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lady being taken, died with grief within three weeks after. The jewels, plate, household stuff, ordnance, and other movables, were valued at 10,000 pounds. The more was his folly that left so great substance at so great. hazard, when he might easily have secured it in the hands of his correspondents, with whom he traded in the Massachusetts; whereby he might have discharched his engagement, of more than 2,500 pounds, to Maj. Gibbons, (who now by this loss was quite undone,) and might have somewhat also, wherewith to have maintained himself and his men, in case his fort should have been taken, as it was very likely it might, having to deal with treacherous friars, within his own precincts, as well as a malicious neighbour, encouraged against him by the power of France. But goods gotten after that rate, seldom descend to the third heir, as heathens have observed. In the spring of the year, he went to Newfoundland, in hope to receive some considerable assistance from Sir David Kirk, another great truckmaster in those coasts, who failing to perform, (if not what himself promised, to be sure he did, as to what the other needed, and expected,) so as he returned to New England again in the latter end of the year 1645, in a vessel of Sir David's; and soon after, was sent out to the Eastward by some merchants of Boston with trading commodities, to the value of 400 pounds. When he came to Cape Sables, (which was in the heart of winter,) he conspired with the master, (who was a stranger,) and five of his own Frenchmen, to force the Englishmen ashore, and so go away with the vessel. It was said that La Tour himself shot one of the Englishmen in the face with a pistol. But to be sure they were all turned adrift in a barbarous manner; and if they had not, by special providence, found more favour at the hands of Cape Sable Indians, than of those French christians, they might have all perished; for having wandered fifteen days up and down,they at the last found some Indians who gave them a shaliop with victuals, and an Indian pilot, by which means they came safe to Boston about three months after. Thus they that

trust to an unfaithful friend, do but wade in unknown waters, and lean on a broken reed, which both woundeth as well as deceiveth those that rely thereon.

CHAP. LV.

The general affairs of New England, from the

to 1651.

year 1646

MR. WINTHROP was this year, the ninth time, chosen governour of the colony of the Massachusetts, and Mr. Dudley deputy governour, on'the 13th day of May, which was the day of election there in the year 1646. Mr. Pelham and Mr. Endicot were chosen commissioners for the same colony, by the vote of the freemen. The magistrates and deputies had hitherto chosen them, since the first confederation; but the freemen looking at them as general officers, would now choose them themselves, and the rather, because of some of the deputies had formerly been chosen to that office, which was not, as was said, so acceptable to some of the confederates, no more than to some of themselves; for it being an affair of so great moment, the most able gentlemen in the whole country were the fittest for it.

This court lasted but three weeks; and notice was taken, that all things were therein carried on with much peace and good correspondence to the end of the session, when they departed home in much love. It was by special providence so ordered, that there should be so good accord and unanimity in the general court, when the minds of so many dissenters were so resolutely bent to make an assault upon the very foundation of their government; for if the tackling had been loosed, so as they could not have strengthened their mast, the lame would at that time have easily taken the prey. For Mr. William Vassal, one of the patentees, that came over in the year 1630, (when he was also chosen an assiatant,) but not complying with the rest of his colleagues, nor yet able to make a party amongst them, returned for England

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soon after; but not satisfying himself in his return, came back again to New England in the year 1635, and then settled himself at Scituate, in the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, a man of a pleasant and facetious wit, and in that respect complacent in company; but for his actings and designs of a busy and factious spirit, and indeed a meer salamander, by his disposition, that could take content in no element, but that of the fire. And in his discourse did usually, in all companies, bear the part of Antilegon, as he was called by a friend of his, and was always found opposite to the government of the place, where he lived, both ecclesiastical and civil. It was the less wonder that he appeared such, in the colony of the Massachusetts, both while he was an inhabitant there, and where else he came. He had practised with such as were not freemen, to take some course, first, by petitioning the courts of the Massachusetts and of Plymouth, and if that succeeded not, to apply themselves to the parliament of England, pretending that here they were subjected to an arbitrary power and extra judicial proceedings, &c.

Here was the source of that petition, presented to the court of the Massachusetts, under the hands of several inhabitants of Boston, in the name of themselves and many others in the country. That court they pressed to have had a present answer. It was delivered into the deputies, and subscribed by Doctor Child, Mr. Thomas Fowle, and Mr. Samuel Maverick, and four more.

But the court being then near at an end, and the matter being very weighty, they referred the further consideration thereof to the next sessions.

But in the mean time they were encountered with other difficulties, in reference to some of Gorton's company, with whom they had been much troubled in the former lustre; for on the 13th of September, Randall Holden arrived at Boston, in a ship from London, bringing with him an order from the commissioners for foreign plantations, drawn up upon the complaint, and in favour of the forementioned familists, which were too much

countenanced by some of those commissioners. A copy of which order here follows.

By the governour in chief, the lord high admiral, and commissioners appointed by the parliament, for the English plantations in America.

Whereas we have thought fit to give an order for S. G., R. H. and J. G. and others, late inhabitants of a tract of land, called the Narraganset Bay, in New England, to return with freedom to the said tract of land, and there to inhabit without interruption: These are therefore to pray and require you, and all other whom this may concern, to permit and suffer the said S. G. &c. with their company, goods, and necessaries, carried with them out of England, to land at any port in New England, where the ship, wherein they embark themselves, shall arrive, and from thence to pass without any of your lets or molestations, through any part of the country of America, within your jurisdiction, to the said Bay, or any part thereof, they carrying themselves without offence, and paying, according to the custom of the country, for all things they shall make use of in their way, for victuals, carriage, and other accommodation. Hereof you may not fail, and this shall be your warrant.

NOTTINGHAM,
FRA. DACRE,

COR. HOLLAND, cum multis aliis.

Dated at Wesminster, May 15, 1646.

To the governour and assistants of the English plantation in the Massachusetts, in New England, and to all other governours and other inhabitants of New England, and all others whom this may concern.

With the order, came also a letter of like tenour from the commissioners. This order being sent to the governour to desire leave to land, &c. the governour answered, that he could not give them leave of himself, nor dispense with any order of the general court; but the council being to meet within two or three days, he would

impart it to them, and in the mean time, he would not seek after them.

When the council was met, though they were of different minds about the case, the more part agreed to suffer them to pass quietly away, according to the protection given them, and at the general court, to consider further about their possessing the land they claimed. But when the general court came together, they judged it needful to send some discreet person into England, with commission and instructions, to satisfy the commissioners for plantations, about these matters; and to that end, made choice of Mr. Edward Winslow, one of the magistrates of Plymouth, as a fit man to be employed in the present affairs, both in regard of his abilities of presence, speech, and courage, as also being well known to divers of the council. And accordingly he accepted of the service, and prepared for the journey, in the end of the year 1646, being furnished with a commission, instructions, and other necessaries, and also with a remonstrance and petition, to the foresaid lords and gentlemen, commissioners for foreign plantations.

To the right honourable ROBERT, earl of Warwick, governour in chief, lord admiral, and other the lords and gentlemen, commissioners for foreign plantations.

The humble remonstrance and petition of the governour and company of the Massachusetts, in way of answer to the petition and declaration of S. Gorton, &c.

Whereas, by virtue of his majesty's charter, granted to the patentees, in the fourth year of his highness' reign, we were incorporated into a body politick, with divers liberties and privileges, extending to that part of New England where we now inhabit: We do acknowledge, (as we have always done, and as in duty we are bound,) that although we are removed out of our native country, yet we still have dependence upon that state, and owe allegiance and subjection thereunto, according to our charter; and accordingly we have mourned and rejoiced therewith, and have had friends and enemies in common

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