the
colony share in it. If their supplies reached them in time, that was
sufficient. So they hired her and fitted her out, and freighted her
as full as she could carry with the goods of passengers belonging
to Massachusetts, which rose to a good sum of money, and intended
to send the New Plymouth settlement their goods in the other ship.
Mr. Hatherley confirmed the following upon oath before the Governor
and Deputy Governor of Massachusetts, Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Dudley:
that the Friendship was not intended for the joint partnership, but
for the private account of Mr. James Sherley, Mr. Beauchamp, Mr.
Andrews, Mr. Allerton, and himself. This deposition was taken under
their hands at Boston, Aug. 29th, 1639, as may be seen besides other
testimony.
As for the White Angel, though she was first bought, or at least the
price arranged, by Mr. Allerton at Bristol, Mr. Sherley need not have
disbursed the money against his will. That she was not intended for
the general partnership appears from various evidence. The bills of
sale were made out in their own names, without any reference to the
colony at all; namely, Mr. Sherley, Mr. Beauchamp, Mr. Andrews, Mr.
Denison, and Mr. Allerton,—Mr. Hatherley would not join them in this.
Mr. Allerton took oath to the same effect concerning the White Angel
before the Governor and Deputy, on September 7th, 1639, and deposed
that Mr. Hatherley and himself, on behalf of them all, agreed to free
all the rest of the New Plymouth partners from the losses of the
Friendship for £200.
Concerning Mr. Allerton’s accounts, they were so lengthy and
intricate that they could not understand them, much less correct
them, and it was two or three years before they could unravel them
even imperfectly. I know not why, but he took upon himself to keep
all the accounts, though Mr. Sherley, their agent, was to buy and
sell all their goods, and did so usually; but it was Mr. Allerton
who passed in accounts for all disbursements,—goods bought which he
never saw, the expenses for the Leyden people incurred by others in
his absence, for the patents, etc.,—in connection with all of which
he made it appear that the balance owing to him was over £300, and
demanded payment. However, on examination he was found to be over
£2000 debtor to them, besides I know not how much that could never
be cleared up, interest unaccounted, etc. Then they were obliged
to pass bills for expenses that were intolerable. The fees for the
patent came to above £500—all for nothing; £30 given at a clap,
and £50 spent on a journey, etc. No wonder Mr. Sherley said that
if their business had been better managed they might have been the
richest English colony at that time. He even screwed up his poor old
father-in-law’s account to above £200, when, alas! he, poor man,
never dreamed that what he had received could be near that value,
believing that many of the things brought over had been given by Mr.
Allerton as presents to him and his children. Nor did they come to
nearly that value in fact, the prices being inflated by interest.
This year Mr. Sherley, too, sent over a cash account, showing what
Mr. Allerton had received from them and disbursed, for which he
referred to his accounts; besides an account of beaver sold, which
Mr. Winslow and others had taken over, and a large supply of goods
which Mr. Winslow had brought back, and all the disbursements for the
Friendship and White Angel, and anything else he could charge the
partners with. In these accounts of Mr. Sherley’s some things were
obscure and some twice charged. They made them debtor to the total
amount of £4770-19-2, besides £1000 still due for the purchase yet
unpaid, and notwithstanding all the beaver and goods that both Ashley
and they had shipped over.
Into such huge sums had Mr. Allerton run them in two years, for at
the end of 1628 all their debts did not much exceed £400, as will be
remembered; now they amounted to as many thousands! In 1629, when Mr.
Sherley and Mr. Hatherley were at Bristol, they wrote a long letter
in which they gave an account of the debts and the sums that had been
disbursed; but Mr. Allerton begged and entreated them to omit it.
So they blotted out two lines in which the sums were mentioned, and
wrote over them so that not a word could be read, to which they have
since confessed. They were thus kept hoodwinked, until now they found
themselves deeply in debt.
To mend matters, Mr. Allerton now wholly deserted them; having
brought them into the briars, he leaves them to get out as best they
can. But God crossed him mightily, for having hired the ship from Mr.
Sherley at £30 a month, he set out again with a drunken crew, and
so overloaded her that she could not bear sail, and they were forced
to put into Milford Haven and reload her, which lost them the season
and resulted in a less profitable voyage than the year before. Having
reached this country he sold trading commodities to any that would
buy, to the serious detriment of the colony; but what was worse,
what he could not sell outright he sold on credit, and formed a
disreputable company of traders to cover every hole and corner,—even
up the Kennebec, to take away the trade from the settlement’s house
there, on the patent for which he had wasted so much of their money.
