USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924 > Part 14
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Since yo' depture, wee haue, for the further strengthening of o' graunt from the councell at Plymoth, obtayned a confirmacon of it from his maty by his lres pattents, vnd' the broad seale of England; by wch said lres pattents wee are incorporated into a body pollitique wth ample power to goune & rule all his ma's subiects that reside wthin the limitts of o' plantacon, as by the duplicate thereof vnder the broad seale, we» we haue deliued to Mr Sharpe to bee deliued to yo", doth fully appeare.
And for that the ppagating of the gosple is the thing wee doe pfess aboue all to bee o' ayme in setling this plantacon, wee haue bin care- full to make plentyfull pvision of godly ministers, by whose faithfull preachinge, godly conversacon, and exemplary lyfe, wee trust, not only those of o' owne nation wilbe built vp in the knowledge of God, but also the Indians may in Gods appointed tyme bee reduced to the obedy- ence of the gosple of Christ. One of them is well knowne to yo'selfe, viz, M' Skelton, whom wee haue the rather desired to beare a pt in this worke, for that wee are informed yo'selfe haue formly received much
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good by his ministry; hee cometh in the George Bonaventure. M" Thomas Cox. Another is M' Higgeson, a graue man, & of worthy comendacons ; he cometh in the Talbott. The third is M' Bright, some- tymes trained vpp vnder M" Davenport, who cometh in the Lyons Whelp. Wee pray yo", accomodate them all wth necessaryes as well as yo" may, and in convenyent tyme lett there bee houses built them according to the agreemt wee haue made wth them, coppyes whereof, as of all others wee haue entertained, shalbe sent yow by the next shipps, tyme not pmitting it now. Wee doubt not but these gent, yo' ministers, will agree lovingly togeather ; and for cherishinge of loue betwixt them, wee pray yow, carry yo'selfe impartiallie to all. For the mannor of the exercising their ministrie, & teaching both o' owne people and the Indians, wee leave that to themselues, hooping they will make Gods word the rule of their accons and mutually agree in the discharge of their duties; and because their doctrine will hardly bee well esteemed whose psons are not reverenced, wee desire that, both by yor owne example and by comanding all others to doe the like, o" ministers may receive due hono".
Wee haue, in psecucon of that good opinion wee haue alway had of yo" confirmed yo" Gounor of o' plantacon, and ioyned in commis- sion wth yow the three ministers, namely, M' Francis Higgonson, M" Samuell Skelton, and M' Francis Bright, also M' John and M' Samuell Browne, M' Thomas Graues, and M' Samuell Sharpe; and for that wee haue ordered that the body of the gounmt there shall consist of 13 psons, wee are content the old planters that are now there w'hin or plantacon and lymitts therof shall chuse 2 of the discreetest and juditiall men from amongst themselues to bee of the gounmt, that they may see wee are not wanting to giue them fitting respect, in that we would haue their consent (if it may bee) in making wholsome constitucons for gounmt ; alwayes pvyded, that none shalbe chosen, or meddle in their choice, but such as will liue amongst vs, and comforme themselues to o" gounmt. But if they shall refuse to pforme this o' direccon, then wee hereby authorise yo", & those nominated to bee of the councell afore- said, to nominate & elect two such men as in yo' opinions yo" shall hold meete for that place & office; and for the other three weh wilbe wanting to make vpp the full nomber of 13, (wch wee haue styled the Councell of the Mattachusetts Bay, ) wee hereby authorize you, wth the aforenamed seaven psons, to chuse and nominate them out of the whole body of the Companie, as well of those that are there as of those that are to come now, not doubting but, all partialitie sett apart, yo" will make choice of such men as may bee most vsefull & carefull to advance the genall good of or plantacon.
And that it may appeare, as well to all the world as to the old planters themselues, that wee seeke not to make them slaues, (as it seemes by yo" letter some of them thinke themselues to bee become by meanes of or pattent,) wee are content they shalbe ptakers of such p"viledges as wee, from his mats espetiall grace, wth great cost, fauo" of psonages of note, & much labor, haue obtained, and that they shalbe incorporated into this socyetie, and enioy, not only those lands weh formly they haue manured, but such a further pporcon as, by th'advice and judgmt of yo'selfe and the rest of the councell, shalbe thought fitt
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for them or any of them. And besides, it is still o" purpose that they should haue some benefitt by the comon stock, as was by yo' first com- mission directed and appointed, wth this addicon, that if it bee held too much to take 30 p cent and the fraight of the goods for and in con- sideracon of o' adventure & disbursm' of o' monyes, to bee paid in bevo" at 68 p lb, that yo" moderate the said rate as yo", wth the rest of the councell, shall thinks to bee agreeable to equitie & good conscience. And o' further orders is, that none bee ptakers of any the aforesd p'uiledges and pfitts but such as bee peaceable men, and of honest lyfe and conversacon, & desirous to liue amongst vs, and conforme them- selues to good order and governmt.