Not content with this, he did all he could to reduce its value to the
colony and ruin them; he took partners, and set up a trading-house
beyond Penobscot, to cut off the trade there too. But the French,
seeing that it would injure them, came down on them before they were
well settled, and ousted them, killing two of their men, and taking
all the goods, to a considerable value, the loss being mostly, if not
all Mr. Allerton’s. The rest of the men were sent into France and
this was the end of that project. Those to whom he sold on credit,
being loose and drunken fellows, for the most part cheated him of
all they got into their hands. Afterwards, when he came to New
Plymouth, the church called him to account for these and other gross
miscarriages. He confessed his fault, and promised better ways, and
that he would wind himself out of the tangle as soon as he could, etc.
This year Mr. Sherley must needs send them out a new accountant. He
had made mention of such a thing the year before, but they wrote
him that their expenses were so great already that he need not
increase them in this way, and that if they were dealt with fairly
and had their accounts properly sent in from there, they could keep
their accounts here themselves. Nevertheless, he sent them over a
man they could not well refuse, as he was a younger brother of Mr.
Winslow’s,—Mr. Josias Winslow,—whom they had been at considerable
expense to instruct in London before he came. He came over in the
White Angel with Mr. Allerton, and there began his first employment.
This year their house at Penobscot was robbed by the French, and all
their goods of any value was taken, up to £400 or £500 at least. The
captain in charge of the house, and some of the men with him, had
gone westward with their vessel to fetch a supply of goods which had
been brought over for them. In the meantime came a small French ship
into the harbour, and amongst the company was a false Scot. They
pretended they had just come in from sea, and did not know where they
were; that their vessel was very leaky, and asked if they might haul
her ashore and mend her. They used many French compliments, and in
the end, seeing only three or four servants, and understanding from
this Scotchman that the captain and the rest were away from home,
they began praising their guns and muskets that lay in racks on the
wall, and took them down to look at them, asking if they were loaded.
And when they had hold of them, one of them presents a gun ready
charged at the servants and another a pistol, and bid them quietly
deliver up their goods. Some of the men were carried aboard, and
others had to help carry the goods. When they had taken what they
wanted, they set them at liberty and went their way, with this mock:
to tell their captain when he returned that some of the Isle of Rey
gentlemen had been there.
This year Sir Christopher Gardiner, a descendent of that Bishop of
Winchester who was so great a persecutor of God’s saints in Queen
Mary’s days, and a great traveller, who had received the honour
of knighthood at Jerusalem, being made knight of the Sepulchre
there, came into these parts under pretence of forsaking the world
and living a godly life. He was not unwilling to perform any mean
employment, or to take any pains for his living; and some time after
he offered to join the churches in several places. He brought over
with him a servant or two and a comely young woman, whom he called
his cousin, but it was suspected that, after the Italian manner, she
was his concubine. Having been living in Massachusetts, for some
misbehaviour which he should have answered for there, he fled from
authority and got among the Indians of these parts. He was pursued,
but they could not get him, though they promised a reward if he were
found. The Indians came to the Governor here and told where he was,
and asked if they might kill him. He told them by no means, but if
they could capture him and bring him here, they would be paid for
their pains. They said he had a gun and a rapier and he would kill
them if they attempted it, and the Massachusetts Indians had said
they might kill him. But the Governor told them they must not kill
him, but watch their opportunity and seize him. So they did; for
coming upon him by the riverside, he got into a canoe to escape
and while he was covering them with his gun to keep them off, the
stream carried the canoe against a rock and tumbled both him and his
gun and rapier into the water. But he got out, and having a little
dagger by his side, they dare not close with him. So they got some
long poles and soon beat the dagger out of his hands, when he was
glad to yield, and they brought him to the Governor. But his arms
and hands were badly swollen and very sore with the blows they had
given him. So he treated him kindly and sent him to a lodging where
his arms were bathed and anointed, and he was quickly well again. The
Governor blamed the Indians for beating him so much, but they said
they only whipped him a little with sticks! In his lodging, those
who made his bed, found a little note-book that had slipt out of
his pocket by accident, in which was a memorandum of the day he was
reconciled to the pope and the church of Rome, and in what university
he took his scapula, and such and such degrees. This was handed over
to the Governor here, who sent the Governor of Massachusetts word of
his capture. He was sent for, and the notes were handed over to the
Governor there, who was very grateful. After Sir Christopher got to
England he showed his malice; but God prevented him.