And as touching the old planters their earnest desire for the psent to continue the planting of tobacco, (a trade by the Companie genally disavowed & vtterly disclaymed by some of the greatest adventurers amongst vs, who absolutely declared themselues vnwilling to haue any hand in this plantacon if wee intend to cherish or pmitt the planting therof, or any other kinde than for a mans private vse for meere necessitie,) wee are of opinion the old planters will haue small en- couragmt to that employmt, for wee fynde heere, by late experience, that it doth hardly pduce the fraight and custome; nether is there hope of amendmt, there being such great quantities made in other pts that ere long it is like to bee little worth. Nevertheless, if the old planters (for wee exclude all others) conceive that they cannot otherwise pvide for their livelyhood, wee leave it to the discretion of yo"selfe & the councell there to giue way for the psent to their planting of it in such mann, and wth such restriccons, as yo" and the said councell shall thinke fittinge, hauing an espetiall care, wth as much convenyence as may bee, vtterly to suppress the planting of it, except for meere necessitie; but, however, wee absolutely forbidd the sale of it, or the vse of it, by any of o' owne or pticuler mens servants, vnless vpon vrgent occasion for the benefitt of health, & taken privately.
M' John Oldham came from New England not long before yo" arrivall there, by whom wee haue had noe small disturbance in or business, having bin cast behinde, at the least, two months tyme in o' voyage, through the varyetie of his vast conceipts of extraordinary gaine of 3 for one, ppounded to be made & raised in 3 yeares, if hee might haue the managinge of o' stock, pferring to bee contented for his owne employmt soe hee might haue the overplus of the gaines; wth whom after long tyme spent in sundry treaties, fynding him a man altogeather vnfitt for vs to deale wth, wee haue at last left him to his owne way; and, as wee are informed, hee, wth some others, are pvyding a vessell, and is mynded, as soone as hee can despatch, to come for New England, ptending to settle himselfe in Mattachusetts Bay, clayming a tytle and right by a grant from S' Ferdinando Gorges son, wch wee are well satisfyed by good councell is voyde in lawe. Hee will admitt of noe tearmes of agreemt, vnlesse wee leaue him at libtie to trade for beavo" wth the Indians, weh wee deny to the best of o' owne planters ; nether is hee satisfyed to trade himselfe with his owne stock & meanes, wch wee conceeve is so small that it would not much hinder vs. but hee doth interest other men, who, for ought wee knowe, are never likely to bee benefitiall to the planting of the country, their owne pticuler pfitts
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(though to the overthrowe of the genall plantacon) being their chiefe ayme and intent. Now, as wee shall vnwillingly doe any act in debar- ringe such as were inhabitants before vs of that trade, as in conscience they ought to enioy, soe shall we as vnwillingly pmitt any to appropriate that to their owne private lucar weh wee, in o' religious intencons, haue dedicated to the comon charge of building houses for Gods worshipp and fforts to defend such as shall come thither to inhabite. Wee feare that as hee hath bin obstinate & vyolent in his opinions heere, soe hee will psist and bee ready to drawe a partie to himselfe there, to the great hinderance of the comon quiett. Wee haue therfore thought fitt to giue yo" notice of his disposicon, to the end yo" may beware how yo" meddle wth him, as also that yo" may vse the best meanes yow can to settle an agreemt wth the old planters, soe as they may not harken to M' Oldhams dangerous though vaine ppositions. Wee fynde him a man soe affected to his owne opinion as not to bee removed from it, nether by reason nor any pswasion; and vnlesse hee may beare sway, and haue all things carryed to his good likinge, wee haue little hope of quiett or comfortable subsistance where he shall make his aboad.
And therefore, if yow shall see just cause, wee hereby require yo" and the councell there to exercise that power wee haue, and o' previ- ledges will beare vs out in it, to suppresse a mischiefe before it take too great a head. Not that wee would wrong him or any man that will liue peaceably wthin the limitts of or plantacon ; but as the pservacon of o" p'uiledges will chiefly depend (vnder God) vpon the first foundacon of o' gounmt, soe if wee suffer soe great an affront as wee fynde is in- tended towards vs by the pceedings of M' Oldham and his adherents in o" first beginings, wee may bee sure they will take hart, and bee em- boldned to doe vs a farr greater iniurie hereafter. And therefore wee pray yo" and the councell there to advise seriously togeather for the maintenance of o' p'uiledges & peaceable gounmt, weh, if it may be done by a tempate course, wee much desire it, though wth some inconveny- ence, soe as o' gounmt & p'uiledges bee not brought in contempt, wish- ing rather there might bee such an vnion as might drawe the heathen by o' good example to the embracing of Christ and his gosple, then that offence should bee giuen to the heathen, and a scandall to o' religion, through o' disagreemt amongst o'selues. But if necessitie require a more severe course, when faire meanes will not pvaile, wee pray yow to deale as in yo" discrecons yo" shall thinke fittest for the genall good and safety of the plantacon & pservacon of o' p'uiledges. And because wee would not omitt to doe any thinge weh might strengthen o' right, wee would haue yoW (as soone as these shipps, or any of them, arrive with yo", whereby yo" may have men to do it) send 40 or 50 persons to Mattachusetts Bay to inhabite there, which we pray yo" not to pro- tract, but to doe it with all speede; and if any of o' Company in pticuler shall desire to settle themselues there, or to send servants thither, wee desire all accommodacon and encouragmt may be giuen them thervnto, wherby the better to strengthen o' possession there against all or any that shall intrude vpon vs, weh wee would not haue yo" by any meanes giue way vnto, wth this caution, notwthstanding, that for such of or countrymen as yo" finde there planted, soe as they bee willing to liue vnder gounmt yo" endeavor to giue them all fitting and due accomo-
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dacon as to any of o'selues ; yea, if yo" see cause for it, thought it bee - th more then ordinarie p'uiledges in point of trade.
M' Raph Smith, a minister, hath desired passage in o' shipps, weh was graunted him before wee vnderstood of his difference of judgmt in some things from o' ministers. But his pvisions for his voyage being shipt before notice was taken therof, through many occasions wherwth those intrusted wth this business have bin employed, and for- asmuch as from hence it is feared there may growe some distraccon amonst yo" if there should bee any syding, though wee haue a very good opinion of his honesty, wee shall not, I hope, offend in charitie to feare the worst that may grow from their different judgm's. Wee haue therfore thought fitt to giue yo" this order, that vnless hee wilbe con- formable to o' gounmt yo" suffer him not to remaine wthin the limitts of o' graunt.
We take notice that yo" desire to haue Frenchmen sent yow that might bee experienced in making of salt & plantinge of vynes. Wee haue enquired diligently for such, but cannot meete wth any of that nation. Nevertheless, God hath not left vs altogeather vuprovyded of a man able to vndertake that worke, for that wee haue entertained M" Thomas, Groves, a man comended to vs as well for his honestie as skili in many things very vsefull. First, hee pfesseth great skill in the mak- ing of salt, both in ponds and panns, as also to fynde out salt springs & mynes; secondly, hee is well seene in mynes & mineralls, espetially about iron ore & iron workes ; thirdly, hee is able to make any sort of fortyficacons ; fourthly, hee is well able to surveigh and sett forth lands. Hee hath bin a travillor in divers forraigne pts to gaine his experience. Therefore wee pray yo" take his advice touching the pmises, and where yo" intend to sett downe into fortyfie & build a towne, that it may be qualified for good ayre & water, according to yo' first instruccons, and may haue as much naturall helpe as may bee, wherby it may wth the less labor and cost bee made fitt to resist an enemie. Soe soone as yo" haue made tryall of his sufficiencie, wryte vs yo' opinion how long yo" conceive it will be fitt for us to continue him in our service ; for that he is tyed to serve us for one whole yeare absolutely, and two yeares more if wee should giue him order to stay soe long. Soe wee hope to receve yo' advice tyme enough to give him order to stay out full 3 yeares, or to come home at the end of one yeare. His salarie costs this Companie a great some of mony, besides weh (if hee remain wth vs) the transport- ing of his wyfe, and building him a house, wilbe very chargable, wch we pray yo" take into yo' consideracon, that soe wee may continue or surcease this charge as occasion shall require.