_Governor Winthrop at Boston to Governor Bradford at New Plymouth_:
Sir,
It has pleased God to bring Sir Christopher Gardiner safely to us,
with his dependents. And though I never intended to take any harsh
measures with him, but to treat him as his position demanded, I
let him know of your kind words about him, and that he will speed
the better for your mediation. It was a special providence of God
to bring those notes of his into our hands. Please instruct all
that are aware of them not to inform anyone, for that may frustrate
the use to be made of them. The Good Lord our God Who has always
ordered things for the good of His poor churches here, direct us
in this aright, and dispose it to a good issue. I am sorry we put
you to so much trouble about this gentleman, especially at this
busy time, but I knew not how to avoid it. I must again beg you to
let me know what expense and trouble any of your people have been
at on his account, that it may be recompensed. So, with the true
affection of a friend, desiring all happiness to you and yours,
and to all my worthy friends with you, whom I love in the Lord, I
commend you to His grace and providence, and rest,
Your most assured friend
JOHN WINTHROP.
_Boston, May 5th, 1631._
Anent this I will take the liberty to show what occurred through
this man’s malice, complying with others. And though I do not doubt
it will be more fully dealt with by honoured friends whom it more
directly concerned and who have more exact knowledge of the matter,
I will give a hint of it here, showing God’s providence in preventing
the injury that might have resulted. The information I received
was in a letter from my much honoured and beloved friend, Mr. John
Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts.
_Governor Winthrop at Boston to Governor Bradford at New Plymouth_:
Sir,
Upon a petition presented by Sir Christopher Gardiner, Sir
Ferdinand Gorges, Captain Mason, etc., against you and us, the
cause was heard before the lords of the Privy Council, and was
afterwards reported to the King, the success of which makes it
evident to all that the Lord has care of His people here. The
passages are admirable, but too long to write. I heartily wish
for an opportunity to impart them to you: they cover many sheets
of paper. But the conclusion was (against all expectation) an
order for our encouragement, and much blame and disgrace upon the
adversaries. This calls for much thankfulness from us all, which
we purpose, the Lord willing, to express in a day of Thanksgiving
to our merciful God. I do not doubt but that you will consider
whether it is not fitting for you to join in it. As He humbled us
by our recent correction, so He has now lifted us up by an abundant
rejoicing in our deliverance from so desperate a danger; and the
instrument whereby our enemies hoped to ruin us. He has mercifully
turned to our great advantage, as I shall further acquaint you when
opportunity serves.
The following is the order of the Privy Council:
_Jan. 19th, 1632._
_AT THE COURT OF WHITEHALL_
_Present_
_Sigillum_ LORD PRIVY SEAL LORD COTTINGTON
EARL OF DORSET MR. TREASURER
LORD VISCOUNT FALKLAND MR. VICE CHAMBERLAIN
LORD BISHOP OF LONDON MR. SECRETARY COOKE
MASTER SECRETARY WINDBANK
Whereas his majesty has lately been informed of great distraction
and much disorder in that plantation in the parts of America
called New England, which if they be true and suffered to run on,
would tend to the great dishonour of this kingdom and the utter
ruin of that plantation. For prevention whereof and for the orderly
settling of the government according to the intention of those
patents which have been granted by his majesty and by his late
royal father King James, it has pleased his majesty that the lords
and others of his most honourable Privy Council should take the
same into consideration. Their lordships in the first place thought
fit to make a committee of this board to examine the information;
which committee, having called several of the principal adventurers
in the plantation, and heard those that are complainants against
them, most of the things informed being denied and remaining to
be proved by parties that must be called from that place, which
would require a long lapse of time; and at present their lordships
finding the adventurers occupied in the dispatch of men, victuals,
and merchandise for that place, all of which would be at a
standstill if the adventurers should be discouraged or suspect that
the state had no good opinion of the plantation; their lordships,
not laying the fault or fancies (if any be) of some individuals
upon the general government of the principal adventurers, which
in due time is to be further enquired into, have thought fit in
the meantime to declare that the appearances were so fair and the
hopes so great, and that the country would prove both so beneficial
to this kingdom and so profitable to the particular adventurers,
that the adventurers had cause to go on cheerfully with their
undertakings, and rest assured that if things were carried on as
was claimed when the patents were granted and as by the patents is
appointed, his Majesty would not only maintain the liberties and
privileges heretofore granted, but supply anything further that
might tend to the good government, prosperity, and comfort of his
people there of that place....
WILLIAM TRUMBALL.