In o' next wee intend to send yo" a pticuler of such as are to haue land allotted & sett out vnto them, that soe yo" may appoint vnto each man an equall pporcon by lott, according to what is to bee allowed in the first devident, touching weh wee shall then giue yo" more large instruccons. Meane while, for such as haue sent over servants and cattle in these shipps, and for such as haue more to come in two other shipps, weh wee hope wilbe ready to sett saile wthin ten dayes, o' desire is. they should ether bee accomodated at Nahumkeeke or in the Mattachusetts Bay, or in both places if they desire it, wth all the con- venyence that may bee; and for such grounds as shalbe allotted vnto
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them, that the same bee conveyed vnto them, if they desire it, at any tyme wthin one yeare after their entring vpon it, and to bee accompted as pt of their first devident. But if they shall dislike it at any tyme before a genall distribucon bee made by lott to all the adventurers, then they may have libtie to doe it, and take in lieu therof as by lott shall fall out amongst other private adventurers.
Wee recomend vnto yo" S" Richard Saltonstall and M" Isack Johnson, who send over servants and cattle in these shipps, desiring yo" will take care for their psent accomodacon as aforesaid; and as for them, soe wee may not omitt to pray yow likewise to giue all good accomodacon to o' psent Governo" Mr Mathew Cradock, who wth some pticuler brethren of o' Company, have deepely engaged themselues ill their private adventures in these shipps & those to come; and as wee hold these men that thus deepely adventure in their private to bee (vnder God) spetiall instrumts for the advancing & strengthning of o' plantacon, weh is done by them wthout any charge to the Companyes genall stock, wherein, notwthstanding, they are as deepe or deeper en- gaged then any other, soe being contented to bee debarred from all private trading in furrs for 3 yeares, wee doe hold it very requisite in all other their desires to giue them all accomodacon & furtherance that reasonably may be ppounded by them or any for them; their good beginings in the infancie of o' plantacon worthylie deserving of vs all favor and furtherance.
Wee haue caused a comon seale to bee made, weh wee send by M' Sharpe.
If yo" want any swyne, wee haue agreed wth those of New Ply- mouth that they deliu yo" six sowes wth pigg, for wch they are to bee allowed 91 in accompt of what they owe vnto Mr Goffe, Deputie; and for goats, wee haue bought 42 for the genall & pticuler mens accompts, weh shalbe sent yow by these and the next shipps, or at least wise soe many of them as they can convenyently carrie.
Wee haue followed yo" advice, and sent most of o' guns snaphance, bastard muskett bore; and wee haue also sent store of powder & shott, grayne for seede, both wheat, barley & rye, in the chaff, &c. As for fruit stones and kernells, the tyme of the yeare fitts not to send them now ; soe wee purpose to do it p o' next. Tame turkeys shalbe now sent yow (if may bee) ; if not, p other shipps. Wee are disappointed of the pvisions ordered to haue bin sent yo" for yo'selfe and Mrs Endecote; but, God willing, they shall come by the next.
Wee haue made o" servants apparell of cloth & lether, weh lether is not of oyle skins, for wee found them over deere; yett if this pve not pfittable, vpon yo" second advice wee will send yow oyle skinns.
For such of o' nation as sell munition, gunns, or other furniture, to arme the Indians against vs, or teach them the vse of armes, wee would have you to apphend them and send them prisons for England, where they will not escape severe punishmt, being expressly against the proclamacon.
Yo" haue had form caution giuen yo" to take heede of beeing too secure in trusting the Indians, weh wee againe comend to yo' care; and that yo" may bee the better able to resist both forraigne enemies & the natives, if ether should assaile yo" wee pray yow lett all such as liue
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vnder o' gounment, both o" servants and other planters & their servants, bee exercised in the vse of armes, and certaine tymes appointed to muster them, in weh business M' Sharpe and M' Graues wilbe assistant to yo". M' Sharpe is by vs entertained to bee m' gunn of or ordnance, in weh service hee is to employ soe much of his tyme as the charge of that office doth require, and in the rest hee is to follow other imploymts of o' gouno's & others, for whose employmt hee is pticularly sent over.
Inclosed yo" shall receive a factory of such pvision of victuall and other necessaryes as wee haue sent for the genall accompt to weh wee referr yo", nothing doubting but yow wilbe a pvident steward to hus- band of pvisions to the best advantage. Wee also send yo" the pticuler names of such as are entertained for the Companyes service, amongst weh wee hope yow will fynde many religious, discreete, & well ordered psons, wen yo" must sett over the rest devyding them into famylies, placing some wth the ministers, and others vnder such as, beeing honest men, (and of their owne calling as neere as may bee,) may haue care to see them well educated in their genall callings as Christians, and pticuler according to their seuall trades or fitness in disposicon to learne a trade. And wheras amonst such a nomber (notwthstanding o' care to purge them) there may still remaine some libertines, wee desire yow to bee carefull that such (if any bee) may bee forced, by inflicting such punishmt as their offences shall deserve, weh is to bee (as neere as- may bee) according to the lawes of this kingdome, to conforme them- selues to good order ; wth whom, after admonition giuen, if they amend not, wee pray yo" pceede wthout partiallitie to punish them as the nature of their fault shall deserve; and the like course yo" are to hold both wth planters & their servants, for all must liue vnder gounmt & a like lawe. And to the end yo" may not doe any thing contrarie to lawe nor the power graunted vs by his mats lres patents, wee haue, as afore- said, sent yo" the duplicate of the lres patents, vnder the great seale of England, ordering and requiring yo" and the rest of the councell there not do doe any thinge, ether in inflicting punishmt on malefactors or otherwise, contrarie to or in derogacon of the said Ires pattents ; but if occasion require, wee authorise yo" and them to pceede according to the power yo" haue. Nevertheless, wee desire (if it may bee) that errors may bee reformed wth lenitie or mylde correccon; and if any pve incorrigable, & will not bee reclaimed by gentle correccon, ship such psons home by the Lyons Whelpe, rather then keep them there to infect or to bee an occasion of scandall vnto others; wee being fully pswaded that if one or two bee soe reshipped back, and certificate sent home of their misdemeanor, it wilbe a terror to the rest, and a meanes to reduce them to good conformitie. And, aboue all, we pray yo" bee carefull that there bee none in o' pcincts pmitted to doe any iniurie (in the least kinde) to the heathen people; and if any offend in that way, lett them receive due correcon. And wee hold it fitting yo" publish a proclama- con to that effect by leaving it fixed vnder the Companyes seale in some eminent place, for all to take notice, at such tyme as both the heathen themselues, as well as of people, may take notice of it. And for the avoyding of the hurt that may follow through o' much familiaritie wth the Indians, wee conceive it fitt that they bee not pmitted to come to yo" plantacon but at certaine tymes and places to bee appointed them. If
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any of the saluages ptend right of inheritance to all or any pt of the lands granted graunted in o" pattent, we pray yo" endeavo" to p'chase their tytle, that wee may avoyde the least scruple of intrusion.
Wee haue, in the form pt of or Ire, certyfyed yow of the good hope wee haue of the loue and vnanimus agreemt of or ministers, they having declared themselues to vs to bee of one judgment, & to bee fully agreed on the mann how to exercise their ministry, weh wee hope wilbe by them accordingly pformed. Yett, because it is often found that some busie psons (led more by their will then any good warrant out of Gods word) take opportunitie of moving needless questions to stirr vp strife, and by that meanes to begett a question, and bring men to declare some differ- ent judgmt, (most comonly in things indifferent,) from weh small be- ginings great mischeifs haue followed, wee pray yo" and the rest of the councell, that if any such disputes shall happen among yo" that yo" suppress them, and bee carefull to maintaine peace and vnitie.
Wee desire yoW to take notice of one Lawrence Leech, whom we haue found a carefull & painfull man, and wee doubt not but hee will continue his dilligence; lett him haue deserving respect. The like wee say of Richard Waterman, whose cheife employmt wilbe to get yow good venison.
Wee haue sent six shipwrights, of whom Robert Molton is cheif. These mens entertainmt is very chargable to vs; and by agreemt it is to bee borne two thirds at the charage of the genall Companie, and the other third is to bee borne by M' Cradock, or Gourno", and his assotiatts interested in a private stock. Wee hope yo" wilbe carefull to see them soe employed as may countervaile the charge, desiring yo" to agree wth M" Sharpe that their labo" may be employed § for the genall Com- panie and § for Mr Cradock and his assotiats; praying yo" to accomo- date the sª M' Cradocks people in all fitting mann, as hee doth well deserve.
Such cattle, both horss, mares, cowes, bulls, and goates, as are shipped by M' Cradock, are to bee devyded in equall halfes twixt him & the Companie, wch was omitted to bee done heere for avoyding par- tiallitie ; so yo" must doe it equally there.
Wee pray yo" to bee carefull to make vs what returnes yow possibly may, the better to enable vs to send out a fresh supply. Wee hope yow haue converted the comodities yo" carryed wth yow for truck into beavo", otter, or other ffurrs, wch wee pray yo" send vs by ye Talbot, as also any other comodities yo" haue pvyded in readyness against the shipps coming thither ; but pray doe not detaine her any longer tyme to cutt tymber or any other gross ladinge, for shee is at 1501 a month charges weh will soone eat out more then the goods shee should stay for is worth. Wherfore, pray make what experdicon yo" can to vnlade her goods, and to put such things aboard her as yo" haue ready, and send her hetherward againe as soone as yo" may.
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